davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13
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message giving the latitude and longi-
tude, the time and character OF the
wreck Many of these reports reach
the government through the New York
Herald's maritime columns. In other
cases they are not made by captains
until they reach port The life saving
department and other governments give
Information, but always 1t is largely
a matter of good luck if the revenue
cutters find the wrecks near the spots
where they were reported. Wind and
tide sometimes carry them long dis
tances in a few hours, and 1T is usually
several days or a week after being
sighted before the revenue cutter be-
gins its search
Imagine yourself on the quarterback
of the revenue cutter Mohawk as she
steams quietly away from her anchor
age at Tompkinsville on a derelict
hunting cruise. You must be satisfied
with makipgs the voyage in fancy, be-
cause the treasury department, how
ever courteously inclined. does not as
a rule care to send its guests to sea
on volcano OF guncotton. OF course
the thing is as harmless as mutton
tallow IL properly handled; STILL 1t
might not be properly handled. and in
such a case-well. the story of the
Mohawk and all on board would never
be told Sea gulls might pick up small
fragments of It, but they would be
very small fragments at that.
Assuming, however, that the permis-
sion of the treasury department, were
given, you would find yourself on one
Of the sturdiest little vessels afioat and
equipped with every comfort and con-
venience of first class battleship. The
officers and crew are all young men,
First Lieutenant 3. L. Brockway, a
CLEAN cut young saufherner. is in COM
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

mand. with Second Lieutenant n. n.
Waesche ranking second The chief
engineer is j. ]. Bryan, with rank of
second lieutenant He is veteran OF
several arctic expeditions, and can tell
you interesting stories of every ocean
where ships have found their way. Be
sides these are four cadets and a crew
of SIS sailors
But most interesting of all is Ole Ole
sen, the chief gunner. His position is
the most important of all, for 1t Is he
who handles the guncotton. places the
mines and performs all the ticklish
functions connected with the perilous
work. He is red haired, blue eyed and
a man of few words until explosives
are mentioned, and then he talks to
you about his cargo with vtvfdness
of detail and description that makes
you wish you were anywhere else In
the world but on the Mohawk.
\ you move about the ship you get
Athe feeling that mine ready to be
set of is concealed In every corner.
In your cabin you find half dozen
boxes securely lashed to tho top of a
dressing table In each of these boxes
is a glass Jar containing 80 pounds OF
guncotton. In the berth over your head
is as much more. Suspended from the
ceiling swings a small tin box that
looks like can Of peas or peaches. In
that are a dozen detonators, vicious
little metal firecrackers that are used
to explode the mines. They are really
the only dangerous part of the cargo,
and that Is why they are left suspended
so that there Is no danger OF explosion
from sudden shock.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13
LORE OF THE WEDDING RING

THE old Roman wedding ring was
usually of iron, symbolical of the
enduring bond. says the Pittsburg
Dispatch. which perhaps explains Nthe
supposition of some authorities that IL.
in olden times, Indicated the submis-
sion of the wearer. as did the iron ring
worn about the neck and ankle.
There are many tales. romantic
quaint. and amusing. associated with
marriage rings. OF all nations and all
ages. Those interchanged between Mar
tin Luther and Catherine Won Bora were
of silver gilt. with figure of Christ
upon the cross. And it has been stated
that certain Lady Cathcart, on mar
rying her fourth husband. had in
scribed upon her wedding ring:
If I survive,
will have Ave
Among Hebrews the wedding ring is
sometimes dfnamented by an elaborate
ly carved temple fixed on hinge, and
when opened disciosss a tiny repre-
sentation OF the ark of the, covenant
Very interesting. too. is the lore of
the engagement ring. now generally
worn after marriage on the third finger
of the left hand as guard to the
plain golden wedding ring of modern
preference
A pretty fancy. not common. though
not new, is to have this ring set with
stones the initial letters of which will
. spsil the name of the 1wearer or the
siver The keeper given to the present
queen by the then prince of Wales on
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

