davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
CONCORD AND LEXINGTON
$50 Ashbury street. san Francisco.
Lowell High school, Low 4.
Age IA Years
1IAHAR.

General Gage was the British gem
eral at Boston Hearing that the
Americans had been collecting powder.
shot and muskets at Concord. about
20 miles away. he sent out secretly
force of 500 men to seize the supplies.
The Americans decided to send Paul
Revere to warn the American patriots
of the danger.
Signal lanterns were hung out from
the tower OF the Old North church in
Boston to show that the soldiers were
TO cross the harbOr. and soon alarm
bells and swift riders We're waking
the farmers and minute men,
As Paul Revere gallOped along the
road to Concord some one called to
him: You are making too much
You'll have noise enough before
long" he shouted back. the regulars
are coming.
The regulars marched to Lexin gtOn.
There the soldiers found body OF
minute men drawing up by the meet
ing house. The British commander or
dered them to disperse. But not one
of them moved. Then the commander
fired his pistol into the little band.
shouting for his troops to IRE Sew
eraI of the minute men fell dead. The
British then marched on to Concord.
Here the Americans We're drawn up
by the small wooden bridge. The
British fired and killed several Then
the American commander gave the sig
nal and the minute men fired. This
was the beginning Of the revolution
The men who died in these two battles
were the first to die in battle for our
country.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
AWARDED A WATCH I
LIEUT.. CUSHING AND THE
ALBEMARLE
GEORGE r.. DIMMELMAN,
1S40 Jackson street. San Francisco. "B"
Seventh Grade. Pacific Heights
school. Age 13 Years

The Albemarle was a confederate
ironclad She had for a long while
proved upon federal commerce and was
the dread of all union merchantmen.
She was now anchored in the Roanoke
river undergoing repairs. Lieutenant
Cushing was given command OF an eX-
pedition to destroy her.
On a dark night with few picked
men in a little launch, Cushing made
his way up the river under cover OF
the overhanging trees. Soon he was
able to distinguish the dark outline
of the ironclad in the gloom. But
dog gave the alarm, and soon the rife
bullets from the ship and camp capaa
smashing in the water around thee.
AS Cushing drew near the ram. he
saw that she was surrounded with To-
Hastily examining them ile saw that
they were moss covered and slipner~
backing out he charged the logs
at full speed. They Yielded read
and the launch was soon alongside the
The men had meanwhile fixed the
torpedo TO a long iron rod and laid
the trigger string close to Cushing's
hand He lowered the torpedo bar into
It reach the ironclad's bottom. Just
then the muzzle of large gun was
poked out of an open port and a 100
pound shot roared harmlessly over
their heads. Cushing laid hold of the
torpedo string and gave it a vigorous
mil There was a muffled roar. n col
umn of water rose and the Albemarle
keeled over.
Ordering his men to swim for their
lives, Cushing himself jumped over
board Some were shot and some were
drowned. but Gushing escaped and after
made his way back to his ship.
A Il - a
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
! AWARDED A WATCH !
BENEDICT ARNOLD'S TREA.
SON
WILLTANI BUCHOLTZ.
TuoIumne, Cal, SummerviIle School,
High sixth Grade, Age Is Years


In the history of our country we
have had but one traitor, and his name
was Benedict Arnold. His splendid
march through the wilderness to Que
bee. his bravery in the attack upon
this city, the skin and courage he
displayed at Saratoga, had marked
hm out as man Of full promise NQ
man was more trusted or held IN
higher esteem by Washington than he.
In 117S he was put in command or
Philadelphia, and while there he so
abused his Office that he was sentenced
to be reprimanded by washington
washington did this as quietly as
possible, as he liked Arnold.
Arnold was a man of courage, but
he lacked the moral courage which
without great abilities counts for moth
ing He applied to Washington in
1880 for command of West Point a
stronghold on the Hudson river.
Arnolds reprimand had aroused a
thirst for ven ngeance and he conceived
a plan TO give West Point TO the Brit
ish. The British agent in negotiation
was Major John Andre, who one day
met Arnold near Stoney Point.
AS Andre was riding back he was
captured and papers in the handwrit-
ing Of Arnold were found on his per
son. Andre was tried as a spy, found
guilty. and was hanged.
Arnold heard Of Andres arrest in
time to escape. He fought against his
countrymen, and at the end of the war
went 10 England. The English peo-
pie hated a traitor, and Arnold died
in poverty. On his deathbed he asked
a man what Washington had said when
he heard what he had done The man
replied Washington had said: IF
had that limb that was shot off at
Saratoga I would bury IL with all the
honors OF war, but the rest Of the
body would hang"
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
WASHINGTON'S FIRST PUB
LIC SERVICE
ROMA aeCLERNON-
1855 Twentieth Street. HoFnee Mann
school. B sixth Grade.
Age - Years


