davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
pEApLIEsr OF REPTILES.
Compared with the Fer-de-Lance the
Ratt'er Is "A Gentleman

Compared with the Fer-de- Lance the
Ratt'er is a Gentleman.
The most deadly snake in the world
is the fer-de-lance Comparatively lit
tie is known of the venomous reptile
Oueside of the French West Indian Is
lands Of Martinique, Guadalupe and
the British possessions of Saint Lucia.
Martinique is especially unfortunate
in possessing them in large numbers.
The natives, taught by dear expert
ence, regard 1t with deeply rooted ha-
tired and fear, and rightly, too, for 1t
can be truthfully said to reign gu-
preme in the forests and byways,
Ofttime- being found or the more fire.
quented paths and roads, but rarely
venturing into the cities or towns
There are about eight varieties, the
most common being of grayish black.
and by It's color, so resembling the un-
derbrush and stumps, is scarcely dis
tinguishable at times. The head, as
the name implies, is lance shape, fiat,
with reddish eyes, changeable like an
opal. which become very bright at
night and can be seen for some dis
tance away flashing out defiance at an
intruder, whether man or beast.
Its length rarely exceeds five feet,
with body the size Of mans arm.
and not of lead pencil thickness as inn
agined by some people. Quite unlike
the ''rattler" Of the United States,
who, to do him justice, is a gentleman
compared to the 'fer-de-lance," this
snake never gives warning. but at
once when approached becomes the
aggressor, quickly gets into battle ar
ray, darting forward its triangular
head with lightning-like rapidity-so
quickly, in fact. that the human eye
can scarcely follow the movements.
and woe TO the unlucky mortal or ami
nal that It strikes.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

There are at present about 1000
miles of sea dikes in the Netherlsnds.
The total length Of dikes is difficu to
estimate. and even If 1t could be esti-
mated would mean but little, for It
must be remembered that the dikes
have for the most part in the course
Of time been destroyed and rebuilt re-
peatedly. It has not been so much a
question Of building them as It has
been Of maintaining them and keeping
them where they were. Besides pro-
tecting the country from the invasIons
Of both fresh and salt waters, the dikes
have served to reclaim no less than
10000 acres, nearly all of which are
good, fertile land.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
Rlver. and Commerce.

In a recent issue the New York
Marine Jcnaal remarks that "the
present century seems destined to
bring the steamboat as a means OF
transportation to an equality with Tia.
railroad train" That paper says that
great as is the volume Of traffic on the
lakes a greater business is conducted
on American rivers, amounting to 1OO.-
100000 tons a year, exclusive of boats
plying on the arms Of the ocean inland.
At least half of the interior commerce
of the United States is transacted by
boats. Though almost every naviga-
BILE river in this country is paralleled
by railway the business for both In
creases. The two great systems Of in
land waterways in the United States
the Marine Journal remarks, are the
great lakes and the valley of the Mis-
sissippi, and Of the two the latter is
foremost.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

Reading aloud is recommended by
physicians as benefit to persons af-
fected with any chest complaint The
recommendation is made because In all
cases OF lung trouble It ls important
for the sufferer to indulge in exercise
by which the chest Is in part filled by
and emptied Of air. for the exercise Is
strengthening to the throat lungs and
muscles Of the chess Reading aloud
can be practiced by all and besides
being a curative act can be a pleasure
and profit to both reader and hearers.
In this treatment 1t is recommended
that an overdose OF medicine be avoid
ed that the reading be deliberate, with
out being allowed to drag. that the
onunciation be clear. the body be held
IN an easy. unstrained. upright posi-
tion. so that the chest shall have free
play, and that the breathing be natural
and as deep as possible, without undue
effort.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
Declares Matrimonial
Association
Of Marriage

