davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
INNOCENT, IN PRISON IS YEARS
9iciIian Freed, Three Others Equally
Guiltless Died as Convicts for
Crime Relatives Committed.

Milan, 1taly-Thirty.six years in
jail for crime he did not commit
is the experience Of Erosmus Vas
solo, Sicilian The unfortunate
mans release has come after the
confession of members of the muir
dered mans family.
Along with three other victims
who have meantime died in prison
Vassallo was condemned to hard la
Dor for life at Palermo Assizes in
1877 on a charge of murder. He had
already spent two years in confine
ment awaiting trial, and has never
ceased protesting his innocence to
deaf ears.
The confession as to the real as.
sassin came from the family of the
murdered man and was dictated in
the presence Of a priest and a no.
tary.
Vassallo is now 81 years of age.
He is broken in health by the harsh
Italian prison regime and can scarce
ly speak The prison authorities
left him to pay his own fare from
Ancona back to his native Palermo.
On the three days thither he
neither ate nor slept. He is Devil
dered at the transformation of Ma
pies and Palermo On reaching his
home he found that his wife and all
his relatives, save an only son, were
long since dead.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
SLEPT IN coRPsE's PLACE.
Sailor Who Took Nap In Rough Box
Fastened In by Chun

Buffalo, N. "a policeman on a
Niagara street beat was startled
when a rough box lying on the side
walk in front of an undertaking es.
Enlistment slowly turned over.
When he drew near to solve the
mystery it again turned over.
Chief Of Police Regain, who hap.
pened to be passing in his automo.
bile, Joined the patrolman, and or,
dered a man from the undertaking
rooms to unscrew the lid. Inside
they found sailor, who gave his
name as John Deleth, of Milwaukee,
and said he had been out on a lark
with fellow sailor named Kelly.
Says Kelly to me-" Deleth told
the Chief, "the first guy to the dead
box can sleep there. slept all
right, but when I woke up I couldn't
get out. Kelly's been up to his
tricks again."
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
CATTLE TUMBLE OUT OF CAF
Steers Scattered Along Track Whes
Patent Device Is Not Securely
Eaate ned.

Dodge City, Kas.-The mixed train
on the Dodge City & Cimarron Val
ley branch of the Santa Fe was
stalled here when the bottom dropped
out of a cattle car and fat steers
on their way to market were strewn
along the right of way.
The train was nearing Dodge when
a brakeman discovered cattle tumb
ling out of car. His signal stopped
the train and the crew rushed for
ward just as another steer rolled
out, upset the conductor and then
rambled off to join it's companions,
which were nibbling grass beside the
track. The cattle car was equipped
with a patent bottom that could be
unattached and let down to make
cleaning the car easy.
1t was discovered that the bottom
had not been latched securely. 1t
had Jared open by the motion of the
train and the cattle were struggling
in the aperture. With the assistance
Of dozen volunteers from the pas.
sengers the crew succeeded in get.
ting the bottom back in place in
spite of the weight of the cattle on
it. Then the crowd resolved itself
into cowboy patrol and the five
steers that had escaped We're round
ed up.
But when the loading process was
attempted it ended in failure. Just
as husky steer was being hoisted
up to the car door by the main
strength Of dozen helpers vigor-
Gus kick from the animal In the
stomach of fat travelling man
caused that volunteer to loose his
hold with howl. The steer thrash
ed out vigorously with the freed leg,
and the human derrick was dissolved
into a struggling mass of humanity
that rolled to the bottom of the EN-.
bankment with the steer in the midst
The cattle were allowed to remain
on the prairie and the train steamed
to Dodge. Now the owner is de.
handing that the railroad company
send out men to round up his cat
tie or pay him for his loss.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
VETERAN TELLS OF
FIGHTING PIRATES
Edward Monroe, 1O4, Who
Served at Gettysburg, Now in
London, Tells of Adventures
MADE HIS LAST VOYAGE WHEN SO
Scar is Wound on Wrist Caused
in Civil Notwithstanding Story Of
An Adventurous Career.

