davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-20
LOSES
MILLIONS BY FIRE
Destruction of Forests Is More
Extensive Than in Many
Years.
GOVERNMENT AWAKENED.
PEOPLE REALIZE SERIOUSNESS
OF THE FOREST FIRE PROBLEM
GOVERNMENT NATIONAL FOR
ESTS INJURED.

Washington, Sept. 19.-The forest
fires which have just laid waste whole
counties in Minnesota, Michigan and
extended into Wisconsin,, destroying
many towns and making thousands of
persons homeless, have focused the
attention of both government and
state forest officers on the enormous
losses of forest wealth which will be
checked up to the yea 1908.
In the whole northern half of the
United States throughout the vast ter
ritory extending from coast to coast,
the reported destruction by forest fires
has been terrific and it is likely that
the year will go down as one of the
worst in the last quarter. centeury. 1t
seems that no part of the country has
escaped the work of the devastating
flames. The latest disasters in Min
nesota, Michigan and Wisconsin are
the worst of the many that have Wis
tied the lake states this year. Other
sections have also suffered from for
est fires during the spring and sum-
mer months, and the people of the
Pacific coast, the Rocky mountains
and the New England states and Can
ada have had q thorough and in some
cases. a continuous experience in fire
fighting.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-20
Three Wives in Three Months but
Ohio Mar May Have to Get Another

Ashtabula, o., Sept. 1e.-Three
wives in three months is the rare rec
ord Of Bert Russell, a matrimonial
hero, of this city. Through an acct
dental disclosure the fact was learned
by Russells wife, with whom he was
living in this city, that he had another
wife in Erie, who had a prior claim.
The latter was communicated with
and was as much surprised as the
other and. simultaneously. both ap-
piled for divorces In July the Court
granted DEGREES to both women and
stipulated hat Russell must pay the
first wife SIS q month alimony for 10
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-20
SW|NDL|nG
BOOK AGENT ESCAPES
James McF arIand Disappears
From Toronto.

Chicago, Sept. 19.-Word has just
been received from Toronto that James
Mcfarland, the book agent charged
with having swindled Mrs. James A,
Patten out of $4,000 in cash and notes
on an edition de luxe deal, has dis.
appeared from that city.
Mcfarland was arrested two days
ago and was released on $500 bond,
following his arraignment on a vag-
rancy charge. A short time later de-
tectives from Chicago arrived with
papers to arraign him on a charge of
having obtained Mrs. Patterns signat-
ure under false pretenses.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-20

years, and the second one half that
amount for five years. One of the
women has since married. This
week Russell. who is ,about "a years
of age, married Miss Myrtle Wilson,
aged IL years, of Ashtabula Harbor.
The parents Of the girl had been
trying to avoid the union, but the cou-
pie stole a march on them, the girl
swearing that she was Is years of
age and. therefore, not compelled to
obtain her parents consent. Now the
parents are trying to have the mar
rage annulled inc Russell may be a
candidate for matrimony again within
a week
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-20

OPHEIIA:
Gold Medal Flour Is nourishing.
KEZIAH
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-20
Terre Haute, Indianapolis &
Eastern Traction Co.
Eastern Division

(Time Table Effective Oct. 27. 1909
Trains leave Richmond fc Indian,
apolis anG intermediate stations at
500 a. m, a7:25, 500. 1925, 10: 90
100, 1900, 100, 1925. 800. 400,
1925. 500. 1880. $40, 300. 10: 90.
11:10.
*Limited trains.
Last car to Indianapolis, $40 p. M.
Last car to New Castle, 1000 p. m.
Trains connect at Indianapolis for
Lafayette, Frankfort, Charlottesville.
Terre Haute, Clinton. Sullivan, Paris
Clls.) Tickets sold through.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-20
Losses Reach Millions.

