Evening Star Newspaper, September 11, 1895, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR — PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Oompany, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. New York Office, 40 Potter Building, Pe Sai ‘The Evening Star {s served to subscribers in the om thelr own account, at 10 cents cents per month. eh, 1 each. By where in the United States or Cavads— postage pre} cents mont Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added, $3.90. (Entered at the as second-class mail matter.) All mail subscriptions must be pald tn advance. tes of advertising made known on application. Che Evening Star. Posi Office at Washington, D. C., ’ | No. 13,267. WASHINGTON, D.C. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER i1, 1895-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. INSTANTLY KILLED Explosion of a Caisson at Louis- ville. BODIES BLOWN GVER HOUSETOPS Impossible to Find the Remains of One. A TERRIBLE DISASTER LOUISVILLE, Ky., September 11.—A hor- rible accident, resulting in the death of six and the wcunding of several other mem- bers of the Louisville Legion, occurred shortly after 5:30 o'clock this morning by the explosion of a caisson. The accident occurred on Broadway be- tween 3d and 4th streets, where the first Kentucky artillery were stationed for the purpose of firing the morning salute. Eye witnesses of the disaster say that the explosion was caused by dropping the caisson on the friction primer of the plece. The gun was situated directly in the center of the street, pointing toward 4th avenue. Two of the bodies were blown over the house tops and horribly mangled. Two horses attached to the cannon were so hor- ribly mangled that they will be killed. The Killed and Injured Those killed are Corp. Al. Robinson, Pri- vates Charles Oestrich, Charles Woods, McBride Hutchins, Howard Irwin, Driver Wm. Adams (colored). The wounded are: Fred Cohn, eyes and face badly burned; Wm. Hobbs. All the men excepting the colored driver were members of battery A of the Ken- tucky National Guard, and all reside in Loufsville. As soon as the accident occurred, the city ambulance’ was called, and the wounded men were taken to the Norton Infirmary, where their injuries were attended to. It is feared that Fred. Cohn wil! die. The whole left side of his face was blown off. Even if he should recover, he will be blind and horribly disfigured. Hobbs was badly burned about the face and bruised. Scene of Disaster. The place where the accident occurred is one of the finest residence districts in the city. Fortunately, few people were on the street, owing to the early hour, or the Ust of killed and“{njured would have un- doubtedly been greatly increased. Every window in the block w: blown out. Nearly every one in the neighborhood was asleep, and the noise and concussion caused by the explosion almost created @ panic. Half-clad men and terrified women came running from their homes, and a most horrible sight met their eyes. The body of the. colored driver, mangled almost beyond recognition, fell on the front porch of a residence, fully 300 feet from the place where the explosion occurred. Just outside the fence and gn the sidewalk was the body of Private Woods. Bits of flesh and pieces of bloody uniform were. scattered all along the street, cling- ing to the tree tops and in the shattered windows. A leg and half a coat were found on 3d street, one block south of where the explosion took place. They must have been blown clear over a three- story and basement house. Several man- gled legs and arms were found on the tops of adjacent houses. It is believed that the body of Private Hutchins was blown to pieces, as it has not yet been found. A hook and ladder truck of the city fire department was called, and with ladders every housetop in the vicinity was searched in vain for the missing body. But on nearly every house- top was found portions of the bodies of the unfortunate young men. ‘The body of Howard Irwin was so badly mangled that it was almost impossible to gather it up without a shovel. It was found at the intersection of Broadway and 4th street, almost a block away. On the Way to Fire a Salute. ‘The battery was on its way to Phoenix Hill for the purpose of firing a salute of forty-four guns. There were sixty-six pounds of powder in the caisson. Richard Cogan, who was about two blocks from the caisson when it blew up, said the noise it made was terrific. The concussion was so great that the buildings even at that distance were shaken, and in several of the houses around him windows were shattered. He hastened to the scene at once, and lent a helping hand in gather- ing up the remains of the dead militiamen. In a few minutes every one in the neigh- Db rhood was out. .Many of the women, said Mr. Cogan, fainted as soon as they came out, the sight was so horrible. Daniel F. Reidhae lives next to Judge Easton's house. Every window was broken in the house, and several persons were ladly stunned. R. W. McCannen, who lives at the cor- ner of 4th and Broadway, describes the accident as follows: “I was attending to“the wants of my G. A. R. boarders when the explosion oc- curred. I thought the world had come to an end. I saw several people in the house were knocked down and slightly bruised. I was assisting in cleaning away the de- bris. One foot was found in the alley in the rear of the house. A leg was found in the front yard. The mangled remains of the man lying between the car tracks at 4th and Broadway were terrible to gaze upon." The explosion was heard for several miles distant. Crowds cf people gathered on the scene to view the terrible disaster. They were kept back, however, by a special detail of soldiers and police. No one was admitted within the intersection of 3d and 4th streets. On all sides exclamations la- menting the deaths of the soldier boys were heard. In a short time news of the disaster spread over the entire city. Bulletins were posted at all the newspaper offices and in several of the public