davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

was. There was no railroad to Mata-
them ever expected to get there, Since
the completion of the new st. L. u. a
M. 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 IL
along, though with little faith in its
having any foundation in fact.
Found Chest We'll Hidden.
I'VE 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. II had been built
into the wall in such manner that
its existence would never be suspect
ed Though four feet square, the stair
way at the side, running to the seq
ond and third stories, prevented tn.
extra thickness of the wall being no.
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 well 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. 1t
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

know that he could have bought as
cheaply and selected much more sat
isfactorily at home On a rural route
with which | am familiar and over
which most OF the incoming letters
are from mail order houses and the
outgoing ones carry back money or
ders, lives friend OF mine who
bought watch from the catalogue at
what he considered a rare bargain.
The watch came. to be sure, but It did
not go, that is at the right speed,
and. although money enough was
spent on 1t to bring the price up to
good figure, 1t was no better as a
timekeeper than that famous watch
of Capt. Cuttle's. Another friend
bought buggy at s34 and was elated
ovar his purchase until 1t came and
he saw that the top was a very ordln-
airy article of oil cloth. instead OF
leather and he was so ashamed of it
that he sold It at loss TO his hired
man and bought a better one in
neighboring town. A lady and her
two daughters bought shoes from the
Catalogue anu WHEN uSkcu why lney
had trouble with their feet said It was
because of ill-fitting shoes But such
instances of the bad effects of buy
ing sight unseen are daily occurring
all over the country. 1t Is only natur-
al and inevitable that such things
should happen.
Let us see what will be the effect
OF this formidable diversion OF trade.
II carried to its logical conclusion.
Nearly all the business houses of The
smaller towns will become bankrupt,
the value of town property will de-
cline. churches and schools will re-
ceive a feeble support and the towns.
instead of being centers of business
and social activity, will almost cease
to exist. The country in general will
become like many portions of tho
south where the large plantations, by
getting their supplies in the cities,
have kept the neighboring towns
down to the crossroads type-dreary,
implanted little places OF a half dozen
ramshackle houses. The evil effects
of this loss of trade and destruction
Of the value OF town property will re-
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04
Elenhants as Lahorers.

Most amusing is it to see one of
these working elephants tackling a
huge squared log and placing it on the
stack. First of all he estimates its
length and weight as it lies on the
ground. Then he digs his tusks under
n at one end, curls his trunk over and
tries to drag one end of the log on to
his tusks. Should he find the task be-
yond him, he will give a queer little
trumpet note, and up comes a col.
league to help him at the other end.
In a moment the two elephants have
swung the big log between them, walk
in step to the pile, and then one of
them, apparently by preconcerted
agreement, places his end in position
on the stack, while the other rams
home the log.-The Circle
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

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 linn
tied, since it soon became nosed
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
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. | 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, l think, indicates secret
passage from the well in the court to
the street; but it may just as well
lead to a treasure chamber.
THE cannon shot over the door in
the second story? Oh, don't know
the history of that. 1t is my impress
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 | some
times think it was"
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

act upon the value of farm property
by cutting off the home market. They
will add to the taxes on lands by re-
ducing taxable values in the towns.
Surely 1t Is not to the interest of any
body, except the bloated corporations
carrying on the mail order business.
to see the towns and villages fail into
decay. A live town is not only OF
value to the lands surrounding it, but
it's well stocked business houses are
convenience and a benefit to the
buyer Even If money could, in the
long run, be saved by ordering every.
thing from the city, the Inconvenience
and uncertainty Of it would always
make such shopping unsatisfactory.
Ordering from catalogue is leap
in the dark. except in the case of a
few articles whose color, shape and
quality are always the same.
To the man who can soberly look
on both sides of the question and who
can put himself in the place OF 1.-The
other fellow" the query will come:
Is it best from mere whim or even
for certainty of saving from one to
half dozen dollars in year to turn
my back on the old, convenient ways
toward running the business of my
old acqua!ptances and friends. and of
destroying the value of property in
the town where my friends live?
f. b. MILLER.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04
Didn't Suit Him,

