davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-04

R. P. Prowell of this place with sev- eral associates, has purchased a number of large barges, which he has installed on the Warrior river to transport lumber from various mills down the river. This is an enterprise that has been more or less needed for some time, and, as MT Prowell has had extensive experience in the lumber business, the outfit will doubt less prove a great convenience, as well as a paying investment
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-04
Dispensary Recelnts.

Huntsville. June 3s-(SpeciaL )-During the month of May the receipts at the county dispensary amounted to $11, ,391. 50. This Is little above the average taken by the month since the dispensary begun business. The receipts on Saturday last amounted to $l1H.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-04
Deserter Arrested.

Huntsville, June 3.-(Special )-Cyrus W. Tate, an alleged deserted from the Uni ted States navy, has been arrested here and taken to Newport News by Deputy Sheriff Erie Miller Tate Is said to have deserted from the navy about a month ago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-04
MISS PETTINGILL
 DIES AT GADSDEN
Was 72 Years of Age and
 Widely Esteemed
TICKET OFFICE CLOSED
Alabama Great Southern Will Open New Offiee-Flrst City Directory Is lssued-Has Seven Thous-
 and Names.

Gadsden, June 3.--(Speciel)-Mis Lucy beloved ladies of this city, died at the home of her nephew, Charles Ewing, on Ewing avenue, Sunday evening at 3;3O o'clock, after an illness of several weeks. Miss Pettingill was p years of age, and has been a resident of this city for forty-five years. She was consistent m,mber of the First Baptist church of this city
 The deceased is survived by one brother George Pettingin of Boise City, Idaho, and the following nephews and nieees: Charles w. Ewing, Thomas G. Ewing. Miss Stella Ewing, all of Gadsden Mrs. w. C. shahan Attalla. and Dr. Arthur Ewing of St Louis. Mo. The funeral will be held from the residence Tuesday afternoon and the remains will be laid to rest in Forest cemetery. Much Of Miss Pettingilrs life had been devoted to works of charity and her death will be mourned by hundreds whom she helped in time of need.
 Ticket Office Closed.
 The city ticket office of the Alabama Great Southern railroad, which has been operated Jointly with the Louisville and Nashville railroad in the Prntup hotel building, has been discontinued. Both of fees have been in charge of M. l.. Foster for the past fourteen years. It has been announced from official sources, that the Alabama Great Southern will reopen a ticket office in this city within a few days, several locations now being under consideration. MT. Foster will continue as agent of the Louisville and Nashville. Many improvements will be made in the Louisville and Nashville office, including the waiting rooms.
 City Directory.
 Gadsden first city directory was issued today from the press of the Journal Publishing company. The work is gotten up in excellent style and reflects great credit upon it's compilers and publishers. The volume contains 300 pages and to- tai of 1000 names. It Is neatly arranged and carries an immense amount of adyer- Using of local firms
 Anniversary Observed.
 The anniversary of the birthday of Jefferson Davis was appropriately ob- served here this afternon by Emma San som chapter United Confederate Vet erans and the Gadsden chapter Daughters of the Confectionery. The banks were closed in observance of the day and many citizens joined in the exercises.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-04

The sheriff and his deputies have been making 1t warm for the vagrants about here for the past few days. About sev- enteen were hauled in during the past few days, and quite a number of this crowd are now lodged in the county jail This move on the part of the officers has had quite a salutary effect on the worth less crowd of negroes about here.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
Black Besrd's Mysterious Castle.

suu the rich foreigner was q well
come guest at Georgetown, and more
90 than ever when he declared his
on the upper Potomac. and in the
vicinity OF where the Chain bridge now
stands
As the work OF quarrying the stone
and erecting the castle was to be done
by the Georgetown citizens, there is
little question but that the hottest
townsmen felt not a wee bit elsted
over the prospect.
At any rate the historic annals OF the
town tell us that on the eve Of the
laying OF the cornerstone for the
castle an immense banquet was giv-u
in the town hall in honor OF the SIgnor
Tasquale; for this was the name. as
sumed or genuine, OF ne OF the black
beard.
At this celebrated banquet the gentry
for miles around fiocked in attendance.
But il cannot be said that the signor
made any favorable impression on the
banqueters. as his brusque manners
and forbidding appearance inspired the
honest company on that memorable
night with mixed feelings of re
pugnance and fear.
After the erection OF the castle the
townspeCple saw little or nothing OF
the dark bearded signor. as all his
business with the people was transact
ed Dy his subOrdinates. who were of Il
foreign race. like himself.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26

