davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27
FIRST WHITE BOY
Youth Accompanied Columbus
Expedition in 1892.
Detailed at Helm While Superiors
Slept, Youngster Was Blamed
for Wreck of Santa Maria.

Many phases of the life of Column
bus offer mysteries that the histori'
ans have never been able to clear
away, and one student of the life or
the great explorer has come across
an incidental mystery that has an APP
pealing interest. 1t relates to boy
who accompanied the expedition or
1492-the only boy among its men,
bers, and consequently the first white
boy to set foot in America.
The contemporary accounts Of the
first expedition of Columbus mention
the boy in question only once and
that briefly. They indicate that he
was the only boy in the expedition
and they place on his young Shout
ders the blame for the great catas-
trophe that befell when the Santa
Maria was wrecked on the coast of
Hayti. To be sure the story of the
wreck shows that the boy was less
to blame than his elders, but it was
easy enough to make him the scape-
goat. 1t was the night before Christ
mas, 1902, ten weeks after the dis
covery of the land, and Columbus was
pushing his search for gold among the
West Indies. The flagship, the Santa
Maria, was sllirting the coast of Hay
IT, and late at night, as the wind was
light and the ship barely moving, Col
umbus went to his cabin for rest. He
passed the helm over to the captain.
He, too, soon felt the need of sleep
and went below. His successor at the
tiller was a sailor and he shortly fol-
lowed the example of the admiral and
the master. Before he went he awak-
ened the lad in question and told him
to mind the helm.
The boy did not go to sleep He
was doubtless live lad and he felt
the Importance of being trusted to
steer the ship. But he was in strange
waters and the currents were treach-
erous near that coast, says an ex-
change. The ship struck reef. The
admiral and crew rushed on deck in
terror. OF course they blamed the
boy. That was the way of the world
before 1892 and the fashion has never
changed.
That was the end of the Santa
Maria. The crew reached the shore
In safety and made a fort from the
timbers Of the wreck. In that fort,
which they called La Navidad in
honor of the day, about forty Of the
crew remained while their companions
went home to Spain on the Pinta and
the Nina. One historian mentions a
tradition that the boy remained with
this number, but it is only a tradition.
The fate of the forty is q mystery, for
when the second expedition of Column
bus reached that island year later
there were only few charred timbers
and bones to be found. Perhaps the
boy persisted there. His name has not
even come down to u.s. but the brief
glimpse that we have Of him is fas-
cinating one. There is something to
stimulate the imagination in that
fleetlng picture of the boy who stuck
to his post while his superiors slept.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27

I'm so sorry about your getting bitten,
and you must take good care of it,
Penrod."
"YeS'm."
Penrod lin2er&d helpleSSly outside
the doorway, looking at Sam, who
stood partially obscured in the hall,
behind Mrs. Williams. Periods eyes,
with a yelled anguish, conveyed a
pleading for help as well as horror
of the position in which he found him.
self. Sam, however. pale and deter
mined, seemed to have assumed a
stony attitude Of detachment, as if it
were well understood between them
that his own comparative innocence
was established, and that whatever
catastrophe ensued, Penrod had
brought it on and must bear the brunt
Of it alone.
swell, you'd better run along, since
they're waiting for you at home" said
Mrs. Williams, closing the door. "Good
night, Penrod."
>. Ten minutes later Penrod took
his place at his own dinner-table. some
what breathleSs but with IN expression
of perfect composure.
"Can't you ever come home without
being telephoned forY demanded his
father.
"Yes, SIR" And Penrod added re-
proachfully, placing the blame upon
members of Mr.. Schofield's own class,
SANS mother and father kept me, or
I'd been home long ago. They would
keep on talkin', and 1 guess I had to
be polite, didn't II"
His left arm was as free as his right !;
there was no dreadful bulk beneath
his Jacket, and at Periods age the fu-
ture is too far away to be worried
about. The difference between tempo
rary security and permanent security
is left for grown people. To Penrod,
security was security, and before his
dinner was II.alf eaten his spirit had
become fairly serene.
Nevertheless, when he entered the
empty carriage-hOuse of the stable, on
his return from school the next after
noon, his expression was not altogether
without apprehension, and he stood in
the doorway looking well about him
before he lifted a loosened plank in
the flooring and took from beneath it
the grand old weapon of the Williams
family. Nor did his eye tighten with
any pleasurable excitement as he sat
himself down in a shadowy corner and
began some sketchy experiments with
the mechanism. The allure of first
sight was gone. In Mr.. Williams bed
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27
"What like?''

