Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA DAILY BEE.
LL * NINETEENTH YEAR. OMAHA , WEDNESDAY MOANING , MAY 7 , 1890. NUMBER 317.
OVER A HUNDRED .CREMATED
An Insane Asylum Horror at Louguo Pointe ,
Near Montreal
THE INMATES UNABLE TO ESCAPE
linrnliu ; to Dcntli llcfore Tliclr Tcrror-
Htrlultcn ComjmnloiiH mid Attend-
nuts Sights mid Hoiiiidn Which
Beggar
r. POINTI : , Quebec , May 0. A long
Hue of gaunt towers is till ono now sees of the
Longuo Pblnto lunatic asylum , located ten
miles from Montreal , and which , with many
lives , was today consumed by the flames.
The sights Witnessed in this tragic scene
ore such as can never bo forgotten.
Nothing could exceed the Jiorror attending
the terrible cnlnmlty , considering the number
of victims , the
Tcmiinu : KATUHR or Tiir.m muni *
nml the manner in which the helpless victims
received their fnto.
What to the spectators was n sccno of horror
ror was to the lunatics n moment of supreme
glee , and in their delight they disported them
selves in the flumes nnd waved their blazing
limbs in crazy satisfaction at the ruin that
was about them , and not until the walls tum
bled over their heads were their
MANIACAL 8CUUAM9HiI.ENCnn.
There were Incarcerated at Longuo Pointo
, 1,800 lunatics , for that asylum was n prison
rather than a hospital , and now not moro than
1,100 arc accounted for , but innny'cseapoct In
the fields and woods , and the dead are nshcs
amongst the ashes. The number of tho'
dead is purely a matter of conjecture
nnd can nevei-bo ascertained , slnco no other
record Is kept than that In the asylum
books and they are destroyed. Taking Into
consideration the whole of the evidence from
the firemen , thohalfsauo Inmates and the
sisters in charge , it is it conservative estimate
to say that ICO victims met theirdeath , though
some assert the number double thutand others
place it below this figure. However , the fact
remains that no such calamity has fallen upon
the province of Quebco since the earliest
times.
Ever slnco Quebec was a province Its man
agement of thcso most helpless creatures has
been Its shumo. They have been fanned out
to nuns at $100 a head per year and the sis
ters' aim was to keep them as frugally as
possible.
From the corstruction of the building there
Is doubt in some minds as to whether it was
Intended for an
ASYLUM OII A IH.AST rUHNACn.
In any case , it served the latter purpose ad
mirably. It was constructed of brick and
was COO feet long , running buck from the
river half the distance. The main building
occupied the center and on each sidoextendcd
four wings six stories in height.
The fire today was started In n cupboard in
the second ward on the woman's ' side In .an
upper story by a careless patient , and as the
ventilation was carried on by u lougitudiual
shaft connected with the towers , the flames
soon appeared blazing up through the roof in
the center of each tower.
A telegram was sent to Montreal for aid
nnd an cnginVi and reels started at onco. They
might us well have remained at home , for in
llvo minutes they
lXIIAU.STii : ) TUB WAT1U ! SUPPLY.
The only thing that could save the building
was the St. Lawrence river , and it was half a
mile distant.
When an Associated press reporter arrived
with the firemen the dome of ono tower had
Just fallen nnd the Humes were bursting out
everywhere.
As the heat increased statues fell from
their niches to the ground nnd then the in
habitants prostrated themselves , crying aloud
that the saints hud deserted them indeed.
Beds , furjiituro and utensils of every descrip
tion were showered from the windows and
streams of ill-clud nun poured out of the
eastern wing. Not n male patient
was lost. Among the women It was
different. The los.s hopeless cased
were placed in the lower wards , and
they were removed without diflleulty , but
from the upper wards , where the violent pa
tients were secured , there cumo the wildest
screams , us they resisted the nuns who were
lIliSr.UCIIl.NO T1IBM TO ESCAPE.
At n window n muniuo would bo
seen peering through the bars , grin
ning and jabbering nt the bright
Hume that want up to the sky. As the heat
became moro Intense she would grasp the
bars and remain there until the mimes en
veloped her. The inhabitants had como from
all around , attracted by the hlazo and in an
hour the little village was ono surging mass
of shouting , vociferating people.
AVhen the firemen found they wcro power
less to save the building they turned their at
tention to the inmates and burst in the doors
with axes. Inside , Chief Bonolt says , was
such u sight us no fireman over before wit
nessed. In ono ward ho entered wcro twenty-
five patients , and at Ills approach they
IIUIHH.KM TOaimiCIt LlKi : III5AST8 ,
entwining their arms Into ono mass. I lo seized
the nearest , "but , " said the chief , "I could no
moro separata them than I could the parts of
your horsa. "
Ho tugged at them until the flro darted
Into their garments and enfolded them like a
shroud of fiamca , and then ho escaped with
his life.
In another ward three firemen were nearly
trapped to death. They entered , nnd the
door , which had n spring lock , closed behind
them. As is customary , there was no handle
on the Inside. The door resisted their axes
nnd they rushed to the window , but were
driven back by the Humes. The chief , sus
pecting their peril , sent aid to the other side
nnd the men wow carried down on ladders.
Ttio engineer of the building did good work ,
saving nine patients , and every fireman made
n record of which ho may feel proud.
On the first alarm the engineer turned on
the hose , but ! { . was utterly useless , as the
tire leaped along the ventilating shaft to the
towers and burned in n dozen places at onco.
Ono of the nuns , Sister Marie , lay sick in
the Infirmary on the fifth iloor anil to her res-
euo euuio three others. They seized their
companion and bow her In u blanket to the
staircase , but they were
Ml'.T 11V A SHET.T OP FLAME
nnd nil perished. None of them were over
twenty ycurs of ago.
The sisters worked with the persistence of
heioln s , by turns Imploring , beseeching and
commanding the patients , and dually saving
u very largo number lu view of the Inadequate
facilities at hand ,
Sister Thi'iivse , the superioress , Is broken
hearted , and being at present in ill health ,
her ua'ilo may bo luldcU to the already long
list of victims.
Drs. Boumua and Ilarulot were carried
from the bunding unconscious , mid whatever
must bo said of the management oa u wJtnlo ,
the Individuals exorcised every power to
lessen the calamity they had neglected to
avert.
