davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27

Chicago.-Peter Van Vlissingen,
supposedly wealthy real estate dealer,
philanthropist, automobile enthusiast
and member of many clubs. was dis
covered to be criminal and within
four hours had confessed. been tried
and sentenced to fourteen years 4
prison.
The knowledge of Van Vlissingen's
wrongdoing. hitherto wholly un3ua.
peeted, came with startling sudden
ness. The celebrity with which his
punishment was fixed was due to his
own desire and to the aid he gave to
the District Attorney in uncoyering
his felonies.
Van Vlissingen proves to be a
forger and embezzler to the extent OF
nearly 100000. He has placed
the exact amount ''wrongfully
handled at $4,000 He asked
that he be taken to the penitentiary
at once, but as creditors have begun
legal actions against him, he may re-
main in the Cook County Jail here for
some time.
The arrest of Van Vlissingen was
made upon charge that, on the sur.
face, did not seem important or
reasonable in connection with one
who had for quarter of century
been regarded as one of Chicago's
most prosperous and reputable bust.
ness men. He was accused by 7. ].
LETTERS and William c. Seipp of sell,
ing to them mortgage notes amount.
ing TO $4,000, to which the names OF
Joseph and Bertha Grossman had been
forged He not only promptly con.
fessed to these forgeries, but tearfully
told a story of wrongdoing from
youth, undecided until now, that as.
founded Assistant States Attorney
Barbour, who had the matter in
charge
II appears. according 10 his con.
fessoT, that Van Vlissingan has, for
eighteen or twenty years, been pro.
curing large sums on forged deeds
and notes; that he had been able
through the years of deception. and
until recently. to buy back the spur.
iouz documents before any one OF
them was discovered TO be forged
Unable TO find the small sum with
which to take up the Grossman notes
the genuine originals of which he
haQ also disposed OF, detection foi.
lowed, with fraudulent, unredeemej
paper out against him amounting Il
Si5a.000 or more. This paper is
held by about twenty-five individuals
In leaving nothing untold, but add.
Ing to the marvel of his crimina,
career, the prisoner told OF a UNIQUE
device for forgery that he had IL.
vented. II consists of plate g,as;
desk top. so arranged that BY an
electric light thrown up from be-
meath he could readily trace from
original signatures and forge papers
Van Vlissingen is about forty-fve
years old. He was at one time rated
as a millionaire. for years figured
largely in the world of finance and
was widely known and trusted. His
downfall has caused a tremendous
sensation.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
LANDSLIDE FOLLOWS
FATAL GAS EXPLOSION
Half a Block Slips Into 48-Foot
Trench in Brooklyn.
LABORERS PERISH IN FLOOD
Bursting Water Main mandates Ex-
cavation-Men, Women and Chill
dren Go Down Under Water and
Earth in Gold Street Sewer.

Brooklyn. n. Y.-Twenty-two lives
are believed TO have been sacrificed
in an unusual accident in a sewer
trench in Gold street. this borough.
Half of the block in Gold street, be-
tween York and Front streets. fell
into forty-eight-foot trench after &
gas explosion that wrecked twenty
four-inch main and loosed thousands
of gallons of water. Men, women and
children walking on the sidewalk slid
into the excavation and were drowned
or were burned by a gas fame that
rose eighty feet above the pavement
aud burned for twenty minutes be-
fore the Brooklyn Union Gas Com
pany shut it off.
Exact knowledge as to the number
that persisted will not be had until
the big trench is pumped clear OF wat
er. The accident is one OF the most
unusual in the city's history. The
street is in such 2 condition that Dep
uty Chief Lallv, Of the Fire Depart
ment. refused TO permit his men TO
work ar night in the trench. and is
sued an order that no attempt at re-
covery of bodies be made until 4
o'clock next morning. II there are
twenty-one buried in the mass of
sand. timber and water. there is not
a chance for getting any out alive.
One body is out of the trench.
More than half the block has gone
down from building line TO building
line, and the foundations of the old
fashioned frame houses that line the
block are washed by water
Among the dead is Frederick
Schefmeier. OF the Brooklyn Sewer
Bureau. who went into the trench to
inspect the work on the thirteen-foot
sewer at 9 o'clock q. m. Sehefmeier
was overwhelmed by the food OF
water released from the burst main.
Four carpenters employed by Hag-
gerty & Rogers, Of Manhattan, the
contractors. were swept through the
finished section of the sewer to the
bulkhead at the end of Gold street
and climbed out almost drowned.
They collapsed on reaching the sur
face. and were cared for by one of
the six ambulance surgeons who re-
sponded TO calls.
The known dead are:
Samuel Abrams. ffty-four years
old: body recovered.
Gustave Anderson. foreman car
penter.
Francis Armando, laborer, Brook
Ign.
Jacques Armando, brother CO Fran
els. also a laborer.
Emil Bachman. carpenter.
John Brady. six years old
Vincent Doherty, seven years old.
Charles Farrell. foreman laborer.
Felix Green. carpenter, Manhattan.
Gustave Lane, carpenter, Manha.-
tar.
Charles Nelson. carpenter.
Frederick Scheffmeier. city sewer
inspector, Brooklyn.
Gustave Wallo. carpenter.
The unknown dead are:
Two Italian laborers.
A woman.
The injured are:
Dominick Labonio, laborer; scalp
wounds.
Archie Gunochio. iaborer: iacera-
tions OF face and scalp.
The cause OF the catastrophe prob
ably will never be absolutely known.
though the general belief is that it
was the result OF the accumulation of
illuminating gas in the sewer trench
and some of its pockets.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
TOBACCO GROWERS
WHIP THE TRUST
American Company Finally Agrees
to Pay Price Demanded.
TOTAL MAY REACH s14,OOo,ooO
Deal Just Closed Means the End of
Night Rider OutraGes in State of
Kentucky - Nearly S0,O00,000
Pounds Held in the Burley Pool.

