davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-08

Two brothers of the murdered man re-
side in Nebraska, Francis F. Porter. who is
president of the Porter -Ryerson- Hoobler
company. and George r. Porter OF Grand
Island. A daughter OF the dead man, Grace
Porter, has lived here with her uncle. Fran
els, for many years, and is now a teacher
at the Franklin school. Grace Porter has
only Just returned from a visit to her
father and mother, and was accompanied
to Omaha by her brother Homer, who is
now employed at the Union Pacific head
quarters. A brief telegram was received
by the family yesterday afternoon, Just
giving the fact OF the death. with none of
the details. Both brothers, with Mrs. F. f.
Porter, left on an evening train for the
Ohio town.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-08

TOXIC, Sept. 10 p m.-Tokio has been
quiet today. General Sakuma, commander
Of the Toxic garrison. has issued a procla-
nation. warning the popusce against dis
order.
p NIT IL reported that there is rioting
at Chibs, a town with a population of 20,0OO
twenty miles east of Toxic. The prefectoral
building and the court house are reported
TO have been burned.
The government has suspended the further
publication of the Niroku, a newspaper
printed in Toxic
Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-08

TOXIC. Sept. 60 p m.-CDelayed in
transmission IAN imperial ordinance es-
tablishes martial law in Toxic. Disorder
was resumed tonight.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-08

Annoy. China, Aug. 6, via San Fran
cisco. Sept. .-(Correspondenece Of the
Associated Press. )--The Chinese gunboat
Nsing Hang appeared before the Ameri-
can consulate on the water front in Annoy
today with the American flag at It's mast
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-06

and with it thousands of patents is.
sued on fraudulent applications.
Then came the civil war. In addi-
ton to the fraudulent applications
thousands of others had been made by
bona-fide settlers. Large numbers of
these applicants went to the war and
either were killed or settled elsewhere
when peace was declared Their pat
ents were still pigeonholed in the
Ironton land Office. 1t is undoubtedly
true that some of these patents had
been stolen by Gen. Prices raiders
about the time of the battle Of Pilot
Knob, but thousands of them remained
unclaimed in the Office. Such were the
physical and legal conditions in which
the greatest conspiracy of the genera
ton had its roots.
In the early part of 1880 registered
at the primitive tavern at Ironton as
James Hall, of Chicago. Inquiry be-
fore my arrival had convinced me that
there was one man in the district
whom l could trust implicitly, and he
was Bernard Zwart, United States
commissioner for the district and as
"square-toed' government official as
it ever has been my good fortune to
meet. To him I revealed my true
identity; to others | was the repre-
sentative of Chicago land syndi-
cate.
You have a prodigious task before
you" was Zwart's Introductory re-
mark mot only that, but you are
dealing with a clique of men who are
deep in the mire of fraud and who
will not submit tamely to being hauled
into the daylight by the government"
I realized this fully. / asked Zwart
for such information as he could give.
81 first became convinced that whole
sale fraud was being committed" he
replied when, several years ago. Rob-
ert Lindsay offered to sell me I'll the
patents to 800 acres each I wanted at
ten dollars apiece. I bought none of
them. but have kept half an eye on
matters since Recently Mrs. SAILS
bury, of Ironton, told me that she had
been hired by Robert Lindsay in the
writing of deeds in his Office in that
city AS nearly as | can learn, Lind
say has six or seven clerks employed
in making out deeds in his Ironton Of
fee, and | am convinced that these
| deeds are not straight.
A survey of the situation showed
me that when Grant in 1869 appointed
James Lindsay pension agent at St
Continued on Page Six.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-06

There were enough of the dishonest
ones, however, to control largely in
public affairs of the district, and to
succeed in fostering general belief
came informer.
Thus matters stood in the fall of
1875; Carl Schurz was secretary of
the interior and James ]. Brooks was
chief of the secret service, Elmer
Washburn having been deposed by
President Grant because he had been
so vigorous toward some of Grants
friends in the whisky ring scandals
/ had been chasing the ever-active but
elusive counterfeiter through the cen
trail west when my chief called my at
tention to a communication from a
resident of Missouri to the depart
ment of the interior. This letter
pointed out the fact that wholesale
frauds were being perpetrated in Mis-
souri, in land matters, and roughly in
Dictated the method by which the
stealing was being done. Secretary.
Schurz had turned the communication
over to Chief Brooks, and it soon
reached me.
The preliminary Investigations were
made by me in my capacity of secret
service operative, and in making
them it became necessary to incur
what at that time was an unusually
heavy item of expense in having alb
stracts of title made. At that time
the total government appropriation
for the secret division was only
$50, 900 a year, an amount but $4,000
greater than was recently allowed for
the search for the plate from which
a 800 counterfeit bill was being made.
For this reason arrangements were
made ostensibly severing my connec-
ton with the secret and making me
a special agent of the interior depart.
investigation.
It will be necessary for me, at the
hazard of lapsing into technicalties
to set forth briefly the law governing
the acquisition of the class of lands
dealt in by the thieves. This par
ticular law went into effect in August
1854, and was generally known as the
graduation act" In Missouri 1t came
to be known as the "bit acre" act
this title springing from the fact that
the price to be paid per acre under the
act was 1914 cents, or ''bit," in Mis-
souri, parlance The act provided that
any citizen of the United States over
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-06