A LOUD
was followed by a crush of beams. The In
terior was giving way. Wild faces sunk
f 10.11 the windows and the shrieks of the
inanlucH were lost in the general uproar , mid
ono by ono the walls toppled Inward and u
iloivo hhuo burst up from the newly added
fuel that UMO to the dark sky and shot its
glare over the St. Lawrence to the southern
bhoro and oven tinged the crest of Mount
Royal. ten miles dUtant. Then it died down
Into blackness , and nothing but a few broken
towers remained bounding the seething mass
of metal and dobrls , under which are now ,
not the bodies , but the ashes of 100 victims.
By this tlmo It was 0 o'clock and growing
dark mid very cold. The spring rums hud
converted the place Into n quagmire , nnd only
horsemen could get from pluco to place.
The poor sisters , most of tncm young
and delicate , stood nnklo deep in
the mud securing nnd superintend
ing the removal of such furniture ns had
been saved. The patients wandered about
aimlessly , clad in scant garments. When re
leased many of them loaned for Joy nnd
bounded like deer across the fields to the
woods. Patients of both sexes escaped and
though n cordon of police was thrown round
not all wcro Included , and a horribly sug-
gestlvo tulo was berne In by un > ! nhabltunt
who was coming through the woods to the
scene of disaster.
A NRW nitnAn.
has como upon the Inhabitants from the pros-
cncoof so many escaped lunatics , and they
will count themselves foi lunate If they are not
visited by u scries of such crimes as only
madmen can devise.
All the tlmo the flro was burning ovp.ry
high house top In Montreal hud Its curious
sightseers , The long road was thronged with
carriages. The transport service of Montreal
was pressed into service and every available
cab , omnibus and hack went out filled with
l > coplo.
Premier Mercicr has placed the Montreal
exposition building nt the disposal of the nuns ,
ami tomorrow the buildings will bo stocked
with provisions.
FIIIttMRN ASTONISHED.
The strangest wonder to the firemen is that
such nn absence of lire fighting facilities could
exist. Although the appliances wcro there ,
they wcro utterly ustlcss. The institution
had excellent engines , ten good pumps nnd
new boilers , but no connection existed be
tween the pumps nnd the boilers.
The Sisters of Providence spent In found
ing and organizing this institution ? 1,1 : ! ! > , ' - , ' ,
of which $ TCOOCO , was spent on the buildings.
The building was insured by the government
for $300,000.
With the exception of the medical depart-
nicnt. consisting of doctors , the sisters re
tained complete control of all departments of
the asylum.
Later At midnight the death roll Is esti
mated at fifty , although many moro arc miss
ing , but they arc expected to turn up.
It is feared that seven tertiary nuns wcro
burned , as three moro nro missing besides
those named above. They wcro not , however ,
seen in the fiamos and the slstcwj prefer not
giving out their names.
SEKVIVEH IX THE SEXATE.
Tlio President , Cabinet nnd Other Dig-
iiitaricti Viexv Heck's Hemain.s.
WASHINGTON- , May 0. The remains of
James Beck , late United States senator from
Kentucky , were berne from the residence of
Representative Brcckinridgo | of Kentucky to
the marble room of the cnpltol this morning.
There the remains will be viewed by several
hundred people before removal to the senate
chamber.
A number of'floral tributes were brought
to the senate chamber nnd displayed on the
clerk's desk. Among them was n wreath of
lilies and roses from President and Mrs. Har
rison.
The senate chamber was opened at 10:15 : ,
but owing to the rain and the announcement
crroncouslv made that admission would bo
by tickets the galleries were not filled at 13
o'clock when the senate was called
to order by President Pro Tern
Ingulls. The Iloor of the chamber
had been supplied with chairs for
members of the house of representatives and
other oflleials invited to attend the services ,
the pall bearers nnd members of the family
with invited friends.
After the reading of yesterday's journal ,
Mr. Blackburn presented the order of cere
monies and It was road nnd entered on the
Journal. Then , on motion of Mr. Merrill a
recess was taken until liiO. ! : !
At 12:30 President Pro Tern Ingalls called
the bcnate to order. .Fifteen minutes later
the pall bearers and members of the house
wcro announced and they wcro followed by
the chief justice and associate justlpes of the
supreme court , diplomatic corps , represented
by Sir Julian Pauncofoto , the British minis
ter nnd the members of the Chinese , Japanese
nnd Brazilian legations. President Harrison
and the cabinet received the assemblage.
Shortly after 1 o'clock the casket was berne
Into the chamber , following it came Mrs.
Goodloo , Senator Beck's daughter , and Major
Goodloo , her husband , and the , friends of the
family.
After short services the coflln was berne to
the hcnrso bv a detail of the capitol police.
The lloor'uud galleries were semi emptied of
spectators , and at 1:35 : the senate was de
clared adjourned until tomorrow noon.
As soon ns the services were concluded the
procession started for the depot Following
the hearse were the family and relatives , the
president and members of the cabinet in car
riages and the members of the senate and the
house on foot , after u wait of a few minutes ,
the casket was placed in ono of the coaches
of a special train which at ! ! o'clock started
for Lexington , Ky. That city will bo reached
tomorrow at t ) o'clock aud the funeral will
take place Thursday.
Tlie House Adjourns.
WASHINGTON' , May 0. Immediately after
the reading of the journal the house took a
recess until 13:1G : p. m. After recess adjourn
ment was taken until tomorrow , to enable the
members to attend Senator Beck's funeral.
A MVItltEltOVS 310T1IEK.
Mrs. Ill-osier of California Strangles
Her Daughter and Suicides.
TIIAVKII , Cal. , May 0. Last night during
the absence of her husband Mrs. T. A. Bros
lor , soon after sending her llttlo girls aged
cloven and nine to bed , went to the bed room
and proceeded to strangle the older child.
The younger ono ran from the room
pursued by the mother , still carrying the
other child by the neck. She did not drop it
until It was dead nnd by that time the llttlo
daughter had managed to get a good start and
reached n neighbor's houso. The neighbors
started back with her and Mr. Brcsler
came back about the same time. Mrs.
Brcsler was found In the back yard in n pool
of blood , having chopped in the front of her
head with an ax. The physicians say she
cannot llvo. She was conscious , but would
glvo no reason for the deed aud is supposed to
have suddenly gone insane.
A XETTElt VU031 IIAWLKY.
The "Wisconsin Aliscoudcr Confesses
HIM Guilt.
