The Newark Journal.
Published In The Famous Big Bottom Country, Where Alfalfa Is King.
$1 Per Annum.
Newark, Independence County, Arkansas, Friday, October 14, 1904.
Vol. 4. No. 42
BAD ACCIDENT AT
THE MAGNESS GIN
End of the Boiler Blown Out Mon
day, Injuring Six Persons.
Overpressure of Steam Said to Save
Been the Cause of the Accident
—No One Was Killed.
I he end of the boiler at the
Magness gin at this place was
blown out Monday morning about
9 o clock, seriously injuring one
man and slightly injuring four
others.
The injured are:
J. M. Magness, seriously injur
ed about the dead and body and
considerably bruised and scalded.
J. W. Nicholson, engineer,right
arm and body bruised, and scald
ed on the right hip.
Ernest Edgar, face scalded and
considerably bruised.
Joe Perry, gash cut in back of
head and otherwise bruised.
Eugine House, bruised on the
left leg and hip.
A young man named Vest,
slightly bruised about the body.
There were several wagons load
ed with cotton in the gin yard at
the time the accident occurred,and
it seems miraculous that no one
was killed.
Engineer John W. Nicholson
was standing at the front of the
boiler working the inspirator when
the explosion occurred and how he
escaped instant death is indeed a
miracle. He was blown out the
front of the engine room and land
ed on a pile of wood 35 feet away.
A wheelbarrow which was stand
ing in the room was blown against
the park fence some 40 feet away
and struck the fence with such
force that the handles were driven
clear through the boards of the
fence.
The door on the front end of the
9 boiler was blown over the park
fence and was found a distance of
100 yards from the gin house.
Ernest Edgar, who had gone
down to the gin to borrow a pipe
wrench, was standing in the en
gine room when the explosion oc
curred, and the fact that he was
standing slightly to one side of
the boiler is all that saved his life.
He was blown a distance of about
25 feet, but was not seriously in
jureu.
The back of the stone wall a
round the boiler was blown out
with such force that one of the
large stones struck an empty wag
on and turned it completely over.
The boiler sets east and west,
and the wagon scales out in the
yard are almost on a line with the
boiler. When the explosion occur
red Book-keeper J. M. Magness
was standing at the scales weigh
ing a load of cotton. The scales
are a distance of 60 feet from the
boiler, but so great was the force
of the steam which shot out that
way, that the wagon, containing a
bale of seed cotton, standing on
the scales, was thrown off and i
turned over on its side. Mr.Mag
ness was blown a distance of about
5J0 feet and struck the liv ery sta
ble lot fence.
At the report of the explosion
a number of persons rushed down
to the gin, and Mr. Magness was
picked up and carried to the office
of l)rs. Pascoe & Poo where his j
wounds were dressed, and he was
then removed to his home.
The other victims were all able'
to walk up to the doctors office.
Eli Magness, W. M. Magness
and T. J. Moore, other employes
of the gin, were up in the gin
room, almost directly over the
engine room, when the explosion
occurred, but neither of them
were hurt.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
In conversation with a Journal
representative Engineer Nicholson
gave it as his opinion that the ex
plosion was caused by the failure
of the water guage to properly in
dicate the amount of water in the
boiler. The water they have been
[CONTINUED ON l’AGE 4]
DEFIED BARS AND BOLTS
Arthur Neill Makes Sensational Ex
cape From Sanitarium in
St. Louis.
A press dispatch from St. Louis
under date of October 11 says:
“By means of a rope made from
strips of bed clothing, Attorney
Arthur Neill, 24 years old, of
Batesville. Ark., who is a son of
a former Arkansas Congressman,
made a sensational escape from
St. Vinent’s Asylum, located in
St. Louis County, late last night,
walked live miles into the city,
where he was taken in charge by
friends at 3;30 Tuesday morning,
and is now in the City Hospital
observation ward.
“Neill, who has been in the in
stitution for some time for treat
ment, occupied a room on the
third floor. Iron bars were fast
ened over the windows. Two of
these bars Neill removed with tools
he had made from shoe shanks and
a large screw.
“After removing the bars Neill
firmly fastened his improvised
rope and slid down thirty feet.
When he reached the end of the
rope he was still ten feet from the
ground, but without hesitation he
dropped to the earth, he trudged
down the St. Charles rock road in
to the city.
“Encountering friends, he boast
ed of his escape, but did not ob
ject to accompanying them to po
lice headquarters, where observing
his condition, the police sent him
to the City Hospital.
