davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

kin, and the Rambler read these in
scriptions:
"John Wager, born September %.
1772. died October %, 1872. His wife,
Catherine Bate. born September IL,
1915. died December 81, 1929.
Edward Wager, born November 4,
1895, died September 20, 1926.
James Bate Wager, born 1901, died
1853. ,o
John Wager. sr. born 1747, died
1903.
Mrs. Mary Harper seelig. born in
Philadelphia August 3. 1875. died June
IL. 1874. at Washington. D G:
Maj. Philip Wager. U: s. A.. born
October 81, 1890; died November %,
1896"
Outside and close by the Harper plot
the Rambler read the epitaphs on a
number of old stones and some of these
were:
I'm memory of Sarah Amin. daughter
Of Samuel and Lydia Amin, who de-
parted this life at Harpers Ferry II
April, 1904, in the 21st year of her age.
My glass is run, my grave you see;
prepare for death and follow me-"
Samuel -Ki1ham. born 1892, died 1868
Alkaline Kilham. born 1903, died 1864.
Elizabeth, wife Of James Coates. born
August 2, 1895; died March 3. 1885,
Among the other old tombs were those
of George Compton. James Coates.
Harry Compton, Daniel Johnson, Anne
Frances and George Crowl. Charles
Hobard Bestor and Orson Bestor
AS the Rambler sat in the shade of
that elm tree in the Harper lot his
mind dwelt on the story Of this pioneer.
1t was about 1880 that Robert Harper.
carpenter and miflwright. emigrated
from England to the United States. If
he did not land at Philadelphia. he. at
least. followed his trade there until
1747. In that year he was employed to
erect a church building for some men,
bers of the Society of Friends who had
just settled on Opequon creek = that
is, the story is that it was Friends
meeting house. 1t may be SO. The
valley of Virginia is believed not to
have been known to whites until 1916,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

bought out Stevens and got good
title from Lord Fairfax or his agent.
Stevens log cabin was on Shenan-
doah street not far from the raiiroad
in it and opened a ferry over both
rivers, without doubt building the
scows with his own hands. after which
considerable travel in and out of the
valley of Virginia went by way of the
Hole" which came then to be known as
Harper's ferry. Becoming more pros
porous. he built good house on an
other site in 1775, and there he died, as
his tombstone tells. in 1882.
The Rambler does not know that Rob-
ert Harper was ever married. but at
least he died without issue, bequeath-
ing his property to Sarah Harper.
daughter of his brother Joseph. living
in Philadelphia. She had married at
Philadelphia man named Wager, and
some of their descendants came to live
on the land left by Robert Harper. and
some of their descendants are living IN
Harpers Ferry and in Washington to-
When 1t had been determined to set
up a national capital outside OF any
then existing city. Congress author
lied the establishment of a permanent
seat of government on the Potomac
river between the Eastern branch ana
Conococheague creek. creek Wnlcn
rises in Pennsylvania In the nelghbor-
hood of Chambersburg. and. flowing
Williamsport, Md, twenty miles beyond
Harpers Ferry. measured In a line. but
considerably farther if the winnings
of the river be followed. 1t was then
proposed that the capital be established
at Harpers Ferry, and on the highlands
that rise back of the junction of the
rivers.
The situation and the extent of the
water power led to the establishment
of the United States arsenal at Har-
pers Ferry in 1894. The legislature of
Virginia gave to the federal govern
ment the right to buy $40 acres of land
and in making its purchase the gov
eminent bought 1875 acres from the
Harper heirs, covering the present
town of Harpers Ferry.
The government purchase also in
cluded the site Of what is now the
town of Bolivar, on the heights back
of Harpers Ferry, familiar to nearly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

