Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1899 — Page 2

REPUBLICAN. GEO. E. MARSHALL, Publisher. - • Indian-.

DAWSON NEEDS HELP.

MANY MINERS ARE SICK AND J DESTITUTE THERE. Congress Will Be Asked to Assist in Relieving Distress—Scurvy Mas Made Its Appearance—Fatal Accident on the Union Pacific. Hard Times in Klondike. According to late advices from Daw•♦son, the United States Government will be called upon to relieve indigent miners in the Klondike. The Dawson Nugget says there is a strong movement on foot at Dawson to send a representative to Washington for the purpose of enlisting the United States Government in the cause of aiding in remedying the great ■distress which prevails among the miners of the Yukon. The hospitals are overcrowded with indigents, and the finances of these institutions will not allow of any more wholesale charity. The Yukon •Council declares itself already out of funds to care for the indigent sick. Donations for the care of the sick come in regularly, but in small amounts, while at this present moment nothing less than $9,000 per month will come anywhere near taking ordinary care of the poor fellows without money. The dreaded scurvy has xnade its appearance, and none but those connected with the hospitals know of its extent. The fact is that the amount of distress there has outgrown the total charity of the place, and $200,000 will be needed to relieve the distress of this winter. Food is there in plenty, but it takes money to buy it. TRAIN DESTROYED BY FIRE. Lives Reported Lost by Collision on Union Pacific. At Sunol, fifteen miles east of Sidney, Neb., the Union Pacific fast passenger train, with two engines, ran into train No. 2. Engineer Dell Bonner of the latter train had orders to meet the fast train, and the brakeman was just in the act of opening the switch when the double header came thundering along at forty-five miles an hour and nearly one hour late. Both trains were on the main track. The engines were badly demolished and the entire fast passenger train was destroyed, excepting the mail car and one sleeper. The composite car of No. 2 was also burned up. Fireman Coleman was killed. Engineer Bonner was internally injured and had several ribs broken, and Engineer Eli was badly scalded. Several passengers were badly hurt. DISASTROUS WRECK. Overturned Cara Catch Fire, Which Communicates to a Warehouse. A disastrous freight wreck was caused on the Wabash at Belleville, Mich., by freight No. 60 running into the rear end of an extra freight that was lying on the •main track near Harvey Johnson’s bean storehouse. The engineer and fireman saved themselves by jumping. An Overturned stove fired the wreck and fire freight cars, the caboose and the bean storehouse were burned and the wrecked engine badly damaged by the fire. The loss on rolling stock is estimated at from $25,000 to $30,000, with $3,000 loss on the storehouse. MURDERS WOMAN WITH OIL. Cincinnatian Pours Oil on Clothing and then Sets It on Fire. Ida Price was fatally burned in her room in a flat on West Sixth street, Cincinnati, by having coal oil thrown over her clothing and then fired. Her screams brought help, but the door was locked. The door was broken in, the flames put out and the woman taken to the hospital, where her injuries were pronounced fatal. She was able to say that William Kennedy was the man who tried to burn her to death. He had locked the door to insure her death. He is under arrest. She died the same night. Broken Rail Causes Accident. A Great Northern train struck a broken rail at Hatton, N. D., throwing three cars from the track, one catching fire. Conductor Walter O'Kane, Ole Bolster of Moorehead, J. M. Johnson of Northwood and Mrs. P. M. Penniser of Maryville were seriously hurt and two others slightly injured. Governor Brady in Washington Gov. Brady of Alaska has arrived in Washington to urge haste in territorial matters. He says many of the people who rushed into the Klondike region are coming out, largely because of the high taxation. Many thousands'of people, he Bays, already have started for the Atlan district. ' - Dakota Divorce Law Changed. . The Senate of North Dakota has passed by unanimous vote the Lamoure di- , vorce bill, amending the residence provision of the divorce law to twelve months and providing that none but residents of the United States may begin actions. Massachusetts Bank Robbed. The safe of the First National Bank of Ash burnham, Mass., was blown to pieces by dynamite. The interior of the bank was badly wrecked and all windows were blown in. A sum of money estimated at $1,500 to $2,000 is missing. Catastrophe in the East. I A local passenger train going west and an excursion train going east met head on in a deep cut at sharp curve on the Lehigh Valley Road near West Dunellen, N. J. Thirteen persons were killed and "fhirty-five injured. T Will Drop the Contest. ’ 'lt has been decided to drop the governoriMhip contest in South Dakota on account the great expense, which is placed at pjjjswbsbly SIO,OOO, and the fact that the fcfttoie to carry such a contest through ’“Would be so long that no party benefit «uuld accrue. U;? Wife Murderer Electrocuted. . Bailey Decker, colored, was put to by electricity in Sing Sing, N. Y., prison for the murder of his white wife. while drunk, killed his wife in a

