davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
Commodore Vanderbilt
at the Wheel
By Captain B. S. Osbon

r MADE my maiden steamer voyage across
the Atlantic in the steamer Northern Light
Captain Tinklepaugh, and on my return W'i9
ordered TO the steamer North Star, owned by
Commodore Vanderbilt. At the time | joined
the North Star she was out OF commission
with only a few persons on board l was sec
ond mate, and one day quartermaster d1d
myself were repairing a backstay, when the
Commodore came board and, glanclng
round, said Where's the Captain,
Hes on his vacation | replied.
Well who the deuce are YOU: SAID he
Il am the second mate, SIT, was my reply
If YOU are the second mate what are YOU
doing with YOUR hands in the tar pot, don
wish any officer of my ships TO be dabbllug IN
tar pots. Quit that, go clean yourself up, and
put yourself in decent attirel' and with that
he went down the gangway and disappeared
up the wharf
LETT the quartermaSter TO hnlsh the loO'
went to my room, and dressed up hike an officer
Two three days after this incident / was
walking the quarter deck, all dressed up, even
having on white Isle thread gloves when the
Commodore again came on board, and coming
up 10 me said, Is the Captain on bOards
No, sir, he is still on his vacation, | re
Piled.
Well who are You, anyway"
Il am the second mate, and in charge of
the ship"
saw on board one OF my ships Can't YOU hnd
something else to do besides struttIng around
these decks like a turkey cocks'
Il am obeying orders, sir, was my reply
Who gave YOU such Orderss
You did, sir. The other day when YOU came
on board was at work. as believed should
be when YOU took me 10 task for having my
hands in the tar pot and told me YOU wanted
Your officers 10 dress like officers and | have
done So % the best Of my wardrobe and abIl
ity."
He said no more. but hurried down the
gangway
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
ROOSEVELT
IN 1908?
Why he should serve another term.
$1,000 CASH PRIZE AWARD.
Open to the American people for the
Best Written Argument
in support of the following assertions.

FIRsT.-That the sovereign people and
not Theodore Roosevelt, the individual
and public servant, will decide who shall
be his successor.
SECoND.-That Theodore Roosevelt
cannot decline a second elective term or at
tempt to name a successor without max
ing his own personal desires or egOtistical
opinions paramount TO the combined
wishes and intelligence of the Republican
party and the electorate of the nation
THRD.-That Theodore ROOsevelt's S
honesty, courage. initiative, imagination,
versatility and tremendous capacity tor
work, with heart and brain constantly
attuned TO the peoples rights and de-
mandS and his insistenCe of the enforce
ment rather than the avoidance OF laws
and the protection of the rights of men
and property, have TO an unparalleled
degree gained the confidence of the peO-
pie; that in the popular mind Roosevelt,
during his eXeCutIveShlp, has demon
strated his ability and determination to
make good as the peoples chief public ser
want, and not as their dictator; that this
confidence of the people, being a brain de
duCtiOn and not a heart emotion, Is ImpOS-
sible of destruction except by his betrayal.
that by the selection of any other man,
business contraction and restriction must
exist during the period necessary for hIm
TO demonstrate his ability and determine
ton 70 make good; and therefore, that,
barring death or serious illness. President
Roosevelt must and viii be selected and
elected for a second elective term.
Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr.. of Oregon,
United States Senator. authorizes The
National Magazine to offer this prize of
one Thousand dollars for the strongest
and best written article proving his
sertions as made above.
The prize VIII be awarded March Ith,
1908, upon the report of the judges,
whose names VIII be announced IN the
December number OF The National Naga-
zIne. All manuscripts must be submitted
on or before February Ist None over
1900 words Will be considered
The right Is reserved 20 publish any
or all OF the articles submitted in COM
petition for the prize Send all manu-
scripts, typewritten if possible, under
seal addressed; Roosevelt Prize, Va
tlonal Magazine, Boston, Mass.
The coming year is going 10 be lively
one for National readers That 5 a grea.
name-that name National-and II has a
great field. If there Is any doubt about Your
being able 70 get 1t regularly from Your
newsdealer, slip one dollar into an envelope
and mail 20 National Magazine. Bo.-1n
Mss, at our risk and receive The Na-
tlOnal regularly for the next eight months
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
The Owners " Trick "

