t t t t t t t tMt " i - * gyi
-
mm"ii ii i i i i m in mi ininiMi
K' : - , " - " * > ' - - - # - - - , , * . - V- " " -
I a
Ii
AN EXPLOSION OF MEAL DUST.
I t TW 2"i > rc * Xufllclcnt to Shake the Karth for
i Nearly a KUe Xltreo STen lmtantty
Killed.
t Chicago diBpatch : Threo nion nro
"known to havo boon killed , ono fatally
injured and ii number of persons badly
bruisod and shaken up early this morn-
"t inp by an explosion of meal dust which
-completely wrecked tho throe-story
brick building on North Halstoad stroot ,
• occupied by David Oliver as an oatmeal
: snill. Sevecal adjoining buildings wore
' -also shattered. Tho explosion , which
• occurred shortly after 2 o'clock , was ter-
' • * -rifle , one shock being felt a milo away.
Buildings in tho itnmediato vicinity
• woro bombarded with flying bricks and
-timbers , and nearly every pane of win-
• dow glass within a radius of six blocks
was smashed. Almost beforo tho rum
ble of tho explosion had died away
• flames sprang from tho wrecked mill
'and tho wholo placo was ablazo in a few
minuter. Tho firo spread with incred-
I iblo rapidity , and when tho first firo
• companies reached tho pceno they found
-a block of roaring flames to contend
' * * with. Engines woro stationed nt every
available point _ _ around tho blazing
patch , and buildings that did not tako
firo at tho outset were saved after tho
.hardest kind of a fight. Sparks that
wero carried by tho wind ignited build
ings two blocks distant , and for half an
hour tho firemen had all thoy could do
"to prevent half a dozen serious con
flagrations. It was nearly two
hours beforo tho flames woro under con
trol.
' It was known that four men had been
: at work in tho meal mill and about
twenty in tho planing mill next door.
Besides these , tho neighboring houses
contained many men , women and chil-
• dreu. Tho men at work in tho planing
anill made their escape a few of them
badly hurt , but tho majority only
• • slightly injured. Hundreds of men
searched anxiously for tho missing niil-
.lers and after some time ono of them
• John Holmes was found lying in tho
: ally across the street from tho mill , ter
ribly burned and lacerated. Ho was
• working in tho second story of tho mill
• when tho explosion occurred , and was
. ihurled through a window and across tho
street. Ho cannot live. No trace could
1)0 found of tho other threo men
'Charles Miller , Charles Cooper and John
* " • . Smith and it is believed their bodies
' " • aro.buried in tho debris
. # & - • * } • ,
" Tho firemen are hopeful that no more
1 lives wore lost , but people living in the
• vicinitj' of tho explosion aro sure more
"bodies will bo found when tho debris is
1 -explored. This cannot bo done for sev
eral hours.
Persons who wero asleep in the build
ings adjacent to tho wrecked mill were
- " * "thrown clear out of their beds by tho
force of the explosion , and most of them
wero more or less seriously injured dur
ing tho terrific bombardment of bricks
and other debris. Many of tho people
• escaped from tho shattered building with
.great difficulty. The loss will aggregate
- • $150,000.
, A batallion of twenty firemen and over
: a hundred volunteers are at work clear
ing away tho ruins. Ernest Casper , one
• of tho three known to be dead , was
• working in tho cupalo at thetime of the
• explosion. The cupalo was lifted almost
• entire and thrown a distance of sixty
feet upon tho south side of tho street.
'The mutilated form of Casper is somo-
• where under tho wreck.
John Christcnsen , a kiln man , is the
second known victim. His body has not
been found , and ho may have been
1 blown some distance by the force of the
• explosion.
Charles Miller , engineer , is also buried
-under the mass of debris , and it is
-thought his body will be found near the
boiler.
Tho proprietor and manager of the
tmill were on the ground early this
rmorning , but have been unable to learn
" - - the of the .
j -positively cause explosion.
Each thinks that oat meal dust may
Laye caused it , but the terrific force is
unprecedented if this theory be ac-
r i . 'Cepted. No other reasonable cxplana-
S tion is offered , however , and an explo
it sion of dust is accepted until a better
j . . Teason can be found.
, About 10:80 this morning the excavat-
! v dng party discovered tho body of a man
supposed to be that of Engineer Miller.
The .corpse was found on the north
-driveway of tho mill and was covered
with about three feet of debris. The
SI * . face was mangled so. it cpuldjiofc be
' . * recognized. The unfortunate man had
• evidently been blown from the boiler
* - room clear to the driveway.
it The boilers have been uncovered and
; ; .are intact , which disposes of the theory
v -that they had exploded. .The police say
f , "there is no evidence of tho use of dyna-
j , tw-r xnite and it is now considered certain
• • that mill dust was the material exploded.
• DOMESTIC RELATIONS OF MR. CLEVELAND
f - \ Positive Denial of tho Scandalous Storiet
Heretofore Circulated ,
j Chicago special : The Tribune this
\ * . -morning prints a long dispatch from its
'HI' ' "Washington correspondent relating to
; < s. 'the scandalous stories which for tha
: ' ' ; rpaat year have been industriously circu-
: - ' - . lated regarding the domestic relations
jV -of President Cleveland , and which were
made conspicuous again a short time
I -ago by tho publication of their nanseat-
\ ing details in a New York paper which
I as supposed to be the president's organ.
'The Tribune's correspondent called on
L. I . Mrs. Secretary Whitneyt who has been
[ . Urs. Cleveland's moat intimate friend
! -in Washington , and in response to a re-
B -quest for her opinion regarding these
_ , -stories , she talked to him at length ,
; " " - „ making the most positive and nnqual-
\ ? ; " ified denial of them in their entireity.