; PRESIDENT FAURE YIELDED. Inside Details of the Treaty Between France and Russia. - The Paris correspondent of the London Tinies, M. de Blowitz. reviewing events In France and in the sphere of French Influence during the last year, gives curious and interesting details as to the Franco-Russian treaty negotiations at St. Petersburg. He says: “The first article of the draft treaty declared that it'had not for its object any modification of the European territorial status quo. M. Hanotaux refused to countersign such a treaty, exclaiming: ‘Why, it is a repetition of the Frankfort treaty.’ Count Mura vieff responded: ‘You will never induce the Czar to sign a revenge treaty!’ Neither M. Hanotaux nor Count Muravieff would yield. The problem seemed insoluble, when Count Jluravieff had a conference with President Faure. who yielded, admitting that it was very undesirable to have such an article, but that, on the other hand, it would be impossible for him to return to France without a treaty. Accordingly the treaty was signed." CLEMENCY TOWARD INDIANS. McKinley Pardons the Troublesome Leech Lake Red Men. The President lias pardoned the twelve Leech Lake Indians, sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and fined at -the late term of the United States District Court for Minnesota for resisting the United States marshal in making an arrest. In his recommendation of pardon the Attorney General says: "The law has now been vindicated and the power of the Government established by. the stern and severe lesson administered. In my judgment no further punishment is necessary to enforce the respect of the Indians for the authority of the Federal court, and I believe that executive clemency shown at this time will bo beneficial.” The Secretary of the Interior concurred in these views. INJURED IN A WRECK. Illinois Central Passenger Train Is Derailed Near Metropolis, ill, A passenger train on the Illinois Central Railroad Company's St. Louis branch was derailed fifteen miles north of Metropolis, 111. Conductor William Mertz was seriously hurt. Fifteen passengers were injured, but no one was killed. Among those injured were: John Riddle. Creal Springs, 111.; Conductor William Mertz; Nellie Yarns, Clinton, Ill.; J. E. Bylatt; R. M. Hogan, Alton, Ill.; Nellie Wheeler, Great Bend. Kan. Every car was overturned, but the engine was not derailed. TRESTLE WAS BURNED. Discovery Prevented Danger of a Serious Wreck. By some means yet unexplained a trestle on the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern Railway near Lawrenceburg, Ind., was burned, making a gap of eighty feet. It is at a point where a west-bound train could not have seen it in time to stop, and a wreck would have been unavoidable. The fire was discovered by Operator Fisher of the Big Four telegraph office. Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern trains were run over the Big Four tracks until the trestle could be rebuilt. Accident Is Averted. An insane tramps, giving his name as W. R. Daehlman of Indianapolis, took possession of an engine on the Southern Railway, in the Citico furnace yards at Chattanooga, Tenn., while the crew was temporarily absent. Noticing the man in the cab, the engineer ran to the engine, and was just in time to catch it as the madman opened the valve and started the locomotive off at full speed. The engineer grappled with the maniac, who fought desperately, and only after a hard struggle was he overcome. The engineer succeeded in stopping the locomotive just in time to prevent it from dashing into a long line of freight cars on the siding. Strike Is Averted. Eight of fifteen foundries in Cleveland have conceded the demand of the coremakers for a wage rate of $2.50 per day. The general strike of coremakers therefore did not take place. The officials of the coremakers’ organization state that the remaining seven foundries are willing to compromise on the wage question, but anything below a minimum rate of $2.50 per day will not be accepted by the men. Engineer and Fireman Killed. Missouri Pacific passenger train No. 10, from Omaha and Kansas City to St. Louis, was derailed about one mile west of Jefferson City, Mo. Engineer Charles Clawson of Washington, Me., and Fireman Zoll of Sedalia were killed. All the cars, with the exception of the rear Pullman, left the tracks and ran into the bluff. It is due to this fact that no lives among the ninety passengers aboard were lost. Tragic News from Alaska. The steamer Rosalie brings news of a sensational lynching which took place at Eagle City, Alaska. Jack Jolly, a saloonkeeper and gambler, had collected a gang of toughs around him and was terrorizing the mining camps. He was waited on by a vigilance committee of twelve determined men and ordered to leave town. He refused, and the next day the vigilantes hanged him to the limb of a tree. Infernal Machine Explodes. By the explosion of an infernal machine in the railroad depot at New Albany, Miss., five men were terribly injured, some fatally. The machine was cleverly constructed and encased in wood in such a manner as to be set off by the opening of the box lid. It had been sent from Holly Springs, Miss., to a man at New Albany, who was under indictment for murder.

