davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-04-16

Important 70 Mothers.
Examine carefully every bottle OF
CASTORIA q safe and sure remedy for
infants and children. and zee that IL
The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-04-16

For 70. and for me. Gre wh,s syrup.
The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-04-16
His Idea Of aeformjno II.

sbb sOSa VI uSs0tubiu0 ~
Party OF the First Part-But don't
you believe in reforming the tariff?
Wild Eyed Crank-Reforming the
tariff? OF course. l do. It has one
r too many,
The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-04-16

A man Of msans seldom gives him
self away.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26
Saved Horses from Fire

Dear Aunt Laurie:
DR.. Smith lived in a large house on
the hill. He kept six horses. One was
white and all the others black. The
white one was his favorite. Joe was q
poor boy. He had to work very nara
to support his sick mother. He was
on his way to get some medicine from
the doctor, when he saw tongue OF
flame shoot from DR.. Smiths barn. He
ran to the house and cried, Your barn
is on flre!" Some one rang the 1lre
bell and soon the engines were at work.
The doctor cried, "SaVe the horses!" 1t
was a terrific fire, but Joe, in spite of
the cries of the men, wet two blankets
and ran into the burning building.
He took off one of his blankets and
threw it over a horses head and led 1t
out. He did this to all of the other
horses, but the white one fell at the
door.
They had to cut the door away. Just
as Joe got all the horses out he tainted.
They picked him up and carried him to
the house, and the doctor worked with
him for three hours. The barn was
destroyed, but the horses were saYe.3
Another barn was soon built. Joe got
well, but he was not to go back to his
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26
DESTRUCTION OF GREAT CITY
Witness of Gigantic Conflagration
Hopes to See No More Like 1t
First Prize)

Dear Aunt Laurie:
ny WELVE hours after the big tenn
blor a most awe-inspiring sight
Il was witnessed by those across
the bay from the burning city. A huge
cloud of smoke and great tongues of
flame were climbing above the horizon
and rising steadily to the very clouds.
Gradually the smoke mounted upward
and seemed to reach the vault of the
heavens as it spread to the north and
south and travelled around the bay.
At night the peril of the thousands
living in the doomed city became ap-
parent for the cloud Of smoke now
appeared to be a pillar of fire, and the
vanguard of the flames crept steadily
up the hills with awful slowness. The
column Of smoke advanced, deadly and
destructive, although gorgeous to look
upon. Ever onward the flames burned
their way over the hills, until black
ened, smoking track was left to mark
their path and the great column OF
fiery smoke showed that the flames
were still travelling toward the homes
beyond.
In the morning the smoke was even
higher than the day before, ana at the
TOP billows of snow white, smoke
rolled out over the black pillar below;
For three days and lights the awful
destruction went on, with the accom-
panying beauty of the ever-changlhg
mass of smoke and flame, which looked
as though an underground furnace mao
oDened up a cavern and was belching
forth fiery smoke from the heart of the
CITY. At last the flames began to die
down, until the smoke had rolled away
and the fire smoldered in few RUNS.
1t was the greatest conflagratlon
have seen as well as the last l ever
wish to see. WALLACE B6tIhR;
Los Angeles high school, A12 grade.
1888 East Avenue Fifty-siX.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26
A Village Hero

Dear Aunt Laurie:
The village was just settling down
for the night, when a loud cry of
"Fire! Fire" rang through the desert
ed streets. People lshed to doors and
windows. A large frame building be-
longing to Squire Hoffman was burn
ing.
The upper story was all ablaze and
huge clouds of smoke and flame rolled
toward the heavens.
Soon the clang, clang of the fire
engine was heard. The people made
way, for it as it dashed down the
street The firemen were soon busy
trying to extinguish the flames, but
the house had stood many years and
it was dry and burning easily.
The red glow of the fire lit up the
darkness around, and tongues of
flame ran up the walls.
The swapping and cracking of the
burning house made a roaring noise.
Suddenly a loud cry went up. In
one of the upper windows, surrounded
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26

fire when I heard a loud bang! I
jumped UP and ran over to the CRATE
and there was my licorice all black
and burnt, with two ragged holes in it.
I examined it and found that the
licorice when touched by the fire had
exploded and blown two holes in it.
I am very curious to know what the
manufacturers put into it that caused
it to explode Your loving nephew,
JACK NICHOLS,
Box 46S. Sixth grade, Orange avenue
school, MonroVia.
Perhaps some of the other Junior
boys or girls can explain this explo-
sion to you.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26

