People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1893 — Page 2

FORD’S THEATER FALLS.

Sadden Collapse of the Historic Old Structure in Washington—Hundreds of Government Clerks Buried in the Bains— Twenty-Two Dead Bodies Recovered— A Great Many Injured—Repairs in Progress Weaken the Building Which Had Already Been Declared Unsafe The Government Blamed. Washington, June 10. A rotten United States government building has collapsed. In its ruins more than a score of human souls were launched into eternity and a hundred living victims are now writhing in the agony of their wounds* Shortly before 10 o’clock Friday morning, with scarcely a second’s warning, a large portion of the three floors of the old Ford theater on Tenth street broke down, carrying to the ground below hundreds of clerks, heavy desks and the miscellany of a great govenfment of-

FORD’S THEATER.

fice. The ohl building was used by the pension and record division of the war department. .Repairs undertaken recently had weakened the supports, but to the penuriousness of congress, which nade it impossible to secure a fitting building, may he charged the awful catastrophe that must cast a blot of shame upon the national government The following list of the. dead thus far reported, with the names of the state from which they were appointed, contains twenty-two names, including one unknown: . Unknown man. taken from the ruins at 5 o’clock Friday evening, evidently a clerk: George Allen, Pennsylvania; George W. Arnold, Virginia; L W. Boody, New York; Samuel P. Banes, Pennsylvania; John Bossius, District of Columbia; Arthur L. Dietrich. Kentacky; Jeremiah Daley, Pennsylvania; James R Fagan, Kansas; Joseph B. Gage, Michigan; David C. Jordon. Missouri; M. M. Jarvis, Michigan; J. Boyd Jones, Wisconsin; F. B. Loftus, New York: F. W. Maeder; B. F. Miller. New York; Howard S. Miller, Ohio; J. H. McFall, Wisconsin; E. G. Shull, Kansas; William Schriever, Maryland,' H. S. Wood; F. M. Williams, Wisconsin. The injured, so far as known, number forty-five. Many of them are being treated at their homes. Some will undoubtedly die of their Injuries. The list is as follows: A L. Ames, lowa, skull fractured, leg broken and injured internally; F. F. Calvert, Maryland, right leg fractured; & J. Dewey, New York; Louis Dusapy; George .W. Davis, MisMari scalp wound; H. B. Esterling, Fort Scott, Kan., seriously injured; Washington Fry. head badly cut; W. S. Gustin, Ohio, left arm broken: Dr. James H. Howard (colored), Maryland, scalp cut, internal ‘injuries; C. F. Hathaway, Ohio; J. N. Hammer, Tennessee, injured in eye; George Handy (colored), slight cuts on head: ThomasHynes, Missouri, skull frac lured; J. G. Johns, leg badly cut; W. Kugler, New Jersey, scalp wound; Clifton Lowe, lowa, scalp wound; William W. Leture, District of Columbia; E. Leger, Mississippi, head cut and injured internally: Frank Metcalf, Massachusetts, dislocation of hip; G. M. McLaughlin, Tennessee; J. P. McCormack, Wisconsin, depressed fracture of ribs: R McLachlan, leg broken; R. M. Patrick, New York,.cuts about head and face; Pody, police officer, injured after accident: G. T. Pruitt. Texas, scalp lacerated; P. K. Pennington, Alabama, skull fractured; Charles Robinson, Colorado, slight injuries in head and back; J. A. Stewart, cut about head; F. F. Sims;.C. D. Shadbolt, Missouri (colored),dangerously injured; F. B. Smith, Tennessee; R. A Smith, Connecticut, compound fracture of the skull; F. F. Sams, Illinois, cut about the head; William M. Smith; P. U. Sommers, Ohio, ribs broken and head badly cut; John H. Thomas, Sedalia, Mo., arm broken; F. W. Test, Illinois, contusion of scalp; C, R Weller, scalp wound and contusion of back; N. T. Worley, Tennessee, back and legs injured; James A. White, Georgia, cut on head and leg; A. G. Yount, Pennsylvania, head cut and injured internally; S. S. Baker, bad scalp wound; William E. Ewing, Mississippi, head, face and arms cut; ■C. A. Johnson, Missouri, left shoulder dislocated.

