Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1886 — Page 3

AN AWFUL DEED.

A New Jersey Mother, While in a Religious Frenzy, Slays Four of Her Children. She Says She Did It to Save Them from Pain and Sorrow—A Sickening Recital. [Keyport (N. J.) special.] Mrs. Fannie Smith, the wife of a fanner living about seven miles south of this place, became insane this morning, took a dose of poison, and crushed in the heads of four of her children with an ax. The youngest child died immediately and the others are not expected to live till morning. Mrs. Smith also is very low and will probably die. The family consists of J. Monroe Smith, the father, about 55 years old; the mother, who is 43 years of age; and their six children—l 9, 18, 13,11, 7 and 4 years old respectively. Last night the family retired rather earlier than usual, so Mrs. Smith arose about 5 o’clock this morning and roused her husband at the same hour. Their breakfast had been prepared by a colored woman who had been in the family’s service for years. After eating, Mrs. Smith left her husband in the kitchen and went out to .the hen-house. Mr. Smith followed her, in a few moments, to a hot-house, which was about 100 yards away from the house. In the hen-house Mrs. Smith took out of her podket a package of rat poison which she bought and concealed over three years ago. She swallowed a large dose of the poison, and threw the box away. On her way back to the house she picked up a large ax, which she concealed beneath her dress. Entering the house she went first to the bed-chamber of the four-year-old daughter, Edna, who was quietly sleeping. She took the ax from under her dress and brought it down with terrible effect on the child’s head. She did this three times, until she saw that the little curly head was split open. Then she left, and entered the bedroom of her son Rufus, thirteen years old. She struck him three or four blows on the head with the back of her ax, which laid the side of his head open. Next she turned her attention to her eleven-year-old daughter Bessie, whom she found on her knees praying. The child seemed to know that her turn had come, as she had witnessed the attack on the others. She lifted up her hands imploringly and begged her mother in a faltering voice to spare her, but this had no effect on the frenzied woman, for she let the ax come down on the poor child’s head with as much force as at first, and a moment later her third victim was lying on the floor with her skull fractured. A moment later, she had struck Alida, another of her children. The sound of the child’s voice had reached the ears of Bettie Beldo, the aged colored housekeeper, who ran to the child’s assistance up-stairs. Mrs. Smith had just completed her bloody work, but she was still in a frenzy of excitement. She turned on the old woman and raised her ax with the intent of adding another victim to the list. Bettie turned and ran down stairs, pursued by the woman, who now began to show her insanity by how ling at the top of her voice. Finding that she could not overtake the colored woman Mrs. Smith threw the blood-stained ax after her, but it struck the wall, and the colored woman ran out of the house screaming with terror. The insane woman picked up her fearful weapon again, and retraced her steps up the stairs to the room where her eighteen-year-old daughter was. This girl had seen some of the tragedy, picked up the baby, two years old, and fled to the apartment for safety. She had not time to lock the door when her mother, with the ax raised above her head, was upon her. Then a fearful struggle began. The girl knew that her mother meant death, and all her energies were roused to keep the door fast till assistance would come. She threw her body against the door, while Mrs. Smith struggled to break it in. Finally the brave girl succeeded in turning the key. Then she laid down the baby, and hurried away to tell her father of what had occurred, while the mother was trying to batter down the door with the ax. The girl met her father and Bettie Beldo hastening from the hot-house to the , scene of the tragedy. The husband ran up the stairs. The insane woman turned with rage, and raised her weapon, but at sight of him she cowered and let it fall nervously to the floor. Then she fell down herself, and groveled at his feet. Tears sprang into the man’s eyes, and trickled down his cheeks as he cried: “Fannie, what made you kill my children?” Without any apparent sorrow for her terrible work she answered calmly: “Why, Monroe, I was told by God to do so, and I obeyed His commands.” Then getting upon her knees, and looking up into her sorrowful husband’s face, she said: “I know I did wrong, but it was the only thing to be done to save them from hell.” Mr. Smith could say nothing. He was completely prostrated by the blow he received from his wife’s actions. When spoken to by a reporter he begged to be left alone with his misery. He would repeatedly ask how his children were, and the doctors would give him very little en--couragement. The neighbors vainly tried to arouse him, but he would not pay any attention to them. The oldest daughter, who so nobly fought for her life, ■was found at a neighbor’s house, whither ■she was taken after the affray. When asked when she first had any idea of her mother’s work she said she* heard her little sister scream. She ran in to her, and when she saw the ax in her mother’s hand and one of her sister’s dead she ran for the other room where the baby was, starting to go down-stairs. She was met by her mother, who chased her to the ■ door. By main effort she closed the door, and in this way escaped. Little Edna never breathed after the ax •struck her. The other three children are in a very low condition, and the four doctors who are in attendance fear that they will be dead before morning. At this writing, 10 p. m., they fear that both the mother and children will die dur ng the night. The poison that Mrs. Smith took appears to have just taken effect upon her and she is •■sinking rapidly.

