davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

but as he is in hurry the chances
are that he does not, and he is there
fore surprised when he collides with
the man, who let's the pipe fall to the
ground, which breaks in several
pieces. Of course the owner of the
valuable pipe raises a great lamenta-
ton over his loss, and calls on heaven
to witness the clumsiness of the VIC
tim. The former says that 1t is all the
fault of the latter, and loudly de-
mands compensation while tenderly
picking up the pieces. He affects the
proffered monetary solatium with the
remark thai the pipe was worth far
more, and then goes up side street
to fix the "meerschaum" ready for
some one else. This trick used to
bring in quite decent amount, but 1t
has become so we'll known that it is
seldom tried nowadays.
y In Glasgow there used to be a re-
spectable-looking old man who was
reputed to make living out of post
age stamps. He frequented the better
class of cheap lodging houses, and
dressed neatly though poorly. He
had a simple, but apparently very sue.
cessful method of working. He was
always writing in answer to adver-
1isements; after having sent OF sew
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28
HOME OF THE EASTER LILY
Flower Was Introduced Into the Islands of Bermuda b,
an American

shore. the lily fields look from dis
tance like white summer clouds
dropped down from the sky upon the
green islands. Lilly fragrance fills the
air and is blown by the wind far out
over the water. Coming nearer yol
see the fields more clearly-rows up
on rows of blossoms, tall. stately ant
snowy white. 1t is very beautiful.
1t was not until the early SOS that
the Bermuda lily became well known
in the United States. 1t is said thai
a Philadelphia woman, returning from
the islands, brought home a plant tC
bloom. This came to the attention O.
w. K. Harris, an enterprising tloris'
of the Quaker city, who purchased E
lot of the bulbs, from which he sue
ceeded in raising hundreds of plants
introducing them under the name
Lilium Harrisii. Thus the Easter lily
industry spread to America, and tC
other countries as we'll. But nowhere
do the flowers grow so perfect ant
beautiful as under the quickenins
warmth of the tropical sun of Ber
muda.
Ordinarily only bulbs are exported
but at the rush season whole boat
loads of cut buds and of thickly-bud
ded plants are packed and shipped
away, carrying the sweet message
of the Eastertide into countless homes
and churches.
General Hastings is dead. In spite
of his long residence In Bermuda, he
remained a devotedly loyal American
citizen and from time to time concern
ed himself with public affairs, holding
various positions of responsibility and
honor. The islanders remember him
as their friend and benefactor, and
that thcy and those that come after
them may not be unmindful of the
debt of gratitude they owe, a beauti
full monument has been recently erect
ed in Hamilton in his memory.
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28


street leading to the Casa Mata, or
house of death" in the outskirts
where the prisoners we're executed in
the early days.
"A smaller chart on the same parch-
ment gave a complete map Of the
rooms in the Casa Tarnava- In one Of
these rooms a spot was marked with
a cross near the wall; a similar mark
was placed in the basement of the
house, and also in place in the outer
walls at the Casa Mata. The Chicago
man, whose name do not give for pro-
fessional reasons, said that the map
had never received any attention from
his mother or himself because they did
not really know where Matamoros
was. There was no railroad to Mata-
moros or that locality, and neither of
them ever expected to get there. Since
the completion of the new st. L. B. &
NJ. railway, however, he concluded to
go down on one of the Homeseekers'
excursions. The existence of the map
required to his mind and he brought it
along, though with little faith in its
having any foundation in fact.
Found Chest Well Hidden.
1--WE visited the ruined house. The
map was very accurate as regarded
the apartments with the exception
that the room marked with the cross
did not seem to exist. BY measuring
the walls, however we found an inside
wall of brick-all the inner walls in
this building are of brick-near a
stairway, was much thicker than the
others, and cut into it-and there was
the treasure room. 1t had been built
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

