FKSJJK
One of tlto Most Peculiar jr/j/r/t lotca Has
Eccr Knoirn.
Chicago special : A dispatch was received
at the city hall thia afternoon from tho
mayor ol Belle Plaine , la. , which discloses
a , terrible state of affairs in that location.
From the accounts given it appears that
an artesian well four inches iu diameter ,
burst when a depth of 180 feet had been
-reached iu boring , and instantly a volume
of water was forced in the air to n distance
of several hundred feet. This gradually in-
creased in size and volume until a stream
of water fully sixteen inches in diameter
was formed and tho upward force of this
stream is equal to the power of powder or
dynamite. The water in largo volumes is
spouting high in the air and the supply
seems inexhaustible. Two gigantic rivers
J have been formed by this phenomenal
water-burst , which arc running through tho
town at the rate of twelve miles an hour ,
and are carrying everything before them.
Houses and lives are threatened by this
peculiar freak of nature , and tho citizens
of the town are appalled at their impend
ing danger , which at present they are
powerless to overcome. Finding it impos
sible to divert this damaging flood , an at
tempt was made to insert sixteen-inch
boiler iron tubes in tho well , but these
were instantly blown out and forced high
in the nir. Finding this plan useless the
terrified people then attempted to fill up
tho huge aperture through which this
terrible geyser was spouting its deluge.
Fifteen carloads of stone were emptied
into the well , but these were instantly
blown out and forced upward as though
propelled by tho force of a burst
ing magazine of giant powder. Bngs ol
sand were hurled into the air by the tre
mendous force of the spoutinjj water. The
Northwestern railroad was called upon for
assistance and instantly sent a large gang
of men to the rescue. The bridge gang ol
the county was also called upon , but up to
this hour no abatement in the flow of water
was perceptible , and the rushing rivers
formed by it were washing tho channel it
had made deeper and wider , while the bar
rier formed by this immense volume of wa
ter was spreading over the low lands in the
vicinity. All other wells in that vicinity
have dried up , and the monster land water
spout is apparently drawing its supply
from these wells.
The mayor of Belle Plaine in his last ex
tremity telegraphed to Chicago for the best
engineers that could besecured to conio im
mediately to the spot and use their skill
and energy in attempting to stop this peril
ous condition of affairs. City Engineer
Artingstall , to whom the matter was refer-
fed , at once started out to find an enjineer
kwho would supply tho demand , and suc
ceeded in inducing Engineer Morgan to un
dertake the mission. Artingstall and Mor
gan are , however , both of opinion that but
little can be done , if anything , to stop tho
flow of water , but that it may be possible
to direct the rivers into less dangerous
directions and confine them to their pres
ent channels , Morgan will go to Belle
Plaine to-night , and if more assistance is
necessary Mr. Artingstall will send all that
is needed. This is regarded as one of the
most phenomenal freaks of nature which
has yet been made known.
SOME irASKTXGTOy GOSSIP.
Cadet Taylor , chief clerk of the govern
ment printing office , has resigned , and Mr.
Rounds , public printer , has appointed Gil
bert Benedict , of Now York. The latter is
a brother of Mr. Benedict , whom the presi
dent has selected to succeed Mr. Rounds ,
* i and he is expected to assume the duties of
his new place at once. The new public
printer will relieve Mr. Rounds on the 15th
of September.
The "black list" of credtors and debtors
of the government , which has just been
published in response to a resolution of the
house , adopted last January , is an inter
esting volume. It was compiled by R. A.
Fish , assistant treasurer of the United
States , and consumed the best part of six
months in its preparations. The book
shows that there is owing to the govern
ment § 25,809,19-1.40 , divided among the
following bureaus : Treasury disburse
ments. § 12,877,905.53 ; customs service ,
§ 4,093,987.40 ; internal revenue , § 3,800-
399.89 ; diplomatic servi.-e , § 1,104.041.72 ;
sales of public lands , § 1,814,342.01 ; inte
rior department , § 003,914.54 ; judiciary ,
§ 486,257.50 ; captured and abandoned
proprty , § 527,085.77Much of this in
debtedness results from embezzlements , de
falcations and disputed accounts. These
debts run from a few dollars up to millions.
The largest amounts charged up against
any one man is the sum of § 1,205,035.00
charged up against Samuel Swnrtout. who
was collector of customs at New York un
der Van Buren in 1838.
High officials of the state department de
cline to make any statement about the
Sedgwick incident. Official dispatches have
been received , however , from the City of
Mexico , the nature of which renders it im
possible to keep the matter a secret. The
scandal is of much moment and its details
are being whispered about in the depart
ment corridors. _
A DYNAMITE VERDICT.