I. _ She related many charming incidents of
j "tho president's home life , which go to
show that Mich stories as have been cir
• oulated are manifestly absurd. Regard
ing tho president himself , Mrs. Whit-
j , - Tiey says that the stories that the presi-
; „ .dent becomes intoxicated frequently are
false as all the rest. He is a temperate
onan. She could not understand how
people could give credence to the stories
= about him , for ho is gentle and cousid-
V . -erate. 'Mrs. Cleveland , she said , has
"been kept in hmorauce of most of the
\j \ stories and 1ijr : never known the full ex-
* ? " tent to which the hideous scandal has
' * grown. After the Massachusetts minis-
k- ; -ter had madt > public his story last spring
; sshe wrote a note , which was given to
" -the press at that time , sa3'iug how hap-
i * py her life was and later her mother
* IV ' i-S ? * nT0e ftCkind note about her son-in-law.
r q Mrs. Cleveland has not known but that
-these statements wero sufficient to kill
the scandal. Mrs. Whitney gave the
; ' , "reporter full permission to quote all she
> 7 , had said and hoped it would be the last
* - + - . -of the stories.
. '
Jr. - -
fl A Bailie With Counlerfeilers.
I * ' * Sharon ( Pa. ) special : Ageutsofthe
* United States secret service succeeded
mjkr , < in capturing three counterfeiters in.a
IpT " wild part of Mercer county yesterday.
jse They offered a desperate " resistance and
| r : „ all three were slightly wonnded in tho
| L • * . -struggle. They gave the names of
I * > Beigelman , Thompson and Martin.
ih * Nearly a half bushel of counterfeit coin ,
V .dies and other apparatus was captured
% . - vvith them. After having their wounds
' # f • -dressed at Greenville tho trio were
g | taken to Titnsville. They have been
Mp operating for a long time and the arrest
KJy .is regarded as important.
• •
, - 'X .r ' v ; 1. \ * > • • ' ' " f v . - - ' ? " 't : - ' vi
1
A RUSH OF BUSINESS BEFORE HOLIDAYS.
Many Ihlnpi to In ( lot Ont of the WayJle-
fore Temporary Adjottrntnent.
Washington Bpocial : Tho coming
wool : will bo tho hist beforo tho holiday
recess and congress will bo particularly
busy. Attempts will bo made to call up
Bpocial legislation in which members ol
tho two houses aro interested to gel
them out of tho way beforo tho consid
eration of tho more importaat appro *
priation billB is begun.
In tho senate tho unfinished business
is the tariff bill which will , unless some
compromise bo inado , bo under consid
eration daily to tho exclusion of all
business.
Tho members of tho finance commit *
too and of tho appropriation committee
of the sonato havo been considering
seriously tho question of tho duration
of tho holiday recess. It was originally
intended to make this recess but ten
days in length , just long enough to clear
Christmas and Now Year's day.
Tho proposition made to tho house
last week for an adjournment from Fri
day next until Janury 7 meets with the
disapproval of tho leading members of
both appropriation committees and as
tho bills which aro in their charge must
bo considered to tho oxclusion of all
other business , it is thought that their
wishes will havo eoino weight with tho
members of both houses. Adjournment
will bo probably had on Friday or Sat
urday next. Meantime , there is every
reason to believo that tho tariff bill wiil
be under discussion to the exclusion of
all other business.
To-morrow , in tho morning hour ,
Senator Riddleberger's resolution for
tho reorganization of the senate after
January 1 will come up for considera
tion. Senator Biddlebergor promises
to make a speech in support of tho reso
lution , and if he is in the chamber when
it is taken up , ho will undoubtedly car
ry out his promise. It is thought that
tho resolution will not be debated , and
it is said that at tho conclusion oi Son-
ator Biddleberger's speech will bo
mado , and that the motion will come
from tho democratic side of the house ;
that on this motion there will not be a
negative vote , , except , perhaps , that of
Senator Biddleberger. However the
democratic senators may disagree with
Senator Ingalls in his personal and po- '
litical views , they have no fault to find
with him as a presiding officer.
It fs possible that the District of Co
lumbia appropriation bill will bo report
ed to the senate before the end of the
week. Monday is suspension day in
tho house. A number of members are
very anxious to havo measures that
have been favorably reported from tho
committees passed , and it is not at all
unlikely that there will be a locking of
horns as to which measure shall take
precedence. An effort may bo made to
pass tho river and harbor bill under a
suspension of tho rules , but in tho pres
ent temper of tho house , and with a
quorum seldom present its friends will
probably have to abandon the project
and have the bill considered later in the
week.
A determined effort will be made to
pass tho Nicaraguan canal bill Monday
and again on Friday and it will proba
bly be successful , unless the opponents
of the measure resort to fillibustering
tactics to defeat it.
The Oklahoma bill may also be called
up and put on its passage. Should the
friends of the river and harbor bill de
cide not to attempt to pass it Monday
they will endeaver to have it considered.
They laws.&V
the appropriation committee with the
legislalh s bill. Mr. Clements of Geor
gia is in charge of the bill in the absence
of Gen. Forner , of Alabania , who is sick ,
and has expressed a desire to pass the
bill at once. Should the legislative bill
get before tho house it will occupy one
and perhaps two days.
Blaine Not to be in the Cabinet.