Bank Cashier Kills Himself. O. Perry Jones, cashier of the First National Bank of Phillipsburg, Pa., one of the most extensive coal operators in that section and largely interested in manufacturing enterprises, committed suicide. It is supposed that hard work and anxiety was the cause. ~r "Woolen Mills Go to Wall. The Assabet Manufacturing Company of Boston, with woolen mills at Maynard, has made an assignment for the benefit of its creditors. The concern is one of the largest woolen manufacturing companies in the country. Big Coal Strike Imminent, A general strike in the bituminous coal region is looked for on April 1, at the close of the term of the interstate agreement between the miners and operators. Fire in a Pennsylvania Town. Six business houses and dwellings in the business section of Turtle Creek, Pa., were destroyed by fire. The loss was $60,000.

REDUCTIONS IN NAVY.

GENERAL CUT TO BE MADE IN THE SERVICE. Secretary Long Qrders the Retirement of Nearly 5,000 Officers, Seamen and Marines—Many Soldiers Injured in a Collapse at Columbus, Ohio. officers nnd Men to Be Discharged, Secretary Long has issued orders looking to the retirement of nearly 5,000 seamen and officers. He takes this step after consultation with the President in order to reduce the naval service to the limit of a peace basis, which the ratification of the treaty will render necessary. All officers and men added to the marine corps during the war are to be mustered out of service. The full enlisted force of the marine corps allowed by law is 4,700, which for the war was increased by about 2.000 additional men. These are now to be discharged. It will be impracticable to retire men from Admiral Dewey’s squadron. so the subtractions will have to be made from the home force and will, it is said, result in the retirement of several vessels in the Atlantic squadron. It will also delay the establishment of the Asiatic and European stations, which the department has been contemplating. Col. Haywood says that 6.000 men will be needed for guard duty at Guam, Cavite and other islands taken from Spain. Secretary Long is looking for final relief to the naval personnel bill. SOLDIERS IN AN ACCIDENT. Serious Mishap to Soldiers of Fourth Ohio Volunteers. Two hundred members of the Fourth Ohio volunteers, who were gathered at the Auditorium in Columbus to be mustered out of service, were hurled from their resting places at an early hour the other morning by a sudden collapse of the improvised beds. Twenty-three of the soldiers were badly hurt, although no fatalities are reported. In. order to accommodate the men, temporary double-decked bunks had been built of tent floors and of scantling. Under the weight of the soldiers the structure toppled over and collapsed. Lack of bracing of the bunks is the reason given for the accident. The men in the lower bunks suffered the most. FARMER SLAYS HIS BROTHER. Old Quarrel Renewed, Causing a Fatal Shooting Affray. While attending the farmers’ institute at Ada, Ohio, Homer Weicker, a Wealthy farmer, was shot and instantly killed by his brother, Bird, also a farmer. The Weickers had trouble about two years ago over the settlement of their father’s estate, and, meeting