Chicago dispatch : The Journal this af
ternoon prints a long interview with the
condemned anarchist , Parsons. The day
after the Ilayrnarket meeting , Parsons
eaid , he left the city for Elgin and from
there went to Waukesha. Concerning the
verdict he said it was a trial by the news
papers. When asked how the newspaper
criticisms could have affected the jurors , he
said : "Our conviction did not depend en
tirely upon the jury , but on the judge , wit
nesses and counsel , and even the bailiffs
who summoned the jurors , and the very
spectators , who with excited countenances
crowded the court room and the pathway
of the jury through tho street. No judge
on earth , however upright , could ba unaf-
fected by the howl of the newspapers. No
witness on earth could keep it from inspir
ing and coloring his evidence. "
Continuing , Parsons said the verdict was
a dynamite verdict , and that dynamite
'
was'used by striking dry goods clerks in
New York city , and striking miners in
Hocking Valley and Beverly , Mo. , used it ,
as also did the car strikers at St. Louis.
Parsons wound up by declaring he expected
a reversal of the verdict by the supremo
court. _
RELIEF FOR CHARLESTON"
"Washington , dispatch : An application
tvas received at the treasury this morning
from the mayor of Wilmington , N. C. , for
the transportation of a relief committee
from Wilmington to Charleston. The reve
nue cutter Colfax was immediately placed
at the disposal of the committee. Gen.
Drum , acting secretary of war , has directed
tents to be sent to Charleston to shelter the
homeless people , and , as railroad commu
nication is interrupted , the revenue cutter
will transport tents to the distressed city.
A wife should be like roast lamb tender ,
sweet , nicely dressed , plenty ol filing , but
without sauce. Exchange.
TERRORIZED ItT EARTHQUAKE.
T/te ShocJe is Felt TTJfA Different Degree
of Intensity at All Points East of ih
Mississippi.
Washington specfal : Slight earthquaki
shocks lasting several minutes werefelthen
to-night a few minutes after 10 o'clock. A' '
Albaugh's theatre the trembling and shak
ing of the building created quite a panic it
tho audience for a few moments. The ope
rating room of the Baltimore < & Ohio Tele
graph company and in the upper story o
the Telephone exchange buildings the jan
and trembling of tho buildings frightened
the occupants so that some of them rushet
from tho building into tho street. Ii
GeorgetownAlexandria , KendallGreen ant
the suburbs reports of telephonic injuries
were received , and reports came pouring in
about the earthquake from scores of peo'
plo who had been frightened by it. In a
number of instances houses and business
buildings in tho city were slightly shaken ,
windows rattled and many people were
badly scared. Simultaneously with thest
experiences in Washington came reports bj
telegraph from Alexandria , Richmond ,
Lynehburjr , Danville , Norfolk and Peters
burg , in Virginia , Charlotte , N. U. , and
Columbia and Atlanta , Ga. , of earthquake
ahocks at those points.
CINCINNATI WELL. SHAKEN.
Cincinnati dispatch : A violent shock ol
earthquake was felt here to-night at 9:1
o'clock. The vibrations were from east to
west and lasted fully thirty seconds. Foi
some time after the occurrence every thor
oughfare in the city was thronged with ex
cited men and women , relating their experi
'
ence. In 'two of tho largest newspaper
offices the printers became panic stricken
and rushed into the street without stop
ping to lay down their composing sticks.
One of them was so badly frightened that
he jumped through a window to the roof ol
an adjoining building and was seriously
hurt. A meeting of the Knights of Labor
at Druid's hall was abruptly terminated
by the trembling of the building , and every
body present made a dash for open * air ,
down a narrow passage way.
The officers and reporters in the police
headquarters mado a stampede from the
shaky building into the street , as the build
ing has been expected to collapse for several
years. At all tho hotels was more or less
fright and confusion , but no casualties.
The same may be said of the theatres ,
though a panic was narrowly averted at
Houck's. All tho clocks in the Western
Union office stopped at 8:54 : , standard time.
A PANIC AT TEKIIE HAUTE , IND.
Indianapolis dispatch : At Torre Haute
two distinct shocks were felt. The shocks
were about ten seconds apart and each
was of abont twenty seconds' duration.
Windows were rattled and in several cases
the plastering was dislodged from ceilings.
A large audience was present at the opera
house attending a minstrel show. The
building shook until the people became
panic-stricken , being under the impression
that the structure was about to fall.
Those in the galleries felb the shock most
severely and 'they rose and made a rush
for the exits. The crowds in other parts
of tho house followed , and there was a
struggling and rushing for the doors. Al
most the entire audience fought their way
to the street. Several policemen who were
present stood in the door ways and at
tempted to keep the frightened people back.
One man was pushed over the gallery , but
saved himself by catching the railing. No
one was seriously hurt. Reports from va
rious parts of the city state that sleepers
were awakened by the swaying of beds and
rattling of windows.
AT INDIANAPOLIS.
