davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

with this there is the set of eight tentacles,
which possess grips of iron and are lined under
meath with suckers" which, when in working
order, form over the object grasped
and thus insure firm hold.
So firm Is this grasp that story tellers of sever
al decades ago were fond of dropping the treas
ure-hunting hero into the hold of the sunken
gaeon and there bump him up against the 'ter-
rble devil-fsh which had thwarted all human
wies and for umpty hundred years been the
guardian of the don's loot" The hero always
and captured the coin. being dragged to the
surface unconscious.
There have been one or two cases where the
cuttlefsh has made its home within the cabins
of sunken ships. In case in particular off
the northern coast of South America it is told
that devil-fish killed three divers who descend
ed to lay plans for raising the ship. AS each
man brought to the surface dead from a
cause which none of his mates could guess, an
other was sent to take his place. Finally the
trouble was suspected and the last sent
down gave explicit instructions about being
brought to the surface upon the faintest tug at
the guide line After numerous trips up and
back he succeeded in disodging the creature
by cutting off its arms by Deprived of
its arms, it fed and no further trouble was ex-
perienced
Perhaps the most uncanny sight which ever
befalls the devfsh hunters is when, clear
day, the denizens of the deep may be on the
bottom walking along with the aid of their
tentacles which are used feet. On land, it is
recorded, this is physical mpossibility, for the
fish, but buoyed up by the water of many faith
oms, it's easy.
Though absolutely the most dangerous of crea-
lures of the sea, it is said the devil-sh displays
greater fear of human attack than any of the
other species. The first move when assailed, is
to try to grab the hunters with two or of
the long arms that stretch out occasion de-
mands. Failing in this the fish will attempt to
get away under of the inky "sepia" but
when caught with the harpoon and it finds there
is no apparent escape the real tug of COM
mences and the struggles are never ended until
the quarry quivering in death. Then the
cables which hold the harpoons are dashed to the
stern of the craft and the sailors turn the yes
sells nose towards home, the most welcome part
of the voyage.
Study the habits and origin of the cuttlefish
is one of the most interesting which any scien
fist attempted. The fish propagated
by means of eggs. The tiny creature at first has
only one tentacle, which, when 1t grows older.
gradually divides into two and then into four
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06
UNCLE SAM SEEKS STAMP vENDER.

Will the time when Uncle Sam can
dispense with letter carriers? The increasing use
of the automobile, the pneumatic tube and me-
chanical devices In the postal service would indi-
cate that eventually some method of delivering
mail will be found which WILL in large measure.
do away with the present system of distribution.
The postof1ce department has annual appro-
priation which is used to experiment with mechan-
ical devices and every year the officials called
upon to investigate the practicability and utility
of inventions. There have been hundreds of differ
ent styles of mail boxes submitted, and there is
no end of devices designed for picking up mail
bags by fastmoving express trains. There Is no
doubt, experts say that the stamp-fixing ma
chine will come into general use, and they are
equally certain that the government will adopt
slot machines for the automatic sale of postage
stamps, Germany and other foreign
countries have. The department has made off,
cial trial of such machines.
little than year ago the postmaster
general appointed special committee of officials
to make thorough investigation of the stamp
vending machines Washington is having its
extended public demonstration of these machines
and other cities also will have chance to try
them for long period under the direct supervi.
sion of the postofice authorities
When the postmaster general decided to make
experiments with stamp-seling machines, he IN
vited all persons with inventive tendencies to SUBJ
NIT models. He did not confne the invitation to
America The result was that some rs machines
were offered for experiment, and the postoface
committee had long and tedious task in selecting
those that appeared to be practical.
After much investigation the committee selected
a half-dozen machines for further test To the
owners or inventors of these six makes was given
the opportunity to make public tests of the ven.
ders under the direction of the department but at
their own expense. Finally three different models
were picked out for extended public test al
government expense.
Two of these machines are foreign inventions
one German machine and the other the invention
Of an Australian.
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

