Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-08-06

| Dell Austin of Ida Grove drove ove1
and killed the infant child of John
Lynn Thursday night while it was
playing in the road. The killing was
accidental, as Austin did not notice
the child until it was under the wag-
on wheels.
During heavy thunder shower
at Lansing Saturday, the barn of Will
liam Zoll, prosperous farmer was
struck by liSEn. ing and burned to
the ground. A aumber of cattle and
several tons CT new hay were destroy
ed. No insurance.
By the finding of team of horses
buried under pile of brush on Kim
bells island, it is believed the theory
that Matilda Wagner, Of Dubuque,
whose body was found in the Missis-
sippi river June IL was murdered and
thrown into the river, will be ma
terially strengthened. At the recent
inquest the murder theory could not
be sustained, but the sheriff has con-
tinued his investigation. Another in
quest will be held in few days and
it is believed that light will be
thrown on the mysterious drowning
of the girl, as, when last seen she was
riding in covered wagon with two
men.
The Rapid Transit company at Wa
terloo have had gang of surveyors at
work laying out a right-of- way to
Tripoli. 1t is the intention of the
company to extend the line to that
place very soon. The Chicago, Great
Western track will probably be US ed
to Waverly from Sumner and when
the Tripoli line is completed the Ra-
pid Transit will touch six stations.
The company has made arrangements
with the Great Western to connect
with the new Waverly- Oelwein cut
off at Denver Junction, two miles
north of Denver. This will cut off
45 miles of freight charge on ship
! pers from this city to points ON the
Great Western. Goods will be received
by the Rapid Transit company and
billed through on the Great Western.
The old town narrowly escaped an
other scorching Saturday night. One
of the gasoline arc lights in the @. P.
Cafe exploded about nine O'Clock in
the evening while number of per-
sons were in the room directly under
the lamp. The explosion resulted in
panic for a moment. The noise was
deafening and could be heard blocks
away and the room was filled with the
ignited gas. A number were more or
less burned ON the face and hands by
the burning gasoline falling on them.
l. Gletty was the most seriously in
jured being obliged to have both
hands, and face bandaged; d. w. Will
bur's hands are in bad condition also.
If the explosion had occurred in a
store where there was inflammable ma
terial nothing could have prevented
fire because the progress of the flames
was very rapid. The paint on the
front of the building is peeling off::as
result of the intense heat. People
are inclined less to put their trust in
gasoline lamps, especially the arc
light. -Hawkeye Beacon.
Hon. A. M. Potter of Waverly, former
representative from Bremen county,
and later president of the Red Cross
Fraternal Insurance company, which
institution he has been accused of
wrecking, was found in an uncon-
scious condition in his room at the
Kirkwood hotel atDesMoines Saturday
morning. Potter went to Des Moines
Friday and that evening was out with
party of friends until late hour.
He had been drinking. He went to
his room and was not seen again until
10 O'Clock this morning, when friend
called upon him and discovered his
condition. DR.. Mccarthy, house ply
stefan for the lakewood, was called
in and worked with Potter in an at
tempt to resuscitate him, but all eff
orts proved unavailing DR.. McCar-
thy declares that Potter died from the
effects of poison, but whether it was
administered while he was out that
evening or whether he took it with
suicidal intent after returning to his
room is not known.
Three railroad men were arrested at
Clarion Thursday evening on the
charge of conspiracy to ravish the
person of Miss Martha Lawrence
The men gave the names of Jim Bay
less, Dick Parker and William Hurst
They are employed upon the railroad
work at this place. Monday Bayless
and Parker went to Fort Dodge and
returned Tuesday with a young lady
and stOppad aft a hOtal until avaninu