davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
BLACK MOUNTAIN AND
 ITS STRANGE SECRETS

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger
 Within less than half century many persons have been swallowed up in the deep ray es of Black mountain in Wise county. Vile nia, never to be found again. The old mountain. with its sombre. frown- ing front, true to the significance Of its name, carries many strange secrets locked In it's bosom. Men have ridden into its shadows in the flush of manhood, the eternal gates of silence closing noiselessly behind them The region is inhabited by mountain people who are a law unto themselves. Few men have ever ventured alone into the mountain and come back to tell the tale. The history of each new disappearance goes down in the legend of the region as another weird tale to be told. No explanation has ever been youchsafed as to what became of those who disappeared, and the manner or req son of ceath of those whose bodies have been recovered IS as uncertain as the ether secrets of the great black pile.
 The general public knew little of the mysterious incidents associated with this wild section of the country until the sud den disappearance of Edward Leiserring Wentz. the young Philadelphia millionaire, who rode away from hls home at Big Stone Gap on his favorite pony on the morning of October II, 1904, never to re- turn. On the evening of that day the horse ridden by Wentz, riderless, but with hridle and saddle still on, was found in the ford of Powell's river not far from Roaring Fork, the spot from which sev
 eral other men had disappeared before the day of the millionaire. For weeks hundreds of men secured the mountains, hunting through every ravlne and in every cave for some trace of the lost man. The impression gained credence that Wentz had been idnapped-supposedly for the purpose of holding him for ransom. This led to the offering of a reward of 55,0OO for his recovery alive. Stimulated by the offer of the reward hundreds of bold men joined in the search. Five months after the search had been abandoned d nlountaineer unexpectedly came upon the hody of Wentz lying Tn lonely spot among fallen trees. The flesh had routed from the bones. The head of the mar lay upor one of the fallen trees. The mystery was in manner cleared by the young millionaire had committed suicide was advanced. Eternity alone will clear entirely this mystery at the mountains
 The disappearance of Wentz was flashed over the wires to all parts of the country
 The mysteries shrouding Black noun tain, which lies on the border between Virginia and Kentucky, became a matter of great public interest. The daily papers carried columns of well-written theory at tempting to explain in some plausible manner the means and the cause of the death of Wentz. But the secret lay hidden in the recesses of the rocky hills, and there were none so bold to go and look for 1t. The history of the Wentz cast
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

brought forth many other gruesome stories of that region.
 It became known that in the course of the year half dozen or more men had disappeared from approximately the sarffe spot from which Wentz disappeared Of these the body of Wentz was the only body recovered. What became of -the others will probably never be known. An of the supposed victims of the mountains had ventured into the wild region where the mad waters of Roaring creek leap and pitch down the rugged mountain ravine over shaggy rocks to pour into the more quiet stream known as Powelrs river. Of all the men who have disap- peared from time to time for half cen tury under the shadow of the great noun tain of mystery, the bleaching bones Of Wentz alone were left to tell a portion of the sorry tale.
 Walter Kemp, young civil and mining engineer, and Thomas Kilgore, superin- tendent of mines, are the latest examples of the mountain lust These men, well known in the region and supposedly in- mune from the fate that awaited others who might venture into the region, went jauntily up the Roaring Fork and disap- peared. As in the other cases, searching parties were sent out for them. but the search was futile The great mountain refused to give up its dark secret. The people who live in 1t went their way in silence.
 Superintendent Kelly, who was last week reported to have been lost in the mountains, has turned up alive. But Su- perintendent Kelly did not venture into the Roaring Fork neghborhood. It was his intention to have followed the trail that led to the ford, but he changed his plans at the last morient and went in an- other direction. Knowing that his plans had been to take1 the route that had proved fateful to tso many men, the alarm was sounded when he did not make his appearance at nightfall. The report went abroAd that Black mountain had claimed another victim But on the following day Superintendent Kelly turn ed up in the flesh, alive and we'll pre- pared to resume his mining duties with in the shadows of the great hillside.
 The fatal spot is fascinating to the mountain tourist albeit it is place to be stunned. It is In the most inviting seasons of the year, when all nature Is glad and the birds are making merry among the Irhododendrons and the ivy, that this scene of surpassing beauty, with its roar of sparkling waters and it's silent river ford, is most to be dreaded. It is always upon such occasions or when the mountain is red and golden in its autumnal foliage and chestnut hunt ers are venturing into the wilds, that the mysteries of Roaring Fork are re- }peated and the tossing waters sing their requiem to lost men and riderless horses neigh in the night in the forest awaiting the return of their masters-a wait thaf is always in vain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
THE GREAT SYMPATHETIC.
1t Daily Manufactures Drugs and Pois- ons Which the System Assimilates.

