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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1898)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE ESTABLISHED JUNE 30 , 1871. OMAHA , THT7JRSDAY MORNING , FEBRUARY 10 , 1803 TWELVE PAGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS , DE LOME IN A FIX Hie Alleged Letter Criticising the President Causes a Sensation , HE WILL BE TENDERED HIS PASSPORTS Declines to Deny the Authorship of the Offensive Communication , EVERYBODY BELIEVES IT TO BE GENUINE State Department Communicates with Min ister Woodford , INVITES SPAIN TO RECALL ITS MINISTER J.ellerVlileli CIUIKUM the Trouble lle- llevi-cf lo Have 'Jeen .Stolen lie- fore Iteni'liliiK KM Iii- tendeil llexllnatlou. t ' WASHINGTON , Feb. D. The publication Jn the morning papers of what is suppcscJ to bo nn autograph letter written by Benor do Lome , the Spanish minister , to hlo friend , Caiialejas , criticising the president with the utmost freedom , caused n sensation In of llclal Washington and soon will be followed liy Minister do Lome's departure from the United States. At the outset there was a disposition to question the authenticity of the letter , but as bit by hit the circumstantial evidence accumulated until It was finally an nounced officially that the minister declined to deny the authorship of the letter , all doubt was dissipated and the only question that remained was as to the line of action to bo pursued by our government toward the offending minister. The writing of this let ter is unquestionably an offense against the amenities of diplomatic relations and such offenses almost Invariably have been re garded In the United States , as In other cap itals , as sufficient ground for the termina tion of the olllclal status of the letter writer. As soon as the letter appeared In the press the State department officials began an effort to settle Its authenticity and when It had learned all that could bo developed on this point and had been told that the minister himself refused to deny writing It the consideration of the next step began. Assistant Secretary Day was In consultation with the president on the subject at least four times during the official day and then spent much time In framing his message to United States Minister Woodford at Mad- rill. The official statement of the sending ot this message was accompanied by a declination to Indicate Its contents at this tlmo , the department merely giving to the press the following statement : " .Minister do Lome docs not deny writing the letter. Tills department has communi cated with General Woodford on the sub ject. Until that communication reaches the Spanish government It would bo Improper to In any manner state the contents of the message ot General Woodford. " PASSPORTS IN ORDER. Wlilio tlio department refused to odd any thing to this meager announcement , It can bo stated without question that Mr. Wood- ford was directed to lay the facts developed before the Spanish government , together with the statement that , In view of the minister's refusal to deny the authorship of the letter , the Spinlsh government is looked to with confidence to deal with the case properly. Tills amounts to an invitation to recall the minister , presuming that ho him self has not already taken steps to vacate his position. No doubt is entertained of a compliance with the Implied suggestion , hut In case there should bo undue delay in act ing the State department would feel called upon to move directly In the matter and glvo the minister his passports , as was done when Sir Julian Pauncefoto's predecessor wrote the celebrate. ! Murchlson letter. The authenticity of the letter can not bo established from any olllclal source , nor any denial of it glvcti from any quarter. A strong impression pre vails among those most Intimate with the Kcnernl subject that the letter Is genuine in its substantial features , with porno Inac curacies of traiiHlation , possibly from design , by which the strictures on the president nro jnado to appear moro offensive than a strictly literal translation would show. It Is equally plain that the letter w's of a personal and confidential diameter and for that reason Is euld to como under s > different head than a public communleaticd , ec one of n diplomatic character. Notwithstanding these reserva tions the fact that the letter as a whole has leached the public , and In the main as writ ten , leads to tlio heller that It will receive ofllclal attention. AUTHENTICITY OF LETTISH. Llttlo doubt exlbts in official circlet ] that if the genuineness ot the letter Is fully es tablished it will result in the retire ment of Minister do Lome nnd his replace ment by another minister. Whether the X'tilted ' States government would ask for his recall la ID doubt , but thu Spanish minister himself doubtless would take this occasion to relieve his government from any embar rassment and would eeek relief from hta post nt Washington. At the Spanish legation every nvenuo of Inquiry as to the letter la closed. The- min ister positively declines to bo seen concern ing the subject. He- will neither nfllnn or deny the accuracy of the letter In whole erIn In part , neither has ho given any statement denying or affirming the letter , and it can bo elated that published statements purportIng - Ing to glvo denials are Inaccurate and un warranted. The Information of the State department Is nccescarlly limited on a communication of this character , as It lias not passed through o ill rial channels. It