Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 19, 1887, Page 1

- SIXTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA, SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 19, 1887. IT WOULD ONLY BE A FARCE A Letter from the Editor of the Beo to the Bribery Legislators. WHY HE FAILED TO BE PRESENT. The 1mpossibility of Proving the Charges With Open Doors—The Committee Reaches No Cons clusions—House Doings. The Investigation, LixcoLy, Neb,, March 15.—[Special Tele- @ram to the Bgg.|—The committee to in- vestigate the charges of E. Rosewater against certain members of the judiciary com- mittee of the house, met at 9 o'clock this morning. All the members were present. The following communication was read by Mr. Dempster, the chairman: Tue OMAHA DALy Beg,'Editorial Rooms, Omaha, Neb., March 15, 1557 —To Hon. John A. Dempster, Chairman of the Special In- vestigating Committee of the House of Rep- resentatives—My Dear Sir: Under the new conditions imposed upon your committee, 1 have come to the conclusion that it would be a costly farce to undertake to estab- lish the charges which 1 have made in good faith. The memorandum which I had placed in your hands when the com- mittee first organized contalned very ample and circumstantial proofs azainst the parties fmplicated in the conspiracy to defeat senate file number ninety-eight. I relied upon my ability to have the witnesses named in the memorandum examined separately, within closed doors, expecting, of course, that your committes would also examine each of the members accused of collusion and give him an opportunity to explain his conduct by his own testimony and if possible to clear himself by furnishing you corrob- orative proof to overturn the charges, It would be utterly impossible with open doors to carry out such a programime, hence the end would be a mere acknowledgement that money had been collected for the purposs of defeating the bill, but that proofs were want- ing to confirm the charze of conspiracy. That would whitewash the very men whom I know to be guilty by a super abundance of proof and by their own conduct on the floor of the house when the charges were preferred. Ican even establish the fact, if necess- ary, that members of the judiciary committee implicated in the conspiracy concocted the scheme Monday night to break up your committee by insisting upon the addition of slx members of their own choosing, and to thwart the object of the investigation by forcing the committee doors oper. Their success shows that the plotters and their con- federates in the lobby wield a banetul influ- ence in thehouse, 1t had been my intention to push the investigation, (as I told you per- sonally), have the committee sit at Omaha Wednesday and Thursday, and finish the inquiry by Friday. 'This course being now Impossible, I respectfully request that the proceedings be dropped, a8 they would only entail needless expense upon the state. Urgent business compels me to make a trip to Cleveland. f, upon my return next week, the house persists in making the investiga- tion, I shall be at your service. Very truly yours, E. ROSEWATER. ‘This caused a venomous discussion, some of the members indulging in personal abuse of the editor of the BEE and questioning his motives in making the charges already re ferred to In these columns, Mr. Keiper pre- sented the following: Resolved, ~That the committee compel the attend- of K. Rosewater before it and compel him to testify in the case now pending of charges preférred by him against some of the house members of the judiciary committee, A viva voce was taken upon the adoption of tue same and resulted 'n a tie, Mr. Ellis not voting and Mr. Craig being absent. The meeting adjourned till 1 o'clock this af- ternoon. All the members were agaln vresent when the committee met this afternoon at 1:45, The minutes of the meeting thus far held, culled for this morning, were read by Secretary Craig. Mr. Pemberton asked whether, as fi Rosawater had laid his leamg“ the committee anything had been mentioned which showed against whom his charges were made. Mr. Dempster stated he had gone with Mr. Rose- tel an had his complaint fore Guy Brown. When Mr. Rosewater returned he stated if the meeting of the committee ~were not to be be held in private he would reserve the right to present his charges in another man- ner. This was agreed to by all the members of the committee. The complaint was then tiled with the secretary and the latter had read about one page when the committee was summoned to the house, which wus then acting upon the question of opening the doors of the sessions. But no names of the parties accused had been read. Messrs. Gill- more and Aikin explained that they did not understand that the_complaint was to be re- turned to Mr. Rosewater, Mr. Min- nix sald he did not know that thera was any understanding by fwhich Mr. Rosewater was to given back his com- plaint. Mr. Keiper again presented his reso- ution of the morning. Mr. Pemberton ob- Jected to its adoption. It was Mr. Rose- water’s intent to keep these charges before the people withont doln anything to substantiate them. Mr, Peters said the only thing for the committee to do was to re- rnrl to the house that there was nothing for hem to do ana ask to be discharged, and thus exonorate the parties charged. Mr. Keiper's resolution ‘was lost. The committee then went into secret session to prepare a report which they will present to the house. ‘The committee remained three hours cogi- tating over a report. The discussion oc- + casioned the widest division of sentiment, and at one time it was thought every mem- ber would make a report of his own. majority report, with an appendix by Messrs, Peters and Pemberton, was prepaved, while Mr. Keiper quietly pocketed a minority re- port which voieed his own feelings. me of the members signed one report, then withdrew their names, and han them to another. I'he diversity of feeling was such the gentlemen flew off at tan- gents to that degrea.that the original intent of muking a report to the house before the af- ternoon’s adjournment had to be abandoned and another sesslon of the committee called for 4 o'clock to-morrow. Later It w: thought the matter could be settled at the mfln session of the house, the only obstacle belng the fallure of Mr, (‘nlf 1o sign some of the reports referred to, But that gentleman failed to appear at the night session, and the momentous question went over till to-mor- row morning. chairman of Doings in the House. 1ANCOLN, Neb., March 18.