Dr. William Hanna Thomson, in the July
 Everybody's.
 In the presence of the great nervous system physicians are now like prospec- tors in the Klondike region A few fine nuggets have alredy been collected which prove that they come from rich veins in the mountains around, and no one knows how soon some vein in them may be struck which, followed up, will yield much gold specimen of these golden addi- tions to our knowledge Is the fact that. among many other things, the sympathet- ic actually makes drugs, or true medicine, whose presence in the blood is essential to life.
 One of these is now sold over the coun- ter like any other drug. The origin of it is from the twig of the renal Gsidney) sym pathetic plexus becoming at a certain ear 1y stage of development rolled on itself like ball of twine. In time it breaks off from its parent stem, and being enclosed in a capsule. adhers to the top of the kid ney as a separate gland called the adrenal gland. These adrenals add an internal secretion to the blood whose active prln- ciple has been found to be definite chem icalsubstance, only 1-S00 Of a grain of whic will uncomfortably raise the pressure of mans blood in all the arteries of his body. This adrenalin, as it is called, Is a new medicine with many valuable properties, but it is itself of such purely chemical composition that substances like it can now be made artfcially, like artificial in- dIgo.
 About two tablespoonfuls of a bitter salt like Epson salts is daily manufac- tured by the liver and then can be ex- tracted from the bile. The base of this salt, called taurin. was fsty-two years ago supposed by the eminent English chemist. Bence Jones, to be like yeri- table animal quinine. because he found that the taurin of the guinea-pig gave both all the different chemical reactions of quinine and its spectroscopic lines as well. This substance, therefore he re- garded as our natural protective agent against invasions of the blood by micro organisms. Since then this theory has been considerably modified by the dscov- cry of numerous other drugs manufactur- ed in the bods which, because they can combine with acids and form salts, are called allSaloids, some of them. however being powerful poisons If is now gene rally agreed among Physiological chem ists that we daily manufacture enough poisons in our allmentary canal to kill us before the day is over, were it not that these poisons are neutralized by the liver and the other organs before they can en- ter the blood and thus reach the brain and other vital parts of the nervous sys- tenn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

MT George Peagler have returned from Perido bay, where they spent the past ten days.
 Master Sloan Young, Jr., and Miss Ca Tey Young of New York are the guests of their uncle and aunt, MT. and Mrs Samuel Cassells, at their home on South Perry street.
 Miss Eva Bloom of Columbus, Ga., who has been spending some days with Miss Clare Hertz, has gone to Atlanta.
 Miss Mary Foster of Atlanta, who has been the guest of Mrs. Ida Clay, has re- turned home.
 MT. and Mrs. J. M. Gold and little daughter Estella, left on the 1st instant for Oklahoma City, where they will be absent a month. They will visit New York city before returning home.
 MT. and Mrs. Minor Williamson Erin son have returned from their wedding trip to North Carolina and are at home with MT. and Mrs. w. J. Futile on Will kerson street.
 Miss Mary Macdonald has taken a house for the summer at Gros Isle near Detroit She left on Monday, accom- panied by her nephew, Donald MacDon- ald, Mrs. Phillppa Rousseau and Mrs. c. L. Ruth and grandson, Ernest Ruth.
 Miss Rebecca Rutledge. who is visiting Miss Sara Howard in Columbus, Ga, has been the recipient of many delightful en- tertainments in her honor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
JOAN OF ARCS PRISON.
Foundation of Ancient Tower Dug Out
 at Rouen.

