davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
CHRISTMAS FIRES
HAVE EARLY START
Decorations of Holly and Cotton
lgnited and Tive Stores
DESTROYED.

NAPOLEON. Ohio. Dec. Is.-Elabo.
rate Christmas decorations Of holly
and batting combined 20 partially de-
stroy G. +. Clay's drug store and p
w HilgendorTs shoe store this morn
ing
The places Of business are direcJv
opposite each other and The fires
originated ten minutes apart.
Clay's fire originated from candle
drippings and Hilgcndorfs from a
lamp lighter coming in contact vitb
cotton. This is the first C,hristnnas 3
decoration fire reported I'm this State
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
POSTAL CARD AGE-WORN

GAINESVILLE, Ohio. Dec. 1s.-An axe
wOrn postal card dated August /. 1889.
addressed 90 Rev. J. J. Jackeon at
Adamsville and mailed at New Concord
twenty years ago, has just been deliv-
cred 10 Mr. jackson. In moving the
pOstOffice at New Concord TO a new
building che card, which had dropped
into the lining Of tine receiving box. was
found and forwarded to its destination.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
SHERIFFS PATROL
STREETS OF MABEN
Renewal of Deadly Battle Between
Citizens of Mississippi Town and
Circus Performers Feared.

MABEN, Miss, Dec. 19.-Sherin James
and an army OF deputies filled the little
town tosy, fearing an outbreak OF yes
terday's deadly pitched battle between
citizens and circus performers
Richard Evans. head Of the Evans cir
Gus. was killed Harry and Rock John
son. brothers, Of AIaben. fatally wound
ed. and scores - performers under ar
rest
Trouble is said TO have been caused
BY Evans. who was drunk
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
THREE ARE KILLED
IN SHOTGUN FIGHT
Accusation of Hog Stealing Causes
Triangular Battle in
Louisiana.

LONGSTREET. La, Dec. 19-John
Alien. A. Sla6e. ard Smith Slade were
killed IN a shotgun battle here today,
Allen being shot in the breast with
squirrel shot, and the Slade brothers
with Winchester balls. after Allen had
accused Smith Slade of stealing his
hogs.
Smith Slcde came here from Texas
several months ago. and has been giving
the people Of the Bell Bower community
trouble about their hogs ever since.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
COAL DISCOVERED
ON MANASSAS FARM
DR.. ]. G. Meredith Finds Vein
Three Feet in Width-Will
Investigate Fully.