''What like?''
"Oh-just different things"
Mr.. Williams nodded; then his
glance rested casually upon Penrod.
''What's the matter with your arm,
Penrod?"
Penrod became paler, and Sam with
drew from him almost conspicuously.
"Sir?"
81 said, What's the matter with your
arm?'
(Which oneT Penrod quavered.
"Your left. You seem to be holding
it in an unnatural position. Have you
hurt it?"
Penrod swallowed. eyes, sir. A boy
bit mel mean dog-a dog bit me-"
Mr.. Williams murmured sympatheti-
cally: "That's too bad! Where did
he bite your"
ION the-right on the elbow"
'Good gracious! Perhaps you ought
to have it cauterized."
"Sir?"
'Did you have doctor look at it?"
"No, sir. My mother put some stuff
from the drug store on it."
"Oh, 1 see. Probably it's all right,
then"
eyes, sir" Penrod drew breath more
freely, and accepted the warm cookie
Mrs. Williams brought him. He ate
it without relish.
"Was it your own dog that bit your
Mr.. Williams inquired.
"Sir? No, sir. 1t wasn't Duke"
"Penrodi" Mrs Williams exclaimed.
when did it happen?'
81 don't. remember just when," he
answered feebly. II guess it was day
before yesterday"
Gracious How did it"
"He-he just came up and bit me-"
"Why, that's terrible! 1t might be
dangerous for other children" said
Mrs. Williams, with solicitous glance
at Sam. "Don't you know whom he
belongs too"
'No'm. 1t was just dog"
'You poor boy! Your mother must
have been dreadfully frightened when
you came home and she saw"
She was interrupted by the entrance
of a middle-aged colored woman. "Miz
Williams she began, and then, as she
caught sight of Penrod, she addressed
him directly, "You' ma telefoam if you
here, send you home right away, cause
they waitin' dinner on you"
"Run along, then" said Mrs. Will
liams, patting the visitor lightly upon
his shoulder; and she accompanied him
to the front door. "Tell your mother
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27

crime, he understood that his case was
several degrees more serious than that
of Sam, who, in the event of detection,
would be convicted as only an aces
sorry. 1t was a lesson, and Penrod al
ready repented his selfishness in not
allowing Sam to show how he did, hrst.
you're sure you weren't quarrel
ing. Sam?" said Mrs. Williams.
"No, ma'am; we were just talking.
Still she seemed dimly uneasy, and
her eye swung to Penrod.
"What were you and Sam talking
about, Penrod?"
"Ma'am?"
"What were you talking about?
Penrod gulped invisibly.
"Well," he murmured, 'it wasn't
much. Different things" H&
s"What things?"
"Oh, just sumpthing. Different
things" :.
I'm glad you weren't Guarreling,
said Mrs. Williams, treasured by TINS
reply, which though somewhat BAT
fling, was thoroughly familiar to her
ear. "Now, if you'll come downstairs,
I'll give you each one cookie and no
more, so your appetites won't be spoil
ed for your dinners"
She stood, evidently expecting them
to precede her. To linger might renew
vague suspicion, causing it to become
more definite; and boys preserve them
selves from moment to moment, not Of
ten attempting to secure the future.
Consequently, the apprehensive Sam
and the unfortunate PenrOd with the
monstrous implement bulking against
his ribs) walked out of the room and
down the stairs, their countenances IN
dicating an interior condition OF sol
emnitv. And a curious shade of be-
bavior might have here interested a
criminologist. Penrod endeavOred to
keep as close to Sam as possible, ike
lonely person seeking company,
while. on the other hand, Sam sept
moving away from Penrod, seeming to
desire an appearance of aloofness.
go into the library, boys" said Mrs.
Williams. as the three reached the foot
of the stairs. "rll bring you your
cookies. Papa's in there"
Under her eye the two entered the
library, to find Mr.. Williams reading
his evening paper. He looked up pleas
antly, but it seemed to Penrod that he
had an ominous and penetrating ex-
preston.
"What have you been up to. You
boys?" inquired this enemy.
Nothing" said Sam. Different
things"
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27
Lesson N rhorounh Bass.

