People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1892 — Page 6

SEWSPAPEK LAVA Anwereon who takes the paper regular! y from the poMofice. whether directed to bis name or whether he is a subscriber or not, U responsible for the par. The coarts hare decided that refusing to take newspapers and periodicals from the postofflce, or restoring and leering them uncalled .or is prime, fecit drklsncc of iktkctioha l frauo.

The mining' industry of Colorado is reported to have never been more active than at present No private citizen ever lived in any age or country of the world who gave remunerative employment to as many persons as Jay Gould did. Chicago is agitating the question of Increasing the annual saloon license to •1,000. This increase is proposed for two reasons; ffirst, to increase the city’s revenue, and second, to improve the character of the saloons. Alvin za Hayward, one of the earliest of the gold millionaires off California, is very old and feeble now. He is worth probably 120,000,000 or more, but has dropped completely out if sight behind the newer bonanzaists. The German health officials have issued the official statement that of 19,647 cases of cholera reported this fear, .§,576, or nearly 45 per cent., proved fatal The Boston Herald wonders if this includes the 23,000 cases and 11,000 deaths which ' occurred in Hamburg alone. Every president of the United State# 40 f&r 'has either been a lawyer, a solftier, or both. Washington, William H. •Harrison, Taylor and Grant were soldiers: Monroe, Jackson, Pierce, Hayes, Garfield and Benjamin Harrison were soldiers and lawyers, while all the rest were lawyers. Senator Proctor, of Vermont, contemplates erecting in Washington an elegant mansion, built of marble from his own state and town, and designed in a Romanesque style. The walls of the dining-room will be of Mexican onyx. The cost of the residence is estimated at 1200,000. A periodical issued in the interest of the Chicago World’s fair contains an article by Prince Bismarck, in which he says: “International exhibitions I regard as a necessary evil. Large bodies congregate not so much for purposes of assiduous and profitable study as to indulge in indiscriminate curiosity and trivial sight-seeing.” In making a great blast of rock near Rocheport, Mo., it was noted that a large fragment struck a sandbar in the Missouri and vanished out of sight Investigation revdtfled that the rock had sunk through the saud into the wreck of the government supply steamer Buffington, sunk by Bill Anderson and his gang in 1864. The hull and many relics have been found. President-elect Cleveland had a brother who many years ago lived at New Albany, Ind. He was a house and sign painter. He enlisted in the war <and came out with the rank of lieutenant fn 1864 he took passage an the -steamer at New Orleans for NevwYork. "The vessel reached port in safety, but if Siieut Cleveland was among the passengers that landed it was never known to his friends. It is believed that he was lost overboard. Some one with patience .for investigation has discovered that among the great men of the world blue eyes have always predominated. Socnates, Shakespeare, Locke, Bacon, Milton, Goethe, Franklin, Napoleon and Renan all had blue eyes. The eyes of Bismarck, Gladstone, Huxley, Virchow and Buchneif are also of this color, and all the presidents of the United States, except Gen. Harrison, enjoyed the same cerulean >color as to their optics. The experiments with the new Mannlicher rifle by government experts have proved satisfactory. It fires 120 rounds a minute, and is sighted at 2,700 yards, and is of smaller bore than previous Mannlichers. The bullets have an increased velocity, the weight of the cartridges is lessened, and the recoil is reduced to the minimum. Shots can be fired in rapid succession, or at any desired interval. Though it pours out a hail-storm of bullets, it does not become too hot to handle. In Cochin, a town on the coast of Travancore, a state! in India, there is a ■small body of Jews who are called white Jews, because their skin is fair And their hair light They were once very numerous along this coast, but in Cochin, where they have a quarter all to themselves, there are now only some ■2OO of them. They have dwelt here for hundreds of years as a distinct race and claim to be descendants of the Jews who fled from Jerusalem after its destruction by the Romans (A. D. 70). The latest scheme for Negro emigration is to send thousands of colored people to Brazil. John M. Brown, the colored county clerk of Shawnee county, Has., is president of the association. Eleven years ago he headed the exodus of seventy thousand Negroes to Kansas. He claims that the climate is most favorable, and that there is now a large colored population in a country which .will support millions. The government of Brazil favors the scheme. Brown I>elieves that tens and even hundreds of thousands will go from the cotton .states. ' The officers of the Watertown (U. S.) Arsenal have just been making some tests to demonstrate the holding power of cut and wire nails of the same size. The nails were driven into a seasoned spruce plank and a machine arranged jby which the holding power could be Abown in pounds It was found that the six-inch wire nail driven into the plank four inches required 733 pounds to puli it out, while the cut nail held until the indicator showed 836 pounds, jin all the teste made the holding power of the cut exceeded that of the wire anils by a number of pounds greater

IN BEHALF OF LABOR.

