davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Griggs courier., 1897-03-19
KILLED BucK1NG SNOW.
Roadmaster John P. Fit.-
gerald Meets Death in
a Collision.
Supervisor Frank Ingalls, and
Two Others Slightly
Injured.

Injured.
John p. Fitzgerald, Northern Pacific
roadmaster for the jamestown &
Northern and Valley branches, re-
celved injuries in q wreck at LaMoure
at 6:3O p. m. yesterday. from which he
died short time afterward. Others
injured we're:
Frank Ingalls,, head cut. ankle
sprained and shoulder bruised.
G. II. Ober, left wrist and arm near
the elbow, broken.
j. b. Hotkins, knee hurt
The accident occurred two miles
west of LaMoure and was caused by
the passenger train running into the
caboose of q snow plow train which
proceeded it. Roadmaster Fitzgerald
was in charge of the rotary which was
sent ahead of the passenger train to
clear the road to Edgeley. 1t was
necessary to run the trains close to-
gether to avoid drifts forming in the
marrow cuts, both sections running at
low rate of speed. When approach
ing cut at the top of the bluff just
before entering the valley at LaMoure,
the rotary struck drift and began to
slow down. Brakeman Geo. Myers,
who had been signaling the passenger
train from Edgeley, gave the proper
sign for the passenger train to
reduce its speed. He saw that there
would be II collision and re-entering
the caboose cried, Get OUT The
fifteen men in the car made q bolt for
the front door. Nearly all passed
through safely, but when the crash
came Mr.. Fitzgerald was on the steps
and as the cars crushed into each
other he was carried down. One leg
was broken below the knee and the
other limb crushed nearly to the hip.
He was also struck on the side of the
head, near the temple. The almost
lifeless body of MIR. Fitzgerald was
carefully removed to the engine and
taken to LaMoure as quickly as pos
sible. He died about eight O'Clock,
few minutes after arrival, and without
regaining consciousness.
Frank.lngalls, supervisor of bridges
and buildings, saw there was not time
to make his exit by the front door and
started for the cupola, intending to
/ no f1,,,r,,r1, kho
Nelson was ahead of him SO he went
to the rear door. Here he saw the ap-
proachiug engines of the passenger
train, realized there was not time to
jump and rushed for the center of the
car. Before reaching the inner door,
however, he saw the front of the engine
forced slowly through the rear of the
car. Escaping steam filled the apart
ment and after desperate efforts he
succeeded in opening the door suf-
ficiently to escape into the forward
end of the car.
J. B. Hotkins was also in the car
and had lis knee hurt. G. r. Ober
jumped and in the fall on the snow,
and probably in striking the caboose,
broke his arm and wrist. Mr.. Ober
formerly lived at Darlington. It
seems to be a melancholy fact, say
some who were in the wreck, that if all
had stuck to the car there would have
been no fatal injuries.
The collision forced water car al
most half through q coal car in the
train next to the caboose. The head
passenger engine had its stack and
headlight torn away, but beyond that
was not greatly damaged. A wrecking
train was sent to the scene of the ac-
cident this morning and the debris
picked up.--Alert.
Griggs courier., 1897-03-19
Briggs Courier.
PERCY r. TRUBsHAw.
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

Congress met in extraordinary
session Monday. Tom Reed was
reelected speaker. The tariff is
the principal subject before con-
gress at present.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
THAT TAX COMMISSION BILL.

No law ever placed on the statute books has been so thoroughly misrepresented a. that esta blishing a state tax commission in Alabama. Not only have many per sons with interested motives hastened to condemn without reading it or attempt ing to understand it, but some without an evil motive have stumbled into flat misrepresentation of its scope and limita- Hions.
 One tax officer in the state advertised that if taxes are not paid by March 1 penalty of 20 per cent. is added for the commissioners.
 There is no such provision in the law. There is no penalty at any time for the tax commissioner He is allowed under section II for his work in seeing that lands advertised for sale for taxes have been properly described and assessed and all legal notices given and every proceed ing had to make a good title, fee of not over 20 per cent. to be allowed by the probate judge for services actually rem dered and in no case to exceed BIO.
 The auditor states that 90 per cent of the sales of land are for taxes amounting to s5 and less. In these the commissioner would get $1 or less, and the purchaser at the sale perfect title The whole bill is carefully guarded and is intended to protect the honest tax payer and force those who have been escaping to bear their just share of the burdens. The law is already making many who have not borne their fair share increase their as- easements, and will doubtless result in getting a fair assessment and consequent 1y reduction of taxes.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
A LIST MEASrTRE.

