davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
8 ID i Gil T 8

y. w. Gillian, editor of the funny
column in the Baltimore American. is
receiving considerable attention
through the west just now, as he is on
a lecture tour which includes several
Iowa cities. Mr.. tGillilan is one of those
men who can't help being funny al
though he had little excuse for being
SO. Several years of his life were spent
In caring for an invalid wife, upon
whom he lavished the greatest care
and attention until her death In Cali
fornia. However, Gillian is naturally
funny and his reputation as funny
man was so good that w. D. Nesbit,
when called from the Baltimore Amer
lean to the Chicago Tribune, recon-
mended Gillian for the Baltimore post
An interesting interview with Gillian
was recently published in the Sioux
City Tribune after lecture by the
funnyman in that city and part of 1t
together with poem by Gillian, fol-
lows:
1t was while at Richmond that Gill
lilan wrote the poem that made him
famous, which runs as follows:
Superintendent wuz Flanagan;
Boss av the siction wuz Finnigin;
Wnilils We tie hyars got OMEN tne
'hrack
An muddled up things t. tn divil an
back
Afther the wreck wuz all on agin;
That is, this Ffnnigin
Reported to Flanagan.
Whin Finnigih first writ to F1annagin
He writed tin pages-did Finnigin.
An he tould list how th' smash &C.
Cured
Full minny a taius. hlunderin, 3v,,rrd
Did Finnigin write to Flanagan
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

An some kyars went off as they made
the swerve
There's nobody hurled" SEE Finnigin
But reports must be made to Flanni-
gam,
An he winked at McGorrigan,
AS married Finnigin.
He wuz shantyin thin. wuz Finnigin
AS minny a railroader's been agin,
An the shmoky oil lamp wuz burnin
bright
In Finnigin's shantS all that night
Bilin down his report wuz Finnigin!
An he writed this here: Muster
Flannigan:
Off agin, on, aein,
Gone agin.--Finnigin."
Il remember the very frs days
work did on a newspaper" relates
Gillian. 1t was on the Richmond, Ind,
Telegram. began working on the
street, looking for items received
IS per week and considered life's op.
portunities were opening for me. L
remember distinctly the first item
wrote. A Richmond woman had had
her neighbor arrested for provoke
making faces over the back fence at
her, rs 1t were. asked the squire if
there was law against provoke and
he said there was. So wrote FIVE
lines about the case. That was my
string for that day"
Mr.. Gillian remained at Richmond
eight years and then was offered the
editorship of the Marion, Ind. Trib-
une. a new paper. There he did very
little special work, having charge OF
all the departments and doing full
days work without any extras.
But while at Marion 1t was Gill.
lan's chief delight to regale social
crowds with stories and verses Of his
own creation. It was not long until
he was in much demand as story
teller. He was accordingly frequently
invited to social functions Just ito be
funny" and thereby relieve the host
ess of the duties of entertainment.
On one occasion he wrote bit Of
verse about a social event, making It
evident he was present. It was an
eloquent little poem and told about the
delights of that evening SO wildly
! that all the women acquaintances OF
the hostess who were not invited were
very angry. A day or two lstor q
young woman spoke to Gillian about
the verse. remarking:
1T must have been most charm
! ing evening"
| ooh, no." faltered Gillian, wrig-
Cling about in his awkward fashion, to
tell the truth. it was the most miser-
able occasion l ever had any connec-
ton with. l was asked just because
they wanted me to be funny. And I
couldn't do it. felt mean, so / just
sat around like a stick Afterwards
l was penitent and wrote that verse
SO that the people wouldn't think. they
had been cheated" 81.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
WHERE sYMPATHY FAILS.

