davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
POLAND SCENE
OF UTTER ruin
Thousands of Peasants Are
Without Homes or the
Incentive to Build
LIVING IN HOLES
DUG IN THE GROUND
Retreating Russians Laying
Land Waste to Serve as
Check to Germans

Berlin, Saturday, April TO-, CORES
pondence of the Associated Press)-
A picture Of indescribable desolation-
with fully $500 houses destroyed.
thousands OF peasants homeless and
living in holes in the ground, absolute
cessation of any kind of work that
shall provide for fall harvest - ia
drawn in the reports now reaching
here from Russian Poland
The retreating Russians, fleeing be-
fore the German advance, appear to
have treated their own territory quite
as severely as they did East Prussia
earlier and to have left 1t veritable
wilderness In which disease Is likely
to appear at any moment, and starva-
ton is almost certainty within q
short time.
The peasants, or those who still re-
main, show utter indifference to their
condition and are making not the
slightest efforts to reconstruct what
has been torn and burned down, nor to
plant crops of any kind. The majority
of those, OF military age are away in
the armies. or dead, and the old and
young left behind seem unconscious OF
what the results Of their inactivity are
likely to be.
Three-quarters Of Poland has been
hit by the war and damage estimated
at half billion dollars has been done.
Practically all the cattle and horses
In the country have been carried OF by
tho ,tyAtreafin1 Rnsaiana Their ffA.
strnction OF the villages as they re.
treated apparently was for the purpose
of checking the Germans.
The homeless thousands, either too
shiftless or too uncertain Of the future,
to want to reconstruct their houses,
have scooped out burrows in the
ground. In which they now live in lack
OF anything approaching sanitation.
Only In isolated instances, where their
priests have been able to exert the
proper influence, has any move been
made by the people to safeguard them
selves against the future.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
NATIONAL UNITY
OF men PLANNED
FEDERATION INCLUDING vARi
GUS CHURCH DENoMINA-
TIoNs MAY BE ORGANIZED.

Philadelphia, Pa, April 23.- The ma
ton wide unity Of men and plans for
a campaign for an interdenomination
al federation were among the ques-
tions discussed by representatives OF
chapters throughout the eastern sec
ton of the United States and Canada
and Jamaica, who are attending the
eleventh international convention Of
the Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip
which opened here yesterday
The chief object expected to be ac-
complished at the convention, speak
ers declared, is spirit Of cooperation
leading up to the great opportunities
for mems work. With this aim 1t is
proposed to start a campaign that will
spread to all sections Of the country.
Rev. e. w. PICKERING Of Newark,
N. j., had. charge of the devotional
exercises and among those who made
addresses were Rev. Edward Niles,
Baltimore, and John H. Wyburn, New
York.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
ROOSEVELT STILL ON
THE WITNESS STAND
Describes Plaintiff as Being "A Sort of DR.. Jekyll
and Mr.. Hyde; Gets Out of Embarrassing
Position Regarding Legal Residence

complied with many of the suggestions
made to him by Mr. Barnes In regard
to the filling of Offices in the state gov
ernment during the two years he was
governor.
Yesterday afternoon the colonel
skillfully extricated himself from the
embarrassing position he found him
self in as the res'@ Of the production
|of afldavits sworn to by himself and
showing him to be resident Of Wash
ington Just year before he accepted
the once Of governor of New York.
He explained that the afidavit had
been drawn by clerk and that he had
not read 1t carefully. He went further
and showed that despite having made
afhdavits Of non residence with view
to escaping the payment OF personal
taxes In New York, he had changed his
mind on the matter and had paid the
taxes, thereby keeping his legal resi-
dence In New York.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
PLAN TO FINANCE
AMERICANS ABROAD

New York, April 2s--A new plan Of
financing American travellers abroad
by the issue OF an international letter
of credit payable in dollars instead
of pounds sterling was announced to-
day by the Equitable Trust Co. OF
this city.
Drafts drawn against these letters
of credit will be sent to New York
direct for collection instead Of going
through London.
The moratoria declared by virtually
all the countries Immediately affected
by the war caused a great deal Of In
convenience to American travellers.
To meet this need the company has
arranged to open branches in the lead.
ing countries Of Europe at the end OF
the war. While hostilities continue
the plan will be developed IN Centrai
and South American countries and
in the far east. 1t is estimated that
in normal times Americans spend
5000 100000 annually in Europe.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
BITTER FIGHT IN
ILLINOIS STARTS

