LIGHTNING’S WORK
I IN BATESVILLE.
Damaged Several Residences in
I That City—A Number of
r Miraculous Escapes
Reported.
I Saturday night a number of
She residents of the upper part
pf Batesville were greatly dis
turbed by lightning, says the Bee.
It struck a transformer at the
corner of Boswell and Ninth
streets and followed the wires
whicl\Jead off from that corner
to all the residences in that neigh
borhood.
Those who were especially dis
turbed were the homes of J. C.
Johnston, J. C. Yancey, C. H.
Walden, C. W. Maxfield and
Fred Maynard. The lights in all
the residences named were ex
tinguished and the homes of
' Messrs. Johnston and Walden
set on fire.
Mrs. Fred Maynard was so
shocked that it was some time
before she recovered.
The ligntning found its way to
Mr. Walden’s bath room where it
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Lure up ouiiic luiiiituiu c*iiva ovi/ c*
broom and other articles on fire.
This was soon discovered and ex
tinguished.
The greatest damage was to
Mr. Johnston’s house, and the
manner in which the electricity
played about the building is in
deed wonderful when it is con
sidered that no one was greatly
injured.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were
f seated in the parlor, the farthest
t x>m from where the lightning
s struck the transformer. Mr.
Johnston was seated at his desk,
(with the electric light suspended
over it and just above his head.
Mrs. Johnston was near him.
The crash came without an in
stant’s warning and they were
both greatly stunned by the
shock, but it was only a short
time until they regained consci
ousness, to discover that the
building was on fire in several
places. The alarm was given
and the flames were soon ex
tinguished.
Examination showed that the
building was greatly injured.
The large plate glass in the west
room was literally torn to pieces.
What appears to be a miracle is
the escape of Mr. and Mrs. John
ston, as they were seated not
more than two or three feet from
the window.
The glass was shivered into
atoms and thrown out a number
of feet across the yard. The
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the roof of the entire building
appears to have been lifted up
several inches.
What appears to be another
very strange freak of the light
; ning is its work in the closet in
tof'the kitchen of the Johnston home.
It broke into it and literally de
stroyed all vessels, knives, forks,
spoons and many other house
• hold articles. A can of coal oil
^ras kept in this closet. The
y^covering of tin was burned off
I and the glass shivered, but the
l oil did not take fire.
-- -——
I WILLIAM R. JONES.
■ _
KThe sad news of the death of
William R. Jones at his home in
Maryville, Mo., Monday reached
here next morning in a wire
from his son and our fellow
townsman, Gustave Jones, who
with his family and J. R. Cox
were at the bedside of the de
ceased when the end came.
Mr. Jones had been seriously
ill for several weeks and his case
was found to be hopeless several
days before death, but even with
this preparation the blow is not
lessened to those near and dear
by family ties.
Kentucky wa3 the state of his
nativity, but he came to Jack
sonport in the early days before
the war and has always been
prominently identified with the
development of this county. He
was circuit clerk of Jackson
county when the county seat was
moved from Elizabeth to Au
gusta. For many years he prac
ticed law here and was regarded
as a very astute scholar and elo
quent pleader.
He was married at Jackson
port to Miss Katie Hudson, the
daughter of Rush Hudson, who
survives him, together with three
children, Mrs. J. R. Newman
and Miss Mollie Jones of Mary
ville, Mo., and Mr. Gustave
Jones of this city.
The funeral took place Tuesday
afternoon in Maryville, where
the remains were laid to rest.
He led a remarkably active life
and though 74 years of age he
seemed to be enjoying good
health on his last visit here. In
the sunset period of natural life
he has been called to rest and to
those whom his demise brings
deepest sorrow, the old age that
was accorded him in which not
only to fulfill the aims and hopes
of an honorable ambition and
tireless energy, but to enjoy
their fruits, must speak in recon
ciliation. To the loved ones we
extend the sympathy of our peo
ple.
ARKANSAS COLLEGE
COMMENCEMENT.
Batesville, June 6. —The bacca
laureate sermon for the com
mencement exercises of Arkan
sas college was delivered by the
Rev. A. B. Curry of Memphis
at Alumni hall at 11 a. m. Sun
day and was an able and elo
quent sermon.
Sunday night at 8 o’clock Rev.
French Thompson of Hot Springs
delivered an address to the col
lege Y. M. C. A. His address
was a gem of thought and showed
much study and thought on the
subject.
Tonight the two literary so
cieties will hold an oratorical
contest, the winner to receive a
handsome gold medal, and to
morrow will be commencement
night.
There are only three graduates
this year: Albert Breckenridge
of Peach Orchard, Miss Callie
King of Heber and Edward
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NEW ROAD INCORPORATED.
Another railroad was chartered
by the state railway board Mon
day. The company to which the
charter was issued is the West
Point Railroad Company and the
proposed line extends from West
Point to Kensett and thence to
Searcy, lying wholly within
White county, a distance of nine
miles.
The capital stock is placed at
$20,000 and a certificate filed
with the articles of incorpora
tion shows that $8,000 has been
subscribed and 5 per cent of that
amount paid in. The directors
are C. W. Danthat, W. H.
Foster, A. L. Williams, A. W.
Yarnell and N. Hardy.
EXCURSION RATES.
Coach excursion to St. Louis
May 21, 1904. Rates $5.60 for
the round trip; $4 for children.
