Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 11

Decatur eralb 22 Pages Pages 11-18 TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR. DECATUR. ILLINOIS, SUNDAY, JULY 28, NUMBER 345. Decatur Men Recall Reminiscenses of Jim" Bakei Early Frontiersman Hero Who Was Never In Lime Light WABASH BRIDGE COMING OUT OF THE MOULD There is a movement on foot In Colo "There I saw a band of 1,500 TJte in Denver probably knew him at that -tjSSLt '9 1 bucks come into the park one spring. The white men? They kept hands off.

They did not take sides in that fight, There wasn't one white man to the hundred Indians that country and there was no desire to help them settle their quarrels. South Park was a great country for game. rhe place was filled with deer, elk ar.d buffalo, and it was a paradise for the Indians. "Know Nothing of Jim." "About Jim Baker I know notning in detail. He was a mountaineer who made his home with the Indians.

That I knew, and met him many times. Frank Shaffer said: VI was acquainted with Jim In a casual way. Then he had the reputa tion of being a good frontiersman. Jrl have met and chatted with him many times. I noticed in the Chicago Tri bune a few days ago an article about Tim.

That article said that he was from near Belleville this state. I had the im pression from what Jih told me that he had lived nearer Springfield. 'Jim lived across Cherry Creek from Denver but often he came into camp. Always he carried an old Hawkins rifle. a weapon of great length.

There- is a funny thing in my experience with the Hawkins rifle. That was a weapon then famous west of the river. The story was that the business at St. Louis had been established by old Sam Hawkins and continued by young Sam Hawkins. Hawkins Rifles.

"At the time that I was in Colorado the Hawkins rifle and ammunition for the Hawkins were so much in demand as to have a positive value and practically as good as currency. -But while I was there young Sam Hawkins came to Denver to establish a western branch house. As a matter of curiosity I went around to his place to get a glimpse of young Sam Hawkins expecting to see za fine, big, young man. What do you suppose. I saw when Young Sam Hawkins was pointed out to me? A man "almost SO years of age, much stooped, apparently tottering on the verge of the grave.

Then I speculated on the possible age of Old Sam Hawkins. A Frontiersman. "I knew Jim Baker as every man So far there has been graveled a mile each on the St. Louis bridge. Provost and Swartz roads.

At present work is -beings done on the Hickory Point he Wabash concrete bridge, the first n. It gives an idea of the finished structure, for the balance of the bridge ike thg first one. The second arch has been completed and the third nearly ported by the false work. JIM BAKER. part of the time that I was In Colorado Baker lived on the banks of Cherry creek at Denver.

Shaffer was there at that and knew him. Baker had a cabin near the creek and several Indian squaws lived there with him. I have seen him We called him a mountaineer at that time. Herding Cattle. "That's the way they knew those fellows who had gone into that country and made their homes with the Colorado Indians.

The greater part of the time- that I was in Colorado I was herding cattle in South Park. Yes, there were many Indians there at that time, but they were not troublesome so far as the whi men were concerned. They fought among themselves. Every spring the tes would cross the mountains and come into South Park and the Arapaho tribe would try to drive out the new comers. When ever side won would hunt, undisturbed, except by prowlers, dur ing the hunting season.

sideration of the deal was $1,400. The property rents at $12 a month. The second deal was made for J. E. Osborne and was the sale of the proper-; ty at 1791 North Clinton street It was' sold to P.

L. Mier. There is a five-room cottage on the place which- rents at $11 a month. The-price paid for the property ivas $1,300. Two Lot Sales Reported.

Peter H. Brueck sold two vacant lots Saturday. The first was for Mrs. Henrietta A. Tuttle to Carl Warszin and is in the 1700 block East Clay street.

The price paid was $225. Mr. Warszin expects to build himself a home there at once. The second lot was sold for Charles T. Kellum to Mrs.

Ida J. Stahl. It is located on McClellan avenue- in the University Place addition. The consideration was $500. WEATHER DELAYS ROAD GRAVELING Work on the Townnhip Contract About Half Completed.

Work on the graveling of the township roads has been about half completed. The heavy rains the past week have prevented the hauling of gravel, therefore there has been no work done. road and it is thought this will. b8Lsame In a Social Way Along with the heat and the Chautauqua there have been few social functions during the past week, although many have indulged in little -amily picnics at the Chautauqua grounds or in some other spot where there seemed the least possible chance of a breeze. A pretty social event of the week was the Beadles-Burke wedding on Wednesday morning.

The friends of the bride and groom gave them a good sendoff and marked them unmistakably as bride and groom by decorating the carriage which took them to the -station in yards of white ribbon and strings of red hearts. On the back of the carriage rode a "Teddy bear." Miss Emily Powers entertained forty of her friends at a lawiwarty on Friday evening. The lawn was atractively lighted with a number of Japanese rain- spoiled the plan of staying out on the and-All were obliged to go Indoors in the evening. Mrs. E.