The American Federation Begin* It* Aaanal Convention In Philadelphia—President Gompers’ Address.’ Philadelphia, Dec. 13. President Samuel Gompers opened the twelfth annual session of the American federation of labor in Independence hall at 10 a. m. Monday. An address of welcome in behalf of the Union Labor league of this city was delivered by George Chance, of Typographical union No. 8. President Gompers replied briefly for the federation, thanking the laboring men of Philadelphia for their welcome and for the admonitions that had been given. “It is lamentable,” he declared, “that judges should stoop so low to arrive at snch despicable ends, as has been witnessed recently in Pennsylvania” He ascribed these wrongs to two causes: The comparative lack of organization among the laboring men of the state; and the devotion of wage workers to partisans first and to their class interests last. After the appointment of a commitee on credentials a recess was taken until afternoon. Treasurer J. B. Lennon’s financial •eport for the fiscal year ending November 1 gives the total receipts as $25,990.87; the total expenditures $lB,824.69, and balance in treasury $7,666.15. In the afternoon-Presldent Gompers delivered his address. Perhaps the most interesting part of the document is the review of the labor troubles of the past year. Mr. Gompers scores the authorities and employers and declares that in each of these labor struggles the employers—the corporations—have simply made a request and tha armed forces of the state and of the United States were at their bidding. Of the Home stead trouble he says: ‘At Homestead, where the Iron and steelworkers were offered s wholesale reduction In their wages, an armed band of marauders, sailing under no flag, owing allegiance to no state or country (and, consequently, by the law of all nations, considered pirates], was brought by the corporations to invade that peaceful town, to aid In the effort to supplant their labor by a poorer and demoralized set of human beings. The men of Homestead, seeing their liberties’ endangered, took up arms against the invaders and lepelled them.” Mr. Gompers also devoted considerable space to the troubles lu Tennessee and at Buffalo and Caeur d’Alene, and says: “These cases certainly call for the serious consideration of the delegates to this convention. They are fraught with pregnant and horning questions of the hour. War has praotlcallv been declared against the labor organizations, and war measures resorted to in the efforts to crush them- But will they be crushed? We answer no. The labor movement is the manifestation of that unrest born of the conviction that injustice prevails which needs remedying and supplanting by justice and right The labor movement voices the aspirations of toiling masses as well as lays hare their wrongs. It Is the means through which tyranny is held In check; ft lives In their minds and hearts, and will net and cannot be crushed.” Referring to the Knights of Labor, Mi Gompers said that in obedience to the instructions of the Birmingham convention last year, the general officers of the knights had been Invited to a conference with the federation. A discourteous and insolent answer was returned and nothfhg further had been done. The knights were re'erred to as manifesting petty and great antagonism. The speaker declared in favor of political action by organized labor and on the •'tght-hour question said it was their dut<y to keep up the fight until a substantial reduction in the day’s labor of the masses bad been attained. Ho urged that the alien contract labor law should be made more stringent, that all immigrants should be subjeot to return until two years after their arrival in this country, and that the employirg contractor should be held liable for five year* after the arrival of the coo tract laborer. Regarding the world’s fair flunday-closlng question the president Insists that congress should have refrained from legislating upon a subject entirely foreign to it* sphere, and urges ar appeal to that body to repeal the Sun-day-closing clause. Secretary Evans, hi his annual report, said that during the year ending October 31 277 charters liad been issued to local unions and state federations, and eight charters to national unions. The receipts were *25,990, and the expenses *18,324. Resolutions were introduced sit the request of Typograpical union No. 16 of Chicago denouncing the proposed awarding of the contract for the world’s fair catalogue to a non-union publishing house and demanding that the work he given to a union concern. The resolutions, after some discussion, were adopted.

DELUGED BY WATER.

