Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1889 — Page 3

INDIANA HAPPENINGS.

EVENTS AND INCIDENTS THAT HAVE LATELY OCCURRED. An Intere»ti»u Summary of the More Important Hoiugs of Our Neighbors—Weddings and Deaths—Crime, Casualties and General News Notes. No Longer a Mystery. JThe finding of a skeleton at Argus ind a string of thimbles by its side clears up a mystery of sixteen years, and proves that a horrble murder was committed. At that time Jonathan Ruble lived in that village. His reputation was bad, and it was charged that several girls owed their ruin to him. At that time he had in his employ a remarkably pleasant young girl. She suddenly disappeared. Huble claimed he discharged her and sent her home. Later her parents came in search of her, but no trace was found, and her fate has remained a mystery until now. Mrs. Barmeide, a neighbor of Huber, who disappeared twelve years ago, has made affidavit to the above facts, and identified the skeleton by a string of thimbles the dead girl was known to possess, and which were found by the skeleton’s side. The back of the skull was crushed in, showing she was murdered. An effort will bo made to find Huble. Desperate Battle with an Eagle. A farmer named Frank Eirgleman, living a few miles west of Nashville, was attacked by a fierce, full-grown gray eagle, while on his way to town. When first noticed, the bird was at a great height in mid-air. A minute later it dropped down onEngleman with a shrill scream, striking him with terrific force, burying its tallons in his clothing and flesh. Engleman was on horseback, and therefore at a great disadvantage. Before he could dismount he was badly clawed by the bird. The former was ■without weapons and could only defend himself with his bare hands, The fight lasted fully an hour, the eagle plunging at him from every quarter. Twice did the man attempt to run, but each time the great bird threw himself in his way and prevented his retreat. At length he caught it by its talons, . and with hands and feet succeeded in slaying it. The bird measured six feet four inches from tip to tip. Cost of Running the State. The following is a summary of the Auditor’s report concerning the State’s financial dealings during the fiscal year ending October 31, 1889. The total receipts to the general fund were $3,485,-' '907.63. The disbursements to the general fund were $2,770,309.74. The total receipts from all sources during the fiscal year ending October 31, 1889, were $9,051,431.57. Adding the balance to the treasury October 31, 1888, makes a grand total of $9,379,157.73. The net cash disbursements from the treasury during year were $8,405,048.38, leaving a cash balance in the treasury on October 31, 1889, of $974,109.35. Of the balance $811,734.56 belongs to the general fund of the State. Remainder belongs to the other different funds. Minor Slate Items. —A farmers’ institute will be held at Goshen, January 21-22. Prof. Latta of Purdue University will be present. —The Crawfordsville gas and.electriclight works has been sold to a syndicate of New York people for $105,000. —Lavinia Smith, of Huntington, who "was injured by driving into a washout near that place, has sued the county for $2,000 damages. —Mad dogs are reported as roaming at large in various counties. Several have been shot recently in Clarke and Morgan Counties, —John Rodenbarger, bank boss at the Otter Creek mine, in Clay County, was fatally crushed between the bumpers of coal flats, near the mine. He is married. —A few days ago Jacob Wimsett, an aged farmer living a few miles north of Dana, had his hand torn out by getting it caught between the rolls of a flouring mill. —A child was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Sibert, near Frankton, whose light arm has the appearance of having been amputated a couple of inches below the shoulder. —Mrs. Anna Probasco, aged 90 mother of Henry Probasco, the Cincinnati millionaire, fell down a .cellarway at her home at Charlottesville, anti died from her injuries. . —M. M. Scott, an “anti-polygamous” Mormon elder, is preaching in the Methodist Church at Henryville, Clark •County, in the effort to establish a con--gregation at that point. —The new astronomical observatory ■will soon be erected on the campus west •of the college of Hanover. Everything ■will be new, and of the most improved and desirable character. —Charles Keener, aged 18, went coonhunting four miles below Madison. One ■of his companions, named Ollie Rose, in climbing a fence accidentally discharged his gun, the contents entering Keener’s stomach and killing him. —A fine Galloway cow died recently at the fat stock-show in Chicago. She was the property of the Brookside Stock Company of Fort Wayne, Ind., and was valued at $1,200. The animal had been imported and was considered the second best of the kind in this country. The disease was pronounced lung fever.

