The Princeton union. [volume], April 25, 1912, Image 1

About The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976

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E. C. DUNN, Publisher. Terms $1.00 Per Tear.
GALLANT MAJ. BUTT
He Was One of the riany Heroes
Who Went Down With the
HI-Fated Titanic.
Mrs. H. B. Harris Tells a Washington
Star Reporter of His Cool-
ness and Heroism.
One of- the bravest of the brave
men who went down to death in the
ill-fated Titanic was Major Archibald
Butt, President Taft's military aide.
He labored unceasingly to help
women and children to get away from
the doomed ship and kept cowardly
men from filling the boats, and then
met his fate like a true American
soldier. Mrs. H. B. Harris of Wash
ington, one of the survivors, in an
interview with a Washington Star re
porter, tells of Major Butt's coolness
and heroism:
"Archie Butt was a major to the
last. God never made a finer noble
man than he. The sight of that man,
calm, gentle and yet firm as a rock,
will never leave me. The American
army is honored by him and the way
he showed some of the other men how
to behave when women and children
were suffering that awful, mental fear
that came when we had to be huddled
in those boats. Major Butt was near
me and I know very nearly every
thing he did.
"When the order came to take to
the boats he became as one in su
preme command. You would have
thought he was at a White House re
ception, so cool and calm was he.
When the time came he was a man to
be feared. In one of the earlier
boats fifty women, it seemed, were
about to be lowered when a man, sud
denly panic-stricken, ran to the stern
of it.
"Major Butt shot one arm out,
caught him by the neck and jerked
him backward like a pillow. His head
cracked against a rail and he was
stunned.
'Sorry,'said Major Butt: 'Wo-
men will be attended to first or I'll
break every damned bone in your
body.'
"The boats were lowered away one
by one and as I stood by my husband
he said to me, 'Thank God for Archie
Butt.' Perhaps Major Butt heard it
for he turned his face toward us for a
second. Just at that time a young
man was arguing to get into a life
boat and Major Butt had hold of the
lad by the arm, like a big brother
and appeared to be telling him to
keep his head.
"How inspiring he was. I stayed
until the last and know what a man
Archie Butt was. They put me in a
collapsible boat. I was one of three
women from the first cabin in the
thing. The rest were steerage people.
"Major Butt helped those poor,
frightened steerage people so wonder
fully, tenderly and yet with such cool
and manly firmness. He was a
soldier to the last. He was one of
God's greatest noblemen, and I think
I can say he was an example of
bravery even to the officers of the
ship. He gave up his life to save
others."
Here is Major Butt's military
record as disclosed by the general
staff and his superior officers:
"A military student at the Uni
versity of the South. Sewanee, Tenn.
an author of novels, magazine articles
and abstract army problems a
quartermaster who earned the highest
commendations from Wm. H. Taft,
who as governor of the Philippines,
commended him for appointment in
the regular army: an exceptionally
tactful and diplomatic aide-de-camp
and generally efficient officer, accord
ing to the testimony of Theodore
Roosevelt a commendable and loyal
worker in the Philippines, according
to Lieutenant General Bates, and one
of the best volunteer captains and
quartermasters ever seen, according
to Major General Arthur McArthur."
The Great Ocean Disaster
The exact number of lives lost by
the foundering of the great Titanic off
the New Foundland banks on the
night of the 14th inst. will never be
known, but the lowest estimate now is
1,600. None were saved only those
who were rescued by the Carpathia.
lb was an awful catastrophe and
might have been avoided if the Ti
tanic had not been going at such a
high rate of speed26 miles an hour.
The captain had been warned that
there were icebergs in the path of his
ship, but instead of slowing down
more steam was crowded on to get
away from the ice as speedily as pos
sible, it is claimed. It is presumed
that Captain Smith was acting under
instructions of the managing director
of the White Star line, Bruce Ismay,
who was on board, and was anxious
that the Titanic should make a
record-breaking trip across the At
lantic. The captain, like a true
Engish sailor, died at his post, while
Ismay was one of the first to sneak off
in a boat from the doomed ship.