buildings, giving the names of the dead and wounded. Gloom Cast on the Festivities. ‘The accident has cast a shadow of gloom over the city. Every one had been prepared for a grand and joyous event. The thous- ands of visitors who throng the streets and hotels of the town were everywhere heard to express their sorrow. It is doubtful if anything ever occurred in this region that has caused such widespread sorrow. The reginent to which the young men belonged is made up of the pick and flower of Louisville. Many of them are society leaders and are of wealthy families, Capt. David Castleman, who was in eharge, was riding at the side of the detail. He escaped injury. The report that one-of the men was smoking is denied by Capt. Castleman. Col. Jos. B. Castleman of the first infan- try, to which battery A belongs, said it was ene of those unfortunate accidents that cannot be guarded against. A similar one occurred in Chicago during the strike, in which four men were killed and several wounded. The Governor Stunned. Gov. John Young Brown, who was stop- ping with Maj. George B. Easton, was asleep in bed. The explosion stunned him, gnd it was some time before he could real- ize what had happened. Al the 7@rhit@we in the hall was dam- aged by the explosion. The explosion shook the leaves off a trea in the front yar& BLANCHE LAMONT'SCLOTHES They Are Identified in the Oourt Room by Her Aunt. The Prosecution Puts in Testimony Bearing Upon the Tragedy in the San Francisco Church. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11—The Dur- rent murder case has come out of the field of mathematical calculations, lines, angles and distances of Emanuel Church, having been deeply impressed upon the minds and memor-es of the jury, and now the prosecu- tion has plunged boldly into the body of its testimony. Mrs. C. G. Noble, aunt of Blanche La- mont, the murdered girl, was the most in- pertant witness today. Lines of sorrow were visible on her face as she sat in the witness chair and told of the tragic end of her sister's child. Mrs. Noble was much affected, although she did not give way to her feelings. Piece after piece of the clothing of the murdered girl Mrs. Noble identified—the cuter garments, the hat, the gloves and the stoes, all found on the rafters of the church by the officers who had preceded her on the stand. She was positive as to two of the rings which the dead girl had worn on the morning that she last saw her alive, and identified the third as precisely similar to another which had been worn on the finger of Blanche Lamont. Another week of the trial opened yester- dsy after three days’ rest. The witnesses were all of the searching party when the garments of Blanche Lamont were dis- covered concealed in the belfry of Emanuel Chureh. The defendant's attorney tried to show by the witnesses that the police de- partment had conducted the examinations of the church building carelessly, and that while the hunt progressed the church was oper to the general public, and that hun- dreds of curious citizens passed through the eaifice. The police stated, on cross-examination, that the articles had been found in places difficult of access, indicating that the per- scn who had hidden them had been familiar with the belfry. John T. G. Dare, prosecuting attorney of lice court No. 3, testified that under the ead of Blanche Lamont’s body, as it lay in the belfry, had been placed two blocks of wood such as are commonly in use in dissecting rooms. eS COLLIDED WITH GREAT FORC Fatal Disaster to Great Northern Passenger Trains. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., September ,11.— A St. Cloud, Minn., special says: Passenger trains Nos. 2 and 3 on the Great Northern had a head on collision at Melby this morn- ing. Both were running at a high rate of speed and came together with terrific force. The dead are: J. K. Emerson, en- gineer of No. 2; James Thibidau, fireman of No. 2; Ira Hines, engineer of No. 3, und both baggagemen, one of whom is thought to be John Hawkins. Five are injured, including three mail clerks, one brakeman and one passenger on No. 3. A wrecking crew was hurried to the scene from Barnesville and St. Cloud, and doctors from St. Cloud, Fergus Falls and Alexandria. GLENWOOD, Minn., September 11.— Train No. 107 on the Minneapolis, Sault Ste Marie and Pacific railway had a narrow escape from a terrible disaster between Belgrade and Brooten. Miss Mary Brand of Casselton, N. D., was fatally injured and ex-Senator Washburn received a se- vere wound in the head. The three rear coaches of the train were derailed, two of them rolling down a hank. The accident was cased by the breaking of the forward axle of the dining car. Al- though Mr. Washburn’s wound is an ugly one, he will recover. Miss Brand’s arm is broken and her back ‘injured. The colored porter on the sleeper had his hand crushed and several other injuries, though none serious. The train had passed only four feet beyond a high bridge when the acci- dent occurred. HOUSTON, Texas, September 11.—In u rear-end collision between two freight trains on the Santa Fe near Sealey, En- gineer Lewis was seriously scalded and died last night. Fireman Powell was scalded and Brakeman Reed badly injured. ———._ __ ALABAMA SILVER DEMOCRATS. A Conference Addressed by Senators Pugh and Morgan. : BIRMINGHAM, Ala., September 11.— Over 500 promment silver democrats at- tended the silver democratic confer- ence here yesterday. Col. John W. Sanford was made president. Senator Pugh In a speech indorsed the conference. He predicted that Cleveland in his next message will declare for further legislation to maintain the gold standard. He further predicted that the next democratic na- tional convention would deny Cleveland’s indorsement. Senator Morgan, Congressmen Bankhead, Robbins and Stalings and other prominent men spoke, all indorsing the silver move- ment. The committee on resolutions last night reported in favor of free coinage of both goid and silver at 16 to 1. A campaign committee of one from each congressional district’and five from the state at large was appointed, which, among other things, will put on foot the organization of silver democratic clubs in each county and pre- cinct in the state, for the purpose of elect- ing only silver men to the state and na- tional conventions. The personnel of the conference was strong, representing many of the democratic leaders of Alabama. ——— DID NOT LOOK PLEASED. Lord Dunraven Refused to Say Any- thing About the Protest. NEW YORK, September 11.