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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1912)
V. Loup City Northwestern VOLUME XXX LOUP CITY, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY', APRIL 18 1912 " NUMBER 23 Professionai Cards KOBT.P. STARR Attorney-at-law LODr cm. IEBZBSZS. NIGHTINGALE A SON Irraj id hull In LOOP CITY. NEB K H lfATHEW. Attorney-at-Law, And BoaM Abstractor, Loup City, Nebraska AARON WALL Practices in all Courts Loop Otr, Neb. ROBERT H. MATHEW Bonded Abstracter Locr Crrr. Xuiuia Only wt of Abstract books is unit; oTk.longac re PBTSIC1AI Ul SBRGEOH Office, Over Hsw Bank TELEPHONE CALL. NO. 3t A. J. KEARNS PHYSICIAN AND SDBGEON t • Itmmn I m at Triepk ■■ i ' 'i.uv Loop Citp. - Nebraska A. S. MAIN PHYSICIAN Ul SDBGEON Loup City. N«br. Tritpiioat Caaoeetioo S.A.ALLEN.~ DB.lTTtST, VOCr CtTT. - • NEB. Ofte« «p iuin ■■ tLe w* Suu ktiitar. w L. MAKCY. DENTIST, LOUP CITY, NEB* orrict ij*t b;te Pobijc Sfauur. PUMK. 10 oq 3k C. E. Thornton The Drayman Attend* nil order* promptly ud cMCfuUf ITiunr either lumber yard m Ttflor » eicta&ur V. I. McDonall Prompt Dray Work Call lumber yards or Taylor’s eleraU»r Satisfaction guaras* teed PbcDf *i on 57 A. L. GILBERT High Grade and Artistic BOOSE PAINTING xamm m PAPERING W. T, Draper The Old Reliable PLASTERER of work always Hoa« Loup.CItj 'NeS. C. E. Stroud i’omtrtj of Kiawta Cltj. Painting* Papering and leeeratlmg Special attention paid ti Autos and Carriage* All tops re newed aad repaired All work Phone 0 Treed! Trees! Trees! If you want tree plants and afcntbs call on or write f. L Brewer, leap Ctty. Nek. for shade trees, wind break, or, rrsre trees try the Norway Poplar, the Handsomest and ' ' growing trees for the end went, can furnish nay size grown in Loep City. Ende fcCook LOUP CITY NEB. Call and sea as and ellew ns to The Murder of W. H. Waite In Old Mexico Fall Particulars of the Dastardly Crime as Described in Letter Received from Near Friend of Dead Man EVIDENTLY WORM OF BANDITS No Witnesses to the Fearful Deed and Proba bly Murderers will Never Be Apprehend ed—Grime Common and Americans Getting Out of the Country Quickly as Possible Media* Aquas, Ver.. April 7,1912_ Mr. W. s. Wait*. Loup City. Xeb.— I»ear Mr. Waite: 1 went over to La Eamerakla. the afterhoon of the 5th. a* 1 wrote you 1 intended, doing. hut did n«>t arrive there until about 9 p. m. I found tliere Mr. True, a Mr. j Carlo* Toll*, a doctor, judge and see-] retary, from San Juan Evagelista. be sides a n uni tier of Tizamar men. The doctor Lad alrerdy made his examina tion. and the authorities were begin ning to make tlie customary invento ry of the personal effects. Your brotlier had been to visit Mr. True thot day. returning late in the aflenwion. Gregorio had been with him until nearly dark. Evidently he liad been reading when these men came upon him. As there were no witnesses. I suppose we will never know what took place, but there were no evidence* <»f a struggle and his body was found about 25 meters step*) down the old trail leading to the creek, with both lands hound tightly in front and a deep knife wound in the left side, lie was lying in the gulley formed by the wear of the path, just even with the first rub ber trees. Of course, no one knows how lie came to be lying at that point. 1 have two or three theories, but as they are* only guesses, they are not worth anything. There was a candiie and a book on tl»e kitchen ta ble. as though he lad been reading, lie had not yet retired, as he was dressed as lie was the day before. The three doors were all open as they had been the previous evening. i r.r i»ui was a nesta. so Gregorio sent his little girl rat her late to sweep and clean up. Slie returned, telling tier fattier that I>on Guillermo was not Utere. Tliey supposed tie had gone out somewhere, so sent the little girl back somewhat later, but she again returned with the same story, adding ttiat lie had not yet made a fire for breakfast. This was probably around * o'clock. Tlien (iregorio went to look around for him. After (ailing a fow times, tie became alarmed and kept on going until be found him as above described. His pockets were turned inside out and I think his watch was gone. I forgot about this until tlie authorities were gone, so I am not positive, but think 1 would tmve seen tlie watch had they recov ered it, as I saw his rings. Ttiese fellows had evidently begun to rifle his house. His box was open and some of tlie things turned over. Ttie cash box was open and the inside tray removed, but there were about ten peso* (dollars) of small change still in the tray, and in going through tlie chest we found about fourteen more of small change, nothing above 2U-eent pieces. He must have had some 50-oent and dollar pieces, as well as some bills, but these were all taken, as well as his gun and rain cuat. It is my theory that this was committed by Tizamar men: that probably they were disguised and your brother recognized them at the cost of his life: or tliat they were frightened away before completing tlie rifling of the house. Kructuous Sanches, that man of mine who talks so much, was ex tremely useful. He seems to have been the first there after the dis covery and immediately sent word to me and to True, and then began to look around for traces of the murder ers. In the sand of the creek banks he found