davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-08-21

yrons w 1lsle Receive
';|11 . 81 Burk ter.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
cERvERA's FLEET DESTROYED
OFF SANTIAGO HARBOR,
CUBA, JULY 3 1898.

The Spanish fleet was at Cape
Verde, Islands, under Admiral Cevera.
General Sampson, with ships which
had been blockading Havana and
Commodore Schley with a ship called
the flying squadron went in search OF
Cervera. After a long search they
found him in the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba, which they at once blocaded.
Lieutenant Hobson and a crew OF
seven men sank the Merrimac in the
channel. Tie little band were made
prisoners of war but were afterwards
exchanged. Cervera's ships must be
destroyed and to do this they must
capture Santiago. Troops under Gen
eral Shafter. went to Cuba, where they
fought a desperate battle and the city
was surrounded by land as well as by
sea. Cervera thought that the city
would soon have to surrender and he
ordered a dash through the American
fleet and get out to sea.
One Sunday morning, July 3, they
tried. A terrible sea fight followed and
in a short time every n of Cervera's
ships had been destroyed. None OF
our vessels were badly damaged and
but one of our men was killed. All
hopes were over, and on July IA Gen
eral Toral surrendered Santiago, the
eastern part Of Cuba and an army Of
nearly $4,000 men.
Florence SkfrvIn
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
PRIZES FOR POSTAL STORIES.

This week we sent out so many
beautiful postals that we have decided
to offer surprise prizes for h $
stories on the places which these
souvenir postals picture. We do
not want the Juniors to simply SEND
us a few lines but we wish them to
find out many of the historical facts
OF these places and write splendid es-
SAYS. This contest will not close IN
til Saturday, August 1, so the Juniors
receiving postals this month will have
a chance for the prizes. We will pub
lish the stories a. soon as they are
received but will not judge of the
merits Of the essays until the con
test closes. The prizes for these stor-
les will be rs beautiful souvenir cards
Or a large souvenir postal album. we
thought that many of the Juniors
would like to exchange postals with
their friends so decided that such a
prize would enable them to do SO.
OF course we will still send out pos
tals to all the Juniors the week fol
lowing the day on which their let.
ters, stories or receipts appear. How
ever, we do not want the Juniors to &C
knowledge them by simply thanking
US or writing a receipt, but we do
want them to write a nice little letter
Yelling us of their pets, their home, the
beautiful flowers or something else OF
interest.
X We will still give souvenir albums
to the Juniors when they have rs pos
tails from the Courier Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11

tempted to slip past the blockaders.
The Maria Teresa, the Vizcaya, the
two torpedo boat d~estroyers, the Flu
ror and the Pluton. and a gunboat,
were all clear of the channel entrance
and racing for liberty when the Amer
lean vessels opened fire at long range.
The Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas,
Oregon and Iowa bore down upon the
Spaniards and opened fire, but they
were too far away to get a good range.
AS for the Spaniards they began to
shoot as soon as they came out OF
the harbor and continued to blaze
away until they were utterly defeat
ed, but they showed poor judgment
and bad Workmanship.
My uncle, Herman Kehm, at that
time an orderly on the battleship
Oregon took part in the destruction
of Cervera's feet. One of the souve
Mrs he sent was a sheet of Cervera's
own writing paper which the Ameri-
can marines took from a cabin of the
Cristobal Colon.
This important victory was the
end of a several weeks close blockade
and was indeed a successful finish.
During the whole engagement our
loss was only one man killed and one
wounded. But the Spanish gunnery
was very poor at the best and it did
not take long for our superior aim
In firing to silence their guns.
Albertina Park, age 8.
HOO North Elm St,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
began in the year of 1863.


It began in the year of 1868.
(First day)-The confederate ad.
vance unexpectedly met the union
cavalry just westward from Gettys-
burg on the Chamberburg road. Re-
Inducements came up on both sides,
but the federalists were finally forced
back and becoming entangled in the
streets Of the village they lost many
prisoners. All that night the troops
kept arriving and taking their posi-
tons by moonlight to he ready for the
contest which they saw now was close
at hand.
(Second)-In the afternoon Long
street led the first grand charge
against the union and left in order to
secure Little Round Top. General
Pickett by mistake had there taken
a position in front Of Meade's intend
ed line of battle. The confederates
far outfianking swung around him, but
as they reached the top of the hill
they met a brigade which Warren had
sent Just in time to defeat this at.
tempt. Pickett was however driven
back to Cemetery Ridge, where he
stood firm. Ewell in the attack on
the federal right succeeded in getting
a position on Culp's hill.
Third day)-At l p. M. Lee sud
denly opened on Cemetery Ridge with
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11


