Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume], December 07, 1905, Image 6

About Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Iowa

                
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^"14" 6 THURSDAY, December 7, 190%
As the years follow each other into
the past, more and more interest at
taches to the events of the civil war
and stories told by survivors of that
long struggle. Captain Charles P.
Brown of this city, while on a visit in
Colorado recently wrote to his brother,
W. C. Brown of Chicago, a description
of an exciting .battle in Missouri dur
ing the early days of the war, when
Mr. Brown was a corporal and a mere
youth. Especial interest will be taken
in the account by people all over the
sixth Iowa district, inasmuch as it was
In the same engagement that Major
John F. Lacey, now representative in
congress from this district, was made
a prisoner of war. Captain Brown's
letter, a copy of which he has kindly,
given the Courier, is as follows
Captain Brown's Letter.
815 East Wilamette Ave.
Colorado Springs Sunday a.m.
Sept. 17, 1905.
My dear brother:
This is a royal Colorado morning
about as near perfect as the weather
ever gets to be, I guess.
The 17th of September always takeB
me back in recollection to the memor
able Tuesday afternoon in 1861, when
the Third Iowa infantry got Its first
real baptism o'f Are. "We had been un
der Are, in skirmishes, small ambushes
and affairs many times before but
Blue Mills was a bloody, desperate
fight for the brief time it lasted. No
one participating was likely ever to
forget it. Most of its incidents are
as plainly impressed on my mind to
day, as though of recent occurrence.
Death was as near a neighbor on that
afternoon as at any time in the war,
and until the final "hour and article"
•will never be any nearer.
On Sunday, September 15, we were
at Macon City, Mo. An early order put
the regiment, probably four hundred
men, for duty on board a Hannibal &
St. joe freight train and we started
•west.
The track wa3 rough, and the way
that train rocked and rattled along
was a caution. We were evidently go
ing somewhere and getting there as
fast as possible. About the middle of
the afternoon, we stopped at Cameron,
and unloaded. Hastily impressing as
many farm teams as were available,
for our rations, ammunition and bag
gage, we put out to the southward.
Some miles out, as night was falling,
wc turned into a meadow, (stubble) at
the road side. A convenient hay
stack furnished bedding, and» in a
light drizzle of rain, we wrapped up
in our blankets, in the open air, for
the'night.
I remember awakening in the night,
•with the rain falling on my face,,cover
ing it with a corner, of my blanket,and
dozing oft again.
The sky was clpar and the stars
shining, when in the gray of early
dawn we were up and on the march
again. All day we went at a swinging
pace, halting for the night at the lit
tle hamlet of Centerville about twelve
miles from Liberty.
Here we got from scouts and union
men, reliable information of a con
federate force of several thousand
men, en route from St. Joe to Lexing
ton and in camp for the night, within
ten miles of us. We were never near
enough to hear artillery firing by this
command.
Fight Against Big Odds.
They outnumbered us ten to one,
easily. Shortly after midnight, we
were quietly aroused, absolute silence
strictly enjoined and we again head
ed south. The roads were getting
hilly, and led through timber and the
moonless night made it as dark as
Egypt.
Lieut. Col. John Scott, of our regi
ment, was in command, and we had
sbme mounted Missouri union men,
and a* six pounder field piece from a
German-Missouri battery altogether
between five and six hundred men.
At daylight next morning—Tuesday
—a beautiful bright day, we climbed
the long hill leading into Liberty a
large confederate force leaving the
place just ahead of us.
Years after the war, Col. Scott then
lieutenant governor pf Iowa, in an ad
dress, said his proudest recollection
of the gallant old regiment was of that
morning, when
"With the eye of an eagle, and the
tread of a wild stag the boys -.closed
that heavy march, momentarily ex
pecting to meet a vastly superior force
of the enemy."
Under orders of Major General
John Pope, then commanding in North
Missouri, a force of three regiments
of infantry, one of cavalry, and two
batteries of light artillery, was to join
us at Liberty at daylight that morn
ing.
We were the only ones to reach
the point on time, and we had no
word from the other commands.
