davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-06-14
NEW PORTLAND

The Rebekah district meeting was
held with New Century Lodge as
hostess on Wednesday afternoon and
evening of June 6. The work was
very efficiently conferredby Bingham
Lodge. Several lodges were repre-
scented, among them were Bingham,
North Arson, Scion, Madison, Rich
mond, Wilton and Dixneld. A col
lection at both the afternoon and
evening meeting was taken and the
sum of $3.50 was realized for the
benefit of the home. A table of fan
cy work was also sold. The vice
president and warden were present
also the deputy president, Mrs. Clip
son of Bingham. Supper was served
at 9 o'clock and refreshments of Ice
cream and cake we're served after the
meeting.
A cemetery meeting was held re-
Gently at the home or Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Hoyt. 1t was decided to sell
the hearse and hearse house to John
P. Butts, also to buy certain amount
of land, extending the yard on each
side and enclosing the whole with an
iron fence and to place a tax of 81
on each lot.
George Stowell of Dixfield was a
business caller in town the first OF the
week.
Helen Metcalf came Saturday from
Lynn, Haven. Florida, where she has
been spending the winter. Her faith
err who accompanied her as far as
Portland where he will remain with
his son Clinton Metcalf and wife.
Irving Bailey went to Weld Sunday
where he will superintend N. s. Stow
ellis spool mill of that place.
Charles Whitten, Glenwood King and
Sherman Gould are at home from the
University of Maine.
Albion Burns is working In the
wooden mill at Madison. The corn
factory is being repaired for the fall
canning.
Bracket Wing OF Phillips has, been
visiting friends in town.
Several from this place attended the
dedication of the Odd Fellows Hall at
North Arson, Thursday evening.
EAST NEW PORTLAND
Misses Marjorie and Esther Walker
of North Arson visited Mrs. Il. w.
Emery during the week end.
Miss Martha NJ. Emery, nurse at
Kenneosc Valley Hospital, visited her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. H.>A. Emery
from Thursday until Monday.
The ball game between Central high
and Groveton, N. H. high played at
North New Portland last Saturday p.
m. resulted in a victory for Central
high. The score was to in favor
of Central high.
/ Dana Mfliay Is spending a week In
Groveton, N. H. with his brother-in-
law, A. r. Marshall, who is principal
| of the high school there.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-06-14

Mr.. and. Mrs. LIZ. Lancaster visit
ed at the home of Sumner Ellis in
Skowhegan Sunday.
Forest Farley was bushes calrer
in this vicinity late Saturday evenings
Odber Robinson and sister, Miss
Beulah Robinson were In FarmiHgton
Sunday afternoon and attended the
Baccalaureate sermon to the Normal
graduates, their sister. Miss Alice
Robinson Is one of the graduates.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-06-14

The Ladies Farm Bureau Will meet
with Mrs. C. B. Walker on WEDNESDAY
June goth. All day meeting MISS
Hare will be present. subject, ret
ticoats.
Miss Ardis A. Doliff OF the Cony
high school faculty, Augusta. visited
her parents. Rev. and Mrs. FRANK
Doljff Thursday and Friday OF last
week.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-06-14
WEST NORRIDGEWOCK

Mr.. and Mrs. Chester Roberts OF
Waterville were callers on Mrs. Matil-
dia Simpson Wednesday Of last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Rome Abbie of Show
hogan were callers at the home of Mr..
and Mrs. B. F. Baker.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-06-14
HOXIE

Mr.. and Mrs. Herbert Yosk
family were visiting friends IN
land Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Virgil Clemeal
Smithfleld were callers SUNDAY
their parents, Mr.. and Mrs. 4
Blodgett.
The school here closed Friday,
a picnic for the scholars an'
had a very pleasant time.
Mr.. and Mrs. Washington N
also Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Has,
Fairfield Center were calling o.
latives here Sunday.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-06-14

Independent Reporter, $l'bo
Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-13

