Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1876 — Page 2

The Rensselaer Union. RENSSELAER, . * INDIANA.

General News Summary.

FBItM WAUOMSTOH. Ijtwaoroß-GaintaAL Hardim, of th Vnlted State* army, lied at Washington oa the 14th, and waa burled on the ITth. Wm. Omvon. PreaMent of the Western Union Telegraph Company, has telegraphed to Mr. Morrison, Chairman of the House Louisiana Investigating Committee, declining to ftsrniah certain measures In possession of the company sent and received over the wire* by officials of the Federal and Louisiana State Governments. Mr. Orlon nays he had waited a few daya before answering the subpoena “ in the expectation that similar applications would be made by a committee of the Senate, also charged with the invectigation of matters connected with the Presidential election and the cauvass in the several States, so that the action of the company, being the same In respect to the messages of both political parties, could not be attributed to a desire to prejudice or promote the interests of either.” Mr. Morrison, on the 15th, telegraphed Speaker Randall concerning thia refusal on the part of Mr. Orion. Tn total amount of mileage that the messengers will be entitled to, who carry the Electoral votes of the several States to Washington, la 15,857, of which amount the messenger from Oregon is to have over 8900. THE BAST. Thb horrible story that a foolish boy at Gorham, Me., had disemboweled an Infant, skinned it and hung up the carcass, as he had seen cattle served lu a slaughter-house, happily proves a falsehood, the startingpoint of the story being that the lau’s mother found him with a large knife in the room with the baby.

Tub railroad freight war between the four trank linee to the seaboard has been ended by a compromise between Messrs. Vanderbilt, Jewett, Garrett and Scott, and, on the 18th, rates were advanced, from Chicago to the Atlantic, ten cents per 100 pounds on grain, and fifteen cents on fourth-class freight It is expected also that passenger rates will speedily be advanced. Gold closed In New York. on the 20th, at LO7X- The following were the dosing quotations for produce: No 2 Chicago Spring Wheat, (New) 81.33M@134; No. 2 Milwaukee (New) >1.8501.38; Oats, Western Mixed and State, Corn, Western Mixed, 58@59c; Fork, Mess, >17.15; Lard. »10.85; Flour, good to choice, $5.7005.75; White Wheat Extra, $5.8008.00. Cattle, 7@loXc lor good to extra. Hoge, live, 88.00O&25. Sheep, BMO7XC. At East Liberty, Pa-, on the 30th, cattle brought: Beat, 85.2005A0; medium, 84-50 O&00; common, $3.7504-00. Hogs sold— Yorkers, >4.6005.00; Philaddphias, 85.700 5.80. Sheep brought 83.2508.00, according to quality. WBTaxnsotrriL Tn Democrats of Jeffersonville, Ind-, on the evening of the 15th, ratified the claimed election of Tilden and Hendricks by firing a salute of 204 guns, that being the number of Electoral votes claimed by them. Nbws reached Cheyenne, on the 14th, of a terrible massacre perpetrated in the Big Horn country. It seems that a party of twenty-six miners started for the Big Horn country, and none had been seen alive since. Mr. John Sheron.who is perfectly reliable, says that several weeks ago a company of white men were attacked by a band of Sioux, supposed by the trail to have been a very large band, and it is believed on the first volley the miners fled to the brush, which the Indians fired and then killed their victims. The bodies of eighteen or twenty men have been identified. A vbhy dangerous counterfeit half-dollar has been detected in Chicago. It has been aken at nearly all the banks in the city. The coin is heavily plated with silver, and composition is supposed to be block-tin and glass mixed, and it is deficient in weight, but not so much so as to create any suspicion. All the coins which had been found up to a recent date are stamped 1875. In the mandamus case against the Florida Board of Canvassers, answer was made by defendants, on the 16th, which, after argument, the Supreme Court declared to be insufficient. The Board were given until the 18th to amend it Tkb Sioux Commission concluded its labors on the 19th, and made report to Secretary Chandler. Accompanying the report was a treaty entered into by the Commissioners and representatives of the various Indian tribes. By the terms of this treaty, the Sioux surrender all claim to any country lying outside the boundaries of their permanent reserve, as defined by tbe treaty of 1868,and so much of said reserve as lies west of the 103 d meridian of longitude, and as is 'included between the North and South Forks of the Cheyenne River east of said meridian. The Government thereby secures full possession of a tract of country which includes tbe Black Hills and is defined by natural boundaries. Ln a letter to Gen. Sherman, received on the 19th, Gen. Miles expresses the opinion that the Sioux war b substantially closed, aad that if the Indians are properly treated, and tbe treaty obligations on the part of the Government are faithfully observed, there will never be another Indian war. In this opinion Gen. Sherman is said to concur. in Chicago, on the 29th. spring wheat No. 1, closed at >1.1901-19% cash. Cash corn closed at44Me for No. 2. Cash oats No. 2 sold at 33@33%c; January options sold at 83gc; Barley, No. 2, 65065%'; Bye, No. J 2, 89%c. Cash mess pork (New) closed at >18.00; Lard, >10.59 @ 10.60. Good to choice beeves brought 84.70 @5-00; medium grades, 8*5004.00; butchers* stock [email protected]; stock cattle, etc., 8290 @1.15. Hogs brought [email protected] for good to choice. Shoep sold at 82.50@4A0 for good to choice. f ffiOMLKKIN IR'TKULIGBNCB. Tukkxt’b Greek subjects have presented an address to the Porte, expressing devotion to the Government, but protesting against its granting concession to the Sclave popnTbukhums from Bilbao, Spain, of the iOjh, report trouble in the Basque Provinces, <MI Account of the latter refusing to pay 18,reals toward the support of an