shelters they are taken on hand push
carts to the nearest relief post to be
picked up by our ambulances."
Yes but French batteries are
placed in and about the various relief
posts the neighborhood is frequently
under heavy COMMUNICATIONS
trated shell fire'-and there is mighty
little difference between a bomb shell
ter and a relief post.
The 150-long comes with an omfnous
swish.
"szzzz-zzz!'' says Salisbury. "Bing.
bling! 1t is a double-action shell and
shakes the earth. Those nearby are
knocked out by the air.
The Austrian 305, called the Pilsner,
with a triple explosion, is the most
awful yet. excepting, they say. certain
great italian shells Within $50 PAGES
men explode from their inside, by in
conceivable air blasts entering their
mouths. threats, nostrils. ears. etc.
French batteries. aided by aeroplanes.
locate and dismantle them promptly.
I'VE have only had one 3O5 shell, as
far as we know. from an outer fort of
Metz" says Salisbury. TT struck in
the river. The shock was SO awful
IHdl p5Oplc tHOusHt II was dh Cdi Ill
quake. The three crashes follow each
other with great rapioity, like three
huge blasting charges. The 50 double
action German shell is not much
feared"
They have nothing on the French.
Although all single-action, the French
explosives are so violent that, in maxi
ing quick advances, we find German
dead standing upright. pointing their
rifles And without q scratch Within
fifteen yards round bursting French
shell there becomes short, sudden,
terrific atmospheric depression. The
equilibrium Of air pressure between
the outside and the inside of the human
body Is so upset that the gases in the
blood rush out, choking the vital or
gans"
"And rife fire?" asked some one.
"On July II we had twenty-three
nosss IN one lance ho e,sh III
mainder shell splinters. It's excep-
tionaL The French were making one
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29
ROCK-HEWN STAIRWAY.

riot and tumult roaring around to pass
through the breach and participate In
the calm below. Here the eve ulti-
mately composes itself, and that way,
too. the road happens to lead. You
cross the Potomac above the junction.
pass along it's side through the base
of the mountain for three miles, Its ter
rible precipices hanging in fragments
over you, and within about twenty
miles reach Fredericktown and the fine
country around that.
This scene is worth voyage across
the Atlantic. Yet here, as in the neigh
borhood of the Natural bridge. are peo-
pie who have passed their lives within
half dozen miles and have never been
to survey these monuments of war
between rivers and mountains which
must have shaken the earth to its
center"
1t Is traditional and altogether plau-
sible that the point of view at which
Mr.. Jefferson received the impressions
which he committed to writing was the
hill which rises steeply from the town
of Harpers Ferry and which appro-
priately is called Cemetery hill. And
in that cemetery is grave which olds
the dust of the man who gave Harpers
Ferry its name.
A few rods outside the gray and
rough stone wall which bounds the
cemetery, but somewhat lower and
commanding view of the Shenandoah,
the junction of the rivers and the gap
through Maryland Heights and Lou
doun Heights, is a curious rock plat
form and overhanging sheltering rock,
which has been called Jeffersons rock
SO long that no mans memory runs to
the contrary. 1t Is believed that Mr.
Jefferson stood at this rock while con-
templat1ng the scene of which he wrote
If, leaving the tip of the town where
the two rivers meet. you pass along the
main street paralleling the Shenandoah
rfver-and which Is called Shenandoah
street-you ascend the first steep street
to the right, you will note on the left
hand a staircase of several broad and
crooked flights, irregularly and roughly
hewn out of the solid rock which
forms the hill. The dominating note
in the picture at this point is a stone
church and it is to this church that the
rock-hewn stairway leads. Arriving at
the church, you pause to read the cor
ner stone. on which is carved the leg
end: Erected October Is, 1890; rebuilt
October 1896" 1t is st. Peters Catho-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

lie Church. the first rector having been
Father Gfldea, and the rector under
built being the Rev. Laurence Kelly.
On the Shenandoah side of the church
a stony path leads up and along the
hillside. whence you look far down on
the Shenandoah and the. houses along
the main river street of the Ferry. A
hard climb. brings you to Jefferson's
rock. Joseph Barry, the historian of
Harpers Ferry. and an old friend of
the Rambler, has thus told the story
of that rock:
Thomas Jefferson, who has immortal
lied the scenery in a fine description,
composed it, it is said, on q remarka BILE
view of both rivers and their junction.
The rock itself is a wonderful freak of
nature, and it is regarded by the in
habitants with pride for its being a
great natural curiosity. and with ven
Grafton on account Of the Jefferson
tradition. 1t is composed of several
huge masses of stone piled on one an
other, although the whole Is regarded
as one rock, the upper piece resting on
a foundation, some years ago, SO mar
row that it might easily be made to
sway back and forth by a child's
hand. 1t is supported now, however.
by pillars placed under IT by order OF
one of the old armory superintendents,
the original foundation having dwin-
died to very unsafe dimensions by the
action of the weather and still more by
the devastation of tourists and curios-
ity hunters"
After passing this famous rock your
path winds up and up the bare hillside,
and you come to the cemetery. Here
among hundreds of headstones and a
tall. heavy growth Of honeysuckle.
clover, grasses, catnip and daises part
ly shaded by spruce. locust and syca-
more trees. you may find grave plot
Enclosed by a stone wall. In one corner
of this lot grows an elm tree, and be-
meath its shadow is tombstone thus
inscribed.
I'm memory of Robert Harper, the
founder of Harpers Ferry. Born 1913.
Oxford England: Died October 2, 1882.
This stone is erected by his great
nephew, John Wager Swayne"
In this Harper plot lie many Of his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

