Grand Haven, Mich. January, 1894
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The holiday season has ended.
January came in like a lamb.
School commenced today after its ten days holiday vacation.
The annual renting of pews occurred in the First Reformed church.
A flag was spread to the winds from the flag pole on the Court House tower yesterday.
Despite the spring like weather the fact presents itself that perhaps three months of the hardest kind or weather is before us.
The judge of probate’s office has the finest location in the new county building, situated as it is facing Washington and Fourth Sts., the register’s Franklin and Fifth and the county clerk’s, Franklin and Fourth Sts.
Thomas King or as he is known in this city, Tom Cannon, defeated Geo. J. Bogart, an Ionia wrestler, three straight falls last night or in less than five minutes. Comstock, one of leading wrestlers of the country offered to throw King twice in 30 minutes. He won, throwing his man in 22 minutes.
The TRIBUNE did not intend to insinuate Saturday that all the Holland people in this vicinity celebrated New Year’s Day with whiskey and raisins, but stated that it was a custom of the Netherlands and among the Hollanders of this country it was still in vogue. So it is, but not among all of them, nor a majority of them. Mr. C. VanZanten informed us that of the eleven provinces of the Netherlands it is vogue in only one.
Large crowds of young men visited the Y. M. B. C. W. rooms yesterday and partook of the elegant free lunch. In the evening a free entertainment was given, large numbers being present.
EDITOR TRIBUNE:—Your article in Saturday’s TRIBUNE reflected somewhat upon the Holland people in this city and elsewhere, in regard to their custom of “gathering around a bowl of whiskey and raisin” on New Year’s Day. Your statement is too general, and let me say in justice to myself and many Hollander friends and acquaintances, in this city, that the custom referred to is being discarded more and more.
HOLLANDER.
The Charity Ball.
The Charity Ball of New Years’ night, 1894, will go down in the social history of Grand Haven as the most successful and greatest thing of its kind ever held in this city. Co. F Opera House was gaily decorated by flags and bunting arranged by B. C. Mansfield, in his usual artistic and tasty style. All the colors of Wm. H. Loutit’s new steamer Pentland and flags from the steamer Wisconsin, and from the signal house were used in decorating.
When the dancing started the hall presented an animated appearance. The bright gowns and the general good nature added to the occasion. As floor managers, G. Ball, L. J. Koster, E. Andres, J. W. O’Brien and J. M. Lockie proved themselves to be the right men in the right place, and covered themselves with glory during the evening.
The fine oyster supper, to which fifteen cents extra was charged added no small amount to the proceeds.
The young ladies who assisted at the tables, Misses Nellie and Gertrude Squier, Nellie parker, Dollie McMillan and Mrs. Nemire deserve special thanks for their services in the arduous duty.
In fact everything went off like clock work last evening, and thanks are due Wm. McLeod and Wm. Keity who officiated as cooks, Walter Bidgood who attended to the checking of wraps and cloaks, B. C. Mansfield for the handsome decorating, C. Ball for his services in attending to the tickets, Ball & Co., for their kindness in donating the oysters. J. D. Duursema for the crackers and the services of Gerrit Ball, Ed. Andres and L. J. Koster.
Last but not least Geo. W. McBride who has boomed the ball from the first and has been working to make it a success for over a week.
The entertainment will net about $160 which will be sent to the sufferers and destitute miners on the Gogebic range.
A Holland cigar manufacturer is making a “Court House: cigar.
The belief becomes stronger that Jerry Boynton is going to build that railroad, and if it does come Grand Haven as terminal, will be the city most greatly benefited. The Goodrich Transportation Co. seems to be in sympathy with the road. Large freight sheds would be built here, a new line of boats put on and hundreds of men given employment.
Last Friday’s Chicago News states that Jerry W. Boynton has the completed the survey of his road from Battle Creek to Grand Rapids. The road will connect with his proposed Grand River road from Grand Rapids to this city. In the construction what is known as a 60 pound steel “T” rail will be laid. The news says of the Grand River Ry. “Its terminal at Grand Haven is the key to commerce of the lakes. At this point the harbor is always open; there is a population of 7,000, and it is a manufacturing place. The tonnage of the harbor, incoming and outgoing, is nearly 3,000,000 tons annually. Highland Park is situated on a bluff rising above the beach on the east shore of Lake Michigan, and thousands of people annually visit the resort during the summer months. Three lines of boats enter and leave Grand Haven harbor daily, and from them the new road will receive a large tonnage and passenger traffic. From Highland Park to Jenison the road passes through a rich farming district, interspersed with large tracts of hard and soft timber. At Jenison is an extensive flouring mill, saw-mill and the Jenison railway supply works. Grandville is the center of the vast gypsum deposits. The rock underlies the entire territory from Jenison to Grand Rapids, a distance of several miles. The road passes by and will have tracks connecting it with every plaster mill save one, in the entire territory. The News also says that the plan is to build large freight sheds in Grand Haven capable of holding thousands of cars of freight at a time. G. Hurson, traffic manager of the Goodrich Transportation Co., is working for the road. All in all it looks promising; and if the road does come Grand Haven can count on a population of 10,000 in two years.
The Board of Supervisors this afternoon authorized the Court House building committee to purchase furnishings and furnish the new building.
The six new electric lights will be lighted this week.
From all over the country come reports of reduction of wages.
M. Dykhuis is still busy engaged in filling up the Court House square with sand.
A dog poisoner is around again and a number of fine animals have been killed.
The basement of the Court House will be laid with Portland cement, making a very smooth floor, something similar to cement walks. The steps leading from the entrances have been placed in. They are of iron with plate glass risers.
It will take some time for the river to freeze now, on account of the swift current.
Mrs. L. Bos who has resided for many years at the corner of Washington and Eight Sts., died this morning. She was 77 years of age.
The finance committee which had in charge the proceeds for the northern miners make the following statement: Proceeds of Charity Ball, $159.35; from St. Paul’s Evangelical church, $5.21; from Congregational church, $5.00; from St. Patrick’s church, $21; collected by Mrs. Scott, $2.—A total of $192.56.
Mr. R. K. Stallings, secretary of the American Mirror & Glass Beveling Co., presented the committee having in charge the Charity Ball, Monday night, a handsome and valuable mirror. The TRIBUNE omitted stating yesterday that it was raffled during the evening and $15 realized which will be placed with the proceeds of the Ball. Mr. Stallings is deserving of the thanks of the committee for his generosity.
The Roanoke had a hard time in getting turned around last night and ran into the electric plant twice.
The year 1893 which ended Sunday will stand out as one of the most important in the history of our country, made so by the World’s Fair at Chicago, which will never be effaced from the memory of the present generation.
Beginning nest week the shoe merchants of the city will test the 6 o’clock closing movement. Stores will be closed at six every night except Wednesday and Saturday. The test will hold good one week and perhaps longer if it works well.
The action of the Board of Supervisors in authorizing the Court House building committee to go ahead and finish the new county building indicates that the board is well-pleased with the work of the committee and can rely upon their judgment to finish the structure.
The Board of Supervisors passed the following resolution before adjourning: Resolved that the building committee be instructed to tender the old Court House to the City of Grand Haven, and if they decline, the Building Committee be empowered to dispose of the property to the best advantage.
Mrs. Kate Moss, formerly Miss Kate VanDyke, died at one o’clock this morning at the home of her mother in the Fourth ward. She was 34 years of age and had been sick for a number of years. Deceased leaves a daughter and many friends and relatives in this city and vicinity to mourn her departure. The funeral will occur Saturday afternoon from the First Reformed church.
No More a Candidate.
Alderman Joseph Koeltz of the second ward told the TRIBUNE this morning that he would not be a candidate for renomination to that office next spring. Mr. Koeltz has been an alderman for six years. For three years of that time he has been vice president of the council, and for one year president, a part of that time acting mayor of the city. He has figured in a number of hot campaigns and has come out victorious in a majority of them. Mr. Koeltz during his long term of office has been a faithful officer and represented his ward in the city council to the best of his ability. He has had about all the honor there is in it and will retire when his present term expires.
Dangerous Ottawa County Crank.
There was great excitement in the office of the Criminal Court clerk at Chicago yesterday when a big country man, with a huge revolver, stalked in and demanded an order to see Prendergast the assassin. “I intend to get him out of jail,” said the visitor calmly. “He has done nothing wrong in killing Mayor Harrison. I demand his freedom. If you will not let him out you must let me in to see him and then the Lord will help me liberate him.”
There were only two or three men in the office at the time. Fortunately two or three detectives came in just in time and the crank was bundled into a patrol wagon and taken to the county station, where he told his story to Inspector Shea.
“My name is Frederick A. Names, and I live in Ottawa county, Mich.,” said he. “My business is to preach the gospel and assist God to induce the contrary hearts of the rich to help the poor and needy. I want to get Prendergast out. He did right in killing Carter Harrison. It was for the good of the world. I had been praying about it for several days before he was killed. One day when I was going to Englewood I was told that Harrison had been killed and I knew that my prayer had been answered.”
“Would you kill the rich in order to subdue their hearts?” asked inspector Shea.
“I would if God inspired me,” said names, determinedly. “God wants them removed and tells in what way it should be done.”
Names was examined by Dr. Joseph Hawley at the station and then taken to the detention hospital. Dr. Hawley said the man was insane on religion.
Names is well known in this vicinity. He is a son of August Names of Olive township and has been considered a crank and a lunatic for a number of years. The fellow would come to this city frequently with farm produce and would generally remain until late at night, interesting those he talked with by his rambling words. He seemed to be crazy on religion and was opposed to all political parties. A few years ago a worthy young lady of Olive made an attempt to have Names adjudged insane. She said he was paying her his attentions, against her vigorous protests and was afraid he might do something violent.
Another time Names was brought here by the Supervisor of Olive for staying around a house, the family of which had diphtheria. Nothing came of it, however, no complaint being made.
Last summer he went to Chicago and was one of the many crank and anarchistic speakers who addressed meetings to the unemployed on the lake front. When arrested he carried a bible and his pockets were full of religious tracts. He told the police inspector that a voice from heaven commanded him to preach the gospel.
The carferry route between Kewaunee and Frankfort finds patronage so limited that only one of the ferry steamers is being run at present. A light eastward movement of flour since the close of navigation has operated to bring about this condition of things.
The Board of Supervisors at their session yesterday, voted to finish and furnish the new court house and committed the same to the building committee, empowering them to call for bids, for the furnishing of counter, court room fittings, mantels, lighting fixtures, carpets, curtains and incidentals; also to finish and complete the basement and make it ready for occupancy, as a proposition t rent a set of basement offices was submitted at a rental of $150.00 per annum.
Michigan is not to be behind in the matter of producing an occasional crank. The fellow Names, who certifies that the killing of Mayor Harrison was a direct answer to prayer, claims to hail from this state. Indeed, it is on record that he once figured as a revivalist in some parts of Michigan. If all cranks would confine their crankism to the offering of prayers, they would be a very harmless set, however much they might annoy and disgust intelligent religious persons.—G. R. Democrat.
The Urgent Needs of Grand Haven This Year.
We have a city finely situated for commerce of our inland seas, second to none in religious and social advantages, the lady portion of our people being above the average in culture and literary attainments. Grand Haven is now growing. Let us all do what we can to accelerate its growth. We need electric cars which would pay well in time. But we need more than anything, a “Free Bridge. Our benedicts and bachelors are tired of being fined for taking their wives and best girls out riding. Venice has its bridges of sighs, so has Grand Haven. Many a sigh is heaved as the toll is paid. All our church and moral institutions should work and pray for it to be free on moral grounds, it is the cause of so much profanity.
Taxes are high and times are hard, but still let the bridge be bought on long time bonds running ten years. The increased business and the rapid rise in real estate would confer benefits to all, more than ten times the cost of the bridge, in less than one year from its purchase. It is supreme folly to expect other places to pay for what is our own especial benefit. This protective tariff toll bridge tax is in the writer’s opinion, the greatest barrier to the material and rapid growth of Grand Haven and vicinity. “He that would be free himself must strike the blow.” So let us stop fining people who visit us. J. E.
Five railroad lines pass through Ottawa Co.
The small boys are already playing marbles. In other years this has been a sure indication of spring.
Thus far during Sheriff Keppel’s term more prisoners have been sent to Jackson than for a number of years previous. In all, six have been sentenced to that penitentiary since his incumbency.
Poor superintendent Baker reports fewer poor families and “city supports” than last year.
The aggregate amount of expended for real estate in Ottawa County during 1893 was over $1,000,000.
In the appointment by President Cleveland of Jacob Baar to be postmaster of Grand Haven a good selection has been made. Gentlemanly and accommodating he posses all the requisites of a capable postmaster.
Grand Haven’s window in the Michigan building at the world’s fair has been returned to the city and is now in the city recorder’s office. The window was located on the second floor of the building just off the newspaper room.
Prince Michael of Detroit and Prophet Trowbridge of Ottawa county strange to say, occupy adjoining cells in Jackson prison. Both were of the same order, long haired cranks, who should remain at Jackson for the rest of their lives.
