davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
KING OF cANNlRAL ISLANDS.
After Becoming Convert to Christian
ity, Makes Great Reparations.

Strange and wonderful tales Of the
cannibals of the southern Pacific were
told by Rev. John Hopkins Denison,
pastor of the Central Congregational
church, who has recently returned
from the island of New Britain, of the
coast Of New Guinea, says the Boston
Transcript. Rev. Mr.. Denfson told Of
his personal observations Of the habits
of cannibals, and especially those who
had recently been converted. The most
remarkable case was that Of Tobogo, a
native chieftain, who, according to the
account given by Rev. Mr.. Den1son,
had gone with his sling into neigh
boring village and killed five men
against whom he cherished a grudge.
He carried all five bodies back to his
own hut and ate them one by one.
Shortly after this he was converted to
Christianity. He then returned toathe
village and made speech. Mounting
q stump In the presence Of q vast as
semblage, he said: Once ] killed my
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

G ECRETARY WILSON is another
~ Of the cabinet to have put in
some strenuous travelling while in.
specting conditions In his department
In the west. He looked into the big
timber reserves, and Secretary Gar
field Investigated while absent the
public lands, Indian questions, etc.,
forming an important part Of the work
of the interior department. He spent
only two weeks actual vacation at
his home in Ohio.
The vacations of the other cabinet
officers were entirely for recuperative
purposes. Secretary Of the Treasury
Cortelyou spent the summer on his
farm on Long Island, near the presi-
dents home at Oyster Bay, and only
an hours ride from New York. Hence
he. was able to keep in close touch
with the financial situation, and his
actual presence here was not essen.
tial.
Secretary Of the Navy Metcalf went
to California, his home state, and
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

New Jersey and is man OF educatlon-
He reenlisted in the Fifteenth infantry
at the outbreak of the Spanish war,
went to the Philippines and was with
his regiment when it was attacked by
natives in the island of Samar In 1901.
He was seriously wounded in the abb
domen and lay in the hospital for six
months
After recovery he was on picket
duty one day when two Filpinos be-
gan quarreling and one of them tried
to obtain his gun to shoot his adver-
sary. Rhoades pushed him away, and
when he made the second attempt to
get the gun Rhoades struck him with
the butt of the gun and the man died.
For that he was court-martialed and
Gen. Grant sentenced him to so years
in prison.
He was sent to Bilbeb Bib prison on
the island of Luzon and afterward
transferred to Alcatraz military prison
near San Francisco Representative
Norman P. Otis, J. L. Otis and 9th r
influential men who had known him,
laid the case before President ROose-
welt, and <Rhoades was ,pard,ned last
August. Then he started east and
when he reached New York, where he
had last seen his wife, he learned thst
she had believed him dead and hal
long ago been married to Charles Hos.
knS.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
REJECTED SUITOR THREATENS
DAUGHTER OF CLERGYMAN
WITH DEATH.
IS RESCUED BY THE MINISTER
Young Woman, Breaking Down, Tells
Story to Pastor When About to
Tie Knot, Who overpowers
Escort

Asbury Park, N J.-Through an ap-
peal to the police for protection, Miss
Belle Grouse, of Stanhope, N. j., made
public a story of an alleged attempt
by Perry C. Bissell; of the same town.
to make her become his bride prac.
tically at the muzzle of revolver
Her narrative astonished persons who
knew the young man favorably as a
student in the State Normal school in
Trenton and as Sunday school teach
er and choir singer in the First Pres
byterian church OF Stanhope. Miss
Crouse's father, Rev. N. P. Grouse, is
pastor of that church, and Bissells
parents are among it's leading men,
bers. Nevertheless, ardent wooing of
the girl by the singer was discouraged
resolutely by both her father and
mother, and the other day the young
woman after conference with her
parents, wrote to Bissell that she did
not wish to receive his attentions any
further.
Bissell, her story goes, evidently
was made frantic by receipt of the
letter. He hurried from Trenton to
Stanhope, and went directly to the
parsonage, but in the meantime the
Crouses had gone to Ocean Grove. for
a brief stay. Bissell learned their
whereabouts, and followed them to
the resort. He did not obtain their
Ocean Grove address, but he walked
the streets in the hope of meeting a
member of the family. To his mani
fest delight, he encountered the girl
herself in front of a drug store. He
excitedly demanded that she consent
| to an immediate marriage She de-
clined to do so, and urged him to
leave the town. He refused, and for
| two hours they stood or strolled in
the street, the young man alternately
imploring and commanding the young
woman to become his wife, Miss
Grouse repeating her request that he
! go away from Ocean Grove
The pastors daughter suspected nc
danger, though she saw her sutton was
highly excited. Bissell is % years old
and bears an excellent reputation
She did not dream he would do her an
injury or even seek to frighten hel
with threat. She was shocked as
we'll as startled, therefore, when, pull
ing open side pocket in his coat, he
showed her a revolver and told hel
he was prepared to use it if she per
sisted in rejecting him.
If you don't marry me I'll shoot
you and shoot myself" he said, thu
! girls story runs.
you're joking, aren't you?" she an
swered, trying to gain time, though
even yet she did not believe he wa:
in earnest.
Think so? Look here" he replied
taking the pistol out of his pocket ant
showing the cartridges to her. Sh'
saw the weapon was loaded and in
stantly the dread of tragedy seizet
her. But she conquered her fear ant
maintained her composure. He wen
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