The story told as 10 the origin OF
this ghostly bell. and a story that has
been handed down through genera
tons. is 10 the effect that about the
year 1751. when the then little village
Of Georgetown was Incorporated there
appeared in that vicinity a dark
bearded foreigner. accompanied by a
timid. shrinking though beautiful
little girl. who. as tradition goes. APP
peared TO be in mortal terror Of the
man who claimed 10 be her father.
But as the child could speak no Ing
nsh. and as the man. who talked with
either a French or Spanish accent
(opinicn seems 10 have been divided
on this poinD. never spoke about his
affairs, the relations OF the pretty little
stranger can at the best be only
problematical.
At any rate. this dark-bearded and
taciturn foreigner was evidently in the
possession OF a large amount 81 money
And that he was lavish In his eXpendi-
lures. is still a Georgetown tradition.
At the time OF his sudden appearance
In Georgetown. shillings and rsace
were not altogether TOO plentiful. al
though In nearby sections there were
even at that early day many rich
landed proprietors living in luxury and
surrounded by their innumerable
retinue OF black retainers.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
"Prlncess. Held a Prisoner.

Boating parties up the river would
once In while catch glimpse Of the
sweet face Of the little girl, as IL
peered down at them from behind the
iron bars of an upper window. and on
several occasions a little hand was
waved to the Jolly boating crowd as
they passed by.
Soon the rumor grew that the child
was a kidnapped princess. and senti-
mental young ladies wcve all manner
OF romances around the fairylike little
creature. while the Impressicnab,e
youths of those long ago days liter
ally haunted the vicinity OF the castle.
hoping that the princess, in true story
book fashion, would drop them a note,
asking them TO rescue her from the
now thoroughly disliked and Stunned
Tasqua1e.
But aside from the fieeting glimpses.
they caught OF the girls face At the
window, and the occasional wave Of a
hand. the boating folks came no closer
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
Dread of ~BIack Beard.

This had been in years gone by one
of Black Boards most noted hiding
places. 3nd il is yet believed by many
that much of this famous pirates
dred miles of Analostan Island.
When the honest residents of
GEORGETOWN we're told of the reap
pearance OF Black Beard I'm their vi
cinity, their thoughts were not
Of the pleaSantest. for when an Eng
lish seventy-four gave chase TO this
pirate in Little river a few years
previous. and after a terrific combat
blew his piratical craft to splinters. it
was thought that the reign OF the no
torlous Black Beard was at an end.
But II rumor was 10 be relied on.
here was this blooGthirsty scoundrel
again With his rascally crew Of cut
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26

threats, and the black flag with the
skull and crossbonss flying dehnantly
at the mast head.
\ pretty situation indeed, because
there was none Of his majesty's men
O. warships then within several hun
dred miles Of Anolostan Island.
While the men OF Georgetown now
went about with anxiety written on
their features. the youngsters were
bubbling over with the excitement OF
the times, and many were the deep
laid schemes and heroic plans they
Matched UP among themselves for the
undoing OF the pirates.
The young English drummer boy was
the leader in all these schemes. and
naturally the hero OF the town lads
for had he not been mixed up In real
warfare? And about this time the
plucky English lad developed pen
chant for sculling on the river at
night. and during one OF these nigh
excursions he In some manner while
resting upon his oars IN the vicinity
OF the foreigners castle got into COM
munication with the much talked OF
little girl who was now a beautiful
miss in her teens
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26

