USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 40
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opposite side of the street. The air was filled with the black, escaping gas, which coupled with the noise it produced caused great consternation among the working men and the people in that vicinity. Several parties were slightly bruised, but John Clancy was the worst injured. He was standing close to the pipe when the accident occurred. He was struck by the fly- ing mass of iron and his left leg broken and badly mangled. The bone protruded through the flesh and was severely muti- lated. The left shoulder was also dislocated and other bodily bruises were inflicted. Clancy was immediately taken to his home and Drs. H. E. Jones and Geo. F. Chittenden were called to his relief. It was at first thought that amputation of the limb would be necessary, but to this Mr. Clancy strenuously objected. By the wonderful skill displayed by the physicians his limb was saved and a permanent cure was effected, although to some extent Clancy was rendered a cripple.
This was the first accident of any account that had hap- pened in the county with natural gas.
Mr. Clancy is yet living in Anderson, and after his recov- ery served for several years as janitor of one of the public school buildings. H. J. Bronnenberg was at the time of the accident superintendent of the Citizens' Gas Company and had charge of laying the mains. Ile gave it as his opinion that the cause of the accident was due to the disobedience of his order in the turning on and off the gas at the well.
The gas company realizing that there might be a chance for litigation and damages went to work to effect a compro- mise with Mr. Clancy which they consummated by paying him handsomely, and attending to him during his confinement at his home. They paid all his doctor bills and other expenses in consideration of which he gave the company a receipt in full and a release from any suit for damages.
VISIT OF A COMPANY OF SCIENTISTS TO ANDERSON.
On the 20th of August, 1890, Anderson was visited by some of the most learned and distinguished educators and scientists in the United States. They were chaperoned by Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, of Indianapolis. They visited this locality for the purpose of investigating the natural gas field. It had been announced for a day or two prior to their arrival that the gentlemen would at first go to Indianapolis and then come to Anderson. The Board of Trade at Ander- son held an impromptu meeting and appointed a reception
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committee to welcome the visitors and show them about the city. The committee consisted of Major Dixon C. Williams, Hon. Charles L. Henry, Hon. W. T. Durbin, John L. Fork- ner, John H. Terhune, George Nichol and Stephen Metcalf. They were met at the train by Hon. Chas. L. Henry and Major Dixon C. Williams, who gave each of the distinguished per- sons a beautiful souvenir, and a meal ticket at the Hotel Doxey, and also tickets for passage on the street cars. Car- riages were also in waiting, which, together with the street railway, were at the disposal of the visitors to convey them to the hotel and places of public interest. After a substantial meal had been served they were conducted to the beautiful Riverside Park, where an exhibition, the like of which they had never before seen, was given them. Old " Vesuvius," the monster gas well on the river bank, was turned loose into the river with about sixty feet of pipe extending into the water, and the gas was ignited, thus affording the visitors one of the grandest sights upon which the human eye ever rested. These learned gentlemen, accustomed to ferreting out the secrets locked up in the subterranean chambers of Mother Earth, looked upon the sight with amazement, mingled with awe, and were unable to realize that what they had witnessed was a factor of nature subserved to the use of man.
After this exhibition the visitors were conducted to the Doxey Opera House, where they were entertained with speech- making and fraternal greetings. Hon. Charles L. Henry came forward and delivered the following address :
" Ladies and Gentlemen and Members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science : I am heartily glad to have you among us. I regret that we have been obliged to lay aside some of our plans for entertaining you. We had hoped to have you here a few hours in the day-time, so that we could have shown you our pleasant little city. We hope you have had a pleasant tour through the town, and we welcome you because we are glad to have you with us."
To this Professor Mason, of Washington City, responded -as follows :
" I don't think I ever met with such a hearty welcome as you have given us. Before reaching your city I was handed street-car ticket, and when I alighted at the station I step- Jped into the car to go to the hotel. I was immediately noti- Tied to get out of the car, and being obedient, I was trans- Ferred to a carriage that was driven by Judge M. A. Chip-
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man, which I found was a good change from the rear of a street car. Say, you are the only people I ever saw who set a river on fire." Professor Mason also expressed the hope that Anderson would have a happy and prosperous future.
