0 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : MONDAY , DECEMBER , 18 ! ) ! ) ,
CLEWS' ' FINANCIAL LETTEI
Hunk Ec8Qtta-Ara Showing nn Assuring
Rate of HecoTtry ,
INCREASE IN THE CIRCULATION WANTS
I'reimnre of Hillctnll Ilrinnnil for
Currency Muni He .intUflcil Vnilcr
I'renciit I.niTu HnnUn Cnnnot
A Kuril Ilclicf.
NEW YORK , Dec. 3. ( Special. ) Henry
Clews of the banking firm of Henry Clews
& Co. writes as follows :
The Block market Is still chiefly doml
rated by monetary conditions nml untl
Incite show a more favorable tendency tin
upward movement In securities U likely
10 meet with considerable rilillculty If car-
> led out upon nny considerable scale. Apari
from this fnrtor the outlook Is especially
favorable , us 1ms been repeatedly explained
In our previous * ndvices. The chief con
cern , therefore , Is tlio course of the money-
market until after January 1. The ndvanco
In the Hank of Kngland rate , of course ,
menus that no relict can be expected In
that quarter In the form of Bold Imports ,
( specially while the Transvaal war fihowa
no slpn of an approaching end. Consider
able hope has been entertained that the
return of currency from the Interior would
lirliiB the supply of loanable funds In New
York nearer to normal conditions , but It
11 not safe to place too much reliance on
Uiesn anticipations. Funds nre now re
turning , b > it less freely than expected , the
Croat activity of trade and Industry every
where retarding the movement. Meanwhile
the treasury receipts continue to exceed ex
penditures , and had It not been for Sec
. ' . .litrv fm rtu * nffnp In liltv tmniln
Mhurp manipulation of money rates woul <
have been possible. The secretary ha. '
Hhown his wisdom In extending the tlm <
for offers of bonds until December 23 , tha' '
being lliu only available method of offset
tlnff the effects of cumbersome treastin
operations. Up tn ilato the offers linvc
amounted to nearly J17.000.000. The markei
shows u decided disposition to run on spc/
olnltlcs anil some excitement was manl'
fested on reports of n deal between Penn
Hylvanla and Ualtlmore & Ohio , whlcli
sucm to have had no other foundation
Umti some sort of. working understandlns
which will prevent losing competition
Congress .opens on Monday , but Is likely
to be u much less disturbing factor than
usual , wlille President McKlnlov ! ex
pected to come out with a strong .olJ
standard message.
I2n * < > lit .Money Market ,
Although the bunk reserves are showIng -
Ing an assuring rate of recovery and there
Is no expectation of any return of acute
stringency there Is yet an Indisposition to
venture upon any Inrgo speculative opera
tions In dependence upon any mill and In-
llntlhg ease In money. The nlrlngenvy of
the last three months has been so severe
and persistent and has caused such sweepIng -
Ing lliiuidatlons In the stock market that
those InlUtoacep have made large onera-
tors unwilling to take nnvthln- ? for grnnti'il
ns to future ease In Wall street loans.
Speculators uro preponderantly very bullish
nnd In no quarter do they find any reason
for abating their attitude , and that feeling
will cause them tn cllmr to their rjresent
holdings with great tenacity , but It U not
likely to Induct' them yet to materially In
crease their holdings. Intelligent men are
wanting tn comprehend more fully the
causes that lay at the bottom of the latn
disturbances In the money market , aid
the'morn they study the situation the mn-c
they Incline to the conclusion that the chl-f
adverse Inlluencc.s are Implanted In ill"
law's rofjulntlng the national bun'cs. Pi rIng -
Ing- the present year there has been an
extraordinary Increase In the currency and
credit want * ) of the people.
F-.O < M Wo Must Fncr.
To sny nothing of the fact that during
the last live years of business depression
this population of the ountry has Increased
some S.UOO.OOO , we have to face the further
facts :
1. That our productive population Is now
more fully employed than everbefore. .
2. That the business of this class of
consumers Is done almost entirely through
the use of money and not with checks ,
which calls for an Increase In the circu
lating medium proportioned to the Increase
In the volume of business.
3. That this Increase In the current
money wants of the people Is magnified
by n general advance lu wage ? , averaging
not less limn 10 per cent for the current
year : nnd
4. That , within the same period , Ihero
hu been a general rise In prices of not
less'than 15 per cent on most o ( the creat
etp.'li-s of trade.
These recent changes In the business sit
uation Imply nn Increase' In the circula
tion" wants of the country very much
larger than is generally Imagined , and yet
there Is nothing In the national banking
lawo that provides scope for the exnan-
Flon nt the bank currency , nnd hence dur
ing1 the past twelve months of urgent
demand .for money the volume of the bank
notps has remained stationary. The pres
sure ci ? this < -ctall demand for currency
ni'St he satisfied , at whatever cost to
'her Interests , and the consequence Is that
the supply of "lawful money , " gold and
U-F'.il tenders' , out of which the banking
reserves nre compounded. Is mercilessly
drawn upon. This reduction of the resnrves
' ompols the banks to reduce tho'r loans
mil discounts , and In that way thu credits
which are transacted through the use. of
"hecks and without money arc smaller
md Inevitably contracted. It Is exactly at
this point that the cimshlntr stringency of
late months has risen , and It Is the fact
that this position Is create * ! and enforced
bv Inflexible law that clouds the prospect
of the money market with nn uncertainty
more or less paralyzing.
IliuiliK Conlil .Supply Demand.
Under a situation like this there Is no.
way of escape from a state of chronic ex
posure to panic , except through a system
of banknote Issues which will make It to
the Interest of the banks to put out their
notes under the pressure of the retail de
mand for money. Under suo-h conditions
tln > retail wan's could be satisfied without
t.- , .v.i ) , , , non the "lawful money" re
serves , the reserves of the metropolitan
b i . vu i id tie protected against disturb-
In ? oscillations , the New York banks
would nt all times bo able to cnre for the
Interests of their local customers , and the
money market would bo saved from the
wild iind artificial fluctuations In the state
of credit nnd in the rate of Interest which
have become -il- fixed bane to the financial
markets. U Is rlosslblo that , while con
gress. Is about to deal with some of the
more theoretic aspects of our money sys
tem , It will neglect to remedy these not
less ferloiiH faults In the practical working
of our banking nnd currency arrange
ments ?
I am In fnvnr of the passage of a bill
by congress which will determine the gold
utundard now nnd forever beyond any
equivocation , nnd also to provide that when
greenbacks nro redeemed In gold they
Hhould thereafter only bo exchanged for
gold. It Is not 11 good thing to take them
up altogether nnd cancel them , as they
do not cost the government nny Interest ,
rtml to take them up and cancel them
tiy substituting bonds bearing Interest In
their stead would bo to Incur a needless
obligation of Interest. If nn act Is passed ,
ns above suggested , J100.0W.OOO gold reserve
In the United States treasury would bo
quite ample to provide for nny contingency
thereafter.
The national bank act Hhould of course '
bo liberalized : > ns to admit of all Issues
of United States bonds being tnkon by 'the
comptroller of the currency nt their par '
value an security for banknote issues , The
tux on national banknotes should be cut '
down to Hlmp'y ' provide for the expense
of engraving the bills by the government. I
"With these changes In the banking law
national bank bills will comu out to a sullI ! I
c'.ent extent to provide for the needs of all
sections of the country , in my opinion , es
pecially when taken In connection with the
growing Increase of our annual gold pro
duction.
