People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1894 — Page 2

IT MUST STAND.

Judge Jenkins Refuses to Change Wia Famous Decision. It Ii Modified In a Minor Particular, But Ba Remain* Firm Regarding It* Main Features—Strike* Are Bitterly Condemned. SYNOPSIS OF THE DECISION. Milwaukee, April 9. —If labor organizations achieved a in Omaha Thursday at the hands of Judge Caldwell they were given a black eye by Judge Jenkins Friday when he decided the motion to amend hi* strike order and sustained his original order in every particular except that he struck out the clause which reads: “And from ordering, recommending, approving and advising others to quit the service of the receivers of the Northern Pacific January 1, 1894, or any other time.” In all its essential features the original order is sustained. He takes an exactly contrary view to that of Judge Caldwell. The judge’s review of the case is complete and exhaustive and carefully covers everypoint raised in the argument It is a sweeping victory for the receivers. The judge was nearly two ho«rs in delivering the decision.

Labor Organization* Denounced. The decision is made noticeable by the pronounced stand taken by the judge on what is generally known as the “labor question.” The vehemence of the language used, coupled with the general denunciation of labor organizations and their methods, will cause the order to be discussed in every section of the country. The decision contains fully 12,000 words, a large portion, however, being made up of opinions quoted from, various decisions of other judges. After reviewing the case the judge says in his decision: Combined Capital and Combined Labor. “In the ahcussion of the important and interesting questions presented by this motion it is not within the province of the court to assume part in the contest between capital and labor which, it is asserted, is here involved. It may be that the aggregated power of combined capital is fraught with danger to the republic. It may be that the aggregated power of combined labor is perilous to the peace of society and to the rights of property. It doubtless is true that in the contest the rights of both have been invaded, and that each has wrongs to be re? dressed. If danger to the state exists from the combination of either capital or labor, requiring additional restraint or modiHcation of existing laws, it is within the peculiar province of the legislature to determine the necessary remedy, and to declare the general policy of the state touching the relations between capital and labor. W ith that the judicial power of the government Is not concerned. But it is the duty of the courts to restrain those warring factions so far as their action may infringe the declared law of the land, that society may not be disrupted or its peace Invaded and that individual and coiporate rights may not be infringed. Injunction the Proper Remedy.

