davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Fire Marshal's Report.

Duluth. Fire Marshal Edward Pet
erson, made his first quarterly report
of fires Investigated by him. The fire
marshal assumed his duties July /,
and up to Sept 80 he had investigated
2O4 fires which had not been reported
to him by chiefs of fire departments.
Of these he found twelve of incendiary
origin, but in no case had evidence
enough for conviction been produced
against any one. Five of these, he
says appear to have been set to obtain
insurance. The damage from these
five was 50, The other seven APP
peared to have been set either in wan
tonness or for revenge. The total loss
from these seven was ST. Fifty-six
cases were reported as "cause un-
known" The causes of fire reported
are: Ashes, 8; adjoining fire, 4; cigar
stubs. 1; children and matches, 10;
carelessness, 9; electric wires, 6; gas
jets, 2; gasoline, II; lamps, 6; light
ming, II; matches, 8; sparks, 10; spon-
taneous combustion, IL; stove, hue and
chimney, 90
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

taken from Wards island and placed on
steamer, due to sail at 10 o'clock the
following morning.
1t was the eleventh hour, and Roman
TX in his extremity turned to the Peo-
Piles law firm as last resort. The card
of the Peoples law firm states that
Mary H. Grace Quackenbos, LII. B., can
be consulted and retained as attorney
and counsellor at law in cases involving
attendance upon the courts and other
wise, especially with view to meeting
the requirements of litigants of moder-
ate means"
Saved by Fifteen Minutes.
AS a litigant of moderate means Her
man Ronanik sought Mrs. Quackenbos
and laid his case in her hands. 1t was
not an easy case. Mr.. Watchorn said
positively that he could do nothing.
The law allows the Ellis island commits
sioner no discretionary powers in emer-
gency cases. Everything must be re-
ferred to Washington, and it was too
late to communicate with the depart
ment of commerce and labor. 1t was a
time for quick wit and quicker action.
Mrs. Quackenbos set out to procure a
writ of habeas corpus. Federal judges
are not always within easy reach. 1t
was late at night before District Judge
Adams was found and the writ signed.
1t was served on the commissioner at
Ellis island the next morning just IL
minutes before the scheduled leaving
time of the steamer. The advocate OF
the Peoples law firm did not waste an
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

been married had desired, for have
refused score of Offers
DeWitt's reason for never marrying
is disappointment in love affair In
his youth. 81 loved once,," he sad,
land was deceived. 1 could never
love another woman. Although false
to me, have carried the love Of that
ilrst love in my heart to this day."
In speaking of this event in his
early life Dewitt said to me, during a
visit at the soldiers home, that it oc-
CURED just after the close of the Mexi-
can war. He was a member of an In
diana regiment in that struggle and
gold fields of California in search of a
fortune. Like so many others, his
hopes of securing wealth were shat
tered, and he was on his way back to
the States. He stopped in Colorado
for awhile, and there he met the
daughter Of a rancher, who had emf
grated to Colorado from the east.
1t appeared to be a case of love at
first sight, at least it was so on the
part of Dewitt, and, after a few
weeks courtship, they were engaged 10
be married. The preliminaries of the
marriage were all arranged and it was
to take place as soon as the license
could be secured. This in that early
day in Colorado was hard matter to
secure and there was considerable de-
lay in getting it. In the meantime De-
Witt was called to st. Louis on some i'm
portant business matter to him, and
when in several weeks he returned he
found that the girl had married another
man.
After that he wandered aimlessly
about, working as a carpenter and at
other trades, and finally settling down
to hermit's life in Indiana, living on
a pension received from the government
for his service during the Mexican war.
Some years ago he went to the soldiers
home at Lafayette. He is now regarded
as one of the most eccentric inmates
there, is pointed out to the visitor as the
man who has built his own coffin and
his own tomb, giving as his reasons that
he has no relatives to care for him and
that If he dies without the work being
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
INVENTS AN EXPLOSIVE.
Boy Promises to Revolutionize Great
Industry-Indiana Lad Finds
Remarkable Powder.

