davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26
HIS COAT. POCKET EXPLODED.
Salesman for Pittsburg House Loses
One Of His Hands.

ROANOKE, Va, December &C. B.
Lanham, a salesman representing Wan
ham & Mayor, Pittsburg manufacturers,
blew Oft a hand last night in a most pc
culiar manner. He was in saloon, and
while standing near the counter with his
right hand in his 4overcoat pocket there
was an explosion so violent that 1t knock
ed out the plate glass door front. some
distance away Lanham's hand was al
most entirely stripped of the flesh. Am
putation at the wrist was necessary.
What Lanham had in his pocket that
should cause such powerful explosion is
mystery. He was too dazed to give
any account of the matter.
Mrs. Lanham was seriously injured In
a runaway accident in this city about six
months ago. and after remaining in the
Phiiadelphfa for treatment. She has not
yet returned.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26

with some emphasis yesterday that IL Muir
ply tried to unseat Lantry or Featherson
he would come to grief.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26
SHOT WIFE AND DIED
WOMAN LAY QUIET WHILE HUS-
BAND KILLED HIMSELF.

NEW YORK, December Pei think
I'll kill you now"
This was the Christmas greeting that
John J. O'Rourke, a well-to-do you"2
electrician. of No. 76 bennington avenue.
Morris Park L. l., gave his wife shortly
after midnight yesterday. He fired two
shots into her head and after watching
for half an hour while she fe1gned death
he put a bullet into his own brain. She
will probably recover.
The O'Rourkes occupied comfortable
house, and John had a good business,
but he didn't get along well with his
handsome wife Mary. She had him ar
rested last week for threatening to XIII
her and he was placed under bonds OF
81 900 to keep the peace:
They were alone in the house MONDAY
night and the story Of the tragedy Is
told by Mrs. ORourke. She says the
evening had been pleasant. Shortly at
ter midnight she was seated In a MOTHS
chair by the fire and her HUSBAND was at
a table near by. Her back was turned to
him There had been no conversation
for possibly half an hour.
Pleaded for Life.
81 think I'll kill you now" remarked
O'Rourke quietly, and she turned to see
him with a pistol in his hand.
mot on Christmas day, john" she
pleaded.
Without replying he raised the pistol
and fired twice Both bullets struck her
in the forehead as she sat in the chair.
One ranged upward under the scalp, the
other buried itself in the skull. The
wounds bled plentifully, and to this fact
Mrs ORourke doubtless owes her life
ORourke picked her up from the Nor
ris chair and carried her to couch. she
was conscious. and from remarks she
heard him utter to himself she gathered
that he believed she was dead. III she
betrayed any signs of life she feared he
would shoot again, so she feigned death.
Watched Her Half an Hour.
ORourke sat by the side of the couch
watching her and talking to himself for
about half an hour The house Is sepa-
rated from other dwellings. there was
high wind blowing and no one had heard
the shots. The woman heard ORourke
get up, step to the middle of the room.
and fire again. Then she heard him fall.
: Although he had killed himself instant
Nv She did not know it. She thought
perhaps he was lying on the floor. wound
ed like herself with the pistol in his
hand. watching her. So she kept quiet
and listened.
Thought he Was Feigning.
There was no sound in the room but
the sound she tried to stifie-the SOUND
of her own breathing Listen as she
would, she could detect no sign of life
in her husband. Finally, after more than
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26
two hours, she ventured to open her eyes

two hours. she ventured to open her eyes
and steal a glance at the floor.
Her husband was lying there facing
her, with his eyes wide open and STAG
ing The pistol was on the floor beside
him. She felt that he was dead, but she
took no chances, and not for. half an
hour more did she venture to move.
When at last she gathered courage to
seek to escape she slipped from the
couch and crawled from the room and
out doors. A policeman named Roberts
lives near the O'Rourke residence. To
the home Of the policeman she made her
way. passing other houses. Roberts was
Weakened by her, and opened the door.
The woman sank at his feet. =
Policeman Found Body
The policeman revived the wounded
woman. and she told him of the expert.
ence she had gone through He went
to the O'Rourke home and found the
husbands body on the floor.
Mrs O'Rourke was removed to the
home Of friend, where a surgeon ex-
amined her wounds. He said that unless
complications set in she would recover.
The only fear is that the awful strain
she sustained while her husband sat by
to See If she was dead. and while she
waited for him to give sign Of life, will
have deterrent effect.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26
ESCAPED FROM PRISON
SOLDIERS WORK THEIR WAY
OUT OF A DUNGEON.

