davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
HANS SCHMIDT
 HAS CONFESSED

NEW YORK, Dec. 31.-Picturing himself as liar, yielding "in weak moment to the temptation to tell the truth" Hans Schmidt, the form CT priest now under sentence of death for the murder of Anna Aumul- Ter, has written a letter to Assistant District Attorney Delehanty, in which he admits that his pretended insan- ity at his trial was sham, and says that he did not cut up the Aumuller woman while she was alive, but h. duced Dr. Muret to perform an oper- |ation upon her, from the effects of which she died. MT. Delehanty re- ceived the letter yesterday, but did not comment upon it.
 Schmidt began his letter by say ing that his insanity plea was an ar- rangement between himself and Dr. .Muret, by which both hoped to es- cape punishment for the illegal oper- atiOn and it's result. Concerning the alienists who examined him, he wrote: They should have said: This man Schmidt is not legally in sane, but a most astounding darned fool and sublime jackass:'" Schmidt admitted in his letter that he had lit tie hope of convincing the public that he did not cut up the woman alive q am now in next neighborhood of the death chair," he wrote, "ana growing kind of familiar with it. If the people should unexpectedly decide that should not die in the chair it will not make much difference There is nothing to hope for in my life"
 Concluding, Schmidt wrote that his one consolation while confessing 10 murder and pleading insanity was that he was doing lone decent thing" in keeping his word to save friends to whom he had promised to stick it out all alone" He had now lost even this consolation, he said, by be- coming a common sQuealer!"
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
MILLIONS LOST
 IN MINE FIELDS

LONDON, Dec. 31.-The INoyds
 insurance underwriters posted today a list of the neutral vessels lost in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea by striking mines since the war started. The list shows that 19 ships flying the flag of the three Sandi- navian countries have been lost and three. ships with Holland register. The value of the g ships is $1O,0OO,- 900. The neutral countries, which have lost heavily, have protested to Germany against the laying of mines in violation of the rules of war bu. the protest continues to go unheeded.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
GOVERNOR .BLEASE
 GRANTS PARD0NS
Fifty More Are Freed, Making a To. tai of 1,540 convicts Pardoned
 In Four Years.

COLUMBIA, s. C., Dec. 31.-Gov. ernor Blease today pardoned 55 more convicts as New Years present to the criminals. This brings the to- tai pardons given by Gov. Blease dur. ing his term of four years up to J. $40.
 Many of the men released have been found guilty of murder in the first degree. The police charge that crime has increased considerably since the pardons were given as the fear of the consequences no longer deters criminals.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
TEN BILLIONS 0F
 FARM PRODUCE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-The Az. ricultural Department announces to. day that the value of farm produce for the last year totals $10,0O0, ,OO0,. 900, which is $80,O00,00O more than the value of the produce of any pre-. vious year and sets a new record The farmers will be exceptionally prosperous and it is expected as a result that the prosperity will be car. ried into every trade and business.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
MOOSE WILL KEEP
 OPEN HOUSE

The Order of Alaska Moose will keep open house tomorrow. A com mittee of ladies have been named to have charge of the reception which will be given the people of Valdez and strangers now in the city.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
TIDE TABLES PORT OF VALDEZ.

Compiled from the official tide ts bles issued by the Coast and Geodet ic Survey. The time for high and low water is for the Port of Valdez and is Valdez time. Immediately fol. lowing the time of high and low wa. ter is given the height of the tide in feet and tenths:
 Thursday, Dec. 31.
 High tide 12:12 .. m., 6.7; 11:02 a. m., 9.6. s.f. Low tide 4:5s a. m., 3.9: SIS p. m., 0.6.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
The launch Brighton, Capt. Stamey, leaves in the morning for Port Wells with the mail and freight. A number of passengers will also leave on the Brighton for down Sound points.
STORES CLOSE NEW YEARS DAY

All the business houses of Valdez will close tomorrow The day will be observed as holiday by the mer- chants of the town.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
Weather Report.
Attention, Eautes!

