Semi-weekly Express, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 8 January 1897 — Page 3

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THE WORLD OF LABOR

BATKS OF WAGES PAID CNDJBK POBXIC AMD PRIVATE CONTRACT. », ^,»fsj, fftxn iSi An Interesting: and Important Article in the November Bulletin of

Labor.

In. the bulletin, of the United States department of labor for November, edited by Carroll D. Wright, Etbelbert Stewart treats on "Rates of Wages Paid Under Public and Private Contract." The article, which is supplemented by exhaustive tables, is, the result of original investigation in the pities of Baltimore, Boston, New York and Philadelphia as to the wages paid first to those engaged on public work directly by the city or state second, to those employed on public work by contractors or firms and third, to those engaged on private work employed by contractors or firms.

The city of Baltimore, by ordinance, "provides that the pay of all laborers shall be $10 a week, and no deduction from said amount shall be made except for such time as any of said laborers may lose by absenting themselves from the work upon which they may be at the time employed. The law also fixes the hours of labor, which must not exceed nine in any one day, and provides that all city employes must be citizens and registered voters. For skilled laibor, no provision is made by ordinance. Laborers employed on public and private work by contractors and firms work generally sixty hours a week, and the wages range from 11% to 15% cents an hour. In skilled work done by the city direct the wages generally average from a fourth up higher than that paid on public work done by contract and private work, and the hours worked are generally less. Blacksmiths employed direct by the city or state receive from 22% to 30% cents an hour, and fiftyfour hours is a weeks's work on public work by contract sixty hours constitute a week's work, and the pay is generally 22% cents an hour. This rate also generally applied to private work. In other branches of the public service almost the same ratio is noticed in pay and numlber of hours employed.

Labor's Wages In Philadelphia. Philadelphia fixes the rate of pay for day laborers at $1-75 «or nine hours, except for those employed in the public parks. or skilled labor the rate of wages and hours varies somewhat. The gas company employs bricklayers at $3 a day, while the prevailing (union) wage is $4.05. The men, however, were given the option of taking the lower rate and steady employment, or the higher and tak work whe nthey could get it. These men, taking the year round, receive higher wages than, do those employed at like work by private concerns and this holds true of all employes of the city gas company—those employed by the city direct receive larger wages than do those of 'private concerns. A similar instance is the case of ten pavers employed by the city of Baltimore at rates much lower than' the prevailing contract rates, and lower than that paid to other pavers by the city. These men work for the water works department. They are s:#idily employed, are not union men, are never required to do new work, and yet receive 25 cents more for a nine-hour day than do other non-union men for a ten-hour day.

The state of New York has by law endeavored to check the contract system, and has provided "that all mechanics, workingmen and laborers employed by the state, or any municipal corporation therein, through its agents or officers, or in the employ of persons contracting with the state or such corporation for performance of public works shall receive not less than the prevailing rate of wages in the respective trades or callings in which such mechanics, workingmen and laborers are employed." The law further provides that none but citizens of the United States shall be employed. The enforcement of the law is left to the trades unions and working people interested.

It is said that the law was enacted because of the belief that the letting of contracts to the lowest bidder has a tendency to lower the wages of labor that the lowest bidder is generally the man who pays the lowest wages or expects to use poorest material, and that the idea that the lowest bidder is one willing to accept least profits for himself is erroneous. Th? effect of this law on the pay of laborers, is seen in New York city, where the wages paid for work done direct by the city or state, range from 16 to 36 cents an hour for a week of fortyeight *hours public work by contract from 12% to 25 cents an hour, and weeks from forty-eight to eighty-four hours (the latter being seven days). For the skilled trades the difference in favor of those employed by the city is more pronounced than is that of unskilled labor. An instance of the reduction of wages as a result of contract employment is shown in the occupation of snow shovelers in New York city. Formerly the city did this work by day labor, employing extra men as occasion required at ?2 a day of eight hours. Last winter the work was let by contract, and the wages paid was $1.25 for ten hours.

Boston Does Much uirect Work Boston has no ordinance governing the rate of wages paid city employes, and no account is kept of the difference in contract and direct work. Some of the sewer work is being done by the city, but the work is experimental however, one piece of sewer was constructed entirely by day labor, because it undermined some private property and, notwithstanding their inspection, the board of sewer commissioners was afraid to risk the contract system because of the heavy damage suits that might result from faulty work.

Three of the cities—Boston, Baltimore and New York—do their own street cleaning by day labor. Baltimore, however, lets by contract the machine sweeping. This machine sweeping is let at a very low figure, yet the street commissioner states that he could do more efficient work and save the city enough In one year to pay lor the contractor's plant. This computation was made on the proposition to pay the legal city rate of wages. $1 .66 2-3 a day, whereas the present contractor pays the machine drivers but 80 cents a day. The average cost of cleaning the 11.41S.99 miles actually swept of Boston's streets was $15.58 per mile, and this includes dumping, cartage, etc. F6r this work Boston paid a higher rate of wages than any city save New York, the average rate being 22% cents an hour.