Evansville, Ind.-The bursting of a
shotgun and the shattering of boys
arm has brought to light an inventive
genius in the person of Louis Byrd, a
country boy, of Hazleton, Ind.
Louis Byrd, in search of a way to
cut down his powder and shot bill
during the hunting season, experiment.
ed with powder making until he got a
combination of explosives that promise
to bring him a fortune. He makes a
white powder, either coarse or fine, as
it is intended for blasting or cunning
purposes, that is twice as powerful as
nitro-smokeless powder and three
times as powerful as ordinary black
blasting powder. 1t can also be manu-
featured several times cheaper than
either.
The boy secretly sold the explosive
to miners without letting them know
he made it.
Louis brother Carl took three
drachms of the white powder from his
brothers case and discharged the load
from a gunbarrel. How he escaped
death is wonder, for the gunpan was
flattened like a fapjack and the barrel
curved to an arc of 80 degrees. To
the physician who set the boys arm,
Louis Byrd said he had tried out the
powder in the coal mines at Hymera,
Ind, and in other places and had been
offered $4,000 for the formula.
ri han q nofnnt
years ago Byrd's inventive genius
cropped out in the construction of a
drill to distribute onion seed.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

ment of the law, notified the state COM
mission of lunacy of the presence of an
insane alien in his Institution. Mrs.
Romanik's condition was not taken into
consideration. The law makes no pro-
vision for any such exigencies. She was
an alien and insane, and as such came
under the letter of the law.
Woman Ordered Deported.
The quality of mercy was lacking.
The state commission took up its yard
of red tape and notified the department
of commerce and labor at Washington.
An order followed to Commissioner Cen
eral Robert Watchorn, of Ellis Island
to deport Mrs. Lolita Romanik as an e.
P. Co." one liable to become a public
charge. The letter of the law was
obeyed, and Romanik was forced TO
stand by helplessly while his wife was
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

instant, and Mrs. Romanik was removed
from the steamer in tug and given into
the embrace of the poor little tailor and
husband waiting in desperation on the
New York wharf.
Romanik would take no more chances
with public institutions. He placed his
wife in the New York infirmary for
women and children and undertook to
pay $25 week until the child should be
born.
The case was set for hearing in the
federal court, but never came up for
trial. twenty-five dollars week is a
heavy tax on an Attorney street tailor
shop, and Romanik was compelled to
give up in a few weeks. It.would be
five or six weeks before the birth of the
baby. Mrs. Romanik became more and
more violent, and the Ellis island au-
thorities were once more notified.
Mrs. Quackenbos had sailed for Hall
fax to take much-needed rest, and left
the case with her assistants pending her
return. The Ellis island authorities
contended that the woman was an cpl
leptic, and had been prior to her arrival
in this country. Her husband swore
her insanity was due to her condition.
To deport her now was not only danger
GUS but inhuman. But there was no one
to blame. Each department acted strict
ly according to it's official duty as inter-
preted by the bare, cold letter of the law.
AS an insane alien, ordered deported,
the little mother-elect was once more
hurried from the infirmary and taken on
board the steamer. She longed for her
husband, but he had long since exhaust
ed the little tailor shop profits and was
penniless.
AS an accompanying alien the Peo-
pies law firm endeavored to have him
deported also at the expense of the gov
eminent, but failed. Finally a ticket
was procured for him from the United
Hebrew charities, and $25 was added by
the Peoples law firm, so that the for
lorn pair might not land in Europe pen
niless.
Romanik's father and brother live in
Liverpool. They were written to for
help, and as concession the deporta-
ton was made to Bremen instead of Rus
STA, as the nearest stopping point to Lly-
erpool.
American Citizen Is Born.
Everything was settled as well as II
could be, when the most unexpected de-
velopment of the case took place. Early
in the morning the vessel was to sail
Mrs. Romanik gave birth to a normal,
healthy boy baby, and that baby is an
American citizen. 1t is unlawful to de-
port an American citizen, but how about
a citizen three hours old? Can the law.
to be absolutely lawful and acting on it's
own laws, separate mother and child
at such moment, deport one and permit
the other to remain?
1t is the law. There was no Solomon
to decide the question. Mrs. Quacken-
hos was in Halifax The law had Mrs.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Immigration Laws Are Broken
Because of Their Failure to
Provide for Emergencies.
CURIOUS AND INVOLVED QUESTIONS RAISED
Sad Tale of Russian Jew, His Bride and
Their Newborn Babe-Hard Struggle of
the Husband-F ederal Statutes Not
Tempered with Mercy.