MANASSAS, Va, Dec, 9.-Dr. J. c.
Meredith. of Manassas. in excavsting
for a cellar on his farm near town
unearthed a vein of coal three feet
I'm bread IN by about eight feet in
length and two feet I'm depth
Some Of the coal was placed in a
stove, aud burned freely. Dr. Mere
dith Is enthusiastic over HIS dis
covery. aud will at once make further
investigation With full confidence OF
satisfactory developments.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
AGED POLITICIAN
VICTIM Of FLAMES
Thomas V. Cooper, PennSyl-
vania Legislator Forty
Years, Found Dead.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Dec. 19.-
Thomas aV1entine Cooper. veteran poll
itician and the Oldest Pennsylvania TeE-
islator. vas burned to death IN his home
Ia Media this morning while members
OF his family. unaware of the source
Of the smoke and flames, were turning
in a fire alarm.
Reclining upon a couch in the sitting
room Of his bone, smoking a cigar, the
aged aran dosed and the cigar set fire
TO his Dathrobe.
Makes No Sound
Mr.. Cooper. who was seventy-four
years old, made no oUtcry that was
heard by the family.
Mrs. Cooper, jr., a daughter-in-Iaw,
was aroused by the smell Of smoke. She
awoke her husband. who aroused Harry
Turner and j. wilkins Cooper, nephews
OF the legislator. Before an attempt was
made TO find the fire, an alarm was
turned in. and precious moments were
lost.
For forty years Mr.. Cooper. affection
ally known all over the St,-te as "Old
Tom" and the "Read-headed and hope
ful member" has occupied his seat in
the assembly ar Harrisburg. and ne has
in state politics
Body Is Charred
Upon entering the sitting room the
two nephews were Mortified by the dis
covery Of their uncle's burned and
charTed body upon the couch. The face
was burned beyond recognition and the
lower portions Of the body badly
scorched.
After the discovery Of their uncIe's
body the two nephews frat extingulshed
the flames and then ran out in another
room. where Valentine Cooper the son
was telephoning. and told him Of the
tragedy Although realizing that his
father was dead. Valentine Cooper.
upon his recovery from tha shaak
called in several physicians, but with
glance at the blackeucd body thcy
shook their heads and stated that life
had been extinct for some time.
Subject To Nervousness.
Mr. CooperHaccording to the members
Of his family. had been subject TO spells
OF nervousness for some time. and when
these spells came on ne had Lrcn In the
habit Of arising at an early hour. put
ting on his bath robe. and lying on the
sitting room couch FOR smoke.
Shortly before o'clock this morning
he entered the room of his nephew,
Harry Turner, in search OF "A cigar.
All the members OF the Cooper family I
are convinced that the victim suffered a I
stroke and was unconscious when the /
flames ended his life.
All Media Is mourning because Of Mr. /
Coopers death. The aged legislator .
was respected and beloved By every
man. woman. and child ia the town,
where he has lived since his return from
the civil war iu 1864. and where he had .
been one Of the edEors of the Delaware
County American for forty seven years.
The news of his tragic death did not
become generally known until late i'm
the morning
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
BRICK PRICE UP

TRENTON, \. J.. pec. 19.-The brick
manufactures OF this city, Bordentown,
l<lnkora, and other centers have de-
cided 10 demand a general increase Of
81 a thousand on an grades OF common
bricks. Under the new schedule salmon
will be 81 rough, hard bricks, s.. and
straight. hard bricks. 80 n thousand
The new prices are 10 take effect I'm
ncdiatcly, except on contracts already
made or pending.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
TO SUE OIL TRUST.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Dec. lq-
Thomas J.. IIisEen, former candidate
for President on the Independence
League ticket. and president or the In
dependent Petroleum Association OF the
United States. announce that this or
ganizatiOn will soon begin hundreds Of
suits against the Standard oil Com
pany for damages under the Sherman
antitrust law.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
Mrs. Elizabeth Overman
Meets Terrible Fate by
Burning.
TAKEN TO HOSPITAL,
WHERE END COMES
Flaming Dress Extinguished by
Two Daughters When Victim
Rushes Into Room.

Mrs. Elizabeth Overnan, widow
of Bernard Overman, who ulaS one
of Washington'S most prominent
business men a generation ago, died
at the Emergency Hospital at II 80
O'Clock this afternoon from the eff
fectS Of burns received while exam
ining the furnace in her home at
o57 NJ street northwest about 9
O'Clock this morning.
Taken To Hospital.
Mrs Overman was severty-three
years old and nacount of her
extreme age the surgeons after
the first examination pronounced
her burns of probably fatal
character when she was removed
to the hospital in an ambulance.
There had been trouble with
the furnace at the overman home
and Mrs. 0verman went to the cell
lar this morning just after her
breakfast. to see if she could
remedy IT,
Dress Catches Fire.
While shaking the grare a quantity
OF red-hot Goals fell on her light house
dress. which was instantly ignited. She
attempted to beat out the flames and.
not succeeding. ran screaming upstairs
10 the dining room. AS she fell into the
room where her daughters, Mrs. Dor
Othy Riker and Mrs Alice NJ. Floyd.
were stiu at the breakfast table. her
clothing and hair were ahame.
Both women rushed TO their mothers
aid and uxtinguished the flames In a
moment. but not until the FIRE had
burned Mrs. Overman's face and body.
She was hurried to the hospital, where
everything possible was done TO allay
her suffering. An alarm Of fire was
sounded and the police and Fire De-
partnent responded promptly. The
flames We're quickly put out
Mrs Overman was one Of the old |
residents OF the District and had q host
of friends Her husband was a mem |
Der OF the firm OF Whyte q Overman. !
which conducted business under the I
name Of the National Coruice Works I
Tor many years
Mr.. Overman died about twenty years /
ago.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
WEATHER REPORT.

