FHE OMAHA 1 DAILY BEE ESTABLISHED JUNE 19 , 1871 , OMAHA , SATURDAY MOllNIXG , T)3GCB lJ3E ! 2 AGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS. BIG COLISEUM FIRE Chicago's Mammoth Convention Hall ia a Total Lots. FLAMES SPREAD Y/iTH / GREAT RAPIDITY Building in Which Bryan Was Ncminatod Completely Wrecked , NUMBER OF LIVES BELIEVED TO BE LOST Manufacturers' Exhibition Occupied the ' Stractura. FIRE IS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRIC WIRES In Twpnty 'Minute * the IlnllillnK In Convi-rlcil Into n Junk Tile of T\VNIM | | Iron and , IlrluU. CHICAGO , Dec. 24. Flro tonlfiht de etroyed the Coliseum building at Sixty-third street and Stony Island avenue , In which the democratic national convention was hold las year. The fire was one of the quickest eve seen In Chicago. From the time when I originated by the crosJslriB of two clectrl llaht wlrjs , until the Coliseum was a pit of twisted Iron and hot bricks was not ovc twenty minutes. The building had been rented for an ex htbltlon of a manufacturers' exposition am was filled from end to end with booths , all o which were destroyed , with all of their con tcnta. It Is supposed that a number of neo pie were lost In the llaniM , and although n bodies have been recovered , the following people ore missing and have undoubtedly perished : TWO WOMEN , dancers In the Midway ex hibit , seen entering the building just before it collzpfled. TWO MEN. seen In the center of the build- Ins during the fire by firemen. SOME OF THE WOUNDED. The Injured are : Peter Foots , watchman , burned about the face and hands. Harry I'arker , New York City , slightly burned. G. A. Lyons , New York City , slightly burned. Mrs , 0. A. Lyons , severely burned. M. J. Morley , lacerated by exrjlostca of Crookes tubes and burned about the head. William Robertson , face and tands burned. M. J. Wheeler , watchman , hands burned. Jamca Maser , fireman , burned while cut ting a live wire with a pair of shears. Robert Harley , fireman , severely bruised by debris during the collapse of a wall of the building. Miss Helen Conger , shocked by live wire and severely burned about right arm. George Dekrcke , proprietor of "Streets of Cairo" exhibit , jumped from a window of the burning building and was severely bruised. Louis Weiss , janitor , burned about the face and bands. Frank Murphy , S ( . LouU , severely burned. ' Harry Hamilton , burned'about the face. 1 "W. II. Wright , burned about arms. Albert. Chamberlain , burned and cut on' face and hands. Eugene Duggan , burned about left side. Howard Geyser , Wilmington , Del. , deco rator. ' ' - < * 1 Joseph Byrnes , Hoboken , N , J. , decorator. Geyser and Dyrncs were docorat.'ng one of the 'tooths ' In the balcony when the fire broke out. The manager of the exhibit ran to the booth and called to the men that the jlacewaisToa fire find for them to save them- celvee. They were apparently In no hurry and the last seen of them they were still at work. It Is thought that they were both lost. lost.The The fire originated In a booth which was ascd for an exhibition of X-rays , the booth jclng managed by M. J. Morley and William Robertson. The two men were examining Ibelr Roentgen machine when they were itartlcd by a elzzllng noise behind them , and ipon turning saw a part of their exhibit iblaze. Crossed electric light wires , which ivere over the exhibit , are thought to have sau.ted the fire. They at first tried lo imothcr the fiamcs , but before they secured ivater acid cloth Wie flro had spread tbrough- > ut tbo entire booth , Morley , realizing that ho and his partner vould be unable to cope with the flames , then ade an endeavor to save some of the moat raluablo of tbo X-ray paraohernalla. Run ning to the machine , he grasped two Crookes tubes and , with Robertson , began fighting his way out of the building. Before he reached MI exit the tubes , which he held In both his hands , exploded from the beat , severely lacerating his hands. Ills hair also caught fire and ho was severely burned ubout tlio brad. Robertson was burned about the face. CROWD TO THE MAIN EXIT , About 300 pecplo were In the building at the timeof the fire , and at the first alarm there was a rush for safety. ( Fortunately the aisles were wide and owing < to the com paratively small number of people In the building there < vis little difficulty In reachIng - Ing the doors. Most of those endeavoring to escape run to a large door on the east side of the bulldtnK , which Is wide enough to ad mit a team of horses and wagon. A crowd of fully 200 people gathered be fore this door , which was found to bo locked , and as the lire was roaring through the building -with great speed \f. \ seemed for a few minutes as though none of those would be able to escape. W , J , Wheeler , a watch man , saw the trouble , and ran to open the door , but the crowd was packed In front of U so closely that the had the greatest diffi culty In opening It. Once It swung wide , however , the crowd was in the open air In a few seconds. During the jam at this point several people ple were .badly . crushed , tut none were seri ously injured. Tbo balance of the people made their way through tbo other doors , and several who wore caught In the balcony were compelled to jump to the ground from , the roof. The balcony is lined with windows that swing outwaM and they had no trouble In getting up on the roof , and from there tbo Imp to the ground was not great. The firemen were at hand before all the pet pie were out. and before they made an effort to fight the flames they devoted their