in touch with the child than before.
Thus the years sped by and in 1155.
General BraddOck. accompanied Uy
young George Washington, landed at
Georgetown, just below where the *
street bridge now is. and for three days
they campcd I'm the town. recruiting
and also for the purpose Of getting to-
gether a sufficient quantity OF supplies,
so as to enable them 10 make the long
hard march To the spot on which Pitts
burg is now located.
OF course every reader of history II
acquainted with the disastrous re-
suits OF Braddock's expedition against
the French and Indians. And that ne
himself may have had some premonI-
ton of the defeat that was 10 be his.
lies in the fact that he refused to al
low. to accompany the troops. hand
some English drummer boy, who was
said 70 have been the natural son OF
General Braddock; and whose mother,
il was claimed, was connected with
the nobility Of England.
This boy the general fairly idolizsd.
and when he marched his little army
out OF Georgetown he commended the
lad 20 the care OF one OF the town s
most foremost citizens. Enoch A. Nil
Ter
The handsome English lad soon be
came q general favorite In the town
He was the idol of all the boys. be
caus- he had been TO the wars; and
all the girls were in love with him.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26

HIS is the of which
a somber for $50 For
living the shores of the and
bell
tolng night beating mud DRUM and always
drowning have cohed but
persons living who
regulations the truth
Of
fol to
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26

the edge OF the roof and fell with q
resounding splash into the middle OF
the rapid running river below
The soldiers and townsmen, mad
with the horrible sight they had ait
Messed now stormed the castle from
all sides, and fought with the fury OF
enraged lions, and after defeating ths
robbers tntrenched within the castle,
they burned that structure and
strewed the walls OF rhe building
time giving no quarter 70 the ROB
bers.
From the moment that the drummer
boy tnvoluntarily started the bell 70
ringing, II kept Up its direful tolliag
until the three bodies struck the
water. Then il suddenly closed, but
not forever.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
Dismal ToAHngs Heard For a
Hundred Years ForeteH OF
DrownmgS In the Upper
RiUer---MysterlouS Sounds
Vouched For By old RESI-
dents---Legend of "Block
Boards" Robber Castle.

IT HA T there are many things in this life i'm
possible of explanation by the most learned
philosophers is admitted fact. That there
are daily happenings that take on a super
natural colOrng is also admitted by the Mise men OF
science in their search for the reason in all things
That these men are often bafled, brought to the part
ing of the nays in their Investigations, is knoWn to
themselves. Some of the greatest thinkers of the
present day have admitted their belief that ghoSty
messages hare been and being received from the
unseen WorLd. The most Advanced of these even pre-
dict that the time not far distant Vhen the means
of exact communication will be diScopered Nth the
spirits of those Who have gone before.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26

me to aid IN resisting the attack on
the place.
Bravely the handsome lad. with
the blood OF generations OF soldiers
coursing through his young veins and
With his drum slung over his shoulder.
nimbly assembled the rope ladder and
was assisted into the room by the fair
young girl
A few minutes later the watching
crowd from their hiding places below
saw the fair-haired boy boldly making
his way toward the bell rope.
Another moment he had seized il.
and Just then. to the horror Of the
cniookers in hiding. the huge figure OF
Tasquale. armed with a wicked look
ing knife. rushed on the lad. and he
fell against the boy with 50 great 2
force that the lad. to save himself
from being thrown of the roof. and
into the river below. held 10 the rope.
and thus started the deep-toned bell
TO ringing.
The first blow Of the wicked knife
missed the boy. and as Tasquale
raised 10 strike again. mis- arm was
caught BY the beautiful girl, who had
ALREADY risked so much for love OF the
handsome English drummer boy
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
Bell SHn Tolls Out Warnings.

Scores OF people living in the terri
tory embraced By the Aqueduct bridge
at Georgetown and the Little Falls,
which are situated abe , the Chain
Bridge. have been found no win tes-
tify OF the many occasions on which
they themselves have heard the toll
ing of 1.-The ghost bell as II has come
to be known, accompanied by the
beating OF q muffled drum These
mysterious sounds Rre always heard
on the night preceding q drowning in
the neighborhood, and IL is said by
those who have heard them. that the
Eruesome warning has never failed
During the civil war, the sounds were
Of almost daily occurrence, 81 is said
on account Of the many soldiers who
were drowned from the camps along
either fhore Of The Potomac, and there
has not been a drowning since, either
accidental o. by suicide. so II Is
claimed. when the bell has not been
heard br some one TO clang out Its dIs-
NAL notes the night before.
And so this gruesome mystery re-
mains today no nearer a solution than
IL was over a hundred years ago.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
Bow scaled the Castle walls.

