Stay Away From A Squib Factory... Just Sayin'....

So I run across this while searching for info on a John Moss:

Fatal Explosion

Ok - I read it, and it's quite sad really. I set out to find a few more articles which I present to you, they may be a bit graphic in explanation.

What is a squib? Well it's used as a longer fuse in mining:

Powell's Squibs.... well this is ironic

EXCELSIOR SQUIB FACTORY EXPLOSION -

Oct 24 1883

Fatal Explosion
Nine Little Girls Burned to Death in Pennsylvania Squib Factory

Wilkes-Barre, PA Oct 23
An explosion took place this afternoon at J. H. Smith's squib factory, in Kingston. At the time of the accident nine girls were at work. Five are reported burned to a crisp, and the other four seriously injured and cannot recover. The cause of the explosion is unknown.

Wilkes-Barre, PA Oct 23
The people of Kingston were startled this afternoon by a loud explosion, and it was soon learned that the Excelsior squib factory had been torn to pieces and eight children employed there blown out with the flying timbers in every direction. No one appears to know the exact cause of the explosion, but it is believed they had been burning wood in the stove and a spark was blown out of the stove and fired the kegs of powder. The children, ranging from eleven to sixteen years, all are seriously injured. Mattie James, whose body is crisp and filled with powder, is dying; Mary Quinn, blackened and burned to a crisp, will die; Hattie Moss, who has her feet burned and was blown into the creek, will recover; John Evans was so badly burned that he has since died; James Steele, burned to a crisp, will die; Lizzie Edwards was seriously burned, but may recover; Mamie Morris is a terrible mass of scarified flesh, dying; John James, terribly burned, may recover. It is expected that four of the injured will die before morning.
Later - Mamie Morris and Mattie James died to-night.

(There seems to be some discrepancy with names here)

A Fatal Explosion
Wilkesbarre, Penn Oct 23
The little town of Kingston, about two miles from this place, was this afternoon the scene of a terrible explosion, by which seven young persons were fatally burned, two having since died. The names of the dead are Mattie James and Hattie Norris, and the injured are Lizzie Edwards, James Steele, Albert James, Mary Moss, Lizzie Quinn and John Evans. The factory was situated in the western part of the borough, and consisted of one frame building about 40 x 30. At the time of the explosion the proprietor, John Smith, was absent, the work being in charge of Mattie James. How the explosion was caused is impossible as yet to say, but about 2 o'clock the neighbors were startled by three loud explosions in rapid succession, which made the ground tremble and broke every window within a circuit of 300 yards. The terrified women living in the adjacent  houses  rushed from their shaking tenements, dragging their children after them. On turning their eyes toward the factory, which stood about 50 yards from the nearest house a terrible scene presented itself. The force of the explosion had torn off the roof of the building and blown out one side, while flames and smoke were pouring from every portion of the wrecked structure.
Through the blinding smoke the blazing forms of the unfortunate victims were seen to stagger, shrieking wildly in their agony. A small creek runs within 10 yards  of the factory, and two girls were seen to rush down the bank and endeavor to extinguish their burning clothing  by plunging into the stream. Willing hands were soon at work helping them. They were found to be Hattie Norris and Lizzie Edwards, both about 19 years old. They were terribly burned, there being scarcely a portion of their bodies not burned to a crisp. Hattie Norris died within an hour, and Lizzie Edwards cannot live til morning. One boy, John Evans, about 15 years old, was found on the other side of the creek, where it is supposed he had been blown by the explosion. He was fatally burned. Mattie James, aged 20, the forewoman, was found a blazing heap in a field 20 yards from the factory. Her clothing was burned and her body charred almost beyond recognition. She was removed to her home, but died about 4:30 o'clock. James Steele and Albert James, two young lads about 15 years old, were found near the building half buried in the burning ruins. They were both fearfully burned, but James Steele will probably recover, having no serious injuries except to his legs and feet; Albert James, a brother of Mattie James was burned principally on the head and chest cannot survive. Mary Moss, aged 18, ran toward the creek, but fell before she reached it. When picked up, her clothing was blazing. She is terrible burned on the head and body and will probably die before morning. Lizzie Quinn, aged 16, dragged herself, all blazing to a neighbors fence. Willing hands helped her over and soon extinguished the flames, but her injuries are very severe, and there is little hope of her recovery.
In the confusion of the moment it was reported that three or four more were within the blazing building, and a scene of terrible excitement ensued. A chain was formed to the creek and pails of water passed from hand to hand and flung upon the flames . Others sought to tear down the building with poles and ladders, while many of the women who had gathered around the spot fainted with the heat and excitement and were hurried off by their friends. It was finally discovered that all the inmates had been rescued and the useless effort to quench the flames was abandoned. The sad accident has cast a deep gloom over the community. All the injured persons resided in the immediate vicinity and were well known in by nearly everyone in Kingston. They are all of respectable families, and the two young women whose deaths are announced were daughters of well to do parents and were both reckoned among the beauties of the town. The suffering of the injured is terrible and several of them are praying for death to put an end to their unbearable agony. How the explosion was caused cannot be exactly ascertained, but it is thought that a spark flew out of the stove, into which some wood had been put into some loose powder the squibs are made of powder and straw and are used by miners as slow matches in firing their blasts. It is claimed by the owner of the factory that there was not more than 20 pounds of powder in the building, but the terrible force of the explosion seems to indicate a larger quantity. The factory had only been working for about five months, the process being one newly invented by Mr. Smith. It was by the purest accident that the work was being carried on in that building to-day a larger one is being built, and had it not been for the sickness of a man who was completing the internal decorations, the factory would have been removed two days ago. This makes the second fatal accident in Kingston within a month, the disaster at the Woodward mine occurring just 30 days ago.

Wilkesbarre, PA Oct 24
Hattie Moss, another victim of the squib factory explosion, died this morning. Lizzy Edwards is slowly sinking, and her death is expected at any moment. It is though by the physicians that the other victims cannot possibly survive many hours. They are suffering the most excruciating pain. The funerals of Mary Morris and Hattie Moss will take place to-morrow. Mary Quinn will be buried on Friday from St. Mary's Church, in this city. The disaster has cats a gloom over the entire community. The dead now number four; Hattie Moss, Mary Quinn, Mary Morris and Hattie James.

Oct 25 Wilkesbarre, PA
The funerals of the three little girls, Mattie James, Hattie Moss, and May Morris, who died from injuries received by the explosion at the squib factory in Kingston on Tuesday, took place this afternoon. The work was generally suspended in the mines, and the bodies were followed to the graves by immense throngs of people. The remarks of the clergyman were very touching. Lizzie Edwards, the fourth victim, died last night a little after 12 o'clock, and but little hopes are entertained for the recovery of the others.

Well this being bad enough, upon investigation I found a monument erected to those who died in the Squib Factory Explosion - but what is this? These are not the same names. I don't understand... oh I see - This is a monument to those who died in the 1889 squib factory explosion in Plymouth! Not the 1883 squib factory explosion in Kingston. - (Which mind you is a 6 minute drive from Plymouth to Kingston)


POWELL SQUIB FACTORY EXPLOSION -
[Here's a link to the monument on Find a Grave: Powell Squib Mill Memorial]

Feb 26 1889
Nine Killed - Thirteen Injured

Wilkes-Barre, PA Feb 25
A terrible explosion occurred in a squib factory, at Plymouth, in which nine girls were burned to death and thirteen others seriously injured. The squib factory was that of J. S. Powell, employing many women and boys. Following are the names of the nine girls, who were burned to a crisp: Katie Jones, Hattie Jones, Maggie Lynch, Goldie Reese, Mary Walker, Maggie Richards, Mary Lake, Ruth Powell and Esther Powell. George Reese was blown through the window of the building and fatally injured. Eight bodies had been recovered up to 3:30 p.m. and it is reported that four girls are yet missing.

A Horrible Explosion
A Squib Factory Blown Up, Killing a Number of Girls
An Appalling Accident
Pittsburg, Feb 25 - A Wilkes-Barre(Pennsylvania) special says:

A terrible explosion occurred in a squib factory at Plymouth, Nine girls were burned to death, and thirteen seriously injured.
LATER - It is now reported that nine women and two boys are killed. The cause of the explosion has not been learned. Everything about the scene of the wreck is confusion and excitement. The squib factory was that of  J. S. Powell, employing many women and boys.
Following are the names of nine girls who were burned to a crisp:
Kate Jones
Hattie Jones 
Maggie Lynch 
Goldie Reese 
Mary Walker
Maggie Richards 
Mary Lake
Ruth Powell 
Esther Powell
George Reese was blown through a window of the building and fatally injured. Eight bodies had been recovered up to 3:30 p.m.
It is reported that four girls are yet missing.

Wilkesbarre, Pa., Feb 25
A terrible disaster occurred at Plymouth, a few miles from here, this afternoon, by which the souls of ten girls and one man were hurled into eternity. Back of the Gaylord shaft stood the factory of John Powell, used for the manufacture of squibs, used by the miners in loosening coal in the mines. The factory employed eighty-four girls, ranging from 12 to 20 years and several male workmen. While the majority of the girls were at their home eating dinner, the people were startled by the deafening thunder of a terrific explosion. They rushed, terror-stricken, to the doors and windows and in the distance saw clouds of smoke ascending from the squib factory. Soon a large crowd had gathered around and the women began wringing their hands and the men turned away from the sight presented. When the charred body of a young girl was seen lying in one of the rooms and the fact became known that at least twenty persons were in the building at the time of the explosion eating their noon-day lunch, the feeling was fraught with terror as the girls, some of them bleeding, others gasping for a few breaths of fresh air, rushed to the widows and screamed frantically for help. About this time a dozen miners from the adjoining colliery came upon the scene and as soon as they saw the bleeding forms of the girls calling for aid, rushed toward the building in a body, but fate prevented their proffered succor. As soon as they stepped near the door another terrible explosion took place and the entire building collapsed, burying in the ruins, the forms that a moment before stood crying for assistance.
The men, when the smoke and flying debris had settled, rushed among the ruins, and one by one the bodies were found and taken out, charred beyond recognition, bleeding and mangled. As mothers saw and recognized some familiar token or piece of dress by which they could tell their loved ones, the scene was one that represented the extreme throes of sorrow and destruction. The bodies as fast as they were taken out, were removed to an undertaking establishment, where they were placed in a row. Their features were so badly mutilated that they were scarcely recognizable.
The killed, so far as known, are:
Kate Jones, aged 18; 
Maggie Lynch, aged 21; 
Hettie Jones, aged 16; 
Gladys Reese, aged 15; 
Mary Walters, aged 17; 
Maggie Richards, aged 17; 
Mary A. Lake, aged 17; 
Ruth Powell, aged 19; 
Esther Powell, aged 22; 
Jane Ann Thomas, aged 16, 
Charlette Humphries, aged 18
John Powell, the proprietor, was badly injured. Business in the town of Plymouth stands still and a death-like pall hangs over the community. Several kegs of powder caused the explosion, but how they were exploded is, as yet, a mystery.
There were three stoves in the building. It is stated that on several occasions the girls, in order to have a little fun, would place powder in the stove just to see it shoot off. The proprietor of the factory claims that no powder was kept in the building, but was procured from a magazine 100 yards away when wanted.

