Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 52, 1897

Rendered A Cripple For Life

H. J. Bronnenberg, one of Anderson's most enterprising young business men, met with an accident on the 2'2d of August, 1888, that has rendered him a permanent cripple. The circumstances of the case were about as follows : Wr. Bronnenberg was an intimate friend of Mr. Charles L. Crum, who was superintendent of the construction of the strawboard mill situated in the north part of the city. On the morning of the day on which the accident occurred, he, in company with Mr. Bronnenberg, visited the gas well that had been recently put down in the ground belonging to the Strawboard Company, near White river, north of the mill. When the driller had finished his work he connected a two and a lialf inch pipe therewith, and placed it in a horizontal position, running out sexeral feet from the well, attaching a valve tor the purpose of regulating the flow of gas. Mr. Crum and Mr. Bronnenberg were in the act of lighting the gas from the well. When Mr. Bronnenberg was turning on the gas, the pipe leading out from the well became disconnected in some manner, about five or si.x feet away. The intense pressure of the gas caused a violent rotary motion of the elbow cap, to which the pipe had been attached. In the first revolution Mr. Bronnenberg was struck, and knocked some twenty or thirty feet distant. He was for a time rendered unconscious bv the severitv of the blow, and lay for several minutes as though he were dead. Dr. Cullen, his family physician was summoned, and on arriving made a hasty examination of Mr. Bronnenberg, who was then placed on a stretcher and carried home. It was found that he had sustained a compound fracture of the right arm, the bones being badly splintered and protruding through the flesh. He also sustained other severe bruises and injuries about the sides and limbs. It was at first thought that amputation of the arm would be necessary, but the physician subsequently concluded tiiat the arm could be saved, and perhaps, rendered of use to Mr. Bronnenberg, and therefore the operation of am]Hitation was forgone.

It has been a question with Mr. Bronnenberg and many of his friends, whether it would not have been better to have submitted to the amj)Utation, as he has been an intense sufferer during all these years since the accident occurred, and, perhaps, will remain so the remainder of his existence. This was not only a sad blow to Mr. Bronnenberg, but also to the communit}' at large. During his many years as a resident at Anderson no man was more enterprising, nor was there any one who cared more for the \velfare of Anderson, in a business way, than did Mr. Bronnenberg. Upon the discovery of natural gas, he was one of the first to suggest the organization of the Board of Trade, and put on foot the movement for bringing capital to our borders. During his membership of the Board none contributed more liberally, or was a more earnest worker in behalf of Anderson's prosperity than he, and even now there is no one who has the city's interest more at heart.

He has been a successful business man, and prior to this occurrence had accumulated for himself a handsome fortune, the income of whicii now supports iiim and his family in ease and comfort.

A Traveling Man Drowned

On the 14th of June, 1892, D. A. Cone, a traveling salesman, stopped at the Hotel Doxey and registered his name and had his baggage cared for, and immediately went to the river to take a bath. It was very warm, and a cool, refreshing bath was something a person could better obtain in the river than in a small bath room. He went to the "old swimming hole,'" back of Norton's brewery, and plunged into the water. Some boys who were in the neighborhood noticed that he did not come up after diving; so the}' at once gave the alarm and a search was made for his body. It was soon found and brought to the hotel and his friends notified. It was at first thought that it might be suicide, but there was no cause for this, as his employers testified that he was all '-straight" and enjoyed their undivided esteem and confidence. He was a man about twenty-one years old and unmarried. Dr. C. L. Armington held an inquest and returned a verdict of accidental diDwiiing. His remains were sent home by his friends for burial, and tiius anotlier victim was added to tlie fatal swimming hole.

A Series Of Natural Gas Explosions

Several years after the laying of the gas mains through the city of Anderson and other places in Madison county for the purpose of conducting the fluid from the streets for the purposes of domestic use, gas explosions occurred at frequent intervals before the pipes had become sufficiently settled in the trenches to prevent breaks in the lines. The severe cold weather also had the effect of contracting the iron to such an extent that in many places the lines were separated, and in some instances the couplings and joints became broken, allowing the gas to escape from the mains, which invariably followed the service pipes into residences and cellars under business houses, causing much anxiety to the gas companies and endangering the lives of the citizens.

The first gas explosion of any note that took place in Anderson was on the 4th of February, 1888, when a frame building that had formerly been occupied as a residence by Oliver P. Stone, on the ground at the present time known as Lincoln Terrace, was blown up with terrific force. The house was at the time occupied by the Sisters of the Hoh- Cross ; this was before the erection of the new hospital. A break had occurred in the pipes in front of the building opposite the residence of Dr. George F. Chittenden, the cellar of whose house was also thoroughly saturated with gas. The front part of the Stone building was entirely blown out and the timbers were badly wrecked, but fortunatelv fire did not ensue nor was there any loss of life or limb.

Dr. Chittenden, detecting the gas in his cellar, was cautious enough to enter the place without a lighted match : as a result his building was saved from destruction.

A few days afterwards, in the same month, an explosion took place in the cellar of the business rooms occupied by Stephen Markt on North Main street. Mr. Markt had detected a smell of gas about the building, and on going into the cellar to make an investigation thoughtlessly lighted a match, and in an instant he was hurled to the opposite side of the building, being terribly burned and bruised, from the elTects of which he did not fully recover for more than a year. The discovery at the time it was made was very timely as but little

It is said that Mr. Markt had hardly recovered from the shock and got upon his feet, when he remarked to some one that he supposed the people would say that "the d - d foo! struck a match."

On the 7th of February, 1S88, one of the most terrible e.xplosions of natural gas took place at the residence of Thomas Norton on North Main street, nearly opposite the Markt building, which originated from a break in the gas mains at the corner of Main and Seventh streets. The gas had followed the service pipe from the street into the basement of the Norton building where it had been pouring in for quite a while. The familj' noticed the leak, but failed to locate the point from which it made its escape. The night prior to the explosion ]Mr. and Mrs. Norton had been entertaining a number of friends, and remained up until a late hour.

