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VOL. XX
MEDFORD. JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 7. 1908.
NO. 32
SUICIDE OF L H.
BELSER
Occurred Tuesday Night
At Hotel
As a climax of a spree hutting a
-week. L. H. Belser. a real estate
dealer at Wena tehee. Wash., shot
himself in his room at the Hotel Nash
at 9:45 o'clock last night, dying Im
mediately. The rifle part of a combination
double-barreled shotgun and rifle
was used for the deed, which was
witnessed by A. K. J. Percival, an
employe of the hotel, his son, W. IS.
Johnson of the Kmerlck restaurant
and another man, who had just been
engaged to stay and look after hi in
for the night. It was done so quickly
that none of them had a chance to
prevent It, and almost the first thing
they knew was to hear a report, the
noise of which in the room sounded
like a cannon. The man fell to the
floor, knasbed his teeth and was dead
almost as soon as tile horrified on
lookers reached his side.
It appears that Belser had not
been feeling well last evening, and
Dr. Hargrave was called to see him.
He left a prescription, which Mr.
Johnson had filled, and was in the
room when Mr. Percival and his so-i
entered with the man who was to stay
with the sick man. He shook iianii
with both Mr. Percival and hU on
and walked through an archway Into
the other part of the double room.
The gun 'was In th corner of the
room and Belser grabbed It and,
pointing the muzxle to his 'temple,
pulled the trigger.
Mr. Belser arrived In the city July
27 and engaged a room at the hotel.
He was about 40 years of age, well
dressed and appeared to have pnty
of money which he spent freely, most
y around the saloons. He was well be
haved, however, and appeared to He
a gentleman. He had known Mi
Johnson before coming here.
about an hour before the shooting
turned over to him his empty pocket
book and his watch. These he re
turned just shortly before It hap
pened. The gun used belonged to Mr
Belser and he brought It here' with
him. He was In the real estate busi
ness at Wena tehee, and on his busi
ness card 1b the address of his off re
and the telephone numbers for both
his office and his residence. It Is
known that he has a wife and family
at home.
As soon after the deed as posHlble
an automobile was sent to Gold Hill
for Coroner Kellogg and nolutnf will
be done until he arrives
Although the unfortunate man had
been drinking heavily, as before
stated, there was nothing of the
tough about him. All who met him
that were seen testify to that
and they feel very sorry that a man
as smart and Intelligent as he should
have ended nls life the way he did.
The Inquest on the remains was
held yesterday afternoon, and the
following took part in It:
Coroner, A. E. Kellog; constable.
A. D. Slnxler; stenographer, Miss
Elsie Eaton.
The jury was composed of W. T.
Oreave, C. W Been, C. M. Board
man. 8. Cole, n McNab and W. F.
Maier.
The witnesses called were: Dr.
H. B. Hargrave, A. K. J. Percival, W.
E. Johnson, A. X. Percival and J. M.
Howard.
It transpired yesterday tnat I.. H.
Belser, the real estate dealer from
Wenatchee, Wash., who committed
aulclde in his room at the Hotel Nash
i'. this city Tuesday evening, was a
member of the city council In that
place, and the people there were
much surprised when the news ar
rived, telling about it.
Efforts were made that night and
yesterday to Inform the wife and
family, but It was ascertained that
they had gone to Portland. 8he was
finally located at the St. Vincent hos
pital, where she had taken a young
on for treatment. Yesterday
she wired asking that the body be
sent to Portland. The undertaking
firm of Dunning ft Entee will take
harge of It there. Mrs. Belser also
requested that his personal effects be
sent, and this was done by W. E.
Johnson. The Knights of Pythias,
of which order the deceased was a
member, looked after the arrange
ments here, and the same order will
attend to them at Portland.
Some of the friends of the unfor
tunate man deny the report that came
out last evening to the effect that
Belser. bad squandered a lot of
money. They say that he had drawn
only the sura of 1100 since he came
to this city, and that he spent no
more than that. They also deny that
there was any trouble between he and
his wife. .
Mr. Johnson, the proprietor of the
Emerlck restaurant, who knew the
nan for years, states that he was sur
prised when he found he was drink
ing while here, as he never knew
Mm to do so before.
