davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
FALL OF 1900 FEET
COLORADO MINERS KILLED BY
DROPPING OF CAGE.
Bodies of the Fifteen Victims Found
at Bottom Of Shaft Fearfully
Mansled and Crushed.

Victor, Colo, Jan. 27--F'ifteen
men were killed in an accident at
Stratton's independence mine located
near the center of this city. One
other was severely injured. The dead
are: w. r. Frazier, John S.ebeck,
Joe Setherun,, Edward Twiggen, l.. A.
Wagner, H. A Yeoman, Edward
Smith, Joe Ovary, H. f. Brown, w. B.
/ Collins, j. l.. Steward, Frank Coch-
rane, l.. P. Jackson, Harry Cogan, G.
C. Staten.
In the main shaft sixteen men were
being hoisted in cage from the
sixth, seventh and eighth levels.
When the cage reached the surface
the engineer, for some unexplained
reason, was unable to stop the engine
and the cage, with its load OF human
freight, was drawn up into the gallowS
frame, where it became lodged tenn
porarily. The strain on the cable
finally caused it to part and the cage,
released, shct down the shaft with
terrific speed. Two Of the occupants,
l.. P. Jackson and James Bullock, had
become entangled in the timber rods
near the top of the gallows frame.
Jackson was crushed to death by the
sheave wheel falling upon him, while
Bullock had a marvellous escape from
death but received painful injuries
and was rescued from his perilous
nnsitinn. The other fourteen men were
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27

all the counts and he was sentenced
to seven years penal servitude.
Almost Immediately afterwards
Wright was taken suddenly Ill and
collapsed In the anteroom Of the court.
He grew rapidly worse and in less
than ar hour after his sentence the
flnancier was dead. The tragic end OF
the case created a tremendous sensa-
ton.
Wrights Friends Hint at Suicide.
Wrights friends said all along that
while he was hopeful OF his acquittal
they were certain he would not sur
vive a sentence and wclld commit
suicide. This, apparently, is what
happened. Wright was removed from
the court 10 hospital as soon as he
was taken til, but he expired almost
Immediately.
Justice Bignam, in passing sentence,
said he could see nothing to excuse
the crime Of which Wright had been
convicted and he could not conceive
a worse ease. He must, therefore,
allot the nost severe punishment the
law permits.
Wright, who had stood up to re-
ceive his sentence, said in firm
voice.
"All that can say Is that am as
innocent OF any intention to deceive
as any one in this court
According to court attendant who
was In the anteroom when Wright
was stricken the latter was talking to
Solicitor Lewis about his family and
giving instructions regarding their fu-
ture, while jailers were waiting out
side to take him TO Brxton prison,
when Wright suddenly stumbled and
| fell forward. Mr.. Lewis and the court
attendant caught him and put him in
chair. placing his feet On another
chair. They then summoned doctor.
Wright almost Immediately became
unconscious and never spoke again.
The corpse retains It's normal ap-
pearance the face being little
changed.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
FORCES OF LATTER COUNTRY TO
BE USED TO PREVENT IN
vAsIoN OF JAPANEs-.
DECLARATION OF NEUTRALITY ISSUED
IF JAPAN SENDS TROOPS TO
MANcHURlA IT MUST BE
BY SEA TRANSPORT.

Paris, Jan. 27.-The Korean lega-
tion, while not officially Informed of
the declaration of neutrality on the
part Of Korea in the event Of war be-
tween Russia and japan, believes that
such a declaration Las been issued,
as it is On a line with information
heretofore received. The minister Of
Korea said:
by its proximity to Japan and Rus
sia our country is under the obligation
of maintaining good relations with
both powers. Consequently we can
only remain completely foreign to a
conflict. Should war come the Korean
government will use its troops to pre-
vent an invasion by the Japanese on
their way to Manchuria. We have
10000 men, well equipped, to enforce
our neutrality. Moreover we have
l6,OOO,O00 people from which reinforce
ments can be drawn. II Japan needs
to transport troops she must do SO by
sea.
''The latest dispatches we have re-
ceived from Seoul announced that
quiet reigns throughout Korea, par
ticularly in the capital, and the gen
eral opinion prevails that war will
not occur
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
Party of Four Who Lead Forlorn Hope at Cheswick
Mine, Perish at the Foot of
the Shaft
ENoRMITY OF TUESDAYS HORROR GROWS ApACE
Preparations Under Way for the Recovery Of the Bodies
of One Hundred and Eighty-Four
Victims.

