davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06
A REAL BOY WONDER
Four ear-O1d Telegraph Operator
Out in Oklahoma.
Went to work when He WINS Two,
Says His Eather-Sow He Has
Fun on the wires with
other Operators.

There is child at Watonga, Okla,
that makes the conventional prodigy
seem ordinary. Compared with this
boy wonder the precocious youngsters
who whistle patriotic songs al three
and play dance music on the piano six
months later, are backward. In Wa
tonga no mother who has heard OF
Glenn Il. Peck says anything about her
own four-year-oid who may recite foE
through the tWos. Glenn IL tie up-to-
date child wonder, he is born teleg-
rapher. He has been a telegrapher
about two years, having taken up the
work when he was two years of age.
This is what Glenn's father, agent for
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
railway at Watonga, says about the
young lightning jerker:
"Glenn was four years old the ed of
last January. am an old telegrapher,
having worked at telegraphing for the
last IL years. Glenn's mother has
worked as telegrapher for the last
eight years, and is at present employed
by the Rock Island company.
"Glenn began to learn telegraphy at
the age of two years. The first time we
noticed it was when central Office was
beating time at noon. He was play
ing in the office and ran into another
room calling to his mother that Her.
ington was giving time Always
after he was able to tell when time
was given and eagerly watched for it,
He kept right at it and frequently he
would call out some word he heard on
the wire, and all this time, understand,
he had not learned the Morse alphabet.
We had never as yet taught him to
send nor had we the slightest idea
that he could do so, but one day he
climbed on the telegraph table and be-
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06

Johns were not only very useful, but
absolutely necessary, as being the only
means of regenerating nation almost
entirely imbued with the leprosy vi
rus, and so slowly but certainly stamp
ing out the terrible disease. But, un-
der the circumstances, nothing could
be done, new wards had TO be built,
and to do this money was needed.
Sufficient not being available local
ly, the idea struck Father Wehinger
to try fresh fields and pastures new,
so, in 1895, with the permission of his
ecclesiastical superior, he undertook
voyage TO Europe on begging tour.
The reception he met with in the sew
eral countries he visited was, to say
the least, enthusiastic.
After an absence of three years, Fa-
Their Wehinger returned to Burmah,
and at once set in hand the erection
of the new wards, with the aid of M.
BIN, architect and engineer.
The buildings grew apace, and on
December 27 1900, the foundations
stone of the new chapel asylum was
laid. The chapel measures ITO feet by
SO feet.
Proof Of the fact that the good work
being done was not unnotieed was
amply provided when Father We.
Ringers name appeared in the kings
first birthday honors list as having
been awarded the silver medal of the
Kaiser-i-Hind, which decoration was
presented to him by Lord Curzon wher
his excellency visited Mandalay in No.
vember, 1901, and formally opened the
seven new wards of the asylum
GRUE CosGRovE.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06

marked than that of railway construc-
ton.
During the last session of the Chilean
congress. which closed in February, a
bill was passed providing for the con-
struction of a railway over the Andes
mountains, to connect Buenos Ayres
with Santiago and Valparaiso. This
will be the first line to cross the conti-
nent of South America.
This railway was projected 20 years
ago, and since that time some sort of
measure dealing with the question has
been before each session of congress;
but each in its turn failed to pass one
or the other branch of the law-making
body until on February 2s last, when
the aforementioned bill became law.
A railway extending from Buenos
Ayres to the Cumbre of the Cordillera,
at Uspallata Pass, to connect with the
line from Valparaiso, is being con-
structed by the Argentine government.
Work on the new road is being pushed
forward on both sides of the noun
tains. and prospects are bright for d.
rect railway connections, within few
years, between the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts, over the Andes, by line eXend
ing through the heart of Chile and Ar
gentina. This road will shorten the
time between Europe and Chile by six
or eight days, as traffic is now via the
Straits of Magellan,
The railway from Bdenos Ayres is
completed as far as Puente del Inca,
short distance from the Cumbre, and
the line In course of construction In
Chile is completed as far as Salto del
Saldado, also hear the pass over the
Andes, and during the summer months
November to April--ttaffic is carried
on over the mountains, along the route
of the proposed railway, by mule cara
vans. 1t requires only one day to make
the trip between the railway terminals.
The pass is crossed at an elevation of
$4,000 feet above sea level; but the route
as surveyed for the railway provides
for a tunnel through the mountains,
which will reduce the altitude of the
highest point reached by the railroad
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06

