davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23
HARPER HOUSE
IS THREATENED
BY EARLY FIRE
Flames, Believed to be of In.
cendiary Origin, Break Out
on the Upper Floor.
SMOKE PENETRATEs HOUSE
Guests Are Aroused and Leave Rooms
Departments Quick Work Saves
the Structure.

Fire which broke out on the third
floor of the Harper house yesterday
morning at 2 O'Clock, for time threat
ened the entire structure, and occa.
stoned some little alarm. Only the
prompt and efficient work of the fire
department prevented serious blaze,
and as it was considerable damage
was done before the flames were ex-
tmguished
The blaze originated in a room in
the portion of the hotel occupied by
employees The room was unoccupied
but contained a quantity of clothing
belonging to some of the help EN-
ployed al the hotel. By the time the
| fire was discovered by the night yard
man, the flames had gained some
Roadway, and the entire interior OF
the building was penetrated by the
dense smoke.
Guests Are Awakened.
Manager McHugh was aroused, and
he at once gave orders to awake al
of the guests. The guests, about 100
in number, were soon aroused, and
nearly all left their rooms and went
to the ground floor. The employees
hand, ed the situation in such a way
that no panic resulted, and order was
maintined.
The fire department was summoned
and made remarkably prompt re-
Spouse. By the use of chemicals and
water the flames, were soon under
control.
The damage to the room in which
| the fire started, and to the contents
will amount to about $780, The en-
tire house was more or less damaged
| by smoke. and it is impossible to esti
mate the loss at present.
OF Incendiary Origin.
The room in which the fire started
is on the alley side, on the third floor
The origin of the fire is not known
although there are evidences thai
| l. was of an incendiary charac
ter. Two men of suspicious appear
ance were seen running from the alley
| north toward Second avenue shortly
before the flames were discovered.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23
AN EXPLOSION
WRECKS PRESS
AND BUILDING
Charge Set on Machine in Loo
ney Structure on Second
Avenue Creates Havoc.
THE CASE IS A MYSTERY
Mayor Offers Reward for Perpetrators
Publication Had Just Changed
Ownership.

The explosion of a charge of dyna'
mite or other high explosive at about
2:2O this morning wrecked the entire
first -floor of the Looney building, 1917
Second avenue, from which has been
issued for three years the publication
known as the Rock Island Daily News
published by the Rock Island Daily
News Printing & Publishing company
The west division of the building
running through from Second avenue
10 the alley, which was occupied by
the publishing plant on the first floor
was the scene of the explosion, and
was most heavily damaged. Some lit
tie damage was done to the east side
in the front of which is the Caterer
cafe, and in the rear on the alley is
the Mirror saloon.
Through the center of the building
runs narrow corridor, separating the
east and west sides. and dividing the
publishing plant from the space occu
pied by the restaurant and saloon OIL
the east side. From this corridor are
entrances to the composing and press
room of the west side.
The press room was at the extreme
end of the building, on the alley, and
directly opposite and across the CORR
dor from the Mirror saloon.
Presumably the perpetratOr of the
deed gained entrance from the in
terror to the publishing rooms, and
through the press room door from the
corridor. The carpenters chisel with
which it is possible the door was OPP
ened was found Marks on the door
and on the door of the composing room
show the manner in which the rooms
were entered. The dynamite or Other
high explosive which was used was
apparently placed on the press and at
tached to a fuse extending to the cor
Tidor door.
The press is practically a complete
wreck, and the entire interior of the
publication rooms. with the exception
of the composing room, was wrecked
The damage to the building is placed
at $1,000, and to the printing machin
cry at $4,000.
In New Hands.
Myron Jordan, who has been acting
as editor of the publication, and whC
occupied a room on the third floor o
the building. told the story of the af
fair to an Argus representative thi!
morning. He prefaced his account o
the explosion with a statement regard
ing the publication and its proprie
tors.
"Coincident with this matter" sal,
Mr.. Jordan, 81 wish to announce tina
just Saturday night and yesterday
change in the ownership of the pape
was completed. A deal was closed Sat
urday night by which w. w. Wilmer
ton of this city secured the stock o
the company, and yesterday the actua
payment of cash was made, and tn
new owners held a meeting. The off
GERS named yesterday were w. w. Wi
merton as president and treasurer, an
myself as secretary. | am to be edito
of the paper, and c. G. Prothero of In
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23
CHESS PLAYERS BRUSH UP
Tri-City Club Meets with Augustana
Players informally.

