Nebraska Newspapers

    " - ' * j'v - '
* tr arvg"-r $ . f 'v'l
HE OMAHA DAILY
SEVENTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA , SATURDAY MORNING , MAY 5 , 1SSS , NUMBER
FAMILY OF EIGHT CREMATED ,
A Horrible Human Holacaust at
Arlington , Nob.
DIED WHILE SAVING THE STOCK.
Mother Freeze and Seven Others r
Her HniiNchold KiiHh Madly Into
n Bla/.lng Itnni nnd Are
Burned 10 Death.
r-1" Nclirnska'w Latent Horror.
AIIMNOTOX , Neb. , May 4. [ Special Telegram -
gram to the Bni : . ] At 0 o'clock this morn-
Ine a fire was seen on the farm , of Widow
Frccso , ono mile out , which was supposed to
bo the barn of her son-in-law and family ,
who lived with her. A posse of citizens went
out nt 8 o'clock to see it all was well , and
were horrified at finding the charred re-
irimnsof eight human beings only Identified
by their statures , and such little pocket
trinkets as resisted the heat and flames. The
unfortunate mortals who were consumed in
this human holacaust nro as follows : Old
indy Frccsc , Fred Grotcluschcn , his
wife and thrco children , Fred's brother
IxmK and their hired man * Their bodies
were found scattered In different parts of
the barn among the nineteen horses nnd cows ,
which were also burned.
The first Intimation thnt the people of the
town had of the terrible holocaust was by
the driving Iri on the back of his mud-
bcspatlcrcd nnd foamcd-horso of Ed Smltti ,
n near neighbor , who among others had dis
covered the barn on fire. Smith breathlessly
informed the early risers with whom he
came In contact that ho had gene to the
house of the Freezes , 2."iO feet distant from
tlio barn , mid found it deserted. Ho was
nimble to explain the absence of the entire
family ,
sr.vr.N IN XUMIIEII ,
nnd , inspired by his sensational disclosures ,
the representative citizens of Arlington
quickly bestirred themselves nnd started on
horseback and by vehicle to the scene of the
tragedy. Arrived there , a harrowing
sight of death and destruction
mot their gaze , coupled with one
of the most mysterious affairs In the history
of the state of Nebraska. A mammoth
f ramo barn of two stories in height , that had
been the sheltering place of ten head of
horses and nine of cattle , was a smouldering
mass of ruins , and the stench from the
fumrs of burning flesh was repulsive and
sickening. Bursting into the bed of the
burning embers the excited explorers tore
away the ruins and made n discovery that
chilled the marrow and made strong men
quiver. Strewn about wcro the cremated
carcasses of the stock , and confused
and mixed among them wcro the
UNIIKCOUNIZAI1I.K AND CllAHItHn IIODIES
of a whole household , consisting of the fol
lowing : Louis A. Freeze , sixty-three years
old ; Mrs. Fred Grotcluschen , her daughter ;
Fred Grotcluschen , and their children , aged
respectively five , four and two years ; Louis
Gortclusehcn , a brother of Fred's , and n
hired hand who has worked on the farm for
three years.
The devastation was thorough nnd horrible
to behold. Mrs. Frceezo was found lying
near the door burned to a crisp , the only scm-
blanco of n human being loft of tier being in
the form of a tuft of hair that
clung to the back of her head.
Louis Grotoluschcn. who was next
found was only identified by a part of a
woolen shirt that had escaped the flames
bearing his initials , "L. G. " His watch ,
badly damaged , was found lying by his side ,
and the hands had stopped nt seventeen min
utes past 7 o'clock. Beyond these marks of
recognition there remained nothing to ident
ify him by. His remains '
rnr.sr.NTii > A SICKKNINO SIGHT.
The next unfortunates encountered were
Fred Grotoluschen and his two four mid
children. discovered
six-year-old They were
ered in another part of the barn given
up to the cows , and ho and
bis little ones , like the rest , wcro
burned to nn unrecognlzablx ) mass. Freds
Identity was established by the finding of
his pocket knife lyig : near him. Off in n
far corner the blackened nnd unrecognizable
remains of Fred's ' wlfo and remaining child ,
the babe , were found. A horse , in his struggle
glo to free himself from the llery furnace ,
had fallen upon them , evidently ns they wore
malting their escape , thus pinioning them to
Ihoir fate. The two human beings and the
horse
WnilB CONSUMED TOOETHRIt ,
Mrs. Grotoluschen meeting her futo beneath
the neck and breast of the horse and the
bubo under the legs of the animal.
In the midst of the exciting proceedings n
horse with his eyes burned out mid his cars
Dinged to the head brat about the premises
In Insane anguish. A few well-directed blows
from mi axe ended his Buffering. The burned
and charred remains wcro placed In four
collins mid conducted to the house , a short
distance from the burned barn. The verdict
of the coroner's Jury was that death was
caused by lire.
Mrn. Freeze , the .mother , grandmother and
mother-in-law of this family of human beings
so quickly wiped from existence , was well-
to-do and considered among the wealthy of
Washington county. Her husband was
klllod ton years ago by falling from a wagon
and she has remained a widow over since.
With her BOH In-law , Fred , who conducted
her affairs , his wife , their throe children and
the hired man nnd Louis , n brother of Fred ,
they lived in the farm house ,
TIIK .MVSTKIIV
surrounding the terrible affair is Impenetra
ble , and this town Is In n fever of excitement
'to-night , The presence of the whole family
in the bam U uucxplainublo , mid tha condi
tion of the house leads to the belief that the
household was ustir previous to the breaking
out of the flro. The theory nf foul play on
the part of the hired man is dispelled , ns ho
fell n victim to the tlanii's , In the house the
breakfast dishes wore washed and stacked
up , and on the table were found three tin
plates nnd by each a slice of bread and but
ter , with sauce , with a few bites off one
piece , presumably the leavings of the children
just ns they were beginning their break
fast , The cows were milked and the milk
strained , Tlio milk was that of the
morning's production , ns it was
still warm , nnd tlio bed chambers
presented appearances of undergoing nr-
ruugmnqnU' after a night's occupancy , nnd
ono bed was freshly made and another was
partly arranged , the covers nnd pillows lying
on u clmlr near by. Every other room was
tidy nnd undlbtuibed , nnd the clothing nnd
valuables remained unmolested. Everybody
liero tins un Idea , but no theory for the la
mentable affair. It Is a mystery of ( ho mobt
unfuthomablosklnd and
ONK mrrici'i.T TO njpn.xiN.
