Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, March 19, 1887, Image 1
1 HE OMAHA DAILY BEE. SIXTEENTH YEAE. OMAHA. SATURDAY HORNING. MARCH 19 , 1887. NUMBEK 27Q IT WOULD ONLY BE A FARCE A Letter from tbo Editor of the Bee to the Bribery Legislators. WHY HE FAILED TO BE PRESENT. The Impossibility of Proving the Charts With Open DOOM The Committee HcaahcsNo Con clusions House Do I MRS. The LINCOLN , Neb. , Maich 18. [ Special Tele cram to tlio UKIJ.J The commlttGO to In vestigate the charges of E. Hosewatcr against curtain members of the judiciary com mittee of the hourfe , met at U o'clock this 111 ornl ii ( ? . All tlio members were present. The following communication was read by Mr. Dempster , the chairman : Tin : OMAHA DAILY BiK'EdItorinl : ' Hooms , Omaha , Neb. , March 15 , IbST To Hon. John A. Dempster , Chairman of the Special In vestigating Commlttun of the llonso of Hep- resentattves My Dear Sir : Under the now conditions Imposed upon your committee , I have coino to the conclusion that It would bo a costly fnrco to undertake to estab lish the charges which 1 have made In Rood faith. The memorandum which I had placed in your hands when the com mittee llrst organized contained very ample nnd circumstantial proofs against the parties Implicated In the conspiracy to defeat ecnato lllo number ninety-eight I relied upon my ability to have the witnesses named In the memorandum examined separately , within closed doors , oxpectlnir , of course , that your committee would also oxamlnn each of the members accused of collusion and give him an opportunity to explain his conduct by his own testimony and If possible to clear himself by furnishing you corrob- oratlvn proof to overturn the charges. It would be utterly Impossible with open doors to carry out such n programme , hence the end would bo a more acknowledgement that money had been collected for the purpose of defeating the bill , but that prods were want ing to confirm the charge of conspiracy. That would whitewash the very men whom I know to bo guilty by a super abundance of proof nnd by their own conduct on'tho lloor of the house when the charges were preferred. I can even establish the fact , if necess ary , that members of the judiciary committee Implicated In the conspiracy concocted the scheme Monday night to break up your committee by Insisting upon the addition of MX members of their own choosing , and to thwart the object of the Investigation by forcing the committee door ? open. Their success shows that the plotters nnd their con federates In the lobby wield a baneful Influ ence In the house. It had been my Intention to push the Investigation , ( ns I told yon per sonally ) , have the committee sit at Omaha Wednesday and Thursday , and tinlsli the Inquiry by Friday. This course being now Impossible , I respectfully request that the proceedings bo dropped , ns they would only entail needless expense upon the state. Urgent business compels me to mnko a trip to Cleveland. If , upon my return next week , the house persists In making the Investiga tion , i shall bo at your service. Very truly yours , E. KOSKWATKH. This caused a venomous discussion , some of the members Indulging in personal abuse of the editor of the BIE : and questioning his motives In making the charges already re ferrcrl to In these columns. Mr. Helper pre sented the following : Itcsolvcd , That the chairman of this committee compel the attend ance of E. Itosowatcr before it nnd compel him to testify in the case now pending of cbargcs preferred by him against some of the house members of the judiciary committee. A vlvn voce was taken upon the adoption of the same and resulted 'n a tlo , Mr. Ellis not voting and Mr. Craig being absent. The meeting adjourned till 1 o'clock this af ter noon. All the members were attain urescnt when the committee met this afternoon at 1:45. : The minutes of the meeting thus far hold , culled for this morning , were read by Secretary Craig. Mr. Peniberton naked whether , as tar as Sir. Itosnwatcr had laid his icomplnlnt before the committee anything had been mentioned which showed ncalnst whom tils charges were made. Mr. Dempster stated he had gone with Mr. Hose- water and had his complaint sworn to before Ouy Brown. When Mr. Itosowater returned ho stated If the meeting of the committee were not to bo be held In private ho'would reserve the right to present his charges In another man ner. This was agreed to by all the members of the committee. The complaint was then Hied with the secretary and the latter had rend about one page when the committee was summoned to the house , which was then acting upon the question of opening the tloors of the sessions. But no names of the parties accused had been read. Messrs. ( Jill- inoro and Alkin explained that they did not understand that the complaint was to be re turned to Mr. Ilosewater. Mr. Mln- nix said he did not know that there was any understanding by Iwlilch Mr. Itosewater was to bo given back his com plaint Mr. Keipor again presented his reso lution of the morning. Mr. 1'embertoii ob jected to Its adoption. It was Mr. Kose- wntor'H intent to keep these charges before the people without doing anything to substantiate them. Mr. Peters said the only thing for the committee to do was to re port to the house that there was nothing for them to do ana ask to bo discharged , and thus exonerate the parties charged. Mr. Kelpor's resolution ttns lost. The committee then went Into secret session to prepaie a report which they will present to the nouso. The committee remained three hours cogi tating over a report. The discussion oo raslonod the widest division of sentiment , nnd at one time It was thought every mem ber would make n report of his own. A majority report , with an appendix by Messrs. refers and Pemberton , was prep.tied , while Air. KolM | > r quietly pocketed a minority r - port which voiced his own feelings. Some of the members signed one report , then withdrew their names , and handed them to another. I'tio diversity of feeling was such that the gentlemen flow off at tan. gents to that degree , that the original Intent ot making a report to the house before the af < turnoon's adjournment had to bo abandoned and another session of the committee called for 4 o'clock to-morrow. Later It was thought the matter could bti settled at the night session of the house , the only obstacle bolug the failure ot Mr. Craig to sign some ol the reports referred to. Hut that gentleman failed to appear at the night session , and tlu momentous question went over till tomorrow row moinlnir. Doing * In the House. LINCOLN , Neb. , March 18. [ Special Tole cram to the IiKK.1 The house woni Into committee of the whole to consider bill on tbo general tile , with Mr. Raymond , ol Lancaster , In the chair. Senate tile 174 was passed to await n full house. The bill pro vldlng' for the erection of abuldlniranc | laundry at the institute for the feeble-minder ut Beatrice , nnd appropriating f.TO.000 there for , was amended by reducing tlio amount t < S''o.ooo and recommended for passage , House mil 417 , providing tor the levy ot a tax o three-fourths of a mill hi 1SS7 and IbS' upon the assessed valuation ot all property In the state to pay for Indebtedness con tixctcd In the erection of the new cap I to ,1 , XVJJ token up. The amount required is s S1KS.QOO. The levy for the two years on i basis of 1145,000,000 would reach * 210.000. A I deficiency of 10 per cent would give the sun n tested , Mr , lilllur moved to arnenc 1 II r vatl 41. , , by making the levy at ono-hnlf n mill , and said that the supporters of the bill made the. lemiest with out making any show of the necessity of the same. Mr. Caldwell held that a one-half mill levy would bo Inadequate today the Indebtedness. Mr. Miller got Mr. Caldwcll to admit that the amount asked for would bo nullielent to complete the capital. Ho then directed the latter's attention to bill 215 providing for the sale of all unsold state lots In Lincoln for the completion and furnlslilngof the same build ing and impiovingthogiounds. Mr. Caldwcll showed that the amount of the sale of the lots would bo required to fur nish the capltol and beautify and maintain the grounds. Mr. Keif , of Hall , opposed the bill , taking occasion to denounce the present cnnltol as a failure , and prophesying that in ti lew years It would bo n mass of uiins. Mr. llarlan said the only question was what was the amount of money needed. I he building Is In such a condition as to bo gieatlv Injuied If not covered when com pleted. It did not belong to the Lancaster delegation. It was the property of the state. The appropriation was n meritorious one. Mr. .Miller's amendment was lost nnd that of three-fourths of a mill adopted. The bill was lecorn mended to pass and .so reported. It was resolved that night sessions be held every day the lomalmlcr of the session , ex- cents Saturday. House Itoll 474 providing for the registra tion In metropolitan cltlo-i was advanced to third reading. On motion of Mr. Watson , of Otoe , rule 34 was amended lo require llf teen instead of five members to object to the aban donment of the call of the house. AFTERNOON tiUSSION. The house went Into committee of the whole on senate tile W. This bill prohibits grain dealers , partnerships , companies , etc. , trom combining to pool or tix the price to bo paid for grain , hogs , cattle or stock of any kind whatever and provide punishments lor the violation of the same. Mr. Iticf and several others spoke strongly in favor of the bill , and Mr. Ballarrt read from the constitution of what Is known as the Nebraska ( .rain Dealers' association , a com bination which ho said was conducted for the mutual protection of the members , not the people or the producers. He quoted trom the constitution already published In the BKK , showing how secret and close were Its meet ings. The managers of the association sat in a room In Omaha nnd telegraphed to nil Its members what price they should pay for grain. Members could not leave the associa tion without the consent of tlio managing committee , and other clauses provided for the payment of llnes > ns high as $ .100 In the event of disclosing Information belonging to the association. Their members pledged themselves not to sell grain to forolun buyers who arc not members of the association nor to soil to parties , except in n retail way , not members In this state. Mr. Itaydcn moved to Include coal com binations , and Mr. Caldwell amended to also include combinations in lumber , \Yhitnsald that every statement made by Mr. Uallaid was substantially correct , and that if this would have n tendency to break up or regulate the grain trade , it should also have a beiielicial effect upon coal nnd lum ber dealers. Mr. Harlnn said that ho feared that the amendments would kill the bill , although ho would not say that they had been introduced for that purpose. IIo did not think' it would bo good policy to add these amendments to this bill. The people In manv parts of the stnto would , he thought , npposo the amend ments. Ho knew that coal sold for different prices in di lie rent towns , nnd so Ion ; ns com binations had not been formed he thought there was plenty of time to think of the amendment in question. He would favor , however , asking the governor to send In n message requesting that some legislation be effected relating to the coal and lumber busi ness. The amendments were lost by n vote of 18 to 80. Sections 2 nnd 3 provide for the liabil ity or violators of this law , with reasonable attorney's fees to parties Injured. The bill was reported for passage unanimously. The hotiso went Into committee of the whole on the general lite. Senate tile 174. apportioning the s > tate with thirteen judicial districts and the appointment and eluttlon of officers thereof , was amended , making the following districts : First Hlchardson , Nernaha , Johnson , Pawnee and Gage counties. Second Lancaster , Otoo and Cass. Third Douglas , Sarpy , Washington and Unit. Fourth Sannders , Butler , Colfax , Dodge , Plattft. Merrick nnd Nuice. Fifth Saline , Jefferson , Glllmoro , Thaycr , Nuckolls and Clay. Sixth Seward , York , Hamilton , Hall and Polk. Seventh Gumming. Stanton , Wayne , Dlxop , Dakota , Blackbird , Madison , Ante lope. Cedar and Knox counties , and the unor ganized territory north of Knox. Eighth Adams. Webster , Kearney , Frank lin , liarlan and 1'helps. Ninth Boone , Wheeler , Greeley , Garlield , Loup , Valley , Howard , Sherman nnd Blaine counties , and the unorganized territory west of Blaino. Tenth Buffalo , Dawson , Custor , Lincoln , Logan , Keith nnd Cheyenne counties , and iinthe organized territory west of Logan. Eleventh Gosper , Fnrnas. Frontier , Red Willow , Hayes , Hitchcock , Chase and Duudv. Twelfth Holt , Brown , Key n Pah a , Cherry , Sheridan , Dawes , Sioux and Box Butte counties , and the unorganized territory north of Holt and Keya Paha. In the third district there will be four judges of the district court ; in the first f > i'C- end , fourth and seventh districts , two judges , and In each of the others one judge. The term of the judge shall be four voars. The governor Is to appoint judges to till vacancies created , Including the nine judgeshlps created by this act Mr. Fuller wanted to have the bill recom mitted to the judiciary committee and finally the committed on apportionment. This led to n lengthy discussion , as did also the at tempt of Mr. liny den to restrict