A committee of the United States
senate is conducting an investigation
as to the cause of the terrible dis
aster, and an investigation is about
to be started in England. Some good
may result from these investigations
in the way of stringent legislation
that will require passenger vessels to
be equipped with proper and ample
life-saving devices.
Many acts of heroism are reported
in connection with the terrible
disaster. Even the gamblers on the
Titanicit is said there was a score
of themhelped to save women and
children and then uncomplainingly
met their fate without flinching.
The testimony of fourth officer
Boxhall of the Titanic disclosed the
fact that after she came in contact
with the iceberg and was appealing
for assistance, a vessel supposed to
be the Danish steamer Hellig Olav,
was sighted only five miles away.
But although the officers on the
bridge of the Titanic plainly saw the
vessel, there was no response to her
frantic calls for aid. Either the
officers in charge of the unknown
steamer did not catch the Titanic's
messages, or if they did disregarded
them. There can hardly be any doubt
that there was a vessel in close
proximity to the Titanic after she re
ceived her death wound, but owing to
the fog, and lack of a wireless opera
tor probably, the vessel did not see
or learn of the Titanic and her des
perate condition.
AUGUST KOEKNBR
Brave Old holdler, Faithful State Official
and Loyal Friend Gone to His Rest.
That brave old soldier and faithful
state official, August T. Koerner, is
no more he passed to his rest at the
Mounds Park sanatorium, St. Paul,
on the evening of the 18th inst. A
week prior to his death he had been
brought from his home at Litchfield
to the hospital in order that he might
have the best medical skill available.
For "several years past Mr. Koerner
had been in poor health. The im
mediate cause of his death was heart
failure.
Mr Koerner was born in 1843 at
Rodach. Saxe-Coburn-Gotha. Ger
many. He came to the United States
in 1858, and resided in Indiana and
Missouii for three years prior to the
commencement of the civil war. On
April 18th, 1861, at the age of 18, the
patriotic young German rushed to
the defense of the flag of his adopted
country and enlisted in Co. G., Sixth
Indiana Inf. At the expiration of the
period for which he enlisted he im
mediately joined the Twenty-Sixth
Indiana volunteers. He served four
years two months and eight days in
the Union army and was honorably
discharged June 25, 1865, at New
Orleans. He saw much active service
and participated in the seige of
Vicksburg. After the close of the
war Mr. Koerner remained in Illinois
two years. In 1867 he came to Minne
sota and settled on a farm near Litch
field. He held several local offices at
Litchfield including that of post
master and register of deeds of
Meeker county. He served in the
1893 legislature and was chairman of
the house railroad committee. In
1894 he was elected state treasurer,
and was re-elected in 1896 and 1898.
For several years, when his heatlh
permitted, he has been employed by
the state auditor's office in looking
after the state's mining interests in
St. Louis county. He was married to
Miss Kate McGannon of Litchfield in
1867 Mrs. Koerner and three chil
dren survive him. The funeral was
held at Litchfield on Sunday and was
largely attended many of the state
officials were present to pay tribute to
the memory of the man whom in life
they had loved and respected.
Mr. Koerner was a frequent visitor
to Princeton and was well known to
many of our citizens.
The Almighty never made a more
kind-hearted, whole-souled man than
August T. Koerner. He was loyal to
his country, loyal to his family and
loyal to his friends. Peace to his
ashes.
Death of Richard E Rossing.
Richard E. Bossing passed away
last Tuesday night at the home of his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin
Rossing, in Baldwin township, Sher
burne county, at the age of 27 years.
Meningitis was the cause of his death.
Deceased, who for the past two years
had been employed as a street car
conductor in Minneapolis, was taken
sick with typhoid fever at that place
but a short time ago, and he returned
to his home atr Baldwin to receive
treatment. Everything possible was
done to save his life but meningitis
set in and hope was practically
abandoned.