MII.WAUKCH , Wls , , May 0. A special from
Berlin , Wls. , says a letter has been
received from- Joseph M. Huwloy , the
absconding member of the bunking
firm of C. A. Mather & Co. , which failed yes
terday. in which ho confesses that ho appro
priated bank funds and lost all In deals on the
Chicago and Milwaukee boards of trade
anil in tnickctshop speculation in
stocks. The letter was written
in .Chicago Saturday evening , Hawly
said ho was on his way to New York and
would soon bo on the ocean bound for Cuba.
It will bo some tlmo before the osigneo can
maku u statement. In view of the confession
by Hawley the worst is feared.
'Clayton Investigation.
LITTI.B UOCK , Ark. , May 0. The Clayton
committee heard u number of witnesses
today , the most Important ono being Oliver
T. Beutly , the man whom Goncrul Clayton
suspects of having killed his brother. Bentley -
ley Is the deputy sheriff of Conway county
and claims to have been In Mor-
rllltou on the night t'luvton was
killed at Plummervllle. Todav ho'broueht In
i1 wpora to corroborate this chum. Chairman
Laeoy dictated to Bentleyu letter received by
the town marshal of Morrlllton uftoi ; the kill
ing signed "Jack the Hipper , " nnd containing
many dlro threats. There was no similarity
whatever between the handwriting of the letter -
tor and that of Bentley ,
Carroll Armstrong today apologized to the
committee for the strong lunguugo used by
him last night.
[ Fremont GctH it Federal
WASHINGTON , May 0. The president has
approved the act providing for a public
building at Fremont , Neb.
THE CAUSE OF THE DELAY ,
Now Tort Omaha's ' Location Too Costly by
About $3,000 , ,
STATUS OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING.
AH Soon ns the Slto Title If ) Vested In
the Government AVork AV1I1
llcjjln Klsli Commit-
nion Fight.
WASHINGTON BtmiuuTun OMAHA [ BEG , ] )
fil.T FOUIITKKNTH 3Tiir.GT , V
WASHINGTON. D. 3. , , May 5. )
In response to n number of Inquiries from
Omaha ns to the cause of delay In beginning
worlc upon now Fort Omaha , Representative
Council today called upon tlio quartermaster
general of the army und learned that the delay
was duo to the fact that the cost of the site ,
including the land necessarily condemned , ex
ceeded one-third of the appropriation , which
is the limit under the law allowed to bo ex
pended for that purpose. The excess Is about
$3,000 , , which It is presumed Mr. Clark will
arrange satisfactorily to the government.
The quartermaster general said ho would
submit n statcment-to the secretary of war lu
a few days from which the exact condition of
affairs could bo seen.
Mr. ConncU also called nt the office of the
supervising architect of the treasury and was
Informed by the architect that there will bo a
deficit of at least $1,000 , not Including com
missions for disbursing the funds , in excess of
the $0,000 already paid in by the bondsmen on
thosltefortho Omahapostoftleo. Mr.Wlndom
stated that this would not necessarily delay
action , as it was the purpose of the secretary
to at once tender the amount of award which
would vest the title In the government , nnd
for the deficit ho would look to the bond , uud
that when the exact amount is ascertained
the district attorney will demand it. Mr.
Council was assured that as soon ns the title
is complete in the government work on the
plans will bo commenced.
Mr. Council leaves on Thursday for his
homo at Omaha , arriving there on Saturday ,
Ho will remain there a week or ten days , re
turning to his scat inJ.ho house in time to
vote on the tariff billnnu the proposed amend
ments
-run TAIMFP BILI/ .
The tariff bill comes up tomorrow anil the
balance of this week will bo consumed In
general debate. Although the work in the
committee of the whole under the five
minute iiilo is to bo limited to eight days , the
understanding or impression is that the bill
will not bo finally passed by the house Hill
about Saturday , the 24th inst.
CONCEUN'INO FOIST SIDNEY.
The secretary of war today wrote to Sena
tor Mnnderson as.follows :
"In reply to your letter of the 2-lth ult. in
closing a petition from Mr. William J. Free
man und numerous citizens of Sidney , for the
retention of Fort Sidney ns n military post
and expressing the hope that the post will bo
continued until the now Fort Omaha is fairly
under way , 1 huvo.tho honor to stuto that in
my communication dated the 30th ult. , sub
mitted to mo by the major general command
ing the army on the sub ] set of the abandon
ment of Forts Sidney and Bridger , ho re
marks as follows :
" 'It Is not yet practicable to give the Information
mation upon which the abandonment of Forts
Sidney and Bridger must depend. The meas
ure upon such action in part depends can not
yet bo matured. It is not propablo that the
garrisons of thcso posts can bo provided for
elsewhere earlier than the coming autumn. ' "
T1IK FISH COMMISSION.
The fish commission Is making a desperate
endeavor to prevent any change In its organ
ization or its methods of business. Copies of
Senator Paddock's bill transferring the fish
commission to the agricultural department
have been mailed with blank petitions to all
the boards of trade in tlio country , to anglers1
associations and to private Individuals ,
wherever they can bo reached , urging that
the commission bo not interfered with "be
cause any interference would certainly Injure
Its usefulness. "
The proposition to place thoflshcommission
under the agricultural department came from
warm friends of the commission and admirers
of its work. It was the result of an attack
made upon the commission In the senate ,
provoked by the discovery that slnco the
death of Prof. Bnird the fish commission has
been entirely without responsible direction
and reports through no executive department
of the government to congress , In this re
spect being sintrular nnd alone among all the
bureaus of the government. This fact
being brought out in a debate In the semite
upon the urgency deficiency bill , the senators
on both sides of the senate nt once called at
tention to this anomalous situation and an
nounced their intention of bringing in bills
placing the fish commission , as Is the case
with every other bureau and commission In
Washington , under the head and control of
nn executive department of the government.
When Senator Paddock's bill was introduced
It was certain that If the commission wcro
not placed under the department of agricul
ture it would go to cither the navy or the
treasury departments. The assaults , how
ever , which have been made upon the bill
seem to bo directed against any supervision
of the fish commission by nn executive de
partment of the government.
Upon being examined by the senate com-
mltteo on agriculture. Marshall McDowell , the
fish commissioner , admitted the propriety of
a connection with an executive department
through which estimates could bo sent and
iveomincndatlons for appropriations trans
mitted. Ho expressed u preference for the
treasury department , but made no defense of
the independent position which the commis
sion now occupies.
