davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
OTTuMWA WOMEN
Investigating.
THE BANKRUPTCY OF THE WEST.
ERN FURNITURE co. IN OMAHA
AFFECTS HOUSEWIVES.
HELD A MEETING.
over 100 Of the Women Who Formed
the Local Clubs Gathered at the
Y. W. C. A. Yesterday-Are
Consulting Lawyer.

A legal notice received a few days
ago by more than 100 Ottumwa Wom-
en- has set in motion number of the
good housewives Of OttumWa whose
sense of economy was touched by the
! words of agents of what was formerly
known as the National Furniture Co.
Of ia Mulberry street Des Moines,
later changed to or absorbed by the
Western Furniture Co., Inc, OF Omaha.
The notice comes from Charles Nc
Donald, referee in bankruptcy for the
district of Nebraska in the United
States court, and calls upon those who
have been or are members of the
clubs started in Ottumwa, to send
their proofs Of claims accompanied by
twenty-five cents to him. The card
also gives notice Of the first meeting
of the creditors of the Western Furni-
ture Co., Inc, which has gone into
bankruptcy in Omaha. The meeting
is called for September rs at 8 a. m.
at which time the creditors may prove
their claims, appoint trustee and
examine the bankrupt. The failure OF
this concern is felt by many of the Of
tumwa women who joined either OF
the two clubs that were formed here.
SoE:-. ~re known to be out anywhere
from SIC - So while others have
paid in b.. 8 trifling sum of few
dollars.
The women are consulting an at
torney today to ascertain how to pro-
coed in the matter.
Contract Looks Safe.
The plan worked here was to secure
club oe sixty women each Of whom
were to pay % cents per week for
period that could not exceed sixty
weeks, and each, when she drew her
premium, had the selection of a $15
piece Of furniture or house furnishing.
About five or six women are said. to
have secured premiums, one of them
after she paid in but SO cents. The
work was carried on largely by the
neighborhood plan Of securing num-
Der of lalies in the same locality, where
one would boost the scheme to her
neighbor and thus secure her for n
club member The contracts state that
the company will sell a steel couch
with mattress for SIS guaranteed for
ten years to the signer of the contract
on installments of SO cents every two
weeks, and that any customer securing
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
AGENCY

The handsome country home Of Har-
~ Warder, five miles northeast OF
krown, was the scene Of highly enjoy.
able social gathering. Music and games
comprised the evenings entertainment
and the guests departed at late hour.
Those present were: Mr.. and Mrs. J.
r. Fulton Mr.. and Mrs. Ernest McCay,
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilbecn Braden, Mr.. and
and Mrs. o. w. Shoemaker, Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Humphrey. Misses Effie
Mcdowell. Minnie Yeager, Ollie Kurtz,
Louise Cremer Winnie Dimmitt, Ruth
Fink, Lena Dimmitt Blanche Miller,
Roe Bayne, Haud Nordgren, Mabells
Graham, Grace Meyer. Leila Wilhitc,
Della Reynolds, Gladys Warder, Mabel
Cowger, Ruth Harper, Lula Enyart,
Daisy Rotabaugh, Bertha Rudkin, An
ma Jones, Nellie Reighard, Edith Con-
nelly, May Warder, Goldie Mercy
nolds, Margery McCay, Pauline Pun
phrey. Messrs. Sherman Warder, Karl
Wymore, Ray Mcclure, Ernest DIM
mitt Forrest Dilnmitt. Jesse Dimmit...
Burton Daley, Cleo Daley, Jesse Rud-
kin, Wilbur Johnson. Harry Gilbert,
Arnold Miller, Claire Miller, Ray Mil
Ter, Raymond Green. Warren Grimes,
viii Hillery Floyd Daley, Laurence
Warder. Madison Warder, Thurman
Warder, George Decker, Will Dickens
Ambrose Leinhauser, Harry Goudy,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
SPECIAL REUNION
At |ND|AN0lA
Bath IOWA INFANTRY WILL CELE-
BRATE BOTH ANNIVERSARY
IN 1912.

Charlton, Sept, 16.-At the biennial
reunion of the 34th Iowa infantry,
which came to a close here on Thurs
day evening, it was decided that as it
will be the fiftieth year in 1912 since
the 34th entered the services, that a
special reunion be held at Indianola
next year to mark this approaching
epoch in their history. Arrangements
for this special meeting were placed in
the hands of four capable veterans
residing in Warren county, Comrades
r. C. Arnold, Tom Anderson, w. P.
HARRISON and Daniel Symonds, who
were given full power to appoint from
their own Number or other comrades,
a president and secretary, and who
will FIX the date of the reunion 1t was
resolved that in the opinion of those
attending this reunion here that the
emi-centennial meeting Of 1912 be re-
garded as the last of the regular series
of reunions, and that future meetings,
if any, be held annually on old soldiers
days at the state fair grounds in Des
Moines
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
EDDYVILLE.

