davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26
GASOLINE STOVE
STARTS BIC FIRE
GENERATING WITH WOOD ALCO-
HOL AND A NEARBY CURTAIN
CAUSE TROUBLE
GASOLINE NOT TURNED ON
Department Arrived and Water
Turned On Before Blaze Reached
Ceiling

Generating a gasoline stove with
wood alcohol was the cause of fire
Thursday afternoon at the home of
Engineer and Mrs. Louis Metcalf, 314
Ash street.
Mrs. Metcalf had poured some wood
alcohol into the generator, lit it and
gone out to the clothes line. The
gasoline had not been turned on.
When she returned almost imm date
ly big blaze was in progress. She
rushed past the fire into the next room
where the baby was, carried the child
out and called for help.
The stove was standing right in front
of closet, the door of which had been
replaced by curtain. When the fire
was discovered the curtain was burn
ng. A garden hose was run from the
home of w. w. Morse to hold the fire
temporarily in check. When the fire
department arrived the house was full
of dense smoke from end to end. No
body could enter. The fire was nut
out at once and before the blaze had
more than scorched the ceiling. The
wood work IN the dining room and
kitchen around the place where the
fire started was badly scorched.
Probably the total damage does not
exceed $500. There is some insurance.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26
CAN'T REMEMBER
WHO BOUGHT It

Harry Miller, posted shoemaker, is
lying in the Sauk county Jail trying
to remember who bought the liquor
for him. He says he knows the man
0y sight but not his name.
That is the only reason he is now in
Jail although there was another charge
against him in Judge Adolph Andro's
court for which he was fined 81 and
costs.
The settled account was upon COM
plant OF William Lovertcz who de
clared that Miller handed him some
fist movements because the former
would not buy liquor for the latter.A
though he paid the fine and costs he
affirmed that he did rot harm Lovertcz
any.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26
BOY KICKED N
THE FOREHEAD
BOYS PLAYING WITH THE ANIr1AL.
IN FIELD NEAR THE
RIVER
MRS. STACKHOUSE INJURED
Son of Louis HaIbman of Merrimack
Falls and Sustains Broken
Elbow
(From Thursdays Dany.)

Little Fred Wolfert, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Joseph Wolfert, 217 Third avenue,
was kicked in the forehead by pony
this morning. He and Eugene
Williamson and Clifton Dryer, son of
Sheriff Dryer, were playing in the
field between the Jail and the river
with spotted pony belonging to the
sheriff. Eugene was on the pony and
Fred was behind the animal, according
to the account of Clifton, when the
kick occurred. The boy was just far
enough distant so that the full force of
the blow did not spend itself on his
face, and no bones were broken. The
cut, across over the left eyebrow,
required several stitches.
The animal was never known to be
vicious in any respect and had been
driven by several boys at different
times with NO trouble.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26

A Boscobel dispatch says "August
Ray, who takes care ofM MamieH arney's
lands, took a jug of water to the field
with him and when reaching down to
get the jug from beneath the bushes he
was struck on the finger by large rat
tlesnake, making quite an incision in
the finger. August Immediately began
sucking the wound ana afterward put
piece of moist tobacco on the finger.
He experienced no serious effect from
the bite. The snake had nine ratt les. J"
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26

Three Children on the South Side
Afflicted With Contagious
Disease

There are three cases of diphtheria
in town. Two came from Horton
Vile, Wis.
Mrs. Herbst and two daughters, vi
olet and Louise, are visiting at the
home of her brother, John Schmitz,
325 South street, and it was her chill
dren who were taken ill with the dis
ease since coming TO Baraboo.
The little four year old son of Mr..
and Mrs. Anderson, next door is also
ill with the same disease.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26

The members are always very CRATE
ful to those who attend their gather
ings and in many ways assist in the
good they are doing.
The present officers are:
President-Mrs. Fred Simon.
Vice-P President-UdO Braun.
Secretary-Mrs. John Rumpf.
Treasurer-Mrs. Geo. Schultz
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26
Funeral of Mrs. FarnWOrth.

