davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
DECORATION DAY IS
NEXT TUESDAY
Reverence for Living
Honors for Dead
Russell Post Arranging for Exercises
COmmemorating the Event in Skow-
hogan

Tuesday this great nation OF ours
will pause in its activities to honor
with solemnity and reverence the
soldiers of the Civil War. In the
performance of such duties Skowhe-
gan people will be privileged to listen
to impressive exercises conducted by
the members of Russell Post. Grand
Army of the Republic The opening
feature will be the presentation of the
program in the Opera House opening
at 130 p. m. with a selection by the
First Maine Regiment Band of the
Maccabees, Military Department.
Prayer will be offered by Rev. F. c.
Rogers of the Methodist Church and
the address of welcome will be voiced
by Post Commander w Harrison
Weston. america the Beautiful"
will be sung by the VII and VIII
grades and the orders will be read
by the Post Adjutant. Lincoln's Ad-
dress will be given by Master Ken
meth Matson and William Folsom
Merrill. Esq. will deliver the Memo
rial address Following a flag drill
by the girls of the VII and VIII
Grades. the National Ode will be sung
by the audience and benediction will
be pronounced by Rev. f. c. Rogers.
The procession will Immediately
thereafter be formed and the parade
Will proceed to North Cemetery where
prayer will be offered by Rev. Rogers,
the graves will be decorated and the
taps will be sounded. The veterans
will then be carried by auto to the
South Side Cemetery where there will
be a ritualistic service and decora-
tion.
During the past year but one mem
Der of the Post has passed away,
Charles Smith being the one most
lately deceased.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
BODY WATCHED OVER BY
FAITHFUL DOG
Aged Concord Man Found Dead in
Woods After Four Days Search

Nathaniel Healy, aged 70, was lost
in the woods while looking for some
stray sheep Thursday He started
out, accompanied by his dog about
noon. When he did not return at
the expiration of reasonable time, a
crew of approximately one hundred
men and boys begun searching for
him. They searched the remainder
of that day and night and the two
succeeding days and nights without
any success, other than the discovery
Of now and then a footprint in the
damp earth.
Saturday night at about O'Clock,
Lee Rollins and some others were at
tracted toward a spot by the bowling
of a dog. Upon investigation they
found the dog crouching beside his
dead master The body was recln-
ing upon some boughs. which had ap-
parently been used for a bed The
boughs were slightly dsarranged,
showing evidence of much suffering
and possibly an agonizing death. He
had removed his wet shoes and placed
them side by side within easy reach.
1t is supposed that the victim became
exhausted and was compelled to seek
rest and shelter from the rain. The
remains were located near Public
Brook on Pleasant Ridge about a
half mile from the George Rollins
place and six miles from his own
home Perley Bickford took him
home in his automobile Saturday
night The dog showed signs of
fight and had to be hitched to "A near
by tree before the body could be re
moved.
Mr.. Healy is survived by a widow
and eight children, namely: Mary
Healy, Concord; Nettie Monroe. Madi-
SON Georgia Washburn, Madison;
Ellie Berry, Concord; Jennie McCol-
lor. Bingham; Katie Hunnewell,
Solon; Carrie Rollins, Concord; :;
Frank and Harry Healy, Concord. Be
sides these he has one brother Dud-
ley Healy of Solon and two sisters,
Mrs. Oliver Hilton and Mrs. Thomas
Cross both of Solon. The funeral
services were held at the Concord
Corner School house Monday at 2
o'clock. The relatives have the SYM
pathy of their many friends in their
sad hour of affliction.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
Two Weeks from Tuesday is Mcr-
chants Day

