Death's Harvest

Since onr last issue the srreat renper, death, has boen busy in the milist of uc, taking not only the aged, whose years were run and who were ready for hia beckonfng hand, but also the youth, cutting offiu the beginning of life's journey livesthat misrht have been use ful. WEDNR8UAT NIQHT last a man by the name of Gen. Hoffner jumped from a train on the M. C. R. R. near where Fuller st. crosses the tracks, and It is supposed thst by the slipping of bis feet he feil backwa'ds, his head hltting againat the oil box of the car axle, crushing his skull in a horrible inanner. James McDonald, of tfais city, a young man about 18 or 30 yeare old, testified before the coroner's inquest, held S iturday, in effect as follows : Hoffner and himself had been in Detroit two or three diiys, and on the evenlns in question got upon the "bumpers " of a freight train In the M. C. R. R. yards, to steal a ride to Ann Arbor. They rode upon the " bumpers " until Ypsilanti was reached. when they both got into a box car. Upon reaching this city they were not positive whether the train would stop or not, so they jumped off. Hoffner jumped flrst from a sitting position, his feet hauging out o the car. He slipped nnd feil. Then McDonald jumped, landing safely. He went immediately to Hoffner, and found him unconscious. After a little he carne to, and by McDonald's aid walked to what Is known as Diehl'g hotel on Detroit st. Almost immediately upon reaching this place Hoffner became asnln unconscious, and never rallied afterwarc Dr. Darling was ciilled but pronounced him beyond the aid of medical skill. He called Dr. Knpp to consult wlth him, both agreeing that nothing cnulil be done to save Hoffner's life. He lingered in an unconscious state until 7 o'clock Thursday evenlng when he died. The deceaned's Tather, who is In the employ of Croul's tanuery at Detroit, was notifled and carne on Fridiiy and took his son'8corpse home for Interment. The decer.sed was a painter by trade, was about 24 years of age, had worked a short time for Wm. Herz, and had been known by two or three flctitious names. Little was known a)out him here. The coroner's jury returned a verdict that Hoffner carnet o his deuth throuvh his own carelessness. a second fatal accident ocenrred. Tina was iipon the river wliere a numher of youths liad gathered for the purpose of skating. A bemitiful ernst of cle;ir Ice had formed over the water. Those upon the river say it wns remarkably clcar md in many plaeoa the bottom of the river was plainly discernlble tlirough it. Th is, it is thousrht, Is whut liired Frederiok Freenuin to his deiith. The deceptive ice caused him to venture too ne.ir the center of the streani, when all at once he sank beneath the water. Parties upon the ice mmediatclv went to his reeene, but It was fully 30 minutes before his body conld be secured, and all efforts to resuscitate him were uniivailinfr. Thedeceased had heen a student at the iljrh school for a few weeks, lils parents laving removed here from Victor. Clinton Co., to edúcate Iheir tlirce sous, mul eside at No. 17 9. Thayrr st.