—[Special Tele- gram the Ber.]—The house went into committee of the whole to consider bills on the general file, with Mr. Raymond, of Laneaster, in the chair. Senate file 174 was passed to await a full house. The bill pro- viding' for the erection of a bujldingand laundry at the institute for the feeble-minded at Beatrice, and aporopriating $30,000 there- for, was amended Ly reducing the amount to $20.000 and recommended for passage. House roll 417, providing tor the levy of a tax of three-fourths of ‘& mill in '1857 and 1888 kst listen s, oners ::ud l: l:he oxo,{li‘:n‘wu lh:| nul‘“c':sllfl ) 10! 5 $188,000. 'I‘Mufov for t“'o ears on a u lg?mfl. would reach $216.000. A tak l‘l:n' 8 10 by ~making the leyy at one-half a mill, and said that the supporters of the bill made the request with- out making any show of the necessity of the same, Mr. Caldwell held that a one-half mill levy would be inadequate to day the indebtedness, Mr. Miller got Mr. Caldwell to admit that the amount asked for would be sufficient to complete the capitol. Ho then directed the latter’s attention to bill 215 providing for the sale of all unsold state lots in Lincoln for the completion and furnishing of the same build- ing and improying the grounds. Mr. Caldwell showed that the amount of the sale of the lots would be required to fur- nish lhccn{fl(ul and beautify and maintain the grounds. Mr. Reit, of Hall, opposed the bill, taking oceasion to denounce the present capitol as a failure, and prophesying that in a few years it would be a m of ruins. Mr. Harlan sald the only question was what was the amount of money needed. ‘I'he building is in such a condition as to be greatly injured if not covered when com- pleted, It did not belong to the Lancaster delegation. It was the property of the state. ‘The appropriation was a meritorious one, Mr. Miller's amendment was lost and ~that of three-fourths of a mill adopted. The bill was recommended to pass and so reported. 1t was resolved that night sessions be held every day the remainder of the session, ex- cepts Saturday. g louse Roll 474 providing for the registra- tion in metropolitau cities was advanced to third reading. On motionof Mr. Watson, of Otoe, rule 34 was amended io require fiftéen instead of five members to object to the aban- donment of the call of the house. AFTERNOON GESSION, ‘The house went into committee of the whole on senate file 32. This bill prohibits grmn dealers, partnerships, companies, etc., rom combining to pool or fix the price to be gmd for grain, hogs, cattle or stock of any ind whatever and provide punishments tor the violation of the same. Mr. Rief and several others spoke strongly in favor of the bill, and Mr. Ballard read from the constitution of what is known as the Nebraska Grain Dealers’ assoclation, a com- bination which he said was conducted for the mutual protection of the members, not the people or the producers. He quoted from the constitution already published in the BEE, showing how secret and close were its meet- ings. The managers of the association sat in aroom in Omaha and telegraphed to all its members what price they should pay for grain. Members could not leave the associa- tion without the consent of the managing committee, and other clauses provided for the payment of fines- as high as $500 in the event of disclosing informatton belonging to the association. Their members pledged themselves not to sell grain to forelen buyers who are not members of the association nor to sell to parties, except in a retail way, not members in this state, Mr. Hayden moved to include coal com- binations, and Mr. Caldwell amended to also include combinations in lumber, Mr. W hite said that every statement made by Mr, Ballard was substantially correct, and that if this would have a tendeéncy to break up or regulate the grain trade, it should also have a beneficial effect upon coal and lum- ber dealers. Mr. Harlan said that he teared that the amendments would kill the bill, although he would not say that they had been introduced for that purpose. He did not think it would be good policy to add these amendments to thig bill. The peonle in manv parts of the state would, he thought, appose the amend- ments. Hie knew that coal sold for different prices in different towns, and so lonz ascom- inations had not been formed he thought there was plenty of time to think of the amendment in question. He would favor, however, asking the governor to send ina message requesting that some legislation be effected relating to the coal and lumber busi- ness. ‘The amendments were lost by a vote of 18 10 80, Sections 2 and 3 provide for the liabil- ity of violators of this law, with reasonable attorney’s fees to parties injured. The bill was reported for passage unanimously. The house went into committee of the whole on the general file. Senate file 174, apportioning tho state with thirteen judicial districts and the appointment and eléttion of officers thereof, was amended, making the following districts: First — Richardson, Nemaha, Johnson, Pawnee and Gage counties. Second—Lancaster, Otoe and Cass. ’l‘i:.lrd-uouglns‘ Sarpy, Washington and urt Fourth—Saunders, Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Platte, Merrick and Nance, Fifth—Saline, Jefferson, Gillmore, Thayer, Nuekolls and Clay, i ; slllz(lh—stnrtl. York, Hamilton, Hall and Polk. Seventh—Cumming, ~Stanton, Wayne, Dixon, Dakota, Blackbird, Madison, Ante- love. Cedar and Knox counties, and the unor- ganized territory north of Knox. Eighth—Adams. Webster, Kearney, Frank- lin, Harlan and Phelps, Ninth—Boone, Wheeler, Greeley, Garfield, Loup, Valley, Howard, Shierman and Blaine counties, and the unorganized territory west of Blaine. ‘Tenth—Buffalo, Dawson, Custer, Lincoln, Logan, Keith and Cheyenne counties, an unthe organized territory west of Logan, Eleventh—Gosper, Furnas, Frontier, Red Willow, Hayes, Hitchicock, Chase' and undy. ‘Twelfth—Holt, Brown, Keya Paha, Cherry, Sheridan, Dawes, Sioux and Box Butte countles, and the unorganized territory north of Holt and Keya Paha. In the third “district there wil) be four jud“(es of the district court; in the first, sec- ond, fourth and seventh districts, two judges, and In each of the others onme judgé. The term of the judge shall be four dyann. The governor is 1o appoint judges to fill vacancies created, including the nine judgeships created b{ this act. Mr. Fuller wanted to have the bill recom- iitted to the judiciary committee and nnnl;é the committee on nrpcnlonment. ‘This 1 to a lengthy discussion, as