Mar 7, 1889

Blown into Eternity

Eleven Lives Lost in an Explosion in a Squib Factory

Wilkes-Barre, Penn Feb 25

[A majority of the beginning of this article reads exactly like the one above so I'm just going to add the contents that are different enough to add on to]

The bodies as fast as they were taken out, were removed to an undertaking establishment, where they were placed in a row. Their features were so badly mutilated that they were scarcely recognizable. The cause of the explosion is a mystery. Reese says that the squibs piled in the box must have exploded from spontaneous combustion. He says he never allowed any large quantity of powder in the building. When powder was wanted it was taken from the magazine 100 yards away. Experts, however, claim that there must have been powder in the building or the force of the explosion would not have been so great. 

There were three stoves in the building. It is stated that on several occasions the girls, in order to have a little fun, would place powder in the stove "just" to see it shoot off. Another theory advanced for the explosion is that a pot of sulfur on the stove, which was used to dip squibs into, must have boiled over and ignited some loose powder, which fired the kegs. 

The scenes around the undertaker's establishment, where bodies of the victims were taken, were heartrending. Eleven bodies lay there, headless, armless, and legless. From pieces of scorched clothing and small buttons the victims were identified.

Feb 27 1889

The Bodies Identified

Wilkesbarre, PA., Feb 26

All bodies of victims at the Squib Factory, or what remains of them, have been identified except one, a girl of 14 or 16 years. It is said she was a stranger and came to the factory for work. No one in Plymouth is missing. The coroner's jury met to-day and proceeded to the residences of the Foreman Reese, who was so badly injured that his life is despaired of. In his statement Reese said:

"During the forenoon the proprietor of the factory came in and told the girls as they were not busy, they should sort a lot of loose squibs lying on the floor, some of which were loaded and others empty. The girls began to sort the squibs, and Kate Jones picked out what she considered the poor ones, or those that were empty and threw them into a stove. One of them happened to be loaded and it exploded, a spark igniting a lot of loaded squibs, lying near. The explosion followed, and the first thing I knew I was lying in a field outside."

Reese was the only witness examined today. Another pertinent fact was the presence in the building of two more kegs of powder than the borough ordinance allows.

Mar 17 1889

Dying Confession

Pittsburgh, Mar 16

George Reese, foreman of the squib factory at Plymouth, which exploded, killing ten girls, made a confession before dying that it was he, not Kate Jones, who caused the explosion. He was smoking a pipe in the basement, when a spark flew into a powder keg.

So that's pretty bad - two squib factory explosions in the 1880's ... at least they waited 15 years for the next one! Another factory that more girls were killed in, and still not that far from the other two. This one was in Dickson City[used to be known as Priceburg]. Just YIKES.

Try to find one and I find 3. Three!

DICKSON SQUIB FACTORY EXPLOSION -

Mar 31, 1904

Fourteen are Killed

In an Explosion in a Squib Factory at Scranton and Factory is Wrecked

Scranton, PA, Mar 31

Through an explosion in a squib factory at Priceburg, a few miles from Scranton today, fourteen girls were killed, a majority of them being so badly mangled that it was with great difficulty that they were identified.

Six bodies have already been taken from the building.

The explosion, it is thought, was caused by one of the girls throwing squibs into the stove.

LATER - The number of dead is uncertain and is estimated at from six to thirteen, while five are fatally burned. The building was wrecked.

Mar 31, 1904

Explosion in Factory Near Scranton Causes Disaster 

Wounded Victims Burned Alive. 

Scranton, .Pa., March 31.

Six persons were killed and five injured, some of them fatally in a terrific explosion in the Dickson Squib company's factory at Priceburg, shortly after 11 o'clock this morning. Five of the dead are girls and the other a little boy who lived with his parents over the factory. All of the bodies have been moved from the factory. 

List of the Dead: Bessie Lewis, Providence; Lizzie Mahon, Dickson City; Lizzie Bray, Dickson City; Thomas & Mary Callahan, also the children of Thomas Callahan, Dickson City.

The injured are: Oscar Asher, foreman; Cassie Ealls, Dickson City. 

In the borough exists there today, and heartrending scenes are witnessed on every hand. Distracted mothers and other relatives of the dead workers are wailing through the street inquiring for the fate of their children. 

Only Two Escaped. 

It is thought that only a few of the twenty-five or more girls employed in the factory escaped uninjured. One family named Callahan, composed of father, mother and three children, living in an upstairs part of the demolished building were all killed. Two of the dead girls were blown out of the window and their remains picked up fifty yards away. The cause of the explosion is not yet known. When the shock came, the whole borough was shaken and windows broken in nearly every building. 

Wounded Are Cremated. 

Soon after the explosion, flames burst out from the ruins and the cries of the dying and wounded could be heard in the debris. Many of the girls on the lower floors rushed out, their hair and clothing aflame. Many of the dead and dying could be seen from the street pinned down with heavy timbers and being consumed with the flames, the fire alarm was sounded and hurried calls were sent to the local drug store aid and the physicians of the borough who administered to the suffering girls. The fire was soon under control and shortly after 12 o'clock the first bodies were taken from the ruins. Four in all were taken out. They were burned  beyond recognition. The work of searching for other bodies is still going on. 

Apr 1, 1904

Hoyden's Prank Hurls Six to Sudden Death

Girl Throws Squib Into Stove and the Explosion Wrecks and Sets Factory Ablaze

Scranton, Pa., March 31.—

Six persons were killed and five fatally injured by an explosion In the factory of the Dickson Squib company at Priceburg near here today. The dead are: 

Lizzie Bray, Priceburg 

Beckie Lewis, North Scranton 

Lizzie Matthews, Oliphant

George Callihan, Priceburg

Teresa Callihan, Priceburg

Lillian Mahon, Priceburg. 

Twenty girls were employed in the factory. What caused the explosion is not known but it is said that one of the girls threw a squib into a stove and that the force of the explosion was so great that it wrecked the building and set fire to it. The squibs are used in coal mining.

Apr 1, 1904

Squib Explosion Kills Six.

Five Persons also Fatally Hurt in Mining Town Accident.

Scranton, Penn., March 31.

Six persons are known to have been killed and five fatally injured by an explosion in the factory of the Dickson Squib Company at Priceburg, near here, to-day. The dead are LIZZIE BRAY, Priceburg; BECKIE LEWIS, North Scranton; LIZZIE MATTHEWS, Olyphant; GEORGE CALLAHAN, Priceburg; TERESA CALLAHAN, Priceburg, and one other.

What caused the explosion is not known, but it is said that one of the girls threw a squib into a stove, and that the force of the explosion was so great that it wrecked the building and set it on fire. The squibs are used in coal mining.

The Dickson Squib Company occupied only the first floor of the structure, the Callahan family having rooms on the second floor, where the two Callahan children lost their lives. Thomas Callahan, their father, was at work, and Mrs. Callahan had just left the room when the explosion occurred. The children aged three years and six months, respectively, were playing on the floor, and both were instantly killed.

The building caught fire and the flames communicated to two adjoining buildings, one occupied as a hotel and the other as a butcher's shop, and both were destroyed. The bodies of the dead were so badly burned that it was with great difficulty that they could be recognized.

Apr 6, 1904

Twenty-Five Girls Lose Their Lives

Scranton, Pa., March 31

Twenty-five girls lost their lives this morning through the explosion of Dickson's squib factory at Priceburg. Bodies of the victims were found blocks away from the scene of the disaster. Scores of other girls were wounded. Cause of explosion unknown.

This is Halloween! This is Halloween!

Nov 5, 1909

Wild Witches of Halloween
Tricks That Make Angels Weep and Strong Men Swear.

The boys of Ouray did no grave damage on Halloween, it being a Saturday and a flurry of snow upon the ground, but signs and ash cans were mysteriously switched around, steps were greased so the ascending pedestrian coming in late to his home occasionally slid back a few steps and caused grave suspician in the heart of his loving wife that maybe he had been flirting with the witches himself, and partaken of a drop too much of the Halloween spirits, or some other spirit not drawn from nature's pump. Tarred door knobs also caused words not exactly appropriate for the Sabbath evening, but on the whole the behavior of the lads of the town was much better than in former years and their fun was mostly of an innocent nature.

Halloween is an ancient festival. As to just where and how it originated history does not throw a clear light. The practices observed, however, are said to be of Pagan origin, being so closely associated with the belief in the supernatural influences which are appealed to in most of the rites of the occasion. In the northern part of England it is called Nutcrack Night. In Scotland the ceremonies were formerly regarded in a highly superstitious light and some of that belief still lingers with the Scots. The chief object in consulting the future was to discover who was destined to be the partner in life. Popular belief ascribed to children born at Halloween the faculty of perceiving and holding converse with supernatural beings.
The present day modes and styles of celebrating the evening are a wide departure from those in vogue a century ago. Now it is essentially a children's festival and the old folks take buut little heed, except to try and hold their tempers and remember that when they were young they perpetrated tricks diabolical enough to be really ascribed to devils, hobgoblins and witches that sailed through the air on broomsticks. This year the broomstick was thrown aside and the witch arrived in an automobile, and probably next year she can go up to the moon in an aeroplane.

