davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
famous Politicians Story Of the Fin
est Exhibition of Physical and
Moral Courage That He
Ever Had Witnessed.

81 once asked T'huTlow Weed. who
vas my lifelong friend, what was the
dnest exhibition of physical and moral
courage he had ever Witnessed. said
he late Charles c Clarke, who was
.ong vice president of the New York
Central railway system. and the right
band man of Commodore Vanderbilt
n the building OF the system, and the
appraiser upon the estate Of Thurlow
Weed following the death in 1882 Of
hat famous Wing and Republican po-
Jtician and president maker
Mr. Weed told me that when he was
young man there was an exhibition
Of moral and physical courage which
came under his observation more i'm
Oressive than any other that he had
witnessed in his long career He add
ed that If he wrote an autobiography,
as he thought Of doing. he should re-
refer to the incident Mr. Weed did
write a brief account Of the incident.
but that account did not compare with
The verbal one he gave me. which I
can repeat in almost his precise
words
'SooR. after went to the city of
Albany, a. Y. to live in my early
manhood he said. 4 vas told that
there was to be a public hanging of
2 soldier and I was invited to witness
the execution. A morbid curiosity
led me TO accept the invitation
The execution was 20 take place
in a field perhaps a mile from the Al
bany barracks, where this soldier had
been stationed. walked out to the
field with a friend and after a while
saw q wagon coming. in which was
seated young man who was bare
headed He was chatting in a pleas
ant manner with two men who were
seated beside him was informed
that he was the man who was to be
hanged; l had already been told that
he young soldier had been convicted
Of the murder of the captain of his
company He had shot the captain
In a sudden heat Of passion because
the captain had reprimanded him.
"'At last the wagon stood behind
the. gailows which had been extern
poriZed. The young man calmly
watched the constables as they adj
iusted the rope Then, perfectly self
possessed. he mounted a ladder It
did not seem to me to be bravado on
his part; his attitude was that of
soldier who was facing death with
intrepidity The boy-for he was
scarcely more than a iad-had said
that he deserved death, that it was
crime to attack an officer. no matter
what the provocation, a crime for
which no excuse could be given.
AS the ladder was twitched away
and the body fell, the rope broke.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

Of the town would give him all Of the
scrap iron, steel, brass and lead they
could find. He was taken at his word
and the clock was dedicated the other
day. To the making of the timepiece
went parts of agricultural machinery.
fire-irons. bedsteads, old bicycles,
brass weights and perambulators.
milk separaiors flor the two big
wheels) and governor-oalI from a
steam engine. which acts as hammer
to strike the hours on the largest bell
o. a peal Of five. One Of the three
dials has the words GLORY be to
God," instead of the customary nu-
nerals.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

The accompanying illustration is of
more than ordinary interest from the
fact that it shows the largest and
heaviest projectile in the world. be-
ing the huge five-foot, armor-piercing
shell fred from the United States gov
ernment's great 16-inch rifle, which
may be taken to the Panama canal
This giant shell and powerful gun are
considered two of the most destruc-
tive and deadly engines Of warfare in
existence. The monster 16-inch rife,
the only one built so far. is now at the
Sandy Hook proving grounds, and has
only been fred a few times The huge
she'll of steel can be hurled distance
of 20 miles or more and weighs 2,400
pounds. The powder charge is nearly
500 pounds The cost of firing one
shot reaches in the neighborhood of
$1,000 Ii is not probable that this
type of gun will be used, but rather
the II inch, for the main coast de-
lenses of the Panama canal This
formidable and long range weapon,
though capable OF firing so tremen-
dous projectiIe, is too costly. and
fires too slowly for modern war
fare.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Litigiousness of Our Forefathers Pre-
vided Much Work for the
Law Courts.