There is only one monument in the
whole British colony of the Bermudas
and it is erected to the memory of
IN American. This fact may seem a
Dit strange until one has heard the
'tory, which is really a story of the
Bermuda lily, and of the man who
made it possible.
Many years ago-during President
Hayes administration, in fact-Gen.
Russell Hastings, who had made for
himself brilliant record during the
;ivil war, was married in tho White
House at Washington. He and his
,ride went to Bermuda on their we'd
ling trip, and were so charmed with
he beauty of the place that they re-
solved then and there to return, and,
possible, to make it their perma-
lent abode. The climate, tod, appeal
I'd TO them. (The general had been
Ieriously wounded in the war, and
vas far from well)
A little later the two came again.
Not as tourists this time, but as home
seekers. In those days the now-eXist-
ng law that none but English citizens
ian own land in English colonies was
lot in force. So General Hastings had
10 difficulty in acquiring a large es-
ate. He chose a picturesque site in the
little city of Hamilton, surrounding a
and-locked bay. Here he built his
home "Sonci," which stands to-day
among tropical trees and luxuciant
lowers.
Not only cid General Hastings at
once become deeply interested in the
place, and in the possibilities for its
development, but he was genuinely
distressed at the poverty of the island
srs, says a writer in the Detroit Free
Press. Setting about to improve mat.
ters, he studied the climatic condi
tons, experimental again and again
and at length his efforts were crowned
with success. 1t was found that our
|present-day Easter lily, originally a
lative of Japan, would attain in Ber.
muda to perfection of loveliness
hitherto unknown. The islanders were
soon pressed into service, and since
about 1876 the culture of lilies, has
been not only their chief pride, but
their chief means Of livelihood as we'll
Imagine tiny group of islands, far
out in the Atlantic-the largest OF
them about Is miles long and moi
wider, at most, than a mile and 6
half-set beneath the bluest of blue
skies, and seeming to rest on water
whose transparency and brilliancy OF
color are unequaled anywhere. This is
Bermuda, the home of the Easter lily
-
AS the incoming boat skirts the
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28
TRICKS OF TIE FAKERS
Many ingenious Ways Have Been De-
Vised for Getting Money Without
Working for 1t.

It is really astonishing what large
number of people there are who will
take infinite plans to avoid work, says
the London Globe. And the queer
part Of it is that they really give them
selves much trouble in their attempts
TO obtain living without laboring at
any fixed task.
Not long ago a novel trick was prac-
1ticed by man going about the streets
London, but it seems impossible to
think that he made much out of 1t un-
less there are an abnormal number of
exceedingly foolish people in exist
ence. Passing a man casually he
would glance at his back and say:
BEG your pardon. sir, but there's a
lot of white stuff on your shoulders"
Those who were particular about their
personal appearance would thank the
man and ask him to wipe it of, &C.
.companying the request with tip.
OF course 1t Is unnecessary to say
that there never was anything white
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

related that their women even wore
gold heels on their shoes. They enter
tanned in princely style, giving recep-
tions and banquets which for magnifi'
cence were not excelled even In Eu'
ropean courts. Kings and queens of
England, Spain or France gave nothing
more elegant in this line. Nothing ap-
preaching them was ever given on this
continent ia those days, even If at the
present time.
Entertained Prominent Men.
"All prominent people who came to
Matamoros were received and enter
tanned by them-Gen. Lawton, Gen.
Corbin, the McCooks, even Gen. Sheri-
dan--have been their guests at these
receptions. Among their visitors oc.
casionally was seen a man of mag
nificent bearing, great manly beauty
and carriage. He wore jewels of eX-
traordinary splendor, and always car
ried court sword with embroidered
belt blazing with jewels. l was a boy
then, and remember these things well,
for they were 10 me like a dream of
the Arabian Nights. The man had
with him on these visits a Spanish
lady of great beauty who was always
at his side. None except the Tarnava
family ever talked with her, but it was
a current belief among us children
that the man was Lafitte and the
woman lady whom he had captured
in some of his sea fights, killing her
male relative, taken her to Barrataria
and still held her as his wife. She was
even supposed to bear a title. She at
tempted to escape from him twice, but
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