, white population nearly twice as
great as they had in 1865. They have
developed extraordinary Industrial &C.
tivity and efficiency. Agriculture ia
f1ourishing as never before because II
has been diversified. The cotton mills
of the south have increased wonder
fully in number and production in the
last Is years. The iron and steel in
dustry and coal mining have reached
gratifying proportions, and there il
promise Of immense expansion in the
future. Throughout the south small
industries are multiplying rapidly.
This is the south 43 years after Ap.
pomattox. The men of the old south
went to their homes after the surren.
der and set to work in grim earnest.
They laid the foundations of restora.
ton firmly and deeply. Their sons
and grandsons have carried on the
work with intelligence, energy and
efficiency. To-day the south is the
most American part of the union of
46 states. There are no outward evi,
dences of the havoc and ruin wrought
by four years Of civil conflict. The
economic regeneration Of the south is
one Of the most amazing achievements
Of modern times. Aided substantially
as 1t has been by the capital and bust.
ness men of other sections, the general
result is, nevertheless, an enduring
monument to the invincible spirit and
the inflexible determination of the
men, who, many in rags, surrendered
43 years ago at Appomattox, accepted
the results Of the war in good faith
and guided by the wise counsels OF
their leader, Gen. Lee, buckled down
to work on the farms and in business
and in the professions in the sIift OF
brave and true men. Peace hath its
victories no less renowned than war.
One Of the finest pages in the history
Of the United States Is that which re-
cords the work of southern men and
women after Appomattox.
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

minded thinker, has in several ad-
an almost incalculable debt of graft
tude to Gen. Lee for his refusal to en-
courage guerrilla warfare after the
south was no longer able to maintain
organized armies.
The force which Gen. Lee surren-
dered at Appomattox was only a tat
tered. remnant of the once powerful
Army of Northern Virginia-that army
of which Swinton, the historian of the
Federal Army Of the Potomac, wrote
In terms of discriminating praise and
admiration. 1t is said that Stonewall
Jackson declared on one occasion that
Gen. Lee was "the only man he had
folded" That spirit appears to have
animated every soldier in the Army of
Northern Virginia. The last charge
Lees soldiers made, when surrender
stared them in the face, was as bril-
liant and valorous as the charges
which made the Army of Northern
Virginia famous when victory seemed
to be assured. And having followed
Lee to the last extreme of loyalty and
courage to the climax at Appomattox,
they followed his counsels faithfully
in the years succeeding the war The
survivors Of four years war proved to
the admiration of the world and to
their everlasting honor, that the SOL
der who has done his duty faithfully
in war will not shirk his duties and re-
sponsibilities in the trying times fol-
lowing defeat. 1t should be said that
the personnel of the Army of Northern
Virginia and Of the other southern
armies was probably superior to that
of any other army of modern times.
Having demonstrated its prowess in
war. the south has equal cause for
pride in the inflexible determination
with which it labored to repair the
havoc wrought by war. Much has been
written Of late years about tho New
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06
- 7HE 0kD<A-%/St, .cN>>4I7,Mo -S

