Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-11-24
Thirty Odd Persons Sick-Fiye
Deaths, With Prospect OF More.
Fatal CareIessness ON the Part Of
some One.


some One.
AT an early hour yesterday morning
startling rumor gained circulation
about the city in reference to terribly
fatal case of poisoning in Roane
ty. At fret 1t was thought
to be q sensational rumor, but
Investigation and inquiry developed
the fact thst it was, alas! too true, and
the dttlils, meagre as they could be
obtained, are most sickening and ap-
palling in their proper tons.
A CE2nNICLE representative sought
and found Col. w. B Hope, an infiu-
entail citiz sn OF Loudon county, who
came up from Lenoirs Monday night,
and also a prominent attorney OF this
city, who came from Kingtton the
same night, and from them gathered
the following facts:
o. Thursday night last, 18Th ms,
there was big wedding at the resi-
dence of Col. jag. I. Dali, who lives
about four miles from Kingston,
the occasion being the marriage oil
Mr.. Joel Hembree and daughter OF
Col. Dali. Afterwards, about thirty
Ave persons, who were present and
partook of the cake and other good
things were taken more Or less vic.
lently sick. The cause of tier sick
ness could not be ascertsined, but the
, supposition, as far as we could learn
was that the cook in baking the cake
had gotten hold Of, by some means
and used arsenic instead of soda
There was no suspicion, al
we gather it, of intentiona
poisoning, but the supposition was the
result of mistake.
That mistake, if it be such was
fearful one, and appalling in its re
suits, as t1e sequel shows, and it mus
certainly amount to nothing short c
criminal carelessness on the part Q
, some one, just who we are net prepare
to say. Up to the latest information G
the above named gentlemen Monds!
night four deaths had resulted fror
: this Wholesale poisoning. One of ia
deaths was Mr. Robert Dali, son {
Col. Dali. Another, was Mi:
Lowery, young girl, daughter {
Samuel Lowery, who was browne
. several months ago, and grand daugh
ter of Parson Lowery, of Kingston
The little girl was living at Col. Dali
: attending school. Still another, WI
q man named May, of Missouri, WI
= was in on visit, and WI
at the wedding. The tth'
name we could not learn.
was also reported that q number
others among the sick were expectt
. to die, amo eng whom was young ma
= named Houston Gallaher.
- DR.. Sam. B >wman, of Lenoirs. can
:, to the city on the o'clock train We
terday evening, and was interview
- by the CHRONICLE representative. b
- information was in the main corrob
rative of what ia detailed above, e.
a cept that he learned Of still anoth
az death, making five in all, but Re. cou
not learn the name.
1t Is certainly one of the most hea
at rending occurrences that has occurr
an in this section of country for NAL
e. years, and has cast a feeling of glooI
IN not only over the immediate neig
Its borhood, but the whole count
around. It should certainly serve al
warning to cooks and others who ha
charge of such matters, to exercise
re greatest care possible in the handli
or of poisons.
tie Col. Jas. M. Melton, United St..
lat internal revenue collector. was invit
he to the wedding, end he no doubt M
re. congratulates himself that it was r
re- possible for him to attend. The we
ia. ding was an uncommon society eve
of in Roane county, both families bel
,as of the first families in the country,a
IN. of high responsibility. >
(