danger from wreckage or shock, Ols-
sen then takes charge OF the Battery.
connects it with the cable and signals
TO the bridge that everything is ready.
For just an instant every man on ths
ship and in the boat holds his breath.
All eyes are focused on the wreck.
Olesen bends over the little battery.
and, pressing his thumb to the but
ton, shouts, Here she goesr
You are expecting a terrific report
but 1T does not come. The deck Of the
ship seems 10 lift slightly under your
feet You have a swaying sensation
for an instant. and you hear a muff1ed
roar that seems TO come up from the
sea everywhere, Then a nl5ghty gey-
ser mounts into the air. Fifty, sew
enty-Hve. perhaps hundred or two
feet, a massive fountain of Wreckage
and water leaps, upward and falls back
with tremendous force. Again the ship
trembIes slightly and you can see the
men rocking violently in the surfboat.
When the foam subsidies the water Is
strewn with wreckage.
Five minutes after that hundreds and
thousands of dead fish float upon the
surface. For half mile in all direc-
tiOns you see them coming up. II
the wreck is near shore fishermen come
with their boats and carry away dead
fish by the, ton.
y
Again he-takes sOundings. and IL the
hulk is not sufficiently broken up down
goes another 80 pounds OF guncotton.
What was that ship you ask
Olesen shakes his head. The good
Lord only knows" he answers.
Did she have a cargO?"
Probably" SAYS the gunner. TT
might have been COAL il might have
been silk and there might have been
afcabin full of dead humans down
there. You can't tell. and there's no
use fussing about those things after a
ship goes under. Bust her up she
won't send any more ships to the bot
tom. That's the best we can do, and
that's good enough
Olesen gathers his dangerous fishing
tackle together, the sailors lift an
Choir and the cutter again lays her
course for Tompkinsville But the
search for ocean vagrants is not ended.
1t never ends, Night and day the sail
ors are on the lookout because q re-
ward is given to each man who first
sights wreck. The reward Is one
days shore leave. and that means q
lot to the sailorman on a guncotton
ship.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

IS lowered. and with the sumner IN
command a dozen sailors are sent away
to the derelict They move slowly
around 1t, taking soundings on all sides
until Oleson finds how the hulk lies
and just where he wants TO lower the
mines. Maybe one mine will do the
work. and it may require three or
four, but the gunner determines all that
as accurately as if the wreck were in
plain view and he could measure 1t
with chalk line.
Having made the soundipgs the boat
returns to the ship and the mines are
prepared. The wet guncotton Is
brought up from the hold and the dry
guncotton is fetched from the cabins.
Sailors are stationed about 1t on the
deck Tllen 4Olesen produces the cop
per cases in which the explosive is to
be sunk They look like square oil
cans Just 30 pounds of guncotton
may be placed in each-25 pounds of
wet and five pounds of dry. The cakes
are laid in carefully and then. with
the aid of a small rubber ball to make
the receptacle watertight the de-
tonator is placed and the metal top
screwed down.
From another part of the ship a huge
doil of copper cable is rolled out That
is to carry the electric spark from the
small battery TO the mine. Ready
now with the boat, bellows the gun
ner. '.'and keep that battery away from
the cable."
HE mines are then taken into the
boat and once more Olesen goes
around the derelict. Down here"
he says to the sailors. and slowly the
mine is lowered until it rests on solid
foundation. The boat moves back to
the ship, and then pulls away far
enough to be out of reach Of falling
wreckage. The Mohawk moves still
farther away TO get out OF any possible
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

n Ov would you like 10 go fishing
for dead ships with half a ton
Of guncotton for bait?
Do you think you would sleep
wen if you knew that $50 pounds of
this powerful explosive were packed in
the berth over your head. and as much
more in the berth next to yours?
10 doubt it might disturb your nerves
al first. but after time you would be-
come accustomed TO the little wooden
boxes tucked away in every corner Of
the ship; you would get used to seeing
the men toss them about like so much
laundry soap. and you would forget
that YOU were afoat with a cargo Of
explosives sufficient TO destroy in one
second Of time half the battleships in
the United States navy.
Just as safe and simple as batting a
hook with dead angleworms." says the
aluG old gunner. as you sit smoking on
the quarterback Surely he ought to
know. At any rate. you must take his
word for it. and very soon you find
yourself looking out over the ocean,
watching for floating spars, quite as
eager as any member-of the crew to
pick Up a good catch"
Half a score Of Uncle Sans feet
revenue cutters are engaged in this
new business of fishing for derelicts
Day and night from Maine to Florida
they are cruising about looking for
grim old hulks which wallow in the
pathway Of trans Atlantic and coast
wise ships. Many Of them have fioated
for years. half submerged in the ocean.
but until recently no official effort was
made to put them out of the way. By
mariners they were looked upon as one
of the unpreventable nuisances OF the
deep. From the bridge of a Cunarder
the captain would observe in midocean
a Shiny spar rising and falling in the
wash OF his ship. like the I'm Of a great
shark. To him it was of little more
Importance than a shark Wen he
knew that beneath this spar lay the
dead body of another ship, but happily
he had escaped collision with 1t, and
that was an end OF the matter
Perhaps If it did not escape his mind
he made q note of II in the ships log.
and sometimes this information that a
derelict was sighted in a certain lati-
tude and longitude certain date
reached other mariners. weeks later.
but ordinarily the thing attracted no
more attention than the body of a dead
porpoise floating OF the water. and
thus the derelict drifted on and often
times, no doubt, rolled into the track
of other vessels which went TO the bot
tom or themselves became Shiny mon
sters wandering with the tides and the
winds.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

