The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, September 07, 1900, Image 3

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    Bold Work of Fusion Officials in the Sol
dier's Home at Grand Island.
THE COMMANDANT AND PHYSICIAN
In Charge Indulge la HIgh-IImided Ac t
lu-Ide lght on the Dissipation of
the Drug and Othejr JTuuch * A Chain
of Scandals.
GRAND ISLAND , Neb. , August 27.
The Soldiers' Home at Grand Island
adds another long chapter to the his
tory of gross mismanagement of the
state Institutions under the Poynter
administration.
It is a story of fraud , debauchery ,
Criminal negligence , abuse of the in
mates and kindred offenses , in which
high officials at the Home are direct
ly involved.
The commandant of the Home is L.
A. Beltzer. In hia efforts to replenish
his exchequer he has permitted no
opportunity to escape. Beltzer is as
sociated with his son in the publica
tion of a weekly fusion paper known
as the Polk County Independent. As
a result of this , nearly all the job
printing for the institution is done by
the Beltzers , for which they have
Charged their own prices and drawn
hundreds of dollars from the state
treasury. In many instances the state
has paid money to the Beltzers on bills
that have not been receipted , and , so
far as this evidence Is concerned , there
is nothing to show that they have
ver been paid , aside from the fact
1hat the warrant record shows that
warrants have been issued on the state
treasury by the' ' auditor. In many in
stances , too , claims have been allowed
the commandant and the physician in
charge , without any bill being ren
dered. Voucher B42182 is a voucher
drawn in favor of Dr. Swigart , the
physician in charge at the Home ia
payment for a $7 truss which he
claimed to have purchased , but no
bill from the dealer showing that it
had been purchased has ever been
filed or presented.
In the last year the Beltzers have
drawn upwards of $500 for printing
material furnished the Home , most of
which has been paid out of the fund
appropriated for "express , telephone
and supplies" ( see voucher B33342 ,
B33343 , B34913 , B34914. B36376 , B36377 ,
B37532 , B40297 , B4218G , B42598 , B43446 ,
B44329 , B44915 , B45654 , B46425B47050. )
The Library fund has also been at
tacked by the Beltzers and some of
that fund has been diverted to the
cash drawer of the Polk County In
dependent. In all , about $20 was tak
en from this fund ( see vouchers
B34916 , B43445 , and B47049) ) .
The Beltzers not only conduct a
newspaper plant , but they also own
and conduct a nursery. It is charged
that the Star nursery , the one owned
by Commandant Beltzer , supplied the
trees that were planted on the grounds
of the Home last spring , thus provid
ing the industrious commandant with
another route to the treasury. In no
instance has the state entered into a
contract with Beltzer for printing or
for nursery stock. He has had no
competition , no bids being asked for ,
and the result is that he has charged
the state outrageous prices.
One claim rendered shows that he
charged the state $18.75 for 5,000 en-
A'elopes ( of poor material ) , or at the
rate of $3.75 per thousand , a price
fully 35 per cent higher than is
charged by almost anv other printing
office in the state to regular custom
ers. The same claim calls for $7.50
for 2,000 letter-heads ( of an inferior
Duality of paper ) , or at the rate of
$3.75 per thousand , a price 30 per cent
above the average charge.
Voucher B34914 for $37 was drawn in
favor of Commandant Beltzer in pay
ment of a claim for printing itemized
as follows :
1,000 Morning Report Blanks ? 4.25
5,000 Envelopes ( cheap quality ) . 18.75
2,000 Pass Blanks 5.00
200 Commandent Reply Blanks 1.50
2,000 Letter-Heads ' ( inferior qual
ity ) 7.50
In this instance no bill was ever
rendered and none is attached to the
voucher on file. In fact there is no
evidence , beyond Commandant Belt-
zer's naked statement , that the ma
terial was ever delivered.
Nor is Commandant Beltzer content
ed with drawing $1,500 , furnishing
printed material at excessive prices
and unloading inferior stock from his
nursery upon the state. He has gone
farther , and has succeeded in placing
the name of his 19-year-old son , C. B.
Beltzer , on the payroll as hospital
steward at $30 per month and board ,
lodging and washing.
SERIOUS CHARGES.
