davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

vince me that the river and shore
were untenanted save for them How
ever, I was fiercely hungry, and 1
meant to have a duck. So, shivering,
/ undressed, and, stark naked, I pick
ed my way down the clefts to the base
of the cliff and slipped into the water
like mink
Suddenly, right in my face, a duck
squawked and tapped. I grasped at
the bird, but held only fistful Of
feathers. In an instant the mist
around me rang with strong wings
beating the water, and with whis-
thing roar the flock drove past, dashing
me with spray till I, smothered and
choked, flung up my arm toward
floating tree trunk. To my horror, the
log rolled completely over, and out of
it two men fell, shrieking, on top of
me- for the log I had grasped was
bark canoe, and had spilled out my
enemies on my own head.
We all went down, but I sank clear
of the unseen men and rose again to
swim for my life. They came to the
surface behind me. 1 could see their
shadowy heads over my shoulder, for
the mist was lifting.
They We're shouting now, evidently
to others on the opposite bank, but my
way led hU thither, and l swan swift
~ for the foot Of my cliff, missing it
again and again in the fog. until
found it Mt last and ran painting and
dripping up the cleft.
When reached my rife leaned
over the crag to look, but the river
gorge remained choked with vapor,
though here above all was bright gray
dawn. The shouting below came clear
ly to my ears; also the splashing. I
judged that the two men had thrown
their arms over the capsized canoe
and thus, hands clasped, were making
out to keep afloat, for in this manner
only can a capsized canoe serve two
men.
Drying my bruised feet and dripping
skin in my blanket, | fastened to dress
and strap on my pack, keeping a rest
less eye on the gulf below. When
was prepared the sun, pushing up be-
hind the peaks in the east was al
ready scattering the mist into long,
thin clouds, and at intervals 1 made
out the canoe floating bottom up close
inshore, and heard the wrecked men
padding with their hands.
Presently Walter Buffers voice
sounded from the bank, cautioning the
swimming men to proceed slowly and
inquiring what was the cause for their
upsetting.
They replied that a deer. swimming
the river, had planted one foot in their
bow while they sept and SO overturn-
ed the canoe. But l knew that Walter
Butler would not be long in Discover
Ing the traces Of my naked feet in the
shore sands where I had landed while
searching for my cliff, so prepared to
leave without further ado, though an
grily tempted to make target Of the
phantom group below.
So, with a stomach stayed with q
mouthful Of corn and water, started
silently westward. meaning to make q
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27
TEN CENT conr.


During the year 1896 the west was
dealing with the problem Of ten cent
corn, and it was dandy proposition,
take 1t all round. 1t was used as fuel
in competition with five dollar soft
coal, and one smart farmer in Nebras-
ka saved his corn crop from the clutch
es of the sheriff on the ground that the
law exempted a years supply of fuel
for the family. Those days have gone
never to return The limits of the corn
growing belt are now well known. The
ever hungry millions of Europe have
found out the edible and nutritive value
Of corn as food, scores Of needed and
most valuable byproducts have been
developed by chemistry and science
from the cereal which twenty years ago
was rated as good for nothing but hog
feed, while today no one subject is at
tracing so much attention and inter-
est as the further development of this
wonderful plant and the discovery Of
the ways and means of growing it in
greatest perfection. If you have good
corn farm, keep it; if not for yourself,
at least as splendid heritage for your
children. If you are raising forty BUSH
els to the acre, learn how to grow
eighty. for it can be done. If you are
wasting all the fodder, learn how to
save it, for every average corn grove
can double his crop and his income
from it. Wake up to your splendid o,e
portunities.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27
TENANT FARMERS.

Z The tenant farmer bids fair to be-
come as much of factor in the agri-
culture of the west and northwest as
he is in England. Men with money
are finding out that good land is first
of all safe investment and, second
that the annual return which may be
obtained from renting it is at least
equal to the net profit to be derived
from any other investment There Is
one difficulty in this-that we have not
as yet developed class of farmers
who are content to remain tenants, the
best ones only renting land until such
time as they can make enough money
to buy a farm of their own, just as
young ladies teach school as a make
shift until they can get married. We
have before referred to the great ben
eft to both landlord and tenant wi i
would accrue If only land leases were
made for longer periods and definite
system of stock farming put into prac-
tice. This would prevent the impov-
erishment Of the soil which inevitably
results where cash rents, grain raising
and selling are in vogue We pity the
farm and Its owner where there lie a
new tenant each year.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

When an epicure wants his game
birds hung up by the tail and ripened
until the tail pulls out he cannot con-
sistently criticise the eater of limbur-
ger cheese. as it looks to US.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

We now have concrete streets and
sidewalks. cement buildings, posts and
piling. The coming architecture is
largely going to dispense with brick,
stone and lumber.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27
Holiday Excursion Rates.

