Three Lives Are Snuffed Out

Tie Makers in Camp North of Virginia Make Awful Mistake and Drink Wood Alcohol

The lives of three men who were engaged in getting out ties for the Rainy Lake road were snuffed out some time last week as a result of drinking wood alcohol by mistake. Their names were Robert Starr, Geo. F. Burns and William Fitzgibbons. They were the sole occupants of a little cabin situated about twelve miles out on the Sand Lake branch.

A scalar named Gifford employed by the railroad company went to the cabin early Monday morning to count up the ties made by the men. He found no signs of the men at work and proceeding to the cabin he entered, when a gruesome, terrible sight met his gaze. On the floor of the cabin were the bodies of two of the men while a third was on the bed, all still in death and frozen solid. The position of the bodies of the men indicated that all had died in terrible agony. Their limbs were drawn up, their fists clenched tight and their faces terribly distorted with pain and suffering. Their lips and mouths were burned and blistered, showing plainly the effects of the terrible poison they had consumed.

Scalar Gifford notified the agent in Virginia by telephone and J. H. Fleming went up af ter the bodies, bringing them to Mesberg’s morgue Monday night. Mr. Fleming said that when he entered the cabin the sight was the most appalling he had ever witnessed. On a small wooden table stood three tin cups, each containing a spoon, showing that the unfortunate men had made a toddy and drank it simultaneously, all succumbing to the effects of the powerful poison a few moments later.

In the room were two gallons bottles of wood alcohol, from one of which a small portion had been used. A pint flask on the table was about one-third full of the toddy that had been made just before the men drank their fatal potions. The alcohol bottles were both plainly labeled “Wood Naptha—Poison.” The skull and crossbones also decorated the label. Why three men should get together who were all ignorant of the nature of wood alcohol seems at first thought almost inexplicable but there is a plausible theory. The man who purchased the stuff was drinking when he bought it and drunk when he reached camp and it is likely that the other two never took the trouble to look at the labels on the bottles. Why he purchased wood alcohol is a mystery but it is barely possible that the had learned that it was cheaper than the other kind and supposed it just as good for drinking purposes.

Geo. F. Burns bought the stuff. He had been hired by Starr, who operated the camp, to assist him in making ties. He came to Virginia a week ago last Monday to purchase supplies. He went to the saloon of P. Sullivan, ex-chief of police, and asked him for two gallons of alcohol. Mr. Sullivan informed him that he die not handle alcohol and

it would probably be necessary to go to a drug store to get it. He proceeded to Tredway’s drug store. Mr. Treadway, who waited on him, said he ordered two gallons of wood alcohol. He thought nothing of this as men of his stamp frequently order the article for use in the woods and in the camps. Burns returned to Sullivan’s saloon and after saying that he had bought the alcohol ordered a gallon of whiskey. He said that Starr wanted the alcohol for making toddy; as for himself he preferred whiskey and wanted a gallon for his own use. He procured the whiskey, placed it in his packsack with the alcohol and other stuff and proceeded to camp. As he was alighting from the train he broke the jug containing the whiskey.

It is supposed that the fatal drinks were taken soon after his return as there were evidences that the men had been dead several days. The horses in the barn were nearly famished by their long fast and had eaten the wood of their stalls and manger in an effort to stay their hunger. A dog and two cats in the cabin had subsisted on some salt pork.

Robert Starr, the older man of the trio, has been making ties for the railroad company several seasons and was well known in Virginia. It is said that he served in the Civil War and that he owns a large farm in Canada, where he was born. A brother of the deceased resides at Barnesville, Minn. Word was received from him Wednesday and he arrived in town yesterday to take charge of the remains, which will probably be buried in the Virginia cemeter y. The brother and Deputy Coroner J. H. Crowe went up to the camp today to make further investigation.

Geo. F. Burns was a comparatively young man who arrived here from Canada about a year ago. Word was sent to a brother who in reply forwarded the following telegram:

“North Bay, Ont., Feb. 12—Send remains of G. F. Burns to Arnprior care S. N. Burns (probably the father). Reply to Braeside and write full particulars. C. Burns.”

The remains were shipped as directed. Deceased was a fine specimen of young manhood and evidently came from a good family.

William Fitzgibbons came from the neighborhood of Stratford, Ont., where he has a brother living. He was communicated with. Another brother is said to reside in Wisconsin. The dead man had been in this country many years. He was engaged as a cook and teamster by Starr.

