davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
FATAL COLLISION
ON ALTON ROAD

St. Louis. Oct. 30.-In a collision
between Chicago and Alton Passen-
ger and freight trains on curve near
Mitchell, H.. today George w. Cor
son, mail clerk of Bloomington. was
killed and Engineer Webster prob
ably fatally injured. Fireman George
Peritage and Mail Clerks B Durham
and j. w. Murphy, all of Blooming
ton. and William Stewart, of Chicago,
and r. z. Hines, Normal, were seri-
ously hurt.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Foraker Talks at Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids. Mich, Oct 3O.-Sena-
tor Foraker, OF Ohio, devoted his time
mere last night to Il discussion of pros
pcrity aS an issue in the presidential
campaign. His topic was furnished by
the publication in Il local Democratic
paper yesterday morning of an article
10y George +. Hummer, of Holland.
Mich, claiming that there was no evil
dence Of prosperity in the country until
July. 1897. when the effects of the big
wheat crOD hegan TO be felt.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Explosion of Aoetylene Gas.

Austin, Ills. Oct. 30.-The interior or
the First Presbyterian church here
was wrecked and George w. Leitch, 4
missionary lecturer from Ceylon, was
injured. perhaps fatally. by an eN-
plosion of acetylene stereopticon gas
tanks Sunday night. The accident oc-
Cured shortly after 6 o'clock, an hour
before tn eaudience for Leitch's lecture
was expected to arrive. Only four per-
sons were in the church at the time.
The interior of the building was dam
aged to the extent of $1,000, and sew
eral persons severely hurt.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Tried a Ruse to Work Reform.

Chicago. Oct. 20. = Mrs. Joseph
Miller. of 216 North DeSplaineS street.
who tried TO reform her husband by
threatening to kill herself, after
breaking the furniture in her home. is
now in the county hospital suffering
from burns and shock which may cause
her death. The husband had been
drinking beer with several other men
in front of the house. and she poured
coal oil over her dress and set it on
fire.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30

speech he did not mention the name OF
Croker. At Vannetten ne made short
address. His welcome at Elmira was
a great political demonstration There
We're nearly LOCO Rough Riders and
the Iyceum and New Tivoli theatre
were crowded with people eager TO
hear the governor speak. and overflow
outdoor meetings We're held. Fully 90
600 were in town. The governor at all
three Of his stops. and especially in
Elmira, devoted himself principally TO
a defense of the national administra-
tfOO
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
RUINS HIDE THE DEAD
FrightfuI Explosion an Collapse OF
a Chemical House At
New York. 4%
NUMBER OF FATALITIES UNKNOWN
Because the Killed Are Under
the Debris of the Build
ing.

