davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24
Dronfield. March IL. 1900.

Dear Cousin promised you an ac-
count OF the battles took part in
during the campaign. You remember
! wrote you Of our being at the
Oran"e river. Well, we left that place
November 81, 1890, and marched thru
a place called Chalk Farm, arriving
there the same afternoon. We rested
until the next afternoon, then made
our way to Belmont Farm. On the
way our artillery went forward and
shelled the Eoer position, the Beers
returning the compliment. The next
morning we moved out of camp at
2:l5 o'clock, after having had drink
of coffee. The guard brigade on the
right, our brigade, the Ninth, on the
left, and that was all the infantry we
had. My regiment was leading the
one brigade, about 1900 yards from
the Boer position. We had railroad
to cross and the enemy let the Grena-
diers and our regiment know it. They
had the range splendidly. Some OF
our fellows We're caught in the barb
wire and know couple OF chaps
who were Shot in getting over it. The
battle had hardly started before they
were calling upon the stretcher-
ers to bring in the wounded. The
Beers do not seem to care whether
you are stretcher bearer or not; they
fire on you just the same. The in.
fantry took the first two kopjes with
out the help OF artillery at the point
of the bayonet, but the artillery she'll
ed the third kopje with shrapnel, SO
that made it bit easier. The Grena-
diers had the most casualties and my
regiment came next. The troops got
in camp about noon, but few of us
VINO We're stretcher bearers waited
and had walk around the few
houses that were there. / was not
able to carry piano about, or else |
should have done so. There was plen-
ty of loot, but there is strict orders
about looting property. returned to
camp about o'clock that afternoon
and after we had a rest we buried our
dead, which included two officers and
sixteen men. Our wounded numbered
over forty, and four officers. We
marched the next day to camp with
Dutch name and moved off the next
morning. The scouts found the enc
my along some hills called Graspan
They We're not in such great numbers
as before, SO the guard brigade was
told off to guard the convoy. The ar
tillery and naval gunners shelled the
position for a long time and made ii
a lot easier for the infantry, our regi-
ment losses being very light. The
sailors and marines charged the hill
but kept too close together and lost
rather heavily. The next day, Sunday
we had days rest. Lord Methuen
gave us a speech, telling lis we had 4
lot harder work to do, but he knew
we would do it. He spoke about the
Beers firing explosive bullets, but said
he would give them credit for not do.
ing it until he was sure about it. He
also told us we We're fighting foe
who show their own positions. A
foe who was brave and to whom we
could not afford to give one point
There was great scarcity of water
that day, but we managed to get some
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24
LibrarIe. Are Numerous.

School libraries are always numer-
Gus. in Iowa. The legislature two
years ago passed law permitting
boards of directors to spend $25 annu-
ally for libraries. The number of
boards that have awaited themselves
of this law is comparatively small.
State Superintendent Barrett made a
thoro Investigation, last year of the
number of school libraries in the
state.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24
Tho Purchase of the Books.

The law limits the district in the
purchase of books tosa list to be rec
ommeadct! by the state board Of edu-
cational examiners. If the books were
intended only for the use of the coun-
try schools under the provisions of
this act the preparation of the list
would be very simple matter, but
the law permits the board of directors
of any independent district to come
under the provisions of the law. No
vote of the people is required. 1t is
entirely in the hands of the board.
This gives the directors in cities ard
towns an opportunity to establish
good sized Libraries, as the tax in
sucn t.isurlcrs would amount 10 con
siderable sum. These districts would
not want to be limited to list of
books that would be ample for the
country districts. School libraries are
already established in nearly all of The
cities and towns, and they are pro-
vided with the elementary books
which are required in the country
schools. In Wisconsin, where such
law has been in force for more than
twenty years, good libraries have been
built up in all the public schools. The
list of books from which the directors
may make selections for the libraries
is very large one and includes sew
eral thousand volumes.
State Roard Cautious.
The state board is going slowly and
carefully. 1t is the intention to pro-
vide such regulations as shall guard
against the Objectionable results that
the opposition to this law have pre-
dicted would follow. They have said
that the law would not accomplish
what was promised for it, because the
books would soon be scattered and lost,
Therefore, the board will try hard to
provide that first, the money appro-
priated shall buy the right sort to be
useful in the schools; and second. that
the books once purchased will be ear
ed for and some one made response
BILE for every volume. A system has
not yet been worked out, but it will be
at the subsequent. meeting of the
board. The first thing to do is to Sc
cure a list of books from which the di-
rectors may select the libraries and 10
provide for the economical handling
of the books at some point in Iowa
20 that the boards may purchase them
at the lowest cost and with the least
trouble. The secretary of the board
has been directed to prepare sug-
gestiye list OF 500 books to be sub
mitted to the board at it's next meet
ing. The list when revised and per-
fected will be submitted to the book
dealers and publishers, who will be re-
quested to bid upon the entire list
and the lowest average bidder will be
designated to handle the books thru
that house for the sake of convenience
as we'll as economy.
The board recognizes that the sue
cess OF. the law is largely dependent
upon the practicability of the system
devised for the care and use of the
books, and it may be expected, there
fore, that by examining the operation
of similar laws in other states and by
securing the experience of others a
perfect system will be devised.
Libraries Are Numerous.
School libraries are always numer-
Gus. in Iowa. The legislature two
years ago passed law permitting
boards of directors fa Spen6 Cox opp,,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24