SkoWhegan' next big event is Mer-
chants Day. two weeks from next
Tuesday. June 18th. The details for
this important annual are being
quietly worked out by the various
committees. Our next two issues
will contain more particulars about
the program.
Skowhegan people can aid in max
ing out of town visitors welcome in
many ways Most Important is by
yielding them first place at the Opera
House for the mid day entertainment
program. The lower floor Of the au-
dtorium is to be reserved entirely for
out of town guests. The exact limits
beyond which one must live to be
considered a visitor are not strictly
defined but in general il may be said
that no one living within one mile Of
Skowhegan post office should be
stranger enough to the town to class
with the visitors.
In previous years there have been
a surplus of seats in the balcony
which could be devoted to local pco-
pie and it quite likely will be so this
year. After all visitors have been
seated. such seats as remain unoccu-
pied in the balcony will be assigned
to such Skowhegan village dwellers
as care to make use of them.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
VIII Come From Norway TO Live In
Somerset County

Halvor Kristoffersen of Oyre Motto
Falkensten, Nykirke, Norway has
been reported as having purchased
the Peter Sired farm in Solon. Mr..
Kristoffersen has been sea captain
80 years and will continue at it an
other year He left Tuesday for
Norway and will send his wife. step
mother and children here as soon as
he gets back. People do not ordin-
arily cross an ocean in search of a
farm to live on. He and his family
have always lived in Norway. though
he has of course seen quite lot of
the world on his many voyages.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
ALL RECORDS BROKEN FOR ATTENDANCE
At ANY SOCIAL AFFAIR
New Shoe Factory Building Dedicated by Ball
and Cabaret Tuesday Evening

From every standpoint last Tues
days Shoe Factory opening was a
brilliant success. Never before i'll
the history of the county were so
many people gathered under one roof
for any social event Never before
in the history of the state have SO
many couple formed for the grand
march or participated in the dancing.
The beautiful shoe factory structure,
brilliantly lighted and thronged with
people, was a sight never to be for
gotten and the five or six hundred
couple dancing on and completely
filling all available space on a floor
surface of 10000 square feet was an
extraordinary spectacle.
Four distinct musical organiza-
tions, aggregating between one and
two hundred musicians, participated
in the program. These were the
First Maine Regiment Band of Mac
cabees of Skowhegan, r. A Wash
burn. leader; reed band, made up
of picked players from all parts of
the state, led by Elmer f. Towne; the
Skowhegan High School Orchestra, c.
H. Mckinney, leader; and the Gram
mar School Orchestra of which Mr.
Towne is also the instructor and
leader. Others participating in the
program were Miss Doris Carpenter
of Madison and Miss Lena Colby of
Bingham, readers; Mrs. Agnes S.
Steward. Mrs Eta S. Bradley, Chas.
Beaulieu and Miss Pearl Beauleu, all
of Skowhegan and Miss Evelyn
Flanders of Madison vocalists; and
Miss Ella Flanders, Miss Lena Ian
dry, Miss Mildred Weston and Mrs.
Ethel Ames, all of Skowhegan, ac-
companists. The fancy dancing.
which was one of the novel and en-
joyable features, was given by stephen
Abbott. Miss Clair and Miss Moulton,
all of whom have been pupils of the
New York City Castle School.
An event of such magnitude could
not be possible except for the gener-
GUS cooperation of great many
people. The committees named in
our previous issues and many will
ing workers labored increasingly to
make the affair enjoyable and a sue
cess. Without detracting in the
least from the commendation due to
all who were so liberal with their
time and their means ii is entirely
fitting to mention Edw. l.. Sampson
as entitled to special praise. In the
original plans Ned was given a
place on the Popcorn Committee.
Fate, which always knows where to
create a Captain where commander
is needed, so ordered matters that
he had an important share in about
every activity connected with the
matter To his faithfulness and his
longheaded planning of essential de-
tails are quite largely due the sue
cess of this memorable event.
A condensed history of this shoe
factory building, the completion of
which was thus happily celebrated.
Will be found on page three
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
v. c. 7. u. PROCURED
POLICE MATRON
Originators of Reforma-
tory Movement
Mrs. Eiic NJ. Lawrence Tells Appre-
ciati.e Audience Many Features OF
Woman'S Reiormatory Methods

