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About The Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1896)
THE VALENTINE DEMOCRAT SUCCESSOR TO CHERRY COUNTY INDEPENDENT EOBERT GOOD Editor and PubMer Official Paper of Cherry iy Nebraska lo4yFjes Year in Advance ruBwanED ever Thursday l Entered at tuc FostKiffice atValeatinc Cherry County Nebraska as Second class matter This paper will be mailed regularly to its -subscribers until a definite order to discontinue is received and all paid in full Adfertising jrat6st So cents per inch per month Rates per column or for long time ads made known on appli 1 cation tp this office THURSDAY AUGUST 6 1896 WILLIAM JENNINGS UKYAN Who was nominated by the National j convention of the democratic party for iPresidefit of the United States and who was indorsed by the populist and -bimetallism parties at St Louis Democratic ticket For President WILLIAM JENNINGS BR YAtf Of Lincoln Nebraska For Yice President ARTHUR SB WALL -Of -Hath Maine Wait for the Fourthof July at Val entine in 1S97 A Bryan club has been organized at Canton Ohio the home of Majah McKinley - JDemoorot oo jaot joining clubs as rapidly as was antici pated by the disciples of a Chinese wall tariff Local politics are beginning to siz zle -and soon the omnipresent candi date will be buttonholing the inno ceptffarmer - It is rumored that Queen Victoria intends resigning the throne of Eng land Here is a chance forsome dis appointed politician to obtain an -easy job Many papers credit Tom Watsou with being the author of that famous expression Where am I at Hon E obboTuskogee Ala should come out and assert himself ere he loses his laurels as an originator of that awful offense against English grammar The assessed valuation of this school district is 118000 The district can therefore legally issue 11800 worth of bonds The proposed issue will amount to only 10000 and the school house will cost not more than 8000 Built of native stone and by local workmen it means just 8000 more in circulation in Valentine The nomination of McKinley is not meeting with the enthusiasm that was predicted For two years republicans have been going wild over the Napoleon -who-was to lead them to victory but just now it seems that the coming campaign will be more like Napoleons his trip to Italy Next November will witness the re treat of the republican hosts in much the same manner as the French re treated from Moscow As was anticipated the Rushville Recorder which nas been run as a re publican paper for just one week -divides the publishing of the proposed constitutional amendments with the Gordon Journal a stanch tried and true republican paper whereat Bro Xyon of the last named sheet is just ly warm under the collar This shows the straits to which the g o p is re duced The Rushville Democrat sold its nrinciple for patronage dr I 1 - SUPERINTENDENT CORBETT State Superintendent of Public In struction Henry R Oorbett visited the Cherry countyinstitute incidental ta j his campaign tour of the state and thereby hangs a tale The school laws of Nebraska provide that the state superintendent institutes as far as practicable July 21st he wrote Miss L U Stoner our county superintendent saying I shall go Valentine Sunday July 26 and be with your teachers at their in stitute Monday July 27th This was written and the -appointment made without solicitation on the part of our superintendent and the visit vwas looked upon merely as the performance of his official duty incidental as said before to his campaign of the state preparatory to the coming election He came he visited he talked we wont say lectured and he left but he forgot to pay his board bill Instead he left a polite note saying that if the institute fund for lecturers was not sufficient to pay his expenses he would do so on presentation of the bill Holy smoke Have things come to such a pass that we have to pay the personal expenses of our state officials in addition to their salary for the per formance of their duty This gentle man even vent so far as to tell the institute instructors here that he would look out for himself while in town He did but he left his hotel bill This is a small matter figured in dollars and cents but when principle is considered it is a mountain and how Supt Corbett can get over it is an interesting problem A LETTER FE03I OHIO The Democrat takes pleasure this week in giving its readers a letter re ceived from Ohio by J H Quigley The letter is written from Bellville Richland county and is drited July 27 It says The nomination of W J Bryan and the adaption of a free silver platform was just the the proper thing to do I firmly believe that Brian will carry Ohio by a very large majority over all the other condidates The change from all the other parties here to the support of Bryan is simply wonderful We have very few democrats in cen IralOhio who will vote the gold bug ticket if one is nominated by the dis affected capitalists of the east Do not think for a moment that if there is one nominated that it will strength en the McKmley party When -the republicans met at Zanesville and en tered into a contract that Bushnell should be governor Foraker should be senator and McKinley preside nt they J did not consult the people outside of this state I think you will be perfect ly safe in saying that McKinley will never get the electonal vote of Ohio There are hundreds of men in this county who never voted the demo era tic ticket who are earnestly sup porting Bryan Men of influence in the republican party are on the streets every day more enthusiastic for Bryan than many original democrats J E Howard Coming from the hotbed of McKin leyism this may seem strange but it is nevertheless -true as the editor of this paper can prove He is an orig inal