We "bivouacked on the hill in the
north part of the pretty little town,
and couriers were sent out on all the
roads on which the balance of the
force was looked for.
The confederates were under orders
from Major General Sterling Price, to
Join him at Lexington, (where he was
besieging Colonel Mulligan), with all
possible dispatch. General Pope's ob
ject was to intercept and detain, fight
and defeat this force, and th'is re
lieve Mulligan. About noon, Colonel
Scott learned that the confederates
were crossing the Missouri at Blue
Mills Ferry, about five miles from
town.
Couriers were again sent out on all
the roads over which reinforcements
were looked for. with this information,
urging the utmost dispatch, and say
ing we would attack the confederates
and attempt to hold them until help
came.
Southern Sympathizers Active.
Liberty and Clay county, Missouri,
swarmed with secessionists and every
move we made was promptly reported
to the confederate commander.
Waiting until about the middle of
rrp'r
I? Fighting The Johnnies
STORY OF AN EXCITING ENGAGEMENT BY
MAN WHO PARTICIPATED.
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the afternoon, Colonel Scott moved out
to make the attack. A mounted
scouting party, commanded by Lieu
tenant Call of our regiment, struck
the rear guard, or an outpost, of the
confederates, in the thick timber
about two miles from town, and was
fired on from a thicket, and four men
instantly killed, and several wounded.
This occurred about noon, and when
our advance reached the spot, the
bodies of the dead were laid on their
backs, side by side at the edge of the
road in plain view as we marched
past. Major William M. Stone, of
our regiment, afterward governor of
Iowa, stormed around in an excited
manner, and tried to prevent the boys
from looking at these bodies. It was
a ghastly sight, and calculated to un
nerve us.
We were nearly all boys of from 18
to 20 years. But little attention was
paid to the major, who was probably
the most excited man in the command.
The youngsters' nerves were all
right and steady. Major Stone's theory
was correct, but he had top little con
fidence in his men. Colonel John
Scott, as brave and gallant an officer
as ever lived, rode quietly past. Our
road led through the heavy timber
and dense undergrowth of the Mis
souri river bottoms.
One company was deployed a
platoon on either side in advance,
as (skirmishers, to discover and de
velop the enemy. The scout and
skirmisher usually discovers the ene
my when, the enemy fires on him
from a place of concealment. Owing to
the tangle of vines and brush, the
skirmishers made slow progress, and
the head of our column, marching by
the flank in the road, kept abreast of
the "skirmish line. The result was,
the column, with our six pounder gun
at the head, found the enemy as soon
as the skirmish line did, and became
at once engaged.
A Hot Engagement.
When the confederate commander
received word of our movement from
town, he at once began bringing back
the men who had crossed the river,
and by the time the fight opened, had
most of his force on our *side.
We struck a cresant line concealed
in a dry run, and received their fire
in front and on both flanks,, at short
range, and our first intimation of the
near presence of tie' e'riemy was this
opening volley.
We instantly took to the woods on
each side pf the road and fought Indian
fashion from behind logs and trees.
Company of which I'was a corporal,
took the right hand side of the road,
just abreast the field piece, which un
limbered and went into action in the
road. Only one shot was 'fired from,
the gun, 'when it was disabled from
loss of men and horses shot down, arid
the gun was retired by hand, the lim
ber, with the ammunition chest being
left entangled in trees by the road
side.
A moment after firing began, the
near wheel horse of the gun was shot
and fell. The sergeant in charge called
for help to clear the horse.
I was standing near, and turned and
stooped down to help strip the- harness,
when the horse sprang to his feet. As
I raised up a heavy ball, glancing from
a tree, struck me on my right shoulder,
a sharp, stinging blow.
Thinking it came through, I pulled
open my blouse, to see where it came
out. Finding nothing, I turned
to Captain Willeti, who was near, and
pulling my shoulder around, asked him
it he saw any blood on it.
While he was looking a ball went
through his leg at the knee, disabling
him and making him a cripple for life.
A Deliberate Retreat.
