davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
THE TRIAL OF GIBBS, THE PIRATE

In its planning or its carrying out. Tha
other three were apprchended and the
evidence of their guilt was full and con-
elusive.
Gibbs was arraigned for the murder
Of Roberts and wansley for that of
Thornby. Being found guilty Judgment
In accordance with the law was pro-
nounced. During the trial the iron Wis.,
age Of Gibbs was occasionally changed
by transient emotion. He had evident
iy abandoned all hope of escape and sat
the greater part of his time with his
hands between his knees calmly sur
veying the scene before him.
At this trial all the life story of Gibbs
and his piratical ventures were brought
out, showing that he had been follow
ing this vocation for 10 years, and so
many had been the murders that he had
committed that 1t Vas impossible to col
lect the list. Besides he had assisted
In the taking of upward of score of
vessels and appropriated their contents.
At the trial Gibbs readily admitted his
participation in the Vineyard mutiny. re-
volt and robbery, and in the murder of
Thornby; and so impressed was he with
|
his heinous crimes had excited against
him, that he often inquired if he would
not be murdered In the streets, in case
he had his liberty, and was recognized.
On being asked why, with such cruel
ty, he killed so many persons, after get
ting all their money, which was all he
wanted he replied that the laws them
selves were responsible for so many mur-
ders, and that, by those laws, man
has to suffer death for piracy, and the
punishment for murder is no more--be-
sides, all witnesses are out of the way,
and, consequently. if the punishment was
different, there would not be so many
murders.
On Friday. April 90, 1881, Gibbs and
Wansley, the colored cook, paid the PEN
atty of their crimes. Both prisoners ar
rived at the gallows about II o'clock.
Gibbs addressed the witnesses acknowl-
edging the Nervousness OF his career, and
begged forgiveness if any friends of the
persons he had murdered were present
Gibbs died hard, but Wansley with only
few slight struggles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
A Writer of Promise

There are literally thousands of
people writing short stories in this
country, a surprising number OF them
being fairly successful, so far as
financial returns are concerned, and
yet how few, how pitifully few, ever
write a story that sticks in the mem
ory after it is read!
One omniverous magazine reader
declares that he never undertakes to
read a magazine story nowadays un-
less a familiarity with the author
gives him confidence, or else some
popularity in the title or in the il
Illustrations, or perhaps a striking SEN
tence in the opening paragraph, piques
his curiosity. He may overlook some
stories that are really worth while
merely because cursory examination
of them does not arouse interest, and
yet he can hardly 1be blamed for
wishing to avoid what may be called
the average magazine short story"
Among the little band of writer's
who rarely ever disappoint their read
ers may be mentioned Irwin S. Cobb,
a New York newspaper man who has
sprung into prominence during the
past few years through his magazine
work. Mr.. Cobb is now the author
of several books, one of his volumes,
that is not exactly new, in the accep-
of reviewers, but comparatively
a collection Of short stories en-
i"Back Home" The book sharps
the critics have already had their
--.y in regard to Back Home" but
among those who enjoy book for its
own sake and having once enjoyed it,
wish others to share in the delight it
has given them, this volume of Mr..
Cobb's stories is still being discussed.
He has since issued another volume
of stories, but hardly to be compared
in their broad humanistic appeal to
his previous work.
Mr.. Cobb has the gift of mingling
humor and pathos in just pronortions.
His stories about Judge Priest, the
kindly autocrat of a little Kentucky
town, deserve to take high rank in
contemporary literature. 1t is proba-
bic that not since Thomas Nelson
Page and James Lane Allen We're at
their best has any writer appeared
with wider appeal than that exerted
by Mr.. Cobb Both sympathy and I'M
derstanding are found in all of his
stories of Kentucky. He knows the
characters he describes and ne writes
about them remarkably well.
Mr.. Cobb is primarily humorist,
or rather he is so considered py most
newspaper readers, but it is in his
more ambitious work that he is cre-
ating an enviable reputation. His hu-
NOR is always diverting, but, as one
clever reviewer says, his eggs are not
always carefully candled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
THE NEW PULPIT DRAMA