From the New York Sun.
 The prison of Joan of Arc has just been located near Rouen. The foundations of the ancient tower m which it was have been discovered and opened up through some new construction work undertaken by the government in the grounds of the Ursuline Convent, from which the nuns have recently been expelled.
 The workmen in digging for the new foundations came upon a massive wall inclosing a circular space with a diame- ter of about 36 feet. When this was cleared of earth a well was found in the center measuring six feet across and a bout 20 feet Tn depth. Water rose in it clear and cold as soon as the earth had been cleared away from the bottom
 When the antiquarians got busy they identified the wall as the foundation of a building which was known for ages as ''The Maids Tower" A document dat ing back to 1641 was produced, which, taking it for granted that this tower had been the prison of the Maid of Orleans 210 years previously, gave description and measurement of it, including the ruins just exhumed
 The structure appears to have stood un- changed from the death of Joan in 1431 to 1500 when it was reduced to ruins in the course of a siege. In 1769 the city leased the site on which the ruins stood to I,oris Mouchard.
 In 17S0 he appears to have stopped pay- ing the rent. The greater part of the ruin was cleared away about this time. but as late as 17S9 a visitor writing about the place mentions the foundation of the tower as visible and speaks of the well After that it wa5 filled in with earth and later the site became. part of the n,1ns garden and the existence of the ruin and the tradition attaching to it were forgot ten.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
PROSPERITY IS
 NOW RETURNING

James w. Van Cleave, President of the National Association of Manufacturers, In American Industries for July.
 Conditions throughout the country point to an early return of prosperity. Bank clearings and railroad earnings are be- low those of a year ago, but the gap is steadily narrowing. There are fewer idle cars than there were at the beginning of June. The July interest and dividend payments this year in New York the country's financial center, will be $177,- C00,000 as compared with $1S4O0O 900 in july, 1907. Thus the falling off is far less than had been expected. About s46.OO0. .OO0 of gold had been exported since the pres- ent outward movement began in the mid die Of April. but as we gained over $1OO,- G0O,O00 of gold in November and Decem- Der last, and as we can get as much as we need from the outside world at any time we may need it this movement does not disturb anybody The rates for money are about the same as they are In midsummer of normal years.
 Unemployment days" are becoming general. St. Louis had one on June 1, when 15,O0O idle persons were put to work On far larger scale the Pittsburg dis
 
 plant of the United States Steel corpora ton, the largest concern in the world in It's field, will resume operations The other shops of that corporation, all over the country, will, it is expected, all be running by August l. All the independ- ent steel concerns in the Pittsburg dis trict, it is announced, will be at work with a full force by the first week in Au- gust.
 The department of agriculture in Wash ington says the crop outlook is better, on the whole than 1t ever was before at this time of the year. It estimates that the value of the countrys farm products of 1908 will reach the 5000, 000 900 mark This will leave all records far behind. It will be more than double the value of the farm yield of 1900. which was s3, ,0O0,O ,O00 Fig crops have always heretofore meant good times for the country, and they will mean the same this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

MISS Helen Gillespie has arrived in Denver and is the guest of her uncle
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

and aunt Dr. and Mrs. J. D. Gibson. Miss Gillespie was an honor graduate at the Pollock Stephens, and she will continue the study of music and French in Denver
 Mrs. A M. Wilkerson, who has been visiting her niece, Mrs. E. M. Ha stings for the past three weeks, has returned to her home in Montgomery.
 Mrs. Sam Rich has returned from An- niston after a visit to her sister, Mrs. Joe Saks.
 The friends of James Mckinney will regret to know that he is quite i'll at the home of his parents, MT. and Mrs. A. B. Mckinney, TIP Seventh avenue, north.
 Mrs R. A. Jones, who recently under went serious operation at the Davis infirmary, has sufficiently recovered to move to her home.
 The intermediate department of the First M. E. Sunday school postponed their ice cream festival from Friday evening, July 3, until Tuesday, July ', at Capitol park.
 The Fourth of July was celebrated with great spirit at Blount Springs. The hotel was beautifully decorated and the favor german before noon was a delightful event and the grand ball at night was very brilliant. The attendance last night numbered about 200, Birmingham society was largely represented but there were many guests from various sections of the state Blount is exceptionally popular this season.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

