NEWtocK
> tocK Journal.
YQLIDIE XIII. VALENTINE , NEBRASKA , NOVEMBER 10. NUMBER 4'2 ,
LATEST NEWS FROM EVERY
LAND.
MRE DI THE CAPITOL
IRREPARABLE DAMAGE DONETO
OLD DOCUMENTS
Explosion and a Resultant Fire
Wreck the Supreme Court Quar
ters and Rooms Adjoining on the
Main Ploor Other Items.
Old Records Lost.
An explosion and fire at 5:15 o'clock )
Sunday afternoon wrecked the supreme' '
court room and the rooms immediately ad
joining it on the main floor of the capitol
in Washington. The damage is enormous.
The entire central eastern part of the
T great marble pile , from the main floor to
the subterranean basement , practically is
a mass of ruins. Fire followed the ex
plosion so quickly as to seem simultaneous
with it. The explosion occurred in a
small room tightly enclosed by heavy stone
walls in the .subterranean basement im
mediately below the main entrance to the
old capitol building. In this room was a
500-light gas meter , which was fed by a
4-inch main. Very little gas is
used in that part of the
building , but at the lime of the explosion
the gas had not been turned off at the
meter. The meter itself was wrecked ,
and the gas pouring from the main caught
fire. Before the flames could be subdued
the priceless documents in the record room
of the supreme court had been almost de
stroyed , and serious damage had been
done in the marshal's office and some
minor rooms in the immediate vicinity.
The library of the supreme court ,
located immediately below the supreme
court room , was badly damaged by fire ,
smoke and water , practically destroying
ttje great collection of law reference books.
The library contains about 20,000 volumes ,
and was used not only by the justices ol
the supreme court , but by members of con
gress and lawyers practicing before the
supreme court.
Justice Jlarlan said that the library was
very valuable. Many of the works it
contained would , he thought , be difficult
to replace. Librarian Clarke , after a cur
sory examination , necessarily-made bj- the
light of lanterns , expressed the opinion
that many of the books could be saved ,
although they had been badly drenched
by , vater. The most serious damage , in
the opinion of the justices of the supreme
court , is to the records stored in the sub-
basement. These include all of the rec
ords of the supreme court from 1792 to
1832.
MARIA TERESA LOST.
Resurrected Flagship Goes Down to
Rise No More.
The ocean tug Merritt arrived at
Charleston , N. C. , Sunday morning for
supplies and reported the loss of the
cruiser Maria Teresa off Salvador , Baha
mas , November 1 , in a storm. The Maria
Teresa was sunk by American warships
near Santiago July 3 with the rest of Cer-
vera's fleet , and was raised by Lieut. Hobson -
son and starctd for Norfolk , Va. , to be
repaired. She left Calmanera , Cuba ,
October 3. She had already passed Cape
Mays ! and started northeast around
the Bahamas. A furious storm ,
warning of which had been sent out
overtook her and she was unable to
weather it. The strain opened the rents
in the hull which had been patched to en
able her to make the journey , and she be
gan to fill rapidly. The Merritt took off
apt. Harris and the crew , and she went
down. The Merritt brought in the captain
and 136 men. No lives were lost.
FOURTEEN WORKMEN KILLED
Half Finished Wonderland Theater
Collapses in Detroit.
The new five-story Wonderland Theater
building in Detroit , Mich. , is in a hope
less looking state of collapse , and fourteen
lives have been sacrificed by an appalling
accident \vhich occurred theiein. Satur
day afternoon shortly before 2 o'clock ,
while some thirty-five men were at work
in various parts of the half-finished
theater , portions of the roof fell in with
out warning. Nearly every workman
was ca.Jed down into the theater pit ;
the top gallery was crushed down on the
lower gallery , forming a sort of fatal hill
side down vkliich slid broken steel girders ,
planks , timbers , brick and a great quan
tity of cement from the roof , and carrying
along a struggling company of men into
the pit below , very few of whom escaped
injury.