People who patronize the cars run
ming out to Forest Hills are familiar
with Conductor Crowley, the man who
wears six service stripes on his
sleeve, says a writer in the Boston
Herald.
On the afternoon of election day in
November one of his passengers was
an old man who had been imbibing
enough to make him go to sleep in the
corner of the car
Just before it reached Dudley street
the conductor announced with his
usual rich roll OF the r. "Cir-r-cuit and
Guild."
Yer a liar! It's John b. Moran!"
shouted the sleepy one. waking up
suddenly.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04
SEE WHAT YOU BUY
DO NOT TAKE THE CATALOGUE
STATEMENT FOR IT.
CASE OF A MAIL-ORDER BUGGY
The Purchaser Was Ashamed to Use
u and Sold II to His Hired
Man--it Pays 10 Buy
at Home.

Copyright. by Alfred c. Clarke
The East End of London is an ex-
ample OF what the city does for hui
manity in creating poverty. misery
disease, drunkenness and crime. JEFF
ferson was right when he said: Great
cities are great sores upon the body
polite" Is 1t any wonder that lovers
Of their kind are horror.stricke at
the grinding of these gigantic mills
whose grist is the bodies and souls of
men?
But there is another movement con.
nected with this current setting city.
ward which, like 1t, is full of grave
menace to the welfare of humanity.
This is the dry rot now invading thou
sands Of villages and towns. 1t is not
lack OF capital or business energy in
the towns, or discrimination in
freights or exhaustion of the soil in
the surrounding country that is bring
ing about this change, but new and
dangerous form OF competition, and
the caprices of those who buy. Go
into these towns and you will find
them at standstill or going back.
ward. Inquire of their business men
or commercial travellers and you will
learn that business is not as good as
formerly and that the prospect is for
a continued shrinkage in trade. An
obServant commercial traveller said
to the writer: IL believe the day OF
the village and town is over The big
fish are everywhere eating up the lit.
tie fish, A few small lines of business
that cannot be done by mail, such as
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

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 I'M
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
of formidable community of free
hooters in Barrataria bay, about 40
miles west of the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi They had many small YES
sells and the bay afforded them Sc
cure retreat In 1914 Commodore Pat
terson attacked their town and de-
stroyed it, but LATTE and most of his
men escaped, returning later on and
resuming operations.
Refused British Bride.
about the same time the British
were maturing their plans for the de-
scent uponnt the southern coast of the
United States, and sent brig of war,
the Sophia, under command of Capt.
Lockyer, at Barrataria with a letter
from Commodore Percy, commanding
the British naval forces in the gulf,
and one from Col. Nichols, then in
command of the land forces in Florida,
offering LATTE the command of a fine
ship and $4,000 in gold on condition
of his assisting the contemplated ex-
petition to New Orleans. The prom
Use of the British commander of
bounty and beauty" to his men in
case of victory is matter of record.
Lafitte Immediately wrote to Gov.
Claiborne of Louisiana, inclosing the
two letters, which | have seen, and
offering his services in defending Lou
isiana on the sole condition of pardon
for himself and his men. The offer
was accepted, and the assistance of
the BarratarianS under command Of
Lafitte, who had charge of one of the
eight small cannon which constituted
Jackson's artillery force at this bat
tie, was an important factor in scoring
the great victory of New Orleans, Jan
uary s, 1915 From this time the his
tory of LATTE is involved in obscur-
ity. There was piratical COM
Nunity formed at what is now Calves
ton, by Lafitte but whether by Jean
or his brother Pierre, is now not clear.
1t was broken up in 1921 by lieuten-
ant, afterward Commodore Kearney.
Lafitte,s portraits, of which there are
two at Matamoros, show him to have
been handsome man, over six feet
TALL with black hair, hazel eyes; and
his polished, easy manners and win
ming address are still remarked upon.
Pirates Were Scattered.
After the destruction of this rem
devious the pirates scattered. Many
of them are heard of afterward and
are known in history. They were
skilled seamen and bold fighters.
Many left the sea and located at Mat
amoros, just across the river from
Brownsville. This was then a great
field for all sorts of semi-piratical eX-
ploits. Smuggling was prevalent and
fortunes were made on all sides. YES
sells would unload their cargoes by
day or night, and the goods were often
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