Finding that I had been struck a
glancing blow by a partially spent ball,
and not seriously hurt, I stepped into
the woods at the side of the road, and
began firing at the red shirts that
showed In front through the brush
and smoke. Getting no re-enforce
ments and finding a strong force push
ing past our right and threatening to
cut us off, Colonel Scott after an
hour's hot fight, during which we held
our ground where the battle began,
gave*orders to fall back
.which was done
deliberai.e'y and with .10 pursuit to
mention
Out of about 500 men we lost, In
killed and wounded, 120 in one hour
of fighting— a very heavy loss.
Colonel Scott, on a little roan horse,
was in that deadly lane of road the
whole time, perfectly cool, riding up
and down encouraging the boys. His
horse was struck by eleven bul
lets, and his clothes riddled, but no
blood drawn on him—an escape sim
ply miraculous.
Captain Willett of our company was
severely wounded, and Lieutenant Ole
Anderson shot in the temple and left
for dead on the field. William B. Mil
ler was killed and many wounded.
Major Stone was slightly wounded. It
was a gallant fight against heavy odds
and at a great disadvantage.
Miller, who was killed, was a stout,
heavy man, about 24, and 5 feet 8
inches high, weighing probably 180
pounds.
The Retreat of Pat.
He was of a sandy complexion, with
close curling reddish hair and whisk
ers, and a full face. Another man in
our company, who shall be nameless,
was a middle aged Irirhman, tall and
slim, with a typical Irish face and
brogue, an easy going, good natured
fellow.
On the way to the fight, Miller told
the Irishman lie was going to be shot,
keeping up the banter until after we
passed the four dead men by the road
side, and Pat was by this time nearly
frightened out of his wits.
Just before the fight we passed a
clearing containing a log cabin and a
family in a tall heavy field of corn.
The women and children came out to
see us march by.
About forty rods beyond the corner
of the field—in the thick woods, the
O v,-.
AN OTTUMWA
fight began, and at tie- first fire Pat
took to the field.
Those near said he ran through it
like a steer, paying no attention to
rows, running over hills and breaking
down the stalks, and that they could
hear him until he got through into, the
woods beyond.
Pat wasn't the only one who took to
tall corn. I did not hear or know of
the order to fall back, until I found
myself nearly alone, and saw a move
ment to the rear.
Then I lost no time getting out. I
took the road at a fox, trot, when it
flashed through my heacT it was a very
dangerous place, and I instantly sprang
aside into a foot path running by the
road side.
Narrow Escape From Death.
Milieu came along the road I had just
left, the moment I was out of it, and
going a little faster, had passed me a
few feet, when a charge of buckshot
came whistling by. I distinctly heard
them strike him in the back and head,
saw several blo5d spots show "on his
back, he being without coat or vest. He
fell backward at full length. I stopped
a moment and looked at him and saw
him straighteit out with a convulsive
shudder that I was sure meant death.
A man coming up on the opposite side
of the road, stopped *a moment, took
a look, and picked up Miller's gun and
went on. Satisfied I could do nothing
for him, and realizing it wag death to
delay, I went on and very soon over
took the command, which was then re
tiring' at a deliberate walk. When the
rear was in front of the cabin, Colonel
Scott, on his little roan, said "Boys,
there are some mounted men at the
corner of thQ field in the road follow
ing us. .Turn and give" them a few
shots." Probably twenty or thirty men
halted, faced about and fired at the
horemen, about forty rods away.
Horses and men fell over each other
in the utmost confusion and disap
peared in a cloud of dust. That ended
tfie pursuit.
Sad Case of Lieutenant.
Second Lieutenant Ole Anderson of
our company, left for dead on the field,
was found to show some signs of life,
and was turned over to us next day by
the confederate surgeon. Nearing Lib
erty, we met re-enforcements, and
Lieutenant Colonel Scott proposed go
ing back, but it was getting late in
the day, and the plan was disapproved
by officers who outranked him. Major
Stone, mounted' on a mule, his long
dark beard matted, with .blood from a
scalp wound, bareheaded, with a hand
kerchief around his head and his face
ghastly pale, protested noisily against
any renewal of the fight. Returning
'to our'camp ground on. the hill, I went
through a convenient hen house, and
for the first, last and only time in my
life robbed a hen roost, taking a set
ting hen from the nest.
