Daily Bee.
IHE
ESTABLISHED JUNE ID, 1871.
OMAHA, TUESDAY lOIlNlMO, MAY 13, 1902 TEN PAGES.
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
Qmaha
ARMY OF MEN IDLE
One Hundred and Forty Thousand Anthra
cite Mine Employes Strike.
MITCHELL SAYS TIE-UP IS COMPLETE
Union's' Order to Baipend Operations' is
Obeyed in Every Initauoe.
COAL COMPANIES SHUT OFF A' -WMi
Operators Believe President Mitccei.
' Opposed to the Strike.
CARRIED INTO IT BY THE WORKMEN
Vera a ton, ghumokln, Tnmaqun, Pot.
vllle, Hiilttoa, Reading and Other
Laraa Center Report Collieries
at a, Standstill.
PHILADELPHIA, May 12. Mine workers
throughout the entire anthracite coal re
gions of Pennsylvania, to the number of
145,000, formal Fy began their struggle today
(or increased wages and shorter hours.
Never in the history of hard coal mining
has a tleup been so complete, not one of
the 357 colllerlea In the territory being in
operation. There la every Indication for
the belief that the suspension, which was
to cover only the first three days of this
week, will be made permanent by the
miners' general convention which will meet
at Hssleton Wednesday.
Absolute quiet prevailed everywhere to
day. In purauance of the request of the
district executive boards which met Jointly
at 8cranton lat week, all the local unions
throughout the region met today and thla
evening and elected delegates to the Hasle
ton convention. It ls significant that. In
very Issue where a vote of the ."local"
became public property the ballot showed
a decided majority for a permanent strike,
unless the operator grant concessions.
Predictions are mad that if It Is decided'
on Wednesday, to continue' the strike the
struggle will be longer and more ' bitter
than was that of 1900, which lasted six
weeks.
The coal companies in various parts of
the region have already made preparations
(or a siege. Coal train crewa, telegraph
operators, switchmen, carpenters, ma
chinists and other employes, numbering
aeveral thousands, not Identified with the
Mine - Workers' union, have been laid off
until further notice, eome of the companies
have also brought their mules to the surface
and placed them, in pastures.
President Mitchell spent a busy day at
ils headquarters. He was in close com
munication with all the district leaders
and expressed himself ss well satisfied with
the way the men responded to the call for
a suspension of work. He 'will leave for
Hasleton tomorrow afternoon. ,
President Mitchell' Statement.
BCRANTON, Pa.. Msy 12. President
Mitchell of the United Mine Workers stated
. that the tleup in theatres anthracite els-
incis la aompiaie. VApproxinsateiy iu,uuv
xnen and boys are Idle, of which number
only one-halt are In the Lackawanna and
Wyoming region. In every Instance, Mr.
Mitchell Said, the order to suspend opera
tions had been .obeyed. . About 20,000 mine
workers are' out in the Lehigh district and
60,000 in the Schuylkill field.
An official of the Delaware, Lackawanna
A Western Railroad company said today
that that corporation had no intention of
resorting to a lockout. Continuing, he said:
We do not Intend to Irritate the men and
the other comDinlri axe of the tune mind.
Nothing will be done until after Wednes
day. The situation la now In the hands
of the miners. Afterward it will be in our
kanda.
We appreciate the fact that John Mitchell
does nut want a strike. Neither do the
companies, clfeplte what Is said to the
contrary. While wo do not Want a fight
g will give the men all the fight they de
al re If they decide that there Is to be one.
From the same official source comes the
announcement that the Delaware, Lacka
wanna ft Western company has stopped
celling coal. Not a carload has been shipped
since Saturday morning. Any order must
be approved by the head of the coal de
pertinent before being filled.
The other companies have taken similar
action, ani it is believed a eoal famine
will BDeedlly result If the suspension is
tnade permanent on Wedneaday. The eleo
lion of Instructed delegates Is In progress
today and will continue today and tonight.
JAr. Mitchell went to Wllkeabarre last night,
bit he said there was no slgntncance in the
trip.
' Shaei
skin collieries Closed
SHAMOKIN, Pa.. May 12. The forty-five
colllerlea in the Ninth mining district were
completely tied up this morning cy tne
20,6; employes, excluding bosses, nremen,
engineers and pump men, enroroing me
three', days' suspension ordered by the
Bcranton convention. Two-thirds of the
collieries are In the vicinity of this place.
and are cwned principally by the Phlladel
rhla ft Reading and Pennsylvania and Le-
felgn railways.
All of the colliery whistle were blown.
nut the men kept away from the opera
tlons. Tiers were no disturbances. Mln
ere will be address in numerous sections
of the district today by their leaders, who
will ex plat all that occurred at the New
York and fioranton meetings. Afterward
ih. "locals' will meet to elect deleaatea
a i...o. (.. .k.tk.e v..t fr.p t.r
against a atrlke at the Hasleton couveotlon.
TAMAQUA. Pa., May 12. Of the 7.000
men employed by the Lehigh Coal and
Kavleatlon comftanr in the Panther creek
valley leas than a score reported for duty
.vl.v At the Ha. 4 breaker the slate
picker boys went to work as usual and the
breaker la now cleaning the coal which waa
tnlnsd on Saturday.,
Efforts have been made to get the boys
to quit work. During the sUlke of 1900
the Paathar Craek vaUev men remained at
work, and nn to the time the whistle blew
hls morning the company expressed the
belief that a sufficient number of men to
operate the collieries ' would report
(or duty.
