davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01


The editor OF the LEDGER paid O
flying visit to Martinsburg this week
to attend the big picnic, which was
such success, and found the buai-
ness men Of Martinsburg and the citi-
zens OF that part OF the county In a
most prosperous condition. All OF
the merchants OF Martinsburg are en-
joying Q fine trade and one Of the
most prosperous and substantial en-
terprises Of the. county, owned by n.
M. Friedman, is located In that live
little city. MFR. friedman manufac-
lures mouidings and picture frames. lie
has large force of men at work In the
factory and agents travelling In nearly
every State in the Union His sales
amount to thousands OF dollars every
year and cover the entire country.
He owns large double building, which
Is full Of workmen and material. Mr.
friedman is splendid business man
and just the right party to be at the
head OF such an enterprise.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01
NEVER WAS A DEMOCRAT,
But s. j. Ritchie and all His Relatives
will Vote for Bryan-Will Help
to Rescue the Country.

Quite number of local politicians in
arguing concerning the position of s.
]. Ritchie, claimed that he was form
erly Democrat. The following let
ter to Mr.. @. q. Davis, one of Mexico's
enthusiastic Democrats, explains it
self:
To c. c. Davis, Esq, Mexico, Mo.
AKRON, ONO, Sept. 22.-DEAR SIR:
1 have your note of the 18th, sent to
me from the Office of the Cleveland
Plain Dealer. I do not know which
letter in the Plain Dealer you refer to,
as have written seven letters to that
paper upon the present campaign is
sues, six of which send you by this
mail and the seventh will be out either
to-day or Thursday, and 1 will also
send you this one when printed. AL
of these letters, together with several
from Judge O. R. Grant, lifelong
Republican and one of the most schol-
cry men in the whole country, are be-
ing printed as campaign documents
and will be ready for distribution next
Monday. A very able letter from
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, will also
be printed in this pamphlet.
OF course 1 wrote the letters. No
one else wrote a word in them or is
responsible for word in them.
have never voted the Democratic
ticket in my life and / have not rel
ative who ever voted one, but / shall
vote for Bryan and free coinage next
November, and nearly every relative
1 have will also vote for him.
/ also send you pamphlet contain
ing letters from myself and Hon.
BENZ. Butterworth, which Senator Tel
ler had printed as a senate document
and which are being sent out by the
thousands as campaign documents. !
have no interest in any silver mines
nor in any silver mine owner, but am
trying to contribute my mite towards
the rescue of my country from whole
sale bankruptcy brought on by infam-
Gus class legislation.
Yours truly,
8, J. RITCHIE.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

-
OF this amount only 50 500 was car
ried on the contents of the building,
the remainder beng carried on the
school buildings.
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL.
The Missouri Military Academy was
opened in 1890, ,and since that time had
held high place among institutions
of its kind. Col. A. F. Fleet, who for
many years occupied the chair of
Greek in the State University at Co
lumbia, has been at its head since 1t
first opened. The original building
was finished in 1890 and year later a
large wing was added. The building
was very large one and attractive in
appearance, which, combined with the
fact that 1t was one of the most COM
plete school buildings in the State,
makes the loss a doubly heavy one.
The material of which it was built was
pressed brick with trimmings of white
stone and its many towers and gables
made it a very beautiful structure.
The seventh season of the school
had been in progress but two weeks
and every Indication pointed to a
most prosperous year. There were
7s cadets enrolled from all parts of the
United States and the faculty was an
unusually strong one.
1t was composed of the following
teachers: Principal, Col. A. f. Fleet.
Commandant, Lieut.. Goode, first U.
8. Cavalry.
Headmaster, Capt. Giaseock.
Mathematics and sciences, Capt.
Greiner.
Latin and English, Capt. Stevenson.
Languages, Capt. Levin.
Spanish and business departments,
Capt. McIntire.
1t is not yet known just what course
Col. A. F. Fleet will pursue in regard
to continuing his school. One thing at
least Is certain, the school will not be
rebuilt in this city Immediately.
Whether or not it viii be rebuilt here
at all is not known, but if the public Is
gong to have any say in regard to
this matter the probabilities are that
it will be. Every public spirited citi-
zen is anxious to see the Missouri Mil
itary Academy rebuilt and located in
Mexico, Missouri.
Col. Fleet left Friday afternoonforS st.
Louis, where he goes to confer with
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01
A CALAMITY.


