davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
PERISH By HUNDREDS.
Miners In Two West Virginia Shafts
EntOmbed

Three charred bodies lying In the
improvised morgue, four badly injured
and 493 men imprisoned by tons of
coal, rock and mine debris in the
depth of the hills surrounding Mono
nagh, w. Va, a mining town, with the
chances all against a single one of
them being alive, was the most accu :
rate summary obtainable Thursday
night of a mine explosion which occur
red that day, which in all probability
was attended by greater loss of life
than any former disaster ia the his
tory of the bituminous coal mining
industry in America.
The explosion occurred shortly after
10 O'Clock Thursday, after the full
force of 500 men had gone to work
in the two mines affected The mines
are Nos. 6 and s of the Consolidated
Coal company, located on opposite
sides of the west fork of the river but
merged in their underground workings
by a heading and on the surface by q
great steel tipple and bridge.
The finding of three bodies and four
strenuous and uninterrupted work on
the part of the large rescuing forces
3hat Immediately set to work at every
possible point. The four living men,
while unable to give any detailed ac-
count of the disaster state that imme-
diately back of them, when they begnn
their frantic struggle for liberty, there
was large number Of men engaged
in a similar struggle, while still far
ther back in the workings there was a
larger number of whom they know
nothing.
There is much speculation as to the
cause of the explosion, but it is
thought 1t was caused by black damp.
1t is believed that miner attempted
to set off a blast which blew out and
ignited an accumulation of gas and
this ignited the coal dust, a highly in
fiammable substance found in greater
or less quantities in all West Virginia
mines.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
GIRL HOMESTEADER SLAIN.
Rejected Suitor Accused OF Crime
Near Pierre.

A brutal murder was committed
early Monday morning in little prai-
rie house about twenty miles south Of
Fort Pierre, the victim being Miss Lily
Kelly, q homcsteader who came there
from Mankato, MINI. A. +. Bowman,
a young man of that city. has been
held for hearing. 1t appears that
small party Of young people, among
them her brother, gathered at the
home of Miss Kelly Sunday evening
and remained until after midnight.
Monday morning the brother went TO
the home of his sister and found her
ON the floor of the house with her
skull crushed Bowman, who had
been a suitOr for the young woman,
who did not fancy him, had threatened
her He was absent all night from the
place where he worked, returning ear
ly Monday morning. He has given no
satisfactory explanation of his where
abOuts during the night.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
SHOULD CURB MOTHER LOVE.
Not Civilized If Too Intense. Says Chi
cago Club Woman.

Mothers who love their offspring too
Intensely are not full civilized, in the
opinion Of Mrs. Harriet Van Devaart,
head of Neighborhood house, Chicago,
who gave her views before the mem
bers of the West End Mothers council
Thursday.
Mrs. Van Devaart inclines to the
view of Plato and G. B. Shaw, that
maternity is an expression of the uni
versal function of woman and that
the accumulated wisdom of carnations
Of mothers, rather than that of a sim
gle mother.
"The fierce passion Of many modern
mothers who love their children with
an exclusive love belongs to the time
when the race was in its infancy" de-
clared Mrs. Van Devaart. "The moth
er who shelters and thinks only of her
own has not progressed far beyond
the brute creation"
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
GREAT WEALTH ON FARMS.
If turned Into Cash It Would End
FURRY

Answers to a circular letter sent by
c. r. Erwin, Of Chicago, to the editors
of agricultural papers in various sec
tons of the country show that the ma
ton's land products are of such VOL
ume and value as to insure a speedy
end of the financial stringency, pro-
vided they can be turned into cash.
Mr.. Erwin, who is president of an ad-
Vertising agency, sought first hand in
formation and was surprised at the
uniformity favorable reports. Kan
sas, according to Arthur Capper, of the
Mail and Breeze, has s2O0,000,O0e
worth Of grain, and the bank deposits
Of the state aggregate $165, 100000.
Prices for dairy products are Sits
factory in Iowa, according to informa-
ton from Waterloo
decrease in the number Of BUSH
els harvested will not affect Indiana
farmers, because of increased prices,
says the Indiana Farmers Guide.
The crops in South Dakota show an
increase in value of $15,000,000 over
1906 and conditions in North Dakota
are said to be even better
Canada Is full Of wheat, says a VIM
nipeg correspondent, and bank deposits
have Increased $4,000, 900 over last
year.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
FARRELL JURY DISAGREES.
Alleged Irish Leader Took Part in
Unlawful Assembly,