A REMEDY FOR STRIKES.

President Cleveland Recommends the Creation of a Commission to Settle Labor Disputes. The Workingman Shonfd Be Properly Represented at Washington—Message to Congress. The President £ent the following message on the subject of the labor troubles to Congress on the 22d of April: To the Senate and House of Representatives : The Constitution imposes on the President the duty of recommending to the consideration of Congress from time to time such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient. I am so deeply impressed with the importance of immediately and thoughtfully meeting the problem which recent events and a present condition have thrust upon us, involving the settlement of disputes arising between our laboring men and their employers, that I am constrained to recommend to Congress legislation upon this serious and pressing subject. Under our form of government the value of labor as an element of national prosperity should be distinctly recognized, and the welfare of the laboring man should be regarded as especially entitled to legislative care. In a ■country which offers to all its citizens the highest attainment of social and political distinction its workingmen cannot justly or safely be considered as irrevocably consigned to the limits of a class and entitled to no attention and showed no protest against neglect. The laboring man, bearing in his hand an indispensable contribution to our growth and progress, may well insist with manly courage and as a right upon the same recognition from those who make our laws as is accorded to any other citizen having a valuable interest in charge and his reasonable demand should be met in such a spirit of appreciation and fairness as to induce a contented and patriotic co-operation in the achievement of a grand national destiny. While the real interests of labor are not promoted by a resort to threats and violent manifestations, and while those who, under the pretext of an advocacy of the claims of labor, wantonly attack the rights of capital, and for selfish purposes or the love of disorder sow seeds of violence and discontent, should neither be-encouraged nor conciliated, all legislation on the subject should be calmly and deliberately undertaken, with no purpose of satisfying unreasonable demands or gaining partisan advantage. The present condition of the relations between labor and capital are far from satisfactory. The discontent of the employed is due in a large degree to the grasping and heedless exactions of employers and the alleged discriminations in favor of capital as an object of governmental attention. It must also be conceded that laboring men are not always careful to avoid causeless and unjustifiable disturbances. Though the importance of a better accord between these interests is apparent, it must be borne in mind that any effort in that direction by the Federal Government must be greatly limited by constitutional restrictions. There are many grievances which legislation by Congress cannot redress, and many conditions which cannot by such means be reformed. I am satisfied, however, that something may be done under Federal authority to prevent the disturbances which sc often arise by disputes between employer and employed, and which at times seriously threaten the business interests of the country; and, in my opinion, the proper theory on which to proceed is that of voluntary arbitration.as the means of settling these difficulties. But I suggest that, instead of arbitrators chosen in the heat of conflicting claims and after each dispute shall arise, there be created a commission of labor consisting of three members, who shall be regular officers of the Government, charged, among other duties, with the consideration and settlement, when possible, of all controversies between labor and capital. A commission thus organized would have the advantage of being a stable body, and its members, as they gained experience, would constantly improve in their ability to deal intelligently and usefully with the questions which might be submitted to them. If arbitrators are chosen for temporary service as each case of dispute arises, experience and familiarity with much that is involved in the question will be lacking ; extreme partisanship and bias will be the qualifications sought on either side, and frequent complaints of unfairness and partiality will be inevitable. The imposition upon a Federal court of a duty foreign to the judicial function, as the selection of an arbitrator in such cases, is at least of doubtful propriety. The establishment by Federal authority of such a bureau would be a just and sensible recognition of the value of labor and ol its right to be represented in the departments of the Government. So far as its conciliatory offices shall have relation to disturbances which interfered with transit and commerce between the States its existence would be justified under the provisions of the Constitution which give to Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States. And in the frequent disputes between the laboring men and their employers of less extent, and the consequences of which are confined within State limits, and threaten domestic violence, the interposition of such a commission might be tendered upon the application -of the Legislature or Executive of a State, under the constitutional provision which requires the General Government to protect each of the States against domestic violence. If such a commission were fairly organized the risk of a loss of popular support and sympathy resulting from a refusal to submit to so peaceful an instrumentality would constrain both parties to such disputes to invoke its interference and abide by its decisions. There would also be good reason to hope that the very existence of such an agency would invite application to it for advice and counsel, frequently resulting in the avoidance of contention and misunderstanding. If the usefulness of such a com- . mission is doubtful, because it might lack power to enforce its decisions, much encouragement is derived from the conceded good that has been accomplished by the railroad commissions which have been organized in many of the States, which, having little more than advisory power, have exerted a most salutary influence in the settlement of disputes between conflicting interests. In July, 1884, by a law of Congress a bureau of labor was established and placed in charge of a commissioner of labor, who is required to collect information upon the subject of labor, its relations with capital, the hours of labor and the means of promoting their material, social, intellectual, and moral prosperity. The commission which I suggest could easily be engrafted upon the bureau thus already organized by the addition of two more commissioners, and by supplementing the duties now imposed upon it by such other powers and functions as would permit the commissioners to act as arbitrators when necessary between labor and capital, under such limitations and upon such occasions as should be deemed proper and useful. Power should [also be distinctly conferred upon this bureau to investigate the causes of all disputes as they occur, whether submitted for arbitration or not, so that information may always be at hand to aid legislation on the subject when necessary and desirable. Grover Cleveland. Executive Mansion, April 22, 1886.

