davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
LIABILITIES FIGURE
NEARLY A MILLION
Chicago Commission Firm of Porter
Bros. Cramped With PIen-
ty of Assets.

Chicago. May 22.-According to a
statement made by Attorney DefreeS,
of Defrees, Brace & Eitter, counsel
for the receivers of Porter Bros, the
magnitude of the concerns embarrass-
ment has Laen overcstimated in the
printed reports of the failure. ~ know
already that the liabilities are in eX-
cess of $S00.0O0," said Defrees, land 1
don't know how much higher they will
mount, if any, when we are fully in
formed. 1t is ridiculous to state how
ever, that the liabilities will reach
$3,0O0,000." The creditors are mainly
banking institutions and warehouse
companies.
At the River street offices of the fail
ed firm an emplOye said few words
in the absence of Treasurer Adams.
THE thing is Il surprise to us all" he
said. NO one but Mr.. Watson knows
the origin of rhe trouble. From what
L know of the firm, however, after an
employment here extending through
many years, L should say that the COM
pany'S assets are five times greater
than its liabilities"
San Francisco, May 22.-The San
Francisco managers of Porter Bros.
are confident that the firms embarrass-
ment is only temporary.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Not a Churchman
PROPOSITION is MET:
CRIES OF "SHAME"
That in the Michigan Legislature OF
Dealing Death to Fee
bIe- Minded.

Lansing, Mich, May ON a de-
bate in the state legislature over an
appropriation of S353. 600 for the Home
of the FeebIed Minded. Representative
Rodgers made remarkable p:OpOsi-
ton that the hopelSsly incurablc be put
to death. Rodgers said: Il am glad
that Michigan has such an Institution,
but l do not think that parents reSpon-
sible for such unfortunate beings as
have been described here should them
selves care for their offspring.
IF. as Mr.. Willis says. there is n
class of children there who do not
know they are alive. the state of Mich
iSan would do well to pass Il law that
would permit the establishment of
system that would put them out of
their misery. 1t would be better for
the patients and better for the state
SHANE! Shame" cried Willis.
"You may cry shame said Rod
gers, una shed, but the more ad-
vanced nations of Europe are taking
steps for such Il disposition of incur
able unfortunates as 1 propose. as the
most merciful. most scientific and most
economical method
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
NEBRASKA STUDENTS
FINALLY WITHDRAW
Get a Little More Than They Fig
ured On in
Scrape.

Lincoln, Ncb.. May 22.-The annual
parade and ghost dance" of students
of the University of Nebraska ended
i'll small riot on the grounds where
the Order of Eagles is holding a street
carnival. There was n brief but bloody
fight between the student body and
thirty or forty special officers and car
nival showmcn. The students finally
withdrew, taking with them a dozen
or more of their number with bloody
noses and broken heads.
One student it was reported, had his
ear badly torn and another a deep and
ugly cash on the forehead. The spefial
officers were more fortunate, but did
not escape Unscathcd. The collision
was caused. It is alleged, by the stu
dents attempting to force their way
into the show tents without paying ad-
mission.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
MAD DOG VICTIMS
IN INDIANAPOLIS
Three Boys and Two Women Bitten
BY Brute That is Fin
ally Killed.

indianapolis, May 22.-Three boys
and two women were bitten 10y Il mad
dog on Liberty and Miami streets.
Intense excitement was caused and
there was Il panic in the vicinity.
Those bitten were Mrs. Betty Smith,
of 615 Miami street, whose foot was
Iacerated; Henry and Freddie ElstrOd.
) and : years old. respectively, the
sons of Henry Elstrod. of 626 Miami
street both bitten in the legs; Mrs.
John W. Pierce. of 624 Miami street,
bitten on the knee and an unknown
youngster who was bitten in the leg.
Little blood was drawn on any of
the victims. The dog was n brown
water spaniel and belonged to E..
Morse, of 62O Miami street. 1t was
killed.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
JOLIET CONVICTS
DINE IN NEW HALL
Building That Cost $4,000 and
China Plates Are
Used.

