Evening Star Newspaper, July 29, 1896, Page 1

THE EVENING. STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, W101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Bt, by, Ne Com; fs Se hg ee New York Office, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the eity by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents Der meek, or 44 cents per month. es at the counter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Caaada—postage prepald—60 cents per month. Saturday Quintuple Steet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added, $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. ©., as second-class mail matter. 7 All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. TWO CENTS. THE STAR BY MAIL, = The Star will be mailed to any address tx the United States or Canada if ordered at this office in person or by letter or postal cerd. Persons leaving the city for any, period should remember this. Terms: 13 cents per week; 25 cents for two weeks, or 50 cents per month. Invariably in advance, Subscribers changing their address from one Post-office to another should give the last address as well as the new one. ROBT. GARRETT DEAD The End Came at Deer Park Early This Morning. IN FAILING HEALTH FOR TWO WEERS News Causes a Profound Surprise in Baltimore. STORY OF HIS CAREER ns BALTIMORE, Md., July 29—Robert Gar- rett, former president of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, died at his cottage in Deer Park, Md., soon after 3 o'clock this morn- ing. Although Mr. Garrett has been a hopeless mental invalid for many years, it was not thought that his physical infirmi- ties were such as to cause any immediate uneasiness upon the pert of his friends. About two weeks ago, however, he began to fail, and It was thought best to remove him from “Uplands,” his country home near Baltimore, to Deer Park, in the hope that the change of air and scenery would benefit him. The improvement was not as as great as his physiciens hoped for, and within the past week the patient suffered much from mental depression and melan- cholia. Monday his physical condition showed a marked charge for the worse, and yesterday his condition became critical. His devoted wife was with him when the end came, which was peaceful and appar- ently painless. The immediate cause of death is understood to be chronic neph- ritis, with which he has suffered for many years. The arrangements for the funeral are not yet complete, but it is thought that tt will take place in Baltimore Saturday. The news of his death vas a profound sur- prise to the people of this city, where {t Was not generally known that Mr. Garrett was seriously ill. ROBERT GARRETT’S CAREER. Devoted Himself to Charitable Work Since His Retirement From Busine: Robert Garrett, second son of the late John W. Garrett, who was, as is well known, for many years president of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad Company, was born in Baltimore, Md., April 9, 1847. After receiving his preliminaray education in the best schools of his native city, he en- tered Princeton College, where he was a classmate of John K. Cowen, the present president of the Baltimore and Ohio, and was graduated in 1868. While at Princeton ® warm attachment sprang up between the two young men, and this eventuated in Mr. ‘owen being invited in 18 by President rrett, at Robert's suggestion, to accept a on in the legal department of the Bal- more and Ohio Company. After leaving college Robert Garrett went to Europe, where he spent considerable time in travel, returning, however, to the United States in 1871, at which time he entered the Baltimore and Ohio service as assistant to the president. A little later he was elected president of the Valley division of the Baltimore and Ohio, extending from Harper's Ferry, W. Va., to Lexington, Va., and during his ad- ministration, which continued until Febru- ary, 1875, the road was brought up to a high state of efficiency, and developed into one df the most valuable feeders of the Baltimore and Ohio system. BS Retiring from the management of the Val- ley road in 1873 he again devoted several years to travel in various parts of the world and in recreation, and on October 8, 1879, he was elected third vice president of the B. and O. He was advanced to the po- sition of first vice president July 13, 1881, and remained such until the death of his father, October, 1884, when the directors of the company elected him acting president, and a month later president. His first step of importance after assum- ing control of the great system was to en- deavor to secure control of the P., W. and B. railroad, in which he was thwarted by the Pennsylvania company when apparent- ly_upon the eve of success. Then followed the building of a parallel line to Philadelphia in the face of legal and physical obstacles which seemed in- surmountable. Soon after this he sold the Baltimore and Ohio telegraph system to the Western Union Company. Mr. Vanderbilt's Sudden Death. It was while these negotiations and others of lke magnitude were in progress that Mr. Garrett was closeted in conference with the late William H. Vanderbilt in the lat- ter’s mansion in New York, when the lat- ter fell dead almost in Mr. Garrett's arma. This shock, together with the great ner- vous strain under which he had been for so long a time, completely unhinged Mr. Garrett's mind, and it became necessary to place him in some private retreat. The country home of ex-Mayor Abram S. Hew- itt of New York, at Ringwood, N. J., was selected for this purpose, and there Mr. Garrett lived for nearly a year. ve Up Active Work. He continued as president until October 12, 1887, when he resigned, since which time he has lived a quiet life; during that perfod traveling a great deal both in this and foreign countries. During Mr. Garrett's incumbency of the office of president of the B. and O. the head of the company was confronted