AS the English boy could converse
in French he and the girl carried on a
romantic courtship for some weeks. or
probably months. II was said that the
boy made a rope ladder. which was
secreted In the girls room. and that
each night the ladder was let down, by
which the boy assembled 70 the window
ledge OF the room occupied by the
girl; and seated thus. he and the fair
occupant Of the room whispered sweet
nothings into the willing ears Of one
another.
During the many talks they had to-
gether, the boy CLEANED the knowledge
from the girl that the master Of the
castle was really the individual who
was chiefly responsible for the many
robbefies that had been committed
throughout the neighborhood.
He, IL seems. was the leader OF a
band OF reckless fellows who made the
castle their home, and who never ven
tured out, with the exception Of two or
three members Of the gang. save at
night. Consequently, II they we're
passed on the river by the boats they
were taken for some of the men from
the town or nearby vicinity.
about this time a company of Eng
glish soldiers. on their way to join
General Braddock, arrived in George
town. and to the officers in command,
the brave little drummer had commu-
nicated the information that he mad re-
ceived from the girl, and plans were
laid TO effect the capture Of the crafty
Tssquale, and his band of robbers.
* =:
Signal Bell 10 summon Robbers.
The girl. who could remember moth
ing Of her past life before she came
under the guardianship of the dark
bearded signor, acquainted the English
lad with the Information that on the
roof OF the castle was a huge bell that
was rung whenever the bandit Tas-
quale wished TO assemble mis- gang OF
rascals.
A certain number OF rings OF this
bell donated fer what purpose the chief
wished 20 assemble his forces, and as
the castle Was simply impregnable
from the outside, the doors and win
Gows being heavily laced with iron;
IL was deemed absolutely necessary
that some one should effect an entrance
unknown. of course, TO the chief OF
or any OF his band. and thus being once
inside, coulu open the doors TO the sol
ders and those citizens who Nad vol
unteered to aiG in the capture of the
robbers. This desperate portion OF the
affair fell 10 the lot OF the English
drummer boy. who when he had sue
ceeded in eftecting an entrance and
opening the heavy doors. was 10 ap-
prise his friends in hiding Of the fact
nv the heating If hts drum
He was told that the first thing to be
done on entering was 70 ascend TO the
roof. and cut the bell cord. so that in
case all the gang were not in the cas-
tie they could not be summoned in
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
Mysterious Robberies We're FIRE.
qUent.

Now as these were the days when
piracy was in full bloom, and the Po-
tomac river then was the scene OF
many a bloody battle between the
buccaneers and honest ship crews,
what was more natural than for the
Georgetown people TO attribute the
long series of robberies that had been
frequently occurring during the past
several months TO no other persons
than the pirates.
These robberies consisted mainly of
the breaking into the manor houses.
in TIE vicinity Of Georgetown. by
bodies Of masked men who carried off
everything Of value in the money.
jewelry. and silverware line. And
although many clues were followed
by the local detective talent of those
days. nothing that would lead to the
establishing Of the culprits' identity
was ever found Although the foot
prints of the midnight marauders al
ways led To the river front and there
ended.
Because of this fact the robberies
were laid at the doors Of the pirates,
and they had Of late become 50 fire.
quent that the town people and those
occupying houses in the neishborng
country were almost in a panic. To
make the situation worse, the rumor
got abroad that the dreaded Black
Beard, the celebrated Potomac river
and Chesapeake bay pirate. and his
nurderous ship crew, were nightly at
anchor over in Little river. which
skirts Andlos,an Island on the west
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
AM Three PLUNGED Into the RIrer