The building 1 collapsed without a moment’s warning. The front half of all three floors fell, carrying everything to the bottom. For a moment all was still. Then the air was split by the shrieks and groans of the frightened, wounded and dying hundreds who, like a mass of worms, struggled, twisted and fought to free themselves from one another and from the heavy iron beams and timbers and furniture and government records which pinned them to their places. The people in the neighborhood were for the moment stunned. The horror of it all had robbed them of their senses. Then in a few moments, but what to the wretches pinioned in death’s embrace seemed ages, the truth burst upon their befuddled brains and they joined their cries with the unfortunates within the collapsed building. Then, dividing, some rushed for help; some ran to the sink-hole of death itself to lend their hands, while •others, with selfish regard for their own safety and curiosity, stood where they were to look upon the scene. The work of rescue began at once and was continued without the slightest let-up. The president sent a special messenger to learn the particulars. The messenger rushed back to the white bouse. The president a few moments later oidered the cavalry from Fort Myer to the scene for police and relief duty. They came at full gallop and did gallant service. The president was informed of the aad event just as he reached the entrance to the white house by one of the clerWs, and he at once interested himself in relief measures, learning with satisfaction what had been done by Assistant Secretary of War Grant. At a meeting of citizens Friday afternoon $5,500 was subscribed. President Cleveland, who had been asked to preside over the meeting but was unable to do so because of a pressing official business engagement, sent his check for SIOO, and Secretary Thurber his for $25. The newspapers of the city are actively engaged in the good work,

I and the clerks in the departments are contributing liberally. An investigation of the cause of the accident discovered that it was apparently due to criminal carlessness. A number of laborers were at work beneath the first floor excavating for an electric plant. The building , rested on underpinning and the | earth, and as the earth was dug away i the pressure of the building rested on the unsupported beams of the first floor. The weight proved too much and the ‘floors collapsed and fell into the excavation, burying the laborers and clerks beneath them. The people in charge of this excavation were supposed to have known that the building was condemned and had been unsafe for years. The general insecurity of the building had already been repeatedly reported, and for a long time past, whenever a heavily loaded wagon has gone by, the building seemed to sway backward and forward, as the clerks describe the sensation. A strange coincidence is that the old theater is wrecked on the day of the funeral of Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth. Condemnation of the government for permitting the building to be used is heard on every hand. The federal government has an account on its 'hands of immense proportions. There is little doubt that friends of the dead and the victims who were fortunate enough to escape with their lives will seek damages from the government which may aggregate millions of dollars. In the dangerous condition of the building they will have strong popular support of their claims. Strong words of denunciation were uttered against the federal authorities for permitting the building to be occupied in view of its unsafe condition. The strongest condemnation was visited on Col. Ainsworth, who as chief seems to have been optimistic all along regarding the building’s condition.