The senate committee on ngrlculturo-wIU
report the bill favorably , with amendments
providing that the fish commissioner shall bo
appointed by the president and not by the
secretary of agriculture , as called for in the
bill ns originally presented.
The charge of those who oppose any "Inter
ference , " as they call it , with the commission
is that to pluco the fish commission under an
executive department will at once throw it
into the ' 'cesspool of politics. " It Is answered
to this that the geological survey , the coast
and gcodetlo surveys and the lighthouse
board , nil of which are distinctly scientific
bureaus , nro under executive departments
nnd that their action Is In no way impaired or *
their efficiency abated.
ADULTERATION HILL.
The senate committee on agriculture ex
pected this morning to report tlio bill on
which it has been working for the past three
months for the prevention of the adultera
tion of goods and drugs. The delay was
caused by the necessity for further amend
ments to the clauses relating to the compound
drug business. The bill , us drafted for the
consideration of the commltteo and which
followed closely the untl-udultor.ttlon bill ,
bus been seriously objected to by a largo
number of the most prominent mid notable
wholesale drug houses In the country mid by
proprietary medicine Interests , on account o'f
the obscurity of certain clauses which , in the
opinion of those Interests , might bo inter
preted unfavorably to them by the courts.
Senator Paddock bus accordingly called upon
the wholesale drug dealers' associations of
the several states to present In writing their
suggestions for the amendment of that portion
tion of the bill which refers to compouudca
drug * , and it is expected that tliU will bo re
ceived and the bill reported when the com
mittee meet : } next week.
In conversation today Senator Paddpck
said : i'Tno object of this bill is not to assail
any legitimate Industry nor to Interfere with
any honest dealer. Its object Is to protect the
consumer against fraud and to prevent the
adulteration of food und drugs. The most
reputable wholesulo drug houses uro entirely
with the committee and the delay is simply
to muko such changes hi the wording us will
thoroughly protect honest dealers in these
products from being placed in the same
category with dishonest dealers , and uUo to
maku It certain M t the patent medicine busl-
uess shall not to u uU J ua soinu of its
friends think it might possibly bo under the
bill now being considered by the committee. "
WYOMING AND IDAHO COMINO.
It has been determined' ' that the bills ad
mitting Wyoming and Idaho to statehood
shall como up In the aoiintb tomorrow , and the
silver coinage bill will go over probably till
next wtvk. The statehood bills will pass as
they came from the Sc ate and Wyoming nnd
Idaho will likely bo states within u week.
wif.oooKt ' , ENoxniiATii : > .
Colonel A. F. WJIgockl of Ohadron , who
was appointed ns special agent for the census
and was nbotit entering upon his duties when
ho was suspended , has been exonerated from
the charges preferred , and ho will now take
his position. Ho presented n lot of nflldavlts
from citizens of' Chadron disproving the
charges in toto. It i believed the charges
were the outgrowth of political feelings ,
onnininn IIKI.EASEI > ,
Some tlmo ngo , so it Is understood here , n
man named Rowaiul Committed a murder In
Montana. Despite tlio vigorous efforts of his
counsel , who Is n brother of Governor Toole ,
ho was sentenced to thu penitentiary for llfo.
The governor , It is said , has been anxious to
pardon him , but the board would not consent.
Rownnd's ' family , Canadians of wealth and
prominence , got Sir 'John A. McDonald , the
Canadian premier , Interested In the case nnd
ho communicated with Sir Julian Pauncofate ,
the British minister. ; Sir Julian has talked
the mutter over with ; Secretary Bhilnc , and
the result is n request from the secretary to
the board of pardons1 asking ns a matter of
international courtesy that Rowand bo re
leased. Mrs. Rowand and two daughters uro
stopping hero nttho Hamilton house and have
douo much toward bringing about this result.
SlISCELTvANKOCS.
Grace I. A. Bradley was today appointed
postmaster nt St. Iitborg , Howard county ,
Nebraska , vice Mrs. C. A. Latham , resigned ,
nnd J. Miller was npriolntcd at Adolphl. Poll :
county , lown , vice N/Johnson , resigned.
D. C. Nicol has been appointed postmaster
nt Fail-bank , Sully county , South Dakota.
At London , Ncheiuah county , Mrs. Jeannette -
netto Harding was recently appointed post
mistress. She did not want the position and
sent In her resignation. Mr. Council , upon
the I'cquest of most Of1 the patrons of the of
fice , has recommended the appointment of
Mrs. Mary E. Sim. Ho has also recommended
the appointment of J > Ls Wind to bo post
master at Walton , 'Neb.
Nebraska farmdrs ; continue to send into
congress petitions against the proposed frco
sugar clause In tlioMpKliiloy tariff bill. They
want tariff protection for Nebraska beet
sugar interests'niul oppose a bounty.
' 7 f Pr.mir S. HiiATir.
AXs MEET.
The Next State Convention , to Bo Held
nt Springfield.
CHICAGO , May J-2-Special ) [ Telegram to
TinjBnn. ] There' was an Immense attend
ance of western politicians at the meeting of
the republican state ; central committco of
Illinois in this city today.
A great many of * the well known state
politicians were at thohotels ; yesterday , but
this morning the numbpr of republican lead
ers present was trebled. The now comers
arrived on every train that reached the clty
durlng the forenoon , , and they came from
every county from the lake to Egypt Old
war horses who have been fighting for party
success since the days when Lincoln wiis on
the stump mingled' Iti the hotel corridors
with the young bloods who uro now learning
their first lesson in 'politics.
Probably two hundred men who nro recog
nized as nptubla umbug 'Illinois republicans
were in the ladles * 'oijmiiary when General
Martin called , the ' " { eye feast" so called , to
order. A great many topics wcro discussed.
The loading subjectiy'as'fho tlmo for holdldg
the convention. Itimakes n great'deal of
difference this yenr-wbother.tho convention is
curly or Iat6 , and "ithoiparty members-nirguo
both ways. The reison why is explained"
when the name of .ox-Governor Paimec Is
mentioned , The republicans believe It is
assured that the sturdy campaigner will re
ceive the endorsement of the democratic con
vention that meets Juno 4 nt Springfield.