upon investigation find that devil-fsh or cutie
1ish was trying to bite off corner of the rudder.
Numerous cases of the fish attempting and
ceeding in towing tenton sloops for miles have
been recorded in the annals of the industry. The
devi[fshers always compelled to put up hot
fight against this animal of the sea. The intend
ed quarry will pull them far out of their course
after the first harpoon has stung his hide and
1t takes two and sometimes three of them be-
fore the catch can be brought close enough to
the soop to allow the gunner to place shot in
vital spot.
will descend to the bottom to rest, in which
1t usually takes the boat, crew and apparatus
with it.
story is told of boat crew which had not
had devil-fish strike for two days until finally
the harpoon expert the bowsprit imbedded
his instrument of torture within the vitals of one
of the monsters. The creature, of course, went
through the formality of turning the water there
abouts into delicate black this being of the
traits Of the species when attacked This done
the devil-fsh started for home, which the bot
tom of the gulf. The harpoon expert hated to
let go, account of strikes being few and the
boat, crew and harpoonist also began the descent
in inky darkness. The craft being provided with
air tanks at each end, the harpooned had some
job on his hands, and when down in the
about 20 feet, as near as the mariners could
figure the eightarmed namesake of the American
men who were seeking bis life-blood. 1t being
dark the fishermen did not perceive his presence.
Once at the surface, however. and there
miniature fire panic Regaining his pres
ence of mind, however, the harpoonst put an out
drop his second throw and put end to the
pranks of the fish That tale has been called
-just fish story" but there are three deep
fishermen to-day who vouch for the truth of
portion of 1t and they still ply that trade on the
coast of the gulf But now when the deyil-fsh
starts for home, they let him go.
The manta as the creature is called by sci
ence is to be found far north on the Atlantic
coast as the Carolnas and in those waters some
of the largest of this class of sea creatures have
been seen. One caught on the Atlantic coast
several years ago required three yoke of oxen to
drag it from the and its weight was estimated
at four TONS
Usually the dev+dsh measures from 20 to rs
feet across its back when full grown and one
mariner on the Pacific coast reported that he had
estimated one to be 40 feet, which eye measure
mert OF course, is within the realm of possibility
The creature has two well defined plans Of de-
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06


often told of the battles which they have seen In
clear water between these warriors of the briny
deep but accounts telling of the vicors scarce
Along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico the sharks
show their delight at the plight of the devifish
when caught by following in its bloody wake and
with wide-open jaws, seeking bite here or there
from the At night along the coast they
fight in the water for the opportunity to consume
the dead devil-fsh after the fishermen have fin
ished with him.
All in all devil-fshing is the most thrilling, most
hazardous, most enhancing method of angling
which has been discovered for the creature is
doubtless the craftiest of the inhabitants of the
tropical waters. And the man who goes after the
scalp of the deyilfish while he is not armed with
modern accoutrements is taking his own life In
his hand. The plain hardware store Ratchet with
the short handle is declared to be the best weapon
of defense in close quarters and dozens of lives
have been saved simply because the parties at
tackled equipped with hatchets and knew
how, when and where to them upon the
atomy of the dangerous fish.
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06


of Mexico there are lots and lots of
men who exc out their livings doing
just this thing. For the man who
doesn't have to fish for the devil-fish,
it's fun, but to the man or crews of
men who do it for their daily bread;
well, they content themselves with a
single catch a day.
Aristotle of old is recorded in his
tory as the first writer on the sub
ject of devil-fshing. but as he was
exceedingly fond of Mr.. Aristotles
health he left lots unsaid because he
didn't investigate.
Every Gulf of Mexico sailor who
fishes for this creature carries
Ratchet close by, for that is the only
means of getting away from the fish's
enthusiastically cutting them off as
they are about to grasp the intended
victim.
In the gulf the devil-fsh is har-
pooned and seldom after one of these
great prongs has been imbedded in
the body of the victim are the fisher
men able to land their quarry within
two hours. Usually it takes from
three to four hours of good, hard mus
cle-grinding work and then lots of
times the crew Of the hunting craft
must cut the cable and lose the har-
pooh simply because the brute fights
too hard to allow the occupation to
be carried on safely. 1t is little
wonder that one fish day of this
variety is considered sufficient
Many wild, weird tales are told of
the devil-fsh. One class of stories
deals with the creatures addiction to
towing ocean-going steamers out of
their courses. So strong is the deep
sea monster that captains of vessels
have been known to wonder what
was carrying them to windward, and
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