', Attention, Eaotes! t On New Years night there will De installation of officers. All members should attend. Something doing, F. 10. E.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
MAR|POSA DUE
 HERE AT 60'CL0CK

The steamer Mariposa is due in Valdez at this evening and will sal 1t 7 for Seattle.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31

V Civic League Meets saturday.
 The Valdez Civic League will meet on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the city hall f 'ss
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31

The most exquisite hand-painted china ever seen in Valdez at valdez Drug Co. f
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
Sweat Baths.

First-class sweat baths and mas sage parlors at room 5. Montana. tf'
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31

Imported Japanese baskets at Val deg Drug Co. If
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31

LOST one arctic at Moose hall on Christmas night. The arctic left Is size 3 1-2. The one taken by mis. take has the name Faust inside the arctic. Notify Mrs. Faust.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31

Sterling silver (cut of Valdez) sou venir hat pins soc at the Emporium.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31

subscribe for tho Prospectus.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
O0UUlsy ~
 ouslness

Harvsy's Tooosry Retiring From
 Duslness. < We are closing out our entire stock below cost Fixtures for sale. t
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31

Suits pressed for $1.0O at Silver mans the tailor. Telephone 198.
Valdez daily prospector., 1914-12-31
LOCAL BREVIT!ES.

Father Cremont is expected tore turn from Seward on the steamer Mariposa and services will be held in the Catholic church tomorrow morning at 8:30.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
The Captain's Wisdom

Since the birth of the nation, the
strength of state in the electoral col
lege has been based on the population
of. that state.
captain Hobson, a candidate for the
Senate, has introduced bill providing
for the direct election by the people of
the President and the vice president
of the United States. Under his bill
the strength of state would be de-
pendent on the number of votes it cast.
Under the system of the fathers,
that in vogue at the present time, Ala
bama is as strong as California. Under
the Hobson bill, California will be
three times as strong as Alabama.
Under the present system, Illinois is
only three times as powerful in the
election of a President as Alabama.
Under the Hobson bill, Illinois would
be more powerful than all the states
of the south combined.
Alabama - the south - under the
Hobson bill would become a political
nonentity, because in this state and
section women do not vote, and the
negro, TO all practical purposes, is dis,
franchised. Alabama = the south
under the Hobson bill, could recover
its political power only through legis-
lation as a result of which women
might vote, and negroes-men and
women-secure the right of suffrage.
There is no danger!
AS long as southern democrats re.
tain their influence in federal legisla-
ton, no serious consideration will be
accorded the Hobson bill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
Alabama's Prestige Endangered

Eight of the 10 members of the
congressional delegation of this state
are between the devil and the deep
blue sea"
Some of them are serving their last
days in Congress Perhaps all eight
of them may be retired With danger
in the form of opposition to their re-
election besetting them in their dis
tricts, there is stern duty ahead, de.
manding that she be served. It is
inspiring that all of them are at tho
present time obeying the behests OF
duty. "Their districts" they say,
must take care of themselves"
AS a result of the election in April,
Alabama may lose it's prestige in the
Congress. When Senator Johnston
died, Alabama lost valuable chair
manship. In the retirement from the
oSi Nitc vi VIC iiouoti Usual w. OUucI-
wood will yield the Craftsmanship of
the committee on ways and means,
and the leadership of the party.
Should Henry D. Clayton be defeated,
Alabama would lose the chairmanshir
of the second most important commit
tee, that of the judiciary. In the re-.
| tirement of William Richardson. an
other craftsmanship is yielded. Should
John l.. Burnett be beaten, the chair
manship of the immigration committee
would be lost to the state.
Alabamians, as a result of their
| years in harness and their capabilities,
| have done wondrous things. No state
has more influence at Washington
than this. Thus is an illustration pre-.
sented of the wisdom in electing good
men to Congress and retaining them in
service.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
BIG HORSE cuEsTNIrTs

