davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
EMPLOYEES SIGN RELEASES.

II is customary for certain companies to make
ernploye sign agreement releasing his en-
ployers from any responsibility in the Of an
accident TO himself a who had been badly
injured several times gave this as a reason for
not putting in claim for damages: II the COM
pany didn't make sign that release said he,
there's lots OF the fellows would be laid up all the
time. Sure, Who wouldn't
Street railways selected by organized gangs
Of intent upon receiving real or fancied in
juries at their expense as being easily
worked in this respect than other lines Of trans
portation- In order TO defeat the work of these
garSs-and of those persons always ready TO take
advantage Of any opportunity to turn q penny"
honest or otherwise-the railroads claims depart
nent is obliged 10 work with celerity
When q collision takes place between a trolley
and other vehicle or car the police and
hospitals are instantly informed At the same time
the motorman, conductor or inspector on the car
telephones the claims department and superntend-
ent Of the road. and when tower wagons and
~recl1ins crews arrive upon the OF accident
other forces are already al work engaged in pre-
pairing for legal battles about TO follow
On side detectives and officials from the
claim department. the latter ready legf-
mate claims the spot; the former 10 obtain data
with which TO down suspicious claims These
appear merely to form part of the usual crowd
which collects on such occasions.
On tie other side injured passengers and
those INSCRIPTIONS enough TO pretend to have in
5uries which they have received. These are
generally internal in character and rot obvious
TO the newspaper reporters and police whom such
persons eagerly furnish with their names, ad-
dresses and full description of such aches and
pains as would cause CONSERVATION the medi-
cal fraternity.
The professional beat IS clever enough TO
learn where TO locate and how TO describe his
injuries but the woman who merely
seizes a2on a Go them) happy accident a means
to obtain money does not always exercise such
perspicacity
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
RINGLEADER OF A GANG.

An ex-motorman once ringieader OF gang
OF men and women whose profession 1t was to be
In streetcar accident. pretend to have been
This ex-motorman first began operations in Balu-
more, where he served motorman for the ex-
press purpose OF causing collisions. He was es-
pecally successful at running into cars and wagons
and smashing them His gang would fill the car
at a given time. Immediately after which collision
would occur Sometimes ii slight, sometimes
serious-the motornan did not care, as long as his
confederates had ground given them upon which TO
bring suits against the traction company This
long suffering organization. however instituted an
investigation into the reckless habits OF their un-
lucky ,notorman, and he secured opportunity
reflect at leisure. in the penitentiary, the
precarious life OF the who would get rich
quick in this fashion
Some persons grumble their misfortunes,
others more philosophical make the best OF them
4 man named Edward Pape. afflicted with pc
culiar defornity of the neck made the most of his
and for many years would not willingly have
parted with his broken neck for all the physical
peTfections the gods could bestow.
There came time when profits from museum
and circus exhibitions OF his deformity became
tame He took falling from steps OF trolley cars
as they slowed up to let him off. and would roll
from step gutter with the expertness born Of
long practice. He has made as much as $1,000 in
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
TYPICAL EUSTLERS.

Americans are noted throughout the world
hustlers. but no such official tribute TO their
speed has ever been paid to any single COM
munity of them as Dr. Drake has given to
Chicagoans. The question arises. then. as To-
whether the Chicasoan Is different from his
fellow American who does not happen to dwell
within the corporate limits of the metropolis Of
Illinois: whether his pace is swif,zr whether he
is mightier man.
Answers to these questions may be found In
typical examples. Levy Mayer. for instance IS
one OF the foremos: Chicagoans. As a corpora
ton lawyer lie handlcs every year litigation in
which hundreds o: millions of dollars at
stake. He works practically seventeen hours a
day. He lives with his family 1t the Audi
torium Annex. lie rises O'Clock every
morning. takes shower bath. and by the time
this is his barber is waiting To shave him
Bath, shave and dressing consume thirty min
utes
Every day year in and year cut. Mr. Mayer
reads the daily newspapers from 40 to
o'clock in the morning. At y o'clock his break
fast is served in his apartments. He devotes
thirty minutes to breakfast; then. after glance
across Michigan Boulevard at Lake Michigan to
learn the condition of the weather that he may
properly prepare for storm. ne starts for
his office on foot. The distance is about q mile.
He has automobile. but he walks. Its his
daily exercise. Before O'Clock he is going into
legal documents. consulting reference books or
answering telephone calls
Mr.. Mayer works without interruption until
| p m. either taking care of office business or
attending trials in court. From l to 80 he is
luncheon at the Midday Club. After luncheon
he chats with friends awhile. BY o'clock he
Is back again at his desk. His work goes on in
ccssantly until 6:l5. when he starts from the
Office on foot for his hotel
The day is yet young for Levy Mayer. He
goes to dinner at 80 o'clock and gives a whole
hour to the meal He then goes 10 his study.
where he works until midnight every night ex-
cept Saturday. when ne goes In the theatre or
takes part In some other social entertainment.
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09