“If the combination and conspiracy alleged and the acts threatened to be done in pursuance thereof are unlawful, It cannot, I think, be successfully denied that restraint by injunction is the appropriate remedy. It may be true that a right of action at law would arise upon consummation of the threatened Injury, but manifestly such remedy would be inadequate. The threatened interference with the operations of the railway, if carried into effect, would result in paralysis of its business, ■topping the commerce ebbing and flowing through seven states of the union, working incalculable injury to the property and causing great public privation. Pecuniary compensation would be wholly inadequate. The injury would be Irreparable. Compensation could be obtained only through a multiplicity of suits •gainst 12,000 men scattered along the line of this railway for a distance of 4,400 miles. It Is the peculiar function of equity in such cases, where the injury would result not alone in severe private but in great public wrong, to restrain the commission of the threatened ac ts and not to send a party to seek uncertain and inadequate remedy at law. “That jurisdiction rests upon settled and unassailable ground. It Is no longer open to controversy that a court of equity may restrain threatened trespass Involving the immediate or ultimate destruction of property, working irreparable injury, and for which there would be no adequate compensation at law. it will in extreme cases, where the peril is imminent and the danger great, issue mandatory injunctions requiring a particular service to be performed, or a particular direction to be given, or a particular order to be revoked, in prevention of a threatened trespass upon property or upon public rights. “I need not enlarge upon the subject The jurisdiction Is beyond question; Is plenary and comprehensive.' ’ Punishment for Contempt Not Enough. .The judge then cited several authorities and continued: “It would be anomalous Indeed if the court, holding this property in possession in trust, could not protect it from Injury and could not restrain interference which would render abortive all efforts to perform the public duties charged upon this railway. ' “It was suggested by counsel that as improper interference with this property during its possession by the court is a contempt, punishment therefor would furnish ample remedy, and that therefore an injunction would not He, This is clearly an erroneous view. Punishment lor contempt is not compensation for an •tajury. The pecuniary penalty for contumacy does not go to the owner of the property injured. Such contempt Is deemed a public wrong and the fine inures to the government The injunction goes in prevention of wrong to property and injury to the public welfare; the fine, in punishment of contumacy. The writ reaches the inchoate conspiracy to injure and prevents the contemplated wrong. The proceedings in contempt is ex post facto, punishing for a wrong effected." So Right to Quit When He Pleases. The judge then reviews the conditions that gave rise to the issuance of the writ. Continuing he says: “There would seem to exist in some minds a lamentable misrepresentation of the terms ‘liberty’ and ‘right’ It would seem by some to be supposed that In this land one has the constitutional right to do as one may please, and that any restraint upon the will is an infringement upon freedom of action. Rights are not absolute, but are relative. Rights grow out of duty and are limited by duty. One has not the right arbitrarily to quit service without regard to the aeeessities of that service. His right of abandonment is limited by the assumption of that service, and the conditions and exigencies attaching thereto “Ordinarily the abandonment of service by an individual Is accompanied with so little of inconvenience, and with such slight resulting loss, that ft Is a matter of but little moment when or how he may quit the service. But for all that the principle remains, recognized by every just mind, that the quitting must be timely and decent, in view of existing conditions. • • • If what I have stated be correct as to individual action the principle applies with greater force to the case of a combination of a large number of employes to abandon service suddenly and without reasonable notice, with the result of crippling the operation of the railway and injuring the public. The effect in this particular Instance would have proven disastrous. The labor organizations are said to represent threo-fourths of all the employes upon the railways within the United States—an army •< many hundred thousands of men. The •killed Mbw aeeeasary to the safe operation • ralU

way could not be readily supplied along 4,000 miles of railway. Could Not Fill Their Places. “The difficulty of obtaining substitutes in the place of those who should leave the service would be intensified by the fact asserted and conceded at the argument that no member of these large organizations would dare to accept service in the place of those who should leave, because such acceptance would be followed by expulsion from their order and by social ostracism by their fellows If this conspiracy had proven effective by failure on the part of the court to issue its preventive writ, this vast pro]> erty would have been paralyzed in its operation, the wheels of an active commerce would have ceased to revolve, many portions of seven states would have been shut off in the midst of winter from the necessary supply of clothing, food and fuel, the malls of the United States would have been stopped, and the general business of seven states and the commerce of the whole country passing over this railway would have been suspended for an indefinite time. All these hardships and inconvenlences It is said must be submitted to that certain of these men, discontented with the conditions of their service, may combine and conspire with the object and intent of crippling the property, to suddenly cease the performance of their duties. It Is said that to restrain them from so doing is abridgment of liberty and Infringement of constitutional right Ido not so apprehend the law. I freely concede the right of the individual to abandon service at a proper time and in a decent manner. I concede the right of ail the employes of this road, acting in concert, to abandon their service at a proper time and in a decent manner, but Ido not concede their right to abandon such service suddenly without reasonable notice. Strikers Bitterly Condemned. “The second branch of the action has reference to the writ of injunction issued upon thesupplemental petition of the receivers re straining any combination or conspiracy from having for its purpose the inagu ration of a strike upon the lines of the railway operated by the receivers and from ordering, advising or approving by communication or instruction or otherwise the employes of the receivers to join In a strike. This part of the motion presents the issue whether a strike is lawful. The answer must largely depend upon the proper definition of the term.” The judge then cited the various definitions of the word strike and dwelt upon strikes in general. He said he knew of no peaceful strike, and that no strike was ever heard of that was or could be successful unaccompanied by intimidation or violence. He continued: "A strike without violence would equal the representation of the tragedy of Hamlet, with the part of Hamlet omitted. The moment that violence becomes an essential part of a scheme, or a necessary means of effecting the purpose of a combination, that moment the combination otherwise legal becomes illegal. All combinations to interfere with perfect freedom In the proper management and control of one's lawful business, to dictate the terms upon which such business shall be conducted, by means of threats or by interference with property or traffic, or with the lawful employment of others, are within the condemnation of the law.” Makes a Slight Modification. Judge Jenkins then, referring to the clause in the supplemental injunction, which enjoins any one from ordering, recommending, approving or advising others to quit the service of the Northern Pacific railway, and which has been characterized as wholly unwarranted, said the clause w-as inserted out of abundant caution, that the meaning of the court might be clear, that there would be no unwarrantable interference with the property, no intimidation, no violence, no strike. Since this language of the writ in this respect had been misconstrued and the restraint in tended was in hi* judgment comprehended within the other provisions of the writ, the motion in that respect would be granted and the clause stricken from the writ. In all other respects the motion would be denied.

