davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
NOT SO BLACK
AS He WAS PAINTED
Jim Somers Stories Going the
Rounds of the Press Not All
Based on Fact.
MAJOR HANSON TALKS OF HIM
A Strong Effort Being Made TO IN
duce south Dakota Counties
TO Make Appropriations
for the Exposition.

Yankton. March 12.-Several articles
have lately appeared IN h columns
of the newspapers Of this Vlclnlty our
ing the past month containing relnln-
iscences of Jim Somers, a prominent
character in the history of the early
Dakotas, the latest being an article
written by a correspondent at Iham-
berlain, and this, as has been the case
in former articles, y>ainted him a great
deal worse than he really was-as a
murderer, n thug and a villain OF the
deepest dye. Major j.. X. Hanson OF
his city. one of the Oldest and best
known men in this section of the west,
was we'll acquainted with him and his
peculiarities, of which he had a plenty.
In speaking of the recently published
articles. Major Hanson says:
AS a matter of fact, jim Somers
was one of the most tender hearted
and generous men ! ever met. lie
would give II fellow his last dollar II
he thought il was needed, and nobody
ever suffered if Jim Somers knew 1t.
He was a man also with a high sense
of honor. and his word was as good as
his bond. But. inspired by whisky, he
was a terror, Just as many other good
men are. Reckless to Il startling de-
gree, he held life and property in a
sort Of di3dain. and, aroused by the
idea that he had been imposed upon,
he was n very dangerous individual.
He fairly ached for n fight under such
circumstances and his rage knew no
bounds. When | was Indian agent at
Crow Creek, jim was living in that
same section. He came TO me II day
49, ..sl l., ,,,a ho Vl nm and needed
some money. He revealed a plan for
raising funds which was novel, to say
the least. ! had n drove OF government
cattle on the reservation and Jim pro-
posed TO run six or seven of them off
and sell them. lie said | wouldn't have
to bother mv head about them, that L
could easily account for them ana
none would be any the wiser. ] told
him that | would prefer he wouldn
do that: that / would bc placed in an
embarrassing position. and that my
conscience would hardly permit me 10
cover up such a crime. jim regretful-
" said that if | did not want him 10 do
il he wouldn't, but he was devllish
hard up. And he raised money in some
other way. Jim Somers was not so
black as he was painted by a large ma
iority, and his biographers ought 10
look carefully into his history before
publishing it,
II. r. Murphy, secretary of the South
Dakota board Of the Trans-Mississippi
exposition, and Judge IL. II. Blair,
president of the regents of education,
have been in this city in the interest of
! MY e68lp9Rsitii83RR f q8a gg55gghiHt$ g 5 appr 9fSgs:
ton. Clay county having appropri-
ated $500 at a recent meeting, they ara
anxious that Nankton county should
do as well, and that the state as a
whole make a respectable exhibit
The commissioners here al their last
meeting took no action in the matter
but endeavors will be made 10 have
them do so at the April meeting.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19

Bergen, Norway. boasts 4 paper
church large enough to seat 1000 per-
sons. The building is rendered water
proof by a solution of quick lime, cur
He'd milk and white of eggs.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19

That it won't do 10 bank too much
on a name is proven by the judgment
Of custer against Mayor Good of
Springfield, o., for spending 1888 for
beer, in aid of his election.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19

Harry Abbott, q. c., eldest son Of the
late Sir John G. Abbott, at one time
premier of Canada, died at st. Angus
tine, Fla.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
Snow I'm Michigan,

Menominee, Mich. March ia ter
rife snowstorm is raging here. The
gale is driving the snow badly. 1t is
getting colder.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
MEN RUSH TO ENLIST.
Crowds Surround the Recruiting
Station I'm Chicago on Its
KeOpeuiuR.

Station I'm Chicago on Its
Reopening.
Chicago, March 12.-The recruiting
station on West Madison street was re.
opened yesterday and the number OF
men who applied was SO great that
they blocked the street. Three pri-
vate soldiers and a sergeant of the reg
ular army were required to keep back
the throng that threatened To overrun
the Office of Captain Bonus. More
than the number of men necessary 70
make up the two regiments needed ap
piled for enlistment Mt that Office yes
terday. Others crowded the hydro
graphic Office seeking to enlist in the
navy.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
Shot In the Knee.

