davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

station a convenient loaing place have been
forced TO seek a haven elsewhere. Men
inclined to hang around are peremptorily
ordered OF, and ii has CONF to be pretty
generally understood in the community
that the agent is to be obeyed. She keeps
a watchful eye out. too, for children, and
never allows them to play about the sta
ton OF the tracks. Her own baby is kept
safely at her home, a mile distant.
Eyes. I like the work" she says, "and
I'm strong enough to do IL, and | keep
getting up more muscle all the time. The
things l like best about II are that I'm
my own boss, and that / work so much
out of doors. Then, there's so much
variety about it-jumping from one thing
TO another all the time.
"I've had only one unpleasant experience
since I've been here. That was with a
man who didn't get his trunks here until
two minutes before the train left, and l
couldn't check them. He was angry and
said things, and 1 was sorry, but 1 couldn't
leave my ticket office Just at train time.
He knew he should have had his trunks
here fifteen minutes earlier. but when he
found how late 1t was he thought l ought
to leave all the other passengers and just
attend to hin. I always try to be ac-
commodating, but there are certain rules
won't break for anybody.
"Some people think I'm young to have
such a position. but II l satisfy everybody
don't see what years have got to do with
II.
"Of course, the business here requires a
responsible person. handle a good deal
OF money for express and freight and tick
cts. l make out my reports and send them,
as well as the money, to headquarters every
, afternoon.
"The station is not much for looks, but !
try to make 1t as neat as l can. II they'd
give us a couple of rocking chairs, I'd be
glad. The women passengers who walt
here would like it, and l wouldn't mind a
bit having one to sit in when l have a
chance to rest.
Eyes, l hay. to work Sundays. but II Is
my easiest day. I'm here from 1880 to 4:SO
TO sell tickets, check trunks and signal
trains, when there are passengers to go
either way. Two trains stop here regularly
on Sundays and four on week days. The
rest stop IL they have passengers aboard
who want to get off here, or IL / have any
one who wants to get away.
THE agents pay is $50 a month. which
isn't much, but I'd rather work here for
that than try for something which might
pay me q little better, for l like 1t, and 1t
is much pleasanter than being cooped up
in a big factory, as l was before l married.
Unlike many widows, Mrs. Gumprecht did
not get her position by becoming the sue
cessor OF her husband in the place, but was
led to apply for 1t through the belief that
she was competent and the knowledge that
the male agent, disgruntled, was about to
depart.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

- slinging7 Yet that is exactly her
speciality. And she combines with 1t the
care Of a railway station and fills the posi-
tion to the satisfaction OF the road and its
patrons.
Her name is Mrs. Anna Gumprecht and
she is to be seen any day at Glendale, Long
Island, less than fifty miles from New York
City. From Z in the morning until Z at
night she is kept busy. and travellers over
the road are quite accustomed to the sight
of her trim. energetic figure bustling about
the platform.
Her position as a station agent Is unique,
and interest in her work becomes personal
when it is known that she is only 20 years
old and a widow who is working to support
a toddling baby Of 2.
At first sight Of her slender figure and
delicate face it seems incredible that she
can do what Is required in the position. but
she laughingly assures all questioners that
she is strong, and illustrates her words by
swinging a heavy trunk on her truck and
trundling IL down the platform as IL it were
an airy trihe.
In her short black skirt and white shirt
waist, with a black bow stuck ~jauntily in
her soft brown hair, she does not make the
usual picture of the burly baggage man.
For all her femininity, however, she is a
husky lass" and thoroughly understands
her business.
Mrs. Gumprecht is not only the ticket
seller, but the freight agent and the ex-
press agent as we'll. The interior of her
station ~testifes to these various occupa-
items and is most businesslike in appear
ance. 1t betrays the feminine touch only
in the orderly arrangement of things and
evidences of frequent applications of Drawn
and broom.
In one corner of the room is the little
ticket office, while opposite, placed along
the wall, is a neat pile of freight waiting
to be called for. The latter includes every
thing from a hogshead of whisky to an iron
kettle.
On a shelf in a sunny window plants
bloom, and nearby stands a table covered
with railroad maps and periodicals OF
various kinds. A wooden settee and two
somewhat rickety, straight-back chairs
are all the railroad provides in the way
Of comfort for its waiting passengers. Mrs.
Gumprecht admits that in off hours her
soul yearns for a rocking chair.
Her working day begins at Z o'clock in
the morning, when she is on hand to open
the station and sell tickets to commuters
who go to New York on the 7:10 train.
Glendale being a residential town, there
is an outpouring of its masculine popu-
lation in the morning, but the sale of
tickets is not. over-brisk, even at that
hour, for most of the passengers purchase
Communication books which last a long
while. II there is a trunk to go on 1T
must be at the station fifteen minutes be-
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

