davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

came thing of wonderful strength
and beauty and a JOY forever to the
Indian heart.
The shafts OF the arrows were made
from an alder like plant which grew
along the water courses. The Indians
called one variety "guatawata" and an
other "eriries.' 1t was at once strong.
supple, and contained a pith, which
could be removed at one end for the
Insertion of the head of the arrow
point
The green arrow shafts were sea-
soned by leaving them for a time
covered with hot ashes. After being
thus treated the skilled arrow maker
would straigliten the crooked ones by
molding them with his fingers as cas-
lily as a potter moIds clay. Then, re-
moving the pith from one end, he
would insert the head of the flint ar
row point, which had already been
Clipped into shape with wonderful
skill and patience, into II and bind
ii about with sun cured deer sinews
Then. after being winged by splitting
q feather. inserting the halves on op-
posite sides of the shaft at the other
end as far as the pith and again bind
ing with sinew, the arrow was fin
ished.
Chief Gabriel was skilled in the use
as well as in the making of arrows.
He did not always even need bow
Holding UP his left hand and resting
an arrow between two fingers like the
forks OF tree. he could throw ii a
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01
By w. |. Weymouth

- HE word goose" furnishes It's own
definition. To say that one. Is a
goose means that he-well, IL sim
ply means that he is a goose. For ages
the goose has been looked upon as the
fool of the barnyard. the supreme type
of idiocy among fowls, the epitome OF
Stiffness in feathers. Yet It seems
sometimes as though the goose has
been maligned. Once in a while there
leaks out a fact or two that would
indicate that some geese, if not all
geese. have something more than IN
stinct. Indeed, some admirers OF the
fowl even give him credit for brains.
That may be going a little too far.
But there is much in support Of the
theory that he has instinct.
Among the defenders of the goose
of many geese. in fact-is F.
Bruckerman OF Sierra county. Ever
since pioneer mining days this miner
sometimes lonely life has given him
an incentive to study the wild living
things around him. He has grown into
the habit of observing the ways Of
birds and beasts. and it was this habit
that led him TO his defense of the
goose. He has concluded from some
thing that he saw recently that the
goose has we'll developed military in
stincts, that he is perfectly able to
take care of himself. that he can COM
ir-o% 20 hxr tome OH rxuiu Wi n
his fellows and that he can count In
this respect he is far more advanced
than the crow, which cannot count
above two This has led to the killing
of many crow. In localities where
the crow is especially pestiferous,
plants them, it is the habit to erect a
small shelter in field. Three men go
to 1t, closely observed OF course by
all the crows in sight. Then two men
leave the shelter. The crows, being
unable to count above two. think that
all the men have left and swoop down
upon the crop-to their destruction.
But the survivors are caught again
the next day by the same trick-all
because they cannot count more than
two.
But to return TO our geese. or
rather to Mr.. Bruckerman's geese. The
especial incident upon WHICH he bases
his defense of the goose happened sew
eral months ago and the scene was
near Mount Fillmore. in Sierra county
1t might be well to tell the story in Mr..
Bruckerman's own words:
Il was on the way to a neighbor's
place several miles from my OVID.
about to relate took place. was
walking along slowly and in taking
in. as 1 always do. everything that was
going on around me, I noticed a flock
Of several hundred geese coming south.
I noticed them particularly because
they were the first of the season. They
were white geese with black wings
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

accurately how much they need. In
bottles weighing under eight ounces
they are allowed a variation of half
an ounce. Between and 13 ounces, one
ounce; between 13 and "a ounces, two
ounces, and above that any reasonable
variation. All bottles which do not con-
form to the weight test or are not per-
fectly blown are thrown out on them.
They become very expert.
Rolling and blowing the molten
glass. they drop it into a mold and
blow 1t to the shape. The larger the
bottle the greater necessity for skill
and wind. On a big bottle the cheeks
and stomach become distended until
they are cavernous storehouses for air.
While glass works has several thou
sand molds, most of the bottles are
and months upon the same shape-200
dozen in a single day.
We have here the strain of always
taking the exact amount of molten
material, the heat in which the work is
done, the skill required, the speed ne
cessary to make high wages, the mo-
notony of the repetition of the same
task day by day, all the wear and tear
on the system that can injure the body
except the danger to the lungs from
dust. But the lungs are weakened by
the conditions of work and only In
those who become hardened to the task
is this overcome But the glass blower
being nomadic, there Is no Judging how
many fall by the wayside. What COM
pensates them for the labor and danger
to their lives Is that $50 a weeA.
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