army of ooeupation. Troops had been sent there to repress an anticipated Insurrection. AccxmoiKO to Alexandria (Egypt) telegram's, received in London on the Hth, the Khedive had announced to bis American officers that he waa dissatisfied, and should decline to renew his contracts with them. A Lox dom telegram of the 18th says a col. Uery explosion bad occurred on that day at the South Wales Company’s pit, near Newport. Seventeen dead bodies had already been recovered, and many of those taken out were seriously, and some fatally, injured. A COXBTAKTIMOM.X telegram of the 19th announces the appointment of Midhat Pasha as Grand Vlsier, In place of Mohammed Ruchdi Pasha, dismissed. A Romb (Italy) dispatch of the 19th says that Rev. John Spaulding, of Louisville, Ky.,had been appointed by the Holy Father Bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, 111. W. B. C. Barber, an assistant accountant of the Bank of Montreal, in Toronto, Canada, was arrested on the 19th, upon the charge of embezzling <IOO,OOO.

WITH CAROLINA. On the 15th, W. D. Simpson, the Democratic Lieutenant-Governor of South Carolina, sent a letter to the Senate, claiming his election and demanding his seat as presiding officer of that body. The letter was referred to the Judiciary Committee. The Democratic House ana the Democrats of the Senate met in Joint convention and balloted for Senator without reaching an election. The Republican House, on the 14th, adopted—concurrent resolution declaring the election of the present Circuit Judges void. At a meeting of the Democratic Legislature tn Joint session, on the 14th, the vote for Governor, including the counties of Edgctield and Laurens, which the Board of Canvassers threw out, was declared as follows: Hampton (Dem.) 92,261; Chamberlain (Rep.) 91,689. The following correspondence passed between Messrs. Hampton and Chamberlain on the 18th: Rooms Kxxcvtivx Dbpaktmbxt, I Columbia, 8. C., Dec. 18. ( To D. H. Chamberlain, Esq.: Sib: Having been legally elected and dulv Inaugurated Governor of South Carol na, I call upon you to deliver forthwith into my poeseteion the great seal of State, the State Houre, offices, anpurtenancee, etc. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Wads Hampton, Governor South Carolina. Rooms or rm Exbcutivb Dmpabtmbnt, I Columbia, 8. C., Dec. 18. j To Wade Hampton, Eeq.: Dear Sib: Tour note demanding the seal of State, offices, appurtenances, etc., is received. Being the legally elected and duly qualified Governor of the State. I see no reason why your demand should be complied with. D. H. Chambbblain, Governor of South Carolina. An Associated Press dispatch of the 18th says the State officers and heads of departments had been unable, owing to the political disturbances, to make up their reports to enable Gov. Chamberlain to prepare his annual message. It bad been decided by the Senate and the Republican House to take a recess, on the 22d, until February. During the recess, it was said, Hampton would issue writs for new elections to fill vacancies, so asato provide himself with a Senate. Everything waa quiet in Columbia In the South Carolina Democratic House, on the 19th, seventy-nine Senators and Rep; resentatives being present, a ballot was taken for United States Senator, which resulted in the choice of M. C. Butler, he receiving sixty-four out of the seventy-nine votes cast. In the Supreme Court, United States Attorney Cor bl u filed a return to the rule for contempt. The Court a'so heard the argument in the case of the Tilden v». the Hayes Ektetors, but adjourned without taking any action.

