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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1908)
The Omaha Daily Bee 7 VOL. XXXVII NO. 275. OMAHA, MONDAY MOKNJNO, MAY 4, 108. SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS. A WHEN ROYALTY WEDS Favored Few Witness Ceremony and Crowds Surround Palace. SWEDEN AND RUSSIA JOINED First Marriage in History Between Members of These Royal Families. CEREMONY A BRILLIANT ONE Booming of Cannon Announces Approach of Bridal Farty. DAY COLD AND CHEERLESS ONE In Spite ef ThU Great (wwi Stands lint In Storm tn Catch a (illnsw of Xotehlrs la Attendance. ST riiTKRSBl'RG. May 3 -Prinn. J helm uf Swrde.1, second Ion 01 Ivmgv, ave. th popular sailor prince, who lUil America In IWi, was married afternoon to Grand Dueling Marie F& llovna, toui-ln of the emperor ot Ritss. 'nl daughter uf Orand Duke Alexandre itili. The ceremony took place at Tssrskoe Siio and waft accompanied by all the pomp unci hillllanl display characterise of the most stately court in Europe. The day tan marred by frequent heavy falls of aiiow. which, however, failed to chill the enthusiasm of the great crowds that gath ered around the palace to catch a glimpe of i the emperor and other royal personage ii ml the arriving guests. The crowd stoid for lioiiri Ih the bleak and muddy pala-e square until the conclusion of the c re ninny. In the evening a treat state banquet was nerved, at which toaets were drunk to Hie good understanding between Sweden ifid rtussla recently reached In the Baltic agreement, to which today's wedding th i titst In modern times between tha ruling hxiifes of the countries puta tho seal. 'I'lie beginning of tho nuptial ceremonies iw's announced by the flrlpg of five guns dmultaneouely at o'clock this morning 1. the battery at Tsarkoe-Belo and by the fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul In St. Petersburg. This wn bnt the begin ning of the noisy acclamation, for the thun der of salutes was -heard almost uninter ruptedly throughout the afternoon and evening. . . ftw See Cere tunny. The wedding guests who took part In the ceremony assembled at. 2:30 o'clock In the afternoon at the ' great palace at Tsarskoe-Sdo. I my Premier Stolypln, the members of the cabinet, the president of tho Dunns mihI the president of the council of state, tin' principal ambassadors to Rus tic and their wives and a few of the high lit dl-si l.uites of the phiplre found pluco In the small blue and gold chapel of the palace whcie the orthodox ceremony was pe funded. The other guests were sta tioned, according to their ' rank, In the vitom t.-ilons -through which the bridal pi neesflun passed." The rjblng ot the bride waa performed In accord ince with court custom. In the pri vate, courts of the empress. She was dressed by the empress and -the dowager empress, assisted by their maids ot honor and the ladies In waiting. The bride wore on her head a Jeweled diadem, and from her shoulders hung a long-trained mantle of strawberry, velvet lined with ermine. In the procession I tie train of this gar ment wss borne by five court chamberlains. As soon as the bride had beenj completely in ranged Prince Wilhelm was notified by the master of ceremonies and conducted to th-i inner apartments, where the grand ouches Marie was ewaiting. A salute of twenty-one guns and a blare of trumpets announced the start of the pioeesnlon. At Its head came the dowager empress, the emperor of Russia escorting; yueei. Olga of Greece; the empress, es corted by the grand duke of Hesse; Crown Frli tv Ferdinand and Crown Princess Mario of Roumanla. attended by the court ushers and marshals and other functionaries. All Bet Twa of Family Present. Tin n, arm In arm, came the bridal pair. Behind the young couplo marched Prince Nichols and Prince Andrew of Greece and their wives, prince Christopher of Greece ami Prince Carl of Sweden and lila wife. Tin- guchts from foreign courts Were fol lowed -by more than a score of Russian Brand dukes and grand duchesses. Including the oldest three daughters of Emperor Nicholas, Grand Duchess Olga, Grand Ductus. Tatiarla and Grand Duchess Marie, the eldest being l'J ears old. This was the first time the emperor's daughters have appeared In slate. The little crown prince, who Is too young to be present, and Grand Duke Nicholas Nlcholaievlleb, president' ot Hie commission of national defense, who has been summoned to the Caucasus because ot the war cloud on the Turkish frontier, were the only members of the Imperial family consplcous by their absence. Tlie grand duchesses, like all the Invited women, wore the picturesque Russian court costume of high pearl-encircled capa and low-cot dresses. The tiipcrlal guests were received at the elm pet doors by the metropolitan ot the court and a number of priests. After the tmpeie-r had been blessed and sprinkled with holy water, he conducted the bridal pair to the dais before the great golden sates of the high altar. The wedding rings wire brougnt from the altar on golden ml wis and placed upon the fingers of the l i hie and the bridegroom by the emperor's ioi Xifi r Don bin Ceremony. i ... nicp'opolitro then completed the t u el' the Russian man lege Service, two i. l : bride's nearest relatives holding i... -in vvtr the heads ot the bridal pair lu. nj the ceremony. While the Te Deum i., ot.ng chanted an Imperial salute ot i . as fired. The procession then i Kit tj one of the ante-aalons, where t r . ul e tan mjrriug.' ceremony waa per l. i.. i l.y (lie Swedish bishop of Lund. ...j . lo .fcht the afternoon program to an Hit nuptial dinner was served at 7:30 o i lock In the evening. Chamberlain and tiiillioitn of the court stood behind the 1 1. airs .of the Imperial' and royal guests and presented the various dishes to them. 