Evening Star Newspaper, October 25, 1895, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. Sees PUBLISHED BAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. New York Office, 49 Potter Building. gs ‘The Evening Star s served to subscribers in the eity by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents f Weck, cr 44 cents r month. es at the unter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United Gtates or Canada—postage prepala—80 cenis r month, Saturday Quintupl» Sheet Star, $1 per year, with fereign postage nlded, $3.00. Entered at the Post Office at Washinston, D. C., second-class mail matter.) ‘All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. jates of advertising made known on application. Che Hoening Star. No. 13,305. WASHINGTON, D.O., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1895—SIXTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. Look on page 11 for the seventeenth installment of “When the War Was Over.” $500 for the cor- rect solution of the mystery by a woman reader. ANOTHER WAR CLOUD Effect of the Chinese Concessions to Russia. WOULD UPSET THE BALANCE OF POWER Excited Comments by the London Newspapers. FOREIGN OFFICE ACTIVE LONDON, October 25.—The dispatch from Bhanghai yesterday afternoon announcing the departure of a fleet of nineteen Russian warships from Vladivostock for Chemulpo and Fusan, Core, and the Times dispatch from Hong Kong, announcing that Russia has obtained the right to anchor her fleet at Port Arthur and construct railroads on the Liao-Tung peninsula (both of which were cabled exclusively to the Associated Press), have caused intense excitement in official circles here as well as in those hay- Ing commercial relations with the far east. These most important statements are looked upon generally as being a sudden reopening in an unexpected quarter of the far eastern question in its widest sense. The Shanghai dispatch added that the Japanese fleet In Formosan waters had been recalled, that several British warships had been ordered to Corea and that prepar- ations for a struggle were visible on all pides. The Hong Kong cable message to the Times caused that paper to remark edi- torially today: : “Russia cannot possibly imagine that the great pcwers will view with indifference such a destruction of the balance of power, which is almost unparalleled in its au- dacity. China’s option to purchase the rail- ways is a jest almost too cynical to find a place in any serious diplomatic transaction. Under the indicated conditions Manchuria would practically become a Russian prov- ince, while Pekin would be within Russia's gresp.” It is admitted here that the situation presented is so grave that should the news prove true it would make war in which several nations would take part more than probable. It should be added that there is every reason to believe that the story from Hong Keng is authentic, and all sources of information agree that the powers inter- ested in the far east will find themselves confronted with a condition of seriousness which cannot be overestimated. British Intervention Called For. ‘The afternoon papers all publish long ar- “ticles agreeing that British intervention in the far east is necessary. The St. James Gazette says: “Even war with Russia would be less disastrous than to allow her, without a blow, to get such a grip upon China. She could throttle all the ether powers and choke off their commerce. Unless Russia and China give the nece: sary assurances, it is a case for an ulti- mutum and perhaps the mcst serious step since the Crimean war.” wcrld, and it is re-echoed by the press, that neither America nor Germany can allow the Pacific to become “a Franco-Russian luke,” as the Globe puts it, and it is gen- erally thought that the diplomats will be sufficiently strong to combine to resist Rus- sian aggression. ‘The Pall Mall Gazette sums up the start- ling rews from the far east with the state- ment that “Russia hes annexed China,” and in the course of a long article on the subject adds: “If this tr map of Asia In conclusion, the Pall Mall Gazette urges the reoccupation of Port Hamilton by the Eritish, ard the immediate strengthening of the British ticet in Chinese waters, “lest Japan lose her fleet at the first blow.” Since this important news was circulated the greatest activity has been displayed in the government offices here, particularly at the foreign offices and at the admiralty, and the coming and going of messengers Was contiruous throughout the morning and business hcurs of the afternoon. 'y is to stand, roll up the The Topic in the Clubs. At the different clubs “the war scare’ in Yhe east is eagerly discussed, the grave sit- Wation of affairs in Venezuela having al- Most completely dropped out of recollection in the alarm of the moment. Nobody seems ‘to doubt the report that by the recently @greed upon Russo-China treaty, Russia has obtained rights, to which the most favored nation clause is not applicable, which may cause a great war. The correspondent of the Times at Hong Kong, who sent the sensational news, is described by his newspaper as being in “close relations with tnen who are able to penetrate beneath the surface of things,” and it is therefore concluded that the news he has just sent cannot be disregarded. Naturally, the public mind will be in a state of great unrest until some official ut- terance either denies or confirms the report, the announcement of which would leave Great Britain with her hands full of trouble, large and small, including Brazil regarding Trinadad,the serious misunderstanding with Venezuela on the subject ot the boundary nes, the expedition preparing to reduce the King of Ashanti to submission, the still seri- ous state of affairs in Armenia, the unsettled state of the Egyptian quest: and, now,the most grave condition of affairs in the far east. AMERICA SHIPS IN THE EAST. The United Stn