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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 2, 1893)
THE OMAHAI DAILY BEE. TWENTY-SECOND YEAR OMAHA , TUESDAY M0ENING , MAY 2 , 1893. NUMBER 217 , ( Formal Proceedings of the Hearing Com menced Before the Supreme Court. I DEFENSE BUSY LOOKING FOR A LOOPHOLE [ Tcchnlrnl I'olnti llrousht Up wild Arcu < l ludcn I'ound Htitr : tlio Cn i for ttio Mntinecri Tiilk of Deinurrlnc to tlio Chare ? ! . LINCOLN , Nub. . Mny 1. [ Special Telegram 1 to Tin : nr.i : 1 For the second time In the history of Nebraska n court of impeachment | convened nt tlic state bouso tills after noon to try ofllclals for mlsdemcan- nrs nnd malfeasance In ofllce. Upon tlio first occasion tlio Impeached ofllciai was Governor David Butler and tlio trial re- nulled In Ills removal from ofllco. Upon tlio present occasion tlio ofllccrs on trial are At- tonicy ( leneral Hastings , Secretary of State Allen and Commissioner of 1'ubllo Lands and Buildings Humphrey. Tlio question of the trial of ex-Treasurer Hill , ex-Auditor Benton and ex-Attorney General Loeso has not yet been settled , as tlio Jurisdiction of the court has been attacked and the decision of the judges upon tlio disputed point Is still ( lending. The Interest In the present Impeachment cases has been Intense and the preliminary work has been itono with much greater care than in ordinary cases. The man agers of impeachment , assisted by their counsel. Judges Lambcrtson , Doanot Pound and Greene , bavo been active In the weeks which have elapsed since the adjourn ment of the legislature , In putting their evi dence In shape , securing their witnesses and in fortifying themselves with all authorities bearing upon the rase. The counsel for the defense have been similarly employed , and as a result of this preparation both sides are fully equipped to malic a desperate light. All the available a pace in the somewhat contracted quarters of the supreme court routn was oc cupied by tho'acoused , the attorneys and In terested spectators. ComiHUI anil Spectators. Among the counsel for the defendants are : John L. Webster of Omaha , Jiidgo M. L. Hayward of Nebraska City , J. 11. Webster , Judge Broady , C. A. Atkinson , It. D. Stearns and Captain Murlln. Attorney General Hastings , Secretary Allen and Commissioner Humphrey were present , as a matter of course , while with thorn was ex-Treasurer Hill. Er-Attornc.v General Leeso was an interested listener in the rear part of the room , while ex-Auditor Benton wasconsplcu ously absent. At a few minutes afterSo'clock the Judges of the supreme court Arcro announced , and ns they entered from the consultation room the attorneys , impeached ofllclals and spec tutors rose to their feet , and with this sim ple recognition of the dignity which stir- rounds the court of impeachment the trial was commenced. Judfro Post in behalf of the other mem bers of the bench stated that the court had had no opportunity to consult with 1-efcrrnco to the matter of Jurisdiction regarding the trial of Hill and Bcnton. The attorneys in charge of 'tho trial ob jected to the supreme court room , urging that It was too small for the accommoda tion of themselves , their clients and the public. Chief Justice .Maxwell concurred , and after today the sessions of the court Vvlll bo held In thu senate chamber. to Amended Ch-.irgvi. J. M. Stewart , attorney for Lccso , ob looted to the filing of amended charges stating that they had not been concurred ii by the senate and house of representatives Judge Donne , on behalf of the managers of the Impeachment , said that ho wanted to glvo Mr. Leeso the benefits of the denials ho had ii'.ado in his answer. Mr. Stewart thought that the statement was not correct , as now specifications had been added. Two of the specifications wen made out of whole cloth. Olio was that hi had drawn $ Tf > 0 In connection with cases in the supreme court and had not expended th snino , ami another charges that ho had cm bczzled money which was appropriated for traveling" expenses and stationery Mr. Stewart denied that the at torneys lor the state had any right to prefer Impeachment charges , charges that the Joint session refused to prefer. The court had no right to grant a prosecutor the opportunity of amending an indictment. it was claimed by John L. Webster that in adopting the articles of impeachment the legislature precluded the possibility of adding any now matter. There never was a clearer attempt to usurp legislative power than the attempt of the managers of this impeachment to bring Into these articles matter not considered by thu legislature. Article * ItiMi-rvcd the IllRht to Amend , Replying to the argument of General Web ster , Judge Doano called the attention of the court to the closing paragraph of thu articles of impeachment , presented by the joint con vention , which expressly reserved the right to alter or amend the articles or to furnish additional specifications and to reply to the answers of the sanm. Ho claimed that the additional specifications came properly under the same general charge contained In tlie third artlclo of Impeachment. The other ma tiers which the state wished to correct wore simple changes in phraseology. In the original articles of impeachment it was charged that Leeso , as a member of the Board of Public Uinds and Buildings , let certain contracts for supplies. Technically this was not correct , as the contracts wcro let by the hoard of purchase and supplies. Judge Doano asserted that the counsel on the other sldo were endeavoring to govern the court of impeachment by the technical rules governing ordinary criminal cases , whereas all the authorities explicitly assert that such rules are not In any case appli cable to trial on Impeachment. AUItudu nl tlio State. Ho desired the court to understand the at- tltudo taken by the counsel for the state in the proscti teases , and ho desired to protest on the behalf Of the managers- against the adoption of any rules founded on the inero technicalities and quibbles of criminal prac tice which would enable tlu > accused ofllcluis to escape trial of the charges against them upon the turn of a technical point In the criminal cede Ho then quoted Judge Story on the ronstlti.tU.il to back the -argument ho had Jint iiuutiv and closed with an eloquent pica for a trial of the case upon its mcrita without r'sorl to the quibbling of a criminal court Ho wanted the trial to thus proceed , not because the state wished to convict the accused