davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12

Personally Vandegrift IS buffer,
bPusque, impatient, audacious and asser-
tive He knows his rights as a reporter
and stands on them. He has the strong
est Of personal likes and dislikes. If he is
not your friend Vandegrift is unpleasant
and acrid. II he is your friend he is the
most genial and companionable of men.
He tells a story superlatively well and
knows a sufficient number rived from the
timber of his own experience TO fill the
Encyclopaedia Britannica. Perhaps he
makes fewer strong friendships than the
average man, but to the men he honors
with his confidence he renders perfect
loyalty. And with all his strong preju-
dices he is absolutely fair In his po-
litical stuff in the Star he renders the
of a condition that presents the pcssibni-
ty Of goading the men he dislikes at
every turn. Cy Leland does not like
Vandegrift personally. vandegrift does
not like Leland But Leland intrusts his
political condolences to Vandegrift unre-
servedly. Under Vandegrifts bluff ex-
terror there is a well of human sympa-
thy and sentiment which the casual OBJ
server never sounds. AT the Topeka
club one evening not long ago he was
talking to the writer OF Prentis. Prem
tbs is dead now these three years, but in
Vandegrift's heart he lives on forever.
He talked Of Prentis personality. and re-
counted some anecdotes of the days when
they were together in Atchisou Pres
emily a tear glistened in his eye and he
cried like child
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12

This is the last week
OF poetical talent Are yo
man has a drawer full Of
Come on. The more the r
give prizes to every one.
No one can tell.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12

and do things. His acquaintance with
the Fourhushers and tle Buttinskis Is
equally intimate. Vandegrift is probably
the best political reporter the state has
known His knowledge of the human ami
! nal. and his marvellous fund of inside
! information keep him always in touch
with the trend of events. His audacious
seIf-assertiveness makes for him easy
shedding where other reporters find them
selves barred. His style is forceful and
pointed and his diction elegant. His COM
mand of epithet is unsurpassed by any
Kansas writer. Vendegrift received the
news of ingalls, death at II o'clock on a
Thursday forenoon. He went TO the
telegraph Office and wrote 1850 words
about Ingalls, without referring to a note
or refreshing his memory. He wrote
seven sheets OF manuscript before the
SEPARATOR began sending his copy. At
2:i5 o'clock. when he finished his story
the operator had eight sheets of manu-
script yet TO send. 1t was the one story
of ingalls, life and death and stands to-
day as the best and most accurate thing
written about the dead statesman. When
Prentis died Vandegrift was in the Dem
ocratic national convention, which nomi-
mated Bryan for the second time. He
went to the Kansas City Star office, six
blocks distant, and wrote $1,000 words
about Prentis without leaving his desk.
When he finished there was nothing TO
add to the life story of his friend. The
great majority of the political terms that
have come into common usage in Kansas
owe their origin to Vandegrift- Copeland
county, now an aethoritive term in the
political dictionary. was Vandegrift's Gre
alton. The shortgrass country gots it's
name from piece of Vandegrift's copy.
He was the first man to apply tail
ender' to the man who makes a po-
Iitical speech from the rear platform of
train. This phrase he coined in the
campaign of 1896, and Tom Reed was it's
first beneficiary. He originated the term !
has the blanket on" as applied to
politician who is sore and on the point
of boiling the party nominee. Going On
down through the dictionary Of political
phra seology one finds the name of Van
degrift stamped on the middle Of every
other piece.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12

g 2 Han. q Barry. II. cv1s fa-
z=.Dest sA-tlza1 po.y Il th~ VOID X
vas horn Jlas zzs zslEss9 sEt twelve
prEr4z
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12