Litigiousness is g characteristic vice
Of early settlers. Look in the the first
volumes of any of the state reports
and you are likely to find plenty Of
evidence that the Inhabitants were
continually suing about trifes which
are seldom brought into the courts
nowadays. The same spirit that en-
abled them to penetrate the wilder
ness and cope with the forests and
wild beasts and sayages made them
contentious with each other, we sup
pose.
Speaking of Andrew Jackson, who
jeurneyed to Nashville in an emigrant
wagon train in 1889. Prof. John Fiske
says: He seems soon to have found
business enough. IN the April term of
1880 out of 1872 cases on the dockets
OF the county court at Nashville, Jack
son was employed as counsel in forty
5wc. In the year 1884 "r't of 397 cases
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
How Munson {. pierpoat, Farmers
Son and Yale Student. Became Ed
wards Pierrepont to Please His
Rich and Aristocratio Wife.

Edwards PierrepCnt vas in his day
5ne of the leaders of the American
har. and his name is not yet forgotten
He was counsel for the government in
the prosecution of John NJ Surratt.
accused of completely in the plot to
assassinate President Lincoln He
was attorney general in the cabinet Of
President Grant, who was very fond
Of him And he resigned that office
to accept appointment, in 1875, as
minister to the court of st. James,
where he served until 1877.
In all of the Biographies of Edwards
Fierrepont it is stated that he was a
graduate of the famous class of 1887
at Yale, of which also William NJ.
Evarts was a member But if Yale's
records of that day and the catalogue
at that time are scanned. the name Of
Edwards Pierrepont will not be found
there How. then. does it happen
that the biographers of Judge Pierre
pont declare that he was member of
this class?
My attention was called to this by
the late Albert L. Train, himself a
member of the famous class of 1858 at
Yale, and afterward one of the lead
| ing editors of Connecticut
81 met MI Evarts." said Mr. Train.
cat the Yale commencement of 1877.
/ His class was holding its fortieth
graduation anniversary. Distinguish
ed as be was, he was then presumably
at the height of his public career. for
In March of Tat year he had become
I secretary of state in the cabinet of
\ President Hayes.
In the course Of our conversation |
said to Mr. Evarts that 1t was an I'm.
usual honor for q Yale class that two
! of its members should have been at
I torney general of the United States.
al suppose Mr.. Evarts said in re
ply. that you refer to my own service
as attorney general in President
/ Johnson's cabinet But who was the
other attorney general in my class?'
Why said l. Edwards Pierrepont
was of your class, was he not?'
There was no man of that name
In my class, Mr. Train Mr.. Evarts
replied with great solemnity of man
ner 1T is true that Judge Pierrepont
was recently attorney general of the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
FRENCH FISH GO ON A Jag

An unusual sight was witnessed az
Frontignan. France. recently The
ponds of FAUX Blanches and the Mid!
Canal were covered with fish floating
about on tie surface in a helpless and
altogether inexplicable manner The
customs officials were the unwilling
cause of this phenomenon They had
seized $4,000 gallons OF 'doctored"
Spanish wine at the frontier station
and disposed of it by emptying it into
the canal, with disastrous effects on
the fish The fish could be easily
caught with the hand and the local
fishermen were quick to take advan.
tage of their helpless state.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

his suit with the comely young school
teacher, and was not making all the
progress he desired at the time the in
cident occurred.
Miss Clark and her small scholars
were suddenly driven out of the
schoolhouse one day when two big
'rattlers" took possession of the
building The school teacher refused
to return to the building, and wher
the school board insisted that she
carry out her contract, she resigned
Pringle, Selling the opportunity. urg
ed timely protection, which proved sc
irresistible that Miss Clark agreed
that the "rattlers' had decided the
question for her, and the elimination
of their romance came with their mar
riage at Deadwood.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Wealth Did Not Spoil Her