it Particularly In- terested in the Complication. The Navy Department is giving careful attention to the situation in Corea. The United States has no special interest in the complication beyond the protection of Amer- ican interests, and probably under no cir- cumstances would do more than take pre- caution to this end by sending some of the ships now in Asiatic waters to the scene in case official advices should confirm the reports of prospective trouble. No orders have yet been issued looking to the dispatch of any portion of the Asiatic fleet to Corean *partment has so far proc a that Ad tuation and will take ivisable. The in Oriental nt to Corea w if advisable. at the principal Chinese ports has been con- sid d necessary in view of the anti-mi: sionary agitation, but the subsidence of ex. citement on this account again leaves the commander of the squadron free to use his fleet elsewhere if necessary. At the Japanese Legation. ‘The Japanese legation does not construe the dispatches that a Russian fleet ls moving to Corea as indicating that a conflict is im- minent. The Russian harbor at Vladivo- stock will be ice-bound next month, and as it is the only Pacific harbor the Russians have, it is regarded as unkkely that they would make a naval demonstration when their harbor was closing. a Mire at Onkinnd City, Ind. OAKLAND CITY, Ind., October 25.—Fire Was discovered in the store of Stillwell & Co. this morning, and before the depart- ment could arrive the flames spread to ad- enue buildings. Losses amount to H5,- THE VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY ALASKA'S BOUNDARY KILLED BY THE EXPLOSION NEW YORK DOUBTFUL A SHORT CAMPAIGN RAILROAD ACCIDENT Reference to It in an Agricultural Depart- ment Publication. The Late Secretary Gresham's Reply to the Thanks of Veneszuela’s Foreign Minister. An official publication issued by the De- partmert of Agriculture in 1992 contains some interesting references to the Vene- zuelan boundary question. This book, in describing .the agricultural resources of the South American republics, gives sta- tistics of population and area. In referring to Verezuela the publication states: Change of British Claims. “It ought to be noted perhaps that the British authority known as The States- man’s Year Book, for 1885, gives the arca of British Guiana bounding Venezuela on the east as 76,000, and that the same an- nual for 1886 gives the area as 109,000 square miles, an increase during a year of 33,000 square miles to European possessions in’ America, and an equal loss to the re- public of Venezuela, so far unaccounted for by treaty or recognized conquest, and claimed by the latter country to be against ber hitherto unbroken and undisputed right of possession acknowledged in the treaty of Munster, 1648, the definite treaty of Aran- juez, 1791, and the treaty of London, 1814, which conferred what is now British Guia- na upon Great Britain with the Essequibo as its permanent western boundary. Since 1886 Great Britain has claimed and taken possession of 33,000 square miles, extending rorth to the mouth of the Orinoco, always previously in the possession of Venezuela and still cleimed by the republic, which area bears a population of nearly 30,000 in- Labitants, according to the British calcu- lation of 1890, in the year book for 1801.” What Secretary Gresham Said. The map of South America in this book shows the beurdary line claimed by Ven- ezuela. The minister of foreign affairs or Venezuela expressed to the late Secretary Gresham fis gratification at this recogni- tion of Venezuela's. rights in an official publication of the United States, and Secre- tary Gresham replied that the ‘publica- tion, being compiled for the division of statistics in the Department of Agriculture and by its authority, should not be taken as an authoritative expression by the de- partment charged with the conduct of for- eign affairs upon the merits of the con- troversy so long pending between Venez- ucla and Great Britain touching the bow daries between the contiguous territories on the Caribbean coast. The zovernment of the United States has on several occa- sions in the past exerted its impartial of- fices toward bringing about a good under- standing betyeen the disputants. It has advised the submitting of their cause of difference to the friendly arbitration of a third power; but it has not expressed an opinion concerning the merits of the histor- ical and other data upon which the con- flicting territorial claims may respectively rest.” ——— WEAKENED WALL COLLAPSED. More Than a Dozen Workmen Hart at Clyde, Ohio. CLYDE, Ohio, October 23.—Half of the east wall of the Elmore Manufacturing Company’s three-story bicycle factory col- lapsed at 7:30 this morning. All the floors were filled with workmen. More than a dozen are badly injured, and several are buried under the debris. Volunteers risked their lives to rescue the unfortunates. A young son of Foreman George Hollo- way, was the first to be dug out. He is badly crushed and mangled, but may re- cover. The following is a list of the in- jured: James Becker, one of the proprietors, head badly bruised and hips injured. Charles Eberhardt,caught by falling wall, right arm and shoulder bruised and cut. Clarence Whaley, caught under a ma- chine, head badly bruised and cut. . Ed. King, dug out from under fallen walls, head cut and body badly bruised; will recover. William Snyder, found in the trench, leg broken at the ankle. Roy Lemmon, head cut and bruised about the body. Archie Holloway, found in the rench, head badly cut and injured internally. Frank Cook, caught under the wall, badly bruised and suffered internal injuries; will rrobably die. William Hudson, right leg caught under falling timbers and broken in two places. ‘The work of removing the debris still con- tinues, but it is thought all the injured men have been rescued. Workmen commenced this morning to dig a trench along the east wall of the building for a water main, and it was this which veakened the wall, and caused ft to col- lapse. All the men who were in the trench at the time were caught under the falling wall, and their escape from instant death is miraculous. As the wall fell outward, all three cf the floors partially fell,throwing those who were on them to the ground. The portion of the wall which fell is about rinety feet in length and three stories high, The main offices were in this end of the building, and, consequently, fewer work- men were there to be caught. — ANNOUNCED BY THE A. P. As Usual, Far Ahend on the Oriental Situation, NEW YORK, October 25.