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About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1902)
MANY DEAD IN IOWA MINE. Twenty-One Lost Creek Work men Killeb By Dust Explosion. Disaster Occurs with Large Force of Miners at Work , Flames Threaten Destruction of Entire Plant. Oskaloosa , la. , Jan. 28. Twenty-one Wiled and * eight others seriously in jured by an explosion in the Lost Creek coal mine here. The dead were all badly burned and mangled , many of them beyond recognition , except for their clothing. Those who escap ed instant death were severely injured and some who were taken out alive died soon afterward , or are in a seri ous condition. The bodies of the dead men were recovered from the mine. The injured , all of whom are fright fully cut , bruised and burned , are un der the care of surgeons in a tem porary hospital equipped near the mine. GEYSER OF DEBRIS. The Lost Creek mine is ten miles southeast of Oskaloosa and three miles north of Eddyville. The explosion oc curred at the noon hour and was what is known as a dust explosion. The miners had just fired their usual noon shots , one of which proved to be a lizzie , the powder flame igniting the gas and causing the explosion. Smoke and debris were blown out of the mine jn a column 200 feet high. A part of the top works was torn away and the fans and cages wrecked. This made the work of rescue very slow , and it was 3 o'clock before volunteer parties < iared to venture into the east entry , where the explosion occurred. The men of the rescue party fought their way into the mine , where a shocking sight met their gaze. The dead and injured were terribly burned And mutilated , some of them almost beyond recognition. Beyond where the bodies lay the fire was burning fiercely .and for a time it was feared that the workings would be wholly destroyed jind the bodies incinerated. Finally , however , the flames were subdued , but not until several of the rescue party had succumbed to the fumes. The bo dies were then collected and carried to the top of the shaft. At the time o fthe explosion there were more than 100 men in the mine , but all except -those of the east entry escaped with only slight injury. SCENES AT THE SHAFT. It was nearly 6 o'clock when the last of the dead was taken out and the scenes of anguish amongthe families of the victims were most pitiful. Near ly all the men were married and leave families in poor circumstances. The mine is owned by the Lost Creek Fuel company of this city and has been in operation about one year. Charles E. and Fra nkLofland , H. L. Spencer and Jap Timbrell of Oskalosa , la. , are the principal stockholders. One hundred .and twenty-five men were employed by the mine at the time of the ex plosion. Forty of these were in the west entry , and they escaped practi cally uninjured. Sixty were in the east entry , where the explosion occurred. The explosion wrecked the hoisting < ages so that it was nearly 2 o'clock before entrance to any part of the mine could be gained. Willing hands .among the crowds that gathered put forth heroic efforts to reach the unfor tunate men entombed beyond the east entryAgain and again they were < 3 riven back by the terrible gas and many of the rescuers were overcome. Heartrending appeals of the wives , children and mothers of the sixty men imprisoned nerved the living on to a duty that seemed beyond the range of Tiuman endurance. Every possible means of rescue that ingenuity could devise was tried , but it was after 3 o'clock before it was possible to get into the east entry. By 3:30 o'clock eight bodies had been found , theiir Identity being generally at first un known. At 4 o'clock all hope for those left in the mine had been abandoned. The fans , which 'were badly damaged by the explosion , were working again , "but as several doors had been blown shut the gas did not clear readily. As fast as the rescuers could ven ture in , they forced their way on , but only to find dead bodies at every step. All of the dead had been removed by -S o'clock and. taken to the company's store , which was turned into an Im provised morgue. Some of the corpses weer identified only by the clothing worn by the men. The scenes about T.he shaft and at the company's store j > eggar description. Physicians sum- inoned to the scene from Oskaloosa and Eddyville arrived at 3:30 o'clock and rendered what assistance was pos sible. The injured men were looked after and their wounds dressed. The total property damage will be about $10,000. The postoffice at Grand Junction , jColo. , was robbed of the contents of a registered mail pouch from the east , the contents of which is unknown , and $120 in money and stamps. Police Raid the Bowery. New York , Jan. 29. A raid of un- -usual proportions was made by near- ] y 100 policemen on the Bowery. SC-v- eral notorious resorts were closed and thirty-two prisoners were locked up. The large number of policemen on the * -scene prevented any outbreak or diffi culty in getting the prisoners to the police station. The raids foreshadow a the doom of the Bowery , for they narked the preliminary step in the -wholesale cleaning up of that some- famous thoroughfare. CHICAGO GREETS ADMIRAL SCHLEY , Chicago , Jan. 28. Rear Admiral W. S. Schley thrice declared that he had no intention of entering politics. His remarks were calculated to set at rest