Vandegrift not only attends political
conventions-he ruas them. Once the
dear, dead Populists were holding a con-
vention in Topeka 1t was along early
in the Populist game and the political
reporters were not very familiar with
the delegates from the suburbs There
was a good deal Of noise-one of the con-
comitants of a Popuiist convention and
the reporters were all at sea as to the
names of the delegates who were making
speeches. Bald Hornet Dunsmore was
the presiding officer. Finally Vandegrift
got up and stood in froct of Dunsnaore,
whom he completely overshadowed phys
icafly, and stopped the wheels. Then he
informed the convention that it would
not be allowed to proceed unless each
delegate who arose 10 make a speech an
nouneed his name clearly and distinctly
before he began. Some years later he
stopped a congressional convention at
Fnporia met to further Tom Grisham' s
perennial pursuit Of the congressional
once, and hetd It until he found out how
TO spell Grishams name and some other
particulars as to his personality. Van
degTift is frequently mistaken for some
one else. When Tom Watson came to
Kansas in 1896 Vandegrift went to the
little town Of Erie. in Neosho county, to
write the story of the event Arriving
an hour or two ahead of the Vice Presi-
dental party ne was mistaken for the
Popuiist nominee for Vice President and
for couple Of hours held an informal re-
oepbou in the latteps name. Once again
Foraker was making speeches in Kansas
and Vsndegrift was travelling on his spe-
cial train. At a town in northern
Kansas where a parade had been sched-
uied Foraker was so fl that he was loath
90 leave his car. So Vandegrift was
put in the carriage 70 impersonate the
Ohio statesman. He met one OF Fora
ker's Oh school mates who said he would
have known him anywhere. and girl
hood friend of Foraker's wife who re-
marked on the very slight change that
time had wrought
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12
| Ndumon @mug&
'NOt Only Up-to-Date, but Date Ahead

Put
you'll
will that's a ceran
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12

vandegrift Is a compendium and ready
reference book Of Kansas history. He
has sat at the reporters desk through all
the thickening clouds and clearing skies
OF the past twenty years de knows per-
sonally the generation that time has
swept from the field of action and the
generation fresh upon The stage Every
event III for chronicle burns fresh upon
his mind. In every community in Kan
zsss he knows the men who think things
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
SENATOR SIMMONS
FATHER MURDERED.
An Old Man of IS Killed by a
Negro Trespasser.

Newbern, N. c., Sept 13.-Furni-
field G. Simmons, father of Senator
F. NJ. Simmons, was foully murdered
yesterday on his plantation, a few
miles from Pollocksville, Jones Coun-
ty. He had been missing since yester-
day morning. Snator Simmons, who
was in Raleigh, and his son James.
who is merchant in Newbern, we're
notified of that fact and both went
promptly to the old homestead to as
sist in the search. The body was
found near the river. Mr.. Simmons
had been shot several times with a
shotgun. Bruises about the head in
dicated that he was also dubbed.
Mr.. Simmons was a quiet, inofen-
sive man about Is years old and was
generally esteemed. The cause of the
murder is unknown. q negro named
Daniels has been arrested as the assas-
sin. Another account from Pollocks-
vile says that Mr.. Simmons was kill
ed by an unknown trespasser who was
squirrel hunting on his land and whom
Mr.. Simmons went after when he
heard the shooting, and that one ar
rest has been made.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
100000 FOR INLAND ROUTE.
U. S. Engineers File Their Report
on a Matter of Vital Concern
to All Atlantic Coast States.

Washington, Sept. l4.-The report
of the engineer officers OF the army
concerning the proposition for an in
land water route between Norfolk,
Va, and Beaufort inlet, N. c., has
been submitted to the war department.,
but will be withheld from publication
until congress meets.
Several routes were gone over by the
engineers. The most feasible and
economical route, which finally was
decided upon, is through very shallow
water and swamp region. It is under
stood that the distance covered by the
waterway is 1870 miles and that the es-
timated cost is SO, 600, COO. After care
full consideration of the matter the en-
gineers recommend the construction Of
the canal at :" sea level.
It is said that the engineers have in
mind method whereby the proposed
waterway may be shortened. The sub
iect of locks was gone into and while
it may be necessary to employ them in
some instances, the officers were in
huenced in their decision respecting
the route selected by the fact that it
obviates the necessity for an extensive
lock construction.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
The FLORIDA HURRICANE.
Sweeps Across the Peninsula
From Miami to Tampa.

