Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, December 23, 1902, Image 1
The Omaha Daily Bee. ESTABLISHED .IUXE 19, 1871. OMAHA, TUESDAY MOKNING, DECEMUEK 23, 1002-TEN PAGES. SINGLE COPY Til 11 EE CENTS. r SIX STORES BURNED Fire Sweeps Knoiville Business Buildings in Early Morning. LOSS REACHES HALF MILLION DOLLARS Same Block Destroyed Which Fell to Flames five Yean Ago. RELIEF ENGINES COVER MILE A MINUTE Chattanooga Responds with Help on Special Train at Lightning Speed. COLLAPSING WALLS STAY WILD FLAMES Tears for Entire Downtown DUtrlct .Are General!? 'Entertained Till One fracture Crnmbln and Mops Spreading; Conflagration. KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Dee. 12. The wont Are which baa ravaged the business portion of the city since the disastrous million-dollar conflagration of 1897 broke out at 4:30 this morning In a four-story building on Commerce avenue, directly opposite the Central lire station and occupied by the Knoxvllle Panta company. : In two houra buildings adjoining It on Commerce avenue, occupied by Broyles, Me Clellan A Luckey, agricultural Implement dealers; the David Commission company, the Immense establishment of the Brown Hardware company on Gay street; 8hanklln Grain company and the R. H. Chat tee com pany building on the same streets, had been completely gutted. The six-story building of McTeer, Hood ft Co.. wholesale clothiers, and the three tory building of the Davies Furniture com pany, which were reported destroyed, with stood the storm of flying embers and were but little damaged. . Drandau & Kennedy, retail clothiers; W. T. Newton, Jeweler; the Whltle-Spencer Trunk company and other retail stores on Gay street, opposite the burning structures, wore considerably damaged. Conservative Insuranoe men say the loss will be between $400,000 and 1500,000. Other estimates place It much higher. The McTeer and Davis buildings seemed doomed, and, although they were In flames time and again, they were saved with small damage by the hard work on the part of the Bremen. Several other structures were on Are at times, including the big estab lishment of Gillespie, Shields A Co., whole rale batters, but they were protected. Hlaae Is Most Speetacnlar. The Art was most spectacular and attracted a crowd numbering Into the thou sands. It Is a miracle that no one was hurt with the showers of falling glass and the terrific explosions In the Brown Hard ware company that scattered bricks, burn ing embers and all conceivable articles of merchandise. Chattanooga was called on for aid when the fire was at Its height, and an engine company had run by special train twenty nine tnltoa In tWfTrry-rtiree minutes toward fhls city when stopped by wire, the fire being now under control. The collapse of the Brown building saved the business dlsttict from a loss of $2,000,000 at least, the flames being easily bandied after that structure had fallen. The heaviest loss Is that of tbe Brown Hardware company, which carried a $180,000 stock. Partial estimates on the losses are as follows: R. H. Chattee company, whole sale liquors, stock and building, $15,000; Knoxvllle Pants company, stock and build ings, $10,000; Broyles. HcClellan ft Luckey, farming Implements, stock and building, $25,000; Shanklln Grain company, stock and building, $15,000; David ft Co., stock and building, $40,000; Haynes ft Henson, whole sale shoes, $10,000; McTeer, Hood ft Co., wholesale clothing, $5,000; Davies Furniture company, stock and buildings, $4,000; dam age to other buildings and stocks, $10,000. All the firms, except the David Commis sion company, were Insured. APPRAISE LOSSES BY BOXERS Rag (dale and Bridge Reach Ran Fran cisco After Labors la China. BAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 2$. J. G. Rags dale, United States consul at Tien Tsln, and W. E. Balnbtldg'e, secretary of the United States legation at Pekln under Mr. Conger, were among tbe passengers returning today on the transport Thomas from the Orient. Messrs. Ragsdale and Balnbrldgn, who were appointed to appralae the dumage austained by American residents of China as a re sult of the uprising, recently completed their report, which Is now on Coptic, due here on Wednesday. The report was be gun In April and It was finally completed on November IT. It shows that 120 claims were submitted by Americana who. suffered by tbe Boxer war, aggregating $4,000,000, but only $1,600,500 of this amount will be available out of the Indemnity which China has to pay. The largest loss was sustained by the Chlna-Japanes Trading company, an American concern, and was for some thing over $500,000 In gold. PARENTS APPEAL TO ARMOUR Six-Year-Old Hoy Operated Upon by Dr. I.orens ns Resalt f Letter. NEW TORK, Dec. 2$. Dr. Lorens has performed his last public operation In thla vicinity for congenital dislocation of the blp. Alvln Louis Black, t years old, was the patient. He Is the boy who sent a doll to Lollta Armour, daughter of J. Ogden Armour of Chicago, to operate on whom Dr. Lorens came to this