MOT long after this incident the Commodore
had built the steamer Ocean Queen, and
Captain Tinklepaugh was placed IN command.
When She was ready for her trial trip the lat
ter asked me 10 steer her. II seems that She
had been out on short little trip5 and had
shown that She was a beast on her helm,
and no man had Vet been able 70 make
straight course with her rudder
The Commodore had invited a large party
to 90 with hIm on the trial trip Captain
John MagIn, the Commodorc's favoritc wa
pilot for the occasion Before we reached Bed
loc Island She was giving me the tu,7lc ot NV
life at the wheel She took nearly the whole
OF the upper bay in her zigzag ne4ndcring--
The pilot shouted constantly, St,trboart ,'-
&c Port ~" Steady - Vow meet her. etc.
Vt last the Commodore noticed the snake
like course made by ms vessel and came for
ward 10 the pilot house and said, Say,
whats the matter with vou' Why in blaze
don't YOU keep her IN her course
| was not only dISguStcd with the ship;
but when her owner pitched into me the wlv
he did,-a working guest without pav,-I got
hot under the collar and said, Look here.
Commodore, Neither YOU nor any other man
can steer this ship better than | can. If YOU
think So, come and take this wheel"
He was as mad as a March hare. and taking
OFF his coat ordered me out OF the pilot house.
and as he took hold ii the wheel he said, q" III
show YOU how 10 steer her
Then the tun began. II Wa u very warm
dav. and he had warmed hI-u -clf up IN con-
vcr-atlOn with me, tut the wheel added new
heat 20 his condition. In spite OF all he could
do she took "a broad sheer, and was pointing
for the we-t bank, when Pilot MIgIu shouted
" here the blazc~ are v.u going with the
ship ~tarhnari- Hard t-tarhu-rd' Blank
YOU hard over The old IMAM yy..- ,,) IN arms.
and opened his batteries OF language
Who III blaze, are You cursing. John
Magu,'
John at first did not recognize the Commo-
dorc' Voice. ,lrl hr IuduIgci IN some more
marine Language. tiu the arr was full OF an
indigo TINT Vt last the ~hIp took a sheer -
port, and the pilot. pc,rIug down the aperture
ON tup of the pilot house where he stood, saw
for the hr time the man m had been abusing
The Commodore had hi- It'll 40 steering the
Ocean Queen. and seeing me near the pilot
house door >,aIt. Here you' Come here and
take this wheel
After gut ol,t -l.ic the bav lunch w. served
IN the cabin. and / Wa surprised % see =
waiter come into tine pilot house with q trav
laden with a sample ot all the good things
they had ou the table aft. y man was ordered
% relieve me yt the wheel ti.i had finished
my lunch, when | again resumed NV posi-
W hen We arrived u- tHv dock the to-r-u.l.-e
'aiuc up g. me. 4-.,- r.c wv ----r ..-G
p H.uNcG wc Tor wv -.r>..e. Then t- BANDED
rur 81 twruty-io.ar g.'i rtr.- ..-3 Went .. --
,nc wears utt,rw-rl ...t,5 t.t O.. -r--.
re. 81 .- r,r.--...rr,. t.r ---.. --r .r -t
'...r t.t.- -r.. .-. m .- H....- u
The Washington herald., 1907-11-10
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.

Massey 81. Quintin. a wealthy young English
man. sees a beautiful young woman named Miss
Densley At CoWes. and. b a carefully designed
accident manages 10 meet her He finds that she
lives with her uncc and aunt. NJ and Nine. lie
blanc WHO are inst then ~ France, and gets an
invitation 70 their holse. mar London
In spite Of the objections Of his friend. James
Ince a lawyer in whom he confdes. and who de-
caTes the girl Is adventures -. Quintin visits
her and finds her relatives are charming people
But Just as he leaves the house be hears inui-
fed cry Of Murder" and returns.
II Leblanc conviuccs him that there is no one IN
the room whence the sound seemed 20 proceed, but
later he learns that a London solicitor has mys-
tsriousy disappeared being last seen in the neigh
borhoud Of the Frcnchman's home.
81. Quntin. however. decides 20 follow mp TOE
mystery; but the pursuit is pleasantly interrupted
BY an unexpected opportunity % make love a.
Miss Uenslev. an opportunity that he promptly
s-izas. he learns that the Girl regards him more
highly than sny Of her sIitors. but she isn't ready
20 bind herself with an engagement, nor VIII her
uncle and aunt permit IT, The young man. how
ever. greatly encouraged. returns TO town TO pur-
chase a sitting gift for the woman Of his heart
Then 81. Quiutin takes Incc TO the Leblancs .
and IN spite Of the opposition Of his host. obtains
& promise Of marriage from Miss Densley- lnce
can find no fault with the people, bat on leaving
learns that Of their footmcn Is m ox-convct.
The fellow is forced 70 admit that the Leblancs
are crooked but ST. Quintin remains loyal %
Miss DCnsley Several days afterNard they 90 %
the Leblanc home and Ince makes discovery that
completely unnerVes him while scouting around the
house The two men arc afterward received BY NJ
leblanc, but see nothing suspicious. On leaving
however Ince tells his friend he IS certain he saw
a dead mans hand i'm a laboratory which NJ lie
blanc had fitted up osteusihly for scientific e1Tcr
mCnts- Furthermore they md that another suitoI
Of Miss Densley's has advanced NJ Leblanc 5000
And 90 compcate matters. the Frenchman asks
a similar lean from ST. Quintin.
The Washington herald., 1907-11-10
By LILLE WIEDEEN.