| New York, Oct. 30.-All night sew
eral hundred laborers were at work
among the ruins caused by the explo-
sion in the building occupied by Tar
rant & Co. Shortly after 8 the body
of woman was located under the
wreckage near the Home Made res
taurant.
1t was feared about 20 bodies would
be found at this pointfas many women
are said to have been in the building
at the time of the explosion. 1t is
not believed the list of dead will ex-
ceed 30.
One hundred and twenty-seven in
jured persons were received at the
hospital some of whom were dis
charged after their wounds were
dressed.
Many missing have been accounted
for. The list of missing now num-
bers about SO.
The loss is estimated at 81 500, 600.
New York, Oct. 3O.-The only person
known to have been killed in the terri
BILE explosion yesterday, at this writ
ing, is a man who died at Il hospital. \
list of missing is given out containing
thirty-three names.
New York, Oct 3O.-The long list of
fire horrors that have occurred i'll and
around the city of New York-a list
that includes the Royal hotel fire, the
Park place disaster, and the Windsor
and HOboken fires, was added to yes
terday by fire and explosion that shook
the lower end of Manhattan like an
earthquake, hurled "A SeYen-story build
iAg into the air, and set fire to two
blocks of buildings with 4 loss of life
that only the efforts of hundreds of
men who were rushed to the work of
digging away the ruins as soon as the
fire WAS eXtinCuiShed will reveal. The
big building of Tarrant Il Co.. makers
of medical specialists, standing at the
northwest corner of Greenwich and
-Narrsn- street, and filled with chemi-
Gals, took fire In some way that may
never be known at about quarter aft
er - o'clock yesterday afternoon. 1t
was sixteen minutes after noon that n
citizen rushed into the house of fire
engine 30. on Chambers street. near
''i'tAiNA'li- anu SllOlttu Illdl
drug house was on fire. He had eren
n volume of black smoke coming from
the third-stOry window.
Explosion Greets the Firemen.
An alarm was turned IN. Soon aft
erward second and third alarms were
turned in. One fire company had Just
arrived' when n terrific explosion oc-
CURED and threw the entire engines
crew down the stairway. The fire
men. realizing the danger of their po-
sitiOn, rushed out of the building TO the
street. The explosion had filled the
street in front with a shower Of fall
ing glass and small debris. which sent
the crowd which was already gathered
to the opposite side walks. fleeing for
safety, and caused the horses hitched
TO the engines to rear and try TO get
away. Engineer ROckSberry was un-
fastening the horses and Fireman
Brown. of the company, was turning
the safety valve of the engine when
the explosion occurred and covered
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
RUBY AND HIS STORY
Story Remains, but Ruby Is Sud-
denly Missing, and His Cred.
itors Are Suspicious.
MAN DONE TO DEATH AT CHICAGO
His Widow in Jail With the Sus.
pected Murderer.-Farmers
Organize Union.

Chicago, Oct. 30.-South Chicago po-
lice officials are convinced that the
thrilling story told by y. c. Ruby, a
saloonkeeper at S54J Mackinaw ave-
nue., who was found bound and gagged
in the rear of his place of business Sat
urday morning and said lie had been
tortured by robbers until compelled to
tell where he kept his money, is with
out any foundation i'll fact. According
to the story told 10y the salOonkeeper
two masked gburlarS entered his place
while he was asleep. bound and gagged
him and prodded him with knife I'M
til he revealed the hiding place of $500
in currency and $500 worth of pay
checks which he had caShed for en-
ployes of the Illinois Steel company
and which the intrudeFS- carried away
with them.
Was Graphic In His Description.
Ruby gave graphic description of
the manner in which he had been as
saulted and robbed. He exhibited a
number of cuts on his hands and arms
which he said had been inflicted by the
robbers in their efforts to compel him
to turn over his money. After care
full investigation the police suspected
that all was not right, and their doubts
were apparently confirmed yesterday
when it became known that Ruby had
fed from the city, leaving behind
number of creditors. The police believe
the saloOnkeeper imposed upon them
and bound and gagged himself after in
fiicting the knife wounds. with the eX-
press purpose of defrauding his credi-
tors by means of the robbery story.
Had Done the Same Trick Before.
He owes the Pabst Brewing COM
pany $500 and q. y. Gross & Co,
whiskey dealers, 500. According to the
police. and these creditors have seized
the stock and fixtures of the place TO
satisfy their claims. Ruby disappeared
from South Chicago Sunday and every
effort TO ascertain his whereabouts has
proved unsuccessful. The police have
received information that on two pre-
vious occasions Ruby resorted to sim
liar tactics with view of defraudinG
his creditors.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
DEAD MAY NUMBER OVER THIRTY
Loss of Property Is 81 .5oO.OOO-A Dozen
Building Blown Down.

down.
As the result of the small fire and
the successive explosions of chemicals
a dozen buildings We're blown down
and a score of others badly damag ged.
The loss of life is not known, but from
all sources of information it is gath
cred that there are perhaps the bodies
of thirty persons in the ruins, though
because of the hot debris and the
slownesS Of the moving of it, no body
had been removed up to this writing
Tire disaster was one Of the most ter
rible that has ever occurred in this
city and rivals the Windsor hotel fire
in It's appalling results, though in loss
OF property it viii be worse. Chief
Croker, OF the fire department. said
last night that the loss is fully $780,,
600.
The action of the tremendous cataS-
trople was more vivid and awful than
the city has seen for a hong time.
Buildings fell in on themselves or top
pied over on others; iron gir>iers were
thDwn yards away, ssnaslIing through
Continued on Sixth PAGE
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
FINDLAY ANDERSON
ADMITS PERJURY.

