davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29
The Egg of the Aepyrons.
~ IS. e. WELLS, Author Of The Martians, The
Food Of the Gods Etc.
Copyright Bowles)
Copyright, ] so5, by Joseph B. Bowles,)

the scar. "It's little thing in the tell
ing, Isn't 1t? Every day was IKE the
last Except In the morning ana the
evening never kept q lookout even-the
blaze was so Internal. I didn't see sail
fter the first three days, and those !
did see took no notice of me. sa
THE second day I preached one OF
the Aepyorn!s eggs, scraped inc sheil
away at the end bit by bit, and tried ~
and l was glad 10 find 1t was good
enough to eat, The second egg opened
about the eighth day, and 1t scared me-
The man with the scar paused, y es
he said, Developing. Il
IT dare say you find it hard to believe
1 did, with the thing before me. There
tho egg had been, sunk IN that cold
black mud, perhaps four8hundred years.
But there was no mistaking It. Here
was | Matching out the eggs of the Dig
gest of all extinct birds. In little canoe
in the midst of the Indian Ocean.
II left the third one alone
"Then came the atoll. Came out OF
the sunrise, as It We're, suddenly, close
IN TO mo. 1t was just common atoll
about four miles round with few
trees growing and a spring In one place,
and the lagoon full OF parrot 1884. took
the egg ashore and put 1t in good place.
To give it all the chance could, pulled
the canoe up safe and loafed about pros
pecting.
"The next day the egg hatched
| II heard whuck. and there was tho
end of tho egg pecked out and rum
little brown head looking out Mt me.
| 1ord!' said, you're welcome; and with
I a little difficulty he came out.
,'He was a nice friendly little chap.
at FIRST, uoout the size OF II hen-yery
much like most other young birds, only
bigger. | can hardly say how pleased
was to SEQ him. He looked at me ana
wink ed his eye from the from. backward,
like a hen, and gave chirp, and began
to peck about at once as though being
Matched -four hundred years too late was
Just nothing.
"'Glad to SEQ yoll Man Friday says
I, for ] had settled that he WAS to DO
called Man Friday \ & ever he was
Matched.
you'd be surprised what an Interest,"
Ing bird that Aepyornls chick was. He
followed me about from the very begin
Ming lie used to stand by me- and watch
while I flshed In tho lagoon, and go
shares in anything caught.
.'And he grew, You could almost see
him grow. And as i was mayer much of 4,
society man, his quiet, friendly ways
suited mo to y. For nearly two years
we were as happy as we could be on
that island. used to lie watching the
bird stalking round and growing, grow
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29

formation for a newspaper
After having followed a serpentine roao,
which crossed ind recrossed the Tide
waters right OF way, which had been
partially graded. Mrs. Bcacha1n finally
was found.
Standing erect on n little knoll, sur.
rounded by n small army of workfnA,' and
mules, Mrs. Beacham was passing out
orders rapidly and with q cloar, resonant
voice. that was as commanding as 1t was
dlstirct-hcre to drivers Of scraping ma
chimes, there to the ploughmen, some OF
whom drove Jsix mules to one plough;
yonder to those who fell the trees just
ahead. dynamiting the big stumps and re-
moving ahe shrubbcry.
A QUEEN IN THE FOREST.
II was n busy mountaineering and
almost fascinating to the unfamiliar.
Standing there in the fastncss OF tho
forest, u long way removed from any
other female. Mrs. 1,eacham ruled as
with a master-hand. There was no loi-
teriilg. no loud talking; there was hardly
a word spoken except when orders were
passed. The dense woods were fast be-
ing transformed into a road that will be
Mt fo1' the hauling OF Pullman cars.
Mrs. Beacharn' reeting was fairly cor
dial-more 80 than was anticipated, con-
sidering that she is a very busy woman.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29

