Weekly Rogue River Courier from Grants Pass, Oregon • Page 1

mm Wkm mAt rrrnT GRANTS TABS, JOSEPHINE COrXTY. OREGOX. MBMM. mfm HOLDUPS OPERATE IN GRANTS PASS TWO VOIXG MEX immKD EARLY EVENING. IN HOUSE 1IBBERS WORKING Arresu UVe Made But Robber, Have Not Yet Been Apprehended.

Two holdup and an attempted house robbery Friday evening hare caused considerable excitement and indignation among the Grants Pas. citizens. Lloyd Dyer, one of the postofflce clerks, was held up by a masked man, just as he left his home at 7 o'clock p. m. at 314 Fourth street.

The thug, who was apparently waiting for- his victim, poked a revolver In young Dyer's face with the command, "Up with 'em." He then proceeded to go through Dyer's pockets with one hand, holding the revolver to his victim's face with the other, secur ing J38 In coin. A watch was not taken. When all the cash had been secured the thug gave another com mand, short and decisive, "Now beat it." Mr. Dyer Immediately went to town, where he Informed the mar shal of the robbery. At almost the same time that Lloyd Dyer was robbed Ira BSnns, wall carrier, was relieved of cash as he stepped from his home at Second and streets.

In the case of Mr. Blnns the highwayman was not masked, but the darkness concealed his features. The only description Mr. Blnns Is able to give Is the fact that the man was tall and very dirty A big revolver was leveled In the young man's face, with the command to hold up his hands. The thug then turned out Blnn's pockets, securing $20.

So. In this case also a watch was. left Intact. Mr. Blnns went Im mediately to town and notified the police.

Then 27 hoboes were run Into the city Jail and searched, but no clue was found. They were turned loose Saturday morning and ordered to leave the city. They headed southward. The plans of the holdups go to show that they were acquainted with the fact that the two young postofflce employes had Just received their monthly salaries, and lay in wait for them. This, believe many persons, proves that the thugs who did the robbery live here and are not wandering hoboes.

Attempt to Rob Iloiiie. At about 11 o'clock Friday evening someone attempted to force an entrance to the home of Harry Smith on South Sixth street. Mrs. Smith and daughter, Miss Lizzie, and Mrs. Harry Smith, and baby were at home, the gentlemen being at the mill at Grave.

The ladles were from their slumbers by someone trying a side door on the north side of the house. Falling here the prowler went to the other side of the house, where a door was tried, at first cautiously and then forcibly. Mr. Smith phoned for the police and also phoned to her son, Just across the street. 'When the marshal arrived a search was made but the maurauder had fled.

R. COE'S BIG STORE IS DAMAGED BY FIRE Shortly after 8 o'clock Saturday mgni tne R. L. Coe company store was discovered aflre in the basmnt ana a run by the new auto Are en gine enlivened Sixth street and car Ned a throng to the burning build tg. Firemen had the chemical fluid In action in a few moments and quickly extinguished a blaze which was rolling over the roof of the base ment, which was the floor to the atore The blaze originated aa the result ui a neatea iron plate under a large rurnace on the store floor.

The iron plate is used to catch ashes and rents on the floor. This Dlate hut Seated to such an extent that It set fire to the wood undr it and th blaze was spreading when the fire men arrived. Fire Chief Proctor later said: "The new engine certainlv nald for Itself at this blaze, because in four or five minutes more the floor of the store would have been burned tnnougn and flames spreading. It would have taken at least Ave min utes to get water hose in action, wh'ch would have meant disaster; as it was the chemical swept that wide area of flame and extinguished it immediately. The chemical tank has 120-pound pressure; wheu we finished the blaze we had 90 pounds left, thus using only 20 to 25 eallona of fluid.

ACQUITTED CHARGE OF KILLING DEER H. McClung, rancher near Wllder-ville, waa acquitted by a Jury in Justice John Holman'a court on a charge of killing deer out of season. The complaint was made by Deputy Game Warden Eugene Wrlnht. Attorney J. N.

Johnson was employ. ed by the defense and the case pro secuted by Edward VanDycke, deputy district attorney. The Jury was composed of six residents, as fol lows: Charles Burkhalter, F. 0. Wilcox, Frank South, E.