In the east kept with such care. In the
intervals of her other duties Mrs. Gum
precht gives her attention to things gen.
orally ignored by the average station agent,
in consequence of which the place shines
like the rising sun. The well-scrubbed
floor, shining window panes and g.istcning
lamp chimneys each tell q tale of house
wifely care. And the big stove in the
center Of the room radiates not only heat.
but a high polish.
When not ~strenucusly engaged in station
affairs the agent keeps her fingers busy
sewing. Last winter she found time to
crochet fer herself a black worsted shawl
which she threw around her sh u'ders when
she went out upon the platform. She
seemed to find 1t a sufficient protection
from the cold. She scorns a hat, winter
or summer, and ridicules the idea of gloves
or mittens to keep her hands warm.
In the year that she has been ag ent Mrs.
Gumprecht has inaugurated a new regime
and the villagers who formerly found the
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

fore train time, when the petticoated agent
not only checks it, but sings it onto a
truck and trundles it across the tracks to
the platform on the opposite side.
When the train has departed Mrs. Gum
precht locks up the station and goes home
to her breakfast, returning at 8 o'clock
to be in readiness for the $3.50 train from
New York, which brings the Glendale
freight and express. The freight, the sta
tion mistress says, is far more cumbersome
and difficult to handle than the baggage
and has greatly increased of late, owing
to the establishment recently of a factory
in the town. Machinery, boxed and nm
boxed, has been arriving, and heavy iron
implements and packing cases without end,
but nothing is too heavy for this young
Amazon to get ON her truck and into the
station. The train hands are willing enough
to lend a hand, but the girlish agent is
Independent and prefers to get on without
masculine aid.
1t is doubtful if there is another station
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

who accompanied General Brooke to Porto
Rico. When the transport Massachusetts,
went ashore he showed the volunteers how
TO work twenty-four hours a day for n
week. The quartermaster's department
gave up for lost every mount on the ship.
Pitcher got every horse ashore alive and
sound, but so thin and weak that not one
in twenty could stand on its feet for days.
Pitcher is a Sandow and can lick any
man in the army, catch-as-catch-can,
knock-down- and drag out or any other way.
On the frontier his clothes At him like an
Indian trapper's. In Washington, where he
was once an ornament of the White House,
he is a bowling swell.
John Dillon. who has been ordered to
abandon public life for a season and with
draw to the warmer climate of Egypt, had
once before, in the early sos, to retire
from Parliament for a prolonged period
owing to i'll health. He then spent a couple
OF years on his brothers ranch In Colorado.
Although born n British subject himself,
the member for East Mayo is in the curious
position of having an only brother, William
Dillon, who is a born American citizen.
The explanation is that their fRther, the
late John Blake Dillon. was one of the lead
ers of the as insurrection in ireland, and,
unlike most of his colleagues in that rev.
olutionary enterprise. succeeded in Guiding
the Irish police and escaping to America
in the disguise of a priest. He remained
in exile for some years, and II was during
this period that his son William was born.
William Dillon is the author Of a Life Of
o Mitchell" the fiery spirit who pre-
cipitated the AS rebellion and received a
sentence of fourteen years transportation.
Rev. William E.. Grlfhs c~orrects a pub
lished statement that Sir Chentung LANG
Cheng, the new Chinese minister, is a
graduate Of Yale. He merely studied there,
being one Of 100 students brought to this
country by Yung Wing. The minister ex-
plains that the first part Of his name.
Chentung, corresponds to the American
John. The middle part, his family name,
is pronounced Leeang. His title. about
which there has been a good deal Of talk,
was bestowed by the British government
after the authorities Of his own country
lad consented that he accept It.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