In the morning the family arose about 7 o'clock, and after preparing the morning meal Mrs. Norton entered the room occupied by Mr. Fenton Rogers, who was a guest in her house, to awaken him. He had not been feeling well for a few days, and for this reason remained in bed later than usual. Mrs. Norton then proceeded to light the fire in his room so tliat it might be warm when he arose. No sooner had siie done so than a terrific explosion took place. She was hurled through the doorway into the adjoining hall, and was badly burned about the face and hands, but luckily escaped serious injury. Mr. Rogers was instantly killed. The front and side walls of the house were blown out and he was crushed beneath the falling debris. Two ladies. Miss Norton and Miss Bridget Breen, were occupants of the same room on the second floor immediately above that which was occupied by Mr. Rogers. They were precipitated to the ground; the bedstead on which they were sleeping sliding to the front yard, and, strange to relate, they were not injured in the slightest degree.

Mr. Rogers was at one time a dealer in musical instruments, having a store in the Doxey opera house building. He was the son of a widowed mother. He was well known and was especially beloved by the Catholic people of Anderson, being a member of St. Mary's Catholic church choir at the time of his death.

candied considerable litiifation between Mr. Xoiton and the Anderson Gas Company, against wliicli he brought suit tor damages, but before the case came on for trial a compromise was effected and Mr. Norton was fully reimbursed for the loss he had sustained.

On the 13th of January, 189:^, another gas explosion occurred in Anderson at the residence of David Dillon, on Madison avenue, in Hazel wood addition. The house was a new one, having been erected only a few months prior to its destruction. There were several persons in the house at the time who were more or less injured, among whom were David Dillon, his wife, Maud Dillon, iiis daughter, John Donahoe, James Kilbain, Andrew Rogers, Cora Heaton and Cora Pulse. While several of these parties were severely injured, all survived. Mr. Dillon was badly burned and carried the marks on his person for several years thereafter.

from a leak in the gas mains or from the service pipe connected with the pipes in the street, which was, however, never fully determined by those interested. The cellar had become filled with gas, the family having noticed, for a dav or two prior, the evidences of a gas leak, but were unable to ascertain where the difficulty lay. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon Mr. Dillon came home from his work and went into his cellar to get some apples. While there he detected the presence of gas and made up his mind to locate it. Returning to the kitchen he provided himself with matches and returned to follow out his investigations. Upon entering the basement he struck a light and a terrific explosion instantly followed. The work of destruction could not have been more complete had it been planned in advance. The building reeled and tottered for an instant and then the walls tumbled to the earth with a heav)' crash that was heard several blocks away. The east front of the building was torn from its fastenings and almost hurled across the avenue. The roof came down with a crash. while cross pieces and timbers fell in a heap below. Fragments of furniture were found two squares distant, the house being literally gutted of its contents. An alarm of fire was turned in at once, which was responded to promptlv and tiie remainder of the building was saved from destruction. The cries of the wounded were pitiful to hear and brought tears to the eyes of many who witnessed the scene. The force of the explosion was plainly felt upon the public square in the city, nearly a mile distant. John Dav, a next-door neighbor, was sitting at his home in a rocking-chair about five feet from the window. The concussion threw him against the window, thereby breaking the glass. The clock was thrown from tile shelf and broken into many pieces. Dishes and glass and all kinds of table-^vare lined the sidewalk.

Shortly after the explosion at the Dillon residence anotiier occurred at the home of William Shively on the opposite side of the street. This, like the former one, occurred in the cellar, but no disastrous results followed. The glass in tiie windows was broken, a portion of the flooring was torn up and some of the doors were blown from their hinges, but no one was hurt in the wreck. The cause of the accident was attributed to the same fact that had brought about the one in the Dillon residence. Considerable litigation was the result ot this disaster. The parties who were injured brought suit against the Hazlewood Gas Company for damages to be

A fatal explosion of natural gas took place in Anderson on the 11th of May, 1803, at 116 and 118 South Central avenue, in which Mr. Eli Murray and his wife both lost their lives. The accident occurred in a double frame house owned by James T. Knowland, and was occupied by the Murraj' family and George Greyer, the jeweler.

The accident is supposed to have been caused by leaving a gas jet burning in a room in wliich there was a leak in tlie pipes, or by a sudden rise in the pressure in the street mains causing the lights in the house to be partially'extinguished, and the escaping gas coming in contact with the burning jets, after filling the room, exploded. It will, perhaps, never be known what the real cause was, the \vhole matter being conjecture. It was about ten o'clock at night, after the Murray family had retired, the Greyers not yet having gone to bed.

The explosion was a most terrific one, being heard for a long distance, and blowing Mr. Murray out of the house through the front door. His wife was also blown a considerable distance, both being terribly burned and bruised. They were taken to Emergency hospital and cared for by physicians, and also by kind friends, but botli soon died of their injuries, suffering untold agonies.

The Greyer family escaped serious injury, but were more or less burned and terribly shaken up. The building was entirely destroj'ed and the family lost all of their household goods. Mrs. Greyer had just gone into the bath-room to get some water and was blown out of the house, severely bruising and badly frightening her. The most remarkable circumstance was the escape of the children in the building, who were not injured in the least.

The loss of the property was about .iio,(MI(). The Murray estate brought suit against the Citizens' Gas Company for damages, and in a compromise was awarded |i',00(X

The lion. Ben. Smith, of Rushville, represented the administrator of the Murray estate, and, in his argument in the case, made a wonderful and telling speech.

On the 1st of February. 1898, at about the hour of midnight, the house occupied by Ulysses Bronson, at the corner of Main and Twelfth streets, was wrecked by a natural gas explosion, and the inmates terribly burned. The explosion was caused by a leak in the street mains, allowing the gas to

I'liid its way into the cellar of the house, and when coming in contact with the burning jets on the upper tioor, exploded. The building was demolished and entirely destroyed by fire. The family were all terribly burned, but recovered. The property was owned by C. K. McCullough, and was forinerly part of the possessions of the old artificial gas plant.

At about the hour of 1 1 o'clock p. m., on the night of January '2'6, 1S93, the terrific noise of an explosion shocked the people of Anderson, shaking their houses and scaring them out of their wits. It was soon discovered that an explosion of gas had occurred in the basement of the Doxey House under the National Exchange Bank, in which corner this establishment was located. The entire room was blown to the four winds, or as much thereof as was in shape to be atVected bv the explosion. The floors were raised to the ceiling and the contents of the room were demolished. The promptness of the fire department saved the hotel and adjoining buildings from destruction. The safe and vaults in the bank were not injured and in a short time the next morning the officials had quarters in the court house, where the business went on as if nothing had happened. The guests in the hotel were so frightened that some left tlie city on the first outgoing train.