CoL Ainsworth, who has charge of the department, gave out the following as his official statement: The placing at the electric light plant did not cause the accident I Inspected the building between 3 and 4 o’clock Thursday, and so did an inspector and chief engineer and chief of supplies. .Everything was then sound. The center of the third floor- was where the crash began. There was no extra weight there; not as much, in fact, and when the medical museum was there. ' As far as the work had progressed it had been .carefully was'in no way dangerous.” Washington, June 10. —An examination shows that the insecurity of the old Ford theater building was brought to the attention of congress in a pointed manner as far back as 1885. Attention was then directed simply to the safety of the army medical library and museum. The protection of human life was not especially brought in question. Mr. 8. M. Stockslager, of Indiana, who was chairman of the committee on public buildings and grounds in the XLVIIIth congress, made a report in favor of the construction of a new building for the museum and library, in which he said of Ford’s theater, then used for that purpose: ‘■The building now used by the medical department for a library and museum Is not only too small to contain the records of the library and museum but is unsubstantial and disposed to destruction by Are.” Other members of congress supported Mr. Stockslager’s statement Congress acted upon these statements to the extent of removing the inanimate contents of the museum to a new and safe building. But congress and the war department thought proper to expose government clerks to risks from whic\ they shielded skeletons and medical books. [The building which was wrecked was the Army Medical museum, and was originally erected as Ford’s theater, on ths site of the old Tenth Street Baptist church. It was a medium-sized structure, and was painted white. About forty years ago the Fdrd Brothers, of Baltimore, purchased the church property and transformed It into * theater. The interior was entirely removed, but the old walls were left standing, g was used as a playhouse until several years later, when It was destroyed by fire. The Fords then built a spacious brick theater on the site of the old building. It was in this theater that President Lincoln was assassinated on the Good Friday night <ff 1865 by John Wilkes Booth. After this event the governmenfclosed the theater, and Anally ths property was sold for about $150,000. Again the interior of the structure was remodeled and adapted to the use of the surgeon general. The museum proper occupied the three Aoors of the building. While It was originally established for. the purpose of investigating the wounds and diseases incidental to war, Its scope has broadened so rapidly that it lately included all interesting objects of medical and surgical study. It was said to be the only museum of Its kind in the world. Labor and money had been expended on it to an almost unlimited extent. There were no less than 22,000 specimens arranged with great care and system within the walls of the museum. The second floor of the building contained the medical library of the government, a library which was said tc eontain more medical literature than the British museum or the National library of France. The entire building was usually Ailed with a force of clerks and officers examining and compiling i the records pertaining to the judicial and hospital departement of the army.]

SLAIN IN HIS HOME.

A Wealthy Resident of Eau Claire, Wil, Murdered. Eau Claire, Wis., June 10.—Melchoir Fox, one of the oldest residents and most substantial citizens of Eau Claire, was murdered Thursday night at his farm about a mile and a half from the city, on the Eau Claire river. Mr. Fox formerly kept a large restaurant and saloon, but was wealthy and retired from business several years ago. He and his family lived in the city and he had a summer cottage on the farm. He had heard that tramps had been around the cottage and went there to see about it Thursday afternoon about 5 o’clock. The body was found late Friday afternoon in the cellar beneath the far m cottage by Mrs. Fox and Mr. Althans, son-in-law of the deceased, who had gone to the farm to take a lunch to Mr. Fox. He had been shot through the heart and had evidently been dead for several hours. Everything of value had been taken from the body. The impressions were created by the surroundings that the deed was done in the cottage and that the body was thrown through the trap into the cellar. The authorities believe the crime was the work of tramps and committed for the purpose of robbery. No weapon was found.

THE FORD THEATER HORROR.

The Total Ndmber of Deaths Now Placed at Twenty-Three Funerals of the Victims—Belief for Thier Dependents. Washington, June 12.—The list of dead by the Ford theater collapse now numbers twenty-three, the latest victim being A. ?(. Gerault, of New Jersey, whose death was reported Saturday morning. The remains of the dead victims of the horrible wreck have nearly all been disposed of. Washington was on Sunday a city of funerals, and all day long mourners went about the streets. Inquiry confirms the statement that none of the victims were men of property. Most of them lived on their salaries, which furnished means of livelihood, but left little for a day like this. Most of them were married and some had large families, who are now left, if not entirely dependent upon friends and relatives, at least lacking in funds for immediate use.

The body of George Q. Allen, of Pennsylvania, was taken on Saturday to Philadelphia, where his relatives reside, for interment, after a funeral service conducted by Rev. Father Kervick. After the last sad rites had been performed over the remains of Emanuel Gates Shull, also of Pennsylvania, the casket was taken to Gettysburg for interment. The remains of J. Boyd Jones were sent to his home in Evansville, Wis., where a widow and three children await their arrival. The body of Caph Michael T. Mulledy is now on its way to New Orleans, La.; that of Samuel P. Banes was taken to Bristol, Pa.; that of Jeremiah Daly to Romola, Pa.; that of 11. S. Miller to Cumberland, O.; that of Capt Ben Miller to Utica, N. Y. The remains of J. B. Gage, George M. Arnold, Frederick B. Loftus, Otto Maeder, Dr. Burrows Nelson, Frank M. Williams, Richard Fagan, J. E. Chapin and John Bussius were buried in this city.