The boys laughed at me. They had
been through, and left the setting hen
as not worth while. But she had just
begun setting and made a tender stew,
as I very, distinctly remember.
Lieutenant Anderson lay in the
Liberty hospital for three weeks, un
conscious, and with only the faintest
signs of life. Vitality then very slow
ly returned, but left him a mental and
physical wreck. 'He is still living at
Decorali, Iowa. ......
A young woman to whom lie was en
gaged became his wife arid' has de
voted her life lovingly in caring for
him.
There were just thirteen men in our
company for duty after/the fight
and of these Sergeant Charles W. Bur
dick and Corporal Charles P. Brown,
were the only ones holding any rank.
We went on with the regiment to Fort
Leavenworth and Kansas City and In
October joined the balance of the regi
ment at Quincy, 111.
Major John F. Lacey of Oskaloosa,
member of congress from the sixth
district of Iowa, was a member of Co.
H. Third Iowa infantry, and .was tak
en prisoner at Blue Mills.
Red Shirts Were Targets.
At St. Joe the confederates had gone
through the stores of union merchants,
and got among other things a lot of
red flannel shirts, and many of them
were wearing them in the fight. A bad
mistake, as the red showed through
the brush and smoke, making a good
mark.
Just before the firing began, Cor
poral! Charles W. Gurney of our com
pany handed me a paw-paw, the first I
had ever seen. I remember very well
I didn't like the taste, as with the first
mouthful came the crashing volley
from the concealed confederate line,
which might have had something to
do with it. Private Heath, whom we
called "Muqua" (Indian name for
bear) because he used to scrap with a
tame bear at Decorah, when the
company was organizing, was near me
when the battle opened. We were un
der a thorn tree and the ground was
covered with red apples. "Where are
they?" he said to me, "Where are they?
I can't see anybody." Stooping down
he picked up a handful of the apples
he handed me some, saying, "If we
cap.'t see anything to shoot at, we
might as well eat thorn apples." The
thick undergrowth and the powder
smoke made it almost impossible to
see the enemy, the only thing was to
fire in the direction the bullets were
coming from, and that we did.
I hare had it in my mind to write
a report of this fight as a finishing
chapter to the "Corn Belt" articles, and
if you will have this letter typewritten,
I will revise it and put it with the
"Corn Belt" story, in an appendix In
the book, if you approve.
Yours,
Charley.
BLACKHAWK.
Blackhawk. Der. 6.—Frank Hopkins
was very pleasantly entertained at the
Frank Bean home Sunday evening.
Sunday school was well attended at
this place Sunday.
Miss Sylvia Bean returned to her
home at this place Thursday after a
few weeks' visit with Mrs. Ernmett
Jones.
Joshau Bridgman -was calling on old
friends here Saturday and Sunday.
Mrs. C. W. Chatterton and daugh
ters, Nellie and Jennie, visited Friday
night at the F. W. Bean home.
Misses Lottie Swain and Grace Hop
kins attended Sunday school at Pleas
unt Hill Sunday.
Perry Morrison was a Bunch caller
Sunday evening.
Miner Barnes made a business trip
to Unionville Saturday-
^•tiv^i' *?-'.• yj •'. I" j.yy^jRyf*
THE OTTUMWA. OOURIEB
RAILROADS
ARE SCORED
STATE BOARD DECLARES THAT
*THE COMPANIES NEGLECT
^f-^THE BRANCHES:./.
POOR SERVICE ALLEGED
Annual Report, Filed Yesterday With
the povernor, Says That the Lines
Doing Business in Iowa Should Put
on More Cars Electric Roads Are
Increasing. .•
Des Moines, December 5.—The
state railroad commission in its
annual report yesterday filed with the
governor, "took a fall" out of the rail
roads of the state with respect to the
neglect of their branch lines and their
failure, to furnish sufficient cars to ac
commodate passengers seeking to trav
el.
