davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
a Large Explosion.

New HAVEN, August 3i.-Short-
ly after two yesterday afternoon an
explosion occurred in the loading
room Of the Winchester Repeating
Arms Company. L. was caused by
an accident to the machine used in
loading cartridges with illuminate.
One end of the one-story building
was blown out and both side walls
fell in in but fortunately few people
were in that portion of the room.
7. Dwarner was badly burped hy
powder and cut in the head by the
falling walls. lie may not recover.
William Weias was badly burned
over the entire body by powder and
by his clothing taking fire. Hiram
Davidson and daughter were both
burned. Others injured by the pow
der, were Charles +. Allen. Edward
Broderick, Daniel Seaton and tao
young girls.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
The Drought in Pennsylvania.

PHILADELPHIA, August 21.-Des-
patches to the Press from all sections
of Pennsylvania show that great
damage is being caused by the long
drought. In some quarters the
rivers are lower than ever before
while springs and wells are almost
dried up. The corn crop is injured
beyond recovery, and there will be
barely half crop of wheat. The
fields in some of the counties are
yellow and parched, with no second
crop of hay and no plowiLg. Up
IN the lumber regions nearly all the
grist mills have been compelled to
shut down, and great alarm is set
ting in throughout the valley. The
price OF butter and milk is being
raised by the dealers in many sec
tions, while water is being carried
in oil tanks to the farmers in others.
The loss in this state will run into
millions of dollars.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
40 Persons Burned in Il Barn.

Some days ago Russian letters re-
ported that 119 persons had been
burned in a barn. Naturally. the
story was received with incredulity,
but the st. Petersburg GoL0s declares
that it is only too true. According
to this journal, ll9 women and girls
employed on n large turnip farm in
the district of Putinal, in the Gov
ernment of Koursk Southern Rus
sia), were very much dissatisfied
with the bread supplied by the farm
steward, alleging that it was not fit
for food, and threatened to leave off
work. After their dinner they all
withdrew to q barn to rest during
the hottest period of the afternoon.
The steward locked them in and
went away hut four farm iaborers
came and set fire to the barn. The
fire spread rapidly through the
building, which was like tinder, and
soon the whole barr was in flames.
The shrieks of the uu cortunate pris-
oners soon brought some people to
the spot. They could not help them
because the doors opened inward,
and already the mass of frantic wo-
men SO iammed the doors from
within as to make any effort to open
them fruitless. Five women were
taken out alive, but so burned that
they died Immediately. All the re-
naming la died on the spot. One
of the incendiaries went Off and
drowned himself straight away the
other three are in prlson.-Loadoa
Tru,es
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
Maniac with q Pistol.

CnItAqo, September 2 Henry
G. Neal, a groccrs clerk, from Troy
'N Y. llyinc At 326 south Clark
street, while suffering from deliriunl
tremens, this morning, shot i've
men. two of them fatally. He re-
tired last night with cook named
Isagin. but awoke his bediellow
about nine o'clock with a terrific
yell, crying, Get up and help me
protect my wife and children I" Be
fore Fagin had time 10 move, the
madman placed revolver against
his (f'agan's) left cheek and fired.
Neal then dashed down stairs, and
meeting night watchman VIM.
Springcold on his way up caught
him by the shoulder, turned him
round, and shot him directly be-
tween the shoulder blades.
The watchman, man OF fifty
seven years, fell heavily to the floor
and the murderer jumped over his
body, fairly falling down TO the last
flight of stairs. Reaching the street
he turned north on Clark street, and
saw n company Of colored men on
the corner. He rushed up to them,
held Wnn. Johnson firmly with his
left hand, and shot him in the lett
breast. The wounded mans COM
panions were too amazed to prevent
the shooting or secure the mailman,
whc, with another terrible yell, fled
to Polk street, and turning west.
halted at the Rock Island freight
house, where he demanded admit
tance Of two men whom he found
sitting on the steps. Being refused
he drew the revolver and again fir
ed twice. each bullet taking effect,
one in Thomas Flynn, a tlagman,
and the other in a young night clerk
named Wolf. As he turned to run
he was confronted by Officer Booth,
with whom he had a terrible strug-
gle, and was only quoted after the
officer had fired three shots at him,
one taking effect in the maniac's 5
neck. He attempted TO shoot the
officer but the revolver was empty.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
Insane Family.