the immigrant Jew-the pushcart.
There is one grade lower yet. The
swinging shelf of collar buttons or shoe
strings that hang from the necks of curb
vendors in the Ghetto market place.
The Romaniks were above both grades.
They were respected and well liked in
the neighborhood, and by virtue of his
having store business" of his own
Romanik was adjudged rising young
man. When it was rumored there was a
possibility of his having a son to bear
his name the news was accepted as but
another sign of the good luck which had
followed him since his first landing in
the country.
Clouds Hover Over Home.
The cloud of trouble fell darker over
the little home for the sunshine that had
gone before. One day Romanikc closed his
shop and went away. He returned with
two doctors. Nothing was told to the
neighbors, but in less than a week the
bride of a few short months was taken
away to Bellevue hospital, and the little
tailor worked and lived alone.
1T is nothing" he told people who
asked questions of him. "She is sick
crazy in the head, but it goes away by
and by. Sure it will go away soon as
the baby come. The doctors they say
so. Sure it will go. She hurts nobody
yet. Only it is best she should be quiet.
Soon as the baby is born she gets all
right, and they let her come home
again"
At Bellevue hospital admitted insane
public cases are transferred to the state
institution for the insane on Ward )
island, and when Romanik called in a
few days he found his wife had been sent
over as public charge. 1t was severe
shock to the pride and independence of
the little tailor. He had not been able
to read the English on the Bellevue en-
trance card he had signed, and was to-
tally ignorant of it's nature. Going to
DR.. Dent, of Wards island, he offered
to sign bond to pay for the care of his
wife until after the birth of the child,
but the offer was refused. BY the immi-
grafton law IAN alien who shall be found
a public charge from causes existing
prior to landing shall be deported, as
hereinafter provided, to the country
whence he came at any time within two
years after arrival"
DR.. Dent, acting under this require
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

with the law without regard for emer-
gencies unprovided by the law. In an
emergency like the Romanik case hui
man life, perhaps two, was endangered.
The shock of removal undoubtedly
brought on the birth of the child. What
the excitement and discomfort of the
voyage will lead to remain to be SEEN.
The Romaniks have not yet been
heard from in Bremen Should the
mother die from the effects of her de-
portation, what then? 1t is an emer-
gency unprovided for by the law. If it
can be proved that the woman is per-
fectly sane, and not an epileptic, there
is chance to show where the law is at
fault, but at present no law has been
broken save in the deportation of new
born American citizen.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Plenty of Soldiers

The French CONSUMPTION for the
army is more or less of a grab bag,
and more than once some recruit has
presented himself, in answer to a
summons, who has scarcely topped a
yard measure. The recent conscrip-
ton from the Rodez district tended
somewhat to even things up, for one o.
the conscripts, with the dimlnutiys
name of Cot, was found to sea 9 seven
feet four inches. Nothing in the mill
tary stores would fit him, and before
he could join the uniformed ranks he
had to be provided with an outfit es-
pecially made for him. Because of the
disparity Of his size with that of his
companions he will not be compelled
to take his place in the ranks, but
some special service will be found foz
him.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
MISS ELIZA WILLIAMS.

because I never loved in the lovers
sense, or, as perhaps you would express
it, l never met my fate. 1t was better
thus. have always been happy. be-
lieve in looking on the bright side OF
life. Although 1 am growing very old,
l try to feel young. 1 love to be in the
company of the young. In many re-
spects, try to make their ways my
ways. Us old people ought to cultivate
the spirit of feeling young even if our
life's pendulum is rapidly approaching
the time when it will cease to swing"
FRANK Dill DINE
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Romanik, and Mrs. Romanik had the

