Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1902 — From THE FOUR QUARTERS OF THE EARTH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

From THE FOUR QUARTERS OF THE EARTH

FIRE ROBS WOMAN OF LIFE. Mrs. Amelia Ericson Feared Marauders and Locked Herselfln. Fear of burglars is believed to have cost Mrs. Amelia Ericson her life in Chicago. She was burned to death in her home in a fire caused by the explosion of a gasoline stove. Her cries for help were heard by members, of a family in the same building, but they were unable to be of assistance because all the doors leading into the apartments occupied by Mrs. Ericson were locked. By the time the police and the fire department arrived and broke down the doors Mrs. Ericson was dead. Mrs. Ericson had been left alone in her flat for some time during the days, and recently she had expressed fears of being a victim of burglars. Usually she kept the doors of her apartments securely locked. Just how the explosion occurred which caused the woman’s death is not known. It Is believed that she was attempting to light a burner of the stove when it exploded, and her clothing was covered with burning oil. KIDNAPER CAUSES A PANIC. Nebraska Man Steals His Own Child in Omaha, but Is Arrested Later. J. B. Evards, a merchant of, Kearney. Neb., kidnaped-his U-yearokTchild from the custody of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Dodder, of Omaha. He put the child into n waiting carriage and drove rapidly to Council Bluffs. The streets were crowded and the sensational carrying away of the child caused great excitement. Mr. Dodder was alighting from a street car and a stranger assisted the child from the car. Instead of putting her down he passed the little girl to Evards, who forced her into the carriage nud lashed the horses. Evards was arrested in Council Bluffs. He agreedto return to Omaha, where he will institute habeas corpus proceedings. Evards and his wife have not lived together for some time and the kidnaping- is the result of an effort of both to secure possession of the child.

VAN LOAD OF GOOD? STOLEN.

Merchandise Valued at $15,000 and the Driver of the Wagon Disappear. A van loaded with silks, feathers, millinery, furs, and general merchandise, said to be worth _ $J5,000, sent out by the American Express Company for wholesale houses in New York City to retailers in New Jersey, is reported to have been looted. ' Detectives on the case have found the horses and vehicle in New York City, but no trace of the goods or driver can be secured. The driver was not one of the company’s employes, but was furnished, with the conveyance, by a delivery company. The fact that the goods had not been delivered at their destination was learned only when complaints from the retailers had been transmitted to the wholesale houses.

Powder-House Blows Up.

Two men are dead and four others seriously injured as the result of an explosion in the powder house at the mouth of Japan tunnel, Telluride, Colo. All the buildings around the tunnel were wrecked. Santiuo Marta, who was thawing powder in the powder house, stepped out of the building for a moment, and the powder, becoming heated, exploded, the concussion setting off the entire supply of several hundred pounds.

Body Under Ice in the Ditch.

The frozen body of John Neavaney, a farm laborer, who had been missing for a week, was found under the ice in a ditch near Cole, Mich., by a fellow laborer of the. name of Jenks, with whom Neavaney had quarreled over money due the two men. There are suspicions of foul play. Dutch Offer Refused. The British government replied to Dr. Kuyper, the Dutch premier, that if the Boers in the field desired to negotiate for peace, negotiations can be entered into, but only in South Africa. The British government adheres to its intention not to accept the intervention of any foreign power. Plot to Kill Empress Dowager. News of a most extensive conspiracy to assassinate the Empress Dowager of China and members of her court and foment widespread rebellion, which was to involve the whole Chinese empire, was received in Victoria. B. C., by the steamer Gleuesk. Van Sant Asks Appropriation. In a message to the Minnesota Legislature, in special session. Gov. Van Sant outlined his plans for fight against the Great Northern Railroad consolidation, expressed belief that the present State laws are adequate and asked appropriation with which to carry on litigation. freight Goes Through Trestle. Two dead ami three badly injured is'the result of a freight train* going through a trestle on the Gauley Railroad near Berry’s Siding, W. Va. The engine and- several cars crashed through the trestle to the ground many feet below. English Commons Excited. British House of Commons is excited by a statement that English agent, buying American horses for South African service, had been offered the services of the chief horse expert Of the United States army. • ' Fire in Akron, Ohio. The feed store of Peterson & Wright at Akron, Ohio, was damaged $30,000 by fire. The origin of the fire is unknown. Insurance SIO,OOO. British Ixmmcm to Jan. 31. British losses in the Boer wait up to Jan. 31, as officially, given ent. reach a total of 105.041 casualties, including surviving wounded. Explosion Kills Twelve in Chicago. Twelve lives w»-re lost and a score of persona injured in an explosion that demolished two buildings and blew out the