The enthusiasm created through the movement for one-half hdiday and o'clock closing through the summer months is considered remarkable. Sum mer in the south is alredy well ad- vanced, hundreds of womenare busy with preparations for the summe, getting their children off to sea shore md mountain, and completing their prearation for long absence from the cty. But they have laid aside other dlties for the present in order to aid in the movement looking to establishing ermanently in Birmingham the half-holday for em- ployes in the stores, and to make the o'clock closing general ir this city. During the past week over 800 women have sent in their names IS favoring this movement, pledging thenselves to shop early, and to use their iiAuence in mal1- ing successful the preseit movement. Street after street has lined up" in favor of the proposed sep, and practi- cally all of the residential sections are represented in the lists IA wide territory is represented, and the lists include many of the most prominent women in society. Among the organizations cooperating with Mrs. 4-dward Wilkinson and the women actively at woIk Is the Young Women's Christian alsociation, from whom the following letter was received by Mrs. Wilkinson yesterday:
 Birmingham, July 3, 1908.
 Dear Mrs. Wilkhson:-We the young ladies of the Young Women's Christian association of Birmingham, wish to thank you for your earnest affOrtS in babalf nf fbp clerks who are spending so many hours behind the counters these long, hot days. You have our hearty cooperation in securing a weekly half-holiday and the regular closing hour at 5 o'clock.
 All the most important stores in town are represented in our associa- tion and we would like to say that the closing hour of from 1 o'clock to 4;30 is not approved account-so many of the clerks living so far out of town and there being no place or way to spend prdfitably the three and one-half hours, waiting to go back to work.
 We enclose list of names of per sons interested in the movement and we as a Christian association wish to offer our services in this relief movement
 Wishing you every success we are. ACoPCIAAuiA9 SOutSF
 THE YOUNG WoMEN'S CHRIS THAN ASSOCIATION,
 Committees:
 FLORENCE E. HUGHEY.
 CLIFFIE DUBBERLY,
 IDA B. QUARLES,
 CARRIE LYNCH
 Several hundred names have lately been published in these columns, and the following additional names were received yesterday
 Mrs. Samuel Will John.
 Mrs. H. M. McNutt.
 Mrs. P. K. Miller.
 Ms. John Robertson.
 Mfs. Augustus Coloin.
 Mrs. A. ". Porter.
 Mrs. M. c. Scholar.
 Mrs. J. B. Drake.
 Mrs. Sophy Pomeroy.
 Mrs. Arlie Barter
 Mrs. J. c. Drake.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
He Was Needed.

From the Bohemian Magazine for July
 Nodd-I must hurry home early this afternoon and look after the baby.
 Todd-Where Is his nurse?
 Nodd-She got off today and left him in his mothers charge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
EN7HLSLASTIC INTEREST IN
 HALE-HOLIDA1 MOVEMENT

Mrs. John S. Coxe. Mrs. C. k. Gray.
 Mrs. W. D. Lee.
 Mrs. W. T. Poe.
 Mrs. A. o. Lane.
 Mrs. ". T. Jones.
 Miss Cleo Glover.
 Mrs. J. D. Moore.
 Mrs. F. D. Wilkes.
 Mrs. E. D. Jolly.
 Miss Emma Novel;.
 Miss Carrie Lee.
 Mrs. D. P. Conen.
 Miss Ethel Conen.
 Mrs. T. E. Hundley. Miss Ellie Earle. Mrs. T. L. Hobart. Mrs. Y. M Boyles. Mrs. M. W. Marcrum. Mrs T. Nj. Gore. Mrs. Mannce Canister. Mrs. Willis Hitzing. Mrs. B. Collosia. Mrs. R. F. Mcknight. Miss Harriet Mcknight. Miss Elizabeth Mcknight. Mrs. Henry Barden. Mrs. T. Robertson. Miss Jamie Robertson. Mrs. J. F. Nixon. Miss Katherine Nixon. Miss Mary Young. Mrs. Harry Stringfellow. Miss Kathleen Stringfellow. Mrs. J. ". Sibley. Mrs. c. Slbley. Miss Grace Sibley. Miss Edna Moore. Mrs. J. B. Cobbs. Miss Carrie Cobbs. Mrs. Russell Booth. Mrs. N. H. Carpenter. Mrs. w. c. Ewin. Mrs. T. G. McGaha. Mrs. Y. S. Merrill. Mrs. L. H. Sater Mrs. John G. Smith. Mrs. S. P. Fowlkes. Mrs. Percy Woodall. Mrs. Joe Vance. Mrs. Eula Collins. Mrs. W. H. Tharpe Mrs. Richard Pritchard. Miss Eppie Hays. Mrs. A. c. Simmons. Mrs. J J. Cowan. Mrs. W. F. Bridges. Mrs. Thad Mullen. Mrs. H. V.s Sellors. Mrs. J. H. Atkins. Miss Myrtle Myles. Mrs. J. J. White. Miss Virginia White. Mrs. J. M. Crowder. Mrs. I. Y. Sage, Jr. Mrs. F. H. Demere. Mrs. G. D. Sibley Mrs. Dunbar Sibley. Mrs. L. c. Harrison. Mss Laura Cole. Mrs. W. P. McCrossin. Mrs. Oliver Whilden. Mrs. w. c. Agee. Mrs. G. Stubbs. Mrs. D. Rlngmis. Miss Rosa Huff. Mrs. E. T. Shaw. Mrs. H. E. Shaw. Mrs. O. D. Atkins. Mrs. B. P. Mcdonald. Mrs. J. A. Durham. Mrs. J. W. Richardson. Mrs. z. Green. Mrs. A. o. Kehm. Mrs. J. N. Gunnell. Miss Sarah Arnall. Mrs. L. Q. c. Kelly. Mrs. Nettie Heisted Mrs. c. H. Dickinson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
fa,!!s;g. ,; k5tLsRisr
LINES FROM
 LIN DSAY

