davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
A WHISKY WAR At PEllA
Sppcinl tn the State RAuistar


PELLA, July Is, IL A. M.--Our city is
again in q furore Of excitement. A
search warrant was sworn out against
l.. Maasdam, saloon keeper, this morn
ing. The officers who went to serve
the warrant IS in duty bound, met
with resistance at the door; Consta-
Bile Brown was struck in the face,
giving him q cut over the eye City
Marshal Lee was struck with pump
handle severe blow on the back of
the head the cut lie large one, and
II an inch either way would have
been fatal; Banner G. Bowen was
also struck in the face. Msasdam has
locked his saloon, and has ut present
not been arrested. DIR. B. f. Kesbles
dressed Marshal Lees wounds, and
he was taken home in a buggy.
SECOND ATTACK.
IL 80 A. M.-The Mayor has called
on Lon. Maasdam, who says that he
will offer no further resistance to the
search.
Constable Brown, accompanied by
the Mayor, then went to the saloon.
The doors were opened, and while
Brown vas examining one of the
jugs he was struck again. They then
left TO call for more assistance.
THE MILITIA CALLED ON.
LATER.-Constabls Brown has call
ed on the militia for aid.
ANOTHER DIsGRACEFUL ROW.
STILL LATER.--A little after II
O'Clock, noon, another disgraceful
scene took place. While +. p. Cham
bers and Mr.. Fairbanks were sitting
in front of d. w. Gsrlick & Sons
grocery store, L. Maasdsm, q. Mas
dam, W. Debruin and John Ulrich
rushed at them from near alley, and
began to pound and strike them in
fearful manner. Two chairs were
broken over them, and after having
executed what they intended, they
hurriedly left. Chambers had several
cuts ON the head and some bruises
elsewhere, and Fairbanks had one
cut on the left of the head and
slight one over the eye, but none
were serious. Both were unprepar-
ed, and we're attacked so suddenly
that they had no chance to defend
themselves. The attack was coward
ly, and in the guerrilla style, and was
sincerely denounced by every good
citizen. In the afternoon
THE MILITIA COMPANY
marched from their armory to the
scene of action 10 front Of L. Mass
dams saloon, where they hslted, in
tending to see that the officers met
with no resistance In the discharge OF
their duty. There was no resistance.
Constable Brown and two deputies
entered, aud made their search.
THE INTOXICATING LIQUORS
tho warrant called for were net
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
Cave his Life for his Friend.

CHICAGO, July l3.-Military head
quarters were received information
that yesterday evening Lieut.. John
Anthony Rucker was drowned in
White River Canon, at Camp Supply,
Arizona, while attempting to rescue
Lieut.. Austin Henley from the water.
Both officers are we'll known as being
among the bravest and best Indian
fighters in their regiment, the 9th
cavalry. Lieut.. Rucker is . son of
Gen. Rucker, and q brother of Mrs.
Gen. Sheridan. His unsuccessful at
tempt to save the life of his comrade
10 mentioned in the dispatches - be-
ing . most heroic and daring act.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
VOLUNTEERS AND REGU
LARS,
An Old Controversy in the Army
Decided in a Way to Affect the
Promotions Of 800 OFFICERS.

Decided in a Way to Affect the
Promotions Of 800 OFFICERS.
By Telegraph 10 tive New York Tribune.
WASHINGTON, July "a very in
teresting controversy between officers
Of the regular army and volunteer
officers who joined the regular army
at the close of the war, has just been
decided in favor of the volunteers.
Near the close of the war, Congress
passed law providing that certain
volunteer officers who should join
the regular army should have their
rank and commission just the same as
if they had been continuously in the
regular army from the time of their
entry into the volunteer service. The
purpose of the law was to break
down the old red-tspe distinction be-
tween the volunteer officers and the
West Pointers, and to put both classes
of officers on an equality and not to
send the volunteer officer to the foot
of the list simply because he was not
educated at West Point. But the Ad-
jutant Generals branch of the service
insisted upon placing the volunteers
at great disadvantage, notwith-
standing the specific law of Congress
For instance, the volunteers were not
placed in the position which the date
of their enlistment in the volunteer
service required, but their commits.
sions so far as rank and promotion
went were classified as dating only
from the passage of the act. The
consequence was that in two or three
hundred instances volunteers who by
the law received the rank Of Captain
we're placed on the list below the
First Lieutenants, who were regular
army officers.
The effect of this has been that
some volunteer officers have been
twenty-six places in the line of pro-
motion below whore, by law, they
were entitled to be ; aud regular army
officers, greatly their inferior in rank,
stood on the list ahead of them.
The volunteers for many years have
protested against this injustice, and
recently have obtained q decision of
the Judge Advocate General of the
Army in their favor and within q
few days the Judge Advocate Gener.
ais opinion has been confirmed by de.
cision of the Attorney General and
ratified by the Secretary of War
This decision will be of great iuteres,
in army circles, as it affects the stand.
ing for promotion of nearly 300 Off.
GERS. 1t puts down great many
regular army Lieutenants and puts
back to their proper places cores.
ponding number of volunteer Cap.
tains.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
Weaver's Financial Talk.