Negro Ijyiiched in Florida.
Arthur Williams , a negro under arrest
lor the murder of Miss Elina Ogden , at
Wcllborne , Fla. , on Friday , made a con-
lession Saturday night , implicating two
other negroes , Buck James and Monroe
Leggitt. At 11 o'clock Sunday night the
-constable and his guards were overpowered
by a crowd and Williams was taken from
their custody , riddled with bullets and n
lire built upon his body.
New Japanese Cabinet.
Field Marshal Marquis Yaraagata has
formed a ministry tosucceedthe cabinet of
Count Olcnmu Stagawi the first party
cabinet in the history of Japan which
took office on June 28 last and resigned on
October 81 , owing to the differences upon
the question of filling the portfolio of pub-
lie instruction.
FRIDAY'S JOINT SESSION.
tJnlted States' Proposition Rejected
by the Spaniards.
The joint sessions of the peace commis
sions in Paris Friday lasted two hours ,
The Spaniards refused to meet the propo
sitions made by the Americans Monday
last , but the negotiations were not broken
off. While it is believed no formal counter
proposition was made , there was discus
sion of the Philippine question outside the
lines of the American propositions. The
commissions then adjourned till Novem
ber 7. There is no truth in the statements
made that an ultimatum is contemplated
by the United States and there is no prob
ability of drastic measures being taken by
the Americans. The Americans expect to
patiently weigh all the points involved
and carefully consider the arguments of
the Spaniards.
The administration in Washington is
awaiting results from the peace commis
sion with equanimity in the realization
that the government is perfectly well pre
pared for any turn negotiations may take.
The navy especially is in a state of pre
paredness should it come to a resumption
of hostilities far in advance of its condi
tion at the outbreak of the war. As far
as the army is concerned , while the orig-
.inal force of nearly 250,000 has been
( largely diminished by the mustering out
of the many regiments and organizations ,
lit is the opinion of expert military officers
that the army as a whole is really a more
formidable weapon now than at any
period during the war. In fact , all
branches of the military and naval ser
vice have profited by the experience ol
the war , and are now , as previously
stated , in better shape than ever before *
WILL MARRY AGAIN.
Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria
to Take Another \Vife.
Direct from Austrian court circles corned
the sensational announcement that tha
Austrian emperor , Francis Joseph , con-
'templalcs a second marriage as soon as
the time of official court mourning has ex
pired. The archduchess , Maria Therese ,
Slaughter of Don Miguel , is said
to find most favor in his
majesty's eyes and stands the
best chance of mounting the Austrian
throne. The prospective hasty marriage
is the result of a desire for a direct heir to
the Austrian throne and all friends of the
(
emperor are urging him to take the con
templated step. In fact , the future union
and peace of the country depends upon
the successor of Francis Joseph , who him
self has had all he could do to handle the
rebellious provinces. The lutnre empresy
is attractive and exceedingly ambitious.
SOUDAN HERO HONORED.
Gen. Kitchener Receives a Great
Ovation in London.
The streets of London were crowded
Friday morning by an immense number
of people seeking to witness Gen. Kitch
ener's triumphal progress to Guild Hall ,
to receive the freedom of the city and the
sword of honor presented him in recogni
tion of his defeat of the dervishes at Om-
durman. The general received a great
ovation as he drove through the streets ,
WAR CLOUDS FLOAT AWAY.
Semi-OfflcSal Note Says France Will
Yield to Britain.
A semi-official note issued Friday even
ing in Paris says the French government
has resolved not to retain the Mnrchand
mission at Fashotla , adding that "tho de
cision was arrived at after an exhaustive
examination of the question. "
Attempts to Shoot His Wile.
J. K. Hardy of Kansas City and St.
Louis attempted to shoot his wife at
Wichita , Kan. , but was prevented by a
waiter and Detective Sutton. He is in
jail , held on the charge of assault with
intent to kill. The wife lives at Arkansas
City , and the husband's grievance is that
she refuses to live with him.
