Curiosities and Crises From Across the World
A pasted mix of items reports government spending on army mules and a New York correspondent reaching Havana FE Knight. Wealthy heirs clash with wills in Chicago and Rhode Island banking changes. Dover thefts prompt insurance rush as Spain’s literacy and beggary woes grow. Manila beef costs rise while potatoes fetch high prices. World events touch Cuba, France, Japan, and U.S. military moves with spies, Gatling guns, and naval grain shipments shaping 1900s headlines.
War load and naval builds loom in Congress plans
General Roy Stone of the Agricultural Department in Washington is assigned to manage road construction for the army in Cuba. Bids are invited for three battle ships, the plan calling for the most powerful vessels yet built in the country. The deficiency bill will exceed 200 million dollars, likely the largest in years. Measures to raise enlisted pay abroad by 100 percent and restore soldiers' pensions to at least 12 dollars monthly are proposed. Captain Higginson praises gun accuracy as Indiana fires through a target at 2000 yards, Oregon sails from Puget Sound to Key West 17402 miles in 16 days, and the House passes a Senate resolution to award a sword of honor to Admiral Dewey and bronze battle medals for Manila Bay’s Asiatic squadron.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roy Stone
Division of Highways
Agricultural Department
Washington
Cuba
Congress
Achison
Pennsylvania
House
United States
Senator Quay
Senate
Higginson
Massachusetts
Indiana
Oregon
Puget Sound
Key West
San Francisco
Callao
House of Representatives
Secretary of the Navy
Dewey
Manila Bay
Rat With A Wooden Leg Captivates City Family
A twelve year old boy named Willie Dugmore finds a trapped rat with a severed leg. He amputates, bandages, and nurses it back to health. Using pine and string he crafts an artificial leg, and the rat becomes a beloved family pet in Philadelphia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dugmore
Philadelphia Times
Willie Dugmore
Willie
Flying the Enemy's Flag In War at Sea
The Indianapolis Journal notes high anger among the Dons over alleged Spanish flag flying by U S ships in Cuban waters. It quotes naval regulations allowing enemy flags to deceive until a gun is fired, and asserts the flag must be hauled down before firing. Some argue it mirrors deceitful dispatches by Spaniards.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dons
Indianapolis Journal
Washington Dispatch
United States Navy
Best Draughtsman of All In the Office
A compressed excerpt highlights a dark complexioned draughtsman named Camera with a glass eye and three wooden legs. He boasts of exact copies and swift printing, claiming to beat tracers in accuracy and speed. The text then oddly shifts to social satire about fish society women learning 4 g lessons and a spindle in the boudoir.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fish Society
ASHORE NEAR SANTIAGO LANDING REPORTED
Strong U S troops reportedly landed near Port Aguidares Can nonading under Admiral Sampson s fire while gunboats bombarded Santiago harbor. Reports say 5000 troops near Punta Cabrera linked with Gen Calixto Garcia s insurgents and 3000 more elsewhere. Washington says troop landings premature and cable cutting delayed. Ambassador Hay protests Canada as base for Spanish operations and notes Britain war munitions exports.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cape Haitien
Haiti
Port Aguidares
Admiral Sampson
New York
Washington
Santiago
Tampa
Mobile
Cuba
Nicholas Mole
Key West
Signal Corps
General Greely
Guantanamo
Havana
Madrid
Department of War
Fort McPherson
Sampson
Cervera
Hobson
Merrimac
Sigsbee
St. Paul
Naval War Board
Havana Harbor
Sigubee
Ambananador Hay
London
Jane
Hay
Foreign Office
Canada
Great Britain
Spain
Earthquake tremors hit northern Kentucky towns
A severe early morning earthquake rocked northern Kentucky between 2 and 3 am. Paris, Maysville, Millersburg, Cynthiana, and Owensville felt strong shocks, panics followed, and meteors reportedly fell at Owensville. The event spread terror across residents as vibrations lasted up to two minutes. In other news, sources report China may move its capital from Pekin to Sian Fu in Shen Si province.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Louis
Post-Dispatch
Cincinnati
Kentucky
Paris
Maysville
Millersburg
Cynthiana
Owensville
China
London
the Globe
Tsi Lung Yamen
Chinese Foreign Office
Sian Fu
Shen Si
Pekin
Third Artillery Begins Camp at Presidio Heights
Four batteries of the Third United States artillery went into camp today under Major Hess on the parade plain at the Presidio near the Sixth California infantry. A curious remark notes nails can be driven into hard wood without bending if first dipped in lard or oil.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Third Artillery
San Francisco
Third United States Artillery
Hess
Presidio
Sixth California Infantry
Gold in the Philippines Report Highlights Rich Deposits
State Department notes say Mindanao hosts extensive alluvial gold near the sea with a long future output. Copper deposits in Luzon and lignite suitable for steam vessels are found. The pamphlet praises native character and large population of eight million, with ample food resources and renowned hospitality.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Philippines
State Department
Frank Caruth
Mindanao
Luzon
Merrimac Sinks Channel at Santiago Harbor
Washington June 4 Navy dispatch reports sinking of the collier Merrimac in the channel at Santiago on June 3 under Naval Constructor Hobson and six volunteers. Prisoners of war, two slightly wounded, include Spanish squadron members. Exchange terms requested. Cervera to receive the captured crew if possible.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Navy Department
Mole
Haiti