The burning of the Missouri Mill
tary Academy on Wednesday night,
September %, was calamity. This
institution was one of Missouri's most
prosperous and successful schools for
boys. 1t was one of Mexico's institu-
tions. Every business man in Mexico
and citizen of Audrain County was in
terested in this institution and proud
OF it's success. Col. Fleet, in conver-
sation with the editor of this paper,
said that he was not at this time pre-
pared to say what his future plans
would be. The boys would all be sent
home at once and whether the build
ing would be rebuilt was a question
for future consideration. The insur-
ance on the building and contents is
close to $4,000. The Indebtedness on
the institution, while largely below
that sum would not leave margin
enough to rebuild the building. The
school had opened this year with be-
tween 30 and 100 students; in fact, the
outlook was the most successful that
1t has had since the beginning of the
school. II is sincerely to be hoped
that the building can be rebuilt and
that Col. Fleet will see has way clear
to remain i'm Mexico and continue to
give us one of the very best schools
for boys in the entire country. Har-
din College and the Missouri Military
Academy are two of our most valua-
BILE institutions and the LEDGER feels
sure that all of cur people will assist
in every way possible to rebuild the
school. Our latest information is to
the effect that the loss will be purely
financial. Ii was feared at first that
there would be loss OF life, but from
the latest reports all OF the young
men who were injured win not suffer
any serious Inconvenience. 1--we had
building in Mexico large enough to
take care of the boys in all probability
the school would be continued right
along. Col. Fleet has the sympathy
Of every citizen of Mexico, Audrain
County and the State of Missouri and
any assistance that they can lend him
will be promptly given. The Missouri
Military Academy is a part OF Mexico
and must be restored.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01
Circuit Court Cuttings.

| The following Is 6. list of the most
important cases decided In the Au-
drain County Circuit Court in the last
three days:
Mamie e. Pearson vs. German In
surance Company; case reset for
September 20.
II. A. and +. M. Lawder vs.. w. d.
Little; case continued by consent.
e. III. Gregory vs. q. @. Elliott; case
continued by consent.
M. A. Shawhan VS.. Jno. 3. Moore;
verdict fer plaintiff In the sum OF se0o;
execution staid until January term OF
court.
Richard Sharp and Robert Sharp vs.
J. w. Sturgeon, O. II. Sturgeon and
Lewis Reiner; jury returns verdict
for defendants.
John Alexander was granted final
citizenship papers on Wednesday,
September %.
w. 8. Forsythe VS.. E. A. Sullivan;
case dismissed.
H. w. Wheeler VS.. Mark Pitcher;
case dismissed.
A. J. johnson vs. ]. O. Webb and
Clara L. Webb; judgment for plaintiff
In sum OF $4ss.s5.
First National Bank OF Mexico ".
J. w. BeagIes, Monroe Bsagles and J.
M. Beagles; judgment fer plsantiff in
sum of S715.70. n
Edward 6hellenburg Wha nraDted
final citizenship papers on Thursday,
September "a.
John Harrison vs. Wabash II. r. Co;
Judgment for plaintiff In sum OF si00.
Majestic Range Co. vs.. q. L. Ferris;
Judgment for plaintiff In the sum OF
$410.1o
On Friday the Grand Jury returned
indictments against the following for
working on Sunday: Maize Coleman,
Charles Morris and Jeff Rouse. The
Grand Jury was then discharged.
u. y. Maddox vs.. Wabash r. r. Co.;
jury finds for plaintiff and assesses the
amount of his recovery at sG0.50.
J. T. Bunton VS.. Wabash r.. II. Co.;
case dismissed.
]. @. and J. II. Brown vs. G.C .Friar,
@. A. Wilder and II. w. Pearson, In
terpleaders; court decides for inter-
pIeadeTs in the sum Of s6.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01
Crayford-Clayton

