davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21

recommended to him for general manager.
Splitlog asked what he would charge. When
told that the salary would lie $1,000 u month
SplitIog said:
oh. my. that's too much. / can get p!=n-
ty of managers for sl.g5 a day"
lie was induced To employ an experienced
man. however. and did not take any SIS
manager for the job.
While strict in his expenditures in p GER
eral way. the old Indian was kind-hcartcsi
and charitable. and gave Il great deal to the
poor and needy. He was also dcvoutly To-
Iigious, and would often kneel down il :'r
woods in prayer to ask for sone blessing
which he especially desired. Both SrlitloS
and his wife were good Catholics. and ncar
the end Of his business career he built Il
very fine Catholic church at his home. thea
called Splitlog. hut then known as rayu-a.
The railroad from Kansas City TO Natche-
and Atlanta was being agitated at The time
Splitlog's Imaginary gold mine WAS dis
covered, and he determined to build Il pGr-
ton of the road at once and connect il
with other lines later on. lie was anxious
to have the road reach his home town and
gold mine. About this time Colonel l.. l..
Bush of Philadelphia. an experienced rail
road builder, ard General John II. iiise Of
Fort Scott. Kas. who were considering
plans for building Il railroad from Kansas
City south to Joplin and cth"r points. were
induced to Join Spiitlog in his enterprise.
Spl!tlog realized about s250.G0 cash on his
land near Kansas City. and began building
the road. The plan was II tuild the nrSt
twenty miles. from Neosho To Joplin. then
Issue bonds on that part of the roid, and
out Of the sales of bonds hu',i another
twenty mills George Hubert. a Neosho
attorney. who WAS attorney for Split,og
and the road, went to New York TO have
the bonds engraved ard ready for issue.
While in New York Hubert received n
telegram. informing him tha, a MORTGAGE
had been given upon the road and a fore
closure was threatened. II seems tina; Split
logs ready money was running low. and
differences had arisen between him ana
Moses W. Clay. who had reen his general
manager, and the business affairs of the
company were in bad shape. SplitloC raised
the necessary money. however. and oDer-
atoms were resumed. Hubert succeeded in
patching Up a temporary truce. and neso-
tiated for bonds for construction purposes,
to be issued as rapidly as the road was
built. Soon thereafter Splitlog sold an III
terest to L.. l.. Bush. who became an inn
portant factor in building the road. Split
log continued as a large stakeholder. and
the road was still called the Splitlog Rail-
road. but ifs official title became the kan
sas City, Fort Smith and Southern" Split
log was president.
The road was put into operation by this
company. and was soon extended 10 Sulphur
Springs. Ark. The road also extended to
SpitleR. but on account of the steep grade
1t was changed, and the village of Splitlog
was left OF the main line. and a new and
better route was taken. divergins from the
old Eouts.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21
Roll a Pumpkin.

The Reverend John Haynes was famous
for his. pithy sayings. At one time hs
overheard his daughter and some young
friends criticising certain neighbors moro
severely than was pleasing to him. where
upon he proceeded to read them a lecture
on the sinfuluess of scandal.
"HSt. father demonstrated his daugh-
ter. I'VE must say something"
If You can DO nothing BETTER retorted
Mr. haynes. dryiy, get d pumpkin and
roli it about. That viii he at least an in
nocent diversion"
Not long afterwards n conference of min
listers met at his house. During the even
Ing an earnest discussion on certain points
of doctrine arose., and from the lofty pitch
of some of the voices it seemed az II part
of tine d,sputants, at least. were In danger
of losing their temper.
At tAat juncture. Mr.. Haynes's daughter
quietly entered the room. bearing a huge
pumpkin. She put It down in front Of her
father. and said: There, father, roll IL
about: roll ii about"
Mr.. Haynes was called upon for an ex-
PLANTATION. and good humor was restored.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21