—After the hearing on Defender’s protest was con- cluded Lord Dunraven, accompanied by Arthur Glennie, left the New York Yacht Club house. His lordship, when questioned, refused to have anything to say. Judging from the expression on the faces of Dun- raven and Mr. Glennie they were not pleased with the outcome of the hearing. Capt. Sycamore, one of the commanders of the Valkyrie, emerged from the club house ten minutes later, and he, too, re- fused to discuss the subject. A note was sent S. Nicholsan Kane asking him what decision had been arrived at by the com- mittee. He sent back the following reply: “A de- cision on the protest {s not prepared and will not be for some time.” oes WILL PROBABLY SAVE HER. Prospects of the Belgic, Ashore on the Japanese Coast. SAN FRANCISCO, September 11.—The Occidental and Oriental Steamship Com- pany has received a cablegram from Yoko- hama to the effect that if the weather con- tinues favorable the steamer Belgic, which went ashore on the Japanese coast last Sunday, will be probably saved. The passengers and mails have been con- veyed to Yokohama. = Cholera in Tangiers. A cable message was received at the State Department today saving that cholerg: prevails in Tangiers, Morocco, with an average daily mortality of six. The disease ig not yet of a prorounced Asiatic type. DOWN IN TEN DAYS Eckington Company to Remove the Trolley Poles AND EQUIP ITS LINE WITH HORSES President With the Commissioners. Newbold’s Agreement ACTION TAKEN TODAY ——— An agreement on the trolley matter has been reached, and within ten days the trol- ley poles and wires of the Eckington and Soldiers’ Home Electric Railroad Company will be removed and horses substituted as the motive power. This important dec!sion was foreshadowed in The Star of yesterday, and was decijed upon this morning by the Commissioners, who held a special board session to consider the subject. Mr. John Ridout, the attoriey for the railroad, appeared before the Com- missioners and said he had received a tele- gram from President Newbold stating that he would equip the road with horses and remove the trolley poles and wires within ten days, and requesting that no further Police Court prosecutions be instituted for that period. According to Promises. This action on the part of the Eckington and Soldiers’ Home railroad is in direct line with the promises made by President New- bold in an interview with a reporter of The Star. In fact, when the subject was con- sidered today by the Commissioners Attor- rey Thomas insisted that the road shouid live up to its antecedent representations and promises to take down the poles, as printed in The Star, before a postponement of any action on the part of the Commis- sioners should be granted. And so the matter now ends just as The Star stated it would end if the Commissioners would only assert themselves and exercise their powers. Congratulating The Star. The attorney for the District, Mr. S. T. Thomas, and Assistant Attorney Mr. A. B. Tuvall congratulated The Star upon the outcome of the long fight. They joined in saying: “The Star has consistently fought the trolley from the start, and has ever been fcremost in oppcsing it. The outcome of the case is directly in line with its conten- ticn, This is made manifest by the de- cision of the Commissioners that President Newbold comply with the statements and promises made from time to time in The Star. It was an open fight, clean all the way through, and devoid of personal or selfish considerations.” What the Commissioners Say. The Commissioners this afternoon, in an interview with a reporter of The Star, said: “This action on the part of the Commis- sioners relative to the removal of the trol- ley poles is the result of a number of as- surances we received from President New- bold that the poles would be removed. Shortly after the deal was made consoli- dating the Belt line railroad with the Eck- ington road and Mr. Newbold became pres- ident we were assured by him that he real- ized that the trolley poles would have to come down, and as soon as he could get the board of directors to agree to such a course he would promptly notify us. “The letter which you have just read from the attorney for the road is correct. It was received this morning, and it was upon that letter we consented to a con- tinuance of the case in the Police Court this _moruing.” “Were the prosecutions in the Police Court some time ago stopped because you had assurances that the road intended to ive up to its promises and remove the trolley poles?” asked the reporter. “That is it exactly. We have had several interviews with President Newbold and the attorney for the company and were assured that the poles and wires would come down as soon as the board of directors met and passed upon it. We regarded it as a fore- gone conclusion, which only needed the offi- cial sanction of the board of directors. Had we continued the prosecutions in the face of those assurances it wouid have been per- secution instead of prosecution. Now, there is one matter that has not yet been set- tled. It is whether the road will equip its New York avenue branch with underground trolley or wait and equip its entire line. Of course the Commissioners have nothing to do with that. We cannot require the road to do that.” “Is it true that there has been a division of the board regarding this matter?” Comniissioner Powell said in reply that half of the published statements regarding that were unfounded. In the present mat- ter the board acted unanimously. That is both