DIR. George w. Crawford, who lives
near Santa Fe, Mo-, on September 2,
1865, was married to Miss Elizabeth A.
Clayton, one Of virginia's most wor-
thy young ladies. Mr.. Crawford, who
owns fiue farm and splendid home
near Santa Fe, the LEDGER Is glad 70
know, 10 arranging 70 sell his farm
and move to Mexico to reside per-
mamentiy. Mr.. Crawford is one OF
Missouri's most substantian citizens
and the LEDGER viii be glad to well
come him and his wife 20 Mexico. The
LEDGER Joins all who knowMr.. craw-
ford In extending to him their con-
gratniations. May he and his good
wife live long and prosper.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01
Mexico County Missouri Thursday October 1896

self he dragged the PROSTATE form
down the stairs to q place of safety
outside the building. The cadet whom
he had saved from a terrible death
was Orville White, of st. Louis, who,
soon after he was taken out in the
open air recovered completely.
Lawrence Mcmillan, one of the
cadets whose home is in Carthage, Mo-,
was one of the unfortunates who lost
everything he had. When he woke
up and found his room full of smoke
he pulled the rope of his trunk and
tying one end to the steam register
threw the other end out of the win
dow. Then before descending he
threw out several articles of clothing
but neglected to touch bis trousers,
which were hanging near the window
and in the pockets of which were his
watch and several pieces OF jewelry,
besides quite sum of money. He slid
down the rope and landed safely, his
only injuries being small burn on his
right hand and skinned nose.
Cadet Mcclellan had the presence IF
mind to throw nearly all his clothes
and yaluables out of his window be-
fore he jumped. He has not been able
to find any of them yet, however, and
is particularly anxious to recover his
watch, which was small gold one
that had been given to him by his
father.
Cadet Clopton, son of United States
District Attorney Clopton, of st.Louis,
seized his trumpet as soon as he found
out that the building was on fire and
going out into the smoke filed hall
blew the fire call several times.
Capt. Greiner, who had his left arm
broken and an ankle sprained, let two
boys down from a window on sheet
and blanket rope and then started
down himself. He had barely started
when one of the sheets tore in two
and he fell to the ground below.
One of the most remarkable escapes
was that of a cadet who roomed on
the third floor and whose weight is
about 220 pounds. He went to his
window, climbed out and let go. AS
he feline had presence of mind enough
to see that he would strike too close to
the building, SO pushing away from
the wall he turned himself completely
around in the air aud landed as lightly
as an acrobat. He was not even
scratched.
Lieut.. Goode, the regular army Off
Ger, who was the commandant of the
school, was heavy loser by the fire.
He lost large number of handsome
uniforms and several suits of citizens
clothes. The only clothes he saved
were those which he had on when he
escaped from the burning building; a
fatigue coat, pair of trousers and mill
itary cap.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01
be done to save the goes

several gentlemen about securing
temporary quarters for the school.
Before leaving he was seen by a
LEDGER reporter, to whom he spoke
as follows:
ssI am not certain when or where
the school will be started up. 1t is my
intention to lose as little time as poss-
ible about getting things in running
order and want to secure some tenn
porary quarters in which to reopen
the school. l have received several
offers of locations from points in Illi-
nois, Indiana and Kansas and also two
from points in Missouri. One of these
came from parties in Pertle Springs
and the other from Mr.. Marcus Bern
heimer, of st. Louis, who is one of the
largest owners of the Meremac High
lands Hotel, near st. Louis. He says
l can have the hotel, which has 100
rooms and is heated by steam and
lighted with electricity, in which to
reopen my school. am going to st.
Louis now to see him in regard to this
matter. All the boys seemed anxious
to come back when they left and feel
that it I open the school at all, I ought
not delay matters until the old cadets
became scattered
"But do you not intend locating
permanently in Mexico again?" asked
the reporter.
81 do not know at present where l
shall locate the school permanently.
I feel that / have taxed the good will
of the people of Mexico as far as l
should. They have always stood by
the school and done all they could for
it, and I feel 1t would be asking too
much of them to contribute again to-
wards building new school. have
had several offers to accept the man
agement OF military schools in differ
ent parts OF the country, but / shall do
all in my power to reopen my school,
just where do not at present know y
Col. Fleet has about come to the
conclusion that the building caught on
fire from electric light wires in the
hall.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
Many incidents of daring and brave
ry have come to light, now that the
intense excitement over the great fire
has somewhat subsidized.
Capt. Glascock, who was himself In
jured by piece OF flying glass, made
one of the bravest rescnes of the fire.
After he had walked up many of the
sleeping cadets and left the building,
he returned to his room for coat in
which he had about 500 in money.
The smoke was SO thick in the halls
and room that he could not see any
thing and had to grope around in the
darkness. At last he found what he
supposed to be the coat that contained
the money, but which afterward proved
to be his uniform coat, and started to
make his escape from the building
through the smoke filed halls. On his
way out he stumbled over something
and feeling around discovered that II
was q human body. Although almost
| overcome by the smoke and heat him.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01
BoDINE.WINs THE CONTEST.
The Second District Missouri Demo.
cratic Deadlock Broken-Judge
Rucker Beaten.