The commission severely" criticises
the policy of some of the roads with
respect to allowing^ branch lines to run
down. While criticisms as to main
lines have been heeded, generally
speaking, there has been a tendency
to ignore recommendations, with re
spect to' branches. This the commis
sion indicates that it will not tolerate.
The criticism as to the failure of the
railroads to furnish coaches sufficient
to accommodate the travel In Iowa,
especially at^holiday and similar occa
sions, is renewed in the forthcoming
report. The condition has improved
somewhat from two years ago, in the
opinion of the board, but it Is still
plain that there is room for consider
able improvement.
The following is the comihent of the
board, as made for the introduction to
the report of this year:
What the Board Says.
The commissioners have followed
their previous practice of inspection
into the physical condition of the rail
roads In Iowa. Some complaints have
reached the board with reference to
the interior conditions on some of the
b/anch lin".% and it seems to the com
missioners that in many fnstances the
railroad companies are not keeping
the roadbeds, track and depots on
branch lines in as good condition as
they should. There has been no seri
ous defect, that the commisisoners
have noticed, but the general condi
tion of many of the branch lines is not
good. In some few instances the com
missioners have found tliat there were
conditions on the 'main lines of some
of the companies that needed atten
tion, such as inferior ties, frogs and
switches, inadequate depots and their
sani^arv condition. Upon the atten
tion of the companies being called to
these matters they have generally
made such improvements and repairs
as were necessary to remove, at least
some of the causes for complaint.
It may be said that upon all the
main track lines in this state condi
tions are improving. Better roadbed
better equipment, and, in most cases,
better service seem to be the rule.
However, upon some of the branch
lines the commission believes that the
equipment and service afforded have
hardly been adequate to meet the de
mands. In some of these cases the
board has suggested to the companies
that better train servic and better
equipment should be provided, and
many of these suggestions, made after
careful investigation by the commis
sioners, have been fairly well follow
ed by the companies.
Electric Lines Grow.
During the past year there has been
an Increase of more than sixty-three
miles of electric interurban railroad in
Iowa and but twenty-three miles of
steam road. Of the latter, nineteen
miles is that belonging to the Ana
mosa & Northern railroad and running
from Anamosa to Coggon.
But the gross earnings for the year
increased about $800,000 and net earn
ings increased per mile from $1,529 to
$1,677. The railroad employes did not
earn quite so much compensation dur
ing the year, but of the $41,000,000 of
operating expenses more than $25,000,
000 went into wages, which were at
the daily average of $2.03.
The number of persons injured and
killed in railroad work and accidents
during the past year, decreased mate
rially. The number of killed fell from
215 last year to 190. The number of
injured fell from 1,748 to 1,712. But
the number of passengers killed and
injured fell off very much more than
the total.
The Year's Business.
Following Is a comparative state
ment of the railroad business for the
past year and the year preceding, as
compiled by the railroad commission
and filed with the governor yesterday:
1905. 1904.
Mileage 9,803.520 9,826.77
Earnings $57,692,095 $58,436,943
Expenses..^.. .. 42,694,060 16,482,328
Net earnings ... 14,998,034 16,482,358
Net earn, per mile 1.529 1,677
Number employes 38,508 39,573
Compensation .. 25,328,702 25,177,129
Average pally wage 2.10 2.03
Number all cars.. 284,748 288,133
E it
automatic coup
ler 280.559 284,548
Eouipped with
power or" train
brakes 237,248 246,076
Employes killei
coupling cars ... 10
Employes injured
coupling cars
Employes killed
a in
trains
5
75 45
20 11
Employes injured
a in
trains 147 102
Passengers killed 12
Employes killed.. *to
7
74
Others killed .. .113 109
Passengers injur
ed 201 14c
Employes injured 1,419 1,376
Others injured .. 128 190
Some people become so centralized
that they consider themselves the
earth's axis.
HOW A JOB
WAS SAVED
VICE PRESIDENT ELDREDGE OF
MUTUAL RESERVE LIFE
TELLS THE STORY
$15,000 DID THE ^YORK
Policy Holders'Suit to Oust President
Burnham From His Position Was
Prevented by Prompt Payment of
That Sum to a Philadelphian—Hor­
ace H. Brockaway Testified.