The official most tinder the ban of
suspicion at the Home is the physi
cian in charge , "Dr. H. M. Swigart. His
record at the Home , as told by the in
mates and by documentary evidence , is ,
to say the least , a shameful one. Apart
from dissipation and culpable neglect ,
it is charged that he is incompetent ,
and , what is equally as bad , that he
has played fast and loose with the
funds allotted to his department. Dr.
Swigart has been in office a little over
a year , and yet he has already ex
hausted the $1,500 appropriated for
drugs and instruments , and bills of
this character are now being paid out
of other funds. The drug fund was
exhausted May 18th , or in less than
C ten months after Dr. Swigart took
charge.
DR. SADLER TALKS.
Dr. Sadler , who is a fusionist and
who was physician in charge at the
Home for four years preceding Dr.
Swigart , when asked to explain the
cause of the dissipation of the drug
fund by Dr. Swigart said :
"There is certainly something
crooked about it. I will guarantee to
run the department on $1,500 per year
for drugs and instruments , and have
S900 of that amount left over to put
in my pocket. I ran the Home four
years on $2,000 , and I had money in
the fund and a large supply of drugs
on hand at the end of that time. When
Dr. Swigart succeeded me I turned
over to him enough drugs to last the
Home for at least two months , and I
turned over the balance of money re
maining in the fund to the state. I
had $1,000 to run the Home two yeais ,
and , as I have said , at the end of the
two years I still had some of the
money left and a large surplus of
drugs. In ten months Dr. Swigart has
used almost as much money for drugs
as I have used in four years , and that
in face of the fact that there has been
only a slight increase in the number
of inmates with practically no increase
In the number of hospital patients.
"Then , too , when I was at the Home ,
the inmates got all their medicine
from me , whereas I know of my own
personal knowledge that more than 30
per cent of the medicines now used
at the Home are purchased down
town by the inmates themselves out
of their own private funds. The truth
is , on account of the amount of med
icines purchased in town at private
expense , the $1,500 which Dr. Swigart
had at his command should have been
more than sufficient to last the two
years for which it was appropriated. "
"How do you account for the short
age in the drug fund ? "
" "I will say frankly that I don't be
lieve that that amount of drugs was
ever delivered to the Home. I believe
the state has been charged for drugs
it never received. It would be impos-
sile to use $1,500 in ten months for
drugs and instruments. Fully half the
amount has been diverted. There is
fraud somewhere , and that is all there
is to it.
"I know of my own personal know
ledge that Dr. Swigart was absent
from the Home more than one-third
of the time in the last year. While
absent , his duties were attended to
by Dr. Kirby. Dr. Swigart drew his
.salary just the same and Dr. Kirby
was paid well , if you ask him he
will probably tell but my opinion is
that he was paid out of the drug fund
and bills were rendered for drugs
never delivered , and the money paid
over to Dr. Kirby. I think this is
where a great deal of the drug fund
went , and that this accounts for the
funds being exhausted.
DR. KIRBY EXPOSES THE DEAL.
By inquiry it was ascertained that
Dr. Kirby had removed to Beatrice and
it was at the latter place that he was
interviewed. When asked if he had
been paid for attending to Dr. Swi-
gart's duties at the Home while he
was away , Dr. Kirby said :
"Yes , I have been paid part of what
is due to me. Dr. Swigart was absent
during much of the last half of 1899
and the early part of this year and I
attended to his duties during that time.
I usually made out my monthly bill
and handed it to him and he would
go into the drug store of Tucker &
Farnsworth and come out with the
money. He did this on eight or ten
different occasions. In all he paid me
in this way about $600. I asked no
questions , but I had a pretty strong
opinion how the deal was worked.
This drug firm had the contract at that
time for furnishing drugs to the Home.
I still have $185 coming from the
Home for services rendered. "
An investigation of the official rec
ords disclosed the fact that , for some
unaccountable reason , with the excep
tion of one-quarter , this same drug
firm ( Farnsworth & Tucker ) has had
the contract for supplying drugs ever
since Dr. Swigart took charge. Dr.
Swigart has absolute charge of the
drug supplies , he orders what ho
pleases and he does his own receiving
and checking. No account has been
kept of drugs received at the Home ex
cept by him. Recently , as a result of
startling rumors , Commandant Beltz
er installed his son as Hospital Stew
ard , but , as he is a young man with
no practical knowledge of medicines
or drugs , the change provides no safe
guard and amounts to nothing more
than an increase in the income of the
Beltzer family of $30 per month.