The use of the word "stuff' In the
presidents Thanksgiving proclama-
ton, comments the Brooklyn Eagle,
furnishes the discord needed to empha-
size the harmony of the flowing rhe-
toric. In effect the president says "We
are the stuff" If our enemies twist
1t we shall not care. James G. Blaine
was called the 'plumed knight" by In
gersoll, and it passed for a fine COM
pliment, but Blaine thought it suggest
ed the "white feather" If the presi-
dent thinks his boys are the stuff, we
shall all agree with him. Here's where
the kaiser gets lesson in thorough
bass.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27
Should Eat Mushrooms

Wild mushrooms are a food that
should be more largely utilized in this
country now that food is scarce, ac-
cording to William A. Murrill, assist
ant director of the New York botan-
ical gardens, who thinks the people
should be taught how to distinguish
the poisonous from the wholesome va
rieties. Wild mushrooms are eaten
In this country almost exclusively by
the foreign-born population.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27
Meat or Shucks.

Sometimes 1 think the best part OF
cracking butternuts Is cracking them
What are we going to get? Meat OF
shucks? Never mind if there be moth
ing more than an empty hole once in
whilel The next time will be all
right. Anyhow, we have gained bit
Of muscle in the arm that swung the
hammer. Makes us stronger for crack.
ing the harder nut ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In Farm Life.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27
The Sandwich Man.

The name Sandwich man," as ap
piled to the men who parade the
streets between two boards, on which
are advertisements, was first given ia
them by Dickens. Although it would
appear that the custom originated In
the nineteenth century, the profession
was without name until Dickens
conceived the humorous title, which ne
first employed in his Sketches bs
Boz"
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27

handed the weapon to Penrod.
"All right" he said, with surprising
and unusual mildness. "You try her,
then"
Inwardly discounted to a disagree
able extent, Penrod attempted to talk
his own misgivings out of counten-
ance.
"Poor little baby!" he said, swinging
the pistol at his side with a fair pre-
tense of careless ease. Saint even
strong enough to pull trigger! Poor
little baby! Well, if you can't even do
that much, you better watch me while
II
"WeI," said Sam reasonably, "why
don't you go on snd do it then?"
"Well. 1 anI going to, amt TT
swell. then, why don't you"
"Ob. I'll do it fast enough to suit you,
T guess." Penrod retorted swinging the
bi9 revolver up a little higher than his
shoulder and pointing it in the direc-
tion of the double doors, which opened
upon the alley. "You better run, SAM"
he ieered. you'll be pretty scared
when I shoot her off, guess"
s.Well, why don't you see if I will? I
het you're afraid yourself"
"Oh. 1 am, am I?' said Penrod, in
reckless voice-and his finger touched
+be trigger. 1t seemed to him that his
finger no more than touched it; perhaps
he had been treasured by Sans asser-
tion that the trigger was difficult. His
intentions must remain in doubt, and
probably Penrod himself was not GER
tain of them; but one thing comes to
the surface as entirely defnite-that
trigger was not so hard to pull as Sam
said 1t was.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
PEANUT INDUSTRY
IN NEW RECORD
Statistics From state Department Of
Agriculture Show Wonderful Re.
suits In Texas.
lBy Assoc,atea Press.)

Austin. Texas, Jan. 3.-Statistics
Just gathered by the state OF this sea
sons yield show that the Texas pea
nut industry has reached enormous
proportions. which means much to
the live stock and commercial inter-
ests Of the state. The total acreage
was approximately 350.00O. and each
acre is yielding an average .of sixty
bushels. making the total production
approximately 21 million bushels.
The cotton seed oil mills afford the
principal market for the crop, and the
price they are paying at present is 81
bushel Furthermore<ea each acre OF
peanuts gives an syefage of one ton
OF hay. which s9M readily for sI2 a
ton At this fce this seasons crop
OF peanut w will bring a total OF
about si,lGoOO, bringing the value of
the peanuts and by.products up to 25
million dollars Judging from the en-.
couragement which the cotton seed
oil mill companies are giving the pea.
nut industry. the acreage In that crop
in Texas will be more than doubled
next year.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
American-Mexican Relations Are Strained
BUFFALO N|CKE[S
BUY A FORD CAR
Mrs. Sam Buchanan BuffaIoes john
son 4 Rohde Into Delivering
Asr a a+I y'shsy.