Cuba to Have Thanksgiving Day.
General Wood at Santiago is preparing
a Thanksgiving proclamation , being of the
opinion that the Cubans ought to give
thinks for the blessings they have re
ceived. The Americans want to keep the
day in old-fashioned style and are writing
to their friends in the north to send on
turkeys.
Liquidating Standard Oil Trust.
The liquidation trustees of the Standard
Oil trust have recently divided from the
income of the corporate stocks still remain
ing in their hands , a sum equal to $3 per
share , and a further sum equal to $4 per
share , both payable December 16,1898.
Chicago Banks Consolidate.
The Bank of Commerce of Chicago , a
fixate bank with $500,000 capital and $1.-
000,000 deposits , has voted to go into
voluntary liquidation. Its deposits and |
equal amounts of bills receivable will bq
taken over by the Union National.
Buffalo Sails for Philippines.
The navy department received wcrd
Friday from New York that the cruiser
Buffalo sailed at noon for the Philippines ,
via the Suez canal. The gunboat Helena
sailed for the same destination the day
before.
Wagon Factory Burned.
The Thomson Wagon factory at St.
Louis park , a suburb of Minneapolis , has
burned to the ground with seven loaded
freight cars. The factory had just beeij
leased by Lindsay Bros. Loss , $60,000.
Two Killed and n. Dozen Hurt.
By an explosion in the Oil City , Pa. ,
boiler works , Charles McClosley and John
Frawley were killed , B. J. Gidders and
Dennis McMahon fatally hurt and a dozen1 i
others slightly injured. 1
FLOWERS FOR MAINE VICTIMS
Graceful Act ol' Cubans in Prepar
ing Floral Cross. '
General Wade and General Butler of the
United States evacuation commission
went to the Colon Cemetery in Havana
Thursday morning to lay flowers on the
graves of the victims of the Maine disaster.
In the course of the afternoon a number of
pther officers visited the cemetery. Just
after Gens. Wade and Butler had left the
Hotel Trocha for the cemetery , carrying
the floral crown made by the committee of
young Cuban girls who had asked the
privilege of paying this tribute to the
dead a carriage was driven up to the hotel
with representatives of the Cuban Club ,
who brought an immense floral cross to
lay upon the grave. On learning that
Generals Wade and Butler had already
gone to the cemetery the Cubans followed
and overtook them in time to place boll ;
offerings together.
PANAMA IS SAFE.
iPransport Steamer Reported Lost
Stops at Havana.
The transport Panama , from Santiago ,
fears for whose safety have been enter
tained , arrived at Havana Thursday morn
ing. The Panama landed seven American
passengers , including some military offi
cers.
cers.The
The party landed includes Congressman
John F. Dalzell , J. F. Slagle , E. M. Gross ,
j J. II. Savage , jr. , C. S. Burgesman , ex-
j Congressman George F. Huff and W. L.
Howes. They have just visited Ponce ,
San Juan de Porto Rico and Santiago de
Cuba. The Panama acted upon the orders
of Gen. Wood in landing the American
officers at Havana. They expected to take
the next Tampa boat on their way to
Washington. The Panama did not en i
counter any bad weather.
KRUPP PLATE RECEIVES A TEST
Withstands Perfectly the Impact of
a 353-Pound Projectile.
Armor plate manufactured by the Krupp
process was given its first test Thursday
by the Bethlehem Iron Company at its
proving grounds near Bethlehem , Pa.
Many notable engineers witnessed it , be
sides the Russian ordnance engineer , who
came from Philadelphia. It was the first
test of Krupp armor of American make
and was a great success. Three ghots
were fired from an 8-inch gun , the pro
jectiles weighing 253 pounds and the
velocity ranging from sixteen to eighteen
hundred feet per second. The plate was
not cracked. The Bethlehem Company ;
has received a big order for this make of
plate from Russia.
Passenger Steamer Destroyed.