the quietness. You sort of felt as
if something were pushing on your
head.
Terrific Going
The next day we hit Salt Wells
and one mile of the darndest going
through the salt marshes Imaginable.
We put on the skid chains, but it
took real driving with car weigh
ing 1900 pounds, filled, to get
through. When we saw the palm
trees ut Furnace Creek we all gave
a sigh of relief. 1t was the most
welcome sight we had spotted since
leaving home. We had six quarts
of gasoline left and covered 50
miles in two days.
Only Indians stay at Furnace
Creek ranch, where the thermometer
PLAYS tricks around the 135 mark in
the summertime. They grow green
stuff to supply the stock and people
at the borax mines a few miles
away. The old twenty-mule-team
borax mine has been abandoned and
the present one is on the railroad
at Ryan post office, eliminating
what was once a most picturesque
angle to boraX mining in Death Val
ley. We camped under the palm
trees and next morning, after sub
DUNG some more pancakes, we head
ed down Death Valley as far as the
Devil s Golf Course. We had pried
the Indians loose from five gallons
of gas, all they would spare, and
were determined to see as much of
the valley as our fuel supply would
permit.
Auto Club signs start anew at
Furnace Creek and from there the
valley south is signed. We rolled
to Shoshone and secured new rubber
and gas and then climbed bach over
the Salisbury Pass, between 5000
and 1000 feet elevation. From Sal
isbury we eoasted to the floor Of the
valley and obtained view of the
southern end, which is entirely diff
ferent from the northern end. There
end, but there are mud hills and
flne, drifting SAND galore.
Rain Butts In
We encountered II day of rain and
found the Amargosso Sink hard pull
ing on that account. We followed
the Amargossa river to Saratoga
Springs, which is sign-posted for no
apparent reason. There is nothing
to be seen there. Two miles out Of
Saratoga Springs we came across a
busy traffic corner, or so it seemed
to us, which had seen no sign Of
motor roads for days. Here four
roads converged. Our whole trip
was 6l3 miles, and from the timewe
left Johannesburg until we reached
Amargossa Sink we ran across only.
two machines. One was an aban-
doned car at the entrance Of Wild
Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-13
Trio of Daredevils Tackle Trackless
Wastes That Terrified '49 Emigrants;
Just as GruesOmely Wierd as Then
By EYEWITNESS

Death Valley looks like a long,
wiggily eel on the map. No one ever
made Is house pet of an eel, and
Death Valley will never be popular
with motorists, not even with the
misguided type who try to make
their ears climb trees or telegraph
poles or leap wildly into space from
mountain roads.
Only the daredevils will ever want
to visit Death Valley. 1t is a place
to be summed Parts of it are sign
posted by the Auto Club. The worst
parts are not.
Words are Weak
Death Valley is desolatiOn be-
yond description. That s what Man
ly said of it in his tale of the heart
breaking excursion of 40. And
Death Valley today is just as grim
and just as grewsome as it was So
years ago. The march of civiliza-
ton has left Death Valley very much
alone. What civilization yentured
in during the early days has moved
farther away to the outer edges.
When we sought expert advice
upon trip TO Death Valley, we were
strongly advised by old-timers of the
region not to attempt the valley by
way of Emigrant Wash. But we had
in our party an intrepid artist who
was fired with an ambition to be
the first newspaper man to make a
real map of Death Valley. Viewing
Death Valley dangers from Los An
geles was like looking through the
inverted end of Il telescope.
We made the valley by way of
Emigrant Wash, but the same cour-
ageous artist who insisted upon 60
ing that way has since developed a
serious stage of timidity. No more
trips for him over that route unless
second ear carrying a large quota
of extra tires, gas, oil, water and
provisions goes along. Charles Ham
ilton Owens, artist, has had bis fill
of gambling with the desert. We
cbewed up al our tires, had TO run
on flat ones and at one time found
ourselves with six gallons of gas in
the tank and miles and miles away
from habitation with not sign Of
road in sight. 1t was enough to
Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-13

test the courage of any man, even
an artist.
Three of En-
We left Los Angeles one after
noon when the skies were practicing
for a rainfall. Outdoor Franklin
Buick carried three passengers, grub
for a month, blankets sufficient for
nights at high attitudes and trio
of cameras.
Late driving brought us to Johan-
nesburg, where we hugged the warm
fire in the Joeburg pool hall. The
next morning we started for Trona,
whieli is the end OF the railroad and
furnishes the site for big bOrax
plant. Along the way we saw d
country spattered with pinnacles and
desert buttes.
One mile out of Trona we struck
the last Auto Club sign, advising
ventursome motorists that gener-
Gus supply of oil, gas and water was
necessary for travel from that point.
We crossed the desert to Slate
Range, and from the top of the
| range lit iiob Ni1h VI
the nastiest desert country ever seen.
We had q view of the entire west
slope of the Panamints, looking
across Great Dry Lake to Ballarat.
Ballarat is practically deserted.
There are a few miners there, but
no oil or gas can be had. Going
over Slate Range we chewed up our
first tire on a steep, hand made road.
We climbed from Ballarat to the
summit of Wild Rose canyon. There
was no road to follow in the wash
and the rocks and bumps tested the
driving ability of our pilot. At the
entrance to Wild Rose canyon there
were several government signs and
an Auto Club sign stating that the
section was not signed by the Auto
Club of Southern California.
We spent the night at shanty
near Wild Rose. Springs and the next
morning survived big batch of
Outdoor Franklin's pancakes. We
passed the turmoil to Skiddo, which
was the only indication of former
travel 10 an abandoned mining
camp, and mounted to Emigraut
Springs, which is practically the sum.
NIT Of the panamints. On the way
Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-13