Buckeye and was in Ohio while McKinleyAvas gavernor Where the joss is best known he is least liked The Democrat this week publishes the proposed amendments to the con stitution and wishes all its readers to study them carefully between this date and November third Tiie Democrat is not a republican paper and though some supnse may be manifested at the publication of these amendments in this paper the editor wishes to assure his friends that the amendments were secured without a sacrifice of princi ple or a promise to support the repub lican ticket This paper always tries to keep its readers informed on hap penings of interest even though it oc casions considerable expense anaSextra effort Its reward is the many kind words spoken of for and to it by these who appreciate enterprise When W J Bryan was named for president by both the silver and popu list conventions at St Louis last week a deed for freedom was done The man who will lead the American peo ple out of bondage was chosen All reform elements now rally around the standard of the uBoy Orator of the Platte and he will be carried into the White House by a majority which will forever put an end to John Bulls reign over this country Stromsburg Head light The populists of Cherry connty showed great wisdom when they in structed their delegates to the stale convention to vote for Miss Stoner for state superintendent The republican party has become a party of calamity howlers with a venge auce They will1 ruin the credit of the country It is about time the republi cans were taking a tumble to them selves Ainsworth Home Rule The suit of Mrs Geo Clark against the city of ONeill was compromised last Tuesday by a board of arbitration and the city will pay the plaintiff 200 for injuries sustained by reason of a defective sidewalk Broken and de fective sidewalks are -an expensive luxury for any town Stuart Ledger f According to Mark Hanna the only issue in the present campaign is How to Elect McKinley1 orThe Mandates of the Corporations vMust be Obeyed On the third day of November the sequel to tne above win he written as follows Bryan is Elected or The People Have Triumphed There are now but two parties in the field -worthy of note The popy crat and the republican Those who believe in neither can take their choice or not vote at all The democrats are nob doing business at the old stand as usual this year Their turn will come in four years hence after the country has tired of the lay out now clamoring for recognition Alliance Gfrip - The Standard is informed that a gold standard club was organized in Rushville on Saturday evening and that it will be known as the McKinley Club A great effort -was made to start it off with a boom but oiminfor mant says there were just 25 persons seen to leave theedurt house hall the place of meeting andthey were not all residents of Rushville McKinleyism is deader than a mackerel in this part of the country Rusliville Standard Every possible influence will be brought to bear on individuals this fall to -make them fall into line for the party of monoplies and trusts headed by Wm McKinley These same cor porations and trusts paid off McKin leys debts a few years ago and are now looking alter their pay it they sue- ceed in their efforts they are assured of a return of their investment with a great interest fund added Chadrofa The Ainsworth Star Journal is a McKinley organ Likewise it is sup posed to be in favor of a gold stand ard But Prof Berkley got rattled last week and made some of the best argu ments in ravor or tree coinage that we have had the opportunity of reading in many a day In an article directed to Senator Stewart Prof Berkley says Cant you understand that if you get freedom of access to the mints with your train loads of silver the dollar will be full valued dollars regard less of their value in exchange They may be worth 50c or 40c or 60c of the present standard but whatever they are worth they will still be full valued dollars Do you imagine that it will take a long time for people to get their business down to a silver basis You surely must have forgot ten that this is a nation of railroads and telegraphs The foregoing needs no comment Prof Berkley has been converted Theres no use denying it and next week the world will expect to see the name of Wm J Bryan at the head of the Star Journal editorial columns THE EASTERN QUESTION In his lecture before the Cherry County Teachers Institute last week Chaplain O J Nave made the remark able statement tbat the Armenian trouble was not due to religious fana ticism so much as to Russias inordi nate desire to extend her possessions and gain control of Constantinople and the Bosphorus He contends that Russia maintains a corps of emissaries in Armenia and other Turkish depen dencies for the purpose of siirring up stife thus getting Christian nations to denounce the Turk in the event of whose overthrow the Armenians would naturally turn to Russia for protec tion The chaplain ought not upset our pet theories in this manner For years Christians have been sympathiz ing with Armenia and cursing Turkey and to have to look upon the latter as the nation imposed upon by Russia causes a destinct shock to our feelings The poor Turk is the one to sympa thize with He has nowhere to lie his head All nations are against him and even the followers of the Prince of Peace advocate his annihilation The subline porte has pr sympathy tkW Preston best one years subscription for the fourth and six months subscription for the fifth hest solution SYNOPSIS Chapter I Introduces the Iieroine Isabel Preston the only daughter of the wealthy Ne braska ranchman Henrv Preston with whom three cowboys Charles Thompson Will Powell and Edward Leiden are in love Ghapter n The Preston Mysterv Alter