THK CAN' A I A POKKHT KIRK,
Hetwera .1,000 and 7.00O PeopW- Arr
Fleeing from Flames.
VANCOUVER. B. C, Aug. 3. A
message received tnls evening from
Fernie ays that. 12-bodies have been
recovered from the ruins. Fears are
expressed for the safety of hundreds
of other persons, though many of
the missing may have become sep
arated from their friends in the gen
eral conflagration.
It Is the general opinion thi even
ing that the casualty list, as an
nounced yesterday and repeated this
morning, was greatly exaggerated.
Last night Thomas Biggs, secre
tary of the Miners' union at Fernie,
wired this city that lie believed 170
persons bad been burned to death.
Late today the Associated Press
correspondent at Nelson after Inter
viewing many refugees from the
burned city, wired that their deaths
will not exceed a sore. He adds that
the report that 60 men and several
women perished in the Elk creek
logging camp Is now generally dis
credited. A message from Hosmer this
afternoon says that residences on
that townsite were burned this morn
ing, but that Tipple and the mine
building of the Canadian Pacific are
still safe. Another fire also occurred
at Michael today, though at midnight
8unday news was that that town was
out of danger. The women and chil
dren have all been removed to the
east of Michael.
A special to the Vancouver Provi
dence from Nelson says that the Tu
rner Is persistent that the fire started
In three separate places at once and
It looked as though some one had
started them Intentionally. It Is as
serted that the friends of the "Black
Hand" prisoners who escaped last
week and who were recaptured, were
responsible for the conflagration,
Igniting timber to create diversion
and liberate the prisoners.
The story Is doubted, but it Is per
sistent and is accepted by some prom
inent Fernie men. Relief trains with
provisions, clothing, hospital, stores,
nurses and physicians are en route
to Fernie from Winnipeg and Van
couver. It is definitely announced
this evening that the town of Coal
Creek, reiiorted to have been de
stroyed, Is practically uninjured. The
loss at Fernie and surrounding points
is probably larger than that originally
estimated.
Relief of food and clothing la anx
iously awaited. I-ate tonight the
fires are raging on all sides of .Michael
and If the high winds should arise
the destruction will spread. Should
the lire cross the river and enter tue
town, as now seems likely, the entire
place will be doomed. In Fernie the
loss of life Is the greatest In the we l,
where the flames spread so rapidly
It was Impossible to outrun the ap
proaching heat. Searching parties
are bringing In the bodies every
honr.
WINNIPEG, Man., Aug. S. The
destruction of life and property In the
fire which raged In East Kootenai
since Sunday still continues. Tonight
the Michael situation Is critical. The
timber of dead is not estimated at
135. From 5,000 to 7,000 men,
women and children are In flight
from the flame-swept region near
Crow's Nest. They are camped In
Cranbrook and surrounding hills.
VANCOUVER, B. C, Aug. 5.
Prospects In the region of Fernie are
somewhat brighter today, and every
one is taking new heart. The coroner
stated today that the deaths In Fernie
will not exceed 20. Of the 62 per
sons said to have been burned In the
Elk River company's camp all but two
have been accounted for.
Tbe losses at Hosmer will not pre-
supply of coal December 1.
Though at... in some danger, Mich
ael Is Intact.
HANDSOME NEW CHUCKS.
The officials of the First National
bank of Medford deserve to be con
gratulated in connection with their
new checks. These have Just been
received and It is doubtful if any
other bank on the coast, small or
large, has as handsome a check as
has this enterprising local bank.
Not only are these checks very ar
tistic, but each one issued Is an au-
vertlsement for Medford and the val
ley. They are lithographed and In a
brown tint, covering the wnole front
Is a fruit orchard, while In the center
appears a basket of fruit, on which
Is the letters 1st N. B., In a mono
gram. The checks will be ready for
distribution In a few days.
JAP WV.m AMERICA.
LA CROSSE, Wis., Aug. 4. Shege
taro Morlkubo, member of a noble
Japanese family, was married here
to Miss Marie Louise Harrison,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Harri
son. Mr. Morlkubo Is a graduate of two
American universities, from which he
holds degrees of master of arts. His
brother is a leader In the Japanese
parliament and hit father, now de
ceased, was governor of a Japanese
province under the Imperial government.