The members of the Tri-City Chess
club were the guests of the Augustana
College Chess club Saturday evening.
An informal tournament was held, sew
eral games being played, principally
to rub off the rust. The Tri-City club
has not held regular meetings for
some time, and an effort is to be made
to revive interest in the royal game.
AS result of the smeet Saturday
night regular tournament is being
planned, the first games to be played
two weeks hence.
The team representing the Tri-city
club was composed of Messrs. Weld,
Ludewig, Schoonmacher, Dias and
Russell, The, Tri-city club won the
match.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23

OF the publication in name only, and
had had no authority whatever as to
the policies followed. He added. The
paper will continue in the indepen.
dent class, but the personal warfare
which has characterized its manage.
ment in the past is to stop. | have
sought to put a curb on this in the
Fast, but have been powerless."
WflmertOn Says He Owns 1t.
w. w. Wilmerton. questioned about
the business matters of the institution.
today said, "The deal whereby | Sc
cure the publishing plant was closed
Saturday." and verified Mr.. Jordan's
statements in this respect Mr.. Will
merton stated to an Argus represen-
tative, 81 want 1t emphatically stated
make it as emphatic as possible
that the Looneys are to have nothing
to do with this. l bought the whole
business, and will run it without
them"
Mr.. Wilmerton was unable to esti-
mate the loss on the printing machin-
cry, but said he thought $4,000 will
probably cover the damage He said
that he had expected to close nego-
tiations today for new location and
to remove the printing usiness imme-
diately from the Looney building. but
owing to the explosion had been UNI
able to complete his plans in this re
lspect
Much MOrtgaged Property.
| The building which was the scene
of the explosion is in the Star block
| 1t is owned by John Looney, but has
been the bone of contention in a long
drawn out legal fight in the circuit
court for the foreclosure of mortgages
held by G. A. Rooster of Davenport
Recently the master in chancery in
second report to the circuit court
recommended the sale of the property
| 10 meet an Indebtedness of something
over $31, 900. The report has not beer
taken up by the circuit court as yet
| There are several chattel mortgages
of record on the equipment of the
building, the most recent one being
on composing room machines, in favor
of the Mergenthaler Linotype com
rany. This is for $2,276.73, and was
dated March 7. Presumably in an
t:cipation of the completion of the
deal referred to by Mr.. Jordan, thi!
Instrument was signed by w. w. vii
merton as president of the Daily
| News Printing &c Publishing company
and by Myron Jordan as secretary.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23

Fuller Thomas.-The marriage of
Miss Mae B. Thomas, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Herman Thomas of 1011 Fiji
teenth street, to Ebert J. Fuller of
Clinton, took place Saturday evening
at 8 o'clock. Rev. H. w. Reed of the
First Baptist church performed the
ceremony in the presence of the inn
mediate families and a few intimate
friends. Miss Elsie Johnston and viii
Kahlke were the attendants. Follow
ing the ceremony wedding supper
was served, the color scheme carried
out being pink and white. The brides
gown was navy blue travelling dress.
Mr.. Fuller is a machinist at the North
western shops at Clinton. His bride
has been manager of the Totten music
house at Clinton and has many friends
in the city who will wish her much
joy. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller left for a
trip east and will later be at home in
Clinton.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23
Celebrates Birthday Anniversary
5000 Reward offered.