In New York the cost of cleaning the itreets, which is done direct by the city, including every expense incurred in the administration of the plepartment, was, per mile of street swept per day, $22.94, and the iverage rate of wages paid was 27% cents, while that of public sweeping done by contract, was at the rate of 10% cents an hour, while private sweepers were paid 16 cents .in hour. Brooklyn paid a contract price of $23 a mile.for street cleaning and $215,000 for the removal of ashes, etc. To the contract price of $23, the cost of administration was 10 cents a mile. Under those prices, the Brooklyn contractor paid w-ges of $1.50 'otwelve hours' work. The contract for 18n5 was let for $17 a mile and a sum of $210,000 for removal of ashes. With this reduction In contract, the wages of the employes was reduced to $1.25. Boston has abandoned the contract system of street sprinkling and now fioes the work direct. In the Back Bay dis- -, trict the cost by contract in 1894 was $6,696.02, and in 1895, $4,900, a savings of $1,-

$2,540, a saving of $2,588.80, or total of $4,294.52. It is said the work was more efficiently done under the day-work plan. The average wages paid under the contract pystem was 17% cents, and under the day-work plan 23 cents an hour.

Effect of the Contract System. "One feature of the investigation was the effect of the contract system on rates of wages paid on private work- When times are good the contractors who bid lowest get the public contracts, and the smaller private ones, thus absorbing both this class of contractors and the cheaper labor, which they employ, leaving the larger private contracts to the contractors styling themselves 'legitimate,' and who employ only union or high-priced labor. In times of business depression, however, such as the country has been experiencing, there is little else but public contracts to be had, and the employer of the higher priced labor must bid low enough to get it, or have something to do. To enable their employers to meet these conditions, the bricklayers' union of Baltimore, during last year reduced its scale of wages from $4 for eight hours, to $3.60 for eight hours, and then again to $3 for nine hours, with eight hours on Saturday, this being the rate generally paid non-union bricklayers. The carpenters of Baltimore and the painters of New York are now having a similar struggle. Notwithstanding the state law and indictments under it, the painters of New York find it impossible to maintain their scale on public works. As a rule, however, it must be said that the effect of the contract system in reducing wages is largely confined to unskilled and unorganized labor, and that the trades are but slowly and slightly affected."

A NEW MEXICAN METEOR.

Found on Analysis to Be Composed Chiefly of Iron The next number of the "American Journal of Science" will give ah account by Warren M. Foote of Philadelphia of the recent finding of a meteorite which fell in 1876 in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico, and was seen its fall by Mr. M. Bartlett of Florence, Ariz., says the New York Post. The meteorite passed through the heavens in a southerly direction and fell with a report like* a cannon. The facts were reported by Mr. Bartlett to Mr. C. R. Biederman, who began an investigation which was fruitless until, by chance, a small sample of iron found by a shepherd of the region proved to be meteoric, and led to the locating of the mass, which had fallen on the top of a limestone hill, where it was partly burled. Mr. Biederman and his party with much labor dragged it six miles over the desert to a wagon road. No pieces were found near it and it is complete except for two pieces, weighing together. about five pounds, which have been broken or sawed from,the mass.

The new found meteorite is atypical example of the class of siderites, weighing about 521 pounds, and about 32 inches long, 24 inches broad and 8 inches thick. It has the characteristic "thumb" marks and on a flat side it has two cup-shaped pits from to 6 inches in diameter, which are a remarkable feature. At the point where the fragments were removed the octahedral cleavage and lines of crystallization are noticeable to a degree rarely seen in iron. It is, however, on the etched surface prepared through treating a polished slab with dilute nitric acid, in the usual manner, that the beauty of the crystalline structure is best seen. In this respect it ranks among the finest of recorded irons, the Widmannjstatten figures being exceptionally regular and distinct. The broad bands of kamacite are symmetrical, the prominence of the interlacing of shining white threads of the niccoliferous iron being especially remarkable, and distinguishes it from the El CapiI tan meteoric iron, found in 1893 about ninety miles north of the Sacramento range. In I the latter iron the percentage of iron is I less and nickel greater, phosphorus also being present. A quantitive analysis shows the following results, with a very 'smalll remainder undetermined: Iron, 91.39 per cent nickel, 7.86 per cent cobalt, .52 per cent. Total, 99.77 per cent.

The mass is perfectly preserved, there being no sign of disintegration of exudation of lawrencite. The sawing shows it to be quite soft and generally homogeneous. The entire lack of surface alteration proves that it fell at a comparatively recent date, and leads to the conclusion that it is the meteor seen to fall by Mr. Bartlett, whose account led to the discovery.

