davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24

from? l didn't know anyone was near
except my old comrade here"
1--WE followed you from the gate" said
Frank, for we thought you could tell US
a story about some brave soldier"
Tell you a story? Well, l guess l
could do that, and a good many of them,
too. No fellow could go through a strug
gle like that of '61 to go and not learn
some stories, both sad ones and funny
ones"
Did you know this soldier?" asked
Amy, pointing to the mound of earth near
whic hthey were standing.
Yes l knew him when he was not as
big as this little chap here" nodding to
Frank, who did not altogether like the
idea of being called "a little chap" but
since it was an old soldier who spoke of
him in this way he could overlook the in
jury.
''If you look closely at the headstone
you can see written there, though it is
getting pretty dim now, Killed at Gettys-
burg" and the old soldier turned toward
Frank, while his eyes grew moist at the
thought of the scenes of that bloody bat
tleheld. Pray that you may be spared
witnessing such an awful sight as that
battle. Why, a man could have walked
over that field after the fighting was over
without once putting his foot on the
ground, so thick were the killed and
wounded. VIII, here" pointing to the
grace, was only a drummer boy, but the
combined armies of the North and South
contained no better or drawer soldier"
Gettysburg lasted three days; at first
it seemed as if Lee and his army would
win the day, but on the third day we put
them to flight. | can never forget how
that one terrible cannon shot sounded as
it broke that awful stiffness that had set
tied over both armies, after everything
was ready for the fight, and gave the sig
nal for the terrible struggle of that last
day of the battle. And it was the last
day of any battle for many poor fellow
and among them the drummer boy, Will
| can see that boy yet as he saw the
glorious Stars and Stripes fall from the
grasp of the color-bearer, who was killed
instantly by an enemy's bullet. He ran
forward and seized the flag just in time
to keep it from being laid in the dust and
blood, and he waved it as high as he
could, shouting to those around him that
it was still over them, and several poor
fellows actually smiled as they saw it.
But after a time bullet struck our
boy. He tried to pay 10 attention to it,
but soon became so weak from loss of
blood that he fell to the ground, but be-
fore he did so he placed the flag in the
hands of comrade, saying: Here, Jack,
take Old Glory; l don't want to drag it
to the ground, and l am going Then
he fell, but he lived some time after that.
Il saw that he was in awful agony
and handed him a little water, the last
had He put it to his parched lips, but
a groan near by made him pause There
by his side lay a Confederate, wounded
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24

the best of it after a while. We loved
Sergt. Jack, every man of us in ''B" COM
pany, and he had the sympathy of all his
comrades.
Things were thus when it came our
turn one night to go into the rife pits on
the line nearest the Confederates. We
had to march down from camp by covered
ways and crawl into the pits like so
many serpents. Death was there waiting
for any man who but showed his head
above pit. Not a finger could be held
up without dozen bullets being fired at
it. On this night it was bright moon
light-so bright that one could see every
leaf and blade of grass and every insect
moving about. The great guns were 81
lent after a hot days work, but there
was a spiteful and murderous fire of mus
kerry along the rife pits. The bullets
whizzed above our heads in a vengeful
way, and the officers kept crying Look
out, men-keep down. as we neared the
pits. Men dropped off here and there
till only six of us were left, and Sergt
Jack had charge of placing us. The men
in the pits had to come out first, and
as soon as they got the signal they began
the movement. We were watching them
as they wormed themselves along the
ground when Sergt. Jack suddenly ut
tered a groan. 1t was not a groan of
pain, but of anguish-such a sound as a
strong man might make when he felt his
heart breaking over his grief. All of US
turned to hook at him, and as we did so
he stepped out from under shelter into
the open and the moonlight and was face
to face with Death!
Down, Sergeant-come back-look
out - we shouted at him, but he drew
himself up and walked straight toward
| the Confederate lines. His appearance
| amazed the sharpshooters for half a min
ute. SO bright was the moonlight that
they could look right into his eyes. 1t
was not the act of brave man; none of
| them would put it down to bravado He
was not a deserter seeking admission to
their lines. We shouted to them not to
| shoot-that our sergeant had lost his
mind-and those directly in front heard
us and withheld their fire. Those on the
TANKS, however, could not catch our
words, and probably believing that some
! hostile movement was contemplated, a
score of muskets blazed away at the tar
get in the moonlight. We saw Sergt.
Jack lt-totter-throw up his hands
and sink down, and we knew that he was
dead-had courted death because there
was nothing more in life for him. We
crept out and rescued his body for a SOL
diers burial. More than a dozen bullets
had struck him, and on his face was a
look of relief-a look which came there in
his dying moment as he realized that
death would end all.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
TYPE OF CANAL FIXED.
sea-LeveI Waterway at Panama Is
Recommended.

