davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

dead. 1t wasn't grief that killed him
either, though at one time his grief
came uucommonly near killing US.
1t Is an odd sort of yarn. too. be-
cause one part Of it never got to head
quarters. and another part Of 1t never
got from headquarters.
How, for instance, the mysterious
car was ever started from Chicago on
such a delirious schedule. how many
men In the service know that even
yet?
How. for another instance, Sinclair
and Francis took the ratty old car reel
Ing into Denver with the glass shriv-
eled. the paint blistered. the hose burn
ed and Il tire sprung on one of the
Five-Nine's drivers. how many head
quarters slaves know that?
Our end OF the story never went In
at all--never went In because It was
not deemed-well. essential to the get
ting up Of the annual report. We could
have raised their hair; they could have
raised our salaries. but they didn't; we
didn't.
In telling this story l would not be
misunderstood. Ours Is not the only
line between Chicago and Denver.
There are others. admit 1t. But there
Is only one line. all the same. that
could have taken the McWilliams Spe-
cial, as we did. out Of Chicago ut 4 In
the evening and put it in Denver long
before noon the next day.
A communication came from great
La Sale street banker to the president
of our road. Next the second vice
president heard Of It. but in this way:
"Why have you turned down Peter
McWilllams' request for special to
Denver this afternoOn" asked the
president.
HE wants too much" came back
over the private wire. 1--WE can't do
It."
After satisfying himself OH this point
the president called up La Sale street.
"Our folks say, Mr.. McWilliams, we
simply can't do It."
"You must do It."
"When will the car be readyT
"At 3 O'clock"
"When must It be In DenverT
"Ten o'clock tomorrow morning"
The president nearly Jumped the
wire.
"AicWilliams. you're crazy. What on
earth do you meanT'
The talk came back 80 low that the
wires hardly caught 1t. There We're oc-
casional Outbursts such as, situation
is extremely critical" Grave dam
GER" Acute Distress" Must help me
out"
But none of this would ever have
moved the president had not Peter
McWilllams been bigger man than
most corporations. and personal re-
quest from Peter. II he stuck for 1t.
could hardly be refused. and for this
he most decidedly stuck.
II tell you 1t will turn us upside
down." stormed the president.
do you recollect," asked Peter Nc
williams. when your internal old pot
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26


eyed rsnn.
of road was busted eight years ago
you were turned inside out then,
weren't you? And hung up to dry.
weren't you?"
The president did recollect He
could not decently help recollecting.
And he recOllected how. about that
same time, Peter McWilliams had one
week taken up for him a matter Of
two millions floating with personal
check and carried 1t eighteen months
without security when money could
not be had In Wall street on govern
ment bonds.
Do you-that Is, have You hereto
fore supposed that railroad belongs
to the stockholders! Not 30. 1t be-
longs to men like Mr.. McWilliams,
who own 1t when they need It AT
other times they let the stockholdsrs
carry it-untll they want 1t again.
"We'll do what we can, Peter" re-
piled the president. desperately anna
BILE. "GOodby."
l am giving you only an inkling OF
how II started. not q word as to now
countless orders were Issued ano
countless schedules were Cancelled. no,
a paragraph about numberless trains
abandoned In toto and numberless oth
ers pulled and hauled and held and
annulled. The McWilliams Special In
twinkle tore great system into great
splinters.
II set master mechanics BY the ear
and made reckless falsi6ers Of previ
| ously conservative trainmen. 1t made
uudyiug enemies Of rival superintend
ents and lnclplent paretlcs OF jolly
train dlspatchers. 1t shivered us from
end to end aud stem to stern. but I
covered l.O26 miles Of the best steel II
the world In rather better than twent,
| hours and blaze Of glory.
INV word Is out" said the presidsn
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