was not gate at all and was not
golden. 1t was simply the ordinary
mouth of an ordinary river. the San
Joaquin. And, in that far off time, the
islands in the bay, Goat Angel, Alca-
traz and all the rest were low noun
tains. All about these mountains,
which are now ISLANDS. was vast
plain with the river winding through
it seeking the sea. 1t was a beauti-
full grass covered plain. 1t was the
Indians best hunting ground and
abounded in deer, antelope and other
game. That is probably why the tra-
dition was preserved. The Indians lost
their hunting grounds and the loss i'm
pressed itself indelibly on their mem
cries.
How did they lose It.? Old Gabriel
said the earth shohk," the plain sank
and the ocean broke through at the
rivers mouth and rushed in, filing up
the. sunken plain and making islands
of the mountain tops. He said 1t was
not a gradual sinking, but took place
with overwhelming suddenness. The
bottom simply dropped out and the
water rushed In as through a broken
dam. Wild animals and whole Indian
villages. perhaps the hunters and the
hunted. were caught and carried down
together, though this is no part of
Gabricl's story. He simply said the
earth shook suddenly and without
warming, the plain disappeared and the
ocean engulfed the sunken area 1t
was simply one grand spectacular act
in natures great drama and with no
civilized eye to see 1t and feature it
the next day with big headings and an
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

fcult tasks. But when the combination
of skill and speed is considered 1t
becomes admittedly first Admittedly
because glass blowers making as high
as $50 a week for 10 months in the
year are better paid than any class of
skilled artisans. Very few trades aver
age more than 500 month the year
round. Another indication of what is
thought of glass blowing is that two
months in the summer are set aside
in all parts of the United States and
Canada as a period of rest And yet I
saw a man who had worked for almost
so years blowing glass, and now over
so. doing a mans work about the
glass works, although too old to blow.
There are several hundred glass blow
ers in San Francisco, most of them
nomadic. Making good money, they
are always in q position to move on to
the next town whenever they like and
they constantly weary of the place
they are in.
What makes their job the hardest is
the combination of circumstances. They
work before a hole in a furnace, which
is at a heat of $500 degrees on the in
side. Behind them Is a. blast of cool
air from the outside. Three generally
work together. two rolling and blow
Ing and the third trimming the necks
OF the bottles Two hundred dozen
is days work. occupying about nine
hours. Each blows an hour and handles
the machine half an hour.
Inserting the blowpipe into the mol
ten glass, they roll upon it sufficient to
blow their bottle. They must guess
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01
The Phantom Fire Ship

VERY one, no doubt. has heard OF
the Flying Dutchman. or read
Clark RusselTs famous story Of
L. that ghostly vessel which haunts
the South Atlantic ocean in the neigh
borhood Of Cape Horn. The story has
always been considered a legend of the
sea, having it's origin in the brain of
some oldtime mariner and having been
woven into a story by the facile pen
Of the celebrated author. There is.
however, a Flying Dutchman, or
phantom ship which haunts the waters
that wash the dangerous shores of old
Cape Cod, UP on the Massachusetts
coast The fisher folk of Osterville and
other shore towns Of Cape Cod have
seen the vessel, which. like the Flying
Dutehman Of the legend, makes its ap-
pearance in the midst OF the storms or
heavy fogs that infest that portion Of
the Atlantic ocean at certain periods Of
the year The following story of its
appearance was told to me by Mrs. c
OF New York city. whose cousin WAS
the captain Of a fishing vessel to whose
crew the phantom fire ship" made its
appearance. The experience happened
AT sundown. one wet, foggy night. in
the early part Of last August
The crew of the little vessel consisted
Of the captain and seven men, all of
whom saw the ghostly ship. Their ves-
sci lay about seven miles west Of Cape
Cod; the crew. having worked hard all
day. were making things snug for the
night. A wet mist with occasional
dashes Of rain was sweeping over the
face OF the ocean, when the captain,
who had just given orders to hang out
the ships lights. suddenly observed
large ship coming up from the south
ward under fun sail. On account Of the
Cog she appeared very indistinct at
first, but grew rapidly larger as she
approach the anchored vessel. The
captain thought il strange that she
should be sailing along so fast. as there
was practically no wind. Suddenly the
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01
The Apartment House
Ghost