Short addresses were also made by Hon. C. W. Fair- banks, Professor Goodale, of Harvard; Ellery Avery, of Cleve- land ; Professor Coulter, of Wabash College ; Mayor Sullivan of Indianapolis ; Hon. John Jay, of London, England; Pro- fessor Mill, of Alabama, and H. N. Brown, of the Indianapo. lis News, who responded to a toast proposed to the press in a happy manner, and elicited loud applause. The opera house on this occasion was packed to its fullest capacity by the citi- zens of Anderson, who listened with delight to the eloquent and instructive addresses that were made. This was one of the happiest meetings that ever took place in the city of An- derson. It sowed broadcast, not only in the United States, but in the countries across the Atlantic, the great advantages that Madison county possessed, and was one of the chief sources of adding to Anderson's prosperity, and was the means of bringing to her borders manufacturing and commer- cial industries. Perhaps never in the history of Anderson will she again be honored with so many wise heads at one meeting as were assembled on this occasion.
THE FIRST SINGING TEACHER IN ANDERSON.
The old-timers learned to sing as well as the present gen- eration, and when they worshiped God it was not done by a brass band and pipe organ, but by preaching without money and without price, and by singing psalms by the word of mouth.
The first instructor in vocal music in Anderson was Joseph Shannon, the father of Thomas Shannon, who now resides in this city. He taught the pioneers the beauties of the "scale " and how to do-ra-me-do, in 1832. James Hol- lingsworth and many others yet living were under his tutor- ship.
ANDERSON'S CRACK MILITARY COMPANY.
During the year 1888, Dr. Horace E. Jones, who is a prominent member of the order of Odd Fellows, organized a military company, which afterwards proved to be one of the best disciplined and most thoroughly drilled companies in the United States. They were members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, under a dispensation granted by
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the Grand Master, assumed the name of "Uniformed Patri- archs." They had a splendid cornet band, composed of mem- bers of the organization, under the superb leadership of Dallas K. Elliott, who was the acknowledged champion of the western country as a cornet player. This company, after being thoroughly drilled by Captain Jones, set out to capture every prize that was offered at the competitive drills in differ- ent cities throughout the country. One of their contests was at Indianapolis, in the month of May, 1884, when they drilled upon the State Fair grounds against several of the leading organizations in the State, the judges being Colonel Nicholas R. Ruckle, Major J. R. Ross and Major J. R. Carnahan. They performed their evolutions with remarkable celerity and exactness, so much so that the committee promptly awarded them the first prize.
Upon their return to Anderson they were given a grand ovation by the people, and a banquet was spread at the Doxey House in their honor. At Chicago, in 1883, they contested with several companies, prominent among which was one commanded by Colonel Eddy, of New York, who had promulgated the original tactics used by these organiza- tions. The Anderson company was at a disadvantage on the grounds where the drill took place, as they were at quite a dis- tance from the judges' stand, and had it not been for this they would have received the first prize ; as it was, they car- ried off the second. Later on, at Columbus, Ohio, in the contest of all the leading Patriarchs of the United States, they were easily the winners of the first prize. The band on this occasion was also the recipient of a handsome medal. At Lake Minnetonka, near St. Paul, Minn., in 1886, this company took first prize against all competitors.
The Grand Lodge of ()dd Fellows, however, from some cause unknown to the writer, took exception to the military features of this organization and placed a "damper" upon it by ordering it to disband. Since this time Anderson has not enjoyed the privilege of beholding the military bearing and recounting the achievements of such a military organization.
Dr. H. E. Jones is undoubtedly one of the best drill- masters in the United States, having had a thorough military education in the United States navy and is besides naturally of a military turn of mind. He, as well as the entire population of Anderson, was very proud of this organization and was very sorry to see it disband.
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SUSETTE & CLIFTON'S MINSTRELS.
The most gorgeous and dazzling aggregation of burnt cork artists ever organized by a home talent company, was the re- sult of the young men of Anderson getting the "minstrel fever " in the spring of 1867. The company bore the name of " Susette & Clifton's Plantation Minstrels, combined with O'Neil & Munson's Burlesque Opera ."