All 1hASV iuh-NN INV" thV tAifNAs
But her interference saved not the
lad. VINO was now struggling madly
for his young life. for with the girl
stiH clinging TO his arm, the man
drove the knife into the bosom OF the
lad. But at that moment an English
sharpshooter sent~a ball clean through
the brain OF the bandit, and he stag
sered forward. with the girl still hold
ing to his arm. and with his unre-
laxrS grip on the lad. and In another
moE1ent the three bodies had cleared
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-12-19
CONTIGUOUS VIEWS.
Secretary of Treasury Not a
Presidential Candidate.
WANTS ONLY PEOPLES CONFIDENCE
Has Decided Views ON Politics, hut
Refrains From Expressing Them
at This Time IN Ak
to Grind.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-Secretars
Cortelyou In n signed statement given
out last night pronounces unqualified.
ly false the current rumors of undue
political activity of his friends in for.
wardlng movement In his interest.
The secretary declares that neither
he nor his friends have used their in
fluence in behalf Of any candidate for
the presidency and that he has not
been a candidate for anything but the
confidence of the people. He adds that
If he should hereafter decide to be
candidate for any office he will say so
frankly.
The statement follows:
II do not know that am called upon
to make statement at this time, but
in view of the various rumors in cir
culation as to the alleged political ac-
tivity of friends of mine in my inter-
est | will say that have not been a
candidate for anything but the conf
dence of the people In the discharge
of my duties as secretary of the treas.
ury.
II have not in person sought nor
have the friends whose names have
been mentioned in this connection
sought to influence political movements
In my interest. l have not nor have
they used any influence, directly or In
directly, to secure political support for
or against any candidate for the pres.
idency, and accusations that such has
been done are unqualihedly false. In
no Office, in no one of the three de-
partmsnts with which have been
connected, have l authorized or per.
mitted officials or employees to at
tempt to influence any such move.
ments, nor shall do so.
"In common with many other citi.
zens have decided views as to poll.
ciss and as to candidates, but | shall
refrain from expressing them until
believe 1t is proper for me to do So
| Upon this statement | am entirely con
tent TO leave the people to draw Their
own conclusions regarding such ru
mors as those TO which | have re.
ferred. If in the future l shall decide
| to be candidate for any office | shall
be prepared to say so frankly and
state the grounds upon which ask
for support. In the meantime | shall
try, as have tried in the past, TO con
duct the treasury department for the
benefit of the people of the whole
country and absolutely without regard
to whether any action | may take ii
the line of my duty may adversely
affect my personal or political wei
fare"
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-12-19
Cause Of seaman's Bad Language.

AT Southampton (Eng) seaman
named Johnson had to appear before
the borough magistrate on a charge of
making use of bad language In St
Marys street. In explanation he
said he was married in st.
Mary's church. Southampton, many
years ago. He left Southampton after
the ceremony and was away several
years. Coming back the other day he
went to look at the church, and find
ing there was still no steeple to 1t he
did in his righteous anger use some
very strong words. In fining the de.
PENDANT ten shillings and costs the
chairman Of the bench said many PEG.
pie had said strong things about such
beautiful church as st. Mary's hav-
ing no steeple, but they did not use
such bad expressions as the defendant
had.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-12-19
VARIETIES IN HUMAN SPECIES.
Source Of Everything That 10 Beautiful
and interesting.

Each human being has something
distinguishing, In form, proportions,
countenance. gesture, voice-in feel.
ings. thought. and temper, In mental
as well as corporal physiognomy.
This variety is the source of every
thing beautiful and interesting In the
external world-the foundation OF the
whole moral fabric OF the universe.
Certain external circumstances, as
food. climate, mode Of life, have the
power of modifying the animal organi'
cation, so as to make It deviate from
that OF the parent. But this effect
terminates In the individual. Thus. a
fair Englishman. If exposed to the sun,
becomes dark and swarthy in Bengal;
but his offspring. II from an English
woman, are born just as fair as he
himself was originally; and the chill.
dren. after any number Of generations
that we have yet observed. are still
born equally fair, provided there has
been no intermixture of dark blood.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-12-19
Often The Kidneys Are
Weakened BY OYer-WOrk.
Unhealthy kidneys Make Impure Blood.

1t used to be considered that only
urinary and bladder troubles were to be