Joliet, ILL.,, May 22.-The new dining
hall of the state penitentiary was
opened and the convicts sat at the
tables and ste from china plates.
Twelve hundred marched in from the
shops in body. Superintendent Nal
lory, members of the pardon board.
and several Chicago people We're
among the visitors who watched the
proceeding.
For twenty-five years the convicts
have eaten in cells. and. they appeared
much pleased with the innovation.
The new dining hall cost $4,000, and
is most complete. The men were given
all they wanted to eat, walters pass
ing constantly up and down the aisles.
The hall is capable of seating 1850.
The present count is 1.325.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
HAS LEPROSY
IN ISOLATION CAMP
Is Held i'm Georgia Where He Can.
not Sign His own
Vouchers.

Washington, May 22.-The identity
of the soldier who is suffering from
leprosy at an isolation camp in Georgia.
but whose name thus far had not
been made public, has Just been dis
closed by the action of the comptroller
of the treasury in passing upon IL queS-
tion connected with the drawing of
the soldiers pay without signing
vouchers for the same.
The soldiers name is Charles c. Mix,
first sergeant in the Fifth company of
the coast artillery corps. In view of
the fact that il would not be safe for
Mix to sign pay vouchers the comp
troller has held that the secretary of
war was authorized to make a regula-
ton which would meet the case.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
PLOT FOR A NOVEL
Case in Which Truth Is Stranger
Than Good Deal of
Fiction.
oHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN WISE
Had 1t Lived and Been Sure as to It's
Own Mother-COnflict of
Testimony.

PittsburG, May 22-The end OF one
of the most sensational cases ever tried
in the United States circuit court
came when the jury in the case of
Beverly Robinson against Robert s.
Stephenson and others rendered Il YER
dict for the defendants. The case was
for eighteen feet of property in Wood
street. worth about 100000, and in
volved the paternity of Il child. The
plaintiff claimed title through Il child
which he alleged was born to his wife,
who was also his cousin, Miss Rather
inc Vera Robinson. They We're mar
ried December, 1896. and it is alleged
that the child was born in March, 1897,
in Omaha, where they had gone to
avoid publicity. Robinson and his wife
were accompanied to Omaha by Mrs.
David Gregg Metheney, sister of Mrs.
Robinson.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
TORRENTIAL RAIN FALLS.

Floods Everything In PappIo Valley In Ne
braska-Heavy Crop Damages.
Omaha, Neb., May pa torrential
rain in the valley of the Pappio river.
twenty miles west of this city, in a
few minutes made the little stream a
raging torrent, from half to three
quarters of mile wide. Great dam
age was done to the growing crops,
hundreds of acres of corn, wheat and
oats being washed out of the ground.
The damage to the crop in the valley
is estimated at 100000.
At Portal, fifteen miles west Of this
city, the Union Pacific, burlington
and Missouri Pacific tracks run close
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
DIR. KEMPsrER Is MISTAKEN
Those Reports Are All Accounted for
without the Russian.

Washington, May 22. - The state
ment of DIR. Walter Kempster tele-
graphed from Milwaukee that the en-
tire government edition of 10000 copies
of a report made by him on the condi-
ton of the Jews in Russia in 1891 had
disappeared, and intimating that it was
suppressed or destroyed through Rus
sian agencies, is not substantiated by
the records of the government printing
office.
Six thousand copies were printed and
placed to the credit of individual sena-
tors and representatives. in. the usual
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22

together. All three of the roads have
low bridges over the Pappio When
the flood struck these bridges the APP
prOachs held back the food and in a
few minutes the water had backed up
and raised under until it was running
over the bridges, and in short time
the Missouri and Union Pacific roads
had 200 feet of abutment washed out
Rain Does Damage in Iowa.
Hastings, Ia, May pa torrent of
rain struck this region, washing away
one mile of the track of the Sidney
branch of the Burlington road near
White Cloud. Five inches of rain fell
inside of an hour, flooding the entire
country and washing thousands of
acres of corn out of the ground
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
TO ASK CONGRESS
To Make Up the Deficiency in
the Postoffice De.
partment
WHICH PAYNE FINALLY ADMITS
Also Refers to Machen's Conduct
as "Responsi-
bIe."

Washington. May 22.-Congress will
be asked at the opening of its next
session to make an appropriation to
cover deficiencies in both the regular
free delivery service ard the rural
free delivery service of the postof-
ffice department. Postmaster General
Payne announced that this deficiency
now aggregates $22T,4GT. OF which
$105,000 is in the free delivery branch
and S121. .C01 IN the rural free delivery
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22

way and distributed Through them.
Some of the reports still stand to the
credit of representatives and senator's,
and in one case the entire twenty
one copies placed to the credit of a
senator are still in the folding room
awaiting his order.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
WESTERN UNION
WIRES ARE DOWN
Pennsylvania Road Completes Au-
thorized Work of De-
struction.