gan to call a nearby office and sign our
office call at regular intervals the same
as an old telegrapher would do. We
questioned him as to what Office lie
was calling and he promptly named it
and also told us what letters it took
to make the office call. From that day
he kept on improving very rapidly, or,
perhaps l should say, it naturally
came to him. He would pronounce
difficult words when he would hear
them on wire. And he would spell
words correctly on the wire that he
could not spell otherwise.
Imagine our surprise when we
came in the Office one day and he
promptly told us he heard the train
dispatcher give train order and that
Nos. 1853 and 154 would meet at Waton-
ga, We inquired into this and found
out he was correct. Glenn did not
study nor was he taught. Now he can
read train order correctly, tell when
operators are sending their wire car
reports and tell when Watonga's turn
comes. He can tell when other opera
tors %. S. their trains, what Office is
reporting and the number of the train.
He frequently calls up Wichita and
asks them 80 which means: Have you
anything for us?' Very often he calls
up other offices and tells them to copy
He will call all of the offices he eau
raise and then, after he gets them all
lined up ready 10 'eopy-they thinking
it is an all-agent message-he will tell
them 49, which means he is busy on
another wire.
"Other operators cannot tell his
work from that of the regular opera
tor, as he does not send 'hammy,' like
all beginners, but he makes his letters
correctly, exactly like an old telegra PHI
er. A few days ago he called up
Geary station and told the operator to
copy The Geary operator told him
to wait minute till he got his mill, ,
and when he had his typewriter ready
he told Glenn to go ahead. Glenn then
told him '25.'
The operators at the Wichita West
ern Union Office call him nearly every
day. They are very much surprised at
him, and it is very hard to make any
operator believe he is talking to a little
boy four years old, The Wichita opera
tors can now tell HIS hand from either
his mothers or mine; they often call
him and ask him to tell some other of.
| flee on another wire to answer them for
a message. He promptly replies art
| Gall right, and Immediately gets or
the other wire and calls the office. II
successful in raising them, he tells
them to answer on No. wire.
II believe we are safe in saying that
Glenn is the youngest telegrapher il
the world. and the youngest one that
was ever known. lie can cut out ant
in the switch board, and when the WIZ,
! is open he can test the wire by ground
ing and locate in which direction th'
wire is open"
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06
CROSSING THE ANDES
A New Trans-Continental Railway
in South America.
1T Marks n New step I'm the Industrial
Progress of Chill and Argen-
tine RepubIic--A Part OF
1t Is Completed.

Venezuela and Chile and Argentine
represent distinct types Of the South
American nations. Venezuela is the
unprogressiye; Chile and Argentine
the progressive. Mr.. James Barnes
calls Venezuela TIE Land Of Stand
still" and the appelation is good one.
Such a mans, however, would not APP
ply to the otter two republics. Though
it may be doubted if either have shown
the progressiyeness Of some sections
of the new world. yet both are now
pushing toward Development of re
sources that wiz give hem prominent
places in the pa4.ery Of nations, and
In no line is this development more
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06
MAID SOLD HERSELF.
Wonderful Devotion of Indian Girl
to Fathers Memory.
Singing swan, Belle Of the Kiowaa
Auctioned Herself 20 Pay Debt
of Honor Contracted by
Chief Iron Talk.

Singing Swan, the belle Of the kiowa
Indian village in Indian territory, has
just auctioned herself to pay debt OF
honor of her dead father.
Old Jim Grow, famous, wealthy
"white" Indian and character of un-
usual force, originality and honesty,
was the successful bidder. lie pad
$500 for the handsome young wom-
an. Then he took her to bis home and
introduced her 10 his family of grown
up sons and daughters as an orphan
whom he had adopted, and told them to
treat her as sister.
The old man is a widower, but those
who know the sterling sense of honor
believe that he adopted the girl to keep
her out of bad hands and in the hope
that she would find an acceptable hus-
band in one of his handsome sons.
In the meantime the debt of honor
has been cancelled in an unexpected
way, says the New York World.
Singing Swans father was Chief Iron
Talk, a man Of wealth and influence in
the tribe, and was distinguished for
his hospitality and his progressive and
philanthropic ideas. He had his daugh-
ter well educated. Her fine qualities
and her beauty attracted mary white
suitors, but she held aloof from them
and stuck to her father.
He, by reason of his constant wish
to improve his people and to do the
greatest possible good with his for
tune, was induced by inscriptions
whites to embark on an enterprise that
swept away every dollar and left him
at his death $4,000 in debt.
This amount he had borrowed from
a money lender, and while for years he
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06
EAST VIEW OF THE ESTABLISHMENT

