davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24
By WILLIAM MORRIS HoUGHToN.

-HE farmers Of Long Island are predict
ins that this will continue to be q
mild winter because the caterpillars
are wearing brown furs instead OF
white. Let US all hope there is some real
foundation for their belief. A mild winter Is
ALWAYS easier on the poor, on the unemployed
and particularly on the old people OF the COM
rnunitv. who are enabled thereby to get about,
10 get exercise and air, to MAINTAIN their apPe-
tjtes. Old proverbs concerning open winters
and fresh graves apply only to those climates
in which mild winter weather is the exception
and means a thaw. Here in New YoTk COM
naratively mild weather is the rule in winter.
I, is the freezes that are the exception. And
this has always been the case
Yet it is a common experience TO encounter
some ersybeard, who ways his venerable head
and deplores the degeneracy OF the times, as
exemplifed, among other things, in these mol
lycoddle winters which Nature provides now
for her super-refned children. The winters OF
his youth and early manhood, you are as
sured. snored with an Arctic breath which
froze Long Island Sound, showed in the an
ccstral hut to the caves and bred tronuersmen.
One hates to SKATER such an illusion, Tor
some reason so comforting TO the elderly but
the fact is that the "old days" become to the
imperfect human memory crazy quilt OF I'M
usual incidents from which the humdrum tee
usual. has been eliminated. One big storm,
like that OF March. 1888. which most OF US can
remember. is likely to characterize a whole
winter in Renaissance. And yet for the rest
OF il the records may show, as they do in this
instance, that the winter was an ordinary
harmless New York winter.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24

booming of distant cannon were hcaro the
morning of the great eruption OF May 8, leoz'
at Caracas, Venezuela, $50 miles distant south
west, where people feared that naval battle
was in progress off their coast. Similar boom
ing was reported from St. Kits, 200 miles
northwest of Martinique, and from other re-
gons.
Il myself was on the island OF ST. Vincent
and I felt several dull thuds as II some heaVy
object had fallen in neigfboring room
The noises seemed to come from beneath
the ground, and they were due, in all proba-
biity. to suoterranean explosions or to the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24
WHEN OVERLAND COMMUNICATION
WAS BY STAGECOACH ONLY.

But i'm the days before the railroad and the
telephone and telegraph. when overland COM
munication was by stsgecoaoh only, six-inch
fall of snow, as correspondent has pointed
out tied I'D traffic almost as completely as did
the blizzard OF So with much consequent dis
comhture 10 our agricultural ancestors ma
rocned on their Manhattan farms. Each such
storm stuck in their memories for this reason
and became exaggerated into blizzard as
time went on Naturally blizzard followed
close upon blizzard in their "reminiscences,
while all the time the means Of communication
were improving and becoming less susceptible
of arrangement Each generation has been
inclined 20 believe. therefore, that It's parents
had the worst Of it, or the best OF 1t, whichever
the point Of view
This current OF thought is as old as the
hills Professor Willis l.. Moore. for so many
wears chief OF the United States Weather Blu
resu. quotes Thomas Jefferson as saying IN
1881:
"A change in climate is taking place very
sensibly Both heats and colds are becoming
much more moderate within the memory OF
even the mddle-sged. Shows are less fire.
auent and less deep. They do not often lie be
low the mountain more than one. two OF three
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24

the normal temperature from the Rocky Noun.
tain region 70 the Atlantic coast, and in some
parts OF the Mississippi and Ohio valleys and
the Southwest the departures below III. sy.
eragcs exceeded IL degrees. The lowest ten.
peratures of the month occurred generally
from the 18th to the 18th. The following ar.
among the minimum temperatures that attend.
ed the cold wave Of the dates named: ST. Pau.
20 below; Chicago 10 below; Kansas City. 2
below; Pueblo COL, 20 below; Santa Fe, NJ NJ,
below; Roswell. N. NJ, 70 below; Dodge
Kan, 20 below; Amarillo Tex, below; Pal.
estine. Tex, above; New Orleans IS above
Memphis, Tenn, zero; St. Louis, IS below;
Pittsburgh, 8 below; Albany, below; Wash.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24
THE BLIZZARD OF 1883 IS NOT A
RECORD BREAKER.

