The Wapanucka Press Jun 1904 - Johnston County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Mary Achterhof 5 May 2008 Return to Johnston County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/johnston/johnston.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== The Wapanucka Press, 2 June 1904 PRISONERS DISCHARGED The finding of the body of Gibson McClure, in Boggy River last week, has left suspicion that the boy did not drown but his death was brought about by foul play. William Billis and Ema Turnbull, two Indians living in the same neighborhood with McClure, were arrested on suspicion and carried before Judge Ralls at Atoka, Monday. It seems that nothing what ever could be brought forth against this man and woman connecting them with the case and both were discharged immediately by the judge. Many people yet believe the young man was murdered, but no cause can be assigned for the act. Many others refuse to believe anything more than that the boy was drowned. SIMON - BALL Last Sunday near Ego, Lon Simon and Miss Ibbie Ball, both of Wapanucka, were married. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Ball, and is an accomplished young lady. For the past two years she has been a valuable employee in the Press office and in that position, displayed extraordinary ability and enterprise. Mr. Simon conducts a barber shop on Choctaw Avenue and is a very pleasant young man, who will no doubt make Miss Ibbie a good husband, which she deserves. The Press joins the many friends of the young couple in wishing for them a happy and prosperous union. DOCTORS ORGANIZE A meeting of physicians, who are oppose to the new medical practice law, was held here yesterday, and a new medical society was organized with Dr. J. P. McRae, president, Dr. J. F. Renegar, vice president, and Dr. Brimer, of Kittie, secretary. The following doctors were present and took part in the meeting; Drs. McRae, Renagar and Stamps of Wapanucka; Drs. Clark and Bates, of Coalgate; Drs. Truax and Armstrong, Stonewall; Dr. Baily of Rae, and Dr. Brimer of Kittie. A large meeting of doctors for the same purpose will be held at Ada soon. DEATH OF B. L. WHITE Benjamin L. White, a former citizen of Wapanucka, died at his home near Butler, Oklahoma, Tuesday, May 24, heart trouble being the cause of his death. Mr. White came to Wapanucka from Cleveland, Tennessee, where he was born and raised. After residing here several years he moved to Oklahoma, where he died. He was fifty odd years of age and leaves behind to mourn his loss a devoted wife, seven sons and a daughter. Two of his sons, J. W. and W. L. White, still reside here, while the others live near their father's home in Oklahoma. He has a brother to our townsman W. M. White, and had many warm friends in and around Wapanucka who deeply sympathize with the bereaved family. Jim Wallace has been committed to jail at Ardmore, without bail, on the charge of having killed his wife near Wiley May 19th. J. H. Dale of North Carolina has supplanted Mike Chafin as jailor in charge of the United States jail at Atoka. Mr. Dale is a friend and constituent of George K. Pritchard, the newly appointed marshal of the central district. WOMAN A VICTIM A Posse of Men in Pursuit of a Negro Brute May Be Lynched When Captured Assaulted a White Woman Near Wagoner - Pursuers Are Close Upon Him - Believed to be Hiding in the Verdigris Valley Wagoner: More than half the citizens of Wagoner and the surrounding country have repaired to the Verdigris Valley in pursuit of Alex Vickery, a negro, who on Monday afternoon assaulted a Mrs. Dunbar, a white woman, six miles west of Wagoner. The entire community is aroused, and a lynching is almost sure to follow if Vickery is captured. It is feared, however, that he has escaped on a horse which is missing from the pasture of Rufus Marshall, near Coweta. Mrs. Dunbar, the woman assaulted, is only 22 years of age, and is of respectable family. She moved to the farm near Wagoner with her husband about six months ago from Oklahoma. She was at home alone when Vickery presented himself Monday afternoon and asked her for some food. Before she could realize it he drew his Winchester rifle and commanded her not to speak, afterward choking her. After leaving her unconscious the negro escaped. He was followed by officers, and driven late Monday night from the house of a friend, Bill Hawkins, in his night clothes. Vickery was traced to the house of Bill Hawkins and while the officers battered down the front door he escaped, without taking time to dress, from a rear house where he had been concealed, and got to the brush soon enough to elude his pursuers. No further trace of him was found until just before noon Tuesday, when it was discovered that he spent the latter part of the night in the barn of a ranchman, Jim Edwards, near Coweta. At the ranch the negro represented that he had sold whisky, and believing this his greatest crime, Edwards had given him succor. However, the negro had been gone three hours before the posse reached the ranch. Before making the assault upon Mrs. Dunbar Vickery had entered the home of a neighbor and stolen some money and the Winchester. The money was left behind in his clothes when he ran from Hawkins' place. Mrs. Dunbar is a young woman and has been married little more than a year. Her maiden name was Bessie M. Bowers, and the family came here recently from Oklahoma. It first appeared that serious race trouble would follow should Vickery be lynched, but this afternoon the negroes of this city held a consultation and most of them agreed to keep hands off. Some even volunteered to assist in the pursuit of the fugitive. WILL HAVE THREE HEARINGS Enid: Dan Doty, twice convicted of theft, has been granted another trial by Judge Irwin of El Reno, who came to Enid as a special judge to hear the case. Doty was arrested for stealing 10,000 shingles. The prosecuting witness, Jay Simpson, testified that Doty had proposed that they go and get some shingles. Later the lumber yards missed shingles and on searching the barn of Doty 10,000 were found. Both convictions were made on circumstantial evidence. AN ARDMORE ATTORNEY ACCUSED Washington: James E. Arnold, of Ardmore, I. T., an attorney, was called upon by the interior department