Louisville. Ky.-The Tobacco Trust
has been whipped to finish and
made to bow down to the Burley To-
bacco Society. Some of the members
of that organization unofficially
formed the bands of marauders
known as night riders. who resorted
to arson and murder to attain their
ends.
BY n deal between the Burley To-
bacco Society and the American To-
bacco Company, closed lately, the
1906 and part of the 1907 crop of to-
bacco. involving S0.000.000 pounds.
becomes the property of the Ameri-
can Tobacco Company at cost of al
most 100000. The average price
per pound i6f tAe 1906 crop was
twenty and q half cents and seven5
teen cents for the 1907 crop. There
is great rejoicing in Kentucky among
the night riders and those who SYM
pathize with them 1t is considered
a decisive victory for the night rid
ers and will end the marauding in
Kentucky.
The Burley Tobacco Society is an
organization that comprises about
fifty-fve counties in the northern and
central portions of Kentucky, and has
in its membership all tobacco raisers.
These growers pooled all of their
crops of 1906 and 1907 and the or
ganization was controlled exactly like
any corporation or trust would he.
that is, by officers and an executive
board. Tobacco raising in the Bur-
ley district is very arduous work. and
employs the time of the farmer prac-
ticallv the year round. 1t is esti-
mated that it requires ut least price
of eight cents q pound for farmer
to realize any profit on raising Burnley
tobacco.
The tobacco growers, knowing that
the trust was realizing at least from
forty cents to 81 for the Burley to-
bacco after il was manufactured for
consumption, decided. as last resort.
10 organize against trust prices. This
they did. with the result that by this
deal they received an average of near
" nineteen cents a pound for their
tobacco. thus attesting that they have
gained their point This was done by
eurtailing the production and not
raising q crop this year.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
THE SENSE OF DISTANCE.
A Pleasure Mr.. Glimmerton Finds
When He Takes His Vacation.

zone of the things that go on
my vacation for, one of the chief
things" said Mr.. Glimmerton, is dis
lance: the refreshing, reviving, ex-
panding power Of distance. The
change to new scenes. as any change
helpful; but the broadening, uplift-
ing. clarifying effect, the effect in
which We find the greatest enjoyment
and by which We store up the greatest
renewal of strength for the future,
we get through our sense of distance.
I'VE are so shut up in the city, our
range of vision is so limited: live
where We will or go where we will
here and our sight stops short at
walls. Then when We go away and
leave the city behind us, as we set
out into the open country. where we
can see past houses. how grateful
does the distance seem,
But get this sense best at quiet
place where l go in the mountains.
where can sit and look down a long.
broad lake with mountains rolling
away on either hand and beyond.
The change, l know. from the city is
great and delightful; but the thing
that gets me here, and releases ne,
is the distance.
Daily, hourly. come back to this
view. to ezpel what lingering traces
may be left in me of the contraction
of the city and to expand anew in this
great spaciousness through the sense
OF distance. Space has no care nor
confinement, but only freedom. And
what JOY and relief to be where one
can cast of all chains and be free,
ANY change is good for us; but
the greatest Toy in change that cones
to me is through the sense of dis
lance. New York Sun.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
Indians Picture on Bill.