That Luke Fallon was superintendent
of the Greenville and Bay Shore was no;
TO argue greatness. T:-e little branch
! road from Greenville 10 Bay Shore was
but forty miles in length. and important
/ only in the summer season. when the
/ trunk line TO which it was feeder loaned
| it another engine. and there were two
! trains a day each way for the benefit OF
the boarders at summer cottages on Bay
| Point and the guests at the big hotel on
/ the shore.
FaHon was also station master, bag
| gage and express agent. and the entire
executive force Of the road. most OF
which was owned by stockholders in the
L. & V, the trunk line. Sadie Fallor
was ticket agent and train dispatcher
and Martin Roadway was not only en-
gineer Of the one locomotive. but was
! master mechanic. superintendent Of roll
| ing stock and most of the things that
| Fallon was not. Almost every one was
more than one officer of the G. & b. S
with the exception of Willie Farrell. who
was station agent at Farrelrs. He was
! just station agent of the little flag sop,
the station" being a well-mown patch
of grass beside the track in summer and
a well-shoveled place in the snow Of the
winter season. The lawn mower and the
snow shovel were Willie's only tools OF
trade. but he bore his dignity as Sc
riOusly as did those who held multi
plicity of offices. Most of the employees
Of the road made up in dignity what they
lacked in Importance
Then came the strike Redway lounged
into the little station at the shore end
Of the run. while his fireman took the
engine down to the one-stan roundhouse
Fallon looked UP at his approach.
What's the news down to Greenwich?
he demanded. as he reached out a
gnarled hand for the train messages Red
way had brought
Nothing much.'' said Roadway, indo-
lentIy Il s'pose you heard that there
was a big strike out West?"
Il was informed of that fact" said
Fallon. with dignity. There will be nc
trouble this side of Chicago"
I was calculating to get out that way
this fall" said Redway. with an assump-
ton of carelessness that his twitehing
/ lips belied. Sadie and l was talking il
over. She wants to see the Yellowstone
Park on her wedding trip
Sadie and your" retorted Fallon
And since when have you and Sadie
had il all fixed to get married? Pears
to me that her pa ought to have some
| thing to say about It."
This is where you say" explained
Roadway. I'VE fixed 1t up last night, but
] didn't have time to talk TO you this
morning. The engine needed some fixIn'
/ up
We'll, say MOI was the decided re-
sponsc. i guess Sadie can dc better
The Washington herald., 1907-11-10
ALL IN THE FAMILY

