Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 3, 1914 Page: 2 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 23 x 15 in. Scanned from physical pages.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
TWO SOLDIERS DROWN
NEAR DONNA
Dual Drowning Occurs While De-
tachment Is Crossing Flood
Waters
Donna Dispatch.
One of the saddest accidents
that has ever happened in the
community befel Edward Repke
and Fred Weisthoff, soldiers of
Troop D, Third Cavalry, Wednes-
day at 3 p. m., when they were
drowned in an attenrot to cross
the Ruthven resaca, this side of
the river pumping plant.
The resaca, which is a natural
drainage for overflow waters
from the Rio Grande, had be-
come a turbulent stream on ac-
count of the recent high water
in the river, due to excessive
rains, and when the detachment
of soldiers, under command of
Second Lieutenant H. J. M.
Smith, who were returning
to Donna from the pumping
plant, where they had been sta-
tioned, reached the resaca they
found that they would have to
wade across the stream, which
was about 35 yards wide.
Accordingly lariats were
spliced together, stretched
across the stream and made fast
to each side, and the order was
given to the men to make their
way across the stream with rifles
slung over their shoulders and
wearing ammunition belts.
As the current was very
swift they were especially in-
structed to hold onto the lariet
with both hands, and as a pre-
cautionary measure, two ex-
pert swimmers were stationed
without their clothing on each
side of the stream. Several of
the men got across with little
trouble, but when Fred Weist-
hoff, the first victim of the
swirling waters reached the
center of the stream, he appa-
rently lost his head and released
his/hold on the lariet. Being
weighted down with his rifle
and ammunition belt, he was
instantly carried beneath the
water. His fellow trooper, Ed-
ward Repke, who had preceded
ed him safely to the other side,
immediately threw aside his
rifle and plunged into the swirl-
ing waters to save his friend,
but though he was an expert
swimmer, the heavy ammuni-
tion belt and clothing he wore
made it impossible for him to
combat the swift current, and
t
he also was rapidly carried
from sight.
The four swimmers who had
been stripped for any such
emergency, had plunged into
the water as soon as Weist-
hoff lost his hold of the rope,
and succeeded in catching hold
of both him and Repke, but
the current was so swift that
they were torn from their grasp
and they were compelled to
use every ounce of ener-
gy they possessed to get back
to the shore themselves.
An hour was spent by the
men in trying to locate the
bodies of the two unfortunate
soldiers, but they had to give
it up, and proceeded to Don-
na, where they told the sad
news.
Mexicans were hired to see
if they could find the bodies,
and about noon Thursday they
succeeded i n locating them
about 50 yards from where
they went under the water.
The bodies were brought to
Donna, but were so badly de-
composed that it was impossi-
ble to send them home to their
parents, and the funeral servi-
ces were held Thursday even-
ing at the Donna Cemetery.
The ladies of Donna had se-
cured all the flowers that could
be obtained, and the caskets
were hidden under a covering
of roses and many other tropic-
al flowers. Almost the entire
population of Donna gathered
to hear the last sad rites and
to show the regret and sorrow
th^Pt they felt over the fate
that had been met by these
two young men in the prime
of life, who had been so ruth-
lessly snatched from their com-
panions with whom they had
been doing their duty for their
country’s sake.
The funeral services were
very impressive. The Catho-
lic service was given by Father
Henry Janvier of Mercedes, and
the Episcopal services were
read by Rev. T. B. Harrel, also
of Mercedes.
The riderless horses of the
dead troopers were draped in
black, and the citizens and
soldiers of the troop watched
the flag-draped caskets as
they were lowered into the
graves as “taps” was sounded.
Three volleys from their rifles
was then fired, ending one of
the saddest incidents in the
history of our city.
Fred Weisthoff was 22 years
of age and enlisted Jan. 20,
1914. His mother lives at No.
2098 Fulton Road, Cleveland, 0.
Edward Repke was 21 years
old and enlisted Jan. 24, 1914.
His parents reside in Detroit,
The hearts of all of our citi-
zens are full of sympathy for
the relatives of the boys who
sacrificed their lives in the per-
formance of duty. It is regret-
ted that the bodies could not
have been sent home for buri-
al, but this was impossible, and
they now lay at rest near the
border of the great nation
whose flag they had sworn to
protect.
---o-
FEDERATED CLUBS
MET AT MISSION
ved Monday evening, at the
Mission Hotel, and treated
them to a picture show and re-
freshments Monday night.