country. Mr. Armour was appealed to by tbe parents of the boy and wrote a personal letter to Dr. Lorent, asking hlra to operate on the child, who had remembered his lit tle girl, and the operation of Sunday, which was pronounced successful, was tbs outcome of this request. Dr. Lorens will leave for Boston, where be will operate an hour after his arrival. TIE AT TWO ELECTIONS Montana Electors Poll Twlea aad Each Time Deadlock Ensues n taunt. BUTTE, Mont.. Dec. 21 The second election for representstlve In the legisla ture from Tellowstone county has resulted In another tie. Before each candidate received 731 votes and thla time each got 635. A blrd elec tion will probably be held. BANKER ANSWERS QUESTIONS Prosecution, However, In Sew York Gambling; Cases (.alna Nothing; from Witness. NEW YORK, Dec. 22. J' - Lewlsohn, who the court decided sh' f -wer the district attorney's questl v ,v. ther he knew Rlrhard Canflcld, . "'. Icged. Is the proprietor of a ' 1 houe, today answered In the afllrnji. " " He was next asked. "Were you evef Canfleld's prior to December 21, 1S97? Ha at first refused to answer, but later on advised of his attorney that the statue of limitation, which bar any prosecullou after five years for gamblir.g. removing the constitutional privilege, Mr. Lewlsohn said he had not. He declined to nnBwer when asked If he had been In the house recently. Mr. Lsu trrbacb, attorney for Lewlsohn, Is author ity for what occurred at the Inquiry. Lewlsohn was rearrested today. He left the criminal court building Immediately, in In the custody of an officer, for the supreme court, where application was o be made for a writ of habeas corpus. He was after wards arraigned before Justice White, charged with a misdemeanor as a contuma cious witness. The hearing on this charge went over until the third Monday In Jan uary. Lewlsohn Is also held on a warrant charging him with contempt of court for refusing to answer questions today. Subse quently a writ of habeas corpus was applied for and granted by Justice Scott. PROBES OFFICIAL SMUGGLING Porto Rico Court Hears Chargea Against Men Accused of Beat ing; Customs. SAN JUAN, Porto Rico. Dee. 22 Robert Giles, a government contractor and man ager of the Automobile Transportation com pany, has been arrested in connection with tbe smuggling cases. He was arraigned, charged with smuggling, and pleaded not guilty. The preliminary examination of Benjamin Butler, supervisor of elections; Commander O. W. Mentt, In charge of the Country club, and Robert Oiles, charged with smuggling two lots of wines and liquors from St. Thomas on the United States steamer Uncas and the lighthouse tender Lasel, began here thla afternoon. Commander Mentx was heard first. He was in command of Laurel on its trip to St. Thomaa, where from thirty to thirty five cases of liquors were purchased. Some of these were put off at Culebra, but four teen were brought to San Juan. Of thb latter, six were marked "Robert Giles," while others were addressed to Captain Andrew Dunlap, commander of the naval stat,lon here. One of the witnesses, the captain of a launch, said Captain Dunlap ordered him to go on board Laurel and get certain cases; that he did so and delivered them to Captain Dnnlap. A customs Inspector seized and opened the cases marked "Robert Giles." DEBT WORRIES THE COMPOSER HsMsgal, 111 and la Financial Trouble, Compelled to Cancel All His bates. " """" CHICAGO, Dec. J2. The American tour of Mascagnl and his Italian opera company came to a close today In this city with the cancellation of all dates. The culmination of Mascagnl's woes came last evening, when an attachment was made on his personal effects by a constable rep resenting a local claim agent for $184. As a result of his flnanolal difficulties Mascagnl is now confined to his room at the Auditorium annex suffering from nervous prostration The company was scheduled to leave Chi cago at 9 o'clock this morning for the west, the first engagement to have been at Keo kuk, la. The member of Mascagnl's troupe, solo ists, musicians and choristers, will be given passage here tomorrow at the Italian consulate. Thla was decided at a confer ence tonight, at which the attorney for the government of Italy was empowered by the composer to act for him. The funds will be furnished by the com poser himself, who recently received about $6,000 from his bankers In Rome, and Is altogether more than $10,000 to the bad as the result of his Ill-starred tour. RESPECTED BENNETJ'S WISHES Laura Blasrar Tells Why She Did Not Make Pnblle the Fact of Her .Marriage. FREEHOLD, N. J.. Deo. it. Further tes- i given by Miss Blggar today, and the de- It n so then rested. Miss Blggar, crosa-examlned by Mr. Wil son, counsel for the state, said that she had kept her marriage secret because Mr. Bennett bad asked her to do so. She sail she had employed Mollis Deskln as her maid and had discharged her about a year ago. The witness said she had always been a dutiful and faithful wife to Mr. Bennett. Ex-Sheriff Smock of Freehold, called In re