Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1901 — Page 1

THE RENSSELAER SEMI-WEEKLY REPUBLICAN.

VOL XXII NO. 83

House Wrecked By Lightning.

A house in the extreme northeast part of town occupied by Joseph Lone;, the depot barber, was struck by lightning at about three o’clock p. m. Tuesday. Mrs. Long and her two children were at the home of her parents, who live one door south. The house was quite completely wrecked, the shingles being torn off the south side of the roof, the lightning spreading and running all over the house knocking off all the plastering and tearing the foot of a bedstead upstairs all to pieces.

Severe Winds at Parr

The sudden summer storm of Monday evening appears to have been much severer at Parr than here. It not only rained and blew very hard but there was also some hail. Some considerable damage was done. John McCurtain’s new house, only partly completed, was moved off its foundations. Alfred See’s house was wrenched and twisted, and John Garriot’s barn was torn in pieces. Oats and rye in that neighborhood were laid flat.

Had a Needle in Her Heel.

The ten-year-old daughter of Wm. Wilcox, living near Aix, stepped on an upended needle Monday, and the sharp steel was entirely embeded in the heel of her left foot. The needle was threaded and her father sought to remove it by pulling on the thread, but the thread broke. She was then brougt to town and the physician who cared for the case found it necessary tgfechloroform the patient and to lance the heel before the needle could be removed. It was 1| inches in length.

Tile Maker’s are Prosperous.

jtThe old Alter tile factory north of town, now owned jointly by G. W. Wolfe and Harry Alter and managed by the former, furnishes employment* for.about ten hands now and there is a demand for all the tile they can manufacture. Land draining continues with unceasing earnestness and the prospects are good for a great demand for tile the coming year.

Former Resident Married.

The Bucklin, Kansas, Banner of June 28th, contains an extended account of the marriage cf Miss Mery Evaline Coons to Mr. Howard B. Bryan. The bride is a sister of Mrs. James Pierce of this place, and is well known here, where she has previously visited. The groom is a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. Mr. and Mrs* Bryan were the recipients of a large number of valuable presents.

Ice for Summer.

I have my ioe house filled with good ice, am now ready to furnish customers with ice for the summer at reasonable prices. O. 0. 8t abb

To Spend the Summer. Aunt Samantha is spending the summer at Starrs, the up-to-date grocer. Call and see her. < * ;GOOD BfNDBH FOB SALK. McCormick Binder good as new at a bargain, only cut 49 acres of grain Inquire at J. C. Hinkle farm 5 miles northeast of Rensselaer. Fine Residence Site For Bale. For sale, very cheap, a half acre tract, in N. W. part of town. Plenty of shade and fruit trees, and a fine flowing well. A fine site or a residence. Enquire of Abe War tena, at Renickers’ blacksmith shop. Oocoanut taffy, newsboy lemon gems, iced Homestead cookies, lemon cream biscuit, fig-bar, chocolate creams are all fresh at Starrs

The Capital’s Big Cop.

There is a standing rivalry between cities of the country, as to which has the biggest policeman. There was a measuring up time a while back, and Indianapolis pinned its faith to Sergeant Green Hagerman, who measured six feet five in his sox. He was not in it however with some of the other cities’ giant cops. But the city has kept its eye peeled for peelers, and now it has one that is 6 feet 7| inches, and large otherwise in proportion. It is John A. Hanlon, believed to be the biggest policeman in America, and perhaps in the world. He weighs 275 pounds, chest measures 50 inches, arms spread wide enough to simultaneously collar a coon on opposite corners, wears No. 12 shoes, and has hands like unto an elephant’s foot in size. He has been in the U. S. Navy for years and was on the Oregon on its great run from San Francisco around to Florida, and was still with her in the memorable scrap with Cervera off Santiago harbor. o

Wholesale Lightning Slaughter.

Eleven persons, one a man and the other ten boys, were killed by a single bolt of lightning in Chicago Monday. They had been fishing in the lake and the rain had driven them to shelter in a little zinc-lined shanty. There were 12 in the party and all but one, a lad of 12 years, were killed. When they were discovered their bodies and limbs were twisted and tangled together “like a nest of snakes.” It is the greatest number ever known to have been killed by a single bolt of lightning.

Col. Tom Has a Tumble.

