CHAPTER XV
MISCELLANEOUS LOCAL NEWS
=Type of story.= Although most local events have been included in the various classes of stories discussed in preceding chapters, there remain several forms of city news that require separate consideration. Much interesting, timely information is to be found in schools, public libraries, museums, parks, and various departments of city government. As activities supported by public money, these institutions should be of interest to every citizen. Real estate, building, manufacturing, and business matters also furnish news of considerable interest and importance. Besides this information, there are many little incidents in the daily life of every city that have no significance as news but that can be written up as entertaining stories. Hotels, railroad stations, docks, and street cars are frequently the scenes of little comedies and tragedies that the reporter with keen insight into human life and with ability to portray them, turns into readable sketches. Animals no less than persons may be the central figures in these stories.
=Purpose.= The aim in one class of these local stories is to furnish timely, significant information in attractive form concerning public institutions and business activities. The purpose of the other class is to entertain the reader with little glimpses of the life of the city. Constructive journalism undertakes to stimulate the interest of every citizen in municipal affairs and in public institutions by putting prominently before him from time to time significant information about them.
The utmost accuracy in presenting information of public affairs and business matters, it is needless to say, is absolutely essential. It is important to maintain the same standard of truthfulness in writing entertaining feature stories, not because their contents are of vital importance, but because a newspaper, in order to command the confidence of its readers, cannot present anything in its news columns that is not true. Fictitious details are no more justifiable in feature stories than in news stories.
=Treatment.= In order to interest the average reader in news of various municipal activities it is necessary to make the stories attractive in form and style. Striking facts and figures or unusual statements, featured at the beginning, catch the reader’s eye and lead him to read the story as long as its subject matter and style interest him. Effective use of statistics and comparisons is shown in the story “Public Schools Open,” p. 233. Two stories that begin with unusual statements are those entitled “School for Backward Children,” p. 235, and “New Feature in Manufacturing,” p. 243.
Since there is practically no news interest in entertaining feature stories, the reader’s attention is attracted and held by the way in which the story is told. Narrative and descriptive beginnings, conversation, suspense, humor and other devices used in short stories and novels are well adapted to these news stories.
* * * * *
NOTE--_The following story was published some years before the European War._
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN
_New York World_
There trooped into the public schools of New York yesterday an army without weapons that in numbers exceeded the great military force of the German Empire, with its 613,000 fighting men; that was greater than the standing army of France, with its force of 529,000 available soldiers, and that more than doubled Great Britain’s defenders.
The school-house doors of the consolidated city were thrown open to 625,000 pupils, commanded by 17,000 teachers, or a greater number of commanders than now direct the movements of the combined military forces of the three powerful nations in the world.
The United States Army, with its 70,000 men and officers, is a little more than one-tenth of this multitude. The entire budget of the War Department, which includes a vast expenditure outside of actual expense for the maintenance of the army posts in time of peace, was $103,000,000 last year. New York’s Board of Education, which in 1907 spent $19,845,870 for teachers’ salaries alone, has asked this year for $31,641,326.75 to carry out its plans for providing additional accommodations for pupils.
The maintenance on a peace footing of Japan’s army of 220,000 men, which is a little more than one-third of New York’s army of school children, will cost $35,000,000 or $40,000,000 at the most. The pay of a New York Superintendent of Schools is greater than the pay of a German general, and only slightly below that of a British commander of equal rank.
The eight associate superintendents in New York command larger brigades than any of the officers of equal rank in France, Germany or Austria-Hungary.
Public School No. 1, which is located in the most populous centre in the city--Catherine, Oliver and Henry streets--and which has 2,800 pupils on its roster, was thrown open at 9 o’clock yesterday morning. There is no other school like it in Manhattan, and its opening always has attracted the interest of educators.
In the boys’ department, during exercises, the principal cautioned the boys that only boys over ten would be allowed to sell newspapers, after school hours, and that each must get a license to do it.
“We are exceedingly crowded in the first grade,” said Mr. Veit, “but I do not think the school has greatly increased in numbers. The removal of houses for the erection of the Manhattan end of the Manhattan Bridge has taken out many families.
“We have four Chinese boys in this school. Teachers would never have nervous prostration if they had Chinese boys to teach. They have great respect and reverence for their teachers.”
All registration figures were broken in the Bronx, and when the schools opened every seat was filled. At the Morris High School, One Hundred and Sixth street and Boston road, of which John H. Denbeigh is principal, there were about three hundred new applicants. Mr. Denbeigh expects there will be about two thousand seven hundred pupils.
There was a distinct innovation in the inauguration of a school for deaf mutes in the old High School Building, at No. 235 East Twenty-third street. Superintendent Maxwell is greatly interested in the prospective work of the school. Although there are many deaf mute children, unschooled, in New York City, there were only sixty-five registered yesterday, owing to the fact that few persons knew that a deaf mutes’ school was to be opened.
Annie Hamilton, “stone deaf,” who a year ago could not distinguish a word or articulate a sound, was brought to the new school by an older brother.
Miss Regan extended her hand to the child and said: “Good morning, Annie; how are you?”
“Very well, thank you,” the child replied, indistinctly.
Miss Regan smiled and shook her head. Then she placed a finger at the child’s thorax and indicated that the vibrations were not as they should be.
“What is your name?” she asked.
“Annie Hamilton.” This time the reply was quite plain.
The questions of the teacher were understood by the reading of the lips.
* * * * *
NEW SCHOOLS
_Chicago Herald_
Two agencies designed to add to a boy’s “chance in the world” were opened in Chicago yesterday. One of them intends to train children in the rudiments of the art of earning a living; the other hopes to reclaim those who, through lack of economic equipment, have stumbled and fallen.
The first is the Pullman Free School of Manual Training, created under the terms of the will of George M. Pullman, millionaire car builder. The second is the vocational school for prisoners at the bridewell.
Ninety children, two-thirds of whom were boys, enrolled at the Pullman school. It is designed to provide free industrial training for those to whom circumstances otherwise might have denied it.
The bridewell school is operated in conjunction with the psychopathic hospital. Its plans were explained yesterday by John L. Whitman, superintendent of the prison.
“Many of the petty offenders against law are mental defectives,” he said. “Lacking mental grasp and manual efficiency, they soon find that the industrial world has no place open for them. The next step is crime. His sentence at the bridewell over, the boy returns to the world. Thus society punishes without removing the cause of the individual’s wrongdoing.
“By opening this school we hope so to train these boys that when they return to the world they will, by virtue of the training received at the bridewell, have at least the chance to do right.”
The enrollment at the bridewell school yesterday was twenty-five. It is a small beginning for a big ideal. The Pullman school is a big beginning for an even more worthy ideal--making the need of “reclaiming” unnecessary.
Mr. Pullman’s will contained a bequest of $1,250,000, to be used as a trust fund for the establishment of the school, his life’s dream. Trustees under the will invested the money wisely, for it since has grown until at present it aggregates more than $3,000,000.
Under the terms of the bequest the school is open free to “the children of persons living in or employed at Pullman.” Thus its benefits are not restricted to children of employes of the Pullman Company.
The courses to be taught will include cabinet work, pattern-making, blacksmithing, foundry work, machine shop work, electric construction and steam and electric operating, engineering, English, mathematics, drawing and household arts and sciences.
* * * * *
SCHOOL FOR BACKWARD CHILDREN
_Kansas City Star_
“Dummy! Dummy! Gee, but you’re a dummy!”
There are from 1,500 to 2,000 “dummies” in the public schools of Kansas City, it is estimated. They are the boys and girls who can’t have anything “drummed into their heads” and so are the laughing stock of their classmates. Between five and six hundred of them are feeble minded. A large per cent of the “dummies,” however, are not all around “dummies” and might be saved from becoming feeble minded and a menace to society.
“What are you going to do with them?”
That is the question Dr. E. L. Mathias, chief probation officer, is asking Kansas City.
“Kansas City has got to wake up to the situation,” said Doctor Mathias yesterday afternoon, in discussing the report of the Juvenile Protective Association of Chicago. A resume of the report was printed in The Star of June 10. In that article the statement was made by one authority that the menace of the feeble minded was even more grave than a foreign war or a native pestilence.
“Kansas City is sixteen years behind the times in taking up this problem,” continued Doctor Mathias. “Boston was the first city to provide special training for its backward and feeble minded children. Other cities have followed suit and Kansas City must do the same. If numerous surveys in other cities have revealed a ratio of one feeble minded person to every 250 it is reasonable to suppose that a like condition exists in Kansas City.
“Most of the backward children in the schools are retarded by some physical defect or taint of feeble mindedness. A very small number of the mental defectives ought to be in institutions. But the largest per cent of the retarded children could be saved by being given special training in separate classes.
“The entire problem of the feeble minded is even more serious. Little can be done with the adults, except to place them in institutions. Yet much can be done with the present generation by directing the minds of the mental defectives into useful channels so that they will not become a burden on the community and a menace to society.”
The board of education is considering the problem and probably will start next fall in a small way with a separate class room and expert teachers.
* * * * *
READING IN SCHOOLS
_Christian Science Monitor_
Reading is to be given especial attention in the public schools of Boston again this winter in the hope that next June will see the finest lot of readers the schools of the city have ever produced.
Five points are to be especially observed: 1. Correct pronunciation of words at an acceptable rate of speed; 2. Expression of the meaning of what is read; 3. Distinct reading; 4. Pleasing use of the voice; 5. Ability to get the meaning of what is read silently.
Silent reading ability is to be made a point of special attention, as it calls for the application of the child’s mind to definite reasoning, which will in turn develop his mental powers.
In a circular now being sent out to masters of elementary districts by the assistant superintendent in charge, Mrs. Ellor Carlisle Ripley, and approved by Superintendent Dyer, they are requested to repeat this year the general plan pursued last year for increasing the interest in oral reading. They are then asked to devise ways and means of increasing the child’s power to get ideas from paragraphs read silently. The result is expected to be two fold--to make more intelligent and pleasing oral reading, and to develop in children a fondness for reading when it is done without the companionship of others.
As last year there are to be reading contests. On two occasions in the course of this school year in all grades above the third the children will hear, in their school hall or some other selected place, readers from their respective rooms. These readers are to be selected by means that will tend to improve the reading of all the pupils.
It is desired that the first series of readings will be concluded by Dec. 23 of this year, and that the second series be held during the week beginning March 27 next.
No centralized arrangement will be made this year for sending trained readers to the schools, but as all colleges of reading have expressed themselves as very ready to co-operate with the schools, it is believed the masters can secure readers at desired times.
Inter-district readings will begin April 25 and continue to June 1. Each school is requested to send one reader and one alternate reader to the inter-district reading assigned to his school. At these readings each child will be allowed three minutes for reading a familiar section supplied by his school. Sight reading will also be furnished and brief tests of silent reading will be made.
* * * * *
READING TESTS IN SCHOOLS
_Chicago Herald_
In the little red schoolhouse, if Johnnie was slow in reading he was put in a corner, where he held a ponderous volume, if he escaped corporal punishment.
Now if Johnnie is a pupil in the elementary department of the school of education at the University of Chicago he is sent to the reading clinic of Dr. C. Truman Gray.
Dr. Gray, former reading expert at the University of Texas, has been selected by Director Charles H. Judd to conduct an investigation here financed by the general education board of New York. Dr. Abraham Flexner, head of the Rockefeller educational body, is watching the investigation with interest.
At Dr. Gray’s clinic Johnnie will spend half an hour a day for five days. After Johnnie’s teacher has given Dr. Gray all the information she can about his vision, hearing, breathing and attention Johnnie will be given some reading tests.
When Johnnie has read several prose selections, each of increased difficulty; several bits of poetry of a similar gradation, and a bit of oratory he will be given a set of printed questions, to which he will write the answers, and then a number of printed stories, which he will read and reproduce.
A careful record of Johnnie’s time and his number of errors on each of these experiments will be kept.
Then Johnnie will be ready for the machines. He will be taken into a darkened room and a printed selection will be projected on a screen. As Johnnie reads the selection a blank phonograph record will record his performance, an elaborate camera will take pictures of his eye movements, and an instrument fastened over his chest will record his breathing.
A camera shutter device on the projecting machine will make it possible for the light to be shut off the screen at any point, and the number of words he can recall beyond the word he was pronouncing when the selection disappeared will show the area of his attention.
From the careful examination of these records Dr. Gray hopes to arrive at the causes of poor reading and to find remedies.
Dr. E. M. Freeman of the faculty of the school of education is conducting a parallel investigation into the teaching of writing in the school.
* * * * *
MEDICAL INSPECTION
_New York Globe_
The medical inspection of the public school children is unsatisfactory, according to the local school board of District 29, Brooklyn. This district lies within Flushing avenue, Marcy avenue, Myrtle avenue, Tompkins avenue, Lexington avenue, Sumner avenue, Fulton street, Albany avenue, Eastern Parkway, Washington avenue, Fulton street, and Waverly avenue. The members of the board have been “keeping tabs” on the doctors sent to the schools by the Board of Health. They have found little uniformity in the work, some visits lasting only a few minutes, and others a whole afternoon, while anywhere from nine to thirty pupils have been examined.