Indianapolis dispatch : A slight shock of
earthquake was felt at 8:55 o'clock to
night , but so slight that only a few people
and those in elevated buildings felt it. No
damage was done. The shock did not ap
pear to causo the swaying motion noticed
in the earthquake of two years since , but
was of a tremulous , quivering motion. A
large piece of the cornice of the Denison
hotel was dislodged from the Wabash street
front , and in its descent came near striking
a passer-by. Many guests of the house
rushed from their rooms in alarm , and sim
ilar scenes were witnessed in a number of
other buildings. The fire watchman on
duty in the court house tower , at an eleva
tion of more than 200 feet , found his dom
icile swaying in such an alarming manner
that he concluded to seek safety at a point
nearer the earth. No damage has yet been
reported , except the falling of the pieces of
the Denisoii house cornice. The Journal's
specials indicate that the shock was general
throughout the state.
AT MEMnms.
Memphis dispatch : A violent shock of
earthquake was experienced here at 8:56
to-night. Its motion was from north to
south and it lasted fully ten seconds. It
liad a rapid , oscillating movement. Great
consternation was felt. Many who were
within their offices and residences fled into
the street. Numbers who had retired , feei
ng the sensation , rushed out of their clwell-
ngs , not waiting to dress themselves.
Guests at the Peabody hotel hurried down
stairs , thinking the building was falling. It
was the same all over the city and many
women went into hysterics. It was tho se
verest shock ever experienced in this sec-
non of the country.
TWO SHOCKS AT ZANESVILLE.
Zancsville dispatch : The two distinct
shocks of earthquake were felt here at
about 9:30 to-night. Chandeliers swung
jack and forward and dishes rattled , scar-
ng the people into almost a panic. A
neeting of the Patriotic Sons of America
vus unceremoniously adjourned , while peo-
> le in the hotels ran into the halls terror-
itricken. A telephone message from Lan
caster this evening says that the shock
threw down a chimney , but as yet no dam-
ige has been reported in this vicinity.
-I R.I I'll ) RISK.
Washington special : An unusual occur
rence in departments here is the extraor
dinary and rapid rise of a young colored
man who entered the secretary's office in
: he interior department as a messenger
some years ago , and yesterday reached a
; hird-class clerkship at § 1,200 per annum.
The young fellow , whose name is Wm. H.
Saincs , was formerly a waiter and porter
n the employ of James Wormley. Tho
atter took a great interest in Gaines and
; hrough his influence with public men suc-
: eeded in getting him a messengership in
he interior department. The young man
vas zealous and studious and applied him
self to learning the use of a type writer so
.horoughly that he was made copyist at
5900 a year. From this position he has
ust been promoted to a § 1,200 clerkship.
AJf IOWA VOLCAA1C ERUPTION.
Belle Plain special : Last week an arte
sian well was completed on the flat near
he depot. This morning , the well not be-
ng piped , commenced spouting great vol-
imes of sand , mud and rock with water ,
it this hour (9 ( a. m. ) the hole is nearly aa
arge round as a hogshead. The well is sit
uated in the middle of a street and the
lood of sand and mud has covered the
idewalk , and is rapidly filling the door-
vards and sweeping over the lawns and
lower beds. A crater has been formed
iround the place from which the water
lows several feet high. Great alarm pro-
rails among the residents , who fear that
he entire lower part of the city will bs un-
iermined. .
THE FINANCES OF UNCLE SAM.
Receipts and Expenditures of the United
States for the Month of August.
' WASHINGTON , D. C. , Sept I. Tiefollowlnj
Is the statement of the public debt on Scptera
berl :
Interest bearing bonds at
4 } per cent. . § 250.000,000.0 !
Bonds at 4 per cent 737,769,500.0 !
Bond's at 3 per cent 134,422,150.Q
Refunding certificates at 4 per
cent. ? . ' 1G9,950.0 (
Navy pension fund at 3 per cent 1J,000,000.0 (
Pacific railroad bonds at G per
cent ( MG23,513.C <
Principal $1,201,015,112.
Interest 10,801,645.7 !
Total $1,211,816,757.71
Debt on which Interest has
ceased since maturity prin
cipal 4,773,225.2 (
Interest 194,92-2.91
Total.- / 4,963,14S.2J
Debt bearing no interest ( old
demand ) and legal tender
notes. . . . 34G,733,391.0C
Certificates of deposit 11,193.000.0C
Gold certificates 77,69S,317.0C
Silver certificates S9,021,700.0C
Fractional currency , lessSS-
. 375,934 , estimated as lost
or destroyed 0,933,702.52
Principal S 531,607.200.52
Total debt principal 1,737,393,537.73
Interest 10,990,508.00
Total $1,748,392,100.47
Less cash Items available for
the reduction of the debt. ? 193GS7,9S4,70
Less reserve held fo.r redemp
tion of United States notes 100,000,000.00
Total 5 293,037,964.70
Total debt less available cash
items $1,434,704,141.77
Net chnsh in the treasury 76,527,561.24
Debt less cash in the treasury
September 1,1886 § 1,378,176,550.53
Debt less cash in the treasury
August 1.1SSO $1,380,087,279.55
Decrease of debt during the
month 5 1,910,609.02
Cash In the treasury available
for reduction of public
dept :
Gold held for gold certificates
actuallv outstanding 77,093,347.00
Silver held for stiver certifi
cates actually outstand
ing . . . . . 89,021,760.00
United States notes held for
certificates of deposit
actually outstanding 11,193,000.00
Cash held for matured debt
and Interest unpaid 5,769,993.95
Fractional currency 3,003.75
Total available for the reduc
tion of the debt 193,087,964.70
Reserve fund held for redemp
tion of United States
notes , acts of January 14 ,
1875 , and July 12 , 1882. . . 100,000,003.00
Unavailable for reduction of
the debt :
Fractional silver coin 27,956,091.95
Minor coin 322,601.85
Total S 28,279,653.80
Certificates held as cash $ 75,775,472.00
Net cash balance on hand 70,527.561.24
Total cash in the treasury as
_ shown by the treasurer's
general account § 474,270,031.74
IJcceipts and Expenditures.
