BARTO, BILLINGS, ROEHM, WILKINSON "The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Thursday, February 21, 1901 FULLER'S EARTH AND PET ALLIGATORS Charles R. BARTO of the firm of Wilkinson & Barto, ticket brokers, at 1028½ Union avenue, is in River Junction, Fla. There is a large deposit of Fuller's earth near River Junction and Mr. BARTO has an idea that he would like to deal in this valuable stuff which is almost indispensable as a clarifier of crude oil. He may decide to buy an interest in the mine at River Junction before he returns to Kansas City. Fuller's earth is worth $25 a ton and as the Standard Oil company alone uses 250 car loads of it a year, it can be seen that there is some profit in its sale, as it costs little to mine it. Mr. BARTO sent his partner, Mr. WILKINSON, and his clerk, Bert ROEHM, two small alligators, which arrived Tuesday morning. The animals were objects of interest along Union avenue and in the hotels and barrooms, many persons watching them with interest because they had never seen one. C. J. BILLINGS, the ticket broker in the New Albany hotel, had never seen a live alligator and he was asleep in a chair when Mr. WILKINSON and Mr. ROEHM reached the hotel with their strange looking pets. One was strung on a long cane and by means of a string was lowered so as to touch the sleeper's hands which were crossed in front of him. Mr. BILLINGS jumped and waved his hands when the clammy flesh of the animal struck his hands. One hand struck the alligator and it was thrown several feet away. When BILLINGS woke up he said he had dreamed that he had "snakes." It took a half hour for him to recover his nerve. ====================================================== (I have no connection with any of these people but I'd appreciate knowing if you found this posting helpful. [email protected]) ======================================================