we chewed up more tires and found
only six gallons of gas in the tank.
This was the occasion for a cOun-
ell of war. We had hardly enough
gas to get back to Trona, and we
knew absolutely nothing of the go
ing that was ahead of us or how far
we would have TO travel to get gas.
In the midst of our debate we were
startled by the appearance of the
first human being we had seen since
leaving Trona. An old prospeetor,
upon the point of exhaustion, came
scrambling over the rocks. He had
tramped over 10 miles of sand dunes
since six O'Clock the night before
and had nothing but "a can of coffee
left. He had lost his job at the
Keene Wonder Mine, and had been
told he could find work mt the Dar-
win Mine. He was without n map
and had only general idea of
where he was going. Our generous
artist parted with a government
map and we stocked the old pros
pector with Il good assortment of
provisions. lie told us that Furnace
Creek ranch might supply us with
gasoline if they had any to spare.
A Big Gamble
Gambling on this lone hope we
started on. Both of our spare tires
had replaced tires chewed TO bits
and we were running on flat tire
in front. At the Emigrant Springs
shanty we found the names of two
men who had stopped there on March
2S, 1922, and we believe that we fol-
lowed their tracks. At Furnace
Creek ranch we later learned that
these rhen had come through in u
stripped Ford, and so far as the
men at the ranch knew, no one had
been that way until our arrival.
Emigrant Wash,' through which
the old-timers left Death Valley, is
nothing but babble of canyons and
rocks. There is no road. While
Franklin piloted the Buick from one
crag to another the erstwhile pas
sengers famed out from the ma
chine searching for the sign of a
ing of our spectaeles brought no re-
ward. For 20 miles we picked our
way through the rocks as best we
could. 1t was the cruelest punish
ment you can inflict upon "A motor
car. 1t would have wrenched an Or
dinary car to pieces.
At Mesquite Flat on the floor of
the valley we picked up the tracks
lost 20 miles before. 1t was easy
riding for a ways and the Buick
seampered along like thing of the
wind. AS sudden as cloudburst
we struck soft sand and decided to
stop for the night. We made our
selves at home and got d good
night g rest. 1t was nice night,
but terribly depressing because Of
Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-13
alley

to all appearance made by Satar
himself. to consume tires and &c
wreck ears to pieces-blind ravines
and mirages to lead them on.
Six quarts of gasoline was all the
fuel left in the tank when the party
reached civilization. They are unan-
imous in their opinion that the trip
might have ended disastrously, as
many whitened bones aud wagon
ruins told, if they had not been
driving wonderful ear equipped
with mighty Ajax Cord Tires-a
super combination, which, when
pitted against the worst imaginable
odds nature has to offer, kept the
faith "Outdoor' Franklin placed
in them to the last mile of the 6l3
of damnably tough going, as this
fearless driver tersely expressed it.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-13

Rose canyon and the other pros
pector's s stripped Ford near Amar
gossa Sink.
The Avawatz mountains provided
us with cave to keep out the cold
wind that night and the next morn
ing we headed for Crackerjack, "a
relic of the wild and furious days Of
early California. The only things
left now are n few stone fOunda-
tions of shanties and a couple of
weather beaten shacks. The only
sign of life in one Of the shacks
was "A bunch of flies buzzing in a
water jar. There was no human so
ciety to furnish entertainment. 1t
was drear, drab picture. From
Crackerjack we took our way back
to Los Angeles by easy stages, glad
to recommend Death Valley as a
place that ought to be kept out Of
the touring trips column. Deluded,
indeed, is the motorist who pictures
roads in Death Valley. They are as
foreign to this pale, mysterious spot
on the map as rattlesnakes in the
snow.
Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-13
Ajax Tires are
Used in Death
Valley Touring