In 1868 Hooker was succeeded by
General George G.. Meade of Pennsyl.
vania. Meade was a graduate of
West Point, and had served in the
Mexican War and had been in the
army OF the Potomac since its organi-
cation, a steady officer who would
run few risks. He conducted the re.
mainder of the campaign.
In his own way the two armies met
at Gettysburg and a dreadful battle
followed, lasting three days, July l. 2,
and 8. No field was ever more stub
bornly contested; but Lee was de-
feated and forced to retreat.
The loss Of each army was great,
about forty-four thousand men being
killed, about one-third Of those engag-
ed in the conflict, we're killed, wound
ed or missing. Gettysburg the great
est battle on American soil is general
ly regarded as the turning point of the
war.
Lee retreated across the Potomac
and no further attempt was made to
invade the north. 1t was indeed pos,
sibly all that Lee could do to resist
the attacks and prolong the struggle.
Meade followed the Confederates
slowly until both armies were not
far from the place where they started.
Fay Lawson, age IL
Bloomfield. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
JULY 2, 1868, BATTLE OF GETTYS'
BURG.

Before leading up to this battle,
General Lee led his soldiers throusn
the valley Of Virginia n then crossed
the Potomac river n came into
Pennsylvania. The army of the Poto-
mac crossed this river, keeping be-
tween the southern army and WASH
ington, D. c. On June %, the union
army received a new commander. Geo.
G. Meade. On July, h two armies
Gettysburg. At the first the southern
army was stronger and the northern
army retreated to a f1sh-hook-s shaped
crest, known as Cemetery Ridge
Meade decided to fight the decisive
battle at this point. On the next day.
July Q, the southern army attacked
vigorously, drove back the union army
and gained a position that injured
the whole line. On the morning OF
the third of July the northern sol
diers drove the southern army out OF
Lee wanted to make n more as
sault. so he sent General Pickett, WITH
1900 men against the northern army
defeated by troops under General Han
cock. The southerners marched splend-
idly forward only to be repulsed with
awful loss. The battle Of Ge~ttysburs
was won at a loss of $4,000 men on!
of 175,000 men.
In this battle the southerners had
the fewer men and suffered h great
er loss.
have ended the war. there was nc
more hope left for he. southerners,
each month saw an addition to the
strength Of the northern resources.
Hedveg Carlson. IL
1O15 Locust st. Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
A PRETEND VISIT IN oTTuMWA

Ottumwa, Ia, June 80, 1908.
My Dear Mother:
arrived here in Ottumwa at 1890
a. M. and got to Aunt Lizzie's home
at II O'Clock. / found Aunt Lizzie and
the rest of them all we'll. and am
we'll. too. We went down town that
night and attended the carnival. There
was a man named Mr.. Brown. He
made a good speech to US all VINO
were attending the carnival. And we
each went and got a dish OF Ice crean
and a piece Of cake and also a glass OF
lemonade. We had a fine time. Ana
then we went and got tickets for q
s cent show and we attended 1t. II
was a magic lantern show. We saw
a man with a ladder and there were
two men tried to catch this man VIII
the ladder and put the mai in jail
and keep his ladder. They first trled
to out run him. They found out they
could not do that. Then they got a
horse and buggy. They thought they
! could catch him better. When they
went after their horse and buggy the
man took his ladder and put 1t up
against a large building and started
to climb the ladder. Just then the
two men got there with their horse
and buggy. And tley were in the
buggy. One of the men jumped out
of the buggy and grabbed the man
| by the leg and pulled him down on
the ladder and the man grabbed his
ladder, and started to run with 1t, but
the man who was in the buggy jump
ed off on the ground and the man VINO
pulled the man off the ladder joined
him and caught the man with
the ladder and put him in the buggy,
He Jumped out of the buggy and
started to run. but they caught him
again and h%andcuffed him and tied him
to the buggy, and put him in Jail and
kept his ladder.
And then Aunt Lizzie and Went
and got a ticket for a dollar show
and we went in it. 1t was fine. we
saw a man leap from a pool 1875 feet
high and light in a,rubber basket and
when he lit he was all right. Ant
we saw a monkey clean his toe nails
and take a cup of water n drlnF
lit and he also kissed the man. we
saw a little dog play on a music box
And we saw a nan eat snakes. VIZ
saw a little boy leap three feet five
times from one donkey to anothe
without stopping. We saw a man wall
a wire $50 feet high. We saw a little
girl Jump through a hoop Is times
without stopping. Mamma | saw
great deal more than this. but as M.
letter is getting long l will close.
Your loving daughter.
Leona Vest, age IL.
0ttunwa r r NO &
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
RAYMOND TELLS OF HIS LITTLE
HEN.
Dear Editor and Juniors:

Dear Editor and Juniors:
We just got u paper yesterday
and | saw my letter. I am glad you
printed it. I am going to tell you one
Of the stories Miss Pettis told US at
the kindergarten.
1t is about a little hen; her name
was Penny-Penny. One day she went
down town to buy a dress and after
she got back she washed her dishes
and went up stairs to sew. She for
got to lock her doors.
An old fox saw her sitting by the
window and he went around to the
door and opened 1t and walked up
stairs. He had a basket with him and
before Penny-Penny could run he
grabbed her and put her in the bas-
ket. Then he started for home. He
got very tired and stopped by a tree
to rest. He went to sleep and as
P~enny-Penny could not get out by
scratching, she took her scissors and,
| cut a hole in the basket and then
jumped out. Then she put a stone in
the basket and sewed up the hole and
ran home as fast as she could. The
old fox soon awaked and started
home. When he got there he told the
little foxes to get a fire made and get
a kettle of water for he had something
good for dinner, but when he opened
bis basket he was so disappointed to
find Penny-Penny gone. The little
foxes were so hungry that the old fox
went out again to find something to
eat. Your little friend,
Raymond .Finney, age 5.
Hobart, Okla.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
Diamond, Iowa.
Miss Mae Shaffer,
Douds-Leando.

Miss Mae Shaffer,
Douds-Leando.
Dear Cousin:
AS the editor is going to give q
prize for writing a letter. will write
to you.
We got home all right last Friday,
1t was about 1870 when We got to
Centerville. There was a street carni,
val there and we watched for q little
while and then went and got a car
riage and come home.
1t is raining here today. 1t rained
all night last night and everything is
muddy. We went riding last night,
Francis and 1. We rode out to the
Philadelphia church. There is going
to be a 'Fouth of July celebration
there. I think I will go.
Where are you going the Fourth!
Did Della get the post card I sent
her?
I am going to send you one today. ]
have ninety-seven Nearly a hundred
isn't it? How many have you?
have several cards from the Courier
l want to get a post. card album
from the Courier. I would like to gel
a prize from the Courier. Did yor
get your basket. Well I will have tx
close. Be sure and write me a let
ter.
l remain your loving cousin,
Jessie Carter age II
Diamond. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
Mrs. .Leavitt, "but / was afraid to over.

Mrs. Leav1tt, butt was afraid 70 over
load you"
ooh, twenty chickens and six or
seven dozens Of eggs won't be much"
returned Seneca, II amt afraid but
what we can get up all right"
There was a great commotion that
evening among the poultry of the
Leavitt henroost and Mrs. Leavitt and
Tony and Seneca we're busy a long
time dressing off a score of plump
young chickens, the latest of Tony's
thrifty flock. At about eleven o'clock
everything was ready, the poultry was
packed in a basket, and with a bucket
of eggs and Mrs. Leavitt's jar of pear
preserves, Seneca and Tony set off to-
ward the lake, about half a mile dis
tant, where they had a boat moored.
Tony had buckled to his side an old
French rapier that his grandfather
had taken from an officer of Baron
Dieskau's army at the time Of the
latter's defeat at Lake George in 1755,
and Seneca had an old horse pistol
in his pocket. They did not expect,
however, to have any occasion for
their use, and, in fact, hoped to es-
cape observation altogether.
Away into the darkness of that
quiet summer night their little boat
passed on. The dewy winds came
over the lake and the stars looked
down from their solemn depths. Sen.
eca and Tony both rowed, there being
two sets Of oars on board. The secrecy
of the affair, the important character
Of the undertaking, and the risk of
danger, too, all %conspired to give a
sombre coloring to the occasion.
(To be Continued.)
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
HER NAME WAS HELENA
MONROE.
Dear Editor

