davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-10
Suspect German n Plot.


There is some reason to believe that
German agents acting under instructions
from the German legation at Mexico city
have persuaded the Mexican Govern
ment to move against Palaez. These re-
ports lack confirmation. but the United
States and Great Britain are not going
TO take any chances of trouble in this
region.
1t is understood that the measures he
ing taken here are Of character that
leaves no rooa for doubt that they will
he effective. Details cannot be published.
but there will he no fighting on Mexican
soil In the vicinity Of the interests Of
Lord Cowdray or the Mexican Petro-
leum Company.
Manuel Palaez. who claims control in
this region. Is himself an owner of oil
wells and has constituted himself n pro-
tector OF the interests between Tampico
and Tuxpam. He is being supported by
the owners OF the properties he protects
He has no intention of leading his force
outside OF this district and he is said
to he making no effort 70 Illustrate Car
ranza's plans to collect taxes from oil
exported via Tampico. But he will not
permit any force to enter the zone he has
prescribed as necessary to insure the
protection of the oil properties
Carbnza has sent Gen. Nafarrete to
Tampico TO take charge of customs re-
ceipts and administer the law as II az
fects oil exports. sc. Nafarrete Is re-
ported 20 have an administrative force
with him an0he has had no trouble with
Palaez, 1t develops now that the British
and other interests have confidence in
Palace and are willing to assist him in
The maintenance of force sufficiently
strong to protec: their properties. The
approach to this district between Tam
pico and TuXpam from the interior .of
Mexico Is through n thicket controlled
only by few passes. II is by mastery
Of these passes that Palaez claims to De
able TO keep out any invaders.
The trouble now seems to he due 70
'he German Legation at Mexico city,
which has Inspired the idea that palaes
Is defying Carranza's control and should
be eliminated. II is said that Won
Eckhardt. I've German Minister ~,
Mexico CITY, persuaded Carranza t.
send Gems. Murzuia and Diegucs again
Palacz, Won Eckhard. is reported to
be seeking to make capital out Of the
Fact that the British owners pay Palae2
u protect their property. He says that
the amounts paid in single year tota
s3J0.00o and by this means seeks tc
persuade Carranza that Legitimate
revenue is being diverted from the Meyi-
can Government.
The approach to Tampco and Tuxpan n
from the sea is known to la controlled
by the United states Navy. 1t is equally
important that the approach from the
interior be not LEFT to chance.
It s believed that there will not bt
any trouble with Carransa over thu
British American protective plan. The
fact that immediate action has charac'
terized the American attitude is in itseli
regarded as PROOF against friction.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-10
MARINES WILL
GUARD TAMPIC0
United States and England to
Stop Mexican .Treachery
in Oil Region.
MEASURES ARE AMPLE
Carranza Has Sent 10000
Men to Overpower Garfi-
son of Only 1000.
MEASURES ARE AMPLE


WASHINGTON. Dec. 9.-Immediate and
effective steps have been decided upon
h Great Britain and the United States
to protect the vitality important oil sup
plies at Tampico. Mexico. Law and or.
der will be guaranteed by American ma
rines. The Joint British-American move
has been prscipitated by verified reports
that First Chief Carranza has sent Gen.
Francisco Murxuia and Gen. DIesuex
each with force estimated at 5000 men.
to wrest control OF the oil districts from
Gen. Manuel Palaez. who is in command
there with a force OF approximately
1000.
A clash between these two Carranza
Generals and Gen. Palaez might have
the most serious consequences for the
Cowdray oil interests. which supply the
British navy.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-10
Great Laukh Maker.

Nat NJ, willis can eonscientiously be
called one Of the worlds greatest laugh
makers. In his tramp makeup his droll-
ness of speech and diy. pointed humor
conyulsed every audience before which
he appeared. AlthouFh he had been on
the stage ever since " was chnd his
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-10

Continued on Second Page
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-10