to show cause within thirty days why he should not be disbarred from practice before the interior department and all its bureaus. Arnold it is charged, is guilty of improper disreputable practices in the instance where he sold, through one Jennie Ryan, illegal and void contract to E.A.F. Wohlenburg for $4,200. The Dawes commission has already found him guilty on the charge and he is no longer permitted to practice before that commission or its branches in the territory. SERIOUS FIRE AT LAWTON Two Men Burn to Death in Hotel and Others Were Injured Lawton: The Farmers' Hotel and a part of the wagon yard adjoining it, in the eastern portion of this city were totally destroyed by fire, and two men, unable to escape the flames and suffocating smoke, were burned to death. They were John Brennon and Hal McCabe, one a section foreman and the other a section hand. Frank Moore received injuries by jumping from a second story window, and John Kelley by falling down a flight of stairs in attempting to save one of the men fast being suffocated by the smoke. The landlady and her two children and William Morgan, the owner of the building escaped in their night clothing, with slight injuries. The fire started about 1 o'clock at night and Brennon, who was sleeping in an upstairs room, alarmed the occupants, but in his efforts to save their lives lost his own. He rushed wildly through the hallway in the blinding smoke, returned to his room, presumably for some of his belongings, and there becoming suffocated, lay down again upon his bed. The cause of the fire is unknown, but there is a strong belief that it was of incendiary origin. The total loss is probably $2,000; insurance about $800. LOCALS P. J. Hogue attended to business at Coalgate Monday. H. C. Sissom was over from Salt Springs Monday. G. W. McMillan our expert well man, has just completed putting in a fine well on the Ludlow farm. J. S. Colbert came up from Folsom and spent the day in the city Saturday. W. T. Sissom was up from Ego Friday. S. N. Sparks was down from Kittie Saturday shaking hands with the boys. A. Y. Casey was over from Salt Springs Saturday, giving the glad hand to his friends in town. Miss Lucia Loomis, who has been attending Hendrix College at Mexico, Missouri, returned home Saturday. The Misses Eastwood, two beautiful young ladies of Sherman, Texas, are the guest of Mrs. Bryne Statler, at Byrne. J. H. Hurst, that enterprising Wells Valley farmer, was shaking hand with friends in the city Monday. Dr. J. D. Enfield, the popular Oconee doctor, was extending that pleasing smile and cordial hand shake to friends in the city Saturday. C. L. Witte, our furniture man, returned Saturday from a two week stay in St. Louis. While there he attended the embalming school. E. F. Howell, son of Capt. John W. Howell, who has been attending business college at Dallas, has accepted a responsible position in the general office of the Texas U Pacific Railway at Dallas. His m any friends in Wapancuka are glad to know of his success. A fine baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bob Harrison, Monday. A baby of Mr. and Mrs. Bell died Tuesday. Joe Anderson and family of Hunton were in the city Saturday. Mrs. Anderson is one of the best farmers in the Hunton section. Lee Richards and wife, who have been living at Forman, Arkansas, came in yesterday and are guests of Mrs. Richards' parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Taylor. Yesterday J. O. Mace took charge of the Square Hotel. I. C. Jones, that enterprising farmer, living on the Skeen farm in Boggy bottom, has the finest corn in the Wapanucka country. Mr. Jones has a large field of corn that is now head high, which shows Wapanucka is not only the cream cotton section of the Indian Territory but also an easy leader for corn raising. OCONEE SIFTINGS - June 1 Miss Louis Frye closed her six months term school at the Wilson school house last Friday night. The school closed with a nice entertainment, consisting of songs, recitals, and comical speeches. Miss Fry has acquitted herself with honor and is receiving much praise for the successful way in which she conducted the school. Mrs. Ema Lee died last week after a lingering illness of six weeks. John Canada and Miss Rosa Davis, two young people of the Kittie neighborhood, were married Thursday. Joseph Slater is home again from Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he has been for some time following the carpenters trade. While her mother was engaged in supplication at prayer meeting here last Sunday night, Miss Minnie Crum eloped with Henry Burk, her lover, to whom she was married. Another proof of the old adage "watch as well as pray." HUNTON NOTES - June 1 Bro. Armstrong will fill his regular appointment Sunday at 11 o'clock. J. H Rushion has purchased Mr. Dobson's blacksmith shop. He is a good blacksmith. Jeff Howard and family visited relatives at Wapanucka Saturday and Sunday. Joel Simmons and son, of Wolf City, Texas, who have been visiting his children near Hunton, returned home today. Mr. Simmons contemplates moving to the Territory in the near future. Flen Marshal, of Boggy Depot, was here Sunday visiting relatives. The Wapanucak Press, 9 June 1904 J. R. Coffman, who has held the position of prescription druggist at the City drug store for the past two years and a half, has resigned and on Monday moved to Wynnewood, where he becomes interested as a partner in a drug business. Mr. Coffman is a druggist who knows his business, and during his residence in Wapanucka he gathered about him, by his genial ways and good fellowship, a host of warm friends, who are sorry, indeed, to spare him from among them. The Press in common with the people of Wapanucka, all who know them well, sincerely wish Mr. and Mrs. Coffman well in their new home at Wynnewood. COUNCIL MEETING City council met in regular meeting Monday night, all members answering to roll call. First business was reading and correcting minutes of two previous meetings, after which reports of officers and committees were read and approved. Marshal Johnson reported fines and occupation tax collected, $16. Report of bridge committee that bridges found in bad condition, recommending that they be repaired at once. Committee discharged and street