Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1902)
t r The Omaha Daily Bee. ESTABLISHED JUNE 10, 1871. OMA1IA, MONDAY MORNING, MAY ID, 1002. SINGLE COIY FIVE CENTS. ! it 1 ON BOARD RODDAM pea captain uescnDS lemDie late of I British Ship and Oraw, SCENES OF AGONY ARE DEPICTED Tolo&nio Ashei from Mount Pelee Falls Two Feet Thick on the Deck. MANY OF SAILORS ARE ROASTED ALIVE Fragment! of Bodies Strewn Oyer Vessel, . , , , , ' Wfiion II a unarrea wrecK. WtriAlll ANU Ifltn ir JAR) wr umin Jlerv and Heroism of the "arriving! Seamen Startles Evta a Hard ened Veteran of Oeoan Llfo. NEW TORK, May IS. The Norton Line .steamer, Etona, arrived here today from the River Platte via St, Lucia, where It .ailed for bunker coal on May 10, "At Bt, Lucia on May 11," saya Caplatn Can tell, "I went cn board the British Steamer, Roddam, which had escaped from the terrible volcanlo eruption at Martini que three days before. The state of the Vehlp waa enough to show that those on board must have undergone an awful experience, Roddam was covered with a mass of fine '.bluish gray dust, or ashes of oement-llke appearance. On some parts It laid two feet deep on the decks. "This matter had fallen In a red hot state all over the ateamer, setting fire to every thing It struck that was burnable, and when 'It fell en the men on board burned oft limbs and large pieces of flesh, This waa shown by finding portions of human re mains when tha decks were cleared ef the debris, Tne rigging, ropes tarpaulins, sails, fawnlnrs, etc., were charred or burned and '.meat of the upper stanchions and spars had leen swept overboard or destroyed by Ore, Kkyllghts were smashed and cabins were tiled with volcanlo dust. The scene of uln was deplorable. Captain Telle Hie Story, "I visited the captain of Roddam In the hospital at St. Lucia, where he gave me an aceount ot his terrible experience. He .had Just arrived and anchored at St. Pierre, 'Martinique, on the morning ef Thursday, Maw a I , . "The eaotaln waa atanillnr neap th a. eommodatlon ladder talklog to the agent ef tthe vessel, who bad come on board, when he saw what appeared to be an an enormnue 'black cloud, like a wall with patches of Are la It approaching the sea from the land, ;Wlth It came an Immense tidal wave ot boiling water, accompanied by a loud and terrible noise. He shouted "take shelter." to the crew. Immediately the ateamer wa caugnt ana lossea on it aiae, almost cap. I slslng. "Darkness fell like a call and volume of red hot matter showered down, whll th iatr waa thick with sulphurlous fume and lust. The sea waa a confused mas of boll- 1 lng mud. I Din at Terror I rir Dross out in various part or tn avin ....am. ....... . j -v.,,,. . .-.--I !vr'm.,.,.5.r0" ?n1 "h0Ut! 0t',0' uhl?Z7tMtoto ?nto hniX uito?ll& a o? orrtbT. con1 on d frtrMfurdln VlM t U?itoj "Th RoddaS Thow that hi. veaeai nau sieam up. ana ins(anuy realising the neeeasltv of Mean, rushed te the Afisrtntl rnnm ftnriitnr ltf mrsA sltnaUrl V. I ' r ' i . ' " ' -.w. I low to start the engine at full speed. The anzious moments, increased oy nis suner- lng from burns and agony of mind, were relieved by the vibration of the engluea and the reply from below. It happened, fortunately, that although th crew had been rung off from duty at the engines, some ot th engineer, were near at hand. The terrible tidal wave which had swept over Roddam and nearly capslsed It had parted th cable and th vessel wa. adrift When the engine, started It waa found that th ateertng gear had become disabled In soms manner and could not be worked, Both Vessels la Flame. . "For more than an hour Roddam' en glne ware worked, backing and going ahead, with the hop of bringing th head toward th sea and away from the land. Once It got dangerously near the steamer Roralma. Both vessel, wer In flames. All of tho.e on board Jumped Into the Polling water. Others fell dead to the deck, lit hta lma tha waa falling ..1 ,V.af th MirlbOrOUCh BOllC COUrt VeStftfdlV I a,..- ... huain, ,... ...... steaming vapor rose. Smoke and dust filled the air and polaonous fumt. added thstr oppression to the appalling eltuatlon. -xtitr snma tm RMm .trin. .... moved a little and enabled the captain to V.ait It out tn anit with rnnaMarahl. tfflcultr he man.nd tn atr It a llttla el., tanca from tha Und. "As tha air cleared tha arena en hoard the Ill-fated Roddam became all the more ghastly. Th ship steamed on through ihlck hot dust. The screams from the In- lurad hecama mora audlnla. Hnma mahaA frantically about with their clothe on Br and larca Dlecee of flesh burned from their arms; othsr. In tbelr agony laid writhing In the redhot duat. Crew te Disabled. 'In about two hour th air became gradually clear. An Investigation of the casualties on board ahowed that, besides tha eaDtaln. who waa frie-htfullv lniured. enly two engineers, two sailors and the boatswain wer able to do duty, "Fire waa still burning about th ahlp and th rigging wa In flames. The cap tain decided to try to reach th Island of EL Lucia, forty-flv mile distant. Thta he succeeded tn doing by ( o'clock In the even ing of May S. The ateamer was difficult to handle owing to the partially disabled steering gear, which could not be made to work properly. 