Halifax and Dartmouth made joint
'pp"al for aid TO rebuild the destroyed
,'"as and to care for the suffering.
The" estimated that II would take be-
'een so0,OOO.OO0 and $25,O00.000 TO
.' 81 c.reluirements. As a starter the
'inadLn Government gave 100000
-" immediate relief.
Organization is beginning to replace
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

and where his bare feet tramped down
the weeds of the school grounds, he
was the greatest marble player in the
town. He sent all the boys home
weeping for lost agates,- while his
own pockets bulged, constantly until
his broken suspenders were steady
problem to his mother.
ITO this day." says Black, Il can't
play billiards, pool or golf, and I'm
the rottenest whist player in the town,
but at shooting marbles my challenge
is always out to the world"
Yes, Black was regular boy back
in Freeport. He cried for bread and
butter and jelly at his mothers apron
strings for time, wore bandages. on
sore toes, played marbles, went swim
ming, and, oh, yes, got pushed off a
raft in the Pecatonica river. That was
the time the river sucked him down
twice.
He was out with a bunch OF kids.
Some of them we're excellent swim
mers. Black could not swim at all.
They were determined to teach him
how. They had an improvised raft.
The way to teach kid to swim, they
thought, was to push him off the raft
in the middle Of the current. g.
So they heaved young Charley off.
Nextiinstant he was trying to drink
the muddy river dry, and was wallow-
ing among the clans and turtles on
the bottom.
It was an awfully long way to the
surface, but he finally poked his head
out, gurgled for help, drank more
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

Lieutenant E. w. Bagnell, the Ne
braska National Guard aviator who
has made good in the government
service, is at home for a few days
visiting his parents in Lincoln, and
has been assigned to assist in the mus
tering out of the Fifth Nebraska when
it reaches home. At the completion
of this duty he will be assigned to the
aviation squadron either at Columbus
N. NJ. or San Diego, Cal.
Two other Nebraska men, Lieuten-
ants Westover and Boyd, are now
with Ruth Law and will probably
qualify before the year is out. Lieu
tenant Hillburg is in Florida and will
return to Nebraska as soon as he
qualities. Lieutenant Bagnell made an
especially good record in his tests. In
his climb out of field 1000 feet
square to attain an altitude of 500 feet
within that square and in his test on
right and left spirals with motor
throttled the tests were marked by
the judges Satisfactory"
In the test where he was 1000 feet
in the air and required to cut off mo-
tor and land within 200 feet OF desig-
mated point he landed within sixty
feet of the point In the test to land
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04
By A. EDWIN LONG.

It's almost a miracle that Omaha
ever got Charles Z. Black at all.
It's a greater wonder that it ever
kept him as long as it has. For he
is a man OF many adventures. Sew
eral times he was sent for by the
venerable long-bearded character with
the sharp scythe, but each time the
scythe missed its stroke.
The Pecatonica river sucked him
: down twice. Then il yielded him up
on raft when couple of conf
panions yanked at his coat collar.
The great fire in the Elms hotel in
Excelsior Springs was certainly
sneaking up on him, and he was sound
asleep, too. But he shifted smoke,
ieaped to his feet, threw on coat,
kicked out a window, sash, frame and
hasp, and leaped for life after the
Gathering glass. He fell on the roof
of building below, all skinned UP,
but he saved his life and pajamas.
The tornado in Omaha smashed
his house fiat about his ears, bruised
and gashed all the members OF the
family, and cut furrow in the back
OF Charley's head as long as mans
hand; but still this famous halter, Ak
! Sar-Ben governor, general hustler and
booster, survives, and stands on both
{, feet like a thoroughbred.
Why Black did not become pro-
fessional stock gambler in the east
instead of an Omaha business man no
Z one can say.
In Freeport, ILL.,, where he was born
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

poking around at the printing bust
ness ?"|s said Gilman. Come on with
me-"
What dor" asked Black.
Come along to Nebraska and IT
show you" answered Gilman.
Next Black found himself on the
road selling flour for Gilman, for thi:
Gilman had a mill at Pierce. Soor
Gilman started a mill at Neigh, one
at Valentine and at points in Iowa.
One day he called Black in off the
road, and said.
you know that town of Omaha
looks like conner to me. | want to
start wholesale -four house down
there. What do you think?"
Black didn't exactly know what he
ought to think to hold his job.
So Gilman thought for him. "Yor
go to Omaha and manage the whole
sale business for me-" he said, and
that's all there vas to it.
So Black came to Omaha and for
nearly dozen years managed Gil.
mans wholesale business. Then this
wholesale establishment was sold to
McCord-Brady, and Black was again
open for suggestions.
Black looked around for few days,
not long, for he is a man of quick
Judgment and ready decision. He
opened hat store in 1900.
What did you know about hats
when you opened the store?' he was
asked recently.
Nothing" he answered, with char
acteristic vivacity. 81 didn't even
know what size l wore myself"
CNext Week 'How Omaha Got W. H.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04
Catching the Bootlegger Red Handed