Edward Smith , the .voiing uiah who discov
ered the lire , said to a liec reporter : " 1 was
on my way to the Hold with uiy team to plow.
I noticed very suddenly the burn of neighbor
Frcere'8 on flrc. . 1 started as. fast
ns I could mnko ono horse go , leaving
the innto behind , My father followed on
foot. When I arrived the whole barn wn
ablaze and I could see no moving or living ob
jects Insldo or outside. I wondered why I
did not see some of the family. Whllo I was
looking in fright nnd wonder at the lire , the
top or top story fell in and that broke the
silence , mid it was awful to realize that
nothing appeared in living form about the
premises. It dawned upon my mind that
something was wronp. I rushed to the house
nnd hallooed through room after room , only
to find it deserted , In haste I
called Where nro you I" and
only heard the echo , 'Where
are you. " I did not go back to the flames but
hurried on to the town , and gave my opinion
that something was wrongas I could find
none of tno family about the house. Then
with a company I returned and found that I
hud stood by and witnessed the
11UIININQ Ol' SEVEN OK MV NEKHIIIOIIS llErOUE
MV EYE * . "
"Could you not sec even a horse In the
flames I"
"No ; I could not sco In the barn at all.
There was but ono opening that of the slid
ing doors on the west , out of which came
great puffs of smoke nnd long tongues of
Unities. "
"Do you know where Fred nnd the two
children were found I"
'Yes , they were near the door on the north
opening into the cow-shed , and thnt door was
shut , and I huvo nn Idea that Fred and the
.wo children went from the main part of the
barn to get out nt that door nnd found It
fastened on the outside , and were unable to
return through the increased flames. "
"Wero you quite well acquainted with the
family ! "
"Yes , I know them well. "
"Did you know of their ever having been
n any quarrel 1"
"No , I never know them to bo in nny
trouble with anybody. "
THE NEWCO.MEH 1'IIOM OnilMANT.
Mr. Staples , cashier of the Bell Creek Vnl-
loy bank , where Mr. Grotcluschcn did his
business was next seen. Mr. Staples said
that Fred Groteluschen has always trans
acted all of Mrs. Freczo's , his mother-in-
law's , business , and whenever be ( Fred ) bad
my extra money ho left it in the bank. On
the 30th ho paid the tax on Mrs. Frceze's
land and told Mr , Staples ho would try to
raise the money to pay that on his own land
soon , but jokingly remarked ho was busted
mid would probably want to borrow a little.
The next day Fred's neighbor , Stranghocner ,
came into the bank nnd left $40 to Fred's
credit , saying ho owed that to him
nnd bo ( Fred ) bad said ho was out of
money nnd needed it to pay his tax , so that
it is supposed that no money of any amount
was about tlio house.
"Do you know of nny now comer from
Germany ? " asked the reporter of Mr.
Staples.
"About the latter days of March a young ,
nice looking man , called Henry Hillcr , came
to tno with Fred , and Fred did the talking
for him , saying this man was a friend of bis
from Germany and was going to bo uls
brother-in-law. Mr. Hlller had a foreign
draft for over $600 , which at Fred's request
I took for collection. About ten or fifteen
days after that both of them came in
the bank and I gave Mr. Hillcr some change
that Fred said bo ( Hiller ) would want to use
In Columbus , where ho left for that day.
do not know whether a marriage to Fred's
sister at Columbus has yet happened or not.
I have never heard nny moro from him or of
him. I don't think there was anything but
the kindest of feelings between them. "
DR. oi.ovmi's VIEWS.
"I arrived after part of the remains were
removed from the ruins. I found n horse
near the ruins in great distress -from burns.
His cars wcro burnt off , his back a
horrible mass , his eyes both out ,
and yet his sides and legs were unhurt. This
leads mo to believe that the lire was over and
in front of him , and ns his halter was on and
the strap broken , I think ho broke loose. I
believe the whole affair a circumstance
though not explainable , yet not n tragedy. I
believe some of the horses were loosened , and
in the struggle to get them out the adults ex
hausted themselves so that a sudden break
ing in of smoke and blaze prostrated them ,
nnd the children were with them by mere ac
cident and oversight of the parents in their
fright to force them back. I know the fam
ily well during my business in Arlington , and
know them to bo mi exceptionable family ,
free from quarrel and strife. "
Mil. I'ETBIt HAMMING ,
who was on the coroner's jury , furnished mo
n plat of the burn , and showed why it looked
reasonable that It was not foul pluy , but n
foolhardy effort to save the stock , forgetting
the chances they all took.
Jill. W , S. COOK ,
who went to the scene of the flro among the
first , explored the house thorougly and found
nothing that would point to suspicion either
in the cellar , garret or living rooms. Ho
found the milk strained from the morning
milking and one pull of night's milk partly
skimmed with the skimmer beside it , and ho
thinks the bread on the table by the tin
lilatcs hud been barely bitten at and not
fairly started on.
TIIK FLOODS CONT1NUK.
fialOH and High Water Around the
Lake Hc-gion.
MILWAUKEE , May 4. A special to the
Evening Wisconsin from Cheboygan , Mich. ,
as a heavy easterly gale yesterday and lust !
night opened the straits and n big fjcct thai
wan caught by the storm was driven wesl
with the moving ice. An immense grain
licet Is going down this morning , but no sui
vessels huvo gone through. Labt night's
ctorm was terrific. A tug arrived this morn
ing nnd says , no ice can be cccn from St.
Helena.
A special from Wlnotin , Minn. , says the
flood at that place still continues serious. A
washout occurred in the vicinity ( if Kings
colliery on the Chicago , Milwaukee & St
Paul railroad lust night , stopping all trains
One-third of the city is covered wi'h water
from six inches tc four feet deep. The Bur-
Hr.Kton company is disabled hero , licports
from Chippcwn say the Chippowu'and Kau
Claire rivers are riblng rapidly. Hundreds
of families hero .ire moving their effects ii
boats to dry places.
The Highest UVIT Known.