MANY women who find their way
to Reformatories have been led there
through an appetite for alcoholic
liquors said Mrs Ellie NJ. Lawrence
of Lubec, a member Of the Woman's
Reformatory Commission, during her
address before :; large audience in
Bethany Church Sunday evening. Her
subject was the Woman Delinquent
and her address explained much rela-
tive to the methods to be used at the
Reformatory soon to be erected in
Continued on Page Three)
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25

at Hotel Oxford until the parsonage
on Island Avenue is somewhat reno
yated He has I0uz ben pastor
OF tha Methodist l4.fh and bear
splendid record @. ministerial work.
TIE towns welcomes him ana Mrs.
Roser- AID ar erat.ded To learn fLat
the pulpit of The Centenary CLsecb
is to be no longer vacant.
Freeerlee {. Rogers va oorf N
Chelsea this state. HIS parents,
however, We're residents oi Boston
and When a small child he returned
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
SERIOUS BREAK At NORR|DGEWOCK POST
OFFICE SUNDAY NIGHT
Cracksmen Make One of the Largest Hauls in
County's Criminal History

Sometime a little after one O'Clock
one of the boldesf bGrglar.es ever
made in Norridgcwock va accom-
plished in the new Posi- Once and
about $120o taken in stamps and cash
besides private papers including -four
bank books. deeds. stock certificates
receipts, insurance papers and pri-
vate books, in fact everything was
taken which was in the safe except
ing the large regular Post Ohce rec
ord book and small amount Of
change which they evidently scattered
in the bottom Of the safe in then
great rush to get away The bus-
glars escaped in ar automobile to-
ward SkoWhegan as they We're heard
leaving in that direction and d few
private papers were found along the
road. Two men were seen around
town Sunday, one Of light build
and the other inclined to be rather
stout riding in a two passenger car
without a number plate and Monday
after thinking the matter over. peo-
pie thought the men had seemed
rather interested in several thing,
about town and suspicion points il
their direction though they may not
be the guilty parties at all. The
government has the matter in its
hands and it is hoped will find the
guilty parties and bring them 10 jus
tice. Tools with which to make the
burglary were secured during the
night from the shop of Almon Blais-
dell and from the section house and
after being used were kindly left in
the ruins. Entrance to the Post o.
fee was made by forcing open the
front door and ii is thought that two
explosions Of dynamite accomplished
the blowing Of the safe Mr- Min5r
the night operator OF the NeH Sharon
d NorridgeWock Telephone Co. was
awakened by The terrible crash and a,I
once summoned aid Before tWa
O'Clock Post Master staples and his
Assistant George Carr were al the Of
flee and found things in terrible
condition. The new big steel safe So
recently installed and called burglar
proof had been completely demolished
the two doors being entirely shattered
and portions of them were found
across the street some distance. The
wall in front of the safe had been
blown out and the remainder set over
quite a bit The radiator in Linz
with the safe had been broken ana
water WAS running over the floor in
streams. The walls along that side
Of the room were SCARED and pre-
sented a sorry sight and especially "a
the office was uew and in perfect
state of repair and was the p;iae OF
the town. one big plate glass win
dow was broken into millions o.
pieces and scattered along The dis
tance of more than one hundred feef
across the street Tie burglars loob
"a mail pouch 10 carry away then
plumber in but aside from thar the
main office was undisturbed even u
the small stamp drawers which con
Continued on Page Four
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
First Municipal Concert OF the sea-
son Tuesday Evening, May Both

The first Municipal Concert to be
given this season by the First Maine
Regiment Band, Military Department
Of the Maccabees will be given from
the Russell St Band Stand on Tues
day evening May 80. under the di-
reetorship of R. F. Washburn. The
program; Good Old l. 5. of a
(March Querida, (Mexican Sere-
nade); Preambulator, (March) Sun
rise, (Oyerture); Mystic Potentate.
Qntermezzo); Grand National Med
ley Oyerture); Glencoe, (March) ;;
Twilight Echoes, (Serenade) Moni-
tor, (March).
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
SCHOOL REPORTS ARE
WANTED
4 Copy of all Reports Prior to 1896
Would be Acceptable

