Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-11-12

II Hsppened In Kansss 10 One David
j. Roberts,

II Happened In Ksnsss 30 One David
]. Roberta
A career that among Its incidents
comprises whale catching In Wales
and slesping in a cofin In Kansas ut
least has the merit Of variety, and
these are two of tho variations In the
life of David J. Roberts, foreman OF
the first division of the Government
Printing Office a man who has run the
gamut of tho usual experiences OF
tourist" printer In the days before the
Mergenthaler machine revolutonized
the usages Of the craft
1.-THE picturesque and ancient town
Of Carnsrvon. Wales" said Mr.. Rob
erts, sis on the Menai Straits, and was
the scene of great excitement one day
in 1878 while l was there doing the
'peripatetic act When the tide came
In the water was very deep In the
straits, and a school Of whales had
fioated into the narrow channel with
the tide. AS these were very valuable
1t was In the interest of the towns
people to prevent their escape; SO ev-
cry one turned out to help. All the
boats available were drawn across the
entrance to the straits, and each boat
was apparently loaded with crowd
OF maniacs, for guns, pistols, tin pans,
and shouting were the means employ
ed to drive the huge animals up the
channel and to keep them there until
low tide should prevent their escape.
The efforts were successful in regard
to three of the monsters, which were
driven ashore, and with much diff
Guilty killed. Then came my part In
this stirring adventure. 1 had been in
last the whales were driven high upon
the beach and was much Interested in
their kining-so much 30 that, APP
preaching too close, one OF the beasts.
in its last struggles. struck me glanc-
ing blow on the leg with It's tail,
throwing me about twelve feet.
awoke in the hospital, where remain
ed for weeks. My only souvenir of
the days fun IL bad scar on my leg,
which 1 shall carry to my grave
The winter OF $780," continued Mr..
Roberts, who was in reminiscent
mood, was a very severe one In Kan
sas, as 1 have reason to remember.
AmericuA 4 town of 800 inhabitants
My Office was in a room about 10(
feet deep. OF this l occupied abou,
forty feet, the balance being filed with
She surplus stock of a merchant mex
door, and this surplus was collins Al
first they were rather grewsome tC
look at, but 1 soon grew accustomed t.
their presence-even familiar will
them, az you shall learn. The room
was heated by a good stove at my enc
of the building, but as the chimney
4 was at the extreme other end of Il
necessitated the use of a very Ions
stovepipe that ran back over the pilet
up caskets. One bitter cold night
sought my bed at the hotel and trie(
to sleep, but 1t was too cold. got
up. dressed, and with all the blank
ets around me made another attempt
but in vain. 1 felt myself slowly
turning into an elongated icicls 30
in despair, went AGREES the square II
the office, intending to start a goot
fire and at least keep warm. Stuhint
the stove full Of corn bundles 1 soor
had roaring fire and drew up my
chair to enjoy 1t. But, oh, how 1 die
want to sleepl nodded, awoke will
start and nodded again. Then ]
noticed how hot the stovepipe had
grown-the collins must be warm. too
In another minute had climbed t.
one Of those directly under the pipe
pulled OF the lid, slipped in, and found
solid comfort. The question of a colo
bed or bed room troubled me no NOR,
that winter, nor morbid thoughts of 6
last resting place, either."-Washing
too Post