One fellow came down in the office from his room entreating his friends to not get excited ; at the same time he was in his nightshirt, with his pants under his arm, with a plug "' hat on and making for the railroad station, to get out of town. -

" It don't make a d - d bit of difTerence which road - the first train out." He was pointed to the nearest depot and has never been seen in Anderson since. The entire front of the room in which was situated the bank was blown out, but the other part of the building was not injured.

The e.xplosion was caused by a leak in the street mains as usual, which caused the gas to accumulate in the basement, in which was a hot air furnace. As soon as a sufficiency of gas had gathered to come in contact with the fire in the furnace, it ignited aiul exploded with wonderful force. Luckily no one \vas injured, as it was at a time when no one was in the bank. Xo accident ever occurred in Anderson that caused more excitement or looked more like a big conflagration would follow. If any person had been in the bank at tiie time of I he explosion, he would have been instantly killed and cremated, as there was no possible means of escape.

For many years there stood at the corner of Twelfth and Main streets, in Anderson, a building known as the " N'allev Groceiy," which was owned and conducted by Amos J. Davis. In addition to this there was a row of old rickety buildings to ^vhich a large shed had been built, and which projected in front. Part of the building was occupied by Maurice Wallace as a meat market.

This place was a great resort on Sunday afternoons for men and boys who congregated there to shelter themselves from the rain or the rays of the burning sun. And here they would tell jokes and relate stories.

On the 23d of January, 188"., while a crowd was thus congregated, the shed gave way because of the heavy weight of snow piled upon it, and buried several persons, among whom were Grant Baker, William Carr, Michael Boland, Patrick O'Neal, Clarence Gustin and Maurice Wallace. Wallace received the most serious injur}', having his right shoulder dislocated, lie also received several painful bruises which confined him to his room for some days thereafter. Mr. Carr received a fracture of his right leg. The injuries of the other parties were but slight. Considering the weight that fell upon them, it may be regarded as miraculous that none of them was more severelj- wounded. It took a long time and a good deal of iiard work to liberate the parties from their imprisonment under the fallen shed, and great excitement prevailed until they were finally and safely rescued.

Found Dead

On the 20tli pf December, l^i?-"). Vincennes Guenlhensberger, a German citizen of Anderson, was found dead in his place of business, on .South Meridian street, on the lot where tiie street car stables stood a few years ago. He operated a stone yard at that place, and had it well equipped for the business. He had large saws and all modern machinery, and vfas prepared to saw out door and window sills and other stone ready for the masons to use in the erection of buildings. He did quite a prosperous business, and was a man well respected by the community. His only fault was the cup. It is supposed that this was the cause of his sudden taking off. He left a wife and several children, one of whom is now Mrs. Amory Graham, of Anderson. His widow yet survives iiim, having married a Mr. Solomon .Sheets, who has since died, leaving her again a widow.

Shooting Ok William Kyle

Policeman .Samuel Bass, of Anderson, shot William Kyle on the 24th day of September, 1891, while the latter was attempting to escape from custody. Kyle had been fined before the Mayor for intoxication and placed in charge of Officer Bass, and along with four or five other prisoners had been taken to jail. Mr. Bass had taken the prisoners into the jail office when Kyle, seeing the door leading to the residence portion of the building standing open, made a dash for his liberty. After reaching the lawn he ran down the hill towards the railroad, and the officer followed in close pursuit. When a little distance beyond the Pan Handle railroad, Kyle b'egan pulling off his clothes for the purpose of swimming the river. The officer ordered him to halt, but K3le paid no attention to his command. The officer, seeing that he would be likely to escape, opened fire on him, the ball striking Kyle in the upper portion of the left hip, lodging in the right groin. He was taken back to the jail, and his wounds were dressed by Dr. H. E.Jones. He afterward recovered and Officer Bass was held justifiable for the shooting.

A Disastrous Wreck

A very disastrous railway wreck occurred in Anderson on the 18th of June, 189(1, on the Pan Handle Railway near the Philadelphia Qiiartz Mills, the "Merchandise train" and through freight, consisting of forty-two cars, in charge of Conductor Spangler, of Logansport, being ditched. Thirteen box cars laden with various kinds of merchandise, pianos, books, pottery, lumber, hardware, and agricultural implements and furniture, were heaped up in one mass of broken lumber and splinters. The track was twisted out of shape for sixty or seventy yards from the scene of the disaster. No one appears to have seen the wreck at the time it took place except a carniSTOHV ()|- MADISON COIINTV. INDIANA. 479

[K'ntev. who liiul been at work in llie locality and \\ ho was waitiiiLf for the train bound north. Ilis statement was to the effect that in facing the train he noticed that it had been disconnected from some cause, and that the engine with five or six cars was some distance ahead of the other section of the train ; that the draw-bar of one of the front cars of the last section was dragging along the ground, and he believed that it entered the ground and threw the first car from the track, causing the others to pile on top of it. He had a narrow escape himself in getting out of the way of the falling cars. Neither the engineer nor fireman could give an authentic account of the accident. Arrangements had to be made to transfer the passengers around the wreck. Elsie Castor, son of Lewis Castor, section foreman at Frankton, had a remarkable escape from death. He was on top of the second car, and when the first car left the track they began to pile up one upon the other, and the concussion of the colliding cars threw him from the top of the train, but he sustained no serious injuries. He was stunned by the fall and it was thought for awhile that he was internally injured. He was removed to the house of William Wise, his uncle, where his wounds were dressed and he soon recovered.