He Hooked a Bulldog:.

Every one recalls the story about the late Billy Florence "fishing" for a farmer's roosters one day when the fish refused to bite, several fine fowls being captured with corn as bait. Henry Guy Carleton found recreation one winter in Florida in "fishing" for crows in practically the same way. But a Chicago novelist who sought a little rest this summer in the upper lake regions tells a fishing story which seems to discount the other two performances. "Three of us had been out trolling for muskallonge," he said, "and had had no luck at all. The savage 'muskas,' which, when full grown, will give a man all he can do to land them, were sulky and refused to accept our challenge and so we had to give up the attempt in disgust. I bade the boys good by and started for the farm house where I was boarding, a couple of miles away across the fields. "I hadn't gone far when I heard a savage growl behind me, and the next minute I was clambering into the branches of a convenient tree with a big bulldog at my hells. It Was a mighty close call and as Iswung myself up out of reach I struck frantlcall yat the brute with my trolling spoon. One of the heavy hooks caught him fairly in ..the nose, and in a moment he began pawing and thrashing about In a wild endeavor to get looser "It too kan hour to land him. He would run out a couple of hundred feet, dive into the deep clover and sulk and growl. Th-n I would haul him in, hand over hand, with a hitch around a conv^iiient limb. Whenever I slackened the line away he would go again until I brought him up with a sharp turn. It was great sport. Talk about fishing! Landing a twenty pound muskallonge is tame and uninteresting when compared with landing a thirty pound bulldog. "At the end of an hour he lay down at the foot of the tree and I couldn't induce him to

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T06.02. In the South End the contract price 1894 was $5,128.50, and day work in 1895.

flgfat. I tied the line tightly about a limb, jumped down out of his reach and ran for the nearest fence. But there was no nece3sity for hurra, the dog stayed. I told a farmer's boy I met shortly afterward where I he could find his dog. I guess he deserve! to keep my trolling outfit for recovering it. VAt any rate, I didn't see it again, for I took a train for Chicago tfaat night."—Chicago

Times-Herald.

Lord William Here*ford Out of Danger. A telegram from Deepdene gives this intelligence of Lord William Beresford's condition: "Lord William is out of danger. He has been conscious since last night and Is cheerful. The doctor says he wil) be in bed three months. Lord William's brother is with him. A bulletin issued today announces that the patient passed a better night and was suffering less discomfort. He Is selling all his hunters. His wife was hysterical on Wednesday. She sat up two nights and was somewhat ill today.—London Cable to the Chicago Tribune.

To £lean Windows In Cold Weather. Often the window glass requires to be cleaned, but it it so cold and the air so full of frost that it does not seem, advisable to wash the glass with water. Try a flannel cloth moisten it with paraffin oil and rub the glass with it. Have at hand a fresh flannel cloth and rub over the glass with it. This method will give hotter results thaa soap and water.—New York Sua.

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TERRE HAUTE F,X PRESS FRIDAY MORNIffG, JANUARY 8,1891,

WAYS OF M'CULLAttH

8TOBY TOLD BY AN OLD REPORTER.

Dally Routine of the Late Editor of the St. Louis Globe Demo*

Never had a better newspaper man lived than Joseph B. McCullagh and never one who was a greater taskmaster, exacting the limit of work from every employe, says an

Old Reporter" in the Chicago Times-Her-ald. He never spared himself while demanding from others that can be said to hia credit. A man of routine, he waa as well a peculiar character, an oddity among mep. The editor of a great paper, continuously enrapport with current events, great in its news features, ihe had no associates, seemed never to talk to anyone, but was ever in touch with the world.^'., .^ tp

A man of routine in the old days when the Globe-Democrat was located at Fourth and Pine streets, McCullagh would walk into the office at 12:30 o'clock daily. He never varied a second. Then going to his den, a dusty paper-bestrewn room of eight feet square, he would summon the heads of each department to his presence. Never looking at any one of them, bu -»neing a

marked paper on his ill-kept desk, he in turn "roasted" each one of his staff. He was never known to Commend, but everlastingly condemned.