The lunch which was served
by the Mision ladies at noon
Tuesday was a repast good
enough for a king. The Mis-
sion ladies are very hospitable
and cordial and their so gra-
cious manners made this sec-
ond meeting of the Rio Grande
Federation of Civic Clubs one
tremendous success.
The second meeting of the
Rio Grande Federation of Civ-
ic Clubs was held at Mission
Tuesday, May 26, with an at-
tendance of about 100 ladies
from the various civic clubs of
tne Valley.
The morning session was
opened promptly at 9:30 with
a greeting by the president,
Mrs. A. R. Thomas.
Invocation, Mrs. O. K. Palm-
er.
Address of welcome by May-
or W. Ferguson of Mission, who
proudly presented the ladies
with a key to the city of Mis-
sion.
Address of Welcome* Mrs. M.
F. Armstrong of Mission.
Response, Mrs. Clearwater of
Brownsville.
Business meeting, new eom-
mitteee on resolutions appoint-
ed—Mrs. Dickens of Browns-
ville, Mrs Toner of Kingsville.
Following reported: Secre-
tary and treasurer, correspond-
ing secretary, vice president,
presiding; transportation com-
mittee, membership committee,
reference committee, publicity
committee, program commit-
tee.
Delegates from the follow-
ing towns gave reports: Donna,
Brownsville, ’Edinburg, Harlin-
gen, Kingsville, McAllen, Mis-
sion, San Juan and Raymond-
ville.
The reports were all good and
each club has accomplished a
great deal already.
TAKING CARE OF BOB
By ELLA CYGAN.
Afternoon Session,
Vocal solos, Mrs. Jean Ham-
mond.
Plans for the future were
made at this meeting, and it
was decided to hold a big fab
festival. The committee for
this work is: Mrs. Wilbur L.
Freeman of San Benito, Mrs.
J. W. Hoit of Brownsville, Mrs.
Horn of McAllen, Mrs. Hunt of
San Juan, Mrs. O. K. Palmer of
Mission.
Federation colors, white and
green; flower, white rose; mot-
to, Progress.
Great enthusiasm was dis-
played atthis meeting and it
was a most cordial affair, and
good spirit prevailed.
The Mission ladies enter-
tained the delegates, who arri-
“Amy said,” began the girl who
likes to talk, “that Bob was gentle as
a kitten and so affectionate that in
contrast a pair of love birds were pet-
rified images of heartlessness. She
said many other things, too, over the
telephone about the bull terrier that
in &. misguided moment they pur-
chased some time ago, but that was
because she was trying to make me
think I was crazy to have him whife
she and her husband went to Panama.
“I was to pass a few days with her
and get acquainted with the paragon
of dogs. Amy said that she always
felt perfectly safe with Bob in the
apartment, becuase he would chew up
any burglar who appeared. On the
way over I grew rather worried, won-
dering whether Bob was clever enough
to distinguish between a caller who
was a burglar and a caller who wasn’t.
Then I recalled Bob’s gentleness and
took heart.
“When the front door was opened
I thought the end had come. Some-
thing huge and white fell across the
hall table, and, stepping all over me,
attempted to climb on my shoulder
and perche there. I screamed faintly
and wondered if the Pasteur treatment
hurt much. Then I was conscious of
Amy’s voice.
‘“He’s so affectionate!” said Amy
in a proud voice. “I never knew him
to take such an instant liking to any
one before! He realizes that you love
dogs, I am sure!”
“ ‘I’m crazy about them!* I assured
her, as I intrenched myself behind two
chairs and a davenport. ‘However, I
don’t care for these aerial effects my-
self! Can’t he keep his feet on the
ground?’
“Amy looked hurt, and said gjre
should have thought that I would ap-
preciate a dumb animal’s fondness
for me. She was interrupted by Bob’s
giving an exhibition of Ms dumbness
when he saw the postman out of the
window. Dashing at the glass at a
speed of 60 miles an hour, he let out
a roar that shook the apartment. Then
he turned and wagged his tail and
twinkled his eyes. I think these dogs
greatly enjoy life. It, must be fine to
feel that you can make the whole uni-
verse bow to the ground and climb
trees if you wriggle your chin or flop
an ear.
“I unpacked my suitease neatly and
then when I went to dress for diiner
L" found that Bob had eaten the heels
off my evening slippers.