Snow and rain will continue tonight
in the South followed by generally fair
weather Monday except I'm North Carp
lima There viii also bc snow tonight
OF rain I'm the middle Atlantic States.
II will he colder tonight in the south
Atlantic States.
Cold wave warnings have been or
dprcd for eastern and southern Gc, rgia
south Carolina. and northern Florida.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19

Today-High tidc. 12.sI a. m. 7ni 1.1j
p. n. Low tide. 7.15 p. M and 7:i9 -. m.
Iomorrow-tiiEh tide 1.@b a. m. and
zll .. M Low tide s:lI o. IA. and S:J2
2. m.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19

CONDITION OF vTIE WATERS.
HARPERS FERRY, W. Va. Dec lg-
Potomac muddy and Shenandoah cloudy
this morning.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19
SURGICAL MARVEL.

"WoNsIEURs." He speaks IN very
musical French When he hn-
ishes one of the faculty Of the American
institution translates. There is a move
ment at one side of the bowi-pit
] Instantly the dozen attendants AT the
other side turn. like acrobats in vaude-
vile. and pick up apparatus from small
white tables. Women and men alike
have covered their hair with white
cloth. Now they take up rubber gloves
/ from pans OF steaming water They
wheel 10 the side Of the slender table
/ in the middle. smaller and wider taoles
covered with pans Of shining cutlery.
The movement in the bottom of the
white bowl ceases The buzz Of the am
phiJheater-renewed a little with the
moving cf the nurses and surgeons down
below-is stiIled again. An American
is TO give the history Of the forth
coming ease"
The man has a swelling of the eye
ball Sight through It is aIn1ost. gone.
The pain is terrific Only two things
can be done. Either the eye-bau must
be cut out or the 'Jonnesco operation"
must be performed. The latter consists
Of removing a nerve center In the neck.
The effect IS 20 clear a drainage canal
for the eye-baH. This "Jonnesco opera
tior" is very serious. very dangerous.
one Of the most delicate operations that
any surgeon can perform"
Nurses Spread
Back the Blankets.
A long table is rolled silently beside
that already Ia the bottom OF the bowl
It Is rounded over like a loaf Of bread.
The nurses spread back the blankets
and lift the mound to the other table. A
man sits I'D. a queue unwinds down
his back and the students litter.
The foreign surgeon has come forward
meanwhile. IN a white gown, his bald
head covered by a white cap. An as
sistant bring him a vial like a short
glass lead pencil. The chief pours some
thing into II with great care. When ne
turns toward the table in the middle of
the incIosure. other assistants have I'm
ished washing the mans back-frst with
soap and water. then with alcohol. then
with some drug. perhaps a solution of
cocaine.
Two fingers slip up the Chinaman's
back bone. They stop Just below ;he
neck at The second bump. The surgeon
places the point of an instrument be-
tween the tips Of his own finger. There
is a sudden pressure. Those with opera
glasses watch intently a mfkisb luid
Continued on Sixth Page.)
The Washington times., 1909-12-19

FORECAST FOR THE DISTRICT.
Snow this afternoon or tonight and
probably rain. continued cold.
The Washington times., 1909-12-19

Continued on Sixth Page.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
FOR BIG REGATTA.
National Association of Amateur Oars
men Complete Arrangements.

