davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1915-01-22
ROY RuCKER ESCAPED
In a Disastrous Train Wreck
Twenty Miles South of Des
MOines-One Killed.

AcsoL Aiuoy WLh'S ShAON"S ~
Des Moines on legal business,
Hon. Roy W. Rucker had the ex-
perience of his life and made the
narrowest escape from death or
serious injury in his eventful
career.
The north bound passenger
train on the Wabash left Mober-
ly about two o'clock A. M. for
Des Moines, Ia, with twenty one
others in the sleeper, and when
about twenty miles south of Des
Moines and after crossing a long
trestle, the cars forward of the
sleeper left the rails and bumped
along on the ties for a consider
able distance but none left the
rails. The track was torn up by
the derailed cars, and the sleep
er soon was wabbling along. f.
nally breaking from the car
ahead and overturning, rolling
down the bank and turning over
completely 8 or A times before fl
nally landing at the bottom Of
the grade, top side down. Roy
Rucker had requested the porter
of the sleeper to allow him to
sleep as long as he could before
reaching the city, 80 he was the
only passenger who was not up
and ready to leave the car on its
arrival. The first thing that
Rucker was conscious Of was
the feeling that his upper berth
was about to close in on him.
He grabbed the pole which exc
tends along the top of the car
and swung out into space as the
car rolled over. The passengers
below were being tumbled about
like beans in a huller and brok-
en- glass and splintered seats and
wood were flying in every direct
tion. Roy whirled around his
acting pole as the car continued
to roll over. Finally as the final
evolution of the wrecked car was
made, his hold broke loose and
he settled down in the top of
the car which at the time was
the bottom. In the next section
to him was the dead man, his
head crushed at the crown be-
tween the jammed and broken
seats. All over the car were
injured trying to extricate them
selves and the trainmen hammer
ing a way into the car to the as
sistance of the frantic passen-
gers. 1t was cold as well as
confusing. and Rucker being in
his pajamas in polite society
first thot of his outer raiment
which he found except shoes and
hat. He got into what he could
find and got out of the car and
viewed the kindling wood pile
from which he had emerged.
He was not much excited until
he saw plainly what had happen.
ed and the badly injured all
round, then the wonder was,
how any of them got out alive.
He walked 8 miles to a telegraph
station and informed his clients
in Des Moines of his delay and
wired his wife who was on her
way home from st. Louis but
who failed to get the message
and was informed by an ac-
quaintance at Moberly that her
husband had been IN a wreck
and she was left to guess the
rest until she reached home and
found him mere. unhurt to speak
of.
The road officials sent out re-
lief trains and physicians at
once and the injured were given
first aid and the one dead man
taken to Des Moines with the
rest. He was from st. Louis.
Mr.. Rucker can give a true to
life description of a wreck and
the impressions which force
themselves on the mini of one
suspended from anything to
Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1915-01-22

Bud Thrash was in CarroIIton
on business. Wednesday.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

time for delay. Swift danger swept
away his temerity. He forgot that he
was but a struggling bank clerk and
June the daughter of Dashville's.
wealthy mayor. Like any knight OF
medieval times he was resculng his
lady fair from impending death, death
from a rampant cyclone. And, unlike
the valorous knight Of old who Weld
ed spear In defense of his love, he
was forced to the ignominious device
of seeking a cellar. 1t would be the
only spot respected by the destroyer.
With vicious lunge he burst In the
door of the nearest house that offered
basement protection and leaped down
the cellar stairs. The next moment
there came a grinding roar as II the
very universe was being uprooted and
flung to the raging winds. Terrified,
June clung to her lover while he free
ly uttered the long delayed words
of endearment. In that supreme mo-
ment their meeting lips sealed their
troth. Then they became aware that
the destroying agent had passed, leaV-
ing desolation in its wake. The house
above them was gone, revealing
lurid sky, About them were streWn
the ruins Of a razed village. Dash
vile was mainly kindling wood and
scattered stone.
Dust-begrimed. disheveled but abb
surdedly happy the two climbed from
the cellar and sought the mayor. the
station where Tom Norris owned prop
erty was unscathed. Il was fortunate
Iy at one side Of the path Of the ruin
that included the Munshaw residence
and over half the town.. BE would
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

stripes. alternate red and white; thaf
the union be thirteen stars, white on .
blue field, representing a new constel-
lation-" The thirteen stars were ar
ranged In a circle to symbolize the per
petuity Of the union Of the states.
Vermont was admitted to the Union
in 1871 and Kentucky in l7s2. 1t was
felt that these two new states ougn.
70 be recognized on the flag. 30 In lts4
congress- passed an act making tne
flag fifteen stars and fifteen stripes
This remained the flag Of the United
States throughout the War OF 1917
until there were twenty states In the
Union. In 1916. an effort was again
made TO modify the Gag 80 that all the
new states would be represented on IL.
To be continually adding stripes would
make the flag very awkward In shape
and appearance, so after arguing the
matter for two years, congress decided
to return to the original thirteen
stripes and one star for each state
Congress has never determined the ar
rangement Of the stars nor the shape
and proportions Of the flag. and there
has been great variation, especially IN
the grouping Of the stars. There are
still many who believe that the sym
bolic circular grouping of stars should
be restored.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