A Wreck On The Big Four

On .'Saturday, the L'oth of August, 1.S83, one of the most destructive railroad wrecks that ever took place in this section of the country happened on the Big Four railroad where the road runs through what has for many vears been known as the John Kindle farm, east of Anderson, in a curve in the road. The accident occurred through the negligence of the conductor in disobeying orders. His train was on the side track at the crossing in .Vnderson, and his orders were to remain there until the next incoming freight had passed him. Another train not running on schedule time, known as a " wild train," passed, and the ccuiductor mistook this for the regular freight, and -' pulled out." l?oth trains were running at the rate of twenty miles an hour when they collided. The engineers and firemen on the trains saved their lives by jumping before the crash came.

one on another and weie badly shattered. Their contents, consisting of boots, shoes, clover luillers, beer bottles, in fact, merchandise of all sorts that could be named, were scattered about promiscuously.

The wreck occurred about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and the noise of the collison was heard plainly at the railroad crossing nearly a mile distant, (ireat crowds of people from Anderson and vicinity visited the wreck. The evening mail train coming to Anderson was loaded with people who had been to Muncie to attend Barnum's show, who were side tracked at Daleville until the next morning. Many of the passengers who were anxious to get home " hoofed" it to town on the track. The damage done by this wreck aggregated many thousand dollars.

Accidentally Shot Him.Seli-'

All of the older citizens of Anderson will remember Armstrong Taylor, who so long held the office of City Treasurer. It was said by one of his opponents in a race for this ofHce, after Taylor had defeated him, that there was only one way to defeat Taylor for City Treasurer, and that was to kill him. Mr. Taylor was a cripple, having the use of only one of his arms, the other having been maimed in his youth, making him an object of sympathy, as well as being popular with the people in his intercourse with I horn. It was almost an impossibility to defeat him at the polls. For several years he was nominated, without opposition in his own party, for City Treasurer, and always elected, many Democrats voting for him through sympathy. Many of the most popular Democrats in Anderson have measured strength with him at the election and came out defeated. He was at one time Recorder and once Treasurer of Madison county, and while serving in the latter capacity, on the 1st of May, 1855, he accidentally shot himself in the fleshy part of his leg while fooling with an old single-barreled pistol. The ball was removed, and in a short time he was able for duty again, not having caused him much inconvenience.

Mr. Taylor was a dear lover of the sport of hunting, and had but few rivals in the county who cquld even interest him in a contest with a rifle or shot gun. lie only had the use of one hand, but could load a gun as readily as most people would with two hands. When he went hunting he always came home with a shot pouch full of game. Armstrong Tay- lor was one who filled liis place among men of his daN- in a befitting manner, and left an honored memorj' behind iiini when he passed away. He died in Anderson a few years ago, leaving a respectable family to mourn his departure.

A Narrow Escape

On the 25th of April, 1881, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when the citizens of Anderson were busy .at their \oc:itions, they were suddenly startled by a heavy rumbling noise, culminating in a deep thud. It was soon ascertained that the roof of the Boring-Hannah building, on the north side of the square, then in process of construction, had fallen in. The building had been under way for about two months previously and Messrs. O'Neil & Crickenbarger were engaged in plastering it. The workmen were on a scaffold about twelve feet high, and were warned of the impending danger by the plastering giving away from the center of the building. In leaping from the scaffold, Mr. Crickenbarger was caught in the flying debris, and suffered a severe fracture of the bones of the left foot. His fellow workmen, who escaped injury, carried him from the building, and just as they were outside the door the entire roof fell in with a terrible crash. It was a narrow escape froin a frightful death.

The building had been rented by the Commissioners of Madison county, to be occupied by the Circuit Court, Sheriff's and County Clerk's offices, and would have been so occupied in a few daj-s if this accident had not occurred. It was, indeed, very lucky that the defects in the construction made themselves known by this occurrence, for it might have been much worse. Had the room been occupied by the court, there is reason to believe that many persons might have been killed. Mr. D. S. Crickenbarger has been a cripple ever since, and will be during the remainder of his life, although he is able to attend to the ordinary duties of business life. He was at the following spring election, owing to the sympathies of the people, regardless of political affiliations, elected to the honorable office of Justice of the Peace for Anderson township, which he filled successfully for the term of four years, and in the fall of 1894 he was again elected to that important office, and is at this time administering its duties.

After the burning of the court house in 1880 it was used for some time for a court house, until the present edifice was ready for use in 1885.

This was the second serious accident tliat happened during the construction of this building, Andrew Thomas having fallen off the walls, an account of which is given elsewhere.

On the 11th of J"ly, 1868, the Hons. James M. Dickson and William C. Fleming, who were then giants in Madison county politics in the Democratic fold, returned from the city of Xew York bringing with them the news that Hon. Horatio Sevmour had been placed in nomination by the Democratic party for the office of President of the United States. It was then agreed by the central committee of Madison count_y that a grand ratification meeting should be held that afternoon in tlie court house yard. Jacob Hubbard was then a young and sprightly man full of vim and vigor and a Democrat all the way through. He headed a party consisting of himself, William McKahan, Milton M. Harriman, T. J. Fleming and others, whose names the writer does not now remember, who procured a small cannon that was in the possession of John P. Barnes, which had been kept by him for several years for Such occasions. It was planted in the court house yard pointing directly to the north-west. After music by the martial band and other ceremonies had been gone through with, the firing of the cannon commenced under the direction of McKahan who held the cartridges, which were made of powder and put up in red flannel bags. Milton Harriman acted as " thumber '' and Jacob Hubbard as " rammer." After several shots had been fired the cannon iaecame quite warm from not having been thoroughly swabbed, a spark of fire was left in the breech. Hubbard had placed the cartridge in the gun and had the rammer in his left hand and the cartridge well pushed in when the cannon becaine so hot that it burned Harriman's hand. He removed it from the touch hole, thus allo%ving the air to enter, and the charge immediately exploded, blowing off the end of Harriman's thumb and tearing off Hubbard's arm nearly to the elbow. The rammer which he held in his hand was literally blown into pieces. His tlesh was torn and the bones in his arm were crushed in a most frightful manner. He was blown a distance of nearly twenty feet, falling limp and helpless. The bystanders, thinking that he was dead, picked him up. He soon rallied and was taken to his residence on West Eighth street, and Dr. Cullen was called and immediately responded. In consultation with Dr. G. F. Chittenden and other physicians, it was decided that an amputation of the arm was necessary and therefore it was taken off at the elbow.

