Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1884 — WESTERN. [ARTICLE]

WESTERN.

A terrible disaster occurred south of Chicago in Lake Michigan, just opposite the Hyde Park Water Works, by which ten men lost their lives. Fifteen men were employed by the contractors in constructing an inlet tunnel to the water works. They lodged in a shanty constructed on piles at the crib about a mile from shore. A furious gale came up during the night, which washed the shanty off, and with it three of the men. One of the three drifted to shore on a plank and was saved. Of those who piling to the piles, eight were subsequently swept off by the waves and drowned. The four who managed to cling to their places were rescued by the life-boat, which braved a very dangerous sea in order to save them. Small-pox has broken out at Brookngs, Dakota, and Is spreading rapidly. It is thought that it was introduced into the place by immigrants. The wholesale and retail dry goods firm of Day Bros. & Co., of Peoria, 111., has made an assignment. The liabilities are placed at $122,000 and the assets at $86,000. There are 187 creditors, the principal ones being New York and Philadelphia dry goods firms. Mrs. Walls, a little woman, found a thief in her room in the St. James Hctel at St. Louis, and sending word by a friend for help, slipped into the apartment, locked the door, and threw the key through the transom. Then she took from the sneak the money and valuables he had appropriated, and when people from the office opened the door handed him into their charge. The Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society pf the M. E. Church for the Northwest, in session at Jacksonville, 111., elected Mrs. J. I. Hitt, of Evanston, and Mrs. T. A. Hill, of Chicago, President and Becording Secretary, respectively, and will meet next year in Kalamazoo. The Third Presbyterian Church of Chicago, located on the corner of Ashland and Ogden avenues, was gutted by a fire which evidently arose from the carelessness of some tinners at work on the roof. The loss is nearly SIOO,OOO, and the insurance is $91,50.0. Rev. Dr. Kittredge had intended to accept a call to Philadelphia, but it is understood that he will remain until the Third Church is again ready for use. Charles W. Butler was hanged at Columbia City, Ind., for the murder of his wife. He was the son of an honored and wealthy physician of Columbus, Ohio. On the scaffold the condemned man predicted that all connected with his execution would experience regret. Near Troy, Ind., the nude and headless ,bpdy of Mrs. Stilwell Hendershot was found in a cistern, and, suspicion resting on the family, the husband and his two sons, F. H. and William Hendershot, were arrested. At the investigation, F. H. Hendershot acknowledged killing his mother, but the old man also criminated himself, and both were held, while William was released. A mob lynched the eldest son, and started to string up the father and other boy. The woman held a deed to the farm, and was killed because she would not relinquish it. At Livingston, Wis., the safe of John sAllen was broken into and robbed of money and securities amounting to $23,000. Since Jan. 1 the Union Pacific has sold 4,238,478 acres of land, obtaining therefor $7,510,158, against 742,514 acres and $2,744,272 for the corresponding period of 1883.