To demonstrate what one can do
by just saving little at time, Mrs.
Sam Buchanan Of this city has just
completed pulling stunt that we
dare say no other person in the entire
United States has ever attempted
She has bought her brand new Ford
touring car with buffalo nickels
which she saved Now II you doubt
what we are saying. we direct you to
the show window of johnson &
Rohde, local agents for the Ford car.
In this window you will see on dis
play 1912 buffalo nickels which cover
the entire floor OF the window and
then some. II is the biggest pile Of
money you ever saw In a show win
dow. The amount Is s395.5O, the .ex.
act price OF the car. -
About two years ago Mrs. Buchanan
made a trade with her husband, who
conducts restaurant on Main street,
whereby she was TO get every buffalo
nickel that was taken in at the place
OF business. Little did either Of them
think at that time that in two years
they would come into possession OF
nearly bushel OF them. Mrs. Buch-
cnan has had a number of places
where she kept the ncikels. and up
until few weeks ago she herself did
not have any idsa Of how many she
had. but after going to each place and
counting tA@ she realized that she
had quitea sum of money and the
idea crept into her head to surprise
her husband by buying an automobile
with them. and this morning she had
Mr.. Johnson OF the Johnson & Rohde
Company take big Studebaker car
and an expert chauffeur and they
loaded big steel tool box in the car
and made the collection. The nick.
els weighed exactly 92 pounds and
every one OF them was a buffalo.
Some are worn and have passed
through many hands. while others
have never bought anything except a
cup Of Buchanan's good coffee and
were then laid aside.
The number OF the new Ford Is
l.t2s.lH and is the only real jitney
that has ever been seen in the city,
because Of the fact that 1t was bought
with jitneys and not a single piece OF
money was used in the transaction
except buffalo nickels.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
INSURANCE LEG|S-
/. LAT|0N IS DISCUSSED
Texas Local Agents Ask for contln.
gent Commission Law and Resu.
iation Of Overhead Writing.

Austin, Texas. Jan. SAN impor.
tant conference was held here yester.
day regarding prospective insurance
legislation during the forthcoming
session Of the Legislature. particular
ly with reference to modifying some
OF the present laws affecting fire In.
surance companies.
Amendments are being formulated
for the modification OF the valped pol.
Icy law. the anti.techniSality bct and
that prohibiting the coinsurance
clause, except under resttictgd condi.
tons. The companies hav\ always at.
tackled these laws. all OF which are OF
comparatively recent enactment. and
charge that they increase the fire
loss and pave the way for imposition
and the collection OF fraudulent and
unjust claims. While the companies
would like to see the laws repealed
as they now stand. II Is understood
that they will not ask for that. but
viii prepare amendments so as to re.
move the opportunity for fraud and
the Incentive for arson.
Texas local agents have been ask.
ing for a contingent commission law
and also to make definite act pro
hibitlng overhead writing by outside
brokers when sanctioned by licensed
companies. or course the Unlicensed
and independent Eastern broker can
not be reached. Conniving with com
panics is the Objectionable practice
The local agents win insist on these
lawsa and the companies may not OBJ
iect.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03

Queretaro. Mexico. Jan. 3.-Felix VI.
Palau. prominent public instructor.
who has often spoken for carranza,
told the constitutionslist convention
today that the interpationaI situation
was grave. He said lcarranza had re-
fused to resume differences with the
United States until the troops we're
withdrawn from Mexico uncondition-
ally. and declared the assembly must
work on the constitution and program
the rights of the people. while Car
rama is battling against the enemy
to save the national honor and intsg-
rity.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
STAB MEN TO.
SAVE POWDER
OIL Man Tells Story Of Execution Of
Fifty Soldiers by Bandits In Mex
leo When Powder Was Short.

Fifty Carranza soldiers. captured by
Mexican independent faction. we're
recently lined up and stabbed to death
TO save ammunition required to shoot
them. according to story told by an
OIL man who Is now In Galveston. The
crime was committed. he said. after
the soldiers had been captured In a
battle between tho bandits and the
carranza followep6 The bandits were
led by one Msy6el Paluis. wealthy
Mexican and owner. He has at his
command Spout three thousand men.
Carranra. prior to the tragedy, had
written paluis several letters urging
him to join his colors. Paluis agreed
to do this with the privilege OF stay
ing In his own state and using his
men to look after his property. Car
rama refused TO comply with the re
quest and sent an army to force Pal
uis into submission. A battle follow
ed and carranza's/ forces were said
to have been DEFEATED and a part Of
his force capturJd.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
LONDON COMMENTS ON
WILSON'S PEACE EFFORT
Westminster Gazette Says President Is An Aca.
demic Person and Has Not Considered Conse.
quences of His Efforts = Germans Report
Further Successes in Rumania - German
Subs Still Active
London, Jan. Accommodating on

London. Jan. Accommodating on
Washington dispatches ihat President
Wilson is determiped to press his
his efforts to Hmg about peace, the
westminstez Gazette says:
The n20nal belief that the Ameri.
can S5sldent is purely academic
person, who launches literary essay
on the world without preparation or
consideration OF the consequences. is
a dangerous delusion which may lead
us astray II not abandoned We are
bound to treat him as very serious
factor at this stage OF the war"
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
MAKES AUS
TR|AN TROOPS WORK
Since Entering the War Italy Has
Conquered Much Territory and
Taken $1,000 Prisoners.