and that an interruption which caused a
hundred men, to lose ten minutes would
mean a thousand minutes gone. But she
did not lose sight OF her men as she
talked. Somewhat reluctantly she told
OF her self and her affairs, and before the
writer had left she named a day when
she would sit for picture.
She led me here and there along the
lines of men, teams and machines, ex-
planning the workings Of the several
gangs and mechanical contrivances,
sometimes in terms technical and in
railroad phraseoogy, that did not I'M
derstand.
She was born &fifty-two years ago in
Kalamazoo, Mich. Her maiden name was
Reynolds She married, when twenty
two years old, F. L. Beacham, who is
yet living, but who has been an invalid
for several years She has two sons,
Claude and Erwin, whose ages are re-
spectiveiy twenty-eight and twenty five
years.
She has been taking railroad contracts
for more than twenty years, the past few
years, during which her greatest achlve-
ments have been wrought, having been
passed in Southern States.
Though Mrs. Bea cham declined to tell
exactly what her yearly earnings are,
it was learned from other railroad sources
that she makes. $40, 900 and upward an
rually. Last year she cleared about
$4,000, and this year may do better. Mrs.
Bcacham says her biggest contract was
with the Tennessee Central Railroad In
1900 She made about $4,000 or $50, 000 on
that, and 1t took nearly year to do It.
LABORERS LIKE HER.
Mrs. Beacham expects to finish her
present contract by November 18th, pos
sbly by November LIST. Then she will go
to Tennessee and tai Ia part of the work
recently contracted BY William j. Oliver
with the Southern Railway. The price
( of divers most recent contract with the
Southern is sl.o00O00. but he has on hand
other unfinished jobs with the same
system. Mrs. Beacham has been allied
with Sands & oliver for years and is
one Of their most capable and dependable
sub-contractors. She is held in the
hIghest esteem by railroad officials and is
regarded by her employees with a degree
Of respect which almost approaches rev.
erence.
Asked If railroad work was conger<>a
Mrs. Beacham said she did not SO par
ticularly admire the calling, but that the
financial remuneration was good, ana
she did not expect to be n con tractor al
ways. She expects to retire next sum
mer to farm near Kalamazoo and
abandon the strenuous life for all time.
She says Kalamazoo celery is good for
the brain.
She Is truly a remarkable woman.
Some of her most prominent personal
chnra cteristics are her energy, vivacity,
deep mental penetration and her juds-
lrent of human nature. There are
brightness and rare intelligence in her
eyes and noticeable determination about
her mouth.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29

Mrs Beacham was sought for an in
tervicw and photograph by your CORE
spond ent, who drove out to Kllby. where
the camps are loca ted. There were great
rows Of little tents dottng the forest ana
used Tor sleeping and eating quarters and
by bIacksmiths wcodworkers and other
artisans. Al
On asking young white man who was
:,ttlred like one Of the laborcrs, but who
proved to be son OF Mrs. Beacham
.aerc the lady could be seen, 1t was
ieo ned that she was three and half
miles FROM that point, directing the nd
Vance force. but that he might deliver
any message for her On learning the
nature OF tho reporters mission the man
said 1t would hardly be worth while to
80, for Mrs Beacham dislikcd giving in
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29
-7 HE man with the Scared face
IA leaned over the table.
"Well--You've heard OF the
~, Aepyornis 2" said he.

l.
I>T leaned over the table.
"Well-You've heard Of the
k-.1 Aepyornis?" said ne.
; lASAsSSNI Rather. answ e re q.
scans neatly ses 4 y yard long Monster the
thing must have been.
"1t vas a monster. sinbad's roc was
lust a legend of EN-. But when did they
find these bones"
"Three or four years ago. \. Why T.
"Why? Because found 'em-its nearly
twenty years ago!
He paused II suppose It's the same
place. A kind of swamp about ninety
miles north of Antananarlvo, on the east
coast Of Madagascar. And somehow.
there's something IN the water that keeps
things from decaying. Did they get any
more eggs? Some Of the eggs found
were a foot and half long. We went
for eggs. mo and a native chap, and
found the bones at tho same time. It's
funny work. You go probing into the
mud with iron rods, you know. Usually
the egg gets smashed.
II wonder how long It Is since these
AepyornIses really lWed2 The mission
aries say the natives have legends about
when they were alive. but ] never heard
any such stories myself. But certainly
those eggs we got We're MS fresh as If
they had been new laid.
~ had three perfectly fresh eggs. Well,
we nut 'em in the boat, and then went
M to the tent to make some coffee. In
cidentally, I was admiring the swamp
under the sunset, all black and blood-red
Lat was. in strenks--a beautiful sight. And
meanwhile behind my back my heather
was plotting to cut off with the boat
ana leave me all alone WithHthree Nlys'
provisions and n canvas tent.
II heard a kind of a yep behind me,
and there he was--twenty yards from
land T realized in moment what was
ilup; then ] aimed st
5"oyer he went and the paddle with
him. Ii was a precious lucky shot with
a revolver
~ felt precious fool, ! can tell You.
There was that Black beach, fiat swamp,
nj behind me- and the flat sea, cold after
tha sunset, and just this black canoe
drlftine steadily out to sea, tell you,
cursed museums and all the rest of It,
Hrhere was nothing for7it but to swim
after. i swan like a champion, though
NV legs ar. arms were aching, came
IN! 70 it by the time tho stars were fairly
| out, q.
.,ytnr In the middle of the canoe, and the
Ler of water and some coffee and bis
|cuts There was no paddle, so settled
Ia drift until was picked up.
! + ~ drlfted ten days, SAID the man With
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29