A number from Eddyville attended
his farm southeast IF Eddyvil!e. Mr..
some time has sold his farm and the
family will return to Pella.
Mrs. Al McMahon AID daughter Ger
trude went to Abba Thursday to visit
Mrs. McMaton's father who is quite
i'll.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. c. Fast and daugh :
nesday of their relatives, Mrs Cooper
Lou Lesca ult of Cherokee is visiting
relatives ard friends west of Eddy
vile this week.
J. Elder and daughter Laura Nc
I:ri',e who moved to Albany, Ore, sew
aral years ago 4fe visiting relatives
AMI friends in EddvNiiie this week
The regular meeting Of the Mite So
ciety which was to have taken place
Wednesday evening at the VIM. Rob
srs home was postponed until Thurs
lay evening on account of the rain.
w. IVES was q business visitor in Os
kalccsa Thursday. ~. 't
Mrs j. Shahan VINO has been i'll for
sCme time at the home of her son Or.
shall was able to receive a number
of callers this week Among the num-
| err were her niece Mrs. w. K. Will
hanson of South O.sEmwa, DR.. A. X.
Berry. a brother in law of Burlington
Kansas. Mr.. and Mrs. X. Berry of
Chamberlain, S. D., anC Mr.. and Mrs.
Heniy Berry and two daughters of
Alba. They were also guests Of Mrs.
Mary Bell
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
Will REPRESENT
CITY At CONGRESS
MINE OPERATORS NAMED BY
MAYOR HARPER AS DELEGATES
..s TO CHICAGO MEETING.

H. L. Waterman and Henry Phillips
were today appointed by Mayor Har-
per delegates to the American Mining
congress to be held at the La Sale
hotel in Chicago. They will represent
the city Of Ottumwa,. each city having
been accorded representation of two
delegates. The congress is in session
for four days, opening Sunday, Sept. "a
and closing Thursday, Sept. %. AL
though Mr.. Waterman. and Mr. Phil
lips have not as yet signiied their
acceptance of the appointment. May
or Harper states that they will. in all
probability do so.
The purpose of the mining congress
Is to ascertain the true mining condi-
tons through delegates from the vari-
Gus districts. The questions which
the miners and operators are discuss
ing today, such, as the workmen's
compensation legislation, will be fully
discussed by the leading representa-
tives of the country. The congress in
the past thirteen years has proven a
most beneficial undertaking and with
the enlargement of its scope each
year, the fourteenth annual session
this year promises to produce results.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
HIGHLAND CENTER.

Highland school commenced Mon,
day. Mrs. T.. Richard as principal, ant
Miss Lena Bottorff rs primary teacher
| Miss Kathryn Mccormick has re
| turned to her home IN Highland aftel
a pleasant visit with relatives in OF
tumwa.
J. Butler and family of near Farsor
spent Sunday at. the j. f. Wycot1
home.
Mr.. and Mrs. L. Dennis Of OttumWa
moved to Highland Wednesday. they
will live in the M. V. Meats property.
Mrs M. Kirkpatrick returned FRIDAY
from Chicago. where she has been WIS.,
iting her daughter, Mrs. M. Post.
Miss NJ. Wolfe spent Thursday "
Ottumwa.
The Ladies' Aid Of the M. E. church
met with Mrs. J. P. Wycoff Wednes
day
Mr.. and Mrs. A. Bacon Of Ioka has
moved to Highland. -.
IS Lena Emery and Master Fred
Reigelt. who passed the eighth grade
examination are going to hlgh school
the former in Ottumwa and the latter
to Hedrick.
Rev. C. v. Huse Of Pella preached
his farewell sermon Sunday morning
in the NJ. f. church
Mr.. and Mrs. H. Spillman returned
to their nome near Highland Saturday,
after a two months trip through the
west. They visited relatives and
friends in Dakota. Nebraska, Califor-
MIA and Oklahoma. =, a.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. NJ. Elder and Mr..
and Mrs. O.. G. Stevens were passen-
gers to Ottumwa Thursday.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
NO AGREEMENT
REACHED YET
MINERS AND OPERATORS FAIL'TO
SETTLE CASE OF ALLEGED
DiSCRiMl NATlON.

