The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-03-01

sernal, Attic ugh thesevere concussion may
have slightly affected his brair.
THE NEWS AT CHICAGO.
SCENES OF soRRow-sKETCHEs OF THE DE-
CEASED.
The Times tells how the news was re-
ceived at Chicago, and sketches the vic
TINS of the tragedy: The appearance upon
the bulletin board on Change, at about
noon on yesterday, OF q telegram from
accident. was the signal for q very general
outbreak Of excitement. The dis
pa,ch was not very full, but its
statement that Mr.. Bissell and his son
were dead aud that several other
Chicago parties were injured was quite
sufficient to break the ordinary routine of
business with a shudder of anxiety for
those who might be among the hurt, and
OF surprised sorrow for those who were
certainly gone. Private kilograms OF in
quiiy were Immediately forwarded to
various members OF the board, the an
swsrs to which sci az rest all fear that the
loss OF life had been greater than at frat
stated, though they confirmed the 10
telligence regarding Mr.. Bssell, ard
sad intelligence reached the Sherman
House at about o'clock, when telegram
was received from Vergennes announcing
L. A dispatch q1estiEg that full psr-
ticulsrs be sent was immediately Tor
watdej, and in the course Of
about two hours another dispatch
confir ming the first, bot giving little,
If any, additional information was re-
ceiveo. Up to the time of the fecep ion of
this latter dispatch, nothing was said
about the terrible news in the house, those
who alone knew of it hoping that it might
not all be true aud that they might be
spared the pain of breaking it to Mrs.
Bissell, the wife and mother of the de-
ceased. When, however, the news was
confirmed the guests were one by one
acquainted with it and feeling of gloom
ssttled up IN every heart. Mr.. White, who
has long Deen Mr.. Bisselps attorney, and
DR.. Macarthur, the family physician, and
both
INTIM ATE FRIENDS OF THE DECEASED,
were sent for, and to them was commits ed
the task of bearing the news to Mrs. Bis
sell, who had already began to suspect
that some sad intelligence was in store Tor
her. The first dispai Oh in the morning
had been taken to Mr.. Hulbert, In the
diniDg-Ioom, while she was at breakfast,
and she had observed tie ominous looks
and whispered consultation between him.
diately left the room together. The crush
ing information was broken to her as deli
cately as possible, and preparations for her
journey to the scene of the disas er were
Immediately set on foot. 1t was not
until the time for her departure
had nesriy arrived that she was
finally informed that there YVES no hope of
seeing either husband or son again this
side the grave, and she has yet to learn OF
the terrible manner in which they met
their fate. She lett the city at o'clock
lsss evening, accompanied by Mrs. l..
Bixby and Mr.. III. j. Morgan, who will
attend her as far as Kalamazoo, where she
will be joined by relatives who will ac-
comp any Der on her sad Journey. Mr..
Bissell was so we'll known here in both
business and social life that the news
struck chill through the city. He was
the senior partner OF the firm of Bissell d
Hubert, lessees of the Sherman
House, and very popular
man. He lett here only a few days
sgo, on last Saturday, for New York, on
business for the house, which he had par
TALLY completed. A slight delay In some
of his transactions gave him day or two
of spare time, which he thought to occupy
in visit TO his old home at Vergennes,
Vermont, and accordingly went there with
his son, who had accompanied him from
this city. 1t was on his return that he
lost bis life. They left Vergennes on
Wednesday night for New York. 1t was
supposed, when the news of the calamity
reached here, that they must have been &C.
cupying stste-room, from which they
were unable to escape, and were burned as
in box; but the dispatches show this sup
position to have been erroneous.
CHARLES H. BIssELL
was born In Livingston county, New
York, forty-six years ago, and spent his
early youth in that part of the country.
His father, Benjamin Bisssll, had hotel
at Avon Springs, New York, where he
gained his first ideas of that business.
His first move away from home was to
Vtrgennes, where ne took clerksbip In
the st re of G. w. and T. Parker, with
whom he remained several years. During
his sojourn there he was married to
Miss Ellen ID. Bixby, whose parents still
reside in Vergennes. Some little time
after his marriage be lett VergenDes for
Bristol, Connecticut where he assumed
charge of a portion OF the affairs of Samuel
Bakers mercantile and iron establish
ment. In the spring of 1854 he i'm
proved an opportunity that was offered for
coming West, to Chicago, aud entering
uopn toe hotel business, for which he had
always bad preft r 3nce, and with Mr.. ii.
j. Morgan took the Bisseil House, then on
the corner OF Lake and Franklin streets
This arrangement lasted but short time.
He formed partnership with Mr.. Church
In the old American Hotel, on the corner
of Lake and Franklin streets, and re-
manned there some years. Then the
firm of Goodrich & Bissell took the Matte
8 IN House, on the corner of Randolph and
Dearborn, and together ran IL until 1864,
when Mr.. Bissell sold out to Mr.. RoberG
Hill, and retired rom business. In all his
lotei ventures he had been very success
full. Mr.. Morgan, who was his associate in
the Bisssn House, went with him 70 each
of the other houses, and was with
him In the Sherman-is still there.
When Mr.. Bissell gave mp his interest In
and bought farm, upon which he lived
until 1874, and then returned to assume
the m .nsgement of the Fountain Springs