for all time the political ambitions which some of his admirers have en tertained for him. He said no office , however high , would tempt him to jeopardize the love which the people of this country hav * > expressed for him. The day for the admiraJ was a round of receptions , at each of which he expressed his gratitude for tokens of esteem and approbation. The demonstrations reached their climax in the banquet given in his honor by the Hamilton club , in the banquet hall of the Auditorium. Ap proximately 650 guests were present. EVERW WORD IS CHEERED. Admiral Schley arose amid applause and said : "Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Hamilton Club : What I desire particularly to say is that I thank you most sincerely for the welcome that you have accorded to me. The glac tribute which I met on arrival at your depot and in passing through your streets was such a tribute of confi dence and esteem that it has touched my heart sincerely. ( Applause. ) "If in my long career of fortylive years I have done anything that is worthy of your approval , then my sat isfaction is complete. ( Applause. ) "I wanted only to say that I am simply a sailor and that I have served you in storm and in calm , in sunshine ant ! in bad weather , from pole to pole and from sun to sun. The only motive of action has always been , 'My coun try and my people. ' ( Applause. ) "I desire to say , most emphatically.c that I have no desire to be other than a sailor. 1 have no aspiration for any civil office , howeVer high it may be. ( Applause. ) My one ambition has been to serve you faithfully , loyally , devot edly ( applause ) , and if I have succeed ed in doing that the measure of my ambition is full and my only other ambition is that I may retain for the rest of my years that I may be vouch safed for me your love , your esteem and your respect. ( Cheers. ) I would not care to jeopardize that by seeking or accepting any office where I should be condemned to follow always , rather than to remain in the one profession that I have chosen , where there are occasionally opportunities to lead. Ap plause. " THE CESSION TREATY IS SIGNED , Washington , D. C. , Jan. 28. The treaty of cession of the Danish West Indies islands from Denmark to the United States was signed at the state department by Secretary Hay and Constantine Brun , the Danish minis- ter. The treaty will be submitted to the senate for ratification immediate- Following the invariable rule in such cases the state department offi cials decline to make public any of the details of the treaty so that it is not possible to state positively the price to be paid , though this is be- lieved to be in the neighborhood to be in the neighborhod of $5,000,000. J It is learned also that Denmark has J abandoned the position it was inclined to occupy toward the conservation of the political rights of the inhabitants of the island and gives the United States a free hand to deal with them without pledge of American citizen ship or of free trade privileges. It is assumed that the status of thp { Danish West Indian islands , political ly and commercially , should the treaty a be ratified , will be similar to that of Porto Rico. Having gained these ° points in the negotiations , the state department officials believe that the treaty is certain to receive the appro val of the United States senate. U The new treaty is peculiar in that it will require action not only by thp senate and the Danish Rigsdag , but f 6y the United States house of repre- | sentatives as well , since it will be ttec- essary for the house to supply the ap propriation to defray the expense of . purchase. f ABOUT NEBRASKA IRRIGATION ACT. Lincoln , Neb. , Jan. 28. Additional briefs , containing new arguments and a response to the interrogatories of the court , were filed in behalf of the Craw ford company in the case brought by Leroy Hall in Dawes county. The ac tion involves the constitutionality of the Nebraska irrigation act and has been pending in the supreme court for several years. Leroy Hall owns a mill on the White river and is seek ing to restrain the Crawford Irrigat ing company from appropriating the waters of that stream for irrigating purposes. In his petition to the court , Leroy Hall contended that so much of the act as sought to confer upon the state board of irrigation the exercise of ju dicial functions , was unconstitutional , alleging that the legislature copied the act from the irrigation act of the state of Wyoming , which was adopted in that state under a constitution which authorized such legislation , while the constitution of Nebraska does not au thorize or permit such legislation in so far as the adjudication of the rights tc the use of water are concerned. o Each party diverting water from the White river or its tributaries , or us- .U1 ing it or claiming a right to divert ai or use it , was made a defendant in the action. The purpose of the bill Bl was to quiet the plaintiffs title to the Jc use of the water which he sought to take from the river. try the Cleveland Is After Ducks. Georgetown , S. C. , Jan. 28. Former President Grover Cleveland , with a M party of friends , among whom are , Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans , Col- onel E. C. Benedi'.t ; General Anson G. ber McCook , Captain P. B. Lamberton and Herman May , have arrived here. After p { breakfast they boarded the United for States ship * launch Water Lily and left ta for Ford'sPoint , on the Lower Sanco tee river , the shooting preserves of St General E. P. Alexander , whose guests also the party will be while here. te MR. HILL ON THE STAND. Great Northern Magnate Under" goes Rigid Examination.th Karriman and Hill Wilt Both Be Ques tioned by Interstate Officials on "Associate Management- " Chicago , Jan. 28. James J. Hillpres ident of the Northern Securities com pany and president of the Great PJN Northern Railway company , testified for three and one-quarter hours be fore the interstate commerce commis sion here. In answer to questions tending to show the effect of the com tem munity of interest plan on railroads , the : veteran railroader declared that competition does not lower rates , but on the contrary he believed that it ad 01v vanced them. He declared that in the northwest < , where the Great Northern nai and Northern Pacific have been at aiP Peace , where one road has agreed with the other on rates and maintained the tla agreement ; , rates were lower than in any other part of the country. In regard to the purchase of the Burlington by the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern , Mr. Hill de clared that the purchase was a matter of necessity and was not due to a movement in line with the trust idea. He testified to the formation of the Northern Securities company , and in doing so gave a reason far simpler than has been conjectured. ORIGIN OF SECURITIES CO. "There'are some men , some very old men , interested in the management of the Great Northern , " said he. "Two tlO of ] the men are over 80 and several over 70 years. They wanted to form a O1Cl close corporation into which they could ClC confide their interests with the assur ance that the road would be managed aiaJ along the lines which have made it a aJsi success. It was to have taken over siO one-third of the stock of the road. The plan seemed to be a good one , and Tai and then it was proposed to let all the ais stockholders in not alone the few holders ' of the one-third , but all of them. The plan met with approval , and then it broadened into the idea of taking in the Northern Pacific also. The roads had worked in harmony for twenty years , and the change in the tvh holder , of the securities would make no difference. It can make no difference and will make no difference. " HILL TALKS VIGOROUSLY. Mr. Hill talked vigorously and ear nestly. < At the close of the session , when Chairman Knapp offered to al low Mr. Hill to leave for New York , if the latter felt that the staying in Chicago would inconvenience him se riously , Mr. Hill declared that his time belonged to the commission and that he desired in every way to aid them to the extent of his ability. Chairman Knapp then said that Mr. Hill would again be called to the stand. It is the expressed purpose of the commission to discover , if possible , what changes , if any , have been cre ated between the general public and the railroads by reason of the "asso ciate management" of the latter. The commissioners desire to find out if the carrying out of the community of in terests idea has affected the rate sit uation in a way contrary to law , or , as IS claimed , if it is likely to effect to stability and non-discrimination of and in rates for which the commission has long battled. Is Messrs. Hill and Harriman both reached Chicago during the morning and Mr. Hill , accompanied by Mr. _ Grover , his attorney , came at once be fore the commission. Darius Miller , first vice president and traffic manager of the Chicago , Burlington & Quincy , and former traf fic manager of the Great Northern , was the first witness. In answer to questions by Mr. Day , attorney for the commission , Mr. Miller stated that the Burlington was absolutely inde pendent in its operations and in the be making of rates. Co "Have you received instructions from Com either Mr. Hill or Mr. Harriman in re P gard to making rates ? " Mr. Day ask pe ed. peWi Wi ed."I "I have received none , " the witness b answered. co Commissioner Prouty asked the wit- QT ness to what extent the Northern Pa- cific and Great Northern were comrg rg petitors , and Mr. Miller put the comth th petitive tariff at about 25 per cent. thw He declared that the Burlington was not a competitor of the Great North to ern. He said the two companies had made frequent agreements to maintain rates , but said he knew of no pen alty ever having been imposed for violation of agreement. ETC he Condition on the Isthmus. Colon , Colombia , Jan. 28. The situ of ation at both ends of the isthmus is unchanged. The General Pinzon has arrived here from Savanilla with 600 troops. By a recent.decree. . . issu 4 at Barranquilla , department of Bolivar , Jose Muto , a prominent Italian of that place.has been expelled from the coun for taking an active part in aiding liberal cause. Morgan Against Panama. Washington , D. C. , Jan. 28. Senator Morgan , chairman of the committee on m. interoceanic canals , has prepared a re the port , which he has sent to every mem of the committee , relative to the canal situation , since the offer of the eral Panama company to sell its property $40,000,000 was made. The report takes the ground that the Panama company cannot give the "United States a good and sufficient title , and criticises