the tracks of three men, and up on top of the bank a place where thev had evidently been sitting. I •oppose that they came through the woods and brush from the road lead ing from Aehotal to San J uan, which yon will remember is not far distant. aad remained hidden on the high haak opposite the old gate or bars to the creak until darkness fell and Gregorio had gooe to his own home. 1 suppose it occurred in the neigh borhood of • o'clock. We have pretty strong suspicions who the men were. 1 gave the names to the judge and strongly urged him to get them. 1 also wrote a Spanish friend in San Juan to keep after the judge. Unless some one keeps after them I am sure that nothing will ever be done by them. In fact, that Is the main trouble today with Mex ico. as I see ii— the childish incom petence and inditfence of the author ities from Madero on down. 1 had a telegram from the Ameri can consul, in reply to mine to him regarding this. He asked for further details, which I gave him as soon as I got back, and this morning I wrote him fully. 1 have an idea that he will prod up the authorities, too. i took the responsibility of assum ing charge, as I felt sure that would be your wish, and had the judge, since the court will have to direct somewhat for a short time according to the custom, name Gregorio as the one to be left on the place. Gregorio was making a roilpa, your brother had some clearing under way, with the object of getting the odd corners into grass. This latter I suspended, awaiting your instructions in the matter. This has been a terrible shock to us. He was our oldest and bestfriend in the country. One who under stood the conditions and the difficul ties of working here and was always so honest and fair in his dealings. We feel now as though we were en tirely alone in the country, so far as real friends are concerned, and in fact we are. Conditions are so bad that to sell any property here now. or at any time in the near future would be impossible, otherwise I believe we would get out. Conditions are rapidly growing worse, and apparently there is no chance for improvement until the United States takes a hand, and if that occurs we will have to leave temporarily. A great many Ameri cans have already left and others are leaving every day. We have about decided ourselves to get into Coataz acoalcos for a time, as affairs are be coming so bad. Only last night there was an assault a couple of stations north of here. Two persons, on ea Jap, were cut up with mach etes. 1 suppose the United States government understands what should be done, but to us who are intested here it looks as though something should be done pretty soon. • Owing to the extremely unsettled conditions here, I do not feel that I would dare to be away from the place long enough to permit me to go to San Juan to witness the burial. Mr. True and Mr. Tolle went. I staid at the place until they started for town, about 4 a. m. Sent my head man from over there and a letter to San J uan, assuring that everything would go on all right, and then I came back to Coliseo. Assuring you of my sympathy in this loss, which is ours also, I am yours very truly’ A. B. Coate Halted States Takes Action Official action on the murder of Mr. Wait and other Americans was given publicity from Washington last Sun day, the 14th, to the effect that our government ’’expects and demands that American life and property with in the republic of Mexico be justly and adequately protected, and that this government must hold Mexico and the Mexican people responsible for all wanton and illegal acts sacri ficing or endangering American life or endangering American property or interests.” Copies of government action have been forwaeded Ameri can consuls in Mexico, and are said to be the strongest demand the i United Seates is known to have made on Mexico. STORY OF THE COAL FIELDS Appropos of the Mining Troubles in the East (Note—Some time since, tlie editor asked his son. Frank W. Burleigh, who is down in the anthracite regions of the east with Columbus, Ohio, as his headquarters, for a story of the mines, miners and Mining, as seen from personal observation, and by those who are next to tire great throbbing heart of one of the world's greatest industries. In response, he last week sent the following article, which owing to the strikes in the mining regions is of peculiar interest, even to our people, who for the mo6t part, perhaps, know little or nothing of the inside of mines or niners' work.—Editor.] While this ail absorbing question is before the representatives of the great organization of the miners and of the miners and of the operators of the coal mines, it is also a burning ques tion in the home. The price of coal lias a different meaning to each one of the different parties with whom it is brought into contact. With the consumer it is a question of amount of money it will cost him for fuel during the winter months or for his factory. With the operator it is a question of what he will have to pay for having this com modity taken from the earth and placed upon the cars ifeady to sell in the open market. With the miner it is a question of his daily living and to the family it often means the question of life itself For in the price of coal we must figure the awful cost of life, and mained and crippled wrecks of hu manity which these