davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
DIES ON THE WAY no ALTAR
Romance Of a Texas Girl and Lad Who
Wen Far Sought Riches Has
Sadly Tragic Finis.

Galveston, Tex.-Word is received
here Of a sad tragedy at Bryan, a
nearby village, whereby death robbed
the altar of a bride. After a court
ship which lasted IA years, Miss Bet.
tie Plagens was to have been married
to John Francis. The church was
beautifully decorated for the occasion
and friends from far and zeal were
in attendance. AS the bridal. couple
we're going up the aisle to the altar
the bride-to.be swooned in the arms of
her brother. Restoratiyes were with.
out effect and the doctors pronounced
her dead from heart failure.
A romance is back Of the long court.
ship. Nearly Is years ago, with the
promise Of his sweetheart fresh in his
ears, young Francis set out to gain
wealth in the gold mines. In his
search for the precious metal he visited
Mexico, Colorado, Alaska and finally
went to New Zealand. There he &C.
quired a large fortune in the stock
business.
Francis kept up a correspondence
with Miss Plagens. Francis was de-
tanned at San Francisco and only
reached Bryan the other morning.
The reunion was Of course joyful, but
in less than "a hours after finding
his sweetheart she was dead.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
MAY o BE REBUILT.
Burned Town Of Littleton, W. va.
Will Probably Lose It's
Identity Forever.

New Martinsville. W. Va, Feb. b.
Littleton, which was practically wiped
out by fire Friday, will probably never
be rebuilt. Many Of the sufferers are
d~isheartened and have expressed an In.
tention to go to other towns. Mayor
Bradley threatened to prosecute the
proprietor Of the one remaining saloon
II he opened, but his order to close
was disaobeyed. Bradley promptly
sent a man with a sledge hammer to
the saloon, and the latter knocked IN
the heads Of oyer 100 barrels of beer
and allowed 1t to flow into the creek.
The fire, which destroyed 60 buildings,
IA business houses and rendered nearly
1000 persons homeless, was caused, 1t
is said, by the two sons of Harry
Grow, who had been playing with
matches in a closet. Many are now
quartered in tents Of the national
guard, which were ordered sent to Lit.
Teton by Gov. Dawson,
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
GETS UNIQUE RELIC.
MAJOR HAS HOLE THROUGH
WHICH He ESCAPED.
Daring Dash for Liberty Made Through
Aperture in Prison Floor Told OF
by Civil War Memento-own-
er Is an Author,

Des Mcines, Ia.-Many queer things
have been shipped from one part Of
the country to another, but it has re-
manned for an old soldier of Iowa to
break the record by having shipped to
him from South Carolina the hole
through which he made Is escape from
prison during the civil wal. On a re-
cent visit to the south Maj. Byers, who
II the hero Of this tale, visited the
old prison at Columbia, s. G., where
for IA long months he was kept a cap
tive. The old building had been re-
modelled but a carpenter was obtained,
and there, under a layer Of fresh new
boards, the major wa overjoyed to
find the identical hole which he had
sawed out with a blunt case knife, and
through which he made the thrilling
escape which to this day has puzzled
som of the confederate guards. The
hole was cut out and presented to the
major, who had 1t shipped north, and
it now occupies a conspicuous place in
his elegant drawing room along with
costly curios from abroad.
vt IlOUoU1y III mOIS fIbi1lll1l6 C6CdR0
figured in the great civil wal than that
Of Maj. s. H. M. Byers, the Iowa poet.
Saving their way out with a blunt
case-knife. he and a comrade, Lieut..
Deyine. of a Philadelphia regiment, Sc
creted themselves for two nights and
a day in a dark, sitting cubby hole
over a porch, where they remained
without food or water until they
thought the soldiers had all been re-
moved from the fort. Surrounded by
waiting guards as soon as they merged
from their hiding place, they made a
desperate dash for the gate amidst a
rain of bullets, and in the darkness
made their escape. Maj. Byers is
known to old soldiers all over the
country, having written the song,
"Sherman's March to the Sea-" while
he was in prison. This was later taken
UP by the entire army, the song being
carried through the lines in the artif-
cial leg of a union soldier.
It was when Maj. Byers was a youth
Of "a and adjutant of the Fifth Iowa
that he found himself with 500 COM
rades shut up in the old prison at Col
umbia, s. G. It had formerly been used
as an insane hospital and consisted OF
a number of frame buildings surround
ed by a high stone wall. AS there were
always guards on top of the wall, 1t
was not deemed necessary to place
them in the various buildings, and It
was to this fact that the major owen
his escape.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
HocH MAY NOT HANG.
New Evidence Is Filed with Gov. De-
neen-Afhdavit of Pathologist
in His Favor.