Budapest, March lin a duet just
fought Deputy Ivanka shot Privy
Councillor Szalabtski, governor OF
r~ressburg, in the knee.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19

Havana, March 0.-Thc United
States cruiser Montgomery, from KEY
West, arrived here this morning.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19

Reindeer subsist on moss, but not
the kind that grows on the backs OF
Kansas City park knockers.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
WHAT THEY DID FOR OMAHA.
The Railways Gave $4,000 for
the Transit mississippi Ex-
poaitiOn.

0mah/ March 1.-THE Union Pa.
cifc railroad, through its president
II. G. Burt, has just given $4,000
toward the Trans-Mississippi exposi
ton. This swells the contributions o
the railroads to $4,000. One NOR,
road is yet to be heard from an anoth
err good sized gift is expected. Man,
railroads will have exhibits in tn
transportation building the contracs
for which has just been let
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
SPAIN LOOKING AFTER SHIPS.
Conditional Purchases OF Coasting
steamers United States Has
Purchased None.

Berlin, March 12.-Sandoval, the
Spanish military agent in Germany,
Austria and Scandinavia, has made
three conditional purchases of coast
ing steamers at Fiume aud two at Polo.
He leaves today for Stettin and Ham
burg to inspect a number Of vessels
offered. The United States so far has
purchased none of the vessels among
her optiou6 in Germany.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19

Nermillion. March 12.-At moor
Wednesday occurred the marriage ir
this city ar the First Baptist church
Of Mr.. Albert Hawkins 10 Miss Marie
J.. Jones, Rev. Mr.. Irvine officiating
About ffaY invited guests were pres.
cnt 10 witness the ceremony. \ we'd
ding dinner was served Immediately
after at the home of the brides moth.
er, Mrs. \. Sheridan Jones. Mr.. Hawk
ms is a prominent member OF the hard.
ware firm of Hanson d Hawkins, and
was a surveyor at one time in the EN-
ploy Of the state, also being a gradu-
ate of the state university in 1891. Miss
Jones is a musician Of rare ability, be-
ing also a graduate Of the University
Of South Dakota from the college of
music. Both are highly esteemed here
and are active members OF the Baptist
church. They left on the afternoon
train for the home Of the young mans
parents at Flandreau, 5. d., where
thrcy will spend a week, before return
ing 10 their home in this city.
John Il. Clarke of the Chicago Ly-
ccum bureau, delivered the fourth
number of the university y. NJ. c. A.
lecture course in this city last evening,
his subject being "To and Fro in Lon.
don"
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
More Troops FIR Chin.

Madrid March ia further rein
torcement of troops has sailed for
Cuba.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
SPAIN HAS BRAzIl's SHIPS.
Administration Has Definite Inf0r.
nation Regarding the Pur-
chase Of the VcsseIs.

Washington, March 1.-THE admin
istration has definite information from
u source regarded beyond question
that Spain has purchased the BRAZIL.
Ian cruisers Bartsoa and Amazon.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19

fiaI
tllof
left {,
''Al
don't
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
aERMANr Nor INroLTED

Drowning men catch at straws and
In times like these any coincidence is
attributed to design. IL is therefore
natural that rumors OF "a German war
ship goisg to Havana, to exact repairs
tion for the destruction by the Insur.
gents OF property and life OF German
subjects. coming at the same time
with alleged preparations for Span
ish evacuation Of the city on short no.
tice, should be connected 1t has been
declared by some that the two stories
indicate that Germany proposes. with
the sanction Of spain, II that nation
shall go TO war with us, to grab some
territory IL, The western hemisphere.
There can be no doubt that the
kaiser would like to have the German
glehoAting on American land, but
he-fwilI not risk the attempt. He
knows that IL we war with Spain 1t
will Be for Cuban independence OF all
the world aud not merely for a separa-
tion from Madrid authority. He
knows, too, that should he sezs Ha-
vanA or undertake to hold IL he would
go counter not only TO the sentiment
Of today but also to the American
policy upheld for three-quarters OF n
century. He knows that there could
be no question OF Aght for the main
. tenAnce o: the Monroe doctrine and he
may feel we'll assured that we would
have the support Ct England in en-
forcing IL against any European ag-
gression. That doctrine serves as a
bulwsrk for the protection OF English
colonies In America as for the pro,ee-
tion Of the Central and South Ameri-
can states.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
WILLrAm. rnE woBB1ER.

