Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1891 — Page 2

flje gemocrotit Sentinel RENSSELAER, INDIANA. *. W. McEWEN, - - - PQMJ»hp>

BREEZY BRIEFLETS.

COLLECTED BY WIRE FROM FAR AND NEAR. An Entertaining and Instructive Summary of the Doings of the Old and New World, I Embracing Politics, Labor, Accidents. Crime, Industry, Etc. I • . CONDITION OF AMERICAN FARMERS. Senator Teller Shows That They Are Less Prosperous than French Farmers. Is the Senate, on the 6th, Senator Teller, of Colorado (Kep.), made a speech on the financial bill Referring to the condition of American farmers, and showing it to be less prosperous than that of the farmers of France, Mr. Teller said that the farmers of America had made themselves heard last November—to his regret and the regret of Senators on his side of the chamber. They had been found voting, almost unanimously, with the Democratic, party. Why? They were not Democrats to-day. They had not changed their politics. But they had been dissatisfied with ' the Republican management of financial affairs. And for one be did not wonder at it He would give heed to wbat,they said. He had tried last year to have the Senate listen to their voice. He kneA that they wanted free coinage of silver, and that they were not afraid of the advent of one, two, or three hundred millions of silver any more than he was. Proceeding to discuss the section of the bill providing for the purchase of 12.000,000 ounces of silver. Mr. Teller said that he washed hi? hands of any responsibility for that. He had no interest or sympathy with the men who speculate in silver. It had been said in the public press and in another place (meaning the House of Representatives) that when the silver bill of last session passed a large number of Senators were holders of silver bullion. If that were so he had never heard of it. The House refused to take up the Butterworth antioption bill, but the refusal was no indication of the strength or weakness of the measure. The majority refused to give it preference over the subsidy bill. Mr. Funston, of Kansas. Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, says the bill has got to pass and will pass some time this session. He is certain that many Republicans voted against it who will support it when it comes before the House in the regular way.

IS IT WAR OR WHAT? Concentration of War Vessels in the Pacific—Naval Orders Arouse CommentComment is aroused among navy officers over tt e series of orders emanating from the Navy Department within-- the last few weeks, directing the commissioning of warships at Fan Francisco and the ordering of various other cruisers to Pacific waters. Under the present orders no less than eleven war-ships and five revenue cutters will soon be in commission in the Pacific and ready for duty. If in addition the rumored chartering and arming of seven steamers for revenue-cut-ter duty in Behring Sea prove correct, the United States naval force will number twenty-three ships, against the five British . gunboats and one armored vessel at pit sent protecting Great Britain's interests in the North Pacific. It is now asserted that the Yantic will be sent from New York to the Pacific. This will increase the above force by still another vessel, in view of the present Behring Sea controversy and the rumored chartering of seven steamers for revenue-cutter duty, the above disposition is deemed ominous. As the fishing season dees begin earlier than May the concentration of the twelve war-ships can be effected before tlie revenue cutters are ready to proceed to the Behring Sea. It is believed the whole United States force in the Pacific will then concentrate off Port Townsend. Uoncerning the Omaha, it is thought, even if this vessel is subjected to repairs in San Francisco, she can be got ready to join the Pacific fleet in the spring. TO OPEN INDIAN TERRITORY. Homes for Many Thousands of Settlers Will Be Provided. Before the end of the present year the Indian nations occupying the Indian Territory will have begun their final dissolution, and their membeis will have become citizens of the United States, tribal relations will be broken up, and the entire country opene4 to settlement. Under a section of the bill organizing the Territory of Oklahoma forty members of the Cherokee tribe have made application to Judge J. M. Shackelford, of the United States District Court, to become citizens of the United States, and to receive their lands in severalty from their portion of the Cherokee strip. These applications will be heard by Judge Shackelford at Zirdmore the latter part of the present month. Great interest centers in this action, as it will virtually open up the Indian Territory to settlement by dividing the land belonging to the various tribes in severalty, permitting individual Indians to sell or dispose of all or any portion of their shares at will. Homeseekers who have for many ye'&rs been anxious to get into that rich agricultural region can do so by purchasing land direct from individual Indians. The action of the forty Cherokees brought before Judge Shackelford is unquestionably based on reliable information from Washington to the effect that the Secretary of the Interior believes, and has expressed it as his opinion, that the Cherokees as a tribe have no legal right to the Cherokee strip, and that it may be opened to settlement without regard to their claims. They claim that- if these rich lands are to be opened to settlement their people should derive the benefit, and have them divided in severalty before the Government declares they have no legal right to them. Accident on the Panhandle. The west-bound Panhandle passenger train, about one mile east of Coshocton. OhlopTan Into two hand-cars--containing-twenty-€wo of Its workmen. Two men, John Curran and Robert Davis, of Steubenville, were instantly killed and terribly mutilated. Another, Captain Burgess, of Allegheny. received Injuries from which he cannot possibly recover. The other D:en saved their lives by jumping. Employes Will Not Bite. At a meeting of the Westinghouse employes at Pittsburg the proposition to work for half pay in cash until the company’s embarrassment is over met with little favor. Phiebe Will Get 52.000 a Year. Secretary Windoui has fixed the salary of Miss Phoebe Couzins of the Board of Lady Managers of the Columbian Exposition at ♦2,000 per annum. Bones of a Mastodon. The bones of some large animal supposed to be those of a mastodon have been discovered in the bank of the Minnesota River ■sveral miles northwest of Mankato, Minn

