TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

Told by the Pinneers
Science, searching for the cause of the curious circumstance of apparentl)'
healthy cattle carrying deadly germs, found a way to control
other diseases which, uncontrolled, would have prevented such a great
undertaking as the building of the Panama Canal that is Romance."
Sh01-t Stories Told by Dr. Hutchinson
Oak Cannon
Everybody had gun powder when I was a boy. ,Ve made our own
bullets and used muzzle loading guns. I was just a small boy and my
brother was two years younger. Every Fourth of July grandfather
made an oak cannon for us bound with iron hoops. This was on my
grandfather's place in New Hampshire. ,Ve would stuff it full, putting
wads of paper and whatever we could find in it, brace it with
rocks, and touch a rod to the powder tube, not knowing just where it
would shoot. It's a wonder we weren't killed.
Trap Line
I went with an Indian one winter to set a trap line. INe killed meat
for our food as we went along, cached it in tree tops, expecting to have
food upon our return. ,Vhen we came back we found that someone
had taken our meat. This fellow I went with became half crazed because
of hunger and he attacked me with his knife. I had a feeling
that something was wrong and turned just in time to see him coming
with his knife. He cut a deep g'ash in my hand. I was able to subdue
him in a little ,,-hile and brought him into to,vn. This took place in
the Dakotas.
Bu,rearu of Aninwl Indust'ry in Ala,ska
While I was in charge of animal inspection work in Alaska, under
the Bureau of Animal Industry, my total appropriation was only
$5,000.00. I found a serious communicable disease among the pack
horses and that $5,000.00 would not be enough money to take care of
all the expense incident to the control work involved, which required
$25,000. The money had been furnished by the federal government,
and while I had no authority to spend more than the $5,000.00, it had
to be done. I felt like a hero when I had cleared up a bad situation,
but when I was ready to return to the States I became frightened. After
I arrived home, I learned my superiors were going to file charges
against me and prosecute. }iy friends in Washington got busy, and
through a special act of congress the deficit was made up and I was
commended for m~' quick thinking.
Teddy Roosevelt
'While I was working in the Dakotas, Teddy Roosevelt was there.
He had come ,Vest to regain his health. He was skinny, wore glasses,
and looked like a sissy. I made some disparaging remarks about him
being a cowboy, but he talked right back and we became good friends.
I have always been proud of this friendship.
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