the whole matter as in tended : to'delay canal legislation. ARE PLEADING FOR THEIR RIGHTS , Washington , D. C. , Jan. 29. When the foreign affairs co'mmittee of the 2 house resumed its hearing on the sub ject of the re-enactment of the law prohibiting the coming into this coun try of Chinese , it was informed that if it had not been understood fully by the people of the Pacific coast in the las tnational congress that Chinese laWi would be excluded by a republican ad Wim ministration and by a republican con gress , California's electoral vote would have been cast for Mr. Bryan. This statement was made by E. J. Livernash , assistant manager of the San Francisco , Cal. , Examiner. He appeared before the committee in sup port of the Kahn bill for the exclusion of the Chinese , and declared that for the course of his statement he had a part in preparing. in the course of. his argument Mr. Livernash particularly supported the section of the proposed act which pro hibits the coming of Chinese into this country from the Philippines or other insular possessions of the country. He referred to the flood of petition ? which have been poured upon congress in favor of a more liberal treatment of the Chinese , which it appeared in congress to listen to such petitions would be simply to assist in the ex ploitation of the Philippine islands by Europeans and cause us to lose sight of the commercial future of the isl ands as an American possession Mr. Livernash insisted that the peo ple of California in this matter were pleading not for a privilege , but for a right. The people of the Pacific coast were particularly interested , because they loked toward China and toward the Chinese in the Philippines with apprehension and suspicion. BIG COAL FIELDS SOON TO MERGE , Indianapolis , Ind. , Jan. 29. John F. Bays of Sullivan , the purchasing agent of the giant combine that is about to take control of the bitum inous mines of Indiana and Illinois , declares that the organization of the two fields and their merger will be a success. The answer of the underwri- ters who are now in New York going over the options will be returned early next week. Mr. Bays will then receive definite information as to whether the finan ciers are to continue with the deal. While Mr. Bays does not know what the combine will be capitalized at he says that the options in the two fields cover 800 mines in Illinois and 200 in Indiana , and call for a total invest- ment of $75,000,000. The delay in the negotiations , according to Mr. Bays , has been due to the inability of the Illinois managers of the combine to get their options into negotiable con- dition. CAPTIVITY WILL SOON BE AT AN END , Sofia , Jan. 28. The semi-official or gan , Bulgaria , announces that the del egates bearing the ransom of Miss Stone , the captive American mission ary , have arrived at Jumaya and that Miss Stone and her companion , Mme. Tsilka , will be released within twenty- four hours after the money is paid. Vienna , Jan. 28. The Politische Cor- respondez , a highly reputable paper , publishes a dispatch from Constanti nople declaring that the porte has re ceived secret reports charging Miss Stone of connivance with the Mace donian committee in allowing herself to remain a prisoner in order to in crease the ransom for her release de manded by the brigands , the bulk of which will go to the committee. The dispatch further says that Miss Stone at present living in a Bulgarian village in the disguise of a peasant. t THE SHIPPERS FAVOR THE MERGER.b St. Paul , Minn. , Jan. 29. A petition has been signed by grain men , lumberij men and merchants and shippers of Minneapolis , to be presented to Gov ernor Van Sant , asking that the fight against the so-called merger of the Great Northern , Northern Pacific and Burlington railroads be discontinued. The petitioners state that it is their belief that the proposed arrangement Cor the control of the systems by means of the Northern Securities com panywill be more beneficial to ship pers that are existing conditions. They want stability of rates , they say , and believe that the Northern Securities company will secure this for them. Not only . will the shippers of the Twin trP' Cities be benefited by the stability of P' rates , but all classes of shippers tl throughout the northwestern states r will ; be similarly affected , they say. Petitions of a similar nature are said be coming from other parts of the state. No Peace Terms Pending. London , Jan. 29. A. J. Balfour , the government leader , made a compre hensive denial in the house of com mons today of stories of negotiations peace with South Africa * He de clared that since the negotiations be tween Lord Kitchener and General Botha no proposal having in view the termination of war had been received from anyone professing to have au of thority of the Boer leaders to make proposals , and that no discussions of looking to peace were now proceed ing. Shnt Down Indefinatly. Washington , Ind. , Jan. 29. At 5 p. . last Saturday every department of Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern shops except the roundhouse closed down indefinitely , by order of Gen a Superintendent Rawn , who has been here trying to effect a settle ment with the striking shopmen. Su perintendent Rawn said the company could not afford to operate the shops while a strike was in progress. The