CONCBKSSIONAL. The House bill to provide for the payment of the Electoral messengers was passed in tbe Senate, oe the 15th. The resolution relative to tbe Oregon Electors was further debated by Messrs. Thurman. Wallace and MitchelL Tbe House amendments to the bill making appropriation to provide for the expenses of certain special committees were non-concurred in....1n the House, after considerable discussion, the bill to pay tbe expenses of the Investigation Commitee, reducing tbe amount for the Senate from >so.< CO to B*l.ooo, and increasing that for the House from >21.000 to D'M was passed. The Postoftlcc Appropriation bill was further considered in Committee of the Whole, and reported to the House. Th£ Senate was not in session on the 16th.... The Poetoffice Appropriation bill was passed in the House, with amendments. The Speaker presented a telegram received by him from Mr. Morrison, Chairman of the Louisiana Select Investigating Committee, and one to Mr. Morrison from Mr. Orton, President of the Western Union Telegraph Company, refusing to produce the originals of telegraphic dispatches. The telegrams were read, and a resolution was adopted, without discu-sion or division, referring Mr. Morrison's communication to the Judiciary Committee, with instructions to report at the earliest practicable moment what action the House should take in the premises. Eulogies wese then delivered on the late Speaker Kerr, and resolutions expressive of the profound sorrow of the House, and directing the Speaker's chnir to be kept draped iu mourning during the remainder of this Congress, and that the usual badge of mourning be worn by the members ana officers of the House, were unanimously adopted. A resolution was adopted in the Senate, on the 18th, by a unanimous vote, authorizing the Chair to appoint a select committee of seven Senators to act with the committee appointed by the House, to devise means to count and declare the Electoral vote. A bill was introduced by Mr. Wright, and ordered printed, to establish a court for the trial of contested Presidential elections. The veto of tbe bill of last session, reducing the President's salary from >50,000 to fikxow. was called np, and the vote on the passage, of the bill over the veto resulted in twenty-five yeas to nineteen nays, not two-thirds in the affirmative, the bill thus falling of passage. Tbe Oregon Electoral question was further debated.... Among tbe bills introduced in the House were—to regulate proceedings in the Electoral count for President and Vice-President: concerning expatriation and change of allegiance; to establish the flanking privilege. A resolution of inquiry into the action of Judge Bond, in South Carolint. failed for want of a two-thirds vote. Mr. Garfield presented a telegram received by him from Mr. Hurl but, of the Louisiana Select Committee, stating that the dispatch from Mr. Morrison to the Speaker was without knowledge or consent of the committee, which had never been consulted in the matter; referred to tbe Judiciary Committee. A resolution was adopted—lSO to Si—instructing the Judiciary Committee to report an amendment to the Constitution forbidding the payment of war claims to disloyal persons. A motion was made and lost to suspend the rules and adopt a resolution calling for Gen. Sheridan's report on the removal of Gov. Wells, of Louisiana, -i A number of private bills were passed In the Senate on the 19th. The statues of Samuel Adams and John Winthrop were formally presented by Messrs. Boutwell and Dawes. A communication was received from tbe Secretary of State, transmitting a fist of names of persons not citizens of the United States who held consular offices and were paid salaries during the fiscal year ending June 30.1876. Tbe resolution relative to Mr. Cronin s appointment as an Elector in Oregon was further considered ...A resolution was adopted in the Rouse—l2l to 92—for an adjournment from the 23d to the 27th, and then from the 30th to January 3. The Fortification Appropriation bill was passed. The Adams and Winthrop statues were received.

THE INVESTIGATIONS.

[Compiled from Associated Press Reports, unless Otherwise Designated.]

LOUISIANA. *

Two colored witnesses(Henry Carroll and John Petty) testified before the House Committee on the 15th, to tbe effect that they had voted aad acted with tbe Democrats at the late election, aad that for so doing they bad been subject to threats and abuse. Carroll stating that attempts had been made on Ms .fife aad that a man was shot aad killed on ths loth of November la mistake 'or him. Petty testified that be was shot and beaten by colored men for having voted the Democratic

ticket. William Ward (colored) teettfied that he WM s Republican In 1871, and took a Beat In the Leaislaturi', although foil ly beet<-n at the pol e He st’itod th<t the " lIM >ry ot the Outrages on Red River,” written by him, he believed at the time to be true, ba> now he knew better. O. B Morgan, discharged fiom. a clerkship tn tbe Cus-tom-House, on the lOih of November, testified •hat Supervisor Anderson bad told him, after the election, that the Democrats had carried the Pariah of East Feliciana, only one Republican vote being polled. On meeting dsv some men came to Anderson's office, and said he ought to be hong, but they did not otherwise molest hm. Witness had frequented t'ie Cus-tom-House since his d scharge. and had seen a number of persons there iniUdag out affidavits, and bad known some instances where they were not lu accordance with the testimony given In regard to intimidation. Supervisor Clover, of East Baton Rouge, had said to witness that it was peaceable there on the day of election, but Clover did not consider k safe to return there after the election; that be bad thrown out some boxes and elected three Republicans to the Leglelsture. The witness conversed with Supervisor l.eday, of Lafourche. before and afier the election. Leday told him that the parish was Democratic, but it would go all right ; that he was not there for any foolishness; he would throw out enough polls to elect the Republicans. He said nothing about Intimidation. Witness said he had been advised not to go before the Congressional Committee, as he would not get his place back in the Custom House if he testified.