The people of the United States have
been taken to task time and again
since the beginning of the Russo-Japa.
nese war because of their sympathy
for the Japanese and their lack of
friendly feeling for Russia. More than
ever has this feeling, which has never
been denied, been evident since the
labor troubles began in Russia. Now
comes Grand Duke Vladimir, one of
the representatives of the bureaucracy
and asks why America is not friendly
toward Russia when Russia rendered
such efficient service to the United
States at time when that assistance
was needed.
But how can Russia ask such ques-
ton? BY her own acts she prevents
that feeling Of gratitude which must
exist in the United States. Only last
Saturday 280 pupils were expelled
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
GOSSIP OF low ANS
# AT. WASHINGTON

During discussion In the senate
the other day Of the agricultural bill
the $250,000 appropriation for the an
nual seed distribution was fiercely at
tackled by several of the eastern rep
resentatives. The custom was just as
warmly defended by many others and
the opponents were routed. The de-
tenders, nearly all, took occasion dur.
ing their remarks to warmly praise
Secretary Wilson. Senator Pettus
made one Of the strongest defenses Of
the system and he was particularly
complimentary.
1T sometimes happens that we have
a secretary of agriculture who is not
in sympathy with this appropriation, !"
he said, 'but the man we have now is
a farmer. He understands what the
law is for and he has devoted his time
and his valuable talents to discovering
that valuable seeds ought to be dis
tributed. The officer we have now as
secretary of agriculture is man who
tries to be secretary of agriculture He
has done more good, / suspect, in that
Office than all the men who preceded
him because he understands his busl.
ness"
One Of the most important sugges.
items made in the republican caucus
last Friday in regard to the railroad
rate legislation was that advanced by
Major Lacey During a general discus
sion of the Townsend -Esch bill mum.
Der of representatives called attention
to defects in it. Major Lacey took the
view that the bill should be changed
SO that the duty of enforcing the law
after a rate had been determined by
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

-
ratified at this session of congress. If
there should be no treaty the President
might decide on carrying out the poll
Icy of the state department and pro-
coed with the protection" Of Santo
Domingo and administer it's finances,
the administration purpose. 1t Is UNI
derstood, being to prevent foreign ma
lions from undertaking this FINANCING
and protection of Santo Domingo
themselves.
1t is clear that if the United States
fiscal agents We're at work in Santo
Domingo. and should there be revo-
luton, which would endanger their
lives or attempt to twart the agree
ments between the United States and
Santo Domingo, the latter would ask
that troops be sent to her soil and ma
rines and cavalry might be employed.
II congress We're not in session, the
same plan would probably be followed
by the administration as during the
Panama revolution,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

should fall upon the department OF
Justice. They are the proper people
the interstate commerce commission
to enforce the law" said Major Lacey.
when the commission has fixed q
rate that should conclude their duty.
They should lay down the law and then
the department of justice should see
that 1T is obeyed just as they see that
other laws of the land are obeyed."
Under the rule adopted by the caucus
1t will not be possible to offer any
amendments of this sort to the bill.
Many representatives believe with
Major Lacey that the measure should
be changed in this particular. Major
Lacey. however, does not consider this
a vital point and regards the bill as
reasonably good one.
Senator Delivers reputation as an
orator has received another notable
recognition. Out of all the orators in
the house and senate he has been
selected to accompany the President
to New York February 10, when
Lincoln's birthday will be celebrated
by the republican club of that city.
! The President and a number of promi.
nent New Workers. will make addresses
| in addition to Senator Dolliver. The
latter, however, will deliver the ad.
dress of the night. on Abraham Lin.
coin" Senator Dolliver has also &C.
cepted an invitation from the Mime.
sofa state fair association to address
their annual fair at St Louis next
September. This has come to be
great political as well as agricultural
event. Mr.. Roosevelt spoke there once
before he was president.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
Rabies. Amonu Hoos,