Catching the Bootlegger Red Handed
Just as prohibition has sharpened
the wits and stimulated the ingenuity
Of libcral-minded Iowans, so also will
it sharpen the wits and stimulate the
ingenuity of liberal-minded Nebras-
kans who have not cast aside the ban
ner Of ]. B. c. and taken up that OF
w. ]. B. Here is yarn, vouched for
by John Eddy, contractor of Water
loo, Ia, which illustrates how sharp
ened have become the wits and how
stimulated has become the ingenuity
of at least one fiberal-minded Iowan
Some time ago some certain resi-
dent of Carroll ordered shipped to
that point by an Omaha liquor dealer
barrel of l00-horse power whisky
In order that it might not attract the
attention or incite the suspicion OF
some vigilant bootlegger chaser, he
instructed the shipper to coat the cask
with tar and otherwise treat it to
make it look as common and molten
sive as possible.
Some few days later such a bar
rel, consigned to one John Smith, "
was unloaded at Carroll. For sew
eral days it stood on the platform
unclaimed and, as days passed and
still it was not claimed, the agent
grew suspicious. The oftener he
looked at the cask the more suspicious
he became until at last he decided to
tap it.
With the use of hammer he
started the bung and, alas-his sus-
picious were confirmed. The worst
was true. Ticker, demon licker," he
muttered through his teeth. and at
once notified the town marshal Let
'er lay, let 'er lay" advised the sleuth,
"and if any gol burned bootleggers
call fer it, we'll nab EN-" y
But the agent was not as close
mouthed as the occasion demanded
and The news leaked out. But he 'let
'er lay"--for several days he "let 'er
lay" and each day he wondered if
anyone would ever, cali. Meantime
the marshal had planted himself near
by and lay in breathless suspense
while he waited for some one to call
for the barrel But no one called.
One day. however. newly en-
ployed chauffeur of a man-power
baggage truck lost control of his ma
chine. II sped, straight as an arrow,
for the barrel, and crashed into it.
The key was thrown lightly aside by
the impact, and directly in the center
of the spot where it had stood there
was uncovered neat round hole in
the platform.
Some bird that was half smart had
crawled under the platform and had
bored straight through the planks
and into the bottom of the barrel. He
probably carried away the contents
in buckets.
"Ba Goshl" said the marshal.
"Ba Guml' echoed the agent
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04
Department of
Family Debiliation

Superintendent Schneider of the
Board of Public Welfare Office in the
city hall is not easily disturbed or per-
turbed, but his equilibrium was almost
placed out of plumb when a certain
man of mature years entered the Of
fee with complaint against his law
fully welded wife.
as this where you keep the family
debiliation department." asked the
visitor.
you probably mean the family re-
Mobilization department" responded
Mr.. Schneider.
Il guess what you said is what I
am after" was the next statement
The superintendent explained that
the family rehabilitation department
of the Welfare board office was re-
Gently established for the purpose Of
mending domestic jars. He aroused
the interest of the caller when he
stated that many family squalls were
due to comparatively trivial affairs and
the kindly intervention of a third
party usually results in restoration of
pacific relations.
That's just my case. 1t was only
a trihe that came between my wife
and l. She is a good wife, but she
does want to be boss on some things
and | kind of reckon a women should
not be boss all of the time" con.-
tinued the man of sorrow.
Mr.. Schneider noted the troubled
face, asked him to have a chair and
calmly relate his case.
you may feel free to tell me of
the affairs between yourself and wife.
1t will be held confidential. We are
here to help you. 1t is our pleasure
and duty to reunite husbands and
wives who are kicking over the mari
tai traces" added the superintendent.
The stranger drew his chair up
closer and assumed a confidential
tone. Mr.. Schneider was all attention.
We'll, | will tell you just how it
was. My wife, she done took my dice
away from me; that's just what she
DONE" vouchsafed the visitor.
Mr.. Schneider managed to maintain
his mental poise while he explained
to the husband that rule No. 235 of
the marriage code permitted the wife
to conhscate dice found in the peck
cts of her husband
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

