Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1900 — INDIANA INCIDENTS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA INCIDENTS.

~ i - ’ -T RECORD OF EVENTS OF THE — —- pAST WEEK - - Increase in Oil Product Killing; of Frank Carr Causes Sister’s Insanity -Young Woman Shoots Herself—-For-mer Poor Miner Gets Rich in Alaska. The month of January was a record breaker in the Indiana oil field. The total niimber of completed wells during the month is 281 and the production 4.6U0 barrels. Fifty one dry wells were pot down. The increase in completed wells, fifteen; the increase in the output is 365 barrels, and the decrease in dry holes was five. The average in December was 20.7 barrels and the January average was 20 barrels. There are now 249 wells drilling and 161 rigs up—a total of 410 rigs. The increase in wells drilling was 35 and in new rigs 33, a net increase of 68 wells. There are several well-shooters in the Indiana field, and their occupation is more dangerous than employment around a powder mill. The average shot consists of eighty to 240 quarts of nitroglycerin, and from the time the shooter starts with his load of 750 quarts of the exlosive in his wagon till he haS completed his job no life insurance company will take a risk at any premium. Crazy Over Brother’s Death. When the republished report of Gen. Otis, containing a list of the killed In battle in the Philippines Jan. 18, reached Columbus, the name of Frank Carr, who enlisted from that place, appeared in the list. When John W. Carr, father of the dead soldier, learned the truth he went immediately to his home,, and, rushing, excitedly into the house, said to his daughter: “Frank is killed.” The daughter was but 18 years of age, and, being of a nervous temperament, she swooned on hearing the sad news and for five days she lay unconscious. When she finally regained consciousness her entire past life was a blank. She could recall nothing and her friends and neighbors were strangers to her. She knows nothing of the death of her brother and seems dazed. Her condition is greatly puzzling her physicians. Young Woman KUla Herself. ■ In Peru Mrs. Elmer Ferkel, a handsome woman, aged 21 years, while at the breakfast table picked up a revolver and after playing with it a moment placed it to her breast and pulled the trigger. The ball passed directly through her heart, killing her instantly. She went there a short time ago from Andrews with her husband, but he left soon afterward for Chicago, where he is employed by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad: Company. It is suposed that unhappy domestic relations caused the suicide. Mrs. Ferkel tried to take poison some jime ago, but was prevented, -• Brings Wealth from Alaska. ** George Britton has returned from Alaska, where he spent the past two years, bringing with him nearly $60,000 in gold. Ho says that he has a claim he has refused $300,000 for. When he left Brazil he was a poor coal miner. Within Our Boraera. Greenfield wants all night electric light schedule. Crawfordsville Masons will build a temple next spring. Goshen clerks have won in their fight for early closing: Loriston M. Fairbanks, father of Senator Fairbanks, is dead at Pasadena, Cal. Columbus merchants are. going to do away with the trading-check system. The Henley polo team of Richmond defeated the Cincinnati team by a score Of 4 to 1. Crawfordsville citizens have started a movement for the establishment of a municipal hospital. Charles Homes, tin plate worker, was scalded to death by the bursting Of a steam pipe at Elwood. Frank McUaniel, aged 50 years, dropped dead on the street in Martinsville of heart trouble. He was a well-known farmer. A sensation was created at Shelbyville when the grand jury returned fourteen indictments in connection with the shortage in the county treasury.The Blue Goose Mining Company of Wabash and Indianapolis has sold its zinc holdings near Joplin, Mo., for $30,400. Colorado Springs capitalists will exploit the property. The Anderson Young Men’s Christian Association will move into new and commodious quarters March 1, and will secure the services of a physical director at the same time. Money received for the old pestbouse at Terre Haute, which was supposed to be held over to build a new one, is missing, and the board of health is up a tree for a smallpox hospital. Judge Mattison, Evansville, acquitted Dr. Louis, charged with practicing medicine without a license, The judge held that as he cured by laying on his hands, be is not legally a physician. George W. Clapper, aged 82 years, died at Martinviile as a result of breaking his hip by falling several days ago. He had been a resident there more than fifty years and was a leading citizen. Peter Armstrong, who jumped from ■ second story window at Union City, in his desperate attempt to commit suicide, and splintered the bones of his leg, died after the injured member had been amputated. The street car lines of the Brazil Rapid Transit Company running from Brazil to Hammond have been sold to the Terre Haute Street Railway Company for $50,000. The latter is building a lipe from Terre Haute to Brazil to .connect with the lines purchased. ‘ Col. Alba M. Tucker of Elkhart died at Flint, Mich., at the age of 64. Webster Huff of Martin County was. shot and perhaps fatally wounded at Odon by Ben Borders. They quarreled over a game of poker, ifuff is a prominent Martin County politician. State Mine Inspector James Epperson made a report to the State geologist which shows that the coal mines of Indiana have produced a greater tonnage of coal this year than ever before. Last year the output was 5,146,920 tons. The increase over that amount for this year