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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1885)
t THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. THIRTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA , NEB. , FRIDAY MORNING , APRIL 10 , 1885. HSIO. 200. f THE FIRST BLOOD. Gen , Kamemr Plants ttc Bnssian Flag in the Citadel of Penjdeli , K | | Four Thousand Sauoy Afghans Driven Up the Monrgh Abi Clear Sailing on the Hori Eood to the Heart of Herat , Ml England Excited and War Seems Certain , A Financial Panio Prevailing in the London Market , England Will Demand of Russia an Explanation Of Russian Conduct in Attacking the Afghans , Coupled "With Demand That They "Withdraw Iroru I'cnjach at Onco. ANOTHER. "WAIl CRY. A RUSSIAN ROW WITH THE AFGHANS. ST. PBrERsntmo , April 9. The Official Messenger this morning publishes the follow * ing : "Gen. Kamoroll reports that in con sequence of hostile manifestations by the Afghans , ha was compelled to attack them The Afghans wore posted upon both banks of the river ICushUln in fortified positions. The fight oocurred on tbo 30th of last month. The Afghan force consisted of 4,000 men with eight guns. They wore defeated with a loss of CXX ) men. All artillery , two standard banners , the entire camp outfit , and all of the provisions of the Afghans were captured , ThoKusiinn loss waa three subalterns , ten soldiora killed , and twenty-nino wounded. When the fighting ended Kamoroll returned acroas the river to the positions formerly oc cupied. Gen , Kamoroll altio reported that some British oilicera who had been eye wit- nossosj , but not participants in the engage ment appealed to the Kussians for protection when they saw that the Afghans were beaten. But unfortunately , ho says , a convoy which no sent immediately to the relief of these offi cers was unable to overtake the Afghan cav alry who carried the British away with "them in their flight. A FINANCIAL COLLAPSE. LONDON , April 9 , ll:20-Thero isa _ great de pression in financial circles hero this morning , it Is but too evident that the leaders of the street fool war ia certain. Consols which closed laat night at 07 7-16 for bath money and account , opened this morning at 96 ? . Kn&tlan securlties/iro about as weak as they well can bo , having declined three points since last nigbt. 11:30 : p , m. Consols made further heavy decline and the feeling upon the street is de cidedly panicky. Consols are now quoted at 85 for both money and account , .Russian securities made a further decline of three points 110W IT HAPPENED. Baron de Stael , Russian ambassador , bo- lloves the fighting in Afghanistan was even more serious than had been reported in tbo different press dispatches. M , Lasaer , in an Interview to-day , said the Afghans caused the fight through attacking a number of Jtussian pickets , and driving them from their posts. 'The Hussions then retaliated , when a general engagement ensued. There Is great excitement on the London Stock Exchange , amounting almost to a panic , over the naw.s of the h' ht in Afghanis tan , which Is regarded as a declaration of war. Foreign funds demoralized , Russians quoted at 82J. ANOTHER RATTLE. A dispatch to tlio Times from Gnbran , dated April Ud , states that the Rueslanj , making a pretext of changing the position of their outposts on the Afghan frontier , at tacked I'enjdeh on March 20th , and drove the Afghans out of their position. The Afghans stubbornly resisted tbo assailants. The weather was wet at the time of _ the at tack , which rendered the muzzle-loading guns of the Afghans useless Two companies held tbo position against the Russians until its de fenders were killed , The Afghans retreated to Morauchan in perfect order. The Russians made no pursuit , Tha Saranks remain neutral but plundered the Afghan camp , The Russian losses are said to bo great. British oilicers re mained until tha Afghans offecUxi their ro- treut , when they joined the camp of Sir rotor l.umidim. The India office received no official dis patches concerning the battle between the Afghans and the Russians , General Kamo- roll's dUpatch in the Official Messenger has boon telegraphed to each member of the Brit ish cabinet. THEHI1UATION CRITICAL. The Telegraph in an extra edition to-day status that the gravity of the news from the Afghan border has not been In any way di minished by advices received by the govern ment The telegraph wlra to Meshed 1ms been cut for some time , Tha Telegraph has a dispatch from AlUhabad which states Gen. Kainorolf , after the victory occurred at Pen- jdth , which had long been bold by the Afghan zarrlaon , occupied the place , The Telegraph expresses the fear that a British oQicer fell in the battle at Penjdeh. 11 * . M. A cabinet meeting Is now beinir bald. The result of Its deliberations awaited with much anxiety , THK imiTISlI CABINET. &L1BUINU TELEORAU3 ABOUT OIIE AfQHAN FRONTIER , LONDON , April 9. It was ascertained this afternoon that to-day's session of the cabinet had not been called as it bad been given out , merely to prepare for this evening's openintr of parliament. The real purpose of ths ses sion waa to diicnss the alarmlug telegrams which were coming in from Sir Peter Iurns- dan , The tint of these despatches was received yesterday , but , as It came in an incomplete state , It was not acted upon , although It wasot an alarming nature. Action was postponed in order to get tie full text. Tha telegram reads thus : "A large tone it.of Russians from Pull Khatti made a severe attack on the Afghan outposts at Penjdeh > ' , " at thu the most important point , THE DESPATCH WAS DBOKEN OfT evidently through tha catting of tha wires. It WM decided that Sir Pet r Lnmsden had gone at once to Guloro for the purpose of remaining maining on guard at Ilobtt Pass on the road to Herat , no doubt wat entertained that be twen the time of the receipt of tbo broke : dispatch and to-d y's development * , the gov rnment wbilu believing that the Afghan de faat at Penjdeh was really leas disastrous than reported , still considered the incident unl M satisfactorily explaiadd , "A CAHCB BU.U. " The cabinet also diacosMd the question of al one * sending six Iron-clads DOW at Malta , to U ) Dtrdenelles , There is great agiUtlot this evening In all the government departfr mcnts , It Is stated