The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-11-19
HISTORY OF A WEEK.

A serious accident occurred on the West
Shore railroad near Little Falls, New York
little after midnight, Sunday night. The
limited st. Louis express, which left New
York at 8 p. NJ. Sunday, ran into a washout
and was badly wrecked. One sleeper was
turned over and splintered almost its en-
tire length. Hon Charles g.
Pratt and wife of Rochester New York,
we're on their way home and Mrs. Pratt
was SO badly injured that she died before
they could release her from the wreck. Mr..
Pratt was seriously but not fatally hurt.
There were good many others injured,
some of them fatally but no one else killed
outright.
A fire broke out in foundry at Calves
ton, Texas, at 40 q. m, on the 18th, and
ragged with fury for twelve hours. A high
wind was blowing and within an hour fifty
dwellings were on fire. From that the
flames swept on until ninety blocks had
been burned, and !, 800 families made home
less. The flames were only stopped by
reaching the gn.f and finding no more TO
burn. The fire was in the residence pOr-
tion Of the city which was nearly all wood.
The loss is s2,0OO,O 900, and insurance less
than half the amount.
The widow OF Gen. Custer has been pre-
sented by friends as a candidate for pension
agent at Detroit, Mich. She lives in New
York and has just returned from Washing
ton much disappointed. She does not want
the Office herself as she is engaged in liter
ary work which pays her better, but she
went to Washington to urge the appoint
ment of Mrs. Calhoun, sister Of Gen. Custer
and widow of a lieutenant killed at the time
of the Custer massacre. Her visit was in
effectual.
Six years ago VIM. Thomas was sent to
the Illinois penitentiary for II years, for
killing DIR. Allen, Of Sandwich, H., being
convicted on the testimony Of . Chicago
female detective, though then and since
protesting his innocence. James Young,
recently sent to Joliet for burglary, says he
is the man who killed DIR. Allen, and he has
been taken before the DE Kalb Co., Circuit
court for trial for that murder.
Two hundred delegates are attending
the National Free Trade conference at
Chicago, David A. Wells presiding. There
are auxillory organizations in 13 states,
and $4,000 is to be raised for the congress
sional election Of 1855. Among the speak
ers are Frank Hurd, Henry Watterson, J.
Sterling Morton and Henry Ward Beecher.
A misplaced switch on the Baltimore
bound from Baltimore to Pittsburg off the
track when near the latter city on the 18th.
A sleeping car rolled down m embank-
ment into the Yonghiegheny river injur-
ing seventeen, but killing no one out
right.
Ex-senator William Sharon died at
San Francisco on the 18th. His last
months were made notable by the suit of
Miss Hill who claimed to be his wife by
contract instead Of legal ceremony. The
court decided in her favor and gave her q
share in Sharon's estate.
county Jail at Chicago on the 18th. The
crime they committed was the murder last
April Of one Of their comrades. He was
killed for his money aud his body shipped
in a trunk to Pittsburg, where it was dis
covered.
Major Sutton, government engineer of
the 18th lighthouse district, recommends in
his annual report 30 to 40 additional lights
between st. Paul and ST. Louis. He also
recommends the abandonment of all per-
manent lights on the Missouri river.
The coroner's jury in the case Of Mrs.
Pratt, killed on the West Shore R. r. near
Little Falls, Nov. 9th, charge the railroad
company with gross negligence at not pro-
viding culvert at the place of the accident.
At Keithsburg, ILL.,, a section of an iron
bridge in process of reaction, with staging
and machinery, fell from it's position into
the river, killing four men and injuring q
number of others.
Rev. DIR. O'Connell, bearer Of the DEGREES
Of the Baltimore plenary council, which had
been received by the Pope arrived at New
York, Nov. 10th, on thesteamship Aurania.
DIR. John M. Riggs, one of the most IA
nous dental surgeons Of the country, died
at Hartford, Conn.,, on the l1th, aged Is.
His body will be cremated, by his direction.
The governor of Indiana has issued an
anti-pleuro-pneumon proclamation, and
parties shipping cattle into that state must
furnish proof that they are not infected.
Sixty families at Port Erquimaux, in the
Gulf of st. Lawrence are in a condition of
unless relief is Immediately afforded.
Gen. McClellan's will gives all his real
and personal estate to his wife, and after
her death to his two children. He appoints
VIM. c. Prince his literary executor.
John w. Bookwalter, of Springfield,
Ohio, the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor four years ago, is about to remove to
Washington to reside permanently.
Mrs DIR. j. NJ. Bowers died Nov. 1st, at
San Francisco .ai:.' it is suspected the death
vas caused by phosphorus poisoning to So
cure $ls, 900 insurance on her life.
Horace 3. Clafiin, one of the leading
wholesale dry goods merchants Of New
York, died suddenly Of paralysis on the
14th inst. He was a years old.
A movement is ahoat to abolish the
Brooklyn postoffice, but reduce it to a
branch Office under the jurisdiction of the
New York Ofice. e#
In the celebrated Boston divorce suit
Fred s. Taber has secured divorce on the
ground OF the adultery, his wife with Rev.
Mr. Downes.
The inaugural ceremonies of the New Or
leans exposition transpired on the 10th
with imposing display, procession, etc.
The eighth annual American Fat Stock
and Dairy show opened at Chicago Nov.
10th with every prospect Of success.
Watson & bartholomew, dry goods COM
mission merchants at New York, assigned
OH the 10th with $40O, 900 liabilities.
Sixty students of the Ohio Wesleyan
University are suspended for going to see
Fred Wood play Richard Third.
Joe Mackin, the Chicago ballet box .sfine
worker" has been denied new trial and
goes to the penitentiary for two years.
Hon. VIM. T.. Ss..t'', successor of Mr.
Coon as assistant secretary of the Treas.
| ury, began his duties Nov. 10th.