a railroad over the Rocky mountains
When wealth came and Governor
Stanford had become distinguishes
for public services. Mrs Stanford re
manned the same unassuming. unos.
tentatious woman that she was in the
days when her husband and herself
were beginning their careers. She
was fully competent to maintain all of
the social dignities and proprieties
which were incumbent upon her hus-
band as governor and afterward as
United States senator, but she cared
very little for what is called social
life. and her chief delight was IN her
domestic circle. surrounded by a few
friends who cared for her rather than
for her fortune and the position OF
her husband
Shortly after Leland Stanford went
to Washington as United States sen.
ator, Mrs Stanford received almost in.
Vulnerable social tributes. The great
wealth of her husband. his distin.
guished career in public life and his
prominence. as the originator of the
Central Pacific railroad all served TO
make her more conspicuous than the
wives of any but two or three of the
senator's But how simply and with
what unaffected demeanor she receiv
ed these social distinctions one anec.
dote will illustrate
Shortly after her arrival in Wash
ington with her husband a committee,
whose members were among the
proudest and most distinguished of
women in Washington associated with
official life, called upon Mrs. Stan
ford They laid before her the pros.
pectus for a great charity ball. They
told her that 1t was the hore to raise
by means of the ball larger amount
of money for the particular philan-
thropy they had in view than had ever
before been earned by an entertain
ment for charity; and trey added
that they sought permission to add
Mrs Stanford's name TO the list Of
natronasses. all of whom they as
sured her. were to be ladies of high
official distinction
Mrs Stanford looked over the list.
She discovered in it the names of al
most every woman of social prOmi-
nence in Washington To be patron.
ess of that entertainment was to wear
the badge of the national capitals so
cial aristocracy But Mrs. Stanford,
turning to the ladies. said:
81 thank you for your Kindness in
asking me to become patToness Of
this charity ball. But I ought TO say
to you that I am very plain woman
have never cared very much about
balls or that kind of thing I should
not care about that kind Of pleasure
now. 1t would not interest me. But
am greatly interested in your
philanthropy and I will ask you. in
stead of accepting my name as
patroness. to accent something else
which I will now give you"
She went to her desk in an adjoin-
ing room. wrote something upon a
slip of parer and gave the slip TO the
ladies. When they looked az the writ.
iGg. they saw that it was a check for
five hundred dollars.
copyright. 1871. by F. J. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Mystery OF Great Mans Name

United States But there was no Ed
wards Pierrepont in the class Of 1887
at Yale There was. however. a Nun,
son E. Pierpont in my class; he was
a farmers boy and came from little
village a few miles from New Haven.
We used to call him Mummy" thar
was our nickname for him. But there
was no Edwards Pierrepont. which is
very aristocratic name
Puzzled greatly by Mr.. Evarts
statement, | hunted up a Yale cata
logue It contained the name of Nun
son E. ,,ierpont, but there was no Ed
wards Pierrepont in the list Some
months later, however, the whole mat.
ter was made plain to me. and then
realized fully how greatly Secretary
Evarts must have eajoyed the joke
he had played upon me at the expense
of his good friend Edwards Pierre
pont Mr. Evarts, great wit and lover
Of fun that he was, was especially
fond of the sly joke.
Edwards Pierrepont and Munson
E. Pierpont-it turned out on investi
gation-were one and the same per-
son But there was no Edwards
Pierrepont until Munson E. Pierpont,
following his graduation from Yale.
had gone to Columbus, Ohio, to prac,
tice law and there fallen in love with
and married rich widow of aristo-
cratic tendencies, who induced Mum
son Pierpont to drop his first name,
substitute for it his middle name of
| Edward, with an IS added thereto
and change the spelling of his last
name from the simple and common
form of 'PierponI' to the complex
and aristocratic form of 'PierrepOnt.
Subsequently Mr. Evarts' old class
mate moved to New York city and
opened a law Office. The name that
he placed on the door was the one
that his wife had induced him to
take And. do you know, it was quite
| a while before Mr.. Evarts and other
| New Workers who had known Munson
| E. Pierpont in his college days we'll
enough to call him Mummy and slap
him affectionately on the back. dis
/ covered their old college chum in the
| person OF Edwards Pierrepont?"
/ Copyright. 1911. by E. J, Edwards All
/ Rights Reserved)
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
End of Altruism.