Dear Aunt Laurie;
NERS. CLARKE was in her kitchen
wi baking when suddenly she no
AIA ticed that her woodbox was
ablaze
A gentleman standing outside saw
the smoke coming out of the window,
and, hearing a shrill cry of "Fire!"
ran to the next corner to the fire.
alarm box.
When he reached there he was at
a loss what to do, not knowing how to
ring the alarm. L have watched
to call for help when little Nellie
South stepped up and said: 81 will
rim gin the alarm. L have watched
my father do it,
But alas! Instead of ringing just
once, Nellie rang the number on the
box, which was twenty-five, and that
meant a terrible fire had started and
that all the engines in that city and
the adjacent towns should come.
In the meantime Mrs Clarke had ex-
tinguished the fire with a bucket of
water.
Soon the first engine arrived, and
seeing no fire, the driver decided to
another came and then another, and
before long the streets were lined with
engines and hose carts, for every
engine in Oakland and Alameda and
all of the other towns nearby had re-
sponded to the call.
The chief of the fire department was
furious and asked who had turned in
such an alarm. Some one pointed to
the offender, and at the sight of poor
frightened little Nellie all of his anger
vanished and he burst into a hearty
laugh.
"Well, WELL" he said, $50 you are
the one who called all of the engines in
the city and some more besides for
fire that you would need a lantern to
see? Ha! ha! ha!'
The fire engines then returned to
their stations and Nellie secretly re-
solved to let fire-alarms alone.
MERLYN MANNING,
1854 Primrose, South Pasadena. Ell
Centro School, Eighth Grade, Age 13.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26

We have played all day by the sparkling
waves
with bucket, shovel and spade;
We have built sand castles and dug deep
caves,
And wonderful tunnel made
We have thrilling races with breakers run,
And dipped in our toes with glee;
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26
FIGHT FIRE
WHICH THREATENS HOME
Honorable Mention)


Dear Aunt Laurie:
7 AM a new Junior so 1 am going to
try to write story.
n The greatest fire l ever saw was
six years ago when Griffith park
burned. 1t destroyed beehives and
valuable trees and shrubs of every
descriptions also, I think, some ranches
1t was so long ago 1 can't remember
full particulars. 1t burned for three
able property.
One small fire I do remember well
was the time our hill was on fire. 1t
was where we used to live.
There were not many houses there
then and it was all grown up in mus
tard The mustard had dried, and
when it was once started it would burn
like a prairie fire, only not quite so
fast.
Well, a man who was cleaning the
lot back of ours started to burn it, 1t
went down to the foot of the hill in the
back and then on up in front. 1t killed
some trees we had started and came
up to the lawn of one of our houses.
If the lawn had not been there it would
have burned the house.
We had the hose attached and were
sprinkling the fire. My little brother
and were carrying water; others were
beating with sacks, one using broom.
1t was hot work, but it did not destroy
anything except the trees.
LEILA CAMPBELL.
Lankershim school, eighth grade.
Age IA years.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26
WRITER'S CONTEST

Los Angeles, first przeWaiace Brer 133 East Avenue S.
L. A. H. S., 12A
Honorable mention-dreth Kotsch 933 Everett street. Tenn
pie school, grade b. Naude Edwards 1927 West Tenth
street. Hobart school, grade
Out of town, first prizeMeryn Manning 1854 Primrose
enue South Pasadena El Centro school, grade s.
Honorable mention-Hecn Mace Long Beach high school,
Leila Campbell, Lankersl1im grade g.
RHYMING CONTEST
Angeles first prizeEvadne Peren, 1901 East Thirty
third Vernon school, grade AS.
Honorable menon-Kenneh Van Horn 1872 East Fifteth
grade B4 Hooper school, Walter Graham Az East
Sixth street; Boyd street school, grade b.
of town. first przeLena Bryant Tauana school, grade
4, Watts.
Honorable mention-elen Bryant Taujanta school, grade
Watts Emily Carol RGe graduate Vermont school, lilo
Virginia avenue, southwest Washington d. c.
UNFINISHED STORY
Prize story-Agnes Curtin, Santa Monica, grade g.
Honorable mention-Bese Chapman 1912 East Egth street.
Ninth school, grade AZ Mary F. Bates, Wilmington.
YOUNG ARTISTS CONTEST
Prize pcture-Chaes Wallace r 216 South Boyle avenue,
Second school, grade AS.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26
Fire in Licorice