WASHINGTON , D. C. , Sept. 1. The following
Is a comparative statement of the receipts and
expenditures of the United States for August :
RECEIPTS. .
Auir. 18SG. Aug. 1SS5.
Customs § 20,771,570.50 $17,289,418.52
Internal revenue. 9,697,934.83 9,071,083.39
Miscellaneous. . . . 1,725,820.96 1,703,753.84
Total $32,195,326.29 $23,004,200.95
EXPENDITURES.
Aug. 1880. Aug. 1883.
Ordinary § 19.534,586.11 ? 10,7S4.371.03
Pensions 7,775,033.37 10,077.955.05
Interest 1,599,217.55 2,030,198.71
Total § 23,908,807.03 § 22,942,525.44
ST. JACOB KNOCKS ST. PATRICK.
An English Decision in Favor of an Ameri
can Trade-MarJc.
London dispatch : In the Chancery Di
vision of the High Courb of Justice , Lon
don , Vice-Chancellor Bacon has given his
decision in favor of the Charles A. Vogeler
Company of Baltimore , Md. , in the action
brought by that house against II.Churchill
& Company of Brisbane , Queensland. The
case , which has been in progress here since
September , 1884 , grew out of an attempt
of Churchill & Company to register a trade
mark containing the words St. Patrick's
Oil in connection with a medicinal prepara
tion. This was promptly opposed by tho
Vogeler Company , who , while admitting
that the term and device which weresotight
to be registered by the Australian firm were
in no respect identical to the well-known
St. Jacobs Oil trade-marks , contended ,
however , that sufficient similarity existed
between the term St. Patrick's , applied by
Churchill & Company , and St. Jacobs , as
used by the Vogeler Company , to cause
confusion in the minds of the public and
lead to purchasers being deceived. In sup
port of this position they submitted an
overwhelming amount of evidence from
English , American and Australian sources
with the result stated. Under the decision
of the court Churchill & Company cannot
register their mark and must pay costs o !
tho case. This is the second trade-mark
suit won by the Vogeler Company in Eng
land within three months.
Trzrr IJIE SAZOOX MEX
Sioux City special : The Haddock coro
ner's jury resumed its work this afternoon ,
the witnesses examined being saloonists.
The investigation is now with reference to
a meeting qf leading saloon keepers , which
was held at John Holdenreid's saloon on
the afternoon of August 3 , the day that
the assault was planned against Messrs.
Wood and Walker , and the night of the
Haddock murder. That such meeting was
held and that the question of saloon litiga
tion was discussed , and that counsel for
the saloonists were present and were paid
quite a large sum in cash from the general
fund raised by assessment is not denied ,
but in the minds of a great many of our
best citizens there is a connection between
this meeting and the tragedy of the same
night. Later on the same day another
meeting was held and a second assessment
levied. The exact nature of these confer
ences , the decisions arrived at , etc. , are
what the jury want to learn. It is believed
that the fund raised was placed in the
hands of H. L. Leavitt , and from it the
fines of King and Walteringwereto bepaid.
The latest developments of the inquest
are to the effect that a prominent saloon-
ist hos given valuable information upon
which a number of arrests are sure to fol
low. There is beginning to be considerable
public talk against District Attorney
Marsh , who , it is claimed , if not trying to
prevent the arrest of the guilty parties in
the awful crime , ie doing little or nothing to
hasten their apprehension and arrest. The
reason given is political.
"Mamma , " said Bobby , "I hare eaten my
: akeallup , and Charles hasn't touched his
ret. Won't you make him share with me so
is to teach him to be generous ? " Judge.
TILE SITUATION IMPROVING.
1
Ihn .People of Charleston becoming Mart
Pacifiedand Enconnteicd.