chicago, Feb. IA. = Afidavits by
Prof. Robert Zeit, head of the patho-
logical department of Northwestern
university, and by Mrs. Emily Fischer
Hoch, filed at Springfield with Gov. De-
neen, add new and sensational fea-
lures to the Hoch murder case. Mrs.
Hoch admits that she perjured herself
while on the witness stand for the
prosecution, and intimates that her
testimony was given because of threats
made against her by persons inter
ested in the prosecution. Prof. Zeit's
afhdavit is to the effect that the ar
senic found in Mrs. Emile Welcker-
Hoch's body might have been admins.
tered after death. His letter is a
lengthy one, and it recites the effect
OF poison on the human system and
In marked degree denies a large part
of the expert testimony given at the
trial, which resulted in Hoch's convic-
ton. The exact contents of the letter
prepared by the professor is NOT
known, for neither Attorney Conner
ford nor the governor felt at liberty
to discuss the matter, but it is said
that he makes a serious charge regard!
ing the conduct of the Hoch case by
the states attorneys Office. This
charge is to the effect that he was
consulted regarding the pathological
conditions surrounding the death of
the woman and that because his opin-
ion did not coincide with the story of
the prosecution his testimony was not
used.
1t is commended that the new evi.
dence will put a different construction
on the Isl and that the governor
should grant a stay Of sentence in or.
der that Hoch may have a chance to
prove his Innocence.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Set Date for Vote.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE senate
Tuesday agreed to vote on the pure
food bill February 81. Pure food hear
ings began before the house commit
tee on interstate and foreign COM
merce. The committee decided that
all statements before it should be made
under oath. William Ballinger, of the
Keokuk Canning company, Keokuk,
Ia, was the first speaker. He said In
terests aggregating between s25, 600, 900
and 350.000,000 would be affected by
any law prohibiting the use Of pre-
ssrvetives.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16

.HIN
ip,iiions more than they pay back, or Is
needed to insure the paying back of the
poicy-when these few men collect that
sum, that unfair amount, that amount
which they never should have collected.
1t does not belong to the people, but 1t
remains in the hands of the Rockefellers,
the Perkinses and the Morgans. But you
know all this as well as l do. And when
that amount remains on the 31st of De-
cember hundreds of millions remain in
their hands. Although it has come from
the American people, it belongs to those
few men who have the power to take it
for their own benefit. Their power is as
absolute as mine is to draw from my
bank whatever balance l may have.
am through when 1 say that it is
posSible-I can show your governor it is
possible-tltrough his instruln entality and
a few of our good, honest. able, public
spirited demonstrating his hand, with his
other few, to do something that will next
year leave in the pockets of the families
OF the 100000 of policy holders some nun
dreds of millions of dollars that heretofore
they have parted with, and it will be pos
sible for them to secure in the next ten
months some $50 or 2oOmillions OF dollars in
the form of life insurance premiums to in
sure the solvency of that contract which is
now In existence"
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Pioneer Lumberman Dead.

La Crosse, Wis, Feb. 13.-Capt, Dan
A. Mcdonald, M Of the pioneer lum.
berman and rivernen OF the north.
west, died Sunday Of q nervous at.
fiction, aged ~ years. He was among
tho oldest boat owners, pilots ana mas,
tsrs Of The entire upper Mississippi
river, entering the trade In 1854. In
the early days he was prominent In
Wisconsin politics, serving as assem-
blyman and later senator from this
district, He was always active in pub.
10 a1zssss unt!l5 his sst.ssnsst . ysss
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Lewis Proposes a Direct Vote.
Senator L. w. Lewis is backing a

proposition in the
Iowa legislature
which will affect
the entire coun-
try. His plan is
embodied in a res
olution i%nstructing
Gov. Cunlmins of
Iowa to invite the
executives of the
several states to
appoint commit
tees from their
legislatures for the
purpose Of adopt
ing specific and
united plans look
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Harper Wins in the Senate.