OIL COMPANY BUYS
LAND HERE
They
Will Erect Six Iron
Buildings
It will, no doubt, be good news to
the citizen of Medford to learn that
the Standard Oil company has de
cided to make this city Its head
quarters for supplying most of Us
trade between Portland at one end
and 8a u FranclBco at the other.
In accordance with tbe secrecy al
ways practiced by this huge corpora
tion the land was purchased and all
the plans made before anything in
couuectton with It became public. In
fact very few knew anything about
it until they see a copy of this Issue
of Tbe Morning Mail.
C. B. Watson of San Francisco
the coast manager for the Standard
Oil company, was here for several
weeks making the deel for the prop
erty and other matters In connection
with tbe enterprise. After complet
ing those a few days ago he left for
San Francisco, but will return In the
course of a week or so.
In tbe meantime the work Is go'ng
on. Yesterday Engineer Sawyer and
J S. Howard completed the survey
ing of the property and leveling It up
tor the foundations of the buildings
to be erected. There will be six of
tliem, and all will be constructed of
lion. This ia done so as to prevent
them from being destroyed In out
'a fire should break out. One will bo
for an office and the others for 8t.
age purposes.
The land was purchased by the
company from Vawter ft Davis and
lies a little north and west of the old
distillery. It has the Southern Pa
cific railway on one side and the
Crater Lake railway along one end.
At the other end Is the county road.
This gives the company splendid
shipping facilities.
Those who own land In the vicinity
of where the plant will be located
are fortunate, for the values will
rore than double In a very short
space of time, as quite a number of
men will be employed and most of
them, no doubt, will want to live near
there.
Elsewhere In this Issue will l.e
found a diagram showing the exutt
location of the property.
KILLKO 1114. COt;Alt.
K. C. Pomery, a prominent ranch
man living at The Meadows, and a
neighbor of his, had a thrilling and
exciting experience about It o'clock
one night last week with a cougar
that they are likely to remember for
some time to come. Incidently. It
nilgut be mentioned that they got the
animal and It weighs 150 pounds.
Although It happed to be late, Mr.
Pomery could not resist the tempta
tion of going after tbe couger when
he saw It in the vicinity of fhis house.
Then he reasoned that as the animal
had been causing considerable trou
ble to anise and his neighbors late
ly, that It was his duty to get rid
of It.
Hastily grasping his truly rifle. Mr.
ornery followed the animal to a large
pine tree. "Two minds with but a
single thought,' he murmered as he.
on reaching the tree, found one of
bis neighbors there, who was a1 so
armed.
"He Is up In that tree," said Mr.
Pomery.
"You bet he Is, and we will get
him, too. If It takes all night," said
the neighbor.
Then the two men proceeded to
tramp around and around the tree
till they became weary, but failed to
see the cougar. Then they noticed
a dark object In a small tree near by
where they were standing, and shot
at It. Imagine their surprHo when
they examined It and found they had
finished the cougar.
UKLAYH HARKIMAX 'jRAIX.
OMAHA. Neb., Aug. 5. Averelt
Harrlman, the little son of E. H. Kar
ri man, caused something of a sen
sation at the Union station by his ab
sence when his father's special tralu,
bearing the family to Klamath coun
ty, Oregon, was ready to pull out for
the west. The train had remained
at the station during the forenoon,
and young Averell proceeded to make
an Inspection of his father's big rail
road, Its Interlocking switches, block
signals and other devices. His in
spection took him well dor n Into the
yards, where he asked many questions
of switchmen, section bosses and car-
cleaners, much to their amusement.
When the Harrlman special ws
ready to start the boy was missed and
an army of employes started In
search of htm. These Included Ju
lius Kruttschnltt, Traffic Director
Stubbs, Vice-President Mohler and
others. The boy was Anally found
four blocks from the station and
hustled to the train, which was de
layed 40 minute on his account.
THE MAIL FOR NEWS
CITY COUNCIL PROCKEDIXUS.
Council CiranU Liqour License to
Three Ha loons.
A regular meeting of the city coun
cil was held last night, 'there wet
present Mayor Reddy, Councilman
Olwell, Merrick, Trowbridge, Wort-
man, Eifert and Hafer.