From the New York Ttifnes
Henry c. F'rick, who is building his new
S,0O0O0o house on the site of the old
Lenox library on upper Fifth avenue,
has just had 13 horse chestnut trees
planted in front of the residence on the
block front in New York It is the larg-
est operation in tree planting that has
been done on Fifth avenue in many years,
and possesses another element of unusual
interest in that all of the trees are set
few feet back from the curb line, and
spaces between them will be sodded with
grass In the spring.
1t took several months to find the
proper number of trees of the correct size
Some of them came from an old country
estate near Germantown, Pa, and others
were obtained from Long Island and Con-
enctieut. They include both the single
and double Towering horse chestnuts
and are from 10 to 10 inches in diameter
a few feet above the ground
In order to insure good soil for their
growth, Mr.. Frick had the entire curb
line eXcavated to a depth of six feet 70
do this it was necessary to blast out
solid rock throughout the entire block
front. Special soil from old gardens in
Long Island was brought and several
tons have been used. The trees present
sturdy, healthy appearance, but the sue
cess of the transplanting operation will
not be known until spring.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
The Regional Banks

1T seems to be now understood that
there will be not less than 10 regional
banks to start with under the banking
and currency aet,' said Ludwig l.. Was
mer. prominent business man of Phila-
delphia, who takes an active interest in
Washington politics.
Just how many banks will be dis
trbuted remains to be seen, but it is
generally assumed in business circles that
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago
and San Francisco will each have re-
serve bank. As to the other five, the
south will probably have three; maybe
four. Richmond is making a strong eff
fort to secure a reserve bank Atlanta
has been actively at work. but If Rich
mond is successful. Atlanta will not be
one of the cities selected. Birmingham
has a good chance. With Atlanta out
of the way, it would seem almost sure
that Birmingham would be successful
Houston, Tex, will probably secure
one of these prizes. New Orleans may
be a winner. st. Louis is a likely con-
testant. But instead of New Orleans the
distribution may give Denver the tenth
bank The act provides for as many as
u in the discretion of the board, which
will be headed by Secretary McAdoo. In
case there are 12 Omaha and Seattle
will each stand a good chance of secur-
ing one of the reserve banks
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
ROADS MAKE SUGAR LATE

Marc M. Goodnow in Farm and F'ireslde.
One day when 1 had ventured to use
my roadster I promised a marooned
farmers wife to bring her 80 cents
worth of granualted sugar. on Thurs
day morning I started from town with
the sugar under the seat. Ten miles
out the roads became so sticky 1t was
necessary to abandon the buggy and
complete the journey on horseback. On
Friday the buggy was picked up again
and used until noon, when l again had
to resort to a single horse and bor-
rowed saddle.
Not until Saturday afternoon was l
able to deliver the sugar Even then
trace snapped as we came over the clay
hill in sight of the farmhouse, and
there was nothing to do but ask the
farmers wife the privilege of storing
the vehicle in her barnyard until the
roads dried or froze, in payment for the
delayed service. The family had been
without sugar in their coffee for four
days, but the prospect of having plenty
of 1t for Sunday dinner. when relatives
were expected, overshadowed the de-
privation through the week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
HAD A THREE-DoLLAR BILL

Middleton On. " Correspondence New
York World.
A man walked into a hsrroom here to-
day and asked. "Will you change a SO bill,
please?"
The bartender went to the cash register
to get the money, then turned and said,
"Ah quit your Kidding There's no such
a bill"
TN bet you $40 there is" retorted the
stranger
You're on" the bartender replied.
Product"
The stranger produced. The bill was
one issued by the Connecticut State bank
of North America in Seymour in January,
1852, on its face was: state of Connecti-
cut. The Bank of North America will pay
TO the bearer on demand SO. Seymour,
January /, 1852. No. 16, AIS. f. Atwater,
Cashier. G. F. De Witt, President"
When overhauling an old house here,
which had been occupied by his father,
the barroom's customer had found the bill
wedged between the floor and the siding.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07

Hartford Railroad company and it's
clerks, that of the Erie (Penn.) Forge
company and the Indianapolis team
sters and car strike.
In the cases of the Colorado and
Michigan mine strikes the employees
demonstrated their faith in the labor
department by agreeing to submit
their differences thereto, but the en-
ployers refused this.
The report deprecates the use of
firearms, armed guards and private
detectives in labor disputes. In this
again it is sound, as the injection of
the militia into such matters is un-
democratic and can only be defended
where strike conditions are intolera-
bic and life and property are placed in
jeopardy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
Ours Is Not a Bed of Roses