strikers are opposed to making any concessions. - FREE HAND FOR WAR. British Government Dictates Pol icy to Session of Pariianent. Resuming of Control in Cape Colony Postponed , Monster Army to Sub- jucat "Annexed" Republics. London , Jan. 29. The British gov ernment is to have a free hand for its war policy at this session of parlia ment , just as it had at the last. The prospect of Sir Henry Campbell-Ban nerman leading a united opposition on anti-jingo lines has been shattered by the developments of the debate on the war amendment to the address in re ply to the speech from the throne. That amendment , halting and self- contradictory in terms , conciliated the center section of the liberal party , but failed to conciliate the moving spir its of liberal-imperialism or the anti war wings. So the government is left master of the parliamentary situation. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman can do nothing positive without being dec' serted or attacked by one or the other of the dissatisfied forces. The opposi- tion has been drawn already and even its bark is silenced. The ministerialists , except the few who have been in South Africa and appreciate the situation there , are for remorselessly grinding the Boers under the British heel. Colonial Secretary tlC Chamberlain's diplomatic pretenses of magnanimity ' to the Boers were re ! ceived by his followers in sullen si lence , while every reference to rigor- ous measures was cheered with an enthusiasm proportionate to its rutht lessness. The practical acquiescence of 'the civilized world in a continuation of this Avar of conquest and extermi- * nation gives the British government unfettered liberty to pursue it to any end it chooses , and that opportunity to be fully availed of. POSSIBLE LOSS OF COUNTRY.tl When a man of international reputa- tion like the Right Hon. James Bryce predict sthe "probable loss of South Africa to Britain , " it may be realized how seriously the carrying out of the British policy is regarded by respon sible statesmen. Mr. Bryce was asked to participate in a movement to raise money here to endow a chair of his tory in a South African college. He wrote in reply : "It seems almost a mockery in the frightful state of af fairs in South Africa , with martial law everywhere , interest in education laPI paralyzed , the people unable to move PIfi < from place to place , an intensity of fiPI passion aroused which threatens bit terness for generations to come and the probable loss of Soutli Africa to [ Britain , to go on the platform with smooth generalities about history , a history which has not saved us from , repeating the blunders of 1775 , and the dulcet notes of peace when there is no peace. " W. H. Lecky , M. P. , the eminent historian , whose only indication of his view on the war has been his explanaal tion of an approval of an arbitration petition , replied with thinly veiled irony to the same petition : "It shows no small courage to start such a scheme amid all the present troubles in South Africa. I sincerely hope it may find support among the many rich men in London who have made their fortunes in South Africa. " But the scheme is being proceeded with as a part of the elaborate pre tense that settled conditions are now beginning < to prevail in South Africa , though it is admitted that even if the war should end tomorrow the resump tion of representative government in c ij Cape Colony must be postponed indefi nitely , while British power can only be preserved in the "annexed" repub- lies by a permanent garrison of 100w 000 men. TROUBLE OVER ILLINIOS COAL FIELDS , frai Carbondale , 111. , Jan. 28. A most se- rious condition has just been found to exist in the attempt to place the Illi nois coal field under control of the English corporation which now con trols the interests in Indiana , West Virginia and Ohio. The Illinois Cen tral railroad has carried in the past 27 per ' cent of the coal of the state'and through its allied interests , has car ried over 50 per cent of the output. About ten days ago a demand was made for some agreement that Its car rying revenue in the future would not be hampered by the eliminating of competition. To this only an evasive agreement was proposed , whereupon the roads refused to deal longer with the J. F. Morgan interests and sug gested that the Harriman people would be acceptable as negotiators. The pre sent condition , therefore , means that the Chicago & Eastern Illinois rail road , which is controlled by the Mor gan syndicate , may endeavor to en large its coal carrying at the expense other coal roads o fthe state. The present contest may delay the plans the combine for several months , un less the railroad interests of the state are amply protected In their revenues. Sad Ending of Long Journey. Cincinnati , O. , Jan. 28. Governor William'H. Taft's arrival at Cincin nati , which is expected to occur early Monday morning , will be saddened by in death which occurred here today. Mrs. Harriet Collins Herron , wife of Attorney John W. Herron , formerly tc United States district attorney , and mother of Mrs. Taft , died suddenly w today from heart disease. A reception w which , had been arranged by the bar < jl association for Governor Taft for Monra day afternoon baa been abandoned. p < THE TORRENS SYSTEM FOR IOWA. Des Molnes , la. , Jan. 28. The most important bill