Nebraska Newspapers

    AN EDITOR SUICIDES,
A FAMOUS NEWSPAPER MAN
KILLS HIMSELF.
Jntnpi From a Window and la Fonnd
Dead on the Sidewalk Below—Nerrons
Prostration and Other Ailments Broke
Down the Body and Hind of the Head
of the St. Loots Globe-Democrat—No
Explanation Left.
Joe McCullagh a Suicide.
St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 1.—Joseph B.
McCullagh, editor of the Globe-Demo
crat, leaped from the window of his
bedroom some time between midnight
and daybreak this morning and dashed
his brains out on the stone flagging of
the yard beneath.
At 0:30 o'clock one of <,he stable boys
employed by Mrs. Kate Manion of 3837
West Pine boulevard, with whom Mr.
McCullagh resided, found the body
cold in death. The skull was battered
in and the brains were scattered over
the flagging. The body was attired in
night clothes.
“Mr. McCullagh was tired of living
and killed himself,” said Dr. C. H.
Hughes, his family physician. “He
gave no premonition of suicide during
his illness. I saw him for a little,
while last evening. Ho said he felt
sleepy and gave me to understand he
wanted me to leave him alone. Then
his brain was affected, but his intel
lect was all right. He never gave any
signs of mental break-down during his
illness. He suffered from profound
nervous exhaustion, complicated with
a recurring kidney trouble. He had
an asthmatic affection in addition.
The late campaign undermined his
health.”
No writings were found in Mr. Mc
Culiagh's room explaining his act or
leaving instructions for the arrange
ment of his affairs after death.
Mr. McCullagh’s illness came on him
shortly after the close of the late Re
publican national convention. It took
the form of acute asthma, compli
cated with nervous depression. When
he passed through the acute stage he
found himself slow in recovery. His
limbs had lost their vigor, his arms
were numb and there were premoni
tions that the brain had come under
the same shadowy spell. He would
not admit that he was failing either
physically or mentally, and insisted
on managing his newspaper from his
bedroom. All through the day he sat
in his chair wrapped in blankets, re
ceived reports from his subordinates
and gave them orders for the conduct
of the paper.
GAS TWICE TURNED ON.
Just before midnight Mrs. Manion
went into Mr. McCullagh’s room to in
quire how he was, as had been her
custom for some time past, and found
the gas streaming from one of the
burners and Mr. McCullagh in a semi
conscious condition. She immediately
stopped the flow, aired the room and
aroused Mr. McCullagh, and then,
with an admonition to be more care
ful, retired to her own room. This
morning, after the body had been dis
covered, it was found that the gas was
againg flowing with almost full force.
The conclusion is reached, therefore,
that after his sister-in-law lift him for
the night he deliberately turned the
gas on again, but finding death too
slow by that means, opened the win
dow and plunged headlong to the pave
ment below.
Biographical.
Joseph Burbridge McCullagh was born in
Dublin in 1843. He came to this country
when only 11 years old and at once became
an apprentice on a New York city weekly.
It 1858 he came to this city and was first a
compositor and then a reporter on the Dem
ocrat, He had mastered shorthand—then a
rare accomplishment—which was of great
service to him. Before the war he went to
Cincinnati and became connected first with
the Gazette and later with the Commercial
as a stenographer.
Mr. McCullagh acted as a correspondent
during the war, and his letters signed
' “Mack” made him famous. He crossed the
Mississippi river with Grant, and the silent
soldier and brilliant correspondent struck
up a close friendship, which lasted till the
general's death. Mr. McCullagh was also
. with Sherman’s army on its march through
Georgia. He followed the fortunes of war
nearly three years, and in that time had
various sensational experiences and narrow
escapes, proving himself under the most
trying circumstances cool, resolute and
daring.
As a Washington correspondent Mr. Mc
Cullagh added to the reputation he had ac
quired during the war. His familiarity with
political principles, as evidenced by his ar
ticles. was such that his advice is said to
have been often sought by statesmen. He
was called the “originator of interviewing,”
having practiced that branch of journalism
in a manner seldom if ever equaled His
first interviews with President Johnson
were copied all over the country.
