davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21

in disgust, not needing his reduction in price TO
one tiny goatlet
As l return from market often wish my sisters
at home could see the caravan In front walks my
head girl Jennie Waa, with huge basket Of
purchases on her head, together with my drugs and
instruments, without which | hardly ever venture
outside the door. Ny servants carry all things on
their heads except their babies, which slung
from their hips with strips of monkey skin Then
comes my mat hammock, suspended from bamboo
poles and borne by four BOYS. The rear IS brought
up bv my gun bearers and canoe men; the former
never leaving from their hands for moment my
trusty $50 elephant rifle and the 1903 magazine
For pets | have baby lions, or it may be faith
erless and absurdly diminutive elephant and in
stead of going to a theater the cannibals come and
dance in our compound almost every night.
We and our hOme-SuCh it iS-are utterly at
their mercy; but they know that at least can at
will trace up elephant spoor, and with shot from
the marvellous $50 bring down fve-ton tusker
which will provide them and theirs with an indeScrb-
able orgy lasting for many days
For SIX months now l have been able to get a
new relay of excellent servants, chiefly owing to
the fiendish cruelty practised by the Belgians in
the Upper kongo. These men have unscrupulously
tribe against tribe. with the result that all the
old horrors of cannbalism and slavery in full
swing, from Bangaa to Manyemaland.
One of my girls one of eighteen wives of a
chief on the Mobangi River. who killed in a
raid by a rubber hunting tribe actuated by the Bel
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21
An Isolated Country
TODAY, as centuries ago. Old Pro,
tiny country TO itself Far ont of

TODAY, as centuries ago, Old Providence is
j. tiny country to itself Far out of the modern
ocean highway. in of the least frequented
parts of the Caribbean the steamship or sailing
ship has no occasion to pass near 1t unless driven
there by storm. There IS no post office for the
reason that there Is no mail service. True it is
claimed by some country, Just every point
that sticks out of the sea Is claimed. Colombia
calls Old Providence part of its Republic; but
not a lives upon IT TO act as Governor
Judge. even agent So its people kill. steal
and commit other crimes utterly regardless of any
authority force and the little influence OF the
solitary white who has cast his lot among them
st. GATHERINGS. 1t moCkIngly called in the
old days. was the stronghold of Henry Morgan.
For nearly two hundred and fifty years the blood of
his followers has flowed in the veins of it's people:
but before the freebooters sailed into its harbor the
Spanish Governor of Costa Rica had made it an
island prison for criminals he thought too danger
Gus TO keep on the mainland. When Morgan de
teaed the garrison he placed guards his cap
tVeS hundred of these ConvIctS, released on their
promise to JOIN his band-lteray human dregs of
New Spain. Again the Spaniards captured the ISL
and and turned 1t into penal colony until Morgan s
flag was raised above in 1910 and the struggle for
ITS possession ended. Since then most of those who
have lived upon 1t have been descendants of the
white outlaws, their convict allies. and the black
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21

CAILING upon that almost unknown sea
- which Gibbs and flows upon the Mosquito
- Coast. the line of the horizon is broken by
two faint points. As the vessel approaches
nearer a strange sight meets the vision The
points have become two Jaws looming against
the cearness OF tle sky and water II is as if
an enormous mouth had been suddenly thrust
out of the sea with distended jaws pointed sky
ward.
Truly the sight is unCanny. but the jaws mark
an uncanny spot in the Caribbean. Once these
waters we're not 50 deserted by Upon
their bosom passed stately galeons. the plate
ships loaded with treasure from the new Spain
When their Captains saw those black Jaws. they
may have said an Are as altering their course
they sailed away from them. for this bit of
dry spot in the ocean was then known, as it is
to-day. as pirate island.
old Providence, as the map maker calls il. is
truth dot on the waters Not over four
miles from end 10 end IN its longest direction
and half much IN width. good walker can
encrCc II by the little coast path the natives
call highway in half a day The human beings
who call II home are confined to its outer edge
for the submarine volcano which at some time
in the past ages gave birth to Old Providence in
one Of its commissions. topped II off with a minia
ture mountain range stretching above the CEN
ter of the island. 1t Is one of these mountains
that forms the black gaping Jaws plainly seen
long before the graceful CoCOanut palms marking
the shore line are visible In a whimsical dis
play of its power. the volcano cut a great wedge
in Of the peaks wedge fully a hundred
feet across AT the top and tapering to a score or
at the bottom.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21