M. 8. Peeler, of New Orleans, was before the House Committee on the 18th, and testified that he was United States Supervisor in Pol) 2 of the Second Ward; that an attempt was made by the Republican Commissioner to prevent Democrats from voting; that Mr. Hare. Republican Commissioner, bad told him. after the election, that there was some trouble about that noil; that the Democratic Commissioner would be arre-ted. and they would take the box and tix it to suit themselves: witness wa* otfeed S3OO by Mr. Casey. Republican Marshal, if he would let him and another Marshal have the box; be declined the offer, and notified the Democratic ■ Committee, who sent a force.for protection; the Republicans subsequently made an attempt to seize the box, and take it to the Custom-House; witness was subsequently assaulted by Hare, Republican Comm seioner. because he would not certify the returns as correct and refused to allow the box to be taken by the Republicans. On the crovs-examina ion. witness said the election was peaceable, quiet and fair- had been told if be did not keep in he would be killed for going back on hie party; was still a Republican. Pompey Slate, Marshal Taylor, E. H. Flowers and Henry Smith (all colored) testified that they voted the Democratic ticket at the last election, and had been assaulted and maltreated for so doing. Flowers said he canvassed the btate for the Democrats, and had heard a large number of colored men sav they would vote the Democratic ticket, and others said tney were afraid to vote such ticket owing to threats which had been made against colored Democrats; 8 J. N. Smith, lawyer, of New Orleans, testified that he canvassed the State for the Democrats; saw no intimidation of colored people except bv Republicans, who said if the Democrats got in office the colored people would be again enslaved: saw a number of negroes who pr mised to vote the Democratic ticket; beard of no disturbance in the Parish of East Feliciana; Supervisor Anderson haa. old witness that Parish would go Democratic, but would be counted Republican; that he (Anderson) had said the Custom-House officials wanteu him to swear that fraud, violence and intimlda ion were practiced by the Democrats, but that he refused to do so. At the meeting of the Senate Committee, on the 18th, Gov. Wells. President of the Returning Board, was called upon to give some information respecting the action of the Board; he said he would furnish the Committee with the required statement of votes polled and votes excluded,but,as the Board was busy preparing a report to the Legislature, the clerks would not have time to make the copies; the Chairman said the six stenographers of tbe Committee would do the work. Witnesses had been summoned to testify in tbe case of East Baton Rouge, and a large number of witnesses were already on hand* to testify. No witnesses on the Republican side had so far been examined by the House Committee Several colored citizens were examined by the House Committee on the 18th, and gave testimony similar in substance to that of witnesses on the two preceding days. Geo. Johnson (colored) was recalled, and stated that he had been assaulted by colored Republicans since he testified before the committee; he knew other witnesses who feared violence if they testified. E. W. Barnes, Manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, who had been subpoenaed to produce dispatches sent and received by Messrs. Kellogg, Packard. Dibble. Warmoth, Carter and Gen. Augur, from and after the 15th of August, 1876, was ca led before the committee and 8;» ed that he had been instructed by Genera' Superintendent Van Horne not to deliver or p:oduce the messages, and consequently he must, under his instructions, retuse to deliver the telegrams called for by the subpoena. A resolution was then adopted, by a party vote (the Republican members of tbe committee objecting to the clause ” his refusal being in contempt,” the House, being, they thought, the best judge of that question) to communicate to the House, for its consideration, Mr Barnes' refusal to produce the telegams, ” his refusal being in contempt of the ouse of Representatives.”

