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 ,