New York, Aug. 1.-THE executive
committee of the National Association
of Amateur Oarsmen have completed
final arrangements at meeting here
for the seventh annual regatta which
is to be held on the Detroit river, De-
troit. Mich. on Friday and Saturday of
this week. The event promises to
eclipse any previous regatta in the his
torv of the association. The entry list
includes rs crews from boat clubs in
various parts of this country and Can
ada. and on the program many eX-
ceptional competitions are scheduled
for rich prizes.
New York city has the largest num-
Der of crews entered. Other cities
from which the executive committee
has accepted the entry of boat clubs
crews are: Halifax. n. s; Boston, Buff
falo. St Louis, Philadelphia. Spring
field, Mass; Toronto. Montreal Otta-
wa: New Rochelle, n. Y; St. Paul,
Nyandotte, Mich; Waterville, On
tario: Winnipeg, Manitoba; Grand
Rapids, Mich, and Baltimore. De-
troit will have several of its best
crews in the several events.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
OLD SPANISH SWINDLE.
'NIan in Prison Now an Ascending
Russian Banker

New York, Aug "A band of
bunca men in Madrid Spain, who for
years past have been swindling
Americans by mail. have recently
changed their bait. as shown by cor
respondence turned over yesterday to
Postoffice Inspector Jacobs. Under
the old scheme the intended victim on
this side of the water would receive
letter from man who figured as a
Spanish prisoner.
The writer would assert that he had
stolen large usm of money from the
old Panama Canal company and had
escaped to Spain with his seventeen
year-old daughter; that he had been
recognized by the Spanish police as
fugitive from justice and that in re
sisting arrest he had seriously
wounded an officer With the letter
would be a spurious clipping from
newspaper telling the story of the
fight and capture.
The prospective friend would be
invited to send to trusted friend of
the prisoner in Madrid enough money
to pay the passage of the daughter to
America and to release a trunk in a
secret compartment of which the
stolen fortune was hidden. In return
for this the benefactor was to get
one-third of the money in the trunk,
on condition that he would turn over
the remaining two-thirds to the
daughter and act as her guardian I'M
til such time as the unhappy father
was released.
Many Americans have forwarded
money but neither the young. woman
nor the trunk full of cash ever APP
peared.
In the new scheme the elm
prisoned writer poses as a Russian
banker who has run away with the
money of the depositors. He has a
daughter and a trunk with a secret
compartment full of Russian rubles.
He is still willing to give up one-third
of the loot on the old terms.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
MADE $1,000 ON CUCUMBERs.
OIathe Man Produced Three Crops in
Nine Months.

Olathe. Kan, Aug. Am enter
prising Olathe man cleaned up $1,000
during the past nine months on GU
cumbers. He produces them when
other people don't. That explains his
large profits Last year he conceived
the idea that if he could produce
cucumbers for the market during the
fall, winter and early spring he might
make some money. So he built a hot
house about 100 feet long and thirty
teet wide He heated it with steam
and equipped it with treIlise.
He planted the seed in rich soil
under the trellises and the vines
soon grew up over them like grape
vines. BY careful attention the vines
would produce almost constantly.
When the life was about out of one
planting of vines he would tear them
out and plant a new crop. During the
season he produced three crops.
The cucumber farmer was unable
TO supply the demand and he will ex-
tend his dollhouse this year.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
LINCOLN PENNIES OUT.
First Coin Issued by Philadelphia
Mint Today.

Philadelphia. Aug. 2.-The Phila-
delphia mint will issue today the new
Lincoln pennies, which the treasury
department has caused to be designed
and struck off in honor of the one
hundredth anniversary of the late
presidents birth.
The head of Lincoln, which appears
on the coin. was designed from a
photograph in the possession of
Charles Eliot Norton. The face is re-
Taxed and smiling. the artist having
sought to reproduce particularly Lin
coins expression when talking to chill
dren.
The artist, Victor D. Bremen, is 81
years old and is a Russian who came
to this country as a boy and sold
in the street and studied art
at night at Cooper Union. He saved
up enough money to continue his
studies in Paris and on his return
opened q studio.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
A MYSTERIOUS FIND.
steamer Officials Have a Purse Con-
tanning Many VaIuables.