Hollow Horn Bear, chief of all the
Sioux, returning from a visit to SEN
ator Gamble at Yankton on tribal
matters, found himself broke" and
through Interpreter Elliston sought
Judge Witten, in charge of the Trip
reservation, and asked him for a loan
OF SIS TO buy food for his family.
When the Judge presented a SIS
bill Elliston pointed out Hollow Horn
Bears picture on it. Judge Witter,
kept the bill and gave the chief specie
and said he thought it advisable to
retain the bill which contained the
picture of the only living man who
ever got himself photographed in
that manner.
Hollow Horn Bear made a great
speech in Congress in 1889, and as
he is q good-looking specimen of his
race his picture vas engraved on
10th the SIS and $40 bills.-Sioux
City Correspondence St. Paul Dis
patch.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
Orville Wright's Schoolboy Essay.

i was in High School at Dayton
at the same time as Orville Wright.
now famed as inventor of the aero
plane" remarked Ernest F. Crum-
mel I'VE were not in the same
class, but I remember one essay that
Wright prepared for one of the liter
airy programmes. 1t was about air.
ships. and Wright read from his pa
per that the time would come when
men would navigate the air.
He read on so enthusiastically
that the other students all laughed
good-naturedly at him for writing
along such foolish lines. They all
told him man would be crazy to
try to ride an airship. But as eyery-
BODY knows to-day, Wright's youth
ful enthusiasm has carried him along
TO success and fame i. just that very
direction. Cleveland Plain Deale-
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
SIX KILLED AS CAGE DROPS.
Mine Officials Fall 2S5 Feet in q
PENNSYLVANIA Shaft.

Pittsburg.-Six men were instant.
" killed, another critically injured
and three had narrow ESCAPES in a
mine cage accident al Ellsworth Mine
No. l. in Washington County.
Because of break in the macfir.
cry the cage occupied by ten men.
several OF whom were mine officials.
plunged from near the outlet to the
bottom of the shaft, distance Of aS5
feet.
The dead are: II. J. Walsh. %
Phillipsburg. Pa, mining engineer;
Eugene G. Smyth. %, Alliance, Ohio.
mining engineer; ]. B. Newcomer, &c.
Dawson. Pa, chief mining engineer
in charge of the four Ellsworth mines.
Osep Dnschek. 20, loader; James
Kelly, 90. loader; Tony Doyowsky.
26. loader.
Newcomer and Smyth were to be
married on Thanksgiving Day.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
BAD SHORTAGE OF XMAS TREES
Forest Fires Did It. and Result Will Be Rise In eFees Ready For CUT
Ting That REPRESENTED Market Value Of 100000 Burned

New York City.-With the peach
crop scare forgotten months ago and
the oyster crop scare only a clammy
ghost, II seemed there would be rest
from reports of shortages. But a
man came TO the front with an an
nouneement which. in its possibilities
OF widespread gloom. made peach and
oyster famines look Joyous. II the
situation is as bad as he said. Christ
mas Day in hundreds of thousands
of homes will seem as If there were a
funeral. or the rent collector had
come around again.
Simply. there is going TO be the
worst shortage of Christmas trees
this country has known. The man
who said it deals in those trees by
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
QUICK SENTENCE FOR FORGER
Gets IA Years Within 4 Hours
After His Arrest
Peter Van Vlissingen. OF Chicago,
Confesses TO Frauds Extending
Over Twenty Years.
Four Unpleasant Hours For Van
Vlissingen.

100 p. m. Peter Van Vlissin-
gen confronted in his Office by a
detective and asked to go to the
States Attorneys office.
8 p. m. Arrives at States At
torney's Office and. after being
told of charges. confesses.
3.15 p. M. Grand Jury, which
had been presented with evidence,
returns indictment.
AIS p. M. Prisoner brought
before Judge Windes and hearing
begun.
SD. m. Sentence pronounced.
SIS p. m. Van Vlissingen
locked up in the County Jail.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
How the japanese Battle.

