davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-06-22
NORTHWEST NEWS

That American Lake is to be one OF
the greatest rendezvous for soldiers in
the United States was evidenced this
week when the war department let a
contract to Hurley Mason Company
for the construction of the army can
torment at a cost OF close to four mil
lion dollars. The contract was let on
cost plus percentage basis. The Hur-
ley Mason Company is recognized as
one Of the strongest contracting firms
on the Pacific Coast, having operated
since 1904. The contract calls for
buildings for $4,000 men and close to
5000 men will be employed in the
work. 1t is the intention to prosecute
it vigorously. THE work says c. R.
Collins. of the Hurley Mason Co., calls
for as high a patriotism as the building
Of ship or the firing OF a gun.
Never in the history of the Pacific
Coast has there been such demand
for hogs and other live stock as at the
present time and packers are unit in
declaring that conditions are such that
live stock growers will be able to reap
fortunes during the next five or six
years. The government is urging
farmers to go extensively into the hog
raising business, for these mortgage
filters are in demand every where.
Hundreds Of people, with small homes
who each year buy a little pig" to
raise, declare that this year it is next
to impossible to obtain them. Farm
ers absolutely refuse to sell, taking the
position that it will be far more profit
able to hold them and turn them into
pork at top. notch prices.
The days Of old John Barleycorn are
fast drawing to close. The action of
Congress recently on the liquor ques-
ton is taken to mean that it is only a
question OF short time until the ma
ton will have national prohibition. The
liquor people have given up the fight.
The wise ones say that prohibition for
the nation cannot be headed off and
the big distillers are selling their sur
plus stocks and preparing to retire from
the business. Already thousands have
sought other pursuits and the list is
growing daily. The idea once adj
vanced by the breweries that Washing
ton would tire OF her prohibition law
and go back to the good old days"
has been abandoned. Washington has
found prohibition success and even
the larger cities where the liquor peo-
pie were the strongest are now lined
up with the clean, healthy towns and
country districts OF the state which al
ways did favor the dry law.
The Pacific Northwest is gradually
beginning to reap its financial benefit
from the Governments declaration OF
war against Germany. Millions Of dol
lars worth OF contracts are being let in
this section, labor is being employed
at high wages, farm products are in de-
mand at fancy prices and there is every
indication that 1917 will be one OF the
greatest years in the history OF the
west from the standpoint Of real pros
perity.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-06-22
Do Not Start Fires in Forest

To do so without first getting per-
nit from the forestry department is an
offense punishable by fine of not less
than SIS. 29-3O
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-06-22

North Yakima-Earl Fruit Co. TO
erect 4 more warehouses in Yakima
Valley.
Northwest sawmills get IS, $3.50, 600
order for lumber ships and training
camps.
Aberdeen-Motorship Corporation to
build seven 1000 ton wooden steamers
for u. S.
spokane-New $500 barrel -four
mill and first unit Of 100000 bushel
grain warehouse to be built here this
Summer. cost s12s,0oO.
Bay City-Logging camp being
established near here. Will turn out
railroad supplies; another near Carlisle
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-06-22
Freight by Auto Truck

Twice each week the autotruck will
carry freight to Wenatchee, Tuesday
and Friday. Leave orders at the
Leavenworth Market and the truck will
call 2O*tf
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-06-22

Miss Ruby Ripple Of Seattle has
been visiting this week with Mr.. and
Mrs. w. P. Skeffington. She will
accompany Mr.. S. P. Beecher and his
daughters, of Peshastip, who left today
for Seattle by way Of the Snoqualmie
pass
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-06-22

Seattle imports nearly doubled
Puget Sound total for May is estimated
at $4,000, 900.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
CLYDE \. SMITH TO WE'D
IN NEW YORK
RumOred That Miss Gertrude Noble to
Become Bride of Selectman

