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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1909)
17 ff.Wmk- - -tPS 4 rl ?-- f,n-s 4 -AJLJ2" " tt''T' icsifcy sii"- TtrV li r rt 2 I Pi I The Iron Pot Still a Mystery By a Former Secret Service Man Ex Operative Tells o! Cleverest o! Counterfeiting Plots MC Y7) M7 a tAfiYydS-M Ttf COMr?Fr?& HERE are fow mysterlos which nro never cleared up," commenced Capt. Dickson, as ho sat be fore the cheerful wood fire of his cozy study one night last winter, "al though somo of them Blum her for years among the things forgotten, tintil the denouement Is accident ally developed by somo T person who, perhaps, never heard of the original matter. Such was the case which I havo como to remember as that of 'Tho Iron Pot.' It was a vessel of this humble charac ter that Anally cleared up a great mys tory and brought the guilty to Justice. "A St Louis gang had their plant in a cleverly constructed cava in a suburban district. It was an artificial cave, dug bnck in tho face of a clay and gravel bluff. Tho entrnnco was through tho shanty of a poor Irish family, a clrcumstanco that diverted suspicion from it and ono to which is partly duo tho long immunity tho gang enjoyed. "Thero was no scrap of metal, no coins, chemicals, or other thing used In tho art. Only tho machine and a fow wrenches and similar tools. The gang had skippod out. Tho Irishman was half-witted, and Ills wife was too clover to bo caught in tho traps wo laid for her. Wo had made a water haul, except for tho machino, which was destroyed. Tho cavo was filled up. Acting under orders from Wash ington wo maintained secrecy about tho entlro matter and nothing of It got into tho nowspapors. "I. found ono thing in the shanty which might or might not offer a clow to tho counterfeiters. It was an omply envolopo bearing tho postmark of an obscure railroad station in tho sunk land district of northeastern Arkansas I had long ago learned that it in tho seemingly Insignificant things that lead to tho discovery of criminals, and whllo this envelopo might mean noth ing, on tho other hand, It might bo of tho gravest Importance It had been found beneath tho shcot of motnl on which tho cook stovo stood, tho tip of ono cornor, discolored and grimy, at tracting my attention. I had secured it nnd pocketed It without attracting attention. "If tho gang had nevor existed It could not havo disappeared moro effec tually. Wo wero face to faco with a blank Wall. This mado us tho moro anxious to capturo tho counterfeiters. As nothing bettor offered, tho chief ' .v 'jmniiv.t ihu&l. Bs??vig? szs naiuiimftrm ir&rt-, -j&.k "Zim rmm m s- ' ci - s. -. r, -KBtivjrKrvi r tin --. V rzzx-r - --- 5S''-a?-7!fli '. Vlt suggested that I follow up tho clow of tho empty envelope. "With as cumbersome and comploto an outfit ns every city sportsman carries Into tho woods with him, I loft tho train ono day at tho waysldo sta tion which boro tho name of tho post mark. Securing a guide and cook, in tho person of a lanky native, I hnd my truck hnuled out to the St. Francis river, only two miles distant, where I pitched camp and made preparations for an indefinite stay. "By making Inquiry of my visitors, I learned that about flvo miles down the river wero camped, in a suug cabin built by themselves, three gentlemen from pnrts unknown. Thoy maintained tho place as a sort of club and hnd spent tho spring season there. They loft about March and wero gone until October, when thoy returnod ono night and again took possession of their cabin. Our raid on tho cavo had been made on tho 15th of October, and this caused mo to think that perhaps tho empty envelopo was making good. "As tho three gentlemen did not dolgn to visit my camp, I decided to mnko a call upon thorn. "I stnrted out in a folding canvas canoe, Into in tho afternoon, nnd ar rived in tho vicinity of tholr camp Just at nightfall. With a sharp cypress