CHICAGO, August 3l-A special to
the Times from Dubuque, Iowa.
August SO, says:
"A family has become insane in
this county through grief and death.
Mary Mcmahon, the daughter of a
farmer, entered a convent two weeks
ago and became insane. She was
sent to the asylum at Independence
for treatment. The mother visited
her and also became insane. The
daughter died last Monday, which
so affected the mother that she died
to-day The remains of both moth
er and daughter were sent home for
burial. Arriving at Farley, near
which place the McMahons live, a
son and daughter at home became
insane at the sight of their mother
and sister being brought home dead
and the father is now stricken with
grief bordering upon insanity
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
rramps in Canada.

OTTAWA, Ont, August 3t.-Nlrs
Blanehet, wife OF Mr.. Blan ehet. OF
the post office department in this
city, lett her sisters house in Pres
colt, on Friday to take train for
ottowa. Nothing has been seen Of
her since, and it is feared that she
has been kidnapped by tramps. a
desperate gang ofwAom have late
ly been committing serious depre-
datloRs in the vicinity of Prescott.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

THE President passed through
last week barely holding his own,
but without any visible Improve
ment. The much-dreaded Saturday
went 10y without the usual relapse,
but late in that night and early on
Sunday morning he vomited twice,
creating considerable apprehension !;
subsequently he slept well and pass
ed through Sunday and Monday in
q comparatively comfortable condi-
ton, although with an accelerated
pulse and temperature. The con-
viction having at last forced itself
upon his physicians that in his re-
moval from Washington lay his
only chance for life, il was agreed
upon in consultation to take that
step, and accordingly on Tuesday
morning at an early hour, he was
placed upon a car and started for
Long Branch, where it is hoped the
cooler atmosphere and balmy sea
breezes may benefit him. 1t cannot
be disguised that there is great dam
ger in this step, and that the fatigue
of the Journey may be too much for
him in his present debilitated state,
but its justification is that there was
greater danger in leaving him where
he was.
The following dispatches relative
TO the Presidents journey were re-
ceived up to the time of our going
TO press;
President left White House at
$50 a. m, arrived at depot at Clio,
left on special train at 6:30. As he
left White House he raised his hand
TO the inmates who were watching
him off. The removal had no bad
effect on the President, otherwise
than that the excitement caused a
rise in his pulse
BALTIMORE. = Presidential train
passed Union Depot without stop
ping at S:04 q. m.
LANoKIN. PA.-Presidential train
made run from Wilmington TO Lam
ckin, Ii miles, in IA minutes, then
stopped for coal. Men are engaged
in getting coal in quickly. She was
: minutes cealing and left at 1921
a. M.
PHrL'A-Presidential train passed
here at l0:5 a. m.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
The Drouth In the West

CuIcAGo, August 3l.-A special
to the Ilmes from Eldorado, H.
dated August 2s, says 1T is nine
weeks since rain has fallen here
and IN consequence, the crops az,
nearly failure. fhednst is almost
unbearable. III some parts of thu
county there is much suffering fol
want of water, and a great deal D
sickness OF a typhus form is prevail
ing From the best information
wheat will not average over four ol
five bushels per acre corn vii
make from onc-third to one-half Z
crop, and oats will be almost an en-.
| tire failure. The meadows which
were not destroyed by the army
worms will yield big crop of hay
Tobacco is a failure; the late pota-
toes almost a failure, and the ap.
pies almost worthless. The pastures
are all dried up, and no ground is
broken for wheat. The people ot
Harrisburg are hauling water from
the creek to use The farmers are
disposing of all they can possibly
spare
WABAsH. Ind. August 31.-The
weather still continues dry, and the
farmers are unable 10 put in theil
wheat Corn is being ruined, and
unless rain comes soon no corn will
be gathered at all. This is the long.
est term of drouth ever know in
this section.
MILwAuREE, August 3l.-Mr. W
+. Dalrymple, the wheat King Of
Dakota" arrived here to-day, and
in an interview, stated that the
threshing upon his farm had begun.
and that the yield is eighteen bush,
els per acre, or 10 per cent. lighter
than last year. The quality, howev-
er, is excellent. The decrease in the
yield he attributed to the heavy rains
of the early part of the season, low
tracts being entirely drowned out
He SAYS that the yield in the Red
River valley will be fully eighteen
bushels per acre.
BATTLE CREEK, Men. August Il.
1t is now over six weeks since
there has been any rain TO amount
to anything in this vicinity. The
grass is all dried up and dead, and
the corn crop is ruined. The wheat
crop has small heads, which have
prematurely ripened, and the farm
ers are cutting it up for fodder. The
potato crop is about ruined, and un-
less rain comes soon it will do little
or no good. The farmers are having
a hard time of it this year in this vi
cinity. To day is the third day tie
mercury has registered lo5 degree:
in the shade.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
Cow ardIy Train Robbers.