Charleston dispatch : The last earthquake
shock was experienced hole at 11:15 Inal
night , since which time there has been nc
vibrations. The people are just beginning
to pick up courage to come out. Efforts
are being made to clear paths through tin
the streets for the passage of vehicles anci
pedestrians , and the city once more begins tc
show some signs of life. For two Ipng dayf
and nights of horror , men , women and chil
dren have been camping out in parks and
squares. The earthquake swept over the
city like a besom of destruction. It is im
possible to give any correct estimate of the
ioss of life and property. For two days
and nights tho people have dono nothinj
but huddle in the square. Small detached
relief parties are going out to dig out the
dead from the debris , or succor tho wound
ed. Thofirst systematic effort to get at the
facts is now being made. The list of dene ]
recognized and reported this morning footf
up to sixteen , and the search has only com
menced. The list of wounded will go intc
the hundreds. About seven-eighths of the
houses or public buildings are either dam
aged 'or wrecked. The waves from 9:55
Tuesday night have been coining every five
or six hours. There have been none/now
for about twelve hours , and strong hopes
are entertained that tho horror is about
over.
Specials to the News and Courier from
points in South Carolina , ranging from the
extreme northwest to the sea coast , report
several shocks of earthquake and more or
less damage to property , but without lose
of life so far is known. In Orangeburg the
people became so alarmed that many
moved to Columbia.
As the details of tho calamity in this
city are gathered its effects become more
and more alarming. It is feared also that
much distress will prevail , as by far the
larger part of those whoso property line
been wrecked or seriously damaged belong
to the poorer classes. Tho people are ae
cheerful as possible under the terrible cir-
I cumstances , and are trying to restore
order out of chaos. The aggregate loss ie
expected to reach § 3,000,000. The
wharves , warehouses and business facili
ties of the cit3' generaily are unaffected by
the catastrophe , and Charleston in aa
ready as ever for the transaction of busi
ness.
People are gradually taking account ol
the details of injuries worked by the earth
quake and the list of damage to property
is startling. A limited section south of the
city is a sample of the whole. Standing at
the postoflice and looking west , an almost
impassable roadway of debris meets the
eye. The building of the chamber of com
merce is badly damaged , a portion of the
south and west walls having been thrown
down by the violence of the shock , and tho
buildings of Walker , Evans &Bagswellhave
also suffered , while heavy granite slabs ,
which formed the parapet of the News
and Courier buildings lie upon the sidewalk
leaving the slate roof and a portion of tho
attic floor exposed. Most of the buildings
011 the street arc more or less damaged by
the violence of the earthquake. This is
most perceptible at the historic intersec
tion of Broad and Meeting streets. The
police station is almost a complete wreck.
The upper edge of the wall has been torn
down , and that of the north wall has fallen
on the roof of the porch , carrying it away
and leaving only the large fluted pillars
standing. The city hall apparently es
caped serious damage , but is badly cracked
on the east wall , and the courthouse build
ing is badly damaged , the walls being
cracked in several places and portions of
the roof and gables being thrown down.
The lire-proof building seems to stand as a
rock. The gables of the north and south
pore-lies , however , made of solid brown
stone , have been thrown to the pavement
below. This appears to be the only dam
age done to the building. The worst wreck
in the locality , however , is St. Michael's
church , which scenis to be doomed to de
struction.
The earth has struck her balance and is
now without a tremor. There is excite
ment in Charleston to-day. Tho people
are yet in a daze. They know that they
are alive and are too thankful for their
escape to consider at all their property
losses. In East Bay , Broael and Meeting
streets , where the damage was greatest , the
sides of the streets are piled with debris of
the wrecked houses , while the fronts are
out of fully twenty houses from the roof to
the ground iloor. The furniture and orna
ments remain just as they were before the
shock on Tuesday night. Half the brick
houses , which comprise over half the
houses in the city , have the topstorymore
or less demolished , but those houses that
escaped that are perhaps worse off , for it
is noticeable that nearly all that escaped
having the roof demolished are cracked a
little in their front and at the mindle win
dow of the middle story , which shows that
they are all shaken to their very founda
tions ami loosened in every joist and joint.
Certainly nob a third o ! those so shaken
can be repaired. They will have to be
pulled down and reconstructed from the
very cellars. The loss is variously esti
mated at from $10,000,000upwards , but
no living man can estimate it within
§ 5,000,000. The plan to help the city
that is talked about to-night is to get a
loan of § 10,000,000 from the federal treas
ury by an act of congress at a nominal in
terest on the houses reconstructed.
Owing to the unsafe condition of all the
houses the people walk in the middle ol
the streets. All the houses are deserted at
nightfall , even one-story frame houses. It
will be fully a week before the people re
cover their nerves and the quiet of mental
balance. In the meantimeall business and
labor is suspeneled , anel people spend their
time in knots in the middle of the streets.
There were 101 burial permits issued to
day.
day.But
But for all the real destruction , trie city
has not an air of gloom. The people are
the pluckiest ever seen ; they surely cannot
yet be awakened to the fact that this mag
nificent city is almost a total wreck. Every
park and square in the city to-night is filled
with men , women anel children , sleeping
under tcntsimprovised from counterpanes ,
quilts , sheets and canvas , stretched upon
poles erected at short notice. Everyone is
afraid to trust the houses lest another hor
ror should return and envelop them in a
mass of elebris and plaster and timber.