The daily duty discharged, at 1 o'clock he would leave the. office and go to the Southern Hotel. He was as prompt to leave at 1 o'clock as he was in entering the office at 12:30 o'clock. Reaching the hotel and entering at the Walnut street doorway, he at once repaired to the bar. On sight the bar tender set up four glasses, two of which he filled with water. In the other two McCullagh poured the same size generous drink of whisky. He drank one and in a few seconds lifted the other to his lips and swallowed it. It used to be said that in taking the second drink McCullagh treated a "phantom," though the drink went down! the gullet of a very sturdy man. Then he went to dinner. Fnishing that quickly, he strolled down into the corridor of the hotel, bought a big, black cigar, lit it and, buying a Cincinnati Enquirer, sat down and buried' bis face behind the paper until 2 o'clock stood figured out on the dial of time. Then? he stood up, left the hotel by the Wainut street entrance and, turning west, walked into Parle's buffet, half a block away. There four glasses were set up for him. Leaving the saloon he walked east to Fourth street and thence to the office. There he ensconced himself in his den, but every fifteen minutes or so he would walk to the water cooler located in the city room. It was well understood, or thoroughly supposed at least, that "the old man" made these frequent trips to see, like an Irish schoolmaster, if the boys were at work. And however gleeful they may have been, when his step was heard every man got to his desk, bent down his head and began writing for dear life.

At 6 o'clock he would again go to the Southern Hotel, returning at 7 o'clock, and until 12 o'clock keep up his visits to the water cooler. At midnight he would go home in a cab. This was his daily life or twenty years or more. He never attended, a place of amusement nor any public meeting and never was the guest at any entertainment. He had his own peculiar views about running a newspaper, and having absolute and untrammeled control of the Globe-Democrat, his "-views have been proved "correct by the grand success of that Journal. The Globe-Democrat, under his editorial management, was unlike any other newspaper in the country. He subordinated the business department to the editorial department, and in few other papers in the country is the "upstairs" supreme over the "downstairs." He declared in print in answer to an interrogatory some years ago "What makes a great paper?" "A telegraph wire, a pair of scissors and a pastepot."

And in the conduct of his newspaper he followed out this sentiment. He paid more for telegraph news than is paid by any newspaper in this or any other country. It was his boast that if anything, from birth, marriage to death, or in life, happened of

ered. Reporting to "the ofld man," he turned over a wad of bills to him. I ''What's this?" he asked. ''The balance of the expense money you gave me." "Ugh," he ejaculated. "You are the first man that ever returned any expense money to me."

WELLINGTON'S LETTERS.

4- Valuable Collection, of MSS. Sold Lately In England. An Interesting and Important series of autograph letters and dispatches from the duke of Wellington and General Lord Hill, dating from 1792 to 1842, will be offered for sale at the County Mars, Shrewsbury, on Wednesday next., says the London Times. The collection, which was the property of the late viscount Hill, includes a large quantity of manuscript relating chiefly to the Peninsular campaign, also autograph letters and historical documents signed by many eminent personages. The sale will also include some interesting autograph letters and manuscripts of the Rev. Rowland Hill and Sir Richard Hill, M. P.

The most important section of the collection comprises the letters and dispatches of the duke of Wellington, addressed to General Lord Hill, which number 250, and are, with very few exceptions, holograph. The tact that they were written by the duke during the progress and at the actual seat of the great struggles which culminated at Waterloo gives them historic Importance, while the further fact that they were all written In a private form surrounds them with a much greater interest than if they were of a purely official character. Several of the letters show the difficulties which beset Wellington owing to the want of co-oi#*tlon on the part of the Spanish officers. He writes from Celorico, May 28, 1810: "Lord Heathcote, however, should not allow these approaches to pass unnoticed. He might observe to them that General O'Donnell .(the Spanish general), himself, upon one occasion, and General Ballesteros, again, lately, ha dthe advantage of your assistance, and were thereby saved from being destroyed by the enemy. We must not allow the spanlsh in any case to reproach us, without showing them the real situation of their affairs, and that the cause is lost from their own inability to manage it."

Another letter, dated from Gouvea, September 8, 1810, is highly characteristic, and in it, Wellington expresses indignation at the "proclamations of the Marquis d'Alorna, which, contain nothing but sophistical nonsense and that no encouragement should be given to the notions propagated by Alorna and other traitors, whose only object is to facilitate the entry of the country to the French, and yet it is extraordinary that any man in his senses should act this part, which is after all only that of a Jackall, as the .French would certainly not be satisfied with the lion's share of the plunder, but would takV%ll." A letter dated from Freneda, October 13, 1811, gives a friendly explanation relative to the issue of a general order consequent upon the inattention and disobedience of many of the officers: "I am convinced that .the disobedience of which I complain is not willful, but is the consequence of Inattention and the bad military habits which our officers .acquire when they enter the service." A letter frpm the same place, written twentyfive, days later, relates to the exchange of prisoners arfd severely comments upon the want of consideration shown by French gen,erals to English officers, also the ill-treatment of the prisoners of the allied British and Portuguese army taken by the French he also writes in the same letter: "The duke d'AVemberg is a great card, a prince of the imperial family, take care, therefore, that In any communications he has with his brother and other officers he has the attendance of a sharp English officer."

