Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1899 — WILL SUE UNCLE SAM [ARTICLE]

WILL SUE UNCLE SAM

CHINA AND PORTUGAL UNITE IN A CLAIM. Want $50,000 as Compensation for the Death of Ho Mun at San FranciscoFlood in Washington State Endangers Life and Property. The Chinese and Portuguese Governments, through their San Francisco consuls, will join in a claim against the United States and J. R. Dunn, chief of the Chinese bureau, for $50,000 as compensation for the death of Ho Mun, a native of Portugal and a subject of China. The complaint, which will be tiled at once with Collector of Customs Jackson at San Francisco, recites that Ho Mun died by reason of the negligent treatment of the United States Government, through its agent, J. R. Dunn. It is alleged that he declined to allow Ho Mun to have medical attention, though Collector Jackson had issued an order authorizing a physician to see the patient. Tl|ie case proceeds under the treaty of 1894, based on the convention of 1880. Direct against Dunn will to Collector Jackson and Secretary Gage. Ho Mun was in San Francisco, an applicant for admission, when he was taken sick. BIG FLOOD NEAR TACOMA. Stuck River Valley Under Water and Lives Endangered. Practically the whole of the Stuck river valley, Wash., ‘is one vast sheet of water. The river itself is a raging flood, destroying acres of the most productive land in the State, and threatening some substantial dwellings. It is higher than ever before known since the valley was settled by white men. Several families 'in the vicinity of Sumner have been compelled to move to escape the torrent. The rise in the river since the recent heavy rains has been the greatest and most rapid ever known. Seventeen inches in one hour is recorded at Sumner. The damage throughout the valley as a result of the freshet cannot be estimated. CONFESSES A KANSAS MURDER. Amos Phillipa at Fort Scott Says He Belonged to Gang of Thievea. Amos Phillips, a Bates County farmer, under arrest at Fort Scotty Kan., with “Red” and George Smith, brothers, charged with complicity in the murder of Leopold Edlinger, a farm hand, confessed f the crime and said that all three were members of a gang of professional stock, grain and harness thieves. Public indignation is intense and through fear of a mob Sheriff Wheeler has placed a strong guard about the jail and announced that they will shoot, at whatever cost of life, should an attempt be made to secure the prisoners. % ' Fatal Dinner Party. The body of a murdered man has been found in the shoe shop of Giuseppe Silva in Greenville, Conn. The head had been crushed in by a savage blow. Silva and two of his friends have been missing since Thanksgiving day. The body was identified later as that of Silva’s cousin, Giuseppe De Angelis, 40 years of age, a laborer. He had a good sum of money with him when he went to dine with Silva at Thanksgiving.

Fire Loss in New York. A fire which burned with such fury that in less than an hour it consumed four floors of one building and three of another broke out in the premises occupied by the Pacific Novelty Company in New York, doing damage to the extent of SIOO,OOO. The fire is believed to have resulted from the carelessness of some one smoking in the rooms filled with inflammable celluloid stock. Strangled to Death by Ice. William Harherson, aged 67 years, met death in a peculiar manner at Philadelphia. While walking to his home he became benumbed with cold and fell down a railroad embankment into a small stream which was frozen over. Harherson’s head went through the ice, which formed a collar about his neck and strangled him to death. Rice Mills in a Combine. A rice mill combine or trust is being organized in New Orleans. New York capitalists have secured ninety days’ options on a majority of the rice mills there and w'ill bid for the others. There are thirteen rice mills with a capacity of 11,700 sacks, which it is proposed to get into the combine. Dock Shovelers on a Strike. The shovelers on the Conneaut docks at Ashtabula, Ohio, numbering in all nearly 500, have gone out' on a strike. They ask an advance of 1 cent a ton for loading ore from the docks into cars, and also the removal of certain mechanical loading devices now in use. - * Big Carpet Firms Unite. The Lowell Manufacturing and Bigelow Carpet companies, two of the largest carpet manufacturing concerns in New England, voted to consolidate under the laws of Massachusetts. The capital stock of the new company is $4,030,000. Steel Company Is Organized. The Central Steel Company has been organized by Indianapolis and Pittsburg capitalists, with a capital of $240,000. The new corporation has purchased the Bremier steel plant at Indianapolis and will reopen the works. Cuban Census Is Completed. Gen. Sanger announces that the Cuban census has been completed. He is at present at Matanzas and the news of the end of the work is contained in a cablegram from that place to Secretary Root. His next work is a census of Porto Rico. Accident Kills Millionaire. Charles J. Clarke, a prominent millionaire and philanthropist, died at Pittsburg from concussion of the brain. He was thrown from His road wagon while out driving and never regained consciousness. The deceased was 66 years of age. Jumps Into Niagara Rapids. Evidence accumulates to support the theory that John Webster, busband of Nellie McHenry, the actress, ended bis life in the rapids just above the cataract at Niagara Falls. There is presumptive evidence that he had business troubles. Mrs. C. A. Burling Dead. Mrs. C. A. Burling, mother-in-law of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, died at her home in Rochester, N. Y„ aged 76 years. 1

NEW MONEY ORDER FORM. International Issue to Be Like Lately Introduced Domestic Kind. The Postoffice Department at Washington has given notice of the adoption of a new form of international money order, similar to the one which lately came into use in the domestic orders. The issue of the new forms has been begun to offices which have exhausted their supply of old orders. The coupon and order are printed on blue paper and the advice and receipt on white paper. The white sheet is bound underneath the other, the reproduction being made by means of carbonized paper. Recent experiments have proved these forms to be securer than the old ones. J) BIBLE IN SCHOOLS IS UPHELD. Mandamus Against Nebraska Teacher Denied by the Court. At Beatrice, Neb., the writ of mandamus applied for by Daniel Freeman to compel the discontinuance of the reading of the Bible and singing of sacred songs in the public schools in district No. 21, Gage County, was denied by Judge Letton. The case has excited considerable interest, inasmuch as Freeman was the only man in the district who objected to the use of the Bible and as the State superintendent has recently decided' in favor of the Bible. Freeman says that he will carry the case to the Supreme Court. STONE CUTTERS ARE VICTORS.