The Senate Committee was called to order at 12:30 on the 19th by Senator Howe, Chairman, who stated that the committee was not yet provided with the desired tables of returns. The testimony of Eaton Logwood, who was said to be in ad< ing condition, was taken oefore a subcommittee, at his residence. A special to the Chicago Tribune gives a summary of his evidence, in substance, as follows: He stated that he was a leading Republican on the island; that, in in Its waru, there were nearly 400 colored Republicans to seventy-live white Democrats; that in the latter part of August last the leading Repub ican of the pari-h. Dr. B. H. Dinkgr.ve, was a-sassii atid in Monroe; th>t immediately after, (he pariah was constantly raided by rifle c'ubs. and that nearlv all the colored men ou ihe Island, alter several had been whipped or killed, became members of the Democratic club; that he persisten ly refused tobec< me a member; that he was wounded several times; that he and others whom he named spent many nights away from their homes, lying in tbe woods and cotton patches with their wives and children, for fear of the bull-dosers; that on the morning of tbe 10th of October he was loading cotton-seed, and his brother-in-law. Primus John.-on, was holding in his arms a little child in front of his house, looking on; that he heard the voice of a man, and. looking up, saw at the fence two men with blackened faces and hands, with doublebarreled guns leveled at him; that he saw under the man's sleeve that bis arm was white, also by white rims around his eyes; that one man said: “Hello, Eaton, old lellow, we’ve got you now!” that he ran for the corner of the house, but received five buckshot in his side and arm, and fell, but sprang up again and got around tbe corner before the second shot was tired; that directly afterward he heard another shot, which was aimed at Primus Johnson, and which killed him with his child in his arms; uiat soldiers were afterward sent to his house to guard him. and he was removed to Monroe, and subsequently to New Orleans; be was obliged to leave everything behind, and dare not return home. The Republican and Democratic counsels submitted statements of their cases to the committee. Ex-Gov. R. C. Wickliffe was recalled and examined before the House Committee, on the 19cb. He thought that the change of the vote of West Feliciana Parish was flue to the Interest taken by the whites and the arguments used by them, promising a just and economical administration, and a proper application of the schoolfund in the event ol a Democratic success: knew of no thaeate of discharge, or anything of that sort being used by anyone; found the negroes readily convinced by argument, and employed no other means to influence them to vote the Democratic ticket; William Magnell and Antoine F. O'Lasee (both colored), of Orleans, testified—the former to having been threatened by colored Republicans, because he was a Democrat, and that, since election, he had been knocked down, and threatened with death, for having voted the Democratic ticket; and the latter to the effect that he knew of no violence, but heard talk of intimidation of colored Democratstall Democratic speakers had counseled peace, order and fa mess in the election, and everything was peaceable and quiet. Jerry Hall, of Orleans, had canvassed tbe Parishes of Rapides, Grant and Ouacbiia for the Democrats; saw many colored people who said they would vote the Democratic ticket: knew of no violence, bnt heard of talk about killing Democratic negroes, etc.; a colored preacher said that no Democratic colored man should be recognized by h:s orethren. Gen. I homas C. Anderson, of tbe Returning Board, submitted his reasons for not bringing the documents called for by tbe subpoena, butthe committee declined to receive his statement. In replying to the question whether the Tilden or Hayes Electors received a majority of the votes cast Gea. Anderson stated that he did not know: he never added up tbe votes of the parishes until they were ready for promulgation; never heard any member of the Board say who had a majority of the votes cast; determined he would not examine into such matters; all final decisions in contested cases were made ir. executive session. He stated .emphatically that there were no votes thrown Jut in the Parish of Orleans; that if the statement filed by the Board with the Secretary of State of the votes for Electors showed that any vote had been thrown out, then such statement was not correct. Gen.

Anderson repeated thia a* at ement in regard to two other polls. FLORIDA. ; A Tallahasae telegram, of the 14th, says tbe Hones Committee had discovered wbat Is alleged to be an interpolation of seventy-two names on the pell-Hst of a precinct in Leon County. The Democrats charge that this was made to cover seventy-two Iraudnlent tickets of minute size hidden in tbe folds of the regular tickets, and thus smuggled Into tbe box. The citizens of tbe precinct fail toldentlfy any of the names that appear on two consecutively, and the poll-list waanot numbered. The Republicans claim that proper explanations could be given. The House Committee closed the hives, tlgnilon of Leon County on the 16th. Nd official report would be made on any county until all had bei-n Investigated. The Senate Committee had arrived at Tallahassee; The Senatorial Committee was called to order on the 18th by Senator Sargent. Reporters and the public were denied admission, tbe Berg<ant-at-Arms saying be had orders to ad mitno one. Cards to the Chairman were re-, turned with the statement that tbe session would be secret Tbe day was consumed in examining the Republican membeis of the Canvassing Board. Judge Cocke was summoned to appear before tbe committee. The House Committee was at work on tbe 18th. Eighteen negroes, whose names were on the poll-list in Leon County as having voted there, swore that they did not vote there and were not at the precinct during the day. Both committees were in session at Tallahassee, on the 19th. the Senate Committee sitting with closed doors. The House committee bad fourteen colored witnesses oefore it Their names appeared on the poll-list of Precinct 13 in Leon County, and there were votes in the box to balance the names on the list. Each of them siated that be did not vote at Precinct H. Tbe case of Manatee County, thrown out because there was no Clerk in the county during the election, was called up. One witness appeared, Judge Graham. He testified that the Clerk resigned Just before tbe election, and that the Governor did not fill hie place in time for the Democrats to register; that the Republican County Commissioners called an election, which was regularly held by inspecors appointed by them; tnat no man was allowed to-vote at raid election without first subscribing to an oath which recited that be was a regularly qualified voter, and was on the registry fist of the year before. The inspectors made up returns carefully, and sent them to the County Board, which canvassed them, signed tbe canvass, and forwarded It io the State Board. Judge Graham had the original papers containing tbe signatures of tbe voters. In trie evening the committee left for Live Oak to investigate the HamLtou County matter. SOUTH CAROLINA. The House and Senatorial Investigating Committees, at Columbia, were working actively and quietly ou the 18th. There were rumors 6F compromise between the Republicans and the Democrats favorable to tbe latter. Comptroller Gen. Dunn and Secretary of State Hoyne appeared before the House Committee, on the 19th. From the former the fact was elicited that the Electoral vote was canvassed by tbe State Board of Canvassers, and was made up and counted from the returns of the county canvassers, including the counties of Edgefield and Laurens, which were excluded in tbe count for members of the Legislature. Hayne’s tesiimony was unimportant. The Senate Committee held a secret sessions hearing testimony in respect to the intimidation of negroes. The House Committee left in tbe evening for Charleston, to inquire into negro intimidation in that and other counties.