—Muskegon (Mich.) capitalists have been granted a franchise for an electric street-railway at LaPorte. —John Day, employed in the saw-mill of a Waterloo chair factory, was struck by a flying plank and fatally injured. —A white Indian named Otto Kemp was in Kokomo recently. He had been abducted by the Sioux when 4 years old. He lived with them twenty years, refusing all temptation to come back to civilization. —Alf Corcoran, a young man whose people reside at Richmond, and who was working to get a home for his prospective bride, was fatally hurt in the Panhandle yards at that city. He fell between two cars from a brake. One leg and an arm were terribly mutilated, while he was otherwise hurt internally. No hope is entertained for his recovery, —At Culvier’s Station a valuable mare belonging to A. Peters, was killed the other night. The animal was suffering from the rabies, and succeeded in tearing the flesh from her body and limbs before she was killed. The poor beast was a mass of torn, quivering flesh, and a horrible sight. It is feared that other animals in the neighborhood have been bitten. —Living a short distance from Perkinsville is a lady about 40 years of age, who has been a widow for some ten of fifteen years. A few days ago she was placed in a somewhat embarrassing condition by giving birth to a boy baby. Since her husband’s death she has become a great believer in spiritualism, and she now stoutly maintains that the father of her child is her spirit husband, who returned one night to her something less than a year ago. She refuses to give any information other than that given above, and there are some people who refuse to believe it. —A passenger train on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, while passing through Evansville, ran over and killed Mrs. Wendell Geiss, one of Evansville’s oldest German citizens. The lady was rather deaf and holding an umbrella over her head at the time of the mishap, did not hear the train’s approach. She was struck by the locomotive which mangled her legs, cutting both off just below the knees, the unfortunate woman dying in a few minutes. The railroad people claim they were going at a slow rate of speed. The Coroner will investigate the case. —While Albert Ogle was looking for a leak of natural gas in a regulator, at the outside edge of his mother’s house, at Muncie, a terrible explosion occurred, caused by a lighted match igniting the gas that had accumulated under the house from the leak. The foundation was blown from under the front part of the building, while the floor was torn loose from the room under which it occurred, badly breaking the furniture and a 500-dollar piano. Two sisters of Mr. Ogle were standing near by, who were badly cut by the flying glass from the shattered windows. The occurrence was attributed to the high pressure of the gas. Loss, over SI,OOO, with no insurance. —The other night two tramps camped near Decatur, and built a fire by which to prepare a meal and keep warm. During the night one of the men giving the name of John Price, who is supposed to have been intoxicated, fell into the fire. His companion being also under the influence of liquor, took him from his perilous position with great difficulty, and gave the alarm. When found by the night policeman Price had nearly all his clothing burned off his body, and was writhing in great agony from his injuries. He was removed to the County Asylum, where he now lies in a critical condition. Price is about thirty years of age, and refuses to locate his home. His companion 4 eser ted him soon after he was found. —Patents have been granted to the following residents of Indiana: Henry Bauer, Indianapolis, extension table; William Cline, Clayton, fence; Calvin F. Darnell, assignor of one-half to W. L. Taylor, Indianapolis, fence; Sanford W. Ermon, Mount Meridian, cleaner for fruit jars, etc.; John Lowrie, Brookston, cultivator; Ronald T. McDonald, and J. Cain, assignors to Fort Wayne Electric Light Company, Fort Wayne, electric arc-light headlight; George W. Lee, Muncie, evaporating apparatus; Aaron D. Miller, Evansville, safe alarm; John Payne, Connersville, portable voting booth; Clifton D. Pettis, Terre Hau to, grain car door;Howard F. Slith, Elkhaft, apparatus for moulding articles froih pulp; William H. Trammel, Huntingtoh, nut locks; Orson H. Woolworth, Columbia City, combined rake and ground leveler. .—A frightful accident happened at the Chamberlain farm, eight miles north of Washington, by which one boy wud instantly, killed and two others dangerously wounded. “Sun” Dyer, aged 13; George Chamberlain, Ira Chamberlain, and James Dyer were together in at room of the Dyer farm-house, getting ready to go hunting. George Chamber lain took down his gun from the walwhere it hung, when the weapon war accidentally discharged, and the shot with which it was loaded struck down all of Chamberlain’s companions. The greater part of the load entered “Sun” Dyer’s body, causing almost instant death. Other shots from the gun struck Ira Chamberlain and James Dyer, but the wounds are not fatal. One year ago the father of the Chamberlain boys committed suicide on the Same farm where the fatal accident occurred.

