davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
NEW YORK.

Trade has improved all around. the i'm
petus being furnished by the return of
more favorable weather. the presence of
country merchants in leading markets and
the near approach of tho Easter holidays.
Interior merchants report stocks quite
low and money plentiful. Moreover, the
recent cold snap permitted dealers in
heavy wearing apparel to work off stocks
that promised to become burdensome.
1t is significant that business placed
in most lines and sections during the past
two months exceeds that of year ago
Il very active period. Opinions as 10 the
outlook for the second half of the year
vary. yet it is felt that pause would
not be unwecome-in fact. would have
a SOLDERING effect on many lines that are
now sold very far ahead and for which
heavy contracting still continues. Manu-
featuring is active the country over
and finished lines of iron and steel are
as brisk as heretofore. though pig iron
markets are quiet.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending Feb. % number 1884,
against III last week, $50 in the same
week of 1906, 206 in 1903. 195 in 1903
and III in 1903. Canadian failures for
the week number II. as against - last
week and 80 in this week year ago
BradStreetS Report 10000
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
UE4z lxILA!SgI;21[1ss<<[5RS
.s.sst,s9esslISSSs2s@ss l68@l@-GN.
2st sc n III ss ~ sss - 81.
8@.N3. 81 gG2Ce

= Chicago-Cattle, common to PRIME
$500 to $3.50; hogs. prime heavy, $500
to S7.05; sheep. fair to choice, $500
to $3.50; wheat, No. =, 73c to 74c; corn,
No. 2, 42c to 43c; oats, standard, 39c to
Ale; rye, No. ., 66c to 61c; hay, timo-
thy, $500 to $1,000; prairie, 5000 to
$1400; butter, choice creamery, 2Sc to
&c; eggs, fresh, 19c TO pc; potatoes,
SOC to 45c
anapolis-Cattle. shipping. $500
to $3.50; hogs, choice heavy, $500 to
S7.25; sheep, common to prime, $3.50 to
$500; wheat No. >, 74c to 1Gc; corn,
No. , white, 45c to 47c; oats, No
white, Ale to 43c.
st. Louis-Cattle. $40 TO SG.75;
hogs. $500 to $40: sheep, $3.50 to
500; wheat No. ,. 7Gc to nc; corn,
No. 2, 44c TO 45c; oats, No ., Ale to
43c rye No. >. 64c to G5c.
Cincinnati-Cattle $4O0 to 500;
hogs. $4OO to $40; sheep. $500 to.
500; wheat, No. ., T9c to Soc; corn,
No 2 mixed 4Jc to 47c; oats, No. ,
mixed. Ale to 43c; rye. No. .. Tic to 73c.
Detroit--Cattle. $500 to SJ.2J; hogs.
800 to $7OJ; sheep. $3.50 to $500:
wheat. no. =. iDc 10 &c, corn, No =
yellow. 45c to 41c; oats. No. 3 white.
SIC to Bic: rye. No. >, 69c TO Tie.
Observation-Disclosures. No. > northern,
7Sc TO soc; corn. No. 3. 42c to 43c
oats, standard, 40c to 42c; rye, No. J.,
&c to G0c; barley, standard, &c TO Gle;
pork, mess, Sl6.J2.
BuffaIo-Cattle. choice shipping steers,
S4OO to 5000: hogs. fair TO choice $500
to $3.50: sheep. common to good mixed,
S4.00 TO Sj.iO; lambs, fair to choice,
$500 to $3.50.
Toledo-Wheat. No. mixed 7Jc to
re: corn. No mixed 4Jc to 46c;
oats. No. mixed. 4lc TO 43c; rye. No
., 67c to 69c; clover seed prime, $50.
New York-Cattle $500 to $685.;
hogs. 800 to 1913; sheep, $500 to
SJ.2j; wheat No. red. Sic 10 S2c;
corn. No. >, J4c to 5Jc; oats, natural
white. 52c to J4c: butter. creamery, 32c
to 34c; eggs western, DC 10 2Sc.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
News of Minor Note.