San FRANcrsco, September >
The overland train Of two engines
and one car of the east-bound oyer
land express were thrown from the
track about Il: Al Wednesday
night at Cape Horn Mills, by two
rails having been removed by high
waymen. When the engine first
left the track, Fireman Boyd, upon
Jumping to the ground, was con-
fronted by a man with q shotgun,
who ordered him to stand, not to
move or give alarm. At the same
time Il man presented gun as the
express messenger opened the door
of the express car, and ordered him
TO surrender. About this time the
highwaymen. supposed to be some
five or SIX in number, became
alarmed and started to run in the
brush, leaving lanterns, masks,
twentytour cartridges, Hercules
powder, fuse, axes, sledge, pick and
other tools. No one was injured.
The train was detained but eight
hours
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
The Hurricane ofsaturday.

SAVANNAH, Ga. Aug.3 The hur-
ricane which visited this city
on Saturday evening was very de
structive. The rain fell in torrents.
Houses were unroofed and sluced,
stores and warehouses flooded, and
the streets Uttered with debris and
prostrated tress. The shipping on
the river was torn loose and thrown
ON the banks and there were innu-
merable collisions.
Vessels are ashore all down the
river to Tybee. At Tybee great de-
struction was wrought. The Ocean
House escaped, but most of the cot
tages were blown down or injured.
Mrs. Wolf and daughter, Mrs. Il.
Falk, her little girl and her young
brother, Joshua Falk, were burned
to death. The wharf and tramway
were destroyed. The soiourners on
Tybee Island were in terrible peril
all night long.
No estimate can as vet be form
ed of damage in this city. A num-
Der of accidents occurred, some of
them fatal. The steamship Des-
song, which left here Thursday for
New York, returned last evening in
disabled condition. The revenue
cutter Boutwell, is in the marsh back
of Fort Pulaski, and a number of
other vessels are ashore in the Vi
oinity of Tybee.
Later-1t is estimated that over
100 lives have been lost in this Vi
cinity by the gale. Between twenty
and thirty inquests have already
been held. With the exception of
seven all the bodies are those of ne
groes washed off the plantations.
Every arrival continues to bring
accounts of disasters by storm The
steamer Juniata, from New York.
which arrived to-day, broke down
at . p. N. on the 18th inst. She
brought the crew of schooner Han
nah NJ. Soils, bound from Jackson
vile to New York with lumber,
which she took off on the 2Sth inst.
The captain Of the schooner was
lost overheard.
James G. Harris, mate of schoon-
er Mary G. Fisher, which sailed
from Philadelphia for Wilmington,
\. C., laden with coal, was picked
up at sea on the 29th by the steam
er Santioga de Cuba, and brought
to this port. He was on piece
of cabin of schooner, and was
naked and delirious when pick
ed up. The schooner foundered
on the 24th inst. off FRYING Pan
Shoals, and all hands were lost ex-
cept Harris.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
Injured by a Falling Elevator

LANCASTER, August 90.-A fright
ful accident occurred at Kendig's 70.
bacco warehouse, corner of Lemon
and Market streets, about noon to-
day. Eleven workmen were coming
down in the elevator for the purpose
Of going to dinner, and when at the
third floor landing the iron cable
slipped of the pulley, and the eleva.
tor, with its immense weight of hui
man freight. fell with a crash. Scott
Lvtle and David Hardy each had a
foot broken, and Edward Booth,
from q blow on the head, was rem
dered unconscious for considerable
length of time. The rest Of the
party were more or less bruised and
shaken up, but the only serious in
iuries were those named.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

RIcHNOND, September
drouth is still unrelieysd. an
so continue until the pr-
tressing aspect OF agricult-z
finds its climax In q t9a.
ton Of the fall crops. Iat
its effects have been esuecn.--
spread and ruinous In mur
ties the corn and tobacco rr.
burned up. Streams hayar-
preventing mills from ruaa.l-
ting farmers to great di.f0.-
getting water even Tor their
The james river is i0wGtas1 &
been for fifty years. ana tie tg
crop viii probably Be DO.
failure. The dust IN th- 7e
simply fearful. and the si-a-.i
distreSsingly alarming.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
Torpedo ACCIDENT.