TO TREAT ALL ALIKE.

Judge Bundy Says Union Pacific Men Will Have Justice. Omaha, Neb., April 9.—The American Railway union has made application in the United States district court to have the salaries of the members of the order on the Union Pacific road, which were cut last August, restored to the old rate. Judge Dundy was visibly excited when addressing the attorneys from the bench. He said: "If it is stated that such a cut has been made in the wages of these men connected with this organization—or outside of it—on this railway, when others who are drawing higher pay have been so highly favored, I will see that those who are drawing less pay will be treated the same way and I will advise that the old pay oe restored. Still, it is but fair to the other side that they should have notice. You have to rely a great deal on the testimony of railway men in these cases, and they should have notice, and I suggest the propriety when Mr. Dickinson returns of making the order. “Now, I have got myself into difficulty, as you can readily see, by following the example Judge Jenkins made in the Northern Pacific case, when he allowed a schedule reducing the pay and fixing in the order that the parties were bound to comply with it when no notice, not a minute, was given. I do not propose to get myself in that shape again and be denounced in open court where I have to preside at times. I followed his order, though mine was less stringent than his when he did not give the men a minute’s notice, and now I am denounced all over the country for doing the very thing he did, when I was following a precedent he set My term of court commences at Norfolk on Monday, but if necessary 1 will postpone that in order to have a speedy heating in this casa” In conclusion Judge Dundy said: "If you want to make application to have the old pay restored, I want you and every other one of the employes on the road to understand that if they have been wronged by the reduction that they will not have to join any union to get a hearing, because, as I have said before, I will hear one person that has a grievance qr 1 will hear 109, or 1,000 or 4,000 —as they claim to have in this union—and I will make no distinction between the parties.”

UNDER A BRICK WALL.

Five Men Badly Injured by the Fall of a Section of a Bulldins:. Elizabeth, N. J., April 9.—A brick wall of a building on Broad street in process of erection fell upon a gang of brick-layers who were at work on a scaffold on the opposite walk The wounded are: William Headly, fractured skull, legs broken, taken to hospital; James Kerr, leg broken and hip fractured; Alexander Kerr, head badly cut and face disfigured; Robert Irwin, one arm tfroken and skull probably fractured; James Fury, head badly injured. The men were all rendered unconscious. It is thought Headly will die. Several of the helpers about the work were hurt by flying bricks.

Big Iron Firm Goes Under.

San Francisco, April 9.—J. K. Firth & Co., iron dealers, have filed a petition in insolvency Liabilities, $60,000; assets, $36,000. Mr. Firth is inventor and builder of the Firtu wheel at the Midwinter fair, but has no properly in terest in it>

DEATH ’MID FLAMES.

