davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
SIMPLE STONE SLAB
Marks the Exact Center of United
States Population.
1t Lies In . BarnyArd, and Indiana
Man Who Owns the Place 10 Very
Proud of His Unique
Distinctlon.

j. Pierpont Morgan, the main shaft
of the worlds financial machinery, or
Andrew Carnegie, the cynosure of mil
lions of people who are receiving the
benefits of his philanthropy, could not
feel prouder of their respective dis
tinctions than does Henry MARI, just
plain farmer, who resides near Co.
lumbus, Bartholomew County, Ind.
By referring to bulletin issued by
the census department it is found that
the exact center of popula ton is To-
Gated at latitude 80 degrees min
utes and 36 seconds north, longitude IS
degrees As minutes and 81 seconds
west. If a person is DESTROYS of visit
ing the spot better idea of it's loca-
ton can be secured by asking any res
ident of Columbus. Almost invaria bly,
the answer to such question will be {:
"Five miles southwest of Columbus,
in Hem Marr's barn lot"
Mari is the person who enjoys the
prominence of being the center man
OF population of the whole United
States. It is quite distinction, too,
and, according to the Cincinnati En-
quirer, MARI fully appreciates it. The
pivotal stone is merely small, fat
slab sunk into the ground in the barn
lot, leaving only the top surface ex-
posed to the central atmosphere. On
1t is carved the simple inscription
1900" The marker, while not ex-
traordinarily pretentious, is a more
elaborate affair. Several hundred
farmers and other visitors were pres
ent the day the stones were placed in
position.
Once inside the Enclosure no trouble
IS experienced in finding the monu-
ment. 1t is planted in the ground
about IS feet from the corner of the
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11

huge red barn, which occupies the
center of the barnyard. With meas
ured strides and feeling of awe one
advances in respectful silence to the
spot. The first impulse to betray real
curiosity is evident in force which
invariably compels one to step upon
the stone. Not until then does per-
son realize that he has been paid for
taking the trip, for the instant the
feet are planted solidly upon the mon
ument the curiosity seeker is suddenly
made to fully appreciate the novel in
ward sensation of imagining 1S,650,000
the same number to the west, to the
north and to the south.
Many persons from different parts
of the United States have already Wis
tied the spot, and all have been more
or less courteously treated by Farmer
MARI and his wife. Tourists happen
ing around the MARI home about meal
time will more than likely have an OPP
portunity of finding out what a good
cook is Mrs. Mari.
MARI was born 40 years ago and
for the last II years has resided on the
farm on which are located the mon
uments. The magnificent country
home was built a few years ago at a.
cost of about $4,000. It stands out en-
ticingly on an estate containing 500
acres. The Mari domicile is model
of completeness. It would do credit i'm
appearance to most any residence dis
trict of the larger cities, and besides
it is fitted out with about all the con-
veniences one could wish. The family
receives its mail daily by rural carrier.
incidentally it might be mentioned
that the Mars were beneiciaries Of
the first rural delivery route instituted
in the United States, the initial route
having ramified through Bartholomew
county as an experiment from the lit
tie town of Hope, near there.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
HISTORIC LANDMARK.
Stlll Standing In the City u
Vlacennes, I1d.

Within short time the most historic
building in Vincennes, Ind, will b
torn down to make room for modern
home, unless some action is taken to-
ward buying it as q relic, or as an or
nament for city park. The building
is one which for about seven years
served as the capitol building for the
northwest territory. 1t stands near
the heart of the city, but did not orig
inally stand there. The building was
erected, so far as can be learned, in
1905, and consisted of two rooms up
stairs and two down. .s
No nails were used in its construo-
ton, it being put together by wooden
pegs. Since that time Improvements
have been made on it which have
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
CURIOUS INVENTION.
10 Strapped on the Back aad
Heated with OIL.