Between 1868 and 1870 Mr. McCullagh
was managing editor of the Cincinnati.
(O.) Enquirer. Then he bought an interest
in-the Chicago Republican, now the Inter
Ocean, but when the property was practi
cally destroyed in the 1871 fire, returned to
this city, where he lived till death. He ac
cepted the editorship of the Globe, one of
two rival Republican newspapers here, the
other being the Democrat, which had been
founded in 1852 and had been the organ of
the Republican party. A quarrel both in the
party and among the owners of the paper
caused the starting of the Globe. Its lot
was not a prosperous one though it took
away enough of the business of the Demo
crat to injure that material^. The Demo
crat was a member of the Associated Press,
and the Globe was not. While Mr. McCul
0 lagh was unable to make the balance come
upon the right side of the ledger of the
Globe, he was able to make a newspaper
which people talked about. There was a
snap in its editorial comments that St. Louis
had not been accustomed to; there was aa
£ir c.* itv.ationalisra about its news depart
ments that was new in that field.
A series of political and personal events
brought about a consolidation of the two
papers with McCullagh at the head-a posi
tion which he held the rest of his life.
He was unconventional in dress, manners,
habits and speech, though careful of his
written English. He had much humor,
mainly cynical, and made no pretenses.
Having neither kindred, wife nor children,
few external pleasures and no distractions',
he lived in and for his newspaper and cared
for little else. He was a journalist of jour
nalists. being saturated with printer's ink
beyond all chance of change.
He was a strong Republican from first to
last, and on more than one critical occasion
In his earlier life relinquished the pen for
the sword, being one of the handful of vol
unteers to man the ironclad St Louis, the
first of the ligiou vessels to run the gauntlet
of the shore batteries. Among his political
performances seas his participation In the
noted Vallandlngham campaign In Ohio.
Another was his ••write-up" of the South
from observations made on a tour for the
purpose ]ust after the war.
Public affairs were always of paramount
Interest to McCullagh. His political ambition
of late years was said to be to attain a seat
In the United States Senate, and he was
often mentioned for such a position, which
it Is possible he would have reached but for
the untimely termination of his career
SUICIDE AFTER FAILURE.
The Tice President of a Closed Alabama
Bank Kills Hlmsell In a Church.
Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 1.—George
B. Wilkins, vice president of the Com
mercial National bank of Selma,which
failed for $500,000 yesterday, com
mitted suicide by shooting himself
through the head in the Episcopal
church at Selma at 4 o'clook this morn
ing. He had been vice president of
the bank and treasurer of the church
for thirty years, and was one of the
best known men in the state.
FOR THE NEW OFFICIAL.
Bold Scheme of St. Bonis Saloon Keep*
ers to Hold Back Licenses.
St. Louis, Jan. 1.—The report was
current here yesterday that saloon
keepers whose lioenses would fall due
January 5 had been advised not to pay
up until later, so that the new excise
commissioner to be appointed by Gov
ernor Stephens would receive the ben
efit. Commissioner Bell declares that
the police will stop any such scheme.
ARRESTED FOR BRIBERY.
One of John Wanamaker's Managers
Accused of Trying to Buy Totes.
Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 1.—A sensa
tion was created here last night when
E. A. Van Valltenburg, one of the
Wanamaker managers, was arrested
on a charge of bribery. The Wana
maker manager is charged with at
tempting to bribe Representative Web
ster C. Weiss, early in December.
Dingley Averse to a Secretaryship.
Washington, Jan. 1.—It is said that
when Mr. Dingley visited Canton just
before Congress convened Mr. McKin
ley talked freely to him about the sec
retaryship of the treasury, but noth
ing was definitely determined. Since
the campaign Mr. Dingley has suffered
so severely from stomach troubles as
to be able to attend to his duties only
with great difficulty, and the special
ists who are treating him have given
him such advice that it is now reported
that he will not accept a cabinet port
folio under any consideration.
Weyler Is Forced to Fortify.