New York, Dec. 5.—George D. Eld
redge, vice president of the
Mutual Reserve Life, testified
before the Insurance' investiga
tion commission today that the Mutual
Reserve paid $15,000 to Mr. McDonald
of Philadelphia, in 1899, to avoid a suit
by policy holders to oust Frederick A.
Burnham from the presidency of the
Mutual Reserve.
The testimony of Horace II. Brock
away, a director of the Mutual Re
serve Life Insurance company, shed
a new light on some of the methods
01 handling money.
Mr. Brockaway said he -was propri
etor of the Ashland house and had
been connected with the Mutual Re
serve company for ten years. He be
came a director of the company at the
request of President Burnham, who,
he said, told him if he would take out
a policy in the company he would
make him a director. He took out
policies for $6,000 and was appointed.
Mr. Brockaway got first $10 and then
$20 a week as director. On March 23,
1898, he said he was put on the pay
roll .of the company at $300 per week.
To earn this salary he attended to
alterations on buildings, and was con
sulted about loans and by policy-hold
ers as to the status of the company.
About two months after he went on
salary President Burnham told wit
ness he was getting a good salary and
asked for a gift of $6,000, Brockaway
said. Witness gave it to him. Mr.
Burnham never promised to repay it
and never did so. Witness regarded
it as a gift.
Brockaway said that after he had
been drawing his salary for eleven
months he told President Burnham he
was not earning his salary, and asked
that he be dropped from the com
pany's pay roll.
"Didn't you' tell him you had only
been on the pay roll eight weeks at
»oj0 a week when he struck you for
$6,000?" asked Mr. Hughe?.
"No I thought he was a good fel
low.''
Got His Money Back.
Witness said he-expected to be kept
on the pay r*l. lie got back In all
$6,500 in salary. Brockaway Is still a
director in the company.
SALEM.
Salem, Dec. 6.—Mesdames Mary and
Milo Fenn went to Burlington Wednes
day.
Alva Campbell and his sister. Miss
Myrtle, visited at the home of Mr. and
Sirs. Frank McMillan, near Jit. Pleas
ant last week.
Rev. B. G. Hawkins is conducting a
scries of meetings at Cottonwood.
Dec. 15 Is the date for the minstrel
play, "Blackvllle Bells," under the aus
p.'ces of the Ladies' club. Proceeds for
the belief of the Salem library.
There was a public sale of house
hold goods at the Henry Carter resi
dence Saturday ufitrnoon. The' Carter
family will move to Enid, Oklahoma,
where they have purchased property
Paul Still, aged 12 years, son of Mr.
and Mrs. C. H. Still, met sudden death
Monday afternoon, by being struck by
a tree which was being chopped down.
The funeral services were conducted
by Rev. B. G. Hawkins at the Metho
dist Episcopal church Wednesday
morning at 10:30 o'clock.
Born, to Mr.- and Mrs. Otto Davidson
on Thanksgiving day, a son.
Mrs. Arthur Ingrim and»^ie Anna
were guests at the homes of George
Cramer and County Treasurer Judy
several days of last week.
Pearl Fenn has gone on a trip to
Canada.
J. W. Garretson came from Keokuk
and visited his family last week.
Mrs. Hill, of LaCrew is visiting with
relatives.
Mrs. Ella Krouskop and daughter
Mrs. Coda Merrill, who have been vis
iting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.
G. Triplett, left for their home at Den
ver, Colo., Wednesday.
Manley Frazier now owns the tele
phone plant in Salem.
Frank Bealer and Dudley Scott are
on a business trip to South Dakota.,
Mrs. B. G. Hawkins was called to
Fairfield b" the serious illness of her
sister.
James Bickley. of Ponca City, Okla.
is enjoying a visit with his brother
John Bicskler.
Mrs. John Turner has i.rrlved from
Kansas and is a guest at the home
of her son. William Turner and family.'
Miss Ethel Foss is amon? the num
ber from Salem who attended' Rev.
William Sunday's meetings at Bur
lington.
Frank Mitchell, of Keokuk, visited
L. A. Kittle and family a few days
of last week.
