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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 8, 1889)
THE OMAHA DAILY EIGHTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA"SATURDAY. . HOMING , JUNE a NUMBER 350 THREATENED WITH A PLAGUE Malignant Diphtheria Breaks Out In Johnstown. HOW THE DAM WAS BUILT * A Cnrefill Examination Shown It to JInvo neon n Miserable Plcco of Hotch-work Things Moro Settled. The Hot Wvnthcr Feared. JOHNSTOWN , Pa. , Juno 7. To-day opened warm nnd almost sultry , nnd the stench that assails one's ho wanders if I senses as through \ Johnstown Is almost overpowering. Sick ness , in spite of all tbo precautions nnd labors of the sanitary authorities , Is on the Increase , nnd fears of an epidemic grow with every hour. "It Is our Impression , " said Dr. T. L. White , of the stnto board of health , this morning , "that thcro is going to bo great sickness hero within the next week. Flvo cases of malignant diphtheria were located this morning on Bedford street , nnd as they were in different houses they mean flvo starting points for the disease. There will bo plenty of typhoid nnd kindred diseases here within aucck or ten days , In my opln * Ion. The only thing that has saved us thus far has been the cold weather. That has now given place to summer weather , mid no ono knows what the next few days may bring forth. Twenty more physicians nrrlvcd from Plttsburg this morning and moro will arrive to-day. The opinion is general among medical men that there will bo moro need for doctors a week hcnco than there is now. " Dr. R. L. SIcbel , of the state board of health in charge of the sanitary headquar ters , said : "Wo are using every precaution known to science to prevent the possibility of an epidemic. Our labors hnvo not been confined to any partic ular channel , but have been extended in va rious directions. Disinfectants , of course , nro first In Importance , nnd they have been used with no sparlnghand. The prompt cre mation of dead animals as fast as discovered is another thing which wo have Insisted upon. Wo hnvo a committee , too , that superintends the burial of thu victims at the cemeteries. It is of the utmost importance In this whole sale interment that the corpses should bo interred at a safe distance beneath the sur face. Another committee is making a house to house inspection throughout tbo stricken city to nscertnin the number of inhabitants in each standing house , thu number of sick , nnd to order the latter to the hospital when ever necessary. So far thcro is but little contagious disease , nnd wo hope , by diligent nnd systematic efforts , to prevent any dan gcrous outbreak. " General Hastings this morning said that the situation was good , so far ns reported. Bodies are being gradually recovered all the time , but not in the lurgo numbers of the first few days. Last night several ghouls that were wandering nmid the wreck on evil Intent wore arrested. This morning they were given the choice of imprisonment or going to work at S3 per day , and they promptly chose the latter. , Thc waifs' ' mission is doing a noble work hero. Within an hour nftor arrival they had established a bureau and were receiving children nnd babies that hud been orphaned by flood nnd flame. Miss Hinckloy , who has charge of the work , said that from Cleveland - land , Indianapolis , Altoona , Pittsburg , and , in fuel , throughout Pennsylvania and the eastern states , she had received tolcgtams from societies and families offering to take charge of certain numbers of little ones. "I wish that you would state to the coun try , " said Colonel Scott to nn Associated press representative to-day , "that ns things nro becoming moro and moro settled every hour I would recommend that nil drafts nnd checks hereafter bo sent to William U. Thompson , treasurer of the finance commit tee , Plttsburg. " In speaking of the condition of the valley , Scott said : "It is improving every hour. The perfect organization which has been offcctc'd within the past few dnvs has grad ually resolved all chaos nnd confusion into a semblance of order and regulation. " So far as known only eighteen bodies have been rccovorcd in tlio Cnnomaugh valley this morning. Only the hardiest can stand it to enter the morgue to-day , BO overwhelming is the stench. A strict order Is now in force that all bodies shall bo interred only when it becomes Immpossiblo to longer preserve them from absolute putrlfuctlon. Two additional cases of typhoid fever were reported this morning from Minorsdalo , making a total of seven in that villiago alone since yesterday. Measles nro becoming moro prevalent on Prospect Hill , where the refu gees' camp Is established. WAITING I'Oll UATIOXS. At the commissary station thcro was con siderable activity. About a thousand people had gathered about the place after their day's rations. The crowd became so great that the soldiers had to bn called up to guard the place until the relief committee was ready to civo out provisions. Several car loads of clothing arrived to-day and was dis posed of us soon as possible , as the people nro badly in need of clothing. Four bodies \\cro taken from the ruins nt .the Cambria c'ub ' house mid the company'/ / store this mording , The remains were nl bruised nnd In n terrible condition. They had to be embalmed and buried Immediately ; nnd it was Impossible to have any ono identify them. The number of people missing from Wood villo Is almost incredible , and from prcson IndlcutionR it looks as If only ubout fUt > pcoplo iu ( ho borough wore saved. A KEl'OItT ON Till : DAM. A. M. Wellington , with F. P. Burt. asso ointo editor of thoKngineoring News , of Nov York , hnvo completed un examination of thi dnin which caused the great disaster. Wel lington states the dam was in every rcspcc of very inferior construction , and of a him wholly unwarranted by the goodcncincerlng practices of thirty years ago. Both tin original and the reconstructed dams worn o cnrth only , with no heart wall , but only rip rappud on ihoolnpcs. 