“Ha, ha! That’s a good one on women,” laughed Mr. Dulman the other morning. “ What tickles you now?” asked Mrs. Dulman. “Why, ha, ha! a Canadian doctor says more than half the women are fools!” “Yes,” replied Mrs. Dulman, wearily, “I fancy he’s right. Most women marry*!” Leopold Schenck, editor of the German edition of Puck, died at Aiken, S. C., and his body was cremated at Fresh Pond, L. I. The tolls from extra telegraphing on account of the strike, It is estimated, put $200,000 into the pocket of Jay Gould inside of eight weeks,

WATERS LET LOOSE.

The Bursting of a Dam Near East Lee, Mass., Results in a Terrible Calamity. Twelve or Thirteen Persons Drowned and Property Worth $250,000 Utterly Ruined. [Springfield (Mass.) telegram.] An awful calamity, the result of carelessness. took place this morning at the village of East Lee, in Berkshire County. The dam at Mud Pond Reservoir gave away, causing the death of eight people, and wrecking property valued at $150,000 or $200,000. The dam, which was situated two and one-half miles from the village, had shown signs of weakness for some time. The persons responsible or owning the privilege of its water supply had been notified, but nothing was done. The pond covered many acres of swamp, and was increased from its original limited size by extensive dams built by a club of manufacturers as a storage place for water. The torrent where the dam burst gushed forth in a resistless stream and rushed down the valley, gullying out a channel from fifty to two hundred feet in width. The villagers got their first news of the accident by seeing the flood pouring down the street, the water being from four to five feet deep, and bearing with it trees, parts of houses and barns, fences, wagons, and every form of movable property. The people fled to the slopes of the valley, along which the torrent was pouring, and saw the houses moved and toppled about like chips on the river. There was not much of life or many buildings to be lost till the village was reached. Here it wrenched Edwin Sturgis’ barn, swept away a bridge spanning the brook, which is but small as it runs naturally from a small pond, and then rushed down the channel of the stream on which the dwellings and manufactories are located. Couch & Oakley’s millwright shops, John Dowd’s manufactory of paper machineiy, and A. N. White’s carriage shops were all destroyed. Mr. White’s family consisted of himself and wife, 48 and 45 years old, respectively, their daughter Ida, and baby son. They were in bed when the flood struck their house, and were all killed by the crash of the building and also sunk in the waters. Theodore King and wife and Mrs. Chas. King lushed from their house to escape, and were carried off by the flood and drowned. The house was not destroyed. Simon Dowd, 60 years old, was drowned. Further down the stream John McLaughlin’s machine shops, Harrison Garfield’s “Forest,” and Farmer Decker Sabin’s place were ruined. The boilers and all basement machinery were taken out by the flood, and, though weighing tons, were carried like corks. John Veran’s paper mill was also gutted in the basement. The flood passed East Lee and went on down rhe road, destroying lawns, gardens, fences, and moving smaller buildings, but had not power to utterly wreck a large house, though the damage done amounts to many thousands of dollars. Probably the total loss will exceed $170,000. A great many hands are thrown out of employment. There is much excitement and grief.

