The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-02-08


Ida Record pretty schOOlteach-
er, who recently ran race to the
land office with Jim McNey, Of
the same place, beating him by frac-
tion Of a second, but beating him all
the same, 10 the delight Of her friends,
says the ST. Louis GlObe-DemOcrat.
Miss Record has been the teacher for
several years in the village nestled
among the Ozarks just off the bank
Of the picturesque White River The
President OF the village had succeeded
by hard work and many priyatlOns In
building q substantial schoOlhOustN
For convenience the teacher lived In a
small log house adjacent, with her
widowed mother and little sister.
There never would have been any
question as 10 the rights OF the village
in occupying the bit Of ground where
the schoolhOusc Is located had il not
been for the recent mineral excitement
throughout this entire country. This
was the incentive which induced the
people TO look closely 10 their own and
their ncighbors' title deeds, and IN the
course Of his Investigation Jim McVcy
discovered that the schOOlhOuSe was
built upon land that had never been
claimed by anybody. The young man
made up his mind 10 own that bit Of
land. and so took measures 10 home
stead" il. The schOOltcacher was told
Of the intentions Of the gentleman,
and Immediately decided that she
would present a prior claim 10 the
land, which was Of 50 much value 10
her as the site Of the schOOlhOuse.
The town OF Harrison. the seat Of the
land office, was sixty miles away. over
rough mountain roads. but that didn't
daunt the little lady. who determined
that If McVey was going there 10 take
her schOolhouse she would get there
first and homestead it herself She
called upon her brother TO assist her.
and they sadd!cd their horses and the
race began, Miss Record patriotically
defending the rights Of the little red
schoolhouse" and Mr. McNcy working
for Mr.. McVey.
The ride was long and full Of dra-
matte incidents. Upon reaching White
River Miss Record learned that Mr.
McVcy had just crossed. She did not
wait for the ferryboat, but into the
river she urged her horse. He plunged
breast high into the stream and swan
most of the distance to the other side.
Then on to YCllvillc with foam-fccked
sides the horse went. the plucky little
rider never hcstating 4 moment until
she had jumped from it's back at the
door Of the clerks Office in this town.
The clerk looked at the pretty, flushed
face of the lady rs she stated her
wishes, and it was with real diSap-
pointmcnt in his tone that he informed
her that McNcy had been there five
minutes before. But" said he, Miss
Record, this mans papers have not
yet gone to Harrison. and If you can
get there before they do you can yet
have the land" 1t was > o'clock in
the afternoon. but she was ready 10
mount a fresh horse and begin the
thirty-thrcc-m ride. In the mean
time McNcy had learned that she and
her brother had set out for Harrison,
and it didn't take him long 10 make up
his mind TO follow them. He arrived
at Harrison at about the same time rs
the others, and they rode up TO the
land office together, only to learn that
the land office would not be open until
o o'clock the next morning.
In the interval Miss Record had
canvassCd all the possibilities afforded
by technicalities, and long before the
hour she was present, having taken
her stand AZ the desk of the recorder.
McNey stood before the desk of the
receiver. She was in the best humor
imaginable, and made several witty
remarks at his expense while the re
corder waited watch in hand. Finally
he laughed just ut the moment the re
corder called time. and Miss Record
dropping her papers on his desk, said:
IL file these for record MCNey was
one moment too late. his laugh having
cost him the homestead. Miss Record
declares that, as soon rs she gets the
title she will deed the school building
To the town of Oakland, and although
the people of the village feel safe
about their schoolhouse they have
cause for regret as the neighboring
town has offered Miss Record more
money for her services in It's school