fronts of a dozen other structures in Archer avenue, Chicago. Otto Trostel’s entire family of seven was wiped out. Street cars were lifted from the rails, gas mains blew up and sent steel and iron manhole covers crashing through space, flame mounted high at a dozen points and panic reigned for almost an hour. GIVES UP RICH ORE PROPERTY. Steel Combine Surrenders Land Acquired Through Error. An important agreement has been reached between the United States Steel Corporation and the State of Minnesota. It is an adjustment of a controversy that was inherited by the steel corporation when it took over the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad. Several—years ago, through an error by the attorneys for the State and the railroad, the State conveyed to the road 45,079 acres of State institution land. Title was made absolute to the road by decree of court. The State had no right to convey State institutional land. The officials of the road have formally agreed to transfer these lands back to the State and select other lands in lieu of them. Ou the land that was. conveyed to the road by mistake were three iron mines worth many millions of dollars, and which will yield the State not less than $1,000,000 a year in royalties.' PAYS AFTER FORTY YEARS. Scuds Boyhood Friend SIO in Letter, So He May Die in Peace. For over forty years, haunted by the memory of a small crime committed when a boy, and making reparation in his old age that he might die in peace, is the story revealed in a letter received by Albert Morse of Bowling Green, Ohio. The letter contained a draft on n Chicago bank for $lO, and the writer stated that over forty years ago, when they were boys together, he had stolen the $lO from Morse when Morse was sleeping, and that the burden of guilt on his soul was such that he could not die in peace. Mr. Morse never knew he had lost $lO that way.

KEELEY INSTITUTE BURNS.

Hotel Also Reduced to Ashes—Total Damage Estimated at $500,000. The city of Dwight, 111., suffered a $300,000 fire Joss Tuesday. The great laboratory of the Keeley Institute and other buildings were completely destroyed, together with the Livingston hotel. The hotel was a fine brick and stone structure, and was owned and controlled. by the Keeley company. Ail of the guests and employes escaped without injury, with the exception of a colored cook, who was bruised by jumping from a second-story window. The fire started around the boDefs used for lieating purposes in the main building of the Keeley company.

Fire Razes $75,000 Plant.

The $75*000 plant of the Wireton Heating Company at Wireton, a Chicago suburb, was burned to the ground. Not a drop of waterother than that supplied by. a bucket brigade was thrown on the ‘flames. Engines went to the blaze from Blue Island, a mile and a half away, but the firemen were helpless. The village water supply comes from wells. Tom L. Johnson Loses Case. The Supreme Court put an end to Tom L. Johnson's effort to secure a higher appraisement of the railway property of Ohio. The court handed down a decision sustaining the demurrer of the Attorney General to his petition and -dismissing the same. Stores and Residences Burn. A disastrous fire at Mentone, Ind., wiped out half the business portion of the town, causing a loss on buildings and stock of $40,000 to $50,000, on which there was but little4nsurance. A whole block of stores and two residences were destroyed. Killed by Nitroglycerin. By an explosion of nitroglycerin at the works of the Cerebite Manufacturing Company at Landover, Md., Superintendent Richard Martin was instantly killed ami. two workmen injured. The cause of the explosion is unknown. Helen Hay In Married. u One of the most important social events of the season in Washington took place at noon Thursday, when Miss Helen Hay, daughter of Secretary and Mrs. Hay, was married to Payne Whitney of New York City.

Direct Vote Plan la Lost.

The Ohio House of Representatives by almost a strict party vote defeated a resolution by Representative Carle calling upon Congress to authorize the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people.

Fire In Indianapolis. Fire in tho large four-story building in Pennsylvania street, Indianapolis, occupied by the When Clothing Company, did about $50,000 damage to building and contents. The greater part of the loss falls on the clothing company. Chile Buys Armored Cruisers. It is reported that the Chilean Government has signed a contract for the construction of two armored cruisers. This report obtains credence because Argentina has contracted for the building of three battle ships in European shipyards. Dies After Prise Fight. At Yokohama. Pugilist JackJWavln and a negro named E. F. Pad more gave a boxing exhibition which proved so tame that the sports were angry. Lgter Padmore. who was attached to the United States hospital corps, died. Murderer Is Hanged. Gov. McMillin of Tennessee has refused Io commute the death sentence of Armstrong Hensley, convicted of murdering his stepdaughter, and be has been hanged at Erwin, Tenn. ‘ y-