Meanwhile President SplitloG's alleged
god uirc had becn shown up in its tru-
iich;. ard the oil Indian discovered that he
had bought n saltcd mire. and the yellow
mi1cra! that had cl.oI him with hope ana
created irilescCnt dreams Of fabulous
wealth. had proven TO be nothing but ry-
rites of iron. The road 10 %.;?litlnG and is
gold mire became hut an infrequerted
branch, and finally il was abandoned en-
tirsly.
In Iss! thirty-fve miles OF railroad had
been put into operation. or under way. and
Sp!ir. 8 had pEt $4,000 into his Pc scheme.
But his troubles beg N TO grow, and finally
hc was compelled to sell out The SplitloS
road WA sold to John L. Stevenson OF
Pennsylvania. old Matthias Sriitiog receiv-
in= for his stock saCe.ooe in bonds of the
road.
Tie work of binding the road began in
rSSs. ali it PASSED from SpiitIos's control
in 1s9J. and then he lived on his estate near
TIFF City. in Mcdonald County, Missouri
The old Indian had sold eleven acres OF his
land near Kansas City for $500: thirty-six
acres there FOR $4,000. and ninety-thrce
acres for Sl20.C0.. Al of this. with the ex-
ceptiyn Of Il few thousand dollars. had
been put into his railroad and the rest had
gone into his imaginary gold mine and I'M
p~roveuents in his home town. For his Sel,-
900 worth of bonds Splitlog had to pay some
OF his attorneys half of it for fees, and the
balance he sold at So. OOo.
When this deal was made Splitlog was
feeling very much dissatisfied. and had lost
confidence in white men and their banks,
hence. instead of depositing the $4,000
which he got out of his railroad stock be
kept the money for awhile and then hid 1t
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21
$&$

place. Fine wines and elegant dinners were
rendered to Splitlog. but he never used IN
eating.
Splitiog was naturally an economist and
did not believe in extravaganza or luxury in
any form. When h, got to New York he
and Clay put up at ono OF the best hotels.
Clay selected the hotel and splitlog was to
pay the bills. The rate was IS a day for
each When 1t CAME to settling, Splitlog
said it was too much money to pay for one
days board and lodging; that he liked it at
the hotel at Seneca Undian Territory just
as well. and it only cost 81 a day there. An
other time. when he first started to build his
railroad. N experienced railroad man was
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21
MATTHIAS SPLITLOG, INDIAN.
G:.%S

confidential friend. adviser and assistant,
the old Indian went to Wyandotte and ar
ranged 40 sell his land in order to raise suf-
fcient funds to build his contemplated rail-
road. He and Clay planned a great future
and saw themselves as multimillionaires.
They took 4 trip East to New York. Boston,
Philadelphia and other cities, d~evoting three
months to the trip. They were entertained
and feted ct many places and received as
much attention as if they We're some royal
Tersonages visiting this country. At Niblo's
Garden. New York. the management bought
Splitiog a fine Indian chiefs suit Of cha
mois. gaudily trimmed. ard gave him the
run of the house. His appearance as a great
chief was one OF the attractions of the
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21

"Of course 7 DO not" was he equally
naughty response.
that YOU. brought UP in the army, decline
to fight demanded the challenger.
Il TO with YOU. sir" returned the veteran,
Then ! shall post you as a cowardys
hotly cried Mr.. +.
Post me as a coward,' testify answered
the Governor. Post and he hanged to your
but if you do you will only post yourself
as a contemplate liar. and every one will
know it,"
Mr. P.s explanation OF tho affair was
that General Scott gave him satisfaction.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21
u Ii l.
I II Z
7 81 TX

Matthias Sr.itlos'a symbols used for fig
ur's. The figures within the symbols show
what number each represented. As rresi-
dent OF the Sriitlog Railroad. l.ardlius
money iy tie h,.udrcda and troIsanis' the
old Indian used his system altogether, in
STA! a. figures. and Il" had 4 way of sign
ing his name with these symbols. Begin
Ming az symbol seven and counting upward
t" -four and one he passed ever these
symbols. picking out certain, numbers ana
spelling out his and ether names win
thCrl. Only he ever thoroughly under
stood his complicated method of spelling.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21

FOR THE UNDAY REPUBLIc.
Miss Ella Ewing, the Missouri tail girl.
lives on a farm near CORN, No, which she
has purchased with her earnings. she
planned the house. and it Is deFigned espe-
cially for a person who is s feet and 4
inches In height, and Miss Ewing is just
that tall. The doors are unusually high. and
Miss Ewing has the satisfaction of living
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21

IN a home IN which she does not have to
stoop in passing from room to room.
The Missouri G'antess is a home-body.
She is a dutiful daughter. and was very
proud and happy when she was able to
make a comfortable home fo- her parents.
She has travelled in circuas for years. and
has now settled down on 4 farm to get
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-10-21

something Of the real good Of living.
The picture shows her standing In her
dooryard.- To the left stands her father. Mr..
Ben Ewing, and on his left. stands a friend
of the family. Miss BIackwood of la
orange. Mo. The. father. 5 feet II inches In
height. stands best e his daughter in all
her S feet and 4 inches of tallness.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
Ants Invent a Wagon.