Don't Pour Gas in the Cracks

July 13, 1911
Family of Five Burned
Gasoline Explosion Kills Parents and Children

Flammable Stuff Put in Cracks to Kill Bugs Catches Fire With Fatal Results
(Special to Daily Press)
Grand Junction, Colo July 13

O.J. Williams, pumpman on the Rio Grand and Western Railroad, his wife and three small daughters are dead today the result of a gasoline explosion at Ruby. Two of the children were so badly burned that nothing was found except their skulls and leg bones. The gasoline was poured into the cracks of the floor to kill bugs. The cause of the ignition is unknown.

July 21, 1911
Five Burned to Death; One Drowned
Grand Junction - The terrible toll which fire and water took near this city is six lives, when a gasoline explosion killed every member of one family except one, and the waters of the Grand river claimed their fourth victim for this summer. The dead are:
O. J. Williams, horribly burned on all parts of his body;
Florence Williams, aged 8, lungs seared with flames;
Cleo Williams, aged 6, killed by force of explosion;
Roxie Williams, aged 10, killed by force of explosion;
Mrs. O. J. Williams, with flesh dropping off, was taken to a hospital where she died.
C. A. Wolfkill, drowned.

Bear Killer!

July 21, 1911
Woman Kills Bear
Windsor - Left at camp, near Chamber's lake, while her husband and brother went fishing, Mrs. John Cable of Windsor gave them a big surprise on their return when she showed a bear which she had shot and killed in their absence.


What a lady!

Cremation in 1883

Oct 24 1883
Cremated
Washington, PA Oct 23

The remains of Mr. Kronberg, of Chicago, who died on August 4, and whose body was embalmed, arrived here at eleven o'clock this morning and was taken to the crematory. The body came in a pine box, it being the intention to burn box and all, but upon arrival at the crematory the body was taken out wrapped in a sheet and saturated with alum water. Incineration was accomplished quickly, owing to the state of the body.

Run Run Run Run Runaway

July 1911
Elopers Flee
  Babies Left Behind

Sheriff Fautz is tracking two elopers today. On complain that Mrs. Tillie Sterret, wife of A. J.  Sterret of What Cheer, had eloped with James Brainerd, of that village, from the hope of the woman's uncle, the sheriff of Johnson ounty was put on the scent, as it was thought the pair came this way.

Relatives Hunt
Her brother Elmer Day, and her uncle, J. R. Griffith, of Lytle City, near Parnell, also came here today hunting the missing woman, who was visiting Mr. Griffith when she left home, driving away in an old buggy, behind a blind horse, to make unromantic features of a rather sensational case.
A sad feature of the case is that three children are left behind by the forgetful wife and mother. She is 26 and her "friend" is 25 and single. Strangely enough, when the woman went to her uncle's home, her brother, Jim, and her husband accompanied her. The husband was there, last night, at nine, when the couple drove away. The husband, with three empty mouths calling him at home, went back, and is working on the farm now while officers and the relatives of Mrs. Sterrett are pursuing her in the hope of coaxing her back from her madness.


Her madness? LOL - I wish I could hear her half of the story.

Obituary of Sallie Ketner

Death of Aged Hermit.
Bernvile, Pa., Feb. 2. 1885

Sallie Ketner, a mountain hermit, died yesterday in the 85th year of her age. She lived for forty-eighty years in a hut which stood midway between Bernville and Shartlesville. She owned thirty acres of ground. The hut was a very dilapidated structure. The roof was so full of holes that she frequently used an umbrella to keep herself dry in rainy weather. Finally the hut tumbled in and Miss Ketner was taken out of the ruins and found to be fatally injured. Several of her dogs were killed by the falling timbers. The woman was fond of dogs and owned about a dozen. She was taken to the house of Frederick Epting, who cared for her up to her death. A number of men at one time went to her place and killed a number of her dogs because they thought they had enough to do to provide for the old lady. She began her hermit life about fifty years ago, owing to a disappointment in love. She was frequently seen on foot in the chase following her pack of hounds over the hills. When old age came on the farmers in the valley cared for her.

Eloped!

Feb 7 1885
A Scranton Girl Elopes

A dispatch dated Scranton Jan 31st says: Lizzie Bogart, the charming 18 year-old daughter of Assistant  Superintendent Garrett Bogart, of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, has caused a social sensation by eloping with a young brakeman named George J. Fowler, who is employed on a passenger train between Buffalo and New York. Fowler is not much more than 20 years old and quite handsome. The young people met accidentally shortly after Miss Bogart's return home from Europe with her father a few months ago, and the acquaintance has been continued until it ripened into love. They usually met at the skating rink in Scranton.
Of course the lovers knew that Superintendent Bogart would never consent to their union, and so shortly after five o'clock Friday evening, accompanied by Fowler's sister, they went to the office of Alderman Fuller and were married. When the Alderman asked Miss Bogart if she was related to Superintendent Bogart she replied that she was a sister, and he believed her. After the ceremony the party drove a short distance out of town and had a friendly engineer stop his train to take them on board. After reaching Binghamton, Fowler telegraphed the news of their marriage to Superintendent Bogart, who is very much incensed over the affair.
Miss Bogart is pretty and accomplished, and had hosts of friends in Scranton.

Ahh love :)

Cat vs Dog

Nov 1, 1912

Cat Kills a Bulldog

A large Angora cat owned by Mrs. Henry Lindley of Venice, Cal., attacked and killed a full-blooded English bulldog, owned by J. C. Fromeyer, at Venice. Within two minutes the bulldog, bleeding and helpless, fell upon the sand. The cat then leaped upon the dog's head and with claws and teeth severed the animal's jugular vein.

I thought dogs were supposed to chase cats! I'd watch out now...

Squash: The Autumn Fruit!

Oct 1913

There was a squash of the banana variety, on exhibition at the Akers & Turner store this week that is the finest thing of it's kind we ever saw in this section. It was grown by Mrs. C. A. Keith and weighed 79 pounds. And in the Bayfield Mercantile company's store is a winter radish grown by F. E. Leeka that weighs about 1/4th as much. Great country for vegetables - and everything that any soil on earth produces.

Hi! I'm a banana squash

Giving No Thanks for Thanksgiving

Dec 13, 1905

Stolen!
Horace De Moss of Colorado City was so incensed at the theft of his thirty-pound prize turkey, which was stolen from his hen coop Thanksgiving morning, that he offered $5 reward for the conviction of the thief.

Damn turkey thieves! I wonder if he ever caught whodunit. 

And Now For Some Corn!

Nov 21 1903

Missouri Corn

Here are three stories of Missouri corn. One is an echo of last year's bumper crop.

Three boys nine, sixteen and eighteen years old, respectively- took a contract to cultivate a 540 acre field, which was to be put in corn. They were to receive 12 cents a bushel or the crop from the owner of the field. The land produced 34,621 bushels and the boys divided up $4,154.52 for their summer's work.

The other stories concern this years crop.

"Ed" Turley, of Millersburg, found a large ear of corn which had nine smaller ears sprouting from the top.

W. H. Shaeffer, of Avila, went to interview William Fanning, on shares. There was a dispute and Mrs. Fanning hit Mr. Shaffer over the head with an ear of corn. Concussion of the brain was the result.


Haha! Hit with corn - classic!

Beware Rampaging Bulls!

Sept 11, 1925

Bull Kills a Horse

Filiase DeGree, when in the south end of the valley Tuesday morning, narrowly escaped injury from a mad bull. Fil was driving a bunch of cattle out of a pasture and his dogs had them running in an excited manner when the bull came out and attacked the horse he was riding, running a horn into the horse's breast clear to the heart and killing it. After the dogs had chased the infuriated animal away from the horse he went up to it and then hot-footed it for safety. Fil hid behind a clump of Willows until the bull was some distance away from the dead horse.

Those bulls are dangerous!

That Poor Dog

Aug 31, 1928
Brownie

  Brownie is dead. He wasn't much of a pup, just an ordinary scrub dog, but beloved by Betty Ann of the Pilot household. He never won any prizes at a dog show; he had no fine points. He was just a faithful, affectionate dog.
  A few years ago a stray dog, homeless, helpless, probably desperate, feeling the urge of motherhood, crawled under a strange porch and took part in the miracle of creation. There were seven of the offspring, woolly, playful little fellows. It was our porch. It was the first haven that offered. It was a safe haven.
  Betty Ann secured good homes for them all. She kept Brownie. In the exuberance of his spirits he chased automobiles and sometimes barked as people passed the house, but he never harmed anyone and was faithful to his mistress.
  Some heartless human being poisoned Brownie. When he got the lethal potion he didn't make any fuss about it, he just crawled off by himself and kept quiet while the poison gnawed at his vitals. Dogs are like that. His big liquid brown eyes showed gratitude and appreciation for a friendly word or a pat on the head, but he preferred to be alone with his agony. Then he crawled further into the weeds and died.
  If the person who poisoned a harmless and faithful dog and brought grief to the little girl who was his loving mistress can get any satisfaction out of his cowardly act he is welcome to it.


People still do this for no reason. I don't understand why some people are just jerks.

Young Sweethearts Gone Too Soon

July 24, 1901
Buried in the Same Grave

Carl Johnson and Della Dreamer Interred at Carthage, Mo.

Carthage, Mo., July 23. -
The funeral of the two children, Carl Johnson and Della Dreamer, drowned in Spring river yesterday, took place at Park cemetery today. They were buried in the same grave, as for years they both had been sweethearts, and were both born on the same day. A large crowd gathered, and their classmates were pall-bearers. It is understood that a fortune teller had recently told Mr. Johnson that his son would either be killed by electricity or drowned.

Aww that is just too sad!! They were only 12. After I found this, I did a little more digging and found a few more articles.