into the wall in such manner that
ed. Though four feet square, the stair
way at the side, running to the Sec
ond and third stories. prevented the
extra thickness of the wall being nc
ticed, part of the width of the room
being taken off the width of the stair
way. The only entrance was through
the floor in the top story, the place be-
ing practically a dry we'll in the wall
reaching clear from the top floor to the
basement.
THE treasure chest, of old wood,
with brass bindings and peculiar locks,
remained, and we smashed it open. It
was practically empty. There was a
handful of Spanish and English gold
coins and several jewels of which the
one l wear is one, in the box and on
the floor. We searched thoroughly.
What We found was valued at $4,000.
The balance of the treasure, which
the letter stated to be over $4,000,
had been taken by some one, possibly
some accidental discoverer. The 9th
er places indicated to contain treas
ure we did not find. The descriptions
were imperfect or else the places were
too well hidden. Our time was lin
tied, since it soon became noised
about what we were doing and we
were stopped. You know what the
Mexican government is.
Believes Treasure Still There.
Il feel certain that the treasure is
still there, if the places can be To-
Gated, but do not see how that can be
done without plenty of time and pos,
sibly pulling down the house. The
outer walls at the Casa Mata are now
obliterated and it would require a
great deal of digging to locate the
treasure indicated to be buried there.
The letter gave the value Of one as
100000 in jewels and the other as
$125,000 in gold. l have full belief
that there is much treasure buried in
this locality, by the pirates, the SNUG
glers, the revolutionists and even
those who operated here during the
civil war when this was the only port
the south had open for many months.
The sunken place in the brick pave
ment of the basement at the Casa
Tarnava, think, indicates a secret
passage from the well in the court to
the street; but it may just as well
lead to treasure chamber.
"The cannon shot over the door in
the second story? Oh, don't know
the history of that. 1t is my impres.
sion that it was shot In there during
some of the many revolutionary fights
which took place in the streets of Mat
amoros. 1t may have been planted
there during the bombardment of Mat
amoros by Gen. Scott, and l some.
times think it was"
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28
REZfag2EaaEsz
9M'lpzat\p7z9
coNcEALINe wH!skWs WORK.
How the Full Work of Intoxicants Is
Covered Up.

It is we'll known that very many
calamities for which liquor is really
responsible are attributed to other
causes in the published accounts. The
Pittsburg Dispatch, in a recent arti-'
Gle, exposes the various explanations
which are commonly given in this con-
nection. The Dispatch says:
"Apoplexy, heart disease, gastritis
and pneumonia frequently appear on
the death certificates to the Allegheny
county morgue, but were the truth
told, these deaths, in hundreds OF
cases, each year have been superin-
duced by alcohol.
"The mortuary records of the county
during the past few years show that
there has been remarkably large
number of deaths for which habitual
intoxication was the primary or direct
cause Fatalities and tragedies in
many cases may be attributed to the
use of alcoholic drinks, and in nine
cases out of every ten the persons
who have committed suicide during
the past decade in and about Pittsburg
were driven insane or rendered dest'
tute and despondent by drinks curse.
Death due to pneumonia is the
cause often ascribed by physicians for
the death of their patients. In order
that the friends of the dead be not sub
jected to humiliation, the words 'su-
perinduced by acute alcoholism are
frequently omitted from the certificate
which is sent to the coroner.
Pneumonia claims perhaps the
larger share of drunkards. While un-
der the influence of drink men subject
themselves to exposure. While on a
prolonged debauch they are careless
about their dress, and have no regard
for the condition of the weather, with
the result that they contract severe
colds, while the system is not in con-
dition to fortify them against illness,
and death follows.
The old stereotyped phase killed
by train is used hundreds of times
in a year by the Pittsburg newspapers.
and it is brought into daily use as
result of drunkenness. Investigation
into the death of most persons killed
while walking the railroad tracks has
proved that the victims were under
the influence of liquor.
Records of the local hospitals show
that 70 per cent. of the victims of acci-
dents placed under their care are due
to intoXication, and in 80 out of every
100 cases brought to the hospitals in
patrol wagons Demon Alcohol has fig
ured prominently.
IF any man or body of men in Pitts
burg thinks he is fully alive to the de-
plorable conditions that have been
wrought by alcohol and it's kindred de-
stroyers of life, homes and happiness,
he is wrong
THE whisky bottle is in evidence in
most of the novels in the districts in
habited by the families who are fire.
squent applicants for aid at the office
of the department of charities and cor
rection.
The liquor laws in Allegheny county
are as stringent as in any other place
in the United States, but notwith-
standing this topers are multiplying,
our prisons are filling up, and records
of charitable institutions show that
intemperance is flourishing, and moth
ing is being accomplished toward cur
ing the drunkard'
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