—The sudden re- opening of the far eastern question was the feature of the foreign news of yesterday. As usual, this important fact was exclu- sively announced by the Associated Press yesterday afternoon in the statement from Shanghai that a Russian squadron of fif- teen warships had left Vladivostock for Chemulpo and Fusan, Corea, and that the Japanese fleet in Formosan waters had, in consequence, been recalled. The news- Papers served by another press organiza- tion did not have a line of this important news, and they were also without the im- portant dispatches of the London Times from Hong Kong, showing that Russia seems to have obtained, by treaty with China, a firm grip on the Liao Tung penin- sula_and Port Arthur, the information which set every politician of Europe think- ing. The Associated Press newspapers yester- day afternoon also had exclusively the dis- covery of the vlot against the Sultan of Turkey, the latest developments in the French-Brazilian dispute, and proof of the terrible sufferings of French troops in r, in the arrival at Algiers of the steamship Canton, which reported that sixty-five of her invalided soldiers had died on the voyage. These were a few of the exclusive items of news of the Associated Press. ————— FIREMEN HAD A BAD FALL. Flames Breke Out in North Main Street, St. Louis. ST. LOUIS, Mo., October 25—Fire was discovered today in the laboratory of the Allen Pfeiffer Chemical Company, . 617 North Main street, and, spreading both ways, soon involved the wool and tallow store house of M. Wolfheim, No. 615; the Calvert-Vane Paint Co., No. 619; the front of the Frank Street Furniture Company, 621, and the Henry McCabe & Co. tobacco factory, No. 623. The aggregate losses on stock will amount to about $50,000, and on buildings to about $40,000. ‘Two firemen, Ed. Fryman and John Dit- weiler, fell from a water tower, 25 feet, to the ground and were severely injured. What the Officials of the Coast Sur- vey Say of It. JONEAU PEOPLE NO CAUSE FOR ALARM General Duffield’s Statement of Britain’s Sudden Interest. HOW IT MUST BE SETTLED —_+—_ —_ The reports from Alaska ‘printed in The Star yesterday show that the inhabitants of Juneau City are in a periodical state of alarm over the settlement of the Alaska boundary question. The war cry, “Ten marine leagues or fight,” has been sounded once more. In point of fact the officials of the coast and geodetic survey state that the people of Juneau have not the slightest ground for alarm, inasmuch as there is no danger of their ever waking up some morning and finding themselves in Canadian territory. The question of the Alaskan boundary is one of long standing, which the United States government inherited from Russia. A commission was appointed scveral years ago, a representative of the British govern- ment and the superintendent of the United States coast and geodetic survey, to ascer- tain the facts involved in the contention, which were to be submitted to their higher authorities as a basis for reaching a tinal decision. American Surveyors’ Work. Gen. Duffield, the superintendent of the survey, said to a Star reporter this morn- ing that the work of the American survey- crs, while not complete, was still in a very forward state. Two years ago the northwesterf extremity of the disputed line was settled at the 141st meridian, up which the line then runs to the Arctic ocean. This point is very close to Mount St. Elias, which, according to estimates of the American representative, is well within the territory of Alaska. This year the southern extremity of the line was located, and in view of the contentions raised by Great Britain there would be small use in completing the line which runs northwest and separates the southern extremity of Alaska from British Columbia. The reason that 1t would be unwise to go to the trouble of settling this line is that the claims of Great Britain and the United States as to where it should run are greatly at variance and a survey would not help the matter in the slightest. How the Question Must Be Settled. The boundary line between Alaska and British Columbia must be settled by an in- terpretation of the terms of the treaty by which the United States got possession of the territory. According to that treaty the line fs to start at the southern extremity of Prince of Wales Island, 54 degrees 40 minutes north, east to the Portland canal, which it is to follow up to a point where the canal crosses the 5ch parallel. From that point it was to run northwest, and the terms of the treaty stated that if there were a range of mountains parallel to the ceast, the line should follow the crests of the mountains; or if there were no moun- tains it should run along parallel with the ccast and at a distance of ten marine leagues up to the l4ist meridian. In point of fact there is no such range of moun- tairs there, and the whole question reduced itself to a contest as to what was meant by “ten marine leagues from the coast.” Great Britain‘s Sudden Interest. According to a prominent official, Great Britain never worried very much over the line, and let the whole matter lie in abey- ance until it happened that gold was dis- covered in the territory. “Then,” as he ex- pressed it, “the