davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-06-26

| MONSTER OF the deep with
n a tail six times longer tina
~ his body and the ability. lit
orally, to shock" his living
| food to death, is one Of the rau,st
specimens and greatest attractionst at
| the National Geological Reservation.
better known as the Rock Greek Noo.
He is the electric eel. electrophoIus
electricus to the highbroWs, and The
has led such an efiete existence since
his capture six years ago that he
hasn't even had a chance for good
mud bath or even the smell of fish
that wasn't served up to him. if mot
on silver platter, at least on a
! keepers hook
In fact, Mr. Electric Eel bids flair
to lose his power of shooting out cleo
trio currents completely unless the oc-
casions when he tries it out asainst
the rubber boots of the men, who
periodically invade his cage, is &xuffi-
cient to keep it alive. Any voluntary
investigation along this line is ade-
quately deferred by the 2i2-inch glass
| which separates the eel from the spec
tators.
The electric eel in the Washington
Zoo is over s feet long from stem to
stern, and the curious part OF it is
that only about IL inches OF this foot
age constitutes the body OF the rep
tile. Consequently. according to the
head keeper, w. H. Blackburn, all OF
the organs. not including the bat
teries" that store up his mysterious
energy, are contained in this small
section.
From the tip of the cells mouth to
the end of this body portion he is
brilliant pinkish orange in color on
his under side From the point
where the tail begins to its tip. almost
feet away, he Is grayksh green,
slightly speckled on the under side
with gray dots, like brook trout,
but more sparingly.
Likewise, from the end of his body
to the tip of his tail on the under side
there runs ribbon of loose, green
flesh, a perfect ruffle almost 2 inches
wide, that undulates with his every
movement.
THIS curious creature, whose body
and tail, which taper slightly, are
as big around as an adults thigh,
moves with q fluid. lightning speed
and is astonishingly agile, consider
ing the disproportionate weight Of
| its tail.
1t darts from one end of its tank
to the other, gliding along the bottom
and up the sides, sometimes apparent
ly standing on its head with its enor-
nous tail upright, and .otherwise dis
porting itself.
This particular eel is very fond of
rubbing the entire length of its back
against the moss-encased walls of its
tank. as persistently as q cat will rub
itself against the table leg Also it
shoots up bubbles of air from its
mouth, just as q whale lemits a geyser-
like stream from its head.
The eel at the zoo Isl fed about one
half pound of fish every other day,
but it has no opportunity to exert its
electric discharge in securing this
food.
In its native state, in the rivers and
swamps Of Brazil and the Guianas, the
eel enits these electric currents with
such force that 1t ktl1s small hsh and
Evening star., 1937-06-26

lice siren and started an airplane
engine.
While the relay system involved
is too complicated for analysis here,
the initial power for these feats ac-
tually was produced in and dis
charged from this cells body, and the
events in succession were heard around
the world over the radio.
In all the marine world there are
only three creatures that carry within
their bodies electric organs that pro-
duce actual currents of electricity.
These are the electric eel, the elec-
trict catfish, a specimen of which is
also in the Rock Greek Park Zoo,
and the torpedo Ray.
The catfish inhabits tropical
Africa. mainly in the Nile. Congo
and Niger basins. 1t also grows at
its maximum to length of 80 inches
When it is necessary to clean out
the tank at the Zoo, the water is run
down as low as possible and the men
who enter the tank wear rubber boots
as a protection against the shock If
the eel must be handled, rubber
gauntlets are worn.
Just now this electricity has been
a subject of greatest interest to scien-
lists. In the New York aquarium
| for instance, experiments have been
! made which measure the electric cur
rent. The instrument is something
like an X-ray apparatus. and expert
menters have ascertained from it that
on one fish an eel can generate as
much electrical energy as can be pro-
duced in modern power plant from
several tons of COAL
A contrivance of this sort is being
taken to South America to be used
IN . study Of the electric eel In It's
Evening star., 1937-06-26