81 could make application for 800
acres of land in the prescribed dis
trict, and must actually settle on the
land applied for within six months
of application. In one year from
the end of this six months period the
settler was required to appear at the
land Office of the district and make
land and had improved and cultivated
it according to description filed with
the registrar at the same time. To
the fact of settlement and improve
ment there had to be two witnesses,
neighbors, who were required to swear
to the facts as set forth by the appli-
cant
When the original application was
made it was customary to forward it
to Washington, where a patent was
made out and sent back to the land Of
flee of the district, where it was held
until the applicant appeared with
proofs of settlement and improve
ment.
>
growth of a peculiar physical condi-
ton All early settlements of new
territory are made along it's princi-
pal waterways. In Missouri the first
settlements were made along the Mis-
sissippi river in Cape Girardeau, New
Madrid and Ste. Genevieve counties,
the land titles in this district going
back to the original Spanish grants.
The United States surveys Of the ter
ritory lying west Of this were made
in 1S2O-21, but the lands back from
the river had not proved tempting to
the pioneer. For a quarter of a cen
fury they lay in their virgin condi-
ton.
Congress at that time reflected the
general desire for rapid settlement,
and as an inducement the "bit acre"
act was passed. AS far back as the
passage of this act there were men
who saw the possibilities for land
grating under it. Greer W. Davis,
a prominent resident of Missouri,
signed thousands of applications con-
trary to law before the war, and his
operations, with those of many others,
covered vast areas-so vast, in fact,
that large part of several counties
was covered. The patents correspond
ing to these applications were sent
on from Washington to the land Of
fee then located at Jackson. In 1861
the land Office was moved to Ironton,
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-06
By CAPTAIN PATRICK D. TYRRELI

Copyright. 1905, by Marion c. Scheitlin.)
Two men sat in the back room of the
well-appointed offices of the Real Estate
Loan and Trust company, of ST. Louis,
one night in the fall of 1872 One was
young, under 80, slender and somewhat
stopped His eyes were dark and shift
ing and he wore black beard and mus
tache. The other was slightly older and
bore the appearance of prosperous
business man. Save for them the Of
fees were deserted, but nevertheless
they talked in undertones.
THE plan has been tested in all it's
questionable points and found absolute
ly safe" said the younger man, the own
er of the offices and at all times the
leader in the dialogue THE only weak
point remaining is the limited market we
now have in the sale of these lands. This
market must be extended and the east
is the place the extension must be made.
1t is my intention to establish English
and European agencies and to place safe
agents in some of the eastern centers of
population. The opportunity is the
greatest that will ever come to you"
There was no dissent from this state
ment on the part of the other His man
ner suggesed an evident desire to learn
more of the plan under discussion The
point in the negotiations between the
two where there might be any danger in
freedom of speech had already been
passed. There was no exhibition on
either side of troublesome qualms over
the moral phase of the business in hand.
and the conversation turned on nothing
but the prospects of carrying out the
scheme with safety and profit
you must bear in mind" said the
master spirit of the conference, that
this is nothing new. A smart chap con-
ceived the possibilities of the plan when
he was with Gen. Prices raiding army
in southwest Missouri during the war.
This chap was one that happened to be
turned loose in the land Office at Iron
ton and grabbed 800 patents, each to 800
acres Of land. He would probably have
taken more, but that was all he could
carry He planted them at the time and
resurrected them after the warm 1868.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-06