that 12,000 REINFORCEMENTS WILL RE AT ONCE tent to India. Tlio first army lescrvo wll probably bo called out immediately. Earl DufTerln at Rowal Pindi to-day was informed bo tslegraph of what had occurred at Perydek. Ho at once told Abdurahman , the ameer of Afghanistan , and the native Indian chiefs who are in attendancontthe ) council. ! The na tive chiefs unanlmusly recommended the im- lodiato throwing of tmops Into Af- , hanlatan , TnU recommendation has been placed before the homo government In London , Later in the day the surmlsoof the government in regard to the movements oi dlr Peter Lumsden Were substantiated by the receipt of a telegram from him at Gulran. This telegram was dated April 1 , and com pletes the broken dispatch. It states officially that the KuBsians attacked tbo Afghans entrenched in their position at Pebdeh , and slaughtered two hundred of the garrison. Seventy thousand British and Indian troops now stationed along or near the north ern Indian frontier may , It is thought , reach Herat in time to prevent the capture of that important point by tbo Russians. THE CABINET HAT I'd It TWO HOCUS. Granville , British foreign minister , after the adjournment , bad a separate interview with Muslims Pasha , Turkish ambassador to London , and Baron do Staal , ambassador from Russia. Mr Gladstone , H the house of commons this evening , in answer to interrogatories , said that on Saturday the cabinet had con sidered Russia' * reply to England's proposal to limit the zone of survey to the debatable points. Kuskla's reply was an agreement to do this provided the zone of survey as marked out by Kngland was extended southwest so as to include the Parapamissan ranpo of moun tains. The government' considered that this reply did not advance the question toward a conclusion , and won dissatisfied. Within the past twenty-four hour ; , however ; said the premier , subsequent communication had been received from Russia and this appeared , in the [ opinion of the government , to place the matter in A MORE HOPEFUL POSITION. Being asked what was the nature of this sub sequent communication , Gladstoce said that It would bo impostlblo at prpsont for the gov ernment to mtUo any further statement con cerning the pending negotiations about the Afghan frontier. In view of the grave occur rence ju t reported , continuing , Sir. Glad stone said it was evident that the Russians bad attacked the Afghans , and the Afghans bad in this attaok boon defeated , after mak ing a galltnt resistance. It was apparent also that the Russians after the fight bad re turned to their former position , or nt least to the left bank of the Kushk rlvor , wh'ch might bo equivalent to such a retire- ment. Tbo government had been informed , the premier went on , that the Russians had made every endeavor to induce the Afghans to begin the fighting The Russian troops had twice attempted forcibly to pass through the Afghan picket lines. After one of these attempts bad failed to provoke on Afghan at tack , Captain Yatea met the Russian chief of staff and talked to him about the conduct of the Iluisiaa soldiers , being an evident violation of the Russian agreement not to advance pending tbo outcome - como of negotiations. Tno Russian officer stated he had NO KNOWLEDGE THAT ANY AGREEMENT existed agnlnst the Russian'advance. Capt , Yates geforred to the official dispatch aent from St. Petersburg on March 17th to Loudon assuring England that ordeJs should be at once sent to the Russian officers at the front directing them to forbid any advances and to do all In tboir power tojprovent the provoca- tion of the Afghan ? . The Russian officer declared - clared that he know nothing whatever of any such arrangement. Mr. Oladstono commenting on this , raid that England had kept her part In this agreement up to March 30. At least thn Afghans had made no advance nor any forward movement of any kind. So far as the information poss essed by the minister went , the government , Gladstone stated , must regard the attack by Russia upon Penjdeh as unprovoked. The government had ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION of this attack from Russia , but of course sufficient - ficient time had not yet elapsed for the receipt of an answer to this request , Sir Edward Thornton , British ambassador to St. Petersburg , had , however , last night , telegraphed that M. Do Glerrs. Russian prime minister , had expressed for himself and fortho _ czar an earnest hope that this unhappy incident might not prevent thu continuation of negotiations for peace. This remark was greeted with shouts of derisive laughter. Sir Stafford Nortbcoto ( tory leader ) at this poin niose , and , recalling the premier's statement just made that the government balieved that niter defeating the Afghans in Peujdeh the Russians had retired , asked , sarcastically , if f It was not moro reasonable to believe that , ufter driving the Afghans out of Peujdeh , the Russians had stayea and occupied the place. To this Mr. Gladstone said that of course the natural inference would bo that the Russians now occupy Poujdeh. Concerning this state ment , however , the premier added , EOUE UONFPBION EXISTS , because the statement that the Russians oc- cuoy Penjdoh etnenatea from a British officer , who had loft the spot at tbo time of the flight. Whilst Sir Edward Thornton reports subse quently to this , that M , D. Gierrs had stated that the Russians after attacking Afghan did not ocupy Penjdeh , Many questions at once were asked Mr. Gladstone about the ambiguity of the expression used by M , Co Glcrrs , and whether the Russians might not have occupied Penldeh with out having occupied it immediately after the battle , Mr , Gladstone evaded this questionjas Idle , and to the others said that the government had no reason to believe that any aggressive act had been done by the Af- phana to provoke an attack onPonjdeh , This declaration cauiod a sensation and for a mo ment the housaresotiududwithcriosof "Hear ! Hoar ! " ENGLAND WILL DEMAND AN EXPLANATION OF RUSSIA. LONDON , April 9 , England will at once de mand of Russia an explanation of the Russian conduct in forcing a battle upon tbe Afghan/ . This demand will , it is understood , bo coupled with a demand for the withdrawal of the Russian forces to the north of Samakhs. A letter