The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-03-27
(T0 be CoAttHued.l
Rural happenings.
MENDOZA

MENDOZA, March lS.-A lively melee oc.
cured at the wagon factory Of Hawthorne "
Washburne, last Monday morning among the
employees. Edwards, one Of the participants
IN the ARRAY, assaulted young man named
Engels, when Edwards l.otherin-law joined
in the fight assisting Engels. Edwards
pulled out his revolver cylaently with the IN
tent of making daylight shine through his an
tagonists, but they succeeded in taking the re-
volver away from HIM. In the meantime there
was some lively knocking, kicking and
scratching among the combatanls. They were
finally separated when 1t was ascertained that
Edwards had come ont third best Edwards
was so chagrined tina; ne vowed vengeance
against his antagonists and had them both ar
rested for assault and battery The case was
tried before six solid jurymen who returned a
verdict of not guilty.
The Vincent Lyceum is looming III conspic,
ously and fast growing into public favor. 1t
is under the control and supervision of the
Methodist Conference. Prot. McGregor is
president The next meeting will be held on
next Tuesday evening when choice essays,
select readings and speeches will be given by
our best literary talent.
Last Friday evening Rev. j. W. Lee and
LAWYER Seaman lcctured to u crowded house
at Pools Hall, for the benefit Of the free read
ing rooms; the former lecturud on southern
Scenes" and the latter discOurScd on lack
hone" The next lecture will he given 10y
Prof. jenkins some time during the month OF
April
Quite a destructive fire occurred in this
city las, Wednesday evening, destroying the
button factory, the pop factory and dwelling
belonging TO Littershcid. The fire originated
in the engine room of the button factory and
the tircmen were promptly on hand to extln-
ruish, but owing To their ineficiency ana dis'
organized state they did not get fairly TO work
before the entire building was sheet OF
flames Seeing 1t was useless 10 use farther
efforts Ia save the hutton factory, they turned
their attention to the pop factory, but the WA
ter failing the flames gained the mastery and
both buildings soon went down with N crash.
The hose was then extended Ia the reservoir of
the organ factory and an abundance OF water
obtained, by means of which the iiames were
speedily eXlingui-hed, thereby preventing sew
rral other buildings IN the immediate vicinity
from being destroyed The loss Will probably
! foot UP from $4,000 to 100000. An efficient
| m, department would have eN'inguished the
fire before il could have destroyed SlUo worm
/ oi property. But our city council has been SO
engaged in the important business Of quarrel
| ing that the members have not had time To
paw attention to our fire department
What Is the security of property and lite IN
our city compared with the glory our mayor
raIned by ous,inc FurristAl', "r the praise the
aldermen received in fighting io. his retention
as city marshal: Nothing During The past
year the mayor and aldermen have been fight
| lug among themselves over trivial matters 10
the neglect Of the best interests and welfare ol
the city. If they had given due attention To
the organization Of a fire department the re
cent conilagraiion would never have occurred
Our citizens will GUST the mayor and as many