L. Hoover, who has been-visiting Mrs. John Hogan for the past week, has returned to her home in SMelbyville. Mrs Hoover was the guest of honor at several functions given during the week. Mrs.

Alice. Caldwell, Mrs. Fred Stoner, Mrs. Fred Carpenter and L. W.

Cook entertained for her. Mrs. Hallie, Bertha and Myrtle Rugh have been hostesses at a house party-given this week at their home. The six guests were from Blue Mound. The Five Hundred club will meet with Mrs.

J. W. Cleland on Tuesday afternoon, The birthday party given in honor of George Post at the Fishing Club on Monday evening was a most enjoyable affair. The evening was spent in dancing. The Misses Post have as their guests, Mrs.

Effie Brown of Rock Island, and Miss Edna Lejem of Hannibal. On Thursday afternoon a card party was given in their honor by the Misses Post. There were four tables of the game. Mrs. George Post is en tertaining the Misses Post and their guests at her cottage at the Fishine club for a day or two.

On Tuesday aftcrnoon the Five Hun dred club went out to Woodbine in tallyhos and took supper. There eight in the party. Priday evening Miss Irene Wiefel and sixteen of her pupils went to Har- ristown, where they were entertained by Miss Ruth Crossman, who is also a pupil or Miss Wiefel. A musical program was enjoyed during the evening. Refreshments were served.

The chorus choir of the Presbyterian church will leave Friday for a few days outing in Winona Lake, Ind. A. H. Mills, Miss Mary who is the di-rectir of the choir, and Mrs. W.

H. Penhallegon will go with the choir. It is probable that a few others may decide to go later. The choir will be guests at the Otterbine on the Chautauqua grounds. rado to have the federal government eet apart as a national park, the spot In the valley of the Little Snake river where Jim Baker, frontiersman, lived for many years and where his lookout cabin stood for years in spite of the efforts the Redman to drive him out of the country.

Jim Baker was an Illinois man who went to Colorado when a mere lad. There are two Decatur men now who were acquainted with Jim Baker, but they did not know him until after he had attained wide fame In the west. W. Chief of Police, and Frank Shaffer were acquainted with Baker. In Colorado Jim Baker Is held to rank with Kit Carson.

Jim Bridger other famous frontiersmen, but h.A ha lfs? written sthnut hv II the authors of gild west stories: Per-liats that was because Baker was the real thing and the man much written about loves to strut In picturesque tcstume where the limelight shines. Luved the Wild. Baker loved the wilds --d when he flld come to the edge of civilization there were present none of the sensational writers to make note of his and going. Both Shaffer and Mason knew Baker prior to 1869 when, with thousands seeking fortunes in the mines, they were at Pike's Peak. In those ays uny man who started for Colorado irom a point east of the Mississippi was bound for Pike's Peak.

Gold had been discovered there or within sight of that mountain. It was the only land mark well enough known to be used in telling in what part of the wilderness the man from the east had ilisappeared, but perhaps the fortune bi.iter never got within one hundred miles cf Pike's Peak. "Ak BUI Mun." When the two Decatur men were sked if they had known Jim Baker each one referred to the other. Shaffer said: "Ask Bill Mason. He herded cattle on the Snake rler and that was Baker's country." Mason said: "Ask Frank Shaner.

He knew Baker better than I did. A HEAL STATE AGENTS REPORT FEW SALES Yet, They Say, They Put in i-" a Busy Week Doing Nothing. The following table is of the transfers and mortgages filed with the circuit clerk for the week ending July 26, as compar- ed with the same week last year, and with the previous week this year. The local money market is also given: Transfers No. Am't.

Last week 32 $54,477 Same week last 45 59.650 Previous week this yr.40 37,744 Mortgages Last week 20 20,840 Same week last yr ...14 18,261 Previous week this yr 25 39.S14 Average interest rate last week 6.26 Same week last year 6.40 Previous week this year ..5.91 Of the money loaned during the last week $500 was at 6, $14,210 at 6 and $6,130 at 1. A combination of Chautauqua, gro- jcrs' picnic and heavy rains in the lame week had a tendency to put a i Hamper on the real estate business. Not many sales were reported during the Week, but despite that fact many of sf the time. Attorney John R. Fitzgerald bought good property from Mrs.

Lily M. Si-monds. It is located at the northeast corner of College street and Leafland avenue and consists of a seven-room modern house and a lot 56 by 156 feet in size. The property had been on the market for some time and went cheap, the consideration being $3,800. Mr.

Fitzgerald bought as an investment and will hold it for a time. There is a small tone building on the rear of the lot. Albert IIa Two More. Ex-Chief of Police P. K.