and alley committee instructed to proceed to procure necessary material and repair bridges at once. Committee took up tools belonging to city reported that after a careful search no tools found. Account of Scavenger McKeen, hauling off one dead dog and one dead hog, $2.00, allowed. The mayor announced the appointment of the following standing committees: Finance - R. E. Wade, T. T. Knight, J. W. Riley Street and alley - B. F. Stroud, D. Kennedy, D. H. Smith Sanitary - Dr. Stamps, Abe Taylor, S. L. Barnes Cemetery - L. B. Rutherford, J. G. Riley, T. J. Chamberlain City attorney called attention of council to necessity of appointing equalization board at once, and the mayor suggested that E. J. Ball, Abe Taylor and J. S. Morton be appointed. The council decided to withhold appointment for consideration until next meeting. A petition, signed by a large number of ladies, asking that ordinance No. 28, providing for improvement and keeping of cemetery, be enforced was read. Mayor asked that the council do something with this matter. Alderman Juhan thought the city not able to do this work and favored the repeal of the ordinance. Mayor stated that he would proceed to enforce the ordinance unless the council did otherwise. Nothing was done with the matter. LOCALS L. E. Creekmore has recovered from several days sickness. C. L. Witte, the furniture man, was sick the first of the week but is now better. S. A. Whiteside, our esteemed correspondent at Oconee, was attending to business in the city yesterday. Lee Richards has something now that will give him plenty of employment when not working on a brick laying job. It's a boy, who arrived yesterday morning. Dr. W. G. Brymer the popular physician of Kittie and secretary of the Choctaw-Chickasaw Medical Society, was attending to business in the city Monday. R. C. Hickman sends the Press to C. M. Miller, Bethel, Kansas. J. B. Farris who has been at Stigler for several days on business returned home Saturday. J. G. Allison, of Coalgate came down to the metropolis Friday and spent the day with his old friends. Miss Lilla Read, who has been teaching school at Shady Point, I. T., returned home Saturday for vacation. Mr. Clarance Thomas of Tishomingo came up Saturday and spent the Sabbath with his father, Dr. J. L. Thomas, at Rock Academy. J. D. Phillips and family, who use to live in Wapanucka but now residing at Tupelo, were here several days this week visiting relatives. The fine corn of I. C. Jones, spoken of last week in these columns is on the Henry Wilson farm instead of the Skeen farm. However, there is fine corn on the Skeen farm. While standing on the street last Saturday evening conversing with friends during the big rain a bolt of lightning struck nearby and considerably shocked A. M. Williams. However, he was not badly hurt and is again on the streets. Laighton Read attended the commencement exercises of Austin College at Sherman, last week. N. Adams, that genial and clever Salt Springs farmer, was attending to business in the city Monday. Ernest Taylor, who has been attending Durant College, returned home Saturday for vacation. J. R. Cartright, one of the leading farmers of the Byrne community was giving his friends in the city the glad hand Monday. He reports fine crops, and says that he not only has the finest crop of his life buy his section has the best he ever saw. Such encouraging reports come from all parts of the great Wapanucka country. N. Adams, of Salt Springs, sends the Press to his brother-in-law, E. D. Bruce, Ella, Arkansas. W. A. Snellgrove, one of the leading farmers of the Ego community, was attending to business in the city last week. Attorneys for George Moran, who is now serving a life sentence in the penitentiary for the murder of Jay Beemblossom near Rush Springs before the opening, are making arrangements to go before the supreme court to ask an appeal. ATTEMPTED JAIL BREAK Prisoners in El Reno City Bastile Came Near Getting Out El Reno: While the city council was in session the prisoners in the city jail attempted to break out, and were very nearly successful. They used a saw made of a steel case knife for cutting out the ventilator and then, by using a heavy iron bolt, succeeded in pushing several bricks out of the wall. Passerby heard the bricks fall and gave the alarm thus preventing a general jail delivery. NEGRO CHASED OUT OF MADILL Ardmore: Trouble between whites and negroes at Madill, caused by a negro knocking on the door of a white woman's house, terminated by the whites running the negroes from the town. Twenty or more armed citizens went to the negro houses, shot through the houses and frightened the negroes away. A negro woman named Bonner returned the fire, wounding an unknown white man in the thigh. District Attorney Johnson says he will thoroughly investigate the matter and thoroughly prosecute the wrongdoers. BANK PRESIDENT ARRESTED Lawton: Dr. W. H. Allder, formerly president of the Bank of Commerce at Walter, was brought to this city from the Indian Territory by Deputy Sheriff Elrod on the charge of having obtained money from the bank under false pretenses. He was held her to await the action of the grand jury. Near the latter part of March Dr. Allder resigned his position with the bank and sold his stock to other parties. It appears that about $8,000 in notes were deposited in the bank which he represented as being good, and upon which he drew something over $3,000. It has been found that some of the notes are worthless and a complaint was made against Allder by officers of the bank. VIOLA ITEMS - June 7 The creek overflowed, washing out considerable fence for Messrs Milligan, Voyles, Harris and Dickson. Crops were damaged but little. Our friend Abe Kirkpatrick was in town this morning. He reports fine crops in Ashflat. He says the wheat crop is in bad shape on account of the wet weather. Messrs Dock Keener and Richardson of Franks were here last week after shingles. Uncle Bob Kimbrough of Cope was hauling lumber from the Viola yards yesterday. W. R. White of Cope is hauling lumber from our yards to build an addition to his store house. Mr. Anderson of near Hunton was hauling lumber yesterday to be used for improving his place. A negro came very near drowning last Sunday evening while