The passenger steamer Pacific , owned
6y the Great Northern Transit Company ,
burned at the Grand Trunk wharves in
Colliawood , Out. The railway freight
3heds , filled with Canadian and American1
goods , were also destroyed. The Pacific
was valued at $65,000 and was insured for
$25,000. The loss from the burning of the
freight sheds will be very heavy.
Last of Williams Gang Arrested.
Paul Andrews , who killed Bill Nave
over a jrear ago , has been captured after a
hard fight with marshals near Yinita , I. TJ
Andrews was injured seriously while re- |
sisting. He was once leader of the Will
iams gang of outlaws , all of whom have
been killed in resisting arrest.
Trust Raises Price of Envelopes
Evidence that the long threatened trust
among the manufacturers of envelopes
has become a fact has reached the paper
stationery trade in the shape of circulars
quoting an advance averaging 25 per cent ,
in all grades of envelopes.
Large Manufactory Burned.
The works of the National Starch Com
pany at Glencove , L. I. , were visited by 9
disastrous fire last Friday.
QUOTATIONS
Chicago Cattle , common to
§ 3.00 to $6.00 ; hogs , shipping grades.
? 3.00 to $4.00 ; sheep , fair to choice , $2.50
to $4.75 ; wheat , No. 2 red , GGc to G7c ;
corn. No. 2 , 32c to 33c ; oats , No. 2 , 23c
to 25c ; rye , No. 2. olc to 52c ; butter ,
choice creamery , 21c to 23c ; eggs , fresh ,
17c to 18c ; potatoes , choice , 30c to 40c
per bushel.
Indianapolis Cattle , shipping , $3.00 to
$5.50 ; hogs , choice light , $3.00 to $4.00 ;
sheep , common to choice , $3.00 to $4.50 ;
wheat , No. 2 red , G7c to 69c ; corn , No.
2 white , 32c to 33c ; oats , No. 2 white , 2Gc
to 28c.
St. Louis Cattle , $3.00 to $5.75 ; hogs ,
$3.50 to $4.00 ; sheep , $3.50 to $5.00 ;
wheat , No. 2 , f9c to 70c ; corn , No. 2
yellow. Sic to 33c ; oats , No. 2 , 25c to 27c ;
rye , No. 2 , 51c to 5iic.
Cincinnati Cattle , $2.50 to $5.25 ; hogs ,
$3.00 to $4.00 ; sheep , S2.50 to $4.25 ;
wheat. No. 2 , G7c to t > ic ; corn , No. 2
mixed , 34c to 3Gc ; oats , No. 2 mixed ,
25c to 27c ; rye , No. 2 , 54c to 5'oc.
Detroit Cattle , $2.50 to $5.50 ; hogs ,
$3.25 to $3.75 ; sheep , $2.50 to $4.50 :
wheat , No. 2. 71c to 73c ; corn. No. 2
yellow , 35c to 3Gc ; oats , No. 2 white , 27c
to 2Sc ; rye , 52c to 54c.
Toledo Wheat , No. 2 mixed , 70c to
72c ; corn. No. 2 mixed , 32c to 34c ; oats ,
No. 2 white , 23c to 25c ; rye , No. 2. 52c
to 54c ; clover seed , old , $4.75 to $4.85. i
Milwaukee Wheat , No. 2 spring , 66c
to G7c ; corn. No. 3. 32c to 34c ; oats. No.
2 white. 25c to 2Sc ; rye , No. 1 , 51c to 53c ;
barley. No. 2 , 40c to 49c : pork , mess , '
$7.50 to $8.00.
Buffalo Cattle , good shipping steers ,
$3.00 to $5.75 ; hogs , common to choice ,
$3.50 to $4.00 ; sheep , fair to choice weth
ers. $3.50 to $5.00 ; lambs , common to
extra. $5.00 to $5.75.