1 th. tlm. occupied on thl. terrible I royage the experience of the aurvlvors was ' still worse then that already gone through. The brave captain and his few men, fight ing the Are, exhausted and scalded, strug gled and worked trying to do something to assist their dying shipmates. Those work ing below strlved to keep up the steam. Captain' Startlla Heroism. "Tba captain, suffering th greatest ag ue y. succeeded In nsvlcstlng hi. vessel tsfsly to the port of Castries, St. Lucia, with eighteen dead bodies lying on the clerk and human limbs scattered about. A A.. tailor stood by constantly wiping th cap- Ul.'. ... . ' tala's Injured eyes. "I think the performance of Roddam'. Saptaln waa most wonderful, and the more to when I aaw hla pitiful condition. I do jot understand how a kept up, yst whs the steamer arrived at Bt Lucia and med - teal assistance was procured this bra re baa asked th doctors to attnV. t tf others first ana refused to be treated until thla win done. "My Interview with tbe captain brought out this account. I left him In good spir its and receiving every comfort. The tight ol WDU,a i"B',u v-- Iparcn to dee it. we saueQ irora ei. iucin on lb'.- morning of May 11 and at I o'clock In the afternoon passed the Island of Mar tinique. The weather waa perfectly clear and we bad a food view of that part of the island which bad suffered by the volcanic eruption a few days before." ' Formation of Island Altered. "The formation of the Island Is quite al tered and the whole northern part, where the town of 8t. Pierre once stood, la covered with a mats of ashes and lava. At about 2:30 o'clock aa Etona was passing the Island, twndou upshoot of smoke and dust occurred and In few moments the ship was covered with fine dust-like cement, we were about three miles distant from the put under full speed and for a time consid erable anxiety waa felt on board. For an hour or two the ship waa covered with dust and enveloped In a thick cloud and the air waa filled with sulphur fumes. It waa an other eruption, and the dust was sent that distance In the air, because It traveled against the wind and at a tremendously rspld rate. "The Lamport and Holt ateamer Horace arrived today from Bantos, Bio de Janeiro and St. Lucia, and reports that before the ship arrived at St. Lucia, dust began fall ing In an unaccountable manner. On the Fatal Day. "This waa on the morning of May S. Dur ing that day there was a heavy thunder and lightning storm. The duet became so dense that the member of the crew were obliged to turn their backa to It At one time the dust covered the decks te the depth of three Inches. When the dust was first noticeable the ship was 125 miles from Barbadoes. Captain Byrne said that at the time of sail ing from St. Lucia very little was known ot the details of the disaster beyond the account given by Roddam'a crew. 'Horace brought one passenger, Mr. Henry Cbastenet, who, however, knew noth ing further. EULOGIZES QUEEN CHRISTINA Parte Paper Gives Her Credit for Sar ins; Bather Than Wreek " taut Spain. (Copyright, 1902, by Press Publishing Co.) PARIS, May 18-(New York World Cable- gram Speeal Telegram.) Queen Christina's passing aa regent or Spain la the occasion of an article In Figaro. It praise th wisdom with which she. 4 young woman of 25. tnok the relna ot mvernment and -- , , Hhowed a ssgaclty In political affairs that hl t been auspected. It refers to the diaaater that have fallen upon Bpaln our ,n "r regency, hut says they were in- avltable and were lightened through her accretion insofar aa possible, Of the 8panlsh-Amerlcan war, the writer "Jr,: Queen Christina only went into it ' "n inexorable fatality. Far from having contributed to unchain the Ill-omened war "l iu u w umui lunnm iur Spain, she neglected nothing which could retard or proved a rupture. Then, when was finished, when not a gleam of hope remained, she turned all, her steadfastness or purpose, an ner wonaerrui personal in fluence to the soothing of the wounded na tlonal pride and the restoration of conn- I 4,n, t n Ik. RttcnUh n.nnl m ..u ni ,. if y.A t - - - - v i abandon her colonlei she .aved her capltaL QUMn M"" ChrUt,n deMrrM the r,t- tUU f Spa,n- A" h" ,UbleCt, n0t eepUng the m8t blUer " ,r"concllWe sdversarle. of the kingdom, unit. In recog- n'llnf "d ,D Procllmln her' An1 " ot aaylng too much to affirm that If there h-T- v- .. nonu.- monareha bevnnd " "I" ' ZZZ'Ii ' .T.I. Z ' ' Z i.nii Kvrrrinaai inin ana. Losrts ntTi novnr - - - hMkti an mnr aisifnnna. KiirnnA veneratel ul admire, her.. The entire world has for her only prallea and respect ful sympathy. Aa for ul, we owe her a special tribute of gratitude for the friend liness that ahe baa never ceased to teatlfy for us, and for the constant advancea of her government toward ours, even in spue ot the persevering effort, of the cabinet of Berlin to attract that ot Madrid within It. OrDll. LA ML DCrunC rULlUC lUUnl Snmmons Issned Because He Failed to Answer Drank and Dls orderly Chare. (Copyright. 