on the crowded street, the quarrel was renewed, with the result that Bird shot his brother three times, two of the bullets landing near the heart and causing instant death. The slayer surrendered to the authorities. Ten Coaches Destroyed. Fire in the paintshop of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis road at Nashville, Tenn., burned ten coaches, including President Thomas’ private car and the pay car of the road. The loss on the building is estimated at $20,000 and on the rolling stock at $37,500. Conncilmen Sue a Judge. Several months ago Judge Tarvin of Covington, Ky., sent several councilmen to jail for contempt of court in disobeying an order of court to furnish supplies. Now the five councilmen imprisoned have sued Judge Tarvin collectively for SIO,OOO for false imprisonment. Barn and Valuable Horses Burned. The stock barn of Dr. C. H. Phelps, at St. Marys, Ohio, was destroyed by fire. Among the horses destroyed were Ethel Rose, owned by D. Armstrong, and the 5-year-old stallion Edward 0.. with a record of 2:14, owned by Edward Orphal. Reduces Telegraph Rates. Both branches of the Kansas Legislature have passed the bill reducing telegraph rates. The bill reduces the charge for day commercial messages of ten words from 25 to 15 cents, and other tolls in proportion. French Steamer Angers Lost. The French Western line steamship Angers has been wrecked and five of those on board of her drowned. The storm was reported terrific in the North Sea and on the French and Belgium coasts. Great Fire in Lima, Ohio. At Lima, Ohio, the Lima paper mills were almost totally destroyed by fire. The plant was the property of the American Strawboard Company. The loss is $125,000, insurance $70,000. No More Concessions for France. The Viceroy of Nankin, Chiba, has refused to grant further concessions of territory to France, as a result, it is believed, of the protests of the American and British ministers. Engineer Dies at His Post. With his train thundering along at fifty miles an hour, Horace Webber, a veteran Lake Shore engineer, fell dead in his cab from an attack of heart disease near South Bend, Ind. Drowned in a Bath Tub. Mrs. Florence Ritchie, a member of Frank Daniels’ company, playing at the Broadway, Denver, fainted while taking a bath at the Albert Hotel and was drowned.

Treasurer Bonnd and Gagged. At Baldur, Man., two men gagged and bound Municipal Treasurer Borrower and robbed him of S7OO. The highwaymen escaped before their victim’s cries brought help. Miss Olive Sampson Married. Olive Farrington Sampson, daughter of Admiral and Mrs. William T. Sampson, and William Harrison Scott of San Francisco were married at Glen Ridge, N. J. Secret Treaty Is Alleged. According to Chinese report, a secret treaty exists between Great Britain and the United States to prevent any further alienation of Chinese territory. Wife Murderer Bunged. Silas Anderson, colored, who shot and killed his wife March 13 last, was hanged in the county jail at Pittsburg. Jealousy was the cause of the crime. Three Blown to Pieces. Two men and one woman were killed ! and seven children fatally wounded by a terrific explosion of Mauser ammunition at Matanzas, Cuba.