the astonished pastor she did not
it was only because he menaced her
with revolver that she accompanied
him to the parsonage.
Bissell thereupon made a movement
toward the young woman, which she
and DR.. Giffin thought was an attempt
to attack her. With a spring the pas.
tor threw his arms about the student,
pinioning him. Miss Grouse begged
the divine to protect her, and he
promised to do So He held Bissell a
captive until the girl had time to reach
her temporary home in Ocean Grove.
Then, supposing she was safe, he re-
leased the singer.
But Bissell was not dissuaded from
his resolve to win the girl. He has
! tened from DR.. Giffin's home to that
| in which the Crouses were staying,
and when he could not get in by the
door broke into the dwelling through
window Confronted by member
of the family, he demanded, with much
excitement, to see Miss Grouse. He
was informed she was not at home,
whereupon he rushed out of the house
in search of her. A messenger was
sent for a policeman, and he was
asked to guard the girl from danger.
| The bluecoat went through several
streets before he found Bissell, who
still apparently was looking for Miss
Grouse Instead of arresting the
young man the policeman took him to
the railroad station and sent him
away on a train.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

:" Willie's wife procured a. divorce from
him and married Gerrits s Wheaton,
a welcome, guest al Canonchet FOR
three years. Wheaton was million
aire; Willie .Sprague was an cratic
genius, at times exceptionally bril-
liant, always fmpulsive, loving and At
fectionate. 49,,
Canonchet was having it's house par
ties and the halls were aglow with
oriental splendor. The Florentine
fountain of the dining-room was trick
ling it's crystals to the idle after-din-
ner chat of surfeited company.
It was October, 1890, and the night
was chill when this self-absorbed party
suddenly learned the news of Willie
Sprague's death. He had shot him
self in a laborer's tent in the suburbs
of Tacoma. The sign of blood was
again upon the house of tragedy. A
few days thereafter, when the poor
boys wasted body was being brought
home, final letter which he had ad-
dressed to his father came to light.
1t had been written in a tent assigned
to young Sprague as one Of gang
of road labOrers. In it he recited
some of his hardships. The boy com.
planned of the coarse quality of his
breakfast that day. Here the letter
abruptly terminated. His body was
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

long overseas journeying. Leaving
Washington on June 20. he went first
to Montreal, on one Of the longest in
spection tours ever undertaken by
cabinet officer. He visited immigra-
ton stations along the Canadian line
from Montreal to Winnipeg and Van
couver, going thence to Seattle and
San Francisco and sailing from that
port on July rs for Honolulu, where he
arrived on July 81. On his return he
visited the Yellowstone National park,
but this part Of the trip was entirely
one of pleasure, and was at the secre-
tary's personal expense.
On this trip he was accompanied by
his wife, son, daughter and private Sec
rotary, only Secretary straus' own ex-
penses, of course, being borne by the
government. It is estimated at the
department of commerce and labor
that Secretary Straus' trip cost the
government not more than $1,000
And it is claimed for it that it was Of
immense business benefit to the de-
partment.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
Speaker Cannon has been enlisted