Cincinnati Ohio Jan. 1.—A special
from Key West, Fla., says: “Reports
from Artemisa are that Weyler has'
found it necessary to intrench some of
his advanced positions and to build
one or two block houses to keep the
command of the military road froir,
Artemisa to San Christobal. The in -
surgents have driven back two of his
detachments from the foothills. Wey
ler is unable to secure tidings of the
movements of General Rivera, and it
is reported that he is somewhat wor
ried over the situation.
Blttlnger to Leave the Herald.
St. Joseph, Mo., Jan. 1.—The con
test between Major John L. Bittinger.
editor of the St. Joseph Herald, and
Congressman George C Crovvther, who
was defeated for re-election, to control
the Republican patronage of the
Fourth district has brought out the
statement from stockholders of the
Ilerald that Major Bittinger will retire
in a few days. It has been settled,
according to the statements made by
the Republicans here, that Major Bit
tinger is to be given a federal appoint
ment by President McKinley.
Bradley to Resign December 15* 1807*
Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 1. — The
Commercial Tribune says: Unless there
is a marked improvement in his health
during' the next seven months. Gov
ernor 11 rad ley will resign the govern
orship of Kentucky, to take effect on
or after December 15, 1897. At that
time Lieutenant Governor Worthing
ton can, by the law. become the gov
ernor of Kentucky, and no election to
fill the vacancy caused by Governor
llradley’s resignation will be neces
sary.
Thirty Years for a Cattle Thief.
Greei.ky, Col., . nJa 1.—A1 Cochran,
the cattle rustler, has been sentenced
to thirty years in prison for cattle
stealing. It is said that he is under
indictment in Kimball county. Neb.,
for the murder of Paul Rose, the stock
man, whose cattle were found in his
possession when he was arrested, and
for the theft of which he was found
guilty in this state.
Clay County's Oldest Woman Dead.
Liberty, Mo., Jan. .1. — Mrs. Eliz
abeth Wills, nearly 94 years of age,
the oldest person in Clay county, died
at her home in the Providence neigh
borhood last night. She was the
mother of fourteen children.
In the Uands of Mortgagee.
Wabrensburg, Mo., Jan. 1.—The
implement firm of Reniek & Higgins of
this place gave a 81,200 mortgage to
the Deering Harvester company to
day. The assets are about 810,000 and
the liabilities 84.000.
C. K. tulltir Kiitu.'iHu
Emporia, Kan., Jan. l.— Mr. C. E.
Fuller, the traveling man who was
missing and about whom many sensa
tional reports were in circulation, has
returned. This verifies the predictions
of his friends that he would show up
all right again and will place at rest
the claim that his financial troubles
■forced him to remove with the hope of
recovering his fortune.
Family of Four Asphyxiated.
New York, Jan. 1.—A family of
four persons were asphyxiated at their
home in the northern portion of this
city yesterday. John Lynchtenberg,
a cabinetmaker, his wife, Lizzie, and
their two children. Willis, 22 months
old, and Jacob, 12 weeks old,
Mrs. Nettle Craven Critically 111.
San Francisco, Jan. 1.—Mrs. Nettie
Craven, claimant to a part of the es
state of the late Senator Fair, is ill and
her death is said to be expected almost
an.v time.
WHAT SPAIN CAN. DO,
the offer that comes from
HER TO CUBA.
Limited Autonomy will be Granted, bat
Cuba Molt First Give Up—Uncle Sam
to be Mediator, to Propose the Terms
and Guarantee Fulfillment—Spain De
plores American Losses.
Spain’s Offer to Cuba.
Washington, Dec. 30.—It has been
learned from an authoritative source
that Secretary Olney and Senor Dupuy
de Lome, the Spanish minister, have
practically terminated the negotia
tions on the Cuban question, which
arc to be submitted to Congress when
it convenes on January 5. The terms
of the agreement are based on the re
cent official communication from
Premier Canovas, addressed to the sec
retary of state.
The premier states cleorly the terms
which Spain will accord to the insur
gents, and practically asks the United
States to propose these conditions to
her rebellious subjects. In return for
our good offices, Spain assures this
government she sincerely deplores the
great commercial loss which we have
sustained on account of the Cuban dis
turbance. She assures us she is even
now considering a reciprocity treaty
which will deal mainly with Cuban
products, and which will be framed in
such advantageous terms toward this
government that our losses, both in
commerce and in the destruction of
American property in Cuba, will be
most generously compensated.
