davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06

The spirit of doing things by halves sell
dom or never finds resting place within
Owosso's borders, and even the fire iiend,
when once started, seems never to know
how to be less than insatiate when once at
work in cur fair city. The memories OF
two casket factory fires, the carriage works,
the Woodland furniture works, the last the
most destructive of all and even threatening
to wipe out all the city, are at last now
overshadowed by the terrible loss which
OwossO was called on to endure on Sunday,
April 1st, 1900. The loss of the big Central
School building with its thousands of well
nigh halloWed memories in the minds Of
two generations and the loss of two pre-
cious lives will make the day ever sad one
to recall.
The building is practically total wreck
only portion of the west annex remalnine
uninjured. The school records, however,
high school piano. an organ, many of the
books belonging to pupils and part of the
library were saved. Some of the furniture
was also removed in safety as was the most
of the physical apparatus from the labora-
tory. The loss is estimated at about Sl25
600 and the insurance amounts 10 $40, coo.
1t was about seven o'clock when the
alarm was turned in from the corner OF
Elm and Bradley streets 10y Charles RUDE
kan who saw the smo&e and flames burst
ing from the cupoa of the big main build
ing, and the department was soon after on
the ground. The fire was started by sparks
gan to burn out an hour or two before the
slsrm was given, and, once started in the
dry pine boards, rafters and beams, season
eG and almost kiln dried by decade aud a
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06
Owosso's Tragedy.

From The Saginaw Courier. Herald.
The sympathy of Saginaw goes out
in no measured or uncertain way to
Owosso. The people of our sister city
have had their high school destroyed
by fire, and the loss of property was
accompanied by the loss of more pre-
cious human lives. 1t was tragedy
such as accompanies the current of
affairs mutable, but whilst deploring
the death of her gallant son, Fred Ross,
Owosso, has the comforting knowledge
that he died in doing his duty, death
as gallant as any that ever occurred on
the field of battle.
In this connection, it is not ill-timed
to remind the public that TO the bravery
and conscientiousness of the fremen
they owe more than they are usually
accustomed to admit At all hours,
night and day, the fireman stands ready
and willing to perform his duty and it
is often owing to his unselfsh heroism
that the worlds casualty list is not
larger and more horrifying than the
records show.
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06

thanks of the city as was the one whose
life was lost because he happened to be
where he was in the performance of his
duty when the crash came. And there Is
not member who did not take what ap-
peared to be equal or greater risks during
the day in the performance of his duty.
Outside the members of the department
there were large number of citizens who
did their best to save the community from
all the loss possible by helping remove
books and furniture and in assisting the
fremen whenever possible, working with
might and main handling hose, ladders, or
BabcOcks regardless of mud and sometimes
even of no small danger. DR.. A. M.
Hume, president of the school board, and
K. T. Austin, superintendent of the city
schools, gave great assistance at all times
during the fighting of the fire and did it,
moreover, in such way as to assist rather
than to interfere with the chief. No small
amount of help was that provided by Messrs.
and Mesdames lbert Todd, K. p. and w.
II. Bigelow, A. p. White and others who
furnished coffee for the men during thier
work
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06
:? :?

In looking at distance do you see as
we'll as your friends? Can you tell the
time by the town clock? Does the sum
light on the pavement hurt your eyes?
Do you have to partly close your lids in
order to see distinctly? In reading,
writing and sewing do your eyes burn
and water? DO you have headache if
you keep it up too long? Does the type
blur and the letters run together? Do
you have to stop and rub your eyes and
then try again? Have you ever tried
glasses that did not fit you and decided
if that particular pair was no relief no
other pair would be? Have your eyes
ever been carefully examined? Have
you ever determined in any way whether
you really need glasses or not? Do you
know that | will examine your eyes q
hundred times a year if you wish it, and
tell you just what you need? Do you
know that L charge nothing for consul
tationg COME AND SEE ME.
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06
C.S.A||iSOn & Son,
ll5 North Washington t., Owosso.