The French tried to take possession
the name OF the king OF France.
They buried lead plates at the head
of All the streams and rivers thaL'
flowed into the Ohio and AlleShehN
rivers. claiming all the land they
drained. -, ........,.
The governor of the French territory
of the new world sent a message 20
the king of France, telling him tnaI
the buried plates would not hold the
land if there were not forts 0ulII 10
protect it.
1t took the king three years to de-
eide whether he should build forts or
not. He at last decided he had oetter
do so.
made up his mind to send a messenger
TO the commander OF the ffehch' anu
tell him to surrender
The governor was very much eX-
cited about this building or rorls- he
had two good reasons. First. thaL ne
was the governor Of Virginia, and IN
her new charter of 1909. that the land
was hers. Second that Dinwiddie was
the owner of a large land company
He chose a young man named George
Washington. and sent him TO the COM
mander. Washington set forth the very
day he received the message He was
a surveyor and knew much or the
wilderness He had many miles 10 go.
and he took but one man with him.
When he reached his sIourneys END
he gave the commander the letter IHe
commander refused to surrender ana
said HE would have to see the gov
ernor." Washington returned and told
the news
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
THE DARKEST PERIOD OF
THE WAR
ETHEL GLYNN,
2427 Folsom street, San Francisco.
Horace Mann school; "a" Eighth
Grade. Age IA Years

The bitterly colo winter of 1777-7S.
accounted as being one of the coldest
and most cruel winters ever known
in American history, was spent by
Washington and his army at Valley
Forge on the Schuyll1ill river about 20
miles from Philadelphia.
Owing to the want of supplies and
warmth the suffering of the American
army can not be described. Washing
ton did not give way TO despair, but
remained at Valley Forge, because it
was the safest place from the enemy.
This winter proved to be the darkest
period of the war. Washington had a
hard time in keeping his men together
on account of congress failing to pro-
vide money with which they could buy
food clothing and arms. Had it not
been for the financial help of few
men at this trying time the soldiers
would have starved But for this and
the great influence of Washington, the
army might have disbanded. AT this
dark hour an able Prussian soldier
Joined our army and drilled the SOL
diers.
Until the surrender of Burgoyne and
Great Britain's offer of peace, the
French king could not be persuaded
to help US in the war. At this time.
however. he acknowledged us to be an
independent nation and soon had Il
fleet on its way to help us.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21

at Apalachee bay and made a raid
inland
When he came back to the coast he
found his ships were gone. so he traV-
eled westward on foot for month Ihen
he built five small vessels and put out 10
sea. They stayed near 70 shore Tor SIX
weeks and discovered the mouth OF tne
Mississippi There two of the boats
were unset and Narvaez was drowned
The rest of the men sailed on ana
at last they reached the coast or leNdS-
But they did not have enough 70 eat
so many of the men starved 70 dedtIi,
and the Indians killed the rest Win
the exception of four. These tour men
were captured BY some wanderlnS
indians who took them 70 the eastern
part Of Texas and the western Lousl-
ana. One Of these men was neslV.
and the Indians had never seen oldek
or white men before. so they InouSus
these men were great WIZARDS, ana
for that reason did not kill them
These captives Travelled on 1oot ot71
900 miles In eight years. Ihey tiaH-
eIed westward until they reacned We
Gulf OF California. and here they touhu
some Spanish friends from de'<lco-
They were the drst men that had ever
crossed the continent. They had gone
only from the Gulf OF Mexico In the
Pacific. but they had obtained a clear
idea of how wide the continent reaiiy
&
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
THE KU KLUX KHAN
DOROTHY KENTZEL.
1O4S Larkin Street, San Francisco. Age
Is Years