A dispatch to the Detroit Free Press from Battle Creek says: “Jerry W. Boynton, president of the new railroad between this city and Grand Rapids is in the city. In company with H. N. Averill of Grand Rapids, he will hold a meeting in Banefield tonight. He will remain in this city for a week and address our business men on the prospects of this new road. He is very enthusiastic and says the road will surely be built.”
Among the Ottawa county prisoners in Jackson is Lambertus Voskamp, lifer. Nearly all remember his brutal murder of a farmer Carey of Lamont in the early “80’s” and of the subsequent attempt to take him from Ottawa county jail and lynch him. The effort proved unsuccessful, as the sheriff was aware of the purpose of the mob and the jail was guarded by Co. F. Voskamp obtained a change of venue. He was tried in Kalamazoo county and sent up for life.
“Grand Haven is one of the best towns in Michigan today,” said Postmaster Thomas parish of that city at the Morton in a burst of local pride. “There is no suffering of any kind and no one is out of work. Citizens have not been called on for a cent to help support the poor. The council is doing about its usual amount of charity and that is all.”—G. R. Eagle.
The schooner Wonder, ashore at Pigeon Creek, has sustained considerable damage from ice.
L. J. Mulder, has placed in his Third St. tailor shop a handsome French plate mirror from the American Mirror & Glass Beveling Co.
T. Knight’s delivery horse ran away last evening and a spring from the wagon was lost. The finder will be rewarded by leaving same at the store.
The schooner Hunter Savidge is being rebuilt at Port Huron.
Marshal Klaver arrested a drunk on the street this afternoon.
An Indiana man learned to ride a bicycle when he was nearly 70 years old.
Five railroads pass through Ottawa county. The T. S. & M. Ry. Through Chester township, the M. G. R. & I. through Chester, Wright and Tallmadge. The D., G. H. & M. Ry. Through Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Crockery, Polkton and Wright. The C. & W. M. Muskegon branch through Ferrysburg, Grand Haven, Olive and Holland. The Grand Rapids branch of the C. & W. M. through Holland, Zeeland, Jamestown and Georgetown.
EDITOR:—It has been said that the American people want to be humbugged. It would seem that this statement has been verified in the way that certain clothing and cloak dealers from outside, have recently rented a store and tried to humbug our people. True, these fakers try to make the people believe that they are his great benefactor. They are oily-tongued, smooth talkers, whose nature seems to be bubbling over with the mild of human kindness. So much so that they come from some other city to bring our people some “great bargains” and are simply working for their health. Every citizen of Grand Haven should be interested in making it a prosperous growing and aggressive town. This cannot be done if its citizens do a large amount of their trading in Chicago and Grand Rapids. They should buy here unless it is something our merchants do not keep in stock. Our town should have a great deal more public spirit. There might be and out to be greater unity of interest among our business men, and there should be some channel through which that unity of interest could be more effectively expressed. CITIZEN.
The Concert.
The concert given at the Opera House last night was perhaps the only entertainment of the kind ever given in this city, free of expense whatever. It passed off very satisfactory and was largely attended.
First on the program was a selection of the City Band, which was followed by the selection, “Herein is Love” by the double quartette of the Second Reformed church, which was very good.
A solo, “The New Kingdom” by Miss Kate Cherry was well rendered.
The duet by Miss Ferry and Mr. M. Kirby was not given. In its stead, Miss Nellie Collins sweetly sang the lullaby, “Sway to and Fro.” Miss Collins has a fine voice of much promise.
Grand Haven’s well-known Glee Club, composed of Peter Klaver, Wm. and Tony Baker and Dr. Rysdorp, followed in “My Old Kentucky Home.” As is always the case with the quartette, it was rendered perfectly.
Mr. Barden gave effectively the solo, “Far from Home.”
The Lyman brothers followed in the comic song, “The Fisherman’s Daughter.” The boys are good singers and always please an audience.
The selection by Miss Thompson’s orchestra was very fine. The orchestra is is composed of local musicians, students of Miss Thompson.
The ladies quartette began part two of the program with probably the finest selection ever given by them, before a Grand haven audience. The quartette is composed of Mesdames VanderVeen, Squier, Koster, and Boyce.
A solo by Miss Julia Soule, “Day Dream” came next.
The violin duet by Misses Thompson and Barnett was elegant.
M. E. church quartette, consisting of Messrs. Chambers, Barden, Knoght and McCay gave a selection, “Old Home and Friends.”
The solo by Miss Ladus was exquisite.
For a youthful choir, that of the Congregational church has no equal. They rendered a selection, “Look Ye Saints” which was really fine. The choir consists of Misses Maude Scott, Nellie Parker, Minnie Waters, Josie Finch, Hattie Lewis, Bonna Vos, and Messrs. S. M. Wright, Miner Leland and Frank and George Dermis.
A beautiful tableaux, “Night” closed the concert.
The proceeds from the concert will net $59.75 which will make a grand total of $316.84 collected in Grand Haven for the miners. If any other city of its size has done better we would like to learn its whereabouts.
The Muskegon papers lament the fact that their Y. M. C. A. is about “busted,” when at Grand Haven an association is being organized.
Kalamazoo asylum is so crowded that no more insane people can be taken. Mrs. Afke Post had to be taken to the county poor farm because of the lack of room in the asylum.
Coopersville Observer:—Eastmanville will give $200 towards a free bridge across the Grand River, and a person of authority says Coopersville will give $1,000.
Grand Rapids wants the future military encampments to be held there.
A ferry has been established at Bass River.
The Marine Engineers of this city will not give their annual ball this year.
An unusual number of deaths have occurred in this city within the past two weeks.
David Kuiken is expected here shortly from the Netherlands. He is the young man who sickened of America and returned to the Netherlands last summer. Now he has changed his mind and is returning to America once more.
Representative Richardson filed petitions in congress from several Grand Rapids, Mich., labor organizations in favor of a reduction of tax on tobacco and the restriction of alien competition with American workingmen.
The Grand Haven Leather Co. has declared a dividend of five per cent payable April 1st.
Editorially the Chicago Inter Ocean speaks the following truthful words: “This is the age of railroads, it is true, but the great highways of commerce will always be waterways, and the city that can combine manufactures and water communication with the world holds the key to the treasure-house of the future, and is bound to achieve a greatness impossible to either without the other.”
Henry Dornbos & Bros., the well known fish dealers of this city are about to attempt the experiment of salting lake fish. Salt packaging plants are common in the ocean fishery towns but it has never been tried here and when we think of the salt fish shipped to our merchants from the ocean towns it seems as strange as shipping coal to New Castle or wheat to Dakota, considering the fact that Grand Haven has all the advantages to salt fish. The Messrs. Dornbos will make a test at first on a small scale and if successful or even partially so; will undoubtedly make it an important adjunct of their business by next year. This firm has taken the entire catch of fish of Capt. Kirby’s tugs this season; and for a time the catch of the tug Miller, or four tugs to supply them. They ship as far west as Denver and in Grand Rapids alone had eleven peddlers this season to retail their fish. Thousands of pounds of fish have passed through their hands during the year.
Death of Mrs. Wm Smith.
Mrs. Wm. Smith passed away to the other word at shortly after noon yesterday. At her bedside were her husband, parents, brothers, sisters and friends to whom it was indeed a sad parting. Mrs. Smith was formerly Miss Katherine Dykhuis daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Dykhuis of this city. She was 22 years of age and was born and had always lived in Grand Haven. Her illness dated from Christmas Day, during which time she was a patient sufferer; so much so that her real suffering was not known. Married but ten months Mr. and Mrs. Smith were just getting settled in their home when the death angel came. Her death is a sad blow to her husband and to her parents, relatives and many friends, and to the little two weeks old baby daughter, left in its infancy without a mother’s loving care. The sympathy of all acquaintances will go to the bereaved people.
Funeral will occur Wednesday afternoon from the Second Reformed church.
Grand Haven has ten attorneys, Coopersville five and Holland five.
Peter P. Danhof is again in jail on the charge of drunkenness. This time he will remain 30 days by sentence of Judge Angell.
The Y. M. B. C. W. will become a full-fledged Y. M. C. A. on January 22nd with appropriate ceremonies. State Secretary Clarke of Detroit will be present.
A tramp sailor struck town the other day, who said that he traveled all over the state of Michigan for the last six weeks without striking an hour’s work.
Spring Lake Fire.
Spring Lake is the village
The prettiest in the state;
But of the eleventh of May
Is what I will relate.
The sun shown bright that morn,
No prophet there to tell
Neither signal or sign to warn,
Of the destruction which befell.
The wind was blowing quite a gale,
‘Twas awful on that day;
For I will tell the sad, sad tale
Of conflagration's stern array.
‘Tis but a spark upon the dock,
We hear the people say,
But now it surges forth to mock,
To sweep out town away.
Fire! Fire! the people cry,
And the bell its echoes ringing.
The firemen rush to do or die,
To the fire engine bringing.
For now they dash upon the fiend,
Their property to spare;
But all in vain, the town is doomed
To ashes and despair.
Though on they fight,
With fire to right, with fire to left—
From in the morn till late at night
With hope and home bereft.
From cottage unto cottage,
The demon flames did leap.
They surged forth upon us,
Like the waves of the mighty deep.
For the school house and the churches
The maddening flames did take,
The mansion and the palace
From the river to the lake.
The homes of over two hundred,
Were burned to ashes there.
We heard brave men murmur;
Their hearts were in despair.
But when the siege was at an end,
Their hearts in calmness grew;
For where the old school house stood,
They are building a new.
NELSON HOLCOMB.
Only 61 miles of railway track were laid in the state last year.
Less railway tracks were laid last year than any year since 1878.
Flames last night consumed the great manufactures building, the casino, peristyle and music hall at the World’s Fair ground. The loss on the buildings will foot up to $1,500,000.
Adrian Times: Three girls were born in Grand Haven on Christmas day. They will practice good will towards men when they grow older, and seriously interfere with peace on earth.
On of Grand Haven’s enterprising young merchants has been obliged on account of poor collections to close, for a time at least. In a few months he will undoubtedly be able to resume business at the old stand. We refer to T. Knight the Second St. feed man.
A Glee Club composed of High School students has been organized.
A Niles man who was too poor to take a newspaper, sent $5 to a down east Yankee to find out how to keep horses from slobbering, and received the following reply to his money, “Teach your horses how to spit.”
There is one habitual drunkard in this city, who if he persists in it, has a strong chance of serving time in the Detroit House of Corrections under the habitual drunkard law.
The state encampment is generally held in the interior sections during the heated term of the year. It is stated that there is a movement on foot to have it located at the Soldier’s Home near Grand Rapids permanently. This would be foolish. The proper place to locate the encampment is on the shores of Lake Michigan, where pure and health invigorating air can be had, and sunstrokes are unknown. The place to locate the camping grounds permanently is near Grand Haven, which is easy of access both from land and water for the whole state,—both upper and lower peninsulas. If the matter was properly showed up to the state military board, who control this, they would give our city inspection and would very likely locate here. Now is the time to agitate this matter. Plenty of locations can be found in all directions from the city, for the camping ground.
A black bear was seen and shot at just north of Ferrysburg yesterday.
Thirty-five young men of this city have organized an athletic club and have rented the entire second floor of the Gray block for their purpose. Wm. L. Andres is president of the club; Edson Duram, vice president; Dan F. Pagelson, secretary and treasurer and Essel VandenBerg, sergeant at arms. The building is well adapted for their purpose. In the front facing Washington St. are two parlors which will be fitted up in club room style. These rooms have been neatly carpeted and fine pictures adorn the walls. The large rear room which is about 30x60 feet in dimensions, is the gymnasium. It is well supplied with all the apparatus necessary in a first class “gym.” Turning bars, trapeze, dumb bells and Indian clubs and in fact almost everything necessary for athletic training, the club has. About $150 worth of apparatus and incidentals have been place in the rooms. A bath room will also be fitted up shortly for the club’s members. Wm. L Andres is general athletic trainer and Edson Duram gives the boys pointers on Indian club swinging. All the members are working together and in harmony and the club is in prosperous condition. Before the close of the winter the boys will probably give a public entertainment.
Circuit Court.
The case of the People vs. Henry Sickman and John Verhoeks was nolle prossed, because of a defect in the papers. Both were immediately re-arrested and the papers corrected. The error lay in the cause in the papers which read: “Entering and burglarizing a shop connected with dwelling.” The dwelling rooms above Roossien’s store occupied by Len Kammeraad are not connected with the store, but instead the stair way leads outside to the street below. This technical error was fatal and the case thrown out.
Prisoners Verhoeks and Sickman were brought before Justice Pagelson, corrected papers made out, and they were both bound over to circuit court. Prosecutor Visscher, and W. I. Lillie, attorney for the prisoners had a little tilt over the fixing of the bail. The prosecutor did not think $2000 bail for each man too excessive for a case so serious. Mr. Lillie thought $1000 enough. Judge Pagelson split the difference and fixed the bail at $1500 each. It was not furnished and the prisoners will have to remain in jail until the March term of court. The present bail is $500 more for each prisoner than it was at first.
Today the case of the People vs. Frank Beach for indecent exposure is being tried. Attorney Hunton was appointed to look after the prisoner’s case and a number of witnesses from Coopersville were here to testify.