Springfield, ILL.,, April %. Represen,
tative w. A. Hubbard of Carrcvton
started a movement today to obtain
action by the legislature next week up,
law for the benefit Of the university Of
on his bill repeating the one-mill tax
Illinois. The measure promises to pre-
cipitate one Of the most bitter fights OF
the session.
Since 1911 the state university has
enjoyed the benefits of one-mill tar,
raised especially for the institution
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
NeU Comet s Tail
is Three Million
Miles IN Length

Flagstaff, Ariz., April 23.-A d.
rect photograph of the Mellish
comet, made at the Lowell obser-
vatory Tuesday morning, shows a
tail composed of two divergent
branches, the longer one Of which
is probably not less than three
million miles in length.
Observations of the spectrum Of
the comet, it was announced to-
day, revealed the presence Of the
usual gases. Cyanogen is one Of
its more prominent constituents,
but appears in this comet in pecu-
liar spectroscopic form which
may be of special scientific inter-
est, while hydrocarbon Is less
prominent than In most comets.
Other gases or vapors are evi-
denced by the presence in the
spectrum of several strong, bright
bands, but the chemical identifica-
ton Of these is as yet unknown.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
GERMANS USING
GIANT SHELLS
Seventeen Inch Missiles Are
Being Hurled Into the
Town of Ypres
PLAYING HAVOC WITH
RESIDENTS OF PLACE
Naval Activity in North Sea
Is Not Explained BY the
British Authorities

London, April 23.-The British
forces have shown no disposition un-
der the repeated rushes of the Ger
mans, to relax their grip on Hill No.
sc, near Ypres, and the fighting in this
locality today shows signs of develop
ig along the wide front with in
creasing intensity, even rivalling the
attempts of the Germans to break
through the British lines last fall.
The city of Ypres. whose historic
structures We're shattered by German
rro ectiles last October. again Is the
t@rget of heavy shells. Huge IT.
inch missiles are now being used, and
unltss the civilian population has fed
or is taking to cellars, the losses
an ong the people must be heavy.
There has been lull in the German
counter attacks, according to the
British official report given out this
morning, but it is assumed that both
sides are being strongly reinforced
a d the tone of the British communi-
caticn indicates that they have not
been finally decided.
No official explanation is forthcom-
ing of the stoppage of traffic between
England and Holland One theory is
that this is stroke aimed at spies,
another that the area is being cleared
for naval action. The latter ex-
PLANTATION seems incomplete, however,
in that if steps were being taken to
clear ships from marine shell zone,
vessels running to Scandinavian
ports also would be held up.
Although Great Britain is silent,
Germany apparently is expecting ex-
tensiye land operations near the Dard
anelles, and it is common knowledge
that troops of the allies are being
landed in European Turkey.
French Report.
Paris, April Yesterday evening
there were fairly lively engagements
In Belgium. In the bend of the User,
to the north of Dixmude, Belgian
troops repulsed an attack against the
Chateau of Vicoque and inflicted
he IVY losses on the enemy. To the
north of Ypres the Germans, by en-
ploying large quantities of asphyxiat-
Ing bombs, forced us to retire in the
direction of the User canal.
Towards the west and in the direc-
ton of Ypres towards the south, the
enemy's attack was checked. vigor-
pus counter attacks enabled us to re-
gain ground and make many prisoners
In the valley near St. Mihiel, by an
attack to the east and west of the posi-
tions previously captured, we took 700
meters of trenches and made about
100 prisoners including three officers.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
Texas and Portions Of Okla
homa Visited BY Rain
and Thunderbolts
MANY PEOPLE ARE
KNOWN TO BE DEAD
Trains Delayed and Bridges
Endangered; Austin Is
Left in Darkness