AS mayor of the city of Rock Island
l hereby offer reward of 5000 for the
arrest and conviction of the party OF
parties responsible for the explosion
in the Looney building.
H. C. SCHAFFER
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23

completely. The machine, one of the
old style SPACE angle bar perfecting
Potter machines. was rebuilt and in
stalled in the building after it had
seen some years of service i'll a west
ern newspaper plant. 1t was rebuilt
by the Goss Printing Press company
before it was sent here. some three
years ago. The impression cylinders
and rollers were blown to pieces by
the explosion, and what further dam
age was done to the intricate mechani-
cal parts can not be determined until
an expert from the factory makes an
examination.
The press room was entirely wreck
ed. The rear windows were blown
underneath the press broken some
what, the side partition wall wa
blown out, the door was blown off,
and the partition between the press
room and the adjoining room was
crushed ont.
On the east side of the building, ex-
| tending from the ground up, was a
skylght window shaft. This was al.
most entirely blown out by the con-
cUssion. The composing room. adjoin-
ing, was not greatly damaged. The
! partition walls were crushed out. the
tTansom lights broken, and plastering
broken off. The linotype machines
sustained put little damage.
| In the publication office on
the front, the front plate glass
window was blown out, and the glass
partitions were somewhat broken. On
the east, side of the building the dam
lage is slight. The mirrors of the
Mirror saloon, on the alley directly
opposite the press room, were not
broken, but the windows in the tran
SONS, and window light in a small
room off of the main bar room were
broken.
In the restaurant no damage was
done other than the breaking of win
dcws in the transoms. The partition
wall separating the corridor and tht
lcafe was bent out of line slightly.
| On the second floor a window ligh
was broken, and windows on the thirt
floor were also shattered. Plasterins
was also cracked on the upper floors
| Mr.. Jordan stated that he did no
feel any shock of the explosion, blu
was aroused by the falling glass.
Is Mystery.
/ The wreclxing of the building is
mystery. Several theories have beer
advanced and street talk points t,
suspicious circumstances, but no solu
ton has been found. Mr.. Jordan de
clined to make any further statemen
than that the sheriff is working Oh
certain suspicious.
Referring again to the deal b
which the management of the plan
is said to have been changed. MI
Jordan, who escorted an Argus rel
L rac q
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23
To Cure q Cold In One pay

Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tab
let's. Druggists refund money IL It
fails to cure. e. w. Groves signatur,
Is on each box 25 cents.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23
SOCIAL AFFAIRS

[Society news, written or telephoned
to the society editor of The Argus, will
be gladly received and published. But
in either case the identity of the sender
must be made known, to insure relia-
bility. Written notices must bear sig
nature and address,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23

Members of Faculty at Dinner.-Mr
and Mrs. Fred Titterington at their
home, S31 Twenty-second street, Sat
urday evening delightfully."- entertained
at dinner members of the faculty of
Augustana college and their ladies'
A sumptuous course supper was
served at $50 o'clock and the remain
der of the evening spent in a delight
full social way.
Celebrates Birthday Anniversary
Mrs. r. H. Taylor, at her home, 1916
Fourth avenue, Saturday evening en-
tertained company of "a friends in
honor of her birthday anniversary
| Cards were played and nice lunch
was served. Mr.. and Mrs. ]. T. Duke
and Mrs. C. W. Taylor of Galesburs
were guests.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-23
BuIldlng is wrecked.

The press on which the charge was
exploded seems to be wrecked Utmost
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
Returning Confidence.
portland Advertiser.)


New York woke up one morning this
week to read in the newspapers that
there were 5000 buyers in the city.
The buyers came from the dry goods
stores of the West and they proved A
most optimistic crowd. They reported
that business was good in the West.
That fact, of course, was apparent.
Had business out West been dull there
would not have been 5000 buyers in
New York on that particular morning.
The coming of the seekers of goods for
the spring trade called attention to
some of the curious things in the
world of commerce. Last October,
when the financial furry struck Wall
street. New York clothing makers who
thought the troubles of the financiers
might soon come home to their own
doors, discharged part Of their help
and began to curtail production.
Now the buyers have come to town,
the clothing men have so many orders
that they are hiring extra help and
running their places night and day to
make up for lost time.
s. c. Mead, secretary Of the New
York Merchants association. says that
one significant thing about the j.
of the buyers is that many Of them
represent new houses. In fact, new
business concerns are springing up in
the West in such numbers that their
representatives among the buyers
number a quarter of the whole num-
Der which has already reached New
York One of the buyers is. quoted as
saying that everybody in the West
waited to see what was going to hap
pen in business and found that the
Important happening was a great
demand for goods. Business is re-
ported good from Chicago to Okla
homa.
The buyers right from the West
bring news of the return of confidence
which in the opinion Of those who
ought to know is all that is needed to
set the wheels of industry revolving
with their accustomed rapidity. This
is the view expressed by z. H. Harri-
man, whose business judgment has
never been questioned however
opinions may differ as to the propriety
of some Of his performances in the
manipulation of railroad properties.
Mr. Hartman said the other day:
THE country has a great deal
more ahead of it than it has behind il.
All that is needed is confidence.
There are the resources under the
ground and on the ground, and there
are the people to develop these re-
sources and the disposition to do so.
The restoration of complete confidence
is all that is needed
1t is gratifying to note evidences
that confidence is already returning
and that business is resuming its
normal condition.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18