Commissioner Truesdell and himself favored the action taken this morning.” Mr. Ridout’s Letter. The letter upon which the Commissioners based their action this morning, and which the Commissioners, as stated above, ac- knowledged to have received, reads as follows: Washington, D. C., September 10, 1895. Honorable Commissioners of the District of Columbia, Gentlemen: I am authorized by the president of the Eckington and Soldiers’ Home Railway Company, in eccordance with assurances and representations heretofore made, to state that within ten days from this date, all the poles and wires of the company on New York avenue within the limits will be removed and horses substituted for the present method of propulsion of the com- Pany's cars on that street, and I am di- Tected to request that no further prosecu- tions on account of the maintenance of sald poles and wires be instituted by the Commissioners. Yours respectfully, (Signed) JOHN RIDOUT, Atvorney for Eckingtoa and Soldiers’ Home Railroad Company. CONTINUED FOR TEN DAYS. ‘The Case in the Police Court Held Up for the Present. The Eckington trolley case, in which Mr. Hamilton K. Gray is down as the defend- ant and Mr. M. F. Tighe as the prosecuting witness who brought the charge against the representative of the road, was set for a hearing in the Police Court this morning. ft cccupled the attention of Judge Kimball for something less than five minutes, and was then continued for ten days, this action being taken evidently on account of the agreement between the Commissioners and President Newbold, although no definite statement to that effect was made in court. ‘The case was postponed from last Mon- sy, and, under the impression that an in- teresting trial was on foot, the court room was well filled this morning. Mr. John Rid- out was present to represent the defendant, while Mr. Richardson, the assistant attor- rey for the District, was on hand to look after the interests of the prosecution. During a bricf lull in the proceedings of the court, between a couple of trials for minor infractions of the law, Mr. Richard- gen, advanced ‘to a position in front of Judge Kimball and sald: : “In the cas? egainst Hamilton K. Gray, ccmmonly referred to as the trolley case, I would respectfully request a continuance tot iéncfays, This action ts taken ig the general interest of the community, and is by agreement of counsel on both sides.” ‘Mr. Ridout thereupon rose to his feet and briefly stated that he desired to concur in the request. Judge Kimball was about to grent it as a matter of course, when Mr. J. H. Ralston, who is engaged to represent the complaining witness, stood up and steted that he hed to enter a decided protest on the part of the complainant. “Now, Mr. Ralston,” said Judge Kimball, “you are a good enough lawyer to know that the complainant in this ease is the District of Columbia. Its_ representative brings the action, and you know very well that the complaining witness has nothing to say as to whether the case sifall proceed or ke continued. If the attorneys on both sides have agreed to ask for a continuance I see no reason why it should not be grant- ed, and I cannot see that you have any greund for a protest, or why it should be entertained.” “Nevertheless,” said Mr. Ralston, “I de- sire to go on record with an earnest protest against a continuance in this case.” “I have nothing further to say with refer- ence to the matter at the pregent time,” said Mr. Richardson, apparently, paying no attention to the interruption. “The continuance is granted,” said Judge ene “and this case will go over for ten ljays.”* —_——>_— EX-COMMISSIONER PARKER. He Gives His Views Upon Several Mat- ters of Local Interest. Ex-Commissioner Parker returned to the city yesterday from Vermont and was seen by a Star reporter. When asked if he had read the article in The Star on the two national delegates, in which his name was mentionéd, he sald he had. Mr. Parker said that for the past year delegations at various times had call- ed upen him in reference to being a di gate to the national republican convention. He had invariably told them that he would not make any fight f. the place, but if sent he would look out for the interests of the republicans of the District. He said he did not belong to any of the so-called factions, but was simply a republican of the District. He did not think the republi- cans of the District had ever been recog- nized as they deserved. Mr. Parker said there was not an office within the gift of any administration ne wanted, but there were good republicans here, both white and colored, who d232rved and ought to ne taken care of. Presidential Preferences. When asked whom he favored for the presidential nominee Mr, Parker said that there were a number of strong and able men suggested in this connection, any one of whom would be creditable to the party and acceptable to him. In view of the fact that the people of the District did not vote as such, for the President, he thougit that between candidates of ability and in- tegrity the District delegates shauid favor that one who developed the greatest strength among the representatives of the communities who would have to elect the neminee, and that it was to the interest of the District to be found in the end for the winning candidate. On the question of suffrage. Mr. Parker said he could see no reason why 300,000 people should be entirely disfranchised. He believed that we ought to have, under a constitutional amendment,: representation in Congress and the electoral college, and that, at least, these representatives should be elected by the people. The Commission- ers of the District. are over-worked men and have no time te watch and shape Dis- trict legiclation. “We need,” Mr. Parker, “men elected for that special pu pose.” Mr. Parker saif he was personally acquainted with nearly all pf the ational committee, anil believed they would recog- nize the rights of the District, He said he Was not a member of the Unton Republican Club, but that it had a triotig. and