HK\V viiiiic DIIY < ; eons MAIUCRT.
Slriniu- Tone I'rrvnlllntr nml
Ton ilc n i1 X of Mii'rUut Coiitliium ,
NEW YOKIC. Dec. 3. The general de
mand for cotton goods has ? been on a mod-
-crate scale , but there have not been enough
goods on the spot to EO around nor have
Beliefs been willing to accept all the bids
inudu for forward deliveries , The market I
tit thu close of the week shows as strong
n tone prevailing as at any staeo of Its
upward progress. All divisions , wTiether In
brown , gray , colored or other finished
good , are well under the control of sellers
nml Indications are still in favor of a
higher average range of prices than has
yet been reported. An equally trong tone
prevails In woolen goods In spite of the
fact that the weather has not so far been
fnvorablo to thin division of the market.
In 'heavy 'brown sheetings and drills fujl
prices uro easily realized and sellers arts
not anxious to do forward business thorcat.
'JHislnesH ' In bleached cottons has beeli of
illiterate dimensions , with advances re
ported In low grades of W to Ho per yard.
\Vdo ! sheetings are very firm and tending
upward , ono line being advanced 10 pet-
cent. In denims a very strong market la
recorded. There uro few goods for eala
vcn at ijuoteil prices. Ticks arc scarce and
with other coarse colored cottons arc tend
ing upward.
KorHdii Flnnnclnl Mnrkolx.
LONDON. Deo. J. The. Stock exchange
received the rise In the bank rate with
equanimity , prices being but little af
fected and closing for the most part frac
tionally higher on the week's transactions ,
although consols were H lower. The dearness -
ness of the money nnd the uncertainty ns
to the situation In South Africa somewhat
restricted dealings nnd it Is Improbable
that any special activity will bo exhibited
until there Is pome decided development In
General linllcr's military policy. Ameri
cans closed firm in anticipation of a cur
rency reform message to congress. Union
Pacific railroad shares rose 1 point , Chesa
peake & Ohio i,4. Northern Pacific U and
Wabash preferred U. Baltimore. & Ohio fell
14 point , Southern Pacific ' , & and other
Americans ? 4 to ' .4. Money was In strong
demand , the rate until Monday being 4'i
to 6 per cent , for a week from 5 to BU per
cent nnd on three months' bills from 6H
to 6ft per cent.
-MADRID , Dec. 8. Spanish 4s closed yes
terday nt 135.50. The Bank of Spain report
for last week shows the following : Gold
In hand , no change ; silver In hand , In
crease 1,315,000 pese-lns ; notes In circula
tion , decrease 1,134,000 pesetas.
IIIJKNOS AYRES , Dec. 3.-Tho gold quo-
tatlon yesterday was 131.60.
Textile Knbrle MnrUet.
MANCHESTER , Dec. 3.-Tho local market -
ket la now more active than ut any pre
vious time for nearly a month. Yarns ,
which arc freely bought by users , nre now
, Sc higher. The cloth advance Is more la-
jorlous , but business Is fair , particularly
n low-priced shirtings for Calcutta , light
goods for Bombay nnd wide cloths for Ma
dras for delivery reaching up to March and
April , Last week's transactions showed
moderate sales to China In her specialties
nnd Java and other eastern outlets were
free buyers. Elsewhere , however , trade
was slow , owing to the high prices , nnd
' . .ancashlre margins are dwindling. The
Drench market was very active through
out the week , prices following cotton
easily. Germany raised yarns another
2 pfg. , with a fair business.
CHICAGO CHAIN AMI mOVISIO.VS.
FcntnrcH of the Trailing nml Clo.Mnic
I'rlccn on Sittiirdny.
CHICAGO , Dec. i. Wheat was steady
early , but weakened on a poor demand
rom outside , closing ' ,4Hc under yester-
lay. Corn , Influenced by the wheat mnr-
cet , closed a shade under. Oats closed a
hade higher and provisions 5I7Hc "P- the
titter supported by n good demand and a
Ip-ht hog supply.
At the opening today Liverpool was less
nllnenced than expected by yesterday's
iiiinp In the local pit nnd there , was a
general disposition to oven up over Sunday.
Consequently May wheat began the day
airly steady , a shade lower at GSTMfOOc and
dvanccd to C3'ic. Now York early showed
n upward tendency , nn encouraging hint
f a better export demslnd. This , however
ailed to materialize. An Increase of local
locks of about 500,000 bu was predicted
nd considerable long wheat was let out ,
II of which was depressing. The market
agged to 6SUfi6Sc and closed V4QHc lower
or May at CSii S',4c. The volume of busl-
ess was small. New York reported 25
oads taken for export. Local receipts were
67 cars. 38 of contract grade. Minneapolis
nd Dultlth reported 831 cars , against 1.43J
ars last year. Primary receipts were 970-
000 bu. , compared with 1,022,000 bu. a year
go. Clearances from the seaboard in
heat and flour were equal to 321,000 bu.
Corn was steady early , sympathizing with
heat , weakening later with that cereal
nd on liberal receipts. The demand was
> oor nnd local loncs were free sellers.
'rimary points received 337,100 bu. , against
11,600 bu. last year ; local receipts were C20
ars. Stocks here are expected to decrease
bout 300,000 bu. May ranged from 32',4e to
2X32V4c , closing a shade down at
.
Oats was firm ea/ly and closed steady.
rade wan dull nna * featureless nnd fluctu-
tlons narrow. Little change In local stocks
s predicted. Clearances were only 13,000 bu.
Local receipts were 305 cars. The ship
ping demand was poor. May sold from
23ic to 23ifi24c. closing a shade over yes
terday at 23&f23c.
Provisions held firm. December ribs atone
ono time were up lOc , a fact due to small
stocks. Deliveries were about as expected.
The strength was due principally to a
light hog supply nnd a good outside de- i
mand. Shipments for the week were lib
eral , though under last year's. The world's
lard stocfc showed a decrease of 63,060
tierces for November. iMay pork ranged
from W.57i4 to J9.65 and closed 5c up at $9.63 ;
May lard from * 5.32 > ,4 to J5.3714-85.40. clos
ing BQ7HO higher at * 5.37i4 , and May ribs
from J.i.lliii to $5.17 nnd closed Sc better
at { 5.15.
Estimated receipts tomorrow : Wheat , 100
cars ; corn , 370 cars ; oats. ISO cars ; hogs ,
37,000 'head. '
The leading futures ranged ns follows : ;
Articles. | Open. ) High. | Low. | Close. ] Yes'y. |
Wheat
Dec. 0481314
iMay C9
Corn-
Dec. 301J 30 30 30 VA
Jan. 3 ? # : &
May. 32'i '
Oats-
Dec. -
May 23k
Pork-
Dec. S 05 S SO S 05 S 20 S 0214
Jan. 9 IZn 9 ED 9 40 9 45 9 I2V-
May 9 07V4 965 9 5714 9.62',4 9 5714
Lard
Dec. 4 90 * 4 90 4 So
Jan. 5 15 5 20- 5 15 5 171,4 ! *
May 5 40 5 3214 5 3714 f
Ribs-
Dec. .4 9714 48
Jan. 4 9714 5 021 * 4 9714 5 00 "
C 15 5 17 ! $ 6 12Vi 5 15 I 5 10" ,
* MJ. 2.
