davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Sentenced For Land Frauds.

WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-Frederick
A. Hyde of San Francisco, recently
convicted of conspiracy to defraud
the United States of large tracts of
land in Oregon and Washington, was
today sentencedIin the district criminal
court to pay a fine of $4,000 and to
serve two years in the penitentiary at
Moundsville, w. Va, the maximum
pen atty under the law.
Joseph H. Schnider of Tucson,
Ariz., an employe of Hyde's and con-
victed with him, was fined 81 900 and
sentenced to one year and two months
in the penitentiary. Both noted
appeals. Hyde was released on $40
600 bond and Schider on $4,000.
The prosecution of Hyde and Schni-
der, together with John A. Benson
and Henry p. Dimond, who we're
acquitted, following the investig alton
of alleged wholesale irregularities in
public land deals in the west, cost the
government 100000 and the trial
occupied three months.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Washington News Notes.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l2.-The house
today passed an amendment to the
postal law, making the pen atty for
mbezzlement or theft of mail by q
postal employe aCfine of $500 or i'm.
prisonment for five years, or both.
The government made profit dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 30,
1908, $40 0,54l,37l on the coinage of sill.
yer, nickel and one cent bronze pieces.
This represents the difference between
the price paid by the government for
the metals and their coin age value.
What was practically test vote on
the bill providing for the arbitrary
investig alton of differences between
employers and employees in labor dis.
putes was taken in the house today
when Townsend of Michigan sought to
bring it up for further consider alton.
The opponents OF the measure rallied
their forces and the house, by vote
of lO2 to II, refused to take up the
measure.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
For Postal Savings Banks.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-In the SEN
ate today the postal savings bank
bill was taken up as a special order,
with every Indication that it will re-
ceive favorable consideration from a
majority of the law makers of the up
per house. Senator Carter of Mon.
tana, who is in charge Of the measure,
gives it as his opinion that the bill
will pass the senate without opposi-
ton of any serious kind. Both the
president and the postmaster general
favor the passing of the bill.
The fate of the me asure in the house
is problematical, as Speaker Cannon
is opposed to it, but it is believed
that the influence of ELECT
Taft will be sufficient to overcome the
opposition of the speaker
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Congressmen Begin Work.

WASHINGTON, Dec. "a bill pro.
viding for the esta ablishment of q tariff
commission of seven members to fix the
rates of duty on all imports was in
troduced in the house today by Rep
resentative Fowler of New Jersey.
The house began regular business,
considering a bill for the thirteenth
census and an amendment excluding
messengers, watchmen, unskilled
laborers, etc., from the noncompetitive ve
examin alton requirements.
The republican caucus today elected
Senator Hale chairman, virtually
making him the majority leader. The
senate received a mass of reports pre-.
sented by Vice-President Fairbanks,
including reports Of the printing office,
the secretaries of agricultural and
treasury departments. A deluge OF
petitions followed.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
A Northern Pacific Wreck.

BISMARCK, n. d. Dec. lO.-Tbe
wreck of the North Coast Limited at
M ackenzie, on the Northern Pacific 20
miles east of here. las, night, may be
considered one Of the most fortunate
in the annals of railroading, accord
ing to railroad men. The fact that
almost an enirc train, going at the
rate of 80 miles an hour. containing
more th"u 200 persons, could turn
over anu e. down a 10 foot embank.
ment without killing any body, is mar.
velou>.
The train struck a broken rail.
The engine got over safely, but the
tender went off the track, followed by
the baggage car and mail car. Then
the coupling broke and the three day
coaches, two sleepers and the observa-
tion car went down an embankment
into deep snowdrift and turned over
without breaking a coupling. The
hard PACKED snow saved the train
from destruction.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Hearing On Wool Tariff

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1l.-Three wool
growers were the only Witnesses heard
by the house ways and means com.
mittee at the tariff hearing today.
r. G. johnson, of Blackfoot, Idaho,
who had been on the stand before, re.
turned to give the committee his
figures on the cost of raising sheep.
These figures showed that the profits
on flock of sheep in Idaho are 10 per
cent.
Solomon Luna, a wool grower of
New Mexico, asked the committee to
retain the present tariff on wool. say
ing that he would like to have the
duty increased If he thought there was
any possibility of having it done.
H. W. Kelly, representing the New
Mexico Wool Growers association,
claimed that the cost OF raising sheep
has increased, and asked to have
the tariff on wool retained.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16

