davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-04-23

the register of deeds.
The checking of the ~treasurer's Office
was deferred until May ].
(Signed) H. j.. Rusch,
VIM. H. Lakey,
...... John Martin.
On motion the board adjourned to
meet on Monday, April IA, at . o'clock,
a. M, all members voting aye on call Of
the roll.
Monday, April IA, 1913.
Board met at . o'clock a. m, pursu-
ant to adjournment. with Commission
ers Martin, Rusch n Lakey present.
1t was moved and seconded that Chas.
Schwartz be appointed adjuster of hail
insurance claims covered by state hail
insurance policies, for Cass county, for
the ensuing year., all members present
voting aye on call of the roll.
The following bills, were on motion
approved ms allowed, and the auditor
instructed to draw warrants in pay
ment of same, all members present
voting y on call OF the roll:
Lena Anderson, rent, county poor 5 $50
Union Light, Heat d Power Co, ,
merchandise, county hospital, zoo
Emery & johnson, merchandise,
E. F. Price, meals for jurors, dis 40
trict court $50
Prescott hotel, meals for Jurors,
county court ....,,........!.' 1850
Tax petition was received from the
village of North Fargo, for the cam
collation. of the 1912 taxes and interest
and penalty against lot IL, block 5.
lots IL and 10, block 8; lots IL and IA
block 10; lots IL and 10, block II; lots
IL and 10, block IL; lots IL and Ia,
block 10; lots IL and 10, block Il; ali
Of said property being in Chambers
Addition to the Village of North Fargo:
said X amounting to $7.02. On mo-
ton said petition was granted for the
reason that the said property is now
vacated and used for street purposes.
all members voting aye on call Of the
roll. -.
Communication was received from w
]. Clapp showing that the followinns
personal taxes remain unpaid: Nels Mel
son for 1884 In Wiser township; Neis
Nelson in Fargo for 1890, 1891. IS96
1899, 1902, 1909 and 1910: N. N. Nelson
in Normania township for 1894 and
1895; John Nelson In Leonard township
for 1887 John Nelson In Fargo for
1895; further, that said taxes are an
apparent lien on the So Of section ii.
140-60i and that neither of the above
named parties w or have any inter-
est in the above named real estate. II
was moved and seconded that the an
ditor be authorized to make notattnu.
opposite the entries for the above nar,
ed personal property taxes, on the zee
ords In his Office, to the effect thar Cd ~
are not a lien on the SM of section ~
township 140, range go; all member
present voting Y on call of the roiI
On motion the board adjourned ~
meet. In the afternoon at Q O'clock MI
members voting aye on call OF the roIl
Afternoon session, April ID.
Board met at 2 o'clock, pursuant to
Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-07-04

Mer1Wether then stated that De WAS
authorized by Miss Blair to withdraw
her claim on being paid the sum OF
$4,000
A dozen persons claimed the floor.
each intending to speak against max
Ing any such compromise. After all
had spoken and only one other person
had arisen to speak in behalf of com
promise Meriwether. announced that
as Miss Blair's representative, he with
drew the proposition and would make
another Miss Blair would not settle
for less than $4,000.
This caused a hubbub Cries Of
'BluffT' "Extortionr' I'VE must have
an attorney" Fight it out!' were
heard all over the room. When a luIl
came Meriweather made another an
nouncement Miss Blair's figures had
gone up to $4,000!
Amid still greater confusion man
arose and proposed that the meeting
organize as heirs at law Of the Joseph
tee to procure counsel and prosecute
their claims till they had received
every cent of their just inheritance.
He was followed by another, who ask
ed for subscriptions with which to pay
legal expenses. This threw a damper
on the meeting, only a few subscrip-
tons of few dollars each being offer
ed When it was evident that snag
had been struck, Meriwether arose and
Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-07-04