with the solution of financial problems which proved too much for Mr. Garrett's health, and for more than nine years he was an invalid. Mr. Garrett was marrie] about fifteen years ago to Miss Mary Frick, daughter of William F. Frick, @ leading capitalist of Raltimore, who survives him. The deceased was very wealthy, and be- sides his large holdings in the Baltimore and Ohio he owned a magnificent residence on Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, a beau- tiful country seat, called “Uplands,” a few miles out of the city; an interest in the banking house of Robert Garrett & Sons, end other valuable property. Works of Charity. For a number of years past, espectally since retiring from the presidency of the Baltimore and Ohio, Mr. Garrett devoted himself to works of charity, and was es- Pectally solicitous for the welfare of poor end sick little children whose forlorn con- dition was brought to the attention of Mrs. Garrett or himself. In order to make as many of these unfortunates as happy as Pessible, he several years ago purchased @ fine estate on some of the highest hills in western Maryland, and here he and Mrs. Garrett built cottages, so that chil- dren whose parents could not afford to give them an outing could be taken to the Mrs. Mary Garrett Sanitarium, as it was called, amd kept there as long as they or their parents desired them to stay. He also had in his employ for the institution at high salaries physicians and surgeons,who Were regarded as specialists in their line, and trained nurses, so that the children intrusted to the care of those who repre- sented him should suffer for nothing. In addition to this Mr. Garrett has for many years provided the funds for con- ducting a large children’s hospital in the western part of the city of Baltimore, which has been the means of doing a vast amount of good and where hundreds of children are given medical or sifrgical at- tendance each month. It fs hardly probable that Mr. Garrett’ death will affect either of these instiiu- tions, as Mrs. Gerrett takes the most ac- tive interest in both, and will doubtless see that the money to continue the good work will be provided. Judge Ditter Talks of Its Extent in the Buckeye State. Everybody is Talking Finance—The Vote of the Different Parties Analyzed. Judge R. M. Ditter of Hillsboro’, Ohio, who is a gold democrat and quite active in politics, talked today with a Star reporter on the situation in Ohio. “TI never saw such e situation in politics before,” he said. “Many waves of senti- ment have swept over Ohio; but I have never seen anything like the present. In the country districts the silver sentiment is intense. Every men you see is loaded with arguments, and there is no use trying to talk with him. “The silver men have been reading every~ thing they could get hold of on their side of the question, until they can outtalk Harvey. They are as glib as possible with arguments which I regard as false, but which they are satisfied with, and they will dance all over any man who says gol. It has become a sort of religion with them and they will not listen to nor tolerate op- position. You can't make any impression on them any more than you can argue a man out of his religious faith. The thing has spread so that I regard the result in the state as doubtful, and perhaps with the Frobability favorable to Bryan. The Vote of the State. “At all events, it is by means certain that McKinley can carry the state. The normal republican majority is about 25,000. That is the safe natural republican major- ity. There are about 52,000 populist votes and 20,000 prohibition votes. Bryan will probably get 50,000-populist votes and 15,- ove prohibition. That is, he will get the silver vote of these two parties. “In the cities there will be a considerable gold democratic vote for McKinley; in the country districts there will te a large sil- ver republican vote for Bryan: These may pretty nearly offset each other, though ft looks as if Bryan would get more republi- can votes in the country then he will lose democrats in the cities. “There is hardly anything but silver talked throughout the state. The men around the thrasning machines at lunch time, the groups around the country stores and about the village hotels, republic: and democrats head to head, are talking about the money question. Men who never before could talk together on politics with- cut punching each other's heads are hand in hand or are talking the matter ov. from different standpoints in a sympathet! spirit. It any one says gold there will at once be half a dozen men to jump on him. It makes little difference how much fallaty there is in their arguments these country folks think they have mastered the ques- tion, and they can put in ten words to one of the man who tries to show them that they are wrong. Effect of a Gold Bug. “TI had a gold bug cn my coat. A farmer came up to me and took hold of my coat collar and held the gold bug button up to view. ‘That’s the bug that got into our wheat.” he said, ‘and reduced it 50 per cent.’ The rest all took it_up and thought it a good thing. There was no sort of ar- gument I could put up to outweigh this rustic wit. That sort of thing goes for argument. It is silver, silver, silver, all through the country districts.” pce STRUCK HIS STEP FATHER. Lieut. Blair Protected His Mother, Mrs. Yarde-Buller. LONDON, July 29.