THE NORFOLK WEEKLY NEW&JOURNAL ,
\ NORFOLK , NEBRASKA , FRIDAY , DEOEMI3EK 21 , 1900 ,
DONESTEEL STRUCTURE IS DE
STROYED WITH CONTENTS.
NO CLUE TO ORIGIN OF FIRE
Chicago & Northwestern Suffers a
Loss of $20,000 to $25,000 , on Build *
Ing and Contents Was Separate
From the Passenger Station.
Bonesteel , S. D. , Dec. 20. Special to
The News : The freight depot of the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad at
this place burned to the ground at
3:30 : this morning. How the flro orig
inated none nt this tlmo seems to
know.
' * 0 > >
Inquiry at Northwestern $
tors in this city failed to dev * . 'V (
further particulars of the flro than
contained In the telegram , railroad re
ports being lacking In Information as
to how the flro originated.
The freight depot was separate from
the passenger depot at Bonestecl and
was n first class building of its kind.
It wns filled with an abundance of
merchandise , which was also de
stroyed. The estimated loss on build
ing is $2,000 to $3,000 , while the freight
stored in the building would probably
reach a value of $20,000 to $25,000.
BARN AND CATTLE SHEDS BURN
Farmer Near Crelghton Loses by Fire
Started by Lantern.
Crelghton , Neb. , Dec. 20. Special to
The News : The large barn and cat
tle sheds of Frank Van Houten , living
seven miles southwest of Wlnnetoon ,
were totally destroyed by flro last
night about 7 o'clock.
The fire originated from the explo
sion of a lantern which had been hung
over the manger in one of the stalls.
In reaching for hay a horse knocked
it down , which exploded as it struck.
The flames ran through the loose hay
like a whirlwind , and although Mr.
Van Houten was present he was un
able to stop the spread of the fire.
After consuming the barn the flames
communicated to the large cattle sheds
adjoining , which were destroyed.
Mr. Van Houten succeeded in get
ting all his live stock out of the way
of harm , but his machinery , harness
and many other farm appliances were
consumed.
"TOM THE PEEPER" ROUTED.
Campaign at Bonesteel Ends in Dis
aster to Stranger.
Sioux Falls , S. D. . Dec. 20 The au
thorities of Bonesteel adopted drastic
measures in ridding the community
of a "Tom the Peeper , " who for a pe
riod of about two weeks annoyed the
women of Bonesteel.
Numerous complaints were made to
the authorities of the antics of the
peeper , whose operations were carried
on during the day as well as In the
evening. The rascal also made a prac
tice of endeavoring to force his way
into some of the homes which he vis
ited , terrifying the women and children -
dren and arousing the anger of the
men , of the households when they re
turned home and heard of the unwel
come visits of the stranger
Just who he was no one seemed to
know. But , like the famous pitcher ,
ho went to the well once too often.
When the man came to grief he was
hanging about the homo of Mr. and
Mrs. William Glbbs. He put in his
appearance while Mr. Glbbs was ab
sent and attempted to force his way
into the house , but this effort was
j
frustrated and Mrs. Glbbs sent word
to her husband of the presence of the
peeper.
Gibbs hurried home and quietly approached
preached the house. In the darkness
he soon was able to distinguish the
form of the stranger near one of the
windows. Glbbs was upon the peeper
before the latter was aware of his
presence , and the stranger was struck
a vicious blow before he took to his
heels and made his escape. Glbbs
fired several shots after the fugitive
but failed to hit his man.
Ofllcer Taylor soon appeared upon
the scene and the search for the peeper
or was commenced. The search re
suited in the discovery of the fugitive
in one of the railroad bunk cars at the
Bonesteel depot. Ho was placed under
dor arrest and taken before Judge Big
gins , who ordered him to depart from
Bonesteel on the first outgoing trailer
or ho would suffer the consequences
Ho promptly obeyed the instructions
The man wni found to bo an Austrian
who had been employed with the stee
gang on the new extension of the C
cage and Northwestern railroad west
ward from Bonesteel.