tree, aided by a Jagged cut from my hunting knife, I succeedod in punching a bad hole In tho bottom of tho canoe, and with tho boat rapidly filling with water, I landod Just after sunset at the very door of their cabin. Tho three men wero nt homo and they welcomed mo with tho open hospitality of camp' ors, insisting that I spend tho night with them. This was Just what I had been playing for. "It was eaBy to see that tho men wero crooks. There is always some thing to dlscloso tho countorfoltor, it tho observer Is only sufficiently vorsed In their ways and mannerisms to rec ognize tho telltale signs, I wns pretty suro, boforo tho evening was over, that those wero tho men who had done thp Job in St. Louis. "Nothing nbout tho cabin was tho least b'lt suspicious. A largo Iron pot bubbled Invitingly over tho open flro, tho fragrant odor of boiling meat is suing from under its lid when the stoam pushed it up on ono sldo. A steaming haunch or vonulon, cooking with somo vegetables and dumplings, was produced from tho pot for our supper, which was served Boon after my arrival. In tho contor of tho room was a big table, crudely constructed of heavy oak timbers, Tho cabin was woll ?-? lighted, tho lamps being of expeuslvo character and great brilliancy. Guns and fishing tackle and hunting tog gery of every kind gavo the cabin the atmosphere of a sportsman's club. "Tho men talked freely of everything but themselves. They spoko of many cities, but never of their homes. They told me thoy wero collcgo chums who had always mado It a custom to spend a fow months togothor ench fall In the woods. They wero clever mon and readily passed for tho lawyer, the doc tor and tho merchant, tho characters thoy respectively protended to bo. Tho ono to whom tho other two deferred in everything was a largo, powerful man with clean-shaven faco and a Jaw like a bulldog. His faco was too shrewd to bo ploasant. Ho watched mo furtlvoly, a sinister, amused sinllo playing nbout tho corners of his mobile mouth. That smllo spoke volumes. It mado mo lie awake all night It seemed to say that he know my real character, and thore foro I thought It best to keep on tho watch. Tho man seemed capable of offering me personal violence. But tho night passed away without Inci dent. After breakfast, I repaired tho leak In my canoe nnd paddled slowly up-stream, trying to figure out where I had seen tho big man with the square Jaw boforo. "Whllo I was smoking a last cigar boforo retiring that evening, It came to mo whoro I had soon him. It wns on a street car In St. Ixnils, on ono oc casion when I was shadowing the shanty at tho cavo. Ho had been on tho same car and had kont his seat when I alighted nenr tho hut. Ho had looked at mo then as If ho wanted to know mo tho next tlmo ho saw mo. I was assured that ho was ono of tho counterfeiters, and mado up my mind to arrest tho threo of them tho first thing noxt morning. "Hero I learned a lesson in procras tination. While I hastily gobblod down ray breakfast tho next day, a trappor, who camped near by and who had gone to tho village tho night boforo for sup plies, happened along and told mo a most disconcerting bit of news. The threo men hnd taken Fronch leave. Thoy had caught a through freight about midnight, taking Httlo or no baggage with them. IJiastonod to tho village, and although I worked tho single telegraph wlro to Us utmost cnpnclly, tho threo mon succeeded In making tholr escape. "Sending a full cipher report to Washington, I ropalrod to tho cabin In the swamps and mado a careful search rf it. Everything within was In tho y O Captain Dickson Relates Tale He Tolls of En countering Desperado Gang and the Ultimate Consequences Man with Bulldog Jaw and His Dar ing Escape from tho Grip o! tho Law. 3 $ $ $ fiTaotviJ greatest confusion. Clothing nnd fcholla, guns and fishing-tackle wero strewn about tho lloor, evidencing a precipitate departmo. It was tantaliz ing