What a Letter Did.

Some weeks ago a business house in this city received a letter addressed to “Tip” Farrell. It was post-marked Dallas, Tex. Farrell was not a member of the firm that got it. He is a confidence man. At the time the letter came he was in the Bridewell. The business house i cast the letter into the street. Some one picked it up and it found its way into Allan Pinkerton’s hands. It requested Farrell to send word to the writer, who signed his name “ Business,” giving his (Farrell’s) address. Pinkerton sent a note to “ Business, P.-O. Box 166?, Dallas, Tex. ’ ’ Back came a letter directed to the box Pinkerton had suggested. It demanded the aid of “Tip” and two cracksmen. There was a big job on hand. The coffers of the Texas banks were replete with wealth. From $50,000 to SIOO,OOO would reward skilled labor. Pinkerton, still assuming to be Farrell, wrote back. He did not like anonymous correspondents. “Who are you?” he pertinently inquired. “Tell me your name, ana I will see what can be done.” “ Business,” crawled out of the brush. “I am Tom Speider,” he wrote. Then he entered into a description of the work. Il was bank-robbery. Everything was in shape, only it needed Chicago experts. Pinkerton had no idea of prosecuting the affair. 8o he sent the correspondence to Mr. John Kerr, President of the First National Bank of Dallas. Mr. Kerr conferred with other bankers. The information struck horror to their souls. Tom Speider was the detective employed to protect the banks. The man who was trying to set up the job was the guardian of the vaults* Kerr asked Pinkerton to stick to the job. Pinkerton consented. He wrote to Speider that the men would be sent. Speider sent back word to have them register at different hotels under assumed names'which he assigned. Two of Pinkerton’s operatives went down to Dallas. Speider met them. They had brought a few tools. They explained that Farrell had been thrown from a sleigh, and had dislocated his arm. Speider took them and their tools to his home, and secreted their tools. He told them the scheme was to rob Adams & Leonard’s Bank. “ But we must have sledges,” said the operatives. Speider took his two sons. They broke into a blacksmith’s shop. “ But we must have leather to cover the sledges,” said the operatives. Speider went to a saddler’s and bought it. The saddler has identified the leather and the purchaser. There was a policeman on the beat near the bank. His name was Jack Dust. “ He is in the job,” said Speider, “and will pipe for us.” All was in readiness. Last Sunday night was fixed. Speider’s boys carried the tools to the bank. The operatives got in without any trouble. Speider and Dust watched outside. In about an hour an operative came out and whispered to Speider that hq wanted help. Speider went in. The Sheriff, who had been secreted in the bank, nabbed him. The jig was up. Dust ran. A posse ran after him, and threatened to shoot. Then he stopped. “I don’t know what was going on in the bank,” said he. A dead give-away. Speider and his sons and Dust were lodged in jail. Next week the Grand Jury will sit on their case. Speider was at one time a policeman in Chicago, and stationed at the North Avenue Station. He was discharged from the force. This was six years ago. He was suspected of playing in with thieves. Then he went to Dallas and .was assigned to watch the banks. Pinkerton’s scheme was a good one. Had Speider succeeded he would have secured about $125,000. — Chicago Tribune, Dec. 16. —Ex-Postmaster-Geu. Jewell has a young daughter who is allowed $2,500 a year for pin-money. And does she spend it all on her precious self? No. She disburses the lion's share of it in keeping up a Dorcas Society.— Chicago Journal.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. —A good nest to lie in—ln earnest. —Cremation coffins should be made ot ■ah. —Passion evaporates by words; grief by tears. —Noah commanded the first ark tic expedition. - —On slippery places, take short step# and slow. —The custom of “ wakes” is dying out in Ireland. “ Horse doctoring and singing school” is practiced by a Michigander. —ln Norway, drunkards are compelled to sweep the streets as a penance. —Bronchitis has become England’s standard disease. It takes her by the throat. —ls the European war raises wheat, as is anticipated, farmers* wives can dress in grow grain. —What you leave at your death, let it be without controversy, lest the lawyers be your heirs. —A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wound green, which otherwise would heal and do well. —White horses are now Used exclusively, in Paris, at funerals of children or young unmarried people. —ln Brazil, diamonds are‘found on mountains 6,000 feet above the sea. This is what makes them so high. —Football can never reach popularity in this country, says the Danbury News, until tile American shin-bone is set further back. —Genius has always its frailties. All good journalists get paste on their coats. But all who get paste on are not good journalists. —A crusty old bachelor says that love is a wretched business, consisting of a little sighing, a little crying, a little dyeing, and a deal of lying. —The Rochester Chronicle advises youngmen not to marry unless they can secure wives who can make a pumpkin pie and flop a pancake. —“ There are only two cheap afternoon papers in America paying running exBinses,” says a New York correspondent. e locates one in that city and one in Boston. —A man in New Haven had to take a pole and poke 261 striped snakes out of his drain the other day, before water would run through it. This sounds scaly, but it’s snaked truth. —The centuiy plant is a fraud. Instead of blooming but once in a hundred years, it is proved that it flowers when ten or twelve yearn of age, if cultivated. — Woonsocket (R. I.) Patriot.