—The Yarde-Buller divorce suit again came up for hearing in the divorce division of the high court of justice today, before Sir Francis Henry Jeune. - Raipa Blair, a lieutenant in the Devon- shire Artillery Volunteers, son of the re- spondent by her first husband, testified to Mr. Yarde-Buller striking his wife. The witness, later, denied that he had held a quilt over his mother’s head while Mr. Yarde-Buller took a knife from her hand. Upon one occasion he saw Mr. Yarde-Buller knock his wife’s head against a door. Wit- ness added that he interfered and struck Mr. Yarde-Buller. Replying to further questions Lieut. Blair said that he had lived at Churston while Valentine Gadesden was there, and asserted that he never saw or suspected anything wrong between Mr. Gadesden and the respondent. Valentine Gadesden testified that he went to California from England in 1887, and later engaged in mining, ranching and in real estate transactions. He contracted to come to England in order to attend to the affairs of the respondent. He swore that he had never committed adultery with her. Answering further questions, Mr. Gadesden admitted that he had twice dined in the room of Mrs. Yarde-Buller, but he explain- ed this was because the dining room was not available at the time. Upon cross-examination the witness said that at one time he believed that the re- spondent was in danger of becoming in- sane. He had heard her screaming and raving in abject terror of the petitioner. After being recalled to the stand, Mr. Gadesden again distinctly denied that he had committed adultery with the re- spondent. —— GOLD DEMOCRATS ORGANIZE. Conference Called for Kansas City. KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 20—The Na- tlonal Democratic Club was organized last night by prominent gold-standard demo- crats. Francis M. Black, ex-chief jus- tice of the state supreme court, was elected president. The club has issued a call for a general conference of all gold-standard democrats to be held here tonight, when an attempt will be made to map out a plank of campaign. Particular attention will-be paid to the congressional elections. posure GONE BACK TO CANTON. Tonight at Major and Mrs. McKinley Left Cleve- land This Morning. CLEVELAND, Ohio, July 29.—Major and Mrs. McKinley left the clty for Canton at 11:55 today on the Cleveland, Canton and Southern road. They .were strongly urged to remain over in order to view the Western Reserve day parade of the cen- tennial celebration, which occurs tomor- row, but on account of engagements to meet visiting delegations at Canton this was found to be impossible. Governor McKinley expressed himself as feeling greatly refreshed after the quiet rest which he had obtained during his stay at Windemere. —__ REGISTERING IN CUBA. Gen. Weyler Publishes a New Order Relative to Foreigners, HAVANA, July 20.—Captain General Weyler has published a decree to the ef- fect that in view of the difficulty of com- munication with foreigners residing in the country, they may deliver their papers to the nearest civil authorities, who will for- ward them to the offices of the general gov- ernment. The registered papers will later be returned to those they belong to, and 5 certificate of registry will accompany them, If required. All foreigners, from this date, will be compelled to register upon landing in Ha- vana. Mr, Thomas Renders an Opinion on the Subject. CANNOT ACCEPT POTOMAC BID History of the Controversy and Its Ending. THE SOLUTION The light of Washington is not the title of a novel, but the subject of an important problem that has been agitating the Dis- trict triumvirate for some weeks. Several solutions of the problem were possible until this afternoon, when the at- torney for the District in a long and care- fully prepared opinion decided in unmistak- able terms that there was but one solution, and that was that the lighting of the city should be done by those companies that had heretofore done the work, namely, the Unit- ed States Electric Lighting Company for electricity, and the Washington Gas Light Cempany for gas lighting. The Commisstoners had several propos!- tions under consideration, it {s understood, in the event of a different opinion, and had the attorney for the District, Mr. S. T. Thomas, decided otherwise, the Potomac Light and Power Company would have been awarded a contract not only to light the are lights, but also to substitute incandescent electric lights for gas lamps. And the city would have been lighted entirely by elec- tricity. For a long time it has heen the object of the Commissioners to bring about competi- tion in the work of lighting the city, and the current appropriation bill contained language which they thought would permit them to bring about the desired result. The specifications for bidders were care- fully drawn with this object in view, and then every one waited patiently for the day when bids would be opened. It was known that the Potomac Light and Power Com- pany would make a strong bid for the work, notwithstanding the decision of Judge Bing- ham, and the will of Congress as expressed in the current appropriation bill, which gave that company authority to operate only west of Rock creck. The Potomac company had been apprised, it 1s said, of the supposed loophoie in the appropriation bill, and would make a fight for the con- tract if it was the lowest bidder. When the bids were opened the entire situation be- came more complex, and it became at once a dark instead of a light question. Briefly the Potomac company was the lowest bid- der; that is, it was the lowest formal bid- der, for with its proposal to light the city the’ president filed the required bond as an evidence of good faith. The United States Electric Lighting Company failed to do this. It contended that the Commissioners had no right to advertise for bids. That Congress had not authorized any such thing, and that the whole transaction was unwarranted. The company was ready, however, to do the work at the rates fixed by Congress. 