A. Wade, H. B. Alverson and John Randia It was testified by the prosecution that Deputy Warden Wright and Deputy Warden Fred Merrill went to the McClung home December 12, searched the premises and found a fresh ham of venison hanging in an outhouse and that they found a deer hide, green, In the barn. Mr.

and Mrs. McClung and their son testified that they had no venison In their possession on that date and had had none since the season for killing deer closed. The son also testified that the small house In which the venison was alleged to have been found was secured fastened the night before, and was found to be ajar next morning as if some one had made a visit to the house unknown to the family. The Jury took two ballots, the first ballot resulting in five for acquittal, one for conviction. The second ballot resulted bIx for acaultal.

COURIER BUSINESS OFFICE WRECKED CHRISTMAS AND SUNDAY SERVICES AT CHURCHES RUNAWAY TEAM CRASHES INTO PLATE GLASS. First Baptist Church. Extensive preparations are undr way for the Christmas exercises of tne Sunday school. Aside from the program of song, recitations anri group pieces, there will be festive Cecoratlons, Christmas trees and a remembrance. PrMv ESCAj ARE MIRACULOUS 18 the tlme cbA4 'or these ex- On the following Sunday ther will be special music and annronrlafn message by the pastor, and on Christmas eve the choir and chorus, assisted by the orchestra, will nre- sent the cantata entitled, "The First Christmas." Tweiuy.Three Lineal Feet of Plate (ilaas Shattered Into Sinull Biu.

CITY'S REVENUE WILL BE $35,000 TAX LEVY REDl'CEI) TWO MILLS FROM LAST YEAR. VALUATION IS $2,776,176 STATE LAND BOARD AGAIN LOANING MONEY Earl Vanaken, groceryman of Merlin was held up by two masked men Tuesday night near his home and robbed of a watch and several dollars In silver. Vanaken was going from his residence to his store at 7 o'clock, after partaking of supper. The route leads along the tracks of the Southern Pacific railroad. When shout midway between his home and bus iness house the thugs appeared ani Proceeded to strip the grocerymnn of his valuables.

They then reared In the darkness. Vanake-: i that the men apreare.l typical hoboes. Word has been sent to Attorney O. S. lilanchard, agent for the state land board, that that department has decided to again loan money on farm lands.

The board some months ago discontinued loans in the state, but, now has decided to begin again. Several land owners In Josephine county will probably take advantage of the new source of revenue. Mr. and Mrs. G.

W. Whltten of Merlin spent Wednesday here. Mason Elect Officers Grunts Pass lodge, No. 84. A.

F. A. held Its annual election Saturday nteht, filling the principal offices for the coming year as follows: Worshipful Master Isaac Best. Senior Warden F. L.

Coron. Junior Warden F. W. Russell. Recorder F.

D. Strieker. W. Clarke. The Installation or nniccrs occurred the evening.

At noon Friday a team of farm horses belonging to the Rogue River Fruit Lands company made a wild runaway from the top of Kinney hill in the north part of the city, down into the business portion on Sixth street, on across the Southern Pacific railroad tracks and crashed into and wrecked the entire Dlate glass front of the business office of The Courier. Editor C. G. Coutant, who was seated near the bia- win dows, made a Jump for his life and escaped, but was showered with the heavy Jagged glass as he rushed away. T.

F. Hanley. United Press man, and Miss Birdsall, whose desks were by the windows, had Just left the room, thereby escaping. Th scene vnz one of blood and terror and hundreds of persons from downtown streets hurried to the office to behold the wreck and to lend aid to occupants oj the office, as the belief was instant that possibly some one had been killed or maimed As the wild runaways reached the curb Just an instant before they wen. into the glass one horse fell, but the momentum of the other ani nial and the oncoming wagon shot the prostrate bore against the win dow sill, while the head, front feet uud a portion of the body of the other on went Into the office.

Doth animals were cut and bleeding, and the one which landed inside poured out blood in a wide circle on the floor, and the gory fluid spattered desks, chairs, settees, papers, books and moBt everything else within a radius of 8 feet. The escape of the occupants of the office was the happy part of a grewsome wreck. Miss Birdsall who would have been caught In the crash had she been at her desk, had Just stepped Into the composing room; Mr. Hanley, whoso desk Is only 12 Inches from the glass, had gone to lunch, leaving Editor Coutant the only one who was In lmlnent danger. A.