It was headed by William E. Cook, who was at one time the editor of the Anderson Standard and later the founder of the Plaindealer, the immediate predecessor of the Anderson Democrat.
With him were associated many of the young men of An- derson, some of whom have become successful business men. Daniel F. Mustard, the banker, was one of the musicians who belonged to the band that accompanied the show, consisting of twenty-four pieces. David A. Ranck, a prominent busi- ness man of Chicago, was also a member of the party.
Thomas H. O'Neil afterwards a famous newspaper cor- respondent, and at one time the train dispatcher for a railroad company, was one of the "stars" on the stage, and did some clever work.
The company gave an exhibition in the old Union Hall to a crowded house after which it went by wagons to Marion, Ind., there being no railroad from Anderson to that place, where they showed one night.
On returning to Anderson for a few nights' rehearsal they went to Logansport, and made a one-night stand to a moder- ate house. From Logansport they went to Delphi where the company disbanded from the lack of patronage and by reason of the treasurer "taking a walk " with the cash he took in at the door, leaving the boys, some of whom had to walk out of town. Samuel D. Makepeace was musical director, and got possession of the band instruments and tramped out of the place with several brass horns and a bass drum strapped around his body, and did not return to Anderson for several years thereafter. Mr. Makepeace is yet living, and is engaged in the profession of instructor in band music in which he is quite proficient.
The writer was not a member of this company, although he had a small contribution of money in it, and a handsome base ball uniform upon which he fondly doted, that went up in the wreck.
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Thomas H. O'Neil sang a song entitled, " Hark, I Hear an Angel Sing," with much pathos and brought forth loud ap- plause. He also made a burlesque " stump speech" that was simply superb, and filled the house with laughter. It was full of local hits that all enjoyed.
After the boys all strolled back to their homes they each settled down to quiet lives fully satisfied with their brief stage experience. William Snelson, who is now a prominent phy- sician in Iowa, took the company to Marion in two large farm wagons to fill their engagement there, and brought them back to Anderson.
At Marion the performance did not come up to the stan- dard of the amusement going people's ideas, and serious trouble was averted by Mr. William Neal, a prominent citizen of the place, quieting the disturbing element.
Among the most prominent members of this party, were Capt. Henry Vineyard and Capt. Leroy Anderson. They were the business managers and " did" the financial " act" for the company.
Wm. E. Cook, the originator, afterwards drifted to San Francisco, California, where he was engaged in the job print- ing business when Gen. Grant made his famous trip around the world, and printed the souvenir cards for the menu at the ban- quet given in honor of the distinguished guest when in that city. Cook finally went to Honolulu and it is said died there several years since.
ANDERSON'S FIRST LABOR DAY DEMONSTRATION.
In Anderson's early history such a thing as a Labor Day demonstration would never have been thought of, as but a few factories were located here, and but few people earned their livelihood by working at different trades in these indus- tries. The first Labor Day demonstration held in Anderson took place on the 7th of September, 1891. It was one of the grandest parades that ever occurred in the city. Bands of music and banners were in the procession and thousands of people in line, and the parade moved with a precision and regularity as though it was conscious of the impression it made upon those who witnessed the scene. Every store and business place was closed, and farmers, laborers, lawyers and clerks mingled in one happy mass to celebrate this event. It was estimated that fully twenty thousand people took part zand witnessed the procession. After the parade through the 30
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principal streets of the city the march was taken up to the park of the Madison County Trotting Association, in North Anderson, where a meeting was held, being addressed by Moses Hull, of Chicago, C. A. Robinson and J. A. Allen. Jeremiah O'Sullivan acted as grand marshal of the procession. The Anderson Fire Department turned out with two hose wagons and the hook and ladder trucks. - The wheels of their apparatuses were decorated with the American flags and pre- sented a very beautiful appearance. Many of the merchants turned out with their wagons trimmed with bunting and laden with merchandise of different kinds, adding splendor to the occasion. As this was the first demonstration of this kind in Madison county, it made a deep impression upon the people and brought forcibly to their minds the importance of the laboring classes to the community. The final climax to the day took place at Music Hall, in the evening, where a merry dance and other ceremonies took place.
