Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-12-18
4 Horrible Casualty.

lhdn-tilous man, win family con-
slstlng Of wife and four children,
came from Missouri, and leasing
farm from Mr.. ID. j. Chambers, be-
gan their reside nee on Long prairie.
II seems that the wife has been
regarded for some time past as OF
unsound mind. expressing at times
great fear OF injury from the Indians,
but nobody ever thought that her
mental depression would assume
such form AZ to sndanger her own
or any other persons life. 1t seems,
however. that for some time preced-
ing the horrible event Of the 18th.
she had not only contemplated sui
eide but the destruction, likewise, of
all who were near and dear to her,
aud her preparations for the terrible
deed indicate all that deliberation
which has conclusively shown there
IL sometimes a method in mad
ness"
About six o'clock on tho Inflated
morning, before any of the family
except the father and mother had
arisen from bed, the wife put into
execution her thoroughly arranged
plan. which speedily resulted 10 the
death OF four children, between one
and seven years of age, and herself,
ard injuries to her husband, which
have since resulted in his death, and
excruciating agony if not fatal end
ing Of the only remaining member
Of the household, daughter nine
years OF age. 1t seems that the wo-
man. after locking the doors and
barring the windows, SO as to render
speedy egress impossible, had satu-
rated the walls, floor aud bed-cloth-
ing with coal oil, and Selling a fire.
brand, she ignited the fluid, which
Immediately sprang into a vigorous
flame and seized upon everything
combustible. The children were all
in bed but the eldest, who escaped
by window, with her clothing on
fire. She had the presence of mind
to roll on the ground, and finally
subdued the flames, but in the en-.
deavor to return to the burning
house, to aid her sisters and brothers.
was still more seriously injured. II
is hoped she may recover, although
she will probably be disfgured for
life. The father made his exit from
the same window, with clothing
burned from the body and the sur
face OF his flesh cooked to a crisp,
and made his way to an Indian
camp, mile or more distant, where
he was cared for until the elder Mi
near, his father, was notified, who
removed him to his house. Mr.. Mi
near died at 10 P. NJ. of the same
day amid fearful sufferings, and was
buried in the cemetery near Rud.
> delrs.
The house, with the bodies of the
mother and her four children, burned
to ashes, and nothing besides re-
manned when the neiyhbors arrived
but u few small portions of burned
flesh which were carefully gathered
together and buried with the re
mains Of the father. This sad event
at the threshold OF the holiday sea
eon, has cast q gloom over the com
munity which time alone can dispel
- -
, 1T seems that Judge Greene car
. do with impunity some acts un
! ,horizsd by law, that are forbidden
E by his imperious edlct to tue ordinary
/. citizen. The people of Tacoma and
g Seattle who peaceably advised the
D Cinnamon to 60, have been indicted
arrested and bound over for trial
y while the Judge last week authorized
, the forcible shipment of a score o
0 Cinnamon out Of the country, and i
was all right; at least, no proclama
Q ton has yet been issued nor hav.
troops been ordered to the front
1t may be the Judge has some
shadow Of law TO back him, bu
: some OF our people would be pleased
I to have him cite it. Common folk.
( find it exceedingly difficult to &C
Q ccpt the autocratic dogma, "th'
: Ling can do no wrong" They
b scrutinize with exactness the acts O
. such OF our officials as show dispo
sition to arrogats to themselves unu
D sual powers. and it will require
, something more than the form of {
judicial investigation to make then
/ believe that the Judge had the au
| thority to simply remove convicted
n violators OF the law from the coun
try at the public expense.
The weather so far this winter ha,
been mild and pleasant, alienation
Of rain and sunshine occurring a.
frequent intervals. No snow hal
fallen, and the Thermometer has mo-
} been below the freezing point. Let