Funeral services were held this
afternoon at 2 o'clock, from the fami
ly residence in Baldwin, and the A.
O. U. W. lodge, of which deceased
was a member, had charge of same.
Interment was in the* Baldwin ceme
tery.
Richard E. Rossing was a young
man who had a large number of
friends and he had the respect and
esteem of all who enjoyed his ac
quaintance.
Wherein Lies the Remedy?
Reports from various parts of the
state say that myriads of dead fish
line the shores of many lakesfish
that died during the winter and were
cast up when the ice went out. These
fish, or the greater part of them, died
from insufficient airthey were virtu
ally suffocated. The winter was a
long one, the ice thick, and there were
very few apertures where the fish
could replenish their air cells. Every
winter more or less fish die from this
cause, and the only remedy lies in
keeping spaces on the lakes' surface
free from ice. Permitting people to
fish through the ice without being
compelled to obtain a license would
afford a partial relief, as there would
be more fishermen and more holes
chopped, but this would not in itself
be sufficient. Can the game and fish
commission furnish a remedy?
Pare Food Demonstration
The pure food demonstration being
given this week by A. E. Allen & Co.
at the Maccabee hall is proving a
success in every way and large
crowds have been in attendance.
Coffee, tea, crackers, cookies, canned
fruits and vegetables are served free
every day, besides music of an ex
cellent nature is discoursed. Skahen's
orchestra was in attendance on Mon
day and yesterday atd it discoursed
some pleasing pieces. It will also
play on Friday and Saturday. A
special lady demonstrator is also in
attendance, lecturing on the various
products served, and the advantages
and benefits of pure food. The gen
eral public is invited to attend and
enjoy the hospitality of this store.
Body of Kent Frye Recovered
Last Friday the body of Kent Frye,
the unfortunate Elk River young man
who was drowned in the Mississippi
river last January, an account of
which appeared in the Union at the
time, was found in the river near
Coon Creek by some small boys who
were fishing. The proper authorities
were immediately notified and they
identified the body by means of a
notebook, carried in the clothing,
which contained the young man's
name and address. Word was sent to
his relatives at Elk River and the
body was conveyed to that place on
Friday for burial.
Many Bodies Picked Up
The Mackay-Bennett cable ship has
picked up over 70 bodies of the un
fortunates who lost their lives in the
Titanic disaster. Only those bodies
which can be identified will be em
balmed and brought to shorethe
others will be buried at sea. The
cable ship has orders to remain in
the vicinity of the wreck for a week.
Among the bodies recovered and
identified was that of Walter D.
Douglas, the Minneapolis millionaire,
who refused to take a seat in one of
the life boats as long as there were
women and children to be saved.
Surprise Party on Mrs. Jaax
The Rebekah lodge surprised Mrs.
N. Jaax, one of their members who
will shortly leave for Minneapolis to
reside, last Friday evening. Card
playing constituted the amusement
part of the evening and the ladies
served refreshments. Mrs. Jaax was
presented with a past noble grand
collar, as a token of remembrance
from her fellow lodge members. The
Rebekahs are delightful entertainers
and a most enjoyable time was had
by all who were present.
Mere Talking Will Not Build Roads.
You can't get good roads simply by
talking and writing. There has got
to be some work done. If officials
don't know how to make them, or are
opposed to good roads, public senti
ment must be developed by meetings
and otherwise to teach and, if neces
sary, to compel them to make them.
Get busy so as to have the use of the
roads during the summer Fergus
Falls Journal.
Notice.
School clerks throughout the county
who have not received state aid
blanks should notify this office at
once. Blanks have been mailed to
every teacher and every clerk in the
county, yet some have not reached
their destination or have been
laid. Guy Ewing,
County Superintendent.
PRINCETON, MILLE LACS COUNTY, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, APB1L 25, 191*.
mis
A CLOSE MLL GAME
Princeton Loses a Closely Contested
Base Ball Game to Elk River
at the Fair Grounds.