field was one of the most remarkable men over
known to the American turf and at the time OF ms
death he was the Oldest man actively engasea III
training and driving horses In the United states
He was seventy-three years old and, from the tnis
he was fifteen with the exception of the period ne
s,ent as a volunteer In the Civil War, until Few
DAYS before his death. he was constantly employed
In training and driving.
FIftv-fve years ago he drove his first race at
Woodstock H., and month before his death nc
drove his last His last race was victory,
which showed that he had not lost any of his cum
ming DESPITE his weight of years. Jimmy" Morrow
went to Washington in 1873 and made his home
there until he died. Some of his betting coups
heIped 20 make the trotting history Of three de-
cades ago.
Rowing Is a sport which has been popular for
many years OF course. it has made rapid strides
In recent years. and is becoming more and more
college sport. Once has feathered an oar u,
has strong fascination for him. and he Will always
take deep interest in rowing, although he may not
be able step into shell.
The strain of rowing a shell is felt in all parts
OF the .ody and consequently the sport is an
especially trying It ,s not considered par
ticulary well quilted to men of advanced years
One of the features of the Memorial Day regatta
on the Harlem River for the last three years mas
been the veterans race. To be eligible Ter TINS
event those who enter must have competed IN a
race twenty more years ago. Last year several
of the competitors had passed the half century
mark They included such veteran oarsmen as
C. F. Muller of the Nassau Boat Club. of New
York; John p. Buckley. of the Portland Rowing
Club of Portland, Me-. and William Mulcare. OF
the Atalanta Boat Club of New York These griz-
zled oldtimers fought out a game finish and left
old Father Time back among the ''also rams.
On a warm day in the early spring visitors along
the Speedway have often watched a little gray
haired man skimmrrg along in light shell. He
is ont on the river every Sunday and is keen
rowing enthusiast the merest novice His
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
OVER FIFTY BUT
STILL ATHLETIC
SPORTSMEN WHO SEEN TO
DEFY FATHER TINE.
Graz Haired Veterans 7cith MOre
Tigor than Many Half
Their Age.

Edward Payson Westons feat ut the age OF
sixty-nine of walking from Portland. Me-. to chi
cago a distance of thirteen hundred-odd miles. in
"a days 10 hours and 10 minutes, was striking
illustration OF the statement that mans age does
necessarily handicap his athletic ability 1t Is
impossible fix any period in a mans life and
say that beyond that point his usefulness in an
athletic line is
The majority of college athletes drop actual COM
petition when they get their sheepskns and go
into business This means that their athletic
training has ended by the time they have reached
twenty-five years less On the other hand. there
are men who have not taken up certain sports
until they We're double that age.
In 1867. when he twenty nine years old.
Weston made the walking trip, covering the
distance in % days % hours. Nearly forty years
later he surpassed his record. Unlike most ath-
etes, he does not believe in systematic form OF
training holding that il tends to draw mans
reserve strength, and thus weaken him. When he
started his last trip he weighed 147 pounds. and
had lost seventeen pounds when he reached Chi
cago. This loss was accounted for not SO much by
the exertion by the lack of sleep for long
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09

seriousness of an official report. he announced
that in the chase after money and pleasure the
men of Chicago were driving themselves TO
death by heart disease. and that within time
which any schoolboy might calculate the popula
ton there would consist of nothing but women.
Inquiry made by The Sunday Tribune OF the
effect of DR.. brakes utterances discloseS neither
alarm nor joy. Although he has doomed the
men to certain extinction unless they abandon
the strenuous life" they keep going at the same
"insaney furious pace" that DR.. Drake says is
killing them, and this without manifesting any
terror of the result
The women. too. who might be expected to
joce in the prospect Of OF female suf-
fraSe when the male population is annih!lated,
continue to patronize the theatre and the ball
room just in former years. without express
Ing any feeling of delight over the dawninS OF
the coming age making preparation for the
day when they must take over the relns of gov
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09