interest of Great Britain flashed up like powder in a pan, just as it- always does under similar circumstances. Great Britain has a wonderful liking for gold.” The boundary line as claimed by Great Britain is to run parallel and at a distance of ten marine leagues not from the coast of the mainland, as the United States un- deretands it, but from the outer edge of the outer islands. Such a claim as this throws the boundary line completely out of the mainland in places, and would give the United States only the possession of the islands, and not even all of them. For in- stance, the line passes directly through and almost bisects Chicago Island. Under this claim Juneau would be in British Colum- bia. In the Nature of a Bluff. “I do not really think,” said Gen. Duf- field, “that Great Britain is in earnest in making this claim. I regard it largely in the nature of a bluff and the good people of Juneau may be satisfied that the United States will never regard the outer edge of the outer islands as the seacoast of Alaska. ‘The people of Juneau are laboring under a misapprehension in thinking that the final settlement of this question rests with the boundary commission. This commission has no power in the matter and was only intended to supply the State Department and the foreign office with data on which to base their agreement. In other words, the commission might be compared with the surveyors who would furnish a court with information bearing upon a question where the beundaries of a piece of land were dis- puted. One of the most important questions to be decided is the point where the 14lst meridian crosses Forty Mile creek, which flows into the Yukon river. Forty Mile creek drains the gold country, and it is toward that point that all the miners are hurrying. The mouth of the creek Is very close to the lilst meridian, and it is a questiop of considerable importance to know whether it ts in American or British territory. As a result of the computations made by the surveyors, I think I am safe in saying that the United States cannot claim the mouth of the creek, which is slightly across the line. An Uncertain Statement. “I have seen in the papers recently that a Canadien official who would rank with the comnissicner of our ijand office claims that a Canadian surveyor has been at work and finds that the meridian crosses the creek fully ten miles from its mouth. This would throw considerable of the gold terri- tery into the British possessions. The con- tention can never be made to stand, how- ever, and our people who have been at work up there say that they have never heard of any such man as that alleged Canadian surveyor ever being in that part of the country. There are two ways of reaching the Forty-mile Creek country. One is by way of the Yukon river, which is navigable that far with light craft and the assistance of portages. The other is through Chilkat pass back of Juneau. If the mcuth of the creek is in Canadian ter- ritory the Cenadian government might of course exact tribute from miners passing in through that way, and I have heard that the authorities were recently hurrying some Canadian police toward Chilkat pass for that purpose.”” S ——____—_-oe+—_____. Will Be Flag Lieutenant. Lieut. J. J. Hunker has been detached from duty at the navy yard, New York, and ordered to report to Acting Rear Ad- miral Selfridge, commanding the European squadron, for duty as flag lieutenant. He will sail from New York for Marseilies with the admiral on the 2d proximo. The Sea Lion at the Zop Dies From the Effect of Oononssion, A Great Loss te the Park—An Unuw ually Large and Fine Animal— Am Elk Also Dead, The handsome sea Hon at ‘the Zoological Park is dead, and his death is supposed to be due to the accidental explosion of dyna- mite, which occurred in the park Wednes- day, which shook the whole city ‘and made some people imagine it was an earthquake. This is the only fatality that has been traced to the aecidental explosion. To the Zoo the loss is about the gréatest that it could sustain in the death of any individ- ual animal. He was regarded as one of the finest specimens. in captivity, and for two years has been admired ty slmost every visitor to the place. Whst increased his value to the park officials was the fact that he was the only animal of its kind belonging to the place, and for this reason he received considerable extra attention. The lion was kent in a small lake near the bridge which crosses Fock creek, and just across from the den of the polar bear. The dimensions of the lake were small, but it was sufficient for the sea lion to disport in. The’ ‘whole was inclosed by a small fence to prevent the- visitors from getting too cloxe to the water edge. This was the heme mad> for ‘the lion when it was first secured, and for two summers he has occupied it: When the Explosion Occurred. The explosion. occurred, about 200 feet frim the home of the sea lion. The ani- mals in the Zoo were particularly fright- ened, and the keeper in the main building Stated to a Star reporter that even the snakes were aroused and the- rattlesnakes sounded their rattles in a threatening and ominous manner, This is. the second time the snakes have been heard to use their rattles since being in confinenient. The sea lien was located nearer to the spot where the explosion occurred than any other animal in the Zoo, and it is sup- possed that the jarring ef the earth in- jured him internally. He -was thought to be uninjured until in the afternoon, when Keeper Blackburn went-ont to feed him. He refused food, and his gemeral listless manner gave evidence to the*Keeper that the animal was sick. Seeitg that the case nesded immediate attention he summoned help, and the lion was temderly lifted up and carried to his winter home, which is in the antelope house. Here the beast was doetored, but to no avail, and'in the morn- ing he was found dead. His @eath is