Robert B. Van Gorder, of Boone,
was sentenced to two years and hall
in the penitentiary for bigamy.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24
Kimberley. March 0. 1900.

AltiDSilcy, -MaICl y, 1SuU.
My Dear Cousin-I received both
your letters, also the magazine and
paper. All reading matter comes in
very handy here. We have been in
Kimberley only two days, and there
are rumors of our moving already.
suppose you have read all about
the turn i'll the tide. 1t is turn for
the British now. The troops do not
expect the war to last much longer.
What a price General Butler paid to
get into Ladysmith, after being driven
back three or four times. The Beers
would have thrown up the sponge"
They wouldn't have had the pluck 10
stick to if like General Butler did.
Before Lord Roberts left the Modder
river to go away with the column, he
made our regiment speech. He said
he knew our regiment before most
OF us were born, and wished us sue
cess in whatever we had to do. | did
not see Cronje, but ! saw the Boer
prisoners when they came into Mod
der river. There were plenty OF for.
eigners among them and they We're
the sauciest lot l ever saw. They
seemed to think it was not right to
starve them out, but that it is far
for them to lay siege to our towns and
starve women and children.
There was a great deal of sickness
at Modder river, but our regiment was
very fortunate. rs only two men died
from disease. have never been i'll bet
ter health than since have been in
this country, but all the same it is
about the most miserable country that
I was ever in. After leaving Cape
Town there was not anything larger
than village until we arrived at Kim
berley.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24
MILEAGE INCREASES
Official Figures Of New Railroad
Construction In Iowa.
TOTAL INCREASE IS 72l.2O NILES
This is More Than Any Other Ysartn
the Past Ten or Fifteen - Table s
Showing Mileage aud
Increase.

Des Moines, May 21.-O Official figures,
given out by the secretary OF the state
executive council, show net increase
of over roo miles of railroad in the
state during the past year. This is
much greater increase than has been
shown in the history Of Iowa railroads
since the early eighties. It is attribut-
ed to the general prosperity of the
past year, and the large amount If
railroad improvement which has been
started in nearly every section OF the
state. The exact number OF miles
shown by the official table is 1896.
This does not include LOG miles of the
Northwestern road which have been
graded but not yet laid with rails, the
new line which the council taxed and
against which action the Northwesv-
ern protests, claiming that grade Is
not yet,a railroad and taxable as such.
The Northwestern heads the list lin
mileage increase, the total on all its
branches for the year being 286, 1913
miles. The Fort Dodge and Omaha line
ranks second with 1902 miles. The
Milwaukee is third in point OF increase,
having total of s2,242. The Minne-
apolis and st. Louis has 1856, and all
the other roads are below fifty. The
gross increase of all tie roads was
721.96. The table showing the changeel
follow:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24

Edward ADJUST, of Des Moines, was
dangerously injured in a runaway.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24

Net increase mileage. us. $50
Changes in mileage reported Janu.
ary, 1899, to January 1900
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-24

Total changes. !. ....721 200 Pa
2.24O
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28