The buildings of the New York Dock
Company were destroyed with a loss of
S2JO000.
Wheaton seminary. Massachusetts. has
been closed because of scarlet fever
among the girls.
The plant of the Fischer Foundry and
Machine Company at Ford City was
burned to the ground loss estimated at
100000.
Ben Huffaker. a negro, was hanged at
EddyvilIe, Ky. Huffaker while life con-
vict in the penitentiary murdered fell
low convict.
Wittenberg College of Springfield, Ohio,
is to receive a donation of sol 900 the
proceeds Of land sale, which was made
az Tecumseh. Neb
Edwin 5. Cramp resigned as vice pres
ident of the Cramps Ship and Engine
Building Company, leaving no member of
the family connected with the concern.
Learning of the decision of the jury in
the case of her brother, Peter Boos,
found guilty of robbing the home of Mrs.
Margaret Kleinwachter, Miss Clara Boos
dropped dead at South Milwaukee.
Suits to recover penalties for violation
OF the safety appliance law will be insti-
tuted against the Alabama, Great South
ern; Atlantic Coast Line Central of
Georgia, Denver and Rio Grande Will
Transport. North Branch; Erie; Interna-
tional and Great Northern; Missouri.
Kansas and Texas; Mobile and Ohio;
Pennsylvania: Washington Southern ST.
Louis and San Francisco; Southern Pa
ciic; Southern, Texas-Mexican and Wa
bash railroads.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
Brief News Items.

The deaths are announced at Carta-
gena. Spain, of Vice Admiral Sanchez
Ocana and Rear Admiral Martinez HES
cas-.
To enable the grand jury to investigate
Jennings election frauds in Louisiana
the entire electorate of $40 persons has
been summoned.
Sir John L. Walton Attorney General
of Britain. in a speech at Leeds declared
that the House of Lords was out of har-
mony with modern democratic insitu-
lions and must go.
The department store of B. G. Carpen-
ter & Co.. situated in the heart of Wilkes
barre, Pa. was practically destroyed by
fire. Loss 100000.
William Smith. colored, set fire to
aPinkey" Tigg, with whom he formerly
lived, at Gulfport, Miss, and the woman
was burned to death.
Argentine imports for 1906 aggregated
S269. 97O,521 gold, an increase of over
S64. 100000 Exports amounted to 1922,
so. 500. a decrease of S30,590,012.
Formal notice of appeal in the case Of
Chester Gillette, the convicted murderer
of Grace Brown, was filed with the dis
trict attorney of Herkimer county.
J. J. Moore, the millionaire shipping
and commission merchant of San Fran
cisco. was kicked by a horse at Ascot
Park. Los Angeles, and suffered a skull
fracture which may prove fatal.
Land has been bought from the Chinese
in Newchwang. China, under military
compulsion by the japanese administra
tion and. handed over to the South Man
churia railway, which is extending its
concession.
Judge Gray of Delaware, recently chos-
en- umpire in the dispute between the New
York yard brakemen and conductors and
the various railroad companies for an IN
crease in wages of / cent an hour, has
decided against the yaAdmen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
GIRL RECOVERED BY FATHER.
Found by Parent In Gypsy Camp at
Thornton, Ill.


After a years search for his daughter,
who was kidnapped by gypsies at Little
Rock, Ark, Leo Demetro found her the
other afternoon at Thornton, ILL.,, in
gypsy camp. When the child. who is 13
years old, saw her father with four dep
uty sheriffs who accompanied him, she
ran and threw her arms around his neck.
oh, papa, papa" she cried, take me
away. Don't let them keep me here "
The deputies had been sent to Thornton
by Judge Mack of the Juvenile Court in
Chlcago, before whom the father had ap-
penred, and he issued an order that the
child be brought into court. When the
deputies attempted to take the girl from
the camp more than fifty of the gypsies
attacked the officers, who were compelled
to draw their revolvers With the weep
ing girl clinging to her father, the depu-
ties leveled their weapons at the enraged
gypsies, and in that way walked nearly a
third of a mile. No shots were fired, but
at times it looked as if the deputies would
nave to shoot at the leaders of the mob
Inc girl was taken to Chicago and cared
1or. John Joe, the name by which the
man is known who kidnapped her, was not
arrested. The father of the girl is a
Greek. He is an itinerant coppersmitb
ana was at Little Rock year ago. On
March l, 1906, John Joe kidnapped the
girl. Demetro was slightly acquainted wi Il
the gypsy, having met him the year before
at Dallas, Texas, when the tribe was
camped there. The Greek was stranger
IN the country and unable to speak Eng
lish With his heart-broken wife he be-
gan the search. The parents have trav-
eled about 10000 miles or their quest.
In connection with the search the father
has spent more than $1,000, part of
which was advanced to him by a Greek
society to which he belongs.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07

