davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1923-04-01

Alexandria's single drydock for
the purpose.
For in this way alone could a
vessel be moored close enough to
receive the obelisk. The search
for a steamship. next under
taken, almost caused abandon
ment Of the project.
Members Of the expedition had
been sent to comb European sea-
ports in order to charter a ship,
but these returned empty handed
after meeting with a series Of
rebuffs. No sea captain would
sign his vessel to handle such
unusual cargo.
Bonuses and triple rates we're
offered in vain. Gorringe, almost
in despair, found himself forced
to purchase a vessel outright.
Protracted bargaining and dicker-
ing with English capitalists in
control Of Egyptian shipping re-
suited in the steamship Dessoug,
leaking and otherwise badly In
need Of repair, passing into the
hands Of the Americans.
Gorringe FASTENED with his
prize to Alexandria, where 1t was
first floated into the drydock,
and afterwards left high and dry,
dashed to the bottom. A roller
track to the site Of the obelisk
was hastily connected. as work
men under Engineer Price cut a
gaping hole in the Dessoug's
starboard bow, extending below
the water line, In order that the
shaft could be readily wheeled
in.
Demands for ''backsheesh" from
political and other sources had
by this time become 50 threaten
Ing that Gorringe, already having
paid out more than $15,793 to
avoid delays, refused further trib-
ute and prepared to defend a pos
sible attack. Merchants who
plotted to seize Cleopatra's Nee
die" as security for claims against
the Egyptian government, were
halted with the Stars and Stripes
hoisted at the peak OF the monu-
ment.
The moment the time arrived
for dismantiing the obelislk, real
trouble developed. Renegade Ital-
ians, Greeks, Spaniards and other
foreigners in the pay of political
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
4 Difficult Task.

Immediately following announce
nent Of the gift. william II. Van
Asrbilt donated $4,000 to finance
transfer Of the monument from
Alexandria, upon the express stipu-
lation that II be erected in Central
Park. This sum then sweiled by
other smaller contributions into q
practical. working fund.
The next big problem faced was
that Of disnantIins and trans
PORTING the obeliek for a distance
or nearly 1000 miles over land
and water. and this proved far
more hazardous than ever expect
ed. For almost five years elapsed
between the date Of the gift and
the time e4 its unwilling here.
The feat, In itself, was @ most
difficult one, requiring skill and
patience to successfully complete.
John Dixon, an Ensiishnaan, who
had removed the obalisk's twin 70
Hyde Park in London, at first
agreed to do the work for SIS 900,
eut later raised his demand -
100000.
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
North building.

and the reign of an all-pbwerful
PharoAh. when offered America,
stood In ar isolated, poorly kept
quarter Of Alexandra, overlook
ing a squalid scene OF beggars and
camel drivers.
The Khedive himself was assail.
ed with the fear that the obelisk
would suffer at the hands of some
overthrifty builder. seeking a sup
ply OF substantial stone on short
notice. This was. perhaps, one Of
the reasons why Ismail hailed ar
rival of the -Gorringe expedition
with relief
Arab workmen, directed by the
Americans. began literally dig.
ging "Cleopatra's Needle" from the
gigantic sand dune surrounding it.
AS fast az any portion became un-
covered. a Sheathing Of hardwood
was deftly applied to preserve its
hieroglyphics. The Arabs worked
Tor month, and by the en0 or
that time had removed some $40
cubic yards OF material around the
shaft.
When the monument had been
completely encased, excavation
was made about the base to per-
NIT freedom in turning operations;
the principle used being that Of
swinging the shaft horizontally on
stanchions, and then lifting 1t on
rollers for conveyance aboard ship.
AS digging progressed, the Arab
crew found many relics Of ancient
Egypt. and these they turned over
to their American chiefs FIR nornI-
nal sums
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
Serious Obstacles.

Serious obstacles appeared from
the first to fill members Of
the expedition with gloom. Alex
andria, then as now, the most
important seaport Of Egypt, had
at that time not one pier capable
Of receiving a ship OF any size.
nor a channel deep enough for
close approach.
What frail, unsteady wharves
they were could be used only by
river steamers and fishing
srnacks. AS supports for an OBJ
Ject Of such bulk as "Cleopatra'a
Needle" these were out of the
question.
Europeans in Alexandria were
convinced that the Americans
would find the obelisk a white
elephant" and threw up their
hands by way Of saying II
couldn't be done. How were
they going to even bulge the
huge symbolic monument, all,
most seventy-one feet high, and
weighing approximately 220 tons?
Where was there a ship on the
seven seas with it's hold and
hatchways large enough to &C.
eommodate a cargo OF such I'M
usual dimensions? In what place
could they buy or build q sea-
worthy vessel on such limited
funds?
These were a few of the ques-
tons hurled at Gorringe and mis-
aides from the moment they set
foot on shore, November z,
1879, until June IL, 1880, when
they sailed homeward bound
But with a demonstration Of that
spirit which later built the
Panama Canal in the face Of al
most insurmountable difficulties.
the expedition began it's task one
day after arrival on the shores
of Egypt.
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
Sea Captains Balk.

