Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1917 — INFERNAL MACHINE DISPERSES ROWDIES [ARTICLE]

INFERNAL MACHINE DISPERSES ROWDIES

Would Be Nihilist Throws Lighted Bomb Into Crowded Saloon At Cedar Lake. , The following story was told to our reporter while in Lowell Thursday: Bert Viant, a young man of Lowell, with splendid ability and am all light f fellow if he could stay away from the booze, went down to the Monon depot at Lowell on New Year’s day ahd had his friend, Framk Maloy, write out a strong resolution to the effect that he would never take another drink of booze. Frank delighted and felt that his efforts to help the young fellow who had the talent of a W. A. Brady, to start up the ladder of fame were to be crowned with great success. ___ Viant did splendidly and his picture show at Lowell was showing marked improvement when to Malay’s surprise he Received word through the lad that carries the mail from the postoffice to the depot, an oral message last Saturday that the resolution was all off and that Viant was going to Cedar Lake and fill himself full of the Elixir of ness.Viant did go to Cedar Lake and he did fill himself Tull of The booze so long by him deserted. While in the condition that the average mortal is when he has imbibed so freely he went to a grocer* store and bought £ large grape fruit. He painted this a dark black and then secured a fuse about two feet long. Armed with this death-dealing appearing bomb, he slipped up to the back door of the Moriarity joint. This place was filled with women and drunken men and they were having some time. Just at the opportune time Viant opened the door slightly and being unnoticed threw the infernal machine sizzling into their midst. The getaway this bunch made would not have been more sudden or exciting had a'German Zepelin dropped a real bomb into the room. They went out .in all directions, some into wire fences and otherg almost ran into the lake. After they had separated themselves a. ... distance from the building to insure safety froAi the dreadful explosion they waited for the joint to be blown into the skies. When this did not happen they returned and made a diligent search for the supposed Nihilist, but he had been able to disappear completely during the confusion.