davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18
BUSINESS BAROMETER.
Six Hundred Per Cent Increase in Stamp Sales at El centro Post
 office in One Wear.

Nowhere can the marvellous strides of Fl Centro be more plainly told than in a brief resume of the business of the postofice No better barometer of business conditions exists than this institution, and the figures for the past quarter make a showing that is gratifying to everyone interested in the growth of El Centro.
 For the month of June this postof. flee issued money orders to the amount of $54S2.45
 The stamp sales for the quarter end. ing June 30 amounted to $1,542.01 or an increase of $2OS.77 over the sales of the previous quarter, and an in crease of $1,217.37 over the quarter ending June 30, 1907.
 The stamps cancelled at the Fl Centro postofFice during the last quar- ter amounted to $1,24f96, as against $3O9.O5 for the quarter ending June 30, 1907.
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.

Department of the Interior, U. s. Land Office at Los Angeles, Cal, June II, 1908, Notice is hereby given that William R, Wagele, of Silsbee, Cal, who, on Nov, 19, 1901, made homestead entry No. 9764, for the S. W. A of Section 8, Township 16 S., Range 13 E., s. B. M, has filed notice of intention to make Final five year Proof. to establish claim to the land above described, before Clerk O. the Superior Court, at Fl Centro, Cal, on the 9Oth day of July 1908.
 Claimant names as witnesses: Burt L.. Young. Charles Henderson, George Den ny, all of Silsbee Cal; Joseph Treshil of Imperial, Cal
 FRANK c. PRESCOTT. june 20- july IS Register.
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18

Notice is hereby given that Maggie W. Mcclure of Fl Centro, Cal, Assignee of Peter Reilly, who, on June 26, 1905, made desert land entry, No. 2999, for the N D. 4 of s. E. A of Section s, Township 16 S., Range IA F., s. B. M, has filed notice of intention to make final proof, to es- tablsh claim to the land above described, before Clerk of the Superior Court of Inn perial County at Fl Centre, Cal, on the 9th day of August, 1908.
 Claimant names as witnesses. John R. Duke, Isaac A. Morgan, John l.. Atkins and William M Norton, all of Fl Centro, Cal.
 FRANK c. PRESCOTT, June 2S-July 26 Register
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18
Gage Height D
NOTICE OF EQUALIZATION.

Notice is hereby given that the as sessment books, map books, state ments and military roll of the county assessor, will be in my office on and after July P, 1908, and open to inspec tion of all persons interested
 That the Board of Supervisors will meet to equalize said assessments on the 23rd day of July, 1908.
 D. s. ELDER, Count.S Clerk and EX-officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Impe- perial County, California. 14-2t
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18
CONTEST TO BE CARRIED TO
 SUPREME COURT.
lntimation That c. D. Go. May Vent Anger Upon the Public by Shutting Down Irrigation Works - Thinks Landowners Should pay for Build ing Supply System.

Preparations are being made by the California Development Company, says the San Diego Union. to appeal from the recent decision of Judge Olin Wellborn of the United States Circuit Court, wherein he declared that set tiers of Imperial Valley are entitled to the use Of water without first being compelled to buy stock in the irrigat- ing concerns. It is said the Southern Pacific organizations, four of which are made defendants in the suit. will carry the case to the United States Supreme Court on the ground that the cost of installing the irrigation system should be borne by the landowners themselves, in addition to paying for the water they use.
 In the event this highest authority decides against the defendants it is said the Southern Pacific corporation would be in a position to shut down it's irrigation works and thus force destruction of the crops of that fer tile region, which would prove far more disastrous than the flood from the overflow.
 L. M. Holt is quoted by the Union as saying:
 "If the Southern Pacific Water Com pany is barred from selling it's stock, representing the cost of ditch con- struction, to owners of this great ex- panse of land, the company certainly will not extend it's irrigation system. At least that must be the inference from a business standpoint. I believe that most of the settlers of the valley are satisfied with the proposition of purchasing stock for the privilege of securing ditches and the accompany ing water service"
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.