Alberts has Mded two more residence properties lo his list, having closed a deal during the week with-G. C. Johnson in which he comes into possession of two mail houses at the corner of Green and Bright streets. Each house contains lour rooms. They are not modern.

The irice paid was $1,500. Mr. Albert bought an investment. A tract of ground ISO by 160 feet in ze at the northeast corner of West Oecatur and South Church streets was sold during the week by I. D.

Stine, the architect. The ground was purchased Julius L. Burtschi and is large, "'ugh to accommodate eight small JiouKes. The price paid was $2,600 and cosidered fairly high owing to the location if fOUght as an investment flnH nmv nut the market again. tMher Sales of Hounea.

Ban Evans for Grace R. 1 f. to William Joyce the property 155 Korth falhrnm ir.ot 'rh it lat i "se oi iorty reet and on it ja Who ler couage. tne considera-of the deal was $1,200. Mr.

Joyce tonunue to rent to the present month" Property brings $10 a dun' F' Pkkle dosed two small deals ou arly part ot the week. He Je. if Attorney Jacob Latham to Greet. rs a PPerty at 11S2 West reet- There 18 a cot-e and a barn on the place. The con- time a frontiersman who had lived with some of the Indians for years, a scout and a He had married an Indian woman hid they had several daughters.

My acquaintance was such as men have on the street, but I knew enough of him to discover that he was a man of more than or dinary intelligence, although the life tnat he had led might not give one mat impression, nor would one be im pressed by a mere look at him. I had all but "forgotten Jim when I saw the article about him in th Chicago Tribune, and the picture that they printed of him was an excellent likeness, too. Jim was not one of the noted killers. He was simply a scout and a trapper." According what is presumed to be an authentic account of Jim Baker's life, fie was born in Belleville in 1818 ana wnen only 16 years of age, at St. Louis obtained employment with the American Fur Company, and went nn me Missouri river into Wyoming, with a fur hunting expedition.

That expe- amon was in charge of Jim Bridger. Never Keturned. Baker never return'ed to civilization to live. He made his home in the valleys in the Rocky Mountains, fascin ated by the life of the trapper and the ever present dangers: Often he said that his first trip into that country was the most dangerous one that he ever made and that he was never bo near death as at that time. Then it was a constant fie-ht with the Indians, who were determined that the white man should have no foothold in that country.

It was men like Jim Baker that made the presence of the white man a possibility. He knew the Indians and their ways as well as the Indians themselves and the happiest days of his life was when, a case of life and death he was called upon to match his cunning with -hat of the red man. That he died in peace and quiet in his' cabin on the Little Snake river Is evidence that he was ever equal to the emergency. Baker served a number of years as a scout in the army, and his record there iwiu5 nun 10 nave Deen one or tne 'most rtroficient TTlAn ir that hranli of the service. I.

E. Myers, abutment on Lost bridge 66.37 William Martin, road labor (pathmaster) 22.00 Total New Sunshade for Police. headquarters in the court house have-been "beautified" by the appearance of a new awning. The old one was taken down Friday morning and Saturday was replaced with a new one. Friday afternoon the hot sun got a good sweep at the place and the officers sweat some in spite of the fact that there was no work to do.

The new awning, along with the "new" wagon, is almost too much for them and any more new things would be liable to turn their heads. A Lawn Social. The American Stars of Equity will give a social at the- home of Aiden Lee, 1023 East Cantrall street, Monday evening. L. S.

Rude, who has been making his mother, Mrs. G. Kaufman, a visit for the past si weeks, left last night for Washington, D. where he will spend a few days on business and then return to New York City. -2J Photo by Lobberecht ments, including steam heat and electric lights.

For many years Mr Dro-bisch was in the shoe business In Mt. Pulaski: He Is" now employed In one of the town's largest clothing stores. HANDSOME MT. PULASKI HOME Photo by Wm. Evans one from which the sheeting was re- -v MAIL CARRIER OBJECTS TO FARMER'S "COSSINS" S.

L. Croy Had Volumes to Tell Court of Roberts1 Abusive Language. S. L. Groy, rural mail carrier, swore out a warrant Saturday for Frank Roberts, a patron on the route carried by Croy.

Roberts was charged with using language, and with making; threats to do bodily harm to the complainant. Croy has a story, that would fill volumes, detailing the cause of the disagreement, and saye that twice he has been personally abused by Robert The first time he disdained to notice "cussin," but when it was repeated he felt that it was time to call a halt. The warrant was given to the sheriff, tft serve. THRONG BEFORE HERALD' OFFICE TOLD THE STORK Decatur Business Man No ticed Crowd but Did Not Know the "Why." "It was not until Saturday after noon, declared Harvey Greider, "that I knew why the crowds-gather in so large numbers before the Herald office when the baseball team is out of town. I ride around town a great deal in tha afternoons in my automobile, and I always see immense throngs there.