baby.
The poor little tailor man was sour
rying from Attorney street to the ferry
on foot. as no conductor would permit
him to board a street car with his gil
gantic load. He pleaded with tears that
it was but few feather beds for Lolita
and the baby. Steerage hunks are hard
to lie on, but the hearts of New York
street car conductors are harder. The
little tailor had to walk and caught the
steamer by five minutes.
Then he found out and the Peoples
lawfirm found out that baby citizen had
been born.
tug was held, and everybody inter-
ested tried to find federal judge to sign
another writ of habeas corpus, as it was
said the woman had recovered her rea-
son. But it was no use. 1t was noon.
The federal judges were at lunch some
where. The writ remained unsigned.
and the vessel steamed down the bay
for Bremen, with its baby citizen
clasped close to the little alien mothers
breast.
AS a point of law the mat
ter rests in allegiance. AS a
point of mercy probably the best
thing has happened. The mother and
child were not separated and the hus-
band went with them. So much was &C
complished. But what of the exigencies
of the case? 1t is but one case in many
where Ellis island officials have been
compelled to act in strict accordance
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Badly Burned.

Ada terrific gas explosion oc-
Cured at Twin Valley at the N. P.
pumping station. Alfred Hawkins,
who is in charge of the pump house,
descended with lantern into the we'll
over which the house is built AS he
proceeded he detected the presence Of
gas and he hurriedly retreated up the
ladder, not soon enough, however, to-
prevent a terrific explosion, which
completely wrecked the pump house.
Mr.. Hawkins was seriously burned,
but it is thought he will recover. A
barrel of gasoline had been emptied
near the well and some it soaked into
the ground and thence into the water.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

New York.-Strict and exacting i'm
migration laws are of the utmost neces-
sity. Were this not the case the country
would soon become the refuge of Eu-
ropes paupers and beggars.
The federal statutes that provide for
the admittance of foreigners are sup
posed to cover every possible case and
the officials at Ellis Island are COM
PEELED to act in strict accordance with
the law which does not provide for
emergencies.
1t was the result of the laws failure to
provide for emergencies that the Off
Gals were recently compelled to deport
q newborn American citizen.
1t is against the law to deport an
American citizen. The law does not
specify any age limit in citizenship. 1t
simply says that child born on Ameri-
can soil of alien parents is an American
citizen.
The baby in question was not born on
terra firma, but it was born within the
three-mile harbor limit placed by law
as the boundary between American soil
anu LAC AISu SSco. I1S 10 IucI ClOiO oA
American citizen, fully entitled to all
the rights and privileges Thereof, and his
deportation has raised a most curious
and involved question in immigration
litigation.
The baby's parents are Lolita and Her
man Romanik, both Russian Jews, both
Is years of age, and both immigrants,
or, as the law calls them, aliens.
Comes to Make His Fortune.
Over three years ago Romanik came
to this country from Russia. He was
young, healthy, capable, and was ad-
mitted through Ellis island without the
slightest trouble. 1t was a good start
to his fortune in the new land. He was a
tailor by trade, and with the industry
and pertinacity of his race he estab-
ished himself in short order in small
shop on Attorney street.
The shop thrived, so did Romanik's
lovemaking. Back in his Russian home
lived Lolita, the sweetheart of his boy
hood, and the girls of the East side Ghet-
to had no claim for the busy little tailor,
as he worked steadily month in, month
out, and dreamed Of the day when he
should bring Lolita home as a bride.
Fourteen months ago the dream was
realized. Romanik would not let the
girl make the trip alone. Between Rus
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Dairying.

Minneapolis--The statistics relative
to the numb Der of creameries and cows
in the city of Minneapolis that evil
IDENTIFY emanated from the Office of the
state dairy and food department,
caused great deal of merriment in
the Office of Health Inspe tor Hall. 1t
was stated in the morning papers that
there were Al wholesalers of milk and
cream and 1911 retailers in Minneapo-
lis; that there were $50 herds aggre-
eating 9,146 head. AS a matter of fact
there are between $4,000 and $4,000
cows within the city limits aud about
700 persons engaged in the selling or
retailing of milk and cream.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