They also beliovo' that when once ho com
mences the light It will bo aggressively forced
all alone : the lino. There was no attempt to
deny the situation , "but no ono expressed any
fcai-s that with good management Illinois will
not roll up the usual republican majority
this fall.
The committee discussed the advisability of
placing Cook county in the bauds of the stuto
committee , as Now'York city was placed in
the hands of the national committee in the
campaign of 18SS , but no definite action was
taken. Many favor the change because it is
believed the fight will be most bitter in
Chicago.
Several promiricht republicans from outside -
side the state were present ; and among them
was General Russell A. Alger , commander-in-
chlof of the Grand Arjny of the Republic.
General Algcr shook" the hand of almost
every soldier republican In the crowd. Ho
said ho had no special political mission in
Chicago , but only wished to express his good
feeling to the Illinob inon. Ho was accom
panied hero by Mrs. John A. Logan , and the
visit was evidently in the interest of his boom
for the presidency.
Among the other prominent republicans
present were General Raum , commissioner of
pensions ; Senator Forwoll , comptroller of the
treasury ; A. C. MatJhows , ex-governor , and
ex-United States Senator Oglcsby and scores
of leading state politicians.
The meeting of thecomnilttco was n most
harmonious one nnd the reports showed the
condition of of the party to bo good in all
parts of the state.
Springfield was selected without opposition
as tlio place for holding the state convention.
* I- - T - < fc
Unitarian Indies m Session.
CHICAGO , May 0. [ Special Telegram to
Tun HUE. ] The ninth annual session of the
women's western Unitarian conference was
held In this city today. The session opened
with an address by the president , Mrs. Vic
toria M. Richardson of Princeton , 111. Miss
Florence Hilton , the secretary , reported that
the society had 8S2 members , twenty wom
en's societies nikd four branch associations.
The object of the association is to teach free
dom , fellowship ami character in religion. In
order to successfully accomplish this object
classes have been formed for the study of his
tory and religion. In addition to the classes ,
postofllco missions and Sunday homo circles
have been established. During the year
eleven homo circles have been established and
7,520 tracts and rcllgibus papers distributed.
Miss Francis LoBaroh of Elgin and Mrs. M.
Savage of CooksvlUe , Wls. , of the national
committee gave rcporta of the national post-
olllco mission. The postoftleo mission sends
letters , tracts , books. , aiid other publications
to localities where there , are no churches.
Miss LoBaron said there were ninety locali
ties , each o which' distributed about two
thousand publications --which were road and
transferred until they wcro worn out. The
remainder of the session was devoted to the
reading of reports of local work by the dele
gates from sixteen wtwternstates. This after
noon the labors of tub conference closed.
Ncbrankn aria lowu Patents.
WASHINGTON , Mnjj 0.-rSpecIal Telegram
to TUB BIK. ] Patents were Issued today as
follows ; Dewltt Bj Brace , Lincoln , Nob. ,
dynamo electric mitehlno ; Edward J. Callahan -
han , Omaha , dumping wagon ; William F.
Cooper , Dubunuo , . la. , wood working ma
chine ; Conrad EckhHrd , Friend , Nob. , hose
coupling ; George A. Fill lied , Dubunuo. la. ,
ink stand ; Louis S. Fletcher , Blue Springs ,
Nob. , windmill ; Htmmm H. Frenzler , Alli
ance , Neb , , harrow ; EiigcnoGertunor , Colum
bus , Neb. , book butting muchino : William
Rlnehohl , Danburyl la. , ntny chain for whlf-
llotrecs ; Rlloy H.Kargont , Will worth , Nob. ,
wind wheel attachment ; Burchard II. A.
Slefkcn , Omaha , sponge holder.
.
' i
Capital Punishment Itotnlncd.
AI.IIANT , N. Y. , May 0. The senate Judi
ciary committee this afternoon , by n vote of
7 to 2 , posti > o'rie < l InUefinltely the Curtis bill
to abolish capital punishment , thus killing
the bill.
Htiinlcy Goes to Windsor Castle.
LONDON , May O.-Stanloy went to Windsor
costlo today by the queen's command and
was given uu audience by her majesty.
AN EXPERIENCE MEETING ,
Presidents of Western Lines Hold a Very
Communicative Session ,
THE * TALK ABOUT TEEIR TROUBLES ,
Agents Convene nnd Try
to Itcnrgnnlzo tlio AVcstcru
Stales Passenger
Association.
CHICAGO , May. 0. [ Special Telegram to
Tun Bin : . ] The presidents of the western
lines had a regular old-time experience meet
ing today. They told all about their troubles
With each other , on what points they disa
greed and in ono or two isolated cases ac
knowledged n shortcoming of which they
were guilty before the Interstate commerce
act law came Into effect. In twine , lumber ,
grain , cattle nnd packing house products
rates wcro discussed and each of the presi
dents took a turn at showing just where" his
competitors had struck below the belt nnd
whcro his line had an underhold which it
proposed to keep. The meeting was unique
in every way. The presidents yesterday del
egated to the general managers of their roads
the authority to meet Thursday nnd organ
ize an association and advance rates to
the old basis. This was even
moro than they themselves had mot to do ,
but , not satisfied with this , they met today
and will again tomorrow to discuss their
grievances. Many of the general managers
being In attendancooiithoprcsldents' meeting
will render unnecessary the threshing over of
much old straw by them nt the Thursday
meeting. For this and especially for a thor
ough understanding of the ruto troubles the
meeting is a valuable one , but not a resolu
tion was passed except the one to adjourn
until tomorrow.
While the presidents of the western rail
roads wcro holding their experience meeting
the general passenger agents of the same lines
were holding n meeting. The passenger men
met to reorganize the Western States Passen
ger association , and ns n consequence to
raise passenger rates to the basis in
effect before the present war began. The
proposed agreement , already formulated at
previous meetings , was considered , section by
section , and at the close of the meeting this
afternoon not ono had been considered which
had not been passed unanimously. It is
thought the agreement will bo finished to
morrow. The only hitch In the proceedings
was the statement of Assistant General Pas
senger Agent Eckstein of the Wisconsin
Central , that his line would insist on the dif
ferential which it has demanded on St. Paul
business. This statement was hardly ex
pected , in view of the fact that the Wiscon
sin Central Is part of the Northern Pacific ,
and a terminus of n vast and ostensibly first
class system. A caucus of the remaining
lines developed that under no circumstances
would the differential system bo introduced
in the west , nnd nil the lines agreed
that if necessary they would ignore the Wis
consin Central from the association and fight
the Wisconsin Central at every point until it
was forced to drop its demand for n differen
tial. This fight , should it come , involves a
rate war on tlio Northern Pacific's Portland
and Puget Sound business by the Union Pa
cific , which will bo extremely Interesting.