Brave Milwaukee Firemen Plunged Into a Seething Furnace. They Fall with the Blazing Roof of the Davidson Theater, and Nine of Them Are Taken Out Dead A Thrilling Rescue. BRAVE MEN PERISH. Milwaukee, April 1 1. —Nine firemen met a horrible death in a fire which destroyed the Davidson theater on Third street between 4 and sa. m. Monday. The big stone building, which contained the finest playhouse in the city and the Davidson hotel, was burned to the ground in the midst of a blinding storm of rain and sleet, and in the final crash of falling roof and walls several companies of the fire brigade were thrown from the top story into the pit of the flaming furnace. The disaster is one of the most frightful that has befallen the city since the Newhall house burned down, when scores of lives were lost. The Davidson block was one of the most imposing in Milwaukee and the pecuniary loss of the fire is estimated at between 8300,000 and 1350,000. The following is a list of the dead: Third Assistant Chief August Janssen, 265 Eighth street; Frank McGurk, lieutenant truck company No. 4 and acting captain No. 14, 397 Park street; Fred Kroesschmuer, pipeman chemical company No. 2; Capt Archie Campbell, of the fireboat Foley, 71 Twenty-seventh street; Allie Ries, company No. 3, killed by a falling ladder; James C. Freeman, lieutenant company Na 4; Frank Winne, chemical No. 4, found in balcony of theater; Thomas Morgan, engine company No. 1; John Farrell, chemical No 2. Seven of the injured firemen were taken to the Emergency hospital and a number of others were removed to their homes. Shortly after 5 o’clock, when the fire was seemingly under control, the theater roof, on which a score or more firemen stood as they fought the flames, went down, and the brave men were carried with it to the floor of the auditorium below. Some were extricated from the furnace of flames, in which the whole interior was now enveloped, by their brave and more fortunate comrades, who risked their lives to drag out the prostrate forms of the dead and injured men. Six or eight men were soon brought out, and those who were able to speak said there were ten or more in the ruins, where living death awaited them. For these poor fellows there was no chance. The burning roof had fallen on them, and they were roasted to death, if they had not been killed outright in that terrible plunge from the roof. The most thrilling experience of all was that of John Crowley. For several hours he was pinned beneath the ruins, suffering bodily torture, but brave and self-possessed all the while. From 9:30 o’clock until 13:15 his comrades worked to liberate him. It was known that he had been buried, but the firemen thought he must be dead or unconscious until one of the men heard a faint sound Putting his ear down he listened and then shouted: “Who’s down there?” “This is John Crowley,” came the faint reply. “I’m alive, but for God’s sake don’t drown me. There are two men dead beside me, and Tom Morgan of No. lis one of them.” i

| A cloud of hot smoke drove the men back, and, flames bursting forth, it was | necessary to pour in more water. The I faint cries of Crowley could be heard. “For God’s sake kill me in some other way than by drowning. I can’t stand ; all that water. I’m lying on my back.” But the fire was soon put out and fifty men, a special detail ordered by Chief Foley, set to work to rescue the brave fellow. Crowley grew weaker and the men heard him say he could not last much longer. Then came i a most dramatic incident. William Crowley, a brother, appeared with Father Haven, a Catholic • priest. The father bent down and spoke to the imprisoned man. In re- ■ ply Crowley said that the water was ■ nearly over his head and fast rising, ' and asked that the last sacrament of the church be given him, and there, ! amid the steaming ruins, the dense smoke and the charred timbers, the ; priest administered the last sacrament, and fifty men stood around with their ■ helmets off, all brothers, all comrades. Catholic and non-Catholic. I The work of rescue was Bushed by ■ details of ten men working in five-min- ■ ute shifts, and they fought the stub- ! born timbers and beams like mad men. I At 11:30 o’clock Crowley’s head was i free, and a shout went up that shook I the tottering side walls. Shortly after ! his right leg was freed, but it "looked j as if nothing could save the other limb. But the firemen kept at work and in-