This afternoon the various locale of the
United Mine Workers will hold special
meetings and elect delegates to attend the
Hasleton convention on Wednesday. The
delegates will be Instructed to vote for a
atrlke unless concessions are granted in
the meantime. ,
Same Story ( Idloacss.
POTT8VILLS, Pa.. May 12. From the
Panther creek valley, in the extreme east
of this coal basin, to Wtltiamstowa in the
,vtamm w mm mw v w. j v. mwmwmw
at the hundreds of collieries in obedience
to the order of National President
Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of
America. U is evea greater than a Sab
bath stillness, for nut a man of the organ!'
nation coming under the suspension order
ia at work today.
Meetings wUi be held today and tumor-
row by the locals te Instruct their dele
gatee to the Hasleton convention and the
sentiment of opinion at this time is favor
able to a Strike.
The local officials of the Philadelphia
Reading Coal ft Iron company put in aa
appearance at an unusually early hour
this morning, evidently anticipating seme
emergency.
Nothing of sn exciting nature was re
ported and the augmented police force
was not called upon for any special duty.
HAZLETON. Pa., May 12. Mining opera
tions In this portion of the seventh district
are completely suspended today. The
whistles at many of the collieries were
sounded this morning, as usual, but not as
signal for the men to come to work, for
Jffftflt the companies made an effort to
1''717f'r collieries, appreciating the
''? -ingth of the union was
such . attempt would oe lutye.
The only u;... t employes at work are the
firemen, the engineers, the pump runners,
a small number of non-union repairmen
and clay-etrlpptng hands who have no
connection with the miners.
Coal company officials refuse to say
whether they will make a move for a re
sumption on Thursday In case Wednesday's
convention declares tor the continuation of
the strike. 8unday quietude reigns through
out the district.
Wyoming- Valler Tle-l'p Complete.
WILKE8BARRE. Pa., May 12. Every
mine In the Wyoming valley In idle this
morning and the tie-up is complete. , Should
the strike be ordered by the Hasleton con
vention the men now at work keeping the
mines from being flooded expect to be
called out. Borne of the miners may not
obey the order, but there is no question but
the firemen and pump runners will. The
foreign element look for a long strike and
today the steamship and railroad offices
were crowded with Hungarians,' Poles and
Italians. Msny are going to Pittsburg,
Cleveland and other iron centers to aeek
work m the mills. Others will take a trip
to their native land and return when the
strike Is over.
At the coal offices here the superintend
ents say there la nothing to give out be
yond the fact that all their collieries are
idle and it Is not known when work will be
resumed. All the local assembllea of the
United Mine Workers will hold meetings
today to elect delegates to the Hasleton
eonvention.
READING, Pa., May 12. The coal short
age Is already apparent here. Coal dealers
were besieged all of Sunday by customers
and they say that they have more orders
than they can fill In a month with the mines
running. With an average the Philadelphia
ft Reading Railway company transports
through this city about 1,600 cars of an
thractte coal dally.
SHENANDOAH, Pa., May. 12. The mine
workers of Shenandoah, Mahanoy City and
vicinity responded unanimously this morn'
ing to- the request of the Bcranton meeting
to remain away from the mines pending the
result of the convention which will be held
at Hasleton on Wednesday. ' No attempt
was made to start any of the collieries.
Mlnea to Be Shut Down.
NEW YORK. May 12. Discussing the at
titude of the miners, the Tribune tomorrow
will say
Anthracite coal operators In this etty
said last night (Monday) that It at the
delegates' convention at Hasleton a gen
r, -trkt of th- l47 M0 anth,aeite miners
was declared It would be Immediately fol
lowed by a shutdown in all of the mines.
One of the best known miners who was
firm lnx the belief last week that there
would be no strike admitted yesterday that
he had changed his mind since the result
of the miners' convention at Bcranton was
announced.
V..' E. Truesdale, president of the Dela
ware. Lackawanna ft Western . road, said
that the shutdown would be general and
might last Indefinitely,
Mr. Truesdale said that there could be no
change In the position of the operators.
This stand was taken to make no conces
si on and to reject arbitration and they
would maintain it.
Ralph M. Easley, secretary of the Ctvlo
federation, returned to the city today and
while he would not, say what the result of
his trip had been, said the federation is
In' elose touch with the situation and that
there la still a possibility of the oper
ators agreeing to the arbitration sugges
tton of the miners. He seemed firm in the
belief that if the operators granted no
concessions before Wednesday a strike will
surely result.
Denver Ha Strike,
DENVER. Colo., May 12. Eight hundred
men are now on strike in Denver. Six large
unions are involved and the trouble shows
signs of spreading. The . lumber yards
I wood-working mills and the livery stables
are completely ilea up, wnne many
bakerlea are practically closed, owing to
the strike of bakers which began yester
day. The organisations on strike, with the
number of men out, are as follows: Wood
workers, 800; lumbermen, 150; stablemen,
130: bakers, 110; machinists, 85; team
drivers. 26; total. T80.