SAY THE TARIFF IS TOO HIGH. Minnesota Farmers Demand that It Bo Reduced—W hat They Ask. The resolutions adopted by the Minnesota convention of the Farmers’ Alliance opened with a shot at the tariff. The most important of them are as follows: We demand that the war toriff b« radically revised, giving necessary reductions and placing raw material on the free list, to the end that wo may be able to compete with the world for a market. We demand governmental control of the railroads, both of the State and the nation, to the end that reasonable rates shall be established and watering of stock not be permitted, and that our Legislature shall enact a freight-rate law which shall fix rates no higher than those now In force in lowa, and reduce the passenger rates to two cents a mile. As producers we demand a free and open market for our grain, and that railroads shall receive and ship the same as they do all other commodities. That the grading of wheat at country stations be abolished; and we demand that the Legislature investigate the handling, inspection, and weighing of grain under existing laws. We demand a law forbidding any railroad front issuing any mortgage bonds or stock until an account of the cash, labor, and material, duly sworn to, has been presented to some officer of the State for examination. We demand the reduction of the rate of Interest to 7 percent, with stringent penalties for bonuses and commissions. We favor an increase of the volume of money equal to the requirements of an increasing trade, without the intervention of banks of issue. We demand the free coinage of silver and denounce the silver bill passed by Congress as a fraud upon the people; and we also demand that all public offices which directly'affect the interests of the people be made elective. We denounce the “force bill” as a dangerous and revolutionary measure, devised for partisan the wounds of .the war and retard the happy day of reconciliation and peace, and we hold that one of the greatest aims of the Alliance is the restoration of fraternal feeling and true concord to the people of this entire republic. We demand that the Government foreclose its lien on the Union Pacific Railroad, and take possession and operate the same in the interests of the people of the United States. Option gambling in boards of trade should be abolished. and we ask the State and Congress to pass such laws as shall make every such transaction a criminal offense.

CLOSING IN ON THE BEDS. A Big Battle Between Troops and Indians Unavoidable. A dispatch from Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota says: The troops are closing in on the Indians, and a big battle is looked for at any hour. Infantry is on its way here from Oelrlcbs and is badly needed, as this is the weakest point at the front. Last night the halfbreeds took their turn at being frightened* and stampeded in the night for the railroad. A report starting from a dozen different sources spread like wildfire through the camp that many of the hostiles in the guise of friendlies were scattered through the agency, * and would at a signal each select his man, kill him. and then escape in the confusion and assist the balance of the hostiles in their attack from the outside. The force here, hardly 500 men, could be wiped out by such a plan, as the cannon weuld be useless in the dark. Every one was under arms, and sleep was too great a luxury to indulge in. Col. Forsythe has been suspended for trial for the slaughter of last Monday. Gen. Miles and Col. Henry are well and hearty in spite of the efforts made by the pewspapers to kill them. Indians came in this morning saying that about half of the Indians in the hostile camp were willing to accept Gen. Miles’ terms and come back to the agency and ask for aid to get away from their comrades. The four-month-old baby found on the battlefield New Year’s Day has been adopted by Yellow Bird and christened Maggie C. Nailor, after a Washington lady. The other baby died yestetday. A special from Rushville, Neb., says: Heavy cannonading has been going on north of here to-day, but no news of a battle has yet been received. The Omaha Guards, who volunteered their services, have been ordered to hold themselves In readiness to move to the front. They are in fine form and have a Gatling gun attached to the command.