archal beard hung straight down over
his white vest. He was dignineo
and imposing figure. AS II actuated
by an automatic device the superin'
tendent of Dashville high school rose
to his feet as the mayor sat heavily
down. His carefully-thought-out pre-
liminary remarks heightened almost
to lecture while his patient au'
dience stared at him stonily. Above
domed a sky of brass that loaned q
sulphurous hue to the furnace-hot at
mosphere. Fans slowly waved. Par
boiled countenances we're turned to-
ward the speaker. He began, at last
to read
when, in the course OF human
events" he intoned sonorously, 1T be-
comes necessary for one people
Spit! Bing! Bang! Spit! sound
ed the staccato notes OF something
that drowned the readers full tones
Bing! Bang! Roar! Spit! Pun!
rolled out accumulated noise-a noise
that smote the heavens with projec
tiles. Projectiles darted like mad II
every direction while the choir nee
wildly from the place and the council
men grappled with discharging nre
works.
Someone musta threw a match"
That's the work of cigarette
fiend!"
"Bet-chu some boy did that a pur
pose" were some of ths shouted com
ments. Meanwhile the frantic efforts
of the town council released dormant
rockets, pin-wheels, set pieces. Th'
startled audience scattered right ant
left in confusion. Never since l77'
1 had the Declaration of Independents
been 90 fittingly introduced and fore
bly, presented. Order was finally re
stored. People reseated themselves OF
the benches. Red countenances agail
confronted the reader and agail
Superintendent Eldridge intoned tn
rounded phrases OF our charter OF lii
erty.
a decent respect to tn
opinions of mankind requires that the
should declare the causes which impe
them
Look" shouted Dan Hughes
the megaphone voice. "The depot's o.
fret"
"The oil tanks! The oil tanks!
shouted a dozen voices. "The tan
cars II exploded"
They did. At least flames shot W
! ward and seemed to greedily lick tn
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01
REAL HISTORY OF
AMERICAN FLAG
Emblem, It Is Declared by Stu
dents, May Be Traced Back
as Far as The Twelfth
Century.

SrHE American flag is growth
rather than a creation It's MS
. tory can be traced back to the
18th century, or nearly 600 years pElOr
to the first Flag Day." June a. lIn
During the first crusade IN ll9o'
Pope Urban II assigned to all OF the
Christian nations as standards crosses
varying in color and design. emblem
attic of the warfare in which they
were engaged. To the Scotch troops
was assigned the white satire, known
as the white cross of st. Andrew, on a
blue field. The British used a yellow
cross. but a century and quarter
later they adopted red cross on a
white field, known as the red cross Oh
st. George. :,
When James vi Of Scotland ascend
ed the throne of England as james l.
he combined the two flags, and issued
a proclamation requiring all ships 10
carry the new flag at their main
masts. At the same time the vessels
of south Britain were to carry at
their fOr6maSJS Lu0 ICu NAOOS -
George and the ships of north BRITAIN
to carry the white cross OF ST. An
drew.
The new flag was known as kings
Colors," the Union Colors," or the
-.Great Union," and later as the Union
jack" and was the one under which
the British made all their permanent
settlements in America. 1t was the
flag of Great Britain only by proclama
ton, however; not until 1907 did par
lament pass an act definitely uniting
the two countries and their flags IL
the same year the government issued
regulations requiring the navy to USE
what was known as the white ensign
the naval reserve, the blue ensign
and the merchant marine, the red en-
sign. Owing to the fact that the BTU
lsh merchant vessels were everywhere
the colonists in America came to looi
upon this red ensign as the nag o
Great Britain.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

ing this invocation then bufE OF
laughter burst forth with redoubled
gayety.
-"Superintendent Eldridge will now
read the corner stone OF American lib
erty," announced. Mayor Munshaw at
the close OF, the song. He beamed out
over the perspiring throng. The cele-
bration was q great success. Not a
nrecracker in the hands OF little boys
had disturbed the peace. His patri-
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