The injured in Friday’s catastrophe now in the hospitals are, with the exception of two, in a fair way to recover. The serious cases are those of J. P. McCormack, of Wisconsin, and Frank Metcalf, of Massachusetts. The former received a depressed fracture of the ribs and has been in a critical condition. Death is likely to occur soon. Mr. Metcalf sustained a dislocated hip and was doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances until pneumonia developed and the physicians are not now able to predict the result in his case. Deputy Coroner Shaffer is engaged in making preparations for the inquest, which will be resumed to-day. -He has subpoenaed several witnesses, and it is his intention to secure all the eye-wit-nesses to the affair that he can.

Much of the talk upon the disaster is row of relief measures, and the circulation of subscription papers in the departments and the Washington newspapers in their efforts to gather funds for the relief of the victims and their families are meeting with success to a degree that does credit to the benevolence of the citizens. The government clerks, as a class, are not well to do, and the expenses of living absorb most of their salaries, but few, indeed, were too poor to contribute a sum that appeared to be generous in view of their means for the relief of the widows and orphans. One notable fact is the growth of the feeling of resentment on the part of the public against the persons responsible for the wreck. In advance of the verdict of the coroner’s jury and of the findings of the court of inquiry ordered by the war department there is no general agreement upon this point, and the public are rather indiscriminately condemning everybody who had anything to do with the control .of the wrecked building, from congress down to the very laborers who were digging in the cellar when the crash came.

TRAIN ROBBERY.

California Express Held Up by a Gang of Five Bandits in Kansas. Cimarron, Kan., June 12.—The Cali-* fornia express No. 1, westbound on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, was held up near this place, and the express car robbed of about $2,000. at 1:30 a. m. Saturday. There were five bandits in the party. They flagged the train just west of Cimarron and forced the fireman and engineer, at the point of revolvers, to accompany them to the express car. There they made the engineer ask the express messenger, Whittlesey, to open the door. Whittlesey refused, and then the robbers began firing into the car. The messenger w'as wounded in the left side, but he pluckily refused to open the door. Then the robbers resorted to dynamite, and with that explosive blew the door in. They rifled the car of everything of value' which they could find. The express messenger’s strong box was opened and the contents stolen. It contained 1,000 silver dollars and other valuables to an aftiount not ascertainable, but presumably small, because the box contained matter for way stations only. The through safe could not be opened. Having secured everything valuable in sight, the robbers made their escape on horses, riding south toward the Indian Territory. Express Messenger W’hittlesey was not badly injured, and completed his run to Santa Fe, N. M. He is the messenger who stood off the Dalton gang at Red Rock, I. T., over a year ago, and who narrowly escaped death at the time by shooting.

DISASTROUS STORM IN IOWA.

Property in the Vicinity of Dubuque Very Seriously Damaged. Dubuque, la., June 12.—The most severe rainstorm that has visited this section in twenty years was experienced here Saturday morning. The damage in Dubuque will amount to many thousand dollars. Farms on the low lands in this county are flooded and all crops arc destroyed. In this city cellars were inundated apd streets washed out At Rockdale all the farms : n the vicinity were flooded and chickens, farm implements and all loose attachments were curried awaj in the flood

THE CANAL RIOTS.