Gen. Weaver has good deal OF
magnetism and eloquence in speech,
and we presume there are people moi
entirely foolish who, when listening
to him, find his financial utterances
plausible. We publish an extract
from his Newton speech, and when
looked at in type and in hecold light
of Judgment, unintiuenced by oratory,
his opinions become sorry twaddle.
He evinces good deal of ingenuity
in putting so many perverse and mis-
leading ideas in so short space. To
have no banks; to have government
promissory notes redeemable by cir
culation instead of payment; to have
an irredeemable paper currency re-
deemable, not when the citizen who
holds it wants it, but redeemable
merely when the issuer chooses; to
have Congress regulating the amount
of currency the business of the coun.
try uses from month to month; to not
be able to 60 to Europe because of the
contraction of the greenbacks; to op-
pose going to Europe because YOU
can't go to Europe with greenbacks
to run the government for the next
couple of years by going in debt in.
stead of having any revenue; and Ia
now make up in soldiers wages and
pensions for the difference in gold and
greenbacks at the time such payments
were made, is a most extraordinary
series of propositions. They are moi
practicable; they are not honest. In.
stead of involving any suggestion OF
practicable legislation they are mere
idle and immoral clap-trap. A mar
who hampers with the real pressing
problem of hard times and of people
without employment and meets the
problem with such word jugglery anC
cheating folly as this talk of Gen
Weaver deserves severe rebuke. He
talks in this way to persuade the PEG
pletosend him to Congress. A sane peO
pie should desire no further evidence
of his unfitness for the place he wants
There have been a good many silly
impracticable and immoral PROPOSE
lions introduced into Congress Of lat,
years relating to national financia
policy. But none nearly equaling in
stiffness, impracticableness and i'm
morality these suggestions of Gen
Viewers.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17

n. have already put sl5o,0O0 into
their new purchase, and viii back it
with more money and an energy that
betokenS much for Clinton; the build
ing of bridge here and tie opening
of another eastern and Milwaukee
outlet are the succeeding prospective
chapters in this new and highly inter
esting story.
The b., c. II. Il n. railway compa-
ny is becoming a strong and impor.
tant enterprise in Iowa. 1t is paying
well and laying up rapidly the where
with to extend its lines with new rail.
ways. The Milwaukee n st. Pau
Company want to be looking this
way now soon. Things are moving
and if they want to extend here they
better say so and take such steps as
will make our people believe they
mean business. 1t won't do to he
fooling away time.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17

The Inter- Ocean special from Wash.
ingtOn gives the following very inter
esting report of a conversation with
Secretary Sherman, on the evening
of the I4th inst: s-a
Secretary Sherman conversed freely
upon several topics this evening. He
says that everything he did while in
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17