We have it on excellent authority
that Clyde H. Smith, Skowhegans
first selectman, is to be married, in
New York City, in the early future,
and will return to Skowhegan with
his bride. The lady in question is
Miss Gertrude Noble, granddaughter
of H. J. Fogg. Her mother, who was
Miss Eva Fogg, died about three years
ago, in New York City, where the faith
er and grandfather now live. Somer-
set County people will remember the
large red set of buildings on the east
ridge, near the Union Church in Corn
Vile. Forty years ago this was the
home of the grandfather, H. ]. Fogg,
above mentioned, but Mr.. Fogg has
made his residence elsewhere since
about 1877, returning, however, to
pass a portion of each summer near
Cornville. OF his three daughters,
one died in young womanhood; Eva,
the mother of Miss Noble, as has been
already stated, died about three years
ago, and Flora, now Mrs. Everett, re-
sides in New York. Miss Noble was
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
A PECULIAR ACCIDENT
Marguerite Griffin Shot by Accidental
Discharge of Gun

Little Marguerite Griffin, IL year old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William
Griffin of Beech street was the victim
of a very peculiar accident Monday
evening. An older brother was
cleaning a 90 rife and while perform
ing the work his sister was an inter-
ested on-looker. In trying to push
steel rod thru the barrel the boy
was unsuccessful and struck the rod
with a hammer.
There was a flash and muffled re-
port and little Marguerite cried out
with pain 1t appears that a bullet
had lodged in the barrel and dis
charged when the hammer was used.
The piece of lead struck the floor and
glancing off lodged in the foot of the
girl She was hurried to the Somer-
set Hospital and was able to leave
Tuesday morning, after the bullet had
been removed from her foot
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
DISASTROUS FIRE At.
SOLON VILLAGE
Property of George TOzier Totally De-
strOyed Friday Night

A story and a half house and a
barn, the property of George Tozier,
situated in Solon village, was totally
destroyed by fire about midnight Fri
day The flames were discovered in
the house by member of the family
but nothing could be done in the way
of saving the property. Neighbors
hurried from their homes to help but
in a very few moments after the fire
started both the house and barn were
reduced to ashes 1t is understood
that the property was insured.
When it was found that the Tozier
buildings could not be saved the eff
forts of the fire fighters were centered
upon nearby buildings. One of these
caught fire in several places but the
flames were extinguished before any
real damage resulted
The stock in the barn of the Tozier
stand were saved but all house fur
nishings went up in smoke. Mr.
Tozier has lived at this place for many
years and much sympathy is extended
to him in his recent loss.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
GUY DEbE PRESENTED
GOOD AL|BI
~ Runna Ia LOnch Room. Said Ital-
ian Fruit Dealer In Defense

II runna da lonch room and hava
da right to keepa da shop on Sunday
was the defense made by Guy Debe, a
Skowhegan fruit dealer, at a hearing
held Monday morning before Trial
Justice T. G. Lord. Debe was ar
rested on the same day by Chief of Po-
lice Frank Thompson, charged with
doing business on Sunday, outside the
hours granted by law.
Despite the defense Debe pleaded
guilty and was ordered to pay a fine
of SO and costs amounting to $1336
He entered an appeal and was bound
over in the sum of 5000 to await the
action of the grand jury in January.
Harold Clark and Mrs. Palmyra Debe
furnished sureties.
Last Sunday afternoon. Chief of Po-
lice, Thompson, being suspicious that
the Italian fruit dealer was not COM
plying with the law, kept a watchful
eye upon the store, which is situated
on Madison Avenue When the clos
ing hour arrived, 2 p. m. it was no
ticeable that Debe had no idea of
closing and kept the storo open I'll
the afternoon and we'll into the even
ing, according to allegations.
The Chief of Police said nothing at
the time but early Monday morning he
appeared at the fruit stand and took
Debe into custody Guy can talk
pretty plain English when conditions
permit but when confronted with ar
rest he became excited and in a
language which the deputy could
hardly understand he said that he
"runna da lonch room" and was not
violating the law.
Keeping open shop all day Sunday
is not allowed in Skowhegan by any
of the store proprietors. The other
fruit stores are granted the right TO
open for business on that day at 10
a. m. but are warned to close at >
p. M
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
Mr.. Goodwin Takes Exception