of i-rlmes that would send them to the penitentiary , but to the end that when it was shown that when men elected to high oftlclal positions had proven themselves un faithful servants of the pcoplo tho\ , should bo driven from ofllco. J M. Stewart arose to reply , but sat down when Chief Justice Maxwell stated , "Well , I guess the C-ASO will bo consldcrci1. . " Ou-nrtl | Ilin Trial , Judge Pound , for the managers of the Im peachment , In statinir the law and the evi dence , t aid that ho was pleased to know that the trial would ho held before the highest tribunal In the state , before a court where ! clamor and petty discussions would not be tolerated The court , he suld. could not bo unmindful of the character of trial , the Im portance of the event ; the prominent posi tions in which thn accused had been held made the event one. that was being watched vrltn Interest throjghout the entire country The judgment would IKS the same , whothei , the trial was held before the court or the senato. The imiH'a-'huirnt , ho said , was of .1 purely | Hllltal ! nature to punish ofiiclals foi juUduuieauors fi > r cnmts committed in ofllce Acts of misconduct that officials might com mit are Innumerable. If tfio governor of a state could open the doors of the peniten tiary nnd turn the criminals loose upon the country , ho would bo guilty of misconduct and would be liable to Impeachment. Im peachment trials could not be confined to the close rules of evidence as cases at common law. This fact , ho said , gave the court just discretion , It was not a proceeding cither criminal or civil. It was a special proceeding ; H wns not a criminal case ; it was not an indictment : if it was , then the accused would be entitled to n jury trial. While there was something about impeach ment trials that resembled criminal pro ceedings , it was on account of the severe penalty attached if the charges were sus tained. If the charges were sustained the impeached officials would bo disqualified from holding office. Leaving that subject the judge dovotwl some tlmo to reading from thu statutes whlrli define the duties of the Board of Pub lic Lands and Buildings and then read at length the charges preferred , together with the findings of the legislative committee. I low Doi-jrttu WHR llandli'd. When the members of the board employed Dorgan they gave him every advantage. They knew that Dorgan was the agent for two parties , thu agent for the state and the agent for Moshcr. If they bail been going to erect a cell housu for themselves would they have employed such a man , a superin tendent who was representing two parties ? Such a thing was a heedless net if nothing more. The Jud o said hu would prove that Dorgan let the contract labor at jl per day , while other convicts wcro working for other parties at10 cents per day. The members of the hoard knew this , anu if they hud wanted to servo the interests of the state they should have called u halt. It was a case of gross negligence , to say the least , without there was some satisfactory explanation. "Possibly It may bo , sir. " continued the Judu'o , "that the convicts who worked on the cell house were more skillful , but 1 think we shall show you that many of them were raw men , and wcro no moro skillful than those who worked for other parties at10 and 50 cents per day. " "Wo shall prove that the custom w as to ijlvo Dorgan a largo warrant before the work was dono. They let him deposit the war rant In the bank and check out $7.000 or $8,000 without having any idea of what work had been performed aside from his own statement. It Is true that there was a bond for something lilto $10,000 , but what kind of bond was that ! After ho had purchased the contract of Mosher ho acted as the agent of the board-for some thirty days. Placing fO.OOO or $8.000 in Dorgatfs hands to check out as ho pleased was a lack of good Judg ment , If nothing moro. The duty was cast upon this board to take care of the funds ; there was no authority above them to check their accounts , which made it doubly imper ative upon them to use care. Wo shall provu that Dorgan i paid for stone two or three times what it was worth and two and thrco times moro than other parties had of fered it. There was Atwood who sold Dor gan stone for ! V > cents per foot , when from other parties he could have bought it for much less. They called a cubic foot of stone 100 pounds , when the true weight is 140 pounds. This appears right on the accounts , and can bo read by any person. That's the way they did business , Diverted to IVrsniml Unm. "Wo also claim that these parties commit ted fraud when they took $500 which had been set apart for the cell house and used it for traveling expenses , in going to Kansas and other states to visit prisons. This was in December , 1801. Instead of watting until the legislature should meet and make an ap propriation , they got Mr. Dorgan to glvo them the money that was appropriated for the cell house. If they can divert ? 500 foi another purpose , they can divert any amount. If they had diverted money to some charitable institution , it could not have been justified , and why could they justifj this diversion for traveling expenses ! Wo will say that they acted honestly , but officials who will so misconstrue the law as to honesty are unsafu parties to have it power. A limit the Asylum Conl. "Wo think that wo shall bo able to show you that when these respondents wcro in office , the coal at the hospital for the insane was paid for at nearly double what it was worth. During 188S the COH ! bill was $10,208 in 183' ) , $10.820 ; In 1800 , $15,547 ; in 1801 , $10 , 747 , and in WJtl , $8,410. This shows that there was fraud , and when the returns showed that the amount had nearly doubled was it not tlmo for the mcmours of this boari to boon their guard f Was it not a clrcum stance that should have caused any hones official to have instituted an inquiry , J fraud upon the state ono that has passct unpublished. We shall show you that no much moro than one-half of the coal was over furnished. There wcro no additiona heating apparatus put into the hospital am why did they show the coal for IB'.il to havi cost so much more than for 1SUJ. TaKe th Hour purchased for the asylum. Sowcll & . Co. . had the contract and they bought of Johnson & Co. During ono month the con tractor bought 111,000 pounds and charged the statu with 18,800 pounds , a clear , palpable 'raud which the board should have Known somcthlmr about if it had been looking