Supt. l.. w. Gerrish is attempting
to establish complete file of school
reports as far back as possible for
use at the school committee and su-
perintendents headquarters in Munic-
ipal Building All reports prior to
1896 would be acceptable. While
copies especially needed are for the
years ending Feb 20, 1900, 1902, 1906
and 1907 respectively.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
New Potash Factory for Bingham

BINGHAM May % Tom Whitney
and his son Clyde L. Whitney are
building a potash factory near the
station yard.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25

Miss Grace Bake of Boston ar
rived in town Saturday. having ac-
cepted position with Bell Bros. to
superintend the stitching room at the
new Shoe Shop. Miss Baker was
with the Geo. A keefe Co for some
years prior to accepting her present
position
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
OVER 100 YEARS ON
EARTH
Funeral of Uncle Ben
Priest Monday
Oldest of Canaan's Many Elderly
Citizens is Laid to Rest. When
Was His Birthday

Benjamin Priest, aged 104 years
died Saturday in Canaan. The end
had not been looked for until com
paratively short time before his de-
mise, although for the past year and
a half his health had been greatly
impaired About one week before
his death he had moved with the
family who were caring for him,
from his home in the outlying dis
tricts of the town to Canaan Village
and it is thought that he may have
taken cold at that time. OF his
family but one son, Frank Priest OF
Detroit is living and he was in at
tendance at the funeral which was
held Monday. These obsequies were
held from the Union Church and Rev
Fred Jackson officiated. Uncle Ben
as he was generally known ayerred
that he was born in May, but inves-
tigators of the town records claim
that his birth was registered as hay
ing occurred Nov. 6, 1872. Besides
the son referred to there is a grand
son, A. B. Lamb of Skowhegan. who
also attended the funeral services.
But few men are privileged to live
so many years among us as has been
Mr.. Priest, he having passed the CEN
f,tt oYty Nv He
without doubt the oldest man in
Maine and has long been Canaan s
oldest voter. Uncle Ben as peo-
pie were wont to call him was born
in Clinton, his natal day being May II,
but he had been almost a lifelong
resident of the town wherein his
death occurred. Until the weeks of
bis last illness he has retained his
faculties to a wonderful degree and
has been remarkably well. For a
long period it was his especial pride
to march to the cemetery at the time
of Memorial Day celebrations.
Mr.. Priest was married many years
ago to Cynthia Kicker. She died
long since and although several chill
dren were born to the couple none
are now living in the vicinity of Ca
naan.
The deceased was a veteran of the
Civil War and it has been said he was
so young in appearance when the call
for volunteers was issued, that he
passed the officers as a much younger
man than he really was, when in fact
he was too old to enlist. being nearly
fifty years of age at that time.
While not strictly a church man
Uncle Ben" was respected as an hon
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
FINE RECORDOF MIN
|STER|AL WORK
Rev. Frederick c. Rog-
ers in M. E. Church
He and Mrs. Rogers Will be Distinct
Addition to Religious and Social
Circles

The :eligious and social circles OF
the town have received a distinct ad-
dition in the arrival OF Rev Frederick
c. Rogers and his estimable wife He
has now entered upon his regular
pastorate at the Centenary NJ. Z.
Church but for the present is located
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25

About $50 was cleared by the
ladies of the Bethany Guild from the
apron and food sale in the Mcclellan
Block last Saturday
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25

ast and upright citizen, loyal to his
friends and country. Aside from the
Grand Army of the Republic he was a
member of no other order.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25
$4,000 POST OFFICE
APPROPRIATION
Lot Will Probably Be
Cleared Today
Indications are that Work will be
Pushed on SkOWhegan's New Build
ing

= WASHINGTON D. c., May 19,
Especial to independent Reporter -
Sundry Civil Appropriation bill re-
ported to House today carries item
of $4,000 for continuing work on
Postoffice.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25

Visit the Philathea Rest Room for
women. when in Skowhegan.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-05-25

The indications are that Skowhe-
gan's new Postoliiee Will be realized
within a short time by the appropria-
tion reported to the House the 18th.
The sum Of $25ooQ was named and
this swells the entire appropriation
to 100000 besides the amount paid
for the lot which was to be cleared
by June 1st This will be accom-
plished as it is expected the debris
will be entirely removed by tonight.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-07
RAILROAD MEN CLASH.
Dispute Over Demands Nearly Causes
Breakup of Conference.