FROM Lire.
The idea of making the pulpit over into
a stage and improvising plays which shall
bring home important truths to the con-
gregation is perhaps not bad, and the
Rev. Austen Kempton of Cambridge
should apply for a patent Immediately
This gentleman, the pastor of leading
Baptist church in Cambridge, has not
only produced play with real scenery
and costumes, but has persuaded someone
to impersonate a sinful man and his ter
ror, to say nothing of a blind boy who
takes the part of a result. According to
the papers, the performance was wit
messed by double the usual number OF
auditors.
Could this not be improved upon, how
ever, If real sinners. selected from the
congregation were made to take part
in the plays7 Let us assume that the
wealthiest man in the congregation had
made all of his money out of protective
tariff, had contributed for years to repub-
lican campaign funds, and was profiting
by child labor. And suppose, for the
good of the cause, he was induced to act
out his secret feeling of guilt-what
crowds would comet And how much
more good it would do him than under
the present system, where millionaires
can only feebly placate their own feel
ings by giving away huge sums for
charityi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
GREAT TRIALS
To the Editor of The Age-Herald.

To the Editor of The Age-Hersld.
take this opportunity to express to
you the great value and Importance of
the historical information contained in
the accounts of the Great Trials of His
tory" which have been running in your
daily paper for some months.
The articles are of lasting benefit to
the stdents of history, as well as to gen.
eral readers. I have read every one OF
them with pleasure and profit and can
unhesitatingly say are of great literary
profit to all who read them. The special
features of these accounts are In the
fact that the reader may learn the closest
details of the famous historical characters
which were introduced in these trials and
which are not readily found in the gem
eral histories and encyclopedias. 1 hope
these interesting and instructive articles
may be continued. HOYT LONG,
Guntersville, February 10, 1914
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
The Vanderbilt Boys

Vanderbilt university and Wander
bits boys are bound to do something
to keep themselves in, the limelight,"
said Henry b. Beaumont, a we'll known
Birmingham man who formerly resided
In Nashville, ''and since the old Gold
and Black was vanquished so COM
pletely last 'pigskin' period as to be
forced into the rear pew, the Glee club
has tried it's hand.
This year the Glee club which comes
to Birmingham Tuesday night Is trav-
cling in special car of its own. with
bellows dear to the college heart, and
attached thereto Is Pullman diner,
enabling the 23 members of the orsani-
zation to enjoy their tour, the twenty
fouth annual road trip of the club, in
regal style This is a novel stunt for
1t is the first time In the history of
southern colleges or universities that
any organization of college boys has
travelled in its own car.
''The club will arrive in Birmin CHAM
Monday night, over the Louisville and
Nashville, though they do not 'recite'
until Tuesday night, and while here
Buddy Morgan, the all-southern star
center OF football fame for two years,
will keep them corralled near the depot
ON Twentieth street. bossing them
around as president of the Glee club
pretty much as he 'bossed' opposing
oenters in his hey dey."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Birmingham's Wire Products

The completion of the American
Steel and Wire company's mill recent
ly was large fact in the industrial
life of the Birmingham district and
now that the immense plant is turning
out rods, nails and wire for the mar
ket, Birmingham has made great
forward movement whose Importance
cannot be overestimated. The ma
chinery at the mill was thoroughly
tested before actual operations began
and it is said to be in perfect working
condition.
Birmingham made stupendous
stride when the Tennessee company
began the manufacture of steel rails,
and since large tonnages of nails and
wire are being rolled here no prophet
of this district can be too roseate in
picturing what will come in the way
of finished products in the near
future.
This month of February in which
the wire mill was completed at cost
of something like four million dol
lars and put in operation will long be
remembered as banner month in the
history of this favored industrial
center.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

II the upper house Of the Kentucky
legislature passes a bill adopted by the
lower branch of that body, what is known
insthat state as the "fellow-servant rule'
will be abolished. For years this law has
been boon to public utility corporations
who have used it as loophole to escape
from heavy damage SUITS 1t has been
the rule of the courts of Kentucky, in
damage suits, when an Individual is in
jured or killed through the negligence of
another employe of the same corporation,
in the same capacity or the same grade
of work, to hold that the corporation Is
not liable for damages. For instance, IL
brakeman on a railroad gives the wrong
signal and another brakeman loses his
life, the fellow-servant is responsible and
rot the railway company
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