Washington dispatch : The recent very
positive statements that Mr. Blaine had
been offered the position of secretary ol
state by the president-elect and that he
had accepted it , it is discovered , have no
more foundation than the myriad other
reports which have been made as to
other positions in the cabinet. An offi
cial dispatch received from Augusta by
those who are in the confidence of Mr.
Blaine gives an authoritative denial to
• the report that the state portfolio has
been tendered to him and has been ac
cepted by him. But the renewed pub
lication of this report has made one fact
very clear that if the secretaryship ol
state shall be tendered to him. he will
accept it.
Mr. Warner Miller is expected here
early next week. Ho comes , it is under
stood , to consult with his friends.
Whatever may be the demands of Mr.
Thomas C. Piatt , Mr. Miller is of the
opinion that he should receive a cabinet
positiou. Some of Mr. Piatt's friends ,
noticing how very much inearnest the
friends of Warner Miller are , have sug
gested that under this administration
New York has two places in the cabinet
and that the country has been convulsed
on account of that fact. They inti
mate that Warner Miller is better qual
ified for the postoffico or interior de
partment than for the treasury. One
suggestion has recently been made by
those who are quite near to General
Harrison. It is that in states where
there are two factions , if the two fac
tions cannot agree , there will be no cab
inet officer appointed , and that General
Harrison is of the opinion that it will
be better that a state shall be without
representation in the cabinet than that
one faction should be permitted to tri
umph over another.
Wtedlng tut the Traubliscma Elements.
Columbus ( O. ) dispatch : General
Master Workman Powderly , speaking
last evening of the recent Indianapolis
convention , said :
We are weeding out the troublesome
elements. For some time there has
been an anarchistic element in the or
der. These fellows , who are at war with
all our institutions , feel perfectly happy
whenthey get into the order and suc
ceed in stirring up quarrels. We have
no room for any kind of anarchists in
tho country. They have opposed me
and it has simply been a question of
whether they should go or L So far I
have come out ahead. The Knights of
Labor , it is trne have declined in mem
bership. Such organizations have their
ebb and fiow. Bnt nowjre are prosper
ous and the membership is growing ?
We are not opposed to strikes , but be
lieve in reason before strikes , not strikes
and reason afterwards. Sometimes we
are compelled to strike , but it is often
better to bear the ills we have than fly
to others Unit wo know not of. What
we want is co-operation all around. I
believe in the education of the working-
men. I do not mean that every work-
ingman should have a college education ,
but that he should be educated to take
a broader view of affairs. In other
words , he should know more of the peo
ple in other callings of life , and the
business men should know more abont
tho workingmen.
There is no conflict between the
knights and the trades unions. We can
work together in regard to legislation ,
in securing new laws and the repeal of
objectionable laws. There is more ne
cessity at present for the repeal of bad
laws than there is for the enactment of
new laws.
&Vr ; ' * . , . • . % \ .
STANLEY IS SURELY A PRISONER.
Emln JJey and the Great Explorer Held at
Jlotlayetfor tho Evacuation ofSauhltn ,
London Bpocial : In a letter received
at Saukim from Osman Digna , and
which is supposed to have contained tho
announcement that Emin Pasha and a
white traveler ( presumably Stanley ) had
fallen into the hands of the mahdi , were
inclosed copies of a dispatch from the
Dervish leaders at Lado to Khalifa
Pasha , giving tho date of Emin Pasha's
surrender as October 10 , and a letter to
Emin Pasha from tho khedive , which ,
was handed to Henry M. Stanley when
ho was at Cairo. It is rumored that
Osman Digna in his letter expressed a
willingness to surrender Emin Pasha
and his white companion provided
Egypt would abandon Saukim. If this
proposal is not accepted it is believed
both captives will be killed. The Brit
ish cabinet is now discussing the situa
tion.
In tho commons this afternoon Smith ,
government leader , replying to Wilfred
Lawsou , said that so far as was known
to the government tho letter written by
Osman Digna annnounces the surrender
of Emin Pasha and a whito traveler ,
but the government had no means of
knowing whether these allegations were
founded.
It is evident from the non-committal
reply of Mr. Smith that the government
is completely nonplussed , and has no
accurate information in tho matter fur
ther than is generally known. It is
generally considered that Osman Digna
holds a trump card against which his
opponents are powerless to play , and
that the government can only yield on
the former's terms.
It is believed in tho lobbies of the
house to-night that England will be
forced to treat with the successful com
mander for the evacuation of Suakim ,
for the government will not dare to sac
rifice the prisoners , whom Osman Digna
threatens to kill unless the town is
abandoned. Public opinion in England
already revolts against the Soudan ex
pedition , and this latest phase of the af
fair intensifies the feeling. There can
be scarcely any doubt that the white
traveler mentioned as surrendering
with Emin Bey is Stanley , as everything
so far tends to confirm this opinion.
The balance of opinion has , for some
time past , accepted the theory that
Stanley had been working towards
Emin , and , if not actnally with him ,
was near him. Intense interest iB felt
here in the fate of the explorer , and no
one believes that the government will al
low him to be sacrificed in order to hold
Suakim. Further developments in tho
matter are awaited with much anxiety.
Dispatches from Suakim state that Gen.
Greufell has recognized the letter en
closed in Osman Digna's as the original
of the one which he drafted for tho
khedive , which the latter handed to
Stanley at Cairo. Thus Stanley's cap
ture is virtually placed beyond a doubt.
The authorities of the Congo free state
have received no information regarding
the capture as yet.
The king of the Belgians is exceed
ingly agitated regarding the reported
capture of Stanley and Emin Bay. He
receiyes numerous dispatches in refer
ence to the matter. The king admits
that he was the largest subscriber to the
expenses of Stanley's expedition.