\VIHENEvER one hears of a ghost
w story il is associated with an old
deserted house as a usual thing. and
a ghost that haunted an up TO date
apartment house. an apartment house
that had all the twentieth century ac-
cessories, such as elevator service. tele-
phone. electric lights. etc. Such. how
ever. was the experience OF friend
rented a Ave room apartment in
fashionable apartment house. Accord
ing to the story related by Mrs. F.,
the experience occurred shortly after
her husband had taken possession Mr..
F. was a "clubman," and as a rule
came home very late in the evening
One night Mrs. p was preparing
for bed and was taking down her
hair before her bureau. She said that.
although she had heard no one enter.
she had the feeling that some one was
in the room. Thinking that it was her
husband, she said: rs that you, Clar-
ence?" but received no answer. Again
she asked the question and again there
came no answer. Then she turned
around. Slowly passing through the
door was the figure of a woman in
white, with long, black hair streaming
down her back. Slowly the figure
passed through the door. and when she
had gone out OF the room Mrs. F.
rushed over to the door and looked out
into the hall. which was brilliantly
lighted by electricity. But there was
no one there. She searched all the
rooms, but they were empty. Then.
realizing that she had seen a person
from the other world, she tainted When
her husband came home. he said after
ward, her face was as white as a ghost
itself Mrs. r had, nervous pros
apparition.
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

unusual had occurred. I went into
the library and watched the room
through the open door And then a
strange thing happened. The rocking
chair began to move slowly backward
and forward. 1t rocked and rocked.
Then very slowly and almost indis-
tinctly at first came the song OF the
invisible singer. I waited to hear and
see no more. but fed upstairs TO
mother. I told her that one OF the
girls was back and was singing in the
library. for I did not want to frighten
her.
She was too sick to be much sur
prised and accepted my explanation
without a word. For some time we
heard the song of the ghostly singer.
but finally 1t stopped and father came
had occurred. and the next day we
moved out. We learned afterward that
the house was supposed 20 be haunted
The story was that a young married
couple had lived there a good many
years ago and that the smoking room
had been favorite place OF the young
wife. Her baby had been taken sick
a few months after it had been born
and had died shortly afterward. The
young wife had been stricken with
grief and had also died a short time
after the death OF her baby. II was
said that on the anniversary OF her
death the song that she used to sing
to her baby would be heard coming
from the little room. accompanied with
the sound OF rocking chair moving
backward and forward. Other occu-
pants of the house had had the same
experience as mine.
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

in a low contralto voice. The sounds
appeared to come from the little smok-
ing room below. Mother heard them.
thought it very strange. but I did not
think that it was anything super
natural In fact such a thought never
entered my head. Still the singing
went on, now high. now low, as the
voice of the singer rose and fell.
Mother asked me IL it could not be
some one outside the house. but said
no. that undoubtedly the sound came
from our smoking room below.
I finally concluded to so down and
see If I could who the singer was I
went down stairs and paused for mo-
ment before the door Of the little room.
which was closed. although I had no
recollection OF closing it before came
upstairs. The song now came very
plainly through the closed door. The
air was that of an old lullaby and with
1t 1 heard the sound of an old rock
ing chair backward and forward, just
as IL some one was singing child to
sleep. 1 opened the door noiselessly
and paused on the threshold of the
room The sound OF the singing and
rocking continued Never will forget
the strange feeling that came over me
when I entered the room. I seemed
to know that there was another pres
ence in the room besides myself, a
presence that could not see. I
switched on the electric light and the
sound ceased. There was no one in
the room and it was just as I left
it. 1 stayed there for a few moments
and then went out again. as il nothing
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01
The Story Of the Haunted Rocking Chair