'loakts were drunk to the emperor and em- pi ess of Russia, to the bridal pair and to t.ieir ennuis, to the Imperial family and tj ll ell loyal Russian subjects Alter tli diuiier the members of the im lerial tm.uh end their royal guests par tkipafnl in a polonaise. This stately pro gress around the great reception hall had tCootlnueU on Second Page.) BIG GATHERING OF CHURCHMEN General Assembly ot the Tresby Kaasaa City. KANSAS CITr. May 3.-By far the most Important religious convention ever held In this city will begin on Thursday, May 21, when the one hundied and twentieth gen eral assembly of the Presbyterian churih of the l.'nit-d States will convene In con vention hall and be In session until June 1. ThTs general convocation of the Presby terians will be the annual meeting; of the church and the sccnnil reunion assembly since the consolidation of the Presbyterian J and Cumberland Presbyterian churches. ' The consolidated churches now have 1,XV members. Tho general assemble Is a representative body, composed of Son regularly elected commlxMoners, b sides rrcretar'es of boards. i foreign missionaries, college presidents nnd other members of the Presbyterian church. Many ministers and business men from all United States are expected to at sssembly. One-half of the riele- th assembly will be laymen. s all over the country are now lr commissioners. fore the meeting of tho gn- of the rr.'shytcrian church, Aferenece of the church Is to Second Presbyterian church h'lie conference Is to be at j presidents of all the rresby th' and universities In the , t.f which there are sixty. , who will take part In the ."1ons will be Dr. J. C. Baer, presl- oent of the synodleal rollrge of the stHte of California; Dr. S. T. Wilson, president of the synodical college ot Tennessee of Maiysvllle, Tenn., and Dr. I.. K. ltolden, president of Wooster university of Ohio. On May 24 a mass meeting will be held. In convention hall to discuss the relation of the churches and labor. Among Hie distinguished speakers at that meeting will be Rev. Charles O. Stelsel, head of th" de partment of labor of tho Presbyterian church In the I'nlted States, and John R. Iennon, treasurer of the American Fc'c ation of Labor. SENATOR BAILEY WINS FIGHT OH Combine Attorney Will Head) Texas Delegation to Denver j Convent Ion. DALLAS, Tex., May t After probably the most spectacular campaign known In the political history of tho southwest, dating from March 28 and ending last night, partial returna from the democratic primaries, held throughout the state today to name aVlc.- gates-at-largn to the national convention, 146 of the 245 counties reporting Indicates that the ticket headed by United States Senator Joseph W. liulley has received a majority of from 15.000 to 20.000 votes. Followlrx tho charges and subsequent In vestigation ot the alleged connection ot Senator Bailey with tho Watera-Plerce Oil company and other concerns before the state legislature, which resulted in the dis charge ot tho committee of the senate be fore a decision was reached and Senator Bailey being exonerated by the lower house,' special Interest was lent In today'a election from the fact that the result carries approval or disapproval of the sena tor by the voters of the slaia. , In a speech during the Investigation Senator Batley promised unrelenting warfare against his political opponents and It la said to have been this speech. In which he also declared that rxine ot his opponents should attend the next national democratic convention, that caused the f.'ght this spring. The ticket probably chosen is: Delegates Joseph W. Bailey ot Gainesville. M. M. Brooks of Dallas, James T. Story of Lock hart and Andrew R. Baker ot San Algeo. Alternates B. F. Looncy of Greenville, J. R. Kubcna ot Faycttesville, J. R, Bowman of Aniarlllv and C. L. Brachficld of Hender son. Mr. Bailey's chief opponent In t lie fight waa Cone Johnson, a prominent lawyer of Tyler, Tex. GOVERNOR FINDS OLD FRIENDS I'ornier Residents of Nebraska tilve the Toarlsts a Picnic at Long Beach, LONG BEACH, Cal., May 8 lSp?rlul Te e- gram.V Almost 2,000 former residents of Ne braska gathered In Long Beach yesterday for the annual picnic of the Nebraska so ciety of Loa Angeles. The feature of the occasion waa the visit of Governor Shel don, his staff and a big party from that state. A meeting was held In the Audl toilum Immediately after the arrival of the distinguished visitors, at which num erous speakers toasted Nebraska and tho state of their adoption, California, and showered greetings on Governor Sheldon and his officials. The reception and exercises were con ducted by Judge W. I.. Morris of Los An geles, president ot the society, and M. M. Davidson, secretary. Mayor Windham and J. A. Miller, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the guests In behalf of Long Beach. 