On December "a. 25, IS, 81 and Jan
uary and 2. the Iowa Central will
sell round trip excursion tickets at
one and one-third fare. limited for re-
turn to and including January 4. 1905.
For particulars and folders call on
agents.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

We have a good many so called
statesmen who. like the modern air.
ship, are able to rise by virtue of the
gas they carry, but who drift which
ever way the wind blows when they
are up in the air.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

The government crop report says we
have raised 2,45s, 100000 bushels Of
corn this year, not the largest crop
ever raised, but close to it. This crop
is worth close to $1.OoO,00o 900, and it
has all been picked one ear at time
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

A man never liveth to himself alone
II he is resident Of small town. His
dear neighbors will find out everything
about him. his business and domestic
affairs and some besides. 1t is probable
that this sort of gratuitous detective
service does not little to keep some
people straight.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

The government will require 10000
of the big fir trees of Oregon for use
as piles in the building Of the Panama
canal. These piles will all have to be
chemically treated to preserve them
from the ravages of the teredo. They
will represent 100000 feet of lum-
Der, board measure.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

People will probably never get so re-
fined that they will refuse to eat
onions. Whatever they may think of
the large matured bulb, the little ten
der green onion of the early spring is
so appetizing and toothsome that we
know of young ladies' who will cut
it and run all risks, even when they
expect their best fellow to visit them
after supper.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

1t is not In the production or wealrn
that our economic troubles lie, but in
its distribution. Too many men per-
sist in grabbing two pieces of pie.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

Men do not realize the cohesive and
multiplying power of the saved dollar
This dollar is always worker. If the
money young men fool away on liquor,
tobacco, slot machines and ether TOM
foolery was only saved they would not
have to stand the parson off with rs
cents when they get married and would
not have to live with the old folks till
they are given notice to leave
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

All are agreed that the willow hedges
untrimmed are nothing but public nui-
sance when grown bordering the pub
lie roads. They cause impossible drifts
of snow in winter, keep the road mud
dy after rains and shut off any view
of the good farms on either side. These
hedges are generally being removed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

There is no need to worry any more
about the weeds, for they have gone
to seed to curse both you and your
neighbor for next year.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

II alcohol can be made and sold for
light, heat and power uses at 10 cents
q gallon, which it can if not taxed, no
easier way exists for the people to
get after the worst trust in the country
than by demanding needed legislation
to make this thing possible. 1t would
make twenty cent gasoline look sick
to have to compete with ten cent alco-
hol. Germany is on to this scheme,
and congress had better import a
Dutchman or two to tell us how to
do it.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

During the seven years drought in
Australia a mare Of native stock made
the discovery that there were green
and tender grasses growing at the bot
tom Of large pool of water, and she
learned to dive to get them. Her prog
eny also took up the diving habit, and
the chances are that had the necessity
continued new race of diving horses
would have been created.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

1t is worth remembering that hem
lock plank will not last more than two
thirds as long as white pine when used
as planking for bridges. 1t is not that
the hemlock will rot more quickly, but
1t splinters up under the wear by sharp
shod teams to a far greater extent
than does the pine, and it does not
seem to make any difference whether
the wear is had lengthwise or cross
wise, the result is the same. Where
he'nlock is used for this purpose it
should be bought at much greater
margin of difference than there usually
is between it and pine.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27
CHAPTER vi.

n ~ first three weeks In the
1NV woods We're weeks Of heav-
en-. ate and drank and slept
A Il in the dim wood stiffness nm
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

A writer for the press recently re-
ferred to the down and feathers to be
found in an eagles nest and conveyed
the idea that it was a beautiful and
artistic bird home Guess he never saw
one, for the real nest of the eagle is a
crude pile of coarse sticks, usually
fxed over little from year to year, no
down or feathers by long shot, a
sinking boneyard Of fragments Of
rabbits, snakes, fowls and often larger
game. The eagle is altogether an I'M
clean bird, and when we have invested
him with power, speed, dignity and
supremacy over his kind man has done
all he can for him.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

While black hide is more or less of
handicap to the human race, it is
never so with the animal creation. The
Angus and Galloway cattle stand at
the top among beef producing animals.
the black Percheron horse is not eclips-
ed by any draft horse, the Poland Chi
ma hog leads the procession in his line,
the Holstein COW is queen Of the dairy,
while the black Spanish and Langshan
fowls are ever prime favorites in the
poultry yard. Black soil is almost al
ways the best soil, and a girl dressed
in black. with cherry red ribbon
round her neck. is looking her best
that is, most Of them are.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