LINN, MASS., IN RUINS.

THE GREAT SHOE TOWN DEVASTATED BY FLAMES. Fir* in Her Factories Causes a Loss of •10,000,000—Three Hundred Buildings Destroyed—Eight Thousaud Operatives Thrown Out of Work—Scenes of Destruction. [Lynn (Mass.) telegram.] By a conflagration on the afternoon of the 27th of November, millions of dollars’ worth of shoes and lumber went up in smohe from the business district of the biggest snoe town in the world, throwing out of work 8, ”00 operatives and rendering 164 families homeless. Eighty acres that were crowded with buildings a few hours ago are a mass of ruins. The scene of ruin and desolation is complete. Some idea of the devastation can be gained from the statement that 296 buildings were completely wiped out of existence, many others being more or less damaged. Among the burned buildings were forty-two brick structures, 142 business houses built of wood and 112 dwelling houses. One church, the Eastern railroad station, four banks and four newspapers were among the public concerns burned out. The fire spread with such frightful rapidity that the department was helpless, and the flames leaped from street to street with little opposition in the shape of water. The heat was so intense that the men could not approach near enough to use their streams to advantage, and. although, assistance was sent from Boston, Salem, Malden, Marblehead, Sangers, Everett and other places, the fire worked its way to the water front before it was subdued. The great bulk of the buildings were of wood, and in these the flames held high carnival. But even the brick blocks offered little resistance. They, too, were swept away like so much chaff in the whirlwind of fire. After the flames had gone beyond the control of the department a panic seemed to seize upon the firemen and citizens. The streets were filled with people shouting madly in their excitement. Operatives pokedjtheir heads out of the windows to see what caused the disturbance and saw a wall of fire coming down the street. It was in many instances a race for life. The men poured out of the buildings in a human stream, leaving everything behind. And they were none too soon, for in a twinkling great buildings were enwrapped in.flames and dissolved. It was a terrible sight even for the experienced eyes of firemen. The railroad track was jumped by the flames with ease, and the same mad rush was continued. The two military companies were called out to clear the streets, when more effective work could be accomplished. Early in the afternoon outside assistance began to arrive, but then there was a total of. only fifteen engines, and the fire was jumping in all directions, unchecked by the streams being thrown upon it Chief Engineer Moody became prostrated during the height of the conflagration, and Chief Webber of Boston took command. He massed the engines on Newhall street and stayed the progress of the fire toward wbat remained of the business district That alone saved Lynn from utter annihilation. After the business houses had been eaten up the fire let itself loose among the dwelling houses on Sagamore hill. Most of these were cheap structures, occupied by poor families. They burned like tinder, and the fire cut a wide path to the water. The last big building to go was the Central Congregational church. It was a brick structure and was one of the best in the city. It stood out from the rest of the buildings and afforded a magnificent spectacle to thousands of persons. The fire burned a long time before the windows were broken, the reflection from within being very picturesque. Then the flames burst simultaneously from the windows and the belfry, and the steeple swayed and fell with a crash into the street. It was a total loss. It is impossible yet to give individual losses but the aggregate is, according to careful estimates, not much short of $lO,- ( U”, 000. Mayor Newhall in an interview said: “Lynn has suffered the greatest calamity in its history. The business portion of the city is almost a wreck. Over 6,000 persons are thrown out of work and 200 families are