davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

of Johansson's bravery occurred one red
night in Boston, when he climbed the
burning mast of a schooner and extin-
guished the flames. The docks in East
Boston were ablaze, and the Gresham
had been enlisted as an assistant to the
force Of fire tugs.
Rapid and dangerous work on the part
of the firemen had succeeded in cutting
the schooner Brown loose from the burn
ing dock, and she was lowed out into the
bay. The schooner was afire forward,
and her valuable cargo was threatened.
although there was still time to control
the fire in her hold. Her mainmast had
been burning aloft. but crew from the
Gresham had assembled 1t and extin-
guished the fire before it made much
Roadway. The blazing fore topmast,
however. was the menace which threat
ened to result in the complete destruction
of the vessel The fire had burned the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

the crew to row back to the cutter. In
spite Of his skill, however. he could not
avoid one dangerous breaker, which half
filled the boat with water. 1t seemed GER
tain now that 1t would be only a question
of time until another wave would swamp
the overloaded boat But with Johansson' S
strength to throw his boat one way or the
other, and his skill in seeing breakers in
time to avoid them, all got back safely
to the cutter.
When the lifeboat had been hoisted and
drained Johansson and his crew went
back to the wreck, and, after exhausting
effort, saved the rest of the crew and
brought them to the Gresham.
By this time the soaked clothing of the
gunner and the boats crew had frozen to
their bodies in the cold Of about 10 de-
grees above zero. The men went below
for dry raiment and hot drinks, but had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08
SENATE. CHA11BER. WHERE 11EW PRESIDENTS
APPOINTMENTS WILL BIZ CONFIRMED

These are the first, second and third class
postmasters, who must be confirmed by
the Senate. All of the tens of thousands
of the fourth-class are now in the CLASH
fled service, and can be reached only
through competitive examination, after
the incumbent dies or misbehaves. When
Mr.. Roosevelt came to the White House
all fourth-class. postmasterships were po-
litical plums. He placed part of them.
and President Taft the remainder, under
the civil service.
The next largest groups of presiden-
tiaI' officeholders are 22J officials of the
land Office, who draw from $1,000 to
$4,000: the nearly 200 customs officers.
who Gncluding fees) get anywhere from
81, 800 to $4,000 the 50 United States dis
trict attorneys, who draw from $500 to
$4,000, and the equal number Of United
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

are the places of the federal district
judges as they become vacant. the COM
missioner of internal revenue. the super
vising architect of the Treasury and
the postmasters of twenty-eight cities.
Such are the "big plums'' paying over
$1,000. The list does not include chiefs
and high officials of technical and scien-
tific bureaus who are appointed because
of superior knowledge in their specialties.
Such officers are generally regarded by
Officialdom as fixtures and political neu
ters.
BY far the biggest group of patronage
offices to be disposed of by President Will
son will be nearly 5000 presidential post
Offices" Over $50 will pay $1,000. or more,
5000. about 1000 from 5000 to 81 500,
and the remainder from $1,000 to $1,000.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

crew had been unable to launch its
surfboat. A surfboat of the life-saving
service is self-bailing and self-righting,
but the boat in which ,Johansson attempt
ed the murderous stretch of water was an
open cockleshell. which would founder
and drown the occupants If a single
comber were to be shipped. Only the
skill and strength of Johansson at the
rudder saved the boat from disaster a
dozen times during the day
The first trip to the wreck, which was
the schooner Abbie G. Cole Of Maine.
nearly had a fatal ending. The lifeboat
reached the stranded vessel. Three men
of the crew of six succeeded in unlocking
their frozen hands from the rigging and
dropping into Johansson's strong grasp,
and in the tremendous sea this additional
burden loaded the little boat dangerously
full. Consequently, the gunner ordered
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

come the 5000 offices-that of Governor
of Porto Rico who. too, gets free use OF
palace; the treasurer of the United
States at Washington: the assistant
United States treasurer. surveyor of GUS
toms, naval officer Of customs and gen.
eral appraisers of merchandise, all at
New York; the collectors Of customs at
Philadelphia and Boston and the post
masters of New York, Chicago, Phila-
delphia and Boston: and an assistant at
torney general. Then there 10 a deputy
assistant attorney general, who gets
$500. and there are the seven-thou-
sand-do!lar berths which go to federal
circuit judges as vacancies occur, the
treasurer of the Philippine Islands, four
collectors Of customs, nine appraisers Of
torney General. Paying $1,000 annually
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