AMERICANS GET A GRANT. Syndicate Obtains the Right to a Railroad in Ecuador. An American syndicate has obtained the right to build a railroad in Ecuador, connecting the seacoast belt with the rich interior, heretofore almost cut off from the , outside world. The details of the contract have not been officially published, but : United States Consul General De Leon at ; Guayaquil has supplied the State Depart- ; ment with much data respecting the enterI prise, which, in his opinion, is likely to ! lead to the complete reformation of the country. As an incident to the execution of the contract the company has found it necessary or expedient to buy the entire national debt of Ecuador, amounting to $3,500,000. the corporation assuming liability for about $1,500,000 to the bondholders. The company has also received a concession to establish a bank in Guayaquil with a capital of $1,000,000, which is to be in operation by next March. PURCHASE A CUBAN RAILWAY. English Capitalists Get Control Of the Caibarien Line, A dispatch from Havana says: “By the purchase of a large block of the Caibarien railway, L. Ruiz & Co., bankers, representing English capitalists, have secured a controlling interest in that line. The same men have also been large purchasers of the stocks of the Sagtia and Cienfuegos companies. They expect to have soon a controlling interest in those two concerns and owning, as they do, the United Railway lines, will be in a position to dictate terms to.the Jucaro company, which is the wealthiest and most prosperous in the island. If the Jucaro stock cannot be purchased, the line will undoubtedly be paralleled, thus giving a trunk line from Dinar del Rio to Santa Clara.” Omaha Admits Chicago Lines. Bj' the action of the City Council the Illinois Central and the Chicago Great Western will be admitted to the heart of Omaha. A franchise was granted the Omaha Bridge and Terminal Company to use certain streets for railroad tracks. This is the end of a long fight, the roads mentioned being the power behind the terminal company. The Mystery Is Solved. The mysterious disappearance of Attorney A. R. Macall of East Liverpool, Ohio, last July while insane has been cleared up by the finding of his skeleton in ravine almost in sight of the'home of his parents. He had hanged himself to a tree by a strap, the body falling, owing to decay. He was 35 years old. The identification is complete. Secures the Endowment. It has been announced that the offer made some time ago bj’ Dr. D. K. Pearsons of Chicago to give $50,000 for the endowment of Berea College. Kentucky, if the trustees would raise $150,000 by Dec. 31, 1898, has been made binding by the fulfillment of the condition. Gave $200,000 to a College. The will of the late Mrs. Caroline L. Macy, filed for probate in New York, bequeaths to the New York Teachers’ College $200,000 and $5,000 to the Presbyterian hospital. The personal estate is valued at more than $1,500,000 and the real property at $50,000. Filipinos Massacre Spaniards. Gen. Rios cables from Manila confirming the report that all the Spaniards at Balabac, an island of the Philippine group, situated thirty miles south of Palawan. have been assassinated with the exception of the women, whose release is being asked for. London Murderer Hanged. Schneider, the Pole who, Nov. 11, murdered a German baker’s assistant by throwing him inside an oven at London, England, was executed at Newgate. Court Kills a -Criminal Law. The indeterminate sentence act, socalled, has been declared to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. Robbers Take Everything in Sight. A Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis passenger train was held up at Macomb, Mo. The robbers took everything in sight. Large Granaries Burn. The large granaries of Belden & Co. and Ferrin Brothers at Genessee, N. Y., were burned, with a loss between SBO,OOO and $90,000. Damage by Fire in Bremen. Fire in the warehouse district of Bremen caused a loss of 1,000,000 marks ($242,500). The origin of the fire is unknown.

MARKET QUOTATIONS.