the third district to three judges. The bill was 10- ported for passage. The next was the voluminous house roll 890 , redlstrictlnp the state In senatorial and representative districts , nnd apportioning senators and representatives therefor , the former being thirty-thrcti In number nnd the latter 100 ns nt present The bill wns favor * nbly reported upon. Keccssuptll7:30. : KVENINO SESSION. The house went Into committee of the whole on the general lilc , Mr. Smyth In the chair. House roll 1GO , granting n bounty of S"00 to all honorably discharged members of the lirst and second Nebraska regiments , and in cnsa of the death of such persons , to their widows and orphans , was read. Mr. Newcomer wanted the bill Indefinitely postponed because It would cost the state SiOOooo. : The surviving members In Nebraska did not want the bill to pass. The others were scattered all over the union nnd It would take twenty years to lind them. The committee on ways and means bad reported adversely to It The motion prevailed. senatci liln No. 0 , amending sections 17 and 24 and repealing section 20 of chapter 25 , reg ulating the property rights of husband and wile In case of divorce or Imprisonment for life , was recommended for passage. House roll 113 , provides that cities , towns , villages , school districts and counties may compromise their Indebtedness and Issue new bonds therefore. This bill Is mainly In tlio Interest ot Brownvillo and vicinity , which In ItOO Issued by means of skullduggery - gory 5100,000 In bonds for a railroad which has never yet been seen. Interest amountIng - Ing to § 05,000 has been paid , and a compro mise U now sought for relief. It was recom mended to pass. House roll i" , regulating procedure In dis trict courts In civil actions , was killed. House roll f > 5 provides for the removal ol guardians from cured Insane people and re formed spendthrifts. It was recommended to pass. The committee rose , reported and the house adjourned. Small Dlazo at Lincoln. LINCOLN , Neb. , March 14 ( Special Tele gram to the BEE.i Glttier Brothers' barn , lu tlio rear of cnzlno house No. a and adjoin ing Ensign's stable on Eleventh street , Was damasrd by iiro to-ulght at 11 : 0 , U is sup posed to have been the work of an Incen diary. Thu fire horses It contained were - saved This is the second time It has been . on Hie tli's week. a N'ohrnbkn ami low * Weather. Fqr Nebraska and Iowa Light rains 01 snow , followed by fair weather , becoming cooler , variable winds , shifting- westerly , VICTIMS OF A DEATH TRAP , * . Calamitous iPiro in a Crowded Hotel in Buffalo , New Tork. A NUMBER OF LIVES LOST. Heartrending Cries For Help Fro to the Flro AVallcd ( Snouts Desperate Leaps For Life llcsult In llcnth Sickening Details. Disastrous Fire. Bi'rrAi.o. March 18. The Hlchmoml hotel nnd St. James hall burned , early this morn- Ing. The loss Is fully half n million dollars. A number of lives nre reported lost nnd many injured. The lire was discovered nt 3:30 : this morning In the new Richmond hotel. The house contained n largo number of guests nnd their heart-rending shrieks could bo plainly heard. Ladders were raised ns soon ns possible nnd ns many as could bo were taken out. A largo number oj them were .inable to ctlect their escape. The corridor n the center of the building acted ns a great unncl and ns the Homes streamed upward ho guests found themselves Imprisoned by ivalls of lire. The screams of the unfortu nates could be. heard for blocks and at many windows they could be seen calling for help. At one of the third story windows two guests were seen to fall back into tlio flames. One man jumped from the fifth lloor to .ho roof of n two-story wooden building ad- iolning and was badly Injured. The number of those injured is not exactly knowp. W. M. Barse , of Olean , N. Y. , was terribly burn- id about the hands and wrists. A number of nsurnnco men were In the building and several of them were-badly Injured. Among hem were W. J. McKay , of Niagara Falls , 3. W. Dubois , of Syracuse , W. S. Dowoy. of iochcstcr and Clinton Bidwell , of PIttsbnrg , badly Injured , At the hospital are Charles Davis , of New York , U. B. Smith , ot the North British Insurance company , of New Ydrk , and Edward Whelan , of New York all burned about the hands and feet These nro probably not fatally Injuied. Fetch hospital contains eight men and one woman moie or less In ured. Two ot the injured are at the Sisters' liospltal and tour more at the general hos pital. THE nuii.DiNo is situated at the corner of Main and Eagle streets , extending through to Washington street. It Is now believed Hint nt least twelve persons were burned to death. The rapidity of the fire cutting oif the means of escape led some- persons to leap for their life trom the windows. Others got lown the fire escapes or on ladders raised by the lire department. The shrieks and cries of the poor people In the upper stories of the burning building were heart-rending. One man. mad with terror , leaped from the third story window , and was picked up from the stone sidewalk n mashed corpse. Several who succeeded in making their escape were badly injured and burned , and some of these will probably dlo. Three , moro fortunate , escaped with slight Injuries. There were 125 guests In the hotel , seventy of whom "were transient guests , eight boarders and the remainder porters , bell boys , and the families of the proprietor and clerks. Twenty-two ot these were rescued from the windows by firemen , twenty-two are at the hospitals and a largo number made their escape by other means. THE ORIGIN OP THK F1IIE Is unknown. William 11. All port , the night clerk , says : "There wns nobody up but my self , Joe , the night porter , and Plummer , the bell boy. I pulled all four of the lire alarms on the different floors , and the people came Hying down-stairs In their night clothes. The fire followed the elevator , and inside of live minutes had reached tlio top tloor. I rushed out of doors after doing all I could. " The bell boy. Plummor , tells his experience as follows : "I was dusting the reading room when I heard a shout and saw thn flames coining up the stairway from the basement Allport and I turned the hose under the main stairway. Wo straightened out the end , turned on a valve , but the water would not run , Then we gave the alarm. The watchman and I got n plank and broke in the Eagle stioet entrance to the hotel. Then wo got a plank under the/lire escape on Eagle street and wo helped the people down. 1 think there were about eighty-four guests In the hotel. " THE BPIIKAD OF FLAMES is said to have been terrible in Its rapidity. The elevator shaft nerved as a flue for the llames and they rushed up to the top lloor In a