Des Moines. Feb. 7.-State veterin-
arian P. o. Koto, of Forest city, and
his assistants are engaged in the III
vestigation of rabies among hogs
near Perry. Eleven animals already
are dead, and it is believed that others
are infected; The dog suspect also bit
number of chickens, which since
have died. One rooster bitten in the
back survived and is being closely
watched to discover if the dog really
had rabies. If the chicken does de-
velop a case he will be a curiosity and
i is said veterinarians everywhere In
the state are planning to go to Perry
to examine into the case If the dis.
ease does develop. DR.. Talbot Of Des
Moines has had charge of the precau-
tionary arrangements at Perry.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

Taking time by the forelock, OF
tumWa Is already arranging fol it's free
open air concerts next summer. There
must be unwonted enthusiasm and an
unusual interest in music, where peo-
pie can take hold of park concert
program when the thermometer is re-
cording many degrees below zero
Burlington Hawk-Eye.
Here in Ottumwa we haven't for
gotten that summer is due, whether it
ever comes or not. If the weather ever
does warm up these band concerts
will come in handy"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
CHILD BURNED TO DEATH.
Little Fort Madison Girl Victim Of
Flames While Mother is AWAY.

Little Fort Madison Girl Victim Of
Flames While Mother is Away.
Fort Madison, Feb. 7.-While her
mother, Mrs. Chas. Brandt, had gone
to neighbours on borrowing expedi-
ton, three-year-old Lottie Belle was
burned to death.
Mrs. Brandt went to the next door
TO borrow a clothes wringer, leaving
her two little girls at play upon the
floor of the front room, Lottie, years
OF age, and Lucy, 18 months old. The
mother upon returning ten minutes
later, found the house full of smoke.
She rushed into the room calling for
her children but Lottie could not be
found. Search was made and the
child's body was found burned to a
crisp near the window The child had
set her clothing on fire at wood heat
ing stove and had run about setting
the carpet on fire in several places.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
NO TREATY LIKELY.

Davenport Times.-It is stated in a
special dispatch from Washington to
st. Louis paper that the report is
current at the headquarters of the
general staff of the army that tentative
plans are making for the dispatch of a
part of the army to Santo Domingo
1t is said also that the officers of the
staff are in favor, if such action should
become necessary to employ the cav
airy arm. and that the discussion has
gone SO far as to indicate that the
cavalry would be taken from Fort
Myer near Washington.
The continued report that the ma
rine headquarters are discussing the
use of troops in Santo Domingo seems
to add to the belief that it will not be
possible that a treaty between the
United States and Santo Domingo be
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
THE BoNAPARTE DAM.

A movement is on foot in Bonaparte
to secure funds sufficient to erect a
new dam to take the place of the one
that has been the butt of ridicule and
profanity among fishermen of the up.
per Des Moines for years: The old
dam Is now about out of bushes and
entirely out of commission, for it has
been so badly damaged since almost
two years ago that it was useless for
power Many attempts have been
made through the state officials to re.
move it either by condemnation pro-
ceedings or by purchase from the Meek
Bros. and destruction afterwards. The
Meeks, however, are loath to give up
the rights which were conferred upon
their father many years ago by the
state, and now it is proposed to re-
build the dam and make it substan-
tial one that will furnish power to run
the Meek mills>and possibly other ma
chinery in Bonaparte.
The objections have already begun
to be heard from the upper river and
among the first is one in the Eddy.
vile Tribune, under the caption
Thine Ripe for the Red Flag" 1t
says:
"Bonaparte, that warty excrescence
sticking to the heel of Iowa, that for
half century has maintaineda measly
old dam, for the purpose of straining
the succulent catfish from the upper
waters of the Des Moines, now pro
poses to build 100000 cement dam.
1t will probably be provided with the
latest inventions to make 1t fish proof
elm the past we have considered 1t
in questionable taste for the newspa.
pers of the upper Des Moines to over
work the puns on the dam dam and
the dam town. etc., but now we be.
lieve the limit should be removed and
the original pun, so amended with pre-.
fixes and afflxes, that the fishless peo-
pie Of the north valley will be aroused
and rise, as one man, in revolution and
riot"
While the Tribune is rather need.
lessly pronounced in its views, the fact
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
AGENCY.

