davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-25

to me several of her pictures. all of
which denoted a high degree of skill.
Our friendship progressed with
amazing swiftness and before many
days / was on a footing of charming
intimacy with the owners of the house
boat. Never did l enjoy a friendship
more and / spent many pleasant hours
with Mr.. and Mrs. Cameron. One aft
ernoon Mrs. Cameron was making
Judges in the dainty kitchen, which
opened, through buffers pantry, into
the rear cabin where Cameron and I
were playing seven-up on the dining
room table. firing of the game. Cam
eroD brought out a decantur of wine,
and. as we slipped at our glasses and
blew smoke wreaths toward the ceiling,
he began to speak of his wife's work
as an artist.
He told me she had made quite a
success of il before their marriage. She
had not followed it alone for pastime.
but, imbued with that spirit of indie
pendence which is becoming so general
among our American women she had
wished to demonstrate that with her
own hands. she could make a living
independent of the resources she pos
sessed. She had branched out in COM
mercial work, he said, and had made
quite snug sum in this way
ne ielIf me lOi a inoilienl ana re-
turned with a portfolio of drawings
which he spread upon the table and
displayed with apparent pride. The
first picture in the collection was a
copy of the White House portrait of
President Washington. done in pen and
ink. As ] looked at the intricate net
work of lines something about it ap-
peared familiar, seemed to suggest a
picture | had seen somewhere, and I
scrutinized it closely, vague sensa-
sion of uneasiness dawning in my mind.
There were number of pen sketches
of heads and figures and landscapes a
few pastels and water cOlors, and, to-
ward the back of the portfolio, l came
upon some samples of commercial work
letter heads, cards, pamphlet covers
and the like-and, to my utter amaze
ment, delicate piece of steel engrav-
ing, coupon for a breakfast food
company, in one corner of which was
a bust Of the Goddess of Liberty which
Immediately suggested the head of
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-25

ingly IN my side pocket. but l could
not.
ION my return to Washington | Sc
cured the wrapper with the finger
prints and compared them with the
grease marks on the bit of newspaper.
A glance at the two side by side was
sufficient. The same hand had made
both. I was staggered, sick at heart,
and Disguised with the world and life
and people. more especially with my
self.
MY first impulse was TO make a
clean breast of it all TO the chief, but.
on second thought, 1 decided not 70
do so until l had made an investiga-
ton on my own account. l secured a
leave of absence and went to the city
where the cigar stamp fraud had been
penetrated. Here I learned much
that disconnected me Mrs. Cameron,
whose maiden name / had not heard.
had lived there and had had her
studio there. The bankers trust COM
pany had been her guardian, the eX-
ecutor of her fathers will. She had
lived in stately old mansion, neal
the home of the bank president. with
a maiden aunt. The aunt had died
while the niece was abroad. and
found that the time of the departure
of the niece had been consonant will
the exposure and arrest of the counter
feiterS-
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-25
On Government Orders

mert in ones nature. They were tie
kind o. lovers the poet had in mind
when he said all The world loves a
lover I watched them in rapt fas-
cination. a feeling of tenderness sweep
ing over me as / compared their bliss
full companiohship with my own lonely.
Outcast life.
The boat bore the simple name Owl,
wrought in glittering letters at its bow.
studied il with renewed interest after
the charming couple had gone aboard.
It was the pleasure craft of wealthy
man. II bore an air of ease and COM
fort and culture and affluence from its
steel hull to the dainty pennant flying
from its flagstaff. The wharf master
told me the boat belonged TO a wealthy
Chicago manufacturer, a man whose
name was known in financial circles
throughout the country. For that rea-
son 1 Will call him Mr.. Cameron. He
and his bride were spending their
honeymoon on the boat, making
cruise down the Mississippi and around
the coast TO his winter home on the
gulf. They had stopped over at this
point to visit with friends.
That very night / met the couple
at a reception given by my chum 5
sister. Although receptions as a rule.
are "A WEAKNESS of the flesh to me, l
frankly enjoyed this one. was nom
est enough TO admit to myself the rea
son. 1 had spent a great portion of
the evening chatting with Mrs. Cam
erOn. She was a talented woman and
as engaging in her conversation as in
her appearance, which is saying a good
deal for her conversation. She and her
husband invited me to visit them or
the 'house-bOat, an invitation which l
accepted the very next afternoon, for
they mad captivated me.
They had been married only two
months, and there was that ingenious
manner about them, so charming in
the newly married if not overdone. The
boat was a floating palace in minia-
ture, and yet there was the home at
mOsphere about it. | have always been
an admirer of the artistic, and the in
terror of the cabin was in perfect taste.
The walls were hung with rare paint
ings and original drawings of the best
artists. Mrs. Cameron, 1 learned, was
an artist herself, and she pointed out
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-25
TRUE TALES OF THE
SECRET SERVICE, BY
AN EX-OPERATIVE.>