Since this memorable occasion Anderson has always observed Labor Day and it has become one of the holidays that is looked forward to with pleasure by the people at large.
A HAUNTED HOUSE IN ANDERSON.
At the corner of Meridian and Fifth streets in the city of Anderson, now occupied by the spacious dwelling of James Wellington, there stood a neat frame cottage. On the 8th day of June, 1877, it was whispered around from house to house that this dwelling was haunted. It was owned by James Wellington and occupied by Isaac Sharp and Frank Knight as tenants. These two families lived in the building for quite awhile, and nothing had ever occurred to disturb their neighborly relations, or to vex the current of their do- mestic lives. They glided along life's gentle stream without a ripple. About 7 o'clock one evening a loud noise was heard at the front door, and it was answered simultaneously by both ladies going to their respective doors ; but on open- ing the front door they saw no one there. They were con- siderably startled. The mysterious noises were heard again at occasional intervals until 9 o'clock that evening, the ladies growing more and more disturbed with each repetition. The raps, as described, were very loud and clear; in fact, the neighbors living on opposite sides of the street could hear them distinctly, and, to use the description of one of these, it
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
sounded like the knock of an impatient person, who, having once knocked, rapped a second time.
The rapping was again heard that night, and when the ladies spoke of it to their husbands they only laughed at them. The next morning at 9 o'clock the sounds were again heard, and were kept up almost incessantly during the day. It be- gan operations next morning an hour earlier than the preced- ing day. In the meantime it seemed to have passed the Ru- bicon and was knocking incessantly around the interior of the house, first at one point and then another, but showing a de- cided partiality for the hall, with an inclination to go up- stairs. The raps now became quite loud and sounded like the knocks of a gun upon the floor.
The men of the house, however, were not favored with the visitation that so distinctly jarred upon the ladies. On the next evening, being Saturday, and the unmistakable evi- dences being present that there was some supernatural agency at work, Mr. Isaac Sharp left his place of business at an earlier hour than usual and went home, and with his aricular organs waited and watched to the keenest point of curiosity, and was hoping that the mysterious agent would furnish him with some of its knocks to gratify him, even saying he would give a hundred dollars to hear it just once, when rap, rap, rap, came through the stillness of the room, and Mr. Sharp was so disturbed and frightened that he at once got out of bed and lighted a lamp; then he went to watching and stayed up the remainder of the night. At 4 o'clock in the morning the rapping began again and continued until 9 o'clock, and was so loud and noisy that it attracted the attention of Mr. Lafe Burr, who at that time lived on the opposite corner.
The news spread through the city in relation to the haunted house and thousands of people from all quarters flocked to the scene of the strange phenomena. Mr. Welling- ton, the owner of the house, acting upon the advice of many credulous people, had the floor raised, expecting the cause to be discovered in loose boards or some natural reason. But the search was unsuccessful and nothing was discovered that might account for the mystery. A great many people who be- lieved in ghosts and spirits became interested in the affair and declared it was nothing less than "spirit rappings." According- ly mediums came from different directions within and without the city and demanded admission into the house to hold com- munion with the spirits, which was denied by the occupants
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of the house, and came near causing serious trouble. The whole population in Anderson and the surrounding country became wrought up over it. The newspapers in other cities sent reporters to the scene and asked for dispatches in relation to it. Some went so far as to have cuts made of the building and to print long accounts of the mysterious affair.
It was afterwards developed that the whole thing was only a trick of one of the lady occupants, who was a servant in one of the families in the house. She had invented the contrivance in the back part of the stairway, which she could manage by stepping on a certain board, or pulling a wire, unnoticed by the people, and cause the knocking. In this way she could at her will produce this unearthly noise.
This was a sad blow to those who had gone so far as to stake their existence, and who were willing to wager their earthly possessions, that it was spirits.
The affair in due time blew over but these two families separated and found homes in different parts of the city ; and had no desire to again occupy the premises. This house still stands on the lots now owned by H. B. Reed, on North Dela- ware street, where it was removed to give way to Mr. Welling- ton's new home, that now occupies its former site.