The carpenters and other building crafts
will be without materials to work on by
Wednesday. There is a further possibility
that the grocery , clerks will be drawn to
the support of the union bakers if the retail
grocers attempt to handle "unfair, bread,
NEW STEEL COMBINATION
Corporation
la to 'Urn
American.
: Foundries.
Knowa aa
i the
Steel
I CHESTER. Pa.. May II. Additional ad
s concerning me new comomauon oi
sieei casting pianis wuicu is 10 oe iwmto
the American steel casting compay.
wnoee principal piani uu omor are in
J this city, as a nucleus, have developed to
I day.
i oe new corporation win om snown mm
the American Steel foundries and has as
Its principal underwriters Judge B. H
Gary, chairman of the United Btatee Steel
corporation, Charles M. Schwab of the
same company, John W. dates and Oensral
tnariea u. Miner or rransiin. ra. 10m
new Domp.Dr win cvoirui snout one-ionria
of the production of steel castings ia the
country.
Other concerns hsve beta approached to
go Into the combination, but they refused
on the basis' of atock consideration offered
The capital ef the combination will be $40.
000,000, of which one-half Is to be In cask
ieaa iiic vwuiiulaalOui iud Wuuaf wrUijig
charges, and will be preferred per cent
cumulative securities, the common stock ot
an equal amount being given aa a bonus.
The, actual capital invested In the plants
to be included is something over $7,000,000.
'The companies to bo Included arc the
AsAerlcan Bteel Casting company, the
Shlckle-Harrlson and Howard and Ameri
can Bteel .foundry, St. Louis; Sargant ft
Co.. Chicago; Benjamla Atba ft Co..
Newark, N. J.; Franklin Bteel Casting
company. Franklin. Pa., and Reliance
foundry. Pittsburg.
Max Palm. New York, and Arthur J.
Eddy, Chicago, engineered the combination
a ad application for a charter will be wade
at Treatoa this week.
PEOPLE ARE ROASTED ALIVE
Numerous Viotims of Explosion Killed and
Others Survive in Agony.
RAILROAD YARDS A MASS OF FLAMES
Saphtha Oil Explodes getting Fire to
Cars and Spreading Throagh
Sewers to Other Parte
of City.
PITTSBURO. Msy 12. The Sheraden
yards of the Panhandle road, a few miles
from this city. Is a mass of burning cars,
naphtha oil and merchandise. Msny lives
have been lost and many others will die
from Injuries received.
The cause of the catastrophe from the
meager reports received was the explo-
lon of a naphtha car, brought out by a
leak In the car communicating to a switch
ight nearby. This explosion occurred
bout 6:30 p. m. Crowds of people, men.
women and children, to too number of
thousands quickly gathered to look at the
Are and were lined about the yard on the
hillsides.
When all drnger had apparently passed
a second explosion of naphtha followed, far
worse than the first. The flsmea from the
second car were thrown 600 feet . In the
air, completely enveloping the onlookers,
In an InBtant the air was superheated to a
degree Impossible for human life to .ex
1st in. Thoae nearest the exploded cars
were stricken and tell to tne ground.
Victims Become Frantic.
The clothing of those farther away was
soon afire and the victims ran frantically
about, tearing their burning garments from
their bodies and screaming for help. In
the meantime the fire had spread to other
cars and In an Incredibly abort time the
entire yard was ablase. It ' is estimated
that seventy cars have been burned and
the flames are still In possession, feed
ing on scores of other cars.
The burning oil is said. to have entered
bat is known aa Cork Run sewer and
came out one and one-half miles bflow,
where another fire la now burning.
The burning oil waa carried through the
sewer to distant parts of the district, one
of the results being an explosion In a pool
room at McKees Rocks, where hundreds
of men were gathered. Four men are re
ported killed at this point.
Hard to Get Facta.
The intense excitement and confusion In
cident to the explosion make It Impossible
to get anything like a reliable estimate of
the dead and Injured, but from some of
those who escaped it Is learned that hun
dreda were lying around on the ground in
all conditions of injury and death. All the
ambulances from this city and Allegheny,
together with . many physicians, were
quickly started for the scene and at the
earliest possible moment the vlctlma were
brought to the city.- All of the hospitals
were 'crowded with writhing patients and
the morgue Is full to overflowing.
Because of the burning of all telegraph
and telephone wires near the scene of the
accident' news must be carried by messen
ger, making definite news concerning the
catastrophe .hard to get. , Street cars ' are
blocked a lona distance from Sheraden and
the Panhandle railroad . tracks are com
pletely blocked.
CONGRESS PASSES' AID BILL
Senate Concurs In House Measure to
Help West Indian Island
Sufferers.
WASHINGTON, May 12. The house to
day passed by an overwhelming ote a bill
granting $200,000 for tbe relief of the suf
ferers In the great calamity In the West
Indies. The bill waa a substitute for .the
relief measure passed by tbe senate and
followed the receipt of a message from
tbe president setting forth th magnitude
of the calamity and urging the approprla
tton of (500,000.
The epeclal meeting of the appropriation
committee was held to facilitate action on
the bill and It was reported to the house
within short time after the receipt of
the president's message. Mr. Hemtnway,
the acting chairman of the committee, ex
plained that the amount was limited to
$200,000 owing to the faot that large private
contributions were being made. The dis
cussion was brief, Mr. ' Underwood of Ala
bama being the only one to speak in oppo
sition. The bill was passed by 19 vote
to a.
