davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04

him to shut with wrathful suddenness his
mouth, which had sagged open as he contem-
plated the unaecustomed sight.
Sol looked after the train in mingled envy
and rage till it rumbled across the bridge
that SPAWNED Buzzard Creek and disappeared
around the bend in the timber, and then
turned, to find Jack contentedly munching
the banana skin.
The day had grown hot, with an unaccus,
toned sultriness. The breeze was warm and
unrefreshing. BY 3 o'clock the sky was
overcast with angry looking clouds, drifting
slowly or hurrying rapidly hither and thither
with little apparent relation to each other,
and half an hour later the sky presented a
most singular appearance.
For half an hour the storm ragged with I'M
abated force. and then it luled suddenly to
little more than steady drizzle, and the CUR
gle of the creek, augmented and swelled by
at the house as it swirled and eddied against
the piers of the new railroad bridge, which
narrowed the creek almost one third.
Standing in the open doorway, the chill
dren listened Sunset was not far off, and
beneath the pail of clouds half-twilight had
settled down.
The noise of the departing storm was only
lazy grumble, and the swirl of the flood
about the bridge sounded like the gurgle of
waterfall.
With clasped hands the two splashed bare
footed down to the fence-corner, little way
beyond which was the creek. The muddy
waters were half way up to the bridge abut-
ments.
AS they looked. SOILS ear caught a dull.
rumbling sound from up the creek, which
rapidly grew louder. In a moment it had
swollen to muffed roar, and then the stream
seemed suddenly to boil up in a resistless
flood; and around the bend came a wall of
Kissing, roaring water, that rolled UP in a
great surgng wave that almost lowered above
Che banks, sustained by the strength of its
own tremendous might.
Little SOILS startled senses half told him
the cause that had precipitated that great
flood down the creek. The rotten old dam at
Puddy's Pond. half mile above, had given
way. Somewhere. farther up, the storm had
down its load of water in a sudden deluge
that had debouched into the mill-pond.
The mill had fallen into disuse and the
dam had been carelessly left to take care of
itself. Never much better than a temporary
structure, it had grown comparatively weak
from inattention and decay, and unable to
withstand the immense pressure of the flood
from the cloud-burst. it had given way, empty
ing its ten acres of water In one mighty tor
rent down the creek.
With rear of momentary baffled fury the
flood struck the bridge, cho1ed the opening.
reared high in its might blotting the struc.
ture from sight in a great binding cloud of
spray.
The interruption to its progress was but
for the space of quck-drawn breath, and
then with a terrific rush and crash the bridge
was torn from its abutments and swept away
"a mass of riven, broken debris.
Then the rain began again and the chill
Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04

dren awed and terrified at the work of de-
struction they had beheld splashed back to-
ward the house.
What" began SOL confusedly 'What
will the railroad-the excursion"
The thought of the terrible significance that
the disaster might hold for the train flashed
over him with sickening suddenness.
The excursion! 1t would be returning pres
bridge reached the engineer? What-father,
mother, Sam, Lyddy, Maud 'Relia, Henderson
what could he do to save them?
The telegraph wires had not yet been put
up, and even if he could reach jackson Centre
no message OF warning could be got across
that yawning gap, And. at the thought of
his helplessness little Sol fairly danced IN and
down in excited desperation. ~
BABY - Jack was bowling at he scarcely knew
Then the thought of the one chance that
was left him-a forlorn one enough, but still
a chance-came to Sol like a flash. Old Blazei
The httie-used road earound the pond! The
wagon bridge, miles abovel
In an instant Sol was rushing toward the
stable, leaving Jack dumb with astonish-
ment.
1t was the work of but few moments
to bride Old Blaze and grit the battered
saddle on his lean back, and before Baby
Jack could think to cry again, Sol had gal
loped up. o.
Jack, be good while I'm gone! /"
Gomez"
Yes, yes! Run into the house an stay-"
And then of a verify Jack did howl.
Want to do, too-uh-wa-a-a Pm f'aid tn
stay 'lone-uh-wa-a-a!"
T-I-In take you'll" the boy cried, des-
perately.
In another instant they were off at Old
Blazes best speed none of the swiftest-Sol
holding the muddy and sob-shaken form NJ
his small brother before him.
1t was dark when they passed, little wav
off, the ruins of Purdy's mill and slipped and
galloped along the curved track that followed
the bend of the pond. A low-hanging limb
slapped them with force that made Jack
cry out, as, with his back to the horses head
he chung like leech to his brother. A bran,
BILE tangle, crowding into the road, tore SoPs
bare leg. A great Dough in the path tripped
Old Blaze and sent him staggering and Stun
bling for rod before he fully recovered IS
feet.
Presently they reached the regularly trav.
eled road that ran directly westward to the
wagon bridge. Clumpity-splash, clumpity
splash along the road. Then Sol pulled Old
Blaze down to walk and peered ahead. The
bridge-yes, it was there!
The rain ceased. and little later star
peeped out, and then another. On, on, clump
ity-splash, clumpity-splash, through the mud
and bushes.
Old Blaze painted distressingly up an incline
but Sol did not spare him. The railroad was
as yet an eighth of mile away. When the
top Of the rise was reached there was fallen
tree to pass. -
As Sol walked the old horse around IL. the
far-off, long-drawn whistle of the excursion
train, as it approached wagon road, came to
Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04