Chicago—Cattle, common to prime, $3.00 to $6.25; hogs, shipping grades, $3.00 to $4.00; sheep, fair to choice, $2.50 to $4.50; wheat, No. 2 red, 66c to 67c; corn, No. 2,36 cto 37c; oats, No. 2,27 c to 28c; rye, No. 2,54 cto 56c; butter, choice creamery, 20c to 21c; eggs, fresh, 25c to 27c; potatoes, choice, 30c to 40c per bushel. Indianapolis—Cattle, shipping, $3.00 to $5.75; hogs, choice light, $2.75 to $4.00; sheep, common to choice, $2.50 to $4.25; wheat, No. 2 red, 69c to 70c; corn, No. 2 white, 35c to 36c; oats, No. 2 white, 30c to 31c. St. Louis—Cattle, $3.00 to $6.00; hogs, $3.00 to $4.00; sheep, $3.50 to $4.50; wheat, No. 2,70 cto 72c; corn, .No. 2 yellow, 35c to 36c: oats, No. 2,28 cto 30c; rye, No. 2,55 cto 56c. Cincinnati—Cattle, $2.50 to $5.50; hogs, $3.00 to $4.00; sheep, $2.50 to $4.25; wheat, No. 2,70 cto7l c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 36c to 38c; oats, No. 2 mixed, 29c to 31c; rye, No. 2,56 cto 58c. Detroit—-Cattle, $2.50 to $5.50; hogs, $2.50 to $3.75; sheep, $3.00 to $4.25; wheat, No. 2,71 cto 72c; corn, No. 2 yellow, 36c to 38c; oats, No. 2 white, 30c to 32c; rye. 56c to 58c. Toledo—Wheat, No. 2 -mixed, 70c to 71c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 35c to 37c; oats; No. 2 white, 27c to 29c; rye. No. 2,55 c to 57c; clover seed, $4.15 to $4.25. Milwaukee —Wheat, No. 2 spring, 67c to 68c; corn, No. 3,32 cto 34c; oats, No. 2 white, 27c to 29c; rye, No. 1,54 cto 56c; barley, No. 2,44 cto 52c; pork, mess, $9.75 to $10.25. Buffalo —Cattle, good shipping steers, $3.00 to $5.50; hogs, common to choice, $3.25 to $4.00; sheep, fair to choice wethers, $3.50 to $4.50; lambs, common to extra, $5.00 to $5.50. New York—Cattle, $3.00 to $5.75; hogs, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, $3.00 to $4.75; wheat, No. 2 red, 79c to 81c; corn, No. 2,43 cto 44c; oats, No. 2 white, 34c to 36c; butter, creamery, 15c to 22c; eggs, Western. 25c to 27c.

BOY TRAIN ROBBERS.