The Bursting of a Main In Chicago Causes a Loss of About 8100,000. Chicago, Dec. 18.—A water main burst at the corner of Fifth avenue and. Congress street at 7 a. m. Monday and flooded a number of basements in the immediate vicinity before the water office could be notified and the water shut off. So great was the pressure from the main that for a distance of a block on either side of the break the pavement was thrown up in a great mound several feet above the level of the street. The main was the principal source of supply for the West side and many manufactories in that portion of the city were compelled to shut down for want of water. A great amount of suffering was caused by the bursting of the main, and the damage to property is at least $50,000. Many poor people lived in basements near the break, and a number of families were, rendered homeless and destitute. The basements of the humble homes are from six to fifteen feet below grade, and into them the water po ired like a cataract. Nearly every bn se ment was inhabited by one or more families, and a wild scramble to get out ensued among those who were not too sick tp rise: In many instances both mothers and children escaped with just the clothing they had on whep the flood of water rushed in upon them. In several instances the lives of the sick were only saved by promptitude and heroism. ,

Was Dragged Twenty Miles.

'Kansas City, Mo.. Dec. la— Frank Mabry, a professional burglar, was one of a number of prisoners to escape from the county jail here Friday. Sunday night he broke into the banking house of Hardness, Wikeniann & Russell, and, failing in an effort to open the vault, he took all of the money in the drawer and other valuables. Monday morning he attempted to leave town qn the trucks of a Union Pacific train, and, falling, was dragged 30 miles. When found his legs had been beaten off. The jail official identified him. He had all of the stolen property on his person.

HIS WILL FILED.

Jay Gould’s Lost Testament Placed to tha Hands of the Proper Aathoritirs—lt Disposes of #72,ooo,ooo—Ths Bequests Made. New York, Dec. 18. —A will containing six thousand words and disposing of $72,000,000 worth of property was i filed for probate in Snrrogate Ransom’s court Monday afternoon by Judge ■ John F. Dillon. It was Shat of the ; late Jay Gould. Judge Dillon stated l that the original documents contained nothing new or additional to the facts that have been already | published. Probate Clerk Tierney at once issued citations to the heirs and next of kin for the probate of the will which are made returnable the latter part of this month. An affidavit of the executors, George J. Gould, Helen M. Gould, Edwin and Howard Gonld, was filed with Probate Clerk Tierney and shows the value of the real estate which Mr. Gould left in this state to be $2,000,000, and the value of the.personal property in this state left by him to be $70,000,000. The affidavit shows those who have an interest in the estate and what their interest consists of. They are as follows: Sarah B. Northrop, *25,000, a life annuity of *2,(100 and a life estate in real estate of the value of 115,030. Ida, Mary G. and Alice Northrop, contingent interest under the will, the value of which is not given. Anna G. Hough, *26,000 and a life annuity of •2,000. Elizabeth Polen, *25,000 and a lije annuity of •2,000. Abraham Gould, *28,000 and a life annuity of •*,OOO. Helen M. Gould, personal property of the estimated value of *IOO,OOO and M.OOO a month during the minority of her infant brothers and sisters. The value of this devise is put at •250,000. Edwin Gould, the value of his devise in put at •80,000. Jay Gould, Jr., is given (600,000, George J. Gould, cash, bonds and stock of the par value of *5,000,000, less the amount advanced for the purchase of the house, 857 Fifth avenue. Klngdon, Marjorie G., Helen V., chil*en of George J. Gould, have a contlngent’.lnterest In the will, the value of which is not mentioned. The children—George J., Edwin, Helen M., Howard, Anna and Frank J. Gould—oil have s life Interest in the residue of the estate, the value of which Is not mentioned. The provisions of the will are practically the same as those in the synopsis heretofore published in these dispatches

HARD HIT.

By a Decision of the United States Supreme Court, the Southern I’aolUc Rail, way Loses Its Title to Millions of Dollars’ Worth of California Lauda. Washington, Dec. 13.— The aupreme court of the United States in an opinion delivered by Associate Justice Brewer, decided the long pending controversy between the United States and the Southern Pacific railroad over certain valuable lands situated between the Colorado river and Pacific ocean within the limits of the grant to the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Company, and which the Southern Pacific claimed as successor to the Atlantic & Pacific. The court below decided for the Southern Paciflo Company in all the cases. Justice Brewer held that the title of the lands in question vested in the Atlantic & Pacific were forfeited by the act of congress in 1886 and did not pass to the Southern Pacific railroad, but was thereby restored to the public domain; and therefore the title rests in the United States. The decision of the lower court is reversed with instructions to issue a decree giving to the United States the relief asked. The property in question is Alued at several millions of dollars, consisting of land worth S4O to SSO an acre.