IRELAND FOR THE IRISH.

The Main Features of Mr. Gladstone’s Land Bill. Following is a summary of Mr. Gladstone’s speech in the House of Commons, explanatory of his land bill: The land act was intended to go into effect on the same day on which the home-rule bill would become operative. It could not go on without the operation of the other, which would provide a legislature in Ireland toiappoint statutory authority to deal with the landed estate, and, act between vender and purchaser. The purchases would be made through the issue of £180,000,000 of three per cent, stock issued at par. These new Irish consols might, with the consent of the Treasury, be commuted for stock of a lower denomination. If the stock could be issued forthwith, strip of equal value would be issued for the sanfe purpose. The act was to give the landlords the option to sell out under its terms. Its actions were confined to agricultural holdings, and did not include mansions having demesne and woods. The state authorities, acting between the peasant and land-owner, would purchase the land from the latter and put the peasant in possession as absolute proprietor, subject to an annual rent charge, until the totfil payments equaled the purchase money. The state would not force the small occupiers to become proprietors. In districts where the population was congested the state would have the power to decide whether expropriation of the too crowded land should be compulsory. Nobody except the immediate landlords would have the option to sell to the incumbrancer, and then he must sell by foreclosure, and not at an option for himtfelf. Applications to sell would have to be made by all the tenants on an estate, and all these applications and sales would be registered. Applicants would be required to give security for costs in certain cases. The land commission would be empowered to refuse applications. The basis of prices would depend upon the rental for a fixed period. The judicial rental of 1845 would be the standard in all cases wherein the rent of the land to be sold was then fixed. In all other cases the land commission would have the power to arrive at a price by comparing the other judicial rentals with Griffith’s valuation. The land commission would also be allowed to examine the state of books concerning estates for ten years back. Twenty years’ rental would be a nominal purchase ; in exceptional cases twenty-one years rental would make a purchase. Applications for sale would not be received after March 1, 1890. Ten millions of pounds of the stock would be issued during 1887, £20,000,000 in 1888, and £20,000,000 in 18tj0. When the proposals were first placed before the speaker's colleagues, he proposed to raise £130,000,000 immediately. Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Trevelyan both objected to this as a wholesale issue which would depreciate values. The speaker therefore thanked both gentlemen for having given him occasion to reconsider that original proposition. He now thought it was an error to ask forthwith for anything like the outside estimate, and believed that by appointing a receiver for the general rents, armed with sufficient authority to collect them, but without coming into contact with the new proprietary, the repayment of the purchase money would be amply secured. The charge upon the Irish exchequer would be £2,010,000 per annum, to meet which it would be able to levy for rents amounting to £2,510,000 per annum, and this sum would be the first charge on the rents and taxes raised by the Irish Government. Adding to this the imperial contrioution, the sum paid to England by Ireland would be £6,242,000 per annum, seciirrd on a revenue amounting to £10,850,090, no portion of which would be applied to any purpose until £6,000,000 was paid into the English exchequer. The present contribution of the Irish taxpayers to England was £6,980.000, of which England paid buck in the Irish civil service and in the service of collections £4,840,000. The residue, which seemed to represent an imp. rial contribution for army, navy, national debt, and imperial civil charges- was £2,085,000. What did England do with it? As an instance, she sent an army of 26,000 men to Ireland and kept them there at an annual cost of >3,000,000, £915,000 more than the balance mentioned. That was a specimen of the economy of the system the speaker wanted to root up.

THE LAST DAYS OFSLAVERT.