The snowfall for the entire season OF 1857
SO amounted 10 only 400 inches, as compared,
for example, with ITO inches for the winter
Of 1928. The famous blizzard Of SO did
not even register maximum snowfall for the
month OF March. That year only I'll inches
OF snow fell in March, as against 26.5 inches
for March, 1896. And, finally, it did not even
establish record for snowfall in twenty-iour
hours. On February II and 10, in 1898, there
fell i7.S inches OF snow in twenty-four hours,
as compared with los inches on March IL,
1888 Yet who besides the weather foreosster
remembers these other winters and their
storms? 1t hsppned that high wind &C
companied the big storm OF 1883. causing the
snow 70 drift and tie up traffic, isolating Man
haitian for day or two. II was the havoc it
wrought in the daily routine OF millions OF
little lives that made that storm memorable
SO memorable. in fact, that there are some
who will contend the winters have become ap-
probably milder even within our own genera
ton. In short it is not the size OF the storm
but the degree in which it disturbs COM
munity's everyday activities, the goings and
oonines between home and business or be
tween home and school. that determines the
popular conception OF its severity and the
severity Of the winter OF which it forms part
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24
f WINTER OF 19O4-o5 THE MOST
SEVERE IN FIFTY YEARS.

But if the winter OF 1928 was the mildest
in century, that of loO4-'o5 was the most
we're since that Of 1856. In bulletin OF
the Department OF Agriculture entitled Gold
Waves and Frost in the United States by
Edward b. Garriott, this appears:
The winter Of 1904 05 set in early and con-
tinued late and was progressive in severity.
II was exceptionally cold east OF the Rocky
Mountains and at points in the central val
leys and Atlantic districts was the coolest win
ter experienced in the last half century. In
December, 1904, the average temperature was
degrees to degrees below tn normal in
Pennsylvania. New York and New England,
and the period from the 25th to the 3oth
showed over the greater part OF the country
the lowest temperatures OF the month. Dur
ing this period d widespread cold wave ad-
vanced from the British Northwest Territory
over the Rocky Mountains and western plains
10 Texas, and thence eastward to the Atlantic
coast. In the Missouri and upper mississippi
valleys the cold wave was attended by heavy
snow and westerly gales. In January, 1905.
the greatest depression OF temperature COW
cred the interior river valleys east oil the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24

were bows: that they had reliable landmarks
to show that the streams were drying up; that
the precipitation was growing less and that
the winters were becoming milder, notwith-
standing the fact that carefully taken observa-
tions of temperature and rainfall for each day
for the previous hundred years showed no al
teration of climate at such places. OF course,
wide variations, sometimes extending over
periods of several years, had occurred; but
deficit at one time was made up by an excess
at another. To be sure, changes must have
taken place during geologic periods, but these
have been so slow that it is doubtful whether
man in his civilized state has occupied the
earth long enough to discover an appreciable
quantity.
SLIGHT CLIMATIC VARIATION OVER
A PERIOD OF 500 YEARS
Quite accurate records OF the opening OF
navigation in the rivers of Europe and OF the
time OF vintages for 500 years show no change
in the average data of the first ter years as
compared with the average OF the last ten;
and the date PALM the vine and the FIG tree
flourish as luxurartly to-day in Palestine as
they did in the days of Moses. Dried plants
have been taken from mummy cases OF the
Pharaohs exactly similar to those now grow
ing in the soil once trod by those ancient mon
archs."
Now il must be confessed that the winter
of 1928 was probably the mdest winter
that New York has experienced in century,
so, at least the experts tell ne. At the local
Weather Bureau, of which James II. Scarr is
the head. they have records of the opening
and closing to navigation OF the Hudson at
Albany dating back to l843, records kept from
1s43 to 1874 by Dr.. Philip Ten Eyck and from
1874 TO date by the United States Weather Blu
resu. In all those seventy years there is no
other winter in which the Hudson remained
open to navigation as long as it did in the
winter OF 1ol2-15. February 7, 1913, is the
date Of its closing in that season, when usu-
ally it freezes over in December, and did once
as carly as November rs. That was in 1880.
On the other hand. in confirmation OF Pro
fessor Moore's theory OF balance in these
things the river did not close itself to nsv
CATION until January 80, in 1874. With the ex-
ception of 1913 this is the latest date OF closing
on record
THE WINTER OF 1eO4-o5 THE MOST
SEVERE IN FIFTY YEARS.
But if the winter Of 1928 was the mildest
in century, that Of lo04-'05 was the most Sc
we're since that of 1856 In a bulletin OF
the Department OF Agriculture entitled Gold
nd in It'd NJ
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24

By EARL N. FINDLEY.
: :: :::: =; :::: :: ; CT: !:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24