picking along the beach at low water
ai ..e worms and rubbed along on that. "A
shouldn't like to say how long that
went Eon,5aI I'd have killed him sooner
II Id known how. However, i hit on taA
way Of settling him at last. Ills a South.
american dodge. joined MI my fishing
lines together with stems of seaweed
and things. and made n stoutish string
perhaps twelve yards in length or more
and fastened two Jumps OF coral rock
to the ends OF this. Itstook me some timo
to do this because every now and then,
II had to so into the lagoon or UP tree.t
as the fancy took me. This I whired
rapidly round my head and then let 1T
go mt him. The first time i missed, but
the next time the string caught his legs
beautifully, and wrapped round them
again and again. Over$he went. j threw
it standing waist deep in the lagoon
and as soon as he went down was out
of the water. and saving Mt his neck
with my knife. 4. s5S
with that tragedy, loneliness came
upon me like curse. Good Lord. you
can't Imagine how missed that bird!&
! sat by his corpse and sorroWed over
him, and shvered MS looked round
the desolnte reef. III thought Of what
jolly little bird heEhad been when he
was Matched, and of a thousand pleas
ant tricks he had played before no Went
wrong.
II couldn't think Of eating him, so I
put him In the lagoon. and the little fishes
picked him clean. ! didn't save even the
feathers. Then. one day, a chap cruising
! about In yacht had fancyto see ts
my atoll still existed.
Gle didn't come q moment too soon, for
I was about sick enough OF the desoa-
I tlon of It.
II sold the bones to n man named
.Wlnslow--a dealer near the British Mu-
Eseum. II was only after his death they
! attracted attention. They called en-
lAepyornis-whnt was It'll j
"Acnyornis Nastus. said !.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29
WOMAN BUILDER |:
Of RAILROADS
Mrs. 1'heodosia Bcacllan1 An In
dustrial Won
der.
BOSSES GANGS Of #LABoRERs
Her Husband An Invalid, and
She Takes Up Large
Contracts.

s1;rro1.K, VA, October 2l.-Mrs.
rheodsiu l,cacham is perhaps the only
woman builder OF railroads IN the world.
Her position indirectly Is unique. She
sands IN Il class BY herself. She Has
,,do raj roads, blasted rocks. dug up
,irineyal lorcsts cut through the foot
h,us fixed IN the valleys and cared
ht,t,.ea In something iiKe half a score
or states, she has directed men and
mules and steam and dynamite have been.
forced 10 serve her needs. She has
ul,,,ed Oh contracts whose pr.ces ran
mo the hundreds or thousand oil dollars.
Tier intellect and financial ability have
been matched against some Of the coun-
.tryts greatest railroad magnates. and
she has not suffered by such encounters.
She IL a person Of pluck and energy,
oil finance ana diplomacy.
But Mrs. Bpacaams life, strenuous,
though the latter half Of it has been,
las proved 10 her liking, and she has has
achieved Sonic fame as well rs fortune.
she is probably he wcal,hcst woman
in her native state OF Michigan.
BUILDING THE TIDElYATER.
Mrs. Hcacham's present contract IN
this section Is the building OF five miles
luyse az thls undertaking might seem
10 an average man. moi to mention
Mcrian's viewpoint. It is relatively
small Job TO Mrs. Benchama The road on
which Mrs Beaciiam is working Is the
Tidcwate whcl, will connect the coal
fields with the sea, and the general con-
Tractors for the first one hundred miles
OF which were Sands & Oliver. Of Roa-
noke Va. Bccaus. of other contracts,
which prevented their completion OF the
roadbed on time the Roanoke firm has
been relieved or the thlrty-two mics be-
tween the sea and liilby. whEre. Mrs.
Rcachams section begins.
she is versatile woman. After
hearing her counsel q workman or rePrl-
mand recreant with searching eyes ana
n voice that compels obedience and 81
lence, one could hardly believe that she
CAM change in a second to person SO
and OF such convincing
3ctntilIty She finds time TO read a great
deal and keeps UP I'm n surprising degree
with literary -doings ms we'll as currcnf
events A few young women OF SUFFOLK
who have made Mrs Bcacham's &C
auaintance have borrowed books from her
library The class OF books loaned 'ndi-
Gates literary discrimination on the own
er's part. a
IA. 81 JUDGES MEN WELL.
THIS woman is n Judge Of men and
rarely has any trouble with her employees.
Abn,It half OF her force Is carried from
4SSt3tate to- State, and the rest are hl,ec
locally. There were one hundred or more
men and forty. mules in the force at the.
time OF the interview In the wooGs.s She
said 1t was just after pay day end some
OF her workmcn had not returned from
%"hooze'' fighting in town.
She attends personally to the buying
OF the immense supplies required for men
and teams, as we'll as those required for
repairing machines. Aside from her ex-5
ecutive ability, which is OF n rare ORDER
Mrs. Bcachum has fanilarized herself
Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1905-07-07