Among the by-stiinders wlio received slight injuries was Samuel Cridge, a farmer who lived about three miles south of Anderson. He was severely burnt about the face and came near losing the sight of one eye. H. C. Ryan, who is now a prominent attornev, was then a mere boy standing by and received slight injuries on the head.

The entreaties of Hubbard to the physicians and others who took him to his house will ring in the ears of those who heard him as long as they live. He begged for them to kill liini and asked them to knock him in the head and stop his misery. After being taken to his home and an;vsthetics had been given to him, he soon recovered from the shock and sat up like a brave soldier and had his arm amputated without the least emotion or signs of pain.

But while this was a very sad occurrence to Mr. Hubbard, to some extent it was modified by the action of the Democratic party in the next campaign. In the year 1870 he was placed in nomination for the high and responsible office of County Recorder. He was elected and afterwards re-elected in 1S74, and filled the office to the satisfaction of the people for a period of eight years. Mr. Hubbard, while in office, was one of the most accommodating and genial men that ever held tiiat place, and he retired with the undivided good wishes and respect of the people of Madison county regardless of politics. Mr. Hubbard is yet a resident of Anderson ; he has always lived well and never was miserly. He has enjoyed the comforts of life and has a competency in the way of money' and property to last him during his declining years and will leave to his family a sufficiency. Mr. Hubbard has been pleasantly spoken of in difYerent places in these pages.

The ratification meeting at the court house on the evening of this occurrence was addressed b\' Colonel W. R. Pierse, William C. Fleming, J. M. Dickson, James W. Sansberry. of Anderson, and Hon. Alfred Kilgore, of Muncie, Indiana. The accident put a clamper on the enthusiasm of the meeting and it was adjourned at an early liour.

A Case Of Body Snatching

A most brutal and outrageous case of body snatching took place on the 14th of January, 1876, when the body of Mrs. Abner Brothers was removed from the Whetstone cemetery about three miles south of Anderson.

Mrs. Brothers was a very highly respected lady, goodlooking, and had a host of friends. She had been married but fi short time when she was seized with sickness from which she died. Her remains were interred in the Whetstone cemetery, but were allowed to remain there but a few days when the ghouls, in the most horrible manner, resurrected her body for the purpose of dissection.

It is supposed, however, that they were mistaken as to the person whose body thev intended to take, as it was afterwards ascertained from evidence, brought out in the examination that the resurrectionists were in search of the body of a pauper who had died about this time. The pauper had been buried in that cemetery by Samuel Myers, townsliip trustee.

When the news of the dastardly act became known, great indignation seized the citizens and a great deal of talk about lynching the guilty party was indulged in, but the sober judgment of the people prevailed and no violence was resorted to.

The facts as elicited on an investigation of the case were about as follows : On the evening of the exhumation, Tunis Whetstone and John Stewart were returning home from a dance on the Fall Creek Turnpike near where the Whetstone burying ground is located. The attention of these parties, in approaching the cemetery-, was at first attracted by noticing two men with two horses and a buggy hitched to the fence. They also detected an offensive odor pervading the air. It was a beautiful moonlight night and save the barking of dogs, everything was oppressively quiet. The suspicions of the young men became aroused. When they neared the fence they were horrified at beholding the nude corpse of a woman which had been taken from the grave, about twenty feet away. The young men immediately went to the residence of Dr. Railsback, which was about ten rods north. They awakened him and told him what had been done and requested him to keep watch on the movements of the two men in the cemetery. Railsback showed a timidity about leaving the house and locked it securely and then peeped out of the windows.

to the neighbors. About this time the horses became scared -and broke loose from their hitching phice. They ran at a rapid rate down the road to a bridge and bounded off from it on to the ice. One of the horses fell and was badly bruised while two of the wheels of the buggy had several spokes broken out. Notwithstanding this mishap they were brought back to the cemetery by the unknown persons and the corpse was thrown into the buggy and driven toward Anderson at a frightful speed before any person could prevent it. Why these persons did not have the courage at once to arrest the offending parties has always been a mystery to the public an4 can only be accounted for on the ground of timidity if not downright cowardice.

On the following morning a thorough investigation was commenced by Henry McDaniel, a brother-in-law of Mr. Brothers, and other citizens of Anderson, who became deeply interested in the case. It was certain that the body which had been taken was that of Mrs. Abner Brothers, who had died a few days previously at the residence of her husband, in the neighborhood. Mr. Brothers watched tenderly over his wife in her last illness and shortly after her death had left the county for a few days to do some work for Mr. Miles Webb, a timberman and tie contractor who at that time lived in Anderson.

By examination of the grave and the grounds surrounding it, it was ascertained that the coffin had been broken open at the head and a halter strap placed around under the arms of the corpse which was then drawn to the surface. From the grave, her body had been drawn across the frozen ground to the buggy and the greater portion of the skin had been torn off of her anatom)-, leaving it in a most horrible state and unsightly to behold. The tracks made by the buggj' were traced as far north as the corner of Tenth and Main streets in Anderson ; thence west to an empty house in Stilwell Park where it was thought the corpse was taken out and packed for shipment. Upon further investigation, it was ascertained to a certainty that the horses and buggy belonged to Dr. Zimri Hockett and that they were used for this purpose on that occasion. Suspicion pointed to a medical student under Dr. Hockett, who was at that time attending medical lectures at Indianapolis and who had only a few days previously taken the body of Joshua Moore, an old negro, from the Epperly grave-yard west of Anderson.

stantiated that he was the guiltj- party, as he boarded, on the night in question, the 6 :15 train from Indianapolis. He got off at Anderson with a large trunk, which he called for two hours later at tlie baggage room. Between 9 and 10 o'clock that night he called at the residence of Samuel flyers, the trustee of Anderson township, and inquired where a man of the name of Taylor, a pauper, was buried, and remarked that they needed subjects badly at the college in Indianapolis. Mr. Myers informed him that he did not know where Taylor was buried, but that he thought that he was in some cemetery south of town. It was found that Taylor had been buried in the same cemetery as Mrs. Brothers, and the two graves were only a few feet apart. Suspicion pointed to the student as being one of the resurrectionists, and some parties in the neighborhood of the cemetery swore to his identity at the time.

