A WATERMELON WHOPPER
There is a huge watermelon in the display window of the Cherry City grocery that would delight the taste of a watermelon fiend for it weighs 48 pounds. It was grown by James January of Mill Creek. It is, therefore a January melon. Not many climes grow melons by January.

HOUSE DESTROYED
James Like Badly Burned in Rescuing Wife
House and Contents An Entire Loss. Explosion of Lamp Causes Fire

The residence of James Like, a local expressman living at 500 west Thirteenth street, burned last night at 12 o’clock, caused by the upsetting of a lighted lamp.

Mrs. Like is an invalid and has been for several years. Last night, in reaching for some medicine, she upset the lamp and an explosion occurred. Mr. Like was burned badly about the face and hands while getting his invalid wife to a place of safety and everything in the house was destroyed, aside from a rocking chair that was carried out. 

The newly organized fire company of South Dalles came to the fire in response to the call, but the fire had gained such headway that it was
impossible to save the house or its contents.

Mr. Like carried $500 insurance on the house and contents. The loss will be quite heavy for him and R. S. Huntington with others circulated a
petition today asking for donations, which, it is understood, was responded to literally.

Mr. Like has been unfortunate because of much illness in his family so that any assistance will be received gratefully.

VERY FEW TRUANTS
Truant Officer Gilliam Says He Finds Few Children Not In School.

“No more marble playing, Johnnie
 And no excuse for idle days will do
The truant man will be kicking
And he might give you a licking
For he’s got his eyes on you.”

At the beginning of the school term in this city, S. R. Gilliam was appointed truant officer by Superintendent A. C. Strange. Mr. Gilliam was supplied with quite a large list of names of pupils who were attending the public schools here last year who, it was thought, were non-attendants at the beginning of this term.

When Mr. Gilliam began investigating the matter it was found that several pupils whose names were on the list were attending school here,
either in the public schools or the parochial.

Others, whose names were on the list have either gone away to school or removed permanently from the city so as the matter stands, it is found
by Mr. Gilliam there are very few truants in this city. He means, however, to keep his eyes open for any there may be and to see that all of school age are attending.

The Dalles Daily Chronicle
September 29, 1908

REV. WIRE COMING
Appointed To Fill Methodist Pulpit Here
Was One of the Leadin(g) Young Men of the Oregon Conference

The Rev. M. T. Wire has been transferred by Bishop Hughes from the Oregon Conference to the Columbia River Conference and appointed pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in The Dalles.

Mr. Wire is about 33 years old. He was one of the leading young men of the Oregon Conference. For a number of years served in one of the
Portland churches and attracted much favorable attention in the Portland Methodist preacher’s meetings.

At the time of his transfer to The Dalles, he held the responsible position of secretary of the Oregon Conference and the district superintendent of the Portland district seriously objected to the transfer of Mr. Wire on the ground that he was so thoroughly and closely
identified with all the important interests and work of the conference, and that his services in that conference, were of such value that the
thought of his removal could hardly be entertained.

Mr. Wire graduated from Garrett Biblical institute, one of the greatest theological schools in Methodism with the Rev. Dr. Fletcher Haman, now President of Willamette University. Bishop Hughes has given careful thought and consideration to The Dalles Methodist church and has favored it in the appointment which he has just made. The Methodist here have
reason to be encouraged, and after the deep sadness which has come to them, to take up their work again with heart and purpose being assured
of the personal character and qualities, of the abilities and leadership of their new pastor.

Mr. Wire is a single man, but Phillips Brooks, the greatest preacher of his century, was never married. A. S. Hunt, of New York, one of the
bright luminaries of Methodism, was a bachelor. Bishop Asbury, practically the founder and great leader of early American Methodism, lived all his life in single blessedness – but Rev. Wire is only a little past thirty.

FORM A GOOD ROADS CLUB
Property Owners of Chenowith Creek District Organize [Sherman County]
Met Here Saturday
Committees Appointed and Plans Made for Important Work To Be Done

The Chenowith Good Roads club had its second meeting at the parlors of the Commercial club Saturday afternoon when a large number of residents and property owners of the Chenowith district, who are greatly interested in improving their roads was present.

The complete organization of the Chenowith Good Roads club was effected.

J. W. McCaughey was elected president; A. J. Anderson, vice-president; J. C. Hostetler, secretary and treasurer.

By-laws were adopted and a committee of three men was appointed to represent the club in road improvement. Henry Readel was chosen as a
member of the committee on the proposed river road. J. W. McCaughey was appointed as a committeeman of the Chenowith road to the bridge crossing that stream near the Chenowith Cove farm and Jesse Simonson will look after the needs of the road leading up Seven Mile hill.

D. W. Chamberlain, J. P. Agidius and J. C. Hostetler were appointed as a committee on membership and subscriptions. Judge A. E. Lake addressed the club on road matters.

At a previous meeting, a five mill tax was levied so that it is easily seen the members of the Chenowith road club mean business. Their roads
certainly need a great deal of improvement. The club extended a vote of thanks to Judge Lake for his assistance and pledged its support to him
on the matter of improving the thoroughfares in its district.

A vote of thanks was also extended to the Commercial club for the use of its rooms Saturday afternoon.

Sherman county is tackling the Good Roads proposition and the following extracts from a letter written by Colonel C. A. Buckley to the Moro Observer contains some ideas which are well worth considering:

“As one, who is deeply interested in the welfare of Sherman county, and its residents, I desire to make a suggestion that I believe will be to the interest of all. The thought is, Better Roads, and How to Accomplish Them?” Let our County Court re-district the entire county, from one end to the other; into districts that would be about one- fourth as large as they are at the present time.”

“By so creating these smaller districts there would be no difficulty in appointing a supervisor, who would work the roads in his district at a
time when the work would be effective. All residents in the smaller district would be more interested, for they would know that the work
would be put on the roads in their immediate vicinity, and they would be more willing to go out and work, and would make greater effort to
interest their hired men to pay their poll tax.”

A small road district should be the means of creating more harmony in the district, and if they would all work faithfully at a favorable time it would be but a few years until we could point with pride to the good roads throughout Sherman county.”

COLLECTS PICTURES
R. B. Hood Arranges Pictures Of Pioneer Members Of Methodist Church

R. B. Hood, a prominent resident of this city, has been arranging and framing pictures of pioneer members of the Methodist church of this city, placing them in the edifice. The photographs of the presiding elders and ministers also appear on the walls.

Among the pictures seen at the Methodist church are those of Mr. And Mrs. J. B. Dickerson, who lived here in 1866 when the church building used at that time was new. The Presiding Elders, whose pictures appear, are Reverends Whistler,
G. M. Booth, Robert Warner, C. Motter and Walton Skipworth.

The pictures of Mrs. Phoebe Haight, well known and remembered in this city, and Mr. And Mrs. Charles Adams, “Grandma” McFarland, William
Michell, and his mother, “Father and Mother” Magee, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Bolton and Mrs. William Sylvester, are among those seen at the church.

The oil painting of the old church hanging on the wall of the present edifice was made by Ernest Jensen, formerly of this city. It is considered a very nice idea of Mr. Hood to place the pictures in the church, bringing to mind vividly, the faces of the various church workers.

WERE MARRIED AT BOYD ON JANUARY THIRD
Harry Underhill and Miss Emily Hudson were married at the residence of Mrs. Ellen Hudson at Boyd, Oregon, January 3. P. P. Underwood of Dufur, officiating. Many relatives and friends witnessed the happy event and then partook of the fine dinner that was served. A great number of beautiful presents was received by the contracting parties, who will make their home in Mahn Hollow.