to ngaln allow tho criminals to es cape. I felt deeply chagrined, and to polvod never again to put off a matter of this kind. Tho men had forestalled mo by only a fow hours, for I had In tended arresting llioin that morning, and there had been' nothing in tholr conduct during my visit to their cabin to Indicate that they thoughrof lllght. "In ono corner of tho cabin, beneath tho very bunk on which I had slept, thero wns an excavation threo feet square and as many deep. Tho covor was down and dirt was strewn over It which gave It tho sumo nppcarnnco nB tho dirt floor of tho house. I discov ered It by a hollow hound when I tapped over the spot. It was empty. "1 noticed tho absence of tho pot which had supplied my supper, but It wan rather a subconscious notice of It. Tho fact really made no appreciable Impression on mo at the time, nor did It, In fact, until more than a year had passed. It. was then recalled by n newspaper dispatch under dnto of tho small village. "Somo of the lioyti In tho village had appropriated the cabin as a sort of clubhouse, after tho threo men hnd Hod. Thoy would spend Saturdays thero, ll3hlng and Hwlmmlng and hunt ing. Immediately In front or tho cnhln wa3 a steep bank, and tho river wi dened out into a broad, deep pool which afforded good fishing nnd swim ming. Tho boys would throw whlto pebbles Into tills holo nnd dlvo for them from tho bank. Ono of them had struck his head against something hard at the bottom or tho river and had been pulled up a corpse, his skull having been fractuied by the Impact of tho blow. "Tho others Investigated and round a largo Iron pot hair burled In tho sort mud. Its cover was sealed down and Its weight had been so grcnt tho boys couldn't lift It from Its oozy bed. Tho dispatch stated that tho pot was to bo raised and Its contents examined. "1 was tn Llttlo Rock when I read this dlspatcii and, without waiting for Instructions rrom headquarters, I boarded tho first train and set out for tho vlllnge. I was in a state of fever ish excitement, fearing I would arrlvo there after tho pot had been secured. I wanted to bo the llrst to view Its con tents. I felt suro I kndw what was in It. "After n Journey that soemed Inter mlnablo I nrrlvcd at tho vlllago and Inquired about tho pot. My foars had boon groundless. With tho Indlfforenco so churactorlBtlc In country peoplo tho villagers hnd forgotten, after tho funeral of the unfortunnto young man, tho Incident of tho pot. Whllo thero hnd been somo talk of Talslng it, no ono hnd taken tho lead, and thero tho matter had rested. "Securing a team of mules and somo strong ropes and chains, I drovo out to tho cabin. By dint of much diving I succeeded In fastening, tho chains nbout tho pot and had my asslstaant drag It out upon tho bank. It wns tho vessel which had hung over tho flro when I had visited the counterfeiters in tholr lnir. Then I remembered its absence, when I had searched tho hut aftor their departure. It was soaled with paraffin nnd sealing wax, and not n drop or water had passed the lid. "I contained a comploto Bet or on. gravers' tools, several bottles or power ful nclds, glass stopped and scaled, n number or bars or silver, somo threo hundred odd counterfeit sllvor dollarB, and tho dies with which thoy had been stamped out. Tho d!6s wero thickly coated with wax and woro as bright and rresh ns when thoy beat out tho falHo coins In tho secret cavo. "After swearing my assistant to secrecy, I returned to houdquartors with my booty. "Not many weeks later two of tho mon woro captured. I had glvon tho department a mlnuto description of them, after their unceremonious do parturo, nnd Its vast machinery had been set in motion for tholr apprehen sion. It la a mnxlm of tho sorvlce that a man onco a countorfoltor Is al ways a counterfeiter. This rule hold good with roforonco to two or tho mon, at least, far thoy woro captured and convicted or another Job. Tho In