few moments. As the guests were aroused and saw the Interior exits cut off they turircd to the windows. They could bo seen In their night clothes standing before the lurid back ground of flames. Their screams were terrible to hear and could be heard for blocks. The llames spread to the southeast side of the hotel first The fire men did noble work and confined the tire to the narrow limits of three buildings. Thoii work of rescue had many exciting Incidents. The telegraph wires were as usual in the way of the ladders and much valuable time was wasted in getting them past the wires The second nnd third alarms brought the whole lire department to the rescue , but It wns Impossible to Have any part of the structure. The tire reached the roof In less than five minutes from the time It was discovered. The lire wns confined to the Hlchmond hotel am museum pioperty ana stores underneath , which were all destroyed. SLIDING DOWN A norn. The five girls who roomed on the fifth lloor made a rope out of bed-clothes and hung I out of the window , but none ot them secmcc to have courage to start At last one of the live took hold and swung down to the win dow ledge , from which she was rescued Three others came down in the same manner and then thu fifth girl started down She had none but Ba little dlstaneo when the rope parted and down she wenl four stories. Strange to say she was no Killed. Her legs wuio terribly cut and bruised and Injured and her face nnd arms are In a frightful condition from burns. Mark Osborn , day clerk and assistant manager o the hotel , Is missing. Amonz those seriously Injured are Perry Davis , of New York , Mar ; Nolan , Maggie Mumbach , a man iiamcc Nichols , Fanny Harvev , Frederick K. Moore of Cleveland , Ohio ; William A. Haven , o Helena , M. T. . chief engineer of t.lo North ern'Pacific railroad ; Edward A. Finch , o Scranton , Pa. ; Henry B. Humsey , and Jacob Kohn , of New York. It. 11. Humes occupied * room on the thin lloor. He was awakened by the electric bells and after arousing several people on the same lloor JUMPEn THROUGH A WINDOW to the kitchen roof. There everything ; was in llames. Ho made a rush for the Eagle stree door , going through the kitchen skyligh and out through the flames and escaped He left five persqns on the kitchen roof , am thinks they all perished. Thn dead bodies of William Purcell , of this city , two un known women and one unknown man are at the undertaking establishment To the list ot dead must undoubtedly be addct Mark Osborn. day clerk. The burned building was erected 1850 fo hotel purposes , ana was called the St James hotel. In IbCl it fell into the hinds ot the Voung Men's Christlai association. In October lost Itobert Stafford 11. P. Whltaker and W. J. Mann , took a lease of the hotel. Whltaker reports that a large amount of diamonds were In the hoto | afe lost night , probably of the value o * The number of people rescued by the fire men | g about twenty to twenty-five. Chle Horning said he called oil most of the men from the 11019 aqd let tb.e building go ( o while , giving alt thelt attention to the I rul ers. Additional names'of those Injured arc : lay Witte , of this cltv : Matthew Shannon , Mlnton Bidwell , Ncillo Welch , and Mrs. into Pierce. The body of n woman recovered his morning Is that of Knto Wolf , f Lockport Thu father of Mary Vclch , servant nt the Richmond , rcpoit- ii this afternoon that she wns missing ; t Is believed she perished. Another servant 'irl Is reported missing. F. A. Kohn nnd II. ) . Kumsov , ot Now York , nro not expected o live. No further bodle.s hnvo been found nt last accounts , nnd no others are reported Missing , TI1K DEAD AND DY1.VO. As far as can bo ascertained the dead arc as follows : KATII : KENT , MIHNU : KILIY : nnd KATIE lEitcB , servants. WILSON PrncT.LT. , of U (1. ( Dun & Co. MARK Osnou.Ni : . day clerk nt the hotel. .Mil. JOHNSON , n Toronto railway man. KATK WOI.K , servant , of Lockport The dying nro : JACOII KOIIN , Now York. HKNUV B. KU.MSKV , New York. MAnoir. MUMIACII , Buffalo. MAiivNoi.AN , Biiffnlo. EiiwAnn WiiEir.AN : , Newburg. Those who nre severely burned or Injured nro as follows : J. 11. Klneh , Scrnnton. Pn. ; C. K. Moore , Cleveland ; W. A. Hnrcn , Helena , Mont ; C. W. Dubois , Syracuse , X. Y. ; W. J. Mann , Mrs. Mann , Jcnnlo Mnnn , Buffnlo ; Miles Borse. Olean , N. Y. ; Mat Shannon , Chnilos Clinton , Bidwell ; Minnie Weller. Mrs. Kate Pierce , Nellie Welch , Nettle Harvev. all of Buffalo ; Barry Dawes , George F. Michaels , both of New York , and W. J. Mackay. Niagara Falls. A servant girl namea Walsh Is bolloved also to be among the dead. The wnlls of the jnrned building nre a menace to life , nnd until they nre rnlsed nnd the ruins cooled no search for the bodies can be made. It is un doubtedly a fact that at least thirty persons perished. The total loss by the fire will be $100,000. Of this amount the Buffalo library loses S13.GOO on the hotel and museum buildings which were insured for 800,000. Fuller A ; Townsend , clothiers , wore Insured for 845- 000. The stock wns n trttal loss and was valued at SCO.OOO. Peter Pnul ABro. . , nnd Albrlch & Klncsley , stationers , each lose 840,000. with SSO.OOO insurance. Severnl minor losses were sustained. Business Houses Destroyed. HOCK HII.L , S. C. , Mnrch 18. The postoffice , hotel , savings bank , First national bank and about ten small shops burned this morning. The loss is about $140,000 ; insurance , S'JO.OOO. A SIXTY-DAY LIMIT. The International Distillery Cnn Run That LionR Decisions. DBS MOINIS : IB-I March 18. [ Special Telegram to thoBEE.'l The supreme court to-dny granted an order of siipcrsedeas In the case of the International distillery to last sixty days. This allows the distillery that length of time in which to work off the pro duct nnd iced the 1,700 cattle that nro left with It under contract , nnd permits it to manufacture nlcohol'only for mechanical and medicinal purposes during that time , nt the expiration of which Judge Conrad's Injunc tion order goes Into effect and closes the dis tillery till si final disposition has been reached In the higher courts. It Is reported to-day that after the 15th of'Jnno the International distillery would close nny wny to accept the proposition of the Western Distillers' asso ciation , paying it a royalty for its capacity. The supreme court tinds the following de cisions hero to-day : McConnell vs Hutch in son , appellant , Davis district. Hevcrsed. First National bank of Newton vs Jasper County bank , appellant , Jasper district. Atllrmcd. V' Bnnk of Monroe , appellant , va Kills Glfford , Jasper circuit. Hevcrsed. Caroline Perkins , appellant , vs Samuel Hunkley , 'administrator , Johnson circuit Affirmed. Davidson , appellant , vs the Ilnwkoyo In surance company , Polk circuit. Affirmed. Missouri. Iowa & Nebraska Hallway com pany vs Braham , appellant , Jasper district Affirmed. Davis , appellant , vs the city of DcsMolncs , Polk circuit Alllrmea. State of Iowa vs Thompson , appellant , Jasper district. Reversed. Oppenhelmer & Co. vs Barrett , appellant , Jasper circuit Reversed. Herd vs Herd , appellant , Wright circuit Affirmed. Orcuttvs Hannah Hanson , appellant , Cedar circuit Heversed. Burlington , Cedar Rapids &Northern Rail way company vs Connors , appellant , superior court of Cedar Raolds. Hevcrsed , Seovers and Hothrock dissenting. State Insurance company , appellant , vs Hichmond , Kossuth district. Affirmed. THIS MAD MISSOURI. Heavy Losses Incurred at Bismarck By Floods Moro to Conic. BISMAHCK , Dnk. , Mnrch 18. The Wash- burn gorge broke last night nnd early this morning the river began to ilso rapidly. A gorge was formed below the city. Tlio ice carried everything with it and struck the I in inenso warehouse of the Northern Pacitic.ono of the largest In the world. The workmen narrowly escaped drowning , and In less than two hours from tljo time of the gorge the water was in the second stories of river boarding houses which had been built on what was considered high 'ground. The warehouse , which Is nearly TOO feet in length , was moved bodily over thirty feet and sent crashing against the bluffs. The loss on this building will bo over S1D.OOO. The meadow land south of Bismarck , com- Srising 0,000 acres , Is now ono vast sea and tin Ice Is ( lowing over the newly made chan nel in this body of surplus water at the into of ten miles per hour. The river at this point , which Is usually three-quarters of n mile wide , Is now over six miles in width. The Northern Pad lie trains will bo unable to cross the river several days nnd Bismarck will be the western terminus for the week. Superintendent Graham attempted to go to Mandan , but the water on the west side of the river Is flowing over the track lour feet and the fires In the engine were put out Alandan Is submerged , i'ho people in the lower part of the city have been moving Into the upper stories of their dwellings. Al the small dwellings on the banks of the stream have been swept nway or destroyed and steamboats lying * at Hock Haven are in danger. The high trestle of the Northern Pacific at this point has been damaged. At 1 o'clock the new channel which the river has cut across the prairie let out tlio Ice and the river is flowlnv slowly but tlio worst has not come. The ice went out ai Fort Buford this morning with a rise ol thirty feet , the hUhost ever known. This flood will not reach here until Saturday when there will probablv be terrible destruc tion. The loss at the river landing and on the meadow land will already reach $30,000 The Peruvian Debt , NEW YOBK , March IB. fSpecial Telegran to the BEE. ] There lu'stopplng at the lloff man house a gentleman who leaves on Satur day for London to conclude pending nego tlations for final settlement of the Peruvian debt. The gentleman Is Dr. Aranlpa. M. P ( irace , ot the firm of'W. ' It. Ciraco & Co. cameVum Peru with Dr. Aranlpa and , goes with him to London as attorney for the foi eign Peruvian bondholders. Ho gave tlio following facts on thd subject "Tho claims against Peru amount to about 33,000,000 , part of which , however , the bondholder : think the adjoining republic of Chill shank pay that republic having In dlsmemberinL Peru taken n large portion of the guano BIK and nitrate of soda deposits and the cus toms duties which wrre hypothecated to the bondholders. The scheme of contract which has been proposed by Pent advises the trans fer of all Peruvian rallioads to the bond holders for a definite mimborof years , the transfer of guano deposits , tire right to work the mines , cession of a large tract of land for the purpose of encouraging immigration and for the benefit of eoiporatlons , the rich to navigate the rivers and the cession of at Income from the custom house. In exchange for those offers the bondholders aie to ex tend the railroads and cancel all their claims against Peru. This project will bring pros perlty to Peru and develop her resourced , have no doubt of the adoption of the plan. ' M'CARTHY ' IN TIIE COMMONS , The Honored Irishman Takes the Oath ns Member From Derry , SPEAKER PEEL'S PROHIBITION. llor Gracious Majesty's Second Jubi lee Drawing noont Ilcooptlon The Debutantes and How They Actcil Other Foreign News. f.Jnntln'.nnck In Parliament. [ Cojij/rfyM 1SS7 ! > y Jiimts Hunion ItcimcIt. } LONDON , March 18. ( Now York Herald Cable Special to the BEU. ] I went this afternoon to the house of commons to sco Justin McCarthy tnko the oath ns member for Derry. McCarthy sub&crlbod to the oath amid cheers from members of all parties. Ills literary fame , his courtoousncss nnd geniality Ihnvo gained for McCarthy pop- ilarltyuven among his political foes. Among [ hose who cheered the member for Derry wns Mslato antagonist , Charles E. Lewis , who , since Mr. McCarthy went to America , has obtained another scat nnd has been created a baronet. Hearty personal congratulation followed the taking of the oath by the now and nt the same time old member , for Mr. McCarthy has represented an Irish constitu ency for many yoais bade. To ail the con gratulations of members Mr. McCarthy expressed - pressed himself delighted with the reception lie. had received In America. Fltr.EDOM OF UK1IATH nCSTKICTHD. Ho soon had an opportunity to compare the freedom of debate at Washington with the rapidly Increasing restriction at St. Stephens , and to learn what the newly con trived addition to the autocracy of Speaker Peel means. Shortly after Mr. McCarthy took his scat the fiery Dillon rose to speak ngnlnst nn outrage on the priesthood In Ire- Innd the renrrest of Father Kills for con tempt of court In refusing to give evidence In which he believed ho was privileged to do by his holy calling , Mr. Dillon had just said that Judge Boyd , who Issued the warrant , was a notorious political partisan , when the speaker stopped him , saying he could not allow a judge of n superior court to bo thus Impugned. A JOI'ltOMOltlC IIKI'I/V. An attempt was made to answer Dillon's attack by the new Irish secretary : "The nephew of his uncle , " as that four Is already dubbed In the lobby to the disgust of Lord Salisbury , Mr. Balfour's tone , manner and rhetoric Impressed me as being like these of any sophomore at an annual college exhl- hlbltlon. 