Albany, New York, is one Of the few
scities of any considerable size ard i'm
portance in the North which has not a
soldiers monument, and now, feeling
rather ashamed of it's neglect in this
matter the people of that city are
taking steps for the erection Of a
splendid memorial to the sons of
Albany who gave their lives for the
Union. The neglect of Albany seems
all the more strange, since it is the
capital city of great state. and,
moreover the birthplace of that
gallant soldier General Phil Sheridan.
Not only does almost every city but
also hundreds of villages throughout
the North. have their monuments 10
/ their soldier dead. and nearly every
college has its Memorial hall erected
IN honor Of its graduates and under
graduates who went to the front.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18

clergyman by the name of Will
liam +. Campbell in an argument be-
fore the Massachusetts legislature
said that if the death penalty were to
be abolished in Massachusetts lynan-
ing would become rampant in that
state. Mr.. Campbell must think that
the people of Massachusetts are a good
deal more lawless than those of Maine.
here in this State We get along very
satisfactorily without capital punish
ment, and in the whole history Of
Maine there has been only one lynch
Ing and that was some generations ago
IN the northern woods. Michigan.
wisconsin and Rhode Island also get
along without the death penalty, and
1t Is not reported that lynching is
especially prevalent in those or other
states where capital punishment has
been abolished.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18
at 1870 o'clock p. M.

for the purpose OF selecting six candi-
dates for electors Of President and Vice
President to the United States. and four
delegates at large and four alternates to
attend the National Republican Con"en-
ton to be hell in the City of Chicago. in
the State of Illinois, on Tuesday the 18TH
day Of June, 1905, and the transaCtinS Of
any other business that may properly
come before it.
The basis OF representation will be as
follows. Each city, town and plantation
will be entitled to one delegate. and for
every 10 votes cast for the Republican
candidate for Governor in 1906 an addl-
tional delegate, and for each fraction OF
40 votes in excess of 10 votes. an addi-
cation OF any city, town or plantation
can only be filled by residents of the
County in which the vacancies exist.
The State Committee will be in session
in the antcroom of the ArmOry at R.3p
O'Clock f. VI. on the day of the Conven-
ton for the purpose of receiving the ere
deniials OF delegates. A delegate in or
der to be eligible to participate in the
ConvC ntiOu must be elected subsequent
cannot be elected under this call to the
State Convention to be hereafter called
for the purpose OF nominating candi-
date for Governor.
All electors Of Maine, without regard TO
past political affiliations, who believe in
the principles Of the Republican party
and endorse its policies. are cordially in
vited to unite under this call in electing
DELEGATES to this Convention.
Per order. Republican State Committee.
SETH II. CARTER. Chairman.
BYRON BOYD. Secretary.
Lewiston. Feb. IL. 1905 1t,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18
PERSONAL NOTES.