STILL SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.
Believed That the Herrlck Grader At
tempted Suicide.
Herrlck , S. D. , Dec. 20. Mystor
Btlll surrounds the case of the grade
found Sunday morning at the rallroa
camp in this place , with his throa
cut and weak from the loss of hlooc"
Attorney VanMotor and Marshal Tucl
cr were appointed by States Attorno
Backus to ferret out the real cause o
the man's condition if possible. Mr
Van Motor took the deposition of th
Injured man , which was in substanc
as follows : Ho said ho was 38 year
of age , single , a Swede , came froi
Chicago , had a union card , arrived a
Horrlck Saturday night , slept in ca
with comrades , arose at G Sunday
morning , and crossed the track , was
assaulted by n tall man , light coat ,
were u cap , too dark to further de
scribe , was cut on throat with razor ,
not robbed ; assailant rail ; ho bled
freely , returned to car , and crawled
Into bunk , did not nwako anyone , be
cause ho was a stranger. Was found
at 0:30 : , weak from loss of blood , had
been drinking In Chicago several days ,
did not attempt suicide.
Other witnesses were examined care
fully and the general trend of testi
mony seemed to Indicate an attempt
ed suicide , though llrttlo evidence was
discovered.
The patient was removed to Herrlck ,
whore ho Is Improving rapidly , and
doubtless will recover.
fNOT SEND NAVAL SQUAD-
[ 'v'"O SAN FRANCISCO.
n/.f
AFRAID OF BEING BLOWN UP
Fear of Something Like the Maine Dls-
aster , Owing to California's Hostil
ity , Is Given as the Reason Little
Men Have Nerve.
Honolulu , Dec. 20. The Japanese
consul says that the visiting squadron
which will arrive in Honolulu In Feb.
ruary , will not proceed to San Francisco -
cisco , as originally Intended , because
a repetition of the Maine disaster Is
feared , owing to the alleged overci
wrought condition of American feel ?
Ing.
PROVING UP ON ROSEBUD.
About a Million Dollars Has Been Paid
Into Office.
Mitchell , S. D. , Dec. 20. The prov
ing up on claims nnd the filing of
homesteads on the Rosebud reserva
tion is bringing in a largo revenue ,
which passes through the local land
offlce. The settlers are proving up
rapidly on their claims , nnd the sales
that follow are quite numerous. The
osebud was opened to settlers but
wo years ago last August. That all
lose who drew prizes did not file on
icir land Is shown by the fact that
lore are still about 75,000 acres of
and on the reservation which has not
een filed on. This is located mostly
i the north part of Gregory county
nd the land is good only for grazing
urposes. Sales of land are being
lade with great rapidity , and one of
lie high sales of recent date was a
uarter section of Fred Huston , who
old his land near Burke for $0,000 ,
vith less than $500 improvements on
The receipts from the land in the
vay of fees for proving up and for
omestead filings , as given out by the
ocal land ofilce , show that from Jan-
ary 1 , 190G , to September 1 , the re-
eipts amounted to about $327,000 , and
rom December 1 to December 1C , the
eceipts wore $55,000.
Since the lands were opened to set-
lement two years ago the general land
department at Washington has re-
elved about $1,000,000. Taking out
he fees of the department there Is
, bout $800,000 left which Is set aside
s allotment for the Indians , and this
s being distributed among them at
tated intervals.
TAKES ISSUEJflTH METCALF
'Frisco School Board Says Secretary
Made Mlsstatements.
San Francisco , Dec. 20. According
to an interview given to the press by
Secretary Lefllngwell of the board of
education , Secretary Metcalf mndo
some erroneous statements in his re
port on the Japanese question.
Mr. Leffingwoll said : "The report
made by Secretary Metcalf , as ex
ploited before congress , containa
many assertions and Inferences which
are surprising , to say the least , since
they are In error , and are therefore
unfair , as they are applied to the
members of the board of education.