mate. but Toxic Is in great demand. as
living in Japan is very cheap, while the
surroundings are picturesque. Unlike his
ambassadors to other countries those
whom Mr.. Wilson selects for Japan and
Turkey will have official residences fur
nished them free by the government, and
will be able to save considerab BILE share
Of their yearly ST., 800. But the missions
to Turkey and Mexico will not be COM
Portable until local turbulence ceases in
those countries Like all Of the others
named, our embassy in Brazil pays 81, 800
a year, much of which can be saved. as
the social life in Rio has been rather dull
since the days of the empire. The climate
Of the diplomats have to take summer
homes in Petropolis, in the mountains.
Seven ministers sent abroad by Presi-
dent Wilson will receive $4,000 and an
even two dozen will draw $4,000 The
only other envoy on his list will be
minister resident to the negro republic
of Liberia, who is always a colored man.
He receives $1,000 a year.
The two most tempting morsels upon
the presidential pie counter used to be-
as judged from the standpoint of re-
muneration-the offices of consul general
to Liverpool and of United States district
attorney in New York city, each Of which
in lavish fees yielded more than the sal
airy then enjoyed by the President him
self. But both of these offices have now
been removed entirely from the fee basis,
the former paying 5000 and the latter
$4,000 in fiat salary Nor are consular
berths any longer upon the pie counter,
strictly speaking. Like those for West
Point and ANNAPOLIS, candidates for these
positions as well as for secretaryships in
the diplomatic service, are now appointed
to take examinations. which include inter-
national law. diplomacy and foreign Ian
guages. Young men who pass these tests
are sent to a training school in WASH
ington. whence they pass to the lower
positions of their class in the foreign
service. and gradually work their way
upward
Mr.. Wilson's plethoric prize package
will contain commissions also for four
Philippine commissioners. at $4,000 a
year: the collector of customs at New
York. $4,000; and list of $4,000 Offices
several Interstate commerce commits
sfoners. as their seven-year terms ex-
pire; the United States district attorney
at Chicago, who receives the same as
that at New York: and the solicitor gen.
eral. who is the chief assistant and under
study Of the attorney general. Next
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

scarcely begun to rest when there was
another call for their courage. This time
the wreck of the Canadian schooner had
been sighted. She was deep I'm the quick
sand of Little Round Shoal and breaking
up and sinking I'm the battering waves
She had been stripped of masts and rig
gine, and the waves We're running clear
over her.
Johansson took the surfboat and made
a perilous trip THROUGH. heavy seas and
tide rips to investigate. He found five
exhausted, frostbitten and starving men
in the shattered deckhouse. The men
were not able even to jump overheard.
but dragged themselves to- the rail and
fell over. TO be caught somehow by
Johansson. All five were brought back
to the Gresham, making total OF eleven
shipwrecked survivors on the Gresham.
all rescued by the Swedish gunner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