attempting to cross Delaware at the Viola crossing. He was washed off his horse down the stream a hundred yards, finally lodging against a drift, where he succeeded in getting out minus of his hat and almost his life. NEWS FROM BOGGY - June 6 Deputy Criswell and Ducket of Wapanucka were here Friday morning and arrested Ed Kinsley, a young lad, for toting a hip pocket arsenal. He was carried to Atoka and given fifty dollars worth of rest in jail. John Lewis, a Choctow Indian, living near here, died last week. He was 105 years of age and yet up to the time of his death, he could walk to and from town with all ease. OCONEE SIFTINGS - June 8 Lightning performed a strange feat here the other day. It struck the netting wire fence of W. P. Jamison, ran along it for a mile, burning all the grass underneath, ran into G. M. Montgomery's garden and killed a lot of garden truck, then switched off and killed a horse of J. E. Ward. The Wapanucka Press, 16 June 1904 A NEW DEPARTMENT C. L. Witte, proprietor of Wapanucka's largest furniture store and undertaker establishment, who recently returned from a three weeks business trip to St. Louis where he completed the course and was granted a diploma as an embalmer, has received a fine set of instruments and is now prepared to do embalming work. Embalming is now a regular feature in Mr. Witte's undertaking department, it becoming necessary on account of the demand and the wide spread popularity with which this up to date furniture and undertaker establishment has met with during its two years of existence. The Witte furniture store is a credit to Wapanucka, being one of the largest and prettiest business concerns of its kind in this entire section of the Indian Territory. BLACK KILLS HIS FATHER-IN-LAW Tragedy Occurred Monday Evening in Which W. D. Black Shot and Killed J. W. Ausbrooks, his Father-in-Law. Story of killing. The first tragedy that has ever occurred in or near Wapanucka took place Monday afternoon about 4 o'clock, two miles southwest of town on the farm of the Fountain Land & Loan Co., in which W. D. Black shot and killed J. W. Ausbrooks, his father-in-law. From the story of the members of the family, who were eye witnesses to the crime, it seems that the marriage union of Black and wife, who is a daughter of the dead man, had never been one of pleasure and happiness, they having parted once, and that trouble had been brewing for sometime. The evening of the tragedy, Black was at the house where he and wife lived with his father-in-law, Ausbrooks, and according to the story, as told by the women, started out to have a general row and general killing. His wife was nursing a little sister and he demanded of her to put it down, against which she protested, when he grabbed the baby from her and threatened to murder it. The child's mother, Mrs. Ausbrooks, appeared upon the scene about this time and when she dared to take her baby to her arms Black gave her a blow, knocking her down and cutting an ugly gash on her forehead. By this time Ausbrooks, who was plowing in the field nearby, had heard the screams of the woman and was coming to the house to see what was the matter. Black, after knocking down his mother-in-law, grabbed up a shotgun and started out, meeting Ausbrooks nearby, who asked him what was the matter. Black demanded that Ausbrooks stand back and not close in on him. Ausbrooks slowly advanced pleading with him to lay down the gun and talk over the difficulty with him, when without a moments warning Black threw up his gun and emptied a load of shot into Ausbrooks' body, killing him instantly. Neighbors working nearby heard the screams of the women and rushed to the scene of the trouble. The news of the killing was brought to town and Marshal Criswell hurried to the place but met Black just outside of town coming in to surrender. He was arrested and carried to Atoka and placed in jail. Ausbrooks, the dead man, was 44 years of age, was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, was a hard working farmer and a good citizen. He leaves wife and five children, all girls. The dead man's body was laid to rest in Wells Valley Cemetery Tuesday. Black, the man who committed the crime, is 37 years of age, and had no children by his wife. He came to Indian Territory with his wife about a year ago from Tennessee, and Ausbrooks and family came in October of last year from Portland, the same state. The family of women are left almost penniless, without help what ever except the kind assistance of neighbors, and their condition, as a result of the tragedy, presents a heart sickening aspect. In a moment, without notice, here, one man picks up a shotgun and wipes another from existence, and now a father and husband, a hard working man who had bright prospects before him and hopes for the future, lays beneath the sod; a son-in-law is in jail on the road to the gallows or the penitentiary for life; a family of women left grief stricken, to live a blighted life without hopes or happiness in the future. LOCALS Mrs. J. F. Renegar visited Mrs. V. Stevens near Byrne this week. Mayor Skeen attended to business at Fort Worth this week. Rev. James Lambert, pastor of the M. E. Church South, is sick this week. S. N. Sparks, the bustling Kittie farmer, was shaking hands with his many friends in the city Friday. J. C. Farhney, one of the leading farmers of the Boggy Depot, was attending to business in the city Friday. C. L. Witte attended to business at Coalgate and Atoka Friday returning Saturday. Prof. G. W. Powe of Jackson, Alabama, has opened a school at the Moore school house near Byrne. Mrs. R. L. Reams returned Thursday from Lebanon, where she visited Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Turman several days. Jones Bros., our popular livery men, have placed a new sign in from of their stables. With first class turnouts and clever drivers, the Jones livery stable is a credit to the city. W. J. Bond attended to business at Ardmore the first of the week. W. A. Snellgrove and wife of Ego were in the city yesterday. A fine baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Kelley, Monday. W. A. Farmer and wife, and J. M. Reagan attended citizenship court at Tishomingo Thursday and Friday. Dr. M. P. Skeen attended the annual