Jacksonville, Fla, Sept. 13.-Be-
ginning Friday morning on the east
coast, and Saturday morning on the
west, and lasting twenty-four hours
at each, South Florida has been swept
by the strongest cyclone ever known
in the history of that part of the
State. The wires went down at the
beginning and railroad service was de-
layed. On that account no details
reached. this place until today. Even
now they are not full, for many places
that were in the center of the path of
the storm have not yet been heard
from, and the wires into the storm
swept district are not yet working.
At Miami the wind attained a; We
locity of sixty-fve miles per hour.
The car shed of the East Coast Rail
road was lifted from its foundations,
clear ofsthe cars that were under it,
and demolished, not even scratching
the cars. Several small boats were
sunk in the bay. Passengers on the
East Coast train, which arrived in the
city tonight, reported many wrecks
along the shore between Miami and
Hobes Sound. Among them is one
fcur-masted and one three-masted
schooner and several smaller vessels.
One of the Standard Oil Company's S
large steamers, with two barges, is
beached near Boynton. The crew of
fifteen men were saved.
The storm did not extend as far
south as Key West and did no damage
as far north as st, Augustine.
At Jupiter the wind blew seventy
Eve miles per hour, with the rain fall
ing in torrents.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
"A Fatal Auto Accident.

Milwaukee, Wis, Sept. 12.-Frank
Day formerly Of California. but of
late living in Detroit, was killed in
an automobile accident at the State
Fair grounds late this afternoon,
while driving Barney Oldfeld's rec
breaking machine in 6, ive-mile
race against time. Day had covered
just about four miles of the distance
when, upon reaching the head of the
home stretch, the powerful machine
swerved, ran into the fence and top
pied over. AS the machine upset Day
received a terrific knock on the back
of the head, which rendered him un-
conscious, and he lay on the track
without moving a muscle. The pros
trate form was quickly removed and
medical aid summoned, but the in
jured man died in fifteen minutes
after he was struck. He did not re-
gain consciousness. Tie accident was
witnessed by 5000 persons, among
whom were many women. Several Of
the women tainted. The automobile
was running about mile minute
when the accident occurred The
machine is a total wreck.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
WHO SHALL PRESIDE AT TILL
MANS, TRIAL.

Columbia, Sept. 13.-The announce
ment was made this morning that
Chief Justice Pope would hear argu-
ment in the matter Of Judge Townsend
being assigned to the Lexington Court,
at Spartanburg, tomorrow.
It was generally thought here yester-
day, when Judge Benet was appointed
and commissioned to hold Court at
Camden, relieving Judge Townsend
there. that he was to continue in the
circuit and go to Lexington. which is
in the same circuit.
Counsel for the prosecution and 9TH
ers seemed to think that this settled
the matter, and that Judge Townsend
would go to Winnsboro and hold Court
there, as regularly assigned by the
Chief Justice last December.
The appointment Of Judge Benet to
come into the circuit, together with a
telegram from Chief Justice Pope
that he had settled the matter in his
mind, and that there was no need for
counsel for the prosecution to appear
before him as to the point about Judge
Townsend's eligibility, in view of the
Winnsboro Court, led to the conclu-
sion shat the matter had been settled
by the selection of Judge Benet to
come into the circuit, although ap-
pointed only for the Kershaw Court.
Last night counsel for the prosecu.
tion received telegram from Chief
Justice Pope, stating that he would
hear both sides at Spartanburg tomor-
row. Exactly what this means is not
known. It is understood that the coun-
sci for the defence will not appear at
the hearing.
The matter has already been ex-
planned in the Sunday News and that
the objection to Judge Townsend is
not personal, but strictly because of
legal complications, and his prior
assignment to the Fairfield Court,
which opens on the same day as that
at Lexington.
In the matter of the hearing tomor-
row relative to the appointment of
Judge Townsend to sit at the Lexing-
ton Court, it is announced that coun-
sci for James 81. Tillman will not ap-
pea- before Chief Justice Pope. Coun-
sci for the prosecution will appear to
make plain their position, and that it
is purely legal and not personal
News and Courier, Sept. IA.
The latest information is that Chief
Justice Pope is still undecided, al
though the. entire bar Of Winnsboro
protests against the postponement Of
the regular term of court in Fairfield
county, which would be necessary if
Judge Townsend is sent to Lexington.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
NEWS NOTES.