Speaker Cannon has been enlisted
in the movement and promises to
skate all the way down the avenue on
the opening day, with John, Sharp
Williams. the minority leader. Mr..
Williams and Mr., Cannon have been
practicing holding each others hands,
and while this has been a little diff
cult because of Mr.. Cannon's greater
speed, they have now got so that they
can keep step fairly well. Mr.. Will
liams will 60 to the speakers house
on the opening day and make the start
with him.
Senator Bailey at first held aloof on
the ground that it would not look dig.
nified to skate in frock coat, and
that he declines to remove that gar.
ment for any consideration. His
friends, however, have put forth such
strong arguments that in a letter re-
ceived here the other day Mr.. Bailey
promises to skate, frock coat and all
if his rival and foe, Senator Culberson
can be induced to do likewise. Cul
berson wears cutaway, but it is be
heved he will consent.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
LSSL,ED .TO!AL-TAR.
AT*PLSTOL POINT

on talking, and as she listened to him
she resolved to keep cool until she
should reach place where she could
be sure of finding a defender. Re-
luctantly she entered a cab with him
and they went to the home of Rev. DR..
c.. M. Giffin.
Bissell, in the parsonage, asked DR..
Giftin to marry them. The pastor,
putting the usual questions and salts
flying himself there was no impedi-
ment to the match in the eyes of
church or state, was about to go
through the ceremony of marriage
when Miss Grouse, who all the time
had restrained her feelings with diff
ficulty, rushed from her suitors side
to the minister's and cried that the
young man was trying Ito force her
into matrimony. She hurriedly told
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

r HE loss to the government pension
! roll, during the fiscal year 1907,
by the death Of civil war veterans,
was 31.207, leaving the names Of 644,-
338 survivors Of that war on the roll
June 30, 1907. During the year 1898
more soldiers of the civil war died
than during the preceding year.
The total number OF pensions on the
roll at the end Of the fiscal year just
ended was 967,371. The net loss to
the roll for the year was 41S, 600, which
was the greatest net loss for any year
since Uncle Sam began. TO pension his
soldiers. The present fiscal year be-
gan with the smallest number Of pen
sioners remaining on the roll since
1893. *@- =: -.
The amount disbursed for pensions
during the year was $138,155, 412. 46.
This money was paid to the pension
ers from 10 agencies throughout the
country, the: largest amount being
paid from the agency at Topeka, Kan,
which includes Colorado, Kansas, Mis-
souri,, Oklahoma. Indian Territory and
New! Mexico. T. The amount paid from
Topeka was i@15.807, 1884, and the
number Of pensioners on the roll at
that agency was 1,508, or 2,0S9 less
than June 80, 1906 Missouri, at the
end of theEyear had: 49, 1896 pensioners,
who received $500, 729.74.
These figures and facts are con
tanned in the annual report Of Pension
Commissioner Warner. The report
shows that the pension roll reached
the high-watermar January 80. 1905.
An analysis Of the pension roll on
June 80, 1907, shows the interesting
fact that there were at that time three
daughters Of soldiers Of the revolution
arg war still drawing pensions.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
SOME MEMBERS ABSENT ON
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

spent his entire vacation tramping
through the mountains around Sacra-
mento hunting small game, while Sec
rotary Root, in addition to spending
some time at his home in New York,
took the now famous cure for several
weeks at Mu1doon's.
During his absence from Washing
ton Postmaster General Meyer, with
the exception Of about ten days, when
he was fishing in Canada, kept in close
touch with the postal affairs in Wash
ington, and Secretary Taft, while he
was at Murray Bay, Canada, also
found time to keep up with the more
important matters requiring action by
the head Of the war department.
Attorney General Bonaparte, In ad-
dition to spending about month at
Lenox, was absent at different times
during the summer at his home, near
Baltimore, but he was at Washington
every few days attending to important
legal business of the government, 20
that it is hard to classify him.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
Iona Toe Nails Divorce Cause.

Bloomington, ll.-Long untrimme
toe nails tipped with razor like edges
were the causes for which Mrs. Hen,y
Newland was granted divorce in TIE
Fulton county court. She said her hus-
band used these nails with peculiar
dexterity, often causing her intense
pain. .r,-
By the finding of the court in this
case, husbands must trim their tie
nails or render themselves liable in q
suit for marital freedom. -
1t has been judiciously determined
that husband may not, with impuni-
ty, use his long neglected toe nails as
weapons of torture upon his wife.
s. Coessa Newland's husband is N
Canada He did not fight the case,
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