Among tile two oldest living persons
in Indiana to-day are Miss Eliza Will
liams, of Anderson, and Hugh Dewitt,
who is an inmate of the soldiers home
at Lafayette. Miss Williams has
passed the century mark, now nearing
the age Of 101 years, and Dewitt is So.
and both are yet in the enjoyment of
reasonably good health. A peculiarly
about the lives of both is that neither
was ever married, although their rea-
sons for remaining single are widely
different. Miss Williams gives as her
reasons for remaining spinster:
God never intended that should
marry I never cared for men, that Ia
in lovers way. and have never had
any mind for matrimony. I could have
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

done mere friends and acquaintance
will not carry out his wishes.
He has been at work on his tombstone
for five years. 1t is in the cemetery at
Battle Ground, eight miles from Lafay-
cite. The marble shaft is six feet high
and two feet square, standing beneath a
spreading tree to escape the suns rays.
On it, carved by DeWitt's own hands.
are his name and the date of his birth
and the following epitaph:
IA bachelor lies beneath this sod
Who disobeyed the laws of God.
Advice to others thus give
Don't live a bach as did live"
The marble stands Gu mound aud
beneath it the veteran Gas almost COM
pleted his grave. 1t is unlike any other
grave in the cemetery and occupies
more space. Il want plenty of room to
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Young Woman Like a Baby.

Owing to strange case of mental
relapse, Miss Mary Scally, 10 years
old, of Morristown, N. j., who was a
few days ago like any other womaL
bright, active and enjoying health, to-
day is like a baby, scarcely able to
walk and approaching nothing of what
goes or around her. Twice before she
had these periods Of relapse to in
fancy. She is not weak in intellect, as
as she was graduated from a parochial
school as one of the brightest members
of her class. : Her case is not one of
insanity, but she is incapable OF
thought, speech or responsible action.
10 all intents and purposes she is an
infant
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Just Missed Philippines.

Prof. Pickering suggests that the Pa
cific ocean may be merely the hole left
when the moon broke away. If only a
little larger lump had been scooped out
we might now be surveying the Phil
ippine.s through the telescope instead
of sending congressional. parties to
look them over.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13

STA and Attorney street lie many slips
for straying immigrant feet. Not the
least is Ellis island.
Returns for His Bride.
Romanik made the long trip back home
and returned to America with his bride.
Both were passed by the medical exam
liner and board of special inquiry at FL
lis island. To all appearances at that
time the wife was in perfect health-a
pretty, rosy-cheeked peasant girl, brim-
ful of happiness and hope over the golden
future in the land of plen ".
Romanik had already rented and fur
nished little fat over lis shop, and the
honeymoon was prosperous one. At
torney street is in the heart of the east
side Ghetto. On all sides of it branch
the streets of the pushcart district. 1t is
generally the first business venture of
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
news OF MINNESOTA.
Cash For Schools.

St Paul The distribution Of spe
cial aid which the state gives to vari.
Gus classes of schools was begun by
State Auditor Iverson and and j. w.
Olsen. Most of the schools receive
less than the law allows them because
the appropriation is not large enough
to give each the full amount. There
fore the appropriation has been divid-
ed proportionately among the schools.
The same was done the past two
years, and the DEFICIENCIES for those
years were provided for by the last
legislature and will be paid at this
time.
For the year ending July 1, 1905, 174
high schools each received 1900, or a
total of sos, $50. This is $500 less
than the full amount each high school
may receive. For the year 1903 1877
high schools receive a deficiency Of $12o
each, or $15,2 For the year 1904
ISL high schools receive a deficiency of
SITS each, or $50, 425. The total
amount distributed to high schools
this year is $26O,3l5
There are 14s graded schools which
each receive $525 this year or total of
SIT, 700. There is no deficiency to be
paid the graded schools for the past
two years.
For the past two years 2s7 semi
graded schools each receive $3.50, or a
total of S66, O10 This is $50 less than
the full amount that may be allowed
each school
Raised Valuations.
The packing houses Jared badly at
the hands of the state board of equali-
cation. All of the large concerns do
ing business in the state had their as
sessments increased. Swift and COM
pany's assessment was raised so per
cent of spite of the strenuous efforts of
the company's attorney, Frank B. Kel-
logg. He protested against the as
sessment of the company franchise, on
the ground that Swift & Co. has no
franchise, and that is impossible to as
sess manufacturing company uoon a
franchise. Attorney General Young
was of the opinion that the license
given to foreign concern to do bust
ness in the state amounts to fran
chise and the tax valuation was boost
ed so per cent. The matter will be
fought out in the courts.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-10-13
Fooled Again.

Villain-If l should kiss you sup.
pose you'd go tell your mother.
Modern Shepherdess- should
go tell my lawyer.