side of an hour the man was pulled out. He was perfectly limp and his face wore a distorted look, showing plainly the terrible agony he had gone through. As he was placed on the stretcher he opened hiseyes and endeavored to smile to his companions, but the effort was too much and his head sank back. He was conscious, but he was unable to utter a sound. He was placed in the ambulance and taken directly to the Emergency hospital. When Crowley was carried into the Emercency hospital his pulse had almost ceased beating. Dr. Fox, assisted by Miss Jackson, the matron of the hospital, worked over him an hour before he returned to consciousness. His pulse gradually quickened and at 3 o’clock was quite strong. Dr. Fox say Crowley is suffering from the shock to his nervous system, but with good care will recover.

Worst Storm in Fifty Years.

St. John, N. 8., April 11.—In over half a century a storm to equal the one now prevailing, which began Sunday night, cannot be recalled. All traffic is suspended. All railroad communication is shut off, the public schools are closed and the streets are deserted. All vessels in the harbor and all the wharves have thus far ridden the gale in safety, and no disasters are reported.

Death of a Railway President.

Richmond, Ind., April 11. William Parry, president of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne railroad, died in this city Monday.

DID GREAT DAMAGE.

Heavy Lom Reanlt* from * Tornado In Kantai. Emporia, Kan., April 12. —Later new* from the tornado in Coffey county say* the storm came up from the southwest and whipped around into the north. Most of the damage was done when the winds met at the turninsr point. The following additional damage Las been reported: On Big Creek, the Presbyterian church and a schoolhouse were wrecked; N. Blane’s bouse and barn were blown down; Dan Sullivan and George Lapsley had houses destroyed; every building on William Stanley’s farm was off; the Hampden schoolhouse was badly damaged. One church, one schoolhouse and three houses southwest of Burlington were completely destroyed and ten others damaged. One woman, Mrs. Blanek, was badly injured and her house completely wrecked. Capt Taylor’s horsebarn and sheds were blown down and six horses had to be killed. At J. D. Weaver’s farm, 2 miles from Burlington, the house was blown away and the barn blown half a mile and wrecked into kindling wood. All his trees were twisted, torn and pulled up by the roots. A Mr. Wreeman, living 2 miles in the country, had every head of stock on his farm killed. Houses, barns, etc., were wrecked. He lost everything. The people are subscribing to a fund to help the destitute. Topeka, Kan., April 1 .—A destructive tornado passed over a part of Greenwood and Coffey counties late Sunday night. No deaths are reported, but much property was destroyed and at least fifty barns, outbuildings and a few farmhouses were totally destroyed. Near Virgil, a small town in Greenwood county, the tornado was most destructive. A half-dozen large houses were leveled to the earth. The families living in them had heard the terrible roaring of the storm in time to flee and save their lives by taking refuge in caves and cellars. A herd of fifty head of cattle just ready for the market was in the track of the storm. All but about a dozen were slaughtered and piled up in one mass of broken bones. Sweeping on to the east with terrible force the storm leveled houses, barns, schoolhouses and churches. Graceland cemetery, south of Burlington, was in its path, and not a monument is left standing. On the Tyler farm it picked up a colt, carried it several rods and dropped it into a4O foot well. No one was killed in that section but several people are badly bruised, some with broken limbs. The damage to stock and buildings is estimated at fully 550.000.

WINTER WHEAT.

Its Condition as Reported to the Department of Agriculture. Washington, April 12.—The condition of winter wheat on April 1 as reported by the statistician of the department of agriculture averages 86.7 per cent, for the entire country. Last year the average was 77.4. In 1892 it ■ was 81.2 and 96.9 for the year 1891. The | corresponding average for rye is 94.4 i per cent. The averages of wheat for the principal states are as follows: I Kentucky, 83; Ohio, 90; Michigan, 83; ; Indiana, 90; Illinois, 87; Missouri, 88; ! Kansas, 72; Nebraska, 85; lowa, 87. Very little damage is reported from the Hessien fly and that only in sec- ■ tions of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. The weather from seeding time until the present cold wave swept over the country has been very favorable to the growth of the plant. The injury to the crop is undoubtedly considerable. In the eastern and northern states the damage was comparatively light. In the south Atlantic and southern states the injury is marked and decided, with perhaps the exception of Texas, while in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky the injury from frost is considerable. In .Kansas, Nebraska and California the impaired condition of the crop has not resulted so much from the frost as from cold, dry weather.