received from Meshed , whence it waa dated on the 7th of March , states that it was at that time rumored that recently tbe Afghans bad sent a force out from Herat , and that this force bad attacked the Ruisian troops in Xulfikar pais and compelled them to retreat from the pass. This letter added that the rout of the Russians on this occasion waa so complete that forty of their soldiers and two oilicers were driven to seek lefuga on the Persian slda of the Herri- rood river. M , _ Le sar , Russian Afghan boundry commissioner at present In London , in an Interview published in tbis e enlng's Pall Mall Gazette concerning tbe statements made in this u.eshcd letter stated that bo re garded the news of gravest importance , if it awas true. Ho added that Meshed , if readable - able , afforded a complete explanation of Gen- KomarolTd attack upon tbe Afghans at Penj- . dull. dull.Mr Mr , Gladstone tbo jn house of commons ap peared anxious and care worn. Lord Ran dolph Churchill on entering the house was warmly greeted by both conservatives and liberal members. Tbo general opinion ex pressed In lha lobbr xiU was that nothing can prevent war. When Mr. Gladstone declared that the Russian attack on Penjdeh appeared to be an unprovoked ( egression the house warmly endorsed his praise , . M , Lesjar , in further commenting on the - news from tha Afghan frontier laid ben. > Komoroffs return to Pulikhista after defeatIng - Ing the Afghans showed itns , that the Russians > oebad no designs to Peujdeh occupy during ne gotiations with England , * - HE BEHEVID THAT THE EXPLANATION ? . ' D. ? .Gi would be satisfactory to heel English government. The nU-Rnj ilan feeling - ing In both parties in the houit of commons amounts to pa&tloa. If ItuuU't explanation of the attack on the Afghans be delayed orb incomplete , tha British government will tra forced to declare war ot resign. The decline In consols since th opening of tha Afghan frontier dispute has been 5 per emit , , which equals the fall in consols at the opening of tbe Crimean war. The dally Telegraph says Russia through out hns Intended to give England trouble and put affronts npon her. Unless reparation is afforddod , not by the help of joldcn bridges , but In accordance with our distinct and stern demands , wo must do our duty by India and ourselves , and W.IRO such a war as will insure to India repose for half a century , Later In the evening Gladstone , asked by Sir Richard Cros , laid that the government had received another telegram from Sir Peter Lutmdon , which landed to qualify the state ment made by him ( Mr. Gladstone ) in reply to Sir Stafford Northcoto , which was bated on Sir Peter Lumsden's statement that tin Afghans hod made no advance either before or after March 17 , Sir Peter Lutns- den now says , continued Gladstone , that when the Russians threatened an attack on the Afghan frontier by advanc ing in force on Aktope. The Afghans throw out a vidotto and oxtondcd their pickets to Pullkhistaon tho-left bank of tbo Knsh river , and ( ( radnaliy Btrongthod this position until on March 30 the bulk of their force had been transferred across the river. Sir Peter Lumsden is of the opinion tbat the movement does not consti tute an actual advance on the part of I ho Af ghans , but merely the occupation _ of a moro advantageous military position , M , Lotsir wishes to inform tbe government that the whole of the facts known in connec tion with the affair bave been stated by Gladstone precisely as received , The Morning Post states that one-third of his entire force from the Soudan for service olsowhero. Most all of the owners of the collieries in EngUnd and Wales , have cancelled all orders for coal to bo shipped to Russia , at the risk of being sued for breech of contract. LONDON , April 9 , The Post In an editorial says it is almost impossible to deal patiently with Gladstone's statement that ho has asked Russia to explain the attack on the Afghans , and the additional statement that M. De Gierr's hoped the incident might not Interrupt negotiations. Even these most desirous of peace , the Post says , must feel thatall nego tiations are now closed. The question lies in a nut-shell Russia either did or did not ac quaint Gen. Komoroff with the agreement of March 17 , The majority of the Paris newspapers con sider war between England and Russia inevi table unless Prince Bismarck at once uses his influence in favor of peace. THU STANDARD'S EDITORIAL. LONDON , April 10. The Standard believcH the news of the battle between the Russians and Afghans was known to tbe ameer before ho made his speech at the Dunbar , The Standard editorially Bays : The last point which Russia claims , even If it is not yet occupied , ia in her grasp. Her soldiers have won it by an act of provocation and f > shameless violation of a solemn promise made on the Neva. England has acted in good faith , oven with a chivalrous scrupulosity akin to simplicity. Wo have looked for tint honesty in others , continues the article , that we have practiced ourselves. Wo have our reward we are once moro nn the brink of a war which may involve both Europe and Asia , ST. PETERSBURG , April 9. The Russian force in the engagement with the Afghans consisted of two battalions of regulars , some Cossacks and Col. Alikhanoff's Turkoman militia , numbering in all 1,000 men. THE MORNING POST. LONDON , April 9. The Morning Post says the | government has had telegraphic corre spondence with Gen , Wplseley with reference to \ a proposition to withdraw tha B.itiah troops ( from tba Soudan. * The Daily News says : The agreement be tween ( England and Russia that there should be j no advance of the outposts must now have reached tbo chiet of the Russian staff on the Afghan frontier. If that agree ment be adhered to the war may still be averted. The crossing of the Kkushk river j by the Afghans might have justified n further advance i on the part of tbo Russians , but net a direct appeal to arms. The war can now i only be avoided by a prompt disavowal by I Russia of Gen. KomarolFs action , and a guarantee ( against its repetition and by hon orable < action on her _ part regarding the joint boundary commission , which np to tha present time the Russians have mocked and evaded with scarcely d isguised cynicism. The past affords httlo ground for the hope or be lief that the Russians will observe with greater fidelity her obligations in the futurn. Advices from St. Petersburg state that many oilers are being received from the .Finns to serve in the Russian navy. Finland has agreed to equip ten torpedo boats in addition to the seventy which Russia has already In the Baltic. Mr , Guilders boa postponed for the week the pre sentation of the buJget in the housa of com mons. The postponement is presumably due to the anticipation of the &voto on the question of war with Russia. A St. Petersburg dispatch says it is reported 1 among the Mahomedans of the northern Cau 1t 1f casus that the czar of Russia and the sultan of f Turkey nro allies , The belief is ( reneral at St. Petersburg that the relations between those two rulers nro extremely friendly , The European press considers that both England 1t and itusfla want time to prepare for war but that a conflict is certain. 