Department of tl-f<S::1nte.ior, U. S. Land Office at Los Angeles, California; May 25, 1908.
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18

NV o. w., Fl Centro Camp 6A, w meets every Friday night at Ma-
 sonic Hall. Fl Centro, Cal, J. L. Travers, council commander, E.. H. Sherman, clerk.
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18

The Board of Trustees of the City of El Centro do ordain as follows; Section 27 of Ordinance No. of the said City of Fl Centro entitled An Ordi- nance of the City of Fl Centro providing for the Assessment and Collection of City Taxes" is hereby amended to read as follows:
 Section 27, The City Board of Trus- tees shall meet at its regular meeting place on the second Monday in August of each year at ten o'clock in the fore noon of said day to examine the assess ment roll and sit as a Board of Equaliza- ton and shall continue in session from day to day until all the returns of the assessor have been rectihed. The City Clerk shall be the Clerk of the Board of Equalization
 Section 2. The Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published once in the Imperial Valley Press and the same shall thereupon be in full force and ef- feet.
 Approved July l4th, 1908.
 J. STANLEY BROWN, President Pro Tem of Board of Trustees. Attest:
 F. G. RAVENS,
 City Clerk.
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18
WATER IN THE RIVER.

Main daily gage heights and dis charges of the Colorado River at Yuma, Arizona for the week ending Saturday, July II, 1908:
Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18
LODGE NOTICES

-N~ E'l Centro Lodge No. 9s4 F. q
 AA IA M. Stated meetings in V Masonic Hall, Fl Centre, 6rst Monday of each month. 7:30 P. N. Memb bers and visiting Mssons invited to attend. D. H. CHAPLIN, W. NJ. John B. Baker. Secretary.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
, ,ZHORRA q. RRE)1UW,

less likely aspirant for the Office of
president. He was the candidate of
his party with a view of securing his
release from prison, but such is the
antagonism OF the laborers and en-
ployers in the state that his being
named on the ticket is only another
bolt on his prison door.
Preston was a picket working for
the miners at Goldfeld. and in front
OF the establishment of restaurant
keeper charged with unfairness to a
female employe, a member of the
union. The restaurant keeper at.
tempted to drive the pickets away and
drew a pistol, whereupon Preston
shot him dead. Preston pleaded self
defense, but was found guilty and
recommended to mercy. The judge
sentenced him to 25 years imprison-
ment
MY defense was the one which
rests on the first law of nature self
preservation" said Preston to a Wis
itor "My candidacy was the product
OF sympathy by the members Of my
party. The latter probably will be as
unavailing as the former, and my
declination of the nomination was not
listened to. | am the creature and the
victim of circumstances. | am no n.y..
derer, and no politician"
To understand how the prisoner
came to his fate would require a re.
view of the whole labor question as
presented by the miners in the west
The federated body of labor have de-
manded too much, and the employers
have exacetd too much. and Preston
has been caught between the two mill
stones, which will grind him up with
out O. doubt. The Socialist Labor party
is not strong enough nor homogene
Gus enough TO exert a definite infiu
ence for his benefit and until the bit
ternesses have been allayed there is
but little likelihood that he will obtain
his release. Still, sympathy for him
| is increasing. His trouble is that he
is ranked with Harry Orchard and
| Haywood and Pettibone, when, as a
matter of fact, he Is as alien in spirit
and disposition to those men as
water is to oil. As TO his candidacy
for president, II is only necessary tc
say that he would not command atten
tlon as aspiring for constable under
other conditions than that of victim
of the law.
His fellows in prison form a body
almost as noticeable as himself. Re
cruited from the mining camps. they
are for the most part young men. Sc
lected lives and peculiarly intelligent
youth, drawn in many instances from
the universities and colleges of the
east, who, unable to Withstand the
temptations of gambling and drink
were rounded up and corraled II
prison.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27

in which he penned his Journal to
Stella" 1t is the oldest dwelling in
Chelsea and looks cuTiously out of
place among the more modern but yet
ancient structures that abut 1t and
face it from the opposite side of the
street 1t still is occupied by n mid
dleclass English family, the members
OF which have very little appreciation
OF the holy literary ground on which
they stand. 1t is pity that the house
cannot be bought for preservation and
thrown open to the public for inspec'
ton, as literary landmarks are getting
more scarce in London every year de-
spite the fact that the city originally
was more blessed in that respect than
any other city in the world.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
NOAH WEBSTER USED 1T.
This Desk Once the Property Of the
Dictionary Maker.