dis- tinguished membership, whose efforts Could only result in good to the party. Mr. Parker said he had had a delightful summer; that on the Ist of Qctober he was going on a moose hunt with Senator Proc- tor up in New Brunswick, after which he should return to Washington with his fam- ily, who are still in Vermont. —_—___+«+____ THE “APPRAISED VALUE.” Decision That It Does Not Include the Customs Daty The Secretary of the Tréasury has adopt- ed the views of Solicitor Reeve, stated in his recent opinion regarding what shall be taken as the “appraised value” of goods as a limit to the jurisdiction of a collector of customs and the Secretary for the purpose of releasing the same under section 3081 of the Revised Statutes. This section author- izes the Secretary, in cases w! seized goods do not exceed $1,000 in value, to re- lease the same on payment ofthe “ap- praised value’ in the district ‘where the seizure is made. Hitherto this Tappraisea value has been held to: include the duty imposed. The solicitor, however, holds that appraised value is the actual market value and wholesale price at the time*ef impor- tation to the United States In the principal markets of the country whence the same has been imported, and does net include the customs duty. ——— THE SUGAR BO NTY CASES. Secretary Carlisle Will Hear Argu- ment on the 20th Instant. Secretary Carlisle has received Senator Manderson’s appeal from the action of Con- troller Bowler in sending the Oxnard sugar bounty case to the Court of Claims, and has notified the Senator that he would hear argument on behalf of the appellant on Friday, Septernber 20. It is not known whether representatives of the Louisiana planters will be heard at that time, though AS is thought they also will desire a hear- ing. ————_+-e+___ Armor fur the lowa Accepted. Secretary Herbert has directed the ac- ceptance of the lot of side armor of, the battleship Iowa, represented by the plate tested at Indian Head last’ week. It was then demonstrated that the armor was in every way equal to the reqtirements of the contract. The plate now at the prov- Ing grounds will be usd by the Navy De- partment for further tests of its own. The Rext shot at the plate will be fired from ‘ne big thirteen-inch rife’ now cn the ground, but the time when the: test will be made wiil not be settled’ uhtil Capt. Sampson, chief of the naval bureau of ord- nance, returns to the city. 5 ———————_o—_____ No Loose Receipts for Salary. A notice has been conspicuously posted in the appointment room of the Treasury De- partment to the following effect: — “From and after the first day of Septem- ber, 1895, no loose receipts on account of salary will be receivéd or allowed. Em- ployes are notified that it will be upeless to apply. The rule will be rigidly enforced except in cases of extreme sickness or death.” ————__+e A Pension Decision. Acting Secretary Reynolds has decided that a widow pensioner may receive an extra allowance for a child of her deceased husband by a previous wife, if she is charged with the Otherwise the extra money must be paid to @ guardian appointed for the child. ——— Tried and Acquitted. The consul ut ‘Matanzas, under date of August 31, reports to the Department of State that Charles Henry May, an Ameri- can, traveling in Cuba, was tried on Au- gust 28 for Killing a negro on November 28, 1804, and acquitted. It wag shown at the trial that the killing was‘in self-de- fense. Government Receipts.- b National bank. nics recclve® toyey, tor redemption, $230,03' at receipts —From internal revenue, $310,187; customs, $775,106; miscellaneous, $6,371. child’s maintenance.. THE THIRD TERM|N!CARAGUAN AFFAIRS AGAIN ON REVIEW Speculation About It General in Democratic Circles. ALLEGED STORY OF JS ORIGIN A Letter Shown to Mr. Cleveland and He Smiled. MANY LEADERS ANXIOUS ‘Speculation about a third term for Mr. Cleveland is now so general in political circles that attention is directed to its origin. Is it the product of politiclans—men in office, who fancy that an extension of Mr. Cleveland’s term of public service weuld mean a new lease for themselves— or is there authority for it from any ex- pression of any considerable portion of the democratic masses themselves? Of Recent Growth. The proposition is of recent growth. The morning after the November elections found rot a trace of it anywhere, The boot was rather on the other leg. Many of the demo- cratic leaders, in a guarded way, held the administration accountavle for the over- whelming disaster that had overtaken the party, and expressed the opinion that Mr. Cleveland would probably be glad enough when the time came for him to retire from office. Such a thing as his being willing to try for the presidency again, or of the party asking him to do so, did not occur to any- body. But before Cor gress adjourned in March a third term for Mr. Cleveland was openly discussed in the cloak rooms of both the Senate and the House, and more than one democrat of national reputation had expressed approval of it. The topic is now leading in the newspapers, and the recog- nized administration champion in the Sen- ate, Mr. Gray, comes out in favor of Mr. Cleveland’s renomination. Does Mr. Gray speak also for Mr. Bayard? He is Mr. Bayard’s most intimate friend, and is just back from a visit abroad, where he met Mr. Bayard and was his guest. Did they con- fer and agree as to this very important matter? And if Mr. Bayard may be quoted as favoring a third term for Mr. Cleveland, how many more distinguisned democrats holding high places under the administra- tion are on the list? And what is the pro- gram? How It Started. The discussion Is lively. More questions are propounded than were ever asked at a well-attended meeting of a well-organized sewing society. There are likewise some interesting answers given. For one thing, it is asserted that the proposition had its origin outside of the circle of managing politicians, As the story goes, early in December, while the politicians were still hopelessly and helplessly