Because he was too soft-hearted to
ask his poyerty-stricken landiady 20
buy new rugs for his room, the altru-
is-iI young man bought several small
rugs and spread them over the floor
Immediately after the next sweeping
day she presented a bill for the weeks
expenditures Items: Room rent.
breakfast, laundry and beating rugs.
25 cents,
Hello" said the altruistic young
man, what does this mean?"
Just what it says" she returned,
"If folks must cover their floor with
extra rugs they'll have to pay for
beating EN-. that's all. can't afford
to do it for nothing.
And from that moment altruism lost
q disciple.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
RATTLESNAKES AID CUPID

That even rattlesnakes can be an
aid 10 Cupid is attested by Charles
Pringle Of Pringle, S. D., farmer.
and Miss Mary Clark of Custer.
Thanks to the presence Of too many
"rattlers" at the schoolhouse near
Pringle. Miss Clark has just become
Mrs. Pringle. Miss Clark and Pringle
were fast friends before the rattle
snakes put in an appearance. In fact,
fringe had been ardently pressing
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
New News of Yesterday

Of that afterward This young man
had enlisted as a sosier. for that was
the only career possible for him; he
was the son of very distinguished
merchant Of New York City, but be
was born out of wedIock and he knew
who his father was. While he was
waiting for the second rope. the gen
tleman observed talking with the
boy asked him if he desired to have
his parents know of his fate. He had
enlisted under an assumed name.
mo" said the boy. do not do
that My father has already suffered
enough for the mistake of my being.
Let him never know that his son was
hanged"
'Afterward,' concluded Mr.. Weed,
I learned who that father was, but I
have never revealed the secret TO any
living person, and have never ceased
TO admire that boy-murderer though
he was-for the physical and moral
courage he displayed in the clutches
Of DEATH"
Copyright, 1911. by E. J. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Vice of Early Settlers

he acted as counsel in 228, VI lille at
the same time he was practicing his
profession in the courts of other coun-
ties. The great number Of these cases
is an indication OF their trivial char
acter."
Especially do the pioneers have a
penchant for libel and SANDER suits.
Taking from the shelves a few first
volumes OF reports at random we find
a SANDER case in l Aikens CVt.). years
1S25-1826. In Tappan (Ohio 1916
1879, the index title SANDER" WELD
US seven cases. In the very next vol
ume. l Ohio 1929 the reporter Tan
pan, who was also a Judge. was sued
for saying of the lawyer plaintif. HE
is damned rascal. "an ambidexter''
and some other things. Verdict
against Brother Tappan for $500. In
the single volume Wright tOhio. 1891.
1880, there are four libel cases and
eighteen SANDER cases-Law Notes,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
In No Hurry.

Mr.. Testy tmeaningly)-T don't
want to interrupt your-er converse,
ion with my daughter. but the-er-
asst car goes by at l..
Mr. Staylate with composurel-
Thanks, many thanks. but there's q
Aig German ball uptown, and a con-
Fuctor told me the cars would BEGIN
running again st two.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Give Hours, Difference.

How is that lazy son OF Bildad's
getting along now that he's gone to
London?" asked Hicks. Showing
any signs of a brace?"
81 guess So" returned Wattles.
His father showed me a letter the
other day. and the kid says he's up
every morning at SIX o'clock"
London time or New York;" asked
Hicks.-HarpeT's Weekly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
unfortunate.

Tyre Dout-I am unfortunate, mum
] had to quit my profession on &C
count of my health.
Lady-But you look rugged. What
was your profession?
Tyre Dout-Dat's just it. lady
was too rugged. I was 8 ventriIoquist,
an q good one. lady. an my voice got
so strong I couldn't throw THAR
per's Magazine.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
RECORD IN PIANO PLAYING

The Paris newspapers record a feat
of endurance on the part of one
Thorpe, described as a native of 3D.
hemia, who played the piano for 30
hours and IS minutes without stop
ping It seems that there is a record
even In this kind of folly, and that it
was formerly held by Mr., Waterbury,
whose performance extended over 281z
hours The report states that Thorpe
was fed and given stimulants during
the entertainment.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
The Wrono Throat.