than an engineer when she wants to get
married"
I'm master mechanic. too reminded
Rodway hopefully.
Sadie can do better" repeated FaIlon
rs he rose TO put some papers IN the
safe. Don't let me hear any more Of
this"
Roadway sat in silence until the safe
was locked and the lights put out Then
he followed FallOn out on the platform
Better think I over" he advised. IN
ask you again in the morning
Roadway turned away down one of the
almost deserted streets and Fallon
stamped angriIy in the opposite direction.
Not even Sadie realized how proud her
father was of his position as superin-
tendent even OF such an unimportant
road as the G. and b, s. That the
daughter of the superintendent should
be asked to wed a common engineer was
"a thing not 10 be heard OF. He had no
talk with Sadie on the matter, but as
he lay in bed, thinking il over. his anger
grew, and he became more firm IN his
determination not TO give his consent.
He was at the station early in the
morning, affecting not 20 notice how red
Sadie's eyes We're from weeping. As soon
as Roadway stuck his head into the gen.
eral Office Failon began:
You needn't come in" he rasped out.
My mind amt any different from what
it was last night"
Roadway grinned and withdrew. shut
ting the door. FaIlon fidgeted at the
desk, making a feeble pretence of work
ing, but when the hands Of the clock
drew around to eight and the engine had
not puffed down the track to couple 10
the train. Fallon went out on the plat
form.
Redway' was sitting on the baggage
truck. putting at his cigar. Several pas
sengers paced the platform. and both
Of the day coaches were about half
filled
Where's the engine?" demanded Fall
Ion. Redway removed his cigar that he
might grin the broader
I'm on a strike" he explained. THE
engines in the house
strike" shouted FalIon. What you
strikin' about? You had a raise last
spring.
It's not about money" explained the
engineer. Il saw Sadie last night and
she says she won't marry. me until you
say she can. I'm on strike until you give
the go ahead order"
Fallon glared impOtently. There was no
one else in town who could run an engine
except Sim Dugan. who fired for Redway
Sim was sitting on the truck by his boss
and only smiled pleasantly when Fallon
offered him double and even triple pay 10
take the train out Some Of the passen-
gers crowded about To watch the fun,
and in the end the superintendent beat a
retreat to his Office. where presently he
wired 70 Greenville for help.
But Greenville was unsympathetic.
Something OF Redways plan the Office
knew, and Fallon's pompousness had not
made friends for him. Greenville de-
clared fatty that they could spare neither
engine nor engineer. and when the d.
vision headquarters was appealed to. FaI-
Ion was told TO settle the matter himself.
The Washington herald., 1907-11-10
He let himself and young into dusty country roads

worth while 70 see. TO imagine what il
viii look like when il is done up and kept
mp rs it ought 10 be.
II would never be kept up By Inc.
s'iid St. Quintin. with decision. Il don
like the look Of the place It's damp FOR
one thing. I'm certain. No, thank you,
! won't 20 over it
Not over Marie's house,"
Il don't mind going over IL with her,
presently III she wants me 10. bu- not
yet Let us find the ladies before We
make any more inspection OF anything,
said he
Monsieur Leblanc looked disappointed.
Well, just as you like" he said "We'ii
go round the house. then, and Out 10y
the little wooden gate in the wall that
leads 10 the village. On our way We
pass two or three small houses. In orc
III which we stayed a few months Sc.
ierhaps the ladies have settled there"
ST. Quintin followed with alacrity, glad
70 get away from the gaunt-eyed man
sion with its green stains. its hagcdrd
growth Of wild creeper. like an old mar 5
reelected beard, and glad also 10 De-
again on the road toward the place where
Marie was staying.
They passed around the house inJO
what had once been a fower-garden. II
wgs low a tangle. IN which barberry
bushes. yew hedges. swollen out ot
shape. struggling holly, and ragged IA
burnUm trees stretched out gaunt. un-
Kempt branches over such "A wilderness
of weed and flower las he had neve- be-
fore fought his way through
They emerged NJ last al the back CT
the house. upon terrace which bore
even palmer marks Of ruin than the rest
Evidently human hands had done THEN
part IN the wreck. Stone baiusteIs mad
been torn ouj Of their places. and pieces
hacked out Of the old garden seats that
stood on the lawn below.
Lawn Was il a lawn II looked like
a down-trodden hay field. with patches
The Washington herald., 1907-11-10