Agency, Feb. IA ten pound son
was born to Mr.. and Mrs. Wilbur New.
ell recently.
Mrs. w s.. Stone has returned from
Chicago where she went to spend Sun
day with Mr.. Stone.
Miss Edna Wray. of Fairfield, is Wis.
iting at the home of Fred Miller.
The meetings are still in progress
at the Methodist Episcopal church and
will be continued during the week.
A. j. Reynolds has new gasoline
light plant in his store.
1t was Is degrees below zero this
morning.
The members Of the class that will
graduate from the Agency high school
this year are: Miss Hazel Clayton
Jess Williams and Clyde Skirvin.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
Two Hurt in Rock Island Wreck

Des Moines, Feb. 1.-Two persons
were hurt in rear-end collision Of a
Rock Island freight with a stock train,
near Gibson's coal mines Sunday
Chas. Foss, a stockman. had his leg
broken and Conductor Galloway was
badly bruised. The accident occurred
on a hill with long curve, the fast
freight train which was five minutes
behind the other, crashing into the
stock train which the freight engineer,
it is said, believed was going at faster
speed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
THE ILLINOIS INVESTIGATION.

Representative Ccmerford, of Chica.
go, promises to spring many surprises
of sensational character upon the Hi.
nois legislature in connection with the
investigation of his charges of graft.
ing among the members of that august
bcay and Judging from the manner in
Which some of the accused are side,
stepping the issue it would appear that
MI. Com erford has a good case. The
Investigations, however, are to be pub.
Tic and the people will have the op.
portrnity they should have to see If
their representatives in the state leg.
lslature have been foCling them.
Just at present the trend of events
seems to be against Comerford
Though one representative has testi,
fed that he was offered 5000 for his
vote at one time it is not though that
this fact justified Comerford's original
remarks in Chicago that the Illinois
legislature is a school of graft and dis.
honesty. The investigations are just
begun, however, and no bigger mistake
could be made than that of putting
Comerford bodily out of his seat in the
legislature. He should have a fair
hearing and be given every opportun.
ity to prove his charges il he can.
An Ottumwa man who has known
Comerford from boyhood, characterizes
him es "a hot air artist" one of those
men who like to be heard and are will.
ing to stretch the truth in order to
draw attention to themselves and their
sayings. Nevertheless. though this
may be true of the Chicago man, he is
entitled to full and fair hearing and
the square" men in the Illinois legis-
lature will see that he gets it.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

A bill has just BEEN introduced In
the Missouri senate by Senator Frisby.
OF Harrison county, providing for the
timing Of men found guilty by a jury
or trial court Of being intoxicated.
The fine must be not less than $25 and
can be as large as the jury or the court
may decide. The Introduction of this
bill brings out the fact that there is
no specific law in Missouri against get.
ting drunk. An intoxicated man, if he
creates disturbance, may be arrested
on that charge but not on specific
charge of drunkenness. There is
every probability of the passage of the
bill The object of the author of the
bill is to do away with the whisky drug
stores in his district.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

remains, so fishermen maintain, that
because man lives along the upper
part of the river he should not be com.
PEELED to go all the way to Bonaparte
In order to catch fish longer than
his forearm. If the dam is rebuilt it
should. in order to prevent this ques.
ton from vexing a future generation.
contain fishway Thus much trouble
can be averted and many fishermen
made glad
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