1 saw Mr. McCarthy smile ns that four spoke. Was ho thinking of what he said about the now secretary to your reporter just oefoA he started for this country ? HER SECOND RECEPTION. QIIOCII Victoria's Kccond Jnbilco Drawing Iloom. [ Cnpvitolit tS liy James Gordon De ne.l ( ( LONDON , March 18. [ Now i'ork Herald Cnble Special to the BKK.J "Her Gracious Majesty , " ns Queen yictorin is styled by the court newsmonger , held her second jubilee drawing room this afternoon. A drawing room of to-day resembles very much a drawIng - Ing room of 1837 , only that the drawing rooms of fifty years ago were held In St. James palace , while now-a-days they are held In Buckingham palace. London "society" has grown , too , within the last fifty years , and consequently the crowd of baio necked dames and their daughters , who think It necessary to pay their respects to the queen , has incicased In numbers. The debutantes nro ns nervous in tills jubilee year as they wore titty ycnrs ngo. For half a century the "coming out" girl has rehearsed in private the nwlul ceremony by which she Is launched into society. In the secrecy of her bed room she has pinned a sheet to her skirts to represent a train. She has bobbed before chairs , posing as royal hlghnossns , and has done her "level best" not to turn her back on nny of the said chairs. But the debutante of to-day Is as awkward as the debutante- was when his late majesty , King William IV , was gatheiod to his fathers. Full ot pluck when she starts to bo presented , all the courage has oozed out of tlio tips of her fingers beioro Hlio has reached St James' palace , and by the time she has got into her majesty's presence the pushing crowd of women lias "knocked her sosiliy" that slio hardly recognizes her own name when the lord chamberlain an nounces it She has kissed the queen's' hand , she has made several "bobs , " but In her nervousness has forgotten to notice what the Princess of Wales wears. Then , all of a sudden , a page tucks her train under her arm , and the debutante scuttles away , bowl ! dercd nnd befogged , trusting In providence that she has not turned her back upon a royalty. Mrs. Arthur Post , nee Wnltlian , was to have been presented to-day by Mrs. White , wife of the first secretary of the United States legation. Temporary indisposition , however , prevented Mrs. Post appearing ai Buckingham palace to-day , and she will bo presented at the third jubilee drawing room , wtilcli takes place In Mar. ONLY TWO AMERICAN LADIKS PRKHRNTEP. The only American ladles presented were Mrs. J. I ) . Melgs nnd her daughter , Miss Nina Mclgs. Their dresses were much admired. Mrs. Moles wore a body and train in brochc of regenco nzuio. trimmed with cascades of llllles of the valley nnu roses. The train was lined on tlio left sldo with point do venlso ; caught up with a bunch of mnrechalnlcl roses and llllles. The lining of the tialn on the right side was of the name color ns the roses. The skirt wns of crcpodo chine azure , trimmed with cascades of ( lowers. The body wns trimmed with the same lace as the train The ornaments were sapphires and diamonds. The bouquet was of marechnlnlel and llllles of the valley. Miss Mclgs wore a body am : train velours do lyon , trinnncd with chlcoree mousseuse. The skirt was nf white crepe do chine. The body trimming nnd epaulettes were hyacinths and white heath. A cordellero of the same flowers fell over the fiont of the skirt The ornaments worn were pearls am diamonds. The bouquet corresponded to the floral trimmings. OTHER XOTAIH.KS PRESENT. The youngest member of the royal family ' present was the Princess Victoria of Wales Her majesty , the queen , displayed her cus tomary sumptuous black satin , trimmed with black gui pure , and the white tulle veil , sur mounted byadlademof diamonds and pearls. Her necklace consisted of four rows of largo pearls. On her corsage were the ribbon am star of the Order ot thn Garter , together wltl a perfect blaze of other orders. Itbemz the fortieth birthday of thoPrln rcss Louise , she and the marquis were celebrating brating the event elsewhere. The queen's face was wreathed with smiles doubtless from the fact that this affair was not numerously attended. Onlv two of the cabinet ministers wore pieseut , the lord chancellor and the home secretary , Mr. Henry Matthews , to each o vthoru drawing rooms nro comparatively novel affairs. France and Germany. PARIS , March 18. The Voltaire publlshe an interview with DcLesseps In relation i bis visit to Berlin. DeLessept professed com ! ilcte disregard for the attacks upon him by ho radical press ami malntntns the truth of ils assertion flint Germany nnd Franco were mturnl friends , having common Interests , lo said Bismarck tofd him he was glade o see Franco great nnd strong and \ouhi wish Germany to bo the snmo , so that ho two nations might be tumble to gauge the ncertnlnty of a fresh conflict ' ' .Mayo ot some day oxelalm , " continued the irlncc. "Hint wn would bo stupid to kill each then Let us Join forces nnd bo masters of ho world , wo ought to bo able to vork for the protrress of civlll/ntlon. 'he day our forces nro equal wo will ngnln lolrlonds. Our geographical position makes t our duty to neglect nothing to tlmt end , vhlch will Insure the peace of the \\orld. . 'hat Isvliy 1 congratulate you upon posses- Ing the eneiKCtle and soldtcr-like ( Scucml toulanger. 1 repeat that when our torces nro qunl the two people will Ir.Uernlzo. " itudcntH Forbidden to .Join Societies ST. PKTIMMIUUO , Mnrch IS. The minister if education hnsucciccd that students .shall lunceforth belong to no society whatesur , not even thssc sanctioned by the government , ns xpcrleuco lias shown that they nio liable to bo misled by political n ltators. It Is re- > oited thnt shells loaded with seven pound ) if dynamite and ! ! 00 strye'hnlno poisoned mllcts have beun found In the conspirators' odglngs. A nests of persons suspected of icing Implicated In the recent plot to assas sinate the c/.ar have lieon madnat Constndt nnd other garrisons. The police nt Odessa mve nrrested n gang of nihilists nnd seized n Quantity of explosives nnd tools used In he manufacture of bombs. Two girl stu dents have been flogged to Insensibility lor heir connection with the conspiracy. The Nihilist Plot. LONDON , Mnrcli IS. It Is now supposed hat last Sunday's plot lo assassinate the c/nr was planned by Degnieff , tlio famous nihilist leader , who was the author of the conspiracy three vears ngo. VIENNA , March 18. The fund being raised ) V tlio press ot ItuMsia for tlio benefit of the families ot the Insurgents executed in Bul garia has reached the sum of 10,000 roubles. The c/ar hns donated 5,000 roubles , the czar- na 3,000 and the c/.arewlteh 1,000 for the ben- ellt of the families. It is rumored in Vienna hatan upiising was attempted In Moscow Sunday , but was suppressed. \\lllBotnbardtho Town. XANzniAit , Mnrch 18. The French hnvo sent n man-of-war to bombard the Walled