Objects thus upturned included
carved stones. knives, coins,
scarabs and other bejeweled orna-
ments once worn by the Oldest
race in the world. Most of
these have found their way into
American museums, but a few,
however. still remain In private
collections.
To overcome the handicaps Of
shallow water, absence of docks
and impossibility Of lighteraro
was a tremendous problem, but
1t was nevertheless accomplished.
through GorrinEe's idea Of utilizing
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
Medsss Americans.

/. 49,
MAny familiar with. the politi-.
cal situation 81 Egypt bellows it
is IN many respects more tense
than in 1875, when the Khedivs
rsmail, ita ruling head, through
the. pereuasion Of the late VIII
tam Henry Hubert, Aroused the
Ere Of his enemies by pfeeAntinY
sCleopatra'U Needle" to the
United States.
But there were 'faw who wit
nsAsed the obAllsk's ui1veilinG In.
Central Park On January q,
1881, aware Of the perils and dif-
ficulties faced by the expedition
Ia salvaeing It.
Modesty OF the Americans who
hraved death In holding Off an
Arab mob, famed to white heat,
until the weighty shaft could be
lowered and placed safely aboard
hhip, prevented . full account OF
the story, now revealed In the
yellowed contents Of IN attic
trunk.
These records give . thrilling
description Of how Russian sail
otk, armed with clubs. arrived in
time 10 clinch victory Of q group
e two-fisted "Tanks" IN what 10
termed the ''BAttle Of the Alex.
Andria Dry Dock"
AZ the time when the Khedive
Isuaail presented the obelisk to
America there was 90 much
speculation concerning II through
out the world as there Il today
ever the wonders revealed In
Tut.Ankh.Amen's tomb.
IsmaIl himself, an earnest stu
dent Of antiquity, wanted to pre-
serve ''CecpatrA's Needle" at al
Costs, but had no funds 70 do 20.
e was due mainly to this desire
% save the obelIsk that the Khe-
aivs needed Hulbert's advice and
save 1t to this nation, which he
NEST admired. On condition, how
ever, that the United States would
deerAy an expenses q removal.
The Washington times., 1923-04-01

prevent him from landing an armed
force, he would render any assist
ance needed by sending unarmed
sailors ashore.
The base of "Cleopatra's Needle"
was then hoisted aboard the Dea-
soug, after being rolled an inter-
vening distance Of eighty feet to
the site of the Obelisk. No sooner
had this happened than mob wrath
broke loose Swarms OF Arabs,
under their renegade leaders,
charged the drydook, but were
hurled back with trip-hammer
blows Of Yankee fists.
The din grew deafening as the
streets along the water front
belched forth hundreds to augment
the attack, and the Americans re-
treated slowly to position of van
tage about the base of the obelisk'
The Washington times., 1923-04-01

This was more than the fund
committee had bargained fofy but
It seemed the only solution In sight,
until Lieut.. Comdr. Henry H. Cor
riGge, an United States naval Of.
hcer, Frightened the situation with
an offer to undertake the entire
transfer for, $4,000.
Gorringe, who knew the hArbor
OF Alexandria well, seemed pecu-
liarly fitted for the task. BY spe-
cial request OF Secretary Of the
Navy William N. Evarts, he was
recalled from mission Of sound
ing in the Mediterranean to head
the new venture, which sailed from
New York on August 8. 1879.
Assisting him were Frank Price,
a civil engineer; Lieut.. Seaton
Schroeder, later rear admiral OF
the navy, and Prof. r. Ogden Do
renius, noted Psychologist. Sea-
men and construction experts COM
pleted the party.
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
American Fists and
Russian Clubs May
Again Be Employed
to Subdue Rioting
Natives rs Storm
Gathers.