As a result of the investigation, the local board has submitted a report to the Board of Education suggesting that a more definite method of examination be required of the visiting physicians. The board states that it “found that there is no uniformity in their methods, except that they call daily at the schools assigned to them. The calls vary from five minutes to one and a half hours, and the number of children examined from one or two or none, to twenty or thirty per day. Some of the physicians visit the classrooms, and others see only the children who are reported by the teachers as needing attention.”
This is the second criticism of the medical inspection received by the Board of Education this summer, the first coming from the Principals’ Association of the City of New York, which forwarded resolutions to the effect “that the medical supervision of our schools is incomplete and generally unsatisfactory.”
While there is no marked indication of such an outcome at the present time, it would not be at all surprising if an attempt were made by certain of the members of the Board of Education to induce the board to take steps to take over the control of the medical inspection by establishing a department of school hygiene. This has been advocated by City Superintendent Maxwell and by Dr. Luther H. Gulick, director of physical training. While not as yet approved by the Board of Education, the proposition is under consideration by the Charter Revision Commission.
The recent criticisms of medical school inspection bear out those published by Dr. Maxwell in his latest annual report, in which he declared that “existing physical examinations made by the Department of Health are generally inadequate, and even when they are adequate are not followed by the desired results.” In support of this statement Dr. Maxwell quoted from principals’ reports to show that in only 248 schools--less than half the total number--were any examinations made for physical defects--as distinguished from examinations to detect contagious disease. In these 248 schools not more than one-third of the pupils were examined. It is only a few months since any examinations for physical defects were made outside of the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, and then only because of the criticisms emanating from the New York committee of physical welfare of school children.
* * * * *
PUBLIC LIBRARY
_Milwaukee Sentinel_
“In the thirty-seven years’ history of the Milwaukee public library we have never been able to trace a single case of contagious disease to a library book that had been passed from a home in which the disease existed to one hitherto free.”
This was the reply of J. V. Cargill, assistant librarian of the Milwaukee public library, to Dr. John Dill Robertson, health commissioner of Chicago, who has expressed the belief that library books are a medium for spreading such diseases as grippe, sore throat, measles, whooping cough, small pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, tuberculosis and erysipelas. Dr. Robertson has sent a letter to Librarian Henry E. Legler of the Chicago public library asking co-operation in an effort to stamp out any danger of spreading diseases in this way.
According to Mr. Cargill every possible effort is made by the Milwaukee library to prevent the spread of disease. In this the officials co-operate with the Milwaukee health department. Daily lists of the homes in which contagious disease is found are furnished to the library, and books that are returned from such homes are fumigated in a large vault at the main library. When a health inspector visits a home in which there is contagious disease, one of his first questions is whether or not there are library books. If such books are found the cards identifying them are removed by the inspector and mailed to the library, according to Mr. Cargill. When the patient recovers and the health department fumigates the house, the library books are also fumigated as an added precaution.
The average book passing from home to home is never fumigated or otherwise disinfected, Mr. Cargill admitted, but he expressed doubt that any diseases were spread by such books.
Among the ways in which Dr. Robertson of Chicago says disease may be spread are the following: Dampening the fingers to turn pages, placing books open side downward upon a bed, coughing or sneezing upon the pages or giving books to convalescent patients.
* * * * *
MUSEUM
_New York Times_
Rain gods, storm charms, rattles to make the thunder come, strange amulets which invite the lightning, more than five hundred devices in all which the Zuni Indians believe open up the sluice-ways of the skies, were unpacked early yesterday morning at the American Museum of Natural History.
They had just come from New Mexico, where they had been collected for the museum by Dr. A. L. Kroeber of the University of California, who at great trouble and expense had induced the bad weather gods to come east. About the time the lid came off the first packing case the wind carried sheets of water against the attic where the collection is now on view and the tempest howled and shrieked until the little rain gods themselves shook under the hurly burly out-of-doors. The water god, Long Horn, rolled over to where the flower god was lying, and shook himself for very joy, for he felt that the man tribe of this great city would certainly be very thankful for all the downpour.
It is so dry in the venerable town of the cliff dwellers, Zuni, that most of the time the streets are filled with dust, and top stories of the old cliff dwellings powder up and blow away in all directions. The Indians have lived there for 365 years without being in any way affected by the manners and customs of the white men, according to Dr. Kroeber, who has just come from a residence of several months among them. Even though the United States Government has made a big reservoir and dug irrigation ditches for the Zunis, they still keep up their primitive worship, which revolves around the prayer, “Gods, give us rain.” As the tribe lives almost entirely upon the maize it raises, the ceremonies of rain-making bear an important part in its life. Most of the conversation of the Zunis consists of “Do you think there will be a shower?” and “Neighbor, how is your corn growing?”
In many centuries there has been built up a ritual for the worship of the sky gods which is very intricate and mysterious and includes many secret observances. The study which Professor Kroeber has made is a very important one, for he will be able to describe observances about which little has been known. Many of the sacred symbols in his possession were acquired after much trouble and not a little risk, for the Zunis have an unwritten law that no white man is to have any of the objects used in their ceremonies, and that any one parting with them is entitled to have his throat cut.
The rain gods are dressed in fantastic garb, and the clash of their primitive hues can be heard at a great distance. One of the symbols of the lightning is a blue pantagraphlike arrangement of lattice work which suddenly opens out to represent the quick discharge of the bolts of the gods. There are charms made like the forked flashes placed over the doors to invite the showers. In the great dances the participants wear wooden headgear carved to represent cloud forms and the moon and stars. Every creature which loves the wet is worked into the symbolism of Zuni worship. There are tadpoles, frogs, turtles, ducks, and geese, all of which are represented by the masks worn when the invocations to the gods of the rain are given.
There are rattles made of shells, which, attached to the knees, make a prodigious noise. Peculiar spindle-like devices attached to long thongs may be swung about the head until they give a sound which to the Zuni imagination suggests the roll of thunder. One of the most valuable articles of the new collection is a bowl, probably of the period before Columbus came to this continent, which is notched all around with a step-like device, typifying the clouds and adorned with raised figures of fish and polliwogs and ducks. It is filled with water when the rain dances are given, and a mass of suds is made in it by adding soap weed. The priest stirs up the mixture with his hands, and the lather brimming over the sides of the bowl gives the effect of fleecy clouds.
The collection, which is one of the most important ever brought out of the Southwest, is to be arranged by Dr. Kroeber, who has obtained a leave of absence from the University of California for that purpose. He was kept in the Museum all day by the snow, sleet, and rain.
* * * * *
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS
_Boston Transcript_
Traffic conditions are regarded as so dangerous at the corner of Tremont and School streets, on account of the laying of the high-pressure pipes, that the mayor has ordered the contractor to work night and day, with forces as large as practicable, until the work is finished.
The mayor was informed of the situation when he arrived at City Hall this morning and immediately made a personal inspection. He found large piles of dirt at each corner of School street and wagons used by the contractor so placed in receiving their loads that at times it was practically impossible for vehicular traffic to move at all. School street is one of the one-way thoroughfares and the volume of traffic that moves into it at the corner of Tremont, from both Tremont and Beacon streets, is very large at certain times of the day. Under the best conditions dangers are daily presented with swiftly moving automobiles coming down Beacon Hill, either to make the turn or to move straight ahead. It will probably be necessary to close School street some time this week, and, in fact, many persons declared today that such an order might prevent a serious accident, with conditions continuing as they are at present.
The laying of the high-pressure pipes along Tremont street has been anything but agreeable to the contractor. The various underground wires and conduits of the public service corporations are ordinarily well placed in the files, but the ground beneath the asphalt of this thoroughfare contained numerous obstacles which were not anticipated by the city engineers who planned for the new system.
At the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets the contractor found that, in order to carry the pipes in accordance with the blue prints, a huge two-foot main conduit of the gas company would have to be shifted. This caused much delay and it will be weeks before the changes will be made to satisfy the city authorities. Today a large space on the surface was boarded. Then followed the every-day difficulties encountered by the laborers in digging up the ties of the old street railway, which were not removed when the line was banished from the street.
Today the laborers met with a still greater surprise when they encountered solid rock, brick and concrete obstructions far beneath the surface, and also deeply imbedded piles which had remained in the earth for scores of years and which do not appear on any blue print of the street that the City Hall records contain. It was learned, however, that the tunnels of brick and concrete were parts of an old steam-heating system installed many years ago by a company that planned to heat buildings at much less cost to the occupants than could possibly be done by individual plants. These operations were of short duration, and when they were given up, the city authorities failed to oblige the removal of the tunnels, which are eight feet beneath the surface and of no hindrance to the other underground works.
The laborers are also digging up today the remnants of the physical property of the old Massachusetts Telephone Company, which existed nearly twenty years ago.
* * * * *
MUNICIPAL WORK
_Springfield Republican_
Co-operation between the city and the public service corporations to a greater extent than before in order to prevent the tearing up of newly laid pavement is expected to result from the Dickinson-street case, in which a pavement that has been down only two years is being broken open so that the United electric light company can put in its conduits. Samuel L. Wheeler, inspector of underground wires and conduits, who prescribes what wires shall be put underground each year, will try to place before the public service associates the plans for his work a year or more in advance. Thus the companies will have a chance to get their wires underground before the streets are paved.
Mr Wheeler is obliged by law to order a mile of wire put underground each year in order that eventually all wires within a two-mile radius of the City hall shall be underground. In his 15 years of work this is the first time that such a situation as that on Dickinson street has arisen. Superintendent Fred H. Clark of the department of streets and engineering said yesterday that no one is really to blame, since the street had to be paved when it was, and it was impossible at the time to order the wires underground before the paving was put down. The electric light company has expressed its willingness to co-operate in every way that it can. The supervisors have ordered the paving of Pine street and between Cedar and Walnut streets the company’s wires are still above ground. Although Mr Wheeler has not ordered these wires to be put underground, the company has said it will try to get them under even though its appropriation for this work has been made for the year.
The supervisors and the street railway officials will confer this afternoon to plan for the relaying of tracks so that the work will precede street paving. The company intends to relay its tracks on Main street between the arch and the car barns and on Chestnut street between Allendale street and Jefferson avenue. Paving is to be done on these streets but it will follow the track work. The company does not want to relay its tracks on State street near the New England railroad, however, although the city wants to pave there, and a similar situation may arise on other streets where the company thinks its tracks good for a year or two longer. It is to consider these situations that the conference will be held.
* * * * *
NEW MUNICIPAL EQUIPMENT
_Boston Transcript_
Bursting water mains are not so great a menace in Boston since the water department installed a motor truck with a power appliance for quickly closing the heavy gates. Work which formerly required four men, laboring continuously for forty-five minutes, can be done in ten minutes by using the power of the truck. This mechanical device, an invention of George H. Finneran, superintendent of the distribution branch of the water department, not only conserves the water supply and reduces the damage due to breaks, but permits of rapid regulation of water volume at fires, facilitates the testing of gates and relieves the anxiety always attending derangement or damage to the water system.
In one of Boston’s most important thoroughfares, lined with costly buildings, there is a water main which, if completely broken apart, would allow the escape of 50,000 gallons of water each minute. Controlling this line are gate valves thirty-six inches in diameter which, in closing, require 307 turns of a gate wrench and, formerly, the services of four men for about forty-five minutes. A few minutes’ delay sometimes meant the loss of life and thousands of dollars. These gates, the largest in the city, can now be closed in ten minutes by one man and the motor truck, which was built for the purpose by the White Company of Cleveland.
The truck is required to respond to fire alarms and other emergencies where water must be controlled to prevent loss or damage. The calls are frequently overlapping, and crews are on duty day and night. The runs vary from one block to the farthest end of the water system. Under the old scheme, when several gates had to be closed, the few men available at night were almost exhausted before shutting the last gate. By its ability to work continuously the truck has relieved the fear of being unable to cope with any emergency.
The gate-closing device consists of a universal wrench socket with a worm gear, enclosed in an aluminum housing and mounted on the running board of the truck, so that it can be easily brought into position immediately over a water-gate manhole. When the truck is in position a wrench is slipped through the socket. This wrench fits the nut on the gate-gear below. The universal wrench socket, together with a universal joint on the end of the wrench, affords sufficient flexibility in case the truck is not on level ground, or in case the wrench socket is not directly over the gate nut. It is an easy matter, however, for the driver to bring his truck into the exact position.
The worm gear is driven off the regular transmission of the truck. The device is operated by a lever placed upon the side of the truck and easily accessible to the driver. In closing gates the forward speeds of the transmission are used. In opening the reverse is used. All gears are made of chrome or nickel steel. All bearings are ball bearings. The aluminum housing is firmly bolted to the frame of the chassis and well braced to resist torque. The wrench is a hollow square steel tube terminating in a specially hardened steel socket with universal joint between socket and tube.
The gates are equipped with indicators showing the position of the valve and informing the operator when the valve is seated or entirely opened. Where indicators have not been attached to the gates a counter is used. This counter is placed on the end of the wrench recording the number of its revolutions. This helps the operator to determine when the valve is entirely up or down. As a means of safety in the event of the valve seating with force or before the operator expected, a pin of known strength, placed in the universal joint of the wrench, breaks off and breaks the line of force between the engine and the gate, thus preventing damage to either the gate or the gate-operating device.