HELENA, Dec. 9.-The state board
Of canvassers has today completed
the official canvass. The vote in the
entire state is as follows:
Taft, 1888: Bryan, 29,326: Debs,
5,S55: Hisgen, 443: Chain, S37; Taft's
plurality, 3,0O,.
Pray, $3.50: Long, 29,O32: Duncan,
5,3ls: Pray's plurality, 3,7S7,
Donlan, 80, 1872: Norris, 32,2S2; Haz-
elton, SIP: Norris plurality, 1,490.
Allen, 81, 263; Swindlehurst, 29,33l:
Buzzell, 5,1s3: Aliens plurality, p
81.
Holloway. $685.; Johnston, 27,s7O:
Maury, 5,25l: Holloway's plurality,
5,s15.
Yoder. 32,5lS: Romney, S,722:
Hamilton, 5,30s: Yoder's plurality,
1859.
Esselsty ne, 81, l,o74: Goodwin, 80, OIL:
Powers, 5,3l6.
Cunningham, 33, ,416: Sherlock, 27,-
sol: Castle, 5,252.
Galen. 32,6l7: Tolan, 2S7O3; Parr,
1908: Galen's plurality 3,914.
The vote on railroad commission
ers: Boyle, 32.662: Nevins, 2S,112:
Peugh, 5,3ls: Stanton, 32,09s; Vio'
lette, %, la: Gilchrist, 5,362: Morley
81, 1853; Newman, 2s,4l3: Billings, s..
316.
Vote on amendments: Depository
board, for, 1928; against, 1868.
Increase tax levy, for IA .1S4; against
26, 706.
Authorizing bond issue to Offset
those declared invalid by the supreme
court, for, 24.SoS: against, 1910.
The official canvass makes nc
ch ange in announced result.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Held Up Great Northern Flyer

SPOKANE, Dec. l0.-Three men held
up eastbound Great Northern train
No. mile and q half east of
Hillyard, this state, at an early hour
this morning, robbed the mail car
and made their escape. Only the
presence of mind of w. Perrin. the
fireman, prevented the looting of the
express car, which carried large
amount of money, including $4,000
consigned from Spokane bank to a
Montana town.
While two of them stood guard over
the engineer, the other took Perrin
back to uncouple the mail and express
cars from the rest OF the train. In
the darkness, the bandit failed to note
til at the first car was the mail car,
while the second was the baggage, and
the express car, which contained the
desired booty, was third in the train.
Perrin saw his mistake, and quickly
taking advantage of it, in spite of the
menacing revolver held close to his
head, cut off the mail and baggage
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
CONVICTED OF GRATING.
Notorious Political Boss Declared
Guilty Of Bribery.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. l0.-A brah am
Ruef, former political boss of San
Francisco, was convicted today of bri
berry. The verdict was returned exactly
upon the strike of four o'clock, after
the deliberations of the jury had been
prolonged throughout period of 81
hours. The warnings of Judge VIM.
p. Lawler, and the vigilance of the
police. checked all attempted demon
strations, although the excitement in
the court room was so intense that
men were thrust down into their seats
or seized in the grasp OF detectives as
they rose TO obtain better view of
the proceedings.
The trial, which has been in pro.
gress for l06 days, ended with sur.
prising abruptness. The day had al
most passed without sign or inti-
nation from the curtained chamber
on the upper floor of Carpenters hall,
the hopes of Ruef and his attorney 5
had risen with every hour of delay,
and the adherents of the prosecution
We're proportionately discouraged.
With numbers and interest undimin-
ished, the hundreds OF spectators who
have clung about the court room dur.
ing the closing days of the trial, re-
tained their seats or stood hat in hand
in long line near the entrance, while
strong band of police watched vigi.
lantly for the first sign of disorder in-
side, and patrolled every approach to
the hall.
Ten minutes before the verdict was
returned, Francis J. Heney, the as
sistant district attorney, who had
charge of the trial, and who was shot
down by Morris Haas on Novemb ber
l3, had been driven away from Car.
penters' hall in an automobile. Not.
withstanding the presence OF score
of officers, who did all they could to
restrain the demonstrations as Mr..
Heney entered the court room, men
and women rose to their feet, and
cheered. waving hats or handkerchief
until the bailitf and detectives inter.
fered.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
For Waterways improvement.