It will not do because we are almost
completely isolated, geographically,
bv our great stretch of coast line to
become too Independent of the good
will or friendliness of other nations.
1t is true that single handed we
could probably more than hold our
own in collision with any single ma
ton, or with several or a majority
of them, but we should be prepared to
meet the emergency should one arise,
requiring the alliance or at least moral
support of some of the worlds great
powers.
At present in the school of nations
we are not the admired of all ad
mirers and we should sufficiently ap-
preciate this fact.
Colombia has not by any means
forgotten what she is pleased to term
the "rape of Panama." and she has
so far succeeded in arousing the sus-
picions of the remainder of the Latin
diplomatic move. Russia still sulks in
her tent like Achilles at our deuncia-
tion of the Russo American treaty and
our desultoriness in negotiating an
other, and like that hero of old should
we ever need her she may eyclaim,
"By this | swear, when bleeding
Greece again shall call Achilles she
shall call in vain"
Great Britain doubts our integrity
and in a dignified attitude, mingled
with partial contempt, displays her Of
Tended sentiment at our quasi-viola-
tion of sacredly pledged obligations
relative to the free passage of her
ships through the canal.
Japan has been stung to the quick
at our laws of racial exclusion and dis
elimination, and it requires but little
to start a smoldering ember into q
dangerous flame.
Mexico does not bear for us that
love which Jonathan was accredited
as entertaining for David, SO that we
have five powers to placate and posi-
bly, as many more South American ma
tions to convince Of our spirit of gen
eral amity.
President Wilson is keenly alive to
the situation and this is probably his
most potential incentive for urging a
change in the Panama canal law aside
from his injured sense of national
honor and the infringement of moral
obligations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
RUNNING THE RAILROAD

where's the president of this rail-
road?" asked the man who called at the
general offices. says the Pittsburg Press.
Hes down In Washington attendin' TIL
session O. some kind NV an investigator
committee, replied the office boy
where's the general manager?'
He's appearin' before tn interstate
commerce commission.
"Wel where's the general superntend-
ent?"
Hes at tn meetin' of tn legislature
fightin' some bum new law"
Where is the head of the legal depart
ment?"
He's in court, tryin suit"
Then where is the general passenger
agent?'
He's explainin' t tn commercial trav-
elers why we cant reduce tn fare"
Where is the general freight agent?"
He's gone out in tn country T. attend
a meetin o TIL grange an tell tn farm
ers why we amt got no freight cars"
who's running the blame railroad, any
way?'
''Th' newspapers and tn legislatures"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS

From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
Elisha Lee, the brilliant counsel for the
railroads in the recent arbitration pro-
ceedings in New York, said at luncheon:
We'll, the poor railroads, at any rate,
have got rid of the pass evil. Cornelius
Vanderbilt used to tell a story about that
"Nr. Vanderbilt said that a man once
called and asked him for pass over the
New York Central to Albany.
"'Why do you ask for a pass?" said
Mr.. Vanderbilt.
Because I'm so sensitive the man
answered
so sensitive? What's that got to do
with the matter?'
"'Well I'll tell you, Mr.. Vanderbilt ;
the applicant explained. L went up to
Albany on your line last week. and [
was the only man on the whole durn
train that paid his fare. The other pas
sengers guyed me about it like the dick
ems, and, as I'm so very sentitive, | don't t
want to go through such an unpleasant
experience again "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
ONE RAILWAY LINE Is STRAIGHT

From Macy's Curious Bits of History
Automatic power is well illustrated
by the story of the building of the rail-
road connecting st. Petersburg and
Moscow. Two Americans were employed
to lay out and build the line When the
plans were all ready they were laid
before Emperor Nicholas. Noticing at
once that the linee deviated in some
places to avoid difficulties and in 9TH
ers to tap certain important cities and
towns, he shook his head and said it
wouldn't do; that he wanted no such
twisting railway lines in his domin-
ions. Taking a ruler and pen, he drew
straight line between the two cities.
There" he said. "A straight line is
the shortest distance between two
points. Make your road follow this
line"
Thus it comes that there is one rail-
road almost or quite as direct in real
ity as it appears on the map.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
The Iron Market