NEW YORK, December 26.-Two former
soldiers, serving long terms for crimes
against the federal government, escaped
from the underground dungeon of the
prison at Fort Hamilton yesterday by
means of a waX-made key, nodded and
struggled to them by friends on the out
side. One of the men is William H. Lee,
who enlisted from Massachusetts and comes
from such a wealthy and influential family
that on the same day he fled the represen-
tative from the thirteenth district of his
state was interceding with the War De-
partment for his release. The other pris-
oner is George H. Ellison, a New Jersey re-
cruit, convicted of escape from another
federal prison. Lee was to serve until
September next because he stole from his
fellow-soldiers at one of the army posts.
His representative says he took the stun
merely to give his colonel a reason for dis
charging him from the army, which he
wished to leave before his enlistment term
expired.
Lee and Ellison were the only two prison
ers in the whole fortress who were confined
in the pit" The rest of the prisoners are
there for petty faults, none for more than
three months. They are let out to work
on the roads and bridges and wear their
uniforms just as though they were in good
repute. But on the sleeves Of Lee and FL
lison the big letter ''P," meaning prisoner
had been stamped, and .ney never had
greater liberty than that afforded by the
well inside the domain of lock and key.
Visitors Day.
Sunday was visitors day at the prison,
and the men entertained many guests. One
of these. 1t is presumed, had been there a
week ago. and, with the help of Lee and
Ellison, obtained a wax impression of the
key that fits the lock to their cells. When
he or she came back Sunday the key was
slipped through the, door grating to one of
the prisoners. and yesterday, while the
fortress was empty, save for themselves
and stray guard they put the key to use.
Unlocking the doors of their cells. Lee
and Ellison slipped knife, which they had
also concealed, into the lock of the wood
en- door separating them from the main
cells on the floor above. quickly changed
their telltale 'P' stamped uniforms for
those of two petty prisoners and wormed
their way outside. How they escaped no
tice afterward is a mystery. but the au-
thorities believe that the other guards were
deceived by their clothes and let them pass
to the waterside. where they 5umpd into
a boat and made for the Staten Island
shore Every soldier at Fort Hamilton was
ordered out to search for the two men. and
every ferryboat to and from the island
was closely watched Up to midnight. how
ever, neither Lee nor Ellison had been
found.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26
RESENT BRANDS ACTION.
Situation Of the German Center Party
Has Improved.

ROME, sDecember 26.-Reports received
by the Vatican say that the situation of the
German center party has improved and
that the chances of its nominees at the gen.
eral elections have increased rather than
decreased. 1t Is added that an understand
ing with the German government is proba-
BILE even before the elections
According to advfces received at the Vatf-
can from Paris q strong feeling OF resent
ment exists In the Ciemenceau cabinet
against the minister OF public instruction.
NJ BRAND, as the result Of his recent circu-
lars on the religious question.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26
Thought He Was Feigning.

There was no sound in the room but
the sound she tried to stifie-the SOUND
of her own breathing. Listen as she
would, she could detect no sign of life
in her husband. Finally, after more than
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26

Thomas Dorm, forty-two years old, q
chemist employed by the Havemeyer Sugar
Refining Company, was found dead yester-
day in his home at No. 1854 Hale avenue,
East New York, by his wife when she re-
turned with her three children from a
Christmas celebration at the home Of a
friend. Dorm had turned on the gas in his
bedroom and locked the door.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26

The assassin of Count Ignatieff at Tyver,
Russia, has been identified as student
named Fidler, who was one Of the leaders
that time he was bound over in 5000 bail
for good behavior. This sum Will now re-
vert to the treasury.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-26

Fire ut Westminster. Md. destroyed sew
erai buildings and caused damage amount
inG to $1,000.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31
i1r. Hills Warming to Farmers,