Dear Aunt Laurie:
AS we were coming home from Los
Angeles we stopped at Lamanda Park
and got some licorice.
I ate most of stick, but when I
got home 1 got sick of it and dropped
the rest of the stick in the CRATE.
Next morning when we lit a fire in
the CRATE was sitting watching the
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26
Letters to Aunt Laurie From Nept1ervs and Nieces
RINGS ALARM FOR BIG FIRE
Blaze Is Extinguished as Fire Depart
ment Arrives
First Prize)

Dear Aunt Laurie:
MFRS. CLARKE was in her kitchen
wi baking when suddenly she no
AIA ticed that her woodbox was
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26

own little house. His mother had got
well, and they were to live with the
doctor and his wife. Joe,s bravery was
talked about for long time.
LENA BRYAN.
Watts school, grade 5; age 10 years.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26

have ever seen was wednesday,
Il September s, 1909.
I had lust been seeing friends off IN
a journey, and at o'clock p. m''
while crossing Main street at sixth
the insulation covering the large cable
of electric wires that hang from the
poles on the east side of Main street
took fire.
Hundreds of persons witnessed the
most peculiar fire they had ever seen.
1t looked very much like a hery
snake as it burned it's way to Fifth
street, where it eXtinguished itself
There was no fire department sum
moned, for it was the work of but a
few minutes from the time il started
until it burned itself out.
From the remarks of the bystanders
I heard that a short circuit was the
cause of the fire, and everybody said
that it was the most unusual hre they
had ever seen.
1 had never seen a fire that was
worth while writing about and had
Just about concluded not to write upon
this topic, so this occurred just IN
time to furnish material for my letter
Your niece, MAUDE EDWARDS,
3027 West Tenth street. Sixth grade,
Hobart school.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-26
INSULATION OF WIRES
MAKES QUEER FIRE
(AonorabIe Mention)

Dear Aunt Laurie:
IN HE most unusual conflagratlon L
have ever seen was Wednesday
- SeDtember s. 1909
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-22

Suppose you've Influenced him In
the naval base business, them
Still the secretary smiled, keeping his
temper under the adroit attack.
"Well, tblnl: he'd listen to me with
considerable interest"
But your for Altacoola, Of course"
Haincs shook his head.
mo, can't say that I'm for Alta
coola Fellow who was In here this
morning put up pretty good argu-
men. to my mind. for Gulf City. In
fact, he made 1t pretty strong. Seem
ed to show 1t was all to my interest to
go In with Gulf City. Think I'll have
10 Investigate little more. tell you
Norton" spoke Haines In a confden
tial manner, this land speculation fe-
yer is frightful thing. While l was
talking to this fellow from Gulf City
| almost caught 1t myself. Probably
If met the head of the Altacoola spec
ulation | might catch the fever from
him too"
why don't you put your money into
Gulf City and lose 1t, thenT replied
Norton, nodding his head scornfully.
"That'd be good lesson for rising
young politician like you"
Senator Langdon's secretary peered
straight into Norton's eyes.
Because, congressman" he said, IF
| were to put my money In Gulf City
perhaps / wouldn't lose it."
The southerner took a step forward,
leaned over and glared angrily at
Haines. His face whitened.
"You don't mean that you could
swing Langdon into Gulf Cityr' he
gasped.
Haines smiled
II can't say that Norton, but ] guess
people interested In Altacoola would
hate to have me try"
II didn't know you were that kind,
Haines," said Norton, his virtue
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-22

she said. You won't want to see
4 him."
Haines rose.
mo, | won't want to see him. Give
him this note. I'll have to come back
/ while he's away to clear up some
things. Goodby."
! Haines bowed and hurried from the
room through a side doorway just as
Senator Langdon came in through the
main entrance.
bud, Bud" he called, but the sec
rotary did not halt
Carolina Langdon stood with Haines
note in her hand, wondering at what
she had done. She regretted having
become entangled in the wars of men
in Washington. She saw that the
mans game was played too strongly,
too furiously fast, for most women to
| enter, yet she rejoiced that the coveted
! fortune had not been lost. She was
sorry that her means of saving it had
not been less questionable. She saw
that ambition and honesty, ambition
and truth, with difficulty follow the
same path.
Senator Langdon's face was unusual
ly grave as he came to greet Carolina
!, Lines showed in his face that the
daughter had never noticed before.
She saw Norton and Randolph, who
had followed him, exchange significant
slances-juhiiant glances - and won
dered what new development they had
Unanswered.
Hes gone without word" the SEN
ator sighed. "Well, perhaps that's
best"
"He left note for you" said the
girl, handing him the letter which
Haines had given her.
Langdon opened it and read:
l am giving up the job You can under
stand why. The least said about it be-
tween us the better | am sorry. That's
all BUD HAiNES.
Slowly he read the letter second
time
"And he was making the best kind
of a secretary. thought"
Divining that something against
Haines had been told her father. Caro-
lima glanced at Norton.
81 told your father how we caught
Mr.. Haines." he spoke as an answer
to her
The girl was startled. She had not
thought that things would go this far.
81 told him how Haines wanted to
get in some land speculation scheme
with Altacoola. how we tricked him
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-22
looSTIrUED.1