From where we Sleep"
They sleep 400 yards from the Ger
man trenches. 1t is SO near that every
now and then. as on July II, they hear
the cries of handto-hand fighting
when the French go at them with the
bayonet. Some one asked him what it
sounds like.
Like the shrieks of madmen," he
said.
The usual firing line resembles "a
1t is punctuated by rifle shots and
shell fire.
They must go under shell fire to get
the wounded. 1t Is their business For
example. Point Mousson has been
bombarded over 100 times. and is now
practically, bombarded every day.
In one morning we have taken out,
during bombardment. thirty-one killed
or dying and fifty wounded, Just civil
ians and stray soldiers such as hap
pened to be at Pont-a-Mousson on re-
pose"
why do the Germans persist in
wrecking that little unfortifled town.
some one asked.
.sd 1T was was s,, Provisioning ,E, town long
prevent it's being such to prevent SOL
ers being kept there overnight 1t
is not very intelligent. I do not know
why they do it. Probably just their
usual terrorizing.'
The Americans have. equally. to evac-
late Bo,s-le-Pr.tre and the adjoining
army divis ons. total equivalent of an
army corps and a half. When the
French were doing the work It had
been the practice to send telephone
call for ambulances to come to a GER
tain relief post, but the Americans
stay Immediately outside, day and
night. to be at personal call. 1t is
nothing for the boys 10 lose their sleep.
waiting up to get their clients" al
the earliest moment.
who picks up the wounded?" asked
an aspirant who had read about gold
en-haired society beauties going right
down into the inferno.
French army stretcher bearers. reg
ular1y." answered Salisbury. They
carry them to the nearest bomb shell
ter in the trenches. where they receive
their first dressing. From the bomb
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29
Painful Experience.

wDwARD F CROKER. sx-chief o.
k the New York Fire Department
discussing the terrible steamboat dis
aster on Lake Michigan last month.
said:
"A strict enforcement of the steam
boat laws would have averted this dis
aster. But we don't enforce our laws
till we learn by experience their neces-
sity
Experience, the suffering of expe-
rience-we are nothing without that"
With a pensive smile he ended:
1.-The bump of knowledge is always
the result Of a very hard whack from
the hammer of experience"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

when Gov. Spottswood led an expedf-
ton to the Blue Ridge and reached the
summit at what is believed to be Swift
Run gap. 1t was he who took possess
sion of the country in the name of the
King of England.
Scotch-Irish were the pioneers in the
valley of Virginia and they esta blished
homesteads on Opequon creek, near
where Winchester stands. German I'M
migrants followed close upon them.
Joist Hite, In 1882. obtained a grant of
10000 acres, and at the head of sixteen
families moved from Pennsylvania,
crossing the Potomac which above
the junction of the Shenandoah was
miles above the point where Harpers
Ferry stands. They settled on Ope-
quon creek. five miles south of
Winchester. 1t was these people who
towns along Massanutten mountain. In
1888 Jacob Slower got grant and took
in party of settlers: in 1874 some SET
tiers from the Monocacy valley, in
Maryland. moved into the valley of vir-
ginia. and In 173S-the Rambler be-
1feves it was-John Lewis brought a
hundred families from Ireland and
Scotland and settled near what later
became Stanton.
At any rate, Robert Harper started
from Phlladelphia to build church
on Opequon creek, not far from the pres
ent site of Winchester. He came by way
of Fredericktown, In which at that time
there was only. one house, that of a
German named Hoffman Harper would
have taken the route into the valley Of
Virginia which those before him had
taken. but Hoffman told him it would
be nearer. though harder. to go by way
of the Hole" That was the name by
which the junction of the Potomac and
Shenandoah was then known to the few
men who had been there, or who had
heard of it. Sometimes it was called
1.-The Gut.H Harper travelled that way
and found one Peter Stevens living
there. the only inhabitant of the region.
Stevens was a squatter on the land. not
having settled for it with Lord Fair
fax; and Harper, liking the place,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