Recommended.
That the earthquake which destroyed
San Francisco was an important factor
in determining the vote of the Senate
Committee on Inter-oceanic Canals in
favor of a sea-level type, is apparent
from the fact that a feature of the ma
iority report is a discussion of the eff
feet such an earth wave might have
On locks and dams
The majority report in favor of n
5ea-level canal was submitted TO Con-
gress Wednesday by Senator Kit
tredge. On the subject of danger from
earthquakes on the isthmus and the
possible effect on the two types of
canal proposed the report says:
That the isthmus of Panama is not
exempt from earthquakes conclusively
appears, and we can have no guaranty
that the canal zone will in the future be
exempt from such disaster.
The canal structures that would be
most exposed to injury by the passing of
an earth wave or violent movement of the
earth's surface, are the locks proposed by
the minority, whose walls, many hundreds
of feet, or even 1000 or 5000 feet long
at Gatun, would, at least some of them,
be more than seventy-five feet high and
entirely unsupported on one side save for
a part of the height by water.
If these walls should be moved ar all
the natural and probable result would be
in their leaning and so preventing the
closing of the gates. But the most likely
effect of such shock would be the fracture
of these locks, in repairing of which much
time-mOnths Or years-might be requir-
ed
An earth dam on an alluvial base, as
proposed by the minority, might be ifs
sured if the earthquake passed the local
ity, and if a crack in the dam or its base
should open, the dam would go out. the
lock drain, and the canal be ruined. What
would happen to the aqueduct, conduits,
pipes and valves buried in the concrete
walls, used for filling and emptying the
locks, cannot be well conjectured.
The report says that the conclusion
has been reached that the following prop
ositiOns are irrefutable:
That the ideal canal is one at sea level !;
that its construction would be attended
with no more, and probably with less
hazard than one with locks and dams on
doubtful foundations: that the sea level
canal is safer and more convenient than
one with locks that it would take but lit.
tie longer time to build that it is the sim.
pier and the more economical in operation
and maintenance.
The majority report concludes that the
laval
lock tvna
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
STATE GRAIN LAW VOID.
Judge Rules Against state Commits
sion and FayorS Elevator Co.

Judge Rules Against state Commits
sion and Favors Elevator Co.
An appeal from the decision of Judge
Sanborn of Superior in the case of the
Globe Elevator Company against the Wis
consin grain and warehouse commission
will be taken to the United States Cir
cult Court of Appeals at Chicago. The
decision of Judge Sanborn in the suit,
which was brought for the purpose of
testing the constitutiOnality of the Wis
consin law, held with the elevator COM
pany which claimed that the law inter-
fered with interstate traffic. The tempo
rary injunction which was secured at the
time of the filing of the suit and which
was subsequently, made permanent by the
decision of Judge Sanborn will remain in
effect until the case has been passed upon
by the Court of Appeals.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
State News in Brief.