The funeral of Mrs. Nate Farnworth
was held from the home, Friday fore
noon at 10 O'Clock, conducted by Rev.
j. S. Crowder of the First M. E.
church. Interment was in the Merri-
mack cemetery. The journey was
made by teams.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26

One of the oldest and one of the
greatest organizations for good in Sauk
county is the Aid Society of the Ger
man Methodist Episcopal church of
the town of Westfield. The society
was organized twenty years ago, May
1889, with the following officers:
President-Mrs. August Filter.
Vice-P President-Mrs. George Moog.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26

organization for great good. Much
substantial aid has been to the support
of the salary of the pastor, the church
building has received their attention,
many person has been shown kind
ness and attention in the time of dis
tress and need, funds are forwarded to
the orphan asylum at Berea, Ohio,
every year.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26

Mrs. William StackhOuse, Eighth
avenue, sustained broken leg this
morning while attempting to lead
horse hitched to a single wagon to a.
broke away and knocked her down,
the hind wheel of the wagon passing
over her right leg. The member was
broken between the ankle and knee.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26
Secretary-Mrs. Daniel Rumpf.

IT6aSuTeT-MTS. FANNIE FOumpI.
The president and vice-president
held their offices until death. One of
the excellent members, Mrs. Alexander
Weidman, mother Of the geologist,
has only missed three meetings in the
twenty years.
The society has been and is an.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26
TRAVELLER GETS
; DAYS IN JAIL

Ed Erickson, traveller was arrest
ed by Charles Butterfield Wednesday
night and today was given 5 days by
Judge Andro.
On the two previous nights he slept
in the city hall under the auspices of
Officers Buckley and Desmond.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26
FELL AND BROKE
HER ELBOW CAP

A little daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Louis Redaman of Merrinack fell Sun
day and broke her arm, severing the
elbow cap. The child is getting along
favorably.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26

The little nine year old son of Louis
Halbnan ofMerrimack has smashed
right elbow in consequence of falling
from a threshsng machine sep
arator. The boy was on top of
he 10 achine on tour Of
boyish inspection at s O'Clock and in
the darkness tumbled to the ground.
The break is unfortunate and may
leave the member stiff.
The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-26
Licensed to Marry

Fred w. Uphoff of Madison and
Miss Flora Fink of Reedsburg town.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
ACTION OF CHAMBER
WRONGLY REPORTED
States Positively That No Official
Action Has Been Taken Which
Attempts to MuzzIe Con-
soIidation

SAN PEDRO, Jan. T.-Members of
the San Pedro chamber of commerce
were somewhat taken aback this morn
ing when they read in a Los Angeles
morning paper a dispatch from Sacra-
mento which stated that Savage re-
ceived a telegram today from s. M.
Storer, president Of the San Pedro
chamber of commerce, announcing that
the executive committee of that organ
ization had adopted resolutions favor
ing a two-thirds majority to carry the
election. This stipulation is counted on
by Savage to kill the movement"
Mr.. Storer is not president of the San
Pedro chamber of commerce, nor is he
on the executive board, and while an
attempt was successful in railroading
through the resolution it was not or
dered sent to Savage or anyone else.
On the contrary, a motion was carried
to leave the matter to the members of
the whole chamber at the next meeting,
the last Friday in the month.
A. P. Ferl, president of the chamber
Of commerce, today sent a telegram to
Senator Mccartney, who has the ma
jority consolidation bill in charge,
which stated the facts in the case. 1t
reads as follows:
IS. M. Storer is not president of the
chamber of commerce, and no action
has yet been taken by the chamber of
commerce which would attempt to
muzzle consolidation
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
ACCUSED OF RIFLlNG
RESTAURANT LOCKER
Alleged to Have Been Found Ransack-
ing Their Clothing, Having Taken
Already Money and Gold
Watch

Frank Ward, aged 80 years, whose
address is not known, was arrested on
North Main street last night by Pa
trolmen Droemeyer and Murphy and
placed in central station on suspicion.
Ward is alleged to have robbed a
locker in the rear of the Grand Pa
cific restaurant, ia North Main street,
of $34 and a gold watch and chain, the
property of walters employed in the
restaurant.
Ward was detected in the act Of rob-
bling the locker and was seized and
held, after a desperate struggle with
two walters in the restaurant, until
the police could be sent for.
The prisoner went into the restau-
rant, and walking to the rear took a
seat in a box adjoining the locker
where the employees hang their cloth
ing. He ordered a meal and was
served, after which the waiter paid
no further attention to him. A short
time afterward a noise was heard at
the locker and a waiter investigated.
He found Ward rifling the clothes
hanging there, and he already had Sc
cured the money and watch. The
waiter gave the alarm and Ward tried
to escape and put up a fight. Another
waiter ran to the assistance Of the
first, and together they overpowered
Ward and held him until the police ar
rived.
At the central station Ward was rec
ognized by Detective Kelley as a man
who is wanted by Postoffice Inspector
J. H. c. Wilson on a charge of using
the United States mails to defraud.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
TWO MEN DROWNED IN
ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE
FROM FALLING BRIDGE