London-Born in 1909, Mr.. Edward
Munroe, the 1O4-year-old veteran of
the battle of Gettysburg, who was
the oldest of the As veterans who
celebrated the fiftieth anniversary
Of the battle in London, in talk
with correspondent in the rooms
he occupies at Holloway road, Isling-
ton, said he was quite able to walk
a good distance without the aid of
sticks, although three years ago he
fell and broke one of his thigh
bones.
Old Mr.. Edward Munroe has still
markedly fresh complexion, his
eyes are marvelously clear, and
smooth silvered locks cover his head,
without much sign of badness. And
his brain remains as clear as his
eyes He has a good appetite, and
has not the least idea what indiges-
ton means, Notwithstanding the ir
regular life he led in his younger
days, and the privations he has suf-
fered from want of food.
He was born in Nova Scotia and
went to America when he was 7 or
8 years old. He joined the American
navy when II, and for some years
engaged in pirate hunting.
There were swarms of pirates in
the Gulf of Mexico in those days"
he said. Mr.. Munroe's eyes flashed,
and his cheeks flushed as he re-
called the chase and ultimate capture
of bloodthirsty pirate named Vala-
squez. who was known as "The
Black Demon" the name of the YES
sci. He had been capturing ships,
and, after selling the valuables,
burning them, and the navy ships
had been hunting him for long
time.
ut was either in 1929 or 1880 that
we came across him in the open
sea-" said the old quartermaster.
1--WE knew his vessel: she was fly
ing the black flag with a skull and
crossbones on it.
"There were two or three hundred
pirates on board. and eventually she
was captured, the pirates taken
ashore, tried and hanged"
Mr.. Munroe's last long voyage was
on merchantmen to the Mauritius
20 years ago. For five years after
that he made voyages around the
English coast. and on leaving the
sea settled in London.
His only wound, one on the wrist
he received during the American
Civil war. but he has been ship
wrecked four times.
He has remained a bachelor all
his life. and has not relative living.
AS Mr.. John Davis. the secretary Of
the London branch Of American
Civil War Veterans. said at the cele
bration of the Gettysburg anniver-
sary. he has, like the other pen
sioners, "a good pension from
beneficeent government, which knows
how to take care of it's veterans"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
TO GET BETTER RAILROADS.
Hoped That New Trackage Will Be
Pushed Forward,

Asuncion, Paraguay-With the Far
quhar interests having acquired con-
troll of the Paraguay-C Central railway,
it is hoped here that the construction
Of new trackage will be pushed for
ward. The promoters of the North
east Paraguay railway had planned to
begin work last year, when delays
occurred. This line is to extend from
Asuncion to Guayra Falls, distance
of about 375 miles. where it will
unite with the proposed Brazilian
road to Sac Paulo.
The Trans-Paraguay road is build
ing eastward between Villa RIGA and
Asuncion, and within year or so
it's rails are expected to meet at the
Iguazu Falls those of the Brazilian
line which are being laid westward
from the port of San Francisco on
the Brazilian coast.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Historical Castle.

Paris, France-The castle Of Pin is
now to be recognized as one of the
historical castles of France. The
keep dates from the fifteenth cen.
fury: its walls are over eight feet
thick, and it has had stormy his.
tory.
The castle has withstood many
sieges and is among the few histori.
cal keeps that were not destroyed
during the conquest OF Franche.
Comte. 1t is. however. still in fairly
good preservation and is Of great in
terest to visitors
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Fate of a Perpetual Clock.

