Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-18
IN COPPER KETTLES.
The Cause of the Poisoning of W. C..
T. U. Delegates Explained.
SALOONKEEPERS NOT TO BLAME.
A Purely Business Meeting Only Is the
First Days Session.
MINOR NEWS FROM THE THREE STATES
.,spEcrAL TELEGRAM TO THE p1spArcH.l I

BRADFORD, Oct. 17-Though the ex-
citement following the poisoning of fully so
lady delegates to theNState Convention of
the W. G. T. q: has somewhat died out the
mysterious affair is still the topic here and
will be for some time. Some Of the dele
gates were taken down Immediately after
dinner, but not until o'clock were the full
effects of the poison manifest. Physicians
say the symptoms were all those peculiar to
poisoning. 't' Greg,
The theory of some of the most severely
stricken delegates, that the food had been
poisoned or the air of the church impreg-
mated with gas by liquor dealers or other or,-
ponents of the temperance cause, was e1-
ploded to-day. Physicians were of the opin-
ion they had been poisoned by some deadly
stuff or powder sprinklad on the grapes, but
this theory was also proven incorrect, when
investigation today showed the people had
been poisoned by food improperly cooked IN
copper kettles.
AL those stated yesterday as being dan
gerously i'll are now out of danger. MISS
Jennie Bracken, of Allegheny, State secre-
tary, was one of the most seriously Ill and is
yet unable to leave her room. Mrs. Ada
Cable. who was supposed to have been ia
tally affected, and Mrs. Holyey, of Pittston,
began recovering early this morning:
Anna Shaw delivered an address, in which
she outlined the policy of the organization
and demonstrated that the W. c. 7. U. is
one of the most successful reform societies
ever organized. TomorroR all the pulpits
OF the city will be supplied with lady e1-
horterS from among the delegates
There was large attendance mt today's
session. Most OF the delegates who were
taken i'll yesterday have sufficiently recov-
cred to be again in attendance. The ses-
siOns were of purely a business nature
Mrs. Jones announced that she had q letter
from Mrs Washbnrn, the cateress, which
she thought would clear up the mystery OF
the sudden illness of the delegates yester
day. The communication stated that a por-
tion of the pressed chicken served at dinner
yesterday had been boiled in boiler having
new copper bottom. 1t was decided by
resolution that the ladies would take dinner
with Mrs. Washburn to-day, thus exonerat-
ing her from any blame.
Changes in the constitution were con-
S1dered; the first amendment proposed that
the basis OF representation be reduced, al-
lowing one delegate for every 10 members,
but was lost. The next amendment was
carried. 1t was to the effect that the words
'informal ballot by struck from Article
NJ, and made to read, "The officers shall be
elected by ballot" etc.
The report of the State Headquarters WAS
received. There are at the present time H.
600 members in the State, which allows for
800 delegates in the convention. OF this
number eS9 are present.
Mrs. F. j. Boyer, Superintendent of he
department. to secure the use of unfer-
mented wine at the Lords table, read her
annual report. She reported that Cameron,
Elk and Franklin counties had taken up the
work during the past year. Reports have
been received from 81 counties There now
remain only eight counties to be heard
from.