Mr.. Hills warning in his address
before the COMMERCIAL blast Tuesday,
that a large portion OF the present
prosperity OF the United States comes
from the enormously wasteful expendi.
lure OF natural resources which cannot
be replaced, is one which il needed in
time might save to future generations.
IN Minnesota alone, resources of incalu.
liable value. A country which has been
only partly "skinned"-to use Mr..
Roosevets expressive word-rlav be
restored with tar greater ease, and at
a less cost by millions, than one which
may be wholly skinned.
Spain, once the grauary OF the Roman
empirt-just as Minnesota and the
Dakotas are today the granary OF the
unlon-lapsed into barrenness and decay
through just such destructive processes
III agriculture and in dealing with its
forests as are now going on in Mime
sofa. Only the processes Of ruin are
more rapid here. While it took a couple
OF thousand years to thoroughly skin the
Spanish peninsula, couple OF hundred
years within the absence OF reparatiye
work-do the business in Minnesota.
The cutting and shipping away OF our
forests; the mining and shipping away OF
our states mineral products-very little
OF the temporary wealth gained from
either process remaining in our midst
are more than matched in depicting
power by the current wasteful metboos
OF exhausting the fertility of our soil
every trainload OF wheat carries out OF
the state elements OF soil fertility for the
replace ment OF which, in most instances,
no provision has been made. The glory
OF being the greatest heat-producipg
= state in the world has been won. hpt
already at the cost Of lowered produc.
ton per acre after winning it, the aver.
age number oil bushels now being nearly
Que hall less than formerly, when tn,
Q acreage was smaller
Oar agricultural school has been preach
inR diversified farming and crop rotation
ior II years or more; but the effect !,
. appreclable to Only limited extent. Tn,
Iasc nailon OF single money crop" oh
tanned without any contribution TO tn,
eoil, overshaduws all interest in IN,
, luture
The single crop idea goes hand il
nand with the ioea that the OWNERSHIP
OF many aires, rather than skilllul farm
, ing, ADDS TO mans standing in th
0 community. he man who can. by in
, tensiVe cultivation, get $4,000 q wear a
- acres Is somehow looked upon a
INFERIOR 10. the man who owns" l6,
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31

for any free advertising IN the CALEDo-
MAN, but comes TO US with a straight
business proposition, and in accepting il
we are sailing under no false colors, but
treating him as we would treat any gen
tleman, repu blican, democrat or prohibi-
ZIONIST, that wished 10 discuss state is
sues in our advertising columns. Politi-
cal advertising has prevailed for years in
the South and West and is a recognized
adjunct Of a campaign. Lately it has
been introduced into Massachusetts, and
was notable feature Of recent guberna-
torial campaigns in q state where poll
tics are conducted on high plane with
never suggestion Of the illegal use of
money. While we have never supported
Mr. Clement in his political aspirations,
and shall not support him in the coming
our advertising columns are
open 10 any man or any party for the
discussion of state or national issues.
Political advertising is step in advance
towards purer politics in the Green
Mountain state and il has come TO stay.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31

pillars. fall cankerworms and like in
sects remaining on the bark over win
ter are found and devoured by it.
More than $50 Of the black eggs laid
by plant lice are known to have been
eaten by single bird il one day. AS
Stunning that one chickadee eats on an
average twenty-five eggs per day, an
estimate far below the actual number
over 5000 eggs will have been con-
sumed during the months Of December,
January, February and March. Each
one of these eggs represents the future
form Of plant louise known as the
stem mother" which, 10 mishaps &C.
curing TO cut short the natural life Of
any Of her descendants, would, accord.
ing to Huxley. produce in ten genera
tons mass of organic matter eQuiya-
lent to the bulk Of 100000 human
beings, or the whole population Of the
Chinese empire.
The apple plant louise has normally
about eight generations in one season,
the greater proportion OF the indiyid-
uals failing for various reasons to re-
produce, but enough has been said to
prove that the chickadee is the bird
that eats the egg, that matches the
louise, that breeds the plague, that
knocks the orchardist out 1t has been
further said by reliable investigator
that no bird compares with it in de-
stroying the female cankerworm moths
and their eggs" He estimates that one
bird destroys $3.50 cankerworm eggs
in one day and will therefore con-
sumo 1880 eggs during the twenty
five days it takes the cankerworm
moths TO crawl up the trees.
The woodpeckers are more busy in
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31
About Folks We All Know.