The body of Mrs. Brothers was recovered by her friends, brought back to Anderson from the Indianapolis college and re-interred. Marshal Xeal Daugherty, of Anderson, took great interest in the case and went to Indianapolis on the following Tuesday for the purpose of placing the guilty party under arrest ; but some one who was supposed to have been connected with the college and who also knew the City ]Marshal, informed him in time so that he could make his escape.

The fact that the horses and buggy of Dr. Ilockett figured in this case caused considerable ill-feeling and talk against him for some time, and they even went so far as to charge the Doctor with being connected therewith, but he made a statement of the facts which thoroughly exonerated him from any connection with the affair. He stated that the young man had called at his residence on the night in (.|uestion and after a brief talk, in reply to a cjuestion by the Doctor as to how the college was prospering, he informed the Doctor that the^- had no subjects that winter, but that the faculty had made arrangements to buy them, but had failed so far in procuring any, and the Doctor supposed that the parties had gone to his stable without his knowledge or consent and had taken his horse and buggy and proceeded to the cemetery for the purpose of exhuming the body and had hauled it to town, as stated, and that he had no knowledge whatever of these ghouls except what suspicion they had thrown around them by calling at his house on the evening named.

remembered by the older citizens of Anderson and vicinity. For many months after this no person was buried in the community whose j^rave was not carefully ijjuarded for a sufKcient length of time after the interment.

Abner Brothers, husband of this unfortunate woman, is now living and is a citizen of the State of Arkansas. He makes frequent visits to Anderson to see his old acquaintances and friends. He is a iiard-working, industrious man and well respected in the communitv.

The su])posed guilty jiartv for a long time made his presence scarce in this locality, but as soon as the excitement died awav he returned to Anderson. He has abandoned tiie practice of medicine, and is now living a quiet and secluded life near the site where this ghastly occurrence took place.

Gored To Death

Martin Edlin was a negro who was for several vears in the employ of the Hon. Charles L. Henry on his farm, and also did chores for him at his residence. He was one ot the many colored people who came north in the year 1880, in what was widely known as the " exodus."' He hailed from the State of North Carolina.

One Sunday morning in March, 188G, in company with Mr. Edward Jarrett, a young man in the employ of Mr. Henry, they went to the farm, which was west of Anderson, where .Shadeland is now situated, to attend to some stock. Among other animals on the farm was a Jersey bull. Edlin led the bull into the barn-yard and was holding him by a chain. Jarrett led a similar one out and had turned it loose. The two men were engaged in a conversation when suddenly the animal which Martin led became infuriated, and turned on him. lifting him on his horns and carrying him a distance of twelve or fifteen feet, and then dashed him against a board fence. The animal then made a rush for him and pinned him against the fence before he could get upon his feet. Jarrett went to Edlin's rescue and succeeded, with the aid of a club, in relieving him. Several boys were present and all e.Kcept Jarrett became scared and retreated. Edlin received an ugly wound in the breast above the heart where one of the horns of the brute had entered, breaking three ribs and entering the left lung, from the efl'ects of wliich he died in a day or two.

A Shocking Death

On the 10th of December, 1894, as Edward J- Lester, a workman in the National Tin-plate factory, was on his way to his day's labor, while crossing the bridge over White river, on the Pan Handle road, he was caught and almost instantly killed by the local passenger train that is made up at Logansport and runs to Richmond, passing Anderson at 7:35 a. m.

Just before going on the bridge he was met by Michael Ryan, who warned him to look out for the passenger train as it was due and liable to be along at any moment. Lester walked on and had reached the middle of the covered part of the bridge when the train came thundering on the north end of the trestle work. He got down on the side of the track and out of the way of the train ; the engine and baggage car had passed when he raised his head, doubtless supposing that the entire train had passed, and the steps of the second coach struck him on the head at the base of the skull, crushing it in a most shocking manner. The train was stopped and the unfortunate man was taken up and brought to the Pan Handle passenger depot, where his injuries ^vere examined by Dr. J. F. Fattic, who at once pronounced them fatal. Lester was removed in .Sells" ambulance to the home of his brother-inlaw, William Fairless, a glass blower, at 105 West Seventh street, where he lingered until 10:45 o'clock, when his life went out.

The deceased was single, 26 years of age, and came here from England. He worked in the box factory in North Anderson until work was begun on the tin plate factory, when he accepted employment there.

Instantly Killed

On the 16th of June, 1854, the quietude of the little town of Anderson was disturbed by the news flying from mouth to mouth that a man had been killed near the depot of the Cincinnati & Chicago Railway. The people hastened from all directions to the locality where the accident happened and learned that Howell J. Beaman, a workman on Atherton's warehouse, had fallen from the building and was instantly killed.

ell T. Heaman while working on ^\therton"s warehouse near the railroad, in the north part of the town, fell from the building, fracturing his skull and sustaining other injuries from which he died almost instantly.

" Beaman was a young married man, leaving a wife and one child. He was universally liked by the community, and his was one of the largest attended funerals that ever occurred in the counts'."

The reader may imagine what excitement and deep sorrow would follow sucli an occurrence in a small town like Anderson was in IS.")!. Then people were nearer to each other than they are in these days of '- hustle and bustle." If a man in Anderson at that time was sick his neighbors stood beside his bed and ministered to his wants until his last breath was gone, and all turned out to see that he had a decent burial.

A sudden death like Mr. Heaman's, of course, was more serious, and caused a shock to tlie whole community, and was talked of for months and years afterward. Many people yet live in Anderson who remember this accident, and were personally acquainted with Beaman.

The building from which he fell was what is now the Wellington Scbalk & Co.'s flouring mills, on the I'an Handle Railroad, opposite the old station at the crossing of Main and Fifth streets. It was built bv Willis G. Atherton in 1854 for a grain house, and was used for that purpose for many years, when it was remodeled and built for a flouring mill.

Several accidents have taken place in connection with this building. By the bursting of a mill-stone in 18T<>, Mr. Schalk, one of the owners of the mill, was killed.