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 l 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 |
have seen this garden and the bal
comics lighted up at night, filed with
the handsomest women wearing the
finest dresses the world then con-
tanned. The high ceilings, magnifi-
Gently proportional rooms, carved
spiral stairways of mahogany, large
arched windows, mahogany fioors-all
indicate the taste of the occupants
roosting place, entering through the
falling roof and the broken windows,
but in it's day it was a 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, 1906, a gentleman from
Chicago came to my office soliciting
my assistance. He had a map or chart
and letter of which he gave the fol-
lowing history: His mother, a widow
kept boarding house 26 years ago in
Chicago. Among her boarders was
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
ences in the past, as sailors generally
love to do. This mans name was Por-
firio LaFon. One night he was
drowned by the wrecking of his yes
sci, the Irene, of Sandusky. His eff
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 pirate under LATTE 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 | at once
recognized as 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
street leading to the Casa Mata, or
house of death" in the outskirts
where the prisoners were 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
l 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
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04
win Collect Southern slrds.

Frank M. Chapman, a curator 81 the
department of ornithology of the
American Museum of Natural History,
has left New York to make a collec.
ton of southern birds for the institu.
ton. He will try especially to obtain
white herons in various stages of de,
velopment, for it is feared the species,
owing TO activities for the millinery
trade, will become extinct
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04
New Metric Chart.

A new metric chart representing
geographically measures of the inter-
national metric system of weights and
measures has been prepared by the
bureau of standards Of the department
OF commerce and labor, and will be
furnished free to any school teaching
the system.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

American Who Espoused Losing Cause
In War, and Was Shot
might tell of former ownership by
some Spanish senoritas, of the bloody
sea fight which terminated I'm the
sinking of a ship with it's crimson
deck burdened with the corpses of it's
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
l 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 l have talked. 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
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

sea 20 years ago, In these very waters.
He was Frenchman and began his
career as lieutenant on 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.
ousIy treated that his resentment had
a large bearing in shaping his subse-
quent pursuits.
1T is asserted by old residents at
Matamoras who knew him that his &C
tion in betraying the English in their
attempt to capture New Orleans was
In retaliation for the brutalities to
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04

struggled or worse-blood stained
fruits of piratical cruisers. OF these
followers of LATTE, the richer more
prominent-captains and lieutenants
settled in the same row of houses.
Among them were Constantine Tam
d and Ramon LaFon. These people
ed in great splendor until about
1850, when they gradually disap.
peared. leaving the houses they had
occupied. about as they are to-day
They were extremely lavish in the use
OF money, which seemed to flow
through their hands like water. IL is
related that their women even wore
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-04-04
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-S mugglers
Houses at Matamoros. Mexico, Still Stand
in Magnificent Ruin.


Hves Much of Remains Old
Vim Victory
British New n
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-10-14

After spending Sunday in devo-
American Presbyterian church re-
sumed the transaction of business
Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Fol
lowing a short devotional service the
minutes of Saturdays session were
read and approved.
The first special order of the day
was the report of the standing COM
mittee on education.
The recommendation of the report
that the board of trustees of Trinity
University take some steps 90 raise
the sum of $2N,i05.22, which was
diverted from the endowment fund
as a loan 90 Preudcrgast and Beeson
hall and for operating expenses. was
adopted
The resignation Of r.. D. Cole, e.
Il. Griffin. J. 49, Omohundso. A.
Lowe and y UarduE as members
of the board ot trustees of Trinity
rniver.tt, vo- accepted POS th'
synod
Upon recommendation af iHr CONE
mIfts. ou education tho fn..oNius
new members ~ me board @sle
elected 3 " Nuhcv of WaAaha-
ts. ur s. "a. iloubcak of Na#.tu. 49,
a. p bishop ot NustiH. EaFH N""
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-10-14
GROWING CHILDREN.
Advice to Mothers OF Waxahachie.