and a small room which opened off the
library. and at one time was apparently
used as sitting room by former
occupant of the house. The house was
partially furnished when we moved in,
and some of the furniture we decided
to use. In the little room on the library
there was an old fashioned rocking
chair with a cane back and upholstered
seat. Father fitted up the little room
as a smoking room, or -den," as he
called IL, but 1t was so pleasant and
sunny that spent a considerable part
of my time there reading and sewing.
The little rocking chair l considered
my especial property. and at my re-
quest father let it remain in the room
for my use.
One rainy evening several months
after our arrival mother and / were
in the house alone. Mother was suffer
lag from sick headache, my sister
Mabel was away on visit and father
was detained in the city on busiress.
That evening 1 was in mothers room
reading TO her. for, as L have said, 1t
wass my usual custom to spend my
evening in the little sitting room off
the library. Mothers room was
directly over this and any sounds that
would come from it we could have
heard very plainly. The servants wer~
also out for the evening, as it was
their night of. and we were in the
house quite alone. While in the midst
of a story. which l was reading aloud
to mother. I was suddenly surprised
to hear the sound of some one singing
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

made its appearance, burning brightly
as before. No attempt was made by
the crew this time TO go to her as
sistance, but they watched in amaze
ment and fear. knowing that it was no
earthly ship that they could help.
There she sailed. not quarter of a
mile away, with her rigging and stern
one mass OF flames. Gradually the
light of the confiagration died away.
and the fog settled down upon the
phantom ship. hiding her from the
sight of the frightened seamen.
The very fact that all of the men
saw her appear on both sides of their
vessel shows that 1t was no mirage
or hallucination. but one of the many
mysteries of the sea
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

crew who were watching her, set up
shout, for bright, ruddy glare en-
veloped the stranger and they saw that
she was on fire. The captain at once
gave orders TO lower boat, which was
done, and four Of the crew set out to
the relief of the apparently doomed
vessel.
The boat had hardly gone a few yards
from the fishing schooner when the
light vanished as rapidly as it had
appeared, and with it the strange ves-
sci. The amazed captain recalled his
boat. for there was not the least sign
of the burning ship. Hardly had the
men come aboard when on the port side
of the vessel tthe fire ship was first
seen on the starboardl the ship again
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

To the Editor of The Sunday Call:
/ have been much interested in your
true ghost stories, and | herewith send
uou small contribution IN the may Of
three short stories of experiences which
happened to friends of mine and are
authentic IN every particular. One
stors that of the Phantom Fire
5E-p, mas received at second hand. as
It pas told 10 the lady BY her cousin.
the captain of the vessel that san the
phantom ship. The Others mere told to
me direct By the persons 10 Dhom the
experiences occurred. No explanation
pas given by the narTdtors, and al
though I may have MY OUn rieDs on
The subject pei l nil not elaborate
upon them. and send uou the stories. as
far as memory peu1its. IN The same man
ner as I heard them. Yours pery truly.
EDWIN IRVINE HAINES.
NOTE-Resl names Of persons who
figure in these stories are in The Calls
possession.
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

- HE following story was told to me
several years ago by Miss E.
j., daughter of Mr.. F. j
of the well known firm of j &
x at party at that young lady's
passing away the time telling ghost
stories: About 10 years ago when 1
was quite little girl my father rented
an old fashioned house situated on
Hampstead harbor. Long island 1t was
beautiful old place, with large
grounds and commanded magnificent
view of the sound. The ground floor
of the house consisted of front par
lor. library, a dining room. a kitchen
The San Francisco call., 1908-03-01

NOTE.-ResI names Of persons who
figure in these stories are in The Calls
possession
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-03-11
S 7 o r Y

breast, looking up with fearless eyes through her
uncurtained window at the stars which shine with
purer, clearer light than they. The same stars
that are looking down on her beloved as he rides
off-pouring down upon him their calm faithful
light-envelopng him in their Misunderstanding
him to look up for help and courage
Perhaps he is looking at them also, for Mar
guerite and he used often to sit with clasped
hands, counting the consultations as they came
out,
BY and by the morning comes, but somehow she
less as child, and in fancy floats upon the clouds
among the stars; back, back into her childhood
and begins talking softly to her mother, her
father, and the spring, the birds, the flowers
of her childhood home. So they find her, when
the has risen high in the heavens. Her
troubles have all slipped away from her. She is
weak that she lies for the most of the time
quiet-yet in deiirium she guards her secret
Often she asks for Wallace, if he has yet returned
SO the time passes from days into weeks with
seeming change The physician shakes his head.
He cannot foresee the end. He has no drugs to
minister to a broken heart
Darra journeyed riding between the two
until ten o'clock, when they reach the little
at which they had planned to stop for
the night. Having been in the saddle all day
they glad to retire at
So we'll assured they of the innocence
of their charge that they took special pre-
cautions to safe guard their prisoner beyond
locking the door, placing the key under the pill
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-03-11
S T. r. | a L S 7 O
By H. D. Pittman,
Author OF the Belle of the Blue Grass
Country