IHlnot* State Troop* Ready to Prevent * Further Trouble at Lemost—Gov. Altgeld Visit* the Scene, and After an LnTMtiration Declares That the Shooting of Striker! Was Unwarranted. Lemont, IIL, June 12.—Nearly 1,000 state militiamen are scattered along the route between this town and Lockport, in command of CoL Judd, of Chicago, and CoL Bennett, of Joliet. It is not likely their services will be needed. The soldiers are patrolling the right of way of the canaL Gov. Altgeld arrived here at 3:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon from Springfield and at once began a personal inquiry into labor troubles existing along the drainage canal and which resulted in Friday’s flow ■of blood. The governor listened attentively to the stories of twenty or more persons who were either witnesses to Friday’s battle or were among those who were wounded. The investigation lasted nearly three hours, and at its conclusion the governor made the following statement: “I received a message late Friday night signed by the sheriff of Will county, the sheriff of Du Page county and by Mr. Gilbert, the sheriff of Cook county, evidently sent from Gilbert's office in Chicago, stating that there was a riot here, that a number of men had been killed, that sheriff's deputies were not able to maintain peace and order and protect life and property, and that a mob of about 5,000 strikers was threatening violence, and that they called on me to order out the militia to protect life and property. I telegraphed tp the sheriff of Will county and to Gilbert asking how many deputies they had sworn in and whether any one had been hurt other than the strikers. The sheriff of Will county replied that he had about 120. I got no response from Mr. Gilbert until Saturday. Believing the telegram signed by the three sheriffs stated the facts correctly I ordered out the Second and Third regiments and one company from another, and at the same time Adjt Gen. Orendorf, with an aide, started for Joliet. This was about midnight and by 2 o'clock Saturday most of the troops were on the ground, and I will say responded with remarkable promptness.

“I arrived here about 3:3oSaturday afternoon and have been malting inquiries. I learned from the deputy sheriff of Cook county that in fact up to ’he time the telegram was sent there were no deputies for Cook county and that the sheriff sent down twelve special and eleven regular deputies. I have talked with men who claimed to represent the contractors and sent word to each that I would like to meet him and get his version. I went down to the scene of the shooting and talked with a number of men not interested and especially some railroad men working on the tracks of the Santa Fe railroad, who saw what took place and gave me a full account of the affair. One .of their number was shot.

“The information I get thus far tends to show thdt there has been no rioting or serious disturbance here for a week until Friday, and the only violence used was by a number of men, both colored and white, who had been brought here by one of the contractors from the south and who were armed by him with rifles and who opened fire upon some strikers who were walking along the towpath of the old canal, and were not making any demonstration, and were not going in the direction in which the new work is being done. The moment the firing began the men on the towpath began to run northward and were followed by these men with rifles for the distance of about, a mile, and they kept shooting the entire distance, killing and wounding from fifteen to twenty men, as is claimed. These men were shot all the way along this distance of a mile. Among others mortally wounded was a laborer on the Santa Fe railroad, who was quietly eating his dinner when he was shot by the side of fee track nearly a mile north of and away from the point where the shooting first began. “In .short, the only men who seem to have violated the law Friday, and that in cold blood, were the men who had been armed by this contractor and who did the shooting. I have been told by some gentlemen, claiming to give the other side of the story, that the contractors claim that some of the strikers had fired over at them. This is not in harmony with the statement made by the railroad people, and as I am now advised, that no contractor claims there was any necessity of following the men who were running and shooting them down after they had ran a mile. I expect to make further inquiry, and will do what I think the law requires at my hand. If, after looking more fully into the situation, 1 conclude that the law requires me to keep troops here I shall do so; if not they will be taken off.” Gov. Altgeld went to Joliet, where he summoned the various contractors, arid a conference was held on Sunday with a view to gutting at the bottom of the trouble. A committee of the strikers was also present. The contractors all said that their men had made no demand for an increase in wages and were willing to work if the quarry strilters could be kept awav. The strikers asserted that the contractors discriminated against local men in giving employment. This the contractors all denied and said they had favored the local men.