NOT A FIT MAN.
Dr. Sadler and Dr. Kirby both agree
that Dr. Swigart is not a fit man for
the position" he occupies. Both felt
restrained by professional courtesy ,
yet each was of the opinion that the
circumstances were such as to justify
an infraction of the established rule
among professional men.
Dr. Kirby said :
"Dr. Swigart is not a fit man for the
position. His professional knowledge
is limited and he is addicted to the
use of liquor. He is not skilled in
surgery nor has he much general
knowledge of diseases and medicines.
"I remember one instance where I
was called to attend an old soldier in
mate named Dye , whom he was attend
ing. On reaching ' the home I found Dye
great pain'and , upon examining him ,
I discovered that in giving him an
enema a pile tumor had been punc
tured and ( what would soon have
proven fatal ) hemorrhage had result
ed. I upbraided him for the blunder
and he tried to evade responsibility by
saying that not he , but his brother ,
did it. Dr. Swigart's brother was not
a doctor and tne enormity of the
blunder was in no way lessened by
his attempt to shift the blame.
"An inmate named Henry Curtis was
taken down with small pox and Dr.
Swigart , when my attention was called ,
was doctoring him for chicken pox. He
had Curtis in the same ward with
twenty other patients. I saw at a
glance that it was small pox and I
told Dr. Swigart he should remove
Curtis at once to the pest house. He
said no ; that it was simply chicken
pox. I told him if he did not remove
him at pnce that I would appeal to
the local authorities , get help and do
it myself , as there was great danger
of the disease spreading to all of the
325 inmates. He then yielded and isolated
elated Curtis. The poor fellow died
shortly afterwards. I think it was
about the latter part of May of this
year.
"Fortunately only one case resulted
from the exposure and I was called
and attended to that one and pulled
the fellow through.
"It is my professional opinion that
Dr. Swigart is unfit for that or any
other position requiring any great
amount of knowledge of diseases ,
medicines and anatomy. "
It is a notorious fact , and it is the
talk about town , that a large amount
of liquor is bought , ostensibly for the
Home , but in reality for other pur
poses and reasons. It is charged that ,
not only does Dr. Swigart require it
for personal use , but that he has sold
whiskey bought by the state to inmates
and made no report of the money.
One inmate has already made an affi
davit to the effect that he ourchased
(
whiskey at the Home from Dr. Swi
gart , and another that Dr. Swigart
refused to furnish liquor on a pre
Bcrlptlon , but told him that any time
he wanted to ouy whiskey to come
and see him. Under the rule no one
is allowed to bring liquor into the
Home from the outside except on the
written permission of the official phy
sician. This gives the physician Ir
charge a monopoly and it also affords
him an opportunity to enforce patron
age at the dispensary , an opportunlt >
evidently that has not been over
looked.
looked.FEASTING
FEASTING AT THE CRIB.
From the Commandant down , the
officials at the Home know a soft snap
when they see it. They are not over
looking anything. Those who have
relatives seem to take interest in hav
ing them live at the expense of the
state.
Commandant Beltzer is there with
his wife and two sons. One of his
sons is on the pay roll as hospita
steward.
John H. Powers is' there as adjutant
with his wne , son and daughter
Until recently the dauchtcr had s
horse which she kept there at the
state's expense. His son is on the
pay-roll as farm hand at $17 per
month.
Dr. Swigart is there with his wife ,
son and daughter , and , until recently
his brother and his wife. Both Swi
gart and Beltzer have private turn
outs at the state's expense. Dr. Swi-
gart's brother has had his name on
pay roll in one capacity and anothei
until recently , when he was discharged
on account of brutality and dis
sipation.
'
DISSIPATING THE FUNDS.
It would lake an expert juggler to
keep track of the way the funds are
being juggled. Vouchers have been
drawn for drugs against the "main
tenance fund" ( see Vouchers B47031 ,
and B45C43) ) , and repairs have been
paid for out of the "fuel fund" see
Voucher B4394G. The "telephone and
express" fund has been drawn on
heavily by the Beltzers for printing
material. The June salary voucher
of this year shows the payment of $2
to H. M. Swigart as hospital steward ,
though he is the regular salaried phy
sician ( See Voucher B46725) . There
is an abundance of other evidence of
this same character.
SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF IN
MATES.
Much complaint is made concerning
the mistreatment of the old soldier in
mates. One instance is recited where
an inmate named J. T. Stewart sick
ened and died from a cancer in the
mouth. He was let go a whole year
without having his hair cut or his
beard trimmed , and during his sick
ness he was otherwise shamefully neg
lected by the physician and attend
ants. Finally , the old soldiers under
took to help him , and upon cutting
off his beard it was discovered that all
the flesh in the region of his neck and
chin was almost one solid mass of
maggots. One of the inmates counted
200 maggots which he removed from
the sick man's jaws and throat. This
same individual said that at one time
he was with Stewart continuously for
11 days and nights and that all that
time Stewart neither received medicine
nor medical attention. Dr. Swigart
was repeatedly requested to attend
him , but Stewart , in a desperate effort
to conquer the dread malady , had
committed the unpardonable crime of
buying a bottle of some patent cancer
cure that had been recommended to
him by a friend , and Swigart therefore
refused to minister to his wants. The
story of this man's suffering and neg
lect , as related by the inmates , is a
terrible one. Many other inmates
have been refused medical attention ,
and the abuse has been carried to that
extent that more than 30 per cent of
the medicines used at the Home are
now being bought by the inmates out
of their private funds.
KILLING YOUNG STOCK.
For some reason , presumably to
make a better showing in the expense
account or to keep that account from
reaching enormous proportions , the
management is killing off young steers
and heifers for meat for the Home.
Those in position to know say that
this is false economy , as it will result
in the destruction of what was until
a short time ago a very fine and profit
able herd of cattle. The old soldiers
say , however , that the young stock is
killed for tne officials only , and that
inmates have to put up with sow
belly , bread and butter. This , they
say , is their diet sick or well.
PET CONTRACTORS COLLAPSE.
The contract for constructing a new
hospital building at the Home was let
to Blake & Company of Lincoln for
$12,500. They are the pet contractors
of the State House ring , and in the
last two years they have been identi
fied with the construction of several
public buildings. At this point , after
absorbing much of the amount named
in the contract , they threw up the con
tract and their bondsmen are now
completing the building. At best it
will be a poor structure , as a large
quantity of second grade material has
been used and nearly all the wood
work is of inferior material.
L. W. Pomerene , another favorite
contractor of tne State House ring ,
who has had quite a monopoly of the
plumbing in new public buildings the
last two years , has cut off another
large slice of pie at this place. His
vouchers call for more than $2,000 ,
but it is stated that the work of set
ting the boilers and making the nec
essary changes and repairs , for which
he received over $2,100 , could have
been done profitably for 33 per cent
less. ( See Voucher B4394G. )
The superintendent of construction
of the new hospital is J. W. Ember-
son , a fusionist carpenter from Lin
coln. His knowledge of architecture
is limited and he has had little exper
ience with brick and stone work , yet
he is paid $5 per day and that , too , out
of the money appropriated for the
construction of the building proper.
Inmates of the Home say that he
spends much of his time playing cro
quet and cards. Since October 1st ,
1899 to May Sth , 1900 , he has drawn
out of this fund $620. ( See Vouchers
B37825 , B39178 , B40090 , B40967 , B42150 ,
B42G54 , B43077 , B434D1 and B437SO. )
The strange part of the whole mat
ter is , that not one bill has been aud
ited nor a voucher made out at Grand
Island , where the material Is being
delivered and the work is being done.
AH the auditing , all the checking and
figuring , has been done at Lincoln. In
this respect this In the single excep
tion throughout the state , and why It
is nobody at Grand Island seems to
know , though some people are doing
a great deal of abstract thinklne. This
is scarcely less strange , however , than
the building of a barn costing $1,200
without advertising for bids , some
thing that was done here the last year.
ON STATE GROUNDS.
John F. Scott , a tuslonist , enjoya
the distinction of being about the onlj
man in Nebraska who has been set
up in business at the state's expenses.
