Nebraska Newspapers

    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
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