Dallas, Texas, April 23.-At least
eight persons dead, heavy property
damage, telegraph and telephone COM
|munication interrupted and railroad
schedules delayed by washouts. soft
track and threatened bridges. was the
known result today Of a rain, electrical
and wind storm general over nearly
all Texas and the eastern portion Of
Oklahoma late yesterday and last night
and which continued early today In
some localities. The wind In some
sections of the storm zone reached al
most cyclonic proportions.
The known dead are:
H. C. Goldwire. Christoval, Texas;
killed by lightning.
w. L. Boynton, Ramsdell, Texas;
killed in train wreck, caused by soft
track.
Six negroec, Austin, Texas; drowned
in Waller creek.
The storm was especially severe At
Austin, Texas, and that city was in
darkness last night. It was said about
twenty houses had hoated to and were
packed against q bridge, threatening
the structure. Rescue squads were
busy all night taking endangered per-
sons to higher ground, while the rain
continued to- fall in torrents.
In the Thrall oil field, near Taylor,
Texas, tanks containing 10000 barrels
of oil were set on fire. The loss, 1t IL
said, would be $4,000. Lightning is
believed to- have started the blaze.
Lightning started q flre In An oil ware
house In Dallas, causing a'loss Of $780,
00O
In Oklahoma, the Canadian river at
Chickasha has cut new channel two
miles from It's old bed, and ten passen-
ger trains were marooned there. The
Santa Fe railroad has 1000 feet Of
track at Purcell and bridges are
threatened at several points on that
road by swollen streams.
Busrting Of gas main at Alvord,
Texas, caused by water undermining
the line, has left Dallas and Fort
Worth without natural gas since
Thursday afternoon. 1t was not known
early today when the break would be
repaired. 1t was reported the bursted
main was under eight feet Of water
repairs until the waters subsided.
Seven Are injured.
Shawnee, Okla, April 23.-seven
persons were injured, three dangerous
ly, in tornado which last night des-
troyed the home of s. L. Whitley,
farmer, near here. While telephone
and telegraph wires we're down, 1t was
reported today that the property dam
age in this vicinity was heavy. No
deaths have been reported.
Creeks Are Flooded.
Austin, Texas, April 23.-Floods that
swept down Waller and Shoal creeks
here last night took toll of Is Or 20
lives, according to estimates today.
Houses we're jammed in masses against
the bridges and the high water flooded
many business houses. Heroic work
was done by citizen rescue parties and
by the fire and police departments. OF
eight persons in one house which was
swept down Waller creek, all bat one
are believed to have perished.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24

Syracuse, N. Y, April 23.--Durine
the second day Of his cross examina
ton in the supreme court here today
Theodore Roosevelt said that he re
garded William Barnes as a sort OF
DR.. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde who like other
politicians, had his good sides and hia
bad Sides"
THE colonel said he did not as sug
gested by William WINS. his cross ex
aminer try to sever the ligaments be
tween these Siamese twins Of poll
tics" Quite the contrary, he declared
he sndeavored to have the DR.. Jekyll
In them absorb the Mr.. Hyde"
It was tho colonel's fourth day on
the witness stand and he seemed to
be as fresh az he was on the first day
More letters, tending to show the
relations between himself and
Mr.. Barnes, were introduced.
The colonel admitted that he had
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
Cleanup Work to Be Given
Impetus at Opera House
BY Many Speakers
EVERY RESIDENT IS
URGED TO BE PRESENT
Prof. G. L. Fitch Of Ames to'
Give Illustrated Talk:
Buttons Are Here n

The big mass meeting Of the Cleaz
Up movementin Ottumwa is to be hsl(
at the Grand Opera house this evsniAG)
and every resident Of the city 10 urged
to attend. The Ottumwa Improvenent|
association organized for the purpose
of making Ottumwa cleaner and bet
er place to live In, has made arrango
ments for a program that is expecte
to cover nearly every phase pf u
Cleanup work.
The chief speaker Of the evening WtI(
be Prof. c. L. Fitch Of the lows STATE
college at Ames who will lecturo o.
the garden and lawn, illustrating h1q3
subject with slidea. The popularity o1'
this lecture has made Prof. Fitch much
In demand over the state and he givoq
1t in connection with the extenstyoa
work of the state college. Il offers RI
wide field for tho discussion Of thA
things that viii be helpful in tho Clsan@
Up movement and 1t is hoped by tA9S
promoters Of the cause that every 1ea1;
In the opera house will be taken.
Cleanup Week Starts Monday.
Several local men and women WIN
make short addresses on various
phases Of the Cleanup movement ana
1t Is expected that the citizens OF OF
tumwa will become 30 thoroughly sat
urated with the Clean Up idea that BE-
ginning Monday. April 26 whom Clean
Up week begins, that every resident
will lend his or her aid In making thu
city more beautiful, tidy and healthfuL
That the house will be given I cost oil
paint where needed whether inside or
out, that the barn and sheds will ~
likewise retouched and made to harss
monize with the surroundings. The A.
leyS and backyards are expected to ~
cleaned of trash OF all kinds and made
more slightly and sanitary. Also tha1s
the lawn, garden, shrubbery, trees
steps, parking and the premises genefs
ally be made attractive and the general;
tone OF the home made to show pride
in residence in Ottumwa.
Buttons Have Come.
A large number of the Cleanup but.
tons have arrived and with the cards
printed few days ago are being sold
to Cleanup boosters Many persons
may be seen along the streets with the
little white Cleanup button on tho
lapel of their coats. calling attention.
to the movement that il to interest
every resident of Ottumwa. These
may be had by calling on the secretary
at the Commercial Association rooms.
Following the meeting tonight, tho
various ward workers will be given in.8
structions by the chairmen Of the vari-
GUS departments In the character OF
the work to be done about the city.
Every body that has been assigned to
a place in the Cleanup movement II
urged to be present at the
opera house tonight. The program
promises to recompense one for the
coming and all are asked to come and
learn what is to be done and to do his
or her share toward making the Clean
Up campaign a huge success.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
RUSSIAN AIRSHIPS
ATTACK GERMANS

