The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-08-09
News Items.

EXPresident johnson, impaired in bodily
yiror by the severity of his attack Of cholera
contcmplates sojournmcnt & weeks at some
Virginia watcringplace, where" says a
Tennessee paper lin breathing the pure airs
and in drinking the pure water, and in enjoy
inc the smiling landscape, we trust he may be
fully restored to his usual degree Of strength
and good health, and long live to adorn and
bless his day and generation.'
Professor Blake, of the United States Coast
Survey, who has established an observatory
at the Wisconsin University, at Madison,
made his first successful exchange of signals
with Omaha on Monday night of last week.
General Bushrod Johnson was robbed of
his gold watch and chain while doing in
his room at the Southern Hotel, Linchburg,
Va, early last Thursday evening.
On the 9th inst, sad accident happened
on the main line of the c., b. q G. railroad
near Napervile. The Dubuque Express
came along past Aurora 81 minutes behind
time, Conductor Williams, not our Williams
of the o. O. & +, r. V. branch and was aid
vlscd by telegraph, that the line was occupi-
cd by an extra freight running east, in charge
of Conductor Briggs, but either through car
lcssncss. or want of knowledge of his duties,
Williams went on and increased his speed
so as to make up for lost time, and when
rounding curve at the point indicated sud
denly came upon and ran into the freight
train In the cabOosc were seated at the time
Conductor Arthur Briggs, Frank A. Adams
brakeman, and several cattle drovers from
Iowa and Nebraska.
Conductor Briggs and one Of the Iowa men
were instantly killed, while four Others,
whose names could not be learned, were scri-
ously though not fatally bruised, one ofthe lat
ter receiving several ugly wounds about the
face and shoulders
It appears mlraculou, that any of the cccu-
pants Of the caboose escaped instant death,
when the facts are stated that the engine of
the express was completely wrecked and the
caboOse literally torn into splintcrs.
The engineer and fireman Of the express
uUlH, S'fli9 llltl 'A''ilNi Nv ~
vous to the occurrence, and being unable to
prevent it, jumped in time to save their lives,
but receiving severe internal injuries, the re
suits of which may yet prove fatal.
The passengers and others who escaped un-
injured applied themselves to the task of
saving the demolished train and its dead and
helpless victims from the flames that were
rapidly commencing their destructive work.
When the wreck of the freight train was par
tally cleared away, Brgg' the conductor
and the unknown cattle dealer, were found to
be quite dead and their bodies badly manglcd,
while the brakeman and others who were in
the caboose at the time OF the accident, were
all more or less severely injured.
Conductor Briggs lived at Aurora, and left
wife and four children, and was highly re-
spectcd. Williams was discharged, and we
supposc that settles all question Of damages
or of the terrible cOE.sssAAes Of the crime,
and the criminal, for there were both in his
case.
\ subsequent Investigation places the
blame. or some OF II, bll tL' Hl4v"lN'iH vi 81
cheap telegraph operator, who blundcred in
giving message of instruction to conductor
Williams.
\ band Of wolves have taken possession Of
the poorhouse at Oskaloosa, Kansas.
Complaints have been fled in the United
States district and criminal courts of Mime
sofa against the cities 4 Hasting- and Red
wing, to recover all The money paid for
wharfage to said cities by The Northwestern
Union Packet company in The years 1870, Il
and - This tax has been paid by the com
panv during the time specified under protest
and with the objcc: Of the present suits, and
these will Je followed by like suits against
Davenport, Dialogue, DuEieiL, Burlington,
Quincy. Alton, Nz.csszs, st. Thomas, Cairo,
Pittsburgh. Cincinnati. Louisville, Memphis
Vick,uurr. New Orleans, and other points
where the TAX has been paid under protest. IN
the state Of Iowa these suits will be brought
IN Tho state court. because nc company ! in