"I'll be back. . ."

News for the week of January 21, 1881

One of the most sudden changes in the weather during the winter of 1880-81 was when the drizzling rain changed to hard stinging snow the week of January 21. The thermometer dropped below zero and the icemen were happy. Small boys, and some large ones too, were out skating on the ice of the Wabash. The reporter noted that we are apt to forget many things and among them how hot it was last summer and how cold last winter, but in the winter of 1878-9, two years before, there were 10 days when the thermometer was at zero and below. January 2 it was 8° below; on January 3 18° below; on January 4 19° below; On January 5  14°  below; on January 6 8° below, and again on January 10 14° below while on the intervening days it was near zero each day. It was also reported that the first snowfall of 1880-1881 fell on October 19; thus, according to the old adage, the winter would produce 19 snows of the season.  By January 21, the county had received 17 snow falls.

Russellville: On January 11, the beautiful moonlight and the excellent sleighing weather was taken advantage of by quite a number of young folks attending a revival meeting at Rising Sun Church six miles south of Russellville. While returning and about halfway to Russellville, the team driven by Alex Lago became frightened and ran away. Mr. Lago and his wife, the only occupants in the sleigh, became frightened and jumped out; Mr. Lago breaking his arm and Mrs. Lago her collarbone. The horses rushed on overtaking the sleigh of John Broyles, causing Mr. Broyle's horses to run off.  But after running for about 100 yards, the horses became loosened from the sleigh, capsizing it at the same time, and spilling out the occupants. Mr. Broyles’ horses then got away from him and ran into the sleigh of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Bradberry, completely demolishing that sleigh, running over Mr. Bradberry and wife in the process. Then Mr. Lago's team came dashing along at breakneck speed and Mr. Bradberry was run over again, tearing the flesh off of his legs, dislocating his shoulder, and bruising him very seriously. After demolishing Mr. Bradberry’s rig and causing his horses to run away, all the horses flew down the road at a fearful rate and overtook Wink Snap and Miss Jessie Fyffe in a single sleigh, frightening their horse so that he ran away, spilling the occupants out. They did not receive very serious injuries, however. Doctor Ferguson was called and dressed the wounds of all of the victims. The reporter noted that this may have been the worst runaway known in the county. (And we think car insurance is high; I bet these people’s sleigh insurance just went up….)

PF Lanterman, a prominent citizen of Bridgeport, died January 15th aged 46 years. August Starkman, a prominent citizen of Lukin Township, died January 19, a winter fever, after a short illness.

Miss Sally E Tewalt of Russellville returned to school at Saint Mary's of the Woods. L Osborn, a brakeman on the O&M freight train, had his foot badly crushed by when making a coupling in Sumner.

One of the most novel sites witnessed in Vincennes was a drove of turkeys from near Lawrenceville that were steered into the city. The fowls were said to drive like sheep, only much slower. Five men were required to urge on this flock of about 150. They were purchased by one of the merchants.  Wheat was selling for $0.90 in Bridgeport. The personal property of the late Thomas G Cecil of Allison Township was to be sold. Doctor CM Carter of Lawrenceville reported 30 cases of pneumonia.

Mr. Poindexter escaped from the Lawrenceville jail on Saturday night leaving behind a letter for Sheriff Ryan, stating that he wanted to see his family, and would return Tuesday or Wednesday, but by Thursday when the paper was published, had not yet put in his appearance.  (Hmm, really?)

County Officials:

Judges: WC Jones and CS Conger

States Attorney: KP Snyder

Circuit Clerk: Lafayette Barnes

Deputy: Till A Curry

Master In Chancery: WM Garrard

County Judge: Isaac Potts

County Clerk: James K Dickerson

Deputy: John Will McCleave

Sheriff: Edmund Ryan

Deputy: AC Gosnell

Superintendent of Schools: FW Cox

County Treasurer: JW Whittaker

County Surveyor: JB Benefield

Coroner: Daniel Leach

Board Of Supervisors

Allison: Wm Organ

Bond: RJ Ford

Bridgeport: G Abernathy

Christy: George Petty

Denison: Jacob Potts

Lawrence: ND Rawlings

Lukin: Elijah George

Petty: David Smith

Russell: John P Price