A letter written from Salamanca, June 18, 1812, comments strongly upon "the trick our officers of cavalry have acquired of galloping at everything, they never think of maneuvering before an enemy, so that one would think they can not maneuver excepting on Wimbledon common." Referring to the history of the war in preparation by Southey, the duke wrote from London, October 25, 1821, that "it ought to convey to the public the real truth, and ought to show what nations really did when they put themselves in the situation in which the Spanish and Portuguese nations had placed themselves" he considered, moreover, that "the period of the war Is too near and the characters and reputations as well as individuals are to omuch in the description of these questions" for him to recommend any author to write an adequate history. The la'st two Wellington letters are dated from Walmer Castle, October, 1840, and in one of these the duke urges the necessity of having a strong garrison at Dover Castle, "which is In fact to the River Thames and the port of London what Hyde Park corner is to the town. I don't believe there is a ship of war between Portsmouth and Sheerness" he also refers to the friendly relation existing between Louis Philippe of France and England, but advises that defensive measures should be adopted, and that the matter "be communicated to the government." Two lots comprise the dispatches and official correspondence, etc., of General Lord Hill, and a collection of 115 letters to his family, from May, 1809, to April, 1815. Many of these have been published In Sidney's "Life of Lord Hill." It is a matter for regret that this very interesting collection of autograph letters and documents is to be broken up and dispersed. The charm and historic Importance of the collection lie chiefly in its being kept intact.

A Cat's Predicament.

There is a rule in the Police Department requiring policemen on post to report dead cats, and the men have been fined so often for(neglecting to do so tha they now seldon^ pass one by. But there is no rule about

any consequence in the remotest hamlet of live, cats so a big, striped animal of this the country there would be an account of it speqies has mewed in vain for help from the in The Religious Daily, latterly issued from top of an electric light pole at No. 97 Avethe Temple of Truth. While the editorial: nue.A since last Sunday night, and no pocolumns of the Globe-Democrat, under Cap- llceman thought of notifying his station tain Henry King's scholarly control, are not till Patrolman Stevens, while out on his excelled in Ihe country, space in them was, dog watch this morning, saw "Jimmie," as ever contracted for news, telegraphic newts the cat is named, took pity on it, and reand the "scissors and paste pot'," or reprint selections. Local news, too, had to be summarized into "the conventional two sticks,", unless there was a mighty good story to recount. "This," he would say, is a national pa-, per, not a local affair, and while published in St. Louis, it goes to every town in the country. The current events of St. Louis, therefore should not be elaborated to the exclusion of other news more interesting tp other localities than the happenings here." But he never failed to "oover" St. Louis, though never padding out the local news because simply St. Louis matter. Stern, un-

ported it. Then the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was notified and today the machinery of the city government will be set in motion to effect the rescue. "Jimmie" is a German cat, belonging to Mra^Heinz, whose husband keeps an oyster shop in Avenue A. It was a cellar cat, unaccustomed to the open air. On Sunday night the waiter opened the cellar doors on the sidewalk to go down for some dill pickles. As he entered he saw the cat whiz by. A dog, happening to be passing that way, chased the cat, which started up the pole. When it was about 15 feet up it

bending and exacting, taciturn and never paused. A string of bdys came along looking for peddlers to pelt with snowballs. They saw the dojg and let fly at him. As he scampered off the cat mewed gratefully and began to descend. The boys were delighted. They sent a volley at the inexperienced cat, and up he went, trying to get out of reach. v~p.,:." ,:

commanding .there was a good side to this cold genius which now and then broke out. For a year he would condemn, never commend, and then on Christmas morning, or at 12:30 o'clock precisely, would stroll into the office and without so much as a "Merry Christmas" hand each reporter a |20 gold piece and the city editor a $50 crisp greenback. The eagles looked invariably as if just minted and the greenback as if Just printed. It wasn't good form to thank him, and he never was thanked.

The great editor lived for his paper. It was his especial pride and this story goes as an illustration. He had occasion to send one of the reporters to San Antonio, ir'as. His correspondent there, Tobe Mitchell, had gotten into "a difficulty,'-' as Kit Carson would term it, with a Texan and had been knifed. The reporter was sent down to take Mitchell's place. Going to his quarters and packing his grip, he wired to the Southern to get a 'bus ride to the depot. There he encountered "the old man." "Are you ready to go?" he asked "Yes, sir." •••.. :T-\: "Have you any money?" "Yes, sir." "How much?" "Forty-eight dollars, and my Transportation." "Not enough," he said laconically, and stepping up to Harper, the cashier of the hotel, a whispering conversation ensued. Then, returning to the reporter "the old man" shoved a roll of bills Into his hand saying: "Take that," as if he were delivering a body blow, adding: "All I have got to say is. remember you represent the Globe-Dem-ocrat."

