The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-04-19


Madison and Indianapolis Railroads.
The Madison Courier. of March 3Oth.
says : i, becomes our painful task to re-
cord one of the mos. heart-rending catas-
trophies that ever took place in our vicini-
ty, or perhaps in the state, and which has
cast over our citizens a deep feeling Of
sorrow and regret On Thursday evening
last about 4 o'clock collision of the
passenger and wood cars took place on
the incline plane, when they were about
halfway down the descent, by which the
former was slowed to pieces, two persons
Instantly killed, third SO horribly man
gled that he died in a few hours-a fourth
killed instantaneously by jumping from
the car before the crush-and some ten or
twelve more or less dangerously wound
ed. The following are the names Of the
unfortunate men who were killed: Thorn
as Bondurant, ofthis county Mr.. Ehoch,
of Bloomington, Ia; Gilbert During. of
Brownslown, Ia; Eli Branson, of Bel
mont county, Ohio. .-.
Those most seriously wounded, though
it is hoped not fatally, are, Mr.. John Ro-
berts, clerk at the Railroad Depot, in this
city, and Miss Craig, daughter of J. J.
Craig, living on Big Creek, who had her
RICH, foot and leg crushed in so shocking
a manner that amputation was immediate
ly necessary; we learn that she went
through the tyring ordeal with lirmness.
and is doing well. MIR. Roberts had his
leg broken, and was otherwise much in
jured. Mr.. ]. Lodge, the conductor of
the train, received severe confusion
on the head, and several others, whose
names we have not been able to learn,
were bruised or cut on the body or
head in fact we believe no individual
on the car at the time of the dread concus-
sion escaped, except the wife of Mr.. Ro-
, beris and his two children. We learn
, tina, they escaped almost unharmed, which
? appears almost miracuous--Une Of the
:. children, however, probably owed its
$ preservation TO The heroic conduct of
I Mr. Hunter. of Versailles, who seiz-
ed it the moment of the crush, and for
' tuna,ely escaped, but with severe con-
i fusion on the head
: From the St. CIa'rsy.l.e (O.) uaz., March %.
Horrible Harder.
We are called on to record an awful
crime in our community, perpetrated I'M
!, der circumstances that are truly appalling.
On Friday morning last. at about 10
n o'clock, George Weeks Of this place, &C
" cording to his own voluntary statement
J. before W. Jones, Esq and others, shot a
n colored man. named Edward Woods. A
= slight quarrel arose on account of the ne
h gro getting employment at place Weeks
n deemed he had secured. A few words
S followed, W. incensed Edward, and the
/, latter gave George the lie. Weeks went
l. to Mr.. Smiths North of town. and bor-
A rowed gun, returned to the stable Of Mr..
T. Martin, where Edward was at work, and
l. shot him with slugs, in the right breast;
: pieces of the slugs, like pounded shot,
IL were, on examination, taken from the
y heart and abdomen. Two ribs were frac-
ia ,ured by the charge in the gun. Weeks
l. persisted for 2 or 3 days in saying he
st would kill the negro. if alive, and that he
s. intended to do so the day before the aw-
e full deed. When arrested by Sheriff
!. Simpson. he made no resistance, and on
} examination before w. Jones, Esq. was
r. sent to Jail, and the grand jury then in
IS session found "A true bill agains! him for
s. murder but to which, on Monday morn
IS ing, he plead not gully.
c Weeks was not quarrelsome in dispo-.
e silion; but we suppose he would harbor
IS enmily long time, if offended. Power
e ~ and rum have made life burdensome,
= and hence the recklessness with which he
II perpelrated the horrible crime.
t, The murdered negro was one OF the
1t most inoGensive we ever knew; he kept
his place, was kindly disposed, and be-
d meaned himself better than blacks in gen.
d eral. Weeks will be tried in the Com
6 mon Pleas in June. ...
, Hon. John Wenfworih.-Now comes
:, the Lion of the West; Mr.. Wentworth
= being the tallest man ever known IN Con-
gress, viz. seven feet in height. and yet
so very uncommon tall, as one would ex-
: pec,, although he is rather slender IN
= size. Mr.. w. is new member from llll-
+" nos, and has quite commanding appear
l. ance he is young, no, mucltoyer the le-
10 gal age, and a we'll formed figure; his
!. face is ovel and full, rather so. with u
~ strictly Grecian forehead. Of remarkable
&c beauty, and is the leading feature in his
u face. It's outline is angular, very deep,