WINONA , Minn. , May 4. During last night
the Mississippi rose four inches. It now
reaches the highest point ever known hero
Fears arc entertained that the water wil
carry nway the wagon bridge crossing tlio
river to Niscousin. .
Cliallongi-H the World ,
ATMNTA , Ga. , May 4. [ Special Telegram
to the BKE.-Last ] night Charles Thompson
a compositor in the Constitution oftlce , so
G.SCO ems , solid nonpareil , in three hours
There were but thivo turned letters In the
proof. Thompson Is only nineteen years
old and bus boon In the city only a week
being a country printer. He challenges the
world ,
Bnilioad Collision.
ST. Louis , May 4. A disastrous collision
occurred on the Jacksonville & Southeakten
nJi.ituut early yesterday morning nrur
Soreut between a north bound pftssenpci
trulr. mid : v south "bound .frci/ht , TWO men
.names unknown , 'were killed and sevcra
injured. Thck ouuf.u of the wreck-is said to
huvo ti'cn a broken tcluuruuh wire.
ALL WAITS ON THE TARIFF ,
A Pngo Oauaos Commotion In n
Committee Mooting.
A BAD OPINION OF SENATORS.
A Conference With the View of PushIng -
Ing Alicnd Various Appropriation
Ullls Ijymnn Amends tlio
Oninhn Bridge 1)111.
A Sudden Adjournment.
WASHINGTON Bunr.AitTiiKOMAiiA BUR , )
613 FOUIlTKr.NTIlSTHRnr , >
WASHINGTON. D. C. . May 4. 1
An Illustration of Importance In the minds
of the democrats of preventing any Interfer
ence In the pending debate on the tariff bill
was given this afternoon during a meeting of
the CDinmlttco on manufactures which is in
vestigating trusts. During the critical ex
amination of n witness a page burst Into the
committee room and.announccd the ayes nnd
nays wcro being called.
"What on ! " Inquired the chairman of the
committee.
"Whether the tariff bill shall bo set aside
and the regular order of private bills shall bo
Lakcn up , " replied the page.
"The committee stands niijournod for thirty
minutes , " exclaimed the chairman in excite
ment , nnd every democratic member started
from the room to the floor of house on the
run , ono of them exclaiming : "Nothlngmust
interfere with the tariff debate. "
The republican members of the committee
did not go up to vote. There is no disposi
tion on the part of anybody to Interfere with
the tariff debate and no ono wants to prevent
ns early a vote as n full discussion of the
measure will admit. Chairman Randall of
the committee on appropriations says ho
woulu like to push through his bifls as soon
ns possible , ns it is necessary that they should
nil become laws before Juno 30 , but he is per
fectly willing that the tariff reformers shall
say when ho can take the floor. It is gener
ally believed that the tariff bill will bo set
nsido till after the national conventions ,
when many members will bo absent and will
also have to bo present during the discussion
of the measure , nnd that the appropriation
bills sludl be considered at that time , during
the first three weeks in Juno. The Pacific
railroad funding bill and the Oklahoma nnd
omnibus territorial statehood bills are press
ing the house for consideration , nnd these
may also come up when the tariff bill is laid
asldo in June.
HOUGH ON THE SENATORS.
Senator Blair's cummittco on education
and labor had a lively hearing this morning.
Mrs. Charlotte Smith , president of the
Womens' league , made bomo broad nnd vigo
rous charges against Chief Clerk Yeomans ,
of the treasury department. She said that
he had cut down the wages of the char
women to $15 per month , although congress
bad appropriated money to pay them at the
rate of 20 per month and give them thirty-
day leave of absence , with pay , each year.
She charged Yeomans with having placed
bis colored chamber maid , ono Martha
Thomas , on the char-woman's pay roll , nnd
said she intended to issue a call to all labor
organizations to help the Woman's National
league in its light for the cause of the char
women of the treasury department.
During Mrs. Smith's statement the venera
ble Senator Payne , of Ohio , who is a' mem
ber of tlio committee , entered the room.
About a year ago Mrs. Smith made an argu
ment before the committee on education and
labor , during which she severely arraigned
immoral senators and representatives , and
Senator Payne teen a good deal of pleasure
In cross examining her on that subject. As
soon as ho saw her to-day ho broke into the
proceedings by inquiring whcthershe still en
tertained the bad opinion of senators nnd
members of the house she did when ho saw
her last. Mrs. Smith replied that her opin
ion of senators had recently been given a
twinge a shock which added very much
against them. She said that she had a few
days ago seen n democratic senator from the
west , whoso name was just now upon the
lips of almost every one in the marble roomer
or lobby beyond the senatewith , n very com
mon woman , and that they were both intoxi
cated. Senator Payne did not enter into a
cross examination this time.
TUB oitDEit or IIUSINESS IN TIIK iiou.sn.
There was nn informal conference to-day
between the speaker and other members of
the house committee on rules , v 1th a view to
agreeing upon some kind of plan for the dis
posal of appropriations and other important
measures pending. The seventeen days
agreed upon for the main debate on the tarill
bill end with next week , when the measure
will bo taken up under the live minute rule ,
and there will bo no way of limiting debate
until all of tlio amendments are disposed of ,
when it will naturally come to a final vote.
In view of the fact that there is no likelihood
of a vote on the bill till after the national
conventions are held , there was a hope ex
pressed at the conference that some agree
ment might bo reached whereby
the appropriation bills could all bo
finally passed before the expiration
of the present fiscal year , for which
appropriations have been made to Juno 'M.
There was no agreement arrived at , and an
other meeting will bu held about the time the
tariff bill is taken up under tlio five minute
rule. The democratic members of the house
Imvo not fixed a night for holding their
caucus fpr the purpose of considering the
amendments which shall bo accepted. Every
thing seems to bo nt sea so far as general
legislation is concerned. The speaker has
promised to recognize Chairman Dlanchurd
for another motion on Monday to suspend
the rules to puss the river and harbor bill ,
Mr , Blanchard thinks he can secure the
necessary two-thirds vote. This is very
doubtful.
I.V.MAN'S iminnr HIM , AMENDMENT.