buttal by the state, aald that In October, 1901, Bennett Introduced the defendant as Miss Blggar. MUST GO BACK TO RUSSIA Young- Raak Clerk Is Accused of Steal lag; Tea Thousand Roubles aad Absconding;. OAKLAND, Cal.. Dec. 2 Having been unsuccessful In his fight against extradi tion, S. 1. Grin, tbe young bank clerk, who about two years ago absconded from Russia with about 10,000 roubles and came to this country to get an education, has started eaet In custody ot United States Marshal Shine. He will be taken to New York by the marshal and there delivered to Russian offl- i ceri, who will be sent to meet htm. Grin I la sKnilt 91 v.iri nf ffA VI idmlfi hi- guilt. MAY SALUTE0N SUNDAYS Called States Guaa Will Be Allowed to Boom Welcome Win Cour tesy Demaada. WASHINGTON, Dee. 22. Several amend ments have been made in the army regu lations for tbe firing ot salutes. I: Is pro vided that salutes may bo fired on Sunday whn required by International courtesy. An ex-prnldent of the United States shall receive a salute of twenty-one guns. The vice governor of the Philippines, an office which has been established since the rules were drawn. Is entitled to receive a salute ot seventeen guns, the same aa that received by the aealstaat secretary ot war. POLICE SEEK PRINCESS Wife of Saxony's Heir Mysteriously Disap pears from Austria. SEARCH IS MADE THROUGHOUT EUROPE Trace of Missing Woman, Who Is "aid to Have Vanished Because Illicit Lore Affair with , American Dentist. (Copyright, 1902. by Tress Publishing Co.) VIENNA, Dec. 22 (New York World Ca blegramSpecial Telegram.) The crown princess of Saxony, an Austrian archduch ess, left Dresden In great distress for Salz burg, where her parents live, owing to a love affair with an American dentist, the consequences of which are undeniable. Her parents, who have three young daughters still unmarried, disowned her and drove her from the castle. One of her four brothers took her part and accompa nied the crown princess. The Saxony crown prince refuses to hush up the ecan dal. All court festivities have been coun termanded. Court' Publishes Scandal. DRESDEN, Saxony, Dec. 22.-By order of the king and crown prince the court cir cular today announces the crown princess of Saxony fled from her home on the night of December 11. "In a state of Intense mental excitement sho suddenly deserted her ramlly at Salz burg and went abroad." says the official record. "The Saxon court functions for the winter, Including the New Year's reception, have been canceled." Rumors to this ef fect have been current for soma days, but have been generally discredited, but It is now known that she has vanished so com pletely that the police of every kingdom In Europe have for ten days been unable to trace her. The official announcement was made In order to obtain tbe aid of the gen eral public, and because the court Action that she preferred to remain In retirement at Salzburg rather than to return to her husband and children at Dresden cannot longer be maintained. Goea to Austrian Court. Accompanied by the crown prince, the princess went to the castle of Emperor Francis Joseph, near 8alzburg, a month ago. A week after their arrival the prince broke his leg while hunting and was brought back to Dresden. The princess, however, remained at the castle. Why she did so the people of the court did not know, ex cept that with gloomy tenacity the prin cess usually dees what she pleases. For a little while this explanation suf ficed, then fragments of gossip began to reach Dresden. It was said the princess had surrendered herself to periods of nervous excitement and that her eccentricities caused much concern to her suite and to some of her Austrian kinsfolk. It Is now believed that ahe was under surveillance, and her disap pearance Is therefore considered the more extraordinary. On December 11 the princess, who ap peared to be In an unusually tranquil mood, retired before 12. Three hours later, when a maid looked lato -the royal bedchamber, something In the appearance of the bed prompted her to go cloaer and examine It. Instead ot the princess the maid perceived a dummy figure. She awakened the lady In waiting and the latter, with other members of the princess' suite, searched all the neighboring apartments, then the entire caatlo, and finally the ground, but no trace of the missing woman was found. At dawn the police of Salzburg were In formed of the disappearance and inquiries were maae tnrougnout tho whole country side, but with no tangible result. The in quiry was gradually extended to all parts of the kingdom, and on authority from Dresden, by the end of the second day, to all Europe. The theory of suicide was sug gested and a fruitless search for the prin cess' body has been made without result. The disappearance of the princess doubt less will cause the circulation of many sto ries, and It is already reported that she eloped, but Inquiries made here have brought out nothing to substantiate this statement. Sny Jealousy Waa Cause. VIENNA. Doc. 22. It Is officially