homeless. The city of Lynn will be forced to issue an appeal for assistance. It it impossible to compute the loss, but it must reach somewhere in the vicinity of $10,000,000.” The Mayor makes a special appeal for clothing at once, as many occupants of the tenements burned lost everything. His honor has made a requisition on Gov. Ames for six companies of militia to do police and guard duty. The shoe industry of the place is almost entirely wiped out. Out of 170 manufacturers, large and small, less than two dozen remain. Among the heavy losses are these: Mower Bross 93,0C0 Bennett & Barnard 100.000 C. Pecker & Co.,shoe manufacturers. 45.000 William Porter & Sons, shoes 16,000 A. T. Goodwin, In Porter’s building.... 12,000 B. F. Spinney & C 0138,000 Estate of C. N. Stevens 20.000 A. Fuller and A. P. Tapley 22.000 Titus & Buckley 25,000 Consolidated Adjustable Shoe Co 20,000 Samuel J. Hollis, shoes 22,000 J. S. Bartlett & Co., shoes 72,000 Lynn Item, newspaper, Horace N. Hastings & Sons 50,000 D. C. and Charles E. Buffum, shoes.... 20,500 J. N. Smith, shoes 46,100 Joseph Davis Shoe Co 50,000 Luther S. Johnson - "" 37,000 Amos F. Breed 22,000 Houghton & Gedfrey 22,000 First National Bank Building 24,500 F. E. Abbott’s building 22,500 Central Congressional Society 40.000 Frank W. Breed 85,000 P. P. Tapley & Co., morocco manufacturers 52,540 Sawyer & Chase, carriage manufacturers 11,000 S. K. & A. H. Jones, shoes 57,000 S. N. Breed & Co., lumber 138,000 The losses are about half covered by insurance, and as the policies are widely distributed the manufacturers think they will be able to recover the insurance money. The factories were running on full time and there was a big stock on hand waiting for the opening of the spring trade. Everything was lost. The poor people will suffer greatly unless some assistance comes from outside. The city began immediately to prepare temporary houses for those who had not friendly shelter to eo to. and the houses were quicxly filled.

UNCLE SAM'S FIGHTERS.

DIGEST OF SECRETARY' PROCTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT. The Head of the War Department Gives Details Relating to His Branch of the Government—Figures from the Postoftice Department. [Washington telegram.] Secretary of War Proctor has prepared his annual report on the workings in his department. It is as follows: Salaries and contingent expenses.! 1.933,01515 Military establishments 24,314.607 33 Public works, including river and harbor improvements 13.481.835 00 Miscellaneous objects 6.894.574 26 T0ta1146.654.12174 The appropriations for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, are as follows: Salaries and contingent expenses.! 1,953,680 00 Military establishment. Support of the army and military academy 24,352,220 46 Public works, including river and harbor improvements 3,563,624 00 Miscellaneous objects 4,119,765 72 T0ta1m989.29018 The estimates of the department for the next fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, are as follows: Salaries and contingent expenses,.! 2,013,650 00 Military establishments 25,403,148 86 Public works 11,190,134 74 Miscellaneous objects 5,551,040 35 T0ta1144,157.973 95 The Secretary recommends the reorganization of the artillery brane i of the army and the addition of two regiments, one or both of which might be of colored meu. The infantry and cavalry arms of the service have each two regiments of negro troops, of whom he says that their record for good service is excellent. They are neat, orderly and obedient, are seldom brought before courts-martial and rarely desert. The secretary reccommends that the limit of the retired list be increased to 450 from 400, the present figure. Secretary Proctor says that the public impression that desertion is on the increase is earoneous. The total of desertions for the fiscal year 1889 was 29.3 of the enlistments and 11.6 of the total strength of the army. The causes assigned include restlessness under the restraints of discipline, disappointment at the details of the service, and of its lacx of inducements, dissipation and