In many portions of this country the
cold in winter is intense enough to
make one prefer = warm fireside to ex.
posure in the open air, no matter how
much we may talk about the ''brac.
ing" effect of this kind of weather. For
those who are compelled to face the
cold under conditions where the natu-
raj heat of the blood is not sufficient to
keep the body comfortable an Oregon
inventor has produced a portable foot
and body warmer, which he thinks will
at least prevent the extremities from
freezing.
1t is we'll known, says the Chicago
News, that when person is overcome
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11

fallen 1000 feet. Symptoms of scurvy
appeared among the men on the
sledge journeys, but disappeared on
their return to the ship. Though look
ing aged by the hard life and having
experienced some privatioD, owing to
part of the supplies being bad, the Of
fcers and crew of the discovery looked
we'll and cheerful, and they have de-
termined to spend another winter
among the ice. The most important
geographical discovery made by the
expedition is that Victoria Land has
been found to extend at least as far
as latitude 1920 south, and it is
thought that the greater part of that
region is n vast continent which
stretches away to the pole in series
of lofty mountains. The lowest tenn
perature recorded by the expedition
was 62 degrees below zero.
Almost nothing was known of the
south polar regions until 100 years ago,
when Capt. Cook circumnavigated the
earth in latitude 80 degrees, and proved
the absence of the 'great southern
continent which, until then, had been
supposed to exist. The antarctic cir
Gle was crossed for the first time by
Cook in 1878, when he succeeded in
penetrating to latitude II degrees ten
minutes. a record which was not
broken until 1922, when Weddell at
tanned to latitude 74.15. In 1912 Sir
James Ross penetrated to latitude
1910, and this remained the highest
southern point ever reached until
1900, when Borchgrevink pushed his
way to latitude 7s.4O, and constituted
another record, which has now been
broken by Commander Scott, who sue
ceeded in getting three and half de-
grees further south, or to a point only
$50 miles more distant from the south
pole than Nansen's furthest point was
from the north pole.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
NEAR TO SOUTH POLE
Borchgrevink's Record Broken by
"Discovery" Expedition.
Commander Scott Succeeded In Get
ting Three and One-Hal1 De.
Erees Farther South Than
Norwegian Explorer.

The Morning, the relief vessel to the
British antarctic ship Discovery, has
returned to Lyttelton, New Zealand,
and reports that she found the Dis
covery on January % in McMurdo bay,
Victoria Land. From the record of the
expedition brought back it appears
that the Discovery, which left Lyttel-
town about Christmas, 1901, made Cape
Adare on January 9, and coasted along
the great ice barrier which runs east
ward from Cape Crozier as far as longi-
tude 1920, where an extensive gla-
cial land with lofty peaks was discov-
cred. Returning westward, good win
ter quarters were found near Mounts
Erebus and Terror, and the ship was
frozen in on March "a. When winter
had passed sleighing began ON Sep
TENDER 2, 1902, and number of sledge
journeys were undertaken in various
directions, the most important being
made by Commander Scott, DR.. Will
son and Lieut.. Shackleton, who trav-
eled south until they reached latitude
S2.17 and longitude 1913 west, and es'
tablished worlds record for the fur.
thest point south. The trip was made
under very trying conditions, and the
party had to drag the sledges back t.
the ship, the dogs having died on the
the outward journey. Lieut. Shackle'
ton burst q blood vessel in one of his
lungs, and almost died from exposure.
He returned on board the Morning. An.
other party. which included Lieut..
Royds and Mr.. Shelton, visited Mount
Terror, and Travelled along the ice bar
rier, which is believed to be afoat,
though fed from the land ice. Lieut..
Armitage made a sledge journey to
the westward, and attained an altitude
of 5000 feet. On the return journey
he fell into n crevasse, and if he had not
been roped to the others would have
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11