own of Johanna , the capltol of the Island of : he same name in the channel between Mo zambique nnd Madagascar. The reason ; ivcn by the French Is thnt the king of Jo- innnn refused to receive a Ftcuch tesldent nt his capltol. Against the Nasty Details. LONDON , March 18. Two hundred and : hlrty-five members of the house of com- uons Imvo signed a memorial In favor of the ircventlon of the publication of offensive de- alls In divorce cases. They will meet next week to decide how to bring the subject be fore parliament Mexican Securities on Halo. LONDON , Mnrch 18. Mnthoson & Co. hnvo offered for public subscription 810.500,000 worth of 0 per cent gold bondsof thodenoml nation of 81,000 each of tlio Mexican Nationa railway company at ttl per cent The Executions Ended. SoriA , Mnrcli 18. The regents have as sured the foreign envoys that no more per sons who participated In the recent Insurrec tion will be executed. Franco's Duty on Corn. PARIS , Mnrch 18. Thu committee of the chamber of deputies having the matter In charge has fixed the import duty on corn nt 3 francs. THE COMBINATION COMPLETED. Another Report That the B , & O. Transfer Has Boon Made. NEW YORK , March 18. Late to-day the statement was given out , apparently by au thority , in Wall street that the negotiations for tlio purchase of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad had been completed ; that the road lian been bought by the Stayner-Ives syndi cate ; that the first deposit of 5500,000 had already been paid , and that the transfer of the road to the purchasers would soon bo made. The buyers are known only by their connection with purchasH of the Cincinnati. Hamilton & Dayton railroad. The backer of these parties is reported to bo Christopher Myer , the millionaire rubber manu facturer of this city. A promi nent member of Richmond Tcimlnnl makes the statement that it was through Mr. Sully that the company wns Irced tiom Its entanglements ; that It was enabled to ac quire Richmond & Danville stock , of which more than 4'ojo shares out of Its U'.suo of 50,000 shares are now owned by thoTermlnnl company , and that It wns owing to his efforts that the control ot the East Tennessee had been acquired. For the first time since thu Baltimore & Ohio deal has been pending Sully to-day broke his silence so far as to say : " 1'es , I see that other parties claim to have pur chased thn control of the Balti more < & Ohio. 1 think they have made a deposit on account When the Terminal company decided not to exercise their option 1 told the Baltimore & Ohio people that while wo unanimously desired to com. bine our Terminal property with the Haiti. more & Ohio property , yet wo could not ask them , to .consider themselves In any way bound to leave the matter open. Therefore , If any disposition has been made it Is per fectly proper and right I believe the aiunl- camation of dividend-earning railroads into strong systems canot but add strength , power and increased earnings with resulting econo mies. If each f > e pa rate property Is self-supporting and revenue pro ducing , then combining their traffic must add strength and the net earnings of each part , provided , nf course , that the natu ral laws governing their traffic favor such combination. There Is nothing In this 'pol icy operating ngninst the interests of the pee ple. The people do not want poor , weak , eiunsculnted loads , unable to do business safely. What the people need is stroll' , ' , power ! til railroad companies , with means to iurnlsh the very best appliances for the safe , comfortable carrlnio of passengers nml frolght. Now Orleans Is clamorous for a fast mall hcivico. How can it be afforded if It must pass over halt n dozen dlfiorent lailroads each having different Interests and naturally warring with each other ? Combine tlmxi roads Into ono system nnd you have n power ful corporation anxious to bcrvo the public , to crealo nnd maintain the very best service , nnd thereby derive the best revenue. I think time will yet bring the Baltimore & Ohli Into tlio Terminal system. The Tormina' company now own 4,500 miles 01 ° road , mid an alliance of this road with tlio Baltimore A ; Ohio would tin of immense value to that property as well as the city of Baltimore. " TUB II. * O. KXl'llF.S.H COMPANY. CIIATTANOOOA , Tenn. , Match 18. The Times says It has positive Information tha the Baltimore & Ohio Express company ha : acquired the express franchise of the Kns Tennessee , Virginia & Ueorgln railroad , and all its connections from the Southern Kx press company. It will take cliar o of the entire system within thirty days. The Times savs this strongly signifies thnt thn Baltimore & Ohio has been absorbed by the West Poln Terminal , ns the latter recently acquired the Kast Tennessee , Virginia & Georgia road. Thn Bridge U'us BOSTON. Marcli 18. In the investigation of the Busscy bridge disaster to-day , Thco doro D. Moses , a civil engineer , said ho re pardod the whole structure ns n meclmnlcu deformity and considered It dangerous Within two weeks ho had spoken to .Super intendent Folsom suggesting that he mnko It bafo. _ Requisition For a Murderer. OTTAWA , Mnrch 18. The government ha received from the United States nuthorltie n requisition for the extradition of Francisco Trlnarco , au Italian who murduiod n lelluw countryman In Chicago about n mouth ngo Trlnaico oscaufd to Manitoba , but was ur rested In Winnipeg a short tlmo ago nnd | I now HI Jail there , GROVER'S ' SEMICENTENNIAL , President Cleveland Oolcbrntos tbo Fiftieth Anniversary of His Birth. NUMEROUS FLORAL TRIBUTES. 'oik , Plnrco and Grant thn Only Othc * Presidents Who llava Oclo- uratrd the Event lit the White House. Cleveland's Hair Century. WAsm.wro.v , Mnrch 18. ( Special Tele * rnm to the Hni.J The president Is fifty ears old to-dny. Hocelebnited the occasion > y giving his entire attention to public busl- less. This morning ho received n number of miulsomo llornl tributes accompanied by ongrntulations. Mrs. lloyt , the president's Istcr , arrived In Washington this morning nd Is n guc.st nt the white house. Only hreo picslilonts before Mr. Cleveland hnvo lad the pleasure of celebrating their semi centennial while in tlmt office. Tlicsowcro fames K. Polk , Franklin Pierce and Clcncral irunt. James A. Onrflold would have been Ifty years old had ( lulteau's bullet been a iioiith Inter In coiicludhu Its fatal work , 'resident Cleveland has the advantage In rears of many of his predecessors. Wnsh- ngton wns fifty-seven when ho wns Inaugur ated , John Adams sixty-two , Jefferson , Madison and John Qutncy Adnms fifty- eight'Monroe tifty-nlno. Jnckson sixty-two , Van Burcn fifty-live , nnd Harrison slxty- ilght. General (5rant wns the youngest nud lanison the