Joseph Letter Of Chicago. operator of
the famous Zeigler colliery. the scene Of
numerous labor conflicts during the last
two years. was found guilty in the Frank
lin County Court at Benton. ILL.,. of vic
lating the State mining laws and will be
fined from $500 to $500. Mr.. Letter was
found guilty of employing a mine exaD'-
liner who did not hold a certificate issued
by the State mining board at the time
of the explosion in April of 1909. in
which sixty men lost their lives either
outright or by being asphyxiated in res
cuing others. The prosecution based its
fight principally on that point, arguing
that the examiners ignorance of mine
laws was in a measure responsible for the
disaster. While the verdict Of the jury
was no surprise to those directly connect
ed with the trial. il was sore diSap-
pointment generally 10 the citizens Of
Franklin county, who had expected that
Letter would be acquitted Of the charge.
Letter has done much toward the develop
ment of the Franklin county coal fields
people of the county, who had hoped that
he would win the case. The verdict IS
thought to have been in the nature of a
compromise The case will be resumed
March II, at which time Mr.. Letter will
be tried on the various other counts on
which he has been indicted. Both sides
will prepare for bitter contest.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
CRIME is PECULIAR.
WOMAN AND CHILD DIE TWO
OTHERS POISONED.
Housekeeper, Fearful of Separation
from Employers Sons, Suspected
of Murder and Suicide-Firemen
Hurt in Allegheny, Pa.

When Emil Keeppen. a widower. re-
turned to his rome in Woodland. near st.
Louis. the other morning, he found Miss
Selma Geiersbach, his housekeeper, and
his son Frank. aged 10 years, dead from
poison, and his sons Bentley. aged s, and
Robert, aged 6, unconscious in the same
bedroom on the second floor of the house.
The smaller boys are not expected re re-
cover. The physicians said opium appar-
emily had been administered. The house
keeper told neighbors Mr. Koeppen had
notified her he intended to discharge her
and expressed regret that she was TO be
she professed a strong attachment. One
theory is that the housekeeper. unwilling
to leave the children, poisoned them and
herself. Those who do not hold to this
theory are mystided. A bottle labeled
with the name Of patent medicine was
found in the bedroom. This medicine is
manufactured in st. Louis. Its manufac-
turer says it would require more than
two bottles of it to affect any one seri-
ously. peculiar fact was the discovery
of lamp burning in a window. koeppen
had told the nurse to put a light in the
window where he could see it from his
place OF employment, as a signal if any
thing went wrong. The indications are
that the S-year-old boy put the light in
the window
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
MARRIAGE PLEDGES SMASHED.
Census Bureau Records Over Mill
lion Divorces in Twenty Years


lion Divorces in Twenty Years.
The divorce statistics collected by the
census bureau and published in a prelim-
mary report show that while Chicago is
still prominent as divorce center. Phila-
delphia and Boston give a proportionately
greater increase in the past twenty years.
The figures show that divorces in Gin
cinnati have increased fifteenfold. in Kan
Sas City tenfold and in indianapolis four
fold Chicago still maintains a promi-
nent place in the race of the cities for
divorce honors. The average in that city
for each 100000 of population was 30 in
the first period and 101 in the second pc
Rod. Chicago's increase is not nearly so
great as that of Philadelphia. where the
average number increased from - per
100000 for the first period - 63 per 1OO,-
600 for the second period. Boston is
passing Chicago in the rate of increase,
which has gone up from 40 to SO.
The census Office makes no attempt to
give an accurate report of the divorce sta
tiStics of New York because the records
are in such poor shape that it has been
impossible to get the facts.
The total number of applications filed
from 1886 to 1908 was 100000.
1t is estimated that three-fourths of the
applications have been granted, so that
the statistics when compiled will show
that in the period stated more than
100000 divorces have been allowed. In
the twenty years period from 1867 to
1886 the total number of divorces was
$4,000
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
BIG RAIL STRIKE PENDING.
Question Affecting 10000 Men Goes
to Vote of EMPLOYEES.