'I ho original dam , how user , was nuule In rammed .iud wutorci layers , which still show distinctly in th wrecked ( him. The now end meicly added to its stability , but It was to all appearance blmply dumped in like an ordinary railroad 1111. Much of the old part , is stand ing mtuct , while the adjacent parts of tin now works nro wholly carried off. Tliuri was no central wall of pudulo or masonry either in thu now or old dam. It has bcui : the invariable practice of engineers fo thlity or forty years to use one or thu othci In building high dams of rai th. The rccon structcd dam also beard the marks of great curolcHsucas In having been made two fee1 lower In the middle , which would have con centratcd an overflow , If it should occur , u the ends instead of the center. Had tin break began nt the ends thu cut of the \vato : would have been BO gradual Urn little or no harm might have resulted. Hai thu dam nt once been cut nt the ends whc the water begun j mining over the center , th uuildcn breaking of thu clam would have been ut least gicatly diminished , and possibly pro longed , BO that little harm would havu ro- nultcd. Thu crest of thu old dam had not been raised in the iivonstruction of IbSl. The old overflow chanm-l throuch thu rock still remains , but owing to the sag of thu crest In the nilddlu of the dam only ilvo and n half feet m it , instead of seven foot , were necessary to run the water over the crust. The rock spillway , narrow ut the best , has been further contracted by a close grating to prevent the cscinx ) of. flsb , capped by good- sized timber , and In some slight degree also by a trestle foot bridge. The get effect of nit Jlu > so difference ! 'of renditions \vtia that the dittii , ash stood , was nol much safer against excessive floods , npart from Its inferior const met Ion , than the original dam would have been with a crest only thrco and n half to four feet high above the bottom of tbo rock spillway , instead of oven feet. A largo amount of np-rauplng and slope wall still remains intact und U of excellent UUivllty. It does not appear thuro was any great amount of leakage through the dam be- forolt broke. Iho destruction came from the water flowing over the top. Wellington said no engineer of known nnd good standing for such work could possibly Jmvo been engaged on It , since In the partic ulars mentioned it violated the mostolo- meutary nnd most universally understood requirements of good practices. Estimates of the original dnm Indicate that it was made about half of earth and half of rock , but if so thcro was llttlo ovl- dcnco of It In the brokeu dam. The rlpprapping was merely the skin on each face , with more or less loose spoils , mixed with earth. The dam was seventy-two fcot nbovo the water , two to one Inside slope , ono ami one-half to ono outside slope and twenty feet wide on the top. The rocks throuchout wore about ono foot below the surface. Earth was pretty good material for such n dam , if It was to bo built at all. being of Its stnndmtr intact slnco 1831 must bo as cribed , as no engineer of standing would over have tried to so construct it. The fact that the dain was a reconstructed ono after over twenty years' abandonment , made it es pecially hard on the older part of It to with stand the pressure of water. Eight thousand men have been nt work to-day CI.EAIUNO OUT Tim Demits , but truth compels the statement that the undertaking has not yet been fairly started. Fires nro burning up nnd down the valley ns far ns the eye can reach. The air is thick with smoke , and as yet the efforts of this army of earnest laborers is hardly appreciable. The most careful estimates nro to the effect that It will take 10.UOO men for weeks to clear out the heaps of ruin piled up for miles between the hills up and down the course of the river. An hour ago the writer completed a tour ot tbo wreck m this vicinity. Dozens of human beings nnd animals were to bo seen on the surface , charred blackened by lire , und in such a stnto of decomposition that thu strongest man could not moro than glance nt them. Eighty-six moa from Al- toonn , under orders of the sanitary of ficials , are scattering disinfectants over acres of the wreckage that the railroad bridge stopped. Mr. Kirk declares that thousands of bodies will yet bo found in this territory alono. The great trouble thus far experienced nt the bridge has been caused by the mass of telegraph wires that reach across the vari ous spans , through which- the water has passed. Line repair men are badly needed to help in removing the wires , and Kirk says that as soon as they nro gouo he will hustle the debris through by the aero. The problem of the hour is the disuosal of the debris about the Pennsylvania bridge. Unless it is soon got rid of the stench will bo so overpowering that no human being can withstand it. THC rXEUMOXIA SCOUI10B Grows alarmingly , notwithstanding the state ments of Dr.Groff , of the state health board. Dr. Sweet , a member of Dr. Croft's stuff , came down from the Cambria hospital , to night , with n startling report. To the Asso ciated press correspondent Dr. Sweet said : "Prospect Hill is full of pneumonia , with some diphtheria and measles. The hospital is full to overflowing , and forty cases are on the outside. They wore almost all severe pneumonia. There is every condition needed tor the spread of the disease , and I fear an epidemic. " Dr. Carrington also reported several cases of pneumonia , having found them on a hill near Morrellvillo. A pair of human feet were noticed sticking out of the sand on the river bank , near Kernville , to-day. A gang of men soon un earthed the bodies of two men and ono girl , all in a good state of preservation. TIII : risiii.vo cirUn DIAMEP. This community is in u wild state of ex citement as the result of the recent flood. The blame of the entire affair ban been placed upon the South Fork Fibbing club. The Generous Britons. ICopyrtolit 1SSO tin Jainet ( Jordan UcimetM LONDON , Juno 7. [ New York Herald Cable Special to THE Bnn. | The folllow- ing amounts have been sent to the Herald to bo forwarded to the Johnstown relief com mittee. Twenty-nine passengers on the Arizona , Just arrived from Now York , $117 ; Dr. Thomas G. Sittcnthwulto , 20 ; Percy , Marden & Co. , 53. Mr. Henry Irving , in a very sympathetic letter to nn American , has enclosed a check for 50 guineas , his contri bution to the relief of the flood sufferers. The HRVOO in Centre County. BELLEFONTE , Pa. , Juno 7. The flood last Friday night and Saturday played terrible havoc in Centre county in both loss of Hfo and damage to proucrtr. Bellofonto itself suffered little , being built on the hills. At Mackoysvllle fifteen bodies have been re covered and twelve at Salova. Through Trains. , Juno 7. The Pennsylvania railroad is at last able to announce the re sumption of the running of through passen ger trains from Now York via the Philadel phia , Harrisburg. Lock Haven & Allcghany railroad to Pittsburg. Nebraska and Iowa Pensions. WASHINGTON , Juno 7. [ Special Telegram to Tin ) BEI : . ] Pensions granted Nebraskans - kans : Orlginlnnl invalid -John