W. Bartlett, In charge of the books, made a dash backward and saved himself from flying chunks of glass. Mr. Voorhles and all other occupants of the building wero eith er In the composing room or absent The sound of tho crash was heard by occupants of buildings four blocks away. The prostrate team was seized by willing hands, extricated from the harness and taken next door Into Bnrkhalter's livery barn, where they were attended by Veterinarian J.

H. Woolrldge, who later reported that despite the loss of blood, the ani mals were not in a serious condition. The team started on Its mad flight from the top of Kinney hill, at a residence on west A street. The driver of the team Is Harry Orr, and to The Courier he stated that he had several boxes of apples from the ranch which he was delivering. He stopped In front of R.

W. Clarke's residence on West A street, set the brake and tied the reins to the brake handle. Then he went Inside with a box of apples. A delivery wagon then came up behind the standing team and frightened the two horses, says Orr. They plunged ahead Immediately and in a mad dash tore through the business district of the city and Into The Courier office.

The damaee to The Courier building and office Is $200. The plate glass was Insured In the Lloyd Plate Glass Insurance, of which W. L. Ire- land Is the Grants Pass agent. Mr.

Ret tinny Presbyterian. At Bethany Presbyterian church the Sunday school will give the reen- lar Christmas program Sunday even ing. Christmas the exercises and dialogues by the young beople. Mon- aay evening at 7 o'clock the church will have the regular Christmas tree In the church with a general good time for everybody attending. The Sunday school is also work ing to make a merry Christmas for many In the city, who otherwi would have no Christmas.

Other churches of the city also assist In this work and the good old Yuletlde season will find many happy homes in Grants Pass this year, as the young people and their elders are working hard for the success of their plans. ComparlNot, of Cut of Conducting Uty Government mid oty School. St. Ann's Catholic Church. Complete arrangements have not been made for the exercises at St.

Ann's Catholic church, on account of the absence during the week, of Rev. Father Francis. Newman M. E. Church.

The Newman Methodist Eplsconal church will hold its Christmas exercises at the church Saturday evening, December 23. There will be a Christmas tree loaded with presents for the children, an Interesting program, consisting of class recitations and single recitations, special Christmas music, both vocal and instrumental, and also music by the church orchestra. One of the special attractions will be a beautiful tableaux in which Mrs. Sam Baker will read the Christ mas poem and Mrs. nert Barnes sing the Christmas solo, the parts being acted by various members of the Sunday school.

The Star, Tho Shep herd, The Angel with the message, the three wise men, the Madonna with tho Christ child all appear In rotation, their approach being her alded In verse and song by the two ladles mentioned. The public Is cordially lnvltod to enjoy this Christmas event which is sure to be a rare treat. With a tax levy of 10 mills on a valuation of $2,776,175 In th. mi. of Grants Pass for 1911, compared a levy or 12 mills oo a valuation of $2,370,649 for 1910.

the total revenue for this next year will be something more than last vr a. spite the fact that this year's valua tion Is tw0 mills less; the valuation Is $405,620 more than last v.r Last year's revenue on a 12-mlll levy was $28,446.88: this venrlf win be $27,761.75. which Is less than 1910 by $695. Last year extra sources of revenue added $4,000 to the levy Income of $28,446.58, which made a grand to tal of $32,446.58. There were some extra demands on the revenue, In that the city natd for the addition to the city park.

which had been contracted for In 1909, and for expenditures for equipment of the city auditor's of. nee for modern work and the final payment on the rock crusher dun chased In 1909, making at least $1, BOO anticipated last year that will not come up this year, which In real ity will make this year's revenue greater than that of last year. It Is fact of Interest to note that the cost of conducting the city's af fairs Is considerably less than 1b required for the four schools. The schools In Grants Pass next year will get a revenue a little In excess of the city Is expected to get less than $35,000. RICH ORE STRUCK IN THE COLD DRIFT niNE Frank and Charley McCorkle sent word Into Grants Pass Tuesday after noon from the Gold Drift mine, located 10 miles north of Grants Pass, that they had struck 18 Inches of free milling ore which would return unusual values, some of it.

they re port, being worth a dollar a pound. inis uilue was recently bonded for $10,000 by A. J. McCorkle. Sherman and the McCorkle sons.

word of the find waa brousht In by William Fage, a Colorado miner who has been In the emnlov of M. Corklo for five years, rage states that the find was made Mondav morning, hence they have already taken out quite a lot of the picture rock. A. 0. U.

