W rW F ffH ] 53PP W j | y ' ! RWW ( W ' * fc n
THE OHAIIA DAILY JJEBr SUNDAY , JUNE 9 , 1SJ)5 * 13
THE COST OF FIRE INSURANCE
Burdens Impoied Upon Property
and Easiness ,
rtMERICAN AND FOREIGN RATES COMPARED
Profit * of th Ila lne i In Nchrnikn nd the
Cauntrr t Lnnce I'nMlbllltlei of
tiovrrninent Control Tlio Lloyd's
1'lnn
The question ot fire Inmrance It one that
directly Interests and affects every properly
owner anj business man In the United States ,
t'nder the present system In this country , the
expense oC Insurance constitutes no small
Item In tliu coil of the maintenance ot prop
erty , anil the conduct ot mercantile anil manu
facturing business. In fact , It enters ver >
largely into the ox pen so ot all commercial
transactions at the present time. Hire In-
turance ban become a recognized nccsslty In
alt communities , and among all classes ot
buslnes * , and that system ot distributing the
liurdrn of the loss of the few among the
many Is a wise and meritorious provision , the
wisdom and beneficence ot which Is unques.
tlcned.
Fire Insurance forms an Important clement
in the credit standing of every person en
gaged In minufacturlng or mercantile pur-
nulls , and has become a .necessary and Im
portant collateral in the negotiation of loans
on both real estate and chattels. Its use In
this class of credit relieves , In no small de
gree , the financial hazard , anil affords to both
creditor and debtor n greater sense of safetj
and security. Its use In this way has be
come so general , that n very large proportion
of the manufacturing , wholesaling and Job'
blng firms of the country will not extent !
crsitlLi unless their customers keep their busl
ness Interests well Insured ; and loan com'
panics universally demand that propert ]
owner * cirry at least Insurance sufficient tt
cover the mortgage , properly assigned a :
rollateral ID the loan.
It Is not of the system ot distributing- <
lois that the people complain of , but ot the
cost ot tip distribution. Under the prevalllnf
methods the cost of distribution amounts tc
almost as gieat a sum as the relief afforded
and thus the burden of the many Is doublet
to afford relief and relmhursemen1
to the few. As a proposition o
economics. It certainly cannot bo com
mended , for the community suffers nearl ]
ad much from the cost of Insurance as fron
the waste by fire. As a matter of economj
the community had far belter stand the fin
waste than maintain Insurance thereon at tin
present rate of cost. With the Indlvldua
euffercr from lire loss , however , the questloi
presents an entirely different phase , and Insurance
suranco bcconiM a great benefaction. Uu
the trouble Is that the sufferers from fire an
not bcnefittetl by the enormous cost of dls
trlbuting the loss , while the community a
largo Is the loxcr to that extent , over am
above the actual loss by fire. As a buslnes
proposition , when It costs the community a
much to maintain a system of dlstrlbutini
Its flro loss as the sum of the benefits dc
rvcil therefrom. It Is a fact patent that thcr
is something radically wrong In the method
adopted.
adopted.COST OP INSUHANCR ADROAD.
In the April number of the North Air.orlca
Review Mr. Crocker ably discusses the cos
of flro Insurance and shows conclusively tlia
the expense ot Insurance In the Unite
States Is cxceeJIngly high anil out of all pro
jwrtlon as compared with the cost In otho
countries. In support of his position ho quote
the following estimate of average rates fror
nn addrcPH by II. O. Essex of the Lancashlr
Insurance company of England :
Tor SIOo | Per II"
Frnnre I .M Austria !
ISiHuitla A
aermnny
EniclunJ WlUnlted States 1.0
The object of this paper to to emphasize th
position taken by Mr. Crocker , and perhar
suggest a remedy for the existing condltioni
as the agitation of this subject will bo prc
ductlve of much food for thought among bus1
ness men throughout all sections of th
country , and may In time lead to the ndot
tlon of remedial methods that will afford Ir
dcmnlty for loss by fire at a much less cort.
In the paper referred to , Massachusetts I
quoted to show that In twenty years the pet
] ) lo of that Btato have paid out In premium
for Insurance the enormous tmin of $148,000
000 , and have received In return only $77
000,000 as Indemnity for flro waste. In N <
braska , where the writer reside * ! the shov
ing made Is far more glaring than that.
TUB COST IN NCURASKA.