—There are 7,000 more women than men in the District of Columbia, and yet if one woman falls into the canal and is drowned a great hullabaloo is made about it in the papers.— Detroit Free Press. —Whatever our disbeliefs, most of us profoundly believe in goodness; and believe that a t man who has practically learned the secret of noble living has somehow got near the truth of things. —“ See here, Gripps; I understand you have a superior way of curing ham.' I should like to learn it.” “ Well, yes; I know very well how to cure them; but the trouble with me, just now, is to find out a way to nro-cure them.” —The speaker at an anniversaiy meet ingmournfully said, “One by one oui friends are passing from us into tlie land of shadows.” “Well,” exclaimed an old lady, “you wouldn’t have ’em go two by two, or all in a huddle, would you?’ : Toledo Blade. —One of the customers in a barber’s shop sees a dog of ungainly aspect sitting opposite intently watching him. “Why does that dog look at me so?” “Why, sir, occasionally my hand slips, and I am so unfortunate as to snip off a bit of ear.” “ Eh! and what then ?” “ Why, then he eats it.” —A new kind of non-explosive kerosene oil has just been brought out, and the coroners of the Republic are just kept busy running after fragmentary grocers who, following the instructions on the circulars, thrust red hot wires into it to show the customer how absolutely safe it is.— Burlington Hawk-Eye. —The versatile tramp, altering his demeanor and adapting his occupation to suit the changing seasons, no longer appeals for broken victuals, but patiently bides his time near the hall door, and in due time, if he faints not, walks away with a set of furs, a pair of arctic overshoes, a silk umbrella and a sixty-dollar overcoat.— Burlington Hawk-Eye. - -Always carry Scriptural quotations in your pocketbook. A lady who did so and lost her pocketbook, with twenty dollars inclosed and her address, on the Eastern Railroad, recently, has received thirty dollars in money in an envelope, which also contained the following quotation from Ephesians, iv. 28: “Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give him that needeth ” — Boston Globe.

—Before Altmann’s cony of Paul Potter’s masterpiece in the Netlierland’s gallery of art annex at the Centennial stood two rural dames. One found the right number in the catalogue and read: “ The young bull, after Potter.” “There’s the bull,” said the other, “ but where’s Potter?” “ Oh, that must be him behind the tree," replied the first, pointing to the figure of the herdsman. She evidently interpreted the picture as meaning that the bull was “ after Potter,” in such a way that the poor fellow had found it prudent to taken refuge from the animal. —A man who was undergoing examination for a school teacher in Maine ? after stumbling through some simple arithmetical problem, was asked where Boston is. He answered: “ I know all about it, Erobably just as well as you do; have eard of the place several times, but can’t, somehow or other, seem to locate it.” With a view of helping him out, the committee man said: “It is the capital of some State, is it not?” “Yes, I believe it is. “What State?” “Well, I know, probably as well as yon do, what State Boston-is the capital of, but you see I haven't the flow of language to express it”

Singular Accident in a Mining Shaft.

About noon on Sunday last a most tinusual accident took place at shaft No. 3 of the Sutro Tunnel Company, about two miles east of Virginia City. The engineer in charge was engaged in lowering the iron water-tank down the shaft, which has a depth of 1,042 feet, when suddenly an explosion took place which made a report like the discharge of artillery. Thia loud report seemed to emanate from the very point where the engineer was standing. Simultaneously with it he saw huge masses of iron shooting through the air and through the roof, knocking down timbers and creating a general havoc all

around him equal to that caused by the borating of a hugaaheU. Fortunate!v he was not struck by any ‘of the flying frag, menta, nor was J. F. Banks, the only son of Gen. Banks, of Massachusetts, who happened to be standing on the other side of the engine, within a few feet of the engineer. Both of them escaped entirely unharmed. After the first sudden shock, and when they had time to look around them, they found that tbe fly-wheel of the engine, weighing from three to four tons, had burst, and pieces weighing from 100 to 1,000 pounds were sent whirling through the air and through the roof, some of them landing away up on the hill to the ■yvestward, some 500 feet from the engine, And lodging at a point on tbe hill 150 feet higher up. The wheel was one of those turned off on the circumference, for a Kwerful double brake to act directly upon face. The explosion and breaking of the wheel was, in all probability, caused by the frietion and heat generated by the brake while lowering the tank, causing the rim of the wheel to expand* while the spokes remained contracted, especially as the temperature of tbe atmosphere was well down, thus breaking them off and causing the pieces to be hurled off by centrifugal force — Denver Tribune.

