davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-16

The inspection of the Fire Depart
ment last Tuesday was one of the
most successful in the history Of the
department.. The records for run
ming, putting out fires and getting
water through hose were beaten out
of sight, and the firemen and their
apparatus never worked better.
Superintendent Haven, of the
public schools, wisely had one session
of school so the boys and girls, whose
enthusiasm runs high on firemen's
day, could review the parade and the
exhibitions without conjuring up
some tale to stay out of school for the
afternoon.
Much Of the credit of the inspec-
tion and parade is due to Chief
Engineer Fox, who personally looked
after every detail.
At l.30 p. m. Mayor Reed and the
Board of Aldermen inspected the
different fire houses which they said
were in excellent condition, and
spoke in the highest terms Of the
neatness of the firemen.
The parade formed on the west
side of the Park. The Fire Wardens
headed the procession followed by
their wagon and the Morristown
Drum Corps Then came the Inde-
pendents with their engine. Wash
ington Engine Company, headed by a
Morristown Band, with their hose
cart and engine followed The Res
olute Truck boys with the hook and
ladder and red wagon were next. Then
followed brass band from Morris
Plains and the Humane boys with
their handsome new hose wagon and
the engine. A Summit Band and the
First Ward Hose Company with their
cart were at the rear.
After marching through the prin-
cipal streets of the town, the firemen
were reviewed on parade by the
Mayor and Aldermen. A stand was
erected for this purpose.
The exhibitions were watched from
the stand as well as by crowds of
people in the park and on the side
walks.
The time made by the various com
panies is as follows Independents
running time, 81 s., beating last
years record by four seconds Time
fire was put out including running
time, I'm. 40s. This is a great increase
over last year.
Resolute Hook and Ladder Company
running time, 1m., los. Ladder
raised to fifth story Babbitt building,
lm., 80 lbs, and Foreman Bowen
climbed to top of ladder in 27s., MAX
ing total time 3m., Is lbs. Last year
the Resolutes did much better, the
total time being 2m., 25 1-5s.
Washington Engine Company made
a run to the fire hydrant in AZ 1-5s,
but the team ran so fast that when
they reached the hydrant the horses
could not be stopped. They were al
lowed to try again, and the second
time the horses ran in 46 seconds, and
got water in 24s; making total of i'm.
los. Last year the time was I'm. 26 3-5S.
The Humane Engine Company were
unable to make as good time as they
should have, first, because the spirited
black team they had on parade was
not used in the run, and the substi-
tute team was not up to standard.
They made the hydrant in SIS, but
before they reached it, the harness
broke and had to be fixed, thus caus-
ing delay.
The Red Wagon of the Resolute
Hook & Ladder beat it's record last
year by two seconds, running and ex-
tinguishing the fire in m. and 81 s.
The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-16
A NOTABLE
BALL TEAM
A Brilliant Showing for Nor
ristown's Crack Baseball
Aggregation.
VICTORIES MANY DEFEATS FEW

The PastIme Baseball Clubs Playing
Season just Closed Schedule of
Games Played at Home and Abroad,
Showing 81 Victories and 10 Defeats,
Placing the Team in the Front Rank
of Semi professionals.
The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-16
.FIREMEN'S
INSPECTION
Held on tuesday. Parade and
Exhibitions. One Extra
Exhibit was Given.
LAST YEARS RECORDS BROKEN

An Excited Individual Turned in a
General Alarm independent Hose
Company Does a New stunt. wasa a
Surprise. The Day all that Could
be Desired and Crowds Came out to
see the Flremen.
The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-16
HIGH TIDE
In MORRIS
The Swollen Streams Spread
Themselves Out, Causing
Danger and Damage.
THE FLOOD AT VARIOUS POINTS

Graphic Account of the Flood at Pine
Book. People Taken from Their
Homes In Boats. Water Never so
High Before in the Memory of Old
est Inhabitants. Dams and Bridges
Wrecked In jefferson Township.
The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-16
SUPERVISING
PRINCIPALS
Of Morris County Held Meeting
Here. County Superinten-
dent Matthews Present.
MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED

A Fair Attendance for the First Meet
Ing. Four Meetings per Year to be
Held. A Banquet to all Present.
should Bookkeeping be Taught In
Eighth Grade 2 County superIntend-
ent Says 1t Should.
The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-16
Held IN First Presbyterian
Church. Welcomed by
Pastor and Mayor.
A GOOD WORK BEING DONE

Reports of Committees. Prominent
Speakers Present. Senator Smoot,
of Utah, Must Get Out. Reach all
Classes of People. Work Done In
Business-liSe Manner. New Offi-
GERS Elected.
The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-10-16

[coNTINUED ON FOURTH PAGE.l
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26
remembered that the bodies of

remembered that the bodies of
victims were not subjected to
water alone, for in almost every
instance mud and sand was in a,
layer over the entire form, and
often they we're mutilated by con-
tact with the debris. Add to this,
the strange fact regarding the
freakish pranks played by the
barbed wire from the Gautier wire
mill. Thousands of yards of barb
wire went scurrying with the
flood and the way it would en-
tangle anything was queer. Many
bodies found in the center of town
were wrapped in this steel barbed
wire from head to foot!
With the warm weather came
fever, known to this day as flood
fever. Many who survived the
waters died in June, July and
August. It may be that very few
Of our readers ever read their own
death notices, but my obituary
notice was published, along with
thousands who really did die in
the flood. The fact of my being
in the town the day previous
probably accounts for it. It
seemed a very grim joke to me,
and [ confess [ felt timid when I
read l had persisted.
1 secured many relics, some
valuable. There was one always
priced. 1t was an old-fashioned
photograph, an enamelled one, set
in gold frame. The picture was
of little boy. People often asked
me if [ found any money Yes,
one day I found silver dollar! I.
searched for hours at that spot but
never found another cent, so
really earned the buck Lots
of money was found, but I never
was lucky, except when I took the
train leaving Johnstown the day
before the Hood. HARLEY.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26

held in the most matter of fact
tones: Hello, john" one would
say, show goes it?'' 80, not SO
good, amt got no ambition left y
GLOW many did you lose?" "My
wife and four children, and two
brothers and their wives and chill
dren, all except one boy, he got
out at the bridge same as I did,
"That's too bad! I~only lost three,
wife and two children, saved the
baby "Well, I'm glad the suns
out, amt your" eyes it will help
dry up things $50 long" $50
long," That's the philosophical
way most of the survivors looked
at their deep trouble. Every one
else had so much trouble that
individuals buried theirs.
Not all, however. Here we saw
a young man in a perfect frenzy
of grief Juggling at an enormous
pile of debris under which he in
sisted he was caught. "Get me
out of this he yelled. "My
mother is further down in this
stuff! Get me out sol can get her
freep Poor fellow, he was out,
but it took no insanity expert to
determine his mental state. And
so it was all over the town, misery
and grief and worse still, insanity.
Up to this time we had only
seen the misfortune and loss Of
others; our own was to come. On
Market street, not far from
where the locomotive stood, we
met my uncle. 1 have never seen
before or since the peculiar light
of his eyes. He said: after I
left you this morning I walked
around awhile and not finding any
of our relatives I determined to
get to Market street. I've been
here ever since, and been working
hard, too. I've got 'em all out,
but I can't find joe" And turn
ing the corner Of house now in
ruins we came upon a sight which
will never fade from my memory.
On the ground lay nine relatives
of ours, my maternal uncle, aunt
and seven children all in state
terrible to think Of. It is to be
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26

AGENTS WANTED-NO EXPERIENCE NEG
essary, to take orders for new educational
chart; new combination plan which will net
you So day; commissions are 1915 per cent;
express and freight charges paid active
workers send 75c for sample outfit, which
win be returned to you upon receipt of your
first $40 order. Address Agents Department
2OS Pioneer Press building. st. Paul, MINI.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26