JULY 25, 1901
TWO 11-YEAR OLD CHILDREN DROWNED
BOY HERO DIED THIS MORNING TRYING TO SAVE THE GIRL

LITTLE DELLA DREAMER AND CARL JOHNSON

The Girl Holding Hands of Her Companions, Took a Dare and Waded Over a Step-Off at the Water Works, 75 Feet Below Main Street Bridge

Carl Johnson and Della Dreamer, two eleven-year old children of North Main Street, were drowned this morning at 11 o'clock in Spring River, 75 feet below the Main Street bridge, and just over the riffle below the water works in-take. The boy lives at the water works pump station, his father, A. P. Johnson, being resident engineer there, working from midnight to noon. Little Misses Ethel Orr and Della Sigler stayed with Carl's sister, little Miss Ella Johnson last night, and being joined this morning by Della Dreamer, all four put on old dresses and went wading on the riffle below the water works. Carl was playing somewhere about the bank below the pump house.
Immediately below the riffle, or water works dam, is a very deep hole along one side of which is a steep step-off. Some brush from up river had lodged on the riffle, the butts becoming embedded in the gravel and the ends extending out over the deeper water. Holding onto the brush ends and hand in hand, the Dreamer girl being on the lower end of the line, the girls waded into the water. A small colored youth named King stood on the bank, chaffed the girls about being afraid, and dared them to wade "just a little farther - and a little farther."
Suddenly little Della, on the end of the line, went over the step-off, and in her sudden consternation the next girl to her, Ethel Orr, let go her hold, all being thrown down into the water. The three girls next to the brush could scramble out, but Della Dreamer began to sink and scream.

BOY GOES TO THE RESCUE
There was not a man in sight or hearing, and Carl Johnson, less than the drowning girl in size, rushed to her rescue like the true little hero that he proved himself to be. Priding himself on his swimming, he was at her side in an instant, but in her terror the girl did the usual and worst thing possible. Grabbing him frantically about the neck and arms, she retarded his swimming, and both went down together.
Terrified, the other girls ran to the pump house across the river. Engineer Johnson was at work there and was soon on the scene, an intensely excited man. Ernest Roberts, a small boy, ran up Main street and spread he alarm. A few minutes later eight or ten men were wading through the water looking for the bodies.
J. V. Pearman, notified by the Roberts boy, ran from his planing mill three blocks to the river and plunged in. The water was nearly six feet deep and came up to his neck. A cattleman named French came in from the north and joined the search. The water was of good expanse and it was about fifteen minutes before, feeling about with his feet, Mr. French found and brought out the girl. A full quarter of an hour after that Mr. Pearman brought out the boy. The were found ten feet apart. Both bodies were promptly laid on the hot gravel, rolled and worked with in every way suggested, but the life had departed from each forever. Dr. Ketcham was on hand to direct the work.
The dead little hero was carried into his home adjoining the pump house, clad simply in his little red sweater and knee pants. The girl was taken to the home of L. R. Roberts adjoining her own home on Main Street opposite the woolen mill. The mother had been summoned in distress to the river during the search and returned prostrated with her sudden grief a little later. The father, Robert Dreamer is a tank and pump repairer on the Frisco, and was in Fall River, Kansas this morning. He will be home immediately, and the little boy's sister will be home from Kansas City tonight.
Many people called at the two stricken homes immediately after the sad accident. Among them were the church friends. The little Johnson children attended the Congregational Sunday school. The boy was of excellent character, perfect in manners and disposition. A. Hughes was going to take him on a fishing trip this afternoon. The little Dreamer girl was a member of Mrs. Roy Rohm's class at the Baptist Sunday school.
Henry Briggs, the colored fisherman was at the house when a PRESS reporter arrived. "I taught him to swim," said Briggs. "And if I hadn't stopped to get shaved on the way down here they never would have drowned. It is all man can do to save a drowning child - let alone weight for weight."
Mrs. George Brown, of Dixon, Missouri was camping on the river and saw the children drowning but was sick and "just turned her head away." Her husband was not on hand at the time.
Arrangements have been made to hold the funeral of the little boy tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the residence of his father near the water works. Rev. J. B. Toomay will be in charge.
The date for the girl's funeral can not be fixed until the father is located. Telegrams failing to find him at Fall River this afternoon.
It is not considered necessary to hold inquests, but Dr. Thomas was called this afternoon to look at the bodies and testify as to the cause of their death.

JULY 19, 1901
CHILDREN DROWNED
BOY HERO DIES TRYING TO RESCUE A LITTLE GIRL FROM A WATERY GRAVE

CARL JOHNSON AND DELLA DREAMER, TWO TWELVE YEAR OLD CHILDREN, BATHED ONCE TOO OFTEN - NEGRO BOYS TOLD GIRLS THE WATER WAS NOT DEEP. ETHEL ORR MISSED SAME FATE BY HAIR'S BREADTH

Saturday morning at 10:30 o'clock two children were drowned in Spring River near the pump house of the Waterworks Company, 100 feet below the North Main Street bridge. They had been in the water fifteen minutes and both were dead when taken out.

One was little Carl Johnson, son of A. P. Johnson, the pump man at the waterworks, and the other was Della Dreamer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dreamer, who live on North Main Street. Mr. Dreamer is in the employ of the Frisco, and was at Garden City, Kansas when the accident occured. Both were twelve years old.

It has been the custom of a number of children in the north part of town to go bathing in the river every morning and sometimes in the afternoon. Yesterday they went down as usual and two of their number for the last time. Ella and Ethel Orr, Dell Sigler, Della Dreamer and Carl Johnson were all there. The two little Orr girls and the Dreamer girl went into the water. They were clad in loose wrappers, which they used for a bathing costume. the Sigler girl and the Johnson boy did not go in. She sat on the bank watching them, and the boy had already been in the water fishing with a small minnow sein. He had been accompanied by some negro boys, and they had grown tired and quit fishing.
As the girls had been in the habit of going down to the water wading and bathing, no fear was felt for them by their parents. Then, too, the water at that point at the deepest place is not more than six feet deep, and that is only in one place - the fatal place.
The negro boys, whom no one knew except the boy, and he was dead when taken out, are severely censured for their action. They were out of the water, and called to the girls to wade out farther, as the water was not deep. They had been in seining, and the girls took them at their word and started out. Della Dreamer and Ethel Orr were wading side by side. the water did not get very deep and they seemed to have plenty of confidence.
Suddenly, as the Dreamer girl took a step forward, she sank nearly out of sight. The Orr girl was a little behind her, and missed the step-off into death water. As the Dreamer girl went down she screamed for help, and the next instant she was in deeper water still and sank out of sight.

Heroism was displayed then by the little 12 year-old boy, Carl Johnson, who died trying to rescue his companion. Sitting on the bank when the girl went down the first time there was not a moment's hesitation. He had been literally raised on the river as his father's house was not 200 feet away, and was a strong swimmer and perfect master of a boat. His father had often said he had no fears for the boy for he was as much at home in the water as he was on the land. He was perhaps fifty feet from the girl but he shot across the space like a flash and plunged into the water. At her side in an instant he waited for her to come to the surface. As she did so he reached out and got hold of her dress and started for the bank. At this point the surely fatal thing so dreaded by the bravest and strongest swimmers happened. The girl reached up and tried to get her arm around his neck. He avoided it the first time and was swimming with great power for one so small, but the next instant the girl made another grab for him and this time grasped his neck and down they both went.

There were a number of spectators across the river, people who had camped there, and they were horrified as they saw the two go down together. They were too far away to reach them in time to render assistance and were almost too horror struck to move until they saw the two children sink together. They screamed to them, but it was too late. The children came up three times and each time it could be seen the boy ws locked in deadly embrace. He struggled, but it was useless and when they went down the third time they were seen no more.

As soon as the Dreamer girl stepped into deep water Ethel Orr rushed frantically to the pump house up on a high bank 100 feet from the river to tell Mr. Johnson , who is engineer there. She had not spoken three words until he grasped the situation and started for the water. when he reached the scene the water had closed over his boy and the little girl and did not ripple indicated where their bodies lay. Directed as well as the words of the children could indicate he waded into the water and began the search. The agony he suffered was not shown. He worked systematically and with care. James French, who lives in Kendricktown, was crossing the bridge when Mr. Johnson called to him for help. There was by this time a crowd of people gathered attracted on the bank by the excitement and all joined in the search for the bodies. James French was wading in the deepest place where he could just touch bottom when his foot struck a body and he dived for it. It was the girl and she was on the bottom close to some brush and driftwood in the stream. She was not tangled up in any way. the body was carried to the bank and laid on a cloth and willing hands did all that could be done to bring back breath to the limp form but life was extinct.

J. V. Pearman of the planing mills was in the water with Mr. French and in a few minutes he found the boy's body. It was on the bottom and also close to some driftwood about twelve feet east of the place where the girl lay. He was carried to the shore and Dr. Ketcham, who had arrived by this time, worked with him faithfully but was of no use. He was dead. They had been in the water perhaps twenty minutes before they were taken out.
A great crowd had gathered on the banks of the river by the time the bodies were rescued. Mr. Johnson sat under a tree and great sobs shook his sturdy frame. Mr. Dreamer was at the Johnson home utterly prostrated.

Both bodies were taken to the Johnson place and later the body of the Dreamer girl was taken to her mother's home. Loving hearts and willing hands were there to lend all assistance possible. Mr. Johnson has two daughters, one of whom is in Kansas City, and she was telegraphed for last night. His wife has been dead 10 years and he has raised his two youngest children himself. the one that was drowned was the only boy he had. It was a terrible shock, but he bore up under it bravely. He has been engineer at the pump house ever since the water works were started and has many friends here who sympathize with him in this hour. The undertakers took charge of the body, but as yet no funeral arrangements have been made. The engineer's place at the pump house is filled temporarily by Matt Pringle.

The agony of the father in the death of his only son is in some degree relieved in the knowledge that he died a hero's death. He gave his life in an effort to save his companion from death, a youthful hero whose act of courage is not excelled. He was a bright little fellow and well known about town.

At the little cottage occupied by the Dreamer family, just north of Waddell & Brown's grocery, on North Main Street, there was a pitiful sight. The little golden-haired girl was brought to her home shortly after the drowning and laid upon a couch in the sitting room and efforts were made to save her. Sympathetic neighboring ladies crowded to the home and used every known and available means to restore her consciousness. At first it was thought she was still alive, but as one by one the ladies bent over her searching for some little flutter of life in the still, cold remains, they gave up. Meanwhile the grief-stricken mother was entirely prostrated by the awful blow that had fallen upon her household. Upon being brought from the scene of the drowning she was assisted from the buggy and could not stand and had to be held by two ladies to keep her from falling. then the physician threaded his way between the little awe stricken group to where the child lay. He quickly made a skillful examination and found life extinct. The pitifulness of the scene grew tenser as the sad news was broken to the mother. Up to this time she had hoped that there might be some little hope of her child's life but when told that there was none she sat with drawn face and moaned and wrung her hands in grief. Kind friends were nearby and assisted in soothing her, but the grief was too great and she could be heard mourning the loss of her child for a block. The father of the little girl is not at home, being employed in the pump station on the Frisco at Golden City, Kansas. He was immediately telegraphed for and arrived on the next train. Della Dreamer was a beautiful child of 12 years of age. she was about the size girls usually are at that age and at the time of her death was clad in a short cotton frock of a pinkish color. She has always attended school and was one of the brightest in her class. In the neighborhood of North Main street where she lives she was a favorite among her companions. After all hope had been given up, the undertakers took charge of the remains and prepared them for burial.