When Secretary Motcalf reached this
city on his mission for President
Roosevelt and the object ol' his visit
was made known , the board of educa
tion did all In Its power'to equip him
with the facts surrounding the new order -
dor made In regard to the schooling
of Japanese pupils. When Secretary
Metcalf asserts that the Japanese and
Korean Exclusion league directed the
board of education to enter the ruling
concerning the Japanese pupils , ho
utters that which we say is an error.
The members of the board of educa
tion were specially careful to ex
plain the origin of the matter to Secretary -
rotary Metcnlf. The bonrd noted upon
its own initiative nnd merely proceed
ed to enforce n state law. "
TRAINMEN DEMAND INCREASE
Freight Brakemen and Conductors
Also Want Elght-Hour Day.
Chicago , Dec. 20. Demands for a
wage Increase of 15 per cent and an
inn
eight-hour day for brakcmen and conductors
nis
ductors on all through freight trains :
will be filed today with managers of
all railway systems In the west. The
ney
domnnds covered 45,000 men , on forty-
seven systems , nnd the Increase naked
for nmounts to npproxlmntely $8,000 ,
0.II
000 a year. The Brotherhood of Rail
way Trainmen and the Order of Hall
way Conductors are acting in con <
junction In the matter.
THE PRESIDENT HOLDS A CONFERENCE -
FERENCE ON THE SITUATION.
ATTEMPT TO DEVISE A REMEDY
Senator Hansbrough Is Asked to Frame
a Law That Will Prevent Return of
Such Evils The Senator Has a Bill
to Cover the Trouble ,
Washington , Dec. 20. That Presi
dent Roosevelt has taken a determined
Interest with n view to finding leglsla-
tlvo remedy for the car shortage In
tlio northwest , which now threatens
the people with freezing and starva
tion , because the railroads tire unable
to transport fuel and food to them , was
Indicated by n conference at the whltji
house today. " 5
The president sent for Senator Hans-
brough and asked him whether the
actual danger of suffering Is as great
as has been reported by press dispatches
OJ and telegrams from Individual .
OJT
The North Dakota senator reported
that from dispatches he had received ,
tlio statement of conditions In his
state , Minnesota and South Dakota ,
has not been exaggerated.
The president promised to give the
question his personal attention , with
a view to alleviating any Immediate
suffering , and said ho desired Senator
Hnnsbroiigli to devote time and
thought to some legislative remedy , in
order ; to avoid recurrences of present
conditions.
Hansbrough Has a BUI. ,
The plan Senator Hansbrough has in
mind is the passage of n law which
would compel the railroads to antici
pate extraordinary movements of fuel ,
grain , or other commodities and to
prepare to take care of such shipments ,
when they are offered. It has been
suggested that the interstate com
merce commission could Investigate
probable probable excessive offerings
for shipment of commodities of all
kinds and compel the railroads to fur
nish the transportation. It is believed
by Senator Hansbrough that , If a law
of this character were passed , the
railroads would be able to contract for
tlio use of equipment from roads in
the south or other parts of the coun
try , when the demand for rolling stock
is not great during the winter or the
crop moving seasons. The North Da
kota senator will endeavor to perfect
a measure of some character calculat
ed to reach the evil which annually re
sults in immense financial loss to the
farmer because of not being able to
market his crop and actual suffering
In winter by reason of not being able
to got fuel.
CASE IN COURT FOURTEEN YEARS
Omaha Attorneys Seek to Recover
Fees From Creightpn Estate.