Cash quotation ? were as follows : '
FLOUU-Easy ; winter patents. J3.40O3.30 ;
Btralghts. S3.10g3.30 ; clear , J2.9CKJJ3.20 ; spring
specials , J3.00 ; spring patents. J3.20y3.50 :
straights , $2.70(35.00 ( ; bakers , J1.90U2.SO.
WHEAT No. 3 spring , CSiJSIc ; No. 2 red , j
. .SoiN-No. 2 , 30ljJ3 ! ( < H4c : No. 2 yellow. I
. . 2. 22 S723c ; No.
tf , 2414025',4c '
'
RYE-Xo. S. 45c !
PARLEY No. 2 , 374iffl3c. !
SEEDS No. 1 flaxseed and northwest.
H.33 ; prime timothy , $2.50 ; clover , contract
Bfrnde , J7.75fi8.03.
PROVISIONS Mess pork , per bbl. , J7.70IJ1
) .60. Lard , per 100 Ibs. . J4.SOjT3.10. Short
ribs sides ( loose ) , JJ.SoSS.lj. Dry salted
shoulders ( boxertKJ5.371iSG.60. Short clear
sides ( boxed ) . J5.2ftf5.30.
WIHSKY-Distlllers1 nnlshcd 'goods , on
ruiiiiiviiiK are me receipts nnd shipments
or today ;
Articles. Receipts. Shlpm'ts.
P pur , bbls . 27.000 23,000
Wheat , bu . 201,000 201,000
orn , bu . ' . . " 21.000 273.000
Jats , bu . 303,000 211,000
| * yo. bu . J2.000 8,000
Barley , bu . 76,000 109,000
On the Produce exchange today the but-
cr market was strong ; creameries. ] Cfj2ic ( ;
lulrles. UflMc. Cheese , easy nt ll'/4Q12'ic
EBBS , steady ; fresh , ISc.
St. I.ouln Grnln nml Prnvlnloim.
vSToJ' ° , VIP * , "PC. 3-WIIBAT-Lowor ;
No. 2 red , cash , elevator. G7c ; track , 70jJ
r
in59nlN "Uower : No' 2- ' -'nRl1' o : track.
30ii30Vic ; December , 23'/,029e ' ; May , 30H& '
OATS-Dull ; No. 2 , cash. 23',1-c ' ; track , 2lc' ;
December. 23' c ; May. 2iy4c ; No. 2 white
ItYE Nominal , nt 5Ic.
but
COIINMEAL- Steady at J1.75O1.80.
? " " nomlnnl ! okc l , cast
track 102c
yS tmoUl5' ! W-OOflS-SO
' - - ; pralrlo ,
WHISKY-Steady at J1.23U.
COTTONTIKS-JI.Oo.
HAGCJING Steady at
HUMP TWINE-DC.
PnOVISIONS-Pork. steady ; standard
mess. Jobbing. J9.00. Lard , higher ; prlmo
team , 11.95 ; choice , Jl.97' . Dry salt meats.
none offered ; extra shorts , J5.25 ; clear rib ?
> a,50 : clear sides , J5.6214 , Uacon , clear
.
11' ll'Bhor ' at tl'50'
POl'LTRY-Wcak ; chickens , 5l4c ; turkeys ,
6c : ducks , 6fi6c : geese. Be.
-
MlnnrnpnlU Wlu-ut mill Vlour.
MINNEAPOLIS. Doc. 2.-WHI3AT-In
Btoro : No. 1 northern December. C7c ; May.
GjWj65c ; July , C6o. On track : No. 1 hurii
r-4 icj No. 1 northern , 62Vio ; No. 2 northern
C0 * c ,
KLOtm-TrndB light ; domestlo buyers
took R few nmo lots , but foreign buying
was extremely light ; first patents. J3 V > 'tn
J.50 ; second patents. $3.20 3.30 ; nrst cleur
I2.20Q2.30.
BRAN In bulk , lll.00ftll.60.
Toledo Market.
TOLEDO O. . Dee 2.-WHEAT-Lowcr
ind weak ; No. 2 cash and December. C6'4c
iBked ; May. 71ic. !
.COUN Dull and steady ; No. 2 mixed
'HiC. '
RYE Neglected.
8HEDS Clover , active , " Prime cash and
3ccember , J5.37H ; March , * 6.50.
OMAHA LIVE STOCK ilARKEI
Hogs Open Higher but Olosa a Littli
Easier and Slow ,
FEW SHEtP HERE AND PRICES UNCHANGEt
Ant Knnituli Cnttle Arc In Slulit ( i
n Tent of Vnlnen For the
AVcck All KlnilN nt Cnttle
n ( iiiln 111 I'rluc ,
Indicates Sunday. Holiday.
The official number of cars of stock
brought In today by each road was :
Cnttlo. Hogs. Sheep.
C. , M. & St. P. lly 7
O. & St. L. lly
Missouri Pacific lly 21 5
Union Pacific system 16 . . .1
C. & N. W. lly r
F. , K. & M. V. n. II 13
S. C. & P. Ry 3 . ,
C. , St. P. . M. & O. lly 3 4
U. & M. II. II. II r , 33
C. , IJ. & Q. lly 2 r 1
C. , U. I. & P. lly. , east " .
C. , II. I. & P. lly. , wcsl a . -
Total receipts 81 100 2
The disposition of the day's receipts was
as follows , each buyer purchasing the num
ber of head Indicated :
Cattle. Hogs. Sheep.
Omaha Packing Co 14 ' S4li . . . .
G. U. Hammond Co 1.375 . . . .
Swift nnd Company 2 1.144 . . . .
Cndnhy Packing Co 202 2.U22 1,001
Armour & Co 893
Omaha Pack. Co. , 1C. C..123
Cudnhy Pack. Co. . 1C. C..391 415
O. H. Hammond Co. . K. C. . . 169
Other buyers ra
Totals 798 0,897 1,001
CATTLE There were a few lends of cat
tle bore , but not enough were on sale to
make a test of the market and about all
that can be said of It Is to quote It ns
nominally steady. It was just such a mar
ket as Is usual on the hist day of the week.
As already noted In these columns the
tendency of the cattle market this week
has been upward. Ueef steers have be-en
In good demand and It 19' safe to say that
the market on that kind of cattle Is all of
25c higher. The market en cows nnd
heifers has also been good nnd values have
gradually strengthened until the market at
the close of the week Is fully 15@20c higher
than a week aco.
Stoclcers nnd feeders have been In'mod -
srate supplj all the Week , while at the
same time there has been a good demand ,
so that the market has been gradually ad
vanced. Values each day have been firm
ind prices are 10Q15c higher than last week.
HOGS Today's market opened fairly ac-
llve and 2Vic higher. In some cases very
creed light weights , which .lust happened to
fill the bill , may have sold 5o higher. In
fact the top was 5c higher than yesterday ,
rhe most of the hogs sold early , but a
Htle later , when Chicago reported a weak
; lose , the market at this point eased off
ind closed weak. Sellers nil wanted the
; arly prices , so that the close was rather
> low.
The hoff market this week has been in
irctty fair shape , though there was a
gradual downward tendency to prices dur-
ng the first three days. On Thursday the
-narket changed and from that day until
.ho close the tendency wns upward. At
.ho close of the week the market is not
'ar from where It was at the opening of
he week. Thfc demand has been good all
ho week. A glanci * at the table of average
irlces will show the fluctuations for each
.inv of the week.
SHEEP There were a few little bunches
if sheep In the yards , but not enough to
reato much cnthus'asm. Buyers , how-
iver , seemed to want a few and they
lought everything In eight , paying Just
ibout steady prices.