flames into the east annex where the high
school assembly room is situated, In spite
of all efforts of the men who had absolutely
tnO opportunity to fight back the flames,
owing to the construction of the two parts
of the building and the dir ection of the wind.
were played into the burning main building
from the second floor and from the attic,
and althO the roof was badly burned the
building itself except for the hall and stair
ways was saved. 1t was from this part of
the building, the attic of the annex, close
beside window in the third story of the
wall of the old building and below on the
second floor, that the firemen were early in
he afternoon hurled down by portion Of
the west wall of the old part and one of the
men crushed to death.
The events up to the falling of this wall
had not been difficult ones to fOretell. No
volunteer fire department had ever worked
with less confusion or had done better work
against the odds which they we're called up
on to face. The main building and the east
wing went slowly but inevitably and the
men fought from the floor and attic of the
west annex to keep the fire away from that
part of the building. The west wall of the
main part seemed as secure as the others
and the boys were close to it still working
to extinguish the flames. The place was
regarded as dangerous, however, and Supt.
Austin and Marshal Ross, who had repeat
edly warned away the boys who were haGg-
ing around the building, had just started to
clear the annex of crowd when without a
warning large part of the west wall of the
old part of the building came crashing
down carrying with 1t a portion of the attic
and attic floor of the annex aud the stall
way between the two buildings, and hurting
Fireman j. Fred Ross, his brother, Will
Ross, and Charles Beatty down in the mass
of ruins. Beatty and Will Ross came down
more on top than under the debris and
quickly extricated themselves with only
cuts, bruises and scalp wounds to show,
and even after the first crash Fred Ross
was heard to call TO his brother. The mas:
of brick and debris then quickly settled and
fell several feet further, this time quite
crushing out the life of the unfortunate mar
who had been uuassumlugly taking hi.
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06

hl6 )f warm breeZes from the furnaces be-
low, there was almost no possibility of put
ting out the flames In that part of the build
ing. The building itself stands on high
ground and when its tail structure was
added to this 1t was almost impossible to
throw wat.r on the fire effectively. The
situation was made even more discouragng e
by a most un8ccOuntable lack OF pressure
on the water mains which for time seemed
to leave the firemen almost powerless to DO
anything whatever against the flames In
justice to the water work management it
should be said that "a soon as a section of
the water mains containing pipe which
burst after the ire pressure was put on was
cut off from the principal nam there was
10 further trouble from that source, and
the pressure from the water mains was all
that cOnld have been expected. AS soon as
possible, too, the Silsby fire engine was
placed in position at the Mulberry street
bridge and two streams were thrown from
it. From that time on the fighting was
one continual hard struggle against the
flames with at tirst hope CT saving both
the east and west wing, but very little hope
of saving the former at any time
Few people could have any clear idea of
the difficulty of fighting fire spread over
such a large area as the main part OF the
Central School coveref, and there was no
place from wLich water could be thrown
into the burning ratters and frame work of
the roof with safety. The fremen fought
the flames from the third story, until the
danger from falling ROOF, timbers and floors
compelled them to retreat to the second
floor and TO the st coud floor OF the wings.
A wind from the west soon after drove the
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06

chances and persisting in the perform ance
of his duties
With the same crash a fifteen year old
high school pupil named Frank Tucker wa
caught under the flying brick and the entire
top of his head was crushed. Frank Davis,
another of the boys, was bruised ard some
what cut in the same crash as was also
Solomon VOge. One or two of the boys
had to be carried out OF the places in which
they were thrown, and 1t was with no little
danger that the work Of saving the bodies
was carried on, the work of releasing the
body of Fred Ross being especially difficult
and dangerous.
At the time of the fatal crash Marshal
Zenas II. Ross, another brother of the
killed fireman, was trying with Supt. K. I.
Austin to clear the west wing of the school
boys and both had narrow escapes, the
marshal being struck on the hand. Other
accidents and narrow escapes had occurred
earlier In the day, Fireman Shaw narrow
ly escaping death from heavy piece Of
falling cornice, and two or three others hav-
ing similar narrow escape while helping
the fire men In their work.
The work of the department was, as has
already been said, as good as that OF any
volunteer fire department with no better
equipment and hampered by the break In
the water mains and the great distance of
the building from the pumping station,
could have been. The men worked hard
aud without confusion. There was no fric-
ton apparent among them and no attempt
ing to usurp the functions OF chief by any
of the men or outsiders. II Chief Blair
wished thing done and said so, 1t was
done almost without anyone realizing that
Il had been ordered, there was so little
of the mere show of authority, and 1t might
be added, so little need for 1t, "a everyone
was ready on the instant to carry out the
wish OF the chief. The men never worked
together better and Fire Chief Merrick
Blair has good reason to be proud Of his
force and of the support 1t gave to him In
the only big fire the department has had to
fight since he became It's head. lucidCn al
~ it might he mentioned that every mai-ir
10 dep lrtment is jlsl as deserving OF {
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06
ANNOUNCEMENT
Up-to-Date Wheels.