An heroic deed was performed at a fire
In New York when a number of men and
gether to form a human cushion, SO that
seven women who had to jump from an
upper story Of burning building might
be saved from striking the pavement in
their fall. AS a result of this unique act
of heroism. none of the women were seri-
ously injured. The men and boys whose
backs proved effective life savers walked
away as If nothing had happened, most
of them refusing to give their names.
They are described as "a crowd of Park
Row human flotsam and Jetsam.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
TOMORROw-TRIAL OF EARL FERRERs
WHY ENGLAND OBJECTS

! tween our own ports. These ships already
enjoy a monopoly, for no foreign owned
ships are permitted to engage in this
trade.
Great Britain protested that this ex-
emption was violation of the treaty and
asked for arbitration. Its protest was
based upon principle having very wide
application, but its immediate interest in
the matter, of course, was the injustice
done to Canadian ships which in their
trade with points on the Pacifis coast In
the British dominions would be under q
severe handicap
Besides the matter of principle and the
discrimination against Canada, Great
Britain had theoretical complaint that
to make the canal free to SO large a
part of Its traffic would necessarily in
fiict higher tolls upon all of the paying
commerce that ultimately would be ex-
pected to make the enterprise self-sus-
tanning as a financial investment.
1t has been estimated that the American
coastwise ship tonnage that will cross
the isthmus yearly soon after the open
ing of the canal will be 100000. Can-
ada has no such tonnage to offer at pres
ent even at free rates, but it is obvious
that If the canal is to be free to our
ships and a charge Of $1.20 ton is to
be fixed puon Canadian ships, the dis
elimination against the dominion's ship
ping will be very great.
Other questions are involved in the
Panama act, such as Notifications and
the exclusion of railroad-owned ships but
the real complaint that Great Britain
makes is that, in the face of our agree
ment, we have decided to operate the
canal not on terms of equality, but on
terms of inequality. to the lasting injury
of its great American dependency
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

investigation. But l have much to
say in behalf of the man who is not
willing to do so. The leaders of the
world in religion as in other things,
are those who before the bar of their
own enlightened judgment and con-
science try every article of creed; and,
acquit or condemn according to evi-
dence. If man tells you that Christ
teaches so and so, or Paul teaches so
and so--go to Christ or. Paul and see
for yourself. What is Council This
or Church That to tell you what you
must believe? Kings and priests be-
fore God we are. Each man who is
going to enjoy and WELD a robust
faith must in sense manufacture it
in the sweat of his own soul.
Don't be discouraged, then, my
friend Thomas, if you can't be-
lieve everything that the body
VI IiiS SiluICi btdCncS. L Ou may
gradually work into your creed
all of the accepted elements of
some organizations faith, or you
may not. But be assured of this:
Your faith will be your own, to have
and to hold, when you get it. And
of this also: God honors you for your
battle and will not forsake you.
And, Thomas-before you go-re-
member: While you are working out
your faith, keep yourself clean; for
when you find ifyou want to stand
four-square on it, like Galahad pure
and like Galahad strong. No matter
what your completed creed may be,
the top or the bottom is bound to be:
Il take Christ to be my master; Il
want to be like Him." So you NAV
put that in now and begin on it, both
as regards not doing and doing.
HENRY NJ. EDMoNDs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Attractive Speaker

Peter A. Collins of Massachusetts,
who will give a free lecture at the
Princess theatre Sunday. March /, en-
joys the reputation of being a platform
speaker of exceptional force and at
tractiveness,' said M. e. Linnehan
He comes under the auspices of the
knights of Columbus, and his theme
here VIII be socialism. His discussion
viii be from the Catholic viewpoint, and
as he Is an authority on economic and
sociological topics of the times his ad-
dress will be of an educational char
acter"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