 

ICE PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED

Brewers Peddle Out Impure Ice to Saloon Men Who Use It Behind Their Bars

Health Officer Miller appeared before the council and asked for an expression of opinion as to the cutting of ice on Virginia and Silver lakes. This stirred up a discussion that consumed about an hour’s time. Mayor Eaton insisted that the council should not have granted a recent permit to cut ice on the lake because he had warned them that the ice would be used for general purposes. The councilmen defended themselves by saying that they had simply confirmed a permit issued by the health officer, who granted the permit on condition that the ice would be used only for storage cooling purposes. It was stated by the mayor, however, that this ice was delivered by the brewing companies to the saloons and that the saloonkeepers used it in drinks made up for their customers. There was talk of passing an ordinance to prevent the use of this ice for drinking purposes, when the mayor said that if he remembered correctly there was already an ordinance to that effect. Alderman Johnson said that if that was true, it would seem to be up to the executive to enforce the provisions of the ordinance.

Dr. Miller finally said that the matter might be settled by his declaring the ice a nuisance and if anybody was caught using it for other than storage cooling purposes he would be prosecuted.

During the course of the argument it was frequently stated that the meat dealers used the ice only for storage cooling, but it transpired later that they not only frequently delivered pieces of ice to customers but that they also use this polluted ice to place on meats, fish and oysters.

An ordinance was introduced licensing and governing vaudeville theaters and was given its first reading. The ordinance provides that the fee shall be $100 per year, that no liquor or tobacco shall be sold on the premises and that if any lewd or immoral performances are given the license may be revoked.

The other business transacted at the meeting was of a routine nature of minor interest. The Virginian—Friday, January 18, 1907

 

VAIL’S LUCK

Of Contrary Nature But Always Good In Business

The product of the Virginia Brewing company has been on the market two weeks and we have yet to learn of the man who after a trial but says that he likes the beer.

Shortly after the beer was put on sale and was meeting with such great popularity, P. R. Vail, president of the company, made the remark that it was “Paddy’s luck.”

“When I was a boy,” said he, “hardly anything happened but I was blamed for it. If a window was broken or any pieces of mischief committed it was laid on me even if I was in bed and asleep at the time it happened, and the same fate has pursued me the greater part of my life. But, on the other hand, I have never entered a business venture but success has followed, and the brewery is no exception.”

It is rarely the case that the first brew of a new brewery is satisfactory in every respect, but the product of the Virginia Brewing company has met with universal approval.

Mr. Vail says that if the present demand continues it will not be long until improvements and additions to the plant costing $75,000 will be necessary. The Virginian—Friday, January 4, 1907

 

SALOON KEEPERS FINED

Peter Scraba was the first Aurora saloonkeeper to conflict with the authorities in the matter of keeping women about his saloon longer than 15 minutes. He was brought before Justice Roop, convicted of violating the ordinance and fined $15 and costs. Scraby was very wrathy. He appeared before the council and threatened that he would let his wife tend bar for him whenever he wanted to and that if he was not allowed to do so he w ou ld close up the saloon. He proceeded to carry out his threat and was again arrested. This time he was arraigned in Justice Christianson’s court and was fined $50 and costs. Since then hi s sa lo on has b ee n c los ed and it is said to be for sale. Jo e Vi rant w as also fin ed $1 5 and costs by Justice Roop for a llowing women to remain in his saloon. The Vir ginian— Fri day, January 11, 1907

 

BRICK BUILDINGS IN PROSPECT

There is a prospect of three new brick business buildings for Aurora nex t summer. The plans are not fully formulated but it is about decided that Dr. Lenont of Virginia will erect a fine brick hospital building. An outside lot owner intends  to put up a one-story brick structure to cost about $5,000, while local parties are figuring on a two-story structure to cost bet w een $15 ,0 00 and $16,000. A n umber of frame structures are also being planned for next season and lively building boom is looked for. The Virginian—Friday, January 11, 1907 

 

BEARDS.

A. Brandt, in his writings on the human beard, proffers an opinion directly opposing that of Darwin that the beard is a hereditary remnant of animal growth. According to Brandt, it is an acquisition, so that even the occasional beard of women has a prophetic significance, for as a man has overtaken woman in his whole organization so it is the case also with reference to the beard. But slowly women are following, and now 10 percent of them show a stronger growth. The woman of the distant future would then likewise be adorned with a beard. –Die Umschau The Virginian—Friday, January 11, 1907

 

A NASTY CASE

The Mayor of Ely Bound Over to the Grand Jury

Otto A. Poirier, assistant county attorney, returned yesterday from Ely where he was again called in connection with the case wherein Mayor Densmore of that place has been held to the grand jury on a charge of attempting to criminally assault one of two young Finnish girls from Biwabik whom he had ordered the chief of police to arrest and place in jail. Another man had been placed under arrest who was accused of a similar crime to that charged against Densmore, but when the hearing came up, the girls could not identify him and so he was dismissed from custody.

The charge against Mayor Densmore is a very serious one. Reports that have been circulated that he had been drinking with the girls in a saloon during the afternoon previous to the alleged attempted assault are said to be entirely untrue and that the young women are both virtuous and respectable. The Virginian—Friday, January 4, 1907