attention to clearing the hall of the people. Uy the time they were ready to pour > water on tbo fire there was no uio of their doing anything , as the fire spread with such rapidity that there was no chance whatever of saving the building after it had once got beyond the confines of the booth 1n which It Urted. minute * after tbo fire Jjegaa ( bo oof was ablaze , and In a very short time nftcr the fire had appeared on top of the building one of the large arches that spanned he building gave way with a tremendous report , and then another and another , each one going down with a sound like , the report of a cannon. - Thebuilding / fell very quickly , as after the first arch went down the weight was too great for the arches next to It , and all collapsed , It took not over twenty mln utcs to make a complete ruin of the build ing. ing.The The Coliseum cost $250,000 and was twice as largo as thciMadlson Square garden buildIng - Ing of New York. It had ft floor space of seven acres. Including the ground and gallery floors ; was C70 Icct long by 300 feet v/ldc and contained 2,500,000 pounds of steel , 1,200,000 feet of timber and 3,000,000 bricks. ORIGINAL COLISEUM WllBCKED. On Auguvt 21 , 1893 , the first collwum , then In the course of construction , was wrecked , ontalllng a leas of $125,000. The cause of the collaptc has never been luiouu , but It was thought that the last arch was not placed In position correctly , Tuc building was to have beui opened September 2 of that year by the Barnum & Bailey circus and the contractor , ! were rut&lng the work In orde'r to have It completed In time. Six hundred nun had been working on the building up to half an hour before the crash came , which wat > 11:10 : o'clock at algtit. Fifty thousand feet of green lumber , which was to have been used for reefing , was on the roof of the building at the time i.nd the weight of this \\as supposed to have had something to do with the iwcl- dttit. The original Coliseum was designed by 3. S. Beman la Uallm renaissance fctylc. In the center of one side rose a campanile 240 feet ulgh and thlrty-filx feet square , After the collapse of the first building Ar chitect Bemun at ctice drew plans for a new building and It was constructed and opened to the public June 1 , 1800. The de tails cf the massive building show a compo- eltlcu of fourteen enormous arches , seventy feet at the apex above the ground tad with a span cM30 feel In the clear. The building \vaa encircled on the Inside by a gallery thirty-five feet wide and thirty-three feet ubovo the floor. The arena was only equalled In extent by that of the Roman coliseum. The building was Insured for ? 120,000 , the Insurance being written Ui twenty-six differ ent companies. FIREMAN INJURED. While responding to the alarm of fire from the Coliseum engine company No. 19 col lided with a passenger train on the Lake Shore road , smashing the engine badly. Only one of the firemen , Albert Paamberlala , was Injured , however. The accident occurred at Forty-first street and Cottage Grove avenue The h ( > se tart of the cotrcany was ahead of the flro engine and close Upon the tracks when the watchman heard a train approach ing and closed the gates. The hcse cart WJB too clcse to the gate , however , and before t'je driver could stop his horses , crashed Into It , carrying It down completely. The driver managed to step his horses on the track , and the watchman , seeing that unless he opened the gate the hcse carl would certainly be. ruti down , opened them , letting the cart out of danger. The driver of ttie engine , whlh was close behind , thought from the raising of the far side gates that the way was clear , urged on his hcrees cod dashed on the tracks. The train was there before he was , however , and ho drove squarely into the side of a rapidly moving1 passenger coach. AH of the firemen were throv\i from their scats , but all of them escaped Injury , with the exception of Chamberlain , whose hurts a're not severe. The total loss on the building and contents Is said to be $478,000. Of this amount $350- 000 was the value of the building and $123- 000 the estimated cost of the exhibits and material In the exposition tn progress In the building. Insurance to the- amount of $120- 000 was carried on the Coliseum , bul of this amount $100,000'will go to the holders of out standing bonds to pay these obligations In full. The owners of the building will get but $20,000 out of their Insurance. Colonel John T. Dlcklson , president of the Coliseum company , said tonight that no effort will bomado to restore the building. Next to the Coliseum , the heaviest Indi vidual loser Is F. C. Bcatwlck , the proprietor of a mechanical riding school , nn elaborate contrivance which Is said to have cost $60,000 , and upon which there was no insur ance. SAN JOSE , Cal. , Dec. 24. The plant of the Standard Oil company , near the Southern Pacific depot In this city , was totally de stroyed by fire this afterncon. The loss Is about $25,000. While the fire was In progress a gasoline tank exploded. Jerry O'Brien , a volunteer fireman , was saturated with burn Ing oil. Ho lingered In terrible agony until 8 o'clock ip. m. , when he died. A number of otl'er persons were slightly burned. NHW YORK , Dec. 24. The explosion of an oil stovu used for heating purposes In the oflice of 'Barwlse & Son , dealers In teas and codecs , today caused a fire which consumed over $40,000 'worth'of property. ICM'I.OSIO.V AT AUliTYLISXBVOHKS. . Tire 3H-U Itixtiuitl- Killed mill Knur nilifrx Iiijiirfil. NDW YORK , Doc. 24. U succession of ex