THAT was in the days before wire
less telegraphy was in use and be-
fore the pathways OF the Atlantic
became congested with ships carrying
priceless carEoes of human life and
treasure. Finally when the accumula-
tion of derelicts became a general men
ace TO navigation the United States
government took up the matter in a
small way, and from time TO time sent
out naval ships to destroy the hulks
wherever they were found Little was
accomplished by that method. and two
years ago the revenue cutters a1ong
the Atlantic coast were called into
service. and today the most interesting
II not the most important part of their
work is the des truction OF these strag-
glers of the sea
But the government has done more
than tnat- Aside from the revenue cut
ters three large vessels are now being
equipped and soon will be put in CON-
mission az derelict destroyers They
are fast ships. with coal capacity for a
long cruise and expressly designed for
carrying large quantities of explosives
They are equipped with every facility
for destroying any sort Of derelict. no
matter where found, and will be pro-
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

n Ow would you like 10 go fishing
II for dead ships with half a ton
Of gunootton for bait?
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

UP a DERE-LLCT TEN
fIEES OFT BAINE CAT IIGHT EcUSzl
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
DEDICATION OF SMYRNA.

The exercises in connection with the
dedication Of the handsome new church
building recently completed by the AS
sociate Reformed congregation Of
Smyrna are to take place on Saturday,
July IS, and there is to be communion
service on the Sunday following:
The dedicatory sermon is to be
preached by Rev. ]. P. Knox on Satur-
day morning, at II o'clock, and the
dedicatory prayer will be offered by
Rev. J. L. Oates. The programme for
Saturday afternoon will be as follows:
Address by Rev. ]. S. Grier Of Sha-
ron. on "Dr. Ross and his work.
Address by Rev. R. M. Stevenson, D.
D., Of Glover, on christian Fellowship
as evidenced by the relations between
Drs. Ross and Boyce."
Address by Rev. w. C. Ewart of
Yorkville, on christian Liberality as
Evidence Of Good Citizenship"
Address by way of Greetings from
Sister Churches" by Rev. S. D. Bailey
of Hickory Grove.
History of Smyrna" by Rev. ]. L.
Oates.
The exercises of the day are to be
closed with a benediction after the
singing of the One Hundredth Psalm,
long meter.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
COUNTY ENGINEER.

At it's regular monthly meeting held
in Yorkville last Wednesday, the coun-
ty board of commissioners gave fur
ther consideration to the applications
submitted for the position Of county
engineer and finally decided the mat
ter in favor of Mr. w. L. Law of Rock
Hill Mr.. Laws proposal is as fol-
lows:
Il have the honor to apply for the
position of county engineer for York
county as provided by bill passed by
the general assembly of the state Of
South Carolina, entitled, An Act to
Provide for the Improvement Of the
Highways and Public Roads in York
county,
II will take charge of this work, that
is. devote my whole time to the same,
furnish transit, level, chains, rods, all
workman tools, and horse and buggy,
for the consideration of Two Thousand
Dollars ($2,000) per year. to be paid in
monthly payments.
Il wish to state that the above bid
does not include helpers. The help
necessary to perform this work in the
most eXpedient manner will have to
be furnish by your honorable board.
However, / will state just here that
the help / will need will only be that
of common laborers. In fact, | can use
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
ABOUT PEOPLE.