The sworn annual statements of the It
uranco companies doing business in th
state , ns nied In the state auditor's ofllc
show that during a period of ten year
from 1885 to 1891. the people have paid I
premiums the sum of $17,732,431. while the
have received In return. In fire losses pali
only $7,365,010. Thus the state , as a con
manwcalth , has been a net loser , by reason i
Insurance , to the extent of $10,307,465 iltirln
" ' that period , or a net annual loss of $1,036
i"'r 746 ; a loss 140 per cent In excess of tr
I benefits received. The average premlui
rate dm Ing this period has been $1.00 % pi
, $100. Yet underwriters arc loud In the
protestations that their companies are mal
Ing no money on Nebraska business , ai
threaten to withdraw from the state unlei
the valued policy law Is repealed. It Is voi
evident from the facts presented that tl
atato has made no money from the con
panics. With such a showing as this , If li
suranco companies cannot make an adi
quato profit , there Is something radical
wrong In their methods and managemn
that calls for a speedy reformation. Eve
a man of limited ability In the ordinary bu
Iness avocations of life would soon ama :
a fortune If ho received HO per cent moi
from his patrons than ho returned to thcr
The Insurance Year Hook , published 1
the Spectator company , shows that for tl
year 1S93 the Insurance companies In tl
United States received In premiums $164
463.048 , and paid out for losses the sum
J10S.S7U.30S , for dividends the sum of $15
38.1,914. with an aggregate capital of $7S
620GGo. The year preceding , according
the same authority , the premium rccelp
were $164,2iOS97 , while the losses paid on
aggregated $98,831,906 , and the dlvldeni
paid amounted to the sum of $12.90.1,4C
The cost of Insurance In the United Stat
in 1S92 upon AH estimated population of C (
680,740 , was $2.46 per capita.
INSURANCK A PROFITABLE HUSINES
Underwriters are continually claiming th
their companies are making no money ai
that the business of fire Insurance Is unprofl
able. In the case of a few Individual coi
panles that la perhaps a fact , but In the ma
this talk of unprofitable business Is kept i
to prevent legislative regulation and malnta
high premium rates. The statistics she
that In 1893 the flro Insurance companies
the United States paid dividends aggregatli
$12,383,914 upon an aggregate capital of $7 :
t > 20,565 , a trltle over 17 per cent. A net r
turn of 17 per cent upon the capital invent
would seem to bo a > ery fair profit for tl
stockholders , Thope name companies for tl
year 1893 report a net surplus of $9S,373,5S
If flro Insurance has been so unprofUal
whence came this surplus , equalling 133 p
cent ot their capital stock ? Certainly n
from the pockets of the btockholilers , b
from the pockets nt the policy holders In t
ihapo of excessive premium rates.
Some Idea of the cost of Are Insurance c :
bo obtained when you consider the fact th
the premiums paid annually equal $2.40 p
capita , and then consider that , according
the census of 1890 , the cost of maintain ! )
the public schools of this country was on
$2.24 per capita. The amount returned
losics paid averages only about $1.46 p
Capita , so that the country Is the net lew
every year by reason of the cost ot dl
trlbuting the flro Iocs to the extent of
per capita of Its ivopulatlon.
In Ma able paper upon this subject y
Crocker appears to lay the greater part
; the bunion of coat at the door of the agon
and brokers. Whllu the commissions paid f
.that service form a large per cent of the e
pense complained of , yet upon that theo
'alone the total cost cannot be satlsfactorl
Accounted for , from the fact that the ageni
commissions are uniformly only 15 per ce
of the premium receipts , the broker's rot
'mission being a division of that amount urn
, a basis of from CO to 6Gj per cent of the tel
commission. To Illustrate ; Kor the ye
1892 the cott of Insurance over and a bo
losses and dividends was J52.S05.471 , while
per cent of the premium receipts for th
year amounted to $21,030,131 , to that wo t
hive over CO per cent of tbo cost to bo ac-
countol for.
OVERPRODUCTION OF AGENTS ,
So long as Indemnity against fire loss Is
obtainable only through the medium of In
corporated stock companies , who perform the
service for profit , 10 long will the agency plan
t placing risks be Indlspenisble , both to the
ubllc and the companies. The service might
o greatly Improved to the advantage of both
ho Insured and the Insurer , If companies
ould exercise more care In th ? selection of
holr agents and brokers. I am Inclined to
link that perhaps this branch of the service
ia * overgrown Itself , and that communities
nd companies are alike suffering from an
ivorproductlon of Insurance agents. The
cckless writing ot Insurance by Incompetent
ml dishonest agents , who over-Insure Irre-
ponslblo risks for the sake ot the commls-
Ions obtained Is detrimental to communities
nd companies , In that It Increases the coat
f Insurance to both by offering a premium
n anon.