1902, by Preea Publlahlng Co.) LONDON. Msy IT. (New York World Cablegram Special Telegram.) A summons bos been issued for the earl of Egmont oecauee no w mVtKmr ia iu oot tn answer to a char re ot havlne been "drunk and disorderly" in Piccadilly the night before, accompanied by a pretty gtrl named Anna Perceval. Th earl, who 1 47 veara old. formerly wm th Janitor of tha Chelae town hall and was a member of the London Br brlnd When UneXDeCtedlT he aueceeded to the title. Early in life he waa In the merchant marine service, hold- Ins: a second mate' certificate. He lost bla poet In the Cheleea town hall tor turn lng the fire boa on a political meeting whose opinions he disapproved I Since he Inherited a title and a fortune he ha been very kind to but former com- cantons and la rauldly cettlna rid of hla I money, I Another aristocrat In trouble thl. week I. Hon. Wyndham Roper-Curson, a brother ot Lord Teynham. Curion has been com' mined for trial for aystematlo frauds on I tradesmen. I The earl of Eamont'S police court aaca nada cannot orevent him from attending the coronation, aa be has already received hi Invitation. WHITE STAR LINE WILL GO IN Decides to Aeeept Morajaa' Proposi tion aad Eater Shipping: Combla. Po Tht "at The meeVlnVoi .b. White Star line yeeterday the agreement to transfer the line to the Atlantic shipping company was unanimously confirmed. About half the shareholder attended the meet ing. The aaaent of 75 per cent ot the shareholders Is required, aaya the paper, but there ts no doubt that their aactloa waa forthcoming aa the term offered are eon. aldered very favorable. MANILA OBSERVES THE DAY Spa alsh Inhabitants Celebrat Hoaor of Kins Alfoneo' la MANILA, May IS. Th coronation ot King Alfonso wa celebrated with much I ceremony yeeterday by all the Spanish rea- 1 Ident of Manila, and Acting Civil OOv- I srnor Wright represented the American I Bovsronjeut a she prjAgpal function RELICS AT MOUNT VERNON TTi.. T1.. 1. n-'vt.J . v. o.l lection by Mrs. Manderaon. FAR-PEACHING TELEPHONE DECISION Frdet tales that Independent (.'onto t Sfcire I'ae of ' -d Switch Yaluab boat (From a Staff Corret., jnt.) WA8HINQTON, May 18. upeclsl.) At the meetlng ot the Boara of negent of Mount Vernon last week a number of In- terestlng relics of the historic days of America were presented by the vice regents to the association and have been added to the collection In the historic Washington mansion. Among the most Interesting ot these, perhaps, was an old blue plate given by Mrs. Charles F. Manderson, vice regent from Nebraska. It appears that aome years ago, while Journeying through New England, Senator and Mrs. Manderson hunted up an old maiden aunt of theirs, who waa famous for her collection of old blu ,Mn. xfter the coii.ction had been jmired, and Just as they were about to reeume their Journey, the old lady said to Mrs. Manderson 'I'm going to give you this plate. It Is an old one, and as I haven't any more ot the set I'd Just aa soon part with It as not." Plctare of Old Capitol. An examination of the plate showed on the front, In blue under the enameling. the picture of a building which resembled very much the old structure used aa the capltol In Washington when the British came here to burn It during the war ot 1812. On the back appeared the words, "seml-chtna," with the name of an Eng lish maker, and also the Inscription, "The New Capitol of the United States at Mount Vernon." Neither the senator nor Mrs. Manderson had ever heard of a proposition to removt the seat of government to Mount Vernon. But one day Mr. Gardiner Q. Hubbard happened to call at Senator Manderson'a residence In this city and wae attracted to the plate. He was asked If he knew anythtng about the proposition to establish the capltol at Washington's home, and be said that there waa at one time such a plan on foot, but It wae abandoned because It was deemed Inadvisable tor the Father of Hla Country to try to move the seat ot government to his own estate. And, be aides. It waa thought best that the terrl tory comprising the federal district should not be confined to one state, for which rea son the Mount Vernon project waa aban doned and the District of Columbia se lected. Mrs. Manderson retained that plate among her collection of bric-a-brac for a number of years and the other day. when trying to think of something suitable to present to add to the collection of colonial relics, the ex.ienator suggested the plate. And the suggestion was carried out by donating It, but not without some sighs of regret. Medical Offlccn to Meet. In 1S90. that eminent . surgeon," Colonel I Nicholas Senn. suggested the organization of an association ot military surgeons ot the United Statea to consist of medical offi cer ot the army, the navy and the Revenue . ... . Marine aervice, logeiuer who ids bibu ui ... ot th. National Guard of each -tate. The .ugge.tlon was followed and the Maoclatlon was formed. Since that time It has grown to such Importance In the world ot mBedlclll6 tht u nas 1800 member. In the United State, and It meetings have ltMndM by , delegation- from " " " ... .-" .7 .,. . loreigu counvnea. ! u. "... w i Ior m iwou i u oceoiyu tu iuh whj, f uuo i . i. a .. . vu t t..m. 6, 6, and 7, and preparations are being made to entertain the largest number ot eminent medical and surgical men ever gathered tn the United Statea. The subjects for discussion, of course, embrace, military surgery principally, but incidentally the whole rBDg6 of medlclne come in for at tenUon, jn the list of those who have promtaea to read paper, are found the name, of MOU of the moti emnet medical I m.n nt tha wnrM and undoilhtedlv tha i V..ln. ...ul In - I n v mat arlallv to the stock of human knowledge upon the art of healing, especially the healing ef those who have been wounded upon the field of battle. Railroads and hotels have con sen ted to material reduction In rate, for thl. gathering and as the time selected for the meeting Is the season of the year when Washington is In all It glory, it Is more than likely that the wly days of June wm ae6 one of the largest crowd, of med I jCos In the capital ever gathered here, it-. T,l..lini,. TtcvlBlon The decision recently rendered by Judge " . duo. 