Losses Reach Millions.
Officers in the United States Forest
service here say that it is doubtful if
this years actual losses from forest
fires in all parts of the country will
ever be known. But it is certain that
they will run uD so high in the mil
lions that the country will be startled
when a compilation of statistics at
the end of the season makes it's posi-
BILE to give even the most conserva-
tive figures. Suffice it to say, were
all the timber burned up this year in
all parts of the country converted into
cash, it could provide for a good sized
nav of first class battleships.
The fires have one good in one
way; they have focused the peoples
attention on the seriousness of the
forest fire problem. practical foresters
say, n have started a widespread
movement in many states to check
them by adopting rational. systems of
fire protection. Among thinking peo-
pie there has been awakened an in
tense interest in throwing a better
protection around the forests, which
grow more important as a natural re-
source as the timber supply dwindles.
The government has had a lot of
work in the fire fighting line on the
National forests, but serious as the
fires have been. careful patrol and
the organization of a force to battle
with the flames as soon as discovered
has hold tho 1nCcnC dnuyn m q no;rt
when they are utterly insignificant
struction which would have come
about had there been no protection.
Cost Government Much.
Although the fire menace has been
serious in all sections, officers of the
forest service estimate that the to-
tai cost of the forest fires on the
National forests for the season ex-
elusive of the salaries of forest Off
GERS. will not be more than $50, 900.
This sum is small when it is remem-
bered that it means fire protection for
approximately 16S, 0O0, 900 acres of
National forests, less than two-tenths
OF a mill per acre. Progressive state
fire wardens and forest officers. indi-
viduals and private corporations hav-
ing large timber holdings have or
ganized fire fighting forces along
much the same line as the government
In many cases and in this way they
have given protection to millions of
acres of timber which might have
been destroyed had it been left un-
protected.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12

Mrs. Spotswood and her children met the
carriage when it was driven up to the gate
and received the guests cordially, though the
lady could not entirely conceal her surprise at
the shabbiness of their apparel
Surely" she thought, 'my old schoolmate
has not prospered, or she wouldn't send out
her children dressed that way"
Clarence and Mary did what they could to
amuse and entertain their guests but they
didn't succeed very well. The visitors were
extremely shy and sad, and couldn't be coaxed
to play OF laugh.
At noon all the negroes were assembled in
the. grove to partake of bountiful Christmas
feast. After dinner there was dance in the
open air, to the music of cracked fiddle with
an accompaniment of clapping hands. Then
came the grand ceremony of serenading the
insists"
She was standing on the portico to receive
Happy Jack led the procession, for he was
to furnish the music. In his hand he carried
a row of reeds, eight in number, regularly
graduated in size and length, and fast bound
together. Such was his musical instrument
and he was master of it.
After removing his hat, making bow and
scraping one foot on the ground, he applied
the reeds to his lips and the music began.
Now the notes were loud and piercing, like
those of a fife; now soft and low and flute
like; now so quick and merry that many a
pair of feet Involuntary kept time.
The performance over, Happy Jack made
a little speech.
''Sarvant, MISS" he said, ''hit's cuts time
O. year for wa'millions; but rs got big
un, eff you'll des' but stood to eat slishe OBJ
hit"
As he spoke he turned his eyes furtively, to
note the effect of his surprising announcement
on Clarence. But instead of being a picture
of open-eyed wonder, Clarence was fit to
burst with Unsurpassed laughter.
As to the negroes, they did not hesitate to
express themselves in terms rejecting upon
Happy Jacks veracity or sanity.
'fWhar de name o. sense he git wa million
Christmas? What he come yer wild a mouf-
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12