Mr.. John R. Logan has been con-
fined to his room for several days.
Kershaw Era: Mr.. B. E. Garrison
of York county, visited the family Of
Mr.. ]. B. McGill last week
Walter, little son Of Mr.. ]. N. Ben
field Of the Delphos neighborhood, Is
critically ill with typhoid fever.
Mr.. w. A. Jackins Of Charlotte,
spent several days in Yorkville this
week, the guest of Mr.. r. ]. Withers.
Mrs. w. B. Kerr Of Wadesboro, N.
c., spent a few days Of this week with
her mother, Mrs. M. A. Harshaw, OF
Guthriesville.
Miss Leon White has joined house
party at Winnsboro, the guest Of Miss
Rebecca Lyle and will be away for
several days.
Mr.. Chas. w. Smith and son, Mas
ter Strauss, are spending a few days
with Mr.. VIM. Caldwell's family at
Kings Creek.
Messrs. Harry C. Smith of Charlotte,
and B. F. Smith Of Yorkville, left Tues
day evening on a visit to relatives at
Brunswick, Ga.
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul R. Bratcon and
son, Master Paul, came up from Char
lesion yesterday. They are stopping
at the Parish hotel.
Mrs. Louise Guy Of Lowryville, spent
last night in Yorkville on her way to
the White Diamond Lithia Springs.
Mrs. Guy has just returned from
Montreal, N. c.
Chester Reporter: Mr.. Jimmie Estes
of Columbia, who has been visiting
here for several days, left this morn
ing for visit to friends in Yorkville.
Mayor John r. Hart and Mr.. M. G.
Willis of Yorkville, went to Charles
ton this week and extended a press
ing invitation to Col. Asbury Coward
to come to Yorkville to spend the bal
ance Of his life. There is common
feeling that Col. Coward naturally be-
longs in Yorkville and the people here
would feel highly honored If he should
choose to make his home here again.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
THE SENATORIAL CANDIDATES.

The senatorial candidates did not
confine their efforts last Wednesday to
the impressions they could make in
their speeches, but, after the speaking
was over put in their time mihgling
with the crowds in approved candidate
fashion, meeting as many people as
possible.
All of the various candidates, except
possibly Mr.. Grace, had the advantage
before they came Of having a greater
or less number of friends and ac-
uuaintances in this county. Mr.. Evans
is probably the best known candidate
Of the lot, he having been in numerous
campaigns since 1880. Mr.. Smith made
many friends during the progress OF
his work in connection with the or
ganiZation of the cotton association
Mr. Martin has been in close touch
with many people in the county dur
ing the past six years by reason OF
his official position as superintendent
of education Mr.. Lumpkin has spok-
en- in Yorkville before. Mr.. Johnstone
was candidate for the senate six
years ago, and had many acquaintances
in this county even before that. Mr.
Rhett had a scattering personal ac-
QUAR- tance over the county and was
pretty generally known by reputation.
Mr.. Grace was known to a few people
in Yorkville but his acquaintance was
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
The Cattle Tick.

We have no fear that the people Of
York county will fai. to realize the
value of the opportunity that has just
come to them to get rid of the Texas
fever ticks that cause so much NOR
tality among cattle; but the important
thing is that they realize that oppor-
tunity at the earliest possible moment.
That we would be able to Identify
the fever tick if we should meet it in
the road. we have no idea. Like most
other people in this country, we know
the COW tick as a most repulsive look
ing insect; but as to which are fever
ticks and which are not. we would be
unable to say. But from what we
have read on the subject we know that
this tick has caused millions OF dol
lars of loss to this country, and we
know also that this county OF York
has suffered and is suffering more from
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.