Premier Canovas says Spain can not,
of course, as a self-respecting and re
spected nation, stand before the
world as having been coerced into
measures by the United States. She
has freely granted all she now offers,
and that in the face of a rebellion.
But she accepts the good offices of the
United States to act as mediator and
to guarantee to the insurgents am
nesty and the enforcement of the new
reform law which she is about to pro
claim in Cuba.
The form of government offered is,
the Spanish statesman declares, the
limit of independence which can be
granted to a province by any nation
without absolutely severing the bond
of union with the mother country.
Autonomy, as enjoyed by the Cana
dians, can never be granted in Cuba.
What Spain is willing to grant the in
surgents, if they lay down their arms,
and what she asks the United States
to guarantee, is an act which provides
for a council of administration, which
shall control all matters pertaining to
the commerce of the Indies and all es
timates upon the general taxation and
expenditures of the island, as well as
its general home government.
A MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
Strange Woman Under Arrest for Killing
a Wealthy Ranchman.
TorEKA, Kan., Dec. 30.—George W.
Gilmore, a ranchman in Rawlins coun
ty, Kansas, was assassinated last Sat
urday night, and a strange woman,
who gives her name as Prudence-'
Ilolbert, has been arrested for the
crime. Gilmore, who lived alone, had
been oht buying cattle and returned to
his cabin about 9 o’clock at night. He
prepared his supper, and sat down to
eat it, when someone fired a load of
buckshot into his face through a win
dow. .
He was found in a dying condition
the next morning by a neighbor. Gil
more related the story of the shooting,
and said he staggered to the door and
saw the figure of a man hurrying away
in the darkness. Asked if he had an
enemy, Gilmore confessed that he had
jilted a girl at his old home in Orange
county. New York, and that she had
threatened to kill him. He said that
he had lately received a warningfrom
her that he had only a short time to
live. He declined to give her name or
tell an more about his past nistory.
A posse was organized to hunt down
the assassin. Near the Nebraska line,
fleeing northward on foot, the posse
captured the woman referred to, and
took her to the Gillmore cabin. She
was greatly excited when she saw the
dead body, but refused to talk further
than that her name was Prudence Hol
bert. She is in jail and no trace of
her identity has been found. Gilmore
located in Rawlins county twelve
years ago, but his neighbors were
never able to learn anything about
him. He was regarded as a man with
a past which he sought to conceal.
PLATT’S FINE WORK.
The New York City Republican Club Re
fuses to Indorse Mr. Choate.
New York, Dec. 30.—The Republi
can club of New York has refused to
endorse the candidacy of Josephh H.
Choate tor United States senator. For
the resolutions laid over last week, en
dorsing Choate, a subsitute was
adopted, declaring it ill-advised that
any action should be taken regarding
the possible candidacy of any person,
and that it was the sense of the club
that no action should be taken.
The C nion Republican club of Brook
lyn and the Progress Republican club
of New York have adopted resolutions
endorsing Thomas C. Platt for senator.
No Formal Negotiations Yet.
Washington, Dec. 30.—At the state
department denial is made of the re
port in the Washington Post that Pre
mier Canovas of Spain has sent Secre
tary Olney a communication accepting
the mediation of the United States in
the carrying out of autonomy for Cuba.
It is said no such letter has been sent,
nor has anything of such a nature
passed through the Spanish officials
here.
A Week’s Lay-Off for 20,000 Men.
Shenandoah, Pa., Dec. 30.— Notice
was posted at all the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron company coller
es here and in the vicinity, numbering
forty, and also at a number of individ
ual colleries, that work would be sus
pended until next Monday. Twenty
thousand men and boys will be idle.
An Old St. Joseph Hotel Closed.
, Sr. JosEm, Mo..Dec. 30.—The Bacon
house, one of the largest hotels in the
rfty, was closed to-day and will be sold
in a few days on a mortgage. It was
established thirty-five years ago.
A SIGNIFICANT EDITORIAL.
Inspired tttarancM of a Madrid N«via
paper.