Col. Tom McCoy boarded the northbound 6:32 train Monday evening enroute to Chicago and as he did so noticed that his son Taylor, who was returning home from Lafayette, had left the rear coach. Desiring to greet him he stepped off the train hurriedly and his right foot missed the platform and he was thrown down with great force, but fortunately was not seriously injured. The handle was broken off his umbrella and he sustained a few slight brdises but not sufficient to prevent him from continuing his journey to the city.

New Branch for C. & E. I.

The Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad is arranging to build a branch east from Milford to Benton county, to have its terminus within 9 miles of Fowler. The road will be built to accommodate farmers who now have to haul their grain so many miles to market. Three elevators will be constructed on the new road, one at the eastern terminus. The road will be completed by October Ist.

The Ranking Mason.

Congressman James D. Richardson of Tennessee is now the world’s ranking Free Mason, and as sovereign grand master he will receive a salary of >3,000 a year the remainder of his life and have a right to oocupy the official residence, “Holy House of the Temple,’’ in Washington. His position will give him a Masonic superiority over King Edward VII, of England, and President Diaz, of Mexico.

The Nickel Plate Road.

Offers low excursion rates to Denver, Colorado Springs, GlenWood Springs Col; Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah; Hot Sdrings 8. Dakota; St. Paul and Duluth, Minn. Tickets on sale from June 18th to Sept. 10th, good to return until Oct. §lst. Write, wire, ’phone or call on nearest agent or R. J. Hamilton, Agent, Ft, Wayne, Ind, dw-SeplO

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA. FRIDAY JULY 5, 1901,

The State Pays $300,000.

The State of Indiana paid $300,000 on its debt Monday. For several months the State officers have hoped that amount might be paid but so largp a payment was not obligatory at this time, the taking up of the bonds being optional until 1909. When State Auditor Hart returned from his three weeks’ stay in the east, last Saturday, he immediately signed and forwarded checks for the $300,000 to Winslow Lanier & Co., Indiana’s financial agents in New York, with instructions to pay off so much of the debt J uly Ist. The Auditor makes the statement that before Governor Durbin goes out of office all of the $2,600,000 of bonds whose payment by the State is optional before the bonds are due, will be paid. It is probable that another $300,000 will be paid on the debt next January. Auditor Hart, who is the State’s bookkeeper, says the State is in good financial condition.

Isaac A. Weil, aged 68 years, died Monday morning at 5:30 o’clock at his home in Peoria 111. He is the father of Dr. A. Weil, who married Sarah Tuteur, and who is quite well known here. The elder Weil has visited here a number of times also, but not for about Bor 9 years. Moses Tuteur and daughter Hattie went to Peoria this Tuesday morning to be present at the funeral which will probably be held Wednesday.

Since Monday, July Ist, it has been unnecessary to place revenue stamps on telegrams, bank checks, money orders and many other instruments lees frequently used. On the day prior, also, all the remaining volunteer soldiers were mustered from the service, the government thus fullfilling its promise to the patriot sons who answered the call for service made necessary by our new possessions.

John R. Ward, of Monticello, present Adjt. General of the state of Indiana, and well known here, was married on Wednesday of last week to Miss Bertha Hull, of Monticello. After a visit in Washington, New York and at the Buffalo exposition, they will go to Indianapolis, their future home.

Polled Angus For Sale. For sale, a full blood yearling Polled Augus bull, a very fine animal. Call on or address, W. R. Bbown, lw2t Pleasant Grove, Ind I want a wide-awake, energetic man, of business ability, to represent the Equitable Life Insurance Society of the U. 8., in this locality; splendid opening for right party. Address, W. E. Schilling, General Agent, d6wl Laporte, Ind. The ice-cream soda fountain now running at Goff’s restaurant Since June 1 we have concluded not to issue ten ride tickets, so remember bus fare is the same to everyone. 15c or two rides for 25c. John Jones Joe Jackson. Ice For Sale. Ice for sale, delivered to any part of the city. ’Phone 256. M. P. Wabneb. J. P. Warner has employed A. O. Harrington an expert horse shoer and plow workman- Give him a call. The Rensselaer Decorating Co. are prepared to do all kinds of first Class Painting, Paperhanging and Kalsomining on short notice. Drop them a card for estimates, docl

Death of Isaac Weil.

Stamps Off and Soldier’s Out.

General Johnny Ward is Wed.