* * * * *
SAFETY CAMPAIGN
_New York Herald_
With the belief that Long Island will be the touring ground for more motor cars this summer than ever before, largely on account of the European war, James A. McCrea, general manager of the Long Island Railroad, has announced the beginning of a campaign of sign display asking the public to co-operate with the railroad in saving human life.
Enormous signs, 2½×10 feet, electrically illuminated at night, will be stretched across the highways, in many cases attached to the structure of the modern overhead crossings, making a plea to the motorists as they speed under them to be careful in approaching and passing over the grade crossings that still remain on the main highways of the island. The railroad has eliminated more than three hundred grade crossings at an expense of 15 million dollars, and yet fatal accidents occur in some places where there is a wide open view of the railroad in both directions. There are still 631 grade crossings between New York City and Montauk Point. Of these more than three hundred are guarded by gate-men, two at some points, at a cost to the railroad of $25,000 a month.
Careful motorists do not combat in the least the statement, frequently made by the railroad officers, that many of the fatal grade crossing accidents on Long Island were the result, pure and simple, of the motorists’ recklessness. Many of them drive too carelessly over the crossings, the officers maintain, assuming all the time that the locomotive driver is looking out for them. Mutual watchfulness is observed in the city, and it is contended that the same should be true in the country.
Ten great signs already have been erected at prominent points, where they cannot fail to attract the attention of motorists. They are in black and white letters that may be read several blocks away. They caution:
........................................ . THIS SIGN MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE TODAY. . . . . All the precautions in the world . . will not save the lives of those who . . drive automobiles recklessly over . . railroad crossings. . . . . When approaching a crossing please . . stop, look and listen. . . . . We are doing our part. Won’t you . . do yours? . . . . LONG ISLAND RAILROAD. . ........................................
Mr. McCrea says the grade crossing problem has been a stupendous one, particularly since the advent of the motor car. He is open to suggestions that will eliminate the danger at any point and immediately accepted two that were made to him by persons interested only in the safety of the public in general. One was in reference to a dangerous crossing, now guarded by men and lights, but where the conformation of the ground so places the lights that they are practically valueless as a warning. The other was in reference to the color of the gates used by the Long Island Railroad and all others in this country. The universal custom in this country is to paint the gates white.
In Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria, all the railroad gates, toll gates and custom house gates are painted black and white. They can be seen for long distances and are almost as easily observed in the night as in the day.
Not only is the railroad putting up signs calling the attention of motorists to the danger of driving recklessly over grade crossings; it will conduct an advertising campaign with a series of “life saving bulletins.” These will appear regularly and will plead for greater care on the part of motorists. One of its “life saving bulletins” will read in part:
Watch for the flagman’s lantern. Listen for the warning bell. Slow down. Look up and down the rails.
We are doing all that time and money permits in abolishing grade crossings. Will you help us end accidents by doing your share?
* * * * *
BUSINESS MERGER
_Milwaukee Sentinel_
Through a deal involving about $400,000, the Milwaukee-Western Fuel company has bought out entirely the docks, property and business of the Northwestern Fuel company’s Milwaukee branch.
The big merger has been pending for a year. Agreement was finally reached on Wednesday, although details were not arranged until Saturday. The Milwaukee-Western will take full possession on Monday.
It is in no sense a consolidation. As far as Milwaukee business is concerned the Northwestern Fuel company has ceased to exist. As one of its Milwaukee officials remarked after the deal was closed, “They have swallowed us whole, head and tail.”
The Northwestern company was one of the oldest coal firms in Milwaukee, having had offices here for thirty-two years. In sales it did a yearly business in the city of about $2,000,000.
The deal brings a great amount of valuable property into the hands of the Milwaukee-Western Fuel company. Its bought out rival had on hand about 75,000 tons of coal. It possessed two large coal docks. One, at the foot of Washington street, with two slips on the Kinnickinnic river, is 1,000x500 feet in size. This dock is on the Chicago and North-Western road. The other is at the foot of Seventeenth street and has 1,000 feet frontage on the Menomonee river. It is on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul road.
The capacity of the two docks combined is estimated at 150,000 tons of anthracite and 200,000 tons of bituminous coal. Their loading capacity aggregates 150 cars a day.
The Milwaukee offices of the Northwestern Fuel company were at 152 Second street. For a time they will be used by the Milwaukee-Western company as a branch office. The Northwestern will also use them until its affairs are settled. Whether the offices will be continued as a branch of the Milwaukee-Western Fuel company’s big offices at 14 Wisconsin street has not yet been determined.
Under the terms of the deal the purchaser will assume responsibility for all unfilled contracts of the Northwestern company. The Milwaukee-Western expects to be able to give positions to nearly all the Milwaukee employes of the Northwestern.
The deal makes the Milwaukee-Western Fuel company sole agents in this city for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western road’s Scranton anthracite and standard hard coal, for which the Northwestern Fuel company was also agent.
Officers of the Milwaukee-Western say that the change will increase their company’s business by from 300,000 to 400,000 tons yearly.
The headquarters of the Northwestern Fuel company are in St. Paul, and it has big docks in Duluth and Superior. Its chief business lies in that section of the country. This will remain unimpaired, for the present deal affects only the Milwaukee branch.
The officers of the Milwaukee-Western Fuel company are: President, Edward A. Uhrig; vice president, Alexander Uhrig; secretary and treasurer, Charles W. Moody.
* * * * *
NEW FEATURE IN MANUFACTURING
_Chicago Tribune_
This is the story of a world war, a despairing manufacturer, and a cow’s ear.
The despairing manufacturer shall be nameless here. In Chicago and all over the country his name is well known as one of the greatest makers of water color paint in America.
The part taken by the world war is told in the trade columns, where its effects on industry in the United States have been vividly shown. The cow’s ear belonged to a cow that may have been called “Boss” or “Bess,” but that isn’t so important.
The agency that overcame the world war, that soothed the manufacturer, that found the cow’s ear and introduced the two shall receive its deserved mention--it was the Chicago Association of Commerce.
It was more than a month ago that the water color paint manufacturer came to the civic industrial division of the Commerce association and told of his business woes.
“We are about to shut down on account of the war,” he said. “We can send out no more paint to our trade. For years we have supplied them with an imported water color paint brush with each box.
“The brushes are made in Germany. It is a secret process. They use either camel’s hair or rabbit’s hair of a fine quality. They are excellent brushes. Our trade is demanding them. We have none left. We can get no more on account of the war. We shall have to close down.”
Anderson Pace, industrial commissioner for the association, told the manufacturer to hold on a little longer. He started inquiries in all lines known to the association. The country was ransacked for imported water color brushes, and all to no avail.
Then the investigators, right here in Chicago, and without wasting a postage stamp, got in communication with a stockyards savant who was the originator of the boast that “none of the pig escaped but the squeal.”
“The most tender, delicate, yet strong and soft hair in the world is to be found only in a cow’s ear,” said the stockyards genius. “Camel’s hair and imported rabbit’s hair can’t touch it for quality. It makes the best water color brushes that can be made.”
At the stockyards today men with shears are snipping the tender hairs from Bossy’s ears as the bodies of the slain animals are conveyed from the killing pens. In New York a broker has made arrangements with a brush manufacturer, who is putting out an article that artists say fits itself much more readily to the application of water color than the old brushes imported from Germany.
In Chicago the nameless great manufacturer of water color paint despairs no more. His plant is running, his force is busy, his employés are happy, and the orders are coming just the same as before the war.
* * * * *
REAL ESTATE
_Chicago Tribune_
Another of the old exclusive homes in the one time fashionable block on Prairie avenue between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, is to be given over to business uses, the Arthur Meeker residence at 1815, which has been purchased by D. C. Heath & Co., school book publishers. The conveyance was made by Mrs. Grace M. Meeker, and a consideration of $35,000 is named in the deed, which was filed for record yesterday.
The house, which is a large, attractive three story stone structure, was erected by Joseph Sears about thirty years ago, and about ten years ago was purchased by Mr. Meeker and extensively remodeled by him. It contains twenty-one rooms. It occupies a lot 75x140 feet extending back to a twenty foot alley, and there is a large garage in the rear.
The Heath company, which is the third largest school book publishing house in the country, and is now located in the Studebaker building on South Wabash avenue, will locate their business at their Prairie avenue purchase about March 1, using the house for their general offices, and the garage, which will be enlarged, for their stock room. The sale was negotiated by Eugene A. Bournique & Co.
* * * * *
REAL ESTATE
_Philadelphia Ledger_
The six and a half acre plot of ground at 5th and Cayuga streets, which has been used as a picnic park for a number of years, under the name of Central Park, has been sold by S. C. Abernethy for Joseph S. Slomkowski to a builder, who will begin the work of developing the ground in the spring by the erection of about 30 houses on the 5th street front and 65 houses on Reese street. The price paid for the ground was close to $60,000. Practically all of the tract has been sold with the exception of a small section south of Cayuga street. The seller reserves for his own use a plot of ground 120 feet by 130 feet at the corner of 5th and Cayuga streets, on which he will build a new hotel. The ground sold has a frontage of more than 700 feet on the west side of 5th street to Annsbury street, with a frontage of 307 feet on Cayuga street to the North Penn Railroad, and a frontage of 400 feet on the north boundary. The sale is the largest transaction in ground made in this section of the city for several years. Central Park has for years been a favorite picnic ground during the summer, particularly with labor organizations.
* * * * *
PROPOSED NEW HOTEL
_Boston Transcript_
Another large hotel, to cost about $1,250,000, is to be erected in the retail section of the city, at the corner of Washington and Avery streets. The Commonwealth Associates, Inc., who acquired title to the land last month, have let the contract for the construction of an eleven-story building to the Haynes Construction Company. Clarence H. Blackall is the architect and Hurd & Gore are the consulting architects. Morse Brothers have taken a lease of the hotel for a period of twenty years.
With the exception of the Washington street frontage and about 100 feet fronting on Avery street, which will be used for stores, the entire building will be devoted to the purposes of a first-class commercial hotel. On the first floor will be the office, reading-room, large public dining-room and buffet. In the basement, under the corner of Haymarket place and Avery street, there will be a rathskeller, entered both from the hotel and from the street, with the kitchens, serving-rooms, etc., in the rear, under the hotel lobby. A sub-basement will contain storerooms, machinery, heating plant, etc.
The second floor will be largely taken up by another public dining-room, banquet-room, etc., the remainder of the building being given over to guest rooms, with the exception of the eleventh story, which will contain specially fitted sample-rooms for commercial travellers. The rooms will be unusually spacious, with convenient alcoves for beds. Large windows will light the room proper and the alcove. The finish will be of carefully selected Missouri red gum, stained a rich mahogany.
The building will be fireproof in every particular, and will be constructed in accordance with the most approved methods, practically no wood being used except for the doors and windows. All floors will be of concrete, with tile and marble-finished flooring in the public rooms and corridors, tiling in all the bathrooms and carpets elsewhere. The building will be heated and ventilated in an approved manner and furnished with all the electrical appliances. The elevators and stairs will be centrally located, so as to give immediate access to all parts of the house.
The exterior will be of limestone and brick in the style of the French Renaissance, which effect will be carried through the decorations and finish of the principal rooms. A broad marquise finished in bronze will mark the entrance of the hotel proper and extend along the whole frontage. A service entrance will be at the rear on Haymarket place.
Leases for the stores have already been arranged on long terms with David H. Posner and Coes & Young, both of whom have stores in other parts of the city. The Commonwealth Associates, Inc., owners of the property, were organized through the office of Codman & Street, Easton Building, with George U. Crocker, president; Max Shoolman, vice president, and Gerald G. E. Street, treasurer.
* * * * *
MUNICIPAL BOND SALE
_Springfield Republican_
City Treasurer E. T. Tifft yesterday surprised himself and financial experts as well by selling a bond issue of $1,000,000 at remarkably good terms, in spite of the tying up of money by war conditions. The issue was sold to N. W. Harris & Co of Boston, who will pay the city a premium of $5670, bringing the interest rate down to 4.30 per cent. This rate is less than one-half of 1 per cent higher than the rate for last year’s issue, and congratulations are coming to the city and to the city treasurer on this success from many financial men who have been looking with interest on this issue as the first test of the bond market since the war began.
The bid of the winning company was 100.567, while the second bid was made by the Third national bank of this city offering 100.44. E. H. Rollins Sons, A. B. Leach & Co, Perry, Coffin & Burr, and Blake Bros & Co, all of Boston, made a joint bid for the issue which was third, the bid being 100.176. Of the $1,000,000 there was $200,000 on the municipal building loan paying 4 per cent, and the remaining $800,000 is in 4½ per cent bonds. The issue was made up of the following loans: Municipal building loan, 20 years, 4 per cent, $200,000; high school of commerce, 20 years, 4½ per cent, $150,000; Fulton-street loan, 20 years, 4½ per cent, $400,000; Myrtle-street school addition, 20 years, 4½ per cent, $136,000; land for school, Franklin and Greenwood streets, 20 years, 4½ per cent, $64,000; Brightwood school addition, 20 years, 4½ per cent, $25,000; Walnut-street engine house addition, 20 years, 4½ per cent, $25,000; total, $1,000,000.