Danger of great railroad strike,
spreading over the West and involving
more than 10000 train employees, became
evident the other night when negotiations
finally were broken of between general
managers of forty-two railroads and com
mittees representing the conductors,
brakemen. fagmen, and bagga gemen on
these lines. 1t was announced by the
union brotherhoods that a vote on the
question of a strike will be taken at once.
Acting under orders from Grand Master
P. H. Morrissey Of the trainmen's broth
erhood and Grand CHER A. 3. Garretson
Of the Order of Railway Conductors, 2oO
men started out from Chicago to distr1b-
ute strike ballots in every railroad center
in the West. The voting will be conduct
ed by lodges. The question upon which
the train employees will vote will be sub
stantially as follows: Are you prepared
to go TO any extremity to enforce your
demands, and place the matter in charge
Of the grand officers of the brotherhoodsF
Grand Master Morrissey said an afirma-
tive vote would not necessarily mean an
immediate strike, but that the actual
decision in calling a strike will rest with
foretell serious or widespread trouble.
Chicago railroad managers took SINH
larry optimistic view, expressing regret
at the same time that, after four weeks of
continuous discussion between the con-
ferees, it had been impossible to reach an
amicable agreement. The breach between
the roads and employees committees was
not entirely unexpected, at least by the
men. Matters practically reached break
ing point in the wage conference when
road managers sent an ultimatum to rep
resentatives of the brothernoods. One
or two conferences after that did not allie
yiate the situation. The disagreement
which led to the rupture is concerned
principally with wages. Railroads con-
sistently this year have increased the pay
of thousands of employees of various
classes. They were not willing to make
the strong advance of 10 per cent de-
manded by the conductors and trainmen.
Instead of this figure it is said the roads
offered to raise the pay of employees on
freight trains about 10 per cent. Pas
senger conductors and brakemen were ten
dsred an increase of Z per cent. The av
erage advance proposed by the roads
amounted to about per cent.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07

Mrs. Mike" Mcdonald. wife of the
former Chicago gambling king, who is un-
der arrest for the Staying of Webster
Guerin. and who, the police feared. would
die in her cell of hysteria after the shoot
ing, has improved since her removal TO
the county Jail hospital. There is no
question, declared the Jail physician, that
Mrs. Mcdonald is mentally deranged at
present and has been so since she fired
the shot that killed Guerin. The ques-
ton which the authorities wish to deter
mine. according to the physician, is
whether the woman was insane before the
tragedy.
According to the attorney retained by
Mcdonald. the line of defense will depend
upon Mrs. McDonald's version of the
case The woman. he says, may have no
recollection of the shooting and have been
insane at the time or she may have been
attacked by Guerin and shot in sef-de-
Tense, or the two may have been strug-
Cling for the pistol when it exploded.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
OLD MAN KILLS FOUR.
Illinois Farmer, Crazed by Arrest,
Commits QuadrupIe Murder.

Thomas Baldwin. IS years old, of Col
fax, H., shot and instantly killed Charles
Kennedy and wife and Mrs. Simeon Els
man and daughter. Cora Eisman. at their
homes three miles northwest of Arrow
smith. The crime grew out of an alleged
attack by Baldwin on Cora Eisman, IA
years old. of whom he was an uncle by
marriage. Baldwin was crazed by the
publicity given the affair.
Details OF the murders show that the
quadruple ASA estimation was well planned.
Baldwin had bought two revolvers and
large quantity of cartridges. He first Wis
tied the home of the Kennedys and shot
down Kennedy and his wife. He then
drove in his buggy to the home of the
Eismans, but Mrs. Eisman refused to add
NIT him. He became violent and bat
tered the door. Finally Mrs Eisman
and the girl Cora fed by back door and
started for the home of a neighbor, some
distance away. Baldwin saw them and
pursued. He overlook them and shot the
mother dead, as she sought to protect her
daughter. Cora tried to escape by crawl
ing through a hedge. but he fired on her
and she. too. fell dead.
1t is believed Baldwin is insane. He
had threatened to kill his victims, but his
threats were unheeded.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
JOE LETTER GUILTY.
CONVICTED OF VIOLATING STATE
MINING LAWS.

Explosion in CoIliery at Zieg1er, III,
Attributed TO Unlicensed Examin-
er-scenes of Mob Violence in
Ohio Town.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07


piece of government engineering is done.
Senator J. c. 5. Blackburn of Kentucky,
who soon retires, was made a member of
the commission.
Stevens is the third man to throw up
the canal job suddenly and without ade-
uuate explanation. John +. Wallace, the
first president of the commission, said
that he could get more money elsewhere.
The excuse of Theodore p. Shonts, Wal
lace's successor. that he could not afford
to work for the government when he was
elsewhere offered twice the salary he was
getting. Stevens makes no excuse what
ever.
1t is reported that Stevens, who is
Chicago man and was formerly chief engi-
neer of the Rock Island railroad, has &C
cepted the presidency of a private con-
struction company, at a salary about
double the present one. He is said to
have expressed himself as being tired OF
unjust criticism in the public prints.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
cOUNTRY'S HIGH DEATH RATE.
Census bureau shows Half Million
Deaths by Disease in 1905.