The present prices for farm products
fully justify present prices for farm
lands. In fact, if assured of continu-
ance Of such prices the value of good
farm land would easily bear an ad-
vance of 20 per cent. Good land Is to-
day one of the cheapest things on the
market as well as one of the safest in
vestments. Farmers wives will do a
good thing If they balk and refuse to
sign deeds of the farm at present val
ues.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

The ordinary four rod highway COM
mon in most states involves great
waste of good land. No other civilized
country would permit it. The roads
should either be made narrower or
some practical use should be made of
the unused portion of the road. II
these highways could be seeded down
and moved in season it would not be
so bad, but owing to lack of enterprise
and public spirit and sometimes lack
of time wild riot Of weeds has I'M
disputed possession Of thousands of
miles of prairie highways, disfiguring
fine farms and furnishing enough foul
weed seed to infect the whole country.
Under the cooperative method Of han
ding farms, elsewhere referred to, a
flock of sheep could and would be put,
in charge Of shepherd and grazed
on these roads. when the clean high
way would also become the profitable
highway.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

There are still many localities where
the first crop raised on the land will
pay for it. 1t may be done in the new
er sections Of North Dakota by break
ing up the prairie sod the last of May
or the first of June and sowing 1t to
fax, it may be done in Oklahoma with
q crop of winter wheat on the newer
and cheaper lands, it may be done with
potatoes on almost any of the cheap
timbered lands Of northern Minnesota
or Wisconsin, 1t may be done with al
falfa on much of the good land in Kan
sas and Nebraska it may be done in
growing various crops on almost any
of the well irrigated lands being
brought into market in so many of the
western states and when smart man
can pay for his farm with the first
crop he has got snap and ought to
be satisfied. Any land which will per-
NIT the doing of this is easily worth
five or six times what one has to pay
for it.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

There died in western state recent
" newspaper man. He was bright.
original, a bit cranky and generally re-
spected. 1t was funny, but true. that in
the many well deserved tributes which
were paid to his memory by the pa
pers of bis state the very best thing
which he had done during his long life
was entirely overlooked. For years he
had been an advocate of improved
highways, Of more intelligent and sem
sible methods of working them and ex-
pending the highway taxes. In season
and out Of season, while wabbling
more or less in a political way, he
could always be depended upon to
write and talk for good roads We can
only wish for him that he is now in
that country where the roads are made
of pure gold and do not need repairing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-16
FAIRBANKS WILL
 TOUR THE COUNTRY
Is to Take an Active Part in
 Coming Campaign <
FIRST SPEECH IN KANSAS
Secretary Shaw VIII. Also Take Part and Will Enter the Campaign Next Week, Starting In
 Montana.

Chicago, August 15.-That Senator Fair banks, the republican vice presidential candidate, will participate in the cam palgn and tour the country for the ticket for which he Is part. was made known today as the result of visit made by him to republican headquarters in this city.
 Tho senator was in consultation during the greater part of the day with re- publican leaders. including Chairman Now, Secretary Dover, Congressman Tawney, the Hon. c. c. Dawes. the Hon. R. B. Snyder and the Hon. D. w. Null vane. Those gentlemen are all concerned with the details of the campaign and the time was spent in trying to reach an agreement as to when and where Senator Fairbanks tour should begin, and how It's course should be arranged. He has entered into an engagement to open the Kansas state campaign at Marion, in that state, on September l.
 He today indicated his positive accept ance of an invitation to speak at Sara toga on the 14th of September Later in the campaign he will visit the far west and other sections. but the details cannot be decided until Chairman Cortelyou' s wishes are known.
 MT. Tawney, In charge of the speakers bureau, announced today that Secretary Shaw would enter the campaign next week, beginning in Montana. He will pro- ceed thence to the Pacific coast and return through Colorado and Kansas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-16
Alcoholic Criminals.

From the New York World.
 In paper on the criminal responsi- bility of the alcoholic the medical officer of Pentonvil1e prison said that mo one becomes mad when drunk who is wholly sane when sober.'
 of mordib drunkenness, the doctor said that what ordinarily happened was that after many years of intoxication the in- dividual acquired a peculiar suscepti- bility to alcohol, so that relatively small doses led to more or less lengthy dream states in which the patient might seem to speak and act pretty coherently, though in reality he was in a sort of somnambulistic state and knew nothing at all afterwards of what he had done or had only a hazy recollection of 1t. In one of these phases he will probably mur- der his family or attempt suicide.
 The admission of morbid drunkenness as a condition excluding full responsi- bility was especially desirable in that 1t would further the trend of public opinion to adopt preventive measures against the criminal alcoholic. When, therefore the chronic alcoholic had once shown the disposition to dream-states with impulsive tendencies, especially homicidal or sui- cidal, he ought to be dealt with on the same footing as the impulsive epileptic- immune from ordinary punishment but unfit for ordinary freedom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-16
HARRISON WILL
 ENTER THE FRAY
CHICAGO MAYOR Is TO DO ALL IN
 HIS POWER TO SETTLE THE
 GREAT MEAT sTRlkE-To CON- FER WITH COMMITTEES TODAY.

