Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-21

The official vote was canvassed and
the election declared, save in the case
of sheriff, where there is a contest by
the republican candidate, who was
beaten by thirteen votes. The board
instructed the county auditor to pub
fish the otlicialvote of the county strict
ly in accordance to law and not in the
tabulated form as has been the Gus
tom. The order was made so as to
save expenses. The tabulated form
costs about three times more than the
plain statement of facts as recorded
in the minutes of the board.
Moses Press of Omaha, an old resi-
dent of Charlton, is spending few
days in the city visiting his brother,
Simon Pierson and family.
George Brown, who has been carry
made his last trip on Monday, having
received orders from the department
that his services were no longer need
ed.
Charlton, Nov. 2O-The Blackburn
seminary, two and one-half miles east
of town, resumed school work again
on Monday after two weeks vaca-
ton. The school now is assuming
proportions which compel respect and
admiration from all the citizens of
Charlton. Though established but
little over three months it now has
fine school building, employs a good
faculty of three teachers and has en-
rolled for the present term something
like twenty-five students with the pros
pect OF securing many more when the
work shuts down so as to allow the
farmer boys to attend school, The
school was started by Rev. w. S.
Blackburn alone and single handed
and has passed through many difficult
ties of Indifference and lack of appre-
citation of it's advantages by a large
number of the citizens of Lucas coun-
ty, to its present proportions and the
prospect now seems to indicate that
it will soon become a school of state
wide reputation. The buildings are
arranged so that additional buildings
and instructors can be provided as the
growth of the school demands. The
outlying school districts are experience
ing quite a little inconvenience in the
matter of keeping furniture and uten-
sils for running the schools on account
of the petty thieving of parties who
enter the school buildings after school
hours and carry off anything they can
find laying loose. The Whitebreast
school complains of losing their oil
cans, having had three cans stolen
during the past month and all were
nearly full of oil. The Warren town
ship schools have been losing their
water buckets and clippers while the
Lincoln township schools have lost
some books and pencils from the
desks. How the people get in the
house is a mystery as every janitor
whose school has lost articles report
that they lock all the doors and win
dows when they complete their work.
The thieving is not confined to any
particular part Of the county as re-
ports come in from all directions and
there seems to be no way of stopping
it unless the plan suggested by one of
the janitors of lying in wait for the
thieves some night with a gun, be
adopted which would perhaps be the
most effectual way if the watcher
would use the gun on some of them.
A disastrous fire was narrowly
averted on Tuesday afternoon when a
blaze was discovered in the basement
of j. e. Browns shoe ore about $3.50
p. m. 1t was caused from leak in
the pipes of a gasoline light plant,
which supplies the building with light.
An alarm was turned in but before
the fire company could respond the
lights had been shut off and the blaze
eXtinguished. This is the first acct
dent yet reported in Charlton by any
of the many gasoline lights in the
city.
Charlton camp 272 M. w. A. held
a very interesting meeting in their
camp rooms Monday evening. There
was a large number of the neighbors
present besides several visitors and
though there was no floor work to
perform there was much business of
Importance transacted. Arrangements
were made to help the Royal Neigh
bors in their box supper which will be
given in the armory Nov. 26. Horace
Huron was engaged for an entertain.
ment here December 2. Monday even.
ing, December 2, will be election night
for the lodge and good attendance is
expected.
The little son of Mr.. and Mrs. Dee
Pettijohn is reported as seriously ill
at his home in the east part of town
1t was thought at first that he had
diphtheria, but the doctors pronounc.
| ed it only a bad case of tonsilitis.
Ell. Martin has been appointed car
rier for rural free delivery route No. /
out of Charlton vice Geo. Brown, re
moved, and began his duties on Mon
day.
Mrs. w. A. Morford and daughter
| formerly residents of this place but
now located at Russell, were renewing
old acquaintances and transactine
business on the streets of Charlton
on Monday.
X. Cornforth, who formerly had
charge of the Swift poultry and pro
duce plan of this place, but who is
now located at Shenandoah, was visit
ing friends in this city on Monday
Blanche Brooks has returned from g
few days visit with her sister in
Marysville.
Mrs. e. E. Timmons, who was so Sc
riously i'll of stomach trouble last
week, has SO far recovered as to be
able to be around the house again.
The Baptist church Sunday schoo.
realized about SIS from their enter