The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-26
CARRIED THE JOKE TOO FAR.
brutality Practiced on a Girl by Hor
Workers.

NEw York, April "a. - Miss Minnie
daughter of Christopher Luther, a tea
dealer OF Bridgeport, has been in bed since
Monday afternoon last. IA the result of a
practical joke played on her by the yonng
women who wcrk with her in the factory
OF the Union metallic cartridge company
in that town. Miss Luther had only
worked in the factory short time. She
had grown tired OF being around home
and. besides, wanted more money for her
self than her parents could afford TO allow
her. So her father agreed TO let her 20 in
to the factory. Superintendent Jerome
Orcutt OF the cartridgs-works took some
interest in the girl and set her at work
in the shot shell department. Miss
Luther has always been ner-
vous and excitable. When the
young woman entered the factory she held
herse.f sloof from the other girls. and they
resolved to take her down" They an
noyed her in dozen wRvs, and she told
her mother that the girls tormented her
so that she could not work. They would
often stand around and laugh at her. BY
the advice OF Il physician, the girl agreed
TO take a vacation The girls euved Miss
Luther numerically when they heard of
her intention. The shot-shell department
is long room. which extends the entire
length OF the factory. As the shot-shells
are made they are packed in big barrels.
1t was evident from their actions when the
noon whistle was heard on Monday last
that the girls had come scheme on foot.
'hax fp 1h hrf
stools far under the tables and 10 clear out
tls long aisles. Then they gathered
around Miss Luther, who had opened her
lunch basket.
"0h, isn't she uppish." said one.
''She won't associate with Us" said an
other.
I'VE amt good enough for her." said q
third.
eco away and le: me alone" begged
Mics Luther.
The girls only laughed. and one
houted:
Lets fix her now"
Bring the barrel over" cried out an
other.
Two girls began to wheel one OF the
heavy cartridge barrels over.
"Oh, what are you going TO do?" cried
the girl.
We'll show you," shouted the oiherp
As the girl started TO ran Bridget
Burns, twenty years old, and Norah Gill
bert, twenty-one years old, sprsng for
ward and grabbed her. Miss Luther was
too frightened 10 make anv effectuel re-
siatance and the two girs lifted her from
the floor and dumped her. feet front, into
the barrel Her head and shoulders pro-
jected. Her tormentOrs pushed her down
ha NJ flct,s limo Il hlofl
up. Then they got n heavy iron sieve,
such as is need TO silt shot, and fitting it
around the head of the barrel, hammered
it down tight. Then tho girls retired
with laughter. Every time an appeal
came from the barrel the others would
answer IL with some tauntiGg remark.
ION, yes, we'll lot you out" said Mrs
Burns and Mics Gilbert together, and then
they dumped the barrel over and began to
roll t down the long aisle. Not sound
came from the imprisoned girl despite the
bumns agains; posts and table legs. firing
OF their amusement, the two girls gave the
barrel parting kick. sending It with q
crash against the wall.
Now get ont yourself. Miss Uppish," J"
exclaimed Que.
Not a sound camo from the barrel. Then
the girls became alarmed and one Of them
looked IN.
'She's dead" exclaimed tie girl. "Her
face is black"
The two girls who had paced Miss
Luther in the barrel turned pale. but said
nothing. Several others pulled Miss
Luther ont
The girl was unconscious. Her head
was covered with bruises and shs scarcely
hreathed. Several men were summoned,
ana they gave her whisky and bathed her
head in cold water. Bu; il was use ess
Finally carriage was sent for aud the
girl removs d To the home of her parents.
DIR. K. 9. Graves WAS quickly summoned.
aud after an hour'a worx restored her TO
consciousness. Scarcely had she opened
her eyes and recognized her mother when
she tainted again. Then she began TO
rave. She ima1Ined She was being rolled
in a hsrr-l, and in her deliriun begged
her tornentots TO let her alone. Or.
Graves said that the girls mind had been
affected. For q time il seemed doubtful
whether she would recover. Yesterday
she became rational Tor time, but her
mind soon wandered again.