his ears, and in the instant the horse was tear
ing away down the slope, often coming near
1t, but never quite falling.
The hum of the distant train became audible,
increasing in volume every instant, and still
they were several hundred yards from the
railroad.
Across little level and up a slight grade,
and then the path fell away down an incline
again at the foot of which was the track.
The hum of the train told how fast, fear
fully FAST it was approaching. But Old Blaze
was doing his best to reach the gap first.
The edge of the moon peeped through a
latter in the clouds. Just before the foot OF
the slope was reached the old horses feet
slipped and stumbled desperately, he strug-
Cling heroicaly to retain his perpendicular,
and then stopped, wheeling and blown, his
race over.
Before the horse had come to a standstill,
Sol had seated Baby Jack in the saddle and
flung himself to the ground, to fall fiat in the
mud.
He was up instantly and dashed away. I'M
mindful of the howls Jack sent after him.
AS he reached the track and tore along it
around the curve, the moon shone out, full
and bright
The next moment it was all over, and Sol
had wrested success from the opportunity he
had grasped SO promptly.
The engineer saw the muddy little figure
that came bounding toward him, frantically
swinging its hat and calling aloud in shrieks,
that the rush of the train drowned as soon as
uttered.
There was hoarse whistle from the engine,
the hiss of the air-brakes and grinding of the
wheels on the freshly-sanded track, and father,
mother, sisters, brotAers, the grinning, freckle-
speckled boy, and all the train load of pleasure
seekers were saved.
And the engineer swung down from the cab
and picked up muddy little figure that, as
soon as its work was done. had staggered in
a bewildered, halfblinded way, and then tum-
bied headlong into the ditch beside the track
There was question and answer, and
with an exclamation of Thanksgiving on hi.
Inns the engineer hurried to meet the con
ductor. coming to learn the cause of the stop.
Then. mindful of his charge Sol hurried bacl
to Baby Jack, and presently two very muddy
and pale faced little wretches came UP to the
group of passengers who swarmed out of the
cars. =,
The passengers intent upon expressing their
gratitude in something more substantial than
words, made up a goodly sized purse on The
snot. and the frecklespeckled boy, grinless
now and with his face very white beneath its
freckles, threw into the hat his last dime, and
still having banana left, stuffed it into the
small hand Of Baby Jack.
And Sol, not being, like heroes in the story
above money, accepted the purse with shame,
faced thanlfulness.
And there was much hubbubbing and halloo
ing, and while Baby Jack, mud and ALL
munched his banana contentedly in his moth
er's arms, the band burst out with wild blare
Of melody.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04
Mrs Whitrick had directed