a single month at this gymnastc feat, for the hos
pitfalls whittier he was hurried Immediately after
each accident would show X-ray pictures of his
fractured neck. and the Mortified railroad officials
always hastened TO pay a large cash to the
injured and thanked their lucky stars that by
some miracle the victim lived and saved them the
necessity of paying q larger his widow.
Pape, however, under assumed and in
different cities. broke his neck many times
for his good Railroad detectives landed him
in the pententiary. where he is TO retail the
horror of that time in a Philadelphia hospital
when he put into mechanical device. with
seventy-ive- pound weights pulley his
head for the purpose of Strengthening out his
broken neck and causing ii knit. At night ne
relieved the torture by hauling in the weights md
hiding them under his blankets.
Wide publicity has been given the case of Inga
Hanson, the woman who wheeled into court
and played the part Of a deaf, dumb and blind
paralytic so cleverly that she almost secured the
high stakes she was praying for from the Chicago
City Railway Company. instead Of the conviction
for perjury which was her portion.
The camera has proved the railway company's
most valuable ally in settling bogus claims of
count. When ''ncapacitated" claimants are shown
photographs of themselves actively engaged in
their vocations. and in the company of the
railroad detectives. while their lawyer has repre-
sented them to be laid up for repairs they are
usually glad to sign confession Of guilt in prefer
ence 10 standing trial for perjury for trying to
obtain money under false pretences.
The formerly highly profitable profession beat
ing railroad companies has become somewhat pre-
carious TO follow. Transportation companies are
wary. and their sleuths inevitably run bogus
claimants down and secure their punishment.
Ii must be confessed that the railway companies
do not always make undue efforts reimburse
victims OF accidents for the losses they sustain.
Some years ago a poor woman in Texas lost her
husband, mule and wagon through the gross care
lessness o. railroad enploye. After the funeral
the railroad officials the victims widow ap-
preaching.
Il wonder if shut her up for s2Go0?' said
one. IF she brings suit there's telling what
damages she'll get"
The woman entered and in a voice broken by
tod of her loss. The official expressed deep
sympathy. Now, what do help your"
he asked.
Well" ventured the woman, tmidly. you know
that the mule s2O0. it was all We had TO
make a living with"
Il know" assented her listener. Now. suppose
we give you 500 buy another mule How would
that do?
The poor thanked him joyously the
money. She dared not mention the broken wagon
and had no idea that husbands possessed a money
value in law. She signed the paper they gave her.
which released them from any further obligations.
and as the woman went away with the price of a
mule in her hand the official whom she had blessed
for his benefcenco sat back and chuckled.
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
CHICAGO TO BE
A MANLESS CITY?
STRENUOUS LIFE KILLING
OFF BUSINESS MEN.
Heart Diseases RaUages WU Make
a Population of Women Only
Says DR.. Drake.

At massive desk of Flemish oak In sunny
corner of a top floor room In the heart OF
bustlins business district In the Windy city
there sits a scientist whose official duty Ii mas
been to find out why the two million inhaDi-
tants of his town were dying before they
reached the allotted age of threescore years ana
ten. After long investigation he has raised the
question whether human endurance is equai 10
the demands of modern business and society HE.
Thereby he has brought to public notice many
Of the personal characteristics of his Fellow
townsmen, business leaders who have striven
with might and main to make chicago syiohy
nous with strenuosity and perfection In the
,.ocshrlar,es of consumers of manufactured
nroducts in every land where a catchword helps
to sell such goods.
This scientist is DR.. c. st. Clair Drake, head
Of the municipal bureau OF vital statistics OF
Chicago He discovered from reports made to
him nv physiciaus and the police that heart dis
ease caused 10 per cent more deaths In MS town
IN 1907 than 1t did In 1905. Then. in all the
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
WORK cF UNsCRUPULOUs LAWYERS.