Soma times I have dificulty in crettina- through. "In passing by there yesterday after-non I noticed an unusually large crowd and I glanced over toward the Herald building, and then for the first time I saw the cause of the crowd. It wa the Herald score board where the results of the game are chalked up by innings." The Phi Delta Pi sorority girls are enjoying an outing at the Ozone club. They left the city Friday morning and will remain for a week or ten days. Some of the party are: Alberta Barnes.

Leonora Allen, Eleanor Armstrong, Lor a Kinsman, Emily Powers, Myra Powers, Mary Badenhausen and- Marie Morgan. Mrs. Clint Armstrong is their chaperon. a month during the winter season' norses being brought for the auctions from a wide territory- As many aa hundred horses are disposed of In these auctions. At present Smith have 136 horses on hand and they will be put In condition to brlna the best prices at the cosine sales.

1 The picture shows the east arch of moved and the false work, taken do will simply be a succession of arches 1 so, but they are still sheathed and sup BEGINNING Of THE END ON BIG WABASH BRIDGE Work of Turning the Last Arch Will Begin on Monday. Monday the turning of the last arch on the big concrete bridge spanning the Sangamon east of Decatur will be commenced. That is the beginning of the end, but there will be much work finishing the structure. Three arches have been turned. The sidewalls on the third arch rematn That work will require a week's time.

Under favorable circumstances the fourth and last arch may be completed within two weeks "time, but the contractors will make no prediction as to when the concrete work will be finished. In addition to the work on the arches there re mains to be constructed the retaining wall on the west bank of the river. That is a comparatively small portion of the work, but a number of small ones make a big aggregate. The contractors admit that they hope to have all ol the work completed by Aug. 15, but there is no certainty.

Much Grading Work Remains. When the bridge has been completed there will still remain much for the graders to do. They will make no prediction as to the time that their peti tion of the task may be completed. The Wabash track men are follow ing close after the graders. Last night the graders had completed their work from the new shops east to camp No.

1. the home of graders on the west side of the rivet As fast as the graders can. take up the track upon which their dinkey cars have moved to haul the earth, the Wabash men are putting in the tracks for the new main line and it is a fair presumption that as soon as that work is completed the ballasting will follow. That is natural, for the desire of the railroad management is to get the new double track bridge in commission at the earliest possible moment. At each end of the bridge there is a big hole for the graders to fill.

If the bridge work is completed by Aug. 15 to tne point that will permit the graders to work there, good time will have been made if the track laying can be undertaken on the bridge by Oct. 1. DECATUR TEACHER IS TOURING EAST Walter T. Lauterbaugh left Fridav night for a tour through the east.

He will visit his sister and brother in Washington. D. C. and relatives in Baltimore, Jamestown and Pittsburg. He expects to be gone about five weeks.

returning just in time to begin his fall term of school, northeast of Decatur. MAKE MAROA Smith Stoutenborough have made the town of Maroa famous throughout Central Ilinols as a horse market. This firm conducts a large business in horse flesh, its headquarters heing in an immense stable on the main street of the town: stable- contains 105 stalls and duriDg- the sales there aire often 1 mushed In, about two weeks. As soon as this Is-finished work will be started on the mile on the Mt. Pulaski road.

There yet remains besides these one mite-each on the Lost Bridge and Cowford roads. Owing to the unsettled condition of the weather it is not possible to make even a rough guess on when 'the work will be completed. So far everything has hegn working nicely and no trouble is anticipated in the remainder of the work. Pathina8tersN Again Appear. The highway commissioners of Decatur township held a meeting in I.

N. Coltrin's office on East Main street Saturday afternoon. All the commissioners were present and the following bills were allowed: W. R. Fulk, road labor (path-master) John Cooper, mowing weeds Enoch Banister, road labor Amos Barber, road labor 2.00 3.00 3.00 John Nicholson, road labor (pathmaster) 29.50 Frank Hughes, roadjabor 8.25 F.

Ayers, road labor 6.00 L. Bowerman, road labor 7.50 has always been an active mover in matters for the benefit of his community and foremost in improvements. His home was the first In Mt. Pulaski to be equipped with all modern improve- KNOWN AS A HORSE MARKET 'p more horses on hand than accomoda tions can De round for. The building was put up in the winter of 1903-4 at a cost of about $8,000.

Jts walls are of concrete' blocks and it is" as near fire proof as such a structure can be. In its loft room for tmiMtv loose bay. -Sales are held about twice A One of the handsome roomy homes of Mt. Pulaski is that of W. A.

Drobiscli, one of the Mounts best known citizens. He has been a resident "of the town for the past forty-two years and.