Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-04-07

ana SI5,UUU before III was SnDuueu.
The flames were confined wholly to the
fourth, fifth and sixth floors in the
rear portion of the building, but the
water from six lines of hose for almost
an hour completely soaked the stock
and the loss will be very heavy.
A pardon recently issued by Governor
Drake gives Thomas Basket his liberty
after over seven years imprisonment.
Basket was sentenced from Webster
City to serve fifteen years in 1883 for
the murder of James Richardson, an
employee of Ringing Brothers circus.
which was in Webster City at that
time. His prison record has been SO
good as TO release him. His pardon is
conditional that he shall not use any
Intoxicating liquors or frequent places
where they are sold.
Postmaster Charles. or Cedar Rapids,
has just discovered what is evidently a
viola ton of the United States postal
laws, and at the same time he finds
nothing in the laws covering the point.
Some time ago n man rented a lock
box and deposited the necessary sum
for two keys to the box. The man is Il
prominent young business man, who
has wife and family. He is corre-
spending with young girl, to whom
| he gave one of the keys to the lock
| box The girl would write letter to
him, carry it to the postofiice, open the
box and deposit the letter in the box
without stamp. He, in answering,
would pursue the same course. Mr..
Charles has referred the matter to the
authorities at Washington for an
opinion. A sensation is very likely to
grow out OF the matter.
Charles Thompson, who was held at
Sioux City as suspect, has been
become satisfied he was not the man
who outraged Miss Douglas The
officers say they have not by any means
given up hope of capturing Miss
Douglas assailant, and, in fact, in a
few days arrests will be made that will
be general surprise. The girl is still
very i'll, and frequently swoons away
| for hours at time. At times Miss
Douglas has been mentally deranged,
but this was due to the fact that for
some years she has been an invalid
from rheumatism, which had affected
her whole system. The officers are of
the opinion the fellow who committed
the crime is resident of that part of
the country, and they are working on
that theory.
Natural gas has been discovered on
farm four miles northeast of Vincent,
on the Mason City &5 Fort Dodge road.
1t is attracting considerable attention,
as it is the first case where natural gas
has been discovered on the open
prairie. A three-inch well was sunk
70 the depth of $50 feet, when n good
flow of water was reached and the
tubing and pump put down, when a
peculiar sound, similar to that of
escaping steam, was heard down i'm
the well. The water had risen to
within a hundred feet of the top, and
was choking the gas off from entering.
A lighted match, on being held at the
top of the pump, caused "A blue fame
to be seen. The water was pumped
ont and lighted match again applied.
when a sheet of fire shot up to "A height
of two feet and burned with il good
deal of force.
Iowa Falls dispatch: Somewhat of
sensation was caused here by the
arrest of II. Il. Orr. who has had charge
of the Chicago Bargain Store since its
establishment in this city several
months ago The charge is said to be
grand larceny, and the warrant is
sworn out by J. +. Thomas. the pro-
prietor OF the store, who alleges that
Orr has made away with some of the
goods, but how or when is not stated,
other than that he claims the manager
sought to cover up any deficiency by
padding the invoice. Orr was released
on bonds. and at preliminary hearing
before Justice Knapp "a change of
NNhhc WAC bsiNNh W Ahdloi foobS'
The state was represented by the
county attorney, who requested more
time, and the trial was postponed till
April ?. Owing to the prominence of
the parties and the serious charge
made, considerable interest attaches
TO the case.
The launch OF the battleShip Iowa
from Cramps shipyard on the "sth,
partooll more of the nature Of a no
tional event than any similar one
since Mrs. Cleveland christcned the st.
Louis nearly two years ago. Vice
President Stevenson headed the dele
CATION from Washington, which includ-
ed Secretary of the Navy Herbert,
Attorney General Harmon. Secretary
of Agriculture Morton and large
party of senators and congressman.
The Iowa party was led by Governor
Drake. whose daughter. Mary Lord
Drake, broke the bottle of champagne
over the vessels prov, and gave it It's
name. Among the prominent Iowans
lin attendance were Governor Drake,
Secretary Mcfarland, Treasurer Her
riott. Auditor Mccarthy, Senators