GOLD “SWEATERS” CAUGHT.

Two More of a Gang of Swindlers Arrested by Treasury Officers. Washington, April 12.—Detectives Freurgerand Reilly, of Baltimore, were at the treasury department Tuesday and reported to Chief Hazen, of the secret service, the arrest of a man and woman in Baltimore on a charge of mutilating gold coin by lightening them. From their description Chief Hazen recognized James L. Wilcox and his wife, whom the secret service officers have been in search of for some months. They are members of a gang which has been operating extensively in Chicago, Denver, Omaha, Sioux City and St. Louis. Their specialty was “sweating” S2O-gold pieces, and so successful have they been that it is estimated that from $50,000 to $75,000 in gold coin has been artistically shaved, remilled and passed again into circulation. The leader of the gang, W. I<. Shaw, is still at large. Those under arrest are A. B. Peck, a dentist; Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Wilcox and Ralph Wilcox, a brother of J. L. Wilcox. Shaw and Wilcox ostensibly conducted a real estate business in Chicago, but Wilcox, who is an expert machinist, spent his time in a room on Adams street skillfully trimming gold coins by means of a large lathe.

Mexico Wishes Reciprocity in Coinage.

City of Mexico, April 12.—The Mexican government is willing to allow the coinage of Mexican dollars in the United States mints provided Mexico be permitted to coin American dollars in the Mexican mints. The proposition made in the United States for the coinage of Mexican dollars in American mints is considered by the government here as preposterous.

Suffrage for Women.

Columbus, O, Aprii 12.—A bill giving women the right to vote in school elections was passed by the senate by a vote of 20 to 6.

A JUDGE ON TRIAL.

Congressmen Be«ln an Inveatlratlos «f Judge Jen kina’ Action. Milwaukee, April 11.—It was after several delays and false starts that the congressional investigation into the acts of Judge Jenkins in connection with the issuance of An injunction restraining the employes of the Northern Pacific railroad from quitting its service, “with or without notice,” was finally begun Monday in the spacious club-room of the Pfister hotel. The three inquisitors representing the government of the United States sat in a row before a long desk, while opposite sat Attorney Harper, of Terre Haute, Ind., the representative of the labor men. Attorney Harper placed a handful of documents ’in evidence and pointed out that the receivers themselves represented that there was no contract with the men. The features of the proceedings were: That Congressman Terry made the point that the receivers slid recognize the chiefs by sending them notices of intent to cut the wages; that the men considered the injunction binding on them to remain in the employ of the road whether satisfied or not; that the acceptance of the new schedule of wages was made with the shadow of the injunction over them; that the men were hired by the day or by the mile and could be discharged at any time; that the injunction has practically rendered the unions inoperative. Edgar T. Clark, grand chief of the Order of Railway Conductors, was the first witness. He proved a shrewd, plain speaker and conservative in his views. He explained the workings of the order and showed that it required a two-thirds vote of the men in order to have a strike. He gave a history of the conferences with the receivers and showed that the injunctions were issued before efforts to arrive at an amicable understanding could be reached.