As we enter upon our fifteenth year in
business, we wish first of all to thank the
people of Ovid, Elsie, Laingsburg, Duplsin,
Shepardsville, Burton, Chaplin, Bannister,
st Johns and OwosSo, and number still
beyond these towns, for their liberal pat
ronage, which has enabled us to build up
one of the largest Bicycle Business in Cen
tral Michigan.
We wish to announce to all of our old
customers and to new ones that we are in
a better position to take care of your needs
this year than ever before. We have en-
larged our floor space, added some new
tools to our repair department., enlarged
our stock of sundries. and heightened our
list of Wheels, so that we can say without
boasting that we have one of the largest
lines of Wheels to select from in the state
of Michigan. We invite one and all to call
and get catalogues.
As to prices, we are in on the ground
floor. We contracted early, before the ad-
vance in prices, and we ara now able to sell
at prices as low as last sez6 z6on.
Again thanking you ar4 soliciting con-
tinuance of your favors, We are
Respectfully yours,
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-04-06
A SAD DAY FOR 0W0SS0.
TWO LIVES LOST UNDER ITS
FALLING WALLS.
Fireman J. Fred Ross and Frank Tucker
a High School Pupil, Hurled into the
Eternity Beyond Deaths Borders.

FIRE CAUGHT FROM BURNING CHIMNEY~EARLY SUN
DAY MORNING. GREAT ROOF SEA OF FLAME
BEFORE FlREMEN COULD GET
EFFECTIVELY WORK
The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25
Court Proceedings.

The regular May term of the Dis
trict Court convened on Tuesday, the
END, With udge Armour on the bench
and jury in Attendance. In the alb
sence OF Mrs. Henderson, the regular
stenographer, Miss B. Mae Holden,
court reporter of the county court OF
Logan county, WAS appointed for the
session. The cases of the people
against l.. &. Libby, Herbert Morris
and Edward Babbitt for horse stealing
were the principal ones before the
court. District Attorney Hays had
arrived the day before and was in read
mess TO try the cases, while Messrs.
Wilcox anu Halligan and Ii. s. Rdgely
of North Platte appeared for the de-
fendants. The outlook was good fol.
weeks work, but it developed that one
of the defendants, Berbert Morris,
was willing to turn states evidence.
Upon the convening of the court for
the afternoon session, the defendants,
by former arrangement with the states
attorney out OF court, announced their
Willingness to plead guilty to the
charge and the pleas We're accordingly
received, except Ia the case of Edward
Babbitl, the youngest of the de
fendants, in which case the district
attorney consented to receive the pIea
Of nolo contendere and recommended
its acceptance by the court. This, in
effect, we understand is plea of gull
ty, but the custom is to suspend SEN
tence, which was done in this case and
the defendant was discharged subject
to good behavior. BY previous under
standing on the part Of the district
attorney with the defendant Morris, if
was recommended that he be sentenc
ed to the reformatory in consideration
of his service for the state in assisting
it in the prosecution, and he was So
sentenced. The defendant Libby was
thercupon sentenced to the peniten
tiary for two and a half years. Both
Libby and Morris offered the plea of
nolo contendere as to other charges
against them, which will doubtless
serve as a safe guard against further
depredatons in this section by them
after their release, as they may be
sentenced at any time hereafter with
out any trial upon any violation of the
law.
The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25