plosions nt the United State. ? Acetylene Liquefying company. In Jersey City , today caused fcao loss of two lives and $20,000 dam ages 40 the works. The dead arc : THOMAS FOWLER , the assistant engineer. MAX GRIMM. There were only three d'faer employes In the building at the time of the accident und they received greater or less Injuries. Their names are Fred fiurr , Fritz Epzol and Charles Wl.lte. James Leeb , who was workIng - Ing half a block away , woa badly Injured by a pleco of the boiler. A fragment of ( he boiler toro tbe roof from a trolley car some dl&anco uwsy. It U said that the fir t explosion was due to the boilers bursting and as the- fire spread to the various acid tanks there was a succrtalpn of deafening reports. Nearby buildings as well as the Central railroad of New Jersey trestle caught fire , but the losses were not serious In those Instances. The machinery of the local electric lightIng - Ing company was affected by 4he jar , causing the electric lights In various buildings to go out. out.Max Max Grlmm.'s body was blown through a window and torn to pieces. The body of As- sH'siit Engineer Fowler was found In tbo ruins of the wrecked buildings. Tonllout < 2otOver n Diuii. PITTSnUIlO , Dec. 24 , The tow boat Hot- spur went over the dam at Lock No , 4 on the Manangiihela river this morning and was completely wrecked , The crew of eleven men , Including John KK-y , father of the captain and owner , Were rescued with dltllculty. It is feared Ktey will die of tha exposure. The cargo -\V a valued at about $50,000. .Silver for NEW YORK , Dec. 24. The steamship Lucanla , sailing1 for Europe tomorrow , will take G35.COO ounces of silver1 and 85,000 Mex ican dollars. The Normandlo will take 100- 000 ounces of diver , MISSION OF GENERAL BOOTH Salvation Army Leader Will Huston to Boo Hia Son Ballington. WILL BIAR THE OLIVE BRANCH OF PEACE Lender * of the OrirnnlKntlnii for ii Ilettllnir. of Ilio llrene.li UN n 'lU-xtilt ' of UU Vlnll. , . ( CopytlRht , H97 , by ProM I'uMhlitnf ? Company. ) LONDON. Dec. 24. ( New York World Ca blegram Special Telegram. ) General Booth s profoundly distressed by the newa of the grave Illness of Mrs. Balllnglon Booth. I journeyed today to Barcict. where the gen eral Is staying at the house of his sea and alter ego , Bramwcll Booth , butt'.ie vener able leader of the Salvation Army was unable to ACC any one. The special cable dispatch received from the United States was taken to him , pointing out that the associates of Mrs. Ballington Booth ascribed her Illness to the harsh treatment she had received at the hands of the Salvation Airny leaders. The reply of General nootli was : "In these tad circumstances It Is Impossible for me to make.any controversial statement. I oin only express my sympathy with my son In his trouble and my ucpes for Mrs. Booth's re covery. " Beyond this General Booth could not be In duced to go. He was busily engaged In com pleting arrangements for his ilcnarture for the United States on the Sth of January , until the nous of Mrs. Ballington Booth's Illnera reached him. This distressed him greatly and ho Immediately cabled a message of fat'jerly sympathy with his son In his trouble. Commissioner Nlrol , the first plenipotentiary sent to the Uulted States un the secession of Dalllngton and Mrs. Booth , Mid to your rep resentative at Sahatlon Army headquarters yesterday : "The general Is suffering agony over Mrs. Booth's Illness and hla only hope now Is thai he may reach New York In lime to see her and his son. " "I presur.se reconciliation Is his mission , " was asked. "Well , I am not at liberty to spwk on t'jat subject , but the general will explain his ob Ject at a great farewell meellug al Albert hall , London , on January 5. This will be one of the biggest and most Important assem blages ever arranged by the army. " "Was the general's cable or sympathy the first communication made by him to killing- ton Booth since Ihe letter's secession ? " "Exctot communications which had been published on the controversy , yes. " Although tlie chiefs of Iho Salvation Army here are too diplomatic to make any prema ture admission , I gathered the Impression that they fully expect the dissension In Ibe army will be healed as Iho result of General Booth'sxvlslt. I'OI'B ISSl IIS HIS ENCYCLICAL. CiitliollcH In 'MuiiUaltti to Clnliii All Their IMnliln. ROME , Dec. 24. The pope's encyclical on the Manitoba school question IB published here this evening. lAfter recalling the re ligious history of Canada and eulogizing Its RC-hohstlc Institutions his holiness expresses regret at Iho decision taken seven years ago In , Manitoba relative to the Catholic schools and points oul the rights of Catholics ac cording to the federal agreement. The pope condemns a school system based on religious neutrality , praises the zeal the bishops have displayed on the question , re grets that the Catholics arc not equally united , owing to the political passions , and admits that the authorities have done some thing to diminish the Inconveniences of Man itoba school legislation. But his holiness de clares this to be Inadequate and exhorts Catholics to persist in claiming all their rights , though they must not refuse any par tlal reparations obtainable , with the view to reduce tlio perils of the education of the youth. The encyclical says thai In the event of this being unobtainable , Catholics should pro vldo theln own schools and adopt under the guidance of their bishops a program of sludy consistent with their religion and all literary and scientific progress. nr.iivisiiirs