Congressman Foster thinks Richiord
needs a new custom house and has intro
duced bill asking for a $4,000 one.
We like the way this able congressman
gets after Vermont's needs. lis one Of
the old time workers and has few bis
equal. This is why you do not hear or
see anyone aspiring for Congressman
Fosters position Waterbury Record.
The advancement OF Hon. II. c. Ide Of
St. Johnsbury from the position OF Vict-
governor OF the Philippines to the gov
generalship is a recognition of eff
cient service and wise administration in
that far awav and perplexing part of the
United States territory. Vermont will
appreciate the honor conferred even
though Gov. Ide is called upon in June to
give way to another appointee.- Lud-
low Tribune.
Hon. Wendell P. Stafford, Justice Of
the supreme court OF the District OF Col.
umbia, is making good his position. At
a mass meeting recently held in Wash
iugton Tor the purpose Of protesting
against the recent massacre Of the Jews
in Russia, he was one OF the noted speak
ers. His address created such favorable
comment that it was printed in iull by
the Washington papers. His success is
gratifying to his Vermont fricuds-[ Wat
erburv Record.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31
Alcohol For Enrm p0NHer.

The Introduction of power upon the
farm is steadily increasing, and among
the latest sources Of power for this
purpose alcohol is commanding wide
attention, This material is already
coming into use in Europe, where its
application to great variety of pur.
poses in reducing hand labor and elm
mating drudgery has been demonstrate
cd. Its convenience, safety and clean
ilness commend it and especially the
possibility Of its cheap production upon
the farm, Alcohol motors have been
perfected ana machinery for distilling
improved, ana the German government
has encouraged the industry by remov.
lng the taxes from the product used for
technical purposes. 1t is reported that
raw alcohol is produced in that coun-
Try from potatoes at 13 cents a gallon
by processes so simple as to be within
the reach OF farmers. Already there is
demand in this country for the removal
OF the taxes from alcohol used for tech
meal purposes, the present revenue
amounting TO nearly fourteen times the
cost OF manufacture.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31
Filled the Requirements.

A Churchman tells about a time he
was travelling through the country with
an evangelist. At a village in Ohio a
meeting was held at which an announce
ment was made that the proceeds of a
collection to be taken would be turned
over to a missionary fund. In the audi
ence was a man who was publicly known
to oppose foreign missions, and who
was also suspected OF being an agnostic
of the deepest dye. The Churchman in
the course OF the collection passed this
man the box. The other pushed it away
with sneer on his face. sudden
inspiration came to the Churchman, and,
thrusting the box under the fellow'sno
he said:
Here, take some-it's for the heathen."
- Philadelphia Ledger.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31
JORDAN'S PROPOSITION.

AS reported by an exchange, Presl
dent Harvie Jordan Of the Southern
Cotton association has said:
The proposition to tie up 100000
bales of this crop and hold it for high
er prices il the face of an already es-
tablished short crop and unprecedented
consumption is well under way and
will prove successful. Already more
than 100000 bales have been volunta-
rily pledged by wire, and the signed
pledges are now beginning 10 come in
by every mail. The whole south and
every cotton section is enthusiastic and
determined.
In connection with our holding
movement the entire machinery of the
Southern Cotton association will get
to work in the next ten days pledging
the cotton growers Of the south to
reduced acreage for 1906. The assoca-
ton is a hundred times stronger now
than it was last spring and has the
full confidence and support Of several
hundred thousand farmers. We will
begin thus early TO hold down the cot
ton acreage in order to give the plant
ers full opportunity to make their ar
rangements for another year. We will
10 longer cut our own Threats by
planting large areas in cotton and play
ing into the hands of bearish specula-
ton. The demand for reduced acre
age in order 10 maintain good prices for
the staple will have the unanimous in
dorsement and cooperation Of the en-
tire farming and business element Of
the SOUTH
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31