The rate at which these bonds were sold shows that the state of the money market is not as far from normal as was feared by many people, and at the same time an opportunity is given to local people to invest in the city bonds at a price which will bring them a better return than can be obtained on the issues in usual times. These bonds are tax exempt, the exemption extending to the federal income tax. Interest on municipal bonds is collectible without certificates of ownership and individuals are not required to report the income to the federal government. The successful bidders, N. W. Harris & Co, are represented in this city by Percy O. Dorr, who has offices in the Massachusetts Mutual building.
The Boston News Bureau, commenting on the sale, says: “The sale of $1,000,000 bonds to N. W. Harris & Co by the city of Springfield to-day is striking evidence of a revival of confidence in the bond market. The bankers are offering the bonds on the following bases: For the 4½’s, 1915 maturity, 4¼ per cent basis; 1916-1919, 4.20 per cent basis; 1920-1934, 4.15 per cent basis. For the 4’s, 1915 maturity, 4¼ per cent basis; 1916-1919, 4.20 per cent basis; 1920-1954, at 99. To gain some idea of the attractive level at which these bonds are being sold, compared with prices for previous issues, it need only be remembered that in 1913 the city obtained a 3.88 per cent basis for an issue of bonds, a 3.81 per cent basis in 1912 and a 3.51 per cent basis in 1911. The current sale is the most important bit of public financing which has been accomplished in the local market since the war began. It is more than ordinarily significant that one of the biggest New England banking houses should take hold of this Springfield issue at a time when the bond market is suffering more or less from excessive timidity. It serves the double purpose of providing for the financial needs of one of New England’s largest cities and of creating a little interest in the bond market on a basis which is fair both to the city and to the investor. There is evidence of returning courage and confidence.”
* * * * *
RAILROAD DIVIDEND
_Chicago Tribune_
Directors of the Pennsylvania company declared yesterday a semi-annual dividend of 1 per cent as against the usual dividend of 4 per cent at this time of the year. Since 1910 the Pennsylvania company has paid 7 per cent yearly, divided into two semi-annual installments of 3 per cent in the first half and 4 per cent in the second half of the year.
The issued capital of the Pennsylvania company is $80,000,000. The annual disbursement has been, since 1910, $5,600,000 annually. This year, however, the company has declared only 4 per cent, or $3,200,000, so that the reduced amount of dividends is $2,400,000.
The Pennsylvania company operates all the lines of the Pennsylvania system west of Pittsburgh. All the stock of the Pennsylvania company is owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad company, and to the latter corporation all the dividends have been paid.
The outstanding capital stock of the Pennsylvania Railroad company is $499,265,700. The annual dividends from the Pennsylvania company have been equal to something over 1 per cent on the capital stock of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, and the cut made yesterday in dividends is equal to about ½ per cent on the railroad company’s stock. The railroad company pays its shareholders 6 per cent per annum, this rate having obtained since 1908. The railroad company’s earnings last year, that is, 1913, were 8.02 per cent on the share capital.
The 5 per cent raise in freight rates granted by the interstate commerce commission was denied to coal, coke and iron ore. The coal and coke business of the Pennsylvania system amounts to about one-third of the company’s gross business and on that no advance will be received.
In connection with the reduction of the Pennsylvania company’s dividend, the directors issued a statement saying that the cut was due “chiefly to a large decrease in traffic and a material reduction in the revenues of the lines west of Pittsburgh.”
Meanwhile the directors of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis, one of the controlled lines of the Pennsylvania company, met and decided not to consider the semi-annual dividend distribution until the next meeting of the board, on Dec. 30.
* * * * *
RETAIL PRICE OF BEEF
_Boston Herald_
That there is no truth in the report emanating from Chicago to the effect that the record-breaking drought in Kansas will cause the retail prices of beef to go to unheard of prices in the winter, is the declaration of local provision dealers. It is their opinion that, as the dry spell is only in certain sections of Kansas, it cannot affect materially the prices in the East.
There has been no increase in prices lately, they further declare, and certain choice cuts are, in fact, a great deal lower than at this time last year. The choicest cuts in sirloin steak are more than 10 cents lower than they were in 1912 and other cuts are in the same proportion.
“There is no danger of the prices of beef being raised in the winter in the East,” declared a local representative of a large packing house. “There need be no fear that the steady rush of cattle to the big live stock markets of the middle West will materially raise the prices here. In fact, the prices are lower on some cuts than last year and I see no reason why they should not continue to stand at the same price. One must remember that the drought is confined only to certain sections of the state of Kansas and that other sections of the country are not affected. If there is a raise in prices it will be confined only to those immediate regions where the drought is.”
That the packers are making fortunes during the dry spell is also denied by the local dealers. While live stock prices are to a certain extent lower now, the wholesale prices on the average have also decreased and the housewife is getting the benefit of it, is their assertion. They further declare that the packers make a small profit at best and also that the retailers’ profit is not great, as they have unusually heavy expenses.
* * * * *
LOCAL MARKET PRICES
_Boston Transcript_
Peaches, peaches, and then more peaches, meet the eye of the visitor to the market section in these closing days of summer. Little baskets, big baskets, crates and carriers full of the luscious fruit are displayed everywhere. Wholesale prices are reasonable, as usual when the crop is large, but prices at retail rarely fall below a certain level. This is one of the hard things for the layman to understand, why a big crop does not bring low prices. Wholesalers say that the retailers are to blame, and the latter say that they cannot afford to handle the fruit except with a generous margin of profit. The consumer thinks that the retailer ought to be content with something less than 100 per cent profit.
Current supplies of peaches are coming from widely separated points. Few California peaches are now offered, and most of the Georgia crop has also been marketed, but West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Connecticut are shipping freely to this market. In late years much of the New Jersey crop has been shipped into the convenient markets of New York and Philadelphia. In this market New Jersey peaches have to compete sharply with Connecticut grown fruit, and, as freights from Connecticut are less than from New Jersey, the former have a manifest advantage. Freights and packing cost the New Jersey farmer about 50 cents for an ordinary peach basket, and more for a six basket carrier, which is now the favorite way of shipping fine table fruit. As a full basket of Connecticut peaches can be had at retail at 75 cents to $1, there is not much margin for the more distant shipper. New Jersey fruit does not stand up for shipping so well as other varieties.
When one goes into the market for peaches, one finds a wide variety of qualities and packages. As a rule, early peaches are clingstones and late peaches are freestones. The latter have manifest advantages, but when they are desired care should be taken to see that the buyer gets what is wanted. One needs to remember that freestones from Georgia and the South may be selling side by side with clingstones from farther North. Sweetness and flavor should also be insisted upon, while it is always a mistake to buy half-rotten fruit because it is cheap. By the dozen, good peaches can be bought for 10 to 25 cents. The small baskets that come in the carriers bring 40 to 50 cents, while old-fashioned peach baskets sell at 75 cents to $1.25. West Virginia is shipping peaches in bushel baskets, a shape first made familiar by Michigan shippers. That state has not yet begun shipments, but they will come later. These large baskets cost $1.25 to $1.75 wholesale, and about $1.50 to $2.25 at retail.
While peaches have the right of way at this season, other fall fruits are being freely offered, especially crabapples and plums. “Crabs” were selling in North Market street Wednesday at 50 cents a bushel, but housekeepers are paying at the rate of $1.60 a bushel by the peck. Another case of “quick sales and small profits”? Native preserving plums are selling at 25 to 40 cents a basket. Damsons and damson plums are in the market, and sell at 30 to 40 cents. This is a great year for New England apple and plum orchards, and, in fact, fruit of all kinds will be plentiful and cheap. Exports of apples from this country are likely to be materially lessened by the war, and the surplus fruit must be absorbed by home markets. Apple men are talking $1 a barrel as probably the wholesale price in this market later. Just now small lots of apples are selling at 40 to 50 cents a peck for cooking and 50 to 60 cents for table fruit.
Blueberries from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are still in the market and sell at 18 to 20 cents, watermelons bring 50 to 60 cents each and cantaloupes 8 to 10 cents each. California plums sell at 40 to 60 cents a basket, Bartlett pears at 20 to 30 cents a dozen, California grapes at 40 to 50 cents a basket for Malagas and seedless and 50 to 60 cents for Tokays. Native grapes sell at 15 to 20 cents for Delawares and black varieties.
Summer vegetables are in seasonable supply, and low prices are quoted for most varieties. Green corn is selling at 20 to 25 cents a dozen ears, early celery at 15 cents, green peas at 65 to 75 cents a peck, string beans at 5 to 8 cents a quart, shell beans at 8 cents for Limas and horticultural, cauliflower at 10 to 20 cents each, cucumbers at 5 cents each, egg plant at 15 to 20 cents, tomatoes at 8 to 10 cents a pound, mushrooms at $1 to $1.25 a pound, white potatoes at 25 to 30 cents a peck, sweet potatoes at 5 cents a pound, onions at 8 cents a quart for native, 8 cents a pound for Spanish and 18 cents a quart for small white pickling, squash at 4 cents a pound for marrow, 5 cents each for summer and 20 to 25 cents each for vegetable marrow, cabbage at 8 to 15 cents each, beets at 8 cents a quart, carrots at 3 cents a pound, turnips at 5 cents and parsnips at 8 cents. Salad vegetables are unchanged, lettuce still selling at 5 cents and other vegetables at 5 to 8 cents.
Prices of lamb have declined, and a cash customer can now get a good hind leg or hind-quarter at 22 cents, though a charge customer who is particular about quality will have to pay 25 cents. Forequarters are selling at 14 cents, sides at 20 to 21 cents, loins at 25 cents and chops at 38 to 40 cents. Mutton is unchanged at 18 cents for loins, 11 to 12 cents for forequarters, 25 to 28 cents for chops and 18 cents for “hung” legs. Veal cuts are selling at 40 cents for fillet, 45 cents for steak, 30 cents for chops and 22 cents for loins.
Beef prices are easier at wholesale, but retail prices are still firmly held at 33 to 38 cents for sirloin steak, 40 to 50 cents for rump steak and 25 to 35 cents for round steak. Roasting pieces sell at 35 cents for the back of the rump, 25 cents for the face, 25 to 30 cents for the first cut of the rib and 20 to 25 cents for the second cut. Corned pieces are selling at 25 cents for brisket, 18 cents for rib, 18 cents for the sticking piece and 10 cents for flank.
Pork provisions are selling at 25 cents for pork loins, 22 to 25 cents for whole hams, 30 to 35 cents for sliced ham, 25 cents for bacon, 17 cents for smoked, corned, pickled and fresh shoulders, 15 cents for salt pork, 22 to 25 cents for sausages, 16 cents for Frankfurters, 15 to 18 cents for lard, 10 to 12 cents for pigs’ feet, 12 to 20 cents for tripe, 25 to 30 cents for tongue, 45 cents for dried beef, 15 to 16 cents for beef liver, 30 cents to $1 each for sweetbreads, and 50 to 90 cents each for calves’ liver.
At the poultry stalls trade is quiet, as usual at this season. Fall trade has not yet begun in earnest. Native roasting chickens are selling at 35 cents, Western chickens at 28 cents, Philadelphia capons at 38 cents, Western capons at 30 to 32 cents, native broilers at 30 cents, Western broilers at 28 cents, hothouse broilers at $1.25 a pair, frozen turkeys at 30 to 32 cents, native fowl at 25 cents, Western fowl at 23 to 25 cents, spring ducklings at 25 cents, spring geese at 28 cents, broiler turkeys at $3 to $3.50 a pair, squab at 35 to 50 cents each, and pigeons at $3 a dozen.
Butter and eggs have not been advanced further, but prices are very firm. Northern creamery butter in tubs sells at 38 cents, and in boxes at 40 cents, with individual prints at 40 cents, unsalted prints at 50 cents, Western creamery in tubs at 35 cents and Vermont dairy at 33 cents in tubs and 33 to 35 cents in boxes. High prices have promoted the use of both butter and eggs from cold storage. Total stocks in local cold storage warehouses at last report were 300,191 packages, against 299,020 packages a week ago and 321,303 packages a year ago.
Eggs are firm and unchanged, best hennery stock being quoted at 45 cents, Eastern at 40 cents, Western at 33 cents and storage at 32 cents. Total stocks of eggs in local cold storage warehouses at last report were 399,589 cases, against 402,004 cases a week ago and 490,945 cases at the same time last year.
Large mackerel are scarce and high, but medium mackerel are to be had at 25 cents each and small mackerel at 18 cents. Spanish mackerel sell at 25 cents, Eastern salmon at 30 to 35 cents, Western salmon at 20 to 25 cents, smelts at 30 to 35 cents, bluefish at 15 cents, weakfish at 15 cents, striped bass at 35 cents, black bass at 18 cents, butterfish at 12½ cents, scup at 15 cents, tautog at 12 cents, swordfish at 25 cents, halibut at 25 to 30 cents, cod and haddock at 8 cents, brook trout at 75 cents, flounders at 10 to 12 cents, eels at 18 cents, sea perch at 20 cents a dozen.