Lincoln , Dec. 20. A case which has
been bolore the courts for fourteen
years 3 now before the supreme court ,
for rehearing. It Is that in which ex-
Attorney General Smyth and Geneial
Cowin of Omaha seek to recover
about $7.000 for attorneys' fees from
the estate of Joseph Crelghton. The
attorneys weio retained by Bishop
Scannell of Omaha to secure the pro
bating of the will of Mr. Creighton
when his daughter tried to break It
The question which the court must de
cide is whether Bishop Scannell will
have to pay the full fees or whether
all of , the devisees will be required to
pay the fees , the will being sustained
and declared valid. The ravages 01
the Missouri river have caused fie
estate to depreciate greatly in value
during the time that the case has been
in the courts , and the attorneys say
that about all they will get out of it
will be the settlement of an interest
ing point of law.
NIGHTMARE BREAKS BOY'S ARM
Battle With Mince Pie Animal Result !
in Serious Injury to College Youth.
Sioux City , la. , Dec. 20. Alter a
fierce battle with the nightmare Km
mett Calley , a Mornlngslde colleg
student , awoke to find his arm broken
Calley is fond of mince pie. His
mother sent him a number from the
farm , and after eating heartily Inut
night Calley tell asleep In u window
seat. Immediately the animal ap
peared , tramping Calley under hit )
cruel hoofs and kicking him viciously.
The student awoke with a cry of
pa n and found his arm hanging help
lessly at his side. It Is supposed he
got his arm twisted under him in the
awful effort to escape the nightmare.
FRENCH OFFICER DEGRADED.
Captain Suffers for Refusing to Help
Take Church Inventory.
Lille , France , Dec. 80. A ooart-inar-
tial hero tried and degraded Captain
Magnleso for refusing to obey orders
In connection with taking the inven
tory of the chapel of St. John. Mar
nlesc before the court said : "I am
.
Christian and I prefer to b shot
rather than commit a sacrilege. No
one has the right to make me re
nounce tao vows I took at my flrat
communion. "
Farmer Operates . . .icn otni.
Burlington , la. , Dec. 20. J. W.
Trnutmnn , n wealthy farmer living
near Medlupoljs , was arrested charged
with conducting an Illicit Btlll. He
confessed.
Hosklns Postmaster Married ,
HoskliiH , Nob. , Dec. 20.- Special to
The NOWH : Frank Heusur , the popu
lur jiostiuaster of this place , \VIIH mar
ried hist evening to Miss Idu Morotz.
lloth these young people are popular
In this community ami the well wishes
of all go with them through life.
Elevator at Herrlck.
Herrlck , S. D. , Dec. 20. Nyo-Schnel-
der-Fowlor company are orectlug a
largo elevator at Herrlck , S. D. , and
purchased their llrst carload of wheat
yesterday. Ivan Sulmers , formerly of
Norfolk , IB the manager
WANT THE RATE LAW AMENDED
TO ALLOW TRANSPORTATION.
RECEIVE SCANT ENCOURAGEMENT
The House Committee Shows Opposl
tlon to Their Transportation Re
quest , Believing They Should Live up
to What They Have Been Advocating
Washington , Dec. 20. W. R. Hodge-
OH , president of the Minnesota Kdlto-
rial association , and a nit-mber of the
executive committee of the National
Editorial association , was one of a
delegation which appeared before the
house committee on interstate and for
eign commerce on behalf0f an amend
ment to tlio railway rate lawp < allowlng
newspaper publishers to receive com
pcnsatlon from the railroad compa
nies in tlio form of transportation. B.
B. Herbert , formerly of Red Wing ,
Minn. , was also heard. The publishers
did not receive encouragement from
the , committee and , in answer to an
argliment in favor of transportation
contracts to newspaper publishers , the
statement was made that it would es
tablish a precedent which would lead
to discrimination , on tlio very thing
which the press of the country charged
up against the railroads for years.
MAIL ORDER HOUSE FILES SUIT
Seeks to Restrain South Dakota Re
tallers From Fighting Its Business.
Sioux Falls , S. D. , Dec. 20. A test
case was Instituted In the United
States court by Montgomery Ward fi
Co. of Chicago , who seek an injunction
restraining the South Dakota He-tall
Merchants' and Hardware Dealers' as
sociation from continuing warfare on
the plaintiff company. The plalntlft
asserts that the defendant declared a
boycott and prevents the plaintiff
company from purchasing nece&sary
goods from manufacturers , Jobbers
and wholesalers. A hearing on the
application for an Injunction was fixed
for Jan 3.