did not succeed. Her people no doubt
mourned her as dead.
After the Tarnavas left the house
it was never again occupied and SO far
as | know has not been entered for so
years until about year ago. The en-
tire premises are in ruins, as you saw,
but in it's prime it was as handsome as
any residence on this continent. The
slate roof is falling in, though the
brick walls will probably stand for a
century as they are very thick and
solid. The rotting balconies look down
into an inner court still full of orange
and fig trees laden with fruit-but l
have seen this garden and the bal
comics lighted up at night, filled with
the handsomest women wearing the
finest dresses the world then con-
tanned. The high ceilings, magniti-
Gently proportioned rooms, carved
spiral stairways of mahogany, large
arched windows, mahogany tloors-all
Indicate the taste of the occupants.
The pigeons of the town now make it a
rOosting place, entering through the
falling roof and the broken windows,
but in its day it was magnificent
home, such as few ever enter even in
this era of wealth, except the most ex-
elusive and aristocraatic. Now to the
story Of this ring:
Had Treasure Chart.
"In June, 1905, a gentleman from
Chicago came to my Office soliciting
my assistance. He had map or chart
and letter, of which he gave the fol-
lowing history: His mother, widow
kept a boarding house 26 years ago in
Chicago. Among her boarders was a
man of about 60 years, who was a sail
or on the lake. He had evidently
cruised on salt water for many years,
in fact the other sailors often talked
of that, and the fact that he seemed
to hold himself aloof from them; that
while mixing freely with them, he
would never relate any of his expert
cnces in the past, as sailors generally
lONS W W. II1l ialIlS Vi
firio LaFon. One night he was
drowned by the wrecking of his YES
sci. the Irene, of Sandusky. His ef-
fects lay about the house for years in
an old sea chest, all efforts to discover
any relatives being Intellectual. In the
bottom of the chest was the chart and
letter, the latter stating that LaFon
had been a pirate under Lafitte previ-
Gus to coming to the lakes, and had,
with his companions, buried a very
large treasure in Matamoros. There
was also some fine jewelry and beau
tifully decorated dagger in the chest,
and the chart. The latter l at once
recognized as a partial map of the city
of Matamoros in the vicinity of the
Casa Tarnava or house of the
pirates" as it is now called, and the
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

Yes. that gem is one of the finest
I have ever seen, and its strange his
tory, to me, adds very materially to
ms intrinsic value
The speaker was Mr.. Pierce, prom.
inent attorney of Brownsville, Tex, as
we sat on the broad veranda at his
handsome residence, smoking our
cigars, after the most remarkable jan
uary dinner l have ever eaten, writes
Isaac Kline. On the menu was roast
wild goose. which had been shot as it
few over the house on the day before;
oysters on the half-shell, fresh from
the waters of the Gulf at Point lsa-
bel. Is miles away; green corn on the
cob, cucumbers, lettuce, celery from
Mr.. Pierce's own garden; oranges, figs
and grapes from trees and vines in the
dooryard-in January! The gem un-
der discussion was a very fine dia-
mond. whose steel-blue brilliance pro-
claimed it as having come from the
Old Mines, sparkling in an Old-fash
ioned setting on Mr.. PierCe's finger.
IL
1 should be very much pleased, for it
belonged to Jean Lafitte, the pirate.
If it could but speak, what a tale it
might tell of former ownership by
some Spanish senoritas, of the bloody
sea fight which terminated in the
sinking of a ship with it's crimson
deck burdened with the COrpses Of its
defenders; of murder done afterwards
in disposing of the wounded by the
piratical custom of walking the plank;
of drunken outrage and orgy at Bar
rataria following the piratical vic
tory, in which very likely the fair
owner OF this very ring was one of the
prizes. There is certainly a romance
connected with this stone, and it at
tracts me the more for the reason that
I know so little of it.
Lafitte's Real Character.
Jean LATTE is referred to in the
histories as a pirate, and such he was
but from those who knew him, with
whom have talked, l gain the impress
sion that he was not fully entitled to
that reputation. though he was fear
less fighter with a band of freeboot-
ers to whom his word was law, whose
bravery made them scourge of the
sea 20 years ago, in these very waters,
He was a Frenchman and began his
career as a lieutenant on a French pri-
vateer, was captured by an English.
lish man-of-war and thrown into pris.
on at an English port, where he was
kept for many years and so barbar.
ously treated that his resentment had
large bearing in shaping his subse
Quent pursuits.
1T is asserted by old residents at
Matamoras who knew him that his ac
tIon in betraying the English in their
attempt to capture New Orleans was
in retaliation for the brutallties tC
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