New York Cattle , $3.00 to ? 5.75 ; hogs ,
$3.00 to $4.25 ; sheep. $3.00 to $5.00 ;
wheat. No. 2 red , 7Gc to 77c ; corn , No ,
2 , 39c to 41c ; oats. No. 2 , 29c to 30cj
butter , creamery , 15c to 24c ; eggs , West
cm , 20c to 22c. -
STATE OF NEBRASKA
NEWS OF THE WEEK IN A CON
DENSED FORM.
T\vo Sauuclers County Farmers En
gage in a Quarrel in which a Gun
Js Used "Warrant Out Charging
One With Intent to Murder.
Two Farmers Quarrel.
James Delaney and PatDonelly , both
of Saunders County , had a fight at the
Cullins farm , near Cedar Bluffs , which
came near terminating fatally. Donclly
says they got into a quarrel over some
small matter and Delaney pulled a gun
and fired directly at him , but doing no
damage. A struggle then ensued. The
affair took place in a room at the farm
house and the people present loft for safer
quarters - soon as the fust shot
was fired , leaving the two men
to fight it out. Donclly , who is a large ,
powerful fellow , finally wrenched the gun
from Delany's hands and threw him. Ue
then took from him a large , ugly looking
knife ami , leaving him in charge of par
ties at the house , went to Cedar Bluffs and
swore out a warrant for Delaney's arrest
on the charge of assault with intent to
murder. The two men were under the
inllnence of liquor and had previously
had some liitle difficulty.
THOSE CHRISTMAS BOXES.
Soldiers in Kar O.T Manila Koiutd
to lie Ileiiieinl ) < * r < Ml.
There is an apparent conflict uf author
ity between the state administration and !
the ( i. A. R. over the question of \\liicli j
shall .send the Christina- x > s to tin * Ne
braska soldiers. So far a > can be learned
flu ; movement was stalled by Cone-nil
Gage and other Grand Annv men ; ind
a few days lat-r' was laken up by the j i
state officials. General G.U' ' obtained a
promise from th1 government that tlie
boxes would be shipped from San 1'ian-
cisco by the \\ar depuitmeif. : ( Soneral
Harry soon alter received a similar assur
ance. Cage then made arrangements
whereby the boxes were to Iv shipped
free from Lincoln , and directed that all
boxes should be sent to him at Lincoln for
shipment. A few days later Harry issued
notice that the state would stand the ex
pense of the shipment of the boxes from
Lincoln to San Francisco , "the govern
ment having refused to do so. " He has
issued an order that all boxes .should be
shipped to him. It is a most peculiar sit
uation , but it seems that in any event the
boys are to get the boxes.
RAILROAD IS BEATEN.
st-v Nebraska Supreme Court Decision
in a Tax Case.
The right of a city or town to assess an
occupation tax on a railroad corporation
has been sustained by the supreme court ,
which holds that such a levy is no ! in violation
lation of the interstate commerce law nor
void because it taxes a business transacted
wholly within the city. It was a suit of
the city of York against the Chicago , Bur
lington & Quincy Railroad. The road
fought the ordinance and was sustained
by the lower court. The supreme court
reverses and remands. The ordinance ex
pressly exempts interstate business from
taxation.
May Secure Exposition Organ.
A project is under way at Lincoln to
purchase the great concert organ , built
for the exposition , for use in the chapel of
the University of Nebraska. It is not
thought advisable to ask the state for an
appropriation at this time and an effort
will be made to buy the instrument with
money contributed by alumni and former
students. A committee of six alumni
has been appointed and will undertake
the task of raising the amount. It is in
tended to christen the new acquisition the
"Alumni Organ" in case its purchase can
be brought about.
Supreme Court Decisions.
The supreme court in session at Lincoln
handed down a number of decisions ,
among them being affirmations in the
cases of Stevens , the Sheridan County
cattle stealer , and Chezem of Adams
County , who was sentenced by the dis
trict court for larceny. A case brought up
from York County is decided , giving cities
of the second class the right to levy an
occupation tax against railroad companies
where the lines of the company enter the
jcity limits.