in the dumps about the November result, a p. it official re- ceived a long letter from a friend—a man not in office and not wanting office—in which the whole situation was carefully and, as the official thought, luminously ex- ‘amined. This. man. was a tariff reformer and an advocate of sound money. He was also a great admirer of Mr. Cleveland. He wrote at some length, and pointed out that Mr, Cleveland must again lead the party: Otherwise, as this man insisted, democratic disorder and disruption would be inevitable. The argument was that the party as a party had failed to score except as to the money question. Tariff revision was next to a confessed fiasco. Mr. Cleveland had been right and had tried to secure the proper and the promised legislation, but protection democrats in the Senate had de- feated him. But he had Nit the bull’s-eve as to the finances, and was the only man in the party capable of carrying the fight to a successful finish. He must be renominated for this particular purpose. The Letter Shown to Cleveland. The figures offered were these. The south’s vote sure. The south, it was as- serted, would not bolt. In the last analysis she had always held the negro question above all other questions, and would do so again. She might insist and threaten as to silver, but rhe would never bolt for any failure te get what she wanted on that score. Then New York, New Jersey, Con- necticut and Indiana, would, it was pre- dictea, return to the democratic column, with Mr. Cleveland in the forefront, stand- ing for sound money, while in Ohio and Illinois, in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan a greater fight could be put up in Mr. Cleveland’s name than in that of any other leader in the party. The prominent official, in reading this letter to a friend, remarked at the close: “I believe I'll show this to the old man himself.”” i “I would in your place,” was the reply. The thing was done. The prominent offi- cial, upon his next visit to the White House, after transacting his regular busi- ness, produced his friend's letter, saying: “Here ts something, Mr. President, that may interest you.” Mr. Cleveland took the letter, read it slowly, and, handing it back, smiled pleas- antly and replied: “That is very kind. But, of course, I haven't thought about such a thing. Tell me something about your friend.” And this the prominent official proceeded *o do in terms of very warm eulogy. Suggestions From Other Quarters. The story got out. The President had smiled at the suggestion of his name for another term, and had inquired about the author of it. The suggestion soon came from other quarters. This same official got letters of like tenor fro:n other persons, and other prominent: men did also. It seemed to please such people to be told tiat their letters had been read by the President, and that he had appeared to ap- preciate their very high praise. And a good many of these letters, it is said, found their way to the White House. Beyond this there is no authoritative re- port. Mr. Cleveland, at most, seems cnly to have smiled when the subject was men- tioned, and to have manifested some polite and natural curiosity about those indulging in such unusual praise of him. Democratic Leaders Alarmed. But this Is sufficient to give many dem- ocratic leaders genuine alarm.. They don’t like the looks of things. They are not crit- icising Mr. Cleveland, but rather the men who are laying before him their private correspondence written in this vein. Any man, they hold, is Jiable to be impress2d with praise so hearty, and to have his judgment more or less affected by it. But that Mr. Cleveland could be elected Pres- ident again not a man of them lyelieves. And they hope he may sce his way at an early day to put the whole matter at rest., SSS eS The Columbia's New Commander. One result of the court-martial of Capt. George W. Sumner is the issuance of orders detaching him from command of the cruiser Columbia and assigning Capt. James M. Sands to that duty. There will be no fur- ther action in the case of Capt. Sumner until the Secretary of the Navy shall have passed on the court-martial proceedings. ‘The Columbia’s new commander Is at pres- ent stationed at the navy yard, Portsmouth, N. H. He will probably hoist his flag on the- District’s namesake tomorrow. The Columbia will be ordered to join Admiral Bunce's squadron of evolution at the first favorable opportunity. Some Interesting Facts Given to the State Department by Consul O'Hara. Distribution of the Indemnity—Cux- tom House Practices That Need to Be Reformed. In dispatches to the Department of State, dated August 23 and 24, Consul O'Hara of San Juen del Norte, Nicaragua, announces the distribution of the indemnity of £15,000 paid by the government of Nicaragua in response to the British demand for dam- ages to Br'tish subjects because of the Bluefields affair. The Bluefields Hecorder claims that some of “the persons indemni- fied owe no allegiance to England.” The &mounts received by individuals range from £100 to £4,500, the British vice consul, Ed- win Hatch, receiving the latter amount. Custom House Practices. Consul O'Hara says of custom house practices at Bluefields: “‘The town of Blue- fields is about six miles from the sea. The custom house is at the mouth of the barbor, and all goods for Bluefields are first discharged across the lagoon at Blue- fields. Merchants have complained that goods have been unnecessarily detained at the custom house, when not accompanied by consular invoices. It is believed by the merchants that Dr. Talero, the inspector of customs just appointed, will act upon the suggestions thrown out in the editorial herewith inclosed, and which appeared July 27, 1895, In the Reccrder, a newspaper pub- lished at Bluefields.” The editorial referred to describes various deficiencies and delays at the custom house, and expresses the opinion that the change is intended to effect a reform. Concession to an American Company. Consul O'Hara states that the Bluefields Recorder announces