VAk4EHO OF CONVERSATION COuiilldlu6u VI
49, having a headache. Il don't
understand it," said the senator. 81 guess
I will have to see a DOCTOR" "a doctor for
trouble with your head?" retCrted Mr..
Reed. "No. no! You'd better see a wheel
wright"
The blade Of the sword which the people
of Oregon will soon present to Admiral
Clark reached Portland last week and was
accepted by the committee in charge. IL
is of Damascus steel, etched in gold, the
presentation inscription on one side and a
complete scene of the battle of Santiago on
the reverse. The positions and names OF
the vessels are given and the picture Is
historically correct. The hilt OF the sword
is of solid gold, beautifully ornamented.
The handle is covered with sharkskin and
entwined with the golden stars Of the
thirteen original states. The insignia of
the navy is on the back of the handle near
the knob, on which is the state seal of
Oregon. A long golden tassel completes
the sword proper. The scabbard is of solid
silver, with solid gold ornamentations in
oak leaves. The monogram, sc. e. c."
near the top, is set in diamonds, rubies and
sapphires. A regulation belt with a navy
buckle in solid gold and solid Ornamental
tions completes the sword. The case is OF
curly maple, cut from a single tree near
Corvallis, 1t is polished to a glass finish
and is a most beautiful piece OF wood. The
name Of Admiral Clark will be engraved
upon the silver shield Of the case.
o
II. o. Havemeyer, who, 1t is reported.
will retire from the presidency of the sugar
trust soon on account of his poor health,
is at times extremely nervous, SO that the
least noise lars him.
Mr.. Havemeyer's butler. while serving
dinner one evening not long ago, let fall a
tray Of crockery. A tremendous crash, Of
course, ensued.
81 suppose you have broken all the
plates" said Mr.. Havemeyer.
mo, sir; not one, sir" replied the but
Ter.
"Then you have made all that noise for
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

An old comTade of General Chaffee says
that during the civil war he and Chafee
0hen a captain) were stationed at Jackson,
Miss, when the latter contracted yellow
fever. The young officer did not fear either
shot or shell, but was desperately afraid
of the fever and made up his mind that he
was going to die. He sent for a clergy
man, but while the preacher was giving
him consolation there was some boisterous
talk, including an oath or two. near the
door. Chaffee raised himself on his elbow
and said Indignantly to a sergeant: Tell
those fellows to be quiet. I'll be - II I'm
going to have such language while this
clergyman is here" The reverend gentle
mar finished his efforts somewhat hurriedly,
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

convinced that the soldier had some chance
of recovery.
Eugene A. Philbin of New York has a
poor opinion of jurors, grand and petty,
in that city. In an address at Columbia
university on The District Attorneys Of
Gee" he referred as follows to the corrup-
tibility of jurors: ''There are men oil
grand juries in New York whose first object
is to protect the political party to which
they belong. One jury recently refused
to issue a presentment because the person
affected was a good political worker in the
district of one of the jurors. TIL grand
jury not infrequently stands between the
criminal and the just penalty of his crime.
The district attorney is confronted with the
necessity of attacking police corruption
which so clearly exists, but he finds it al
most impossible to secure a conviction for
bribery owing to the character OF the wit
nesses. l have seen cases where the moral
evidence was complete that certain jurors
were corrupted, and one has confessed TO
me-"
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

On one occasion while Senator German
was speechmaking in Maryland he met a
lady who told him how disappointed she
had been the week previous, when the
crowd was so great that she could not get
near enough to hear what he said.
THE truth is" complained the fair ad-
mirer. II drove fourteen miles to hear you
speak, but l was so completely wedged in
by negroes l could not move a step"
Madam" answered the senator with a
gallant bow, 81 am sorry for your disap-
pointment. but you must remember you are
not the first jewel which has been set in
iet."
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

nothing, eh?" said, testify, the sugar mag
nate.
Brooks statue of Gladstone has been
placed in Westminster abbey near that of
Beaconsheld. The great commoner" Of the
end Of the nineteenth century is shown in
the ordinary dress of men Of his time.
while B~eaconsfeld appears in his robes
of state. The sculptor has intended
to mark the difference between these two
statesmen, one of whom always refused
titles while dispensing them to others,
while the other used all the means at his
command to impress the public with
pageantry and whatever else might tend
to encourage British admiration for the
throne and the privileged classes. There
were no ceremonies at the unwilling.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Joseph L.. Bristow, who unearthed the
frauds in the Postofice department leading
to the suspension of Mr.. Tyner. is an ex-
pert in such matters. 1t was Mr.. Bristow
who went to Cuba to report on the postal
frauds there and he is usually chosen when
there is any unpleasant Investigations to
be done. The excuse for giving him the
assignment is the fact that he has under
him a division of inspection which prac-
tically amounts to a secret service. The
real reason for his selection is that the
president considers him absolutely honest.
No social, political or other considerations
have any weight with him, official influence
and position count for naught. Mr.. Bris-
tow is a Kansas politician and editor. He
is cordially hated by Senator Burton, the
junior from Kansas. He is a Kentucky
product, a relation Of the late Benjamin n.
BristOw, secretary Of the treasury during
General Grants last term.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