Kansas City, Mo.-A quaint little
mahogany writing desk. owned by
Douglas Gardner of this city once be-
longed to Noah Webster of dictionary
fame. Ink spots, fondly preserved on
the desk, are said TO have been made
by Webster. A tradition in the Card
ner family says that Webster used the
little desk part OF the time when he
was editing his dictionary.
Douglas Gardner is a student at the
University of Missouri, in the sopho-
more class. His father. Dorsey Gard
ner, was one of the editors of an
edition of Webster's dictionary, and It
was through his connection with the
publication that the desk came into
the possession of the family. Dorsey
Gardner's name is given in the 1891
edition of Webster's dictionary as one
of the associate editors. He was a
magazine writer of some note and the
author of several books.
Douglas Gardner also owns copy
of one of the earliest editions of Web.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
'lUAL NATURE OF
DIAMOND ROBBER
FRANK sHERcLlFFE REvELs IN
..cRlME BUT Loves WIFE AND
HIS TWO CHILDREN.
MAKES REMARKABLE ESCAPE
Captured While Seeking Healthier cli'
mate for Family, He Leaps,
Handeuffed, Through Win
dow Of Speeding Train.

Des Moines. Ia.--That Frank Sher-
ellie. the notorious diamond robber.
who has Just escaped from the Colora-
30 authorities and whose daring ca
reer has eclipsed even that OF Tracy
the outlaw, has a strangely dual ma
lure is evidenced by letters which he
sent to his wife in Des Moines only a
few days before he made his sensa-
tional escape.
Detectives all over the country call
Sherclihe the most desperate criminal
they ever know. A slender little white
faced woman I'm Des Moines calls him
The best husband a woman ever had.
Shercliffe made one of the most sen
satiOnal escapes ever recorded in
criminal history. While being taken
10 the state penitentiary at Canon
City a few days ago to serve a 20-year
sentence for the murder of a Colorado
salOonkeeper IS years ago Shercliffe
eluded the two deputies who had him
in charge by leaping through car
window while the train was going 40
miles an hour and made his escape in
Aue udIhHtSS.
When his wife heard the news she
cried for joy Shercliffe was married
10 Mae Bergstrom, Des Moines girl,
four years ago. She is a pretty girl
and a talented musician. During his
married life here Shercliffe had evil
IDENTITY reformed and lived sober. in
dustrious life. 1t was when he left
the state to seek a better climate for
his wife's health that his old enemies
nabbed him and railroaded him to
Colorado to answer to "a murder
charge.
That Shercliffe's thoughts were with
mis- wife and two little children. even
while the shadow of the big peniten
itary loomed near him, Is evidenced by
letters scrawled in lead pencil on pris
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
BOY OF SEVEN is A HERO.
Presence of Mind Saves Life of Father
in Fight with a Bull.

Freeport, Ill.-lIeiko Brauer farm
err residing a half mile south of Everts,
was attacked recently by an enraged
bull and was saved from death by the
courage and presence of mind of His
seven-year-old son.
Mr. Brauer was chasing the bull
into the barn at the time of the ad-
venture. He hit the animal couple
of cracks with a stick. This enraged
his majesty of the pastures and he
turned Oh Mr. Brauer, knocking him
down and butting him savagely.
Mr.. Brauer grabbed the bull around
the neck and managed TO get on his
feet for a moment, when the animal
downed him again. He also trampled
upon him.
Two of Mr. Brauer's sons were pres
ent, and it was then that the little boy
took a hand in the proceedings. Grab
bing a stick, he hit the enraged animal
over the head. The bull lifted his head
and looked at the boy a moment, ap-
parently wondering at his audacity.
This gave Mr.. Brauer the chance he
was looking for, and he hastily jumped
up and got away.
After Mr.. Brauer had counted up his
injuries he found that they consisted
of fracture of the left arm near the
wrist and numerous bruises.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27

