Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1887 — INDIANA STATE NEWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

—ln digging a ditch in Montgomery County, in the section of Black Creek, a discovery has been made by the workmen that may prove valuable in the future. In that section the land is very marshy, and when a depth of about ten feet was reached a white substance was found, which seems to have no bottom. When it is first dug up a white, watery substance oozes out. After it had been exposed to the air for about two days it becomes very black, and bums readily, making a bright, warm fire. It is supposed to be coal in the first formation- A man who steps in the substance can scarcely get out. —A daring attempt was made recently to wreck a passenger train near Hammond, Some one broke open a switch on the Midland Central side-track, one mile west of Hammond. The way-freight running ahead and on the time of the passenger train, dashed into the cars on the side, overturning the engine and breaking some fifteen or twenty cars. The engine was buried beneath the cars. The train men saved themselves by jumping. Damage about $15,000. Had the crowded passenger train been on time, the loss of life would have been appalling. —A strong pressure has been brought upon the Evansville Police Commissioners to enforce the Sunday-closing law, and the whisky men have made a desperate effort to prevent the enforcement. The matter was brought to a head by a decision of the Board that the Sunday-closing law will go into effect immediately, and every saloon will also be compelled to close every night at 11 o’clock. Much feeling has been engendered by the agitation, and a strong effort will be made at the next election to select a Legislature friendly to a repeal of the law. —Patents have been issued to Indiana inventors as follows: Charles E. Anderson, La Porte, fence machine; Samuel E. Harsh, Wabash, shafting; Thomas C. Fisher, Anderson, grain cradle attachment; Alfred W. Hughey, Arcadia, car coupling; Jacob A. Parker, Terre Haute, car wheel; David Senior and H. Fetton, Madison, carding machine; Robert B. Short, Union Mills, railway switch; Oswald Smith, Tell City, assignor of one-half to W. T. Pyne, Louisville, Ky., feed regulator for roller mills.

—At Montpelier Wm. Barnes, the murderer of Theodore Leflingwell, was found guilty of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to nine,ty-nine years in the penitentiary. The crime for which Barnes received the life sentence was the killing of Theodore Leflingwell, in that place, last April. Barnes, who is a largo man, met his victim on a foot-bridge, and, picking up a small boulder, struck him on the head, crushing his skull. The trial lasted five days, and the result is generally approved.

—A panther of large dimensions is causing quite a scare among the people residing between Charlestown and Sellersburg. One day recently it was seen on the Ganote farm by Mr. Geo. Richardson, who shot at it, but missed his mark. A number of persons banded themselves together to hunt the animal down, but failed to find it.

—A boy named William Denton, 18 years of age, who resides in Harrison County, a short distance from Greenville, was killed recently. The boy was assisting Mr. Sisloff to saw down a tree, which fell, and the boy was struck by a limb and instantly killed. His skull was crushed and his brains knocked out.

—District Assembly No. 3115, Knights of Labor, the 'oldest assembly in New Albany, at one time attaining a membership of 800, but now reduced to seventy, has decided, without a dissenting voice, to close operations. The charter and secret work of the order will be sent to headquarters. —A freight train on the Nickel Plate Railway ran into a freight train on the Vandalia road at Hibbard Station, where both roads cross. Engineer Newt Baughman, of the Nickel Plate train, jumped and alighted on his head, causing a fracture of the skull, producing very serious injuries. —Frank Snyder, of Pierceton, aged 16 years, while out hunting, accidentally shot himself, causing death shortly afterward. He saw some game and jumped out of a buggy, dragging his gun with him, which was discharged, the contents taking effect in his bowels. —Samuel Wright, a wealthy citizen of Farmland, was seriously hurt at gas well No. 2 recently. The well had been “shot,” packed, and piped out of the derrickfand fired without warning. His face and hands were badly burned. —John H. Heyer, a night conductor on the Cincinnati, W abash and Michigan road, while assisting to make up his train in the yards at Anderson, was caught under a freight car and crushed so badly that he died.

—James Langley, residing in the northeastern part of Grant County, committed suicide by blowing his brains out with a shotgun. He was about 30 years old and unmarried. No cause is assigned for the act. —lt is reported that De Pauw College, of New Albany, will be put in thorough repair next spring and that it will be opened as an adjunct to De Pauw University at Greencastle, with a full faculty. —Gas well No. 1, at Madison, has been abandoned at a depth of 1,001 feet, and work on well No. 2, at the east end of the city, will begin-at once. Only a light flow of gas was obtained at a depth of 30 i feet. of incorporation of the Central Indiana Bailroad Company have been filed at Indianapolis. The proposed line is fiom Fort Wayne to 'lerre Haute.