When the reconstruction act was
passed in 1867. the negroes We're given
the right to vote.
There were many politicians in the
north ana some of them were the worst
sort of men. number of these poll
tieians. learning that the negroes were
enfranchised, went TO the southern
states to run things"
These politicians were called carpet
baggers" by the southerners because
they carried their personal effects
around in carpet bags.
The northerners told the slaves their
old masters were going to put them in
slavery again, but if they voted for
union men they would remain free.
The negroes greatly Outnumbered the
white voters in the south. The carpet
baggers, controlling the negro vote,
were thus elected to high offices by a
large majority.
The tax payers and property owners
of the south. seeing the politicians were
robbing the states, determined to put
stop to it.
Natives of the south formed secret
societies. These societies were called
The Invisible Empire" and The Ku
KluN Khan" Members of these So
cieties rode after dark. They We're
completely disguised by masks and odd
costumes and whipped and sometimes
murdered their enemies.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
! AWARDED A WATCH !
THE SURRENDER OF CORN
WALLIS
AA~AA%'
LESLIE TARIEL
29I7 Chapman Street, Fruitvale. st.
EIizabefh's Grammar School, n
Eighth Grade. Age 13.

The scene of the surrender was most
imposing. The army was drawn up IN
two lines, extending over m1Ie-th5
Americans on one side, with genera
washington at their head, and the
French on the other, with Count Roch-
The captive army, about 1000 in
number, with slow step, shouldered
arms and cased colors, marched be-
tween them A prodigious crowd, anX-
ious to see CORVALLIS, had assem-
bled, but the naughty general, YeNed
and mortified at his defeat, telgned
illness and sent his sword by General
O'Hara- 1T
Washington directed the sword TO be
delivered to General Lincoln, who, Is
months before. had surrendered at
Charleston.
virtually ended the war Joy perVaeed
every patriots heart. All the hard
shfps Of the past were forgotten In the
thought that America was free:
The news reached Philadelphia at 2
o'clock a. M. The people were awak-
ened by the watchmans cry. Past 2
o'clock: and CORVALLIS is taken.
Lights flashed through the houses, ana
soon the streets were thronSed Win
crowds eager to learn the glad news
Some were speechless with delight.
Many wept, and the old door keeper OF
congress died of JOY. Congress met at
an early hour and that afternoon
marched in solemn procession TO the
Lutheran church to return thanks TO
Ali hone of subduing America was
now abandoned by the people of Eng
land. and they loudly demanded the
removal of the ministers who coun-
seled war. The house of commons
voted that whoever advised the king
to continue hostilities should be con-
sidered a public enemy.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
DEATH OF WASHINGTON
MARY JOHNSTON,
1919 Sixteenth Street, san Francisco.
Age IL Years

George Washington, after brief ILL
ness, died al his home at Mount Yer
non December IA, 1893
Napoleon ordered all the flags in
France to be draped in black for 10
days, for the entire nation was bowed
with deep grief al the death of one
who had been first in war, first in
peace and first in the hearts of his
countrymen."
In Philadelphia John Adams had been
inaugurated, and during his admins
tration the new capital on the banks of
the Potomac was occupied by congress
in November 1900. This territory was
given the name of district of Column
bia. It was a tract of land 10 miles
square, given by Maryland and Vir-
ginia.
The new city was named Washington
and was laid out on q spacious scale by
Mayor Enfant, French engineer.
Washington when president had en-
tered with unWonted ardor into the
plans projected for developing the new
capital. He pictured the city which
bore his name an instructor for the
coming youth in lessons of lofty
patriotism, and he prophesied for it
national greatness.
The cornerstone of the capitol was
laid September IS, 1898. and the gov
ernment offices were transferred from
Philadelphia to Washington in October,
1900.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
; AWARDED A WATCH
FOUNDING OF THE MISSIONS
LUCY MAHoNEY,
AN0A -NA1AO@NA1A9
1861 Washington Street, San Francisco.
st. Brigid's School, Eighth
Grade. Age ii Years