NEwrasT, Il. J., August 30.
About two O'Clock Yesterday after
noon Lieutenant b. Long Edges, of
Washington, and Lieutenant Ly-
man c. Spaulding, of Portsmouth,
n. H., were planting mines for
harbor defense, in connection with
the annual experiments which take
place before the examining Board.
These are what is known as circuit
closers, and when the buoys of these
are struck an explosion of torpedoes
takes place. The buoys were acci-
dentally struck, and Edges and
Spaulding were blown into atoms.
The torpedo was TO be exploded by
the breaking of the electric circuit.
Edges had the deadly missile in his
lap while Spaulding was rowing the
launch. The tide was low and the
torpedo was planted in about three
fathoms of water Near by was n
steam launch with the remainder
of the class under instruction on
board. Admiral Porter Capt. Sell
fridge and officers of the torpedo
station were on Government Island
where the torpedo station is located
for the purpose Of witnessing the
experiment. Edges leaned forward
to arrange the apparatus in the wa
ter when a loud fioise and the ex-
plosion was heard, and the two un-
fortunate men were seen in the air.
1t was a terrible sight. Admiral
Porter and the classmates and off
GERS stood appalled, at the sight of
the bodies being literally blown to
fragments. They went in the air
some thirty-fve feet, and with
them the debris of the boat. Work
men employed on the station wad-
ed into the water as soon as pessi-
BILE and recovered all that was pos
sible of the bodies. Edges legs
were torn from the trunk and split
in two. Spaulding's feet were blown
of, and while his boots were found
in good order not trace of his feet
was discovered. The class imme-
diately returned to the Island. and
an officer was detailed to 90 to Mar
ragansett Pier and break the news to
Edges wife, who had gone there
this morning for few days visit.
She had resided here all summer
with her husband and two children.
She belongs to Washington. Spaul-
ding, who was unmarried, resides in
Portsmouth, y. II.
The Corners inquest brought in
a verdict to the effect that Edges
and Spaulding met their death by
the accidental explosion Of a torpe-
do, which would not have happened
had they followed instructions. No
one at the torpedo station is 10
blame. This exculpates Lieut..
Caldwell, one Of the instructors,
who in doing his duty in closing
the circuit, made possible the acct
dent, for Edes depended upon him
keeping this circuit open, though
he failed to inform Caldwell of his
intentions. The remains viii be
forwarded to their respective desti-
nations at once. Both men had
Just been detailed.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

Loyc BRAScn. Aurr..
attention Of General G-,r.5 +
called to various uul,;ore.. =
cially in Western ner.,.
scrIbing frequent visits y,
to Vice President Ar.su-
tons with the Vice p-.,5-
and other public men n r..
to political contingencie. r. +
Ington. General Grant ,--.
announcement that ,L.-.
truth in any Of the sta,qnn.
had been present at uo ea-.-...
and knew OF none. H. ~
seen Gen. arthur ouce ,r
tempt OH the President.
brief morning call abogt-.-.-
since. and no one was r.-
the Vice President I.n5-
one, the General eont.-r.i
showed a more Drof3r1. ,--
cere sorrow for The Pre.i5a-.
dit;0n than tie We; p
General Grant did ao. F.
that there had been any en-.
tions Of the character dl,-
tween General Arthur AM.
liticai friends. Genera 3.
could have no sane fHa
would intrude such "a
him, and he Is the last H,-
w1uld submit to SUCH an ...-
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
Nuiilated Coin.