Postmaster Gets in Trouble.
'Z. E. Minnick , postmaster at Millikin ,
Frontier County , was arrested by Deputy
United States Marshal Keim on a charge
of embezzlement of funds of the govern
ment to the amount of $449. On being ar-
ra gned before United States Commis
sioner J. E. Cobbey at Beatrice he waived
examination and was bound over to the
federal court. As he was unable to secure
bondsmen he was taken to Omaha.
Many Nebraska Men Sick.
Colonel .John P. Bratt of the Frst Ne
braska regiment , who has been honorably
discharged on account of Illness , says that
] 5 per c nt. of the Nebraska troops in
Manila are. sick. Many of them are ill
with dysentery because of their indiscre
tion in drinking the vileso'la pop and eating -
ing half rotten bananas that the natives
cll on the streets.
Oniiha Attorney Suicides.
Charles Ofl'iitt well known Omaha
* , a at
torney , while Buffering from the effects of
a long illness , shot himself through the
head a ! his home in that city. Mr. Offult
had buffered from nervous prostration for
more than a year and had been so ill at
JfSes that his life was despaired of.
Prominent Omaha Man Dead.
Champion Spalding Chase , who was
recently appointed surveyor of customs for
the port of Omaha , died recently from the
effects of a fall received two weeks ago on
the customs house steps , lie was a cousin
of Salmon P. Chase.
Supreme Court Adjourns.
The supreme court adjourned at Lin
coln without having taken action on the
Hartley bond case or the motion in the
Broatch-Moores case.
DESERTED BY HIS BRIDE.
Lacy Trusts a Matrimonial Bureau
and Liives to Repent.
Through the agency of a matrimonial
bureau Patrick Locy of Harrison , aged 43
years , and Mrs. Maggie Schooley , aged 63 ,
of Marion , Ohio , were united in marriage
a few days since. After having enjoyed
the companionship of her newly found
husband two nights and one day MrSt
Lacey tired of the matrimonial venture
and Lacey has now lost his bride , who
left , together with her little daughter , for
her Ohio home. Gross misrepresentations
on the part of both parties in the case re-
| suited in the marriage being a decidedly
unhappy union , and Lacy does not regret
his wife's early departure. It is stated
that Lacy represented to Mrs. Schooley
that he was a wealthy cattle ranchman ,
owning a large ranch in Sioux City , but
when she arrived on the scene she discov
ered her intended to be a day laborer with
small means. Lacy , in turn , discovered
that the woman , who had claimed to have
several thousand dollars in her own right ,
had barely enough money in her possess
ion to purchase a ticket home , so the match
was broken with but little sorrow on the
part o ( the two interested parties.
SLEEP THE SLEEP OF BRAVE
Three Nebraska Boyn Succumb to
Disease in Philippines.
The follo\vinir cable was received at the
war department from Gen. Otis at Manila ,
announcing the following deaths since
las ! report :
K.irlV. . ( Morhout of Inn id City , pri
vate. Company K , typhoid fever , Octo
ber 21.
Alfred .1. Eisiima of Rcnm-i : , private ,
Company I , typhoid fever , October 22.
Arthur ( ' . Mmm.of Madison , private ,
Company K , acute dhivlum ; : , October .
Cause oflheVrock. .
The east-bound tiain vt iiicii v. as wrecked
at Fremont a f.-\v days ago was in three
sections. The special iiad or " .er. : to meet
the first .section a ; Valley and the > eeond
. section at Frciiion ! . Tin : west-bound train
met second MJCIion .f No. 110 at Fremont ,
but evidently did not noiicethal it carried
.signals for another section , and the en
gineer on the second section of No. 2) . it
is stated , did not give the whistle .signal
calling the attention of ! he westbound
train that another .section was following.
This would place the bHme on the en
gineer and conductor of the .secondsection
of No. 20 and the engineer of the west
bound train.
Swindled by a Cattle Thief.