Lake good care of Baby Jack,
Mrs Whitrick had directed
Then the fortunate Whitricks, father, mo-
Their, Sam, Lyddy, Maud 'Relia and Hender-
son, climbed into the wagon behind the
mouse-colored mules and left the unfortunate
Whitrick, little Sol. and the Indifferent Whit
rick, Baby Jack, to their own devices
mat was the way matters were usually ar
ranged. Whenever the fortunate Whitricks
went anywhere. and it was not thought advis-
able to take Baby Jack along little Sol was
made TO stay at home and take care of him.
The smallest Whitrick was an adventurer
every opportunity, and it was to keep him
from being stepped on. knocked about, hustled
OF lost that ne was SO often left in charge of
Sol. And, so long as Baby Jack was safe. and
sol, by reason of resignation, uncomplaining,
the rest of the Whitrick family gave LITTLE
thought to the feelings of the latter.
Today though Sol entertained no tangible
meath his burden. The excursion had been the he
chief topic. of conversation for many DAYS. and
Sol was familiar with every detail of the
event. VIC
The railroad which had been constructed
town, across the prairie, past the Whitr;cI
homestead. over Buzzard Creek, through the
timber, and on across prairies and creeks
through cuts. rises" and over "draws''
to newly born and booming Prairie Citv and
the event was to be celebrated by the ey.
cursion from Jackson Centre to The term;nIS
The railroad company, perhaps out of graft
tude to the voters of the bonds SO oenernmsjv
gwen the enterprise, exacted no PASSAGE
money.
The day promised to be fine. as all ore,+
days should be. A brass band accomnan;aS
the excursionists. There was to he q ba rbal
cue at Prairie City, and, browning low. a crc,,s
After the mouse-colored mules started tow
ward in the gray of the early morning Ettia
Sol had dismal time of it till the excurs;on
came by on its westward way, and witness;ns
the happiness of the train-Ioad of pIeasmress
seekers made him still more miserable after
they had passed. 'ei
1t was about 8 o'clock when the whistle
blown at approaching the bridge, Announced
their coming The track ran By but a few
rods from the house, and Sol and Jack were
as close to it as their ideas of safety would
permit when the train passed.
The band in one of the cars, not vet HAVING
worn the novelty off from the holiday. were
executing with might and main a tune in
which the clashing of cymbals and booming
of the bass drum formed prominent part.
The windows were crowded with smiling
faces, among which Sol distinguished those
of Sam and Maud 'Relia.
grinning. freckle-specked boy hanging
monkey fashion to platform, threw banana
skin with excellent aim and whooped insult
ingy as it struck little Sol in the face, causing
Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04
Copyright by James Elverson.

AYY1T was the day of the excursion, and
a&b little Soils fate was the same that
- had overtaken him upon more than
HNsN:xS. one previous holiday.
'Take good care of Baby jack"
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-18
GUNNELs MAKES ADDRESS
Union Springs system VIII Have
High school.

Union Springs, May 17.-(Special.)-
The closing of the public school here
this year marks an era in its prog
ress.
After the presentation of diplomas
yesterday to the graduating class. Pro-
lessor Harrison said that he had an
other graduating class to which he
would present certificates, stating that
at a meeting of the board this week 1t
was decided to call the first to the sew
enth grades the grammar school,, ana
to drop the four following grades, ana
have firstfi second. third and fourth
years in high school.
The seventh grade was then asked to
step forward This class numbers
twenty seven. The literary address on
this occasion by Hon. H. c. Gunnels.
State Superintendent of Education, was
interesting and Instructive, and was
heard by large audience.
The musical recital last evening by
Miss Lorena Thompsons class was the
closing feature of commencement This
morning promotion certificates will be
awarded.
The following teachers have been
elected for next year:
Miss Milner of Florence, Miss Harris
of Selma. Miss Dupree of Ozark. Miss
Peach of Clayton. Miss Somerville OF
Tuscaloosa, Miss Prescott of Verbena,
Miss Sadie Mason of Livingston, Mr..
Clark of Hamilton, Misses Cora Pearson
of Lafayette, Miss Thomson of In
diana, music.
Mr. and Mrs. y. III. Eley have issued
invitations to the marriage of their
daughter. Mary Ivey, to Mr.. Thomas
Masterson Smith, Wednesday afternoon,
June 8, at 4:30 O'Clock, at the Baptist
Church At home after July list, Hous-
ton, Tex.
Mrs. Augusta Hunter and son, Henry.
will leave Monday for New York City,
where they will in future reside.
Rev. r. l.. Bell. pastor of the Presby
terian Church here. is in Geneva this
week and will preach the commence
ment sermon at Elba next Sunday Rev
F. G. Railey of Montgomery will fill
his pulpit here Sunday morning and
evening.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-18
NOT A CANDIDATE
DIR. THOAMS OWEN WILL NOT
STAND FOR REELECTION.
Announced That Because of Others Du-
ties He Cannot Accept Once of
Commander of Sons of Con-
federate Veterans.