The planting Of the cross is of great
interest in history. In the most beau
tiful places from san Diego TO San
Francisco, missions were erected. And
about 100 years after this the early
pioneers built houses Of the most hand
some and modern architecture. The
buildings have the color and atmos-
phere Of California. The delicate dove
colored adobe walls, the red color Of
the roof. the violet haze of the noun
tains. and the tonish color of the
distant hills ali seem to harmonize
About noon on July ], 1863. Junipero
Sierra stood on the shores OF San Diego
bay. and as he looked out upon the soft
waving ocean his soul was filled with
Joy as he picked up a soft golden
poppy and exclaimed. 7 have found
st." meaning the land Of beauty, Cal
ifornia. His journey from Mexico to
California was eNhausting.
July Il. 1853. Father Crepi by the
advice of Charles III, started north
his journey was a failure, so he was
compelled to return.
Father Junipero Sierra raised a cross
at the mark which is now known as
twin palms. San Diego. There he cele-
brated mass. while the cOlored natives
looked on with wonder. They did not
eat because they were afraid Of sick
ness. This was fortunate for the Span
iardg their food being limited One
night the Indians made an attack on the
little band and wounded several. The
Spaniards then removed their mission
10 the san Diego river. Father Juni-
pero Sierra left a number there under
Father Jayne. The Indians again tried
to attack them, but the Spaniards
killed many. while the others fed and
never returned.
Junipero sailed to found another
mission April I6. and found a smooth
body Of water and deep enough for
whales to swim in. He landed on the
morning Of June 3. 1870. and took
possession Of tie place, which he called
Monterey.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
WASHINGTON'S EARLY LIFE
TAYLOR GRAVES
San AnseImO, Cal. san AnseImO Gram
mar School, Sixth Grade. Age
10 Years

George Washington was born at
Bridges Creek in Westmoreland county,
Virginia, on February -, 1882. His
father. Augustine Washington, was a
Virginia planter and kept many
slaves. When George was 3 years old
his home burned down, and the family
moved to another plantation on the
Rappahannock river. Here George
stayed until he was IL years old.
When his father died, he and his
mother went to live with Augustine
Washington, Jr., Georges half brother.
Here he went to school and became a
good student and was very fond of
athletic games. He left school at Is,
when he went to live with his eldest
half brother, Laurence.
Laurence had a very large estate
called Mount Vernon. Lord Fairfax was
an English nobleman who was Lau-
rences father in law. He was very
fond of Washington and determined to
do something for him to help him
along.
Washington was very interested in
surveying. so Lord Fairfax. who had a
great many estates in Virginia, set
him and his brother in law with
company of attendants out TO survey
the Shenandoah valley. They had a
great many hardships. such as ford
ing rivers and encounters with hostile
Indians.
When Washington returned and
showed Lord Fairfax his surveys he
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
THE FIRST SHOT OF THE
CIVIL WAR
BROADLEY FARMAR,
1896 Post Street, san Francisco, Age
10 Years

1t was ht, indeed, that such great
deed. the firing of the first shot OF
the civil war" should be done under
When Anderson received the message
from Beauregard that in one hour he
would open fire on Fort Sumter he
ordered the sentries to be removed
from the fort and the flag, which had
been lowered in the evening, to now
be raised. and then settled down to
await the shock. At half past 4, just
before dawn, the first shot was fired.
A few moments of quiet followed this
act Then, from Fort Moultrie, Point
Pleasant, Fort Johnson. the fioating
battery; Cummings Point and Sulli-
vans island, came steady fre.
Anderson and his little gathering
still sat in their fort, unmoved by the
battle raging without The shells of
the enemy were loudly clamoring for
admittance, but not a shot had been
fired in return. At half past 6 the
men breakfasted and then divided into
three reliefs, and the men were ordered
to their places. and the quiet of the fort
was now broken, as she'll after shell
came from the mouths of the guns.
harbor were lined by hundreds of in
habitants, eagerly awaiting the result
of the conflict.
Time after time the barracks took
fire, but We're extinguished, chiefly
through the bravery of Mr.. Hart, a
New York volunteer.
When darkness fell Anderson or
dered his men to stop firing and rest,
but the enemy still kept it up
Again the barracks caught fire, but
this time all efforts to extinguish the
flames provede fruitless. All hands
We're taken from the guns to keep the
fire from the ammunition. which At
last had to be rolled into the sea-
Finally the fort was surrendered
on terms agreed to by General Wig
fall and Major Anderson.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
Physical Education in the San Francisco Public Schools