W. Brewer , James G. Hussoll , Benjamin O , Staubcr , Alex Laruso , Jacob M. IBlakenoy. Increase Justus Pointer. Mexican survivors Jeremiah - miah Bufllngton. Pensions for lowatis : Original Invalid Thomas J. Wright , Xaohary T. Huston , Ho- bert D. Carr , James Murphy , William H. Johnston , Charles Polk , William H. Thomp son , William Bouvco , William W. Blair. Charles W. Robertson. Resto ration and reissue Scllnus Chocscman , ( deceased ) . Increase John Cobb , Jr. , Israel N. Schooler , William Dawson , Ulisba T. Kirk , Gottfried Urbatsch , David McNcal , Isaac W. Sinithson. Heissuo and increase George H. Harder , William H , Symons. Heissuo William Poverill. Original wid ows , etc. Klslo , widow of Major McMullon ; Harriet E. widow of John P. Jones ; Esther , widow of Benjamin K. McCan ; Jane E. widow of Scllnus Chcoscmnn. Vetoed tlin Australian BUI. HAKIFOIID , Conn. , Juno 7. Governor Bulkelcy to-day vetoed the bill providing for a secret ballot. Ho holds the bill Is too rad ical , too cumbersome in Its details , too expensive - pensive , opens the door to fraud and will result - sult In disfranchising voters. The house passed the bill over the governor's veto by a veto of 181 to ! 1S. Afterwards n motion was i mule to reconsider , which was carried , nnd the bill was tabled und the house adjourned , TlioVeldon Kvtriidltlnn Treaty. OTTAWA , Ont. , Juno 7. The Weldon extra dition act of the last session has been trans , mittod to tno imperial authorities for ap proval or otherwise. In thu event of its being countenanced by the Imperial authori ties it Is proposed to declare It In force and effect as regards thu United States and Mexico , In OUl'j. ' nnd Wnnts Oilier. IlL'itox , Dak. , Juno 7. [ Special Telegram toTiiE BIK. : ] The examining board for the territory has recommended G cargo Slckel , of Hand county , for appointment for naval cadet. It is known hero that C. T. McCoy , of Aberdeen , declares himself a candidate for n republican nomination lor congress , KnrtlKjiinku Slioclcw , PAUIB , Juno 7. A violent earthquake occurred to-day ut Brest. Nnv Bunroni ) , Mass. , Juno 7. A distinct carthauuko shock was felt In this city at 10i35 this forenoon. A Oain of l-'lvo For CJnfV. CiiAiiLEiTON , W. V , , Juno 7. The legisla tive committee , yesterday afternoon , passed upon the depositions from Uundblph county , ( iofT'B claim was sustained , This makes u uut fain of five for Go It. COL. KELTON SUCCEEDS DRUM , A Short Sketch of the Now Adju tant Qonoral's Llfo. THE SPEAKERSHIP CANVASS A Very Slim Attomlanco nt the Presi dent's Informal Keocptlon Charges Against the Win- ncbngo Agent. . TnuOstAiu One , WASHINGTON , b. C. . Juno 7. Colonel John C. Kelton has been appointed djutant-goncrnl of the army. Colonel Koltou Is n graduate ot West Point , vhero ho was afterwards instructor in tnc- Ics and small arms firing. Ho served during ho clvlt war , and was breveted lieutenant- olonol und brigadier-general for most valu- , blo and arduous services. Since the war , ho as hold various staff positions , in 1805 bo oming assistant adjutant-general. Ho is , n nvcntor of marked ability , many of his itn- iroveraents In rifles , pistols and other weap- ins having been adopted by the department. In Is also a writerof high repute on subjects : onncctcd with the military service. THU SrEAKEIlBHIr CANVASS. Mr. Burrows , of Michigan , called nt the vhlto house to-day for the purpose of paying ils respects to the president before leaving in n western tour , which may bo fraught vlth important results in the campaign to Iccido upon tiio organization of the houso. Io proposes to make an cxtensivo tour nnd o put in his tlino In working up an active canvass. Mr. Burrows , In common with his colleagues who are in the raeo , tries to im iress upon every member whom ho meets .ho importance of prompt attendance when , ho house shall reassemble. Ho says to-day : "Our majority is very small , and there is undoubtedly great danger of getting chocked nt the start. On the face of the returns now in the hands of the clerk of the house , wo have only three more members than our oppon ents. This slim majority , of course , may be ncreased to six or seven , and possibly eight , through the admission of the new states , but n order that wo may bo able to organize the louse without a contest , it is absolutely necessary that every man should bo in the city. It will bo absolutely necessary to have an understanding In advance , that every ono shall bo there , but oven with this agreement , : hero is the matter ot sickness which may tcep members away , and can not bo holped. If the democrats are disposed to fight over .ho adoption of thu now rules and tbo settle ment of the contested election cases , and : hey determine to filibuster , there is n block at once. I think there is great danger in it. All parliamentary law recognizes the right to make motions to adjourn over to a time cer- Lain , and to take a recess. Now by repeal ing these motions , the house may bo hold powerless. Why , I could take such a man ns 3am Randall , and by using these motions , wo could prevent the swearing in of mem bers und hold the bouso unorganized for the full term of two years. Wo could dismantle the covernrncnt. Now , to prevent such a thing , is a serious question. It is a question whether it would bo better to make n rule , restricting the right to make thcso motions , thus running the risk of embarrassment In the future , or to run the risk of obstruction and take the responsibility. This is a question to be settled. I have my own ideas about It , out it is no easy problem. I assume that the present rules of the house will not be adopted as temporary rules , but that wo will open under general parliamentary rules nnd organize. A committee of rules will then be appointed to draw up rules. Now , if when they report there Is a feature of the now rules that the minority do not like , and they undertake to filibuster to prevent its adoption , what then is to bo done ? If al lowed to make the recognized motions to adjourn nnd take n recess without restric tion , they could prevent the organization of the houso. The question is now , would not the presiding officer , under the circum stanced , the house not yet being formed , be Justified in announcing niter the filibuster ing had gone far enough to bo pronounced , that ho would not recognize anyone to make a dilatory motion even in the form of n motion to adjourn. Might it not be hold it a half organized state , and that It must be come a body organized and callable of doinj business before Oven an adjournment