Tlio lown .Tolnt'ltates. ; ' . . '
DES MoiN'Es , la. , May 0. [ Special Tel
egram to .Tun BKE.J Several days ago 'the
Western Statcs'Trafllc association at Chicago
appointed a committee to meet with the Iowa
railroad commissioners and sco what arrange
ments could bo made concerning the new
railroad law for low rates. This law empow
ers the commissioners to make out joint rates
at a sum not to exceed what the
rate would bo If It were for ono
continuous haul over the same road.
That committee , consisting of Solicitor
Fish of the Mllwuukcu road , Solicitor Wright
of the Hock Island and Solicitor Bly the of the
Chicago , Burlington & Qtiincy , met the com
missioners today. They proposed that a test
case bo made up for submission to the state
supreme court on the question of the consti
tutionality of the law , and if it should bo de
cided adversely to tlio statoit could bo carried
to the United States supreme court not later
thuntho October term. The commissioners ,
after discussing the proposal , ' declined.They
said it would look us If they were trying to
tie up the law so as to delay its enforcement.
Tiicy told the committee that they ( the com
missioners ) should have to go ahead and
order the- joint rates , and if tire railroads re
sisted would then take tlio matter Into the
courts , nnd thus tent It. The committee also
proposed that the railroads should voluntarily
put In joint- * rates where they thought
public Interests would bo served if the com
missioners would ngroo to a test case for the
other applications. But the commissioners
refused , so it is understood that the railroads
will refuse to put in the joint rates and will
fight the law on the ground that a compulsory
partnership between two or more roads is un
constitutional ,
Hates on Packing HOUHO Products.
CHICAGO , 111. , May 5. [ Special Telegram
to TIIR BKI : . ] - The southern connections of
the Chicago and Ohio river lines have raised
rates cents on packing house products to
Carolina points. This renders nugatory the
i-ccnt reduction in these rates made by the
Chicago and Ohio river lines to meet the re
duced rates of tha western lines from Kansas
City to southern points. The Chicago and
Ohio river lines are .now In the position of
having thrown away 4 cents per 100 on valuable -
able traffic and would go back to tlio old
tariff If their southern connections would
make a corresponding reduction.
Tlio Chicago & Atlantic Sale.
CHICAGO , May 0. Special Telegram to Tin :
Bin. : ] The Chicago & Atlantic road will bo
sold August 13 , and by September 1 Receiver
Malottowlll bo ready to turn over the. prop
erty to the buyer. President King of the
Erie , which road will buy the Chicago & At-
lantle , Is In Chicago and expresses himself as
highly pleased ut Mr. Mulatto's receivership.
The road has boon vastly improved in every
respect , mid as the Chicago division of tlio
Erie will bo a much moro vulutiblo property
than formerly , President King would llko to
retain Receiver Malotto as general manager
of the Chicago & Atlantic , but us Mr. Mulotto
is already n twlco millionaire and bus largo
railroad and banking Interests In Indian
apolis , It Is doubtful If ho can secure his ser
vices ,
_
"Went Hack on Tliclr frlliPi-nlity.
KANSAS City , Mo. , May U. [ Special Tele
gram to Tun BKU. ] Tlio Santa Fo railroad ,
under its new { management , on the first of
the year raised the salaries of all oflleo men
from ? . " > to fiO a month. The announcement
was happily received by railroad men all over
the connti'y , and the liberality of the Santa
Fo bccamo proverbial. An order has now
been issued restoring the old salaries and
commanding the men to refund all of tha In
crease received since January 1. To a num
ber of the men this leaves them In debt to the
company , it Is a case of either pay or quit.
Score. * of men have contracted now schemes
and laid new plans based on the Increuso in
salary. The order almost ruins them , The
indignation and excitement is great.
FII1 - < ! ii Million Will 1)0 ) Kxpoiulcd.
NnwYoiiK , MayO. A contract has-been
entered Into by the Wyoming and Pacific Im
provement company by which 115,000,000 will
bo spent In building u railroad from Sioux
City to Ogdcn , Utah , a distance of 600 miles ,
and Mr. Stcaey has been awarded the con
tract for the work ,
A IJIg llallroud Deal.
LIMA , O. , May 0 , An important deal was
made hci yay. W. J. Marks , a
rcprcsentatl , \ > t n wealthy Eng
lish syiuti V Major Sisspn of
N"ow York , OiIuss of Chicago , mid B ,
C. FauratoftK signed n contract for
building 1,830 \ * > 'of the Mexican Inter
national railroad from Doming , N , M. , to
Topohibampo Bay , on the Pacific coast , The
amount Involved Is WIV ( > 0,030. ,
O VEX Kit THE 'JIEICIISTA < ! .
Tlio Knipcror Addresses tlio Members
on the Needs ol' TiCKlslntlnn.
BF.RMX , May 0. Tlio roiehstng was opened
today by the emperor In person. In his
speech from the throne his majesty said ho
hoped It would bo practicable nt the present
session to solve the Important nnd pressing
questions which would comou ) ) for considera
tion , Ho wanted nbovo nil things to effect
further legl.slatinn for the protection of work-
Ingmcn. The strike movements during the
past year had suggested all exami
nation of the question whether the
law or the existing organizations adequately
took into consideration those wishes of
the workluguicn which wcro justifiable nnd
capable of realization. The questions claim
ing the foremost attention wcro those of Sun
day rest and women's nnd children's labor.
The emperor continued : "Just solicitude
for workmen will constitute the most effect
ual means by which to strengthen the re
sources with which I mid my exalted allies
nro resolved to oppose with unbending deter
mination any attempt to disturb the legal
order of things. In effecting thcso reforms
only such measures will como up for consid
eration ns can bo can-led out without endan
gering the industry of the fatherland. Our
Industry only forms n link in the work of the
nations competing In the world's markets. I
have therefore made n point of going about
among the European states whoso economic
position Is of ttio same character , for nn ex
change of views regarding the joint recogni
tion of the legislation required to protect
worklngmen. I most gratefully acknowledge
the favorable reception of my suggestions by
nil the states concerned.