Des Moines, Sept. 1.-THE joint
| meeting of the executive board OF the
United Mine Workers of America, dis
trict No. 13, and Of the Iowa Coal Op'
orators association of the thirteenth
district, adjourned last night sine
die, without reaching an agreement on
a point which union leaders consider
of vital Importance.
The executive committee of the min
ers will meet today, when the course
which the union will pursue will be
fixed.
The point at issue is one of arbitra-
ton. Miners claim that the operators,
while operating their mines under
closed shop rules, in some instances
have Disseminated against the min
ers who were more active in union
work. A specific case, which tho en-
ployes claim occurred four @" tive
weeks ago at the Excelsior Coal mine
at Pel1in, is the one under discussion.
w. H. Rodgers, president of the
mine workers organization in the
Thirteenth district, Stated last night
that the operators had refused to ar
bitrate the Excelsior case, at the re-
quest CT the committee, and that the
joint meeting had adjourned without
an agreement having been reached.
What might be the result Of long
maintained refusal on the part of the
operators to arbitrate, he refused to
forecast.
President Rodgers stated that cases
similar to this one have been arbltrat-
ed before, and that break between
the union ana employers in the th1r'
teenth district hardly is to 'be locked
for. He declared that all other points
under dispute before the joint session
had been satisfactorily adjusted.
E. G. Smith, president OF the Iowa
Coal Operators association, said last
night that the discussion did not in
clude a refusal to arbitrate. He stat
ed that the operators desired to ar.
bitrate the meaning of the clause mi
the Des Moines agreement, now IN ef-
rect between the unionists and COM
panies, which the union men claim pre-
cludes discrimination against men &C
tive in union work. The miners, he
AYERS, would only consent to arbitrate
the specific case which is alleged to
have occurred at the Excelsior mine.
Miners profess they do not entertain
the idea that strike might result
from the operators attitude. =,
The executive board of the miners
consists of w. H. Rodgers, John Gay,
Hooking, Ia. Frank Cameron, Abba;
John Cochran, Abba; Joe Allison,
Brazil; J. H. Morris, Des Moines, and
Sam Balentine, Boone. The Thirteenth
district comprises all of Iowa and one
county of Missouri.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19

five other customers may have the
couch In advance of her payments. Il
likewise gives list Of number OF
other articles of furniture that
may be selected in place Of the
couch, and promises rug to be given
any customer who will send the names
of five new customers to the Office. The
receipt for each payment is noted on
the back Of the contract.
Two Clubs Here.
There were two clubs of some sixty
members each formed in Ottumwa,
one the latter part of 1910, and the
other in March Of this year, and over
100 women attended the called meet
ing of the club members at the Y. w.
G. A. yesterday afternoon, when the
women discussed at length the bank
ruptcy Of the company and the method
of securing their claims. An attorney
was secured by the women and they
are taking the matter up this afternoon
with view to prosecuting the com :
pany in order to secure their various
claims. No action was taken yester-
1ov
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
-. -. -~---. ->----
LIBE RTYvlLLE.

Mr.! and Mrs. r. M. Yount of Clarks
ton, Wash. are here visiting at the
CoWan home and other relatives.
Mrs. Roy Robertson and daughter
Maxine Of Ottumwa visited several
ldays last week at the c. Vaught home
Mrs. James Peebler who has been
Ill for the last week is able to be ur
and around
Mrs. H. D. Rodabaugh very success
fully entertained the Birthday club at
her home In Libertyville Wednesday
eevning.
Mrs Charlie Leppo and Mrs. Mace
Clinkenbeard were called to Cedar
Rapids Tuesday by the serious illness
of Mrs Lippo's son, Lloyd Fry. Mrs.
Fry had gone the week before to
enter business college, when he was
taken suddenly i'll with appendicitis
He is now in the hospital.
Miss Ruth Davis gave a piano re-
cital Saturday evening at her home in
Libertyville Miss Davis conducted a
very successful music class during
the summer months. The program
was as follows:
Piano solo-Miss Ruth Davis.
Katies song-Glee McCleary.
Mary had a little lamb-1nez Huff
man.
Chasing butterfiies-Josep Pol
lock.
Slumber song-Grace Galtfelty.
Wied flowers waltz-Beulah Grebe.
On the train-Jessie Huffman
Home Sweet Home-Lamont Viii
liams ~ ...
Pattie Majerka-Mammie Yost.
Montface quickstep-Florence Pee
bier ... ~ s..a
Worlds fair grand march-Myra
Grebe ...~ .,:- +.
Duet, in June-Jessie Huffman and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19