The Sun as the Source of Heat.

But if we suppose tbe sun and stars to be gigantic fountains of magnetic influence, centers of polarized force —attraction and repulsion—acting upon our globe and its atmosphere, and likewise upon all the other planets, the phenomena of the universe would then become susceptible of the grandest and simplest interpretation. To explain the effects of the sun there is not the least reason to infer that it is itself luminous or even warm. It may be one of the sources of heat without being itself hot, as heat is doubtless the product of combiued influences. This opinion may be elucidated by an examSle. Take a galvanic battery, which is a ark, cold machine; introduce a little acidified water into its cells and set it in action; by a proper arrangement of wires you may at a long distance from your battery produce a heat intense enough to fuse the hardest metals, and a light too vivid to be endured by the human eye. Now, if, while this result is being accomplished, we could see with enhanced powers of vision the action of the dilute acid on the metal plates of the galvanic battery, we should discover on their surface a process of rapid oxidation going on, analagous on a small scale to the commotion apparent on the face of the sun, which phenomenon might easily be mistaken for violent combustion, and which, in fact, judging; bv the impression made on the senses, could not readily be conceived to be anything else. Thus we learn that potent action generated in a dark, cold body, may produce great light and heat at a distance from the seat of activity; and what is thus wrought artificially in a small way by a galvanic battery may surely be done naturally, in a tremendous fashion, by the grand forces of the sun. When we gaze on Mont Blanc at sunset, if judgments were left to the untrained evidence of our senses, we might easily be led to believe that summit of the'mountain to be a luminous and incandescent pinnacle, passing through all the hues of the solar spectrum, and finally disappearing in a ghostly white: but knowledge and experience tell us a different tale and correct our inferences. We ascend the mountain, and we find a cold cone of snow! The appearance of Mont Blanc presented under this aspect is, however, so far distipct from that exhibited by the sun that the sunset brightness of Mont Blanc is a vision of momentarily-born illusion, whereas the light of the sun is the result of intense action and conversion of substances on its surface, and necessarily an originating force. In estimating the power, quantity and endurability of the light and heat of the sun, we must first know where the light and heat begin their evolution. If they . are a production bred in our atmosphere by the magnetic action of the sun, and the sun is only one of their causes, we must draw very different conclusions respecting the attributes of light and heat than if we credited the sun with the sole responsibility of their origin. The intense magnetic action of the sun may present on its surface and in its rays all the appearance of incandescence, when it is rendered visible here by means of our atmosphere and examined by instruments constructed for the detection of solar and astral phenomena. About the beginning of this centuiy the celebrated French philosopher Blot produced lieht by passing a current of electricity through air or a gas. Is it not reasonable inference that the sun does not waste light and heat —diminishing as the square of the resistance through a space of ninety millions of miles between us and itself, when by the means of etherial and atmospheric conditions the requisite quantity of light and heat might so easily be distributed at the rightspots where it'is needed ? With the conditions that surround us on the earth we cannot artificially produce light and heat without the destruction of some material substance; but we are not driven to assume that the same conditions prevail naturally in the sun; and even if a process of self-consumption were continually going on in that body, we are equally justified in drawing the inference that it possesses some infinite means and capacity of self-repair. We think, therefore, that we can naturally account for all the phenomena of heat and the appearance Of incandescence and flame on the surface of the sun, without resorting to the tremendous theoiy that the sun is actually in a state of combustion as understood in our terrestrial experience.— Frazier's Magazine.

An Odd Legal Question.

One of the oddest of legal questions has just been decided in England. It was whether one man can hold a meeting. The circumstances were these: A meeting was duly called of the shareholders in a certain business company. On the day and hour set one shareholder only attended. He voted himself into the chair, and passed several resolutions, including one levying an assessment of 4s. 6d. on each share, and, after a vote of thanks to the chairman, he adjourned. The assessment was contested, and an action was brought against the punctual shareholder for the amount. Three Judges concurred in the opinion that, as there was no provision in the by-laws respecting a quorum, the resolutions were valid. The case was carried up on appeal, and the decision of the lower court has been reversed on the ground that one man cannot “meet.” The Court required the counsel for the defense to admit that there would have been no meeting if nobody had attended. The PaU Mall Gaaetta remarks that it is impossible for one man' to form a “ quorum.” At best, he could not form more than a “ cujus.” In this country from 12,009 to 20,000 alligator skins are tanned annually.