Chicago Dispatch; Never more should
Mckinley be called the "silent" or the
wise" but let him bear the title he
has earned OF william, the Wobbler.
Surely president who is for peace
Monday, for war Tuesday, for compro-
mise Wednesday, for an ultimatum
Thursday, for making an apology Fri-
day aud for demanding an apology
Saturday is nothing more nor less tian
wobbler.
Forced by the demands cf the people
expressed through congress, Mckinley
sent something to Spain which he as.
sutcl the public was an ultimRtum.
That ultimatum has been rejected by
the Spanish government, ard McKin-
ley has asked time to prepare mes.
sage.
McKinley's strong point is in asking
for time Another strong point is his
capacity for doing nothing Of the
slightest Importance during the time
which is granted him.
But it is alleged that the president
ia now wobbling on the question OF IN.
tervention. A man named Louis
Klopscb, who is known in certain
somewhat restricted circles as editor
OF paper called the Christian Herald
has been holding an interview with
Mckinley. Klopssh has made som'
stir by meddlins with Clara Barton
work Of relief in Cuba, and he has
assured Mckinley that war between
Spain and the United States would
result in the almost instant death oi
$50 coo reconcentrados.
AS McKinley's delay has already
caused the death of ESQ. 900 reconcen-
trsdos, it would, indeed, be a ssd
thing II his haste now should raise th'
total TO halt a million.
Hanna is press agent for Rlopscb
aud, as the advocate Of peace at any
price as the author of the noble sug
gestion that "Sigsbee should have re
ported an internal explosion and saved
US all this bother" as the denouncel
OF those who wish to defend the ma
tio.'s honor, chsrAeterizlng then
'loafers and trAmps'-Hanna is boom
ing Klopsch an showing By his testi
uony whatA deadly danger to Cub
would be iItNvi intion on the part ot
h II iled Sutel.
Hi 10 Hanna and to William thC
| Wobbla~
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08

support will Of necessity be very mea-
ger. Austria is torn by internal strife
between races that can never be ANAL
gamated. Germsny's only complaint
is the Monroe doctrine 10 will be
readily seen by any man who has kept
track OF European affairs that there is
very litile II any danger Of an alliance
against the United States in the event
Of war with Spain. With England
and Russia at all times ready TO side
with this republic in martial tifairs Of
an international character, other Euro
pean nations will hardly dare TO 1ter-
fere. II war comes, as seeml inevit-
able, " will be between the United
states aud Spain and the result is very
easily foretold. Spain is several cen
turtles b hind the times, but when IL
rushes into war with this republic that
benighted nation will receive jar
that will open its eyes and ding ita few
hundred years ahead Of It's present
position. II would be an experience that
would result to the benefit OF Spain.
1t would remove mistaken idea OF
greatness from the Spanish mind, set
the wheels OF progress to humming
and make Spain a country OF enligten.
ment Spain is living in the past. 1t
needs to bs dragged by the heels into
the living present
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
WHIST IN THE CHURCH.
What Card Playing Has Done for ON
Town.

Town.
F, And that's what's the matter with
Emporia-tOo much whist The paint
ed china set is married to cards. Wom-
en- have no higher thought from weeks
end to weeks end than winning head
prizes, says the Emporia (Kas) Ga
zette. They grow nervous, irascible,
bad-tempered and ugly playing cards.
Little crows feet appear at the cor
ners OF their eyes after an evening
with whist, and deep. vertical lines
ploW themselves just above their noses
There are more plain women in En-
poIia who lost their bloom at the rent
ed card tables than there are women
who have worn themselves out over
the kitchen stove. 1t is worry, not
work, that makes women fade and
cards are sapping the juice out of the
town. Only the young people patron
ize the public library. The old folks
make whats trump" the chief end
OF man. Cards have invaded the
churches. One church has a hig fac
tional row looming upon the horizon
because the pastor has jumped cards.
Another church narrowly avoided it
last winter. A third pastor sees his
best customers whooping it up in
whist clubs and hasn't the nerve TO
say a word. In the meantime poker
rooms. when are just as improving
and elevating and just as helpful to
the town as whist clubs, have been
opened on Commercial street. and the
town is enjoying the fruit Of the seed
the women have planted.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
OYER THE TERRITORY.