A terrible accident resulting in the death of a little child occurred in Anderson on the 14th of February, 1878. A child of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Seibert, living in the south part of the city, near the terminus of the Midland Railroad, was burned to death. The mother had been called to the home of an old neighbor who had just died. The little lad who was burned to death, was a bright boy of five years of age, although a mute, and was left alone in the house. During the absence of the mother, the child obtained an oil can filled with kerosene, and spilled some of it on his clothing while playing. There was a hot fire in the stove from wliich his clothing be- came ignited, and he was so seriously burned that before relief could be had he died. His screams attracted the attention of the neighbors, who rushed to his rescue and found the ciiild enveloped in a wreath of flames. The burning raiment was stripped off as soon as possible, but not in time to avert a fatal result. Jesse Seibert, the father, was well known in Anderson. He was engaged in digging wells, and also worked as a day laborer.

A Fatal Accident

On the 21st of February, 1891, Charlie, the six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chappel, was cut to pieces while playing around an engine at the C, W. & M. round house. The little fellow had wandered away from his home on West Ninth street about 10 o'clock and went to the round liouse to play.

J. J. Richardson, the colored " hostler " in charge of the place, had climbed into an engine, which had just come in from a run, and was backing it into the yard to knock the fire out. The little fellow, unnoticed by Richardson, had climl)ed upon the brakebeam just before the engine started.

He was jostled off, and the engine passed over him, cutting off both legs and one arm. The little fellow was taken to his home, but died about flfteen minutes later.

This little lad was a general favorite among not only his playmates, but was the joy of the neighborhood. Charles Chappel is one of Andersons most respected citizens and the killing of his little son was universally regretted b)' the whole communitv. It will be a long while before this sad event will disappear from the memories of those near and dear to this unfortunate child.

In the issue of March ;il, 1S(34, the Anderson Standard announces the killing of a boy in Anderson, as follows : " On Wednesday of last week, a party of soldiers were amusing themselves by shooting at a target east of the Ross House, and while doing so, a boy twelve years of age, the son of Daniel Coughlin, was struck by a misdirected ball. The missile entered the hip, and lodged in the stomach, causing death in about thirty-si.x hours.

" The soldier who flred the unlucky shot was a member of the Nineteenth Indiana regiment, and departed with his company the next day. While we are satisfied that the loss of the

Martin Coughlin, the boy, was a son of Daniel Cough lin, an old resident of Anderson, and a brother of Miss Mamie Coughlin, who is now matron of the asvliim for the deaf and dumb at Indianapolis.

About the time he was killed, an older brother named Dennis Coughlin, who was in the army, was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol in the hands of a comrade.

The soldiers were shooting from the old Ross House corner, at Tenth and Main streets, their aim being eastward. The boy killed was engaged in pLiying on the hill side, near the Catholic church. The fatal ball struck some object and glanced in that direction with the results above stated.

One of the most distressing accidents that ever befell a citizen of Madison county, occurred to Frank x\rmstrong, on the U)th day of October, 1886, at Noblesville. He was a young man about twenty-one years of age, the son of Xathan Armstrong, who own sand operates the planing mill on North Meridian street, in Anderson. He had been learning telegraph)' from the station agent, Mr. C. B. Cooper, with the expectation of entering the service of the Midland Railroad as operator in one of the offices on the line of that road.

On the morning of his death he took the train to Xoblesville to visit some friends, and while there held communication with the Anderson office over the telegraph wire. After the train returning to Anderson had been made up and the passengers taken on board, it was run back in the yards about a square west of the depot, and the engine cut loose from the train to do some switching. While this was going on, Henry Dunham, of Anderson, stood on the depot platform and held a conversation with young Armstrong, who was in the otbce at the time. Dunham waited until the train came past, wiiich was running at an easy rate, and got on board. After running about two squares the train stopped to unload some freight. The train was composed of an engine, tender, two freight cars and one passenger coach. As it passed the depot young Armstrong attempted to jump on the passenger car, but missing his footing, fell and was dragged from the platform to the track, the rear car passing over his left leg just above the knee and the right leg above the ankle. None of the train- men were conscious of the accident until they arrived at Anderson, and there found a telegram awaiting them in regard to the sad occurrence. An engine and a passenger coach, with the wounded boy's father and brother Walter on board, was at once started back to Noblesville, the scene of the accident. In the meantime. Dr. Chittenden, who was at Indianapolis on business, was telegraphed for and met them at Noblesville. Immediately after the accident young Armstrong was taken to the residence of a friend near by. Dr. Gray and other physicians of Noblesville were summoned to his aid but could do nothing to alleviate his sufferings. He gradually grew worse until about 2 :45 p. m., when he died. He was past all human aid before Dr. Chittenden or his father and brother reached his bedside. The remains were brought to Anderson in the evening and kept until the following Fridav, when they were followed to the grave by a large concourse of friends. The deceased was one of the best known young men in Anderson, was of a very quiet, genial disposition, and was loved and respected by the community at large. If he had an enemy in the world it is not known to the writers, as lie was of a disposition never to give offense to anyone. This accident was the severest blow that the father and mother have experienced in their long and use- .ful lives.

A Fatal Fall

In the month of August, 18(3(3, James Noland, a son of ex-Treasurer W. \V. Noland, of Anderson, fell from the second story of his father's residence on South Central avenue, and was killed.

He was a verj' popular young man and was universally liked by the community. He was at the time a deputy in his father's office. He had been out the night before with some friends, among whom were Daniel F. Mustard and David A. Ranck, two of his intimate associates, and on separating he went to his home and went up-stairs to retire for th(? night, when, it is supposed, he sat down in the open window to take off his shoes (as the weather was very warm and the windows were open), when he lost his balance and fell backward, alighting on a cellar door, killing him instantly. None of the family knew of the circumstance until the next morning, when they were horrified to find his lifeless remains.

who enjoyed his good friendship. His funeral was one of tlie largest that ever took place in Anderson. The services were held in tiie Christian church, conducted by the Rev. Joseph Franklin, there being scarcely standing room in the building for the people.

The remains were interred in the cemetery at Chesterfield, the foimer home of the family. " Jimmy," as lie ^vas familiarly called, was one of the foremost young men in all society events, and was missed by the voung people for many years. His father and mother removed to Riverside, California, several years ago, where Mr. Nokmd died a year or two previous to this writing.