=
rrial parade, [ took the last train
Gthat left the town over the Somer-
sset and Cambria Branch of the b.
sand O. r. r. to go to my fathers
home about fourteen miles south
west, just over the county line and
into Somerset county.
The next day was the fatal Fri
<day, May 81, 1859.
It rained all day and the little
village of Bethel was partly food
ed, caused by the overflow of
sStoney Creek. About IL o'clock
moon, the telephone and telegraph
communications with Johnstown
become sadly deranged. The train
which went down at 2 o'clock to
-Johnstown never returned. No
real anxiety was occasioned by
this, for the knowing ones at
stributed it to a washout.
/ retired about 10 p. m. and at
midnight I was awakened by
someone talking in an excited
rmanner. This was down on the
board walk below my window, and
the man was talking to my father.
L remember part of the converse
-tion:
Eyes, indeed, the whole town is
gone; not soul escaped" the
stranger was saying. My fathers
replies were only short ejacula-
stions, such as: "My! myw "Too
fbad!' etc., etc.
| arose, as did the entire house.
hold. The messenger was ad-
united. He proved to be the Sec
7tion boss of the railroad. He with
several of his crew had come up the
road on a handcar from point
across the river from Johnstown,
from which place they had been
the unwilling witnesses of the
,deluge. Everybody was so ex-
cited that sleep was banished for
1that night.
At daylight a party of five
started afoot for Johnstown. This
party consisted of my father, my
Glncle, two neighbors and the
writer. We took lanterns, rope
Sand hatchets, and as much food as
we could conveniently carry. /
have often wondered since why
we ever took hatchets, but at the
time they seemed very proper.
We followed the railroad track
sabout five miles, then we struck a
vwashout. 1t was broad day by
7this time, but nasty drizzle had
set in. We managed to cross the
swashout as it was narrow one
and then we came to a>tunnel,
half a mile long. [ shall never
forget going through that tunnel.
1T was SO dark and gloomy and
the faint light from the lanterns
made the shadows of our figures
appear very ghost-like as they ac-
+companied our slow advance. But
like everything else the tunnel had
and end, tho I began to have seri-
aous doubts about it at one time
during our passage.
To get out into daylight was
such an intense relief that we
actually forgot to grumble about
the rain. Indeed it was SO pleas
ant to breathe free air again that I
doubt if we realized how awfully
saturated our clothing had become.
We trudged along and at last came
to Stoney Creek. The bridge was
gone! Between us and YOUNGSTOWN
there ragged Stoney Creek, but it
was creek no longer, It WAS a
mighty surging river Of appalling
proportions. My father was very
anxious to get over to the town,
4as indeed We all were. None of
the party but what had friends
and relatives over there, but iv-
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26