The Enid Wave says: "There will be
war That se1tles II.
Kingas her has voted 900 to build a
ten-room school building.
OIL Inspector Amos A Ewing went
over to kingtisher yesterday.
John Mosier, Tom Mosier, Whltehorn,
Fred Lookout and Frank Corndropper,
all big Usage men, have gone 20 Wash
lngtOn 20 testify on behalf OF the govern
ment In It's Investigation regarding frauds
In oil leases IL Is claimed that the oil
companies are getting the best OF the
Osages In their lease contracts.
Bob Smith, Ponca City man, has gone
TO Texas TO lake command OF a company
In a regiment OF Texas Rangers. lie was
with Buffalo Bill for years and Is a crack
shot The Ponca City Courier says:
"Mr. Smith received his commission last
week, promptly accepted II. received
transportation yesterday and took the
first train for war. lie expects this TO
be the first regiment to leave Texas He
Is anxious fer a hand In the conflict, and
VIII probably be fully gratihed
Editor Isenberg, OF Enid, has sent a
sample OF his patriotism 20 the aSsaYeT
and the test shows the six foot vein Ia
pan out sordid and mercenary motives
running up 20 thousands OF dollars 10 the
ton. Here Is his view OF the Spanish
question: The Wave cannot think that
the war viii last long. There viii prob
ably not be any land lighting except IN
Cuba. The president will not call for
more than 10000 volunteers for coast de
Tense and TO march ON Havana. The war
will rot hurt Oklahoma IN the least aud
we hope Il may last long enough 10 raise
the price Of wheat 10 t25 per bushel and
raise the price OF good horse and mule
stock double Our last words is that
there Is going 10 be war sure"
Ponca City Daily Courier: About two
years ago ID. o. Wilson, Newkirk grain
| buyer, formed a conspiracy with j NJ
RaTiek. an eX-Santa Fe agent at New
kirk. and A. 5 Brown, clerk In the
freight ofiica at Purcell, TO deiraud the
Santa Fe railroad company in shipping
grain south from Newkirk. The plan
was for Wilson 10 overload cars, Raric ck
TO accept aud pass them on TO Brown al
| Purcell who IN like manner would accept
them and cause them to be delivered al
their destination. The profits la the
/ transaction were divided among the
| three Wilson was tried at Purcell iu
federal court last week, convicted and
sentenced 70 two years I'm the peniten-
tiary, Rarick and Bro IN VIII be tried
next term.
Judge William NJ. Springer, OF the
United States court at Muskogee, has
granted temporary injunction restrain
ing Isparhecker, the chief OF the Greek
nation; H. @. Red judge OF the Mus kos
gee district, aud James Kernels. captain
OF the Creek light horse. from cutting any
pasture fences in the Creek nation. The
pastures are known as the mile Squire
pastures, and lsparhecker says they are
In violation Of the Greek law aud ordered
them cut. Cattlemen secured the In
junction from Judge Springer. Indian
Agent Wisdom has received orders from
the secretary OF the interior TO iDvesti-
gate and report the pasture matter TO the
department. IL Is estimated that over
300 O0O head Of cattle will be grazed IN the
Greek nation this summer.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
QUEER PLACE FoR A NEST.
In Stack of Fagots Six Feet Behind
Target.

Target.
What will ornithologists, poets, low
ers and classical scholars do OF say
about the strange story which is told
as follows in knowledge: At Gran
brook, in Kent. there is a rifle range,
which has been used by the local vol
unteers for rife practice, and at a dis
tance Of about six feet behind the tar
gets there has been built a large stack
OF fagots which serve to stop the spent
bullets. This year a pair Of nightin-
gales selected the stack as a site for
their nest, which they built in the in
terror at a distance of about fifteen
inches from the surface of the front
facing the targets, about four feet
from the ground, and almost in a di-
rect line with the center of one of tae
targets, which are constructed of can
vas and allow the bullets to pass
through directly into the fagots. In
that situation the birds built their
nest, hatched their eggs, and reared
their young, literally in a midst of
storm of bullets, one of which ulti-
mately proved fatal to one of the
Youngsters. The correspondent who
sends this extraordinary tale Mr.. j.
Herbert Allchin. is a citizen OF Maid
stone, and had his information direct
ly from Color Sergt. w. Cogger of the
Maidstone company. First West Kent
rifle volunteers, who quite seriously
and solemnly deposes that, while day
after day acting as a marker, he had
every opportunity OF watching the pa
rent birds, who were engaged in feed
ing their young. Sergt Cogger AYERS
that while he was in the butts at least
400 bullets were fired at the target and
the wood in the fagots was splintered
in every direction round the nest, but
the little brown parents never for an
hour left their beleaguered home, not
even when an unlucky bullet slew one
of the fledglings, but fearlessly and
faithfully brought up their surviving
young ones, and few away with them
at last to the peaceful and sunny re-
treats where nightingaies hide until
spring brings back the daffodil and the
/ bluebell. and the May bushes are ful
OF the scented silver which nightin-
gales love.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
AReIiabIe Remedy.