Negroes Caught with Molasses—Tiger Tail’s Slaves and Sewing Machines. Recurring to the landing of the Wan deret, says the Atlanta Constitution, the last American slave ship, at Jekyill’s Island on our coast in 1854, Judge Henry Tompkins says: “I met an old negro in Chatham County, where I was holding court, who was brought over on the Wanderer. He said to me: ‘Dee got us wid ’lasses. Dee gib up ’lasses—we lick um up. Dee spil uni on plank—we crall up ’ce plank, and lick um ’lasses, lack ’ee toll hog wid co’n.’ Which goes to show that even in its primitive shape taffy is very taking-” Judge Tompkins, continuing the casual conversation, said: “It would be interesting to know if any Southern slaves were spirited over to Cuba at the close of the war or thereabout and sold in Cuban markets. There was some talk of it at the time. A few determined men might have easily bunched a hundred negroes on the Florida coast and slipped over in sailing vessels to where each slave would have brought good prices in gold. “I knew a man,” he went on to say, “who actually saw a few years since the slaves in the possession of Tiger Tail, the Seminole chief who lives in the Florida swamps. It was Judge Faulkner of New York. He and a party of friends were in an unexplored lake one day when they saw a long dugout, holding four Indians and three negroes, issue from an inlet and skirt along the lake. The negroes were rowing and the Indians lying lazily on skins, which they were carrying to market. They accosted the chief, who told them frankly they were his ‘niggers.’ He was told with particularity the story of emancipation. He replied: “‘Ugh! Injun nigger no free!’ and motioning to his slaves they bend to the oars and the dugout glided into another inlet and was lost to view.” Tiger Tail seems to bo quite an original Seminole. A sewing-machine agent drifted into his dominion one day and set up a machine in Tiger Tail’s tent. The old chief, with great deliberation, watched him put it through its paces. He then arose, brushed the agent to one side, and seating himself adjusted his feet in the treadle. He started the wheel and found he could make it go. He sewed up one piece of cloth and down another and then gravely and critically examined his work. At last he appeared to be satisfied that it was all right. He then turned quietly to his wives, who had watched the proceedings with interest, and kicked them, one after the other, out of his tent.

The Joys of Single Blessedness.

The assumption that marriage offers to a woman the highest development is open to question. The normal condition of wifehood and motherhood, with the multifarious duties involved, is a serious drawback to industrial, public, or professional life. To do any consecutive works a single life is almost necessary to a woman. The married woman develops the special qualities of wifehood and motherhood often, most always, at the cost of general development. Family duties, which are again an impetus to the career of man, crush and annihilate the woman. Marriage demands from her that every thought, every talent, every project should be subordinate to its overwhelming claims. In it her individuality is weakened, and sometimes absolutely effaced. She has not the time even to continue those habits of physical exercise and healthy recreation which maintain the elasticity and vigor of her unmarried sister; she cannot command for herself those conditions of life which conduce to health. On the other hand the number of unmarried women increases voluntarily, and not of necessity. The mental life of these fortunate and superior creatures is free and untrammeled. The single woman’s tastes are various and refined—her opportunities for cultivating them practically unlimited. Whether it be in the direction of society, or art, or travel, or philanthropy, or public duty, or a combination of many of these, there is nothing to hinder her from following her own free will—no restrictions but those of her own conscience and right principles. From her stronghold of happiness and freedom she can help the weak and protect the poor. She is fitted to fill a place which has always stood empty in the history of this world—that of a loving and tender woman armed with official power to redress the wrongs of women and children, whose nature and necessities are only known to her. While losing none of the fun and gayety of life, she is called by religious conviction to stand face to face and hand to hand with suffering. To be loving and tender is her nature, but love and tenderness do not reach their highest expression in the personal relations. If the love of the mother grows by continually rendering services to' her child, the love of the woman grows by the protection she gives to many children and unbefriended, lonely“ girls. As the mother benefits two or three, the single woman may benefit thousands. When she tnrows the weight of her intellect, her influence, her enthusiasm on the side of the neglected and friendless, she sanctifies these g.fts to the noblest purposes of which humanity is capable. The social, legal, political interests of women, children, and young girls are the charge of the femme libro of the future. In this direction is found her new and sacred fu n ction. r~ Wes t m ins ter Rev lew. It is estimated that nearly $100,000,000 is invested in the newspapers of this country.