Tho Independence Beige says : "Eng
land doubtless will do everything that is
possible to be done to liberate the pris
oners. Mr. Gladstone , too , bitterly re
grets abandoning Emin Bay and Henry
M. Stanley.
The Emin relief expedition committee
are doubtful of tho genuineness of
Osman Digna's letter. They suggest
the khedive's letter may be a copy stolen
at Cairo , but they think it more likely
that Stanley sent on runners to Emin
with the letters and that these runners
were captured. In any case they are
hopeful that even if Emin is a captive ,
Stanley is still free.
BRIEFS FROM THE OLD WORLD.
Lord Hartingte i has resigned from
the National Liberal club.
The Russian artillery force in Poland
has been ordered to be largely increased
by February 13th next.
A female lion tamer was attacked by
the beast under her charge during a
performance in a menagerie at Hohen-
math , Bohemia , and was so frightfully
lacerated that sho died.
Count William Bismarck , second son
of the chancellor , has been appointed
president of district of Hanover , the
office being subordinate to that held by
Herr Benigsen , who is president of the
entire province.
In the consideration of the Scotch esti
mates in the house of commons John H.
McDonald , Q. C , lord advocate of Scot
land , and W. H. Smith gave specific tes
timony that the _ Scotch business should
have early consideration at the next ses
sion of parliament.
A banquet to celebrate the completion
of the ninth edition of the encyclopaedia
was celebrated to-night. A number of
celebrated writers were present. In a
congratulatory speech Mr. Adam Black
declared that the works owes its in
creased circulation to American enter
prise.
Bishop Kimberly and Mr. Patrick
O'Brien , member of parliament , recent
ly paid a visit to Thomas Moroney , who
has been in jail nearly two years for con
tempt of court in refusing to testify in
the case of the. Herbertstown tenants.
He declares that he is in a semi-mad
state.
The pope is about to dispatch a letter
to the American bishops asking them
to support morally and materially the
scheme proposed by the bishop of Plai-
sance , to establish a seminary for the
instruction and training of missionaries
to give aid to Italian immigrants arriv
ing in America.
The Panama canal loan and success of
the Russian loan absorb publio atten
tion in Paris. Financiers haye no hope
that the schemes of the canal committee
will avert a crisis. The Credit Foncier
directors maintain their refusal to ad
vance funds to bolster up the Panama
company without an explicit guarantee
from tho government.
Count Herbert Bismarck's expected
exposition of tho government's policy
in eastlAfrica wasfinade' knbwn-Vto the
foreign committee of tho reichstag on
the 11th. Despite all the secresy it has
transpired that Count Herbert declared
that tho government would take meas
ures foe the permanent vScciirity of the
German possessions in east Africa but
was not in a position to submit a posi
tive plan to demand the attention of the
committee.
Ex-President Hayes , his wife and
daughter Fanny have already arranged
to be guests of Senator and Mrs. Sher
man at the inanguratioa of President
HarrisoB.
Mme.Bernhardt says there Is one
person with whom she has been on
terms of intimacy for many years with
out a quarrel , and that is her dress *
maker. Sarah's dressmaker auat b an
a-tftl. '
*
CONCERNING ADMISSION OF TERRITORIES
What Xooh Place In the Democratic Caucus
Held on tho lSUu
Washington dispatch : Tho house
democratic caucus to-night , after a ses
sion lasting over threo hours , adopted
tho following resolution :
Resolved , That in the judgment of
this caucus provision should bo made
by which Dakota may be admitted into
tho union as ono state or two states , as
tho people of the two states may here
after determine. Also that necessary
legislation ought to be provided for the
early admission into the union of tho
territories of Washington , Montana and
New Mexico. That these measures
should all be embodied in one bill ,
either by amendment of the pending
bill or otherwise , as tho committee on
territories shall determine , and that
consideration of the measuro shall be
made at an early day.
Utah , although not mentioned in the
resolution , it was agreed should bo ad
mitted into the union , but by a sepa
rate bill. Sixty members wero in at
tendance at the caucus , and it was evi
dent that they had come nearer to an
understanding since tho previous night.
Mr. Cox opened tho proceedings with
a long speech , in concluding which ho
said that ho opposed Utah coming in in
the omnibus bill , but was willing to de
fer to tho wish of tho caucus and accept
that measuro provided it wero under
stood that Dakota should havo tho priv-
ilogo of division.
Messrs. Dockory of Missouri , Wheeler
of Alabama , Blount of Georgia , Mansnr
of Missouri , Rico and Macdonald of
Minnesota , Voorhees of Washington
Territory and others took tho same
ground.
Messrs. Oates and Herbert of Ala
bama , and McMillen of Tennessee ,
stoutly opposed tho division of Dakota.
Mr. McMillen declared that it would be
political suicide for the democratic par
ty to admit all these new states. Tho
democratio party should go slow in the
matter. Those proposed states wero re
publican , and would continue to bo re
publican , notwithstanding any action
tho democratio party might take look
ing to their admission.
Tho Dakota question then became lost
sight of temporararily in a discussion
over tho question whether Utah should
be included in tho omnibus bill. Dele
gate Cain , of Utah , made an earnest ap
peal for the inclusion of his territory in
the proposed bill. He said that potyg-
amy was now no longer practiced to any
extent , and the democratic party should
not undertake to deny Utah admission
solely because of tho religious belief of
some of her citizens.