Is not a communication of the Srnnlsh minister to hU government , liclng to Senor Canalejas. who U not n mcm- Iber of ttio Spanish cabinet , although of high standing a an advisor of the government , the letter la tmlJ to bo further removed from such official communications as come to the Attention of the State department. It Is net expected , therefore , that the department will \ia able to throw any Unlit on the accuracy of the letter for the present at least. , PHOHA11LY STOLEN FROM MAILS. The circumstances under which a letter of this character could escape from the privacy of the two persons between whom It passed excltca much comment. The general belief IB that It was never delivered to Senor Canalcjas , but woa stolen while onroute. CVin&lejaa waa In Washington Bonio months ngo and thea went to Cuba for the purpose ot observing the conditions of affairs there , As a fcrnier minister lei the liberal cabinets lin bad been minister of Justice and as editor of the Ul HtralJo at Madrid , ha was Accorded a warm reception by Minister Uuyuy do Lome , who gave n banquet in his honor , which was attended by a number of promi nent business men. He ttien left ( or Cuba and hla mission ncccesarliy brought him into continued corre spondence with Minister do Lome. As the letter tcaro no date , Iho tlmo that It was forwarded can only be fixed by the context. That It was after the president's message 1 evident. The mention of the approaching autonomous cabinet establishes that it was before the Inauguration ot the cabinet , Janu ary 1. This places the letter , according to tlio prevailing Imprecision , as having been written about the middle of December. At that tlmo Senor Cnnalcjas Is known to liave been nt Havana prosecuting his mission. The handling of the mall Is doao by the Spanish authorities , so that In this cmc It la believed that the loss of the letter could only be ono of two ways : cither through treach ery of nn ofllclal of the postal service , or by being taken after It had reached the hotel where Scnor Canalejas was stopping. The effect of the letter on the future of Minister do Lome arouses Interest. His service as minister has now extended bo- jcnd three yenw , and he has been In charge throughout the most serious phases of the Cuban complication. When the conserva tive ministry fell last autumn it was gen erally supposed that Premier Sagasta would send a liberal minister to succeed Senor do Lome , who Is n prominent conservative nnd former conpcrvatlvo deputy. Ho was con tinued at his post , however , although It was understood at the tlmo that ho placed his resignation at the disposal of the Spanish government. OFFUCLYU3 MAKE NO STATEMENT. "In the a'bscnco ' of any ofllclal Information of the writing of such a letter It would bo manifestly unfair and unjust to the Spanish minister to make any statement at this time as to the Intentions of the State depart ment , " said Assistant Secretary Day in an swer to a question as to what procedure 'would bo followed in treating the letter written by Senor do Lomo to Senor Canale jas. . It was said that up to noon the de partment was absolutely Ignorant ofllclally that such a letter had been written. Of course the publications In the morning news papers had been seen and they had created a sensation In official circles. The president himself was not long in Ignorance of the matter , for Assistant Secretary Day o > lle < l upon him early and to the great disappoint ment of the large number of visitors who wcro patiently waiting in the lobby to se cure access to the president word came out that ho could not tie teen , owing to his engrossment with ofllclal business , which was taken to mom the Spanish minister's letter. It was after his conference with the president that Assistant Secretary Day made this statement to a number of newspaper men. Secretary Sherman assumed a si nllar posi tion , though he let it bo known that the writing of such a letter as that published would constitute a breach of diplomatic eti quette of which our government must take notice. As no denial of authenticity of the pu'bllcat'.on ' ' has yet reached the State depart ment. It Is believed that after a reasonable dday the matter will bo ( brought to the at tention of the ( Spanish government through Minister Woodford , presuming that no action has been taken by the Spanish minister him self 'before ' that time and a changed repre sentation of Spain at Washington may bo expected in due order. The letter being gen uine there Is no excuse that would be ac- cepta"blo to our government. The rule as laid tlown in the Sackvillo < ; aso is generally regarded as the standard precedent for our guidance in such matters , though there are not lacking other precedents. To plead that the letter was purely personal ; that It was not even addressed to an ofllclal or n citizen of the United States will not suffice. Lord Sackvillo set up such an excuse , 'but ' Presi dent Cleveland declared it was Insufficient and the minister was compelled to leave Washington. CONGRESSIONAL OPINION. Thcro were few senators who had not read the letter attributed to 'Mlnslter ' Dupuy do Lomo when the senate met today , l > ut there wore comparatively few of tbem willing to express an opinion upon It , "It Is a very serious matter , " taid Senitor Gray of the committee on foreign relations. "Too serious indeed , to dlsci'ss carelessly. Mr. do Lome Is ontltloJ to a tuspcoslon of judg ment until the responsibility is more defi nitely determined than at present , " "If it Is true , " said Senator Forakor , a member of the foreign relations committee. "Mr. do Lomo ought to Immediately be given his passports. " Senator Spooncr : "If true. It Is a gross attack and moat astounding , but I cannot dlscucs It in vlow o' the doubt as to its gen uineness. " Senator Hawley : "It Is a matter for the &tato department to deal with , and < lees not for the present como within the domain of congress. I have no doubt It will bo prop erly handled by the department. " Senator Stewart : "Tho sentiment expressed is In line with Sherman's policy and dis position. Wo do everything to conciliate the Spaniards , they reciprocate by despising us. " Chairman Hltt of the foreign affairs com mittee. Chairman Dingley of the ways and means committee and other leading repub licans declined to express any opinion at this time. On the assumption that the letter was authentic , however , the opinion was almost unaulmous tint no self-respecting govern ment could tolerate such a criticism of Its chief executive , and that Minister do Lome's words had put an end to his usefulness at this capital. Some feir was also expressed that the recall of Minister do Lome , while nfTa'.ra ' wcro In the present delicate condi tion , might precipitate n crisis. The democrats wcro much moro free In the expression of opinion tlun the republicans. 'Mr. ' Berry bald If the letter proved to bo genuine the Spanish minister should bo made to 'walk ' a plank. "A diplomatic officer who would so far forget the first principles ot his position us to so outrageously cr1 tlcluo the olllclal head of the country to which ho Is accredited Is not deserving of sympathy. His government should bo notified as boon as the genuineness of the letter Is estab lished that ho Is persona non grata. " W. A. Smith ( rep. , Mich. ) , n member of the fort'gn affairs committee , said : "I re- gat d the letter , If genuine , a serious af front tailing for as radical treatment as ad ministered to Lord SaelnlllO'West In 1SSS. " Senator Cullom said the genuineness Is too uncertain to justify Its discussion , hut If genuine Mr. do Loaio would certainly deserve - servo irsmltsal. STATE DEPARTMENT ACTS. Inasmuch as thu line ot action In that case may form thu basts for action hi thin , always presuming that the Spanish minister does not himself cut the knot and relieve tlio government from the ne esklty of per forming a disagreeable duty , It may be ( aid that with Lord Sackvllle the Depart ment ot State Itself Initiated thu actlui. Lord Sackvillo had written a letter to ( Continued ou Second Page. ) LOETCERT GOES FOR LIFE Jury Decides Ho is Guilty of Murdering His Wife , LAUGHS WHEN SENTENCE IS PRONOUNCED ( ! u > .Supreme Court \Vllt Grunt Him IL Yew Trial mill Hint Then. He 'Will llo CHICAGO , Feb. 9. Adolph L. Luetgcrt was tonight convicted of the murder ot his wife and sentenced to Imprisonment In the pen itentiary for the term ot his natural life. Luetgcrt received the verdict with a laugh. At 10:60 : word was sent to the court room by the jury that It had agreed upon a verdict and was waiting to bring It Into court. Judge Gary , whoso homo Is within a few blocks or the criminal court building , Informed the Jury as It passed out that ho would wait its pleas ure and at any tlmo during the night that It agreed upon a verdict ho would return to the court room to receive It , In order that the long Imprisonment that ttio members of the Jury have undergone might be terminated ut as early a moment as possible. Quickly as possible after the Jury had sent word t'f an agreement Judge Gary hastened to the court room. The news of a verdict had spread like lightning to the street , and In a few minutes the court room was jammed with newspaper men , policemen and wit nesses who had given evidence at the trial and curious spectators. The rumor had been current since early in the evening that the Jury was unanimous for conviction and would delay In announcing a verdict be : iuso of the Inability to agree ou the- punishment that should be meted out. General opinion among the crowd as U waited for the cem- ing of the Judge , Jury and prisoner , was that the verdict would be guilty. At 11:15 : Judge Gary entered 'the ' room , nnd at the same instant Luetgert nnd his guards entered through the door leading frcm thu Jail. PRISONER IS CALM. The big prisoner was calm to ail appear ances and did not seem nervous hi any de gree. He glanced around to see If the jury was waiting on him. He smiled nt ono or two friends , , but after the first glancci around the court room contented himself with watching the door through which the Jury must enter. It tiled hi , passing to the seats which It has occupied during seventy- two days of the trial. Spectators watchsd them eagerly , hoping to catch from their faces borne idea of what the verdict wan to be. Not one ot the jurors looked toward the prisoner , who tried vainly to catch an cyo of some one of the men who had deter mined his fate. The quiet airborne by the Jurmcn went far to strengthen the opin ion prevalent In the court room that the verdict was adverse to Luetgert. Clerk Knopf stepped forward , took the verdict , and then read with a tremor of ex citement In his voice : "We , the jury , find the defendant guilty us charged In the Indictment , and fix his punishment nt life Imprisonment. " There was a hue > h and all ejes turned on Luertgert to see how ho would take It. He laughed , and laughed in a manner that showed plainly that ho did not think the verdict a serious ' matter , comparatively