aYou're right reckon, Carolina
said Norton dejectedly. Your father
"a a real type of the southern gentle
man. He hasn't seen any real money
In so long he can't even bear to thinks
OF It. Somebody's got TO make money
out OF this. and we should be the
ones"
ssWe'd lose frightfuIly, Charlie, II
they changed to Gulf City, wouldn't
WEI, said the girl apprehensively.
I'm horribly afraid sometimes, Char
lie That's why | came here today
wanted to influence Haines, to keep
him straight. Is there any danger that
they'll change? You don't think there
is. do your
"Of course not, child Stevens has
got his money In, and Peabody. There
are only five on the committee. It's
bound to go through"
.sThen why Is father so important to
them?" asked Carolina.
Its past my understanding, Caro-.
lima, don't see how he's done It, but
the whole country has come to belirye
whatever your father does is right
and they've got to have him"
"And father is completely under the
. domination of this secretary" muir
INJURED the girl thoughtfully.
Norton nodded.
We've got to get rid of him, Caro-
lima. That's all there is to It. He has
TO gol When 1t comes to bossing the
senator and making love to you, too,
he's getting too strong"
"How can you do itT' she asked
"You know when father likes any one
he won't believe thing against him.
Norton agreed sorrowfully.
That's right Seems like the sena.
TORS coming to think more of this fel
low than he does of his own family
Why, / wouldn't be surprised II he'd
even let one Of you girls marry him IL
he wanted to marry you"
WED have something to say about
that" Carolina laughed amusedly. do
you think that Hope or | could ever
care for a man like this fellow? OF
course not. But do be careful. Char
lie. This Altacoola business must go
through right. 1t would be too cruel
not to have it so. And them
"And then you and III be married
at once, Carolina, whether your father
likes it or not" ended Norton for her.
with Altacoola safe, we can do as we
please. as between us we'll be rich.
What does it matter how we get the
money, as long as we get it,"
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-22
"pIl made voa. pay for that p

aroused at the thought of losing his
money. $50 you're playing the game
like all the restY
"Why shouldn't IT. shrugged the sec
rotary. 81 guess perhaps I'm a little
sore because the Altacoola people
haven't even paid me the compliment
of thinking l had any influence, SO
they can't expect me to work for them.
The Gulf City people have. AS things
stand, Gulf City looks pretty good to
me-"
as this straight talk2" exclaimed
Norton.
Take 1t or leave It," retorted Bud.
The Mississlppian leaned with his
hands on the desk.
"Well, Haines. IL you're like the
rest and are really interested in Alta
coola, | don't know that you'd have to
go very far to talk"
"You know something of Altacoola
lands, then. Norton" said Robert,
tingling with suppressed excitement.
He felt that he was getting close to
real facts in colossal deal"
Norton was sure of his man now.
"Well, am in touch with some peo-
pie whove aet lands and options on
more. I might fix 1t for you to come
in," he whispered.
Haines shook his head.
"You know | haven't much money,
Norton. All could put In would be
my influence. Who are these people?
Are they cheap little local folks or are
they real people here who have some
power and can do something that Is
worth whileT"-
"Do look like I'd fool with cheap
skates, Haines? They're the real peo-
pie l think. Haines. that either Sen
ator Stevens or Senator Peabody would
advise you that you are safe"
"Ah! Then Stevens and Peabody
are the ones. They'll make it Alta
coola, then sell to the government at
big advance and move to Easy
street"
That's right" agreed Norton.
Bud Haines Strengthened abruptly.
The expression on his face gave Nor
ION SuuQtH Nulll- bhoNe hAAh pSA"DAS'
"Now I've got you" cried the secre-
tary You've given yourself dead
away. I've known all along you're a
ID thief. Norton. and you've just
proved it to me yourself"
what do you meanF Norton was
clinching his fist Words like that
mean fight TO a southerner!"
~ mean that before Senator Lang
don goes one step further in this mat
ter he shall know that his colleagues
and you are thieves, Mr.. Norton. try
ing to use him for a cats paw TO steal
for them from the government. | sus'
pected something this morning when
Gulf City tried 10 bride me and Wis
itor from there gave me what turns
out TO be a pretty good tip"
$50 that was your dirty trick" ex'
claimed the congressman as he re-
gained his composure.
"Set make believe thief to catch a
real one" laughed the secretary.
every good trick, think"
an make you pay for that" cried
Norton, shaking his fist.
Gan right Send in your bill arr old
time" laughed Halnes. "The 81
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-22
Council President Guilty Of Graft.

