Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-12-26
A FAMILY POISONED.
Five People May Die from Eating
BuckWheat Cakes.
THE FATAL RESULTS OF A SPREE
a Number of Young Men Drink Wood Al
cohol-Ffre at Sta te Reformatory-
-r Explosion at Gas Works-PoI-
soned by HeAdcheese.

ST. LOUIS, Dec 23.-Five mem bers OF
the family of F. M. Roberts, a fireman
on the Missouri Pacific railway, were
poisoned by eating cakes made of pre-
pared buckwheat flour yesterday. Four
of them are at the city hospital, and it
is doubtful if they will recover. They
are: Mrs. Mary Roberts, Ollie Roberts.
aged IS; Frank Roberts, aged 16; john
ME Roberts, aged 6; Lizzie Roberts,
aged 8; George was only slightly at
fected. George Roberts, 10 years old,
found a package of prepared buck
wheat flour in the alley Monday night
He took the package home, and his
mother made buckwheas cakes for
breakfast Tuesday morning. at eight
o'clock the family ate breakfast All
ate heartily of the cakes, save George,
the lad who found the flour. He was
not partial to buck wheat cakes At
ter Ollie and Frank had been at work
a while Ollie complained of being sick.
He began vomiting violently, and his
condition became SO alarming that he
was taken to his home by his brother
Frank. When the boys reached home
they found the whole family save
Georgia, suffering in the came manner.
The neighbors, who were called in.
could do nothing to afford relief, and
ambulances were called and the
poisoned persons were removed to the
city hospital, where they are at the
point of death. DIR. Suffer says he
| does not know the exact poison that
was taken. Two of the cakes and
some of the flour in the original pack
age have been saved and will be ana
| lyzed.
THE FATAL RESULTS OF A SPREE.
NATION, Ill, Dec. 23.-Two deaths,
the result of alcohol poisoning, oc-
| Cured here yesterday and several
other young men are under the care OF
| hysicians, and more deaths may be
| announced. number of young men,
ranging from IT to 22 years of age, be-
| longing 10 a club having rooms in a
| business block. started in for a holiday
celebration last Sunday. One young
man supplied the crowd with crude al
cohol, and the youths compounded a
| mixed drink of alcohol, water, sugar
| and cinnamon drops. About half a
gallon of alcohol was used, and several
gallons of the mixture were consumed.
Some of the partakers became intoxi-
Gated, and yesterday John Madison
| died. Late this evening Bert Wellinan
| died in commissions The investigation
of the coroner's jury brought to light
| the fact that the alcohol used had been
| taken from the Mattoon gas works and
| is known as wood alcohol, considered
to be deadly poison if taken in any
quantity. Physicians express surprise
that any of the young men survived.
FIRE AT A REFORMATORY.
ELMIRA, N. Y, Dec. 23.-Fire last
| night destroyed two buildings at the
state reformatory. entailing a loss OF
| about 500, 200. The buildings de-
stroyed were occupied by the f. H.
Mills company, which manufactured
plumbers and cabinet supplies. After
| the convicts had left the building, the
Waterman noticed the flames. The
| lire engine at the reformatory was put
| at work, and two steamers Were sent
| up from the city, but it was nearly
| three hours before the flames were
under control. There was great ex
| element among the convicts, and
every corridor was doubly guarded.
| EXPLOSION AT A GAS WORKS.
ELYRIA, O., Dec. 23.-An explosion
at the gas works last night shut off the
supply from the city, which was left
| in darkness Ralph Barnes was burned
| frightfully and cannot recover. Alder,
Young was also severely burned.
| Three children near the gas house
were also burned The city will be
without gas for at least three nights
POISONED BY HEADcHEEsE.
| WEST POINT, N. Y, Dec. 23-Twenty-
| five members of Capt Parker's detach-
night from eating canned headcheese.
critical condition. The headcheese
| came from the commissary and was
| apparently in the best condition. A
L H., ,, L.,