Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1891 — Page 3

UNMASKING A HUMBUG.

THE HOME MARKET CLUB ON THE WOOL DUTY. The Great Protectionist Club Puts Its Frot in It— says that Wool Prices Are Lower Under Protection—The Argument to the Farmer and to the Manufacturer— A Fast and Loose Game. The great Home Market Club, of Boston, has just struck a deadly blow at the •duty on wool. This club was organized for the special purpose of propagating the notion that the agricultural classes ■of the country are benefited as much by protection as the manufacturers themselves, since protection creates a home market, in which the farmer can sell his tproduce—never mentioning tbe fact, of course, that tnis same home market will not pay one penny more for such produce than the despised foreigner will pay. Recent developments in the woolen industry have brought before the lords ■of the Home Market Club the greatest •problem which they have yet had to face. Many of the best woolen manufacturers in New England have joined in an organized effort to secure the removal of the wool duties; and the Home Market Club has recently published a pamphlet to convert these manufacturers from their error. This pamphlet is entitled, “Protection of Wool—From the Standpoint of the Manufacturer.” Every farmer who grows wool ought to send to the Home Market Club for a copy of this pamphlet in order to see the style of argument used upon the manufacturer, and to compare this with the arguments made to the farmer. The protectionists are loud and earnest in their defense of the wool duty before farmers, since, as they claim, it increases the prices of American wool. Last fall when McKinley was running for Congress his backers went all over his district offering to make contracts to buy up all the sheep in it at s's a head in case McKinley should be elected. This meant high wool duties, high wool prices. But the great Home Market Club takes exactly the opposite line of argument. It defends the wool duty on the expressed ground that it keeps the price of American wool lower than it would be under free wool. This protectionist club seeks to prove to the manufacturers that the price of wool in this country for the past ten years has been from one cent to nine cents per pound lower than it has ever been abroad, and that the American farmer could have sold his wool from one cent to nine cents higher in Liverpool or London than he could sell it on his farm. Here are its words, which are printed In its pamphlet in large type, as the final argument and last appeal to the wool manufacturer: “It is a mistaken idea with many manufacturers that foreign prices of wool are necessarily lower than home prices under protection. They average higher. They would be much higher •but for a large and certain domestic supply. The following table is instructive. ” Here is the table it gives: Foreign average Average price . price of all wools at of all Amoriport of exportation can wools at without duty. the farm. Cts., lb. Cts., lb. 188131 1-5 31 188231 9-10 30 188334 2-5 29 188429 1-10 26 188532 1-10 23 188632 J-5 24 158729 1-10 24 Here the wool grower may see what a fast and loose game the protectionists have been playing with him. They have been carrying water on both shoulders, telling the farmer that the wool tariff makes the prices high, and then facing about and drawing tables of figures to show to the manufacturer that it makes prices lower. In this connection it may be of interest to the farmer to note the difference in domestic wool prices now and last year. Here are the quotations from the Boston wool market for some of the bestknown wools last August and for the current month: Aug. 7, June 11, 1890. 1811. Cents. Cents. Ohio and Pa. XX and above... ,33@34 31J£@32 Ohio X and above32@B2J£ 30 @3l Ohio No. 1 35 <u36 Michigan X2B <229)* 23 @29 Michigan No. 136@36& 34 ,«35 Michigan unmerchantable22@33 21 @22 Is it not time that farmers open their eyes to simple and indisputable proofs like this that a high wttol duty does not raise the price of his wool? However deeply set the Republican wool-grower may be in the notion that the wool duty helps him, ought he not to listen and be convinced when the greatest protectionist club in the land agrees that the duty keeps prices down? Let such a woolgrower .gend to the Home Market Club for its wool pamphlet and see for himself. It is doubtful, however, whether he can get the pamphlet fcr love or money, if he makes it known that he is a grower of wool. The Tax on Gloves. The glove paragraphs of the McKinley law show how much more heavily that measure bears upon the poor than upra the rich. On silk gloves the old duty was 50 per cent, and this was increased by the McKinleyites to 60 per cent, which is an increase of 20 per cent, upon the old rate. Upon cotton gloves, however, the old tariff rate of 35 per cent, was changed to 50 per cent., or an increase of 43 per cent upon the old rate. The same inequality is seen in the case of leather gloves Under the old tariff the duty on all kinds of leather gloves was 50 per cent, ad valorem; the McKinieyites changed the duty to an ad valorem rate, claiming that the new specific rates were equivalent to the old rate. But this is not the case. The •duties are so arranged that they run far above 50 per cent, on the cheaper kinds. On men's plain gloves, for example, the present duty is one dollar a dozen and 50 per cent, ad valorem. On gloves worth S 3 per do en, therefore, the present duty is equivalent to 83 per cent, while on gloves worth $6 the duty is only 66 per cent The same thing is found in the duties on women’s kid gloves. Some time after the new law went into effect the New York Dry Goods Economist pointed out . its effects upon these goods by saying: *ln women’s gloves the cheapest kid will be forced out of the American market, for the duty imposed on them is all out of proportion with the value of the goods, which are those patronized by the poorer classes, who are supposed to be assisted by the new duty. ” Woolen gloves, which are worn mainly by the poorer people, come in for an •enormous advance. Under the old law these were taxed at from 10 to 35 cents per pound and 35 to 40 per cent, ad valorem —making sing e duties ranging from 63 to <3 per cent. Under the McKinley law all woolen gloves are taxed •s “wearing apparel” at 49J< ceats a