after the welfare of the state and thu people. "If these ohargcs are true they Constitute nisdcmeanor in office. When thesu reports of shortings cainu to the attention of thu leg- slators , they took steps to correct affairs. Such plain misconduct , such open violation of law could not bo overlooked without pro viding safeguards for the futuru. Impeach ment 1ms been an efficient engine in the past ind must bo adopted as the only means of irotectlon. If it shall appear at the close ) f the trial that these charges are true and that thu accused parties are innocent , the people should rejoice. " Dufciuo Spurring for Wind. John R. Webster , as counsel for Attorney General Hastings , declared that there was some of the evidence that was not consid ered in thu joint convention. If that was the truth In1 wanted to demur. The conven tion did not adopt thu articles. Chief Justice Maxwell suggested that the proper thing as to grapple with the real question. Judgu Doano said that it was folly for Mr. Webster to argue such a point. The report and Its adoption was the finding of tlio legis lature . Mr. Webster read his demurrer on the case against Secretary Allen , showing that ho should not bo required to answer , averring that none of the evidence was heard by either the senato. house of representatives or by thu joint convention. The prayer asked that the articles of impeachment , so far as the Allen case was concerned , should bo declared void. In closing , the legal docu ment declared that there was no attempt upon Mr. Allen's parttodefraud. Mr. Webster did not contend that the wit nesses should have been brought before the house , but the convention should have con sidered the testimony. John L , Webster , aUornuy for Mr. Hill , said thut ho wanted tlmo to confer with his associates regarding tlio matter. Chief Justice Maxwall answered that he would bo willing that the gentlemen should take time to consult. Upon the question of jurisdiction ho thought that an opinion might he handed down tomorrow morning. With that statemcjit the first day of the im peachment trial ended and the court ad journed until It o'clock tomorrow morning. wii.i. < io AIII\I No Attumpt to Ouinur Will llt > Mudu liy the PllfflMP , LINCOLN , Neb , May 1 | Special Tele gram to TUB BEE. ] At a late hour tonight it was given out that the impeachment trial would begin this morning and continue with out any further delay. This information comes from the attorneys for the officials , who uro authority for the statement. Im mediately upon thu adjournment of the supreme court thU afternoon the lawyers who represent the state officials had a coun cil which lusted for several hours , nt which it was agreed that the demurrer to the Juris diction of the court would not bo filed. John I * Webster , who represents Attorney Gen- er.il Hastings and Secretary Allen , stati-d "NTi.sticu ox rmu WRECKED BY CROOKEDNESS Jerious Charge ; in Connection with Sioux Uity Failures. QUANTITIES OF PAPER REPUDIATED leeelrer Olirsley of tlio Union .Stock Yards Company DcclnrcD that President llcdccn Signed Note * Without Authority LI- nbllillcn Nat Properly .Scheduled. Sioux Cltr. la. , May 1. [ Special Tele gram to TUB Bun. ] Affairs In connection with the recent failures In this city com mence to partake very much of the color of crookedness. Rumors have been current to this effect for several days and reports of fraud have been wired out , but until today nothing has been given to the public by per sons authorized to speak. When the Union Loan and Trust company assigned , its schedule showed liabilities of $74,1,874.53 , and assets of $1,4M,000. That this statement is calculated to. deceive is apparent from the following statement given to tlio press today by Assignee Hub- bard : "I have not gone far enough to bo able to make a statement of thu exact amount of liabilities of the company , but from various sources I learn Indefinitely that they are about $0,000,000. This includes both direct and indirect liabilities , the latter being1 on account of notes endorsed by the company. This Indorsed paper was mainly that of the syndicate , of the individual members of the syndicate , or of the companies connected with it. I cannot now state how much paper of the different companies or Individuals was issued. The paper has been sold all over the country ; it Is held mainly by banks. No , I cannot estimate the per cent that the com pany will bo able to pay. May Xcver Hi ) Known. Of those contingent liabilities , no proof of liability may be furnished In many Cases. It Is necessary that proper proof of the com pany's liability be filed within thrco months. In thu case of a piece of paper that was otherwise secured than by the Indorsement of this company , it might not bo considered necessary to flic this proof , ns It would be considered fully secure without this. Thus it is impossible to tell how much of the paper will come back to us. Somu of it may bo paid elsewhere by the people directly liable , and thus the paper never come back to us. It will take a month for me to got affairs straightened out so that I can tell anything definite anout the situation. " The syndicate referred to is made up of D. T. Hedges , A. S. Garretson , Edward Haakinson and John Hornick and at one tlmo Included James E. Booge. Quantities of Paper Iteimillatoil. .ivnothor sensation was created today when Receiver Chfsloy of the Union Stock Yards company repudiated a large quantity of paper held against that company. It was all In the shape of promissory notes running of date for several .vcars and now commencing to come duo. All notes are made payable by this Stock Yards company and signed by W. T. Hedges , president. Receiver Chcsley says ; "I have repudiated this paper because the Stock Yards company is not liable. Mr. Hedges signed notes without authority from the directors or other ofllccrs of the company , and the company's ' books show that the money raised by it was never turned over to its treasurer. I take the ground that it was illegally issued and shall repudiate all of It. There is to my knowledge several hundred thousand dollars worth of this paper outstanding nnd not a cent will bo paid on it unless the courts make us liable. We have not taken any action in the matter. It is not for us to do so. The persons who paid the money to Mr. Hedges are the ones to take steps if any one. The paper is scat tered over the whole country and the loss will not fall heavily on any person. I have not had time to find