Lester and Johnny Reiff, the IA
nous jockeys, left for Europe recently.
Lester is under contract with Croker
at $4,000, while his brother is holding
off. A Croker contract is said to be
awaiting the latter on the other side.
An immense amphitheater of the
oiympian kind, is being erected in
Paris, in view of the approaching ex-
position, and the influx of amusement
seeking crowds. The building is ex-
pected to accommodate $4,000 specta-
tors.
Wilson p. Foss of Haverstraw, N. j.,
is the new billiard star. He beat May
man c. McCreery of st. Louis, in the
class A billiard tournament in New
York not long ago, and thus becomes
the amateur champion of the United
States.
Paris is having a hard time deter
mining the championship of the world
for heavyweight wrestling. The con-
test has been going on nearly all win
ter before crowded houses, and it is
not yet settled The championship is
at present narrowed down to France,
Russia and Turkey. France is repre-
scented by Pons, Russia by Pytlasinski,
+! and Turkey by Kara Ahmed.
The campaign of 1899 brought more
| stations into prominence as possible
record breakers than had ever before
come out in one season, and although
none of them equaled the 2:o5A of Di-
rectum, it was evident quartet
| Tommy Britton, Peter the Great, Bin
gen and Cresceus-was at hand, any
| one of which had fair chance II
trained especially for a mile dash
| against the watch.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28
A Remarkable Pitching Feat.

One game that Jack Taylor pitched
last year deserves to be rated among
the most remarkable contests of the
campaign of '99 1t was the one game
OF note in which he figured during his
checkered career in Red. Jouett Nee
kin was the opposing slabman that
August afternoon. Algy Mcbride
brought one lucky tally home in the
first inning of Meekin's debut at
Beaneater. 1t proved to be the only
run of the game. I've seen many
nerve-straining struggle, but few that
surpassed the tension of that contest.
In every inning save one Boston got
men on bases, but in the ninth inning
II looked as If the game was gone.
With one out, Tommy Corcoran, who
had played spectacular at short, fell
down on an easy chance of Stahls.
Then Lowe hit safe. Marty Bergen was
greeted with frantic cheers, but he
struck out. Then Jimmy Stafford was
greeted as the man of the hour. In
deem center Mcbride ran down his fly,
and 1t was all over. Two of the actors
in that thrilling diamond drama of six
months ago are dead-Bergen and
TAYLOR. Post.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28
JOHN A. BLAURoCK.

organization at the annual meeting oil
the International Cyclists Association
in Paris. At this meeting it is believed
that the application of the National
Cycling association for membership to
the International Cyclists Association
will be unanimously accepted. Blau-
rock is an enthusiast on motor cycle
racing and expects to bring back to
America team Of expert motor cy-
clists from France. He contemplates
arranging a special circuit for motor
cycle contests in the eastern states,
taking in the more important cities.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28

in hahhedi active and strong. they
began TO grunt and gambol. ana IN
Splash up the glittering water. i'm
suddenly they caught sight OF ms ana
all lied, saye one. a fierce old boar
which after tearing up the grass win
his hlhd feet. came resoiutely forward
showing a pair OF tusks thar made me
ueinbie Tor the calves OF my legs n
J senIared 10 run of, and sim more
ior those q poor Hisiop. who was
a'iks unable 70 escape or confront him.
fortunately had my teakwood
spear.
Mhlle Keeping tree between me
ana The boar he prepared for the OF.
'shslYe BY whetling his terrible rusks
against a stone aud granting hoarsely
Excited and bewlldersd. as be came
on al quick run. charged my weap-
on tall AZ him, and By the mercy on
Providence. the point entered one q,
his nsree. glilierins eyes. which made
him rear up and feeoil. while In his
rage AID pain tie brlstl.s on his riary
back rose up like little blades Of stsei.
Into his ,hroat with your .pearr'
cried hklop. but anticipated The sur-
Eestion. Tor ere The words had Jeff his
lips J had thraslinx deep with
all the force tina, excitement and ter.
fos gave me-ihe polluted teakwood
shati cosa his red aud gaping throat.
Choking in blood. in foam and fury
the grea, boar NFi,hed upon his back
ard IN dplng 20 l~ltehed from m,
hands the weapon. which sull remained
nsdEcd Ia bis throat sad tongue. aac
rendered him allnos, powcyless
hHe~ noi shat 20 DO nos. for (, h.
snapped q through. and thus release
hiinsel'. &c. q al least |. would b,
l1at.
Bat as BE- lay there on his back ani
sides alternately. snoring. roaring az
covering The grass sitA bloody tru;h
and tearing Il b. his hrlstlss. ulslo
spsang ,0TNasa and taough weak wit
many hai.,heaisd N0unGs. drove
e,Asg'knite repeatedly into tho ihros
And stomach q Tho monster. whlc
aooa lsy stiii enough.
wh~a Il wAs quite dead ! drew OF
say lsakvpod spar and found n
poini almost nnlaJursd. Tor bad hard
eRea 81 ia ere.
, We tAfast tso crooksd hrsnehs
,hFungh The tracors % the boara hin
!. lsss. sad - thsse dfcN Il TO our hu
~hirh uas shout bali : mile distant
there cur pTlts cAastd great congrstl
latian among our crew. and ! ob;Kius
no little praise iof performing SO hard
feat
our return diverted for a tsms so-
snritemrat apd surprise which b
been caused BY The return o: To
tAmhuarne. PFobari and Carlton fro
the msuuisin top. vita udingn III
The Hnd4iEE Fsil boom bad ,an!she
and that rot > trace q It was to
f,lstnd zrqH here
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28
cnArTER xxx