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

—Patents were recently issued to Indianians r.s follows; George W. Albaugh and W. H. Gibbs, South Bend, milk and cream car; Benj. F. Applegate and B. F. Lagel, New Albany, band cutter and distributer; Charles F. Deernell, assignor of one-half to G. H. Herpick, Indianapolis, carriage top joint; Stephen J. Fisher, Packerton, land-roller; Joseph Garrett Imler, assignor of three-fourths to L. A. Wright, Aquila, F. Falker and M. C. Osborn, Fort Wayne, machine for driving well tubes; Michael Kelly, Burket, machine for making slat and wire fences; Robert H. Kersey, Lebanon, ditching machine; Solomon M. Raines, Logansport, baker’s oven; Andrew J. Ramsey, Liberty Center, churn; Alfred B. Reeves, assignor to Reeves it Co., Columbus, plow-gauge; Arthur Rice, New Albany, , assignor to Peerless Manufacturing Company, Louisville, sandmolding machine; John A. Raeter, Jr., and W. Van Ritter, West Baden, harvester sickle; Dwight B. Smith, Vevay, pen and brush holder; Fred Uley, Peru, wagonbrake; George C. Waterhouse, assignor to J. S. Fite an I J. F. Herrin, New r Albany, shutter fastener. —Press Cochran and M. F. Anderson were playing pool in Hobb’s saloon at Fairland. Link Endsley, son of ex-Rep-resentative Henry M. Endsley, was handling a cue and playing for Cochran. After the game had progressed some time, Cochran took advantage of Anderson's face being turned to steal a billiard ball from the table and put it in the pocket. Anderson turned in time to see the act and reproached Cochran, telling him he would not allow a repetition of the tjet. This made Cochran very angry, and he advanced on Anderson in a threatening manner. After a few hasty words, Anderson drew back a billiard cue and struck Cochran with all power, under the ear and alongside his head. The blow was a terrific one, and felled him to the floor. His skull was crushed, and he died in a few minutes. The body was removed to his home, and Squire Culbertson proceeded to hold an inquest. Immediately after striking Cochran. Anderson fled from the town and escaped to the woods. The murdered man was a widower with one child. —Quite a sensation was produced at Greencastle recently by the mysterious disappearance of one Townsend Wilson, a tax collector of that place. Mr. Wilson left his home on Thursday morning, the 15th, and has not been seen or heard of since. He leaves a wife and fivo children in an almost helpless condition. Mr. Wilson married in 1872, and lived for a time in Sullivan County. In 1884 they moved to Greencastle, and since that time have remained there. The husband was somewhat careless in his habits and was addicted to the use of liquor. For nearly a year past he has been discouraged over business troubles. His mind has been unsound at times, and it is quite probable lhat his disappearance may be attributed to this weakness, though some think his purpose was to commit suicide. —Dr. Wm. Cooper, a wealthy and very prominent physician of Kokomo, has been arrested upon a bench warrant issued by the Judge of the Carroll County Circuit Court of Delphi, and placed under SI,OOO bond upon a charge of forgery. Dr. Cooper is a well-known physician of this section of Indiana. He is the father-in-law of Hon. John McKern, the present Reporter of the Supreme Court of Indiana. He is estimated to be worth $30,000. Several years ago he moved to this city from Carroll County, settling up his business there by note. These notes have just been sued on by the doctor, and the charge against him is that he has raised the noted. For instance, a note that was given for $7, it is alleged now calls for S7O, and one calling for S2O now calls for $l2O, and so on. —Natural gas has been found on the farm of David Greeson, four miles southwest of Kokomo, at a depth of fifty-fivo feet from the surface, and sufficient gas accumulates during the day to give a good light in his residence during the night. There are also strong evidences of gas on the farm of Joseph Loop, near Greentown, and at G. W. Deffenbaugh’s stone quarry, two miles south of Kokomo. —A swarm of bugs, having the appearance of “June bugs,” passed over Scott Township, Montgomery County, recently, going eastward. They made a noise as of a roaring storm, and were over two hours in passing any one point. They were only a little higher than a man’s head, and the stream was over 200 rods in width. —Thomas Heslin, an Irishman who has been renting a farm south of Logansport for several years, has received word from Dublin, Ireland, that his only brother has died and bequeathed to him his estate, valued at ten thousand pounds. Heslin is a poor man, and has hitherto been singularly unfortunate. —The street-car company at Logansport has petitioned the Council to pass an ordinance granting them privilege of utilizing electrioitybrhot air in propelling their cars through the streets. The company proposes to do away with mules. —ln Rock Creek Township, Bartholomew County, to show their appreciation of F. J. Beck, the teacher, the patrons of the school on the last day of the term, got together, and visiting the school in a body, brought in an excellent dinner, to which scholars and everybody seated themselves. —Henry Angel and John Love, who operate coal mines at Newburg, are missing. Their coats were found on a drifting coal barge, and as they had money it is feared they were murdered, robbed and thrown overboard by river pirates.