BLAINE IS OUT OF IT. Sfe Is Not a Candidate for tlie Presidential Nomination. The Washington Critic has the following Presidential gossip. Its Informant Is understood to be Senator Joe Blackburn; Secretary Blaine gives It out these days that he is not a candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1892. In a recent conversation with a Democratic Senator with whom he is on friendly terms he dwelt on the efforts he was making for the cause of reciprocity. He outlined his plans* for the increase of trade with the nations of South America. He said that he was very much in earnest in his ideas for the extension of our markets, particularly with the southern half of the western hemisphere. 4 lle spoke of the Importance of the Nicaragua Canal, and of the tremendous benefit It would be to the commerce of the world in general and of tlie United States In particular. He said he believed he would live to see a ship canal across the Floridian peninsula at least begun. The Democratic Senator In question, who is a good deal of a’believer in Mr. Blaine, said he thought he (Blaine) would be the Republican nominee, “for,” he said, “If wo Democrats cannot elect a President, I would rather see you President than any other Republican.” Secretary Blaine expressed his appreciation of the compliment and said: “I am not a candidate and shall not be.” He then added that he was more Interested fn bringing about reciprocity with the South American nations than in anything else. In referring to the matters pressing for Immediate attention in Congress he said that it would be a calamity to the Republican party for tho election bill to become a law.

EXTRAORDINARY VOLUME OF BUSINESS. The Year ISQO Shows a Good Record In Commercial Dealings. JR. G. Dun & Co.’s weekly review of trade *iys: The new year opens with so much of uncertainty that there is a.patural disposition to dwell upon the crowning records of the year just closed, which show an dinary volume-of business, in many lines surpassing all precedent. Iron, cotton, leather, boot and shoo, and mea,t. production was larger than any previous year. Thus 2,219,312 cattle were slaughtered at Chicago, against 1,763.310 in 1889, a gain of 25 per cent., and 5,733,082 hogs, against 4,211,767 in 1889, a gain of 36 per cent. At Boston 3.535,211 cases of boots and shoes were shipped, against 3,399,98.0., again.. of 4 per. cent. The clearing-house exchanges show that the volume of all business in 1860 exceeded that of any previous year by at least'lo per cent., though in part this idcrease wasdue to the'higher range of prices during the greater part of the year. The advance in prices of all commodities cornbared with a year ago Is 6.0 per cent., and the average has been about 5.5 per cent, higher for eight months. But this unprecedented volume of business has not been altogether successful, and the recorded failures have been In number and in amount of liabilities larger than in any previous year since 1884. EX-TREASURER SPINNER DEAD. His Long Career Ended at the Advanced Age of 90. Gen. Francis E. Spinner, ex-Trearurer of the United States and a former power in Republican politics, died the day before New Year’s the residence of his son-in-law, the Hon. J. M. Schumacher, at Jack-

sonville. Fla. Gen. Fpinner went to Florida Immediately after retiring from office on account of .health, and. being fond of outdoor life, spent much time at Pablo Beach, living in a tent and enjoying himself In hunting and fishing. The malady to which he finally succumbed was cancer of the face, and. despite his great sufferings, he always preserved an undaunted 'heroic front. Up to a week ago he was able to be up at short periods, and con versed with those around him. When the cancer broke through to the brain his mind began to fail, and at times he became delirious. He was attended by his faithful physician. I>r. Mitchell, and everything that human skill could do was done in his behalf until death came. At his bedside were Mr. and Mrs J. M. Schumacher and Mr. and Mrs. James F. Woodworth. His end was peaceful and painless, and death came to him as a sleep. Francis K. Spinner was born at Mohawk, German Flats. N. Y., in January, 1602. His father was a German clergyman.