The jury before which James Far
rell. Irish nationalist, member of par
lament for North Longford, and forty
other men were tried at Dublin on
charges of taking part in an unlawful
assembly likely to cause a riot, has
disagreed. This has been the result
of all but one of the many trials held
during the past fortnight throughout
ireland Of men charged with cattle
driving and melting to riot. Disagree
ments by the juries have been general
In spite of the fact that the presiding
Judge had pointed out hat according
10 the evidence the men clearly were
guilty Mr.. Farrell and his compan-
Ions were tried at Leinster assizes.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
DEADWOOD AGAIN CLOSED.
Scizes Number of Gambling
Outfits.

Again the lid, lifted quietly at intre-
quent intervals, has been jammed
down with a bang. and Deadwood is
once more closed. Sheriff Trathen
slipped into five alleged gambling
houses on Main street during the ear
ly hours OF Thursday evening and
found the games in full swing. ROu-
lette and faro layouts to the value OF
over $1,000 were seized along with a
bunch of players and dealers, and the
moving into the new court house will
be celebrated with a large bonfire at
the expense of the gamblers. The raid
was unexpected in most quarters AMI
has resulted from the Investigations
of a detective employed by States AZ.
torney Stewart and the sheriff.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
GIRL IN BRAVE FIGHT.
Young School Teacher Near Aberdeen
Escapes ASsailant.

The country a few miles south OF
Bath, town east Of Aberdeen, was
the scene of an attempted criminal as
sault on a young school teacher who
lives in Aberdeen. Fortunately the
girl fought off her assailant. but not
before she had been brutally handled.
The mans face was beaten so badly
that he was compelled to let her go.
The girl is Florence l.. Ottman
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs H. +. Ott-
man, well known residents of Abe
deem. She leaves every morning on
the train for Bath and takes her bi =
cycle with her to make the trip from
Bath to the school house. While rid
ing along the country road she was
suddenly thrown from her wheel by
q man who at once attempted to sub
due her. The girl fought and the two
rolled around in the road In the
scuffle the girls clothes were badly
torn and she sustained several bruises,
but she continued to pound the man's S
face and kick his limbs.
The man finally left her, and al
though almost exhausted after the
Lattle the girl got her bicycle and rode
back to Bath, where she gave the
alarm. Constable William Evans and
two other men started for the scene,
end some distance away they caught
the assailant. He was brought back
to Bath and waived examination be-
fore Justice Stewart. Later he was
taken before Judge Mccoy, in the cir
cult court in Aberdeen where ne
pleaded guilty.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
"RUSTLERS" ROUNDED Up.
Many Cases BEFORE the District Court
in Lyman County.

Judge Smith, of Mitchell. goes out
to Lyman county this week to hold
the regular term of circuit court, be-
ginning Dec. 10, and he will have Il
very large and interesting docket to
work on, particularly in the way Of
criminal cases. Sheriff Sheldon has
been on the roundup of number Of
cattle thieves. and among them is
Buffalo" George, who is one Of the
old offenders on the range Som :
time ago Buffalo" was making de-
parture from that section of the reser-
vation near MurdO, and had in his
possession some animals that did not
belong to him. He was arrested and
placed under a heavy bond to appear
in circuit court. Last week buffalo"
again got mixed up in a catt!e steal
ing proposition, and the sheriff traced
the animals to his lair. They Caugh,
Buffalo" hedhanded, having just kill
ed beef, and the animal was found
hanging in his barn. Buffalo. with
two of his pals" were arrested, ana
this time they were not admitted TO
bail. Buffalo" and DeMarsche are
among the last of the old time gang
out on the reservation who were not
caught in the roundup Of cattle thieves
which started several years ago. Buff
falO has always had the ability to es-
cape arrest or finding some way to
wiggle out of the meshps Of the law,
but this time it is said that he will get
his just reward. and that there is
hardly any possible chance for him to
escape trip to the penitentiary.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
TO ATTACK BROWN WILL.
Mrs. Bradley Will Bring Action TO
Break IT,