Irresponsible and unprincipled business men ,
maintaining a falling and unprofitable busl-
less , whoso financial standing is below par In
II commercial centers , have no difficulty In
htalnlng executive Insurance from agents
hose only object Is the commissions re-
alned from the deal. In too many cases
hero Is an utter absence of the exer-
ilse ot even ordinary business judgment In
lacing Insurance risks , as apparently no
( Tort whatever Is mado" to ascertain whether
r not the value of the property equals the
mount of Insurance upon It. The size of
he premium In too many Instances cuts more
Igurc with both agent nnd company than the.
luestlon of whether the property actually
: ontalns the value Insured.
COMPANIES HAVE THEIR OWN REMEDY
These defects can , to a great extent , be
aslly corrcctej by the companies themselves ,
f they desire to do so , by simply basing
lommlsslons upon profits Instead of upon
ho value of premiums received. That Is. In-
lead of paying a flat commission of 1G per
: cnt upon all business accepted by the com
pany , pay a commission of G per cent upon
acceptance of the risk and 10 per cent at the
expiration of the policy period , providing no
loss has been sustained In the meantime.
Should a loss occur under any policy writ-
en , wherein the fire had Its origin upon the
premises Insured , upon such a risk the agenl
writing the same would lose his commlsslcr
of 10 per cent upon the premium received
"or that risk.
This plan would accomplish two very Im
portant reformations In the agency system
t would make the agent more careful as to
he character of the risk written , as upon
the Judicious selection of his risks would In
a large degree depend his compensation.
In the second place such a plan would have i
decided tendency to lessen the number ol
agents engaging In the Insurance business
and the Incompetent and unprincipled ones
would be driven from the field , as only legiti
mate and conservative underwriting woult :
then bo profitable. It would dispense with a
very large per cent of the reckless under
writing and greatly reduce the moral hazard
nnd any plan that will eliminate to any
marked extent the moral hazard from Insur
ance will certainly reduce Its cost.
TOO MANY SOFT IJERTHS.
As shown , the agency feature alone Is nol
holly responsible for the excessive cost o :
flre Insurance. There are other equally glar-
ng defects In the present methods that adi
materially to the burden of the policy holder
Too many high salaried presidents , actuaries
general and state agents are required t <
conduct the business ; too large an amount o
the premium receipts are diverted from tholr
legitimate purpose , such as expense In In
llucnclng or preventing legislation , contest
ng losses , and maintaining compacts am
boards of underwriters for the purpose o
preventing competition and maintaining
rates. These expenses aggregate on at
average from 18 to 25 per cent of the tola
premium receipts. Including the expense o
Inspectors and adjusters.
The wide difference In rates between this
and foreign countries cannot be satisfactorily
accounted for upon the theory of the dlf
ferencc In the construction ot buildings , to
the reason that controverting that argu
ment Is the fact that foreign countrle
present a much greater density of popula
tlon , which , upon all recognized basis o
risk , would materially Increase the physlca
hazard of Insurance.
From the facts here given , and frotr
those presented by Mr. Crocker In the Aprl
lUvlow , it is clearly demonstrated that th
present system of distributing the flre los
In the United States Is altogether too cumber
some and expensive ; that the Interests o
the public demand a radical reorganization
of existing methods , and the adoption o
plans whereby the same results can bo nb
talned for those who suffer from flre los
nt a less expense to the community at large
REMEDIES SUGGESTED.
Uow to do this Is the problem worthy o
the earnest thought and careful study of th
business men ot every community , an
should be a subject of sufllcient Import t
command the attention ot legislators , bet
state and national. He who can for
nuilate a plan whereby the Insurance buslnes
of the country can be conducted upon a mor
economical basis will be a public benc
factor. The writer , having given the subjec
of Insurance a considerable study from th
standpoint ot the Interests of the Insured
will suggest a few crude plans for accom
pllshlng that object , hoping that other
more capable may elaborate them Into prac
tlcal operation.
Inasmuch as flre Insurance Is a unlversa
necessity , and the flre loss must , from th
very nature of the business , be borne by th
public , why not have the function o
distribution performed by the genera
government , the same as the posta
service , thus relieving the people from th
necessity ot paying tribute to Insurance com
panics to suit the sweet will of compact
and boards of underwriters ? The amount col
lected annually as a premium upon flre In
surancc risks aggregates more than the cus
torn duties , or the Internal revenues , col
lected by the government , and the losse
paid annually exceed by several million
the total expenditures of the Postofllce depart
ment. The annual expense of dlstrlbutln
the flre loss through the medium of lusur
ance companies , Including dividends pal
stockholders now amounts to $05,000,000 o
$70,000,000 , while the total premium receipt
aggregate to an amount equaling one-ha
the total ordinary expenditures of th
government.