The object Of opium in medicine is to
deaden and paralyze the nerves temPor-
arially to stop coughing or pain. Moth
ing promotes the opium or morphine
habit so much as cough mixtures that
contain this nefarious drug. Brazilian
Balm does not contain trace of II, but
is true balsam that removes the cause
of the trouble. Mr.. ". I. Barber, l00l
n. 43d St, Philadelphia, Pa, says; BRA
lillian Balm not only quickly removed
all trace Of my cold but had generally
reviving effect upon my whole system
which has been permanent. 1 recon-
mend it as a most valuable and thor
oughly reliable remedy"
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08

OUR president says that the blowing
mp of the wsrship Maine and the kill
ing OF 2e2 American sesmen is to be
treated as an incident" Unless the
president rises to the full dignity of
the grave occasioa and demands com
rplete and swift repAration for Spain's
outrages and insults TO American
honor and American public sentiment,
both he and his administration will be
treated by the American people as an
"lneldent." and a very small one at
that
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
rHE arrIrUBE or EUKoPE.

II Spain Is relying upon the help OF
any European powers In the event Of
. war with the United States, IL DEM
ons.rAtes what has often been claimed
that sPAin is years and years behind
the times. England ana Russia are
outof 1t so far as sympathy with Spain
is concerned. Russla has always been
the close friend OF the United States.
and on one occasion came to the rescue
of the republic England's sympathy
is mAnifestly with this repubis. Aus
tris's sympathy is with Spain, but so
far ss help Is concerned, is unable 10
do anything for Spain because OF
troubles a. home. France doubtless
sympAthizes with Spain because OF ex.
tegsiVe French holdings OF Spanish
sser titles, but France. like Germany,
has All IL can attend 10 in The east.
Germany Is an ulknown quantity In
the present crisis, but whAteyeF may
be the sentiments Of Emperor William
Il cannot be that Germany is TO be
figured as hostile TO this couatry.
Germany is bnsy in the east
OF All the European nations Austria
seems TO be the only one that u cap
able Of giving Spain support and that
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08

KANSAS CRY, Mo, April The
wife and five OF the six children of
Robert D. Middlehrook, city coun-
selor, were poisoned Tuesday by
deadly ptomaines, supposed TO have
been taken in the food eaten at
breakfast that morning Louise
2l4 years old, died yesterday morning
at i;i5 o'clock in the greatest agony.
Mrs Middlebrools and the other four
children were suffering greatly last
night Physicians said they might all
recover, or they might all die-the
chances were about even.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
Rhode leland Election.

PROVIDENCE, r l., April 2. The
state election resulted In an over
whelming Republican victory. Neither
party conducted live campaign, the
success Of Governor Dyer and his as
sociates being a foregone conclusion.
The Socialist-Labor vote shows a large
increase, while tho Prohibitionists Is
beat the Democrats in several towns,
as usual
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08

ONE feels dwarfsh sensation steal
ing upon him when he calls to mind
that our president couldn't rise to the
dignity OF the occasion and accompany
his message to congress, when he sent
in the report Of the board Of inquiry
on the Main affair, with suggestion
OF what ought to bs done.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08
senator Ausn onsr. to Volunteer.

WASHINGTON, April :. : Senator
dispatch to-day: "Silas A. Holcomb,
Lincoln, Neb; Tender all state troops
without delay In the event of war
with Spain desire through you to
place my services at the disposal OF
the state TO serve the country in such
capacity as you may assign me in de-
fense OF the national honor and for
Cuban liberty. William v. Allen"
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-08

MARK HANNA IL for peace at any
price. honorable or dishonorsble. lie
is the mouth-piece through which the
great money po Ser stays and stiles
the honest and patriotic expresti ,ns
and actions OF the president 1t is this
power which withholds the anxously
looked-for message, and it is this same
power which is to bring shame and
disgrace to the American name.