The act recently passed by the legis- lature known as the back tax law is receiving a liberal share of abuse from all quarters. Some of the state papers seem to be very much agitated over the law and have demanded it's repeal, which was not forthcoming.
 The measure was enacted with good intentions. The purpose of it was to make all taxable property of the state bear it's share of the burden. The neces sity for such a law is we'll understood by everyone who knows the great amount of property that escapes taxation every year. The revenues of the state and of the several counties of the state are in a condition where no surplus menaces the general welfare. In most of the country treaSuries and in the state treas ury we find deficits. Money has to be borrowed every year to meet the ex- perses of the government; rhe tax rate is high enough if the property could be subjected. The law is made with view of subjecting the property. and it is a just and righteous measure.
 Thsre Is great hue and cry going up about how the law will oppress the poor people. What do the poor people of
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
BIRMINGHAM's CARNIVAL.

But one week remains ere Birmingham will be the centre of attraction for thous- ands of citizens who will enter her gates to become her guests. They will come from all parts of the union and in great numbers It is the duty of every one in terested in the welfare of the great city to lend all possible aid to the Carnival society in making the event the greatest in the history of the city, and if possible the greatest in the history of the state
 The question arises. How can we do this?" We will endeavor to tell you. By all means help in providing for the com fort of those who will be our guests. This we know you will gladly do. Give the society as much of your financial as- sistance as you possibly can. You will be the gainer thereby. Decorate your houses out of respect to His Majesty, Rex Vulcan IT. We are sure you need no urging in this direction. But most im- portant of all, do not charge your visitors for the privilege of gazing upon the pa- rades from your second windows. This would be a most unkind act and one worthy of condemnation.
 The world knows that Birmingham is great and on the 3d day of March, the State Herald feels certain, it will say Great is her people,"
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
THE THREE-EACH BIGGEST.

The Montgomery Advertiser has the largest daily circulation in Ala bama.
 The Birmingham State Herald has the largest daily circulation in Alabama.
 The Birmingham News has the largest daily circulation in Alabama.
 Now, it is strange that this can be true in each particular case, but it must be, as these papers say so, and they assert their books will yindicate the claim. It's not many states that has three daily newspapers with each having the big gest circulation in the state, but Alabama can boast many wonders not known else where. Or. maybe some one is mistaken in this matter of circulation.-West Ala bamian.
 If the Alabamian cared to weigh evil dence it might decide at once the paper that really has the largest circulation. The state printing is awarded to that pa- per which has the largest circulation, said crculati tion to be sworn to and filed before the contract is awarded. The State Herald was awarded this contract under oath made by it's pressman, who has heen printing the paper for over ten years. and had several thousand as margin over all competitors. Proof of the pudding is chewing the bag"
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
MIR. BRYAN's GREAT BOOK.

W. J. Bryan's great book-"The First Battle"-has been issued by the publish CTS. The w. B. Coukey Co.,. of Chicago, and thousands of agents are now in the field reaping a rich harvest from it's tremendous sale. %
 The book is most interesting and in- structive history of the first heroic bat tie in the great fight for the restora ton of bimetallism in this country and throughout the world.
 The beginning of the struggle is briefly told the important facts of the three great political conventions of 1896 are re- corded; the marvellous campaign tours and extracts from his wonderful speech are given.
 The book contains over 500 interes ting pages. and is attracively gotten up. with perfect photographs of memora ble scenes of the campaign, family pictures and portraits of great bimetallists of the na- tion.
 It is not only interesting and entertain ing, but is most valuable and conve- nient book of reference containing as it does all the essential facts regarding bi- metallism.
 Every advocate of a return to the gold and silver money of the constitu tion should arm himself with copy of this Indispensable volume, half of the roy alty from the sale of which goes to the furthering of the fight to that end
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21