Now in EXistence)
roam at will over the 1,OO0-acre tract
upon which they are confined, and con-
sequently have lost none of their shy
ness where man is concerned.
James w. Phillips, a wealthy ranch
man, has purchased the entire herd and
has removed them to his ranch in
South Dakota. He has enclosed an
immense tract of fine grazing land
with a fence ~ feet high and very
strong. The posts are placed three
feet from each other, and every pre-
caution made to properly care for the
big animals.
Phillips, the new owner, is himself
one of the unique characters OF
South Dakota. Coming to Dakota
when boy of 16 with nothing but the
clothes on his back, he is now mil
lionaire several times over and has
made a success of the cattle business.
He has been resident of this coun-
try almost 80 years and knows every
man, woman and child in it. His early
life was replete with adventures with
Indians and outlaws, and while still a
young man he has seen much of life.
Just what he intends to do with his
new purchases is not clear. 1t is re-
ported that he intends to take the en-.
tire herd to the Louisian Purchase ex.
position at St. Louis, that being his
scheme to attract attention to South
Dakota. From this it is said he expects
to sell thousands of acres of land which
he owns but for which there is no mar
ket at present.
This is by far the largest herd of
buffalo in existence, says the New York
Herald, the second largest being that
owned by Buffalo Bill in the Big Horr
basin of Wyoming. Here Col. Cody has
a herd of about 40 buffaloes, six or
eight of which he takes with him with
his Wild West show.
In the foot hills of Montana is To-
Gated the only herd of wild buffaloes
known. The band contains only 20 or
rs animals and is slowly decreasing.
There is strict rule against killing
them, and they are not molested by
hunters, but occasionally mountain
wolf succeeds in pulling down a calf or
heifer. In this way the herd is grad
ually losing ground, and within few
years will have disappeared.
But the Dupree herd is fast gaining
in number. and within a few years Mr..
Phillips will have more buffaloes than
he knows what to do with.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
GEORGE L. Upton.
Popular Illinois Editor Elected
Treasurer of the Mutual Pro-
tective League.

At the recent triannual meeting of
the Supreme council of the Mutual
Protective league, located at Litch-
field, ILL.,, which has a present member
ship of 10000, honored their order by
choosing Editor George L. Upton, Of
the Girard Gazette, Girard, ILL.,, as the
supreme treasurer of their order. Ed
itor Upton is member of the Hin OILS
Press association, has represented the
the National Press association. Twen-
ty-five years as editor has given him a
wide acquaintance and few men are
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
DEAL IN BUFFALoEs.
Largest Herd In the World, Consist
ing of Is Animals, Has Just
Changed Owners.

The largest herd of buffaloes in the
world has just changed hands. There
are Is of the animals in the bunch, the
nucleus of which was the five small buf-
falo calves in 1882, when they were
caught on the great plains and placed
in captivity. At that time the Dupree
family were hunting and capturing the
calves. They were with an immense
herd on the Little Missouri river and
after Being taken were hauled in q
wagon to the Dupree ranch. They were
carefully reared, and after the first five
years the increase has been very heavy.
At different times animals have been
sold to menageries and geological gar
dens throughout the country, but in
the main they have been allowed to
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
Woman Has Money to Burn.

Mrs. Ann Law, of Spring street,
Trenton, n. j., cooked 3O-cent steak
the other morning with roll of green
backs worth 5000. Mrs. Law was 60
ing to Philadelphia on shopping tour
and drew $500 from the bank. She laid
the money, which was Enclosed in an
envelope, on a table in the sitting room.
She decided to breakfast on steak be-
fore leaving home, and, gathering a
handful of paper, kindled a fire in the
kitchen stove. When the steak was
cooked it dawned on Mrs. Laws mind
that she had used the greenbacks for
kindling. She gathered the ashes and
took them to the mint in Philadel-
phia to find out if she could get her
money back.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11

" TIC odCA.y
by the cold the numbness first starts in
the hands and feet, chilling the blood
until the circula ion is reduced to such
an extent that it no longer carries the
heat from the heart and lungs to the
surface to fight the cold. The use Of
this invention is to maintain the
warmth of the extremities artificially
by circulating a continuous stream of
warm water from the miniature stove
through series of pipes leading to
warming pads in contact with the
hands and feet or other parts of the
body.
The stove, which is strapped on the
back, is provided with oil for fuel and
the flame maintains a comparatively
high temperature inside the adjacent
boiler, through which the liquid passes
in it's circuit of the pipes. These pipes
are of rubber and can be easily ad-
justed inside the clothing. While 1t
is not expected this novelty will come
into general use, there is little ques-
ton that it is capable of overcoming
the effects of the intense cold of
northern winter and it's introduction
will make extreme low temperature
easier for the body to withstand.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
Fresh Air in Tablet Form.