native habitat, Scientists will at
tempt there to discover how sluggish,
reptilean body can produce enough
current to paralyze whole schools OF
fish or knock over an adult man.
IN THIS lowly reptilian form of
life, these scientists who have gone
into the Amazon regions OF Brazil
dare even to hope that they may learn
something Of the mysterious forces
that govern radio transmission. As
part OF their equipment, they carry
an electrical apparatus capable OF dis
charging the same voltage as the
current which emanates from the
eel. BY means of this apparatus
they Will experiment to see if the
robot eel will cause any reaction in
his live brother and elicit any electrical
response.
Curious as this experiment seems
to be, man may we'll learn something
of electricity from this marine monster
who apparently produces electrical
energy by chemicals alone. and dis
charges it in some mysterious manner
When one considers that a human
being contains electrical energy in
finitely less. proportionately, than is
contained in the lengthy tail OF
the eel, scientists may we'll manifest
interest In the phenomenon.
Our electrical impulses pass alona
the nerves, but they have not been
measured. BY studying the electrical
impulses generated in the eel, on q
larger scale, scientists may learn
something of the human body's power
to generate electric currents.
A careful inspection of the eel
reveals that the head is blunt, with q
wide, pink mouth, two very small
and opaque eyes. set directly above
wide nostrils.
There are two small fln-like append
ages that give the creature a grotesuue
appearance, resembling, as they do
protruding and Tapping ears. The
eel has no teeth and gulps its prey
whole.
IN ITS native state, the eel emit.
currents of electricity until it i!
surrounded by stunned. floating fish
which it devours leisurely. If it is
too long at its meal, some Of the
stunned fish have been known to
revive, whereupon the willy eel has
sent out a second discharge to make
sure its dinner will not get away.
w. c. Blackburn, head keeper Al
the Rock Creek Zoo, who has been
handling wild animals and strange
marine creatures for more than hall
century, states that the specimen
In this aquarium is one Of the very
finest in America. 1t is unusual in
size, coloring and state of health
Indeed. Mr.. Blackburn speaks of IL
almost as fondly as one would discuss
the fine points of terrier.
There is a great deal of interest, he
declares, on the part of the public
in this "electrophorus electricus.
Next in the interest of the public
according to Mr.. Blackburn. is q
peculiar and rare toad in an adjoining
tank, which carries its eggs in pocket;
on its back.
This particular specimen has moi
pined away since the untimely death
of the mate which accompanied it ir
the barrel journey from South Amer
lea. Nevertheless, the Washington
Zoo is keeping its eyes open fol
companion, so the expert may
study at close hand something of the
domestic life Of the electric eel.
Evening star., 1937-06-26

Peak Lake There were five Others
in the party: A Mr. and Mrs. Jim
Blain, Mr.. and Mrs. Darwin Pond
and a Miss Sally Evans, They all
came from Chicago. and camp life
was new to them, though they were
all eager about it.
Every one but the Whittemores
arrived loaded down with all manner
Of new tangled paraphernalia that
they had purchased upon advice of a
young salesman in a Chicago sporting
goods store. Ben Gage had bought
pair OF fancy boots, and it was these
boots that helped in identifying him
as the murderer.
THE party had been in camp four
days when Bob Whittemore called me
and said that Darwin Pond had been
shot. I got up there in hurry and
presently had the facts of the
case.
1T seems that all but Ben Gage had
set off on hunting expedition that
morning. Ben, complaining of a
headache, had remained in bed
According to his own story he had
risen about $50. dressed and eaten
a leSurelv breakfast. He was sitting
at the table smoking a cigarette when
he heard shot coming from the
lake shore. His curiosity aroused. he
strolled down the path and along the
shore. thinking perhaps one of his
companions had killed a deer. But
instead Of coming upon a slain deer
he saw a figure lying upon the beach
and, rushing up. discovered it to be
Darwin Pond. The poor fellows
rife vas lying at his side with one
bullet discharged.
How long l asked him. were you
sitting at the table smoking before
you heard the shot?
About five minutes. 1t took
me at least another five to
reach the spot where Darwin
lay
"NOW, mind you. there was nc
reason TO suspect Gage Not a
soul guessed that he and Winifred
Pond we're in love with each other
until the trial. AS far as those present
knew, he and Pond were the best of
friends. Moreover, Darwin had had
Ill luck in the stock market, and, they
all remembered now, had seemed in
low spirits
''All the same, secretly examined
Ben Cages rife, and found it clean
as a whistle. The incident had al
the earmarks of suicide.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
DAILY SHORT sTORY---
MOTIVE: LOVE
By Carlton James.
THE motive for

THE motive for
that murder
was love" Sheriff
Towne said when l
asked him about
t he Whittemore
case. But we
didn't know 1t until
long after the
criminal was ap-
pretended.
"Of course, not
knowing the motive
made the problem
more difficult. In
fact. I believe that
II Ben Gage had
planned the thing
in his own element
he might have sue
ceeded in covering
his tracks.
Gage, as you
know, was the
guest of Mr.. and
Mrs. Whittemore
at their Summer
nlacp I'm on Raid
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Lincoln COnerepatiOnaI

DR.. R. w. Brooks will speak tonor-
row on IF This Were My Last Ser
mon" The Mems Brotherhood at
10 am. will be addressed by DR.. St.
Elmo Brady, Fisk University, on
Making Basic Concepts Real" Men
and women are invited.
Prayer service will be held Thurs
day evening.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Reception Scheduled.

