Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-17
BLEW HIMSELF UP.
Bev. Stemmons Killed by the Explosion
of a Dynamite Cartridge.
Young Woman HailIng From Fort Worth
Commits Suicide at Dallas.-A Little
Negro Girl Shoots RerseIfr


money stole horse and saddle belong
ing 10 O farmer named Benton. He
turned the horse loose soon after leaving
the picnic grounds and returning to the
barbecuse sold the saddle. Sheriff Lewis
who was present at the picnic, was noti-
fed of the theft and soon had the darkey
| in charge. He at first denied, but at
forwards confessed TO stealing the horse
and saddle. Says he did 1t to raise
money. He was brought TO this city and
! lodged IN the county jail.
Yesterday morning young Bey Stem
mons of Oak Cliff, Jim Sims, Harry
! Jones and Leslie Stemmons, the fifteen
! year-old brother of Bev, left this city for
McCormick's bluff, about ten miles dis
| tant from this city ul the Trinity. Late
in the evening the party returned, bring
| ing with them the mangled remains of
| Bev Stemmons, who had been acciden-
tally killed by the explosion of dynam-
| lite cartridge which he held in his left
hand. The remains were taken TO the
undertaking establishment of Ed Smith.
To-day at p. IN. the last sad rites took
| place and the body was inferred in its
final resting place.
A reporter CHANGED to meet with Jim
Simms this afternoon. He had not re-
| covered from the shock attending the
| death of his friend, but gave the follow
ing version of the catastrophe:
''Bev had shot the river often with
dynamite cartridges TO secure the fish,
and did not think danger attended the
work. We were afraid yesterday when
he announced that he would discharge q
couple of cartridges in the river. We
withdrew and were about twenty yards
away on the banks of the river He
held two cartridges in his left hand; lit
one and threw 1t into the stream. The
printing dropped off onto the other, ig-
nited it, and just as he was about to hurl
it after its mate the explosion took place.
The force of the explosion knocked my
self, Harry Jones aud young Leslie fiat
on the ground.
Leslie had blue spot on his left side
as large as silver dollar where he was
struck by a flying missile. When we re-
covered our first thought was of Bev.
aud we rushed to his assistance. He was
horribly mangled by the explosion, but
stfll alive. The accident happened at II
q. m. He died ct p. m, and was
perfectly rational for two hours after the
explosion. We did everything possible
for him, but his injuries were mortal.
The remains were brought to the city
last evening and taken 10 the undertake
ing house of Ed Smith and not to the
Stemmons residence, 1t is terrible at
fair and all resulted from an accident.
The body of the unfortunate youth
was shocklngly mangled. The right
limb was torn away just below the knee,
the left hand was torn off, his eyesight
destroyed, besides other CHASTITY wounds.
Bev. Stemmons was 26 years old, the
son of Col. j NJ. Stemmons, lately de-
ceased, and q young man greatly es-
teemed by his associates.
Mollie Barnhill, young woman hail.
ing from Fort Worth, committed suicide
last night at the American hotel on
Camp street by taking q dose of NOR
phine. She had been living with man
named McCline, who is employed as cook
in Main street restaurant. The oman
came into the restaurant and, appearing
to be drunk, McCIine had her taken
home in hack. He returned to work
and in q short time learned that she was
dead. No cause for the act could be
learned.
A little negro girl, named Ophelia
Moore, received serious and perhaps
while playing with pistol. The weapon
was discharged. the ball entering her
stomach. 1t was probed for by physi-
clan, but could not be found.
The fair management are in receipt of
a telegram from Gen. w. L. Cabell now
in the Panhandle, on the Fort Worth and
Denver railway, stating that several
counties from that section are making
preparations TO have an exhibit at the
far this fall; also that general interest
Is manifested by every body throughout
the country, which indicates that there
will be a large attendance.
The riding tournament is attracting
special attention and every mail brings
entree applications.
The following letter TO the county clerk
shows the interest felt, yet the ignorance
of the magnitude of the Texas state fair
and Dallas exposition:
KANSAS CITY, No, Aug. S. 1890.
County Cleark, Dallas County, Tex:
DEAR SIR-We are very DESTROYS OF obtaining
information in regard to the county fair which
is to be held in your neighborhood In the near
future. Please advise US date OF fair, how
many people you anticipate will come; what
the prospects are for a successful fair, etc.
A prompt reply will greatly oblige, yours truly,
ARMOUR PACKING COMPANY.
The fair management have instructed
Mr.. Scott, the county clerk, to answer
the letter and state that the attendance
would be 80 to rs per cent. greater than
last year, which was 200, O00, also giving
the dates and general information re-
garding the fair.
TEXAS STATE FAIR AND DALLAS EXPOSE
TON.
There Is one feature of the Dallas state
fair which TO a large number of its visit
ors must be especially interesting, and
bring wildly back TO their minds old
time scenes and associations. We refer
TO the long line of show tents, play
booths and such like, and the class of
visitors that we have in mind are those
that are approaching middle or old age
and spent a portion of their early lives
in European countries. There a couple
of decades ago the annual "fair'' in
every country town was In all its glory;
not such by any means as we of our day
are able TO associate with the word
fair" but a time set apart for q con-
of all the strolling players and |
showmen of the country in that particu- |
lar town, q time for laughter, jollity fun |
and bacohalianism generally. The youth |
of the country for miles around would be |
looking for months prior to the event to |
their animal outiug at the sgfair - and 1