The legal head of the claims department Of a
TRACTION company must be able trial lawyer of
wonderful tact and resource. He is pitted against
unscrupulous men and women and their legal ad-
Fisers-lawyers as sharp, often able himself
and invariably unhanpered by any quibbles Of hon
esty
The value of good trial lawyer 70 a street rail-
way company is best illustrated by the fact that
AFTER change had been made in the legal admin
istration department OF a large traction company
It's yearly payment of damages was brought down
from N.25oo00 TO s75o.eo
The claim agent, on his part. be a man of
proved ability. lie is the head of bureau OF
sleu rs whose duty IL is to- collect complete ey-
oence relating 20 every claim he must be able to
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
RESTORING TIE WATERS OF BABYLON

one &C tie Oldest OF Old World civilizations was
that in Asla,ic Turkey. Now arid enough. Baby
lonian MeSo2otamia and the country between the
T!Rris and tie mountains of kur4istan We're once
the graaaries OF the world. Tho Cha!deans turned
the country into huge garden. studded with pros
porous and ropuIous cities.
Irrigation. stupendous system OF dikes and
canals. the of bringing this about
when the works of the ancients ceased be kept
in repair the country sank back arid waste
again.
Now irrigation is the fore In that
part OF the Wcflc, and United States Consul at
Bagdad-a Yankee NJ the Court OF Haroun-al-
ing plant. 1t is said. he writes. that Sir William
Willcocks. the famous engineering and irriga tiOn
expert. desires 10 crown his distinguished career
ty bringing back these regions to cultivation, ana
has prepared schemes costing some Il GG5,G00 and
f3 800 600 respectively.
Il find writes the consul, that report made
BY him after he visited Begdad. some two
three years ago. has awakened aa interest among
sprung up FOR pumping engines and irrigation
chinery. The Turkish government h;ts deposited
with he Imperial Ottoman Bank sum of lo1 0o)
Turkish lireS. equal 10 fsD0b. Wliclanlount Is to
be expended in recaiming certain lands the Eu-
pirates. the Eu9hrrtcs used to follow the course
shown aliases until. years ago. II
the led OF tae Kindly eh Canal: :he Hindyeh be-
the Euphrates, and tae bed of the old river
became couple OF months the
The former he'd of the Euphrates carries very
litte water. and Il result the valuable rice lands
about tiillah taEcient Babylon have gone q
cultivation, and the still more valuable date gar
Turkish government to take action. A French lr-
rgattpn engineer has been employed to improve
matters anG he has prepared scheme for a bar
rage across the liind!yeh Canal, which Will when
is completed. divide the waters of the Euphrates
between the lllndyeh Canal and the oll bed OF the
r.yer."-ialI Mall Gazette.
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
FRESH.

The wtman who icing he= marketing Na' @
d!ficult to please She had ovGTdaucd SNef+ Sv'a SH,
esuo4e in the SnCp anu INSISTED Oh Sst''us
be 81 StOch Ut twOPtnCe FJUu4 cheaper .N1r =
The marked priCe. anu Il NGs G~eSN.'H -
are you quite these eggs are fresA. SA'
asked
"Ihey are, madam.
You Will guarantee them,
Il viii. madam.
"isut how am 1 To know that yOu hcoW thss A''
fresh , ,,,p
My dear lady" said tho exhausted Snop'sSp sssp
with inc.sive emphasis If YOU Wls! kiil1i. I'll
to The telephone. and ring our iarul. !SS TN,
hear hens that laid them still c1cSlii7,
afraid can't say any more than tAd'N
Advertiser.
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
THE JUDGES TURKEY.

During the Civil War in the United S Stasess vers
cay curing the last years. the sou, 1;y pur-
ing this period Il Southern Judge vas 1ssu.a.sori-
prised lind a turkey his table. stuiLeu - 10
inr In The hest rules OF the art AS he hAd 80 ~
turkeys in his poultry yard. and ne Sns~ s~siJ sy-
sum he had given mis- cock tor nous. hls
y, nses did To turkey. he Calied 'e ~ NJ
servant and asked for On sNptahtt-l,t,1- .,,rssy
masSG. replied Sambc. lit is IKE thl>. sse' .,d
had tteen rcosti1, tuSee nights on o'ts S-,..
last niht grabbed him for the Tcnt OF We
not record whsIhsr INC t'itieN = 9-sN--
with this Observation-Disclosures Advertiser.
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09

single out and Immediately to settle such claims as
he believes TO be just and to bring to punishment
fraudulent claimants for damages He traces the
woman Laid UP with dislocated hip upon expe-
Gtions requiring the most supple limb service ne
learns the trade and profession OF every claimant
real or bogus and sets traps to photograph them
engaged In these. 1t Is his family who employs The
..paralvzed" la borer the lawn and do cnores
about house or farm: his company that hires car
penters masons and mechanics to work at con-
structing buildings during the time when they al
leoa thaIa unit he'd.
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
CkMPHOR TREES.