Four men are reported dead and three others will probably die. Gregor Kilka, a married man who came to this place a week ago, died at 8 a. m. at his home on Stevens street. Kilka had done no work here. Friday he was forced to accompany the strikers against his will. A bullet of large caliber struck him in the head and he was brought to Lemont in a dying condition. It was learned at noon that another body had been found near McCormick’s camp. The party of Poles who the corpse say that it is the body of Ignatz Ast, aged 20. and a resident of Lemont. Ast was shot through the head. The are positive that the body of an unknown man is lying in the canal near Romeo. This man, with Kilka, Ast and the unknown man killed near Romeo Friday, completed! the list of those known to be dead. Supervisor Weimer has made preparations to send three of the badly wounded men to the Cook county hospital, where they can receive better attention than here. These three men are: Michael Beyer, shot through the liver; Michael Jaslaski, shot in left lung, and Thomas Mereleski, shot in lungs. Aside from the dangerously wounded men above mentioned the injured are resting easily and the doctors fear no more fatalities among- the-list.

Base Ball.

The following table shows the standing of National league baseball clubs in the struggle for the championship: ’ rer CW>». Won. Lom. cent. Pittsburgh 22 H .611 Brooklyn. 22 14 .611 Boston 23 is 605 Philadelphia.. 21 * 14 .600 Baltimore ...20 17 .541 Clevelandl6 14 .533 New York.l.19 13 '514 Washington 17 19 .472 Cincinnatil6 21 '432 Chicago 15 20 St. Louis;14 20 412 Louisville 4 23 .148 The team of the university of Michigan is the winnert of the western intercollegiate leapiq.chunipiocip.

BULLET FOR A BANDIT.

Bontag, the Notorious Western Outlaw and One of the VaaaUa Train Robbers, Was Shot and Captured by a Posse W United States Deputy Marshals, One of Whom Is Also Wounded— Evans, Sontag’* Partner, Eludes Arrest. Visalia, CaL, June 18.—After a search extending over ten months and after six encounters with different legal posses the notorious train robbers John Sontag and Chris Evans, were finally met Sunday night by four deputy United States marshals and as a result of the encounter which followed Sontag was wounded, possibly fatally, and is now in custody, having been brought here at 10:30 Monday forenoon. »lis companion. Chris Evans, escaped after firing forty shots at his pursuers. Where he made his stand he left his hat and two empty guns, and the ground was found covered with blood, indicating that he, too, is wounded. The four officers who made attack upon the bandits were United States Marshal Gard and his deputy, Edward Rapelje, a deputy sheriff of Fresno county, Fred Jackson, an officer from Navada, and Thomas Burn, who was with Badger when the latter was shot by the robbers last month.

The officers had been in the mountains for weeks looking for the robbers, and Sunday afternoon encamped at a vacant house 18 miles northeast from this city. About twenty minutes before sunset Rapelje went to the Tear door of the house and saw two men coming down the hill and toward the place. On closer observation it was discovered that the men were no other than Evans and Sontag, the fugitive desperadoes. Evans was in the lead and carried a rifle and shotgun, and Sontag was armed with simple a rifle. Rapelje turned around to his comrades in the house and said: “Hello, here comes two men down hilli” They jumped up quickly and grabbed their guns and prepared to make fight As the officers went around the back corner Evans saw Rapelje and throwing his rifle to his shoulder took deliberate aim and fired.

Just then Jackson stepped around behind Rapelje and opened fire on the bandits. Sontag was seen to throw up both hands and fall backward. Then the firing became general. and Evans returned the shots with vengeance. Evans got behind an old rubbish pile and kept up a raking fusillade. Jackson went around the far end of the house to see if he could get a better place from which to shoot, and as he went around he was shot in the left leg. Forty shots were exchanged between the officers and the bandits, but the sun went down and darkness ended the battle.

Evans was seen to crawl on his stomach from behind the rubbish, and Rapelje again opened fire upon him. Evans then rose to his feet and ran toward the hills, followed by Rapelje, who continued firing; Evans did not return the fire and in a few minutes was out of sight. Rapelje returned to the house and procuring a wagon brought Jackson to this city soon after midnight. Marshal Gard and Bures remained at the scene until morning. Sontag lay behind a stack of hay all night, where he was found by Gard and Burns. Sontag says he spit blood all night. There is a glancing wound along his forehead and one on each side of his nose. It is claimed that he inflicted these wounds himself, though this is denied.