Of pagoda you rub shoulders with
the victims, in the markets, on the
streets you jostle them, and yet you
do not seem to feel the repugnance a
stranger not used to such sights would
feel
Even we, with long experience Of
BurInah, find much that is new ard in.
teresting in the Golden City, once the
Citadel of the Lord of the White Ele-
plant and the Golden Throne, But
there is one sight, one institution. one
enduring memorial for which we are
not indebted to the past. The "Man-
aw Yaman,' the royal garden, where
st. Johns leper asylum is situated, is
the home of many misera BILE creatures,
to whom even parental doors are
closed; it is the home of the affiict-
ed and the despised, the home of hid
eous sights and repulsive objects. AL
most all the countries of Europe are
allied in the work of mercy carried on
at this institution; priests and nurs-
ing sisters, who have given up home
and friends to minister TO these most
miserable of creatures, are joined in
their labor of love.
Inch by inch the asylum has grown,
until now it has attained the position
of being ranked as one of the most
noble institutions not only in Burmah,
but in the whole world. 1t had a very
humble beginning, as most things in
this world have. 1t was shortly after
the annexation of Upper Burmah, or,
to be more accurate; in 1883, that the
late Bishop Simon addressed the au-
thorities on the subject of lepers, but
II was not Till 1851 that Rev. Father
Wehihger, Following the example of
the Immortal Father Damien, of Mo-
loka, Hawaii, was able to found the
st. Johns leper asylum on grant of
SIX aeres of land just outside Manda-
lay. The beginning was necessarily
on a very small scale, and when it is
taken into consideration that the num-
Der of lepers in Burmah at that time
was variously estimated at anything
between $4,000 and $4,000, it is not at
all surprising to learn that all avail
able space was Immediately filled up.
From the appalling figures quoted
above of those affected, it is very evil
dent that asylums such as the ST.
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06
A LEPER INSTITUTION
ons in Burma That Is Doing Great
Good for the Afflicted.
From small Beginnings II Has Risen
to 81 Point Where Every Nation
of Europe Is Interested In
IN Maintenance.

The question of leprosy is not mod
ern one. From the most ancient times
it has, perhaps, occupied the mines Of
scientists. 1t has been threzhed out
in its most salient points again and
again, but up to Gaie no one has been
able to find what n ight be termed a
cure for this most terpible OF human
scourges.
Here in the east. and in Burmah in
particular, one grows callous at the
several and ghastly sights one sees.
Leprosy in all its worst forms stalks
rampant through the streets and
thoroughfares. Ascending the steps
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06


had paid the interest, he had never
been able to pay the principal.
On Iron Talks death the money
lender seized property belonging to
the estate. This, however, did not sat
isfy the creditor, and feeling her ia
theirs debt to be one of honor Singing
Swan finally decided to give herself in
expiation, reserying. however, the
right to reject the hnal bid.
AS soon as old jim Crow had given
Singing Swan a check for the $4,000,
he hunted up John McRae, the money
lender, and asked for the note he held
against Iron Talk.
| Singing Swan chose for her auction
q feast day, when a large crowd com
posed of white traders, cattlemen, In
dams, half-breeds, nomads and gam
blers had gathered in the quaint vii
lage street.
When she appeared among them,
clad gayly in the rich royal robes of
her tribe, all eyes were turned upon
her in admiration. Suddenly mounting
a box, she stood a dramatic figure amid
most picturesque surroundings.
"Who wants wife?" she asked of
the astonished crowd. There was an
earnestness in her voice and face that
forbade jesting reply.
The young warriors could hardly
credit their eyes and ears. singing
Swan" never looked lovelier Her black
ewes sparkled and her long dark hair,
falling below her belt, mingled with
the brilliant colors of her apparel.
Strands of fresh-water pearls and hum
dreds Of elk-teeth, FURNISHED and
tipped with gold, flashed from her neck
and arms and every seam of her cost
ly garments,
Finally young Kiowa brave spurred
his pony nearer. Few heard the words
of the bidder, but the next instant the
girl exclaimed: Zone thousand dollars
I am offered! Who bids more?"
| Six-Killer, a rich Cherokee, instantly
shouted: 81 will give $1,000 in gold for
Singing Swan"
at is not enough to pay my fathers
Ldebt of honor" said the maiden.
At that moment old Jim Crow spoke
up. 81 need housekeeper," he said
"and if Singing Swan will take kindly
to old Jim will put check for $4,000
in one of her little hands"
"You can't get her. roared the
Cherokee: $4,000"
"Can't ~" retorted jim throwinghis
Winchester across lis left arm and
drawing long piece of glittering steel
from his belt. eve will see about that
Mr.. Injin Shout $4,000 Miss Singing
Swan, and tell 'em tc come again"
The two men glared at each other, tc
4he great delight of the crowd, and NJ
doubt to the intense satisfaction Of the
Indian girl They continued bidding
until jim shouted "S25,ooO." As the
angry Cherokee turned bis horse auf
galloped away the crowd roared witt
laughter
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-06