did also the at- tempt of Mr. Hayden to restrict the thira district to three judges. ‘Lhe bill was re- ported for passage. ‘The next was the voluminous house roll 506, redistricting the state in senatorial and representative districts, and appertioning senators and representatives theretor, the former being thirty-three in number and the latter 100 as at present. The bill was favor ably reported upon, HKecess until EVENING SESSION, The house went into committee of the M]!Iu‘)le on the general iile, Mr, Smyth in the chair. House roll 166, granting a bounty of $300 to all honorably discharged members of the first and second Nobraska regiments, and in case of the death of such persons, to their widows and orphans, was read. Mr. Newcomer wanted the bill indefinitely postponed becanse it would cost the state 300,000, The = surviving wembers in Nebraska did not want the bill to pass. The others were scattered all over the union and it would take twenty years to find them. The committee on ways and means had reported adyersely to it, ‘The motion prevailed. Nenate file No. 9, amending sectlons 17 and 24 and repealing section 20 of chapter 25, reg- ulating the property rights of husband and wite in case of divoree or imprisonmnent for life, was recommended for ;',’“"f" House roll 118, provides that cities, towns, villages, school districts and counties may compromise their indebtedness and issue new bonds therefore. This bill is mainly in the interest of Brownville and vicinity, which in 1800 issued, by means of skull-dug- gery $£100,000 in bonds for a railroad which a8 never yet been seen. Interest amount- InI: 10 $65,000 has been paid, and & compro- mise is now sought for reliet. It was recom- men; to ‘Ill‘& House roll 2, regulating procedure in dis- trict courts in eivil actions, was killed, House roll 55 provides for the removal of guardians from cured insane people and re- formed spendthrifts, It was recommended to, ’Fm he committee rose, reported and the house adjourned. e S Small Blaze at Lincoln. Lixcory, Neb., March 18.—[Special Tele- &nm to the BEE. [—Gittier B ' barn, in e rear of enzine house No. 2 and adjoin- davuaged By i to-ulght a¢ 11, "Lt I8 Az e y U-L| al “ s su| o Lave wfl.m f an | b saved. CIhis is the second time It has been on fire th's week, e v Nebraska and lowa Weather., For Nebraska and lowa—Light rains or snow, followed by fair weather, becoming cooler, variable winds, shifting to westerly. VICTIMS OF A DEATH TRAP. Calamitous Fire in a Orowded Hotel in Buffalo, New York. A NUMBER OF LIVES LOST. Heartrending Cries For Help From the Fire Walled Guests—Desperate Leaps For Life Result in Death —Sickening Details. Disastrous Fire. BuUrraro. March 18,—The Richmond hotel and St. James hall burned, early this morn- ing. The loss is fully half a mitlion dollars, A number of lives are reported lost and many injured. The fire was discovered at 3:30 this morning in the new Richmond hotel. The house contained a large number of guests and their heart-rending shrieks could be plainly heard. Ladcers were raised as soon as possible and as many as could be were taken out, A Jarge number (‘ them were unable to eflect their escape, The corridor in the center of the building acted as a great funnel and as the flames streamed upward the guests found themselves imprisoned by walls of fire. The screams of the unfortu- nates could be heard for blocks and at many windows they could be seen calling for help. At one of the third story windows two guests were seen to fall back into the flames. One man jumped from the fifth floor to the roof of a two-story wooden building ad- Joining and was badly injured. The number of those injured Is not exactly knowp. W. M. Barse, of Olean, N. Y., was terribly burn- edabout the hands and wrists, A number of insurance men were in the building and several of them were- badly lajured, Among them were W. J. McKay, of Niagara Falls, C. W. Dubots, of Syracuse, W. S. Dewey. of Rochester and Clinton Bidwell, of Pittsburg, badly injured. Atthe hospital are Charles Davis, of New York, H. B. Smith, ot the North British Insurance company, of New York, and Edward Whelan, of New York—all burned about the hands and feet. These are probably not fatally injured. Fetch hospital contains eight men and one woman more or less in- jured. I'wo of the injured are at the Sisters’ hospital and four more at the general hos- pital. THE BUILDING is sitnated at the corner of Main and Eagle streets, extending through to Washington street. It is now believed that at least twelve persons were burned to death, The rapidity of the fire cutting off the means of escape led some persons to leap for their life from the windows. Others got down the fire escapes or on ladders raised by the fire department. 'The shrieks and cries of the poor people in the upper stories of the burning building were heart-rending, One man. mad with terror, leaped from the third story window, and was picked up from the stone sidewalk a mashed corpse. Several who succeeded in making their escape were badly injured and burned, and some of these will probably die. Three, miore fortunate, escaed with slightinjuriés. There were 125 guests in the hotel, seventy of whom were transient Ruests, eight boarders and the remainder porters, bell boys, and the families of the proprietor and clerks. Twenty-two ot these were rescued from the windows by firemen, twenty-two are at the hospitals and a large number made their escape by other means, THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE is unknown. William H. Allport, the night clerk, says: “There was nobody upbut my- self, Joe, the night porter, and Plummer, the bell boy. 1 pulled all four of the fire alarms on the different floors, and the people came flying down-stairs in their night clothes. The fire followed the elevator, and inside of five minutes had reached the top floor. I rushed out of doors after doing all I eould.” The bell boy, Plummer, tells his experience as follows: “'I was dusting the reading room when I heard a shout and saw the flames coming up the stairway from the basement. Allportand I turned the hose under the main stairway. We straightened out the end, turned on a valve, but the water would notrun, Then we gave the alarm. The watchman and 1 got a plank and broke in the Eagle street entrance to the hotel. Then we gota plank under the fire escave on Eagle street and we helped the people down. I think there were about eighty-four guests in the hotel.” THE SPREAD OF FLAMES 18 said to have been terrible in its rapidity. The elevator shaft served as a flue for the flames and they rushed up to the top floor in & few moments. As the guests were aroused and saw the interlor exits cut off they turmed to the windows, They could be seen in their night elothes standing before the lurid back- ground of flames. 