BEEF AND HOG EXPORTS.

Total Values Show a Large Increase When Compared with Last Year. Washington, Dec. ia—The chief of the bureau of statistics reports to the treasury department that the total values of the exports of domestic beef and hog products from the United States during the month of November, 1892, as compared with similar exports during the corresponding period of the previous year were as follows: Novemvember, 1893, $10,448,524; November, 1891, $9,040,584. The value of the exports of dairy products were: November, 1892, $646,626; 1891, $401,864. Seven months ended November 30, 1892,, $7,577,14d; 1891, $7,422,685. The values of the exports of beef and hog products from New York during the month of October, 1892, were, $6,236,921; Boston. $2,907,574; Philadelphia, $518,551; Baltimore, $614,714. For October, 189 L: New York, $4,896,681; Boston, $2,543,586; Philadelphia, $252,655; Baltimore, $1,149,835.

THE PRESIDENT’S CHOICE.

Several Important Nominations Sent to the Senate. Washington, Dec. 13. —The president has sent to the senate the following nominations: Peter S. Grosscnp, United States district judge for the northern district, of Illinois; Charles G, Cole, of the District of Columbia, to be associate justice of the su preme court of the District of Columbia, vice James, retired. Genio M. Lambertson of Nebraska to be assistant secretary of the treasury, vice A. B. Nettle ton, resigned. James W. McDill of lowa to be an interstate commerce commissioner, reappointment; Person C. Cheney, of New Hampshire, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Switzerland.

Texas’ Cotton Crop.

San Antonio, Tex., Dec. 13.—1 tii predicted by reliable and conservative cotton brokers here who have received reports from all sections of the state during the past week, that the Texas output this season will not fall short of 8,000,000 bales. That of 1801 was 8,800, 000. „ ■

Found Guilty of Arson.

Madison, Ind., Dec. 13.—The jury in the case of Patrick Duffy Saturday adjudged him guilty of arson in firing several buildings ono week ago and fixed his punishment at fifteen years’ imprisonment.

DIED IN PRISON.

