davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
sTARBiNG FOLLOWS PRACTICAL JOKE.

West Orange, July (SpeciaD.-Antonio Barone
Of No. 3 Crane street Orange, stabbed George Sui
Ivan Of No Il Lincoln avenue. West Orange, in
the breast with heavy pair of shears I'm the G. b.
Rutan hat factory to-day. sullivan taken to
the Orange Memorial Hospital lie will probably
recover. Barone locked up The assault was
the outcome of practical joke played the
Italian.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06

shoot bird Young Douglass went into the woods
with shotgun. Shortly afterward shot rang
out, and the persons around the luncheon table
Jumped up screaming with pain. while the bird
few away One woman received number Of shots
IN the face and had eye blown out. The others
were literally peppered with brdshot. All will re-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
All ~ HOME FOR F. @. LLOYD.

r,aps have been filed for Ave story tweuns hg'sr
ans ms, ~ rrancls G. LLOYD at No 1871 East 'lst -
:. - -, - brlrx with marble TRIMMINGS. colonial II
te-cn With a frontage Il ~ feet and deIIh 81 o.
with an extension. II iH 70 cost S-''o''' i'''
SO T,rovvbrldEe & Livingston
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
FlREcRAcKER TEARS woMAN's HAND.

Margaret johnson. thirtv-One years Old. o. No
IS Arlington street Newark, could not restrain her
patriotism yesterday and insisted continuing 20
celebrate the Fourth. with the result ttat she is
minus all the fingers of her left hand a can
cracker exploded the woman held 1t in her
hand. She was takeE 10 s.. Barnarbas-s Hospital.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
FATAL INJURIES MYSTERIOUS

Augustin Arrin. of No. l35 Montgomery avenue
Laurel HILL Queens. died last night in St Johns
Hospital His skull fractured and had been
pressing upon the brain for twenty-four hours
No one knows how the hurt. He was
found lying by a road not far from Celtic Park on
Thursday.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
AUCTION SALES TO-DAY.

on the premises $50 p. m. by Joseph =. Day-2O0
lots Harbor Long Island voluntary
sale.
On the premises at p m. by Parish, Fisher & Co.
76 nlos averaging lOOx15O feet fronting South
Ray and the Merrlck Bayport Long Island; vol
Vntary r
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
JUMK WAeoN KNOCKS cHILr DOWN.

Lena Tinic. years old. living az No. as
Essex street, IN front of Public School g., was
knocked down yesterday by a wagon filed with
junk An iron bar extending the tailboard
struck her. John Terney the driver was locked up
charge OF criminal negligence. The child was
only slightly hurt.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06

tho one family dwelling house the south side Of Long
fellow ave north Rodnlan Place; also for T.
Slayton o No. 1s2s Marmon ave. two fam
lily frame dwelling house.
Iaumeister & Co. sold for Teasdaie Realty Com
pany No Boston Road. a story single fathouse
stores. and 164th 81.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
TO ALTER HOUSES INTO LOTS.

Plans have been filed charging the two Four story
ana basement dwelling houses Nos and East S5th 81
and making them buildings Tor
William waldorf The improvements WIZ
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
s4oT AT BIRD; PEPPERED PrcNicKERs

81 Pa8l. July 5-Five persons. members Of n
rtcnic party ~ Yaira:s Lake north of this city.
were wounded yesterday afternoon by Benjamir
Douglass 4 member OF a party who intended 10
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
Help wanted-FemaIes.

y(TANTED-women in the laundry Harlem HosT1sa..
w no Sunday night work Wages. slS 20 go
month and maintenance Apply to Supervising w
Harlem Hospital. Lenox avenue and 1867 street. W.
York City
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
Public Notices.


