davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
EXPLOSIONS IN FLOUR MILLS.

The inquiry started by the destruction
of the large Touring mills at Mime
apolis, recently, have been partially an
swered by an English parliamentary
paper containing a report by Thomas J.
Richards of the Consultative Branch
Board of Trade, to the home secretary,
respecting an explosion which took place
on September 18th, at the corn mill of
Messrs. Fitton & Son, at Macclesheld.
The effects were of a very dangerous
character, large part of the mill at the
north end being leveled with the ground,
and the roof over a much larger area
destroyed, and the engine-man being
killed by the fall of part of the build
ing. The damage to the mill was esti-
mated at between e5, 900 and e6, 900. 1t
appears that some millstones had been
running empty at the time of the explo-
sion, that fame was produced between
the mlil-stones, which was sufficient to
ignite the four-dust diffused in the mill
stone cases, and which being Transmitted
along the passages to the stive-room by
the continued ignition of dust, would
cause an explosion of the four-dust in
stive-room.
Mr.. Richards has been making general
inquiries into the question of fire and ex-
plosions in corn mills. He says that the
elements of danger exist in all corn mills
more or less, and notwithstanding the
comparative rareness with which dis
asters of magnitude occur, they are very
liable to take place. Ignitions of -four
dust are apt to cause slight explosions,
which, Earring greater bodies of dust into
cloud, are liable to ignite and cause a
serious explosion or general firing of the
mill. Whether the effects of the ignition
of the dust are serious or slight, depends
upon the condition existing at the time
GA large number of fires occur in corn
mills, the origin of which is unknown.
Mr.. Chatterton, the secretary of the
Millers' Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany, informs me that he has records of
"a serious fires which have occurred in
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
THE INSANITY DODGE.

Law-abiding people are naturally
shocked at the success of the insanity
plea now SO common in the annals of
criminal practice. The subject was
brought into such prominence in the
case of President Garfeld's assassin that
the people at large have become more or
less conversant with the arguments set
up by lawyers with desperate cases of So
called murderers on their hands. The
plea is more successful in America than
in Europe because of lower popular
estimate of the value of life on account
of the borderisms incident to newly-set-
tied country. In the old world criminals
have less chance of escaping the moose
through transparent plea as was re-
Gently proven in the case of DR.. Lamson.
Another case is worthy of notice. A
young butcher, subject to epileptic fits,
escaped from Bicetre, and soon after
ward stabbed a policeman in a street
brawl. DR.. Legrand du Saulle hesitated
to say whether the prisoner, who was
perfectly composed at his trial, was quite
responsible; but DIR. Blanche, another
expert, emphatically declared that he
was so. eff he had committed COM
mon assault with his hands, I should
have held him irresponsible, said DR..
Blanche, because he is a man of violent
temper, who, when his fits are coming
on, takes offence at the smallest provo
cation; but In his hottest paroxysms he
knows quite well that he must not use
deadly weapons. He never did so in the
asylum, and his only excuse in this par
ticular instance is that he had been
drinking; but he is no more guiltless on
that account than an ordinary drunk
ard" This opinion procured the pris-
oner's conviction and it was held to be
an important opinion, as establishing
the fact that the responsibility of al
legged lunatics cannot DE settled by any
rules of general application, but must be
decided IN each individual case according
to the circumstances. In short, the doc
trine accepted by French medical jurists
is that before lunatic can be declared
irresponsible for a crime it must be as
certained whether his malady predis-
posed him to the preparation Of that
particular crime.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
mOYEUArVe

Chico, character known on every course IN
the United States, died in the pest-house at
Louisville, on the 9Th inst His real name was
George Leslie.
Hon. Edward O'Brien, ship-owner of
Thomaston, Me-, noted for philanthropic
deeds, died at the age of 88.
Rear Admiral John Rodgers died at his resi-
dence at Georgetown Heights, ID. c., on the 9Th
inst, aged 70 years.
Ephraim S. Durfee died at Oshkosh, Wis, on
the 9Th inst, aged 81. He was master OF the
Rochester lodge of Masons in 1923 and con-
ferred the degrees on Morgan, who afterwards
mysteriously disappeared and was supposed to
have been murdered by the craft for devulging
secrets. In the excitement which followed,
Durfee was compelled to leave the vicinity.
He was a soldier of the war of 1912.
Colonel W. B. Snowhood, one of the oldest
citizens of Chicago, who had been a resident
of the city since 1886, died suddenly on the 9Th
inst, aged about 80 years. Colonel Snowhook
was a native of Ireland, and member of the
bar. He was collector of customs and United
States sub-treasurer at Chicago under Presi-
dents Polk and Pierce.
The Hon. Horace MAYNARD of Tennessee a
member of congress for sixteen years, and
postmaster general at the close of President
Hayes administration, died of heart disease at
Knoxville, Tenn, on the Sd, aged &c. Mr..
Maynard was one of the few Southern patriots
who refused to side with the secessionists dur
ing the war of the rebellion. He was native
of Massachusetts,.
Benz. f. Deano, formerly United States
naval constructor, died at Brooklyn on the 30th
ult., aged IS.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
Work of the Flames.