Hart In One of the Murderer* of Or. Cronin, FRUe* Away la the Penitentiary Hospital at Juliet—Hi* Connection with the Crime. Jolikt, IIL, Dec. 10.— Martin Bark* I* dead, and the mouth of another Cro- ! nin conspirator is thus sealed. He died and made no sign. Of tae con- ! ▼icted murderers only Dan Coughlin remains. He is serving a life sentence in the prison. iceman, died last winter without making any public confession. With the death of Burke the unpunished conspirators obtain new safety. Burke has been failing for months, wasting away with consumption. For weeks he lay in the hospital. A month ago it became apparent that bis case was hopeless. When Bnrke first entered the penitentiary in January, 1890, he was placed in the cooper shop. He remained there until last summer, when he contracted a severe cold which steadily grew worse and necessitated his change to lighter work. After a short period in the shoe shop he went to the “idle room” for three weeks, and j afterward was removed to the hospital, quick consumption having developed. Since his entry to the hospital Burke has steadily declined, and Dr. Frederick, the prison surgeon, who made an examination Friday es the man’s condition, expressed the epinion that he oonld not live more than a week. His end, however, came rather unexpectedly. Burke was well aware that his end was near at hand, and being an ardent Catholic, asked that Father Daniel, of ! Joliet, come to see him. Father Daniel went early Friday morning, and after talktog with the surgeon and with Bnrke administered the last sacrament* of the church to the dying man. As he was sitting in a chair Friday evening talking to the convict nurse about his case he referred to the lasi examination made by Dr. Frederick and said: “Well, I guess it is all up; it’s all right, anyway.” After soma further conversation he reverted to his approaching death and said: “If I die I want Forrest to come down and take my body to my folks.” He referred to W. S. Forrest, who conducted his eas and has since been busy in carrying the Cronin case to the supreme court. Burke had hardly made this reference to Forrest before his whole frame ■was shaken by a sort of convulsion. His head fell forward. There was a gasp or two and dead. There was no hemorrha^B and death came comparatively e&syW The prison officials say that, to their knowledge, Burke has never spoken a word about the Cronin case since he ha 3 been in the prison. He not only* never mentioned it of his own accords but would decline to discuss it when it was brought up. He was on friendly terms with the attendants and talked freely on. all other subjects. Burke’s connnectlon with the Cronin murder was believed to be that of a hired man. He never stood high in the councils of the conspirators, but took his orders from “Dan” Coughlin. It was he who assisted in fitting up the Carlson cottage and making arrangements for the killing. According t® a partial confession, said to have been made by Iceman O'Sullivam, Burke waited inside the doorway of the Carlson cottage on the night of the murder armed with a club. O’Sullivan, who did not know that murder was to be done, hurried from the house and standing outside heard the blows and Dr. Cronin’s shriek. This story corroborated the theory of the prosecution. It was supposed that Burke struck the fatal blows. Burke appeared early in the conspiracy and was seen by Hakan Martinson, tbe express driver, when the furniture purchased by the mysterious “J. B. Simonds” or “Williams” arrived at the cottage March 22, 1889. It was claimed on the trial that Burke had previously been seen at the rooms that were prepared at H 7 Clark street and afterward vacated. Burke, from all accounts, was an ignorant workingman, unscrupulous and prejudiced, entirely under the influence of the shrewder members of Camp 20. When the cottage had been rented Burke was seen by the Carlsons, who lived next door, and he told them his brother, who was an Invalid, was coming to occupy the rented house. After the murder and the finding of Dr. Cronin’s body Burke did not figure as a suspect until he had been described by the Carlsons and Martinson, the expressman. Descriptions of him were sent broadcast and on June 17 he was arrested at Winnipeg, Manitoba. When taken into custody he threatened that some one would suffer for his arrest On June 21 he was fully indetifled by Martinson and Officer Collins. There was some trouble in securing extradition papers and Burke was held by the dominion authorities to wait further evidence. On June 29 Burke and six others were indicted by the grand jury. On June 80 the court at Winnipeg ordered his extradition, further identification having been made by Charles Carlson. On July 24 Burke’s lawyers made an unsuccessful attempt to secure his re- ' lease Not until August 5 did the prisoner reach Chicago. He was kept under guard at the police stations until August 8, when he was removed to the county jail.

The next day he was arraigned, and pleaded ■ “not guilty.” The trial began August 30. Every ■web of evidence drew Burke deeper into the dark conspiracy. "It* was shown that he prepared the cottago, was there on the night of the murder with Coughlin and others, with whom he had been drinking, and that previous to the killing he had indulged in threats of a violent nature. During the long trial he remained stubbornly indifferent and received his life sentence with no show of emotion The prosecution never had much hope of securing a confession from him, O’Sullivan being the one whom they thought might “squeal” after t year or two of imprisonment. Martin Burke belonged to that class o': Irish with the transmitted hatred of centuries, for informers in his heart, and his impulsive nature and uncultivated mind made him an easy tool of those who wished to play upon his patriotism. To an Irishman with nationalist reelings an informer is the worst detested and the vilest thing on earth, and he who puts such a one out of the way is regarded as a hero by Irish revolutionists of extreme views. If Burke had any hand in the murder of Dr. Cronin it was; his friends say, because he was led by knaves to believe that the doctor was an informer and in the pay of England. Ignorant, devoted, and without any of the finer social feelings, he would naturally be s elected for a desperate deed. His vanity could be played upon until he was brought to the belief that to assassinato a man denounced at an informer by those whom he trusted was to play the heroic role of an avenging patriot

Operatives Starving.

London, Dec. 10.—At the close of the week there are 30,000 non-union cotton operatives out of work in Lancashire. The deepest distress prevails among them. Already everything available has gone to the pawnshops,. whitAi are filled with pledges of all kinds. The majority of the sufferers ate unable to obtain credit, and are foodless and fireless at a period when the weather is unusually inclement. They are reluctant to apply for public relief, nevertheless the poor law uffi. cials are bnsy doing what is possible for the destitute.

OUR NAVY.