Before the passage of Mr. McShano's bill
in the house yesterday , providing for the
construction of a bridge over the Mis-
sour ! river between Omaha und Council
H luffs , Judge Lymun offered nnd secured
the adoption of the following amendment :
"Said bridge when built shall not ho located
less than one.third of one mile from other
bridges across said river then built or in pro
cess of construction. " There are Ncbrask-
ans in Washington who believe the effect of
this amendment will be to destroy the Inten
tion of the bill. They say that it will require
tlfo construction of the bridge at nn inueessi-
blo and impracticable point , as it will locate
it in the bluffs. Mr. Manderson Introduced
a duplicate of the measure. In the senate , and
the bill first Introduced in the house n-jll un
doubtedly bo passed by the senate , or the
house bill will betaken up in the senate and
Judge Lymun's amendment stricken out on
the ground that there U no plausible reason
why the bridge should he located n distance
of one-third of a mile from any other bridge.
There was no debate on either the bill or
the amendment , or it is believed the latter
would huvo failed. No one asked the object
of the amendment , and undoubtedly it was
the Intention of Mr. McClammy , of the com
mittee on commerce , who had charge of the
measure , lo have the amendment stricken
out in the senate. His object in accepting
the amendment was to secure the withdrawal
of Judge Lymun'B objection to the considera
tion of the bill , it being considered only by
unanimous consent. AJU.T the bill has boon
passed by the senate and sent to n confer
ence committee it will bo privileged matter.
nnd can bo taken up nt any time , which will
secure Its Jlnal consideration , even If the
amendment is stricken out.
EKNtToiiiAL COUIITESV.
Thin evening's critic says : "Messrs. In-
galls mid Blackburn were out at Ivy City
yesterday exchanging courtesies at the club
house nn.l actlng-ns Judges of a horse race.
Senatorial courtesy is seen to BO much bettor
advantage on a race track than it is in a ecu-
ate chamber. "
MAIL CHANGES IN XKI1IU3KA A"ND IOWA.
Chances huvo been ordered iu time sched
ules of Nebraska strir"mail routes ns fol
lows :
Prague to Rescue Lcaro Prague Mondays ,
Wednesdays nnd Saturdays nt 8 n. in. ; ar
rive at Kcscuo at 12 m. Leave Hcscuo Mon
days , Wednesdays nnd Saturdays at 1 p. m. ;
arrive nt Prague by 5 p. m.
Niobrarato Running Water Leave Nlo-
brarn daily excopt.Sundays nt. 0 n m. and B
p. m. ; arrive nt Running Water nt7 a. m.
nnd t ) p. m. Leave Kunning Water dally
except Sundays at 8 a. m. nnd 7 p. m. ;
arrive nt Nlobrara by U n. m , nnd 8 p. in.
The following changes nro made in Iowa
schedules :
Audubon to Guthrlo Centre Leave Audit-
bon Mondays , Wednesdays and Fridays at 3
[ ) . in. ; arrive atMolvlllo by 0tO ! p. m. Leave
Melville Mondays , Wednesdays nnd Fridays
at 7 n. m. ; arrive at Audubon by 11:30 : n. in ,
Leave Melville Tuesdays , Thursdays and
Saturdays at 7 n. in. ; arrive at Guthrie
Centre by II :30 a. m. Lcavo Guthrlo Centre
Tuesdays , Thursdays and Saturdays at 1
. in , ; arrive nt Melville l > v ! > n. m.
PKHUY S. HnATii.
Diverted From Its Purpose.
WAsniNflToN , May 4. [ Special to the Br.r.,1
The bouse committee on manufactures ,
which has , for som.o time , been , anil which
will yet bo during this session , engaged In
investigating trusts , has been diverted from
its original channel , nnd it Is very likely that
the results originally aimed nt will bo lost
sight of. It was the primary purpose of the
house in ordering nn Investigation into cor
porations nnd pools and other kinds of com
mercial arrangements under the title of
trusts , to take some legislative action , which
would prevent accumulated wealth combin
ing against labor and the common masses ,
so ns to give men engaged In trade on a small
scale the same privileges that nro enjoyed by
am'asscd capital. During the past two weeks
the work of the committee has been drifting
more and more Into the' bands of rival corpo
rations nnd the result will bo innumerable
suits in the courts under the inter-state com
merce law and the common laws. It has al
ready boon shown that certain railroad com
panies , in their contracts for transportation ,
have favored the larger corporations to tlio
exclusion of the small ones and individuals ,
notwithstanding the existence of n law pro
hibiting it.
There have been in Washington for a month
attorneys representing the small dealers iu
oil , coal , etc. , collecting information growing
out of the trust investigation and interview
ing members of the committee , with a view
to instituting civil suits against both the
railroad companies and the monopolies. The
committee has accepted the services of
a lawyer for a rival to this Standard Oil com
pany , and ho is making the investigation very
interesting , bringing out a volume of secret
business transactions between the Standard
Oil and other monopolies with the railroad
companies. There wcro severe protests
against permitting this attorney to question
witnesses relative to'sccrct and private busi
ness engagements , but he has managed to
come out on top , and is sustained in every
movement he takes by the committee. Rep
resentatives of the Standard Oil company nnd
of the railroads whichigavo rebates to this
giant monopoly , madeia-stlff fight against the
committee's acceptance of this attorney's
services , and there were threats that an ap
peal would be taken'totho ' house. The ques
tion was raised whether the committee had
any authority to engage the services of an
attorney in the Investigation , but it xvas hold
that it might accept thoVbluntary services of
any one to ask questions. This attorney
knows so much of thc'insidc transactions of
the great monopolies thnt ho Is making the
investigation highly'important and the pro
ceedings very interesting.
ArntyyMatters.
WASHINGTON , May , 4. | Special Telegram
to the BEE. ] The unexecuted portion of
the sentence imposed' by a. * general court
martial ( general court martial order No. 14 ,
February 10 , 1887 , Department of the Platte )
is remitted in the case of Frank O'Neil , late
private Company C , Sixth infantry , and ho
will be released from confinement on receipt
of this order at the Leavenworth military
prison , or as soon thereafter as the rules gov
erning forfeitures of time for misconduct
or violation of prison regulations will permit.
Post Chaplain John T. Dolphin , recently
appointed , is ordered to report for duty nt
Fort Snclling , Minn.