Petitions of Harrington. Kennedy
and Wilkinson, each asking for a
license to sell liquors, were presented,
and upon motion each taken sep
arately, the pei It Ions were allowed
and licenses ordered Issued. Coun
cil men Merrick, Trowbridge and
Wort man voted no upon them all,
and Councilmen Olwell, Eifert and
Hafer voting yes. This made a tie
in the vote and Mayor Reddy voted
yea.
Petition of Harry Campbell to sell
liquor was, upon motion of Eifert and
seconded by Hafer, rejected, all coun
cilmen voting yes on the rejection
except Merrick, who voted no from
force of habit, as he explained.
A new bond was presented by Re
corder Collins, with i'. E. Pollen ger
and I. L. Hamilton as sureties, In
the aura of 2.000. The bond was ac
cepted. This new bond was made ne
cessary because of the death of W. S.
Jones, a former bondsman of the re
corder. A remonstrance was presented,
signed by nearly all the property
owners on both sides of Seventh
street from DeAnjnu street to River
side avenue, asking that the side
walks be not widened In accordance
with the plans as now laid out. After
a lengthy discussion from various
parties present It was decided to ask
the persons signing the remonstrance
to meet with the city council at th
council hall today at 10 o'clock a m.
and such a meeting was ordered.
Three petitions for water mMii
were present and, upon motion, were
referred to the water committee.
Mills upon the several funds were
read and, upon motion, were allowed.
Treasurer Jacobs reiwrted ther
were over $."00 of unpaid warrant
against three sewer districts still out
and drawing Interest. Recorder Joi
Una reported that there was monev
on hand In the general sewer fund
sufficient to pay these warrants aid.
upon motion, they were ordered pale'
out of this fund.
The recorder was directed to pur
chatte a new warrant register.
The resignation of Eugene A maim
as fire chief was laid on the table un
til the fire department should decide
upon some capable person as his suc
cessor. Petition of F. W. Hollis to con
nect with lateral sewer referred 'o
the city engineer.
The matter of purchasing new hose
was referred to the fire department.
An ordinance creating a new sewer
district In Southwest Medford was
passed.
The city recorder was directed to
advertise for bids for putting In a
cement sidewalk along the south sid-?
of Seventh street, between H and I
streets. This Is along the north a'le
of the City park.
The city engineer was direct! o
confer with Consulting Engineer
Roberts and to draft specifications for
the construction of a trunk swe
line. This la to be a large jwwer
with which all other sewers of the
city will connect.
The city attorney was directed to
commence condemnation suit to open
a street through Manlgus addition.
Council adjourned to meet again
August 6, at 7:30 o-clock.
A special meeting of the city coun
cil was held at o'clock yesterday
forenoon for the purpose of meeting
those of our townspeople and
property owners who signed and pre
sented a remonstrance at the regular
meeting Tuesday evening against the
widening of the sidewalks on Seventh
street, between D'Anjon street an!
Riverside avenue. None of the prop
erty owners were present and the
matter was not discussed.
The mayor and all councilmen were
present, except Merrick. Upon motion
the city recorder was directed to draw
a warrant In favor of A. S. Moyer for
$r00 to be applied on the balance of
something over $700 still due him on
the city hall contract. Mr. Moyer na
agreed to replace the roofing on the
city hall, and will so so before the
rainy season commences.
The matter of the street railroad
franchise was discussed Informal1,
but no action was taken because there
were certain stipulations which ths
council asked to be made In the prop
osition when presented. It Is no: Im
probable that this matter will ;ome
up at the meeting tonight.
The matter of establishing ind
maintaining auxiliary hose cart sta
tions at three different parts of the
city was discussed qlute at length.
Councilmen Trowbridge, Eifert and
Harer were appointed to confer wT.h
the fire department with regard to se
curing sites for these nations.
The city engineer was directed to
correspond with Palm ft Neldeii.yet
with regard to repairing their side
walk on Seventh street.
Possibly Chicago tell short of 1.
000,000 population because the enu
merators failed to count the citizen,
who are locked up.
BIG REAL ESTATE
TRANSFER
Bybee
Ranch Sold to C.