The whole city presents the appearance ol
a tented Held , upon which are resting hu
man beings anxious to know what the next
moment may bring forth. It is truly a cu
rious sight that cannot be portrayed in
words and yet so great is the elasticity ol
liuman nature that all , young and old ,
seem perfectly contented , not real
izing their losses and confidentthatinsome
way or another they will be provided for.
The first train from Savannah came into
the city this afternoon , three hours behind
the schedule time. All along the line from
Ravince station , twenty-five miles distant ,
jyidence of the terrible disaster is plainly
risible. The earth is cracked in numerous
places and there are fissures , while not wide ,
af unknown and unfathomable depth. A
bluish-grey , sandy mud of the consistency
af paste and evidently forced up from
lepths far below the surface is to be seen
3n all sides , while the color of the stagnant
water in pools indicates that it oozed up
from veins that would have never seen the
mrface except through Rome tremendous
: onvulsion of nature. The most singular
phenomena is presenteel on the railroad
Detween the city and Ravinel. This aftcr-
loon , only half an hour after the freight
: rain had passed , the road bed was intensei i
ly moved , causing the steel rails on the
track to bo twisted into the shape of the
letter "S , " delaying the passenger trail
fully an hour. No doubt this is caused i > y
another sudden tremor of the earth , adding
one more to tho numerous vibrations thai
have excited general faar and anxiety dur
ing the past four days.
MORDEROUS MIKE
A Convict in the Illinois 1'enltcntlarjt
Makes a Murderous Assault.
Joliet (111. ( ) dispatch : Mike Mooney , tho
prison Jumbo , created a whirl of excite
ment in ono of the prison wire mills thia
afternoon , by making a murderous assault
upon a foreman , named George Burroughs.
The desperado and murderer bus been
watched very closely bjr tho prison officials
since his return to prison on a life term for
murdering his cell mate , John Anderson.
But Mooney seemed to attenil closely to
his work until to-day , when he was repri-
mandcel by tho foreman for not keeping up
the fires in the annealing furnace. It was
Mooney's duty to stoko the furnaces with
a long iron poker anel keep the wire reel hot.
When spoken to by Burroughs the despe
rado quickly drew his poker from tho fur
nace anil attempted to drive the point of
the hot iron into the body of the foreman.
Burroughs saw his danger just in time to
ward off tho blow , anel springing to one
side he fled elown the shop for his life , with
"Giant" Mooney anel his toasting-fork in
close pursuit. Burroughs sprang through
the side eloor out of the devilish convict's
reach. Mooney attempted to follow bub
Officer Pettitho shop guard , mado a
grab for the stoking iron nnel suc
ceeded in wrenching it from the elesper-
ate man's hands. Mooney then turned
upon the guard anel struck him sev
eral blows on the head with his fist. Su
perintendent Paulson came up behind
Mooney and attempted to pinion his arms ,
but Mooney whirleel around and threw
Paulson half way across the shop. Bur
roughs then hit Mooney with his fist and
knocked him elown , but the elesperaelo was
up again in an instant , glaring about for
some weapon with which he might strike a
death blow.
By this time the convicts in the shop
were in a fever of excitement. Half a dozen
of them maelc a rush fe > r Meonoy. A burly
negro convict picked up a stick of wood ,
with which he elealt Mooney a fearful blow
on the head , bub it did not stagger him.
The two convicts then clinched anel fell , the
negro being on top , with his hand clenched
about Mooney's throat. It was all the
guard and foreman could do to keep back
the other convicts , who were dying te > get
at Mooney , anel if they hael been allowed
to reach him they woulel undoubtedly have
taken his life , as the convicts in the wire
mill most thoroughly detest Mooney for
tho brutal murder of his inoffensive cell
mate , Anderson.
The negro came pretty near ending
Mooiuy's career by choking him , but the
officers pulleel the negro off anel took
Mooney to the solitary , where he was
thriibt into a cell. Before reaching there
he was loud in his threats against the life
of Burroughs if he ever gets an opportunity
of killing him. It is to be regretteel that
Burroughs was not nrmeel with some
weapon , so thab he mighb have laid the
desperado out. It is thought Mooney is
just desperate enough now , since his return
to prison on a life term , to not care a snap
of his fingers for his own miserable exisb-
ence , and that , sooner or later , he will kill
some one else at the prison , or lose his life
in the attempt.
THE COUXTRTS cons uitur.
TJie Drought More Severely Felt in Some
States Tlian Others.
The Chicago Farmers' Review prints the
following cre > p summary in this week's edi
tion : It says detailed reports from tho
corn belt indicate an improvement in the
outlook for the crop in Ohio , Indiana and
Minnesota. In all of those states there is a
present promise of a full average crop.