pound and 60 per cent, ad valorem. This of course lays the heaviest burden on the cheapest goods. THE AGRICULTURAL MINNOW. Why He Canuot Be Pin-Hooked—Protec. tion Helps Him Not—Europe's Demand lor Wheat. Minnows will bite readily at an unbaited pin-hook to the great delight of the small boy. A similar unbaited pinhook was thrown into the agricultural pool by the McKinieyites in the shape of increased duties on wheat and corn, but the agricultural minnow will not bite. Although the Drice of corn is double what it was a year ago, and the price of wheat is very much higher, too, no farmer has yet been found who is silly enough to say that McKinley’s increased duties have had the effect of raising prices by even a fraction of a cent. Not even the wildest or most rabid McKinleyite organ, either, has ventured to claim the increased prices as among the “benificences” or the new tariff law. “Why is this thusness?” The farmer is too well informed to believe that McKinley’s wheat and corn duties can be worth a tin whistle to him, since he is selling millions of dollars’ worth of these very products in foreign markets; and the McKinieyites are too well aware of this to try to force the naked pin-book into his mouth. They know too well that the farmer will “shy off” under such treatment. The main factor in raising the prices of wheat and corn, aside from our own shortness of crops last year, is the large demand certain to come from Europe for this year’s crops, owing to an unusually bad wheat crop this summer. Already it is reported from New York that freight engagements are being made with the great steamship lines far out into the fall months for transportation of grain to Europe; and it is already predicted that Europe will take more of our wheat and corn this year than ever before. That is a pin hook with a fat bait on it, and no deception about it McKin'ey tries to belittle the foreign market, asking “what’ particular sanctity hangs about it” At any rate, the foreign market is a mighty good place to sell wheat and corn; and McKinley's agricultural minnows, though they refused utterly to bite at bis naked pin-hook duties, are quite intelligent enough to see that the more freely we buy Europe's products the more largely will Europe buy of us. And the farmer is quite willing to pay for those foreign goods on a basis of what James G. Blaine calls “friendly barter.” We ship away our surplus which we do not need and ship back Europe’s surplus, and both parties are richer by the operation. The agricultural minnow knows this, and hence the “reciprocity” bid for his vote.

Protection by False Pretenses. One of the most frequent arguments before the Ways and Means Committee, at Washington, from people who want new duties imposed or new ones increased, is that such duties will develop home competition, that this will force prices down, and the consumer will be benefited. None of these applicants for Government aid will confess that the protection asked for will keep prices up. On the contrary, we see the singular spectacle of hundreds of men paying the expenses of a trip to Washington to ask for duties on their goods, on the ground that these duties will bring prices down. Before the committee these men have much to say about promoting competition; they seem, in fact, to have overcome the law upon which every business man proceeds—the law that the less competition tnere is the greater profits will be. Every business man dislikes competition; but a deputation to Washington on behalf of any industry always appears to be willing to have as much home competition as any consumer could possibly wish. When, however, competition or other causes have reduced prices competition becomes unpopular, and the result is the formation of a trust to defeat the very competition which the manufacturers profess to be so anxious to promote. Are we to believe that the manufacturers are so superpatriotic that they wish more competition and lower prices, and all this for the good of the dear people? The numerous trusts and combines to prevent competition and raise prices are a sufficient answer to this question. Are we to believe that they want protection in order to raise wages? The great number of wage reductions since the McKinley law was enacted is satisfactory proof to the contrary. The truth is that manufacturers, like everybody else, want to put as much money into their own pockets as possible. The difference is that they run to Congress with false and hypocritical pleas to get laws which will enable them to feather their nests at public expense, while the great masses of consumers and 9 > per cent, of all the producers of the country are trying, by hard labor and small savings, to gather about them a modest portion of this world’s goods.