Major Pitcher, who is superintendent OF
Yellowstone park and has the president in
charge, was in command of the regulars
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

C.@1HEN William A. PETER was sem
w ator from Kansas he met Gear"
- Reed one day, and in the course
ISGE&9I of conversation complained of
having a headache. Il don't
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

convinced that the soldier had some chance
of recovery.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

DUNG, slender and distinctly femi-
nine In manners and speech, who
would suspect her Of being past
mistress in the art Of baggage
elinginR7 Yet that is exactly her
Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-19

understand it," said the senator. 81 guess
1 will have to see a DOCTOR" "a doctor for
trouble with your head?" retcrted Mr..
Reed. mo. no! You'd better see a wheel
wright"
The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-06
MYSTERY UNSOLVED
Nothing Yet Heard From Laning,
the Missing Piano Tuner.
Left His Trunk and Clothes As IL He
Intended to Return at
Once.
NO ONE ABLE TO LOCATE HIM

The mysterious DISAPPEARANCE of W.
O. Laning, piano tuner, from the
New Richmond hotel Saturday night
is still unexplained, and foul play is
suspected by those who knew him.
Lsning came here January &c and
registered from Chicago. He did cor
siderable work and had money. He
was a stranger, but seemed to be good
workman, and encountered no Difficult
ty in finding plenty TO do.
Saturday evening about O'Clock he
left the hotel. saying he was going to
a barber shop, and has not been seen
since. His room was lett as if he in.
tended to return in few moments.
He left his trunk, containing oonsid-
cradle property, left a suit of clothes
ON a chair as il he intended to don 1t
upon his return, and clean laundry
was spread on the bed.
The amount he owed on his bill was
only a few dollars, and the goods in his
trunk alone worth many times the
amount Of his bill, hence 1t is not rea-
sonsble to presume that he skipped
out, especially as he had plenty of
money.
IL was his first trin 10 Paducab. 40
far as is known at the hotel, and il he
drank no one knew it, He was duly
sober when last seen.
Letters and kilograms have been
sent to places he was thought likely
to visit, but not word has been heard
from him since he left for the barber
shop Saturday night.
The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-06
The Allies Decline to Further Treat
With Minister Bowen.
The Venezuelan Trouble Must Be Set
tied Either BY President Roosevelt
or The Hague Tribunal.
PRES. INTENTIONS UNKNOWN

Washington, Feb. Ga crisis has
been reached in the Venezuelan nego-
tiations, the allies declining TO oontin-
ne to trea. with Minister Bowen. They
charge their representatives to again
ask President Roosevelt to arbitrate,
and in the event of his declining the
case will go to The Hague.
The lnstest turn in the case involves
complications with France and the
other acknowledgement claimants.
Irritated by the note of Minister
Bowen, Venezuela's representative,
addressed to the British ambassador
ON Monday last, refusing to accept the
allies proposal for a scheme of prefer
entail payments by which Great Brit
ain, Germany and Italy were to re.
ceive 20 per cent and the remaining
creditors 10 per cent of the customs
receipts at La Guayra and Puerto ga
bello, the allied powers have instruct
ed their representatives here to submit
the question of preferential treatment
for settlement to President Roosevelt,
and in the event he declines TO act as
arbitrator. to take this and possibly
the entire controversy TO Ths Hague
for settlement, thereby breaking eff
nego nations with Mr. Bowen.
The Br. tish ambassador was the first
of the representatives to receive in
Continued on Fourth Psge.l :,
The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-06