shoult bo In order ! This done firmly and fairly after good reasons , it seems to me , might bo warrantable without n breach of parliamen tary law. Otherwise , the government mlgh' ' bo dismantled , nnd brought to chaos , there must bo now rules or wo shall be tied ham and foot. " HAIiniSON'S INFORMAL IlECEPTIOX There was a very slim attendance at thi president's informal reception at the whiti house , to-day , owinc in part to the fact tha this was the regular day for cabinet mooting The rush of of office seekers seems to sub side almost as rapidly as the floods , now that the warm weather promises to set in Thus far thoclimato of Washington has been ns delightful ns that of any other section o the United States , and thcro have been no reasons connected with the temperature why the eager place hunters should leave For the past week many who desired to ge awny were prevented from doing so througl breaks In the railroads , but they are no\\ almost all reported clear and ready fo business , and the outgoing tialns are man heavily loaded than these coming in. Amonc the republican politicians hero , more or les interest is taken in the spcnkership contcs so soon to bo inaugurated , and each candl date is hard at work but is not saying much FllANK ItATTON SAFE. Mr. Frank Hatton , whom , it was feared was among the lost In the Johnstown ( lisas tor , arrived in Washington nt U o'clock thi afternoon. Mr. Hatton says that the peopl on the trains which are delayed on the Pcnn sylvanla road seem to bo moro anxious tha those who are safely at homo , because of th non-recolpt of news. Ho says that It 1 utterly Injrpossiblo to get any telegraphic o other communication to or from the trains and that thu result Is that the passenger having sick friends or relatives at homo ar In n state of constant anxiety and excltemcn because of their inability to hear from them Mr. Hatton says that at no time was thnr any reason for his friends to fear that ho ha been drowned , ns ho took the precaution t send messengers with tclepraujb to his rola lives and friends to Crcsson , but these tele- grains never got through. MISCELLANEOUS. There is n well defined rumor that the In terior department proposes to make a thor ough Investigation into the affairs of the In dian agent at the Winncbapo agency. Charges are said to have been filed against the agent and thu Inspector will probably bo ordered to the Hold nt once , The leave of absence granted First Lieu tenant Jefferson R. ICcan , assistant surgeon , department of the Platte , is extended fifteen days. All Itendy to Itonort. WASHINGTON , Juno 7. [ Special Telegram toTiiu BUB. ] Secretary Wludom , because of the pressure of other business , did not have an opportunity to consider the report of the commission appointed to decide upon the site to be selected for the now publlu building at Omaha. The commission has not submitted Its report to the secretary , although it is said to have boon completed and ready to bo placed In Mr. Wiiidom's hands. It is proba ble that the papers in this cnso will bo laid before Secretary Windom to-morrow. Proctor's Hem Very KIcU. WASHINGTON , Juno 7. Secretary Proctor left hero this morning on the receipt of news from homo that his young POM was sinking , ( Jenoral Kchotield will act us secretary of war Iu tbu ub&ccco of Scciutury Proctor. JEALOUSY AND DEATH , A Man's Life Rncrjfldetl for nVo - mnn'H iihvd. CIIEYENXE , Wyo. , Juno' 7. [ Special Tele gram to THE BEE.l Lmvls Abbott , a cow boy , living nt Fosslll , Wyo. , was killed , ycs- tordav , by Charles Bcnnott , alias "tho cook- noy , " while quarreling about n woman who was living with Bennett as his wlfo. Ben nett was a section liana employed on the Oregon Short Lino. During his absence at work Abbott was in the habit ot visiting his houso. His visits aroused Bennett's jealousy nnd , .yesterday , when ho returned from work nnd tound Abbott at his house ho struck him a ferocious blow with a club , and stabbed him several times with his pocket knife. Abbott was placed on n train to bo taken to the hospital at Salt Lake. The woman re fused to leave him and accompanied him on thn journey. When the train reached Green Illvor , Abbott died. THE UElflXKHY EXPLOSION. Death and Disposition of the Remains of the Victims , HuTCiiiNgoN , Kan. , Juno 7. [ Special Tel- oerntn to THE BEC. | The explosion which occurred yesterday nt the Fairbanks re- flnery has proven moro serious than was at first dreamed of. All three of tho'scaldcd men have died. Foreman Gavin , who was thought to bo the least injured , was the flrst to succumb , and death ended his sufferings nt n late hour last night. His death was fol lowed a few hours later by that of Superin tendent Gcorgo D. Lowls. Manager Wood lingered until 0 o'clock this morning. Ev erything possible was done to relieve the sufferers , but their injuries wore much greater than at first supposed nftor the acci dent. dent.Managir Woods nnd Superintendent Lewis showed a wonderful amount of vi tality nnd nerve , each insisting that ho was not badly hurt mid would bo all right in n few days. Mr. Woods even dictated n num ber of letters , and talked with u number of his frlonds during the afternoon of the dis aster. Their sad deaths have cast n gloom over the entire community , ns they had nil of thorn formed a wide circle of acquaint ances and wore universally liked. Mr. Woods will bo laid away in Bcllcfontaino at St. Louis , Monday morning , while Mr. Lowls will bo taken to Elizabcthtown , O. , for burial. The remains of Gavin will bo taken to his parent's homo at Kane , 111. THE BALD KNOB UUUDERS. What a Convict Says of William' "Walker's Confession. OZAHK , Mo. , Juno 7. [ Special to Tun BEE. I C. O. Simmons , one of the Bald Knobbers , now undergoing n sentence of twelve years in the Jefferson City peniten tiary for nls share In the Edens-Grcen mur ders , has written a letter in which ho con tradlcts some parts of the confession of Will iam Walker , lately hanged nt this place. Simmons says : I was not with the footmen on the road from the smelter on the night of March 11 , 1887. I was on my mare , and was not walk ing any of the time , ns I ntn accused , nnd all know this to be a fact. I would like to flnd the one that was riding my mare If I was on foot. And as for the revolver , I never know there was ono carried from the bouse until Gil Applcgato had his trial. The court knows where Amos Jones said ho got the pistol , and , therefore , I shall say no moro than that I was ignorant of the weapon , nntil the time mentioned ! And as for b lnc [ in the crowd that