at- tributed to the q@xplosion,* but to satisfy themselves, Dr. Baker, assisted by Drs. Styles, Dawson and Palmer of the Agricul- tural Department, held a mortem ex- amination yesterday. is examination showed conclusively that''death resulted from concussion. The animal was skinned, and. the pelt sent to the Sméthsenian Insti- tution, where it willbe mounted after life. The sea lion was sequted by the Zoo Pecple about two years ago. circus man who was thepat.Norfolk found it a diMicnit metter to carry the aquatic beast around with him, and he rade overtures to the Zcclogical Park for an exuhange. The result was that one of the dntelopes was forwarded.in exchange, and the new prize watched with care. .'The lion was an un- usually large and fine animal and weighed as much as an ordinary man. Another Death. _The park also lost another of its attrac- tions Tuesday, a member of the herd of elks shuffling off his mortal coil. He had been sick for some time, and, according to the diagnosis of the veterinarian, he was suffering from peritonitis. How the ani- mal became sick can only be conjectured, but it is thought that the disease was caused by injuries received from the other animals in the herd. Dr. Dawson of the Agricultural Department held a post-mor- tem examination the day: of the death of the animal, and the skin was sent down to the Smithsonian to be stuffed ahd mounted. One of the new attractions at the park is a cage of snakes, which, have just been placed on exhibition. The -park authori- ties have, as stated in The Star, secured the loan of a handsome gollection of rep- tiles, and, while one cage is full, the work- men at the ‘park are busily engaged in constructing another one to accommodate all on hand. There are some particularly fine specimeps of the Gila monsters, and many of the other snakes in the collection are the largest that have probably ever been seen in this section of the country. ee AQUEDUCT INSPECTION. It Wan Made by Capt. Lieut. Gaillard, Capt. Black, corps of ergineers, one of Gen. Cra‘ghill's assistants at the War De- partment, made a personal inspection of the Washington aqueduct and the water works of this city today, going up the river as far as the dam at Great Falls, He was accom- panied by Lieut. Gaillard, who ts in charge of the aqueduct under the orders of Muj Davis. The inspection was made at the suggestion of Gen. Craighill, who desired Black and Capt. Black to familiarize himself with the j local water supply system, inaemuch as he handles all the reports of the officers in charge of the works. ee Personul Mention. W. G. Gill of Philadelphia, superintendent of the southern district-of the Western Union Company, ‘is at the Raleigh. Congressman Ben. T, Cable of Illinois arrived at the Raleigh this morning. O. T. Wood and L. A. Peasé of the Chi- cago and Quincy road are guests at the Raleigh. W. G. Maury and wife of Richmond and Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Kellers of Jersey City are at the Raleigh. R. F. Kane and wife of Boston are at the Riggs Hcuse. J. H. Cavanaugh, wife and daughter, of Savannah are recent arrivals at the Riggs House. a S. W. Baldwia of Orange, N. J., is regis- tered at Page’s.~ 4 Charles L. Easton, a prominent Chicago club man, is at Chamberlin’s. Mr. and Mrs: R. J. Merritt of Brooklyn are at the Normandie. Woodville Flemming of New York and Mr. ‘and Mrs. Thomas ¥. Lane of New Jersey are guests at the Normandie. John C. Calhoun of Néw' York, Victor Pcpp and Emil Schuer of Paris and Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Black of Franklin, Pa., are among today’s arrivals at the Arlington. Ex-Senator Edmunds of Vermont is at the Arlington, : Mr. ard Mrs. F. C. Townsend of Staten Island are at the Arlington. Lieut. L. D. Clarke of the navy, station- ed at Pittsburg, is in the ‘eity on leave of absence. He is stopping at the Richmond. Commander Nicoll Ludlow of the navy is at the Ebbitt. He is on waiting orders. Mr. C. B. Bayley, jr., formerly of John F. Ellis & Co. of this city, but at present with S. Hamilton & Co., Pittsburg, is in the clty on a short er parents. e Notiog to Subseribers; Subscribefs are earviestly requested to réport any trregularity in ‘he de- livery of The Star“and also any failure on the part of the carrier to ring the door bell. A proper service can only be main- tained through the courtesy of sub- -scribers in reporting shortcomings. Democratic Leaders Not Confident of Victory Next Month. EXCISE QUESTION COTS BOTH WAYS May Carry the City and Lose the State. EFFECT OF DEFEAT The democratic leaders are not particu- larly confident of victory in New York next month. However enthusiastic and boastful the rank and file may appear, the leaders privately give expression to their doubts. The division in the party, coupled with a resentment of Mr. Hill's appearing so much in the foreground, renders the situation threatening to them, and, besides, the excise questior appears to cut both ways. Not Altogether Promising. One of the leaders said to a Star reporter the other da: ‘It is impossible to tell what the outcome will be. We have no walkover. On the contrary, the situation is not alto- gether promising. The party is too badly divided, and the anti-Hill feeling is still strong enough to do harm to the ticket. Mr. Hill has not succeeded in making friends with his old-time antagonists in the party, but in his effort to do so he has checked the enthusiasm of his old-time sup- porters. I think he has shown -a broad spirit in trying to bring about a reconcilia- tion in the party, but his efforts have not been successful. Hill wants all democrats to understand that democratic success means the sustaining of the democratic national administration, and that a defeat would extend to the administration. The Cleveland men are not all willing to accept this view of it, and, as far as the anti-Cleve- land men accept the proposition, it