cidents I havo Just related woro not Introduced In evldci.co against them and consequently escaped tho pross. Tho man with tho bulldog Jaw oscaped completely nt that tlmo, hut I met with him, yours after, under circumstances neither or us will forgot so long as wo llvo." tCopyilBht, 1903, by W. O. Chapman.) (Copyright In Qruat liiituln.) EVENLY MATCHED. Magistrate (to witness) Ami whoro Wero you when this assault occurred? Witness Just ncioss tho street, your honor. Mnglstrnto Then why didn't you go to tho plnlnllft'B nsslstuncj when you Bnw him attacked? Witness Fnlx, I wasn't Btiro then that ho wouldn't bo tho defendant, your honor. Ucwnrc of Ointments for Catarrh that Contain Mercury, m mrttiry will curdy ilrMroj- tho txr.m of nmrll mil completely iirrnmio tlm xiliolc ntcm illicit inttTliu It Ihrcvuli tlm niiicuin mirlnira. I'mli nt Helen elioull neur he tivil except nil iirwirlu- I I.. .11 ....... ...... nl.li. ..t....ll. ... . .U. .1..-.... al . ' in"', inmi it , mi... 'ir i .u i tun, n inn iiamacr iiiry Mill (In Ix trn fulil tn III.' roimI Jlill ran lxwsllil)- lie rlvo from them. Ilnll'9 fntorrh dtp, in.iiiutnrtiirril by I". J (t.rnry A (M. In'iilo, O.. ronmlnt no mrr- urj. mill r iiir.il. imriutu), ne-inui uinciiy llHm , he IiUkkI nnd mm inn rurlan-i of Ifcn njtlrm. In l)U) ln Ilnll'i Cntnrih I'urp ba curii yon ra Hip .-mump, u 11 i3Kin iiurrniiiy "i iniur in luittlOi Olili, 1- 1' J. Clirncy A i, lcMlininlnl frrc, hilil liv PrtiYCM. l'rlrp, T'r. vr ImiIIIp. 'Inke Hall's I amllr Tills tor coast lp.it Ion. The Land of Ennlnnd. Twelve tliouetind seven hundred nnd nlncty-ono pcisona own fyr-fifths of the soil of Knghind, their agsronnto property, cxcluslvo or that within tho ' metropolitan boundaries, being -lO.lSO, 775acios. In point of fact, tho imm- J ber of owners of four-fifths of tho Kng- j llsh land Is nenrer fi.000 than 1U.000. Of theso COO nro nobloincu, and four or flvo of theso swallow up tho rest. I Now York A met lean. Tho extraordinary popularity or lino whlto goodn thlB summer makes tho cluilco or Starch a matter of great Im portance. Defiance Starch, being freo from all injurious chemlcnls, Is tho only ono which 1b snfc to use on fine fnbrlca. Its great strength as n stlfron cr mnkoH half tho usual quantity of Starch necessary, with tho result of porrcct finish, cqunl to that when tho goods wero now. Disillusion. Llttlo Johnnie hnd Just learned tho heartbreaking fact that thero wasn't a "really" Santn Glaus, and ho felt that tho world hnd collapsed about his earn. "I d-don't bcltovo n-nothln nt all," ho nobbed. "I dd don't bu belIevo thqro'a any (Jcorgo Washington neith er!" , Rain or Shine. Small Wallnco accebtcd an Invita tion to a parly, as fallows: "Dear Louise I will come to your pnrty ir it don't rain" (then thinking that ho might havo to Btay homo in that case) "and ir it does." Tho De lineator. That an nrtlclo may bo good as woll ns cheap, and givo entlro Batlsfactlon, s proven by tho extraordinary salo of Deflanco Stnrch, each packago con taining ono-third moro Starch than can bo had of any othor brand for the iamo money. A Perfect Gentleman. Codling Why did you speak to that howwld tramp, dear boy? Softy Why shouldn't I, old chap plo? Ho Isn't In twndo, and ho doesn't work faw a living. Penny rictorlnl. ONI,Y"DNK"IIOMO QUININE" STiatU liAXATlVn IllUniU QUININH. Look foi tlio 1.1 una I urn uf K. W. OltOVIC. Unit tho World OTr Ui Utiro a Cold In Ono ltoy. '.3c. It Ib bettor to begin lato doing our duty rthan nover. DIonvslus. Lewis' Single -Binder Cipfr him a rich taste. Your dealer or Loa' Factory, Peoria, 111. Ho Isn't much or a baker who oats all tho broad ho kneads. MAPLEINE Let Ma Send Yon a Paekage of Defiance Starch with your next order of groceries and I will guarantee . L N ;' .' j imr i fOtfyiiiK li'ir "J . WIHtHl ... ssk headashe Positively cured by tli'csa Llttlo Tills. Tlifjr alio relle.ro DIs trCHHfnim I)rMnenliL.Tn. (llRrHtldun ml Too llonrty i.nunx. , iierroct rem edy for JlzliiriM, Nun. M1, JlrouMiiren. Ilnii 'Canto In UicMiiiitli, Coat til Tongue, l'uln in the Hl.lA. 