Dear Editor
Once there was a little girl and her
name was Helena Monroe. One day in
May, about the Both or 31st, Helena
received a letter which said that her
dolls would come alive on Sunday,
June Z. 1t was signed from Someone"
She went in and told her mother
about it and her mother said it was
fine for her and her dolls. So Helena
went up stairs to her playroom and
fixed her dolls in all their best
clothes.
She waited patiently for the day
and when Saturday evening anne she
went to bed early SO she could get up
early Sunday morning. When Sunday
came she awoke about Z o'clock in the
morning, when to her surprise she
saw the dolls dressing and combing
their hair and washing their faces by
the little dresser.
One little doll lit the stove and
made some hot coffee for breakfast
and they had nice hot biscuits. The
breakfast was delicious and when the
dolls were through, the doll washed
them. Then all the little girl dolls
went in another roo and played hide
and go seek and ring around a rosy,
at which there was much laughter.
Sunday passed and Monday came and
the little girl doll washed and ironed
the dollies' clothes.
Monday morning a letter came tc
Helena that the dolls would be alive
only until the Goth Of June. The days
passed in merriment and soon the
Goth of June came and Helena cried
because on the first of July her dolls
were merely just dolls. But a letter
came again saying that the dolls all
over Iowa would be alive next June
in 1909 and I hope the Juniors dolls
will be alive. too. Good bye.
Juliette Eisenbeis.
401 West Park n
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
PEARL TELLS ABOUT THE
FOURTH AND HER POST CARD

Dear Editor:
1 received the post card. you sent me
and think it is pretty and I thank you
very much. sHf
My post card has two big buildings
and some bushes around n Of the
building and two palm trees, and two
colored men standing side by side.
Well / guess this is all I can think
about the post card. so I'll write about
the Fourth. Well I went to Keosanqua
to celebrate the Fourth. l had 25cI
to spend and had a jolly old time
II played a game of croquet with my
playmates.
And then in the evening about z,
o'clock there was a little dog went upl
a ladder about 80 feet high and then
dived down. Some men caught It In
a net, and then mamma and the rest
of us went into the tent. The show
was Ten Nights in a Bar Room"
Pearl Kennedy.
| Mt. Zion, Ia, R. T. No. i. Box 40.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
How Tony L eavitt
Kept independence
Day In 1777.

Tony sat On a bench in the corner
of the great stone fireplace watching
his mother as she stirred and kneaded
the dough and placed it in tins be-
fore the hot Goals to bake for their
late supper. He vas very thoughtful
for a boy OF fourteen, and his unus
ual seriousness was at last remarked
by Mrs. Leavitt-
Tony"
No answer.
"Tony," she said a little louder,
what's the matter?"
He gave a slight start, and then
answered slowly. "Oh. nothing
much"
But you were thinking about some
thing" persisted his bother las she
spread the snowy linen and placed the
pewter plates upon the table. What
have you seen or heard that makes
you SO sober?"
"Well, I'll tell you mother" answer.
ed Tony, crossing his legs and throw
ing back his shock of red hair off his
forehead. AS Seneca and I were at the
saw-mill at work this afternoon, a com.
pany Of British dragons drove up. We
hid behind the pile Of boards and stay.
ed there till they went away. But we
heard one of them say st. Clair's
gone up and Old I'll with him, if he
stays there another night, for by
moor tomorrow our batteries will be
playing on him from Sugarloaf Hill.
Seneca says he don't believe the
British can get their cannon up there
but why should they have said SO II
they haven't? If they have. Ticonder
oga cannot stand t~wenty-four hours
and st. Clair is liable to lose his
whole force and all his stores"
"And that would be a great blow tt
American liberty" said Mrs. Leavitt
"Oh, / am afarid Burgoyne and hi:
dragons and Indians will destroy u:
ALL"
81 think heaven will fight for US /
we fight hard enough u selves" re
Piled Tony, getting up and pacing lik'
a soldier across the floor. Il wish
was only big enough to go and igh
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
THE BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.