In a business of this nature , where th
many are taxed for the benefit of the few
and , In view of the present cost ot collectln
and distributing this tax , Is there anythln
preposterous or Impractical In the propos
tlon that it be done through the function o
the government ? The cost could thereby b
reduced from GO to 75 per cent , the wor
performed In a more thorough and syste
matlc manner , rates equalized , the burde
made lighter and more equitably appor
ttond , losses would bo more equitably ad
justed , payments more prompt , and Incen
dlarlsm meted out the punishment It s
richly deserves. Policies would then be unl
form and devoid of technicalities , and a
enormous amount of litigation expanses am
annoyance would be saved to unfortuuat
policy holders.
At first thought one might think this a
Improper function for the government t
assume , and , no doubt , many will say tha
It would be as sensible for the governmen
to engage In the general merchandise busl
ness and supply Its people w.th goods a
actual cost as to engage In the Insuranc
business. Hut when you consider the peculla
nature ot the business , its object , and th
plan ot Its operation , that It differ a almoa
wholly from any other class of business I
Its methods and results , you will tlnJ there !
the most cogent reason why It Is a prope
function for the government to assume.
The adoption ot such a plan would. In al
probability , necessitate an amendment to th
federal constitution , To do that would re
quire much time , and years would have t
be spent In creating public sentiment sufll
clently forceful to secure the submission an
adoption of such an amendment.
MUTUAL , INSURANCE.
Another and perhaps the most practice
plan of lessening the cost of flre Insuranci
a plan that would be the eablest of adoptlo
and provide the readiest relief , Is that c
mutual Interinstirance upon the pure Lloyd
system. That Is a plan ot Insuranc
whereby a certain number of persons assc
elate themselves together In a compact , eac
agreeing and obl'gatlng ' himself to Indemnlf
each other member of the compact for
specified sum , and each member In retur
Indemnities him for an equal amount.
Tor nearly 200 years this has been th
leud'ng plan of marine Insurance , and abou
thirteen years ago It was applied to fir
li.M-rance In this country by a number c
leading and wealthy wholesale and reta
merchants ot New York. City , thus assoclal
Ing themselves together and agreeing lo in
sure each other up to a limit of $2OOC
That U. when the Individual members num
DEWEY STONE GRAND
, CLEARING SALE
FtJRNITURE CO. -OF
. -
H15-I1I7 FARNAM ST ,
Chamber
Suits
We offer this week over 300 chamber
suits from the very cheepest antique finish to
the finest designs in Oak , Bird's Eye Maple ,
Curling Birch and Mahogany , and quote them
far below their actual cost.
Antique finished Chamber Suit. IM.NlIO hovel glass , was ? 1 1.50 .
, . " ' . ' , . , . . . .
Solid oak ClmiiilH-r Suit "Ox''l bevel shuts was $18.00 now.
Solid oak Chamber Suit , 40x18 bevel slass , was ? 'jr..OO , now . I J | I J
White manle Chamber Suit , KOxiM French glass was ? : W.OO , now ItJ'JlJ
Fine curly birch Suit , beautiful , was $18.00. now
An elegant antique oak Suit , cheval dresser , -10x121 French bevel 00
glass , nicely carved , was $ "i.)0 ( ) , now . UUi
Cut-ley birch ( .Ihamber Suit , low French dresser , large French A Q Kfl
bevel glass a beauty w as ? 7u.OO , now . T" U I J U
Nice cherry Chamber Suit , natural finish , full swell front , very KQ
large French glass , was § 100 , now . JO1
All Suits Pieces.
Complete. 3 .
$12 Antique Finished Suits . $ 7.5O $45 Curley Birch Suits . $26.75 $155 Solid Mahogany Suits $ 93.00
$14.50 Antigue Finished Suits . 9.25 $50 White Maple Suits . 28.50 $175 Curley Birch Suits 105.OO
$ i 8 Solid Oak Finished Suits . 10.75 $55 Solid Cherry Suits . 29.75 $210 Antique Oak Suits 121OO
$22 Solid Oak Finished Suits . 13.25 6 ; Antique Oak Suits-r : . . . . . 36.50 $250 Mahogany Suits 143.00
$25 Solid Oak Finished Suits $90 Solid Mahogany Suits . . . . . 53.OO $290 Mahogany Suits 165.0O
$30 Curley Birch Suits . \Q \ $ 110 Curley Birch Suits . . 66.50 $300 Mahogany Suits 189.00
$33 White Maple Suits . 19 5Q $125 English Oak Suits . 72,00 , $350 Mahogany Suits 217.OO
$40 Solid Oak Suits . 24,75 $140 B'rd's Eye Maple Suits . , . . 81.50 $7.50 Mahogany Suits 385.00
Sale Will Last One Week. Don't ' Miss It. The Goods Are As Represented.
bcred ten , each had Insurance ot $18,003 ;
when a membershlp-of 100 was reached , each
had indemnity to the amount of $198,000 ,
ptovlded the full limit of Insurance was
taken. The limit of membership In that
organization Is , I believe , 200 , so that the
full amount of Insurance to be obtained Is
$708,000. On eactuary , to whom all members
execute their power of attorney , with such
clerical help as he needs , attends to the
entire business , which now Involves risks
of upward of $30,000,000. The limit for ex
pense of management Is 15 per cent of the
premium receipts , the premium rate being
the regular boar < l rate in the city where the
risk Is located.