The sheep market has been in good shape
ill this week and values are now 15Ij20c
ilpher than last week.
Quotations : Good to choice fed wethers ,
I.25ffi4.50 ; seed to choice grass wethers ,
4.00tf4.25 ; fair to good grass wethers , W.StVfp
.00 ; good to choice fed ewes , $3,635JM.90 ;
air to good fed ewes , M.50ij3. 5 ;
; oed to choice grass ow * < j , J3.25y3.40 ;
air to good grass MVCS , $3.00J3.25 ; good to
holce native lambs , t5.25f/5.50 / : good to
holce fed western lambs , { 5.15f(5.25 ( ; fair to
; ood' fed western lambs , $4.75j5.00 ; feeder
irutherx , $3 C5if3.75 ; feeder yearlings , J3.75 ®
.90 ; good to choice feeder lambs , il.25j4.25 ;
air to X'ood feeding lambs , J4.001I4.23 ; feeder
iwes , J2.23'ii2.75. '
CHICAGO MVH STOCK M.vniCET.
Chttli * fJcniTiilljStcnilr , HeColptn
I.lttlil , Ili > K Active , Slic-c-n Mtcnily.
CHICAGO. Dec. 2.-CATTLK Generally
steady ; choice cows and heifers , firm ; can-
tiers , strong ; range cattle , firm nnd active
demand ; stocktrs nnd feeders , nulet ; peed
to choice , J5.50fi7.00 ; poor to medium. JI.25
flC.23 ; mixed stackers , J3.00S3.CO ; selected
feeders. JI.OnfH.G3 ; good to choice cows ,
J3.50S1.50 ; htifers , J3.23ff3.50 ; canners. J2.50UC
3.00 ; bullp , , J2.5054.23 | ; calves. $ I.OOfjo.W ;
Texas beeves , $ I.1CWJ5.00 ; grass Texas sleors ,
J3.2 : 5i'l.2f ' > ; western range beeves , J4.00f)5.25. )
HOGS Fairly aetlve und averaged a
eliado higher : closed weak ; good clearance ,
mixed and butcher , JS.bOfi 1.0214 ; good to
choice heavy , J3.5i-4.021/4 ; rough heavy. J3.70
( flS.70 ; light , M.75S4.00 ; bulk of pales , { 3.80 } ?
"SHEEP AND LAMBS - * steady ; good
clearance ; native wethors , J4OOfT1.7B ; Iambs ,
Jl.00tj5.53 ; western wothers , Jl.lO'g'4.50 ' ; west
ern lambs , t5.00fio.50.
IlKCEIPTS-CatUe. . fiOO head ? hogs , 13.000
head ; sheep , 2,000 head.
KIIIINIIN City Iilv Stonk ,
KANSAS CITY , Dnc , 2.-OATTLE Re
ceipts , G70 head natives ; light gupply ( Ills
week resulted In higher prices for both
choice and medium ; killers' Ht'ock advanced
from lOc to 35c , with the medium' erndcs In
the strongest demand ; stock nnd feeding
cattle In light supply , best grade selling
slmdti higher ; common kinds , steady ; heavy
natlvo steers brought J5.30J76.IO ; IlKhtwclKht
stcera , Jl.50iff5 | ; Ktockers and feeders , J3.23
ff/5,15 / ; butcher eows and heifers , t3.00fl.Si ! ;
fed westerns , Jf.OOljSSO : western feeders ,
J3.OOfX4.00 ; Tenns , J.1,04.45.
HOGS Receipts , 2,100 head ; trndo actlvo
nt 2V4o advance ; prices declined this week
to the low point of the season ; there wns a ,
slight reaction today ; heavy and mixoil
brought J3.76f(3.2 ( < * . ; light , J3.7088.&J" " * ; pigs , i
J3.KG3.70. ; , I
SHEEP AND LAMUS-llecclptH. 150 head ;
supply too light to teat utrength of market : i
light run this week caused a sharp advnnco
In prices , amounting to 15)j20a oil killing
grades , Lambs brought J4.75fio.4J : muttons ,
J3.SOfT4.50 ; feeding lambs , J3.50574.50 : feeding .
Hhftp. J3.25S3.75 ; stackers , J2.5083.BO ; culls.
R50G2.50. *
. v - Vorlc lAve Stock.
NKW YORK , Deo. 2.-HKI2VHS-ne-
celpts , none ; no trading ; feeling firm ;
cables unchanged ; exports , 4S9 head cattle ,
75 head sheen nnd l.UX ) quarters of beef.
OALVKS Receipts , 21 head : veals , nom
inal ; KniBsera , steady nt ; J3.50 ; yearlings ,
"HliliKl' AND LAMHH-KecelptH. 3.4W
head. Sheep easy. Lambs slaw , unchanged.
ShrV-p. J.1.00W4.00. Lambs , J5.25jJB.80 ; Cnna-
dtan lambs , J3.C33b. ! > 0.
HOGS-Recelpu , 2,780 head ; no trading ;
nominally firm ut Jl.15g4.25.
St. 1.11111 * Live Stool ; ,
ST. LOUIS. Dec. 2.-CATTLI2-Recelpts ,
600 head ; market quiet , steady ; natlvo ship
ping nnd vxport steers , JI.75&7.00 ; dressed
beef nnd butcher steer. * , t4.lR5J5.50 ; steen
under lwv > Ibs , J.1.50176.00 ; storker * nm'
feeders. J2.26f < l.50 ; pnws nnd heifers , J2.ouf1
4.W , cnnn r. , Jl.BOJtlS.fti ; bulls , J2.OOfW.75
Texas and Indian steers , J.1.25S'4.90 ; cows
and heifers , J2.0003.CO.
HOGS Receipts , 6,000 head : mnrkel
strong ; pigs nnd lights , * 3.S5fl3.D24 * : packers ,
J3.75fi3ft& : butcher * , $3.rHf4.00. )
SIH3KP AND LAMRS-Hecelpts , 100 head ;
market steady ; native muttons , J3.50R4.25 ,
Lambs , J4.10ri5.dO ; stockcrs , J2.00ff3.00j bucks
and culls , J2.00JJ4.CO.
St. .lonriili I.lrc Stock. ,
SOUTH ST. JOSEPH. Mo. . Deo. 2.-Spe- (
clal. ) The Journal quotes :
CIATTLK Receipts , 300 head ; market
strong to joe iglcr. | { steady.
HOGS Receipts , 3,000 head ; market
strong to 5c higher : all grades , J3.7553.S5 ;
bulk of sales , J.1.77i4'33.Sfi ' ,
8IIEKP Receipts , 600 head ; market
strong ; demand excellent.
Stock In Sight.
Following arc the receipts nt the four
principal western markets for December 2 :
Cattle. Hoes. Sheep.
South Omaha 807 fi.TtT W7
Chicago 000 13.000 2.00J
Kansas City 570 2,100 1M
St. Louis fiOO B.OOO 10i
Totals . .2,577 26,895 3,2
OMAHA nn\miAi < MAHKET.
Condition of Trndo nnd Quotation * o
Stniilc nml Kniicy Produce.
KGGS Receipts light ; market firm at ICc-
DREBSKD POULTHY-Chclce to fnnc
turkeys. lOc ; ducks , Sc ; geese , Sp9c ; chick
c.ns , 6Q7c ; hens , 51,40 ; roosters. 4'i(6c. ' (
LIVE POULTRY-Hcns. 5c ; spring chick
ens , CHc ; old and ' stagey roosters , Sc
23c.
