Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1879 — HEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

HEWS OF THE WEEK.

FOREIGN NEWS. Yellow fever has reappeared in Rio Janeiro. A terrible railway accident lately occurred near Pbilippopolia, in Turkey. A bridge spanning the river Avila gave way beneath the weight of a passenger train, which was precipitated into the stream, and a Russian General, several other officers, and over 200 men were drowned. Edward Mathew Ward, the wellknown English painter, recently committed suicide in London. A reduction of 7 A per cent, in wages in the iron ship yards and foundries in and about Liverpool has been degreed by thelronTrsde Employers’ Association.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. HJabt. The brewery of Peter Hauk, in Newark, N. J., has been burned. Loss, #IOO,OOO. At New York, Madame Anderson has completed her tremendous undertaking in pedestrianism—that of walking 2,700 quartermiles in 2,700 consecutive quarter-hours. James McDonnell and Charles Sharpe were hanged at Mauch Chunk, Pa., on the 14th Inst., for the murder of George K. Smith, a coal-operator, in 1863. A reprieve from Gov. Hartranft arrived just thirty seconds after the drop fell. The doomed men died protesting their innocence. A fire on Broadway, New York, last week, destroyed property valued at #1,750,000. The principal sufferers are Howard, Sanger <t Co., fancy goods; Naumberg, Kraus A Lancer, clothing, and Ed win Bates A Co , clothing. One fireman was killed and several injured by falling walls. Martin Bergin was executed at Pottsville, Pa , Jan. 16, for the murder of Patrick Burns, a coal-mine clerk, in April, 1870. Tliis makes the nineteenth Molly Maguire who has suffered death in Pennsylvania within a few years. Mrs. Kate M. Cobb, of Norwich, Ct., has been sentenced to imprisonment for life for rhe murder of her husband. New York city was visited by another very destructive lire on the evening of Jan. 17. Worth street, from No. 58 to 02, was the scene of the conflagration, and it is estimated that between three and four millions of dollars’ worth of properly was destroyed, dry-goods importers lining the principal victims. Ono firm—Van Valkenburg A Leavi.t—lose a million, and another—Walkingshaw A Voight-half that amount. West.

The military court appointed to investigate the charges against Maj. Reno, in connection with the battle of the Little Big Horn and the Custer massacre, assembled in Chicago last week; and are now prosecuting the inquiry. Five persons were killed and a number wounded by the explosion of the Giant Powder works, near San Francisco, Cal. The round-house and machine shops of the Atchison and Nebraska railroad, at Atchison, Kan., have been destroyed by tire. Loss about SIOO,OOO. At Kearney, Neb , the wholesale murderer, 8. D. Richards, the story of whose crimes lately so shocked the public, has been convicted and sentenced to be executed April 26. The massacre of thirty or forty Cheyenne Indians, at Fort Robinson, the recapture of fifty others, and the flight to the foothills of the remainder of the band, has been heretofore recorded in this column. Those who were lucky enough to escape the bullets and sabers of the relentless soldiery took refuge in the bod of the Indian creek, and strongly fortified themselves by throwing up breastworks. Hero they were besieged for two days and nights, but on the third night they silently stole away, and their pursuers, decidedly crestfallen at the discovery that they had been outgeneraled by the dusky warriors, as silently stole back to Camp Robinson. The casualties during this campaign were five soldiers killed and eight wounded; thirty-two Ind'ans killed and about a dozen wounded. Richards, tho Nebraska butcher, has now confessed to the killing of twelve people at various times. He talks of his approaching execution as if it were a marriage. * SSoutli. Southern Florida has been visited by a severe earthquake shock. All the business portion of Allensville, Ky., has been destroyed by fire. POLITICAL POINTS. The Nevada Legislature has re-elected John P. Jones to the United States Senate. Gov. Z. B. Vance will be the successor of Mr. Merrimon in the Senate from North Carolina. The Democratic Senators held a caucus at Washington the other day, to consider their course on the resolutions recently submitted by Mr. Edmunds, declaring that the last three constitutional amendments have been duly ratified; that the laws already enacted for their enforcement should be faithfully executed, and that Congress should further provide for their enforcement by additional legislation. After Home discussion, the subject was referred to a committee of seven, headed by Judge Thurman, to report at a future caucus. The Republicans of the Indiana Legislature met in joint caucus on the 16th inst., and nominated Godlove 8. Orth for the short term as United States Senator, and Gen. Bon Harrison for the long term. At a caucus of the Democratic members of the Missouri Legislature, George G. Vest was nominated for the loner term in the United States Senate, and Gen. James Shields was named for the short term. O. H. Platt, Republican, will succeed Mr. Barnum, Democrat, as United States Senator from Connecticut, the Republicans of the Legislature having nominated him in caucus on the 17th inst The Republicans of the Illinois Legislature met in caucus to nominate a candidate for United States Senator, to succeed Mr. Oglesby, on the 17th inst. Only two candidates were named, and there was but one ballot, with the result: John A. Logan, 80; R. J. Oglesby, 26. Balloting for United States Senator in the Republican caucus of the Wisconsin Legislature began Jan. 16, and on that and the succeeding days thirty-eight ballots were had, the votes being divided pretty equally between Messrs. E. W. Keyes, Matt Carpenter and T. O. Howe (present Senator).