ASSIUII : AGRIIESSIVB. Mnrclilitf Agrnliiftt lic- - ; AiiKlo-Kgr-n- - tlnii Fnreex. CAIRO , Dec. 24 , The dervishes have left Shendy and Metcmmch and are marching against tibo Anglo-Egyplnn ! forces , with Berber as their objective point. Veiieciielii'H \ < > w Cabinet. CARACAS , Dec. 24. ( New York World Cablegram Special Telegram. ) The new cabinet has been chosen and will be consti tuted as follows : Minister of foreign affairs , Pedro Ezequel Rojas. Minister of the Interior , General George Uzlar. Minister of finance , Scnor Escobar. Minister of war , General Fernandez. Minister of public works , Jose M. Man- rlque. I Minister of commerce , Senor Arlsmendl. MlnUtcr of Instruction , Senor Vllavlccn- cla. Scnor Rojas was minister of foreign af fairs front 1893 to 1S95. Samuel A. Mates , who was minister of finance and head o [ the cabinet In 1895 , but In trying lo please everybody pleased nobody , will be financial counselor. Senor Manrlquo wus minister of public works In the short-lived fusion min istry of 1895 , Protecting KlxliliiK1 Water * . PARIS , Dec. 24. Today Senator Peytral , M. Rlolteau and M , Dellanoja. members of the Chamber of Deputies , and Major Blondcl waited on M. Hanoteaux , minister of foreign affairs , to advocate an International confer ence for the neutralization of tbo Ne > v- foundland during the flt&lng season , M. Hanoteaux promised to give all the assist ance In his power. It Is reported that the steamers of the Compagnle Generate Atlan- llque undertake , under the new mall con tract , to steer clear of the banks during the fishing season. .Siiiprci | < liiK Iiiileiend * nee Talk. LONDON , Dec. 25. The New York cor respondent of the Morning Post says ; The Canadian government , at the request of Great Britain , has ordered the confiscation of seditious publications. This is primarily duo to a desire to prevent tbo Canadian In dependence movement from stimulating In dependence In India , but It will ha\o the effect of suppressing all public discussion as to annexation to the United. States and col lateral subjects. CnrllNlH Slake on Appeal. LONDON , Dec. 24. The Paris correspond ent of the Dally Chronicle says : Some agita tion has been cauted in the Spanlin colony hero by the IMUO of a circular Inviting Spaniard ! la Europe to , rally , ty tb \ 4 ; rtandard and save the Hatlb'n , fr6m revolution and anarchy. A remarkable1 feature of the movement Is the l lindrfptatidlnR that evidently exists twlween UicjCuban group In Paris , and the adherents of ban Carlos. U is asserted that Do l Carlos hks promised to abdicate in favor of hlf son Don Jaime. Hiscussixo ciu.vn.su SITUATION. itir : < i > ruii I'rcR * Trilim ( o Uvolvt- Solution of tlie Tronlilc. LONDON , Dec. 24. A dispatch to the Dally Chronicle from Home cays It Is ru mored there that awfug' to Its obligations to Germany , Italy had declined England's pro posal , for common acllon In the far cast , in- cludlne a Joint occupation of Chu Fan. Ac cording to the pame''dliixitch It Is asserted that England has proposed to Ru sla a con ference on the Chtacec question with a view of avoiding dangerous rivalries. The Shanghai correspondent 'of the Dally Mall Mys : "Tho Chinese government Is help less. It Is mobilizing Us few trocos under the least capable generals' whs conducted the cairoalgn against Japan. The British licet Is at ijrcacnl at sea.1' Tlio Dally Chronicle says that It has good reason to believe the government has decided on a watching policy , and will refrain from occupying any Chlncst territory for the pres ent , but will give Us moral support to Japan , and distinct warnings- China concerning England's-cctlan In certain contlngcnccs. It Is understood , says the' Dally Chronicle , that Japan will protest lnthe strongest manner against Germany's actloiinnd diplomatic circles ridicule the Idea of a Rusao-Gcrman entente concerning China. FO.M i\TI.\G I'OMTICAI. STHIKK. Wlilti'wny Followers S M-U to Kinlnir- riMH I'rtrmlvrVliitor. . .ST. JOHN'S. N. F. , 'Dec. ' 24. The sup- portbirsof the Whltewaylto party are hoping to embarrass the goveT'nmfnt of Sir James Winter In connection' ' Svllh the proposed parade of the Loyal Ora'ngV association next Sunday. Sir Herberts-Murray , the governor. has Issued a proclamation forbidding the procession becausa at , the last parade In 1SS3 a riot ensued In which seven men were killed. 'The clergy of all denominations are denouncing this attempt to. revive sectarian discord. , Ths latest news from theiherrlne fisheries In Placentla bay shows , a great success for the American fishing" fl'ect. . Seventeen Glou cester vessels have sailed with full cargoes , and thirty-seven are nbw goading. It will require another night's frost lo complete the loading of frozen herring. About 3,000 men ore engaged In the fishery , and over 50,000 barrels of herring are now on shore. ii jit I > rnviKltli the World. YOKOHAMA , Dec. " ,24. , On tho. rens- ' ' sembllng'ot'Paj'llament eddy the mikado de clared 'that the .relations of Japan with all the foreign powers netc friendly. His majesty announced 4he Intention of the gov ernment to initiate fresh taxation measures and to Introduce a- bill atacn-Jlng the codes. No reference was ma.deIn thc speech from the throne to the present situation. < ' Kroner's Warning AunlttHt IllmilcK. JOHANNESBURG , "Dec wjf4 ? P're3ltlentr Kruger. in the course , of a peech ' , fK'rug- ersdorp fen Tuesday , expatiated upon Ihe dangqr of Ihe so-oalle constitutional niptboJs of Cecil Rhodes nd upon the im portance of keeping out of. Rhodes' clutches' Dflagoi .bay . , innlch-lhe