“ ‘It’s the funniest thing!’ Amy said,
enthusiastically, when 1 wailed out
the trouble. ‘That dog always has
had the most insane fondness for shoe
heels! We couldn’t have a decent
shoe in the house when we first got
him. He is so intelligent!’
“When Bob was taken out of doors
it was with as many precautions as
though he wera a man eating tiger.
For my part I would as soon sally
forth with the jungle beast as with
that animal. He had a harness on
of battleship leather—well, they have
battleship linoleum, anyhow—and
snapped to that was a leash with a
loop to go over your wrist and then
you had' a whip.
“I felt as though the band was go-
ing to play as I entered the sawdust
ring when I took Bob outdoors that
day. He shot up the street instantly,
and as it was slippery I hung on and
slid, shrieking at him to stop. Pre-
tending it was a game, that diabolical
animal merely tore on, whisking me
around a corner into a perambulator,
but maybe I crawled under—anyhow,
I was half a bloc^k ahead before the
nurse had picked herself up from the
ground, and Bob was so impetuous
that I couldn’t return to inquire.
“It might have been all right if he
hadn’t seen a cat. Amy said after-
ward reproachfully that I shouldn’t
have allowed him to see a cat. How-
ever, she did not say whether I
should have run in front of Bob and
held my hands over his eyes or chlo-
roformed him till the cat had strolled
by. If I had fancied up to now that
Bob had been hastening, I was mis-
taken. He had been dawdling, but
when he saw that cat he turned on
full speed.
“All I remember is hurtling through
the air, hanging to the leash for dear
life, for Amy had cautioned me that
I had the safety of the public in my
hands, and so I dared not let go. Bob
spread himself low over the ground
and just ate up the distance. We
chased that cat down the stree^, then
through an alley and then whizzed up
the steps of a big house just as the
front door opened and a perfectly love-
ly man emerged attired for an after-
noon wedding or a tea-fight.
“I let Bob go then, because I fell
over the top step.
“The tea-fight man, after rising from
where he had been tossed by Bob,
picked me up. There were awful
WE
WILL
Pack, Pre-Cool, and Ship
Attention Farmers !
If you don’t want to co-operate
and ship with us, take a tumble
and stop consigning your stuff:
Ship C.O.D. like we do and you
will have money to pay your bills
and stay in the Valley.
YOUR VEGETABLES
in connection with our own, in car lots,
under standard refrigeration, on commis-
sion. We wilL save you in transportation
charges twice the amount we charge for
pre-cooling, and: your stuff will arrive on
the market as cool and crisp as it leaves the field
."""......-•......= READ THIS LETTER —IT TELLS THE STORY
Patterson-Pope Marketing Company
FRUITS AND PRODUCE
Sbfc.. fiaiuits* Mo., March 18, 19i4
Mr. A. L. Brooks,
Harlingen, Texas.
Dear Mr. Brooks:-
My telegram of yesterday gave- yon: full information con-
cerning mixed car of vegetables, which arrived and was sold
here yesterday. I would like to shake hands with the farmer
who packed this hunch of stuff, for it. certainly was the
finest I have ever seen upon the market:.. The carrots were so
nearly the same size that he must, have- used a measure in
bunching them; in fact, all the bunches; off the different vege-
tables were what I would call "perfect", and the ice which he
put in the hampers was just enough, to: hold them in the very
best condition, and they actually came in as crisp as if jus
cut out of the field.
The quality and pack caused quite a? lot of favorable
comment from all those who saw same, and you will note from
the prices paid that they did not. carer what they paid when
they got quality.
The lettuce in this car was headed:,, but not near so well
as__________' s lettuce, which he^ sold in the morning at $1.60,
but it was so clean looking and the headn so cool and crisp
that it seemed that everyone wanted it an soon as they saw it.
NOTE-Car referred to was shipped by us March 11. 99 hampers- Lettuce, sold at $2 per hamper.
If you want service and money for your stuff, co-operate with us.
Wetegrove & Polhemus
Growers, Pre-Coolers, and Shippers of Vegetables
MERCEDES, TEXAS
K
sounds of riot from inside the house
where Bob had treed the cat on a
mantel. It really was an unusual sit-
uation.
“‘He is such an intelligent dog,’ I
stuttered. ‘And so affectionate!’
“The tea-fight man actually grinned.
‘I owned a terrier once myself!’ he
confided, understandingly.