Many remarkable things appear In the
last annual report Of the secretary OF
agriculture. The farm %roducts OF 1905
had a farm value Of %, 800. 600, 600, half
billion over 1905 and in excess OF two
billions moro than the products OF the
census year 1900. Corn remains by far
the most valuable crop, estimated Of
81, ,10O, ,OO0, 900. while cotton, next on the
list, including seed, was worth to its
growers $40, 100000. Thus King Corn
Knocks out King Cotton and becomes
easily monarch of all he surveys"
Hay is third at $500, 600, 900. wheat,
$50. .OOO. 900; oats $500, ,000, 900; potatoes,
Sl5O, ,OOO, ,0OO.-American Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26


truss NJ Eft.
Meantime George Sinclair was ty-
ing silk handkerchief around his
neck, while NeIghbor Save li.@! part
Ing lnjunctions. AS he put up his foot
to swing into the cab the boy looked
for all the world like jockey, toe In
stirrup. Neighbor glanced Mt his watch.
"Can you make it by II o'c!ock? he
growlcd.
MAKE what!'
"Denver."
"Denver or the ditch. Neighbor."
laughed George. testing the mir. Are
you right back there. Pat?" he called
rs Conductor Francis strobe forward
% compare the mountain time.
Right and tight. and call it five
two thirty now. What have you. Geor-
gief"
"Fivc-two-th -thirty.twO." answered SIN
clair. leaning from the cab window.
"And we're ready"
"Then gor' cried Pat Francis. rails
ing two fingers.
Cor echoed Sinclair. and waved a
backward smile to the crowd as the
pistons took the push aud the escapes
wheezed.
A roar went up. The little engineer
shook his cap, and with flirting. snak-
ing slide the McWilli.ams Special drew
slipping away between the shining
rails for the Rockies.
Just how McWilliams felt we had no
means OF knowing. hut we knew our
hearts would not beat freely until his
Internal special should slide safely
owe. the last OF the PIG miles which
still lay between tie distressed man
aud his unfortunate child.
From McCloud to Oyalalla there Is
good bit Of twisting and Slowing. bu'
looking east from Athens marble
dropped between the rails might roll
clear into the Ogalalla yards. 1t Is
sixty mile grade. the ballast OF Stag
and the sweetest. sprinsiest bed undel
steel.
TO cover those sixty miles In better
than fifty minutes was like picking
them Off the ponies. and the Five-Nint
breasted the Morgan divide. frettinl
for more hills to climb.
The -Nine-for that matter IN!
of the skyscrapers are built to balance
ten or II dozen sleepers. and when yot
run them light they have d fashion ol
roofing their noses into the track. A
II. odest up grade just about counters
this tendency but OH slump and
stiff clip and no tail to speak OF yot
feel as lf the drivers were going Il
buck UP OH the ponies every once II
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

Sunny Slope, Cal, enjoys the dis
tinction Of being the largest vineyard In
the world. It 10 situated amidst the
most beautiful scenery Of that favored
land, two miles from San Gabriel. Of .
total of 1900 acres, 735 are devoted TO
grape vines, tho remainder being dis
tributed among orange. lemon and olive
trees.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26
"Not today" said NeIghbor grimly.

"Not today" said Neighbor grimly.
"We haven't time"
Just then Sinkcrs rushed at the bag.
gage car with cup Of hot coffee for
Mr.. McWilliams. Everybody, hoping
to get peep ut the capitalist. made
way. SInkers climbed over the train
chests which were lashed to the plat.
forms and pounded on the door. He
pounded hard. for he hoped and be-
lleved that there was something In It.
But he might have pounded till his
coffee frozc for all the impression It
made on the sleepy McWilliams.
Hasn't the man trouble enough
without tackling your chicOry?" sang
out Felix Kennedy, and the laugh so
discouraged Sinkers that he gave over
and sneaked away.
At that moment the editor Of the To-
cal paper came around the depot cor
ner on the run. He was out for an In
tervlew and. as usual, just trifle late.
However, he insisted on boarding the
baggage car to tender his sympathy to
McWilllams.
The barricades bothered him, but he
mounted them all and began m emer-
gency pound on the forbidding blind
door. Imagine his feelings when the
door was gently opened by sad eyed
man, who opened the ball by showing
rifle US big rs pinch bar under the
editorial nose.
"AIy grief. Mr.. McWilliiams." pro-
tested the interviewer In q trembling
voice, don't imagine I want to hold
you mp. Our citizens are all peacea-
ble"-
"Get outr'
"Why. man, I'm not even asking for
a subscription. I simply went to ten
"Get out" snapped the man with the
gun. and In foam the newsman
climbed down. A curious crowd gath.
ereSl close to hear an editorial version
of the Ten Commandments revised OH
the spur Of the moment. Felix Ken.
nedy said 1t was worth going miles to
hear. That's the coolest deal ever
struck ON the plains, boys" declared
the editor. "Talk about your bereav'
ed parents. II the boy doesn't have n
chill when that man reaches him ]
miss my guess. He acts to me as II
he was afraid his grief would get
away before he got to Denver"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

Il was bad time for car shortage,
With 28O, ,OOO, 600 more bushels OF corn
and wheat and 2,500, 900 more bales OF
cotton than in any other year to be
shipped. The railroads will have TO
hump themselves to keep up with the
A merican farmers.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26
Dickc1s' lnterost In Inns.