Staples
What la said to be the largest real
estate deal in the history of Jackson
county was closed last week. The
amount of property involved was
1,249 acres and the price paid for It
was $45.00 per acre, making a total
of $56,205.
The property referred to Is the
Bybee ranch, which was sold by the
owner, Mr. William Bybee to E. S.
Staples, of Ashland. It lsaald there
are other parties behind him In the
transaction. Who they are cannot
be ascertained at present but will no
doubt become known later on.
It appears that Mayor Reddy, of
this city, acting for several parties,
had an option on the land for a price
that was several thousand dollars
less than that paid. It Is said that
they had ready to pay down the sum
of $7,500 In cash and were prepared
to take care of a mortgage amount
ing to $20,000 on the property and
which was held by Benton Bowers of
Ashland. It is also said that when
Mayor Reddy went to see Mr. Bybae
to close the ether deal that he was
greatly surprised to find that a sale
had been made to other parties.
It is not known what disposition
the new owners of the ranch will
make of It but the general tnipresv
slon Is that they have purchased .lr)
for speculative purposes.
TO ADVKItTISK THK VAI.I.KV.
Arrangements have been made hyf
the Commercial club for a whole page
advertisement in the Sunset magazine
for a rear, and a write-up of Medford
and the Rogue River valley in th,e
October or the November Issue thai
willy occupy six pages of that pubiM
cation.
The deal with the Sunset peopli
'Ttk
was made by the Commercial clul
through Secretary A. H. Miller. It
pears tnat the publishers of the mgj
azine were anxious to secure tne con
tract for the advertisement, butWhe
organization held off. Finally an of
fer was made to give a full and com
plete descriptive write-up of the city
and valley without costing a cent.
Yesterday Secretary Miller received
a telegram from William McMurray,
the general passenger agent of the
Southern Pacific railway, stating that
Mr. Altken would be here in the
course of a few days for the purpose
of getting the material and photo
giapbs for the article. Mr. Altken
has the reputation of being an able
writer and makes a specialty of this
l'ne of work.
It might be mentioned that the
Sunset magazine is published by the
Southern Pacific Railway company,
and consequently has unlimited capi
tal behind It. For the last few years
the circulation of the publication has
been Increasing at a very rapid rate
not only on the coast, but throughout
the east, where thousands of people
are taking It so as to keep In touch
with and learn about the conditions
on the coast and throughout the
west. . - -m I--
UI'KHH AGAIN, I.VXt'H.
FA1RVIBW, LINCOLN, Neb., Aug.
. more than usual significance
was the visit to Falrvicw tody .if
Frank B. Lynch ot St. Paul, John-
on's campaign manager, and B. F.
Nelson of Minneapolis, president of
the State Fair association. Lynch
lost no time In conveying Johnson'
assurance of Johnson's loyalty to
Bryan, and of Johnson's Intention to
take the stump In his behalf.
Lynch says there Is no animosi'. In
Minnesota to Bryan: and. although
he could not promise that the Demo
crats would carry the state, he thinks
they have a fighting chance.
Nelson came to Invite Bryan to at
tend the state fair. The Invitation
was accepted, and August HI was set
as the date, with the understanding
that there be no admission charged
lo the grounds that day.
TO DKAD INDIAN SPRINGS.
C. I. Hutchison ot this city started
early last 8unday morning with his
family and his father for Colestln
Springs In his Thomas 40 automo
bile. It took the party Just two hours
and IS minutes to make the trip from
Medford to the hotel at Colestln, al
though they had considerable trou
ble In finding the proper place to
leave the Portland-San Francisco wa
gon road to get to the springs. It
wss necessary to go about a mile past
the springs to find a road leading
there. However, they reached the ho
tel In the time given in first-class
shape, and It was the first automo
bile ever driven up to the door of
the hotel. Mr. Hutchison report
that the roads are In first-class condi
tion, except between here and Ash
land and for a ahort distance on top
of the mountains.
ri'BUO LIBRARY" OPKXM).
Many Avail Thnuetvee of the Privi
legs of Drawing Books.