Evans’ tracks show that he-started toward Visalia, and his home will be watched day and night. Sontag talks freely and says the jig is up and he does not care for the future. It is possible that Sontag may recover from hiswounds, though attending physicians, will express no decided opinion. Officers are now searching the hills; in hope, of finding Evans, and thus completing at once the long chase. [The train robbery, which was the beginning of his criminal chapter, occurred at a station named Collis, near Fresno, Cal., August 3, 1892. An express car was blown up with dynamite and Express Messenger George D. Roberts seriously injured. Officers soon after arrested George Sentag at the house of Chris, Evans in this city. He was afterward- tried and sent to the penitentiary for life. When an attempt was made to arrest Evans- he and Jbhn Sontag opened Are on the officers, wounding George Witty. In the second encounter Oscar Beaver, an officer, was killed in front of ‘the Evans house. September 14 Andrew McGinniss and Victor C. Wilson were killed in the mountains by the bandits and: two other officers were wounded. May 26 S. J. Black, another officer, was wounded by the: bandits in the mountains. No previous criminal incident in the history of California has, occasioned greater public interest. Until the traia robbery occurred Evans had borne a good reputation. He is an educated man and a. native of Canada. He has a wife and children living in this city. The two Sontag brothers: liwwi in Minnesota,, coming to this state sevrenai years ago.]

A HOT WAVE.

Hundred Degrees Above- Zero in Dakota and Minnesota. Minneapolis,. Minn., June 13.—Monday was the hottest day of the seasonin the northwest. In this city the mercury registered 92 at 3 p>. m. Milbank, Si. D., Jun* 13.—Hot, dry winds have prevailed fior several days. There has been no rain since April 26. The. thermometer showed 100 in theshade Monday. Wheat is turning yellow in spots*. Rain is needed badly; Jamestown, N. 111, June 13.—The, thermometer stood at 96 Sunday and 98 Monday. The wind blew from thesouth to tlhe injury of crops, as in theopen field; the mere-ary has ranged well above 1001 While there is moisture in the ground for some time to come, rain is needed to dampen the surface.

Escaped Murderer Recaptured.

Marlboro, MB., June 13.—William Pinkney, the colored murderer who escaped from jail more than three weeks ago, was recaptured here Sunday night. He is under sentence, along with Barber, also colored, to hang June 30 for the murder of Francis H. Bowie. A reward of $750 was offered for Pinkney's capture.

A Kansas City Bank Suspends.

Kansas City, Mo., June 13.—The People’s guarantee savings bank assigned Monday for thg benefit of creditors. Liabilities, $70,000; the 'assets,$50,000 to $65,000.

AN EXCITING SCENE.

©oL A in* worth Threatened with Violence During the I‘rogrew of the Inquiry Into the Ford Theater Horror. Washington, June 13.—At Monday’s session of the Ford theater inquest a well-dressed man walked forward and in a voice trembling with passion, shaking his fist jn Col. Ainsworth’s face, shouted: “You’ve murdered my brother, and you shan’t sit there intimidating these witnesses.” The man was Charles Banes, whose brother was a victim of the disaster. After the uproar thus occasioned had quieted, Mr. Davis, representing CoL Ainsworth, started to speak, when a dozen excited department clerks rose to their feet and shouted for him to sit down. The lieutenant of police present endeavored to quiet the outbreak, but his voice was as ineffectual as it would have been in a cyclone. The excitement grew in intensity. Nearly every clerk present who was employed in the old theater building was on his feet shouting. At first they only called “Sit down,” “Shut your mouth.” But finally some frenzied individual cried: “Hang him; hang him!” Men were springing forward by this time aM many spectators present sought cover. During the excitement Juror B. H. Warner, a wealthy citizen, suggested to the coroner that the episode that had just occurred showed the existence of a feeling that would best be silenced by the withdrawal of the party against whom it was directed. He continued: “I mention no names, but simply make the suggestion that the partv most concerned should withdraw. There is a belief among many of those here that his presence serves as an intimidation to witnesses. There is a feeling here which does not break out, but which is nevertheless present, that intimidation is being carried on, and I therefore object to the presence of any person who is likely to be blamed for participation in this affair.” Loud applause followed Mr. Warner’s remarks, and Dr. Shaeffer whispered a request to CoL Ainsworth to withdraw. He refused to do so, however, and the coroner turning to the jury said he -bad no right to exclude from the hearing any person who was likely ty be a party to the verdict. Juror Hanvy said he had been told by a dozen clerks that they had been afraid to testify and would have refused to do so but for the letter of the secretary of war.