"Pickwick" Is the very Odyssey Il
inns and travel, for the youthful Dick
ems had traversed England as a re.
porter. and IN "Plckwick" alone no
fewer than ifty-fve inns, taverns. etc.
in London and the provinces are men.
toned and often described at length
London Chronicle.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

, belongs to the
stories at
q ev er were
told, this Of the
McWilliams
Special. Butit
happened years
ago, and for
that matter
McWilliams 10
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26
LIQUID Spirits.

81 don't give money to tramps
What do you do for a livingT
'Please, mum, !. work for the Socl
oty OF Psychical Research"
"Indeed. And what work do you
do for the society. prayT
II help In tile investigation OF mate
rial spIrits. Baltimore American.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

Hard knocks often help to make the
man. but he will encounter plenty o:
them without purposely getting In the
way Of the rock as II comes rolling
down the hlll.-Macomb Eagle.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

This 10 the time Of year to weed out
the Improbable cows and give your best
stock the care they deserve.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

Al soon - one soiling crop begins 70
lose its grssnness, another snouid %
ready to take its place In the success,on.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

The change She Wanted.
Stella-Do you advocate changes "
spelling? Bella-Only Miss to Mrs-
Tit Bits
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26
AMONG THE FARMERS.
SPEED THE PLow."

on practical Agricultural topics
10 solicited. Address all communications In.
tended for this department to HENRY d,
HAMMOND. Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
ocrat. Paris, Ne.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26
FOR SALE.

FOR SALE.
One OF the best investments in South
Paris, on High Street. Eighteen.room
house, finished in three rents. Large
stable connected. Several acres of land.
Also three house lots In desirable local
ity. Contemplated removal only cause
for sale.
J.H. STUART, South Paris.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26
Where her Father Was.

The daughter Of the house had just
returned from boarding school, Her
finishing branches had made her a lit
tie sensitive.
"Is your father out In the wood shell
splitting wOodY' the caller asked her.
mo" replied the naughty girl: pa
pa is Mt the town meeting splitting In
6nitiyes." Plain Dealer.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
PLAGUE In FRISCO
-FOUR DEATHS HAVE RESULTED
FROM DREAD DISEASE.
Bactcriologlsts EyilI Make War on To-
dents Which Are Believed to Spread
Infection--Cases Within Two
Blocks of Old Chinatown.

Five cases Of bubonic plague, four
of which have resulted in death, have
been reported to the health depart
ment of san Francisco within the past
week. The patients, with one excep-
tion, were of the poorer class of for
eigners dwelling in the neighborhood
of old Chinatown. The exception was
a foreign sailor for a coastwise steam
er. Prompt and active measures were
eral authorities, and a spread of the
disease is not feared.
The first intimation in Washington
of the bubonic plague in San Francis
co was received Thursday by the ma
rine hospital service. The telegram
read:
Three cases and death, plague, San
Francisco. Diagnosis made clinically
and by stained smears from spleen
and glands. No reasonable doubt as
to certainty of diagnosis of cases seen
and verified by Long in conjunction
within two blocks of old Chinatown"
On receipt OF this information in
stfucllonS were sent 10 surgeon AUS
tin TO confer with the state and local
authorities and make a full report on
the measures adopted for eradication.
Surgeon Austin telegraphed that
two foci had been discovered and that
the local board had disinfected known
infected buildings and proposed to in
stitute a campaign against rats. He
said deaths in the city had been veri-
fed, and that a general disinfection Of
suspected districts would begin. He
asked for the assistance of two officers
as medical Inspectors and one as a
bacteriologist in the state laboratory.
1t is stated that Past Assistant Surgeon
Long is trained bacteriologist, thor
oughly competent to handle the situa-
ton.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
TEACHERS ARE CNDERPAID.
State Superintendent Ustrud Addresses
Clay County Institute.

