Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1907 — RUDELY INTERRUPTED [ARTICLE]

RUDELY INTERRUPTED

Banquet to County Commissioners Is Suspended Be- ' 1, cause of Wind. NOT REFERRING TO ORATORY Just * Squall That Blows the Tent Down on the Diners—Buttered Watermelon?—ltems. Indianapolis, Sept 25. A real “nor’easter" coming down White river with Atlantic seaboard velocity played havoc with the big tent on the Emerichvilie bridge in which the visiting county commissioners from all parts of the state were being dined by the Marion commissioners and caused consternation among the 200 and more guests. Striking the tent full from the north, the wind made the side bulge like those of a half-filled airship and the top to careen like a storm-tossed sail boat. Those sitting at the foodladen table rose in a body to hold tight the tent, but before John MeGregord and his fellow commissioners from this county could so much as think, the tent collapsed, burying diners, tables and food in its canvas. They Saved the ‘‘Grub.’’ For a few moments great excitement prevailed and then a sufficient number of the commissioners got themselves disentangled to raise the canvas and allow the others to get out. No one was Injured, but the table was a sorry sight. Chairs had been upset, dishes had been scraped off on the floor of the bridge and a genera) wrecked condition prevailed. Notwithstanding this, the litter was cleared away and the dinner was concluded, each man getting aa. much of the good things to eat, perhaps, as ks everything had gone along as smooth as McGregor had planned. Bridge Is Duly Dedicated.— The dinner was the opening feature of a convention which will go down In convention history for Its novel arrangements The l<x-al commissioners regard the Kmerichsvllle bridge as a monument to their business acumen o it was selected as the place for holding the opening day’s luncheon. A tent was erected on it and this was thought to be substantially “guyed" to the sides The "nor’easter," however, was too strong. Following the luncheon, short speeches' were inad< by Mayor Book waiter. ex-Mnyor John Iloltztiian. Commissioner McGregor and Cyrus Clark, county auditor. th« last named concluding bis remarks by dedicating the new bridge, which he did by smashing a bottle of wine <w the Ijridge floor.

WATERMELON IMMUNITY V Judge Disniissen a Jury Because It* Member* Sampled Fruit Owned by Plaint it!'. Danville, Ind.. Sept. 25. Five luscious watermelons graced tin* porch Of Alva B. Smith when it jury went to view the premises in considering the suit brought by Smith against the Big Four Hallway company because the company had condemned two acres of ground for additional right-of-way. These melons were sampled by the jury while attending to their duties. Representatives of the company then filed affidavits alleging misconduct on the part of the jury in partaking of the hospitality of Smith, and demanded a finding of mistrial. After an allday argument. Judge Cofer concluded that the watermelons might have exerted a sinister effect, and dismissed the jury. The company followed the dismissal by demanding a change^of venue. ....

He Slept in the Open. Evansville, Ind.. Sept. 25. “CastIron” Jack O'Connell is dead at the county Infirmary. He was 83 years old. O’Connell was a well-known character in this city. For fifty years or more, till removed to the county infirmary, he was never known to sleep In l>ed. but. instead, he lay on the Iron grating in the rear of Fliekner’s factory, in First street. No night was too severe for him to sleep in the open His food came from the free lunch counters. Four Deaths? from Fire. Kokomo. Ind,, Sept. 25.—Mrs. John Routh, aged 40. a deaf mute, was burned to death when she tried to •tart a fire with kerosene. Ashland City. Inti., Sept. 25.—James Dossett, bls wife and his babe were burned fatally, all dying, in the fire that destroyed their home near this place they were all burled in the same grave. , Bananas by the Pound. Peru, Ind., Sept. 25. Bananas are selling by the pound in this city. Merchants luy-e decided that In this waypeople get what they pay for. Under the so-mneb-per-dozen plan, the first buyers get the large bananas, and the people who buy later have to pay the same price for little bananas. Victims of the Tank Scrap.} Lafayette, Ind., Sept 25.—A1l of the students Injured in the tank scrap are recovering. Clyde C. Elms, a sophomore, who dislocated his shoulder, is •till confined to bis bed, and Lawrence Redmond, of Terre Haute, a freshman. Is at St Elizabeth hospital, with minor Injuries.