Joseph Burns, a prominent farmer in
the town of Dover, died from the kick of
q horse.
The Pope the other day received in pri-
vate audience Bishop James Schwebach
Of La Crosse.
Mrs. Peter Ofsdahl, aged 20, was found
hanging in machinery shed on her farm
near Galesville.
The family of Frank Spangenburg, a
Racine farmer, narrowly escaped death in
a fire which destroyed their home.
The 12-year-old son of Joseph Mar
chuti of Galesvile shot and fatally
wounded his 6-year-old sister while play
ing with a rife.
The Wisconsin Democratic convention
for the adoption of State platform prior
to the primaries will be held in NIilwau-
kee June p.
In Racine John NJ. johnson saved his
little son from being burned to death
while playing with matches, by hurting
him into tub of water.
By the explosion of kerosene stove
Mrs. Mary Grange, aged 81, living alone
in WATERFOWL, was fatally burned. She
was preparing dinner when the flames
ignited her clothing. burning her terribly
about the hips, back and arms.
All arrangements for the grand lodge of
Wisconsin Odd Fellows have been com
pleted in Sheboygan. The convention will
start June ) and last until June {.
Senator J. Fl. Stout has announced a
new department of house decorating and
furnishing for the Stout training schools,
to be opened next fall in Menomonie.
Carl L. Zeilka, aged IS, a La Crosse
baseball enthusiast, who became insane
through excitement at games, has been
committed to the insane asylum at Men
dota. Zeilka attended all the games and
became so excited that he was attacked
with epileptic fits.
BIackleg has made it's appearance
aGong cattle in the town of Montpelier
one farmer losing three cows in as many
days Measures have been taken TO pre-
vent spread of the disease.
W. II. Brandt. Barron druggist, died
from an overdose of tincture of BELLA
donna. Mr.. Brandt had cold, and took
a large dose of the deadly drug by mis-
take. He was 30 years of age.
Money is wasted by the University Of
Wisconsin by spending $500 year to
maintain an auditors department, while
the bookkeeping and auditing OF the UNI
versity should not exceed 800 annually,
an accounting reported to the legislative
investigating committee at Madison.
An automobile owned by B. f. Steinel,
sporting editor of the Free Press, ran
down and killed Miss Florence White in
Milwaukee. The car struck the woman
when she stepped back in its way after
safely crossing its path. Steinel and some
members of the Milwaukee baseball team
were riding in the car at the time.
The James L. Gates Land Company
has served an injunction on County
Treasurer Rowland of Chippewa Falls
to prevent his Offering for sale for taxes
land in the towns of Cleveland and Samp-
son. The Gates company states that
these towns arbitrarily raised only their
assessment. There are over $500 back
taxes on Gates lands in these towns. :
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Strong Calls.

'How in the world did you get wait
Ell on with such alacrity?' asked the
little man in the rush lunchroom. Il
have been here an hour and you just
came in two minutes ago"
Don't you see that sign?" responded
the big man. 1T reads, Call the
Waiter"
''Y-yes, but l called him and he
didn't pay any attention"
Yes, but what did you call him?"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24

same symmetrical manner. A simple
headstone, uniform in appearance with
that used in all the national cemeteries,
marked plainly with the name, State and
the number he bears on the roll of honor
at the War Department, is now the meas
ure of the sleepers earthly fame.
Half a mile south of the mansion are
buried the soldiers who fell in the Span
ish-American war. A magnificent memo
rial to their prowess has been raised by
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
MONUMENT TO 2.111 UNKNOWN.

level of greensward, stretching as far as
the eye can reach, marked at regular in
tervals by rows of headstones, all set in
the military precision of troop awaiting
the signal to advance. Near by is the
fine monument erected in honor of these
unknown though not unreckoned sleepers.
Their bodies, two thousand and more,
were recovered from the battlefelds of
Bull Run and the Rappahannock. The
greatest efforts at Identification were
made in every case, but the identity of
many was lost beyond recovery. The
graves Of the known are arranged in the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
MILwAUKEE BOY LEADS.
w. $. UnderwOcd's Company Wins
Competitive Drill at University.

Walter S. Underwood of Milwaukee
will be colonel of the University of Wis
consin regiment next year. His command,
Company B, won the competitive drill,
giving him that honor for next year.
Company G, Capt Paul Hammersmith,
was second. Lee Iuntley, a Company A
man, won the individual competition. He
will receive a medal, as will the men Of
the winning company. Major Malloy of
the United States infantry inspected the
regiment and acted as judge.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Big Post Card Collection.