THEIR MONOPOLY DESTROYED. How the German Government Got Ahead of the Iron Barons. The German Railway Minister has de-. dared war against the Iron barons. The latter, having by high tariffs succeeded to a certain extent In getting rid of foreign competition, next set to work to dictate exorbitant prices to the German Government, while they sold to foreign countries at comparatively cheaper rates. It has now been decreed that in all purchases of materials for the Prussian railroads the lowest tender is In the future to be accepted Irrespective of the nationality of the contractor and that German material is only to be preferred where the prices asked are the same. The managers of the Bavarian State Railway have had to complain of a similar tendency to extortion on the part of the coal contractors. They have now decreed that In future coal is to be bought at the lowest tender, and this has enabled tlie Bohemian mine-owners to obtain large orders to the detriment of their Rhenish. Westphalian competitors, a fact which , causes a good deal of dissatisfaction in quarters interested. A LONDON “BABY FARM.” How the Miserable Business Is Carried On in the British Capital. London is constantly being horrified atthe discovery of “baby farnis” where, ip-, fants are treated In the cruelest manner possible; but in spite of the metropolitan police these disgraceful Institutions flourish and apparently are only discovered by ac- ' cident. At Brixton, a portion of London, on the Surrey side of the Thames, a woman who gave the name of Mrs. Reeyes, and who is known to have figured under several aliases, was arrested on tlie complaint of her neighbors for carrying on the illegal business known as “baby farming.” When the police searched her residence they found eight emaciated, filthy, sickly babies crowded into one stuun, IU-ventilated room. Apparently the infants were In a starving condition. Mrs. Reeves, in any case, will be prosecuted to the full extentof the law, and should one of the children die the charge of murder may be made against the “baby farmer.”

Big Crash at Cincinnati. - The Dueber-Ilampden Watch Company of Canton, Ohio, one of the largest concerns In the United States, has made an assignment in Cincinnati to Howand Douglass. The collapse of Dueber is no surprise to those on the inside, for he has been considered shaky for sorpe time. He moved his extensive works in Newport. Ky., just across the river from Cincinnati, about two years ago. and greatly enlarged his business, adding to the manufacture of watch cases that of watch works. My. Dueber was one of tho few men who fought the watch trust and they determined to drive him to the wall. At his Canton factory he employed nearly 2,000 hands.

Gobbled Up by Germany. The schooner IV. F. Beebe, just arrived in. San Francisco from tho Marshall Islands, brings intelligence tending to confirm the rumor that the German government had taken possession of the islands. The schooner reports that the chiefs were compelled to sign a petition requesting Germany to establish a protectorate over the group. One chief, however, who declared himself in favor of allegiance only to the United States, refused to sign the petition, which ha 9 been forwarded to Berlin. A German cruiser Is stationed at Joluit, and the German agent lias announced that the islanders will be required to pay a yearly tax on copra. Will O’Brien Be Leader? It is understood that Mr. William O’Brien, M. P., has cable! Mr. John Dillon, M. P„ now in New York, that Mr. Parnell consents to retire if Mr. O’Brien Is made leader of the Irish party. It Is further understood thp£ the Boulogne conference adjourned in order to await Mr. Dillon's reply to this cable message, It is also reported that Mr. Dillon is consulting with several prominent friends of Ireland who reside in the United States previous to answering the important question put to him after the close of the conference. Twenty Years for Bulldozing. The motion for a new trial in the case of Beverly and Melly O’Neal and Alexander Terrell, convicted of manslaughter In bulldozing negroes, was overruled In the District Court at Baton Rouge, La., and they were each sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment In the State penitentiary. The bulldozing was organized to deter colored people from living on and working lands instead of working as laborers thereon. Explosion in a Wood Pulp Mill. A barking machine in the Cascade Wood Pulp Works at Lijkport, N. Y...exploded, wrecking part of tho mill and seriously injuring George Welch, the Superintendent; John Hammond of Medina; and John Ferris of that city. They were cut and bruised by flying pieces of the metal, some of which tore holes through the roof and sides of the building. The explosion was caused by the ovtrheating of the cylinder. Got Away with 826,000. Detectives have recovered $5,010 of the money stolen from the Chatham (Ont.) branch of the Bank of Montreal by J. N. Henry, one of its employes. It was 1 given up by a friend with whom Henry had left it. The defalcations of the absconder are now fixed at $46,000, of which he got away with $26,000 jn cash. A reward of $5,000 is offered for his arrest He Was Promptly Lynched. Near the town of Lang, in Falls County, Texas, the house of Mrs. G. Fisher was entered by a negro named Charlie Beall, who first assaulted her, beat her bralnfe out with a hatchet, and left her for dead. A passing neighbor discovered the dying woman and the alarm was given. In less than ens hour from tho time Beall had left his victim a company of determined men were on his trial, and at 2 o’clock the next morning they overtook him in Milan County. Beall con-