to considerably below that of the Cum
bre, where the mule transports cross.
A glance at the accompanying map
gives a general idea of the portions Of
this great trans-continental railway
that have already been built, but the
comparatively short section which re-
mains offers some of the greatest engi-
neering difficulties that engineers have
ever been called upon to surmount in
the construction of railways in either
fhe new or old world.
For the completion of such part of
the line as may be in Gillian territory
that nation guarantees five per cent
annual interest on sum not TO exceed
s7,3o0,O0o, and there is provision in
the bill making it obligatory upon the
builders 10 sell he line to the govern
ment within five years, If the state
wishes 10 buy, at the amount upon
which interest Is guaranteed plus 10
per cent With such a provision it is
more than probable that Chile will own
its end cf this -rtus -coutinentas line,
the building Of which marks a new era
iin South Amcre- Industrial develop
inert
TIE iilusfrHtion Wi,' Gire some ide
% the difica.iiee atoors ruotion Of the
Line Il. L MANSFIELD.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-09-24
The Best is the Cheapest

Not how cheap but how good Is
the question.
The Twice-a Week Republic Is no,
rs cheap as some so-called newspa.
pers, but it is as cheap as it is possible
to sell a tirst-class newspaper. Ii
prints all the news that is wortL
printing. If you read it all the yes,
round you are posted on all the i'm.
portant and interesting affairs 9th,
world. 1t is the best and most reli.
able newspaper that money and
brains can produce-and those should
he the distinguishing traits OF a news
paper that is designed to be read by
I'll members Of the family.
Subscription price, 81 a year. ANY
newsdealer newspaper or postmaste,
will receive your subscription or yor
may mail it direct to
The REPUBLIC,
st. Louis. Mo.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-09-24
STARTS FOR THE POLE.
Capt. Ammundsen's Expedition.
Equipped for IA -Four Years
stay, Sails from NORWAY.

The whaling ship Gjoa. with Capt.
Ammundsen's magnetic north pole ex-
petition on board, has sailed from
Christiana, Norway. It will first 20 to
King William land, on the east coast
of Greenland, and will thence proceed
for Behring strait If Capt Ammund-
sen is able to follow the course projected
it will take him almost across the pole.
Capt. Ammundsen. who Is a Norxe=
gian, was the first officer Of the Belgica
in Gerlach's antarctic expedition in
1879. After his return Ammundsen
consulted with Prof. Neumayer, of
Hamburg. the leading authority on ter
restrial magnetism. who informed him
that expert determination of the earth's
magnetic north pole would be of the
greatest value to science. The fitting
out of the expedition which has Just
left Christiana followed.
The Gjoa is classed as being one of
the strongest and best vessels of the
arctic feet. 1t has a crew of seven
men, Is fitted with an auxiliary De-
troleum engine. and is equipped for a
four years stay In the arctic regions.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-09-24
A Most Liberal Offer.