The Clay county institute, which
was in session at VermilliOn for two
weeks, closed on Saturday evening.
Nearly 100 teachers were in attend
ance.
Prof. Z. c. Perisho of the state uni
yersity, was in charge Of the institute,
and was ably assisted by Prof. M. a.
Lange, of Pierre, and superintendent
Byers and Mrs. Clearwater, of the city
schools
State superintendent Hans Cstrud
addressed the teachers. He Compii-
mented them on the good work they
were doing and urged that they con-
tinue to a higher state Of efficiency.
Mr.. Ustrud is of the opinion that
teachers ali over the state are under
paid, but believes the day is at hand
when salaries for the good teachers
will have to be materially raised If
they are to be secured. He urged the
teachers to continue their chosen work
with untiring zeal. assuring them that
better days were in store for the pro-
ficient instructor, both in the city and
country schools.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
THAW'S WIFE ON VACATION.
Accompanied by Brother She Seeks a
Quiet Spot Where She Can Rest.

Mrs. Evelyn Thaw. of New York, ac-
companied by young man said to be
her brother has arrived at Yarmouth,
N. S., on the Prince Arthur from New
York. Mrs. Thaw is going to a quiet
place between Liverpool and Shelburn,
where she will spend several weeks in
an effort to recover her health.
Soon after the boat arrived she and
her escort boarded train. Here and
at Bridgetown, where the train stop
ped, there was rush OF curious peo-
pie to see the young woman. The
women especially showed unusual in
terest in watching Mrs. Thaw. She
was tastefully gowned in brown, with
hat to match. 1t was the verdict of
many women observers that she ap-
peared to be only IS years old.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22

EXPLOSION ON MOTORBOAT.
Two Are Killed and Number Are
Seriously Injured.

A young man and a young woman
were drowned in an accident on a mo-
torboat off Tiverton, r. l., Sunday.
The boat had reached a point a lit
tie north of the New York and New
Haven railroad bridge over the Sea-
comet river when an explosion oc-
Cured and the fourteen young men
and women were hurled into the wa
ter. With the exception of Miss Mer-
cier and George Anthony all were res
cued by motorboats which put out
from the river bank, but the two were
drowned.
Joseph Chouinard, who was in
charge Of the boat, performed heroic
work in keeping several of the young
women afioat until the rescuers reach
ed them, although he was himself suf-
fering severely from burns. Several
physicians who were summoned dress
ed the burns of the injured after
which they were conveyed to Fall
River in ambaulances. 1t is believed
that all ultimately will recover.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
RUMORS OF RECEIyERSHIP.
Sudden Drop Comes I'm AIlls- Chalmers
-a A Stock.


A sudden and decided drop in both
common and preferred stock of the
lAllis-Chalmers company, Of Chicago,
a $36,000,000 corporation, which con-
trols the heavy machinery output of
the United States, Friday followed or
was caused by rumors that a receiver
ship would be asked for the corpora
Ition because of unstable financial con-
,ditions.
The rumors were heard ard the
drop took place at 80 nearly the same
time that nobody could tell exactly
the effect.
Representatives Of the company
maintain that the rumors were with
out foundation and the drop was
merely the result Of persistent bear
movement and meant nothing.
The company's preferred stock fell
from 22 to 15 ", while common stock
dropped from 9 to s.
The bearish movement which
brought about this drop was felt to
the greatest extent in New York
At the headquarters of the company
in the Chicago Bank building the ru-
mors of receivership We're indignant
ly denied. The report in stock values
was part of consistent bear move
ment said the company's officials, Of
which other corporations were victims
as well.
Walter Fl. Whiteside, president of
the company, issued a statement deny
ing the receivership story emphatical-
ly. Along with the stories Of the COM
pany's unstable financial condition,
none of which appeared to be backed
up with facts, comes the statement
that a meeting will be held in New
York City early next month for the
purpose of raising funds to carry on
the work of the company during the
coming year.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
DRINK CAUSES DOWNFALL.
Mike Andre, of Watertown, Is Placed
I'm City Jail.