sensitive point of his outdoor activ-
ity. OF all of the fora and fauna OF
this neck of the woods he believes
the mushroom is the most interesting
specimen of natural history. He
likes the mushroom because it is I'M
assuming and also because of its edi-
BILE properties.
Mr.. Rine recently took unto him
self new gasoline vehicle, which he
expects to use to fine advantage next
spring when on his forays for mush-
rooms.
This is the 1ife," exclaimed Mr..
Rine on a morning last spring when
he returned from matutinal mean
dering in quest of mushrooms. He
knows the history of mushrooms from
the earliest times of the world. He
is their friend and they are his friends.
Captains Michael Dempsey and
Henry Heitfeldt Of the local force
can hardly be termed Centaurs, or
even expert horsemen, but when once
mounted on their favorite hobby"
base ball, they can both perform
equestrian feats to delight the most
fastidious. Fen more accurate than
the postofhee barometer are the faces
of these two men, whether stormy
weather, or fair and warmer, will pre-
vail at the station. But, unlike the
barometer, the elements play no part
in their indications; force more
tangible than these, causes their
storms and sunshine-namely, Oma-
has fortunes on the diamond. If the
team loses, reporters fail to bring
copies of the parent sheet to the sta
ton, but when Mr.. Rourke's war
riors cop, the entire building is bill
lious with pink and green sheets.
When we win reporters are laden
with scoops. scareheads and feature
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

What do you suppose is Harry
Zimman's hobby?
Picking up odds tools.
Whenever our erstwhile city mayor
and councilman passes hardware
store he just can't resist the tempta-
ton of going in and looking about
to see if there isn't a new tool he can
add to his collection.
He just posters his mother to dis
traction to find him some odd jobs
to do, So he can use his tools. II
she hasn't doorbell that won't ring,
or a rocker that squeaks, or door
janib that has swelled and needs a
plane or an adj to shave it down--the
subject of this politi--(beg pardonl D
Mr.. Zimman goes down into the eel
lar where all his tools are stored and
putters about, oiling them, etc, etc.
When spring comes, he is in his
glory. Then he can haul oGt the
garden tools, the sprinkling can, and
the lawn mower and get chance to
do something besides gazing raptur-
ously at his miscellaneous kit.
Who would believe that R. A. .Leus-
sler, vice president and general man
ager of the Omaha & Council Bluffs
Street Railway company, is butter
fly ehaserf Chasing the elusive but
terfiies is his hobby.
In the merry springtime, when the
birds and the bees and the trees are
awakened to new life, Mr.. Leussler
hies forth aheld with his net to catch
the pretty winged creatures. He has
made study of mounting and clas-
styling butterflies. He knows the
many varieties and is quick to recog-
nize rare specimen.
The butterfly part Of it is, however.
NOT all This hobby is the incentive
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

matter; when lose is forthcoming
which is the usual state of affairs
"the gang" carries small cluster OF
brevities to the insatiable nav of
their city editor. Base ball is
grand old game, and when the two
captains are not exercising muscles,
in the strong arm of the law, they
are engaged in a fanfest with their
minions. If Pa gets tired of holding
the reins of his players, either of the
two will oblige. One thing is sure.
if such should ever be the case, the
Rourkes would either get in first
place or in Jail. Think it over, Pa.
Gosh, I haven't got any hobbies.
man." says Harry A. Turkey. ~Pll
admit that nearly every fellow has
one, but | can't see that Pm afflicted
that way Unless, of course, you call
selling real estate a hobby, then I'm
guilty. Now, just few minutes ago,
| finished up a deal that brought me
a pretty nice little score-I mean,
That's one for this day,
one up, and, yes, two to play.
That last fellow was pretty hard to
putt, but at that ! made the deal in
less than DOGGY. You see | can drive
'em pretty well, when once get 'em
on the THAT'S the hard part for
most real estate agents. Lots OF fell
lows get a good deal on the green
and then they can't putt it. AS for
me, it's my hobby when once they're
on the green, I've as~good as got 'em
in the cup. can't land EN- on the
bunker. So, you see, my friend, I
haven't any hobbies; really l can't
think of one. OF course it's too cold
to play these days, but come around
again and maybe ! might possibly
think up real hobby for you
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

muddy water, and sank again.
When he came up the next time
he was so full of water he could
no longer gurgle, so two OF the boys
twisted his collar and pulled him
aboard the raft.
Eyes, + learned to swim after
wards" says Black, "but not that day,
nor in that particular way. shall al
ways insist that is not the way to
teach boy to swim"
When he was graduated from high
school he learned the printing trade.
For ten years he fed printing presses
in Chicago, Denver and Colorado
Springs. In Colorado Springs he was
printer on the Gazette for time.
S. F. Gilman came to the Springs
one summer to see his family. Black
knew the family, and through them
met Gilman. He hshed trout and
shot chipmonks with Gilman for a
few days in the mountains, and Gil
man took a liking 70 this young
printer.
, what the devil are YOU doing here.
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04