Those voting in the negative were
Messrs. Burgees of Texas, Clayton of Ala
bama, Oalnes of Tennessee, Lanham of
Texas, Moon of Tennessee, Snodgraag of
Tennessee, Tate of . Georgia Underwood of
Alabama and Williams of Mississippi.
The resolution offered by the approprla'
tlon committee follows:
To enable the president of the United
states to procure and distribute among
the suffering- and destitute people of the
Ulands of the French West Indies such
provisions, clothing, medicines and other
necessary articles and to take such other
steps aa ne snail deem advisable for the
purpose or rescuing and succoiinsr the Deo
pie who are In peril and threatened with
starvation, tne turn or 2uu,uuv la hereby ep
propria ted.
In the execution of 'this act the nresl
dent Is requested to aak and obtain the n.
proval of the French government and he
is nereoy autnonsea to employ any vea
aeis or tne united states navy and to
cnarter ana employ any other suitable
teamsnips or vessels.
The senate concurred in the house bill
CALV0 SAYS PEACE PREVAILS
Minister front Costa Rica Declares
There is No Insurrection ia
That Country.
WASHINGTON, May 12. Mr. Joaquin
Bernard Calvo, the minister from Costa
Rica at Washington, Issued todsy the tol
lowing statement:
The newe from Panama published today
to the effect that the military element In
the ntlshborhood ot San Jose, Costa Rlca.
Is In Insurrection, refusing to recognise
me auiooniy oi uon Ascension EMqulval,
is Incorrect. There Is no insurrection at
any place in that country. ITesldent-elect
Esqulvai was Inaugurated on the 8th in
stant according to law and the nawa of
I this fact was officially communicated to
the lesatlon of Costa Rlca at Washington
on the Sth Instant, everything being quiet
there as usual.
The assertion that the Insurrectionists
ere procisJrr.'.ne a leader th&t uun nut
want to load explains in Itself that the
report rrom r-anama ia incorrect.
The Important changes that had been
made among the government officials and
especially in the cabinet are facts simply
consequent to ine cnangc oi aamiiusira
tlon aa it occurs elsewhere.
There la no insurrection in Costa Rlca.
DEATH RECORD.
Mrs. B. Gallanotto, Hastlaaa.
HASTINGS. Neb.. May 12. Special Tele
gram.) Mrs. B. Gutlmettc died at her home
here at 1 o'clock today. The deceased waa
(4 years old and had been a resident ot
Hastings for twenty years. The funeral
will be held from the Catholic church at
10 e'clock tomorrow morning.
DOES NOT LESSEN ACREAGE!
mport Duty on Oratn. Says Chancel
lor of Eaeheouer, Has no
Effect aa Cultivation.
LONDONj Msy 12. The chancellor of the
exchequer, Blr Michael Hicks-Beach, has
yielded to the storm of disapproval
aroused by the feature In tbe financial bill
affecting checks and today definitely an
nounced In the House ot Commons tbe
Ithdrawal of the extra tax of 1 penny
placed on checks. He added that he re
served the right to Impose another tax to
meet the resulting deficiency.
On the second reading of the finance bill
Blr William Vernon-Harcourt (liberal)
moved that ."This house declines to Im
pose duties on grain, floor and other food
of the people." During tbe course of his
peech Blr William urged that the Innova
tion contravened tb tundameoal principle
of sound finance.
Tbe chancellor of the exchequer In reply
ing denied that there bad been any gen
eral rise In the price of bread for a mo
ment The demand waa greater than the
upply, but It must not be forgotten that
while It was necessary for Oreat Britain
to obta'n wheat and flour from America
nd other quarters, it was equally neces-
ssry for them to send their products to
this country. It waa absurd to suppose
that the t-penny duty on grata could cause
a single acre to go out of cultivation" In
America. She must send her wheat here
on account of the protective duties else
where.' The production of grain throughout the
world waa increasing at a greater ratio
than the demand. He believed that the
producers and carriers of grain would pay
the new ' tax If there was a big crop. It
was necessary to impose additional taxation
on the masses In order that they should
be made to realize what war preparation
and war involved.
SUBSIDY TO BE RENEWED
White Star Line Aareea to Rot Trans
fer Its Ships to Another
Fla-.
t
LONDON, May 12. In the House of Com
mons today the president of the Board of
Trade, Gerald Balfour, informed a ques
tloner that after considering the agreement
of February 4 between the Morgans and the
White Star and Dominion lines. It has been
concluded that the vessels concerned were
not precluded from retaining their English
register.
The financial secretary of the admiralty.
Mr. Arnold-Forster, added the Information
that the agreement. of the admiralty with
the White Star line was about to be re
newed, with an exceptional provision, as
follows:
The company: shall not. without the pre'
vlous written consent of the admiralty,
transfer to a foreign nag any veseeia sun
Ject to this agreement
Thte provision, the secretary added, al
ready had been agreed to and an install
ment ot the subsidy, on the terms of the
new agreement, bad been paid. The ad
miralty had been advised by the Jaw officers
of the crown that there was nothing In the
agreement of February which would In
terfere with the admlralty'a right-to en
force, the terras of Its agreement with the
White Star line.';.: ,
COMPROMISE IS -' PROBABLE
Satisfactory ' Terms on Danish West
India Sala Facilitated by
Opponents -Yielding-.