Thirty recruits have been assigned to the
Eighteenth infantry , thirty to the Fifteenth
infantry and thirty to the Twenty-first in
fantry.
The extension of leave of absence granted
Second Lieutenant Henry D. Stycr , Twenty-
first infantry , in special orders No. 515 ,
March 9. 18 8 , is further extended fifteen
. The leave of absence '
days. on ssrgcon's cer
tificate of disability granted First Lieutenant
William U. Abercromble , Second infantry ,
In special orders No. 8'J , February 17 , 1S8S , is
extended ons month on surgeon's certificate of
disability.
First Lieutenant Will S. Wittieh , Twenty-
first infantry , is granted leave for four months
to take effect when his services cau be spared
by his post commander.
Washington Brevities.
WASHINGTON , May 4. Mr. Cox of Now
York presented in the house a bill for the
appropriate reference of the following me
morial from Generals Schotleld and Slocum ,
nnd other members of the army of Potomac ,
asking for the appropriation of $25,000 , to aid
in meeting the expenses of the fraternal
union of the survivors of the army of the
the Potomac mid the armies of northern Vir
ginia , to bo held on the battlefield of Gettys
burg in July next to commemorate the twen
ty-fifth anniversary of that conflict.
The republican members of the foreign re
lations committee of the senate held a meet
ing to-day to hear thoinajority adverse report
on the fisheries treaty , which has been pre
pared by Senator Edmunds , und is now com
plete. The report takes the ground that the
treaty secures nothing of advantage to tlio
United States except what belongs to the
UnlU-d States by natural rights. The treaty
will probably bo reported next week und
taken up as boon as the Chinese treaty Is dis
posed of.
The Turin Kill linn the Cull.
WASHINGTON , May 4. [ Special to the
Bui : . ] It is not expected that action will betaken
taken by the senate On the river and harbor
bill before the house acts on the tariff bill ,
even if the former measure should bo Imme
diately taken up and passed by the lower
house of congress. It was not the original
design of the majority of the hoiiec , or the
president , that the river and harbor bill
should go tothowlntc house before it was
seen what would be done in the way of tariff
reform. If the tariff bill should pass the
house the river and ( mrbor bill Is to bo sacri
ficed ; but if the house should refuse to pass
the tariff bill , then the river and harbor bill
may become a law. Jt is held by the admin
istration that one carries with it propositions
to reduce the surplus mifllcicntly without the
other , and that it would not bo advisable to
have both n law in the same session of con-
press. Besides this' , tlio president prefers
Unit there should be no river and harbor bill
passed until after the campaign.
Iowa 1'tiiihioiiH.
WASHINGTON , May 4. [ Special Telegram
to the BEE. ] The following pensions wcro
granted lowuns to-day : Original Invalid
Thomas Abernathy , Centorvillo. Increase
Zaccheus Smith , Ottumwa. ICeissuo Thomas
H. Brcnton , Minburn.
Postal Changer ) .
WASHINGTON , April 4. [ Special Telegram
to theBEE. . ] Fred SJiumaker was to-day
appointed iwstmaster at Bonuir , Howard
county , Iowa , vice John A. Galush , resigned.
Died.
WASHINGTON , May 4 , Charles Lyman , for
many years at the head of the dead letter of
fice department , died at his residence In this
city yesterday evening , aged 60 years.
.Itond Ollorlug.
WASHINGTON , May 4.--The secretary of
the treasury purchasad to-day 5733,000 of
83S71WX ; ) bonds , offered.
VPn I T TIIMMI VIM/1 ! ? !
NERAL BliEMlRAGEI
No Evlclonco to Sustain the Assassl-
nntloii Theory.
SIGNS OF MENTAL ABERRATION.
Fnuts Going to Show Tlint. Ho Contcin'
plntcil Taking Ills Idfo From
tlic Time Ho Arrived
In Stnnton.
GrouitdtcsR
STANTON , Nob. , May 4. [ Special Telegram
to tlio BEH.J Tlio tragic ilonth of General
Martin Bccm still continues to bo nn nbsorb-
ing nnil Interesting topic of convcrsntlon nnil
facts nro shaping themselves so us to convince
honest nml just thinking people Unit tlio deed
was actually committed by himself. The
testimony of Mr. Chase , who was the first
witness before the coroner's ' Jury , was sub
stantially ns follows ;
"Shortly after dinner whllo myself , Mrs.
Bccm ami the general wcro In the sitting
room the general said to his wlfo she hiul
better go up stairs mill take a imp , which
she did , the general following her
a short time after , saying ho guessed ho
would Ho down , ' too. After they had both
gene up stairs I got up and went to the barn
where my son Gus was nt work. Very soon
after I reached the barn , wo heard two re
ports ol a pistol nt the house in quick succes
sion. My son Gus and I ran to the house
and went up stairs. I found my daughter
standing at the head of the stairs with both
bands up to her head , looking very white mid
dazed. I took bold of her and took her into
another room , and the first words she said
wcro : 'I'm shot , ' and 1 at first thought from
her position that this was the case , but soon .
found that she was uninjured. "
Gus , Mr. Case's son , in his testimony said :
"A short time uftcr father came to the barn
wo heard the two pistol shots in milck suc
cession and I ran to the house and up stairs ,
where I found my sister standing in the dopr-
way at the head of the stairs with both bands
up to her bead. I passed her and went into
the room wbcro I found the general lying on
his face in front of the bureau , which stands
across the room from the bod. Ho was
breathing as though he was choking and I
turned him over and opened bis shirt and
vest. Ho breathed hard two or tbrco times
and then expired. "
In her testimony Mrs. Ileom stated that
she went to her room ns suggested by the
general and laid down on the bed , the gen
eral coming in soon after , ho tailing a book
and saying ho would read awhile. Continu
ing she siid : ; "I then fell asleep. I was
awakened by hearing a most horrible noise
and jumped oft the bed. The first thing I
saw was the general's face , which had the
most fearful expression 1 over saw. Prom
that time until my father took mo into an
other room I remembered nothing. I did not
know how I'got to the door nor did I see any
thing farther. The revolver was in the
bureati drawer. "
Mrs. Case , in her testimony , said she was
in the room below nt tlio time of the tragedy
'and ' heard two shots of a pistol in quick suc
cession. After describing the condition in
which General Becmwus found , she said : "I
assisted my son to relieve the general as
much as possible. " In the course of her ex
amination , Mrs. Case said the general was
subject to violent ills of passion , but showed
none of It on this visit , everything bciig ) ex
ceedingly pleasant.