An Indianapolis dispatch says that
an air ship thirty feet long. contain
Sunday at height of 100 feet.
Russia has notified China that parts
of Manchuria will not be evacuated on
October 9Th as agreed.
Ex-Congressman Norton announces
his intention to make the race for
Congress in the Sixth District in op-
position to Robert B. Scarborough who
will stand for reelection.
A band of robbers invaded. Valley
Springs, S. D., at 2 o'clock Saturday
morning. terrified the inhabitants in
Jesse James style and robbed the bank
Of SO, ,0Q0.
Constabies in Greenwood county
raided an illicit distillery near the
Saluda county line Friday night.
They destroyed 800 gallons Of sour
mash, but the moonshiners escaped,
taking the still with them.
The U. S. armored cruiser Maryland,
Is, 600 tons, was launched at Newport
News Saturday.
The Vatican Will send & large ex-
hibit to the st. Louis Exposition.
President Castro having quelled the
revolution in Venezuela is now prepar-
P'i ing to fight Colombia and is, massing
troops on the Colombian frontier.
Acting Postmaster General Bristow
has notified Senator Clay, of Georgia,
that none of the rural free delivery
routes will be discontinued.
More than 1000 arrests have been
made in Georgia during the past two
weeks for. Vagrancy. Al. white people
and negroes who cannot tell the police
exactly their occupations are arrested
and sent Immediately to the chain
gangs. Many negro women are get
ting married to escape the law, as
married women are not arrested. Fri
day night the police force here began
TO make arrests and over fety negroes
and white persons were locked up
Atlanta Constitution.
Porto Rico is encouraged by the
promise of a profitable growth of sea
island cotton. About 10, 900 bales are
expected from this years crop, and
so, 600 are estimated as the product Of
the near future. Sugar lands, 1t is
said, realized about S15 an acre, while
$50 an acre can be secured by the
growth of this staple cotton. If this
is correct Porto Rico is to be con-
graduated.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
KILKENNY FIGHT IN TEXAS.
Man Arrested by Sheriff and Dep
uty and Taken to Jail.
He Resists Search, Kills the Two OFF,
GERS and is Himself Killed.

Edna, Tex, Sept. 13.-Three men
were shot and killed here this after
noon at the city jail.
Sheriff George F. Wharton and Dep
uty Frank Brugh arrested man known
as McCagle, of Philadelphia, but be-
lieved from papers found on him to be
". I. Lander, of Atlanta, Ca, on a
charge of attempted swindling. Lander
was taken to jail without trouble, but
when the officers attempted to search
him the prisoner drew revolver and
opened fire on the two officers. The
first bullet struck Sheriff Wharton and
the second mortally wounded the dep
uty. The sheriff in falling drew his
revolver and fired point blank at the
prisoner, killing him instantly. Whar-
ton, when picked up, was dead, and
Brugh died an hour later.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
Snow and Rain in Minnesota.

st. Paul, MINI, Sept. 1.-The Dis
patch today says:
Snow and rain have damaged crops
in the Northwest during the past week
to the extent of millions of dollars.
Nearly all the grain in the shock, es-
timated at so per cent. and all the
standing grain, much of it fax, is
buried under snow and water The
rainfall has been eight inches in forty
eight hours. Rain and sleet and srcT
prevail all over the Northwest today.
Railroad tracks are washed out and
trains are abandoned. The trains from
the Pacific coast have been pushing
slowly through deep snow for two days
and are from ten to twenty hours late.
A washout at Rolling Stone, north
of Minneapolis, forced the Great
Northern to abandon its line on the
east side of the Mississippi river to St.
Cloud, and no trains were run today
or yesterday over that track. The coast
trains and those from the Willmar di-
vision are being run via st. Cloud and
the track on the east side of the river.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
City Council Discusses Harvin Street
Side Track But Reaches No Decision.