in some cases ill-treatment. Investigation does not disclose that ill-treatment prevails to any appreciable extent. The employment of enlisted men in ordinary labor undoubtedly creates discontent. The pith of the whole question is to make the service worth seeking, and then enough good men will seek it and be glad to stay in it. It is a fact that the soldiers in the colored regiments rarely desert, whereas the percentage of desertion in the rest of the army is so large. Their previous condition in civil life largely explains it. To the colored man the service offers a career; to the white man too often only a refuge There is but little incentive for young and intelligent men to make a profession of soldiering. The hope to achieve a commission is but slight, but oven then they receive less compensation than the private soldier who is placed upon extra duty. The distance between the highest grade of non-commissioned officer and the commissioned officer is far too great in my judgment To a considerable extent, however, the remedy lies with congress. The value of the National guard to the country is fully recognized by the secretary. To enhance its efficiency and promote the interest of the young men of the country in it, he recommends that members of it, upon passing some proper system of examination, be made eligible to commissions in the regular army as second lieutenant?. The exposed condition or our seacoast is next dwelt upon and the necessity of defensive work urged. The principal commercial ports should be at once placed in a position to resist attack, and the work continued until every vulnerable point on our coast was adequately guarded. Once built the cost of their maintenance would be light. There are now on hand 2,<>00 muzzle-loading guns available for their armament, and defensive work begun in July, 1890, could be equipped the following year with with flinch breech-loading guns. The secretary recommends revision of the articles of war in regard to military punishment, which at present are illdefined. Neither is it certain, and there is nothing to prevent the heaviest punishment for the most trivial offense, and vice versa. Mr. Clarkson, in his annual report, shows the number of postoffices established during the year ending June 30, 1880, to be 2,770, a decrease over the previous year of 1,090. The number of postoffices discontinued was 1,147, a decrease of 498. The whole number of postoffices in the country is 58,999, an increase of 1,623. The total nnmber of postmasters appointed during the year was 20,030. The total number of free delivery offices is 401, an increase of 43. The total number of letter-carriers is 8,257, an increase of 1,911. He recommends the extension of the free-delivery service to ah places having a population of 5,000, and where the postoffice has an annual gross revenue of SB,OOO. The appropriation for the service for the present fiscal year is $8,000,000. The estimate for the next fiscal year, commencing July 1, 1890, is $9,059,485. The aggregate estimate for the compensation of postmasters, clerks in postoffices, rent, light, fuel, miscellaneous and incidental items for the Presidential and second class offices is $22, - 967,500, an increase of $1,237,420 as compared with the previous year. Second Assistant Postmaster General Whitfield in his annual report says that the annual rate of expenditures for star route services on June 30, 1889, was $5,228,387. The number of routes is 15,077, and the aggregate length of the routes is 213,331.81 miles. The appropriation for. the last fiscal year was $5,40i),090, and the sum expended $5,177, - 195.43, leaving an unexpended balance of $222,8(14 57. The appropriation for the current fiscal year is $5,650,000 and estimated expenditures $5,902,216, leaving estimated deficits of $252,216 55. He recommends the anpointment of a commission to recommend to Congress neceseary star route legislation, and also recommends that provision be made for the families of postal clerks killed while on duty in the shape of a civil pension list.

FIERCE FIRE IN BOSTON.

FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN PROP. EKTY SWEPT AWAY. The Conflagration Continues Six Hours and Wrecks Two Acres of Substantial Business Buildings—Two Hundred Resilient Firms and 100 Agents Sutler Loss. [Boston telegram.] The most disastrous fire from which Boston has suffered since 1872, and one which in property loss almost rivals the great conflagration at Lynn, broke out about 8:20 o’clock Thursday morning in the six-story gran, ite building owned by Jordan, Marsh & Co. and occupied by Brown, Durrel & Co., dealers in dry goods, on Bedford street, corner of Kingston. The first alarm was immediately followed by the first general alarm in Boston since 1872. Thursday’s conflagration raged for six hours, burned over two acres of territory covered by magnificent structures, and entailed a loss now estimated at $5,000,600. So far as known no fatalities occurred, but several persons were seriously injured Among them are." Michael Atkinson, policeman, head crushed by falling granite. John Halley, hoseman, lacerated by plate glass. Thomas F. Quigley, Inhaled flames, burned. District Engineer Bartlett, right shoulder dislocated. Edward Fiiohan, fireman, hand nearly cut off. J. Dacy. fireman, log crushed. Fireman Russell of engine 3, leg broken. • The burned district begins at Columbia street on the east and extends two blocks westward along Bi(ford street to Chauncey street on the west On the south side of Bedford street the fire consumed the entire block bounded by Bedford, Kingston, Essex and Columbia streets; westward of this the entire block bounded by Bedford, Kingston and Chauncey streets, and Rowe place, and westward of this the buildings on Chauncey street from Bedford to Exeter place. It also badly damaged the building on the southeast corner of Bedford and Columbia streets. On the north side of Bedford it consumed the buildings on both the northeast and northwest corners of Bedford and Kingston streets and damaged the block at the corner of Bedford and Chauncey streets. The territory tounded by Kingston)., Bedford, and Chauncey streets was the’ principal theater of destruction. Here the conflagration leveled everything. Within an hour after the first alarm sounded the whole structure of Brown, Durroll & Co’s building collapsed with a tremendous crash. The flames was darting from doors and windows, and the interior of the block was a glowing fur-| nace. Dry goods and other combustible materials with which the floors were packed burned to a white heat. Granite crumbled, and iron girders melted away like ice. The streams from the engines were dissipated in vapor before they touched the fire. Suddenly the cry arose: “The walls are falling! Back!: Back!” The crowd surged back for their very lives, startled by the shout. Firemen dropped their nozzles r.nd ran to save the apparatus. Great gaps opened in the walls, and bricks from cornices dropped into the street with an uminous crash. There was a confused and deafening roar and a dense cloud of smoke and dust mounted heavenward. When it cleared; away the luxurious palace of trade had' vanished, only a fantastic heap of brick, shattered stone, twisted iron beams, and broken columns marking the site. • Two engines which had been stationed at Chauncey and Bedford streets still stood upright amid the wreck, but ruined beyond repair. The boiler of No. 22 had burst as a monstrous stone fell directly upon it, flattening it out like a mass of tin. The machinery was broken and; bent and the wheels and woodwork werej burned entirely away. The ladder truck; was charred and splintered into a thousand fragments and the water tower was smashed into an indistinguishable wreck., Viewed from this point of vantage the' scene was one of thrilling grandeur. Dl-; rectly opposite the towering Ames blocky occupied by Taylor Bros., was ablaze from' roof to basement. From this building the' fire was steadily eating its way through to Chauncey street, despite the thousands of gallons of water thrown upon it. The immense stone and iron block occupied by Samuel Williams and Brigham & Co., on the corner of Chauncey street and Rowe Court, marked the farthest progress of the fire in that direction. Although apparently fire proof it was en-; tirely gutted. On the corner of Chauncey and Bedford streets the large block occupied by Smith, Hogg & Gardner and others was in almost as had a plight, and the buildings between these two were utterly destroyed. The leaping flames succeeded in crossing Chauncey street to the upper stories of the huge Allen block, largely occupied by Farley. Harvey & Co., aud those adjacent as far as Essex place. It was hard to direct streams of water effectively, and for a time it seemed as though Warren street might yet be! reached. The firemen here made a grand* rally. Many lines of hose were carried through the stores on Harrison avenue, the extension of whose rears was opposite the rears of those already burning, and the foe was strongly fought. Other hose was taken up stairs and used underneath and from windows across on Bedford street. Still other streams were directed upon the flames and finally the further progress of the fire was staid. Here is the re ord of the fire’s ravage: Fifteen fine brick, granite, and sandstone blocks were destroyed beyond repair, while half a dozen structures were left, with their top stories gone. From $2,500,000 to $4,000,000 worth of merchandise was burned to ashes. The assessed valuation of the buildings destroyed is about $796,600. The insurance companies, so far compiled by the insurance agents make a total of $3,668,925. The fire, coming as it does, on top of the great blaze at Lynn, is a crushing blow to many of the smaller insurance companies, and it is not at all unlikely that it will cause the suspension of many of them. There are about 200 firms burned out and 10<> agents of New York and Western firms have haa their headquarters destroyed. The seventy-nine insurance companies known to be interested carry an aggregate insurance of $2,600,00') on the burned property.