Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1882 — SHOCKING CALAMITY. [ARTICLE]

SHOCKING CALAMITY.

A terrible calamity occurred at Indianapolis the other day. Through the center of the city is a small creek called Pogue’s run, which in dry seasons is little more than a mud puddle ; but,' in the event of a sudden and heavy rain, the extent of country which it drains makes it very dangerous. A tremendous rain-storm, during which two inches of water fed, swelled this stream to an unprecedented height, and flooded the northern part of the city, inflicting a pecuniary damage amounting to several hundred thousands of dollars. The most terrible thing in connection with the flood, however, was the dreadful loss of life. There was a frail, half-rotten bridge spanning Pogue’s run, near the Union depot. The water reached almost to the floor of it, and was running very fast. On this were at different times from fen to twenty-five spectators watching the flood. They were several times warned that this was not safe, but paid little attention to this. Finally, when the flood was at its highest, the bridge gave way, precipitating twenty or more persons into the water. Many of these were young girls who worked at an adjoining factory, and nine of these were saved by bystanders. The remainder went through the tunnel, which is a square in length, and strangely enough three of these were rescued alive. Tho dead bodies of eight persons were taken out within a few hours, and it is believed that the list of drowned will reach a dozen.

Science and History. M. Ihnan has, in. an interesting passage of his own autobiography, given it as his belief that a century hence mankind will study very little else than physical science. The time, he thinks, will come when the historical sciences will be thrust into the back-ground; nil that they have to teach will be known, and men will feel comparatively little interest in their own past. On the other hand, the more they know of nature the more there will be to be known. Chemistry anil physiology offer inexhaustible fields for research ; and the truths which they reveal will prove more and more interesting to mankind. It is very difficult to say what men will think or do a hundred years hence; but it seems likely enough that this will be the tendency of study. Certainly, even now, the men of science are becoming more and more important factors in the life of all of ns. They are little by little winning the fight against disease ; they are giving us facts, and enabling us to found our beliefs on the sure ground of knowledge. Their influence must surely become greater and greater as time goes on; for humanity always reserves its highest honors for those who teach it to know.— London Times. * South Australia has a population of 279,866. Its debt had grown from 81L--000,000 in 1878 to nearly $50,000,000 in 1881,