Mr. Brecken-iidge , of Kentucky , sec
onded tho appeal , saying that Utah
would probably bo tho only democratio
state in the lot , and ought to be ad
mitted.
After further discussion tho commit
tee on territories was requested by a
vote showing a small majority in favor
of the proposition , to proparo and to
present to the house a separate bill for
the damission of Utah.
Speaker Carlisle and Judge Holman
then addressed the caucus in favor of
the omnibus bill to include the territo
ries having a ratio of population enti
tling them to one member of congress.
Mr. Cox closed the debate in a speech
in which he asked tho members to ac
cept the proposition of Judge Holman ,
leaving the Dakota proposition to the
people of that territory , and providing
for the admission of tho other territories
named. The Holman resolution ,
amended by the suggestion of Speaker
Carlisle , was then adopted and the cau
cus adjourned.
Probabilities for an Extra Session.
Washington special : From the very-
first , owing to the closeness of the
next house , and the condition of leg
islative affairs , there has been a more
or less general impression at the cap
ital that the fifty-first congress
would bo called to meet in special ses
sion. In referring to the matter to-day ,
Representative Reed , of Maine , said
that there are a great many things that
seem to tend toward an extra session.
It was , in his opinion , entirely too early
to know certainly about it , but present
conditions and circumstances seemed to
indicate an early meeting. He said that
he did not regard the failure of the
democratio caucus last night as making
it by any means certain that the terri
tories would not bo admitted. If they
were disposed to do the right thing
there would be legislation on this thing
this session. This he did not think
would necessitate nor obviate an extra
session. It would be but one thing out'
of the way.
Mr. Browne of Indiana , who is one of
the republican members of the ways
and means committee , said that he ex
pected an extra session , but thought it
unwise for it to be called to meet before
October. His principal reason for op
posing an earlier meeting was the an
noyance the presence of congress and
its attendant army of office seekers
would be to the president on entering
upon Ins-administration.
Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio , said he was
opposed to an extra session , but he very
much feared that one would have to be
called. "I think it will be so , " he said.
Both Mr. McKinley and Mr. Burrows
have expressed the opinion that an ex
tra session is very probable. The sen
ators are very cautious about speaking
on the subject of an extra session , ex
cept when in conference with their col
leagues.
Fell in Lova With His Sisier.
Belleville ( Ont. ) dispatch : Fred Ack-
lin of Ferry Point , a fireman on the
steamer Mary Ethel , has eloped with hi *
sister , the mother of six children. She
has been living for several years with a
man named Davy at Niagara and came
home three months ago on a visit to her
brother , who is married and has three
children. The brother fell passionately
in love with his own sister and the
neighbors allege that their conduct has
been unbecoming. Acklin's wife inter
fered , but he turned a deaf ear to hei
pleadings. Finally Mrs. Acklin , becom
ing disgusted , loft the house and went
to Picton. Learning that his wife in
tended to return home , Acklin took a
boat , and with his sister rowed across
the bay and took the Grand Trunk road
going east on Tuesday night. He haB
left his wife and children penniless.
Classifying thr Railway Mail Service.
Washington dispatch : The postmas
ter general has nearly completed the
classification of the railway mail service
under the civil service rules and regula
tions. Under this classification , which
may be amended before final adoption ,
the employes are divided into ten
classes , viz : A , B , C , D and E , and 1 ,
2 , 3 , 4 and 5. Class A will represent
those who receive an annual salary of
82,000 or over. The intermediate num
bers and letters represent , in increasing
order , those whose salaries are moro
than $940 and less than $2,000. Local
examining boards will be established in
every congressional district , and vacan
cies on any line will be filled from the
list of eligibles in the district through
which the line runs. Important posi
tions in the service , when they become
vacant , will be filled by promotion on
merit in the ranks , J
TEE CAMP FIRE.
A Mexican War Eelic Tho Eighth1
Iowa Infantry An Interesting
Incident , etc.
The Sultana Explosion A. Xew Glory
The awful explosion on tho steamer
Sultana near Memphis twenty-throo
years ago , in which nearly 2,000 Union
soldiers lost their lives , has always been
a mystery. Tho survivors have recently
made a number of statements regarding
the affair , but tho most sensational
story was recently told by William C.
Streeter , of St. Louis.
"Yes , I know something about tho
Sultana disaster , " said Mr. Streeter , in
reply to an inquiry. "I can give the
cause of tho explosion. A torpedo in
closed in a lump of coal was carried
aboard the steamer at Memphis and de-
Cosited on the coal pile in front of tho
oilers for tho express purpose of caus
ing her destruction. The man who
placed the torpedo on the boat is my
authority , fori had the statement from
his own lips.
"Ho was a notorious Confederate
mail carrier and blockade-runner. He
was captured some live or six times , and
once , at least , was sentenced to death
by a military commission in this city.
Toward the close of tho war , it will be
remembered , President Lincoln issued
an order that no one should be executed
under military laws until the sentence
bad been confirmed by the President.
"It was while awaiting confirmation
of the sentence that he escaped from
the military prison in this city and made
bis way South , where he remained until
after the close of the war. His friends
obtained a pardon for him from Presi
dent Johnson , and armed with that , he
returned to his home in St. Louis. It
was after his return home that he told
mo the story of how he smuggled the
torpedo on board the Sultana.
