davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL
EMILY NFcROY.
sam Leandro. Cal. Age "A Years

san LeandrO. Cal. Age II ears
On the evening of the 18th OF June,
1775. the Massachusetts, military au-
thorities sent a force of 5000 men to
occupy Bunker hill on the Charlestown
peninsula.
One Of the officers. however, led the
troops to Breeds hill. farther down the
peninsula. and directly opposite Boston.
On the morning of the 1Tth OF June
the British in Boston were astOnished
to see earthworks fronting them from
the opposite height Three thousand
British soldiers under Howe were sent
across in boats to storm the rude earth
works, behind which about 1900 Amer
leans lay, under Prescott.
In the afternoon the battle OF Bunker
hill began The British made two as
saults. but were severely repulsed by
the Americans. In these fights. how
ever, the Americans completely used up
their ammunition. A third assault by
the British carried the rude line of de-
fenses and Bunker hill was a British
victory.
But Ii was dearly won. for the British
had lost 1000 men and the American
loss was 450 The Americans did not
consider themselves severely defeated,
for they knew if their powder had not
given out they would have defeated the
British.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
Six Watches Are Awarded to Juniors

lucky He was so pleased with its
beauty and amount of game that he de-
cided to bring settlers over. Boone
went back and soon returned, bringing
about 80 settlers. They cut a road
through the wilderness that went
through the Cumberland gap. Il was
later used by other settlers coming TO
this country and is now called the Will
derness road.
He settled on the Kentucky river and
called his town Boonesboro. The women
made cloth of beaten nette stalks. One
time Boone and some companions went
TO salt lick to get some salt. While
getting this Indians surprised and cap
tured Boone.
The Indians admired his skill and
courage so much that their chief adopt
ed him. He was allowed to go out
hunting. and one time came upon a COM
pany of braves planning 10 attack
Boonesboro. Then and there Boone de-
cided TO run away and try to reach
Boonesboro in time to save IL.
One day he went out hunting. AS
soon as he was out of sight of the In
dians he struck out for home, arriving
in time TO save il.
The Indians would have taken better
care 10 prevent Boones escape had he
not seemed soshappy with them.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
SHERIDAN'S RIDE
EMMA SCHROEDER,
260 Frederick Street. San Francisco, b
Seventh Grade, Crocker Grammar
School. Age 12 Years

One of the famous incidents of the
civil war was Sheridans ride. About
the middle of October Sheridan went to
Washington, and while on his way back
slept on the night of October Is at
Winchester. At a. m. on the 18th
he heard guns, but paid no attention
to the sounds till 9 o'clock, when, as he
rode quietly out of Winchester. he met.
mile from town, wagon trains and
fugitives, and heard that Early had
surprised his camp at daylight. Dash
ing up the pike with an escort of 20
men, calling to the fugitives as he
passed them to turn and face the
enemy. he met the army drawn up in
line II miles from Winchester. "Far
away in the rear says an old soldier,
we heard cheer after cheer Were re-
Inducements coming? Yes, Phil Sheri-
Dan was coming, and he was a host"
Dashing down the line, Sheridan
shouted: What troops are these?"
The Sixth cavalry" came back the
response from 100 voices I'VE are all
right" said Sheridan. as he swung his
old hat and dashed along the line to
the right. Never mind, bows. we'll
whip them yet. We shall sleep in our
Old quarters tonight" And they did.
Early was defeated
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
AWARDED A WATCH
THE BOSTON TEA PARTY
SARAH MAGIDSON,
2644 Folsom Street, Horace Mani
Grammar School, High Sixth Grade.
IL Years Old