the granting of a con- cession to Mr. J. Lasche, representing the South Dakota and Central American Trad- ing Company of South Dakota, for 25,000 hectares of land, at any point on the At- lantic coast of Nicaragua, in alternate lots. In return the company Is to provide a steamer to ply between San Juan del Norte and Cape Graclas-a-Dios, calling at inter- mediate ports. Consul O'Hara adds: “It is said that Lasche is now in the United States, endeavoring to interest cap- italists in his project. He has been given six months within which to deposit $10,000 as an evidence of good faith. About half way between here and Bluefields there is a natural harbor, under the lee of Monkey Point, and It is an excellent place of refuge for vessels of the deepest draft when the vind is from either the north or east. At comparatively small cost a harbor could be made at that point, not only affording complete shelter to vessels with the wind from any quarter, but permitting them to land their cargoes without the aid of light- ers, and large enough to thus accommo- date many steamships and other vessels at the same time. The a is but a few miles south of there, and the lands along the river are rich and well adapted to the cultivation of bananas and other tropical crops. It is believed to be part of Lasche’s scheme to improve this harbor, establish a town at Monkey Point, build a railway to the Rama river, and, after palling: Japds along the river, put a steamer on the river to carry bananas and other productions to the railway, on wnich they would then be transported to Monkey Point.” Consul O'Hara states, however, that Thomas F. Drew and other Americans are negotiating with the government of Nic- aragua for the privilege of improving Monkey Point. ———_-e. INTERSTATE COMMERCE. Mr. @handier’s Inquiry as to Viola- tion of the Law. An Interesting correspondence regarding the pooling of railroads has been going on during the past month between the inter- state commerce commission, Attorney Gen- eral Harmon and Senator Chandler of New Hampshire. The correspondence was open- ed by Mr. Chandler calling the attention of the commission to a report of a meeting in New York of the “sixteen presidents appointed by the Trunk Line Association to formulate a means for maintaining east- bound and west-bound rates.” Mr. Chand- ler wanted to know whether the commission was watching and investigating the steps taken by the railroad combination “for the purpose of discovering whether its pro- pesed agreements will be in accordance with the common law and with the statutes of the United States against pooling and trusts, and with the view, if they are illegal, of preventing, if possible, their con- summation instead of allowing them to enter, unresisted, into full operation.” A letter of the same tenor was addressed to the Attorney General, the latter replying in effect that until the case of the United States vs. the Trans-Missotrl Freight As- sociation should be decided by the Supreme Court of the United States he did not see that there was anything for his depart- ment to do, as that case involved the ques- ticns that would be considered in the case of the combination referred to by Mr. Chanéler. Mr. Chandler's other letters urged action in the matter. ———— CASE OF MR. STERNE. Efforts Being Made _to Revoke the Sentence of Imprisonment. Mr. Simon Stern of New York and a friend also named Sterne were at the State Department tcday in consultation with Acting Secretary Adee and Solicitor Dab- rey in regard to the case of Mr. Louis Sterne, the New York merchant who was ecrvicted of violating a municipal ordi- rarce at Kissengen, Germany, and sen- tenced to a fine and two weeks’ imprison- ment. Mr. Sterne is row in Paris, having been released cn bail pending a hearing of his appeal from the judgment against him. His friends in this country are endeavcr- ing to have the United States governmuit exercise its good offices to secure a revoca- tion of that part of the sentence imposing imprisonment. The case has been the sub- ject of diplomatic correspondence for sev- eral weeks, and a favorable result is an- ticipated. ————_-o.+_ MET A HORRIBLE DEATH. A House Painter Roasted by an Elec- trie Light Wire. LANCASTER, Pa., September 11.—W. W. Fitzgerald, a house painter, met a hor- rible death today while at work painting the Railroad House by coming in contact with an electric light wire. ~ Fitzgerald was at work painting the cor- nice of the hotel, near which an electric light wire with a voltage of 2,000 passes. He placed a board beneath the wire and crawled under the cornice to get at his work. The board slipped and the wire fell on Fitzgerald’s neck. He reached up to remove it and his hand touched a por- tion from which the insulation bad worn. The shock paralyzed him. His partner, Wm. Kirchgerner, who went to his assistance, was knocked down. A half dozen others attempted to go up the fire escape, but it, too, was charged with electricity. - All this oe dec was roasting in full view of the hundreds who had gath- ered. Sparkgzwere dropping from his hands and fucs, and he presented a sick- ening sight. About half an hour after the accident am electric light employe ar- rived and cut the wire and the body dropped to the ground. It had been roasted almost to a crisp. Another Red Letter Day for the G. AB. WARM GREETING OF THE OLD GUARD Parade Under a Burning Sun at Louisville. FEATURES OF THE DAY — = Special From a Staff Correspondent. LOUISVILLE, Ky., September 11.