than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred
dollars, shall be negotiable in form and be
seal OF the Board of Directors shall be affixed
thereto. Coupons for the interest shall be at
tached to each bond signed by the Secretary.
Said bonds shall state on their face that thew
are issued by authority of the Act above men
toned, stating its title and date of approval
Said bonds are offered in sums less than the
whole amount SO to be issued, or the total
amount at the option Of the bidder, The Board
reserves the right to reject any and all bids and
TO make such allotments in such sums as may
be for the best interests of the District.
All bids for these bonds must be addressed to
THE Board of Directors, Montpelier Irrigation
District" j. S. Robson, Secretary, Montpelier
Idaho, and must be accompanied by certified
check in the amount of five per cent of the
amount of the bonds bid for such check to be
drawn In favor of the Boz rd of Directors of the
Montpelier Irrigation District. and 10 have no
condition endorsed thereon except as set forth
IN this notice.
Bonds for which bids are accepted will be de-
livered on or before the First day of November,
1905, at which time payments must be made in
full for the whole amount of bonds so allotted
and II payment is not made on or before that
date the said amount represented by said GER
tilted check shall be forfeited to the said Mont
pelier Irrigation District in satisfaction of dam
ages accruing to it for such failure.
No bids shall be received for less than the par
value OF said bonds
Sealed bids will be received at the office of the
Montpelier Irrigation District in Montpelier,
Idaho, up to ten O'Clock a.. m. on the 18th day of
August, 1905, and the same will besopened by the
Board OF Directors OF said District at two O'Clock
p m, on said day, at the Office of said Board in
Montpelier Idaho, in the presence of all per-
sons wishing to attend.
Full information relating to the financial con-
dition, taxable wealth and legal status of the
District will be furnished by the Secretary on
application.
Witness our hands this 2lst day of June. 1905.
w. J. HUNTER,
CHAS. STEVENS,
JOHN r. BRENNAN,
Attest: Board of Directors.
First pub June 49,
Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1905-07-07
NOTICE OF SALE or IRRIGATION GOU-
pom BONDS.
first pub ~
last pub 8-lS

Notice is hereby given that the Montpelier Ir-
ripation District OF Bear Lake County, Idaho, Is
about TO negotiate and sell irrigation district
honds In and to the amount of 1893, 10000; under
the State OF Idaho, approved March 9th, 1908.
and all acts amendatory thereto, relating TO the
organization and government of irrigation dis
tricts and to provide for the acquisition of
water and other property and for the distribu-
ton OF water thereby for irrigation purposes
and for other and similar purposes.
me issuance of these bonds has been approved
bv the legal two thirds majority of the qualified
aiactors who are tax payers and holders of land
in the said irrigation district voting at a special
aIaction called and held for that purpose in said
district ON the 18th day of March 1905, and duly
eanyassed ana returned anu SO certlueu Dy the
canyassing board
ca mn at an proceedings for the organization OF
I'D district and the issue and sale of bonds
sSnnareof have been confirmed and approved by
.ho nistrict Court of the district In which said
;rr;uation district Is situated.
Yrn;+ad states In ten series as follows. towit:
a the expiration of eleven years. i've per cent
~ nc whole amount of said bonds, at the ex-
~ of twelve years six per cent, at the ex
pp;raticn of thirteen eyears, seven per cent. at
tpha exniration of fourteen years eight per cent,
Of the expiration of sixteen years. ten per cent,
~ sha expiration of seventeen years eleven per
az 70 at the expiration of eighteen years thir-
.ea,, ,,er cent at the expiration of nineteen
aarS pffteen per cent, at the expiration OF
swentv wears sixteen per cent. and shall bear
arahe semi annually on the list day OF january
pnSS The lst day of July in each year. The prin-
a sai nd interest of said bonds shall be pay
NE at Montpelier, Idaho, or Well Fargo y Com.
s onr Rank in New York City, N Y. Said bonds
shall he each OF the denomination OF not less
Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1905-07-07
Notice to Contractors.