The large buying movement in the iron
trade continues, and while prices have
not risen as fast as was expected there
has been gradual movement upwards
Prices are decidedly stronger in the south.
Rogers Brown & Co, in their Cincinnati
circular just issued say:
placing of orders for railroad equip
ment continued in good quantity. Steel
making irons are more active than they
have been, indicating a better feeling
among the producers of finished steel
products.
"A feature during the last week has
been the activity in ferro-manganese and
the unusual fluetuation in that material,
bringing it to a lower point during the
week than it has reached in a number
of years. There was quick recovery
and advancing tendency now among for
eign makers. A large tonnage was booked
during the week at the low prices for
delivery covering portions and all of
the present year"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
LINCOLN's FARM POLICY

From Abraham Lincoln's address al
Milwaukee before the State Agricrl-
tural Society of Wisconsin, Septem-
ber so, 1853.
No other human occupation opens so
wide a field for the profitable and
agreeable combination of labor with
cultivated thought as agriculture.
Population must increase rapidly,
more rapidly than in former times, ana
ere long the most valuable of all arts
will be the art of deriving subsistence
from the smallest area of soil, No COM
munity whose every member possesses
this art can ever be the victim of op-
preston in any of it's forms. Such COM
munity will alike be Independent of
crowned kings, money kings and land
kings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Ladies Unsafe on streets

y lady who resides on Highland ave-
nue. has written a letter to the editor
of The Age Herald in which she eX-
presses the opinion that 1t is unsafe
for lady unattended to walk on the
streets of Birmingham after o'clock
in the afternoon in the residence sec
tions. She tells of an experience she
had last Tuesday evening about 5:SO IN
which a negro man snatched her purse
and made off with it. Another lady,
she says. was also a victim of ne
gro of the same description as the one
who snatched her purse.
OF course, it is hard for the police
department to be right on the spot
every time a robbery occurs and more
especially so If this is in the residence
section. But, it is pointed out, if more
street lights were placed in the Sec
ttons somewhat removed from the heart
of the city it would have tendency
to lessen the crime of purse snatch
ing. Within the past six months purse
snatchers in Birmingham have become
one of the most daring lot of criminals
within the confines of its corporate
limits.
The lady referred to was attacked on
Highland avenue at time when both
pedestrians and automobiles are num-
circus, the workers in the city return
ing to their homes for the night. The
boldness of the negro who snatched
her purse was but more plainly
brought to mind by virtue of this fact.
Residents velieve something should
be done to protect ladies when they
desire to take a twilight walk and If
more policemen cannot be placed in the
residence sections, then street lights
should help solve the problem.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-07
LUKE M,LUKE SAYS

FROM tle cincinnati enquirer
IL the fool killer would stay on the Job
there wouldn't be SO many men trying to
monkey with other peoples buzz saws.
Education is great stuff. But when we
are all in the high brow class, who is GO
ing to drive the garbage wagons?
A womans idea of being happily mar
ried is to have husband who is afraid
of her.
People don't think much of a man who
speaks disrespectfully of the dead but
they don't care how much he knocks the
living.
Cleanliness is a good trait. But some
men are so proud of their finger nails
that they are afraid to do any work
When a woman hasn't any shape at all
she biames 1t on nature. But when she
has good shape she regards it as a per-
sonal achievement
There are not many divorces in the
homes where the wife finds cook books
more interesting than sex novels.
A man will say: "Of course wouldn't
think for moment of trying to tell you
how to run your own business" and then
he will occupy half hour telling you how.
A naturalized citizen can't be elected
President but at that he hasn't anything
on most of us who are born here.
Lots of people who wouldn't think of
selling themselves tr the devil will rent
themselves out by tine day and feel vir-
tuous.
Anyway. you seldom hear of a man
wearing pair of black eyes because he
kept his mouth closed
A man will believe anything he can't
see. Tell him that the rings of Saturn
are 1876 452 miles in circumference
and he will know II TO be the truth But
the fact that woman is wearing a we'd
ding ring never keeps him from butting in.
The return to the bustle is a mighty
serious matter. OF courye. there are lot
Of them who need bustes. but what the
rest of them want With hustles is more
than | can comprehend,
Old corsets and the kisses women give
each other are the most\yalueless things
in the world.