from the Warsaw gymnasium, never to
be permitted to enter any government
school within the empire, and for
what? Because they petitioned the di-
rectors of the school for the introduce
ton of the Polish language into the
school. Such punishment for such
an act. Expulsion from school as a
reward for love of birth. To be shut
out from the government schools mean
to be denied the advantage Of educa-
ton altogether. And this was the
punishment imposed upon these pupils
for asking that they be taught the Ian
guage of their fathers. Had their petit
tion been granted the effect would
have been to make them friendly to-
ward the government that made the
concession. The refusal and expulsion
of the petitioners will result in injury
to the government and will increase
the sentiment against the bureaucracy
which now exists in Poland.
Is it necessary, in the face of such
acts as this, to ask why American SYM
pathy is not with Russia? In America,
where personal liberty and equal rights
to all was the cornerstone of the ma
tons foundation, where men have died
that their posterity might live free
from tyranny, where the forefathers
underwent in silence and patience the
greatest of sufferings rather than sub.
NIT to the rule of a king whose arbi-
trary rules were not as bad as Rus
sia's? How can the descendants Of
such men give their sympathy to a
government which Expresses millions
of subjects, watches them as with a
thousand eyes through its secret SER
vice, send them to Siberia and a living
death for expressing an opinion
against the bureaucracy?
S. E. Kiser answering Duke Vladi-
mfrs petulant query, has expressed in
verse the sentiments of the majority
of Americans in the following:
Because we look on greed with hate,
Because we know the wrong Of lust,
Because we loathe the self-styled great
Whose faces should be in the dust,
We spurn the hand the Russ extends,
And scorn his wish that we be friends.
Because we pity them that grope
Deep in the maze of ignorance,
Who, starved, enslaved and robbed of
Cry: Masters, give us but a
chance!'
Because they plead and have no gains
We hate the breed that gives them
chains.
Because we still deem Justice fair,
And look on sin as being wrong,
Because we hate vice, thought it wear
The royal ermine and is strong,
We spurn the hand the Russ extends,
And scorn his wish that we be friends.
Americans are grateful to Russia for
all that Russia has ever done for her,
but their sense of justice and their re-
gard for personal rights are such that
it is impossible for them to wish ma
ton well whose aims are identical with
those of King George Ill. American
sympathy is with the public in the
present conflict with the bureaucracy
and with Japan in the war for the same
treason. 1t is not that the Americans
;"love Japan more, but Russia less" to
paraphrase Shakespeare. Nearly ev-
cry observer of the war in the east,
upon examining his sentiment, will
find that he wants Japan to win, not
because Of any special admiration for
the little heather nation, but because
of a dislike for Russian methods of
government.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
Editor Tom Purcell Very M.

Hampton, Feb. T. The condition
of Tom Purcell, editor of the Hampton
Chronicle is very critical. The doc
tors give but little hope of recovery
but say there is a fighting chance
His case is diagnosed as appendicitis,
with symptoms Of peritonitis.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
A Pleasant Birthday Party.

Packwood, Feb. z. A very enjoy
able event occurred at the pleasant
home of Mr.. and Mrs. d. M Holgate in
Black Hawk township, it being the
tenth anniversary Of their youngest
son, Raymond. Twenty-one Of his boy
friends armed with football and coast
ers, surprised him. Outdoor games
were played and big dinner served.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
z. A. Ealkenbura slowly pxina.

Los Angeles, CAL, Feb. Reports
from the bedside of F. A. Falkenburg,
the stricken head consul of the Wood
men Of the World Pacific Jurisdiction
and president of the National Frater-
nal congress, are to the effect that he
continues to fail in strength. He is be-
ing kept alive by the use of powerful
heart stimulants, but it is thought his
recovery is not possible.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09
TO CLOSE FRIDAY.

Union School, Southeast Of City Will
Entertain.
The winter term of school at the
Union school closes Friday February
10. A very interesting program has
been prepared by the teacher, Miss
Elizabeth Fitzgerald.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

Those spots on the sun may be re-
sponsible for this weather. If they
will just show up about the middle Of
August some of us may be able to
cut out vacation and save it for next
winter
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-09

When driving up hill in buggy
on any of the Ottumwa streets, be
sure to look out for bob sleds loaded
with Young America.