Reflect with reverence. with SWELL
ing pride and utter thankfulness upon
the great deeds that have made US
nation of strength and courage, upon
the heroes whose lives have given az"
ditional luster to the banner OF our
pride and upon the duty TO mankind
which 1t lays upon US as an imperative
burden.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

sAy. win q uuT. prUUnged roar as
cending FIRE tongued the heavens while
every man, woman and child OF Dash
Vile deserted the picnic grounds and
raced for the spot. Even Mayor Mum
shaw managed to Join hastily formed
fire brigade and assist in passing wa
ter to men on the depot roof. In the
thick of fire and smoke he worked
valiantly. And when he emerged from
the ruins before the final collapse no
one would have recognized the mayor
of Dashville. His luxuriant beard was
no more. Fire had ruthlessly moved
1t to his chin. His patriarchal dignity
had departed.
Z The bucket brigade stood back ana
viewed the roaring conhagration.
Looks like all hell had broke
loose" commented one Of the village
council.
"Musta been q blazing rocket STICK"
declared another.
"Or cigar stub" guessed third.
Struggling at the rear Of the last
OAD6-Iducu WOLudu WOlO SuAO oAN AN~--
Norris. June was frightened. She
wanted someone to remain at her
side and look closely after her welfare
So Tom accepted the ofice. They
turned their backs on the fire ana
slowly sauntered toward the depopu'
lated town. Never had Tom seen June
more charming. Her gown was ike a
bit Of midsummer sky trimmed with
fieecy cloud. Her blue eyes were lu'
minous with love. Her cherry red lips
we're tempting sweet but when ne
would have begged kiss timidity In
tervened. Instead he looked at the
sky and saw, instead of ruby lips' q
funnel-shaped cloud OF copper nue.
that approached at meteor speed.
"A cyclone!" he shouted and caught
June up In his arms. There was no
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

"A sane Fourth's the thing, OBJ
served the portly mayor. He glanced
across the table at his wife, then let
his wandering gaze come to rest on
his pretty daughter June There's
no sense In burning powder and max
ing a racket to celebrate our nations
independence; say, let's have sane
Fourth"
"Of course wen have q picnic"
planned the mayors better half. The
tables can be set under the trees 10
that grove by the station. Wen get
some carpenters to contribute work on
them and a speakers stand"
THE sooner I talk 1t over with the
business men the better" decided May
or Munshaw. I'll talk 'em into pro-
hibiting the sale Of fireworks. Wen
keep 'em for evening and have 'em
set OF under the auspices Of the vii
lage. Our councilmen will oficiate." :"
Dinner ready" trumpeted Dan
Hughes Of the megaphone voice.
Everybody set up! And those what
can't set II have to stand!"
Instantly the shifting crowd Goa
lesced like magic about the long table
with Reverend Tanning in a central
position to say grace, and the mayor
stationed at his right. A profound ST.
lence settled over the multitude dur
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

Vile. Nothing ON earth's happened
to me but q condemned sane Fourtn
that's gone clean looney!"
why, papa" said June with 2
happy glance at her lover. Y thin.
this has been a perfectly beautiful
Fourth Of July!"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

Contrary to popular belief. 1t p
the borrowed book, and not the Dor
rowed umbrella, that never 10 re-
turned.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

offer refuge TO his future father-in-Iaw
and at the same propitious moment
ask his daughters hand In marriage
They met dismayed residents search
ing among the debris for shattered
homes yet thankful for their lives.
The Fourth Of July picnic had saved
them. But for the gathering at the
grove many would have been caught
in crashing buildings and perished.
Finally the mayor, or what was iels
Of him, doomed in view.
Papa" cried June when ene recog.
nized the wreck Of her once spic'and-
span parent, Tom saved mel Carrie0
me into a cyclone cellar! But what
ever happened to your
"Nothing's happened TO me" testify
declared the foremost citizen OF Dasnr
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01

A colored mans idea Of good town
is one in which the charitable organ
izations are active and open-handed.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-07-01
SNAP SHOTS
burden.

Colonel Jabez Ellington, who was IN
28 battles, says he has been short OF
breath ever since the Civil war.
Evening journal., 1915-11-19
STATISTICAL DISCOMFORT FOR DEMOCRATS.

THE ECONOMIC WORLD, Of New York, has rem
derod its readers very useful service by enlarg-
ing its table OF statistics showing weekly bank clear
ings.
Heretofore that paper has given statistics for
week in 1915 with comparatiye-hgures for 1914 Natur-
ally the showing a very gratifying one. Now. in
effort give its readers all available information
upon which base their opinions, figures are also
given for 1918 and 1912
The disclosures VIII not be at all pleasing to those
Democratic statesmen who have been boastng of pros
perity restored Figures for seven cities-New York
Chicago. Philadelphia, Boston St Louis Baltimore and
New Oreans-for the week ending October 22 1915
show that in every instance the bank clearngs
larger for 1915 than for 1914 IN only two cities how
ever. the clearngs larger in 1915 than in 1913
These two were New York and Philadelphia both To-
Gated in the region made prosperous by war orders
In spite Of the great boom OF orders, not OF
the seven cities above named reports large an
amount Of transactions in 1915 as in 1912, the last
year Of Republican administration
The European war VIII become far strenuous
than it has yet developed, before it will restore the
degree of prosperity enjoyed by this country in 1912
Evening journal., 1915-11-19
WARsHIps Am CELLULAR nULLs.