'Their screams were terrible to hear and could heard for blocks, The flames spread to the southeast side of the hotel first. ‘I'he fire- men did noble work and confined the fire to the narrow limits of three buildings. Their work of rescue had many exeiting incidents. ‘The telegraph wires were as usual n the way of the ladders and much valuable time was wasted in getting them past the wires. The second and third alarms brought the whole fire departinent to the rescue, but it was impossible to save any part of the structure. ‘I'he fire veached the roof in less than five minutes from the e It was discovered. ‘The fire was fined to the Richmond hotel and museum property and stores underneath, which were all déstroyed. SLIDING DOWN A ROPE. ‘The five girls who roomed on the fifth floor made a rope out of bed-clothes and hung it out of the window, but none ot them seemed to have courage to start. At last one of the five took hold and swung down to the win- dow ledge, from which she was rescued. Three others came down in the same manner and then the fifth girl started down, She had gone but @a little distance when the rope parted and down she went four stories. Strange to say she was not killed, Her legs were terribly cut and bruisea and Injured and her faceé and arms are in a frightful condition from burns, Mark Osboru, day clerk and assistant manager of the hotel, is missing. Among those seriously injured are Perry Davis, of New York, Mar; Nolan, Maggie Mumbach, & man name Nichols, Fanny Harvey, Frederick K. Moore of Cleveland, Oblo; Willlam A. Haven. of Helena, M. T., chief engineer of tae North- ern Pacific rallroad; Edward A. Finch, ot Scranton, Pa.; Henry B. Rumsey, and Jacob Kohn, of New York. R. 11, Humes occupied % room on the third floor. ' He was awakened by the electric bells a:g after arousing several people on the same r JUMPED THROUGH A WINDOW to the kitchen roof. There everything was in flames. He made a rush for the Eagle street door, ‘olut through the kitchen skyhight and out through the flames and escaped. He left five persqns on the kitchen roof, and thinks they all perished. The dead bodies f William Purcell, of this city, two un- wn womeb and one unknown man are at the undertaking establishment. To the ist of dead must undoubtediy be added ark Osborn, elerk, “Fho burned bullding was erected 186 for an n_ 1 d of the hotel. Whi - m‘ in hotel of of di l?‘lm. the value of f people rescued by the fi: u".'i'&'u?? r':“ & twmny-n\’-e. %h{:i l‘uuldbo led off most of the men ose agg 1ot 1hy ‘Dullalog go for a while, giving all thelr attention to the lad- 8, ers, Additional names of those Injured are: May Witte, of this city: Matthew Shannon, Clinton Bidwell, Neilio Welch, and Mrs, Kate Pierce. 'Ihe body of a woman recoyered this morning Is_that of Kate Wolf, of Lockport. The father of Mary Welch, servant at the Richmond, report- eq this afternoon that she was missing; It is believed she perished, Another servant kirl is reported missing. ¥, A. Kohn and H, D. Rumsey, of New York, are not expected to live. No further hodies have been found at last accounts, and no others are reported missing, THE DEAD AND DYING, As far as can be ascertained the dead are 1, of R G. Dun & Co. day clerk at the hotel, aToronto railway man. rvant, of Lockport. RY B, RUMSE ! iG1E MuLrach, Buffalo, Many NorAw, Buffalo. Epwanp WHEELAN, Newburg. 5 ‘Those who are severely burned or injured are as follows: J. H. Finch, Seranton, Pa.; E. Moore, Cleveland; W. A, Haren, Helena, Mon! C. W._ Dubois, Syracuse, N. Y.: W. J. Mann, Mrs, Mann,” Jennie Manp, Buffalo; Miles Borse, Olean, N. Y.3 Mat Shannon, Charles Clinton, Bidwell; Minnie Weller, Mrs. Kate Pierce, Nellie Welch, Nettie Harvey. all of Buffalo; Barry Dawes, George F. Michaels, both ot New York, and W. J. Mackay, Niagara Falls. A servant girl named Walsh is believed also to be among the dead. The walls of the burned building are a menace to life, and until they are raised and the ruins cooled no search for the bodies can be made. Itis un- doubtedly a fact that at least thirty persons perished, ‘I'he total loss by the fire will be $100,000. Of this amount the Buffalo library loses $13,000 on the hotel and museum buildings which were insured for $00,000, Fuller & ‘Townsend, clothiers, were insured for $45,- 000, The stock was a total loss and was valued at $60,000. Peter Paul & Bro., and Albrich & Kingsley, stationers, each luse $40,000, with 830,000 insurance. Several minor losses were sustained. Business Houses Destroyed. Rock HiLL, 8. C., March 18,—The postoffice, hotel, savings bank, First national bank and about ten small shops burned this morning. ‘Cne loss is about §140,000; insurance, $90,000, —_— A SIXTY-DAY LIMIT. The Inte ional Distillery Can Run T Des Mo March 18,—[Special Telegram to |—The supreme court to-day granted an order of supersedeas in the case of the International distillery to last sixty days. This allows the distillery that length of time in which to work off the pro- duct and feed the 1,700 cattle that are left with it under contra¢t, and permits it to manufacture alcohol only for mechanical and medicinal purposes durlng that time, at the expiration of which Judge Conrad’s injunc- tion order goes into effect and closes the dis- tillery till a final disposition has been reached in the higher courts. 1t is reported to-day that after the 15th of June the International distillery would close any way to accept the vrovosition of the Western Distillers’ asso- clation, paying it & royalty for its capacity. ‘The supreme court finds the following de- cisions here to-day: McConnell vs ™ Hutchinson, appellant, Dayis district. Reversed, First National bank of Newton vs Jasper County bank, appelisnt, Jasper district. Aflirmed. Bank of Monroe, afie}hnt, vs Ellis Gifford, Jasper circuit. Reyemsed. Caroling Perkins, appellant, vs Samuel Hunkley, ~administrator, Johnson circuit. Atl!}rmlfid. " avidson, appellan surance cou'lpgr?;. Polk circait. Aflirmed. Missouri, lowa & Nebraska Railway com- rAu‘“y vs Braham, appellant, Jasper dlstrict. rime Davis, appellant, vs the city of Des Moines, Polk circuit. Affirned. State of Iowa va Thompson, appellant, Jasper district. Reversed. Oppenheimer & Co. vs Barrett, appellant, Jasper circuit. Reversed. ferd vs llerd, appellant, Wright circuit. Aftirmed. Oreutt vs Hannah Hanson, appellant, Cedar circuit. Reversed. Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Rail- way company vs Connors, appellant, superior court of Cedar Rapids. Reversed, Seevers and Rothrock dissenting. State Insurance company, appellant, vs Richimond, Kossuth district,” Aflirmed. THIE MAD MISSOURI vs the Hawkeye In- Heavy Losses Incurred at Bismarck By Floods—More to Come. BismARck, Dak,, March 18.—The Wash- burn gorge broke last night and early this morning the river began to rise rapidiy. A gorge was formed below the city, The ice carried everything with it and struck the im- mense warehouse of the Northern Pacific,one of the largest in the world. The workmen narrowly escaped drowning, and in less than two hours from the time of the gorge the water was in the second stories of river boarding houses which had been built on what was considered high ‘ground. The warehouse, which is mearly 700 feet in length, was moved bodily over thirty feet and sent crnsh(uf against the bluffs, The loss on this building will be over $15,000, The meadow land south of Bismarck, com- Frlslng 6,000 acres, s now one vast sea and he Ice is lowing over the newly made chan- nel in this body of surplus water at the rate of ten miles per hour. The river at this point, which is usually three-quarters of a mile wide, 18 now over six miles in width. The Northern Pacific trains will be unable to cross the river several days and Bismarck will be the western terminus for the week. Superintendent Graham attempted to ¢o to Mandan, but the water on the west side of the river Is flowing over the track four feet and the fires in the engine were put out. Mandan is submerged. The people. in the lower part of the city have been moving into the upper stories of their dwellings, All the small dwellings on the banks of the stroam have been swept away or destroyed, and steamnboats lyimg st Rock Haven are in danger. The hizh tle of the Northern Pacitic at this point has been damaged. At 1o'clock the new channel which the river has cut across the prairie let out the ice and the river is flowl slowly but the worst has not come, The ice went out at Fort Buford this morning with a rise of thirty feet, the highest ever known. This flood will not reach here until Sati — ———— The Peruvian Debt. NEW YORK, Mareh 18.—([Special Telegram to the There is'stopping at the Hoff- man house a gentleman who leaves oun Satur- day for London to eemelude pending nego- tiations for final settlement of the Peruvian debt. The gentleman is Dr. Aranipa. M, P, Grace, of the firm of W. R. Grace & Co., came 4om Peru with Dr. Aranipa and, goes with him to London as attorney for the for- eign Peruvian bondholders. following facts on thé subject. *“I'he claims against Peru amount to” about £32,000,000, re of which, however, the bondholders nink the adjoining republic of Chili should y that republic having in dismemberini Peru taken a portion of the guano an and nitrate of soda deposits and the cus- toms duties which were hypothecated to the bondholders. The scheme of contract which has been proposed by Peru advises the trans- fer of all Peruvian railroads to the bond- holdeys ¢ definjte numbep of years, the transfer of guano deposits, tt¥ right to_work ;ha mlnefl. oeul:tln of & llrlu cht IMull.M or the purpose of encouraging immigration and for the benelit of corporations, the right 10 navigate the rivers and the ergn f an incoma from the custom house. In éxehange for those offers the bondholders ale 10 ex- tend the railroads and cancel all their claims against Peru. This proj will bring pros- erity to Peru and devel oll‘!ur resources, . | ve no doubt of the adeption of the plan.” He gave the MCARTHY IN THE COMMONS. The Honored Irishman Takes the Oath as Member From Derry. SPEAKER PEEL'S PROHIBITION, Her Graclous Majesty's Second Jubie lee Drawing Room Reception—The Dcbutantes and How They Acted—Other Foreign News, fJustin'Back in Parliament. (Copuright 1887 by James Gordon Beanett.] LoNpoN, March 18,—[New York Herald Cable—Special to the Bek.]—I went this afternoon to the house of commons to see Justin McCarthy take the oath as member for Derry. McCarthy subscribed to the oath amid cheers from members of all parties. His literary fame, his courteousness and genlality fhave gained for MeCarthy pop- ularity even amone his political foes. Among those who cheered the member for Derry was his late anta:onist, Charles E. Lewis, who, gince Mr. McCarthy went to America, has obtalned anotter seat and has been created a baronet. Hearty personal congratulation followed the taking of the oath by the new and at the same time old member, for Mr. McCarthy has represented an Irish constitu- ency for many years back. To all the con- gratulations of members Mr. McCarthy ex- pressed himself delighted with the reception he had received in America. FREEDOM OF DEBATE RESTRICTED, He soon had an opportunity to compare the freedom of debate at Washington with the rapidly iIncreasing restriction at St. Stephens, and to learn what the newly con- trived addition to the autocracy of Speaker Peel means. Shortly after Mr. McCarthy touk his seat the fiery Dillon rose to speak against an outrage on the priesthood in Ire- land—the rearrest of Father Killy for con- tempt of court in refusing to give evidence in which he believed he was privileged to do by his holy calling, Mr. Dillon had just said that Judge Boyd, who issued the warrant, was & notorlous political partisan, when the speaker stopped him, saying he could not allow a judge of a superlor court to be thus impugned. A 8OPHOMORIC REPLY. An attempt was made to answer Dillon’s attack by the new Irish secretary: *‘The nephew of his uncle,” as that four is already dubbed in the lobby to the disgust of Lord Salisbury, Mr. Balfour’s tone, manner and rhetoric impressed me as belng like those of any sophomore at an annual college exhi- hibition. 1 saw Mr. McCarthy smile as that four spoke. Was he thinking of what he said about the new secretary to your reporter Jjust pefors he started for this country? HER SECOND RECEPTION. Queen Victors Second Jubilee Drawing Room. (Copyright 1887 by James Gordon Bennett.] LoNDON, March 18.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to the BEE.