Poor old Mike Andre, of Watertown,
has again fallen. He was arrested on
the charge of larceny, having abstract
ed goods from a Great Northern
freight car. He was on the verge of
delirium tremens. The court SEN
fenced him to twelve and cne-half
days in the county Jail &&A
For many years Mike Andre was a
prominent and unique character at
Lake Kampeska, where he.kept boat
house and supplied the disciples of
Walton with tackle and bait. But
drink was his besetting sin. One eX-
ceptionally dark night, according to
the evidence in court, he shot Jack
Moody as the latter was lying on his
bunk in a shack. He then procured
a can of Kerosene and sprinkled the
contents over the dead or dying form
and set fire to the shack. No particu-
lar motive was established for the
commission Of the crime unless 1t be
one of hatred, famed by drink, be-
cause the victim was also supplying
fishermen with the implements OF
sport. Notwithstanding Andre stoutly
maintained his innocence, he was con-
victed on circumstantial evidence and
sentenced for life. At the state peni-
tertiary he was a model prisoner. His
craving for drink seemingly left him.
Last year he was pardOned at the
"a :nest opportunities Of his old friends
and neighbOrS. He returned to his
family, declaring that henceforth he
would be man. He kept his resOlu-
tion for months, but drink eventually
mastered hirl.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
S!IOTGUNS HELD BACK GRADERS.
Mayer Of Eolga and Party Keep Da-
kOta Central Men at Bay.

Mayor Dalthorp, Of VOlga, with
three or four of his men, did picket
duty for three days and nights and
have succeeded in stopping work on
the Dakota Central railroad at a point
six miles south of that town. Mr.. Dali
thOrp owns a farm at this point and
the right of way agent failed to agree
to terms for crossing the land. Con-
demnation proceedings were institut-
ed. but the owner refused to allow
work to proceed till the affair was
settled. When the grading gang at
tempted to begin work on the proper
ty DalthOrp was on hand with assist
ants, all provided with loaded shot
guns, and threatened to shoot the first
man who crossed the line. The sher-
iff was wired for and kept peace while
a messenger was dispatched for an or
der from the circuit Judge. A tempo
rary injunction was secured by the
owners of the property and the hear
ing will be held on the 23d.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
South Dakota
State News
KEEP THE OFFICERS BUSY
Harvest Hands Make Much Trouble at
------ MITCHELL

That class Of travelling humanity
which comes through South Dakota on
| it's way to the harvest fields of North
Dakota is causing any amount OF
trouble to the officers of the law in
keeping them in the straight and mar
row path. For the past week the Of
floors Of Mitchell have been experience
ing more or less difficulty in taking
care of the fellows who are commit
ting petty crimes while making their
Journey through the state.
The railroad yards are infested to
a great extent with this species OF
humanity and one OF them, John Ber-
ry by name, played the holdup game
with more or less success. Berry
caught six men down in the railroad
yards, and with bar of iron, with
which he provided himself, he drove
them in a corner and made them give
up their railroad tickets. which was
all of value that they possessed. Wh@n
he was arrested the made desperate
attempt to get away and s.ttacked one
of the officers, nearly tearing his
clothes off. The officers laid him
away in Jail and are hunting up his
record.
Albert SouthweN, another offender,
is now on his way back to Council
Bluffs, Ia, where he was serving out
a years sentence in Jail for an attempt
10 commit murder. He brOi:~ Jail at
Council Bluffs and the officers had
lost all track of him He came I"
Mitchell and got employment in one
of The hotels, where his bad instincts
led him into trouble and he was ar
rested.
Thomas Rand is the third tourist
who has been landed behind the bars
in the past three days. He was work.
ing for a farmer in Hanson county.
and after he had been paid off for
the short time he could stand 1t in the
harvest field he received q check 70"
81. Coming into town to cash the
check, Rand thought it an easy mat
ter to raise the check. which he did,
TO $14. 1t was detected in short
time and before he could make his
getaway he was placed under arrest
and taken back to Hanson county.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
WATCHING BIG TRUSTS.
Spies Said to Be on Pay Rolls of Gem.
bineS.

Dimes.
Secret service agents of the United
States department of Justice, working
through the bureau of corporations.
are said to be on the pay rolls Of all
the big railway corporations and trust
combinations of the country.
In Chicago alone, it is said. there
are at least $50 special men who are
working for the railroads and packing
house companies and are watching ev-
cry move made with the view to as
certaining whether the corporation
laws are observed in letter and spirit
While no proof is obtainable as to
the presence of these employees. in
several instances men have been re-
moved from their positions in the
ground that they were in the employ
of the government as spies.
One Of the officers at this end Of the
department of justice, when asked if
such an army was at work for the
government, said: IF 1t were so /
could not tell. l know of cases where
men have lost their positions unjustly
fram falling under suspicion. / have
heard the statement made before, but
l shall neither affirm nor deny. Such
work is done, and the agents of the
bureau Of corporations are those most
likely to be engaged in it,"