may be hurtful. Personal Liberty the Only Issue. “Practically the only issue we have been able to make clear is that of personal lib- erty. The strength of that, I fear, is over- estimated. It hurts possibly as much as it helps us. It will probably win in the city, but even there it cuts both ways, and it will hurt in the country. There are a great many more people in New York city in favor cf what is called Rooseveltism than is generally supposed. The papers are strongly in favor of personal liberty, so that the other side does not fully appear in the public discussion, but there is no doubt about it, a great inany people are applaud- ing Roosevelt. I think, however, we will win in New York city. As to the state at large, I am not so sure about it. We have never won in the state when there was such a division in Brooklyn as there now is.”" Effect of Defeat Now. Another democrat of equal prominence, while declaring in a doubtful sort of way that he bélieved the party would win, ad- mitted that the situation was not altogether satisfactory, and said that if they failed this fall the democrats would not be very hopeful of carrying the state at the presi- dential election. He said that while a vic- tory now would not surely indicate success in "96, failure now would foreshadow defeat next year. The sources of these remarks were such as to give them peculiar significance. There seems to be little doubt that there is con- siderable uneasiness among those high in command, and there is a great deal of half- heartedness where active effort might be expected. Even the tempting talk of a third term for Cleveland fails to excite the old-time Cleveland men to activity. ——___-e-—______ STATE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTS. What Treasury Officials Say of the Examination of Them. Based on the fact that a messenger in the State Department some months ago, as published at the time, abstracted money from letters containing applications for passports, the impression has been created in some quarters that a wholesale inquiry into the financial affairs of the department has been made with damaging results. It is said at the department that the treasury officials have been making an examination of the books of the department with the purpose primarily of ascertaining just how much money was lost through tne messen- ger’s defaication, and whether the practice had been going on in years past. The re- sults so far, while showing some slight ir- reguiarities in the accounts, do not in any way teud to demonstrate that there has been any other case of turpitude. ———_--2+_______ VIOLATED THE LAW. The Electric Light Company Fined for Stringing un Overhead Wire. The case of Frank H. Clark, superin- tendent of the United States Electric Light Company, charged with stringing overhead wires in Georgetown in violation of the law which prohibits the occupation of pub- lic space for private purposes, as hereto- fore published in The Star, was called for trial today in the Police Court before Judge Kimball. Mr. Henry Wise Garnett and others represented the company, and sub- mitted several legal points heretofore raised in similar cases. The Georgetown police brought the case to the attention of the court, and showed that the wire had been strung from one building to another either late at night or early in the morning. Judge Kimball heard arguments in the case and held, as he has in other cases, that the stringing of the wires is a viola- tion of law. The defendant was held guilty and a fine of $25 was imposed. CASHED THE CHECK. George A. Burgess Charged With Taking His Employer's Money. Detective Lacy had George A. Burgess in the Police Court today on a charge of grand larceny. The defendant, who had been employed at G. A. Shehan’s lumber yard, was intrusted with a check for $75 to get cashed. He got it cashed and then failed to return the money. His excuse was that he lost it, but it is alleged that he had been drinking and spent it. Counsel for the defendant waived an examinatior. and the case was sent to the grand jury. —_——>_— WILL ARREST OFFENDING UTES. Their Case to Be Taken Ultimately to the Supreme Court. DENVER, Col., October 25.—Department Commander Wheaton has promised Gov. McIntyre that any of the northern Utes who may be accused of violating the laws of Colorado will be arrested upon their re- turn to their reservation and brought back to Colorado for trial. The intention is to carry the case successively through all the courts to the supreme, court of the state and then to the Supreme Court of the United States. je Government Receipts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $298,066. Government receipts —From internal revenue, $455,324; customs, $610,234; miscellaneous, $17,920. That is Indicated by the Call of Chairman Oarter. Democrats Will Prebably Hold Their Convention First—One by Silver Men Likely. The call of Chairman Carter for the meeting of the republican national com- mittee, to be held at the Arlington Hotel, in this city, December 10, indicates a de- termination on the part of the republican leaders to hold their national convention later than usual. The democrats will prob- ably follow this example, and there will be a short campaign in "96. Had the republicars not intended a late convention, the meeting of the national committee would have been called for some time early In November. The democrats, being the party in power, will probably hold their convention first. There are several reasons why both par- ties should want to shorten the campaign. The business interests of the country, it is thought, demand that there should be 2s little disturbance as possible. The di- vision of sentiment in both parties, with the prospect of much dissatisfaction re- sulting within the parties from both con- ventions, and the slowness with which is- sues are developing give another reason for their wanting