Harper Wins in the Senate.
Senator Harper, of Ottumwa, won a
victory in the senate when he secured
the adoption of a concurrent resolu.
t1on indorsing the Hepburn pure food
bill. There a determined opposition
to the measure on the part of Senator
Molsberry and others, who object to
the legislature of the state Of Iowa
passing resolutions directed to the
congressman at Washington. At the
close of the long discussion, however,
nine senators voted against the re-
quest to the Iowa delegation to vote
for the pure food legislation.
Lawson Talks to Iowa Solons.
When the resolution to hear Thomas
w. Lawson, of Boston, speak, appeared
in the senate the other morning the
upper house solons killed it in a sig
niacant manner, but when the house
adopted the same move, the senators
adjourned and rushed wildly across
the hall in order that they might not
miss anything Of the great crusaders
talk.
Lawson spoke in part as follows:
when the federal government collects
more money than is necessary 1t remains
In the federal treasury and belongs to the
American people; but when the In
Ginnnae AasuRanisS collect hunareda OF
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
P%osToFFlcE REPORT
Chicago New Federal Building Is
Most Important-Receipts Are
Biggest Growth.

: Chicago.-Postmaster F. H. Coyne
has issued the annual report of the
work accomplished by the Chicago post
Office. A large increase in the bust.
ness in all branches of the service Is
shown.
The most important item in the
years work of the postal system was
the moving Of the office from the old
building In Michigan avenue to the
federal building. This was accom-.
plished wllnout the loss of a minute.
The old office closed at 10 o'clock noon
and the new one opened at the same
moment. The largest increase is
shown in postal receipts for 1905 as
compared with those Of 1904. In 1904
the receipts amounted to $11,067,-
266.H. Last year they amounted to
$12,264, 904.82, or an increase of ST..
197,677.95, or 1881 per cent.
The report shows the total number
Of pieces Of mail Of all classes handled
increased in one year almost 100, OO0,.
Ouv. In 1905 1908, las. TAI pieces were
handled, while in the preceding year
but l.0S4, 964.237 pieces passed through
the Office.
There are now In the service 1000.
carriers, 1896 clerks, 24s substitute
carriers, 226 special delivery messsn.
gers and 226 substation clerks.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
wisconsin Veterans to Nest

Marinette, Wis, Feb. 14.-The state
encampment of the Wisconsin Grand
Army will be held in Marinette on
June 70 and 10. These dates have
been agreed upon by the committee OF
the s. H. Sizzer post, of this city, and
the state department. Corporal Tan
ner, national commander-in-chief, will
attend
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
CREW nat Sd Faat ne Died.

After taking on flesh for the last two
months at the rate Of pound daily,
Abraham Bouny, of Glidden, Wis, died
here of fatty degeneration of the heart.
Bouny was rs years old and weighed at
the time of his death 683 pounds. It
was necessary to have a special coffin
made for him. It was taken to the Gem.
steer n . 6faELs
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Asks Aid for Starving.

Washington. Feb. IA. = President
Roosevelt Tuesday took official cogni-
zance OF the famine which has grown
TO such serious proportions in northern
Japan. In an appeal to the American
people, issued in the afternoon, the
president requests that contributions for
the sufferers from the famine be for
warded to the American National Red
Gross.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16

- --N@-E@~0--
ment of the national constitution re-
quiring the election Of United States
senators by a direct vote of the pee
pie. This conference will be national
IN its scope, and 1t is expected that
nearly every state in the union will
be represented at the proposed meet
ing, which will hold forth in Des
Moines next summer, should Lewis
proposed resolution go through.
Senator Lewis perfected his resolu-
ton after a long conference with Gov.
Cummins, and 1t is understood that
the Iowa executive 3avors this plan,
although he has not expressed him
self upon 1t. Senator Lewis is said
to have several strong hackers, and
his scheme proved another one OF the
series Of surprises which have been
sprung here in the few weeks in which
the legislature has been in session.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Loneworth Recovars.