Louisville, Ky, Oct. so The Even
ing Post today prints an affidavit of
Findly Anderson. a telegraph opera
tor, upon whose testimony Caleb Pow
ers was convicted of completely in the
murder of Goebel, in which Anderson
swears his story told on the stand at
Georgetown was perjury made at the
instance of Attorney Campbell and
Arthur Goebel.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
New Organization of Farmers.

Carbondale. Ills. Oct. >3O-Jackson
county boasts of having one of the
most unique unions ever formed in the
country. On May II a Farmers union
was chartered by the state, having for
its object the economic and social bet
terment of its members. Since its or
ganization tn eOrder has grown. Efforts
are under way to extend the order into
every agricultural county in the state.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Callers on the President.

Canton. o.. Oct. 3O.-YeSterday
brought even more than the usual num-
Der Of callers to the Mckinley home
They We're largely people who called
to pay their respects or to shake hands
with the president. At Alliancea Re
publican mass meeting was held last
night and n letter from the president
read, which crea ted great sensation.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
CH1CAGo's DAILY MURDER CASE.
This Time Il Is Florist ana His Wife Is
I'm the County Jail.

Chicago, Oct. 3O.-A letter written in
Il woman's hand, it is thought, will he
the means of proving that George
Dolinski, a florist of BalmOral avenue.
murdered Anton LiZl, whose body was
found Sunday in a deserted place in
CIybourn pasture near FOrty-third
court. Dolinski is now held ut the
West Chicago avenue police station and
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30

Chicago. Oct. 3O.-Ground was brok-
en- Sunday on State street. between
Forty-ScCond and FOrty-third streets,
for a temple of the Grand United Or
der of Odd Fellows. which will be che
first TO be erected in Chicago.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
The Growth of Illinois.
DEADLY DISASTER
IN KINGSTON MINE.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. 30.-A ter
rife explosion of gas occurred in the
Kingston mine. of the Kingston Coal
company. this afternoon. One man
was taken out dead and II others are
in the mine.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Gold water ApostIe at work.

Geneva. y. Y, Oct. 3O.-WOollcy
spoke TO several hundred people here
yesterday. He said that his party did
not expect to win this time because
those who did believe in the Prohi-
bition cause lacked the grit to vote the
Prohibition ticket
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Chiruro woman Arrested.

Chicago. Oct. 30.-Evangeline ]. Ly
ons. charged with smuggling diamonds
from France by forcing Il poodle dog
to swallow them, has been arrested at
Star Lake, Wis. She says she lives in
Chicago.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30

tics and it certainly is not favorable
to the interests of capital. The trav-
cling men are for Bryan. These men,
who are a small army. are of the
opinion that the republican party is
the protector of corporations and by
the amalgamation of Industrial inter
ests many of them have been thrown
out of employment. In the north
west, in Minnesota, in Dakota and
Iowa, there are many Hollanders.
Sympathy for the Beers, who are
their own flesh and blood, will induce
them to support Bryan. See if l am
not correct.
Il have no desire to be drawn into
any controversy over the results of
the election. but if the republican
managers honestly think that Presi-
dent Mckinley will be reelected it is
my opinion they are mistaken. They
do not know the situation
Further than this, Mr.. Cleveland
refused TO discuss the campaign. He
said that Mr.. Byran is a remarkable
orator and has magnetic personality
which is responsible for has tremend-
Gus popularity. l asked him what
the effect of an oratorical campaign
is He said: Well, for man who
can talk as Bryan does it is q success
full method. For candidate who is
not an orator it would be dismal
failure
MIR. Cleveland said that in spite of
his political inactivity he had beea
sought by represents tatives of all the
leading papers who were apparently
eager to obtain his opinion of the stu
alton. He has refused because, as
he said today, i am out of active
politics ,"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
LUCK IN ODD NUMBERS.