| Henry CLAW on the counterfeit cigar
stamns used by the factory in the east
ern city.
Every instinct of my professional
training was aroused. My hand shook
so perceptibly l had to rest 1T upon
the table to avoid attracting Came
ron's attention. A strong suspicion
flashed over me which mace me thor
ouehlv ashamed. and l cursed my in
sistent professional instinct and the
base suspieions it was always arousing
| was disguised with myself for doubt
, ing these new-made friends, who had
given me so generous hospitality
Yet I could not master the distrust
that had seized me. There could, of
course, be no connection between the
engraving which L still held in my
hand and the bogus cigar stamps, and
yet my instinct urged that there was.
] sat for moment in trance as the
incidents of the cigar stamp case
surged through my mind. Forgetting
Cameron and my surroundings, l re-
called every dot and line and curve of
the gigantic enlargement of the false
tax-paid stamp.
Il was brought back to earth with
start
You seem to admire that piece Of
work interposed Cameron I think
II one Of tile best enSrdVlngS / have
ever seen. 1t was the last CONNER
ciaI assignment my wife accepted be-
fore she gave up her career as an
artist / was bit jealous of it. fer
she laborcd over it with an ardor that
entirely shut me out of her world.
although ] was about her studio a
good deal in these days. She gave up
her work all of Il sudden and went
abroad where she remained until her
return for orr marriage. l believe my
jealousy of the time she gave to il
had something to do with her deci-
sion. although she has never admitted
that to me.
II could not help asking when his
wife had abandoned her artistic work.
He said il had been three years since.
] returned the engraving to the port
folio and Cameron restored it to the
cabinet where il was kent l couldn't
entirely recover my equilibrium. The
incident had upset me completely and
II could not shake off the suspicion
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-25

There was no doubt that Mrs. Cam
eron had executed the plates from
which the bogus cigar stamps had been
printed. Whether she had known the
criminaiity of her act 1 have never
learned. l have always hoped that
she did not. and finally 1 have come
to believe it. What representation the
banker made to her when he had her
execute the plates will never be known
He died in prison of heart failure just
about the time l made these discov-
cries.
This is the only time I have ever
broken faith with the service. / could
not deliver Mrs. Cameron to the mer-
CHESS law courts, guilty or innocent
NV sentimentality would not let me.
1t may have been wrong. but l have
never regretted my action in this
case. II it were to do ever again 7
should follow the same course. What
do you think of il? What would you
have done under the circumstances
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-25
Edited by WIN. j. BACON.
THE H0USEB0AT OWL.
No. /.

copyright, 1908, by w. c. Chapman
copyright in Great Britain)
IN a modest little brick cottage, on
quiet side street of one of the larger
gities lives an elderly gentleman whom
7 met through my newspaper work
our acquaintance soon ripened into
close friendship and l have spent many
pleasant evenings with him in his coy
library smoking and talking The Oil
gentleman. whom 1 will call Captain
Dickson his real name being too well
known. had spent his life in the service
of his cOuntry-the service which up
holds the integrity of our money ana
postage stamps and bonds and securi-
lies and safeguards our public officials
Worn gray in the service, he had re-
tired. seeking out this quiet corner Ia
which to spend his declining years; nc
had surrounded himself by his books
and the curious collection of souvenirs
he had gathered in his long service CI
detective work for railroad and express
companies and for the national govern
ment. In the first months of our &C
1uaintance Captain Dickson studiously
avoided talking of his adventures. but
as our friendship Tipened he would lay
aside his reserve. and. over pipe ana
glass of rare old sherry. he would
spin yarns of the things he had eX-
perienced I'm his long and interesting
career. As nearly as possible, l have
followed his exact alanguage in re-
counting these adventures, neither COM
menting thereon. expurgating. nor edit
ing them
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-25