yet introduced Into the legislature was puton the calendar leb by ; Representative W. V. Hawk of Jasper county. It provides for the es tablishment of the Torrens system of land title registration in Iowa , but is laoi optional in its provisions. No owner oih real estate Is required to register hlg ) title , but any who so desire may do < so. It creates no new salaried of dfi fices < and imposes no additional ex fiS fiP fiw < on the taxpayer except su.ch as will be required to furnish the neces sary books and blanks. County re corders are made registrars of titles and two or more persons in each coun tj are to be appointed in each as ex tjai aminers of titles. These examiners aiai are to be paid from the fees for ex aiai amination. Application Is to be ma'Ie for registration to the district court in such manner as to show the own inei er's right and title to the land and all eicl claims and charges of other persons claj against it. An abstract of title is'also tc accompany the aplication. Notices tcai are given and proceedings had In aiai about the same manner as in actions to quiet title. The court may refer the case to an'examiner of titles for investigation , but is not bound by his report. On the rendering of a decree of registration , which decree shall de clare the order and priorities of all c'cl charges and claims against theland , the registrar will record the title with all such charges noted in a book called the "Register of Titles , " and Issue to the owner an exact duplicate. After registration all dealings with the land of whatever character must be noted on the certificate , which will at all times show on one page the ex act condition of the title. For the purpose of indemnifying any person who may have been wronged by mak ing the title indefeasible , the owner on registration is required to pay one- tenth of 1 per cent of the value of the land for the creation of an indemni fying fund. This fund , until required to be used for such purpose , is to be loaned as in case of the school fund. The title after a time limited is inde feasible and a purchaser is not re quired to inquire as to anything fur ther back than the certificate in the register. Mr. Hawk will press the bill vigorously. SHERIFF HOLDS A TRIAN FOR TAX. Wellington , Kan. , Jan. 28. C. C. Shawyer , sheriff of .Sumner county , held ( a freight train on the Kansas holding < , for several hours on a tax warrant. The train was run onto a siding at Caldkell and the depots at eiS Haven , Guelph and Caldwell Southwestern railroad/ Santa Fe were attached. vlc For se\erai years the road had been delinquent in its taxes , but the sher ifi , anticipating an injunction suit , has ifiw withheld action until now. When the road learned of the sheriff's intention. to take action it secured an injunction , from the probate judge preventing the. sheriff from stopping the train which carries the mail west of Cal dwell.Fail csUl ure to make a $5,000 bond prevented the circuit clerk from issuing the sum mons on the injunction. Late in the day the bond was filed and the traia was released. The road threatens to arrest the sheriff for stopping a traia carrying mail. SECRETARY GAGE IS IN DEMAND. Washington , D. C. , Jan. 29. A rep resentative of the Bankers' Trust company of St. Louis called on Sec retary Gage and intimated to the sec retary that the company would like to make him a proposition to accept a , position at the head of the company. Mr. Gage informed his visitor that when he turned over his office to his successor he would locate either in Chicago or New York , that he could not entertain a proposition from any- other source. It is well known among Secretary Gage's intimate friends that , while the New York offer is a very tempting one , his inclination is very strongly in favor of accepting an offer from a leading Chicago trust company and the probabilities are that after taking a rest of a couple of months in Florida ' he will make his permanent home in Chicago. STEEL TRUST GOBBLES UP PLANT. Chicago , 111. , Jan. 28. In the elec tion of former Judge Elbert H.Gary as chairman of the board of directors of the Allis-Chalmers company , the Unit ed States Steel corporation is suppos ed by some to have gobbled up that concern. It has a capital of $25,000,000 and the chairman of the executive is William.J. Chalmersm. The old firm of Fraser & Chalmers and the E. P. Allis company of Mil waukee joined interests some time ago , but since Elbert H. Gary , chair man of the trust , has completed the organization of the companies and found time to absorb other concerns , his eye has fallen upon the machin ery companies. Now it is reported the trust will go farther and build ships. It is understood Mr. Chalmers will continue to direct the business of the Allis-Chalmers company , while Judge Gary will govern the finances. Mine in Good Condition. Oskaloosa , la. , Jan. 28. An inquest was held this afternoon over the re mains of the twenty-one miners killed the dust explosion at the Lost Creek coal mine. The verdict of the coroner's jury was that the men came their death as a result of an ex- pjlosion caused 'by a shot fired by a. miner named Andy Pash. The mine' was examined by a , state inspector , who said the mine was in as good con dition as any mine 'I * the state. The miners are being ° &rtrfed at the ex pense of the LostsCte ir Coal