The public library, provided by the
ladies of the Greater Medford club,
assisted by the various social, religi
ous and civic organizations of the
city and private contribution, was
opened to the public for the Brat time
yesterday. Although the books have
been in the hands o-.the committee
tor several weeks, it was not con
venient to place them on the shelves
to be drawn out until this time
The 700 volumes with which the
library opens Is but a nucleus around
which It Is hoped an adequate llbiary
may be built up. The section devoted
to standard and current fiction coin-
prises much of the best and limited
(mount of the latest Imaginative liter
ature. Kipling, Mark Twain, Frances
Hodson Burnett and Mary Johnston
are well represented. The best liked
English and American poets are e.lso
on the shelves, as well as the newei
works on history and biography.
among which are Ida Tarbell's popu
lar lives of Napoleon, Lincoln aud
Washington.
The juvenile section Is especially
complete in proportion to the sit ) ot
the library, with tales of adventure,
stories of animals and animal life and
the regular Hue of young people'
classics, while the Henty booki.
Louise Alcott's charming stories and
thou of Kate Douglas Wlggin fur
nish reading ot the highest type for
children. "W complete set of Encyclo
pedia Brttffcnlea la also a valuable
Requisition.
Much lntel?st was evinced by th?
townspeople nsterday afternoon, and
the librarian las kept busy making
out cards and leglaterlng books.
The efforts olthe ladles In this di
rection are surety appreciated, as will
be s!own by the wider Interest In
good reading, leading to the purchase
ot a larger number of books covering
a more extensive field of thought
In all public libraries difficulty Is
experienced In keeping absolute track
ot books, and It Is to be hoped that
the most careful and exact method
will be employed to prevent the loss
of volumes In this way.
n this wi
WlfH
FIC.HT WITH OITLAWS,
ijflpnirivp n.v ... . . .....
' . v.. ..,.., upu., man. n 5 '
liiil to the Spokesman-Review from
LevHston, fdaho;- says that George
Moore, an alleged cattle rustler, Is
dead: A. J. Sloan and W. P. Reed.
his companions, are wounded, whll.i
Dan Carr, complaining witness, re
ceived Ave wounds late this evening
In a gun fight at the Carr homestcml,
seven miles from Oroflna on the
Pierce City road.
The shooting is the result of
break for lllierty made by Rice and
Reed, who were arraigned in Oroflno
this morning, charged with cattle
stealing. The men started at break
neck seed out of the town and were
jointed In the suburbs by Moore and
Sloan, for whom the officers have
been seeking several days on cattle
stealing charges.
The outlaws followed the Pierce
City road, and when within a quarter
of a mile of the Carr homesteam.
met Albert Carr and Samuel Craig In
the road. The desperadoes opened
fire and drove young Carr and Craig
to cover. The shrots were heard
by Dan Carr. Albert's father, and
he, with a rifle and tnree cartridges,
started for the scene of the trouble.
Telephone messages from Oroflna
warned Carr of the escape of the
cattle thieves, and when the shooting
commenced he knew his son and his
companion had encountered the out
laws. When Dan Carr met the men
fussilade of shots grazed the
rancher, but Carr killed Moore at the
first shot, wounded slice with a bul
let through his neck and sent a ball
through Reed's right arm. Carr
himself received two scalp wounds,
neither of which are very serious.
The shooting was reported to
Sheriff Lydon, and under his direc
tion posses were organized and start
ed In pursuit. The latest reports
nre that the men have been driven to
cover on the ridge between Oroflno
and Ford's creek, and It Is expected
their rapture win be effected tomor
row. I'ltOK. liALI.AKIt Ai'l'IIIVI'KK.
It will be good news to the fruit
growers of the valley to learn Hint
Professor Billiard has been appointed
by the department of agriculture to
Investigate and look after all plum
diseases throughout this district.
Professor Ballard ia an expert on ap
ple mildew, peach mildew, pear scab
end all fungi diseases. He will mske
his headquarters in this city.
Last week Professor Ballard and
George W, Taylor, county fruit In
spector, traveled all over this district.
Mr. Taylor reporta that tne fruit corp
will be a fairly good one and that
gr.od prices will prevail on accouii' of
the poor crops In many eastern fruit
dletrlcts.