Havoc of the Lightning.

The lightning hit in more separate places in Jasper county Tuesday than was ever known in one day before in the history of the county. That no one was killed was only due to a lucky accident. The latter part of the above remark refers to the case of the Jos eph Long house, in Rensselaer, northeast of the depot, the striking of which is described in another place. It was only a lucky accident that Mrs. Long, her two children and her mother Mrs. Joe Rowen, were not in the house at the time, in which case it is practically certain that everyone of them would have been killed, instantly, the extent to which the lightning filled and riddled the whole house, is proof of that fact. Mrs. Rowen who lives close by had intended to go to Mrs. Long’s to assist her in pitting a quantity of cherries, but just before Mrs. Rowen was ready to go, Mrs. Long and her children repaired to Mrs. Rowen’s douse instead. In five minutes more, Mrs. Rowen says, she would have gone to Mrs. Long’s. The house is frightfully wrecked, and not a room but shows in many places the fearful force of the lightning. Not only is the plastering knocked off, but the doors and window caseings are all torn loose, and in various places the side boards of the house are also. The house belongs to J. W. Meharry, now of Mt. Ayr. In Remington Mrs. Will Broadie had a narrow escape, The lightning entered on the telephone wire. She was paralyzed from her hips down, but recovered in an hour or two. Considerable damage was done at Fountain Park also, by lightning that came by telephone. At Parr, which gets all the bad storms, lightning struck a tree two rods from Charles Martin’s barn, and four from his house, and killed his two horses, which were under the tree. John Carlin, who lives right close to Parr als had a horse killed, that was in a pasture. Both are poor men and a subscription for their benefit is being raised, at Parr. George Conaway, on the Mark Hemphill farm, some 4 miles north of Rensselaer, had his best horse killed. The lightning entered the barn at the window and killed this horse and seemingly did not harm at all another horse in the same stall. The largest single property loss we have heard of, occurred to Martin Cain, m Jordan tp , about five miles northwest of Remington. He had a good new barn struck and burned. The horses and most of the other contents were saved.

The Railroad Election.

The election on the proposition to vote a subsidy of the equivalent of one per cent, to the Chicago and Toledo Transfer Railway Co., takes place here, next Monday, July Bth. The amount asked for is so moderate in comparison with the benefits to be derived from the road, if built, that there seems to be no opposition at all, that is diacoverable.

Are You Going to New York.

Beginning on July Ist, the Nickel Plate Road will sell excursion tickets to New York City at reduced rates with a liberal stop off allowed at Buffalo to visit the Pan American Exposition, No excess fares are charged on any of our trains, tickets may be procur ed good going and returning via different routes if desired- Write, wire, ’phone or call on nearest agent, or C. A. Asterlin, T. P. A., Ft. Wayne, Ind, July 15

Try the Thompson-Ried make of Chicago ice-cream, at VicksNothing finer in the city.

County Commissioners Proceeding.

Michael Bernioken and John McGlinn were eacji granted saloon license for Wheatfield. W. J. Wright’s bond as county coroner was filed and accepted. Trustees Arnold, of Barkley and Bellows, of Carpenter, each ask for two new bridges. J. E. Troyer was apppointed engineer to prepare plans for the same. Trustee Bellows was also granted further aid for the poor in his township. J. E. Tryon was appointed to make plans forboth wood and iron for three bridges asked for in Wplkertp., by Trustee L. P. Shirer. The Keener tp., gravel road matter was continued. J. N. Leatherman, C. M. Blue, C. J. Dean, and J. D- Babcock were appointed inspectors for their respective precincts forjthe railroad election of next Monday. Jesse N. Jenkins petition for highway in Barkley tp. J. W. Cowden, John M. Wasson and John C. Porter appointed viewers. John Armstrong, et al, petitioned for a ditch in Walker tp. Wm, Daniels, Frank Baker and Lucius Strong appointed viewers. E. M. Fairchilds, et al, petitioned for a highway in Keener tp Jacob Hann, Henry Feldman and David Gleason appointed viewers. B. J. Gifford, et al, petitioned for highway, John Pettit, Isaac Warner and John O’Connor appointed viewers.

The Cigar Factory Organized.