WY ILL removal Of PhAfoh
" Tut.Aflkh.Afnen's treasures
w from the valley OF the
Kings at Luxor, Egypt, to foreign
shores prove the signal for another
Arab uprising?
viii American flats and Russian
clubs again be employed to subdue
riueing mch6. such % those which
atorTned the AlexAndria quayD In
"a effort to halt the dismantling
- '.Caopatra's needlA-tha famous
ohsiislt now standing Ia Central
Park?
II threats Of brigands, sent IneEn-
bsrs of the Luxor expedition, are
to be taken at face value there IL
danger Of q similar, or even larger,
such outbreak. Or II, eEl the other
hand, these warnings were known
% be oleverly concealed rusas to
exact payment Of s'bAcltsheesh," or
eraft money, the scientists could
yell laugh ana pfoesed with task
without daalfn.
UheAslnSas. heWevef, ever these
very problems ID balisvea-to have
caused the Earl Of CArnArvon and
Howard Carter, his assistant In
the exploration 30 Tut-Ankb-
Amen'a tomb. radically % increase
Heroes guarding the relies.
Each Of the two Egyptologists
directing this work il both . diplo.
mat and 1 fighter. Each has spent
tee many yeAra In ths Land Of the
Nile not 70 have learned much
good ana much. bad concerning the
Arab.
They knew his customs. his
languages and know also the IN
1Annable qualities OF hia nature,
when fired BY political as1tators.
In short, both realize the danger Of
Understanding the current Of un.
rsst which u today running be-
meath an Egypt Of apparent peace
and serenity.
The Washington times., 1923-04-01

had opposed the gift to America
were busy In attempts to foment
a real instruction. Gorringe,
after remaining idle for more than
a week, determined to complete
loading OF the ancient pillar.
Ismail cautiously consented
with the understanding thatS the
Americans would assume all re-
sponsibility for the consequences
arising therefrom.
The Washington times., 1923-04-01

Here the Arabs met with such
stiff resistance that their leaders
were awed and drew aside for con-
ference. But the felaheen rabble.
keyed to hysterical pitch, renewed
the fray without them. It seemed
that the little group OF Americans
would be crushed by sheer weight
Of numbers, but It fought >gamely'
rushing here and there to send the
foremost mobsmen sprawling to
the sand.
= 1t was a battle of bare hands
against knives and bludge0ns. As
the "Yanks" were being aoFely
pressed by the yelling horde, some
thing akin to an upheaVai along
the meb's right flank bespoke the
arrival of the Russians. Clubs
welded by these tars were literally
beating a lane through the fexzed
mass
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
Fear That an Out
break, Similar to
One When "cleo-
patra's Needle" Was
Removed, VIII Take
place.

with q cheer, the Czar's man.
o'-warsnen broke through and
joined the Americans In q rush
that threw the mob into widest
confusion. The 1nain body Of the
Arabs retrsated to q respectable
distance. and contented itself with
screaming spithets.
Several intermittent attacks fol-
lowed during the next two hours,
but these were easily repuIsed;
Tngpsrtion was quickly rnnde and.
the obelisIg found 70 be unframed.
swiftly s'Cls0pAtfass Needle re-
ceived ite second sheathin6 Of
hardwood. lifted ana turned, ur1-
harmed onto runway, despite the
fact that an Arab helper, unneryed
through fear Of me mob. released
the main guide rope at a critical
time, near'y causing the crash Of
both app fatus and shaft.
It was then wheeled through the
Dessoug's side. where, once in the
hold, II was covered on all sides
BY soft pins bouehs to proven.
injury 1t sea.
The Desscug's side was next
patched, and the vessel made sea-
worthy before sailing on October
10, 1880. Except for . broken
cranl.shaft, causing three days
delay, and q one.day's stop-over
for coal, the voyage was uninter.
rupted.
In due time the Desaoug arrived.
in New York, where after the mon.
urnent was again carefully inspect.
cd for signs Of damage. and then
hauled to ito new site. 100 feet In
rear or the Metropolitan Museum
OF Art. Here engineers had found
1t necessary to lay 4 new lower
base
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
Needle !" stiIl Firm.