WASHINGTON, Dec. ll.-With great
enthusiasm the national rivers and
harbors congress. at its concluding
session here today, placed itself on
record in favor of the issuance of
government bonds for the improve.
ment of the great waterways projects.
The congressldeclared for an author.
lied issue by congress, at its present
session, of 100000 worth of
bonds, the proceeds to be used in the
payment exclusively for such river
and harbor work as may be author.
lied by congress, provision for the
issue to be similar to the Panama ca
nal bonds.
A committee presented the bond res
olution to Vice President Fairbanks
and Speaker Cannon. Mr.. Fairbanks
expressed a favorable opinion of the
proposition, but Mr.. Cannon merely
assured the committee that the resolu-
tion would be "referred for considera-
ton
Vice presidents for the various
states were announced, among them
being: California, C.. E. Crunskey of
San Francisco: Idaho. w. B. Hey
burn of Wallace: Montana. f. f.
Strana ahan OF Fort Benton: Nevada,
Francis G. Newlands.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
CONGRESS TAKES NOTICE.
Remarks In Presidents Message
May Provoke Reply.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-Repre-
sentative Perkins of New York today
introduced a resolution, which had
been agreed upon, providing for the
appointment of special committee Of
five members to consider the proper
means of dealing with that portion of
the presidents message which criti-
cizes the course of congress in prohib.
iting the detail of secret service men to
duty outside of their own bureaus.
The resolution is made to give voice
to the feeling of the house.
In presenting the resolution MIR.
Perkins made q brief statement, say.
ing he was satisfied that the house
would not hesitate to take such action
as the dignity of that body required.
He said that some OF the president 8
expressions were unfortunate The
resolution was adopted.
In submitting the resolution Mr..
Perkins said that the statements by
the president could not be lightly
disregarded as they might impair the
usefulness of congress and that undue
obtuseness might argue a lack of pro-
per self-respect.
A resolution similar to that passed
by the house probably will be adopted
by the senate early next week. 1t will
provide for the appointment Of q com
mittee to recommend course of action
relative to the presidents utterances.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Montana Matters In Congress.

WASHlNGTON, Dec. l4.-Eepresen.
tative Charles N. Pray is working
hard for his bill to divide Montana
into two federal districts, one for the
western part OF the state, and the
other for the eastern portion. 1t ia
understood that the bill will pass this
session, as there is no opposition in
congress and the bar of Montana has
recommended it.
The bill divides Montana into two
districts, the eastern district contain
ing Billings, Helena and Great Falls
as the places of holding court, and
the western division comprising Butte
and Missoula as the court towns. This
will ust about cut Judge Hunts work
In two.
A bill to relieve Postmaster NAL
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
THE WATERWAYS CONGRESS
Improvement.of Rivers and Harbors
Urged As National Policy.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Sentiment
in favor of a government bond issue
for a comprehensive improvement of
the rivers, harbors and canals of THE
country, to the end that this nation
shall have the greatest system of
waterways in the world, gained head.
way at the opening session of the
annual meeting of the rivers and
harbors congress here today. The
scheme contemplates $500, 0,000,000
worth of federal bonds for internal
water courses, to be distributed over
l0.year period, to be $50, 900
annually. President Roosevelt and
President.elect Taft, before the Joint
conservation meeting, have advocated
the issuance of government bonds for
constructing permanent public i'm.
provements.
Improvement of the waterways of the
nation, members of the congress be-.
lieve, will mean increased and cheap
ened transportation facilities for the
producer and the consumer, and that
there is no question before the Amer.
ican people more worthy of their
consideration than the proper develop.
ment and utilization of these natur al
channels of trade.
Mr.. Carnegie made characteristic
speech, in which he took issue with
the pessimists as to the future of the
country.
''These people, he said, "are al
ways talking about how slow the
world travels. The trouble with them
is that they are looking forward too
much. Let them look back where we
once were and where we stand today" "
Mr.. Carnegie gave his enthusi astic
enforcement to the proposition
advocated yesterday by President
Roosevelt and President.elect T aft for
the issuance of bonds for improve.
ment of our water courses. He be-
slowed great praise upon what he
termed the brilliant work in connec.
tion with the Panama canal, but ex.
pressed the belief that the utilization
of our own water ways was of in.
fnitely more Importance tnan the
Panama canal.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
MasqueradedIAsssa Man.

