davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-10-31
Tragic Death OF Mrs. Susan b. Fletcher

Tie holy D Mrs. Susan b. Good
rich Fletcher. widow of the late
tstGaai Fletcher. was found about
ons-hall mile from her home on
TIL Middle road. Thursday night of
la7t week. She had been missed. and
te3fias hat some accident had befall-
en- Ter. a search had been SONG on
THROUGH the day sas vas found
He3r her orchard about seven feet
fro@ stone wall. at ten o'clock in
tae evening The condition in which
her dalN Was discovered. led to differ
snee- IN opinion as to how she met
her death
Mr. Fletcher Wis seen about noon
Wednesday, Of last week. in her door
yard With halter in her hand as
though she was going in search for
the horse. which usually roamed about
the farm during the day time.
The unfortunate woman's hat lay
some distance from her body and was
the first trace discovered The
grass near it was blood stained, and a
few steps further on, her cloak was
found With some false hair. and still
a little further, were her shoes and
stockings. These things strewed in
this manner can hardly be accounted
for, unless, after her injury she re-
moved them while in condition of
hysteria OF course, there is always
a possibility that she may have been
attacked, but in general, the circum-
stances do not indicate foul play, The
head was severely bruised about the
face and covered with blood The
decision of medical examiner, w S.
Stinchfeld was that she received her
! fatal injury from the horse which she
| had evidently been trying to catch
| Heavy footprints were found in the
vicinity by neighbors and Deputy
Sheriff. C. II. Chute, who carefully
examined the locality during the day
Friday. From all appearances, it
would seem that her poultry had not
been fed for nearly two days and this
, would indicate that Mrs Fletcher
must have met with her death on
Wednesday. twenty-four or thirty-six
hours before she was found The
horse, which really was the first to
attract attention to the tragedy by
wandering about the highway, has
been returned to the Fletcher home
Mrs. Fletcher was 81 years of age
the daughter of Cyrus and Lucy CPip-
err Goodrich of Madison She was
married to Pethual Fletcher in 1894
About fifteen years ago, he pas ed
away and she has lived alone a great
er part of the time, except when
some man or woman came to aid her
about her work on the farm. She
was a member of the Bethany Bap-
fist church
The funeral services were held from
her home last Saturday afternoon
with Rev George Merriam officiating
Interment was in the Southside Gene
terry. The deceased is survived by a
lister. Mrs George Holbrook of Will
ton and one brother. Cyrus Goodrich
i of Skowhegan and who resides on
/ Madison avenue
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-10-31

been received by Louis Bolduc from
his son Joseph. now with the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Forces in France.
Sept &c. 1918
Dear Father
will write you a few lines today
to tell YOU that | am we'll and hope
this letter will find you all the same.
| wrote to Lucille a few days ago stat
ing that We were going in the trench
Is once more. but instead of going to
hold the ground we went and attack
ed and gained many miles of ground.
The drive We made was a great sue
cess The Germans are losing their
courage. they give themselves up at
every opportunity. | had good luck
this trip. | shot four and helped to
capture ~ others. have the pic
tnre of one of the Germans | killed
| will send you some of them later
on Well. this war is as good as
won nov It is only a matter OF n
short while when We will jump on a
ship bound for \ Y What a happy
day that will be for all of us. know
ing that we saved the world
Did Lucille go to Canada as she
said she would? got that letter
Lucille wrote August 10 She asked
if it was so about Placide 1t is
very funny that you did not hear
about it before August 10 The Gov
usually sends kilograms a few days
after soldiers death That is why
| did not send one.
Well the Germans made me shed
tears, now it is our turn have paid
them back to some extent All |
ask is that We have another chance
at them soon. We are still near the
front We thought last night that
We would go over the top this morn
ing but We did not move Some other
divisions went instead It is a big
drive that started this morning
hope they keep it up for a month or
so. We may win back all that France
lost this year; let's hope SO anyhow.
Well | guess this will be all for to-
day VIII write again soon
CORP. JOSEPH l. BOLDIC
Co f. 103rd Inf, A E F
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-10-31
Ernest II. Gaylord