To the United Sons of Confederate
Veterans Commander in Chief Thomas
M. Owen announced through the press
yesterday that he would not be can
didate for reelection to the office
which he now holds. DIR. Owen said
that his personal and official business
consumed so much of his time now that
he would be unable to give to the con-
federation,s work the time that he
thought adequate.
DIR. Owens publication of his unwill-
ingness to stand for reelection, it is
understood. is resultant from the re-
ception of numerous letters from his
comrades asking that he again assume
the duties he has so faithfully and
competently discharged during the
two terms of his incumbency of the
commanding Office of the Sens of Con-
federate Veterans. From every divis-
ion of the confederation he has re-
ceived invitations to be candidate,
and from the United Confederate Vet
Grams themselves 1t Is said, have come
intimations that they would like to see
him continue at the head of the young
er association.
Dr. Owen, who is chief of the De-
partment of Archives and History of
Alabama, said yesterday that the du-
ties of his office and his work in the
historical societies of Alabama required
so much of his time that he was I'M
able to discharge the offices for which
he is responsible as Commander Of
the Sons of Veterans.
During the two terms of his presi-
dency DIR. Owen has greatly improved
the general conditions of the associa-
ton and his resignation will be roget
ted by the Sons of Veterans.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-18
GENERAL LEE COMING
CHIEF TO SPEND TWENTY-FIVE
MINUTES IN MONTGOMERY.
Traiu Carrying Commander of United
confederate Veterans to Reach
Montgomery ON the Even
ing of May ~.

Gen. Stephen D. Lee. Commander in
Chief of the United Confederate Veto
rams. will spend twenty-five minutes
in Montgomery on the evening of May
27th, en- route to the Richmond Con-
federate Reunion from his home in CO.
lumbus, Miss
In a telegram from j. p. Billups, gem
eral passenger agent of the Western
Railway of Alabama, information was
contained that General Lee and the
the party accompanying him have re-
quested that three sections of the sleep
er on the Western for Richmond be re-
served for the night of the 27th.
General Lee Will reach Montgomery
at 500 p. M, over the Mobile and Ohio
from Columbus. and will leave over
the Western at 6:45 p. M, for Richmond
via Atlanta.
1t is presumed from the telegram of
Mr.. Billups. that efforts to have the
COMMUNICATIVE Chief remain over night
in Montgomery to go to Richmond on
the Louisiana special train the morning
of the 2Sth, have not been successful.
once started for the reunion, it is
thought General Lee will be in a hurry
to reach Richmond in order to make
preparations for the gathering of the
veterans.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-18

Rev T. j. Beard. Chairman. present.
ed an amendment in the way of
preamble expressive of lively inter-
est In this phase of the church's work
Yesterday a substitute for the com
mittee report had been offered by Rev.
CAVITY Johnson and this morning on
hearing sthe committees amended re-
port Mr.. johnson withdrew the SUD
stitute. Mr.. Waller offered another
amendment which after much discus
sion was tabled and the committee
report as amended was adopted as
follows:
Resolved. That in the Judgment OF
the Council of the Diocese of Alabama
the passage OF the proposed canon on
special missionary bishops would De
unwise and unnecessary"
The next council will be heid' at
Huntsville. May 20, 1908.
The Council adjourned this AFTER
noon. Bishop Beckwith says that in
terest in the Council has Increased
each year and that this is the fuilest
in numbers and altogether the most
satisfactory during his Epfscopacy.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-18
BRYAN-HARTLEY.
Quiet wedding of Young Couple A,
GreegylIIe