"His real name was Robert Lowden ,
but he was always known in this city by
his alias , Charlie Dale. He was a paint
er , and he worked in the same shop with
me for William H. Gray some three
years after the close of the war. Dale
was at that time a young , vigorous
dare-devil. He possessed bravery of a
certain kind , I think , equal to that of
any man who ever lived. He told me
that he had fired no less than half a
dozen steamboats on the Mississippi. I
asked him what he knew about the Sul-
tana explosion. Then he told me the
story of the torpedo in the coal , and ,
using his own expression , 'It had got to
be too ticklish a job to set a boat afire
and get away from her. '
"Out of a hundred other of Dale's
daring exploits during the war one in
particular impressed me forcibly as
showing the character of this remark
able man.
"It was accomplished while the
Federal fleet was lying between Mem
phis and Vicksburg. Dale had escaped
from prison in this city and was on his
way South. He was in a quandary for
several days as to how he was going to
get through the Federal lines. Finalby
he hit upon a plan and it was successful.
He got a coffin at Memphis , calked it up
with white lead , and launched it on the
Mississippi. Then he laid himself out in
the ghastly-looking boat and floated
down the stream. He passed the Gov
ernment gunboats at night , and two or
three times when the current of the
stream drifted the coffin up against the
hulls of the boats he reached out with
his hands , pushed his craft clear , and
landed in the morning safe within the
Confederate lines.
"Before the war Dale was a member
of the old Liberty Volunteer Fire Com
pany in this city , and was well known
to a great many people living here now.
"He died in New Orleans during the
yellow-fever epidemic along in the latter
part of the 60s. "
A 9Iexican War Hellc.
Col. George S. Jones , of Manila , Rush
county , Ind. , a Special Examiner of the
Pension Bureau , has in his possession a
gold medal presented to Gen. Winfield
Scott by the State of Virginia , wnich he
found in his travels a short time ago.
This medal has inscribed upon it a copy
of the resolutions presenting it in full
on one side , and on the other is a monu
ment bearing the names of the various
battles in which Gen. Scott distinguish
ed himself fr > n > the warof 1812 to the
Mexican war , inclusive , with a beauti
ful contour of the Capital City of Mex
ico resting upon its romantic hills , and
the battle and movement of the troops
at its capture. The medal weighs twelve
ounces avoirdupois , and is made of fine
gold. There is an interesting history
connected with its preservation during
and since the war. It has been in the
soldier's camp and on the battlefield , in
the curiosity-shop with the old waste
metal , and in the jeweler's shop to be
• worked into rings , its possessor little
knowing its value or the kind of metal
of which it is composed. But the magic
name of "Winfield Scott" has almost
miraculously saved it from destruction.
Col. Jones will take steps to preserve
it
An Interesting : Incident.
Col. Musser relates an interest
ing incident of army experi
ence which occurred while he was in
command of the post at Washington ,
Ark. , in the summer of 1864. The story
as related is told by a federal officer , a
prisoner in camp , to Capt. James T.
Otey of the 8th Missouri infantry. The
captain was playing the part of the hos
pital host toward his guest and prisoner ,
through the medium of a couple of tin
cups and a jug filled with home-made
whisky , clear as crystal and uncontam-
inated by an excise tax. Lieut. Boren
• was a federal officer in an Ohio regi
ment and has fallen intojthe hands of
Dick Taylor about the time of Bank's
Red river expedition. Becoming weary
of captivity and disgusted with confed
erate rations , he planned with several
of his f ellow-prisoners a scheme by which
at least one of their members might
make his escape. Whisky poker was
played to determine which one should
be given the first chance. Lieut. Boren
won. In accordance with the scheme
agreed to he feigned death , was buried
by his comrades in a shallow grave , and
succeeded in making his resurrection
after the departure of the confederates
and companions. The deserted grave
was discovered during the day by some
loiterers about the camping-place , and
the ruse dropped onto. " and reported
to { he co * mmandant at"3larshfield , * La. , 'l
who immediately set a pack of blood
hounds to track the fugitive. After the
trail was struck all of these but one
.were called off. This one continued the
pursuit , and at the end of the third day
overtook.and traced-the lieutenant-im
the dense woods near Washington , Ark.
The hound guarded the tree for three
days and three nights , until the soldiers ,
who took their time in the pursuit , ar
rived and again took charge of the well-
nigh starved fugitive. St. Louis Bepub-
licaru
N Soldiers Needed.
"There is one thing that surprises me
about America and especially about
Washington , " said an English gentle
man , "and that is the feeling of absolute
safety which seems to pervade the at
mosphere in all directions. I refer more
1
• (
/
particularly to tho condition of your
Treasury. By tho courtesy of your of
ficials I was ithown through the vaults ,
whero almost counties * millions of sil
ver aro stored , and I was allowed tho
privilege even of entering the innermost
recesses of tho strong rooms whero your
public funds are stored , and there wero
no guards but tho clerks employed
there.
"Then , too , I noticed in passing tho
Treasury Building last night that all
wasas quiet as a grave. A few glim
mering lights in sotno of tho windows
showed mo that there was an occasional
watchman insido of tho building , but
there was no sign on the outside to show
that any precaution had been taken to
prevent a wholesale robbery. Tho Bank
of England , which is tho great deposi
tory of tho city of London , and is per
haps the largest financial institution of
the world , is conducted on far different
principles. Every night a visitor who
happens to bo in the neighborhood of
Threadncedle street will find a squad of
soldiers from the barracks in tho West
End filing down to take their positions
as the nightwatch. These men nro kept
on duty from tho timo the bank closes
until it opens on tho following day.
There are posted at all sections , and
pace the street surrounding the bank
with a regularity of sentries around a
camp. I do not know but that your
system is far mpre attractive , to a for
eigner , although tho absence of every
thing military hero is extremely strango
to one familiar with what your poli
ticians term the ell'eto monarchies of
Europe. "
BlaJ. Bnndy'H WlilHky Shot.
