davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
A SANTA CLAUS CANTATA
ONE CHRISTMAS FEATURE OF
xNIGHTsTOwN ORPHANS HOME.
Both Nashville Victims OF the c., III. &
ID. Crossing Accident Are Dead
Other State News.
specIal to the 1ndIanapolls journal.


KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind, Dec. Pa
was given by the children of the Soldiers
Orphans Home, in Lincoln Hall, last night
There were seventy characters The cho-
ruses of newsboys, fairies, Esquimaux and
brownies were very much enjoyed by all
present. Little Fern Lynch delighted the
she acted the part of fairy queen. Ches-
ter Gilbert was Santa Claus. AS he came
on the stage the little ones clapped their
hands for joy, thinking that at last Santa
Claus was fairly caught.
The home is beautifully decorated with
evergreens and holly. Much preparation
was made for the chldrens Christmas din
ner. The w. r. c. visiting committee, the
childrens Santa Claus, came to the home
yesterday to assist in the distribution of
presents, given by the order which they
represented. Every Christmas the Wom
ans Relief Corps contributes literally to
making this joyous occasion for the sol
ders' orphans. The guests at the home are
Mrs. Smith, of Frankfort, Mrs. Smock of
Indianapolis, and Mrs. Wink, of Knights
town, who compose the visiting committee;
Mrs. Travis, department president of the
w. r. c.; Mrs. Parrett and son, of Circle
vile. o.; Mrs G.. Nixon, of Carthage; How
ard and Mrs. Tompkins of Columbus, and
Lulu Mccoy, of Broad Ripple The home
schools closed Friday for one weeks vaca-
ton.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
BOLD PLOT FRUSTRATED.
Indianian and Two Others Wanted to
hidnap an Ex-MayOr of Memphis.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Dec. 24.-Three desper-
ate men who plotted to kidnap DR.. ID. L.
Porter, a wealthy citizen and ex-mayor of
Memphis, in order to force him to sign a
check for $4,000, are prisoners at police
headquarters The prisoners are William
Roberts, alias Ryan, alias Kelly forty years
old. who claims to be 81 lawyer from Pen
sacola, Fla, ringleader of the gang; w. II.
Bennett, aged twenty-seven a sewer-pipe
burner from Brazil, Ind; j. r. Womack
aged twerty-six. a railroad brakeman and
eX-subfreman on the Louisville fire depart
ment. Womack 'peached" on his pals
and ii was through his arrest on a charge
of carrying concealed weapons the plot was
brought to light. The prisoner confessed
that the object of the kidnapers was to
force the capitalist TO sign a check for
$4,000 They were to secure the money be-
fore releasing their victim, and then if the
check was cashed to flee before the police
could be notified of the disappearance of
their victim. Womack was locked up pend
ing an investigation. Chief Mcseley has
received a message from the chief OF the
Louisville fire department saying Womack
was well known in Louisville
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
CHRISTMAS CASUALTIES
THIRTY OR MORE PEOPLE INJURED
By AN EXPLOSION OF POWDER.
Several Blinded and Others Suffering
with Severe BurnS-s1eishing Par
ty Struck by a Train.

ASHEVILLE, N. c., Dec. PA crowd of
one hundred or more men and boys were
firing Christmas salute from an old cam
non on the outskirts of town to-day, when
can of thirty pounds of powder exploded
in the thick of the crowd. Thirty or for
ty persons were injured but none it is be-
lieved. fatally. The cannon was fred sew
eral times, and then Joseph Finch, an en-
ploye of the Souther Railway Company,
picked up the powd an and began to re-
load the piece. TIE gun had not been
swabbed and the moment the tiny stream
of powder struck the heated metal there
was flash and the powder exploded with
a report that made the earth tremble. A
moment later there was a scene that made
sick the hearts of those watching from
nearby hill. In the smoke that rose from
the explosion they saw human beings run
blindly here and there over the hill, fall
ing and rising only to fall again as they
frantically rushed about, blinded and pow
der-burned, madly trying to extinguish
their flaming clothes Those who were I'M
hurt ran to the relief of the unfortunate
ones smothering flaming clothing or cut
ting the garments from their bodies. one
man was blown or rolled completely down
the high bluff, 200 feet, nearly TO the river.
The hill was dotted with blackened,
grooming figures, some of whom lay almost
perfectly nude. A number of the injured
were able to walk from the scene, while cots
were provided and the more seriously
wounded placed on them and conveyed to
an old residence near by which, was i'm
provised into hospital. The worst injured
are: Joseph Finch, Edward Miller, John
lngle, Barton Means. Clarence Ledford,
Vernon Sentell, Charles Earwood Hay
Eaton. Eugene Wynne, d. Bennett Dexter
Aldrich. John Powell, B. L. Gowan, Henry
Mcintyre, Buck Trivett, Dell Bishop,
rem, Frank Pratter.
Joseph Finch is among the more seriously
hurt his nose and mouth being torn out OF
all shape and he is probably blinded. Clar-
ence Ledford who stood near the cannon
when the powder ignited, was thrown more
burned entirely off and a part of the skin
on the forehead burned loose. Charles Ear
wood and John Ingle also seriously
their sight or be disfigured for life.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
TOYS THAT MEN BUY.
Sturdy Protest Against Them from an
Apartment House Mother.
New YOrk sun.