Madrid, Dec.30.—An evidently ln«
spired editorial in the Epoca, the con
servative organ, foreshadowing tha
possibility of an understanding be
tween the Spanish government and
President Cleveland, has caused a sen
sation. It says: “American interven
tion in Cuba is perfectly logical on the
grounds of material interests and na
tional sentiment. It might become an
inevitable necessity of American home
politics, and it is eminently to the in
terest of our own country to avoid a
conflict, while we can do so with
honor, maintaining our dignity and
sovereignty.”
The present active efforts of Spanish
diplomacy are all aimed, it is asserted
in diplomatic and political quarters
here, at convincing the American State
department that exigencies of domestic
politics make it impossible for Spain
to enter into any formal agreement or
convention with the United States for
the settlement of the Cuban question.
Strenuous efforts are being made by
the Spanish and other European gov
ernments to prevail upon President
Cleveland to be content if Spain assents
tacitly only to his interference and
satisfies American opinion for the time
being by the voluntary and prompt in
stitution in Cuba and Porto Rico of the
reforms voted by the Cortes. This is
on the understanding, however, that
Premier Canovas will ask the Cortes
this year to authorize complete colo
nial autonomy and a reduction of the
colonial tariffs, to prepare the way for
a reciprocity treaty with the United
States. _
THURSTON WARLIKE.
The K.braskan Would Not Care It Spain
Should Declare Hostilities.
Omaha, Neb., Dec. 30. — Senator
Thurston spoke before the members of
the Chautauqua circle on the Cuban
situation. In beginning he announced
his intention to vote for the recognition
of Cuban independence, and towards
the latter part of his speech his words
gave the impression that he would be
a little disappointed if that action
failed to bring on a war. lie declared
that he did not want war, but there
were worse things. He seriously ap
prehended that when this country
placed itself on record for Cuban recog
nition the Spanish ministry would de
clare war on the United States, re
gardless of the consequences. The
Cuban situation was a blot on the
civilized world and a reproach to every
American citizen. Its condition called
for patriotic action by every lover of
liberty on this side of the ocean.
Banker Janes' Bequests.
Hiawatha, Kan., Dec. 30.—The will
of the late Banker Charles H. Janes
provides that 91,000 be given the Hia
watha public library, the interest to
bj invested in new books. His private
library is presented to the public li
brary. To Hiawatha is. given 91,000,
the interest to go to the poor. The
Hiawatha academy gets about one-fifth
his fortune, or 910,000. Mrs. Albert
Lawrence, Mrs. Will Mason, the Rev.
J. B. Richardson and C. D. Lamme are
each given a fifth. Mr. Lamme is
named as executor.
Plagiarism by a Student.
Toteka, Kan., Dec. 30.—P. S. Elliott,
a student of Washburn college of this
city, who, on November 17, won the
honor cf representing that institution
in the oratorical contest of the state
association, is accused of plagiarism by
Paul Lovewell, a fellow student. Love
well's oharge is “parallelism of
thought” and a committee, consisting
of Profs. Ellis and Hyde and Dean
Mattox, has been appointed to investi
gate. It is claimed that Eiliott bor
rowed and used in his oration, “The
Needs of the Hour,” ideas and lan
guagc from an article in the American
Magazine of Civics
Victim of a Conspiracy.
San Diego, Cal., Dec. 30.—Americans
throughout Mexico are watching with
great interest the movements of the
authorities in the case of Carlos A. Mil
ler, an American citizen and resident
of Cuaginicuilapan, state of Guerrero,
now in Belim prison, City of k exieo,
charged with the murder of a Mexican
engineer named Eduardo Zepeda, at
Ometepec on October 6. Miller claimed
from the first that the local officers at
Ometepec and his own town conspired
to bring a murder charge against him
and encompass his ruin and death if
possible.
Snipper* Kilter Protest.
Kansas City, Mo., Deo. 30.—Kansas
City shippers and receivers have
started a movement through the trans
portation bureau to have the jurisdic
tion of the Kansas City Car Service
association extended so as to include
the cities of St. Joseph, Leavenworth
and Atchison. The trouble is that the
shipments of merchandise and grain
are being diverted from Kansas City to
the cities named because in those
places shfppers are practically allowed
to unload cars at their leisure.