and that eventually she would inherit
the house of tragedy, the home Of a
thousand memories of bygone days.
But their silence did not mean con-
sent. For when all their plans had
been FORMULATED, Gov. and Mrs.
Sprague instructed their lawyer,
Henry Wellington Wack, of New York,
to arrange for the sale of the historic
estate, just as it now stands. A; great
inheritance has been forfeited because
a young girl saw fit to make a shop
ping trip to Providence and then sud.
denly make up her mind to get mar
ried.
Fall back A. years and march along
with the events of the time, a time
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

hers, she was the queenly leader Of
Washington's social and official life.
And what was her quest? The older
generation will recall the plot and the
Interpreting of those years to make
Salmon P. Chase president of the
United States. The fact that this great
ambition of daughter was never graf
flied was probably the precursor Of
that adverse fate which has relent-
lessly pursued and gnawed the heart
of every Sprague ambition felt since
that time.
Early in her married life Kate Chase
Sprague built Canonchet, on an estate
Of $50 acres at Narragansett pier.
The house was at that time
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
siahtseers In New Zealand.

Sl0htSeefS IN new zealand.
One Of the numerous activities OF
the New Zealand government is q
Estate tourists department" The re-
port for the year ended June 80 an
nounces that 1854 sightseers, were
hustled around the beauty spots of the
colony, as against 7,142 during the
previous year. They left about $780,
900 behind them. The branch Offices
Of the department in Sydney and Mel
bourne have proved so successful that
others are to be started elsewhere
Moreover, new officer is to be at
tached to the high commissioners
staff in London, and he will specialize
on bringing New Zealand's attractive.
ness as a tourists resort under the
notice of the travelling public of Great
Britain and Ireland. a.,
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

Fate's Relentless Pursuit.
In the autumn OF 1897 Mrs. Inca
sprague; having studied grand opera
with some of the best French and
Italian masters, appeared in Boston
and made her debut with the Boston
Symphony orchestra. Among other
numbers she sang the suicide aria
from the opera "Gioconda." Boston
critics caused Mrs. Sprague to quit
her proposed tour and. return to
France. Defeat lay in ambush wher~
ever a Sprague ventured forth. That
same year Mrs. Kate Chase died in
poverty in Washington.
Five years ago Gerrit S. Wheaton
died and left his large interest in
Standard OH to his young widow, sis
ter of Mrs. 1nez Sprague, one time
wife Of Willie Sprague, and mother
Of 1nez Sprague the second. The lat
ter was beautiful girl. And she has
just blasted the great hopes of the
little war governor" and his wife, by
clipping with Harry Williams Stiness,
son of Chief Justice John H. Stiness,
Sprague's implacable enemy in the
Rhode Island supreme court, between
whose family and the clan Sprague
feud has existed since 1874.
Marriage Promised Much.
Many had courted the girl. Finally
last year, when she was p, she be-
came engaged to young Winpenny,
member of prominent PENNSYLVANIA
family. BY this marriage, the
Wheaton fortune, coupled with Canon.
Chef and it's acres, might yet make the
score even between the Spragues and
their enemies.
But fate was against it.
One day last spring Miss Inez an.
nounced the breaking of her engage.
ment to Mr.. Winpenny. On a day IN
June she left Canonchet to 60 shop
ping in Providence. There on June
q, at st. Stephens church, she mar.
rfed Harry Williams Stiness without
previous announcement. Rev. Her.
bert Barker. performed the ceremony.
W. c. Rhoades and Wurst White were
witnesses. The spirited young lady
was not to be bothered with the forms
and frills Of conventional marriage,
It is merely a matter of theory that
the acquisition Of a husband on her
shopping tour was the item Of chief
concern to Miss 1nez. There was 4
new hat, for instance.
And because Of it Canonchet goes
under the hammer at once. The
Spragues are to quit Rhode Island and
America forever.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

We cannot tell whether it is one Il
those fake, self-slipping knees or no..
So we pay the man his money, and b.
seeks new pastures.
There was one man-he is in jail
now-who in nine years collected over
$11 900 in accident policies with the
help Of knee that he could slip oct
as easily as slip my hand out of N.Y.
glove"
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
Matrimonial Coincidence.