The court room was packed this morning, everyone expecting the Verhoeks-Sickman burglary case to come up. All remained to hear the Beach case.
State Analyst Kedzie has recently been examining various food products now on the market. In one instance a specimen of ground coffee was found by Dr. Kedzie to contain 12 per cent coffee, 20 percent of wheat or barley and 68 percent of peas or beans. A sample of coffee extract was found to consist of a mixture of roasted chicory and peas with sufficient glucose to cement it into a solid roll.
MR. EDITOR:—I wish to deny through the columns of your paper a statement Rev. Roese of the St. Paul’s Evangelical church made before his congregation last Sunday, as I am informed by several reliable gentlemen who heard Rev, Roese make the statement. In speaking of the letter that Mr. G. Hubert had received from Rev. Wangeman of Berlin, Germany, giving a sketch of Rev. Roese’s life in his native country, he said it was a forgery and was gotten up by the “Hubert Club” with my assistance, or words to that effect. Now, I wish to absolutely deny having any knowledge of the aforesaid letter until today when my attention was called to the matter. Why the reverend gentleman should connect my name with the matter I am unable to comprehend.
F. A. Kammerer.
Former pastor of Lutheran
church of Grand Haven township.
Good ice forming weather.
The D., G. H. & M. pay car was in last night.
Lots of hay is arriving in the city from the country districts.
The ice harvest has commenced at Cadillac.
The First Reformed church is receiving its winter supply of wood.
The inside carpentry work of the new Court House is now progressing.
Hunters started up a bear near Ferrysburg yesterday and succeeded in wounding it, but did not capture the animal.
The case of the people vs. Beach, indecent exposure, went to jury this forenoon.
Miss Daisy Scofield wishes to announce to her friends that she is organizing a violin class at her home Cor. of Franklin and Seventh St. Any one desiring violin instruction will please call between the hours of 7 and 8:30 p.m.
It is estimated that one out of every 180 inhabitants owns or rides a bicycle.
Work is being pushed upon the Co. F. Souvenir of Grand Haven, which will be the finest publication ever issued in the town.
Akeley Institute opens tomorrow for the winter term. The girls who have been home for Christmas vacation will arrive this afternoon.
A sensation was created in Battle Creek the other day. Jos. King a materializing medium was caught in the act of impersonating a spirit. The séance was at its height and the spirit of some one gone before was called out. The spirit walked out robed in white when one of the audience jumped up and grabbed the spirit around the waist. A lively wrestling match took place and the spirit was thrown to the floor, and discovered to be no other than King the medium. He was immediately arrested as an imposter. King is the man who is said to have held séances at Agnew and vicinity a few weeks ago.
The jury in the Beach case brought in a verdict of guilty at 12:30 today.
The average prices of horses in this state is now as follows: Under one year old, $22.87; between one and two years old, $35.68; between two and three years old, $52.65; three years old and over, $75.88.
H. Potts has commenced work on an Ottawa County Guide Book for 1894, which will be published supplementary to the Historical and Business Compendium of the county, and a book of valuable information for everybody.
There are nineteen Holland newspapers published in this country. Four in Grand Rapids, Mich.; four in Holland, Mich.; two in Orange City, Iowa; two in DePere, Wis.; one in Chicago; one in Kalamazoo; one in Pella, Iowa; one in Battle Creek; one in Harrison, Dakota; one in Sioux Center, Iowa, and one in Patterson, N. J.
Albert Leuninga son of the Fulton St. butcher met with very severe injuries in a runaway yesterday afternoon. He was driving his father’s delivery horse on Seventh St. when the animal started to run away. Near the Corn Planter works the wagon struck a tree. Young Leuninga was thrown out on the hard frozen ground. His head and face were terribly bruised but luckily no bones were broken.
The Bertachy Brick and Tile Co. of Fruitport have filed their annual statement in Muskegon. The company has a capital stock of $18,000. They have real estate to the value of $7,000; personal estate to the value of $5,000; debts to the value of 298.95 and credit s to the value of $481. the stockholders are F. J. Bertachy, C. W. Bertachy and Chas. Began.
A Grand Rapids man has invented a bicycle tire of coiled piano wire.
Boys make Emlaw’s boom lively by skating, which is said to be good there.
Flouring Mill Wanted.
That a good flouring mill would pay in this city if run on economical and business principles, is a fact without a doubt. Two or three farmers pass through this city every day on their way to mill to get their grist ground. A good flouring mill would add a good many dollars to the trade of this city. It would bring farmers here that now go to Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Nunica and Coopersville. There is a large range of county in three directions from this city that is fast being developed and naturally look, to Grand Haven for their market.
The number of acres of land cultivated in the townships contingent to Grand Haven is as follows: Allendale, 7,178; Crockery, 5,006; Grand Haven, 4.158; Olive, 9,230; Robinson, 2,188; Spring Lake, 864. Besides this Allendale has 4,466 acres of land which is rapidly being cleared; Crockery has 6,035; Grand Haven, 5.708; Olive, 4,106; Robinson, 2,640; Spring Lake, 546. A total of 28,613 acres of improved land in the above mentioned townships, and 23,496 acres unimproved. The figures are a strong argument for a grist mill in this city. If one were located here it would get the business form a majority of the shires named.
In connection with the above statistics it can be stated that Allendale produced 16,222 bushels of wheat; Crockery, 12,315; Grand Haven, 1,516; Olive 19, 543; Robinson, 1,145 and Spring Lake, 391.
The German Workingman’s ball at the Opera House last evening was one of the most successful ever given by that society. The costumes were very unique and the hall was resplendent with variegated colors during the evening. Music was furnished by Beerman’s Muskegon Band. Mr. Beerman himself led and an efficient caller from Grand Rapids officiated. As far as music was concerned it could not have been bettered, and the gay sounds from the ball room could have been heard until four this morning. At that hour the grand annual ball of ’94 closed. The proceeds are very gratifying to those who had the affair in charge. They amounted to over $150, which is better than last year, and this too, in a hard time winter.
Howell’s Statutes, section 9,119, requires all persons engaged in cutting ice from lakes or streams in this state to erect and maintain suitable danger signals at or near their base of operations. The penalty for neglect to do so is the same as for misdemeanors—$100 fine and imprisonment in the county jail for three months.
Joseph King the medium who was unmasked while deceiving the people in a séance at Battle Creek, found a lot of dupes in this county, and down Agnew way they are still talking of the wonderful things done by King. The Muskegon Chronicle says “Battle Creek is all torn up over the unmasking of medium Joseph King, who was conducting a séance there Monday night. King is the same man who was exposed here a short time ago by two lawyers, one of whom had put a quantity or printer’s ink in his palm and afterwards shook hands with a spirit. After the lights were turned up ink was also found on King’s palm.”
Muskegon has a $10,000 damage suit on, the result of a poor sidewalk.
The six new electric lights about the city were turned on for the first time last night.
Joseph King the bogus spiritualist medium has been held in Battle Creek to $200 bail.
The U. S. Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of Jacob Baar, and that gentleman can with all propriety write P. M. before his name.
Despite the tempestuous weather last evening the largest audience that has gathered in the Opera House for a long time, greeted the John Thomas Concert Co. on their first appearance to this city. And a better pleased audience never left, after an hour and a half of superb music and irrepressible wit and humor. John Thomas is a comedian pure and simple, from the kink in his hair to the twist of his foot. He was obliged to answer several times to second encores and was in demand for more. He finally confessed that he would like to stay a week. The other parts while not drawing out so vociferous applause, were very highly appreciated. Miss Lufkin performed beautifully on the piano and Miss Thomas sang several selections, displaying a voice of rare sweetness. Mr. Dick is adept on the violin. It is doubtful if more exquisite music was ever drawn from a violin in our Opera House. The instrument used by him is one hundred and fifty years old at least and has been in the family for a century.
Fred Names the Olive township man who wanted to liberate murderer Prendergast from Chicago jail, has been sent to the Pontiac, Ill. asylum. There were fears for a time that he would be sent back to this county.
The officers of Co. F have received the following notice from headquarters, conferring quite an honor upon a member of the local militia.
Headquarters 2d Inf., M. N. G.
Grand Rapids, Jan. 6, 1894.
Private Archie McDonald, Company F, is hereby appointed Color Sergeant of the Second Infantry and assigned to duty as a part of the regimental non-commissioned staff. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly. By order of COL. CHAS. H. ROSS.
The tug Thompson was discovered this morning to be partially sunk near her moorings at the D., G. H. & M. wharf. She had five or six feet of water in her hold. Being tied to the dock, the lines prevented the tug from sinking to the bottom, although she was very near it. The city fire engine, Rix Robinson, was brought down to the tug about eight, and at once was put into service to pump the water out f the Thompson. At noon the engine had succeeded in pumping the water out of the tug, and steam was gotten up on the Thompson. The leak was caused by an opening in the stern of the tug. No particular damage was done.
Last evening two brooms and two mop handles were stolen from the front of Van Lopik’s store. The thieves were captured shortly afterward attempting to dispose of the goods in Kooiman’s saloon. They proved to be strangers and gave their names as John O’Brien and David Greenfield. Both were brought before Justice Pagelson this morning and sentenced. O’Brien goes to the county jail for 20 days and Greenfield 15.
Speaking of the use of the abbreviated word “Mich” the Jackson Patriot says: The use of this euphonious of words has become so common that people seem to have lost sight of the fact the name of this prosperous state is Michigan and not the abbreviation “Mich.” As pronounced with the soft sound of the c. No other state in the union is treated with so much discourtesy, the entire name being spoken. The habit originated probably in the thoughtless children combined with the carelessness of teachers and has kept on growing until now “Mich.” Seems to be given preference.
We heard that some of our people lost a horse and buggy this week, but as Mr. Peter Ball, who lives near the bayou found a horse and buggy tangled up in the bush near his place and hearing of the neighbor in search for the same, quietness soon reigned and everything is O. K., except a few scratches.
This is good bicycle weather and in fact it has been nearly all winter.
A boarder arrived at the jail yesterday, a ten pound son being born to Sheriff and Mrs. Keppel.
Edward Morgan a vagrant was sent to jail for five days by Justice Pagelson this morning.
M. Doddington finished putting in the sky light in the tower of the new Court House today.
Monday will be a general holiday in the public schools, as all the teachers will visit schools of other towns and cities that day.
Twelve or fifteen ladies of this city have asked for the use of the gymnasium on Saturday afternoons. This privilege will be extended them and they will be given lessons by the club’s trainer, Wm. L. Andres.
The steamer Barrett was seized yesterday morning by Deputy Sheriff Cowans on a judgment execution issued from the Kent Circuit court in favor of T. Stewart White and Thomas Hefferan. The Barrett belongs to the Valley City Transportation company against which White and Hefferan obtained a judgment of $172.30 and costs. The suit was begun to collect rent for dockage.
Passenger travel on the lakes which during the ‘60s was immense between Chicago and Milwaukee and Buffalo, has dwindled into insignificance, and now about the only service in that line worthy of mention is that along the west shore of Lake Michigan by the Goodrich line, the service between Detroit and Cleveland , the Lake Superior service, the service between Milwaukee and Grand Haven, Milwaukee and Manistee and Ludington and the summer resort lines to Northern Michigan.—Evening Wisconsin.
TO THE CITIZENS:
I have just been taking a few of the new court house. It is an elegant building and is far of anything I expected to see here. It is strong and durable and way up in style. Now everybody ought to feel proud and well pleased, but it is not always going to be pleasure and fun inside. Many will pass down these stone steps with a sorrowful heart, but who can help that. Now look at the old court house, good for nothing as many think. Remember, don’t be down on anything when it is getting old and out of fashion, for you will all get down to that; don’t let it go to waste. Keep it if you can and take care of it; it has done long service for you and many others, when you couldn’t get a better one; and will do so much again if you put it in the right place in the city. You know that on Jackson St. they are keeping school in a two small buildings; sell them and one lot, and put the old court house on the other and you will have a tiptop school and people there will feel proud and pleased. Excuse me, this is my idea.
MARTIN JOHNSON.
Thursday’s snow storm spoiled the ice. No more skating parties at present.
The Beech Tree school has about forty-five pupils enrolled.
The high frame bicycle will probably become the style this year.
James Loch is building another greenhouse at his home on Washington avenue.
It has been 22 degrees below zero in the northern peninsula, but zero is still to be reached here.
The old timers are now trying to think up some winter that equaled this in mildness.
A congregational meeting will be held in the Second Reformed church this evening. Besides the annual renting of pews such other business as may come up will be transacted.
Mr. Tim Yorks of Flint arrived this afternoon to take charge of the painting of the new court house. Mr. York has just completed the painting of a large church at Flint.
M. Doddington claims that he is a first day Adventist and that there are thousands of them in the land.
An instrument has been invented for sounding the depths of the sea without using a lead line. A sinker is dropped containing a cartridge, which explodes on touching the bottom, the report is registered in a microphone apparatus and the depth reckoned by the time at which the explosion occurred.
Four young men of this city filled up with cheap whiskey yesterday and proceeded to make a disorderly day out of Sunday. Two of them were arrested and taken to jail and paid fines before a justice this morning. The remaining two ran away but will probably be arrested later on.