'Addroases were delivered by Messrs.' Richardson, Smyscr, Ludden, Senator McKesson and Governor Sheldon. A quartet of women from the Long Beach Nebraska society tang several selections and the municipal band furnished Inspiring pat riot lo music. Governor Sheldon and staff will be the guests of the Pasadena Board of Trade Monday. They will be met at 10 a. m. with automobiles on their arrival from Los Angeles and ahown the beauties of the city. All former residents of Nebraska have been Invited to meet the guests Informally at the Hotel Maryland. RELEASE ALLEGED MURDERERS Men Charge with Kilting gserlnl Agent Walker Konaa Net Gallty. DCRANGO, Colo., May S.-At 8:35 tonight the Jury In the case of Joseph Vandet waide and William Maison, charged wltn killing Vnited aUatca Special Agent Walker near Hesperus, a tew miles from here, November S last, brought In a verdict of not guilty. Both men were Immediately rearrested by United States Marshal Thomas Clark on a federal grand Jury war. rant charging them with conspiracy to murder Walker. It la understood their bonds will be fixed at 120.000 each. MOTZatzim or ocxAjr krrzAifsxiPs. Port. NKW YORK,. NKW YOMK NKW lOKK., NKW YORK.. NKW YOH K . . NKW YORK.. NKW YOKK.. PI.VMOITH .. llinml.TKH . AiTl4. Batted. PhtUdlphlt Calodoni .. KrousUud Konis Albert ..Pratidem lir.ot . Canoanla .. Crtiiflia Columbia , Amartka . ...su Paul ...Moltk ...(otic ...fmrlr ...Kuvnlfla Luim I.lVIHPtMll, . LIVKHPUUL, . liKNo ROTTKBOAM ftUureunlA biAlradam . Noordsn Huatoman IMrvntais Stw un MANI'IIF.ATBH til.ASOOW SuLTUAMPTOS. ..... V V V OLD FASHIONED FLOWER BED Posies Familiar Generations' Ago Seen at the White House. MRS. ROOSEVELT RESPONSIBLE Officials of Geological Sarvey Investi gating the Waste of Coal la Mining In (he Inlted Plates. CFrom a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON, May 3. (Special.) -Among the popular books a few years ago was one entitled "The Garden of Elisa beth." But while Elisabeth's garden had great attractions for the readers of popu lar works It had no such attraction as that of Edith (If one may be forgiven for using the Christian name of the first lady In a. newspaper sory). Mrs. Roosevelt's garden, or rather gardens, for there are two of them, Is of the old-fashioned variety. The one which the general public sees every day is a narrow bed In the lawn In front of the White House, within a few feet of the Pennsylvania avenue fence. In this narrow patch of earth there were planted several years ago. at the sugges tion of Mrs. Roosevelt, samples of about all of the varieties of the old-fashioned flowers so dear to our grandmothers. Bleeding hearts have been In bloom for the last three weeks. Peonies are In full bud at the present moment and within ten days or two weeks from now there will be a riot of color when the hrlillHnt reds, pinks and whites of these gorgeous flowers will be In full bloom of their attractiveness. Cilll flowers. suttoiiwood, often designated as "old man." are to be seen side by Ride with phloxes, marigolds and sweet William, while a border of sweet alyssum and Eng lish daisies will come along later. The-e are clove pinks and stocks, heartsease, wall flowers and bachelor buttons, ragged robins and mignonette and a score of other varieties. Later these, as they die ofr. lll be replaced with geraniums, verbenas, zenias and petunias, while the reason will ilesc In this particular garden with the blossoms of the chrysanthemum and cosmos. Mrs. Roosevelt's old-fashioned garden has been tho feature of the White House grounds for several years. No occupant of the White House before her time ever seemed to reallxe how much satisfaction this official display of the favorites of her girlhood days gives to the visitor who re members something besides American beauties and orchids, and It is safe to say that no garden in Washington ever at tracted half of the encomluinB, especially from tho older visitors, as have been heaped upon the garden In front of the White House. , Waste In Mining. Officials of the I'nlted States geological survey who are studying the fuel problem make the statement that 30O.OO0.OnO tons of coal, enough to supply the needs of the country for six months, are being wasted every year In the Vnited States through Improper mining methods. This waste rep resents a loss of more than $300,on0,000, for the coal Is worfti t least $1 a ton. "In our Investigations we find that in the mining operations of this country rwarly one-half of the . total coal supply is left underground." said Mr. J. A. Holmes, chief of the technical brnch. "This coal Is left as pillars to support the roof of the mine or because it is of Inferior quality, only the best part of the coal being removed from many beds. The waste Is also due to the fact that the working out of the lower beda of coal first In some cases breaka and renders impracticable the subsequent min ing of the adjacent higher coal beds. "We are skimming the cream of the natural resources of the country. We are using the best and cheapest of our supplies. Each of the succeeding generations will obtain lis needed general supply, but each