1f LONDON. April 10. The Times editorially says : "Neither the dignity nor the interests of the British government can be secured by wrancling In parliament , Gladstone's statement in the bouse of com mons yesterday was worthy of England's rep resentative. If it did not breathe defiance it had the ring of constancy and resolution , which neither foreigners nor English men can mistake. Even if wo are content to pass the affair aa an untoward Incident we will still have to reckon with tbo Afgans , whoso troops lie dead upon the field and cannot , If we would encounrer the risks of a surrender to General IComarolfs defiauve to the orders of his superiors , It rests with Russia to purge herself of this dishonesty by acts ol adequate and conspicuous reparation , The immediate recall of Gen. Komaroll and retire ment of Russians from all the positions of Afghanistan they have lately occupied will , perhaps , repair the mischief. The duty im posed upon us will not be ndertak n in a spirit of levity but is ono tbat England is capable of fulfilling , and we will not Hindi until It is fulfilled. " FOREIGN AFFAIRS. SIR PETER LAJJBDEN AT HERAT , LONDON , April 8 , The government be lieves that Sir Peter LamsdonBritish Afghan boundary commissioner , is now at Herat , which ho will fortify and hold if necessary against the Russians. The ordinary defences at Herat are ; reported to bo In good condi tion , It Is stated that the promised orders to have the Russian advance stooped , of which M , Degier * , the Russian foreign minister gave assurance be would send , were so managed that they did not reach the headquarters of General Kauiaroff until after his attack on tbo Afghans. ENGLAND DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION FROM RUSSIA , LONDON , April 9-The St. Petersburg merchants telegraphed their agents at Parts not to consign goods for them via Baltic Bea in English veiseli. Parliament reassembled to-day after Easter recess. In tha bouse of commons Gladstons con firmed the intelligence ef a battle between inbe Russians and Afghans , and said : "From information which the government has re ceived of the fight , tha Russians have appar ently been guilty of an unjustifiable attack ron the Afghans. England has demanded from Russia. full explanations in ifgard to the affair , In conclusion ha said tha government had received no Information in oorraboration of the report that tbe Russians had occupied Penjdeh. " OLD SOtDIEBS PIUUMIUNG FOB WAB. TOBONTO , April 9 , Tha news of tha battl * between the RuMlaniand the Afghani created great eieltoment. The newspaper bulletin b sards were surrounded by groups of pooole. Old soldiers are preparing for active service in accordance with the notice posted last week at the pension office. CHINA ADHERES TO TEACE PRELIMINARIM. PARIS , April 9 , Government advices from Pckin state that the Chinese government ad heres to the peace preliminaries signed on the 1th Inst. 11IK JtAIint DEFEATED. DONGOLA , April 9. The mahdi has boon severely defeated at El Obcid. Ho has made the announcement that bo will not attack Dongola until after the fast of Ramadan , three months henco. THE BOURSE PANIC. FRANKFOUT-ON-TIIE-MAIN , April 9. The bourse hero at the close buricrod on n state ol panic , VIKNNA , April 9. The bourse hero closed panicky , TUB I'lttNCB Oi' WAI.IS TAKES A STEP IN THE niOUT DIBICTION. DUBLIN , April 9. The prince of Wales with his sonPrince Albert victor and a small party of friends spent the afternoon In the vi cinity of soma of the slums of the city enter ing some of the worst dwellings , Thopriuco freely denounced their broken floors and roofs and sanitary wants and eald bo hoped that such dwellings would soon bo swept from the face of tbo earth. At the Bnmo time expressing sympathy with the oc cupants. Mobs of uncouth and wild looking men , womou and children continually sur rounded the pnnco , who received them smil ingly and waa greeted in return with loud cheora. He shook hands heartily with many of those nearest him and the old people in voked blessings upon the heads of Prince and Princess of Wales and upon Queen ( Victoria. THE AMEER IV ORS AN ALLIANCE WITH THE BRITISH. BOMIIAT , April 9. A dispatch to the Gaz ette from Rawal Pindar says the conference between Lord Dufferin and Abdurrahman K lm has resulted in I ho ameer strongly favoring an alliance with the British , BEBLIN , April 9. The benne hero was Very weak all day. Sales were forced , and this created a panic. Towards the close ex change on St. Petersburg , which yesterday was 201 , closed to-day at 11)3. ) PARIS , April 9. The Paris bourse was demoralized - moralized to-day. Heavy declines in London and Berlin produced a panic. All interna tional stocks fell heavily. Sales' wore forced to secare any price obtainable , owing to the fears nf the heads that runny engagements will go unmet , and that prices must recede much further still. TUB HALIFAX TJATTALLION. OTTAWA , April 9. It seems to be decided that the government will send no moro troops to the northwest. It is possible that orders to depatch the Halifax battallion may bo countermanded. THE FUELING IN CHICAGO. A LIVELT DAV ON "CHANGE , CHICAGO , April 8. There was a war panic on 'change at the opening this morning , pro duced by the exciting news from London and St. Petersburg , to tha effect that fighting had already occurred on the Afghan frontier. The rapid decline in