BOHEMIAN, Dec. II. - Further in
quiry into the life of "Sammy" H.
Williams, the woman who perhaps
for half a century or more masque-
raded as man, merely adds to the
wonder OF the story disclosed by her
death at Manhattan last Thursday.
For Is years "Sammy" Williams
had passed herself off in the Gallatin
valley as a man, and prior to that
time she had posed as man for many
years. Letters found in her effects at
Manh attain show that as far back as
35 years she had been known as
"Sammy" II. Williams. How long
prior to that time she began to mas
querade is not known. She was 50
years old at the time of her death.
In 1885 she was insured at Musca.
tine, Ia, for $1,000, the policy having
been written in favor of "his" estate,
there being no mention of kinsmen in
the policy. Other letters showed that
years ago she had carried on several
love affairs with women who had not
suspected her sex.
Once when several boys undertook
to initiate her in some horse play of
theirs, she pulled out a mans size
gun and put summary stop to the
proceeding. Her courage was never
doubted, but no one suspected that
she was other than what she seemed,
little old man of Scandinavian
nrivin
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
WEALTH FROM FARMS.
Products Lead All Others
And Are Growing.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-''Tama
Jim" Wilson, who took the agricul.
tural department II years ago, when
it was a joke, and since then convert.
ed it into one of the most important
and efficient departments of the gov.
ernment, has just issued his twelfth
annual report, bulky pamphlet of
nearly 200 pages, crammed with in.
formation about the resources and
products of the country and the work
of the department in relation thereto.
There is no need to worry about our
farmers ability to keep US fed, accord.
ing to the report for, while the popula.
tion increases l24 per cent every 10
years, the agricultural yield is in
creasing from Is to 20 per cent in the
same period.
The farm value of all farm prod
ucts of 1908 reaches the most extra
ordinary total in the nations history
81, 778, 900, 900. This is about four
times the value of the products of the
mines, including mineral oils and
precious metals. The farmer con.
tributes 81 per cent of the raw ma
terials used in those manufacturing
industries which depend mostly or
considerably upon agricultural ma
terials, and these industries use IL
per cent Of all materials used in al!
! industries.
The gain in value Of farm products
in 1908 over 1907 is 1920, 100000 and
would have been much larger had no,
the prices Of cotton and hay been low
During the last 10 years the wealth
production on the farms of this coun.
try has exceeded the fabulous sum oi
sixty billion dollars.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Telephones DispIace Telegraph.

ST. PAUL, Dec. lit was stated
today, at the general Offices of the
Great Northern railway, that tele-
phone system for train dispatching
purposes was being installed on the
Minot division, which extends from
Devils Lake to Williston, a distance
of 239 miles, and that the work of in
stallation was nearly completed.
When it Is finished the telephone sys-
to Cut Bank, Mont, over the Mon
tana division. distance of 347 miles,
and along the Butte division, which
covers 5O7 miles.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16

the Spokane city limits near Hilly ard
last night are none other than Ed.
Frankh auser and j, Mcdonald, with
another pal who recently robbed the
Oriental Limited of $4,000, broke
jail at Helena. later and gained no.
t" 'ety by their mad spending of ILL.,
{ N gains at Bonners Ferry dance
3, is the belief of the officers.
The pair are known to have been at
Butte and Anaconda less than one
month ago. The Great Northern
railway company has offered a re.
ward of 50, 1000 for their capture, and
the amounts offered by the state and
government bring the bounty on their
heads to $4,000.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Bleached Flour Is Barred.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Secretary
Wilson of the department of agricul-
ture, today announced his decision
that flour bleached with nitrogen
peroxide is an adulterated product
and cannot legally be sold in the Dis.
tr;ct of Columbia or in the territories
nor be transported in interstate COM
merce. Owing to the immense guam
ti.y of bleached flour now on hand,
secretary will recommend no prosecu.
tion of manufacturers or sellers for
six months from this date.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Packing Houses In Canada.