quiet wedding Oh Young Couple Al
GreeaviIIe.
Greenville, May 1T-(Special. AFTER
the prayer service at the Christian
Church last night. the pastor, Rev. J.
B. Woodin, and a few friends gath
cred at the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Ray, to witness the marriage of Ralph
Bryan and Miss Alma Hartley.
Tho ceremony was impressively per-
formed by Mr.. Woodin and the happy
young couple received the congratu-
lations of friends and relatives on the
cuImination of their attachment.
Mr.. and Mrs. R. E. Cory returned
yesterday from Tuscumbia where they
visited friends of former years. Their
golden wedding will be celebrated
next Tuesday and is an event in
which much interest is centered.
The death of little Eliza beth Lurena,
littel daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam NJ. Kern, has aroused the sympa-
thy of many friends. A year ago they
lost their only son. The funeral was
conducted by Rev. ] P. Hamilton as
sisted by DR.. w. NJ. Blackwelder
The engagement of Miss Daisy Lick
ten to R. w. Cropster of New Orleans,
has been announced, the wedding to
take place June 26.
Miss Lichten is a daughter of Mrs.
Carrie Lichten, and is young woman
of cultured mind and charming person
ality. She has been the successful
. teacher of the second grade of the pub
lie school for the session just closed
and was popular with patrons and pu-
pills
Mrs w. N. Cannon of Montgomery
is visiting her mother, Mrs. Dohrmeier
The gravest concern is felt today
over the critical illness of Jack Powell
eldest son of Hon. and Mrs. j. B.
Powell He has been sick for some
weeks with fever and his condition is
very serious.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-18
ESCAPED C0NVICTS
MEMBERS OF BERNARD BERGER
CAGG ARE CAPTURED.
Two Men who Were Supposed To Have
Robbed Many Montgomery
Residences Placed Be-
hind Bars.

Special Officer L. C. Monette, of Meri-
dian Miss, came to Montgomery yes
terday bringing with him two escaped
negro convicts, Lawrence Gray and
Andrew st. Clair.
Both of these negroes were members
of the Bernard Berger gang which
broke into and robbed SO many resi-
dences in Montgomery last summer.
Gray was captured in Montgomery
County last fall and sent to Speigners
for ten years and st. Clair was caught
in Jefferson County and sent UP Tor
five years.
On January IL, Gray and st. Clair
escaped with several other convicts
from Speigners. of whom these two are
the only ones as yet captured
The two escapes went. to Meridian
and were there occupied in the same
way as in Montgomery when they were
captured by Special officers Monette
and Lyons. lis was on April II. "a
month ago,
Both Gray and st. Clair are now IN
the county Jail and will probably be
sent back to Speigners in short
while with an addition of time to their
sentence.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-18
COTTON CONFERENCE.
Discuss Placing Fabrics ON the For
eign Market.

PHILADELPHIA, May 17.-Whiie the
regular sessions of the annual conven-
ton of the American Cotton Manufac-
turers' Association came to an end yes
terday, a conference participated In
by many of the manufacturers was hello
here today with the object OF formu-
lating plans to overcome the obstacles
which are said to confront the Ameri-
can producer of cotton fabrics who de-
sire a foreign market for his GOODS.
William Whittam, Jr., a special agent
of the department of commerce and Ia
bor. who has been delegated to fnves-
tigate the cotton trade abroad, pre-
sided, and James w. Burke, OF the
National Export Association of Manu-
facturers, New York, made one the
principal speeches.
He took issue with statement MADE
by DR.. w. P. Wilson, director of the
philadelphia Commercial Museum. 10
the effect that the introduction OF Amer
lean cotton abroad was a. hard TASK
and one which would bring but slight
returns for the time. labor and money
expended.
Br. Burke agreed that theoretically
such might be the case so strongly
were England, Germany and france
entrenched In the foreign market, out
he declared that the principal cause
of these unsatisfactory export conoi-
tions lies in the fact that. our manu-
facturers have not been in direct CON
tact with the European markets, Wnere
the battle of competition Is fought ano
whence the financial arrangements OF
the worlds cotton goods trade are
controlled"
r..snA Maflwae today.
The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-18
Grand Jury Dismissed

After session of four days the
United States grand jury was dis
missed this morning, having completed
investigating all cases brought to its
attention. A number of true bills
were returned during the short ses-
sion, and in some cases no indictments
were found. One of these was an al
legged peonage case, which originated
in one of the eastern counties, but the
evidence was not sufficient to war
rant charge of peonage.
The jury returned an indictment
against C. NJ. Powell of Birmingham,
Ala, charging him with forgery. but
the indictment was quashed upon a
demurrer entered by counsel for the
young man.
The peonage cases of w. S. Har-
Ian, Robert Gallagher and other
bosses of the Jackson Lumber Com
pany, who were convicted, six months
since and sentenced to heavy fines
and long terms in prison. have been
appealed to the United States Court
of Appeals at New Orleans. Counsel
for the plaintiffs in error today filed a
bill of exceptions and each of the men
gave bond pending the decision of the
higher court. Harlan's bond was
fixed at $4,000 and the others at 5000
each.