PIGEONS-Llvc , tier dor. , 75c.
VEALS-Chrtce. Oe.
OAME Prairie chickens , per doz. . $5.001 ?
B.60 ; quail , per doz. , Jl.30ftl.50 ; mallards ,
13.0003.23 ; blue wing teal. J1.75 ; green wing
tcnl. J1.2.VR1.50 : mlxeJ ducks. $1.5Qif2.00.
OYSTERS-Medlum. per can , ISc ; stand
ard , per can , 22c ; bulk standard , per gal. ,
$1.23 ; extra selects , per can , 30c ; extra
selects , per gal. , $1.60 ; New York counts ,
pcr _ can , 37c ; New York counts , per 100 ,
HAY Upland , choice , $6.50 ; midland ,
choice , SB ; lowland , choice , J5 ; rye straw ,
choice , $5.50 ; No. 3 corn , 27c ; No. 3 white
oats , 22'4c ' : cracked corn , per ton , J12 ; corn
and ont-j , chopped , per ton , J12.50 ; bran , pel-
ton. J13 ; short ? , per ton , $14.
VEGETABLES.
SWEET POTATOES Per bbl. , Kansas ,
J2.25 ; Jerseys. J4 ; largo 'bbls. ' , Nebraska ,
$2.75.
POTATOES Per bu. , choice , 30ft35c.
CRANIJERRIES-Caue Cod , $6.0036.50 ;
fancy Howes , $5.50317.00.
ONMONS-Retall way , yellow , Goc ; red , 73c.
CELEUV-Pcr doz. . 20HOe.
TURNIPS-Rutabagas , per lb. , Hie ; Cana
dian , 114 < iTlHc.
CABBAGE Per lb. , I'.ic ; Holland seed ,
4WATERCRESS-Per 16-qt. cases , $1.60.
MUSHROOMS-Per lb. box. 60c.
FRUITS.
APPLES Choice western shipping stock ,
J2.75fl3.00 ; Jonathans and Grimes' golden ,
$3.00T(3.50 ( ; New York stock , $3.50tfN.OO.
GRAPES California Emperor , $2 ; Catnw-
bas , per small basket , 18c ; Malaga grapes ,
per bbl. , J7.50QS.50.
PEARS Western varieties. $2.50.
TROPICAL FRUITS.
ORANGES-Mexlcan. per box , J3.75@4.00 ;
California navels , per box , St.
LEMONS California fancy , $1.75(35.00 ( ;
choice California , $4.0034.SO ; Messina , $5.00 ®
5.50.
HIDES , TALLOW. ETC.
HIDBS-No. 1 green hides , S14c ; No. 2
green hides , 714o ; No. 1 salted hides , lOc ;
No. 2 salted hides. 9c ; No 1 veal calf , S to
12 Ibs. . DC ; No. 2 veal calf , 12 to 15 Ibs. , 8c.
TALLOW. GREASE , ETC. Tallow , No.
1. 4c ; No. 2 , 3 ? c ; rough , 2cwhite ; grease ,
245314c ; yellow and brown grease , 23c ! ,
MISCELLANEOUS.
HONEY Per 24-sectlon case , $3,2503.50.
NUTS Hickory nuts , large , per bu. , Jl ;
shell barks , Jl.2affl.35.
FIGS California layers , per 10-lb. box ,
51.15 ; California carton , per 10-lb. box , $1.25.
MAPLE SUGAR Per lb. , 9c.
Iluttcr. KKK nml Chccnc Market.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 2. BUTTER
Quiet : fancy western creamery , 27c ; fancy
western prints , 2Sc.
EGOS Firm ; 'fresh nearby , 24c ; fresh
western , 23c ; . fresli southern , 22c.
PHEESE Firm.
MESV YORIC Dec. 2. BUTTER Steady ;
western creamery , 23@27c ; factory , 1514c ;
June creamery. 22S25Uc ; Imitation creain-
sry , 17ff23c ( ; state'dairy , 18 < 525c ; state cream-
cry. 23 < 527c. '
CHEESE Quiet : small September , 12i ©
13c ; finest October. 12US'12Hc ( ; large fancy
September , 12'/4 < B12ic : largo October finest ,
ll Ac ; January , llii : .
EGGS Dull ; state nnd Pennsylvania , 23SJ )
2lc- loss off ; western ungraded at mark , 14
< 520c.
CHICAGO. Dec. 2.-BUTTER-Strong :
creameries * , 16 < ? ? 26c ; dairies , lCgv22c. (
EGGS Steady ; fresh , lOc.
. ST. LOUIS , Dee. 2. EGGS-Quiet at 17c.
BUTTER Firm ; creamery , 24827' c ;
dairy. l2lc. ! )
KANSAS CITY | , Dec. 2. BUTTER
Creamery , 22JJ25c ; dairy , ISc.
EGGS Demand for fresh , limited ; supply
equal to requirements ; fresh Missouri and
Kansas stock , firsts , weak , IGc per doz. ,
cases returned.
Liverpool Grain nml 1'rovlnlonn ,
LIVERPOOL , Dec. 2. WHEAT Spot ,
dull ; No. 1 California. 69UAd ; No. 2 red
western , winter. 5s7Ud ; No. 1 northern ,
spring , 5s SWel. Futures closed steady ; De
cember. 6sGd ; March. 5s9Hd ; May , 6s 9d.
CORN Spot , firm ; American mixed , new
nnd old , 3s 4d. Futures , steady : Decem
ber. 3s 4d ; January , 3s 5d ; February ,
3s 5 < ,4d.
PEAS-Cnnadlan , Bs 5(1.
HO'PS ' At London ( Pacific coast ) , dull at
3 10sifT 4 10s.
FIXDUR St. Louis fancy winter , dull
a
PROVISIONS neef , dull ; extra India
moss , S2s Gd ; prime mcs , 7Cs 3d. Pork , dull ;
prlmo mpss. western , 57s Gd. Hams , short
cut. 14 to 1C Ibs. . Jlrm at 47s ; Cumberland
rut , 20 to 30 Ibs. , 32s ; short ribs , IS to 22 Ibs. ,
JGs ; long clear , middles , ' light , 30 to 35 Ibs. ,
! 4s ; long clear middles , heavy. 35 to 40 Ibs. ,
ils Gd ; short clear backs. 16 to IS Ibs. , 32s Gd ;
clear bellies , 14 to 10 Ibs. , 33s. Shoulders ,
square , 12 to 14 Ibs. . firm at 32s 6d. Lard ,
llrm ; prime western , -In tierces , 26s 9d ;
American roflned. In pails , 28s Gd. Tallow ,
iirlme city , steady at 25s ; Australian , in
London , dull at 25s 3d.
Kiinsn * City firnlii and Provision * .
KANSAS CITY. Dec , 2 WHEAT-Do.
comber , Glc : May. TOc : cash , No , 2 hard ,
CTfiflc ! ( ! ; No , 3 , ' GOSjGIc ; No , ' 2 red , 69 700 ;
No. 3. B4S4WC. ReceiptB , .32 cars.
CORN December. 2i % c : May , 2Sc ; ca8h ,
No. 2 mixed , 2Sft2S ic ; No. 2 white , 2814W
29c | No , 3 , 2Sc.
OATS No , 2 white , 251ic.
RYE-NO. 2 , 47c.