Scott has a private store building ,
owned by himself and situated on the
public grounds within 30 feet of the
main building , where he deals in to
bacco , cigars , cigarettes , fancy grocer
ies , pop , soda water , etc. The building
was piped and furnished with radi
ators at the state's expense , and it is
lighted and heated now at the state's
expense. He also gets ice during the
summer for use in his store from the
supplies bought for the state , and pay
nothing for it. Scott has been doing
business at this stand for about four
years and the state is paying the fid
dler.
dler.One
One thing is strange about the bills
of expense of the members of the Vis
iting and Examining Board. Though
the distance traveled , the work done ,
and the legitimate expense is the same
each time , not a single member in the
last two years has presented two bills
alike in amount. Each time the
amount differs , though why , is a mys
tery.
tery.The
The last legislature appropriated
$94,870 for the Home , but it is appar
ent now that there will be a large de
ficiency at the end of Governor Poyn-
tcr's term. Upon the whole , the man
agement has not only been extrava
gant , but it has been that extravagant
as to indicate unmistakably down
right dishonesty and fraud.
Not long ago an old soldier came to
Grand Island direct from Canada.
Under the law , before an applicant can
be admitted to the Home , he must be
a resident of the state at least two
years. The County Board of Hall
county refused to entertain his appli
cation , but he went back to the Home ,
told the officials that he was a fusion
ist and , not only received a suit of
clothes at the expense of the state ,
but was put to work on a salary , an
act clearly illegal.
KKYAN SYXOXOMOUS OF SILVKK.
In 1896 when Bryan got control of
the democratic party he made free
coinage of silver the paramount issue
and has since waged an unsuccessful
campaign along this line. He mis
judged the intelligence of the "great
common people , " and it would seem
that he has not as yet been able to
get in touch with them , for in the
Kansas City platform made ( made
public ) last July , the silver plank is
reiterated and the country is again
threatened with the dire consequences
that would attend the enaction of a
free silver bill by a democratic con
gress and president. Referring to the
election of Bryan in 1896 we repro
duce the following from Hon. Carl
Schurz. What it meant then it means
now , for Bryan and free silver are
again the issue.
"The mere apprehension of a possi
bility of Mr. Bryan's election and the
consequent placing of our country
upon the silver basis has already
caused untold millions of our securi
ties to be thrown upon the market.
Scores of business orders are already
recalled , a large number of manufac
turing establishments have already
stopped or restricted their operations ,
enterprise is already discouraged and
nearly paralyzed. Many works of
public utility by industrial or rail
road companies have already been
ordered off , thousands of workingmen
are already thrown out of employment ,
gold is already being hoarded , capital
is already being sent out of the coun
try to be invested in Europe for safe
ty. And why all this ? Not , as the
sliver men foolishly pretend , because
the existing gold standard has made
money scarce , for capital is lying idle
In heaps , scores upon scores of mil
lions , fairly yearning for safe employ
ment. No ; ask those concerned why-
all this happens , and with one voice
they will tell you it is because they
apprehend serious danger in every
dollar ventured out through the change
of our standard of value in prospect ,
through the debasement of our cur
rency threatened by the free silver
coinage movement. And if these are
the effects of a mere apprehension of
a possibility , what would"be the effect
of the event itself ? There is scarcely
an imaginable limit to the destruction
certain to be wrought by the business
disturbances that Mr. Bryan's mere
election would cause. "
Afraid of Those Angels.
"W'hen I put my little girl to bed
ast night , " said a young Philadelphia
mother , "I whispered to her : 'Now
mamma will turn down the gas and
go away , but don't you be afraid here
alone in the dark , for whole flocks of
white angels , with gold wings , will
lover around you , ' Then I went into
he next room. The little girl lay with
her doll in her arms , and after a
while I heard her saying to it : 'Now ,
go to sleep , dolly. Don't bother about
he dark. There's a lot of white an-
gals with gold wings hovering around
vour head. They'll take care of you ,
dolly , but it's funny how afraid of
those white angels I am ! ' "
A Bridegroom at 120.
In the village of Bodru a Turk
named Ismail , said to be 120 years
old , frequently walks to Bartin , ten
miles distant , to sell eggs. He has
had thirty-four wives , the last of
whom he married only a few days ago.
The bride is 60 years his junior , and
he marriage was celebrated with
much solemnity , to the sound of
[ rums and fifes and of volleys from
irearms. The whole village was en
ete. The wedding procession included
all the male progeny of the patriarch
iridegroom , consisting of 140 sons ,
grandsons and great-grandsons. The
number of his female progeny is not
stated.