out who holds it yet and will bo retarded in the work for the reason that the company's books do not contain a scratch of the pen In reference to it.1' Murderer Mallard Purdonml. LINCOLN , Neb. , May 1. [ Special Telegram to THR BEE. ] The pardoning power pos sessed by the governor was extended toTem Tom Billiard today , and this afternoon that man walked out of the penitentiary a free man. Ballard , it will ho remembered , was sent ill ) from Douglas county seven years ago , having been convicted of murder and entcnccd to a life term. The > artlcular offense consisted of shooi ng a man in front of the Hcllm.in ) ulldlng on Farnam street. He was tried jeforo Judce Neville , convicted of murder n the first degree and sentenced to be tanged. After some delay the attorneys Tor the prisoner moved for a now trial , which vas granted , The following term of court 10 was again convicted and sentenced for ife. During the last year Ballard , who Is ( i- years of age. has been falling very rapidly ind his death was a question of but a short line. Realizing this fact the governor .urncd him loose with the understanding .hat ho would leave thu state and never re turn. Collided with it Cow. NEHHASKA CITV , Neb. , May 1. [ Special Telegram to Tun BP.E. ] An engine and ten der having in charge a Missouri Paclilo pile driver , leaving this city at 7 o'clock this morning , collided with a cow just this side of the trestle work over Catron's mill dura. The animal was dragged several hundred Tcet. When the engine reached the trestle It suddenly toppled over and foil to the bottom tom of the pond twenty foot below. The fireman and engineer both Jumped , escaping with a few slight bruises. No delay was caused by the accident , the remainder of wrecUcd train remaining intact. Miml ii > d lor 111 * Alonoy. DAVENTOHT , la. , May 1 [ Special Telegram to TUB BEE.J--H appears probable that Christian Gravert , whoso body was taken f > -om the Mississippi near hero Friday after noon , was murdered for his money. Ho had a considerable sum and a watch shortly be fore his disappearance , and neither watch nor money wcro found when the body was taken from the river. There are no clews to indicate the guilty parties. Henry Gravurt , a farmer living at Mluden. Pottawattamlo county , and a brother of thodcad man , is hereto to bury the deceased. He is confident that his brother was murdered. To InvriitiKl ! > Allocrcl Crnokodii(8. DES MOINKS , la. . May 1. [ Special Tclo- gram to TUB BEE. ITho commission ap pointed by Governor Boles to make an in i- vestigation of afVairs nt the Auamosa peni I- tentiary , has organized. Joseph C. Mitchell of Chariton is chairman , and the other mem , bers are : Al W. Swalm of Oskaloosa and Representative James McCann of Dubuquo. They propose to make a thorough investiga tl tion and will begin at Anamosa in a couple of days. The governor's chlof clerk. James Omeara , has been ordered to taue down a lot of vouchers and other papers needed iu the investigation. Flro nt O'.Vrlll. O'NEILL , Neo. , May -Special [ Telcgrar ; to TUB BEE. ] D. P. O'Sulltvan's residence in the outskirts of the city burned nt u litt hour last night. The lire company was called out but could do nothing us the house was beyond the reach of the water works , The fire originated from an exploded lamp. Loss about tl. 00 , fully Insured. Tu Conduct thu Kxum nnt'o-i , FILI.F.UTOX , Neb , , May 1. [ Special to Tin BEE. ] Congressman Melklojohn has ap pointed W , H. H. Plllsbury , D. 1) . , of Fuller ton ; Judge N. II. Bell of Fremont , Prof II. 1C , Warren of Gates college , Nellgh ; C D. Evans , M.iD.of Columbus , and P. II. Salter - tor , Al. D. . of Norfolk usa committee to con duct the examination ' of candidates for ca- dotshlpat West Point. The examination will ho held nt Norfolk Way 10. The com mittee Is composed otjischolarly gentlemen from different localities In the Third con- slonal district. ; To Cflleurnto DncorMlon Dny. EMERSOX , la. , May 1. [ Special to THE BET. . ] The Grand Army of the Republic post and attic * * citizens have been getting ready for Decoration day for several days past. All of Mills county is expected to spend the day here. lion. J. J. Stuadman of Council Bluffs has boon engaged to deliver the oration. . _ _ _ Will Knforce All Ordlnanrri. BnAiNAiii ) , Neb. , May 1. [ Special to Tin : BKE. ] The village board of trustees met hero today and granted two saloon licenses in favouof John Duss and T. H. Morris , fix- in ? the price at $050. The now board de clares that all laws and ordinances must bo enforced the coming year. inn n KECK Kit inn IIO.IIK. How H llt'cmit Tragmly ICpaitll * n Story of the Itlg Horn Ha ln. BUFFALO , Wyo. , May 1.--Special [ to Tim BEE. ] The killing of 'Peter Madden , In the Big Horn basin bv James McDermott , April 27 , recalls a tragedy of two years ago f. the name locality. On March Hi , IS'.ll , Tom ttadden , who Is now in Laramle penitcn- .lary . , fired two shots at McDormott. ono of which wounded him seriously and the other tilled his infant son , Phil , whom ho was carrying In his arms. Curious as It may appear , MoDormott and not Madden , was afterward charged with thu death of the hlld , on the ground that Madden , whoso Ifo was In danger , had fired In self-defense. McDermott was defended by Charles H. Burrltt , who In cross-examination of the Madden brothers and of the prisoner's wife , elicited some testimony that rather pointed ; o MeDermott as tho'Injurcd party. It was jollovcd by many who heard the case that the Maddens had put up a plot to kill Mc Dermott , and that the wffo who was on rather too Intimate terms with one of them was a party to the plot. Madden swore that he was expecting trouble when MoDennptt camo.to fetch his wife and that before ho fired ho saw u gun in McDermott's hand. He also swore that that the child was In McDermott's arms and was shot by mistake. On the other tiand McDermott testified that he went to the house unarmed and carrying the child ; andthutwhilo Tom Madden covered him with a gun Pete Madden searched him and , finding no weapon , called to his brother to shoot , saylne it Vns the best chance he would ever have. McDcrmott thc.ii saw the flash , heard ono shot ! nnd knew no more. The medical evidence was positive that the child was shot from above downwards , and is McDermott is ns tall as Madden , it looked us If MoDormoU must have been on the ground when the baby was killed. The evidence of Mrs. McDermott , who was in the Madocn'a house at the time , cor roborated that of thefMaddcns in the main , but little credence was Riven to Pete Mad- den's testimony. Tbei case against McDer mott was dismissed , but ho was at once rearrested - arrested by a United States deputv marshal on a charge of robbing ; the mails. Tom Mad den was also arrested shortly afterward on a charge of horsu stealing and was subse quently handed ovor'to Sheriff Stouffh of Fremont county , and tried and convicted on another charge. HdiUvas who lately was shot while ranking > u desperate attempt to escape from the liarnmlo penitentiary , At that tlmo the Maddens lived together , and after Tom Madile.ii anii-McDermott wcro i'o- moved it appears that"Airs. MeDermott wont to live with , P. etc M&dden , the man'just killed. At trio time of the former trial Mc Dermott claimed to have proofs of his wife's infidelity and to , have 'determined , to opa- . rate from her , taking with him one of the children. It was this that gave rise to the shooting scrape In which his little boy was killed and ho himself had such u close call. The present tragedy is probably n sequel to the story of his former trouble. Potc Madden was killed in Bonanza and MoDcrmott started at once to give himself up. On his road he mot Deputy Sheriff Hopkins and came on to Buffalo in his com pany. Kxoltlng Uheyenue Klrctlon. CIIEYESSE , Wyo. , May 1. [ Special Tele gram to Tun BEE.J Today occurred the most exciting school trustoc election In the history of the city. By arrangement the two retiring school directors were to be replaced by democrats. There were two democratic tickets in the field , one supported by the American Protective association and the other by independcrit democrats and repub licans. For the first tlmo since the Ameri can Protective association became a factor in city politics , itsexponents were defeated , and by majorities of about 800. People gen erally rejoice in the victory as it means free dom from religious intolerance in school affairs. .lull ItirilK Captured CASI-EK , Wyo. , May 1. [ Special Telegram to Tun BEE. ] James Regan , u nervy half- breed , this aftornobn brought in the horsu thieves , Dick Carrlnnd William Johnston , who broKe jail here Sunday night. They are both hard character's ' and daring thlovcs. Awarded to n Homo I'lrill. HASTINGS , Nob. , May 1. [ Special Telegram to THE BEE. ] At a meeting of the city coun cil this evening it was decided to lot the contract for the new boiler house and standpipe - pipe of the water works to Butzlrus Bros , of this city for f ,875. T1IOVH.I.\J > S 'Of JM.V.EK.S IDLK. Twenty Thousand of Them Oult Work In Ohio Yesterday. COLU.MIIUS , O. , May 1. Twenty thousand miners in Ohio are idle today , the men hav ing struck for an advance of 5 cents per ton In the price of mining. No trouble Is re ported and none is anticipated at this time. A very friendly feeling exists. President John Nugent of the Ohio miners says two operators iu the Hocking valley , employing J.)0 men , will sign the now scale tomorrow. The operators reaffirm their position and say they will not consent to arbitration , as there is nothing to arbitrate. Every mine in the Hocking valley-is closed. A special from Bollairo , O. , says that many operators In that vicinity nro willing to grant an advance. Hon. Anthony How- ells , president of the rfowells Coal company at Massllion.says'thufnnothor miners'state convention will btf failed inside of two weeks and hist year's soulo accepted , as has been done in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Mr. Howells says the -question of granting an advance will not bo considered. ScotUud Mlll-lland * on a Slrilic. LONDON , May 1. Agreat labor struggle began today at Dundee. The mill owneis at that place recently notified the operatives ithat a reduction would bo made In their Iwages. . The mill' ' hands refuscdjo accept thu terms of thu masters and today 10,000 operatives went , on a st'-iko. Several mills have been compelled to close in consequence. Kilwln 1100th' * Condition. New YOHK , May 1 Tic | condition of Edwin Booth was reported tonight to bo very encouraging. Dr. Sinclair Smith loft Mr. Booth nt 11 o'clock und , said ho would not return until 0 o'clock tomorrow morning. "Mr. Booth , " said Dr. Smith , "is better und brighter today than1 bo has been since bis illness , and 1 confidently expect him to re cover , all alarming rumors to the contrary notwithstanding. It Is perfectly true , nnd now generally "understood by the public , that Mr. Booth had'a slight attack of apoplexy , hut at no time have there been any danger ous or alarming symptoms. " II1111 nil Sioux FALLS , S. D. , Iny 1. [ Special Telegram - gram to THE BEE. ] A dispatch from Aber deen says that this morning George Newman - man , a clerk in a cigar store , in attempting to open n ginger aid bottle exploded it , the 'Juis completely teannu out one eye. MISSISSIPPI'S ' RAGING TIDE Encroaching Waters Threaten to Inundate Low Portions of St. Louis. MUCH DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE F talltlr < A tit-ml tlin Itush "f the 1'lood Wiitfrnpniit * .uml rinmls Do Much Ilnmngo at Other I'liiccs In the Country. ST. Lens , Mo. , May 1. Another foot of rlso in the river flooded the villages on the East Side , a collapsed warehouse , which resulted in one death , and a prospect of a repetition of the scunes of a year aco. This tells the story of the high water hero tonight. The river at ( i o'clock this evening showed a rise of a fraction of an inch over n font since last night , and the water is still creeping up on the guage. There is every probability that by tomorrow night the danger mark thirty-two feet will bo 'cached. Up to (1 ( o'clock this evening the vater had caused the abandonment of the greater portion of Kast Carondclct. The elcirraph ofltco connecting St. Louis with hat place and several other buildines were vaslicd away. The body of an unknown nan was washed ashore tills afternoon near ho site of the wrecked telegraph ofllce. At Belleville KIchland creek has over- lowed its banks and filled many basements , jovcrul manufacturing establishments have icon forced to shut down , their boiler rooms icing Inundated. On this side of the river North St. Tous ! s so far the worst sufferer. The Stout I.um- > er company's yard Is In imminent danger of icing washed away. The district of squat- ers known as "Oklahoma" ' .s now a vast ako with hero and there a hastily vacated shanty protruding a few feet above tlio rater's surface. South of the city proper , > ctwuen Arsenal street and Carondelet the scene is a repetition of a year ago. The owlands arc flooded and the squatters have > een forced to vacate their shanties. All , or icarly all , of their few possessions have > een washed away. A committee from the east tonight says he water practically covers all of Brooklyn and that numbers of people are moving out of their houses. Venice , too , it seems , is again to suffer , as lie flood tonight is encroaching rapidly upon that place. The Kast St. Louis dock warehouse , im mediately south of the Eadcs bridge , gave ray before the rush of water about noon and fully one-fourth of the vast building , vith its heavy contents , fell in a heap , the oof sinking upon the wreck. Ono of the aborcrs , Cicero 1'ate , colorcu. was crushed o death under the debris and has not yet been found. Two other laborers were in ured. The loss to the building and stock of , joods will be quite heavy , as much that was lot broken will bo spoiled by the water. The building is said to belong to Chicago icoplo and was used as a general warehouse. 1IUIUGU3 IV AS 11 HI ) OUT. lliillrotula In Arlum s Sillier Heavy Louses from the Hiding Water * . LITTI.B Kocic , Ark , , May 1 , The Arkansas Ivor is on a boom. It has risen in forty eight hours to within a little over three feet of the highest mark during the May flood of " Several houses hayo passed down the river toilay , showing that the flood had been cncroacliing upon civilization up the river , vrhile the current was filled with trees , logs and other debris. Several plantations are under water up the river , and people are work hiR day and night on their levees , but imve little or no hope of savins their crops. No trains arrived from the north on the Iron Mountain road Sunday. The first to arrive came in at 2 a. m. , eighteen hours late. From passengers it was learned there wcro two washouts In Missouri , ono near Do Soto and the other at Mineral Point. Ono is sixty-live feet long and forty-flvo feet deep. Jt Is also reported that the bridge on the Arkansas valley over the Illinois river was washed out Sunday. From the present indications it Is expected that the river at Little Hock will reach a stage of 2S.5 feet by Wednesday. This will be six inches higher than the great flood of May , IS'J'J. ' Telegrams from Morrillton say the Kills levee below Louisburg broke last night , and if the river continues to rlso 1OUO acres of cotton will bo destroyed , Telegrams from all rlyor towns In the state say the river is rising rapidly and that farmers in the bottoms are moving out. I'nrtlmiH ot IlllnuU liiiiiulitotl. AI.TO.V , III. , May 1. The river hero is rapIdly - Idly rising and much damage has already been done. Farmers are applying for aid and many are preparing to leave at a min ute's notice. The Burlington bridge over the Wood river is so badly sagged that the company will use thu Chicago & Alton from Brighton to Alton , The greatest calamity lies in the probability that the Burlington's cniDank- ment across Missouri Point will bo washed away. Last night the Blurt Line evacuated the levee oflleo and furniture and records were piled Into freight cars. There are a number of washouts along the Blufi' Line and the road has been abandoned between hero ant Alsak. In I-'loniled Village. Sl'iu.NOFiEi.D , O. , May 1. At noon today an Immense waterspout burst over Trcmont City , a village near here. At about the same time Mad river broke its hanks , and wlthlt eighteen minutes it had flooded the town carrying away outbuildings and stables am flooding the first story of residences. No person is reported killed or drowned , bu there is a heavy loss of stock. At midnight 100 acres In the northeastcri portion-of the city , containing 200 houses are flooded and the water is rising a foot ai hour. Scores of families are seeking the highest places , and the police patrol force , together with citizens , are rescuing the pee ple. Boats and horses are being used. D.mmgn tiy Wind unit Water. PAIIIB. Tox. , May 1. A cloud burst swept the slope of the Boston mountains yestcraay and carried away thirty miles of 'Frisco track. Passenger trains were delayed. The Arkansas river is eight miles wide , and much damage has been done along its course. Five farm houses a few miles this side efFort Fort Smith were demolished by a wlilrlu ind. Ntruclc by u Cloud Ilumt. VAN Bf'ir.x ' , Ark. , May 1. Two water spouts struck the northern part of Craw- ford yesterday and washed out bridges and railroad tracks on the Santa Fo. All re ports are not in , and It is feared that the damage done Is immense a.ul that many lives have been lost. Domriuitioii liy tu ! > Ai-kumis Hirer. PINK Bi.tTFS , Ark. , May 1 , The Arkansas river at this point is in within live feet of , last year's high water mark and is steadily rising. The farmers arc completely at the mercy of the water and view the Increasing ( Hood with great alarm. Duyto ' , ( ) , 'I hri'iitrncil. DAYTON , O. , May 1. The Miami river has reached the unprecedented height of fifteen fcot six inches and Is now at a standstill , but by 3 a.m. It will bo higher. The high water has found several weak places in the levees here. farm I.uiuU Ovrrlloirt-il , VANIULIA , 111. , Muy 1. The Okaw river has Hooded all the bottom lands in the vl clnlty of hero. Hundreds of caltlo and hoga have been drowned and mites of fencing have been washed uwaj NpanUli Itoyulty CUIII-IIK I" the 1'iilr , Kcw YOIIK , May 1. The two Spaulsli shins , Infanta Isabel and Nuova Kspana , will sail tomorrow morning for Havana , where they will meet the Princess ICulallo and her husband. The royal visitors will bo brought to this city on the Infanta Isabel and will be entertained hero by the city nnrt at Chicago by the nation. The officers of the Spanish ships say that the Insurrection in Cuba has nothing to do with their de parture. : / lunrixa von i.iiniir\\ Cuban * 'I rylug tu Tlirmr OIV this Vuk of Spnln. HAVANA , Cuba. May 1.