Philadelphia. May 22.-The Western
Union Telegraph company today has
not wire working on the lines of the
Pennsylvania railroad in this state.
Officials of the Western Union say the
company is keeping up with its busi-
ness by using the wires along the Bal
timore q Ohio and New York Central
railroads. The work of removing the
Western Union poles and wires from
the lines of the railroad continues to-
day.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
COUNTRY HAS BEEN LAID WASTE
Miraculous Part Is That No Lives Have
Been Reported Ost.

Ashland Kan, May 22.-This place
and a large POI tion of the country have
been laid waste by cyclone The dam
age will be great, and it is considered
miraculous that no lives were lost. SO
far as is known nobody was killed,
and none in Ashland injured severe
Iy. 1t is reported from the country
districts that some were fatally in
jured. The indications are that the
storm was worse in the country than
in town.
The business section of Ashland was
not damaged TO any great extent. The
residence portion suffered most. The
homes of J. i. Campbell, NJ. q. Stev-
ensOn, G. Il. Nunemacher, J. y. Van
Orsdell, W. l.. Ainsworth and T.. r..
Kerns were completely wrecked. AS
many as fifty houses are partly demol-
ished Campbell, Stevenson and Aims
worth were injured when their houses
went down.
The fine fruit farm of +. r. Kerns
was swept clean of trees and buildings
The Theis ranch house was destroyed,
and trees and wind mills are down in
all directions. a large number of cat
tie are killed.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
rirehur VINO Is1e Year. o1d.

Chicago. May Paul Corcoran,
II years old. started the fire which
made thirty-tive families homeless and
destroyed property amounting to $1O5.
600 Tuesday night, so that he could
see the firemen ut work. This he
states in a confession signed 10y him
at the Sheffield avenue police sta
ton, where he is prisoner. The boy
lives at 491 Sheffield avenue.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
They Admire pIiss HadIev.

indianapolis. May 22.-Lulu Spence
Hadley. whose refusal tomake up Book
er II. Washington's bed mt the Eng
liSh hotel caused her discharge and
brought her many presents from the
south, has begun to receive presents
from nearer home. One of them was
u gold watch ana chain from "Citi-
zens of indianapolis
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Sensational Newspaper
Stories in Aus
tria j
OFFICIALLY DENIED
Tell of Execution of
Nearly Eighty
Persons.

Vienna, May 22.-Two Slav news
papers at Trieste today published n
sensational report to the effect that
3s persons had been hanged under
martial law and 40 killed in other
ways at Agram Wednesday.
Report OnicIany Denied.
When questioned regarding the
matter in parliament today, Premier
Koerber declared there was no truth
in the report.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
wire Crew Foreman Killed.

Joliet, ILL.,, May 22.-M. l.. Eustace.
of Bellaire, Kan, foreman of a wire
crew of the Western Union Telegraph
company. was killed by live wire
while astride a cross arm at the top
of a pole.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
LONG LINE OF MARCH
FOR CONFEDERATE VETS

New Orleans, May 22.-The last
feature of the confederate reunion
was the great parade held this after
noon. The line of march was five
miles in length, and as the parade
was conducted beneath a hot sun the
older veterans found the way trifle
long.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
scrap IRON Mon organize. >

Indianapolis, May 22.-The Indiana
Scrap Iron Dealers association TO in
clude dealers ut Terre Haute, Muncie,
Jacksonville Qlls.), and also those Of
Cincinnati and Chicago, is being
formed to oppose the efforts of the
United States Steel and independent
mills to reduce prices of scrap iron,
used in barn iron.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
nriftea Heln1s.. in the Lake.

Racine. Wis. May 22. For eight
hours the Chicago tug James \. Quinn,
bound for Sturgeon bay. drifted help
less in Lake Michigan with broken
machinery. Then she was picked up
by the Barry line steamer City Of Ere
mont and towed into Racine. The YES
sci is I'm leaky condition and the four
men comprising her crew We're glad
of assistance from the steamer.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Was n Good Place for a Fire.