'or the eastern district of Psnisylvanla. uenyiua a i'""7 '"J"""'"" brought by th Weetern Electric company of Chicago (the manufacturing company for l" "'"1"""" vumv.uj, iuv n.eysione Jeiepnone compaoy 01 rnuaaei Pn,- wnerein m. lormer auegea m m ,atter company waa .nrnnging upon patent on switchboard apparatua owned by the Western Electrto compsny, promises to be far-reachlug In character. The suit which th Western El en trio company instituted agalnat the Keystone people has been watched very closely by the Independent telephone Interest throughout th United State and also by th patent office people here, aa It wa regarded a. the commence ment of hostile operations on the part of the Bell telephone people agalnat the lnde pendent telephone companies throughout the country. It waa the first open and direct attack which th Bell telephone peo p,e unaouoieuiy contemplate mailing irora cow on agalnat the growing power of the Independent companies. Resist the Bell Company. An examiner In the patent offlc who haa had long yeara ot experience In elec trlcal apparatua, speaking ot the decision ot Judge Dallas, said that undoubtedly from this time on the Independent companies would resist wherever possible th on "".aii6" .rlA"1 J"" msnt to the Independent companies, aa It gave them the right to use multiple switch. boards for telephone exchanges upon which patents were about expiring or bad ex plred. The examiner In question said that the growing power of the Independent tele phone companies throughout the United State wa looked upoa by th Bell tele phone people a a menace to their interests nd that from now on they would harraa whervr possible the Independent tele phone companies by dlasuadlng subscribers from using the Independent companies' Usee. As a matter ot fact, the examiner iatd, th Independent telephone eompanle have mors exchange and telephone la us la the UnlUd Statea today than the Bell companies aad as they are tacked by local 1 capital and local sentiment tbelr advent I Into flelda heretofore controlled exclusively I by the Bell people la looked upoa by. th I Utter with grave coaoAca DR. HIRSCH STIRS CRITICS hlcaaoan'a Plan for Jews to Adopt Christian Sabbath Is Con demned. ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., May IS Th bl- enulal convention of the Independent Order ot the Free Sona of Israel met today at Hotel Rudolf with 250 delegates present from all part of the country. The object ot the organization la "to unite the sons of Israel In the Interest of common hu manity and to apread Intelligence and en lightenment and more firmly bind the ties which unite mankind, to succor the dis tressed and to relieve the needy." Orand Master Harburger, In hi. message which waa read at today', session, statea that In the aggregate millions of dollars have been dispensed by the order In re lieving the sick and distressed. The following officers were chosen after the convention had been called to order by Grand Master Hsrburgeri William Gans of New York, chairman; E. C. Hamburger, Chicago, vice chairman; Herman Stelfel, New York, second vice chairman; Simon Cohan, Detroit, third vice balrman, and J. H. Goldsmith, New York secretary. The principal work' of the day was the reading of the annual report of the grand raaeter ot the order, Julius Harburger. Considerable discussion wss Indulged In privately by the delegates over the sermon of Dr. Emll Htrsch of tbe Isrsel temple Chicago, In whlcv It Is claimed he made the suggestion that th Jewa ahould adopt the Christian Sunday. The eermon and proposition were condemned. Judge Julius Harburger ot New York said; "I am not In favor of any change ae sug gested In the sermon, and I say that Dr. Hlrsch Is too premature tn his assertions. The Sabbath and day of worship for the Jews Is too well established in their be lief and their doctrine, to put them aside for modern doctrines. School Commissioner Benjamin Blumen- thal of New York eald: A minister such aa Dr. Htrsch, by hi utterances, Is a detriment Instead ot benefit to Judaism. If Dr. Htrsch cannot bring Jews together tn a city like Chicago It does not stand to reason that It can be done In New York, and I will show him by the large attendance of Jewish men at my church thst bis statement a to the Jewa' Sabbath being dead la not true. If we have auch men aa Dr. Hlrsch we certainly will meet with destruction." Judge E. Hamburger ot Chicago defended the proposition, saying: I believe in anything that will help to bring about a day of worship for the Jews. At present they have none. I have alwaya been a atrong reformer. The time must corn when the change will be made, but that Is not near at hand, but what' the difference to God when w pray 'to Him on Saturday or Sunday?" HAVANA NEGOTIATES BIG LOAN Money la to Be laed