Il hope none of the friends of the family
will be moved to send Christmas presents
TO my children" said the apartment mouse
mother, plaintively. Men friends, especial
to remember the children of the families
where they have dined, and, of course, 1t
is kind; but dear me, the things men buy!
And it's all the fault of the toy SHOPS too'
For instance?' asked her friend.
well" she answered, some toys, you
know are made only for children VINO nave
large nurseries; they We're never IN the
world meant for apartment house or board
ing house children. But it these big snowy
toys that attract the poor lone mans eye
whenever he wanders into the toy shops
He doesn't see the modest httle TN cn NJ
chu' cars; he makes straight for some big
cast-iron abomination with three or -FOUR
yards of real steel tracks, and that's what
he buys without any regard TO Where the
thing is to be kept.
Now. if toy shops would only have de-
partments labeled off. For instance, one
department could be Toys for Flats ana
Boarding Houses and in that department
there should be no toy higher than ten
inches or wider than two. Another depart
ment could be Toys for the Suburbs, ana
there you would find wheelbarrows ana
shoyels and drums and buckets and all
those outdoor things. Don't you see with
an arrangement like that it would be safe
for man to go into toy Shop ana Duy
and be quite Independent of the clerks!
Now they have everything their own way,
and as the average man goes to them with
out an idea Of what he wants, as rule
they palm off something on him that no
mother would buy or permit her husband
to buy-some big-aS-life mechanical goat,
for instance. Yes, they have such things
1t kicked out its legs far too naturally.
The older children were black ana Dlue
from it, and the baby was scared into a
spasm every time he saw 1t. The man VINO
sent if didn't know. of course and the sales
woman probably declared it was exactly
the kind of thing baby would like"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
Postal Clerk Killed.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. 25.-Vesti-
bule passenger train No. on the Norfolk
& Western Railroad, which left Bristol,
Tenn, last night at 9:05 o'clock, came in
collision with freight at Clarks summit
at 1870. The engines of both trains were
badly wrecked, as were number of freight
cars and the baggage and postal cars Of
the passenger train. r. H. Ashmore. eX-
press messenger, was badly injured about
the head and chest and it is thought he will
die. Postal Clerk Hoffman was instantly
killed, his body being ground to pieces and
thrown under the second-claSs coach
Fireman Coils had both his legs cut off
and was otherwise horrible cut and bruised,
and was thought to be dying from the
effects of his injuries. Engineer Mccarthy
was severely cut about the head and neck
and suffered number of Commissions on his
body, and is thought to be internally in
jured He will die. The wreck was occa-
stoned by the engineer of the freight train
installing his orders None of the passen-
gers was hurt, all escaping with a severe
shock.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
MEAT WAR AT MARION.
Armour & Co. Fighting Retail Butch
ers by Selling at Half Usual Rates.