Oysters are in season again, but it needs cool weather as well as an “r” in the month to bring about a demand. Providence River sell at 45 cents and Cotuits at 75 cents. New York scallops are in the market and sell at $1 a quart, though the close time is not yet off in this State. Lobsters are selling at 33 cents for live chicken, 35 cents for large live and 40 cents for large boiled, soft-shell crabs at $1 a dozen, little necks at 30 cents a dozen or $1.75 a peck, clams at 30 cents a quart shucked or 50 cents in the shell by the peck, and quahogs at 60 cents a quart shucked. Finnan haddie sells at 12 cents.
* * * * *
HOTEL STORY
_New York Herald_
When a clerk at the desk of Bretton Hall picked up the desk telephone in response to a ring about nine o’clock last Friday evening he caught the words of the operator to a man in one of the rooms.
“Indeed, I don’t know what you want, sir,” she was saying; “but here’s the clerk. You can explain to him.”
“If they’s such a thing as a bootjack in this metropolitan hostlery,” a co’n and cotton voice enunciated in exasperated accents, “I wish yo’ all would send it up to mah room fo’ about two minutes.”
“Certainly, sir,” said the clerk. “Front! Send the bootblack up to 846.”
The bootblack came down on a run, talking Greek to himself. The desk telephone rang again before the clerk could ask questions.
“I don’t want any bootblack. I don’t want ’em painted. I want to pull ’em off. Send me a jack. Don’t yo’ all understand English?”
“Tell the engineer to rush a man with a kit of tools up to that room,” the clerk hurriedly ordered. “Right away, sir,” he spoke into the telephone.
“If it wasn’t for losin’ me job, I’d a kilt that felly,” the engine room assistant reported when he quickly returned from the eighth floor. “Th’ way he talked I’d not stand”--
The elevator door flew open with a crash and a tall, elderly man with light hair worn long strode to the desk, his jaws set, but his lips twitching with each step.
“By gad, suh!” he shouted, pounding the desk and leaning across it to glare at the astonished clerk. “I ain’t goin’ to allow no paper collared, Yankee clerk to make spo’t of me. If I wa’n’t absolutely certain that yo’ are jes’ one provincial New Yo’ker of the ignoramus variety I would give yo’ all the canin’ of you’ mis’able life, old as I am.
“Neveh mind explanations. Yo’ jes’ send that long, lanky No’th Ca’lina lookin’ boy yondeh up to mah room with me and we’ll see if I got to go to bed with mah boots on or go back to Geo’ga to get ’em off.”
The lanky boy reported that the boots were “sure some tight,” but his co-operation in their removal had netted him “fo’ bits.”
* * * * *
SUBWAY STORY
_New York Times_
“Wake up! Your station next,” shouted the Subway guard, as he shook a sleeping passenger. The passenger managed to let a “thank you” escape him, and propped his eyes open until the train came to a stop at the station.
“How did you know he got off at that station?” the guard was asked as the train moved on.
“How did I know? Why, he is on here every night, and he goes to sleep as soon as he gets on the train. I have awakened him so regularly that he thinks now it is one of my duties. He would never forgive me if I overlooked him.
“See that man sleeping over there in that middle seat, and that one over yonder near the other door? They work downtown somewhere and come up every night on this train. I always have to wake them up. The first man there gets off at 145th Street and the one by the door at 168th. We know practically all the regular passengers on the late night trains. Some work, while others are just rounders who are out every night, returning always on the same train with as much regularity as those who work.
“I have never missed but one, and he seemed terribly cut up about it. He talked like I was paid to ‘mind’ him. I look out for him now. I have scraped up a good many acquaintances in this way. Sometimes the sleepers are newspaper chaps, and they give us an early morning paper; others give us a smile and say ‘howdy?’ when we meet.”
* * * * *
A MIRAGE
_New York Sun_
Cap’n Duke, who hangs about the beach at Far Rockaway and tells stories of the sea to little children, saw a mirage yesterday afternoon just as the sun was setting. He was talking to a group of little ones at the time and he called their attention to it.
“See that four funnelled steamship hanging up there in the sky upside down?” he said. “And then off there on the starboard bow of the steamer don’t you see a five masted schooner with all sails set and her booms to port?”
“Oh, yes, Cap’n Duke,” cried the children. “And there is still more.”
“What do you see, Johnny?” asked the captain.
“Why, there is a battleship and a ferryboat, and over on the right I see the Statue of Liberty.”
Cap’n Duke took off his specks, rubbed them with his red handkerchief and looked hard.
“To be sure, to be sure,” he said. “And astern of the battleship there is a torpedo boat, and after that comes a school of whales and a yacht race. Never see the likes of that even in the Desert of Sahara.”
In half an hour it was all over and the children went home for dinner. It was noised about Far Rockaway last night that really there was a beautiful mirage to be seen at sunset, and there was not a soul in the place who refused to believe it. Cap’n Duke and the children had seen it and that was enough.
* * * * *
STORY OF SAILOR
_San Francisco Examiner_
If you had done nothing worse than going to sleep in an out-of-the-way place on a bay steamer and awakening to find yourself in State’s prison with a fifteen-year sentence hanging over your head, how would you feel?
John Larsen had such an experience last Friday. He was, and may yet be, a deckhand on the schooner Mary. He imbibed a quantity of refreshment on the water front and then hid away in the steamer Caroline for a quiet nap. He didn’t know that the Caroline was about to go over to San Quentin with a load of supplies for the prison. The first thing he did know was that a husky guard with a big gun was prodding him into wakefulness and saying hard things. Captain Smith of the Caroline was standing near.
“Yes, it’s that fifteen-year man, all right,” the guard said, as he gave Larsen a stiff jolt under the ribs.
The sleepy sailor was yanked out into daylight and taken ashore, where he saw only prison walls and men in stripes all about him. He was marched to the office of the captain of the guard, the man beside him meanwhile commenting on the fine disguise Larsen wore. The poor sailor was dumb from fright, and could not make an intelligible protest. But when the officials looked him over, they laughed and told the guard to throw him out. He was not the man.
“Ay scart lak djefoul ven woke oop in yale,” said Larsen yesterday after he had got back from San Quentin by ferry. “Ay ban sleep on bale yute in Caroline ven gun stick me in ribs an’ ay see mens vid stripes all aroond, an’ man vid gun say ay ban fifteen-year faller. You bat heart went in boots and ay ban sick. Ven man stick gun in ribs an’ say ‘Git!’ You bat ay coom quick avay. No more sleep in Caroline on bale yute, you bat!”
* * * * *
A STOWAWAY
_Boston Journal_
Abraham Grabau wanted to get into the United States mighty badly.
He was poor and had never had a chance. But he had read a lot about America and thought how fine it would be to come here and retrieve himself and really do something worth while before it was too late.
So at Port Said he hid away on board the steamship St. Patrick, which was bound for Boston from Yokohama.
Of course he knew it wasn’t right to become a stowaway, but he couldn’t see what real harm there was in it. Besides, he hadn’t any money and it seemed to be the only thing that was left. And he never dreamed that the great free country beyond the seas often keeps worthy men outside its borders just because they haven’t the price of a ticket.
But he learned many things that worried him from the St. Patrick’s crew during the passage, after he had made himself known, when he couldn’t starve any longer, and had been put to work.
He was told that an alien stowaway has a mighty poor show of “getting by” with Uncle Sam--that, in fact, he hadn’t a chance on earth of being landed here. It nearly broke his heart, for there seemed to be no way out. But he finally found one--and why not? It was as good a way as any other. And, besides, he might win.
While the St. Patrick lay at anchor off quarantine Thursday night, Abraham slipped off his shoes and stole on deck noiselessly. He placed his shoes on deck alongside the railing and pulled down a life-buoy.
He gave a last look toward the lights that were twinkling on shore and dropped into the water.
Next morning the shoes were found near where the life-buoy should have been.
Of course the ship was searched, but Abraham was missing. Immigration officials at Long Wharf and the harbor police were notified of the escape. But there was no trace of the stowaway.
Yesterday the Hebrew’s daring act was talked of admiringly in many quarters, and the hope was expressed that he had won. There is a slight chance that he was picked up and carried to safety. But those best informed declare that the little Hebrew has beyond a doubt reached the Port of Missing Men, where entry is never refused, even to the friendless and the hopeless and the forlorn.
* * * * *
SEARCH FOR LOST TREASURES
_New York Sun_
In the gray hours before the dawn this morning, when all Ulmer Park sleeps and nothing is heard along the reaches of Marine Basin but the crowing of the restless cocks, will slip from her moorings a low, rakish craft. With hawseholes muffled and silence cloths on port and starboard anchor, hatches muzzled and even the kick of her propeller smothered by a blanket, this phantom will speed past the clam factories and chowder distilleries out to the bounding main.
Hush! ’Tis the Mayflower, onetime defender of the America’s cup, bearing her daring crew of gentleman adventurers down to the isles of spice and the bloodied seas where Morgan trod piratical quarterdecks and Teach snicked off the heads of treasure bearers. Skipper Scull is at the helm, Buck Harrison in the galley; four more, good men and true, stand in the port chains and shade their eyes as they scan the waters of Gravesend Bay for the police boat.
Romance lies behind the horizon and the glint of the rising sun has the glint of Sir Henry’s gold. For, mark ye well, Skipper Scull has wrapped in tarpaulin, next to his open front undershirt, a chart. Red and blue is the chart; it marks a reef in the Caribbean; it limns in the sea the boundaries of a precious spot; it tells where lies the English corvette, Good Faith, out of Santo Domingo City in 1684 with five millions in plate and minted doubloons in her strong boxes.
But who are these men, tried and found trusty, who sail with Skipper Scull on the converted yacht Mayflower out of Marine Basin this morning? Skipper Scull, Harvard, ’98, a venturesome soul who lived in Tokio many, many months, and who, wishing to be a war correspondent, finally was allowed to get as near as forty-five miles from the scene of a battle. Then there are Gordon Brown, Yale, ’01, who was captain of the football team that laid Harvard so low in 1900, Stephen Noyes, Harvard, ’03, H. L. Corbett, Harvard, ’03, Buck Harrison, Harvard, ’04, fullback, whose name was a terror to all opponents, and Roger Darby, Harvard, ’05, a tower of strength on the Crimson line in his time.
Consider this, that Matsukata, whose father is a Baron in Japan and holds fief over hundreds of samurai, was offered a place in the intrepid crew--as cook. Matsukata yearned for adventure, but he could not so demean himself, and that is why Buck Harrison of the line holds his place in the galley when the Mayflower slips out of the Basin this morning.
With the Mayflower steaming out of Gravesend Bay, nose to the south, there must come a hiatus in this tale, and the curtain of the past must be lifted, revealing dark and bloody scenes.
................. . . . CURTAIN . . . .................
It is a fair day in June, Anno Domini 1684, and the tropical palms that fringe the beach about Santo Domingo Bay are nodding in the breeze. [Santo Domingo Bay is used as a disguise of the real port, which it wouldn’t do to reveal.] All is astir about the wharf, for the good English corvette, Good Faith, is sailing this day for Plymouth, laden fair to the gunwales with plate of price, spoils of cathedrals in Mexico and hard minted gold in doubloons--and oh, yes, pieces of eight!--that is, the ransom of cities in Salvador and the Guineas. Spanish gold it is, torn from the grasp of bleeding men.
A cheer, a roundelay as the anchor comes up, and with sails bellying and the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew whipping from the gaff, the Good Faith ploughs her way past the reef and out to sea.
But wait! From around the bluff beyond the sea gate, which is hidden from the Good Faith by the rocky headland, come stealing two long feluccas. The brass of cannon glints from bow and taffrail; sails strain with the wind; the gorgeous banner of Spain streams from the mainsail peak.
The watchers on the headlands of Santo Domingo City drop on their knees in prayer at the sight, for are not those two feluccas the sea vultures of Don Sebastian Fernando Hacienda y Juan Fernandez, plunderer of towns and pillager of altars?
At gaze stand the citizens of Santo Domingo City as they watch the feluccas steal into the track of the Good Faith. Tortured with anxiety are these good folk when they behold the Good Faith swing about the headland and come into view of the dastard Spaniards. Now the Good Faith is aware of her peril. See her crowd the canvas on! See her leap to the tug of the wind and race for her life down, down the watery way to the horizon! The feluccas follow fast; they gain yard by yard; still they gain and yet still.
The horizon rises and swallows up the Good Faith and the Don’s feluccas, mere dots on the horizon.
Alack, never again did man set eyes on the Good Faith. Plymouth awaited her in vain; Santo Domingo City sent out sloops and men-o’-war to search for her. Never again did Don Sebastian ravage the coasts of Salvador and plunder the galleons of the Main. Men forgot that there had ever been a Good Faith or a Don Sebastian.
* * * * *
[Stars here indicate hiatus of 220 years.]
A fisher of sponges, an American fisher of sponges, in sooth, is sailing his craft about the Caribbean in search of his prey. It is some years later. It is only a few years ago in fact. A storm comes roaring out of the Gulf, and the fisher of sponges with his native fishermen is driven in his cockleshell far, far out of his course. In the dead of night and the murk of the storm the boat is piled up on a reef and they rub elbows with death until the ruddy streaks of dawn come.