Gresham and the accompanying steamers
flashed out but the prying beams found
no Republic. Capt. Sealby had waited un-
til the last moment to show his signal
and his ship had sunk like plummei
after that.
And Johansson, whether by accident OF
purpose, had been standing at the raj
beside the lifeboat. In the sharp haste
public could not be found in the fog and
darkness: he had gone forward on the
Gresham. not anticipating that his shiI
would sink so suddenly. The unofhcered
lifeboat pushed out from the cutter
Johansson waited until the water widened
to six feet, and then mounted the raj
and leaped. He landed in the stern oil
the lifeboat, spoke a quick order, and the
boat disappeared in the darkness.
A minute later the Republics second
waves, had been clinging desperately to
a floating grating, felt q heavy hand on
his shoulder dragging him into boat
and he looked up into the calm blue
eyes of Gunner JOhansson.
You hurt any?" asked the gunner.
Find Capt. Sealby-don't pay attention
to me-" implored the rescued man in ar
agony Of loyalty to his chief.
Capt. Sealby. when he felt his ship
going down under him, took to the fore
swirling waters He reached the top OF
the mast. and then was sucked under
by the eddies drawn by the sinking
steamer. When he came back to the
fingers touched a hatch cover. to which
he held until Johansson. with the aid OF
the searchlights, found him.
Johansson and the crew, with the res
cued men. were back on the Gresham
within thirty-fve minutes Aside from
the choppy sea the chief peril was that
the lifeboat would be stove in by floating
wreckaae, or crushed by masses Of the
ship wrenched from the hull and hurled
upward by the pressure Of the deep.
X X
The deed for which Canada awarded
Johansson a gold watch was his feat OF
plotting the Gresham,s open nfeboat over
a most perilous stretch Of shoal water.
dashed by bitter cold. sixty-mile-an-
hour gale, and fretted with strong tide
rips, to the rescue of the entire crew of
the schooner s. A. Fownes of New
Brunswick. aground on the dreaded shoals
at Pollock Rip, Mass.
In the course of that day Johansson
needed the courage of a lion and the
physical endurance of a marathon rum
ner; for the Gresham accomplished the
unique record Of saving the entire crews
of two wrecked vessels and towing a
third vessel safely to port, all in the
same day: and Johansson was in charge
OF the surfboat In every one OF its seven
trips.
Shortly before noon the Gresham, which
had been cruising in one OF the flercest
gales that ever swept the Cape Cod coast.
sighted schooner on Horseshoe Shoal at
Pollock Rip being battered and crushed
by the seas. Because Of the shallow water
the cutter could approach no nearer than
q quarter Of mile to the wreck Johans-
son with . picked crew then put of in q
small boat to the rescue, The sea was
90 heavy that the Monomoy life-savlng
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

forward deck. trying his weight on the
swinging halyards hanging from the fore
topmast. AS he pulled. the mast swayed
be warned. he had dashed the nozzle to
his shoulders with a blight Of rope and
had started up the loose rigging. hand
over hand. Those witnessing the tableau
could only hold their breaths and pray
that the mast might hold. as the great
figure of the man swung in the red glare
and grew smaller as it assembled to the
great height. AS a physical feat it was
notable. for Johansson not only had to
lift his own weight. but the ever-increas-
ing weight of the hose he was dragging
upward with every pull of his powerful
arms. He reached the base of the top
mast and dashed himself there. The wa.
ter was turned on at his signal and in a
few minutes he had extinguished the fire
aloft. The firemen rushed to the for
ward deck of the schooner and presently
had the fire in the hold under control
Then JOhansson descended, and the men
acing spar was pulled down by the stays
X
The Republic disaster. January "a and
o. 1902 also found Johansson in the role
of hero. The Gresham had been sum-
moned by wireless; the $50 passengers
and most Of the crew had been transfer
red, and the Gresham. having taken on
board the remainder of the crew, 46 men,
was towing the sinking liner to shallow
water south Of Nantucket Island. The
captain of the vessel, 1nman Sealby. and
his second officer. r. Williams, refused to
abandon their skip.
Night came on with r'F'nc s"7 an =
fog. The change from calm weather was
bad for the Republic, s.nni- e -..a
lower by the stern. The Gresham was
pulling the liner by a three-inch wire
cable. shackled to the starboard and
c1lQ ~ N
darkness the 15.00O-ton Liner might sink
unseen and drag the revenue cutter to
the bottom with her by the cable. So q
heavy hempen hawser was bent through
OF about 100 yards. and the Gresham s
carpenter was stationed with an ak to
cut the rope should he see 1t dipping
down taut into the sea-
The captain OF the Republic had agreed
to show a blue light from the bridge
when the steamer began to sink. A life
boat was moored to the side OF the cutter
and a crew detailed to go to the rescue
of the liners two officers should the YES
sci founder. AS q special favor. the first
ofiicer Of the Republic had been granted
command Of this lifeboat.
The early winter dusk advanced. and
the huge bulk of the Republic dimmed in
the fog until 1t was misty wrath Of a
ship. on which no light showed. the en-
CINE room having been flooded for hours.
Then darkness blotted out all form. with
just q suggestion Of light above the yes
sci, where the master and his faithful
second ofilcer had their lantern on the
bridge.
Shortly after S.o'clock that evening the
lookout shouted that the light on the
bridge was blue. An order was barked
on the cutter. The carpenter swung his
Ak into the hawser The crew sprang into
the lifeboat. The searchlights OF the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08
OF REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE INCLINATION