Seven Hundred and Seventy e. ven People
Back From Nome.
Seattle, Oct. 30.-The steamers
Robert Dollar and Ohio arrived from
Nome with ut passengers and a
million and quarter of gold.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
How a Chinese Hobo Does.

Chicago. Oct. 30.-Pang Gu Wang.
first known Chinese tramp. was lodged
at Harrison street station Sunday
night After brewing cup Of tea he
set a small joss upon a box. prayed
for q time and then went to sleep.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Total Official Population of
the United States is Now
76,295,22o.
INCREASE is Fl PER CENT
Illinois, Too, Has Consider
ably More People Than
10 Years Ago.
NUMBER Of UNTAxED INDIANS

Washington, Oct. S0.-Ofiicial an
nouncement of the total population of
the United States for 1900 is 76. 295.-
22O. of which "a, 627, 907 is contained
in 45 states representing approx
mately the population to be used for
apportionment purposes.
There is total of 124, 15S Indians
not taxed.
The total population of 80 was
63, O69, 756. gain of 1925, 464 dur
ing the past 10 years, representing
an increase of nearly 21 per cent.
The Growth of Illinois.
The following is contained in the
official announcement of the popula-
tion by states: Illinois in 1900, l.
s21, $50; in 1890, 1926, 351. Iowa in
1900, 2,251, S29; in 1890, 1.911, 1896.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
SCENE OF GREATEST CONFUSION.
People in the Buildings Had Ten Minutes
to Save Their Lives.


Half an hour after the explosion the
streets foufblockS around the fire We're
crowded with fire apparatus with Il
score of ambulances, while hundreds
of police were being rushed from all
the lower precincts of the city to form
lines. From the burning districts q
column of smoke was rising high in the
air, mingled with flames that could
not be controlled by hundreds of
streams thrown upon them. The sec
ond explosion carried destruction in
every direction. That it did not cause
a wholesale loss of life was due to the
fact that almost ten minutes warning
came after the first cry of fire-a cry
that was real warning to people who
knew the character of the chemicals in
the burning building-and fully five
minutes occurred between the first and
minor explosion, which warned every
one within hearing, and the second one.
The big explosion completely carried
away the elevated station opposite and
the mass of masonry that fell with it
broke through the flooring and almost
demolished the structure just below
the building. Immense masses of ma
SOnry. pieces of cOrnice, great beams,
window castings, and an indescribable
mass of wreckage of very description
tumbled suddenly into the street in
front Of the building all at once. 1ne
force of the explosion below had
thrown the firemen back across the
street. so that they were not caught,
but their escape from the rain of debris
across the street was almost miracu-
lOus. There We're all sorts of miracu-
louS escapes and also ludricOuS incl
dents
Down in Mecklem Bros offices in
the basement opposite the collapsed
building there were III. II. Mecklem
and his brother William, with Frank
Heckenbcrry. boy: Thomas Hackett
n clerk; another man named Bruce
and some girls. among them Ellen Van
Deem and May DunkIemann. When
the fire broke out $4,000 in money lay
upon the counter. HeckenberTy was
stationed at the door while this was
gathered together for putting in the
vault. The first explosion filed the
place with sulphurous smoke that near
y asphyXiated eevrybody. The second
explosion blew in the windows and cut
the tow Mecklems seriously. The boy
Heckenberry found the two girls lying
nj a heap, tainted away. He carried
them out to place efSafety. The 9th.
ers. when they cams3o their senses,
gathered the money from the floor. put
it in cigar boxes and carried it to Wad-
dell & Co.'S.
In addition TO the great number Of
injured who We're taken from the ruins
at the scene of the disaster or from
the immediate vicinity and carried in
ambulanceS TO the various hospitals,
great number of cases. some of them
said 70 be more than triffling We're at
tended to at neiEhboring drug stores.
The list of injured al this writing num-
bcrs over 100. of whom one will die,
one may die, half n dozen are seriously
hurt and n score severely so. The re-
mainder have cuts. bruises. burns and
decorations of every conceivable va
riety.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
QUEEN VICTORIA
IS NOT SICK