RECiriPTS-Wheat , 19,200 bu. ; corn , 29-
200.bu. ; oats. 4.000 bu ,
SIHI'MENTS-Wheat , 10,200 bu , ; corn ,
1,900 bu. ; oats , 700 bu.
I'porla Alnrkct ,
PEORIA , Dec. 2-CORN-Old. lower ; No.
'oATS-Easy : No. 3 white , 23S23Hc.
WHISKY Firm on the basis of $1.231 * for
finished goods.
nilMrnuUve Rrnln Mnrl * ( .
MILWAUKEE. Dec. 2-WHEAT-No. 2
northern. GSliu ; No. 2 northern , G314B ( 4Uc.
RYE-Steady ; No , 2. 5314 f55Hc.
_ I1AKLI3Y Lower ; No , 2 , 4214C ; sample ,
the Walln Jinn Down.
The Irishman who went up in the hotel
lift without knowing what It wns did not
recover easily from the surprise , reports
the Dublin Independent. He relates -the
story In this wav :
. . ' . 'I wnt ! to the hotel , and Pays I. 'Is
Mlsther Smith In ? '
" 'Yes , ' says 'the man with the sojer cap.
Will yoz rtep In1
"So I steps Into the closet , and all of a
sudd I n I ho pulls the rope , nnd It's the truth
I'BO telling yez-tho walls of the building
begun running down to the cellar.
" 'Och , murther1 ! says I. 'What'll become
of Brld et and 'the children which was left
below there ? '
. "Sayp the sojer-cap man , 'Bo alsy. sorr : i
they II bo all right when yez comes down.
" 'Come dowiu Is It , ' says I. 'And It Is no
clem at nil , but a hnythenlsh balloon that
yez KOI mo In ! '
"And w'.d that the walls stood stock still ,
and he opened the door , nnd there I wnu
with the roof jiiBt over my he-ad ! And. be-
gorrah'that's what saved me from goln' up
to the hevlns Intlrely ! "
Hound to Depart ,
A youthful Stockton man rushed to catch
a river boat for San Francisco , but was
about two minutes late , reports the Ban
Francisco Volco. The steamer was six feet
out as ) io reached the dock , He swung hl
srlp aboard nnd , Jumping , caught a rope
and a post and held fast. Everyone
Imagined ho had fallen In. The captain ,
peering over the side , saw his Intrepid pas- ,
sengiT. ' 'Here , you , " ha Bhouted , "by
jlmlny crlc-XeU , don't you ever do that
upaln ! " ThB , passenger hud hauled him-
Hflf aboard b > Uhls time and , turning a look
of scorn at the captain , said : "What do
you think I'm going to do jump back and I
try it over ? " ]
THRILLING EPISODES OF WAR
Ancient and Modern Instance ? of Heroic
Defenses by Small Garrisons.
CHAPTERS OF HISTORY WORTH READING
MnfekInn's I'nrqnnl Contra ! UUrneil
to Other Uroiln nt Vnlor llreol-
lections of I'ninonn Trnccilv
of'tlic Alniito ,
The spectacle of the little garrlbwn at
Mafcklng stubbornly holding Its own In face
of the determined efforts of a Daer army
to effect the reduction of the place is ono
| of those thrilling episodes' which make his
tory worth reading. Until a few weeks ago ,
, relates the St. I/ouIs Globc-Democnt , Mate-
king was merely A station on the rail
road which penetrates the heart of Africa
from the south. Its name was unknown
In Europe and In Cape Colony the town
was considered an Insignificant station , not
likely to be of nny more consequence than
a hundred other vlllnges through wh'.ch the
railroad passed. A group of native hu ;
of sticks , gmss and palm , a rallrond sta
lion , a few houses for the use of European
this was the town. There was notliln
In Its appearance or In the probabilities t
Indicate that the name of the African vll
lago would bo known all over the world
There was no hint that Mafeklng was to b
immortalized 'by ' one of the most heroic do
fcnscs recorded In the history of warfare.
Klmberlcy and Ladysmlth nro In the sam
condition as Mafeklng. In each CMSO
British force is surrounded , cut off fron
communication and succor , but Ladysmlt
Is a town of considerable size , and Is gar
rlsoncd by an army , while a sufficient mo
tlvo for the defense of Klmberlcy is foun
In the fact that within the British fortifi
cations are the richest diamond mines In
the world. A largo portion of the fore
which defends Klmberlcy Is employol am
paid by the diamond mining company.am
there Is thus Introduced a mercenary ele
mcnt which detracts In no small dcgro
from the moral heroism of the defense. A
Mafeklng there Is nothing worth defending
save the honor of the British nag , but
this Is enough to inspire n llltle band
headed by a daring officer with almost un
canny good fortune , to a resistance so Etou
lhat at every point the besiegers have been
baffled. Mafeklng Is 1,350 miles from Cape
town , the Intervening country for hundreds
of miles is held by the enemy , there Is no
reasonable probability of relief for wc-ks
: o come , and yet , with stubborn determina
tion , the little garrison holds Its own against
a force tenfold in strength , and not only
defies every attempt at the caplure of the
village , but Inflicts signal punishment upon
the besieging force.
An unequal contest never falls to nrouso
strong sympathy for the weaker side. It
natters not whether the battle bo of armies
or of Individuals , a strong disparity In num-
) cra excites a feeling that Injustice Is done
o the weaker , that an unfair advantage
s taken when a small force , _ even when
itrongly fortified , Is attacked by 'Its superior
n numbers. Capitulation , under such clr-
clrcumstances Is regarded rather as a mls-
ortuno than a disgrace , sympathy is ex-
> roesod for the unfortunate commander and
its men , and It Is conceded that when there
s no apparent prospect for relief , hopeless
resistance Is merely a useless sacrifice of
Ifc.
Itenl HcrocH Developed.
When , however , no assumes all the risks
and Inspires his mun to a desperate resist
ance against fearful odds ; when ho suc-
ecds In baffling the most determined ef-
orts of the besiegers , ho takes his' place In'
hat long line of heroes whom the world do-
Ights to honor. Hank and honors wait for
ilm If successful , and the generous con
gratulation which the world has ever readj
or the unfortunate bravo will be his meed
von If successful. If Colonel Baden-Powell
ucccecls In holding Mafeklng until a rellov-
ng column arrives ho will be the hero ol
ho South African war and no honor that
ho British nation can bestow will be too
treat to reward the defense by which he
mmortalized an Insignificant village in the
leart of'the dark continent.
The defense of Mafeklng Is not the first
CEpcrate enterprise in which Baden-Powell
as engaged , for ho bas behind him many
'ears of military adventures some scarcely
ees desperate than that which has brought
ilm Into prominence as a central flguro of
lo Boer war. In this respect there Is a
reat difference between him and the fa
mous Clive , who won hla spurs in just such
filego as that now on at Mnfeking. There
ro some points of striking similarity bo-
ween the situation in-India In the middle of
ho last century and that In Africa today ,
n each case the conflict began between two
white races and the native population was
tvldcd in sentiment , part favoring the one
nd part the other contcslant for supreme
owcr.