]. M. Goodwin of Hallowell, who has
been seeking license to conduct a
maving picture theatre in Skowhe-
gam takes exception to some of the
statements made in the Independent
Reporter of Nov 22nd In our news
account of that date, we spoke of the
selectmen, among other reasons, hav-
ing denied Mr.. Goodwin's request, up
on the ground that the Bijou Theatre,
which he proposed to open, was not in
suitable sanitary condition, this
doubtless referring to the construction
of the theatre part of the building.
Goodwin says this point as to santa
ton was not urged as an objection by
the selectmen at the time of the hear
ing 1t was mentioned by Edward F.
Merrill, Esq, attorney for the town,
but, according to Mr.. Goodwin, Mr.
Merrill, on being asked whether or not
he was instructed by the town officers
to make that a part of his argument
replied, that it was his personal OBJ
servation and not mentioned by him
under instruction from the town.
Mr.. Goodwin takes up another rea-
son assigned by the selectmen, viz.
that "a license was already held by
Michael ST Ledger to conduct NOV
ing picture in this same location Mr.
Goodwin and DR.. Borden both claim
that Mr.. St Ledger has forfeited his
lease to the Bijou Theatre, and both
contend that as the lease is forfeited
and he is making no use of the Ii
cense, it is obviously unfair that it
should have any bearing on Mr. Good
wins application.
Mr. Goodwin tells the Reporter that
he has been in the moving picture
business for IA years and that, during
that time, he has had to do with the
opening of about 40 theatres in Maine,
chusetts. He is, at present, operat-
ing theatres at Hallowell, Kennebunk,
Kennebunkport, Yinalhaven and Win
throp. He recalls one instance where
there was some hesitancy in granting
license which he applied for in Mas
sachusetts Other than that, he states
that he has never, previous to his ap
plication in Skowhegan, had the
slightest question raised when he has
asked permission to open a theatre.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
WIFE OF MAU|SON PAS
TOR COMMITS SUICIDE
Mrs. Edith Clark Ends Her Life by
Hanging While Suffering Mental Re-
lapse

Mrs. Edith Clark, wife of James
Clark. pastor of the Congregational
church at Madison, ended her life Fri
day night by hanging. The tragedy
has cast gloom over the little com
munity where both Mr. and Mrs. Clark
were we'll and favorably known. The
remains were taken to the former
home of the deceased, Detroit Mich,
Saturday morning, accompanied by
Mr.. Clark
Circumstances surrounding the sui
eide tend to show that the act was
committed while Mrs Clark was lab
oring under a severe mental strain.
On previous occasion she has been
afflicted with mental debility and it
has been said that she has before
tried to take her life while in that
condition
On the day Of the tragedy Mr. Clark
had gone out for a short time and
Mrs. Clark remained at home with
the three children. Esther, Winnifred
and William. Miss Laura Symonds
was with the children at the time and
did not notice the sudden disappear
ance of Mrs Clark Little William
became uneasy and Mrs Hattie Sy-
monds, a neighbor was summoned
She remained at the parsonage until
the arrival of Mr. Clark When he
arrived he asked where his wife was
and seeing her rubbers and coat in
their accustomed place he started to
search about the house. As he climb
ed the stairs, leading into an unfinish-
ed chamber he saw the lifeless body
of his wife suspended from a beam
The grief stricken man removed her
from this position and called Mrs. Sy-
monds.
Members of the parish who know
Mrs. Clark cannot imagine her as the
perpetrator of such a deed, as she ap-
peared to be in the very best of spirits
at all times, tho complaining of being
homesick She came to Madison but
a short time ago from Bennington,
Vt, She was a graduate of the Uni
versity of Michigan and was married
to Mr. Clark in 1910. Besides her
husband she is survived by the three
children already mentioned These
little ones have been taken to the for
mer home of their mother in Vermont
where they will be cared for by rela-
tiyes.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
Work Done without Authority

