Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1900 — RECORD OF THE WEEK [ARTICLE]

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. Wheat Damaged by Hessian Fly—1 ntal Result of Prank by Mischievous Boys—Farmers to Organize for Protection Against Horse Thieves. E. S. Holmes, special agent of the statistical bureau of the Agricultural Department, who has just completed a trip through northern Indiana, expresses the fear that the two almost total failures of the wheat crop In 1899 and 1900 will be followed by another failure next year. Mr. Holmes declares that fully one-third tin- wheat examined Iras been seriously damaged by the Hessian fly and that with bad weather henceforth the plants will have small chance of maturing. In some localities he advised farmers to plow up their wheat itiid cultivate the land iu other crops until the larvae are destroyed, but the farmers hesitate to sacrifice the prospect of even a partial crop. Alariuius; Theft Of Horses. The theft of horses in the counties of this State north of Indianapolis has become such a serious matter that calls are being issued for the organization of vigilance leagues. The Kankakee swamps seem to be the headquarter* of an organized gang, the members of which have carried ou a wholesale business within the past year. Shrewd detectives have failed to unearth the gang. Within teu days, twenty horses' were stolen in various sections of northern Indiana, but not a single animal was recovered and the thieves covered their trail so ingeniously that not an arre At was made. Horse Drags Boy to Death. Dragging at the heels of a frightened horse, a boy named Hall was battered to death six miles north of Nashville. The two older companions, named Pittman aud Copenhavei), in a spirit of boyish recklessness, tied young Hall on the horse’s back, telling him they would teach him to become a circus rider. ' The boy became ttlarmed as the horse started to gallop and his terror increased his companions’ merriment. The animal took fright and began to run at a terrific pace. The boy clung to the frightened animal’s back for some distance, but in liis terror he lost his hold and fell under the horse’s hoofs. Claims the Site of La Porte. Charles L. Pokagon, only surviving son afid heir of the late chief of the Pottawatomie Indians, will take legal measures to gain possession of laud worth millions of dollars; the land in question covering the site of the present city of La Porte. Mr. Pokagon has documents showing that the government by virtue of treaties issued a patent for 40 acres to Chief Pokagon, father of the late chief, Simon Pokagon, aud grandfather of the present claimant. Mr. Pokagon is sanguine of establishing his claim. Ilis residence is at Hartford, Mich. Gas Explosion Ruins Office. A terrific gas explosion, followed by tire, completely wrecked the office of factory No. 11 of tin* American WindowGlass Company in Muneie. The fact that tlie explosion occurred on Sunday saved the lives of nearly twenty office employes. Falling debris caused-several glass workmen employed on night turn to receive injuries, but none were seriouslyhurt. All the valuable records and papers kept in the office wore burned, and the loss will reach several thousand dollars. State News in Brief. .New ga< well at Arcadia has a 250pound pressure. The Dinkey factory. Slu-lbyviUe, has had fifteen accidents in a year. South Bend Poli-.’i societies want Congress to erect a statue to Pulaski. Fireman Way lost a hand and narrowly .escaped death in'a Big Four collision at Fortville. Charles Mitchell burned to death in the engine room of the Eagle iron works. Auburn Junction. Indiana State Grange, Terre Haute, resolved in favor of teaching agriculture in public schools. Said that Andrew Carnegie is favorably considering the establishment of a -school for librarians at Winona. Charles Biddle, Lafayette, found the body of a colored child in a catch basin. It is said be dreamed he would find it. Charles Wagner. 35. recently installed as Bartholomew County sheriff, is the youngest man who ever held that office. Arm of John Clark, neat- Bloomington, crushed in a corn, shredder. Machine had to he taken to pieces liefore lie could he released. llomer Houser, Bowling Green, Ohio, oil well driller, was instantly killed bybeing struck by a piece of bursting bull wheel at Genova. Southern Indiana Press Association, meeting at Bedford, decided to hold its m-xt meeting in Buffalo, during the PanAmerican exposition. An effort is b* iug made in Whitley County to organize a company of twenty young men to go to Corea in the spring, to work in the mines. While fishing near Rome City, Charles Hackett brought up a piece of eloth and a bunch of hair. An old man disappeared from the neighborhood a few weeks before. A party was organized and the river‘drugged. An old buggy top was found. At Curryaville. a tramp colored boy was the victim of savage torture at the hands of drunken miners. He was given several mock trials, prior to which he was branded with a red-hot poker on his head, face and all parts of his body, lie was sentenced to be burned in a redhot stove, nnd in his struggles burned hi* hands almost to a crisp. Sober head* saved the boy from further punishment. Nathan Hofftnaster, soldier of Marion, died in China. Union Traction Company will furnish electric lights to the towns along its line. Mrs. Athen Kinney, South Bend milliner, will get s'lo,ooo from her grandfather's estute.' Purdue will make a collection of American locomotive*. Several have been contributed by railroads. Finest Elk's home in Indiana was dedicated at Anderson. It’s the pro(>erty of Lodge No. 200 and oust $17,000.