A Brown Statue In Chicago.
A large bronze statue representing
John Brown , with a drawn sword , and
lolding a negro child , is to be erected
n Lincoln park , Chicago.
LI 1PPEAIS M AID
He Begs the Empress to Appoint Him
Four Assistant Meditators ,
PRINCETUAN AGAIN REPORTED DEAD
Bald to IIaxe IJern Killed During a Fight
with JupuncHo Holers Arc Now Un
popular I'euMitntry Around 1'cklu
AguIiiHt Them.
LONDON , Aug. 30. Sir Chi Chen
Lofengluh , the Chinese minister In
London , asserts he is in constant com
munication with Li Hung Chang , who
is still in Shanghai.
Dispatches received this morning
bring no later news from PCKIII. A
Shanghai tc-egram says Li Hung
Chang has sent a memorial begging
the empress dowager to appoint Prince
Ching , General Yung Lu and the Yang
Tse viceroys as joint peacemakers with
himself.
It is rumored at Shanghai that the
Japanese gained a victory over the
Boxers and Chinese troops from Pei
Tsang and Ho-Si Wu last Thursday at
Teh Choua. The story says 1,500 Chi
nese were killed , including Prince mm
and that all the Chinese were driven
The Hong Kong correspondent of
the Daily Mail , wiring yesterday , says
he understands that General Gaselce ,
the British commander with the allies ,
has countermanded his order summon
ing more troops to the north and that
possibly the British troops will go to
Amay.
The reform party under Kang Yu
Wei is said to be actively preparing
for rebellion.
General Creigh , in the presence of
Vice Admiral Seymour , received 3,000
troops of all nationalities at Shanghai
Wednesday.
It is reported that twenty-five re
formers have been executed at Han
kow , their heads being exposed.
The Taku correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph , wiring August 2(5 ( ,
says the country around Taku and Pe-
kin is devastated , with the result that
the Boxers are most unpopular and are
being attacked by the peasantry. The
Boxers , who were moving north from
Shang Tung , are now returning has
tily to their homes.
Belated dispatches and the stories of
refugees arriving at Che Fee continue
to describe the terrible conditions In
Pekin. One of the worst incidents is
the shocking desecration of the foreign
cemetery outside the west wall. The
details are too revolting to be de-
scrlved. Hundreds of bodies of Chi
nese are found in the streets of PC kin ,
supposed to be those of traitors to the
cause of the Boxers.
The Shanghai correspondent of Uie
Times says a native official telegram
from Pao Ting-Fu announces the ar
rival of the court last Sunday at Tai
Yuen Fu. Communication betwee
kin and Tien Tsm is interrupted ,
sibly because the bands of B
hake the road unsafe for couriers
county north of Yang nm is sa
be flooded.
A German firm is negotiating
Chang Chi Tung , the Wu Chang
rcfy , to lend him 1,000,000 taels o
security of sertain viceregal intlu
undertakings.
A correspondent at New Ch
says the Russians at Hai Chen
awaiting reinforcements , whose
vance is delayed by the impas
condition of the roads to Leao Yang
and Mudken. Meanwhile the native
population of the district is being
treated with the utmost severity. Eye
witnesses report an indiscriminate
slaughter of noncombatants and the
reduction of the country in the vicin
ity of Port Arthur to a state of utter
desolation.
CHINA IS WITHOUT A HEAD.
Emperor is a Fugitive and rovrcrlehH to
Make Terms of Peace.
WASHINGTON , Aug. 30. The lat
est phase of the diplomatic tangle
with the powers interested in China is
the abandonment of objection to the
form of Li Hung Chang's credentials.
At least it may be said that thess ob
jections have been suspended for the
time being. The point of attack on
the part of the powers which are op
posing the recognition of Li Hung
Chang as a plenipotentiary is now the
authority of the titular Chinese gov
ernment to issue any credential wor
thy of recognition. In other words ,
admitting that Li's credentials were
properly issued by Emperor Kwang
Sti , the contention is that that mon
arch , being a fugitive and powerless ,
cannot by himself or through his
agent , Li Hung Chang , enter : nto
any engagement or give any guaran
tee which the Chinese people as a
whole will accept as binding. This
subject is now receiving the careful
attention of the Department of State.