The Wisconsin fish commission secured 60,000,000 whitefish eggs last year. They report that the work of the commission is producing good results in increasing supply of whitefish. They recommend that hereafter no whitefish be planted in water over ten or twelve feet deep, as many are lost by inability to secure food in deep water.
The examination of John Verhoeks and Henry Sickman charged with burglary, is being held in Justice Pagelson’s court today. All day the court room has been crowded with interested spectators. Three witnesses, Henrick Roosien, Len Kammeraad and Peter Cook, gave testimony. Mr. Kammeraad is one of the most important witness in the case. He saw the burglars leave the store on the early morning of the robbery from his apartment windows, in the rooms above the store. Mr. Kammeraad was slowly questioned, as to following the burglars tracks and where they led. W. I. Lillie is looking after the interests of the prisoners and Prosecutor Vischer of the People.
The examination of Verhoeks and Sickman was this afternoon adjourned to January 29.
The river is frozen over at the tannery, but the ice is going fast and is apt to go out at any time.
Our January Thaw.
Fred Engel the Muskegon contractor has completed the slate work on the new Court House and is now repairing the roof of the Columbus St. school.
The West Michigan conference of the Y. M. C. A. of Kalamazoo and of Grand Rapids districts will be held at Grand Rapids, Jan. 26 and 28. J. J. Bolt of this city is one of the corresponding members of Grand Rapids district.
Rollie Geldsma of Spring Lake, received probably fatal injuries yesterday. He was driving a colt to a road cart, when the animal became frightened, and threw him from the sulky. Geldsma was dragged a considerable distance and his skull fractured. Nearly all of his teeth were knocked out.
Geo. W. McBride has an article in the last issue of “The Blue and the Gray” entitled “My Recollections of Shiloh.”
Marshal Klaver had a busy time yesterday arresting drunks and as a result John Rhodes, John Reynolds and John Stanton, three deckhands, were before Justice Pageslon this morning and sent to jail for 7. 8 and 9 days respectively.
At the next meeting of the city council which will be held the first Thursday in February, that body will act as the proposition of the Board of Supervisors offering the old court house to the city. It will undoubtedly be accepted, but it is not known yet what will be done with the building. There has been considerable talk of converting the building into a school house for use on Jackson street, where the city has at present two school buildings.
Jeremiah W. Boynton and his Grand River railway scheme will be heard from in the courts at an early date. A suit in chancery has been begun in circuit court by Frank G. Davis of Grandville, from whom Boynton procured a right of way and a site for a depot in the village down the stream. The complainant alleges that Boynton represented to him that he was engaged in an enterprise which contemplated the construction of an electric railway from Grand Rapids to Grandville.—G. R. Press.
The new court house is insured for $25,000.
Ice men are in a quandary at present over their ice crop which has failed to put in an appearance as yet.
“Bud” Chase suffers from a sprained knee, the result of a fall from the horizontal bars in the gym.
Muskegon schools were invaded yesterday by 14 of Grand Haven’s school marms, accompanied by Joseph Estabrook, superintendent of the schools of the Sandhill city. The day was spent in looking into the workings of the grades in which each teacher was most interested, and after school hours the city received a scrutinizing glance from the keen eyes of the visitors. Hackley Public library was visited and admired. They are a pleasant looking lot of rulers, and their amiable disposition is only equaled by their good looks. They left on the evening train home, having expressed themselves as highly pleased with the school system in vogue here.—Muskegon news.
The Court House building committee at the meeting of the Board of Supervisors reported that Mr. A. J. Ward the Court House contractor had been paid up to date $36,758. W. K. Johnston the architects had been paid $2,007.86. The changes made in the construction of the new building will entail an additional expense of $3,203.16 over the original, causing the building to cost $45,188.61.
The two young men who were drunk Sunday and ran away when about to be arrested, paid their fines to Justice Pagelson’s court today.
Robt. Radeke and Garret Ball will today sign articles of agreement for a wrestling match, best two out of three falls, catch as catch can, for $25 a side. Match to take place Jan. 25.
The Athletic Club and gymnasium located in the Gray block is being conducted by the young men in charge, in a respectable and gentlemanly manner. No smoking or swearing or disorderly conduct is allowed. On Sundays the gymnasium proper will be closed, but the club parlors will be open as a reading room. A number of ladies have been granted the privilege of using the gymnasium on Saturday afternoons, exclusively.
It is stated that Fred Names, the Ottawa county evangelist with a wholesale wheel department in his upper story, who attempted to secure the release of murderer Prendergast in Chicago, once had a narrow escape from being confined in a lunatic asylum. A young lady of Olive township made a vigorous attempt to have him adjudged insane on the ground that he was paying her attentions. The judge eyed the rosy-cheeked Olive township girl thoughtfully and then admitted that if this was the only evidence of insanity he should have to pronounce Names about the sanest man in Ottawa Co.—Grand Rapids Democrat.
Two Muskegon bicyclists rode down here Monday.
The hotel registers are daily in receipt of more guests than for some weeks previous.
The Y. M. B. C. A. will be converted into a Y. M. C. A. with appropriate ceremonies next Monday night.
Jacob Baar received official notice today of his appointment as postmaster at Grand Haven. Mr. Baar will take charge of the office in a few days.
In a few short weeks the local political cauldron will again be seething. The elective city officials whose terms expire this spring are Mayor, Henry Bloecker; Marshal, A. J. Klaver; Recorder, Wm. N. Angel; Treasurer, Daniel Gale; Alderman, James Lewis of the 1st ward, Joseph Koeltz of the 2d ward; Jacob Glerum of the 3rd ward; John M. Lockie of the 4th ward.
Wood dealers are condemning the winter.
Muskegon sawed 181,286,000 feet of lumber last year.
The Ball-Radeke forthcoming wrestling match is causing great interest, and it is said that professional trainers have been employed by both men.
Juistema Bros. have at present a window display that looks metropolitan in its make up. In fact it is a beauty and a model of taste and decorative ability.
Sent to Detroit.
For some time Wm. Thieleman has been missing small sums of money from the cash drawer in his saloon. The thief was suspected but it was not until last night that a method was devised to capture him. All of the money put in the drawer was marked. The little ruse worked successfully and this morning Peter Boersma an employee of the Kirby House was caught in the very act of spending the same marked money in the same place where he had stolen it from last night. He was at once accused and after a little admitted his guilt. His purloinings amounted to about $8.
Boersma was brought before Justice Pagelson this afternoon, and plead guilty to the charge of larceny and was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 and costs or go to the Detroit House of Corrections for three months. The prisoner will be given until tomorrow to procure his fine. If not paid by that time he will be taken to Capt. Joe Nicholson’s hard working institution to serve out his sentence.
Boersma has been working here for some time. He was employed at the Cutler House for a short period during the summer but for the past several months has been employed by Mr. Rosbach.
Being acquainted with the building he could enter Thieleman’s bar room adjoining the hotel without discovery. Boersma has relatives in Spring Lake and also in this city. He stated that he would never again be implicated in such a crime.
Chairman Thos, Molloy of the Board of Supervisors made the following closing remarks before the board adjourned. Gentlemen: Before putting your motion to adjourn, before doing that which in all probability will be the last act of this Board although it may seem to you a little out of order, I desire with your permission to recall a few incidents in the doings of this board the present year. I think you will all agree with me that it is an exaggeration of statement to say that at the beginning of the new year never before was an Ottawa County Board of Supervisors confronted with so important a work. It is true, the people had placed at our disposal the means of erecting a County Court House and for remodeling the jail, but they looked to us for a wise and judicious expenditure of these means; they looked to us for the adoption of plans and specifications of a building that would come within the appropriation and up to the needs of the people. It was in the face of these responsibilities that many of us entered our duties with considerable timidity; that is, we had no doubt that we could get through the work somehow, but to give to the people a building that would be acceptable to them and especially to the people of Grand Haven who were so generous in their donation, was the ambition of this Board. But at present time, as we view this structure from every direction on the outside, as we enter and inspect every department from basement to tower, as we take the opinions of those best capable of judging, as we take the expressions of satisfaction from the citizens of Grand Haven, I say we should all feel proud that we had something to do in the direction of this work. I have taken pains to review the work done by the different committees and comparing it to former years and say you deserve to be congratulated on your business ability. For looking after our legal rights and placing the proceedings of this board before the people in a concise and intelligent manner, we are indebted to the County officers who have been associated with us in this work. I realize that the next Board has important work to do, yet I think we have laid the foundation well. And, lastly, considering my unfamiliarity with parliamentary usages and the courtesy I have nevertheless received from each and every member of this Board, I feel I have been dealt with in a very friendly manner. I assure you I shall always recall these thoughts with fond remembrance.
A. J. Ward the Court House contractor was highly recommended by the Board of Supervisors and the building committee.
There are about 20 or 30 members of the Church of God in this city who meet each Saturday at the home of Mrs. Leland.
At the ferry maintained at Bass River by Hermon Bosch double or single teams are charged 10 cents one way and 15 cents for a double trip. Foot passengers 5 cents back and forth. Cattle, hog and sheep 3 cents one way.
Dr. D. Emmett Welsh is examining all the engineers on the D., L. & N. and C. & W. M. roads for color blindness in accordance with an order recently issued by General Manager Heald. Thus far most of the men have stood the test well, few of them being troubled with any defect in vision.
Burglars gained admittance to Peter VerDuin’s grocery store on Third street last night and took what change there was in the cash drawer, probably about a dollar in coppers. A panel in the rear door of the store was out, so that a person could reach his hand inside. The heavy bar across the door was then removed and the door pushed open. Mr. VerDuin states that no goods were taken. The thieves will have plenty of church pennies for some time to come.
John Weavers, Jr. the rising young carpenter laid a hard wood floor in Tony VanderZalm’s barber shop.
Some of the C. & W. M. passenger engines still wear snowplows there being snow at the northern end of the line.
Jacob Baar has forwarded his bonds as postmaster to Washington. They are in the sum of $16,000 with five sureties.
Notwithstanding that Holland’s post office is of second class and Grand Haven’s third class, far more matter is handled at the Grand Haven office. In fact forty-five percent of the mail matter going through the local office is free. The hundreds of government letters and packages that pass through here for and from the local Federal offices have government frank and do not require postage. Hence they are not figured in the grand total that decides what class a post office belongs to. The receipts of an office fix its grade, whether first 1st, 2nd or 3d class, but in a town with so many government offices as Grand Haven has, it does not necessarily show that there is less mail handled, than in a town with a higher grade office.
It is reported that ex-Alderman C. Nyland is about to engage in the chicken business and will set up a hennery in the 4th ward.
At a meeting held in the Second Christian Reformed church last evening the advisability of establishing a good Holland school in this city was discussed, but no action was taken. The school proposed would teach both English and Holland and would cost $1,000 annually to conduct it.
“You did … … hear the story of the prisoner escaping from Major Ryan while he was sheriff of Muskegon county,” said Henry Sanford today, referring to the article in last night’s TRIBUNE. “I captured the prisoner some days after his escape and had a mighty hard time of it too, and the worst of it was I did not receive the $25 reward offered for the capture by the Muskegon authorities.” That was in the 70’s and Mr. Sanford was acting marshal of the town during the illness of his brother Isaac. Henry was patrolling the streets one day when a Muskegon man approached him, and told him that the prisoner who had escaped from Sheriff Ryan by jumping off a train while being taken to Ionia, was in the city and that very moment was standing near the D., G. H. & M. depot. Marshal Sanford started for the depot, eyed the escapee, approached him and told the fellow he was wanted. No sooner had Mr. Sanford took hold of the fellow, than he was thrown aside by him. Sitting across the street in front of the Kirby House, were the late Judge Arnold and M. H. Ford, the deceased congressman, then a court reporter. Ford hurried to Sanford’s assistance, picking up a club as he went. Sanford took the club and promptly knocked the fellow down with the assistance of Martin Johnson took him to jail. On the to the lockup the prisoner made a desperate attempt to escape, but did not succeed and received such punishment form the doughty acting marshal that for a time it was feared that he would die. He was afterward turned over to the Muskegon officers.
Lumbermen are in deep air over the fact that there is no snow.
A number of summer cottages are being built at Mona Lake.
Coopersville is all stirred up because of the deadly operation of a dog poisoner.
The income tax law goes into effect next January. It provides for the taxation of all income over $3500. Any one who has an income of that amount and fails to report will be deemed guilty of a criminal offense.
Augustus Reese, deaf mute, and well known in this city, was examined as to his sanity this morning in probate court on application of some of his relatives. Reese readily answered all questions applied to him, by writing, and was pronounced sane and not eligible to Kalamazoo asylum. He has had several spells of madness recently and his relatives thought he was becoming insane, but he attributes it to sickness which made him dull and cross.
At a party which was given in this city the other evening the host and hostess were very much chagrined to find within a few hours of the event, that the ice cream and other delicacies which had been prepared for the occasion were missing. It afterward transpired that they had been appropriated by some of the young boys of the neighborhood. The boys it is said participated so freely of the refreshments that they were easily detected.