Ernest II Gaylord who has been re
ported missing in action, is the son
of Mr. and Mrs George Gaylord of
Hinckley. His parents received a
letter from MIN dated a week later
than the casualty is supposed to have
taken place, which states he was all
right at that time He is 81 years
of age and member of Co. II, 2nd
Maine. 103rd Infantry
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-10-31
orp. William +. Whitney

Corp William f Whitney the son
OF Mr. Ida aud the late Joe Whitney
of North Canaan. VAS reported Killed
in action. September 26 Mr. Whit
ney was one Of the original members
of g \ md Maine. losrl Infantry
and served a The Mexican border
1Ao years ago Besides h, mother
here are faur brothers and three
sisters
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-10-31
\ Long Pond Boy Writes from Pari,

Frederick 7. Charron son Of Mr.
and Mrs Thomas Gharron. who enlist
el with the 10th Forestry Engineers
and went to France with the l0th Bat
TALON. sometime in April, reports that
lie is we'll and happy Nevertheless.
he will be glad to return to Good Old
Maine after the Kaiser has been
Canned. The Gharron family came
from New York state 10 Long Pond
about six years ago Thomas Charron
l. head sawyer in the mill OF the KEEL
logg Lumber Co For L number Of
years lis son Fred Wis employed
there in the same capacity lefore he
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-10-31
Letter From Corp. Bolduc

The following letter has recently
been received by Louis Bolduc from
his son Joseph. now with the Amer-
can Expeditionary Forces in France.
Sept. &c, 1918
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
OUR ARMY ANIMALS.

The army mule is not without honor
as an individual, but little attention Is
paid TO him collectively. Certain figures
given in the last Army and Navy Journal
as to our army animals remedy this
injustice. The increase in our human
forces has naturally been accompanied
by vast increase IN the number of these
valuable coadjutors
When We entered the war the strength
of the United States Army III animals
Was 66145. On january 10 it had
mounted TO 344, 900. And this quick
increase has gwen rise to animal health
problems, just as the rapid growth OF
our human army was accompanied by
similar difficulties. The animal deaths
for the six weeks ended January 10 Of
this year were ATT. The chief mortality
cause Is influenza, popularity known as
shipping fever" and its complications.
To cope with the animal department
quick expansion of the remount and
veterinary services was necessary. The
former now has 300 officers and ] 900
enlisted men and the latter 900 officers
with an authorized strength OF l. 600
men, which is being rapidly recruited.
Animal hospitals 1t convenient points
en- route and other facilities for fighting
animal sickness are being provided AS
rapidly as possible.-Ch ChIcagO Herald
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
AMERICA THE TEUTON'S FOE.

Passengers who arrived IN New York
on the Nieuw Amsterdam say that
Germany II making tremendous prep
arations 70 deal deadly blow with Il new
type of submarine, TO be used In the
| Pacific Germany now looks upon Amer
lea as its main foe Hindenburg prob
ably did not say that he would be IN
Paris by April; if he did he played a
desperate hand for the allaying Of popular
unrest in Germany. He knows, his
country knows, that Germany has come
to grips with its main foe. There will
be no more undertaking Of the Importance
of the United States In the contest. The
reports as 30 the new type OF submarine
represent it as being of gigantic proper
tions, carrying a siX-inch gun IN addition
TO the numerous torpedoes and the guns
of other caliber. This submarine Is
probably only an advance upon the cruiser
type that is already in use. To seven
of these was attributed some while ago
about all the destruction now being
wrought by the submersibles. This Is
an exaggerated statement of the case.
There is no exaggeratlOn In attrlbutIng
to any one of these giants appallingf
possibilities for damage. Potting one of
these is work worthy of the honor of the
republic bElilS int -AiiitI i
can commander responsible for the exploit
The drcadnought submarines, 1T is said,
arc being built in considerable numbers.
The contest is now on, with Germany
stripping in It's best gladiatorial form TO
give an exhibition Of the most absolute
brutality it can possibly display.
The blow delivered IN the torpodoing
OF the Tuscania largely failed OF its object
But this was Il circumstance favored
largely by a chance. The country
may not look for and docs not look for
uniformly such good fortune. IT counts
upon meeting German craft at every
angle of its sea operations. 1t counts
upon sinking them. And il counts
moreover upon bottling up the German
feet and combining the German submarines
to their bases Every fact apd product
for this result will be used, every fact
and exhibition Of American bravery vii
be called into play. The German sub
marines, big or little, must 90. and the
American Navy will do much toward
putting them out Of business. .-Balti-
more American.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
PRESS COMMENTS.
EXTEND TINE FOR
INCOME TAX RETURNS