feased to assaulting the woman. He was Immediately sentenced to death and the sentence wiu executed by hanging him to a j tree. Cyclone in Louisiana. A telegram received at New Orleans states that a cyclone struck Keachi, a small town on the Shreveport and Houston Rallj road In IV Soto Parish. The Masonic Hall and postofflee and several stores were demolished. The Spencer House and a number of dwellings were more or less damaged. N 6 lives were lost. The damage is estimated at $20.000. Demanded Work or Bread. At Bromley, County Kent, In England, 850 unemployed laborers marched to the offices of the local authorities and demanded work, threatening that unless they* were relieved they would loot the bakers' shops. The town authorities promised to open relief works, whereupon the men dispersed. The tradesmen of the town gave each man twopence to buy bread. Big Suit Settled. The long contest In the Federal Court at Louisville, Ky., between the Breckinridge company, limited, of London, and Dr. Hugh Kennedy and his heirs has been settled by the purchase of Dr. Kennedy’s interest by the Englishmen. The property involved Was the cannel coal mines at Cloverport, Ky., valued at $11,000,000. Five Men Instantly Killed. Five men were instantly killed by the explosion of a cylinder-head of the towboat Annie Roberts. The boat was bound for Pittsburg. The damage $ the boat will not exceed SI,OOO. A complete list of the dead is: Frank Percy, Ben Lawson, James Swail, J. B. Shaw, James Gray. Engineer Rens was seriously Injured. Militia Ordered to i Chadron. .Gov. Thayer, of Nebraska, has telegraphed instructions to the commander of ! the State militia at lioiVg Pine to move at owe to Chadron. the’scene of tho threatened Indian Outbreak. Orders were also gUVeh to the commanders at Fremont, Central City, and Tekamah to be prepared to start at any time. New Remedy for Diphtheria. A Hungarian physician 1 named Dr. Bore has discovered a remedy for diphtheria which seems to be exceedingly efficacious. During the recent epidemic of this disease only 2 % per cent, of his patients died, while In other cases of practicing physicians the mortality reached 75 per oent. Killed a Chicago Contractor. At San Jacinto, Texas, Mr. Farro, an extensive railroad contractor, got into a dispute with a negro named Tom Gwynne, one of his employes. Gwynne struck Farro over the head with a club, crushing In his skull. Farro died from the is still at large. Farro hails from Chicago. i Workmen Instantly Killed. Eleven men were killed in the Utica mine at Angel’s Camp, Col. A load of men were being lowered into the mine, and when about 150 feet from the surface the repe broke, precipitating all a distance of 450 feet to the bottom of the shaft.

Hurricane in Texas. A terrific wind storm did great damage to buildings and other property at Abilene, Texas. The roof of one of the Episcopal churches was blown away, a number of houses were unroofed and others were blown off their foundations. No loss of life is reported. Earthquake in IndianaTwo shocks of earthquake were felt at Elwood, Ind., the other day. The first, lasting thirty seconds, occurred at 4 p. m. The second followed immediately and lasted fifteen seconds, oscillating from west to east. No damage was done. lowa Troops Ready. A dispatch from Mason City, la., says; The Sixth Regiment, lowa National Guard, the strongest in the State, Col. Benton commanding, has been ordered to hold Itself in readiness to march to the frontier for service against the Indians. Ghost D x ance Among Kickapoos, The Kickapoo Indians began a ghost dance on their reservation near Hiathawa, Kan., Sunday, and have been at It ever since. No trouble is expected to result from their fanaticism. Ice from Mineral Water. A Chicago man is reported to have organized a company with $500,000 capital for the purpese of manufacturing ice from the Hygeia mineral spring water at Waukesha, Wis. _____ „ Ex-Senator Wadleigh 111. Bainbrldge Wadleigh, ex-Senator from New Hampshire, Is lying.dangerously ill at the residence of his son-in-law in Boston with kidney disease.' te* Death of Emma Ahbott. Emma Abbott, the well-known opera singer, died at Salt Lake City the other day of pneumonia, after an illness of only two or three days. "She was 40 years old.

THE MARKETS.