r. L. A. Smith-Announces himself as
a candidate for re-appointment as
magistrate of Broad River
o. J. Gwin-Invites the public to the
annual picnic Of New Bethel Sun
day School on Friday, July II.
L. r. Williams, Probate Judge-Gives
notice that Mrs Sallie B. Menden-
hall has applied to him for letters
Of administration on estate Of E. B.
Mendenhall, deceased.
Jos. M. Whitesides-Is announced by
friends as a candidate for appoint
ment to the office of magistrate Of
Broad River township.
Miss Rosa Lindsay-Wants you to see
the beautiful Sprague and Hatha-
way portraits which she Is now ex-
hibiting.
Palace Theatre-Will show the Pearl
Diver" in moving pictures tonight
This is an unusually good picture.
Loan and Savings Bank-Reminds
you that rainy days are sure to
come and advises you to start bank
account.
Carroll Bros.-Have ordered a supply
of tick emulsion to eradicate cattle
ticks and will soon be able to supply
customers.
Bank Of Hickory Grove-Tells you
that small sums saved soon grow to
be large 1t pays you to save and
wants your deposits.
York Furniture Co.-Calls especial
attention TO a big line Of lounges
and couches, and also to mattress
es and bed springs. 1t assures you
of. square deal.
Star Drug Store--Has a we'll selected
line of stationery and sundries, in
cluding necessities and convenien-
ces. Full line of fountain pens.
York Supply Co.-Has two carloads
of shingles in Nos. l and and x,
and will be pleased to name you
prices and terms.
]. @. Wray, the Leader-Announces a
July clearance sale beginning next
Tuesday. Prices are reduced from
one-fourth to one-half throughout
his store.
Carroll Furniture Co.'s ready to
supply you with anything in furni-
ture from a single chair to a COM
plete outfit and wants to make you
prices.
w. M. Kennedy, Agent-Has limited
supply of Lookout Mountain seed
Irish potatoes for second crop
planting They give best results.
Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo-Give ad-
ditional information relative to the
treatment Of kidney troubles. See
fourth page.
First National Bank-Points out the
fact that the saving Of money must
be gone at with determination. 1t
will help you to save and pay inter-
est on your savings.
Thomson Co.-Call attention to spe-
cial lot of semi-porcelain ware
which goes on sale tomorrow at 10c
per piece. Remember the big mill
End" sale.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10

AS the result of what Editor Cald-
we'll said about Editor Hemphill at
Gaffney, and Editor Hamphills rejoin-
der, the relations between the editors of
the Charlotte Observer and the News
and Courier are becoming more strain
ed. At least, such would seem to be
the inference from the following in
yesterdays Charlotte Observer:
Editor Hemphill, of the Charleston
News and Courier, in the course Of an
intemperate and ribald denunciation
of the editor of the Observer, charac-
terizes him as the champion perverter
Of history, ready. willing and waiting
to add the sin of bloodshed to the
crime of cOnfiscatiOn;" one who would
cut anybody's throat who stands up
against his piratical instincts and per-
formances. and all the time he would
be whispering soft words into the un-
suSpecting ears of his victim" In
view Of this outrageous diatribe we are
perfectly willing to cOncede that Edi-
tor Hemphill was not born in North
Carolina. and serve notice on him that
never again. as long as he lives, will
we pose with him for photograph on
the plate which marks the spot where
the Mecklenburg Declaration Of lnde-
pendence was made.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
WITHIN THE TOWN.

- Pursuant to notice, Rev. j. L. Har-
ley, state superintendent Of the anti
saloon league made talk in the court
house last Wednesday night in the
interest Of that organization. Because
Of the rain which began falling at noon
and which kept up for several hours,
the attendance at the meeting was
quite small; but Mr.. Harley took oc-
casion to give some information as to
the history Of the organization, the
progress of its work and what 1t eX-
poets to accomplish. He explained that
the league had been in existence about
fourteen years and during that time
1t had spread its operations to nearly
every state in the Union. 1t Is sup
ported principally by voluntary contri-
buttons from opponents to the liquor
traffic He took credit to the league
for much Of the prohibition work that
had been done in the west and particu-
larly for the carrying Of the states Of
Georgia and North Carolina for prohi-
bition. The principal opponent of the
league Is the whisky dealers organiza-
ton supported by practically all the
various branches of the liquor business,
and making an aggressive fight to pre-
vent the spread of prohibition and ex-
tend their business. Mr.. Harley said
that while he was not in a position to
offer the proof he Is morally certain
that the liquor people are now we'll
organized in South Carolina and are
spending money to get as thorough
control of this territory as possible.
Their designs are of nature that need
to be met with a firm front, and the
people of this county should lose no
time in getting their forces in shape
for a strong defense.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
PRISONERS IN JAIL.

The following prisoners are in jail
awaiting trial on the charges named al
the next term Of the court Of general
sessions which convenes next Monday
with Hon. G. w. Gage presiding:
Lawrence Marley, murder; Love
Robinson, murder; Clarence Jeter, as
sault with intent to kill; Ella McAlil-
ley grand larceny: Henry Gilmore, as
sault and battery with intent to kill
Press Gibbs, selling whisky; Richard
Brown, murder; George Crawford
rape; John Davis, gambling; PincR
Smith, housebreaking and larceny;
Hope Gilmore, murder; Sam Robinson
assault and battery with intent to kill
Bub Adams, assault and battery with
intent to kill; Lige Ripley, Illicit dis
tilling