Armour & Co. Fighting Retail Butch
ers by Selling at Half Usual Rates.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
MARION, Ind, Dec. 25.-Armour & Co.'S
fight against the boycott of the Marion
Central Trades Council was pushed again
to-day with uprelaxed vigor. In one retail
market Friday the sales of Armour meat,
at less than half price, amounted to more
than $4,000 Farmers and people from sur
rounding towns took advantage of the
prices. To-day ]. C. Whistler a prominent
local dealer. closed his shop The retail
butchers met this afternoon in secret Ses-
sion, and refused to talk after meeting.
They VIII meet again Sunday right to take
definite steps to protect themselves. The
butchers assert that union men buy their
meat of Armour and refuse to give
them support in the boycott. They say
it is matter of going out of business or
buying Armour meat, as many formerly
did, for business has been practically at
StandStill with them during the two days
of the Armour retail cut. On Monday the
Chicago dealer will open a retail meat mar
l1et in a South Marion building and at
Gas City. 1t is also reported that Armour
Will open groceries in the city, and the
grocers have joined the butchers in their
demand for protection from the Trades
Council and labor unions. A fine of $40 is
assessed against each union man buying of
Armour The fight is a bitter one.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
Serious Christm.s Runaway.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
GREENFIELD, Ind, Dec. 25.-Isaac
Shepherd, wife ard children spent the day
with their daughter, Mrs. Elijah Manion.
Starting home at o'clock their team ran
away and after going four squares turned
corner, upset the carriage and all were
thrown out. Mr.. Shepherd had his face and
head badly skinned, and Mrs. Shepherd
was dangerously injured Her left arm was
broken at the elbow, all the bones being
shattered. Her arm was caught and nearly
torn off above the elbow. Her left side was
also injured. The two little boys escaped
unhurt. Mr.. Shepherd is a prominent
glassblower, having been connected with
the Pendleton factory for years as a
dOuble-Strength blower
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26

the estate charged with tax on $15O,00O from
1885 to 1896, Inclusive. A restraining order
was issued, permanently preventing the Off
GERS from collecting the tax and Judge Fox
annulled the contract made by the County
Commissioners for ferret work on the
ground that it was Illegal and contrary to
public policy. After this it lay with the au-
ditor to place the stock on the duplicate at
whatever valuation he thought proper.
BY the terms of the compromise the Nor
risson estate is charged with tax on $65 600
from 1885 to 1890, inclusive and from 1891 to
the present time no valuation is made. The
state law was changed in 1891 in such way
that it makes questionable the taxing of
stock in Indiana when it exists in some
other State. This statute is now before the
Their action viii be delayed until the inter-
probation is given
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
KraepzIcin,s story Denied.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 25.-The state
ment made at Milwaukee, by A. c. Kraenz-
lein, the fast hurdler, that the University
of Pennsylvania track team would visit
England next summer to compete in dual
games with Cambridge University is denied
by Frank y. Ellis. chairman of the Uni
versity of J9e 1nsylvania track committee.
Mr.. Ellis says: Either Kraenzlein was
misquoted or lis imagination has run away
with him. There has been absolutely no
correspondence between Pennsylvania and
Cambridge in the matter. At the annual
meeting of the intercollegiate Athletic AS
ISOLATION in New York, the last Saturday
in February a motion will be made to open
negotiations with oxford and Cambridge to
have & team composed OF the first and Sec
ond men in the intercollegiate champion
ship meet, the pick of the two big English
Universities The team which will go to
London, if this scheme is carried through
successfully, will be a representative one
from all the American colleges and in no
sense q Pennsylvania team"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
Mortgages to BE Foreciosed.

DETROIT, Dec. 25.-Two mortgage fore
closure suits have been commenced against
the fourteen-story Majestic Office building.
corner of Woodward and Michigan avenues
on its $500. 900 first mortgage, and the other
by Jacob Seligman and the Fisher estate
on their second mortgage of $500 600. The
interest on the first mortgage, although
granted an extension, and the foreclosure
suit is brought by the insurance company
to protect itself The Majestic Building
Company is made up of the contractors who
took the property and mortgages off the
hands Of Godfrey and Hyde, the original
owners, The heaviest stakeholder is Wins
low a CO.. If Chicago. From present In
dications the property will soon change
hands
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
First Mass in the New Church.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
HARTFORD CITY, Ind, Dec. 25.-Services
We're held in the beautiful new Catholic
Church at the corner of Spring and Water
streets for the first time to-day. The edifice
is one of the finest in northeastern Indiana
and cost $4,000 Rev. Father Charles Die
conducted the services, the first of which
were at o'clock this morning. AT II o'clock
there was solemn high mass, with all its
attendant beautiful ceremonies, with dea-
cen and subdeacon, master of ceremonies,
delabra, all dressed in the ministerial robes
peculiar to their offices. The beautiful house
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
Murdered and Robbed, Perhaps.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
SHELBYVILLE, Ind, Dec. 25-Winfield
Raymond. a wealthy farmer and one of the
best-known men in this county, was found
dead near the Big Four depot of Waldron,
seven miles south of here, at daylight this
morning. There was an ugly cash in the
back of the head, and he evidently had
been dead several hours. His body was
frozen stiff He had hauled load of corn
to st. Paul yesterday 10 get Christmas
n. oney. and ii is thought that he was muir
dered for this money and the body placed
near the railroad to hide the crime. Only
a little small change was found loose in his
pockets. The other theory is that the train,
possibly the Knickerbocker. due at
O'Clock killed him. Coroner Booher is in
vestigating. Raymond leaves wife and
three children.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
BOTH VICTIMS DEAD.