The funeral of Carl Johnson will be held this afternoon from the home, and the services will be conducted by Rev. Mr. Toomay. The hour was set on account of the arrival of the trains from Kansas City, and it is supposed Miss Louie Johnson will arrive in time for the funeral.
The funeral of little Della Dreamer will be held some time this afternoon from the home on North Main Street.

Can you send those these days?

May 9, 1913

Her Ashes Sent By Mail
Then scattered to the winds in Milford Cemetery, According to Requests in Will.

Worcester, Mass., - One of the most unusual packages to be transported through the now parcel post was received by David B. Rockwood of Milford, Mass., a small can containing the ashes of Mrs. J. Fisher Stoddard, a former resident of this place.
The woman died in Cacaville, Ga., two weeks ago and left a will stating that her ashes should be shipped to Milford and scattered to the winds in Vernon Grove cemetery. The ashes were scattered as directed by the will.

Dueling Husbands

Feb 27, 1892
Second Husband Killed the First

  Saginaw, Mo., Feb 26 - Thomas Whelan was shot dead on Thursday night by Moses P. Locke, and yesterday his slayer voluntarily surrendered himself.
  Some years ago Whelan married Emma Cobbs, of this place, and they moved to Denver. The wife suffered the husband's abuse for over a year, and when it became unbearable, she returned to her parents here with her only child.
  Later, seeing in a Denver paper an account of the death of Thomas Whelan, she accepted the attentions of Locke and married him.
  Whelan, who was not dead, learned of the marriage and traced the couple to Saginaw, where they ha settled. He there proposed to Locke to let him alone for $300.
  Locke is poor and offered to compromise for $100. Whelan refused and continued to annoy the family by letters.
  On Thursday, Whelan approached Locke's house. The latter ordered him away, but Whelan refused to go and made a move to draw a revolver, when Locke seized a shot gun and shot him dead.


I guess you should really make sure the first one's dead so the second one doesn't kill him

Sounds Like a Jerk to Me!

July 23, 1901
Divorce Suit on Color Line

Hinden Says His Wife's Grandmother Was a Negress.

Lancaster, Pa., - Application for divorce was made today by William J. Hinden, who alleges that his wife before the wedding represented herself as being a white woman, when the fact is her grandmother is a full-fledged negress.
This circumstance came to Hinden's knowledge some time after the marriage, and since then he has not lived with his wife.

Wow - just wow. So he just stopped loving her because he alleges her grandmother was black? What a douchebag.

Cookies!!

May 25, 1906
Ginger Cookies

Here is still another recipe for ginger cookies:
Sift together three cups flour, one cup sugar, a dessertspoonful each of soda and ginger and one-half teaspoonful salt. Heat in saucepan one cup molasses with one-half cup shortening; when hot add four dessertspoonfuls hot water. Cool slightly and stir into dry mixture. Add quickly two well-beaten eggs. Mix well. Drop by spoonfuls a little distance apart on buttered tin. When pan is full, flatten each cookie with bottom of measuring cup, well floured. Bake in moderate oven. One-half recipe is sufficient.

I love it - I would try it except I'm not exactly sure what bake in moderate oven would translate to...

2 Wives are Twice as Nice?

Oops! I missed posting yesterday :( Sorry about that!

Jan 3, 1908
Death Reveals Dual Life

Port Huron, Mich.
Through the death of both himself and his first wife it has been revealed that Herbert Hoadley formerly of Port Huron, was living a dual life. He died a few days ago in a home where he had a second wife and family. Thirteen years ago Hoadley disappeared from this city, leaving his wife and five children. While she was on her deathbed Hoadley died in Alpena. Before he expired he asked that he be buried in Port Huron. His first wife was laid to rest a few days ago in Lakeside cemetery. In a lot not far from her burial place Hoadley has also been buried. His second wife, who thought Hoadley to be single when she married him, came to attend the funeral services.

14 and Married to a Monster

Feb 22, 1895

14 Year Old Wife

While Yet a Child She is Abused by a Brute of a Husband.

The 14 year old wife of Gerardo Searano, a coal miner living at Marshall, Boulder county, appeared in Harper's court yesterday and wept freely as she told of the beatings she received from her husband. Augustina is her name and she is very pretty. She married Gerardo a year ago in Denver and they went to Marshall, where Gerardo got a job in a mine. On July 15 last, Gerardo beat the girl so badly that she ran away and came to her relatives in Denver. She was induced to return and they lived happily until two months ago, when she ran away again. Yesterday the girl swore out a warrant for her husband charging assault.

-Denver News

All I can say is YIKES!

Seduction at it's finest?

Dec 12, 1906

Conrad Schmidt, who was arrested in this city on Sunday, charged with the seduction of Katie Hein, after spending a night in the county jail, reached the conclusion that the easiest and best way for him to right the wrong he had done the woman and save himself trouble, was to marry her. Accordingly a marriage license was procured of the county clerk and the prisoner and complaining witness were taken before Judge Benson of the county court, who promptly tied the knot which made them man and wife. This done, the prisoner was released from custody and the two went their way rejoicing.

Nothing says "love" like going to jail and getting married to get out!

September 19, This day in History

September 19, 1902

Murdered and Nude Body Thrown in the Canal
Mystery Surrounding the Crime, But it is Laid at the Door of Jealous Lover.

  New York, Sept. 19, - Police are today trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the finding of the nude body of a young woman in the canal near Jersey City. The body has been identified as that of Anna Pulitzer, the wife of a tailor. A long strap was tied around the neck of the dead woman and a heavy weight fastened to the other end.
  The police arrested her husband this morning and closely questioned him. He said his wife left home Tuesday night to get some bread for supper which was the last he ever saw of her. The man seemed generally distressed. It was found today that the woman who was quite pretty was seen to get into a buggy with a man which was driven toward New York.
  The theory of the chief of police is that Mrs. Pulitzer was killed in New York and her body brought across the river in a ferry boat and taken in a wagon to where it was found. The Chief thinks some one who admired her killed her in a fit of jealousy.

Head End Collision in Pennsylvania

Pittsburg, Sept. 19 - In a head end collision between freight and passenger trains on the Pittsburg & Western near Wittmer today five persons were killed and two seriously injured.
The dead are:
 GEORGE CHUGARTY, a brakeman, who was riding on the engine.
 WILLIAM BENEDICT, engineer.
 THOMAS DUGAN, fireman.
 FAY DEMPS, boilermaker, riding on the engine.
 WILLIAM GRAHAM, fireman.
The badly injured are Engineer Chambers and Express Messenger Crossman.
The collision occurred on a sharp curve and the crash threw one engine on top of the other and demolished the baggage car.

Reward Out for Boodiers

Jefferson City, Mo., Sept. 19 -
Governer Dockery today offered $300 reward for the apprehension and conviction of the missing alleged St. Louis boodiers, Louis Brecker, Julius Lehman, Emile Hartman, John Sheridan, Adolph Madera and Charles Kelley.
The St. Louis police today sent broadcast throughout the country circulars describing the missing indicted men for whom the governor offered the reward. The grand jury resumed its session at noon.

A Daring Post Office Robbery

Jefferson, Ohio, Sept. 19. - Three masked robbers dynamited the post office safe this morning and stole $250 in cash and stamps worth $800, then boarded a train and escaped. Watchman Jones was bound by the robbers and compelled to sit in a chair near the safe while dynamite tore off the safe doors. The robbers then took him to the depot, made him a bed of hay and rolled him into it.

Statue to General Slocum Unveiled

Gettysburg, Pa., Sept. 19 - The magnificent equestrian statue to Gen. Henry Warren Slocum, erected by the State of New York, was unveiled today in the presence of a large assemblage which included the governors of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Strikers Dynamite Woman and Children
 Mahaney City, Pa., Sept. 19. -
Strikers dynamited the home of Richard Pariatt, fire boss at the Gilberton shaft, at midnight. The building was wrecked, but Mrs. Pariatt and her three children escaped unhurt.

Jealousy Causes a Crime

Battle Creek, Mich., Sept 19
Prompted by jealousy, A. Whitcomb, of Chicago, killed William H. Sampson and Elizabeth Nettler at Sampson's home and then killed himself. The woman will recover. It appears both men had been paying their addresses to the woman and jealousy caused the double tragedy.

Railroad Wreck in Ohio

Chillicothe, Ohio - Sept. 19
All those injured in the wreck of the Royal Blue Flyer at Leesburg were brought here; they number fifty. Engineer Roe and Fireman Studebaker were the two killed. No explanation is given as to how the flyer came to dash into an open switch. Most of the passengers escaped through windows and the broken roof.

A Bridegroom Hanged 

Baltimore, MD, Sept. 19
John Devine, who murdered a policeman, was hanged today in the jail in which he recently married his sweetheart.

Longue Pointe Asylum Fire of 1890

Quebec - Longue Pointe Asylum Fire

I find this story so sad! All those people, and you know asylums aren't exactly known to be good places - this happened in 1890. Some of the descriptions might be a little graphic.

May 6, 1890

AN ASYLUM IN ASHES

One Hundred and Fifty Lunatics Burned to Death at Longue Pointe, Quebec

Insane Asylum Burning
Longue Pointe, Quebec May 6 -
The insane asylum at here is burning. There are between one hundred and one hundred and fifty inmates who cannot be rescued.