More than 100000 persons in the
United States were offered up in 1903 as
a sacrifice to disease. Startling as this
death rate may seem, it was less than
that for the preceding year, but was in
excess of the number of deaths registered
for any other year This death rate is
lower than that of Ireland, Germany and
Italy for the same period, but higher than
that of England and Wales, Scotland
and the Netherlands.
The death rate from nephritis and
Bright's disease, apopleXy, cancer dia-
betes and appendicitis is increasing, while
that from old age, bronchitis, commissions,
peritOnitis and scarlet fever are decreas-
ing. The greatest death rate recorded for
any one disease in 1905 was that from
pulmonary tuberculosis, amounting TO 56,-
TO. while pneumonia follows closely
with a death rate OF 39.06S, exclusive of
broncho-pneumonia. Cancer shows a
steadily growing death rate, the figures
being 1880.
A report has been issued by the census
bureau giving the statistics of mortality
for 1905. together with revised figures for
the years 1901 to 1904. inclusive. for the
registration area of the United States.
The ten registration States comprising
this area are Connecticut, Indiana,
Maine, Massachusetts. Michigan, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Rhode Island and Vermont. The popula-
ton of the entire area in 1900 was 80,
76J,G1S. representing 400 per cent of
the total population of continental United
States. Of this number 19.960,742 per-
sons. or 26.3 per cent of the total pOpu
lation. were in registration States and
10,S04S76 persons, or 14.2 per cent, were
in registration cities in non-registration
States.
The total number of deaths reported
from the various kinds of diseases in
1905 aggregated 545.533. and those for
the preceding year amounted to 551 ,354.
On a percentage basis the death rate was
in 1905, 1872 in each thousand of popula-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
An Educational Diplomat.

DIR. William r. Shepherd, professor of
history in Columbia university. has been
selected by the international bureau of
American republics, of which John Bar
rett is the new director, to make trip to
the leading South American capitals dur
inc the coming summer. for the purpose
of cultivating personal relations with the
leading statesmen and men of letters in
Latin America, and to carry to them
knowledge of the educational resources
and opportunities of the United States.
Dr. Shepherd will also collect material for
a special course of lectures on South
America
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
AMERICA BUYS WAR BALLOON
$4,000 Bag VIII Lift Explosives to
Drop Enemy.

Announcement is made that the United
States government, which has recently
shown much interest in aerial navigation,
has given an order to a New York aero
naut for a huge balloon which will cost
in the neighborhood of $4,000. The bal
loon is to be labeled No. 10, as the War
Department already has nine others. 1t
will weigh LOO pounds and have lift
ing capacity of ton. Such an unusual
lifting capacity is said to have been re-
CURED because of the War Departments
intention to experiment with bombs and
heavy explosives. With the announce
ment came the news that an aerial sta
ton had been established at Fort Omaha,
Neb. Several balloons will be shipped
there shortly, and orders for more will
follow. A hydrogen gas supply tank has
already been constructed, and as soon as
the big bags arrive at their destination
experiments will be started under the di-
rectiOn of Gen. James ]. Allen, command
er-in-chief of the signal corps of the army.
He has been delegated to supervise the
new department of the war service.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
Spain Yields to Church

A royal order has been issued in Spain
annulling the decree published Aug. %
last which restored the civil marriage for
malities and suppressed the obligation on
those desiring to marry to declare their
religion. The decree of August provoked
intense opposition on the part of the
church authorities. who insisted that mar
riages thus contracted were invalid
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
JUDGE ESCAPES DEATH BY MOB.
Strike Sympathizers stone Cars, Fire
Shots and Beat Man

Fully 1000 strike sympathizers gath
cred in the vicinity of the street railway
offices in Portsmouth, Ohio, creating
scenes of violence. The mob raced back
and forth, stoning the cars. Louis Duls-
heimer. a strike-breaker from Cincinnati.
who drew a revolver, was dsarmed and
almost beaten TO death. Several cars We're
wrecked before the crowd was dispersed
by the police, who were rushed to the
spot in response to appeals from the com
pany officials. One shot was fired through
a car opposite Tracey Park. in the heart
of the city. and the bullet Just grazed
Judge George 7. Tyler of Dayton, trustee
of the State blind asylum at Columbus.