On the 9th inst. flames swept away Burnard's
furniture factory at Minneapolis, the Cumber-
land paper mills at Westbrook. Me-, and the
Strasburg brewery at Bellows Falls, vt. Com
bined loss about $4,000.
Covell's extensive lumber yard at Whitehall,
Mich, was swept by fire on the 9th inst. Two
million feet of dry lumber was reduced to
ashes. Loss $45, 900.
The courthouse at Pittsburg, Pa, was de-
stroyed by fire on the 7th inst. Nearly all the
records were saved. Harry McDermott was
killed by falling debris while assisting in the
work of saving the documents. The building
originally cost $250000.
A fire at Nevada, Mo-, on the 7th inst, de-
stroyed the opera house building. Loss
1923, 900.
The buildings of the Undertook, N. Y,
Manufacturing Company, vanished in s1uoke
on the 9Th inst. Loss $40, 900.
-Four oil and several coal cars were consumed
by fire at Easton. Pa, on the 4th inst. Loss
$50, 900. The fire was occasioned by an explo-
sion which followed break down.
A steam fire engine house at Newark, N. j.,
was consumed by fire on the Sd inst, together
with all the apparatus, engine, hose, carts,
hook and ladder trucks, etc. Loss 1876, 900.
The Washington Street Baptist Church,
Dover. N. c., fell prey to flames on the I'd
inst. Loss $4,000
Cox's carriage shop and five other buildings
were swept away by fire, at Mlddletown, Del,
on the I'd inst.
A fire at Boston, Mass, on the Cd inst, de-
stroyed the Union Carpet Lining Works. Loss
$50, 900.
Winnipeg suffered the loss of the Dundee
Block by fire, on the 30th ult. Loss between
$50, 900 and $4,000.
The Washington Glass Works, Ithaca, N. Y,
is mass of ruins, the result of fire on the
LIST inst.
Several business houses OH the public square
in Shelbyville, Tenn, were consumed by fire. on
the LIST inst. Loss 500, 900.
Sixteen buildings, comprising the Bingham
School, at Mebanesviile, N. c., were swept
away by fire. on the LIST inst No lives lost
One of the barns of the Brighton Street Rail
way Company at Rochester, n Y, took fire, on
the Both ult. The fastenings were cut from 300
horses, and all but one dashed through the
flames. The property destroyed is estimated at
OO0
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
Minor MiSEaaDs.

Mrs. Mary Mcclure, aged about 60 years.
was burned to death at her home in Milwaukee,
Wis, on the 7th inst, by the upsetting of a
lamp
BY the capsizing of row boat at Ogdens-
burg, n. Y, on the 9Th inst, Charles Inman,
Henry Boyce and A. M. Smith were drowned.
John Charleboix and two children were
drowned by breaking through the ice in Lake
Gahneau, Ont, on the 4th inst.
Joseph Joyce, while at work at Port Huron
in diving suit, lost his presence of mind, and
died of congestion of the brain.
The Washington Street Baptist Church at
Dover, N. H., was swept away by fire on the I'd
inst. Late in the afternoon five persons were
standing inside the scorched walls when a
chimney and mass of brick fell over toward
them, killing Judge Varney, editor of the Dover
Inquirer and the Daily Republican.
Charles Lord, living near Mount Ida, Mont
gomery County, Ark, shot in the dark at what
he supposed was wild animal and killed his
wife.
At Minneapolis, Mimi. on the Sd inst,
Albert Emdy was killed by switch engine. A
crowd gathered, when a train swept along and
fatally crushed John Griffin and John Coch-
rane.
The body of Capt. Nelson of the schooner
Tonsides, was found floating in Chicago River
the captain came to his death by drowning.
1t was at first thought that murder had been
committed.
At the stock yards, Chicago on the I'd inst,
Nick Shiberling pushed his child out of the way
of railroad train and was himself cut to pieces.
Two children of Andrew Fleming were burned
to death by the burning of their home at
Arthur, Ont, on the LIST inst Mr.. and Mrs.
Fleming were badly burned.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
Grim Treasures.