.HE system of physical education in
the public schools of San Francisco
as adopted by the board of educa-
ton and supervised by Profs. Robert
Fl. Barth and George S. Miehling is that
outlined in the Progressive Lessons
in Physical Culture by the director
of physical culture of the Uni
versity Of California, which begins
with the first and second grades,
consisting in the simplest calisthenics,
and is developed step by step through
the different grades up to the eighth.
grade. where it eliminates in the so
called setting up exercises. The sue
cess of this system was shown at the
first indoor track meet of the Pubic
School athletic league OF San francisco
at the Auditorium on Novenbers6. 1908,
when over 800 pupils from the different
grammar schools in San Francisco COM
peted running from so yards up to
$50 wards, at weights from so pounds
UP to unlimited weight.
There are exercises performed in the
seats which consist of trunk move
ments as follows: Body erect, feet
together the trunk is turned in dif-
ferent directions, right and left, Tor
ward and backward, ufSb Win Liz tAp0
of the fingers lightly on the shoul-
ders, then with arms vertical, front
and side horizontal. These exercises
in the seats are intended to give the
children a correct position at their
desks.
After this come the exercises stand
ing in the aisles, body erect, hips well
back, head up, chip in, arms and hands
at the sides, palms front, heels together,
feet at an angle of so degrees, the
weight on the ball of the foot; then
rest standing" placing the left or
right foot six inches in front or rear.
the weight of the body resting equally
on both feet.
The next command is at attention,
which is in the position of soldier
In this standing position the exercises
consist of movements of the head. with
arms front horizontal, side horizontal
and vertical bending of the neck in
different directions: leg exercises, half
bend and full bend; balance exercises; !;
alternate foot exercises. wrist and
hand exercises, fex and extend: rails
ing on toes; full step exercises, for
ward and backward, marching and ex-
ercises in marching (when it is possi-
BILE to have the pupils perform in the
school yards. military tactics and
quickstep) form continuation of the
calisthenic drill. and the lesson closes
with deep, rhythmical breathing move
ments.
All these exercises are executed every
day at 10 o'clock a. m. and 2 o'clock
p M, and each lesson consumes from
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21
/ AWARDED A WATCH I
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

Florence Roberts, BurIinGame, 10 Years
Lee was one of the ablest of the
confederate generals, and having sue
cessfully defeated General HOOKER ~
the battle OF Chancellorsville, he was
encouraged to make a second invasion
OF the north.
Meade had been given command OF
the union troops. He was mafenihs
through Pennsylvania on the 23d or
July 1853, when unfortunately he accl-
dentally encountered General Lee ana
a large force of confederate soldiers.
Then on the hills of Gettysburg IN
Pennsylvania, was fought one OF the
most memorable battles ever known
in the history of the world. The bat
tie ragged for three days. The hrst
day smiled cheerfully upon Lee, ana ms
would win. The second day the union
forces put forth all their skill ana the
energy tnat was needed for success
and at the days end, when the sun
sank into its peaceful slumber, victory
smiled almost assuredly upon MEADE
The third day was the final test, ending
with Meade victorious at the battle OF
Gettysburg.
So terrible was the battle and so
great the loss of life that it is often
called the second battle or waterloo;
over $4,000 men were kllled ana
wounded. about one-fourth of the en-
tire armies. The loss OF lie on poth
sides was very heavy.
lee retreated to Virginia where he
spent the winter brooding over MS oe-
feat. He blamed the confederate au.
thoritfes for his defeat saying that
they neglected to supply him with am
ple reinforcements.
All over the battlefield today may be
seen monuments marking places Wnere
the battle ragged thickest. Abraham
Lincoln. at the dedication of the Gettys-
burer monument, delivered most I'M
pressive and patriotic oration tnat
9eenIv moved the hearts of all his
hearers.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-21

army. which was sent to Boston.
places to stay.
The sight of tents on the common;
where the army stayed. so maddened
them that they had a fight IN Which
two men were killed.
England, fearing to have trouble. re-
called the taxes on everything but Tea,
which was sold at such a low price
that with the tax it was cheaper thdn
before. This angered the colonists, as
they were lighting for more liberty
than they had before and not petty
tax. At Charlestown the tea was put
into a moist place and it spoiled and
was sent back TO England from New
York. The tea ships in Boston refused
TO leave
A meeting was called at once by the
revolutionists and they decided to de-
stroy the tea. That night party OF
men, disguised as Indians. with
hatchets in their hands. got aboard the
English vessels and threw over l40
chests of tea into the sea. That night,
as they returned home, they. We're
warned by an English admiral that
England would retaliate. which she at
tempted to do This was one of the
causes of the revolutionary war. which
won the colonies independence