--A general uprising 1ms taken ulaco throughout the eastern portion tion of Cuba. It started on the 'Jlth tilt , and has spread rapidly in sovcr.il districts. The province of Santiago tie Cuba has been tlo- clarett in a state of sicgo by the captain gen eral. All the available troops are being hur ried to the scene of disorder. The revolu tion is being led by the Sartorlous brothers , men of good families. * MAiutin , May 1. The directors of the naval arsenals have been ordered to prepare war material for shipment to Cuba and sev eral regiments are preparing to embark. New YOIIK , May 1. The Spanish war ships hero have been ordered to. sail for Cuba tomorrow. It is announced officially that thrco columns of troops are pursuing the Cuban ebols between San Aujiustino anil Las I'unas and that two Spanish gunbo.its will ruiso along the coast. The Creole societies lave visited tin ; Cuban governor and have assured him of their fidelity. rr .MAY DAY IN s Celrlintto tlio Holiday lint No Onlliroik Itopurtnd us Yt-l. LONDON , May i. Amy day Is being colo- > ratcd by the socialists throughout Curope. In Paris ami throughout the prov- nccs the celebration is proccodlns quietly everywhere. There is no disorder in Bel- glum , and the celebration proper will not take place till the close of work ! nir hours , vhen there will tie a nnvcssion , addresses , etc. Meetings have been prohibited in the recently disturbed districts. The weather s rainy and unfavorable in Ciormany. OuU-t In Ylcnnii , VIENNA , May 1. Fifty-six meetings were icld by the worklngmcn .of the city and suburbs today. No effort was made to dis turb the meetings. r\t fi o'clock "this afternoon 200,000 men and women wcro massed on the Prater. They sang the Marseillaise and other revolution ary hymns and cheered the speakers who demanded universal suffrage. They began Lhelr march through the city. As several thousand laborers passed thn Emperor L-Yaucls Joseph barracks they cheered the soldiers and the soldiers returned the cheers. The incident Illustrated well the good feeling which prevailed in the city throughout the day. Only a I"i-iv Disorder * In lurU. PAIUS , May l.- Some disorder occurred during the day in the Place do fa Ifupub- lique. where groups of agitators tried to arc- ate a demonstration. 1'iio police dispersed the groups and arrested a workinf man who was unfurling a red ilag. Reports received show that but for the riots in Marseilles the day passed without serious disturbances in the problnccs. Disorder nt Mnr olllrn. May 1. As trouble was an ticipated herein connection with thoobserv , anco of May day , dota"chTTients of troops nnd gendarmes wore placed on guard at all the public offices and at every place of popular resort. A large part of the working popula tion took part in the celebration. Toward ovenine the crowds in the streets became very disorderly. The police tried to arrest several socialists , who were waving red flags and Inciting the workmemen to violence. A fight in which the police were worsted , fol lowed. Hussars came to the assistance of the uollce and a general light was begun. Several soldiers and policemen wcro badly cut and bruised. By the united effort of the military and police , eventually , the mob was broken up and rioters driven off. This even ing bands of ruffians made attacks on iso lated policemen. In several districts disor derly crowds were still parading at a late hour. Consul .Illdd's Appointment. LONDON , May 1. A dispatch to the Times from Vienna contains a reference to the stir caused in the Austrian capital by the announcement in the Vienna newspapers that Max Judd of St. Louis was appointed by President Cleveland American consul general at Vienna had resigned the office. Tno Times states that the relatives of Judd in Austria are not aware of anything going to support the statement that ho had resigned , and admits that it is stated on good authority that the government has made no objection to the appointment of Judd , CninirniiilH'iI | tin the Army Hill. BEUI.IN , May 1. The Berliner Tageblatt announces that the negotiations between Chancellor von Caprivi and the progression 1st members of the center in regard to cler ical support for the army bill have ended. Freiher von Soluingcn-Hueno will , it is un derstood , propose a motion to reduce the government demand to ! i,000 ( ) men for the first year , and the government will not op pose this motion. The Tagoblatt states that : i majority is thereby assured for the meas ure as amended. .Faw Hultm-H InjuriMl. VIENNA , May 1. A serious encounter is reported ported to hare occurred at Tropnau , thu capital of Austrian Silesia , between a party of Jew bailers and some Jewish officers. The anti-Semites , who were forty In number , made a violent attack on five Jewish ofllccrs. Tlio latter discharged their 'revolvers at their assailants , wounding twelve of them. Coiuul CSn.uii-Hl Nmv' D.iuglltor III , LONDON , May 1.Tho banquet proposed to bo given by the Association of Foreign Con suls to ex-American Consul Gci.cral New , has been abandoned at the request of Mr. ! Now , who states that his daughter's illness will prevent his attending. Mr. Nc-w will sail for Now York on May 'M. Itnlny Itldi-m Huhlud Titiu * . NEW YOKK , May 1. Thobenrorsof thodls- patch from Governor Russell of Massachu setts to Governor Altgcld , In the relay bicycle - cycle race from Boston to Chicago , reached Hudson. N. Y. , atHi : : ( ) o'clock tonight , two hours and thirty-two minutes behind schedule time. Thu roads are bad , owing to thu rain , and this , coupled with the fact that the schedu.o for this section is too fast , oven if the roads wcro in thu best ( if shape , has caused n gradual loss of tlmo ever slnco leaving Now York. AI.IIANV , N. Y. , May 1. The relay mes sage reached hero at 1:10 : , llvo hours and twenty-nine minutes late. It was brought in by E. S. Homer , captain of thu Troy club. It was started without delay by the Albany boys , P. Scliurmucber and W. H. Garrclt having it In charge. M do Anntliri- Oil In Kutri , DCNVCII , Colo. May 1. The railroad rate war is increasing In violence. This after noon all of the roads excepting the Burling ton posted a r.Uo of f.'tt to Chicago and re turn and ' . ' 7 to St. LouU and return. The railroads over which these rates uic good include the Santa Fo , Union Pacific , Mis souri Pacific , Chicago fi Alton and the Den ver ft Rio Grande. It is understood thai a reduction to $ 'M to Chicago and rot urn will bo made by the lilo Grandu In the morning , and tnu prospects are that the other roads will lose no time in meeting this rate. Openud tun ITCH * ( Jluli 1'iilr , NEW YOKK , May 1 The duke of Vcragua , throuirh the long distance iPlephono from Chi "iito. opened the Press club fair at the i Grand Central Palace in this city Ibis evenIng - Ing 'There was n largo attendance , and a , bit ; bacccis is OPENING OF THE FAIR America's Great Columbian Exposition ii Now Uuclr.r Full Sway , VAST MULTITUDES THRONG THE GROUNDS Thrco Hundred ThousAnd Pcoplo Witness tha Opening Ceremonies , CLEVELAND STARTS THE MACHINERY Ho Closes the Electric Circuit and Fills with Life the Vast Structures. SIMPLE , BUT IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES Scene * inn ) Inrlili-nN of tin- Opening Dny Ailili-iiuK-i hy Ihn I'rrsidriit anil Other * Main ltiilldhix DiMllcMtril-Uiir. niiiny'tt ( iieat Illspliy. CIIICAHO , 111. , May 1. Thu electric ago was ushered into bolng In this last dccadu ol the niucfenntli century today when Presi dent Cleveland , by the pressing of a button , started the mighty machinery and the rush ing waters and the revolving wheels In the World's Columbian exposition. No exhibit. of the fair that will attract thousands to this city for the next six months can bo more marvelous than the magic effect which marked the solemn opening of the fair at 1UOS : today. Of the multitude of visitors - itors some estimate the number as high as L'OO.OOiprobably ) not ono fully reall/cd the full import of the olTcct that was to come from tills arrangement , cleverly devised In the opening of the opposition. It was known in a r.iuo way tint the presi dent was to press a golden key and that the electric communication with the machinery was to start the fair , but no ono realized how Intricate was this maUilnery ; how Inllnitu thu ramifications of the electric park , until the great fountains throw up their goyaors seventy feet into the air and the rumble and hum of wheels In the Manufactures building and tlio clatter of machinery in all parts of that area of a iiilo square or moro told the sloiy the final consummation of scientific bought. The lifeless started into boin. ? on very hand , drapiM statuary shed its veil ml revealed to the world the artistic labors f the past eighteen months . ami , in a mo- ncnt all that had been apathy , inert and In- ctivo through thu long hours of the morn- ng. sprang Into an animated existence and hrllled the multitude and crowned the trl- impli of tlio exposition. In previous expos- ! ions thqposslbditlusof electricity have been imltoil to the mere starting of the engines n Machinery hall , but In this It made t. holisund. servants do Its bidding , nnd from he great Corlls engine and the mammoth -'ountalus down to the , minutest acts whcro 4EowcjiV&dwtijuQhlwoic1 ; ; requisite , the umgio of : ejeeti Icily di < l the duVy of the hour. * v In tlio i : : rly .Mornlnij. Jupll < y Pluvius hold his uplifted , hreatrning fist over Chicago this morn ing. The skies wcro sodden and bleak , anil a chilled mist filled the nt- nosphere. The bunting throughout the city was damp und listless. A general tone of gloom pervaded the air and streets. But to Chicago , whose day of history this was , the iTcather conditions counted for nothing , and 3iirly people wcro astir. The bustling , eager spiritof Uiegreat west was bounding through jvery artery of this , its capital city. The consummation of its great enterprise took Dlaco today , when tlio myriad of wheels began turning at Jackson park In response to the touch of the nation's chief executive upon the golden key that reached out hrough an electric train to the mighty en ines which are to tlio World's Columbian exposition the vital , moving energy. In the great circle of events which today narks the first point of interest in the Audi torium hotel , whcro large numbers gath ered for a gljmpso of Columbus' descendant , the duke of Veragua , who. with the mem bers of his family and commltccs of promi nent officials national , state and municipal took carriages about U o'clock , and under military escort tlrovo to the Lexington hotel at Michigan avenue and Twenty-second street , at which were President Cleveland and the members of his cabinet. anil from which point the procession to the pnru was to start. .Tho duke's party was arrayed In all the glories of Spanish court costumes , brilliant in color , rich with gold lace and bright with decora tions of orders of nobility , with swords , Ifnco breeches , silk stockings and all the trappings of tlio Spanish court. The assembled multi tude set up a shout as the party appeared , entered carriages and drove rapidly to the Lexington hotel. Meanwhile the city at largo seemed going in n body to the while city by the lake. Nine big steamers wore from early morning plying loaded from Van Huron street to the fairgrounds ; every cable car was thronged. to the tailboard ; tlio elevated cars groaned with humanity ; the steam cars reaped a harvest , and the great Michigan boulevard was thronged with private carriages and conveyances of all sorts. It was soon after 0 when President Cleve land and his associates appeared at tha entrance of the Lexington hotel. Ordmof tlio Pa rude. The various organisations and carriages which hail been assigned to positions In the parade , which was to escort President Cleve land and his cabinet and other distinguished guests , began gathering In the vicinity of the president's quarters at Michigan avenue ami Twenty -second streut. For an hour or moiii the boulevard and streets convolving wr.ru gay with the brlicht uniforms of the military. Dense throngs of pcoplu lined the sidewalk as far as the eye could reach. After a hasty breakfast tlio president and party , with the duke of Ycragua and other distinguished pcoplo , entered carriages and the procession proceeded on Its way to Jackson park in this order : South Park Mountnd 1'ollco. Mmmled City I'olleu. Company it and Company 1C , So\unili United Stale * I'avalry. Clilcajro llnssaisnnd Troop A of the Illinois National ( iiiartl , rillST riVKfAllltlAUKX. L'ommltMunorh and IXcurt. PIXill OAKIIIAUK. The Director flnnoral and Director of Works. rivi\Tii : The Piii-.ldunt of Hit ! t'nlled States , the Presi dent of the World's Columbian CommU- hlon , tlin I'li-nbleiiKif tlio World' * Columbian K\poUI < in , r.iiiiiTii CAIUUAUI : . Vice President of tlio I'rnted States , nx-1'resl- ( lent nf Ihn Kvpusltion ( ia u and c.\-l'iesldfnt linker. NINTH. Hecictary of Slate und Escort. TKNTII. h''Cietary of thu Treasury and Escort. KI.KVKNTII. Ht'ciuliiry of the Navy and Kscort , b'ei'ii-lary ( if the Interior and Escort. nillllKK.STII. Sivit'laiy of Agriculture and Escort. Kouimx.vru. Dnki'of VeruKua , tliu I'lrst Vice President of tht ) ( 'ominls.liin , tlio I'li t Vlex President ot tlio KxpodtUiii.l'iimmamlur Dlckuni. HmiK.NTH. Uucln.'ksnf VuruKiui , Mrsrotter Palmer. SIXTKKSTII. Marquis do Hnrboleh and Escort. linn Uirltlobal Aicnllcni and Other Mcmberi df thu Duku'u Party. 'i In thu other cun-iuges wort ) lti major U Q >