to make the contest short and sharp. There is no desire to give discontented factions much time to brood over their disappointments, and possibly to form an alliance which might be disturb- ing to the campaign. A Silver Party Convention. It is believed that as soon as the de- termination in favor of late conventions is announce by the two old parties there will be a national convention called by the silver party, to meet in May or early in June. Both the democrats and the repub- licans prefer that the silver party conven- tion, if there is to be one, should be held before the regular national conventions. If the regular conventions were held early, and a silver convention following them, silver men who had not before broken with their party might, in their disappoint- ment at the two conventions going against their wishes, go into the independent con- vention. If the silver men meet first, how- ever, most of the republicans and demo- crats who refuse then to join in an inde- pendent silver movement will find them- selves barred from doing so after waiting lor the declaration of their regular party conventions. The Shorter Campaign the Better. It is thought that the old parties have nothing to lose from a short campaign, aud that it there should be a_three- cornered fight the shorter the campaign the better it would be. ——————— LUDLOW’S CASE. COMMANDER Recommendation for His Promotion Disapproved by the President. The President has disapproved the rec- ommendation of the naval examining board fer the promotion of Commander Nicoll Ludlow to the grade of captain. This case has been under consideration for many months, end is regarded with special in- terest in naval circles. It is said that the President bases his adverse action on the broad ground that Commander Ludlow has been guilty of condict unbecoming an of- ficer, and therefore is not a proper subject for advancement in his profession. The ef- fect of this action is that Commander Lud- low will be retained at the top of the list in his grade, while his juniors are pro- moted over his head. Commander Cook, assistant chief of the bureau of navigation, will be the first officer to benefit by Com. mander Ludlow’s misfortune. It is likely, the friends of the latter assert, that he has been misjudged by the President, and they will make an effort to have his case reopened. ——_—_-e. NOT AN ATOM OF TRUTH. What Mr. Harmon Says of the Olney Resignation Story. Attorney General Harmon is the one member of the calinet who is not afraid to be quoted in regard to the reported rupture between the President’and Secretary Olney over the American policy in the Venezuela affair. “There is not an atem of truth,” said he, “in che story that Secretary Olney has quarreled with the President, and is abcut to leave the cabinet. I am willing to be quoted as saying that the relations be- tween the President and the Secretay of State are wholly cordial and friendly. They have not had even a difference of opinion out of which a story cf a quarrel could he built, and the tale of a serious disagree- ment is a lie out of whole cloth, without a shedow of foundation.” ——_____ JUDICIARY VACAN The Attorney General Has 2 Confer- ence With the President. Attorney General Harmon had a con- ference today with the President, presuma- bly on the subject of filling some of the ex- isting vacencies in the United States ju- diciary. The resignation of Judge Studrt of the central district of Indian territory creates @ vacancy which is likely be filled very secon. Mr. Yancey Lewis, a well-known at- torney of Ardmore, I. T., and at one time a partner of Judge Stuart, it is said is very likely to receive the appvintment. The vacancy in the office of United States judge for the cistrict of Alaska is also un- der consideration, as is also that of solic- itor for the Department of State. —————_—_<__-o.____ FIFTY TURKS EXECUTED. Dropped Overboard During the Night Into a Swift Current. LONDON, October 25.—The Standard this mcrning has further details from its corre- spondent at Constantinople regarding the execution of the fifty young Turks who were arrested on Saturday on a charge of excesses during the recent Armenian riots, as was exclusively cabled yesterday to the Associated Press. The fifty culprits, after a trial, were conveyed by night aboard a Turkish man-of-war, whose boats took them into the swiftest current and dropped them overboard. : “I am able to assert,” continues the cor- respondent, “that these measures have en- tirely broken the spirit of the Turkish revo- lutionaries. Hassen Pasha, minister of marine, also suspected, and is closely watche —_—— SHOT HIS FATHER. Fred. Heard of Chester, fended His Mother. CHESTER, Pa., October 25.—Fred. Heard, aged twenty-one years, shot and probably fatally injured his father, David Heard, aged forty-seven years, this morning at their home, No. 604 East 4th street. The father and mother quarreled, and the son defended his mother. His father turned on him, and the son, drawing a revolver, shot his parent four times. The first shot took effect over the right eye, second in right arm, third in left hand and fourth grazed left arm. Pa., De- ————— Naval Movements. The Dolphin arrived at New London yes- terday. The fish commission steamer Al- batross arrived at San Francisco today. An Engine Dashes Intc a Cattle Train at Bowie, ONE KILLED AND FOUR INJURED How the Collision Happened to Cccur. ONE OF THE VICTIMS’ STORY Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. BOWIE, Md., October 25.