There are good many ants Of diff
ferent varieties on the lot at my coun-
try place. near COvington, and last
year 1 began to make n systematic
study of their habits" says a contribu-
tor to the New Orleans Times-Demo-
crat. Near one of my flower beds is
a colony of small red ants that are ex-
tremely Industrious in collecting food,
and they frequently perform the most
astonishing engineering feats in trans
porting heavy burdens to their home.
Not long ago l watched n party of
about a dozen who had found the body
of a small spider and were dragging it
toward the nest. The spider had hairy
legs, which stuck out in every direction
and caught on obstacles, greatly re-
tarding progress. For several min
utes the ants toiled away with their
awkward booty and then stopped and
seemed to hold a council. a minute
fragment of dry leaf was lying on the
ground, and presently they all lay hold
and pulled the spider on top of it.
Then they seized the edges and slid it
along without difficulty"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
The Bent Match Magic.

Bend n wooden match in the middle,
which will. of course, almost break.
being held together only by a few
fberS.
Now place it at an acute angle across
the mouth OF an empty bottle, with a
penny on top OF the match.
The problem is to cause the penny to
fall into the bottle without touching
either the bottle. match or penny.
Unless you know how to do it. it
would no doubt seem impossible, yet it
is SO simple as to cause one to say,
"Oh. that's nothing to do
Dip your finger in a glass Of water.
and, holding 1t above the angle OF the
bent match. allow a few drops of water
TO fall upon il, and 10. swollen by the
water. the fbers of the wood will
straighten themselves. and you will
gradually see the angle of the match
grow larger and larger until it opens
so far as to permit the coin to drop in
side the bottle.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
NEWS FACTS IN OUTLINE.

The Texas cataclysm caused a wild
time on the New York Cotton eX-
change.
The grand jury at Frankfort. KY, is
expected to indict some more Ken
tuckians as implicated in Goebefs
murder.
Two shirtwaist men were attacked
by idlers in Douglas park, Chicago,
and the police rescued them.
Alexander DatOsch and Max BOckin
were lifelong friends at Chicago, but
Bockin didn't know the revolver was
loaded.
Mary Kozdus, years old. fell into
a rub of boiling water at her home in
Chicago. She died later at the county
hospital.
Walter Vrooman. who originated the
labor college movement in England,
and who founded Ruskin hall at Ok
ford, is back in America TO extend his
work.
James Burnside, a deacon of the
Baptist colored mission at Chicago,
shot his wife through the heart be-
cause she refused to accompany him
to church.
Andrew Koneczny, of Chicago, de-
tected the odor of gas in a dark cor
ner of his saloon near the ice chest
and hunted the leak with a lighted
match.
Seventy-three cities already counted
have a total population of I5,214,J66.
There were "A deaths in Chicago
last week.
"Old Jimmy" Regain, an old charac-
ter known in Evanston, Ills. for many
wears as the man who boosted he had
not worked since the Chicago fire, is
dead.
Gold ore running $500 ton has
been discovered at the 1oO-foot level
of the Piegan. near Marysyille, Mont.
General Butler attacked the Beers at
Spitzkop. drove them out of their posi-
ton with a loss of thirteen killed and
twenty-five wounded on his side. and
heavy loss" OF Beers.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11

some and gallant young cock robin,
was most attentive. and | frequently
observed signs of jealousy on the part
of Mr.. Oriole.
This spring. shortly before their re-
turn TO town. a violent windstorm
damaged the aged willow. breaking the
limb on which was the nest. Two or
three mornings later 1 was awakened
by the greatest twittering and chirping
you ever heard. The Oriole family
had returned and were perched on the
limp and swaying limb. evidently dis
cussing what they had better do. Pres
emily Mr.. Oriole. accompanied by his
wife. went of. After few hours they
returned and began moving house. So
judged they had found suitable and
safer location where they intended to
build another nest. They set to work
to pull their nest to pieces and carry
away the twigs and leaves and feath-
ers of which it was composed. Some
of those thieving sparrows noticed
what they were doing, and, slyly wait
ing till the Orioles had flown off with
their bills full of twigs and feathers.
they would pounce down upon the nest
and steal all they could. Mrs. Oriole
caught them ut 1t after awhile. and
then she and her husband discussed
the matter. Presently they came to a
satisfactory conclusion. for after that
they took turns guarding the nest
while the other would carry off parti-
Giles OF 1t for their new home.
They are gone now, and / miss them
sadly. They were such cheerful birds.
Mr.. Oriole was much the better dresser.
He wore n costume of orange, vermil-
ion and black. Some people used TO
call them the Baltimore birds because
Lord Baltimore. who located in Mary
land in the time of Charles l. had his
servants dressed in liveries OF the same
colors as worn by Mr.. Oriole.-Brook-
lyn Eagle
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
CRIMES CAUSES AN ACCIDENT
Fugitive Murderer and Pursuers Collide
with a Carriage ut Des Moines.