Washington, Feb. l3.-Representa-
tive Nicholas Longworth had so far
recovered from his recent attack of
tonsilitis as to be able to take a short
drive Monday.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Biz O-onyention opened.

Pitsburg, Pa, Feb. 14.-The United
Presbyterian Business Mems league
convened in the First United Presby-
terrain church, Sixth avenue, Tuesday
and will hold two daily sessions until
Thursday evening. Over 900 delegates,
business men from all the United
Presbyterian churches in the country,
were In attendance, making the gath
ering the largest of its kind ever held
In the United states.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
California, Winters Summer Garden,

Is the title of an exquisite sample OF
letter press art, just off the press. The
Chicago, Milwaukee 8 st. Paul rail.
way has outdone all previous efforts
In this beautiful colored book. tits q
departure from the vast multitude OF
railway literature. Only a limited
number will be issued, to be used to
int rest travel to California via 1.-THE
Overland Limited on the Chicago,
Milwaukee s. st Paul Railway.-Ofic-
ial Railway Guide, Chicago.
Sent to any address for six cents
pos age 3. a. Miller, General Pas
senser Agent, q. u. y ST. Paul BY.
l.Ohieayef
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Bryan Resigns PLACE.

Jacksonville, ILL.,, Feb. IA. - William
j. Bryan, writing from Hongkong, has
sent his resignation as trustee Of I'LL
nois college. and at length declared
that he would not serve a school where
the board Of trustees was in favor of
accepting funds from Carnegie or other
trust magnates, who are attempting to
substdize the colleges of America to
prevent teaching Of economic truth.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Secret Session Held.
Meriwether Pardoned.

Washington, Feb. 13.-Midshipman
Minor M~eriweather, Jr., of Louisiana, a
member Of the third class, convicted
and sentenced to dismissal for hazing,
has been pardoned by the president.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Bill Aims to Help Farmers.

Bill Aims to Help Farmers.
A bill OF the greatest Importance to
the farmers Of the state has been Of.
fered in the house by Mr.. Weeks, Of
Guthrie county, and in the senate by
Senator Gale, Of Cerro Gordo county,
The bill provides for:
Giving instruction In corn and stock
Judging at agricultural fairs, institutes
and clubs.
Aiding in conducting short courses
of instruction at suitable places
throughout the state.
In lectures and demonstrations on
the growing of r and other crops
and fruits; on the prevention and or.
radication of animal diseases; on stock
raising, dairying; land drainage and
kindred subjects, and on special trains
and otherwise.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Set Dat for OPENING

Norfolk, Va, Feb. l3.-The for
NAL opening of the Jamestown exposi-
ton has been set for April 16, 1907, in
stead Of May 10, 1907, as originally
planned.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
MITCHELL Attacked;
HE REMAINS silent
MINERS LEADER DOES NOT RE-
PLY TO THE DoLAN AR
RAIGNMENT.
STATEMENT SAYS HE
NEVER WON STRIKE
Pittsburg Official in His Onslaught
Predicts Disaster for Toilers If
Struggle Is Begun on April l.
Headquarters in New York.