E. Sholtz , who lives nine miles souln-
west of Broken Bow. bought on October
24 sixty-live head of cattle of a stranger
who said he was driving them through
the country and gave his name as Wilkin
son. Last week he was compelled to turn
the cattle over to Mr. Plumer without ex
pense , from whose range , on the Dismal ,
the cattle were stolen on the 22nd ult.
Mr. Sholtz is out $1,500 which ho paid on
the cattle. lie admits that he was
swindled , but hopes to catch the thief.
There were two men with tle cattle , but
one had nothing to say and did not even
give his name. _
Murder in Omaha.
A drunken row in an Omaha saloon
culminated in a stabbing affray in which
J. K. Jones , the bartender , received a
wound from the effects of which he died
in less than five minutes. Two men were
locked up in the city jail , as they were
known to have been implicated in the
affair. The names of the men arrested
are S. J. Maher and AVilliam F. Grady ,
both being employed as machinists in the
Union Pacific shops. Later the third man ,
George M. Challman , also a machinist , and
who is supposed to have done the cutting ,
was apprehended by the police.
Two Suspicions Deaths.
People in and near Utica are excited
over two deaths which recently occurred
in that vicinity. Mrs. Gearhart Meinners ,
wife of a farmer living nine miles south
west of Utica , died on October 26 , under
somewhat suspicious circumstances. On
October 28 Fritz Dobler , a man who had
been working for the Meinuers , went to
LTtica , where he was taken ill quite sud
denly. The coroner is investigating.
New Bank for N
The officials of the FirstNationaI , Banlc
of O'Neill have arranged to open a bank
in Neligh. It is hoped that the stockhold
ers of the Neligh Bank will make the con
templated arrangement for the payment
of depositors and either resume business
or liquidate its indebtedness without se
vere financial loss. No statement of the
condition of the closed bank has yet been
made uublic.
Implement Wa'rehouse Burned.
Fire in the implement building of J. C.
Chalonpka at Tobias caused the complete
destruction of that structure and its con
tents. Loss is as follows : J. C. Chaloupka ,
implements j , $2,200 , insurance. $1,500 in
Crete Mutual ; B. D. Howard , wagon
shop , $150 , no insurance ; .7. M. Mecha ,
blacksmith. $200 , no insurance ; Charles
Buchtell , owner of building , $1,600 , insur
ance for $830 in Queen. Cause of lire un
known.
Tragedy at Omaha.
.lust before midnight on October 29 John
Belick , a bricklayer , shot and killed Al
Seargent. Sergeant had gone to Belik's
house for the purpose of eloping with Mrs.
Belick , and had the woman's trunk in a
wagon when the husband surprised him.
Belick fired four shots , each taking effect.
Belick and his wife are in jail.
Small Epidemic of Diphtheria.
1 here have been two deaths from diph
theria inthe vicinity -Sterling and it
ha ? spread 10 live families. Yerj' strict
measures are being taken to arrest its
spreading further , guards being stationed
at the residences of those haviji the dis
ease. The schools are closed and services
discontinued at the churches.
Wild West's Suit.
A $15,000 damage suit has been begun
in Omaha by the Wild West show against
the exposition for having allowed William
F. Cody , Buffalo Bill , to bring his wild
west show there and because of the Indian
congress. Mattox & Root , the proprietors
claim that it was contrary to the terms ol
their concession.
Although Admiral Sampson's report ,
Bent through the press dispatches' , does
not contain a word of censure , criticism or
complaint concerning the conduct of Ad
miral Schley , but simply gives tlio corre
spondence and orders in their sequence
and allows the department and the public
to judge it for themselves , it places the
commander of the dying squadron in an
embarrassing position , and explains why
the Secretary of the Navy asked Congress
not to pass resolutions conveying a vote
of thanks to Admiral Sehley. It also con
firms the story telegraphed from St. Louis
that Schley's lleet remained before the-
harbor of Cicnfnegos for five days after he
was informed that Cervera was in the har
bor at Santiago , and that he started for
Key "West for coal , leaving Cerveru free
to go where he pleased until recalled by
sharp orders from the Secretary of the
Navy , who then placed Captain Sampson
over his head.