CHILLIcoTHE, Mo-, Sept. 24.-In the
Second district Democratic congress-
ional convention this morning $50
more ballots were cast, increasing the
number to total of $50, without the
deadlock showing any signs of break
ing.
There was report last night that
the Rucker men had agreed to give
Baskett fifteen votes provided Ran
dolph county would cast fifteen votes
for Rucker on the succeeding ballot,
and it was thought this might cause
Baskett to be nominated. The break,
however, was not made.
When the convention met again this
afternoon IS more fruitless ballots
were cast. Then on the ,409th ballot
came the break and Robert N. Bodine
of Monroe county was nominated by
the vote of 48 to Al for Judge Rucker.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

THE following States will elect
United States Senators next year:
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colo
RADIO, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia,
Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kan
sas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire,
New York, North Carolina, North Da-
kota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Ver-
mont, Washington and Wisconsin
The members of the Legislatures to
be elected in these States this year
will, of course, decide the politics oi
the United States Senators to be
chosen in the respective common
wealths next year.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

IN spite of the drenching rain Hon.
j. Med. Trimble was greeted with 9
large and intelligent audience at the
Opera House at the opening of the
sound money campaign Saturday af-
ternoon. Mr.. Trimhle was listened to
with close attention throughout his
entire address and was frequently and
cordially applauded by his audience.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

HON. CHAMP CLARK spoke at the
big picnic at Martinsburg last We'd
nesday to large audience. He made
one of the best speeches delivered
during this campaign and no was cor
dial and heartily recewsd. Nearly
all fthe Germans in that part of the
country are Democrats and are solid
for Mr.. Clark for Congress, and in ad-
dition to the solid strength of the
Democratic party, Mr.. Clark and the
entire Democratic ticket viii receive
quite a number OF votes from silver
Republicans.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

THE Hardin College girls are not in
any danger from fire. There are a
large number of stairways and outlets
from Hardin College. The building
when erected was built with a view of
easy escape from fire. The buildings
would have to be fred from at least a
dozen places before any girl could be
prevented from an easy escape.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

s. M. DAVIS lives close to the cor
ner of three of the best counties in
Missouri-Audrain, Monroe and Rails.
Mr.. Davis has sent to the LEDGER a
portion of his second crop of apples.
These three counties fur nish not only
good crops but plenty OF Democrats,
Democrats who will help elect the
ticket as nominated.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

Col. A. f. FLEETS many friends
will be glad to know that he has been
able to secure commodious quarters
at Meramec Highlands, near st. Louis,
to Immediately reopen his school and
hold his boys together. The people
of Mexico are informally agreeing
with each other that it is most impor-
tant that a liberal subscription be
made to assist in rebuilding this
school at Mexico. Everything else
being anywhere near equal, Col. Fleet
will, without doubt, favor Mexico for
the re- establishment of his school.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01
FIRST, Last and all the Time for Mex
leo, Audrain County and
Missouri.