In the eighteenth century an in
genious jeweller named James Cox Of
Shoe lane, London, constructed 4
by a cleverly contrived attachments
which utilized the rise and fall of the
barometer TO supply the necessary
energy.
The movement Of the mercury ac-
tuated cog wheel in such a manner
that whether the mercury rose or fell
the wheel always revolved in the same
direction and kept the weights that
supplied the movement of the clock
always wound up. The barometer bulb
dipped into mercury cistern. The cis-
tern hung attached to the eXtreniities
OF two rockers, to the left end OF one
and the right end of the other.
The bulb was similarly attached to
the other extremities Of the rockers,
which are thus moved every time there
IL a change In the amount OF mercury
in bulb and cistern respectively The
rockers actuated a vertical ratchet,
and the teeth were SO arranged that
the wheel they controlled could only
move in one direction, whether the
ratchet assembled or descended.
The clock itself was an ordinary
one. but of very strong and superior
workmanship and was jewelled with
diamonds at every bearing, the whole
being enclosed in glass case which,
while it excluded dust, displayed the
entire mechanism. The fate of Cox's
clock was brought to light in work
called Travels in China" published
IN 1904 and written by John Barrow.
In this book it is stated that in the
list OF presents carried by the hate
Dutch Ambassador were 1.-TWO grand
Dasoss Of machinery that were part Of
he curious museum Of Cox" One u
these apparently WAS this perpetual
dock. and 1t was taken by the Dutch
Embassy to China, where in the jour-
ney from Canton to Pekin both IT,
instruments suffered some slight dam
age. Efforts were made to repair them
at Pekin. but on leaving the capital
It was discovered that the Chinese
Prime Minister Ho-tchang-t tong, haA
substituted two other clocks Of vsy
inferior workmanship and had re-
served Cox's mechanism for himSsl.
Times.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Teachers Taught.

Spokane, Wash-To improve the
writing Of faculty members and stu.
dents OF the North Central high
school, a special class in penmanship
has been organized under the per-
sonal supervision of G. F. Gundry,
instructor in penmanship at the
school.
At the first meeting of the class
more than 40 enrolled. No credit
will be given for the work and those
Joining the class will do so volun.
tarily.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Evening Glasses Doubled.

OTTAWA, Ont.-There are now 337
students enrolled for the industrial
evening classes, more than double
what the members OF the industrial
advisory committee expected.
1.-THE most we figured on was about
$50. In domestic science alone over
30 girls have registered, while in
mechanical drawing the number Il
over 100." said Cecil Bethune, coni
nittee secretary, to IL Citizen.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Railroad Precedent Made.

Baranquilla, Columbia-The deci.
sion of the Colombian courts that all
railroads within the country are COM
mon carriers and free to the use OF
the public on an equal basis is ex-
pected to stand as a precedent for all
future railways constructed by pri.
vate corporations in Colombia.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
WELSH COAL TOR FRENCH NAVY
Coal Specified Is Nixon's Navigation
Large Steam.

Co4i SpcCIHSu 10 NsAoUS NdS'SoSo''
Large Steam.
Cardiff, Wales-It was reported re.
Gently on the Cardiff coal market that
the French government had placed
an order for 100000 tons Of best
Welsh steam coal with a Cardiff firm,
Messrs. Lysberg, Limited, Of which
D. A. Thomas, head Of the Cambrlan
combine, is chairman. The coal spe.
eifed is Nixon's navigation large
steam coal.
This is not the first order for
Welsh coal placed by the French
government. Last year an expert
mental order for $4,000 tons Of coal
was placed by the French admiralty
and his was followed by two other
orders for the same amount each.
Previously the French admiralty
I'D used almost entirely briquettes,
manufactured from French small coal
ut patent fuel works, and the opinion
prevails in Cardiff that the govern.
ment have decided to rely in future
On large Welsh coal for the French
battleships and cruisers. Still larger
orders are expected in future.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
SHAMROCK FARMING.
This Pretty Little Glover Cultivated
for Home Use and for Export for
St. Patrick's Day.