Now that she has been acquitted on
the charge of murder, Mrs. Annie NJ.
Bradley, through her attorneys and
in behalf of her children, will bring an
action to break the will of the lare
Senator Arthur Brown, whom she sh It
to death in Washington. Her friends
at Salt Lake City say that such a
course has been contemplated ever
since the will was opened. The con-
test will be based on the written ac-
acknowledgement of Senator Brown that
Mrs. Bradley's two sons are his own.
In his will Brown expressly disavowed
the paternity of the two children and
stipulated they should receive nothing
from his estate. The greater part of
the estate amounting in all to some
$4,000. was devised to his son Max
and his daughter Alice. The attack on
the will, which has already been ad-
mitted to probate. will not commence
until Judge Powers returns from
Washington.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
GAINS FOR DAKOTA BANKS.
Heavy Increase in Deposits During the
Past Year.

Reports of the stale bank examiner
and OF the national banks doing busi-
ness in South Dakota certainly make
a good showing for the past year The,
reports cover the condition of banks
for the period between September,
1906, and August. 1907. practically a
year, and show that in that time the
state banks have increased from 356
to 3S7, with heavy increase in de-
pOsitS. At the last named date the
state banks showed deposits amount
ing to $34, ,72S.62S.64, an increase OF
S6,5S6 347.62 over the September con-
dition the previous year.
For the same time the national
banks Of the state had increased from
70 to 81. six new banks having been
opened for business in the year. These
banks carried $20.229,479. an in
crease OF about $3,000,000 for ths'
year, making the total net increase in
deposits in the state for the year So
399, 1912, and the total bank depos--
its Of the people OF the state at that,
time $54,950,1O7.9O.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
MRS. LOUISA TAFT DEAD.
Mother of Secretary of War Passes
Away After Long Illness.

Death, which has been expected al
most hourly for a week past, was
announced Sunday morning at 1920
O'Clock from the bedside of Mrs. LOU
isa Maria Taft, of Millbury, Mass.
another of William II. Taft, secretary
of war. Mrs. Taft was the widow OF
Alphonso Taft. secretary of war and
attorney general of the United States
under President Grant, and later min
lister to Austria and Russia.
Mrs. Taft was attacked last July
with acute indigestion and a gradual
breakdown of her vigorous constitu
tion soon followed. Secretary Tan,
her son, had visited her on Independ-
encse day and left her apparently in
normal health to go to his summer
home in Canada, from which place he
was summoned on Aug. Is, because of
alarm at his mothers condition. Ike
spent day at her bedside and found
her in a less dangerous condition than
he had supposed. The imperative du-
ties of his official life called him to
Washington, where plans for a tour
of the world had been so definitely
arranged that they could not be
changed and his mother was reported
as rallying her strength and he pro-
ceeded to carry out his program.
Mrs. Taft resided in the old home
stead, where she had lived as a girl
ter, Miss Della Torrey
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
SLAIN IN RESTAURANT.
Dead Kansan's Business Partner Held
as Murder Suspect.


William I. Stewart, proprietor of a
restaurant In East lola. Kan, and
member of prominent family in
Yates Center. Kan, was brutaliy MUIR
dered near his place OF business at an
early hour Sunday morning. The body.
which was found at daylight, bore ev-
fdence of seven wounds, any one CT
which would have produced death.
The skull had been fractured i'm
four places, the jugular vein severed
and the trachae twice severed.
Stewart and Cresceson were carous-
ing together at Stewards home until
after midnight, wien someone knock
ed at the back door. Stewart answer
ed the summons and announced in a
maudlin manner that he was going
out for walk, but would soon return.
He was not seen by his family again.
and ii is believed he was killed several
hours later. Near his body were some
tdead chickens. placed there for the
evident purpose of conveying the i'm
preston that he had been killed for a
chicken thief The police scout this
suggestion. That Stewart put up a
hard fight for his life Is evidenced
by the manner In which the ground
was torn up.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
BLOW TO ARMY MEN.
New Roosevelt Order to Force Many
to Retire.