II is out of the question to expect that
income tax returns can be prepared in
time for filing with the collectors of in
ternal revenue on or before March /. The
government, by extending the time, should
willingly grant to income taxpayers the
indulgence which it has had to ask Of them
for itself The blanks which should have
been issued in December have only Just
been made available, for the personal in
come tax returns and for returns of cor
porations; the excess profits tax blanks
are still to be issued
made much more difficult by the com
plexities of the War Revenue act. A
multitude Of questions has been raised,
all of which even the Treasury Depart
ment has not been able to answer with
positive ASSURANCE of correctness. No
body as yet knows how to fill in an excess
profits blank, there are so many problems
In the Interpretation of the law remaining
to be solved.
There will be many millions OF returns
made, this year The law requires that
they should be filed with the collectors by
the first of March, date only 20 days
away. The task is impossible In the
attempt to comply with the law as to this
date of filing innumcrable mistakes will
be made calling for delay and a vast
amount of clerical labor in making col
lections Great numbers of individual
applications for an extension OF tune Will
be made. The government should extend
the time for all and make the announce
ment Immediately that returns may be
filed up to April New York Times.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
A CALL FOR DIRECT ACTION.

II the drafting or enlistment of chemists
| for army service is interfering with the
production of essential war materials,
| the sensible thing would be to search out
the men and restore them to industry.
The adjutant general OF the army an
nounces that manufacturers of such ma
terials who have lost highly specialized
chemists through the draft may recover
them for war work, while Others who are
threatened with similar losses through
selection on the next call may retain the
needed men. But applications must he
made by the affected manufacturers.
That this will accomplish all that is aimed
at is to be doubted Some manufacturers
have made rule that they will not ask
for the exemption OF any men from army
service.
As to chemists, many are employed
In industries that are not producing
materials for the war, but the products
of whose work are indispensable TO war
industry. There are powder factories
supplying coal mining companies with
explosives essential to the production of
coal II their necessary chemists are
taken into the army what will the fuel
situation be? 1t seems from the an
nounoement of the acknowledgement that
our selectivc service law has not so far
operated TO prevent altogether sending
to the colors such men Indispensable to
war ndustries-Pittsbur Gazette-Times.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
Must Pay Teachers More.

Down-State papers, especially those
OF Kent and Sussex counties, are giving
serious attention TO the important subject
of better pay for teachers In the State
public schools. The situation is becoming
serious, as during last year many teachers
gave up their schools TO accept more
lucrative positions elsewhere, and it has
been impossible to fill all the vacancies
thereby created.
II has become matter Of positive
knowledge that the minimum rate Of
SIS per month for school teachers is
insufficient, and no sensible person will
doubt the proposition. Taxpayers ia the
various school districts should wake up
and vote more money, in order to allow
larger salaries, and also TO have better
schools. II they do not, the Legislature
should take action. II is scandal to Tie
State 10 continue this situation IL our
schools. The Laurel state LEICESTER SAYS
500 q month ls sHa' ough pay fo~
capable tcachr sreby il e'-7 ~>e>
= pl .
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
Better Than in the Past.