Making chocolate fudge, divinity,
pinuchi and other toothsome sweets is
generally associated with slender lit
tic wisps of high school girls, curly
haired and generally baby-dolled of
expression.
But here is the Hon. George E.
Haverstick, Ak-Sar-Ben governor,
vice president of the United States
National bank and last week widely
heralded as foreman of the grand
jury.
Havcrsticks hobby is making
candy. He would rather beat up the
whites of eggs and mix them with
milk and sugar and boil the ingredi-
ents until they spin thread from the
end of the spoon-far better than
serve on the jury, ride a prancing
pony all dressed in a white suit q
mean himself dressed in the white
suit, not the pony in the Ak-Sar-B Ben
parade, or even sit at his magnificent
mahogany-topped desk, speaking
lightly of millions and stocks and
bonds and securities and such like.
Weeks before Christmas his friends
begin to anticipate the candy they
know he is going to make for them.
The greatest tribute is paid him
by Mrs. Haverstick.
He cleans up the kitchen, too,
when he is through" she says. III
The hobby of John A Rine, city
attorney, is mushrooms. Every spring
he hics away over glen and moor in
quest OF his fungus friends. He knows
them by their first names and by
their scientific names. y
And be it known that I never ate
toadstool in my life" remarked
John Albert when ouizzed on this
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04
Figuring the Mushroom Crop.


A, half section OF good Nebraska
land as clear profit every year, is
thought by Carl James to be whole
some income.
No, no, Mr. James income has not
yet reached that point, but he is
looking toward it. Mr.. lanes is
just starting in the business Of grow
ing mushrooms in his cellar athome.
OF course this is to be a side line. for
James is employed in the traffic bu.
reau of the Commercial club in
Omaha. He lives south of Fairmon,
park in Council Bluffs, and each
morning before he takes the car for
Omaha he scratches around in the
nice warm dirt beds he has made on
the lodges in the basement. looking
Tor the mushrooms to sprout.
Now, as to the half section of land
he IS to make each year, that is only
one way to express the profit. OF
course it is conceivable that this could
also be expressed in dollars and cents
In such terms it would be about $32,.
400 per year.
Here is how "Jesse," as Mr.. James
is Familiarity known to his friends
has il figured; 81 know an old fel.
low in Council Bluffs who takes l0C
pounds of mushrooms out of his base,
nent every morning and markets
them at 30 cents per pound. That
looks like good pin money to me-"
SO three weeks ago Jesse carried
a lot Of rich dirt down into the base
ment, fixed up the warm beds near
the furnace, paid real money for some
muchroom spores, and buried them
according to directions in a little
book Eeyery morning he digs down
Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-04
Little Stories Picked Up About TOWN

He and his wife fed the turkey morn
ing, noon and night, and between
times.
All went well with the turkey until
one day when it was about ripe for
the table. That particular day Mrs.
Brengle was sitting in the living room
OF her home when she noticed a dark
object fit past the window, short
distance above the ground. She in
vestigated and quickly discovered that
the turkey had escaped from imprison-
ment and had, after circling around,
settled in the top Of large maple
tree in the front yard. The bird was
at least seventy-hve feet from the
ground. II was too far to climb to it
and being of the wild variety it could
not be coaxed down.
Mrs. Brengle is something of a
markswomen when it comes to shoot
ing rife. She remembered now that
upon several occasions in shooting
contest she had hit the bulls eye and
as she thought il over she could see
no reason why she could not hit tur-
key, though she had never taken a
shot at one. Getting her p caliber
rife, she went out into the yard and
securing an advantageous position, she
drew bead on the turkeys head and
fired. Instantly the bird came ltum-
bling down through the limbs Of the
tree, falling stone dead at her feet
She had shot II squarely through the
head and death was instantaneous.
The Brengles had wild turkey for
dinner the next day and several of
their neighbors partook Of it with
them.