James NJ, Dysart. an evangelist
preacher of West Pittsfeld defendant
in suit brought against him by Fred
A Wood. a Skowhegan tinsmith, de
clared before Judge II. H. Brazzell
in Municipal court, Monday alter
noon that he was not responsible for
payment of the plumbing bill present
ed by the plaintiff since said plaintin
did the work without authority from
Mr. Dysart
Action had been brought to collect
payment for plumbing done in a Ger
tain house, owned by Mr. Dysart and
occupied by another party. Evidence
in the case brought ont the fact that
the work was done but the defense
claimed that the tenant of the house
ordered Mr. Wood to do the work and
was therefore. responsible for pay
ment Mr. Wood claimed that Dysart
himself ordered part of the work
done. Judge BraZZell ordered a yer
diet of $645 for the plaintiff William
Folsom Merrill appeared for Mr.
Wood and A. X. Butler represented
Mr.. Dysart. Edward Spear. an en-
ployee of Mr. Wood, was the only wit
ness other than the parties concerned.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06

able since the day of his birth which
occurred in the little town of Hart
land When still under age he was
superintendent of schools in his ma
tive town and at the age of 81 repre-
sented his district in the Legislature
In 1904, tho little known outside of
his own community he ran for the
Office of Sheriff of Somerset County
and was elected. This office he held
for four years, being succeeded by
John A. Mooers.
After leaving the Sheriff's office he
was engaged in various enterprises in
Skowhegan and in 1915 his friends,
which were many, groomed him for
the office of First Selectman. To this
position he was elected on March IL
1915, succeeding r. Francis Parker
who had served in that capacity for
nearly 20 years. During his term of
Office as first selectman, Mr.. Smith
moo ihti iliuli5 lCW thli6S lulO
the civic life of the town, perhaps
the most acceptable being the es-
tablishment of the municipal fuel
yard. 1t was thru the efforts of Mr..
Smith that the State Reformatory for
Women was established in Skowhe-
gan. For several months prior to
the beginning of operations for the
building here, Mr.. Smith kept in CON
stant touch with those in charge, ex-
tollng the virtues of Skowhegan as a
site for the building and finally win
ming out In November, 1915, he was
as trustee of the Reforma-
tory by Ex-Governor Curtis and later
was chosen as chairman of the Board
His proposed marriage will come as
a great surprise to his many friends.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
Dennie Gets the Deer

The young man lives in the vicinity
of Larone and while am not at liber-
ty to tell his name | can tell you his
initials which are Dennie Haynes. He
went out after a deer one morning re-
Gently and after travelling many weary
miles he came to brook which he
assayed to jump but missed his foot
ing and landed on his back in the
brush and about this time he heard
a crashing in the wood above him and
sitting up he sees a fine doe making
her first leap for far country but
her second move was her last as
Dennie who is a crack shot pulls up
and lets drive from where he sits and
with the one shot the venison is his
Dennie is not sure which was the
more surprised the deer or himself
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
FIREWORKS At OPERA HOUSE SCHEDULED
10 Be CENT UP ON DECEMBER IS
Special Town Meeting Called to Discuss Matter
of Moving Picture Licenses

December 18th is the date set for
the special town meeting; the Opera
House is the place and 2 p. m. the
time.
These facts hold no special signi-
ficance but according to Dame rumor
there promises to be much of interest
develop at this meeting. The princi-
pal in fact the only matters to be dis
cussed are those relative to rescind-
ing former action taken by the town
whereby it was voted to allow but
tion pictures in Skowhegan and to
see what the town will vote to do in
regard to issuing more than one IL
cense.
1t was back in the early part of
September that Michael ST Ledger
and Myron Smith, following a vote by
the town to issue but one license,
leased the Opera House for a period
of five years with power to operate
same as a picture theatre. The lease
demanded the payment of s2400 year
of which $400 was to be paid in money
the remainder to be allowed them for
heating, lighting, janitor work and
fumigation of the whole building 1t
should have the use of the theatre
when it was desirous.
Everything was running according
to schedule until the necessity deyel-
oped to raise the price of admission
to the Opera House, owing to the war
tax and the increased cost Of films
due to taxation. Following the rise
in price, regardless of the fact that
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
SK0WHEGAN IS CUT Off FROM OUTSIDE
WORLD BY WORST STORM IN YEARS
Somerset Traction Lines Out of Commission;
Telephone Service Held Up for Hours