CHICAGO. Cattle—Common to Prime.... $3.25 @ 5.50 Hogs—Shipping Grades 3.00 @ 4.00 Sheep 3.00 @ 5.50 Wheat—No. 2 Led 91 @ .92 Cobn—No. 2 48W@ !49 Oats-No. 2 41 @ .41W Eye—No. 2 <\ 04 & .66 Butter —Choice Creamery 25 @ .28 Cheese—Full Cream, flats 00 . low Eggs—Fresh 22 @ .23 Potatoes—Western, per bn 90 & 95 INDIANAPOLIS. Cattle—Shipping 3.50 @ 4.75 Hogs—Choice Light 3.00 @ 3.75 Sheep—Common to Prime 3.00 ® 4.75 Wheat—No. 2 Eed 93W@ .94W Cork— LWhita.. 49 ~@ .49W Oats—No. 2 White 44 .44W ST. LOUIS. Cattle 4.00 @ 5.25 Hogs 3.00 19 3.75 Wheat—No. 2 Keel 92Wgi .93 Cohn—No. 2 47 @ .48 Oats—No. 2 42 (9 .43 Barley—Minnesota 09 w .71 CINCINNATI. Cattle 3.00 @ 4.60 Hogs 3.00 @ 3.75 Sheep 3.00 <9 5.50 Wheat—No. 2 K0d....; 97 @ .98 Cohn—No. 2 52J$@ .53'$ Oats—No. 2 Mixed 43 <9 .43)5 MILWAUKEE. Wheat—No. 2 Spring .85 @ .87 Cohn—No. 3 49 @ .4914 Oats—No. 2 White 43 @ .44 Rye—No. 1 66' 2 3 .67;$ Barley—No. 2... 06 19 .67 DETROIT. Cattle 3.00 & 4.50 Hogs 3.00 <9 3.75 Sheep 3.00 @ 4.00 Wheat—No. 2 Red 98 (9 .99 Cohn—No. 2 Yellow 52 @ .53 Oats—No. 2 White.... 45W(9 .46 TOLEDO. . Wheat 94’$@ ,95>$ Corn—Cash 51 (@ .51 ir. Oats—No. 2 White 43W@ .44C BUFFALO. Cattle—Good to Prime 4.00 @ 5.00 - Hogs—Medium and Heavy 3.50 <9 3.75 Wheat—No. 1 Hard 1.08 @l.oßls Corn—No. 2... 57W@ ,58w EA#T LIBERTY. Cattle—Common to Prime 3.50 @ 6.00 Hogs—Light 3*83 @ 4.00 Sheep—Medium to Good 4.00 @ 5.50 Lambs 4.00 @ 6.00 NEW YORK. Cattle - 3.50 @5.00 Hogs 3.25 @ 4.00 Sheep 4.00 @ 4.50 Wheat—No. 2 Red 1.051$ @ 1.061$ Cors—No. 2. ! 59 0 .61 Oats—Mixed Western 48 @ .63

A FIERCE GOTHAM FIRE.

AN ENTIRE BLOCK OF BIG BUILDINGS DESTROYED. The Filth Avenue and Herrmann's Theaters in Ruins—Pot.l Guests Forced to Flee for Their Lives—The Top Story of the Sturtevant House a Prey to the Flames—tire* men Have a Miraculous Escape. [New York dispatch.] Fire which it was feared would result in the loss of the lives of at least half a dozen brave firemen broke out in the Fifth Avenue Theater shortly after midnight this morning. Within an hour that famous playhouse was practically destroyed. Herrmann’s Theater was In flames, and the entire block in grave peril. The fire broke out under the stage of 'the Fifth Avenue Theater. At half past 12 o’clock an explosion was heard in the building, and a moment later the upper part of the city was illuminated by a huge sheet of flame which rose to the roof of the theater, enveloping the entire building and Herrmann’s Theater immediately adjoining. Six firemen had gone through Herrman’s Theater to the roof and had just succeeded in hoisting a length of hose up when the furnace opened directly at their feet. When from the ciowd went

up a great shout for the scaling-ladders they were quickly run up and a vain effort made to reach the imperiled men. A deadly silence that lasted for a full minute resulted, and then a moan of agony arose from the crowd. Firemen were seen to bend their heads and wipe away the tears that they could not prevent from flowing. It was thought that the men had certainly been hurled into the raging furnace beneath, aqd they were given up as lost. But from the crowd on the Twenty-eighth street side a few moments later went up a cheer. It announced the rescue of the firemen by means which sseihed miraculous. For miles around the flames could be seen shooting high into the heavens, and an encimous crowd gathered and crowded the neighboring streets. From the roof of the Fifth Avenue Theater the flames ran-along the cornices of Prof. Herrmann’s new theater, which had recently been completed and was one of the prettiest and most expensive playhouses in the city. In an instant the entire roof was ablaze. • A high wind sprang up and carried the fire with a rapidity defying the twenty-three fire companies which were there to tight it The estimated loss on the Fifth Avenue Theater was SIOO,OOO by H. C. Miner and $5500,00t) by the Gilsey estate. Miss Fanny Davenport loses $50,000, exclusive of her costumes, and Prof. Herrmann’s loss is placed at $50,000.