The citizens of Vauvert. France,
have started a subscription for the
purpose Of erecting at Quebec statue
to General Montcalm, the French
commander who was mortally wound
ed at the battle of Quebes in 1853.
Henrietta Crosman. the actress, is
soon to depart for India to claim 4
fortune Of 100000 left her by her
grandfather, and she will abandon the
stage temporarily in order to establish
residence for that purpose.
Andrew Carnegie has offered to give
$4,000 to Morgan College, a Baltimore
institution for the education of colored
youth, in case the officers and trustees
of the institution raise another $4,000.
Morgan College was founded forty
years ago.
At a recent charity concert of the
Royal Conservatory of Music at Lis
bon Miss Jessie Schalkenbach.
granddaughter of the American Con-
Sui General, Louise H. Ayme, scored a
great success by her singing of Arias
from "Lohengrin," Samson and Del
ilah" and songs in English, French and
Portuguese.
Louis A. Coolidge, the new Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury, was born in
Massachusetts, and is a graduate of
Harvard. He was a newspaper man for
number of years, and later private
secretary to Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge. He has contributed consider
ably to magazines and has written
several books, among them 1.-The Show
at Washington" and "klondike and the
Yukon Country"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18
Why Cannon Remained in House.

Speaker Cannon told about it at n
dinner at which lot of new Congress
men were present.
First term I was here" he said, II
got awfully disguised, and one day,
wandering over to the corner of the
smoking room, I saw Representative
Hale of Maine. then serving his third
term in the House, and now one of
the Oldest Senators. / was a little
afraid OF him but he seemed friendly.
Cannon he said, III bet So l can
tell what you're thinking
Taken l said.
"Youre wondering he said,
whether you'll resign right now or
just write a letter home and say il
you live through this session you'll
not be candidate again
"'You WIN | replied, handing over
the S..
"'Now, Cannon. went on Hale, let
me tell YOU about it. You're in the
same frame of mind that the rest OF
'em get at first. They all have it. But
pretty soon word will come from the
district that some chap is out as q
candidate for your job. You'll get
mad and decide to run again just FOR
vindication. You'll be elected. Then
after two terms some other chap will
announce that you've been hopeless
failure, just at a time when you're
about ready to retire voluntarily.
That'll get you mad again and you
go after the nomination once more.
AFTER that you'll get the notion
that. being pretty we'll up on the Com
mittee OF Revolutionary Claims, you'd
like to stay long enough to feel the
sensation of being chairman. And so
you'll fight whenever it's necessary,
and stay right along-if you have luck
"And it came out that way" de-
clared the Speaker. To-day my high
est ambition is to be a member Of
the House Of Representatives as long
as I live, to die during the session CT
Congress, and to he buried at the
public expense while all you fellows
at the funeral are talking under your
breaths about who'll likely succeed
me. ''-Washington Herald.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18
Still Defending the Alamo.

There has been another battle in the
historic old Alamo down in Texas and
this time the defender capitulated. 1t
was a solitary woman, the grand
daughter of a victim Of the famous
massacre there in 1886, and at first she
resisted a court order and declared she
would never quit. 1t seems that two
womens societies have been warning
for possession Of the old structure and
the woman in question defied them
both. She held the fort for three days
without food or water, but finally de-
cided that she valued life more than
her ancestor did and made terms of
surrender.
No tourist who strays into Texas
and visits San Antonio fails to look
over the Alamo which is the chief
curiosity of that old city. The build
ing was originally a mission. estab-
lished about 1922 1t is a low adobe
structure, not beautiful, but historic
1t is enclosed in a walled yard about
100 feet square. The Mexicans under
Santa Anna massacred there a band
of $50 Texans, who We're fighting for
the freedom Of that part Of the
country. The siege of the Alamo in
which they had entrenched themselves
covered from February % to March 6,
1886, when the building was taken by
assault and the five survivors We're
butchered on the spot. Remember
the Alamo" became the watchword,
and finally drove the Mexicans out Of
the country just as Remember the
Maine" later became the battle cry
which drove Spain from Cuba. 1t is a
curious fact that few people recall the
name of the commander of the forces,
but two other names of men who per-
ished there are immortal. The COM
mander was Col. w. B. Travis but the |
two frontier heroes whose names are
connected with Texas and |
the Alamo massacre are James Bowie !
and David Crockett. The Mexican |
oss in that affair was about 500 men |
The valor of those who defended the |
Alamo is one of the brightest pages |
of American history. Whoever has |
possession of the old building, il |
should be faithfully preserved.