Princeton Lads are Not Discouraged,
However, and Will Strive
1 to Redeem Themselves.
By the close score of 3 to 0 the Elk
River highs defeated the orange and
black team last Saturday at the fair
grounds. The weather man relented
somewhat from his unkindly attitude
of the previous Saturday and came
across with some good baseball
weather to make things more pleasant
for the players and spectators. A
fair sized crowd was out to see the
contest and although their favorites
drew the short end of the scoring, still
the game was interesting and exciting
and was anybody's game until the
last man was out in the ninth inning.
With all due respect to the victorious
team let it be known that it was really
the ltickier team that got away with
the Saturday game, as all the so
called"breaks" of the game went
to the down river lads and the luck of
the game seemed to be all against the
orange and black athletes. "Rube"
Stay was on the mound for the locals
and was slanting and hooking them
over like a major leaguer, and with 13
strikeouts to his credit, really de
served to win the game, but the
Princeton hoodoo was out and per
sisted in keeping the locals' hits
scattered, befuddling them when on
bases and otherwise mixing up their
fielding and batting. Elk River took
the lead right in the first inning and
their one run in this inning was really
enough to win the game although they
cinched it for keeps in one of the later
rounds by adding two more to it.
The first score was handed to them
free gratis, as the Elk River lad who
finally got over the home plate safe
was out on an infield grounder had
not McVicar been too anxious to get
the first round over with. With two
men out and nobody on bases, one of
the Elk River batters hit an infield
grounder which was fierdecT~cleanIy
and hurled across to Mac at first the
throw was in ample time to get the
runner at the bag but Mac got over
anxious and forgot to get his foot on
the base and the runner was safe on a
close decision. This proved a costly
error as this runner finally made the
complete circuit before the side could
be retired. Although Princeton failed
to score they did succeed in getting
men on bases in almost every inning
and several of the runners even got
as far as third in their ramblings,
only to die there a moment later for
want of a wallop by one of their team
mates to bring them in. McVicar and
Berg proved to be the real artists
with the stick, each one poling out a
clean double over the center fielder's
head. Several of the others came
through with singles, and sharp field
ing by the Elk River infield saved
their twirler from having several
more singles chalked up against him.
But when a hit meant a run there was
nothing doing, and during their nine
trips to the bat the locals failed to ne
gotiate a single run.
The Elk River team played a fast,
clean game and, with the luck of the
game with them throughout, had no
trouble in taking the lead right from
the start and holding it for the nine
innings of play. Their veteran in
field was working like big leaguers
and it seemed impossible to find a
weak spot in it anywhere. The out
field also'did some fancy fielding and
pulled down several drives from the"
Princeton war clubs that would have
been good for extra bases had they
been allowed to get away. The visi
tors were a gentlemanly bunch of
boys and put up a fast, clean article
of baseball, the wrangling and rag
chewing being conspicuous by its ab
sence.
While this defeat is a big dis
appointment to the locals it has in no
way dampened their ardor for the
great American game, and they have
gone right back to work with a grim
determination to clean up the rest of
the games on their schedule. The
season is young yet, and by taking a
brace now and cleaning up the ma
jority of the games left on their
schedule they can finish the season
with a fat percentage of wins at that.
Another thing they have to be thank
ful for is that the arrangement of the
schedule gives them another crack at
the Elk River bunch and, with an even
break of luck, it is pretty hard to tell
which one of these teams would win.
Lake Passengers Insufficiently Protected.
An article in the Duluth Herald
says that passenger vessels on the
great lakes do not pretend to carry
lifeboats and rafts sufficient to ac
commodate all the people on board
in case of accident, and yet these ves
sels comply with the requirements of
the law. Here is an instance cited:
"The steamer America is allowed to
carry 450 passengers but has room
for only 108 people in its lifeboats
and on its rafts." This is in itself
sufficient to show ^hat the United
States is just as lax in its regulation
of passenger boats as is Great
Britain, and it is surprising that such
a condition should be permitted to
prevail. It is high time, indeed, that
laws were enacted which shall enforce
better protection for the Jives of those
who travel on the ocean and the great
lakes.
