The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-05-14
THE DEATH FARM
4 PICNIC GROUND
$1,000 Sightsesrs Visit the Guinness
Place.
FINDING SOME GRUESOME BITS.
The Town of LapOrte Is Overrun 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. (SpeciaD ALL 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 70
nave been burned to death with her
three children in a fire that destroyed
her farmhouse on April %.
Upwards of 10, 1000 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 Darrow found it necessary
to issue striDG"1t orders that the
| Sunday clOa| g should be strict.
ly enforced. h\ . and restaurants
were overrun WIN patrons. Every
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 hastened to Laporte to satisfy
their curiosity. The strangers had
no dlfhculty 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 Chol1ed 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 a speakers
stand, with its customary pitcher OF
water, was necessary to complete the
! impression that a 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, OF
found resting places beneath tho
| towering apple and plum trees of
the orchard. Children were numer.
Gus, and many groups had a baby cab
as a 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 a 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
a broken arm.
Several pickpockets did a thriving
business while the throng waited for
lhomewardbound 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-
tion 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 Louis 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 to find any likeness &c
his brother in the bundles of bones
and flesh.
Sheriff Smutzer 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 tc
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.