in Perfeetlnn- Sewerate System and Other Improvement. (Copyright, 1902, by Pres Publishing; Co.) HAVANA, May 18. (New York World Ca blegramSpecial Telegram.) The city council refueied to act on the" trlds tor the city loan at yesterday' session, but last night reeonsldered It action and accepted the bid of Farson, Leach A Co. of Chicago who will lend the city 128,000,000 at '5 per cent. The money will be used to construct sewers and liquidate the outstanding In debtedness. - Tbe cruiser Brooklyn arrived thl morn ing and It captain officially called at the palace this afternoon. The Italian cruiser Calbrla Is here also to participate in the inauguration festivities. The French crulaer La t age wa. here, but left under Instruction, to proceed to Martinique. Mrs. General Wood and her children will leave on the 20th for Spain, where she will spend the summer. General Wood will Join them there after reporting to Wash ington, when he will be allowed alx months leave. Marqula Plnar Del Rio ha. presented Mrs. Wood with a silver service, an heir loom that bee been In hi. family for hun dred, of year. Tbe women of Havana have also presented Mrs. Wood a handsome .liver service. Tbt. morning President Palma, with his cabinet, visited the senate chamber In the second palace and presented the cabinet to a number of senators. A secret session followed. Tbt morning the United Statea coat-ot rms was removed from the front portal of the custom house and the Cuban coat of-arm substituted. Over them remains the old Spanish crown, which waa not re moved when the Spanish arm. were re moved Saturday. TO DECIDE CASTRO'S FUTURE Battle Today Between Bevolntionlat and Government Foree Import ant to Venesnela, TRINIDAD, B. W. I., Saturday, May 17. The seaport of Carupano In the state of Bermudex, Venezuela, will be bombarded again today at I p. m. by the government forces. The town will be attacked from both land and aea. The Venezuelan gov eminent notified the foreign consuls forty hour In advance of the time Intended to attack the port. It la auppoaed here that the United State minister at Caracas, H, W. Bowen, was th only foreign represen tatlve tbere who received notification ot tbe bombardment ot Carupano, and It 1 aid that Mr. Bowen urged that no un fortified town la Venezuela be unneces sarlly bombarded. The German cruiser Gazelle la the only foreign warship at Carupano. It will pro tect the French as well a tbe German res ident there. It I reported here that an engsgement will be fought tomorrow between the revo lutlonary and government force which will decide th future ot the president ot the republic. General Castro. ORIGIN OF EMPEROR'S IDEA Whll at Theater Germaa Bale De. eldes aa Frederick th Great Btntae Gift. BERLIN, May II. Th purpoa ef Em' peror William to glv a statu ot Freder ick th Great to th United Bute waa aeemlngly quit suddenly formed. Last Tuesday evening his majesty wa holding an Informal reception In the court bog et the new theater at Wteabaden, between the acta ot th opera "The Merry Wives ot Wind sor," when he turned to Prof. Uphues, th culptor, and said: "Uphues, I wtnt you to make another atatue of Frederick the Great." "I shall b delighted, your majesty," re plied the professor. This was th first th aeulpter had heard of th' project and It was, apparently, the first anyone had heard ef tha Emperor's Intention. HI majesty then told Prof, Up hues that the statu waa far presentation to the people of th United State, and hi cablegram to Prealdent Roos'velt Was , written, aad. tent tUo Mit dj- . LOOK FOR PLAN FROM EASLEY Miners and People Believe Oitio Federation Will Try to End Strike. AUTHORITIES ON BOTH SIDES SILENT a Strike la Generally Beferr. d to In Pal- pits and Clergy en ' . -el For bearanee aad I't i i.llty of Miner. HAZLETON, Pa.. May 18. The visit of Ralph M. Easley, secretary ot the National Civic federation, to strike headquarters and his conference with President Mitchell of the United Mine Workers late last night wa tbe only Incident of any Importance that claimed the attention today of the labor leader, and others around the Valley hotel. A. neither Mr. Easley nor Mr. Mitchell would say anything regarding their meet lng, there was much speculation as to th. object of the visit of the secretary of tbe Civic federation. Mr. Easley laughed at the stir which his arrival csused and said there was no Importance attached to his visit. He said he came here merely to look over the ground and keep himself Informed ot the general situation. He denied that he brought any plan for the settlement of the strike or message from Senator Hanna or any other member of the Civic federa tlon. Mr. Easley said he carried no message back with him from Mr. Mitchell. He would not discuss hi. visit to the Ohio senator at Washington on Friday. His talk with the miners' national leader last night lasted two hours. He again saw Mr. Mitch ell for a few minutes thl. morning and left for New York at 10 a. m. Plan Under Cover. Despite the denials of the labor leaders the members, of the Civic federation and the coal operators, all of whom have thus far rigidly adhered to the policy of abso lutely refusing to anticipate any move In connection with the strike, it 1. believed here that the federation I. quietly prepar lng to receive any proposition that