Any man who says he has not prayed
in this war is liar"
Some one said he must be thinking OF
Mignot-
Who was Mignot? These are stories
of the section, which, perhaps. ought
not get out. Mignot was Salisbury
French orderly. One morning, recent
ly. he was seen to be praying fervently.
i've got NINE" was his explanation.
At noon Mignot. stirassettie, mech
anician-driver, and two others were in
the kitchen of the sections headquar,
tiers. Without warning, stray shell
fell into the kitchen, killing and man
Cling Mignot beyond recognition.
grievously wounding Grassettie and
not touching hair of the two others.
both notably nearer.
Its all in the draw" says our hero,
land the cards are dealt from on high.
A captain. limping and bandaged, rode
to the rail head with us. 4 am going
on repose.' he said. all my officers are
of butt for his fussiness. was bringing
me cup of coffee in the trench. AS
usual. he was whispering hoarsely:
Jacques. get down." Jean. you're ex-
posing yourself" when bursting shell
cut him in two-the most watchful man
in the company-his lower parts fall
ing into the pit and his shoulders,
arms and head blown over the trench"
There is only one road to the boys
headquarters. The Germans shell back
on that road to prevent provisions be-
ing brought up.
IF the fire is regular. we can calcu-
late when the shell will fall" he says.
but fancied security plays strange
tricks. A lieutenant whom we knew
very well was riding his bicycle one
night at 2 o'clock along that road. A
small shell. just one, all by itself. land
ed within three yards Of him. blowing
off his legs. We picked him up in a
dying condition"
One day the Germans bombarded
their advanced rail-head. You know
how it is done Aeroplanes photograph
the desired object-battery. trench.
hospital. church. whatever the Ger
mans love to smash best-and, reduced
to scale, the photograph is pasted on
the map IN it's recognized spot. Then
it is mere mathematics OF pointing.
Shells fell Into cur station. some
into a factory adjoining. and a cali was
made for am balances TO go down and
pick up the wounded. Two Americans
volunteered. One. endeavoring TO
cross the tracks, was blocked. and
stayed on his machine. while shells
fell $50 feet in front of him and behind
him. He quit his machine. carried his
wounded from the factory across the
tracks, aided by an aged gatekeeper,
and got away with crippled tire, a
shell splinter cutting the rubber like
an AZ He vas James Mcconnell Of
'tson Of the senator?' asked.
He nodded.
And the other Americana" I asked
"Oh, bother" answered modest Sails
bury.
He told of a colonel who had faith
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

and luck I'VE can't go until our work
is done,' he said. so just being wound
ed means retarded victory" He was
at Morhange. he was at the Marine, he
was at Eparges. and each time at the
head of his battalions-that Is to say
with ninety chances In hundred TO
be hit. He never had a scratch. The
other day he went with his staff, at
repose. in a little village lost in the
bottom of the forest. which the Ger
mans almost never bombard-that is
to say. with ninety chances in a nun.
dred to repose in blessed peace All
right. AS pm. struck an avalanche
of ''marmites" began falling. The
colonel avoided them all-except the
last one, shot a quarter of an hour
after the others, and falling into the
were at table. Four officers beside
him, elbow to elbow, were scarcely
touched, but he was killed clean, a
scrap of shell cutting his carotid.
a shower" says Salisbury, reduces all
human pride. Regular bombardment
can be lodged. Rifle and machine-gun
bullets give a kind of warning-you
feel death coming. But the lone shell
strikes when you don't expect it. on
the spot where no one could imagine"
The air is calm. the village Is at
peace, the men loaf beside the old
church, not even THINKING of war
Suddenly a whistle and explosion.
Arms and legs fly in the air and blood
flows in rivulets. Five miles. seven
miles away, a cannon shot which no
one heard has done 1t.
why were these men killed and
others spared? The wind, the dryness
of the air. wet map on which the
German artillery officer calculated his
distances, an interruption to listen to
a funny story. or the sun in his eyes
makes him pull the table back-a
trifle made the shell fall on those men
beside the church, instead Of fifty
Yards away.
And you are IN life or in mince-
meat" saws the humble hero 1T is
very comforting"
at removes temptation to be
coward or think oneself smart. lust
TO go quietly about your work and
trust. STERLING HELLO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