When n loss occurs It Is distributed among
all members In proportion to the Insurance
each one carries , and at the end of their
fiscal year the premium receipts In excess
of losses and 15 per cent for manage
ment are returned to the members In ratio
as they were paid In. The record of this
company for twelve years Is , that Its losses
have been paid In full without contest. Its
guaranty fund kept Intact , and 53 per cent
of the premiums received returned to Us
policy holders , thus making the total cost of
flro insurance to Ha members only 47 par
cent of what It would have been upon the
stock company plan.
This plan of mutual Inter-Insurance takes
from the risk almost wholly the element of
moral hazard , as each Individual underwriter
Is personally Interested In seeing that no
other underwriter ot his class suffers loss.
Under the stock company system the chief
thing considered Is the size of the premium
and the physical hazard of the risk , while
under the proposed plan the first considera
tion Is the moral hazard , the second , the
financial responsibility of the Insured , and
third , the physical hazard of the risk , the
premium cutting no figure whatever In the
acceptance or rejection of the application.
According to the Insurance Year Book.
184 mutual companies reporting for the year
1892 collected In premiums $17,908,330 ;
paid losses , $7,400,85r > ; expenses , $3,797,8S4 ,
and returned to policy holders $5,9DO.S13 ,
thus showing a loss of 41 per cent , an ex
pense of 21 per cent and a return to policy
holders of 33V4 of the premiums received ,
as against a loss of C2Vi per cent , an ex
pense of STA per cent nnd no return of
premiums to policy holders by joint com
panies for the same year.
The objection will be urged that mutual
Insurance does not offer the absolute tndem
nlty that is afforded by the Joint stock com
panies. As an answer to that objection I
will merely cite the fact that In the year
1892 the joint stock flre and marine insur
ance companies doing business In the United
States had an aggregated capital and sur
plus of less than $200,000,000 , as against
policies In force aggregating $16,897,933.125.
Tb3 reader can judge for himself as to which
plan orlcrs the greater security as compared
with the cost.
To cheapen the cost of fire Insurance to
any appreciable degree the motive of profit
must be eliminated from the methods of
transacting the business. In the foregoing
paper I have attempted to point
out the defects of the present
system and suggest remedies therefor.
But , to obtain the full results desired , towlt
Indemnity against loss by flre at actual cost ,
there must be a radical change In methods.
To accomplish this I have outlined two
plans , the one through the general govern
ment , the other by mutual Inter-Insurance.
The former Is perhaps but a dream of the
future , but the latter plan can be put Into
successful operation by mutual associations
among business men , encouraged by legisla
tion , with the rights ot policy holders prop
erly recognized and protected by law.
If. O. BEATTY.
Omaha , Neb. _
IMXlHHf 'ir.IV JIKlllXlt.
OMAHA , June 9. To the Editor of The
Bee : Will you kindly answer the following
question : Js It not the case that there are
more people In London than In the whole
staje of New York ? JIM.
Ixmdon had In 1891 , 4,231ill ; New York
bad In 1890 , 5,997,853.
New Co'unctu Ilullrnmil Knterprlne.
DENVEil , June 8. The Plateau Valley
Railroad company , capitalized at $250,000 ,
as Incorporated yesterday by G , W. Val
la nee , general agent for the Burlington road ;
F. P. Earnest , president of the American
National bank of Denver ; P. T. Stevens ,
Orson Adams , jr. , nnd Fred S. Itockwcll.
The company proposes to build about 100
miles of road In Grand , Mesa and Pltkln
counties , opening a region which Is well
adapted to fruit raising and dairy farms.
PASSING OF THE "BAD" MAN
Recollections of Western Characters and the
Pluenoy of Their Guns.
WHAT THEY COULD DO AT THEIR BEST
Jimmy Ilollnnu'nVuy of Settling Contro-
vcral < > < lloir wild 1)111 ) Once .Mot Ilia
Mutch A County Sent Win Set
tled by a Ciotlicalhio.