The testimony of all the servants goes to
show that there were no signs of any dis
turbance and no unpleasant" scenes had oc
curred up to the time of the tragedy.
Gus Case was immediately dis
patched to Stanton to notify the coroner ,
who , with a friend of the family , rapuired to
the scene. It was thought best not to speak
of the subject until after the coroner had
been notified.
No importance ) can be attached to the fact
that the clothes of the general showed no
signs ol being scorched as bis clothes had
been handled and disarranged before the jury
had seen them and this would naturally ef
face all evidence of this kind. The fact that
they wcro not scorched s > ccms to have been
the only reason why the Jury gave the verdict
as they did.
It was noticed by several citizens of Stanton -
ton who liad been addressed by tlio general
upon bis arrival that his condition and
conversation seemed very strange
and after reaching tlio rnncho
where his wife was visiting ho had several
times asked for a revolver with which to
shoot wild cats even after being told that
none wcro known to exist in that vicinity. It
is the opinion of many that ho was laboring
under a temporary aberration of mind.
No clerk was appointed by the jury to keep
a record of the testimony , and a verdict was
reached by summing up the testimony by the
jury as retained in tiieir minds.
Passed n Forged Clieclc.
NOIIFOI.K , Neb. , May ! . [ Special Telegram
to the BEE. ] Henry Bacon , of Sioux City ,
was arraigned before Justice Bells to-day ,
and on the trial this evening it appeared that
ho passed a forged check upon Belle Isle &
Hellman , proprietors of the Tillcnburg hotel.
The name signed was that of D. H. Collamer ,
ono of our leading merchants. In default of
ball ho was remanded to the custody of tlio
sheriff and will bo taken to Madison to-mor
row. _
Knforelng tlio Occupation Tax.
CoM'Miifp , Neb. , May 4 , | Special Tele
gram to the BEE. ! Ono of our prominent
real estate dealers , two saloonkeepers , two
druggists and a number of merchants wcro
arrested at 4 p , in. and brought before the
police Judge to show cause why they had not
paid the occupation tax which went Into
effect May 1. Tlio tax was promptly paid by
boinc , wliilo others will probably contest.
IiiHlrnutcd For Laird.
HASTINGS , Neb , , May 4. [ Special Tele
gram to the Hun.J The counties of Gosper ,
Hitchcock , Furnns and Chase instructed
their delegates to veto for Laird's ronominu-
ttoiu Frontier county , it IH rumored , will do
tlio same. Tlio sentiment of the district
seems to favor Laird's renomlnatlon by ac
clamation.
Tlio ItnnUcrH Can Sinolco.
BIUTIIICK , Neh. , May 4. [ Special Tele
gram to the BKE. ] The stock of L. Cohen ,
cigars , was taken on a ? IOO chattel mortgage
by the German bank of Beatrice. The block
will not in voice much more than this amount ,
Congressman Doiwoy nt Homo.
FIIEMONT , Neb , , May 4. ( Special to the
Her. . ] Congressman nnd Mrs. Dorsey ar
rived homo to-day from Washington to re
main until lifter tlio congressional and state
conventions ,
Another TrciiHitrer.
Dr.s MOINKS , la. , May 4 , [ Special Tele
gram to the HER. ] The directors of the
State Agricultural society have elected Mr.
O. B. Worthiiigton , of this place , treasurer ,
In place of Mr. George H. Mulsh , deceased.
Iteslgnod Hit. Sll nation.
Dts : MOINIS : , la. , May 4. [ Special Tele
gram to the lieu. ) Mr. J , \Vohlrcnd , of
Burlington , the treasurer of the board of
trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' homo at
Davenport , resigned to-day , Ho inlimtls to
remove from the state.
Arrested For Kiiiljozzlciueiit.
DES MoiNE'i , la. , May 4. [ Special Tele
gram to the HEU. ] The Sheriff of Grundy
county arrived in the city to-day and took
nway William Klackncr , n joung mnn
charged with embezzlement. Ho was ar
rested at the theater last night mid held to
await the Grundy cpunty authorities. Ho is
a young German , claiming to be a Luthertti
minister. Ho In also n printer , nnd Is charged
with having taken money from the news
paper ofllco where ho worked.
Iowa Dentists.
IOWA CITT , la. , May 4. The four days'
session of the State Dental association closed
hero to-day. DCS Moincs was selected ns the
place for holding the next meeting. The
election of ofllcers resulted ns follows ;
President , J. B. Monfort , of Fairilcld ; vice-
president nnd superintendent of clinics , L.
1C. Fullcrton , of Waterloo ; secretary. G. W.
Mills , of Wlntcrsot ; treasurer , F. M. Shriver ,
Work of Thursday's Storm.
Kr.OKfK , In. , May 4. About 3 o'clock yes
terday afternoon the storm blow down sev
eral houses in the town of Herring on the
SiuitaFo railway In thoodpoof Knox county ,
Mo. James Meyers , of Memphis , Mo. , was
Killed outright by n falling building.
FIVTU2TH COXGUUSS.
IIOIIHC.
WASHINGTON , May -I. A resolution was
adopted calling on the secretary of the treas
ury for n statement as to whether there Is mi
order or regulation of the treasury depart
ment the enforcement of which would pre
vent the overloading of vessels with freight
on the great lakes , nnd whether there is nny
law In force regulating the quantity of freight
to bo carried by such vessels.
Private business having been dispensed
with the house went Into committee of the
whole , Mr , Springer of Illinois hi the chair ,
on the tariff bill.
Mr. Cuswcl ) of Wisconsin criticised the
method of tariff reduction proposed by the
committee on ways and means , declaring
that U did not provide for any substantial
decrease upon articles of general consump
tion. Thocommlttcoshould Imvo provided , ho
contended , for an entire removal of the duty
on sugar. That couso would take ono dollar
of tax from the food of every man , woman
and child. Such relief would extend to every
family , rich and poor. Ho would give a rea
sonable bounty for sugar produced in the
United States , but ho would no longer con
tinue this grcattax on thcinouths ofGO.lHXMKK )
people under the guise of a tax for revenue.