seems to be the one on the spot or most
available man OF the moment.
For instance. there was that day in the
spring of 1905 when Johansson. having
secured shore leave. was in the rail-
road station at New London, Conn.,.
leaving Tor . short holiday. The station
platform was crowded with people de-
parting or waiting to welcome incoming
travellers. Suddenly there were piercing
form. A monster locomotive which had
been standing In the station. with a
warning tap of its bell, began to back
slowly. The crowd on the track parted
and made passage for it-all but one
young woman, who. In spite Of the
frantic shouts of warning, stood uncon-
scious Of the terrible death now looming
high over her head. until too late-the
tender struck her and knocked her prone
across the rails. and the inexorab,e
wheels swiftly ate the inches between the
woman and death.
The crowd shuddered and turned away
from the sickening finale. Johansson had
not been on the front rank Of the crowd.
but at the shouts and screams he turned
and mentally photographed the situation
with q glance In two steps he had
cleared the crowd. and then, with a
powerful spring, he launched his huge
body at the locomotive tender as foot
ball player might make a tackle. Some
braced his dragging. swaying body. and
the next instant. with one powerful sweep
OF his mighty right arm. he had swung
the unconscious woman out from under
the tender and upon the platform beside
the track. She was unhurt.
=.
*
Johansson went methodically upon his
holiday. and said nothing about his ex-
plot when he returned to his ship. His
superior officers might never have known
Of his heroism except that weeks later
a communication came to the Treasury
Department from the general offices OF
the railroad thanking Johansson for his
bravery and presence Of mind. Then an
other letter Of commendation, signed by
c. H. Keep. assistant secretary of the
Treasury. went into the gunner's official
record.
The hero business called Johansson
Noorsaxoping early in life. When he was
twelve years old be went to sea. and at
an age when most boys are shedding
their drst homesick tears Johansson had
been around the world thrice and had
been shipwrecked half dozen times. One
of these wrecks occurred In q great storm
on the coast Of West Africa, and young
Johansson finally reached shore In q
longboat after experiences which had
turned some Of the older mems hair gray.
veloped the lads growing body into q
powerful structure Of massive bone and
ripping, flowing muscle. They also made
him q moral athlete. for he met and with
sponsible life Of sailors Of that day. 1t
IL the sturdy moral flber Of Johansson as
much az his perfect confidence In his
physique that gives him the level lower
A - he ma hr MT
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08
NEW CARD TRICKS

TT you're more than fifteen years old
it's almost copper-riveted certainty
that at some time or other you have
encountered one Of those most mystify-
ing Of all experiences-that of having
some one read your mind. There is moth
ing new about mind reading. 1t is al
most as old as the world itself. and there
are mind readers good, bad and indif-
ferent.
There once was a time when mind read
ing was decried. and when the slightest
evidence of such ability would have been
very apt to get the possessor of that
ability burned as a witch, or at least
Stunned on every side as being in league
with the evil one. But times have
ing is now considered one Of the most
fascinating Of parlor tricks. The only
trouble is that attempts to exhibit such
power all too frequently result in dismal
failures.
There is one ''mind-reading'' trick,
however. little practiced. because it is
successfully, no matter whether the spec
tators concentrate or not. OF course,
they are asked to concentrate. but their
failure to do SO doesn't have the slightest
effect on the trick. The trick never fails,
for the very simple reason that 1t can
not It Is a trick laughable in its sim
plicity when explained. yet when worked
without explanation is as mystifytng as
anything ever seen on a stage. worked
by q professional mind reader.
The trick is worked with a pencil. a
piece of paper and an imaginary pack
OF cards. The person working 1t takes
pencil and paper and writes out the name
OF any face card. folds up the paper and
gjvea 1t to one of the persons watching
him, to hold against his forehead. Then
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