Boston, May IS. - Leo F. McCul-
Tough, former president of common
council and his attorney, James 7.
Cassidy, were convicted of conspiracy
and larceny. Sentence was deferred,
pending an appeal, and bail was fur
nisiAed. The common council appro-
priated $1,000 for the purchase of law
books for the presidents office, and it
is CHARGED that Mccullough, with the
aid of Cassidy, took the money for his
own use and prepared papers setting
forth purchase of books that were
not purchased.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-22

what you have learned" rejoined the
southerner, struggling to keep calm al
this critical moment when all was oil
stake. He realized, further, that now
was the time to put Haines out of the
way-if that were possible. "a mig
take. Mr.. Haines," he continued. be
cause, you see, you don't know as mucf
as you think. wouldn't talk to Lang
don If were you. 1t will only EN-
barrass him and do no good, because
Langdon's money Is in this scheme
too, and Langdon's In the same boa
with the rest oc U.s."
Haines stopped short at this astound-
ing charge against his chief.
Morton, you liel I'll believe it of
Langdon when he tells me SO; not 9TH
erwise."
Norton turned to Randolph.
perhaps you'll believe Mr.. Lang
don's son, Mr.. HainesY
Randolph Langdon stepped forward
"Its true, Haines,' he said; my ia
theirs money is in Altacoola lands"
Haines looked him up and down, with
sneer.
"Your money may be-" he said. 81
don't think you're bit too good for it.,
but your father is different kind"
Carolina Langdon stood at the back
of the room, nervously awaiting the
moment when, she knew, she would
be forced into the unpleasant discus
sion.
II reckon you can't refuse to believe
Miss Langdon," drawled Norton, with
aggravated elaboration.
"Of course" stammered Haines, "Pd
believe it if Miss Langdon says it's
So"
The congressman turned toward
Carolina as he spoke and fixed on her
tense look which spelled as plainly
as though spoken, Its all in your
hands, my fortune-yours."
She slowly drew across the room.
Haines could hardly conceal the tur-
moil Of his mind. The world seemed
suddenly snatched from around him,
leaving her figure alone before him.
Would she affirm what Norton and
Randolph had said2 He must believe
her. But surely 1t was impossible that
she
Carolina played for time. She feared
the making of false move.
81 don't understand she said in
quiringly to Norton.
He calmly began an elaborate expla-
nation.
miss Langdon, this secretary has
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-22

~ ''' o' the man.
The girl looked up at him sorrow
fully.
yes; | see at least that you and ia.
Their can never work together now"
Haines nodded affirmatively.
II suppose so. I'm thinking Of that.
How am l to leave him? We've been
so close. I've been so fond Of him. |
don't know how I could tell him"
In girlish, friendly fashion Carolina
rested her hand on his arm.
Wont you take my advice, Mr..
Haines? Go awav without seeing him
Just leave note to say you have
gone. He will understand. 1t will be
easier for both that way-easier for
him, easier for you" She paused.
looking at him appealingly as she end
ed very softly, and easier for me, Mr.
Haines.'
He looked at her thoughtfully.
Easier for you" he said. Every
well, III do 1t that way
The secretary stepped slowly to his
desk, sat down and started to write
the note Carolina watched him curl
ously.
what Will you do" she asked, NOW
that You have given UP this position p
"Oh, can always go back to news
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-22

the better. Meantime Pm going to talk
to LaDgdon."
He had started for the door when
Carolina Langdon re-entered, followed
by her brother Randolph.
"Wait minute" said Norton, with
unexpected quietness. II wouldn't do
what you're about to do, Mr.. Haines"
"Of course you wouldn't" sneered
Haines.
II mean that you will be making a
mistake, Haines, to tell the senator