WASHINGTON NOTES. Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perce tribe of Indians, has been down to Washington, giving his views to the authorities as to how he should be treated by the Government. It is officially stated that it will require $20,000,000 to carry out the provisions of

the . for the payment of arrears in pensions just passed by the Senate.

THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION. Before the Teller Committee at New Orleans, on the 13th, G. R. M. Newman (colored), of St. Mary’s parish, testified concerning the destruction of ballot-boxes by the Democrats in that parish. W. B. McNeall, of Caddo, an ex-Federal soldier and a Deputy Sheriff, testified regarding the > that thejlrst show*’ were fired by negroes upon an unarmed party of whites; in tho fighting that followed about twenty negroes were killed. David Wise, of Tensas, testified that the election was peaceable and quiet. Live within onefourth of a mile of Fairfax, but know nothing until the affair was over. Did not see tho men. Never heard the reason of the visit. My gin was burned by the negroes the following day. Saw armed colored men marching through Waterproof the day before my gin was burned; consequently, when it was burning, was afraid to go out to see about it. Think armed bodies of negroes came from Catahoula parish—some 200 of them. The next day another crowd of armed negroes came in town, made a great deal of fuss, and cried that they were going to burn the town. Fairfax was the leader d the negroes. H. Moss, of Tensas, testified that he saw armed negroes pass by the hundreds through the town of Waterproof. Wo were very much frightened. The negroes threatened to kill the children and outrage the women. Think they would have burned the town Tuesday if the Sheriff’s posse hud not arrived. The Teller Committee on the 14th examined T. S. Shaeffer, of St. Joseph parish, who testified to the killing of an Irish laborer by a negro constable, and the lynching and shooting of the constable by a band of armed whites. Gaspre do Cuir, of Pointe Coupe, a member of tho Legislature, testified that lie heard several negroes were whipped and beaten ( l>y the whites. Understood it was because the negroes had organized revolutionary bands endangering the lives and property of whites. Charles Decenig, of Caddo, Deputy Marshal, saw two dead negroes at Caledonia, tlie day after the election. Understood the negroes were killed on election day. The Teller Committee, on the 15th examined Clement L. Walker, attorney, of New Orleans, who testified concerning the election in that city. He beVeved the returns promulgated were not indicative of the true results, the votes polled for the Conservatives being counted for the Democrats. He charged, generally, that there wore irregularities and frauds in the conduct of the election. C. W. Johnson, J. A. Johnson, David Young, Charles Lincoln, M. D. Randolph, all colored, of Concordia, testified to general charges of intimidation and fraud in the late election. G. L. Walton, of Coneordia, a member of tho Legislature, denied in effect the charges made by the previous witnesses. E. Kennoll, colored, a Coroner of Concordia, said there were six men killed, all colored. Five were hung and one shot.