When parliament learned that tbs
colonies opposed the Townshend actd
IL decided to repeal them, but just to
show theA colonists that it would tax
them without representation ii put
a tax on tea It thought that because
this was an indirect tax the colonists
would not object to paying it.
Ships loaded with tea were sent to
Charleston. Boston. New York, and
In Charleston it was stored in damp
cellars, where it soon spoiled. In Bos-
ton the people would not allow 1T to
be landed and the governor would
not have 1T sent back. If 1t was not
landed by the twentieth day the gov
ernor had power to force 1t to be
landed
On the nineteenth day a great meet
ing was held in Boston at which there
were 1000 men, with Samuel Adams
a s spokesman.
The owner of the ships was sent to
ask the governors permission TO sail
away, but received mo" for an answer.
When Samuel Adams heard this he
said; This meeting can do no more
to save the country"
Instantly a war whoop was heard
and about so men dressed as Indians
ran TO the wharf, boarded the vessels
and threw the tea overheard This was
called the Boston tea party"
When parliament heard of the tea
party" il decided TO punish Boston and
Massachusetts.
This it did by passing five acts so
the "five intoIerable acts" The worst
was the Boston port BILL which closed
the port of Boston. forbade any trading
and moved the custom house to Marble
head
All the colonies sympathized with
Boston and sent provisions and even the
Carolinas did their share by sending
food.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
| AWARDED A WATCH
SAMUEL F. B. MORSE
CLARA ORR.
NIIAhA Uhhs
CI0VeFdaIe Public School, Sixth Grade.
CIoverdaIe, Cal. Age I3 Years

Cl0VeFdale Public School, Sixth Grade.
CIOverdaIe, Cal. Age 13 Years
Samuel +. B. Morse. an American ar
tist, invented the telegraph. He had
heard of people trying to send mes
sages by electricity and while coming
from Europe TO America In 1882 he
thought a great deal about the matter
Before he reached America he had
made a drawing of an instrument
which, by the help of wires, he thought
would accomplish the wished for re-
suit.
Five years later he made an instru-
ment which could send a message a
short distance. He saw at once that IL
the wires We're properly arranged a
message could be sent great dis
tance.
Most inventors were poor, and Morse
il not been for the help of a young
friend whose father was wealthy he
This friend, whose name was Alfred
Vail, helped in the making of the in
struments. He also got a patent for
the invention for Morse.
Morse asked the congress at Wash
ington to give $50, 900 for constructing g
q telegraph line between Baltimore and
Washington.
Some of the members of the congress
made fun of Morse's plan and for a
time there seemed little hope that the
bill would pass.
However, just before adjournment
and after much controversy the bill
passed. Morse did not know of the
passage Of the bill until he was at
breakfast the next morning. A lady
came in and congratulated him and
Morse said she should send the first
message over the lines.
With money received line was con-
structed.
When all was ready Morse kept his
promise and on May 25. 1874, Miss An
ME Ellsworth telegraphed to her mother
this message: What hath God
wrought
1t was not many years before teIe-
graph lines were all over the states.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
THE BATTLE OF BUNKER
HILL
ZITA HUBERTY.
san Andreas. san AndreaS SchooI
Seventh Grade. Age I3 Years

seventh Gfade. Age 13 Years
Right back of the village of Charles
Ton were two small hills.
Ihe nearest one was Breeds hill
ana beyond this Bunker hill The pos
session of this hill was very impor-
tant because 1t overlooked Boston and
The Americans heard that the Eng
hsh General Gage was to fortify the
mis-. So they sent some men under
6olonel Prescott to take possession of
Bunker hill. but Prescott, through mis-
take. fortified the wrong hill.
The next morning the British saw
the men on the hill and opened FIRE
from their ships, but il did no good.
So Gage sent several hundred men
to Charleston to drive the Americans
away. They were slow and this gave
the Americans time to send Prescott
aid.
Soon the British made the attack.
When they came within good shooting
distance Prescott gave sign and they
opensd fire. The British were driven
back and defeated twice, but the third
time they, got new supply of powder
and marched up the hill again. This
time the Americans gave up because
they had no more powder.
Half of the British army were killed
or wounded.
The Americans were defeated. but
the moral effect of the battle was in
their favor. They were encoura ged
and were willing to sell Gage as many
hills as he wanted at the same price
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
WILLIAM II. TAFT
ELIZABETH TALBOT
Santa Rosa, II. r. ID. 3. Santa Rosa
District School, Twelfth Grade.
Age IL Years