Council Holds Special Meeting.
A special meeting of the village
council was held at the recorder's
office last Friday evening and all
members were present.
The Tri-State Telephone company
presented a petition asking for per
mission to lay an underground cable
on the north side of lot 6, block 3,
Damon's addition to Princeton. On
motion of Umbehocker, seconded by
Hummel, said company was granted
permission to lay the cable.
R. D. Byers was granted per
mission to build a warehouse, out of
cement blocks or brick, behind his
store building on Main street.
Recorder Umbehocker was in
structed to notify S. P. Woodman to
remodel bis sidewalk on the west side
of lot 12, block 10, original townsite
of Princeton, said walk being con
sidered a menace to the welfare of the
general public in its present condi
tion. There being no other business
on hand, on motion, the council
adjourned.
A Featare Show.
What promises to be one of the very
best motion picture exhibitions ever
given here will be put on at Brands'
opera house next Friday and Satur
day evenings, and some thrilling films
will be thrown on the screen. Pictures
depicting the great Titanic disaster is
one of the features and a man from
the film house will lecture. This film,
which is about 800 feet long, depicts
the greatest maritime disaster of mod-
era-his^ory-aad-it alone is worth-4he4int?-Polifcicau
price of admission. Another feature
"will be the war between Italy and
Turkey, and this ought to prove enter
taining and instructive. To make the
show a winner Mr. Brands has also
secured, at considerable expense,
Dante's Inferno, a comedy of a sensa
tional nature. Paradise and purga
tory are here shown and it should
prove entertaining. You can scarcely
afford to miss this show as it is sure
to prove interesting.
Assessors' Meeting Toda
All the assessors of the county are
supposed to meet today at the county
auditor's office, this being the last
Thursday of April, to receive their
assessment books and blanks and
instructions in reference to the per
formance of their duties.
There should be uniformity in as
sessing property. If the assessors
fail to do their duty it is almost next
to impossible to correct the errors
afterwards. Glaring inequalities may
be rectified by the town board of re
view or the county board of equaliza
tion, but if the foundation is wrong
the structure will be faulty, and the
assessors lay the foundation of the
entire tax system.
Arbor and Bird Day.
Tomorrow, April 26, is the day
officially designated by the governor
as Arbor and Bird day. If you have
not already set out some trees or
shrubbery do it tomorrow. School
children, and grown people, too,
should be urged to care for and pro
tect the birdsthe farmers' best
friends. Birds occasionally sample
the berries and peas in your garden,
but were it not for the birds garden
ing would be almost impossiblethey
destroy countless millions of bugs
and insects annually. ^Plant a tree or
a bush for the birds to nest in, and
protect the nests.
Pastures Not Ready
The output at the co-operative
creamery this week was 52 tubs,
slightly less than the previous week.
It is presumed that this falling off is
occasioned by the farmers turning
their cows out to pasture too soon.
There is not sufficient grass yet to
supply the cows with the,, proper
amount of nourishment, and after eat
ing grass the cows do not take kindly
to hay. Farmers will find that bet
ter results can be obtained by keep
ing the cows in the stable until more
grass has sprouted.
A Genuine Optimist
Marshall Wilder has the credit of
the following:
A man named Brown used to think
that everything was a wise dispensa
tion. One year his crop was washed
VOLUME XXXYI. NO. 18
the best," said
had an over-
away. "All for
Brown cheerfully. I
abuudance last year."
Later his house was burned down.
It didn't faze Brown. "All for the
best," he repeated. "It didn't suit
us, anyway, and we were going to
move."
At last Brown was in a railway ac
cident, and got his feet crushed so
that they had to be amputated.