Don't think the SOW can take care
of her young without any assistance
whatever with the thermometer below
zero.
Don't forget that good bed is neces-
sary at all times, but more especially
at this season of the year, and that it
should be free from dust and dampness
if you expect the pigs to thrive.
Don't fasten the sow up in a small
pen, from which are expelled all air
and light as sunshine and fresh air
are two Of the best dsinfectants
known il the world-John K. Gentry.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31

DowNY wooDPECKER (AFTER wAsHBURNl.
wood, such as the larvae of the leopard
moth and those that feed upon the
leaves. Nearly one-fourth of the year
~ food of this species consists of ants.
most of which are wood burrowers fol-
lowing damage started by wood boring
grubs or "sawyers."
The hairy woodpecker, Dryobates viii
losus, eats fewer ants than the downy
species, but more beetle larvae and
caterpllars. The flicker, Colaptes au-
ratus, eats more ants and fewer borers
and caterpilars than the two species
preceding, many of the ants being pick
ed from the ground.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31

acres and gets only $1,000 year off his
farm. But this idea is bound TO dis
appear in the lace Of results. The farmer
with a herd OF me cattle and a good
system Of rotation, who gives back to
bis land every year little more than he
took from it, is the man who is going
to save Minnesota agriculturally from
the tate OF New England and Of Spain.
he is being powerfully aided by the friends
OF forestry and irrigation. Only the
SINNERS" oppose Mr.. Hills benehcent
propaganda st. Paul Pioneer Press.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31
How 10 Feed Poultry Food.

We will send free, postpaid, to any
farmer or poultrymau who will write us,
mentioning this paper, our directions for
feeding Pages Perfected Poultry Food. {"
These directions represent the combined
experience of some of the best poultry
men in New England who have used our
food successfully. There are also given
many suggestions asto the proper care
to be given hens to produce the best
results. Carroll S. Page, Hyde Park, Vt.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31
Current Press Comment.
The Pages and Child Labor.

The ages OF the pages at the next SEES
sion Of the legislature will have to be
above Is years unless the state ignores
the child labor law. The custom has
been to appoint youngsters from II to
- years oil age as pages, but under the
law oil 1904 no one may employ a child
less thar IS years while the public
schools are in session in the town where
said child resides, or after 5 O'Clock in
the evening. While the state OF Vermont
is not mentioned in the act. the reign OF
the youngest page is probably over
! MOntpelier Arpus.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31
Political Advertising.

In conjunction with majority Of The
state papers we begin this week a series
Of political advertisements furnished and
paid Tor by Mr.. Clement Owing to an
i'll advised editorial in the Burlington
Free Press, and the discussion " hlch Their
position pr, cipilated IN our exchanges,
Mr.. Clement has received the past TWO
weeks more free advertising than any
politician in Vermont. He does not ask
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31

some farmers even in our day leave
their FODDER corn out in the field I'M
vi they want to use it. Then they 20
OUT no matter what the weather NAV
De- dig it out from the snow with cold
nhgers ana haul it in, These farmers
40 not realize the loss in feeding value
winch results TO say nothing about the
discomfort Of il The storm and the
coid cause some Of the richest parts
Oh the stalks TO evaporate.-Farm Jour.
nal.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31

winter tnan IN summer, hunting for
wood boring larvae and wood burrow-
ing ants. Insects eggs and bark lice
or scale insects are likewise eaten by
them. Thirteen per cent of the food OF
the downy woodpecker, Dryobates pu-
bescens. consists Of wood boring coleop-
ferrous larvae. or ''sawyerS," and dur
ing caterpillar season Of 16 per cent of
caterpillars, both of those that bore in
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-01-31

The problem Of weed destruction Is
perennial in every land. Indeed soil
culture may be called never ceasing
war against weeds. OF the birds that
aid the farmer in this struggle the bob.
white, the native sparrows and the
mourning dove are the most efficient.
They attack weeds at that vital stage,
the seed period; hence their work, es-
pecially against the ANIMALS which de-
pend on seeds for perpetuation, is of
enormous practical Values. .. Judd.