A nights marching brought the
remnant Of the grand army Of the
Potomac to Malvern hill. It was July
1882. the fifth Of the seven days battle.
The soldiers were tired and dis
c%ouraged, but skirmishes kept up all
day. The general action did not open
until about 8 o'clock in the afternoon.
The nationals had the best Of the
position. for they were situated on a
hill. Mcclellan was in command of
them, and Lee Of the confederates.
The latter opened the attack OF a
strong position but were met with such,
a heavy fire that they had to reform
their shattered ranks In the lear
by woods. The nationals were aided
by their gunboat on the James river.
BY 8 o'clock the rebels gave up the
struggle. But the battle of Malvern
hill was for the nationals a victory
and yet a retreat. for that night they
quietly retreated to Harrison's Land
ing on the James river.
Beatrice Lynch, age I3.
oil Walton Ave. st. Louis, Mo,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11

My dear brother Harley. -
Our editor Of the Courier Junior
wanted the Juniors to write an inter
estine letter and so I though I would
write one to you.
How are you getting along in that
old state of California? / would like
to see you very much with that "pret-
ty complexion" and 140 pounds avoir-
dupois. | doubt very much if l would
know you or not.
Well, I did at last get to take my
term of music lessons from Miss Eu-
genia Swanson and she was just such
a splendid teacher. / want to take an
other term if | can, for / do like mu-
sic, and If 1 can learn enough l am
going to be a music teacher.
We have n of the finest trotting
colts you ever laid eyes On; it is a
sorrel with a white face and we think
we will call it Ruby.
Perhaps you will be surprised to
hear of your new nephew at Sister
Fannie's. He is small but sweet.
We have been having such fine
rainy weather, 80 far as the cistern
is concerned, but a little too wet to
please the farmers. Pa and the boys
are blowing the corn for the first
time.
But our garden is Just growing nice.
ly and after all the frost scare we
are going to have lots of peaches.
But my letter is getting quite
lengthy. We are all well and hope
this will find you the same.
l remain as ever, your sister,
Bonnie Duckworth, age IA. Russell.
Iowa.
R. R. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

The battle Of Gettysburg was the
most famous battle Of the civil a
General Meade was in command Of
the federals and General Pickett was
in command Of the confederates. This
battle was fought on the plains Of Get
tysburg. It was hard for the northern
soldiers to win but at last General
Meade led his army to victory.
In this battle General Pickett made
his famous charge which has made
the battle SO famous.
All the next day after the battle
both armies spent 1t by burying the
dead and caring for the wounded.
The civil "a lasted four long years,
but at last was won by the north, and
then peace was made all over the
land.
Oscar Root, age 9.
S12 North Court St, Ottumwa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-11
cERvERA's FLEET DESTROYED.

July 8, 1898, Admiral Cervera, who
was commender of the Spanish fleet,
made a bold dash for liberty by a des-
perate attempt to break through the
American line in order to reach the
open sea.
There was nothing for him to do but
surrender or else it would mean des-
truction if he remained in the trap
He made a bold dash from the har-
Dor at the time the Americans least
expected him to do so, and, lighting
every inch Of his way, even when his
ship was ablaze and sinking, he tried
to escape the doom. Admiral Sampson
did not expect Cervera to make a
break for liberty, although the Amer
lean commander knew that the sink
ing of the Merrimac did not complete
ly block the entrance to Santiago har-
Dor.
At 9:35 on Sunday morning the
flagship New York, with Admiral
Sampson on board, was many miles
away taking Sampson to a confer.
ence with General Shafter. The Span
iards had been waiting for the Ameri.
can feet to become scattered. They
thought our fleet was mapping and
that this was the time to make a quick
exit and start homeward.
The Spaniards fired on the Ameri'
can feet, which was a great surprise
to the Americans. In the first place
these batteries had. been shelled the
day before, and in the second place il
seemed foolish for the Spaniards to
undertake ~haphazard firing.
Most of the American vessels were
at the usual Sunday morning quar-
tiers and not one ship was really pre-
pared for immediate action. Almost as
soon as the batteries opened fire 6
Spanish vessel, the Cristobal Colon
was seen coming through the channe
and to head towards the sea, firing
her forward battery al she came. Nov
comes the excitement for the Ameri
cans. The signals hurried from one
ship to another, and On every Ameri
can vessel there was a rush Of activ
ity. In every engine roc there wa
a signal for full speed. The entire
fleet began to move In towards thu
shore, heading for the channel en-
trance. At 9:45 the Oquendo slipped
out Of the channel. By this time thu
Cristobal Colon had turned to tn,
west. and with a good Roadway at