Pittsburg, Jan. 27.-The last hope
for the lives of any of the 1S4 men
entombed in the Harwick mine of the
Allegheny Coal company, two miles
from Cheswick, Pa, was given up
when George w. Scheetz manager OF
the mine, admitted that he believed
that not one of them would be brought
up alive. Now the cry is for more
men to come to the work OF rescue.
Volunteers are needed to work back
through the debris to where the min.
ers are imprisoned and where possibly
some may have managed to survive.
Already four men are known to be
dead. among them Melvin M. Taylor
Of this city, who was the first OF the
rescue party to reach the bottom OF
the shaft. His body was brought to
the top of the shaft during the morn.
ing.
Taylor, who was one Of the best
known mining engineers in Western
Pennsylvania, lost his life in an effort
to save the lives Of the entombed
men. He had planned and plated the
mine and was called by the Allegheny
Coal company as the man best fit to
lead the forlorn hope. He went down
into the mine bravely and with him
went four other men. One of til en-,
George Haryath, was brought from the
pit but a short time before Taylor $
lifeless body came to the surface.
Another of the rescue party, Tom
Wood, tried desperately to save his
companions, but felt the deadly nau-
ena rnmine an and was forced to
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
TRl.L or WHITAKER WRIGHT,
THE PROMOTER, ENDS IN
SENSATIONAL TRAeE eEDY.
JURY RETURNS VERDICT OF GUILTY
FAMOUS PRISONER EXPIRES SUD-
DENLY SHORTLY AFTER
SENTENCE is PASSED.

London, Jan. a7 The trial of Whit
aker Wright ended in a tragedy. With
In an hour Of being found guilty and
sentenced to seven years penal seryi-
tu1e, the most severe sentence the
law allows for the fraud of which he
was convicted, the tinancier whose
colossal dealings have created a sem
sation on both sides OF the Atlantic
lay dead in the anteroom OF the court.
Whether WFright's death was due to
heart disease following the excitement
of the trial, as announced by the docs
tor, or by poison. as grimiy hintea by,
his friends is still undecided and pos
sibly will NOT be ascertained until the
coroner's verdict.
The case against Wright had been
on trial twelve days and the jury
found the prisoner guilty of fraud on
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
INDIANS WILL HAVE NO SAY.
Devils Lake IN. D. Reservation viii
Be Opened.

Washington, Jan. 27.-The house
committee on Indian affairs has or
dered favorable report on the bill
presented by Representative Marshall
opening to settlement the lands ef the
Devils Lake Indians in North Dakota.
In accordance with the new policy the
measure requires that the tract shall
be ceded without the consent of the
tribe.
1t is provided that the land shall
be sold at $3.50 per acre during !he
first six months of the opening, $3.50
the second six months and, $3.50 an
acre thereafter. This scale is based
on the theory that the best land will
be taken during the first year. 1t is
provided furfher that the government
shall reimburse the Indians for the
school land sections decided to the
state and that a tract OF 1900 acres
shall be reserved for Indian school,
church and mission purposes.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
CONSIDER PANAMA SITUATION.
Cabinet Watching Developments on
the lsthmus.

Washington, Jan. 27-All the mem
bers Of the cabinet except Secretary
Hay, who is in the South, We're pres
ent at the days meeting. The ses-
sion lasted about an hour and a half,
but at its conclusion little concern
ing it's details was disclosed. Con-
siderable time was occupied in a dis
cussion Of the Panama situation, both
as regards the treaty pending in the
senate and as regards the situation
on the isthmus. While no very seri-
Gus complications in Panama are ex.
pected information has reached the
government, presumably through off
cial channels, that induces q careful
regard for the developments on the
isthmus Neither Secretary Root nor
Secretary Moody would discuss the
matter
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
leave lnem TO tnelr la,v.
Volunteers Enter the Mine.