full O. SIGH tales fer! Dat boys cracked whar
he can't be mended. He's sick in his haid,
he is"
But Mrs. Spotswood spoke kindly, bidding
him bring his melon and cut it himself on the
stone step.
Away sped Happy Jack and fetched his
treasure from the fodder stack. :,
A knife was handed him, and the. crowd
pressed close about him TO witness the cut
Thomas" there still.
AS the two pieces of the melon fell apart,
Happy Jack uttered an exclamation OF aston
ishment and dismay. .m
"Pie-melon! pie-melon!" rang the cry. "Tole
lantern never had no wa million; rake nun
out hne de gin-'ouse an loosen his hide wid
a TO foot hick'ryi"
Before the threat could be executed Clar
ence came to the rescue.
81 tole you I'd fool you the baddest, he
began. 80 ;, ar, G..
wood, sharply.
81 beg youi pardon, mother. forgot you
were present" "a.
his melon in the fodder stack, and saw him.
/ got a pie-melon out of the garden ana put
it in the place of it. The pie-melon was al;
most exactly like Jack watermelon. Ana
back and look in the next stack this way, he'll
find his melon safe and sound"
Happy Jack waited to hear no more. He
fairly flew to the fodder stack and presently
the whole crowd saw him returning in tri'
umph dancing along as he played his reeds,
the watermelon the while resting securely on
his head. ;,
No disappointment now. Red, cold and
luscious the melon proved
Mrs. Spotswood and each of the white
children accepted a small slice; Happy Jack
helped himself literally, and the remainder
was cut into small bits and passed around till
all was gone.
Then the company would have dispersed
but old Peter, bent with age and rheuma-
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12
THE PROPHET OF THE OLD PLANTATION

tism, hobbled to the front, as if he had some
thing to say.
:, "Sa'vant,, miss said he, laying his hat on
the ground. I've yeared say we'en two
lion is ct IN Chris mas Day, de visitors what
pear ull stay reg lar. My ole eyes is nodis all
dem cuts things happen today, an dar de Wis
tors, pointing at the Glover children.
Peters speech, Randall's tall, battered hat was
Knocked off, and letter fell out Of it.
Please gracious!" exclaimed Randall, pick
ing up the letter. and handing it to Mrs.
Spotswood, Il clean forgit | had dat let
ter"
Mrs. Spotswood read the letter hastily
why, how is this?" she exclaimed, look
ing from one to another in utter bewilder-
ment Mrs. Glover writes that her son Is
still sick, and she cant let her children come
this, time. Who in the world are these in
truders"
The cheeks of the visitors blanched, and
the girl chung nervously to the boy.
81 hope you won't be hard on u.s." said
voice. "Our father is dead and we are so
poor that our mother sent us to ask Mrs.
spotswood to lend her little money to keep
US from starving"
"What is your mothers name?"
and
Here his voice failed utterly.
But it mattered not; his mission was ac-
cOmpllneu. ne next IuOfnenL Cne trembling
visitors were in Mrs. Spotswood's arms.
ooh, m so glad you camel" she cried.
'We've hunted The world over for you. NV
husband, on his death bed, charged me to right
the wrong that had been done your mother.
if / could ever find her. She shall have half
of all my possessions, and I will send for her
Immediately"
The negroes looked and listened with Curl
Gus and sympathetic interest, and from one
to another passed the question, never to be
answered:
"Who says old man Josh warn't a tru.
prophets"
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12
FROM PAGE ONE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
came dashing in there was such noise Of
braying and laughing and shouting that all
the passengers looked out to see what was
going on.
So dense was the throng and so great the
confusion, that if any children got off the
train Randall failed to see them.
"Hi" he exclaimed. Il made sho miss
said dey was comm on dat train, but reek-
on l must "a been mistooken. II wait for
de next I'm anyhow; faint but hour tell
hit come"
By the time the north bound train arrived
the crowd and confusion had somewhat de-
creased, and Randall easily saw that the only
passengers who got off were boy and a
girl who exactly fulfilled his idea of the Clio
yer children in every respect except that Of
dress
Their garments were coarse and threadbare,
which, to RandalPs mind, indicated that they
belonged to the lowest class and were, there
fore, unfit to be the guests of Mrs. Spots
wood He hardly thought it possible they
were the Glover children, but to make sure
he swallowed his pride, and aceosted them.
"Y'all amt de chillun what's gwine to
Yes" eagerly answered the boy. "Can
"relI YOU de way!" exclaimed Randall, in
amazement Il low eff you git in de carriage
what miss sont after you, you'll be more'n APP
to fine de way, cep'n de bosses git scared O.
you an run way"
And he opened the carriage door and let
down the steps for the strangers to get in.
They seemed embarrassed and bewildered
Randall thought it was because they were
unusued to riding in a carriage, and he in
wardly wondered why Mrs. Spotswood had in
yited such persons to her house
But he said never word to them AS
soon as they were in the carriage he drove to
the postoffce, got Mrs. Spotswood's mail and
set out for home
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12
CONTINUED FROM PAGD -FOUR