PRISONERS IN KANSAS REFORMATORY CONFESS. Part'cnlars of the Missouri Pacific Hold-Up Near Leeds, Mo., Toldby One of the Participants—Strength of the Business Situation. Hold-Up Mystery Cleared Up. Seth Rosebrook and Chad Stowell, youths who were arrested last September for holding up a farmer and who were sent to the Hutchinson, Kan., reformatory, are said to be responsible for the Missouri Pacific hold-up and express robbery near Leeds, Mo., Sept. 23 last. This is the robbery for which Jesse James, Jr., is now under indictment in Kansas City. Deputy Sheriff Williams, who has been working on the case for some time, claims that young Stowell has made a written confession and divulged where the booty, SII,OOO, is hidden in the woods about seventy-five miles east of Kansas City. Stowell told many details connected with the robbery. THE TRADE SITUATION. It Is One of Quiet ‘- trength—Collections Are Almost Uniformly Good. Bradstreet’s views the trade situation thus: "The situation is one of quiet, sustained strength. In wholesale distributive trade annual inventories have occupied attention, and distribution in this branch is, therefore, of only seasonable proportions. Rdtail trade reflects the quieting down of the eager demand ruling before the holidays, but it is significant that the majority of the reports received since Jan. 1 in this and in the wholesale branch refer to collections as almost uniformly good. Export trade, particularly in cereals, continues well up to maximum figures, while reports from the new great industries of the country are favorable. Bank clearings for the week reflect exceptionally heavy annual settlements in a total of $1,765,900,000, nearly $40,000,000 larger than ever before reported. Wheat, including flour, shipments for the week aggregate 6,860,268 bushels, against 6,292,625 bushels last wepk. Corn exports for the week aggregate 4,844,288 bushels, against 3,659,745 bushels last week.” DIAMOND THIEF CONFESSES. Stole Gems in Toledo and Pawned Tliern in Chicago Last May. The mystery of several diamond thefts was made clear at Columbus, Ohio, by the confession of James Lynch, colored, and the arrest of James Nelson, formerly coachman for E. L. Hinman, a wealthy Columbus citizen. Lynch was arrested several days ago, charged with the theft of an overcoat. He made disclosures to the effect that he was concerned in the robbery of the residence of George F. Pomeroy of Toledo, where diamonds valued at $6,000 were secured. Lynch confessed also to the Hinman robbery. He claims that after the Toledo robbery he went to Chicago with most of the property on his person. He says he pawned two diamonds May 18, after he had been identified by James Donigan, a tailor. Thousands of dollars’ worth- of property was recovered. All Car* Are Stopped. The East Liverpool-Wellsville,o., street railway was completely tied up the other day. Trouble had been brewing for several days between the employes of the road and the management. It originated in the discharge of Motorman John Stodghill, one of the oldest men on the road. The men claim that he was discharged on account of his association with union affairs. Life Lost on the Fast Mail. The first accident’ to the Union Pacific fast mail ’occurred when the train was running at a high rate of speed, thirty miles west of Laramie, Wyo. The side rod of the engine broke, tearing away the cab and tearing up the track for a considerable distance before the train came to a stop. Engineer Mark Wright of Laramie was struck by the rod and instantly killed. Was Killed by Robbers. The night telegraph operator of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad at Bingen, Pa., was murdered by unknown parties. He had reported his last train at 12:45 a. in., and at 1:30 a. m. a freight conductor discovered his body, still warm, at the desk in the depot office. The place had been looted, and a struggle had evidently taken place. Costly Tennessee Disaster. Four men dead, two injured, one of these perhaps fatally, and the loss of property of the Southern Railway to the amount of about SIOO,OOO is the result of a wreck which took place on the Knoxville and Ohio branch of the Knoxville division of the Southern Railway, one and one-half miles west of Elk Valley, Tenn. Killed by an Explosion. An explosion of gasoline occurred at Pemberville, Ohio, in the hardware store of Kell & Son. The building was badly wrecked and Augustus Kell, the junior partner, was so badly injured that he died in an hour. His right arm was blown off and the right side of his face was badly torn. Hotel Fire in Pittsburg. A fire which broke out in the Hotel Richelieu at Pittsburg resulted in a property loss of only about $15,000, but three lives were sacrificed and five people were badly hurt. Fifield to Succeed MorrilL Gov. Smith of Vermont has appointed Benjamin F. Fifield of Montpelier as successor to the late Senator Justin S. Morrill. Bank Robbers Frightened Away. The outside doors of the Vault of the Phenix, R. 1., National Bank were blown out by dynamite, but three men who attempted to rob the bank were frightened away before they could gain access to the interior apartment, where the money and other valuables were kept. Many Killed by an Explosion. A big boiler being tested in Hewitt's shipbuilding yards at Barking, England, burst and the superintending engineer and eight men were killed. About forty persons were injured, some fatally. Severe Storm in the South. A severe windstorm swept ost>r Mobile, Ala.; Jackson, Miss., and the intermediate country. The wind blew down telegraph lines, wrecked houses and uprooted trees. A heavy rain that followed caused extensive washouts on railroads in central Mississip.