New York, Aug 2.-Mystery sur
rounds the finding of wealth laden
handbag on the excursion steamer
CITY of worcester. The bag which
bore the initials &C. L. w." was found
on the boat after all the passengers
had left on the night of July J, ana
vas turned in at the office unopened.
There it attracted no attention until
a day or two ago when Vice President
]. A CANCER opened the bag and be
sides finding several pieces of women's
laundry. Mr., CANCER said he discov-
cred two diamond rings. seven loose
diamonds. two gold watches, other
iewelry and a very, very large sum
of money He would not name the
sum. but said that it was sufficiently
large that the loss of it would cause
a rich person anxiety.
Outside of the initials on the bag
it contained nothing by which the
owner could be identified, and Mr.
CANCER is of the opinion that the own
err was a victim of tragedy, perhaps
suicide or possibly murder.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
JIM CROW CARS IN KANSAS.
Signs on Coaches Fifty Miles North
of Oklahoma Line.

Chanute. Kan. Aug 2-WhiIe
Kansas has no Jim Crow law. thou
sands of strangers think it has, on ac-
count of the action of the railroads in
putting their Jim Crow signs on air
southbOund trains before they reach
the Oklahoma line. The Jim Crow
cars, signs and all, are put on Santa
Fe trains for Oklahoma at Chanute.
For fifty miles or more in Kansas the
trains carry Jim Crow signs.
A movement is on foot to REQUIRE
the railroads to take off the signs
while the train are in Kansas 1t is
recalled that President Roosevelt
made an interurban company operat-
ing trains from Washington over the
Potomac river into virginia take off
the Jim Crow signs whenever car
struck the limits of the District of
Columbia
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
RELIGHTING RED LIGHTS.
Wichita Citizens Complain of Return
of DisreputabIes.

Wichita, Kan, Aug. Presidents
on fremont street who had hoped
that its worst days were gone forever,
are not at all pleased with conditions
as they exist there at present. They
say if things are to go on as they are
now, it will be necessary to have a
policeman on the street all the time.
Since the cleanup of the street
more than two years ago. quite a
number of respectable people have
moved into houses there with the I'M
derstanding that the things once per-
mitted there was not to be allowed
there again. In this they say they
have been deceived, as several houses
are now occupied by questionable
characters, who are in some way as
bold as they ever were in the days
when fremont street was one of the
most notorious resorts in the south
west.
1t is said that a negro crap game
can be found in full operation on that
street almost any night, and that fire.
auently they are held in the open
street under the full glare of the
street lights, while other things de-
cidedly worse are carried on in broad
daylight in a manner not at all in
keeping with a clean locality.
The Prudential state Bank. general
banking business.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
FOX MAY JOIN OMAHA.
Pa ROurke Offers $500 for Release
of Lincoln Manager.

Lincoln. Neb.. Aug. 2.-The project
ed sale of Manager Billy Fox of the
Lincoln club to Omaha announced in
the morning dispatches from Des
Moines is still in the air.
President Despair of the Lincoln
club this morning admitted that
Rourke had offered $500 cash for the
release of Fox. But the Lincoln mag
nate states that the offer was merely
being considered and that there was
no assurance of it's acceptance.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02

He stays at a local restaurant and
has roomed with fellow whom he ex-
niafned seemed a very nice man yet he
has never asked his roommate's name.
.'The darky said he would meet me
ST the restaurant tonight" said Grim,
land he told me to go take a bath
scrnew here. but I could not find it.
though he pointed it out"
The officers think they know who
the negro is but have been unable to
find him.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02

had accepted the original offer of $4,000
the people would have expressed their
satisfaction. and there would have
been less loose talk about bad faith on
the part of the board.
Respectfully, EDWIN L. O'NEIL.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02