bats. She was almost trembling with
anxiety, not only for herself, but also
for her curtains, and the nice, new
wall paper! Consequently, the hus-
hand had to bestir himself. Very gin
gerly he struck a match and lit a
candle. This only attracted the
wretched creatures nearer to that par
ticular part of the room in which the
bed was placed.
The rector had been told that If a
lighted candle were placed in the win
dow the bats would depart. He would
try this, the wife begging that he
would get her a towel.
When she had carefully wrapped
her head in the towel the rector pro.
ceeded to the window with the can
die. lodging the bats which circled
around. Having placed the candle on
a chair at the open window he hastily
retired into bed again and awaited
events.
Never more will he try that plan
again. The bats had a lot of confed
crates outside, and these also began tc
come in, so that it was impossible tc
count how many there were in the
room. Another plan was tried. AL
the curtains were drawn aside and the
the east window opened wide. The
light was put out and heads were lait
on the pillow. Soon the noises got
less, and at last ceased, followed by
sweet forgetfulness.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
He Leaped Through the Car Window

on paper and written only few days
before he made his sensational escape.
Sherman Morris, alias Frank Sher-
cliife. has had one of the most re-
markable criminal careers of any man
living. Alone and s!Ggle-handed he
held up New York diamond mer-
chant on train near Missouri Val
ley, robbed him OF $4,000 worth of
diamonds. pulled the bell cord, and
into the darkness. He was not cap
tured until months afterward, when a
force of Pinkerton detectives were put
on his trail.
When he confessed the crime he
implicated a notorious politician and
gambling king. The latter was tried,
and Shercliffe told a startling story,
in which it was shown that he was
back OF a big diamond robbery and
that Shercliffe had been his tool. Sher-
cliffe claimed that after robbing the
train he had received none of the
booty. The politician was not convict.
ed. however, and from that time on he
and Shercliffe have been sworn enc
mics.
The diamond robbery was only one
OF the events in Shercliffe's sensations
al career. Single handed he held up
some of the biggest gambling houses
in Colorado. On one occasion Sher
cliffe donned the rig of cowboy. held
up a gambling palace, escaped with a
rich haul, donned the attire of a so
city swell and Is minutes later was
out mingling with the crowd to hell
hunt the desperate.
After the trial, however, Shercliffe
promised Gov. Cummins to reform and
that executive denied requisition pa
pers. In Iowa Shercliffe was safe. A
few months ago he ventured out tc
Michigan to find a suitable place tc
move his family. the doctor having or
dered change of climate for his wife
1t was then that he was seized on 9
charge of an old murder and railroad
ed to Colorado.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
Sleeps Amid cOffins and shrouds.

Greenfield, Ind.--Dave Ellis. Green.
fields weather prophet, ten years ago
engaged with a local undertaken as
night man and established sleeping
quarters among the cofins and
shrouds. During all this time Mr.. Ellis
has missed only one night from his
grewsome quarters. He has undergone
some thrilling experiences by his stub
born determination to sleep in no 9th
er quarters. On one occasion, when a
corpse was left in the room near his
bed scheme was arranged by which
the covering on the body could be
pulled away by string. Although bad
ly frightened he refused TO be driven
away. Many other attempts have been
made to break this long record, bat all
were failures and today he defies any
man to equal it-every night for ten
years IN the same bed. except on one
occasion, and then Il piled in ut sew
en- in the morning ne said
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
ARMY OF BATS INVADE
BEDROOM OF RECTOR
INMATES HAVE UNPLEASANT EE.
PERlENcE BEFORE PESTS
ARE GOTTEN RID OF.