Some interesting things , says tho
Kenesaw Gazette , aro remembered by
Sherman's Atlanta campaign veterans
in connection with Lieut. Bundy , com
manding a battery of artillery now
known as Maj. Bundy , and ono of the
editorial writers on Deacon Shepard's
New York Mail and Express.
Lieut. Bundy had a tooth for a good
toddy , and ono morning at Kenesaw
mountain had sampled some "Diamond
B" commissary with some other officers ,
and reached his battery in excellent
spirits. Soon Col. Geary rode that way ,
and , observing the lieutenant , gruflly
addressed him like this :
"Lieut. Bundy , you are drunk ! "
Bundy answered back quick as a flash :
"Col. Geary , you are a d liar ! "
Here was a situation. Geary was
about to put Bundy under arrest , saying
to him , : , * „ . . * * * *
"You are so drunk"you don't know
that gun from a hollow log. "
"I don't , eh ! I'll show you whether
I do or not. See that bunch of rebs
over there ? " pointing to a group of con
federate officers taking an observation
from an eminence half a mile away ,
"Just watch me scatter 'em. "
Seizing the tail of a gun , he jerked it
around , got the range , adjusted every
thing to his liking , gave the order to
fire , exploding a four-inch shell right in
the midst of the group of confederates ,
who hastily retired to cover , carrying
with them their wounded.
Col. Geary withdrew his offensive re
marks , complimented Bundy on his
skill , and rode away.
Lieut. Bundy was anexpertartillerist ,
and could land a shell about where ho
wanted to.
The writer has often heard it said by
federals who ought to know that he
fired the shot that killed Gen. Polk.
"Unscr Fritz" and n Yankee JDoetor.
It is told that while the late Emperor
Frederick was in London for the queen ' s
jubilee , Sir Morell Mackenzie introduced
a noted American doctor to him. After
a careful examination of his throat the
imperial patient , in his usual cheerful
manner inquired : "I suppose an imperial
throat is very much like that of other
mortals ? " "Well , sir , " came the quick
reply , "we will try and make it so , at
any rate. " The then crown prince thor
oughly appreciated the quick Yankee
wit , and , striking his broad chest , said :
"But this is all right , is it not ? " The
Yankee gravely looked the splendid pro
portions of the illustrious patient up
and down and then deliberatel } ' drawled
out : "As for the rest , sir , you would
make a good American. " Fritz's merri
ment was great , but the German doctors
present were aghast at such levity.
London Letter.
Items.
Michigan , has 142 relief corps.
Millord , N. H. , is to have a memorial
hall.
hall.Rank
Rank and File Post , Milwaukee , Wis. ,
has a membership of fifty-five.
The difference between gold and green
backs in the payment of three years'
service is estimate to be $153.40.
The Twenty-first Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry holds its second reunion at
Waupaca , Wis. , June 20 and 21.
The Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteers
holds its second reunion at LaCrosse ,
Wis. , the last Tuesday in September.
The commanders of the four Grand
Army posts in Milwaukee , Wis. , were
private soldiers when they entered the
service.
The bell used as a prison signal at
Andersonville Prison during thewar is
now the property of Heys brothers ,
Americus , Ga. .
The W. R. C. at Tecumseh , Neb. , re
cently gave a very successful entertain
ment , netting their relief fund a very
handsome sum.
It is reported that the railroads have
agreed on a rate of 1 cent per mile to
those meeting the National Encamp
ment at Columbus.
The amount expended last year in
Merrimack county , N. H. , under the law
for the relief of dependent veterans and
their families , was § 3,026.02.
Capt. George E. Smith , commander of
Harvey Post , Racine , was recently sur
prised by the presentation of a l > eauti-
ful gold-headed cane by his comrades.
Robert Chivas Post , Milwaukee , Wis. ,
owns real estate valued at about $20-
000. The post will invest ? 6,000 in re
pairs of their hall during the present
year.
The Lacrosse and Lemonweir Valley
Veterans' Association and LaCros-e
County Veterans * Association will hold a
joint reunion at LaCrosse June 12 , 13 ,
and 14.
Two hundred of the delegates to the
Methodist Conference who had served
under General Grant during the rebel-
lion'made a formal call upon Mrs. Grant
recently. They were received bv Mrs.
Grant and Colonel Fred Grant ancf wife.
The leading associations of veterans
and auxiliary societies are as follows :
Grand Army of the Republic , Royal Le-
Lgion , UnionVeterans' Union , Union Vet
erans' Legion , Union ex-Prisoners of
War , National Association of Naval
Veterans , Woman's Relief Corps , and
Sons of Veterans ,
Rosswell Miller , recently elected Pres
ident of the Chicago , Milwaukee & St.
Paul Railway , in 18G2. when only 19
years of age. enlisted as a private at
Auburn , N. Y. , in Company E , Third
Light Artillery. He was promoted sev
eral times , at the close of the war being
in command of the Lattery. He was
Adjutant General for General A. E.