Santiago
Hobson
Cervera
Atlanta
Associated Press
Dauntless
Kingston
Sampson
Merrimac
Naval Register
Richmond P. Hobson
Naval Construct
Navy
Alabama
Ordered to Active Service at West Point
Washington reports Colonel H C Ernst of engineers and superintendent of the West Point academy has been ordered to report to Major General Wilson of the Sixth Army Corps at Chickamauga for assignment. The vacancy at the academy may not be filled unless Ernst’s absence extends beyond the next fall term, with Colonel C L Hein administering affairs in his stead.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
H. C. Ernst
Corps of Engineers
West Point Military Academy
Wilson
Sixth Army Corps
Chickamauga
War Department
Military Academy
Ernst
C. L. Hein
First Cavalry
All Around Market Report Shows Wide Grain and Produce Quotes
Wholesale prices across regions list wheat at 60 to 65 cents for various formats, barley at 85 cents per cwt, and flour per barrel around 4.25 to 4.75 dollars. Produce includes creamery butter up to 60 cents per pound, cheese around 13 to 14 cents, potatoes 40 to 50 cents per cwt, beans and meats with beef, hogs, and mutton priced per cwt or per pound. Portland Wheat prices noted, Tacoma quotes, and San Francisco bullion rates recorded.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Club
Ole
Bluestem
Spokane
Chile
Percy
F. O
California
Eastern Creamery
Height of the Soldiers in Civil War Era
The Des Moines Leader cites European averages for comparison with American troops. It notes the American volunteer stood about 5 feet 7 inches in bare feet and weighed about 10 pounds more than opponents, with greater chest expansion. Kentucky led with six foot eight inch averages, followed by Kansas Minnesota Missouri California Nevada, then Maine Illinois Michigan slightly shorter, then Ohio Pennsylvania, while Massachusetts and Connecticut ranked lowest.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Europe
Des Moines
Kentucky
Kansas
Minnesota
Missouri
California
Nevada
Maine
Mllinois
Michigan
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Tarrant
New Decorative Material Promises Marble Look at Lower Cost
The article describes wall paper with zinc imitation marble surfaces, enamelled for permanence and washable finish. It claims the decorative material lasts as long as tiles or marble, yet is cheaper and as easy to apply as ordinary wallpaper.
Odd Facts From The Times Of London News Briefs
Notes from the era reveal social curiosities and stats such as Lady Poynter and Lady Burne-Jones linked to nic named titles, Ireland and Scotland reporting high single rates, and a claim that 619 English breweries closed amid home brewing. Other items include reactions to public transport etiquette, the first museum envelope, Spain teachers by gender, Canadian cheese factories, typhoid oil treatment, and a Oxford bishop condemning Sunday boating.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Spain
Canada
England
Oxford
Kaslo and Slo Time Card No 1 Limited Schedule
Time card for Kaslo and Slo shows daily train departures and arrivals by stations such as Sproule's Whitewater Bear Lake and McGuigan with Pacific standard time. It lists lines DY LINE departures and notes general agent and superintendent names Robert Irving and Geo F Copeland.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kaslo
Sproule's
Whitewater
Bear Lake
McGuigan
Junction
New Steamer Service on Kootenay Lake and Rail Links
International Navigation and Trading Company announces steamer International and Alberta on Kootenay Lake with five mile point rail connections to Northport Rossland and Spokane. Daily departures from Kaslo for Nelson and points, 5:46 am. Nelson to Kaslo 4:35 pm. New services run six days weekly 8:30 am Kaslo to Nelson 8:00 pm return. Kaslo to Boundary Bonners Ferry links, with cross river connections to Spokane. G Alexander, Gen. Manager, Kaslo BC October 1 1897.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
International
Navigation and Trading Company, Limited
Steamera “International
Alberta
Kootenay Lake
Northport
Rossland
Spokane
United States
Kaslo
Nelson
Bonner's Ferry
Kootenay
Boundary
Bonner’s Ferry
Kaaslo
G. Alexander
B. C
Canadian Pacific Route Promotes East West Travel
An old advertisement touts the Canadian Pacific and Pacific Line as the direct route to the East and to the Pacific coast, with tourist cars to St Paul and daily service to eastern Canadian and U S points. It mentions sleeping and dining cars, through tickets, baggage handling, and a London bound connection. Also notes Gibraltar dispatch and a remark about the giraffe.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pacific Coast
trans-Pacific
Klondike
Yukon
St. Paul
United States
Cuba
Tondon
Rosebery
Silver Daily Telegraph
Gibraltar
Cadiz
Quba
Clark
Silverton
W. F. Anderson
Also Mentioned on This Page
FE. W. Knight
London Times
Brigham Young
Betsy Barker
North Grafton
Miss
Rhode Island
Dover
N. H
Cleveland
Germany
France
Eugene A. van Waldick
Holland
United States Army
John Jacob Astor
Omaha
Misa Dorothy Manor
Japan
Manila
George M. Pullman
Chicago
Senor Dé Castro
Fla
Matanzas
Hong Kong
Philadelphia
Leedy
Jerry Simpson
Brafila
Baltimore
Gundaur
R. M. Johnson
Vancouver Harbor
Fort Taylor
Weyler
General Wheeler
Secret Service
Montreal
Chickamauga Park
Dallas
Tex
J.walter Cowan
Senor Caitelar
United States Hospital
Brooklyn Mivy
Wid
Aerrinag
Gharnes
Santiago Harbor
Admiral Cervera
Jamaica
Port Au Prince
Cuban
Santiago de Cuba
Preas
Wanda
Dolphin
Marblehead
Windom
Cienfuegoes
Corbin's
Colville Reservation
Corbin
Jones
West Point
Portland, Or
Walla Walla
Valley
Tacoma
Wheat—Club
Metals
Lake Oraike
Poynter
Royal Academy
Slater
Burne-Jones
Ireland
Scotland
British Museum
Kaslo & Slo
Cody
Robert Irving
Geo
F. Copeland
Ean Atelier
Waeeree
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!