The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-18
MINOR MENTION.
swamp TIRE

ness of the havoc it generally makes. combine to
make it one of the most terrifying aspects of the
elements confagration is less sudden in its
work, and generally less destructive of human
life A food in any of the larger streams may
be anticipated, and does not sweep life and prop
erty before it with such fury. Fire and flood
are awful when they become unmanageable, but
they do not equal in awfulness the sudden sweep
of the cyclone. Coming from no one knows
whittier, and coming often without moments
warning they come down upon town in an in
slant and in an instant are away, the work of
destruction complete No human habitation
seems able to stand up against the ferco OH
slaught of these invisible monsters of the air.
A village, one moment alive with the evidences
of industry and happiness the next is torn
to shreds and scattered far and wide never
to be brought together again. Year after year
these great storms devastate the country, and
no human wisdom has yet been able to anticipate
them in time to make escape possible, nor is any
way known to lessen their destructiveness. The
terrible energy of the storm at st. Cloud, Mimi,
a few days ago. may be family appreciated when
it is known that four hundred houses were torn
to shreds in five minutes At that place and the
neighboring town of Sank Rapids. over seventy
five persons were killed in the space of very few
minutes. At the former place a slngularly sad
feature was added to the tragedy. There had
been a marriage, and the party had just seated
themselves to the wedding dinner when the
storm came. Before any of them could think of
seeking refuge, which would have been well.
nigh impossible anyhow, the house was torn to
pieces and several of the guests killed. Among
the dead was the groom of the hour. and the
bride and widow was severely hurt. 1t is the
task of human ingenuity to devise some way of
foretelling the approach Of these storms, 80 that
helpless humanity may try to escape their fury.
THE authorities at Montreal are in state of
mind that they feel like kicking themselves over
their stupidity They have accidentally sue
ceeded in arresting thirteen year old boy for
the commission of g series OF burglaries of such
character that they declared that the work was
that of experts, which they ascribed to gang
from New York. The boy Joseph Landry by
name, would fearlessly enter any store, no mat
ter how well protected by patent burglar alarms.
tits said that he once knew that he had accident
ally touched burglar alarm, but that he kept
right on with bis work of plundering the store.
knowing that the family were at church at the
time and would not hear it For this reason he
cunningly selected Sunday on which he usually
did his work. Nor was his shrewdness confined
to the mere business of getting into shops and
making away with the plumber he sought. When
his room was searched, in the residence of his
parents it was found to contain every descrip-
ton Of merchandise that he could carry. His
parents had no idea that he was thief, nor that
there was anything in his room that did not be-
long there In the course of six weeks he sue
ceeded in robbing no less than eleven stores.
But the most marvellous thing in connection
with this youth was the way he was accidentally
apprehended His love for whisky and fast
horses betrayed him to some OF his boyish COM
panions. and they told the police 1t was found
too, that the child had no accomplices, but did
all his work by himself. He goes to the Reform
atory for four years, after which he will be
ready to open school on how to open stores
He will make just the kind of man to run for
alderman in New York city.
HUMAN life is frequently held very cheap, not
by desperate men only, but by foolish ones as
we'll A Texas doctor who lately took uISlis
residence in little town on Long Island had a
way of amusing himself by shooting bottles
from the head of his coachman using a revolver
for the purpose. AS might have been expected,
he shot once too often, and on Friday killed the
coachman. He had shot some half-cozen bottles
from his head without harming him. There be-
ing no more bottles he had him place a tomato
can on his his head Shooting a. this, he allowed
his aim to fall little, and the man fell
corpse The account says that the coach
man raised a little just the shot was fred,
and it was that that caused the doctor" to miss
his usually accurate aim. There can be no doubt
about the character of such an offense It is
murder, pure and simple. The professional
marksman who is fool enough to shoot any OBJ
ject from the head of human being is certain
to kill in time. They ali do it, just as Frank
Frayne did when he took the life of the unfortu.
nate girl at Cincinnati few years ago It is
no sufficient excuse that there is no intention to
dos This may be admitted, but it remains
that the foolhardy trick is murderous in its ma
ture and should be discountenanced. The law
should be made to send such men to the peniten-
tiary the same though they had committed
voluntary manslaughter
A WEALTHY Philadelphian has solved the poor
relation problem to his own satisfaction He
has host of impecunious kinfolk, and in order
to provide for them has fitted up two. .undred
acre farm, with extensive buildings and all con-
venienceies, and has invited all of his blood re-
lations who may desire to come and occupy it
as home They are not, however, to reside
there in luxury and idleness. but must do GER
tain amount Of work for the accommodations
they enjoy. The estate has been put into the
hands of trustees and Is to be home in per-
petuity for the millionaire's uncles, cousins and
aunts and their descendants. Az yet, OUT Of
the entire number, only four have accepted the
offer. the others evidently preferring friendly
inn" whore they could saw wood and enjoy the