Mr. McDonald of Minnesota spoke In oppo
sition of the protective system and expatiated
upon the injuries resulting to the people by
the locking up of a vast surplus in the treas
ury.
ury.Mr. . Guenther of Wisconsin remarked that
his colleague had swallowed the whole dose
prepared "by the democratic majority and
seemed to relish it greatly , endeavoring by
political sophistry to persuade the people of
the district that it was a very palatable de
coction , the panacea of all evils , the long
looked for democratic St. Jacob's oil that
would heal all the evils of the body politic.
[ Laughter. ] Ho was in favor of restoring
the wool tariff of ISO" . Ho was a firm be
liever in the tariff which not only supplied
the means for the expenses of government.
but at the same time built up and encouraged
homo manufactures , developed the inex
haustible resources of the country , and gave
employment to millions of our people. While
ho regret ted the condition of tlio worning-
inen of the country of his birth , be did not
feel called upon asin American to give aid
to them nt the expense of the laboring people
of America.
Mr. Caruth of Kentucky How are you on
the tax on empty bottles ?
Mr. Guenther I'm nil right. How are you
on full bottles 1 [ Lau ghter. ]
In conclusion , he expressed his willingness
to allow the people to bring la a verdict in the
case of Protection vs Free Trade , and ho
prophesied the verdict would consign the
democrats to a wluue among the stragglers in
the grand national procession of American
industry.
Mr. Wheeler then spoke in favor of the
bill. The committee then rose nntrtEe house
took a recess until 8 o'clock , the evening ses
sion to bo for the consideration of private
pension bills.
At the evening session the house passed
twenty-seven pension bills and adjourned
until to-morrow.
PACKKnS KXt ITKD.
They Say No Combine KxIstH lo Con
trol Cattle PriccH.
CHICAGO , May 4. [ Special Telegram to
the Bin.l : Kvcry farmer , throughout the
northwest , and every shipper of cattle nnd
hogs to the Chicago market , is ready to en
dorse the statements made in the speeches of
Senators Plumb and Vest in regard to the
packers' combination for fixing prices. The
big packers here to-day nro greatly excited
over the debate in the senate ,
G. B. Webster , of Armour & Co. , said of
these statements : "There is no combination
hero between the buyers of cattle for any
purpose. Each bouse requires so many cattle
for its day's work , and the buyers are in
structed to buy that number at the lowest
price they can secure them for. The price of
cattle is regulated by the supply. When
there nro plenty of cattle in the yards the
price is lower , and when the supply is light
the price advances. This would not bo so If
there was a combination to manipulate
prices. Wo do not buy cattle in Chicago
alone. There are not enough animals sent
hero frequently to supply the houses. Wo
buy in Omaha , Kansas City , and in fact , all
over the west. There is no combination
among the packers now , and there never has
been. The statement that the puckers know
Just how many cattle may bo coming into the
yards , and what their quality is , is not so.
The difficulty \vitli Mr. Vest and Mr. Plumb
is that they assume to represent the cattle
raisers' interests without knowing anything
about the buhiness. Hence they make mis
takes. The whole thing has been gene ever
so often and rehashed In so tinny ways that
it is not worth serious attention. Kvcry im
portant allegation in both of those speeches
as printed is untrue ,
John Wlgolsworth , who is the Chicago
cage representative of George II. Hammond
mend & Co. , of Hammond , 1ml. ,
the pioneers in the dressed meat bus
iness , said : "These gentlemen's statements
prove their ignorance of tlio situation. Hero
Mr. Plumb charges tlio Chicago men with
being instrumental In deprenhins' the prices
of the cattle that finally reach the abattoir in
Now York. Now , if they knew anything ,
they would know that the New York
people have endeavored time and again to
break up the dressed ocef business of Chicago
cage , I have been representing Hammond &
Co. In this market for the past eighteen years ,
ami in all that time there hits never been tiny
attempt to make a combination to control the
prices of cattle. It could not bo done. "
In hplto of those protestations , however ,
shippers think otherwUo ,
ANOTHICIl SWITCHMEN'S STUIKH.
Night Workers Demand More Pay or
Shorter lloiiru.
Los ANc.Ki.r.9 , Cala. , May 4. The freight
department of the Southern Pncillo road Is
tied up to-dav owing to a strike of its switch
men , Tlio night Hwitchmen want tnoro payer
or shorter hours of labor and the day switch
men huvo Joined with them. Tlio night men
now work fourteen h urn and got the saino
pay as day men working ten hours. The of
ficials of the road nay Hits men wore un
reasonable and hasty and their places will bo
filled with new men unions the strikers re
turn to work at once. No settlement has yet
been reached.
Later The differences between the strik
ing switchmen and the Southern Pacific were
umicably adjusted this afternoon.
K Men For Cleveland.
Snuxannu ) , Mass. , May 4. The demo.-
crats of the Twelfth iwifjresslonal district
to-day elected a delegation to tlio national
convention , instructed for Cleveland for
president , and General Stevenson , of Illinois ,
for vivo president.
Appointed librarian.
WASIII.S&TON , May -The secretary of
stnte has appointed Frederick A. Bancroft ,
of Now Hampshire , to bo librarian of the
state department. vice Theodore R IKvljjht ,
resigned. The caangc takes effect Juno I ,
THE MAINE MAN UNMASKED ,
H5a Letter of DocllntUlori Now
Proven a Hollow Shtxm.
PUTTING ON THE PLUMES AGAIN ,
Mugwump MnsHneluiKottH Turned tbf
Tide nnd tlio Coy Knight , After
Hxvoai-lng He Would No't
Consent , Consented.
The Plot of the Piny.
Piiii.viEU-iiiA , May 4. The Times will
publish to-morrow the following triple lo.uled
special from New York , which It will Indorse
as coming direct from nn authentic source !
L have entirely reliable information that
the friends of Blaine have , within the last
three days , received direct from him nn
assent to an aggressive movement for his rc-
nomlnatlon for president , mid the assurance
thnt If nominated in the face of his letter of
declination ho would not feel nt liberty to tie- |
cllno. A general mid systematic effort has been 1
made by Blaino's closest friends , such ns i
William Walter Phclps , Whltelaw Held , !