scene of score Of crimes Of violence
growing out of the one big plot to
steal land from the government and
sell 1t by irregular titles to people
who could ill afford to lose their saw
ings.
To this day in Arcadia valley there
is pointed out to the traveller a tree
from whose gaunt limbs II men have
been hanged between the civil war
and the time | entered the valley
in the hunt for land grafters. These
tragedies were all the grewsome fruit
of the one big crime. The victims
were men whose crime was knowing
too much about the operations of the
land thieves-knOwing too much some
times by accident and sometimes
through their own misguided efforts.
In the land of "moonshine" stills
knowing too much has been a capital
offiense punishable by Death at the
hands of self-constituted judges and
executioners. So 1t was in Arcadia
valley and throughout southwest
ern Missouri following the civil war.
the tabooed subject being land frauds
instead of the making of white corn
whisky.
From this readers must not infer
that Robert L. Lindsay and the other
principal thieves were in conspiracy
to commit murder; but they were in
conspiracy that led to murder as an
incident. Young Lindsay was su-
preme in the district and his word was
law, even when it meant the commits
sion of crimes of violence to protect
the land conspirators in their nefarious
plans.
A large number OF supernumeraries
were necessary, men who little by
little were dragged into the crime
vortex for neager pay, and, once in
volved, were driven to desperate
crimes to protect themselves. In
Vulnerable county officials and other
men--prominent within the county
lines, but the merest cogs in the big
machine of fraud-were drawn into
the common cause of land stealing.
Such men composed strong secret,
oath-bound rings in the counties of
Shannon, Dent, Butler, Wayne, Rey-
nolds, Iron, Carter, Oregon, Madison,
Stoddard and Ripley.
Do not understand me to say that
all officials in these counties were cor
rupt, for some were honest men who
dared not move against the thieves.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-06
SUMMONS.

State of Wisconsin,
Circuit Court. for Grant County.
j. A. Haggerty,
Plaintiff,
VS..
Charles Horton Maggie Horton,
his wife, Henry Johnson and
Amanda Johnson, his wife,
Defendants.
The State of Wisconsin, said Defend
antsiHenry Johnson and Amanda Johnson:
You are hereby summoned to appear with
in twenty days after service of this sum-
mons, exclusive of the day of service. and
defend the above entitled action in the
court aforesaid; and in case of your failure
so to do, Judgment will be rendered against
you according TO the demand of the COM
plant which is now on file in the Office of
the clerk of the court for Grant County.
GEO. T.. ATWOOD,
Plaintiffs Attorney.
Gays Mills, Wisconsin.
list ms. Aug 26th: Last ms. Sept. both ]
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-06
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.

LEADING ATTORNEYS.
TTORNEYS-RUsHNEL WATKINS & MOSES
Farmers Phone, So; Union Phone, So.
Practice in all State and United States
County,
Lancaster. Wisconsin.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
]. & B. Y.-SANTA Re.

Galveston, Texas, July 5.-Vice
President NJ. Sweeney Of the Trim
ity and Brazos Valley road, was
in the city today preparing to close
the details Of the traffic agreement
with the Santa Fe for the use Of
the latter's tracks. The PROPOSE
ton is for the Trinity and Brazos
Valley to use the Santa Fe tracks
between Fort Worth and Cleburne
and between Galveston and Hous-
ton. The Trinity and Brazos Val
ley will build its own line from
Mexia to Houston, and /. is ex-
pected will later build from Gle
burne to Fort Worth, and perhaps
from Houston to Galveston.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
how GERMS ENTER THE SYSTEM.
Have No Bad Effect Upon People With
Good Digestion.

Like thief in the night, unher-
aided and unsought, the disease
germ steals into the system under
cover Of the air we breathe, or our
food and drink.
II the germ finds "a weak stomach
and digestive system, ne at once sets
up house keeping, with the result
that his landlord has a serious i'll
ness.
On the other hand, II the stomach
where the germ finds lodgment Is
strong aud healthy through the use
of Mi-o-na, the injurious effect of the
disease germ Is at once neutralized,
or the germ itself Is driven out Of
the system. Keep the digestion good
by strengthening the stomach and
intestines with Mi-o-na, and there
need be no fear OF what disease
germs will do.
II you suffer with headaches, in
digestion, ilatulency, specks before
the eyes, vertigo, heartburn, dizzi-
ness, or HAYS variable Appetite,
and a general feeling of dependency
and weakness, you should at once
strengthen the stomach and diges-
tive system by the use of Mi-o-na.
There is no liquid, no alcohol, no
spoonful doses with this remedy.
Just one small tablet out OF fifty
cent box, before each meal, and your
stomach will soon become SO strong
aud healthy that you can eat any
thing you want without fear OF
distress, and will be germ proof.
Ask T.. j. jenkins 20 show you
the guarantee under which he sells
Mi-O-na. 10 cost nothing unless II
CuTes.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
UNUSUAL SIGHT.
American Sailors and Marines CO
AIono Paris Streets.