Tom Watson was the most hopeful one among
us.
''Never you fear Cap, sand he; that boy
got the grit in him. He's able to STAND more
downright hardship than any of us, and you II
see that he'll turn up safe and sound If
Silas is ever found he's the one that will
do it, Oh, l know the youngster like
book!
1--WE were all somewhat cheered by Toms
confident tone, and the double search began
at the earliest possible moment in the morn
ing, each one of us endeavoring to take a route
not Travelled over the day before.
within ten minutes after entering the
mountain Businesses | had lost sight of my
men. Purposely choosing the toughest and
most difficult trail, | continued my course
alone, going ever upward, along dark gulches
and rugged, broken peaks, amidst whose deep
recesses the armies of the world might have
been effectually concealed; and yet l had been
foolish enough to believe that somewhere in
this dread chaos, | might stumble upon one
small atom OF humanity
THE further | went the more absurd
seemed such hope. In very truth, the
search itself, in the eyes of sober reason,
appeared more Quixotic than would that for
a single bottle thrown overheard by some
sinking mariner in the middle of the broad
Atlantic.
Several times during the morning | had
come upon bands of elk, and once, gliding
through the cedar bushes, saw tawny, gray
lsh animal, which l took to be a panther;
but | dared not shoot in either case, for fear
of misleading some of the searchers. The
hour of noon had come, and / sat down by a
little spring to eat my lunch in a silence pro-
found as that of the grave. As l munched
the hard biscuit and cold venison, thought,
with sinking heart, of the terrible time to
come when | should have to bear to Richard
Power and his wife, in far-away St. Paul,
the fearful tidings that their darling, only
son had persisted amidst the inaccessible wilds
of the frowning Olympics; and if at that
moment | could have saved the boy by the
sacrifice of my own life, | think | would will
ingly have done so, as | recalled all his lovely
attributes-his radiant youth, his brave, buoy
ant spirits, unselish devotion aud ever-ready
helpfuness
ooh, bitter, bitter reAections Why did |
let him go?
"But bark! What was that? Suddenly
sprang up and listened intently Breaking
in upon the deep stiffness, far off from the
east, there came faint report-surely that
of gun!
"No-yesl Another and yet another. ere
the echoes OF the first had died away!
Gone of the lost was found, and I hardly
dared to confess my secret hope, | asked
myself, Which one?'
Instantly my own rife rang out an answer
to the signal and dashed off in the direction
of the sound or rather, | tried to do so:
but the direct path was barred by q pre-
eipitous ravine
chastity uncOiling my rope, I passed it
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12