Holy communion will be observed at
III am. tomorrow at McKendree
Methodist Church. Meditation by the
minister on Behold His Glory" Re.
ceptlon of new members. Robert
Shane will lead the young peoples
meeting at pm
Informal service at pm, Mr.. and
Mrs. C, H. Ward in charge. Rev
Samuel E. Rose gives brief sermon
on There Is Mist"
Midweek service Thursday at pm.
with address by Mr.. Rose.
Evening star., 1937-06-26

However, for
formality's sake I
decided to cary On
an Investigation.
The mere fact that
no one had wit
messed the suicide
and that Ben Ga ga
had discovered the
body alone didn't
set so we'll.
Nov, Ben had
said that after dis
covering the body
he rushed back to
the house for band
ages, but when he
returned to the
shore again he
realized that Pond
was beyond help,
so he carried him
up to the camp.
That would make
two sets Of Ben s
footprints going ID
the shore and two
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Jones Memorial NJ. r.

The unit leaders Summer rally Will
be observed tomorrow At II an =,
sermon by Dr. Julius S. Carroll on
Our Threefold Relationship to Cos -
The unit leaders will report at this
service. At $50 pm. closing service
of the EpWOrth League for the Sum
$50 pm. Mdweek prayer service,
Wednesday. 8 pm
Evening star., 1937-06-26
DR.. Nixon, Guest.

DR.. John Nixon, director Of the
Social Welfare Department of the
Washington Federation of Churches
will be the guest speaker at the
morning service at Plymouth Congre-
gational Church. At pm. Rev. Ar
thur D. Gray will preach the sermon
to the Association of Oldest Inhabi-
tants Of Washington.
The mid-Week service will be held
Thursday at pm.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
By Carlton James.

'
He had as usual, been wearing those
fancy boots Of his which had SEMI
circular iron cleats on the heels I
| eXami~ | the shore path. and try as
would, could only find two sets Of
iron-cleat heel tracks.
This aroused my suspicious but
didn't prove much because there was
a perfect maze of tracks along that
path. However. I went back to camp.
reqL ,sted every one to 20 outside, and
spent an hour looking around the
place. Then I went back to the
scene Of the murder and secuted
through the nearby country.
In another hour 1 had collected
enough evidence TO arrest Ben Gage
On suspicion. l returned to camp and
told Ben I'd have to hold HIM.
"NOU'RE crazy' he famed al ma
Hold ne on what grounds
"Suspicion of murder, I said. You
said YOU made two trips to the shore.
yet 1 can find only one set of tracks
going in each direction
That's a hot onel Why. it would
take a magician to Segregate my
tracks from all those imprinted III
the path
1t won't take a magician to dis
tinguish your fancy boot heels I'M
printed in the soft ground behind the
alder bushes 25 yards from the scene
Of the murder Nor the fact that the
leaves on the alder bushes have
powder marks on them
Which proves nothing I was
down by those alders yesterday and
shot a a deer I haven't shot my
gun today You can examine it and
Sc, for yourself
I've already done so. I examined
the fireplace. too. No fire vas lighted
in it this morning, hence the piece of
cleaning rag you threw there wasn't
burned
Ben wet his lips, He looked
little wild.
You're crazy!' he repeated. Crazy
as a loon! That evidence is ridIculous'
Lastly I said. YOU stated you
sat at the breakfast table FIVE minutes.
smoking a cigarette before hearing the
shot There is no ash tray on the
table, and none of the dishes YOU
used contain cigarette ashes. What
happened TO them?'
Ben said no more. He couldn't.
And so I held him on suspicion But
it wasn't until tho trial that We dis
covered he had been having an affair
with Mrs. Rnd. II was she who
broke down and coafesSae
tCopyrlght, 931J
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Zion Baptist. Deanwood. d. {

A special song service will be rem
dered at 4 pm. Dr. w. A. Randolph
will preach a special sermon.
At the morning service Rev. Leon
S. Wormley will have for his subject
Our Lords Authority Over Natural
and Supernatural Forces"
Evening star., 1937-06-26
"Jesus Choice" Topic.

The Choice Of Jesus will be the
topic OF Rev. Reginald Heber Stone
at II am. tomorrow at Lincoln Road
M. E. Church. At 8 pm. the pastors
topic will be The Kingdom of God"
Glasses for all youth and adults at
e:45. Beginners and primary groups
meet at IL am.
Evening star., 1937-06-26

OF interest. Practically everything
worthy of attention is within Is
minute walk.
From this ground vantage point.
looking due southeast, near the top
of a majestic hill is Chimney Rock,
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Ebenezfr VI. Z.