On counting the bills the reporter found the sum of $300. Reaching Texas, the new correspondent found himself almost unable to spend a Cent, the Texans trying to pla» cate the Globe-Democrat for the stabbing of Mitchell with all sorts of hospitality. Contriving to spend about (SO in some way, the reporter at the .end of ten days return«A to St. Louis, MUcImU luurlns recov*

A crowd gathered, ajid while one part encouraged the boys the other sided with the cat. The boys were driven off, but no one could devise any means for helping the cat, though the crowd grew till it nearly filled the street. The attraction was mere curiosity such interest as was excited took the line of inquiry as to how the cat got there and whose cat it was. And yesterday both this interest and the curiosity wearied and disappeared. Thirty-five feet up in the cold, the animal, weak with cold and fright, lay waiting for Patrolman Stevens, who applied the dead cat rule or something else to the case, and set the authorities to work. The police, with poles and short ladders, failed to accomplish anything. The fire •company of the neighborhood had no right to take out their ladders except for a fire. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals sent a wagon with agents, who got the cat down before noon.—New York Post.

Dogs Due Him From the Snow. On the morning of December 1 Frank Andreas was saved from an untimely death by his two noble dogs. He was on his way to the blacksmith shop, some distance from the mine, when he was caught by a big snowslide, which started about 200 feet up the ^mountain. He was carried quite a distance and lodged against the gulch and covered over With four feet of hard pawled snow. His two dogs, which are quarter St. Bernard, escaped the avalanche. They soon loeated their master and began to dig away the snow. By the faithful work of the dogs and the use of his left arm, which was fortunately in an upright position. Mr. Andreas soon gained a small opening which enabled him to breathe. He declared that a few minutes more and he would have been dead. One hour aid a half of hard struggling, and by picking away the hard snow from his body ana throwing it out of the opening made by the dogs, brought* most welcome relief, and one that will not soon be forgotten. The gulch proper was filled with sntfw tea feet deep for a distance of seventy-five 'f*et.^Mountainhome (Idaho) Honnlillffc

AS TO PUBLIC BURIALS

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH feisUKTlS THEY ENDANGER HEALTH.

Latest In the Clara Shanks Case—The William Shaw Murder Case Being Tried at Braxll.

The State Board of Health is preparing a bulletin giving the history of the remarkable illness and death of Orange Failes, an undertaker of Nappanee, this State, says an Enquirer special from Indianapolis.1 Failes had charge of a body wasted away by consumption. There was a public funeral and public inspection and in carrying the casket into the church the pallbearers were put to much inconvenience in passing up the narrow aisle, and in so doing tbe body was tilted to one side.

After the services had concluded and the undertaker was removing the lid, so that the remains could be viewed by friends, he noticed the condition of the body.~«£(l he undertook to replace it without assistance, fearing that if it was seen by relatives in that position they might think

(the

body

was being buried alive. -r Unaided he turned the body back, and while he was doing so, with his face close to the corpse, a strange odor struck him full in the nostrils, such an odor as he had never before experienced in his business as an undertaker. Soon after he was taken down with consumption, ar.d he often remarked to his friends that he never before experienced such an odor and that he believed it was responsible for his illness. He lived but three months, dying of the full disorder in its worst type.

It is this experience which confirms the belief of the State Board of Health that all public funerals endanger public health, no matter of what disease the patient died.

The attorneys in the case of the State vs. William Cummings for killing William Shaw, at Carbon, December 24, 1895, succeeded in getting a jury satisfactory to both sides yesterday afternoon and the trial began this morning. The second witness to be examined was still on the stand at 2:30 this afternoon and it is thought to-day and to-morrow will be consumed in hearing testimony in the case. The State is represented by Lewis and Corwin, of Greencastle, and Prosecuting Attorney J. M. Rawley. The lawyers for the defense are George A. and Will Knight, Judge Coffey, and George W. Wiltse, of Clay City. There will be a bitter fight from both sides and no conjectures are being made as to the outcome of the trial. William Klingler, who did some promiscuous shooting on the street here during a rally one night last fall, was fined $20 by Judge McGregor this morning. The fine, with the costs added, will amount to something over $35.—Brazil Times.

An arrangement has been made between the doctors who have bills in the Clara Shanks case, and the board of county commissioners, to await the result of Dr. Vancleave's suit.which will be taken to the Supreme Court, and both sides will abide by the verdict, that is if Dr. Vancleave wins the county will pay the doctors, and if he loses they will not be paid, says the Veedersburg News. There is no question, to anyone acquainted with the case, but what the doctors should be paid for their work. This agreement is a reasonable and intelligent one that will be a saving to both sides. As the court says will the county act.