pre ldent char acterized as 'The Transvaal's ' only gateway lo the sea. " v iMore Fr.e-nch. Slllim for Clilnn. LONDON.Dec. 24. A special dispatch from Paris says : ThoFrench , cruiser Pot- huau' ias been ordered lo prepare for sea In Chinese waters. The Pothiiau Is a first-class cruiser of over 5,000 Ions dlsplacemenl and 10,000 Indicated horse power. It carries two 7.0-lnch guns , ten 6.5-inch quick-firing guns and eighteen small quick-firing guns. Count Aliuoiiptcr Kllleil. LISBON , Dec. 24. Further advices from " " St. Paul de Loanda" , Portugucsj Lower Guinea , announce that thA. Portuguese offi cer , who , with a number o'f men , was killed by natives of Ihe Humbo > Plateau , Is Count Almouster , a grandson of'theDuke of San- danha. The PortugueseMtllled and missing number iwcnty-one persons. Xo Itiillnn Flert fur Clilnn. ROME , Dec. 24. The statement contained In a dispatch from Rome , published In Lon- dcn yesterday , to the effect that a cabinet meeting haa decided ti.eend an Italian squadron to China , wkb' pure invention. There has been no cabinet jnceHng since December ' cember 20 , ' 'f SurprlMc- the DcrvUlie * . SUAKIM , Dec. 24. ThV. . native levees of tieKacisaia garrison nurprlrcd a dervish post at Elfashes , co the , Atbara , Wednes day , defc-atiag the dervUhes aad capturing a number of them , nnd many ca'.tle. Two dervishes and enrlrs were'kllled. The dervl3h Rest at lAzabrl has also" boon Invested. Spiiretl for I'oUllc-nl PurpoMeH. PARIS , Dec. 24. Qurlng the progress 1o- day of the trial of deputjes od former depu ties accused of complicity in the Panama scandal , M , Andrioux , 4 former prefect cf police , declared fcbal } he Veal culprits were being spired for political' rctucua. WliiK of n CiiuiKllAn Hoitpltiil lliiniH. KINOSTPN , Ont , Dej. 4. A wing of the general hospital here iwadeslroyed by flre lids morning. ( Muclr dlfaculty was oxperi- erccd In rescuing tAo MrimUes , but finally all weic gotten out' , safply. .Tbo loss Is about $ J2.000. ' f j * ' AtiBtralluii Meat tor Siberia. SYDNEY , N , S. W. ' . t > tU 24. Tbo Rus- slon government bis cTitared into com munication with thaf govmiment of New South Wales wltb the rtijoct of procuring shipments of meet to'Vlitdlvnatock. IllKiiuirrk .1 FRIEDRISCH'SRUHB , ; Ic. 24. Prince Bismarck , .who for. tha last/ / few days , has been 111 , Is now again enjoying satisfactory health. Ho will spend Christinas quietly with his family. ' CoiiHiilt on Ynk ln Iii fr * . OTTAWA , Qnt. , ' Dec ; JCHon. . gilfford Slfton , minister of the Interior , will leave for "Washington on Sunday' to confer with the United Stctca authorities on Yukon matters , Miner * 3vu ' < len DETROIT , Mlch'.riJec. 24.-A special to the Free Press from IfjliptmlngMidi. . ; tmys ; Very few members of the Mine Workers' union came out this week to cust ballots to decide whether or not a 'walkout should bo declared. The great majority of those who voted were opposed to the proposition. In consequence of the union's failure to curry out Its threat , tnlno'kijana era met ioJuy ana decided to Increase wages 10 per cent , dating buck to December J. It In generally thought that the unlwi will now go to pieces , Duel lletvreen IMlltlfluu * . PAINTSVILLE. Ky. , Deo. 24-CJratz Ar- nett and Green Patrick , both politicians , foutfit with revolvers here today , The duel was the outcome of an old trudge , Eight shots were exchan&cd and Arnett was dan gerously wounded. WILL KEEP ITS HANDS OFF United S tales D-cities Not to Mtdllo with Broken Ohina. WILL PLAY THE ROLE OF SPECTATOR . Allliincp IN AnKlo-AinerIeuii-.Iiipnne e' .Not AmotiK ( lie I'oniltiltltlcN , Ac- cordliitr to VletVK Uniri-.i ill CM III net Meeting. WASHINGTON , Dec. 24. this country's attitude toward what appears to be an effort on the part of the powers of Europe to dis member China WEB the principal topic of dis cussion at today's meeting of the cabinet. All the cabinet members were present except Secretary Alger , who Is 111 at his home. Whllo no formal action was taken In the ab sence of specific Information as to the In tention of the powers of Europe , It was de termined , as a member of the cabinet cx- prceacd It , "To keep a watchful eye upon the situation as It developed , In order that full protection may bo given to the Interests of the United States In China , as guaranteed by our treaties with that country. " No disposition was manifested to partici pate la an extension of territory at the ex- pone of China. Such a disposition would bo ccntwry to the hitherto expressed and well understood policy of thla government and Is not contemplated by the administra tion. It was determined , however , to protect carefully all Interests and privileges which the United States now enjoys In Chita. The cabinet understanding as to the at titude of the United States In the Chinese question promises to have a material In fluence cu the development of the eastern altiintlmi T < io illnlnmntf , stationed there have eagerly awaited some Intimation as to the purposes of this government and the foreign papers , notably at London , Berlin and Vienna , have re-echoed the sentiments at those courts tlut If the United States entered the field , cither singly or In coalition with Great Britain and Japan , It would prove a material factor In the Chinese question. The general understanding reached today doubtlcEs will be made known to such for eign representatives as desire to sound thU government , and 'the ' Information In turn will reach the foreign offices at London , Berlin , St. Petersburg and elsewhere. It will toe a