New York, June IA clash yesterday
between representatives of the railroads
of the United States and the Big Four"
brotherhoods in session here TO discuss
the new schedule demanded by the rail-
way employees came near breaking up the
conference.
The specific question which led to the
dispute was whether the conference
should compare the new demands of the
men with the old schedule of three or
four years ago or with the western
schedule. The brotherhood men claimed
that the western schedule, being OF much
later date, was much fairer to them, and
should be used az the basis.
I'VE are going to insist, and tell you
frankly said w. G. Stone of the en-
gineers' organization, that all amend
ments of the existing schedules and all
other addenda be considered in these ne
gotiations."
Elisha Lee, for the railroads, replied
that he differed greatly" the response
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-07
Whole Towns Gone in Mis-
sissippi and Ar
kansas
THOUSANDS
ARE INJURED
Death List Is Increasing as
Isolated Places
Report

Wynne, Ark, June AT least so per-
sons were killed in the tornado that
swept Arkansas and Mississippi, accord
ing to early reports here. Fully thous-
and persons were injured, and property
loss is estimated, from incomplete re-
ports, to be Sl,600,000. Several small
towns were blown away entirely. This
information comes mostly from an area
within 50-mile radius of here, and when
communication are restored fully may
prove to be only a partial report of the
winds havoc.
Rescue parties sent to the interior
points have been unable to report be-
cause of wires being down, and indica-
tions yesterday were that the list would
be increased. Twenty-Five persons are
dead at Judsonia, White county; six in
Ark; three in Hot Springs;
eight near Natchez, Miss, and two near
Miss, according to word re-
ceived here.
A crew of five drowned when a boat
sank in White river near Augusta, Ark.
Jackson, Miss june Eight are
known to be dead and 50 injured many
severely, as the result Of a cyclone that
tut a swath from so TO 100 yards wide
through jackson early yesterday.
Almost $50 homes were damaged. OF
.he eight known dead two are white.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-07
WARSPITE ENGAGED
WHOLE GERMAN FLEET
She Beat the Enemy off Single Handed
to Save the War
rior.

London. June According to The
Times Portsmouth correspondent, the
manner in which the Warspite fought
the whole German battle feet and beat
them when she went to the rescue of the
Warrior, is one of the most thrilling sto-
ries of the Skagerak battle.
The Warrior lay quite helpless, her en-
gines disabled, her magazines under wa
ter, and the crew, unable to use the guns,
calmly awaited the end.
Suddenly on the horizon the crew OF
the Warrior saw huge ship coming at
tremendous pace. 1t was the fast and
powerful Warspite, which Admiral Jelli-
coe, learning of the Warriors peril, had
sent ahead of the grand feet to succor
her.
The great battleship swept full speed
into the fray. The helpless sailors
greeted her with cheers, as the new ar
rival threw herself between the helpless
Warrior and the German vessel.
The first salvo from the Warspite's
5-inch batteries hit German full force.
The stricken enemy reeled and sank.
Putting her helm over, the Warspite
circled around the Warrior, drawing upon
herself all the fire of the German ships
and replying with great vigor and effect.
Even after a shell had damaged her
steering geat, the Warspite held on,
fighting alone the whole German battle
ship fleet.
Four times in this manner the War
spite circled the Warrior, Furnishing the
enemy with her great guns.
.'Come baek-you are sacrificing your
SELF" signaled Beatty TO the Warspite,
but owing TO damaged steering gear the
Warspite could not obey. She could only
hang on and fight, but this she did so
sturdly, in spite Of the heavy battering
she received, that by the time her con.
sorts OF the dreadnought division had
come up, the German battle feet was in
full fight.
The Warspite had beaten them off sin
GLE handed.