This is in accordance with the tenor of the
reports for the lasb three weeks , but in
some instances , in tiie three states named
the outlook is declared to be _ unusually
promising. In Hamilton county , Nebraska ,
the outlook is favorable for a full yield.
while Buffalo , Harlan anel Webatar coun
ties indicate a fair yield. In Douatfas , Gage ,
Otoe and Richardson counties , Nebraska ,
the outlook is far less than the usual yield.
None of \V5sconsin counties , report
ing this week , give promise of an average
yield. In Ozaukee county the average falls
to 30 per cent. In Vernon and Xenoaha
counties the average is 85 per cent , while
Dunn , Lafayette anel Sank counties give
promise of less than half the usual yield.
In Illinois a general improvement of 5 to
10 per centis rated , but thegeneral average
for the state remains low. In Du Page ,
Greene , Henry , Madison , Siephenson and
Whiteside counties the average ranges from
40 to 50 per cent. In Bond , Cuss , Coles
Crawford , Christian , Fulton. Knnkakee ,
Lake. Macoupin , Pulaski , Shelby , Stark
and Wabash counties the average ranges
from GO to 90 per cent. In Washington
county the yield will be less than 20 per
cent of the average.
The general average is low for all Iowa
counties , running from10 to 90 percent.
In Ringgold anel Wayne counties the aver
age is 40 per cent. In Fnyette , Jasper.
Tama , Crawford , Mitchell anel Winneshiek
counties the average is 50 to 70 per cent.
[ n Cedar , Davis and Linn counties the av-
srage is SO to 90 per cent.
The average in Missouri ranges from 30
to 05 per cent. The average does not
promise one-half of an average yield.
In Dakota the yield of wheat is averag
ing from 12 to 18 bushels and the grain is
In Minnesota the yield of wheat ranges
From eight to twentyfour bushels , ruling
very irregular.
In many' counties in Iowa , Indiana , Illi
nois and Wisconsin the ground is reported
too dry to permit of fall plowing , and the
; ffects of the drought are also still seriously
'elt , owing to the drying up of the pasture.
Unless relief by rain comes shortly , stock
.vill . go into winter quarters in poor condi
tion.
tion.Hog
Hog cholera is reported in St. Francis
: ounty ; Missouri ; Ringgold county , Iowa ,
ind in Christian , Greene , Pulaski and Shel-
3y counties , Illinois. As a rule , however ,
logs are reported as unusually healthy.
8UPPUJZS FOR SAVAGES.
Washington special : Acting commis
sioner of Indian affairs , Gen. Upshaw , re-
; urned to-day from New York City , where
ie has been superintending the shipping ol
"ndian supplies to the west. He says that
; he work is in a forward state , and that
; here is a probability that all the supplies
vill reach the western agencies before the * .
sold weather sets in. Mr. Upshaw , reply-
ng to some adverse criticisms because ol
) f his absence from the Indian office while
Commissioner Atkins was away , said that
ie was necessarily absent for a "few days to
ittend to the shipment of the Indian sup-
> lies. During his absence the bureau was
mder the supervision of Secretary Lamar
md Assistant Secretary Muldrow , and no
ubordinate was designated to act as com-
nissioner. In fact , under the Law no such
lesignation could have been made.
VICTIMS OF A IIORROR.
CharlestonAgain Shaken and Its Clttsena
Fleelny for Thejr Lives.
Charleston special of tho Itrd : At ono
minute to 11 o'clock to-night another ter
rific earthquake shock passcel over tho city.
Consternation again prevails. People
camping in the public squares arc singing
anel praying.
Not many eyes closcel in restless sleep
eluring the darkness last night. Arrivals on
tho late trains retired to the hotels with
trembling , or sat upon chairs upon tho
sidewalks , ready to flee upon the slightest
noise. There has been a busy time to-elayy
the populace working to clear off tho ruins
anel to ascertain tho condition , anel with
the work somo confidence has returned. A
very few people slept indoors last night.
To-night half of them will bo in tho houses.
Those who found their homes staunch
enough to shelter them safely are indoors.
If there was cause for alarm through feat
yesterday , there was cause for elistress
to-elay. Investigation has revenlcel tho
fact that tho firsb reports of
the destruction were not exaggerated.
The buildings of Charleston , taken
as a mass , are wrecked. Only a few of tho
new and modern brick , anel tho most sub
stantial wooden ones , are left for habita
tion.
Great cracks ma'rk the walls. Scarcely a
sound piece of plate-glass can be found in
the city. Many of them have holes in tho
centre , as if penetrateel by a musket ball.
In some portions of the city , particularly
about the battery , where tho most damage
was Biistainuel , scarcely a chimney can bo
found. On the handsome residence streets
nearly all of the brick houses arc covered
with stucco and are markeel to resemble
stone. The wrenching process of the earth-
eiuakc peeled off the stucco and heaped it
upon the sidewalks , spread ib over tho
shade trees and carried it through tho nirin
every part of the city. In some instances
whole roofs were dumped into the streets.