speaking. The sound of the clerk's voice had not died away when Attorney Harmon was on his feet with a request that the jury bo polled. This was done , each juror affirming the ver dict. Then ho entered a motion for a new trial , which was entered and will be argued In a few days. Lu tgert was taken tack to the jail In apparently good spirits , glad for ono thing , that his long suspense was ended nt last , and comforted by the assurance of his law yers that he will get a now trial , and that the state will not bo able to convict him a second tlmo. At first bo re'usod Is say anything , his ono response to questions bciiig : "I won't talk about It. " At length ho yielded to In quiries enough to say tint thi vovJIrt wa.i a surprise to hln. ' ! don't eco how the evi dence Justified such a verdict , but ono thing Is sure , the supro.i c court will give me a new trial , and I shall bo acquitted. " From the time when the prisoner was led to receive the verdict until the bailiffs con ducted him back to his cell his face showed not cao tremor ot ntiy sort of emotion. Ho smiled repeatedly , even when the verdict was read by the clerk , and shook hands with his attorney nnd others who gathered around him. After arriving at the Jail he retired as usual , apparently undisturbed by the ver dict. dict.The The Jury reached a verdict on the first ballot. They retired at 4:50 : , nnd took their first ballot at 5:10. : It was unanimous for convlctlcci. Some little tlmo was consumed In arriving at the punishment to be Inflicted , but this woe settled by 8:30 : , and then the Jurors sat around In their room until 10 o'clock , when they announced their verdict. After the prisoner was removed , Judge Gary expressed his thanks to the members of the Jury for the patience with which they had endured their long confinement and for the manner In which they had performed their duty. 'Micivr ' i\ Tim oi.u MIIIIV I'ltiso.v. ' . \Hxnrliilloii of VeterniiH lloliln UN Aii- uiiiil Ileiiiiliin. CHICAGO , Feb. 9. For the last tlmo with in the grim walls of lilstorlc old Llbby princn men who had endured Imprisonment in that confederate stronghold met In annual re union today and celebrated the hlstcclc event. It was the night of February 9 , 1881 , that 103 officers of the Union army tunneled thek- way out of the prison and back to liberty. Today , Is the thirty-fifth anniversary of tint Incident. There are just thirty-four survivors of those wtio crawled through the narraw passage to icgaln liberty. The survivors have for same years maintained a society known as the Llbby Tunnel association and since the trans planted structure nas reared in Chicago they have held annual meetings. The old prison Is to be razed this year and will not again bo built on the original t > lte or .MSW roMi'.v.M" i.vnas TIII : rniu , ProiuUi'M ( o Fliilit lluilNllnu : ( Jan Moiiaiioly. KANSAS CITY , Feb. 9. S. W. Miller of New York. E. E Eads of lloston and It. J. Lilly of Cleveland are the principal' stockholders In a new gas , heat and poncr company just Incorporated In tlib city with a capital stock of $250,000 , to compete with the Kansas City-Missouri Gas company , which , by absorbing the Missouri Gas com pany some tlmo since , doubled the price of gas to Kansas City consumers. C lit1 ml al gas will , It Is said , be ir.cde by an entirely new process and according to Pa prome'ers the new company will be enabled to ciu- pctu with auy gas. ever made. SHJO MnHIn Sliovert n lle- > olvcr In 'III ' * 11'iioe. WILKBviBARRn , Pa. , Feb. 9. When court opened this morning lor the- trial of Sheriff Martin nnd his deputies , Judge Wood ward spoke to the Jurors about receiving letters bMrlng upon any point In the trial. Ho gall : "It you receive any letters wCth reference to the trial , whether anonymous or signed , It Is your duty to hand them over to the district attorney and you must not allow them to make any Impression upon your mind. " The first witness called today was John Yourshekowltz , oneof the Harwood strikers. Ho said that on September 9. the strikers hold a moiling at Harwoaxl and they under stood If they could get the Lattlmcr men to Join them they would win the strike. They decided not to wrry anything having the semblance ofweapons and to behave peaceably. At West Ha7leton he said they mot the sheriff and the deputies , who pushed them around with guns nnd hit several of them. The witness pointed out Deputy Aroyo Platt , who tore down the Hag. At Lattlmer the sheriff stopped them , hit two men In the front rank and tried to fire his revolver. It snapped twice and then ex ploded. Right aw.iy there was a volley of shots from the deputies nnd many ot the strikers fell. On cross-examination wit ness said that at West Hnzloton the sheriff got hold of his coat and pushed his revolver In his face , saying : "I am the sheriff of Luzerne county and you cannot go to Lat tlmer. " Only three witnesses were heard at thla afternoon's session und only ono gave fvl- donco which was nt all now. Lewis Kitzukl told ! io\v on arriving at West Httzleton with the striker1 ? , two depu ties seized him and tore his shirt. He c.aH a number of men wcro so frightened by the deputies threatening them with their guns that they ran homo and uld not march to Lattlmcr. On cross-examination he admitted that tlio sheriff had told the strikers to go home , and that they disobeyed and marched to Latti- mer. mer.Cilery nonln , an undertaker of Hazleton , who burled thirteen of the victims , described their wounds , saying nil weio shot In the