3 To add to the complexity of the situa- tion, the gas companies declined to sub- bids under the District's but put in proposals to do the work under specifications of their own. The bid of the Potomac Company for incandescent electric lighting completed the tangle, for under it the District, if it had the author- ity to entertain that bid, would be In a position to substitute for every gas lamp in the city a neat incandescent electric light. When The Star called attention to this it fell like a bomb in the gas com- amp. Attorneys hurried to the Dis- tion: trict building, and secret hearings were held. The matter must be patched up somehow. At that hearing the attorney for the gas companies, Mr. R. Ross Perry, pointed out wherein the District had erred in its specifications. All that transpired at that hearing was set forth in The Star at the time. Finally as a compromise meas- ure the specifications were sent to Attor- ney Thomas to pass upon the District's right to construe the appropriation bill concerning the number of hours the larips should be lighted. The result was a vic- tory for the gas companies, and the mat- ter is row in statu quo awaiting final ac- tion by the Commissioners. Both Sides. In the meantime the Potomac Electric Light and Power Company was hard at work. It presented arguments, both oral and written, setting forth the reasons why the District Commissioners should accept its bid and award it the contract for light- ing the city by electricity. Several hear- ings before the board supplemented these arguments and finally the attorney for the District was called in. Already he had pre- pared an opinion at the request of the Commissioners upon this very subject, and he held then, es he does now, that the Dis- trict had no right to entertain the bid of the Potomac Company. That opinion, hewever, was never filed, for at the hear- ing Major Powell submitted a letter from President Crosby of the Potomac Com- pany ‘setting forth at considerable length the conteniions of his company, and the reasons why, being the lowest bidder, it was entitled to the contract. Upon motion of Major Powell, it is understood, the pa- pers were all returned to Attorney Thomas with the request that he examine the sub- ject again and submit an opinion covering the entire subject matter at issue. Fast upon this reference came application from Judge Jere Wilson, representing the U. S. Company, for permission to file a brief with the attorney before the latter submitted his final opinion. This was granted, and then a similar request came from the Po- tomac Company through its attorney, Mr. J. J. Darlington, which was also granted. Both attorneys went thoroughly into the question, and the briefs submitted are said to be the ablest ever presented In a Dis- trict case. Immediately upon the receipt of these briefs the attorney, Mr. S. T. Thomas, went into executive session and carefully studied the question from both sides. The result, as stated above, was an opinion holding substantially that the District had no right to entertain the hid of the Poto- mac Electric Light and Power Company for lighting the streets and avenues of Washington. This opinion, it is understood, reviews the subject at length, and presents many authorities supporting the contention of President A. A. Thomas of-the United States company. The result of this opin- icn, unless something further arises to change its status, will be to award the ccntract for electric lighting to the United States company and the contract for gas lighting to the Washington Gas Company and the Georgetown Gas Company. President Thomas’ Opinion. President A. A. Thomas of the United States Electric Lighting Company was at the District building this afternoon to learn the outcome of the attorney’s opin- ton. When informed by a reporter of The Star of the decision he expressed no sur- prise, and said: “It_simply confirms my contention that the Commissioners had no authority under the current appropriation bill to advertise for proposals. Congress was certainly ex- plicit enough in its wording of the law, and I cannot understand how any other inter- pretation could be put upon it. Not only did Congress legislate against it, but Judge Bingham, in his decision, opposed it. with the law all against the proposition, I never had any fear of the outcome. The United States Electric Lighting Company is ready to enter into ‘contract with the District at any time for the lighting of the city in accordance with the prices stipulat- ed for the work by Congress.” Temporary Headau ington Until t Select T! A number of eastern ver convention at St. ington this morning Among them were Ge@tge P. Keeney of New York, the generaf; organizer of the American silver party; A. H. Pile, a vet- cran organizer in the wast; A. J. Wedder- burn, a member of the Wirginia delegation to St. Louis, and Charlés Duling of Phila- delphia, a member of the national silver ccmmittee. Mr. Keeney"will remain in the city temporarily until the question of per- manent headquarters 1g settled. For the present the headquarters of the silver party will be at room & in the Corcoran building. As soon,” said Mr. Keeney, “‘as the dem- ocratic executive committee determines where it will open headquarters and direct its campaign we shall place our headquar- ters in the same city, and in close co-oper- ation with theirs.” National Silver Executive Committee. Tne chairman of the national commit- tee of the silver party, Mr. Lane, has des- ignated the following executive committee: Cherles D, Lane, San Francisco, chairman; I. N. Stevens, Denver, Cpl., vice chairman; William P, St. Jolin, New York city, treas- urer; Mr. St. John alsobeing treasurer of way home. the democratic executivé committee; R. E. Difenderfer of Philadelphia, secretary; Gcorge P. Keeney, New York city; G. 8. Nixon, Winnemucca, N@vada; B. O. Flow- er, Boston; W. H. (‘Cdin”) Harvey, Chi- cago; Curtis J. Hillyer, Washington. Wren Mr. Pile was asked by a Star re- porter how the electoral tangle between the democrets, populists. find silver party would be straightened out, he sai The Electoral Tangle. “It is not unreasonable to e pect the simplest solution of thg matter, which is the withdrawal of one of other of the vice Presidential candidates. I look for a per- fectly satisfactory adjustment of the diffi- culty. It will in all pfobability be set- tled by the national