will pay higher prices for the reason that owing to the Increasing depth mining will be continually more expensive and more dangerous. It Is believed that an increasingly large part of this waste Is preventable. In most European coal producing countries coal waste has been reduced to a minimum by the Introduction of Improved methods of mining. In Vancouver, B. C I am told, 98 per cent of the coal la mined." The technologic branch of the geological survey Is now engaged In investigations looking toward a reduction of the waste in mining operations and also to a better utll- iiatlon of the coal that Is mined. The suc cess of the government in the lutter field is told In a bulletin Just Issued on the work of the United States fuel testing; plant at St. Ixiuis, Mo. Coals from all over the country were tested in the steam engine and gas engine In older to determine their efficiency. The resulta with the gas engine were extremely gratifying. The actual fig ures for the average from all coals were 1.57 pounds of coal burned to produce one horse-power for an hour In the gas engine, and 4.45 pounds In the steam engine. The best coal us;d produced a horse-power per hour In the gas engine for less than one pound of coal, while the steam engine used 2.41 pounds, or 2.43 times as much as the gas engine. CATCH SUPPOSED HOLDUP MEN Three Different Parties Are Bcatra and Hobbd Daring the Evening. The police last night caught two thought (o be of a party of four young men who slugged ami robbed men at three different times during the night. One man was robbed nesr the Young Men's Christian as sociation building and another near the Karbach hotel. The third effort waa at Sixteenth and Howard streets, where John Kemmerliiig waa slugged and robbed of a watch. He was pretty badly bruised by the thugs, who ran west on Howard street. John Saxton. a young fellow, was caught near the scene of the holdup and Ernest Duncan, aged about 1. was captured near the new Young Women's Christian asso ciation building, where he had fallen Into a cistern and severely Injured hla back. Officers Sawyer and Under made the cap ture. The police are' confident the two men under arrest are two of the robbers and they are on the trail of the other two. BERT TAYLOR IS LOCATED k ...n.t ml Girls nt Mlndea Suld te ; Be Hiding la Cave Near Atlanta. LINCOLN, Neb.. May 3. Late last night the police officials of Lincoln received a message from Holdrege saying that Bert Taylor, assailant of the two girls at Mmden, bad been located near the town of Atlanta , and asking that bloodhounds be sent out on a morning train. Taylor, the message aaid. waa hiding tn a canyon where he had been chased. INDEPENDENCE PARTY MEETS W. II. Ilea rot Heads ftr York Dele gation tn 'ntlnal Con vent I o n . NEW YORK. May S.-Delegstes to the number of 4.V to the New York convention of the Independence party met Inst night Carnegie hall and selected fuur d"egntes-at-large end alternates to the national con vention of the Independence party to be held In Chicago some time In July. There were no contests and the proceedings of the convention which Was r;ot called to order until 9 o'clock tnnlfft.t, were con ducted harmoniously and with much en thusiasm. William R. Hearst, who was elected permanent chalrmsn, In a speech declsred against any further fusion with either party. Mr. Hearst wss accorded a great ovation by the delegates and hun dreds of spectators who filled the boxes and galleries to overflowing. An adjournment was then taken In order to permit the committees to take tip th 'lr work, while John Templo Graves and other speakers addressed lite delegates. The platform adopted by the convention was a reaffirmation of the declaration of principles promulgated at the national con ference of tho Independence party In Chi cago last February. The platform In structed the delegates to the Chicago con vention to nominate absolutely independent of all othor political parties candidates for president and vice president of the United States. The delegates-at-larEe selected by the convention to attend the .Chleitgo conven tion were William R. Hearst of New York. H. A. Powell of Brooklyn, A C. Auell of Bufialo and Reuben Lyo.i ot Hath. FOUND DEAD BY ROADSIDE Indications that Life Had Keen Ex tinct for a Cunple nt Dnys nt Least. ' The body of an unknown msn was found about 3 o'clock 'Saturday afternoon lying Just outside of the Country club grounds near Fifty-fourth and Hamilton streets, by a number of caddie boys, who at first thought that the man was asleep. Fnrthet Investigation proved that the man was dead and the coroner was notified. From all Indications it was evident that he had been dead two days or more, and n post-mortem examination conducted by the coroner's physician,' Dr. Lavender, dis closed the fact that he had died from natural causes. He was apparently about 46 years old and was dressed in the garb of an ordinary la borer. In a memorandum book found In his pocket was the name of Christ Jorgen son, 123 Benson, but up to an early hour this morning his identity could not be learned. POLICEMAN FATALLY SHOT Drother Officer Shoots and Herlonsly Wounds Ilia Assailant In Erie . Freight Yards. TOLEDO, O., May 3. Sergeant Jtimes Boyle of the local police