DIVORCED WIFE AS SERVANT. Mrs. Elliott Is Atoning for Her Folly— Ran Off With Coachman. Alfred F. Elliott, a’ wealthy resident of Cadiz, Ohio, has his divorced wife working for him as a servant. She ran away with his coachman a year ago. Then the man deserted her and she came back to beg her husband's forgiveness. He would not give her this, but agreed to engage her a? a paid servant, because “the children Would find her useful.” Mrs. Elliott accepted the situation thankfully. She takes the orders of her husband and her children more humbly than if she were a servant girl engaged in the ordinary way. Not only does Mrs. Elliott humbly take orders from the family, but also from the cook. She helps in the witchen, cleans her husband’s and her children’s shoes, waits at table and generally acts as a maid of all work. She is a refined and educated woman.’ Her former husband and the children address her as “Mary” while she always says “Sir” to Elliott. The children have been told that they must never speak to her or of her as their mother.

SUICIDE TRIES THREE WAYS.

■Woman Student in Philadelphia Fine Art School Ends Life. Belinda Riordan,’ aged 30 years, whose home is at Troy, ‘N*. Y., a student in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, in Philadelphia, was found dead in her rooms at a boarding house, having committed suicide. In the breast over the heart of the body were three gashes inflicted by a painter’s palette knife and beside the body lay an empty phial that had contained carbolic acid. A tube, one end of which was attached to a gas stove with the other end resting beside the dead woman’s face, indieated that she had also inhaled illuminating gas. Miss Riordan, who was a tall,.handsome blonde, studied at the Academy of Fine Arts during the terms of 1897 anef 1898 2nd returned to tho school last year.

NEW CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.

Washington Institution Intended to

Educate Priests for "Missionaries. The first news of a new Catholic university, to be built and established in Washington, D. C„ at a cost of $150,000, was given out at Alton, 111.. by Rev. Father Walter Elliott, rector of the St. Thomas- College in Washington. The purpose of the university will be to educate young priests, already admitted to the priesthood, to do missionary work among the non-Catholics of the United States, and insular missions in the Philippines and Porto Rico. Priests who have finished the priesthood can enter the school, and after a three years’ course will beadmittedtp missionary list.

Settles Young’s Shortage.

The bond company which was surety for the late Stuart R. Yoiing, formerly city treasurer of Louisville, who committed suicide last November after a shortage in his accounts had been discovered, sent to Mayor Grainger a check for $42,404, covering the entire amount of the shortage, with the exceptioti of $332, which was paid by Col. Bennett H. Young, father of the dead official. Balloon Voyage Is Fatal. Captain Tartsch von Siegfield, the military aeronaut, and Dr. Linke, who left Berlin on a short experimental trip, were carried away by a gale and reached Antwerp after it five hours' voyage, when the balloon collapsed. Capt. von Siegheld was killed, but Dr. Linke escaped with several bruises. Kill Sheriff in Battle. Robbers blew up the safe of the Bank of Clarksville at Clarksville, Ark., with dynamite, stole a sum estimated at s<»,000, killed John Towers, sheriff of Johnson County, who attempted to capture them, and escaped before the citizens were aware of their presence. Wyoming Laws of No Effect. The discovery has been made that every law enacted by the last Wyoming Legislature which met a year ago is invalid, for the reason that the bills were not read and recorded properly in the lower house. Seventeen Years for Chism. At Bloomington, 111., the jury in the Chism wife-murder case returned a ver-, diet of imprisonment for seventeen years. The estate of the murderer is estimated at a quarter of a piillion .dollars, and he did not spare money during his trial. Gale on Atlantic Coast. Shipping all along the Atlantic coast has suffered from the recent gale, and severe snow and wind storms in all the Eastern States have crippled railroad traffic, isolated towns and interfered with electrical communication.

Falling Walls Crash Firemen.

Nineteen firemen were killed under the falling walls of a five-story awning factory in St. Louis, fire esusing the walls to crumble. Several men were injured and the monetary loss amounts to SIOO,000.

Illinois Building on Fire. The Illinois building st the Charleston exposition was discovered on fire Thursday morning and narrowly escaped destruction. The damage will amount to several hundreds of dollars. TenneMre Negro Lynched. Euless Whittaker, colored, charged with the murder of John Doster, was taken from jail at Lynchburg, Tenn., and hanged by a mob. Youfag Heads War College. Gen. 8. M. Young has been selected by the Secretary of War to be president of the Army War College. Special Legislative Mession. The special session of the Minnesota Legislature. called by proclamation of Got. Vu Sant, Is now In session.