supper Will Powell and Isabel take a stroll Will declares his love and is assured that he is loved in return As the lover bemhrto kiss his sweetheart a shot is fired from the bushes and Isabel sinks to the ground shot through the breast Chapter III A Vain Pursuit Ranchman Preston hears the shot and calls the cowboys together They visit the river but Isabel and Powell haro disappeared Dis covering tracks of horses they follow them and almost overtake three horsemen who escape in the darkness Chapter IV John Preston of the TJ S Secret Service arrives at the ranch It is found that Edward Belden ami Charles Thompson have left the ranch A partyof cow boys find the body of Isabel and led by Dick Jones swear to avenge her murder CHAPTER V A Broken Heart When the cowboys left the ranch with Preston John Preston begged leave to accompany them but his uncle would not allow him to do so as he was unused to rough riding -so the young man reluctantly stayed -behind to comfort his aunt -The sight of the dead form of her lovea daughter proved too -much for the already unnerved mother and she fainted away All night the poor woman raved in delirium calling the nameof Isabel At daybreak Jones who was judged the best rider on the ranch was dis patched to overtake Prestons party and at nightfall the jaded band came back What a change had come over the features of the griefstrieken father in the past few hours His hair which had been of a raven blackness was actually turning gray in places Entering the house reelingfrom side to side with fatigue he sank with a deep sob by -the dead form of Isabel It was a terrible night A great storm arose at midnight the thunder crashed a gale tore madly around the silent prairie home and the rain pour ed down in heavy sheets as if to drown the sorrows of the wretched mortals iwithin I Toward morning Mrs Preston rais ed iierself on her couch and called faintly for her husban d He was at her side in an instant She had sunk back and was breathing heavily What is it Margaret are yon ill dear wife asked the ranchman ben ding tenderly over her I am dying Henry she answered faintly and I am glad God is so good to me Soon will I be The voice was growing fainter Oh Margaret -moaned the unhap py man leave me not dear wife ray nearc too is oroicen i cannot lace a double grief alone But the end had come With a faintly murmured farewell the weary xaother sank into a sleep that knows no waking A smile rested on the pale features of the dead woman No more would earthly griefs trouble the kind old mother Long did Preston gaze stonily upon his dead wifes features then sinking by her side he moaned What have I done to deserve such sorrow I care not to live longer All I held dear on earth is gone Alone must I face my grief but not for long - God give me strength to hunt down the murderer ot my child then I am ready to go Next morning a double grave on a little mound near the river received the remains of Isabel and her poor mother while with uncovered heads the cowboys stood sadly by When the mound had been smooth ed above his loved ones Preston knelt beside the grave with bowed head Long did he kneel there as if in silent communion with his dead then he arose and went a broken hearted man CHAPTER VI An Extract In the Omaha Weekly Hornet of June 25 18 appeared the following article headed A NEBRASKA MYSTERY A story comes to us from the cat tle country a story the full details of which are as yet enveloped in deep mystery On the evening of June 10 the beautiful daughter of the well known j Nebraska ranchman Henry Preston1 rrrmri Mystery ByLEROY LEACJJ Author of The Advetfturesof Don Enrique Romero etc etc CopIglit1890 ly the Autfaor All rights reserved Tiie Democrat offers a prize of 500 for the best solution of the mys tery on which this story is based A prize of 300 will be given for the tnextbest solution 200 for the third- left home for company with an evenings the ranch stroll in foreman Will Powell A little later the family are startled by the sound of a pistol shot in the direction of the river Hurrying to the river bank the ranch man and his cowboys discover a pool of blood and the imprint of hoofs in the soft sand but not a trace of the foreman and the girl A thunder storm arising soon after all chance for following the trail of the horsemen is lost Next morning the cowboys dis cover that two of their number are mi8sing Edward Belden and Charles Thompson respectively and they are suspected of having murdered either -or both the foreman and the girl The surrounding country has been thoroughly searched but to no pur pose Later The body of Isabel Preston was discovered several days since where it had been lodged ashore in a bend of the Niobrara A pistol wound was discovered in the left brest which had evidently caused instant death Three horsemen were met riding swiftly westward on the night of the murderiby John Preston of the U S secret service who was journeying on foot from where the stage had left him to his uncles ranch but nothing has since been heard of them The tragedy is shrouded in complete my tery We understand that tho shock caused by her daughters awM death resulted in the death of Mrs Treston John Preston Henry Preiton and Richard Jones who found Isabels body have started to trail down the cowardly murderer The Hornet hopes to hear of the early capture and con viction of the murderer or murderers of this sweet young girl The Preston mystery was the chief topic of the times for quite a period but at last as time passed and nothing further was heard concerning it it was dropped and became a topic of the past shrouded in a mystery as deep as that which surrounded the -Iron Misk CHAPTER Yir The Silver Three The scene of our storv is now ried to a town that at the time stonr