thinks. be brought about only by hard
work and practical means.
He becomes Famous
In August. 1896 the first session OF
the Matrimonial association. compos-
ed OF couples married by Mr.. Meese
was held at Auburn, Ind, the home
Of the parson. Nearly 1000 couples
responded to the inylt.gion. They all
agreed to work for iSform OF the
marriage and divorce laws. An an
nual reunion was determined upon,
the story OF the session went broad
cast over the country and the Rev. Mr..
Meese found himself famous outside
the limits OF De Kalb county.
1t was thought that this last re-
union, held at Waterloo, would far
surpass all OF the preceding ones in
enthusiasm and results, and SO II
would have, had 1t not been for the
rain, which caused many to stay at
home But the day frightened up and
the reunion was held. Parson Meese,
in his black Sunday clothes and derby
hat, fitted around the grove. attending
to a thousand details, greeting new
corners. showing them where to regis
ter, chucking children under the
chin and playing host to the big gath
ering. Among the resolutions passed
by the members were;
DepIores Divorce Record.
THAT we deplore the alarming in
crease in divorces as compared with
marriages in our community and that
we view with disgust the evident in
sincerity with which many Of our
young men and women enter into their
marriage VOWS. That marriage is not
a failure and he who declares the
contrary questions the rectitude OF
the creative scheme of Almighty Cod
That we believe the strength and
safety of the republic are dependent
upon the morals Of the people, and that
no nation whose people show fidelity
to their marriage institutions can far
depart from the principles of liberty
jusAce and equality We therefore, in
woke the aid OF all patriotic and
Christian men and women in creating
a sentiment against the present loose
divorce laws and the lack OF solemn
ity with which the marriage state is
invested"
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

whiteboy, an Indian Of tribe In
Wisconsin. who was feared to have
been foully dealt with, has turned up
In Nebraska. heir to a large ranch.
There is bitter feud between Chief
Whiteboy and the Waukon brothers OF
the same tribe, enliyened recently by a
love romance, and 1t was feared that
he had gotten into more trouble with
the brothers. When the United States
settled with some OF the Indians In
Nebraska yearsago. Whlteboy's parents
took large tract Of land in Nebraska,
where they have since grown wealthy.
Both died recently. and Whiteboy
wished to acquire his new riches un-
known to his enemies.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

Nowhere is the fued so common, so
old, SO persistent, so deadly, as in the
Kentucky mountains. Nowhere else
is there such organization, such di-
vision OF enmity to the limit Of kim
ship. About thirty-fve years ago two
boys were playing marbles in the
road along the Cumberland river
down in the Kentucky mountains. One
had a patch on his trousers. The
other boy made fun Of it. and the boy
with the patch went home and told his
father. Thirty years of local war was
the result. The factions fought on
after they had forgotten why they
had fought at all. While organized
warfare is now over. an occasional
fight yet comes over the patch on
those trousers and a man or two is
killed. A county as big as Rhode Is
land Is still bitterly divided on the
subject
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

England in the sixteenth century felt
the first decided movings on the same
impulse that now throbs from Virginia
to Texas. She went into the critical
period third rate, or. It Is more ac-
curate to say, fourth-rate power; she
came out an acknowledged leader
among nations, with a primacy the
strength and duration OF which no one
now hesitates TO attribute in great part
to the commercial ascendaacy ac-
auired through her immense manufac-
tNring interests. Few will dispute the
claim th-t wish the subjects Of Eliza
beth ceased to send their fieeces to bs
woven 70 Flanders and dyed in Flor
ence they had worked out an achieve
ment OF better worth and more notable
results than when they defeated Phil
ip's armada. .-Munton's Magazine
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
camp. There he was commanded to at
tend to Ledford's wounds