consols indicated a crisis of some character , but the exact nature and real purports of the intelligence was not known to the grain traders. They wont in blindly , however , on general principles , and May wheat , which closed last night at 83c , rose by stagea of Jwlic at a jamp to 83Jc , where the market rested for a moment , then under free offerings and a partial subsidence of the scare , prices dropped off only 2c to 8GJc. then rose again to 8Go and is now quoted to SGjjc , but with a very fever ish feeling stdl prevailing and prioosjluctuat- ing mildly. All tbo other markets took en the same excited tone-,1 though in a modified degree , Oorn opened at 43&o for May , rose to 44c , with active trading , but has fallen back to 43jjc.Oats Oats opened at S3c for May and are quoted firm at 32c. Pork opened at $12 0 } for May , rose to 812 30 and is now quoted at $12 20. The heaviest buyers In the pita , were the "shorts" the greater majority of whom appeared thoroughly frightened and bought freely. The outside buying orders were numerous but generally could not be filled owing tt > the limi tation placed upon the prices , There was a sharp call for margins , but thus far no failures have been reported , and conservative men declare that the trade ! can stand the strain i very well as the great short interest In the market is supposed to be the heavy traders. A few of these displayed little concern , remain ing outside the pits and issuing their May orders to their brokers. Of the heaviest traders on 'change , but who are seldom seen on the floor of tha exchange , were present in force . this morning to personally superintend their ' purchases anil sales. Noon The excite ment on 'change is again rising very high and is probably greater thin any time since the Russia-Turkish war. Cables : report a very strong feeling in foreign grain markets with prices mountine for American grain and rumors of war are again rife. Buy ing orders continue to be placed at this hour in great volume , After dropping of to 86 for May wheat ad I- vanced for that month to 88o and has smie fallen back to S'Jc , with June at 9Jc * May corn islllc , May oats 33iJ@33ic , May pork $12.85 , May lard ? 7.00. THK TREASURY. HECRETARIT MANNING'S NEW PRACTICAL SIS- /TElt OF JIOOK-KEKI'INO , Special telegram to THE BEE. WASHINGTON , April 9 , For several days after the wiping out by Secretary Manning's magic sponge of that "erroneous surplus" which furnished tbe theme for PO many dis courses by Hendricks and other democratic orators during the presidential campaign , the free traders in Washington were speechleca with amazement that the $10,000,000 surplus which bad figured for years in every free trade speech In congress , ami In every rev eaue reform editorial , as tbo chief stock argu ment in favor of tha crippling or destruction of American manufactures , and debasement of American Industry had vanished In a day through a ( imple and easily comprehended change In tha form of stealing the public assets and liabilities , by THE DEMOCRATIC SECRETARY 0V THu'lREAHURV , nnd without any actual increase or diminua * tion of tha cash in the treasury , The free traders were in a sad dilemma , but some of them begen to show signs of partial recovery after frequeut and earnest consultations , and severe mental exerciser , they have agreed upon a new plan of assault , which is ed In the Washington Poet of to-day. It appears that the "necessity" for a "reduction of the tariff is none tbe IMS urgent than If hand surplus were ten times its present sura , " and that the "highest protective duty does not al ways produce the most revenue , ' ' The oppo nents of "tariff reform" consequently ' ' ffii find but little to console them iu tbe fact that THK BCBl'LDS IN TUB TRSASUBT is no longer excessive , for even If the surplus were much smaller than it is , tbe need for revision would be still equally Imperative , be cause "the primary object of the present tariff" is to benefit certain favored Interests and industries at the expense of thn people , Prom this It is clear ' that ( secretary Manning' ) system of book-kaepin ? has produced at Irait ; one good result , it hai forced tha free traders openly to avow their real purpose to cripple and destroy American manufacturing indu stries , or to ferce American wages or the condition of the American workingmen down to tha European level , and in either ciae tc allow the British , French and German manu facturers to fix and repulala the price of overj manufactured article used or consumed by the people of tha United States. Furniture Factory Burned. PITTSDDEG. April 9. The furniture man nfactury of M Siebert tc. Co , , was tota'ly ' des troy d by fin to-night. Loss fully 9100,000 ) Insurant * about 100,000. Origin of fire an known , f CHICAGO'S ELECTION The Tfiiws , Sluggers and Thugs Cap the Climax liy Stealing the Third Preoinot Third Ward Ballot Boxes , Which Were Left in .a Livery Stable Office Lookod'Up for Safe Keeping for the Nighti A Saloon Keeper , Named Don- nelly , Implicated , A Pane of Glaus Broken Out ol the Door and tlio BOXCB Removed. CHICAGO EtiEOTION.I mj BOBBERY OF TUB BALLOT-BOXES OF THE THIRD PRECINCT OF THE THIRD WARD. Special telegram to tbo BEE , CHICAGO , April 9. The entlro community is ablaze ta-day with indignation over the per- potratisn of an outrage which almost throws into the shade the exploits of Mackin , Galla gher & Co. It is not "lino work" this time that the invaders of the ballot-box have resorted - sorted to. It is ruffianly rrork of the boldest and most desperate kind , and yet thoroughly in keeping with other methods employed by the gang to retain their disgraceful ascend ency in the administration of municipal af fairs. In tbe Third ward the contest between Drake and Fitzgerald hod b < en a very bitter one , and in the Third precinct of tha ward Drake's majority on tbo face of the returns was made out as 347 and in the ward 1,039. The vote on the city ticket gave Smith a majority in the precinct of 903 , and in the ward of 899 , Th'o polling place of the third precinct of the third ward was Holund's livery stable ; the judges of election for that district were Isaac Holands and Simon Quintan republicans , and Goorga Todd democrat. The clerks were W. P. Campbell and H. L. Vandevoro. When the count was finished