William Howard Taft was born in
Cincinnati. o., September Is, 1887.
When a boy he was fond of games and
outdoor sports, and yet always studied
and got his lessons well. Later he
went to Yale university. Here he was
called Big BilI' and was the most
popular young man in his class. He
was a great athlete and the champion
wrestler of the university. Yet he did
not neglect his studies, for he was the
second best in the class of 100.
After leaving college he practiced
law. but not very long, for he was
made a judge, and then he was ap-
pointed solicitor general at Washing
ton Here he became acquainted with
a young office holder, Theodore Roose-
welt. and they became fast friends.
When the United States had secured
the Philippines President Mckinley
wanted a man to take charge of af-
fairs over there. He had trouble in
getting the right man. II want" said
he "a man who is big, strong, patient,
tactful yet firm and willing to kill him
self with hard work if necessary"
why don't you get him?' said Mr..
Day. 'Will Taft is the man you want"
Taft was sent for at once and was per-
suaded to go to the Philippines Here
he did excellent work as governor. The
little black Filipinos called him 'HZanto
Taft"
Mr. Taft has Travelled all around the
world twice and has been entertained
by emperors, kings and queens. He is
a man of fine character and of a pleas
ant. happy disposition. All who know
him love him.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
SERGEANT JASPER'S BOLD
DEED
SOPHIE BEEkHUIs,
112 West Ivy Street, Hanford.
Hanford Grammar School, High Seventh
Grade

II was in June, 1875, when General
Clinton, with his feet, came to capture
Charlestown. Colonel William MouI-
trie had heard of this and built small
fort of palmetto logs and sand bags on
an island in the harbor. From this his
guns made sad havoc with the fleet for
the logs of the fort were so tough and
spongy that the British could not pierce
them with their shot
The flag of the fort floated from a
high mast The enemy tried again and
again to hit the mast. At last the top
of the 1agstaff was shot away and the
flag fell over the ramparts to the
beach
The sergeant of the fort, whose name
was William Jasper, leaped over the
wall of palmetto logs and walked the
whole length of the fort in the face of
the enemys fire. Calmly crossing the
beach, he picked up the fallen flag,
fastened it to the rammer of a cannon
and noated it over the ramparts Thus
he saved the flag of our country. and
soon Clinton went back disheartened.
The defense of this fort had most
wholesome effect on the patriotic
cause.
Moultrie was so pleased with Jasper
that he offered the sergeant his sword
and a higher rank in the army. Jasper
declined the honor saying that he
could not even read or write and was
quite contented to be a sergeant
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05

which he felt sure was the one for
which he was looking.
In sailing up this river he was visited
by many Indians and al one time there
were so canoes filed full of men.
women and children around the Half
Moon at one time.
The Indians were very friendly and
brought him many things TO eat and
invited him to stay all night with
them.
Further on he found that the river
was getting too shallow. He was
On his return to England he was not
allowed to return TO Holland, but sent
a report of his failure.
He nov started on another voyage
in search of that passage. He sailed
so far north that he reached what is
now Hudson bay
After three months of exploring the
shore the vessel was caught in the
ice.
He and seven other men were set
adrift on raft and never were heard
of afterward.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05

II was in September of the same
year that Perry met the enemy and
won one of the most famous battles
of the war. When Perry met the
enemy he flung to the breeze blue
flag on which was inscribed Captain
Lawrence's immortal words, Don't
give up the ship"
Perry's ship. the Lawrence, was dis
abled. and he rowed TO the Niagara
where he renewed the battle.
The British surrendered to him and
he sent this dispatch to Harrison, who
was in command of the land forces:
we have met the enemy, and they are
ours-two ships, two briggs, one
schooner and one sloop.
The most important character of
this battle was that it aided Harrison
to get a foothold in Canada. where he
witnessed many defeats OF the British
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
BOSTON TEA PARTY
MARION WRIGHT.
Virginia CITY, Nevada. Fourth Ward
school, seventh Grade, Age
II Years

=
After the failure of the stamp act
King George. IN order to raise money
to pay his soldiers in this country, inn
posed a duty on glass, paper. paints
and tea But the Americans. knowing
the. purpose OF the tax. refused 10 eat
drink or wear anything brought from
England until the tax was taken on
Finding the eolOnists so determined,
parliament took OF the tax on all these
goods except tea, which was taxed a
few cents a pound. But the colonistS
were determined and refused the tea
even as a gift, II any tax was asked
Parliament. thinking the colontSts We're
not in earnest. refused to remove the
tax and sent tea ships to Boston. New
York, Philadelphia, Charleston and
Annapolis, but they were sent back OF
destroyed.
In i77s. the citizens of Boston re-
fused 20 allow tea to be landed there
The ships remained IN the haroor Tor
19 days. and. according TO law, aIter
20 days the cuStomhOuse OrncerS hdd
the right to unload them, so there was
but one day left to act meeting was
held in Old South meeting hall, and at
its close a party of Americans. DIS
guised as Indians. appeared and Win
a warwhoOp rushed to the wharf, ana
going aboard the vessels, emptled
every chest OF tea. 100000 worth, into
the harbor. This became famous as tne
Boston tea party.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05