eral letters he would hear of another
place likely to suit him, so of course
he applied for it at once.
Unfortunately, when the letter was
written he found that he had no
stamp, that he had used the last one.
and that he had no money to buy an
other. If he delayed writing the stu.
alton would be filled, but If he wrote
at once he would be sure to get the
place. What hard lines! And he had
been out of work for weeks and had
now come to the end of his tether. OF
course those who did not know him
felt sorry for this unfortunate state
of affairs and would give him a stamp
or the price of one.
Sometimes he would take his stand
near a post Office, looking ruefully at
the letter after going through all his
pockets. with the result that some
charitable woman who was passing
WoEII ask his trouble and give him
penny or twopence on hearing his
tale. 1t was said that he had admitted
making as much as five shillings a
day by this means.
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28
TIppIlna Money as a Dover.

A marriage recently celebrated in
Scotland has a curious story attached
to it. The brides father and mother.
who have been abstainers for over 20
years, gave as a marriage dowry to
their daughter the sum of e12O.
Every week since they became total
abstainers the amount formerly spent
in alcoholic liquor had been banked
for the little one who caused her par.
ents to take the pledge. The little
girl had seen her father slightly in
ebrated and reproved him for it the
next day. The parents have es.
chewed drink ever since.
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28
The Apple Cure

"For ten years." said physician e.
have advocated apples as a cure for
drunkenness. In that time have tried
the apple cure on some 40 or so drunk
ards, and my success has been most
gratifying. Let any man afflicted with
the love of drink eat three or more.
apples daily, and the horrible craving
will gradually leave him, The cure
will be greatly helped along If he
smokes Us little as possible"
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28
Believed World Hatched From Eu,

Believed World Hatched From Egg.
Since remotest times the egg has
symbolized recreation. Persian ira
dition has it that the world was hatch
ed from an egg at the season which
corresponds to the vernal equinox
for which reason eggs are still given
for New Years presents by the Per
sians The druids said that the sun
a great egg, Matched from itself the
earth and other planets.
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28
No Use Wasting Time.

Some people never stop to couHs
the cost because they realize thai
they haven't got the price, anyway
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28
STORY OF PIRATE PLUMBER
RECALLS DAYS OF LAFITTE
SOME OF FREEBooTERs WEALTH RECOVERED
Splendid Gem Now Owned by Brownsville, Texas, At
tOrney Was Part of Accumulated Booty-SmuggIers'
Houses at Matamoros Mexico, Still Stand
in Magnificent Ruin.


Securely Concealed
of the o Vim Victory
at tin Way
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

Barking dogs should be taken to the
pound and boasting men should be
pounded.
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

which he had been subjected. AS
there was no war between France and
England at the time of his release, he
obtained a privateer's commission un-
der the Carthaginian government
against Spain. have seen this COM
mission, which is still in existence,
in Spanish, and held by relatives of
his, near Brownsville. These rela-
tives claim that his only acts of piracy
were against British vessels-and he
was beyond question a scourge to
these. In 1907 he came to New Or
leans, and in 1894 was at the head
The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-03-28

AS the incoming boat skirts the