The defender., 1900-01-27
KEYSTONE HAPPENINGS.
News Items of Interest From All
Parts of the State.
COLLISION CAUSES EXPLOSION,
Six Killed Cnd Eight Injured In a
Singular Catastrophe at AshIey-A
Pretty GirIVictim of Opium in Phil
adeIphia-POIiceR Raid the Dens.


Pretty GirIVictIm of Opium in Phil
adeIphia-POIice Raid the Dens.
WilkesbarTe, Pa, Jan. 26.-A fearful
explosion of dynamite occurred in the
yards of the Jersey Central railroad at
Ashley, q suburb of this city, at 9
o'clock last night, which resulted in
the killing of six men and serious in
juries to eight others. The dead are:
Frank Mclaughlin, brakeman, aged 28,
single; Peter Frey, engine wiper, aged
16; Michael Bird, brakeman, aged %,
single; Charles Haney, aged Is, and
two unknown tramps. Haney went to
the engine house to idle away time in
stead of attending night school.
Owing to slippery tracks the en-
gineer lost control of a heavy freight
train coming down the mountain, and
at the Ashley yards the train dashed
into helping engine, which was sent
into a car containing 80 boxes of dyna-
mite. Ten locomotives and Is cars
were wrecked, the stacks of the round
house and a portion of the roof de-
molished. and a big water tank de-
stroyed. Nearly every window in town
was broken. The loss is heavy.
PhiIadeIphin's Fair Opium Victim.
Philadelphia, Jan. 25.-From the
opium laden atmosphere of an upper
room in a furnished room house at
1106 Vine street, pretty 19-year-old
May Bibighaus was taken yesterday
morning dying after night spent in
smoking the poisonous drug. One hour
later she died at the Hahnemann hos
pital. The members of the girls fam
ilv are Well-to-dO and highly respected
in the neighborhOod of their residence,
1884 North Twelfth street. The girl
formerly taught class of Cinnamon in
a Sunday school, and from her ac-
ouaintance with these she formed the
opium habit. Hugh Kennedy, who
escorted the girl to the joint, Harry
Parker. who owned the layout, Frank
Reynolds, Frank Gregg and James
Gray are in jail pending action by the
| grand jury.
wyoming Valley Strikes Settled.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Jan. rs. - The
strikes that have prevailed among the
coal miners of the Wyoming valley toI
! the past ten days are now ended. Inc
! miners employed at the Baltimore col
! liery of the Delaware and Hudson com
pany who went to work week ago, re-
| turned to work yesterday, an amicable
! agreement having been reached with
| the company officials. The breaker
boys at the Lance colliery of the Le-
high and Wilkesbarre Coal company
who went out Tuesday, also returned
to work yesterday. The talk OF gen
| ;oI
at least.
PennsyIvania Democrats Name Brya1
Harrisburg, Jan. 26.-The state Dem
ocratic committee set the pace for the
| Democracy of other states yesterday
by making Colonel William j. Bryan
it's choice for the presidency in 1900
This action was taken by the commit
tee while Colonel Bryan was on his
way to Harrisburg from New York tt
attend the meeting and confer with the
party leaders This is probably tnt
first time in the party's history tina
the Democrats of Pennsylvania have
indicated their choice for president II
advance of the state convention
Mr. Rex Stands a Chance to Recover
Huntingdon, Pa, Jan. 29.-After min
DAYS Of uninterrupted unconsclousnes
| ex-Chief Clerk Jerre b. Rex, OF tn
| PENNSYLVANIA house of representatives
who was paralyZed at his home mere
was able yesterday for the hrst Tim
to recognize his friends and compre
hend words addressed to him. In
paraIysis affecting his right side an
tongue is still unyielding. If no fur
ther attack occurs, which, however, i
feared, his physician gives hope 10
his partial recovery.
Raiding PhiIadeIphia's Opium Den'
Philadelphia, Jan. 29.-As resul
of a tragic death of young Woma
last week in an opium den located /
Chinatown, the police at l O'Clock thl
morning started to clean out many
the resorts in the locality. Six place
had been visited up to l: As a. m. an
over 40 persons arrested, many OF theI
being under the influence of opium A
2 a. m. the raids were still in progress
Those arrested included ChinameI
white and black males and females.
Claims 1t Was an Accident:
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Jan. pa fats
shooting affray occurred in the HON
of Kazimir Dudnew, at Duryea, ye:
terday, The man was cleaning gu
! in the kitchen when, he claims, it We
accidentally discharged. The load
shot entered the side of his wife, VIII
was seated in the next room. 81
died in great agony two hours late
The husbo~d was arrested.