might be offered by either aide. This belief la strengthened by the fact that only twenty-four hours had elapeed from tbe time the conference waa held t Washington between Senator Hanna, President Gompers of the American Federa tion of Labor, who la also a member of the Civic federation, and Mr. Easley, and the latter'a arrival here. Absolute quiet reigned at headquarters and throughout tbe Lehigh valley. Although It waa Sunday there was little rest for Mr. Mitchell and his two sec retaries. Excepting Mr. Easley, he had no visitors, and he gave hla uninterrupted at tention to a large batch of mall pertain ing to the strike In the anthracite Held and to miners' business In bituminous lo calities. Clerarymen Refer to Strike. Clergymen of nearly all denomination In their sermon today touched more or less on the strike. Tbe trend ot the utter ances wer for forbearance and frugality. The great struggle) was generally deplored and the hope was held out that, , though the strike may cause much suffering for a time, It may in the end result in great good for both capital and labor. There waa an Impressive scene at each of the masses at St. Gabrlel'a Roman. Cath olic church In this town. This Is the church of the late Rev. E. 8. Philips, the miners' champion in the strike ot 1900, waa the rector. Following out President Mitchell's request that all mine workers abataln from visit ing saloons, the Rev. James V. Hussle asked all the members of the partah to take an oath abstaining from the uee of Intoxi cating liquors during the period of the strike. Few, If any, refused. At the prin cipal service at 10:30 a. m. every person In the church, which was crowded, stood up and took the oath. At vespers the oath waa administered to those who were not present at the morning service. Exhort I'nlon Amonj Miner. Father Hucsle delivered a strong sermon to the mine workers. He told them that now they have struck they must stand to gether for the cause. The strike now enter, upon It. second week. The week Just ended waa the first, it is said. In the history of the hard coal trade, that no coal wa. mined In any part of the region. No disturbances of any character have been reported anywhere. President Mitchell will establish head quarters at the Hotel Hart at Wllkesbarr tomorrow evening, where he will remain until tbe strike 1 ended. In about a week President Mitchell will pay a brief visit to his home In Spring Valley, 111., and will atop at national headquarter at Indianap olis on hi return to tbe anthracite region. President Mitchell aald today that he could not yet say when the special national convention to be called for the purpose of considering the advisability of Involving the bltumlnou miner In tba anthracite strike, will be had. He haa not yet received the consent of the two districts to make up the five necessary under the rule to call a special convention. AU the local trades unions in thl region met today and decided to stand by th miner In their etruggle. DIRECTORS WIN THE CASE Ernst aad Beeves Get Decision Against the Several Spirit Maktaa; Compaalea. NEW YORK, May 18.-Judgment wa. granted yeeterday by Justice O'Oorman In supreme court agalnat th American Spir it Manufacturing company and It directors in an action brought by M. L. and O. Ernst and Frederick O. Reeves agalnat tbe com pany above mentioned, the Spirit Distrib uting company, th Standard Distilling ds Distributing company, th Kentucky Dla ttllerte A Warehouse company and tha Dl tUllng Company ot America. Th plaintiff, who were stockholders of th American Spirit Manufacturing com pany, claimed that It waa organised In 18M with a capital ef $18,000,000 and that a year afterwarda ta assets amounted te over $37,000,000, Th directors of th corpora tion subsequently formed various subsidiary companies, to which they transferred all the dlstlllarte and plant et th American Spirit Manufacturing company tn return tor their stock and Anally formed th Dis tilling Company of America, The suit was brought to compel th di rector ot th American 8plrlta Manufaetur ing company to replace the properties and asset alleged to have been diverted lot the treasury of that eerporatlon. Tha Ernata nd Reeves allege they own about 500,000 worth of the stock. A referee will be appointed to ascertain what property aad asset will have t be returned or replaced. Thl will tak aom time. The judgment holds that the forma tion of th separat eompaaiei la Illegal, CONDITION OF THE WEATHER Temperatnre at Omaha Yeeterdarl For Nebraska Showers and Thunder storm Monday; Cooler. Tuesday showers. Hoar. Desr. Hoar. De. 5 a. m TO 1 p. m...... .1 l a. m ...... no a p. m M T a. m in a p. ra M a a. tn TO 4 p. m ...... M n a. m .1 Bp. a HA to a. m ..... . Tw e p. m ...... aa It a. m 81 T p. m Ml 12 m S3 p. aa T n p. m Td OVERDOSE 0F STRYCHNINE Mistake la Medici" Caaae the Death f Promlaent Detroit Yoaag Womaa. NEW YORK, May 18. Mis Julia Wil liams, daughter of Mrs. Julia William ot Detroit, eald to be a relative of Senator Hanna, died today at the Fifth Avenue hotel of an overdose of strychnine, taken tn the form ot pill. She wa 24 yeara of age. The young woman and her mother bad been spending the winter at Baranao Lake, N. Y., on account ot the poor health ef the daughter. Y'esterdsy morning they came to this city, the