When it is considered what, has been
done in this country, in the way of war
preparations, during the nine months OF
our participation in the war, it is not
surprising there should he some revela-
tions of scandal. The Hog Island ma
nipulations, under a plan that involved
the expenditure of millions in the con-
struction of great shipbuildlng plant
on the Delaware river, is the latest devel-
opment; also, the only one that promises
tosassume any magnitude so far as figures
are concerned. And even rs to this
affair, its character and extent have not
yet been fully revealed.
But it may be interesting, in this con-
nection, to make comparisons with the
past. During our Civil War many con-
tractors realized enormous fortunes from
government contracts, and there were
many instances Of cheating and thievery.
Even our little war with SPAN, in ad-
dition to the surprising incompetency 1T
developed, was attended with the scandal
of 'Alger beef for army supplies-meat
that was unfit for human consumption
to say nothing of other offendings
No country engaged in war ever
escaped corruption and thievery in its
administration of war affairs. Nearly
every European country engaged in the
present war has had this difficulty to
contend with. No doubt we have done
well, thus far. At anys rate. it is a good
thing to have the revelations early in the
campaign, so they may be suppressed
and avoided hereafter.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
1umulty's Good Sense.

it Is doubtful If anyone viii question
the good sense displayed by Joseph
Tumulty, secretary to President Wilson
IN turning down an opportunity to become
at least a candidate for United States
Senator from New Jersey, in place oi
Senator William Hughes, deceased. II is
much more within reason that Mr.
Tumulty may be given, if anything, a
cabinet post, as was Cortelyou, during
the Roosevelt regime.
There is, indeed, some question as to
whether Tumulty actually sought the
toga from New Jersey, and whether his
recent visit to his home State was not
more for personal purposes than political
Be that as it may, for Mr.. Wilson TO
designate his private secretary for q sena-
torial capacity, appeintive by the govern
or of his home State, would establish .
precedent which, as may readily be seen,
might lead TO many evils.
So il is very probable that Mr. Tumulty
never had senatorial aspirations; that his
visit TO north jersey, of which so much
fuss has been made, was perfectly normal
and in accord with his business as secre-
tary TO the chief executive. Or perhaps
on personal business, which would be only
natural.
4 senatorship from a State the size
and population of New Jersey is well worth
the having, but in times like the present
there Is such thing as standing by ones
chief with loyalty that owes no come
hack.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
Promoted by German Gold.

Recently the Petit Parisien, leading
newspaper OF Paris, secured possession of
some official German documents bearing
directly upon the negotiations which led
up to the war, which applied to German
diplomacy, and especially bore upon the
revolution In Russia The latest publica-
tion affords convincing proof that the
BolsheVil movement In Russia, which
resulted Ia the revolution and the subse-
quent withdrawal of Russia from the
war, was conceived and encouraged by
German intrigue and financed by Ger
man money The documents printed bv
the Petit Parisien afford ample proof of
this
This revelation, however, Is not sur
prislng. It shows the double-dealing OF
Germany and her efforts TO win by
debauchery what she cannot hope TO
WIN by force of arms. While Russia
was III the war, German intrigue was
firmly entrenched IN old St Petersburg
and was dealing secret blows that crippled
the Russian campaign In the field, by
Withholding supplies and munitions Just
when they were most needed. Had it
not been for this treachery at home the
Russian forces might have been signally
successful.
But now it seems that Germanys
bargain with the Bolsheviki is not turning
out success. 1t is hoped it viii prove a
boomerang in the end.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
RAILROADERS AS FIREMEN.
Pennsylvania Men Saved Property
Worth $IO,A45,I96 from Destruction
Last YcaY

Worth sIO.445,I96 from Destruction
Last Year.
Promptncss on the part of employees
| OF the Pennsylvania Railroad System IN
| extingllishing fires before the arrival ol
| the public fire companies last year, saved
tl0,445, 1856 worth of company property
from destruction. Altogether 334 fires
were put out by employees. These occur
red on property valued Mt slO,457,773,
but the total loss sustained was only
sl2,575. These facts are shown in tho
annual report Of the company's insurance
department for 1917, which has just been
compiled
The total fire loss of the Pennsylvania
Railroad System in 1917, including those
cases IN which the public fire companies
responded, was $500, ,i65 This was in
CURED on properties having total she'd
uled valuation, for insurance purposes
of 1856, ,0S9,470, showing the very low
loss ratio of SEC. for each 500 Of value
at risk
Fifty-one fires occurring on the prop
erty of the Pennsylvania RAILROAD System
last year were due TO causes wholly beyond
the control Of the company or the employees
Adjacent property burning caused 25
fires; adjacent rubbish caused two; bows
were responsible for two; incendiaries
for three lightning for three; tramps for
three; tornado for one, and spontaneous
ignition for l3
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
PEPPER TALKS,
by George Matthew Adams.
THELIMITLESS SIGNIFICANCE
OF NATURAL THINGS