A mad rush had just begun in the direction of CoL Ainsworth when Juror Warner rose and standing on his chair begged for order. He said: “This outbreak of feeling must be suppressed, not by the strong hand of the law but by the hand of the fraternity. (Applause.) I appeal to you to have fair play as American citizens and not to stain the name of the glorious capital of this republic. I appeal to you in the name »f the Master who reigns above?’ ’ The crowd fell into Mr. Warner’s way of thinking and cried “Yes, yes.” Hesaw his advantage and made an appeal to let the question of allowing GbL Ainsworth to remain be settled bycool heads. When he took his seat, however, there were more threateningmurmurfngs. CoL Ainsworth, who was sitting with, his counsel at a table facing the six jurymen, quailed perceptibly at this, clamor, and his few friends and a squad of police formed a guard about him. It. was lucky that they did so, for the crowd made a forward movement as if to execute their cry, and in the turmoil Ainsworth was hurried through aside door of the hall to a place of safety. Had it not been for the presence of the police CoL Ainsworth would have undoubtedly suffered bodily injury. After this outburst it’was impossible for the- coroner to proceed further and he announced that the inquest would be adjourned, until to-day at the station house of the First police precinct. This precipitated a cry against a star chamber investigation and an indignation- meetings; was at once organized. As a result of, the discussion a committee was appointed to wait on the president of the United States and ask him. to suspend CoL. Ainsworth pending theresult of the- investigation by the cor*ener’s jury and the court of inquiry ordered by the secretary of war. Feeling has been running high, against CoL. Ainsworth ever since the sad affair occurred, it being alleged' that lie was a martinet and would not permit the clerks in his bureau to>be furloughed while repairs were being made at, the- old theater, although, it was known, to. be unfit for occupancy and unsafe;. Monday’s demonstration: has put an end to a further public trial..

ST, ANNE’S CHURCH BURNED.

The Famous Resort of Crippled Pilgrims, Near- Kankakee, 111., Destroyed by Eire, Kankakee, 111., June 13. Thee French Catholic church at St. Anne,. Kankakee eouuaty, was struck by lightening- and! burned Saturday evenring.. The- building was enacted about. twe-lwe years ago and. cost $30,000: The loss is partially covered by- insurance. Next to the famous church. at St. Anne de Beaupre in.Canaeda this church was the most famous resort of pilgrims in America, Thousands. annually gathered hene- during the month of June to worship, Large numbers of crippled and sick come from Chicago on St. Anme’s day and gather arouad the holy- shrine' said to contain a pprtion off the body of the blessed saint. Many wonderful cures havq been reported and the attendance at the coming St Anne’s day would have- been larger thin eve®. The congregation was originally established by Rev. Father Chiniquj, who has since renounced and (denounced the- church. His magnificent residence, located at the same place, was also destroyed byfire a short time ago.

Closed Its. Doors.,

Omaha, Neb., June 13. The McCague savings bank was turned over to the state banking board Monday afternoon as a result of a steady decline of deposits for a month. The owners promise that depositors will be -paid in full. They have paid out in the last thirty davs about 870,000. J?he deposits amount to over $400,000.

A Colorado Hotel Bcobed.

Denver, Col., June 13. —Ji robber invaded the Hotel Colorado at Glenwood Springs and, aided by a pistol, robbed guests of money and jtwelry to the amount of $3,000.