The Jakey Hopkins cigar factory is a sure thing. We speak of it as the ‘‘Jakey Hopkins” factory, because Jakey is to be the manager thereof. As yet the factory has not been named. The company was organized Tuesday evening, at a meeting for the purpose at McCoy’s bank. The capital stock is SI ,000, held in sums of SIOO each by the following 10 persons: G. W. Goff, A. F. Long, J. A. Hopkins, T. J. McCoy, Geo. Hopkins, G. E. Murray, B. F. Fendig, George A. Strickfaden, Henry Hildebrand, Delos Thompson. The company was organized as follows: Geo. W. Goff, President. A. F. Long, Vice President. J. A. Hopkins Sec. and Manager. T. J. McCoy, Treasurer. The company will be duly incorporated, and a down town factory opened at once. The factory will be put in operation as soon as it can possibly be done. They will make only the best grade of cigars and expect thereby to work up a good and permanent business. The company is looking about for a good name for the factory, and no doubt will handsomely re* ward anyone who will suggest a satisfactory name.

Band Concert.

O wing to the fact that a number of the band boys will be away on 4th of July, the band concert has been postponed until Friday evening July sth for this week only. The following program wil then be carried out. March Bos’n Rag Medley National Ain Fantasia Day Dream Waltz Venetian Blood Selection Hodge Podge Caprice First Heart Throbs March Gayest Darktown Finale Let’s Be Friends

For Rent —A suite of Rooms over Porter & Randle’s store. Call on Mrs. Imes or at the Commercial State BankTry Vick’s for ice-cream- He has the Thompson-Reid make. It can't be beat For sale, good second-hand baby carriage. For name of owner enquire at this office.

Regular Weekly Edition

A Tremendous Rain.

A rain and thunder storm which passed south over a portion of Jasper county Tuesday, about noon and was a moderately severe storm in Rensselaer, increased greatly in magnitude as it went southward, and through Jordan and Carpenter townships was a regular deluge, almost entitled to be called a cloud burst. In Remington daring the hour which the rain lasted there were exactly three inches of rainfall, as shown in three separate measurements, in as many straight sided vessels; and it seemed likely that a few miles north from Remington the rainfall, was still greater. There was considerable wind with the rain, and also some hail. The electrical features of the storm were equally unusual, and there was a constant repitition of terrible thunder claps, indicating lighning strokes in the near vicinity. No doubt many such occurred in every direction, and the evidence that they did is seen alongthe south half of the road between Remington and Rensselaer, where the Jasper County Telephone Company’s poles were struck in four or five widely separated places, and the Halleck line at least once. From one to three jyfles are shattered at each place. At another place a large oak tree near the road was torn absolutely to fragments by a lightning stroke. For long distances the road which in the morning was entirely dry, in the evening was from a few inches to two feet under water. One of these stretches, in Jordan tp., was over a quarter of a mile in length, and in places so deep that the water would come into the buggy boxes. Great damage was done in low places by the flooding of meadows, oats and corn fields. In many places there would be regular lakes 30 or 40 acres in extent, where, in the morning, were promising fields of oats, com or hay.

K. of P. Officers Installed.

Rensselaer Lodge, No. 83 Knights of Pythias, installed the following new officers Tuesday evening. B. F. Ferguson C. C, W.B.Parks. V. C. L. H, Hamilton Prelate J.F. Bruner M. of W. Geo. O. Bales M. of A. R. B. Porter L G. Harry Kresler O. G Harry B. Murray is represetative to the grand lodge which meets in October. . Fine fresh California peaches and apricots, the first of the season at Vick’s.

To West and Northwest.

From July Ist to 9th and from Sept. Ist to 10th, the Monon Route will sell tickets to Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, at >28.55 round trip. Final limit Oct 31st From June 18th to 30th and July 10th to Aug. 31st, same points >33.10 round trip, Tickets on same dates for Hot Springs 8. Dak., St- Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth, Minn., at correspondingly low rates. Also to other Dakota, Colorado and Utah points. For further information call on

W. H. BEAM, Agent

Reduced Rates to New York.

Commencing July Ist the Nickel Plate Road will sell excursion tickets to New York City at reduced rates with a liberal stop over privilege at Buffalo, thus giving ample time to visit the Pan American Exposition, tickets may be procured good going and returning via different routes if desired. Write, wire, ’phone or call on nearest agent or C. A. Asterlin, T. P. A, Fort Wayne, Ind. July 15