~ URING the early part of the past
century piracy flourished quite
- prominently on the high seas and
It was with great difficulty that it was
finally wiped out. One of the most no.
torious of these pirates was Charles
Jeffers, and his native place Providence,
r. I. For a number of years previous
to 1884, when he was apprehended, Gibbs
startled the world by his bold and afro.
cious career on the high seas. For a
long time his crime seemed to defy and
BATTLE all the efforts of pursuit and ret
ributive Justice.
The elimination came, however, in No
vember, 1880, in which month there sailed
from New Orleans for Philadelphia the
brig vineyard, with William Thorn
by as captain, William Roberts as mate.
and a crew consisting of Charles Gibbs,
John Brownrigg, Robert Dawes and 9TH
ers When the Vineyard was five days
out a young negro cook made It known
that there were $4,000 in specie on board.
The crew discussed the matter and
planned as to how they could secure
the money. Finally the resolve was
taken that as the master and mate were
old men, 1t was time they should die
and make room for younger blood. The
conspirators agreed to commit the fiend-
ish crime of murder and piracy on the
night Of November %. The murder of
the master was by agreement to be ac-
complished by Gibbs and Wansey, and
that of the mate by Atwell and Church.
This plan was carried out.
The pirates took possession of the ves-
sci, and Wansley, the colored cook, bus
led himself in wiping up the blood that
had been spilled on the deck. The money
was secured and distributed In equal
portions. They then steered a northwest
erly course toward Long Island. When
they reached within 20 miles of the coast
they took to the boats and the brig
was scuttled. Several of the party were
drowned before reaching shore.
Gibbs, Wansley, Dawes and Brownrigg
succeeded in reaching shore. Conscience
stricken Brownrigg informed the law of
the murder, having himself had no part
TOMORR0W-TRT
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

From the New York World.
TT is a narrow view that Senator O'Gor-
man takes on the Panama tolls is
sue when he says that opposition to
the exemption of our coastwise ships is
confined to the transcontinental railroads
of the United States and Canada.
These roads are Disseminated against
by the act because ships owned by them
are excluded from the canal. but the
grievance of Great Britain is based upon
the fact that by making the canal free
to American coastwise ships we have vio-
lated the Hay-Pauncefote treaty to the in
jury of Canada. British interest in the
Panama enterprise is SO clearly a matter
of international agreement that 1t may be
easily restated.
Long before it was found possible to
carry railroads across the mountains of
the west, the idea of piercing the isthmus
was agtated in the United States and in
England 1t was recognized that both
countries were profoundly concerned in
the solution of the problem. Both con-
trolled territories, largely unsettled, ex-
tCIulie iIot oSCdh " OSCuis
After the gold discovery in California
a great impetus was given to the moveme-
ment toward the Pacific In Canada as well
as in the states, and in response to the
new needs the Clayton -Bulwer treaty pro-
viding for joint construction of canal
was negotiated and ratified in 1850. In
that instrument appeared this clause:
"The government or the United States
and Great Britain hereby declare that
obtain or maintain for itself any exclusive
control over the said ship canal"
Political and other difficulties arose in
both countries, and In the meantime rail-
road construction flourished. Great Brit
ain became involved In the Crimea and
portents of our own civil war appeared.
While not abandoned. the great project
was held In allegiance. When, after war
and railroad construction, our eyes were
way Of the isthmus, all the conditions
had changed. We wanted canal ana
we wanted to build 1t and control it our
selves, partly for military purposes, but
the treaty of 1850 stood in the way BY
it's means we were pledged forever. In
honor. nothing was to be done but TO ne
gotiate new treaty dissolving the an
Client partnership.
1t was found that Great Britain was
willing to cancel the agreement on what
appeared to be easy terms. BY the Hay
Pauncefote treaty of 1901 it relinquished
all the rights that we had freely Accord
ed 81 years before in consideration of
this stipulation on our part:
The canal shall be free and open to
the vessels OF commerce and of war Of
all nations observing these rules. on terms
of entire equality. SO that there shall
be no discrimination against any such
nation or its citizens or subjects In re-
spect of the conditions or charges of trait
fic shall be just and equitable
BY the terms of the Panama canal act
OF 1912. providing for the government and
operation of the canal, the President
fixed the tolls at n 20 for each registered
ton. but the act itself made the canal free
to American coastwise vessels Coast
wise vessels are ships plying only be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
HEART OF NINE