London, Oct. SO.-There is no truth
in the report that Queen Victoria is
i'll, though, naturally. she is affected
by the death of her grandson, Prince
Christian Victor.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30

EAIcago pOstOfficc clerks are joining
he Federation of Labor.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30

them with a shower of glass Both
were injured, as was another fireman
belonging TO the company.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Second Explosion Is still Worse.

= x PIOs1OII ~ "Urs5.
Captain Devanney. of the company,
ordered his crew back into the build
ing again They We're dragging the
line to the doorway for the second
time when another explosion, more ter
rife than the first came, and the whole
crew was hurled across Greenwich
street, Devanney being so badly in
jured that he was sent to a hospital.
In the meantime the other engines
that had responded to the alarm had
collected and the firemen We're busy
reScuirg people from surrounding
buildings. Firemen had already taken
many girls down the fire escape upon
the building, and more persons had
been carried down the escapes of the
Home Made restaurant next door and
the buildings adjoining upon Warren
street.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30
Made a Wreck of the building.

The second explosion occurred about
five minutes after the first. From the
accounts of witnesses the building
seems to have leaped into the air. and
in n moment masses of brick wall. tim
berS and stone We're falling into the
street. The force of the explosion tore
away the walls of the big commission
store houses fronting on Washington
street, and caused them TO collapse,
falling all at once in a mass of timbers,
boxes and barrels. from which the
flames which burst out from the Tar
rant building like the belching of n
cannon, at once broke forth. Across
Warren street TO the opposite buildings
the flames 1eaped, setting them all afire
at once. the force of the explosion de-
mOlishing windows and all wooden
structures about the houses. In mo-
ment Warren street was chOked up
with n mass of debris and the whole
place was aflame The great explosion
was followed by half a dozen more
scarcely less intense. and by q count
less number of smaller ones.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-30

"'In the first place, union labor is
for Bryan. OF recent years that or
gsnization has been factor in poll
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-06-22
In Her Arms
Once More.

Come on the shore, auntie. The
tide is racing in, and there are such
big waves"
Constance Maynard put down her
sunshade and looked out over the gilt
tering ocean, then at the rosy, sun
burnt face of her 6-year-old nephew
OF all Margaret's children Laddie was
her favorite; but her seat was exceed
tngly uncomfortable, the shingles very
rough, so she temporized.
wait a little and the water will
come to us"
Il don't like waiting" said the child
disconsolately, repeating what many
older and wiser people would say had
rot the lesson of time taught them it's
uselessness.
"And / would not go near the break
water" he pleaded.
He had planted his elbows firmly on
her lap, his blue eyes were fixed visit
fully on her face, and she could never
resist Laddie long. SO after repeated
promises she let him go and sat
watching him with the faint hope that
he would not spoil his garments and
get her into disgrace with nurse. The
little fellows words kept repeating
themselves in her ears: II don't like
waiting" No one liked it, she thought,
with a sigh, and yet for wears her life
seemed to be all waiting-waiting.
She was nearly 30 years Of age, this
pretty creature, whose fair, blooming
face spoke Of perfect health, whose
soft eyes Lad pathetic expression in
them, as Of one who had suffered. 1t
was long since she had quarreled for
the last time with Rupert Laird, and
he had gone away-so long that ev-
cry one seemed to have forgotten him
but herself, and Margaret had been
quite angry when she had refused sew
eral offers of marriage and declared
her intention of remaining "auntle" to
the children for the rest of her days.