A. J. Bryant (colored), State Senator for Tensas parish, testified that ho was forced, by threats of hanging, to vote the Democratic ticket at the last election. He said that no Republican ticket was nominated in that parish because the whites told the blacks that they wqul.l consider such action a declaration of war. 'Abraham Thomas (colored), of Tensas parish, testified before the Teller Committee, on the 17th, that, during the late election, he met a body of armed whites, who chased witness. That night the same men came and took Charley Bethel, a colored man, out of his house, shot him, and cut his throat. Ross Stewart, a prominent colored politician, of Tensas, a member of the Legislature, testified that threats of violence prevented the Republicans from nominating a ticket. Witness testified to several acts of bulldozing, and gave the names of fifteen negroes alleged to have, been murdered. The Teller Committee, on Jan. 18th, examined W. B. Merchant, District Attorney of St. Mary’s parish, who testified concerning the attack on Newman’s house, but nothing new was developed. It was ordered that United States Commissioner Lane take testimony of witnesses not examined for Natchitoches, Tensas and Calahoula parishes; that Morris Marks represent the majority and B. F. Jonas the minority. The testimony so taken will be transmitted to Mr. Teller, and treated as if taken by the committee. The committee then left for Charleston, 8. C.

THE POTTER COMMITTEE. J. Henri Burch (colored), a Presidential elector-at-large in Louisiana, testified before the Potter Committee that he signed a second set of certificates because he had been advised that there was an informality in the first set; he knew nothing of the forgery of certificates. Kelly (colored) was placed upon tho stand, and testified that the name of Jeffrion, one of the electors, was forged by D. P. Blanchard, a clerk in Gov. Kellogg’s office; in answer to a question as to the whereabouts of Blanchard, witness stated that he died last summer of yellow fever. Gen. Butler, who conducted the greater part of the cross-examination, proceeded upon the theory that Kelly, the colored messenger, had himself committed the forgery. He asked Kelly to write his own signature upon a piece of paper. Kelly did so. Then Butler asked the witness, who wrote very readily, to write the name of Jcffrian. This the witness very positively refused to do. In answer to a question by Mr. Cox, as to whether anybody approached witness regarding the character of the evidence he would give before the Potter Committee, Kelly said he was visited by a man named Maddox, who stated that he was employed by high authority from the committee to ascertain what his (Kelly’s) testimony would be. Tho object of the committee was, he said, to make political capital for Tilden against Thurman. As a further inducement to testify, Kelly was told he could go off a considerable distance, even as far as San Francisco, and could then be summoned back, profiting by the mileage.

FORTY-FIFTH congress. Monday, Jan. 18. —Senate. —A bill was passed without discussion appropriating $250,000 for a fireproof building for a national museum. ...It was then voted to attend the funeral of Mr. Schleicher and a recess was taken. Messrs. Coke, Bavard and Hamlin were appointed a committee to arrange for the funeral of Representative Schleicher, and'to accompany his remains to Texas. House.— The report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs was unanimously adopted, recommending the payment of the remainder of the salary of the late Representative Schleicher, as a member of the Forty-fifth Congress, to his family, and requesiing the next Congress to make a similar appropriation of his salary as a member of the Fortysixth Congress. Tuesday, Jan. 14.—Senate.—Mr. Butler submitted a resolution directing the Secretary of the interior to inquire and report what railroad