All our farmer readers should tdke
advantage of the unprecedented club
bling offer we this year make, which
includes with this paper the Live
Stock Indicator, it's Special Farmers
Institute editions and The Poultry
Farmer. These three publications
are the bestof their class and should
be in every farm home. To them we
add, for local, county and general
news, our own paper, and make the
price OF the four one year only 81 .25.
Never before was so much superior
reading matter offered for so small
an amount of money. The three
papers named, which we club with
our own, are well known throughout
the west, and commend themselves
to the readers favorable attention
upon mere mention. The Live Stock
Indicator is the great agricultural
and live stock paper of the west. The
Poultry Farmer is themost practical
noultry paper for the farmer, while
the Special Farmers Institute Edi-
tions are the most practical publica-
tions for the promotion OF good
farming ever published. Take ad-
vantage of this great offer, as it will
hold good for a short time only.
Samples of these papers may be ex.
amined by calling at this office. Ism
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-09-24
A Womnn's Complexion.

1t is rank ioolishness to attempt
to remove sallowness or greasiness
OF the skin by the use of cosmetics, or
local treatment, as advocated by
the beauty doctors. The only sale
and sure way that woman can i'm
prove her complexion is by purifying
and enriching the blood, which can
only be accomplished by keeping the
liver healthy and active. The liver
is the seat of disease and blood pol
luton. Green's August flower acts
directly on the liver, cleanses and en-.
riches the blood, purifes the-eam-
plexion. Ii also cures constipation,
billousnees, nervousness, and induces
refreshing sleep. A single bottle of
August Flower has been known t.
cure the most pronouncing and dis
tressing cases OF dysp psia and In.
digestion. New trial size bottle, %
cents; regular size, Is cents. At oil
druggists. &. &. Green, Woodbury.,
New Jersey.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-09-24
WORK OF LIGHTNING.
strihcs Pupil In School and Repro
duces II Picture He Is Draw
Ing ON His Body.

Destructive thunderstorms occurred
In the vicinity of Hoosick Falls, n. Y.
recently. Lightning did no little dam
age and its pranks caused much COM
ment. One bolt struck small district
school at Lake Lauderdale, tore up part
of the flooring and stunned the teacher
and six of her pupils. About 25 chill
dren were in the room.
A boy Hampt Acktpy WITS hurried from
his seat unconscious. Another boy.
named Randall. was drawing a plant
on the blackboard at the time of the
cash. He complained of an odd sensa-
t.. in his side and upon examination
II was found the picture on the black
board had been reproduced on his side.
Doctors say the shock drew the blood
to the surface Of his body and made the
reproduction possible.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-09-24
QUEEN SELLS FARM PRODUCTS.
MIX and Butter Trade q source of
Profit to the Thrifty Ruler
Of Holland.

The kings Of Bavaria have long de-
rived a profit from certain breweries
In Munich, and now Queen Wilhelmina
of Holland is making money by selling
milk and butter. Her first step in this
direction was when she induced her
husband, Prince Henry, to buy several
cows. which were placed on the rich
land adjoining the castle Of Loo. The
cows prospered exceedingly and the
queen was so well pleased with the
success Of the experiment that she in
structed the manager of her estates to
visit several stock farms and to pur-
chase 80 Of the best COWS that could
be obtained in Holland. This has been
done, and milk and butter Of excellent
quality are now being sold from the
royal farm.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-09-24
CENTENARIAN A Prisoner.
FRErSnt Arraigned in n brooklyn
Court Declares That lie Is IO6
Years OF Age.

A snowy haired old man, so feeble
he could scarcely walk, who was ar
raigned in the Gates avenue police
court in Brooklyn the other day on a
charge Of vagraney, astonished Magis
trate Furlong by declaring that he
was log years old. He was found wan
dering aimlessly about the streets oil
East New York in the rain the morn
ing before.
When taken out of the pen to be ar.
raigned before the magistrate the old
man was SO weak he had to be sup
ported by a court officer. Bent and
tottering he appeared before the magis.
trate. apparently not realizing where
he was.
What is your manner" asked the
magistrate kindly.
Barney Hughes" replied the old
man.
How old are you?"
One hundred and six years. sir"
responded the prisoner.
The magistrate gasped in astonish.
ment.
Are you really as old as that?" he
asked.
Yes, sir" insisted the old man.
Il was LOG years old last month. |
have kept track Of the years, sir. and
know just what my age Is"
Have you a homer"
Il have had no home for years, sir.
am without family and without
friends. | have been in the aims.
house so many times | have forgotten
just how many"
Would you like to 90 there again?"
Yes, sir" returned the old man In a
broken voice, IL can 20 to no other
place"
After committing the old man Mag.
istrate Furlong said he would make
inquiry about him.