ex plained here that the princess disappear ance la due to mental derangement. There is little doubt that It waa caused by domes tic discord, growing out of her husband's relations with an actress of the Dresden court theater. It Is asserted that the prin cess frequently threatened flight on this account and that ahe was incensed at her father, the grand duke of Tuscany, for counseling her to forgive ber husband. It Is rumored here tonight that the prin cess was accompanied by the French tutor of her children. NO PANIC 0N THE SHIP Paaaena-era on Deutachland Deny the Sensational Reports Printed la London. PARIS, Dec. 22 Passengers on Deutach land. arriving here today, deny the sensa tional reports printed in London, alleging that there waa a panic on board that ship Saturday night. The facts are as follows: Shortly after midnight a tremendous, grating sound waa heard, like tbe racing of great acrewa. Comparatively few of the passengers were aroused by the nolje, many of them not knowing that anything bad occurred until the following morning. The officers anj crew did not display the slightest uneasiness, and there waa no In terruption of the ususl discipline. At no time waa there the alighteat panic or excitement among tho women or men. Within an hour, the ship wsj again under steam and Its arrival at Plymouth was only slightly delayed. SCHOOL GIRL ANNOYS KAISER Goes to Jail for Stamping- on Brooch Containing Emperor's Picture. BERLIN. Dec. 22. A Polish school girl named Kopec has been sentenced to four teen days' Imprisonment at Ioowazlau, province of Posen, for lese majecte, Id having stamped on a brooch contalnlrg Em peror William's picture. Such brooches were presented to "ths pupils when his majesty visited Posen. Drouth Affects Wool Traffic. SYDNEY. N. 8. V. Dec. 22. The serious effect of the drouth is shown by the wool traffic on the railroads of New South Wales for the current yesr, which Is only SK.Ooo bales, compared with 527,000 In lSul. General Miles at Port Arthur. FEK1N Dec. 22. The Russian offlciala at Port Arthur entertained General Miles on bis arrival there and are now sending hlia to Taku on board a cruiser. INSURANCE POLICY INVALID Estate at a Man llausred for Murdee Cannot Collect I'pon Ilia Life. WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. The question of the effptt of murder upon a life insurance policy, when Issued upon the life ot the murderer, was today passed upon by the United States supreme court in an opin ion delivered by Justice Brewer. The case in which tbe opinion wss delivered was that of M. Burt against the Union Central Life Insurance company. William E. Burt of Travis county, Texas, was the name ot the man Insured. His policy was made payable to his wife, Anna M. Burt, and In case of her death to her executors. During the following year Burt's wlfn died and he afterward was charged with ber murder and was found guilty and exe cuted. Afterward the estate made an effort to collect upon the policy, but tbe Insurance company resisted payment. The lower courts, Including the court at appeals for the Fifth circuit, sustained the position of the company, and today's opinion af firming the decision of the court ot ap peals holds the policy Invalid on the ground that to sanction payment under the circumstances would be contrary to public policy. HOUSE WILL PASS ON TREATY President Intends to Ask Enabling; Legislation When Senate Ratifies Cuban Reciprocity. WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. President Roose velt has let it be known that before he de cided to send the Cuban reciprocity treaty to the senate and not to the house, be con sulted the leaders of tbe house and the members of his cabinet. After mature con sideration it was determined that It was unnecessary to send the Cuan treaty to the house, notwithstanding the fact that It affected revenues of the government. Precedents were looked up carefully. It was found that previous reciprocity trea ties had been aent direct to the senate for ratification. This was notably true of the Newfoundland treaty, which waa regarded as being on all fours with the Cuban treaty, and no objection was ever raised to tbe consideration by the senate alone of that treaty. The president, however, Intends, when the Cuban treaty Is ratified by the senate, to send a message to both branches ot oongress recommending such legislation as will make It operative. This will afford the house full opportunity to approve the negotiations for reciprocity with Cuba. PRESIDENT RETURNS HOME Saya He Had Dellarhtful Outing; In 8 pita of tbe Incessant Rain. WASHINGTON. Dec 22. President Roosevelt and family arrived In Washington from Rapldan, Va., at 11:25 o'clock today. They were met at the station by Secretary Cortelyou and were driven directly to the White House. The trip bom Rapldan was made without noteworthy Incident. The president was lu. Vcxtvflaot- aptrlta and expressed himself as having bad a de lightful outing, notwithstanding the Inces sant rain of yesterday. President