A newspaper in Helena, Montana, had a picture of this house, and a three column, blood curdling account of it, which was mailed to some friends in Anderson.
One old gentleman, who lives in Madison county, came from his home and demanded admittance and was finally al- lowed to go in. He proceeded to the corner where the noise had been coming from, and striking an attitude, he exclaimed : " If you are a spirit speak to me." This he repeated several times. At last when he was not looking for it, " bang, bang, bang " it went. It is said he flew out over chairs, tables and anything else that came in his way, and he " never came back."
CHAPTER LII.
IN WHICH A NUMBER OF HAPPENINGS OF MORE OR LESS INTEREST ARE RECALLED.
RENDERED A CRIPPLE FOR LIFE.
H. J. Bronnenberg, one of Anderson's most enterprising young business men, met with an accident on the 22d of Au- gust, 1888, that has rendered him a permanent cripple. The circumstances of the case were about as follows : Mr. Bron- nenberg was an intimate friend of Mr. Charles L. Crum, who was superintendent of the construction of the straw- board mill situated in the north part of the city. On the morning of the day on which the accident occurred, he, in company with Mr. Bronnenberg, visited the gas well that had been recently put down in the ground belonging to the Straw- board Company, near White river, north of the mill. When the driller had finished his work he connected a two and a half inch pipe therewith, and placed it in a horizontal posi- tion, running out several feet from the well, attaching a valve for the purpose of regulating the flow of gas. Mr. Crum and Mr. Bronnenberg were in the act of lighting the gas from the well. When Mr. Bronnenberg was turning on the gas, the pipe leading out from the well became disconnected in some manner, about five or six feet away. The intense pres- sure of the gas caused a violent rotary motion of the elbow cap, to which the pipe had been attached. In the first revo- lution Mr. Bronnenberg was struck, and knocked some twenty or thirty feet distant. IIe was for a time rendered un- conscious by the severity of the blow, and lay for several minutes as though he were dead. Dr. Cullen, his family phy- sician was summoned, and on arriving made a hasty ex- amination of Mr. Bronnenberg, who was then placed on a stretcher and carried home. It was found that he had sus- tained a compound fracture of the right arm, the bones being badly splintered and protruding through the flesh. He also sustained other severe bruises and injuries about the sides and limbs. It was at first thought that amputation of the arm
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would be necessary, but the physician subsequently concluded that the arm could be saved, and perhaps, rendered of use to Mr. Bronnenberg, and therefore the operation of amputation was forgone.
It has been a question with Mr. Bronnenberg and many of his friends, whether it would not have been better to have submitted to the amputation, as he has been an intense sufferer during all these years since the accident occurred, and, per- haps, will remain so the remainder of his existence. This was not only a sad blow to Mr. Bronnenberg, but also to the community at large. During his many years as a resident at Anderson no man was more enterprising, nor was there any one who cared more for the welfare of Anderson, in a busi- ness way, than did Mr. Bronnenberg. Upon the discovery of natural gas, he was one of the first to suggest the organization of the Board of Trade, and put on foot the movement for bringing capital to our borders. During his membership of the Board none contributed more liberally, or was a more earnest worker in behalf of Anderson's prosperity than he, and even now there is no one who has the city's interest more at heart.
He has been a successful business man, and prior to this occurrence had accumulated for himself a handsome fortune, the income of which now supports him and his family in ease and comfort.
A TRAVELING MAN DROWNED.
On the 14th of June, 1892, D. A. Cone, a traveling sales- man, stopped at the Hotel Doxey and registered his name and had his baggage cared for, and immediately went to the river to take a bath. It was very warm, and a cool, refresh- ing bath was something a person could better obtain in the river than in a small bath room. He went to the "old swim- ming hole," back of Norton's brewery, and plunged into the water. Some boys who were in the neighborhood noticed that he did not come up after diving; so they at once gave the alarm and a search was made for his body. It was soon found and brought to the hotel and his friends notified. It was at first thought that it might be suicide, but there was no cause for this, as his employers testified that he was all "straight " and enjoyed their undivided esteem and confidence. He was a man about twenty-one years old and unmarried. Dr. C. L. Armington held an inquest and returned a verdict
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