( CopyrlRlilPd , 18D3 , by 8. S. McClurc. Limited )
That far western character known as the
"bad man" Is rapidly passing away. Here
and there one still lives , nourishing mod
estly ana harmlessly on the capital he
acquired when laws were without form and
void ; hero and there one makes occasional
ahortlvo attempts to retrace his stein , and
dance the gay fling of his youth , hut the
times and tbo marshal are against him.
Somehow , he can nol always understand It
the things that used to ennoble a man
above all other achievements are nioro lightly
esteemed than they used to be. To his
Intense disgust , It his heart be yet turbu
lent , ho finds that filling up with wild liquor
has become disreputable ; and the killing of
a man positively unsafe.
Trom 1855 to 1870 was about the limits of
the "bad man" era , and his country was
anywhere from the Missouri river to the
Pacific coast. Since the latter time no man
has enjoyed a long career as a "killer. "
Even in the newest mining camps and tha
wildest cattle towns the force of the lawful
man lias been so early felt that after one
or two Indulgences in murder , however
strong the- provocation , the "bad man" has
usually "sloped , " and left his llttlo reputa
tion to grow up by Itself ; whereas In the
old days ho would have steadfastly re
mained in the region of Its birth , cultivating
It , and adding to It whenever well , when
ever a cap occasion arose.
"JIMMY" HOLLAND WAS "ONE OP 'EM. "
"Jimmy" Holland was one of the old gang ,
and one of the latest. He was a San
Francisco youth , with a weakness for the
mountains. Ho was known all the way
from Virginia City to Mount Shasta , and
particularly well known at the army forts.
Slight of build , with a smiling face , bright
blue eyes , white teeth , good raiment and
an excellent horse"Jlwmy" , Holland was a
general favorite. He ' seldom drank , and
was never drunkeri. The demands of his
profession precluded indulgence. Vor in
spite of his , very cordial demeanor
meaner "Jimmy" Holland was n gam
bler. At Carson dno night a town ho de
spised , as no one bUt thu legislators would
play , anJ Nevada could not afford to keep a
legislature In session perpetually , even for
him ho was dealing' fsro when two gentle
men disputed as toitvhlth had eot a $20 gold
plcco on the seven siyft the seven having
won.
won.Doth were members of'the ' legislature and ,
therefore , honorable pi | ii and so "Jimmy"
could not decide b iween them. Both were
Ehootera. and , the/efbrt. he deemed It ac
cording to all Carson/ ethics to let them set
tle it between themselves , This was agree
able to the man from Tleno , but Wlnnemuc-
ca's representative"Jov" AUlne , thinking a
row with "Jimmy"ould bo easier , abused
the dealer roundly tot not protecting his
patrons. ,
"Jimmy" said nothing , tapped the cards to a
straight edge In the box and Inquired If the
gentlemen had made their bets. For reply
Aldlne rofe tumultuously , tipping the table
and confusing the coin. He then whipped
out a very largo revolver and announced
that the game was ctored.
There was a special election at Wlnne-
mucca as soon ai legal notice by publication
coiiU be given , and It Is said that "Jimmy"
Holland's floral offering was the handsomest
up to that time In Nevada ,
TOO GOOD A SHOT FOU THE AIIMY.
Down about Fnrt Defiance , on the edge
of Mexico the place U abandoned now for
the newer military peat at Wlngato Navajo
Sam used to make a good deal of trouble.
He had been an cnlltted man and wat sen )
to his regiment from the recruiting1 depot on
Governor' * Island. Hut nothing was known
ot bli antecedents In New York or elsewhere.
Sam would ( boot. an < i It was becauc-a of
tils utter indifference as to the objective end
of hU aim that he was finally discharged
from the army. If he could have confined
his attention to Utes and Apaches , with oc
casional repressive demonstrations among the
Navajoes , he would have been very valuable.
Dut when ho had shot one post trader's clerk
for refusing to sell him postage stamps on
credit , and destroyed a lung for the com
pany teamster , he was mustered out on the
ground of permanent and Incurable disability.
He called the captain's attention to the
fact that the teamster still lived.
"Yes , " said the captain , "but his lung Is
gone. The man can't yell. A man that
can't yell can't swear , and the army has no
use for anyone that discourages profanity
among teamsters. "
After that Sam shot a half-breed Zulu In
dian , a stage passenger to Yum.i. and a
belligerent Mexican cowboy from Sonora
and was possessed of a record. He tried to
run a saloon at Durango , but his habit of
promulgating hla Ideas at the point of a
pistol discouraged trade , and after ho had
contributed four tenants to ths Durango flats
a little strip of level ground devoted to
cemetery uses he gave hla saloon to the
sheriff , borrowed a tenderfoot's saddle horse
and pack mule , and started south.