South" The men who laid the
foundations of the souths rehabilita
ton after the civil conflict were the
men who fought under its flag and sur
rendered with Lee and Johnston. In
a certain sense we have new SOUTH
but the energy, the grit, the resource
fulness which contributed so largely to
it's uplift is attributable to the veteran
Practically every man in the south
who was able to shoulder musket
was a soldier in the confederate serv-
ice. AS has been grimly said, "the
cradle and the grave were robbed" to
fill the depleted armies of the south.
1t is estimated that more than 100000
were killed in battle, died of wounds
or in prison or from disease. Those
who survived set to work, after the
war, in the face of frightful odds and
disheartening conditions to build up
the south. They are entitled to just
and appreciative recognition for their
labors in establishing the material
prosperity of the south on solid founda-
lions.
There is new south" since Apo
mattox, but it is only new" in the
sense that amazing progress has been
made in the development of its re-
sources. The southern states have now
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

and after year or so into eight
small arms. These grow larger and
stronger as the age of the fish in
creases. Some adult specimens have
been caught, the tentacles of which
were over 20 feet in length. Jets of
water squirted by means of fins con-
stitute the method of locomotion of
the cuttlefish.
The devil-fsh's choicest occupation
is that of feeding upon shoals OF
smaller members of the finny tribe
and when interrupted in this pursuit
he effect is terrifying. The great
creature will toss several of its ten
tacles to the surface, still continuing
to feed with the rest of them; and If
this bluff fails to scare the intruder
away, the devil-fish will come to the
surface personally to see about it.
While next to human beings,
sharks are the greatest enemies Of
the cuttlefish, the scavengers of the
sea are just about as frightened by
the tentacled monsters as the latter
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

tense, and thus the AL
mighty has endowed the
species with more than
the ordinary powers, for
usually fish, beast or
bird of the air has only
one natural mode of pro-
lection. The cuttlefish,
however, can cast from
its tissues an inky sub
stance known as "se-
pia," which turns the
water in it's vicinity an
impenetrable black and
allows escaDe Combined
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

IMAGINE a great, fat
Shiny something poked
out of the water into
your face, quickly fol-
lowed by another Shiny
something and then
another and another;
each endeavoring to
secure an option on a
different portion of
your anatomy, and you
have one of the vari-
GUS joys of fishing for
the devil fish.
But along the Amer
ican onacf of tho Gulf
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

of varying fortunes. Gen. Lee as
sured them that they could go to
their homes with the consciousness
of duty well and faithfully performed.
He exhorted them to accept the re-
suits of their resort to the ar
bitrament Of arms in good faith
and to devote their energies thence
forth to restoring the waste
places in the south and to develop its
resources. Gen. Lee was not a man of
many words. But what he said came
from his heart, and was strengthened
by calm judgment and exalted pur-
pose. His counsel sank deep into the
hearts of the southern people. He was
after Appomattox, as well as in the
days of his greatest triumphs in the
field, the most powerful influence for
peace and rehabilitation in the south.
Mr.. Charles Francis Adams of Boston,
an officer in the northern army, stu
dent of history, deep and broad
The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-05-06

~ IN THIS year is the forty
! !: !. !: ! !" !: !: !
MI fourth anniversary Of the
surrender at Appomattox
Nv Va, Of Gen. Robert e.
Lee, Of the Army of
wv Northern Virginia. In his
\ last order to the veterans
whom he led through years
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1909-06-25
PAPER FOR MONEY.
Extreme Care ami Secrecy Used In lie
Manufacture.

ENhToOe ObI6 anu 0eCTeGJ OoNN w ~
Manufacture.
The various great nations devote
much study to the Improvement or
their secret processes of manufacture
ing paper for money and bnnknotes,
the principal object being. Of course,
to render counterfeiting more and
more difficult.
Our own government guards with
extreme care every detail of the man
ufacturr Of this paper, laying special
Importance upon its secret Of getting
silk thread into the composition of the
paper itself.
The efforts of this government, how
ever, are not nearly so painstaking as
those put forth in making the flimsy
paper used for Bank of England notes,
which are probably the finest paper
money in the world These notes are
manufactured from fine Irish linen,
and the peculiar properties of the Test
water $50 called from the river of that
nance produce paper of purity and
texture unsurpassed. The secret of
the security of the Bank of England
note against forgery and counterfeit
ing is said to be entirely in the paper
itself and not in the printing.
In addition, the notes show water
mark so clevcrly devised that an eX-
pert from the mill can tell by a glance
at the date of manufacture the very
name Of the employee who made It..
The watermarll is produced by a de-
sign countersunk in the woven wire
bottoms of the trays in which the hot
paper pulp is poured and dried. 1t has
never been successfully initiated.
Extraordinary precautions are taken
for the security of the mill where these
notes are made, as well as Of every
thing in the mill. There is. of course,
staff of police constantly in attend
ance and a private wire to police head
quarters, nine miles away.
The watchmen who patrol the mill
corridors every night must pass at
each quarter of an hour clocks of Won
derfully ingenious construction, the re-
volving dials Of which are pierced with
the Waterman is due before them pass
over q SLOT The Waterman pushes
through peg he carries, and the clock
ticks on. Should he not present him
self at the moment scheduled for him
to appear, however, the timepiece i'm
mediately sounds an alarm.-New York
Tribune.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1909-06-25