P. j. BanSston dropped into
our Office Wednesday and lncreas-
ed our circulating medium to the
extent of three dollars, for which
favor ne has our thanks. Mr..
Bangston is now sole proprietor
of the Settlers ditch and he re-
ports that work thereon is pro
crossing nicely. He deserves
great credit for his enterprise
in constructing this irrigating
canal-as do all others who en-
gage in the same businpss-and
we are glad to learn of his success.
Revs. D. II. Moore and j. W.
Hamilton were elected bishops
last Tuesday by the Methodists
in conference at Chicago. On
Wednesday the time limit for
pastors. by which no minister
could remain in charge of the
same church for longer than five
years, was abolished.
Rev. Sadler organized an Ep-
worth League society at the home
of Mr.. and Mrs. P. B, Upson
near Sedgwick last Tuesday even
lug. The society starts with "a
charter members and has good
prospect for large increase.
Dye Bros. have a large stock
of screen doors and windows and
are prepared to supply all de-
mandS in this line.
Mrs. G. NJ. Robbins mother of
Denver is visiting her.
The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25
Notice to w. of w.

All members of Julesburg camp No.
20 W. OF w. are revuested to attend at
the regular meeting of the camp next
Saturday evening May 26.
+. NJ. JOHNSON, Com.
The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25

lluSS
Banker E. D. Hamilton went
to Omaha Tuesday night to look
after some business matters.
Rev. F. E. Eckel will preach
at the Anderson school house
next Sunday, May %, at o'clock.
Leave your hides with Wool
man as he is paying all they are
worth.
Judge Armour and Attorney
Hays returned to their homes
Wednesday afternoon.
G. F. Iddings was up from
North Platte last Saturday look
ing after his business interests
here.
f. f. Quelle enjoyed a visit
from his brother, who resides in
the North river country, Monday
and Tuesday.
1he Grand Army post of this
place will attend the decoration
day exercises at Chappell next
Wednesday. DR.. Hungerford
will deliver short address.
j. Drake left here last Sunday
night for his home in Ohio, after
a visit of several weeks at the
home of his brotherinlaw, G. M.
Harris. He will return next Sep
tcmber to make this county his
home.
BENZ. Beatty reports that he
has fine prospect for corn this
season. Mr.. Beatty has one of
the best improved farms in this
vicinity and as he personally
oversees it he generally has good
crops.
w. D. Smyth, a prosperous
cattleman Of the south part of the
county, has, our thanks for two
dollars paid on subscription last
Tuesday. Mr.. Smyth states that
there is a fine prospect for the
cattle business this season.
Sheriff johnson and Deputy
Twomey left here Thursday
morning at 2.3O O'Clock with L.
E. Libby and Herbert Morris,
the former to be taken to the
state penitentiary at Canon City,
the latter to the reformatory at
Buena Vista.
John Prince and family, who
recently moved from Benz.
Beatty's place to Sidney,
passed through this
place Tuesday enroute to their
old home in Illinois. They did
not stop long enough here to bid
their friends goodbye.
Frank P. Morgan has sold the
Chappcll Register to Messrs.
Babcock & johnson, who will
continue the publication of the
paper in connection with their
other business enterprises. The
Register is a good property and
the new proprietors will proba-
bly, keep it up to its present stand
ard.
Mrs. Powers died at her home
near Sedgwick Wednesday morn
in childbirth. She leaves a hus-
band and five children to mourn
their loss, the eldest child being
but ten years old. Funeral ser
vices were conducted AT the home
The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25
LOCAL AND PERSONAL NEWS.
Items of Interest to People in
Sedgwick County.