when had come To me upon seeing
the engraving. I felt like u criminal.
heartily ashamed Of my doubts, but
could not get rid of them.
Mrs Cameron came into the room
DIT this poiEt. her face full of rich
coiCr She had finished her fudge
making and wanted her husband ana
me TO pass judgment upon it. We
went out on the deck, where, or a
ualilty table, the plates of candy were
eooilng- l forgot my misgivings in
lhe pretty l.ride which Mrs. Cameron
exhibited over her handiwork. She
was more charming than ever in the
SIMPLE house gown she wore, her face
PINK with the bending over the stove
thought l had never seen so bean
uIul a woman. If she had not been
married I am sure I would have fallen
in love with her 1 admired her eX-
travagantly, but I did not love her. for
have never been a man who could
love anOther's wife.
This was to be our last evening
with them. On the morrow I was TO
return to Washington and the house
boat Owl was to resume its journey
down the Mississippi. Ny vacation was
at an end.
Cameron stepped into the cabin 10
get lFeSn cigar ana MRS. cameron
went into the kitchen about the same
time. leaving me alone out on the deck
by the table with the candy. Und err
meath The plates. to protect the table
top. were several sheets of newspaper
My glance fell upon these papers and
my eyes became riveted upon the cor
ner nearest to me. On the margin OF
the topmost paper were the prints ol
four fingers and thumb. made with
the butte with which the plates chad
been creased before the candy was
poured into them. they were long
tapering. shapely fingers, unquestiOna-
bly, those of an artist.
The training of years asserted it
self. l tore away the corner of the
paper with the finger prints upon Il
and slipped it into my pocket. / coull
no more help doing this than watel
can help flowing down hill, for tn,
! prints seemed a duplicate of those
SO well remembered upon the wrapper
of the unused plate we had captured
in the cigar stamp case l was dis
gusted &vith myself. but instinct !.
stronger than will sometimes, and thi!
| was such a case.
! Il left the boat as soon as l could
conveniently get away. The desir,
was strong upon me to destroy the pa
per which nestled guiltily and accus
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-25

A special offer for the
week in dainty design all
overs for shirt waists,
children'S dresses,
guimpes, etc. all the
wanted rosebud and small
effects on high class
swiss muslinS and cam
brics. Regular 500 en-
broideries, yard
Western Kansas world., 1908-07-04

lures of this character. Two others
dug holes in bales of cotton which
made up part of the cargo, and I'm
these strange cradles drifted to the
land.
Another disaster, well remembered
by New Workers, was the burning of
the Seawanhaka off Wards island on
June 20, 1880. Forty were lost in this
disaster.
June appears to have been fruitful
month for steamboat fires, for preced-
ing the burning of the Seawanhaka by
a few days was the burning of the
Stonington steamboats, Narragansett
and Stonington, sister ships, after they
had been in collision in mid-sound
during dense fog on the night of
June IL, 1880.
BY far the most terrible steamboat
disaster that ever occurred in New
York waters was that of the burning
of the General Slocum. Of the 5000
excursionists aboard most were wom-
en- and children. Only one other
steamboat disaster in the annals of
American steam navigation surpassed
the horror, and that was when the
Mississippi river steamboat Sultana
burned in 1866, with a loss of 1,6o0
lives.
Western Kansas world., 1908-07-04

from another, being made use of
wherever large or small jointless sur
faces are required New and improved
systems of boat davits, and also of dis
engaging gear. for lowering ships
boats quickly and safely have been
put on the market and have been read
lily adopted. In fact, the steamboat
owner, when he realizes the merit and
value of such adjuncts to the safety
of his ship and passengers, is quick to
make use of them.
Awful Toll of Human Life.
Undoubtedly most of the steamboat
wrecks and fires in local waters could
have been prevented if the safety de-
vices now in use, as well as the
method of construction followed in re-
Gently built steamers, had been incor-
pcrated in their design. But to get
the present improvements there had
to be an awful toll of human life The
first serious disaster attended by
burning to a Hudson river steamboat
was that of the Swallow, one of the
clippers of her day, which met her
fate on April 7, 1s45. Forty persons
lost their lives. The Swallow was
running as a night boat at the time,
and had left Albany at six p. M in
binding snowstorm. She carried $50
passengers OFF Athens the vessel
struck a rock and almost Immediately
broke in two. AS she careened the
cabin stoves were upset, setting fire
to the joiner work, and the vessel was
a mass of fame in a very few mo-
ments' time. The steamboats, Roches-
ter and Express, which were following
the Swallow, aided in taking off many
of the passengers
The burning of the Henry Clay ap-
palled the nation. The Clay was a
new boat, of superior speed, which
was running on the day line between
New York and Albany. She was pit
Western Kansas world., 1908-07-04
AS A RESULT OF The
IOCuff DISASTER