back save one , who had a bullet In the fore head , John Amlrcasky told the same story as many others about the meeting , the march to West Hazleton , what occurred there , and the march to Lattlmor. Court adjourned at thl.4 point. The com monwealth has over 100 witnesses. CO.NfSIIJ.13ll CIL'AHAVTIXK MATTKIIS. lli-leKttleM Are Present front All ilie Southern StiiteM. MOBILE , Ala. , Feb. 9. The South At lantic and Gulf states quarantine convention mot at 10 a. m , . with 150 delegates present from all states covered by the title. After opening prayer , Governor Johnston of Ala bama was made temporary chairman , and welcomed the delegates iu the name ot the state. The concluding ( sentence as : "All wo ask Is that all the states take hold of this quarantine question and settle It. " Dr. A. J. Moody was elected secretary. A committee on permanent organization being appointed , reported In favor of Dr. C. P. Wilkinson of Louisiana as permanent chair man , which was adopted. Also in favor ot adopting so much of the executive commit tee's prepared program as would bring to the front relations of state and national govern ments to quarantine. A minority report was offered In favor of following the prepared program. The majority report was adopted by a decisive vote. This result Is regarded as a victory for the national quarantine cle ment of the convention. , The first topic taken np. under this report was quarantine with reference to Interna tional rlphts and Interests , a paper on that subject being read by ex-Mlnlster Hannls Taylor of Mobile. Flvo minute discussions followed. The committee on credentials asked leave to report later , the delegates present being conceded prima facie right to seats on the floor of the convention. oiiA\r.K MJ'Ar.ri ' : COVVKXTIO.V n.vrn. MeetN nt Onmlin July lit , If mill 15 of Tills Venr. CHICAGO , Feb. 9. The executive com mittee of the National Republican league met hero today. Fourteen members were present. The report of the finance commlt- tee showed that the league had a balance in Iho treasury and that Its financial condi tion was good. Secretary Dowllng was ordered to have the manual for 1898 pub lished as soon as possible. This manual will contain an outline of the plans of the league for the ensuing year , a list of the county , state and congressional leagues throughout the country and much general Information. A communication from the central passen ger agent to endorse the anil-scalping hill that Is now before congress was laid on the table. It was decided that no action could tie taken In the matter. "Major Hayes of Kentucky Introduced reso lutions , which wcro adopted , congratulating the State Republican league of the state ot Ohio for the success It had attained and the people of the United States upon the election of Marcus A. Hannato the United States senate. The tlmo for the notional convention nt Omaha was changed from Juno 11 to 1C to July 13 to 15. This was In order that It might not Interfere withtho state conven tion. COI.O.VIH , MOOIli : HICADV TO I'lfMIT. SenilN n Cliiilli-iiiie lit Uetiliu llreeklii- LEXINGTON. Feb. 9. A political sensa tion Is caused by the publication of a letter from Robert Moore of Houfbon comity , lead ing silver democrat , denouncing Dc ba nrecklnridge , son of Colonel W. C. P. Ilreck- Inrldge , editor of the Her ld , and suggesting a duel to settle their differences. Colonel Moore la an ex-eonfederato and IB paralyzed In his right arm. He suggests that both use left arms. The letilng betwecu the men was engendered In ths Drccklnrldge-Owens congressional contest four years ago. Col onel Moore was recently suggested as a penitentiary commissioner and the Herald ridiculed him. This lc.1 to the challenge. Urccklnrldge is In Frankfort and will prob ably answer Colonel Moore tomorrow. Col onel Drccklnrldge declines to dUscuss the challenge. ; DlkeiixM Trntle TmileN , PHILADELPHIA , Fel ) . 9.-Todny > s ses- slon of the National Association of Master llnise Painters and Decorators was taken up principally by the reading of papers rel ative to the trade , Order for tlenliol. PEOR1A III . Feb 9 , A Peorla distillery today received n order l > > cable from Ham burg , Germany , for 30,000 barrels of al cohol. CRUSHED BY FALLING WALLS Tire Followed by Explosion and Other Disastrous ResultSi SIX OR MORE PERSONS ARE KILLED Score or Morot of 1'rrHiiiiN Mure or l.i's * Injured liy l'l > liiK Dflirlx ' Detail * of H Pl PITTSnUIlO , Feb. 9. .U S:30 : tonight fire started In the largo three-story cold storage house of the Chautauqua Lake tec company , and before the llames were subdued. at 1:10 : n. in. nearly $2,000,000 worth of property had been destroyed , at least sis lives lost and many people badly Injured. The department responded quickly and n general alarm was sent In. Other alarnui quickly followed , and at midnight Alle gheny's department was called upon for help. The following Is n list of killed and Injured ko far ns can bo learned tonight : MRS. SIKB , aged 60. STANLEY , aged 23. i DAVID LOVELESS , aged 35. Many people were Injured by flying bricks nnd beams and all the nmbulanccu nnd patrol wagons of the city uro In constant service. Some ot the Injured whoso names have been secured arc. Charles Simon , n traveling salesman from Cincinnati , badly cut on the head. William Fleming , squeezed by falling rafter , iiiny die. Daniel Mtaloucy , carried through to the cellar , but dug his way out. He Is hurt Internally. Charles Wilson , bridge builder ; badly cut and hurt Internally. William