On the fourth of next December I shall give away $265 worth of Gen uine Quaker City Cut Glass.
 It is divided into seven awards ranging in value from $125 to $500.
 These awards will go to the persons holding the largest number of cash coupons which I am now giving out with every sale. < When you buy anything in my store be E.sure to ask for a coupon. @ Call and I'll gladly tell @gou more about this en- terprise of mine and give E you some good reading matter about it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

Passion Play at Nickelodoen all week-5c.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-27
GUESTS FROM FAR AND NEAR
POURING INTO OCEAN PARK

OCEAN PARK. Aug. 26.--Arrivals
still continue numerous at the Hotel
Decatur, many prominent persons from
all parts of the United States regis
tering.
Among them are the following: Mrs.
c. B. Holmes, Pasadena; w. B. Bar
ton, T. Tracey, Miss Madge Patton,
Mrs. Amelian Patton, ]. Slain and
wife, F. G. Hahn and wife, E. M.
Moore, J. A. Talbot, Miss L. Levy,
Dolph Ramish and wife, DR.. w. E.
Hutchinson and wife, T. Milbank and
wife, L. Zimmerman, A. E. Bennett
and wife, w. T. Jackson, w. D. ".
Smith and wife, G. A. Luce and wife,
C. C. Hurd and wife, Mrs. M. Coulter
and Miss Brownie Coulter and Miss
Martha Levy, Los Angeles; DR.. J. H.
Holland and wife, Riverside; Mrs. 5.
K. Mackenzie, Fort Simcoe, Washing
ton; Mr.. and Mrs. A. p. Seymour and
A. P. Seymour, jr., Monrovia; Mr..
Knight, Redlands; G. H. Holmes, Salt
Lake City; E. M. Glein, FL Paso; c.
Valentine, New York; M. S. Largely,
Butte; W. F. Donohue, Fairbank,
Louisiana; A. j. Davis, jr., and George
Newman, San Francisco; w. Vein nan,
Albuquerque, N M; George B. Shat
tuck, Pomona; P. o. Boyd, Pasadena;
L. A. Blythe, Tulare; ]. H. Stewart
and wife; F. A. Cruler, ]. A. Batche-
lor, J. F. Galley and wife and Cora
Dickman of Los Angeles; r. w. Time
man, Kansas City; Mrs. H. Q. Gilmore
and Isidore Gilmore of San Jose.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-27
CURRENT EVENTS NOTED

SANTA ANA. Aug. 26.-Frank Ros-
sier, an employee of the contractor for
the new sugar factory, fell from a
staging this afternoon and sustained
painful injuries to the face and body.
Miss Lille Rutherford, employed at
Taylor's cannery, was hurt by falling
staging today a piece of scantling
striking her on the head and inflicting
a wound that required several stitches.
j. p. Skinner charged with slashing
Charles E. Griffith with knife during
the progress of quarrel between the
men Monday afternoon on the Irvine
ranch, was discharged from custody
this afternoon and the case against
him dismissed. The evidence showed
that Skinner was attacked first by
Griffith, that he had knife in his
hand and that in the scuffle that fol-
lowed Griffith was slightly cut in two
places.
Suit has been fled by the Hunting
ton Beach Canning and Picking COM
pany against Luella Farnsworth, Omer
Uyttersport and II. Fl. Lewis for the
sum of $500 each, as balance due on
stock subscription and interest. De-
PENDANTS are stockholders in the cam
ming and picking company and have
failed to make good the amount Of
their subscriptions. it Is said.
----s-s-er---------
Live in Venice Villas and BUNGALOWS.