"Well," said a friend, who came co
see him, "this is pretty discouraging,
isn't it? Both your feet cut off. Do
you think that's all for the best?"
Brown smiled sadly, "Oh, yes,"
he answered. "They were always
cold, anyway."
Entertain for Miss Jaax.
Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Caley enter
tained the choir of the Methodist
church last Thursday evening, for
Miss Irene Jaax, who will shortly
leave for Minneapolis. About 25
were present and a delightful time was
had. Various kinds of games were
played and light refreshments were
served by Mrs. Caley. The party dis
banded at 12 o'clock and, on leaving,
each of the guests was presented with
a pretty red carnation, while Miss
Jaax received a fine brass chafing
dish. All pronounced Mr. and Mrs.
Caley royal entertainers.
Injunction Alade Permanent.
Judge C. A. Willard on Monday
made permanent the injunction issued
in January, 1911, restraining W. E.
("Pussyfoot") Johnson from closing
or interfering with saloons in Bemidji
or its vicinity. The court holds, in
granting the permanent injunction,
that the Indian treaties, under which
Johnson carried on his operations,
were abrogated when Minnesota was
admitted to the union. United States
District Attorney Houpt will appeal
the case.
Why are the Treasurers So Anxious?
Bob Dunn is right when he says
that a sale of the Virginia bonds will
result in more benefit to the brokers
than to anyone else. Mr. Dunn's
judgment on state matters usually is
sound. When he discusses the sale of
the Virginia bonds he knows
is talking aboutfehafc
Treasurerehttheiwha
Juliufsc Block went
oblivi
W
agitating
Sta
trs
Smith won't make the same unfortu
nate blunder.Northfield News.
Many People Perish in Tornado
A tornado on Sunday swept over
portions of Illinois and Indiana, kill
ing and injuring a large number of
people and causing heavy property
loss. Latest reports are to the effect
that 72 persons were killed, 200 in
jured and 100 families left destitute.
The greatest damage was inflicted at
Bush, Willisville, Murphysboro,
Campus, Freeman and Kankakee,
Illinois, and at Morocco, Indiana.
L. S. Briggs Reappointed*?.
On Saturday President Taft reap
pointed L. S. Briggs postmaster at
Princeton for another four year term.
The appointment will be confirmed by
the senate probably today or tomor
row. There was no opposition to Mr.
Briggs at home as his administration
of the office has given general satis
faction.
Why Mot Bend Him?
Dr. T. L. Armitage is being talked
of as one of the delegates from the
Eighth congressional district to the
republican national convention. The
doctor has the ability to creditably
represent the district in part, and why
not send him? The Union heartily
favors sending Dr. Armitage as a del
egate.
Buttermakers to Meet at Braham
Braham is planning on a big time
on Thursday, May 2, when the
Eastern Minnesota Buttermakers and
Dairymen's association convenes
there. Included in the association
are the counties of Pine, Chisago,
Washington, Isanti, Mille Lacs and
Kanabec.
Unclaimed Letters.
List of letters remaining unclaimed
at the post office at Princeton, Minn.,
April 20, 1912: James Degree, Mrs.
Lucy Olson, Mr. O. Ryous, Mr.
Julius Sugarman, Mr. George Witt
graf, Mr. R. J. Murphy, (foreign
card). Please call for advertised.
letters. L. S. Briggs, P. M.
Because He Is a Coward.
"Let the women go first!" Then,
why does the name of Joseph Bruce"
Ismay, chairman and manager of the
White Star Line, appear among those
rescued from the Titanic? As an.
officer of the company, he should
have gone last.Exchange.
Take Notice.
Persons holding due bill chips from
F. T. Kettelhodt should present the
same at O. B. Newton's store at once.
All accounts owing to Mr. Kettelhodt
should be paid to him, personally, on
or before May 1. 15-tfc
Taft Carries Iowa.
Iowa elected a solid Taft delegation
to the Chicago convention yesterday..
The president's friends claim that his.
nomination is now practically assured.