A singular story is told of man living
on the line of the Amboy division of the
Pennsylvania Road, in New jersey, by
the name of Mccoy. Twenty years ago
no lost child by death, and instead of
giving it burial he had the remains sealed
up in a bronze casket and stored away in
a room of his residence. A year or two
later two more of his children died and
were treated in like manner. Friends
and acquaintance besought him to have
the bodies inferred but he constantly re-
fused. He made number of removals
from one place to another, invariably
taking the bodies with him. He finally
settled at Palmyra, station on the rail
road mentioned, where he recently died
at the age of sixty-one. He Was buried
in the village cemetery, and the three
children, after beng above ground SO
long, were laid to rest at the same time
by his side.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
AristotIe's One Horned Animals.
From Nature.I

In Book ILL.,, chapter 2, of the right
and left organs of the bodies of animals,
Aristotle says that the horns of animals
are, in the great majority of cases, two
in number. There are, however, excep-
tions, he thinks, to this rule in respect
to the horns, for there are some that have
but single horn-the dryx and the So
called Indian ass. In such animals the
horn is set in the center of the head, for
as the middle belongs equally to both
extremes, this arrangement is the one
that comes nearest to each side having
its own horn. DIR. Ogle, In MS note on
this passage, points out that the account
of the Indian ass, with solid hoof and
a single horn, was taken by Aristotle
from Ctesias, and that it has been plausi-
bly, conjectured that the Indian rhinoc-
eros (RhanOcerOS u1a9cOTrds) is the ami
NAL meant; FOR though, he says, this
animal has three toes, they are so indis-
tinctly separated that the real character
Of the foot might easily escape casual
observer. At the same time he observes
that on the obelisk of Mimroud, made
loag before the time of Ctesias, there is
represented rhinoceros with feet dis
tinctly divided into toes. An argument
on the side of this supposed Identified
ton is, he adds, furnished by the fact
that the horn of the Indian ass was sup
posed to have certain magical powers,
SO that cup made from it gave the
drinker immunity from poison, as is re-
lated by Philostratus in his life of Apol-
lonius; while similar virtues are assigned
in the east, to rhinoceros horn, even at
the present day. If the one-horned ass
of India be the "Rhinoceros unicornis,
may not the asses with horns named by
Herodotus as among the among the ami
mails of Lydia, be the two-horned rhi-
nocerotes of Africa?
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
A Deserted Wife.
from the Detroit Free Press

strange record has lately been made
by old-time residents of Indianapolis In
the courts of Iowa. About thirty years
ago Miss Whitesell, whose family is
yet well known in this county, was
married to man named John A. Sum-
mers, a tanner. Summers was engaged
in his business with Mr.. Simon Yandes,
and was very enterprising and shrewd
young man. Some time before the war
Summers removed with his wife to Rock
Island, ILL.,, where he experienced a
varied career. His wife, q beautiful
woman, became blind. He amassed a
large fortune, and was compelled to leave
the place because of an undue intimacy
with handsome young widow. He re-
turned to this city to reside permanently,
but soon received such letters from the
young woman that one day in 1869 he
told his wife he intended again to go
west. He said he could do better there
than here, and promised to send for her
az soon as ne had located home. He
drew his money from the bank and left
the house that day, intending to make
the trip overland with splendid team
of horses. He at first went to ST..
Louis, and thence 20 Knobnoster,
Mo. After a short but prosperous
residence there he went to Eldora, la. i,
where he made large amount of
money, and living with the family of his
brother, passing himself off as an old
bachelor. About year ago Mrs. Sum-
mers, who supposed that he was dead,
after trying in vain to hear from him,
received a strange letter. TWAS written
Mo nh 70 Io-,
person whose name she had heard but
could not locate. The letter told her
that her husband had recently died,
leaving large estate to his brother at
Eldora, Ia. The letter was given to
Messrs. Hooker & Hatch, attorneys,
who, after an investigation, found thatit
was written by sister of Mr.. Summers,
who had not been remembered in the
will. She was jealous of the luck that
had hefallen her brother John, and
satisfied herself with the hope that the
property might be recovered by the
rightful heiress. Mr.. Hatch went to
Iowa and instituted suit against the
brother. The case was called for trial
about two months ago. The defendants
at first tried to show that the Samuel A.
Summers who gave them the property
and the man mentioned in the complaint
were not the same person. Failing In
that they swore that few years before
his death Mr.. Summers went to Indiana
and erected monument on his wife's
grave. Their endeavor to impeach the
identity of Mrs. Summers was over
thrown, and the jury returned verdict
for the plaintiff. It was nearly thirteen
years from the time she last heard of her
husband until she recovered the prop
erty, and the young woman who caused
the separation died in horrible agony
from an accident that befen her soon
after her relations with Mr.. Summers
begun.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
Can't Keep One.
TFrom the Detroit Press

