Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1886 — INDIANA STATE NEWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

—An explosion by which three men lost their lives occurred at Switz City. For some time past Mr. A. H. Shoptaw has beeu operating a saw-mill at that place, being assisted by his son James, and a nephew, William Shoptaw. The engine used in operating the mill being out of order, Mr. Shoptaw had procured and was using a poitable engine to drive the machinery. While the mill was in operation, the boiler exploded with terrific force, instantly killing the three men. The bodies were frightfully mutilated and the mill destroyed. The cause of the explosion is not accurately known, but it is supposed to have resulted from a lack of water in the boiler. The senior Shoptaw was one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Greene County’. —While farm hands were clearing timber from the farm of Aquilla Laferty, one of the largest land-owners near Rockville, they found a mound of earth which, on closer inspection, proved to be a newlymade grave. They removed the earth and found it contained the body, of a negro, whose head had been cut off and could not be found. Last summer Mr. Laferty imported from the South about one hundred colored laborers. During the summer two negroes were seen fishing in the Wabash, close to where the grave was found, and were known to have money. They suddenly disappeared, and it is supposed one murdered the other for liis money and fled the country. —A special from Michigan City, says: John Alexander, a convict serving two years in the Northern prison, attempted to commit suicide by hanging. Ha was resuscitated after much trouble and then confessed the murder of a companion in Montgomery County lust spring. He said the crime had been preying upon his mind until life became unendurable, aud that ho is glad that ho has made the (ruth known. The murdered man was placed on, the railroad track, and it has been heretofore supposed that he was accidentally killed. Alexander has twenty months yet to serve for larceny, and then ho will be tried for murder. —A most daring robbery occurred in Fort Wayne, Henry C. Graffe, a jeweler, being the victim. An unknown man, after securely fastening both doors of the store by thrusting a long board through the latchguard outside, thus preventing pursuit, broke the large plate-glass window with a stone, and made a grab for the valuable diamonds on exhibition. Mr. Graffe and his clerks, four of whom were present, attempted to pursue the thief, but could not open the doors, and the fellow escaped. It is not definitely known what articles were stolen, but Mr. Graffe estimates his loss at about SIOO. —Thad. Butler, editor of the Huntington Neu-8-Express, has just completed taking the census of the Eel River band of Miami Indians under the direction of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The band has settled in part of Miami and Wabash Counties, and numbers only twentynine, but the population is on the increase. One thousand two hundred dollars is annually paid them by the Government, divided equally among men, women, and children. These are the only Indians in Indiana securing annuities from the Government.

—Samuel Hardin has been for the past seven months engaged in writing up a history of the early events and times of Boone County. He has just completed a thorough canvass of the county, and will, about Jan 1, open an office in Lebanon, where he will prepare the work for the press. Mr. Hardin has given much time and thought to pioneer life and biographical sketches, and with twelve years’ experience, coupled with natural abilities, will doubtless give to the people of Boone a correct history of the county from its organization. —A very sad accident occurred one and one-half miles west of Rochester, whereby John Bozarth, son of P. M. Bozarth, lost his life. He was resting upon his shotgun in front of his residence when it was accidentally discharged, the entire charge entering his neck and face. He lived but a few minutes, and was conscious until he died. He said the discharge was accidental. His parents are most estimable citizens, and the sad affair casts a gloom over the entire community. He was about 30 years of age. —The defaulting City Treasurer of Vincennes, Henry Deusterberg, has resigned. This action settles the legal point which placed the Council in such a quandary as to whether they could impeach him or not. The Council set to work at once and elected C. G. Mathesie as Deusterberg’s successor. It is not known whether action will be taken against Deusterberg criminally or not. —The store of Meyers & 8r05.,» at , Plainville, Daviess County, was totally destroyed by fire. The building, which was i frame, was insured in the Liverpool, London, and Globe for SBSO, and the stock n the Underwriters’ Agency for $3,500. 1 lie loss is fully covered by insurance. I’he owners report that the store was first urglarized and then set on fire by the nirglarß. —The case of George Sheaf, of Elkhart, igninst the Lake Shore and Michigan onthern Railway, for the loss of both legs vhile switching, in which the Circuit Court bowed him $10,00(1; and was appealed by he company to the Supreme Cour:, has •eu comprcmi-ed before reaching that ibunal, Sheaf accepting, $5,000, which mn has been paid him. —William Temples bad his hand badly angled by being caught in the machinery .1 the starch works at Columbus.