In-response to a call for aid many
men from mining towns In the yicin,
ity have appeared at the Harwick
property and as fast as the little
bucket could take them down they
faces. In all the group OF experienced
miners who gathered there not one
could be found who would say that
he believed one moro living man
would be brought from the darkness
beyond the bottom Of the shaft.
The search party is being directed
by w. F. Cunningham, mine inspector
OF this district.
No news has vet come from the lit
tie party cropping their way into the
headings, but few above the ground
believe that they will have much
good cheer to give.
In expectation of the bringing up OF
the bodies eight Pittsburg detectives
are patrolling the ropes at tho pit
mouth, but so far have experienced
no trouble
If it is once settled beyond doubt
that all the men in the mine are dead
the work of ventilating the mine can
proceed more rapidly, but that is the
trouble and has been since the work
of rescue began. To work the fan IN
a way to quickly clear the mine OF foul
air would drive the afterdamp in onto
the men who may have found a TEN,
~porary place of refuge and it wouln
mean almost instant death to them.
Contributions to aid the families OF
the entombed miners are already com
ing in. There are more than LOG
widows and probably 400 or 500 or
phans.
Double Explosion. Occurred.
The explosion which caused the
terrible loss Of life seems to have
been double one, making one con
tinuous rumble, and the second blast
was heard rolling back under the hills
toward the south end of the mine
which contains by far the largest part
of the workings. The mine is at the
head OF what is known as Shops run
The highest officials Of the Harwick
mine and nearly every miner who Is
alive in the little mining village are
| at loss to give the cause for the ter
| rible disaster. 1t is the opinion Of the
majority, however, that the explosion
was caused by some foreign minel
| striking a match to light his pipe
which set off the heavy charge Of gas
| that was always present in the mine
Another theory for the explosion is
that it was caused by a heavy blast
in the mine whereby a new pocket Of
gas was struck and Immediately ig
nited. There are still others who in
sist that the gaseous substance was
set off by broken safety lamp in The
hands of one Of the miners.
1t was the opinion of the rescuers
around the top of the Harwick mine
| shaft that the real cause Of the explo
sion would never be known and they
gave as their reason that the minei
or miners who were probably respon
| sible for the catastrophe were dead.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
AGED ENGINEER KILLED.
Had Been in Employ of Milwaukee
Road Thirty Years.

Minneapolis, Jan. 27-Chester D,
Shattuck. an old time engineer on the
Milwaukee road, was run down and
killed by switch engine in the Mil.
waukee yards. He had been in the
employ of the Milwaukee road over
thirty years and was sixty years OF
age. He had worked in the shops Of
late because his hearing was not
good and this defect is believed to
have caused his death, as he probably
did not hear the warning bell OF the
approaching engine.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27

Sentence CT Condemned Minnesota
Murderers Committed.

st. Paul, Jan. 27-Charles and
Henry Nelson, under sentence OF death
for the murder OF Henry Krier OF
Owatonna. Will not go TO the gallows.
The board of pardons met during the
morning and committed their SEN
tence to imprisonment for life.
The friends of the boys viii now
set out to secure, IL possible, a new
trial for the boys on the ground Of
new evidence secured
The boys are sixteen and eighteen
years of age.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
nurlea TO deatn aown the l,5uo-toot

nuriea TO deatn uown the l,5uo-foot
shaft.
AS soon as possible the shaft boss
and a number of miners went down
into the mine through other compart-
ments OF the shaft. They found all
fourteen dead, the bodies scattered az
different points. Arms and bodies had
been torn, heads crushed and clothing
stripped from the victims. From the
70O-foot level, to the bottom the shaft
was spattered with blood while here
aud there were found pieces of flesh
clinging to the projections. At the
bottom OF the shaft stands twenty-five
feet OF water and into this the cage
plunged carrying some OF the men
into the water with it.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
INMATES ESCAPE SAFELY.
Fire at Minnesota School for lndgen
Children.

owatonna, Mimi, Jan 27.-Fire DUR
ing the afternoon destroyed the prin-
cipal building of the group that forms
the state public school for INDECENT
children here and caused gloss OF
s65,000 This loss is covered by $751;
900 insurance.
Although the fire was discovered at
q time when the building was filled
with the inmates and officers OF the
school all were gotten out safely with
In five minutes.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
Father and pauunrer Pertsn.