not Kill him at the time, but he lay
suffering for three long months Every
one throughout the country waited
anxiously for the report which was
sent out from his bedside twice every
day. But at last on the 18TH OF sep
tember he passed away
The whole United States went INTO
mourning. Every one felt as though
he had lost a friend
Immediately after his death wee
President Chester A. Arthur took his
place and finished out his term
Mr.. Garfield was a man with broad
and liberal views. and after his death
a while
Mr. Arthur filed the place so well
that he soon gained the respect and
confidence of all, even his opponents.
A The next president was Cleveland.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
HENRY HUDSON
RALPH THOMPSON.
CIOverdaIe. CIOverdaIe Public school,
Sixth Grade. Age Ia Years

About the beginning of the seven
teenth century Henry Hudson, an Eng
lish navigator, was chosen by the
Dutch traders to take charge of an
exploring expedition.
He was given the command of a
small ship called the Half Moon and
started on voyage to find a north
west passage to India
He sailed along the coast of Nor
way, but met with so much ice that
he was forced to turn back
On sailing westward again he reached
the coast of Newfoundland.
He then sailed south TO Chesapeake
bay and then north to Delaware bay
Finding this was not what he was
looking for. he sailed still further up
the coast untH he came to an opening
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
THE ADMINISTRATION 9 OF
GARFIELD
ANNA JAMESON,
Cana, Butte County. Cana School
Ninth Grade. Age Ia

Mr.. James A. Garfield, one of our
presidents, took UP his duty as presi-
dent on the 4th day of March, 1881
People were glad to have him for
president and he was we'll liked by
both parties They believed that he
meant to do his best.
On July of the same year man
by the name of Charles Guiteau. who
had tried to get an office of the presi-
dent and had failed. came up behind
Garfield and shot him in the back
while he was standing at a railroad
station in Washington. The shot did
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
ROSE CARSIACK,
PalcInes. Cal. Cottonwood school
seventh Crude. Age n Years


BENJAMIN Franklin was the youngest
son. There were II children; the nr-
teenth was born in Boston. when
10 years old he was taken out OF
school and put to work In his father
shop. making soap and candles He
went to town TO spend his money.
Franklin disliked that work very
much-his father thought he would
run away. Franklin was very fond
of books, so his father thought that
he might make a good printer. One
of Beniamin's oldest brothers had
printing office. 1t was one of the ArSr
printing offices in America
He liked his trade very much and
soon became a great printer. He had
no money to spend on books to read
Franklin went to Philadelphia, his
clothes were muddy and his pockets
were full of stockings and shirts.
Franklin paid up all OF his bills
promptly. Franklin died in 1890.
There were thousands Of persons at
his funeral
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
|. AWARDED A WATCH
BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE
GEORGE DIETz

GEORGE DIETZ
San Andreas. Cal. Eighth Grade. san
Andreas school Age IL Years
In August, 1913. Oliver Hazard Perry.
a young naval officer during the war
OF 1872, took command of the fleet he
had recently finished building. 1t con-
sisted of nine small vessels, built of
green lumber cut for that special pur-
pose.
He built the ships on the banks of
Lake Erie. After this was done Perry
was ready TO search for the enemy.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
AWARDED A WATCH
t%%<%><e>>%->>->-%-<-<~><%<%%
DANIEL BOONE
HUGH r.. FULLER,

Years
Daniel Boone was born in Bucks coun-
~, Pennsylvania. When he was Just a
few years old he and his parents moved
to the Yadkin river valley He grew up
TO be a good frontiersman and hunter.
He could survey, like most young men
Of that time. He could not spell we'll.
There is beech tree that is kept be-
bar on tree"
He loved adventure. and one time
crossed the Allegheny mountains and
came to the country that is now Ken
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
THE CAPTURE OF YICKS=
BURG
AMY ECkSTROM.
1885 Twentieth Street. San Francixco
Age Ii