Des Moines. Ia, Sept. 11.-Mattie
Mash, colored, shot and fatally in
jured William Foster. also colored.
Sunday afternoon at the home oil Miss
Mash's father, \. Mash. Second and
Grand avenues. Miss Mash alleges
that Foster failed to keep promise to
marry her. She attempted to escape
in a buggy, but was pursued and cap
tured by Sergeant of Police Morris,
who gave chase in a buggy belonging
to Fire Chief Burnett.
The race was through the business
portion of the city. At Sixth and Locust
streets the pursuers collided with
carriage containing Mr.. and Mrs. X.
J. Putnam and Mrs. NJ. a. Hayes. The
occupants We're thrown out. Mrs.
Hayes sustaining fractures of the skull
which are expected to prove fatal. The
others were less seriously injured.
Miss Mash was confined in the city
iail.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
Notice of Publ,eaaon-oh.pesr,
STATE nfuIinniS

State of Illinois,
County OF Rock Island s.
IL In the circuit court September term, A. D
Mary J. Melvin vs. George L Melvin In chan
ce-y.
Ar1davit of the nou-resldence OF George
L Melvin. the defendant above named. hsv-
Ing been fled In the once of the clerk of said
circuit court OF Rock Island county, no.
tee Is hereby given 10 the said nonresident
defendant that the complainant has fled her
Dill OF complaint in said court on the chancery
side thereof. on the 18th day of July A D.
1900, and that a summons thereupon iS-ued out
OF said court against said defendant returna
BILE on the Eth day OF September A D. 1900
as Is by law required.
Now. therefore. unless you. the said George
l. Melvin, shall personally be and appear be fore
the said circuit court of Rock Island county, on
Tue rrSt day OF the next term thereof 70 be
holden at the court house II the city of Rock
lAand. n said county. the 18th day OF Sep
TEMPER A. d 1900, and plead. ansVe r or deuur
10 the said compliments bill OF COMPLAINT
the same and the matters and things therein
charged and stated viii be taken as confessed.
and decree entered against you according 20
the praye- of sails bill
In testimony whereof. have hereuuto set
my hand aud ar.xed the seal of said court at
my once in Rock Island. this 18th day of July
A u lSoo GEORGE w. GAMBLE, Clerk.
SEARLE &NARSHALL.
July IL. A. n. 1900
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
PURsUER Is A HYPNoTIsr.
ursued, . Girl, Dodges Him by Wearing
Male Raiment-

Oshkosh, Wis. Sept. 11.-Miss En-
ma Rollo, of New London, the young
woman who was discovered Saturday
TO be wearing male attire. has left
the city and whittier she went no one
knows. Before she departed she
changed her clothing and resumed fe-
male wearing apparel. Charles Klie-
10th, the man who aided her in max
ing her disguise and with whom she
worked, says he was informed by the
girl that the lover who was pursuing
Miss RoliO welded some power over
the girl of which she was afraid.
She told him. he says, that she was
afraid to be near him and therefore
chose 10 Wear male attire. When N
this mans Lever she claimed she was
unable to resist him. and she became
plastic in his hands. Kliefoth intimates
that ii is a case of hypnotism. The
man in question, whose name is not
known, was in Oshkosh a month or
more ago looking for the girl.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
PAYING FOR A MEAL.
1t Was Worth a Shilling to Pick
Those Bones.