Tickets on sale May 21st. Final
limit on these tickets seven days
from date of sale.
T. H. Reamey, Agt.
Read the Daily Independent.
PINE BLUFF
HAS A BIG FIRE.
Early Morning Fire Sunday De
stroys $50,000 Worth of
Property — Believed to
Have Been Incendiary.
Pine Bluff, June 6. — Fire at an
early hour Sunday morning de
stroyed the grain and commis
sion house of the J. A. Holmes
Company and the large ware
house of the Puddephat Furni
ture Company, with a total loss
of about $50,000. The flames
were discovered about 3 o’clock
Sunday morning in the house of
the Holmes company, and, owing
to the large amount of hay and
other inflammable material stored
in the building, spread rapidly
and were soon beyond control.
The total loss on the buildings
is estimated at $10,000, partially
covered by insurance. Mr. Pud
dephat says that he had his
warehouse stocked from floor to
ceiling with valuable furniture
and that his loss will not be less
than $30,000. This is covered by
insurance.
The loss of the stock of the J.
A. Holmes Commission Company
will be between $5,000 and $6,
000, which is also partially cov
ered by insurance. A valuable
saddle horse, for which Mr. Hol
mes had just paid $200, was
burned to death in the flames.
It is thought to be of incendi
ary origin, and owing to the late
ness of the hour the flames
gained rapid headway among the
inflammable stuff which the
building contained.
GRUBBS ITEMS.
We are having too much rain
and our farmers are wearing
long faces.
We had a hard storm Friday,
doing much damage in blowing
down fences and dead timber in
the fields.
Mike Denton’s new barn was
blown down in the storm Friday.
W. J. Robinson is the fattest
man in town, with E. W. Blan
sett a elose second.
Three of our boys were ar
raigned before Esq. Grant on a
charge of carrying pistols and
fined $50 each and the trimmings.
Pistols are getting to be costly
luxuries.
Paw Edwards and Mike Denton
swapped out Saturday night.
W. S. Ellison and J. N. Nance
are the boss painters of our town.
One of our boys is going to get
married in the near future.
Ollie Black got his heart broke
Sunday evening, but such is life.
Cheer up, old boy.
Two insurance agents from
Jonesboro were in our town a
few days ago and expressed
themselves as highly pleased
with what they saw and heard.
John Rodes, our writing teach
er, has gone to Kentucky.
Capt. Chronicle.
TO OUR POLICY HOLDERS.
—
The recent fire has emphasized
the fact that too much care can
not be exercised in the use and
storage of gasoline.
Where a gasoline stove is kept
it is absolutely necessary that a
permit for same be attached to
your policies of fire insurance.
No charge is made for these
permits and as we cannot always
know that you have these stoves
we request that you look over
your policies and bring them to
us for endorsement, if required.
Phillips & Ferguson Agency.
I Summer Days 1
I Are Here! I
I Now is the Time to Replenish Your I
I Wardrobe. Cooling Effects in I
0 Underwear, Black and Dark Blue Serges I
B Shirts, Coat and Vest» I
1 Handkerchiefs, UoItaed Suits' I
& « , Trousers, B
® Suspender , - ■
B Straw Hats, B
■ Belts, B
0 Night Robes and Panamas, 0
0 Collars, “The Mother's Friend,'' 0
a Cravats, Wash Suits and Waists for Boys I
I Complete Line Now Awaiting Your Inspection.
We are Specialists in Men’s and Boys’ Apparel.
_ _^.ri
. _. .-THi
The House that We will sell for 30 Days only The House that
Saves You Money. our entire " Saves You Money.
LINE OF FURNITURE
And other seasonable goods to make room for Fall Stock,
commencing JUNE 1st, J904,
At the Regular Spot Cash Prices,
With the following Discounts:
15 Per Cent on 25 Per Cent on
Refrigerators, Book Cases,
Ice Cream Freezers, Combination Book Cases,
Water Coolers, | Buffets,
Roller Top Desks. Sideboards,
20 Per Cent on China Closets, I
Iron Beds, Rocking Chairs, Leather Couches, Bed Couches,
Dining Chairs, Folding Beds, Dressing Tables,
Bed Room Suits, Dining Tables, Racks,
Center Tables, Bed Lounges. Hanging Mirrors,
Turkish Leather Chairs. Children's Go-Carts and Buggies.
We Are Wolff-Goldman Merc. Co. We Are
THE PEOPLE. NEWPORT, ARK, THE PEOPLE. I
jg 1 - —j&
BIG LINE OF
New Goods Arriving.
Crown, Schiller & Shaeffer
-PIANOS
AND
Crown Organs.
Patronize a Home Man.
Z. B. REID.
FOR SALE CHEAP.
One steam engine, fifty horse
power, suitable for saw mill, and
one top saw rig.
32b7t Kelley Lumber Co.
———-—“TO THE
Traveling Men of Arkansas,
WELCOME!
We extend a cordial invitation to use ourDirec
tors' Room whenever convenient and your
pleasure so to do, Hotels are crowded. Our
offices and stationery are at your command.
THE BANK OF NEWPORT
OFFICERS and DIRECTORS.
Geo. W. Decker, President, R. M. Johnson, Cashier.
A. D. Bailey, V-President, T. D. Kinman, Asst. Cash,
Thos. J. Graham, Ed. P. Shoffner, J. T. Henderson,
Jos. M. Stayton, Dr. J. M. Jones, T. S. Stephens,