around the root of sapling until the two
ends hung at even length, and, lowering my
self by the double strand, reached the bottom
in safety. Retaining the rope, | managed
to climb the opposite bank of the gulf, and so
hurried onward.
"0verhanging rocks, great boulders and
fallen trees met me whichever way | turned,
and, toll as l might my progress was all too
slow; but now again, and this time evidently
nearer, | heard the three welcome shots, and
once more | answered, as | tore like mailman
through the tangled maze
81 now felt sure that | was on the right
path, the last signals being clearly from due
east, and kept on in that course, though with
many tedious detours.
''For more than an hour | pressed along
with incredible labor, and judged that had
made perhaps a mile and a half as the crow
flies, when, apparently not three hundred feet
away, the signal was repeated.
"This time, instead of firing, I responded
by a loud shout, and to my inexpressible de-
light heard in reply an unacceptable halloa,
which seemed to proceed from the depths of
the earth, and at the same moment l noticed,
lowering in the air, a little vapory cloud,
which looked like smoke
Pushing forward with redoubled eager
ness, / presently turned the corner of a giant
cliff and came within an ace of falling head
long into a yeritable cul de sac in the shape
of a short, sharp ravine which yawned at my
feet.
"The place was so dark, by reason of the
overshadowing rocks, that my straining eyes
could not at first penetrate the gloom, but
myself standing in relief against lighter
background, had been seen; and my heart
/ throbbed with intense thanlfulness as a
xv1aAn hagI I'D r
Power, hailed me by name.
Gazing then more intently into the ra-
vine, l saw a sight which | shall never for
get. Stretched out beside the embers of a
smoudering fire lay the body of man, and
close to this stood Harry, while little to the
right there doomed dimly up the carcass of
some huge beast, and, few yards to the left,
that of a smaller animal
:" Don't stop to ask questions now, Cap,
but come right down. There's no time to
lose!' Harry called out
"And again utilizing my rope, | quickly de.
scended and the next moment had clasped
the boy to my breast and shaken the limp
hand of Silas Gosling Then Harry told his
story:
yesterday said he, when l lost sight
of the rest of you, l determined to go right
on toward the heart of the mountains, but
the climbing was so hard that / couldn't
make much speed.
az saw lots of elks and other game-and
I tell you it was pretty tough work to keep
myself from shooting-but found no signs at
all of Silas, and hadn't much hope of find
ing him.
"'About two o'clock in the afternoon, 1
had notion to turn back, and said to myself
that I'd do so as soon as came to big
rock that saw little way ahead; but be-
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-12

fore | got there, picked up this empty cart
ridge shell, and then | knew l was on the
right track.
'Thirty-five or forty yards further on,
right sup there on the opposite side oil the
gully from where you came in, saw place
that looked as if something heavy had tum-
bled over the edge and raked kind OF crook.
ed path through the stones and bushes all
the way to the bottom. l could see something
down there, but the scrub was SO thick that
couldn't make out what it was.
, "'That side of the gulch isn't quite per-
pendieuar, and / soon got down without
using my rope at all.
"'Then | found this big elk, lying dead,
and Sias, seemingly dead, too, alongside OF
it, and his rifle, all smashed to bits, little
way off. -,
shots, and then | examined Silas as well as
could. He wasn't dead-only insensble; but
his right leg was broken above the knee and
doubled back under him.
"Well, | Strengthened it out and brought
some water from hole in the rock, and after
a little while he came to. Then he told me
how it all happened
"He got lost the first day and had to stay
out all night, and yesterday, about noon, he
was travelling along, without any idea of
elk, standing quite STILL not far off. He fired
at its shoulder and it tumbled down. He
thought it dead, so he slung his rifle and
ran up to bleed it,; but, just as he stopped
down, the elk staggered up again and went
for him. Sias says he caught it by the
horns and when it made kind of blind
rush forward, they both went over the edge
together; and that was the last thing he
knew until he saw me bathing his face with
water.
owe we're in pretty bad fix. | dared
not leave HIM alone while | went for help,
because his rife was of no use, and he couldn't
defend himself, and it wouldn't do for me to
go without mine. So | kept on firing three
shots every now and then until We had only
about dozen cartridges left between us; but
no answer came
"'Then, seeing we had to stay another
night, kindled fire and partly skinned the
elk, and we had lots of hot steaks.
All the afternoon | made Silas as comfort
able as | could, and an hour or two after dark
] Law down beside him, and think we must
both have gone to sleep.
"I know [ was fast enough, anyway, when
along about ten o'clock some ugly dream
Weakened me up. The fire had gone out, and
it seemed 20 me as if some kind of danger was
around So | put my hand on my rifle and
lay quite still, looking and listening. In
minute or two l heard slight rustling
sound, and saw two cleaning eyes, not ten
feet away.
"'Quick a. flash l threw up the gun and
sent bullet right between them. The fiery
eyes sank out of sight, and then all was still,
/ jumped up, holding my rifle ready all the
time, and stepped over to the spot and found
this big mountain lion, panther, or what
ever you cali it, as dead as maekerel