London-Inmates of a quiet rec.
tory in Dorsetshire will long remcm.
ber the latter hours OF a recent night
The rector was aroused in the mid.
die of the night by n great noise in
the room. Was it burglar? Finally.
he concluded that an army of bats
had selected his bedroom for their
high jinks. From every part OF the
room they could be heard plunging
against mirrors and glasses. knock.
ing up against the ceiling, while too
often to be pleasant one would hit
against the head OF the bed, and.
worse still. the beating of their wings
could be felt as they came close to
the helpless faces on the pillow.
The rector's alarm was increased by
the fact that his wife had horror OF
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
MORR|E R. PRESTON
NEvADA's STAR PRISONER, LATE
CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.
Young Man Undergoing Long sen.
tenee for Murder Committed During
Labor Troubes-Noninated
by Socialist Labor Party.

Carson City. Nev.--Just south of
Carson City. at the site of one of tho
innumerable hot springs that gush
up at intervals in that barren land. is
situated the Nevoda penitentiary, con
tanning now some 300 convicts. 1t
probably is the most delightful penal
establishment in the world, and Is con
Quoted upon such n liberal basis that
the residents Of the state refer to IL
as the best hotel in Nevada. As a
matter of fact, there is some satire i'm
the general comment, because the sen.
tences being served there are for the
most part excessive the natural re-
suit of the administration of law i'm a
new and mining country.
Among the prisoners there Is one
OF more than passing interest, a
young fellow "a years old. with a clear.
cut, intellectual face, big, clear blue
eyes, a gentle manner, sweet, music
al voice, white teeth the address and
bearing of a gentleman, who is serv'
ing a sentence of % years. He was
the candidate of the Socialist Labor
party for president of the United
States at the recent election His
name is Morrie X. Preston, and his
crime is murder, committed under the
stress of influences engendered by the
Federation of Labor in the mining dis
tricts of the west. A gentler mur
derer you could by no means find, not
If you sought him through all the
pages of romance and history. nor a
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
Work Conducive to Health.

The Girls Normal school of the City
of Mexico reports the year of 1907-'0S
to have been the most successful in
its history thus far Among its eco
nomic gains it enumerates laundry
work Formerly the monthly expend-
iture for this item has been something
less than SIS, even though the pupils
have always done the ironing. Re
Gently the school authorities hit upon
the plan of putting in stone washing
places constructed after the Mexican
fashion. This innovation not only made
the girls, happy but reduced the laun-
dry bill to SIS a month. The school
physician reports the health of the
pupils as being much better than ever
before and attributes it to the exercise
of washing clothes.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
LITERARY LANDMARK MAY GO
House Where Dean Smith Once Lived
Likely to Be Razed.

London Crosby Hail, which after
being demolished in BishopsgatC, Lon.
don. is 10 be reconstructed In Chcl.
sea, may be the means of wiping away
an almost equally famous building,
from historical viewpoint, although
one that is known to comparatively
few. This is the little thrce-storied
dwelling in Danvers street. just of
the Chelsea cmbQnkmont in which
Dean Swift lived for somo time and
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27

Think" said the optimist, "of how
civilization has progressed since ths
terrors Of the Roman arena"
yes" answered Mr. Sirius Barker.
Nowadays when we're looking for
thrills we go to little parade ground
and watch some aviator risk his life
On short turns"
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
A Queen Of Clubs.

She had Just won the prize at the
card club for the fourth consecutive
time.
MY dear, never saw such luck"
said her rival. You really ought to
go about holding other peoples hands"
And at this they laughed.
Don't you think" asked the lucky
one people would be awfully bored?"
"Oh, said the other sweetly-"onlY
cardboard! Harper Weekly.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
Folly.

There may be pearl in the occa-
sional oyster, but anyone wanting
pearls would be foolish to so to a
sea-food house to buy them.-Detroit
Free PTss.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27
Concrete buildings for Explosives.

Following a practical demonstration
of rs value in that field, the govern
ment will use concrete buildings in
which to store explosives in the canal
zone.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-27

sters dictionary, and other memen-
toes OF the photographer. The old
dictionary is in two volumes, bound in
pigskin.