The Burlington Gazette has been
giving the democray of this district,
from time to time, some tip-top adj
vice about endorsing Weaver for Con-
gress. Most of the time il has been
for endorsement, but we have noticed
latterly that il has been a 'leetle' off.
The Democratic Congressional Con-
vention for the Burlington district
meets on Thursday of this week and
in last Saturdays issue the GdzeHeha
a long article on the Congressional
"outlook. We clip from it as fol-
lows:
zone fact is especially conspicuous
in this connection, and that is that
BERGMAN stock is fiat. The democrat
ic party cannot afford to trade in its
principles for the purpose of defeating
the regular republican nominee with
a republican sorehead. We warn all
fusionists and political traders, il
there be such in the democratic ranks
that the rank and file will not ratify
any bargain requiring them to vote
for a republication wolf in sheep.
lclothing. Let them be careful how
they compromise the democratic par
ty if they desire to retain honorable
standing i'm its ranks. The party il
strong only AS il is intleXible i'm its fe
atty to principle, and will betraN
weakness and receive merited con
tempt if it should seriously attemp
to swap of the democratic voters o
the district. Thestrength ofthe demo
cratic party consists in its political vir
tue and its devotion to the principle
it proclaims. If it is unfaithful Il
these things, and is willing to aban
don its cherished opinions in the hop
of acquiring strength by outside al
liances, it will find when the ballot
i. are counted i'm October, that its fancie,
strength has been its weakness. I
party that has not principles 70
which it is willing to contend, is IN
worthy of respect and confidence, an
the yielding of any portion of thes
;, principles will make it an object {
, contempt. We would infinitely prt
fer to 60 down in the defence of pril
1 ciples we believe to be right than
dCIilcNc SuCccSS ny IeCTttllcS 10 VI
political sentiments"
BERGMAN is the greenback nomine
o a lawyer of Mt. Pleasant, and forme
ly republican. The Gazette seems
go square back on taking the med
cine it has been prescribing for tt
!, Sixth district. A doctor that refus
his own medicine must be touf
cuss indeed. We are sorry for TIL
. We want Weaver endorsed by O
democracy. We want a two-hand,
race here, and we will just show Il
great tinancier and modest christi
gentleman of Davis county he
/. Sampson will beat him from five
u seven hundred in this county, and
It will hear it "drdp" in his own coun
u in such race, for he will be beaten the
l. from two to four hundred His o,
If opinion of his standing and popula
e ty won't do to rely upon by To-
If way. He is blinded by arrogan
IS and presumption.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
A Celebrated Cose.

All contests against the will of
Isaac NJ. Singer in this country have
been disposed of, all claims against
the estate have been settled, and more
than $9,3OO,O0O distributed to the
twenty-five persons named in the
will. This has been accomplished
within two years, and the surviving
executor has gone to England to set
tie up the estate of 100000 in that
country.
1t will he remembered that five
women called Mr.. Singer husband,
and twenty-five children called him
father. The will divided the proper
ty IN America, valued at about SO,
GOO, 600, into sixty portions, these in
Guiding requests to all his children,
illegitimate az we'll as legitimate, and
to his last wife. To the two children
of his first wife he gave $1O,50O; to
the eight surviving children of Miss
wife when he turned his attention to
inventions, he gave 81, 10000; to the
five children of Mary McGarigal,
who lived with him as Mrs. Mat
thews, he gave the same amount; to
the child of Mary f. Walter, who
lived with him as Mrs. Merritt, he
gave portions valued at $4OO.9OO; to
his last wife he gave 100000, and to
her six children portions valued al
IS, 100000.
Mary Ann Sponsler, or. Mrs. FOs-
ter, claimed to be the lawful widow
of Mr.. Singer, and contested the
will, but the decision was against
her, the court holding that Isabella
E. Singer, of England, was the wild
ow. The executors compromised
with Mrs. Foster, paying her SIS, 600.
The children all claimed their por-
tons, and all the property in America
has been distributed.
The property in England was set
tied on Mrs. Singer and her children.
There was queer complication in
this case, as Mrs. Singer. whose
maiden name was Boyer, was married
fore his death Mr.. Singer made a
trust deed, conveying this property
to his wife, and signed will giving
the property in England exclusively
other.
Mrs. Catherine M. Singer, the first
wife, is living with her children in
Brooklyn; Miss Sponsler, now Mrs.
Foster, lie living with her husband in
New York Miss McGarigal, other
wise Mrs. Matthews, is in Europe !;
Miss Waller, or Mrs. Merritt, is liv-
ing in England. All the romance
and sad experience in the lives Of
these women came out in the contest
ed will case. But now that all COM
plications haven arranged, and all
claims paid, this celebrated case" will
cease to interest the people.
Mrs. Singer, the last wife, lives on
the country seat in Paignton, England,
where her husband had planned to
erect a residence that was to Outshine
all Of the old baronial castles. This
was to be called the "Wigwam," was
to have q private theater and reading
room, conservatories, banquet halls,
and all the modern appliances and
improvements. This was put under
contract, but was not completed at
the time of Mr.. Singers death. Mr..
David Hawley, executor Of the Singer
will, left New York on Saturday for
PaigntOn to complete arrangements
for placing the English estate in the
control of Mrs. Singer. The woman
who took up with an adventurer in
France, and who, several years after,
as Mrs. Singer, was snubbed by New
York society, will then be worth
nearly $6,9OO,OOO.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
FOREIGN.
CUBAN REPRESENTATION.