COPENHAGEN, May 12. The conference
committee of the Danish Parliament ap
pointed to consider the action of the two
houses on tbe Danish West Indies treaty.
has commenced its sittings. It .held two
executive sessions today. Ths opponents
of the sale ot the Islands seem inclined to
yield to the demand ot the ministry tor a
plebiscite relinquisher their former pro
posal limiting tbe vote to those who are
qualified to vote for the election of mem
bers of the colonial council, that scheme
having aroused popular approval.
The members of the opposition, however.
Insist on withholding final Judgment on the
treaty until after a plebiscite, which, they
contend. Is neoessary to ahow the real tern
per ot the Islanders. They are willing to
bind themselves to agree to the ratification
on specified conditions before the elections'
The ministry will not agree to such a
course, preferring to let the matter rest
until after the September elections, when
the Landslhlng la likely to give the minis
try a majority enabling it to secure the
ratification unconditionally. Knowledge ot
thla will In all probability conduce to
satisfactory compromise with the opposi
tion.
EMPEROR HAS BUSY SUNDAY
Begins Day at Wlesboden by Sendlnsj
Sympathy to President
Loubet.
BERLIN, May 12. Emperor William
passed a busy Sunday at Wiesbaden. After
breakfaat be disposed of considerable state
business, including the telegram to Presl
dsnt Loubet of Franco expressing his maj
esty's sympathy In ths Martinique disaster,
After this ths emperor walked a ahort dis
tanco from the palace to the principal
Evangelical church In Wiesbaden, where be
attended service. He then took a long
ride In the country, and upon his return
attended to more official business.
After dinner his majesty attended the
opening of the new court theater, where
he held, receptions between the acts ot tbe
plsy and bestowed minor orders upon a
number of persons.
Emperor William wound up the day with
a prolonged beer alttlng. to which he In
vlted Prof. Vpbuee, Prof. Kanckfusa and
Prof. Ealexmann, as well as Prince Rati
bor and Count Ooerts.
This morning Emperor William gsve an
audience to M. Pobiedonotsxeff, the Rue
elan privy counsellor and chief procurator
of the Holy Bynod in Russia, who had Just
arrived at Wiesbaden for bis health.
Queen Continues to Improve.
THE HAGUE, May 12. Queen. Wllhelmlna
had a good night, according to reporta from
Castle Loo this morning. Her condition
shows continued Improvement,
RACE WAR NEAR MUSKOGEE
Necroes ' Attempt to Wipe o
White Settlement at
Brastaa.
' 1 .
MUSKOGEE, I. T., May 12 A racs war
is on at Braggs, twenty miles east of Mus
aogee. rive negroes ana one waits man
have been shot and one stabbed.
Seventy-five negroes attempted to wipe
out the white settlement of fifteen families
near Braggs which la ons of the worst die
trtcta in the Indian Territory.
The whites have applied to the United
8 tat as marshal for protection and have
been Instructed to arm and protect them
stives.
1X1NC RAILROAD VALUES
E. Eosewater Aiki for Hearing Before
Bute Board of Equalisation.
BOARD FIXES THE DATE FOR WEDNESDAY
Effort to Get Maat on Question ot
Corporation Property Takes Form
Which May Load to '
Results.
(From a 8taff Correspondent.)
LINCOLN. May 12. (Special.) E. Rose-
water, accompanied by E. W. Slmeral, ap
peared before, the State Board of Equaliza
tion this morning to plead for the fixing
of a higher and more equitable valuation
of railroad property ot the state. At the
conclusion ot his few brief remarks the
board agreed to listen to his statement
next Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Rose water
called attention to the fact that the rail
roads pay onty one-sixth of the taxes ot
the state, which is a smaller proportionate
burden than that borne by the other tax
payers. -
'Governor Ssvage remarked that he was
glad to get all the light that can be
thrown iinon the aublect. and emressed
himself ae willing o atay there six months
If necessary to probe the matter to the
bottom. He declared that Instead of being
$180,000,000, the aggregate stste valuation
should be more than $1,000,000,000. Auditor
Weston ssked some questions concerning
the scope ot the Investigation, and Mr,
Rosewater stated that he did not feel Jus
tified In attempting to discuss the subject
In all its bearings until he bad examined
records on file In the auditor's office.
It now transpires, since this action was
begun, it baa leaked from tbe upper story
of the state house that the; democratic lead
ers of Omaha and Lincoln had seriously
discussed the propriety of starting the very
proceedings which were begun today, with
the anticipation that they could make
capital for their candidates In the coming
campaign. R. L. Metcalfe of the World
Herald was In Lincoln In conference with
soma of the populist and democratlo lead
ers.
A representative of a railroad who was
present during the brief discussion Inter
rupted to inquire whether or not the taxes
on the Bee building bad been paid, to
which Mr. Rosewater replied that the Bee
Building company had paid In the last ten
years approximately $60,000 In taxes, of
which amount $7,000 waa paid last year.
TO CALL CLEMENCIA LOPEZ
Philippine Committee Decides to
Summon Woman to tSlve
. Testimony.
WASHINGTON. May 12. The senate
committee on the Philippines today decided
to call as a witness before that committee
Miss Clemencla Lopes, a sister of ' Slxto
Lopes. The woman la now in Boston and
she will be asked to come from that city
to Washington to give her testimony. "The
date of her appearance has been fixed'
Senators Lodae. Hale and Burrowa voted
with the democratic1 membera to. ask her
attendance.