WINNIPEG, Dec. 1.-two Chicago
brokers are here arranging for Q new
meat packing corporation to include
points in western Canada with mum
ber of chief centers In western states.
II the deal goes through one of the
Winnipeg packing houses aud three
in other parts of Canada will be in.
cluded. Chicago will be the head.
quarters Of the corporation and the
capital SIS, 100000. Leading livestock
exporters here are opposed to packing
plants being started, finding direct
shipments of live cattle to Liverpool
more profitable.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Big Reward For Train Robbers.

SPOKANE, Dec. 1.-THE total re.
ward offered by the Great Northern
railway officials and the government
for the arrest and conviction of the
train robbers who held mp and robbed
train No. , near Hillyard, last Tues
day night will be raised to $15, 1000.
Many believe Frankhauser and Nc
Donald, who robbed Great Northern
train of $40, 900 over a year ago, near
Heron siding, Mont, were in the
hOldup.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16

BILLINGS, Dec. lO.-Au organiza.
tion on the plan of the Farmers AL.
lance, with the same name, was
formed in q school house eight miles
west of here last night. The plan as
outlined is to allow the farmers to
control prices of produce through a
IN arket which will he regulated by a
warehouse and commission house in
Billings. A bank owned by the far.
mers at which loans may be had on
crops will be another feature.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Estimating Popular Vote.

NEW YORK, Dec. 14.-According to
figures compiled by the New York
Times, the vote for Taft in the recent
election was 7,659,6SS, as compared
with 1923, 4S6 for Roosevelt in 1904.
The democratic vote is given as g.
450,690, as against 5,077,97l four
years ago.
In 1900 Bryan's vote was 6,35S, ,133,
while Mckinley polled 1901, 1928, Civ
ing the latter plurality of $40. 80.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16

cars leaving the express car attached
to the dead train.
The robbers then left the engineer
and fireman with the train and
boarded the locomotive and them
selves ran it several miles, where they
brought it to stop, rifed the
mail car and again boarded the
engine, after they uncoupled it from
the cars, which they left on the track,
and proceeded three miles to Mead.
There a rig was awaiting them and
they made their escape. Mead is only
ten miles from Spokane. The amount
of their booty is unknown.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16

GREAT FALLS, Dec. IL. james
w Walsh, alleged by Great Northern
detectives to be a professional bag.
gage thief who has operated extern
sively on western trains between Great
Falls and Helena and brought to this
city, pleaded guilty to a charge of
petty larceny and was sentenced to
serve six months in the county Jail
and pay a fine of $500. Walsh said
he was penniless, so he will spend the
next II months in the county Jail.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16
Suspected Of Train Robbery

SPOKANE, Dec. ll.--That the trio
of thugs who held up the Great Nor
thern eastbound train No. i, inside
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-16

colin Gillis Of Butte, of accountability
for 2,552, which was embezzled by
Nicholas j. Kent, the former finance
clerk of the Butte postoffice, in June,
1907, has been introduced in the house
by Representative Pray.
The Elbert County tribune., 1908-06-04
PROSPERITY RIDGE.

Gadlope Schriever of Cherry creek
lost valuable horse last Friday from
collie.
Children's day. exercises will be held
Sunday morning, June Z, at Bethel in
stead of in the evening as announced.
All are welcome.
@. Wright is pntting in eighty acres
of oats on shares on the Russell place
and j. f. Burkhart is planting fifty acres
on toe Donaldson place.
Mrs. Sparkman left last week to visit
relatives in Eldorado, Missouri, and Par
sons, Kansas. She has not been "back
home for seventeen years.
A well known ranchman. formerly Of
the Ridge, but now in business in Dem
YER, is sued by his wife for ten thousand
dollars. They separated some time ago.
Rumor has it that well known Unit
ed Brethren preacher, formerly Of the
Ridge, left his wife and, eloping with an
eighteen-year old girl, went to California.
At the election of school directors in
district No, 27, S. Skovgoord was elected
president and Mrs. Mitchell was elected
secretary. Seven mills we're voted for
the special fund. 1t was also decided to
furnish free books. The school house
was ordered moved to the Ebert road.
making it mile closer and more conyen-
lent for the scholars. In district No.
j. j. Kruse was reelected secretary A
five-mill tax was voted and the free
books proposition was voted down.