SACRAMENTO, Cal, Jan. 17.-In
making frantic efforts to escape from
a section Of the long trestle this side
of Webster station, Yolo county, two
and one-half miles from this city, two
section laborers, one known as Peter
and the other as Andrew Sagros, both
Of whom lived in San Francisco, were
drowned by jumping into the deep
overflow water that was fast eating
away the foundations Of the trestle.
The gang of laborers, twenty-five in
number, were engaged in piling rocks
and other ballast on the trestle when
the foreman discovered that the sec
ton on which they were working was
about to be swept away.
The foreman quickly mounted a
handcar and telling his men to follow
after him on foot, started as fast as
possible for Webster to summon help.
He reached Webster safely and tele-
phoned to headquarters in this city for
assistance.
But in the meantime the trestle went
out in two places-in front and in the
rear Of the gang of laborers-maroon-
ing them, helpless, and in position
that was becoming more perilous, as
the water rushed in torrents and car
ried away section after section of the
trestle.
From accounts given by the twenty
three laborers who were subsequently
rescued from the. trestle by a force of
men who went out in boats from
Washington, it was learned that two
Of their number were missing.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
LAST YEAR MARKED
BY MANY HORRORS
Mining Engineer Declares Science
Must Solve Problem of Prevent
ing Formation of Fire
Damp Gases

PITTSBURG, Pa, Jan. 1.-THE year
1908 was marked by more mine hor-
rors, by more loss Of life under ground,
than any other year in history.
And the year 1909, scarcely three
weeks old, apparently is going after
190S's record.
Only last Tuesday a hundred lives
were lost in an explosion in a model
mine near Bluefeld, w. Va. and on
the Sunday before death exacted an
other heavy toll in the Letter mines
at Zeigler, Ill.
Science" says a mining engineer to-
day, has not yet solved the problem
of preventing the formation of gas,
which it must do. We recognize three
kinds of mine gas-the fire damp, after
damp and white damp.
Fire damp is the only one of the
trio that is explosive. 1t is a gas given
off by coal under the influence Of the
heat of the earth. When Davy invent
ed the miners safety lamp it was
thought that all danger of mine explo-
sions was over.
1.-THE lamp has the flame surrounded
with a metallic screen, which does not
permit the passage of the flame But
the screens burn out after long usage
and miners grow careless.
Sometimes, too, careless miner will
lamp his shot or blast with paper in
stead of clay. >The result is that a
flame shoots up, and if there be any
gas around an explosion is inevitable"
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18

was crushed to death. That made a
total Of twenty-three dead
1.-THE chair coach was completely de-
molished and there was hardly enough
of it left to ill a cigar box.
Where the accident occurred there
is river on one side of the embank-
ment and sheer descent on the other.
Drives Sleeper Through Coach
1.-THE impact drove the tourist sleeper
through the chair car ahead, one side
falling down the embankment and the
other into the water
while a party of us were at work
we came upon family of five-father.
mother, two little boys and a little girl.
AS we reached them the mother cried
out: For Gods sake help my children. T
am dying We had been working hard.
but we put more energy if possible
into our labors and soon had the little
girl freed from the wreckage.
''She was badly hurt, but we knew
it would help the dying parents if we
told them the children were safe When
we reached them with our consoling
messages we were too late The father,
mother and two boys had passed to the
great beyond
-@A little further on our attention was
called to a little girl about 6 years old.
She was lying dead upon the second
locomotive of the freight train. Evil
IDENTIFY when the impact came she had
been hurled from the chair car over
the baggage car and two engines
1.-The hobo on the blind baggage was
pinned between the tender and the
front of the baggage car. 1t was i'm
possible to remove him, and as he was
dead we allowed him to remain there
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
new HEAD OF BIG
RAILROAD RISES BY
DINT OF HARD TOLL