for we saw g woman approaoh ching
She saw us too, and came to us
hurrying and said: well, if
there amt Mr.. and there's
too. Well, thank God, every
d0dy's not dead" and the poor soul
cried pitecusly. She was wom-
an who at one time had been 9
tenant Of my fathers. While we
were talking to her, two men came
up, one of whom led a little girl
by the hand. s'Do any Of you
know who she is?'' asked one. No,
she was some foreigners child.
She appeared to be about five years
old and to all inquiries as to who
she was, the only reply was, II am
Mary, little Mary "What does
your father do?" "He works at,
the big MILL" whats his name?"
"He is my daddy"
That was all, and Mary was
consigned to the care Of Mrs. -,
who herself had seen three of her
own children and her husband
perish miserabfy before her eyes.
And now we came upon more
saved ones. Sometimes in small
groups; again solitary individual.
There seemed to be no object
whatever in their strolls, just
wandering aimlessly about. When
we had attained the highest point
on the debris, directly in front of
the Merchants Hotel, we could
get view of the entire remnant
of the town, for we were some
twelve feet higher than the hotel
roof.
The food had deposited most of
it's refuse within radius of three
blocks on either side of where we
stood. ALI outside of that was
deserted. On the hills which sur
rounded the town could be seen
the pretty cottages Of the fortu-
nate who lived there, and to those
cottages had the saved ones focked
in such numbers as to almost
depopulate the town proper.
In the block on Main street, the
one between Bedford and Franklin,
I counted 80 dead bodies. Not
all the bodies were wholly visible.
Here and there an arm or leg pro-
truded from the debris. In the
next block the debris was irregular,
often a space of twenty feet was
comparatively free from obstruction
and the sidewalk and curbing
could be seen occasionally. But
strange too, in these clear spaces
more bodies were found than
where the debris was piled high.
Entering these GASES was like 60
ing into the Inferno, for the bot
tom was very dark and the descent
perileus.
In a jewelers. show window
stood the corpse Of the proprietor.
The water had come upon
him so suddenly and so swiftly
that he had no time to leave the
store, and no doubt sought safety
in the window where he died in
standing posture. He seemed to
be guarding to the last few mis-
cradle trinkets of this earth. He
was not the only one who initiated
Lots wife.
Reaching Market street we
came upon one of the wonders of
the food. In the middle of the
street stood a railroad engine and
tender, comparatively free from
dirt and in an upright position,
looking as tho it only needed the
throttle to be opened and it would
speed away. The wonder of this
is, that the railroad is fve-eighths
Of a mile from this point on
Market street, and how thatengine
ever left the track, coupled to the
tender, and after making trip on
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26


means, we we're interrupted by a
cry from one of our party: "See
there, that's dead womanW Sure
enough, about twenty feet away
from the bank we saw the first
victim. She appeared to be about
forty years old. Probably some
poor mother. | only looked for
an instant, but that feeling of
revulsion soon wore off, for an
other corpse and another. and still
another foated by in an almost end
less procession. Sometimes man,
then young girl or boy. The
most pathetic of all were the dear
little children and babies, of whom
great numbers persisted.
For several hours we were CON-
PEELED to wait on the shore of the
river, but when all hope of getting
across seemed about gone a row.
boat emerged from the other bank
and the sole occupant responded
to our calls by directing his course
towards us. The rapid flow of
the current made it impossible for
him to make landing where we
were, but by frantic efforts on his
part and stimulated by our en-
deavors to throw him a line, we
finally had the satisfaction of see
ing him make fast to tree some
distance down stream, and which
originally had stood on the bank,
but was now some ten feet away
from the shore line and partly
submerged by water.
The man in command of the
boat was a Johnstowner with
whom my father had a passing
acquaintance. To our inquiries he
calmly said, eyes the whole town
is goner sure. I've only seen
three people beside myself alive,
but God only knows how many
dead ones. There's nothing to
eat over there and I'm hungry as
a bear. Amt had a bite for "a
hours" It is needless to say his
hunger was soon appeased, and we
looked at our lunch disappearing
with startling rapidity without a
thought of our own stomachs. The
boat held six men comfortably and
at 81 apiece we went over the
river. Our landing on the Johns
town side was even more difficult
than the owners had been, but we
at last stood on the site of former
Johnstown. Being well acquaint-
ed with the locality we had no
trouble to get our bearings and
our party separated.
My father and [ went in quest
Of relatives. The others took vari-
Gus routes. Going in a circuitous
way we reached what had been
the corner of Main and Bedford
streets. Here the ground was
swept as clear as any billiard table.
It looked Ikea hard sandy ocean
beach. Not a stick or stone of
any description, nothing but sand
which covered the virgin soil to a
depth varying from four to seven
inches. This section Of the town,
an area of about one-eighth Of a
mile wide and two miles long, was
in the direct route of the after
food. The debris which had &C.
cumulated had been pushed" up
the bisecting streets; and one
block, from Bedford to Franklin
on Main street, by some freak of
the waters, escaped absolute de-
struction; but between the bust
ness houses was a mass of. debris
which reached in some places to
the house tops.
To that pile we cautiously went.
The rain had ceased and the sun
was shining brightly now. A feel
ing of desolation crept over us
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26
THE RECEDING OF THE
WATERS.