to Retire.
The war department Thursday pub
lished a general order extending it's
original orders relative to riding tests
Of officers of the army. The president
now requires every field officer to
make daily practice march of not less
than thirty miles for three days in
succession each year. All officers are
also required to accompany their COM
mands on the monthly practic:
marches.
The advanced stand taken by the
president in the matter of physically
testing the condition of officers Of the
army, in the face Of strong pressure
from commercial bodies throughput
the country in favor Of the retention
in service OF engineers and other staff
officers, who, though perfectly COM
petent to discharge their ordinary du-
ties, would probably be unable to re-
cpond to the demands of active cam
paign service. has filled with appre-
henSion number of senior officers Of
grades between captain and colonel,
inclusive.
Because the president in mis- original
letter directing the riding test referred
only to officers, it was in some quar-
ters believed that he might be willing
to waive the application of such q
test to staff officers, whose duties in
time Of peace do not carry them into
the field. In his message to congress
just delivered the president indicated,
however, a contrary purpose, and the
order published Thursday exceeds iE
severity the test originally proposed
and will probably be the means of
causing the summary retirement from
the army of considerable number Of
officers
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
~ NEW LIGHT FRANCHISE.
Mitchell City Council Makes. DeaS
with Local COMPANY.

MitchelIs city council has been
wrestling with the franchise problems
for the past year, and at the meeting
of the council Monday night a new
electric light franchise was granted q
local company for the period of twenty
years A year ago G. G. King, who
was then the owner OF the Mitcnelb
Gas company, started q movement 10
renew the franchise at a lower rate,
and a fight was made on the same.
Later King had trouble with his bank
ut Scotland, which failed, and he was
sent to the penitentiary. That stop
ped all proceedings in that direction,
but since then several other parties
have attempted to secure an electrici
light franchise to save the property OF
the Mitchell Gas company. and COM
pany of gentlemen from Wagner
made an effort to get in with a fran
chise. Out of the various franchises
one has just been granted to COM
pany Of Mitchell men, who expect to-
buy the property of the Mitchell Gas
company or erect a new light plant.
The new company has made a large
reduction in rates. the minimum rata
being 10 cents per thousand watts,
which is made lower still by a larger
use of electricity. The company eX-
poets to largely improve the service in
the city, ard by spring it will install
a twenty-four hour service. Two gas
franchises were also introduced at tho
same meeting of the council, which
were placed on their first reading.
Both made a lower rate for gas than
is now furnished in this city The rate
of one Is '$1.25 and the other $50
per hundred cubic feet If both are
passed Mitchell will have three gan
cOmpRnieS
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
BIG FAILURE IN KANSAS CITY.
National Bank of Commerce Closes
Its Doors.

The National Bank Of Commerce at
Kansas City, Mo, failed to open its
doors Thursday morning and is in the
hands of the national bank examiner.
The bank is one of the oldest there
and the largest financial institution IN
the city. The bank has been in a weak
ened condition since it's last statement.
August %, when it was stated the in
stitution owed the clearing house close
to s1,0O0,OOO.
When the financial disturbance
came and the clearing house decided
TO issue clearing house certificates, ru-
mors regarding the banks condition
came, and the clearing house, in the
past few days, has held several confer
ences of other national banking Off
cials in this connection, and means OF
keeping the bank open were discussed.
Wednesday much surprise was ex-
pressed when the request of the comp
troller for statement of the condition
OF the banks was not responded to b.
the National Bank Of Commerce Ths
other local banks published their state
ments, showing a healthy condition.
but the officials of the Commerce an
nounced its statement would not be
forthcoming till Thursday. This cre-
ated further distrust in the banks con-
ditiOn, and after conferences lasting
into the early hours of Thursday
morning the clearing house officials de-
cided they could not aid the failing
bank
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
ATTORNEY KIRBY LOSES.
Jury Decides in Favor of Sioux Falls
Editor