London, April pa Reuter- dis.
patch from Petrograd says:
There was much activity yesterday
on the part of Russian airships. One
dropped fifteen bombs on Plock. Sew
eral German boats on the Vistula
we're struck, as were the railroad sta
lion and trains.
Two other machines bombarded the
railway station at Mlawa and the Ger
man aerodrome at Sanniky. Consider
able damage was done to German
trenches .
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
HEAVY FIRING IS
HEARD At SMYRNA

Paris, April pa Havas dispatch
from Athens says advices received
from Chios stated that heavy firing
had been heard there since Thursday
morning, which leads to the supposi-
ton that bombardment Of the Smyrna
forts has been resumed.
Four British warships entered the
Dardanelles yesterday and lombard
ed the forts for three hours. The
Turkish Notifications also were sub
1ected to an indirect fire from the
Gulf of Saros They replied vigor-
ously to the attack Of the warships.
French mine sweepers are continuing
their operations actively.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
TURK COAST BOMBARDED
Russian Black Sea Torpedo Squadron
Attacks Batteries And Camps
Of The Enemy.

Petrograd, April 23.-The Russian
Black sea torpedo boat squadron bom-
barded the Turkish coast between Ar
chava and Artaschin on April 10.
This fifteen mile strip Of coast, In
which was located the quarters OF the
Turkish army operating in this region
was swept with shell and the bar
racks and provision stores were ignited
and destroyed. A large number of
Turkish coastwise vessels laden with
ammunition and supplies, was sunk.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
NEGOTIATIONS ON AGAIN
Italian and Austrian Representatives
a Holding Conference in Interest
ct Peace.

Rome, April 23.-Baron De Machio,
the Austrian ambassador, had long
interview this afternoon with Foreign
Minister Sonnino which is interpreted
as an Indication that negotiations be-
tween Italy and Austria are being con-
tinued.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
APPEAL OF MODERN
WOODMEN IS LOST

Springfield, ILL.,, April 23-The appeal
of the Modern Woodmen Of America
from a decision of the lower courts,
which held that increased rates voted
by the Chicago head camp In 1912 were
excessive, was dismissed today by the
supreme court. The rates In question
have been withdrawn by the head camp
and the supreme court held there was
no longer any reason for the prosecu.
tion Of the appeal.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
TRAWLER IS TORPEDOtD
British Fishing Boat Sent to the Bot
tom Supposedly by Ger
man Submarine.

Grimsby, England, April 23.-The
Grimsby trawler St. Lawrence was
torpedoed and sunk in the North sea
yesterday by German submarine.
Two members of the crew were killed.
Seven survivors were brought here
today by the trawler Queenstown,
whose skipper reports that the sub.
marine fired on his vessel while en-.
gagged In rescuing the crew Of the ST
Lawrence.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
GERMANS NEAR ENGLAND
Berlin Reports That Fleet Has Been
In British Waters Without Meet
ing The Foe.