The tenderfoot , being rash , overtook him
at the I'etrllled forest , and unllmbercd a
Henry rifle at 400 yeards. Sam paid no at
tention , and ho kept pegging away till he
hit the pack mule. Then Sam made a
few remarks , accompanied by his Winches
ter ; and when Chief Codies came down from
the north with his t > heep in the fall he
brought the Henry rifle with him and a pair
of larg ? spurs with a Cincinnati trade mark
upon them.
When Navajo Sam reached Gallup ho
found his record and some rivals awalt-
dcstroycd his aim , and , wildly angered , the
"bad" man flung himself to the ground.
The Impatient haste wag fatal , for he
broke one arm and one leg In falling ; and
Julius , not knowing how safe he was , re
turned and destioyed him.
Navajo Sam was burled just the day be
fore a gentleman came down from Durango
with a shotgun and a scries of questions
about the tenderfoot.
TOO QUICK KOH "WILD HILL. "
There Is one true story about "Wild UIH"
which Is belilom told , and \\lncli I have never
seen printed anywhere. Few men living
could draw and shoot so quick as could Hill.
Dut he met one man at Cheyenne who sur
prised him. They met ono night at the
Grand hotel , and 1)111 ) , who wanted to wash ,
took off his big hat and tossed It upon the
bar. It struck and upset a glass of whisky
which was \\altlng for Lieutenant Kyle , then
less than a year In the army.
Kyle was nngry , and without knowing or
caring who owned the hat , he threw It on
the floor and ordered another drink.-
BUI , turning from the little mirror with
his handsome locks fairly combed , ordered
him to pick It up , and Kyle refused. Both
were armed , and Bill saw there was no use
arguing.
For an Instant they utood fronting each
other , nerves at highest tension , eyes wide
and llamlng.
Then a flash of nill'a hand to his belt pub
lished warning , and Kyle drew and fired.
The pistol fell from Bill's hand almost he-
fore Its barrel wan free from the holster , and
his right hand leaped from his side with the
Instructive flexion of pain.
Instantly his left hand flew , to a second
weapon , for BUI was ambidextrous and
THE PISTOL FELL FROM BILL'S HAND.
Ing him. The first night , being surprised
by the quick and effective action of Gallup
whisky , ho grew troublesome , and a barber ,
who disliked being cursed while shaving ,
made a slash with his razor , and carried
away eome portion of Sam's left ear. They
carried the barber away presently ; but It
was all Sam's eloquent car could do to con
vince the Gallup avengers that this was a
fair fight , and not the act of a man unduly
eager for glory.
SAM'S CLOSING ADVENTUHE.
But he came to hla end , and that In a
most Inglorious fashion. The Atlantic &
Pacific company had Just built the new rail
road to Gallup , and the simple-minded plains ,
men were not accustomed to Its habits. Sam
had a discussion nlth Julius Feder , a Semitic
trader who dealt In Navajo wool. It all
grew out of the Jew's dlslnclluatlon to trade
ponies ,
Julius mounted and flew , with no moro
damage than a hole In the crown of his hat.
Sam mounted and followed , but his pony was
unequal to the task of capture. The road
lay along the railway track and Julius was In
a fair way to escape when the train came
along. Sam shouted an order for the en
gineer to stop , but It was unheeded. So he
broke a cab window with the aeuond ahot
and then dismounted.
Very much enraged and envious ot the
train's speed , he flung himself upon the
ladder of a freight car ai It hurried past , and
by some marvel hung on. The Jew , watch
ing Sam'n pony , was not aware of the
tactical change till Sam , lying on a freight
car , attracted his attention by laming Ills
br.dle hand. But the unaccustomed jolting
notoriously proficient. But Kyle's gun wai
In Ills hand , and he shot again. This time
ho struck the pistol guard , and the weapon
was torn from Us sheath and flung on the
floor.
The officer was now aroused , and Bill
could see that he thought ot ending life and
the quarrel nlth a single shot. So ho tem
porized.
"You've got me , " he Bald. "Don't shooU"
"Then don't knock over my whisky with
your hat. " replied the ollicer. In some liiMt.
"Did I knock over your whisky ? " In *
quired BUI , suddenly gMtplng a nudlclcnt
cause of offense ,
"You did. "
"Then I beg your pardon , and I don't
blame you for throwing the hat on the
floor. My name Is Wild Bill ; and you
"
are
"Lieutenant Kyle of the army. "
"Glad to meet you. Wlmt'll you have ? "
"Another drink. " said Kyle , while the
barkeeper said to himself :
"Thl is a damn dream , or I'm a China *
man"
The men were friends while they lived ,
writing to each other occasionally , for Kyle
was assigned to the First regiment ot cav
alry , and went on to the coast Among Die
effects of each were discovered letters from
the other. Though It a thouiand miles had
not divided them It la barely possible they
might have met less pleasantly.