|—*"Her Graclous Majesty,” as Queen Victoria is styled by the court newsmonger, held her second jubilee drawing room this afternoon. A drawing roon of to-day resembles very much a draw- ing room of 1837, only that tho drawing rooms of fifty years azo were held in St. James palace, while now-a-days they are held in Buckingham palace. Lobdon “‘society” has grown, too, within the last fifty years, and consequently the crowd of bare necked dames and their daughters, who think it mecessary to pay their respects to the queen, has increased in numbers. The debutantes are as nervous in this jubilee year as they were fitty years ago, For half a century the “coming out” girl has rehearsed in private the awful ceremony by which she is launched into society. In the secrecy of her bed- room she has pinned a sheet to her skirts to represent a train. Snhe has bobbed before chairs, posing as royal highnesses, and has done her “level best” not to turn her back on any of the said chairs. But the debutante of to-day is as awkward as the debutante was when his late majesty, King William 1V, was gathered to his fathers. Full ot pluck when she starts to be presented, all the courage bas oozed out of the tips of her fingers before she has reached St. James' palace, and by the time she has got into her majesty’s presence the pushing crowd of women has “knocked her sosilly” that she hardly recoznizes her own name when the lord chamberlain an- nounces it. She has kissed the queen’s hand, she has made several ‘“‘bobs,” but in her nervousness has forgotten to notice what the Princess of Wales wears, ‘Then, allof a sudden, a page tucks her train under her arm, and the debutante scuttles away, bewil- dered and befogged, trusting In providence that she has not turned her back upon a royalty. Mrs, Arthur Post, nee Walthan, was to have been presented to-day by Mrs, White, wife of the first secretary of the United States legation. Temporary indisposition, however, prevented Mrs, Post appearing at Buckingham palace to-day, and she will be presented at the third jubileé draw!ag room, which takes place in May, ONLY TWO AMERICAN LADIES PRESENTED. ‘The only American ladies presented were Mrs, J. D. Meigs and her daughter, Miss Nina Meigs. Their dresses were much admired. Mrs, Meigs wore a body and train In broche of regence azure. trimmed with cascades of lillies of the valley and roses. The train was lined on the left side with point de venise; caught up with a bunch of marechalniel roses aud lillies, The lining of the train on the right side was of the same color as the roses. 'The skirt was of crepe de chine azure, trimmed with cascades of flowers, The body was trimmed with the same lace as the train. ‘The ornaments were sapphires and diamonds, ‘I'ne bouquet was of marechalaiel and lillies of the valley. Miss Meigs wore a body and train velours de lyon, trimmed with chicoree mousseuse, The skirt was of white erepe de chine. The body trimming and epaulettes were hyacinths and white heath. A cordeliere of the same flowers fell over the front of the skirt. The ornaments worn were pearls and diamonds. The bouquet corresponded to the floral trimmings. OTHER NOTABLES PRESENT, ‘The youngest member of the royal family present was the Princess Victoria of Wales, Her majesty, the queen, displayed her eus- tomary sumptuous black satin, trimmed with black gui pure, and the white tulle veil, sur- mounted by adiadem of diamonds and pearls. Her necklace consisted of four rows of large pearis. On her corsage were the ribbon and star of the Order ot the Garter, together with a perfect blaze of other orders. Itbeing the fortieth birthday of the Irin- cess Louise, she and the marquis were cele- brating the event elsewhere. The queen’s face was wreathed with smiles, doubtiess from the fact that this affair was not numerously attended. Onlv two of the cabinet ministers were present, the lord chancellor and the howme secretary, Mr. Henry Matthews, to each of whom drawing roolns are comparatively novel affuirs, B France and Germany. Panis, Mareh 18.—The Voltaire publishes an interview with Delesseps in relation to his visit to Berlin, DeLesseps professed com? plete alsregard for the attacks upon him by the radical press, and maintains the truth of his assertion that Germany and France were natural friends, nu\-lnr common luterests, He sald Bismarck told him he was glad to France great and strong and woula wish Germany to be the same, so that the two nations might be unable to gauge the uncertainty of a fresh contlict. “May we not some day exclaim,” continued the prince, “‘that we would be stupid to kill each other, Let us join forces and be masters of the world. We ought to be able to k for the procress of civilization. day our forees are equal we will again be triends, Our geographical position makes it our duty to neglect nothing to that end, Which will insure the peace of the world, ‘That is why 1 congratulate ?’flll upon posses- sing the energetic and soldier-like General Boulanger. I repeat that when our forces are equal the two people will fraternize.” Students Forbidden to Join Societies i RSBURG, March 18,—The minister of education has decreed that students shall henceforth belong to no society whatever, not even thsse sanctioned by the government, as experience has shown that they are liable to be misled by political agitators. It is re- ported that shells loaded with seven pounds of dynamite and 200 stryéhnine poisoned bullets have been found in the conspirators’ lodgings. Arrests of persons suspected of lu-ln;: implicated in the recent plot to ussas- sinate the czar have been made at Constadt and other garrisons, The police at Odessa have arrested a gane of nihilists and seized a quantity of explosives and tools used in the manufacture of bombs. Two girl stu- dents have been flogged to insensibility for their conncetion with the conspiracy. The Nihilist Plot. LoNDoN, March 18.--It Is now supposed that 1ast Sunday’s plot to assassinate the czar was planned by Degaieff, the famous nihilist leader, who was the author of the conspiracy three years azo. VIENNA, March 18, —The fund being raised by the press of Russia for the benefit of the families of the insurgents executed in Bul- garia has reached the sum of 10,000 roubles. ‘I'he czar has donated 5,000 roubles, the czar- ina 8,000 and the czarewitch 1,000 for the efit of the families. It is rumored in Vienna that an uprising was attempted in Moscow Sunday, but was suppressed. Will Bombard the Town, ZANZIBAR, March 18.—The French have sent a man-of-war to bhombard the Walled town of Johanna, the capitol of the Island of the same name in the channel between Mo- zambigne and Madagascar. The reason given fxy the Frenceh is that the king of Jo- hanna refused to receivea French resident at his capitol. 