NEW YORK, Jan. NV. C. Brown,
who from vice president and general
manager of the New York Central rail-
road system succeeds w. H. Newman
Sas president of the company, is de-
clared by railway officials here to be
a splendid example of the type of self
made, practical railroad man that
abounds in that wonderful industry in
America.
He began his railway career as To-
connective fireman. Having worked his
way to the top through all the posi-
tons that man can be called upon ia
fill on railroad, he knows the bust
ness from the ground up.
He was born in Herkimer county, N
Y, in 1853 and started railroading in
the west in 1869. He was successfully
fireman, telegrapher, train dispatcher
trainmaster, superintendent. and gen.
eral manager.
The fact that he is always working
and that he always goes first in time
Of trouble are two Of Mr.. Browns
dominant characteristics.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
CALL UP A. C., HE'LL
SHOW YOU,' SHOUTS
MORRIS TO POLICE
CONTINUED from Page one)

mans and talked long with him. Then
Desk Sergeant Haupt was called to the
phone, and he protested to the man at
the other end of the wire that such a
thing as releasing gamblers on their
own recognizance was not to be
thought of.
Immediately after the prisoners had
been taken to the police station there
began series of the most amazing
events ever witnessed at the old gray
building on First street
Directed by the fertile brain of Eddie
Morris, the prisoners proceeded to offer
the money seized during the raid for
the bail Of three of their number. This
was accepted for Bently, Cotton and
Kennedy.
AS soon as the three were released
they hit upon the necessary expedient
of destroying all discriminating evil
dence. Passing back and forth among
the other prisoners, Cotton, Kennedy
and Bentley gathered the poker chips
and other paraphernalia from each
COLLECTED 1T UNDER THE VERY
NOSES OF THE POLICE-and, pres
to! the poker chips and other incrimin-
ating evidence disappeared.
In the meantime Morris was busy en-
deavoring through his Influence" with
city officials to have the prisoners re-
leased on their own recognizance
w uSn he IOunO ne COulQ 90 nothing
more, or perhaps when the prisoners
knew the discriminating evidence from
their pockets was well out of the way,
he appeared to yield, and Lieutenant
Williams ordered the men searched and
locked up.
But, mirabile dictu! Wonderful to
relate, they found no poker chips or
other evidence of gambling in the peck
cts Of the prisoners.
Saddest of all, when the police
counted noses as the captives were be-
ing led away to the tanks three were
missing. They had WALKED OUT OF
THE BUILDING WHILE THE CUES
T1ON OF BAIL was being discussed.
Hardly had the prisoners been locked
up when bail in the sum of 500 each
appeared from some mysterious source,
and all were released.
When arrested Bently gave the name
of Thomas Collins, Cotton that of Joe
Cunningham and Kennedy said his
name was Bert Spencer. Butch" Til
ley, who is said to have been presiding
over the crap" game, gave the name
Of j. E. Dix. The names selected by
the others were James Henry, James
Dunn, Will Rowatt Thomas Greig, j.
Dewitt, Edward Franklin, w. F. Will
son, Harry Douglass, Joe Figueroa, I.
N. Wiley and George Henderson.
The names of the three who escaped
while being guarded in the hall were
not learned, although bail was put up
for all men arrested.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
TRAINS DELAYED:
FARMS FLOODED
RAILROAD TRAFFIC IN NORTH
SERIOUSLY IMPEDED
STREAMS RAPIDLY SUBSIDE,
THOUGH STORM CONTINUES
Sacramento River Remains for Many
Hours at 29-Foot Mark-Levees
Break, Causing Much
Damage
by Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17.-With
railroad traffic still in an exceedingly
demoralized state owing to the break
ing of the western levees between
Webster and Kobe, two miles west of
Sacramento, and the washing out or
two miles of track, but with all rivers
in the flooded section Of the state fall
ing rapidly and the foothill country
for the present swept bare of snow, the
ing tonight.
Trains to and from Sacramento are
handled by way of Stockton.
Several thousand acres of grain land
have been inundated in Sacramento and
Yolo counties, and the newly sown
is expected, except in the event Of a
cold snap and more snow in the hills.
Warm showers prevail throughout
the central portion of the state tonight,
but the rainfall is not enough to affect
the rivers.
Work Night and Day
Between Sacramento and Roseville
Junction the Southern Pacific is work.
ing night and day to connect its tracks
with the bridge of the Northern Electric
company, the only railroad crossing
still standing over the American river.
This work is not complete and over"
land traffic is still being routed from
| Salt Lake south via Mojave and Los
Angeles.
At Sacramento the Sacramento river
has remained stationary at twenty nine
feet for many hours past, and is now
slowly receding.
The breaking of the levees along the
Yolo basin side has relieved the strain
to such an extent that other levees are
safe The American river is also sub
siding, but the levees are being care
fully guarded at all danger points
though the crisis is believed to be past
The Yuba and Feather rivers are
! both reported to be receding at Marys-
vile, though the breaking of the levees
| on the Suffer county side has done
great damage to crops and completely
demoralized train service and wire COM
munication in that section Of the state
The greatest damage to crops was
south of Colusa, where the Sacramento
broke through it's barriers at eight diff
ferent points, covering a great area OF
grain land to depth of several feet.
The same conditions prevail at Chico
where the river is out Of its banks IN
| the farm land, forming a sea four miles
| in width.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
FALLS Off HIGH
WIRE AT CHUTES
BlCYCLIST PLUNGES FROM
LOFTY PERCH
LANDS ON TRACK AND ROLLS
INTO THE LAKE
Women Faint and Children Scream
with Terror-Victim Will Recover,
Having Marvellous Escape
from Death