II is too bad that it takes so
many centuries TO produce, now
and then, a Wordsworth. One who
sees in the meanest and simplest
things OF Nature rare and endur-
ing Inspiration. Listen to him:
"To every natural form, rock, fruit,
or flower,
Even the loose stones that cover the
highway,
gave a moral life and all
That | beheld respired with inward
meaning
Sometimes think that there is so
much beauty in the world that IL
blinds us to its significance. IL IS so
llmitlees There are a great deal
more happy people in the world
than unhappy ones / am sure
And yet, one would sometimes think
that happiness is q very rare at
tainrnent
But Wordsworth and Whitman
and ThOreau saw more beauty and
happiness in the world than they
could adequately express or tell
about even in their wonderfully
gifted ways
Snow is just snow, that's all 70
most people to be brushed away
and to melt But 70 him who has
seen its wonder under the magnify
ing glass ahl Nodded forms Of
iced beauty 50 exquisite that one
could safely believe that some god
had breathed them ont from his
soul, and that they had fiickered
10 the warm earth.
The more you study nature
the more you appreciate what you
are and what you have. For IN ma
ture, the strongest note voiced Is
that Of naked truth No pretense
No hypocricy No ugliness. Just
beauty, that il all. There Is really
nothing ugley IN honest life.
You can be wonderfully happy
today just by meditating upon and
feeling the limitless significance
Of natural things
$3.50 , ? ? > ~ : ? - ?
- = - "a = 1 - = - 49,
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
THE EVENING SMILE.
TREASURE TROVE.

For some reason the Sunday school
class had become Interested IN Methu-
selah. At their urgent request the
teacher related all the authentic infor-
nation recorded in the Bible about
that amazing man. also various anecdotes
CLEANED from less reliable sourcts In
conclusion she said:
Now, is that all? Are there any
further questions YOU would like to ask
about Methlsclah2'
I'D like to know" said the most
interested vorngster of the lot, where all
his birthday presents are buried. Gal
weston News.
Pop, what are ayes and noes for in
legislative bodics?" With some Of them,
my child, they are first To scent jobs and
then wink Mt them. - Baltimore Amer
lean
Clarence When | was quite child,
YOU know, | was told if | didn't stop
smoking | would become fcehle-mInded :
Clara Well, why didn't YOU stop?' p
Judge.
Wife Arches been gambling again,
mother. think he has lost BIS senses. :"
Mother Indeed | had no .dca they
played for such small stakes. - Boston
Transcript.
4 small boy who had been IN the habit Of
leaving food on has plate was warned
that Mr.. Hoover would not approve OF
1t He meditatively replied: 1--WE al
ways had to mind daddy and mother and
Aunt Mary and God, and now here comes
along Mr.. Hoover Life.
''Savages wall trade vast tracts OF land
for 4 string of beads. well, replied
Mss Cayenne, Il know a man who wears
evening clothes and carries a cane, and
he did the same thing. He went broke
trying to pay for pearl necklace. =
Washington Star.
Wife John, there's draught COM
ing in the window. Debt-harrassed hus-
band WHO from Boston Transcript
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-11
A Simple Way TO
Remove Dsndruf

There IL one sure way that has nevor
failed 10 remove dandnIf 40 ODoe. and
that - 20 dissolve u. then you destroy %
entirely. To do this, Just get about four
ounces Of PLAIN, common iquid aryon
from any drug store this ~ al you uill
tise enough 10 moisten The scalp and rub
It IN gently with the finger tipe
by morning. most, n not AT, q your
daDdruh Will be- gone. and three or four
more applications will completely die
solve and entirely destroy every singlc
sign and trace of II, no matter how murh
dandrUf you may have
You will find al itching and diying
o' the scalp wall stop instantly, and your
hair Will be fluffy, luTtrOue, gl0gvy. ilky
and soft, and look and feel a hundred
times better