Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1914 — STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

STATE NEWS

Hammond. Whiting was threatened with de’struction by fire when, from unknown cause, a huge tank containing 2,000 barrels of naptha was exploded and set on fire Only the isolation of the tanks prevented a spread of the flames after a desperate fight.

Anderson. Mrs. Elizabeth Beard and sixteen-year-old son barely escaped in their night clothes from the flames which destroyed their home at 55 East First street. North Anderson. All their clothing and household effects were destroyed. Jeffersonville.—At the reunion here of the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers Veterans' association. Joseph G. Snider of this city was re-elected president, John A. H. Owens of Charlestown was made secretary. Next year’s meeting will he held at Scotteburg, September 19. ' Valparaiso.—Michael Kowalski, for years foreman of the Jesse Watts farm, went violently insane at Koburg, this county, as a result of brooding over the European war He Is a Russian. Armed with a fence post, he was making a series of charges on the Chespeake & Ohio depot when captured. Bloomington.— Ruth, the five-year-old daughter of Harry A. Axtell, narrowly escaped death when she was attacked by a pet deer at the AiteU home. The animal knocked her down and continued its vicious attack until clubbed off by Mr. Axtell Mr. Axtell has a herd of nine deer at his suburban home, and this is the only qn,e ’that has ever shown any indication of viciousness.

Portland —Melvin Wright, age forty five, a farmer of Penn township, was killed w*hen his team became frightened at a passing train and ran away. Mrs. Wright was thrown out, but was uninjured. Mr. Wright attempted to stop the horses, but in turning into a side street, they dashed into a tree, throwing him headlong against the trunk. His chest was crushed, breaking a blood vessel. Physicians were unable to do anything for him.

Tipton.—Dow Chappell, a fisherman, with a party was exploring Cicero creek, near the Pott’s pit, two miles south, and found the tooth of a mastodon or some sort of pre-hlstorlc animal. It was eight inches long, four inches wide and the heavy coating of enamel proved that-it had recently been washed out of the banks. No one has been able to tell what sort of animal had teeth like this, and the find, If acceptable, will be sent to the state museum.

Rochester.—Charles P. Benedict of Indianapolis, deputy grand master of the Masonic lod«>£, was a guest of honor at a banquet of Rochester lodge. No. 79, F. and A. M., at which past masters’ jewels were presented to 11 of the 18 living former masters. The Rochester lodge was founded in 1849 and has had 39 masters. Arrangements are now* being made to build a handsome clubroom as an adjunct to the Masonic temple here. Shelbyville.—Lawrence L. Brown, a drug clerk, was fined S2O in the court of Mayor Schoelch for selling a half pint of whisky on Sunday to Landy Williams. Brown entered a plea of not guilty, but later allowed the mayor to find him guilty. The fine was paid. When Brown was arrested the charge was selling without a prescription, but this was dismissed and the fine was imposed for the sale of Intoxicants on -Sunday.