Those who have viewed the south
western desert from the luxury of
Pullman ear can possibly grasp
what it means to cross such a dreary,
fOrbidding area as Death Valley in
a motor car if they will believe any
part of the following.
Yet three daredevils, namely "Out
door Franklin, super-daredevil driV-
cr, no other than Charlie Owens, IA
nous artist, and Captain Davis,
made the trip into its lowest depths
and lived to tell the tale -- a tale
hundreds of prospectors left in the
shape of whitened bones on blister
ing sands.
The men came back because, ac-
cording to them, they had pinned
their faith in Buick Six, equipped
with Ajax Cords. These hardened
voyagers told A. f.. Boal, manager
of the Los Angeles branch of the
AJAX Rubber Company, that they
had never experienced such a de
pressing atmosphere as they felt in
Death Valley. 1t was a living
morgue, if that can be imagined.
No Roads
There were no roads---that in it.
self would have turned most men
back. Tie topography of the coun
try cannot be described in ordinary
English. They went through the
"cussidest" " land in the world
sand which seemed bent on engulf
ing the ear and occnpants-wrecks
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-29

with tenants who assumed superiority
lest someone treat them as inferior.
Mrs. Weatherstone, being a cultured
woman, was undisturbed by thoughts
Of comparison. Therefore Mrs. Pen
field could meet her on her own
ground
Mrs. Weatherstone proceeded at
once to her errand. II have just dis
covered that one of the maids gave
your son the wrong bundle. sup
pose you knew It was mistake"
"A mistake!" Mrs. Penfield re-
peated the phrase in surprise. mo,
didn't know there was mistake"
you didn't7 Why, didn't you get
the silk hangings and that embroid-
cred bedspreadf"
"Yes, but I s'pcsed you intended to
send EN-"
A look of alarm came into Mrs.
Weatherstone's face. what did you
do with themf" Her voice was tense
with suppressed anxiety.
II washed them. Right now 1 was
ironing"
Mrs. Weatherstone sprang to her
feet. "You washed them" she repeat
ed, shocked and incredulous. DO
you mean that you put them into wa
teri"
Mrs. Penfield blinked. "S1re l die.
Why not?"
Unto waterl My choicest hangings
How could you do it? You should
have known there was mistake.
Those things were to be dry cleaned
I'd gathered up everything because
we're doing the house over and re
furnishing. But waterl Why"
whats the matter with waterr
demanded Mrs. Penfield. thoughtfully
puzzled. DRY cleaning amt half sc
cleansing. and things don't smell SC
good. either"
ITO be Continued)
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-29

your health. Mrs ~eoth sioner'
The lady's lips danced. trt she an
swered as lady shr.ld. I'm very
well, thank you. How are yon?r
"Oh, mel" returned Lettie jauntily.
TIN as strong as a cow. I've made
as many's twenty trips today. ]
guess"
Mrs. Weatferstone seemed not to be
familiar with the phraseology Of
dumps. Her dark eyes strayed to a
packing box.
"Are you moving?" she inquired, in
some perplexity.
'Land, no." cried Lettie in astonish-
ment. "Them why them are beds.
Look herew She sprang up and gave
one of the boxes vigorous twist.
"This Is where Crink sleeps; Thad
sleeps in the other one"
''Never mind, Lettie," reproved
Mrs. Penfield quietly, as she came into
the room. "Fm very sorry to have
kept you waiting, Mrs. Weatherstone."
Subdued, Lettie pus;.ed back the
boz and withdrew to a corner. watch
ing her beloved Penz;e with specula-
tive wonder. There was subtle
change in Mrs. Peniield's manner. even
IN her way of speaking. Lettie felt it,
but could not know the cause. With
out realizing il herself, Mrs. Penfield
had reverted to the days when she
had had real home and had re-
ceived callers on basis of genial
equality, vastly different from her en-
forced experience in The Custard
Cup, an environment which was fal
from encouraging to niceties in
speech and bearing. Her manner was
as self-possessed as usual, but touched
with a gracious reserve that woult
have been fatal in her intercours,
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-29
got fuTI feeling, you can't tell what
ppva ~ - x,o,,v