Meanwhile , the department and
president are in ignorance as to the
whereabouts of Li Hung Chang and
from the fact that nothing has been
heard from him for four days at least ,
it is conjectured that he may have
left Shanghai by sea and that he will
next appear in the north of China ,
probably at Taku , and demand access
to Pekin.
CV.iir Says He Hates War. !
LONDON. Aug. 30. "Dr. Leyds * interview - '
terview with Emperor Nicholas , " says
a dispatch to the Daily Mail from St.
Petersburg , "lasted barely five min
utes. The czar said he was sorry he
could do nothing for the Transvaal
except to urge it to make peace , as C
he hated war. " r
Plot to J.tirn Shanghai.
BERLIN. Aug. 30. The Frankfort
Zeitung has received a dispatch from
Shanghai saying a plut nas been dis
covered there to burn the whole city.
[ t is added that the Europeans consider - %
sider the streets unsafe after night
fall and the general situation is de
scribed as critical.
Anarchists Afti-r the Xevr
PARIS , Aug. 29. A dispatch to the
Petit Bleu from Rome says an anar
chist has been arrested at Carrara on
suspicion of having conspired to as
sassinate King Victor Emanuel III.
THE LIVE STOCK MARKET.
Latent Quotation * 1'rnin South
ntul KUIMUN Clly.
SOUTH OMAHA.
t"n ! n Stock Ynnls. Cii.tl Tlu re
ix IUht if.r of cattle 1uln % hut nearly
cvrrythlnj ? on xnlu wim on tincornf d
order. Then ? were very few wt'nttTii.i of
any kind mid packers hoiiKtit th hulk
of the Htufr. The market on tlie licttur
Krudefl of cornft'd cattle was Jiwt about
sternly , though the Kood xupply comlntr
lit th < cm ! of the wwx inailw huyont rath
er brarlaK 1'lKht wnljrhts wi-re In hotter
( lemun 1 and brought filly Atriuly prices ,
but ! om of the heavy cuttli * . MpollcrM
found , did rot mow rfi'pldly and the feel
ing vf.m rather weak , U'ho wcok , how-
ftvor. closes \vlth good cattle right around
lOc or IDC lilK-er than itliu close of luxt
week. Tht t R were only > a few cowa on
-ale an.lfllorH dlsponed of them at about
uteady prlrte. I'ackehi wore pretty well
filled up : , r tlio week and a * a r > nult
were not particularly anxloun about freHh.
suppllus , l'"t they took the better grade *
and. In fact , practically everything of
fered , at abcut "toady prices. TUj feed
er market was not well supplied , there
being practically nothing of any COHHO-
iiuence on Hale. What did chaiiKc handtf
brought about yesterday's prices. ' There
has been a good demand all the week for
the Rood , heavy catlle. both from coun
try buyers and yard tradern. and the mar
ket on that class of snuff has be in acllvit
all the week , but the common. Miht ntuft
has not met wltji such ready salo. There
were no western cattle- here to speak of
and as a result thctc was not much with
which to make a test of the market.
Hogs There was a light supply of hoK
and as Chicago reported a sUrongi-r mar
ket buyers here took hold with consider
able life. The bulk of the hogs oliangt-d
hands on a basis of a . ' > e advance , and. as
there were only about sixty-three cars
on sale , it was not long before the more
desirable loads wen sold. Heavy hogH
wore In a little better demand tud.iy If
they were Kood , and brought from $ ' > M
to jri.O. * . IJ/ht hogs Hold largely frum
> .0. > to t'l.ilT'i. , with a few prime loails go
ing at $ . . .IO and $3.1. . The bulk of all tlm
snleu was at $ 'i.02Vb' ' ' r..07 | . . as ngalnut $1 'JC
< Lif > .or tiio day befoie.