81. FdtFICkS LAY.
Although the shamrock has beel
Ireland's accepted emblem for many
centuries the custom OF wearing it on
St. Patrick's day has only become
universal within the last few years
1t is curious, but certainly true, thai
the present popularity of the custom
even among nationalists. is largely
due to her Irish soldiers.
The increased demand for shamrock
in Ireland at this time of the year
has been accompanied by hardly less
notable increase in the demand from
Great Britain and the colonies, and
from the United States. In fact, fo1
at least a fortnight in the year tho
sale and expectation OF shamlocA
have come to constitute a not unim-
portant Irish industry. In some few
districts it appears shamrock farms
have been established where the plant
is specially cultivated for the English
and foreign markets. There are onA
or two fourishing farms of this char.
actsr in County Cork, from which ~
this time of year thousands of neatly
packed boxes go forth to all corner,
Of the earth For the most part, how
ever, the plant is picked from its ma.
tive bogs and hollows. The south d
Ireland supplies the majority OF tho
Irish and English markets The moist
and warm climate of Munster is spec
tally suited to the temper OF the sham
rock, which there takes deeper aud =
tenderer green than in the mors
northern counties. Even in Ireland
the common clover and other plants
are sometimes found doing duty for
the genuine article But the de-
ception becomes annually less prac-
ticable, since it is now part Of every
Irishman's patriotism to be con-
noisseur in shamrock.
Mainly through the efforts OF Lady
Limerick and her shamrock league"
the shamrock hourishes exceedingly
by the banks of the Shannon and has,
indeed. been turned to good account in
connection with many useful and even
national. purposes. The league was
started eight years ago, and every
year records an increase in its out
put. The gathering of the shamrocks
has become a sort of subsidiary indus
try among the people in the local
milk factories many Of which were
established by the late Sir Thomas
Cleeve. Tons of shamrock are sent
annually to Limerick city, whence ii
is exported to England and America.
The proceeds are devoted to the aid
of the soldiers and sailors help So
ciety in Ireland and to other charit-
able objects l am informed that the
league does growing trade with the
United States, Egypt and India, and
that the steady pressure of orders
may soon lead to the establishment
OF regular shamrock farm.
Since its institution Lady Limericks
league has annually supplied the
shamrock which, by royal command.
is distributed to the Irish guards on
St. Patrick's day. 1t is a great pleas
ure TO be able to add that one OF the
bad old traditions of st. Patrlck's day
in Ireland is now falling every year
into worse discredit. Even persons
who get drunk frequently now make
It a point of honor not to be drunk
on the national holiday. !.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Confscate All AiQrettes.

Observation-Disclosures or other
bird plumage forbidden by the new
tariff law to be imported must be re.
moved from the hats Of incoming
travellers and turned over to customs
authorities before the travellers leave
the wharf is ruling Of Secretary Nc
Adoo. The secretary said every cour
tesy will be shown women who bring
such aigrettes in their hats.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Gives Steers to COLLEGE.

TT Worth. Tex.-Asked for a sub
scription toward the Women's Col
lege Of Texas and finding that ht
could not give cash contribution be
cause his beef steers were not read,
for market, App Wooten, a stockmar
who lives in Tarrant county, gave
three fat steers toward the cam
paign.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Chile Has Pullman Cars.

Santiago, Chile-The railroad jour,
ney from Santiago to Conception oc
cuples the greater part of a day and
takes the traveller through the finest
agricultural section of Chile. There
is now excellent Pullman car service.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Roller Towels Abolished.

Washington-By an order Of the
President the roller towel, which has
been feature many years in govern.
ment buildings, has been abolished.
Hundreds of thousands of individual
towels will replace the rollers.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
AUSTRALIA HONEY IN LONDON

Experts Say 4 Is Equal to Any I'm.
ported Honey.
London-A special exhibition of
New South Wales honey was on view
at the grocers' exhibition, Islington,
recently. The exhibit comprised $50
bottles of first class honey, and at,
tached to the entry was a statement
informing wholesale and retail pro-
duce dealers where they may obtain
supplies. New South Wales honey
which, in the opinion of experts, is
equal to any imported, will be sup
piled regularly to the London market
for the future
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Arabic Numerals to BE Used.

Washington-The supervising arch.
itect Of the treasury department has
been instructed to use Arabic in.
stead of Roman numerals on all pab-
- buildings.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
centrs, Americans Given Place.