Desmuke , a puddler ; head and shoulders Utdly cut. Mary Desmuko , his wife ; hurt Internally. Davis Stuart , badly cut on the head. Captain J. A. Urown , building Inspector ; both legs broken. Robert Rosamund , lieutenant engine com pany No. 2 ; leg crushed , body bruised. Owen K. Fclder , compound fracture of right leg. George Douglass , Dollcvue ; thought to bo Internally Injured. Owen Mullchan , scalp wounds. William Fleming , contusions on body. Joe Headoy , body and head cut. Kit Wilson , Paducah , Ky. , head cut. Robert Davlson , head and body Injured. At 11:15 : p. m. an explosion of whisky oc curred , which blew out the Mulberry alley wall with terrible results. At the time the firemen and policemen and newspaper men aad others crowded the street nearby 'nto ' the alley. Many were caught In the falling wails. KILLED HY FALLING WIRES. Telegraph , telephone and electric light wires at the corner of Thirteenth and Penn foil shortly after the explosion and killed an unknown man. The fire started In the storage building ot the Chautauqua Lake Ice company , and the origin Is unknown. The vicinity Is com posed of a mixture of hugo warehouses and many private residences , the ilnha'bltants ot which He' ! in alarm , carrying with them as much porMblo household goods as possible. There were frequent explosions , which greatly added to the confusion and alarm. The streets were blocked with people and their goods , and the firemen were hindered In their efforts on account of the doors and windows of the buildings being strongly barred wEth heavy Iron shutters. Just after the explosion the large ware house oC W. A. Hooverler & Co. , situated on Pike street , directly opposite the Chautau qua company's building , was ablaze nnd in a short time was beyond hope of caving. At about 1:15 : the fire was gotten under control and no further spread Is expected. The two buildings are ai total wreck and the loss cannot bo much less than 51,000,000. Un til the fallen walls have been cleared awny there ccn bo no certainty as to the number of victims. At 2 a m. there are six dead at thi ( morgue , only two of whom have been Iden tified. They arc Police Lieutenant A. J. Ucrry , who was acting captain , and Wil liam Scott , jr. , aged 20 , son of William Scott , president of the Chautauqua Ice company. His brother John is also missing and Is supposed to be under the ruins. The following Is the best list of losses obtainable tonight : Havlier Storage com pany , building and contents , $600,000 ; Chau tauqua Ice company , $150,000 ; Union Stor age company , $1,773,000 , all of which was well Insured , mostly through the agency of W. G. McCandlcss & Co. ? omo of the heaviest individual losers who had consignments In the warehouse are : The Economy Distilling company , 8,000 bar rels of whisky worth $750,000 ; Monongahela Textile company , wool dealers , 125,000 pounds of wool ; Collins Cigar company , twciity-flvo carloads tobacco ; W. II. Wil liams , commission merchant , twenty cur- loads of fugar. A statement of Insurance cannot bo obtained tonight. Kiu 13 coxsL'MK.s ( iit.u.v ni.nv EffarlM Iti'lUHT 'Mn illIn Snvr Ailjiici-nl Property. ANITA , la. , Fob. 9. ( Special Telegram. ) The largo grain elevator at this place owned by Mrs. M. F. Percy of Dexter was discovered to bo on fire this evening at about 9 o'clock , and although the fire department responded and soon had ( wo streams playIng - Ing on the flames , the 11 ro had gained such headway that It was useless to try to do anything to save the burning building and It burned to the ground together with con tents. The elevator was built a few years ago nt a cost of $5,000 and had a capacity of 10,000 "bushels " , J. D. Young , manager , places the loss at $8,000 , with insurance on grain and elevator amounting to $3,500. It was ono of the hottest fires over wit nessed In Anita , and every effort Is 'being ' made by the- lire department and citizens to save the Irving elevator on the east side , Mason & Chase's lumber yard on the west and a portion of the frame row on Main street to the north. The nro originated In the engine roam. _ UH ; IIMICIC isTl-'on'r WORTH in i iiu city \ow n .MllNH Of HllllIN , KANSAS CITY , Feb. 9. A special to the Star from Fort Worth , Tex. , says : At 3 o'clock the largest property loss by fire that over occurred hero took place , the eight- story Hurley office building , the Droyfus company's mammoth dry goods house , the Farmers and Mechanics' bank and the gen eral offlccs of the Fort Worth-Denver City Railway company , the Worth Cycle company and one or two small merchandise companies be'ng ' burned to the ground , The firemen were unable to get the flro under control be- THE BEE BULLETIN. Wentter Forfc.ist for Nebrnska llnln or Snow ; NoMlienMcrly Winds. 1 , lo Lomo to UP ( llxoti 111 * ra porli. Luctcert ( Inn l'i for l.lfe. Mnny ll\et I.oU In u I'lttwlmrg Pirn , Kunim * I'urlllc S.ilo to llo Stopped , 3 , .Moro Ciilmn Tulk In tinSenate. . ( liiBu Want * IVner ( . 'iiMnnn Districts , Millers right for Purer Hour. 3 , State Prison Support * 1 t lf. Wheelmen Tulk About Oooil Hij I. Kdltorliil mill Comment. 0 , Hartley llond mcn on Trial , Madame Ir ' ) -r > l Tulltn of lli'I U , Coimrll UIUIT4 I.iinil 'Muttcrt Templn Ameiiiliiient Pi e 7 , ( Jenenil Nens of the I'urtl AfTulrH lit South Onmlin , 8. I'rdcnini for Lincoln DuJ New Pontiilllee Almiml I ) . In the 1'lelil of iieetrl : < f ] Single llenil for i\pi : Itallroiul lt.itIM Still No fitiiiU for Street Cle.inliig. 