were forty-three persons. each ready
to receive his or her portion of the
Burbank estate.
Among the Meriwethers was q
man calling himself Macdonald Meri-
wether. He appeared like many of
the other claimants, who seemed to
spring out of the ground, but before
putting in claim he consulted a law
yer and, after the interview, told his
friends that Mrs. Burbank having died
before her husband had no interest in
the estate, and therefore none of her
relatives could inherit as heirs at law.
However, Mr.. Meriwether, having
heard of the injustice that had been
done Rosa Blair, made her acquaint-
ance and advised her to put in bill
for services to the deceased large
enough to give her a goodly share Of
the estate. She had letter from Mr.
Burbank offering to make her his heir
on the conditions named. Meriwether
told her that this letter might enable
her to make compromise with the
other heirs, or bill of, say, $4,000 a
year for the period of her service,
might be allowed by the courts.
Miss Blair finally consented to put
in bill for $1,000 year, which, with
interest, would give her an amount to
produce an income on which she might
live comfortably. The claim was fled,
but so great was the howl set up
by the heirs against the claimant that
the poor girl withdrew it.
Meriwether, having espoused her
cause, became further interested and
declared that she should get her dues.
He went to the lawyer who had had
charge of Joseph Burbank's legal af.
fairs and had long interview with
him. Meriwether asked to see copy
Of the will that had been drawn up
and ready to sign. The attorney show
ed it to him, and when Meriwether
proposed to cali together the heirs-at-
law, show them what the intention of
Joseph Burbank had been and en-
deavor to induce them to make COM
promise with each other and Rosa
Blair, the lawyer consented and wrote
an opinion that without compromise
the estate would likely be, eaten up
by litigation.
Armed with these two documents,
Meriwether called the meeting. He
had no sooner risen to address those
assembled than man called out:
"What interest have you In this
business anywayW go
81 have become interested In behalf
Of Miss Blair" .nss
Reckon" called out woman, ''you
want to marry her and git it all for
yourself"
Without noticing this last remark
Meriwether read the unsigned will.
1t left the estate for ten years in the
hands Of trustees for the benefit of
Rosa Blair. If within that time his
son should return and claim to inherit
the estate should be divided between
him and Miss Blair. If at the expira-
ton, of ten years he had not returned
the property was to be given to her.
Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-07-04
Tho Cock Lane Ghost.

One Of the most famous GHOSTS" in
history was known as the Cock lane
ghost. 1t was in 176a that mysterious
knocking and scratching were heard at
a house in Cock lane, London, and
were said to be the work of the spirit
Of a young woman who had lived in
the house and was buried in the neigh
borhood church Of St John. Thou
sands visited the house until care
full investigation was made in the pres
ence of Dr. Johnson and other celebri-
ties, and the ghost was proved to be
the creation of female ventriloquist.
The owner of the house was set in the
ptllory, and the crowd collected sub
scription for him. The crowd was ON
the side Of the ghost
Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-07-04
becoming an once BOY.

becoming an once boy.
The child. aided by his mother, head
ed the old man of for three years
when Mrs. Burbank died. The boy
wished to go to college, and his father
objected Mrs Burbank had a few
thousand dollars Of her own which she
left to her son. Soon after this money
was received by him he had an alterca-
ton with his father concerning the
matter of his going to work and the
next day disappeared from under the
paterna rooftree.
The old man got on as well as he
could for few years by himself, then,
since he WAS getting old, told Rosa
Blair. Il girl about seventeen years old,
that if she would take care of him and
his house as long as he lived he would
leave her his fortune Rosa accepted
the offer and for ten years devoted
herself to her employer During the
last five or six years of this term the
old man was i'll and peevish and gen
orally disagreeable, Rosa Blair felt at
times that she must give up the care
Of him or her health would break
down. Indeed, she finally concluded to
do so, but when she announced her in
tention to Burbank he moaned and
whined and begged her to remain. Pity
for the lonely old man, whose suffering
she supposed was the cause of his acer-
bity, induced her to recall her decision.
Burbank never spoke of the son who
had left him, but his housekeeper
heard of him through others and very
naturally condemned him for remain
ing away from his father in the latter's
old age. When newspaper one day
contained an account Of the shooting of
a Mark Burbank in the far west. with
certain statements that seemed to cor
respond with the absent son, it was
generally supposed that the young man
was dead.
Old Burbank wore out hiss physical
forces by permitting his acerbity to
gnaw upon them. and everybody said
that Rosa Blair had at last come to her
reward. What was the surprise of all
when it was learned that he had died
without will. At first it was suppos-
ed that one would be found, but his at
torney stated that at the time Of the
old mans death will had been drawn
and was ready for him, to sign. He
had put of signing it from day to day,
not realizing his condition. and when
his life ended it went out like candle.
Some thought that the reason Of the
delay was that, not knowing that his
son might some day turn up, be was at
loss to know how to leave his prop
erty and could not come to a decision.
No sooner was it known that Bur.
bank had died intestate than kinsmen
started up like covey of birds stun
bled on by huntsman. There were
Burbanks and Newmans and Parkers
and Joneses, all related to the deceas-
ed. There were even Meriwethers
who claimed kinship with the late Mrs
Burbank, though how they could ex.
pect to inherit did not appear After
the rush of claim fling was over there
Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-07-04