The committee ale decided the.proba
btUtios as to securing a vote on the Phil
ipplne government bill and the democratic
members all gave assurance that they bad
no desire to prolong the debate beyond
legitimate bounds. Ths opinion was gen
erally expressed that the vote could be
taken by the middle of next week.
FIRE RECORD.
Carbondale, Kansas.
CARBONDALE, Kan., May ; 12. A fire
which originated in. Frank O'Donnell's store
this morning destroyed practically the en'
tire business section of the town. Among
the principal losers are Frank O'Donnell
general merchandise; the McCoom Hard
ware company, Nora Lewis, millinery; the
Barry Harness company, Sutherland hall
and Sutherland hotel and the R. H. Mc
Clair Hardware company. The cause of the
fire Is unknown and the loss is not asti
mated.'
Two Stores 'at Exeter.
EXETER, Neb., May 12. (Special.) The
bakery of C. A. Taylor and. Mart Prlce'a
restaurant were destroyed by fire early thia
morning.. Price carried no-Insurance, but
his loss Is small. Taylor had $300 Insurance
on his stock. . The buildings, were owned by
C. A. Longster and were partially in
sured. V
Steamboat South Dakota.
YANKTON, S. D., May 12. The steam
boat South Dakota, J. Lach captain and
owner, burned yesterday near Greenwood,
Neb., while on a trip up the Missouri. Ths
loss on ths boat and cargo, was $32,000. No
Insurance. The passengers and crew es
caped. hymeneal""
Henry-Chapman.
The wedding of Mrs. Anna E. Chapman
to Mr. Joseph Henry took place at Casper,
Wyo., Sunday,, May 11. Mrs. Chapman Is
well known In Omaha, this having formerly
been her home. Mr. Henry has served the
state for two terms as one of its state rep
resentatives and also is the owner of a large
ranch. After a short trip Mr. and Mrs.
Henry will be at home to their friende on
the ranch, which ia not very far distant
from Casper.'
Wrlsbt-Kunn.
BEATRICE, Neb.. May 12. (Special.)
County Treasurer W. W. Wright departed
yesterday for Flat Rock, O., where he Is
to be married Wednesday noon to Miss
Tlllle Kuhn of that city. 'After a short
wedding trip they will take up their resi
dence in this city. '
California Limited Wrecked.
KEOKUK, la.. May 12 The California
limited, eastbound, on the Santa Fa, was
wrecked this morning at Rsvere, Mo., ten
miles from the scene ot the wreck of the
same train two weeks sgo. Tbe axle ot
the dining car broke and tbe train ran
Into a switch. Ths train crashed into a
boxcar on the siding. The corner of tbe
dining ear was torn oft and . six coaches
were thrown from tbe track. The speed
of the train st the time was more than
a mils a minute. One passenger, Miss
Adams of Chicago, was slightly Injured.
-
Katy Will Build Own Track.
KANSAS CITY. May 12. It Is stated t st
the Missouri. Kansaa Texas will build ts
awn line between Paola, Kan., and X -s-
dale, Kan., a suburb of Kanaas City, frty
miles, ana enter inia city over tne tsar a r e
tracks. Tbe "Katy" now reaches -ansas
City from Paola over the 'Frlse- track,
but the Increasing traffic renders i eceasary
a new road, which alll almost' pr allsl the
'Frisco.
CONDITION OF THE WEATHER
Forecast tne Nebraska Partly Cloudy
Tuesday; Wednesday Fair In East, Show,
ers and Cooler In Weet Portion; Variable
Winds.
ft a. m ..... k 64 1 p. m ..... . AT
a. m e.1 S p. m...... NM
7 a. m Wl S p. m
a. m. . . . . . IH 4 p. . M
0 a. nt Tit 5 , n n
lo a. m Tf) Op. m.,... M
It a. m As T p. m SI
lln ST p. m TT
O p. m T5
CONVENTION 0F BANKERS
Meeting Will Be Addressed by Henry
W. Yates of Omaha and
Others.
KANSAS Crrr, May 12. A Joint conven
tion of the Bankers' associations ot Mis
souri, Ksnsaa and the Indian and Oklahoma
territories will begin here tomorrow for a
two days' session. It Is expected that R00
bsnkers will attend, among them several
financiers of national reputation. Tbe pro
gram Includes the following:
Tueeday Morning Seselon Report of E.
A. Kelly, Leavenworth, Kan., on bank
money orders and address, "'The Evolution
of Banking Law," by Thomas B. Paton of
New York, editor of tbe Banking (Law
Journal. '
Tuesday Afternoon Addresses on tba
subject ot branch banking by Horace White,
editor of the New York Evening Post, and
Henry W. Yates of Omaha, president ot
the Nebraska National bank.
Wedueaday Morning Addresses by Mor
ton Albaugh of Topeka, state bank commis
sioner, and by W. T. Jones of' St. Louis,
the latter taking tor his theme "Tbe Fed
eral Bankruptcy Law."
Wednesday Afternoon Jsmes H. Eckels,
president of the Commercial National bank
of Chicago, address on "Assets Currency,"
and Charles G. Dawes on "Assets Currency
and Branch Banking."