MADAME GOULD VICTORIOUS
Former Countess Defeats Creditors In
Suit Over Count's Debts.
Paris , LK'c. 20. Madame Gould , th
former Countess do Castellane , has
been victorious In the suits brouglu
by creditors and money lenders
against her with the object of making
her Jointly responsible with the count
for the latter's debts. Thirteen of thi
fifteen cases were dismissed by the
court with costs against the plaintiffs
Only In the cases of two art deal
ers did the court express the opinion
that Mme. Gould should be hold re
sponslble , * as the objects purchased
in these Instances for the most part
are still in her possession. There are
still three cases to be passed upon.
In dismissing the thirteen suits the
court held that the plalntlffri | had
failed to prove that the debts were
contracted for the common benefit of
the count and countess. The latter ,
the court declared , had more than ful
filled the obligations under her mar
riage contract. During her wedded ,
life she had retained nothing for her
self , her entire revenue being col ,
lected by her husband and employed
according to his own admission , either
for the household expenses or for the
payment of his personal debts.
OFFICIALS DISREGARD LAW
Charge Made by Senators Against Sec
retaries Hitchcock and Wilson.
Washington , Dec. 20. Admitting
that they bad not authority of law for
the withdrawal from allotment ol
nearly 4.000.000 acres of land belong
ing to the live civilized tribes In tin-
Indian territory for the purpose of
creating a forest reservation , two
members of the president's cabinet
Secretaries Hitchcock and Wilson
endeavored to Justify their course by
stating they had the best Interest of
tbe Indian at heart.
The cxp'anation was made before a
select sennto committee , which Is In-
Inbo
vcHtigating a alrs In relation to bo
property rlgals of the nvo tribes , ut
the committee declined to accept It ,
nnd Senators Clark of Wyoming.
Teller , Ixmg and Drandegeo declared
that the Interior department had suspended
,13OS
pended a statute of the United States
without authority and it was the duty
of Secretary Hitchcock to immediately
cancel his order withdrawing the land
from allotment. The same senators >
said ( o Secretary Wilson and Chief
Forester Plnchot that it was their
duty to withdraw their request to the
secretary of the interior for a sus
pension of the allotments.
PRESIDENT ANSWERS SENATE'S
RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY.
WOULD DO SAME THING AGAIN
Calls It Blackest Crime In Annals of
the Army and IB Sorry Guilty Could
Not Be Detected and Punlohed With
Death.
Washington , Dec. 20. President
Hoosuvell'H message dealing with his
nctlou In dismissing from the army
the iiegio troops of the three compa
nies of thu Twonty-llfth Infantry fur
nished the one topic of luteinsl In the
ooniito'u session. A lively debute lot
lowed the reading of the muBsago UB
to what would ho done with It. For-
aker wanted It sent to tlio military
committee , with Instructions to niako
further Investigation should the com
mittee deem It necessary. He said
that In reality much that appeared to
bo testimony was really not testt
inony , as much of It was not under
oath. ! On objection irom Senator Clay ,
thu semite postponed action.
The president , after describing nt
length the "shooting up" of tlio town
of Brownsville , said In part :
"A blacker crime never stained the
annals of our army. It baa been sup
plemented by another , only luss black ,
In the shape of a successful conspir
acy of silence for the purpose of
shielding those who took part In the
original conspiracy of murder. Some
of the non-commlBBloned oillccrs and
many o' the men of the three com
panies In question have banded to
gether In a conspiracy to protect the
assassins and would-be assassins who
have disgraced their uniform by the
conduct above related. Many of these
non-commissioned onlcrrs and men
must have known , and all of them
may have known , circumstances
which would have led to the convic
tion of those engaged In the murder
ous assault. They have stolidly and
as one man broken their oaths of en
listment ' and refused to help discover
the criminals.