Thurmond. W. Va. May %. - Fire
broke out here in the general store
of William Egans K Co. and spread
rapidly. The structure was man.
moth frame. ana it as well as ten resi-
dences were destroyed before the fire
was gotten under control. Dynamite
was used to wreck number of build
ings to prevent the further spread of
the flames. Loss. $4,000.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
missing Mans Body Founu.

Milwaukee, May 22.-The body OF
Emil Hafemeister, with a bullet hole
in his breast, was found in the river
near Lincoln avenue. There was only
81 in his pockets. The theory that he
met with foul play is given some
credence. Hafemeister had been
missing several days. He was TO have
married Miss Ella Ebert, zoos Buffalo
street, on Saturday last.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
TIoket scalper. sent to Prlson.

New Orleans, May 22.-Two of the
leading ticket scalpers here-Dayid
Pike and J. I. Smith-have been SEN
fenced TO Imprisonment by Judge Boor-
man for violating the injunction issued
to restrain them from dealing in re-
union tickets. Smith was fined 500
and ten days imprisonment and Pike
81 and ten days Imprisonment.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKER
DEAD AT PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia. May 22.-Israel p.
Black. widely known for his work in
the junior Sunday school department
of the Presbyterian church, died to-
day of typhoid fever.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
LOSSES THROUGH THEFT

Bowling Green, KY, May 22.-Judge
Evans, of the United States court
here, has ruled that the men in
charge of the postofiices must pay to
the government any amount burglars
may steal from the offices.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
nIIssissippi Stops the Mills.

Lacrosse, Wis, May 22.-The Missis-
sippi has risen another inch at this
point Mills have been forced TO shut
down on account of high water. Farm
ers on French island, three miles north
of here, have had to move their live
stock to the mainland to save it from
drowning
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
smal1pox Case At waukegan.

Waukegan, Ills, May 22.-Clarence
Breed. 217 Juniper street. has Il case
of smallpox, and his. home. and that
of his mother, on another street, have
been exposed, seven being in quaran-
tine Other Inembers of the family
are thought to be already i'll with the
disease. a..
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
One Man Lost HIS Liz.

Milwaukee. May 22.-The body of
Charles Schroeder, aged Ga years. an
employe of Jacobs cooper shop. was
found in the debris of that burned
structure. This is the only fatality
resulting from the fire.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
BALANCING.

The famous equilibrist was balancing
four billiard balls on a cue. much to
the amazement of the vaudeville audi
ence.
"Hulnphw growled a young man with
ink on his fingers. ''I'Il bet he can't bal
ance a set of books. s.'-Exchange.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
rhisrs. Rob a Pro.seutor.

Bay City. Mich. May 22.-SOme per-
son who had probably never heard OF
Assistant Prosecutor Lewis Il. Cou-
mans ability TO convict criminals
robbed his home in broad daylight of
81 and some pieces Of jewel'y, valu-
able because highly priced gifts and
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Striker. Given a Prison sentence.

New Orleans. May 22.-Judge BOOr-
man. in the United States circuit
court, sentenced to three months i'm
prisonment in the parish prison here
eleven street car men who were con-
victed of inteTupting the PROCESS Of
mail cars during the recent street car
strike in this city.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
ST. PAUL ENGINE WORKS
DESTROYED BY FIRE

St. Paul. May 22.-The Waterous
Engine works were destroyed by fire
this morning with loss of $4,000.
Watchman W. +. Ecklin was probably
fatally burned.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Unrunrded word,

''This new meter seems rather small"
doubtfully remarked the householder.
"Oh. it will fill the BILL" was the un-
guarded response of the gas company
employee.-Ph Philadelphia Record.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
MONITOR ARKANSAS
NOW ON LOWER RIVER

Cairo, ILL.,, May 22-The monitor
Arkansas has arrived at Cairo and is
now anchored in the harbor. No fur
Their trouble will be encountered in
reaching the gulf.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Plays Havoc in Kansas
On Third Visit in
a Day.
TWO LIVES ARE LOST
Lightning Damage in In
diana--Other Storm
News.