force Is fatally shot and a man named Bochtel Is shot through the groin as the result of a dis turbance here early this mbrning. Btyl?, In company with Officer A. L. Jackson. saw Bechtel, George Rogers and John Mack k. acting suspiciously. , t the Erie lit yards. They had eff'ted an aiVest frelgl and were handcuffing Rogers and Ma.it when Bechtel, with his hands In his coat pocket, shot without drawing his revolver and then ran. Boyle was struek In the ab domen and his death ' Is but a matter of hours. Officer Jackson fired four times at Bech tel. the fourth shot taking effect. He man aged to escape, however, and wits not ar rested until an hour later. New Point tn License Voting. SIOUX FALLS. S. D May 3 i Spool tU The courts may b called upon to determ ine a novel point which has Just been ralBed at Beresford In reference lo what cnnstl tutes a mojority vote when the question of granting licenses for saloons is voted iipitn. At the recent annuel municipal election at Beresford H8 votes were cast in favor of licenses, whl'e 144 votes were cast against the proposition. This on the face of it Is a majority of four votes in favor of li cense. Further Invent igatlon proves, how ever, that while the total vote on the liquor question amounted to 292 votes and those cast for the office of mayor aggregated 2S8 votes, there were registered on the poll books a total of 296 votes. The state law governing the granting of licenses for saloons states that where a ma jority of voters at a regularly called mu nicipal election shall declare in favor of license, the city or town council shall grant the license. It has been held in court de cisions that If a majority la not securnd In favor of license the town or city In which the vote Is taken goes "dry." Burglars (lean Out Stock. PIERRE. S. D.. May 3. (Special Tele gram.) Burglars last, night entered the grocery store of IS. F. Gifford and stole the stock , of cigars and candy beitides breaking open a money drawer and scat tering papers generally over the room. All the Saturday evening receipts had been tuken home by the proprietor and no cash was secured. HOW TO VOTE ON BONO PROPOSITIONS QUESTION 1 ball the county of Douglas issue 1,000,000 bonds to erect new court bouse and Jail YES. ...HI NO,...,"! QUESTION 2 Shall the city of Omaha issue $50,000 bonds tor paring- ktrest iuter sectioBst r i YES....LH NO....Q QUESTION 3 hall the city of Omaha issue $60,000 bonds for ttnptovtng parks and booievardst YES. ...HI NO....O SPECIAL ELECTION TUESDAY, MAY 5 rolls open a. m. to p. ai. CRIST OF STATE POLITICS Edgar Howard is Considering Enter ing Congressional Race. FRIENDS SAT IT IS A DUTY CALL Trnnhle Threatened ln Several Legis lative Districts Over Varrrlttea Hale for Rotation Between the Varlona Counties. While national politics sees in a quies cent condition In Nebraska there Is some discussion already started about candi dates coming before the primary next Sep tember In different districts. Up in the Third district a contest appears to be Immi nent among the democrats for the ptlvilegc of going up against Congresjmm Boyd, who is reasonably certain ot rcnomlnatlon on the republican side. Stato Senator J. P. Latta of Tekamah has formally announced his candidacy in a signed card which he has sent to all the fusion nepspapers In the district, accom panied ly S and a moder.t recital of his qualifications and personal history. Senator Latta lays particular stress on the fact that he Is a farmer, taking in the Income of 2,E00 acres of good lsnd which will mske lilm a safer financial venture In politics than the last demoertttlc nominee, but he cureftilly avoids stating that he Is better known as a banker and has an additional Income from his banking Interests. It is not certain, however, that Itta will win the democratic nomination hands down beCHtisn Judge Edgar Howard of the Colum bus Telegram Is being strenuously urged by his friends to tako the nomination himself and will take It If he goes after it. Ed itor Howard has not yet mado his definite answer, although he Is acknowledging all the complimentary things Ills brother edi tors are saying about him. Because Judge Howard declared some months ago that ho did not expect to be a candidate and that he was for McKllllp to hnvo another try. Senator Lntta's friends are trying to per suade him that he ought not to run now, although subsequent events have com pletely eliminated McKllllp from tho polit ical map. Judge Howard's friends insist that It Is a call to duty for him to get Into the game and that Latta will not be within flagging distance when Howard comes over the line at the primaries. The suggestion of eliglbles for the lecils lnture, both senate and house, is bringing rut the postdblllty of a revolution of estah lifihed precedent as a consequence of the new system of nomination by direct vote. In most of the representative and sena torial districts, consisting of more than one county, tho' custom has been to rolate the candidate, so that be shall bo supplied eneh time by a different county. Several present Incumbents are said to have their light ning rods up In defiance of the rule of rotation and with the advantage they en Joy from having gone before the peopli last time and standing upon