Roosevelt reached his office In the executive building about noon and began Immediately to dispose of official mat ters that had accumulated during his ab sence. He received only a few calls. The announcement waa made at the ex ecutive offices that between Christmas and New Year'a day the president would not make any appointments for receiving call ers, and that during that week he would have no regular office hours. He will spend as much time In the open air horseback and carriage riding aa his duties will permit. UPHOLDS THE PURE FOOD LAW Man Convicted of Manufacturing; Alum Baking; Powder Must Pay a Fine. WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. The United States supreme court today dismissed, the writ of error In the case of Whitney Lay ton against tbe state of Missouri on the ground that no federal question bad been raised in the trial court. The case Involved the constitutionality of the pure food law of the state and has attracted much attention. Layton, whoso place of business Is St. Louis, waa found guilty in the trial court of the use of alum In the manufacture of baking pow der and a fine of $100 was -assessed against him. The verdict wss affirmed by the state supreme court. The effect of today's opinion Is to leave the verdict against Layton stsndlng, but It did not enter upon any queation as to the merits of the case. The opinion was delivered by Chief Justice Fuller. FUNERAL OF GENERAL SWAYNE Remains of Former Governor of Ala bama Are Burled at Arlington with Military Honors. WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. The remains of General Swayne, a soldier, lawyer and only military governor ot Alabama, were burled with full military honors at the National cemetery at Arlington today. The body arrived here from New York at 7:30 o clock this morning and was es corted to St. John's Episcopal church by a large detaenment of troops. Tbe services at the church were brief and simple, consisting of tbs reading of the Eplacopal aervlce, prayer being held and singing by a male quartet. The casket was draped with the American flag and there were floral emblems from the Loyal Legion, Grand Army of the Re public and other patriotic organizations. The casket waa carried by six military men to the caisson. MEXICO SWALLOWS MUCH GOLD Americans Invest Five Hundred Mil lion Dollars la Last Five Years. ) WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 Five hundred million dollars In gold is the amount of American capital Invested in Mexico by 1,117 American companies and Individuals, according to estimates carefully prepared by the consul general at Mexico City. Practically all of this has been Invented within five yesrs. Seventy per cent of the total is Invested In railroads. Mines hsve consumed $. 000,000 and $28.. 000.000 Is Invested In agriculture. Manu facturing ranks fifth. Other enterprises Include banks, truit companies, electric light and power plants, gas and water works, telephone system and similar Industries. STATE IS AFTER ITS MONEY 8npreme Court Will Hear Cass of 8outh Dakota Against North Carolina. SENATOR DIETRICH STARTS FOR WEST Purchasers of Indian Heirship Lands to Maadamus Indian Department to Compel Isaaaace of Deeds. (From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON. Deo. 22 (Special Tele gram.) The original' cause of the state ot South Dakota against the state of North Carolina was today assigned for hearing In the supreme court on April 3, 1903. The case grows out of certain bonds originally guaranteed by the atate of North Carolina, which that state subsequently repudiated. a number of them having In some means come Into the possession of the state of South Dakota. Under former decisions of courts, where Individuals have sued the state of North Carolina to recover on the same class of bonds that South Dakota holds and seeks to secure payment. It has been held that the state could not be sued directly. South Dakota, however, being an equal sovereignty with North Carolina, can come Into the supreme court with a suit. The supreme court today affirmed with costs the decision of the supreme court ot Nebraska in the case of tbe Chicago, Bur lington ft Qulncy Railway Company against Kate O. Wolfe, which was argued In court last Wednesday. The points at Issue were fully set forth In The Bee when the caao was up for argument. Dietrich Starta Home. Senator Dietrich Is on his way to Ne braska and expects to reach Hastings on Wednesday. He stopped at Bryn Mawr, on his way west, to pay a short visit to his daughter. Land Buyers Are Anxlona. It Is understood that mandamus pro ceedings will shortly be Instituted to com pel the Interior department to take up and dispose of cases wherein private citizens have bought or agreed to buy from tho Indians so-called heirship lands. These transactions were made under rules pro mulgated by the Interior department. Later these rules were revised and then sus pended beforo deeds c relinquishment could be secured. Money was advanced In each and all cases and the