11 , Ciininicrcl.il . unit I'lnanrlal News. 13 , Tips for Yukon Temlrrfeet. Vindication of llonler .lustloe. fore 9 o'cloclc this morning. Tlio total loss Is estimated nt over J250.000. The Hurley building was the largest In the city nnd was owned by William Hutlcr , trustee of the Simpson heirs of Dcston. It Is Impossible nt this tlmo to ascertain the exact amount of insurance , but It Is known that It will f.ill far short of the loss. Over twenty tenants In the Hurley building lost everything. Fly ing embers fell ten blocks away. Street car lines were paralyzed , wires cut and no cars arc running. It is the worst calamity that over befell the city. 001,1 : T.vicus - \ it11 > 13 ovisit TIII : CITY SpemtN < i I'Vw llonrH In St. Louis nil IIIN AVny Went. ST. LOUIS , Fob. 9. Sanfonl II. Dole , pres ident of Hawaii , spent a portion of today In St. Louis. Ho arrived over the Vandalla In the afternoon and left nt night over the Missouri Pacific for Kansas City. There wcro several dozen citizens and former friends of the president at the union station to greet him. There were no preparations rnado for en tertaining the president. This was left to the citizens , and they agreed to meet him at the Union station and ascertain his wishes In the matter and arrange things to suit hs ! own convenience. President Dole slgnlflcij his desire to take a carriage rldo over the city with his friends , and the citizens assembled were thanked for permitting him to greet his old acquaint ances. They then withdrew and the day was spent by the president with his friends. UItGiS r.MO.i. OK SOL'TII AMI WEST. ( Jovernor AtUliiNoii AiIilresHeH ( lie Pomim-relnl CoiiKTresx at Tiiiniiii. TAMPA , Flo. , Feb. 9. The session of the south nnd west congress was held In the Tampa Day hotel casino , and the addresses of welcome were delivered. After that Gov ernor Atkinson of Wo.t Virginia , In nn ad dress on the commercial nnd trade delegates of the foutll and west , urged a close union for their mutual 'benefit. The response on be half of the congress was delivered by Piesl- dent HreeJlove S. Smith. The business session of the congress was called to order by President Smith , who aiir nouncetl the completed committees on reso lutions and credentials. The committee on credentials reported all delegates registered , and It led to recognition. lion. J. M. Lowe of Kansas City closed the morning Mission with n paper on the transportation interests of the south nnd west. TIIIY IXVITI : mi. IIHOW.Y TO HF.MAIX of Hie Clinrcli KofiiHe In Ae- eelll IllH IleNlKIIIltlon. CHICAGO , Feb. 0. The members of Green Street Congregational church this evening voted to retain their pastor , Rev. Charles 0. Brown , nnd requested him to remain nnd continue In the pastorate. In a set of reso lutions signed by the trustees , and adopted almost unanimously , the church members paid a tribute to Dr. Urown no an efficient pastor , exprctscd their belief In his sincere penitence , and besides declining to accept his resignation , said they believed in the practical application of the doctrine of mercy. They also request the Chicago association to bo merciful In the treatment of its pas tor at the special meeting Monday , and oak that his name bo retained on UH roll. IIR THA.VSFK11.S 31OIII3 I'HOIMJHTY. Cirnlile | ) | NIIOHI > N of .Some HiillilliiK IOH ( In KinimiN Clly. KANSAS CITY , Feb. 9. Francis Orahlo , the western promoter. It Is learned , lm during the week transferred three pieces of property In this city to J. II. C. Walker efFort Fort Scott , Kan. Tlio property aggregates about nlnii building lots. The deed was ac knowledged In Now York City and the con sideration named In It was $1 01,11 MAX KOl'Vn ' I'IITY OK MI'Itl iit : Di'llfll Senlenee IM IleeoiiiiueiMleil fur nil OetoKennrliiii. SIOUX FALIJ3 , S. D , , Fob. a. James Car- Tlngton , 88 years of age , a vetepin of the late war , was found guilty today of the murder of Alfred E. Erlckson on the night of December 7. ISS7. The Jury agreed on the death , penalty. The rnotlvo of the crlmo wns robbery. It Is claimed that Erlckson Is the fifth victim ot Carrlnglon. CoiniiroiiilHi * onVnliT llnlt'N. DENVER , Feb. U. Judge Lcfcvro of the district court after almost daily cotiHldeni- tlon of the question of water rate * for the last /our inonthH , today rendered | IH ! decision llxlng Iho rates to bo ohm ( red consumers of water by the Dvnvur Union Water com pany under the provisions of lt franchise. "U'hllo the schedule fixed is u general reduc tion from that previously In force , the de cision la really a victory for the company , an the reduction Is only a Traction of that a ked by the citizens' committee , plaintiff In the case- . The schednlo fixed la the average - ago of the rates charged In Chicago , fit. Louis und Cincinnati. iriilN of Oeenn Vi-NHflM , Kc-li , It. At New York Arrived Wcfiiernland , from Antwerp ; Spanrndum , from Hotterdum ; An- chorla , from Glasgow. Bulled-Parlu , for Southampton ; Teutonic , for Liverpool ; Ken sington , for Antwerp. At Queenstown Sailed Cephalonla , for Boston. At Bouthampton-Sallca-Lahn , for New York. At London Soiled-Massachusetts' , for New York. At JJoville-Arrlved-Ethlopla , from Now York for Glasgow , WILL STOP THE SALE Government Tnkos nu Atlvauooil Stop to Force Collection ! | WANTS KANSAS PACIFIC DEBT IN FULL Reorganization Oommittoo's ' Bid is Not nfr All Satisfactory , INDEFINITELY POSTPONE FORECLOSURE Judge Sautorn Will Bo Askctl to Mnku Order nt Once , G-NERAL COWIN SENT TO ST , LOUI ? Clilrf Ciiuiixrl Hniiilli'AsU.t ( ho SiLf > olul CnuiiMcl