lost night , Simon Quinlan , ono of the judges , who was sick in bed , and by special request to which there was no objection , URGED THAT THE BALLOT BOXES tally sheet ? , where both city and town returns were , bo lett in a small room off tha office of the livery stable , there to remain until this morning when tbey would be delivered to the city clerk In accordance with the require ments of the law , they were accordingly locked up and deposited in a small roomtthe keys being laid on the boxes , and left there for the nightI The room Is partitioned off the livery office and is about five by four feet and has two spring locks. There was a glass pane in the door through which any one could look and BOO what was In the Inside , At ten minutes past 0 o'clock this morning a conpo drove to the corner of State and Twenty-second streets , near Holand's livery stable , which is about half a block from the corner. All was auiet about the place at that hour , none of the employes being astir. When some of them did get around it was to find that the pane of gloss in the door of the email room HAD BEEN BROKEN OPEN , the Yald locks unbolted , and both ballot- boxes with tbe tally sheets and everything carried off. Of course the alarm was at once given , but nothing could bo dona about the disappearance of the boxes until the young man , who turned out to be the driver of the coupe , came to tha stable. Ho hod heard of the robbery , and came promptly to report what ho knew of the occurrence. He said that early this morning he was awakened at bis livery stable on Twenty-sec- end street , near the corner of State , by a man , who 'wanted a carriage or coupe sent right away to the corner of State and Twenty-second street. The man who ordered the coupe went along to Howard's stables , telling the driver to wait till ho returned , Tlio driver recognized the man as the former proprietor of a saloon at the corner of State nnd Twenty-second streets , whoso name was Connelly. After a short whllq a stranger came back to the coupe carrying two boxes under his arms. Connolly wcs not neon afterwards by tbe driver. The man with the boxes jumped into the coupe and told the driver to drive on Ito forty-first street , which lie did. When ho came to the corner of Forty-first and Ualsted streets , the UNKNOWN MAN JUMPED OUT , AND TAKING THE BOXK3 under hit arm disappeared in a saloon at the cornor. Tbo driver of coupe , said lip never thoupht at the time there was anything sus picious in Oilmen's movement. When news got abroad this morning that the ballot boxes and tally sheets had been spirited away , there arose a wild excitement in the neighborhood , The police were at once notified as were also the detectives. Search was at once begun for the thieves , The judges of election come In fora considerable share of unfavorable comment in the ward lor their singular want of caution in leaving the box in such a place unguarded. When tbo news of tbo affair readied the ears of the committee of public safety they wore astonished and indignant and said if tbe judges had notified them that tbe boxes were to be left tboro all night they would have bad a squad of a do/en men or more if necessary to guard them. The Chicago Election Muddle. CHICAGO , April 9. The situation growing out of the close municipal election contest in this city has been complicated by the theft of a ballot box of the third precinct of the Third ward. Tha box was stored in a livery stable > on Twenty-second street , when the balloting occurred , but the ttore-room was broken Into and the bos : carried off. The precinct re turned 575 for Smith and. 26(5 ( for Harrison , and the thtft is supposed to have been for the purpose f concealing some irregularities Tha matter has been placed in tbo hands isof detectives , and it is rumored that some of the guilty patties are known. The republicans have decided to contest Mr. Harrison's elea-i tion , and Mr , Harriion declares he himself wishes a recount , and says be boliorea a re count will increase bis majority , CHICAGO , April 9. The police to-night ar rested a stock yards saloon keeper and rough character known as "Dutcny" Keefo , and ha has been identified by the hack driver as the man who carried away tbo boxes , The driver Koefe rode in his hook says to Forty- : second street near Halstead , where he got out with the boxei , telling him ( the back man ) tend 'drive ' on to Halstead : " that he did to , and that Keefe returned in abont ten minutes it bout the boxes. Warrants are also out for the arrest of Pat Condon , a West Side saloon keeper , and for an unnamed person , whose description answers to that of "lW Sheri dan , who has been Implicated in rims e'imlnal eaten. Handy Filio , the bookman ID - the case , has also been arrested. The fact of the robbery of the ballut box naturally created greit excitement in political circles , in view of the recent exposure of the Klgbteenth ward frauds. The detectives have been npon the cue all day and the following facts appear to have been disclosed : A coupe * was engaged by a saloonkeeper named Con- Dell , about 4 o'clock this morning , the drivei ; beta ? ordered to go to the comer of Stats md ! Twenty-second streets and wait for a passe * gcr. Shortly afterward a man bearing what was undoubtedly a ballot box appeared and entered the coupo. Ho was driven to the corner of Halstoad and Forty-first streets , where ho entered n saloon and disap peared. No Arrests have been mado. .Tho loss of. the ballots'will seriously effect the re sult on the mayoralty and South Chicago as sessors , * WASHINGTON NEWS. BARRIOS' DEATH CONFIRMED. WASHINGTON , April 9. Mr. Pcralta , the Costa Rica minister , to-day received the fol * lowing cable from President Salvador : SANTA ANA , April 9,1885. Wo confirm a oomijloto victory at Chalalaupa , the death of Barrios and his sou , Don Venanclo , ( Signed ) DIVAB. STRUCK BT LIGHTNING. While a heavy storm was passing over the city yesterday afternoon the Washington monument was struck thrco times by light ning , without causing thn least damigo. THE UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. WASHINGTON , April 9. Senor Bocarra , minister from the United States of Colombia tcd this govercniont , has received an official despatch from his government , dated at Bogata , 81 h inst. , stating that tranquillty pro * vails throughout the republic except at Panama ? , Sabauilla ami Santa Marts , which Itd says are in the bands of the rebels. The despatch also states that the government Is organizing In the state of Cauca adjoining Panama , nn expedition of 1.50J troops , which will bo sent to Panama as soon as possible to suppress the revolt In that state. xBil * * ' 'iCl ! 