opens was one of the car- our most lively on Nebraskas frontier North Platte In its brightest days when the Denver trail was the great over land route of the plains the road for teamsters gold seekers and adventur ers North Platte was as busy a place as could be found anvwhere on the numerous bands of frontier outlaws overrunning the surrounding country gamblers and toughs of -every description within the town times were anything but quiet and peaceful for its inhabitants Within the brilliantly lighted saloon of the Perry House on the evening of the day we mention May 1st 18 almost a year after the happininn of the thrilling events recorded in our former chapters two men might have been seen seated at oue of the card tables conversing The face of one of these men that of the elder of the two is worthy of more than passing men tion It is deeply seamed and his hair which is of a silvery whiteness falls in silKy waves over his broad shoulders In the piercing but sunken grey eyes grief a grief that has wrecked his life is plainly shown neis watching the crowd of cow boys gamblers and teamsters who come and go but all are strangers he sees no familiar face The younger man who seems to be of about twenty five years of age is also closely scanning each new arrival as if expecting to see a face he knows As he turns his head to address the elder man we see the pleasant features of John Preston Well Uncle Henry for almost a year we searched the entire western portion of Nebraska in vain it is dis couraging but somehow something tells me that we will finally here find the key to the Preston mystery You remember Uncle continued John when we met the weird old woman hobbling along the Dismal valley when after our consenting to have our fortunes told she said that we three were trying to solve a great mystery the key of which was a silver I TVi TTnrr j - y uuiiij I j Bmmmtmmmetamammmmmmm 3 and that we would Snd it in North Piatte you scoffed at the idea and for that matter so did I but something causes me to believe that this night will not pass without giving into our hands the mystcrionB 3 God grant you may be right John I grow weary of life of the chase it self I sometimes wish that death would end it all I live only to clear up this gsat mystery The ald man bowed his head and gave a weary sigh At this moment a man seemingly of about middle age approached John He was dressed inisual frontier garb and heavy spurs clinked on the heels on his handsome top boots as he ap proached Good evening pards was his pleasant greeting as he halted near them What say you shall we have a game of cards With pleasure sir replied John I will play with you My uncle I suppose does not feel like playing No John I will stroll about while you play with tho gentleman answer ed the elder Preston rising and walk ing away Doesnt the old gentlemen feel well asked the stranger as he deftly shuffled the bits of pasteboard He is dying of grief stranger re plied John I suppose you remem berthe mystery of the Preston ranch The man nodded He is Henry Preston the father of my murdered cousin Isabel 1 remember hearing something of the story last year said the stranger carelessly I imagine a grief such as his must be would have killed me long ago Several games were played m si lence the stranger losing steadily At last he arose to go As he did so he held forth a packet to John who gazed wonderingly at thetnan as he took it You aslced awhile ago if J remem bered the Preston mystery I ido That packet will tell you something of it Mi Preston and will if I mistake not aid you to unravel the mystery of the Niobrara Open it and read its contents John hurriedly untied the packet As he cut the twine that bound it something fell from it to the floor striking with a metallic sound Pick ing it up and holding it to the light John gave a gasp of astonishment It was a piece of silver of perhaps half a pound in weight cast in the shape of a figure 3 The key of the witchs prophecy almost shouted John How came this in your possession stranger he asked turning But the man had disappeared What have you there John asked the voice of his uncle who had in the meanwhile strolled up The long-sought-for key Uncle The stranger handed me this packet before he left and this paper I found within the package I will now read entire western frontier With Sioux its contents 1 -ii ti jm t iii i I lllll Oilier UHllrHl tnueS tO OOlll the Proctnn Tlanp rr - tutwij jyiUi J4L north and southward -the you would solve the mystery which envelopes the tragedy of the Niobrara follow implicitly the directions herein set forth Near the mouth of the Minneka duza river in northwestern Nebraska can be found a round topped hill with sides of unusual abruptness Go there mount the hill and by digging in the exact center of the top you will learn more of the mysten Press the ring at silver 3 the end of the No Name Thank God murmured the grate ful Preston at last we have found a clew Pressing the tiny ring which projec ed from one end of tMc u3 the queer looking figure flew open from its points like an ordinary locket and as it did so a tiny paper fell to the floor John instantly seized it and on open ing it found that it contained the fol lowing written couplet He who finds the proper 3 Solves the Preston Mystery TO BE CONTINUED We want a correspondent in every precinct in Cherry county who will send us the news of his or her locality at least once a month oftener if pos- sible We offer inducements to spondents Write us about it A rumor has gained ground that an independent candidate for commis sioner from the second district will be in the field this fall Ainsworth ha3 organized a bimetal lic club with a membership of almost one hundred voters The Democrat per year A- 7 J J TS i I A