suspension of the rules governing the sale of these lands. It Is alleged, meana the loss of consider able money to would-be purchasers. In view of the large number of Indian reser vations in the west It Is easily apparent how greatly the west Is Interested in this question. Omaha Men la City. Dr. S. R. Patton of Omaha Is in the city. W. J. Connell of Omaha Is In Washington on business before the court of claims. Routine of Departments. Postmasters appolted today: Iowa C. E. Davison, Little Rock, Lyon county, B. J. Fullenkamp, Overton, Lee county; Mellie Beavers, Woodland, Decatur county. South Dakota Rutherford H. Fulton, Avon, Bon homme county; ' Charles "W. Lyman,"TaI cottf Clark county; Thersa J. Boyd, Van dervoort, Clark county. A poetoffice has been established at Plum Creek, Kossuth county, la., with Jorgensen Johannsen as postmaster. Willis B. Newbold of Farmlnton, la has been admitted to practice before the Interior department. The comptroller of the currency has ap proved the First National bank of Omaha as a reserve agent for the First National bank of Osceola, Neb., and the Drovers' Deposit National bank of Chicago for the First National bank of Orange City, la. Ernest B. Bachellcr of Omaha and Alfred T. Allen of Perry, la., have been appointed stenographers and typewriters In tbe Inter state Commerce commission office. WILD ENGINE CREATES HAVOC Kills Two Men, Wrecks Two Freight Trains and Demolishes Four Engines. LIBERTY. Ind., Dec. 22. A helper engine on the Cincinnati, Hamilton ft Dayton railroad got beyond control today, made two wild runa between Connorsvllle and this place, wrecked two freight trains, de molished four engines, killed two men and Jnjured two othera Engineer Callahan of the helper ran to College grove, helping a freight. He was to take the switch east of Liberty. When he reached the awltch and attempted to reverse part of the machinery would not respond and the engine got beyond con trol. Near Liberty It collided with a freight. In some way the helper was reversed and started back, running through Liberty at the rate of seventy miles an hour. It dashed Into another freight which waa being hauled by two engines. Those killed In the collision were Mike Foley of In dianapolis, brakeman, and Rout Osborne of Connorsvllle, fireman on the helper en gine. VANDERBILT STILL IMPROVES Symptoms Continue Encouraging and There Is Xow Strong; Hopa of Hla Recovery. NEW YORK, Dec. 22. Though no au thoritative statement could be obtained aa to the condition of Cornelius Vanderbilt at 7 o'clock this morning, It waa said at tho house that tbe encouraging symptoms of the last two days had continued and that hope was strong for Mr. Vanderbllt's recovery. At 9:60 o'clock the physicians made public the following bulletin: Mr. Vanderbilt had a very restless night and la still seriously 111. His general condi tion and temperature remain about the same. Any alight change, perhaps, are on the side of Improvement. FLINT. JANE WAY. Dr. Delfleld said tonight: Mr. Vanderbilt is better, but Is a sick man. He will continue to be critically 111 for a week and Is not yet out of danger. The peritonitis however, has been entirely eliminated and I hi re is every reuson u believe that he will recover. CORNELL HEAD DUE IN OMAHA Dr. Scharman Will Speak In Western Cities During; Christmas Hecess. ITHACA. N. T., Dec. 22. Cornell uni versity closed its doors tor the Christmas recess today. Dr. Schurman will take a long western trip, speaking In Omaha, Lincoln. Chicago and St. Louis. The Cornell Musical clubs left today for their Christmas trip. They will appear In a dozen cities of the middle west. CONDITION OF THE WEATHER Forecast for Nchrnska Fslr and Warmer Tuesday; Wednesday I'rubnbly Snow. Temperature at Omaha Y'eaterdayt Hour. Den. ft a. m it. ' l a. m it 11 T a. m its K a. m , , , , . sin l a. ni lea 10 a. n it I 11 a. m 311 111 m at Hour. Hen-. 1 p. m. . . . . at 8 p. ni l 21 p. nt ..... . V J 4 p. m Hi ft p. ni ..... . set it p. m a T p. m sett N p. m SCO 0 p. ni ao WRECK IN SOUTH OMAHA YARDS Two Men fterlonsly Injared and Two Hnrllnsrton Knalnes Smashed I p. Two men seriously Injured, one engine lu tbe scrap pile and another one badly bat tered and out of service Is the net result ot a wreck In the Burlington yards at South Omaha yesterday evening. Switch engine 276. In charge of Engineer T. D. Helan, was at the top of the hill about 10 o'clock, when the throttle be came disconnected and the engineer could do nothing to control It, though he stayed at his post and made the effort. The wild engine came down the hill Into the yards at high speed and crashed Into switch en gine 172 at F street and Boulevard. The force of the Impact was terrific and both engines were badly smashed. 