Our Thriving Shoddy Buslne'-s. Last year, when the McKinley bill wag before Congress, and many woolen manufacturers were opposing its increased duties on wool, it was said by the New York Dry Goods Economist that, “Manufacturers of goods from wool substitutes applaud the measure before Congress and are championing its proponents and abettors. ” The shoddy men were right in their forecast of the effect of the bill on their industry. They judged that by putting heavy duties on foreign wool, the new law would increase the use of shoddy and give the shoddy business a great boom. Well, the boom has come, in fact, it has been here ever since the McKinley law was passed. The following table, giving the prices of different kinds of shoddy in the Boston market last August and at the present time, will show that the confidence of the shoddy men in the McKinley law was not misplaced: Prices. Articles. Aug. 7, ’9O. June 11, "91. New clips— Cents. Cents. Fine merchant tailors ...11 @l3 13 @ls Good mixedlo @l2 11 @l3 Fine darkll @H 13 @l4 Good light clipsl7 @lB 18 @2O Fine b’.uesl7 @l9 19 @2O Black merincs, unseam'd.lo @ll 12 @12% Clear hoods 94$@101$ 12 @12% Cut cloth, dark 3%@ 4 4 @ 4% Cut cloth, blue7h@ 8 9Js@lo New pure indigo— Blue shoddy2B @3O 30 @33 New black shoddy, extra fine 23 @24 23 @2B Light yarn shoddy, extra fine3l @33 85 @.,„ Extracts— Medium 1ight...16 @lB 18 @2O Light 24 @25 25 @2B Fine light merinos2s @26 28 @.4. Fine black merinos 23 @25 2 4 @2B Ordinary mixedl3 @lB 16 @2O As an index to the present situation of the . shoddy business the following from the latest number of the Dry Goods Economist will prove instructive:

’ “During the past six months the bonding of now shoddy mills and the extension of old ones have beey of frequent report. ♦ * * The most, curious feature in this connection is that the largest manufacturer of all-wool shoddies is in Ohio, the homo of the finest flocks. Another mill in that State is I making such additions that by running double time, which it is reported it will do as soon as it begins operations, it will rank as the second concern of the kind in the country. ” The same paper estimates the shoddy consumption of the country at.BO,GOC,OCO pounds, “or a quantity that equals onefourth the wool clip of the country.” The shoddy and other wastes consumed in 1880 was 52,000,000 pounds. Are we not rapidly becoming a shoddy nation under the wool tariff?

THE STARCH TRUST.