Charles Emery Smith nnd others , for two j
months past to get Blaine into the attitude of <
a passive candidate. -
The Washington conference was only n
part of the varied methods by which Influ
ences have been brought to bear upon Blaine
and the publication of his portrait , freshly
taken from life in Italy , and Issued Lv the
1mlgo this w'eek , was decided upon moro
than n month afro as u starting ) Kimt of au
avowed effort to make Blaine n candidate.
Every possible pressure has been put upon
Blaine to get from him a direct assurance
thnt ho will not decline if nominated , and
that assurance has been received In this city
from Blame within the lust three days.
In a very few days moro It will ccnso to ba '
a secret that Blaine is in the hands of hla
friends as the Blame leaders will at ouco
come to the front and make an nggrcsslvo
campaign for his renomination. This move
ment has been pretty clearly foreshadowed ,
for some weeks In such Blaine organs us the
Tribune of this city nnd the Philadelphia
Press , nnd all affectation about Blaine's can
didacy will now soon bo thrown off nnd the
battle made an aggressive one. A part ot
the original programme was the election o
Charles Emery Smith as dclegato-at-large f |
from your state , and the failure
was a great disappointment to the
Blaine Junto in this city , but Mr.
Smith gives assurance that Blaine can com- j
maud the majority of the Pennsylvania dele , ]
gation under any circumstances , mid that It
Blaino's nomination shall seem to be assured
the delegation will be solid for him. The un
expected expressions in Massachusetts and
Vermont for Blaine were not accidental , nor
are they unexpecto.l to Blaino's friends. * J
When all of the unti-Blaino men were repos
ing on their arms because they regarded
Blaine ns out of the fight , the friends ot
Blaine wcro most energetic in their work in
two nnti-Blnlno New England states , and
they got possession of Vermont und Massa
chusetts while others wcro sleeping In fancied -
cied security.
It was the expression of those two hith
erto nnti-Blaino Npw England sta'es that
made Bluino cast aside his doubts mid n.ssent t
to the importunities of his friends for Ids ro-
nominntion. It is now a positive fret that
Blaine is in the field , so that bis friends have
his assent a movement in his favor , and
that ho will bo nominated nt Chicago if hard
work and plenty of enthusiasm can accom
plish it.
More About BIuluo.
Niw YOIIK , May 4. [ Special Tele
gram to the Bii : : | Tlio sensational stories
which several papers in tills city publish con
cerning Blaino's alleged intention of being
on the Atlantic at the time of the holding of
the national convention , so ho might not dc-
cline if nominated , turns out to he like many
of their other exclusive stories , without nny
foundation in fact Mrs. Andrew CarnegiO ,
who , wit h her husband , takes an annual out
ing on Fells of .Scotland , sent some weeks
ago from her homo in this city an invitation
to Mrs. Blainc , asking that she and Mr.
Blaine joi n the party in England , and pro
ceed thence to the Highlands. The trip is
to bo made entirely by coaching. To tlilrt
invitation Mrs. Carncglo received to-day
from Mrs. Blaine a kind note of thanks nnd
acceptance. She mid ; \lr. Blaine will join
Mr , and Mrs. Carnegie , probably in London ,
and then they will travel by coach along and
over the border nnd through the Scottish
highlands. Mr. und Mrs. Carnegie will sail
from England Juno I ) . Mr. Blaine may not
be home until late into summer , or probably
not before early fall. "This htatoment , "
said a close friend of Mr. Bluino last even
ing , "should put a quietus on those Imp-
hazard guesses that some democratic : papers
are making concerning Mr. Bluinc'a move
ments und intentions. "
niakoly Hnll'H SoiiKixllon ,
Nnw YOHK , May 4. [ Special Telegram to
the Dei : ] The Sun published n leaded story
about the air full of danger in Berlin. 16
says ugly rumors are nllout of socialists
threatening vengeance on the crown prince
and a lot of rubbish about great excitement
in Germany. Blukely Hall , who sends the
story from Berlin , says his dispatches to the
Sun arc being confiscated and his mull rilled.
All this trouble about Hall , etc. . Is undoubt
edly due lo the arrival in Berlin of Hail'a
account In the Sun of the day after tha
funeral of Emperor William. Ho pictured
the Cifirmuns us drunk , In crowds enViying
ceremonies us If It was a fetoduy , and miiel
the Germans would bo glad to have another
funeral soon. No wonder Berlin officials
want lo confiscate'nnU'H letters , Hall says
in to-day's dispatch that revolutionary
pamphlets are being distributed about Ber
lin , vowing dlro vongeuneo on the crown
prince bccuuso of bin licentiousness.
Obcrlm'H Boom.
Onnin.iN , ICnn. , May 4. [ Special Telegram
to tno HUB. ] As before stated In the DBK
the Hock Island means to occupy n largo portion
tion of northwestern Kansas. To-day the
company filed In the recorder's ofllco a mort
gugo on the right of way , roud beds , depot
nnd grounds through Ducutur , Huwlms and
mid Cheyenne counties on to Denver , Grad *
Ing will commence ut once and it Is claimed
the roud will be completed by Januury next ,
Tlio Qmaliu & Northwestern are now lac
Alma , Neb. , with tics mid Iron sufllclcnt itf
build on to Oburlin and thence to a point in
Thomas county to connect with the
Union Pacific road to Denver , The commit'
tco sent out by the city to examine the vari
ous waterworks east und north of hero re
turned and next Monday night the city court *
ail will bo asked to submit : i proposition tp
vote $50,000 for waterworks and elcctrid
lights , A week of almost constant rain ull
over the went is a guarantee of lar 'o cropd
this season.
Ingnlls Burned In Kfllgy.
Lr.iHNoN , Tonn. , May 4 , Public indlfna *
tion was. aroused to such pitch by the spcccli
of Senator Iiiclis on Tuesday , that late lost
night some 2Go citizens assumbledund , burned
mi cfllgy of the Kunsus senator.
. The I-'Iro Ilccnril.
SAX FmMit'.o , May 4. A large nnil dl <
ustrous lire is reported as raging in San
I'ic-jrn , C'al. , and the rcpurtwl loss exceeds a
! Muur'cr of a million dollars. No detiUls ara
' ubttmuhc. !