Perhaps the most important prin-
ciDle involved in the care of a child
is proper nourishment.
How many delicate children do
We meet on our streets with color
less cheeks and thin little legs and
arms 1t is very plain TO be seen that
rapid growth takes all their strength
and their little bodies are not re-
cefving sufficient nourishment to
make them well, strong and robust.
We want 10 say 10 the parents OF
an such children in WaXahachie THAI
our delicious cod liver and iron prep
aration. Vinol will build up delicate
children. ntI out hollow cheeks and
make them strong, robust and rosy.
Niuol makes new vitality, sound
flesh and muscle tissue aud pure,
rich red blood. and children love &c.
This is because Niuol is delicious
tasting cod liver preparation without
oil. made by scientific. eXtractiye
and ,oHeeutrafiug process from fresh
Gods lNors thus combining WITH
p,pt,uat, OF SION al 'bs medicinal
h,aIus pud,-buIdins elements 'f
spd liver uu. but uu ail
As budt builder aud atrrH2'h
creator Tess aIJ people delicate ehi'-
t..u. e.sa. HH town persons. 'ftrl
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-10-14

a,s.as rhs tims f,-s fer fbe sen.i
ts convene +. sst rhursaag IN
s. ices.
kf..r ana uaftr- ~ arfe,stHa ina
rxt westr= af.ee Had b.sn atspos
r ii psassan ~ phgladrl.
.sEs ua afsa the Sd .s.sasa al
H.. a...f gs pr.efsa ,..Mense5 fha
..as,s as a.ts.gf.as5aaa and @aaH s.
roaf rash 80 esta a3egae4aat v
,saa. az ts.. ss.4ais. f8ea az the old
4ssr4 asa Ia tha t{Fna of the aa8IHa.
nation ne tha phHaHefnEga board
afth the <aeheElsa board about aaa
g.ar ara Inv fh{a read 8e4f usaHt Side
u.ap,harsblo af lhe bgar8 was lu.
.ra.aaH from twruts-fouF to thirty.
.gx az Uhnto s.rn members If fea
Cumberland PRESBYTERIAN church.
.rbe mast ysar the zale af aaol. and
par{otggfa}a anouufaa ia sbaus s~on.
400 The profjt4 an this amount was
abnnt x4a aHn prnf5rs f-nH thn
<axhgsI1a bogAe during fha wear
Amounted ~ anon. S15aar
with rafa .r,,ra IN Sunday scboce
orE nr P.r,.re said thar .b9ut
SO nar cent of the praet ytefjal.
churches yes, of the Mis- 4fssfpnj rfv-
or durire the mast tvanfy wears nal
e,rou,p out of sunday scsraI mis-
aio,s Tho hoard nav maiotafne 80
,,issiorar, sunday scboo.. i'm fhiekly
ro,,,,t.,,a nas,,o aietricts ~ Tho
s,,,b pur;ro tho ,qet ttvant,. wears
ann pr,.t,.tor;an chpr.,os hay,
,.,.;l,;.,..., =, ..,t..i,,,, cole
,f.a hood no. ana r,;ssi,,,r, ON
-, :, H., -, :. .r,. a.,,,.
,4-.;. -..-.,,....,..
:, ~, ,,..,,.a - ,...,u.,.t,ta
~
SPoNo ~ III ''-' ~ 'ii0 -
OF industrial education lie ASKED tof
the cooperation OF me pre- icIe's
and churches IN TINS work. He APP
pealed To the ministers 10 set apart
one day IN the year TO preach Ell ~
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-10-14

El paso. Texas, Oct. IA Col Ro-
las commander OF the Merican mill
tary post In Iuagez KILLED himself
SUNDAY afternoon hy ,hootinE MIN
self through the head at his home 'n
uarvz TITS standing Was high q" Ih'
Mexican army tie Vas about to wears
old and leaves g widow. 49," u'''''
and tou uypb,as Ug $685. rdusI''H.
h4.tn. au children ~ hts own
The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1907-10-14

-......, ia. taa.-
ra., ....s -s.+t
......4 ay ,tn.. ... s.I.r ~ ....+
r.....s.. s..,
........ aa.. ..a.. 49,.
... r ,. ~ 100,