The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-28

ROCKFORD, ILL.,, Sept. 26. = Mrs.
Julia K. barnes, wife of w. Fletcher
barnes, one of the Wealthiest'an best
known business men of this city, met
with peculiar accident while Sojourn-
ing at a summer resort near Manito-
wish, Wis, which may deprive her of
the sight of the right eye, and in any
event, will leave disf1guring marks.
Mrs. Barnes was a member OF large
camping party at the we'll known Wis
consln resort, and last Monday she
strolled out into the brilliantly tinted
Wo2ds. Becoming weary, she sat down
on moss covered log near some hazel
brush to rest. 1t so happened that Mrs.
Barnes on that day wore q hat on
which was the brilliant breast and
flumage of a golden pheasant. The
September winds fluttered the gaudy
feathers softly, and strolling hunter
on the lookout for game saw the flaunt-
ing feathers.
He stopped suddenly lest the crack
ling Of twigs under his feet should
brighten the beautiful bird and took
careful aim. The sharp crack of his
gun reverberated through the wild for
est, followed almost instantaneously by
the schrill scream of a woman.
The hunter, hurrying to bag his
SdIlc, was SIdTlleu nearly out OF MS
wits and when he found woman lying
on the ground with her hat riddled
with shot and her face streaming with
blood he was nearly Frustrated with
terror.
The stranger helped the injured
woman to the camp, where there was
physician, who hurriedly dressed the
injuries, and Mrs. Barnes took the first
train to Chicago, where she entered a
hospital.
Injuries Not Serious.
The fact that the wandering hunters
gun was loaded with bird shot was
fortunate for Mrs. Barnes, for other
wise she might have been killed in
stantly. AS it is, the full charge enter
ed her head and face and inflicted
painful but not serious wounds. 1t was
greatly feared at first that the sight of
the right eye would be permanently
lost, but when it was found that the
shot had passed entirely through the
optic instead of stopping in the orb
things began to look more hopeful.
With all her hardship and suffering
Mrs Barnes has shown true grit and
much magnanimity. She sturdily re-
withheld his name from publicity.
ut was a sad blunder," said Mrs.
Barnes in talking of the accident land
there was no intent to do harm. I hope
the hunter has learned a lesson"
Mrs. Barnes is one of the best known
and most prominent women in Rockford
and has been much in the public eye for
years. She is a woman of great force of
character and has always been in the
forefront of all plans for the betterment of
the city and for the development of edu
cational ventures.
She is the author of book called '"The
Annals of Country Town This book
was written three years ago and has beer
in the hands of Eastern publishers since
The volume, when it is put out, will con-
tain a number of short stories written
about Rockford and the celebrities who
have made their home here.
Those who have seen the proof sheets
of the book say it is a very cleYerly writ
ten volume and will be eagerly read, not
only by the people of this city but by
others who like lively tales of town life.
For some reason not apparent Mrs.
Barnes relatives have been much opposed
to her literary work and have especially
dislilIed the thought of the publication of
the book now in the hands of the pub
fishers
Public Spirited Woman.
Mrs. Barnes has always been a public
spirited woman, and has always been
ready to give her time and means to phil
anthropic and charitable works. She is a
stout believer in Woman'S suffrage and
strongly advocates the emancipation of
women.
The Barnes mansion is on North Main
street and is one of the costliest and most
beautiful of the many beautiful and costly
tial surroundings Mrs. Barnes often enter
taines the more unfortunate people Of the
town. One of her hobbies for time was
the assistance of the Salvation Army in
it's work, and the hospitable home was
thrown open to the members of that re-
ligious body at one time. and the blue
coated and shovel-hatted people were
highly entertained by the philanthropic
woman. Her kindness was greatly appre-
ciated by the members of the army, and
her likeness was printed in the War Cry,
the official organ OF the army.
At another time Mrs Barnes enter
tanned the teachers -, OF the city at he her r
schools, as well as those of Rockford col
lege, were invited, and the occasion was
one Of great rejoicing and much pleasure.
Mrs Barnes is fond Of doing such things
and has ample means to crafty her Xix
ingS in that direction.
Water Cure In Rockford.
Mrs. Barnes came prominently to the
front two years ago in an affair in the
public schools. Miss Charlotte Walls, a
bright eacher in one of the wards, had
a Swedish pupil Of about eight years, who
taxed her patience to the utmost limit
She tried every sort of punishment i'm
aginable, but was unable to conquer the
little fellow. He was incorrigible. Final
" one day the teacher had what she con-
sidered a happy thought.
She would try the water cure. She made
the boy drink water until he was likely to
burst. This seemed to have quieting
effect upon the lad, and after he had been
treated " COplOuS VI cluSllS VI EhucIlll cIlO
on several different occasions he began to
be quite docile.
But the boy told his mother about the
new punishment and there was great in
dignation in the household which spread
throughout the neighborhood and finally
went all over Rockford.
Mrs Barnes came forward as the cham
Qfon of the teacher. She stoutly main
fained that Miss Walls should be upheld
in her attempts to uphold discipline Rev.
Nagnus Larson, pastor of the Swedish
Raptist church, took up the cudgel for
he youngster and the town took sides
and Waged a wordy battle. The news
napers were the medium for airing the
trouble and for several weeks Mrs. Barnes
and Rev Larsen kept up hot fire of ar
ticIes in the local papers, One day there
yvould be an attack upon Miss Walls and
HE next an answer and a REPUTATION. This
was kept up until the editors of the pa
ners grew weary and refused to publish
further matter in the controversy. This
decided that she would prefer teaching in
some other locality and resigned. She
6eing firSt-cIaSS teacher, soon had an
ofheT position in another town and left
The city and the tempest in the teapot
subsidized.
Speaks at Barbecue.
Mrs. Barnes is good public speaker
ond often in demand. She has spoken
frequently for the Salvation Army in the
racks in this town and has also often
roade addresses in favor Of woman suf-
f,.aee This year she was one of the
,,I,incipal speakers at the Emancipation day
Pexercises at Rockford The colored peo-