A big suit is on at New Castle about the construction of a Masonic temple at Greensburg. Heinzman Bros., contractors, did the work and from time to time the committee had changes made. When done the contractors submitted a bill for the extra work, which the Masons refused to pay, claiming faulty workmanship in the building. Suit is for $10,000 damages by the contractors against the Masons.

The stockholders of the Newport Fair Society met last Thursday evening and decided to hold the next fair from September 27th to October 2d, 1897. The board of directors and the superintendents of all the departments will meet January 23d for the purpose of revising the premium list. The new association is full of young blood and they are pushing things.

Wm. Brewer and Andrew Sims, two New Albany colored boys in kuee breeches, set fire to their school house. They were arrested and said, when askeel why they set the place on fire, that they were tired of school and wanted to get rid of it. It looks as if the reform school would grtet the boys.

A Paris (111.) justice of the peace has decided that national bank notes are hot a legal tender. The Paris Republican, in commenting.on it, says: "He still prefe-s to accept stovewood and dried apples to any other kinds of payment, but bank notes are still good at this office."

The Kellers deny that they have been arranging to bring suit against t'aeir !rosecutors in the Clara Shanks case. An arrangement his been made between the doctors who have bills in the murder case to await the result of Dr. Van Cleaye's case, which will be taken to the Supreme Court.

The Rev. Wm. P. Hargrave of Crawfocdsville is dead of congestion of the stomach. He was born in Indiana in 1S32. attended Asbury University and practiced law for some years. He was a soldier and later a Methodist preacher.

The council at Brazil passed a curfew ordinance at their meeting Tuesday night. It is now unlawful for any person under 17 years of age to loaf or loiter about the streets between 8 p. m. and 6 a. m.

The National Jefferson Club of St. Louis is sending out circulars to the students of colleges endeavoring to secure speakers for the next four years 'free silver campaign.

A cigarette ordinance went into effect at Crawfordsville Wednesday and the tobacco dealers have closed down on the sale of "coffin nails."

The DePauw Glee Club wftl furnish the music at the coming state oratorical. Robert J. Burdette lectured at Paris, 111., Wednesday night.

CECIL RHODES NOW HOMELESS.

His Old Datch House Near Cape Town Destroyed By Fire. Cape Town, Tuesday, December 15.— Groote Schuur, the country seat of Mr. Cecil Rhodes, and which was otherwise known as the Great Barn, was destroyed by fire this morning. The house was situated at Rondebosch, seven miles from Cape Town, and when the conflagration broke out at 3 a. m., the appliances at hand were insufficient to extinguish it, and the place was gutted.

The building was an old Dutch structure, one of the finest specimens in South Africa, with a picturesque thatchpd roof, and surrounded by large grounds, one portion of which was devoted to a zoological garden. Happily, the buildings here are uninjured.

The library of the house was famous for the now historical interview of its owner with the Hon. W. P. Schreiner, the late attorney general, at the beginning of the year, when Mr. Rhodes declared that Dr. Jameson had upset the apple cart. The houso also contained a number of bullet torn British flags, from various South African wars,'and notably a Portuguese flag captured from Masslkessi by the Chartered troops in 1891.

Mr. Rhodes the personal

reparable. He Is at present on his way, via the Bast coast, to the Cape, where a public welcome awaits him.

The house was often the scene of important gatherings of African notabilities, whereat great projects were discussed and decided upon. Dr. Jameson was always a welcome guest there.

The friends of Mr. Cecil Rhodes will regret to hear that the home of which h« was so proud, and to the restoration ot which, in the best sense of the word, he had devoted so much patient attention and lavish expenditure, has been completely de* stroyed by fire. When Mr. Rhodes purchased the property at Rondebosen some years ago he not only restored to the building its old Dutch character, but he revived the old Dutch name. I cannot recall the very modern English title given to it by the charming lady who—though of Dutch origin, he was thoroughly British in sentiment—had been its occupant before Mr. Rhodes acquired it. The first act of Mr. Rhodes, as the new possessor, was to revive its former Dutch name of "Groote Schuur"—the Great Barn—and a more difficult name for an Englishman to pronounce properly it would be difficult to discover even Mr. Rhodes himself halts a little over it. His next step was to restore the old Dutch character of the house. Ho replaced, or, perhaps, it should be said he added, for there is no evidence of their original existence, the Dutch gables to the exterior without modifying or interfering with the original design. The "stoop," or veranda, inseparable from African houses— so pleasantly cool in the burning summer days—was, of course, retained. Next Mr. Rhodes set about to remodel the interior, still zealous by following the old Dutch models, as far as was consistent with the requirements of modern comfort. The work was intrusted almost exclusively to colonial artisans, and especially to those who were familiar with the interior of the old Dutch houses, now in Cape Colony fast giving way to imitations of the English villa. A costly simplicity reigned throughout, and the rooms were all paneled in teak. Having restored the house within and without. Mr. Rhodes set himself to furnish it. And here, again, he kept himself strictly to tha old Dutch models. He had innumerable agents scouring the colony and Natal and Orange Free State to buy up for him, almost regardless of price, the finest old Dutch furniture that lurked in farms and homesteads. Chairs and clocks and wardrobes, cupboards and sideboards, were secured from every quarter, till it seemed to me as I surveyed the house one winter's day, that there was nothing English in it except the billiard table, the Blue books, and the magnificent hospitality which Mr. Rhodes extends to all who visit him. Even the adornments on the wall reminded ona more of Holland than of England. And the trophies of which Mr. Rhodes was very proud, and which it is to be hoped wers rescued, were South African. There were tattered flags telling of many a hard fought Kaffir struggle and captured arms of ali sorts but

