The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-11-11
Chase County Farmer Has the
Countryside as Guests at
House Warming.
GOVERNOR CAPPER ATTENDED
After Speeches by State Executor and
Others a Free Dinner Was
Served to $500.

bration given by William Mercer, a
young Homestead farmer, at his ranch
twenty-five miles southwest of Cotton
wood Falls recently. Mercer is just
completing a $4,000 residence on the
site his father first erected a little
cabin forty-five years ago when the
family emigrated to Kansas from
Kent, England.
The celebration, which was one of
the largest of the kind ever held in
that part of the state, was attended
by Gov. Arthur Capper, who spoke in
the afternoon. His speech was fol
lowed by an address by Maj. "Ironjaw"
Brown. Visitors from thirty miles
away were present and the day was
declared a holiday by the various
school districts surrounding the Mer-
Ger ranch SO the pupils and their
teachers might attend the celebration.
A big dinner of beef, pork or mutton
was served free to everyone.
One of the most interesting parts of
the days celebration was an Indian
fight staged between a group of cow
boys and a score of horsemen who
represented the redskins, who were
painted and wore all the trappings of
the Indian warrior.
When the Mercer family came from
England to Chase County forty-Gve
years ago they took homestead. The
father, Alfred Mercer, built their first
cabin of stones and logs and matched
1t with brush. Although they were
without means and those first years
were trying ones for them, yet he
raised a large family, all of whom are
now prosperous farmers or farmers
wives of that county
X
Shriners Meet at SaIina.-Hundreds
of Shriners from all over Kansas gath
cred recently at Salina for their semi
annual ceremonial. Forty-seven nov
ices were initiated at Isis Temple in
the afternoon. At night there was a
''Shrine show" a banquet and a grand
ball.
Electricity for TWO cents-The city
commissioners of Wellington have
put into effect rate of two cents
kilowatt for electric current for cook
ing and heating. The rate for lighting
remains at eight cents and for motors
at five cents. The city plant is max
ing money and is in fine condition.
x x x
Greeted K. U. SoIdiers-University
of Kansas students and faculty mobi-
lied at Lawrence to greet Company
M, First Kansas Infantry, mustered
out of the federal service at Fort Ri
ley. Company M is composed Of Uni
of
Tor Frank Strong issued orders that all
classes be dismissed at the sound of
the whistle" The university band led
a long procession of K. u men, goods
and "profs" to the train to greet the
student soldier boys.
x x x
Mother of Furteen, Dies. Mrs.
Sarah Arthur, 80 years old, a resident
of Atchison county for forty-five years,
is dead at her home near there Mrs
Arthur was the mother of fourteen
children, all of whom, with her hus-
band, Samuel Arthur, survive her.
x x x
Sues for Gas Shortage-Injunction
proceedings have been started in dis
trict court at lola by the lola Port
land Cement Company against the
Wichita Pipeline Company, as a re-
suit OF shortage of gas in the recent
cold wave
The pipeline company supplies lola
with gas, as well as the cement plant,
and when citizens began complaining
of the shortage the plants supply OF
gas was cut off for several hours in
order more might be turned into the
city's mains. The cement company i'm
mediately went into court and asked
for a temporary restraining order, pro-
hibiting the pipeline company from
cutting off their gas supply, under the
contract they have with them calling
for four months notice before the con-
tract can be terminated. The order
was granted.
Pioneer Realty Man Dies.-James
n. Lane. SO years old, who came to
Burlington In 1857, died there recent
~. He was prominent real estate
agent in the early days and a leading
Republican politician, holding several
county offices.
New oil Well Near Probabilities
recently brought in an oil well at a
depth OF seven hundred feet west OF
Paola- Oil sand to the depth of eighty
feet was struck, and oil men say it is
one OF the most promising wells ever
drilled in that community.
Found Dead in Barn.-Harry Brand
ley, a farmer and stockman of Chase
County, A years of age, was found
dead in the barn on his farm several
miles southeast Of hatfield Green the
other day. The cause of death is un-
known.
x
Pioneer Dies at Doniphan.-Adam
Schnell, II years old, a pioneer resi-
dent of Doniphan. is dead at his home
there He was a native of Alsace, but
came to Weston, Mo-, with his parents
when year old and in 1868 to DOM
phan. where he engaged In the wagon
making business.
Dead at 1o6.-John Muhlrine, log
years old. is dead at Wichita hos