Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1903-01-10


says that on Christmas of 1856 as
printer in Lawrence he set type with
out fire IN the Office, and that the
windows were open in the middle OF
the day. He says that company Of
the free state militia we've out on the
prairie drilling in their shirt sleeves.
G. d. Baker, of Wichita. remembers
that on his presumption claim in Nema-
ha county there were volunteer peas in
bloom on Christmas day, 1860. ~
Kansas Telephone company is string
ing six wires from Wichita to Fort
Scott via Ell Dorado. Another extern
sion under way is a direct line to
Woodward, Okla, through Alva and
many other towns. Another is a line
from Ell Dorado to lola. and one from
South Haven to Geuda Springs In
this work there are employed 90 gangs
with an average of II men.
CONSIDERING COAL FAMINE--Mem-
bers of the Legislature are considering
the coal famine in western and CEN
trail Kansas counties and will try to
correct the situation at the session of
the legislature which begins January
-. The charge is made that the rail-
roads freely confscate much of the
coal that is shipped to the counties in
question. Considerable suffering has
resulted.
A L &c ola M
the gun which discharged the first shot
at the battle of Bunker Hill is the
property of Samuel n. Simpson, of
Kansas City. Kas. He is a grandson
of the Revolutionary soldier, John
Simpson, of Deerfield, n. H., who fired
the shot in violation of the order,
don't shoot until you see until you
can see the whites of their eyes"
GUILTY OF MURDER. C. Lowe,
teacher in the Kansas Industrial
School for boys, was found guilty OF
killing his wife. Murder in the second
degree was the verdict returned by the
jury. Mrs. Lowe was matron of the
Industrial school when she was killed
by her husband six months ago as
result of jealousy.
WAR ON SLOT MACHINEs.--The Abb
1ene city council has begun the new
year by beginning war on slot ma
chimes, many of which are in opera
ton. The marshal has been ordered
to close all such machines and to ar
rest parties who continue to run them.
SHE USED FLoUR.-A gasoline stove
exploded in Wichita restaurant and
the room was filed with the blaze.
Mrs Latham, the proprietor's wife,
with the assistance of the clerk, put
out the fire by scattering a quartet
sack of flour on it.
TAXEs PAID IN DAY-On the last
day of 1902 the sam of $50, 1856. Sc was
paid in for taxes in the office of the
treasurer of Douglas county: the high
water mark since the rolls of 1902 were
opened.
LIBRARY RECEPTIoN-At a formal
New Years reception the new public
library rooms were first thrown open
to the people of the city of Abilene.
Miss Ida Romig, Il X. 5. U. graduate,
is the librarian.
PIONEER SALINE COUNTY WOMAN
Mrs. r. II. Dible, aged 60 years, wife
of one Of the early settlers of Saline
county, is dead. Mrs Dible came to
that county in 1864.
RAINFALL INCREAsE.-The annual
~.
weather conditions notes that 1902 was
exceeded in rainfall only by the years
1876 and 1888.
MORE PROMPT TAX PAYING.-Co
Treasurer Philips, of Shawnee county,
finds that there was $50, 900 more paid
in taxes before the end of the year
| than in 1901.
SEVEN INCH ICE.-Clay Center ice
men opened the new year by cutting
seven inch ice in the Republican river.
The ice is clear and hard.
MORE TROLLEY LISEs-A Boston
| man is looking over the country with
the idea of building trolley lines TO
connect a number of towns in the
northern part of oklahoma with AR
kansas City: He examined the water
| power at Arkansas City as to its fur
nishing power for the electric lines
| SHoRTHoRN SAIE.-At the sale of the
| G5 head of shorthOrns at the Wichita
stocl1yards, consigned by Z. and II. T.
! Groom, of Texas, the herd brought
IS, 500, making an average of less than
| 500 Il head.
! FIRE Al WEDDING.-Tust as Prof.
! +. NJ Scott and Miss Lillian Randall,
teachers in a business college at Fl utclt-
| insou, had joined hands to be wed, an
alarm of fire interrupted the ceremony
| The house was filed with smoke but
| the fire was soon put out.
| JUDGE Is YEARs.-Chief Justice
Johnston, of the supreme court. has
been judge since 1884 and before that
was attorney general and state sena-
tor. From 1897 to 1899 he was the only
Republican office-holder in the State
house.