changed my boots and there my saddle bags,
not yet taken from the saddle. Search them to
see if there may be other clues"
The saddle bags were searched without results.
We'll just take em along with us; and its
high time for us to be leaving" answered the
sheriff
you must be hungry after your long ride, come
in and have your supper while | have another
horse saddled. And l would like to say few
words in private to my wife"
Assured themselves of the failure of the tests.
they made no objection, only stipulating that the
husband and wife must sit in the adjoining
within their sight. The men consderate.
however, and turned their backs upon them.
Darrall and Marguerite are sitting with their
arms entwined about each other and Wallace is
kissing tenderly her cheek.
My husband we love each other and it is
use now to begin to think whether it would not
have been better for you to have left me alone as
babe you. 1t is too late the only thing left is to
pray God to help us bear this trial., she is saying
in a low sobbing whisper which carries no fur
Their than the upon which her lips are
pressed.
Sweetheart 1 loved you without your bidding.
nay against your will; you at least have moth
ing with which to reproach yourself 1t may
not have been WISE since it has brought you
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-03-11

sorrow, but ! am sure /
have not loved you too
we'll. There is nothing
1uith 1chich I reprodch m,y-
self" AT this she shivers
a little, in his clasp.
do not be alarmed;
you see yourself they have
not a scrap of evidence
against me. In a very few
days, two or three at the
most, | will surely be with
you again.
There is a stir in the
dining room adjoining; a
showing back of chairs, and
they know their hour of
parting has come. Rising
they stand for a moment
looking into each others
eyes; into each others
souls; then lifting her two
arms and clasping them
about his neck with his
own he whispers: MY one
and only love, my wife.
Goodbye" Gathering her
yet more closely in his
arms. their lips press each
other in one long, clinging
KISS, and he is gone; rid
ing away in the starlight
between the two men.
She follows him to the
door to see the last of him.
If she may-in the dark
ness which has already fall.
len-as he turns the bend
of the road.
ooh, this dread uncer-
tainty," she cries, peering
after him through the gath
ering gloom, waving her
white hand to the retreat
ing figure, though she
knows he cannot see her.
That night she sleeps
not at all. She lies as she
has lain before, in other
crises of her life, with
hands clasped upon her
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-03-11

softly an
eir ears
| a worl
med. |
| and wa
lildren
| hearts,
| wings
pgly. |.
it will
mother 4
|of the NJ
il after
Z she W |
she llleI
NTH to |
The state herald., 1908-06-05

J. Leon keplrf clerk anl fur a1Id county The
state aforesaid 10 hereby certify that statement
o ue aroonns above Haml tb county coaiIr ist day o
Jan A. D. i sud county l and paid during lho bali
lug Dee o. ipT
Given under my nui aud onl il ofyy p. lea
lsEAL LEON KErLEH, County Clerk
The state herald., 1908-06-05
NOTICE.
To the creditors of II. Sutherland:

To the creditors of II. Sutherland;
You will hereby take notice that on
the 29th day of April, 1908, II. Suther-
land decided all of his property to Il. N.
McPherri1 and D. 7. Cornell in trust
for the benefit of hiscrCditors. The es-
timated value Of the assets is $50, 900
and the estimate of the liabilities is
S23, 600 You will present your claim
under oath within three months to said
trustees. L. N. McPHERRIN.
d. T. CORNELL.
Trustees
The state herald., 1908-06-05
FLOUR!

Besides the celebrated Bertrand flour
we handle the well known haywood
flour, at one time sold by Irwin Bros,
High Patent $l.35
Second patent or Gilt Edge $l.25
LEBLANC 4 SCHEUNENiANN.