The siaggcsFance q The boom and
of Tou's Cd striped shirt, which had
waved from u Ike banner. excited
considerable speculation aud some
ihluE Of alarm
IL Simply overturned BY The wiad, q
muss have lain whore Il fell. az all
events, R coala rot have rolled far
irum The eslfn. OF pile Of stones, In
the cratef II which We had vedEed
Il. By shat agency had this disap-
pparaucr come TO psss'
That II vas the work Of Wild AMI
mails could not for a moment be CON
relrsa. 90 the event oiled us with
vague bat very alarming conjecture,
with his Ratchet. probut the car
renter cut down snd prepared long
and slender tree TO replsee the lost
beam ON the TOP Of the DEVILS noun
tain AZ We nos termed it; and while
sns norton of US assisted him In this,
the other Get about the capture OF
soms OF the vild goats with which the
woods ahounded. as We we're anxious
40 prornre the milk of the females, and
the fesh o. their Kids
rhts VAS mos, arduons task. as
,hsy we're 90 feet OF foot; and yhen
nur.ued. or when in search OF those
hi,,,r and astrinEsnt plants OF whlen
they are 20 fond. they could gam tue
mos, DANGEROUS pinuscles and ledse'
Of rock that overhung the sea. In suoh
niacs. there grew kind Of wild lsour-
num and HIslop did not fAii 70 rs
mind mo that Theocritus described ~
as ,hs f.vorite food Of the goat
We often saw these agile duaoru-
ned. spring. without pause fear OF
res,,.,ion from pinnacle to pinnaolc'
- from ledge to ledge OF rock whele,
hsd thew missed footing, they mus
have fallen a thousand feet OF nO' ~
either into the ocean on one sios, !.
sa,na r,yine on the other, and tne,s'
nsrehsd far aloft. they would rem ,,l,
p ,"as,ns A. US quietly. and reminding
me OF the coupleE ros, re.
High hung in air the hoa's sV
cliued. - overv
,,,s streaming beard the sport oil every
wind" .xortIop
ne sroat industry, and the eheru w.
- ,nercdlble labor and activity, ,,a ".
~ in capturing i've by 'pv sss.
,us them from their aocks, ana ao Tnsr
ing them into e .s =. means Of e,
from which they had no a., them BY
cape. and then We se, ,So long boat.
'n so%s Of the female. afforded :, !. Who %s na;
rarity ah ,oo lat !, pea. The flesh Of s :.
we thought delicious ~
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28

the incompatible Terry. McGovern
went after Santry in the fifth round
and would have landed him had not
the referee stopped the bout. Santry's
best battle was with Ben Jordan, the
English champion, whom he Knocked
out in sixteen rounds last october.
Jordan had received decision over
George Dixon in twenty-five rounds In
New York in 1898. Another battle has
been fixed between Santry and Nc
Govern to come off April at the
broadway Athletic club in New York.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28

Discussing the reckless manner in
which most fighters squander their
money, Parson Davies says: After
all, the pugilist is not the only man
intended by nature to be spendthrift.
Many men in other walks of life, rails
ed TO sudden eminence and wealth,
have plunged into the most reckless
extravaganza, and wound up paupers.
The case OF Mike Kelly, the great ball
player. is a fitting example. Not a
few great military geniuses, raised by
their own efforts to the highest pin
nacle Of success, have died in the poor
house. They were controlled by en-
v!ronmeuts, just as the prize fighter is
H. in the evolution Of the social prob,
lem. the ring champion ever attains
higher stage of social perfection thar
be now reaches. he may change his
manner OF living and amass, instead
of recklessly distributing, wealth"
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28
laid out big Jim Jeffords. Jeffords was