81T THE PRESIDENT HAS A JOKE ON A DEMO CRATIC SENATOR. WASHINGTON , April 9. The following Is told las ono of ( the incidents at the Whlto house to-day , A western democratic senator called to press the appointment of ono of his constituents to an assistant commlsslonership , When I was practicing law , said the presi dent. I found that an instrument in writing usually outweighed nn oral statement. You senators scorn to bavo a habit cf sinn ing petitions for candidates and then you ask voibilly fcr the appointment of others to the very eamo positions. I can't afford to wasta time considering such requests. Half the democratic peuators have signed a petition for the retention of the in cumbent of this place , and your name is on the list. I don't know the man , hut ho is certainly well endorsed. " "Oh , no ! " said the senator , "I have not sigrcd such n paper. " Thereupon the president ia Bald to bavo pro duced the petition hearing the senator's sig nature as eUted. "I never was so flattened out In my life , " remarked the senator , when narrating it , OLD MEXICAN WAR CLAIMS. WASHIJ.GTOV. April 1) ) . In 1843 congress passed an act allowing all officers who bad served in the Mexican war thrco months ex tra par , wktch was then decided by the ac counting officers of the treasury to apply only to the officers of volunteer service and not to the officers of the regular army , who were supposed to go wherever ordered with out additional compensation. The qaestlon has been agitated over since , and in 1879 congress passed an act de fining the act of 1818 to include both the regular and volunteer officers , which was again disputed by the treasury officials. Par ties interested have since through a legal de cision established their claim , and before com mencing payment , the treasury department has furnished the secretary of war with a list of claimants to ascertain if they ore In any way indebted to the government , This list comprises many names prominent in military history , such as Generals Winfield Scott , Robert E. Leo , Persifor A- Smith , David E , Twiggs , Albert Sydney Jolmttone , Gideon .T. Pillow , James Longstreet , and others. Payment is to be made to the survi vors or published heirs. GENERA : GRANT , ANOTHER DAT 0V BEST. NEW YOKK , April 9 , 83J a. in. General Grant slept eight hours during the night , and awoke feeling much refreshed. Pulse 64 , reasonablr full , temperature normal. General Grant slept continuously from about eleven last night until seven this morn ing when ho awoke and took nourishment plenteously end well. After the morning treatment of bis throat , the patient walked about the room. His mind was clear at the waking and afterwards. The general's con dition is so favorable to-day that the physi cians deemed immediate medical attention not necessary through the entire day , At four this afternoon a consultation will bo held. Until then no bulletins will bo issued. At 10 a. m. Senator Chaffep left General Grant's houso. He said anodine was admin istered to the general at 9 o'clock and ho was then sleeping. It was stated by Mr. Chaffea that a recurrence of the bemorrhago Is re garded to improbable. That the family and physicians are perfectly cany on that score is evinced by the absence of all doctors from the house. THE QUBEN'H HY.MPATHY roil OEN. GRANT. NEW YORK , April 9. The following corre spondence passed : Aix LES BAINSJ , April 8,1885. Mrs. Grant , New York : The queen , who feels deeply for you In your anxieties , commands me to in quire after Gen. Grant. ( Signed ) DOWAGER MAKCHIONESS OK ELY. The following reply was sent : NEW YORK , April 9 , 1885. Marchioness of Ely , Aix LBS Bams : Mrs , Grant thanks the quenn for her sympathy , and directs mo to say that Gen. Grant is no better , ( Signed ) COL. GRANT. OEN. GRANT'S CONDITION IMPROVED. 5:15 p. m. A consultation was hold at ' 1.30 p. m , , lrs. Barker , Sand , Shrady and Doug las present. It was agreed that Gen , Grant was in an improved condition. Ho has been quite comfortable all day , and has moved about tbo room several times. Pulse CO , tem perature normal , ( Signed ) J. II. DODOLAH , M. D. GEO , F. SHRADY , M. GENERAL GRANT STILL IMPROVING. Senor Homoro called at the Grant mansion during the afternoon. On leaving he said the general's improved condition was shown in his face and pulse , Ho takes food with more relish , and talks more cheerfully with bis family. Ho was kept under the inlluenco of morphia all the time for when he was not under the Inlluonca of anodyner , the pain was only bearable by himself. In the opinion of Senor Romero , General Grant has. however , more titna to live than the doctors grant him. Le Karen Dalven- sleben. the German minister , and Le liaron De Schaeffer , the Austrian minister , called during the afternoon , TXe latter was told that General Grant was somewhat stronger , but that ho was in a critical condition ; her was Improved temporarily , After consultation this afternoon , Dr. ) 'Barker ' said that General Grant was bettor. He broathoi easV , tin upper part of his throat was bettor. Indeed ho wan so well Dr. Brrker would not attend again until the Saturday C3n ultntlon 111' . M. General Grant has been very quiet all the evening ; his pulse is Gi , temperature - ture 99. He Is now sleeping quietly , ( Signed ) J. DOCULAH , M. D. Affair * in I'anmnm , WASHINGTON , April 9 , Oapt. Norton , com manding thj Hhenandoah , informs the navy department that he landed about 150 men in Panama for the protection of American in- tereits. Secretary Whitney replied : "Your duty is confined to protection of railway and steamship companion' property and tbo II VM of American citizens , and so far at your forces permiti to keep the transit open , In the con flicts between the local forces you mutt lotto participate nor show favor nor disfavor to either. " Secretary Whitney to-day received a li patch from Comuiandrr Mahan , _ of the