%. 1881. raised BY the same New
Jersey.nade apparatus used IN
Egypt, before = cheering tllron.
who had gathered for the unveii
ing. Prominent officials Wed
with scientists in examining the
completed work, and the distriDu.
ton Of sixty medals to school.
boys Of the city connnemorated
the OCCASION. Final cost Of the
enterprise totaled $1OS,7S2.
The knoll upon which Cleo
patra's Needle now stands, is
easily accessible to both east and
west side park entrances. rs
wen a. BY automobile route.
Concrete benches surround its
base, where the curious may nd
mire the ancient hieroglyphics in
comfort.
The shaft has never. been sway.
ed by gale and It's sandstone
substance is still firm and mere
" beginning to wear after $500
years In the open. exposed to the
elements.
1t viii probably stand In place
until the time when nature takes
its course and cr1mbles it to dust.
This time, however. scientists de-
clare, is so far off SO far as We
are concerned, that the norn-
ment viii last forever.
Although known as ''Cleo.
patfa's Needle" the symbolic
shaft existed centuries before
the reign Of that Inflated queen.
Together with its sister shaft.
now in England. 1t was erected
before the ancient Temple of On
near Heliopolis, about N7s s..
c.. by the Architect Pontius, In
honor Of the Pharaoh Tothmes
III, who then ruled Egypt. Like
its twin, II bears inscriptions ded-
icated TO the sun god Osiris, and
like others lauds the> greatness
Of the Pharaohs.
This symbolic monument has
stood during the rise and fall Of
empires. It IL. indeed. q part of
history. With it's companion
shaft. "Cleopatria's Needle" was
removed by Romans from Heli-
opolin TO the shores Of Alexandria.
where II lay upon the ground
until 2 b. c.. when II was again
raised before the Palace Of the
Caesars.
Obelisks. in the ancient temples
marked, as did the Sphinxes. the
good viii Of Osiris toward the
popuiace. AS obelisks represent
ed creation, they were invariably
erected on the eastern bank of
the Nile, while Sphinxes. repre-
senting the passage Of life. were
placed only on the western bank.
These locations were mainly due
to the fact that the Egyptians
were sun worshiperS.
With the discovery Of Tut
Ankh-Amen's tomb and the sal
vaging of its contents now under
way, the world will come into a
rich heritage from the dawn or
history.
Will CarnarVon, the English
man, or Carter, the American. be
permitted 10 send the treasures
from Egypt in peace, or win they
meet political grafters with bare
fists, as did Gorringe. and his
band at the loading Of 'CleOpatla's
Needle?"
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
In Isolated Spot.

'"Ceopatra's Needle" they found
In surroundings diIapidated be-
yond description. So badly wa.
that antiquity in need Of upkeep
that sands Of the desert had
mounted high about it's shaft.
That monument. symboiisinR
the might Of the sun god Osiris,
The Washington times., 1923-04-01
Appeals for Aid.

Gorringe, without delay, then
appealed for aid to Rear Admiral
Aslambokoff, of the imperial Rus
sian navy, whose flagship, the
Minim, was then in harbor.,
The admiral declared that, while
international complications would
The Washington times., 1923-04-01


agitators went amongst the Arab
population Of Alexandra, tanning
it to fury with palpable false
hoods against America and Amer
cans until the streets seethed
with a rabble, wildly demanding
that the Gorringe expedition be
banished.
The demonstration rose to such
proportions that the Khedive drew
up both police and native troops
to preserve order. Ismail next
requested that the Americans
postpone further work until ex-
element had cooled.
In the meantime, those who
The Washington times., 1923-04-01

sphnres dot the
n
loading Above the right
unloading
large
build
Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-22

acting tests. No human agency IS
permitted to pass upon the final fit
ness of the individual motor. Each
is operated in test by electricity
and under the supervision of an ex
pert, while in room separate and
apart from this, the delicate cleo
trical dynamometer records the test
to the utmost fineness, and it is up
on the verdict of this instrument
that each motor receives its final
stamp of approval.
From all departments the various
finished parts emerge upon endless
conveyors and are carried to the as
sembly lines and the movement is
so synchronized that each unit ar
rives at tho proper point in exact
ratio to the manufacturing need.
Assembled by Experts
These parts are assembled by ex
pert workmen each performing his
specific operation as the motors are
carried along on constantly NOV
ing conveyor until they como out
completed at the end and in the
same manner the motors come to the
final assembly line where cars and
trucks are completed. There they
are mounted on the chassis and
started so that experts may pass up
on the ignition action and other me-
chanical operations as they are con-
veyed along the line to be turned
out complete and leave the final sta
tion under their own power.
Though 1922 set up a production
record of 1,351,3 1898 the present year
under the schedule now on will in
crease this by several hundred
.Lt sand, and indications are that
Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-22
Highland Park Ford Branch Has
$4,000 Men: Marvel in Efficiency