A watch and chain were taken from the vest of a mason working in the new Court House yesterday. The vest was hanging in one of the rooms of the building. The man who lost the time piece was mourning it as gone for good, but some time this forenoon it was replaced in the vest which the workman again left hanging in the same place it was yesterday. Whoever took the watch probably thought better of his act and replaced it in the rightful owner’s pocket. At any rate there is a little tinge of mystery about the matter.
Michigan will be 57 years a state next Friday.
Prisoners attempting to suicide in the county jail seem to have poor success in that direction. Last October a prisoner in jail for larceny attempted to hang himself but failed and Beach was saved this morning just before departing this vale of tears.
Death of Mrs. Frank Fisher.
Another old resident of Grand Haven has crossed the dark river. Mrs. Frank Fisher died last evening at 8 o’clock from the effects of a stroke of paralysis she sustained some days ago. Deceased was 78 years old of age last September. She came to this country with her husband in 1849 settling first at Buffalo N. Y., where they lived until 1855. Then they emigrated further west and resided at Milwaukee one year. In 1855 they moved to Grand Haven and have lived here ever since.
A husband and five children, Mrs. John Boet of Grand Rapids, Mrs. C. VanDam of of Grand Rapids and Mrs. P. DeHeer, Geo. and John Fisher will mourn her departure, together with a host of relatives and friends in this vicinity.
Funeral will occur Monday afternoon at two o’clock from the residence on fourth St.
Prisoner Beach Attempts Suicide.
Sheriff Keppel left for Detroit this morning having in his custody Chas. Beach and Peter Boersma who will serve sentences in the Detroit House of Correction. Beach was convicted at the last term of court for indecent exposure. Previous to his trial he was confined in jail several months. Judge Padgham yesterday sentenced him to six months in the Detroit House of Correction. Beach said he would never serve the sentence and nearly made his threat good this morning, by an attempt at suicide. He cut open the veins of his wrists and when discovered by the Sheriff was nearly dead from loss of blood. Dr. Reynolds was called and stopped the flow. Beach could not have lived many minutes longer if the bleeding had not been arrested.
The crime for which he was convicted was committed in Nunica. Beach struck the town last summer in search of work and was drunk when arrested.
Peter Boersma is the young man who had been systematically stealing from the money drawer of Wm. Thieleman while an employ of the Kirby House. He was given until yesterday noon to procure his fine of $20 and costs. The money was not forthcoming and he will spend the next 90 days in the Detroit House of Correction.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles of the U. S. Army says “The wheelmen who carried dispatches from Chicago to New York, demonstrated the wretched condition of the American roads. We have wondered for many years what was the trouble with the country; there was so much dissatisfaction. We have discovered what is the trouble with the farmer. It is not the tariff or coinage, the money or the currency, the markets, or the railroads, it is the roads.
Hanging is the only penalty that will check the inclination of murderers. No amount of sickly sentiment, no amount of any kinds of justification, specious reasoning, inner promptings, showering of flowers, or “angelic voices,” by the would-be reformers, should be permitted to in any way justify such heinous crimes. The state of Michigan is becoming the great asylum ground for high-handed murderers.—G. R. Herald.
The mason work at the court house is nearly all finished.
The match factory is doing a rushing business and is behind in its orders.
Rep. Thomas appeared before the committee on rivers and harbors yesterday in the interest of the harbor improvement at South Haven. He said the tonnage at that port had increased from 281,380 in 1892 to 281,730 in 1893.
A mass meeting for men will be held in the Opera House at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon. It will be led by C. M. Steffens, the young preacher who has gained considerable local prominence as acting pastor of the Second Reformed church this winter. H. M. Clarke, of Detroit, state secretary of the Y. M. C. A. will speak. On Monday evening Mr. Clarke will take part in the organization of a Y. M. C. A. as the Young Men’s Band of Christian Workers will be known hereafter.
South Haven boys organized a Jesse James gang and were arrested by the marshal.
Ottawa county has three lifers in Jackson Prison.
We learn that at least one party in this city will put in a bid for the permanent office and court room fixtures of the new court house. The committee meets on Monday to award the contract.—Holland News.
Capt. George Richardson has purchased the handsome and pleasant home erected last year by Supt. E. L. Briggs. This would indicate that the genial and popular captain will make his future home in Grand Haven, at which we rejoice as we certainly cannot afford to lose that kind of man from our midst.
Gold Digging in Agnew.
During the end of last week the excitement in Agnew was intense amongst the followers of Joseph King, the spiritualist medium. The trance medium, Nellie Suits, who claims to be controlled by the spirits of a band of twelve wild Indians revealed to the willing followers that there was a great amount of gold treasure hid on the premises of her father, Dan Suits. A large band of the leading disciples went to work digging, but the first day found nothing. The second day the medium, who was only twelve years of age, located a spot a little to the northwest of her father’s house, where she claimed a large chest of treasures was buried belonging to one Wm. Overton, a half-breed Indian-negro. A circle was formed round the spot, the medium went into a trance, the ghost dance was performed by the leaders of the Agnew spiritualism and digging commenced in earnest. Amongst the spiritualists who were there was noticed Daniel Suits and family, Mrs. Stone, John Cottrell, Charles Darby and family, Emily suits, a medium, Elmer Suits, a medium controlled by a big Indian, Hiram Suits and many others of the common kind. The digging kept up until they struck a box, but before they could take the treasure out of the deep hole it instantly vanished. Their spirits keep up as they are sure that their mediums will locate the gold yet. Agnew had a number of meetings held by a person calling herself Mrs. Stranger and by Joseph King and his man Friday. The woman Stranger disgusted all sensible people by her blasphemous talk and nonsensical incantations. At one of King’s meetings he claimed to raise the dead with the clothes they were buried in. Gotlieb Schultz who died about eighteen years ago on the lakeshore near Rosy Mound, was brought up. Also Mrs. Waite, known in Grand Haven, was brought up and identified by her daughter, Mrs. J. D. Edward. Some others were kissed by deceased relatives. Amongst the audience at one of the séances were Mrs. Hassit and Miss Hannah Roost, teacher, both unbelievers who claim it was the old humbug King who did the kissing and woe be to his black beard if the filthy wretch had attempted to kiss them. Miss Roost got hold of King’s shoulder when he was impersonating a spook but she was unable to hold on to him. The public here are thoroughly disgusted with the business. They want this subject kept out of their schools. Nothing ever happened to Agnew that hurt it as this fanaticism has done. Young estimable ladies have been tried to be seduced into their devilish incantations by mesmerism or hypnotism and it is high time for right thinking people who are raising families to speak out. Work has been at a standstill and many families have suffered from the necessities of life. Those who are at the bottom of this iniquity are despised by all people who want to do right.
The D., G. H. & M. steamers are still bringing over light freight loads.
The match factory is bound to be a success under its present management.
Hicks, the weather prophet, says that January will close with a cold wave.
Sixteen million trout eggs were planted in Lake Michigan last year.
The raffle of Henry Sprick’s pony will come off at 8 o’clock tonight at Koeltz’s.
The bill for a four-million dollar Federal building for Chicago has received the approval of a sub-committee of the House Committee on Public Buildings.
Mr. Dunbar informs the TRIBUNE that the person or persons who stole the ice cream together with the ice cream freezer and also refreshments from his residence have not yet been detected. If captured the guilty parties will be vigorously prosecuted for larceny.
There have been four attempts at suicide by prisoners in the county jail within the past year, but none were successful. Two were by prisoners suffering from the tremens and not responsible for their act, and the other two were the attempts of Brown and Beach.
The Y. M. C. A. of this city believe that with the co-operation of business, moneyed, and retired men of Grand Haven, they can raise enough money to erect an $8,000 building here. They plan to have a building located in the business part of town from which they can derive from $400 to $500 rent; and in which they can have a well-fitted gymnasium.
The loss of traffic from across Lake Michigan causes great privation among the families of men who have been in the habit of working in the freight sheds. There is so little work at resent that the F. & P. M. boats Nos. 1, 2, and 5 are lying idle, while Nos. 3 and 4 alone are kept in commission more to accommodate the passenger traffic than for any other reason.— Ludington Record.
When the sheriff reached the Detroit House of Correction last Friday with prisoner Beach, the authorities there informed him that the fellow had served two terms in the institution before. He hails from Saginaw and not Buffalo as he stated in his trial here. One term was served for drunkenness and one for the same offense he committed in this county. The prison has a name for hard work, which probably accounts for Beach’s attempt to end his life.
Is He a Fraud?
Last Sunday a man who gave his name as Jos. Miller called upon Gustav Hubert at his home on Third St. Miller claimed to be a wealthy farmer living near Ravenna. He came to Mr. Hubert ostensibly on business and ordered made two iron grave monuments and an iron fence such as the masons have around their lots in the cemetery here. Miller also ordered a new wagon of Mr. Hubert.
All this was fair enough, but now comes the funny part of the thing. Miller went from here to Pigeon Creek and entered into a bargain to buy the McCarthy place on the lake shore. It was supposed that the deal was settled and Mr. McCarthy came down here one day last week to have the sale recorded. Miller did not appear.
Also about this time a large quantity of beer arrived at the C. & W. M. freight house from the brewery of Anton Seif in Holland and consigned to the Andres House. Mr. Rue the manager of the hotel did not order the liquor and would not take it. It transpired that he beer was ordered by the man Miller who visited Mr. Hubert last Sunday. He visited Seif’s brewery early last week, giving his name there as Jos. Fisher. He told the brewer that himself and Gustav Hubert were about to take possession of the Andres House bar in Grand Haven and that he wanted to stock the saloon. The man tried to get Seif to advance him money in his enterprise as brewers sometimes do when a new saloon is opened up. Seif did not see himself clear to do so. Then this man Fisher of Miller as he called himself here, went to another firm in Holland and ordered a supply of light liquors or soft drinks and it is said was advanced some money. Nothing has been heard of Fisher since.
Mr. Hubert is indignant that the fellow brought his name into the matter. He had no idea of taking the saloon than the man in the moon. What Miller was after he thinks, was to use his name in connection with the saloon project and then work the brewer to advance him money and then decamp. His purported buying of the McCarthy farm he could use as a blind.
Mr. Seif was here from Holland to day to see the sheriff and have the beer shipped back to Holland. An effort will be made to capture the fraud.
The New School Building.
“The citizens of Grand Haven should do some thinking before accepting the old court house and converting it into a school,” said a gentleman this morning. “In the 1st place the building is old, and to the outlay the city will spend in making a number of necessary changes, a little more might be added and a new building put up instead. Then too, in moving such a structure more or less injury will be sustained by it. Another great objection to the court house is, that its ceilings are very low. This in itself is a serious draw back as ventilation and sanitation are the most needful things in a school room. Furthermore will the citizens ever take pride in showing strangers our new ward school? A public institution, especially a school house should never be an eye sore, as the old court building has been for years. I have considered the matter and think that the people will be better satisfied in the end, if a respectable and neat ward school be erected in Jackson street district.
The steamer Sampson left here for Eastmanville last Friday. She will make several trips from there to Grand Rapids with staves and will then begin making rips down here with wood cargoes.
The year 1894 seems to be a good one for Henry Gravengoed. The first week of the year that enterprising dealer sold two sewing machines, the second week three machines and three organs and last week four machines.
The mass meeting at the Opera House yesterday afternoon for men drew to the hall at least 300 people. C. M. Steffins led the meeting. A. M. Clarke made a few remarks urging the needs and usefulness of a Y. M. C. A. in this city. Prayer and remarks were also made by Rev. Thompson, Rev. Lewis and Rev. Thomas.
The school board at its meeting Friday night instructed the committee on buildings to look over the old court house. This building has been mentioned as the right kind of school the city needs in the Jackson street section and the board will make a thorough examination of the structure, as it has been offered to the city by the supervisors.
Mr. Hull, the originator of the income tax, reports it thus: “I find there is much apprehension as to the amount of income which will be subject to a tax. If, for instance, a man receives a salary of $5,000 a year, the opinion seems to prevail that this entire salary is subjected to a 2 per cent tax. As a matter of fact, however, all classes of incomes have an exemption of $4,000, so that the man receiving a salary of $5,000 would pay a tax on only $1,000.”
A cold wave and an ice maker is coming this way.
Even the snow plows are out of employment, and the snow scrapers have retired into innocuous desuetude. Could times be duller than that?—EX.
Sailors say that an open winter is bad for the harbors. The sand hills being bare allows the wind to move the sand into the channels and necessitates dredging in the spring.
The membership of the Grand Haven Athletic club is rapidly nearing the 50 mark. New apparatus is placed in the “gym” and this morning a chest weighting apparatus arrived from the Narragansett Machine Co. of Providence, and exerciser that is a whole gymnasium in itself. The members of the club are figuring on getting grounds next summer suitable for outdoor athletic games and it may not be many years before they will be competing in games of skill and strength with the clubs of other towns.
The raffle of Henry Sprick, Jr’s. pony, saddle and bridle occurred in Jos. Koeltz’s last night. Number 88 held by Wm. VanSchelven drew the prize.
Death of Rev. LeMoyne S. Smith.
Crowned with honorable years, Rev. L. M. S. Smith died at four o’clock this morning at his home on Washington avenue.