Intention betng to go to Atlantic City. Before leaving Baranao Lako a physician had prescribed strychnine pills for Miss Williams and the orders were that she should take them before meata. She Was alao given pills containing Iron which were to be taken after meals. On arising today she remarked to her maid that ahe was feeling better and went to breakfast. From what Coroner Jackson could gather after the death, Mlsa Wil liams, after she went again to her room, took aeveral of the strychnine pills, prob ably mistaking them tor the iron pills, but the point Is not clear. The death, however. Is put down as of a purely accl dental character. Some little time after taking the med! cine Miss Williams complained ot feeling very 111. Dr. D. P. Peaee was called tn and, finding her In a serious condition. asked what was the matter. She answered "I took an overdose of strychnine pills." The physician administered antidotes without avail and twenty minutes after he waa In attendance Mlsa Williams waa dead. Dr. Pease aald afterward: "There Is no mystery about It at all, It was simply an overdose of strychnine pills, and they were not taken with suicidal Intent." The body will be taken to Detroit to morrow morning. Coroner Jackson was In formed that Miss Williams was engaged to be married to Pitts Duffletd of this city, a son of General H. M. Duffleld ot Detroit, and that Mr. Duffleld waa at the hotel when Miss Williams died, she having bad htm summoned. PLOT TO KILL KING ALFONSO Conspiracy to Assassinate Spain's New Itnler Discovered and Nine Arrest Made. MADRID, May 18. An anarchist plot agalnat King Alfonao Ttas been discovered and alx arrests. Including that of Ct lei Lopez, "an employe ot an insurance com pany, have been made. Dynamite cartridges were found on the premises where Lopes was arrested. Lopez say he received a package of cartridge from another an archist, with instruction, to throw them at the moment of the passsge of the royal carriage In yesterday'a procession. Tbe discovery of the plot against the king Is confirmed by the newspapers here. It ts now said tbst nine dynamite cart ridges were seized. Further arrests have been made, and the prisoner Include six medical students, a printer, a carpenter and a mason. The captured cartridges are being analyzed by military authorities. SHOT DOWN BY AN ASSASSIN Prominent Stockman Called to the Door at Nlaht and Killed by 1'nldenttflrd Parties. ST. JOSEPH, Mo., May 18. (Special Tele gram.) James Clark, a prominent stockman residing at Downs, Kan., was called to th front door of hla home and assassinated last night. The murderer fired two shots, one going through the body, entering ths back, the other through the back ot the head, coming out of the forehead. The weapon I. suppoeed to have been a shotgun loaded heavily with buck and fine shot. Clark leaves a widow and five children by a former wife, tbe oldeU a girl of IS years. No cause 1 known for the act as he was not known to have had enemiea. He car ried heavy life Insurance. STOPS PURCHASE OF MULES British Aareat at St. Joseph Receives a Cablegram from the War Office. 8T. JOSEPH. Mo., May it. (Special Tele gram.) Agenta for the British government In thl city today received a cablegram from th war offlc In London to cease all purchases of horses and mule, for ship ment to South Africa. The message fur ther atated that tbe Boer war would prob ably altogether cease In a very few days. The remount, station at Lathrop, thirty miles aoutheast of thl. city, will be aban doned and the herd, of horse, and mule, accumulated tbere will be sent to other parts of the British empire. Cheyenne Coanty Looks Well. SIDNEY, Neb., May 18. (Special Tele gram.) This part of th state Is surely within the rain belt, for It ha. literally poured down her every day and night th last week and alfalfa and small grain I getting ttupenduou. growth. Th gramma and buffalo grease hare made great strides In th last ten day and It 1 surprising to aee how cattl and horse have added weight. These rain, will bring thousands et settlers to Cheyenne county, and to gether with the Immens resources for irrigation from th North Platte river. Pumpkin creek and tbe tar-famed Lodge Pole valley will make thl th Ideal country for th farmer and stockman. FORECAST OF THE WEATHER Showers aad Thaadersterm with Cooler Weather for Nebraska Monday. WASHINGTON, May 18. Forecast: For- Nebraska Shower and thunder storm Monday; cooler; Tuesday showers. For Iowa and Missouri Showera and thunderstorms and cooler Monday and prob ably Tuesday. For Kansas Shower Monday and cooler at n'.ght; Tuesday partly cloudy, with prob ably ahowtrs. For North and South Dakota 8hower and cooler Monday; Tueaday probably shower. vltk cooler la east .portion. TORNADO KILLS MAM fierce Wind Destroy Half Hundred Lim and Vast Amount of Property, WRECKS EIGHT BLOCKS IN TEXAS TOWS Goliad is Laid Waate and Ban Antonio Buffen Heavy Lou, OTHER PORTIONS OF STATE ARE STRUCK Storm Eitradi to Iowa, Doing Qreat Dam age In Several Plaoet, MINNESOTA GETS THE FINAL SWEEP Oreat Western Railroad Track Destroyed by Cloadbaret and Serlene lajnry Is Daa ta All Kinds ot Traflle. J HOUSTON', Tea., May 18. A telegr.iei from Superintendent Forbes of the New York, Texas Mexican to Oensral Manager Van Vleck In this elty aaya that eight block