Office of Montpelier Irrigation District,
Montpelier, Bear Lake county, Idaho
June 22nd, 1905
Sealed proposals will be received at
this Office until o'clock p. m. Tuesday,
the 25th day of July, 1906 at which
time and place said proposals will be
publicly opened and read aloud, for
furnishing the materials and labor of
all kinds necessary for the construction
and completion of the whole or any
portion of the grading. masonry, fumes,
bridges head-gate and waste gates of
the Montpelier Irrigation Canal in Bear
Lake County, Idaho. said canal being
about n miles long. Plans. specifca-
tions, and forms of proposals may be
seen at the Office of the Board of Direct
ors. Contracts will be awarded to the
lowest responsible bidders. The right
is reserved TO reject any and all bids, to
waive technical defects, and TO accept
any part of any bid and reject the other
part, If the interests of the District re-
quire it.
MONTPELIER IRRIG ALTON DISTRICT,
Per w. J. HUNTER, Pres
Attest: j. s. RoBIRON Sec'y.
WASHINGTON JENKINS, Engineer
First pub June 3D.
Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1905-07-07
A Patriotic Party.

Mrs. 81. B. Whitman entertained in
most delightful manner, thirty five of
her lady friends on Tuesday afternoon.
The rooms we're artistically decorated
with bunting and small flags. A three
course luncheon was served and be-
tween the first and second course the
guests were asked to name the presi-
dents of the United States in the order
OF their election. Mrs J. H. Newton
was the only one equal to the task and
was awarded the prize Between the
second and third course the guests sang
patriotic airs. The evening was pleas
antly spent on the lawn, and the ladies
pronounced it the most enjoyable 4th
OF July that they had spent for a
long time.
Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1905-07-07
Death of B. w. Thomas.

b. w. Thomas died at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. T. w. Jones, yester
day afternoon, at the age of Il years.
He had been in very poor health for the
past six months. Last December he
suffered stroke of paralysis, from
which he never fully recovered and
eight weeks ago he had second at
tack, causing total loss of speech, and
leaving him in such an enfeebled condi-
ton as to leave but little hope for his
recovery. His vitality gradually ebbed
away until yesterday afternoon he sank
into that sleep from which there is no
awakening.
The deceased was native of England,
but came to America in 1870. He had
been resident of Montpelier since
last September, when he and his wife
came here to make their home with
their daughter. His wife, three daugh
tiers and two sons survive him.
The funeral will be held from the resi-
dence of Mrs. Jones Sunday afternoon
at o'clock. A daughter who resides at
Blisseville, Ark. was notified of his
death and it was hoped that she could
arrive in time for the funeral. but
word was received this morning that
she could not leave home until tomor-
row night. She will leave then anyway
as she intended coming next week ON a
visit.
Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1905-07-07
Bennington Blossoms.

Mrs. G. L. Lindsay, who was reported
dangerously i'll, is slowly IMPROVING
George Clark of Star Valley and
Miss Louise Parker of Bennington
were married in the Logan temple july
9th. Their many friends Join in wish
ing them successful journey through
life.
Andrew Larson of Mink Creek ia
visiting his sister Mrs. J. p. Ipson
A number of our towns people sn4nt
the Fourth at the Lake, there being no
celebration at home.
A. wedding reception was rendered
Mr.. and Mrs. Jeddie Merrill June Goth
at the home of Mr.. Merrill. Forty
guests We're present and delightful
evening was passed. Mr.. and Mrs
Merrill were the recipients of many
beautiful presents
The Misses Julia and Minnie Sullivan
have been re-employed as teacher in onr
district. School will commence Oct .
Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1905-07-07

settled down to housekeeping, Just
like old married folks, in the rec
tary, which they had previously
furnished for the occasion. They
will take their wedding trip about
the first of August, when they will
join with a party of Montpelier
people for an oversand trip to the
Yellowstone park.
Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1905-07-07
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
Department of the interior.

Department of the Interior.
Land ONCE at Blackfoot Idaho, June 20, 1905
Notice Is hereby given that the following
named settler has filed notice of his intention
that said proof will be made before DeMeade
Austin. q. s. Commissioner, at his ONCE Mont
pelier, Idaho, on September 13, 1905, viz:
ABRAHAM JEWETT
for the VIZ NW1, SEA NWA Sec 81, SEA
NEA Sec 3D. TIP. 10, S. r. 48 Il. B. M
He names the following witnesses to prove his
continuous residence upon and cultivation of
said land, viz:
William Kunz, Andrew M. Freebairn, Will
liam Skinner, Herman Grunig all of Nounan
Idaho.
LORENZO R. THOMAS,
Register.
first pub ~
last pub 8-18