IMPORTANCE OF A BIT OF CIXJTHKS-
LINE.
In the border ruffian days of early Kaniai
Joe Duddlei , though be managed to keep
out of either army , laid up a record ot eight
men killed In open brawl , and then went
away about wartime because the brother of
a man who had disagreed with htm In poli
tics came up to Coffey county from Lynn
with the first repeating rlllo that ever
crossed the Missouri river.
Joe was gone fifteen years , but scraps of
history drifted back from Arkaiuas , whcro
ho had maintained the Kansas reputitlon ,
though at the expense of some halt a d07cn
offenders. He reached Lelloy Just on the
eve of Its county scat fight against Burling
ton.
Loj.il to his old town , his politics nnd hla
past offenses were l > oth forgiven , for he was
likely to be a valuable man. Burlington people
ple heard about him and his ominously visi
ble gun , and It bothered them.
Ono day Coffey county hold an election ,
and an overwhelming majority of voter : ) ,
living and dead , decided on moving the
county scat from Lolloy to Burlington. The
newly elected aheilff and clerk started down
to Lelloy after the records.
The old sheriff at Lelloy put the papers
In a gunny sack and started away with
them , leaving Joe Duddlea and some
others to cover his flight. The Lolloy con
tingent waited at the corner of the bquaro
for Joe to appear nnd lead thorn , but he did
not como ; and when the Burlington crowd
galloped past after the records only a few
Ineffectual shots were fired.
Next morning Joe Duddlcs was found lying
In the back yard nt Mrs. Ward , with whom
ho had been boarding. Hla gun was In his
hand , but ho could not speak. And there
was a dark blue mark across bin throat.
They carried htm Into the house and 1 *
wrote on the wall paper :
"I hit my chin on the clothesline. "
The man had dashed from the houeo ,
armed , to join his fellows , and the patent
wlro clothesline had thrown him.
He might have recovered from the physical
injury. He might oven have lived down the
effects of that November night's exposure ,
but ho could not survive the humiliation of
such a tumble. And at the end of a week
ho died.
Ills wife came up from Arkansas to
the burial , and the funeral sermon was all
oven her exacting tastes could require. lilt )
gravestnno Is silent UK to thosa deeds of
which ho was proudest ; but then there are
compensations In nil things. It say nothing
of the clothesline which conquered him.
LEHOY ARMSTRONG. I
ItlSl.llilUUH.
Moody Is conducting evangelistic meetings
this week In Cleveland , O.
Mrs. Kate E. Miller , formerly a resident
of Garrison , Neb. , Is conducting a revival at
Arcola , III. , and Immersing converts In the
neighboring river.
The last year has been a prosperous ono
In the BaptUt churches In this country.
Thfro has been a gain of 140,1.13 member * ,
whllo the Increase In the number ot or-
dalne.l ministers la nearly 2,000.
It Is estimated that there are 18,000 church
edifices belonging to all branches of Meth
odism In the United States , having a total
valus of 1168,000,000. Their total benevo
lences for the year ISM amounted to $23,414-
23S , contributions to missions alone exceed
ing $1.000.000.
During recent revival services at Fulton *
vllle. N. Y. , a saloon keeper was converted
and emptied his entire stock of liquor * In
the gutter. In the evening a huge bonfire
was niado of the barrels and fixtures , tha
evangelist preaching to a great crowd nn em-
blej from the top of an empty whisky barrel.
The Church Association for the Advance
ment of the Interests of Labor , a New Yorlc
Institution , is carrying on an active work
to pro luce better relations between capital
and labor , and to arouse among members
of the church greater InteroU In the nodal
problems which are now pressing for solu
tion.
tion.The
The proposed new Protestant Episcopal
diocese of Washington Is to consist of the
District of Columbia and four countlts ot
Maryland Prince George's , St. Mary' * ,
Clurlui and Montgomery. If the division U
ratified by the general convention that meets
In October , Bishop Paret will probably de
cide to t ) bishop of the new see , which will
leave the dloceio ot Maryland vacant.
A religious census of the world has just
been jssued by the Deuttcha Klrcheiuettung-
of Berlin , which Is attracting considerable
discussion on account of relative proportion )
It gives to Catholic and Protestants. The
census starts out with the assertion that tha
i population of tha world at the present time
Is 1,000,000.000 persons. Of these 1,000,000-
000 are outildo the pa If of Christianity , 812-
000,000 being heathen , 180,000,000 Moham
medan ami 8,000,000 Jews. The remainder
Is divided up among the Roman Catholics ,
the Greek church and the Protntants , thu
three division * afEfecatlnc 00,000,000.
