Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1887 — Page 7

tnent of such laws as will protect their just right* against the combination of capital and corporate power, secure to them the prompt and full payment of their wages, and give relief from competition with convict contract labor, should . receive your consideration. TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES. The recent fraudulent transactions of township trustees and their exposure during the summer of 1885 are well known to each of you. Such fraudulent transactions seem to have been confined exclusively to the township trustees of Indiana, and raise the question whether our present township system does not explain why Indiana was made the field for such fraudulent operations. The duties of township trustee, township treasurer, and township clerk being combined in one officer, and thereby placing the entire management of township business in his hands without any check upon the transaction of his business, the accomplishment -of fraud is made more easy and less liable to detection. The fact that such fraudulent transactions did not occur in those States that have adhered to the old system of three trustees, a treasurer and a clerk will be accepted as a better system than the combining of th ir duties in a single officer. Under our laws, the Common Council of our cities, with a single exception, appoints three School Trustees for the management of the city schools, and for stronger reasons it would seem that the management of the schools in the townships outside of the cities, as well as the management of other township business, is sufficient to authorize the election of three Township Trustees, a Treasurer, and a Clerk. I would recommend a return to that system. DEFALCATION OF PUBLIC OFFICEIIS. The frequent defalcations of persons in positions of public trust demand your earnest consideration, to the end that more stringent measures may be devised for the pro ection of public funds, and I recommend the enactment of a law requiring the official bonds of all State and County Treasurers to be signed by at 1 ast fifty freehold sureties, whose aggregate worth, over and above all their indebtedness and exemptions allowed by law, is double the amount of such bond, and that the severest penalties be attached to the crime of embezzlement. CONCLUSION. It is my sincere wish that your proceedings may be harmonious ; that time will not be unnecessarily consumed at the public expense, and that the Divine Ruler of all things may inspire }’ou with wisdom to perform your duties to the acceptability of the people of the State.

THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS.

The conscience has to do, not "with fitness or expediency, or advantage, but with right and wrong. Hope without action is a broken staff. We should always hope for things that are possible and probable. A single man who has health and brains, and can’t find a livelihood in the world, doesn’t deserve to stay there. Don’t be afraid of wild boys and girls; they often grow up to be the best men and women. Wildness is not viciousness. It is always good to know, if only in passing, a charming human being; it refreshes one like flowers and woods and clear brooks. Lucky he who has been educated to bear his fate, whatever it may be, an early example of uprightness and a childish training in honor. It is tasteless to seek admiration by adorning our house or person; let us adorn our characters by the charms of kindness and amiability. Hope nothing from luck, and the probability is that you will be so prepared, so forewarned and forearmed, that all shallow observers will call you lucky. The head truly enlightened will presently have a wonderful influence pudfying the heart, and the heart really affected with goodness will conduce to the directing of the head.

For Nimble Tongues.

At the close of a session of a Virginia normal school, the principal called for such examples in difficult articulation to be handed in as the pupils could find or remember. Of course the result embodied all the old familiar verbal tangles, but some were brought out which were not so familiar, and the collection makes a rather comical budget of phrases: Amidst the mist and coldest frosts, With barest wrists and stoutest boasts, He thrusts his fists against the posts. And still insists he sees the ghosts. “Of all the saws I ever saw saw, I never saw a saw saw as this saw saws.” “Thou wreath’d’st and muzzl’d’st the far-fetched ox, and imprison’d'st him in the volcanic Mexican mountain of Popocatapetl in Cotopaxi.” When a twister a-twisting would twist him a twist, For twisting a twist three twißts will be twist; But if one of the twists untwists from the twist, The twist thus untwisting untwisteth the twist. “Robert Rowley rolled a round roli round; a round roll Robert Rowley rolled round. Where rolled the round roll Robert Rowley rolled round?” “Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle-sifter, in sifting a sieveful of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb. If, then, Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle-sifter, in sifting a sieveful of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb, see that thou, in sifting a sieveful of unsifted thistles, thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of thy thumb.” “ Villy Vite and vise vent on a voyage to Vest Vindsor and Vest Vindham von Vitsun Vednesday.” “Bandy-legged Borachio Mustachio Whiskerfuscius, the bald but brave Bombardino of Bagdad, helped Abormilique Bluebeard Bashaw "of Babelmandeb to beat down an abominable bumble of Bashaw.” I saw Esau kissing Kate; ' The fact is we all three saw; For 1 saw Esau, he saw me, And she saw I saw Esau. — Youth's Companion.

Robert’s Idea.

“Mamma,” said Bobby, looking up from his Sabbath-school lesson, “I’m sorry for Adam and Eve, ain’t you?” “Why, my son?” asked the mother. “Becausd didn’t have anything Out just aiig leaf to wear,” he replied, thoughtfully. “But it was warm in Eden, and per- 1 haps they did not want warm clothes like you and me,” she explained, - “Yes, but just think, the catechism says the earth was made to bring forth thistles. ” — Tul-Bil<j.

TERRIBLE DISASTER.

Two Trains Running at High Speed Collide Near Tiffin, Ohio. A Score or So of Tictims Mangled and Roast (d in a Shocking Manner. [Tiffin (Ohio) special) One of the most horrible and heartrending accidents ever chronicl 'd occurred on the Baltimore and Ohio l.oad near Republic, about eight miles east of here, at & o’clock Tuesday morning, through the collision of a freight and tue Erie express. An unknown number of persons, estimated at fifteen or seventeen, perished, and several others were badly hurt. The names of the killed, so far as they are knows, are: C. P. Bradley, of Washington, D. C.: burned to death Joseph Postlethwaite, aged 57; on his way from West Virginia to Chillicothe, Mo.; burned to death. Spencer Postlethwaite, aged 18; son of Joseph; burned to death. Henry Postlethwaite,aged 11; son of Joseph; burned todeath. iireman-William Fredericks, of the express train. George Pearce, express messenger; burned beyond recognition. M H. Parks, of Washington, D. C.; burned to death. Mr. Ballard, from New York State; burned to death Mr. Ferguson, of Bloomdale, Pa., an old man; missing and believed to be dead. Grant Mansell, of Milwaukee, Wis.; missing and believed to be dead. George Simpson, of Milwaukee, Wis.; missing and believed to be dead. Some half a dozen persons were injured more or less seriously. At 1 o'clock a. m. an east-bound freight train, in charge of Conductor Fletcher, pulled out of this city, expecting to side-track at tho Sc pio siding to allow the east-bound express to pass After the passenger train had gone the conductor, being without special orders, exercised his own judgment and determined to pull out, inasmuch as he had half an hour to make the switch at Republic, a little less than five miles distant, before the arrival of the express from the east, due at that point at 2 o’clock. The night was bitter cold and m ch difficulty was experienced in keeping up steam in the engine. Finally, at a point half a mile westof Republic, the train came to a standstill, being unable to move farther. Just here was made the horrible mistake which resulted in tho loss of so many lives and the destruct.on of thousands of dollars’ worth of property. Although the conductor must have known that he was encroaching dangerously near the time of the express, he did not send out the signal until after his train had come to a standstill and he found it impossible to move farther. ' He then started forward with the lantern himself. At this point there is a sharp curve, and Conductor I letcher had not proof eded more than the length of twenty cars when he saw the headlight of the approaching express rounding the curve not more than forty rods distant, and running at the lightning speed of sixty-three miles an hour. Horror-stricken with the knowledge that a frightful accident could not be avoided, he flashed his light in the face of the engineer, Lem Eastman. The latter at the same moment saw the light of the freight engine, and, giving a wild shriek of the whistle for brakes, he reversed his engine and jumped for his life, crashing through the window of the eab, carrying glass and sash with him, and' alighted In a heavy snow-drift. He escaped serious injury, his hurts being confined to a slight wound upon the knee As Eastman realized the danger, he called to his fireman, William Fredericks, to save himself. The latter Was engaged in stoking the fire. He raised up and hesitated a moment to glance forward, as if to estimate the danger. This was fatal, as at that instant the crash came, and poor Fredericks was pinned and crushed by the mass of the wreck. Tho effect of the collision can be better imagined than described. The engines of the two trains reared into the air like a pair of enraged living monsters, and then settled down upon the track driven into each other until the cylinders touched. The force of the impact jammed the baggage cars into the tender of the fast train, the express car into the baggage car, and the smoker into the express car. In less than five minutes from the moment of the collision, and before any organized effort at rescue could be made, the fire of the overturned stoves communicated tothe woodwork, and the flames leaped high in the air, the roar mingling with the cries of anguish of the imprisoned victims to whom death in its most terrible form was a horrid presence. The trainmen and uninjured passengers were powerless, and could no nothing to rescue the sufferers.

JOHN ROACH.

The Famous Ship-Builder on His Death-Bed Afflicted with Cancer. [New York special.] It is known that for some weeks John Roach, the ship-builder, has been confined to his residence in gradually failing health. According to his own desire, that his friends should not be needlessly alarmed and apprehensive of the effect upon him of learning the real nature of the disease from which he is suffering, his family and physicians have been reticent in regard to his condition. Mr. Roach, however, now realizes fully the impossibility of recovery, and the reason for concealment no longer exists. In view of this fact, a representative of Mr. Roach’s family has made the

following authoritative statement of his condition. “Mr. Roach is beyond the reach of mediical help save in the alleviation of his sufferings, which have long been incessant and intense. His disease is epithelioma, and its development has been very similar to the case of General Grant, the location, however, being the roof of the mouth instead of the throat. All efforts to arrest its progress have failed, and only his powerful constitution Las sustained him so long. He has neveT seen a well day since the entire nervous prostration consequent upon his assignment eighteen months ago. From that crashing blow he could not rally, and tne cancer began to develop last January. In March an operation was performed, in the hope that the disease might be eradicated. In the summer the trouble returned, audit became evident to the physicians that

there was do hope. Mr. Roach is now fail, ing gradually, his agony relieved only by anodynes.”

TRAIN-ROBBERS SENTENCED.

Wittrock and Haight Get Seven Tears in the Penitentiary, and Wearer Gets Fire. [St. Louis telegram.]’ — The sensation of the day in tho Jrlaiinal Court was the sentence of Wittrock, alias Jim Cummings, the now famous express robber, and hi- accomplices, Haight and Weaver The apjiearance of the prisoners in court was a signal for a general tip-toeing and stretching of necks by the audience. The prisoners entered pleas of guilty to the charges against them of lar ceny fiom a railroad. The htate recommended the full extent of the law, seven years, for Wittrock and Haight, and five for Weaver. Whilo this dialogue was in progress Wittrock stood with one hand carelessly thrust in his trousers pocket, and as the suggestions of the Ciicuit Attorney dawned on him a look of disgust; spread over his features, which he made no attempt to conceal. Weaver appeared to be the most “chipper" of the party, and to all questions answered promptly “Yes, sir," as If it was a pleasant duty which he thoroughly enjoyed. Wittrock was then sentenced to seven years in the penitentiary and to pay the costs of the prosecution. Haight was the next to be disposed of, and during the ordeal he exhibited signs of a nervous collapse He turned pale and trembled, but when ordered to take a seat recovered at once. Weaver took his medicine without any outward sign of emotion, and his sentence, in accordance with the suggestion of the State, was made five years. Wittrock made several humorous references to the curiosity displayed by the spectators, but his sole desire was to get to the “ pen ” as soon as he could. A dramatic incident occurred just as the jail door closed behind the robbers. A tall, slender young man in a blue shirt was standing against the screen talking to two ladies in the "cage. ” “Tlioreis Fotheringhum," said Haight to Wittrock, as they halted near the guard’s desk. Wittrock looked intently at the young man in the blue shirt, and said : “By , I believe it is.” “Yes, it’s him.” asserted Haight. By this time the irons had been removed from Wittrock’s wrists, and walking hastily to the young man In the blue shirt, he extended his hand and said : “Fotheringham, old boy, I am glad to see you. I did you a wrong about two months ago, but I hope you don’t bear me any hard feelings." “None at all,” said Fotheringham; “although you took advantage of me when we last met.”

TRADES UNIONS.

The American Federation of Labor, Its Objects and Aims. The President and leader of the Executive Board of the American Federation of

Labor is Samuel Gompers, of New York, who is Second Vice President of the International Cigarmakers’ Union, and President of the Workingmen’s Assembly of New York. Mr. Gompers is an Englishman by birth, and is now in his thirtyseventh year. He worked as a cigarmaker from his fifteenth year until he was called on to give his time to the official conduct of hiß union. He has been a prominent promoter of the plan of federation, and though himself a Knight of Labor, an opponent of amalgamation. He was twice President of the first Federation, and has Jong been a prominent officer of his own union. Whether the labor organizations should be amalgamated into oue large body, or should form a federation in which "each may retain its autonomy, is one of the subjects that have most seriously engaged the thought of the labor leaders. Tne tendency of the trades unions has been toward a federation; and the tendency, of the Knighta of Labor toward an amalgamation. Five years ago a loose sort of federation was formed by several trades-unions which maintained ils existence, but was never strong enough or definite enough to exert any great influence. Another movement was begun early in the year, by other trades-unions than those which formed this loose federation, to effect a more influential and definite general organization. This resulted in the recent meeting at Columbus, Ohio, of delegates from twentyseven national and international tradesunions, who effected an organization which supersedes the former federation. The new organization, under »lhe name of “The American Federation of Labor,” compri-es most of the better-organized' uuions, such as the Typographical Union, the Federation of Miners and Mine Laborers, the Cigar-makers’ International Union, the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join re, and the Iron-moldere of Nor h America. The twenty-seven labor organizations already thus united claim a membership of about 350,000. The double purpose is to preserve the autonomv of every trade organization, and at the same time to devise a way where one trade can come to the rescue of another. It is a problem not unlike that which the founders of the Federal Government had to solve. TLe trades-unions, like the States, insist that every one knows best how to manage its own affaire; every o e is jealous of any interference by any ot at one; and yet all recognize the necessity of combined action. The fundamental idea of the Federation fs that no trades-union shall abridge the liberty of another. To quote from on explanation of t e movement by one of its chief promoters: “The carpenters are better judges of all questions affecting their hours of work or their rate of wages than the cigarmakers or the printers or the miners can possibly be. The first condition of healthful, organization, therefore, is that the car |.enters shall have a union of their own, and that they shall suffer no dictation from any othel 1 union.

SIOUX CITY’S SENSATION.

One of the Men Indicted for Farson Haddock’s Murder Tells' What He Saw. • I Sioux City special.] Paul Leader, one of the nine defendants indieted for murder and in the Haddock case, has made a statement of his connection with the tragedy. Leader is proprietor of the Milwaukee House, in connection with which.nutil recently, he ran a saloon, which was closed a few weeks ago by abatement orders. He is a German, but speaks English fluently, a man of tine address and of considerable property. He admits that he was present at the scene of the murder of Dr. Haddock, but declined to make a statement over his own signature. He said he was willing to tell all he knew save only mentioning names, as that would involve others. Leader's verbal statement is as follows: “I was near the spot on Water street at tho time of the killing of Dr. Haddock the night of August 3. I was not in the crowd cn the corner of Water and Fourth Etreets, just in front of where the shooting occurred. A few minutes before the shooting, myself and a friend,-whoso name I decline to give, entered .Junk's saloon. There were a number of persons inside whom I recognized. Among them was H. L. Leavitt, the variety showman, whoso confession has been published. Just inside the door John Arensdorf was standing talking with Alderman Grady and Street Commissioner Scollard. Shoitly afterward a man entered, and said that the buggy had come back. (The man was “Bismarck' and the buggy contained Dr. Haddock.) Leavitt and others went out, und still others joined the party going up Fourth street toward Water. The livery stable is on Water street, one-half block south of Fourth street. My friend and I followed at some distance, walking quite leisurely. I knew something was up ami walked along to see, but it never entered my head that there was to be a shooting or even a serious affray. We came upon the crowd at the oorner of Fourth and Water streets.” “Do you know who were in tho crowd ?” “Yes. We stopped long enough to see who were there, but I don't want to glvo names." “How many were there in the crowd V*

“There were at least fifteen.” “Was John Arensdorf there?” (With emphasis.) “John Arensdorf was not in that orowd. ” “Did you see Leavitt?” “I did. He was standing there with tho rest of the crowd. My friend and I were there only a few moments, and, seeing that there were so many, aud that there would likely bo trouble, we started down W .ter street. Wo had walked just about half a block and were looking across the street into the livery stable. We thought the preacher was still In the stable. Suddenly we heard a revolver-almt, and I whirled about and looked toward the oorner where we had passed the crewd. I saw two men standing fn the street. One stuggered forward and fell. The other turned and ran north on Water street. There was nobody elso in the street, either before or behind those two men. They were at least twenty-five or thirty feet from the corner where the crowd was. The man who turned and ran was a little over medium height, not heavily built, and about my size. He woro lightcolored trousers and a flat hat. It may have been a straw hat. Almost as soon as the shot was fired the crowd at the corner ran away, and my friend and I ran south toward the lumber yards. ” Leader resisted every effort to draw from him the names of the persons at the corner. The statement of Leader is significant. He is on the most intimate terms with Areusdorf, and is regarded by the defense as “solid.” He has declined every overture of the prosecution. His statement, in all its allegations, intimations, and spirit, tallies exactly with what has been hinted by the friends of the defense as its theory- It is simply an alibi for Arensdorf and the fixing of the aot of murder on Leavitt, while the explanation of innocent pres nee will be attempted in behalf of Leader and the other conspirators. Leader’s description of the man in the sireetwith light-colored trousers and a straw hut clearly indicated that Leavitt is the man on whom it is proposed by the defense to put the shooting.

ALFRED TENNYSON.

Poet Laureate of England, For several weeks past the press and literary people generally have been discussing Teunj son’s last poem, “Locksley Hall Sixty Years After.” It is not generally known that Alfred Tennyson is nearly eighty years of age. He was bom August C, 1809, at Somersby, a village in Lincolnshire, about half way between Spilsby and Horncustle. He was one of the twelve children (of whom seven were sons) of the Reverend G. Clayton Tennyson, LL.D., rec or of Somersby and vicar of Grimsby. Alfred was taught the rudimentary subjects partly at home and partly at “Cadney’s village school." Alfred Tenny-

son’s first verses were written upon the model of Thomson’s “Seasons.” In 1828 he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and in 1829 gained a gold medal for a poem on Timbuctoo. He publish d his first volume of poetry about this time, and in 1832 his second volume was published by Edward The storj* that “Locksley Hall” was based upon personal experience is said to have not the slightest foundation. In the year 1850 he was married to Miss Emily Sellwood, and in the same year succeeded Wordsworth as poet laureate, and produced on the day of the funeral of the Duke of Wellington (November, 1852) his immortal “Ode.”

Quite Sure She Was Right.

“Who was that tall gentleman your daughter was walking with last evening, Mrs. Wiggins?” . “1 don’t know exactly, but he’s a literary man and lives in Chicago. I know he must bo well off, too, lor he knows such a lot about nice horses." “Are you sure he’s a literary man?” “Oh! yes, he said he was a bookmaker.”

OCEAN DISASTERS.

The Ship Elizabeth Founders in a Storm Off the Coast of Virginia. Hot One of Her Grew of Twenty-five Men Left to Tel the Story of the Wreck. iNorfo’k (Va.) dispatch.] One of the most disastrous shipwrecks which ever occurred ou the Virginia coast happened Saturday morning, near ihe Little Island Life-saving Station, fourteen miles south of Cape Henry. Not less than twenty, und possibly more, lives were lost, among them five life-saving men, who, in the diseba-ge of their duly, were drowned. The morning was bitterly cold, and a blinding snowstorm prevailed, with (he wind blowing a gale from the northeast. During & lull in the storm, tho life-saving patrol from Little Island Life-saving Station sig ted a large ship stranded ou the bar about GOO yards from the shore. W i.en he saw the ve-sel he was going to meet t e patrol from Dam Neck station, aud exchange checks showing that both patrolm n had been to the end of their heat. The Dam Neck patrol was only a few yards distant when the vessel was sighted, aud both tired rockets to notify the crew of the stranded ship that she lad been seen. They hurried bacit to their rjspective stations and gave the alarm. In a little while the crews with life bouts ai d apparatus were abreast of the wreck, and the boom of a mortar announced that a line had been shot out to tho ill-fated vessel. This was unsuccess-" ful, and a second was fired with like result. After firing six unsuccessful shots, the lifesaving men determined to brave the furious sea and the death which seemed certain to await their venture. The word of command being given by Captain Belanza, of LifeSaving Station No. 4, known as Little Island, six of the most expert boatmen manned each boat. At Lis command the men gave way with a will and in a moment both brats were br< asting the furious waves. They reached the ship in safety, and four of the ship’s crew were taken in a life-boat and ten in a ship’s boat, which was launched for tho purpose. The boats were headed ior shore and not a word was spoken, for each man realized the awful peril which surrounded them. With a steady pull the two boats were making good headway for shore wi en a wave of great power struck both boats, capsizing them instantly and pitching therr twentytwo occupants into tho boiling sea. Then began a desperate struggle for life, and with many or the men it was a prolonged one. The horriti- d life-savers on tho beach were poweiless to assist their drowning comrades or the unfortunate strangers. The drowning men were carried southward by tho seas, and some of them were washed ashore. As they came within reach they wore picked up, an 1 endeavors were mado to revive them, and in two instances with success, although one of the two is badly injured. The vessel is the German ship Elizabeth, Captain Halberstadt, from Hamburg to Baltimore, and not one of her < rew survives her wreck.

SECRETARY LAMAR.

His Marriage to Mrs. Holt, or Macon, Oa. Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, Secretary of the Interior, was married a few days ago at Macon, Ga., to Ms. Holt, of that city. The bride is a daughter of James Dean, who was a large planter and prominent politician of Georgia. He was a man of wealth and lived in princely style, just out of Macon, with elegant and hospitable surroundings. Miss Hennie Dean grew to young womanhood with wit, wealth, and beauty. There were many suitors for her haud, but the most prominent were young Holt and Lamar, tne for-

mer eager for business success and the management of great indnstrial enterpr.ses, and the latter with a student's taste nnd an ambition for glory and position, but each equally energetic in his efforts to secure the hand and heart of the lovely and accomplished Miss Dean. The sturdy efforts of Mr. Holt secured the favor of the parents and gained the love of the maid, and they were united in marriage. Their lives were happy and Mr. Holt became very rich, and was a General in the Confederate army. A few years ago he died, and Mr. Lamar renewed his love assault, finally being victorious. The theory of Dr. Wilson of Meriden, that the burning of kerosene oil has something to do with diphtheria, ia interesting. There were seventy-one deaths from diphtheria in a town of Meriden in one year, and by personal investigation Dr. Wilson found that in every case the family used kerosene lamps. There were many other cases in Meriden that year, the spread of the disease being from contagion. But not in a single case where gas or candles were used was there a death from that disease.— New Haven Journal. A thick skull is not usually considered a desirable kind to have. Nevertheless such a skub proved of priceless value, a few days ago, to a yo mg man who, by a mis-step, was pltmged through a hatchway a distance of twelve feet, striking on his head, but receiving no permanent injury. Bis thick skull proved a blessing in disguise.