committees, either by explicit directions to the. state commit- tees as to the proportign and representa- tion of populists and democrats respec- tively on the electoral tickets, or by dis- tinet propositions from each state commit- tee to Le approved by /the national com- mittees working In co-operation, by means of which the integrity and organization of the populists, as well as the democrats lucally may be preserved.” eo CASE OF PEARCE ATKINSON. Effort Made by the State Department to Ascertain His Fate. At the instance of General Miles and other friends of Mr. Pearce Atkimson of Chicago, who went to Cuba to fight for the freedom of that island, Acting Seeretary Rockhill of the State Department has instituted measures to ascertain the whereabouts of that young man. It is currently believed in Chicago that Atkinson is dead, but there is @ Tack of definite information on that peint. In order to ascertain the facts, Mr. Rockhill yesterday cabled to Consul] General Lee at Havana, inquiring {f he had any In- formation on the subject. An answer was received from General Lee this morning. It was brief and not altogether satisfactory, irasmuch as it threw no light on the mat- ter. General Lee merely stated that noth- ing was known in Havana of the where- abouts of Atkinson or of his reported death. The impression at the department is that If Atkinson is dead he wag killed in a regular way in one of the recent skirmishes be- tween the insurgents and the Spanish troops. If, as reported, he enlisted in the cause of the insurgents and was killed in open battle, it is not likely that the State Departrient can take any action in his case, regardless of his American citizenship, ex- cept to look after his remains and effects. There is scarcely a ray of hope that the young Chicagoan has escaped the bullets of the Spaniards. His body is probably lying where it fell in the gloomy forests of the tsland, and every effort possible is being made to settle with certainty what is still an almost hopeless suspense, and to restore to his friends all that is mortal of one of the promising young Americans who have been drawn into that unhappy struggle against Spanish oppression. AS WHAT MR. McCREARY THINKS. Things Mixed in Kentucky, but the Democratic Ticket May Win, Representative McCreary of Kentucky says that the situation in Kentucky is very curious. Many people, he says, hardly know what to do. He ,Was somewhat re- luctant to express an opinion as to what might be the result in the state, but he final- ly said that he thought it would be carried for the democratic ticke' He said that there were gold democrats ‘ho would not support the ticket, but demo- rats would generally argue that the nomi- nations had been made by a regularly con- stituted national convention, the delegates being chosen by primaries, ‘at which both sides had participated, and that it was the duty of democrats to bow to the will of the majority. He, therefore, thought Bryan and Sewall would carry the state. eee Presidential Appointments. The President has made the following ap- peintments: John Sheridan of West Vir- gin‘a, to be a government director of the Union Pacific Railway Company, vice Fitz~ hugh Lee, resigned; Lewjs E. Whitcher of South Dakota, receiver of public moneys at Mitchell, S. D., vice’ Welsh, deceased; Benjamin C. Ash of South Dakota, agent for the Lower Brule Indiars, to fill an original vacancy, and Joseph Emery of California, agent for the Indians on the Klamath agency, Oregon, vice Petit, re- signed. a Se Executive Clemency. The President has patdoned John Gal- lagher, sentenced in Minnesota to Fix months’ imprisonment for assaulting an officer, and H. H. Mallory, sentenced in Florida to five years for robbery. He has commuted to two years’ imprisonment the three years’ sentenge imposed in Mis- sissippi_ upon W. H. Gibbs for embezzling postal funds. Applications for pardons have been re- fused in the cases of Thomas L. Eads, sentenced in Indiana to?three months’ for Viclation of the postal laws, and James Mocre, sentenced in Indian territory to six months for larceny. —————--+2+__. Naval Movements. The flagship Minneapolis has arrived at Leith, Scotland. The Marion left Panama this morning for Callao, Peru. The Mar- blehead has arrived at Catania, Italy. The port, Conn. The training ship Essex sled from Funchal The petition gotten*up by citizens of Key West and elsewhere in Florida, asking for the intervention of’ the State. Depart- ment to ameliorate the. condition of Mel- ton, one of the Competitor prisoners, has reached the State Department, but no ac- tion has yet been taken upon it. Increasing the Death List in Western Pennsylvania, RAILWAY TRAFFIC MUCH DELAYED Caving-in of the Fair Point Tun- nel. a TRACKS WASHED AWAY ae Sa PITTSBURG, Pa., July 29.—Tales of death and devastation from the fearful storm which swept over western Pennsyl- vanla Monday night continue to pour in. Four more drownings ure reported and another victim of the Sugar Grove accident is not expected to survive the day. ‘This will make the death list fifteen, in- cluding the seven drowned at Cecil (not fifteen, as first reported). ‘The latest victims are John Whalen, aged twelve years, drowned near Woods run, Allegheny; Mino Calfo, an eight-year-old Italian girl, drowned in Pine creek, near Wildwood; unknown miner, reported drown- ed in Guffey’s hollow, near Shaner’s, Pa.; unknown Italian, reported drowned at Smithton, Pa.; George Miller, crushed by a falling tree at Sugar Grove Camp, still liv- ing, but physicians report that he cannot recover, ‘The damage to property was particularly heavy in Washington and Fayette counties, and will probabiy reach a million dollars. WHEELING, W. Va., July 29.