Blair that he resolved to pay her more
than literally for her services to hiS
father and later asked her to be bis
wife. 1t was not till after she mad
consented that he saw his fathers UNI
signed will. Then be showed it to he1
and made himself known.
Such is the true story of the Burbank
estate. 1t has been told many time
and in many forms in the place where
the scene was laid
Macdonald Burbank and his wife
made good use Of the property, which
increased enormously, endowing sever.
al charitable institutions.
Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-07-04

said:
my friends. it is time this meeting
adjourned. am the Macdonald Meri-
wether Burbank mentioned in this I'M
signed will and the only child OF the
testator. My mother. whose maiden
name was Meriwether. being dead,
am the sole heir at law Of the estate.
will not trouble you to make COM
promise with Miss Blair ! will make
one myself
This stunned the assembly to silence
till a woman'S Shrill voice cried out:
Il suppose you'll compromise by mar
rying her"
That's exactly what intend to do
am happy to announce that we are
already engaged
The meeting broke up sullenly, some
having a hope that the man could moi
prove his identity, but most Of those
present believed that be would not
have made such claim unless be
could substantfate it.
When Burbank heard of his IA
theirs death he concluded to go home
incognito and learn of the situation
1t was soon made plain to him, and be
fore claiming his estate he proposed tt
derive some amusement from the nu
merous heirs who were bent on casting
aside the claim of the only person who
was really entitled to any part of the
estate He was SO charmed with Rosa
Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-07-04
The Burbank
Estate
There Were Many Claim
ants For 1t.
BY WILLARD MALTBIE

Joseph Burbank, from the time he
was twelve years old till he was sixty
two, worked and saved and struggled
to make himself independent. He
thought until he was forty that he
couldn't afford to marry; then he took
a wife largely because he needed some
one for hOusekeeper and, all things
considered, it would be better to give
the position to wife than to any 9th
er woman.
A son was born to the pair and serv-
ed as a link between his father and
the rest of human beings. But this
was largely because in this son the
father had some one to succeed him in
continuing the piling up Of property.
From the boys birth till he was twelve
the old man looked forward to his
following in his fathers footsteps and
The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1913-06-13
STORY OF FAMOUS
CIVIL WAR FIGHT
Battle Of Gettysburg Which
Brought Credit to Both
Blue and Gray.
TURNING POINT OF CONFLICT
Total Losses on Both Sides In Three
Days Fighting Over bo,ooo-sev-
srai Generals Killed and
Wounded.
sy EDWARD q. CLARK.