meeting of the Indian Territory Medical Association at Holdenville last week. H. C. Harper, who is proprietor of the new butcher shop, has an ad in this issue, telling you where to get good meat. Mr. Harper is giving our people a first class meat market which certainly deserves your patronage. Mrs. P. B. Jones and little son, Lucian Paul of Ardmore, returned Saturday to her home, after a pleasant visit here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Barnes. Miss Lizzie Jackson, Maid of the Indian Territory division of the United Sons of Confederate veterans, left Sunday evening for Nashville, Tennessee, to attend the Confederate Reunion. All the old vets, the sons of vets and many young lady friends of Miss Jackson were at the train to bid her good bye and a nice trip. From Nashville she will go to Syeamore, Tennessee, where she will spend the summer with her uncle. Prof. J. G. Buchanan went down to Wapanucka last Tuesday to make arrangements for a residence at that place. He has accepted the superintendency of the public schools at that place and will assume the duties the first of July. The people of our neighbor city Wapanucka are to be congratulated on their first selection of a superintendent as Prof. Buchanan is an able teacher, a Christian gentleman and an excellent citizen. We trust he will not be absent from this city long. Coalgate Courier Walter Nix, while swimming in a water tank at Leger, was drowned. His companions were unable to save him. The body of Frank Lane, drowned three weeks ago in the South Canadian River, was recovered from the water south of El Reno. THREE DROWNED A Cloudburst At Mill Creek Swells The Stream Many Are Compelled To Leave Home Pennington and Mill Creeks Are Higher Than Ever Before Known - Homes Are Washed Away - Frisco Track Washed Out Mill Creek: During a heavy ran Friday night a cloudburst occurred one mile north of town, drowning three persons and doing great damage to crops. Three Mile Creek, a small spring branch just west of town, became a raging torrent, one half mile wide. Pennington and Mill Creeks are higher than ever known, and have swept all before them. The persons drowned were Mrs. R. H. Wilson and baby, 2 years old and Miss Fay Davis, daughter of W. E. Davis, engineer at the Lester Gin. The Wilson house stood near the creek bank, and was carried half a mile down the stream. It is not known whether the occupants attempted to escape, as the flood occurred at 3 o'clock in the morning. The bodies of the woman were found lodged in trees in Spring Creek, and the child's body was found floating. Many other families along the stream were compelled to leave their homes, among them being S. L. Martin, the Frisco agent. Water was two feet deep on the floor of the house which is near the depot. The residence of Ben Reynolds was washed away. About 200 feet of the Frisco railroad track was washed from the grade but was soon repaired and traffic was resumed. All efforts to locate R. H. Wilson, the husband of the drowned woman, have been in vain. He left here two days before the flood for the Kansas wheat fields, and is now supposed to be somewhere in Oklahoma. Fear is felt that many people in the lowlands did not escape, as the rise of the streams was so sudden. FIVE PERSONS DROWNED Flood Situation at Antlers the Worst in the History of That Place Antlers: The flood situation just passed has been the worst in the history of Antlers. At this point the river was nearly two miles wide, and for a time communication of all kinds was cut off. Antlers has had no mail for a week, and it is hard to say when services will be re-established. A section crew which arrived here from Wadena reported the drowning of a family of the name of Smith at that place. The father, mother and three children were surrounded by water and could not be rescued. At Kosoma the water is reported to have risen fifteen feet in fifteen minutes. Deputy Cal Berry and Comstable F. D. Copping crossed the river Monday at this place. Firing and shouting has been heard on the other side and they found a negro family on an island badly frightened but safe. In getting to the river they passed through the tops of the trees, and myriads of insects and vermin crawled into the boat. In mid stream the velocity of the current was almost beyond belief, trees a foot thick being snapped like pipe stems by the water. The damage to crops and other property cannot be estimated. Scores of cattle and horses were drowned and practically all the hogs that were in the bottoms. BOY BADLY INJURED Lawton: News from Manitou, Oklahoma, states that the eleven-year old son of George Huff was very seriously injured by being run over by two hand cars. The boy, who was riding upon one of the cars, fell off in front of it. The cars passed over him, cutting some ugly gashes in his head and body. He may recover. NEWS FROM EGO - June 15 M. L. Cribbs is swinging the blacksmith hammer now at Ego. He is assisted by Mr. Boyd. Dr. T. E. and C. A. Morgan made a flying trip to Durant last week. They report crops good, but damaged some by the heavy rain. Messrs Dumas and Sissom are doing a good work for our community by buying the beef cattle and shipping them to the northern and southern markets. Dr. McRae of Wapanucka was in our town this week, meeting several old friends. We are always glad to meet him when he comes. The lightning struck a horse of Mr. Tyler one morning last week, killing it instantly. Claud, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Jones, who has been very sick for some time, is reported much better this week. Dona, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sid King, who has been ill for some time is reported much better. Among the many visitors in our town this week were: Joe Tyler, Charles Cunningham, James Sissom, Robert Sims, Henry Allen, Mat Rore, L. M. Maurer and many others. Jim Morgan was in our town this week with an unusual large smile on his face, caused by the sale of 20 head of nice large beef steers. Our gin and mill has partly changed hands and Mr. Reynolds seems to be an expert machinist. So the grist mill is in excellent shape, now. Among the visitors in our town this week were: J. B. Morgan, George Golden, J. G. Sims, C. M. McRae, John Blount, Will Brashers