From the British Review
All. heart of mine, that dim and peril
Gus morn
Dos' thou recall
When for thy turbulent flock of grown
desires
The God gfxen ground seemed small,
its pasturage fenced with thorn,
And when to thee as to the Hebrew
sres
Was choice given 'twixt the uplands
and the plain
Where lay the cities vain?
Oh. heart, rejoice
That thy so hesitant choice
Led to the difficult hills of God
Part of thy flock, though part
Mourn, mourn. o hearth
The alluring marches of the cities trod
Ah heart of mine, not yet.
Nor ever. shalt thou forget
Thot later day OF flod and flame
That razed the cities of thy shame
Put brought thee pardon: nor the name
dread, yet beloved whence the pardon
came.
And yet.
Although thy fs ~ unon the bills be set
The plain of tn tl
Where burned .ea saHsfrs
Lies hid beneat a tears:
And 1T shall b.
That not the q fan,s N. not
the years
Nor any healin iff
shall e'er the al II thaf
dead, ooa.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
Gardening Time

Those of us who take interest in the
kitchen garden look forward with delight
to the coming of spring-the time for
planting seed" said W. M. Lindsay. a
well known authority on Horticulture, ar
horticulture and horticulture.
II have my little garden at Woodlawn
planted. My peas are up already, and by
protecting them from the frosts and
freezes that will come between now and
April 1 will have a very early crop. A
quarter of an acre garden? Why, no. 1
have garden space only about half the
size of an ordinary living room or bed
room, and yet 1 raised enough vegetables
last season to supply my family and sold
some besides"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

IF SUPBRSTITIOUS.
If Friday. thirteenth, you escaped
Unscathed. with pride don't starch:
There'n be another day like that
When thirteenth comes in March
SUSPENSION, ALA.
In Alabama there's a town
To which I call attention;
Its citizens can't settle down,
For they live in Suspension.
And should the lynchers ever hold
A large or small convention,
What better place to schemes unfold
Could there be than Suspension?
If ever to that town 1 stray
1t is my firm intention
To walk right out. wouldn't stay
A moment in Suspension.
IN SAME BOAT.
Brown: Have you ever read Ships
That Pass in the Night'?'
Jones: NO; but I've read the court
ship OF Miles Standish, and they are all
alike"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
The FIODzaIeya

The Flonzaley quartet-conceded to be
the greatest string quartet In the world
atre Monday night, March O." said B. b.
Burton.
The Flonzaleys come under the aus
plces of the Music Study club. They ap-
peared in a Sunday afternoon concert at
the Jefferson theatre last season and
gave great delight. No one who loves
music can afford to miss this rare treat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY WAY

FrOm tHe Lad1eS' HOfne JOurnaI.
Miss Varney was trying to illustrate
to her youthful Sunday school class<the
lesson, Return good for evil" To make
1t practical she said:
Nov. suppose, children. one of your
schoolmates should strike you, and the
next day you should bring him an apple,
that would be one way of returning good
for evil"
little girl. sitting In one Of the front
seats. raised her hand.
well, Elizabeth" said the teacher.
what is it7'
Then said Elizabeth firmly, ''he
would strike you again to get another
apple
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
MEN AND WOMEN

Scientists who love to muss UP simple
facts with big words say that men arc
dynamic, women static. Men invent, ex
plore. experiment, risk; women conserve,
hold fast. guard traditions. proprieties
and possessions. Men propose: women dts
pose. or at any rate oppose, and all prog
ress is conditioned by the perpetual co,,-
fiict of their divergent forces.
So viewed. the most unanswerable rea-
son In the world for q mans doing or
not doing a certain thing is the court
OF review at home. 1t is the predestins-
tion that ever dogs free WILL and from
1t there is no escape.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
THE CITY CHILD
From Harper's Magazine.

My small Suzanne, who has recently
begun to study geography. came to din
rer from her home work the other even
ing with puzzled look Daddy she
said, II don't exactly understand about
the Rocky mountains what they divide.
/ mean. VIII YOU explain it to me,
please At the end of rather detailed
explanation sine exclaimed joyfully: oh,
Iow l understand. Thank you. daddy.
You know l always supposed before that
Fifth avenue divided the east from the
west"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

Commander Peary comedies that the
completion of the Panama canal is as
pole. We beg to differ. 1t is a great
deal more important and is being accom-
plished, we are glad to say, without any
body being referred to as a gold brick"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22

Boston woman claims that she paid
$57, 900 for de luxe editions of books worth
less than $4,000. Some people don't seem
to realize that book Is book, re-
gardless of its binding, and expensive
ornamentation doesn't increase the real
value of It's contents