oldest of tlio presidents. The city is full of visitors from Juffnlo. On Wednesday morning a trnin arrived in hvo sections from western Now York nnd of the 2,000 or J.OQO people who came on that train , at least 100 were from Buffnlo or Us Immediate vicin ity. Tlieieportaf the burning of the Itlch- : iiond hotel was circulated among them early in the day and the utmost excitement pre vailed because of the uncertainty which ex- sted as to the fate of friends who might have boon stopping there. Then , too , n report wns current thnt u number of other fires had been stnrted In various parts of tlio city which served to Intensify the alarm of the visitors. Not until the afternoon papers appeared with the full details of this catastrophe was tills alarm allayed. Several of tlio Buffalo people start back to-night In order that they may as sure themselves that their friends are still among the living. Altogether the lire has spoiled the visit of the Buafflo people to Washington. Many of them who would liase called on thu president this afternoon were prevented irom doing so by thn anxiety which they felt to know the fnto of friends who were stopping In the hotel. INTEII-NTATi : COMMISSION TALK. It Is Hinted this morning by a Philadelphia paper thnt Colonel Moriison , Judge Cooley , of Mlchlgnn , nnd Judge Bragg , of Alnbamn , nre the. three democrats ngiced upon ns mem bers of the In tor-state commission , but as .Indue Cooley Is now in receipt of at least g'5,000 a year as receiver of the Wabnsh It la hardly supposable that ho would accept a comparatively minor appointment It is moro than probable that ono of tlio demo cratic members will bo nn eastern man and it is nudei stood tlmt Governor Abbett , of New Jersey , Is the ono determined on. With the execution of Colonel Mor risen , however , nobody scorns to bo certain about the composition of the board , nor can It bo definitely stated when tlio appointments will unannounced. Judge Thurman called upon the president to-day accompanied by ox-Governor Itoblnson , of Massachusetts , uiglng thnt tlio latter be selected as ono of the republican members , but Governor Itoblnson Is aver&o to accepting a position that would compel him to eive up a largo and lucrative law practice. The tact that the president is still In consultation with his advisers In the matter would Indi cate that this final action may bo known be fore to-morrow or the first of next week. The friends of Commissioner Atkins are still hopeful tlmt ho may be designated a "member of the commission. 1T.N810NS ORANTl'.D WESTERNERS. Iowa pensions were granted to-dav ns fol lows : Uobeccn , mother of Wm. U. Burk- liart , Prairie Hill ; Caroline L. , muthcrot Geo. C. Shedd , Denmark ; Wm. C. Bryant Perry : Oliver M. Joseph , Ottumwa ; Samuel B. Plckel , Northwooa ; Henry Cork , Huthvcn. Increnso : Robert Cooling , Mnquoketn ; Nicholas Nlblock. Moulton ; Jessie Snnders , Keotn ; Lev ! Smith , Nevada ; Kobcrt A , Dan * lels , Council Bluffs ; Wm. S. Caulield , nllna Cooper. Lnko City ; Alfred Lester , Carroll- ton. Itelssuo ; John B. Conwcll , Albion. Dakota Increase : lioburt McNlcder , Bis marck. marck.ONLY ONLY I.naiTIMATn INFORMATION. Captain llickborno's work on European Dock Yards makes a volume of about ono hundred pages of letter press nnd forty-tlvo maps and plates of dock yards and vessels in various staires of construction , togetho. with oilier technical matter of great Intoiest to naval constructors and of very little Interest to the ordinary lay reader. The volume wns printed in the government printing office last year and each member of congress ( IM : a , number of copies for distribution. Until the publication of the scandal In relation to tha Chatham yards In England there wan scarcely a call for this work , but during tha past tow days these members of con gress remaining in tint cltv have had many dmnmnnds made upon them for the book , and In many instances their supplies nro alreadv exhausted. The statement thnt Captain Hlchborno published In this work matter which wns irlvon him him in confi dence Is denied In the navy department. It Is said that ho simply has Incorporated in his work data of Interest to the public for whom It was designed and tlmt thorn Is noth ing whatever of a confidential nature con tained In these pages nor Is theio nny attempt on his part to dlsselmlnat' ) information tlmt would prove detrimental to the governments to whose courtesy he is Indebted tor Information mation received. AN DM ) COUNTKRKKIT. A few days ngo qnlto a sensation was ere- ntcd here through the urrest of n gentleman from Detroit named Darling , who was taken trom his room just as ho was about to retire and hurried out to the police station , vvhero ho wns charged with passing § 50 counterfeit bill , lie admitted having passed the bill , nnd alter giving n satisfactory account of how It came Into hU > > s.sesslon he was al lowed to depart. Chftf Brooks , of the secret pervleo of the tieasury depailment. Raid to day : "This bill was ono of a number which wns stolen from n man In Pittnbnrg , who was itxpliilning how to detect conn- teifelt money. The Individual In question fell Into bad company ( and his entire outfit wns stolen from him. Ho had In his possession a number of good bill * of various denominations , besides many bad ones , which hail the word coiintertnlt burned across them. The tliloves who relieved htm of his possessions toro them In two and pasted them together by the aid of couit plaster. The court plaster wns stuck rluht ( icloss the burned place and then the bills were disposed of. U Is nn old dodge nnd ono wl.leh lias been frequently nnd successfully worked. The bill In question Is not a new counterfeit ns wns supposed nt the time , but Is one ot the hardest with which we have to deal. As Boon ns Mr. Darling notified the New Vork hotel from which lie nnd scoured the bill of the troubid which It had got him Into they at nncn tent him a draft to cover the amount mid he huh had l0 | fur ther trouble. Hefeiilni. to'lhe Matoment re cently minted In n number \vaMnn papers to the fact tlmt n quantity of tpurldu * told coin has been circulated in TUIIOIIS western cities which nro only 21) ) per cent alloy , and which aio very difficult to detect , Mr. Brookn said that the secret service people hnvo not yet discovered nny of these coins , and ho Is inclined to think tlmt the story emanate * from the brain of some versatile wilter who constantly hcnros the public with wild storloa of tlio discovery of now counterfeit- I'OSTAI. CIIA.NQI'.S. William A. Buckner wns to-day appointed postmaster at Negulna , Webster comity , vipo Thomas C. Lnlrd , resigned ; Mnry M. J snin , Lusnm , Klnxguld county , Iowa , vicu Arthur Lesnni , resigned.