Burnside , late Commander-in-Chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
,
- * -
_ H
- f
Current VtlU 3
At a westorn church fair a device
for getting up n testimonial to tha - : |
pastor boro tho following legend : |
' 'Drop ft dollar in tho slob and sea . i
tho pastor smilo. " [ . ; * j
Doctor "Well , how Is our patient * J |
this morning ? " Nursa "Bad , doc * * |
tor bad : bIio has taken all tho modi- nl
Dines you proscribed , and nothing II
but her iron will , keops her alive. " II
Worso yet , "John , you aro not J j
listening to a word I am saying. " :11
" . " "I , * I
"Why my dear I am all ears.
know you aro , and that makes it alj I
tho moro provoking. " I
What is tho differenco botweon a jj
3oldiernnda pretty woman ? Ono * J
faces tho powder and the other pow"j |
ders tho face. Jl
"Well , mothor , " said tho Prince , jl
kissing tho Queen's hand afiictionato- I
ly , "how is Kate ? " "Kato ? " queried I
Victoria , "what Kato ? " "Abdicate , " II
retorted tho Prince , with a roarot J
laughter that loosened tho rollers on il
tho throne. And her MajestyTpt. . il
New York Sun. I
"What time , " asked a lady , with I
an armful of bundles , "does tho next I
train leave ? " "It lenvcs on schedule I
time , " responded the afTablo and ac- M
Kommodating ticket agent. And tho I
! ady retired to the waiting room with
the remark that sho didn't know it 1
( eft so late. I
First confirmed bargain-hunter I
See my lovely apron ; only 25 cents ! I
Second C. B. 11. Why , I got ono I
just like it for 23 cents. Frst C. B I
tl.0 , where , whore ? I must go and I
ot ono right away. 1 don't need . I
any more , but ono can't aflord to I
let such bargins go , don't you know. I
The Idea.
Lady Why did you not serve the I
aardines as I told you ? Biddy I I
couldn't foind tho secret spring to
owpen the tin box , and I had to
break it with a hatchet , and when I I
lefted tho lid mum , the poor
things wero all fast asleep ivir so I
close to one another , and I hadn't
the heart to roast 'cm as waz my in- H
tintion. Time. fl
"And so you are married ? And I I
3upposo you aro perfectly happy ? " I
"Well , I don't know. Tell you tho I
truth , Mary isn't what I thought sho I
was. She used to tell me , beforo
marriage , how she loved me ; but we H
hadn't been married a week before H
3he quit dressmaking. That shows fl
how much you can depend upon a fl
woman's love. " Boston Transcript. H
He Hadn't Disobeyed The little I
boy had come 'in with his clothes fl
torn , his hair full of dust and his face fl
bearing unmistakable marks of a Befl
vere conflict. "Oh , AVillie ! Williel"
exclaimed his mother , deeply shocked fl
and grieved , "you have disobeyed H
me again. How often I have told H
you not to play with that wicked fl
Stapleford boy ! " "Mamma , " said fl
Willie , washing the blood from his fl
nose , "do I look as if I had been H
playing with anybody. H
It is related of a clergyman , who H
was the happy father ot a charming H
and beautiful daughter , that ono H
day while preparing his Sunday dis- H
course , he was suddenly called away H
from his desk on a mission of mercy. H
So imperative was tiiesummonsthat H
he left unfinished this sentence : "I H
never see a young man of splendid M
physique and the promise of a glori- H
ous manhood almost realized , but H
my heart is filled with rapture and H
delight. " His daughter , happening H
In the study , saw the sermon and H
read the wards. Sitting down , sho H
wrote underneath : "Them's my sen- H
timents , papa , exactly. " Boston H
Traveler. H
Similarity of Bear Stories Maino H
Hunter I'll tell yeou 'bout a bear I . H
Experienced Visitor I know all H
about it. The bear had a cub and H
attacked you , and after using up all H
your ammunition you finally drew H
your pocket-knife and killed tho H
brute. Maine Hunter Wal , now , ef M
that ain't jest the way it happened * |
who told yeou ? Experienced Visitor |
No one : but I've heard about 130 |
bear stories since I've been here , and |
ine very blessed case the hero used M
up all his ammunition and finally M
killed the bear with a pocket-knife. M
The mystery to me is why you fel * | H
iows don't start in with the pocket- M
knife at first. Puck. M
A Tale rAn "II. " I
Charles Whymper , the well-known. M
engraver and animal painter of Lon- M
ion , told a Pittsburg Dispatch man M
the following story a few years ago : M
"I dined at Alderman So-and so's M
last night , and as a mark of honor H
ais eldest daughter was assigned to H
me to take down to dinner. She's a fl
aright girl , but the way she drops her H
"hV is enough to make a man's hair H
iurngray. But I got along very fl
nicely with her , and Lady Blethering- H
ton on the other side , until the ladies H
were on the eve of retiring to the fl
drawing room. "The Alderman had M
but recently moved out to Highgatef M
and I was talking about the beautifl
ful scenery near the house , the view3 H
to be had from the windows , the fine fl
air , and so on , when Miss sudfl
clenly said , 'Ithinklget prettierevery fl
day , don't you ? " H
"What did she mean ? Ididn'tdare fl
to answer her , so I said , * I beg your H
pardon what did you say ? " fl
• ' 'Isaid I think I get prettierevery fl
day. * H
"Therewasnomistakeinherwords , fl
so I said , 'Yes , I think so.too , .ind no H
.vonder in such fresh air and ' H
"Butr ju3C then < she : caughther H
mother ' s eye , and with the other H
iadies she rose and left the room. As H
she wentout she looked back over H
her shoulder with such a withering. . H
scorn in her eyes that I knew I had H
put my foot in it somehow. Then it H
Hashed upon me that I had misunder H
3tood her ; she had dropped an h ; what fl
she had said was not a silly compli- H
ment to herself the sentence really H
was , 'I think Highgate prettier every H
day. ' "
1 think Mr. Whymper was never H
invited to Alderman So-and-so's H
again. fl