Fresh air tablets are a preparation
discovered by French scientist. While
experimenting in his laboratory he
discovered that he could combine GER
tain chemicals into tablet, which, on
being dropped into water, dissolved
and gave forth pure oxygen. These
tablets will be exceedingly useful in a
closed carriage. a submarine boat, a
mine or anywhere else where the air
has become vitiated.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11

(Ancient Seat Of Government In the City
Of Vincennes, Ind.)
changed its appearance, but it il stilI
the old capitol building in the eyes Of
Vincennes people, and efforts are maxi
ing to interest the city or state to buy
it and transform it into museum,
placing it in one of the parks,
The building is now used as resi-
dence and unless it gets some atten-
ton it will soon begin to decay. 1t il
owned by Thomas Kilfoil. It could be
bought, it is believed, for about $500.
For many years it stood in the princi"
pal street in the city and has been
used as business house, as we'll as q
home for numerous families. Much
history was made in the old building
while it was the meeting place of the
legislature of Indiana Territ DRY, which
was formed from part of the North
west territory.
Gov. William Henry Harrison read
his first message in the old building,
and in the message he worked for tho
passage of measure that would pre-
vent the sale of intoxicants to the In
dams. The measure, it is said, was
never passed.
At the session of the legislature In
this building in 1907, laws were made
attaching the death penalty for crimes
of treason, murder, arson and horse
stealing. Burglary and robbery were
made punishable by whipping, fine and
imprisonment. Larceny was made
punishable by fine or whipping; steal
ing by fine and whipping; bigamy by
fine, whipping and disfranchisement.
Stringent laws were also made for tho
punishment of children and servants
who refused to obey their parents or
masters.
Between August ~ and 20, 1910, the
Indian chief Tecumseh with IS war.
riors appeared daily before Gov. Har-
rison in the old building, and it was in
that building that Tecumseh lost his
temper and gave the lie to the COVER
nor. !
Hundreds of historic instances oc-
Cured in the old building, and almost
every prominent man in the country
at that time set his foot inside of it.
The last session of the legislature
ended in it on March 10, 1913, and it is
said that the last law passed in it was
that which required the capitol to bo
moved to Corydon, Ind.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
A Mother tn the Girl.

The woman who had lost her maid at
the moment that she was expecting
visitors went to the janitor in her dis
tress, hoping that he might be able to
find some one to help her out. He was
Hibernian and effusively sympathetic.
'Shure an it's too bad" he assured her,
'san' you afther bein' a mither to that
girl" AS the girl was as black as a
negro could be, the woman took the
compliment with reservations.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
Has n Scented Automo Mobile.

A scented automobile is run by Lord
Anglesey. a British nobleman. When
he goes abroad on his car, instead of
the fumes of gasoline or some other
noxious odor being left in his train,
there is fragrance of cologne.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
JOHN BROWNS BODY.
Authentic Story of Origin Of the Fa-
nous War Song.
0sAkoah (Wis) Banker, Who Was OAe
Of the Original Quartette That
sang 1t in 1861, Talks About
Its Competition.

Efforts by veterans of the great civil
war to discover the authors of John
Browns Body" from the ash heap of
time, have brought to light the history
of the stirring song.
A man in Oshkosh is able to tell the
story, for he was one of the original
quartette that sang it over 40 years
ago, and he assisted in the evolution
of the song. This modest veteran of
the rebellion, who was one of the men
who made the memorable escape from
the tunnel at Libbey prison, is James
Howard jenkins, president of the Ger
man national bank of Oshkosh.
This is how Mr.. jenkins tells of the
birth of the song: In the early spring
of 1861 the Boston light infantry, a
battalion of three companies, under
command of Maj. Rogers, of the Bos-
ton Journal, was sent to Fort Warren,
in Boston harbor, for drill and garrison
duty. This battalion was made up
largely of the better class of city boys
and was to Boston what the Seventh
regiment was to New York.
WHICH, Tic Oculduu lux tAoOPS OC-
came pressing the battalion offered its
services, which, however, could not be
accepted, save as it could be incor-
porated in one of the regiments then
forming. Accordingly the battalion
disbanded and a rush was made by
it's members to enlist in the Twelfth
and Thirteenth regiments. The
Twelfth was completed first and was
sent to Fort Warren for organization
and drill.
Among its members were many ex-
cellent singers. One of the male quar-
tettes was composed of four sergeants
jenkins. Brown, Edgerley and
Eldredge-who were continually on
the lookout for good marching mel
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11

known better than he with the news
paper men. He is the oldest publisher
in his county, he having been connect
ed with the Gazette since it was first
published. He is also a leading politi-
clan in his county and is quite fra
ternal man, being a member of all the
leading fraternal organizations of i'm
portance. He is married and has hap.
DIV family, composed of wife, two sons
and a daughter.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
Nam with Real Big Head.