"HE farmers Of Long Island arc predict
ing that this will continue to be
mild winter because the oaterpillars
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-26

poned the time when the sea should
close over her.
But In the book OF fate the Mary
Nye was not destined to perish by wa
ter alone. Among her heterogeneous
c~castwise cargo which had not been
~unloaded, from the small hold back OF
the main hold, were two sacks or un-
slaked lime. After a time a trickle
OF water found its way to these. and
they began to smoke.
The first person to be aware OF the
smoke was Gunsiorf. IL filtered into
the main hold before il found it's way
to the deck. Gunsd1rf at the moment.
with a kind OF diabolical eagerness.
was trying to calculate the rapi1ity
with which the water was rising. This
was a difficult matter, owing to the
Motion Or the vessel.
When be smelled the smoke his
hear almost stopped beating. he was
frightened. Water and dynamite had
no terror for him. but death by fire
had always been his nightmare. lie
was like a maj waking after a great
drunkenness. during which. let US say.
he has committed some crime which
his frenzied brain at the time Of its
commission had seemed a reasonable
and even a meritorious thing to do,
but the memory OF which makes the
same brain. the fumes OF alcohol gone,
a prey to the most awful terror and
remorse.
In short, the man had recovered
from his murderous and suicidal mad
ness. He was sane-a rational crea-
ture. who realized what he had done.
and that the deed was In vain. and
that he alone would be destroyed
by II.
What madness to suppose that such
. man As Barclay would stay by the
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-26

dirty little shin. Amidship was a
hold. formerly used as a container fer
Goldfish: IL still smelled Of them. The
~hatchway giving access to this hold
was open, and into il Gunslorf de-
seconded. II seemed to him, after ex-
ploring the schooner from stern to
stem. to offer the best means cf con
cealment. The little calm aft was
cleaner. II would be the choice of the
triumvirate for their own quarters.
Gunsdorf was half crazy with fa-
tigue. In a far corner Of the hold
he found a pile of sacking and flung
himself down on them. But there was
something hard among them that hurt
him. He CROPPED for this, and found
that il was a powerful two-handed
augur. fixed with ali inch aud a half
bit.
lie pushed it to one side and in a
moment was sound asleep.
Barclay was restless: the cabin was
stuffy and verminous; he preferred the
deck and the open air. So it hap
pened that ir passing the main hatch,
In a lull OF the wind. he heard n sound
of a man snoring. He had left Semmes
and Sturtevant complaining Of the dis
comforts OF the cabin. Captain Nye
was at the wheel. the two men and
the boy forward.
Here" thought Barclay. we've got
a stowaway aboard. Some poor SON
of-a-gun of a wharf rat, l suppose"
He strolled aft.
There's someone asleep in the
main hold" he said.
THE hell there is"
You a hear him snoring IL you
listen In the %hatchway."
We'll let him eiore."
Gradually it da.ned upon Barclay
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-26
SYNOPSIS.

Professor Stilliter. psychologist, and
Gordon Barclay. millionaire. plan TO
preach TO the world the gospel ~ eff
cheney through a young and beautiful
woman who shall believe that she Is a
heaven-sent messenger. They kidnap the
orphaned little Amesbury girl. playmate
OF Tommy Steele. and conceal her Ia "A
cavern. In care OF "A woman. to be moicel
years eiapse. Tommy Is adopted by Bar
clay. but loses his heirship and on n
hunting trip discovers Ceiestia. Stilliter
takes Celestial TO New York. Tommy fol-
md her real work begins. AT Barclays
she meets the business harons
who are converted to her new gospel.
she makes an impression on the society
world. Tommy joins the labor ranks.
Tommy plays Joseph TO the wife OF a
modern Potiphar and Is rescued from a
lynching party by Celestial. She prevents
= massacre OF strikers. and settles the
strike. Mrs: Gunsdorf and Mary Black
stone conspire. Stflliter. jealous. begins
70 use his hypnotic power treacherously.
Barclay begins a campaign for the presi-
Dental nomination and Celestial spreads
her propaganda OF efficiency as Barclays
platform Tommy opposes her and MARY
Blackstone plots Celestia's death. The plot
rails. and Mrs. Gunsdorf dies. S,iliiter
hypnotizes Celestial TO Join lin. prepare
Tor their marriage. and wires Barclay she
has gone back "a heaven. Tommy and
Freddy the Ferret rescue her and take
her. still under Stilliter's unholy spell. 10
the cave she knew as heaven. Stilliter
attempts 10 murder Tommy and again
nees with Celestial. Barclay abjures greed
and lust OF power and desires real great
ness. Freddy rcscues Celsstia from Still
inter-. who starts "A forest fire and il
while trying 10 escape from Il.
Tommy nnds the Ferret and Celesiia and
IN the cave tells her her story. Back In
New York she publicly accuses the trium-
virate-
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-26

