Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1900 — FOUR PERSONS MEET DEATH AT POPLAR BLUFF, MO. [ARTICLE]

FOUR PERSONS MEET DEATH AT POPLAR BLUFF, MO.

Many Others Are Injured—Guests of Gifford House Forced to Leap from Upper Windows - Yonug Men liedared Not Guilty of Wise Murders. A fire accompanied with terrible fatality occurred at Poplar Bluff, Mo., resulting in the total destruction of the Gifford House, a large three-story frame building. Four persons are known to be dead, two were fatally injured and «ne is missing. The tire originated it) the rear of the hotel, and in a few minutes the building was a mass of flames. There were in the neighborhood <d forty-fire guests in the building. and the porter, the.only person awake in the hotel, was unable to give an alarm, the smoke and flames driving him back. The guests on the second and third floors were Caught like rats in a trap, the flames preventing their escape by the stairs, and they leaped from the second and third story windows. Many of the gnests had hair-breadth escapes and ran from the doomed building clad only in their night clothes, losing everything they possessed in the world. Numerous feats of heroism are recorded, and if Mate of the male guests had not aided the women the death list would be larger. The Gifford House was one of the oldest hotels in southeast Missouri, and had been considered a death-trap for a number of years. W. P. Norrid was the proprietor. He and his wife escaped, but lost everything. ~ WISE MURDER STILL A MYSTERY.

James Hardy and Elmer Miller Found Not Guilty of the Crime. James Hardy and Elmrr Miller, who hare been on trial at Anoka, Minn., charged with the murder of two members of tie Wise family, were found not gnflf.NM-Sv.Wise and a young son were kilf.j on the night of May 27 by shots tired through a window while they were seated about a table in their farmhouse near Anoka. William Wise, her husband, aud an older boy were very badlywounded, and have not yet recovered. Eliza Wise, 15 years old, made a confession, alleging that Miller and Hardy, who were, said to be lovers of herself and her sister, had planned to get rid of the old folks, In order that the girls might inherit the farm and a small sum of money. Defense rested its ease upon an alibi, and songht to discredit the testimony of the Wise sisters by alleging that they had been coached by detectives who were working for tiie large reward offered by the State.

TO SETTLE BOUNDARY LINE. United States and Canada Will Determine I ocation of Mines. Sidney Fisher, Dominion minister of agriculture, lias written a letter. It is said, stating that Canadian and American surveyors will officially locate the boundary line in the, disputed territory, comprising the valuable Mount Baker mining district. This work is to be begun as soon as the winter snow disappears. Dominion Surveyor Doane, sent : from Ottawa for the purpose, lias report- j ed that after an investigation he believes , that all the rich mines of the district, hitherto supposed to be well over the American boundary, are really in Canadian territorv. MOROCCO REFUSES TO PAY. JJncle Sam's Next Demand May Be Backed by Warship. ; The government of Morocco has again to meet the demands of the States for the payment, "f an Mhdemnity on account of the killing, by a mob, of Marcus Essagin, a naturalized fAmerican citizen. The State Departjf ment has come to the conclusion that the jf consul’s representations will be more ofI fective if he is supported morally by the ‘ presence in Moroccan waters of a United States warship. Honnkong Struck by n Typhoon. I A typhoon struck Hongkong and iraged for several hours. British river ■bmboat was sunk, but her crew are reto he sa/o. Croat damage and of life occurred among the nativi , rc.<at:t. Hk ■ Ohio Town Wiped Out. 'HHpe broke out in a business block at Ohio, aud over Si■■o,l)oo damugt faria done before the flames spent their force. The town is without tire protection ajnd it was practically wiped out. Henry Vilt ard Passes Away. Henry VUlard. the railroad magnate and fiiief.ffier, died at his summer reside»£e*t Dobbs Ferry. N. V. ll'w death. ja Ba id. was caused by cancer of the 'throat. His age was 05 years. Great Faria Fair Ended. The Paris exposition of 1900 closed its gates at midnight Monday in the midst of a perfect blaze of illuminations of every kind. _ Burglars Enter Two Banks. Burglars broke into two banks in Bar bourville, Ky., the other night, obtaining S3OO from one of them and notliiDg from the other. ' Robert Graham Dun Dies. *i n. G. Dun, head of the mercantile Agency firm of It. O. Dun & f 0., died in New York City of cirrhosis of the liver. Marcus Daly la Dead. Marcus Daly, the Montana copper '•Jting, died at the Hotel 'Netherlands, New York. . Pdllceman Kills a GWiftbler. At St. Joseph,' M<>./) flfiifce Officer. ■ Charles S. Scott shot and killed Thomas Smith, a gambler. The shooting took place in the bafnoow of the Commercial Club, ft Is alleged that Smith accusedgcott of Having had ou article published reflecting on him,,,’-., I Farmer Killed by Train.. Bennett Holman, , diked 55 years ' a lafominent fnriner, was iustpniiy killed Kfc'.;* Panhandle train at a crossing neat borne, east of Greenville, Ohio, while •• ■'W&Bm&.r j. .-A*.-,-. • .j-v