During the evidence the witness gave his sentiments as follows: “I believe that next to the home the labor organizations are the pillars of our government. They teach men obedience to the laws and make them better citizens while advancing their interests and those of their employers.” Mr. Clark said he had not been served with the injunction, although a United States marshal had hunted for him. He is bound by the order, however, and would not have sanctioned a strike under the circumstances. He said also that the men felt bound by the order not to quit the employ of the road and would not strike. In answer to Representative Boatner, Mr. Clark said he did not think the injunction had done any harm so far as the Northern Pacific employes were concerned, but it had been harmful in a general way to workingmen, as ha believed it was an abridgement of their constitutional rights, and established a precedent which would be followed by all courts had not congress been called on to investigate. Mr. Sargent’s testimony was practically to the same effect

SCALDED TO DEATH.

Seven Men Lose Their Lives in a Michigan Railway Wreck. New Era, Mich., April 11. —On the floor of Staples & Covell’s logging camp 3 miles east of here lie seven charred and scalded bodies, the result of the most frightful railroad accident that ever happened in this section. The logging crew of Staples & Covell’s road were returning from White river camp shortly before noon Monday and when within sight of camp the narrow-gauge engine struck a falling tree and was knocked over it 16-foot embankment, carrying nine men down with it. The men were thrown into the wreckage, which pinned them down and they could not avoid the escaping steam. Seven of them are dead, one is seriously injured and one slightly hurt The following are dead: Adolph Shelander, engineer, Whitehall; Gus Anderson, fireman; Frank Shippy, foreman, Newapgo county; Martin Lynch, Whitehall, walked 1 mile and fell dead; Charles Wolfe, scalded and burned; Lorren Critchell, Allen Critchell, brother of Lorren. Fred Chowker was fatally injured. Henry Starn was slightly scalded, but saved himself by jumping from a window of the engine. The men were all shockingly burned and scalded. Anderson’s scalp and forehead were completely roasted and his abdomen burned to a crisp. The bones of Shippy’s hands and arms were laid bare and his sides likewise, but he succeeded in taking off most of his clothing before he died. The road starts 3 miles east of here and runs parallel with the Chicago & West Michigan to White river, a distance of 7 miles. Staples & Covell were cleaning up adjoining land and last winter had logs skidded along the track. This crew was engaged in hauling these logs to the river and would have finished the job next Wednesday.

A. G. CAŢELL DEAD.

An Ex-United States Senator and Member of the First Civil Service Commission. Camden, N. J., April 11.—Ex-United States Senator A. J. Cattell, of Merchantsville, died at Dr. Livingston’s retreat at Jamestown, N. Y., where he had been for some time a patient. Mr. Cattell was in his 79th year. He was elected United States senator from New Jersey as a republican in 1866 and declined a reelection. He was appointed a member of the first civil service commission by President Grant and was financial agent of the government in London during 1873 and 1874.

Killed at School.

Chicago, April IL —Monday afternoon a steam pipe burst in the Humboldt school at North avenue and Rockwell street, and in the mad rush of children to escape the stairway became choked and a boy was killed. Fourteen children are in St. Elizabeth’s hospital, while many others were taken to their homes more or less injured.

Losses by Fire.

New York, April 11.—The fire losses in the United States for the week ended on the 7th, estimated from telegraphic reports, were $2,583,085. The losses ainee January 1 amount to $36,287,785.

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

Columbus citizens have secured the services of a detective to run down the author of a number of anonymous threatening letters that have recently been received by many of the leading men of that city. A damage suit for $3,000 was filed at Richmond by C. E Caldwell against W. H. Steen for injuries received by the bite of a dog belonging to the latr ter. Columbus is aroused on account of a decision by the supreme court by which Cyrus Brown, who murdered his wife, gets a new trial. Brown was to have been hanged on April 20. The cause of the granting of a new trial was on account of the drunkenness of a juror pending the trial of the case. Fire at an early hour the other morning destroyed the barn and implement house of John P. Barnes at Anderson. Two fine horses were cremated. Smoke gained entrance to the third floor of the Hotel Dovey and created some excitement in the guests’ apartments. In the circuit court at Richmond the other day Albert Rose was acquitted of murder, but Bob Wilson got a five-year penitentiary sentence for stealing a PigThe other night Miss Bessie Catt, the 18-year-old daughter of Milton E. Catt, of Terre Haute, eloped with Zachariah Evans, aged 55 and a widower, who formerly roomed with the Catts. The police were notified, but no clew can be found.