80 sD-Tsances upon the ways aforesaid under -,
supervision and control OF the Municipal authoritss
having Jurisdiction under the Charter OF the City Of
All of Which is respectfully submitted and the san
stderatiCn OF honorable board respectfully -
quested. Dated New York, June q 100
THE UNITED ELECTRIC SERV1SE COMPANY.
Attest: Charles H. EhrenstrOu. Secretary.
State OF New York. County OF New York. Sc
On this Tth day OF June I9Ot before me personally
of the United Electric Service Company. with whom
am personally acquainted who being by me duly
The Mcaael Rayens that he the Presidsns.
OF 5he United Electric Service Company the corpora
ton described III and which executed tns foregoing
ana that he resided In the city. County
and State Of New York: the SAID Charles H Earsn-
strOm that he resided IN the Clty County and state
and the Secretary OF the United
Electric Service COMPANY me coporaton Described IN
they know the corporate seal OF said Company. and
that the seal affixed the foregoing instrument Is
such corporate seat that ~ was Stlxed by order
Board Directors OF said Company. and that
signed their names thereto by the IKE order as Presi
they executed the the free act and dead
OF the SAID Company and for the uses and purposes
CHARLES L. BROCKHEIM.
Notary Public. York County,
And the following resolutions were thereupoa
whereas the foregoing petition from the United
Electric Service Company. dated June Z. 1907. was
presented the Board OF Estimate and AppOrton-
ment at meeting held June IL 1907
Monday the Sth day OF July 1907, at 1890 o'clock tn
the forenoon and Room 10 in the City Hall Borough
Of Manhattan as the time and place when and where
such petition shall be first considered. and public
hearing be had thereon at which citizens shall be en-
titled to appear and be heard; ana De II r1rther
Resolved, that the Secretary is directed TO cause
such petition and these resolutions 20 De published for
at least two % days IN two daily newSpapsrs IN Tho
City of York, be designated by the Mayor. and
for at least ten dO3 DAYS in the City Record mme-
TONER
New York June II. 1901
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

horsef1esh. His tiny bare legs chung
to the sides of a mount with a tenacity
that nothing could dislodge. He was
entirely without fear and in the mad
excitement of finish would take the
most thrilling risks. l saw him ride
several races at the state fair grounds
in Topeka, and for abandon 1 have
never since seen his equal
Only once in his career as a jockey
did Curtis meet with disaster. 1t was
at Kansas City in the days of the old
Interstate Fair association. The horse
which the boy was to ride had a bad
reputation, and he was warned re-
peatedly as he entered the ring to look
out for himself. This particular horse
it seems, always bolted at a certain
point of the track. For that reason he
had always been ridden by the same
jockey, man who understood his pc
culiarities and governed himself ac-
cOrdingly. Off at the signal, the dark
skinned lad and his outlaw mount took
the advance and held it until the bolt
ing place was reached. At that fatal
spot the beast assumed his usual tao
ties and a fearful struggle ensued.
Finally boy and horse went in a con-
fused heap against a high board fence.
and the spectators shut their eyes and
shuddered. When the dust faded the
little jockey was picked up senseless
and covered with blood and dirt. He
bears the marks of that contretemps
to the present day.
He was a hustler. There was not a
suggestion of the traditional Indian
aversion to labor in his makeup. His
unfaltering and almost perpetual in
dustry is a tremendous blow to the So
called law of heredity. His remark
able abstinence from and even aver
sion for the vices that have brought
ruin to his race are quite as wonderful
under the circumstances. His environ
ment was not conducive to the incul-
cation of temperate disposition, yet
he never manifested the slightest in
clination to swerve from the path he
must have laid out for himself when
he was very young. He seemed to be
proof against the decentralization of
frontier life and immune from the COM
mon temptations of unrestrained
youth.
How did he do it? Nobody KIN Avs-
nobody but himself 1t is still land
ever will be a mystery to those who
remember the dissolute life of his ia
Their, the helplessness of his aged
grandparents, the almost impenetrable
murkiness of his environment. La Tour
cite, the handsome young Indianian
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02
Charles Curtis, New Senator From Sunflower Ste>te