Mrs. R. Tomes Is at home after sev
eral weeks spent with relatives in
Kansas.
Mrs. Susan Dysart, of Xew Sharon
is visiting her mother, Mrs. Anna Rat
liff. I
Mrs. W. L. Saldwell, of Arapahoe
Neb., and llrs.f'Lee Thompson, of
Clebourne, Tex®, are at the home of
Mrs. Rosa Frazier, called here by the
serious 11111688 «f their father, Joseph
Fleming. 1
At the Confer gational church Sun
day morning, IR v. J. Jones, discoursed
on "Our Thank riving." In the even
ing his subjec' was "Walking With
God." An ajjp eciative audience en
Joyed both selrn jns.
Mason Militr has purchased the
Marion Millerlp operty. Mr. and Mar
ion Miller wilii sek a new location.
Mr. and
from Keokuk
Thanksgiving
Mrs. J. W.
(W(uSneaHa.v fi
ed Garretson came
nesday and were
ts of relatives.
ivkins arrived home
twn
utaaIta'
visit
Uti
WWmPiP
Pf
r\
S h.
PETERSON'S RESTAURANT
1 Main Street, Next Door to Sargent's,
wants you to try" their celebrated
Dinners
Winter Tourist Rates
Texas, New
A member of the local company,
who, of course, does not wish to di
vulge his name in connection with a
matter of this kind, had wojd from Ft.
Madison and Burlington recently that
the companies at those places are ab
solutely opposed to the permanent
camp. And they are said to be voicing
the sentiment of the vast majority of
members of thq guard.
Advantages Elsewhere.
Another member stated that while,
of course, orders would be obeyed,
without questioning, it was growing
more and more difficult to get men to
go to Des Moines, and as the guard is
an entirely voluntary affair, It may be
possible to keep the camp at Des
Moines, but it may be impossible to
get the companies to go there. While
the officers are given a handsome, re
ception and. the most enjoyable time
with relatives at Hannibal, Mo., anc!
at Keokuk.
The W. W. society served lunch at
O. S. Ratliff's sale Tuesday.
R. Pierce came from Burlington on
Thursday and spent a few days at
home."
The women of the Congregational
church netted a nice.sum at their din
ner on Thanksgiving day.
G. B. Lester was a business visitor
at Mt. Pleasant Wednesday.
Joe Hobson came from Albia Wed
nesday to spend a few days with his
mother, Mrs. Tamer Comer..
Mrs. Enoch Berry returned from New
London Saturday.
Material for a.new dejiot has arrived.
The new building will be on the site
where the old depot was burned.
The funeral services over the re
mains of Paul Still, who was killed
Nov. 27, by the falling of a tree, wefe,
held "JVednesday, Nov. 29, at the Meth
odist Episcopal church,. Rev. B. G.
Hawkins, officiating.
Washington, D. C., Dec. 5—President
Roosevelt had a conference yesterday
with William T. Reid, the football
coach of Harvard, and Herbert White
of the same Institution regarding foot
ball with a view to bringing about a
change in the rules so as to eliminate
roughness and brutality from the
game. Reid aAd White were guests of
the President at luncheon. They re
mained some tome after the meal and
left the White House and went direct
to the train.
Favors Kicking Game.
President Roosevelt favors an open
kicking game, and one that can be
played without great danger of maim
ing and killing the players. He also
discussed with them the changes that
have already been made In the rules
alia Old
duction. from regulaF rates.
.As the return limit is June 1, 1906, you can stay all
winter, avoiding cold weather—coal bills—doctor's bills
expensive living. .,
Figure it out, consider the chances you take by stay
ing, and you'll find it a lot cheaper to go.
There are many pleasant places to be visited and.
comfortable accommodations to be had at very reason-'"
able rates. Look at a Rock Island map and note the
hundreds of points in the .Sunny Southwest within easy
a
It will'be a pleasure to quote rates and tell you about
Reek Island train service.
OPPOSE FIXED CAMP
OTTUMWA GUARDSMEN ARE
AGAINST MAKING DES MOINES
PERMANENT CAMP.