Not as a Punishment.
"People have spoken as If this dis
charge trom the service was a punish
ment. I deny emphatically that such
Is the case , because as punishment It
is utterly inadequate. The punish
ment meet for mutineers and mur
derers such as those guilty of the
Brownsville ascault is death , and a
punishment only less severe ought to
be meted out to those who have aided
nnd abetted mutiny and murder nnd
treason by refusing to help In their
detection. I would that It were possi
ble for me to have punished the guilty
men. I regret most keenly that I have '
not been able to do so.
"Be it remembered always that
these men were In the service of the
United Htati's , under contracts of en
listment , which by their terms and by
statute were terminable by my direc
tion as commander-in-chlor of the
army. It was my clear duty to Ter
minate those contracts when the pub
lic interest demanded It , and It would
have been a betrayal of the public In
terest on my part not to terminate the
contracts which wore keeping In the
service of the United States a body of
multlneers and murderers.
"Any assertion that these men were
dealt with harshly because they were
colored men is utterly without founda
tion. Oillcers or enlisted men , white
men or colored men , who were guilty
of such conduct , would have been
treated In precisely the same way ;
for there can bo nothing more import'
ant than for the United States army ,
In all Us momberBhlp , to understand
that its arms cannot ho turned with
Impunity against tTie peace and order
of the civil community.
Hie Efforts for the Negro.
"So far as was In my power , I have
sought to secure for the colored people
all their rights under the law. I have
done all I could to secure them equal
school training when young , equal op-
portunlty to earn their livelihood , and
achieve their happiness when old. I
have striven to break up peonage , be
cause I would hold myself unfit to be
president if I did not feel the same
revolt at wrong done a colored man as
I feel at wrong done a white man I
have condemned in unstinted terms
the crime of lynching perpetrated by
white men , and I should take Instant
advantage of any opportunity whereby
I could bring to Justice n mob of
Inlynchers. . In precisely the same spirit
I have now acted with reference to
these colored men who have been
guilty of a black and dastardly crime
In one policy , as In the other. I do not
clalm as n favor , but I challenge as a
right , the support of every citizen of
this country , whatever his color , pro
vided only ho has In him the spirit
of genuine and far-sighted patriotism. "
Dairymen Confe'r With Wilson.
Washington , Dec. 20. A delegation
of dairymen , headed by George 1 * Me'
Kay , professor of dairying at the Iowa
state college at Ames , nnd F. A.
Leighton of Dos Molnes , had n brief j
conference with Secretary Wilson
concerning the standards of butter
,
which are to be fixed by the regula
tions of the agricultural depart went
under authority of the pure food law.
,
They gave their views as to the
amount of fats , water and other In
gredients butter should contain The
secretary Informed them the matter
I would receive careful consideration.
THE CONDITION OF THE WEATHER
Temperature for Twenty-four Hours.
Forecast for Nebraska.
Condition ! ) uf thu wuutliur an record *
od for tlio twenty-four liourii ending
nt 8 n. m. today :
.Maximum II7
.Minimum 17
Average 27
llnnmu'lcr 2,7I ! )
Chicago , Di'c. 10. ! Tlio bulletin In-
Hiicil by tlio Chicago Htallon of tin ;
United Hlalcn wonlhor bureau ilvi'it
tlio forecast for NcbniHlui aH followit :
Fair tonight and Friday , except rain
or HIIOW W 'H | portion. Cooler tonight.
OTEAMER W. T. SCOVIL DE
STROYED BY EXPLOSION.
AT LEAST 10 PERSONS KILLED
Of a Passenger and Crew List of Fifty
About Half Are Mlsslno Many of
tbe Dead Are Negroes Disaster Oc
curs Near Vlcksburg , Miss.