In parts of the city all the railways at this
time are blockaelcd By rooffc. One of tho
inostconviiicinu proofs of the supernatural
power of the shock can be ween at the mar
ble works. Firm granite monuments and
marble , too , some of them two feet thick
and not a elozen feeb hiali , wero broken in
twain anel are in atoms on tho grounel.
The older brick buildings were constructed
of a very inferior material. It seems that
the bricks were so rough and small as to
make the stucco surface highly elesirable ,
nnel instead of locking or lapping them as
is done , especially in the north , they were
Iniel in even rows , furnishing ; no interlock
ing or bracing power. Quite a largo num
ber of the business houses stand in canopy
shape to-night. The enel walls have fallen ,
leaving the roofs suspendeel over the side
walls. These of course will have to be con-
elemneel by a commission of the city coun
cil anel orelereel taken elown.
For a while to-day it was believed that a
reejuest woulel have to be muilu to tho gov
ernor to convene the legislature in special
session for the purpose of giving the city
council sufiicicnt authority to condemn
dangerous buildings , but later it was deter
mined that sullicientauthority was.'ilre.iely
containeel in the statutes. Pressure willba
brought to bear on the officers to condemn
the buildings , to spare as many as can ba
saved by re ; airs. Merchants inform tho
correspondent that but few of the buildings
conelemneel will be replaceel by new onus.
There will be many repairs , however. It is
proposed to link the walls together with
bolts , and , as many of the buildings have
but two stories , and very few with more
than three , the fractured walls can be mado
to stand , provided this is the last of the
earthquake.
Distressing scenes have been witnesseel all
along the railroads leaeling into Charleston
eluring the last twenty-four hours. Many
of the best-to-do citizens were in the north
at the time of the shocks , spending tho
heated term. Being unable to receive any
definite information in regard as to the ex
tent of the loss of either life or property ,
they starteel on their return. At every
stop of the train they rushed pell-mell into
the telegraph offices , called for or sent mes
sages , and gave the people along the way a
tiii e of the excitement. They coulel learn
nothing. Telegrams were blanketed up in
the oflires here and were not delivered anel
in many instances the messages were not
sent. As the returning citizens neared
Charleston they learned less anel less of tho
true condition of affairs and their suspense
became agonizing. They coulel not bleep
anel paced the floors of the coaches , wring
ing their hands and evincing painful alarm.
Even the outgoing passengers who were
hailed by those incoming could give no ac
curate or useful information. Only tho
most courageous of the citizens returned to
the city. Many stopped ab suburban
places anel unsatisfactory communication
by telephone or telegraph. Up to to-day
it was with difficulty that the railroaels
could run trains into the city , owing to tho
fact that employes , and especially the col
ored ones , feared to enter the city.
THE LATEST SHOCK.
Washington special : At 11:03 o'clock a
heavy shock of earthquake was reporteel
simultaneously from Columbia , S. C. ,
Charleston , S. C. , Augusta , Ga. , anel Char
lotte , N. C. Charleston reports it theheav-
iest experience since Tuesday night. Occu
pants of builelinus are again pouring into
thy streets of Charleston , the printers leav
ing newspaper offices and the Southern
Telegraph company's operators leaving
work , fearum that the building they are in ,
which is baelly shattered , may fall on them.
Telegraphic communication with Charles
ton is again cut off.
How Miss CooJc Practically Directs the In
dian Office.
Washington special : A tempest in a tea
pot has been got up over an innocent little
newspaper paragraph in the recent trip of
the assistant Indian commissioner , Gen-
2ral Upshaw , to New York , and the fact
that during his absence Miss Minnie Cook ,
the commissioner's stenographer , was act-
ng Indian commissioner. The New York
World , which has a spite against Upshaw ,
{ rowing out of the Pan-Electric investiga-
:5on : , contained a sarcastic reflection upon
lim for neglect and carelessness in leaving
such an important bureau as the Indian
jffice to the charge of a woman clerk.
\side from the ridiculousness of the World
n persecuting Upshaw , and Upshaw him-
lelf in replying to such an absurd act , the
tinny thing is that this Miss Cook
s tho best informed person about
; he whole Indian office. She has been
n office thirteeenyears ; is a woman of re-
narkable balance of mind and particularly
loticeable executive ability. She is a pood
ihortlmnd writer , a good correspondent
md has all thh details and the most min-
ite information pertaining to Indian mat
ers at her instant command. I have been
old by Indian agents , Indian inspectors
md by a great number of Indian mission-
iries of one denomination and another
.hat but for Miss Cook tho constant change
> f commissioners , the inroads of the In-
lian Ring and the vaccilating policv of the
"
; overnment toward the Indians"would
ong ago have demoralizeel the whole office.
Che lady sits quietly at her desk and has
or years practically been Indian commis-
ioner. directing and ad vising upon all mat
ers of the office with wonderful discretion
.nd success. Miss Csok's example is an ex-
ellent argument for woman's rights in the
susiness world.