Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-02-28
PORT BYRON POINTS,
c. c. Swisher Uses a Gun With
Satisfactory Results On a
WouId-be Corn Thief.
FELLOW DROPS CARGO AND sKIPs.

Them Original Manuscript of National
Hymn Written by His FAther-C Crescent
Telephone Line Directories Out-Notss.
Port Byron, Feb. 2S.-Monday
evening c. c. Swisher made the
discovery that a man was carry
ing away sack of corn from his corn
crib He had Just time to get his
gun and fire shot, the report of which
passed through the fellow system like
an electric shock, which caused him
to drop the sack, and take to his heels
at a 2:lO gait. Mr.. Swisher now
makes the corn thief the offer that if
he will take the trouble to call, he can
have the empty sack.
The directories for the Crescent
telephone line and branches are now
printed and ready for delivery. They
can be obtained at DR.. Burners office,
and the doctor will distribute them as
fast as possible while going through
the country. There viii be 80 phones
on the different lines when they are
all put in place, according to the list
of names upon the cards. 1t is n
common expression from the farm
crs' wives. We had no idea they
would be such good company"
S. +. Smith, former mayor of Dav-
export. and son of the author of
America" addressed the students of
the academy, on Washington as
n Citizen and Statesman" Wednes-
day last. After the address ''Ameri-
ca was sung and the students had
the privilege of holding in their
hands the original copy of our nation
al hymn, which the speaker had with
him. Mr.. Smith told the students
that America was composed by his
father, Samuel +. Smith, while stu
dent of AndOver theological seminary.
1t was composed in half an hour late
one dark afternoon, and written on
three little scraps of paper as Mr..
Smith stood near the window
to catch the falling light. He
was offered $1,000 for this piece
of paper, which was refused, and
it is the intention of the family TO
give it to Harvard college, where the
author was a member of the IA
NOUS class of 1929, of which Oliver
Wendell Homes was member. Mr..
Smith gave up pressing invitation to
90 to Des Moines in order so speak to
the students, and it's needless to state
his coming was much appreciated.
Notes.
Rev. and Mrs. Craine are being
visited by Mrs. Craine's father and
mother.
There was dance at the Plum
Grove hall Friday evening last. There
were IS in attendance.
Mrs. William Ross is reported as
having been been very sick. but is
some better at this writing.
AT the last meeting of the share
holders of the button factory it was
decided to shut down Indefinitely.
Thursday evening last 10 young
people took a sleigh ride and enjoyed
themselves as only young people can.
Samuel Bruner was So years of age
last. He felt quite sick on
his birthday, but is some better now.
The knights of the Globe had an en-
tertainment and dance at the Wood
man hall. About eighty were pres
ent.
Tuesday last the members of the
Lutheran church held their 18th ami
versary and had services at the
church.
The w. C. T. U. will meet on the
afternoon of the first Thursday in
March at the residence of Mrs. Will
liam Cox.
George Metzger, of Chicago, was
down to see his friends Sunday. He
visited the Sunday school over which
he was superintendent for u years.
Word has come to Port Byron that
Miss Clara Martin, who is in the Ho-
hospital at Iowa City, is
very low and not likely to recover.
A representative of patent medi-
cine firm left word a few days ago that
the next time he came through Port
Byron he would come on an automo-
bile
There are some preparations being
made for building the coming spring.
A. &. Brewster has hauled the rock for
a mammoth grain elevator, and George
Moore will build an addition to his
residence.
A company has been formed by nine
Luma farmers, who have bought an
imported Norman stallion from Sing
master d Son, of Iowa, for which they
paid $4,000. The officers are: NJ. F.
Schafer, president; Samuel Schafer,
and treasurer; Boyd Nc
Michael, manager; b. B. osborne. Am
brsse Searle and Herman Schwenne-
ker, directors.
FrIghtfuI BIund.r
Will often cause horrible burn,