The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-11

Flour mill explosions in Germany and
Scotland similar to the recent explosion at
Minneapolis have been carefully investi-
gated, and it seems to be clearly establish
ed that -four confined, but diffused, in an
apartment and mixed with proper pro-
portion of air, may be ignited and explo-
ded with great force. The explosions in
Europe were in mills which certainly did
not use the "patent process" and "mid-
dlings purifiers" in use in Minneapolis,
but it is said that the patent process is to
some extent return to the European
method in its slow grinding on smooth
stones in place of rapid grinding on rough
faced stones, which latter was until lately
the American method.
There was a great tornado at Caution,
China, April 11th. Thousands of houses
were destroyed or seriously injured by
wind and an enormous waterspout from
the river, which broke over the city.
Many lives were lost Foreign settlements
suffered severely. In the midst OF the
confusion four fires broke out, supposed to
be incendiary, as many robberies followed.
Latest advices report five hundred Chinese
killed. No foreigners were seriously hurt.
Many of the laborers on the extension
of the Chicago and Alton Railroad, be-
tween Mexico and Marshall, Mo-, are on
a strike. Several hundred of them gath
cred at Glasgow, where riot occurred on
Monday, in which one man was killed and
another severely wounded. A sherif's
posse was unable to quell the disturbance.
A fatal accident occurred at Millville,
N. j., Tuesday morning. VIM. Birming-
ham, while digging a well, had descended
fifteen feet when it caved in, covering him
with eleven feet of earth Every effort
was made to rescue him without success.
Finally he was extricated after lapse Of
two hours, but life was extinct.
To the farmer who will raise the largest
crop of corn to the acre, in the States of
New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ma
ryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio,
the proprietors of the Farm Journal,
Philadelphia, will present the sum of $50,
and like sum for fifty bushels of selected
corn, raised on the prize aero.
Representative Phillips, of Kansas, has
prepared and been authorized by the
House Committee on Banking and Cur
rency to report bill directing the reissue
of one and two dollar greenbacks to the
amount Of the ten million held in reserve
by the Treasury for the redemption of
fractional currency.
Susan A. Stuart, public school teach
err. in Norfolk county, Va, was found
dead in her room at the school-house on
Monday evening Her pocket-book was
rified, and there were other indications
that she had been murdered by two color
ed women seen leaving the house.
The Tennessee crop report predicts
three fourths of an average wheat crop,
and states that the fruit is more abundant
than for several years, and corn and to-
bacco and other crops are doing well.
The acreage of cotton is much smaller
than last year.
The large brick structure of the wooden
mills at Lewisburg, Pa, together with
house, were burned to the ground on
Wednesday night The cause Of the fire
is supposed to have been from lightning
A severe storm passed over Memphis
on Wednesday morning, doing damage
estimated at $4,000. A cotton shed was
blown down, and number of stores aud
the Peabody Hotel were unroofed.
On Monday last tramp entered the
house of planter near Oxford, Miss. and
murdered the planters wife. He was
pursued and captured in the woods, and
has doubtless been lynched.