Rome. Jan. S.-From~ 20 TO is Aus
trian divisions are ksf,t engaged along
the Italian front hys an official com.
munication\ Sued Tuesday. The
statement adds that since Italy enter.
ed the war she has conquered 1900
square miles OF territory. shortening
her war front from 500 to s75 miles,
with an aggregate OF 1875 miles OF
entrenched lines.
War material Is being manufactur.
ed by 2.i7s Italian factories employ.
Ing $4,000 workers. including nearly
$4,000 women.
The Austrian prisoners now nun
Der $1,000. the statement asserts.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
SENATOR LODGE At
TACKS bERNSTORFF
Incident Happened During Debate on
Resolution to Endorse Wilson's
Peace Note.

Washington. d. c. Jan. 3.-During
the debate today On the resolution to
endorse President Wilson's peace
note. senStopdod attacked German
AmbassadH Bernstorff for giving to
the newspapers a statement approx
ing the note. He said the statement
gave the impression that II was now
time to help Germany attain peace on
the terms she desired. After a long
debate action on the note was post
poned.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
STOCK EXCHANGE
BILL IS OFFERED
Representative Henry Relntroduees
Regulatory Measure In the
House.

Washington. Jan. 3.-Represcnta.
tive r. l.. Henry ofTexas has reintro.
duced his bill 9s1ast session to rcgu.
late the. NeyNork Stock Exchange.
notice OF fich he gave a few days
ago. His'aetion grows out Of the
statements by Thomas W. Lawson Of
Boston concerning tho market manip.
ulations following an alleged leak
regarding President Wilson's peace
note.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
CRUDE OIL TAKES
ANOTHER JUMP
For Sixth Time Since November 2sth
OIL Has Advanced Ten Cents
Per hrrsl.
by k.oc,a,ed Irss.. ,

indcpeN Nee. Kan. Jan, s.--Anoth'
or adyanct Of 10 cents In the price OF
mid'contincnt crude oil was posted by
tho Prairie oil and Gas Company to-
day. on Is now quoted q, $50 per
barrel. This is the sixth Increase OF
a similar amount since November
seth.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
SPECIAL ||VVEST|- u
( CATION Of ''kEAK"
Representative Wood's 5esolution Is
Held Privileged by Hgust Today.
Report in TensDays. =
lRy Associared rress. /,

Washington, Jan. 3.-Representar
tive Woods resolution for special
investigation of the charges Of leak"
on President Wilson's peace note. was
held privileged by the House today
and referred to the rules committeS
with instructions to report within ten
days.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
Russians Repulsed.

Berlin. Jan. 3.-The Russo Ruman.
ian forces made strong attacks on the
Moldavian front yesterday. which
were repulsed fth heavy losses. ac.
cording to ~ official statement. The
towns sBarsesoi and Topesoi. as
well as several hill positions, we're
captured by the Teutons.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
WOMEN GIVEN
SENATE PRIVILEGES
Miss Jessie /. Simpson 10 Named
Secretary Of the Forelon ReIa.
tons cown'i'sss
Cpy As-ca,ed rres.,

Washington. v &c, Jan. s.-ror the
first time a bman. Miss Jessie l.,
Simpson off Louis. has been grant
cd the privilege OF the floor Of the
Senate. She was appointed secretary
to the Senate foreign relations com.
mi,tee by Senator stone. and Is the
first woman 60 servo as secretary Of
a Senate committee. a position carry.
Ing with !, the privilege Of the floor,
Miss Simpson has been the senator's
secretary for a number Of years.
Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-01-03
VILLA FORCES
WERE DEFEATED
Lost Over Four Hundred Men. Much
Ammunition and Other War
Materiaf.
CRy Annotated Press.l

Queretaro. Mexico. Jan. alt is Of
ficially reported that General Eduar-
do Hernandez defeated the villa
forces at La Junta. capturing 4i0 men
and much ammunition. including six
thousand shrapnel shells.