SUbAN hhf
HAVANA, July ia decree has
been promulgated concerning the
election of Deputies to Representative
in the Spanish Cortes. 1t provides
that Cuba shall have deputy for ev-
cry 10000 free inhabitants. The dep.
uties must be Spaniards and laymen,
not under 25 years Of age. Any Span
lard over 25, who pays an annual tax
of s.. 90 and over may be an elector.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
The WIN eat Crop.

CINCINNATI, July, l5.-The Com
mercial, this morning, publishes crop
reports from q large number of
places in Ohio, Indiana and Ken
lucky, which indicate that there ia
not only greater acreage of wheat
than in and former year, but the av-
erage product per acre 10 larger than
ever before.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
MERCANTILE MisFoRruNEs.
Failures in the United States fol
the First Half of the Year 1879.

Failures in the United States for
the First Half of the Year 1878.
The semi-annual circular of the
Mercantile Agency of R. G.. Dun &
Co., giving the number of failures fol
the first six months of the present
year has just been issued. This shows
very marked increase over the cor
responding time in previous years
AS compared with 1877 for instanc,
the number of failures is twenty-fiv,
per cent. greater, while the liabilities
show still larger percentage of in
crease. For the purpose of compari
son we give the following Statement
which will illustrate at glance thu
significance of the figures for the pas
six months:
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
Resumption.

WASHINGTON, July 16.--It is un-
derstcod that no formal opinion has
been given by the Attorney General
to the Secretary of the Treasury con-
corning the exchange of gold for
notes from. the United States Treas
ury. Upon exchange of views upon
the subject the Secretary of the
Treasury and Attorney General
agreed that this could not be done
until the lst of January. The Treas.
ury Department has the option, how
ever, of paying gold on government
account at any time. The smaller
gold coins are likely to get into cir.
culation in this manner. The coin
balance still shows steady increase
and now amounts to $2O6, $4,000.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17

NEW York, July l6.

NEW YORK, July l6.
By Telegraph
Wheat-spring shade easier, win
ter Afirmer, No. 2 winter red 81 OF
Aug.
Corn-frm, western mixed 44@47h
Oats-dull, mixed western 3l@34.
Pork firm $40 3O@5O.
Lard-firm, 7 2O@22]s.
Whisky-$l O8.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
The Oregon Indian War

san FRANCISCO, July IA Walla
Walla dispatch gives the following
account Of the fight at UlnatiIla res
ervation: News reaches Col. Miles,
who was at Pendleton, that the hos
tiles were at the reservation. He at
once started for the scene with 300
regulars. After march Of about six
miles, and within q short distance of
Cayuse station, he encountered be-
tween 400 and 500 warriors, about s
O'Clock, A. NJ. Getting his men into
position Col. Miles opened fire on the
hostiles, who returned il, but without
effect. This was continued without
intermissiOn until IL o'clock when the
Indians attempted to charge Miles
lines, but were driven of, the red
skins being unable to stand fire from
q hOwitzer. The Indians sustained
considerable loss, those present esti-
mating their dead at Is. Miles casu-
alties consists of two men wounded.
Shortly after l O'Clock the Indians fell
back towards the mountains. This is
the first time during this campaign
the hostiles have attempted to charge,
and 1t shows that they are driven to
desperation. During the whole fight
they shot wild. Miles object in view
of the overwhelming number against
him was to prevent the advance of
the hostilea, and If possible to hold
them in check till reinforced. This
he did, although his force was afoot
and the savages we'll mounted.
A large number Of Umatillas took
sides with neither party, but appear
ed to relish the sport. 1t ia said q
number of young men belonging to
this tribe under Wenapsnoat have
joined the hostiles.
/ Col. Carnoryer reports that young
warriors have passed beyond his con-
troll. At ten O'Clock this morning
Col. Forsythe with his command was
at Weston, having been ordered to
the scene of yesterdays conflict and
was moving as rapidly as his horses
could travel
1t is most certain that portion of
the hostiles have succeeded in cross
ing the Columbia and the danger, SO
far as the future is concerned, is with
them. Several mill men have just
come into town and report they were
driven out of the mountains by In
diane, who appear to be in large
numbers. A volunteer company has
been organized here and have placed
themselves at the disposal of Gov.
Ferry.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
A Big BANKRUPT.

