Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1898 — KILLED IN AN ELEVATOR CAGE. [ARTICLE]

KILLED IN AN ELEVATOR CAGE.

Fatality Among Prominent New York Insurance Men—Seven Hurt. A peculiar elevator accident resulted in the instant death of Walter H. Griffin, secretary and director of the United States Fire Insurance Company, and the probably fatal injuring of Thomas W. Caldwell, a director of the same company. George H. Smith, another insurance man, was injured seriously and half a dozen other passengers were slightly hurt. The accident occurred in the ten-story office building owned by the insurance company at William and Pine streets. New York. The directors entered the descending car at the eighth floor and rode safely until the second was passed. When between that point and the ground floor the elevator conductor, who was new at the business, abruptly stopped‘the car and brought all of the overhead machinery from the top of the shaft crashing down on the car. The 2,000 pounds of iron wheels and steel cable crushed the car and its occupants. KILLED BY ACCIDENT. Ohio Merchant Meets Death at the Hands of a Friend. Solomon Wise, a prominent merchant at Ottawa, Ohio, was found dead in his clothing store with a bullet hole through his breast. A. W. Weller, cashier of the A. Bruon & Co. Bank, was arrested on suspicion, and made a confession, saying that he had shot Wise accidentally. He said he had his revolver in his overcoat pocket and was showing Wise how he could shoot a man without taking his gun from his pocket, when the Weapon was discharged, the bullet passing through Wise’s heart. Cuban Army Disappearing. A dispatch from Havana says: The Cuban general. Emilio Nunez, has returned from a trip to Sagua La Grande. Clenfuegos and Santa Clara, where he had been visiting as a committee of one, appointed by the Santa Cruz assembly, to facilitate the disarming of the Cuban troops and to establish the men in peaceful avocations. He reports that the Cuban army in the country districts is disappearing rapidly. Already 1.500 men, formerly in Gen. Robaus’ and Monteagudos’ commands, are working at agricultural pursuits in Santa Clara province. Operations have scarcely yet commenced, the farmers stating that they will not commence work until protected by American soldiers. Gen. Nunez will report to the American commission on various matters connected with his visit. Russell A. Alger, Jr., Injured. Russell A. Alger, Jr., son of the American Secretary of War and manager of his father’s pulp company at Grand Mere, Que., was badly injured by being thrown from a toboggan. The toboggan carrying Mr. Alger shot over an embankment, dropping twenty feet. Stole False Teeth. Patrick Shacker, of Portage, 0., was held up on the country road six miles south of Toledo by two masked highwaymen, who took S3O in money, his overcoat, coat, vest, shoes, watch, gold cross, and wound up by compelling him to hand over his false teeth. Ex-President iu a Collision. The steam yacht Oneida, having on board her owner, E. C. Benedict, and exPresident Grover Cleveland, was in a collision with a transfer float off the Battery wall in the upper New York bay. The yacht had her bowsprit carried away. No one was injured. Gould Case Jury Disagrees. Three jurymen, who favored acquittal, prevented the conviction of 72-year-old Mrs. Margaret Cody, at Albany, N. Y., on the charge of blackmailing the Gould heirs. The case will be tried again in February. Quarter of a Million Loss, The fire in the Works of the Standard Oil Company at Los Angeles, Cal., has burned itself out. the entire property being consumed. The total loss is estimated at $225,000. Pathfinder Finally Launched. The United States survey steamer Pathfinder was launched from the Nixon shipyards in Elizabeth, N. J. Miss Ruth W. Crandon of Evanston, 111., christened the vessel. St. Louis Factories Damaged. Fire badly damaged the property occupied by Guest & Hill, overalls and pants manufacturers, and the Baker-Bayles Shoe Company. Uproar at Paris Opera. At the opening of the new Opera Comique in Paris the Army and Picquart factions came to blows iu the theater.