Miss Ruth Davis. ..u
In May-Gladys McCleary.
A sweet story-Urdene Williams.
Listen to the hooking bird-Ruth
Crowther.
Duet-Maurine Yost and Ruth
Davis. s-... No. ..r
Piano solo-Ruth Davis.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19

Leo Whi:more, Burt Warren, Jesse
Leopold, Clyde Rouke, Clare Cramer,
Harry Byerly, Harry Fink, Charles
Fink, Clay Mclean, Harry Pearson,
Roscoe Glays, Noble Dimmitt. Homer
Long, Cleo Giltner. VIII Humble, Har-
ley Mcclure, Rex Warder, Cecil Smith,
Harold Fulton Claude Steele, G. =,
Mason Harry Kneigh. Orval CopelanS
Lloyd Shoemaker Waldo Braden, g
M. McCay.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-19
Changed Contracts.

About "a month ago the old contracts
were taken up BY the collectors, who
changed nearly every two weeks, and
the new contract substituted for the
original showed the name Of the West
ern Furniture, CO., Inc. of Omaha, In
stead of the National Furniture Co. OF
Des Moines, with whom the clubs were
started here.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02

ever knew, though everybody suspected II was rum.
"They expensive disappearanceS for Peter and
his family. He'd draw out what money he had in bank,
and come home till 1t was all spent; and some
times guess his wife had pretty hard pickin till Peter
got back and got another Job fixed il up for the old
one and made good.
well he disappeared one time too many 1t was
lust after sickness in the famy-the wife had had an
other baby. There big expenses, naturally, and
Peter didn't have any right to do what he did. Not that
he did have the right, but just then least OF all
suit of clothes he only bought recently and suspected.
wasn't surprised, then, to learn later that he was
misSn.
"Whcn things were goin right and Peter attendn
to business him and me rather good friends: He
often stop in here his way home, and if fish had
got caught in the Sluce I'd give it to him. Once in
awhile they'd have me to their house when his wife
cooked the fish for supper 1t very comfortable
little house. though not comfortable as il Peter
hadn't deprived it OF part of his wages And so though
| couldn't say that | really close friend Of the
family | knew EN- fairly we'll and used to be able to
guess how things goin.
$50 this time knew Peter of again, first by his
not passin the shanty his way home. and then by
seen his wife one mornin her way 10 work at the
mill She'd been capable spinner before Peter married
her and when she had to 60 back to work, as she did
when he was off on these trips OF his, she could keep
things goin till ne got back But it sure looked cruecr
than usual this time with little baby home, where lis
mother ought to have been, instead Of pn off to work
at a loom.
WELL il kept on like that for some weeks and no
w Peter comm home to have the fated calf killed
for him. like it always don't say ii was fault OF
his wifeS sir; but maybe II she hadn't always made
so easy for him after OF his sprecS he wouldn have
gone quite so frequent. began to wonder he WASH
gone for good this time.-it full three months
when he finally come home.
But he didn't come home like he usually did, sncakn
into my shantv at dead of night Shameaccd and broken
down. to ask me about his wife. and did | think she
let him into the house, and all that. No, he didn't,
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02

married him. George had come over, an moped around
for awhile: but found some else to love- and got
married himself. Then his wifed died, leavin him
widower and there YOU
81 sposc it had often Peter wife that she
had made a mistake not MARVIN George Lawlor. He
was steady and had good position that he hung onto
advancin all the time But she hadn't ever let it inter
fcrc with her seadaSnesS Peter worthless as he
Now that he was gone for good though George begun
to come around a little. and as say, in course OF time
they were married and moved into a nice little home
George provided, and happy as YOU could ask.
TT was two years to a day from the time Peter En-
l mons disappeared that he come back
ale came back" asked.
"IS ghost
sighed with relief | had almost been afraid that
the fish warden going to spoil his own ghost story
"Hs ghost Mister, though at first thought 1t was
Peter himself Il was two years almost to day:
Peters widow had been married most year, and
there was third baby in the house-hers and Georges.
The doctor had stopped tell about it not three
weeks before saw Peter.
a. sat thnkin about it. one night about nine O'Clock.
Somehow | got thinkn o Peter thinkin he would
come back some day. lust like he always had, haggard
and broken down. And | wondered how he must feel
his wife married again and himself forgotten ana
her happy And got gucsSin on how ghosts must feel
about such things and how they looked and what ID
do il one come around me-you know, Mister, kind OF
creepy ccin'''
"Unconscious suggestion induced by the proXnty
OF sympathetic forces said. s." mean all this time
the spirit or whatever may be called. OF Peter En-
mons was near you-just outside the little house per-
haps-' =, CT, uau,o,. a., wac
inside II was standin' the very spot where you re
sttin hayin' come through the door silently, and !
never knew it was there till felt II was, and then
looked up and saw il with my own eyes.
"'Pcter Emmons.' says, and the ghost whispered
Toni.
"Thcn for a couple of minutes. guess ii stood there
lookin' at me- and me at it. not KNOWN what was gon
to happen next A looked at it didn't seem 50 ter
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
BY PAUL WEST