/. A matrimonial coincidence was Gre
;ated by the marriage at Rugby of May
Annie Bluemel, youngest daughter of
!Mr. and Mrs. c. W.. Bluemel, of Rug.
by, to Thomas dollhouse, of London.
On. the same day the parents of; the
bride. celebrated their silver, wedding,
while the grandparents of tine tride,
Mr., and Mrs. c. a. Bluemel, Of For
est Gate, celebrated their golden wed
ding. 4. 5 ..ss..z =
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
PENSION ROLL OF THE
GOVERNMENT ON DECLINE

The names of 55S widows of the
war of 1912 remained on the roll at
the close of the last fiscal year.
II there were no deaths during the
present fiscal year it would require
$40, $50, $50 to pay Uncle Sans pen
sioners. The average annual value Of
each pension is $145.60, this being IN
increase Of $7.42 over last year.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13

Sprague succeeded in accomplishing
their design. 1t soon became evident
that the fate of the A. and w. Sprague
concerns, estimated to be worth $780,
100000, would be destruction. The
ySpragues had been ,ambushed. When
the concerns failed in 1873, with more
than $30,000,000 in actual assets and
less than $11,000,0o0 of Indebtedness,
the state of Rhode Island was almost
Frustrated. z. Chaffee was appointed
trustee of the estate. The courts
wrestled with it for more than 20
years, and enterprises which once in
volved all of Rhode Island were laid
waste.
Domestic discord and estrangement
now interviewed to madden the prin.
cfpals in this drama. The three daugh-
tiers of Gov. Sprague and Kate Chase
were being educated abroad. willie
Sprague, as he was called, the only
son, a strange composite of genius
and impulsive youth, was still at
home.
Robert Thompson had been appoint
ed trustee for the personal estate of
his mother. On November 6, 1888
Willie was arrested for shooting at
Thompson as he attempted to visit
Canonchet. The boy was largely given
to impulse all his life. A court in
quiry resulted in his discharge.
Separated by Divorce.
Meantime, Kate Chase brought her
sensational suit for divorce. Gov.
Sprague filed counter charges. So
ciety glutted itself with gossip of the
case. A compromise was finally effect.
ed by which both these charges were
withdrawn and charge of cruelty in
terposed. On May 81, 1882, Kate
Chase-Sprague got the decree divorc
ing her and giving her the right to re-
sumo her maiden name and the Gus
tody of the three daughters, Ethel
Portia and Kitty.
On March 8, 1888, the governor mar
ried his present wife. She was Dora
1nez Weed, of Virginia. She was Their
Is and Gov. Sprague So. They imme
diately went to Canonchet, where Mrs
Sprague has since reigned as its chat
elaine.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-11-13
7.
Historic .Canonchet,
"House of Tragedy -
Will No Longer Be
Home of Spragues

tn OR SALE. A HIGHLY I'M
|A proved estate at Narragansete
Pier, r. l., consisting of $50 acres
of land. with beautifully furn-
lshed mansion, upon which and the
stables greenhouses and other buildings
about 81, 000, 900 have been expended. This
property is historically known as Can
onchet," the palatial home which Kate
Chase Sprague daughter of Salmon p.
Chase) built about IS years ago at the
cost stated.
So runs the circular-the house Of
tragedy goes under the hammer! Who
wants to buy it?
You may have it, with the story Of
the loves and hates of men and wom-
en- Of half century ago. With it go
memories of other days; of duels and
divorce; of Opponents, suicides, scan
dals and law suits without number
Here Roscoe Conkling was once an
honored guest; and here law, diplo-
macy and political strategy were made
and unmade. Blaine, Garfield, Beecher,
Tilden, Ben Butler, Greeley, Dana,
Grant were all honored guests here.
Its rooms and halls are redolent with
memory today as they were three de-
cades ago.
Who wants to buy? Name your
price.
Canonchet, once TIA handsomest es-
tate on the Atlantic Coast, is for sale
to the highest bidder. It is on the mar
ket because a girl chose to defy her
parents-Inez Sprague has eloped with
the son of her grandfather's bitterest
enemy.
AS last of the direct line of the
Spragues, she was to have inherited
this baronial estate, worth at least ST.
o00, 900 to-day. But she broke her en-
gagement with j. Harold Winpenny, of
Philadelphia, stayed in seclusion a
year and then eloped with Harry Will
fans Stiness, son Of Judge Stiness,
associate justice of the supreme court
Of Rhode Island.
Can Never Forgive Her.
He did his utmost to accomplish
my financial ruin," declared William
Sprague, who was war governor Of
Rhode Island when the north and
south decided to discuss their differ
ences at the lannon's mouth. II can
never forgive her."
The governor and Mrs. Sprague, his
second wife, retired to Canonchet to
make their plans. In order to gain
time they said not word when it was
asserted that they had forgiven the
eloping bride and that she and the
bridegroom would be welcomed there,