CONGRESS

Little business except that of a routine character was transacted by the Senate on Thursday. A resolution offered by 'Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts directing the Committee on Foreign Relations to report to the Senate whether the treaty of Paris makes any provision for the claims of citizens of the United States against Spain which were in existence before the present war, a.nd the status of such claims after the ratification of the treaty, was adopted. Mr. Caffery of Louisiana continued and practically concluded his speech begun before the holiday recess in opposition to the pending Nicaragua canal bill. Bills were passed to ratify agreements with the Lower Brule and Rose Bud reservation Indians, to grant California 5 per cent of the net proceeds of cash sales of public lands in the State and classifying clerks in first and second class postoffices. The Judiciary Committee had the right of way in the House for three hours and the following bills of minor importance reported from the committee were passed: To provide additional circuit judges for the third and sixth judicial districts; to regulate the terms of court in the eastern district of Tennessee and the district of Butte, Mont.; to retire Cassius S. Foster, United States district judge of Kansas; to amend the Revised Statutes so as to allow the United States five peremptory challenges in criminal cases; to permit ship owners to file indemnity bonds; to allow legally appointed guardians of insane persons to prosecute patent claims and to release the International Cotton Press Company of New Orleans from liability for $3,480 of internal revenue taxes Immediately after the Senate convened on Friday the resolution offered the previous day by Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts, calling on the President for information as to the instructions of the commissioners who negotiated the treaty of Paris, together with all correspondence and reports relating io their work, was laid before the Senate. Chairman Davis, one of the commissioners, desired that it be referred to the Foreign Relations Committee, but Mr. Hoar insisted that the Senate had as much right to such information as the members of the Foreign Relations Committee, and that the President should determine whether the Senate should have it. The resolution in secret session. In support of the resolution offered by Mr. Vest of Missouri, in opposition to expansion, Mr. Caffery of Louisiana delivered an extended speech. The anti-civil service reformers scored a victory in the House. The legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill was taken up for consideration and when the appropriation for the civil service commission was reached Mr. Evans (Rep.) of Kentucky made a motion to strike it out. The motion to strike out; carried by a narrow majority, 67 to 61. During general debate on the bill Mr. Swanson, (Dem.) of Virginia delivered a speech on, anti-imperialism. On Saturday the House, in committee of the whole, resumed consideration of the bill making appropriation for the legislative, executive and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1900. On a point of order made by Mr. Dockery (Dem., Mo.) a paragraph appropriating $12,000 for making a series of charts of the coasts and harbors of the Philippines was stricken from the bill. In the Senate the District of Columbia appropriation bill was taken up. As passed by the House, the bill appropriated $6,360,000, as against estimates of $9,230,000. As reported by the Senate Committee on Appropriations, it appropriates $7,251.905. The appropriation for the current fiscal year was $6,426,880. The House bill granting extra pay upon mus-ter-out to officers and enlisted men of the United States volunteers was taken up. and passed without amendment. The Senate then went into executive session, and afterward adjourned. In the Senate on Monday Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts made a strong speech against territorial expansion. Mr. Platt of New York replied. The Nicaragua Canal bill was then taken up and Mr. Caffery continued his speech in opposition to it. Messrs. Bacon, Money and Chilton engaged in a general discussion of the binding power of treaties in general. The House reversed the decision of the committee of the whole last Friday, when the appropriation for the support of the civil service commission was stricken out of the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill. The House by special order decided to proceed with the consideration of the naval personnel bill as soon as the bill for the codification of the laws of Alaska was out of the way. About seventy additional pages of the latter bill were covered.

News of Minor Note.

During the year ending September, 1898, 1,258 criminals were sentenced in lowa. The auxiliary cruiser Yosemite has been ordered to Manila, with men and supplies for Admiral Dewey. The turret of the battleship Illinois, now building, is to be adorned by a bronze bas relief tablet of Abraham Lincoln. While preaching in the synagogue of which he was pastor, in New York, Rabbi Sfhachmet fell dead in the pulpit. Camden, N. J., has now a plentiful supply of pure artesian well water. The flow is 20,000,000 gallons every twenty-four hours. The judges of the New York Court of General Sessions now appear on the. bench in gowns of blaek silk, with large, flowing sleeves. According to a report which has reached the Navy Department at Washington, the submarine torpedo boats built for the French navy are a success. Judge Perkins of the Circuit Court of Jasper County, Mo., has decided that a. trust cannot collect debts in the State. The population of Dawson has decreased to 16,000 and the cost of living has also decreased. Good meals can now be obtained for sl. During this season the price of cattle in Montana has averaged 10 per cent higher than during any season in the history of the State. Patrick Haggerty, who would have been 109 years old in March, died in Pottsdam, N. Y. He was an inveterate smoker and read without glasses.