28 Against the Nasty Details, LoxpoN, March 18.--Two hundred and thirty-five members of the house of com- mons have signed a memorial in favor of the prevention of the publication of offensive de- tails In divorce cases. They will meet next week to decide how to bring the subject be- fore parliament. Mexican Sccurities on Sale. LoNDON, March 18.—Matheson & Co. have offered for public subscription $ 10.500,000 worth of 6 per cent gold bondsof the denomi nation of 81,000 each of the Mexican Nationa railway company at 92 per cent. The Executions Ended. Sor1A, March 18.—The regents have as- sured the foreign envoys that no more per- sons who participated in the recent insurrec- tion will be executed. France's Duty on Corn. PAnis, March 18,—The committee of the chamber of deputies having the matter in charge has fixed the import duty on corn at 3 francs, —-— THE COMBI1N ON COMPLETED, Another Report That the B. & Transfer Has Been Made. NEw Yonrk, March 18.—Late to-day the statement was given out, apparently by au- thority, in Wall street that the negotlations for the purchase of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad had been completed: that the road haa been bought by the Stayner-Ives syndi- cate; that the first deposit of $500,000 had already been paid, and that the transter of the road to the purchasers would soon be made. The bu{ern are known only by thelr connection with purchase of the Cinclnnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad. The backer of these partlesis reported to be Christopher Myer, the millionaire rubber manu- facturer of this _ city. A_ promi- nent member of Richmond Terminal makes the statement that it was through Mr. Sully that the company was freed from its entanglements; that it was enabled to ace quire Richmond & Danville stock, of which nore than 42,000 shares out of its jssue of 50,000 shares are now owned by the Terminal company, and that it was owing to his efforts that the control of the East Tennessee had been acquired. For the first time since the Baltimore & Ohio deal has been pending Sully to-da) broke his silence so far as to say: *‘Yes, see that othec parties claim to have pur- chased the ‘control ~—of the Balti- more & Ohio, 1 think they have made a deposit on account. When the Terminal company decided not to exercise their option I'told the Baltimore & Ohjo people that while we unanimously desired to com- bine our ‘T'ermir.al property with the Halti- more & Ohio property, yet we could not ask them to consider themselves in any way bound to leave the matter open. Theretore, if any disposition has been made it 18 per- fectly proper and right. 1 believe the amal- gamation of dividend-earning railroads into strong systems canot butadd strength, power and increased earnings with resulting econo- mnies, 1f each separate property is self-supporting and revenue pro- ducing, — then combining their traflic must add strength and the net earnings of each part, provided, of course, that the natu- ral laws governing their traflic favor sueh combination. ‘There is nothing in this pol- icy operating agzainst the interests of the peo- ple. The people do not want poor, we asculated roads, unable to do business What the people need 18 stronz, Jowerful railroad companies, with means to urnish the very best appliances for the safe, comfortable rriaze of passengers and New Orleans is clamorous for mail — service, How ecan afforded if it must half a dozen different rai each having different interests and n: warring with each other? Combine these roads into one system and you have a power- ful cm[:urnllnn anxious to ‘serve the public, to create and maintain the very best scrvice, and thereby derive the best revenue. I think time will yet bring the Baltimore & Ohilo into the 'Perminal system. The Terminal company now own 4,500 niles o1 road, and an alliance of this road with the Baltimore & Ohilo would be of immense value to that property as well as the city of Baltimore.” THE B, & 0. EXPRESS COMPANY, CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., March 18.—The Times says it has positive information that the Baltimore & Ohio Express company has acquired the express franchisa of the East ‘Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia railroad, and all its connections from the Southern Ex- pany. It will take char e of the system within thirty days, ‘The Times says this strongly signifies that the Baltimore & Ohlo has been” absorbed by the West Point Terminal, as the latter recently acquired the Kast Tennessee, Vi Georgia road, Dangerons, BosToN, March 18,—In the investigation of the Bussey bridge disaster (o-day, T'heo- dore D. Moses, a civil engineer, said he re- garded the whole structure as a echanical deformity and considered it dangerous, Within two weeks he had spoken to Super- Il:xm;denl. Folsom suggesting that Le inake safe, T — Reguisition For a Murderer. OTTAWA, March 18.--The government has received from the United States authorities # requisition for the extradition of Francisco Trinarco, an Italian who murdered a tellow countryman in Chieago about n mouth ago, Trinarco escaped to Manitoba, but was ar- rested in Winnipeg a short time ago andj is now iu jall there, . NUMBER 273 GROVER'S SEMI-CENTENNIAL, President Oleveland Oelebratos the Fiftieth Anniversary of His Birth, NUMEROUS FLORAL TRIBUTES, Polk, Pierce and Grant the Only Othew Presidents Who Have Celes brated the Event in the White House, Cleveland's Half Century. WasniNGToN, March 18,—[Speeial Tele« i |—=The president is fifty years old to-day. Hecelebrated the oceasion by glving his entire attention to public busi= ne This morning he recelved a number of handsome floral tributes, accompanied by congratulations. Mrs. Hoyt, the president’s sister, arrived In Washington this morning and Is a guest at the white house. Only three presidents before Mr. Cleveland have had the vleasure of celebrating their seml- centennial while in that office. These wera James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce and General Grant, James A, Garfield would have been fifty years old had Guiteau's bullet been a month later in concludinz its fatal work. President Cleveland has the advantage in years of many of his predecessors. Wash- ington was fifty-seven when he was inaugur- ated, John Adams sixty-two, Jefferson, Madison and John Quiney Adams fifty- eight, Monroe fifty-nine, Jackson sixty-two, Van Buren fifty-five, and Harrison sixty- eight, General Grant was the