mivio , tha raid on the house , I have only to bay what I hnvo al ways said , I was entirely ignorant , nnd was more than 250 yards from the house when thu firing commenced , and when Dan Walker said "let's fitop that , " ho and I struck off on a gallop , and when I reached the house the doors wore open nnd the house so full of powder smoke that I only recog nized ono man. I have been asked by several what kind of people the Edens and Groans were , and I had only to say , as I have often said before , that I Just barely know Bill Edens when I saw him , and as for Charley Green , wo had no finoifman in the county. But , standing as I am now , I can only recon cile myself to my confinement , and if it is the Lord's will I will some day join my Hulo family , and , if not , 1 can fold my arms in death iu peace with God , nnd feel that I will land safely on the sunny banks of sunset de liverance. I can further say that if it had not been for mo the old lady Edens would not now bo alive. She would have shot that night. I ask all to weigh and rightly con sider my case. FENCING PUBLIC LANDS. A tionK-Uisputed Qu < ; ntion Settled in the Wyoming Courts. CHETENNE , Wyo. , Juno 7. ( Special Tele gram to TUB BEE.J The supreme cour decided , to-day , that fencing public lane within the railroad limit is not illegal. The question arises through the granting of niter nato sections of land to the Union Pacific the railroad lands subsequently purchasci In largo blocks by corporations and individ uals. The adjoining sections were stil owned by the government. The purchaser of railroad laud , when ho attempted to enclose close his own property by running a fence entirely on his own land , necessarily en closed a section of government land to which ho had no right. A great uproar was made about this by Land Commissioner Sparks ; and Governor Baxter , a month after his appointment b ; Cleveland , was removed solely on this ground. In 1SS5. a law was passed dcclnr Ing such fences Illegal. The question never came up in the cour for ndjuciution until a year ago , when a sui was entered by United States Attorney Campbell against the Douglas Wlllan Cattle company lor illegally enclosing government land. The matter came up at Laramlo City before Judge Sanlloy , an appointee of Pros ! dent Cleveland , who decided the law of lfaS5 unconstitutional. The case was carried to the supreme court , and this ruling was sus tamed by a majority of the court , Chloi Justice Maginnls dissenting. The court held that in beginning a sui against a private party the government hat exactly the same rights as a private indivl dual and no moro. If A sold a largo block of land to B , and retained for his own usa a small plat in the ecu tor of It , it would bo monstrous to hold that A could prevent B from fencing in the property which ho had purchased , should , however , bo permitted free- ingress to his land. The only recourse loft the gov eminent under thU decision 's ' f ° r damage done Its land. ' This complication was foreseen , years ago by the directors of the Union Pacific , who endeavored to ( ret congress to pass an uc granting them their land In bulk ; but thli was never dnno. Ttio casu will probably betaken taken to the supreme court of the Unitcc States. _ Grand Army Encampment Hates , MILWAUKEE , \Vis. , Juno 7 , [ Special Telegram to THE UfiK.l It appears that the G , A , R. veterans to the number of twenty thousand or moro who expuct to at tend the annual encampment hero are not to got the 1-cent-u-mllo rate asked for. Ad- vices have been resolved that the Western States' Passenger association at its recent meeting failed to act on the mutter , und Chairman Abbott is quoted us saying they would not rescind the previous resolve to make the ruto faro and half faro for the round trip. MlHiotirl. PiEiiitE , Dak. , Juno 7. [ fapeclal Telegram to Tim BKII.J Captain G , D , Marr , govern ment engineer , with party of twcnty-fivo , is now nbovo the city , a short distance , en gaged in trlungulatlon and preparing sketches of the Missouri river. The party started from Bismarck in the spring and ex pects to finish up at Sioux City before tbo river frcwes over , SEATTLE'S ' GREAT DISASTER , The Ambitious Town on Puget Sound Nearly Obliterated. SEVERAL PERSONS KILLED Tlio Jjoss Estimated nt Twenty-olio Million Dollars All the Busi ness 1'ortlon liyiiift In Ashen. A Tcrrlblo Conllncrntlnn. SEATTLE , Wash. T. , Juno 7. The entire justness portion of Soutllo is now uothinc jut smoking ruins. About 3 o'clock yester day afternoon some turpontlno caught lire in ; bo basomcnt of n two-story building on the southwest corner of Front nnd Madison streets. The building , which was owned by Mrs. M. J. Pontons , occupied by the Seattle Shoo company on the llrst lloor , nnd the unper floors ns oftlccs , was soon ablaze. An alarm was instantly turned in nnd the volunteer flro dtpartment responded promptly , but it was impossible to nmko headway against the flames. This building was at the corner of a row of frame buildings all joined together nnd of various heights. \N ithln ten minutes from the tltno it started the flames developed into n conflagration. The adjoining building was n wholesale liquor store. As soon as the flro reached thoin the barrels of liquor exploded with a terrific report and scattered the embers about. The Denny block , in which were n wholesale confectionery store , real estate offices and several other establishments and gomo lodging apartments , was soon licked up completely. This cleared out the entire square. The flames then leaped across Marion street , and in less than thirty minutes an other square was burned to ashes. Included in this square were n grocery , confectionery. * fruit , drug store , plumbing and gas lilting establishment , tailor shop , pawn shop , jew elry nnd other stores. While this square was burning the opera house block , on the east side of Front street , between Madison and Marion and extending up Marion half-way to Second street , caught flro in the upper stories nnd was soon de stroyed. This building was valued at SIUO.OOO. With it wont tno Seattle pharmacy , the ware house of the Golden Hulo bazaar , Harris & Co.'s largo dry goods and clothing store , Abernathy's store. Crooso & Co.'s undertak ing establishment , Lnteur's dry goods house , Broadman's paint and oil establishment , clearing up another square. The Kenyon block , to the north of where the flro started , had to co too , notwithstand ing the wind was from the east. In this block were the Job printing establishment of the Evening Times , n music