DECREASE OF THE PUBLIC DEBT

It Has Gone Down 811,003,398 During the Last Month. The following is the public debt statement for December: INTEREST-BEARING DEBT. Bonds at 41a per cent $ 59,177,550 Bonds at 4 per cent 659,742,700 Refunding certificates at 4 per cent. 990,499 Aggregate of interest-bearing debt exclusive of U. S. bonds issued to Pacific railroads.... $619,019,740 Debt on which interest has ceased since maturity 1.682,505 DEBT BEARING NO INTEREST. Legal-tender notes $346,681,016 Old demand notes 56,032 National bank ndtes— Redemption account (deposited in Treasury under act of July 14, 1890) 51,323,030 Fractional currency, less $8,375,934 estimated as lost "or destroyed.... 6,910,626 Aggregate of debt bearing no interest, including national bank fund deposited in the Treasury under act of July 14, 1890 $404,970,704 Certificates issued on deposits of gold and silver coin and legal-ten-der notes: Gold certificates 175,431,969 Silver certificates 309,855,778 Currency certificates 6,820,000 Treasury notes of 1890 24,090,500 Aggregate of certificates offret by cash in the Treasury $517,198,217 Aggregate of debt, including certificates, Dec. 31,'1890 $1,541,871,198 Decrease of bonded debt during the month 7,424,928 CASH IN TREASURY. Reserved for redemption of United States notes, acts of Jan. 14, 1875, and July 12,1882 $100,000,030 For redemption of gold certificates issued 175,431,969 For redemption of silver certificates issued..... : 309,655,778 For redemption ot-currency certificates issued i 6,820,090 For redemption of Treasury notes, act July 14, 1890 24,090,500 For matured deot, accrued interest, and interest due and unpaid 5.670,597 Total cash reserved for above purposes $621,858,844 AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Fractional silver, fractional currency, and minor coin not full legal tender $19,153,006 Net cash balance, including $54,207,975, national bank fund deposited in the Treasury under act of July 14, 1800,.... Y 38.418,806 Total $679,440,656 Debt, , less cash in the Treasury Dec. 31, 1890 662,430,541 Debt, less cash in the Treasury, Nov. SO, 1890 873,435,939 Net increase of debt during the ? month $11,005,398 *

May Be Funny, May Be Not.

There will be both a Ketcham and a Cheatham in the next Congress, just as there are in this one.—Boston Herald. Two of the hardest things to keep in this life are a new diary and a sharp lead-pe_nci!,—A T orri.stoti , n Herald. • It is not wise to say everything you know, but how can some people help it if they say anything' at ail?— SbmervUle, Journal The man who insists that doctor hills are robbery might modify his language and. refer to them as pillage.—Washington Poe *-

THE SENATE AND HOUSE.