laid out Dig Jim Jeffords. Jeffords was
counted out in the second round by the
referee. But 1t was the opinion OF
many sports present that he 'laid
down" to avoid further punishment
Brady. on behalf OF Jeffries. says
that the champion is perfectly willing
to give Fitzsimmons another fight,
but he insists that he will only give 1t
to him upon the terms which Fitzsim-
mons exacted OF him: Sixty-fve per
cent OF the gate receipts, win or lose.
To this Fitzsimmons demurs, saying:
when / took Jeffries on ! was cham
pion OF the world. while be was only
fourth rater."
There is talk of arranging a match
between Frank Erne, the lightweight
champion, and Terry McGoyern, the
feather-weight king. There is but lit
tie chance of battle being fought be-
tween these two clever fighters for
some time yet. 1t is hoped, however,
that contest can be arranged be-
tween the two, and il there be, 1T
promises to be one of the best that
has been seen in many day.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28
GENERAL SPORTING.
CURRENT EVENTS IN VARIOUS
FIELDS.
Growth of Golf In the United ststss-
CkicaGo Gcts This Years 0rest Event
Coming Events In the Prize Ring
Various Notes of Sport.

That the game of golf is taking rap
Id strides In this country was illrS-
trated at the annual meeting Of the
United States Golf association at Del
monico's recently. More than 200 dele
gates. representing clubs from all over
the United States, attended the meet
ing and were enthusiastic over the
healthy and encouraging increase in
the number of clubs during the past
year and the bright outlook for the fu-
ture. The secretary, Robert Page
Kerr, gave most encouraging report.
The association during the past year
has been increased by the addition OF
torty-six clubs, making the member
ship at present, twenty-four associate
and 143 allied clubs, total of 1G7. The
| awarding OF the championship events
for the coming season was expected to
cause considerable argument and dis
cussion, but even this important mat
/ ter was decided with dispatch. The
/ St. Andrews Golf clubs were the chief
I rivals for the open event, but the first
named club had got in its fine work
before the meeting and was awarded
! that event by an overwhelming vote.
| The amateur championship goes to
Garden City this year and the woman's
championship tournament was award
ed TO the Shinnecock Hills Golf club.
The officers elected for the ensuing
year are as follows: President-W. b.
Thomas. Country club, Brookline
Mass; first vice president, John Reid
st. Andrews Golf Club, New York;
second vice president, II. c. Chatfield'
Taylor, Onwentsia Golf club. Lake
Forest. H.: secretary, Robert Page
Kerr, Golf club Of Lakewood. n. j.
treasurer, Samuel Y. Heebner, Phila
delphia Country club. Philadelphia
Executive ommittee-Thomas Reid
II. C. Chatfeld-Taylor, r. B. Kerr, 5
Y. Heebner. Judge Horace Russell ant
Alfred NJ. Coats. The dates of tn
championships were left to the decis
ion OF the executive committee, VIII
viii consider the opinions of the diff
ierent clubs to which the events wer
awarded.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-04-28

The daughter OF Zulu in comfort
able circumstances does not leave her
fathers kraal without much pomp and
many queer rites. which doubtless are
held by her people in high estimation.
II may be noted, too, that the marriage
customs OF these dusky Africans are
subject to innumerable variations,
zach tribe having its own peculari-
,ies Hairdressing. by the way, is an
,unnrtant feature both to the bride
and bridegroom, and the attention
Maid 10 the coiffure OF the pair would
shnm. the performance OF West end
hslrdresser who arrsnges brides
locts and fsstens the orange blossom
oh.pIct A cone-shsped erection. for
Instance. is the lawful couture of
y,,,, wife. and this cannot be legally
u,orn till the marriage rites are duly
comp,eted. Save for the sll-important
.o,e the head of Zulu bride is close
=. shaved. an assegsi being used for
,,o purpose: whilst. as soon as
you,h is Of a manageable age, his
s.as Is shorn to leave ring round
,he scalp. and then literally besmear-
9TH Cat and ochre, without which
es no Zulu would feel httingly
,nsarotea for his bride, When the
e.s,sosroom-elect has been shorn OF all
hair save .he wool on the crown,
n 18th "a trained in circular shape
WA some four inches In diameter a
~ d sevn to this, of gum and char
lln S. IN this the Zulu thrusts long
sO"f, spoons, needles, and small utility
sn ,p,,e - and is very proud of his ring.
M ,',.n q the badge of manhood
VIII .casselrs Magazine" for March.