q I1VERAL months ago. when German submarine ac-
y iyity at its highest. we published. from the
pen Of James B. Scott the oldest shipwrghts
his city and State, special article on the cellular
construction Of the hus of ships protect such craft
against being sunk by torpedoes, mines rammng col
ision or the striking OF submerged obstacles to nayi-
cation The OF that article was that the air cells
designed 10 save ship from sinking should be nu-
nerous and that they should be above ard not below
he water line
In current news article dealing with the opening of
bids for the construction OF two new super-dread-
oughts for the United States navy we find the fol-
owing:
The two new super-dreadnoughts will represent tho
last word in naval architecture Since the war has
brought no vessels OF this class into conflict no rad
al departure in construction is planned as no definite
essons have been learned. The greatest difference he
.ween the two new ships and their immediate prede-
,essors building. will line in additional hull pro-
oction against torpedo attack The nature OF those
safeguards has not been revealed except to bidders lint
subdivision and strengthened bulkheads 10 keep the
ships anoat with holes torn in their bottoms
II that means anything az ALL il is that cellular con
truction. already represented by the bukhcads ant
xater-tight compartments in modern naval and mer
chant ships is TO be extended TO marked degree Th
precise degree is kept concealed but the way in whcl
he news article is phrased would seem to indicate tha
he Scott suggestion has found favor with naval de
signers and that so nearly as it may be done non
nkable latteships will be built in future cope Will
he torpedo and mine menaces
Evening journal., 1915-11-19
wmAr WI KNOw ABouT M.


GTN what way asks the Houston Post "can the Re-
publicans attack the Democratic tariff? What
do they know about its virtues defects?"
This is troublesome conundrum. It is ridicu-
ously easy. Republicans attack the Democratic
tarin by telling the truth about it, And for what
they know about its defects il would take entire
issue of this paper TO summarize IT,
For instance, know that in the first eight months
that the Democratic tariff in operation imports
increased S1l4OOoOOO and customs revenues de-
creased SS6.OOOOOO
We know that our imports of raw materials for
manufacturing increased $4,000 OOO and that with
the imports in these lines SS3,OOO,OOO more
than they under Republican tarin
We know that our importatons OF foodstuhs jumped
up $SSOOOOOO that practically all Of It in free
Of duty. and tha-even during the war-the increase
maintained
We know that, in the first eight months OF the
Democratic tariff exports fell off s2O4OOO0OO and
that farmers had TO a shrinkage in their for
eign sales Of S57oOoOO0
We Republicans know lot about the defects Of the
Democratic tariff and before the session Of Con-
gress is over and before the next campaign is over
the Houston Post WIN be given the benefit Of our
knowledge.
Evening journal., 1915-11-19
FRIDAY NOV. 10. 1915
TRlpr rnAr sMOrLn nr M0N.

MARCUS HOOK and the territory contiguous thereto
Va have big trade
Wilmington is entitled to f. The merchants here
should bestir themselves to get it,
The work should not be Of the nash-n- pan
rey II It is TO be featured by it must be in
diligently planned and aggressiyely and persisently
prosecuted.
With the holiday approaching, the time for
lcion is at hand. Hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
being paid IN wages TO the men, women and chill
iren employed in the big industrial plants that line the
Delaware river shore between this city and Marcus
Hook and beyond that point. The bulk Of the
money thus paid is being spent Comparatively little OF
It is being spent in Wilmington The greater part Of II
is going TO Chester and Philadelphia. That lis also
true of the great bulk OF the sasngs of those hou-
sands Of industrial workers The Chester and the
Philadelphia banks the benehcaries.
Such conditions wrong. In trade and banking
Marcus Hook and the surrounding country are
logically tributary 10 Wilmington There should be
concert OF action this end OF the line TO do away
With the present illogical conditions. Our merchants,
ur trolley company our railroad company. steam.
,oat company and the holders OF stalls and privileges
city markets should work in harmony TO get that
raluable trade for Wilmington and to hold 1t against
n comers Wiz it once has been gotten.
lf the people in the section referred to be con
,inccd fhafit cheap and easy get TO Wilmington
ind Fats Nome again that they do their shopping
lid marketing here IN the trip; that qualities
and prices right and that sanitary conditions exist
IN our markets they viii deal here But to effect that
iesired result tho merchants go after that trade
and refuse TO take for They also must
after city and insist that put is street
kets in order and make them attractive TO persons
from outside that marketing and shopping in VIII
nington will become a confirmed habit by those who
eside in the Marcus Hook section