Vlckshurg , MHH. | , Doc. 20. One of
thu moHt disastrous accidents In tlio
hlHlory of thu MlBHlHHlppI rlvur oc
curred at 11 a. in. , whun tlio steamer
W. T. Hcovll , plying In tlio Vleksburg
and Davis Hcnd trade , waH destroyed
by an oxphmlon. Owing to thu largo
number of negroes on board , It Is 1m-
ponHlblo to iiHcurtaln tlio exact number
of dead and Injured , but otllcors of the
boat , who arrived here , stated that
not leHH than sixteen were killed.
They Hay a lll < o number were Injured.
Tlio white dead arc as follows :
Captain .lobn QmickcnboBB , master of
tbe boat ; Clerk Wade Qiiackenboss ,
Lavell Yorger , cottonseed iwlesnnin ;
Clerk Joseph Smith.
Of a passenger and crew list of fifty ,
about half are missing. The negro
dead and a number of Injured were
cared for at tlio place of the accident.
Five ilegrocH WPIO brought to Vlcks-
burg on the Hleamcr Senator Cordlll.
with the white dead and hijured.
The aceldent occurred at Gold
Dust landing , about seventeen mlloa
south of this city. The boat was at
the landing , taking on freight , when
siiddeiih an explosion occurred. Many
of the timbers of the boat worn
thrown hundreds of yards. The boat
was HO badly damaged Hint she began
to sink Immediately. When tbe Cor
dlll lefr bore she wan listing heavily
nnd her pnnrn of 1 ( KM sneltH of cotton
seed and eighty-five bales of cotton
will lie lost.
FATAL EXPLOSIONOF FIREWORKS
_
One Fireman Killed and Three Others
Fatally Burned at Savannah.
Savannah , Ga. . Dec. 20. By the ex
plosion of dynamite in the fireworks
factory of Joseph Carbo and John
Nivu. Italians , at 531 Anderson street.
Fli eman ISaly was burned to death ,
Assistant Fire Chief George Munro
and Firemen Jerry O'Leary and Ed
ward Daley were seriously and possi
bly fatally burned. The proprietors
were painfully burned nnd a boy was
struck In the fnce by Hying debris
and severely hurt
Carbo nnd Nlva were counting tor
pedoes they had manufactured. One
torpedo dropped and caused the ex
plosion of the rest.
FOUR PERSONS DIE IN FIRE.
Another Fatally Burned In Small
Blaze at Buffalo.
Buffalo , Dec. 20. Four persons were
killed and one was fatally burned in
a small fire In the Kenohln apartment
house , on Prospect avenue , at the
corner of West Huron street. Other
occupants of the place had n rrow
escapes , hnlf a dozen being rescued
by the firemen.
The dead nre : F. M. Lambrccht
and wife , Huth Crumllsh and Mrs. J.
J. Fischer of New York.
The building was llatlron shaped
and had narrow , winding hallways , in
which the victims , confused by the
flames and smoke , lost their way and
were overcome.
PURE FOOD LAW UKDUR FIRE
Assertion Made That It Shuts Outside
Wholesaler Out of Iowa.
Dos Molnes , . Dec. 20. An effort will
bo made to have the pure teed law ro-
pualed at the next sesbion of ttio leg
islature , or at least to have It rad
ically amended. It is asserted by
agents of grocery houses outside the
state that the operation of the law Is
such as to force the grocery retailer
to buy all his goods from an Iowa
wholesaler. The law provides that a
grocer can require of a wnolesaler , In
side the state , a written guarantee that
the goods are according to the pure
food law and holding the wholesulur
liable to all flues and penalties that
may be visited on the retailer If they
are not. This piovlslon can bo niado
to apply only to Iowa wholesalers , and
hence the tendency of the Iowa re-
taller to buy of the Iowa wholesaler.
It Is believed by some that ths Iowa
law and similar laws trom othei states
is responsible lor the fact that Seurs-
Roebuck & Co. of Chicago , a mall or-
dcr nous0' lias announced that It will
go out of the grocery business Jan. 1.