HISTORY OF A SPECIMEN TARIFF COMBINE. Dividing the Spoils for Six Months—A Case ot High Protection Where None Is Needed—A Prosperous Industry Exporting Its Product—How Home Market Prices Have Advanced. A few years ago the manufacturers of corn starch were loud.y complaining that there was no money in their business; but a little more than a year ago they formed a large trust composed of practically al! the manufacturers of starch in the country, and now they are happier. Before the trust was formed the price of corn starch at the factories was as low as cents a pound, but as soon as the trust was formed in March, 1890, prices at once took an upward jump, and now range from 3Ji to 3X cents. The trust having gotten in its work of raising prices, the business is now announced by a responsible trade paper to be very profitable. As an evidence of this it is stated that the National Starch Manufacturing Company, or starch trust, just declared a semi annual dividend of 6 per cent on the second preferred stock. What the first preferred stockholders received is not stated. Last year, about the time that the trust was formed, a careful estimate was made by a prominent starch dealer showing that a starch factory could easily earn 38 per cent, clear profit on its capital. This estimate was said to be made on actual facts, the factory in question having a capital of #IOO,OOO, grinding about 1,500 bushels of corn per day, and running 300 working days in a year. Corn could then be had at 30 cents a bushel; but, though the price is now more than twice that figure, this difference is more than counterbalanced by the higher prices for starch exacted by the trust. The McKinley duty on corn starch is 3 cents a pound, the same as under the new law. Notwithstanding the valiant talk of sundry Republican statesmen about reducing duties, in cases where a domestic industry is controlled by a trust, no effort was made by the McKinJeyites to lower the starch duty. This duty was equivalent at the time when the trust was formed, to 88 per cent, of the factory price of American starch. If there is any industry in the whole country which needs absolutely no protection, that industry is the starch business. Why so? Because our starch manufacturers have demonstrated their ability to compete in the markets of the world against the starch made by the so-called “pauper labor” of every country. They sold nearly 20,000,000 pounds in foreign countries during the two fiscal years 1889 and 1890 —the greater part of this being, of course, corn starch. Of the exports last year, 2,000,000 pounds went to England and 4,600,000 to the Netherlands. If our manufacturers are able to send so much starch to foreign countries, why is it necessary to protect them at home against those same countries? Could anything more absurd be imagined? The only purpose this starch tariff can serve, is to enable our precious home-market starch trust to put up prices to the domestic consumer, whi.e perhaps selling at lesser prices abroad.

Dife rence in Gold, “Most people suppose,” says an assayer, “that all gold is alike when refined, but this is not the case. An experienced man can tell at a glance from what part of the world a gold piece comes, and in some cases from what part of a particular gold district the metal was obtained. The Australian gold, for instance, is distinctly redder than the Californian, and this difference ia color is always perceptible, even W’hen the gold is one thousand fine. Again, the gold obtained from the placers is yellower than that which is taken directly from quartz. Why this should be the case is one of the mysteries of metallurgy, for the placer gold comes from the veins. The Ural gold is the reddest found anywhere. Tew people know the real color of gold, as it is seldom seen unless heavily alloyed, which renders it redder than when pure. The purest coins ever made were the SSO pieces that used to be made in California. Their coinage was abandoned for two reasons: first, because the loss by abrasion was so great, and, secondly, because the interior would ,be bored out and lead substituted, the difference in weight being too small to be readily noticed in so large a piece. These octagonal coins were the most valuable ever struck. - A protectionist organ rejoices that the tariff reduced the price of galvanized iron sheets from 7% cents a pound in 1880 to 4% cents in 1889. This is used as an argument to show that the tinplate duty will have a simi ar effect, since “tin plate is only sheet iron dipped in tin. ” But the average price of foreign tin plates for that same year (1889) was 2 8-10 cents per pound. How can we beat that when our galvanized iron is itself 4% cents? The Mosque of St. Sophia in Constantinople is always fragrant with the odor of musk, and has been so for hundreds of years, ever since it was rebuilt in the ninth century, the curious part of it being that nothing is done to keep it perfumed. The solution to the seeming mystery lies in the fact that when it was built, over 1,000 years ago, the stones and bricks were laid in mortar mixed with a solution of musk. The first iron-plate furnaces in this country were built In Virginia between 1714 and 1730, under the o’.d Colonial Governor Spotswood. Yet in the year of grace 1891 we are still protecting pig iron as an “infant industy. ” A hoary infant that!

DELUGED IX A MINUTE.