steamboats, unsuitable, but such a law
is bound to come in time, and when
it does come owners will be the best
pleased among those directly bene
fitted
When the investigation into the
General Slocum disaster was under
way the fact was brought out that
when the flames which suddenly burst
forth in the forward hold in a barrel
in which rubbish was thrown, were
discovered, in order to communicate
the news to the pilot house, where
the commander of the vessel was sta
toned, it was necessary to go to the
third deck, lot of valuable time be-
ing wasted Since that day electrical
and other devices have been placed
aboard our more prominent passenger
steamers which instantly notify the
occupants of the pilot house, as well
as officials on other decks, of the ex-
act location of a fire or other trouble
in any particular part of vessel.
Further than this, there have been
safety devices invented which reduce
the possibility of loss of life by wreck
to minimum.
Day of Rotten Hose Gone.
To-day there is no more rotten hose
boats. The life preservers are fresh
and new and made of real cork, and
there is an ample supply of them,
easy to get at. There are an added
number of good serviceable lifeboats,
and they are not painted fast to the
decks; they have their running tackle
overhauled every little while, and
when put overheard they will float.
Ample stairways between decks, both
inside and outside the cabins, are pro-
vided, and as result of the harrow
ing episode connected with the men
imprisoned in the burning hull of the
North German Lloyd liner, when the
Hoboken piers set fire to her few
years ago, who could be seen alive but
unable to crawl through the diminu-
tive portfolios, the ports in the holds
of steamboats, are now large enough
for the heaviest man to get out of if
necessity should arise.
1t has cost owners a lot of money to
do these things, and such as did not
feel inclined to follow the orders of
the steamboat inspectors when their
boats were inspected had to send their
boats to the marine graveyards, to be
broken up for the old metal contained
in their outfit. At least rs New York
steamboats, which were being used
when the sSlocum met her fate four
years ago have disappeared since the
steamboat laws have been enforced.
Western Kansas world., 1908-07-04

ted against the Armenia, which had
been in service for some years, and
many races were INDUCED in
The boats were crowded when they
left Albany on the morning of July
%, 1852. The Clay ran into the Ar
menia an hour after the steamers had
been under way, and this necessitated
slight delay on the part of the Ar
menia. This gave the Henry Clay an
advantage of several miles, which the
Armenia could not overcome, and
hence the leading vessel was enabled
to make her landings in advance and
pick up the majority of the passen-
gers bound to New York Just above
Yonkers, about four p. M, flames burst
from the main deck near the boiler.
The dry and overheated woodwork
burned like tinder. The pilots headed
the steamboat toward the east bank of
the river. Many persons jumped over
board and were drowned, while others
were burned to death. The Armenia
soon appeared and helped to rescue
many of those saved Steven Allen,
mayor of the city of New York; Miss
NJ. L. Hawthorne, sister of Nathaniel
Hawthorne; Downing, the celebrated
mfd-century landscape architect, and
many others of prominence at the
time, lost their lives in this disaster
Loss of the Berkshore.
The fine new steamboat Berkshore
burned on June s, 1864 The steamer
was a night boat, and while coming
down the river fire burst from some
freight slowed on the main deck and
the flames quickly ignited quantity
of hay piled near by, cutting OF all
communication from either end of the
boat There were about 200 passen-
gers en- board, and of these about
three-quarters were saved
The history of steam navigation In
the year 1S40 was marked by the ap-
palling calamity which occurred on a
cold winter night on Long Island
sound, when the steamboat Lexington
was burned The Lexington, one of
the finest of the Sound fleet of the
time, had 154 persons aboard On
Eaton's Neck, at the head of the sound,
the woodwork surrounding the smoke
stack was discovered to be on dre-
Soon the vessel was a roaring furnace
A few of the passengers and crew
took to the boats. but they frcze to
death Rats were improvised a7d
launched. and two persons were res
cued the next day from trail struc-
Western Kansas world., 1908-07-04