and several others. VIOLA ITEMS - June 14 Our clever mail carrier, Mr. Cammeron, has been very punctual in making his trips, missing only one train during all the bad weather. He has the praise of all the patrons along the line. Mr. Knox Kirkpatrick has a very sick child. J. M. Taylor has been sick but is better now. Mr. Edrington has been quite sick but is better now. HUNTON NOTES - June 14 Mr. Lewis sold his crop this week to Flem Marshal, and is going to move soon. W. R. Attaway and family of Wapanucka were visiting relatives here Saturday and Sunday. Thad Addison, our postmaster and merchant, has purchased him a fine buggy and the girls are guessing who will be the first to ride in it. COATSWORTH ITEMS - June 12 Dr. Sanders' farm was badly damaged by the overflow. C. S. Walden went to Wapanucka today. Allen Cravatt returned from Bloomfield Academy today. Mr. Jordan, who has been very sick, is able to sit up now. Allen Cravatt has a fine crop of peaches and plums. Lon Heeds' bird dog is reported mad. He passed through here Saturday but did not bite anyone. The Wapanucka Press, 23 June 1904 LOCALS R. E. Wade attended to business at Milburn yesterday, Mrs. Eli Roberts, who has been quite sick for several days, is better. J. T. Kelley is putting a shooting gallery on the corner of Choctaw and Main. Mrs. A. Stephenson, who has been very sick for several days , is now better. Mrs. Mary E. Wells, of Kemp is in the city attending the bedside of her sick daughter, Mrs. A. Stephenson. J. W. Dickinson, who formerly occupied the Bud Johnson house on Sixth Street, has moved to the Kirkpatrick place on the same street. L. Fountain was sick the first of the week but is now better. Mayor Skeen is very sick this week with fever. M. E. Kirkpatrick, of Mountain View, O. T., is here this week looking after his property. E. S. Bond has returned from a trip through the pine regions of the Choctaw Nation. W. T. Moore sold potatoes to A. I. McAlester Tuesday that are fine indeed, single ones weighing 1 1/2 pounds. F. M. Jackson has another variety which are equal to Mr. Moore's. Mrs. E. O. Loomis and little daughters, Neda and Eda, and J. G. Riley and wife, left Monday for St. Louis, where they go to take in the World's Fair. Miss Martha Longinghouse, of Lehigh, was in the city Saturday the guest of Mrs. J. P. McRae. Rev. F. A. Brown, who is now financial agent for Indianola College at Wynnewood, was in the city Thursday. Postmaster B. A. Sanders, of Viola was in the city Tuesday giving the glad hand to his many friends. Last Sunday A. R. McEwen and Miss Eva Lemley, both of Wyricks Mill, were married by Rev. Henry Wilson. P. M. Hobbs, who has been living in Wapanucka for the past three years, left Saturday to hunt a new location. Miss Cora Skeen entertained quite a number of her friends Thursday night in honor of her guest, Miss Bessie Wilson, of Tishomingo. Posseman Ducket arrested a man by the name of Millsap, last week near Coatsworth. He was wanted on a charge of giving a mortgage on property not belonging to him. He was carried to Tishomingo and placed under a thousand dollar a bond for appearance. Lost - Three head of cattle, described as follows: One red 2 year old steer; one red roan 2 year old steer, and one red, white spotted heifer, 2 year old. All branded +A+. Liberal reward for information leading to recovery. C. W. Wallace, Wapanucka, I. T. T. N. Moore, the fruit tree man, was up from Ego yesterday shaking hands with friends. Mr. Moore represents one of the best nurseries in the country. S. N. Sparks and daughter, Miss Ada, of Kittie, were in the city yesterday. Mrs. Alex Hoffman, of Paris, Texas, is in the city this week visiting her mother, Mrs. G. W. McMillan. Drs. McRae and Renegar left today for Ada to attend the meeting of the Southwestern Medical Association. G. M. Stobaugh, of Copeland, was shaking hands with his many friends in town yesterday for the first time since moving. Mr. Stobaugh is one of the most industrious farmers in the Wapanucka country. He reports fine crops around Copeland. Roy Huffman of Waurika was drowned while crossing Beaver Creek during the recent high water. J. L. Oliver was convicted at Durant of the murder of Troy McMillan, a Katy brakeman, and given a life sentence. The crime was committed near Caddo on the night of September 24, 1903. NEWS FROM EGO - June 22 Eva, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Snider, was very sick last week but is better now. Vernon, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Tyler, who has been sick for some time, is reported better now. W. T. Sissom has just returned from St. Louis, where he sold a car load of beef cattle. He reports beef a little cheap, but says that times are apparently good in St. Louis. J. T. Hoover, who had quit tobacco for the past 18 months, seems to be using it a little now. He says he thinks perhaps it will improve his health. Dr. E. O. Loomis of Wapanucka gave us a short pleasant call last week. C. A. Morgan and Judge Reynolds took a trip last Friday to the saw mill on Blue and secured lumber to build their new gin house. Among our many visitors this week were: Lon Sims, J. J. Barton, Lee Hogg, Joe Goforth, J. R. Buchanon, Thomas Lee, Eli P. Goforth and many others. HUNTON NOTES - June 21 Miss Mattie Greenwood and mother were shopping in Wapanucka Saturday. Brother Anderson filled his appointment at Wyde Springs Sunday. COPE ITEMS - June 20 The baby of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Headrick was quite sick last week. A number of our young people attended the literary at Viola Saturday night. Among them were: W. R. and O. D. White, Miss Minnie Sinclair and Miss Rosia Kenney. All report a nice time. VIOLA ITEMS - June 21 Grandma Germany has been sick but is better now. The farmers are getting their crops in good shape. Mr. Voyles is harvesting his oats and Mr. Small is filing his gin saws preparing to gin the fleecy staple. A. B. Richardson returned last night from Franks, where he had been on business. The good people of Viola and Salt Springs met Saturday night and organized a literary society, with J. H. Small permanent chairman and Walter Mitchel secretary. We had an enjoyable time and will meet again next Saturday night week. On last Sunday