Then this fisher of sponges, this American fisher of sponges--he was also a diver and he helped raise the Merrimac in Santiago harbor once--looked over the side of his boat and he saw down about fifteen feet in the blue water the prow of a ship. Straightway he dived. He came up with pieces of eight sticking through the cracks of both fists, or maybe it was doubloons.
Forthwith all of his native fishermen dived, and they came up with silver and golden coin representing maybe $1,221.34 American, who knows?
They dived again and brought up the ship’s bell. About the rust eaten rim was graven this motto:
“Good Faith yclept Dom. 1680 Plymouth. Ringeth this Belle God’s hours and telleyeth man’s life Space.”
Straightway did this American fisher of sponges get him his sextant and his latitude. He had to guess at the longitude. Then with the ship’s bell and the pieces of eight he sailed to Jamaica.
There he found one who was interested in his tale. Together they went to a lawyer, and he recommended them to another lawyer, whose name is Reginald R. Leaycraft and whose office is at 129 Pearl street, this city. Many old records in Santo Domingo City and in England were gone over, so say this fisher of sponges and his lawyer, and at last the shipping register of the original Good Faith was discovered. Then they knew of her fatal journey out of Santo Domingo City on that June afternoon so long ago, and knew, so say both, of the treasure that was in her bottom.
Skipper Scull, and he alone, knows how it was that the sponge diver happened to meet such an adventurous spirit as himself here in New York. Yet, hark ye, within a month after the sponge fisher and Skipper Scull had met fortuitously, all of those other brave gentlemen and true from Harvard and Yale had met to form a solemn bond and compact.
This was the bond and compact: That the organization should be made under the auspices of the Southern Research Company, a duly registered organization; that the sponge fisher and his lawyer should have share and share alike with the others; that the sponge fisher should be one of the party of discovery, in that he knew best how to interpret the chart that he had made that blue morning after the storm; and that, chief of all, Matsukata, the man whose father is a baron in Japan, should be cook.
All of these conditions, save the last, so recalcitrant did Matsukata prove, were fulfilled to the letter. Then went the representatives of the company to Mrs. Eva M. Barker, the owner of the old cup defender, Mayflower. Five years ago the old defender had been converted into a sloop with auxiliary power. The Mayflower was brought around to the Marine Basin and all sorts of strange stores in boxes and crates were lowered into her hold. Diving suits flopped upon her decks and grappling hooks shoved their prongs through burlap sacking.
Skipper Scull was there on the deck of the Mayflower each day to shoo away the curious and to scowl at the prying. Not a word would the war correspondent skipper say to the most veiled interrogations. Until the Mayflower slipped past the chowder distilleries in this morning’s early light the mystery of her mission and her bourne remained inviolate.
But Skipper Scull, Buck Harrison and the rest have overreached themselves in their secretiveness. For know that over a long glass clinking with ice one sleepy night up at the Harvard Club on Forty-fourth street one of the sextette of adventurers revealed the scheme of the expedition. That is why not even Skipper Scull knows what fell plot is now a-brewing to rob him of his putative treasure.
This is the plot: Up in Boston lives Alexander Forbes, the grandson of John Murray Forbes. He is the possessor of the yacht Merlin. To his ears came the tale of the treasure hunt. Not long did the grass grow under the Forbes foot. He called together the following men, known to be desperate pirates: Jim Field, Harvard, ’03; Donald Gregg, Harvard, ’02; Ralph Page, Harvard, ’03; Buz Baird, Harvard, ’04, and W. Davis Conrad, also of Harvard. To them he broached his counter plot, and all gleefully agreed, if they did not sign a pact with their life blood.
So it will be--and one of these Boston pirates said yesterday that it cannot but be--that after the Mayflower has gone to her all but secret destination in the Caribbean and is sailing homeward, either laden with gold or with experience, the yacht Merlin will one day stalk out of the horizon and confront her. The Jolly Roger will fly from the peak of the Merlin and a six pounder will cough out demand for the Mayflower’s surrender. The Mayflower will have to heave to and be robbed or go to the bottom with all of her gallant gentlemen adventurers weltering in their own blood.
It will be about three weeks hence, so swore this Boston pirate by book and ring yesterday, that the Merlin will sail on her fell mission. After that the Spanish Main will roar again and bloody death will be abroad over the mellifluous waters of the Gulf stream.
* * * * *
RELIEF SHIP
_New York Evening Post_
Capt. Pickels--“Pickels of the schooner Cluett,” as they called him on the Labrador coast--standing on the deck of that stanch little vessel, which will soon be bucking ice in Baffin Bay, is not the figure of an Arctic explorer. To the mildly interested visitor to the East River dock, where his ship was moored, there was nothing about the square-set skipper in shirt sleeves and straw hat, watching supplies come aboard, to suggest that he is the man selected to command the relief expedition which will search for Donald B. MacMillan, starting to-day. MacMillan set out from New York just two years ago to find mythical Crocker Land, and now the American Museum of Natural History, one of the chief backers of his expedition, is sending Pickels to find MacMillan.
Both the captain in summer city garb and his little schooner, dwarfed by the overhanging pier, and not so different to the unpracticed eye from hundreds of sailing craft loading here, refused at first to fit into the picture which he painted in simple language of the months ahead. Within a few weeks the Cluett will be feeling out open reaches in the ice which is rarely absent after Nachvak Bay, on the north Labrador coast, is passed, laying a course almost due north up Davis Strait. Thence to Melville Bay, near Etah, the MacMillan expedition’s base, it will be nip and tuck between the Cluett and rapidly descending winter. She will be late, and, skirting the ever-present “middle ice” of Baffin Bay, on a course not far off shore, she will be lucky to reach her objective before the waters close entirely.
And luckier still if she finds MacMillan and his party waiting. For then there is the chance that, with more good fortune and able seamanship, Capt. Pickels may be able to bring all hands out through the thin crust which by September will cover all those waters. In that event he will have made a season’s record to be very proud of. What is far more likely--and that is the reason for the two years’ supply of foodstuffs on board the Cluett--the schooner will nose her way into Melville Bay with hardly enough time in which to select a winter berth in the ice. If MacMillan has to be waited for or search made for him, the long winter will make either task easy. The diminutive, unpretentious wooden sailing ship which now reeks of oil and ship stores under the warm sun, will then find herself encompassed with leagues of ice. Eskimo ice huts will spring up around her like mushrooms, and in the long Arctic night it would be difficult to identify the little Cluett with the picture at the foot of East 21st Street.
But closer acquaintance with Pickels and the Cluett helps one’s imagination to bridge the gap. Ever since she was built at Tottenville, some four years ago, for the Grenfell Mission service on the Labrador coast, Pickels has commanded her. She was designed for work in northern waters. As the bronze plate in the captain’s cabin sets forth, she was presented to Dr. Wilfred Grenfell in July, 1911, by George B. Cluett, of Troy, N. Y. That she went to sea with purposes other than those of the ordinary trading schooner, the plate makes plain in these few words: “The Sea is His and He made It.” The inscription in the brass band which binds the wheel, “Jesus saith I will make you fishers of men,” serves to distinguish her from the run of fishing craft which infest the Labrador waters. But for these symbols of a higher vocation she is just like them, save that she is much more stanch.
From stem to stern the Cluett measures 142 feet, and her beam is 26 feet. Every foot of timber in her is white oak. And back of the thin steel plate on her bows, where the impact of ice is concentrated, she can boast about two feet of solid timber. The outer shell forward is composed of white oak timbers eight inches thick. Behind them is nearly a foot of timbering, and then an inner shell of six-inch white oak all stiffened with drift bolts. The Cluett can be counted on to stand up to the force of her eighty horse-power kerosene engines, against all but solid ice. And she has proved it more than once.
That brought the captain to the recital of an achievement which probably had much to do with the selection by the Museum authorities of him and his ship for the work in hand. Making ordinarily about three trips a year as supply ship to the chain of missions established by the Grenfell Association, it was no new thing for the Cluett to show her seaworthiness in ice and dirty weather. But last summer she did something out of the common. Chartered for a few months by the Carnegie Institution for magnetic investigations in Hudson’s Bay, she and Capt. Pickets displayed remarkable facility for edging into ice-strewn waters and slipping out with promptness.
In a month’s time she made the circuit of Hudson’s Bay, undeterred by almost constant snow-storms and gales, frequently traversing untried waterways. She escaped without misadventure, where a less careful pilot might have lost his ship. Once the two principal members of the party, the observers, were swamped in a small boat. Losing instruments and all their equipment they went five days without food or fire, and owed their lives to Capt. Pickels’s prompt appearance with relief. Getting into Hudson’s Bay in mid-summer of last year was not easy on account of the ice. After cleanly threading Hudson Strait, the Cluett encountered a Canadian icebreaker, smashed by the very element she was designed to combat, and breaking up. As this point was a long way south of his present destination, Capt. Pickels is mindful of what may be in store for him this summer. But he regards the MacMillan relief expedition with as much serenity as if it were one of his regular northern visits, and with as little timidity as might be expected from a mariner who has navigated every ocean and circumvented ice in Bering Sea as successfully as in Grenfell’s Tickle.
Although the proved nimbleness of the Cluett leads her charterers to hope that she may slip into Melville Bay and out with the rescued MacMillan party in time to get back to New York in November, the way food supplies have been poured into her show that no chances are to be taken, in a locality where, as the captain remarked, “ye can’t fetch stuff from a grocery ’round the corner.’” He shed light upon what for a dozen men might be considered a two years’ food supply. Some two thousand pounds of beef, nearly half of it canned and the rest pickled in brine, and an almost equal quantity of mutton and pork, formed the backbone of the stores. Beans and potatoes and barrel on barrel of pilot bread set off this impressive meat supply, which winter hunting is to vary with fresh steaks and roasts.
Several hundred pounds of coffee and a hundred of tea, onions and many gallons of lime juice to ward off scurvy, were important items; strangely enough, not a particle of chocolate or cocoa. A comment upon the rather small supply of milk--condensed, of course--as compared with, for one thing, three hundred pounds of rolled oats, drew from the hardy captain the explanation that crews in the North preferred molasses with their oatmeal, and of molasses he had nearly a hundred gallons.
Perhaps these assurances of creature comfort have had their attractions. At any rate, Capt. Pickels has been pestered with would-be passengers who want to make the trip with him or put in a winter of hunting on Melville Bay. And they were not all men. One young person from Vassar sent a request. But Capt. Pickels will have none of them. So that, when he starts on the last leg of his journey north, with decks piled high with barrels of kerosene--the Cluett is to be stocked with nearly five thousand gallons of kerosene and 900 gallons of gasolene for her engines--the only person aboard beside his crew of eight hardy Nova Scotians, will be the representative of the Natural History Museum. Capt. Pickels’s Newfoundland dog “Chum” completes the list.
* * * * *
SQUIRREL
_New York World_
Somebody let a squirrel loose in City Hall Park yesterday, or more likely Saturday night, and as a result that part of the green grass plot just north of the Nathan Hale statue was the only busy section in the business district from 2 until 3 o’clock on the Sabbath. If there was one cat there were thirty. Of all sizes and conditions they ranged, hailing from Cherry Hill and other points. Toms, tabbies and kittens were all there, and in circles they sat about a big tree on which a gilt sign read “Ulmus Americanus.”
Above, perched in the branches, was Mr. Squirrel. Intently he looked down at the cats and the crowd of park loungers and others leaning on the fence and flicked his gray tail saucily at the feline delegation. One venturesome Tom scooted up the tree, but when he began to crawl out on the branch on which “Brer” Squirrel sat the latter lightly jumped to an adjoining tree, not labelled, and chattered back at Tomcatus Cherryhillibus.
The other cats with uplifted eyes watched the flight of the squirrel and camped under the second tree, while the crowd of human onlookers increased. The siege was getting interesting.
“I wonder will the cats get him, Jimmie,” said one young woman, but the squirrel only kept on scolding to himself.
Not long after a young man in a gray suit stepped over the fence and stood beneath the tree. He carried a small bag over one shoulder. The moment the squirrel saw him he ran down the tree and perched on the man’s other shoulder. When the man opened the bag he popped in, and they started off for a Jersey ferry.
The disgusted cats dispersed and the crowd melted away.
* * * * *
POLICEMEN’S PET
_Philadelphia Telegraph_
Just as the “joker” tapped 12 o’clock today in the Trenton avenue and Dauphin street police station, a file of unhelmeted patrolmen marched silently into the back yard and reverently placed the remains of “Benny” in his last long resting place.
For a moment they stood sad-eyed, while Bill Tufts, the old turnkey, softly dropped the earth upon the coffin, and then, when only a memory marked the spot near the patrol house where “Benny” slept, they went back to the roll-room and discussed in whispers the unexpected death.
“Benny” died at 11.20 o’clock, despite the efforts of House Sergeant Site, who immersed him in fresh water and tried in every way to restore the fast-ebbing life. But a broken heart could not thus be appeased, for “Benny’s” heart had undoubtedly been broken when a younger rival for the affections of the bluecoats turned up in the station house not long ago.