W. LODGE'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY Firt Christ Ian Church. At the First Christian church there will be a Christmas sermon with special Christmas music at the regular evening service. No special program will bo carried out at this church this year on account of the beginning of evangelistic services to begin December 31. There will be a treat for the children, however, which will take plnce before tho church service Sunday morning, Do rember 24.

SOCIALIST SPEAKERS TO BE HEARD HERE M. K. Church South. The program for the Christmas exercises at the Methodist Episcopal Church South has not yet been completed. Mrs.

O. C. MeCalllster of Kerby spent Wednesday In Grants Pass shopping. Ireland was quickly at the scene of the crash and at once notified his company to arrange to replace the glass. C.

II. Elsmann, one of the principals In tho orchard company owning the team, also visited the office and frankly stated that he would make good his assessment of the damages. It took a man an hour to clean up the wreck and carry out In boxes the broken glas, as there was more than 200 square feet of It, a quar-soon hung over the opening and the office doing IjiiclnenH as unual. George P. Jester states that tho National Socialist Lyceum burenu has Included Grants Pass lu tho Itinerary for five lectures during January, February and March.

Tho first lecture will come on tho evening of January 28, to bo followed February 11, February IS, February 25 and March 3. The speakers and the subjects are to be: "How we are Gouged," speaker Eugene Wood. "Why Thlnus Happen to Happen," by N. A. Richardson.

"The War of tho Classes," by George Brewer. "Tho Trust Busters," by Anna Agnes Maley. "Socialists at Work," by George II Goebel. A paragraph In advance notices of tho lecture course explains Its exist ence as follows: "It Iuih been the Invariable history of great new developments In human thought, whether religious, philosophical, scientific or political, that they are preceded by clouds of rumor; that they are much talked of before they are much known about, and thus tho popular mind Is always filled with misconceptions of them until these are dispelled by, more Intimate contact. "Socialism Bhares the same fate.

People hear about If, and read about It, and even wrlto and talk about It with great vigor and many wordB, end still are far from understanding It. For this' reason the national socialist pnrty, working through the various state and local branches In America, has organized a lyceuru course of five lectures by the best speakers In the party service. Each lecturer has taken a definite task, and bis work Is so related to the others, that the whole series of five lectures constltutec a liberal education In socialism." The A. O. U.

W. lodge of this city on the evening of December 20, asocial celebration la the Dixon hall on street to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of its or ganization In Grants Pass. There were seventeon charter members, only one, B. A. Standard, now remains alive and In good tandlng.

Some have died and some have forfeited membership by failure In payment of dues and assessments to the beneficiary fund, the latter being usee to pay Insurance of members vhj were In good standing at death. Since the organization here, the order has gone through financial storms, In not being able to pay out of the Incoming revenue the Insur ance money due families of deceased members; honce In that time of trouble It became an absolute neces sity to re-organlze under a new plan with heavier assessments. And at the period when assessments were raised many good and former faithful membere dropped out solelr from a financial standpoint. Those retiring left all the money that they had paid In. And with the membership cut down In numbers a lowering in the death rate come In proportion.

And undor the new plan In which the order Is now working: the flnanres were strengthened. And as mnn Is so constituted that he al ways hns an open eye and listening far for that which Is solid and en- during, new and young blood knock-. ed at the door for admittance, with the result that at the present time the order Is declared by the officers of the grand lodge to be the strong est, financially, without exception, of any on the Paclflo coast. The order has never failed to pay Insurance money within thirty days after death. Each member In this order Is a stockholder, and life Insurance therein comes at actual cost.

The aggregate amount of money that has been paid to the families of deceased members of this lodge since Its organization here exceeds $57,000. We are on a level grade and the way seems to be clear for a long distance In the future. J. M. CHILES, R.

S. MORGAN, JAMES IIOLMAN, Committee on Communication. I NIVER8ITY OF C.W.U OR. XI UW.K CLl II COMING. Manager Fuson of the Grants Pass opera house Informed The Courier today that he had Just signed a con tract which Insures tho appearance at his playhouse here on Thursday night, December 28, of the University of California Glee club, consisting of 40 members which have been selected from a body of 4,000 stu dents, the Berkeley Institution ranking close to Harvard, Columbia and Ann Arbor In enrolled and active members.

As Grants Pass recently gave the Oregon University Glee club tho splendid welcome which Its cleaa and clever program deserved, Mr. F'iion Is optimistic for a new "standing room only" sign for the last Thursday of year 1911..