trated by the genial attorney at the ex- pense of his client, but for his evident suffering and ardent defense. It is diff ficult for one, not railroad attorney, to fully appreciate such benevolence
 This benevolence, however, is further illustrated by the great company repre- sented by MT. Weathery. The tax col lectors records show that the Southern Railroad company has paid all it's taxes for 1896 except the O'Brien school tax. amounting to $545.83, and the Henry school tax, amounting to S1,039,93. The last named tax heretofore has not been contested nor even called in question. but it stands today against the Southern Railway company unpaid. I dare not say that payment has been refused, because that might cause resentment I have been reliably informed however, that the company will decline to pay the Henry school tax provided a suit originated in another county and now pending, is de- cided favorably. I sincerely trust that MT. Weatherly will use his influence with his company that 1t may not become a party to the crippling of the school in- terests of Jefferson county, as well as of the city of Birmingham.
 Perhaps I should not have said these things, especially since Mr. Weatherly in- inmates that to state facts about rail roads is vulgar and equivalent to 'cuss- ing the corporations"
 I regret very much indeed that MT. Wea thery should have become so un- necessarily agitated. I regret that such a modicum of truth should have shaken his too sensitive nature to such an alarm ing extent, and I hope he will fully re- gain his wonted composure when I tell him that I have no charges to make against either himself or his company, and that l will revise that card to this effect. 1 wish the people of our city to know that our free public schools have been discontinued because of the refusal of a large number of citizens and corpor- ations, including the Southern Railway company to pay the school tax.
 J. H. PHILLIPS.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
THE DIXIE HOME

is the name of an S-page monthly, each number of which is chuck-full of mat ter pertaining to the material interests of the south It Is devoted to the up- building of the south on every line of ac- tivity and enterprise. It gives reliable as to climate, soil, manufac- tories. and everything you. want to know about the south It has Household. Fashion Religious. Educational Liter ary, Agricultural and many other good features Price. 50 cents a year Agents wanted at every postoffice Easy work and good pay. Send for sample copy and terms to agents etc. Address the Dixie Home Publishing company. P. O. box 326, Birmingham, Ala.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21

Alabama possess? A few acres of land that never escapes taxation; a head or two of mules that are always assessed for taxation; wagon, possibly buggy and few head of cows and hogs the tax on which would amount to very little if it were to escape taxation. but which never escape. These are not the fellows who are objecting to this law. They always give in their taxes and pay them, and the law will cut no squares with them. But the men who own money, stocks, bonds, and that character of property that is hidden away for safe keeping where ev- erybody does not see 1t are the poor fel- lows who will have to come to taw under the new law, and they are the boys who are so much afraid the poor people of Alabama will be oppressed by the new law.
 If the law does bring out all the prop erty it is intended to reach there will be surplus revenue both in the county treas uries and in the state treasury, and no man who gives in his taxes as he should and pays them will have any grievance.
 The law is a good one and should be enforced to the letter.-Russell Register.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21

But, one from sweet childhood's bright
 sunny land No more in her beauty, shall with them In the pure. sweet freshness of life's first With all her bright loveliness. she is gone. Away from the friends. who loved her so
 well, How bitter their sorrow, no words can
 tell; In whose hearts so greved, is vacant The changes of time can never replace. We miss the, bright gleam of her golden
 hair, That shone like the sunlight had rested
 there, And the light, sweet sound of her fairy feet With her childish laugh and her voice 80
 sweet No more shall we gaze on the dark, bright
 eyes, So lovely and pure, end their look so wise. As pure as an angel, and fair they, Two lovely for earth, she was called away On the fowery banks of the crystal sea- With the angels now so happy and free With the Savor's smile on her brow so fair Our darling awaits to welcome us there.
 MRS. NJ. LOUISE CARPENTER. Houston, Va. October, 1896.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
AN EXTRA SESSION IN VIEW