The annual trustee rally will ba
held all day Sunday At II M DR..
j. E. Dotson, district superintendent
of the Alexandria district, will de-
liver the sermon. At 1l:l5 am,
chlldrens church in the upper chapel;
$50, Epworth League; pm, the
pastor will speak on Not Position, But
Attitude"
Evening star., 1937-06-26

about 200 feet above the ground. It's
favorite haven for ambitious noun
tain climbers. Directly eastward is
the Potomac River. separating Mary
land from West Virginia.
Only few steps from the bridge is
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Seat Pleasant NJ r

Rev. Paul E. Bohi will speak at II
am, on The Functions of the Di-
vine,' and at 8 pm. will present a
stereopticon lecture on Methodist
Schools in China.
The first quarterly conference will
be conducted Wednesday at 8 pm. by
District Supt. G. Ellis Williams.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Peoples Congregational

Rev. A. F. Elmes speaks tomorrow
morning on More Than Conquerors. -
The department of religious educa-
ton will hold reception and tea in
recognition of this years graduates
at o'clock. Delegates to the recent
Kamp Kahlert conference will re-
port.
Next Thursday service of prepara-
ton for the communion will be held.
The minister will have charge.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Trinity Methodist.

Tomorrow at II m. DR.. Dan L..
Ennis will continue his sermons on
The I Ans of Jesus speaking on
II Am the Truth At pm. the sec
ond in the series on THE Gardens OF
the Lord is THE River OF Life
Church school picnic today at Glen
Echo Park
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Calvary M. E. South.

Rev. w. D. Keene will preach at
the IL o'clock service on Jesus Gave
Principles Rather Than Rules" At
73O the pastor and the young peo-
pie will conduct a joint service. The
pastor will talk on Some Subtle Sins
of the Respectable
The pastor will conduct the serv-
ice in the adult department of the
church school. At the midweek prayer
meeting Thursday evening the pastor
will talk on The Graf Business OF
Life"
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Pilgrim BAPTIST.

Mems day will be observed tomor-
row. At II am. Rev. John S. Miller
will preach. Maj. Ernest w. Brown
Of the Metropolitan Police will be the
principal speaker at 1 pm. A religious
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Gunton-Temple Memorial.

Page NICK. Etchison, religious work
director of the Young Mems Christian
Association. will occupy the pulpit at
the II o'clock service.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
TakOma Park Baptist.

Rev. William E. La Rue will speak
at the morning service on The
Twelfth Scout Law" At the evening
hour the ordinance of baptism will
be administered This will be the
closing evening service for the Sum-
mer season until the last Sunday in
September
The annual Sunday school picnic
will be held Tuesday at the reservoir
grounds in Rock Creek Park in the
afternoon and evening.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Church Activities
Continued From Page B-5

drama. Women of the Bible" will
be presented al 8 pm. Tuesday. s
pm, senior prayer meeting. Thurs
DAY, TO pm, junior prayer meet
ing.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Zion Baptist. Southwest.

DR.. j. M. Ellison has for his subject
Sunday morning The Business of
Being Christian" This will be his
final message to Zion as its pastor
Last year he was called to Virginia
Union University. Richmond. Va. as
professor of social and religious ethics
and consultant on church organiza-
ton and church programming.
At pm. holy communion will be
observed.
The annual outing of the Sunday
school will be held July at Sparrows
Beach. Buses will leave the church
at 8 am.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Second Baptist.

From June 81 to July 7 the twen-
tieth anniversary Of the pastorate OF
DR.. J. L. S. Halloman will be OBJ
served. Local pastors will participate
in the celebration. DR.. Halloman will
preach tomorrow at II am. on "The
Stone Which the Builders Rejected" ="
In the evening the students of the
Washington Baptist Seminary will
conduct the service.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Columbia Heights Christian.

The Summer series of sermons or.
Jesus. The Story Teller" began last
Sunday They will be continued when
the minister. Rev Arthur P. Wilson,
Will speak upon The Rich Fool"
In the evening. by the courtesy Of
The Oberapmergau of the Air" two
radio transcriptions will be given
depicting the life of Moses. This will
be the last of the evening services for
the Summer season.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Shiloh Baptist.

DR.. St. Elmo Brady. head Of the
department of chemistry in Fisk Uni
versity, will be the speaker Tuesday
evening at the annual banquet given
by the Sunday school teachers to the
high school and college graduates
Miss Martha jackson will be toast
mistress.
Evening star., 1937-06-26
By Louis Selding.