It* Rapid Development aa Show, by tbe Report of Secretary Traey, Washixgtos, Dec. 12. Secretary Tracy in his report to the president starts out with a list of vessels in th* navy, and points with pride to the work accomplished daring the present administration. He says: “On the 4th of March. 1889, tbs fleet of tbs United States navy, apart from a few old ships long since obsolete and fist going to decay, consisted of three modern steel vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 7,883 tons, and mounting thirteen 8-inch and lour 8 inch guns, the forgings for which last, aa well a* Hie shafting for the vessels, had been purchased front-abroad, as they could not be made in this country. "There have been a total of nineteen vessels of the new navy put in commission during administration, of an aggregate tonnage of 54,KS tons, mounting altogether two 13-Inch, six 10-inch, sixteen 8-inch and eightytwo 8-inch guns, all of which, with the exception of five of the earliest, have been manufactured in this country. Three new steel tugs have also been oonstraced and put in service during this period. There are eighteen vessels in process of construction and certain to be completed, should their armor be delivered within the next year, of an aggregate tonnage of 98,407 tons and mounting altogether twelve 13-fitch, six 12-inch, sixteen 10inch, thirty 8-lncl, thirty-two 8-lnoh, thirtyeight 5-inch and thirty-four 4-inch guns, all es which have been or are to be manufactured in this country. During this period twenty-five vessels will have been launched, thirteen of them, including the three tugs, duriag .the current year, and of all the new ships the construction of which has been begun daring the present adminiitratkm only two will remain on the stocks on the 4th of March next "Our new navy, Including all vessels built or authorized, now consists of the following vessels: One seagoing battleship (first class— Sows. Three coast-line battleships (first-class) —Massachusetts, Indiana, Oregon. Two battleships (second class)—Maine, Texas. Six double-turreted harbor-defense vessels—Puritan, Monterey, Kiantonomsh, Monadnock, Terror, AmpUtrite. Two armored cruisers—New York, Brooklyn. One ram. Two protected cruisers of extreme speed—Columbia, Minneapolis. Fourteen cruisers—Olympia, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Charleston, Newark, Boston, Atlanta, Cincinnati, KalMgh, Detroit, Montgomery, Marblehead. One dispatch vessel—Dolphin Six gunboats—'Yorktown. Concord, Bennington, Machias, Castine, Petrel. One dynamite vessel—Vesuvius. Ons practice vessel—Bancroft Two torpedo boats —Cushing, No. 2, making a total of forty-two vessels. "AU the above, with perhaps one *r two excep tiers, are essential components of a fully developed naval force, but th* relative contribution to the defensive power of the United States to be found is these groups of vessels is not to be measured either by the number of ships or the number of tons alone. The development of the last four years has not been Confined to sbips alone. At the beginning of this administration the naval establishment was entirely destitute of certain elements of efficiency, each one of which was lndispensabl* to its practical employment as a fighting foroe, and the absence of which, if it had been possessed of a hundred ships, wo'ild still have left it in a condition of paralysis. These were the following; Armor, torpedoes, heavy rapid-fire guns, armor-piercing shells, smokeless powder, high explosives.