our people met and organized a singing class and Sunday school. Bro. A. H. Johnson was elected superintendent and Miss Emma Chapman secretary. Bro. C. E. Hook is leader of the singing class. We expect to have a good Sunday school and good singing. Walter Simpson lost another cow Sunday evening. She was affected with hydrophoby and others are expected to go mad soon, as they were bitten at the same time. Ben Burch was having a good time Sunday evening riding with his best girl. We are glad to learn that Mr. Knox Kirkpatrick is better. The Wapanucka Press, 30 June 1904 NEW BAKERY J. D. Kusler, of Kansas City, is putting in a first class bakery in his building on Main Street next to J. B. Enfield. Wapanucka is growing and a first-class bakery, properly managed, should be a paying business. The bakery will be ready for business Saturday. J. L. Russell, an experienced gentleman in the bakery business, will be the manager of the business here. COUNCIL MEETING The city council held a brief call meeting Wednesday last week for the purpose of recommending three persons for members of the board of equalization. All members were present. The mayor and recorder were both absent on account of sickness. Alderman Juhan was elected chairman and Alderman Wade acted as recorder. Nominations for members of the board of equalization were next in order. Alderman Jackson nominated D. Kennedy, T. T. Knight and R. E. Wade and F. M. Jackson and Alderman Riley nominated D. Kennedy, F. M. Jackson and T. T. Knight. A vote was taken, resulting in the election of D. Kennedy, F. M. Jackson and R. E. Wade, or rather these gentlemen will be recommended to the court for appointment as members of the equalization board. Alderman Jackson next called up the matter of taking the census of the town, and motion prevailed appointing S. L. Barnes a census enumerator. Alderman Knight wanted to authorize the city marshal to act as street commissioner, instructing him to proceed at once to put down side walks at all crossings, but the members did not think the matter could be attended to as the meeting was called for other purposes and it was deferred to future consideration. AWAITIING HIS FATE IN JAIL W. D. Black, who killed his father-in-law, J. W. Ausbrooks, two miles west of Wapanucka on the evening of June the 14th, is sweating out time in the United States jail at Atoka. Black was bound over without bail to await the action of the grand jury at the next term of United States court, which convenes at Atoka for the Central district, the first Monday in October. Black has shown no sorrow for having killed Ausbrooks, and seems to be perfectly satisfied with the fate awaiting him. He killed Ausbrooks deliberately, without giving any cause, and his chances for escaping the hangman's noose is rather slim. JONES - KINSLEY Last Sunday, at the home of the groom's brother, Francis Jones, near Ego, Jeff Jones of Wapanucka and Miss Rosa Kinsley, were quietly married, Rev. H. P. Hook, of the Baptist church, performing the ceremony. The bride is a beautiful young lady, possessing every trait of lady greatness, and Mr. Jones was very fortunate in securing her for a life companion. Mr. Jones is one of the leading business men of Wapanucka, being a member of he firm of Jones Bros. in the livery business. The Press joins the many friends of the couple at Ego and Wapanucak in extending to them its best wishes. FARMER ROBBED Deputy Criswell arrested Charley Bennett, a negro, Monday, charged with stealing. The coon was employed by old man Cooper, who lives east of town, and was sleeping in an out room in the house of the family. During the dead hour of Friday night he entered the bedroom of Mr. Cooper and relieved the old man's pockets of $25. After the arrest Monday $16 of the money was found on the coon and he admitted to the crime. He is in jail to sweat out time until the court meets and gives him a free ride over the road to the pen. The elevator owned by the Canadian County Mill and Elevator company burned at El Reno last week. The loss is estimated at $5,000, partially insured. A large quantity of oats and wheat was burned. Luke Dearin, a lineman in the employ of the South McAlester-Efaula Telpehone Company, fell forty feet from a pole and sustained injuries which are considered fatal. Ed Escue was tried before the commissioner at Chickasha on the charge of assault with intent to kill Whittie McFadden, colored, at Womack. He was discharged on the complaint and fined $25 for assault and battery. John Brown was bound over to appear before the circuit court in South McAlester this fall on a charge of having killed William McCoy in a fist fight. The amount of his bond was placed at $2,000. No autopsy was held over the remains of McCoy. Abe Reed. A negro, who was to have been hanged at South McAlester, will not be executed. A telegram was received from the attorney general commuting Reed's sentence to life imprisonment. Reed is charged with the killing of another negro named Dinkins. JAMES H. SQUIRES KILLED BY CARS El Reno: James H. Squires, a traveler who was seen around the Rock Island depot Monday apparently in an intoxicated condition, was found dead in the railroad yards at the time the westbound Choctaw passed, about 3 p.m. His head was crushed and he lingered in great agony until 7 p.m., when he died, after revealing the fact that he had a wife and an eight year old daughter, exactly where cannot yet be ascertained, as death came before anything further could be learned. LOCALS Capt. A. A. Faulk is sick this week. Dr. J. D. Enfield of Oconee is in the city this week. J. T. Pile, of Grayson County, Texas, is here this week, visiting City Marshal W. S. Johnson. Mr. Howard of Hunton, was in the city Friday evening visiting W. R. Attaway. W. M. Howard of Salt Springs was in the city Friday night to attend the Odd Fellow Lodge. R. C. Murphey, one of the leading farmers of the Jesse community, was attending to business in town last Saturday. Dr. W. G. Brymer of Kittie was in the city Tuesday. Recorder J. M. Moore is confined to his bed with chills and fever. Thad Addison, the Hunton merchant, was in town Tuesday on business. J. H. Thomason of Jesse was shaking hands with friends in the city last week. S. L. Taylor killed one of his