Suppose we go and ask him." I sug-
gested, glad of any possible way out
of the difficulty.
The lad agreed, and we proceeded on
our way to consult his grandfather.
The Curtises lived in a big brick house,
then in an unfinished state, on the
north bank of the Kaw river, only a
short distance from the great new iron
bridge which SPAWNED that broad and
very shallow stream. Old Mr.. Curtis
and his wife received me with the
cordially that is feature of the west
ern temperament and insisted that l
should remain until the next day.
When mentioned that was expected
in Silver Lake on that very day to
close a land deal Mr.. Curtis promised
that if 1 would remain until after sup
per he would see that 1 reached my
destination. At supper / was intro
duced to the daughter, a good looking
bride of a few weeks, and her hus-
band, Charlie La Tourette. who after
ward took me and my bag out to Sill
yer Lake. At my special request the
little Indian lad was permitted to ac-
company US. 1t did not occur to me
az the time that he belonged to the
family. He was in no way like any
other member of it that 1 met on that
occasion
Later on I saw a good deal of the
boy. When I went to live in Topeka
found that the La Tourettes were my
next door neighbors. Their little In
dian nephew visited them frequently,
and it was then that learned his his
tory from the lips of his Aunt Emma
(Mrs. La Tourette). Her brother,
Captain Jack Curtis, the ne'er- do-wen
of the family, had married a well to
do Kaw half breed woman who was
both cultivated and beautiful. Her
husband had conducted himself so
shamefully that she died of a broken
heart, leaving two children. Charlie
and little girl who was one of the
most attractive creatures 1 have ever
known. There was no suggestion of
Kaw origin in her appearance. She
was blue eyed, with regular features
and light brown hair that hung in long
curls.
Captain Jack Curtis was what was
known as "a holy terror He was a
combination of bad man." broncho
buster and fire eater. He made short
work of his wife's estate and had sue
ceeded in reducing his father to very
straitened circumstances. He was a
frightful handicap to his family, es-
pecially to his children. who were ac-
customed to hide themselves in fear
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

its branches of more than 1000 miles.
1t is formed by the union of Green and
Grand rivers in the Rocky mountains
of Utah. After it enters Arizona it
runs for 500 miles through a chasm
which is one of the most wonderful
natural objects in America. This great
canyon of the Colorado consists of
nearly vertical limestone rock from
5000 to 5000 feet in height. After it
energies from this canyon the river
runs southwark and forms the bound
airy between Arizona and California,
finally entering the gulf of California
in Mexico
The trouble began more than fifteen
years ago, in the summer of 1891. The
earliest manifestation occurred at Sal
ton, station on the Southern Pacific,
about 100 miles from Yuma and $50
miles from Los Angeles. 1t is in a
basin $50 feet below the sea level. and
there was originally a salt lake in the
immediate vicinity. Salt works were
carried on, and a spur of the railroad
ran out to them. There was always q
little water in the salt lake, but not
enough to fill the basin which held it.
One fine hot day in July the water
began to rise. 1t kept rising until the
whole face of the country was covered
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

and nothing but water and sky was
visible. The railroad company organ
lied crew to explore the situation
and to find. if possible, the source of
the. new water supply. A boat was
launched on the lake, which had ex-
panded to a length of seventy miles
and a width of twelve.
At first there was great diversity of
opinion as to the origin of the food.
One of the explorers picked UP smelt
which is n salt water fish, and was
convinced thereby that the water was
the result of a cloudburst Some be-
lieved that the water came from the
gulf of California through a subter-
ranean passage opened by seismic
agency. Others insisted. they knew
not why, that it came from the Colo
RADIO. river. The water was tested. and
it went about Is per cent salt. The
water in the pool had averaged about
26 per cent while that of the ocean is
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

from submerging the entire Imperial
valley which under irrigation has be-
come one of the garden spots of the
world. Frequent breaks have occur
red. and great sums of money have
been expended both by the railroad
forces and by the civil authorities in
attempts to curb the onrushing Colo
RADIO Sometimes these efforts have
succeeded for awhile, but in the end
the torrent has resumed it's unruliness.
The Southern Pacific has expended
over $4,000 900 in six attempts to dam
the river. all of which have been in
effectual. 1t is now engaged on the
seventh trial.
At the present time not a drop of
water of the Colorado river reaches the
gulf of California The river bed is
perfectly dry below the great break
The Salton sea. into which the river
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

s per cent, so they could not determine
whether the newly arrived. fluid was
salt or fresh. 81 ~
These explorations were continued
several days. Finally. at point fifteen
miles southeast of. Salton, the party
struck current a mfle in width and
flowing like a mill race. That discov-
cry practically settled the question.
The water must come from tbs Colo
RADIO river, and the party returned and
made. a report to that effect. This
theory was confirmed soon afterward
by reports received from the country
in the vicinity of the river to the eff
feet that the stream had overlooked its
banks and filled many basins and the
new river which had been dug for ir-
rigating purposes.
Since then the engineers have had
their hands full in keeping the flood
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