Covering 4 total Of nearly SOC
acres, of which 1928 are under roof,
the Highland Park plant of the
Ford Motor Company is the largest
individual motor plant in the world,
Lcrc thc TorG car Is built, the
castings being received from the
River Rouge plant and bodies from
the various Ford bodybuilding
plants.
The unit OF Highland Park in
cludes the main offices, the High
land Park power plant, the Detroit
sales branch, the boys industrial
school and the manufacturing unit
Under the latter head are includ-
ed the motor assembly, ear assem-
bly,, motor test, top and upholstery
departments, stock rooms, drop
forge plant, glass factory an d
others.
Today these plants present the
scene of the greatest activity in the
history of the Ford Motor Company.
as every energy is being directed. to
surprising the 5000 cars a dav
schedule set by the manufacturing
department.
The manufacture of 6,000 separ-
ate Ford units daily presents stag,
gcring production figures and calls
for the highest degree of accuracy
IN each manufacturing operation
1t means that in the motor Assem-
bly, department 5000 motor blocks
are handled, 24,000 connecting rods,
$4,000 valves and necessary mechan-
ical materials, the installation of
$4,000 main motor bearings wit il
other production figures in:the same
ratio and to a uniformly high stan
dard of quality.
EXacting rests
Each of these parts is subjected
to eNacting balance ald mierometer
tests and as production at the High.
land Park plant increases it is nee
essarily accompanied with an in
crease in the accuracy with which
each individual part is made in
order that the various assembly op.
eratlons may progress smoothly and
without interruption.
Production at the plant has not
been increased by more work but by
increasing man power to the utmost
Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-22

of the mechanical equipment capaci-
ty and at the present time 10000
men are employed at the plant,
working in eight-hour shifts six
days week on "a hour day basis.
In the huge drop forge plant
where 5000 front axles, 5000 crank
shafts and other drop forge parts
are made, there has been added
equipment and greater man power is
being used to produce the necessary
parts and at the same time there
has been an increased quality mark
ing every phase Of Ford construc-
tion.
"a Hour Schedule
To guard against the possibility
of outside manufactures failing in
this huge production schedule the
glass plant, the fabric plant and
other allied plants at the Highland
Park group are all working on
24 hour schedule.
In the glass factory there is a
never-ending flow of molten glass
from the furnace mout at which il
is rolled out and slipped along in a
465-foot ribbon to the cutting end
where it is cut into lengths and sont
to the polishing machines.
In the plant the work on top ma
terial goes on increasingly and tops
and upholstery are cut and sewed by
hand into proper parts.
Ford motors undergo the most ex-
Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-22

box cars with the STANDARD Steel
Car Company of Hammond. India
ma; to be delivered during the pre-
sent month at the rate of 120 per
week; AS gondola cars with the
Ralston Steel Car Company OF
Columbus, Ohio; 400 box cars with
the General American Car Company
of East Chicago and 475 stock
ears with the Pullman Car Com
pany. These latter three orders
will be delivered at the rate of 100
ears per week during July.
The expense of these cars runs
well into millions, according to rail
road officials, and the equipment is
required to replace equipment
which has become obsolete in the
last few years, also to provide suf-
ficient ears for the greatly increas.
ed business.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-22
Prominent Contractor
NoU Gives Out Facts

stomach was in such fix that no
matter what / ate or how little, it
hurt me for hours. / got so run
down / felt tired and worn out all
the time, even in the morning, for
/ was so nervous l never slept well.
Nights when l came in just drop
ped into the first chair 1 came to.
"But I've taken six bottles of
Tanlac now and am feeling fit as
a fiddle. / never have a touch of
indigestion any more, I sleep like a
log every night, and that tired, run
down feeling is entirely gone and
l am full of energy all the time.
What Tanlac has done for me makes
me glad to recommend it,"
Tanlac is for sale by all good
druggists. Accept no substitute.
Over 81 million bottles sold Adv
Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-22
MANY MILLIONS
SPENT BY s. P.
FOR new CARS

Immense orders for additional
rolling stock equipment have been
laid by the Southern Pacific Com
pany, according to a letter received
today by C. w. Runge, district
freight and passenger agent. Re
frigerator ears which are owned
jointly by the Southern Pacific and
Union Pacific companies, under the
name of Pacific Fruit Express,
will be increased by 5,430. Of these
1872 were delivered last December
and $50 in April; 1875 will be de-
hvered this month and the remand
er 1880 Will be delivered in June,
10 in July anu 315 in August. Also
in July, the company will receive
800 refrigerator ears to be used on
passenger trains.
Other equipment whi3,l mas been
ordered and delivered since July,
1922, and on which deliveries are
now being made include 677 50-ton
automobile cars; 200 Acton box
ears and so of the new type 2-10-2
freight locomotives. On these same
orders there are yet to be delivered
$3.50 50-ton box cars; 1923 50-ton
automobile cars; 475 40-ton stock
cars; 500 40ton logging cars; 925
5O-ton dump bottom gondola cars;
800 50-ton revenue ballast cars; 10
cabooses; Al 2-10-2 freight locomo-
tives; SIX 1852 passenger locomo-
tives; 10 1872 passenger locomo-
tives and three 0-2 switching en-
gines.
New Pullmans Also
New orders placed include $3.50