From the yandalia Mail and Express.
The Mexico LEDGER, one Of the best
country papers in the State, this week
passes its twentieth mile post under
the present management. When
hustling Bob White took hold Of the
LEDGER it was little better than a
mediocre country journal. Under his
thrifty, energetic management 1t has
assumed the proportions OF metro
politan daily and has not only made
fame and money for the deserving
editor, but friends, money and fame
for Mexico, Audrain and Missouri.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

Col. BoDINE, of Paris, Mo-, has been
nominated for Congress. He is an
honest man and represents the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party of Mis-
souri, as announced in convention as
sembled and will be elected by large
Iy increased majority.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

THERE must be something wrong
with Congressman Grosevenor's blow
pipe; he comedies Bryan 20 electoral
votes and admits that 80 more are in
doubt. We expected him to claim
them all for Mckinley.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

The demon, fire, has again gotten
in his awful work and all that now
remains of the beautiful buildings
which composed the Missouri Military
Academy, one of the largest schools
of it's kind in this part of the country,
are two long rows of crumbliug brick
walls, ready to fall at any moment,
whose vacant windows and shattered
towers bespeak tale of horror more
awful than words can describe.
1t was about twenty minutes to one
o'clock last Thursday morning when
cadet Bonfoy awoke in his room at the
academy and smelled smoke. Open
ing his door he started out into the
hall, but did not go far, for the long
corridor was full of smoke and gas
and angry flames were rushing up the
stairways. He turned and going back
to his room, opened a window and
jumped out. Then he ran all around
the building yelling to the cadets and
officers that the school was on fire.
BY this time smoke was issuing from
all the windows in the central part of
the long building.
Inside all was confusion. Those who
had heard the cadets warning voice
rushed for the halls, some to try and
escape and others to wake those who
still slept. But there was no use try
ing to get through the dense clouds
of smoke which filled the long halls
and which almost in the twinkling of
an eye, were lighted by q Thousand
tongues of flame, rapidly spreading
in every direction and licking up every
perishable thing in their course.
AS soon as the seventy eight cadets
who were asleep in the building when
the fire broke out realized that they
could not escape sthrough the halls
nor down the stairways, which were
the first part of the interior to be de-
stroyed, they rushed to the windows
and leaped through the darkness to
the ground below. Some were let
4 NOWh - P@Ae VI tA0 way Vn cAUCeo 6Aaa
bed clothes tied together, others
swung out from the sills and then
dropped.
1t was sickening sight to see them
plunge downward, but it was all they
could do. Behind them was a fiery
furnace whose fierce flames had filed
every avenue of escape, and in front
OF them, many feet below, was terra
irma. Their only chance Of escape
lay in jumping and they jumped. As
soon a. they had landed on the ground
the injured were picked up by those
moro fortunate and carried into the
armory.
It was but very few minutes after
the first alarm had been given that
every one was out of the building,
which by this time was wrapt In q
seething mass of fame from one end
to the other, and In the course Of 80
minutes all that was left were the
bare walls. To add to the horror Of
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

Nineteen cars Of cattle were ship
ped from Martinsburg, No., one day
last week by special train TO Chicago.
Martinsburg is surrounded by q fine
farming and stock raising country and
is most important chipping point.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

Col. A. +. FLEET has the sincerest
sympathy of every citizen in Mexico
and Audrain County and, in fact, in
the entire State in the loss of his
school, which was entering upon one
of the most prosperous years of its
existence.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

A FACETIoUs observer on newspa-
per subjects is said to have remarked:
'sThe two classes the world could
least afford to lose are preachers and
newspaper men; for the preachers
tell us the truth and the newspaper
men tell us everything eIse.n
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

SENATOR PALMER is wise in at least
one thing. He declines to go further
back in his personal record than the
beginning of the present campaign.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

IT is true that many people go to
hear Bryan from curiosity; it is also
true that after they have heard him
many of them become his most ardent
supporters. The men who have cur
iosity about political questions are the
ones Bryan is hunting for.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-10-01

Col. VAN HORN, of the Kansas City
Journal, and an old-time Republican,
has repudiated the Republican plat
form and will run for Congress on an
independent free silver ticket.