Thursday morning and Skowhegan
has not yet fully recovered from one
Of the seyerest if not the worst snow
storm that has visited this section
for years. No longer will the would
be weather prophet open his mouth to
eXtol the probabilities of an open
winter for Skowhegan is covered with
mantle OF snow that to all appear
ances has come to stay.
Early last Saturday morning the
flakes began to fall In earnest and BY
mid-afternoon, of the same day. a real
old fashioned New Englander was
settln In. No real trouble resulted
from the storm of Saturday but the
heavy downfall continued thru the
night and early Sunday morning. At
seven o'clock Saturday night. the
Skowhegan-Madison car started on its
twelve mile trip to Madison. Con-
dltions in the country district were
found to be very bad Some fifteen
inches of damp snow covered the car
tracks but the car made the trip and
returned. 1t proved to be the last
trip until Tuesday morning.
During Sunday night the damp snow
formed several inches deep on the
telephone and telegraph lines making
communication with the outside world
an impossibility Wires broke down
under their heavy load and more than
900 local telephones were put out of
commission. So many wires were
broken that the Central Maine Power
plant was badly crippled and Sunday
night the street lights were out. the
town in almost total darkness. Peo-
pie tried to call up their neighbors
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06
Quick Work In Sherif's Department

Last Monday a call was received at
the Sheriff's office from the chief OF
police in Waterville to be on the look
out for a young man wearing a heavy
fur overcoat. On Tuesday, just prior
to the departure of the midday train,
Sheriff Goodrich approached a young
fellow, who was standing on the sta
tion platform clothed in a valuable
looking fur coat. He made no re-
monstrance when approached by the
official, altho he had purchased a
thru ticket to Boston.
He gave his name as Wilbur Sew
erance; said he was formerly in the
Navy but was discharged because of
poor eyesight and that he had a moth
er In the Worcester Asylum for the
Blind. The sheriff phoned to Wa
terville headquarters and found the
names of the missing boy and the one
at Skowhegan to be the same. He
was taken to Waterville by the Sheriff
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06

other theatres in the State have done
the same, dissension was prominent
on every hand.
To cap the climax and make things
doubly interesting, John Goodwin, a
theatrical manager of Hallowell ap-
peared in town and sensed the idea
of opening another theatre here at
which lower prices could be charged
than those offered at the Opera House.
DR.. A. B. Borden, who holds a lease
of the Bijou theatre, sublet, so it is
understood, to Mr.. Goodwin and then
came the crash. The said Mr.. Good
win was informed that the town had
voted to issue but one license and
therefore the project of another pic
ture theatre would have to be given
up But not so according to the
ideas of the petitioner He called for
a hearing before the Selectmen. A
splendid array of legal talent was
present representing all parties but
still Mr.. Goodwin could do nothing.
A few days after the hearing a pc
tition was passed among the voters
calling for a special town meeting.
Sufficient signers were forthcoming
and as result the meeting will be
held on the date already mentioned
Mr.. Goodwin, so the story goes, has
also entered an appeal to the County
Commissioners. And so it can be
with very little effort, that
fireworks with accent on the "fire'
will be the order of things at the
special town meeting. Two parties
will battle for what they consider
their rights, condition which usual
ly calls out some spirited arguments
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-12-06

to find out wls.t the trouble was but
n no avail III several instances
The snow became so heavy that not
only the wires broke but poles were
pulled from their place IN the ground
More than ~ were found To be down
between Skowhegan and Hinckley
But the condition in skowhegan was
nothing compared with the effect OF
this storm in other sections Of the
County At Madison the telepbone
lines were completely destroyed and
when superintendent Adams started
to fix them Sunday morning they
broke "a fast a. theY could he re-
paired. One man who drove to North
Anson Sunday morning found nine
telephone poles lying in the almost
impossible road From farther North
came reports that six feet of snow fell
during the storm and al traffic has
been abandoned even up 10 today
Arthur Smith. driver of the Athens
stage is reported as saying that he
encountered five feet of snow between
Skowhegan and Athens; that it took
him five hours to drive distance of
twelve miles
AT the present time large crews are
still busy repairing the damage to the
telephone systems. Several district
schools in the county. il is understood.
have been closed the greater part of
the week due to the fact that the
school teams could not make their
daily trips. Certain it is that the
storm was real one and did much
damage F. R. Madden Of the New
England Telephone Co. SAID. Il have
no knowledge of so serious an ex-
perience since 13 years ago.