Saiina, Kan, May 22.-The third
cyclone in Salina county within TWEEN
ty-four hours struck Assaria. Two
persons were killed and n dozen or
more injured. The dead are: William
A. Olson, 13 years old, and Peter Oh
son. OF the injured none is fatally
hurt. The house in which the Olsons
lived was demolished completely, and
the body of tie boy was found thirty
rods from where the house had stood.
The wind carried the farm house oc-
cupied by Nels Olsonburg a distance
of five rods. Miss Christine Olsonburg
saw the storm coming and escaped
from the house half minute before it
was carried away. \ terrific rain fol-
lowed the cyclone. At Bridgeport, in
this county. hail fell continuously for
twenty minutes, doing great damage to
wheat
Stormy Weather In Indiana.
indianapolis. May % \ heavy
storm swept over Indiana. Wire serv-
ice has been almost paralyZed, and
damage to buildings and crops will
reach many thousands. Building We're
struck by lightning and burned, and
there were some narrow escapes by
fleeing occupants. At Lebanon, Ind.
trees were blown down. Outbuildings
destroyed. the wire service paralyZed
and no communication can he obtained
with the surrounding country TO as
certain the extent fthe damage. The
roof of the Perkins hotel was torn
off and there were several marrow eS
capes from death. The new street car
barns were blown down and windows
wee broken in all parts of the town.
Much Damage by Lightning.
At Elwood Ind. the storm did dam
age to the amount of $4,000 Three
barns were struck by lightning and
burned. The new car barns being
built by the Union Traction company
were destroyed by fire caused by
lightning, and the large barns of Geo.
Abbott were burned. Two miles south
of the city the barn of Anthony
Chamness. with all it's valuable con-
tents, was destroyed by fire after be-
ing hit by n lightning bolt. Four men
and a boy who were in the barn when
it was struck were stunned and car
ried out before the barn roof fell in.
The machinery and grain stored in the
barn were burned.
No lives have been reported lost any
where.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Conveyed in Will of Capt.
Norton, of Louis
vile.
100000 IN A LUMP
While $4,000 is Be-
queathed to Per-
Sona1 Friends.

Louisville. May 22.-The will of the
late Capt. W. F. Norton, Louisville's
eccentric capitalist and land proprie-
tor, bequests 100000 to the Baptist
orphans home at Louisville, and ST.
900 to friends.
Not Churchman.
Norton was not a member of any
church.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Thought It Was Only $4,000

Continuing, tie postmaster general
said that part of the deficiency was
discovered before Machen was given
his leave of absence. He reported Il
part of it himself" Payne added
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne recently reported to me that
$4,000 deficiency existed in the rural
service. and MIR. Wynne and 1 agreed
that by economical measures the de-
partment might eliminate that. I sup
pose that was the amount reported TO
Mr.. Wynne.' Upon learning. however,
that the deficiency would amount to
S22T. .467, Payne said that it was not
feasible to suspend any of the serv-
ice now maintained.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
Responsible Man To BE Heard.

Payne said that y. w. Machen, the
general superintendent would be given
an opportunity to be heard on the sub
ject. Postmaster General Payne was
asked a number of questions as to the
effect of the discovery of the deficiency
on the status of Machen. but parried
all the questions. He said that the
matter would be looked into and Il
communication might be sent later to
Machen asking for an explanation of
the condition of affairs. The entire
map work of the rural free delivery
service has been suspended and no
more maps will be made before the he
ginning of the next fiscal year. The
funds for this purpose have been eX-
hauStpd
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22

service. Ihr poSTnaStel -,heral sald
he very much regretted the existence
of the deficit, and for the first time
publicly criticised the administration
of A. w. Machen. the general superin-
tendent of the free delivery system,
who is out on indefinite leave of ab-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22

Los Angeles, May e2.-Dixie Kid
was awarded the decision over Al
Neill at the end of the Goth round
here last night.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-22
ReprehensibIe of nInchen.

Postmaster General Payne. in dis
cussing the deficiency later. said: 1T
is very reprehensible for a bureau Of
ficer to have a deficit of 100000 rolled
up on the 1st of May. 1t was bad, very
bad administration. A bureau officer
should not incur deficit without con-
sulting his superior officer, the post
master general. l cannot stand for
that Kind of administration and 7 do
not approve of it. An official must be
held to a more strict accounting. I do
not say that there was anything Grim
inal or anything wrong in Mr.. Machen's $
action, but it was certainly loose add
ministration and he should have had
his business more in hand. | believe,
however, that congress viii quickly
vote the money to cover the deficien-
pV"