The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-06-19
LOCAL NEWS.


storms last Thursday night, Fri
day night and Saturday. The
storm of early Saturday morn
ing did more or less damage to
crops, and fruits suffered most
1t was accompanied by a copious
supply of hail, and the streets
soon had the appearance of win
ter and the mountain peaks sur
rounding the valley were cover
ed with a mantle of fresh snow,
all of which lent to the wintery
scene in the middle of June.
This year promised to be a
good fruit season in Round val
ley, but now comes millions of
green apple worms to destroy
the apple crop, and nearly every
orchard in this immediate local
ity appear to be infested. The
worms that are playing such sad
havoc with the apples first made
their visit this year. They are
of a greenish tint, about a half
inch in length, and of a very
rapacious nature, eating their
way to the very heart of the
young apples in a short time.
They have come in such vast
numbers it seems almost impos-
sible to check their onslaught.
We believe that many of our fruit
growers have made a great mis-
take in killing the robins, for it
is a well known fact that robins
and all kinds of birds are great
worm and insect destroyers.
True the robins may steal cher
ries and berries, yet at the same
time they destroy countless num-
bers of pests. 1t is no uncommon
thing here most any day to see a
gang of small boys with rocks
killing birds of all kinds-the
old birds sitting on their nests
and the young yet unable to fly.
We believe there is law against
killing song birds. Protect the
birds and save your gardens and
orchards.
1t is with deep regret that we
are called upon to chronicle the
death of James Steen, of Bonan.
"a, which occurred On Tuesday
evening last, June 18th, 1900.
Mr.. Steen has been suffering fol-
some months from diabetes, anG
which, without doubt caused his
death, yet during this whole time
he suffered uncomplainingly tC
the end. He was yet youns
man, perhaps not over 80 years
of age, and naturally had nearly
half of his life before him, anC
this helps to add to the sadness
of his early departure. Th'
writer has been intimately &C
quainted with the deceased fo,
a number of years, and to know
him to honor and esteem him
James Steen was d young MAJ
with many friends and few, i
any, enemies. A true, liberal
| whole souled and genial man
He was liberal to a fault. divid
ing his last dollar with a frien
| if need be. He died young, no
, having not yet reached the meri
dian of life, but he has left be
hind him life of usefulness, a
. honored career, a valuable her
tage to his country. He was S
5 lovable in his character and ger
tie in his disposition that all th
children who knew him love
j, him. What higher tribute coul
be paid to any man He wa
not a snowy man, but he was
| safe one. He was not brilliar
!, man, but he was a strong an
S able one. He was a good citize
and highly respected by all WI
knew him. Mr.. Steen was (
y Canadian birth, coming to Custt
e county some Is or II years ag
S since which time he has reside
|, here, except a year or two whe
q in charge of large mining oper
L tions in South America. II
whole life here was devoted
% mining, and at different tim
# met with decided success, al
!, then again met reverses, whi'
r is the case generally with tho
. engaged in mining and prospet
n ing. At the time of his death
4 was owner of the gold mines a.
% mill on Jordan creek, near Bo
IS anza, known as the John G.. No
,e rison property. The deceas
is has three brothers and one sist
N living in Idaho-Daniel, Geor
"a and Fred. Steen, and Mrs. Fietc
N er, all of Boise City. The fiji
as two named brothers being ow
10 ers in the Fletcher -Steen Hal
! ware Co., at Boise. The renal
in of the deceased were inferred
as the cemetery at Custer on Thu