Montreal, May 6 -
  The insane asylum at Longue Point, nine miles from here, caught fire at half-past eleven this morning and at 2 o'clock was a mas of flames, with no hope of saving the building from utter destruction. As near s can be calculated at this hour there are from a hundred to a hundred and fifty inmates in the building, with no chance of escape. The fire apparatus at the asylum is utterly inadequate and several steamers have been forwarded from here on a special train.
  The sights in the grounds surrounding the institution are horrible beyond description. A hundred lunatics, male and female, are grouped together gibbering and in a frenzied condition. The nuns are making every effort to control them and allay their fears, and as rapidly as possible the poor creatures are being removed to places of shelter in the neighborhood. A few minutes past 2 o'clock a detachment of the Montreal fire brigade arrived on the scene and is now doing good work. Excitement among the lunatics in the grounds became so great that a detachment of the Montreal police was hurried out to assist the guards. There were 1300 persons in the asylum when the fire broke out.
  At 3 p.m. the firemen are still working and have succeeded in rescuing several in many instances at the risk of their lives. Thousands of persons are flocking to the scene from this city and surrounding country. Nuns, doctors, and other attendants are besieged with anxious inquiries after friends or relatives. One of the doctors connected with the institution said this afternoon there was very little commotion among the inmates when the alarm was given. For the most part they walked out quickly. Some, however, refused to leave their cells and had to be taken out by force.
  Those who perished were in wards on the top floors. Efforts to learn the names so far have proved futile, as those rescued are so scattered that no roll can be called. All the book records have been saved.
Two firemen fell from a high ladder and were badly cut.

Chicago, May 6 -
  A Montreal special says: It is certainly known that at least 125 patients have perished in the flames. The scenes during the fire were heart-rending. The agonized patients fought and screamed as the flamed wall approached and, in some instances, jumped from the windows and others from the roof.
  The building which cost a million dollars is a complete wreck. Insured.

--Aspen Daily Chronicle

May 7, 1890
Details of the Asylum Disaster

Longue Pointe, Quebec, May 6
  A long line of gaunt towers is all that one now sees of the Longue Pointe lunatic asylum located 10 miles from Montreal, and which, with many lives was today consumed by flames. The sights witnessed before the tragic scene are such as can never be forgotten. Nothing could exceed the horror attending the terrible calamity, considering the number of victims, the terrible nature of their death and the manner in which the helpless victims received their fate. What to the spectators was a scene of horror was to the lunatics a moment of glee, and in their delight they disported themselves in the flames and waved their blazing limbs in turbulent satisfaction at the ruin that was about them, and, not until the walls tumbled over their heads, were their maniacal screams silenced.
  There were incarcerated in Longue Pointe 1300 lunatics, for that asylum was a prison more than a hospital, and now not more than 1100 are accounted for, but many escaped into the fields and woods and the dead are ashes amongst ashes. What the number of the dead is, is purely a matter of  conjecture and can never be ascertained, since no other record is kept but that in the asylum books and they were destroyed.
  Taking into consideration the whole of the evidence from firemen, half sane inmates and the sisters in charge, it is a conservative estimate to say 100 victims met their death, though some assert the number is double that, and others place it below this figure. However, the fact remains that no such calamity has fallen upon the province of Quebec since the earliest times.

A Shame To Quebec

  Ever since Quebec was a province, it's management of these most helpless of all creatures has been it's shame. They have been farmed out to nuns at $100 a head per year, and the sisters' aim was to keep them as frugally as possible. From the construction of the building there is doubt in some minds as to whether it was intended for an asylum or a blast furnace. In any case, it served the latter purpose admirably. It was constructed of brick and was 600 feet long, running back from the river half the distance. The main building occupied the center and on each side extended four wings, six stories in height.

Origin of the Fire

  The fire today started in a cupboard in the second ward on the women's side in the upper story by a careless patient, and, as ventilation was carried on by a longitudinal shaft connecting, the flames soon appeared blazing up through the roof in the center of each tower. A telegram was sent to Montreal for aid and an engine and reels started at once. They might as well have remained at home for in five minutes they exhausted the water supply. The only thing that could save the building was the St. Lawrence river and it was a half mile distant. As the heat increased the statues fell from their niches to the ground and then the patients prostrated themselves crying aloud that the saints had deserted them.

Rescuing the Patients

  The less hopeless cases were placed in the lower wards and they were rescued without difficulty, but from the upper wards where the violent patients were secured there came the wildest screams as they resisted the nuns who were beseeching them to escape. At a window a maniac would be seen peering through the bars, grinning and jabbering at the bright flames that went up to the sky. As the heat became more intense she would grasp the bars and remain there until the flames enveloped her.
  When the firemen found they were powerless to save the building they turned their attention to the inmates and burst in the door with axes. Inside, Chief Benoit says, was such a sight as no firemen ever before witnessed. In one ward that he entered were 25 patients and, at his approach, the huddled together like a pack of beasts, entwining their arms into one mass of humanity. He seized the nearest; "but" said the chief, "I could no more separate the crowd than I could the parts of your horse." He tugged at them until fire darted into their garments and enfolded them like a shroud. The he escaped with his life.
  In another ward three firemen were nearly trapped to death. They entered, and at the door, which had a spring lock, closed behind them. There was no handle on the inside. The door resisted their axes and they rushed to the windows, but were driven back by the flames. The chief, suspecting their predicament, sent aid to the other side and the men were carried down on ladders.
  One of the tertiary nuns, Sister Marie, lay sick in the infirmary on the fifth floor and to her rescue came three others, Demeresse, Gilbert, and Lumien. They seized their companion and bore her in a blanket to the staircase, but they were met by a sheet of flame and all perished. None of them were over 20 years of age.
  The sisters worked with the persistence of heroines, by turns imploring, beseeching and commanding the patients, Sister Theresa, the superioress, is broken-hearted and, being at present in ill health, her name may be added to the already long list of victims.

Collapse of the Building

  A loud explosion was followed by a crash of beams. The interior wwas giving way. The wild faces sank from the windows and shrieks of the maniacs were lost in the general uproar. One by one the walls toppled inward and a fierce blaze burst up from the newly added fuel that rose to the dark sky and shot its glare over the St. Lawrence to the southern shore and even tinged the crest of Mount Royal, ten miles distant. Then it died down in blackness and nothing but blackened towers remained bounding a seething mass of metal and debris under which are now, not the bodies but the ashes of 100 victims.

The Escaped Inmates

  By this time it was 6 o'clock and growing dark and very cold. The spring rains had converted the place into a quagmire and only horsemen could get from place to place. The poor sisters, most of them young and delicate, stood ankle deep in mud securing and superintending the removal of such furniture as had been saved. Patients moved about aimlessly, clad in scant garments. When released, many of them leaped for joy and bounded like deer across the fields into the woods. A new danger has come upon the inhabitants from the lunatics and will count themselves fortunate if they are not visited by a series of such crimes as only madmen can devise.
  Premier Mercier has placed the Montreal exhibition building at the disposal of the nuns.
  The buildings were insured by the government for $300,000.

Later Estimates of Loss

  Later - At midnight the death roll is estimated at 50, although many more are missing but are expected to turn up. It is feared seven tertiary nuns were burned as three more were missing besides those named above.

--Aspen Daily Chronicle

May 8, 1890
A Terrible Fire

  The insane asylum at Longue Pointe, which is 10 miles from Montreal, burned last night. It is thought that not a male patient was lost. Among the women it was different. The less hopeless cases were placed in the lower wards and they were removed without difficulty, but from the upper wards, where violent patients were secured, there came the wildest screams as they resisted the nuns, who were beseeching them to make their escape.
  The closest estimate that can be made at this time places the number of lives lost at 50.
The Sisters of Providence spent in founding and organizing this institution $1,132,130 of which $170,000 was spent on the buildings. The buildings were insured by the government for $300,000. With the exception of the medical department, consisting of the doctors, the sisters retained complete control of all the departments.
  Premier Mercier has placed the Montreal exhibition building at the disposal of the nuns and tomorrow the building will be stocked with provisions. The strangest wonder to the firemen is that such an absence of fire fighting facilities could exist. Although the appliances were there they were utterly useless. The institution had an excellent engine, ten good pumps and new boilers, but no connection between the pumps and the boilers.

--Buena Vista Democrat

Asylum Fire
Montreal, May 7.
  As the full details of the Longue Pointe asylum fire become known the horror is intensified, and the sister is   derided who asserts that the number of dead does not exceed sixty. It is known by the last report to the Quebec government that there were 1,780 lunatics instead of 1,300, and this much is certain, that no one will ever know the number of victims. From collateral information it must be that there are 150 dead. If enough material can be found an inquest will be held. The firemen have left the ground and the heat is dying out of the ruins. An Associated Press reporter was on the spot all day, his horse floundering amongst the mud and ashes. A discharged patient today affirmed that to all inquiries sent by friends as to the progress patients were making, one stereotyped answer was given, without any restrictions as to accuracy: "Your friend's physical condition is excellent, but mentally there is no improvement." It is now known that many of the wards were locked, and in cases where the firemen did not break in the doors, whole rooms full perished miserably. The sight from the screaming wretches yesterday was bad enough, but today there was a sadder spectacle in weeping relatives seeking in vain for some tidings of some member of their family. Men coming up town tonight to dinner were startled by seeing a lunatic parading the streets "rejoicing in his freedom", and menacing women till he was secured. The paying patients fared the best, but the great loss was among those confined in the upper stories and those imprisoned in the dark basement cells.
  Fire Commissioner Perry characterizes the building as a death trap and a disgrace to a civilized country. A startling report is current tonight; it is that a large number of male patients perished in the flames. All of the women are thought to have escaped. It is absolutely impossible, however, to add any new names to the list of dead. It will be weeks before the nuns will be able to give any information.

Longue Pointe, May 7. 
  Sister Therese de Jesus, the superior of the burned asylum, places the loss of life at certainly twenty, and possibly fifty. Dr. Duquete, grand medical inspector, places the loss of life at at least sixty. He is strongly opposed to the system of placing lunatics under the care of sisters. He will ask the government to place incurables and furious lunatics in a small institution, where they can have skilled treatment. The harmless insane could, he said, be placed to greater advantage under the care of the sisters. At the ruins of the asylum nothing but heaps of smoking brick and mortar are seen. No vestige of the dead can be traced.
In the rear of the asylum are stables, where about one hundred men patients were quartered last night, under the supervision of the sisters and four Montreal policemen. The scene was not one to be easily described and surely not to be easily forgotten. Lying on heaps of straw, sickly lunatics were to be seen moaning, gibbering, shrieking, twisting and jumping. It made one shudder to pass down between the large hay stalls in which were confined the worst cases, so fierce was the expression of their countenances.
  In the laundry are 100 patients, mostly quiet, whose aid has been taken advantage of in putting things in shape. Some of them did most heroic work in rescuing the unfortunates from flames. One of the attendants said seven lay nuns perished. The loss is financially placed as high as $1,000,000; insurance, $300, 1x10. A procession of lunatics was taken up early this morning, and while it was in progress, the whole length of the road was crowded with vehicles.