though ! guess that was his intention,
all right. But Providence was afoot
that night-it was dark and rainin =
in the shape Of a switch engine
workin around the wards Just outside
here. How ii happened nobody knew:
The engineer felt something and heard
a shrek, and there was what had been
Peter EmmonS. mashed and manglcd
SOS you'd never have known him.
1T was me who saw who it was
when they called me out knew him
bv the clothes. the new suit and hat
he had on the day he disappeared.
And he had on the gold ring his wife
had given him. with his initials on the
seal. We'll. we lugged him into the
Shanty here. covered him with a
blanket, and-and they put it up to
me to take the news TO his wife.
The fish warden paused and looked
at me through the gloom.
at must have been an unpleasant
duty" said !.
"She took il terrible" he continued.
"Shc loved Peter, there wasn't any
question Of that. Women always love
those kind of men. Maybe the good
in EN- is so blamed good by contrast
with the bad that il stands out, where
Il man that's good all the while gets TO
be monotonous. Anyhow, she was
broken up pretty bad; but she gave
Peter a decent funeral. and worked
like beaver 10 pay for il and that was
the end Of him, rs far as she knew.
TIME went on, six months, a year,
L and Peter EmmonS widow
worked in the mills and sent her little
girl 10 school and took care o the
baby by the help o the neighbors.
And then things happened just like
YOU might expect in the case of a young
and mighty pretty woman. She got
married.
George Lawlor was the man. and
it seemed like the workin out of fate.
She and him were both English, and
Swecthcarts in the old country, they
said, aS boy and girl. Then her
father and mother brought her over,
and George had made ready to follow.
But before he got here she had met
Peter Emmons. and she'd forgot the
bovhood and girlhood love and
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02

He sat down on M edge Of his bunk, lighted his cigar
and -.;l "Go ahead.
member of our society,"" said |, "a physician,
called in to attend the case Of man injured in mill
. \cN Bedford The man was fatally injured and be-
fore he died he said something to the doctor which
~.,,sf his interest What he said was this, Look up
Tom En,W>tlc fish warden at the dam over the nver
a.. NlHldale and tell him that Peter Emmons ghost
WON'T ever bother him again
WAS that all"
-Taa, was all. He might have told more; but death
~Hc wouldn't have" said the fish warden decidedly;
~not if his name was David Gilman"
81, was David Gilman" said |.
4 pause cnSued, during which the fish warden pulled
.oiilv at his cigar did not know what to say next
The fish warden man to be approached BADLY on
such q subject could that. In fact, few people
who have ghost stories worth the telling can be induced
,o uarrate them, except when in the particular mood
[ wondered how | could lead up to ii.
The fish warden broke the silence. "Why did YOU
come 10 me for the story about Peter EmmonS'' he
@Wbv.~ said I. "becausc belong to a society inter
c,cd in such matters WcinvcSgate reports OF psychl-
cal phcnomcna-tha Is. matters dealing with the super
natural the uncxplainabe-and try to find out the
truth Of them The remark made by David Gilman to
my associate was So unusual that thought II worth
while following up However if YOU do not care to
~lt David Gilman sent YOU can't refuse sad the
fish warden so here II Is.
T. wa, iu,, coming on twilight The little shanty was
darkcnng Outside. the roar Of the waters pouring
over the dam was ike q softly played DcbuSSy SYM
rlOnv The fish warden voice was keyed TO harno-
n,zo with the accompaniment.
"Petcr EmmonS he said. "WaS a queer sort Of fellow
handsome smart He was a second hand in the Ala1eS
u. MILL and q good one earning his twenty-five dollars
q week regular when he'd work He was married TO as
pretty wife you'd want to scc and they had nice
little girl But he had a queer streak II was what
this lack London fellow calls 'wanderust. Just 50
often he'd have to disappear Not for long, say a
month or maybe six weeks, and where he went nobody