I SO happened that the
writer was at Johnstown,
Pennsylvania, on the
day before the Great
Flood. That day as we
know was Decoration
Day. After the memo
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-17
90 ~ e.1.A/
Why Joseph Chamberlain Likes
America.

GEverybody's Magazine.l
Few people know that he has been
married three times. When Mrs.
Chamberlain appears in public it is al
ways in the protecting shadow of her
husband who keeps her sheltered from
the prying of modern curiosity with a
fine determination that no one can fail
to applaud. Her photographs can not
be purchased in the shops nor have au-
thentic ones ever been published, unless
perhaps she was one of some group
On the other hand she has played no
small part in her husbands career. He
has often in his speeches. when she was
present, alluded to the dear interest
which attached him to the United
States and made him almost half
American, since Mrs. Chamberlain
would never admit thai in marrying an
Englishman she had become an English
subject. At Highbury there hangs
portrait of old Governor Endicott, of
Massachusetts colony, who cut the st.
George cross from the British flag,
holding 1t a papistical emblem. AS
lately as that day when the whole of
great London turned out to do honor
to tho colonial secretary in presenting
him the freedom of the city, generally
spoken of as the apotheosis of Cham
berlain, he alluded to his wife's ma
tionality and to his earnest interest in
everything which tended to bring about
better understanding between the
TWO peoples.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-17
IOWA NEWSPAPERS.
FARMERS WRONG CONCLUSION.

FARMERS WRONG CONCLUSION.
[Joe T:igg.l
A man on a good quarter section of
land was complaining because he had
not made anything lie past year and
exprt ssed regret that his brother, who
was a clerk in town bank at salary
of 5000 year. was so much better off
than he was. A friend did little fig
tring for him and easily proved that
he was all wrong IN his conclusions.
1t figured out something like this: The
bank clerk got 5000. out of which he
had to pay $3.50 for rent of house, leav-
ing $500 with which TO meet all the
other many expenses of living for him
self wife and three children. He really
had hard work to make both ends meet
The brother on the farm had had his
house rent. the best board for himself
wife and three children and wifes
their clothing and all house
hold comforts. There was a nav $500
barn which had been built; there We're
ten hsad more cattle. thirty more hogs
and three more colts Than year previ-
Gus. a new surrey i" the barn and $3.50
worth of new machinery all either pro-
duced on the farm or paid for from the
products raised on .he farm during the
year Hold on, said the farmer 81
see that l am an o.G fool"
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-17

have been less than for the same time
last year. Indianapolis and Cincinnati ii
are two other points where demands
upon charitable societies have been
largely increased.
On the whole. however, there is
ground for surprise from these disclos
ures. 1t is true the winter has been
comparatively mild. the working classes
have had more money with which to
buy, and being forewarned have been
forearmed thru watchfulness and fru-
gality. 1t is probable, too. that some of
the well-to-do users of anthracite have
suffered more in deprivation and in
creased cost than other users of fuel.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-17

Last week, the list of each house had
we'll up towards the top, Mrs. Wigs,
of the Cabbage Patch The book has
been out months, yet its sale has not
decreased. 1t is a good thing that u
has not. Scarcely to be called pre-
tentious book, it may become classic
of hunor. And really don't you thinE
it better book to read and to re-reaA
than the neurotic Confessions of @
Wife,"
OF course, the ladies of Dallas, Texas
may have felt that the first lady of the
land should have sent their dinkey lit
tie fair, something better than ten
cent handkerchief, but it is doubtful
if Mrs Roosevelt or any one else for
that matter, would be much impressed
with the courtesy and refinement of the
solicitors, who not liking her contri-
button, returned it to her respect
fully declined AT the risk of arousinR
once more the ire of the southern lad
les. some one should recall to them, tive
old ayioms-one about the incompat-
Utility of a beggar and chooser dwell
ing in the same body, and the other
about the bad breeding of examining
a gift horse After all, we have seen
lots of things at dinkey little fairs,
which We're far worse than q ten cent
And many Of them sold
for MANY times ten cents