to Priiccciltlth , All HUNUTuKo XOOIMJ- H Is altogether probable that the forcclos- uro sale of thu Kansas Pacific railroad , fa miliarly knoun ns the Kansas branch ot the Union 1'jclllu railway system , will not tnlto place at Topeka , Kan. , iient week. Rumors- tit this effect have como from Washington during the last few dajs with some fre quency , but the IIrat confirmation of them was announced hero last evening by General John C. Cowln , npcclnl counsel for the United States government In the foreclosure cases of the Union Pacific and Kansas Pa cific railways. General Cowln yesterday received tele graphic instructions from Hon. Geoigo 13. Hoadley , chief counsel for the government la the foreclosure proceedings ot the Union Pacific and the Kansas Pacific , to proceed to St. Louis at once for the purpose or representing the government In the fore closure proceedings. Gcneial Cowln Is In structed by the government to nt once pro ceed to accomplish three objects. In the first place he will ask on behalf of the government for an Indefinite postpone ment of the foreclosure sale of the Kansas Pacific road. No date will be stated In tho- request for the postponement , the object being to allow the picscnt session of con gress nn opportunity to consider the matter , and If it deems advisable to take suitable' action to protect the government's interest In the load. Second , the government's special counsel will ask for the appointment of receivers for the road by the fedeial court to take pos session of the property and manage It until the foreclosure sale shall have taken place , or n settlement of the debt of the road to- the government hhall have been made. Third. General Cowln will make a mo tion to the federal couit on behalf of the government to redeem the bonds and pay off the prior lien , commonly known as the first mortgage. General Cowln will leave Omaha for St. ljo.iila today In order to make these motions - , tions before the court nnd to otherwise rep resent the government in matters connected with the foreclosure proceedings of the Kan sas Pacific's debt to the government. Ex- Governor Hcadley will not attend the pro ceedings , being detained at his homo bjf Illness. The proceedings at St. Louis will bo held before Judge Sanborn on" Friday and Saturday of this week and when they are concluded the pale that was scheduled for Monday nnd Tuesday of next week at Topeka , Kan. , will undoubtedly bo unneces sary. The notion of the government In the mat ter Is regarded by attorneys and rallroi'l officials as Indicative of the ndmlnl.stratlon's Intention to force the Union Pacific reor ganization committee to pay Uncle Sam at least $0,030,000 $ , the principal of the debt of the road to the government. If such pay ment is not forthcoming at once the govern ment will follow out the program nbovo mentioned , giving congress n clianro to take sonio action in regard to the matter- with the prospect of destroying the opportunity of the Union Pacific reorganization commlt- tee to Ecttlo the matter by the payment of the principal of the debt. Up to date the best offer the Union Pa cific reorganization committee has made for the property Is ? 1,600,000. This offer has been declined by the administration , It Is understood , nnd the committee hun bcon given notice that if it wants to buy the government'fl .interest In the road It will/ / have to bid up to the amount of the prln- < clpal. The latest bid of the committee Is short of the amount of the principal of the debt , by Just $1,530,000. In some circles 1C la believed that before the government's ppo- cial routine ! appears before the federal court to make the motions named the Union Pa cific reorganization committee will raise It * bid by the required amount and prevent the postponement of the Bale , If the cotn- mlttco decides to pay the government the full nun-Jat of the principal ot the deli I , It will tnko that action today , for later action would he of no avail. General Cowin nald to The Ilco la t evenIng - Ing : "If the motions which the government will make before Judge Sanborn prevail there will bo no foreclosure proceedings and no necessity for going to Topoka. Hut If they do not prevail , then wo shall go to Topeka to attend the salo. " Mniiliiiiii Dnlon TriiiiKfi'r It In expected that the transfer of the Union Pacific's half Interest In tlio Montana "Union railway to the Northern Pacific rail road will bo accomplished within a few days. William II. Hums , president , general man ager and purchasing agent of the Montana Union railway , passed through Omaha yes terday afternoon cnrouto from Ilutto , Mont. , to Now York. Ho will bo them for a wed : or moro In conference with directors of the Union Pacific and of thu Northern Pacific railroads regarding the transfer of the half Interest of the little mining road In Mon tana. On his return trip President Duron will stop In Omaha to confer with President Hurt and other officials of the Union Pacific , with which railroad ho was formerly con nected In this city. Will lny Another Cnlili * . MONTIIRAL , Kcb. 0. On account of th-j Increased Klondike business the Canadian Pacific Telegraph company has decided to lay an additional cable between Vancouver and Victoria , II. C. The company Is also stringing another heavy copper wlro ba twccn Montrtul and Vancouver , llu > a .Vriv YorU Itouil. NEW YORK , Feh 3.It was reported to day in Wall street that a syndicate ot capi talists , headed fcy Emerson McMillan & Co. of tUU city , had 'bought ' the Buffalo , Bt.