Old age might also have contributed toward the death, for “Benny” was 7½ years old, and his species never exist longer than seven years, according to Street Sergeant Murdock, who is well posted on the subject. “Benny” holds the record for age around the station house. There have been others of his ilk there constantly for fifteen years, but “Benny” was the longest liver of the entire crowd.
“Benny” was a fan-tailed goldfish.
* * * * *
ZOO STORY
_New York World_
This rock shall fly from its firm base as soon as I. --Hippopotamus Pete.
“He’s a pig-headed brute,” say the keepers in the Bronx Zoo after they have been up all night watching Pete, who weighs 1,300 pounds--more than four Tafts.
“He’s a wise old guy,” say the keepers admiringly after they have slept and are wondering at Pete’s sagacity.
Director Hornaday, of the Zoo, and the keepers fondly hope to remove Pete to-day from his old cage in the antelope house to his apartment in the new and splendid elephant house. But whether Pete goes or stays in the antelope house depends upon how hungry he was last night.
The World has told of the futile efforts to move this Gibraltar of hippopotamus flesh. As a last resort, Director Hornaday has been starving Pete for two days and nights. When Pete is hungry he is very hungry, indeed. He eats a wagon load of provender a day, shovelling in the food as stokers shovel coal into a steamship’s furnace.
Taking advantage of this, Director Hornaday had placed in Pete’s cage a “moving case,” a very strong box big enough to hold Pete. At one end of the box is a drop door rigged to a fall and tackle. At the closed end of the big box the keepers placed a tempting meal of all the things Pete likes best.
It was all very simple. Two keepers watched Pete every hour of the twenty-four. Pete, hungry, was to walk into the box after the food, the keepers were to let the drop door fall and--there you are, or, rather, there Pete was.
The simple plan did not work out well. By day Pete seemed to have lost all appetite. But by Saturday night he had thought out a plan in his turn. While the sleepy keepers watched, Pete entered the box, but he carefully stretched back his hind legs so that they remained outside it. The keepers dropped the door; it fell on Pete’s hind quarters.
Pete backed out, scooping the food along with his fore legs. Once outside he had a hearty meal, which he seemed to enjoy exceedingly.
They built a much longer moving case yesterday and put food at its closed end. A hippopotamus is not built like a dachshund. To get that food Pete must include his whole bulk in the box.
* * * * *
CAT
_Chicago Inter Ocean_
Tom Stroller is dead.
Tom Stroller was only a cat, and he was old and ugly and never even had been allowed within the sacred precincts of a cat show, so, perhaps, it doesn’t matter much.
And yet there were a hundred girls, students at the Art Institute, who looked wistfully at the desk of the Klio Club when they went to their lunch. And there were 100 others who didn’t smile as they sat about the tables. One or two attempted a eulogy, but the efforts were not inspiring, for the best that could be said of old Tom Stroller was that “he was such a friendly cat.”
Time was when Tom was young and useful. Those were the days--twelve years ago--when there was a stern work to be done at the Klio Club, then at South Michigan Avenue and East Monroe Street. Those were the days when Tom stepped proudly through serried ranks of rodent dead, the days when he was tolerated because he was useful, and was forgiven his ugliness because he was so friendly. Those were the days when Tom achieved his first love--the love of Mrs. Bush, mother of the club.
Side by side Tom and Mrs. Bush grew old together. When the girls at the institute moved their club to 26 South Wabash Avenue, Tom, now toothless, and Mrs. Bush, now almost at the end of the road, were established together at the cashier’s desk.
New students came to look amused and remained to love them both. Old students came back to Chicago to rush up to the Klio Club and cry: “Why, if there aren’t Tom and Mother Bush. God bless you both!”
But one day last year Mrs. Bush was stricken with an illness that soon may prove fatal. She was taken to the Mary Thompson Hospital and a new cashier came to the club’s desk. She was kind to Tom and stroked his grizzled fur, but things were different now, and Tom began to grow old very fast. He died yesterday morning.
* * * * *
DOG
_Chicago Herald_
Colonel is only a dog, but he is believed to be dying because he did his duty.
Colonel is a dignified St. Bernard, with a fine head and kindly eye. He belongs to Sven Carlson, a saloon-keeper at 3300 North Racine avenue. When Colonel could lie on the floor, keeping one eye on the door and the other on his master, the dog was happy.
Carlson was proud of Colonel, too. He boasted of the dog’s cleverness--how he would fetch and carry from the grocer’s, and even carry notes to tradesmen in the neighborhood. Colonel never failed to go to the right store.
It was for Carlson that the dog sacrificed himself.
A few minutes before closing time Saturday night Carlson went behind the bar and Colonel followed him.
Two men entered the saloon and walked over to the bar. They did not see the dog.
“Hands up,” ordered one man.
“It’s late, gentlemen; if you wish to drink you have no time for such joking,” replied Carlson.
Both men drew revolvers.
“It’s a long way from a joke,” said the man. “Hands up or we’ll shoot.”
“Go for ’em, Colonel,” ordered Carlson.
The dog sped around the end of the bar as though he had been shot from a catapult, his hair bristling, uttering deep growls; and the bandits backed away.
Then one of the men fired a shot, and the dog toppled over and lay still.
Carlson gave a roar of rage when he saw Colonel fall, and, grasping a bung starter, climbed over the bar.
The holdups fled.
Carlson chased them a block before he gave up the pursuit.
Colonel was taken to Thomas Kendrew’s veterinary hospital at 3039 Sheffield avenue, bandaged and put into a private kennel with clean, sweet straw to lie upon.
“He surely will die,” said Dr. Kendrew. “I think there is no hope for him. The bullet went into his hip and through some of his vital organs.
“If every man could die as gallantly as Colonel this would be a better world.”
* * * * *
TRICK MULE
_Kansas City Star_
If you’ve been to the horse show this week you’ve seen Henry and Zip. Henry--his last name is Harbaugh--is 18 years old and lives near Bedford, Mo., when he’s at home. Zip is 8 years old, and if you don’t believe he’s the most wonderful trick mule in the world, you’d better not mention it to Henry.
Zip knows how to sit up on his haunches like a rabbit and walk around on his hind legs with Henry on his back, and walk across the tanbark arena on his knees, and--oh, innumerable things. Also he can buck in the most humorous way--you’re quite sure nobody but Henry could stick on.
There’s an interesting story connected with Henry and Zip. Zip is an educated mule, and he is helping make Henry an educated boy. For, the money that Henry receives for his talents and Zip’s goes for Henry’s education. The boy is half way through the high school at Avalon, Mo., and when he finishes, he hopes to go to the University of Missouri. And the talented Zip is a great help to a fellow who’s trying to get an education. For Henry is drawing down $50 and expenses for his week’s work at the Kansas City Horse Show, and he has hopes of repeating the performance at St. Louis next week.
Col. W. V. Galbraith, general manager of the horse show, got a letter from the trick mule’s owner last week. The letter told about all the wonderful things Zip could do--and he can, too--and said if the colonel could find a place for him, please to let Henry know at once, as it’s one hundred miles from Bedford to Kansas City, and it would take some little time to ride. The boy, having no money to spend on railroad fare, proposed to ride his mule to Kansas City. The colonel was so pleased by the boy’s enterprise that he sent him word to come and enclosed money to bring Zip by railroad. Of course, strictly speaking, a mule doesn’t belong in a horse show, but Colonel Galbraith figured that a trick mule named Zip was too good a bet to overlook.
The boy started training his mule five years ago, when he was 13 years old and Zip was 3. Henry lived on a farm and he had no brothers and sisters. So he made a pet of Zip, and taught him all sorts of tricks. Then he began showing him at county fairs and saving the money that he got to spend for education. One of these days he hopes to be as well educated for a boy as Zip is for a mule. And if they gave degrees to mules, Zip would certainly be a Ph.D.
Zip is also quite a teacher. He has taught this country boy a philosophy of life.
“You have to be patient--patient and kind,” Henry said yesterday. “The first thing I ever taught Zip took me two hours and a half. I wanted to see if I could make him lie down. I grabbed his opposite foreleg and held it up. I just had to tire him out, but at last he keeled over. Next day he did it in two minutes. He had learned what I wanted. It was easy after that.”
Henry had never seen a trick mule, but he began thinking of other tricks. With infinite patience he showed Zip what was wanted.
“Then he did it because he loved me,” said the boy simply.
Henry never uses a whip to teach Zip tricks. He feeds him sugar, and is just kind to him and works with him and is patient. Now he learns faster than ever. You can teach an old mule new tricks, according to Henry.
INDEX TO NEWS STORIES
Accident, automobile, 23, 24.
Accident, drowning, 39, 40, 42.
Accident, fall from scaffold, 39.
Accident, humorous treatment of, 25.
Accident, marine, 32, 34, 35.
Accident, mine, 36, 38.
Accident, pathetic treatment of, 25.
Accident, railroad, 29, 30, 31.
Accident, shooting, 42.
Accident, storm, 35, 196.
Accident, subway, 26.
Accidents, 22-44.
Addresses, 127-131.
Adoption of child, 100.
Agricultural fair, 143.
Alumnae meeting, 228.
Animal stories, 19, 256-259.
Anniversary, church celebration of, 228.
Arrest for embezzlement, 50.
Arrest for forgery, 49.
Arrest for hold-up, 55, 56, 57.
Arrest for intoxication, 48.
Arrest for murder, 59, 65.
Arrest for passing worthless checks, 50.
Arrest for swindle, 49.
Arrest, humorous treatment of, 48.
Arrest, pathetic treatment of, 57.
“Asleep at the switch,” 48.
Assignment in bankruptcy, 96.
Attorney general, opinion of, 90.
Automobile bandits, 55.
Automobile collision, 23, 24.
Automobile drivers’ strike, 187.
Automobile ordinance, violation of, 78.
Automobile parade, 149, 150.
Automobile show, opening of, 142.
Bandit, automobile, 55.
Bandit, pathetic story of, 57.
Bandit, street car, 57.
Bankruptcy case, 95, 96.
Banquet, 157.
Baseball, 212-216.
Baseball game, humorous treatment of, 215.
Bazaar, charity, 230.
Bonds, sale of municipal, 245.
_Boston Advertiser_, story from, 25.
_Boston Globe_, story from, 212.
_Boston Herald_, stories from, 23, 40, 143, 171, 246.
_Boston Journal_, story from, 251.
_Boston Post_, story from, 212.
_Boston Transcript_, stories from, 16, 18, 34, 138, 192, 219, 224, 239, 240, 244, 247.
_Boston Traveler_, story from, 29.
Bridge party, 229.
_Brooklyn Eagle_, stories from, 42, 88.
Building of new hotel, 244.
Burglary, 54.
Burglary, human interest treatment of, 54.
Business merger, 242.
Card party, 228, 229.
Carnegie, Andrew, toast by, at banquet, 157.
Cat, death of, 258.
Cathedral service, anniversary, 160.
Charity bazaar, 230.
_Chicago Daily News_, stories from, 68, 136.
_Chicago Evening Post_, stories from, 102, 226, 228, 229.
_Chicago Herald_, stories from, 47, 54, 55, 66, 91, 95, 105, 115, 120, 222, 223, 227, 228, 229, 234, 236, 258.
_Chicago Inter Ocean_, stories from, 67, 108, 109, 171, 222, 258.
_Chicago Record-Herald_, stories from, 37, 146, 184.
_Chicago Tribune_, stories from, 19, 39, 42, 73, 105, 130, 137, 138, 164, 187, 188, 244, 246.
Children, news stories of, 25, 26, 39, 41, 42, 43, 47, 54, 154, 158, 159, 250.
Children’s court, 79.
Chinese girls in court, 79.
_Christian Science Monitor_, stories from, 217, 235.
Christmas dinner, family reunion at, 227.
Christmas in children’s hospital, 154.
Christmas pantomime, 155.
Christmas, preparations for celebrating, 152.
Church, anniversary celebration in, 160.
City bonds, sale of, 245.
City council meeting, 117.
College alumnae meeting, 228.
College class day, 166.
College commencement, 162-166.
College crew prospects, 216.
College crew races, 217.
College fraternity dinner, 226.
College glee club, entertainment for, 229.
Collision, automobile, 23, 24.
Collision, railroad, 30, 31.
Collision, ships in, 34.
Colorado miners’ strike, 188.
Colorado miners’ strike, investigation of, 108.
Commencement exercises, college, 162-166.
Common council meeting, 117.
Conventions, 119-123.
Convict, capture of escaped, 67.
Convict, pathetic story of escaped, 68.
Council, meeting of city, 117.
Counterfeiter, human interest story of, 83.
County fair, 143.
Court decisions, 88, 89, 90.
Court, pathetic story of, 78.
Court, police, 78.
Courts, civil, 88-105.
Courts, criminal, 81-87.
Courtship, unusual, 221, 222.
Crew, prospects of college, 216.
Crew races, college, 217.
Dancing parties, 226, 227, 228.
Deaths, 171-177.
Decision, court, 88, 89, 90.
Decoration Day parade, 151.
Defalcation of bank clerk, 51.
Delinquency of young girl, 66.
_Detroit News_, stories from, 83, 94.