AWFUL EFFECT OF A MIGHTY CLOUDBURST. I Utica, Hl., the Fc*n« of Widespread De-vastation-Towns in the Illinois Valley Suffer Greatly—Stock Killed, Bridges Demolished, and Children Drowned, The village ot Utica, 111., was the scene of a c'oud-burst that Is almost without parallel. The darkness that attended the gathering storm was like that ofnight. The people were terrorstricken and looked at one another in speechless suspense. Suddenly the floodgates of the heavens were opened and at one awful burst a torrent poured itself upon the village, and almost instantly the streets were burled under water that rose over lawns, porches, and then into the houses, driving the people from their homes and their places of business to seek safety on the highest points available. Jhe excitement and anguish of tho fleeing panic-stricken villagers was terrible in the extreme. Many of them believed tboir last hour had come. Mothers hugged their children to their breasts and prayed for deliverance. Others, not entirely paralyzed with fear, devoted themselves to saving their property from ruin. Within a few moments of the cloudburst the water was mlly six feet deep in the streets. When it began receding the great damage to property could be discerned. Sidewalks, fences, and bridges were washed away; dwellings and places of business were part ally ruined, and household goods on tho lower floors were rendered worthless. The Bock Island’s new double-track iron railroad bridge over the Peguin Soggin creek was washed away, and four cars on a siding at the new cement works were carried down the stream. The canal bank broke in several places, which increased the volume of water, and lock No. 13, just west of Utica, was torn out. 'Large gangs of men were immediately at work removing the great beds of sand which washed upon the track from the Utica pits, while others were replacing the broken bridge. The loss is hard to approximate, but §150,000 is a conservative figure. The only fatality was in the Copperas Creek valley, just across the line in Fulton County. A family named Gray had a cabin in the val ey, and when the flood left the banks of Copperas Creek and rushed down the valley the inmates grew alarmed. The father took his three boys and started to the hills, while the mother refused to leave the house. When half-way across the valley a floating log struck Gray and stunned him. The rushing water drowned the boys (aged 12, 8, and 5), and he narrowly escaped by clinging to the log. His wife got on the roof of the house and was rescued.

SCHOFIELD-KILBOURNE.

Celebration ot Their Nuptials at the Home of tho i’rliie. Gen. John M. Schofield, commander-in-chief of the United Statas army, has capitulated. His marriage to Miss Georgia Kilbourne, of Keokuk, lowa, was solemnized at the bride’s home,and scores of the gallant soldier’s friends were present at the ceremony. The bride, Miss Georgia Kilbourne, is a beautiful young woman, about 26 years old,whose father is one of the wealthiest and best known men in lowa. Her

GEN. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD.

grandfather was David Kilbourne, a capitalist and contractor, who moved from New York to the State west of the Mississippi almost in its infancy. He projected many of its first railroads and public improvements, His son, George Kilbourne, married a daughter of Prof. Wells, who for many years conducted the military school for boys at Peekskill. Miss Kilbourne is well educated, Is possessed of a comfortable fortune in her own right and will have more from her mother. She has traveled extensively and is an accomplished and wellpoised young woman who will be a brilliant accession to the social corps of the

MISS GEORGIA N. KILBOURNE.

army. She is especially winsome in conversation, inheriting from both her parents uncommon gifts of wit, versatility and fluency. She has a petite figure, symmetrical and graceful, and understands perfectly the art of dressing becomingly. General Schofield is 6J years of age. Love and Lucra. The Instances are very rare in which two strong wills can harmonize in close companionship. A woman possessing the e’ements of womanhood cannot be happy with a man who has not a sound character. A bbilliajct match, in the eyes of the world, atones for low morals, uncongenial tastes, and lukewarm hearts. It Is hard to examine character, and profit by the study, after the heart has become the seat of an absorbing passion.

WILL STEAL NO MORE.

