Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1903 — DEADLY COMBINATION [ARTICLE]

DEADLY COMBINATION

Lightning and Qasolina Bring Death to One Woman and Injure Five Otners. BOLT HITS A LAMP TANK Scattering the Burning Fluid Around —War Over an Oil Lease in Which a Girl Takes Part—Notes. Lafayette, Ind., Oct 15. —During a violent storm lightr ing struck and partly demolished a two-story frame building at West Point, occupied by the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Jamee Van Meter was instantly killed and the following were seriously injured: Mrs. Alfred Johnson,burned about bead and limbs, condition serious; Miss Alfretta Johnson, daughter of Mrs. Alfred Johnson; and Miss Grace Stephenson, face and hands burned; Mra. Hugh Swank, bands bnrned; Miss Bessie Whitehead, limbs burned. Explode, a Gasoline Lamp. The Pythian Sisters had adjourned. Several women were congregated near the center of the room beneath the chandelier. The lightning bolt came down tbe rod supporting tbe chandelier containing a gasoline lamp and tore two holes in the tank, liberating the gasoline and setting It on fire. Mra James Van Meter, aged 45, wife of a farmer residing eight miles west of tbe village, was Instantly killed. The other women were badly bruned by tbe flaming gasoline spreading over their clothing. Caught la a Fall of Gravel. Acton, Ind., Oct 15. Fielding Kemp, a young farmer, was seriously injured by a cave-in at a gravel pit where he was working. He was buried to tbe waist, and when he was dug out It was found that bis legs were severely bruised. Fell treat a Hick ry Tree. Elwood, Ind., Oct. 15.—Jesse Sanders, 14 years of age, a few milee west of this city, fell from a hickory tree and was injured Internally. There are small chances for his recovery. He struck on his head and shoulders. Plunge Down a Coni Shaft. Limton, Ind., Oct. 15.—Libby Eddington, aged 18, was killed at tbe Letslnger mine, where he was employed, by falling 100 feet down a shaft. His skull was mashed. No one knows how he eatne to fall. WAR OVER AN OIL LEASE \ Fanner and Company at Daggers’ Point* and Farmer’s Daughter Sitting on the Situation. Hartford City, Ind., Oet. 15. The farm of Samuel Welch is guawled by twenty-eight armed drillers of the Ohio Oil company, who have pickets posted and who are camping on the land. The company has held a lease on the farm for nine years, but has not drilled. Welch desiring to have the farm developed for oil refused to renew the lease and leased to Austin Lewis, who hauled derrick timbers on the -lease preparatory to drilling. The Ohio company started to haul the timbers off the farm, insisting that it held the lease. Welch got a shotgun and a vicious dog to help him resist the removal. His daughter climbed on the timbers, but although the dog bit tbe company’s foreman the timbers were dragged off the farm with Miss Welch sitting on top of them. Welch is summoning the farmers to his assistance, and the Ohio company has rushed the drillers from Montpelier, who are guarding the property. Trouble is feared. They Died In Their Sin. Clear Lake, Ind., Oct. 15.—An eloping couple met death by fire here when William W. Potter, of Hobart, Ind., perished in an attempt to rescue Mrs. Otis Guernsey, of Ainsworth, Ind., from the flames which destroyed the Hetzler House in this city. The woman, it is said, had deserted her husband and five children. With Potter she came to Clear Lake and secured apartments at the resort hotel. Trolley in Competion with Stem. Indianapolis, Oct. 15. —The delegates to the nations encampment of the Union Veterans’ Legion went to Dayton, 0., by trolley. The members of the Legion first asked the steam railroads for a special rate, which was refused. Then they went to the Indianapolis and Eastern Electric road officials and secured transportation to tbeirencampment at half the rate charged by the steam roads. Another Negro Found Guilty. Evansville, Ind., Oct. 15. —Reuben Key, a negro, was found guilty in tbe circuit court of rioting and sentenced for from two to ten years in the state prison. He took part in the July riot here, when several people lost their lives. This is the second negro found guilty; but one white man has been tried. Collision Kills n Fireman. Indianapolis, Oct. 15.—A collision in the yards here between* the engine on passenger train No. 18 on tbe Pennsylvania railroad and a switch engine resulted in considerable damage to both engines, and the death of Fred Agchen, fireman on the switch engine.