Ray Boynton of Menasha has a collec-
ton Of 200 post cards from different
parts of the United States and foreign
countries. A particular feature about the
collection is that it includes the complete
series of the Columbia exposition at Chi
cago. 1898: ns-Mississippi, Omaha,
1898: Pan-American. Buffalo, \. Y.
1861; ST. Louis worlds fair, 1904, and
the Lewis and Clark exposition at Port
land. 1908. The collection fills twelve
large albums
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
GETS FAKE DIVORCE DECREE.
Wisconsin Farmer Learns He Was
Caught by Chicago Sharper.

Fritz Clements, a Rock county farmer,
drove to Janesville the other day and
consulted the law firm of Ryan & Oest-
reich regarding what he termed a ''di-
vorce document" that he obtained in Chi
cago for 500 cash. Clements has been
in this country but a short time and mar
ried the daughter of Frank Aacker, north
o. GAINESVILLE. Clements could not speak
English, nor his wife German. so they de-
cided to separate. Clements then went
to Chicago to see friend about his
trouble and evidently met bunko game,
as his supposed divorce certificate is a
fake written in German. Clements and
his wife have been living apart, thinking
the paper was genuine. and MS suspicion
was only aroused when he revealed his Sc
cret TO a neighbor. Clements does not
remember the Office where he got his de
cree but says it was in a tall building.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
PALLBEARERS BURIED ALIVE.
Grave Caves in as Body Is Being
LONered--AImOst SuffOcated.

BY a cavern at the grave two pail
bearers were buried alive at the Sheldon
cemetery while the body of High Samples,
a Houston county charge, was being low
cred into its last resting place. They
were precipitated to the bottom of the
grave beneath the coffin and covered with
several feet of earth. The frantic efforts
of the remaining pallbearers and the
gravedigger resulted in their being liberat-
ed before they suffocated. Both men
were almost dead when released from
their weird predicament. The cave-in
was so large the entire day was devoted
to redigging the grave and the interment
of the corpse.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24

The flags with shot holes gaping,
That tell their tale of strife,
To-day are gently draping
The ones who cling to life.
The wounded flags How proudly
They fluttered in the days
when drums were drumming loudly
And fires sang warning lays
How brave was all their glowing
Where fierce the war guns spoke,
Their stars forever showing
A beacon through the smoke
The wounded flags We hail them
And revel in each hue,
Though age and time may pale them
And red blend into blue.
Though all grow dark and duller,
Yet in every part
We see the living color
That thrills the nations heart.
w. b. Nesbit, In Baltimore American.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Officially Confirmed.

The Washington correspondent hast
lily called up the Cabinet officer by tele-
phone.
Pardon me for disturbing you, Mr..
Blank" he said, ''but will you please
tell me whether or not the rumor that
is in circulation as to your retirement
is true?"
Yes, sir" answered the Cabinet of.
ficer. 1T is. l was just about TO re.
tire when you called me. Goodnight"
Chicago Tribune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24

Henry G. Coll, assistant cashier of the
First National bank of Milwaukee, found
guilty few weeks ago by jury in the
United States District Court on charges
of misapplying funds and making false
entries in the books of the bank, has been
taken to Fort Leavenworth, Kan, to be-
gin his ten years sentence in the federal
Denitentiary
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
IN THE MOONLIGHT.
Sergeant Jack Had Lost All that
Made Life Dear to Him.