Fat Cranley OF the south di-
vide has gone east.
Pasture is fine on the south di
vide and cattle are doing well.
See Pounds wall paper.
DR.. Mason made professional
visit to Grand Island Sunday
night, returning Tuesday morn
ing.
Lisks' antitrust tinware, large
and complete line, at Dyes hare
ware store.
Mrs. r. SIusser and little
Charley went to Denver Wednes-
day morning on the Denver spec
ial.
Mrs. Harry Davis Of the south
divide, who has been sick for
some time, is now slowly improv-
ing.
See Pounds housefurnishings.
O. j. Meline left here Monday
for Des Moines, Iowa, where he
will visit his sons and daughters
for Il week.
Glen Policy returned Monday
evening from Lincoln, Nebraska,
where he has been attending the
state university.
Sunday morning at the Congre-
gational church Pastor Eckel will
deliver memorial address. All
the veterans and community are
invited.
Neal Richerson received tele-
gram offering HIM a section fore
manship at Crook. He accepted
and will probably move his family
there soon.
Don't forgot that you can buy
all kinds of garden seed, in any
quantity, at Dyes hardware store.
Talk up a county fair and a
race meeting for this fall. Such
an exhibition can be arranged
and it Will be of benefit to the en-
tire county.
j. w. Abbott received com
munication last Saturday from
G. S. Kinsman stating that he
and his wife had decided to re-
main in Spokane until June 1.
Jonathan Porter of the reser-
walton was in town last Saturday
and reported that there was Sc
we're hail storm in his vicinity
Friday afternoon. Alfalfa and
small fruits were injured consid-
erably.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. E. Coumbe
and a sister of Mrs. Cormbe, of
Julesburg, Mrs. A. B. Persing ger,
and Mrs. H. H Libbey, of Lodge
Pole, were visiting in Chappell
Tuesday the guests of B. e. Fish
and Family.-Chappell Register.
See Pounds wall paper.
A county fair, at which would
be exhibited the best products of
the farm and range lands, is one
of the possibilities of this fall.
Such an enterprise should bave
the support and cooperation of
every citizen in the county.
Pocket knives, table knives,
butcher knives, all kinds of knives
at Dyes hardware store.
Last Saturday ]. Drake, of
Findlav. Ohio. closed n deal for
The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25

L
visit the homes of MIR. and Mrs
P. Petersen and DR.. and Mrs
Mason and see the artistic work
done at these places by Louis
Grandjean, the French Landscape
gardener. At both places Mr.
Grandjean has shown great skill
in his work, and has withou
question demonstrated the fac
that he understands his business
He is now doing some work at tn,
home Of Mr.. and Mrs. w. H
kortz west of town, and whcl
this Is completed he will be opel
for any other engagement.
See Pounds linoleum.
Mr.. Arthur L. Fairchild anc
Miss Jennie E. Marsh, of Level
len, were united in marriage las
Tuesday evening at the home o
the groom's brother in this place
The ceremony was performed by
County Judge Turner in the pres
ence Of few friends and relative:
The contracting parties are wei
known IN the vicinity OF Level
len and have many friends will
whom the Grit it-Advocate joins il
wishing them much happiness
and prosperity.
John r. Hamilton. of Jules
burg, arrived in Greeley last Sat
urday evening and has been the
guest of j. B. Patton and othel
friends. He is greatly in love
with the rich Poudre valley, anC
would like to exchange some o
his landed interests in Nebrask;
for some Of our incompatible sol
He spent a part of the week witt
Carl Andersen, of the Courier, al
Fort Collins. Greeley Sun.
See Pounds wall paper.
Louis Grandjean, the Frencl
landscape gardener, is figuring
with the city council on the prop
osition to place the park in goot
condition. Considerable worl
could be done to good advantage
here; the lawn in a number o.
places is barren of grass, and this
defect Mr., Grandjean claims tt
be able to remedy. The counci
has not yet taken decisive actor
on the matter.
A good start has been made by
a few enterprising men towards
arranging for live stock exhibit
and race meeting IN the county
next fall. A race track has been
surveyed and work on its con
struction has begun. Let tho
promoters of the enterprise have
your moral support and tinancia
aid; they will call on you for both
before the grounds are complet
ed.
f. D. Hamilton, of Julesburg
was Chappell visitor Friday af-
ternoon. Dlltz says he thinks
the free silveritcs of Colorad,
have an eye for diamonds as wei
as the white metal. AT any rate
he is shy hundred dollar spark
ler since attending one of theiI
conventions at Denver. Chapel
Register.
Those of the visiting delegates
to the Christian Endeavor conven
ton who remained over unit
The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25
For Sale

100 good native yearling steers; 100
good native cows, to years old.
HARRIS q PARKER,
Julesburg, Colo.
The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25

For the next thirty days l will
pay for No. l hides, &c; No. 3, sc.
Respectfully,
G.. B. Woolman.