mines have taken as toll for robbing nature of her treasure. • The large number of widows and orphans in every mining cummunity is striking proof that work in the mines is not free from danger. Of course a great many of the accidents are due to carelessness. Many lives are lost in the great accidents in which hundreds, but by far the great er number, are lost in the single ac cidents, or one or two at a time. In the rush to secure easy coal, the msn er becomes careless and does not post up the room properly and then with out warning a few tons of slate, rock or coal, suddenly fall and the man's life has paid the forfeit. The man en ters his room some morning and is suddenly blown to pieces; the room had filled with the deadly fire damp during the night and the flame of his open lam had set tire to it. These and many other causes lead to the great loss of life in the mines. cut a trip into a mine is one oi interest to a person who is not at all familiar with the mines. As jou ap proach the mine, the first thing which you notice is that the hills around are almost bare of trees. This is caused by the mines using the Umberto “Timer-’ up the “Top.” Then comes the great hoppers or tip ples as they are sometimes called. This is where the coal is loaded into the railioad cars for shipment. All of the coal taken from the mines is loaded and shipped at once and never stored. Up on the top of this hopper a long string of cars will be seen, slowly making their way by means of the “Rope” to the top of the incline where they are detached from the rest of the cars and one by one let down to xhe top of the chutes and dumped over the screens. These screens are long iron bars set one and one quarter inches apart. Over these bars the coal slides, the fine or "Slack” and the M “nut” coal drop ping through between the bars and the lump going into the car where it is picked over and all pieces slate, sulphur or “Bone” coal taken out. The miner is supposed to pick all of Uiis out. but pieces will often slip in in spite of the watchful eyes of the loader. Foiling these small loaded cars back we come to the blaca mouth of the mine itself. There are many ways of transportation used in the different mines, according to location. Some use the “Rope Haul” where the mine is above the hoppers and the loaded car draws the empty car to the top. Some use the “Rope Haul” with an engine to draw the loaded cars out and the empty car into the mine for a distance of from 1,000 to 1,600 feet. Then they are taken by the “Motors” and carried sUU farther unUl the point of distribution is reached, where the driver and his horse is waiUng to take tiie cars to the miner. The easiest way of getting to the “Face.” i. e. where the men are work ing. is to climb into one of the dirty, black, empty cars and ride in. It is well to keep the head down i s low as possible and trust there be no wrecks for the “Top” or the “Roof” is never any higher than the coal seam. 11118 runs feom 18 inches to 8 or • feet. Keep the head well down far the top is hard. yes. harder than your head, and the thickest skull might be seriously bent if it appears above the top of the car very far. When tiie end of the rope haul is readied then the little motor comes rushing in and is quickly made fast and the balance of the trip continued If you are afraid of rough riding and fast riding over uneven tracks you had better stay at home, for you will now be given a sample of speed which will call for tiie stoutest nerves. Forty miles an hour in an empty coal car on a gccd solid track out of doors is a rough ride, but take the same speed in a dark norrow tunnel, in a little car and on rough, cgpoked track, around curves that seem to be almost square, and you have the trip on the "Motor Trip.” As you alight from the first ride behind a mine motor, you silently give thanks that you have reached the end of tiie trip, and that the law of the state will not let you return the same way. Arrived at the end of the motor trip you find yourself almost stunned by the strange situation and come to yourself to find that you are In a place of bustle and noise almost equal to that of nilroad yards, only hear it is the shouting and swearing of the drivers, instead of the puffing of en gines. The smoke of the lanterns on each man's cap makes the air foul and dim. But ont of the confusion you soon find that thinks are working according to plan and that each swearing, sweating driver is getting the cars which be is to take and rush ing them to the face, where they are taken by tee "Fillers" as the minor is called, and run into the "Room” where he is working. In opening a mine, there is first made what is called an entry. This entry is driven straight through to the end of the coal field which is to be opened. After it enters a certain distance, or when it is in the good coal, there is started a "Room." This room is from 24 to 25 feet wide and is worked straight back from the entry. Then at a distance of about thirty feet another room is started, thus leaving a "Pillar” of solid coal about thirty feet wide separating the rooms. This pillar is a support of the top. After the room has been worked in a certain distance, they work towards each other toconnect the rooms. This is called a "Break Through” and is for the purpose of making the air circulate through the rooms where