Every year rhc heads of the great de
partments in Washington are having in
creased trouble witUMini'i-anminted clerks.
Many of these clerks- have been in public
service from twenty-five to thirty-five
years , and there are not a few on the rolls
who have been working uninterruptedly
for the ( lovernnu'iit for forty-live or fifty
years. Many of these old clerks have been ,
lioldinir-salaried positions for n great many
years , but the great majority are middle-
class , where the salaries range from $1.-
000 to $1,400. With advancing years they
lose in efficiency and Uieir retention on thu
pay roils iu important positions is an in
justice t6 younger and better clerks , who
are doing a greater amount of work for
less money. Ik-ads of departments can
not nerve themselves to discharge these
( veteran clerks , and so they dnig on year
after year , incuinhering the service.
Officials or the quartermaster general's
office of the War Department say that
[ those Avho desire to avail themselves oC
, the Government's order to transport
'Christmas ' packages to the American sol
diers at Honolulu arid Manila should ad
dress the quartermaster general , Wash
ington , D. C. , for instructions. The de
partment desires to regulate and control
the number , size and contents of the pack
ages so fur as > possible , and will not under
take to pay oceaa freight upon everything
that may he sent.
Exportation uf wire nails frciti the L'uit-
ed States has increased fifteen fold during
the lai-'t ten years , going from 1,547,000
pounds in 1888 to 22,894,000 pounds dur
ing the fiscal year 1898. This product of
American workmen goes to every grand
division of the globe and practically every
country. Ten years ago the price per
pound was 10 cents. To-day it is 2 cents.
Thus , the 1,547,000 pounds exported iu
1888 brought $155,000 , while the 22,894-
000 pounds exported during the last fiscal
year yielded only $458,000.
- : : *
Speaker R"fd is dead set against keep
ing Congress in session any longer than
is absolutely necessary. His influence
may , therefore , be counted upon to be
thrown against a special session. He can
practically control the committees in a
short session and keep matters back which
he does not wish to have acted on. In a
loLg session this is more difficult and there
is constant danger of the House breaking
away from him. This was done two or
three times li > t spring and summer.
The Lorui > u..fr of the Currency u
that he cannot issuu a charier to a na
tional bank in the Hawaiian Islands.
This will L < ? a severe disappointment to
several ambitious politicians in Washing
ton , who have been planning for months
to secure the first charter for a national
bank at Honolulu. The same crowd is
after national bank charters in Porto Rico
and Manila. It is believed that Congress
will have to give specific authorization be
fore the Comptroller can issue charters in
any of theo place ? .
The cieik of tiic Supreme Court in in re
ceipt of a large number of letters from
lawyers in all parts of the country inquir
ing of him when thp Supreme Court vriil
issue rules and regulations for the govern
ment of courts in the enforcement of the
bankruptcy law. Having no definite ia-
formation oil the subject. Major MeKen-
ney is obliged to write nou-committal re
plies to the effect that the court has not
as yet promulgated the rules and regula
tions.
Gen. Fiusiiugh Lee hzu written a. ery
complimentary letter concerning the work
of the Young Men's Christian Association
among the soldiers in Florida and has re
quested that their representatives may be
authorized to accompany his army to Cuba
un < I prepare for even more extensive ivorfc
The United States will have to take
charge of the postal system in Cuba as
soon as the Spaniards evacuate , for the
Cubans have no governmental organiza
tion of any sort and chaos would result at
once if this action were not taken.
f it to date L'.OOU claims for pensions
luve bt-en tiled by soldiers and sailors and
their dependents on account of the war
with Spain. Seventy were for victims ot
the Maine.
I-V.T lac-k of something else to talk abou\
politicians in Washington are discussing
the probabilities of an extra session o $
Contrress after the 4th yf next March.