Longue Pointe, Quebec, May 7.
  The laundry of the insane asylum, in which one hundred patients were housed during the night, took lire this morning, but the inmates were all safely removed. It is yet merely a matter of speculation as to the number of dead, but the general consensus is that it cannot be fewer than one hundred people, perhaps nearly double that. The only names of victims known are:
Sister Gravel, Sister Boutellier, Sister Lumine, Sister Victoria, & Sister Lahacro, of the sacred heart convent. The latter was a patient in the violent ward.
Other patients named were: Mrs. Kelly, Montreal; Mrs. Williams, Halifax ; Bridget Malone, Montreal; Miss Letoumay, Maison Euve, Quebec; Miss Cullen and Miss Thericult, of Montreal. Missing: Victoria Beaudry, Augustine Laroux, Camille Marshmont, Delphine Archambault, Marie St. Deny, Eli St. Lavs and Christine Demeis.

-- Associated Press Dispatches

A Baby's Obituary

Nov 22, 1899

Marguerite Kettle

On Friday morning last, the Angel, Death, entered the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kettle, of the valley, and claimed their youngest child, Marguerite, at the tender age of 15 months, and carried the little soul across the mystic river to its Heavenly home. The little one suffered the ravages of pneumonia for two weeks, and, although tenderly cared for by loving ones who did all in their power for her, God had willed that little Marguerite should be added to His precious jewels and took her to dwell with Him, where we are told she is not forever lost to those who loved her. The funeral took place from the parent's residence on Sunday at 2 o'clock p.m., and the lifeless little body was followed by sorrowing friends to Ula cemetery and there consigned to earth. In this their sad hour the bereaved ones have our heartfelt sympathy.


This poor little girl, so young

An Amusing Separation

Apr 8, 1899

At present George Sanders is in the roll of Rip Van Winkle. He is out in the world with only his dog and gun. He may awake some day as did Rip, and go looking for Gretchen.

Good timing, on the same page - his wife sold some of his stuff...

On Monday last Geo. Kline purchased of Mrs. Geo. Sanders a horse harness and wagon, Mr. Kline contemplates a journey to the kingdom of Huerfano, very soon.

Kingdom of Huerfano? Lol!

More on the separation:

Last Monday, because of a misunderstanding the evening previous, Mr. and Mrs. George Sanders of this place, came to an understanding which led them to agree to disagree. A dissolution of connubial partnership was the result. Mrs. Sanders was given possession of all the joint belongings, and George satisfied himself whis his dog and gun, and he and his property are now at Devil's Hole.

George also posted a notice in the paper!!

A mutual separation having taken place on April 3rd, 1899 between myself and wife and a division of property made, I hereby notify all whom it may concern, that on and after date above mentioned, I will not be responsible for any debt contracted by others than myself. 

GEORGE SANDERS

Westcliffe, Colo., April 3rd, 1899

It's a busy news day for the Sanders family - yes all of this in 1 day's paper.

Last Monday at noon, Edward Chetelat and Miss Sarah Sanders, both of Westcliffe, were married at the Catholic church, Fr. R. Servant officiating. Quite a number of friends from Canon City and the county witnessed the ceremony. Presents were showered upon the young couple most generously. They have the TRIBUNE'S best wishes.

P.S. They messed up - *Susan* married Edward Chetelat, not Sarah. Sarah married Edward Ozburn 2 months later.  

Just a follow up - George and his wife Cinderella never divorced. At some point they made up, they are listed together on the 1900 census the next year, although all the children are not listed with them, and only 2 were married at this point. George died in 1904, leaving a wife, 6 girls and 2 boys. 

Went Up The Hill

Dec 18, 1895

Mrs. Annie Williams, a sister to Mrs. Hopper, went to the creek to get a pail of water and fell and mashed her thumb and received other injuries, perhaps not serious, besides a terrible shaking up.


Jack and Jill went up the hill... I don't know but this made me laugh - all I kept hearing in my head was Jack and Jill. I'm glad Annie was alright. I just love amusing little stories.

Impulsive Tina

Sept 16, 1893

Tina's Impulsive Adventure

  A west end young miss has never been known to take a dare. Close to her home is a veneering factory, and the other day there was a sign hung out for a "Boy Wanted." It happened that the young lady had several of her friends visiting her that day, and from the front window they could read the sign. "Tina, you dare not go and apply for that place," said one of the young ladies present.
 "Who says I daren't?" responded Tina.
 Without further ado she rigged herself out in a suit belonging to her brother. Fixing her hair in a manner that it could not be told, she sallied forth. Her movements could be watched from the house, and the scene that followed was a most laughable one. Tina walked boldly into the factory. The clerk approached her, and she said she wanted to apply for the job. The clerk looked at the pretty miss' face and smiled. "How much will you give me?" asked Tina. "I won't work for less than $4 a week." The firm would not pay this much, and Tina walked out, highly insulted to think that her services were not worth more than $4 a week.

-Cincinnati Enquirer

This cracks me up - is it just an invented story or did it happen? Either way I love it!

Tales of the Young Horse Thieves

Aug 21, 1910
Young Horse Thief

Suffolk, VA

  Ralph Hezekiah Hinton, nine years old, possibly the youngest horse thief ever convicted, was found guilty in Justice Deberry's court on the second offense.
  Owing to his youth there was no prosecution for the first horse stolen, but when he disappeared with Thomas Smith's horse he was pursued and captured after a four-mile chase by Hurricane Branch and a posse.


Wow! Nine years old and stealing horses - I wonder if he kept stealing them. But the best part I think is the name Hurricane! I wonder if it was a nickname or his real name?

Aug 4, 1911
A Young Horse Thief Captured

What is probably one of the youngest horse thieves ever captured was Roy Strangler, a youngster fourteen years old, who was taken into custody by Deputy Sheriff Duray last Saturday near Melvin. He was taken, together with a horse belonging to Mr. Baldauf of Parker, which he was riding. The boy's home is in Denver where his mother resides, but for the past several months he has been working for Mr. Baldauf. He decided to leave last Saturday and accordingly saddled and bridled the horse and when no one was looking, started for Denver. He was brought to Castle Rock and was tried before County Judge Bassell on Tuesday and sent to the Industrial School at Golden.

Is August the best month for stealing horses?

Aug 9, 1912
Two Young Horse Thieves Captured

Two young horse thieves, giving their names as Joseph Iker and Percy Donnelly, were apprehended on Monday morning by Deputy Sheriff Angus McBane near his ranch at Larkspur. The boys gave their ages as fifteen and fourteen years, respectively. They had stolen the horse, buggy and a saddle at Cripple Creek and were on their way to Denver. The buggy they had taken in the first place did not seem to suit their fancy, so they made a trade at another place - without the owner's consent - for another rig, and this helped them to escape detection as long as they did. They had evidently started out on a "wild west desperado tour" as they had two guns and a dark lantern along with them. They had no ammunition for the guns, however, when captured. A deputy sheriff came down from Cripple Creek and took them back to that place for trial.
Donnelly is the son of a miner living in Cripple Creek. Iker is just out from New York, according to his story. He stole seventy-five dollars from his mother in July and came to Denver. He went from there to Cripple Creek.

Apparently August IS the month for horse thievery!

Hey I found the best(and youngest) one yet - and it's not in August.

July 7, 1916
Candy for Young Thieves
Infants run off with Horse and Buggy and were treated when arrested.

Richmond, Ind.
Mrs. E. R. Smith reported to police headquarters that her horse and buggy had been stolen from North Seventh Street, where she had left the outfit when on a shopping tour. Two hours later the police received a telephone call from the town marshal at Boston, six miles south of Richmond, who informed the police that he had a "couple of horse thieves" in custody and believed the stolen vehicle which they had in their possession might have been taken at Richmond. The police sent two armed men in an automobile to Boston to get the "thieves."
 Chief Goodwin and other officers were nearly all night awaiting the return of the men and the "desperate characters." When they arrived the "horse thieves" were found to be Jesse Smelser, age five and Jack Smelser, age three. The tots had climbed into the buggy after unhitching the horse and, without point of destination in view, Jesse, the older, had driven straight south until Boston was reached, where the marshal stopped them.
 Chief Goodwin said the prisoners were too small to be even scolded, so, instead, he bought them each a bag of candy and turned them over to their parents, who were vainly searching for them.

The 1908 Murder of Sarah James

The newspapers unfold the story of the murder of a teen aged girl named Sarah James by a man named Jim Lynn. I found the May 22 paper first and continued to search for the rest of the story. What happened to the convicted man. So between May 14 and October 14, 1908 here lies the story: 

May 14, 1908
Unprovoked Murder by a Pueblo Negro

Pueblo, Colo., May 14 - Without apparent cause, James Lynn, a negro, at midnight last night burst into the home of Mrs. Julia James, a white woman, and after beating her unmercifully, drove her and her daughter Sarah, aged sixteen, into the street where he shot and killed the girl and mortally wounded the mother. After the shooting Lynn escaped, going toward the river bottoms. A large number of officers are on his trail. Five other children of Mrs. James were in the house at the time of the assault and they say they do not know the cause of the trouble. Lynn's wife is also unable to account for the tragedy, though she says he has been talking of killing people for some time.

-Telluride Daily Journal.

May 15, 1908
Negro kills two women
Without any apparent cause
A large number of officers are now on his trail

Pueblo, Colo., May 14 - Without apparent cause James Lynn, a negro hod-carrier, broke into the home of Mrs. Julia James, a white woman, 422 East River street, just after midnight last night and, after beating the woman unmercifully, drove her and her daughter Sarah, aged 16, into the street, where he shot and killed the girl and then the mother.
 After the shooting Lyn made his escape, going toward the Arkansas river bottoms. A large number of officers are on his trail. The police have not found any clue to the motive for the crime.