"Tho resolutions adopted by thorcrontlabor
conference In Berlin expressed the common
views on the most important field of work
nnd culture of our times. I do not doubt that
the principles laid down in those resolutions
will form the seed , with God's ' help , from
which will spring up happiness. The work
ing men will be blessed by its fruit , which will
bo harmonious relations' between all the pee
ple. "
Referring to the foreign relations of Ger
many his majesty said that his efforts wca-o
unceasingly directed toward the maintenance
of peace.
The reading of the emperor's speech was
frequently interrupted by cheers.
After the delivery of thcspccch , Chancellor
von Cnprivi declared the rclchstag open.
The members of the frcislnnlgo party laid n
motion on the table , demanding that u bill bo
passed reducing the corn duty to ! t murks per
double quintal , abolishing the beet root tax
and the export bounties , nml withdrawing
from the distilleries the existing privileges
relating to the spirits tax , and finally de
manding a general revision of the tariffs with
a view to the abolition of the corn and cuttle
duties and the reduction of the duties on
other articles of general consumption , es
pecially farm produce.
The socialists will introduce a bill for the
immediate repeal of the corn duties.
The new military bill fixes the peace force
at 4SO,7i troops , exclusive of one-year volun
teers. After October 1 the army will consist
of K13 battalions of infantry , -405 squadrons of
cavalry , 4tl ; field , batteries , tit batteries of
foot , " 0 pioneer and 21 train battalions.
The noil-recurring expenditures entailed by
Tlio now measures amount toll 1,500 , , 000 marks.
The increase in the yearly expenditures Is
18,000,000 marks.
Tlio. TnKblntt Comments.
. IN , May 0. The Tugblat comincnting
on Emperor WHUatii's' ' speech , says : "It is
significant that it'show's n'p Intention to main
tain soctaTistTlaws.l His * views on the duties
of government must bo approved everywhere.
The scope of the measures -protect work-
ingmcu is limited by the avowal , that Ger
many's industrial activity will not bo affected ,
therefore the workmen's interest will not bo
affected. The radicals , animated bv patri
otic zeal , will bo willing to grant all that is
required tostrcngtlienthocountry's defensive
forces. "
SENATE SIltVElt VOJIJIfTTEE.
Jones' BUI With AineiidnicntH Will
bo < Icportid ; to the Caucus.
WASHINGTON , May 0. An effort was made
by the senate republican silver committee to
agree upon a silver bill to bo reported to the
caucus. Three of the thirteen members wcro
absent. The ten present , together with Sen
ator Stewart , who was Invited to take part
in the proceedings , after u discussion lasting
nearly three hours , decided to report to a
caucus to bo held some day this week the
bill reported by Senator Jones from
the finance committee some weeks ago , with
amendments. Ono of the amendments strikes
out n provision reported In the bill that
notes Issued for the purchase of bullion when
redeemed shall bo cancelled , and instructs the
secretary of the treasury to relssuo them ,
with tho.proviso that the amount outstanding
shall not nt any time bo in excess of the
amount paid out for the bullion deposited.
Another amendment is nn addition to the
sixth section of tlio bill adopted by the house
caucus , which provides for covering into the
treasury about $70,000,000 of lawful money
now held for the redemption of national bank
notes. The Jones bill directs the secretary
of the treasury to purchase monthly silver
bullion to thu value of f I , .100,000. the notes In
payment thereof to bo redccimiblo in lawful
moirby.
Senator Mitchell stated that while person
ally ho was in favor of the free coinage of
silver ho bolloved the measure the bullion
redemption clause having been omitted to
uo free from Tiny vicious principle , and ono
that If adopted would ultimately lead to frco
coluage. In this Senator Teller agreed.
Opposed to HOIIHO PciiMloii Hills ,
WASHINGTON' , May 0.A meeting of tlio
scnata committee on pensions was held today
ut which , the Merrill disability and the scr-
vlco pension bills combined , substituted by
the house for the sonuto dependent pension
bill , was considered. Formal action was
postponed until the next meeting of the com
mittee , It is understood that opposition to
the house measure was unanimous and that
the committee will recommend that the sen-
ute lion-concur in the action of the lower
body ,
Novel Iti'cauh of Promise Suit.
BAHNSTAiii.n , Mass. , May 0. [ Special Tele
gram to Tun BIR : , ] In the superior court
today was begun n breach of promise suit for
$50,000 damages , brought by Mrs , Eliza B ,
Dallivcr npnlnst William M. Atklng , both of
Provlncctown. The plaintiff Is sixty-eight
yearn of ago , whllo the defendant Is seventy-
two , ami the wealthiest resident of Province-
town. The plaintiff claims that defendant
proposed marrlago ; that she accented , but
that after she hud prepared her wedding tros-
so-ill defendant denied that any engagement
liad been mudo. The dcfonso closed its cuso
today und the court udjourned until tomor
row.
( ot tlio Newfl IVoni a Papor.
CHICAGO , MayO , The fact of the death of
ex-Llcutenant GovernorShuman did not
reach his relatives nt Evanston , 111. , till this
morning. His wife , who bus been nn Invalid
for a long time , got the first now from n
morning paper , fulntcdjuwuy on reading the
announcement and was revived with diffi
culty. She Is gnitly prostrated.
The republican state central committee
passed resolutions of eulogy and extending
to the family profound sympathy In their
nllllctlon.
Cliurtili Mcmltoi-H In Court.
CHICAGO , May 0 , The trouble In the Hum-
boldt Park Evangelical church , growing out
of n split at the lute conference , came up In
police court today. Trustees William Sod-
man mid Edwara Hlutz wcro iUied (100 each
for forcibly ejecting Pastor Vettcr from the
pulult
ILLINOIS MINERS GOING OUT ,
Thirty Thousand Men Likely to Lay Down
, Their Tools ,
STARVATION SURE TO FOLLOW ,
TJIO Carpenters nnd the IJosios Slj-u
Articles of Agri-omcnl AtoliU
son Tailor * Strike Some
( iotliam GtHns.
CtucAoo , May ft. Special Telegram to Tim
BII : : . ] It Is evident that the miners of the
Illinois fields are going on u strlko , justns
they did lastMiiand there Is every prospect
that the terrible scenes of starvation and .suf
fering of last summer in the mining sections
will bo ro-cnactcd this season.