Made Life Dear to Him.
One day it was whispered in our camp
before Petersburg that Sergt. Jacks wife
had died. Sergt. Jack was reserved aud
rather morose, and none of US knew
whether he had a wife or not until the
rumor came. The sergeant's demeanor
told us that the story was true.
The soldiers mental suffering was plain
to all who looked into his face He had
loved her we'll and the blow had come too
suddenly. In weeks time he grew so
old and haggard that one could hardly
identify him as the same man. Some of
the men whisperingly declared that he
would do some desperate thing
that he would bear it like man and get
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Murderer of Woman Seeking ID
EDFcR

Murderer of Womaa Seeking Dia
Eorce shoots at Daughter.
William Selle, aged 80 years. broke
into the home of Fred Luebke in Milwau-
kee. made his way to the room of Mrs.
Selle, who was keeping house for Luebke
while suing for a divorce. and killed the
woman. He shot at his 11-year-old
daughter Louisa, then put a bullet in his
own temple. dying instantly. Louisa es-
capped injury, but Mrs. Selle died instant
~ Mrs. Mary Selle left her husband
about two months ago and began suit for
divorce, alleging that her husband had
frequently beaten her when drunk. and
pending the ending of the suit she was
keeping house for Luebke, an old widow
er, and his TWO sons.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Forner AssembIyman Assirns

J. K. johnson, a former assemblyman
and chairman of the finance committee of
the La Crosse County Board and for ten
years a merchant at West Salem, has
made an assignment. Ii is understood
creditors will be paid in full.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
All on Him.

Cholly-It makes me real cross when
l think how we'll off some of the fell
lahs are that 1 used to run with and
I'm so poor.
Miss Pepprey-Probably it's because
so many have amused themselves at
your EXPENSE Philadelphia Press.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Medford Gets Rate Reduction

At the hearing before the rate commits
sion of the complaint of the Medford
Package Company against the railroads
it was tacitly agreed that the company is
TO be given the regular lumber rates from
Medford pending meeting of the western
classification committee next fall The
company receives a reduction of about
ona-third on the rates.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
SHELL EXPLoDEs IN STOVE.
Little Sbiocton Girl Way Lose Eye
Arm Full OF Shot.

The explosion of shotgun shell care
lessly placed in stove at the home of
William Wilmar at Shocton resulted in
the serious injury of Vera, the 7-year-old
daughter. The little girls arm was filed
with shot and it is feared she may lose
the sight of one eye.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
NEVER REALIZED THE HONOR.
Sculptor Who Won Prizes at st.
Louis Went Insane.

Frank Koehler. who escaped from the
La Crosse insane hospital in November,
was found dead in a field, where he had
wandered several months ago. He was a
rising sculptor, but overwork and disap-
pointment unbalanced his mind. After
his commitment he was awarded several
prizes for sculpture at the st. Louis ex-
position. His relatives tried to tell him
the news, but he never understood.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Burned by CesspooI Explosion.

BY the explosion of gas in cesspool
which became igrited from a match, Ell
sine Osburn. aged 3, was badly burned
about the face and neck in GAINESVILLE.
A man standing near was also scorched.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
INDIANS MOURN POWELL.
''White Beaver" Was Favorite OF
WiDaebagoes.

The death Of DR.. u. Frank Powell
known among the Winnebago Indians as
White Beaver" was received with pro-
found sorrow by the tribe, as he was held
in high esteem by them all. Several years
ago they elected Powell to the position of
medicine chief, and as such he doctored
and looked after the bad cases free of
cost to the entire band. The council will
be called within a few days to elect a
successor and already a rivalry has
sprung up. Part of the tribe wants a
white medicine chief and part wants to
choose from their own people NO
Chinka," or Striking Tree" a leading
Indian doctor, wants the position.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Priest Martyr to His Duty.

Rev. \. A. Keegan, a well-known Ro-
man Catholic priest. died at Avoca as
result of injuries received in being thrown
from his buggy while answering a hur-
ried night call to the deathbed of par
ishioner. He had bee- stationed at Lo-
reto. GAINESVILLE and Eau Claire
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Want Hazers Refnstated.

Students are circulating petitions ask
ing the faculty of the State University to
reinstate Ewald o. Steihm. president of
the freshman class; Hugh Harper and
Dexter White, who were suspended for
taking part in the hazing of Joseph Pfff-
uer of Stevens Point.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-24
Fire Victims Injuries Fatal.

Mrs. August Himmelmann of Twin
Lakes. who was burned on recent night,
is dead She never regained conscious
ness She was "a years of age, and is
survived by husband and one daughter.