Rev. Smith was born in Tompkins county, New York, on Feb. 8, 1808. While still a young man he studied for the ministry and eventually became a Presbyterian pastor. In 1848 he came west and settled at what was then known as Mill Point, which in later years became Spring Lake. He was the first postmaster of that pioneer village; long before the forests were exterminated in this vicinity and while the native tribes of Indians still roamed wild in this section. There were no railroads then and the only communication with the outside world was through the stage, the roving hunters, or the coasting schooners of Lake Michigan. For a number of years Rev. Smith kept a drug store at Mill Point.
Rev. Wm. Ferry and Rev. Smith were among the first ministers to settle in this locality. Rev. Smith could relate many an anecdote of the early pioneers of Ottawa county and of the primitive and simple manner of living in that period.
After fourteen years residence in Mill Point, Rev. Smith removed to Grand Haven in 1862. During the exciting years of the war and for some years thereafter he published and edited the Grand Haven Union. The paper was a fearless exponent of all that the editor thought right, and was typical of the nature of the publisher. Copies of the paper are preserved by families in this city as valuable relics of war days. Besides editing the Union, Rev. Smith was a period assistant revenue assessor in this district.
When Rutherford B. Hayes took the Presidential chair in 1877 after the most memorable contest for the Presidency on record, he appointed Rev. Smith postmaster of Grand Haven. Mr. Smith served his term acceptably and was followed by S. C. Glover.
For many years Rev. and Mrs. Smith lived on the corner of Washington and Fourth streets in this city, but the past ten or twelve years their home has been on Washington avenue in the Fourth ward.
Mr. Smith has led a retired life of late, but despite his advanced years his erect form was often seen on the street. A very religious man, he attended meeting nearly every Sunday in the old Presbyterian church, where he had communed for so many years, unless prevented by rough weather.
He was a deep student even to the last and had an ever ready pen. Many of his newspaper articles were written under a nom de plume treating of local matters of interest, and bristled with logic and good points.
Rev. Smith was also author of many verses by no means inferior. He has written a number of poems for occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays in his later years.
He was respected and known by nearly all residents of Grand Haven and always had a kindly word for his friends. The past winter he conducted a Sunday School at his home, and had as his pupils a large number of neighbor children, whom he taught the meaning of the Bible.
Like all lovers of nature Rev. Smith took great delight in plants and fruits and could often be seen in his little garden.
Some thee weeks ago Rev. and Mrs. Smith contracted la grippe. Mr. Smith has been gradually growing weaker and the grip together with other complications undermined his strong constitution and his demise early this morning was peaceful. He was conscious to the last and realized his coming death. He has often said that he was long past the allotted life of man and was ready to die when the summons came.
The immediate relatives of Rev. Smith are his wife, Mrs. Young of Chicago and Miss Anna Smith of Muskegon who were at his death bed.
The funeral will occur Thursday at two o’clock from the residence.
The High School glee club will probably follow the example of the college glee clubs and start on a tour of the country towns shortly.
Grand River navigable in mid winter is something that, the stream has not been for a number of years past, up to this winter. The steamer Sampson has been making trips off and on all this winter and is now at Eastmanville preparing for a trip to Grand Rapids with staves.
Grand Haven’s Y. M. C. A. makes the 34th organization of that association in Michigan.
Manton, 116 miles north of Grand Rapids, is the first town in the state to boast of pansies in full bloom during the January thaw.
Thirty-fourth Y. M. C. A.
Last evening witnessed the birth of an institution that will be a permanent blessing to the young men of our city. For almost two years the members of what has been known as the Young Men’s Band have begun and carried out a wok for the sole benefit of the young men of Grand Haven, in rooms over Gale’s grocery store, which are fitted up in a manner to please and to draw young men from places where their associations would not be up lifting.
The present society starts in with furnishings worth $150.00 and money in the treasury. Those present last evening contributed enough to pay some $40 of debt. After reports from different committees, a new constitution to conform with the regular Y. M. C. A. was adopted and a board of directors consisting of the following twelve gentlemen were elected: Directors; J. D. Duursema, F. Albers, Prof. Estabrook, John Vaupell, Peter Klaver, C. N. Addison, J. J. Bolt, P. VerDuin, H. Dornbos, N. I. Beaudry, T. Knight and S. M. Wright.
The members have shown their wisdom in their selection of the above business men to control the future of the society.
It has hardly been decided as to what will be the immediate policy of the society other than to foster and strengthen the present work and as soon as consistent to branch out and enlarge the advantages of the Association. The first regular meeting of the board of directors will occur on next Monday evening in the young men’s rooms when articles of association will be drawn and a copy forwarded to the Secretary of State, and another filed with the County Clerk. Officers of the Association will then be elected and a permanent, persistent work begun.
The young men look forward to the time when they will see a building built for their use that will be an ornament to our city and the 34th Y. M. C. A. of the stat of Michigan will be known as one of the most prosperous in the family of Associations in our state.
The regiments of Illinois have each a bicycle detachment organization, and an amendment will be introduced in the General Assembly, asking that a bicycle corps be authorized by law.
In other winters our coldest snap is experienced about this time.
The wood men feel melancholy no longer.
In size Michigan is the twenty-first state in the union.
An arctic blizzard coming this way from Manitoba.
Hi Potts, the historian and journalist of Ottawa County, ran up from the Haven yesterday and dined at the New Livingston.—G. R. Herald.
No use of yelling before we get out of the woods. The prospects of two months of hard winter weather are before us.
Rev. L. M. S. Smith, during the war, was appointed by President Lincoln as commissioner to take the vote of the Michigan soldiers in Sherman’s army at Atlanta.
The court house building commitment has been in session since Monday deliberating upon the buying of furnishings and fixtures for the new building. A Grand Rapids firm has been given the contract for the permanent office furnishings, and today the board is considering the bids of firms desirous to put in the vault fittings and metal work.
The carpenters are doing some fine work on the inside of our handsome new court house.
Akeley Institute has a new scholar and it is said she is the most charming young lady in attendance.
There is a very swift current in the river, giving very little chance for ice to form.
Several handsome new residences are being figured on to go up in this city the coming spring and summer.
Oscar Flint a Milwaukee sailor had too big a load on to properly navigate Grand Haven streets and was arrested. Judge Pagelson sent him to jail for eight days. John Stanton who attempted to pilot his friend to a lodging house and ran amuck of the “coppers” goes over for ten days.
In an article appearing in our paper several days ago about the post office we should have stated what is a fact, that the revenue of this office has something to make their revenue smaller than Holland and that is, two offices within one and one-half miles of this office. Our enterprising neighbors at Holland have no office as near to them to cut down the revenue.
The Court House building committee consisting of Mayor Bloecker, G. W. McBride, S. H. Boyce, Roswell Lillie, C. Van Loo, E. J. Pruim, J. Kerhof and G. VanSchelven visited the Muskegon Court House yesterday to look over the furnishings and fixtures. The committee was accompanied by W. K. Johnston the architect and C. Dinicke representing a Chicago office furniture firm.
Some one stole an over coat and also an under coat which were hanging in Kooiman’s saloon between 5 and 6 o’clock last evening. The coats belonged to John Kooiman and he did not discover the theft until he started for home at 6 o’clock. Five or six men were sitting in the saloon between the hours mentioned but none of them noticed anybody taking the coat. Suspicion pointed to tramps but no arrests have been made.
The death of Rev. L. M. S. Smith leaves only one ex-postmaster of Grand Haven now living here. We refer to Geo. D. Sanford, postmaster in the Cleveland administration. The postmasters of this city from the year 1852 to the present time were: Ebenezer W. Barns, deceased; Hamilton Jones, deceased; Hollis Taylor, deceased; Ada Reynolds, deceased; L. M. S. Smith, deceased; S. C. Glover, now of Chicago; Geo. D. Sanford, of this city, and T. A. Parish, present postmaster.
The new engine at the electric plant works like a top.
The Grand Rapids superintendent of police is driving out all the nickel in the slot machines in the city.
It may seem a little singular. But it is nevertheless a fact, that the amount of westbound freight now being handled by the Ludington and Grand Haven steamers is in excess of the freight eastward bound.
Free Press: There is a good healthy and commendable sentiment in this country against prize fighting, but there will be millions of disappointed in this civilized world of ours if the papers of January 26th do not contain a full account of the “scientific contest” between Corbett and Mitchell.
My heart is in the Highlands,
My heart is not here.
My heart is in the Highlands
A chasing a deer,
A chasing the wild deer,
And following the roe—
My heart is in the Highlands
Wherever I go.
—Burns
Freight is picking up. The Roanoke’s cargo yesterday amounted to 1,000 tons.
The same surfmen will probably represent Grand Haven’s life saving station next year.
Marshal Klaver had a narrow escape from being run down by a reckless driver this noon.
It is often said, “why the ordinance to keeping clean the sidewalks is not enforced.” It would be well if some of our city fathers and officers would set an example, and then talk about others.
CITIZEN.
Grand Haven gives Muskegon her weather now and we will make an effort to keep the Sawdust Town harbor frozen over until June. Reports are sent from the government station here to the P. O. and American Express office in Muskegon.
All over the land the Scotch people are today celebrating the birth of their great poet Robert Burns. His poems gained a place in the hearts of the Scots long years ago, and undoubtedly will be held in the same reverence one hundred years from now. Burns was born in a little wayside cottage near the town of Ayr on the southeast Scottish coast on the 25th of January, 1759. His life was spent among the common people and his productions, in the quaint Scottish dialect, dealt mostly of them. Most of his poems are sympathetic in tone, typical of the life of Burns, and strike a popular chord. The poet died July 21, 1798, at the early age of 38 years.
The little village of Fennville will have electric lights.
Grand Haven society may be surprised but the girl referred to as Julia Livingston in the little book entitled the “Rise and Fall of Boomtown” actually worked in a Grand Haven hotel, and the story of her experiences are practically true. The price of the book is only 15 cents, and it is for sale at all book stores.
For U. S. Senator.
We have a communication from a prominent Republican which we fully endorse, suggesting Hon. Dwight Cutler of this city for United States Senator to succeed Senator McMillan next winter.
In ability, business and otherwise; in knowledge of the wants and legislation of the state and Nation, in allegiance to and work for the Republican party, in popularity created by public enterprise and large private charity, Mr. Cutler is not behind either of the present senators. Let him push to the front for senator.
Peter Deneau has returned from Montague.
The Scotch of this city will celebrate the birthday of their famous poet, Burns, by having a little social time in Maccabee hall tonight.
The court house building committee finished yesterday the longest single session they have had, lasting three days and two nights. During the session much important business was transacted. Fourteen bids were received for the permanent office fixtures and the contract let to the Grand Rapids School Furniture Co. There were three bids for furnishing the vault fixtures, from Jamestown, N. Y., Rochester and Milwaukee firms. The Fenton Metallic Co. of Jamestown, N. Y. got the contract. Their bid was $1,500. Both contracts are to be completed within 60 days and we are assured that when finished we will have as fine a court house as there is in Michigan. A number of applications have been received for the position of court house janitor but no one has as yet been appointed. There have also been several applications for the basement offices, which would make suitable law offices.
The city’s sidewalk snow plow made the route on several of the streets today doing good service. The plow should make a trip as far as the sidewalk extends on Washington Ave., and be of benefit to Fourth Warders.
Nothing has been learned of the whereabouts of Jos. Miller alias Fisher. Seip, the Holland brewer, shipped his beer back home, but the pop and light bottled liquors Miller ordered are still at the depot uncalled for.
Barring the climate of southern California, it is no exaggeration to say that ours is the most superb climate in this great Union. It demonstrates itself in every season; the mild and halcyon days of spring, our beautiful summer weather, charming autumns and moderate winters have no equal. All over the country suffered from the terrible cold yesterday, the mercury in many places further south 200 miles than we are, going to 20 degrees below zero. The coldest it was here was 10 degrees above, government thermometer. It may be warmer in the far south but the malaria tainted earth of that section is a drawback from which we do not suffer. When praising West Michigan never forget the climate.
The masons have finished their job in the new court house.
Representative Richardson urges the River and Harbor Committee of the House to make good appropriation for Grand Haven and Holland harbors and the Grand River project.
The Scotch people of this city to the number of about 150 congregated in the Maccabee Hall last night, and celebrated the birth of the poet Robert Burns. A number of recitations and songs were rendered in the Scottish dialect, although no regular program had been arranged. Wm. Kelly sang “The Barrin o’ Door,” in a way that won for him great applause. Wm. McLeod, Peter Sinclair and Miss Alice Burd also delighted those present with several selections. Mr. John Simpson officiated as toast master. Alexander Minta gave a clever exhibition of the sword dance. Dancing participated in by nearly all, closed a most enjoyable evening.
What looked like a big conflagration called out the fire department at 7:30 o’clock last night. It proved to be a straw stack on fire in the rear of Johnston’s plumbing shop on Washington street.
King the spiritualist medium who gave séances in this vicinity and who was arrested in Battle Creek for fraud was released on one charge and immediately re-arrested on a similar one.
Behind Their Orders.