Rye. Portchester, the car few. And
like grim death, his purpose never
swerving. Gunsdorf clurg to the spare
tires. His feat was worthy or a
better. Vengeance Is no mans. Ven
geance is mine. saith the Lord
The old fishing town OF Giddings
was dark a sin. The financiers. con
ferring. had determined 10 make this.
rather than ~aiisSaQuid. their point OF
departure. They would be to late
&c catch the last boat for Barteli's.
Giddings. with Missacrid. formed tho
base OF a triangle. w which Gull Island
was the apex. Therefore, II they
could here charter some cra.t TO con
vey them 10 the island. there would
be a great saving o. tine.
The car ran half way through the
little town. turned a right angle and
descended 10 the wharves. and here.
in the darkness. stopped. Cunsdorf
was The first t. aii~.t. lie slipped
into the shelter III a shed that
sInelled OF fish and flung himself TO the
ground.
Why didn't he shoot down the finan-
ciers as they aiightee from the car?
His hands were 80 cramped from grip
ping the tires he could rot have held
or pointed a gun: they were shaking
like leaves " poplar trees in a wind.
lie was in acute physical pain.
But. lying On the ground. writhing
with exhaustion. h BEGAN TO recover
little by little FROM the ordeal through
which he had passed. and he was able
TO keep AN eve ON the car and OH the
shadCMy Llrn WHORE he hated. and 10
listen 10 what they had to sly to each
other ana to the fisherman whom they
routed from his bed. and who finally.
fcr a rroligi0ls sun CT money, con
scented ID venture out in the easterly
storm that was brewing and carry
them and their luggage 10 Gull Is
land.
The name Of his little schooner was
the Mary Nye. She was 1T the end
OF the long wharf. half u.loaied. No.
he had given UP fishing. There was
lore money in ccasting. They could
start At cncc: 10 would have to get
his crew t~Jgether-two men and a boy.
Had they really come all the way
from New York? They must be hard
set. Better come to the house. He'd
"a tie misses cut Of bed. and she'd
give them coffee.
Barclay gave sorne orders &c his
driver. and much money: also he gave
much money to the other man or the
box. and he shook hands with them
both and thanked them for their deyo-
ton to them. and told them that their
future would ~ his care.
Then the car wen Il way. and the
tinanciers AMI the fishermen went an
other, ANA presently Gunsdorf doubled
half over. like a man crippled with
rheumatism. rose from his hiding
place. aud hob5led OF in a third.
The Mary Nye lay il Tie lee Of the
long wharf near the end. She was q
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-26

that the presence on the schooner OF
a man unknown and untouched for
was not pleasant. So he descended
into the hold, struck a match. and had
a look at the sleeper's face.
Then very softly he returned to the
deck. half closed the hatch. and.
thrusting his head through the open
ing that remained. h, called loudly:
Wake up. there"
The shores ceased and were fol-
lowed by a kind OF sleepy %grcaning.
'Gunsdorf," called Barclay in a
sharp. incisive voice. "can you hear
me?7
Il hear you"
What are you doing on this boat?"
No answer.
We'll, you'll not be able 10 10 any
mischief. You seem 10 like IL down
there. I am going 10 close this hatch
so that you can't open ID. You will
not get out until the boat is back of
her starting point. The captain Is a
safe man. You will not find out from
hin where | have been set ashore. So
goodnight to you"
G~unsdorfs answer was to fire two
wild shots from his automatic. Bar
clay slammed the hatch to and sue
cecded in fastening it SO that 1t could
not be opened from below.
Then he went once more TO the cap
tain and talked 70 him for some time
in an undertone. After that he walked
S%turtevant and Scrames to tell them
what had happened.
Hes been insane for some time."
said Sturteyaat. lie wouldn't atop
at anything. / hope 10 God he hasn't
got a stick ~ dynamite with him. He'd
think nothing OF blowing himself to
pieces II we went. too
Gunsdorf had no stick Of dynamite.
He had only an automatic with a few
cartridges In the magazine. and an in
sane. m%urcerous rage and hatred In
his breast.
So they'd land somewhere. would
they He'd be carried back to the
starting point. would he? Not II he
knew il. His ride on the back Of the
automobile was all In vain, was it,
He'd show 'em-daun EN-.
And his hands. their strength re-
freshed nv hatred. insanity and sui
cidal daring. sought and found the
big augcr and began to bore "A hole
through the Bottom Of the schooner.
lie would drown. but SO would they,
After a time the edge Of the hole he
was boring became damp. water began
to trickle from the bit. then u spit
and hiss. then the BIT went clear
through. and when he had withdrawn
1t water spcuted upward as from a
garden hose.
Gunsdnrf laughed aloud, and at once
began 20 bore a second hole. When
he had nearly finished a third the bit
broke short off. and Gunsdorf cursed.
But the Mary Nye was taking in a
good deal Of water. and the failure
OF the bit only seemed TO have post
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-26