New YORK, The creditors of Allan
B. Stockwell, formerly president OF
the Pacific Mail Steamship company,
met to day. The total amount Of the
liabilities are estimated at 81, O65, 600
Claims proved to-day at $l04, 600.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
w0Shin0ton Notes.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Presi.
dent has appointed Alexander Reed
Of Ohio, receiver of public moneys al
Walla Walla, Washington Territory
Elliott Z. Jewett, of Missouri, com,
missioner to the Paris international
Exposition; Casper FL. Steibolt, Of
Iowa, Consul at Campeachy, Mexico
Eugene Schuyler, Consul at Birming
ham, England.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
lnsurance Report.


We have received from the Hon.
Buren, r. Sherman the Ninth Annual
Report of the Insurance Department
of Iowa. 1t is work comprising 81
pages, neatly bound in cloth, and con-
teins vast amount of information of
great interest to the people of the
State. Like Mr.. Sherman's work of
all kinds, it is well done and shows
how important has become our insur-
ance business, and that it will soon
require, as we think, an officer whose
especial duty it shall be to attend to it.
1t should not be tackled on to the aud
itor's Office. 1t is high time an Insur-
ance Commissioner should be chosen.
From this report We obtain the fol-
lowing Information:
The fire companies regularly incor-
porated under the Insurance Statute
of the State are: Burlington Insurance
Company, Burlington; Farmers, Ce'
dar Rapids; German Mutual, Scott
County; Hawkeye, Des Moines; Iowa
State, Keokuk; State, Des Moines.
All these companies, except the Ger
man Mutual, which is purely local,
have agencies in almost every county
in the State, and are doing safe bust
ness, which is rapidly increasing.
The total number of companies else
where organized and doing business
in this State is ninety-three, being
nine less than at the date Of the last
report. Notwithstanding this falling
off the amount of paid capital is but
little less, while the combined assets
are increased, showing that the pre-
lection is afforded now as last year.
The total premiums paid in the State
during the past year were as follows:
To home companies, $529, 503.67; COM
panies of other States, l,2O1 ,036. %.
Total, 81, 73O, $3.50. This does not in
clude the amounts paid by mutual
pledge associations, because they have
not heretofore been compelled to fur
nish an annual statement of their
business. Auditor Sherman warns
every one against patronizing compa-
MES that violate the law by refusing
to comply with the State statute.
The report shows there are 2G life
companies from other States doing
business i'm Iowa. In 1877 these com.
panies issued 1893 policies, covering
risks amounting to $4,72G, 1880, be.
ing less than that of the preceding
year. The amount paid within tht
State during 1877, on account Of thi:
class of insurance, was $2,66l, 5000.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
The New Orleans Investigation

NEW ORLEANS, July l5.-Isaac w.
Patton, Chairman of the Democratic
State Committee in 1876, testified that
he saw Anderson about October. An
derson proposed that if the Demo-
Gratis would support Nash for Con-
gress he would give them two MEM
bers of the General Assembly and
fifteen to eighteen hundred Demo-
cratic majority in East Feliciana par
ish. Witness couldn't entertain the
proposition, but telegrapeed for Nc
Cabe in Felicisna. He came down
and talked to Anderson about his
treatment Of the people. Anderson
finally agreed to go back if they
would cash his script. Patton agreed
with McCabe to pay one hundred and
fifty dollars of the amount. Witness
gave jerks fifty dollars. jerks said
he would not take it as bride, but
would ss q loan.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17

456 ,074, 1872 bearing no interest
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17
Live Stock Market

ST. Louis, July l6.
By Telegraph
Hogs-light grades higher, 81 20
GA As, butchers to fancy 4 25@4 so;
receipts l, 400.