secretary details at length noteworthy ■rogress in the production of these things, and ■hys the progress noted, by which the United States has emerged from its condition of helplessness at sea and by the employment of its own resources has distanced its most experienced competitors, marks an epoch in naval development not only of this country but of the world. Comingtdown to a detailed statement as to armor tests the secretary tells of the work accomplished, of the tremendous test to wbioh the Harvey nickel-steel armor plate was subjected, as the result of which improved methods were Introduced in the Harvey process, and continues: “Tne result has never been equaled or even approached before by any armor plate, American or foreign. It has demonstrated that the United States, in the reconstruction of its new navy, which ten years ago had no existence even on paper, is enabled to place upon each and all of its armored vessels a material the like of which tbe world, up to this time, has not seen; and that while vast sums have been spent in plating the sides of foreign men-of-war with an inferior material, this country will employ for the purpose an armor which is not only far more efficient, but which represents unquestionably, having reference to the dimensions of plates thus far tested, the highest development of modern science, and a development reached by its own Independent efforts. "Following the example of tbe United States, the English government four weeks ago held a trial of the new American armor, and it is clear from the highly successful results of the trial that (he United States, instead of being the last in the race in the construction of vessels of war or of borrowing its best ideas from abroad, has set an example in this respect whioh 'ther maritime powers willspeedily follow.” In reference to ordnance of the navf the secretary makes extended reference to developments promising greatly improved results. Comment is also made at length as to powder manufacture, high explosives and projectiles, all showing progress of the most satisfactory nature. With regard to torpedoes, while the Howell torpedo has not gone much beyond the stage of hope with which the department entered upon a contract for its manufacture four years ago, yet the latest trials are giving great promise. The sectetary speaks with much satisfaction ’of the act to “encourage American ship building,” under which the City of Paris and City of New York are admitted to American registry. The aggressive policy of foreign nations continues, and this country, whether it will or not, will soon be forced into a position where it cannot disregard measures which form a standing menace to its prosperity and security. On the isthmus our commerce is engaged in a desperate fight to maintain its foothold. In the south Pacifio repeated annexations and protectorates are extending the power and influence of the maritime states of the old world. Subsidized lines of ‘ fast steamers are completing the circle of maritime communication on the eastern and western coasts of the Dominion of Canada and fortresses daily increasing in strength are surrounding our coast upon the south and east. Under these circumstances it is imperative to the welfare of this country that the policy of naval reconstruction, so successfully carried on in the past, should suffer no interruption in the future Much space is devoted to Interesting details as to the operations of ships in commission tha ,’ast year in Behring sea and elsewhere; on the work of the marine hospital bureau in connection with Cholera quarantine, etc. Interesting statistics are given as to the growth of the government toward establishing naval militia, the creation of which is characterized as one of tlia most important steps in our recent naval progress. The estimates in the report for the fiscal year ending June 30,1894, for navy and marine corps, including those for public works and increased navy, are 124,471,498, being *2,713,141 less than those for the last fiscal year.

FIRE RUINS A TOWN.

Sumter (S. C.) Opera House and Principal Buildings Burned to the Ground., Sumter, S. C., Dec. 12.—About 9 o’clock Friday night a fire started in the opera house during the performance by the Chick Company, The flames spread rapidly and soon the opera house was in ruins, with burning buildings all around. The theater and !’ eight business blocks were entirely consumed. The fire department did all in .its power, but the flames raged five Wars an 4 leveled the principal business blocks in the town. Losses and j insurance cannot yet be estimated. |

A BUSY YEAR.