disappointment to some extent to China , which has looked to the United States , as the nation occupying a disinterested position permitting it to exert a strong Influence In staying the dismemberment of the empire. China has made no advances lo this govern ment , however , but lies occupied a passive attitude. The 'views expressed at the cabinet meet ing put an end to any possibility of an Anglo-American-Japanese alliance , such 'as the foreign cables have suggested. RUSSIA ON THE AUERT. LONDON , Dec. 25. Russia , according to a .speglal dlspatch from Shanghai , Is preparing Teinporary headquarters 10,000troops at < 'Port Arthur. Ithas obtained a half premise , from the grand council at Pektn to dismiss' Sir Robert Hart , director of Chinese Imperial maritime customs , and other high customs ofllclals , In addition to the 'British ' railway officers and the German officers and Instruc tors. Fifty of the latter , the dispatch says , received notice today ( Friday ) that they would bo paid off at the termination of their contracts. Contrary to general report the dispatch asserts that there Is good reason -to bolleve Great Britain will actively oppose the Russlanlzatlon of Corca and Northern-China. The Dally Mall publishes a dispatch this morning (25th ( ) from Toklo , which It claims evaJed active censorship. The dispatch says : "England and Japan , without entering upon an actual alliance , have arrived at a com plete understanding , which will probably re sult In a Joint naval demonstration at the en trance of the gulf of Chee-Lee. . In diplo matic circles at Toklo the probability of a conflict Is regarded as extremely distant. " RUMOR DENIED. BERLIN , Dec. 24. The Weekly Journal Zukunft combats the statement that Prince DUmarclc haa suddenly become an t-n'.husl- astlc supporter of the Chinese expedition , ana ' .hit during hla recent visit to Fred- rlchsruho Emperor William communicated to the prince his most secret plans. It says : "Emperor William and Prince Bismarck did not exchange a syllable as to politics , and the plan la solely the emperor's. It Is the Interest of both men that this fact should rot be obscured , and those zealous persons who ! arc always Itrylng to represent- Prince Bismarck as a secret collaborator In the changing experiments of a now' course will assuredly get no thanks either from Pots dam or Frlcdrichsruhe. " The Neuato Nachrlchten says that since the occupation of Klao Cbau bay the Chinese Government has engaged military Instruc tors and Is now arranging for fitting recep tions to Prince Henry of Prussia at the dif ferent Chinese ports ho will visit. The Post reiterates Its statement that the Unt'.ed States has no Interest In the present territorial changes in China , and adds that England displays "surprising naivete" In soliciting American sympathy. ST. PETERSBURG , Dec. 24. The Novco Vrcmya advises England to come to an ar ranzoment with Russia , France and Ger many , but cays it does not expect Lord Sal isbury to accept the advice , "because under such an agreement England would not get tbo linn's share of China. " VIENNA , Dec. 24. The Viennese paperu comment with , apparent Joy on tbo Rerllr , rumors that England's inquiries at Wash ington regarding common action In China have failed of the desired result. RUSSIA PREPARES FOR TROUBLE. NEW YORK. Dec. 24. A special to the Hi raid from Washington says ; The Russian government will begin next spring a stupendous piece of work , which , like the transslberlan railroad , will bo of great strategic and commercial value when com- ploied. The project contemplates the con struction of a canal connecting the Baltic and Black teas , which canal can be traversed by battleships of the heaviest tonnage at six knots per hour. By means of this canal Russia will -bo able to mobilize a huge fleet In the Baltic In sixty-seven hour * by bring ing to ILat sea the Black sea squadron , or can collect In the Black sea In the same time the Baltic and Black sea fleets. In case of a general European war over the division of China at the time of the completion of the canal it would not be a difficult matter for Russia to send Its fleet here through the Boaphorus , the Sea of Marmora and the Dardanelles Into the Mediterranean , down the Suez canal , across the Indian ocean to China , while it could utilize the trans- Siberian railroad to transport troops. The canal will remove the necessity of sending a fleet across the North sea and down tbo Atlantic in order to reach the Mediterranean and through that sea reach Suez canal and China , ajad it was pointed out that in case THE BEE BULLETIN. Weather KorecaM for Nbr ika Centrally Fair ; Variable Winds. Page. 1. ClilcnRo'd 11 Iff Coliseum llurni. Stlrntlon Aruiy llrcitch Mny lie Healed. United Stntfi Will I.i > t China Alone. Mnn Killed by it IturlliiRtnn Truln , 2 , Need ofVntor for the I'.tp > Mtloi , Hotter Tlmcn llnve. Struck On tin , American Athlete * to Un Alirimtl. n. Thitt Vrtvato Check of Uoetor I'liU'n. Ji l > < Murder Atn.crlc.iu Sntlorn , 4 , Killtorlul niul Comment. 3. CIirlMmiiK C'nrolf * nt the Churrlirt , Suntu CtitiiV Atinunl Ylttt to Onnthn , 0 , Council UlufTi I.urnl Mutts . 7. (5piirr.il Xrw of tlin 1'nrther Went , lliinltirm Hc\lc\v of ihn Week. 8. California i\-nl Nobraiki .Ijln Until * , Omnliit In the Knrly Dnyn. 0. In the rield of r.lpctrlrlty. llolldny Hitrvctt for thn Ittillro.uli. County lie-gin * to Si'ttlo with MonrrH , fltiinhlvr * 1'reptro to llui Wide Open. 10. 