'I'dlMMM T.tVTMF They repulato tlio IJoneln. Turcly W'aetnblo, SMALLPILL. SHALL DOSE. SMALL PRICE. Genuine Must Bear Fao-Similo Signaturo REFUSE SUBSTITUTES. Western Canada MORE DIG CROPS IN 1008 Another 60,000 set tiers fi om tl-c United Slntcs. N. w dis tricts opened for set tlement. 320 ncrea of land to i-iicli act llisr. ICO freo homestead and 100 ut $3.00 per acre. A vint rich country nnd n contented rros peroun pcoplr." rit,u Jrexi i stxultnn cf iVtitlrtil J'iitiir, tcAi'W iltii tJ il'tllrtn C'.ii,i.,i, in taunt, l0oS, st an iustil'titiDii. Many have paid the entire cost of their fnnna nnd hnd a balnnco of ftoni J J0.G0 to $20.00 per acre nu n result of one crop. Spring wheat, winter wheut, oats, bnley, flax and pcai are the principal crops, whllo the wild grutses bring to perfection tho best cattle that l-.avc ever been told on the Chicago nniiket. Splendid climate, school nnd churches in all localities. Kailwnys touch meat of thoscttlcd disttlcu, and prices for produce are always good. Lands may also be pur chased from railway and land companies. For rmmplilctK, umpn nnd Information re anrdlni: low rullwny rnlen, npply to Hupcrln temlctit of Immlurntlon, Ottuwn, Cunuiln, or the authorized Cunndlnn Government AgenU W. V. DENNETT, 801 Hew York tlio DullJInj. Cmitia, Netraili. GROOMING COUNTS But It connot moko n Fair Skin or a Glossy, Coat. Women with good complexions connot Ik) homely. Creams, lotions, washes and powders cnunot inako a fair skin. Every horseman knows Hint tho Brit in cont of his thoroughbred comes from tho animal's "all-right" condition. Let tho Iiorso got "off his feed" and his coat tuma dull. Cur rying, "omening nnd rubbing will glvo him a clean coat, but cannot produco tho coveted smoothness and glos.4 of tho horse's skin, which is Inn com plexion. Tho ladies will sco tho point. Lane's Family Medicine Is tho bottt preparation for ladies who desiro a pontic laxatiro medicino that will glvo tho body perfect cleanliness internally nntr fho wholosomtncsa that produces such slrlnn as palntora lovo to copy. At druggists', 25c. "3 Stroke Self Feed Hay Prew" Two men onn run It. Record, 3 tons In one hour. Easy drnft. BATISKAd- TION nllAIIAM. MfKBpKrr inou. abu ror "TfX&Z catalog No. 70. ,r THE AUTO-FEIIAN HAY PRESS CO. IK! W. IIIU Street, lUnexa Cjfr, Ho, I)lt. SIcINTOSH coleuratud NATURAL UTERINE SUPPORTER B!TCltnmollat relief. Hold brail Burwlrol Inrtrn- 'i'VP' doulorsond luadlmt ilnigiilmii I ft litnailu M'l 1 IS Hi irnniRiriiniiin un HA8TIMJH" A MrlKTOSU TltUUH CO, limit St., 1'hllfiitrlptilii, J'tt., mnnufactarera o? ..u.-of.?.,H,,0) pru-o llht tent IntltHf... I'tlllnrlMnhl,. I... n., iiKLt-cnton nu nil can on. """ WIIIWl UUIWI InttA. Una HI J Walnut 8t lT1ltMR nnd lUllO mnknm nf thA irnnln. .lumu iii.iMTiVSir.tS,""",-,L " ' """" MBinwia -vuiivDu cjuiuiicr. A flavorine that It used Hie samo at lemon or vanilU, liv dissolving trauuluteil sugar In wa ter and adding Maploinr, a delicious syrup li made and a yrup better than maplo, Maplclna Is old by grocers. Send ta stamp for sampls and recipu book. Crescent M!g. Co., Seattle. CARTERS lCT HUH RiirVf ft PILLS. (CARTER'S JSlTTlE RIVER mm t$M(im 1P& w ftEofflg- that you will he better satisfied with it than with any starch you have ever used. I claim that it has no superior for hot or cold starching, and It Will Not Stick to the Iron No cheap premiums nro Riven with DEFIANCE STAHOH, but TOU GET ONE-THIltD HOllB roil voun uohitY than of pay other brand. DEFIANCE BTAROn costs lOo for a 10-oz. packago, and I will refund your money If it sticks to tho Iron. Truly yours, Uone8t John, The Grocery maa r-i .c r I ' f . 1' h jtu,. .'. ll,.,1 p., nii 11 if 1 win ifni'injni'iww, Jtpwtumgpg?3 niaiiii 1 a r-7 1 tjim r ' "tyvaaaqftabrt tiriev SmBmS