company, iiidividua or individuals are building a railroad across the public domain in Arizona, and by what authority the road is being constructed. Agreed t 0... .Mr. Davis (W. Va.) called up the resolution submitted by him early in the session to promote the agricultural interests of the country, and made a long speech upon the subject.... Mr. Matthews made a speech in opposition to the bill to amend the Patent laws. House.—Die House spent the entire day, in committee of the whole, considering the bill for the payment of pensions to survivors of the Mexican war. Wednesday, Jan. 15.—Senate.—The House bill for the payment to officers and soldiers of the Mexican war of three montlis’ extra pay, provided for by the act of July 19, 1848, led to a long discussion. Mr. Edmunds submitted an amendment to make the act apply to those who seFVed in the late war for the preservation of the Union. Tlie bill was laid aside without action.,... Mr. Voorhees submitted a resolution instructing the Committee on Indian Affairs to inquire into the circumstances which led to the recent escape of •Cheyenne Indians from Fort Robinson. Neb., and their slaughter by United States forces. Agreed to. ....A communication was laid before the Senate in executive session from Secrc- ’ tary Shertftan on the subject of the New York Custom House appointments. designed to show that the removal of Collector Arthur and Naval Officer Cornell was made for sufficient cause. At the conclusion of the reading of Secretary Sherman’s communication. Senator Conkling made an earnest speech defending Arthur and Cornell from the charges of inefficiency, and denouncing the charges as pretenses and after-thoughts put forth by the administration in an effort to justify action which was wholly unwarranted on civilservice grounds, and prompted merely by personal or partisan considerations. House —Mr. Wood, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, reported back the bill authorizing the issue of certificates of deposit in aid of refunding the public debt. The bill authorizes the .Secretary of the Treasury to issue in exchange for lawful money United States certificates of deposit of the denomination of #lO, bearing interest al the rate of 3 per cent, and corj, vertible at any time with accrued interest into 4 per cent bonds, authorized to be issued, and directs that the money so received shall be applied only to the payment of 5-20 bonds. The bill, after a somewhat protracted debate, was passed—yeas. 154: nays. 43... .Mr. Wood also reported a bill to facilitate the refunding of the national debt It authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in the process of refunding the national debt, to exchange directly at par bonds bearing 4 per cent, interest for bonds commonly known as the 5-20 s, outstanding and uncalled, and directs that, whenever all sjneb 5-20 bonds shall have been redeemed, the provision of this section and all existing provisions of law authorizing the refunding of the na.ional debt shall apply to any bonds of the United States bearing 5 per cent, or a higher rate of interest which may be redeemable, and that, in any such change, interest shall be allowed on bonds redeemed for a period of three months... .Tin- main question being ordered, the House adjourned. Thursday, Jan. 16.—Senate.—Mr. Dorsey submitted a resolution calling upon the Secretai y of the Treasury for a statement’of all the appropriations and expenditures from the national treasui y for the purpose of paying the expenses of the Indian Department from July 1. 1790. to June 30.1873. Agreed to....'the bill providing for the payment of arrears of pensions was passed... Mr. Windom offered a resolution calling for a committee to inquire into the propriety of encouraging the migration of blacks from those States where they do not receive such treatment as ought to be accorded American citizens to States where their rights will be respected. House.—The House passed, without division, the bill reported from the Ways and Means Committee to facilitate the refunding of the national debt.... The Mississippi Levee bill was taken up and the rertiainder of the day devoted to its discussion.... In the evening memorial exercises in honor of the late Prof. Joseph Henry were held in the.presence of a vast audience. Friday, Jan. 17.—Senate.—A resolution was offered by Mr. Saulsbury calling upon the Secretary of ,u>e Treasury for information in regard to the refolding of the national debt. It was laid over. ... .The balance of the day was spent in considering the bill to amend the Patent laws.... Messrs. McDonald and Randolph were appointed to serve as members of the Teller Com lojttee, in place of Messrs. Wallace and Bayard, who were exeused at their own request.... Adjourned till Monday. . House.—The House devoted tlw day. in committee of the whole, to tlie private calendar.... After laying aside several bills to report to the House, the bill was reached for tlie payment 0f,521.0.000 to the t rustees of the Protestant Episcopal Seminary and High School of Virginia for rent c.f buildings during the war. Quite a lengthy discussion followed, the opponents of the bill asserting it was a war claim, and the friends of the measure stating it was a just bill for rent of property, and the Government was as much bound to pay rent for the building as for any other building occupied by it. Without reaching a vote the committee rose and the House adjourned. Saturday, Jan. 18.—Senate'—Notinsessi n. House.—The House took up and passed the Geneva Award bill. It revives and continues the Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims: fixes the number of Judges at three: requires the court to convene and organize as soon as practicable in Washington, and limits its existence to eighteen months. Jt provides that no claim by or in behalf of any insurance company “hall be admitted or allowed by the Court of Claims unless such claimant shall show that the sum of its losses in respect to war risks exceeded the premiums or gains, and then the allowance shall not be greater than such excess. No claim is to be admissible in favor of any insurance company that was not lawfully existing at the time of the loss under the law of the United States.