WORK OF OUR NATIONAL LAWMAKERS! Proceedings or the Senate and Qoase ol Representatives Discussed and Acted Upon—Gist or the Business. The day after New Year’s the Speaker laid before the House the resignation of H.. H. Markham as a member of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. On motion of Mr. McKinley, of Ohio, the House then, adjourned until Monday. Jan. 5. Although it was understood when the Senate adjourned Dec. 31 that the session on Jan, 2d was to be merely formal there were forty Senators present when the journal was read, including Mr. Allison, who had been absent from the city for ten days past. The Sen-ator-elect from Idaho, Mr. McConnell, who has not yet been sworn In, was also present and was introduced to a good many of the Senators, as was also Mr. Dubois, of Idaho, who has been elected for the term to begin i March 4 next. No business whatever was transacted and the Senate, on motion of Mr. Spooner, adjourned till , Jan. 5 at noon. Thus far five Republicans have agreed to vote against the election billon a direct vote and there are two others who say they would; vote for a motion to lay it aside and take up finance. This is not enough. A Republican Senator who Is earnestly opposed to the election bill said to a reporter that in time it waahMdgSirthe Senate, but. it could by no possibility be passed by the House in its amended form. By the time, it got to the House, he said, it would bo too late for the attendance of a quorum to bo secured in that body. The bill, he said, could never become a law. The Senate met at noon on the sth. with the Vice President in the chair, and with a fulln er attendance of members than on any other day at the same hour since the session began. The galleries were also well filled with spectators. The journal of the 2d imst. was read, and was of the briefest possible character; consisting of one short sentence. Scores of petitions for and against the Conger lard bill were presented, and for and against the Torrey bankruptcy bill. On motion of Senator Stewart the election bill was; laid aside and the financial bill was taken up. The vote was Si to 28. eight Republican Senators voting with the Democrats. This practically kills the election bill and. means the passage of a silver, bill by the Senate. Inquiry among Republican Senators develops tlie fact that they were all surprised at the displacement, of the election bill. One 'Western Senator, who. personally regards the bill with indifference, but who was not willing to abandon it now that it was a party measure, said that the friends of the 1)111 did not know what to think or do now, for they had been so surprised they had not had time to consider the situation. The Senator said heregarded the vote as decisive of the fate of the bill, and that- was the opinion of the majority of his colleagues with whom hehad talked. Senator Spooner, one of the foremost advocates of the election bill, was seen but would say nothing. Of the Republican Senators voting to bury the election bill Washburn was the only one wlio wasnot an out-and-out free-coinago man. He • justifies his vote on the. ground that he has been opposed to the election measure, and that this was the only opportunity that he had to get It out of the way. Besides, the measure he voted to take up is not a freccoinage bill, but the Bhe'rman compromise bill. It amounts to the same, however, for • the Democratic-Republican free-coinage combination will substitute a free-coinago amendment for the Sherman bill. No business of Importance was transacted by the House.

THE ILLUSIONS OF GREAT MEN.

Goethe states that he one day saw theexact counterpart of himself coining toward him. Pope saw an arm apparently comethrough the wall, aud made inquiries. after its owner. Byron often received visits from a specter, but he know it to be a creation of the imagination. Dr. Johnson heard his mother call his. name in a clear voice, though she was at. the time in another city. Bakon Emmanuel Swedenborg believed that he had the privilege of interviewing persons in the spirit world. Descartes was followed by an invisible person whose voiSe he heard urging him to continue his researches after truth. Loyola, lying wounded during thesiege of Pampeluna, saw the Virgin, who encouraged him to prosecute his ■ mission. Sir Joshua Reynolds, leaving his house, thought the lamps were trees, and the men and women bushes agitated by the breeze. Ravaillac, while chanting the “Miserere” and “De Profundis,” fondly believed that the sounds he emitted wereof the nature and had the full effect of a trumpet Oliver Cromwell, lying sleepless on his couch, saw the curtains open and a gigantic woman appear, who told him that he would become the greatest manin England. Ben Jonson spent the watches of thenight an interested spectator of a crowd of Tartars, Turks, and Roman,Catholics,, who rose up and fought round his armchair till sunrise. Bostok, the physiologist, saw figures and faces and there was one human face constantly before him for twenty-four hours, the features and headgear as distinct as those of a living person.

ALL SORTS.

The penitentiaries of Texas have contributed $71,000 to the State treasury thepast year. A miser at Lima, 0., left no heirs tohis fortune, which is estimated to be at . least $50,000. In Jefferson county, Kansas, a brother and sister ran against each other lor • school commissioner. The falls of Niagara carry down 10,000,000 cubic feet of water per minute, - equal to about three million horsepower. The population of Quebec is about . 1,500,000, of whom 1,200,000 ad, least are French in blood, language,.sentiment', and instinct. A census-taker recently stumbled over the name of a man living-near New ■ York which turned out to be Schmeckenheckerstein. A french scientist has just discovered tha!t a 20-pound cheese when 2 years old contains 1,574,856,231 living germs of adult microbes. Several Japanese editors have been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. with hard labor for speaking disrespectfully of the Emperor Jimmu, who, if he y ever existed, lived about 600 years ago. 1 Many natives in India still believe that the land is governed by one Jan Kumpani Bahadur, or “Big Chief Johnny Company,” who is supposed to be the husband of her Majesty the Queea-Em-. press.