Panama-The Central American
Construction Company has contracts
for more than 100000 work in the
Canal Zone. This company 10 to-
erect a radio station ct Camaito, near
0atun.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
Unless United States Saves /
Great Americans Residence
To Be Supplanted BY Hotel
An APPEAL MADE TO AMERICAN!
Street Where Benjamin Franklin
Lived in His More Prosperous Days
Much Frequented by Americans

London-The quaint little house in
Craven street where Benjamin Frank
lin lived in his more prosperous days
lightful series of papers called the
Craven Street Gazette, forms part o!
Z block of property which has beer
purchased for the construction of q
large hotel, and, unless immediate
steps are taken to save it, this his
torical building will be torn down
An appeal has been made to Ameri
cans to save the house and pro
posal will be made to the hotel build
ers to include Franklin's rooms with
In the new building.
The house is now conducted as a
small residential hotel, much fire
quented by Americans It bears above
the front doorway the following tab
let: Lived here Benjamin Franklin
printer, philosopher and statesman
Born 1905. died 1890"
Here the great American philoso
pher resided after he had served his
hard apprenticeship in London and
during the absence of his landlady
Mrs. Stevenson, from home he enter
tanned his fellow-boarders with the
ISIS. of whimsical series of papers
called The Craven Street Gazette.
One of the paragraphs was as fol-
lows: At 6 o'clock this afternoon
news came by the post that her
Majesty (Mrs. Stevenson) had ar
rived safely at Rochester on Satur.
day night The bells Immediately
rlng for candles to illuminate the
parlor; the court went into cribbage
and the evening concluded with every
demonstration Of JOY"
The tablet was affixed to the house.
which has been rebuilt, but in the
same style as when Franklin lived
IN it, by the Society of Arts, before
the London County Council under
took the work OF marking the one
time homes of eminent persons in
London Franklin was not the only
famous resident of Craven street. At
various periods the poet Akenside
and Heinrich Heine lived there, and
James Smith, the author of RE.
iected Addresses" died in house
not far from the Franklin house. In
his Comic Miscellany" Smith wrote:
In Craven street, Strand. ten attor,
neys find place,
And ten dark coal barges are
moor'd at it's base;
Fly, honesty, fE! seek some safer
retreat,
For there's craft in the river and
craft in the street
About this Sir George Rose wrote
the following lines:
Why should honesty fly to some safer
retreat
From barges and attorneys, 'od rot
'em?
For the lawyers are just at the top
Of the street
And the barges are just at the bot
Business Judgment rather than
sentiment probably will lead the
hotel owners to include the Franklin
apartments within their new building,
as several historic houses Of enter
tainment in London pay heavy divi-
dends because American tourists put
M with bad food and poor service
on account of the historical associa.
lions And, moreover, some of these
lack the historical authenticity OF
the Franklin house.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17

With all respect to the missionaries,
who are very good people. We never
yst saw one that Ne would sArs - 81
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-08
RAILWAY REHABILITATION
DUTY OF S.--WALSH
Massachusetts, Governor Discusses
Boston and Maine in In
augural Address.

BOSTON, January s.-The Boston and
Maine railroad was the subject of the
greater part of the inaugural address of
Gov. David 1. Walsh delivered today. He
said the road was in serious straits and
needed help not only from tine legisia-
ture. but also from its own stockholders.
AS a remedy he suggested the formation
OF new corporation, in which stock
of the leased lines should be merged
with those of the Boston and Maine. !
THE primary responsibility for the
roads legal and financial rehabilitation,
he said. rests upon the federal govern
ment and the owners OF the property.
There is every assurance that the fed
eral government will perform its duty
and will give no immunity to wrong
doors.
Will Aid Reorganization.
THE commonwealth can. and will. aid
in a wise plan of reorganization, with
enabling legislation so framed as eff
fectually to guard both our investors
and our general public from a recurrence
of the management and the evils of the
past. But if the parties in interest fail
in the prompt and efficient performance
of their duty, it will be the plain duty
of the commonwealth to take drastic
and effective action to protect itself, its
industries, its savings institutions and
its citizens from further loss due to in
competent or unfaithful railroad manage.
ment."
The governors message urged the call
Ing of constitutional convention to take
up woman suffrage, the initiative an6
referendum, biennial elections. abolition
of the executive council and the Office Of
lieutenant governor. government by ma
jority, revision of the tax laws and com.
pulsory workingmens compensation. Thu
governor favors a referendum on WON.
ans suffrage.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-08

Solomon and Rae Laderberg of Suf-
folk, Va, began a legal battle yester-
day, before Judge Alan r. Hanckel of
the corporation court in Norfolk, for the
custody of their seven-year-old son.