Two Years’ Strike in Mount Waldo Quarries Ends in Their Favor. Pierce Brothers, owners of the Mount Waldo quarry at Frankfort, Me., and contractors for the granite of the Chicago postoffice, have granted the demands of their striking cutters. The strike, inaugurated two years ago, has delayed the production of stone. Repeated attempts on the part of the contractors to supplant the strikers with Italians have failed. Six hundred cutters will be put on to catch up with delayed work. Unioh men are elated over the victory. The maximum wage is to be $3.60 for eight hours. decides Against a Trust. In the United States Supreme Court at Washington the Addysr.one pipe case Was decided. This case involved the constitutionality of the combination of pipe manufacturers to manufacture pipe which it was charged was a trust. The decision was handed down by Justice Peckham and was adverse to the combination. Settled Out of Court. The contest of the will of ex-Judge Henry Hilton of New York instituted by his son, Henry G. Hilton, who was cut off with the interest of $25,000, which he was to share with his wife, has been abandoned. Mr. Hilton’s attorneys have effected a settlement on his behalf with the other heirs. Girls Leap from Fire. The lives of 600 girls were imperiled at Reading, Pa., by the burning of Nolde & Horst’s hosiery factory. One body, burned to a crisp, was found in the ruins. Sixty persons were injured, some of them fatally. The property loss will reach $300,000, with $150,000 insurance. Death of Senator Hayward. Senator Hayward died at Nebraska City, Neb. Aug. 15 he was stricken with apoplexy while addressing a Modern Woodmen picnic assembly at Brownsville, Neb., and from that time his strength gave way gradually. Explosion Kills Three Men. The powder works of James S. Miller, near Sumneytown, Pa., were wrecked by an explosion. Three men were killed and several others injured. Burglars Make Good Haul. The private bank at Poplar Grove, 111., was entered by burglars And the safe blown open. The robbers secured $3,000 and made their escape. Fatal Collision in Colorado. Two passenger trains on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad were wrecked by collision near Salida, Colo.

Secretary Long’s Recommendation. Secretary Long, in his annual report, recommends the building of eighteen new warships for the navy. Promotion for Gen. Wood. The President has nominated Brig. Gen. Leonard Wood to be a major general of volunteers. Boston’s Postmaster Resigns. Col. Henry A. Thomas, postmaster of Boston, has resigned because of ill health. Congress Is Opened. The Fifty-sixth Congress of the United States met and organized on Monday. VAfiKET QUOTATIONS. Chicago—Cattle, common to prime, $3.00 to $7.50; hogs, shipping grades, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, fair to choice, $3.00 to $4.50; wheat, No. 2 fed, 65c to 66c; corn. No. 2,29 cto 31c; oats, No? 2,22 c to 23c; rye, No. 2,51 cto 52c; butter, choice creamery, 25c to 27c; eggs, fresh, 20c to 21c; potatoes, choice, 3Qc to 45c per bushel. Indianapolis—Cattle, shipping, $3.00 to $6.50; hogs, choice light, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, common to prime, $3.00 to $4.00; wheat, No. 2,64 cto 65c; corn, No. 2 white, 30c to 31c; oats, No. 2 white, 26c to 27c. St. Louis—Cattle, $3.25 to $7.25; hogs, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, $3.00 to $4.25; wheat, No. 2,70 cto 72c; corn, No. 2 yellow, 29c to 31c; oats, No. 2,23 cto 25c; rye, No. 2,50 cto 52c. Cincinnati —Cattle, $2.50 to s6.sQ;.hogs, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, $2.50 to $4.00; wheat, No. 2,69 cto 71c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 31c to 33c; oats, No. 2 mixed, 26c to 28c; rye, No. 2,60 cto 62c. Detroit—Cattle, >52.50 to $6.75; hogs, $3.00 to $4.00; sheep, $3.00 to $4.25; wheat, No. 2,69 cto 70c; corn, No. 2 yellow,-82c to 34c; oats. No. 2 white, 26c to 27c; rye, 57c to 58c. Toledo—Wheat, No. 2 mixed, 67c to 69c; corn, No. 2 mixed. 30c to 32c; oats. No. 2 mixed, 23c to 25c; rye, No. 2,53 c to 55c; clover seed, $4.70 to $4.80. Milwaukee—Wheat, No. 2 northern, 64c to 66c; corn, No. 3,32 cto 33c; oats, No. 2 white, 24c to 26c; rye. No. 1,54 c to 56c; barley, No. 2,46 cto 47c; pork, mess, $7.75 to $8.25. \ Buffalo—Cattle, good i shipping steers, $3.00 to $6.75; hogs, common to choice, $3.25 to $4,50; sheep, fair to choice, $3.00 to $4.50; lambs, common to extra. $4.50 to $5.75. New York—Cattle. $3.25 to $6.75; hogs, $3.00 to $4.75; sheep, $3.00 to $4.75; wheat, No. 2 red, 73c to 75c; corn. No. 2,