Transaction* of the IMyertsMut of Jostle* a* Made Public by Attorney Ueaesal Miller’s Report. Washington, Deo. 9.—Attorney General W. H. H. Miller, in his annual report submitted to congress, says that during the fiscal year 18tf tbe expenses of his department aggregated During the fiscal year 2,009 civil , suits were terminated. In 1,018 of these judgments were for the United States; in 13fi against the United States, and 806 were either nolle prosequied, dismissed or discontinued. There were also terminated 18,724 criminal prosecutions; of these there were 11,480 convictions ard 3.092 acquittals. There wer# pending July X, 1892. 9,709 criminal prosecutions. The aggregate amount of the Judgments ren- | dered in favor of the United States in civil : salts during the last year was *270.509 92,and th* amount actually collected *67,223.56, while (20,793.45 was obtained during the year ■ on judgments rendered In former J years for the United States, and (102.135.62 was otherwise realized In civil suit. ; Th® agggregatc amount of fines, forfeitures and j penalties imposed during the year in criminal j prosecutions was 1682,271.95, and the amount | collected during the year was 1133,229.44, while (13,663 87 was realized on penalties imposed in former years. During the past fiscal year decisions wer* made in French spoliation cases in favor of the claimants aggregating 1889,064, and the total amount allowed up to this date, in 716 cases, I* 13,241,223. The total number of petitions which have been filed aggregate about *40,008,000. Up to November 1 8,595 claims had been filed under the Indian depredation claims aet, representing in all *63,151,069 The aggregate of such claims disposed of is *1,313,757. The amount of judgments recovered on such claims 1s a little more than 33 per cent of the demand. The increase in the number of southern war clainte is a subject that demands the immediate attention of congress. There have already been referred to tbe court of claims for investigation and findings between 9,000 claims for the taking of and injury of persons assuming to have been loyal during the civil war, the amount demanded aggregating nearly *400,000,000; Under the act of March 8, 1883. known as the Bowman act, 248 cases were disposed of during the year, the aggregate claims covered by said cases being 52,583 939. In 158 of these cases findings were made against the government and for an aggregate sum of *483,544 “The claims of this class growing out of th* alleged taking of supplies and other property during the war,” says the attorney general, “are assuming enormous proportions. They already aggregate nearly *400,000,000 and the department has reliable Information that a multitude of additional claims, aggregating very large sums, are being prepared to be filed am* pushed against the treasury. That a very large proportion of these claims have no just foundation either in fact or in law, being presented by persons, or the representatives of persons, who were not loyal to the government during the war, is every day made clear In the evidence evolved in their defense. Unless congress shall pnt some new barrier between the treasury and these claims, it is impossible to predict the amount the government may be called upon to pay thereon." , The report says that numerous prosecutions have been begun against trusts, combinations, etc., but these corporations have hedged themselves in with great care and skill so as t* avoid the law if possible. Cases now pending will determine tbe validity of the statute, and if declared valid the evidence already accumulated will be valuable. The cases against the Pacific railroads to compel them to maintain telegraph lines for governmental and commercial purposes have . been pushed with vigor, but delays have Deen obtained by the railroads. The attorney general says: "1 desire to renew the recommendation contained in my last report that section 1 of the aot of August 18, 1888, be amended by inserting the proviso in italics after the word ‘lnhabitant’ in the following sentence—namely: ‘and no civil suit shall ; be brought before either of said courts against | any person by any original process ;or proceedings in any other district than that whereof he is !su inhabitant,’ provided that any foreign | eorporation may be sued in any district where ; It may be found, process to be served as in like ; cases in the state where said suit or action is brought. Such an amendment would restore the law to what it was for a century prior to the aot of March 3, 1887, and would impose on these corporations a liability to be sued corresponding to the right they enjoy to sue plaintiffs, and to remove suits in which they ore defendants. In many localities these great corporations haA an unwarranted Influence among the people who are summoned as jurors in the state courts, and it is not just that the Southern Pacific company, which, though chartered in Kentucky, does not own any property in that state, and has no offices or officers there except a mere clerk, but which operates vast lines ot railroad in the state of California, where it holds and controls millions of dollars of property and holds its , directors meeting and maintains its general offices, shall he exempt from suit in the United States courts of California and the litigant be required to go to Kentucky to enforce his claims, and after obtaining a judgment there (if he is fortunate enough to find any person upon whom to obtain service) be compelled to go to California and sue there upon tne judgment or decree in state court?.” He recommends that provision be made for the construction of the three prisons abthorized by the Fifty-first congress. The total number of United States prisoners in custody during the year was 3,090 The number of convicts pardoned by the president during the year was seventy-one out of 505 applicants. Sentence was commuted in ninety-two eases. The only constitutional question of any importance decided against the government, the attorney general says, was the one raised in the Counselman case under the interstate commerce law. The attorney general renews the recommendations made in his last annual report for federal recognition of degress in the crime of murder, for remedial legislation for Alaska, for the correction of evils of the fee system, and for the allowance of writs of error in criminal cases. On this last-mentioned subject the attorney general says that as the law now stands it is in the power of a single district judge, by quashing an indictment, to defeat any criminal prosecution instituted by the government, and to annul as against the government any criminal statute enacted by congress, and there is no possible remedy or way to right the wrong.

MRS. COMLEY MURDERED.

George Taylor, Recently Released from Prison, Suspected of the Deed. < Niles? Mich., Dec. 9. —Mrs. Mary Comley, an aged and wealthy lady, was found dead in her home here Wednesday night, having been shotthrongh the body and her throat cut. She had fought desperately with her murderer. Although money was evidently the incentive, it is said that the murder may have been actuated by revenge. George Taylor, who was recently teleased from the state prison, where he had been imprisoned for robbing Mrs. Comley’s house, is suspected of the crime.

SHOT FROM AMBUSH.

John Roberts and His Son Fired Upon While Driving on the Road. Atlanta, Ga.,Dec. 8. -John Roberts, a well-to-do planter, while driving on the Sandtown road, 9 miles from Atlanta, was, with his 10-year-old son, waylaid near' a dense clump of woods and both fatally shot from ambush Wednesday. Rob; erts stated that it was too dark to sea who fired the shot, but it is strongly believed to be a farmer named Fred Chnningham, who is said to have sworn vengeance against Roberts for assault* tog bis half brother.