In Japan every one. ricn OF
takes one hot bath a day.
Each house possesses a rouna
rel-like tub, and in it the '
kneels. The temperature OF ls
er varies from 10 to NV as'
and no Japanese thinks OF taAl''
than an hour to battle in.
Before going into the oall :
liminary scrubbing takes piae,
which each person is proYioea :
brass bowl full of water ana
stool to sit on. The bowl is c0.,'
ly refilled with hot water ~
skin thoroughly scrubbed. ~
at last gets so perfectly CLEANSE
when its owner steps into w !,
tub the water is not "soiieu'
speak. II
A japanese considers his
bath before food, and tnel.
doubt that the vitality allc CIV NJ
of the japanese are gTeal' Ia
their Clearly habits. Inc "a
always heated by charcosi' =
said that a Japanese woma.
FIVE minutes to wash one alu
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27

wholesale. He asserted the recent
forest fires, that swept hundreds of
acres in the northern section of
Maine, killed OF thousands OF young
trees. Already dealers are in the
north woods of Maine. having the
trees cut and getting them ready for
shipment. A large real estate dealer
in Maine says the forest fires de-
stroyed Christmas trees ready for
cutting that represented a market
value of 100000.
All famine stories, whether of
shellfish, fruit or trees. wind up with
a certain form of announcement. II
comes with the Christmas prediction.
1t is:
PRICES WILL BE HIGHER.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
Feminine Notes.

DR.. v. A. Latyam, of Chicago. and
Miss Mary A. Booth, of Springfield.
Mass. are said to be the only expert
women photomicrcgraphers in this
country.
Miss Ruby Abrams, who was re-
Gently graduated at the head of the
art class in Cooper Institute. New
York City, Is deaf. and until a few
years ago was also dumb. She has
been an art student ever since she
was graduated at the head OF her
class six years ago at the Institute
for the Improved instruction of Deaf
Mutes. She has the record of having
won four prizes durinE her - ~~--se.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
ANON. the Workers.

There are signs Of a revival in the
lead and slate industries of Wales.
a union labor club IVES formed at
the last meeting OF the San Francisco.
Cal, laundry workers.
typographical unions have been
formed in the colonies of Barbados.
British Guiana and Trinidad.
Printers unions have been started
in the sister colonies of Trinidad.
Barbados and British Guiana.
An Oklahoma farmer insists thai
a man can live on line cents a day,
provided he uses the products Of hi:
farm.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
TOM L. JOHNSON POOR.
Cleveland's Mayor Says Fine Home
and Autos Must Go.

Cleveland. Ohio.-Nayor Tom L.
Johnson. who for years has been cred
tied with possessing q large fortune.
announced that he had lost every
thing and would be compelled TO give
up his handsome home In Euclid ave
nue. and move into smaller and less
expensive quarters. The Mayor also
stated that he would give UP his auto
mobiles and other Injuries. because
he could no longer afford TO keep
them.
His fortune was wrecked, the May
or declared. by his devotion TO the af-
fairs OF the estate of his dead brother
Albert. who was heavily interested in
traction properties II the East. After
Albert's death il was suggested TO
Mayor Johnson that he resign as
Mayor and take up the management
of AlbaTt's estate.
II is said Mr.. Johnson has recently
lost approximately 100000 in con-
nection with his interests at Lorain,
Ohio.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
Far Eastern Notes.

Japan is buying more American
iron and steel pipe each year.
Egypt's sugar cane crop this year
is only 100000 tons, against 500 900
tons in 1907 and 100000 tons in
1906.
The sailors Of the American feet
at Annoy. China. contested in various
sports and the winners received
prizes.
An unsuccessful attempt to shoot
Sir A. II. L. Fraser. Lieutenant-Goy-
ernor of Bengal, India. was made by
Bengal at the Calcutta Town hall |:
the criminal was caught.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27

Elihu Root. Secretary of State. said
he would accept the New York Sena-
torship.
Senator Elkins denied that his
daughter is engaged to the Duke OF
the Abruzzi.
A movement was begun to over
throw Charles F. Murphy as the Lead
er Of Temmany Hall.
DR.. Waldemar Jochelson left New
York City on q two years ethnolog:.
cal expedition among the Aleats.
In his annual report Rear-Admiral
Pillsbu~y recommended restoring the
rank Of vire-Admiral OF the navy
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
SHOOTS JUDGE IN COURT.
Detected Litigant in Leipsic Wounds
Presiding Justice and Kills Clerk.

Leipsic, Germany.-A defeated lit
igant in the Supreme Civil Tribu-
nal, of Leipsic. drew revolver and
opened fire on Herr Maenner, the
Presiding Judge, and the Court Clerk.
The Clerk was shot dead and the
Judge dangerously wounded.
The assassin, man named Gros-
ser, succeeded in firing ten shots be-
fore he was overpowered. Grosser
was plaintiff in a suit concerning the
validity of will, and the decision OF
Judge Maenner was in favor of the
defense. AS soon as Grosser heard
the ruling he drew revolver and
began firing. CONSERVATION reigned
in the court room until he was dis
armed.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
Big Texas Melon.