tend to Ledford's wounds
Reformed by AfGIrl.
When 1t was thought the man-killer
was going to die he sent for his sweet
heart. She came, and DR.. Holland, OF
the regular army corps, who witnessed
the scene, thus describes It:
Jack wanted her to marry him, but
she refused. She cried great deal of
the time, and told Jack that she loved
him. but that she had promised her
mother never to marry him as long as
he was an outlaw. He remained silent
while, and then announced that he
would give up the outlaw business If
she would marry him. The girl seemed
pleased and kissed him. He wanted
her to marry him then, but she insist
ed that time be given In which to
prove that he was speaking the truth.
1t went hard with the outlaw, could
see that. to have his power overruled by
a woman. but he was madly in love-
So he agreed, and after hard tussle
he recovered and reformed"
It was quite. a surprise to the com
munity when Jack announced himself
candidate for sheriff of Sedgwick
county at the election in the fall Of
1870. To every man from whom he
sought vote he said:
IF am elected sheriff of this county
there will be no more horses stolen
around these parts
OF that the citizens were well aware,
and they elected him. Shortly after his
election the governor ruled that the
election had not been conducted prop
erly, and appointed the officers then in
to I'LL the next term Jack was chta-
grined. but he did not go back to rob-
bing.
Later he married the Vigus girl, and
the wedding was a matter of much i'm
portance in Wichita. The bandit, under
the gentle rulings Of his wife, COM
pletely reformed. even to drinking.
Their life would have went on very
smoothly, perhaps, had 1t not been for
the coming of Sam Lee, former
sweetheart OF Agnes He found that a
big reward was offered for Ledford, but
the officers at Fort Harker did not
know his whereabouts. Lee informed
them and secured $1,000.
The killing of Ledford.
Capt Harger. of Company B, Sixth
United States Infantry, with a full
quota of men, came to Wichita one
morning in July, 1871. They found Jack
in room playing billiards. He was or
dered to come out, but refused. Finally
one soldier slipped in the rear of the
room ard shot him in the back. This
enraged the fighter and he ran out into
the street, fighting with two pistols.
He killed four of them before he was
disabled When removed to the hotel,
he inquired how many he had killed.
In few days Ledford died. On his re-
volyer butts were found 50 tacks.
which, his intimate friends said, indi-
Gated that he killed that number Of
men.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
BOUGHT FOR s2oo.ooo
Interesting History Of Senator Clarks'
Great Copper Nine

AtASOAD~SAAb AAAntOHJ " D~AN~~@
Great Copper Mine.
Like all rich mines, the United
Verde, the greatest copper mine in the
world and which is owned by Senator
w. A. Clark of Montana, has an in
teresting history. Clark bought the
mine, which now earns Sl2,000,OO0 a
year profits, from two women for
100000. This was the way 1t came
about Two rancEers In the Verde
valley located the property. They sold
out for $4,000 to William Murray and
former Gov. Trittle of Arizona One
of the ranchers promptly proceeded to
drink himself into delirium tremens
with his share OF the money. Murray
and Trittle induced two New York
women OF independent fortune to back
them to the extent OF 5000 900 in the
development Of the mine. This money
was nearly all spent and the prospects
were blue when the miners struck
pocket OF silver ore that paid $50 O,O0O4
Murray died and Trittle failed to get
any more profit out Of the mine. It
was abandoned for several years
Clark with his foreman came down
from Montana looking for mining
property. They saw the Verde. liked
1t, went to New York, found the wom-
en- only too glad to sell their stock for
its face value and got possession.
Clark proceeded to develop the mine
scientifically and soon found that he
was right on the ore chute" as min
ers say. Then he built hundred-ton
smelter and set about taking out the
ore that has made him the copper
king OF the world. There are about
1000 shares OF stock in the mining
company and Senator Clark owns them
all.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
a NEW SYSTEM.
Decidedly Interesting. as Its Workings
are Exemplined In Chicago.

Decidedly Interesting. as Its Workings
are Exemplined In Chicago.
The Speers system OF imparting use
full knowledge to the young, as ex-
emplifed in Chicago, is not novel
one With notifications, 1t is the
same system used in training perform
ing monkeys and dogs. The learned
pig gets his education by the Speers
method and so the system may justly
claim to be well grounded. In the
Speers system as prepared for the little
bipeds Of Chicago, the teacher points
out on the Speers chart the word
hop" Then the teacher hops and
the children hop. The next word Is
skip" and the teacher skips and the
children skip. If the next word is
"grin," they all grin. If 1t is wink, =
they all wink. 1t is fun as well as
profit, you see-especially for the
teacher When it reaches "hip-hap"
and "summersault" it becomes more
so. What is that word. George?"
says the fond Chicago father to his
bright offspring. Pronounce 1t for
me, daddy" says the bright off,
spring. Reverse. replied daddy.
'Ah, know" cries Master George, and
at once stands on his head. 1t certain
ly is nice system.-Pennsylyania
Grit.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