—The Ohio River and Pan Handle are the only rail- rcads in this vicinity that run trains on anything Mke schedule time, other roads ranging from a complete shut-down to eight hours behind the schedule, on account of the storm. The Baltimore and Ohio main line and Pittsburg division were six hours behind. The Cleveland, Loraine and Wheeling was completely closed out by the caving-in of a long tunnel at Fair Point, and the washing away of several sections of track. It may take a week to reopen communication. ‘The Wheeling and Lake Erle had trains stopped at several points. The Pitts- burg, Ohio Valley and Cincinnati has been abandoned indefinitely, and a month will be required to open it. The Cleveland and Pittsburg road was badly damaged last night above Martin’s Ferry, but was open today. A Colorado Road Crippled. DENVER, Col., July 29.—The fact has just become known here that last Satur- Gay's flood entirely destroyed the Catskill branch of the Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf road, forty miles in length, running frcm Trinidad, Col., to the Maxwell land grant in New Mexico. It was known that the road was disabled, but the wires being down the extent of the damage was not learned till a party of inspectors came in. So complete has been the destruction of the roadled that the receiver said today that he thought the old line would be abandoned and a new survey made over a mcre destrable route. The line is a valua- ble one, as nearly all the railroad ties used in this section of the country come from the vicinity of Catskill. Washout Causes x Wreck. DETROIT, Mich., July 29.—A special to the News from St. Joseph, Mich., says: A freight train on the Vandalia railway ran through a bridge near Crawfordsville, Ind., at 3 o'clock this morning, killing Con- dvetor Fowler, Brakeman McKenzie and Fireman John Herber, and seriously injur- ing Road Master J. 8. Brothers and En- zineer Bowman. The wreck was caused by a washout. The train was demolished. seniiohe Aeneas TURKEY PROTESTS. Wants Greece to Cense to Aid the Cretans, CONSTANTINOPLE, July 28 (Delayed in transmission).—As a result of the cabinet council just held, the Turkish government today made a formal complaint to the gov- ernment of Greece regarding the alleged shipment of arms and ammunition from Greece to the Island of Crete, for the use of thc insurgents there, and relative to the appearance of armed bands in Macedonia, pointing cut the danger therefrom to the peace of Europe, and adding that Greece would be held responsible for it. The Turkish government also announced that it had decided to grant limited conces- sions to the Cretans, and that they will be allowed representation. The powers, it Is stated, have decided to send a collective note to Greece, declaring that the government of the latter country must suppress the matters complained of by the Turkish government, adding that other- wise the Sultan of Turkey will be left to restore order in Crete. It is rumored here that the Turkish gov- ernment intends to dispatch a force of Al- banians against the Greek filibusters, a step which will undoubtedly add considerable to the gravity of the situation. sie a THE COLOMBIA. WRECK OF An Investigation of the Disaster Be- gun. SAN FRANCISCO, July 29.—An investi- gation into the wreck of the Pacific mail steamship Colombia has been commenced before Capt. W. S. Birmingham, United States supervising inspector for this dis- trict. The testimony of several of the officers has been taken, but nothing was learned to fix the blame of the accident more definitely than has already been done. The same facts that were published at the time of the accident became the official property of the government and little more. The officers told in detail what they knew of the condition of the steamer ard how she was running at the time. In general, the testimony was to the effect that the Colombia was in good con- dition, and was shortly before the crash upen the rocks running in excellent order and under proper management. The offi- cers were unanimous in declaring that the night was foggy, and that a bewildering series of fog whistles diguised the source of real danger until the vessel was on the rocks and beyond all help. The warning whistles, it was thought, sounded from passing vessels and not from fog stations upon the rocks. —— MAHER AND CHOYNSKI. Arranging for Their Coming Together in New York. SAN FRANCISCO, July 29.—Joe Choynski and Peter Maher met at the Baidwin Hotel and had a friendly talk over the pugilistic outlook. Buck Connelly, Maher’s man- ager, was present and so was Ed. Greaney, Choynski’s friend and adviser. As a result of the informal conference it was about concluded that Choynski and Maher wili meet in the ring in New York some time after boxing is resumed in ‘that city in September. Connelly has received word that the Dwyers, the well-known eastern horsemen, were organizing a big boxing club, which is to begin operations as soon as the Horton bill goes into effect. He has been given to understand that the new organization will make a handsome bid for the Choynski-Maher fight, and on the strength of his convictions he has wiven Choynski his personal assurance that at least $6,000 will be hung up when the fighters come together in New York. THE SENTENCE DISAPPROVED in the Webster Case. Holds That the Court-Martial Was iF and Q the Verdict, Seriously Irre; hes The Secretary of the Navy has disap- proved the proceedings, findings and sen- tence of dismissal imposed by court-mar- tial held at Mare Island, Cal., recently, in the case of Passed Assistant Paymaster Edwin B. Webster, lately attached to the Yorktown on the China station. The offi- cer was accused of having retained a bond exacted from his pay clerk, W. J. Tobin, after having dismissed the clerk. The Sec- retary finds that there were grave infor- malities in the proceedings of the court which convicted the officer, and moreover inclines to the belief, based principally upon the testimony of Chief Engineer Harrie Webster, a brother officer on the York- town, that the money, amounting to $2,54W), placed in the paymaster’s