Paris. July 6.-The unusual sight Of
a detachment OF United States sailors
and marines swinging through the cen
trail thoroughfares OF Paris Thursday
aroused great interest and brought out
an enthusiastic ovation from the
crowds along the line Of march. The
American naval contingent. numbering
500 men. with twenty-five officers. left
Cherbourg in two special trains NJ :
o'clock Thursday morning. arriving nj
the InvalIdes railroad station at ii:tO
In spite Of n hard night the sailors
and marines presented a fine appear
ance as they emerged from the station
They were uniformed as a landing par
". wearing CATERS and carrying rifles
with fxed bayonetA A company Of
French infantry were drawn up front
ing the station 90 receive the Ameri-
cans The latter was formed In battal-
ion and unfurled the American flag and
naval ensign. At the same moment the
French troops came 20 salute and the
French standard was dipped. 4
French band struck up "Star Spangled
Banner" and the great crowd, which
surged across Alexander bridge shout
ed "Vive les Americana" "Nive u
France!" The entire multitude uncov-
cred respectfully while the American
anthem was played Another outbursi
81 enthusiasm greeted the "Marsailles"
and then the French escort took up thu
line ~ march.
All along the route the streets were
lined with dense crowds eager n sc1
the Americans Women waved hand
kerchiefs and miniature flags and there
was a continuous shout ~ 'Vive les
Americans" The men made a most
favorable impression by their sturdy
bronze appearance ana smartness Of
their movements. They were received
AZ the military school by a battalion %
French troops drawn up In the great
court. Again the national anthems
were played and salutes were eN-
changed. The Americans were then
taken within the military school. which
will serve a. barracks during the stay
here. The American sailors and
French soldiers were soon on friendly
basis. fraternlzing. eating and chatting
together while awaiting the ceremony
Of the dllvery % Paul Jones body az
the American church on Avenue de
L'Alma.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
NEW SOCIAL cLUB-K. N. 0.

The young set Of Bryan young
men have organized a social club
TO be known as the tx. NJ. Q's",
and have rented Mikes hall for a
year. AT a meeting held Wednes-
day night Roy Buchanan was elect
ed president, George Brandon, vice
president; Seth DeMaret, secretary,
and Frank Webb, treasurer. Hen
bricks Conway, Nit Parker and
Emmett Cole comprise the social
committee; Jack Gordon, Tom
Adams and Marshall Spell floor
committee; Thurston Henderson,
Ernest Ettle and Hal Saunders,
committee on bylaws. The first
Wednesday night in each month Is
selected as regular meeting time.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
OLD LAND MARK ASSOCIATION.


Rev. A. Barbour Of Galveston,
the moderator, opened the meeting
of the Old Land Mark Association
at $3.50 p. m. Wednesday. Rev.
B. w. Carter was asked to come TO
the rostrum and conduct the deyo.
tons. Rev. A. Barbour then an.
nounced the meeting in order for
the Transaction Of business. He
admonished the messengers that
they were here as the Lords am.
bassadors 10 do His mission, and
that they should do the work we'll.
Prof. ID. A. Starks, the secretary,
read the program covering the
work Of the entire session.
Rev. +. T. Lights, the treasurer,
being absent on a mission in
Europe, the Secretary was asked
TO make his report. Prof. w. X.
Ford was appointed assistant Sec
rotary, and J. NJ. Codwsll Of Hous-
ton, State Educational Agent, was
elected reporter for the newspapers.
Committee on Finance-Rev. j.
L. Smith, l.. II. Smith, Henry G.
Smith and Mrs. G. w. Bennett.
Miss J. A. Wilson delivered the
welcome address, to which Rev. o.
L. Perpener of Hearne responded.
DIR. ID. A. Scott Of Houston pre-
sided at the organ.
A large audience was present at
night to hear a sermon by Rev. +.
NJ Griggs Of Palestine. The choir
sang and Rev. J. r. Pitts read a
part Of the cd chapter of Isaiah,
and Rev. b. w. Carter offered
a prayer. Rev. Griggs then an
nounced his text: Isaiah 62:lO,
go Through, Go Through the
Gates" etc. Subject: Lift Up a
Standard for the People" The
sermon was strong one. A col
lection was taken and was given
to the National Baptist Home Mis.
sion Board OF Nashville, Tenn.
Thursday morning the session
was opened at IL o'clock by Rev.
A. Barbour, the moderator, and
after the devotions were conducted
the journal was read and the meet
ing settled down to business. Quite
a number Of churches and messen-
gers are represented.
The woman's district convention,
Of which Mrs. Sharkie Of Houston
is president, and Mrs. Matte Lacy
is secretary, opened its session yes.
terday. This is an auxiliary TO
association and meets every year in
convention with the association.
Reporter.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
RAINFALL his YEAR.