Arthur Jennings, aged p years, Of
Florence, Colo, has big head. 1t
measures sc inches in circumference.
He has agreed to sell it to an eastern
medical institute for S2,OOO-half to be
paid at once and the other half when
Arthur dies and the head is delivered
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
A jana n csc Superstltion.

No japanese ever sleeps with his
head to the north. TITS is beca use the
dead in Japan are always buried with
their heads in that position. In the
sleeping rooms of many of the private
houses and hotels diagram of the
points of the compass is posted upon
the ceiling for the convenience of
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
Frog Farms in Cana da.

Frogs are raised in large numbers
in Canada to supply the demand for
frogs legs in the United States. One
frog farm in Ontario last year pro-
duced 5000 pounds of dressed frogs
legs and 1000 frogs for medical ex-
DerimentS
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11

John Browns Body.)
ody upon which to construct regi-
mental war song. From some I'M
known quarter came a verse:
John Browns body lies moulderng in
the grave"
His soul Is marching on
''Glory, glory, Hallelujah!"
In searching for fitting tune they
adapted an old camp meeting melody
sung by the colored Methodists at the
Nartha's Vineyard camp meetings to
the words: "Come, brothers, will you
meet us?'
The song took" at once, and the
simplicity of the chorus, with it's
swing and Tilt, made it at once popu-
lar. The verses that followed were
improvised from time to time. The
death of Col. Ellsworth, which oc-
CURED at that time, occasioned the
verse:
1--WE lament the death Of Col. Ellsworth,
Ana his pets (his Zouaves) will meet him on
the way
The second tenor of the quartette
was a short, broad-shouldered Scotch
man named John Brown. When he put
on his knapsack fer the first time.
with his red-lined overcoat rolled on
it's top, he looked so topheavy that
the boys laughed at him. But quick
witted and good-natured, he retorted
by marching up and down, singing:
"John Browns knapsack is strapped upon
his back"
This was straightway added to the
list of verses. "We'u hang jeff Davis
to . sour apple tree" was the natural
expression of rampant Massachu-
sets man.
On Saturday afternoons Gilmore's
band came to the fort to play at dress
parade, and large numbers of visitors
were also present. One Saturday the
quartette went with Gilmore into one
of the classmates and sang the song
to him, he following with his cornet
till he had fixed the air in his memory.
On his return to Boston he had it ar
ranged for his band. The following
Saturday it was played for the first
time in front of the Twelfth Massachu-
sets volunteer infantry at dress pa
rade at Fort Warren, Boston harbor.
On its way to the front the regi-
ment passed through New York and
dined on City Hall square. When the
line was formed to march down Broad
way to the ferry the band struck up
"John Brown" and the regiment sang
it to the cheers and shouting and ex-
citement of the thousands that lined
the street.
OF the original quartette, John
Brown was drowned while crossing
swollen stream near Fort Royal.
Eldredge died some years ago. Edger-
ley at last accounts was living in Bos-
ton. The fourth member of the quar-
tette, J. II. jenkins, has lived in Osh-
kosh since 1865, and has presented the
foregoing as what he conceives to be
the correct version of the origin of the
most famous of the northern butte
songs of the civil war.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-06-11
PORTRAIT BY SULTAN
Ruler of Morocco IL = Failure a. Al
Artist Just a. He In = Failure s.
~ Monarch.

Funny, isn't it, and very like tho
scrawl of five-year-old? Any Ameri-
can school boy of ten would be ashamed
to own such work; but the artist is no
less notable than his royal highness
the sultan of Morocco. In November
of 1900 Arthur Schneider went to Mo.