276 being practically a scrap heap and 172 so badly disabled that the shop force will have con siderable work putting It Into condition for service again. T. D. Helan, the engineer of the wild en gine, was badly hurt about the head and his face was burned by esrsplng steam. M. Hoops, fireman of 172, was severely scalded from the knees down and slightly hurt about the head. Both men were taken to the South Omaha hospital, where they were cared for. While their injuries are painful, neither of them are likely to die or bo permanently crip pled as a result. MONEY MAKES CURE EFFECTIVE Mental Doctor Claims Divine Powers, but Insists on Fee Being; Prepaid. DETROIT, Mich., Dec. 22. Doctors James M. Pebles, Walter T. Bobo and Charles M. Creenx of the People's Institute of Health, Battle Creek, Mich., were convicted In the United States district court here today of violating the postal laws. A thirty-day stay of proceedings will prevent Immediate sentence. The persons were charged with an at tempt to obtain money by fraud by means of advertisements of their mental "cure" sent by mall. During the trial Dr. Bobo said he believed Dr. Pebles had a healing power like that of Jesus, only that the doc tor's power was smaller, but admitted that a patient at a distance faithfully following Dr. Pebles' Instructions would derive no benefit It he had not prepaid the fee of $1. INDIANA CORN LAND FLOODED V baa It Ri-ver Rlnos Beyond Controlling- Banks nnd Sweeps Neighboring- Fields. EVANSVILLE, Ind., Dec. 22. The river remains stationary here at forty feet. It is expected to begin to recede before morn ing. Today at Troy, Ind., seventy miles above here, it w&s already falling rapidly. Farmers are getting ready to move back to the bottoms and by the last of the week It Is expected the river will be back In its natural channel. Reports of damage to corn and livestock are still coming In, al though the damage has not been as W avy as waa anticipated. The Wabash river la also rising and alarm Is felt by farmers living along that stream. Thousands ot acres of corn land are al ready flooded. MORGAN BUYS COAL LANDS Pays Eight Million Dollars for Ken tucky Fuel Deposits West of Green River. LOUISVILLE, Ky.. Dec. 22. Negotiations have practically been concluded whereby a syndicate, of which J. P. Morgan Is a director, will obtain control of all the coal mines and coal property west of Green river In Kentucky, except the mines owned by the St. Barnard Coal company. Tho consideration ia $8,000,000. Jchn Hendrlck, formerly attorney gen eral of Kentucky, was the agent through whom the negotiations were conducted. The agents of the syndicate have also made efforts to get control of coal prop erty In other parts of the state, but ao far as Is known have not purchased any. DOCTOR SHOOTS YOUNG GIRL Fires Ona Through Bedroom Win dow and Must Go to Jail. McPHERSON. Kan.. Dec. 22. Dr. Rvnn the aged farmer charged with shontlnv Miss Maude Holmes, aged 18, waa found guilty in the crlmtnal court here today. On the evening of July 6 Miss Holmes was preparing to retire, when she was struck with the full charge of a shotgun. fired through her bedroom window. She wss dangerously, but not seriously, wounded. For weeks Miss Holmes had received anonymous letters, of which Dr. Ryno was believed to be the writer. The letter led to his arrest and formed the basis of the prosecution. GIRL'S MIND WILL BE BLANK Anna Peck of Kew York I'neonacloua as Result of Accident on Railroad. PHELPS, N. Y.," Dec. 22. For a month Miss Anna Peck has been unconscious and her physicians think that if she ever re gules consciouanebs her mind will be a blank. Miss Peck and her sister, Mrs. Van Huy sen, were struck by a New York Central train at Oaka Qprners last month and the girl's condition is the result ot the Injury she received. Mrs. Van Huysen Is also In a dangerous condition. Movements of Ocean traaels Dec. 22. At Hr-m-n Arrived: Kron I'rinx Wll-hi-lm. from New York via I'lyrnouth and Cherbourg. At Plymouth Balled: tiraf Walderstre, frum Ilamliura. for New York. At I Iverp'iul Arrived: (icorglc, from New York: I'nibrla, from New York. At Napl.-a Arrived: Phoenicia, from New York. Sailed. Palalla, for Ni-w York. At OlanKow SalltU; TrltonU, for 8t. Juhn, M. 1. STILL AWAITS REPLY President Has No Answer to Bequest that Hague Arbitrate, OFFICIALLY HE IS NOT ASKED TO ACT Formal Notes Suggesting Roosevelt at Mediator Now on Way, BLOCKADE TO CONTINUE TILL DECISION Ships Will Not Be Called Off Unless Arbi tration Details Are Arranged. WAR FINALLY DECLARED WITH VENEZUELA Uovernor of Trinidad Issues Royal De. cree Announcing that Hostilities Have Actually Begun Against South American Republlo. (Copyright. 