store nnd tailor shop. From the opera house block the fire became a monstrous conflagration , swallow ing up the square to the south , consisting of two-story frame buildings , occumod by the Golden Hulo oazaar , the California clothing house , Gordon Brothers' tailoring establish ment , the Oriental bazaar and several other biir concerns. Notwithstanding the progress of the flames the lire department struggled with a determination to save the inost'vuluablo portion tion of Front street to the south , between Columbia struct and Yesler , which was ono magnificent row of flno brick buildings of two nnd three stories , where four banks had their oftlccs. This row consisted of the Connor block , occupied by Toklas , Singermann & Co.'s gigantic wholesale dry goods empor ium ; the Union block , Parin building , San Francisco clothing house , Star block , Arcade building , and Yesler block on Central square. All the telegraph ofllccs wore in the block last named. Is was generally supposed the entire water front would go , nnd it was hoped , if such was inevitable , those buildings could bo saved. The Safe Deposit company also had a building in this Dlock. Explosions of ciant powder wore fruitless to prevent the spread of the confla gration. Onward the lire wont , crackling , roaring , nnd almost shrieking. A three- story building in the rear of the Toklas , Sinqeraann & Co. establishment , which was Welton & Co.'s sail factorywas an easy prey to the terrible heat and cinders from the Commercial mill and lumber yards. The flro soon communicated to Toklas.Slngermaun & Co.'s establishment , but the water was giv ing out and the streams from the several hose reached only to the second story. The Tacoma tire department came over , hilt both departments combined were use less. All that could bo done when the build ings succumbed and the water cavu out completely was to try to save property and life. People fled to the hills to the east , and horses dashed up the highlands with pro miscuous loads of everything in every avail able vehicle. The lire made awful protrrcss when it crossed Yesler street. Down on the water front quarter , nnd extending to Fourth street , the buildings were mostly ono or two stories nnd frame. The entire water front , including all the wharves and docks , coal bunkers nnd railroad tracks , wholesale quarters , and everything south of Union street nnd west of Second , and reaching around to the gas works and nbovo Fourth street on Jackson , is completely burned. To give a list of everything burned would be to produce most of the Seattle directory. It is estimated that the total loss to the city in buildings alone is easily $ l,000,000aml per sonal losses will probably reach $20,000,000. Whether thcro is much loss of life cannot yet be ascertained. The city is guarded by militia. When Toklas , Singermann & Co.'s building fell about thirty people were near it and many of them were crushed. Similar accidents befell at mostof the largo buildings. Any estimate oftho loss of hfo would bo simply guess work ? A Dreadful Calamity. POKTLAND , Ore. , Juno 7. A special from Seattle says : Accurate records of the losses would include every business man of promi- ncnco in town. It is a dreadful calamity , from which few have escaped. Trdmcndous efforts were made by the llro-depurtment tote to stay the progress of the flames. The streets wore crowded und in many instances blocked with tennis loaded with valuables of every description , necking places of safety on the hills. The burnt region covers blocks of the solid and substantial property of Seattle , nnd the entire water front , built mostly of wood upon piles , which had been driven into the flats. It had been predicted by in surance men that ttio city would some time bo swept by lire , and only the wind from the north-northeast , which kept up a steady blowing , saved that portion of the city nortl of Union sUico.t. Tacoma citizens sent to Seattle , this morn Ing , a large quantity or provisions , blankets tents , and 100 slaughtered beefs to supply thu immediate wants of the homeless people. Portland sent several car-loads of pro visions , blankets and tents. General Gibbons , commanding the Depart ment of Columbia , will send seventy tents from Vancouver barracks. Aid in money nnd the necessaries of life will bo forwarded from different sections of the country with out delay. SieiunKlili > Arrivals. Rotterdam Oledani from Now York , Glasgow Austrian from Boston. Copenhagen Polynesia from Now York. Now York Beigonland from Antwerp am Eirypt from Liverpool. Queonstown Germanic from Now York Southampton Traro from Now York for Bremen , At Now York The Britannic , from Liver pool ; Eider , from Bremen , and Wlelaad from Hamburg. Americans Art-ruled In Ireland , DLMIUN , Juno 7Two Americans have been nrrcsted at Tullnmoro because the ; curried n quantity of suspicious luggage They wore on their way to Wcstmcath , Won tlio OaItH Stakes. LOXPON , Juno 7 , The race for the Oak stakes was won by L'Atbussodo Juuarre Mlntlio bccond and Seclusion third. Ther were twelve btartcrg. WHO \VllV I I3 POPI3 ? A Ho in nti Prelate Says lie Will bo Cardinal Gibbons. NEW YOIIK , Juno 7. [ Special Telegram to : \IK Bnn.1 The Times prints the following rein its Homo "Tho correspondent : qucs- ion of who will bo the next pope Is now > olng considered by all Europe. It Is nwo hnn possible that European jealousies , no ess than the present situation of tlio Vatican vould dictate the election of the American cardinal. Archbishop Gibbons , of Baltimore , 0 the chair of Peter. That is the consensus of opinion hero , mid the reasons advanced ire lucidly condensed by a Roman prelate , vlioso position prevents the publication of us name. The pope Is not very strong , nnd reliable reports state that his wiry Ira in o can not nuch longer oiiduro the strain of his ago nnd cares. 