When hehad finished with the climate.
soil and productions of Idaho and had
stopped to blow his nose, one OF the
group asked:
Chow about education facilities ?"
"That's the only thing we LACK" re-
piled the old man with mournful sigh.
We've got schools enough, but We
can't keep no, teachers.
"What's the trouble"
"M ell, take my school, for instance
only two miles from the nearest house,
eminently situated on top of a hill, and
paying the highest salary. We can't
keep teacher over two weeks"
''Do they die ?"
"Some do; though it's no place for
dying. We had young fellow from
Ohio, and he met grizzly and whistled
for him. The grizzly cum. We had
another and wilder run him down and
married him inside of month. The
third one was lame, and the Injuns over
took him. Then we tried women folks.
The first one got married the night she
lit down there; I took the second about
the middle of the third week, and the
next one was abducted by q stage rob-
her,"
"Why don't you get theughest, home
lest woman you can fnd-some perfect
old terror, like that lantern-jawed, razor
faced female over by the ticket-window ?"
"Why don't we? Stranger, you east
ern folks will never understand us pio-
neers in the world-never. That's my
wife-the identical school teacher / mar
ried, and she was the handsomest one in
the drOVep'
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10

About midnight on the 5th inst, u fire broke
out in the Goodrich Transportation Company's
warehouse, at Racine, Wis, and impelled by a
fierce northeast gale, soon spread over large
area of territory. The clty's small fire depart
ment was poweress to check the devastating
element. and in response to urgent calls fire
engines from Milwaukee and Chicago repaired
to the scene. The fire was finally suppressed
at O'Clock on the morning of the 9Th, after
seven squares of ground were swept over and
forty-four buildings and 10, 0OO 900 feet of lum-
fine brick and iron structure occupied bv the
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul Railway Com
pany, the grain elevator, Mi1er's large shoe
factory and Congress Hall, the latter an old
landmark. Jones, Knapp q Co., Kelly, Weeks
d Co. and Thomas Driver & Son, suffer the
loss OF lumber stocks. The total loss is in the
neighborhood of $3.50, 900. with an insurance
of little less than half Fortunately no lives
were lost
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
MurderouS Deeds.

Mary Jane Moore wife of one of Haverly'
colOred MINISTRIES, was fatally shot by Tom
Weber, (coloredO at Hot Springs, Ark, on the
9th inst. Gossip caused the crime.
On the 9th inst, at Leona, Kansas, Robert
Bechtner, an old German farmer, was found in
a room of the homestead, dead, having been
shot. III another room the boy discovered his
mother in dying condition, with revolver
lying near. The mother left letter saying
that she had killed her husband because he was
about to 0isinherit her son.
The captain of the sloop Annie Southern and
a colored man were brutaly murdered on board
the vessel at Popes Creek, Nd, on the night
of the 4th inst. The murderer secured 81, 900,
donned the dead captains clothes and departed.
Near Pilot Rock, johnson County, Ark, on
the evening of the I'd inst, Major George
Douglas, residing on farm, was assassinated
while eating his supper, by an unknown person.
John Davidson. aged %, killed his mother
aged 60, at Philadelphia, Pa, on the 4th inst,
by crushing her skull with an axe.
Henry Hart and Willy Williams, policemen,
were shot at Opelika, Ala, on the 4th inst
Hart was killed and Williams only slightly
wounded. -Four roughs are charged with the
crime.
Howard, the king of the Colorado cattle
thieves, was killed in the recent fight near
Ouray, but Sheriff Bowman escaped with a
wound in the ann.
Mrs. Newton. wife of a railroad engineer re-
siding III LoulsY1lle, administered morphine to
a 4-year-old adopted child named Stusser and
then took a potion herself The child was
found dead, but Mrs. Newton viii recover. Mr..
Stusser, a widower, father of the adopted child,
was about to marry again, and the thought of
parting with her pet upset Mrs. Newton's mind.
Alfred Drake, 16-year-old school-boy, at
tempted to murder Miss Jennie Faulkner, at
st. Paul, Minn.. on the Sd inst, but missed bis
aim, and on being hoty pursued, turned the
weapon on himself and blew his brains out.
Miss Faulkner's parents objected to the young
mans attentions, hence the desperate act.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
Thieves and SvvindIers.