~ YASHINGTON.-ft In posi-
AAI BILE, some people would say
WV probable, that the Battle OF
w Gettysburg changed utterly
the course Of American his
tory. II was a great fight between
armies OF Americans, for probably
fully ninety per cent. of the men who
Fought on the two sides we're born
natives to the American soil The
bravery shown at Gettysburg was OF
the order which Americans have
shown on every field and which re-
fleets credit upon the hardy and
heroic ancestry of the men engaged,
no matter from what race they may
have sprung.
> At Gettysburg there was nothing to
choose between the valor of the North
hght. but II lost 1t honorably and
with the prestige OF it's soldiery I'M
dimmed. The charges made on that
held have gone down into history as
assaults made under conditions which
every man felt might mean death at
the end. The defenses made at Gettys-
burg we're OF the kind which 1t takes
Iron in the blood to make perfect. At
Gettysburg Northerners and South
erners replenished their store of re-
<pect for their antagonists. The bat
marked the high tide of the war
5etween the states. After IL the
South largely was on the defensive,
but its defense was maintained with
fortitude and in the face OF privations
which could not chill the blood of
men fighting for what they thought
was the right.
The Northern armies were persis-
tent In their attacks through the cam
paigns which after a few months we're
started aginst the objective point,
Richmond. Brave men here and brave
men there. and after the end came II
was the qualities which keep COM
pany with bravery which made the
soldiers of the North and South so
ready to forget and to forgive and to
work again for the good OF a COM
mon country.
The great battle of Charlottesville
was fought not long before the oppos-
ing Union and Confederate forces met
on the field of Gettysburg. Chancel-
louisville was a Confederate victory.
The Southern government believed
that the victory should be followed up
by an invasion of the North for. ac-
cording to its reasoning, IL an import
ant engagement could be won upon
The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1913-06-13

la~1 from Invasion. q condition which
military men say always adds a sub
tie something to the fighting quality
which is In any man. Some authori-
ties have said that there were 100000
men in the Confederate forces at Get
tysburg to be confronted by 10000
Union troops Another authority says
that the Confederate force was $4,000
and the Union force $4,000 As II was
the armies we're pretty nearly equally
divided In strength.
In June. 1863, General Robert Il.
Lee began to move northward. Lee
concentrated his army at Winchester,
Va, and then started for the Potomac
river, which he crossed to reach the
state Of Maryland. He fully expected
to be followed by General Hooker's
army and 30 General Stuart with q
large force Of cavalry was ordered by
Lee to keep In front OF Hooker's army
and to check his pursuit Of the Con-
federates II It was attempted.
Late In June the Confederate force
reached HAgerstown, In the state Of
Maryland. IL was General Lees In
tention to strike Harrisburg. Pa.
which was a great railroad center
and a city where Union armies were
recruited and from which all kinds OF
supplies were sent out to the soldiers
In the field. While the Southern COM
mander was on his way with a large
part OF his force to the Pennsylvania
capital another part of his command
The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1913-06-13

which has gone into history a. one
of the most heroic assaults OF all
time. II was forlorn hope but II was
grasped and the men OF George Ed
ward Pickett, Confederate soldier,
went Loyalty and with full hearts to
their death across a shrapnel and ride
swept field.
When the third days fighting open
ed II began with an artillery duel,
hundreds Of guns belching forth shot
and death from the batteries OF both
contending forces. II IL said that this
was the greatest duel engaged in by
field pieces during the four years Of
the war between the states.
The Union guns at one time ceased
firing, and II is said that the southern
commander thought they had been
silenced, and then II was that Long
streets men made an assault and
Pickett's men made their charge. The
former generals objective was Big
Round Top, but his forces were driv-
en- back. Picket formed his division
in brigade columns and they moved
directly across the fields over fiat
ground. They had no cover and they
had no sooner como into effective
range than they we're met by such q
storm Of shot as never before swept
over a field OF battle.
They went on and on, and on clos
ing In their depleted ranks and nov
ing steadily forward to their death.
Those Of Pickett's men who reached
The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1913-06-13