got fulI feeling, you canr tell what
gave 1t to you"
"Oh, children" began Mrs. Penfield,
quickly, tonight we1l have a gr-gran
Her voice broke. With a swift
movement she got up from the table
and went back to the stove, rattling
the dampers vigorously.
Crink also rose. 'I got something
to see to-" he explained hurriedly.
With the air of starting on distant
errand, he went out through the big
front door.
Instantly, as If she had been wait
Ing for some such circumstance, Lettie
dashed out at the back door. She ran
to the coop in which Bonnie Geraldine
clucked away the days, and crumbled
reasonable lunch of cornbread
through the Stats. Reaching in her
pocket for more, she turned to feed FIJI
Caesar.
Crink was there before her, digging
Into his pockets and spreading corn
bread for the hungry little dog.
/ Il thought mebbe-mebbe Fil'd like
some" he said softly.
Lettie nodded. 1--WE can't tell him
'bout-'bOut drinking water" she whls-
pered. Her lips were unsteady, but
she broke the cornbread with resolute
fingers till Filibuster had eaten every
crumb.
The day dragged through-and the
night. The next morning, as early as
permissible. Crink set out for relief
and brought back an enormous bun
die from Mrs. Weatherstone's, as well
as the pay for the. two weeks. And
the lunch that day far outdistanced
the Christmas dinner In acceptability
to all the little Penfields.
When Mrs. Penfield opened the bun
die that Crink had brought, she was
amazed to find that it did not contain
white clothing as usual, but silks ant
embroideries, colored fabrics, fal
more difficult washing. However, she
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-29

undertook 1t the following morning,
the more readily because 1t was cloudy,
with slight wind. The delicate arti-
cles could be hung in the yard and
would dry quickly.
The rents must be collected, since
all the tenants who had been away
for the holidays were now home again.
Mrs. Penfield flew from one thing to
another washing, collecting rent,
watching the silk curtains and en-
broideries on the line, changing them
about that they might dry as quickly
and evenly as possible. She must get
to the bank before closing time.
In the midst Of all this bustle. Gus
sic Bosley came in, bringing a small
square package.
Don't say you won't take It." She
forestalled Mrs. Penfield's objection.
"I've just got to leave 1t with you"
~ can't take It," said Mrs. Penleld
firmly. "It makes me uneasy. You'd
better rent a safety box. Amt any
thing safe here If a burglar should
take a notion to come. I'm sorry. but
I don't feel like taking"
"You needn't take It," interrupted
Gussie Bosley. With lightning hove
ment, she reached through the open
bedroom door and placed the package
on the apple-box cupboard. the re-
sponsibility's on my head. Thank you"
She ran out of the house, well ahead
Of Mrs. Penfield, who followed, pro-
testing, as soon as she had shatched
up the package.
Dlspleased but conquered, she took
the package back and dropped 1t In
her old suitcase. She was In far too
great hurry to do anything else at
the moment. 1t crossed her mind that
Mrs Bosley's nerves must be going
back on her; but In that case, the
safety box was the logical solution.
She hurried to the yard and quickly
gathered the silken articles from the
lines. She could not go downtown
and leave them outside, even with the
children watching them. AS she came
back, she glanced to see what time II
was-caught her breath in dismay
The bank was closedl
Aghast, she stared blankly at the
old alarm clock. It was never simple
to read the discolored dial under the
cracked glass. particularly because a
leg was gone, and one had to turn
ones head. mentally or actually. tt
compensate for the fitting. Otherwise
one might fall into error from long
habit with normal clocks.
How did 1 ever make such blum
der?" she gasped. 'Tm twenty min
utes behind, and didn't know 1t.
must have read wrong when looked
last time. My goodness land, now I've
got all that money in the house. Like
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-29
CHAPTER XIX
Twenty Minutes Late.

MY goodness, Uncle Jerry. you
don't mean it!' Mrs. Penfield paused
In her chopping of meat for the dress
ing.
Yes, Car'line, ! came In to tell you
I'm awful sorry, but
But Christmas day!' she interrupt
ed, struggling between hurt and be-
wilderment. mot TO take dinner with
Your own folks!'
Il would If I could. Wouldn't noth-
ing please me better But l got 10 go
out of town. It's sudden call. Busl-
ness I got to see to! I may not De
back for several days. Don't expect
me till I come. I've got to hurry for
my train. Good-by. Merry Christ
mast
Gloomily Mrs. Penfield stared after
MIN. She still had no idea what SOFT
of business he was trying out, as ne eS-
pressed it; certainly she could not uh-
derstand why any business whatever
should call him out of town on the
chief holiday of the whole year
The zest of the dinner was gone Tor
her. but she exerted herself, that the
children might not notice. And they
"id not. Never before had they nau so
wonderful feast They would ii'e
on the memory Of il for many daSs-
rather more literally than anyone sup
posed mt the time. too. Roast d"chs
and potato. gravy. squash. rice pun
ding with raisins And all the 'iine
III" tree waited for them to come Dach'
hectoninp to them with its soft, tinsel-
hung houghs and gay festoons OF pop
"orn md shells.
I"ttia SLIGHTLY numb from replelloil
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-11-29
Florence Bingham
Livingston
SYNOPSIS

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