BY courtesy OF Mrs. Julia Wipp-
recht, who has rain guage at her
home In this city, the Eagle is able
10 furnish its readers with an accu-
rate statement Of the local rainfall
for the present year, since Jan. /:
January-5th, 10 inch; $40, .45;
nth, .0s; 18th, 80; 3ist and Feb. list,
Is; total, l.09 inches.
February-sth, ~: 18th, IS; Is
18th, 1 IS; total, 2.62.
March-6th, rs; sth, / 20; nth, .2s f;
i6-i7th, 80; 18th, .0s; 20-2lst, .26; 2ist,
go; 18th, LIS; total, AL.
April-i-2d, i3s; 18th, IS; 2ist, .O2 ;
23-2ith. 200; Gath, .25, 2s-29th, i.22;
18th, les; 29.3Oth, 20; total, TAO.
May-7th, las; l3-i4th, 90; "a.
18th, 2.50; 23-24th, OF; oath, IS; to-
tai, 40.
June-2ist, 81 2i-22nd, 2i5; 22nd,
.Ss; 2i.25th, %; 25th, 20; 25th -26th,
80; 26th, 24i; 26.27th, 81; 9th,
1873; total, li.59.
Grand total for January, Februa-
~, March, April, May and June,
1905. 3i.si inches.
The record for the year 1904, from
July 20 Jan. list, shows the follow
ing totals by months: July, Al;
August, i.si; Sept, %; Oct, i.s3;
Nov. lbs; Dec. 437; total, 10 81.
Total for twelve months from July
4, 1904, 10 July /, 1906, 5.75 inches.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
OPENING OF THE K. C., NJ. & o.

Sweetwater, Texas, July 4.-The
opening Of the Kansas City, Mex
lean and Orient railroad between
sweetwater and Sylvester, twenty
two miles north, was celebrated to-
day by big barbecue. Free trains
were run between the two towns,
and hundreds Of people took the
trip. Passenger coaches were not
available and freight cars we're
provided with seats, upon which
people crowded to the limit.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
Bullet In Heart.

New York July 6.-Surgeons in a
local hospital are puzzled over the case
OF Harvey Mowak. who during an al
tercation on a ferryboat on the Fourth
Of July. was shot by a fellow passen
ger. The bullet entered the left breast
and was at first thought to be harmless
but a further examination has revealed
that II lodged IN the mans heart.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
To Build ouays.

San Francisco. July 6.--It r. stated
that r. n. Hartman. with the cooper
alton of II. r. Huntington. n preparing
10 build at San Pedro. In the southern
part % California, quays. docks and
warehouses for the accommodation Of
steamships 20 ply between San Pedro.
Hawaii. Japan. China and the Philip
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
LARGE Theft CHARGED.

London. July 6-"Annie Grant" Of
Chicago. claiming 20 be an heiress was
committed 10 the police court TO stand
trial at old Bailey on the charge Of
stealing a necklace worth $4,000 from
Christies auction rooms.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
LsR Much 70 Charity

New York. July 6.-Baron Alphonse
de Rothschild left $500. 900 90 be ex.
pended IN charities o. various kinds
without distinction % religion. says n
Paris Dispatch 20 the Herald.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
FIVE KILLED.
Msny Were Also injured In pennsyi
vania Mine Explosion.

ConnellsvIlle. Pa. July 6.-Five men
are known to have been killed ana
many injured IN a mine explosion AT
Keisten shaft. The works are located
near Searights. Pa, six miles from
Brownsville.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
ROOT SELECTED.
u 10 Stated He VIII 90 Successor of
Late John Hay.

low York. July cit can be def
sxely stated that President Roosevelt,
hSs offered the position Of secretary o.
Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-07
Win, Final Heat.

Henley. Eng. July Elm the fnal
heat In the contest for the grand chal-
ienge cup Leanders beat the Belgian
crew.