The present troubles arise from strikes for
better wugo terms. About fifteen thousand
have already struck aud there Is n prospect
that 80,000 will go out within a few days un
less the difficulties nro settled.
During the miners * strike last season the
people of Chicago nnd the surrounding cities
contributed about llvo hundred tons of pro
visions and forwarded the HIUIIO to the fumll-
les of the miners. Hud such not been done
hundreds , If not thousands , would have died
of starvation. As It was , the death rate was
greatly Increased and there was untold suffer
ing.
ing.Tho
The Illinois minors rcccivo very
low wages on account of the
competition In this market from In-
dlana , Ohio and Pennsylvania , where Hun
garians , Poles and other nationalities have
supplanted the American or English-speaking
workmen. The present strike will find 10,000
families , in which there are at least 80,000
small children , hi destitution nnd want before
a week's Idleness ensues.
A. L. Sweet , the head of the Coal Mluo
Owners' association In tlio northern district
of this slate , said today that there wcro 12-
000 men out , who demanded an Increase of 7'
cents a ton. Ho claims that the operators
cannot possibly grunt the demand.
It will bo rcmfinbered that a year ago or
less when the last strike was settled the
miners asked an increase of 10 cents u ton
and got ! 2.t < f cents. The 714 cents now de
manded Is Just the part of the demand of lust
year which they were compelled to forego.
It is true that eastern competition is so
gi-eat In the soft coal field that Illinois oper
ators cannot increase present wages and
make a profit , and yet the Illinois miner Is
working on starvation wages. This Is owing
to the competition of Hungarian labor em
ployed hi the eastern soft coal mines.
Formally Settled.
CHICAOO , May fl. [ Special Telegram toTnn
BHR.J The signing of a written agreement
by both sides bus finally settled the carpen
ters' strike on the basis agreed to a couple of
weeks ago , but the Industrial sky Is by no
means cloudless in other directions.
Affairs on the Black road are beginning to
have an ominous look and the police nro mak
ing preparations for trouble. President.
Bailey of the malleable iron works has abso
lutely refused to grant the demands of tlio-
men for a uniform day of ten hours , 10 per
cent Increase in pay for regular work ami SO
per cent incrcas'c for overtime. None of the
1,700 employes wont-to work this morning1 , us
the union had declared a formal strike in the >
big works. A largo majority of the strikers
are Hungarians , Poles nnd Bohomuins , who-
nro very violent in their utterances.
The strike fovcr is rapidly spronilinp
throughout the district. The plants of tlio
Griffin car wheel company and of Bnrnum &
Richardson nro Idle and the Weils , French &
Co. nnd Ajux company's men went to worlc
this morning under protest.
The men claim thnt whether there Is n
strike at McCormlck's or not the works will
soon have to shut down , us they cannot gut a. .
sufficient supply of iron. This'is also said to
bo true of the Uccring works.
The order for a coopers' strike nt the stock
yards has been but partially obeyed. Tills
morning most of the men were at work.
About llvo hundred men in all are idle.
In nn address to the public by n jotot arbi
tration committee , the- statement is mudo that
a fair estimate of loss to the city by the strike
will not full short of 31.000,000 per week , be
sides causing much FulToriug to thousands of
mcn , women and chllurcn.
Tnlloi-N Hti-lko.
ATCIIISON , Knn.Muy I ! . [ Special Telegram
to Tin : Bun. ] There Is excitement in mer
chant tailoring circles today on account of n *
strike ordered by the Journeymen's union
against the shops that refuse to accent the
scale of prices submitted today. ThrcoBhops
have signed and tliuh-men are at work. The
objection to the scale Is that it j > ermit.s the
employ of only ono man in a ahop by the
week.
Seven Moro Capitulate.
Nr.n-Yonic , M.tiy ( ! . Seven moro shops to
day gave In to the striking carpenters , nnd It
Is believed the strike will bo ended in a few
days , as there are only n few shops btill hold
ing out against the man's demands.
Higher Pny.
CHICAGO , MayO. About ono hundred cm
ployesof Andrews & Co. , manufacturers of
lesks and olllco fittings , struck today for an
advance of wages.
UK cvnsEit nn : JVIHIE.
A Condemned Criminal HavcH Wildly
and FallH In a Fit.
CINCINNATI , O , , May C. [ Special Tele
gram to Tin : BniJudge : ] Schroder , the
bailiffs , the Jury and nil tlio spectators In the
criminal court room yesterday started to
their feet and gazed nt Joseph Morris , n sixty-
year-old man whom the judge hud Just sen
tenced-to fifteen years in the penitentiary for
attempted criminal assault upon sovcu-yrar-
old Estellu Spinner. Morris Hiirang before
the Judco , nml with oaths and imprecations
cursed the court. Ho prayed the Judge might
rot In the street , declaring him unjust. Ho
then turned on the spectators , but before ho
liad said half n dozen words ho turned black
In the faro and full headlong at the judge'n
Feet. Ho was carried out and this morning Is
in a precarious condition.
*
A A'lwlt to Wyoming Mlnc-s.
NKWCASTJ.K , Wyo. , May -Special [ Tele
gram to Tnc DEI : . ] An oxctii-blon party , con-
slstlng of Governor AVarren , the leading
stockmen of Wyoming and B. & M. officials ,
arrived nt 2 o'clock. They visited the famous
mines of ICllpatrlck Brothers & Collins this
afternoon and expressed themselves In terms
of highest admiration nt the largo deposits of
coal nnd the linmcnso plant of the company ,
which is-unequuflvd In the United States.
The party Is being entertained and b.in-
quetted under the auspiccB of the board of
trade. Tomorrow they visit the Black Hills
on their return to Choyenno.
IlllnolH A. C ) . IT. W.
QITINCV , 111. , May 0. The fifteenth annual
meeting of thu Illinois Grand Lodge of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen convened
this morning In this cltv and will continue In
sonhlnn three days. The report of Grand
Master Wilt-ox shows nine now lodges slnco
the last session , making n total of ll-W In the
> tatu , with un aggregate membership of
Tlio Wentlmr l' ' < u-cfnnt.
For Omaha and vicinity i Fulr weather.
Nebraska nnd Iowa : Wanner , fair , vnrl-
able winds ; warmer , fulr weather Thursday
South Dakota : Warmer , fulr , winds be
coming uouth'jfiv ,