WILLIAM LANGOSCH, A NOTORIOUS THIEF, SHOT. Terrific Battle Between the Desperado, Hl* Victim, and the >chr< eder FamilyWonderful Nerve Bxhibi'ed by the Criminal, Who Trie* to Cheer H a Old Moth-r. William langosch, a Ch’cago tough, was fatally shot in Schroeder’s saloon, 73 North Besplaines street In company with Charles Hemming he called for a drink. Schroeder and his son Fred were behind the bar. Near by stood W. H. Holliday, a manufacturer of saw-mill tools, 140 West Lake street, who was counting oyer §SO in bills. From the manner in which the two men called for liquor and at the same time eyed Mr. Holliday’s money, the proprietor suspected them. Before he could give Holliday warning Langosch and his companion stepped upto Holliday s side, each taking him by the arm. Schroeder seized a billiard cue, shouting to Holliday to guard his money. The fight that followed was a lively one. In it Langosch received the shot that will cost him his life. Schroeder attempted to fell him to the floor with the cue, but was grappled, Langosch overpowering the saloon-keeper, knocking him down with his own weapon. Meanwhile, Hemming and Holliday were fighting fiercely. Mrs. Schroeder bearinf the scuffle ran into the room, only to be knocked down. Just as the men were preparing to leave Fred Schroeder, who had gone up-stairs for a revolver, rushed into the saloon. His sudden appearance put a stop to proceedings. Seeing bls mother and father both lying on the floor, young Schroeder did not hesitate to fire immediately, leveling his gun directly at Langosch. The latter sank to thefleor instantly. The police arrested Hemming and Fred Schroeder. Langosch was removed to his home, where upon examination it was found tho bullet had passed entirely through his stomach and lodged in his back. The attending physician said ho could not live. Langosch is a well-known character and served a term in Joliet. Mr. and Mrs Schroeder were not seriously injured, although their wounds were of a painful nature. Langosch is a notorious character, and has been feared by almost every one who know him. lie was released from the penitentiary only five weeks ago, but since then has been known to have taken no less than six rides in the patrol wagon. Gn one occasion he engaged in a fight and was stabbed eleven times, tho marks of which are still fresh on his body. But, criminal that he is, he showed a tenderness after being shot which touched tho hearts of the officers, who, all their lives, have been accustomed to scenes of violence and hard character. Langosch positively refused to be taken to the hospital, and insisted on being carried to his home. Officer Byrnes asked him if he had any one to care for him at home, and he replied that he had a “kind old mother.” When tho patrol camo within 100 feet of the house Langosch begged the officers to allow him to walk the remainder of tho way. He said his mother would faint, and tho thought of that hurt him more than tho fatal wound in his body. The officers granted his request and Langosch without assistance walked to his mother's house. With the utmost composure he seated himself in a summer-house and buttoned his clothes so that no blood was seen. The mother, who is 65 years old, alarmed by the presence of the officers, came in wringing her hand' l . When Langosch saw her ho crossed his logs and, putting a cigar to his mouth, said: “Mother, give me a match. ” Mrs. Langosch brought him a match, and the cigar was lit. He took a few puffs and a quantity of blood filled his mouth. Even then he seemed to forgot that he was mortally wounded, and, thinking only of his mother, asked an officer to step aside that he might spit in the weeds, where his mother would not see the blood. A physician arrived and ordered him to be placed on a bed. Langosch would not be carried, but arose and w’alked confidently into another room, where he lay down. There his nerve did not desert him. Jle requested not to be chloroformed while the bullet was probed for, saying that It must be done while his eyes were open, that his mother would not think him badly hurt. And he even went so far as to ask for a razor that he might reach around to his back and cut the fatal bullet out himself.

A CLOSE SEALING SEASON. An Agreement Beached by American and Brliinh Authorities. The agreement for a closed season In Bering Sea was signed by the representatives of thq two Governments, William F. Wharton, Acting Secretary for the United States, and Sir Julian Pauncefote for England, and the President at once issued his proclamation ordering the stoppage of seal killing, and warning off the poachers. By the provisions of the new modus vlvendi both governments prohibit tho killing of seals (except tho 7,500 necessary for the support of the Indians) until th<J first of next May. To this end both goxern,ments will co-operate to the, extent of their ability, and the naval vessels of both powers are authorized to seize the vessels found disobeying the agreement, with this important proviso, that vessels so seized shall be turned over to the authorities to which they belong for trial, the captors supplying the evidence. Thus at last the orders have come from the United States and from Great Brittain that the Canadian seal murderers must desist from their brutal work, at least until next May, by which time the two countries may have settled by arbitration, and our naval vessels will proceed at once to the sea to enforce the proclamation of the I resident There is room for congratulation all round. Great Britain may bo congratulated for ps decision to no longer support the mur’erous pretensions of the Canadian poachers. The administration may be congratulated upon establishing a modus vivendi pending the arbitration. Told In a Few Word*. It costs Americans about §1,000,000 a year to stop their teeth. Of the twelve largest cities in the world three are in Japan. In Lapland dress fashions have not changed for a thousand years. » It costs more to keep a poor horse than it does to keep a good one. Nothing is so indicative of deepest culture as a tender consideration of the ignorant Ladies at a patriotic ball in Paris pledged themselves never to dance with a German.

FROM LAKE TO RIVER.