Boston detectives on the 9Th pulled in thirty
street-car conductors who were using bogus
punches.
The residence of r. W. Robson, No. 2. 100
Frame Avenue Chicago, was robbed of silver
ware and other property valued at 81. 200, on the
night of the 4th inst.
Emery Fl. Thomas, of Jackson, Mich. who
robbed the store of Camp, Morren & Co., of
$4,000 worth of silks, has been sentenced to
seven years hard labor in the penitentiary,
gigantic scheme of fraud and forgery has
been unearthed at st. Louis. A firm Under
the name of Burt Miller occupied room at
the corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets.
from which they sent out circulars offering
government land scrip for sale. The authori,
ties made descent on the Office, but the prin-
clpals had flown. Meanwhile John B. Cameron,
believed to be a confederate of the gang. was
arrested at Sioux Falls, Dakota, and taken to
Yankton. 1t is thought the gang must have
realized between 100000 and 100000.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
Cruelly Murdered.

Dublin. Ireland, was convulsed on the 9Th
inst. by the cruel assassination of Lord Fred
erick Cavendish the new secretary for Ireland,
and Thomas Henry Burke, under secretary.
The victims were strolling in the park half a
mile from the city gate, and a quarter of
mile from the chief secretary's lodge. A car
containing four men drove up. two of whom
drew knives and stabbed Cavendish and Burke
several times in the throat and breast. hard
struggle for life was made, the corpses being
found ten PAGES apart. Two young gentlemen
riding bicycles discovered the bodies and sum-
moued the police. The ground was spattered
over with blood, and Cavendish's left arm was
broken. The pockets of the victims contained
coin, notes and watches, showing that robbery
was not the purpose of the crime. No clew to
the assassins has been obtained.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10


One Amatilan, g poor peasant, was shot
without trial at Jaliso, Mexico, on the Sd inst,
on charge of cattle stealing. The victim was
afterwards proved innocent.
Edgar Chittenden, son of DR.. Chittenden, of
Anderson, Ind, was shot and probably fatally
wounded, on the night OF the I'd inst, by one
Ryan, defeated candidate for the position of
town marshal.
The body of Roland Darlington, a young
Enghshman, together with that of an unknown
person was found floating down the Rio Grande
River. The men are supposed to have been
murdered and robbed.
At Vera Cruz, ON the I'd inst, a policeman at
tempted to arrest man named Barrientos.
The officer was stabbed to death and Barrientos
shot five times.
battle between company of dragons
and a number of bandits occurred near Var
mora, Mexico, on the I'd inst. The troops were
badly defeated with the loss of their COM
mander, after hard fight.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10

corn mills since 1874, the origin of 81
being unknown. A majority of those
connected with the milling business are
probably entirely unaware of the danger
which may exist in consequence Of the
presence of a building devoted to the
useful and, to all appearance, harmless
occupation of the cleansing and grind
ing of corn and the dressing of -four"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-10
Georgia's Curious Shaking Rock.
[From the CrawfordYiIle Democrat.l

lFrom the CraWfordV1lle Democrat
One of the main points Of interest
here is an eccentric freak of nature known
as Shaking Rock, and never a stranger
comes to Lexington and leaves without
some of the people-proud always of
their village and all about it-shows him
this place. I cannot better describe it
than by saying it is the oldest thing any
one ever saw. In the rear of the home
of the late Governor Giln2er is a huge
boulder standing by itself on the edge of
a stream. Upon this boulder is placed
another rock, weighing about twenty
tons. 1t rests on pinnacle not two feet
square. So evenly is it balanced that
the slightest touch will cause it to rock,
and yet a hundred horses could not pull
it from it's socket. There it has stood
for ages subjected to wind and storm un-
moved, silent monument of the power
of the Creator.