-Aspen Democrat

May 16, 1908
Jealousy the cause

Pueblo, Colo., - May 15 - Jealousy is now said by the police to have been the motive for the killing yesterday by James Lynn, a negro hod-carrier, of Sarah James, aged 16 years, and the perhaps fatal wounding of her mother. Mrs. James is at St. Mary's Hospital. Lynn has not been captured.

-Aspen Democrat


May 21, 1908
Pueblo, Colo., May 14 - James Lynn, colored, 42 years old, early this morning broke into the home of Mrs. Julia James, a respected white woman living at 422 River street, and after severely beating Mrs. James and her daughter, Sarah, aged 16, drove them into the street where he shot and killed the daughter, and mortally wounded the mother. Every available policeman and the coroner rushed to the scene of the tragedy and a posse organized and is chasing Lynn, who made his escape on a bicycle. It is possible he will be lynched. In the house at the time of the tragedy were five children, some of them quite small.

-Durango Wage Earner

May 22, 1908
Capture of Murderer

 Colorado Springs - Jim Lynn, the negro who murdered Sarah James, a white girl, sixteen years of age, and fatally shot her mother, Mrs. Julia James, at Pueblo last Thursday, was arrested Saturday at Limon Juncion, Colorado, while seeking friends with whom to hide, and was brought here Sunday morning at 2 o'clock for safe keeping, it being feared that n attempt at lynching would be made if he were returned to Pueblo.
 Sheriff Fields fully identified him and brought the prisoner here. Lynn made a statement after his arrest to the effect that he did not intend to kill either Miss James or her mother. He said he was returning home late, and looking in through the window saw Joel O'Neill, a white man, in the house. He cried out to O'Neill, telling him to go home. O'Neill, he said, drew a gun and fired at him. Then, Lynn says, he returned the fire, intending to shoot O'Neill.
 O'Neill denies that he had any battle with the negro, and the officers do not credit Lynn's story. At the jail in Limon Lynn begged for a knife so that he might kill himself, saying he would rather kill himself than return to Pueblo.

-Fairplay Flume, Littleton Independent, Longmont Ledger, Wray Gazette

--
Well apparently the first articles were a little wrong. Sarah's mother Julia survived.
--

May 22, 1908
Pueblo Mob Seeks Negro 
Hundreds Gather at County Jail to Try to Lynch Murderer - Foiled by Absence
Only Desist After Committee Has Thoroughly Searched Building -

Denver - A Pueblo dispatch Monday night says: Believing that Jim Lynn, the negro who last Thursday morning here at Pueblo murdered Sarah James, a sixteen-year-old white girl, after which he wounded her mother, is confined in the county jail here, a mob of 400 tonight visited the jail and demanded that Lynn be turned over to them. The mob, after beating down the outer doors, would not disperse until Sheriff McMillan had allowed two committees to search every nook and cranny of the building. The mob was thoroughly organized, and evidently desperately in earnest. Reports have been prevalent all through the evening that Lynn had been brought in to the city, and excitement was high. About 9 o'clock a man on horseback, with a rope trailing along the ground, rode through the streets, calling for men to accompany him to the jail. He was quickly accommodated, and within half an hour a mob surrounded the place, and was threatening to storm the building. Several heavy planks were secured and used as battering rams. The outer iron door was quickly broken and the officers, realizing that the door could not hold much longer, began to parley. The result of the conference was that a committee of five was appointed to search the jail. When it reported, the members of the mob refused to believe the report and began threatening to again storm the doors. Another conference was held and a committee of twelve was sent through the building. When it reported that the man was not there the mob dispersed. Lynn is now in Colorado Springs and will not be brought here until the excitement has quieted. Practically all of the county officers and the police were summoned to the jail tonight as a result of the mob's visit. Feeling here is against Lynn and although his trial has been arranged for June 9th, it is believed to be unsafe to bring him to Pueblo. The trial of Lynn, who was arrested at Limon Saturday night, will open here June 9th. Sarah James, who was killed by the Negro, was buried today, the funeral being largely attended. Julia James, her mother, is holding her own at the hospital and may recover.

-Wray Gazette, Fairplay Flume

May 23, 1908 
Bullet Found Near Skull of Mrs. James

Pueblo, May 22 - A bullet which had struck on the skull and glanced under the skin about two inches from the point of entrance was removed yesterday morning from the head of Mrs. Julia James by County Physician C. V. Marmaduke at St. Mary's hospital. Immediately following the shooting by Jim Lynn, Mrs. James was taken to the hospital and the swelling that resulted from the wound prevented the immediate location of the bullet. When the bandages were taken off yesterday afternoon the swelling had gone down and the position of the bullet was plain. It had struck the forehead on the right side and glanced beneath the skin, causing as far as the doctor could tell, no serious injury. The caliber was that (of) a 32 revolver - the same as the gun which Lynn is said to have twisted out of Mrs. James' hand after he forced his way into the room last Thursday morning. The bullet which caused the other wound, having pierced the right lung, Dr. Marmaduke says protrudes the skin at her back. He states that the bullet will not be removed for sometime yet as it would be merely furnishing another opening for infection and the bullet in its present position causes no harm. Mrs. James was yesterday informed that Lynn had been captured. "I am glad they've got the brute," was the reply. Indications at present are that Mrs. James will recover.

-Aspen Democrat

June 18, 1908
Woman shot by Lynn is taken to Seattle

Pueblo, June 17 - Mrs. Julia James, shot by Jim Lynn, who at the same time killed Sarah James will leave for Seattle tomorrow with her five children. Her sister, Mrs. Mary Callahan, came into here today and will take the woman to her own home. She was shot in the head and through the lungs by Lynn, who was convicted of the murder of her daughter.

-Aspen Democrat

June 25, 1908
Mrs. Julia James, who was shot and seriously wounded by James Lynn, who at the same time killed her daughter Sarah, has left Pueblo with her five children for Seattle, Washington, to make their home with her sister. Mrs. James has practically recovered from the wounds Lynn inflicted. Lynn is under conviction for murder with the death penalty hanging over him.

- Golden Transcript

July 2, 1908
Jim Lynn to hang for murder of a Pueblo girl

Pueblo, July 1 - Jim Lynn, the negro who murdered Sarah James, a white girl, May 13, was sentenced to be hanged during the week ending October 10 by Judge Esser, in the district court today. Lynn did not show any emotion, but pretended not to know what it all was about. Hi attorneys made a motion for a new trial but it was overruled.
 Lynn broke into the house of Mrs. Julia James and, after an altercation with a white man who was there, drove Mrs. James and her daughter into the street. He then shot both, killing the girl and badly injuring the mother.
 Lynn escaped but was captured in Limon. While he was in jail at Colorado Springs, where he was held for safe keeping, a mob broke into the Pueblo jail bent upon lynching him. Mrs. James is now in Seattle.

-Aspen Democrat


Oct 8, 1908
Jim Lynn will pay penalty for crime - may hang Friday.
Pueblo negro gives up hope of clemency or interference by friends to stay sentence.

CANON CITY, Oct 7 - Jim Lynn, the negro who shot and killed Sarah James, a 14 year old white girl, and seriously wounded her mother, Mrs. Julia James, in Pueblo, on May 14, and a month later was found guilty of murder in the first degree before Judge Esser of the district court and the death penalty imposed on him, under the terms of his sentence, will be hanged here some time during the current week, probably Friday night. Lynn has been kept in solitary confinement since his arrival at the penitentiary on June 14, and ha abandoned all hope of intercession by his friends to secure executive clemency or a postponement of the sentence of the court.
 For some time after his incarceration Lynn believed that his relatives and associates would exert themselves in an effort to secure for him a new trial or at least a temporary stay of execution but as nothing of the kind has been done he has stoically accepted the situation and is awaiting death with apparent bravery and composure.
 Although eighteen men have been hung in the Colorado state penitentiary in accordance with the degree of the law, Lynn will be the second colored man to pay the extreme penalty for his crime, the other one being William H. Davis, No. 2595, who was hanged here Sept. 22, 1891, by Warden W. A. Smith. Davis, like Lynn, was convicted and sentenced to death for murder in Pueblo.

-Aspen Daily Times

October 9, 1908
 Negro Murderer to Pay Penalty 

Canon City, Oct. 8 - Some time tonight between 8 and 9 o'clock unless Warden Cleghorn's present plans miscarry or are unexpectedly changed, James Lynn, colored, will be hung in the execution chamber of the state penitentiary for the murder of Sarah James, the 14-year-old white girl of Pueblo whose mother he shot and badly wounded at the same time. Lynn had been in the habit of calling at the James home to see the mother and when he found a white man there one night he was told his company was no ------------
(The article was to impossible to read at that point)

-Aspen Democrat

Oct 14, 1908
Negro Murderer will hang tonight

Special to the courier.
Canon City, Colo., - Oct 8 - James Lynn, colored, sentenced to hang for the murder of Sarah James, a young Pueblo girl, will pay the penalty on the gallows at the penitentiary tonight.

-Fort Collins Weekly Courier

There seems to be some conflicting info as to Sarah's age, most of the reports list her as 16, a few list her as 14, and according to the cemetery she's buried in: Date is Interment at age 18.

From the Colorado Public Defender
Catalog of Colorado Executions 
JAMES LYNN. October 8, 1908. Pueblo. B-W. Hanging/Broken neck. On May 14, 1908, the front-page headline in the local newspaper shocked Pueblo residents: “Negro Drives Two White Women from Their Home and Shoots Them Down in the Street.” The article identified a neighbor, James Lynn (a Pueblo resident for twenty-two years), as the shooter. Sarah James, sixteen, was dead, and her mother, Julia, was wounded and “expected to die at any moment.” Julia, however, a widow with six children, later recovered. She and her daughter had fled their home when Lynn burst into it at one o’clock in the morning. The wages Sarah earned as a “servant” to a local physician supported the entire family of seven. Lynn, a day laborer, was infatuated with Sarah, and was jealous when another man, who left by the rear door as Lynn came through the front, was spending the night with her. Lynn had a prior arrest for assaulting a man with a poker. After his arrest, Lynn was kept in Colorado Springs to prevent a lynching. His trial occurred exactly one month after the murder, and Lynn maintained his innocence. The jury, however, returned a guilty verdict after only fifteen minutes of deliberation.

I should add that I have found Sarah James is buried in Roselawn Cemetery in Pueblo, Colorado.
I wonder if her mother stayed in Seattle the rest of her life.