Sheep There were only a few sheep
here , but as the supply all the week has
been rather liberal packets were not
very heavy i.uyers today. As a result ,
the market was rather dull , but about
steady. There was not much done until
late , when a hi ; ; string of lambs sold at
J5.00 , with a 1. . per cent cut. or about the
same as thev would have brought yester
day. What few sheep changed hand *
brought about Steady prices. ( Quotations-
Choice western grass wethers , $ : : : ! f. ' ! . .V ) ;
fair to good grass wethers. $ : : illil ! " > , '
choice grass yearlings. fi.i.V : : : i.Ci ) ; cholco
ewes , $2.HVf ! : ! .25 : fair to good ewes. JUiVVfp
2.)0 ! ) ; fair to good yearling * . JXIi-Wt . { . " > .
cholco spilng lambs. $ Uhtfi' . ( iO ; fair to
good .spring Iambs. $ l.r itfM.C > ; feeder
wethers , ? : : .2.Vii.rl : : ; feeder lambs , $11 < |
KANSAS CM TV.
faille Ueceipts. 7.M > : market Hteadj
native steers , li.5Qft. t.fi. > : extra steers , $ J. l i
"j-l.f.5 ; Texas cows. $ l. . M(3.Xi ( : native io\vs ,
and heifers. | l.Vt/.15 ) : stoekers and feeil
ers , liUOfji.fii ) ; bulls , J2.2 .ft3. 0 : calves , re
ceipts , ; r.O ; market strong. $ l.wrfi : , . ; : > .
HOKS Ilecelpts. T.tXl'J ' : market strong to
He higher ; bulk of sales. J.VOGTheavy. . ! . .
tj.OOft..OT1 : packers , jruxVii. . ] . * . : mixed.
| 3.Wi5.10lIght. ( ? : Jl.Wfin. i'.i. ; Yorkers , t..13
{ id.221 * : ; pigs. $ l.iOfto.QO.
Sheep Receipts. 2.000 ; mailo-t strong
lambH , $ : ! .2 ft4.7 ; muttons.
BOERS BUSY FALLING BACK.
Roberta Findri l-'mv of Tliem on HI *
Immediate I'l'ont.
LONDON , Sept. 3.-Lord. Roberts ,
under date of Belfast , August 2i ! , re
ports to the War office as follows
'Buller telegraphs from Helvptia
re
land
cona's Horse , is further
Gadacht. We have occupied Waterval-
hoven and Watervaldon. Buller re
ports that Nooit Gadacht is apparent
ly deserted , except by British prisoners ,
who are passing in a continuous
stream up the line towards Waterval-
nnder. No Boer.s arc visible. The
natives report that Kruger and all thp
commanders left yesterday for Pil
grims' Rest.
"Fiench reports the railway intact
as far as Valendor , except for a small
bridge near the station , which has bec > n
destroyed. "
Gold Modal Awarded Walter Ilakor & Co.
Paris , Aug. 20. The judges at the
Paris Exposition have just awarded a
gold medal to Walter Baker & Co. .
Ltd. , Dorchester , Mass. , U. S. A. , for
their preparations of cocoa and choco
late. This famous company , now thr
largest manufacturers of cocoa and
chocolate In the world , have received
the highest awards from the great in
ternational and other expositions in
Europe and America. This is th
third award from a Paris Exposition.
Sweden Wants a Loan.
NEW YORK , Aug. 31. Albert H.
Wiggin , vice president of the Na
tional Park bank , said tonight that it
was true that the bank had been approached
preached by representatives of th1
Swedish government with Inquirins
as to the chance , of placing a $10.0ou.-
000 loan in this countrMr. . \VI -
gln said he was not prepared to say
whether the proposition had been fa
vorably received.
Wealthiest Citi/en Dios.
CINCINNATI , Sept. 3. David Kin-
ton died at his home here this after
noon , aged 93 years. Mr. Sinton was
one of the wealthiest citizens of f'in-
cinnati , the value of his holdings be
ing estimated at $20,000,000.
> "eiv Treaty U Approied.
MANAGUA , Nicaragua ( via Gas ? -
ton ) , Sept. 3. The Xicaraugua ron-
congress today approved the commer
cial reciprocity treaty between Nu i-
ragua and the United States.
Waldron Woundrd on I'atrol.
WASHINGTON , Sept. 3. A dispat. It
received from General Chaffea at Taku
gives further particulars regarding the
wounding of Lieutenant H. Waldion.
Ninth infantry , at Hosh'v.-i. on Au
gust 24. It states that h ? A-as v/oiindp't
by a sniping shot while on patrol and
sent to the general hospital at Tien
IVn.
mttlesbip at Wu Sung.
SHANGHAI , Sept. 3. It is announc
ed here that the battleship Oregon
and four other battleships have been
ordered to Wu Sung.