The Trench , with their native allies , had
aid slego to Trichlnopoll ; the fortunes o *
10 English were at tholr lowest ebb , those
! Franco were In the ascendant , and there
seemed no reason why the influence of the
Frank should not domlnato the whole of the
Indian peninsula. The 'English ' authorities
were In despair when Cllvo , then connected
with the array in the half military , half
commercial character of commissary cap
tain , proposed one of the moat daring ad
ventures over conceived by a military
genius. His plan was to raise the siege of
Trichlnopoli by a determined attack on
Arcot , the capital of the Carnatlc and tbo
residence of Chnnda Sahib , who wan co
operating with the French , thus hoping to
alarm him for the safety of his dominions
and Induce him to withdraw from Trlch'n-
opoll , The plan was so desperate as to
scorn almost hopeless , but It was apparently
the last chance of the English , and with
200 white soldiers and 300 native troops In
the Borvlco of the East India company , Cllvo
marched to attack the capital of an em
pire.
Trltiinnli of Hi'ulileNN Diirlnif ,
The reckless daring of iho movement
maclo it successful , Tbo garrison of Arcot
anticipated no danger , and on the n'ght of
dive's arrival a terrific tropical storm was
raging ; the defenders of the city , overcome
with superstitious fear of the mysterious
power of men who would inarch and fight
during a typhoon , fled panic-stricken and , !
almost without a struggle , Cllvo occupol :
the city. The marvelous Influence of a
commanding character was never more |
Etrongly displayed than during the nxt
fifty days in Arcot. As soon as the occupa
tion was complete Cllvo prepare' ! for a I
siege , repaired the ruined fortifications , la'd '
In stores of provisions , and eo conciliate 1
the Inhabitants that they not only rendered
no assistance to their lawful king , but actu
ally contributed in many ways to tbo de
fense of the city. A largo force was sent'
by Chunda Sahib to recapture Arcot ; ut the
time Cllve was besieged by a force numberIng - !
Ing over 7,000 , but numbers counlcd for
little against the daring of such a man. In a '
night sortie ho attacked the Indian ramp
md utterly broke in pieces and dispersed the
Besieging army , captured great quan'ltl'8 '
if stores and returned to the city without
ho loss of a man. Tlie siege was changed
nto an Investment and Chunda Sahib rc-
lorted to starvation as a means of reduc'ng
ho strength and breaking tlio spirit of the
ndomltablo garrison. Provisions ran low ,
mt tbero was no complaint , and when the
aliens of the defenders were reduced to a ,
landfill of rlca per day the Sepoys came to
/llvo with the strangely generous proposal j
bat the solid food be given to the whites , j
while they themselves v , mid bp satisfied
with the water In which I'M rlco w s bollo.l
After flftr < ! > of RloRO and a terrible
assault the besiegers withdrew before n
force advancing to the relief of the plnce.
Arcot was saved nnd Cllvo's reputation
wa made. The dy on which Chunda
Sahib attempted to etorni the citadel held
by Cltvo and his little band marked n new
epoch In the history of India. From that
day the power of the French wnned nd that
of the Eneltah Increased. The heroic ef
forts nnd example of a young man of 2.
turned the ecale and eastern history en-
toml on a new era.
A llttlo tnoro than a century afler Ihe
memorable siege which rondo the fame of
Iho gre-at English caplaln , there was an-
olhcr slrge In India which proved that the
English wcro ns able to hold their own
ngnlnst the natives as against the military
strength of any European power. The
historians of the Sepoy rebellion of 1S57 have
clearly brought out the fact that the out
burst wns not a popular uprising , but a
military mutiny. Save In the district of
Oude , which had recently been annexed to
the possessions of the Ennt India company ,
the people were quiet , and In Calcutta nnd
| Bombay , even > vhen the mutiny was at Its
j height and apparently successful everywhere
| In the north , the recruiting ofllres of the
English WCTO crowded with natives eager
to enlist and the formation of companies
nnd regiments of natlvo soldiers went rapIdly -
Idly forward.
.slomof l.urUniMV.
In spite , however , of the readiness of the
natives to enlist , the momentary success
of tha mutineers at almost every point
placed the English supremacy In serious
jeopardy. In this emergency , when the ar
rival of reinforcements from England could
not bo expected for six months and might
bo delayed for nine , the fortunes of the war
were turned by Iho gallantry of a llttlo band
In the British residency at Lucknow. The.
natlvo troops at Lucknow had mutinied
llko the Indian rcglmontft In other parts
of the peninsula. General Lawrence had
only a handful of English soldiers , but with
these ho-forflficd tlie British residency and
held the place against a host of besiegers.
Once a Drltlsh force arrived to relieve the
garrison , but the relief was only temporary
and under different commanders the English
position was held from June 11 , 1S37 , to
March 1C , 1858 , when the filego was finally
ended by the arrival of Sir Colin Campbell
nnd the complete defeat of the Investing
army. From the first the English apprc
elated the importance of suppressing the
mutiny before the arrival of reinforcements
from England , for by doing so the natlvo
mind would be Impressed with the Invinci
bility of the English arms. The feat was
accomplished. Before the first reinforce
ments of the English troops reached Bom
bay the mutiny wns practically under con
trol. Lucknow was a lesson that has never
been forgotten In India.
The history of America shov i more than
ono Instance of the heroic defense of an
Isolated position by a small body of troops
often Ill-trained and poorly disciplined , but
Inspired by the same military enthusiasm
that characterizes soldiers of the highest
motile. , The defense of Fort'StephenBon In
Lower Sandusky by Major George Croghan
In 1813 , with n small party of Americans
Is ono of tlio most glorious pages In our
national history. General Proctor , the Brit
ish commander , had a force of over SOO
English regulars and an Indian contingent
of more than 700 , but the stoutest attempts
at an assault proved futile in the face of
the determined defense made by the little
garrison and the baffled English were forced
: o withdraw. The defense of Fort Stephenson -
son contributed no llttlo to the salvation of
Iho northwest , for had It failed the British
would have overrun a great deal of terri
tory then being rapidly settled and the de
velopment of the lake region might have
been seriously retarded.
Trnacily- ( lie v
The defense made by Croghan was sue'
ccssful , but there is another defense of ar
solatcd post by a little band not the lesi
icrolc , not a whit less glorious , cvei
hough It failed. American history con.
alns no brighter page than that of thi
siege of the Alamo. It was possible on th (
approach of Santa Ana's army for Trnvl :
and his little 'band 1o retire In safety , bul
hey calculated that the relieving force
was closer at hand 'than proved to bo the
case , and determined to make a stand in
he oblong.-stono fortress that became lm-
mo'rlalized ' by the most desperate defense
n the history of warfare. Travis had ,
when the slego began , only 140 men , while
he Mexican array numbered over 4,000. On
' 'ebruary 23 , 1836 , the memorable siege
icgan by the erecllon of batteries on both
Ides of the San Antonio river.
A fierce bombardment ensued , shot and
hell being poured into the fort by nun-
reds. The terrific bombardment , however ,
corns , by all accounts , to have done ll'tlo
amago. It is said that not a man of the
arrlson was even wounded , while the
'exan ' sharpshooters on the ramparts of the
ort returned n fire so deadly that some of
iie Mexican batteries lost every officer
nd man. Travis sent messenger after
messenger after assistance , the Texas scouts
astly creeping through the Mexican lines ,
hlrty-two men succeeded In eluding the
Igllance of the Mexican besiegers and
olncd the devoted garrison , but tlie relief
In force never came , and on the Cth of
March the whole Mexican army combined
In on assault on the Texan position. More
than once the Mexicans were driven back ,
but finally , worn out by over two weeks
of constant watching and fighting , the
TcxniiB were overpowered by sheer weight
of numbers , and after all had perished but
six , these surrendered. It had been well
with them If they had died with tbclr com
panions , for the surrender gave them cnly
an hour's life. They were taken before
Santa Ana and hewed to pieces by the
brutal Mexicans.