'Take n glance nt the situation n Franco to-day , ' Raid the Koruan prelate mentioned , 'and mark It well , Germany In opposed to all things French ; Franco to all hings German ; nnd the cardinal1 * from cither country would moot with great oppo- Uion. " " 'Hut thcro " are Italian cardinals.1" " 'Of ' course ; but do you not know that they nro old men , nt leant nil the cardinals vhosc live * and labor single them out for consideration.1" "Tho Bpeniier next pointed out the way In which the interests of Franco and Italy crossed. The correspondent then nsked : And nil this leads you to bcltovo that the only compromise is un American cardinal "jibbons , for instance/ / ' " 'Exactly , nnd I predict that undcrlils administration the Komnn question would bo settled. Ho would bo free ! and Independent , nnd untrammelcd by nllcgianco to any ono government. There is none with whom ncgo- lations could bo carried on better than with 1 citizen of the great republic of the west' . " A French Parliament How. PAWS , Juno 7. [ Special Cablegram to Tun BcK.J The chamber of deputies to-day np- lolnted n mixed committee , consisting of hlrty-thrco deputies and eighteen senator ! , , o discuss the disputed points in the recruit- ng bill , especially that of the senate oxnuip- lon of theological students. When the de cision of the chamber of deputies was an- lounccd in the senate , Harbey urged that hero bo an equal number of senators on the committee. Do Fre. < 'cinet , minister of war , opposed the proposition of Uarbcy. Pro- ongcd uproar followed , and the discussion ended in the adoption of n resolution that the comtnittcu recently appointed by tno senate should confer with the committee of the chamber or deputies. Paris Interested in Ilasc Ball. [ dmirfcit8W / by Jiuncx Conloii 7Jcwic ( ( . | LONDON , Juno 7. [ New York Herald hblo Special to THE Hcc. ] J. P. Sullivan - van , ox-manager of the Washington club , ust returned from Paris , says that a syndi cate of Americans and Parisians has been organized to bring to Paris two base ball .cams to play with the Buffalo Hill combina tion. Ho is about to sail to choose the men. IOWA NEWS. The Supreme Court. DCS MOINES , la. , Juno 7.iSpeci.il Tolo- ' grara to Tun Bnn.--Tho ] Iowa supreme court rendered decisions to-day as follows : A. Scott vs Chicago , Milwaukee & St. Paul railway company , appellant ; Sioux district ; affirmed. , James A. Hammond , appellant , vs Joseph Wolf ; \Vnpello district ; reversed. M. L. Foster vs Keid & Gardner , intcr- vonors nnd appellants ; Page district ; nf- flrmed. A. E. King , appellant , vs Wallace Bros. ; Page district ; affirmed. J. Moeckley vs Mary D. Gorton , appellant ; Polk district ; aflirmed. nMo.ver Cohen , appellant , vs R. Gibson ; Polk district ; aflirmed. J. Jackson , appellant , vs G. I. Chiseuni , treasurer ; Cass district ; afllrmed. M. II. Welch vs Joseph Trovern , appel lant ; Page district ; affirmed. James N. Uidcock vs H. Voorhecs ot nl ; Cass district ; nfltrmcd on plaintiff's appeal , reversed on defendant's appeal. J. H. ICeihl vs G. I. Chiseum , treasurer ; Cass district ; aflirmed. Russell VR Cedar Hapids Insurance com pany , appellant ; Huraboldt district ; re versed. The court adjourned till the first Monday in October. _ SlnuKhtcred Ijiimj > .law Cnttlo. WATEin/50 , la. , Juno 7. [ Special Tele gram to Tin : Bun. ] It Is reported that there is considerable excitement nt Miirshulltown over the discovery that a number of cattle afflicted with lump jaw have been slaught ered at a public abattoir in that city. The authorities investigated the matter and found that the cattle came from the glucost works. The local manager ot that institu tion is said to have admitted that the cattle had been sent to the abattoir to bo slaught ered , and that others in the same condition had been slaughtered and the moat Rent to Chicago. Ho also aaid that the animals had swollen jaws. A Counterfeiter Sentenced. FOUT DOME , la. , Juno 7. [ Special Tele gram to TIIK BEE.I Counterfeiter William White , recently arrested at Waterloo with a largo amount of the "queer" In his posssos- slon , pleaded guilty in the United States court , in this city , this afternoon. Judge Shiras promptly sentenced him to two years in the state penitentiary , and Imposed a § 1,000 flue. This is White's second offense. IjluhtniiiK'ri Worlc. ALGONA , In. , Juno 7. [ Special Telegram to TUB UBR. | During a heavy storm , last ovenlnir , Pat Murray , living near Burtin , this county , had nis house .struck by light' ' ning. Murray was instantly killed nnd ono of his boys was severely shocked , nnd It is understood fatally. The house was set on flro and burned. The tr.iinmem on the Northwestern saw the flro from the truck and curried tlio news to Bancroft. Relief was sent. A Humored NASUVII.I.B , Juno 7. A spnciul from Knox- Villa t > ays ; E. R. Reynolds and Thomas.I Lnyd , both noted hard eases , went to thu house of Rov. Jacob Harness , 11 Baptist min ister , late Wednesday night , for thu purpose of robbery. Mrs. Harness and n half witted son , aged sixteen , were nlutit In tlio house , the minister being away The robbers brokodown the door nnd rushci in , shooting the old lady dead In her tracks The boy , awakened by the noise , ruxhed out at another door. They lollowod him out , and , overtaking him , beat him to death wilt a garden hose. They carried him back and threw him in the doorway. They ran sacked the house , secured $71 , and then , to cover up their horrible crime applied the torch , The house and con tents were noinpletcy burned , Tlio murder ers were arrested In u saloon nt Jcllco Ins ! night , and officers started to Huntt'rsvlllo , thu county Beat of Scott cnuntv , with the prisoners. It is reported hero to-nfght that they were taken from Jail at an early houi this morning and lynched. The rumor has not been confirmed. Chlorlimlton Works. DEAIMVOOP , Dak. , Juno 7. [ Special Tele gram to Tin ! Uii.l : The test run of the Key stone Chlorimition works of Garden City Rhows that 05 per cent of tlio assay value 01 the ore treated is saved by thu operation 01 the wonts , The Wen UHI r Indications. For Nebraska and Iowa Rain ; cooler ; northerly winds , For Dakota Light ruins ; tlUu.v ! | cooler northerly winds. THOSE AVARICIOUS SIOUX , Redskins Who Want Everything nnd n , Little More. DISAGREEMENT IN THE COUNCIL Great DlHjilay of Indian IClocpicnoo Some Notices of the Orators Dr. Itlnud'H Intcrtcrcnco Likely to CniiHe Delay. Crow Dog I-'avorn the Hill. Ronr.nui ) AOKNOT , via Valentino , Neb. , lima 7 , ( Special Telegram to THE HBE.J The council yesterday , from which all whlto iion , including reporters , were excluded , Inally broke up In n disagreement , Over thirty chiefs nnd head men expressed .heir opinion for and against the bill. The ending orator for the bill was Crow Dog , ho chief who killed the great chief Spotted Tail , and who ns convicted of nun dor In Sbl nt Deadwood , but was afterwards ro- eascd by thu decision of the Dakota s\i- iromo court , on the ground that , "under the hen existing laws , the court had no Juris- liction over the tribal relations of the ml Inns , nnd ho could pay for his crluio under the Indian jurisdiction alone , " which 10 did by a big gift of ponies and money. Crow Dog's speech is said by the Indians mid