Platt Declares War on Choate.
New York, Dec. 30.—Thomas C.
Platt, in r.n interview said: “I am sat
isfied that Mr. Choate will not be the
next senator. Whoever it will be, it
will not he Mr. Choate. It is not true
that I have sought this position or
have worked for it. Anyone who
knows ine knows that this statement
is true.”
Sent to Prison for log Tear*.
Mexico, Mo., Dec. 30.—William Rob
inson, colored, of Pike county was
taken to the penitentiary yesterday
under a sentence of 103 years. He
killed his sweetheart in a church, for
which he received a ninety-nine year
sentence, and stole a horse, for which
he not three vears.
Bombay's Plague Increasing.
Bombay, Dec. 30. — The bubonic
plague it increasing, there having
been 3,09, cases and 1,494 deaths from
that cause up to date. The exodus
from the city continues and the news
papers threaten the natives with mar
tial law unless they conform with tho
sanitary regulations.
Nine People Burled In a Landslide.
London, Dec. 30.—There was a land
slide at Ratsmore on Sunday night. A
laborer's house was overwhelmed and
the man, his wife and seven children
were buried.
THE COMING 1898 SHOW.
T rani-Mississippi Bad International |f
position.
The president of the United States is
about to issue his proclamation an
nouncing to the world that the Trans
Mississippi and International exposi
tion is to be held in the city of Omaha
between the 1st day of June and the
1st day of November, 1898. This expo
sition is designed to afford an oppor
tunity for the states west of the Mis
sissippi to make an exhibit of
their resources and productive
industries Twenty states and four
territories are embraced as the Trans
Mississippi region. These states and
territories cover an area of more than
two and a half million square miles,
with an aggregate population of nearly
25,000,000. They represent fully twen
ty billions of wealth. They are the
great granary of America, and contain
within their boundaries practically
all the gold and silver mines of the
United States, besides deposits of iron,
copper, lead, zinc and other minerals
of incalculable volume and value.
They embrace furthermore, the great
est bodies of timber on the North
American continent, as well as a large
portion of the cotton belt, and all of
the. sugar producing lands within the
boundaries of the union. The railroads
within the Trans-Mississippi states ag
gregate 65,000 miles and the navigable
waterways include the greatest of
American rivers—the Mississippi, Mis
souri and the Columbia.
In the World's Columbian exposition
of 1893 the exhibits of the Trans-Mis
sissippi Btstes were overshadowed by
the exhibits of foreign countriea Of
the millions who passed through its
gates, comparatively few carried away
with them a distinct impression of the
productive resources of that vast em
pire. The purpose of the projectors of
the Trans-Mississippi exposition is to
acquaint the nation and visitors from
other countries with the fabulous
wealth and stupendous possibilities of
the greater west
■mrc ini 11 a l. mi t:r.
This Exposition had its origin in res
olutions adopted by the Trans-Missis
sippi Commercial Congress of 1895,
formulated in the following declara
tion:
Whereas, We believe that an exposi
tion of all the products, industries and
civilization of the states west of the
Mississippi river, made at some central
gateway where the world can behold
the wonderful capabilities of these
great wealth-producing.Btates, would
be of great value, not only to the Trans
Mississippi states, but to all the home
seekers in the world;
Therefore, Resolved, That the United
States Congress.be requested to take
Buch steps as may be necessary, to
hold a Trans-Mississippi Exposition at
Omaha in the year 1898, and that the
representatives of such states and ter
ritories in Congress be requested.to
favor such an appropriation as is usual
in such cases to assist in carrying out
this enterprise. > .
AX ORGANIZATION EFFECTED.
Preliminary steps to carry out the en
terprise contemplated by the resolution
were taken by the citizens of Omaha
early in December, 189S, when a tem
porary organization was effected, look
ing to the formation of an association
that would assume the task of finan
ciering and managing the Exposition.