That animals shed tears is now fair
ly well established. Lady Burton says
she has seen horses in the Syrian des-
ert cry from thirst, a mule cry from
the pain of an injured foot, and camels
shed tears in streams. A COW, sold by
its mistress who had tended it from
birth, wept pitifully. A young soko ape
used to cry Of vexation II Livingstone
didn't nurse it in his arms when 1t
asked him to- Wounded apes have died
crying, and apes have wept over their
young ones Slain by hunters. A chin
panzee trained to carry water jugs
broke one, and feel a-crying. which
proved sorrow, though 1t wouldn't
mend the jug. Rats. discovering a
young one drowned, have been moved
to tears OF grief A giraffe which a
huntsman's rifle had injured began to
cry Sea lions weep for the loss OF their
young. Gordon Cummings observed
tears trickling from the eyes of dying
elephant. And even an orang-outang.
when deprived Of its mango, was so
vexed that it took to crying. There can
be little doubt, therefore, that animals
do weep from grief. or pain, or an
noyance.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
THE POLAR BEAR.
some Of HI. ChAr.o''rl''l'' Described

Some Of His ChAracterisucs DosofaD'~
by an Observer
The character of the polar bear iS
a curious mixture OF cowardice and
daring. for It will fly at the sight OF
man. but will often come close up TO
the huts and sometimes even try to
enter them.
When met with in the water, bears
are killed with harpoons. On receiv-
ing the first wound. the animal utters
loud roars, seizes the weapon with his
teeth, pulls It out Of the Injured part
and hurls 1t far away Sometimes,
but by no means invariably, It VIII
turn upon its assailant Quickly It re-
ceives another spear or bird arrow
from second kayak man, against
whom It turns after treating his weap-
on In the same manner, and some-
times breaking 1t, and In this way the
struggle is continued until the bear IL
overcome. The most important pre-
cautionary rule which the hunters
have TO observe is, when during the,
fight the animal has dived. to keep q
sharp lookout down into the water
In order that 1t may not
come up unawares right under the
kayak. Its white CLEAN can always be
seen when 1t approaches the surface,
and there is time to get away II 1t be-
coming too near. When bear Is en-
countered in the water, or amid some-
what scattered ice, its capture is con-
sidered a certainty for. although an
excellent swimmer, 1t cannot get away
from kayak. In the northern colo
nie5 where they are seldom seen, the
Greenlanders appear to be afraid Of
them, but such is far from being the
case in the Julianshaah district, where
in the water, at any rate. they are con-
sidered much less dangerous than the
walrus or the hooded seal.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

ber of marriages he has performed.
For all that he is known as marry
ing parson," he has turned away al
most as many as he has united. He
will not marry a couple II he knows
either one has been divorced. He
will not marry girl who looks to be
mere child. no matter what the legal
license may say. His Meese Matri-
monial association stands pledged for
a uniform divorce law in the United
States.
There are few more picturesque
characters than Meese Though sew
enty-three, he is agile and quick
witted. He has not a biblical phrase
upon his lips at every turn of events.
The great social reforms in which he
Is now thoroughly wrapped up can, he
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