Result of the Crossing Accident on
the c., III. Is ID. at GrifHn's.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
RUSHVILLE, Ind, Dec. 25-William Ed
gar Pearsey, the young law student injured
in the c., H. & d. crossing accident at
Griffin's Station, died this morning at DR..
]. c. Sections sanatorium, in this city. He
died without ever regaining consciousness.
His father, mother and two sisters compose
the family The funeral will take place at
the Main-street Christian Church Monday
afternoon. Miss Ida Florence Brooks, Pear
seyS companion, who was instantly killed in
the accident, was buried from Little Flat
rock Church this afternoon. Rev. J. N. Jes-
MacNeill, of Rushville and A. B. Houze, of
Little Flatrock conducted the funeral serv-
ices. This has been an unusually sad Christ
mas day for RushVille.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26

constructed the track, and a number Of
riders and trainers. The meeting was held
Chairman Mott made the following state
ment.
I'VE cannot make public the testimony
until 2, decision has been rendered. All OF
the testimony taken to-day will be mailed
to the different members of the racing
board. After they have reviewed 1t care
fully they will write their decision and the
punishment merited. If they find that there
has been anything wrong, and send it to
me. When all this has been done will i'm
mediately send out the final verdict
Chairman Mott admitted however, that
there had been little if any conflicting tes-
timony In reference to Ashingers exam
nation. he said that Ashinger had made a
statement. but the nature of this statement
he refused to diVulge.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
Senior GOWN Changes His Mind.

HAVANA, Dec. 26.-Senor Antonio Gown,
secretary of the autonomist party, who has
for nearly a year past resided in the United
States, has cabled to the government his
acceptance of a post i'll the colonial Cabinet
In March last Senior Gown left Havana
for the United States. On his departure it
was understood that ne was starting on
only a short trip for his health and relaxa-
ton. Many friends went to the wharf and
boarded the steamer to see him off. Once
on board, Senior Gown surprised his friends
and stating that he would not return until
the flag was changed. up to now,' said
he, Il have had confidence and faith in
the edifice of Spanish nationality, but now
it is crumbling and falling down. l do not
wish to perish in the ruins, hence L am go
ing away" Senior GOWNS remarks created
a great deal of excitement.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
OIL Tank works Burned.

FORT WAYNE, Ind, Dec. 25.-Fire broke
out in the paint department of the Bowser
oil tank works about o'clock this morning.
1t rapidly spread, until the whole OF the
paint carpenter and machine departments
were involved Before the fire was brought
under control half of the entire plant was
destroyed. The origin of the fire was in
the hot air flues under the floors. The loss
is about $35 goo, with the possibility of some
salvage. The insurance is 500 The firm
manufactures oil tanks and patent special
ties. S. F. Bowser reports that the work
of rebuilding will begin Monday morning.
Four years ago these works were totally
destroyed by fire, and rebuilt on the pres
ent extensive scale.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
DUEL OVER A WOMAN.
Mack Clayton and Jefferson Parks
Fight with Pistol and Knife.