Muncie Gun club has received and accepted a challenge from the Union City Gun elub, and a team shoot with five men on a side will be arranged. A purglab, supposed to be a tramps was shot and instantly killed at Palestine,Kosciusko county, the other night. Geoige Werrick, a Palestine merchant, surprised the robber in the act of burglarizing his store, and opened fire on him, with fatal effect A state militia company of 54 men has been organized at Shelbyville. Four children of Frank Bilski, a farmer, who lives on Chimney Pierre hills, ten miles south of Vincennes, were poisoned the other evening. Their father in plowing, plowed up some poke root The children ate the roots, thinking they were parsnips. All took violently sick, and next morning a little boy died, and the three others are lying in a critical condition. The Muncie bricklayers’ union re fused to accept a reduction of 10 cents an hour for work and a strike is now on. The oil refinery at Whiting is said to be about the largest in the world. Columbus claims to have the biggest cooperage concern in the United States. There are 100 empty dwellings in Brazil. The free soup house at Richmond has closed. An electric fire alarm system is being put in at Madison. The new tile factory at Columbus is about ready for business. Lloyd McGuinnis, a wealthy farmer of Homer, near Shelbyville, suicided by taking carbolic acid. The General Power and Quick Transit Co., of South Bend, has incorporated, the object being to construct an electric road from South Bend to Mishawaka. Capital, SIOO,OOO. Indiana G. A. R., in state encampment elected officers as follows: vicedepartment commander, A. O. Marsh, Winchester; senior vice-commander, J. B. Shaw, Lafayette; junior vice-com-mander, H. H. Reagan, Lowell; medical director, Dr. C. A. Boynton, Indianapolis; chaplain, John A. Maxwell, Delphi Mrs. Alvin Vinyard, of Florida, was instantly killed the other morning by being struck by a Pan Handle train as she attempted to cross the track at Anderson.

David Rhinehart, an inmate of the soldiers’ home at Marion, while drunk, was robbed of SBOO at Pulaskiville the other day. He had recently sold his farm for SI,OOO, and the indications are that local sharpers did the job. Burglars entered the general store of M. Gouchenour and Daniel Froxel at Manson, Clinton county, and secured a quantity of jewelry, clothing and groceries. A few nights ago at Hagerstown occurred the most brilliant northern lights that have ever been noted at Hagerstown. A block on fire would not have caused more attention from the people. Brilliant hues in unusual figures shot across a clear sky, and the night was illuminated as if a bright moon were shining. A young lady of Columbus is confined to her room nursing big blisters on her face, the result of mistaking gun oil for glycerine. The citizens of Anderson want a chemical fire engine. The dog poisoner is again playing havoc in the canine population at Anderson. William Julius Chomel, 30 years of age and unmarried, the son of Alexander Chomel, editoi - of the Catholic Record, Indianapolis, suicided a few days ago.

Albert Withams, a farmer living neaJ Muncie, while driving home from church with his wife and child, was dragged to death by a runaway horse. The wife and chil<J escaped injury. Edward Martin, hurt bv cars near Anderson, died at Richmond! The charity societies at Crawfordsville have completed the winter’s work. Nearly 1,000 persons have received aid. In the last year thirty murders have occurred in Clay county and thirty people have become insane. An accident at Klinger’s lake, near Goshen, the other morning, resulted in the almost instant death of William Barnes. He was training a colt, when the animal threw him on a newlytrimmed hedge fence. He was impaled on a sharp stick, which entered the neck. He was dead when found. A. R Woods, of Kokomo, deputy United States revenue collector, condemned 210 barrels of beer made a year ago at a Logansport brewery, and the other day the officer dumped the entire lot into Eel river.