AAOU w ALA1DI OlNO NlAJE 1Of
on the floor. Shooting up the mirror
or smashing lights were beneath his
dignity.
South of Wichita in an unexplored
region was the rendezvous of the Led
ford bandits. After robbing stage
coaches until they almost quit carry
ing money, Jack organized a band Of
horsethieves and acted as leader. The
man who owned a valuable horse could
not keep it long after Ledfords band
learned where he stabbed The gang
rode fine Kentucky horses and
lived on the fat of the land, as it were.
The surrounding country was then in
such a wild state that the gang felt
perfectly safe in visiting Wichita
whenever they chose Horse stealing
was not considered such crime in
those days.
Lodford's Love-Making.
At that time in Wichita a German
doctor named Vigus owned the leading
hotel. He was also the father OF a
pretty girl, named Agnes. She was
buxom lass, with a wealth of long
brown hair, full face. and sunny blue
eyes. She fell in love with Ledford,
"the bandit king as he was pleased to
style himself
The Hotel Vigus was the scene Of
many gay revelries, the dancing lasting
until daylight Ledford was a star fig
ure at these dances. and he made no at
tempt to conceal his love for the little
German girl. Her father was furious,
but it could not be stopped. One day
the girl was by prearrangement stand
ing in front of her fathers hotel, when
Ledford came riding down Douglas
avenue like the wind He drew near
the platform, but did not stop. AS he
reached the girl he swung partially
from his saddle, caught her around the
waist and raised her into the saddle.
For half an hour they galloped about
town, she sitting on the great Ken
tlcky horse in front of her sweetheart,
the picture OF contentment and happi-
ness. After they had enjoyed then~
selves to their own notion he rode by
again and sat her lightly on the plat
form. This was what he called buggy
riding.
The old German objected to it, but
his daughter insisted on standing near
the sidewalk on certain days. Once
when Ledford came riding down to
his sweetheart he found her on the
walk, but back Of her WAS the father
with shotgun drawn and ready for
action.
'If you take her, I shoot" he yelled.
We'll, old man. you'll have to
shoot" Ledford reached down and
grabbed the girl from the arms Of her
father, as 1t were. and they took their
.idc = thc.-h nothins had occurred
In fight between stage coach
driver and Ledford in 1870 the latter
was injured. He was taken to the rem
devious, and doctor was kidnapped
from wichita. bIindfolded, and taken
in roundabout way to the outlaw
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
ouallflcat,ons Of Sea captnln..

On some OF the foreign steamship
lines the captains are naval officers,
and. In case Of war, would retain their
commands. On the German steamers the
officers must first serve a year or so
in the naval reserve. On the French
line each member of the crew must
serve time on vessel Of war. On the
majority OF ships, however, the officers
are men Of the sea. who have fought
snsir way us, ssep yy step, entirety uy
merit, and not at all by favor. On the
American line, even after a man has
reached the rank Of captain, he must
pass a rigid examination every Eve
ears.--CoIlier's Weekly.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
1T is NOT A
FAILURE...



Oac thousand five hundred couples
in thirty years is the proud record OF
tho Rev william L. Meese. the marry
Ing parson Of De Kalb county Ind.
Last week at his behest many hun
dreds OF people who had been Joined
by him In matrimony. left their labcrs
in various parts of the state, and
journeyed to Waterloo to testify their
friendship for and devotion TO the
aged parson. Not many other minis
tiers could do what Mr.. Meese has done
during the seventy-three years Of his
life. The father OF eleven children.
he has seen the earth close over al
but three Of them,a as we'll as over their
mother. Yet he Is as earnest and un-
firing In his work as he ever was.
turns Many Away.
The great fame that has come to
Mr.. Meese rests not alone on the num-
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

The little king Of Spain is guarded
every night by body Of picked men.
who are natives Of Espinosa. and have
served with distinction In the army.
1t Is by them the gates are locked at
midnight and with ceremonious sol
emnity reopened at o'clock in the
morning Should one Of this guard
prove false to the person Of his SOW
ereign snanish faith in Spanish loyaity
would die as II by lightning stroke and
something very dreadful would happen
to the traitor. It Is a curious custom
Of very ancient tradition, which the
queen regent has not been sorry to
maintain.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

1t is almost certain death, and if the
services of physician cannot be Sc
cured within an exceedingly short
time the venom does its deadly work,
causing the flesh to spot, after which
comes-death. If the strike has been
made upon vein or an artery there
Is absolutely no chance for life unless
the limb be amputated at once, and
often then it is too late, as the venom
has gained too much headway through
the blood system to be checked or the
victim succumbs to the heroic treat
ment.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16
A MEXICAN OVEN.

eral generations. II the latter should
burn out in spots all that the owner
has to do is to patch up the hole with
fresh clay, and borrow her neighbors
oven for one baking while 1t dries.
Watching this simple mode of life. one
is forced to admit that civilization has
its disadvantages.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-16

lie Dusnmen. of low srade Hottie.
tots. on the plains Of South Africa
have a language which has been prov
ed by GARNER to be a close approxima-
tion to that Of the higher apes. II
consists Of kissing, clicking and grunt-
ing sounds.