Bargains in Rawlins and Cheyenne coun-
" wheat and alfalfa lands in prices
IN TINS section of the country has almost
a. MADSEN & SONS, Sea rdsley, Kan.
coupled in value in The last year, and is
rapidly increasing in value. Come and
investigate or write.
FOR SALE-Six acre poultry farm, seven
minutes drive from city; five acres all
flne garden land. Cheap if sold at once.
Cash or time. Price 81. 500. See ]. ]. King.
Independent phone 9S5.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
FOR sALE-REA1 ESTATE.
AsMoDERN BEAUTIFUL HOME.

city IIote Modern
readyto
leaving much
Ave-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
LEGAL.
First published in The Topeka State
Journal July s. 1901
NOTICE CONCERNING THE DEPOSIT
OF STATE FINDS

Journal July s. 1901
NOTICE CONCERNING THE DEPOSIT
10 WHOM IT MAY. CONCERN:
The undersigned, the Board of Treasury
l.s xamInsrs of the State of Kansas, hereby
gives noSce that on the LIST day of Septem-
posals from the Incorporated banks doing
BUSINESS IN Kansas, both national and
this state viii BE- recefTed q IL ods
Hlth the provisions of Chapter al. OF the
state the amount Of funds any n0I bank H de
slfes and the rate of interest IT will pay
qualify and faithfully perform the duties
REQUIRED Of it, provided the award is made
aminers reserving the right to limit the
amount of funds deposited and to reject
Each proposal shall be accompsnied by
a certified check in the sum of two hun
Treasurer, to be forfeited for the use Of
Tue state II any said bank rails to comply
shall be accepted by the oard Of rT TSse
ury examiners; otherwise, to be returned
All proposals shall be sealed and deposit
ca with the State Treasurer on or before
wrttsn d tbe- OF seBtem5eT 1902 Shall have
state Funds and shall not be opened un-
" the meeting of the board Of the date
Banks desiring to make bids may write
the state treasurer for blanks.
Done at the Capitol in Topeka. this
sixth day OF July, 1903.
w. r. STUBBS,
c. E. DENTON.
Secretary OF State.
JAMES NJ. NATION.
Auditor of State.
State Board of Treasury Examiners
NOTICE TO GAS FILTERS
niI persons deisiring to engage in the
iltters must secure a certificate OF exam
Plumbing board viii meet in the office
OF the Plumbing Inspector in the City
Building August 10th. Applications must
tors office Hours eight to nine a. mn, aud
W. J. GIBBS. Plumbing Inspector.
First published in The rooeKa stata
Journal July 5, 1901
DAY NOTICE OF APPL1cA-
TON OF BUSINESS COLLEGES FoR
PERMIT TO CANVASS IN THE
STATE OF KANSAS,
NJ, Topeka. Kan, MaJ 6. 1903.
ING business colleges Cor commercial de-
PAYMENTS of other schools) have made
IN the State of Kansas for the purpose
on on selling tuition in advance and contract
dents before their TegiStration at l tRe bus
ness c8iIeges' (for commercial depart
'iSS1iits s1 herein named:
Mo business college, Carthage
ci RfraqEg in21's, Business College. Kansas
nv ~ e siat1issfactory proof is furnished that
tAe above named colleges or com
frnerGilal departments are incompetent to
I'm Ilisl 81 such course OF instruction as
icy advertise or that the moral surround
tnngs OF the Institution are not good, or
iaas t me premises are kept In an un-
" = ny condition. or that the agents OF
s s institutions use Misrepresentation OF
-tS4uuhlent methods in securing contracts,
n t IS, OF cash from prospective students.
u sucn case a permit will not be granted
y, !, sucn business colleges Cor commercial
So. E T. FAIRCHILD.
state Superintendent of Public instruction