Among the arrivals today were a number
of New York bankers, Including O. 8. Whit
son, Charles L. Robinson, Lewis E. Plerson,
John C. Van Cleaf, J. R. Bronch, W. O.
Jones and Horace White.
0DELL GUEST OF HARRIMAN
Oevernor ef New York Central Figure
at Banquet Given fey Rail- ,
road Moarnate.
SAN FRANCISCO. Msy 12. Governor
Odell of New York was the guest ot honor
tonight at an elaborate banquet given by
E. H. Harrlman, president of the Southern
Pacific company, at the Pacific Union club.
This will be tbe only affair of the kind
the governor will participate In during his
stay In California, . though he will be
greeted at Informal reoeptlons' by the
Union league and other organisations.
The banquet room was elaborately dec
orated and when- the seventy-one guests
were seated presented a scene cf great
beauty. E. H. Harrlman presided as Lost,
Governor Odell was seated on his right and
Governor Gagj of California on hla left.
Immediately opposite Mr. Harrlman sat
Mayor Bchnilts of this city.
Among the other prominent guests weret
Chief Justice Beaty of the supreme court of
California, United States Judges Morrow
and Ross,' Admiral Miller and. General R.
P. Hughes, Presidents Wheeler of tbe Uni
versity of California and Jordan ot Stan'
ford, Prince Ponlatowakl, H. E. Hunting
ton, W. H. Crocker, Postmsster Montague,
Collector of the Port Stratton, Congress
man Kfhn, J. D. Spreckels, J. Kruttschnltt
and. J. C. Stubbs.
The affair was purely social, Governor
Odell and Mr, Harrlman being old friends
and natives of the same county of New
York state.
MOB HANGS NEGRO TO A TREE
Lynch Prisoner Who Boists of Killing;
and Threatens SJIoro Such
Crimes.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn,, Msy 12. News
has reached here of the lynching of Jim
Underwood, a negro, at Decatur, Meigs
county, Tenn., Sunday morning. Under
wood waa. in Jail, charged with carrying a
pistol. Ho openly boasted that he had
killed two men and threatened to kill two
prominent cltlxens at ths first opportunity.
About '10 o'clock Sunday morning Jailer
Legg was aroused by the breaking of the
door ot bis room. A score of men with
blackened faoea forced their way In, se
cured the Jail keys and, taking the negro
a mile from tbe town, hanged him to a
tree. On his breast was pinned a state
ment that he was hanged because he had
threatened to take the lives ot two good
men.
MANY NON-COMBATANTS DEAD
Venesuelaa Government Troops Vio
late the Holes of Civil
ised War.
NEW YORK. Msy 12. Oreat carnage waa
wrought at Caruplno, the Venesuelean sea
port town which was attacked, says ths
Port of Spain, Trinidad, correspondent ot
the Herald, by land and sea on May 6, by
government troops and gunboats without
twenty-four hours' notice having been given
so that non-combatants could leave tbe
town. '
Foreigners in Caruplno are without as
sistance from their respective governments.
notwithstanding their appeals. Many
women and children were killed.
TAINTED MEAT ON TABLES
ipnre Beef le Said to Bo Sold
Cheap Beatau rants aad
Chop Houses.
la
ST. JOSEPH, May 12. Through revela
tlons mads at tba investigation of tbe Beef
trust, tbe Boat J of Health of this 'city has
been apprised of ths use of tainted meats
in the cbophouses and cheap restaurants
in this city. Warrants wsra today aworn
out for the arrest of many .offenders who
were trapped by detectives tracing car
casses ot "lumpy Jaw" cattls and other
diseased meats from markets to consumers.
THREE MEN ARE KILLED
Ob is a BascbcaaB asd Basd ef Cow.
boys Are Seeklaar
Rereaave.
LIBERAL, Kan.. Mar 12. At Tucmurarl
ths new unicsgo, hock isiana a racins ex
tension southwest of here, three men were
killed In a fight lsat night.
One of ths men was a ranchman and a
band of cowboys, armed with Winchesters,
were at last reporta marching Into the town
to seek revenge. Much excitement pre
vailed.
. Government Crop Report.
WASHINGTON, May 12. Winter wheat,
7 4. agaiaat ti l last year; acreage, 27,
103,000.
AT RUINS OF CITY
American Oouiul Ajme of Guadaloupe
Bcaohos Scene of the Volcano,
DEATH AND DEVASTATION AT ST. PIERRE
Bpot Where the Metropolii of Martinique
Stood it a Complete Waits.
LATE DETAILS CONFIRM EARLY REPORTS
Grim Disaster of Friday Forecasted by
Clouds and Cannonading;.
RAIN OF ASHES FOLLOWS, COVERING CITY
Land and Sea strewn ' with Thirty
Thousand Corpses and Wreckage
of Buildings aad Ships Form
Gruesome Sight.
FORT DE, FRANCE,' Martinique, May 12.
It now seems to be generally admitted
that about SO. ooo persons lost their Uvea as
the result of tbe outbreak ot the Mount
Pelee volcano.
Careful Investigation by competent gov
ernment officials ahows that the earlier re
ports of the Associated Press were accu
rate.
Tbe American consul at Guadeloupe,
Louis H. Ayme, has reached tbe desolate
spot where St. Pierre stood and confirms
the awful story in all Its essential details.