A Distressing Accident

A verv distressing and unfortunate accident occurred in Anderson on Saturday evening. May 29, 1886. Mr. George W^oerner, a merchant tailor, who at that time had a business in Anderson, lived on what was then known as Hannah street. He had a little step-son, by the name of Charlie Lavery, who was a cripple and unable to walk. He was a very bright boy and a great favorite with his family and neighbors. On the evening above named, Charlie Helms, a playmate, having secured a shot gun thai belonged to a son of E. A. Platter, went to the house where young Lavery was at play with some others. They amused themselves by snapping the gun, and having no caps, as a substitute they took the shell of a cartridge and putting a match within, they placed it on the top of the gun and in this manner they would cause a report. They had no idea that the gun was loaded. Mr. E. A. Platter was sitting on his porch facing Mr. Woerner's house, reading a paper, and saw the boys phiying with the gun and cautioned them to throw it down, but they disregarded his admonition and continued in their sport. Young Helms had the gun in his hand and in a plavful manner pointed it at Laverv, when it was discharged. The load took effect in his neck. The wounded boy fell out of his wagon, of which he was a constant occupant on account of his inability to use iiis limbs, and expired in a few moments. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Woerner were at home at the time and Mr. Platter hastened to the scene, gave the alarm to the neighbors ami notitied Mr. Woerner who was at his store. It was a sad blow to Mr. and Mrs. Woerner, who idolized the boy who had been a constant care to them from his earliest boyhood.

Airs. Woerner was prostrated with irrief and required medical treatment, and it was all that friendl_v neighbors could do to enable her to survive the terrible shock. Mr. Woerner was deeply afflicted over this accident.

The remains of the boy were interred in the Catholic cemetery and it was not long before the family removed from the city to make their home elsewhere.

A Cr.Vzy Man Shot And Killed

A fatal shooting aft'air occurred in Anderson on the 15th of January, 1878, in which Charles Brothers, a son of Malachi Brothers, who lived west of the city, shot and killed John Beaver, a half-witted epileptic who I'ved at Germantown, Wayne county, but who led a roving life having no particular business, being almost an imbecile from the effects of epileptic fits. Brothers had for some time been sleeping in the store of 'H. Funk, which then occupied the corner of Main and Twelfth -streets. On the night in question. Brothers heard some noi.se in the back part of the building and got up to see what was the cause of the trouble. He ascertained that some one was on the roof and supposing that they were trying to gain admission for the purpose of burglary, he went back into the store and procured a revolver which was near at hand. Slipping out the back way he got on a board fence about twentyfive feet in the rear, from which he got a full view of the roof. In the hollow formed by the roof of the two buildings he saw a man who was acting in a very suspicious manner: he called to him to come down or he would shoot him, covering him at the same time with the revolver. The man on the roof clambered down and picked up a piece of scantling l\"ing close by and came at Brothers, and threatened to strike him. Brothers came down from the fence and as the man approached him he ordered him to surrender. The man, however, paid no attention to him and struck viciously at his head with his wooden weapon. Brothers jumped aside and received a slight blow on the arm. The assailant again rushed at liim when he discharged his revolver, the shot taking effect at the base of the neck tearing its way through. The range was short and the ball effective. The wounded man uttered not a word and turned and ran up Twelfth street to Meridian where he dropped and expired. Brothers ran to his home, but a little distance away, in great excitement and told his folks that he had killed a man. The alarm was given and the City Marshal notitied. The body was carried to the Mayor's oifice and thence to an undertaking establishment. The Coroner's jury was assembled the next day and after a full and complete examination of all the testimony ayailable a yerdict was rendered of justifiable homicide and Brothers was released from arrest. Tiie deceased, John Beayer, was a harmless and unfortunate wanderer and \yhile suffering from one of his fits had crawled to the top of the building without any intention of harming any one.

This building had been on several occasions burglarized and ^Ir. Brothers had been selected to sleep in the building for the purpose of defending it against au_y ma-auders, and the circumstances surrounding it made it plausible to him tiiat the man was there with evil intent. Mr. Brothers was a respectable j-oung man and no one eyer attached any blame to him for this afl'air.

There haye been numerous accidents in Anderson that have caused the conniiunity to shudder, but none has caused a more profound impression than the accidental killing of James H. Jackson, which took place in May, 1858.

Mr. Jackson was out squirrel hunting in company with a friend, Mr. James CoUis, the father of Mr. E. M. CoUis, who now resides in Pendleton, and is engaged in the jewelry business. He was also accompanied by his favorite dog " Tofno " who was his constant companion. Mr. Collis and the dog were the only witnesses to the accident. Mr. Jackson had just shot a squirrel, and had brought the gun down by his side with a load remaining in one of the barrels.

He was walking around a tree looking upward to see where the squirrel was that he had just shot, when in some manner the hammer of the gun caught on something, and caused it to be ilischarged. The tlischarge took effect in the rear part of his head killing him almost instantly.

His companion gave the alarm, and in a very short time the citizens of Anderson were out en masse to see the remains. Mr. Jackson was very popular and well known by every one, and the accident caused much excitement and grief in the town.

He was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows and they took charge of the remains, and gave him all the attention due an honorable member of that most worthy order.

The ceremonies made a great iinpression upon the community, and gave the Odd Fellows quite a good place in the hearts of the people of Anderson.

The Lodge met and took proper action in regard to Mr. Jackson's death by appointing an appropriate committee to draft resolutions of respect to his memory.

The minutes of the meeting that passed the resolutions were signed by Isaac M. May, Noble Grand, and Enoch M. Jackson, Secretary, both of whom are now dead.

Major Maj' lost his life on the field of battle at Gainsville, at the second fight of Bull Run, and Enoch M. Jackson died in Anderson a few years ago.

This dreadful occurrence took place in -' Sparks Woods,"' now the park in North Anderson. It occurred just where the street railway crosses a ravine near the entrance to the park.

Mr. Jackson was by trade a painter, but had quite recently before his death been engaged in the grocery business with Geo. W. Kline as his partner.

Mr. Jackson left a wife and two children, who yet live in Anderson. These incidents dating back to the time Anderson was a mere village are food for the old inhabitants to refer to, and cause many sighs of the heart of the old-timer, as they are called to memory.