—The rumors in Washingion shortly before noon today to the effect that a passenger train had plunged from the Long bridge into the Po- tomac river, and that a frightful loss of life had resulted emanated from a collision at Bowie between a cattle train and the en- gine of a repair train. In consequence, one man lost his life and four others were more or less seriously injured. The usually peace- ful little village surrounding the station was also wrought up to a state of almost unprecedented excitement, and the scene was one of demoralizacion. Mow the Collision Occurred. The collision occurred at 11:20 o'clock. A’ cattle train of ten cars from Greenbriar county, W. Va., which passed through Washington this morning, was backing onto the tracks of the Pope’s Creek branch, which has its beginning at Bowie, in order to permit the passage of a fast passenger train over the main ne to Philadelphia. -At the same time the engine of a repair train, at work on the Pope’s Creek lin near Bowie, was running toward the sta- tion to obtain a supply of water from the pipe located there. One Killed and Four W: ded. For some reason, as yet unexplained, neither the train nor the engine were flag- ged, and the caboose or cabin car, of the cattle train met the engine with a fearful crash. There was a sound of crushing tim- bers and escaping steam as the cars rose in the air to a height of forty feet or more, breaking a line of telegraph wires stretched above the track, and then toppling over. Spectators were horrified, as it was known that a number of cattlemen, some sleeping, Were in the caboose at the time. Without delay a search was made among the debris and one dead body found. Four other men were assisted to the railroad station, pain- fully wounded. The announcement of the collision was telegraphed to Washington, and Train Dis- patcher McKeever, with the surgeon for the railroad, Dr. C. V. Boarman, and Drs. Ed- ward D. Perkins, Walter Briscoe and G. N. Carlisle, hastened here by special train. The dead man was Frank Ellis, a cattleman of Fort Spring, Monroe county, W. Va., and the injured are W. W. McClung of Hughart, Greenbrier county, W. Va.; J. M. Skeggs of Hughart, and A. E. Johnson of Fort Spring, all cattlemen, and Isaac N. Hearn, known as Kit Hearn, a railroad signalman. Physicians on the Ground. Several physicians from Baltimore also ar- rived and the injuries of the four wounded men were promptly attended to. Hearn was the more badly injured of the quartet, having sustained several fractures of the right arm, as well as internal injuries. He was sent to the City Hospital, Baltimore, on the first train which passed, which made the stop for that purpose. The injuries of the other men were principally scalds, and they remained here. Travel was not interfered with for the reason that the wreck happened on the tracks of the Pope's creek line, over which the next train is not scheduled to pass till after 4 o'clock this afternoon. Three cars, including the caboose, were completely wrecked, and the engine of the repair train was shattered in a manner that will neces- sitate extensive repairs. The engineer and fireman of the repair ergine escaped injury by jumping from the cab when they saw that a collision was inevitable. A gang of men was soon put to work to clear the tracks, and the force was augmented shortly after 1 o'clock by two large gangs of men, who reached the scene on wrecking trains. A large bon fire was mace of the debris, and the flames, in connection with the cther features of the wreck, made the scere decidedly gruesome. Mr. McClung’s« Story. ‘W. W. McClung, one of the wounded men, in describing the collision to The Star correspondent, stuted that he had been asleep in the caboose, and was awak- ened by Frank Ellis, who shook him and exclaimed, “Get up. We're in Baltimore.” “I looked at my watch,” continued Mc- Clung, “and it was twenty minutes past 11, and I saw that Ellis was fooling me so far a3 being in Baltimore was concerned. He started to leave the car, and had just passed through the doorway when the crash came.~ “The next I saw of Ellis he was dead. The caboose rose in the air, I don’t know how high, and then toppled over. The steam from the engire enveloped me, and then I was picked up and brought here. The body of Ellis will be taken to Wash- ington this afternoon and removed to Lee’sa undertaking establishment. The injured men will also go there. 5 The last wreck in this vicinity occurred July 4, 1894, ard was of a similar nature as the one this morning. c. F.C. —— TODAY’S CABINET MEETING. Venezuelan and Cuban Affairs Said to Have Been Discussed. A regular meeting of the cabinet was held at the White House today, at which all the members were present, except Sec- retary Smith, who remained in Atlanta. As usual the proceedings were entirely secret, but there are good reasons for the belief that the Venezuelan incident and the Cuban insurrection came up for dis- cussion over the latest developments, and that a general understanding was had that this government would continue to observe a conservative policy on both questions, Se Disastrous Fire at Gaithersburg. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. GAITHERSBURG, Md., October 25.—The town public school, Gaithersburg Lodge of Gocd Templars and Forest Oak Temple, Juvenile Templars, are today homeless, having been burned out last night in an hour after the Good Templars ceparted, after holding their weekly session. Rey. kL L. Loyd gave the alarm. It is thought to have been due to an overheated stove in the primary department. The building was gutted in a few minutes, and no effort was made to extinguish the flames, but the fire company confined them to the school building. Nothing was saved, and the loss aggregates several thousand dollars, with but $800 insurance. ————— Will Receive Mrs. Cutting, jr. NEW YORK, October 25.—The Morning Advertiser says that Robert Livingston Cutting, who married Minnie Seligman, the actress, and was disinherited by his father in Mr. Cutting’s will, has effected a recon- ciliation with his family. The young man and his wife are traveling in Europe with his mothcr, and it is said that Minnie Selig- man Cutting has promised to leave the stage, and that Mrs. Cutting will leave most of her fortune to her son.