Jackson. Miss, Feb. 20.-Gov McLau- rin has invited a conference for one day next week between the several state of ficials, Speaker McCool and President of the Senate Jones relative to calling special session of the legislature. The governor will submit to the conference estimates showing the financial condi- tion of the state and will be prepared to state the amount of the shortage that Is likely in case the shortage is apparent It is more than likely the extra session will be called and that while adopting revenue measures the legislature will also be called upon to build a new capi- tol
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGAIN

= Editor State Herald:
 In your issue of yesterday Mir. James Weatherly attorney for the Southern have done his company a great injustice by the publication of the brief card which appeared in your issue of the 18th inst He also appears to be very much pained and disturbed at my temsrity in publish ing the statements contained in that card
 Overlooking some of MT. Wea therly's unnecessary personal allusions, which inther detract from the force of his re- ply, I wish to say at the outset that no one would regret more than I any injus- tiee that I might unwittlngly do the Southern railway or any pain that I may have caused Mir. Weatherly.
 One point, in justice to MT. Weatherly. I willingly concede inquiry develops the fact that large amount of school taxes had been paid under protest by the citi- zens prior to the action against the Southern railway, but many of these protests were simply requests that the money should be refunded in case the tax was not generally paid. Beyond this point beg to submit to any candid read CT that the card referred to contains nothing offensive or abusive, nor does it justify Mx Weatherly's harsh irn- endo that Ne fallen into "the vulgar way of obtaining relief from painful sen sations by cursing the corporations" I beg to assure MT. Wea therly that I have no sympathy with the spirit that prompts antagonism to corporations as such, but I believe most profoundly that both in- ydiyiduals and corporations that have any desire for the welfare of our city should uEdte to prevent such calamity as the suspension of our public schools, and I have no hesitancy In proclaiming that conviction.
 1 It would seem, however. that the chief point of my shining consists in the pub lication of th@ statement that the South ern railway and other corporations had refused to pay the O'Brien school tax for 1896, which MT Weatherly claims has been regularly paid up to this year. though the Southern railway has no children to educate" MT. Weatherly ought to know that the tax has b=en paid only one year, and that the remainder of his statement is simply ridiculous. As to the company's refusing to pay the tax 1t is not necessary to enter into any dis cussion. MT. Weatherly does not di- rectly deny the fact, but attempts to ex- plain the why's and wherefores of his company's action. Had the company not refused to pay the school tax, it is difficult to understand why the tax col lector should have entered suit, friendly or otherwise.
 Th:- right of the Southern railway to contest. the payment of the school tax or any other tax, has not been called in question. The company has a perfect right to pay or refuse to pay, and the public has an equal right to know how that right is exercised. Certainly MT. Wsatherly should not object if I claim some rights for the people
 MT. Weatherlys explanation as to how the Southern railway permitted suit to bs k brought against it in the interest, of the public schools. the taxpayers and the tax collector is really amusing, and has doubtless provoked not few smiles. It might be regarded as witticism perpe-
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
A VICIOUS WARFARE.

The Advertiser, which has persistently fought democracy for months, is now en- gagged in a vicious warfare on meas une passed by a democratic general as- sembly for the purpose of augmenting the revenue of the state, by making per
 sons who have been escaping taxations on their property bear their fair propor- tion of the burden of government. The Advertiser is open in this warfare. It's editorial columns bristle with denuncia- tions of the new law It proclaims that the measure is the iniquity of iniquities,
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
VOTE CLOSER THAN SUPPOSED.