ALTON, ILL.,, Dec. 25-Mack Clayton and
Jefferson Parks, both of Upper Alton,
fought duel to the death at the latter's
home this evening over a woman. Clayton
used a pistol and Parks a knife. Both will
die Two years ago Parks ran away with
Clayton's wife. The men quarreled about
this for a year. and Parks finally compro-
missed their differences by paying Clayton
$40. quarrel over this sale Of Clayton's
wife caused to-dayS killing.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26

FORT WORTH, Tex, Dec. Efficiently
Senior Manuel Pichardo came here from
Cuba, stating that he was detailed by the
Spanish government to buy cattle for the
Spanish army in Cuba. He is now buying
500 or 500 head a week. He said that two
of the largest cattle importers of Cuba have
agents on the way to north Texas to buy
cattle for Cuban shipment, and they will
buy $50 to 400 head daily. He complains that
he is hindered in his work by Determinations
of the railways
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
M,KINLEY,s OWN COUSIN.
PatriGue Flanagan Thought to Have
Been burned to Death.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
MUNCIE, Ind, Dec. 25.-The residence of
Patrique Flanagan, in the suburbs of Con-
gerville, was destroyed tonight with all
the contents. Mrs. Flanagan is visiting
at Alexandria and it is believed that Mr.
Flanagan is cremated under the ruins. He
is employed at the Indiana iron works, and
has been on the turn that required him to
sleep in the fore part of the night, and is
believed to have been in the house when the
fire broke out. 1t was impossible to get in
the house and nothing was saved. A block
distant there q Christmas entertain
ment at the Dunkard Church. The ire
caused q stampede and several persons
were hurt In some manner two chairs fell
people fell over them, pitching out of the
house on the ice head first. Mr.. Flanagan
is q full cousin Of President Mckinley and
the two have been warm friends since
childhood. The search for the body is slow
work.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
FLORIDA ORANGE BELT.
Moved South Because of the Freeze of
Three Years Ago.
CORRESPONDENCE New York Post


There has been, in short, a great shifting
of the orange industry from the northern
and central parts of the State to the south
ern tier of counties. Manatee and De Soto
the two most southern counties lead all of
the rest of the State in the number of their
oranges this year. Ten years ago there
was hardly an orange grove planted in Ell
Their When the orange boom was at its
height these southern counties were in wild
lands, unvisited by white men except to
hunt, and selling at q few dollars per acre
The great orange industry was on the In
dian river in Orange county, and even
around Jacksonville and st. Augustine
Those who remember back half a century
or more say that most of the orange trees
in this northern part of the State were Sc
Verely injured in 1879, and that many of the
old bitter and sweet orange trees were cut
down at that early period. But those who
bought land and planted groves when the
craze seized the public to raise oranges
were not familiar with the past history of
the fruit trees in the State Most of their
orchards were set out in the then civilized
portions OF the state The heavy freeze of
1886 awakened many of them from their
dreams of fortunes, and the orange belt
was moved fifty to one hundred miles far
Their south. After that 1t was not couSid
cred safe to plant citrus fruit trees around
Jacksonville or st. Augustine A few Of
the old trees that had attained a great age
and robustness nave been able to Withstand
the successive freezes that have visited the
State; but the young trees, especially the
improved varieties of budded fruits. were
too tender TO live. Now exDerfance roc
demonstrated that the orange line of safety
has had TO be moved again. The freeze az
three winters ago proved this to the salts
faction OF hundreds, and hereafter the new
groves will be pushed as far south as tha
edge of the Everglades The sudden COM
ing to the front OF Manatee and De Soto
counties IN orange production is q surprise
TO old growers: but Il is no more than canIS
be expected. In the future these southern
counties viii lead all others in this indus
try; they are below the frost line, and trees
and fruits are considered absolutelv 81 r. 80
In the old orange belt some Of the largest
and nnest groves OF Florida are located II
absolutely protected from all danger az frost
these orange lands would be the most vai,1se
Bile in the country. There Is the old Bishon
a. Harris grove at Citra which at one firne
yielded ze'uvu boxes OF oranges in n sea son.
the famous groves Of Colonel Hart. near 30
latka. which have a record 81 nros1,c5, s 9
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
Gomez for Liberty or Death.

NEW YORK, Dec. ga dispatch from
Maxine Gomez. dated headquarters of the
Cuban army, Las Delicias Cuba, gives the
following authorized statement from the in
surgent commander-in-chief: "All I have
to say regarding this great and heroic war in
Cuba is complete ratification of our mani
festo issued at Monte Cristo. You may
make it known to the American people that
is is the firm resolution of the army and
people of Cuba, who have shed SO much
blood in order to conquer their independence,
not to falter in their just cause until tri-
umph or death crowns their efforts"