of their rapid drives, and we were get
ting their wounded up behind them"
The bombproof shelters are not bomb
proof.
when a German 210 lights on the
roof it is liable to go to pieces like
dust, though made with the greatest
ingenuity of railroad iron, sand baesi
and dirt"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29
I lived in Paris

they did not want war. lived in Paris
between 1900 and 1904
He volunteered with the American
ambulances, and began at the bottom,
Neuilly hospital. During the battle
of the Marine he worked in the big
ward. No II, under Mrs. George Mum
roe and Mrs. W. X. Vanderbilt
You don't begin brilliant automo-
bilist at the front, despite the stories
blond beauty, who go right down into
the trenches with their" automobiles
and rescue the poor mangled fellows!
These American boys, who are real.
had to get wise in the rear. transport
ing French and English wounded from
the station at Etaples to the various
hospitals of Paris-Plage and surround
ings All those little seashore towns
have temporary hospitals. Transferred
to Beauvais they were attached def
nitely to the first army of France in
reserve, carrying convalescent and con-
tagious cases from the camps to Beau
walls hospital.
They lived in the Taupin barracks.
mostly boys of wealthy American fam
lilies, getting their first taste of mill
tary discipline-gates closed at pm.
lights out at pm.
They put in their spare moments In
venting the third stretcher. This has
peen adopted by the French army.
Though Salisbury was the inventor, he
always says we" in Speaking of the
folding system by which they get in
an extra man
THE boys did all the work with
tEeir own hands and a blacksmith shop
which was mere.
in Pau he had been made squad
commando AT Beauvais he was pro
NOTED section commander. And off
they went, at last, toward the bursting
shells.
THE work is to take the wounded
from the first aid posts to the nearest
railhead eighteen miles distant" he
was telling, "or to the front hospitals.
wnicn used to be very close. but are
now quite far away"
How far?" asked a youth at Neuilly.
OPEN mouthed.
"oh, six miles. sometimes"
From what"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29
,cis1 oorrespoodenee Of Tie Star.


PARIS. August is, 1915.
E1HEY are angels of mercy. and he
knows 1t.
He is big and husky. Also,
q grave and mild, apologize, with
a shame-faced laugh at so much praise
None Of US will ever be the same"
he admits. land / don't regret It, We
have seen the mysteries of life and
death to close-in others. Gle caught
himself up) What if l should get to
writing that sort of thing to mother? "
We" means twenty-eight Americans
mostly college men. one the son of a
scnator-who run twenty eight Ameri-
can automobile ambulances. with French
mechanicians and orderlies. on the
fighting front of Pont-a- Mousson
He is Edward Salisbury. their section
commander. ranking as a French lieu
tenant. cited in the order of the army-
Through the brigade. through the
army corps. to the army''-which gives
him the best" Croix de Guerre.
But
Our section has a general citation,
too" he changed the subject for evac-
uation under shell fire, and a number
of the men have personal citations.
SAH very Wcll utlp Mine VAS at
the little town of Montauville, behind
Bois-le- Pretre, two miles from Pont-a-
AouSsOn."
1t was all they could get out OF him
about it, at least while was there He
was home" on a weeks leave at The
American hospital Of Neuilly, and they
sat up past am. to make him tell h s
adventures and talking over old times"
Old times were the early days Of the
war. when Salisbury. Harvard. class of
1908. son of a retired Chicago business
man. himself In business. on summer
vacation in Paris, saw the war begin
and stayed"
You had no doubt which side to
john" / asked
oh, no." he laughed shortly. France
was invaded. and I know the French,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

They talked about the chances Of kill
ing and wounding.
'"The men get kind Of stoic," said the
husky angel, when they see that moth
ing they can do can help their safety.
Cowardice does not help a jot. Tran
quill" duty at your post is safer than
. INNING or crouching. So the men
come to have confidence in God alone.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

Commander
Weeks LeavApparen Death and Wundn
Ambulance Dveacune Mercy Who Search
of Fire 'FRONT.'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

PARIS. August is, 1915.
E0HEY are angels of mercy, and he
knows 1t.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-29

The government purchase also in
cluded the site Of what is now the
town of Bolivar, on the heights back
of Harpers Ferry, familiar to nearly