has been pouring its entire volume for
almost two years, now covers about
270 square miles of land and is 80 feet
in depth in some places. Fully 5000
persons are affected by the last mum
dalton. Irrigation has been made
practically impossible in many places.
The present serious condition, it is
stated, was caused by efforts on the
part of the reclamation company to
lead part of the water of the Colorado
river into the Imperial valley for irri-
eating purposes. In 1901 ten miles of
the so called Alamo river channel were
dredged. and by a series of canals 100,
900 acres of land were irrigated and
made so fertile that 10000 persons are
now engaged in profitable farming
on it.
In time the mouth of the diversion
channel became choked with silt car
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

@ HE break in the bank of the
Colorado river has assumed
such proportions and the
damage already done is so
considerable that it has become a mat
ter of national concern. President
Roosevelt has been especially interest
ed in the matter and has more than
once expressed a willingness to CO.
operate with the California local au-
thorities in putting stop to the over
flow. The Southern Pacific railroad,
which traverses a portion of the flood
ed territory. is one of the chief suf-
ferers from the break, and the presi-
dent has finally induced Mr. Hartman
to undertake the job of turning back
the river into it's original channel
The break, it seems, is in Mexican
territory. Before anything radical can
be done it will be necessary to obtain
the consent of Mexico, and national CO.
operation in the reclamation of the
flooded district will require the au-
thorization of congress.
To comprehend the magnitude of the
business it will be necessary to make
a brief study of the Colorado river. It
is really one of the longest streams in
the world, having a length exclusive of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

who married his amiable Aunt Emma,
became proprietor of a notorious drink
ing and gambling resort known as the
Wallapus and met with moral and
financial shipwreck. This boy whose
Indian blood was so evident and his
lovely sister who showed no trace of it
were thrown on their own resources.
They met the issue with the divine
courage ST ambitious youth and came
forth trl blphantIy.
But not without struggle, at first
for very existence. Young Curtis
turned his hand to anything that Of
fered. For years he rode at races dur
ing the summer season and peddled
newspapers and fruit at the station
during the winter. Finally he was Of
fered a chance to drive a hack on
shares. 1t was a cherries makeshift.
but he made the best of it, 1t gave him
leisure to study, which was the one
thing he craved. He had made up his
mind to acquire an education. and
nothing could swerve him from the de-
termination.
BY the time young Curtis had reach
ed the age of sixteen he had qualified
himself to begin the study of the law.
Two months later he was trying cases
in the Justices courts, and in two
years he was admitted to the bar. In
1884 he was sent as delegate to a
political convention. and the same year
was elected county attorney of Shaw
nee county. He served two terms in
this office and made record. Although
he had been elected on the antiprohi-
bition- ticket he closed every one of the
eighty-five saloons in Topeka and kept
them closed four years. During his
official career he prosecuted and con-
victed a hundred saloon keepers and
never lost a whisky case. Twelve
years after his admission to the bar he
was sent to congress and has been in
Washington ever since, having been
member of the lower house for four
teen years.
Curtis career in congress has been
that of a busy man, a man of deeds.
He is remarkably loyal to his state and
has accomplished much for the In
dams. His political enemies-he has
hosts of them-deciare that he has
made friends of the mammon of I'M
righteousness in the form of railroad
corporations and the trusts. However
that may be, he will ever remain to
those who have known him from the
beginning the most remarkable ex-
ample of the self made man now living
on the great round earth.
JAMES E. Stafford.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