rested on. and was told that it didn't
make any difference there was charge
against him. He then asked that he
be allowed to get his partner, and the
marshal accompanied him back to the
door. and Henry Blue was called out.
Bufort again asked what the charge
was, and the marshal replied by ask.
ing him II he wasn't f.ouis Bufort.
He then jumped in front of the off,
Ger, seized him around the waist, and
reaching for the officers pistol. shout
ed to Blue to "out HI out Of him. "
Blue tried to cut but failed. In the
meantime Marshal MoCullom had
drawn his pistol aud shot Bufort three
times in quick succession, every shot
being fired before Bufort released his
hold on the officer. The coroner's
jury completely exonerated Marshal
McCullom.
After the burial of the body Blu
forts relatives returned to the city.
Blue was some distance away from
the marshal when shot in the leg. He
is still in the lookup here and will be
prosecuted on several charges.
The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-06
PAPERS ARE READY
Baseball Incorporation Papers Soon
10 be Filed Here.
Work on the Park to Begin As Soon
as the Weather Becomes
More Settled.
MORE LEAGUE MEETINGS

The baseball club and park here is a
sure go and already the Incorporation
papers have been drawn up aud all
that remains TO be done is to sign
them.
AS soon as signed the PAYERS will be
filed for record and the company will
then begin work on the park. All
stock has been sold and the capital
stock is fixed at $500.
One member of the company said
this morning in regard to the ball
park: eve will begin building the
park as soon as the weather settles so
that the work will not suffer interior.
ence from this source. We intend to
push the work from the start and have
the park ready long before the season
opens. The plans are being drawn for
the grand stand and bleachers and we
want to have everything in readiness
before the bali season is ready to open.
The sporting goods people have sent
representatives here to bid on the out.
fits but we have done nothing in re =.
gard to this. The park is go and we
intend to give Paduoah some real good
baseball"
There will be another meeting of
the league representatives, at Hender.
son on the 25th and there will be an
effort made to secure a meeting for
Paducah. 1t is likely that several
subsequent meetings will have to be
held and Paducah is as good point
to select for such a meet as can be
foun'.
The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-06
A PAUPER BURIAL
Remains Of Louis Bufort Inferred
Near Kuttawa Yesterday.
He Was Fully Observation-Disclosures De-
tails Of the Killing in
Lyon County.
MARSHAL FULLY ENUMERATED

The body of Louis Bufort will not
be buried in Paduoah. All day col.
ored people have visited the local un-
dertaking establishment for the pur-
pose Of gratifying their morbid curl
osity, but they were disappointed, be.
cause the body was not brought here
from Kuttawa for interment.
Yesterday morning after the killing,
the warden of the Eddyville peniten.
tiary and others there who had known
him, went TO Kuttawa and identified
the remains as those of Bufort. Sew.
eral rous ers from the J.B Richardson
came over and identified the body, and
later q step brother and sister arrived
from Paduoah and identified the re.
mains.
They did not have the money nec.
essary TO bring the body to Paducah,
aud finally il was decided by the au-
thorities TO bury the remains in pot.
ters' field, and the body was hauled
away in wagon and buried.
Further details of the killing reach
cd the city today. 1t seems that Blu
fort was seen in barber shop by
Marshal McOullom playing guitar or
mandolin. The officer remained there
for about half an hour, and after be-
ing satisfied that IL was Bufort arrest
ed him and took him away. Outside
Bufort lsked what charge he was ar
The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-06
ACCIDENTALLY SR0T.
FATTY" WEBB HURT HIMSELF
WITH A PISTOL LAST NIGHT.

Lucisn Webb. known as FATTY"
Webb, who is employed at The Ken
tucky as stage hand, accidentally
shot himself through the left leg last
night while toying with 32 calibre
pistol in the Long cab Office near the
tleater.
Webb and several companions were
examining the weapon when Webb
"broke"it and extracted the cartridges
from the cylinder. When he placed
them in again and went to snap the
cylinder in place, the hammer struck
a shell and the revolver exploded. The
ball entered the left leg in the fleshy
part and the injury, while painful is
not serious.
The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-06
MEETS TOMORROW
FIRST JUDICIAL COMMITTEE TO
GALL A PRIMARY.

The Democratic committee of the
First Judicial district, embracing the
counties of Carlisle, Ballard, Fulton,
Graves and Hickman, will meet next
Saturday, February Z, to fix the time
and manner of nominating candidates
for circuit judge, commonwealth at
torney and state senator. a primary
will probably be called.