hnlf-brecds to hnvo been the most pow- - , crful argument over delivered by any Indian < on the reservation , and had great weight nnd influence. On the side against the bill was Yellow Hair , a natural born orator. It was ho , in the great council In October , 1878 , who tried to depose Spotted Tall from being head chief of the nation , and assume the > lace himself , but was signally defeated by a vote of 1GO to Spotted Tail's 201. In the councils , lust night , which lasted to very Into hour , that of the mixed breeds and white men who have married Indian women , us the commission has decided that * white men incorporated in the Indian tribes ip to the present time have n right to vote , ivas n harmonious ono , being almost a , inlt in favor of signing the bill , while the Indian council was far from .icing u harmonious ono. Thcro is no doubt that tha letters from Mr. Bland , of .ho Council Fire , representing ttio Indian - Defense association , to all the squaw men , lalf-brocds and leading Indians , appealing to .hem , under no condition , to sign the bill , larticularly explaining and misrepresenting : ho school clause , has had much to do with : ho disagreement among the Indians. Bland contends that in the treaty of 1SCS schools ire guaranteed in any case ; while , in the present bill , schools nnd other things nro to jo paid for out of the money realized on the present sale of lauds , leaving about 54,000,000 , instead of the entire sum. The opposing influences of the different lands , for nnd against , are working ear nestly and faithfully to secure their respec tive ends , both hoping for success. Ono gratifying feature , to-day , was that several lirommunt Indians who spoke bitterly against the bill yesterday , nftor having it explained to them last night , have declared themselves in favor of it. * The commission gave the Indians another feast , to-day of twenty beeves , well knowing that they are never so good-natured ns whoa Lhcir stomachs are full. This is ono pro longed picnic to a majority of thcso Indians , ns wo are dally treated to Omaha and squaw dances , feats and races , the .younger pre ferring to enjoy themselves nnd leave the quarreling to their ciders. In the big council , to-day , the leading chiefs wlio spoku against the bill were Yellow Balr , who thoucht the government had broken the treaties of ISliS nnd 1875 ; but said that ho be lieves General Crook to bo a friend und would light them if ho was not. Two Strike , High Hawk and Little Dog also spoke in op position , declaring that they were not gottlnir enough for their land , und it would not bo best to curtail their reservation , ns they had now plenty of room to riingo their Btoclc. The leading chiefs , who delivered nblo speeches in favor of the bill , borne of them being paitlculnrly eloquent mid original , were , Swift Bear , Ho Dog , Standing Bear , High Pipe , Good Eagle , High Lance , Hollow Horn Bear , Crow Dog. William Spotted Tall , Bcar-ln-tho-Wood , Red Rose and Fast Boar. Several of these chiefs were strongly in the i opposition in the last council , } At the adjournment or the council it was . concluded to meet again to-morrow , and all those in favor of signing the bill should bo- pin to do so ; those not in favor of doing'so should meet in a separate council. The indi cations of the successful issue of the bill nro very much brighter , to-day , than yesterday. Among the excellent speeches that had much weight in the council to-day , was C. P. Jordan , the regular licensed trader at this agency , who Is a brother of Colonel B. W. Jordan , of thu Ninth infantry , und cousin of the lute General George A. Ouster. Ho has been chief clerk and acting agent at Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies since Ib7-l , and although comparatively u young men yet , hu has more influence than any other white man on tno reservation. lie has not only usoJ his influence , but spent his money in the endeavor to secure a successful Issue. { Tlio following is thu substance of Mr. j Jordan's speech : "My friends and relatives , , j you are now in n position to place yoursolvei * In a good condition and secure for yourselves and children the protection of the govern ment In your laud allotted to you under thlH act. Four of my children were born hero , anil 1 could not look you in tha fuco if I ad vised you to your disadvantage. Thrco Stars will allow you ample time , and I see not a "oason for not accepting. Uhcso gen tlemen would not bring this hill hero if they did not think for your interests , and In accordance with what your representatives asked in Washington hiht winter. The pcoplo will not regard you for rejecting this bill , when thu pricu was fixed by yourselves. Next yo.ir there will bo suvon moro in tbn great council of the Great Father , and I fuar they will make laws which will not allow you ns liberal terms ; ami besides you will lobe the filemsili ! ! | of thcso people und those in the cast who huvubcon.vour friends , for they can not know whv yftu reject this bill. In this country there is only power by votes , und when u puoplu can vote they can help make laws and thus protect themselves. When you take lands In severally you take the first stop towards securing this power to protecting yourselves by vnto , 1 want you to seriously consider tills matter and not allow this commission to leave without your signaturcst. You are not supposed to bu inoi a Intelligent than the mixed bloods und men liitcr-iimrrlcd among you , I'huy accept this bill rind want you to do so also. " There is u tcrrlllu storm of wind und raia hero to-night. Tlie Indians Klui HoHjaui ) AOHNOV , Dak. , Juno 7.--Tho commissioners held another council with the Indians this afternoon. Yellow Hair , Swift Boar , Hollow Horn Bear ami other Indiana spoko. Hollow Horn Bear wanted General Crook to tell them about It , saying they all knew him and would listen to his words , General Crook spoitu briefly but forcibly to the Indians , explaining the provisions of the bill , and suylni ; that they could sign or not , ns thuy saw lit. Ho told them that thu government could not always feed thorn : that they must become Bclf-supporting , and that the government in thU bill docs moro for them than it ever did for wlii'o men , When hu had concluded , Crow Dog 8lgnc4 the paper and the other Indians bcuan sign ing ut thrco tables an fust as thu Interprutcru could givu their names and identify them , At 0 o'clock four hundred had slimed , iiii eluding many prominent , chiefs. Tun hun dred and forty must sign in order to the requirements of the bill.