From an Interview with Colonel Ayme,
who Is a trained American newspaper man.
the correspondent of the Associated Press .
learned the following facts:
Thursday morning the Inhabitants ot the
city awoke to find heavy clouds enshroud
ing the Mount Pelee crater. All day
Wednesday horrid detonations had been
heard. These were echoed from St. Thomas
on tbe north to Barbadoes on ths south. '
The cannonading ceasod on Wednesday
night and fine ashes fell like rain on St.
Pierre. The Inhabitants were alarmed, but
Governor Mouttet, who had arrived at St.
Pierre tne evening before, did everything
possible to allay the panlo.
Roralma on the Scene.
The British steamer Roralma reached St.
Pierre on Sunday with ten paoaengera,
among whom were Mrs. Stokes and her
three children and Mrs. H. J. Ince. They
were watching the rain of ashes when, with,
a frightful roar and terrtflo electric dls-
B" vuiuuv ui ui v, uiuu ana sieaiq
swept from the crater down over town
and bay, sweeping all before It s-nd de
stroying ths fleet of vessels at anchor oft
the shore.
There the accounts of the cetaatvophe so
fsr obtainable cease. Thirty thousand
corpses are strewn about, burled In the
ruins of St. Pierre or else floating, gnawed
by sharks. In the surrounding seaa. Twenty-eight
charred,, half -dead human beings
wera brought here. Sixteen ot them are
already dead and only four ot the whole
number are expected to recover. The As
soclated Press steamer,' chsrtered In Quad- .
eloupe, , naared Martinique at. 6: 10 Sunday
morning. .,..:
Island Hid by Veil. : I
Tbe Island, with its lofty kills, was hid- '
aen oenma a nuge veil oi violet or leaden
colored base. Enormous quantities ot tha
wreckage of large and small ships and'
houses strewed the surface ot the sea.
Hugh trees and many bodies with flocks of
seagulls soaring above and hideous sharks
fighting about them wera floating here and
there. From behind the volcanic veil came
blasts of hot wind, mingled with others ice
cold.
At Le Precheure, five miles north of fit-
Pierre, men and women In canvas, frantlo
to get away, begged for passage on tha
steamer.
The whole north end of the Island waa
covered with a silver-gray coating of sshes
resembling dirty snow. Furious blasts of
fire, aahee and mud swept over tbe steamer, .
but finally St. Pierre was reached. The
city of St. Pierre stretched nearly two miles
along the water front one-half a mils back
to a cliff at the base of the voloano. Tbe
houaes of tbe richer French families ware
built of stone, .
Human Bodies Feed Flames.
Ths still smoking volcano towered above
the ash-oovered hills. Tbe ruins wera burn
ing In many places and frightful odors of
burned flesh filled the air.
With great difficulty a landing waa ef-
fected. Not one house was left intact.
Viscid heaps of mud, of brighter ashes or
piles of voloanlo stones were seen on every
iae. Tne streets could hardly be traced.
Here and there amidst the ruins were heaps
of corpses. Almoat all the faces warn
downward. In one corner twenty-two
bodies of men, women and children were
mingled In one awful mass, arms sad lege
protruding as tbe hapless betngs fell in tba
last struggles of death's agony.
Through ths middle of tha old Place Ber
lin ran a tiny stream, tha remains of tha
river Oayave. Oreat trees, with roots up
ward and scorched by fire, wera strewn ia
every direction. Huge blocks and still hot
stones wera scattered about. From under
one large stone tbe arm of a white woman
protruded. Most notable was tha utter
silence and tha awful, overpowering stench
from the thousands of dead.
Careful Inspection ahowed thai tha fiery
stream which so completely destroysl Bu
Pierre miut have been composed of poi
sonous gaaes which Instantly suffocated
everyone who inhaled them aad ef other
gases burning furiously, for nearly all of
the victims had their hands covering their
mouths or. wsra in some other attitude
showing that thsy bad sought relist from
suffocation. All ths bodies wsra carbon
ised or rossted.
A. O. Husten, ths manager of tha Colonial
Bank of Barbadoes, landed at St. Pierre
with a party from the British Royal mall
steamer Solent He found the bank clock
stopped some minutes before I o'clock. A
horse and a buggy and a policeman were la
a dead group at the door.
Few Bodies Recognisable.
NEW YORK, May 12. Sueoessful at
tempts have beea made to reach Bt. Pierre,
says a London dispatch to tha Tribune,
Cabling from St. Lucia, tha correspondent
of the Pally Mil) says the U! is a beep
of ruins and dead bodies are lying all
around. Few aver will ba recognised, so
great arc the mutilation and dlatortioa.
Searchers have found 1.000 corpses aa tha
sits ot the cathedral. All appear to have
been asphyxiated from gas. Not a soul
waa found alive In tha whole town.
Describing the destruction of the island
city, tha correspondent aald that, last Mon
day Mount Pelee poured forth a stream of
molten lava twenty feet high and half a
mile wide. Ita progress waa appalling.
Rushing down the dry bed of Riviere
Blanche, tt reached the sea. Tba fores of
the Impact waa such that tha sea receded
for too feet for miles alonjr tha wsaUra
coast. Loud detonations foil owed at snori
irregular Intervals, absolutely aws-lna
IN