“Neill’s home is at Batesville,
Ark., and he was up, to a few
months ago, a partner of ex-Gov
Daniel W. Jones, who was for
four years the Chief Executive of
that State and under whom Neill
officiated as private secretary dur
« < V It ili trwti ^ 5
MUST PAY DEATH PENALTY
Chas. Hammond Convicted at Mor
rilton of Assaulting 11-year
old Step-Daughter.
Morrilton, Oet. 11.—Charles
Hammond was convicted in circuit
court today of the charge of crim
inal assault upon his step-daught
er near Plumerville September
-1. The penalty is death by hang
ing. Sentence lias not yet been
passed by the court.
Hammond is a white man, and
served in the volunteer army dur
ing the Spanish-American war
He was sent to the Philippines witli
the army and while there was
wounded.
His step-daughter whom lie is
convicted of assaulting is 11 years
of age. When the crime was com
mitted and news of the occurrence
spread intense indignation follow
ed and Hammond came near beiim
mobbed. He was taken at once to
Morrilton and put in jail and his
indictment and trial followed with
out dgjay.
final report from
THE QUORUM COURT
Quorum Court Finished Its Labors
I riday and Adjourned.
Report of Treasurer Waldrip Shows
the County to be in Excellent
Financial Condition.
T he quorum court finished its
labors and adjourned last Friday.
The treasurer’s report shows
the county to he in good financial
condition, and shows the follow*
ing amount in the different funds
on hand:
County General.$12,337.30
Land Redemption. 89.89
Common School. 89.50
Pauper. .38
Bridge. .96
Couuty Examiner fund. 40.80
Special Road fund. 307.81
Road fund. 6,406.78
School fund. 24,677.39
Total. 43,940.81
1 his does not include the amount
f A tl lA ntm/Ef . . C a. L
i >: ..
and Oil IVough fencing districts,
and one or two other small items
of minor importance.
Road overseers for the different
townships were appointed except
for Ruddell, White River and Sal
ado. The overseers for the differ
ent townships are as follows:
Ashley, Henry Brown,
Barren, Alex Laman
Black River, P. L. Lane,
Big Bottom, N. M. Wilson,
Christian, M. J. Harris,
Fairview, John Flippo,
Gainesboro, J. S. Ham,
Greenbrier, H. F. DeCamp,
Jefferson, W. E. Strickland,
Liberty, M. E. Wilf,
Logan, W. L. Lane,
Stubbs, W. F. Gray,
LTnion, R. A. Frazer,
Washington, J. L. Porter.
Relief, 1. B. Collow,
Oil Trough, W.F. Brinkley.
A committee consisting of Geo.
Martin, Jno. T. Tharp and J. W.
Scott submitted the following res
olution, which was unanimously
adopted:
“Resolved, first: That we ex
tend to the Hon. G. J. Lindsey,
Judge, our heart felt thanks for
the kindness and courtesies shown
us by him while attending this
honorable body.
“Resolved second: That we shall
1 j •
CVCI IUMU 111 JUV/iuvi.T - --
devotion to his duty as an official,
“Resolved third: That we trust
he may make as honorable citizen
in his community, atter he shall
have retired from office, as he has
been while in the discharge of his
official duties as County and Pro
bate Judge.'"
WORLD’S FAIR
TRAIN WRECKED
A passenger and a freight train
came together on the Missouri
Pacific near \\ arrenluug, Mo.,
about 4 o'clock Monday morning
killing 31 persons and injuring 38
others. A misunderstanding of
orders was the cause of the wreck.
Negro Hanged.
Magnola, Ark., Oct. 12.-In
he presence of a limited number
>f spectators, as the law requires,
John Harper, a negro wife-nmr
lerdr was hanged this morning at
[0:30 in an enclosure in the jail
‘Tlarper made a brief speech
from tho gallows. He confessed
that he killed his wife. When the
trap was sprung the fall failed to
break his neck, but Harper died
in a few moments from strangula
tion.
O. J. ALLISON INDICTED.
Arkansas City, Oct. 12. —O. J.
Allison was indicted late yester
day afternoon by the Desha coun
ty grand jury on the charge of
murder in the first degree for the
killing of Conductor Warren
Baldwin of Little Rock at McGe
hee, September 18. The case is
set for trial tomorrow.
GOV. DAVIS FOR PRESIDENT
Newport Attorney Predicts That Gov.
Davis Will be Nominated For
President in 1908.
Attorney Geo. L. Grant of New
port, who spent Wednesday in the
city, expressed the opinion in con
versation with a Journal reporter
that Governor Davis will win an
easy victory in the battle for votes
O lj nrv 4- * . ■ r, I - -1 — A. " A
■ i* uviiui/'M mi V,<UlUlUOLC
Senator James H. Berry in the
coming campaign.