Pursuant to adjournment Council
met at 6 o'clock Monday night for the
purpose of further considering the
request of M. W. A. Bowman anc
associates to be allowed to lay rail.
road track across South Harvin street.
Mayor Stuckey, Aldermen Boyle,
Chandler, Dick, W. II. Epperson,
Hurst and j. A. Scbwerin were pres.
ent, and the absentees were Aldermen
6. F. Epperson and Finn.
The minutes of Sept. 9Th were reac
and corrected.
Mr.. Schwerin stated that there were
sented by Mr.. H. W. Hood at last
Council meeting which ought to have
been deducted before payment was
made.
M. Chandler moved that no other
matters be considered except the spe.
cial business Of the petition Of Mr..
Bowman and associates and it was sc
ordered.
Messrs. ". A. Bowman and W. H.
Ingram spoke in favor of the petition.
Speeches in opposition were made by
DR.. A. J. China, Messrs. D. China,
j. R. Ligon, ". G. Stubbs and R.
N. Gentry. A letter was read from
DR.. Walter Cheyne asking the Council
not to grant the privilege asked by the
petitioners.
Alderman Chandler asked Mr.. Bow
man if he would consent to the follow
ing regulations and conditions:
l. Track across HarviI street to be
level with street and kept in such con
dition that it will not obstruct travel
in any way.
2. Locked gates On each side of Har-
vim street. Gates to be kept locked
except when cars are passing through.
3. Flagman to precede all cars cross
ing Harvin street.
4. All cars to cross Harvin street at
such times as will not conflict with
travel to and from passenger trains.
5. No scented or obnoxious fertilizers
to be kept on premises.
6. All injury to Harvin, Bartlette
and Main streets caused by laying of
track, erection of warehouse or from
any cause attributable to the business
conducted by the petitioners to be re-
paired at their expense.
To these restrictions and conditions
Mr. Bowman readily consented.
Mr.. Chandler then moved that the
petition be granted, but there was
no second to the motion.
Messrs. Boyle and Schwerin moved
that final action be deferred until s
O'Clock p. m., on Thursday 18th in
stant, in order that opposing parties
may have further opportunity to pre-
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
FORGED Pay CERTIFICATES.

Marion, Sept. 12.-Within the last
few days two warrants have been
sworn out here against G. Raymond
Berry, county uperintendent Of edu-
cation, charging him with forging the
names of school trustees to school pay
certificates and collecting the money
on them.
The warrants were based on andavits
made by Messrs. D. P. Mcintyre and
E. V. Moody, school trustees, and
were issued by Magistrate D. j. Oil
yer, of this place. One of the afidavits
alleges that on the oath day of May,
1903, one G. Raymond Berry, with in
tent to swindle and defraud, did
feloniously make, forge and counter
felt the names of Luther Carmichael,
B. A. Harrelson and D. P. Mcintyre
to certain school pay-certifcate for
the sum Of s52 80. The second afida-
Wit alleges that on. the 9th day of
March, 1903, the names of S. W.
Stephens and E. V. Moody, school
trustees were forged to school pay
certificate for the sum of $50.
Although the sheriff has made dill
gent search for Berry he has not yet
been apprehended and it is thought
that he has fed from the State. The
amount Of money procured by the sup
erintendent of education by these
methods is thought to be in the neigh
borhood of $1,000, Though the exact
amount cannot be definitely ascertain
ed until a full Investigation has been
made. His bond is for 81, 900, aud his
bondsmen are Messrs. Wilmington
Hamilton, II. E. z. Smith, R. H.
Rodgers and S. L. Page.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16

Cotton caterpillars have made their
appearance in considerable numbers in
the Mechanicsville section, and while
not much damage has been done thus
far, the caterpillars being small, yet
it is feared that the crop in that sec
tion will suffer much injury. The
boil worm is also beginning to dam
age cotton in some parts of this and
Lee county. This enemy of the cotton
plant first made its appearance in this
county about three or four years ago,
and for the first year or two we're few
in number and did little damage, but
last year the injury to the cotton crop
was serious in the neighborhoods
where the pest appeared and the indi-
cations are that the damage will be
even greater this season.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
The FLORIDA CYCLONE.

Jacksonville, Fla, Sept. 1.-THE
fate Of middle and southwest Florida
is only a matter of conjecture. This
much is certain: The storm was strong
enough in the sections to sweep down
the wires and stop railroad communi-
cation. This Of itself is sufficient to
justify forebodings of unprecedented
calamity. The middle of Florida Sec
tion from which not a word can be
heard is the most populous part of the
State. To that section every wire
is down, every train is stopped and
no one can tell what the news of the
morrow will be.
The Western Union Telegraph COM
pany sent a large force of men and a
camp train down the east coast last
night.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16

Newport, R. l., Sept. '12.-Torpe-
does were successfully fred at vessels
of the United States navy today by
the submarine boats Adder and Moe
casin participating in the first OF three
torpedo tests to be made in connection
with the manoeuvres. The torpedo
boats Mckee, Stiletto and Craven were
stationed of Rock Island while the
Adder and Moccasin submerging about
five miles away attacked the supposed
ly defending force. Without detection
dummy torpedoes were fired at each
of the three torpedo boats at. such
close range that had they been loaded
the three boats would have been de-
stroved,