WASHINGTON, August 81 3l.-Numer-
Gus letters have been received at the
Treasury Department asking wheth-
er United States coins with holes
punched in them, or otherwise mutt
lated, are thereby diminished in
value, and ii so, how much. Seere-
tary Window to-day decided
that there is no law or regulation
authorizing the redemption or ex-
change by this department of any
coins of the United States on account
of their being mutilated, but mutila-
ted silver coins viii be purchased as
bullion by any mint of the United
States, and it is presumed that hold
ers of such coins can also dispose of
them to brokers or to dealers in
bullion in like manner, in which
cases, OF course, their value will va.
ry according to the amount of metal
In the pieces and the current price
of silver bullion. The Department
can suggest no other relief to hold
ers of such mutilated coins. Public
officers are not expected or required
to receive any coins so mutilated as
to be unfit for circulation except by
purchase at the Mint, as before sta
ted
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

AT the Berks County Democratic
Convention, held in Reading, on
Tuesday of last week, one Of the
candidates for County Commissioner
Cyrus Levan by name, was taken
into custody on the charge of having
violated the election law enacted by
the late Legislature. The Informa-
ton was sworn to by Henry A. Is
terly, candidate for Recorder
The charge is that trees for winter
wood ana a considerable quantity
Of grain was promised to two Dem
ocratic voters TO use their influence
to procure votes for Levan's dele
gates to the Convention.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

New IoRK. August Ill
sician named Isaac Rosefel
charged with insanity In the 3
Market police court this na
He was under the eielusion tla.
had prescribed medicine i0r ,
dent Garfield and that the a..
ing physicians and surgeons
failed 20 administer them 10
sick man. He was sent %
tOmbs physicians for medie.
animation.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

Speaking Of Governors 'l9-'
the mention of an item We 'r,'
ed from Mr.. Henry A. kEggal y y
man at Chas. Waters & 60. : 70
ernor and Valve Works, be''
Mass. : / have used =. Jaco9'
among our employees and ina
it never fails TO cure. Inc L1a- y
delighted with the wOnderin- r-
Of .he oil. as it has cWed in5-' .-
bruises, burns, etc.-1dr TO
LeiqfT- SiGadGrd
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

On last SATURDAY p1ruin lbe
president was et his worst aud uclr.
lv ali hope Of reeovefy bad 9ofe
DrHaInilton lingeredalerthenorn-
ing dressing Of the woaod. and
made the discovery thai the yolk5
of egg which had formed part Of the
cnamata administered to the Prest
dent for several days previously
had not been assimilatin9 thorough
/ ly. If at all. and were poisoning the
system. Without waiting to make
know Iii. discovery or o. consult
with any OF his associates, he seized
his hat and rushed ont 10 Il drug
store. where hepurchascd supply
IT powdered charcoal lie returned
quickly and immediately admins
tered an enemak containing large
proportion Of the charcoal. The
effect was apparent almost immedi-
ately, and the incident marked the
turning point inthe Presidents con
dition. There is scarcely any doubt
that the presence Of this undigest-
ed mass was the cause Of glandular
affection which sonearly terminated
the life Of the President. This ex-
plains Dr. Hamiltons hopefulness,
and il IS easy To gather from II the
reason for his unwillingness TO enter
into details with correspondents
when asked for the grounds OF be-
lief There have been whisperings
of this thing ever since DR. Hamil-
ton left Washington, but 40 one ex-
cept possibly DIR. Hamilton $ associ-
ates, seemed to have all the facts.
II was only known that some de
velopment bad been made which
gave excellent reason for believing
that the most threatening feature Of
the Presidents Illness had been
succeeSfi1ilv mot
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

Pulaski, Tenn, August 31.-M,
?. Esell was shot and killed, one
mile south of this place, last night,
by Fletcher Hargrove. Esell was
accompanying Dr. Mcknight. who
had just been married to Hargrove's
sister. after an elcpemeut. Har-
grove overlook the party, and an.
nouncing has purpose to kill Me-
Knight, began firing. The men
jumped from the wagon. Mcknight
was wounded and Esell was shot
dead. The horses becoming fright
ened, ran away seriously iniuring
Mira. Mcknight.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07
Malicious Mischief on The Rail

SELMA, ALa, August 30-Somc
malicious person opened the switch
on Sunday night at Pransssasa antl
freight train en the Alahana Cen
tral division al East Tennessee, Viz
ginia and Georgia Railroad ran into
the construction side track. The
engine was wrecked and some cars
OF the freight train thrown from the
track. Charles Crane, engineer, and
his fireman were fatally injured.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-09-07

SENATOR SESSIONS, of New York,
who was detected in attempting to
bribe fellow members to vote against
Conkling, was defeated for re-nomi-
nation in Chatauqua county, last
week. The half-brecds who used
him and profited by his villainy are
now, that he is foored, vigorously
jumping up and down On his pros
trate carcass