Can an act be wrong that works out
for the good of all parties.
Verses 11-12.- If you knew you had
to die inside of month, what effect
would that have upon your inten.
tions and actions, SO far as God In
concerned; and il IL would change
these in the least, does that not prove
that you are now living wrong and
are in danger.
Most people are morally and
spiritually asleep, and many are far
into the night; what are the con-
ditions which should suddenly startle
such into full consciousness, as to
their danger, and their duty.
Verse l3.-How is it that the night
is the time selected for so many bad
deeds.
Should man ever do thing
which he is ashamed for his best
friends and neighbors to know.
Does the popular conscience gener-
ally, OF always represent Gods atti-
tude to thing; or are there some
things God may he pleased with
which the community would condemn
as wrong, or vice versa.
How is it that bar rooms are
generally screened off from the
public gaze.
Why is it a crime for a man to get
drunk.
Why do most drunkards get drunk
in the night, or away from public
gaze.
Does the drink habit generally lead
to the other four grave evils mention
ed in verse thirteen.
Verse IA. What is the sure remedy
for the drink habit, and all kindred
evils of the flesh. Does putting on
Jesus. always mean putting on
strength so we can control all the
passions of the body, and the am
billions of the soul.
Lesson for Sunday, July 4th, 1909.
Paul's Second Missionary Journey,
Antioch to Philippi. Acts XIV :36 to
Xvi:15
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1909-06-25
BIBLE STUDY CONTEST.
Suggestive Questions on the Sunday School
Lesson by Rev. DR.. LinsCott for the
international Newspaper Bible Study Club.
Copyright, 1909, by Rev. J.. s. Lin
scott, DID,

Copyright, 1909, by Rev. J.. s. Lin
scott, DID,
June 9th, 1909.
Temperance Lesson. Rom. xiii =
.S-14.
Golden Text.-Put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ. Rom. xiii ia.
Verses 8.-Is it always sinful to go
into debt, when you have no visible
means of paying it.
Is it right or wrong, to go into debt
when you have nothing to pay with,
il your creditor knows your circum-
stances.
Is business man who has honestly
failed in business and given up all
he has to his creditors, under moral
obligation to pay the balance of the
debt, II he makes enough money to
do so out of future business.
Under modern business conditions,
and the laws of love and righteous
ness, when wholesalers sell on time,
or give an adequate discount for cash
to retailers, why are not the debts of
an honest bankrupt retailer, the
legitimate loss of his creditors in
common with himself.
Wherein consists the folly and sin
of wage-earner in constant work,
getting into debt.
Is it the duty of every body to love
every body, the bad and the good,
enemies and friends.
What is the advantage of loving
every body, to ourselves, and to those
whom we love.
Verses 9-10. GIVE reasons, out.
side of the Bible, that will cover all
circumstances, why it IS always
wrong to disobey these five moral
prohibitions. (rhis question must
be answered in writing by members
Of the club.
Must all such acts, as are here for
hidden. contravene the law of love to
make them sinful; for example, if
you had to kill man who was about
to kill one of your loved ones,
would that be sinful.