A little boy took an apple to school
the other day and was playing with
it. When the teacher saw him he
took it from him and commenced to
eat 1t
AS the boy saw the last piece dis
appear he commenced coughing. and
when the teacher asked him what he
was coughing for. he replied:
Please. sir, it's gone down the
wrong way"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
DOG SWALLOWS LONG HATPlR

Mrs Pauline Nesselin of St LouI
has a dog with prize winning digestiv
organs Her Boston terrier Fudge SUI
vived carrying a ten-inch hatpin Il
his interior. for ten days A veter1nar
then removed the offending fastene
from the dogs anatomy. Fudge /
twenty inches long
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
WORMS HELD UP TRAFFIC

A van conveying about five hun
dredweight of worms. intended for
batting, was overturned on the Boule-
ward Sebastopol, Paris The worms
swarmed over the tramway lines and
rendered all vehicuIar traffic impos.
sible until they had been cleared
away.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
involuntary.

Photographers Pardon me!
But that's the third time you've COW
cred your face with a handkerchief
just as was ready.
Subject know, but / can't help
it. I've been indicted a good deal
lately. and | got the habit trying to
dodge newspaper photographers
Puck
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
A Bad Siqn,

Shelf / were you, dear. 1 would
not send for that plumber again who
came today. He's too inexperienced.
He-Didn't he do the work right?
She-Yes, he did the work all right.
but he brought all the tools he needed
with him.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Loss OF Appetite

Is loss Of vitality, vigor or tone, and Is
often a forerunner of prostrating dis
ease.
II is serious and especially SO to peo-
pie that must keep up and doing or get
behindhand.
The best Tedicine to take for it is the
great constitutional remedy
Hoods SarsaparilIa
Which purifes and enriches the blood
and builds up the whole system.
Get it today in usual liquid form or
chocolated tablets called Sarsa. abs.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

last he planted 6 acres to corn. He
got $40 bushels, which sold for 81
a bushel. The whole cost of rails
ing came to S33, leaving q net profit
of S2o7. June Ist he planted a
SECOND crop and got $40 bushels.
This crop cost 500, leaving him a net profit
of $zor. From the 2 crops he cleared
$4o8-not bad for acres; and he can grow
a crop of fall potatoes on the same land
and market them before Christmas. This
is not unusual in the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Her Part

Your husband says you proposed
10 him"
That's quite right. Everything Of
Importance that my husband ever
got credit for doing, either did OF
showed him how"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Gulf Coast Country
OF Texas and Louisiana

Three crops year IS making mon " just
3 times as fast as you are, and the Gulf Coast
farmer saves more of what he makes than
the northern farmer, because lie has none Of
the northern farmers heavy winter expenses.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
More Work,

u wish these people had more com
pany." complained the housemRid
"Why?" asked the cook,
when nobody sits In the chairs,
have to dust them off myself"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

II wonder how Tantaius felt" said
the student of the classics.
Probably" replied Colonel StilkeIl.
like thirsty Maine man listening
to the election returns"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

Il sometimes happens that man
who never even saw an airship flies
just as high and falls just as hard
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Better Look Into This!

The pleasure of trip to the Gulf Coast
Country. via the Frisco Lines, is well worth
the little cost of going. On the first and
grid Tuesdays of each month, round trip
fares. via Frisco Lines, are GREATLY
REDUCED to any point in the Gulf Coast
Country of Texas and Louisiana The
Frisco Lines operate splendid. electric
lighted all steel trains, daily from Chicago,
St. Louis, Kansas City. Birmingham and
New Orleans Every day these trains carry
through cars and on excursion days also
carry tourist sleepers through 10 the Gulf
Coast Country
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
Avoiding TASTY Opinions.

Doctor don't understand your
case at all. We must wait for the
post-mortem examination"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

Some men are so small that a five
cent cigar locks big to them
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

Silence may be golden, OF 1t may
indicate guilt
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02

Castles in Spain.
A good many castles in Spain seem
TO be in danger these days