—There have been two occasions in the history of the Grand Army cf the Republic which will hereafter be designated as red letter days. One of them, the time when the veterans marched down Pennsylvania ave- nue twenty-eight years after the grand review upon that same thoroughfare at the close of the war. The other, the day when they strung their line of parade for miles through Louisville, in peaceful re- invasion of the land that once they con- quered. This second red letter day occasion was scored today. It was marked upon the Grand Army annals under circumstances mest interesting and unequal. Heretofore the thousands of onlookers who have flanked the line of the annual march of the Grand Army have been those who were every whit in sympathy with the occasion. The eyes that gazed upon the grizzled, crip- pled, limping old soldiers. brightened with affection or dimmed with tears of senti- ment. The hearts of the observers went out to those surviving champicns of the Union. ‘To the onlookers in those northern cities there were memories of closer con- nections with the biue-coated marchers. Tkere were empty places in heart and —_ for them, which made the bond the cloeer. Today the conditions were different. The greater number of those who viewed the marching hosts were aliens®to heartfelt sympathy to the veterans. It was cu- riosity, not affection, which bent their eyes on the ranks. The sentiment was that with which the host regards the guest who is welcomed, but not beloved. With all this, however, the multitude was often moved to enthi As the battalions advanced it was plain to see that the crowd was catching more of the spirit of the affair. When some Nittle group of maimed and battered warriors trudged by the watchers would break into acheer. It was the Anglo-Saxon admira- ticn for the fighter that cropped out. They forgot that the object of their demonstra- tion had once been an enemy. Today he was remembered only as a soldier and a brave man. Greeting the Old Guard. When the Old Guard of Washington swept down the street and the crowd be- hel@ the cvlor guard of six men, each of whom had left an arm upon the battle ficld, they had to “holler.” You could trace the progress of the “Old Guard” by the louder note of admiration swelling the cheers in their immediate neighborhood. If it was an unusually inspiriting yell you could wager it came from @ group of ex- confederates, who had known what it was to meet a gallant foe and generous enough to pay tribute to him now, It was interesting to watch the colored people in the crowd. They have been in a delirium of delight ever since the Grand Army struck town. Today they were fair- ly carried away. Not one of them but knew the full import of the demonstration. They took it all to themselves. Te them. there Was no question of preservation of the Union in the great event which produced this body of men. In their minds it was for their benefit alone that the war was waged, and these men were their Nerves. Theirs was hero worship of the most ideal- ic kind, simple, unquestioning from bottom of the heart. Veterans of their own race they greeted warmly, but there was ecstasy in the welcome to the ranks of the white men who had fought for them. The veterans found a specie of novelty in the thought of parading in Dixte. They could well be pardoned for entertaining a sense of exultation in the situation. This Was the ground they fought for and re- claimed. It might be said they felt a kind of proprietorship in it. Under a Burning Sun. The start for the parade was made be- neath a cloudless sky and a burning sun. It was Dixie weather with a vengeance. It made many of the veterans think of old times, when they tramped weary miles urder similar conditions. “We've marched in the south before; I guess we can do it again,” remarked a one- legged old fellow from Kans: as he stumped into line with his wooden leg. The day promised to be severe upon northerners, however. The Washington delegation turned out betimes. The “Old Guard” and the drum corps were first on hand, and made a pre- liminary formation on the street opposite department headquarters, and were soon followed by other posts. From there they marched to their place in the main line of march, taking position between Vermont and North Carolina. The drum corps made a great hit. The boys were in good form, and the eighty-six youngsters, uncer Capt. Churchill, waked the streets with bugle and drum. They made a nice show in their new uniforms, and outnumbered and outplayed any other drum corps on the scene. Sumner Post, consisting of the colored troops, made a good showing and stacked up favorably with other delegations. Many of the officers of the department were mounted, and the soldierly bearing and good drilling of the Washingtonians made a favoreble impression all along the iine. Commander Anderson appointed Adolph Gertman of Anacostia an additional aid on his staff. The Hent Terrific. The Washington posts had a long march before they reached their station in the line of parade, but all hands stood it well. By 10 o'clock the heat was terrific, and everybody was glad when occasional halts were made to break for the shady side of the walk. The Washingtonians were glad to find that an ambulance corps had been detailed to follow their march. This con- sisted of an ambulance, with a staff of surgeons and twelve mounted medical stu- dents, who scouted up and down the Ili all the time, ready to go to the rescue of a stricken man or to dash off-for the ambu- lance in the rear. The service for the whole parade was excellent, being on a par with this arrangement. The mounted sur- geons patrolled the streets in every direc- tion, a large force being detailed for this urpose alon2. ths streets were well roped off and vig- Hlant policing was maintained. Commander Anderson of the Department of the Poto- mac, being unable to walk far on account of his old wounds, rode at the head of his department in a light buggy, and his mounted aids, under the direction of Col Carter, kept the line in order. The people who viewed the parade were not computed by thousands, but measured by miles. Every inch of available space alcng the long line of march was orcupied by sightseeing throngs. Of course. he city turned out in a mass, and this attendance was doubled by the visitors, who poured in during the early morning on excursion trains from neighboring towns. It was a southern audience. Many of them had not seen the bluecoats since the war. In the lapse of years, if they had not forgotten the old enmity, they had at least