19"2. by Press Publishing Co.) CARACAS. I)c. 22. (New York World Cablegram Special Telegram.) Two more Venezuelan gunboats have been found and selxed by the blockading fleet on the gulf of Parla. They were taaen to the British Island of Trinidad by the English sloop of war Alert. WASHINGTON. Dec. 22. President Roosevelt has not accepted the position of arbitrator of the Venezuelan controversy. In fact, when tho official day closed he had not formally received sny request from the European powers to do so. In an informal manner the president has been notified that the European powers In timately concerned In the present South American difficulty desire that he should undertake the responsibility of arbitrating the points at issue. Thus far they merely have been taking "soundings," with a view, probably, of ascertaining bow he would re ceive a formal proffer. Roosevelt Confers with Hay. The president and Secretary Hay had a long conference today. They went care fully over the situation as It had developed since Saturday, but It is understood that nothing arose during the past .forty-eight hours to warrant the president in chang ing his opinion. So far as can be learned no specific reasons have been advanced by tho European powers for objecting to Tho Hague tribunal. It Is hold by the admin istration that The Hague court was consti tuted to arbitrate Just such controversies as that which has arisen between Venez uela and the powers and that It would be desirable from every point of. view that the present dispute should go to that tri bunal for adjudication. The acceptance by the powers of tho principle of arbitration Is a matter of great gratification to the president and his cabinet. That all the powers have Inti mated, too, that they would prefer the president to act la taken as a notable com pliment to the president personally and to his administration. ; While it Is recoanlzed hr bis closest ad. visors-ana ry the president himself that some unpleasant possibilities might at tend his performance of tbe duties, bia friends assert that he will shirk no respon sibility that be may deem it hla duty to undertake. Opinion varies as to the termination ot the blockade of the Venexuelan porta. In some quarters It Is assured that It Presi dent Roosevelt accepts the duty ot arbi trator the allies will call oft the blookada at once. On the other band, It Is pointed out that custom requires tbe terms ot tbe arbitra tion to be accurately defined, and this will consume some time, pending which the blockade will continue. Blockade Goes lato Ettect. Tbe following cable has been recclied from Commander Diehl of Marietta, which lies at La Guayra. The message comes by way of Haytl and is dated yesterday: The British vice admiral established an effective blockade from and after Decem ber 20 of La Guayra, Carnerno, Quanta, Cumana, Qarupano and the mouth of the Orinoco. Vesseis sailing from the United States and West Indies before date of notification were allowed grace steamera, ten days; sailing vessels, twenty days. Other ports: Steamers, twenty days: sail ing vessels, forty days; veesels In blockaded ports, fifteen days. Full text. If desired. Ambassador Tower has notified tbe State department from Berlin that he has re ceived official notification from the Ger man government that the German squad ron has blockaded Maracalbo and Puerto Cabello, effective December 20. Lieutenant Marbury Johnson, the officer detailed by Admiral Dewey to go to tho relief of Minister Bowen at Caracas, haa advised the Navy department of hla ar rival there. It Is .ulte evident from the developments here .iat Germany Is the originator and promoter of the suggestion that President Roosevelt act as tbe arbitrator. Great Britain and Italy, It Is believed, Inclined toward arbitration by The Hague tribunal, but of course they would not Indicate any preference officially In the matter If Presi dent Roosevelt gave the faintest Intimation f accepting tbe charge. Indeed, officially, the allies stand on record as supporting the German lead in this matter. Advices have been received here from Rome that the former Italian minister at Caracas, Mr. Riva, will return to Italy at once and that Bnron Allottl, who waa formerly attached to the Italian embassy here, will remain on board tha Italian war ship Giovanni and In the event of a re newal ot diplomatic negotiations between Italy and Venezuela will become charge d'affaires. Secretary Hay was Informed of this fact today by Slg. Mayor Deaplsnches, the Italian ambassador. Baron Allottl made many friends during his stay in Washing ton and is regarded thoroughly competeut for bis new charge. Blockade Will Continue. BERLIN, Dec. 22. The blockade ot tha Venezuelan coast will continue until a defi nite arrangement for arbitration has been reached. Germany will be satisfied It President Roosevelt undertakes the task. His acceptance would be considered a suf ficient guarantee that Venezuela would pay if It lost. The blockade of the Venexuelan coast will continue until a definite arrangement for arbitration has ben reached. Ger many will be satisfied If President Roose velt undertakes the task. His acceptance would be considered a sufficient guarantee that Venezuela would pay If It lost. Asking President Roosevelt to arbitrate was the emperor's suggestion. An In direct Inquiry, three or four days ago, aot eliciting a refuaal from the president, a request has now been made In direct form. Although Germany Is ready to submit It case to any Impartial tribunal, it would prefer President Roosevelt for the reason that Prevldent Cajtro ts more likely to accept the decision of tbe president of tha