If Left to Vote of the Members of the
Iowa National Guard, the Camp
Would be Abolished WithouWJnnec
essary Delay.
Ottumwa guardsmen almost to a
unit are opposed to the permanent
camp, along with three of the four
colonels of the Iowa National guard
who have reported to the governor
their opposition to making Des Moines
a fixed encampment place. If the
fourth colonel did not belong in the
Des Moines cjistrict, in all likelihood
he, too, would be arrayed against the
Innovation which has proven so unsat
isfactory.
W. S. PARKER, Agent,'
Union Depqt. Ottum,wa, Iowa.
**&&&ktLtsata,
s5-»i
BLAKESBURG.
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Mexico
Tickets on sale daily throughout the winter—big re--'1
.'
at Des Moines, the rank and file are
simply ignored. Des Moines :-eems to
have the idea that while the mi..tia is
technically a part of the army,' t'_ere is
no difference between the national
guard and the regulars.
One of the men who have taken an
active interest in all tha.t concerns the
guaifd and its welfare, said "The men
will get more good out of the change
from one town to another than if th«y,
go year afte:- year to the same old
grounds in Des Moines. Those among'
them, who hope to get a bit of pleas
ure out of the crap and the vacation
will go to Des Koines once, and then'
they will find it simply impossible to
get away, if the company and the reg
iment are again ordered to the capital
city.'"
It is not likely that any auction will''
be taken on the part of the men, bii
it is stated by men who have expel
ience and are able to speak upon thl
subject, that the permanent camp wll
do much toward demoralising the low
National guard, perhaps ^more thij
any other one thing that could
brought up.
and son. Jay went to Albia yesterday:
J. F. DeHaven was in Albia Satur-1
day.
John ITuber came home Friday from
Henry Montagne's, where he is build
inr a mammoth barn. Lee Robb and
Homer CofCman are helping with the,
work.
Mrs. Frances Phinney has returne
home from an extended visit with reli
tives In Los Angeles and Compti
California.
Herman Snow is building two barrl
one on his farm where James Tayli
lives end one on his fruit farm whe:
Virgil Ross lives.
Mrs. Eliza Snow and granddaugl
tcr, Zatha leave for Lineville torn
1
ow, where another granddaught
Cecil Bracewell is to be married
6.
Mrs. Thomas Johns, who died 1
Thursday, was buried Saturday.
Fred Cloyd and Frankie Hadlej
•were married Sunday at 4 p. m., Ke
Robinson, officiating.
Miss Clara Cooper is visiting In Otr
tumwa.
Protracted meetings closed Suni
evening at Russell.
Miss Bessie Cohagan has been vis
ing in town the past week.
Lee and Frank Dorothy went to
tumwa on the train Sunday evening.
Lloyd Burton, of Ottumwa, was
over Saturday visitor in town.
Mr. and Mrs. Owen Pettlt left las1c.
week for Mystic, where they will en.
gage in the restaurant business.
Mr.' and Mrs. John Berry vislte
with their son Claude and wife re
cently.
Wm. Fritz fs rebuilding his livery^
barn recently destroyed by'fire.
Fred. Lober has built an addition to^
his store, as also have Jay Bros.
Mr. and Mrs. Devereau, of Lovllia,
are visiting at the Wm. Arnold home.
Wm. Fritz is in Chicago.
The man who is wholly devoted to
himself will be left alone with his ad
miration.. K.
PRESIDENT FA
VORS OPEN
PLAYING FOR FOOTBALL?
by some of the colleges, and urged
upon them to do something during Uie
winter to change the rules so tnej
danger to the participants -will be mini,
mized.
Mr. Roosevelt would like to ha
this done before the beginning of
next football season. Reid and Wh
promised to use their influence to ca
out the wishes of the President.
Jury Condemns Qame.
New York, Dec. 5.—A verdict reco
mending the passage of laws to ell
inate brutality from football was
turned last night by the coroner's ju!
which investigated the death of Haro
R. Moore of Ogdensburg, N. Y. He
killed while playing half back for tL
Union college football eleven durin
a game against New York university
•Ma
rot
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