their public records they seem to be In fair position to hold on notwithstanding the threats of trouble likely to follow rejection of this unwritten law. . ' The St. Paul Republican is hnvlng all kind:( of Y,mSvlth Populist State Chairman Manuel, who bolted tliu populist conven tion at St. Louis because it refused to take up Bryan and preferred to stick to Tom Watson. The Republican Is pulling the back files of Kdltor Manuel's paper on lilm to show how he. lauded Watson four years ago and lambasted Bryan, for sup porting Parker. Colonel Bryan Is scheduled for a. series of political speeches In northeast Nebraska the latter part of this month, "lust to g"t acquainted" with the people of his own state, so It Is explained.. Inasmuch as Mr. Bryan already has the Nebraska delega tlon to Denver sewed up In a bag and properly labeled, thn only other explanation is that he wants to counteract tho effect of the machinations of Governor Johnson In that part of the state nearest to tha Minnesotan's bailiwick. RHVAV Tl'RNS DOWX NOM I X ATIOX Nebraska a Does Not Desire to Ran on I'nlted Christian Platform. DAVENPORT, la., May 3. (Special.) William Jennings Bryan declined the crt.wn, as tendered hlir. by the United Christian party, which held lis national convention here last week. It has devel oped since the convention that Mr. Bryan was sounded by letter as to, whether or not ho would accept a nomination at the hands ef the party. Evidently It looked like a thorny ' crown to Mr. Bryan, for he de clined the tender, and the convention nom inated Rev. Daniel Braxton Turney of De catur, 111. Two Interesting letters from Mr. Bryan to W. R. Benkert. national chair man or tho United Christian party, were read to the convention, as follows: LINCOLN. Neb., March . WW. Mr. W. B Benkert. Davenport, la. Dear Sin Your favor at hand. If I am a candidate at all. I shall be the candidate of the dem ocratic party and my platform will be the plat form adopted at Denver. If your con vention, or any other convention, sees fit to endorse, It ought to be held after the democratic convention. While I bellve In the application of Christian principles to public, questions. I am not put under re Unions tests, and would not accept a nom ination from anyVarty which required re ligious tests. Very truly yours, 9 W. J. BRYAN. In response to a subsequent letter Mr. Bryan wrote: LINCOLN. Neb.. March 1. 1903-Mr. W. R. Benkert, Davenport. la. Dear Sir: I do not care to add anything to what I have already said. So far as platforms are con cerned, I shall be bound by the democratic platform In all matters covered by it. Wherever It is silent, I shall he governed by mv own Judgment. I shsll make no piedges publicly or privately beyond that. One must Judge from my life and my siieeches what my views may be on other questions. Very truly yours. W. J. BRYAN. So the convention looked elsewhere for a nomlpee, and the choice fell on the Decatur nominee. PARMENTER GOES TO OREGON Old Soldier Charged with Bigamy Waives neqalaltlon and Goes with sheriff. Deputy 8hcriff Hammond of Eugene. Ore., left Sunday with David B. Parmenter, the old aoldier, who is under indictment at Eugene for bigamy. Just before they left word was received from Grand Island that Parmenter's son, L. D. Parmenter, who was burned by the explosion of a lamp there some time ago, was In a serious con dition and would not be able to see bis father. The old gentleman insisted on s'opping at Grand Island, however, and Deputy Sheriff Hammond promised to give lilm an opportunity unless the hospital rules fur bade. It was under a promise to allow him to stop that Parnnnty waa Induced to wivc requisition. FUNERAL OF NICHOLAS MERGEN former Member of General Thayer's Heglntrnt Bnrled la South Omnia, Another pioneer of the earliest days in Omaha was Isld at rest esterday when the funeral of Nicholas Mcrgen wss held. Mr. Mergen was a member of the old First Nebraska volunteer Infantry. General Thayer's regiment, and served throughout the war. He was a msrket gardner In Omaha for thirty years following that, and since Ms retirement twelve years ago had lived tn Omaha. Funeral services were held nt 3 p. tn. yesterday at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic church. Nineteenth and Dodge streets. Rev. Father Slnne officiating. The attendance waa large. Rurlal was In St. Mary's cemetery. South Omaha. Reynolds R. Over. Jr., 1314 South Twenty eighth street, a high school student, wss found dead In his bed Sunday morning and gas escaping from a wide-open Jet In the room showed that asphyxiation was the cause of death. After studying all Saturday evening, the boy retired alsittt 10:,7) o'clock. Nothing was suspected to be amiss until Sunday morning, when he did not appear as usual. Coroner Davis mnde a thorough Investi gation and decided that death was entirely accidental. No Inquest will be held. The chief fact to which the accident la at tributed Is that the cock of the gas Jet turned very easily. Over thn gas pipe and near the cock a whip made of braided leather hung. It was found that If the heavy end of the whip wss struck and made to swing It .would open the easy turning cock. It Is believed that after turning out the gas the bay struck the whip Inadvertantly, which turned on the gas again. The boy went to sleep at once and did not detect tho escaping gas. Two brothers of the deceased, Fred and Howard, slept In the adjoining room, but did not detect the gas. One brother. Clar ence. Is attending the Went worth Military academy, Lexington. Mo. He will arrive In the city this evening. Its. C. F. Clark and J. R. Ralph were called Hiid said tho boy had been dead at least two hours. Reynolds R. Owen. Jr.. was 17 years old. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds R. Owen. Mr. Owen was formerly con nected with the O'Donohue-Redmond-Nor-mlle company. Mrs. Owen Is a daughter of John F. Bheeley, prominent pioneer and cltlsen of Omaha for many years. Reynolds Owen waa a particularly bright and promising boy. He was a member of the band at the high school and took a leading part In the fair held recently. Funeral arrangements have not been made. CHILDREN AT PERINE FUNERAL Mission Kundny School Officer Hon ored by Mnny Children and Associates, Funeral services of Peter L Perlne were held yesterday at 4 p. m. In the First Presbyterian church, which was filled with the friends and associates of the deceased. Rev. Dr. Edwin H. Jnks officiated. From the little chapel at Fifth and Wil liams streets, where Mr. Perlne was super intendent of the mission, came a large delegation of children In a body to attend tha lust rlter of him they loved. The aclse pallbearers were Jsmes H. Adams. Thomaa Crelgh. John II. Franklin, William W. .Oiigor. Arthur C. Huntington and Alfred Kennedy. The honorary pallbearers were H. A. Doud. Robert Dempster, Dr. W. S. Gibbs. O. W. Garloch, C. W. Hicks, Dr. W. C. Henry, Alexander Hodge, Howard Ken nedy, John C. Wharton. Dr. W. F. Mllroy and A. A. Schncck. all his associates in the session of the First Presbyterian church; also T. A. Crelgh. George F. Bid well, E. M. Morseman, c. E. Tost and A P. Wood. Tho body was taken to the Cole-McKay undertaking rooms, where It will remain until Thursday, when It will be taken to Baldwlnsvllle, N. Y., for interment. Mrs J. H. Pardee of New York, daughter of the deceased, accompanying the body. EASTERN STARS COME TUESDAY ThlrtyThlrd Annnal Session of Grnnd Chnpter Opens In Masonle Temple. The Nebraska grand chapter of the Order of tho Kastern Star will convene In Ha thirty-third annual session In Masonic tem ple Tuesday. The session will open at 2 o'clock, with a reception to the grand of ficers and visiting delegates. Judge Berka, worthy patron of Vesta chapter, will deliver the address of wel come. Grand associate matron, Mrs. Marie Alpln of Ruahvllle, will deliver the re sponse. . Addresses will be made by the grand ma tron. Mis. Ellen Dodson of Lincoln, and Grand Patron W. W. Wright of Beatrice. The report of the grand secretary, Mrs. John Simpson of Omaha, and the grand treasurer, Mrs' Carrie Wrlcht of Mmvi will follow. The social session will be held Tuesday evening. An exempllcation of the work of the km.. will be given Wednesday, and Thursday will be devoted to new business and th. election and installation of officers. The Rome hotel has been selected h headquarters for the delegation during the meeting. JAPS HAVE SNOW AND PANIC Cherry Blossoms Scared by Winter nuu nusiaess Depressed by Financial Stringency. Letters have been received In Omaha from members of the uartv trs voting i.t. G. W. Wattles from Toklo, where they were a muntn ago. I nder date of April , Mr. Wattles writes: "Wo are having the unique experience of a Nebraska bllxzanl. with a foot of snow here today. The eherrv i,iA..n. .. Just out and were, indeed, as beautiful as e,, eiiie(i. Dm ioaay the trees are white with snow. Bariing the exceptional and unheard of weather, we are enjoying our stay here very much." He adds also the Interesting Informa tion that "a financial depresslan is on in Japan," that "all things considered, while Japan has made great progress in the last fifty years, its present civilisation does not compare with ours." Board of Koldlera' Home. SIOCX FALLS. 8. D.. May S.-(Speclal.) The members of the Board of Managers of the state soldiers' home at Hot Springs Is holding a business meeting in Sioux Falls, which promises not to be concluded until well into this week. The board Is composed of Captain George A. Ludlow ot Sioux Falls, A. B. Nelson of Pierre, J. B. Geddes of Huron. John Baker of Hcrmosa and J. B. Pratt of ppcHrfisli The principal buM liess before the meeting is the opening uf bids for the completion of the ba mint of the new hospital building which ta b-lng erected at the sohilers- home. A number uf bids have been submitted to the board and it may be son.e little time Lefoie the award Is made. HOTEL A FIRETKAP Flamei Spread So Bapidly Escape of Many Guests Cat Off. NUMBER OF DEAD UNCERTAIN Nine Bodies Have Already Rescued from the Ruins. Been SEVERAL KNOWN TO BE MISSING Register is Destroyed and Guest List Uncertain Quantity. MANY THRILLING ESCAPES Clerk, Who Discovers Fire, Saves Many Lives by Hashing Thrssgh the Building t;lvlng Alarm. FORT WATNL. lnd., May 8-At Irast twelve persons lost their lives In a fire that destroyed tho Aveline hotel here early toady. The entire Interior of the building is a smoldering heap of ruins and how tunny dead are concealed by