hands by Tobin's mother, was technically a loan and not a bend. The Seeretary’s Review. Secretary Herbert has made an elaborate review of the evidence before the court- martial in this case, and his caustic com- ments and action thereon, are shown by the following extracts from his memoran- dum: “If the accused is entitled to the benefit of every doubt, which may reasonably arise from the evidence, and if the benefit of that doubt is to be accorded to him in the consideration of every portion of the evidence, then it is fair to assume that W. J. Tobin and Paymaster Webster both treated this transaction as a loan. Th are presumed to have krown its nature, and in the light of these facts and circum- stances it cannot be assumed as proven that when Paymaster Webster asserted in his letter to the Navy Department that this transaction was a loan, and was in no sense a bond, he was guilty of deliberate falsehood. It is true that although, even if the contention of the accused be admizted, that this transaetion was a loan by W. J. Tobin to him, it would, nevertheless, have been a security in his hands, and, there- fore, in the nature of a bond, because in a suit to recover it, he might have pleaded any dereliction of his clerk by which he had lost money as a set-off, but it cannot be assumed that this legal result was in the mind of Webster when he was asserting that this transaction was a Joan and not in the nature of a bond. * * * To Be Considered a Loan. “The language of the original receipt given by Paymaster Webster for the $2,500, it is forcibly argued, sustains the conten- tion of the prosecution, as the money was received ‘on account of deposit for W. J. PTotin.” This is undoubtedly the natural sigmification of these words—that it was a deposit for W. J. Tobin—meaning that it was a security for his conduct as clerk, but such a receipt as this is legally explain- able by parol evidence, and like every other contract is to be interpreted in the light of surrounding circumstances. The re- ceipt given at Shanghai ‘on account of loan’ is so strong to show that two of the parties to this transaction treated it as a loan, that the department feels impelled to declare that this case is not made cut beyond a reasonable doubt. No matter what the original contract shows on its face; no matter what may be its legal sig- nificence, the issue here does not arise upon the true interpretation of that instrument. The question is how did Webster under- stand it. If he understood it, and treated it, as a Joan, it cannot be affirmed that he is guilty. “The transaction, however, it must be said in conclusion is, in any sense in which it may be viewed, disgraceful to Paymas- ter Webster, and to the navy. It would seem to have been a violation of the spirit if not of the letter of section 1781 of the Revised Statutes, prohibiting any officer of the government taking money or other consideration for procuring an appoint- ment. A Warning to Webster. “But however that may have been, it is scandalous that Paymaster Webster should fail to ray back, after the termination of the service of Tobin, money received by him in consideration of Tobin's ap- peintment as clerk. And should he for any great length of time in the future persist in this failure the department may be expected to proceed further in this mat- ter. The failure, hereafter, to pay this money will be a new and distinct offense not covered by anything which has oc- curred in this trial. “For the reasons herein stated the pro- ceedings, findings and sentence of the court in the foregoing case are disapproved. Passed Assistant Paymaster Webster is released from arrest and restored to duty.” eas HANGED HIMSELF. An Alleged Russinn Count Arrested for Not Paying Hotel Bills. NEW YORK, July 29.—Roman J. Zubof, claiming to be a journalist from Boston and a Russian count, committed suicide in a cell of a police station here today. Zu- bof, who was about twenty-five years of age, was arrested as he was about to sail fcr Europe on board the American line steamer New York, the allegation being that he owed a hotel bill of $500. He plead- ed with the complainant to withdraw the charge, as it was very important that he should go to Europe at once, and he paid $250 on account. The officer who served the warrant would not listen to talk of compromise, saying the case was then out of the hotel keeper's hands, and he took Zubof to the station, where he was lock- ed up. Soon afterward Zubof was found dead, having hanged himself with his pocket handkerchief. BOLD ANI > AND SUCCESSFUL. Attempt to Rob-a Faro Bank Near Newport, Ky. CINCINNATI, Ohio, July 29.—A bold and successful robbery of a faro bank was re- ported by the Newport, Ky., police this morning. At Huber’s Garden, a summer resort on the electric line back of Newport, in a very quiet place, a faro game of con- siderable proportions has been in progress nightly. Late last night two men with revolvers drawn suddenly entered the room, aud, in spite of the superior numbers of the players and proprietors, they emptied the pockets of players and the coffers of the proprietors, and got away unharmed. No census was taken of the stolen money, but it is known that $75 was taken from tne cases drawer. All the victims are reticent and It seems that this new industry may become popular among highwaymen. a KILLED BY A “SCORCHER.” A Woman C; ‘list Runs Down an Aged m at Chicago. CHICAGO, July 29.