the men are working. In mining the coal each miner has two rooms, so that he can be working in one room while the other is being “Cut” or the car is being pulled out. The room is first. This is one of the modern improvements and is called machine mining. The cutting ma chine is a great steel chain, armed with long steel teeth, driven by a motor. This is brought up to the face of the coal and cuts a narrow ledge near the bottom in to a depth of from five to seven feet. Then the miner comes in and with a great long drill makes a hole back into the coal about halt way to the top. In this hole he places a charge of powder. This charge of powder is made by rolling a tube of paper about one and one-half inches in diameter and from 20 to 40 inches long, and filling with powder, Here is one of the dangers which many miners disregard. They open their keg of powder and with their lamps on their cap proceed to make the cartridge. Sparks often fall from the lamp and many men have been blown up as a result. The catridge is then placed on a long copper needle and pushed into the hole, the hole is then “Tamped” solid with fine dirt or dust. Then the “Needle” is withdrawn, leaving a small hole in the powder. A squib is then lighted and the miner gets out of the way. He is supposed to get into the entry and away from all possible harm, but he ofttimes does not even leave the room and I have seen men'stand not more than four feet away and directly in front of the shot. This is very dangerous. As soon as the first shot is fired, the miner proceeds to take out the coal to which has been loosened and prepare for the more important and larger “Shot” of getting down the upper part of the coal. This is ac complished in tiie same manner. Af ter the coal is “Shot” down, it is loaded into the cars and taken out to the hoppers where it is dumped sere ned and weighed. Now what does the miner get for this dangerous work? He is paid the sum of 95 cents a ton, or rather that is the basis of the pick and shovel mining, Where the machines are used he gets a smaller rate, as the the machine makes the work so much more easy. But the ton of coal must be real coal and not the “Nut” or “Slack” He is -paid only for what is loaded on the car. After the first “Entry” is started, other entries may be started a distance of about 500 feet from the first, and parallel with it, and still others, un til the whole width of the coal is readied. After the “Booms” have all bear worked out, then starting at the farthest side they “Draw” the pilian and lot the top fall in. Tbeoa are caused bv the taking away of the supports in the mine below. But the work of tire miner is fas cinating and a man who once becomes a miner very seldom ever leaves for anything else. lie can make good I money as long as he can have steady work, but owing to the numer ous strikes, and days off for funerals and breakdowns, the miner has in reality but a very small wage and this causes the discontent and un rest. But the minor is an important fac tor in our modern life, and without the product of his labor our civiliz ation would be woefully out of working order. No factories could run. railroad trains would not be able to continue in business, our electric light and power plants would have to close down, ond our homes would be in darkness and cold, and all with little thought of the miner. We were pleased last Friday to meet and make the acquaintance of Mr. C. W, Trumble of Hazard, democratic candidate for representative from this county. Although for years Mr. Trumble had been a reader of the Northwestern, his active business affairs at Hazard made his coming to the county seat verv rare, while the editor has been so busy with his work that he has never been able to get out to Mr. Trumble's home to see that pretty little village, hence our first meeting in all these years. We are willing to admit we are very much pleased with Mr. Trumble's appearance, and feel that if the fates and the opposition to republicanism should happen to win him the nomi nation. and election he will to the best of his ability represent the best interests of the county. But, oh, he’s a democrat, see! A. C. OGLE Blacksmith and Wagonmaker g. Does all kinds of plow work ♦ __.Lister Lathes made to FIT Agency for Ford Autos Your patronage solicited A. C. OGIiE Big Discount Safe 1 Will Sell the Balance of the GREAT WESTERN MANURE SPREADERS At a big discount until the first of May, owing to lack of room I also have on hand a large line of John Deere Farm Machinery And other Implements O. S. Mason, Owner 4» fi ii See Loup City D 0 & IF YOU ARE GOING To Build a House or Barn OR AST KIND OF CEMENT Construction As Cellars, Caves, Sidewalks, and Floors, Call and get our prices TOUT, Manager | The Gem Theater £ On the dates mentioned below we will show the Special Pictures as Follows /••then weekly each Ihuredry night Joseph in Egypt Jack and the bean Stalk Lead kindly Light Bed Cross Myrtar Brutus Blot in the Scutcheon Cardinal Woolsey Girt and her Trust How Washington crossed the Deleware Panama Canal The Bounder These are pictures that you should not miss because you may never have the opportunity to see them again. Don't forget the date. Admission 5 and 10c. A. 0. LEE. PROPRIETOR Sat. April 20th ” ” 27th " May 4th ” ” llth ’* ” 18th ” 28th "June 1st ’ 8th ” 16th ” 2gnd 29th 99 99