Southern general did not succeed In
the plan which he had formed to gel
by Big Round Top and to attack the
Third Corps from a position OF van
Itase In the rear. General 5ickles do
Tended Round Top and Longstreet
could not take It.
When one visits the battlefield OF
Gettysburg he can trace the course
of battle OF the second day where II
ragged at Round Top. Peach Orchard.
Cemetery Hill. Culp's Hill. and what
10 known az The DEVILS Den. The
tide Of battle ebbed and flowed. Lit
tie Round Top was saved from cap
ture by the timely arrival OF brigade
commanded by General Weed that
dragged the guns of a United States
regular battery up to the summit by
hand.
At the end OF the second days tight
It was found that the Southern army
had failed to break the left flank OF
the opposing forces. that 1t had failed
TO capture Round Top and that the
right flank OF the Northern army, al
though vigorously attacked. had not
been broken. There was a tremen-
dous loss OF life on both sides. and
while in general the day had gone
favorably to the Northern cause Get
tysburg was still drawn battle.
Charge Of Gen. Pickett.
1t was on July 3. the third and last
day OF the great battle Of Gettysburg
that Pickett's men made their charge
The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1913-06-13

Northern soil the chances of foreign
Intervention or at least foreign aid to
the Southern cause. would be forth
coming.
General Robert Z. Lee late In the
spring Of 1883. made his preparations
to conduct his campaign Northward
into the state OF Pennsylvania. He
had under his command three corps.
General James Longstreet command
ing the First, General Richard 8.
Ewell commanding the Second. and
General A. p. Hill commanding the
Third. In the Union army which aft
srward confronted Lee at Gettysburg.
there were seven corps. but the mum.
Der of men In each was much less
than that In a Confederate corps. the
military composition OF each being
different. The Union corps commsn.
ders who under Meade were at Get
tysburg. were Generals John F. Rey.
nolds. w. s. Hancock. Daniel e.
Sickles. George Sykes. John Sedgwick.
o. D. Howard and II. w. Slocum.
Forces Almost Evenly Matched.
II never has been determined be-
yond the point OF all dispute just how
many men were engaged on each side
In the battle OF Gettysburg. II is
known. that the armies were very
nearly equal In strength. the proba-
bilities being that the Confederate
force was a few thousand men strong.
or than the Union force. difference
which was balanced perhaps by the
fact that the Union armies at Gettys,
burg we're fighting in defense of thei
The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1913-06-13

their destination had a short hand-to-
hand encounter with the northern sol
diers. 1t was soon over and Pickett
charge, glorious for all time in his
tory, was a failure in that which 1t
attempted to do, but was a success as
helping to show the heroism of Amer
lean soldiers.
The losses at Gettysburg on both
sides were enormous. The Union
army lost Generals Zook, Farnsworth,
Weed and Reynolds, killed; while Ora
ham, Barnes, Gibbon, Warren, Double.
day, Barlow, Sickles, Butterfield' and
Hancock were wounded. The total
casualties killed wounded, captured
or missing on the Union side mum.
bered nearly $4,000 men. On the Con-
federate side Generals Semmes, Pen
der, Garnet, Armistead, and Banks.
dale were killed, and Generals Kemp.
er, Kimbal Hood, Heth, johnson and
Trimble were wounded The entire
Confederate loss is estimated to have
been nearly 10000 men.
The third days fight at Gettysburg
was a victory for northern arms, but
1t was a hard won fight and the con.
flict reflects luster today upon the
north and the south. Lee led HE
army back southwark, later to con.
front Grant In the campaigns which
finally ended at Appomattox.
Forces Engaged and Losses.
The forces engaged at the Battle OF
Gettysburg were:
Confederate-According to Official
accounts the Army of North Virginia
on the 31st of May, numbered 4,468
The attachments which Joined mum
bered 6,400, making S0.S6S. Deducting
the detachments left IN Virginia
Jankins' brigade. Pickett's division
1900; Corse's brigade, Picketts divi
sion, LOO; attachments from Second
corps and cavalry. 1900, in all $500
leaves an aggregate of 1858.
Understanding to the reports OF
the Both Of June, and making allowance
for detachments that joined in the In
term In time to take part In the bat
tie, the grand aggregate was 100000
officers and men.
The casualties were: