Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1887 — INDIANA STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE NEWS

—W. J. Gronert, leader of C. G. Conn’s famous Trumpet Note band, of Elkhart, is one of those who experienced the executive clemency of Queen Victoria, of England, in her recent decree that those whohad deserted from her military service before a certain time should be pardoned the offense and allowed to enter England again, should they desire to do so. As a lad Mrz Gronert was in lhe Queen’s service, and while in China, before he had attained his majority, he decided to desert, and did so, stowing himself away on a. vessel. When the craft had been at sea three days he appeared on the deck in his uniform, very much to the astonishment of the crew, which happened to be Dutch,, not one of them being able to speak a word of English. They threatened to throw him overboard, but he finally induced them to abandon their design, and by the aid of his clarionet he soou made friends of them. After a six months” voyage he landed in San Franciscc, and went thence to New York. Since his arrival he has never dared return to England, and when the Queen issued her declaration that all whose desertion ante-dated a certain time would be pardoned, if they would apply to her before a stated period, he made application, and has just received his parchment granting him full pardon. He is very anxious to visit his parents, and will do so soon. —The skeleton of a mastodon was found on the banks of Silver Creek, about five miles from Jeffersonville, recently. John Jacobs and William Crawley were fishing at a point on the creek when the latter discovered what he thought to be the branch of a tree lying on the ground. An attempt to cut it with a pen-knife proved that it was bone. This aroused the curiosity of the fishermen, and, procuring a spade, they began digging underneath the spot where the bone had been found. At a depth of about four feet they came upon what is undoubtedly the skeleton of one of the largest mastodons ever unearthed. It was in a tolerable good state of preservation, considering the great ’lapse of timesince it was buried there, but contact with the air caused it to crumble, and many of the bones were thus lost. The tusks are broken off, but still measure about four feet in length and sixteen inches in circumference at the largest part. The bones are Very black from long contact with the moist ground, and it is estimated that they have lain there many centuries. It has not yet been decided what disposition will be made of the remains of this relic of th& dark ages, but it will probably be placed in the museum an the Borden Institute. —John Nutt, a helper working on the new government building at Fort Wayne, was instantly killed by a falling derrick. It is said that Nutt, whose duty it was to see that the derrick ropes were properly secured, either forgot or neglected to fasten the guy-rope, and while engaged with others in swinging a heavy s.one, weighing a ton, into position, the derrick, not being properly supporte 1, toppled over. The uiifntunate man was dragged with it, being precipitated sixty feet to the ground, resulting in instant death. —The City Council of Fort Wayne ordered the condemnation and purchase of the canal feeder for the purpose, of supplying the city with water. S. C. Lumbard, H. C. Graffe, and J. L. Gruber were appointed Commissioners to have charge of the condemnation and purchase of the property, and will commence their work at once. The feeder is five miles long and intersects the St. Joe River five miles north of tho city, and when repaired and cleaned will give the city an unfailing supply of good, pure water. —D. J. Mackey, President of the Mackey system of railroads, was interviewed at Evansville recently, in regard to the corncrop in Southern Indiana. He said he had. traveled some 600 miles, going right intothe field and examining corn, and he is of the opinion the average yield will not be over fifteen bushels to the acre. Streams are dry, and fields are dusty. He believes corn will be scarce and high this year. Joseph Allen, residing near Eckerty, was killed by a tree falling upon him. He had chopped two trees, both of which lodged against a larger one, and while felling the latter, one of the lodged ones fell upon him, breaking his neck and breaking his back in numerous places, killing him insfantly. Friends found him within tea minules after the accident. —The One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteers has formed an association. Ex-Lieutenant Governor Hanna was chosen President, and W. Edg—man, of Portland Mills, Secretary. Comrades are requested to send their names and addresses to the latter, in order that a.. complete roster may be made. —Henry Dickman, aged about years, employed by the Enterprise StoveWorks, at Vincennes, was run down by a/ north-bound - Evansville <t Terre Haute train and had his head and right ana severed from his body. He was on hi® way to Brazil, Ind., to join his wife. —Dr. J. R. Harrold, of Dundee, '■ hil& returning from the Warren fair, attempted to pass a team. His team made ,a lungeand the rig was tumbled over an embankment. The Doctor has a broken arm and is otherwise seriously, perhaps fatally, in- • jured. —The little 2-year-old son of Mr. and. Mrs. McCoy, who had just removed toKokomo from Tipton, fell through thePanhandle Railroad bridge that cros-es • Sycamore street, a distance of twenty feet, and leecived injuries that will prove fatal. —At a special election held at Seymour the proposition to establish a system of. water-works was carried by a majority of? 340. A small vote was polled.