of business houses were blown dewn at Oollad, Thirty nsgrnes and twenty-seven white people were killed and saventy-flve or eighty others injured. Reports received here by wire Indicate that the northern or western porlon of th town ef Oollad has been swep away by a tornado and that from fifty to 100 people have been killed. The long-distance operator at Houston waa eonneoted with Goliad at 7 o'clock, but beyond the fact that part of he own had been blown away and hat many persona had been killed and Injured, no other par tlcular were obtained. Considerable damage ha alao been doa at Beevllle by high wind. Both town are close to the gulf coast and all telegraph wires by two route are down. San Antonio Struck Hard. SAN ANTONIO, Tex., May 14. At U:4. o'clock thla afternoon a terrible wlad and. rain-storm swept over San Antonio, damag. lng property not less than $50,000, aad It may reach $75,000. The wind reached a velocity of seventy-two miles an hour and continued at that rate for nearly tweny mlnues. It blew from the southeast and then shifted to the southwest, the greatest velocity being from the latter point. At Fort Sam Houston government prop erty waa damaged to tbe extent of $20,000, the doors being torn from the officer' quar ters and barracks. The West End church was completely de stroyed, loss $5,000. Hartwell'i hotel dam aged $3,000, St. Louis college damaged $6, 000, Academy ot the Lady ot the Sacred 1 Heart damaged $2,000. Damage to private residence will reach, at least $20,000. Several persons wer in jured, but there were no fatalities. ; The storm waa a continuation of tha on that .wept over Oollad with terrible re mit. Threa Score Uoaae Gone. AUSTIN, Tex., My 18. Whll all Tekaai aeemed.to be stormtwept today the terri tory Immediately to the weat ot thl city wa especially badly damaged by the high winds. Walters Park, a small hamlet, four teen miles to the northwest of thla city, was badly damaged, aomethlng like three score or more houses being blown down and many trees uprooted. In this city a number of houses were unroofed and th State Institution for tbe Blind wa con. Iderably damaged, though none ot the in mates wa injured. A number of camp ing parties at various points up the river were serious sufferers In the matter ot destruction of propeity, but a far a known no loss of life Is report,. DALLAS, Tex., May 18. All wire to Shreveeport and Texarkana are down to night and that district waa reached by a portion of the big storm which swept over Texas today. It Is thought, however, that no lose of life haa reaulted, although th property damage may be heavy. A driving rain set in here about 2 o'clock this after noon and a heavy wind accompanied It, but no damage ot any sort resulted. Cloudburst on Oreat Westera. ( ST. JOSEPH, Mo., May 18. Th Chicago Crest Western railway waa a sever sufferer from a cloudburst last night, both on th De Molne and tha Chicago divisions. More than 150 feet ot track and grading were destroyed at Fairbanks, seven miles thl side of Oelwein, and about 200 feet wss wiped out east ot Oelwein on tha Chicago division. i The train schedule was abandoned today and It la expected through tralna will not be run from either Chicago or St. Paul before tomorrow night or Tueaday. Th storm did Immense damage to crop, . a trip a mile In width and twenty-five mile in length being almost denuded of vegeta tion. DUBUQUE, la.. May 18. A cloudburst oe- ; eurred here last night. Two inches ot rain : tell In on hour, causing washout on th Illinois Central between her and Waterloo. No trans arrived from th west until to- j night. Several miles ot track on th Oreat ' Weetern between here and Oelwein wer washed out and no train can com tn until tomorrow. Th Chicago, Milwaukee at St. , Paul suffered much near McGregor. M'OREOOR, la., May 18. Thre brick buildings wer wrecked by a terrific elec trical storm that swept over McGregor lata last night, accompanied by a heavy downpour of rain. Lightning atruck the i three building, occupied by the Frees ' Jewelry stors, th Metropolian saloon aad a billiard hall, and all collapsed. Four men wer hurt, but not seriously. 8ewer. w.re ! washed out by the flood. Th property lot 1 fully $10,000. WICHITA, Kan., May 18. A very heavy rain fell over the wheat belt of southern Kansas today. For a tlm a tornado waa threatened here, but tbe car ended ta a downpour of rain, which Horded th streets, the water flowing into th first floor of th Manhattan hotel. No serious damage baa been heard of so far. A cloudburst waa reported la Kingman county, but reporta at tbe Santa Fe headquarter do not lndlcat Important damag or loss of life. SPRING VALLEY. Minn., May 1$. Ah electrto storm accompanied by a cloudburst, passed over Etna and Forreatvlll. two mall village, nlna miles southeast of her last night. Several large barn and othtr building wer completely destroyed. Her. man Wllbrlght, wife and three children, wba were returning home In a buggy wer ; thrown Into the raging torrent, and tbe j thre children drowned. Plaaeev of Sheridan Caaaty. GORDON. Neb., May 18. (Special Tsls gram.) Stephen Hills, a prominent eltl ten of Gordon, died today. He wa aa old soldier and on of th pioneer settlers ef Sbsrldan county. Herman Hutt, a promlaent ranchman ef this county, died at OeMoa, tc4a i i ... -.