—An unknown woman, riding a bicycle, ran over William Klink, an aged butcher, at 5ist and Morgan streets last night, and injured him so severely that he died from the effects today. The wo- man was “scorching,” and the old butcher, in attempting to get out of her way, stum- bled and fell. As he fell one of the handle bars struck him in the abdomen, rupturing one of his intestines. The woman mounted her wheel before it could be ascertained who she was, and rode away, leaving the dying man lying on the street. MURDERER CAUGHT The Slayer of Miss Drown Arrested in This City. HIS HORRIBLE CONFESSION Charges Which Are Not Borne Out by Facts. GREAT INDIGNATION ee ees Seat Pleasant, Prince George's county, M4d., cnly five miles from the city, was the scene of a horrible outrage and murder ebout 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the v.ctim being Miss Marguerite Drown, an accomplished young woman, while her slayer was a colored fiend named James Smith. The affair has greatly excited the people of the county, and had the man been captured last night there might have been trouble. Although known as Miss Drown, the young lady's real name is Alexander, but she has lived with her aunt, Mrs. Sarah Drown, most of her life, and that is why she is generally known as Miss Drown. Arrested Today. Jemes T. Smith, the slayer of Miss Drown, was arrested this morning at @ house on East Capitol street. He is held at the ninth precinct station, awaiting requisition papers from the Maryland au- thorities. Smith has made a complete confession, and according to his own story the crime was a most beastly one. Parts of it are so horrible that it is impossible to give them credence. The murderer has not ex- pressed the slightest regret for his act, and speaks of it with an air of bravado, as though he had done nothing of which h6 should be ashamed. When word was received in this city last night that a murder had been committed at Seat Pleasant the different precincts were notified to look out for the suspected man, as it was admitted that he would mest probably make his way direct to Washington, where he had formerly work- ed and where he knew he had friends. Lieut. Heffner of the ninth precinet knew something of Smith, and at once surmised that if he came to town he would likely go to a house on East Capitol street where he had formerly been employed as a waiter, knowing that he could get shelter there for the night, as the landlady would not have heard of his crime. The Neutenant at once detailed some of his men to watch the house, No. 310 East Capitol street, and a surveillance was kept up during the night. This morning Sergt. Bryan and Policeman Hayden were in a doe- tor’s house next door, whence they could watch the front of 310, while two other policemen were in the rear. About 9:40 o'clock word was brought to them by @ servant that the man they wanted was in the house end could be had for the taking, Sergt. Bryan started to go down the base- ment steps,when he met a colored man just coming out of the door. The colored man Was at once put under arrest. The suspicions of the police were proved to have been well founded, for the man admitted without hesitation that he was the man they were after, and he made no effort to den} his crime. On his way to the station house and in the cell Smith snade a sweeping confession. He almost seemed to glory in his offense and was as col and unconcerned as could be. His Confem According to Smith’s first story as he told it to the police, he had been on terms of crimina] intimacy with the murdered girl for some time, and when this was found out the girl's foster mother discharged him and had a sharp quarrel with the girl. Re- cently Smith was taken back, all this ac- cording to own statement, on his prom- tse that he would have nothing more to say or do with the girl. Miss Drown made a similar promise. Smith says that yesterday afternoon, when there was nobody upstairs but Miss Drown, he went up to her room and sought to renew the relations that had formerly existed between them, She grew angry with him and ordered him out of her room. Disappointed and incensed at her treat- ment of him, Smith jumped toward her, and, catching her by the neck, choked her severely. Then, leaving her lying on the floor, the man descended to the kitchen and picked up a knife. It was a sharp kitchen knife that had been used for paring potatoes and bad a very keen edge. With this he re- turned to Miss Drown’s room. “When you went upstairs,” Smith was asked this morning, “was it your intention to commit murder? “Yes, I meant to kill her,” was his reply. “The girl made me mad because she wouldn't do what I wanted, and I was de- termined that no other man should ever have anything to do with her. Smith told the police what disposition he made of the knife after he hal murdered Miss Drown, and described the horrible af- fair in the greatest detai! and without a sign of regret. One of the policemen at the station said afterward that it was the most complete and at the same time the most cold-blooded confession he had ever listen- ed to. According to Smith’s confession, he lett Seat Pleasant at 7 o'clock last evening, shortly after the murder, and came straight to this city. He went to the house on Capitol Hill during the evening and stayed there all night, as no one there had the slightest suspicion that he was a crim- inal. Second Confess At headquarters Smith made a second con- fession to the detectives. He told a story this time differing somewhat from the one he told at the station house. He said that he had not had relations with Miss Drown, but that ecveral days ago he tried to kiss her and put his arms around her. She told Mrs. Drown ebout it at the time. Smith said that when he choked the young woman he rendered her unconscious, and that she was still in that condition when he returned to the room and killed her. He insisted that he made no attempt to outrage her, either before or after he caught her by the throat. Fear of Lyn State's Attorney Bellis of Prince George's county and Deputy Sheriff Waring called at the ninth preciact station and saw the prisoner. It was decided to keep him locked up in this city to await the arrival of requi- sition papers. The deputy sheriff sald that he would probably have them by Saturday, and would then take Smith to Baltimore. He knew that if the prisoner was taken to Marlboro he would probably be strung up