The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-05-15
THE DEATH FARM
4 PICNIC GROUND
/, $1,000 Sightseers Visit the Guinness
Place.
FINDING SOME GRUEsoME BITS
The Town of Laporte Is Oyerrun by
the Rush of Sunday Visitors, and the
Surrounding Country Is Practically
Deserted - Lemonade and Lunch
Stands Are Set Up.

Deserted Lemonade and Lunch
Stands Are Set Up.
LaPorte, Ind. Especially ALI roads
in Laporte County Sunday led to the
farm Of Mrs. Belle Guinness, alleged
murderer of at least 10 persons
whose bodies have been unearthed
in the barnyard, and now thought to
have been burned to death with her
three children in fire that destroyed
her farmhouse on April 20.
Upwards of $4,000 sightseers visit
ed the place of death before sunset
Of the first Sabbath to pass since
news of the mystery transpired.
Nearly every able-bodied resident of
Laporte went to the Guinness farm,
and railroads and trolley lines
brought about 1000 nonresidents to
the city.
Mayor barrow found it necessary
to issue stringent orders that the
Sunday closing laws should be strict
ly enforced. Hotels and restaurants
conveyance In Laporte was pressed
into service in an attempt to provide
transportation to the farm, which is
a mile north of Laporte. Hundreds,
however, were forced to walk.
Nearby villages reached by electric
railways were almost deserted while
citizens FASTENED to Laporte to satisfy
their curiosity. The strangers had
no difficulty in finding their way to
the death farm. The constant stream
of carriages, cabs, omnibuses, auto
mobiles, motor cycles, bicycles, farm
wagons and carriages pointed unmis-
taxable directions to those who were
compelled to walk.
Road Choked With Vehicles.
The macadam road which winds
past Clear Lake and the Guinness
farm to Pine Lake was choked SO
that even the automobiles were COM
PEELED to move slowly.
At the farm only speakers
stand, with its customary pitcher of
water, was necessary to complete the
impression that political rally had
drawn the thousands to the spot.
There was nothing in the attitude of
the crowd to indicate that they were
visiting place where grewsome trag-
edies had taken place.
Jokes and laughing comments were
heard on every side, and exclama-
tions of joy from successful relic
hunter were numerous. Family pic
mic parties grouped themselves ON the
sloping lawn under the fine pines and
cedars which dot the dooryard, or
found resting places beneath the
Towering apple and plull trees of
the orchard. Children were numer-
GUS, and many groups had baby cab
as nucleus.
Along the roadside were several
lemonade stands and lunch wagons.
At the gates were vendors of SOU
venir postal cards, and those bear
ing group picture of Mrs. Guinness
and the three little ones who met
death with her found ready sale.
In the rush to Laporte in the after
noon several farm horses, frightened
by automobiles, started to run away.
A buggy was upset, and Mrs Ben
jamin Zanelar, of Laporte, suffered
broken arm.
Several pickpockets did thriving
business while the threng waited for
homewardbound trains. One saloon
keeper was arrested for opening his
bar on Sunday.
Inquiries About Victims.
Investigation of the farm for more
bodies halted Sunday. The sheriffs
and other officers were forced to be-
come spectators also. Several visit
ors, however, were seeking informa-
ton concerning missing friends or
relatives, and some further informa-
tion regarding the possible identity
of the victims of the farm resulted
from their inquiries.
The most definite information
came from Olaf Lindboe, of Chicago.
He said that his brother Thomas
worked for Mrs. Guinness three years
ago, and that the last letter from
Thomas said that Thomas intended
to marry Mrs. Guinness.
Olaf worte to Mrs. Guinness later,
and she replied that Thomas had
gone to st. Houis and that she had
had no word from him. Olaf Lindboe
has not heard of Thomas since. He
viewed the unidentified corpses, but
was unable TIC find any likeness TO
his brother in the bundles of bones
and flesh.
Sheriff Shutter will continue his
Investigations at the Guinness farm
Monday. The first object of search
will be the heaps of ashes and other
refuse in the cellar of the ruined
house.
The ashes and the cinders are to
be carefully sifted and then sluiced
by a miner in an effort to discover
the gold filings which are said to
have been in Mrs. Guinness teeth.
The floor of the cellar may also
be dug up and additional excavations
may be made in the yard, where ten
cadavers have been unearthed.
Two Men Blown To Bits.
Mobile, Ala. Especially Twin boil