Mr. Grant is an enthusiastic ad
mirer of Governor Davis and took
an active interest in behalf of the
governor in the recent campaign.
“Davis is one of the brainiest
men ever elected governor of Ar
kansas," said Mr. Grant, “and it
would be no surprise to me to see
the Democrats nominate him for
president in 1908. His attitude
on the trust question is well known
throughout the entire South, and
is fully in accord with the plat
form declarations of the party on
this important issue.
“Why, the governor’s fame,”
said he, “is spreading to all parts
of the Union, and I recently heard
a prominent Democratic politician
from Kentucky make the assertion
that Davis is today the greatest
man in the South. The governor’s
election to the United States sen
ate will add further to his reputa
tion; will give him a wider field of
usefulness and bring him more
prominently before the people,
and I continently predict that a
wave of popular enthusiasm for
Davis for President will sweep
the country in 1908.”
The negro Baptists in session at
Cotton Plant issued an appeal to
the white people of the state to
prevent the segregation of the
school taxes.
U. D. C. IN CONVENTION
Arkansas Daughters of the Confeder
acy are Holding State Conven
tion at Batesville.
Batesville, Oct. 11.—Batesville
is gaily decorated with Confeder
ate flags and bunting and the citi
zens of the town are giving the
delegates to the annual convention
of the Arkansas division of United ,
Daughters of the Confederacy a ,
royal welcome. Most of the dele
gates arrived this morning, but a (
few arrived yesterday. (
The convention was called to ,
order at 10 a. in. in alumni hall of
Arkansas College. Prayer was
offered by Rev. S. B. Calloway of <
the Baptist church of this city. ;
Then followed the address of
welcome by Mrs. Mary Cora Max
tield, president of the local chap
ter.
Judge James W. Butler deliver
[cONTINUED ON PAGE 4.]
BOB CROSBY'S OARING
ESCAPE FROM JAIL
Slayer of Sheriff Morgan Over
powered Jailer and Escaped.
Also Gave Trauger Freedom, But They
Were Recaptured by Citizens
After a Hard Chase.
Robert Crosby, the young man
who killed Sheriff Morgan, escap
ed from jail at Batesville Sunday
afternoon about one o’clock. That*
was the startling information^ im
ported to a Journal representative
by Coroner M. M. Stewart who
came down from Batesville Mon
day night.
Sheriff Kaneaster was out of
town, and the only one on guard
at the jail was Joseph Craig.
Crosby slipped his handcuff in
some manner and when the jailer
entered his cell for some purpose
Crosby assaulted him, dashed a
blanket over him, crushing him to
the floor Overpowering the jail
er, he tied the blanket securely
over his head. Then, taking the
keys, he let out Tranger, who is
awaiting trial for wholesale rob
bery. Together the two men lock
ed the jailer in the cell and walked
quietly out of the jail, not attract
ing any attention until opposite,
the Baker hotel, which is close to
the jail, when Herman Schott re
cognized Grosby and shouted the
alarm. The men instantly took,
to their heels, running like deers,,
but half a dozen men, who were
close by, immediately gave chase
to the fugatives.
They ran by the Landers &
Cook livery stable, where Paul
Baker, a young man, ran out, at
tempting to intercept them, but
Crosby dodged to one side and de
livered a vicious lick at Baker
with his fist. Deputy Marshal C.
B. Eaton, who was inside the jail
at the time of the time of the es
cape, ran out and joined in the
pursuit and fired a number of
shots, but did not hit the men be
cause of two pursuers who were
tetween him and the fugitives.
Crosby and Trauger separated
at the next corner, but the pursu
ers were close after both of them,
and after a hard chase Crosby was
overtaken three blocks from tho
jail. He was captured by Paul
Baker and a traveling man, Otis
Johnson, who joined the pursuit
from the Baker hotel. He was
quickly overpowered and returned
to jail.
Trauger, in the meantime, got
f II K i n m n U L ^ * _
i* n uj mail UW WUipaUlUIi.
but two men were close on his
heels, and when Ted Irons, clerk
at the Baker hotel, hit him in the
back with a rock he stopped and
i?ave up to Irons and A. F. Nash.
After the men were returned to
iai 1 they were searched and locked,
mndcuffed, in their cells. A.
?uard of six men has been placed
it the jail.
The affair created no end of ex
citement, and some talk was made
>f lynching Crosby, but no at
tempt was made.
The Lawrence county board of
equalization raised the personal
issessment of the county $150,000.
V bout 700 people are affected.
-- *
Lieut. (iov. O. X. Killough, it
is reported, will be a candidate
for congressman to succeed Hon.
B. B. Macon in 1900.