fine thorough bred sows last week which had hydrophoby. Mac Higdon, of Pottsboro, Texas, was in the city last week visiting his nephew, J. B. Cole. John T. Bailey, of Iowa City, Iowa, is in the city this week prospecting, with a view of organizing a trust company. S. J. Shipley reports a very large rattlesnake killed on his farm this week. It was about six feet long and had 13 rattlers. Hon. C. A. Skeen will leave Sunday for St. Louis to attend the Democratic National Convention. W. A. Franc, Wapanucka's popular jeweler, and John C. Attaway, visited J. H. Thomason at Jesse Sunday. Mrs. J. F. Shipley and children of Boggy Depot are visiting at the home of S. J. Shipley, 3 miles west of town, this week. R. D. Swader, one of the prosperous farmers of Blue Spring prairie, was attending to business in the city Saturday. J. D. Phillips and family, who have been living at Tupelo for the past two years, moved back to Wapanucka this week. They are living in west part of town. C. L. Attaway was down from Jesse Saturday and Sunday visiting his brothers, W. R. and John C. Attaway. Mr. Attaway says that the Jesse country never had better crops before, and the problem now before the farmers is what they will do with their corn. Uncle Bully Cribbs, that hustling Salt Springs farmer, was in town Tuesday. Mr. Cribbs is one of those farmers who knows no failure. He says that he has as fine crops this year as he ever saw in his life. Corn is assured and will yield 60 bushels per acre, and his cotton is now thigh high and is being plowed the last time this week. Mrs. R. T. Jones entertained a number of friends Monday night, at her home in west part of town, in honor of the marriage of her son Jeff Jones. Those present were: Messrs. C. M. Crowell, Mr. Kallaran, Thomas Ball, John Unsel; Misses Bessie Carrell, Buna Attaway, Treasy Hightower, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Ball, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ducket, Mr. and Mrs. Lon Simon. Mr. and Mrs. Burr Wells, who live near Cope, entertained their friends last Thursday night with a grand ball. At the hour of 12 the guests were escorted to the dining room where an elaborate supper awaited them. After supper dancing. Several from the city attended and all report a nice time. Mrs. W. S. Johnson left yesterday for Sherman, Texas, where she goes to visit her aged mother. B. F. Hargrove and daughters, of Cope community, were in the city Monday. SEARCHING FOR $50,000 Texans Believe There Is That Much Buried In Indian Territory South McAlester: The residence of this section are hourly expecting to be apprised of the find of a great amount of hidden gold. James and Charles Davis, who hail from Texas, are here preparing to make a search for treasures which they claim are buried about fifteen miles east of this place. Their story of the hidden gold has gained credence and it is likely that they will have several competitors in the search. The Davises were greatly surprised to learn that the news of their mission to the territory had preceded them. They were at first very reticent, but finally admitted the truth of the information. The story they tell resembles a tale of the dime novel fashion. Speaking of the proposed search, one of them said: "Many years ago our father found a Mexican lying in almost lifeless condition on the plains. Father saw that the sick man received medical attention and brought him to our home, and he finally recovered his health, through careful nursing. "Just prior to the departure of the Mexican from our home he expressed in profuse terms his deep gratitude for the kindness extended him, and declared that father should not go unrewarded for his trouble. He thereupon handed father a small roll of buckskin upon which had been roughly drafted a map, which, he said, if followed, would lead the possessor to a point where he would find more than $50,000 in gold buried. He explained that he had buried the bullion which he secured as a member of a gang of frontier raiders, during a fight with a number of Indians, in order that the latter might not capture it. "The Mexican further said that he was compelled to abandon the section in which the money was hidden, and that he was on his way to recover it when he became ill. He explained that, as he was growing aged and would have but little use for money, he would give the map to our father in order that he might locate the treasure as a substantial evidence of his appreciation of the treatment he received under our shelter. "Our father made one attempt to locate the gold, but in so doing was stricken with fever, and was compelled to return home. Subsequently he died from the effects of the fever. Recently we decided to attempt the task of locating the money, and are here for the purpose." NEWS FROM EGO - June 29 At 10 o'clock a.m. last Sunday the bonds of Holy Matrimony between Jeff Jones and Miss Rosa Kinsley were published by Rev. Hook. Mr. Jones is one Wapanucka's coming young men, and Miss Rosa was one of the highest esteemed young ladies of Ego. H. N. Morgan is building a nice barn on his farm east of Wapanucka. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. John Hogg, a 11 pound boy. Mother and child reported doing well and possibly the father will recover. COATSWORTH ITEMS - June 28 C. S. Walden went to Belton Monday. Clarance Cravatt was held up and searched, in Wapanucka, last week, by Deputy Criswell, and relieved of a package of soda crackers. VIOL ITEMS - June 28 Small and Richardson are repairing their gin to gin the fleecy staple next fall. Mr. Milligan of Wiley was in Viola yesterday. Dr. Germany reports a fine boy at the home of Marion Adams, living on Salt Springs. Mr. Anderson and family were visiting Mr. Hobb's family Saturday and Sunday. HUNTON NOTES - June 27 Mr. and Mrs. Addison gave an ice cream supper Friday night. Every one enjoyed themselves. Those from Wapanucka were: Drs. Stamps, Renager, Stephenson. J. Gluver and family, of Fulsom who have been visiting relatives here, returned home yesterday. A fine boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Marshal last week. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Johnston County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/johnston/johnston.html