MONSTER of the deep, With
n tail six times longer tina n
~ his body and the ability, lit
orally. to shock" his living
Evening star., 1937-06-26
Flying Boats

CONTINUED From Page B-l)
The Washington times., 1937-02-18
HUNT.
IN ROBBERY

Police today were searching for
a woman known as Margaret"
following a report that Albert
Kunowski, TOO block Ninth st. N.
W., was robbed Of $700 in a down
town hotel last night.
Two colored thugs held up
Benedict E. Peake, 1888 Tenth st.
N. W., last night and robbed him
Of 81 and some insurance papers.
A colored man, armed with a
pistol. entered a liquor store at
SOL Florida Ave. N. w. last night,
held up Daniel Dobbins, pro
prietor, took SIS and fled, firing a
shot as he ran up an alley.
Burglars last night entered a
gasoline station at 811 Minnesota
Ave. N. E., and stole $50 from
the cash box.
Jack Cohen, Philadelphia shoe
salesman, reported thieves broke
into his car in the 1900 block
Eighth st. N. w. last night and
stole three cases of sample shoes,
valued at $125. But the shoes will
do the thieves little good, for they
are all for the left foot.
The Washington times., 1937-02-18
UNIONS CHECK
C.I. 0. RUM0R

Meager evidence that a union
organizer, claiming to represent
John L. Lewis and the Committee
for Industrial Organization, is at
tempting to organize nonunion
building tradesmen in the Wash
ington area was being studied to-
day by several labor bodies here.
Although no positive proof has
been uncovered by local American
Federation Of Labor officials, ru-
morS have been prevalent about a
Lewis organizer in the building
trades field"
The reports already have reached
the ears of several union building
contractors here and of John
Locher. president of the Central
Labor Union.
Locher declared it was hard for
him to believe that C. I. o. rivals
of his own organization, which is
affiliated with the A. F. of L.,
would attempt to invade the field.
Absolute denial of any connec-
tion with a movement to organize
nonunion building tradesmen here
came from officials of the c. I. o.,
who declared the Lewis group has
never contemplated such a scheme
and is too busy trying to form in
dustrial unions in nonunionized in
dustrieS to bother about industries
as strongly organized as the build
ing trades,
The Washington times., 1937-02-18
NAIL ORDERS PROMPTLY FILLED
Times Book Offer Is
Best Bargain

>ity Fair" first and second books
in the series.
Many questions have been asked
as to starting the series. Those
who have only recently made up
their minds may rest assured that
they can start at any time to col
lect the entire library, book by
book.
They will be delivered, one each
week, and of course the most
practical way is to subscribe for
The Washington Times and the
Sunday Herald, clip the coupon
each day and then notify the
carrier boy to deliver your volume
Saturday at a specified time.
Why not call Di. 1000 and place
your subscription order now? Or
speak to the carrier boy in your
neighborhood? Or call or visit
the Coupon Exchange Station so
your home delivery may start at
once?
The Washington times., 1937-02-18

In one Of the midwinter book
sales in Washington today four
volumes are offered the public for
from $1.29 to $1.69 each.
In the Worlds Greatest Litera-
ture set of 20 volumes offered by
The Washington Times are these
four standard works and Is more
of the same caliber.
This is an indication of the
value of the works included in the
most remarkable offer ever made
in this city for lovers of books by
The washington Times.
The Times presents one volume
each week for seven consecutive
coupons clipped from the daily
Times and the Sunday Washington
Herald and 80 cents for each book.
This week Benjamin Franklin'S
Autobiography and Poor Richards
Almanac will be ready at the So
Coupon Exchange Stations where
those who have clipped the coupons
may redeem them with the 49,
cent fee.
Saturday morning the stations
will be opened for those who want
the third volume, the Franklin
work. Also available are "The
Last of the Mohicans" and CYAN
The Washington times., 1937-02-18
Ken Murray
Says:

Not that it means anything,
but I see where 27 nations have
agreed to stop all volunteers to
Spain, and also prevent the
entry Of munitions into that
war-torn country. Those Span
iards have not only proved that
they can make a successful
revolution. but now it looks as
though they have achieved per.
petual motion.
The heads of the neighbOr.
ing countries have been wink
ing at the number of their
citizens who are fighting in the
fracas. Guess they figure it's
a good way to train their
armies without losing their
amateur standing.
This seems like a good time
for the boys to lay down their
arms and carry on the work Of
farming. The bOmbers have
already done most Of the spring
plOughing.
You know it's too bad those
Spaniards can't take their poll
tics the American way. We
bury the party instead Of its
followers.
copyright, 1887, by McNaught
Syndicate, Inc.)