Wichtuaot , dated La Liberia , which says : "Barrios is certainly dead. Toe Nicaraguan troops entered Honduras , touting tin enemy , who retreated in dis I - order towards Guatemala , A telegraa from Seal Dover to the authorities here say * Mexico will make a formal alllana with Seal Dover. I expect this will end the . I trouble without another ihot. It is probabl > < tooth armies will march on Guatemala City. ' LONGS AND SHORTS. The Clash of Arms Between Rossia and Afghanistan Advances the Price of Wheat Five and Three-Eighth Cents , Oorn Moved Along Olosely With Wheat , The Oattlo Trade in a General Way was Slow , 'The Hog Market Opsnod Slow- but Closed Firm , Provisions Bouyant and IVrk Makes nit Advance ot Forty Cents a Barrel. CHICAGO MARKET. Special telegram to tlio BEE , CHICAGO , April 9 , There was a frenzy of excitement in trading on 'change to-day , oc casioned by disturbing war rumors from England and Russia. The WHEAT. market has besn pointing upward for a few days on homo Influences in view of the bad outlook for the growing crop , but the report of the clash of arms between the Russian and Afghan outposts beclouded all ordinary in fluences , nnd traders found at the opening this morning that wheat was valued Go higher than the close lost night. The bustle and commotion occasioned by the now order of things , made itsoft felt not only in the ex change building but extended to the La Sallo and Washington street clfico of tlio brokers. Early in the morning excited groups had gathered to discuss uuorpected receipt of the war news and the market on thu curb was 3o higher for wheat than at the close yesterday. The grand scene of turmoil and confusion , however , was re served for the floor of the exchange. Heavy traders , who are rarely Been on the floor , were present in force long before the bell sounded and were as thick in tlio fray as any of the young traders and brokers. When the market opened there was a hundred running to cover by the "ahorta , ' but many of the "long" traders were willing to take the profits in sight , and there was a free exchange oE options , which is well evidenced by the fact that although the wheat market closed Djjc over the close last night no failures were re ported. The buying orders from tbe outside were very numerous , and while there were evidences during the session of heavy Irads of wheat being thrown overboard , the general sltuat'on remained strong enough to sustain tbo market well up to tbo best figures of the day. The'appreclation in wheat was tjo over the closing yesterday and at the afternoon board there was another advance of go The foreign markets were all reported strong and higher. CORN moved along closely with wheat and closed Igo over yesterday. Oats advanced fa while pork advanced 40 cents a barrel. CATTLE business in a general way was rather slow , the demand for ordinary shipping and drestod beef steers and other fat cattle was light and every buyer wanted a reduction of 10@15o. Sellers were not prepared to make the reduc tion asked for , hence transactions were few. Steers 1050@100 ! ! pounds S4 50 5 20 ; 12CO © 1300 pounds § 5 10@5 ( if : 1400 ® 15.r)0 pounds 85 70@0 00 ; butchering stock 8275(84001 ( stockers $3 40 ® 120 : feeders $ -115 ® 170. HOGS , The market opened slow , with nricea rather weak. Later there was a sharp reaction , ac tive demand nnd slight up turn , the market closing firm , Common and rough packers sold around about 34 40@4 CO , and fair to good mixed $4 C0@4 CO , with best assorted heavy at $170 ® 175. Receipts for the week so far are about $ ' > 000 loss than for the same time last week. ThoIllinolH SrHINamLl ) . April 9. In the house this morning what is known as the truck bill , in troduced by Morgan , of WiU , providing that employes shall bo paid in cash for their ser- vices nnd not in trade , was called up for third reading. It caused a Bread deal of din- cuesion pro and con , A vote was taken and resulted in ayes 91 , nays 21. The result was received with choars by Its advocates. The bill to appropriate 3500 per aunum to the Dairymen's association to publish reports , on third reading failed to pass by a vote of 19 ayes , nays 59 , Notice was given to reconsid er the vuto. In joint assembly onf ] ono yoto was cast. Fuller raovod to adjourn sine die , but the speaker refused to put It. The assembly adjourned till to-morrow noon. The Bonato passed Whiting's drainage bill this morning without a dissenting vote , The minority report of the committee on Judiciary on liny'd change of venue bill was adopted and the bill sent to the second road- ing. Several bills were advanced to the third reading. rouble 'With tlio Ijumonr , III. , Quar ry inon. CHICAGO , April 9-Information is received frcm Lament to-night to the elfect that two hundred of the striking qnarrymen from Joi- iet wetit there to-day and , going from q'uarry to quarry , drove out tin men at work , and putting a stop to all work at that place. About 900 men altogether were driven out. The dotallH are mtngrs , but do not indicate that anyone was killed or seriously wounded. It is uudentood that tbo proprietors oi thu qutrrys will ask the governor to call out tbo militia. Striker Sli | > t My Dotoulivo I'liilcorlnn. CHICAGO , April 9 , About noon to-day one of the strikers at tin SlcCormickreaper fac tory attempted to stop one of the company's "busses on iti way to the works A. S1'inlt - erton , detective , inside the 'bun , ehtt the man dead. Trouble In feared , THOS. ( LANOV , WHO M.MH ) AN AHRAULT upon Melville- ' , Stone , editor of the Daily News , while the latter was at ttin polls , was fined 20 to-day , . Doubla Tragedy In Mlnsoui-1. I'OPI.AU BLCKF , Mo. , April U. A bloody tragedy , growing out of family troubles , was enacted hero lut night , and cauiod great ex citement. Louis Derry , a member of the city council , and at one timn city marshal , ihot bis wife four time * , billing her instantly , and thin blew out his own orainr. Jealouxy is alleged as the cause of Deny's act , he having Mctisnd his wife with being too intimate with another man , Brltlttli HcKervcB Called Homo to Kngland. TOBONTO , Ont. , April9. The members of tboBrituh army reserve eildent here have been ordered to hold themtelvM in re umen I to return to England. Tbeie are 4,000 , of " I them in this country , k