pie. you have written down the lack Of
clubs After the concentration hoax YOU
have asked him to mention two suits,
only to have him promptly decide on dia-
monds and spades
VERY WELL you say. lyon have
chosen diamonds and spades. Now we'll
put those aside. That leaves, out Of the
it?" Noeen
When the spectator has agreed that
this Is correct-as. obviously, II is-then
Now. OF the two remaining suits. men,
ton one
Suppose he says hearts.
very well. You say. We'll put that
doesn't it,
You have now pinned him down TO the
suit you yourself selected. 1t only re-
mains to get to the proper card-and
that is accomplished by a similar pro-
cess Of elimination. Ask one of the spec-
tators to mention two OF the four cards
In that suit. Suppose he names the king
and queen-or any other combination OF
two without the jack in 1T.
Very WELL" you must say. 'swe'u Law
those aside. Now that leaves only the
jack and ace, doesn't it? Now or those
two. mention one"
THE king" says the spectator.
VERY WELL" you reply. well put that
aside-and that leaves only the jack Now
look at the name OF the card I wrote
down before We started
Self evidently. there are endless varf-
ations to the trick. 1t may easily he
elaborated until it includes all the cards
in the deck. But in working IL there II
only this to remember. II the person Sc
he ho
already picked. disregard the others and
begin working on that II he fails to
mention it disregard the ones he does
mention 10y pretending to put them
forced him to the suit you want It can
not falkland 1t Is rare indeed that any
one watching il ever catches on TO
how II is done, for your questions are
put to him rapidly and he in not allowed
time to see the process Of elimination In
volved.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

Gunner In the revenue cutter service
aud hero by choice, BY inclination, by
bravery and by good luck, but-time
and agaln-a hero.
towering spar nearly in two: its lanyards
and stays had long since been burned
away and the unsuppors ed mast swayed
dangerously and threatened each moment
to crash to the deck Under such circum-
stances the fire captains were loath to
direct their men to 60 upon the ships
forward deck and direct streams upon the
flames In the matches.
Johansson. as usual. had been In the
thick of the danger. He had assembled
the charred. steamsng mainmast with a
line of hose, and from that point of van
tage had attempted to reach the IRE In
the foremost with water: but at that
height the pressure was not sufficient to
carry the stream across.
The ship seemed doomed. when Johaus-
son was seen on the schooner's scorching
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08


that the democrats will let down the
civil service barriers. to some degree
at least. this hungry throng will be
more voracious and more numerous
than 1t has been in a score of years
have Just made inquiry at the civil
service commission and have ascertain
ed that President Wilson will have in
his direct gift 1889 Offices unhampered
by any civil service Limitations what
soever.
or appointees to these 9,S46 will have
to be confirmed by the Senate, while
993 will not need the Endorsement Of
that body.
The salaries attached to these
presidential Offices" are generally a
half again as high as they were when
a democratic President last spread his
counter and bid the faithful come In
and share the pie.
The highest office to be awarded by
the new chief executive will be the
secretaryship of state. whose holder
will be the third gentleman of the
realm. the next. after the Vice Presi-
dent. in succession to the presidency
He will sit upon the Presidents right
at the cabinet table. will supervise the
governments correspondence and ne
gotiations with all foreign rulers or
their representatives and with the govern
ors OF our own states. He will publish
all laws passed by Congress. Adjacent
to his office will be an elegantly ap-
pointed anteroOm where one day each
week-diplomatic day-he will receive
such foreign ambassadors and minis
tiers as have business with our govern
ment- His salary. like that of all other
cabinet officers, Will be $4,000 a year.
During our last democratic admins
trat1on cabinet officers received but
5000 annually. and those who strove
to live in high state paid out that
much in house rent Cabinet members
have more social expenses than any
home officials. and the wife of each
must hold continual court during the
social season. For this reason only
wealthy men generally care to accept
the higher cabinet portfolios. such as
that of State and the Treasury.
There will be some perQuisites attached
to each portfolio but they will be in
significant-the one Of government car
riages AMI horses being the greatest, ex-
cept in the case of the Secretary Of the
Navy. who has a. his disposal the dis
patch boat Dolphin. sometimes called
the Secretary's private yacht" 1t Is
not improba5 Die that the next President
will have an add tional cabinet porto 10
to confer-that OF Secretary of Labor.
The bill creating it is now before Con-
gress and is strongly backed by the labor
interests.
The biggest plum. from a pecuniary
standpoint. In Mr.. Wilson's gift will be