Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-07-25
COLUMBIA NEWS.
Honsstion In the Town-snicide, Acoidcn,
or murder - rho mystorious Fate OF
Boatman Bentley iidnight Tragedy.

~ question that was heard on every street
IN Columbia this morning, when tho news
spread abroad that Charles Bentley had
been fatally shot about 1915 this a. m.
Tho question is a difficult ono to answer,
at present, anG IL is doubtful IL 1t will
ever be, No mysterious is tho case.
About 3 o'clock last evening, Charles
BENTLEY, Henry Olptim, George Fry and
Emanuel Burdenheisor, all bOatmeD,
whose boats lie at tho Second street
wharves, after filling their stomachs with
gtrODg liquors, were out On racket. They
frat visited Mary Mcizull's, on North Front
street, where they indulged In some high
" carrying ON" They mado 80 much noise
that Mary was forced 10 go for Olhcors
Wittick and Gilbert, but 'ore thoy arrived
tho party had loft and gouo toward their
boat.
Bentley did not want To leave, but flour.
ishcd n revolver, and expressed "A desire to
meet the policeman. On his way To his
boat, no attempted to quarrel with Olptim,
and several times drew his revolver,
and threatened to shoot. AT stable near
tho coal shuto no carried his throat into
effect, and fired his revolver. Olptim says
IL was aimed at him, bat luckily 1t missed
it's mark. Aftor much wraugliug between
themselves the party arrived at tho look 7,
whore Olptim loft him going to tho
Susquchanna, which boat lac is captain OF.
Bentley appeared determined To quarrel
with Olptim, and went towards him. when
no aimed, aud told Bentley to keep away,
else no would kill him III self doluusn.
MY uod, I'm sbot
Whether the threat scared Boutley or he
d termiued not to run any risks II not
known. but ho Tetrcated T. u boat, on
which he is mate, Olpt.m descending to his
cabin, 30 IL Is said. Again Bentley became
restless and springiug on top Of the cabin
shouted III am going to shoot you---of
a - at the same time drawing o
revolver. Tho bOatman did not wait to nee
whether he would do this or not, but
partly concealed themselves. Hardly had
they done 50, when a pistol snOt waS
heard. and Ccntlcy exclaimed, "My God,
I'm shot - llo toll to tho deck, blood
pouring FROM - wOumd IN tho abdomen.
lie was teudcrly cared for, while his three
companions stated IN search Ot doctor.
AT Front ana Locust streets they met
Officers WittiUk aud Gilbert, who Lad
followed them, but dared not arrest them
while IN tho boats, having TO warrants.
They accompanied the party to ThiId
street, where, beng near tho icCkup, they
arrested and placed them in tho lookup
The two officers then took DR.. Bornthc sci
and visited tho boats, where they found
Bentley suffering Intcrsrly. Tho wound,
which - IN the lower part Of the abdomen,
was probcd, Uut tho bullet could not be
found. Another attompt 10 find the bullet
was made this morning, but IL also was
unsuccessful. DR.. Bu,utho s3l thinks the
bullet has lodged in tho bladder, as Il o
results o! both prubngs show it's course to
be towards that.
Squire Evans was sent Tor aud took tho
post norton testimony OF Bentley, who
accuses Op,im Of hayng fired tho fatal
shot This seems impossible, and - what
makes the case 50 mystUrip GUS. Ii Olp,im
was in his cabin, or even on his boat, 1t il
said, thon h0 could not commit tho deed
for his boat lies back o. Brutlcy's, while
the wounded man stood alhJ with his back
towards him The lash of the pistol was
IN front of Bentley, FOX IT was seen by
another buatmau. However, Bentley
firmly ACCUSES Olptim u firing tho shot.
ComnI ted I" jail.
Squire Evans Eayc tho three men IA
hearing this morning aud committed
them TO jail 10 await tho result ui
Beut'ey's injuries, which It Is believed are
fatal
When questioned, DR.. Boruthcisel
stated that It WAS possible FOR BENTLEY To
have shot himself, bat hardly probable as
tho clothes in front Of tho wound was not
scOfChed with powder.
The four persons arc all ybunl. men,
Dlptim, however, being the eldest. la Ork
county, where hD resides, his reputation Is
not of tho best. BENTLEY has no homo aud
his only relative is married sister, in
Wrightsvillc wherO no sometimes viSi T.
Tho affair has created great excitement II
Columbia, all the more because 1t has suCG
mysterious surroundings.
Wi:tiCk and Gilbert certainly deserve
much praise for their prompt worS, aud it
only goes TO show, what wO hayo said
before, that they arc to bo found wher
wanted.
Town Notes
The Manor base ball club, of Lancaster,
will cross bats with the Columbia, on the
latter's ground, to morrow afternoon.
Very near one hundred COlumbaas are
encampcd at Landsville.
The lato dry weather has caused the
water in tho Susquehanna river t. fall
lower than low water mark. SO low Is II
that the boats in the boat houses arc on
the bare ground.
The Columbia gun and rod club, com
posed of some half dozen of our citiHens
aad several gentlemen out Of town, viii
camp out In tho mountains, in September.
Mamie Urban severely spTalnGd h0i
right ankle yesterday afternoon, in step
ping from step, and from which she Tell
Mrs. John w. Madden's condition ro
mains critical.
Mr.. n. Gilman last night scared AVA!
robbers who attempted to enter Mr.. Ed
Spears house, on Walnut street.
MIR. II. Il. Bruner yesterday received
word that his daughter, Miss Caddie, VIII
in visiting in Indianapolis, Ind, wa
dangerously i'll with typhoid malaria. Ii
company with his wife he left immodiatel
for that city.
Sparks from locomotive set on fire tn
woods near tho st, Charles furnace yesteI
day. After doing considerable damag
the flames were extinguished by seyera
turnaCemen.
There was no bicycle parade in Colun
bia last evening, as was expected and al
nouuced. What's the reason
The young girl who Is going aroun
town begging, aud has book signed b
Squire Frank recommending her fo
charity, IL an impOstOr. Squire Fran
did not sign tho book at ALL.
Mr.. James l. Sullivan and mother,
Wilmington, Del, are visiting Mr.. Benz
Herr.
FisheTmon's Luck.
Lazarus Piosi and his son, Lazarus, il
of East Walnut street, this city, wei
fishing at . O'Clock this morning, to JONI
NOlts mill dam, at Oregon. They ha