The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-30
From the Kansas City Star.


 . H"HE invasion of the waters of the
 (V Osage river by a motor house.
 boat. owned by Kansas Cityans, recalls the time when the Osage was considered navigable. Light draft steam boats, loaded at St. Louis. discharged their cargoes for inland points upon the then busy wharves of Warsaw and Osce- ola,
 The first steamboat that ever turned her prov against the muddy Osage waters was the Flora Jones, in the spring of 1s44. There was no Commercial club in those days to stimulate river traffic; no telegraph or telephone to herald to the hardy pioneers the approach of the boat only the unearthly shrill screech of a bansheelike whistle, enough to blanch the cheek of the simple minded folk who hau lived far from the worlds progress.
 me little boat went up as far as Har- mony, Mo, in Bates county. History re- cords the fact that when the Flora Jones pulled her way along the St. Clair county shores, and the wall of her siren was tossed back and forth by the limestone bluffs many of the old settlers were not only frightened figuratively, out of their boots, but literally out of their homes. Matthew Arbuclxle, a pioneer, tradition tells us was blowing in his field about a mile from the river when the wall of that whistle struck his ear. He unhitched his horse from the blow, managed to get on iis back and wild with terror, struck for the hills. In one hour he was at Papinville, fifteen miles distant, the horse white with foam, the rider white with terror. He had barely strength to tell of "an awful animal' from which he had made his escape. He had not seen the fearful beast he con- fessed, but he had heard it's voice, by which he knew it to be a monster of ter rife proportions.
 Arbuckle's neighbors were brave and though much disturbed by his account, determined upon campaign of extermi- nation They had defended their homes against Indians, and they reasoned that no wild animal however ferocious, could withstand their rifles. They gathered at "Unco John Whitley's. He had seen service under Jackson at New Orleans. His home vas up the tortuous stream from Arbuekles farm
 The next morning a crowd of hardy pioneers with guns and dogs were ready at Uncle" Johns. The gallant band num- bercd among it's members Uncle" John Whitley. James Breckenridge, Benjamin Morris, Benjamin Burch, William Roark, Frank Roark, Benjamin Snyder, Snow den Morris and Matthew Arbuckle.
 They were agreed that there should be undertaken a quest for the mysterious monster threatening their homes and families.
 Just before the signal to start was given, Matte. a daughter of Whitley's went down to the river, three hundred yards distant, for water. In her absence, the Flora Jones, whi ,h had tied up for the night at a bend In the river below, again sounded the terror-inspiring whis- tie.
 Charge, menr roared Whitley, sezing his gun. Matt went to the river for wlter. and I reckon she's dead a-fore now!"
 The crowd rushed for the river de- termined to rescue the girl if she was yet alive. Bit Matt" it is hardly neces- sary to say, was met on the way. She ! was headed homeward her hair stream ing behind and her face blanched with | fear.
 With their weapons ready for instant action the determined hunters continued rverward. The crew of the Flora Jones. proud of their whistle. continued to sound it at frequent intervals and it's reverbera- tions rang from bluff to bluff unceasngly. Each fresh blast added to the uneasiness O. the band of settlers. Frequent coun- l cils were held. The failure of the dogs to take the scent nonplussed them The hunters secured the Osage thickets all day. Breckenridge lost faith in hounds and declared that he would go to St. Louis for Newfoundlands. Mean time the Flora Jones had proceeded up ths river to Harmony, and her whistle ! was no longer heard.s As night came