In theory. the G, & 3. 5. was an indie
pendent road. with its own corporate
. entity. and headquarters was not inter-
estcd IL its affairs. Several heavy wrecks
had filled the repair shops with IOcomo-
uves and there We're not enough 10 prop
erly equip the division 10 say nothing Of
loaning one 10 50 unimpOrtant a branch
line
In desperation Fallon wired the main
offices OF the /. & V. and their reply was
even mere curt The Western strike was
growing worse, and the message suggest
ed that If Fallon could not manage. with
out the assistance of the entire system,
strike OF one engineer he had better re-
sign and let the Office boy-if he had one
take charge.
All this took time. and the station was
filed with the intending travellers who
were anxious 20 start upon their journey
! The cause OF the strike had been wills
pered about and the passengers took
turns coming 10 the general Offices"
| (Which was also the baggage room and
demanding that the strike be broken and
communication restored.
FallOn grew desperate. Hardy, one OF
the heaviest stockholders of the / &
V. had been born IN Bay Side. and his
summer cottage over on the point was
/ dtuuAlnLalfteS
when the owner was there. If the story
should reach Hardy, through complaint
on the part Of one of the town people.
there might be trouble With a gesture
of despair. he opened the door and called
Sadie into consultation.
See If you can't fix things up, he
pleaded. Don't give in unless you have
10. but as a last resort. WE'LL suppose
III have to let you marry him"
With n hug and kiss. Sadie darted TO
the window and threw uD the sash.
Its all right, Mart" she called I'll
ride down with you and get the ring"
Il told you as last resort" groaned
Fallon. You might have talked him out
of the strike
Small chance Of that" laughed the
girl, as from the roundhOuse came the
puff of the exhaust AS official strike
breaker of the road. ! saw long ago that
only complete surrender would be effect
i've"
''Strike-breaker" grunted FallOn.
There would have been another strike
in the morning" she explained. The
/ telegraph department and the train dis
patcher were going out In sympathy"
It's darned little sympathy you have. -
grOwled FaIlon. What do you suppose
Hardy viii say if he hears Of this?"
He pomised me a wedding present II
broke the strike" explained the girl
calmly. He wired this morning 10 know
what the trouble was. and ! told him."
For moment FallOn pOndered the sit
uation: then he rose 10 his feet with a
sigh.
There won't be any more strikes" he
said. It's all in the family now
Copyrighted. 1907. 81 Z. c. ParccllSl
The Washington herald., 1907-11-10

St Quintin was glad 70 get away from
the place. which seemed 10 him % be
melancholy and desolate beyond his Wild
est imaginings- In the mellow autumn
sunlight it looked gloomy enough. and
he pictured 20 himself what 1t must be
on raw and cold winters day
Monsieur Leblanc led the way over
more rank grass and through more
weeds. treadinE down huge dock-leaves
and tearing his way through thistles.
until they came 10 the door in the wall
OF which he had spoken Finding the
right key on his bunch without diff
Guilty, he let himself and the young man
out into a dusty country road. within
sight Of Il few struggling cottages. a
small village shop. and the inevitable inn,
which was "a large. rambling place. still
/ bearing traces OF the time when the
wide green before IL was a favOrite meet
OF foxhounds.
Beyond the inn they went together. St
Quintin happy in the thought that in
a few minutes he would be with Marie.
/ and exchanging notes with her as 20
their impressions Of the lonely mansion.
, which he decided that they would never
live in.
The village. though not specially pic
I
/ freshing after the depressing scene they
had left Monsieur Leblanc pointed 10
a neat stone cottage. standing back in
a little garden fun Of late flowers
THAT Is Miss Greys" said he That
Is where We STAYED last year and where
! expect 10 md them now
He ran up the little slope by the SIDE
! Of the road. and spoke TO a neat-lOOktng
woman. between thirty and forty. who
was standing in the doorway. She an
swered and he came back with a rueful
/ face, showing a telegram which the wom-
an had given him
Miss Grey has had a wire from my
wife said he. 4 am afraid you'll De
dreadtully disappointed.
Something vague and indefinAble seem
ed 10 seize ST Quintin I'm Il grip OF de-
spair and dread as he heard these words
He did not know AT all OF what he was
afraid, but he felt sure. though there
was no distress upon Monsieur Leblanc's
face, that something had gone wrong.
very wrong. something more important
than IL seemed on the surface 10 be
II was with an air Of frank mistrust
that he held out his hand. took the pa
per. and read:
Missed the train. Coming on tonight
Tell Monsieur Leblanc 10 meet US al
Doncaster at II:05.
SOPHIE LEBLANC"
Il thought, said St Quintin. very
coldly- that they We're 10 have come
here last night
SO il Was ~rranged. But you know
what women are They seem To have
made a great hash Of Il all" said Mon
sieur Leblanc with an air of great irri-
tation at his wifes stupidity
Then why didn't they start this morn
ing. instead of leaving the journey iii
so later persisted St Quintin. not only
with curiosity, but with suspicion
All, that / cannot tell YOU said mon
s. II. Struggling his shoulders and turn
inss out his hands in large gesture I'M
usual with him. 1T is very strange
Very" said St. Quintin. laconically.
as he turned quickly away.