At a meeting of the country fruit
rrowers. held in this city Saturday. II
wns decided to petition the govern
ment to appoint permanently an ex
pert on pathology for this district
They ask that Professor P. J. O'Garn.
or some other expert on plant dis
eases, be sent. The petition was sent
lo Washington Saturday evening
PROF. SMITH HAS
ARRIVED
He Is lo Be Our School
Superintendent
Ulysses Q. Smith, the new superin
tendent of the Medford schools, ar
rived In this city yesterday on train
No. 13. He was accompanied by Mrs.
Smith and was met at the depot by
several friends who reside here and
who gave him a warm welcome.
Mr. Smith comes here from Mend-
vllle, Pa., and was superintendent of
the schools in that city up till the
close of the last term, when he re
signed to take the position offered
him here. In an article regarding
bts leaving one of the Meadvllle
newspaiers has this to say about
him:
'He has been successful here, pro
fessionally and socially. He naa
maintained the school In a state of
high efficiency, giving the best of his
energies and his life to the work.
Furthermore, he has made for him-
a permanent place In the good
fellng and the affections of this com
munity. We all regret his going; w
wish him well, In profession and In
health, and extend to him tbe heart
iest Ooodspeed. He has left a per
manent Influence upon this city and
Its people. His genial countenance
and hla kindly character will be
missed. He Is a prince among good
men, as well as a scholar and an ac
complished educator; bon voyage.":
Mr. Smith was born In Bedford
county, Pennsylvania, In 1864, and
later went with his parents to Indi
ana, where they settled on a farm.
He attended the district school until
he was 17 years of age and then
taught school for three years. After
that be attended the Denntson uni
versity In Ohio, where the course waa
supposed to take seven years, but
which Mr. Smith completed In six
years and graduated with high
honors.
After graduating Mr. Smith taug!:t
high school for three years and after
that went to Union City, Pa., where
he was superintendent and principal
of the high school for six years. He
then took the position of superin
tendent of the Meadvllle schools. In
between times he attended the Chi
cago university. Altogether he has
had six years' experience teaching vil
lage schools and 14 years of city
school work.
WAS AX A XG frX IX MNm iMK.
A. J. Lathrop, a young newspaper
man, who dropped off a freight trafn
here Monday night. Intends to leave
his morning, but It Is safe to say
that he will remember Medford for
the rest of his natural life, no matter
In what part of the world .e may be.
and this Is not to be wondered at
when the reason for It Is given.
Mr. Lathrop called at The Morning
Mall office soon after his arrival In
town and explained his desperate
plight. He did not ask for any as
sistance In a financial way, but waa
given enough to keep him from going
hungry for the day. A few hours
later he called again and he looked
like a different man as ne exhibited
$15 In gold and told his remarkable
lory, ..i-.aema--
It appears that while walking down
the street, a stranger In a strange
land, he was accosted by a complete
stranger.
"I understand you want to go to
San Francisco?" he remarked.
"That's where I want to go," re
plied Mr. Iathrop.
"Well, you come along with me,"
and the young man went along,
thinking that he was on his way to
jail. In place of that he was es
corted to the depot, where the .'are
to San Francisco was ascertained. As
they were walking away thes man
handed Lathrop the $15.
'My name, he said, "Is It. H. J.
Donaldson-Selby; I live here, on: I
don't want you to tell a single soul
anything about this.
When Lathrop came back to earth
again the man was gone, and he wan
dered around awhile In a seuii-dasvt
condition, alternately pinching him-
ne1f to see If he were awake or dream
ing, and then looking at the two g.i'd
pieces to make sure that they were
not counterfeits.
After Lathrop had told the a novo
he was asked If he would be wlltln.r
to make an affidavit to that etfec.
which he readily did and the sum-
was sworn to before F. M. Stewart, a
notary public for Oregon.
"Yon bet that M.r Donaldson-Selby
la one of nature's noblemen," re
market Lathrop, as lovlng'y
fondled the gold pieces and then care
fully replaced them In his pocket.
PKACHE8 COMIXCJ IX.
B. A. Hoag, accompanied by his
nephew, J. T. Blackburn, waa In the
city yesterday with some fine peaches,
grown on their nlvely located fruit
ranch south of Talent. They had no
difficulty In disposing of the peachea
to the grocerymon at fair prices.