Stanton, ILL.,, Jan -StansbulF
Jacobs and his tWelve-year-old daugh.
ter. Lena, were burned to death in Z
fire which destroyed the Jacobs hon.
and three other houses. Jacobs lost
his life in an effort to rescue his
daughter, going back into the burn
ing home after he and the rest Of tn.
family had jumped from a second
story window.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
BY IT'S ANNEXATION.
IN Case Of War Manchurian Question
WILDE Finally Settled.

st. Petersburg, Jan. referring
to the report Of the intention of China
to remain neutral in case of war be-
tween Russia and Japan the Viedo-
mosti says:
"a direct declaration of war by
China would be much preferable to
dubious. neutrality, compelling Russia
to take the same precautions as in
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
Hopeful Of Cars Influence.

Washington, Jan. 27.-The Far East
ern situation, it is realized here, con-
tinues grave. but from several sources
the state department hears that the
powerful influence of the Russian en-
peror for peace may yet avail to pre-
vent recourse to arms.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27

war time without permitting an Inya-
sion of Chinese territory.
'If war is declared the Viedomosti
further asserts. "the question Of Man
chnria. could be settled forever by its
annexation as conqu cred country"
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
RAISE MONEY AT HOME.
Japan Offered Necessary Cash in Case
of Hostiities.

of HostiIities.
Toxic, Jan. 27.-The cabinet and
elder statesmen conferred for an ex-
tended period during the day. They
discussed the financial programme in
the event of commencement of hos
tilities
The japanese fnanciers in general
are offering very generous assistance
and it is now fully evident that the
government will be enabled to raise
an enormous sum Of money at home,
without having to place dependence
on borrowing money abroad.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
BODY CUT TO PIECES.
Woman Throws Herself in Front q
Fast Mail.

Baraboo, Wis, jar o.. Mrs, ne
lilah MCGEE, sleeping with two dausll.
ters at North Freedom, unobservetI
arose in her night clothes and, bare,
footed, ran across a field OF snow in a
temperature of so below zero and
dashed herself in front OF the fast
mail, running fifty miles an hour. She
was tracked and frozen fragments
were discovered by relatives.
The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-27
PERISH in BURNING HOME.
Three Children Dead and Mother Fa
tally Injured.

Celina, O., Jan. 27-The three small
children of Henry Feisinger of Rock.
port, north of this city. were burned
to death in fire that DESTROYED the
farmhous> The mother was fatally
injured and the father. badly burned
In attempting to rescue the Children
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-15
the correctness of this estimate of

the correctness of this estimate of
cur present numbers, giving as his
authority, reference to the census re-
ports. That, according to the last Off
cial census reports, there are less than
100000 negroes in the United
States, all must acknowledge, but the
this point, is seriously subject to
casion to take the census Of the ne.
gro population I'D three of the middle
west states. and to my establishment
found that the last official census re.
port In these three states Ton this
point fell short over thirty per cent.
In one Of these states, viz: Iowa, I
found that the official census report
of the negro population was more than
SO per cent short of actual count If
this same percentage Of under-count-
ing negroes by the census department,
has been practiced throughout the
other states and territories land I
have no doubt but that it has) it APP
pears evident that our actual popula-
ton today exceeds 100000 or about
one-fifth of the entire population of
the country.
Rights of the Negro Disregarded.
mo one disputes the fact that the
negro Is the strongest Numerically
of any individual race-element in the
| country, nor can it be denied that he
Is the least Of all, in the scale of leg.
| islative representation. That he is
legally barred from many of the most
potent rights of citizenship, by FEEDER Al
as we'll as state laws, all who are well
advised must admit Then, it must
be conceded that the negro has griev.
ances, grievous grievances, political
| grievances, which call for strenuous
action on the part of the race and all
lovers Of Justice. strenuous political
action, even that of organizing the
national liberty party and promulgat.
| ing it's principles, which are as old and
sacred as the Declaration of Independ.
ence and the federal constitution.
Here we are. about one-f1fth Of the
| population of the country, scattered as
chance and circumstances have thrown
| US, throughout, every state and terri
! tory Of the union; engaged in every
known avenue of industry, art and sci
ence, that has opened to us her door;
filling with credit and distinction
chairs in every profession owning and
operating successfully colleges, banks
large mercantile establishments, fac
| tories, Insurance companies, planta
lions, and stock ranches; paying taxes
annually upon hundreds Of millions Of
dollars worth of real estate; and, with
al, denied the right to participate in
any Of the legislative affairs of the
government. No voice in the house OF
representatives; no voice in the sen
ate; no voice in the Presidents cabi
net; no voice on the supreme bench
no voice on the interstate commerce
com mission; no place of honor in the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-15
ACCEPTS THE HONOR
4 - TAYLOR BECOMES PREsl-
DENTAL NOMINEE OF MA
T,oNAL LIBERTY PARTY.
Official Letter Of Acceptance is Ad-
dressed to Stanley p. Mitchell, OF
Memphis, Tenn, Chairman OF Nots'
flcatIon commIttee-The Letter.