The gonerrelty with which a brave eoldler
treats oven the body of an enemy was not
phown by the victors at the Alamo. The
slnln Texana wcro shamelessly mutilated ,
tl'clr remains being piled In Iho center of
a llttlo fort they had bravely defended and
an attempt was mndo to burn them. A
month later the Alamo was avenged at the
battle of San Jaclnto , when the terrlblo cry
"Ilomomber the Alamo ! " Inspired the Tcx-
ans to tnko bloody vengeance for the cruel
mnssncre. But the defenders of the little
fortress had Inflicted such torrlblo destruc
tion on thn Mexican force before the Alamo
fell that they were practically their own
avengers. Over 1,500 of the best troops
In the Mexican army had been killed or
wounded during the defense. The annals
of warfare contain very few records of a
( ilcgo so disastrous to the Investing force.
Iliorlo Drciln ( if Vnlor ,
But the history of the war and conquest
Is full of such dnr ] of valor. 7lie ancient
world had one Thermopylae , the modern
bos had a score. The Ihreo years' defense
of Iho Hock of Gibraltar by General Eliot
acalnqt the combined land and naval forces
of Franco and Spain Is worthy to rank with
that of Leonldas. At Liege every soldier
wns Inspired by the Spartan spirit. Ap
parently hopelcEg ns Is the struggle of nn
Inferior , even though fortified , force
against an army , the Inequality ncrvr the
members of the llttlo hand to a stouter re
sistance , for they Instinctively feel that
they nro making history , that they are fur
nishing examples : for the men of future
igcs to copy. Zutphen and Zurich , Ghent
> nd Lloge , Antwerp and Cracow , Strasburg
md Plevna , Macfltrlcht and Londonderry ,
it each and eivcry one , Iho same spirit ac-
u lcd the dcfendero. It was the spirit which
aspired n company of Frenchmen to defend
village church against the I'rufalanB until
Is walls had been battered to pieces with
irtlllery , that Inspired the final order given
o a party of British eoldlers In the last
South A'rlMnir \ "Fix bayonets , men , '
and dlo like Midlers. " Mtll'ary ' heroMm Is
not the exclusive jirnstwslon of any nation ,
, race or ago. Tlie Ilomnn sentinel who , for-
j gotten by his" officer , dlt < l at his pcet In
Pompeii Is a tvpe. Ills like is to be found
, among the soldiers of every great military
1 nation. The Old Ouard dying nt Waterloo ,
the fiolltary French soldier who held * .
raetlo for days against an Investing force ,
finally capitulated with the honors of war
and marched out loaded with muskets , the
Swiss mountaineers who won at Sempneh ,
Highlander who perished nt fulloden. they
have their successors in the armies of today.
There arc thousands of men now serving
under the starry flog who would emulate
the example and seek the fate of him who
erled , "Make way for liberty ! "
1,0VI2H IIA1P..S , IIKAVIKU
ClinnmWliloli U > of fluKcnturcK
of .Vnicrlciui It ill I run ill UK.
Through causcj wholly bcycnd the power
of railroad managers to change , says the
New Yorl ; Sun , Increased competition be
tween thit trunk lines , the lower price ol
many commodities , the rival service of trol
ley and cabin linen , thu Improvement at
roadways for heavy tralflc , the abolition of
tollgates and the abandonment of canal
charges there li n steady and apparently
uucontrollablo trend downward of transpor
tation rates for freight on American rail
roads which IH being met by economical
operation ! ) In every department. Economy
In the use of fuel , In the force of train
hand.i employed nml otherwise Is possible ,
but tha chief resource In nicotine tlicso re
ductions In revenue Is by the Increase of
train loads. A general realization of this
fact among American railroad men has led
to a general new development of the fnclll-
tle.1 ol transportation which bids fair to
tranBform some o. ' the old methods In uao
for handling freight.
Tin mos ! marked economy In operation
IB attained through the lengthening of trains
whereby n slnglo engine , without additional
cost for train service , can draw 03 much ns
fiO per cent additional freight through the
use of heavier steel rails , the substitution
of Iron for wooden bridges , stone masonry
for earthen embankments , automatic brakes
Jo.1 thos.1 operated by hand , stone for earth
ballast and tha gradual abolition of grade
crossings which , In many parts of the eoun-
tr , ' . entail consldorablii expense. Long
freight trains arc no more dldlcult to handle
than short ones , provided always that the
capacity of tha locomotlvti is not overtaxed ,
that the roadbed Is In good condition and
that th gradlcntn ara not too steep. On
many American lines there Is In constant
progress a plan of modifying the steeper
grades nnd doing away with curves , whereby
the cost of railroad operations Is lowered
to keep pace with the reduction In the rates
On all American roads last year more than
one billion tons of freight were carried nnd f
tha operating expenses of American rail
roads wcra about $1,000,000,000 , exclusive of
tha sums devoted to now construction and
to Improvements in the roads , their equip
ment and their terminal facilities. The
practical effect of thu change must clearly
bo the great Improvement of the American
railroad service and evidences of this Im
provement are not difficult to find , for with
the addition to the carrying capacity of the
roads through their Improvement In con
struction and equipment have coruo tw.o
nher benefits , speedier service nnd a re-
luctlon in the number of accidents. Speedier
jcrvlco enlarges the market for shippers
In many lines of products , especially in
Irulls , vegetables , dairy products and llvo
stock , and the reduction in the number of
iccldents has relieved the railroads In rc-
: ent years of an onerous Item of unpro-
luctlvo expenditure.
IOBBERS & MANUFACTURERS
OF OMAHA
DRY GOODS.
k
y tep ftera and Jobber * of
Dry Goods , Furnishing Goods
AND NQTION&
ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES.
Electrical Sttppliei.
Eleotrlo Wlrlnp Bolls and Gns
O. W. JOHNSTON , Mer "
BOILER AND SHEET IRONWORKS
Onocoiiori Wllioii Jk Drnke.
Manufacturers boilers , nmoko ntack and
treechlngs , pressure , rendering , sheep dip ,
lard and water tanks , boiler tubes con-
ituntly on hand , second hand boilers
bnurht and sold. SpTlnl nnd prompt to
( pain In city or eomitrv 1 ! b . n'l fierce.
BOOTS-SHOES-RUBBERS ,
merican
M'frs I Jobbers of Foot Wear
WISTEBN AOX1ITS Kn
Xh Joi epb Banigan Bubbor Oo.
CHICORY
Chicory Go.
Oromra and n nuf cturtr or all foioa * of
Chicory Omihu-Kremonl-O'NUI
SAFE AND IKON - . ORK3.
ftahe Omaha Safe
atul iron Works ,
G. ANDKF.IvN , Prop.
Uakesaspooliilty of
EHOAPE8 ,
- s.
&nd Iluraliir I'roof Snfnjs ami V ut Doors , eta.
< UO R , MHi s > . , Oiualin. Neb.
RRPEMMEYaCO.
vr
QAJN !
( } OOH4HrUrEBLOa BRANCH I038MAT
OHAHAtltD. UtlCOLW MIR
JAMES E. BOYD & GO , ,
I'clcplionc lOJJO , Omaliu ,
COMMISSION ,
liHAJN , PROVISIONS anil STOCKS
BOA 1(1) ( 01' TIIADR ,
Correspondence : John A. Warren & . Co.
Direct wires to Chicago and Ne'v York ,