Dinner parties, 226, 227.
Disorderly conduct, arrest for, 58.
Divers, death of, in ship’s hold, 32.
Dividend, railroad company’s, 246.
Divorce suit, 93, 94.
Docks, stories from, 250-254.
Dog, death of, 258.
Drowning, 39-42, 196.
_Duluth Herald_, stories from, 87, 89.
Easter, 193.
Eclipse of sun, 197.
Elections, 179-184.
Election day, 180.
Election, forecast of, 179.
Election, returns of city, 183.
Election, returns of state, 182, 183.
Elopement, 223.
Embezzlement, 51.
Engagement, announcement of, 226.
Entertainment, Christmas, in hospital, 154.
Entertainment, Christmas pantomime, 153.
Entertainment for charity, 230.
Entertainment in children’s hospital, 158.
Entertainment, lawn fête, 159.
Entertainment, school, 158.
Exhibitions, 142.
Explosion, cause of fire, 16, 19.
Explosion in fireworks plant, 19.
Explosion in mine, 36.
Explosion in subway, 26.
Explosion in tannery, 16.
Failure, commercial, 95, 96.
Fair, agricultural, 143.
Fall from scaffold, 39.
Fête, lawn, 159.
Fight on elevated train, 58.
Fight on wagon, 78.
Financial news, 245, 246.
Fire, fatal, in factory, 19.
Fire, fatal, in lodging house, 21.
Fire, fatal, in tenement, 21.
Fire in university building, 17.
Fire, investigation of cause of, 18, 21, 22.
Fires, 16-22.
Football, 202-212.
Football game, 205, 207.
Football game, analysis of, 209.
Football game, day of, 202, 203.
Forgery, 49, 50, 78.
Forgery, pathetic treatment of, 78.
Golf match, 219.
Hearing before investigating committee, 108, 110.
Hearing in investigation, pathetic treatment of, 110.
Hearing on city ordinance, 112, 113, 115.
Hearing on ordinance, humorous treatment of, 113.
Highway robbery, 55.
Hippopotamus, story of, 257.
Hold-up, 55, 56, 57.
Hospital, Christmas in children’s, 154.
Hospital, entertainment in children’s, 158.
Hospital, surgical operation in, 170.
Hotel, new, 244.
Hotel story, humorous, 249.
Humorous stories, 25, 47, 48, 55, 57, 58, 78, 91, 92, 113, 121, 122, 142, 150, 156, 157, 198, 215, 222, 249, 250, 252.
Illness, 168.
Indian, dying, 169.
_Indianapolis News_, stories from, 133, 134.
Insanity case in court, 91.
Inspection, medical, of schools, 236.
Interview with educator, 134.
Interview with official, 133.
Interview with opera singer, 136.
Interview with woman philanthropist, 135.
Interviews, 133-137.
Interviews, group of, 137.
Investigation, congressional, of strike, 108.
Investigation of drowning, 40.
Investigation of fire, 18, 21, 22.
Investigation of strike, 108, 110.
Investigation, pathetic treatment of, 110.
Jubilee service in cathedral, 160.
Juvenile delinquency, 66.
_Kansas City Star_, stories from, 38, 49, 51, 56, 57, 60, 62, 65, 66, 78, 100, 127, 130, 135, 168, 172, 218, 227, 228, 235, 259.
_Kansas City Times_, stories from, 159, 171.
Labor difficulties and strikes, 186-190.
Larceny, conviction for, 87.
Law suit, humorous treatment of, 92.
Lawn fête, 159.
Lawrence, Mass., textile strike at, 190.
Lecture, 131.
Legislature, meeting of state, 116.
Library, public, 237.
_Los Angeles Times_, story from, 57.
Luncheon, 228.
_Madison Democrat_, stories from, 121, 129.
Mann Act, violation of, 66.
Manual training school, opening of, 234.
Manufacturing, new method in, 243.
Marine news stories, 32, 34, 35, 250, 251, 252, 254.
Market, opening of, 145.
Market prices, retail, 246, 247.
Mawson, Sir Douglas, lecture by, 131.
Medical inspection in schools, 236.
Meeting of city council, 117.
Meeting of Friends, 123.
Meeting of old clothes men, 122.
Meeting of safety council, 120.
Meeting of state legislature, 116.
Meetings, 116-123.
Memorial Day parade, 151.
Merger of business concerns, 242.
_Milwaukee Daily News_, stories from, 31, 43.
_Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin_, stories from, 43, 55, 156.
_Milwaukee Free Press_, stories from, 110, 137, 168.
_Milwaukee Journal_, stories from, 29, 44.
_Milwaukee Sentinel_, stories from, 30, 73, 78, 82, 170, 237, 242.
Mine explosion, 36, 38.
Miners, attempt to rescue, 38.
Miners, strike of, 188.
Mirage, 250.
Mule, trick, 259.
Municipal bonds, sale of, 245.
Municipal equipment, new, 240.
Municipal improvements, 239.
Murder, constructive treatment of, 60, 62, 63, 65.
Murder, pathetic treatment of, 63, 65.
Murder trial, 84.
Murders, 58-66.
Museum, public, 238.
Musicale, 228.
Nelson, William Rockhill, death of, 176.
_New York Evening Mail_, stories from, 70, 158.
_New York Evening Post_, stories from, 22, 74, 123, 138, 142, 147, 160, 162, 165, 174, 177, 187, 195, 202, 203, 209, 254.
_New York Evening Telegram_, story from, 93.
_New York Globe_, stories from, 236, 249.
_New York Herald_, stories from, 103, 112, 131, 149, 186, 194, 225, 227, 230, 241, 249.
_New York Sun_, stories from, 33, 61, 63, 79, 84, 92, 100, 122, 166, 250, 252.
_New York Times_, stories from, 17, 21, 26, 35, 39, 48, 72, 96, 98, 113, 119, 128, 142, 145, 151, 155, 158, 173, 180, 183, 190, 196, 215, 216, 224, 226, 230, 238, 250.
_New York Tribune_, stories from, 24, 32, 49, 59.
_New York World_, stories from, 21, 41, 48, 58, 61, 71, 81, 99, 150, 157, 182, 233, 256, 257.
Obituaries, 172-177.
Obituary of college dean, 177.
Obituary of editor, 176.
Obituary of fireman, 172.
Obituary of Italian undertaker, 174.
Obituary of politician, 173.
Obituary of William Rockhill Nelson, 176.
_Ohio State Journal_, story from, 121.
Old clothes men, meeting of, 117.
Operation, surgical, 170.
Opinion of attorney general, 90.
Ordinance, hearing on, 112, 113, 115.
Ordinance introduced in city council meeting, 117.
Ordinance, opposition to proposed, 118.
Pantomime, Christmas, 154.
Parade, automobile, 149, 150.
Parade, Memorial Day, 151.
Parties, social, 227-229.
Patent case, award in, 98.
Pathetic news stories, 25, 38, 42, 57, 63, 65, 68, 72, 73, 78, 110, 168.
Penitentiary convict, escaped, 67, 68.
_Philadelphia Inquirer_, story from, 170.
_Philadelphia Ledger_, stories from, 35, 117, 118, 176, 202, 225, 228, 229, 244.
_Philadelphia Telegraph_, story from, 257.
Police court case, 78.
Police news stories, 47-74.
Poultry show, opening of, 142.
Probate court case, 100, 104, 105.
_Providence Journal_, story from, 154.
Railroad accidents, 29-31.
Railroad company declares dividend, 246.
Railroad wreck, fatal, 30, 31.
Railroad’s safety campaign, 241.
Real estate transactions, 244.
Receivership proceedings, 95.
Regatta of college crews, 217.
Report of federal bureau, 138.
Report of federal official, 139.
Report of scientist, 138.
Rescue of drowning man, 41.
Robbery by automobile bandits, 55.
Robbery, highway, 55.
Robbery, hold-up, 56, 57.
Robbery, pathetic treatment of, 57.
Robbery, story of, told in court, 82.
Rowing, college crew races, 217.
Rowing, prospects of college crew, 216.
Runaway boy, 47.
Runaway boy in court, 81.
Runaway, heroism of policeman in, 22.
Runaway, humorous treatment of, 25.
Safety campaign by railroad, 241.
Safety council meeting, 120.
Sailor, story of, 250.
_St. Louis Globe-Democrat_, stories from, 131, 183.
_St. Louis Post Dispatch_, story from, 116.
_San Francisco Chronicle_, stories from, 54, 90, 139.
_San Francisco Examiner_, stories from, 25, 36, 250.
School entertainment, 158.
School for backward children, 235.
School, new manual training, 234.
School, new vocational, 234.
Schools, 233-236.
Schools, medical inspection in, 236.
Schools, new method of spelling in, 134.
Schools, opening of new, 234.
Schools, opening of public, 233.
Schools, reading in, 235.
Schools, reading tests in, 236.
Search for lost child, 43.
Search for lost treasure, 252.
Separation, suit for, 93.
Sermon, 160.
Ship battered by gale, 35.
Ship, divers die in hold of, 32.
Ship news stories, 32, 34, 35, 250, 251, 252, 254.
Ships, collision of, 34.
Shipwreck, 35.
Shooting accident, 42.
Shooting, murders by, 58-66.
Shows, automobile, poultry, etc., 142.
Snow storm, 193.
Speeches, 127-130.
Sporting news, 200-220.
Sporting news, baseball, 212-216.
Sporting news, football, 202-212.
Sporting news, golf match, 219.
Sporting news, rowing, 216, 217.
Sporting news, tennis match, 218.
Spring, first day of, 194.
_Springfield Republican_, stories from, 104, 172, 179, 193, 205, 207, 240, 248.
Squirrel in city hall park, 256.
Statue, unveiling of, 147.
Storm batters fishing vessel, 35.
Storm causes shipwreck, 35.
Storm damages building, 196.
Storm, snow, 193.
Storm, wind, 196.
Stowaway, 251.
Street car accident, 24, 25.
Street car bandit, pathetic story of, 57.
Street car collision with automobile, 24.
Street car kills boy, 25.
Street improvements, 240.
Strike at Lawrence, Mass., 190.
Strike, congressional investigation of, 108.
Strike, investigation of, 110.
Strike of Colorado miners, 188.
Strike of taxicab drivers, 187.
Strike of textile workers, 190.
Strike of wholesale grocers’ employes, 187.
Strike, possibility of, 186.
Strikes, 186-190.
Subway, accident in, 26.
Subway, human interest story of, 250.
Suicide attempted by schoolgirl, 73.
Suicide, cause of attempted, 74.
Suicide of business man, 70.
Suicide of old couple, 71.
Suicide of seamstress, 73.
Suicide, pathetic treatment of, 72, 73.
Suicides, 70-74.
Suit at law, humorous treatment of, 92.
Supreme court decision, 88, 89, 90.
Supreme court decision, human interest treatment of, 89.
Surgical operation, 70.
Swindle, 49.
Taxicab drivers’ strike, 187.
Tennis match, 218.
Theatre parties, 228.
Toast at banquet, 157.
_Topeka Capital_, stories from, 50, 226.
Train derailed, 29.
Train wreck, fatal, 30, 31.
Trick mule, 259.
Tunnel, opening of, 146.
University building destroyed by fire, 17.
University class day, 166.
University commencement, 162-166.
Unveiling of statue, 147.
Vocational school, opening of, 234.
Vote, forecast of state, 179.
Vote on state-wide prohibition, 184.
Voting, election day, 180.
_Washington Herald_, story from, 197.
_Washington Post_, story from, 198.
_Washington Times_, story from, 152.
Wayward girl, 66.
Weather, 192-199.
Weather, cold summer, 195.
Weather, first winter, 192.
Weather, high wind, 196.
Weather, snow storm, 193.
Weather, spring, 194.
Wedding, elopement, 223.
Wedding of cowboy, 222.
Wedding of septuagenarians, 223.
Wedding, result of unusual romance, 222.
Weddings, 221-226.
Wharves, stories from, 250-254.
Will admitted to probate, 100, 104.
Will, suit to break, 103.
Wilson, speech by President, 128, 130.
Wind, accidents due to, 196.
Winter weather, 192, 193.
_Wisconsin State Journal_, story from, 90.
Zoo story, 257.
Transcriber’s Note:
While the width of the articles given within is narrower than regular text in this ebook, the column width as printed in the original publication has not been retained.
Punctuation has been standardised. Alternative spelling and variations in hyphenation, and punctuation have been retained as in the original publication except as follows:
Page 29 surpervising engineer is _changed to_ supervising engineer is
Page 34 before Coronor Acritelli _changed to_ before Coroner Acritelli
Page 39 susbcriptions to pay the men _changed to_ subscriptions to pay the men
Page 43 neighborhoood for a time _changed to_ neighborhood for a time
Page 53 at the insistance of the man _changed to_ at the insistence of the man
Page 118 Philadephia Ledger _changed to_ Philadelphia Ledger
Page 229 DEBUTANTE’S PARTY _changed to_ DÉBUTANTE’S PARTY
Page 248 and canteloupes 8 to 10 _changed to_ and cantaloupes 8 to 10
End of Project Gutenberg's Types of News Writing, by Willard Grosvenor Bleyer