Chicago, August 15.-Mayer Harrison will attempt tomorrow to settle the stock yards strike He will meet at 1 o'clock the representatives of the strikers and hear their side of the controversy. Later In the day he will have a conference with representatives of the packers and listen to their statements and will then under take tho task of reeoncillng the differ enoes.
 A large committee of the retail dealers called upon him this afternoon and asked him to use his good office in ending the strike. The mayor said tha. he would gladly do all that lay in his power to end the trouble, and meeting between him and the laborers was arranged for tomor- row.
 The mayor then set about arranging a meeting with the packers, and they promptly sent him word that they would meet him, soon after the meeting with the men Is over. There were number or conferences during the day all having the settlement of the strike in view, but none of them resulted in anything.
 The numerous assaults that have been taking place every day and night In the larger part of the stoclkyards have stirred the police to more energetic action than they have taken heretofore.
 Inspector Hunt, who is in charge Of all the police stationed around the yards, ordered today that all men picketing the yards should be compelled to move on and should be arrested if they decline to do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-16
THOUSANDS CHEER
 SENATOR DAVIS
ARRIVES AT WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WHERE NOTIFICATION CEREMONIES ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW.

White Sulphur Springs w. Va, August 15.-Democratic Vice Presidential Candi- date Henry G. Davis, accompanied by a party of friends, from Ellxins arrived here tonight on his private car Gracsland, pre- paratory to the notification ceremonies, which are to occur on Wednesday.
 Several thousand people, yirginians and West Virglnians, summering at this re- sort, were at the station to meet Sena- tor Davis, and he was given a magnificent welcome. The senator and party entered carriages and to the accompaniment of bands and cheering thousands rode In triumph to the nearby hotel on the lawn of which were hundreds of ladies and gentlemen who joined in the demonstra- tion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-16
TAKAHIRA CALLS
 ON THE PRESIDENT
Japanese Minister Says He Was Sim ply Doing an Act of
 Courtesy.

Washington, August 15.-Mr. Takahira, the Japanese minister was at the White House for a short time today and had an interview with President Roosevelt. Later he went to the state department for an in- tervlew with Secretary Hay. The minister refused tonight to discuss the object of his visit to these officials except to say that he went to the White House to see the President as act of courtesy as the latter is soon to leave the city. for a time.
 Mir. Takahira, said he had not yet re- ceived from his government any informa- ton as to the disposition to be made of the Russian torpedo boat destroyer Rye shitelni, taken from Che Foo harbor by Japanese war vessels. MT. Hay would not discuss the object of the minister's visit. It is understood that the minister has not received any information from his government on the Ryeshitelni affair.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-16
NO RULERS WE'RE
 ASKED TO ATTEND
KINGS, PRINCES AND PoTEN YATES MUST VISIT WORLDS FAIR ON OWN INITIATIVE IF THEY COME AT ALL.

Washington, August 15.-Careful inquiry at the state department develops the fact that no invitation has passed through that department to any king, prince or poten- tate to attend the Worlds fair at St. Louis.
 The executive branch of the government does not intend to issue invitations of this kind except on explicit direction of con- gress. Congress has appropriated no money to entertain royal visitors and moreover it is regarded as highly desir- able that there should be no discrimina- ton in such invitations, as 1t is not feas- ible to Invite all the crowned heads of Europe to St. Louis at the government s expense.
 It Is possible that some distinguished visitors will come of their volition In which case the President will see to 1t that they receive every possible courtesy but he cannot extend invitations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-16
The True Army Mule.

From the Nebraska State Journal.
 Col George E. Jenkins of Fairbury. quartermaster and commissary general of the Nebraska guard, at the recent school for National guard officers in this city, says:
 After a lifetime of close association with the mule I have never known him to kick a man. nor have I ever met a man who knew another man of his own knowledge who had been kicked by a mule.
 This is a bold statement, but it is true, nevertheless. You can question soldiers of the army everywhere, and confident ly predict that they will bear me out in this. l know I am uprooting a popular belief, but I ask you to stop and think and see if I am not doing our mule friend a deserved justice. Horses kicks are plenty-mule kicks are as rare as promo