Berlin, April 23.-The German ad-
miralty today gave out this statement:
'The German high sea fleet has re-
Gently cruised repeatedly in the North
sea. advancing into English waters
without meeting the sea forces of
Great Britain =
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
Russian Gear at
Captured Fort is
CheeredbD Cr0Ud
, ++++++<+<++++++++ =

London, April 2S.-Emperor
Nicholas arrived today at Lem
berg, the Galician fortress
which the Russians took from
Austria early In the war. To
the cheering crowd in front of
the governor generals palace
the emperor said:
Il thank you for this hearty
welcome. Long live indivisable
Russia. Hurrah!"
He was met at the station
by Grand Duke Nicholas.
This gives the first definite
news Of the whereabouts of
Grand Duke Nicholas since the
report Of last week, that he
had been shot by General
Baron Sievers, commander of
the defeated Russian tenth
army, and that the general
committed suicide.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
NOTED RABBI DIES.

Chicago, April 23.-Abraham Reu-
ben Levy, founder Of the Jewish
Agricultural Aid society, and for
twenty-five years rabbi in Chicago,
died at his home here yesterday. He
was 81 years old.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
THAW's SANITY At ISSUE.

New York, April 23.-Sanity Of
Harry K Thaw will be determined by
jury. Supreme Court Judge Hen
drick today granted application for a
trial made by Thaw's attorneys on q
writ of habeas corpus.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
WoMEN CAN yoIE.

Copenhagen, April 23.The Danish
diet today adopted an amendment To-
the constitution giving votes to wOm-
en- and the right OF election to the
diet.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-10
FORMER WATERLOO WOMAN
SHOWS UP WHEN ABOUT TO
BE DECLARED DEAD.
FAILED TO COMMUNICATE
WITH HER RELATIVES
All FormaIities Of Court Proceedings
Complied With and Estate Was to Be
Distributed Among kin-court Or
ders Mrs. Barbara Smith Shall Re-
eeive Share. an,s.a.:.: 70 1926.

Waterloo, Nov. 10.-Barbara Smith,
nee Englert, supposed to have been
dead by her relatives, made known the
fact of her being alive just in time to
save her s1,2s6 her share of an estate.
Miss Englert left here several years
ago and none OF her relatives or
friends had heard from her. She had
neglected to write to her kinsfolk, and
Lewis Englert, brother who was ad-
ministrator of the estate, filed an alb
sentee petition, averring that Miss
Englert, now Mrs. Smith, was dead.
Notice was published and other legal
procedure was carried out.
But just as the case was about to
be closed and her share of the estate
divided among her heirs, Mrs. Smith,
who lives in St. Louis, appeared on
the scene, very much alive, She was
surprised to learn that she had an
estate. Yesterday she received $l,l35.
which represents her share less the
costs Of the absentee action.
The Englert family is well known
in the northeastern part of the county.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-10
CHICKEN THIEF ABANDONS RIG
Leaves Wagon and Loot When Pur-
sued by Sheriff.

Clinton. Nov. lO.-A chicken thief,
who had been operating in the vicinity
OF Canlanche. made his getaway yes
terday before Sheriff Ramsey. VINO had
been called by farmers, reached the
scene. but the plumber was recos cred.
also horse and rig which had been
abandoned by the thief
The sheriff received a telephone
MESA ge at an early hour yesterday
morning. stating that thief had made
raids on chicken coops near Caraanche,
and was still in the vicinity. The sher-
# secured conveyance and fastened
down in the storm. reaching he spot
before 5 o'clock
He drove west on the Rock Creek
road and found three farmers who had
taken possession of the thiefs rig, a
butcher wagon and an old white horse.
There were three bushels of corn and
two good blankets in the rig Further
down the road were three dozen live
chickens which the fellow had stolen,
and thrown from the wagon when the
farmers got on his trail. The man,
however. had abandoned his rig and
ran thru the corn fields, making his
escape
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-10
Safety First on sof. Drinks.

Des Moines, Nov. 10.-A safety
first" league has been organized by
Des Moines retail merchants in an eff
fort to protect their druggist members
A committee has been named to meet
with representatives of the anti-sa
loon organizations, including NJ. S
Odle. the reformer attorney. some time
this week so that full understanding
may be had of the soft drink business
1t is the intention of the retailers
to have all soft drinks about which
there may be any sort of suspicion
of alcohol tested so that the two fac
tons can agree upon the status of
the drink. The druggists want to
know when they are within the law.
it being the desire of most of them.
also. not to have the title bootlegger
added to their names.