women who went there from the West Indies on
Morgan's ship.
The blood of the Islanders is the blood of English
irish, and Scotch, but adulteratcd with that of the
Negro. To-day fully thousand persons live upon
this iSlet-a thousand human beings who have de-
generated i'll mind until the majority of them are
little better than beasts Murder is common; theft
is not crime; marriage is unknown Only the
tear OF a stronger keeps many a man from taking
life for a trlfe- The women are prolific cause for
crime. II one Is more attractive than some of the
rest in the desire to possess her II is a common
occurrence for the rivals TO fight until only one
remains alive, and 1t Is the law of the island that
she goes with the survivor, until he tires of her or
she leaves him for some one more favored
Most of the cOCOanutS traded for clothing
liquor, firearms. knives, and trinkets. After a
vessel has loaded and departed, for DAYS the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21
New Way TO Wash Dishes

uER deputy is John Randolph. John developed
L i an unpleasant way of cleaning the knives on his
own bare and dirty legs l next objected strongly
to his lack of clothing. and turned to him four
yards of excellent muslin, with a strong hint to
what he was do with it. He carried out the idea
admirably; but the weeks went by began to see
the garment shrink unaccOuntably. Later the
shrinking appeared to go under my very eyes.
found out with amazement that he was trading off
in pieces his and only garment. One night when
dinner was unaccountably late Herbert angrily
into the kitchen. and found that aggravatng boy
taking a lesurely bath in the pot he should have
boiled the potatoes in. That he had ingenuity. how
ever is evident from the fact that before inn
ported fatirons, John suggested that he and Esther
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21

gians; and the poor woman with all her sister
wives. was condemned to be buried alive in the
grave underneath the corpse of her husband. How
She escaped and came down the river is in itself
thrilling story. l call her Esther The poor woman
suffers from chronic dyspepsia And no wonderi She
thoughtfully made a hole in her back with lions
claw to let out the evil spirit which manifestly
possessed her Worse still, he had put her diet
of ground milestone for seven months and her poor
stomach had naturally resented the forty or fifty
pounds weight of pulverized rock she had taken.
The doctor" next recommended cinnamon bark,
of that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21
A REAL PR TIE ISLA ND

island may be the scene of a drunken debauch,
which brings to mind stories written about the
CarOuSalS of the buccaneers after the capture Ut
a prize; but here is no Captain or discipline of
the sea. The weaker are the prey of the stronger
and robbery and killing pass unnOtiCed. IL IS
the testimony of Father Saint John, the brave
priest who alone is endeavOring to do something
to improve the condition of these people. that
scarcely a week passes without murder
With only handful out of the thousand rarl.
latiOn acknowledging any form of ChriSran..v
II Is not strange that the belief in fetiShes even
vOOdOOism, should be wide spread Witch doc
tors and sellers of charms for good and cyl ire
numerous. Most of the women Wee next On Che
skin a tuft of hair, a piece of rag smeared e'-h
blood, or some other amulet which Is intended CD
cast spell over their enemies OF TO keen Of
Satan. in which all believe.
But the life and history of these human rene.
gadeS Is not the only evidence TO prove l-.-
their home is a real pirate island and not thesa-5
of which the nOveIStS are fond of descr ..--
AT its north end rises rocky plateau cuE e-.-I
halt a dozen acres Really II IS another IS. .- p
but separated from Old Providence by ...1.
mel hundred yards in width and So se
that one can easily wade across II. The -.-t
point on this plateau bears a slight rese--
to a mans face. and the native SAYS te.
"MOrgan'S Head" The hfty-foOt r-- ..-e
which extends from the waters edge To-
OF the plateau IS so steep as TO b.
inaccessible except IN two or three pla
the storms of years have worn away is. .r-
Remains of Old Ordnance
TINE top Is SO covered with vines ss- and
j. other growth that not until one
trated into their midst does he find the ol
a wall evidently the work of human har Most
of it is hidden by the rank vegera r-,t
enough of the massive masonry can '.l -l
indicate that II intended for a Icr-
with its openings through which o. he
cannon and its narrow Sits for the o,
n strange sight are the dozen or NOR,
artillery mounted upon a plateau AZ l
end Some of them are of brass. bur .. .t
thickly coated with VerdgrIS which E.N,- 1
the appearance OF fallen trees green wits
Others are of iron: but all of them rs
CeS OF the artistic imagery with which
kerS of the seventeenth century deCOr4,r ..l
rk. Lying inside of the wall the guns
lilly part of the armament of Santa ....-.
castle which the SpaniardS built for -ae
Sc of st. Catherine. but which they sure .-.t
Morgan in 1910 with eight smaller for -d
terieS.
diseases frequently ravage th, and
kill scores IN visitation Ignorant of stu -t'n.
wing little nothing of medicine, and do end
chiefly on the charms they get from the y.fdoo
tors TO ward off disease, the people often de rom
nentS which IN other conditions might be- cured
from the accounts of the old men there IS -o i'uot
t fifty years ago the number of inhabl,ao-s was
CHI greater than at present \ half century 1ence
the descendants of the pirates o- jhIS
thern ocean reduced 70 mere handtui II not
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07
The Cars Mercy.

Vice-Admiral Niebogatof, who surren-
dered the ships under his command to the
japanese, goes to prison for ten years by
the cars mercy instead Of to death by the
decision of the court-martial that tried him.
II ever man was placed between the devil
and the deep sea this Russian sailor was.
His ships were no good, and their equip
ment was even worse. There was the en-
envy. ft as fiddle and heartened by a
series of unbroken triumphs. Fight meant
physical destruction, surrender personal and
professional disgrace. Fight was the duty
of the hour, for that was what the Rus
slams, poorly prepared as they were. had
been sent to do. But surrender was decided
upon. with the result to the Russian officer
now announced. The cars mercy Is prob
ably we'll exercised. His navy in the war
with Japan was disgrace to his kingdom
but the fault was not with the men called
upon to command the ships Had the ships
been better the men might have given a bet
ter account of themselves.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07
The wide-Tire Boomerang.

II the object Of the wide-tire bill is solely
to protect the asphalt pavements Of WASH
ington there Is danger that its enactment
and enforcement will defeat that object in
large degree. Many of the delivery wagons
used In this city weigh when loaded from
$500 to $500 pounds, with three-inch tires.
Many Of them will. under the proposed sys-
tenn Of four-inch tires, be speedily discarded
for larger wagons. proportioned to the
heavier wheels. and capable Of carrying a
total weight Of from 1900 to $4,000 pounds,
with three or four horses In harness. The
owners will make this change because they
know the folly Of trying to get economical
results out of the four-inch tired wagon
drawn by two horses. The addition Of one
horse to the average wagon of present style
win be more than Is needed. and thus the
sensible expedient Of adjusting the load and
the power will be promptly adopted The
result will inevitably be a far more serious
wear on the pavements than at present.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07

tariff commissions. That way lie confusion.
distrust. and further delay. Why not pair~
sue the old course, which In 1891 work
ed 30 supremacy well? Revision was neces-
sary at that Time not al the result Of q
good law the country had outgrown. but of
q bad law which should never have been
placed upon the books. And the House, un-
der the leadership Of . man thoroughly
qualified for his task-Mr. Dingley-took
up the subject, and, in comparatively
short time. and without disturbing business,
disposed OF It. It was the way to proceed,
and the proceedings were all but perfect.
The representatives Of the people kept the
matter IN their own hands, made their
own Investigations. did their own revising.
and did 1t 80 well the country has been
applaudins the work ever since. The work
will deserve applause as long as 1t Ia re-
called.
Let us get ready, not by commission. nor
In the hurry Of an extra session, but in the
usual way and for work at q regular SEES
sion. It win be an achievement of great
merit II Congress next winter can be in
duced to take action. The standpatters win
be ready with their threats Of trouble in the
presidential campaign and all that, and be-
sides will endeavor to block the way with
other things. But the republican revision
lists. If baked Of bill then, can emphasize
the issue for the ensuing campaign and
make sure Of action by the next Congress.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07
x..sachusetts and the Taritr.

Gov Guild of Massachusetts, Is sincere
advocate of tariff revision. His first term
of Office as he frankly confessed after the
election. was secured by his advocacy Of
the cause, and he was no less outspoxen
last year. 1t is to his credit that he re-
spects the bridge that carried him over.
Like other friends of the cause. he thinks
there should be something doing. He is tired
Of hoping and of promising things The way
to revise, as he thinks. is to revise. Nearly
SIX years have passed since Mr.. Mckinley
at Buffalo gave the cue. and yet the Dingley
law. with all of its inequalities growing out
Of our ten years Of unexampled prosperity,
remains unchanged. And SO we have the
pious exclamation adjusted to this worka-
day business proposition. How long, o
Lord how longi"
The Massachusetts governor. In his impa-
thence, proposes an extra session of Con-
gress to deal with the question. He would
have q. tariff commission appointed, and an
expert investigation made of what is re-
quired. Then. SO instructed and guided
Congress at the regular session could act
upon the Information supplied. and give the
country the proper relief.
The proposition lacks merit. Ne moro
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07
Mr.. Bryce to the Pilgrims.

What Mr. Bryce told his hosts of the Pill
grims' Society in London last night SHOWS
as nothing else does the unusual character
of his appointment to the British post here
He is personally acquainted with the Presi-
dent of the United States and with the Sec
rotary OF State, the two American ofhciais
with whom he Is to transact business
That probably has never been true OF any
other British representative to America,
and 1t Is bound to have a happy e1ect on
Mr. Bryce's mission His welcome VIII De
that of an old friend who is revisiting ia
miIiar scenes, and who will need no time
to get acquainted. He knows America ana
America him. and he should feel comfort
able and at home within twenty-four hours
after landing.
Mr.. Bryce it will be observed, uses the
plural In speaking of the United States. A
few of our own public men continue that
old practice but the rule on this side today
is the other way. The United States now
is 1t. We emphasize our widely advertised
and accepted nationality by employing the
singular. 1t sounds better, and gives the
complete impression of solidarity. The
United States. we insist, Is nation, Is
here, we all hope, for all time, and certainly
while here will discharge nations obliga-
TONS The distinguished English scholar
so learned in American lore, may after
shaking down in his new berth adopt the
later form of expression.
But, whether we are one or many, Mr..
Bryce thinks well Of US, and Is coming over
to help along the good feeling that exists
between his country and our own. AS
student Of world affairs he knows its value
not only to the people of English speech but
to all people, and that no Englishman or
American could be SO well employed at this
time as In aiding in making that bond
the stronger. By interpreting our institu-
tions to his own countrymen in his great
book he has already performed a very val
liable service. and should his Diplomatic
work supplement that. as doubtless 1t WILL
he will be the Abou Ben Adhem in our an
mails of Englishmen. His name win lead all
the rest.
1t is appropriate to say that the remarks
Of Mr.. Whitelaw Reid In this God-speed to
Mr.. Bryce were forcibly and felicitously
phrased and must have added much to Mr.
Bryce's pleasure during the evening. Mr.
Reid has said nothing better in any of his
public deliverances since assuming his pres.
ent duties and with him in London Ameri-
cans feel the same degree of satisfaction
with the situation that Englishmen will feel
with Mr.. Bryce in Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07
Death in the Cab.

A few weeks ago locomotive engineer on
the New York, New Haven and Hartford
line was killed in his cab, his head being
struck by a signal post. The engine was
fortunately brought to stop by the fire.
man In time to prevent a train wreck. Last
night precisely the same thing happened on
the pennsylvania line, the engineer being
killed somewhere between West -Philadel-
phia and North Philadelphia and the fire.
man checking speed just in time to avert
an accident. For some minutes the train
was out of human control and it was by
the greatest Of good fortune that a shock
ing disaster did not result
These two tragedies indicate two facts.
first that the signal posts are set too close
to the rails, and second that the safety of
passengers calls for the adoption Of an alb
solutely automatic cutoff system which
supplements the engineer and interposes a
mechanical check upon him. Had either of
the trains in the cases noted run into an
open switch or into another train the result
would have been a catastrophe costing the
corporation much more than the Initial ex-
pense of installing a safety system of this
character.
What II the automatic CUTOFF device is
not yet absolutely perfected? Its adoption
In an imperfect stage will not increase the
risk. 1t is not intended to supplant the en-
gineer. or to take from him any measure
Of the control over his engine he now exer-
cises. II will not lessen his responsibility
II the railroad using it adopts a rigid dis
ciplinaIy rule for the punishment of an
engineer who. running by signal, Is
brought up short by the automatic device,
leaving record for official detection. Even
IL in an experimental stage such a system
falls occasionally. it is no less effective
than the present human system. which
fails frequently. And practical application
is tic surest means of development.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07
Another Visit to South America.

Or. W. r. Shepherd, of the faculty Of
Columbia University, will spend next sum-
mer in South America for the purpose OF
spreading Information there about the
higher educational resources of the United
States. The Bureau Of American Republics
makes this announcement:
THE object of DIR. Shepherds trip will be
to cultivate personal relations with the
leading statesmen, men OF letters and men
of affairs in South America, and to carry
to them knowledge Of the educational re-
sources and opportunities of American col
leges and universities with view of bring
ing about closer relationship between the
Latin American republics and the United
States.
President Roosevelt. Secretary Root and
the Latln-American diplomats are much
interested in DIR. Shepherds trip. II is
hoped IL will recfprocaliy result in the send
Ing of South American men of letters to
the United States The director of the
bureau il In correspondence with Latin
American officials and universities to per-
feet the arrangements for DIR. Shepherd
visit"
This visit. following hard upon that Of
Secretary Root, should have a most excel
lent effect. 1t will show another phase of
our growing appreciation of our southern
neighbors and our desire to get In closer
touch with them for mutual advantage
The problem is not wholly commercial, nor
yet political. Why should not rapidly
increasing number of young men from those
countries finish their education In the
United States? The facilities are here the
welcome Is here, and all Who awaited
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07

themselves Of the opportunity would act
upon their return home as ambassadors OF
good will, taking q message Of progress
from their latest to their oldest friends.
There Is a waking UP all along the line.
We have known too little Of the Latin
Americans, and they too little of US. And
out Of this ignorance have grown many mis-
appraisements. We have been dead to the
progress making down there. and have
chung to the notion that nothing but revo-
lutions and bloody disorders could mark the
life there, while the Latin Americans have
been too prone to accept Uncle Sam at the
unfriendiy description Of being but giant
bully scherning for more land and power.
They have been repeatedly warned against
US. and in some quarters the warning has
told to our disadvantage.
Light IL being thrown upon matters all
around. The Bureau Of American Repub-
lies has done much In the field Of business.
and will do more. Mr.. Root on his visit last
summer dispelled q great many clouds that
had lowered over hemispherical politics. He
spoke well and convincingly on broad lines.
and his deliverances were everywhere re-
ceived with marked respect and even en-
thusiasm. And now DR.. Shepherd, whose
position warrants the belief that he knows
his subject. will present still a third claim
of ours to attention.
The announcement Is of far more than
average interest, and may the best Of luck
attend the distinguished educator on his
Journey. He will bear a message OF which
all Americans are proud. to people with
whom all Americans would be glad to cult
vate closer relations Of every important
character, political, commercial, and edu-
"a fODa1 D..