After being out all night a Jury i'll
the state circuit court at Sioux Falls
Thursday morning returned a verdict
of not guilty in the criminal libel suit
instituted by Joe Kirby. a local attor-
ney. against John A. Ross, editor Of
the 500 Critic. a local weekly.
The case was stoutly contested
throughout and has attracted much
attention in this part of the state.
The trial of w. II. LaFOllette, editor
of the Mitchell Gazette, on a similar
charge, preferred by Attorney Kirby.
was continued to the next term OF
court
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
THE MINK ESCAPED.
Farmer Lost 500 Tons of Hay Trying
to "SmOke Him Out"

Five hundred tons of hay for a
mink skin is the price Frank Damn,
living twelve miles southeast of Clark,
paid this week. He was trying TO
smoke the animal out from hole in
the pasture when the fire got away
from him and destroyed a large
amount OF hay, several nearby farm
buildings being narrowly saved from
destruction. Damn was badly burned
while trying to keep the flames In
cheek. The mink escaped.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
Van Tassel Convicted.

/ Guy Van Tassel was found guilty
bf murder Of Policeman Luke Fitz-
patrick in Chicago and sentenced to
fife imprisonment by a jury in the
criminal court. Fitzpatrick was killed
at Madison avenue station. on the
south side elevated road, November
10. 1906,
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
Troops to GOldfeld.

President Roosevelt Thursday night
instructed Gen. Funston to dispatch
a sufficient force Of regulars to Gold
field, New, to control the situation
there. This action was taken upon re-
ceipt of telegraphic request from the
governor of Nevada.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
Receiver for Hot Springs Bank.

United States Bank Examiner j. c.
Johnson, of Sioux Falls, who has had
charge of the affairs of the defunct
Hot Springs National bank since it's
failure last week, Tuesday received his
commission from Comptroller of the
Currency Ridgely at Washington, ID.
c., AZ receiver for the bank, and at
once took charge as such.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-12
Find Missing Cashiers Body.

The body o: d. r. Rankin. cashier
Of the detcunct Merchants and Plant
ers' bank at Lawton, Okla, who mys-
teriously disappeared month ago.
was found in Cache creek. near there.
-
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-05
OPENS. DOOR TO LADY,S ROOM
AND. STOPS HER IN PASSING
Serious Charge Of Attempted Assault Upon Relative
Of Commander Blues Wife Not Sustained,
But Man May Be Punished
Be Punished.

replied quietly that she was very busy.
and entered her room. the door OF
which she had Just reached. Upon
getting in the room she was still nerv-
Gus and frightened. She crossed the
floor and went to a trunk. While lean
ing over the trunk something attracted
her attention. and she looked back, to
discover the man who had accosted
her In the hall standing in the door
way. She ran to the door and slammed
1T. but the man put his foot In the way
and forced his way into the room.
Then the young lady tried to spring.
through the door into the hall, but
to prevent her escape a scufflc oc-
CURED between the door and lattice
screen on the outside, and, after tear
ing her clothing slightly, the young
lady broke away and fled into Mrs,
Blues room. Il
Purnell went TO another hotel and
spent Friday night. He had changed to
a third hotel, the Majestic, when he
was arrested yesterday afternoon By
Chief Reynolds. The prisoner took the
stand In his own behalf. and declared
that he had been on a spree and re-
membered nothing of what occurred
at the Warwick. He said that he did
not remember having seen Miss pegen-
gremal before, Half a dozen we'll.
known business men testified to the
good character OF the prisoner, They
said he had been travelling through
here for eight or ten years. and had
always borne a good reputation.
Colonel Maryua Tones and Floyd
fiudgins. counsel for the prisoner ask
ed that the case be dismissed, Justice
Brown declined 10 dismiss the warrant,
although he said there Was no ground
tor holding The man for a felony. He
went on to say that he would give his
decision to-nlorrow morning, and that
he would probably impose fine and
jail. sentence.