“Just then Bob dashed out and
climbed into my lap with his muddy
paws, just as though he was not
something slightly less than a young j Repairing and Finishing. Leave
orders with this office-,, or
PIANOS
AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
New and second-hand. Lowest
prices, easy terms
EXPERT TUN Mi
hippopotamus. Laying his huge head
on my shoulder, he sighed contented-
ly as though he had had a very pleas-
ant afternoon, indeed.
“Oh, yes, Fm going to take him
while Amy is away. I think a little
excitement will do me good!”
PREMIER
“Non-Puncture” Auto Tires, Guaran-
teed 7500 Miles Service, v
drop a card to
J. B. VIANG, Brownsville,. Tens
RIO GRANDE VALLEY
SUMMER NORMAL
Brownsville, Texas, June 22-July 31
A faculty of five school superintend--
eats and principals, each of whom
has had several years’ experience in.
the Public Schools of Texas.
A Primary Teacher from the
veston City Schools.
Por information address
L. T. BUNN
Gai-
Free, London “Tango” Necklace
“Evelp Thaw” Bracelet
BOOT AND
SHOEMAKER
First Class Repairing,, Best Material
and Good Workmanship, Mail Or-
ders Promptly Attended to ,
John Steingass
MERCEDES, TEXAS
These two- beautiful pieces of popu-
lar jewelry are-the craze among so-
ciety women in New York and the'
largest cities. They are next and ele-
gant gold; finished articles that will
gladden, the heart of every girl or wo-
man, matter how young or old.
Very stylish and attractive.
Our-Free Offer. We axe advertising
Spearmint chewing gum and desire to
| place a big box of this; fine healthful
| gum into every home.. It sweetens the
Mercedes,, TSXSS j breath—whitens the teeth and aids &i-
i , gestion. It is refreshing and pleasing
to all. To every one sending us but
50 cents and five stamps to cover ship-
ping costs we will ship a big box of
20 regular 5c packages of the Spear-
mint Gum and include the elegant
‘ ‘Tango’ ’ necklace and ‘‘EvelynThaw’ ’
bracelet absolutely free.
This offer is.fiar a short time oniy.
Not more than two orders to one par-
ty. Dealers not allowed to accept
this. United Sales Co.,
Dayton, Ohio. P. O. Box 101. ;
J. E. Meredith
Graduate Taxidermist
All kinds of birds and animals mount-
ed true to life. Hides tanned, etc.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Mercedes, Texas
Patronize our advertisers.
These tires bear the greatest known
mileage guarantee, yet are sold at a
price even less than tires of ordinary
guarantee. This guarantee covers
punctures, blow-outs and general
wear. Guarantee covers 7500 miles
service against everything except
abuse. These tires are intended for
most severe service.
Orders have been received for these
tires for us in United States Govern-
ment service. As a special introduc-
tory offer, we will allow the following ■
TIRES—TUBES
28x3
$9.20
$2.00
30x3
10.25
2.30
30x3 1-2
13.50'
2.80
32x3 1-2
14.05.
3.00
34x3 1-2
15.25
3.20
31x4
17.00
3.25
32x4
1S-..00
3.30
33x4
19.54)
3.40
34x4
20,.40
3.60
35x4
21 ..00
3.80
36x4
22.00
3.90
35x4 1-2
26.00
5.00
36x41-2
27.00
5.10
37x41-2:
27.50
5.15
37x5
32.60
5.40;
All other sizes Non-Skids 20' per-
cent extra., 5, per cent discount if
payment I'cr, full accompanies-: order
and if two- are so ordered, shipping
charges will be paid by us. G. O. D.
on 15 peir cent of amount of order. Our
output is. limited, so we suggest early
ordering. We sell direct only, giving
purchaser the advantage ofi all mid-
dlemen’s. profits.
Stgngtread Rubber Co.
12-13t Dayton, Ohio,,
Patronize our advertisers.
We Have the Only
Complete Tract Index of Hidalgo County Lands
In existence—not of some of the lands
but all lands in Hidalgo County
Hidalgo Guaranty Abstract Cjaj
W. R. MONTGOMERY, Mgr. 1
MONTGOMERY, Mgr.
EDINBURG, TEXAS
Patronize our advertisers, They will treat you fair
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Brooks, Ben L. Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 3, 1914, newspaper, June 3, 1914; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth634935/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.