Those bones.
Colonel Ebenezer Sproat, of Revolu-
tionary fame. was born and bred in
Middleboro. Mass. He was always
fond OF joke and was quick TO seize
an opportunity to indulge his propen-
sity. as the following incident, related
by DIR. Hildreth. well illustrates. His
father, also n Colonel Sproat, kept
tavern. One day while Ebenezer was
at home on n furlough three private
soldiers. on their return from the scat
of war, called for a cold luncheon.
Mrs. Sproat set on the table some
bread and cheese with the remnants of
the family dinner, which her son
thought rather scanty fare for hungry
men. He felt a little veXed that the
defenders of the country were not
more bountifully supplied. The sol
diers, after satisfying their appetites,
asked him how much they should pay.
Ebenezer said he would ask his moth
err He found her in the kitchen.
Mother" he said, how much is it
worth TO pick those bones:
About a shilling, l guess" she an
swered. 90.
The young officer returned TO the sol
diers, and, taking from the barroom till
shillings and smiling genially upon
them, gave each man one and with
good wishes sent them on their way.
Mrs. Sproat soon after came in and
asked Ebenezer what he had done with
the money for the soldiers dinner.
In apparent amazement he eXclaim-
ed: Money! Did 1 not ask you what
it was worth to pick those bones, and
you said a shilling? 1 thought it little
enough, for the bones were pretty bare,
and / handed the men the money
from the till. and they are gone"
Mrs. Sproat could not find heart to
reprove her faVorite son for this mis-
Interpretation of her words, and then
she, too. loved a joke. and so, after an
instants glum look. she laughed and
said it was all right.-Youth's Com
panion.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
The ADVANCE of Time.

The age of man, we are told, is three
score years and ten. From % to 40,
If the health be good, no material al
iteration is observed. From thence to
so the change is greater. Fifty-flve
to 60, the alteration startles; still we
are not bowed down. In the earliest
periods of our life the body strength
ems and keeps up the mind; in the later
stages of it the reverse takes place,
and the mind keeps up the body; n
formidable duty this and keenly felt
by both. Such Is times progress
Scottish American.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
Hanging Is Too Good for Them.

Beatrice, Neb., Sept. II. - George
Noe, a prominent resident of this coun-
ty, was arrested Saturday night.
charged with being a participant in
the murder of David Jones. wealthy
farmer living near Wymore, who was
tortured to death two years ago. Jones
was bound and gagged and his feet
burned with a coal oil flame in the
hopes that he would divulge the loca-
ton of his money. Noe says he is in
nncant
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
A Typical Tot.

BE nearly tanned 9 chipmunk,
He nearly stunned an owl,
he nearly saw a polar bear,
He nearly heard il growl;
BE nearly killed q rattlesnake,
He nearly felt it squirm;
He nearly caught the biggest fish
With nearly half a worm.
he nearly walked a dozen miles;
He very nearly hit
The eagles nest he nearly found;
He nearly climbed to it.
Now II he nearly ord 50 much
When young. il seems TO me
What 4 wonderfully clever man
He'll nearly grow TO be
-Ethelvyn Wetkerzld in Youths Companion
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
No Cures at Holy HILL

Hartford. Wis, Sept. 1.-THE feast
of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was
observed at st. Mary's church at Holy
Hill Saturday with the usual services
in commemoration of that event. The
largest excursion this year was pres
emit About 300 came from Chicago and
about 200 from Milwaukee, while the
smaller towns along the road helped
to swell the numbers up into the thou
sands. No miraculous cures We're re-
T1nrtod
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
ACCOMPLISHED FOUR DEATHS.
EIississippi Merchant Sends Wife, Two
Children and Self to Eternity.

Jackson, Miss. Sept. 11.-At West
station, five miles north of here, yes
terday George Moore, a prominent
merchant who had been suffering with
periods of insanity for some time, adj
miniStered strychnine to his wife and
two little children. telling them it was
Quinine to keep off chillS.
Within few minutes all three were
dead. Moore then took a pistol and
firing two bullets through his own
heart fell to the floor across the dead
body of one of his little children.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
Miner. Advised To BE "Rendy."

Shamokin, Pa. Sept. 11.-George w.
Hartlein. secretary of the Shamokin
district. United Mine Workers, received
the following dispatch at S p. N. yes
terday from President John Mitchell
at Chicago: ''If efforts now being made
to settle fail strike will be declared
in a few days. Advise miners to get
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-11
Feeding the Robins.

Each infant robin, il is estimated, re-
Quires for its proper maintenance about
Il inches OF tender angleworm every
day. As robin family averages four.
the mother is obliged 10 provide sc
inches OF worm daily. Considering the
difficulties and dangers OF getting
worms. these statistics throw an inter
esting light on the industry and cour-
age OF the mother robin