All true camphor is supplied by Japan and
China, SO per cent by the former and 20 per
cent by the latter. In obtaining camphor the
trees destroyed. Both countries have passed
laws compelling the planting of young camphor
trees, China being more radical than Japan in
this particular. as for. every camphor tree that
is cut down five new ones must be planted.
Japan has planted three million young trees
since 1900. 10 which to be added half a
million planted this year and hereafter 10000
anaually.-Pharmaceutica Era
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09

stretches, His best record for one day was 1l5
miles, further than from New York to Phila-
dephia. All his long life Weston has been great
walker. One of his records is 2,eGj miles in 1,00
consecutive hours He is not total aostaineT from
alcoholic drinks and tobacco but has used
them to excess. This veteran pedestrian has proba
bly, walked more miles than any other living
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09

name is George Young and he can tell you who
rowed for the Atalanta Boat Club when Harlem
a wilderness. The Dunn family. father and
two sons, IS well known along the river. The bow
IS a grandfather and. judging by his pres
ent condition. he VIII still be rowing when his
grandson takes his nlace in a shell.
New-York tribune., 1908-02-09

This daily routine Is varied little during his
entire working year. Twice a month he travels
TO New York and Washington to look after
legal interests in those cities He never takes
"a day off, from September 10 to July 30. but
on the latter date he rushes far away from the
noise and strife Of the city back to the simple
lIfe' down on Cape Cod. where he has a big
farm and spends few weeks there in fishing
and boating.
Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-08-13

Pvsndstloa 81 AnsIsnt Tower Dug Out
IN Convent Grounds at Rsuen.

The prison Of Joan Of Arc has just
been located near RoueD. The founda-
nons Of the ancient tower In which II
was have been discovered and opened
up through some nsw construction
work undertaken by the government
In the grounds OF the Ursuline con-
vent. from which the nuns have recent
ly been expelled.
The workmsn In digging for the
new foundations came upon q massive
wall enclosing a circular space with .
diameter Of about SO feet Whom this
was cleared OF earth q well was found
In the center measuring six feet across
and about 80 feet in depth. Water
rose in It clear and cold rs soon as
the earth had been cleared away from
the bottom.
When the sntiQuaTi2ns got busy
they Identified the wall as the founda-
lion OF building which was known
for ages as The Maids Tower" A
document dating back to 164l was pro-
duced. which. taking it for granted
that this tower had been the prison OF
the Maid OF Orleans 21o years previ-
ously, gave = description and measure
ments OF It. including the we'll, which
Enthusiastically watch the ruins Just ex-
humed.
The structure appears to have stood
unchanged from the death Of Joan in
1881 to 1890. when it was reduced 70
ruins in the course OF a siege. In 1869
the city leased the site on which the
ruin stood to Louis Mouchard.
In 1850 he appears to have stopped
paying the rent. The greater part Of
the ruin was cleared away about this
time. but AZ late AZ 1889 4 visitor writ
Ing about the place mentions tho
foundation Of the tower as visible
and speaks Of the well After that II
was filled in with earth and later the
site became part Of the nuns garden
and the existence OF the ruin and the
tradition attaching to II were forgot
ten
Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-08-13
New Yorker. Paw Rent

Fewer New Workers own their own
homes than the residents Of any other
city In the world. The reason is a
simple one; the Land IL so valuable
that none but the very wealthy can
AFFORD its purchase. OF the 1oI.ss7
families living on Maahattan island
only 1876 hold title to the houses
they occupy-if you will bring that
little pad and pencil into play again
you will learn that 81 out of every 100
families make monthly payments to
landlord. When these families
move, as they are constantly doing. II
seems only necessary to take the fam
lily photographs from the mants+so
completely has their method Of life
been systematixed. As for the land
lords, they are mightier In wealth and
tenants than any feudal lords of old
as forsooth the Astors, whose i'm
mense multitude OF dwellings house
greater number of people than are
contained In city OF the size OF Hart.
ford. Conn; Seattle. Wash; or Nash.
Vile, Tenn.-The Giant City New
York" in National Magazine.