youngest aud Harrison the oldest of the presidents. ‘fhe city 1s full of visitors from Buffalo,. On Wednesday morning & train arrived in five sections from western New York and of the 2,000 or 5,000 people who came on that train, at least 400 were from Buffalo or its immediate viein- ity, The report of the burning of the Rich- mond hotel was circulated among them early in the day and the utmost excitement pre- vailed because of the uncertainty whieh ex- isted as tothe fate of friends who might have been stopping there. Then, too, a report was current that a number of other fires had been started in various parts of the city which served to intensify the alarm of the visitors, Not until the afternoon papers appeared with the full detalls of this catastrophe was this alarm allayed. Scveral of the Buffalo people start back to-night in order that they may as- sure themselves that their friends are still among the living, Altogether the fre has spoiled the visit of the Buafflo people to Washington. Many of them who would have called on the president this afternvon were prevented from doing so by the anxiety which they felt to know the fate of friends who were stopping in the hotel. INTER-STATE COMMISSION TALK, It Is stated this morning by a Philadelphia paper that Colonel Morrison, Judge Cooley, of Michigan, and Judge Bragg, of Alabam: are the three democrats agreed upon as mel bers of the inter-state commission, but ai Judee Cooley is now in receipt of at least $25,000 a year as rece{ver of the Wabash it is hardly supposable that he would accept comparatively minor appointment. It more than probable that one of the demo- cratie members will be an eastern man and 1t is _understood that Governor Abbett, of New Jersey, s the one determined on, With the exceotion of Colonel ~ Mor- rison, however, mnobody seems to be certain about. 'the composition of the board, nor can it be definitely stated when the appointments will bejannounced. Judge Thurman called upon the president to-day accompanied by ex-Governor Robinson, of Massachusetts,” urging that the latter be selected as one of the republican members, but Governor Robinson is averse to accepting & position that would compel him to give up a large and lucrative law practico. The tact that the president is still in consultation with his advisers in the matter would ind| cate that this final action may be known be- fore to-morrow or the first of next week. The friends of Commissioner Atkins ars still hopeful that he may be designated a member of th mission. SI0NS GRANTED WESTERNERS. Tow rcnslnns were granted to-day as fol- lows: Rebecca, mother of Wm. H. Burk- hart, Prairie Hill; Caroline L., mother of Geo, C, Shedd, Denmark: Wm. C. Bryan Perry: Oliver M. Joseph, Ottumwa3 Samue B. Plckel, Northwood : Henry Cork, Ruthven, Increase: Robert 'Cooling, Mnquoketa; Nicholas Niblock, Moulton; Jessie Sanders, Keota: Levi Smith, Nevada: Kobert A, Dane iels, Conuell Bluffs; Wm. Cantield, alias Cooper, Lake City: Alfred Lester, Carroll- ton. Reissue: John B. Conwell, Alblon, Dnhou\—lncmm: Robert McNieder, Bls- marcl ONLY LEGITIMATE INFORMATION. Captain Hickborne’s work on European Dock Yards makes a volume of about one hundred pages of letter press and forty-five mnim and plates of dock vards and vessels in various stages of construction, togethe. with other technical matter of great interest to naval constructors and of very little interest to the ordinary lay reader. @ volume was rnuted in thé government printing office ast year and each membor of congress has a number of copies for distribution, Uutil the ublication of the scandal in relation to the hatham yards in England there was searcely a call for this work, but during the past few days those members of con- gress remainine in the city have had many demmands made upon them for the Kk, and in many instances their uurplwl are alreadv exhausted. The statement that Captain Hichborne published in this work matter which was glven him him in confi- denceis denied in the navy department. It is said that he shuply has incorporated in his work data of interest to the public for whom it was designed and that there is noth- ing whatever of a confidential nature cons tained in these |mzex nor is thereany attempt on his part to disseiminate information that would prove detrimental to the governments to whose courtesy he is indebted tor infor= mation received. AN OLD COUNTERFEIT, A few days 0go quite a sensation was cree ated here thirough the urrest of a gentleman from Detroit named Darl Wwho was taken from his room just as he was about to retire and hurried out to the police station, where he was charzed with passing $50 counterfeit bill, He admitted having passed the bill, and after giving a satisfactory account of how it came into his zessession he was al- lowed to depart. CLX:f Brooks, of the secret rvice of the treasury department, said to- : “*This bill was one of a number which stolen from a man in Pittsburg, who was expluining how to detect coun- terfeit — money, The Individual _ in question fell into bad company land his entire outfit was stolen from him. H: had in his possession a number of good bills of various denominations, besides many bad ones, which had the word counterfeit burnea across them. ‘The thieves who relieved him of his possessions tore them in two and pasted them tozether by the ald of comt plaster. The court plaster was stuck right Across the burned place and then the bills were disposed of, 1t is an old dodge and one which has been fru{lwntl)‘ and successfully worked, ‘The bill in question is not a new counterfeit as was supbosed at the time, bu§ is one of the hardest with which we have to deal. As soon as Mr. Darling notified thy New York hotel from which he nad seeut the bill of the troubla which it had gof him into they at ouca sent him a draf¢ to cover the aount uud he has had no fur- ther trouble. Referrini to'the siatoment re- cently printed in a number of western papers to the fact that a quantity of epurious cold coin has been circulated ‘in yurions western cities which are only 20 jer vent ullon ond which are very diflicult to detect, My, Brooks said that the secret service people have not et discovered any of these colns, and he 18 nelined to think “that the story emanates from the brain of some versatiie ‘writer who ie with wild stories POSTAL CHAX William A. Buckner was to-day appointed postnaster at Neguina, W ebster county, i Thomas C. Lalrd, resigned ; Mary M. J. 1 Lesam, Ringgold county, lowa, "vice Arthur Lesaw, resigned.