In the presence of hundreds of per-
day afternoon, Charles Williams, 80
years old, a high wire performer, fell
thirty-fiVe feet to the ground He
struck the tracks Of the miniature rail-
road, landing on his head, poised there
a few seconds and then fell into the
lake. Women screamed and several fell
In a dead faint into the arms of their
escorts, Children chung to their
mothers skirts and cried in terror and
men turned their heads when they saw
Williams falling head foremost from
his dizzy perch, the platform from
which he had mounted his bicycle.
number of cool-headed persons,
among them a brother-in-law of the in
Jured man, rushed to the edge of the
lake and dragged the unconscious man
from the water just as he was sinking.
Williams was bleeding profusely from
deep cut over the right eye, and his
head hung on his breast. At first it
was thought his neck was broken.
Someone pressed a flask of whisky to
the unfortunate mans lips and forced
the liquor down his throat. Williams
moved his head and then began to
moan.
The University police station was
notified, the automobile patrol soon ar
hurried to the receiving hospital. He
was treated by Police Surgeon Cham
berlain, assisted by DR.. Robert Dundas
who was summoned at the request Of
the injured man.
Examination disclosed the fact that
Williams injuries consisted Of a deep
laceration over the right eye, cut on
the right arm and bruises and abra-
sions on both forearms.
Williams recovered consciousness
shortly after his arrival at the hospi-
tai and told how the accident happened
He said he had been i'll several days
and was quite weak when he donned
his tights and prepared to mount the
ladder to the wire. In climbing the
ladder he began to grow faint, and just
as he reached the top was about to
collapse. Nevertheless he went through
his act, but at its completion he grasped
the slight iron railing around the plat
form and threw all his weight on it,
The frail guard gave way and the fall
followed.
That Williams escaped instant death
is considered marvellous by those who
saw him fall. Witnesses say he gave
an agonized scream as he plunged head
downward to the ground.
Williams has been performing at the
Chutes park for the last three years
and has never had an accident there
before. Four years ago he was with
the Sells-Floto shows and sustained
almost similar injuries when he fell
from a high wire, his bicycle breaking
The injured man lives at 1887 Sixty
seventh street and has a wife and baby
daughter.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-18
SACRAMENTO RIVER BREAKS
LEVEES AND FLOODS FARMS

CHICO, Jan. 1.-THE Sacramento
river registered % feet and inches
IA inches above the high water mark
last night and broke the levee at sew
eral places on the west side, flooding
a large area of farm land.
Today the overflow reached st. John
and at places the river is a sea four
miles in width. In only a couple of in
stances, however, were farm houses
endangered and their occupants COM
PEELED to move to high ground
This afternoon the river began to
fall and in a few hours dropped three
inches.
On the west side the branch of the
Northern Electric line from Chico to
Hamilton City is under water for a
distance of two miles and in several
places the track was carried away.
A drizzling rain fell here today and
IS continuing tonight, but it is too
''~ht to have any effect upon the
streams