Judge George E. Taylor, who was
nominated as the presidential candi-
date of the national liberty party IN
Douglass hall at ST. Louis, July e. has
made public his official letter of ac'
ceptance. The letter Is addressed to
Stanley P. Mitchell, Memphis, Tenn,
chairman of the notification committee
and is careful discussion OF the
causes leading up to the formation OF
the party and the purposes which IT
hopes to accomplish.
The letter is as follows:
"To Hon. Stanley P. Mitchell, Chair
man Notification Committee, Mem
phis, Tennessee:
"Sir:-Having received through you,
official notification of my nomination
by the national liberty party through
its duly authorized presentatlVes, lor
the high office of president Of the Uni
ted States, beg to submit the 1oi'
lowing response:
A Laudable Effort.
''The founders and promoters OF the
national liberty party, through whose
efforts the convention was helu IN
Douglass hall, St. Louis, July q, lsoa
are entitled to much credit and praise
for their valor and foresight. for ~
this, they have inserted a new ieaI IN
the history of the race, having thereby
proven that among us there are plon'
GERS a most hopeful and necessary
racial attribute. The real pioneer is
necessarily a brave person VINO is
imbued unalterably with the hope OF
brighter prospects for the Iuture
through his newly chosen field of la,
Dor. Hence the laudability OF your
effort.
over Twelve Million Negroes.
During the last forty-two years the
negro Of the United States has moro
than trebled his numerical strength.
so that today, we number vastly more
than 100000 men, women and chill
dren, against about 100000 in 1862
the year of our jubilee. am aware
that the casual observer Of statistical
history will question, If not dispute
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-15

whatever color or race are SO dumb,
SO senseless, SO blind as not to see the
handwriting upon the wall? Is it not
clear that in this assault upon the
rights Of the negro, the very vitals Of
the government are attacked, exposed
If whites shall scourge, plumber, dis
franchise and otherwise stultify the
blacks simply because they are the
mightier, what security has the com
mon people of all races that the mas.
ter class will not soon elect to serve
them likewise?
The Model Government.
"Our form of governm ent is today
the model of the world,-why not
maintain it? Why permit the federal
constitution to be besmirched, ripped
and torn, distorted and falsely con
strued to suit the whims of aristocrats
whose idol is self ana whose god is
self-a ggrandisement?
Il perceive that the national liberty
party is purely a creature Of neces
sity. The time has come when all ne
groes admit that something must be
done. and, through this movement, that
something can be done. Until 1892
|ninety-nine per cent Of the negroes
voted the republican ticket without a
protest. AT the general election that
year about thirty per cent of the race
voted against Harrison. Since then
ninety per cent of the race have voted
the republican ticket in and out OF
season, in the hope that som ethlne
would turn up in consequence. But
alas! that something has fatally turned
down instead What then shall we do
Have not the republicans solo
our birthright for the proverb
ial mess of pottage? II thi:
statement is questioned, refel
the critic to that plank in the repub
lican national platform which touches
the question Oh Acknowledgement An
alyze this plank, and the complete
ness of this sell-out is made visible. So
there is no longer hope for the race II
our fidelity to the party which once
espoused the true principles of hon
est, just and equitable government al
taught by our immortal Lincoln ant
exemplified by our lamented, sturdy
honest Grant The time was when thu
negro might have gained succor by af
filiating directly with the democratic
party, but not now; that party has wor
a stronger ally in the person of thu
republican party. Whittier then shall
the race go, if not to the national lib
erty party? Shall you become popu