Robert Longbotham, a farmer near
shaiter Lake, raised an eighty-pound
melon. 1t is Of the Georgia sweet
variety from Texas grown seed.
The seed was planted July 2. the
vine blossomed August and the
melon matured September is. max
ing an average growth OF two pounds
a day from the time the blossom
dropped OF the vine until the melon
ripened. and during its growth tho
melon registered a maximum gain q;
SIX pounds during single TWEEN
-FOUR hours.-Galveston News.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
CLOSES MOTHERS ROOM"
Thousands of Christian Scientists
Have Made 1t Shrine.

Boston. Massey order of the
board of directors the mothers
room in the original part of the
great Christian Science tabernacle in
the Back Bay has been shut to the
public, curious or devout, without
single explanation being given as TO
the reason.
Ever since the original church, the
First Church of Christ, Scientist, was
dedicated. the mothers room has
been one OF which thousands of the
derout made q shrine. At first 1t was
open TO the public at all times, then il
was decided TO open it only on three
days q week.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
PATRICK LOSES CASE.
Supreme Court Dismisses His Appeal
Without Opinion.

Washington. D. C.-The Supreme
Court without an opinion dismissed
the appeal of Albert Patrick. who
sought TO have the court review the
decision of the Federal Court ar New
York refusing on writ OF habeas cor.
.pus to release him from Sing Sing.
He was sentenced TO fifty years i'm
prisonment there for numbering VIII.
lam Marsh Rice, an aged millionaire.
in New York in 1900.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
Old London clnbmen,s WAGER

The rage for gambling at WbitA.s
ana Almack's led to most outrageous
De'ting' as to which Walpole tells
what he calls a good tale:
A man dropped down in fit before
the door and was carried inside. an
ciuD instantly made bets as to wheth-
er ne would die or not. and when =
ooctor Wes called in to attend him
ms IiinisTations were interfered with
Dy the members, because. they said
these Would affect the fairness of tl,s
bets.-London Chronicle.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
JUSTIFIES A KILLING.
Kentucky Governor Pardons Man
Who Was Trying to Protect Girl.

Frankfort, KY. - That Governor
Wilson believes it the duty of man
to kill if necessary to save the honor
of a girl who has no protector is set
forth in his reasons given for pardon
ing Green B. Howard. of Harlan
County, for killing Jacob Noe while
in pursuit of Rena Noe who. it is al
legged, had stolen the girl from How
ards house TO marry her to a man
whose character Howard did not think
would stand up.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
All Target Records Broken.

Manila, P. lit is unofficialF an
nounced that the battleship Nebraska
during the target practice now in
progress broke all records established
by any navy in the world for marks
manship with her twelye-inch guns.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27

The authorship of ne p =. !,
uncertain. 1t is now genei'' ii
stood that we are to put ~ :. I, i
upon the ancient legend .ua, i,
the famous hymn the JON. / h
ton of Saints Ambrose any, IA
tine. The first actual rele. i
is in the rule of Caesarlas al
who was made a bishop u ii III
it is certain that it arose ,-Is,I
the nth century. 1t i ase I /
some authorities to hiisl' i "a
by others to some disciple : n
of Marseilles. but In no -
evidence complete.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
Two Maine Canoeists Drown.

Miss Maud Bolif. twenty-five years
old. OF Monroe, teacher in one of
the public schools of Bradley. and
Edwin NJ. Gray, JwenIy-one, OF Brad
ley, were drowned in Great Works
stream about two miles from Brad
ley, Me. They were on their way in
a canoe TO hunting camp.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27

st. Petersburg. newspapers
of st. Petersburg announced the in
stitution of special railroad passen-
ger traffic for Jews emigrating to
America or other countries not in
Europe as laborers. This new fare is
approximately haif the existing third
class rate.
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
DIR. ROYCE ON FOOTBALL.
Result Unfavorable TO Best Moral
Education of Youth" He Says.

Boston. Mass.-The declaration
that the prevalent result OF football
Is not favorable to the best moral
education OF the great body OF our
YOUTH is made by Professor Josiah
Royce. OF the department of philoso-
ply at Harvard. in a long article in
the football number of the Harvard
Illustrated Magazine In his article
Professor Royce says further:
1T does not train loyalty to see
another mans bones broken Among
the spectators it makes a loyal life
and practical love of loyalty impossi-
Bile as far as the conduct and spirit
and results of these public displays
are concerned
The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-11-27
Chestnut Cron Good.

The chestnut crop in New Jersey is
the best that the State has enjoyed in
the last ten years. In some places
the ground is covered with nuts.
While the nuts are smaller this year
than usual they are almost entirely
free from worms.