On January 18, 1896, articles of incor
poration of the Trans-Mississippi and
International Exposition Association,
signed by 100 leading business and pro
fessional men, were filed with the sec
retary of state. The authorized capital
of the corporation is 81,000,000, divided
into shares of stock of 810 each. Its
government was vested in a board of
directors, eleven in number, who were
to elect a president, vice president, sec
retary and treasurer. Each of the
Trans-Mississippi states and territo
ries was to be represented i|i the gov
erning body by one of the vice presi
dents, commissioned by the governors
of their respective states and territo
ries
RECOGNITION BY CONGRESS.
Before the work of organization had
been fairly entered upon,Senator Allen,
on January 3, 1890, introduced a bill in
the United States senate granting the
Exposition recognition by congress as
an interstate and international exposi
tion, providing for the admission of for
eign exhibits free of duty and pledging
the United States to expend not less
than 82r>0,000 for a government build
ing and exhibit A similar bill was in
troduced in the house by Uepresenta
tive Mercer. These bills were finally
consolidated in conference at the close
of the session, and the bill authorizing
8200,000 to be expended for a federal
building and a government exhib
it was signed by President Cleveland
before congress adjourned in June. An
additional appropriation by congress of
$300,000 will be asked for, "and as many
of the senators and congresinen repre
senting western states have pledged
their support, it may be considered as
assured.
Among the conditions embodied in
the bill was the provision that not less
than 8250,000 in bona fide subscriptions
and donations must be secured by the
Trans-Mississippi and International Ex
position Association before the federal
appropriation became available. This
requirement has been complied with.
The amount of stock subscriptions and
donations to the Exposition Association
now exceeds 8400,000, and it is confi
dently believed that it will reach the
maximum of one million within nine
ty days The largest single subscrip
tion so far registered is from the Bur
lington railroad, amounting to 830,000.
The other railway companies whose
lines enter Omaha have promised to
make equally liberal subscriptions at
an early day.
STATE AID.
The legislatures of but two states
met in 1895—Iowa and Louisiana. The
Iowa legislature made an appropriation
of $10,000 for preliminary work, and
assurances were given by prominent
public officials of Iowa that a liberal
appropriation will be made during the
special session that will convene in
January, 1897. The Louisiana legisla
ture was not approached until the clos
ing days of its session—too late to
make an appropriation, tut resolutions
were adopted pledging liberal aid to
the enterprise.
The legislature of Nebraska, which
&
is to convene during tbs first week In 5?
January, will be asked to appropriate
#300,000, and favorable action is ex*
pected from that bod/ within thirty
days
Other states have, through their offi
cials, expressed hearty sympathy with
the exposition project, and liberal ap
propriations will be recommended by
the governors of those states in their
forthcoming messages
PERMANENTLY ORGANIZED
In view of the magnitude of the un
dertaking and the vast amount of labor
it will involve, it was deemed advis
able to enlarge the directory in order
to enlist a greater number of the most
prominent business and professional
men in the active work of the exposi
tion. With this end in view, the arti
cles of incorporation were amended so
as to provide for the election of fifty
directors as soon as #300,000 had
been subscribed to the capital
stock, and other .-amendments ;
considered essential to the effect
ive distribution of power and duties
were inserted. December 1 the stock
holders elected the new board of di
rectors, and the permanent organiza
tion completed the same day by the
election of the present officers. A fur
ther enlargement of the board of con
trol and supervision is contemplated
soon as the various legislatures have
taken action so that each state partici
pating may have a voice in the man
agement. . ...,
orncEss,
Ourdon W. >Wattics — 1 J i .„.President
Alvin launders_Resident Vice-President
Herman Kountze. ..Treasurer
John A. Waketleid...Secretary
KSlifeUTIVB COMMITTEE.
Zachary T. Lindsey....Manager Dept. of
Ways and Means.
Edward Rosewater....‘.Manager Dept, of
Publicity.
Gilbert M. Hitchcock...... Manager tlept.
Promotion.
Freeman P. Klrkendall.Mgr. Dept. Of
Hulldings and Grounds.
Edward h. Rruco.Manager Dept of
Exhibits. . '
Abram L. Reed.Mgr. Dept of Con
cessions and Prlvllegen. >..n
nm. N. Hancock.Manager Dopt. of
Transportation.
. VICE* PRESIDENTS.