New York, Feb. 13.-John Mitchell,
president of the United Mine Workers
Of America, who is in this city to con-
fer with the operators of the anthra-
cite mines, said Monday that he did
not care to discuss the statement
given out by President Dolan, of the
Pittsburg district. In this statement
Dolan said that President Mitchell had
come to New York ITO ask the anthra-
cite operators for a contract which he
has not the power to enter into, as the
national convention has tied him hand
and foot" He also attacked President
MitchelTs conduct of coal strikes in
the past, and declared that every strike
in the soft coal regions under his lead
ership had ended in failure.
Will Not Discuss Dolan.
What do you think of Patrick Do
lan's attack On you before the Pitts
burg miners?" Mr.. Mitchell was asked.
lan," was the reply.
To all other questions Mr.. Mitchell
made similar answers.
Mr.. Mitchell will hald his first con-
ference with the local operators
Thursday. He will make his head
not reached with the companies, until
the present agreement expires, April
L. The three district presidents of the
anthracite region are expected here.
Predicts Disaster to Miners.
Pittsburg, Pa, Feb. 13.-President
Patrick Dolan, of the Pittsburg dis
trict United Mine Workers, has given
out a statement predicting disaster to
the miners in the event Of a strike,
justifying his action before the In
dianapolis convention in advocating
acceptance of the present wage scale
and scoring John Mitchell, national
president, for his attitude in the pres
emit crisis.
Says Mitchell Never Won.
Mr.. Dolan declares John Mitchell
never yet won a strike for the coal
miners. The first great anthracite
strike, Dolan contends, was settled by
Mark Hanna, the second by President
Roosevelt. AS for the big soft coal
strikes, he asserts all ended in the de-
feat Of the union.
In his argument against a national
strike he points out that the wages of
the miners have been increased more
than 100 per cent. and their hours of
labor reduced from ten to eight hours
q day since 1897, and that a strike at
this time, instead of winning greater
concessions, jeopardizes those already
gained.
Secret Session Held.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Feb. 13.-The
members Of the anthracite miners,
scale committee were hurriedly called
together Monoay, but for what purpose
was not given out. On Saturday night
1t was stated that the committee had
finished Its business and would not
meet again prior to the conference be-
tween the miners officials and coal
operators, which takes place In New
York on Thursday. The secret session,
however, leads to the belief that some
important question arose which re-
quired the immediate attention of the
committee. None of the officers would
discuss the meeting.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Death Of a Cardinal

Death Of a Cardinal.
Autun, France. Feb. 13.-Cardinal
Adolphe Perraud, archbishop OF Au.
tun, died hers Saturday night Of pnsu.
Desese -.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
h i and Crew Lost

London, Feb. 13.-The steam trawler
Veronica, belonging to stavanger,
Norway, has been lost off Lossiemouth.
Elginshire. Scotland, with a crew of
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
New Bill for the Saloons.

New Bill Tor the Saloons.
Representative Christensen has intro
duced a bill changing the time Of
opening and closing saloons under the
mulct law. According to the present
law, the saloons of Iowa are permitted
to open at five o'clock in the morning,
and + required to close at ten o'clock
in the evening. Should the Carsten-
sen bill pass the saloons will not be
permitted to open until six o'clock
In the morning, but they will then
be allowed to remain open until II
O'Clock at night.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16

Another collateral inheritance bill
wal introduced in the house by MI.
Chassell. The new bill repeats the old
law, taxing aliens double the amount
OF the tax for residents of the state,
and also provides for a portion of the
amount of tax collected being paid to.
the county. The bill provides, as we'll,
for fees for collection of collateral in
heritance taxes.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Anti-smoot Plan Defeated.

AHI-SnHooI FIaH
Principle" defeated the Smoot res
olution in the house of representatives
last week. There vas not the least
friendliness for the man, whom the
resolution proposed to GUST, but the
opposition vas based upon the I'M
popularity of the idea Of instructing
Iowa senator's how to vote. The res
olution favored putting the Utah man
out of the national senate. No
speeches were made, and there was but
little talk. The vote was close, stand
ing 33 to rs.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Oil Rill Ts rn+,odrced

Oil Bill Is introduced.
The long Kansas oil agitation, trans
planted from that state to Iowa, came
to a head last week in the introduction
of a bill into the legislature by the
executive committee which is pushing
the fight here. The new measure pro-
vides against any discrimination in
the price Of oil in the various sections
of the state. This is said to be tho
Standard Oil method of competition,
and it is at this alleged fault which
the legislation is aimed.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
Crushed His Head.

Minneapolis, Mimi, Feb. Ia. - Peter
Heinzelman, while engaged In steady
ing a large stick of timber for a pile
driver was instantly killed Monday.
While holding on to the timber his
feet slipped so that his head fell upon
the pile. Ills feet tripped the catch OF
the suspended weight, which descend
ed and crushed his head fiat.
Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-16
The Water Needs whitening.

The Water Needs Whitening.
Milkman-It amt true, ma'am, that
we always put chalk in our milk.
Mrs. Houskeep-Do you mean to say
you never do It?
Milkman-Well-er-never, except
after a heavy rain, when the water
gets muddy and Observation-Disclosures
Press.