chief

to Table

among all these were the

relics of Rhodesia. They ranged from barbaric possessions of Lobengula to the artistic productions of the old race, Phenecian, or whatever it was, that had tapped the gold veins in Matabeleland and Mashonaland. There, when I saw it, was the model of the monument which Mr. Rhodes designed erecting in honor of the heroes who fell in the first Matabele war. There was the drinking cup of Lobengula and his royal seal, and old bowls that belonged to a civilization existing long before that of the magnificent savages who had swept the ancient race before them. Here, I may parenthetically remark, Mr. Rhodes informed me that he was the owner, somewhere away in the far North, of the most perfect Phenician temple in existence, which he destined for the mausoleum of men who had died in the service of British South Africa. And if the house itself, inside and outside, was an ideal home for the "Man of Africa," as Mr. Rhodes has been called, its surroundings were worthy of its center. It was but a small property when Mr. Rhodes bought it but he has gradually

Mountain—which

do

lots Is

ir­

I

I 4

extended

it right uj

always seems

about to crush Cape Town into the seatill it covers upwards of a thousand acres. Here Mr. Rhodes had set up his

menagerie

to which he was always ading—and her« he nearly met his death from a buck lasl year The house, now, alas! but a rum, was

approached

by a

magnificent

avenue,

and nearly every kind of tree to be found in the colony was represented in Air. Rhodes' grounds. Like Pitt, Mr. Rhodes has found it impossible to combine man* agement of a wife with the government ol a country, and Groote Schuur was essentially a bachelor establishment on a magnificent scale. Maid servants there maj have been, for all I know, but during th« pleasant hours I spent in Mr. Rhodes a house, I never caught sight of a petticoat. Cape bovs, ready, deft and willing, wer always on the alert to wait and serve. I have said that the house and its furnishing and its decorations were all Dutch, but the hospitality of its distinguished o^ner induced his guests to forget that they were in a Dutch house, in a suburb of Cape Town, and tempfcd them to Mne they were paying a visit to an old-fash onea English country gentleman, in an old fa ioned English country house.

LANGTRY DENIES EVERYTHING,

The Husband of the "Jersey Lily" Indignant at California Charges. New York, Jan. 7.-A special to the World from London says: "The statement cabled here that Mrs. Langtry is making a third effort to secure a divorce in California has p-ompted quite contrary suggestions in the London press first, that her husband demands too large a price for his consent, and again, the general belief that he has been receiving an allowance for complacence must be untrue. ™co h. would otherwise be very willing tojecelva the capital sum at once rather than de pend on uncertain payments. "Mr. Edward Langtry, the husband, is now living in Southampton, where he wm interviewed by a World reporter to whoh» he said: "I have seen in a San Francisco paper that my wife has given me a regular pay ~,-n vpar I want to scat# allowance of £3o0 a year. J. through the World that I never had a penny from her. If that is of interest let it &• said to the furthest limits of the EnblisJ speaking people. I have lived on the rentals of the little property I have in the North of Ireland, supplemented by some newspaper and magazine descriptions of shooting and fishing experiences, and our battles wi the sea in a lifeboat in and about the rocks of South Stack.' "Before bringing the interview -to a elusion, Mr. Langtry handed to the correspondent the following signed document: •I have today told to the New York World correspondent all the facts and other matters regarding the citation served on me, which was issued by a judge in a San Francisco court. I deny all its allegations and beg to aver that I am not going to take any trouble to comply with the California court's citation, being an Irishman anu utterly ignoring thaft Judge's authority. As a matter of fact, I placed the document in the fire grate two minutes after I received it. I

not recognize the right of any foreign court to demand my atttendance, nor will 1 comply. The claim for divorce on the grounds of desertion and such other matters makes the citation more absurd than It otherwise would have been. Truth will, in this case, prevail as certainly as it does In all cases where justice obtains. "At last acccounts Mrs. Langtry was ai Monte Carlo."

Hi II