We received the following letter this morning which explains itself:
“On account of the interest Grand Haven, Grand Rapids and Muskegon people will naturally feel in the little book entitled, “Rise and Fall of Boomtown,’ we had hoped to be able to furnish the principal book dealers of those towns with them before this. But on account of the rapid sales here our first edition is entirely exhausted and it will probably be a month, or three weeks at best, before we can supply the outside demand.”
PUBLISHER,
Chicago.
It is stated that thousands of dead fish are floating ashore at the southern end of Lake Michigan.
Members of the Y. M. B. C. W. still visit the jail every Sunday and talk to the prisoners.
About thirty of the society people of this city attended Panjandrum at the Muskegon Opera House last night. The house was crowded and the play one of the best ever produced on Muskegon stage.
The Grand Haven Courier-Journal of last week bloomed forth with an extra sheet. It contained a full two pages of their enterprising city; also a brief description of some of its commercial advantages and business interests, etc.—Coopersville News.
The following firms bid on the contract for supplying the furnishings for the new Court House: Caraley Mfg. Co., Chicago; Connant Bros. Furn. Co., Toledo, Ohio; Kelley Bros. Mfg. Co., Muskegon, Mich; A. J. Ward, Flint, Mich.; Jas. Huntley, Holland, Mich.; Grand Rapids School Furniture Co.; Ketchum Furn. Co., Toledo, O; U. S. Desk Mfg. Co., Chicago; A. H. Andrews & Co., Chicago; Cassell & Son, Peoria, Ill.; Am. Office Fitting Co., Chicago; Geo. L. Peterson & Co., Chicago; Chicago Store and Office Fixture Co. The Grand Rapids firm got it, their bid being $2968.
Washington street was crowded with small boy “hitchers” today.
The cold weather is bringing in lots of wood from the rural districts.
Captain Kemp of Bangor, who built a sail boat in 1892, to take his family to Florida and spend last winter on the Illinois river, is now about half way down the Mississippi.
There are many German residents of this city and vicinity who served in the German army. Many have also been in active service in France – German and Austrian – German wars. Rev. Kammerer of this city served as an orderly to Prince Bismarck in the Austrian war and is well acquainted with the great German statesman.
John C. Post one of Holland’s enterprising business men donated one hundred dollars to the Young Men’s Christian Association of that city. Grand Haven has more than one hundred that could better afford to give that amount to the noble band of Christian workers of this city than John C. Post could to the association at Holland. Mr. Post is one of Holland’s gritty, enterprising business men, always at home, and abroad has a good word for his home and instead of trying to cut the throat and stab the men that are today building up Holland, he has a kind word, and good cheer for them, and by this course has been a great power in gaining the great success of that prosperous and enterprising city.
Capt. Harry Smith, the veteran seaman, died this afternoon. He had been sick for some time and his death was hourly expected during the past few days. Sailor to the last, the old captain remarked to a friend who visited him the other day, “yes my cable is slipping.” He was known my nearly every resident of Grand Haven. A more extended notice will be given Monday.
Hon. Thos. Gilbert of Grand Rapids is one of the pioneer settlers of the Grand River Valley who is still prominent in business life. He was one of the first postmasters of Grand Haven while still a village.
Many memories will undoubtedly cluster around the old Court House long after it is removed from its present site to serve another purpose. For years it has been the scene of all the exciting county conventions and many a noted trial. County officers long since dead have served the people of Ottawa in the old building. Scores of prisoners have been sent to Jackson and other state penitentiaries from that court, and many of the recollections are far from pleasant, but still the old structure will be looked upon with a kindly eye after serving us so well.
The farmer will be the principal beneficiaries, from road reform, but the benefit will be extended to all classes and its effects upon business must be of greatest importance. The movement should command the support of every citizen and wherever a man is found with moss-covered ideas of progression he should be an especial object of consideration by his neighbors.—Rochester Democrat.
To the Dutch this country owes much. Even the stars and stripes are derived from the Dutch colors. Orange, white and blue were the colors of the Dutch republic of the proceeding century and appeared on the banners of the New York regiments. By a simple change of the first they were made into our national colors. Fifteen years later the same colors were chosen to represent the new French republic, and red was then held to represent the blood of patriots, white the purity of patriotism and blue the smiles of heaven.
TRAGEDY IN ROBINSON.
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Shooting Affray in the Little Village.
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David Hawkins Commits Suicide.
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Ottawa County is stirred by a tragedy
for the first time in many years.
A messenger in haste, reached here from the village of Robinson about seven o’clock Saturday night. He brought the news of a shooting affray in that village, and was in search of a physician and the sheriff. It did not take long to find Dr. Walkley and Sheriff Keppel, who left for the country post haste. News of a murder in Robinson became noised about the street and those few parties who knew anything of the affair were kept busy replying to queries. “Heard anything of the murder,” was the one question which everybody seemed to have on their lips Saturday night and the morbid curiosity which anything of that kind arouses, was noticeable.
The shooting occurred Saturday afternoon between the hours of four and five, in the little country village of Robinson, about 12 miles southeast of this city. David Hawkins shot and dangerously wounded his wife. The would be murderer then fired upon two citizens who attempted to arrest him, and he in turn was shot down by Wm. Foster, the well known store keeper of Robinson, and died yesterday afternoon.
The details of the tragedy is simply a recital of domestic infelicity. The Hawkins family are comparatively new residents of Robinson. They moved here last spring from Texas where Hawkins had resided for a number of years. He seemed to be of a roving, restless disposition, not content long, with a place of residence. He claimed to be a practical farmer and had experience in a number of states where he had lived. At the time of moving here, Hawkins seemed very jubilant over his prospects. The place where he was to live seemed to suit him and he remarked, that he was going to settle down and spend his days there.
All seemed to go well with Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins. They appeared to live together happily. But of late Hawkins became suspicious of his wife, and being by nature, seemingly, a very jealous man, those suspicions were easily aroused. Perhaps he was right. His wife, in Hawkins mind was altogether too intimate with one, Ellsworth. Ellsworth is a married man living near Hawkins’. Up to a short time ago he carried the country mail from Holland to Robinson.
Hawkins began to brood and he became more suspicious that Ellsworth was visiting his wife. He determined to play a ruse. Last Tuesday morning Hawkins told his wife that he was going to the woods to chop wood. The woman never mistrusted him, but Hawkins only went as far as his barn. From that point of vantage he watched his house. His fears were realized for it was not long before Ellsworth came to the house and entered. After waiting a little while Hawkins left the barn for the house with desperate feelings. Before entering he heard is wife remark “be careful.” He discovered his wife and Ellsworth in a very compromising position. A melee followed. Hawkins and Ellsworth engaged in a rough and tumble for fifteen minutes. The latter was put out of the house, but Mrs. Hawkins accompanied him to his home and declared she would no longer live with her husband.
Hawkins came down to this city in search of the prosecuting attorney. Mr. Visscher was not in the city that day and Hawkins is said to have gone to Holland to see him. His intention is said to have been to institute proceedings against the couple. Nothing was done at that time. Hawkins was in the city again Friday and told a number of people of his troubles with his wife, and of his discovery of her in the company of Ellsworth. He seemed worried, wrought up and nervous over the matter and is said to have remarked that he would have killed his wife and Ellsworth last Wednesday together, if a gun would have been handy. In the course of events it is indeed wonderful that both were not shot at that time.
Before leaving the city on his return, Hawkins purchased a bottle of chloroform. He told friends that he was going to kill several people in the country and also put an end to his own life.
It was with a heart brimming with vengeance, that Hawkins left his house Saturday afternoon. There was murder in his heart and he carried a loaded double barreled shot gun to carry out that spirit. The gun was loaded with No. 4 shot, very fine, and about 200 to a charge. Hawkins went to the Ellsworth house where is wife was. It seemed that she saw him coming, and knowing his nature left the house terrified. Hawkins espied her and followed her down the country road. When within about two rods of the women, Hawkins lifted his gun to his shoulder and pulled away. A shriek from the woman and she fell forward with a charge of shot in her back and shoulders.
Neighbors heard the shooting and shrieking. Two of them, Milo Hatch and a man named Powell started towards Hawkins. The latter seemed crazed and did not want his bloody work interfered with. He fired at them point blank, either two or three times, and it is a miracle that they were not sounded seriously or killed. As it is, both were stuck but the shot did not penetrate the clothing. Powell was struck by a spent shot and fell over, but luckily more scared than hurt.
Wm. Foster, a big red-whiskered store keeper of the township was a witness to the affray. Hawkins was chasing Hatch and Powell around a barn and firing at them. At this juncture, Foster ran to his house and got is shot gun which was loaded with a big charge of buck shot. He called upon Hawkins to surrender. He would not, and to protect the lives of the two men, foster fired, Hawkins dropped. He had been given his quietus. Maddened unto desperation, he had been shot down by Foster to protect the lives of others.
Before starting on his rounds Hawkins had swallowed the contents of a bottle containing chloroform. After being shot he seemed to pass into a sort of lethargy from which he never awakened. This was caused by the chloroform he had taken and it was that drug that killed him, as none of the wounds from Foster’s gun were sufficient to cause death.
Hawkins was carried into a vacant store building. He lay there until yesterday about 10 o’clock in the forenoon when his pulse ceased beating. He had not uttered a word from the time he was shot.
The people of Robinson are greatly stirred up over the terrible affair. For a short time back the undue intimacy of Mrs. Hawkins and Abe Ellsworth furnished fund for gossip among the neighbors. She was Hawkins’ second wife and he felt very proud of her; Mrs.Hawkins being a handsome appearing woman.
Hawkins was about 58 years of age. In build he was short but stocky, and very dark. Originally, it is thought that he hailed from New York state. He was an old soldier and drew a pension. For a number of years previous to going to Texas he had lived in Michigan, somewhere near the city of Port Huron. It was during the residence there that he became acquainted with his last wife. The man was married once before and prior to coming here had lived in Texas six years. There his first wife died and he has a son living in that state. The boy, though, it is said goes by another name. Hawkins married his last wife about two years ago. She is a sister of Wm. Kefgen, a former storekeeper in the town of Robinson. Mrs. Hawkins wished to live there and herself selected the farm where they had been living.
Public feeling in the neighborhood is all in Hawkins favor. The cause of the entire trouble, if popular talk goes for aught, is the man Abe Ellsworth. Since the terrible affair it transpires that the latter has been in trouble of that kind before. Beyond a shadow of a doubt David Hawkins would be living today, but for Abe Ellsworth.
For some time Hawkins suspected evil of the intimacy of his wife and Ellsworth. Last Monday he hid in his barn and watched. He saw his wife go to Ellsworth’s house. On Tuesday, Hawkins told his wife he was going to chop wood about two miles away. Purposely he walked by Ellsworth’s house. Instead of going to the wood, Hawkins went but half way and then came back to his house over the country fields. Quietly slipping into his barn, Hawkins watched his house from a window. He saw Ellsworth go in. Hawkins hurried to the house and discovered the man with his arms about his wife’s waist. Ellsworth was thrown out. Hawkin’s wife begged forgiveness, but she only remained a half an hour in her home after that, and then went over to Ellsworth’s house. She stated that she would not live with her husband any longer.
Hawkins hastened to this city, and visited the marshal, sheriff and Justice Pagelson with the view of having his wife and her lover arrested for adultery. As he had no strong proof nothing could be done in the matter.
Ed. Rawlings of Robinson witnessed this shooting of Mrs. Hawkins. He was here this morning and told the following story. “I saw Hawkins approach the Ellsworth house. He had a double barrel shot gun over his shoulder but from what I saw afterward, I do not think he intended to shoot is wife. I saw her run from the house down the road, Hawkins walking briskly behind her but did not run. He called out, “stop Annie, stop Annie.” When about two rods from the woman he put his gun to his shoulder and fired. She screamed and fell, Hawkins walked up to her as she lay in the road, and talked to her but do not know what passed between them.”
It may have been possible that Hawkins did not intend to shoot his wife. He is said to have stated that Ellsworth was the one he was after. That gentleman was not at home when Hawkins came to his house. He was down the road about two miles and a messenger who knew his whereabouts hastened and told him to keep scarce. Ellsworth obeyed the warning or undoubtedly he would not be in the land of the living today. Hawkins waited around for Ellsworth to complete his bloody work. He went down the road in search of the man but came back, thinking probably Ellsworth would arrive at the house shortly. By this time Hawkins had worked himself into a terrible frenzy. He warned bystanders not to interfere with him as he could not control himself. Milo Hatch and John Powell approached him. He started after them and chased them around the barn and shot two times at the two men. Both escaped miraculously.
Wm. Foster to frighten Hawkins, fired a gun which he had run and got from his house. Hawkins did not desist and then Foster shot at him and the affray was over.
One of the buckshots struck Hawkins back of the left ear. Whether this wound caused his death the post mortem today will decide. It is thought not, however. The shot undoubtedly struck the rounding bone and glanced off. Another shot was found in Hawkin’s side. It did not penetrate any further than the skin however and did no injury. That Hawkins died by his own hand is the universal belief in the neighborhood. Before starting out on his errand of death he swallowed the chloroform in the little vial. Excitement buoyed him up during the ordeal or the drug must surely have got in its work before. When Foster shot, Hawkins was eighteen rods from him and the spent shot together with the drug caused Hawkins to lose consciousness forever. For a time he seemed to be gaining and signs of returning consciousness were noticeable. The sheriff left late Saturday night. A deputy was placed to guard Hawkins should he awaken. He breathed his last in the vacant store about ten o’clock yesterday morning. A coffin for his remains was purchased in this city today.