first person to whom he
spoke was Charles Curtis, who has
been elected recently to the United
States senate from Kansas. He wasn't
much of a parsonage in those days
An understood and very slender lad of
ten. clad in an unbleached muslin shirt
and pair of jean trousers suspended
by a single homemade "gallus. his
tawny skin showing through numerous
rents in his scants garments. his legs
and feet bare, his long black hair un-
covered and his small eyes a-glitter-
such was the future senator from the
Sunflower State at that period of life.
Il want to go to Silver Lake. 1 said,
stepping up to him as he stood on the
platform as motionless as the Indian
1 recognized him to be. 1 hardly ex-
pected him to speak. but he did with
out moments hesitation.
Then why didn't you stay on the
cars 2" he demanded in q shrill childish
treble.
but / didn't know 1 thought the
road stopped here" 1. stammered.
'It goes on to Wamego now" he ex-
planned laconically.
when is the next train2"
Tomorrow"
1t did not look promising. I proceed
ed to make a few further inquiries of
the boy, who was all the time regard
ing me with a look of the most i'm
perturbable gravity
How shall l manage it?" asked.
81 reckon you'll have to go over to
the south side and put up at the Cor
don House if you've got the nickel to
pay your bridge fare" he said. IF you
amt I reckon Cap Dowdell will give it
to you. Cap keeps yon saloon"
I'D rather get to Silver Lake" said
helplessly.
The lad shrugged and made a slight
grimace. IF 1 wanted to get to Silver
Lake mighty bad 1 know what I'd do
I'd foot it, you bet. It's only twelve
miles. I've walked it many a time
1t was midday. very hot and the dust
in the roadway along the track was
black and almost foot deep. I shook
my head.
s.I guess I'd rather hire some one to
carry me OUT said. do you know
anybody who would like the job?''
I'D like it-nighty we'll" he de-
clared. with an eager look in his gilt
tering eyes, IF my grandchildren only
ct me have the team. He wouldn't
housh,'
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

ried down by the swift Colorado. Then
the irrigation company excavated q
new channel, which was finished in
November, 1904. Originally this ditch
was fifty feet in width, but a flood in
the river quickly widened and deepen
ed it. More water flowed into the canal
than could be used. The surplus flow
ed into the old Salton basin and even
tually spread over the surrounding
country. Finally the entire irrigated
district of the fertile Imperial valley
was threatened with overflow and con-
sequent ruin.
Some of the measures employed to
throw the river back in it's proper
channel were very ingenious, but none
of them was entirely successful. First
an attempt was made by means of a
light jetty of piling and brush to form
a sand bar and thus divert the flow of
the river. This proved to be a failure.
Then the Southern Pacific engineers
built a pile dam across the channel,
but at high water the brush mat foun-
dations were undermined. 1t was then
determined to throw a massive rock
and gravel dam across the channel.
This last operation was conducted
with great skill and attention to de-
tail. Branch railroads were laid, and
LOO piles, 1900 cords of willows for
mattresses, forty miles of steel cable
Half a million yards of earth were
made ready to be dumped into place.
and eight locomotives, an army of
mules and horses and more than 1000
laborers were employed. The dam
was advanced from both banks stimuli
taneously. Long trains of gravel and
rock were drawn out over trestles and
their contents dumped into the torrent.
Finally the passage was closed and the
river went back to it's original bed
! and once more flowed down to the gulf
of California.
| But not for long. A month later sud-
den rise in the river undermined the
poorly constructed levees south of the
former break and the water resumed it's
course into the Salton sea. President
Roosevelt, however. is convinced that
the Southern Pacific company is best
prepared to undertake the final sub
/ jugation of the Colorado and has in
corporated his belief in a message to
congress. Governor Pardee of Cali
fornia and Senator Flint have been
active in their appeals for immediate
action. and although the problem has
become an international one it is quite
likely to be solved by Edward H. Har-
riman. SILAS o. WOODSON.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

fessional, daredevil little rider of any
half broken specimen of horsef1esh
whose owner was anxious to exploit
for all he was worth. That the small
son of Captain Jack Curtis made
success of this avocation is true only
in a very limited sense. He could ride
absolutely anything in the shape Of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

That is precisely what he did. Left
to his own resources, he proceeded to
grow up with the country. At that
time the capital had scant 5000
population, but it was growing rapidly
and there was abundant opportunity
to distinguish oneself.
He began as jockey-a nonpro-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

infrequent visits to the house on the
kaw river The grandparents were old
and discouraged and could do little for
the children. The La Tourettes even
tually took charge of the girl, Eliza
beth, and Charlie was left to look out
for himself