There was method in the misleading re- ports of the election sent out by the re- publcans. They did not carry the coun- try by the vote as first announced. Yet the impressions made by these reports still exist even in the minds of democrats.
 McKinley's plurality of popular vote was .)6,7 which is less than the plu- rality given by the three states of Penn sylvania, New York and Massachusetts. And Mckinley, too. only carried Califor- mia by 962; Oregon by 1,O69; Kentucky by 142; Indiana by 9,OO2; North Dakota by 2,S26 Thus, 14,OO1 votes more in above states would have given them to Bryan and given him a total of 225 electoral votes a .maiority of g.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21

Massachusetts it seems they have civil service rules. and the latest amendment to these rules went into effect last Mon- day. Hereafter nearly all the employees of the state and of the cities of the state are brought under the competitive sys- tenn of examination by the civil service board or it's agents, as a condition of new employment This new scope of the civil service law is very broad and com prehensive," the Boston. Herald says, and 1t is probably safe to say that Massachusetts is ahead of all the states in the regulation of the public service under the competitive system of exami- nation"
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
sTRIKING CoNTRAsT.

A visitor in our city this week com mented very favorably upon the activity of our people, on the streets in their busi4 ness affairs, and remarked that it was in striking contrast with the situation in many towns with which he was familiar. This is all very flattering and encourag- ing. We have many enterprising mer- chants, and our young men even are pushing ahead more than formerly Let us all hustle. It is better to hustle and fail than not to have hustled at all.- Florence Times.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
LINCOLN.

M uCII IIIIIE5 IId lIUTl dIIu IIICL.IN III IIiIEE
 Over the Recently Enacted Stock
 Law In Talladega County
 Lincoln, Feb. 20.-(Special Correspond erce 1.-The people in this part of Talla- dega county are very much aroused over the total stock law msasure recently passed by the legisla ture. They have "whereased and resolved" and passed al- most unanimously. the "nullincation act" The greatest trouble arises from the fact that the stock law takes immediate ef- feet If enforced it would cause many farmers to lose a large part of their stock, as they have no pastures and no time to make any, and the stock are not fat enough for market. Many farmers in favor of the law have decided to ig- rore 1t for the present year for the sake of their neighboas, so the fences will re- main up for the larger part of beat 1.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
THE COLOR LINE.

Atlanta, Ga, Feb 20.-Bishop Turner, of the African Methodist church, com plains to the state railroad commission that the railroads of the state do not fur nish eating accommodations for negroes. The bishop was travelling on one of the roads recently, and when the train stop ped at an eating house the proprietor would not serve him. The bishop had no lunch and had to go hungry. He asks the commission to compel the railroads to provide for negroes at their eating houses.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21

The eyes of the world, which have so long been concentrated upon the ill-fated Island of Cuba, now have an opportunity of stretching their gaze toward Crete. where Holy war is being carried on in all it's horrors. though fortunately not likened unto that of the Cubans Greece, in defiance of the allied powers, has de- clared her intention of wrestling the much persecuted Christians from the cruel grasp of the Turks, and in so doing has merited the admiration of every liberty loving man, woman and child of the en- frightened world,
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
rLANAGAN IS SANE.

Atlanta, Ca, Feb. 20.-The jury which has been hearing the Flanagan case the past week. returned a verdict tonight that he is sane. The issue was wheth r he was sane enough to be tried for mur- der His counsel will next demand an inquiry into Flanagan's sanity at the time the murders were committed, Dec. 31 The evidence in that trial, which will be held in about two weeks will be practically the same as the testimony given in this trial.
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
TAX COMMISSION LAW.

The Luverne Journal, Editor H. Y. Brooke's paper. makes this telling point in favor of the tax commission law For years Mobiles prosperity has been advertised, yet the value of her real es- tate has constantly declined. Consult the tax assessors books for evidence In the face of this the praying brigade, led by the Montgomery Advertiser and the Alabama Monitor Crank BaltEell's pa- perl are crying out against the tax com mission laws"
Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-21
WHAT CHRIST SAW"

Representative M. w. Howard, of the bloody Seventh Alabama district, and the author of the book. "If Christ Came to Congress" has just completed another book, entitled What Christ Saw" and it is said to be even more sensational than the first publication. Wonder if the author includes a lurid account of his antics as one of the would-be saviors of the country (between drinks) ?-Alex- nder City Outlook