Mrs. Hawkins is painfully though not dangerously wounded. She received the charge from her husband’s gun mostly in her left side. Her left shoulder, back, neck and cheek were peppered with fine birdshot.
The question may arise, “What does Mrs. Ellsworth have to say about the actions of her husband?” She believes him guiltless and told the sheriff in an honest, candid manner that her husband would do no such thing as he was charged with. The woman is a firm believer that her husband is all right. She thought it all right that Mrs. Hawkins should stay with them. Mrs. Hawkins is at the Ellsworth home now. Neither the Hawkins or the Ellsworth people have children.
The case is indeed a peculiar one, especially that part of it where Mrs. Ellsworth allows Mrs. Hawkins to stay in her home, and has the stay in her home, and has the utmost faith in the virtues of her husband.
A friend of Hawkins lets a little inside light to the matter which occurred between the latter and his wife. Hawkins had some papers which he said would do him a great deal of harm should anyone get them. He had made a metallic box and placed inside strange papers and had the box soldered. His wife it seems, was curious to know what the box contained and broke it open. This matter is also said to have caused him a great deal of worry. This incident happened during his late domestic troubles. The box is said to have contained deeds to the property Hawkins owned in Texas.
Before the marriage, it is said, that the present Mrs. Hawkins wished to know quite badly what his means were. He told her he had enough to support a wife.
Wm. Foster was in the city this morning. He spoke freely of the shooting. Mr. Foster is a man of 40 years of age. He is a storekeeper in Robinson and has always borne a good reputation. Mr. Foster said, “I fired twice at Hawkins, once to scare him only and the second fire I brought him down. Before the shooting he told me not to interfere with him, that he did not know what might posses him. Then Hawkins began shooting at Hatch and Powell and I blazed away. Do not think that Hawkins spoke after he fell. The charge I had in my gun was buck shot and Hawkins was about 18 rods away when I fired.”
Foster will probably not have to go through, even the formality of a trial, unless at the examination today it is found that the shot behind the dead man’s ear penetrated his skull. If not it will undoubtedly be a verdict of death by his own hand from the effects of chloroform. Sheriff Keppel and Dr. Walkley left this morning to attend post mortem.
The tragedy is the first sensation of this kind in this vicinity for years. It caused and excitement second only to that caused by the Green murder and the Cary murder of the early 80s, since which time the county has been remarkably free from crimes of the kind. The killing of young Dyk in Olive last fall by Frank DeVries is the only affair of late years that approaches it.
In this connection it is a little curious coincidence that Wm. Kooyer’s store in which Dyk was shot down, is now on the mail route which Abe Ellsworth traversed up to a short time ago.
The way everything transpired in the Robinson tragedy rendered arrests not necessary. Hawkins is probably the only person who would have been arrested, but his death settled that. A deputy was guarding him when he died.
The Goodrich Transportation Company’s winter steamers are well patronized by passengers the present season.
The Saranac local says, “Jerry Boynton, the promoter of the Lowell & Hastings road is now endeavoring to induce the people of Barry county to make a donation for the building of a road from Grand Rapids to Battle Creek. The people in the vicinity where he is working can get a few pointers from Freeport.”
Death of Capt. Harry Smith.
Captain Harry Smith died peacefully at his home Saturday afternoon after an illness of several weeks.
Cat. Smith was born in Denmark on the Island Fernan about the year 1810. His given name was John Henry but few knew him except as Capt.”Harry.” There are not many people in this or any other county who have traveled so much as he. Probably there is not a sea lying country on earth that Capt. Smith has not visited.
His natural surroundings evinced in him the desire to go to sea and at an early age he was with his father in a small vessel, in the coasting trade between Norway and Denmark. When only 18 years old he ran away and went before the mast on an English ship, sailing from England to India.
He also served in his early years on a vessel engaged in smuggling opium from China to Bombay, India. Also sailed on slaving vessels and those engaged in the palm oil trade from the African coast.
He was once a member of an expedition that went far inland up the River Niger in Africa. Africa is wild now, but it was far worse then and a peril beset every mile traveled in the journey, to the very heart of the Dark Continent.
In 1836 he served as a marine in the U. S. service in Florida. The Seminole war was then at its height.
For a number of years he sailed on American merchant ships. He was mate on a number of the finest sailing ships that navigated the Atlantic. A practical sailor he had no equal before the mast and was one of the best old time sailors.
He became acquainted with his wife on a voyage from Havre to New York in 1853. From New York he came to Chicago and ever after his sailing was on the unsalted seas. The first boat on which he sailed on the great lakes, was the Arrow which was lost off Chicago in the ‘50s.
The captain has also commanded the Michigan Belle, Three Sisters, Storm, Sebastopol, Spartan, Sea Gull and Gladiator.
After leaving the lake the captain for a number of years served as a light house keeper here. Of late years he has been bridge tender of the south channel bridge.
An artist could well have taken Capt. “Harry” as a perfect model of an old salt. His favorite position in the summer days was to stand and lean forward on the rail of the bridge and spin yarns of his sea life. When in that position his pipe would invariably be turned upside down and his cap be on one side of his head. He looked then exactly as do the old retired seamen of Gloucester or any port on the Atlantic. Kind and jolly he was not often alone, but always had a crowd of eager listeners to the many sea tales he had at his tongue’s end.
The old captain had led a long an varied life and felt ready to die. He was conscious during his long illness but grew weak.
He leaves a wife and four children; Chris of Montague, Mrs. Capt. Coleman of Muskegon, and Mrs. Lysander Davidson and Miss Maggie of this city.
The funeral occurred from the first Reformed church this afternoon.
The little steamer Antelope is housed in for the winter at Spring Lake.
Eighteen ninety four promises to furnish an early spring and a beautiful harvest.
It will be a year next Saturday that the steamer Roanoke ran on the beach just south of the piers during a terrible gale.
Some one took a night shirt from the clothes line of a family living on Columbus street last night and left it on the porch of the house. The owner wishes to thank the party for leaving it on the premises also for leaving the clothes pins.
Information wanted of the where-abouts of Flemon Hurly, who lived in Spring Lake in 1990. Ten thousand dollars has been left him. Anyone knowing of his where-abouts drop a card or send his picture to Walter L. Preston, 41 Winchester St., Boston Mass.
Probably no other county in the state has so many horsemen as has Ottawa county. Zeeland is a regular hot bed of horse enthusiasts. So is Holland and Grand Haven. Last but not least comes Spring Lake containing the famous Floral Stock Farm owned by Thos. Savidge. This is one of the most complete stock farms in Michigan. It was from this farm that Geo. St. Clair was produced. Geo. St. Clair made a record of 2:15 and a fraction in a race at Lexington and is one of the fastest horses bred in Michigan.
A sleigh ride party will leave from here to Muskegon tomorrow night.
The population of Michigan in 1890 was 2,093,889. Of these 1,691,780 were males and 1,002,109 females. 1,550,009 were native born and 543,880 foreign born. Colored people in the state number 21,005.
The Supreme court has decided that when a holder of the land fails to pay taxes thereon and fails to take advantage of “his day in court” the land must be sold and there is no redress.
Through the kindness of Mr. D. A. Lane, Akeley Gymnasium rejoices in a splendid foot ball of A. C. Spalding & Co’s make. It is most popular and the girls owe much pleasure to Mr. Lane’s generosity.
Marshal Klaver now owns a valuable two year old colt the sire of which is Royal George and the dam by Swigger. The marshal has trained and produced many a valuable piece of trotting horse flesh. He brought out Crepe McNett and Minion. Also the fleet mare Priscilla now owned by Dwight Cutler, jr., having a record of 2:29. During the days when he had more time to devote to horses he owned such famous stallions as Turk and Sam Houston. Turk is now owned in Holland and Houston in Wisconsin.
The verdict in the post mortem over the remains of David Hawkins renders a trial not necessary. Even if the verdict had been “Death from a gun shot wound,” there is very little doubt of Wm. Foster being acquitted.
Verdict of Suicide.
The postmortem examination of David Hawkins in Robinson yesterday resulted in a verdict of suicide from the effects of chloroform. Justice Walter conducted the examination. The shot that stuck Hawks behind the ear was found to have glanced off and did not penetrate the skull. In the dead man’s pocket a note was found in which he stated that his personal property be bequeathed to Ed. Rawlings of Robinson, providing that the latter would see that he was decently buried. The note also said something of sending the bill to his son in Texas.
Mrs. Hawkins will gradually recover from her painful wounds and no serious results are feared. Ellsworth did not appear at the examination yesterday.
Ottawa county has furnished a number of presidential electors. The first was Rix Robinson who was elector in the election of 1848. Thomas D. Gilbert formerly of this county was elector at large in the last Lincoln campaign. Jacob Den Harder of Zeeland was an elector from this district in the Hayes-Tilden campaign. Dwight Cutler was elector at large in the Blaine-Cleveland campaign of ’84 and Isaac Cappon of Holland served the same capacity in the last presidential election.
The West Point system of discipline will be tried in some of the higher grades of Central school. Blue certificates will be awarded at the close of each month to pupils who have made a record of 90 per cent or over in studies pursued, and in deportment have been neither absent nor tardy. Red certificates will be given to those whose standing are 80 or above. Black certificates will be given to those not entitled to blue or red.
It is said that there are some people in Robinson who do not think Abe Ellsworth was unduly intimate with Mrs. David Hawkins. Hawkins is spoken of as a very jealous man and was enraged whenever he saw his wife talking with Ellsworth. There are some too who are inclined to think that Hawkins was the least bit crazy.
Michigan has furnished the United States a secretary of State, two secretaries of Interior, a secretary of War, a postmaster general, a president of the Senate protempore, during the eventful days after the Hayes campaign.
The first regular meeting of the Y. M. C. A. directors occurred last evening and the following officers were elected: pres. J. J. Bolt, Vice Pres. J. B. Estabrook, Sec. P. Ver Duin. Treas. S. M. Wright. The term of service of the directors was decided by lot, those to serve for one year are J. D. Duursema, H. J. Dornbos, J. B. Bolt, C. N. Addison,; for two years, S. M. Wright, T. Knight, T. Albers, P. Klaver; for three years, John Vaupell, P. Ver Duin, N. I. Beaudry, J. B. Estabrook. By laws were also adopted and a recess of one week taken to determine the future work and appoint the necessary committees. As the articles of incorporation have been filed they expect to receive their charter in a few days.
Plenty of hay and wood in the market.
Just about this time last year the new Court House project was being agitated.
The citizens of Robinson it is said have formed a law and order society and ordered Abe Ellsworth, who figured so prominently in the Robinson tragedy, to either move from the township of take the chances of suffering from a coat of tar and feathers.
Ice men are still apprehensive over the prospects for ice. Many of them are kicking themselves for not taking advantage of the ice crop which formed last December. At that time there was about eight inches of ice in the bayous.
Johnston Bros., are placing the smoke stack on the steamer Pentland.
The work in the interior of the Court House is progressing. The concrete floor is being laid, casings put up and the wood work is being rushed to completion.
The board of Supervisors of other counties could well visit our new Court House for inspection, if they ever intend to put up new county buildings. Ours is a model in every way.
Geo. Newbury of Grand Rapids has bought an acre of ground adjoining the C. & W. M. R. R. switch yards in the southern part of the city, paying $225.00 thereof. Mr. Newbury will erect at once a warehouse for the storage of all kinds of garden and farm produce. He expects to do a large business during the season and it will be a great benefit to our celery growers and gardeners.
Jerry Boynton, who is going to build the Central Michigan railroad through Battle Creek to Grand Rapids has held a meeting with the people of Hickory Corners, and has asked them to raise $10,000 for the road.
Michigan has the honor of having a vessel named after her metropolis. It was this war ship which yesterday fired upon the Brazilians in the harbor of Rio Janeiro after repeated insults had been offered the stars and stripes.
The steam pipes in the electric plant were covered with asbestos today.
That terrible disease smallpox has secured a foot hold in the village of Otsego in Allegan county. One victim is dead, others are ill and the schools have been closed. This calls to mind the fatal smallpox epidemic in this city years ago. Many died and the imprint of the disease left itself in others. A pest house was erected in the southern part of the city and for three months that summer the dread of disease raged. The town was dead. Schools were closed, also the churches and all public meeting places. People kept away from the town and the effect of the plague were noticeable in business for months after it had died itself out. A gentleman who has recollections of that time was telling today of a little incident of that period. The Dutch people of the city were determined to have services one Sunday. It was in the last days of the plague and they thought there would be little danger. When the hour of meeting came a delegation of citizens, some of whom are living here today, stood in front of the church doors. They ordered all who intended to enter the church to disperse for the good of the community and to prevent contagion. A riot followed, awakening the echoes of that Sunday morning. The citizens who guarded the door were victorious, and the pastor also coming to the realization of the fool hardiness of exposing the people, prevented further trouble and the people went back to their homes.