A BIG BATCH OF INTERESTING INDIANA NEWS. Frosh Intelligence from Every Part of the State—Nothing of Interest to Our Beader* Lett Out. —George Bogart, of Marshall County,' had his head cut open and leg torn off by a buzz saw. —The eastern exursion of Indiana newspaper men will start from Frankfort the last of July. —The Western Association of Writers will hold its sixth annual convention at Warsaw July 9 and 10. —Mrs. Anna Thomas, aged 81, and mother of Wilson Thomas, of Muncie, died at her home, in Granville. —James Mulhaney, aged 97 years, died suddenly of cramp colic at his homo near Eckorty, Crawford County. —Robert Mcßride, of Jeffersonville, who was appointed to a cadetship at West Point, has declined the honor. —The County Commissioners of Tipton County have raised tho County Treasurer’s bond from §IOO,OOO to §250,000. —Mary, the 12-year-old daughter of John Miller, fell from a swing at Cedar Beach and broke her neck, resulting in Instant death. —Mrs. Susan Wood Coats, a wealthy lady living at Shelbyville, fell, injuring her hip so badly that she will remain a cripple for life. —Farmer James Armstrong, near Noblesville, carried a gun for rabbits,while mowing grass, and was killed by an accidental discharge. « —William Coughlin, a brakeman on tho Evansville and Richmond Railroad, was caught while making a coupling in the yards at Seymour, and his hip badly mashed. —At Desota on the Lake Erie and Western Railway, Henry Jones, aged 20, fell from a moving box-ear and had both legs mashed off at the abdomen. Ho died shortly after. —To protect themselves from petty pilfering the farmers residing near Silver Grove have organized themselves into a neighborhood police force and patrol tho country roads nightly. —Mrs. Ida Morrill, of Fortville, while endeavoring to milk a vicious cow, was attacked by the animal and severely and perhaps fatally injured by receiving a broken shoulder-blade and several fractured ribs before she could be rescued. —Martin Yocum, a farmer living near Charlestown, narrowly escaped being killed by tho explosion of a can of powder. He was carrying tho can under his arm and a spark from tho pipe he was smoking fell in tho can. An explosion followed and Yocum was painfully Injured. —Tho big land deal being organized by tho Pennsylvania Railroad officials at Dunkirk has been consummated, and engineers have commenced platting the ground. A boom is expected. Wood & Co., hive begun work on a 30-250-foot iron building for manufacturing purposes. —George Shannon, who stole half of a hog from a widow in Clinton Township, Vermillion County, last winter, was tried in tho Circuit Court recently. The jury, after being out all night, brought in a verdict ot guilty, and fined him §25, sentenced him to one year in tho Penitentiary, and disfranchised him for two years. —J. E. Townsend, of Harveysburg Warren County, Ohio, was Instantly killed by tho early south-bound passenger train on the C. W. & M. Railroad, a half mile south of Milford. He was crossing the track In his buggy when the team was struck by the engine. From papers on his person It was learned that the man was a physician and was deaf and dumb. The buggy was broken In pieces, but tho horse escaped without being hurt. —William S. Bickel, of Elkhart, one of tho ojdest and most popular passenger engineers on the Chicago and West Michigan Railway, was killed at Benton Harbor, Mich. He fell from tho tender of his engine, his shoulder and head extending across tho rail. The wheels struck him on tho shoulder, dragging his body along, and rolled upon his neck, crushing one side of it and severing the jugular vein. Death was instantaneous. His father was killed at Elkhart on the Lake Shore coal docks several years ago. Also, a brother was killed at Waterloo, while breaking on a train. Mr. Bickel leaves a wife and two children. —While the cell room at tho northern ’ Indiana penitentiary has a capacity of some sixteen hundred, every other department is crowded to its utmost capacity, says the Michigan City Dispatch. In tho dining-room Warden French is so pressed for room that he is compelled to seat a portion of the convicts in the kitchen. Heretofore the largest number of inmates at the Northern Prison Was 783. Now the count shows 808, tho largest number confined in the institution at any one time since its construction. Warden French anticipates that the prison will contain over a thousand convicts before the present appropriation is expended. W'hlle tho increase is enormous, the appropriation remains at tho same figures when it was made to take care of 700 convicts. —Tipton is to have a brick street AH the material is now on the ground and work has commenced, and when completed will be the first of the kind in central Indiana. —As a man was driving across a field near Crawfordsville, a blacksnake over five feet In length suddenly coiled around onq of the horse's legs. The animal ran a mile before he could be stopped, when the man got out and killed the snake watch was still hanging on and showifig a disposition to fight