11114 of Femlnlno Oixilp , 11. Commercial mill Klmncliil News. 12. "See. Yup , " hy llrot llartc. of war Great Britain or Germany would take measures lo see that the Russian fleet did not pass through their waters without a hard struggle. UTILIZING RIVERS. It Is officially stated here that the canal when compleled will connect the city of Riga on the Baltic and Chcrson on the niack sea. Advantage will bo taken of the Dwlna river at Ihe tnoulh of which Riga Is located and of the Dnclpcr river , which flows Into the < Black sea and al the mouth of which Cherson Is localed. 11 Is asserted by the engineer < hat lo reach this route twelve miles of excavation must bo made. The length of the canal will be 1,000 miles. It will have an average depth of 28.4 feet. The cost of the work will be $97,000,000 'and it musl bo compleled by 1902. It is frankly admitted by the Russian au thorities that the canal Is being built for military purposes , just as the Iransslberlan roulo Is being conslructed , but Ihey siy the waterway will be of benefit commercially. The wheat raised in the southern , parl of Russia near the niack ECU and Iho coal and pelroleum obtained from thai section can be transported moro cheaply than by railroads or steamers going through the Bosphorus Into the Mcdltcrancan. Sixteen cities are sltualed along the route of the proposed canal and they will be benefited by Us con struction. "Russia maintains a formidable fleet of batlleshlps and cruisers In Ihe Black sea , ' " said a well known naval commnjnder , "such acllon being in violation of the provisions of the Berlin treaty. The construction of , Ihe canal will mean that this fleet can be reinforced -within seven days.'at'-thutmost .by an equally formidable , fleet from the Hai ti ? and in case of lim dlslmembcrmeut of Turkey , or a necessity for a largo force ot naval vessels In Asiatic waters , Russia would bo able to gc/ta Its reinforcements to that section. The government would not be compelled to use the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean. So far aa Germany and China are concernd _ , the completion of the Russian canal will place the czar In a pcal- llon which will bo envied by all Ihe Euro pean governmcni' : " DIVISION IX AUKAXNAS DIOCICSK. Sjilll Canned l > y Iice < * ut Kleetlon of a IllkhopCoadjutor. . CLEVELAND , O. , Dec. 24. A factional fight has broken oul In the Protestant Episco pal diocese of Arkansas over the recenl elec- Uon of a bishop coidjutor. Archdean Brown of the dlocec'3 of Ohio ws elected and ac cepted tlie office. II DOW seems that the leading churches of Arkansas have split Into two partlco end one of them Is attempting to prevent Ibc consecration of the bishop coadjutor. Ho cannot be consecrated with out the consent of a majority of the blahopo end dlocccan commvaitles of the country , and one faction has- sent a notice Ibat a protesl against the consecration Is being pre pared , charging that the election Is Illegal because of unfair methods and manipulation practiced by the party that succeeded. No ch-irge Is made regarding Archdeacon- Brown , as he did not seek the honor that has been tendered him. UAItl.Vn ATTEMPT AT A IlOIIIIUItY. VllliiliiH .Start u rire In n Crowileil Hepiirtineiit .Store. CHICAGO , Dec. 24 , Two men made a bold attempt shortly after noon today to fire the large department store of A. M. Rothschild & Co. whllo the place was crowded with Christmas shopers , their object evidently being to make a raid during the excitement on the deposit bank conducted by the firm for Its employes and othere , In which there was about $20,000. One of the men touched a match to a parcel saturated with kerosene and threw It In a telephone booth a few yards from the entrance to the bank. His companion stood near the door of the bank , but was unable lo make an entrance because Ihe cashier carefully locked the door behind her when she joined other employes of the store In extinguishing the fire , which did very llttlo damage. The culprits quickly mingled with tbo crowd after the flre was out and have not been caught. i-uoi'osKs A siuic IIIMPIT KIJ.M ) . .Y MV Feature In the Cotton Workem Situation. FALL RIVER , Mass. . Dec. 24. A new feature In the mill situation In this city , Iho effect of which cannot be exactly determined at present , is a circular Issued today by the Bourne mills to the operatives i elating es pecially to the profit-sharing E > mom Inaugu rated there eight and a half yejo ago , lu addition to the announcement of the payment of the semi-annual dividend of 4 per cent on the six months from Juno 14 to December 11 , inclusive. The circular deals al length with the conditions affecting the Industry at the present time , and closes with a novel i > lan , proposed by the trasurer , George A. Chace , for tbo formation of a nick end benefit fund for the operatives , as a foundation for which ho donates the um of $ 00 , ' ' - , I'nj- TRENTON , N. J , , Die , 24. After a two days' conference which was concluded to- nlriht between the joint committee of oper atives and managing potters of the east , the latter agreed to give the kiln men , nag ger makers and dippers an increase of li'A ' per cent In their wugcs when they go to work on- Monday , Movement ! ! of Ocean Ve HeU , Dec.I. . At Hamburg Arrived Phoenicia , rrom Now York. At New York-Arrived-Palatla , from Hamburg- l RILLED BY A TRAIN Unfortunate Accident Occurs on tbo Burlington Noir Lnnisvillo , MAN INSTANTLY IIURUD INTO ETERNITY Another So Badly I"juro3 that Ho Will Probably Dio. BURLINGTON TRAIN STRIKE A HANDCAR Ken Propelling It Have No Tims to Sava Thorasolvjs. ENGINE RUNS THEM DOWN IN A MOMENT Accltleiit Oeonrx oil n Curve 111 tuft \Vooilx Pull OetiillH of tlie DlNtre Oecurrviice. FLATTSMOUTH , Neb. . Dec. 21. ( Spcclal > Sheriff Holloway and County Corcocr John. A , Clcminte of Elmwood were summoned to Loulsvlllo at 110311 todav tn Innk nftnr Itvn men who were struck out ! one Instantly killed by the locomotive oa parscnger ( nia No. 10 on the Ilurllngtai cut-off. Section. Foreman James English of Soulh Bend and ouo section Jiand , whore name Is not known , were Hearing Loulsvlllo on their hand car and had just rouuJed a curve about a mlle and a halt west tudcre taking 'things ' easy , when No. 10 , miking up time , made the. curro not moro than 100 jards away , Tlio. men stopped their car and ( tidcavorcd to remove - move It from the trade , Insttad of looking ; after themselves , and before they had made " 1 any progress whatever they were struck by the- engine and hurled from the track. Fore man KMglU'h WES Ino.'anlly killed und tlie un known man Is In a dying condltku. Ho was brought at once > : o thU city and placed la careof Dr. T. I' . Livingston , superintendent of the D. & M. medical department. No hopes are entertained for Ws recovery. The accident occurred In the dense woods through which the 13. & M. parses Just west of Louisville , and It was due to this fact , ea well no the curve , Uiat the engineer en No. 10 failed to see the men until too late. WUHCK O.V I1 OUT AltTIIUlL UOUTI2. * Three Men An * Ilur * . One of Wlium Will lllr. 'MILAN , JIo. , Dec. 24. ( Special Tele gram. ) A disastrous wreck occurred on the Port Arthur Route , fifteen miles west of this city , last night. Freight train No. 7 had orders from the dispatcher At Qulncy over all other trains , forgetting that the steel gang was at work near Humphreys. The freight train struck .the caboose of the Btccl gang. Roadmaster John Rlnard of Trenton had tjlrcc ribs broken loose from his spinal col umn 'and his left kidney liurstcd and1 la ex pected to die. Two other employes whoso names have not been learned wbro danger ously Injured. 'The passenger due hero at 4 o'clock was delayed three hours. MTTLD CHILD IIUHX.S TO DEATH. Fntul Accident Oeein-K at MlHKonrl Valley , In. MISSOURI VALLEY. In. , Dec. 24. ( Spe cial. ) About 0 o'clock Mst evening Mrs. C. E. Poore , living In Willow Park addition to this city , left her 3-year-old child playing la the house while she went to the bara to attend to the milking. Upon returning to the house she found the cnlld lying on the floor a few feet from the klttbcn stove , wltb every particle of Its clothing burned from Iti body. Aid was Immediately summoned , but within an hour the child died. The body wat burned nearly to a criio. It Is supposed thai while playing around the stove the chllq pulled fire from the front grate , which IE < nlted Us dress. Nurrow Uxenpe. ST. PAUL , Neb. , Dec. 24. ( Special , ) Last night shortly after dark Harry B. Jacob , \vlt/i a load of hay ccm'ag from the south , and Michael Rock , accompanied by Mr. Kauf- * man.met al the center of the Unlca Paclfia railroad bridge acroo ? Ihe South Loup river , and before they cculd back down and get oft the bridge the train going south ran right Into < ho party. TUe three men saved them selves by quick jumping , cue of 'them ' landing on the Ice In the river , but without serious Injury. 'Mr. Hock's borers -were killed and Mr. Jacob's learn so bidly Injured that they will probably have to be killed. The load ol hay landed In the river , and both wagons were annihilated. C'oIllHloii .Venr ( Ii-umrer. CHEYENNE , Wyo. , Dec. 24. ( Special Tel- egram. ) Union Pacific castbound passenger train No. 4 , collided with a helper engine at Granger station this morning. The passen ger train was running slowly al Ihe tlmo and but little damage resulted , none of the pas- ecngcrs on the train being injured. Engi neer Peterson of the helper engine was sllghlly Injured. Travel was delayed four hours by the accident. V IS LAID TO UBST. ( IN ! ICInil OlllcoK fur the Victim of ,1 < > < < ' * ( > nn. MAUYVILLK , Mo. . Dec. 24. ( Special Tel- egram. ) The funeral o ( II. C. Montgomery , who was lillled last Tuesday by John J. Joyce , was held at Ills residence today end was conducted by Hcv , S. P , Cresap , paslot of Ibe Methodist Episcopal church south Tbo remains lay In stale from 10 a. m , to 1 p m. and were viewed by a large crowd. There lua been an unquestionable change of Bailment In Maryvllle since the day of the. killing , and It U unfavorable to Joyce , Ttoo coward * Ice of hla action and the Influence of Mont gomery's friends , many of whom are of con siderable prominence , are telling against bis slayer. SMMV ALMOST STOPS TIIAKKIC. Tivo Unifliiex Iteiiulreil to I'ull 'I'llrev CIITH In .Veir York. COimy , Pa. , Dec. 24. The snow Is driftIng - Ing at a terrific rate , At Sherman , N , Y , , end vicinity reports say that it Is over four feet and still drifting. It takes two engines to pull three , cars on the Western New York & Plttsburg , which goes through this section. Trains on the Pennsylvania are alao delayed. I'nriloiiN n ICiiiiHim .Mini. DETHOIT , Mich , , Oif , 21-As a Christ- inns gift Governor Plngree today pardoned Henry Howard , who , under tlio name of Harry Dale , was convlcti-d Jam Mny of criminally assaulting Maggie Leonard In thla city and sentenced to Jackson for life , This action was recommended by Uio pardon board yesterday. Howard hud all along stoutly maintained Ills Innocence und t'hu ' governor nays he la himself convinced of It. The liberated man was formerly * truvellntr man for James H , Walker of CU- Hls w'fo ' resides In Topeka , Kan ,