Iowa....... ..lion. Cleo-F, Wright
south Dakota........Hon. Thos. k. Wells
Nebraska...Hon. Wm. Neville
Missouri... ....Hon. John Doniphan
Kansas.Hon. C. A. Fellows
Arlaona ....Hon. Chaa R. Drake
California.Hon. Geo. W. Parson*
Oklahoma Ty.;...Hon. Eugene Wallace
Idaho..Ilcm. B. P. Shawhan
Novada.Bon. Wn. J. Westerfleld
1; tah ... .Hon. Lewis W. Hhurtlllf
Colorado. .Hon. Henry P. Steele
New Mexico.....lion. L. Bradford Prince
Oregon....Hon. B. 8. Cook
Gas Reymershoffer
THE MONEY ISN’T THERE.
A Pickpocket Who WM PooHeh Enough
,'t to steal s Lady’s FockMbook.
“I just swiped a leather, Jim,” said
a pickpocket to another of his pro
fession. *
' “Was' it' one o' them' pnrty ones
what the ■ women oarries 'round de
streets In dor hands?"
“Yes, I swiped it when she wua
lookin’ inter er windy.” -
“If yer'd Jbeen in der biznia as long
as I hev yer wouldn't er took it”
“Why?” ’ ' '‘ lii-c i.-.'
“’Tain’t wuth it” -J . t
“A feller might strike a big haul
tho’ that way some time.” '
"Not on your life, he wouldn't I’ve
swiped a load on ’em an’ I never got
one yit that I could git a beer out on.
Dey don’t carry money indem leath
ers. Dey’s only er bluff. Try dat one
yer’ve got and see if it’s enny good."
Glancing about warily to make
sure that no one was watching him,the
pickpocket opened the purse. He
found three samples of silkoline, a
patent glove buttoner, a card adver
tising a lotion for removing black
heads from the face, a sheet of flesh
colored court plaster, some samples
of scrim and Madras, a list of prices
of carpets, a circular showing an illus
tration of a patent hose supporter, a
card of small safety pins, two slabs
of chewing gum warranted to cure
dyspepsia, and a card bearing her ad
dress and instrnetions to take her
there if she met with an accident.
“That's all dere is in it," said the
man who had "swiped” the pocket
book, as he turned It Upside down
and shook it, with a look of disgust
on his face.
“Didn't I toll yer?” remarked the
other. “I’ve ‘swiped’ dent tings till
I'm tired. Dey’re all de same. De
women don’t carry nothin’ but trash
in ’em. De money an’t dere, never!"
The nrimtl Suite of Nicholas It.
“Vanity Fair" gives a description
of the apartments in the Winter pal
ace that are occupied, by Nicho
las II and his bride. The bridal suite
was once occupied by Alexandria
Feodorovna, consort of Nicholas I. It
opens out of the Pompeiian chambers
and includes the famous' reception
room, which is lined with malachite
and lighted with candelabra of lapis
lazuli. • Almost all of the furniture is
richly gilt, and the chief decorations
are copies of Raphael’s paintings. The
bedroom is chiefly remarkable for a
magnificent frieze, and out of the ad
joining dressing-room a heavily cur
tained door leads to the Romano
Moresque bath, which is one of the
most noteworthy features of the
whole palace. In a little room hard
by the imperial family used in former
years to pass their evenings together.
A private marble staircase gives ac
cess to a sort of grotto and conserva
tory that are filled with luxuriant
tropical vegetation. ■■ •> ,
' A Mysterious Light. . ij
A strange light has been, annoying
residents between Melrose and Ash
bourne, Pa.’, for two weeks past. The
light, as described by persons who
aver having seen and pursued it, has
the appearance of a powerful flame.
It apparently rises from a quarry,
any time between Op.m. and 3 a. m.
After developing until it is largo
enough to travel alone the ignis faU
uus moves off.
Mules Opsn a Gate.1
Professor Wilder relates of a quar
termaster’s mules at Pensacola, that
being shut out of a grass plot, one of
them opened the gate held closed by
a ball and chain, by hooking his head
under the ball and chain, and then,
after five mules had passed in, one of
those inside backed up and held the
gate open for the om which bad first
opened the gate for his companion**