rolled precariously when she had
drifted out OF the lea or the doomed
schooner. and when she hit the rough
water she rolled quietly over and float
ed bottom up.
The shock OF the cold water revived
Gunsdorf 80 that he did not at once
drown. lie succeeded in getting hold
Of the boat and keeping his head u
of water.
Over the inverted bows Barclay
crawled out OF the water and lay
sprawling on the arched. slippery bot
tom OF the boat. From this adyanta-
Teous position he looked about eager
ly to see whom ne could help. Oh
that whole party only Barclay and the
boy could swim. Sturteyant and
Semmes. II they ever came 10 the sur
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-26

face. were never seen again by NOR
tai eyes. The boy swan ID the boat
and climbed up On il. with Barclays
help.
Then for the first time Barclay saw
the agonized face ~ GunsdOrf. The
mans grin was falling. and he knew
IL. At a little distance Captain Nye
fioatei face down. His two men came
t. the surface. cane together. clinched
and died. each trying 10 use the 9TH
or as a ladder ly which 10 climb out
Of the water.
Barclay locked for a while coldly
into G~uns!orf's face. and then looked
away.
For Gods sake help me-"
Barclays expression diG not change
He did MT look II GuAsdOrf-
FIR Christ's sakei"
Then the little by. his teeth chat
tering. said:
'Tain't pretty 10 see me drown"
AMI began H. hlub5er.
With an cath barclay reached for
Gu.st1rf AMI tried "a draw him out
n the water. 1t was a difficult and
2recaripus operation.
Steady. Dcn't get rattledl" said
Barclay. You. hoy. steady her as
much as you can"
And Barclay worked with all his
strength To save the wretchea mans
life.
There was a strange lcok in Guns
DORIS face. II was no longer hatred.
There vas hope In II: but. more than
that. there was something that was
akin 20 love. A miracle had been
wrought in the evil mans heart.
Barclay trying TO save him,
You're a good man." he said. Il
thought yru We're the DEVIL
My man. said Barclay. II cant get
you up here. I'm sorry. My strength
IL retered cut. III it's any comfort I'd
you. | forgive you for what you have
done. I've = me aIerty of evil. too. !
guess we 18th thought we were trying
10 do 60 Dj. We looked at life frcm
different angles. You didn't believe
that len like me were human be
ings: ! lad the same feeling about
mer like ysu. guess that's mostly
what's the natter VITA tais world. any
way"
Holding tightly to Gursdorf's HAND
he still managed TO keep the an
archists heal out ~ water.
ALL this Tommy and Celestia
saw from the top ,f the cliffs. They
had recognized the two chief actors
In the drama. nnd Tommy's suspense
over the fate cf the nan who had
been coed TO him was awful to see.
IL was that white, quiet suspense that
transceads all cutlery ard lamenta-
ticn.
"Gunsd0rf.- said Barclay. I'm slip
ping: I can't AID you any longer. I'm
sorry
"All right" said G~unsdorf. And ne
LEI 70 ~ Barclays hand and sank like
a stcne.
My Gcd," exclaimed Barclay.
What sand"
The moment Gunsdorfs head reap
pearet Barclay slipped quietly into
the water and tried T. save him. But
Gunscorf had gone down open
mouth. He was too confused to un-
9erstand the calm. steadying COM
mand " Barclay-to keep his head
TO keep still.
He tried ID climb upon his would
Re savior. and they went down togeth-
er. Then Barclays presence OF mind
left him. and he. too. grappled.
! so they dieI-in each others
r n.
The little boy. his teeth chattering,
pushed on the inverted boat. blubber
ing bitterly.
On the Cliff Of Gull Island the girl
from heaven was trying to consols
M OF the richest men In the world.
(THE END)