Such vessels as were built since the
Slocum disaster were largely of steel
and now that the jamestown has
proved a success all steamboats, built
for the local service that do not come
up to her class in safety certainly will
merit criticism
Fire Detecting System.
Some of the late improvements for
making life on the water more secure
are worth referring to right just here
For instance, device known as a
''tell-tale" fire detecting system is OPP
Grated on such steamers as the Hen
drick Hudson, c. W. Morse and Adj
rondack, on the Hudson, the Boston
line steamships Yale and Harvard, the
Fall River liner Plymouth, etc 1t
utilizes patent thermostats and therm-
estate FIRE alarm boxes in various
parts of the vessel, which give instant
alarm in case of fire There are
dozen or more stations at which
points are placed boxes similar to the
ordinary hotel annunciator A fire in
any section will mechanically start a
bell ringing in each annunciator, and
a transparent disc therein, with the
name of the point on the vessel where
the trouble lies Immediately lights up
On some vessels every stateroom il
equipped with these thermostatic de-
vices
Large quantities of what is known
as composite board, substance re-
sembling wood, hut which is said to b
unburnable. now is utilized in the fin
ish of ceilings, cabin panels. and even
IN the separation of one stateroom
Western Kansas world., 1908-07-04
ECZEMA ALL OVER HIM.
No Nights Rest for a Year and Limit
of His Endurance Seemed Near
Owes Recovery to cuticura.

MY son Clyde was almost COM
pletely covered with eczema. Physi-
clans treated him for nearly a year
without helping him any. His head,
face, and neck were covered with large
scabs which he would rub until they
fell off. Then blood and matter would
run out and that would be worse
Friends coming to see him said that if
he got well he would be disfigured for
life. When it seemed as if he could
possibly stand it no longer, I used
some Cuticura Soap, Cuticura Oint--
ment, and Cuticura Resolvent That
was the first night for nearly a year
that he slept In the morning there.
was great change for the better. In
about six weeks he was perfectly WELL
Our leading physician recommends
Cuticura for eczema. Mrs. Algy
Cockburn, Shiloh, o., June II, 1907
Western Kansas world., 1908-07-04

The ameer of Afghanistan has is
sued decree to the effect that his
subjects who join the parties invading
the Indian dominions of Great Brit
ain shall have their feet cut on This
il not SO severe a punishment as the
tfme-honcred practice Of eastern mon
Rrchs who have been accustomed to
removing the heads of the disobedient
The aneer is getting modernized. And
the penalty. If imposed, will be quite
sufficient to cheek any extended move
ment Indiaward. A footless Afghan
would be seriously handicapped for
nike through the wild borderlauds.
Western Kansas world., 1908-07-04

ways are of metal, the steps being
covered with ribbed sheet rubber to
make them safe Not a carpet or
rug is to be found on the boat. The
rails surrounding the stairways are of
galvanized iron pipe, and around the
walls an ornamental grill OF metal
work has been Incorporated in the de-
sign The stanchions supporting the
decks are all of iron, and the netting
of the ratings is of wire mesh instead
of that of the usual rope variety. Bed
steads of brass or renameled iron are
fitted, and all clothes lockers are
built of steel
Can Be Made UnsinkabIe.
In case of collision the jamestown
would stand as goed chance of keep
ing aficat as the best boats af1oat, as
she is divided into six water-tight
compartments, thus conforming to the
most rigid requirements of the steam
boat inspectors and the marine under
writer's. IL struck in vital part,
however, say around the boiler or en-
sink, and it is this point that the pub
boats be made unsuitable
And they can be made So A series
of bnlkheads cutting the huh up into
small water-tight Compartments, the
use OF the cellular or double-bottom
principle. or of water-tght tanks dis
tributed through the various holds of
the ship, would make any vessel prac-
ticalIy unsuitable There is NO law
lust at present making 1t obligatory
upon the part Of owners to ERke their