The Mississippi river was open at the
The day after the victory at Gettvs
burg the joy of the north was in
creased when they heard that Vicks-
burg had surrendered to Grant on the
4th of July. When the confederate
forces were defeated at Iuka and Co
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05

ntted 10 hght the battles OF life.
From all my experience / feel that
the main object for the boy is an,
serious and earnest effort in the righl
direction. which is a step toward tia
evolution Of the good citizen
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-04-24
Told STANLEY All About IL.

During Stanley's last stay in London
he was present one evening at very
swell affair, and the attention paid to
him was so annoying that he was de-
lighted when he had an opportunity Of
slipping away unnoticed. He found a
quiet corner in the smoking room and
was enjoying cigar when a spruce
young fellow, who, it turned out. was
lieutenant in the navy, came up.
To Stanley's surprise, the lieutenant
began to tell him all about Africa, and
it soon became evident that he did not
know he was talking to the great ex-
plorer.
Other listeners strolled in. and pretty
soon there was quite a crowd listening
to the young man telling the most as
tonishing things about the dark cont
nent. the Kongo, the shire district, the
native races, and so on.
At first Stanley endeavored to cor
knew better, and so he permitted him
to talk on Finally this extraordinary
and laughable scene was brought to
conclusion by one of the guests saying:
But, Mr.. Stanley, you told u.s.
Stanley" cried the lieutenant. els
this Stanley, the African explorer?'
Certainly" was the reply. The lieu
tenant gave one look around. tried to
speak. flushed scarlet and then dashed
out of the room, followed by roar Of
laughter, in which even Stanley joined
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-04-24
She Was a Joke.

II have just had peculiar expert
ence." said Il middle aged matron, that
it may be we'll for others to know. A
week ago, while in the parlor of de-
partment store. a refined looking wom
an came to me in agitation, announced
that she had lost her purse and asked
me to accommodate her with little
change. which she would return the
next day. She carried several parcels.
gave her, l think, "a cents-all the
change had-and we exchanged
cards.
yesterday while downtown I was
attracted to a crowd on the corner, in
the center Of which was q woman an
nouncing eXcitedly that she had been
robbed and asking for some small sum
to get home. The coincidence impress
ed me, as had not heard from my
borrower | handed this woman a dol
lar She boarded a northbound Sixth
avenue car. followed. In the neigh
borhood of Bryant square she got off.
So did l. She entered an ice cream
parlor. A moment later entered
THE woman was there. So was the
other woman Of week ago, and they
were together and laughing over what
appeared to be good joke. Apparent
~ was the joke."-New York Globe.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-04-24
Picture Over Wires.

The vibratory phenomenon, the
'Photophone," will be a feature that
is expected to excite a great deal OF
interest at the National Business
Show at Duquesne Garden, Pittsburg,
April 25th to May I'd. 1t is an 1nven-
ton by which anyone talking over q
telephone, no matter how far distant,
can see the person at the other END OF
the line. Recently a test was made
from the office of Frank Brosan,
Circulation Manager of the New York
World, talking to Manager Levitt,
Of the South Beach Amusement Com
pany, twelve miles away. The test
was entirely successful.
The device is attached to an ordin-
airy telephone, and consists OF two
highly polished steel plates and three
little boxes shaped like receivers, in
which is captured a gas, the nature of
which has not been divulged by the
inventor. When the inventor was
speaking to Mr.. Levitt, a man he had
never seen, twelve miles away, he de-
scribed and distinguished colors of
the pictures on the walls, read news
paper print and otherwise thoroughly
startled the man at the seashore.
The inventor claims that every OBJ
ject, animate or inanimate, has GER
tain magnetic wave that can be trans
ferred over wire almost any dis
lance, and recorded at the other end,
if the recording instrument is delicate
enough. Seeing the face of the person
is easy, he claims, but that the min
ute expression OF color or perfume is
difficult for any instrument to grasp.
The inventor claims that he is endeav-
oring to secure patents now and ex-
poets to jump from obscurity into
prominence as soon as the wonder ma
chine is on the market