tin? debris can only be conjectured. The hotel register whs consumed by the fire and thorn are no ac curate means of determining who is mis sing. The known d"ad are; R. S. JOHSON. Pans. 111. M. HI HSU. New ork. J. B. MILLER. Sheboygan. Wis. J. E. ELLIS, Carson, Plrle, Scott A Co., Chicago. W. A. PITCHER. Fort Wayne, salesman for S. F. Boyser ft Co.. Knrt Ws'vne. J. W. DEVINEY, salesman for Craw ford A Irf'hmHii, Philadelphia. THREE IN IDENTIFIED MEN. Tho known missing: Max Wassem. wrestler, Fort Wayne, for merly of St. Louis. Frank Baxter, attorney. Auburn, lnd. Companion of Frank Baxter of Auburn, lnd. K. B. Alty, Wabash, lnd. Charles Benjamin, salesman for Detroit Neckwear company, Detroit. Mrs. Sarah Hathaway, Mlshswka, lnd, I'nldentlfled woman, companion of Mrs. Hathaway. Debris Piled on Bodies. The complete, destruction of the interior of tho hotel makes the work uf recover ing bodies a Clfflcult task. A confused heap of charred wood, bricks and twisted gird ers is piled up between the bare walls to the second story. Piece by pleco this must bo removed before the roll of dead can bt completed. Some of the bodies taken out are mangled and charred beyond recogni tion. Infantry company D and battery B of the National guards are on duty and aiding the fire end police forces to Clear away the debris. The fire waa discovered at 8;80 o'clock this morning in the elevator shaft by. Night Clerk Ralph Hopkins. He rushed to the upper floors, alarming the guests until the flames, which had spread with great rapidity, drove him back. His efforts, how ever, saved many lives. The hotel was erected half a century ago and the wood work was dry as tinder. It burned like matchwood and within a few minutes from the time the fire was d'scovered tha srbole Interior of the hotel was mass of I'lamns . that filled the corridors and rooms with suffocating clouds of smoke and laid fiery barriers across all means of escape save by the windows. The fire department res cued many by means of ladders, but some, fremled by the onward rush of the flames leaped from the windows to the paved street. R. S. Johnson of Pana, 111., Jumped from the fifth story. Hla body struck a balcony and bounded far Into the street. He was a crushed and bleeding mass when picked up and died a short time later In St. Joseph's hospital. Many Ara Cat Off. As the flames Increased, men And women were seen In the windows of their rooms, where they wildly Implored help. Those who got from their rooms before the flames cut off their retreat were able to make their way to the fire escapes and so were safe with comparative ease. Soon the flames broke from the windows and curled about the fire escapes. Some of the more hardy ones braved the flames and made their way through smoke and firs down tha Iron stairways. There were many thrilling k escapes. Claude H. Varnell of the Fort Wayne base ball team, hla sister, Mrs. John Hendricks, and John Hendricks of Chicago, the man ager of the Fort Wayne team, together With Master Hedticks, aged C years, barely es caped with their lives. Varnell lost his personal belongings valued at several thou sand dollars. Hendricks, with his wif ahead of him and his boy in his arms, was descending the fire escape from the fifth floor. At tho third floor the fire broko out below them. He swung Mrs. Hendricks over the railing and she dropped to the platform of the story below. He then dropped his son into the waiting arms of his wife and all made their way to the ground. Other rescues as thrilling and es capes as narrow were numerous. When the fire was at its height man at a third-story window was seen wildly waving his arms. He shrieked: "My God men,' save me, will no one save msT" and then leaped from tha window to th pave ment below. He was picked up desperately hurt. He was E. M. Matthews ot Colum bus, O. A score or more of women employed in the hotel were in the upper rooms In the rear of the hotel. Most of them escaped without Injury, but some Irs their fright leaped to the alley and were more or leu Injured. Hotel Register Destroyed. In the excitement the hotel register was forgotten and there Is no accurate means of ascertaining the names of the missing. That there are still many bodies In tha ruins is the belief of Fire Chief Hllbrecht snd Chief of Polleo Auckenbruck. Chief Auekenbruck basing his estimate on the reports of t lie police., gives the number of dead In the ruins at t o'clock at twenty. At that hour eight bodies had been re moved. A guert on t lie fifth floor who was aroused at the outbreak of the tire and escaped, says he believes very few on the fifth floor escaped. Other bodies are be lieved to be at the foot of the elevator shaft. Among the missing are two aged women, Miss Hathaway and her companion of Mlshawka, lnd. They came hers to re ceive some children for ant orphanage with which they are connected at Mlshawka. Their bodies are still In the ruins. Traveling men who ekcaped are searching for acquaintances who were known to be in the hotel Tiie Avtline hotel was a six-story build ing of brick in the business center Of th city. Its erection was begun In 1S&3, but It aas not completed until several years later. In 1!K the building waa extensively ren.odekd and two stories war added.