Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 27, 1887, Page 1

SIXTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA. FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 27, 188 ———— NUMBER 343 HORRIBLY ~ HEARTRENDING, Investigation Makes the Late Parisian Fire More Frighrful Each Hour, HEAPS OF BROILED HUMANITY. The Gayest Spot in the World a Charnel House—Probably Over 200 Burned—Distress- ing Scenes. Details of the Fire. [Copmight 17 by James Gordon Bonnett.) Panis (via Havre), May 26.--[New York Herald Cable—Special to the Beg.] The Opera Comique was totally burnt last evening. ‘The fire caught in the curtain from a row of gas jets in the flies. Two thousand people were in the theatre. The performance was “Mignon,” Atexactly a quarter before nine the curtain was just about to fall at the end of the first act. Mlle. Mareuillier, who, as Philene, was singing a waltz song to chorus accompaniment, suddenly ceased and disappeared. She had stood in front of the cottage at the right of the stage, overhung with trees, when showers of glowing cinders began falling about her. ‘ILhe instant she vanished Monsieur Taskin, who sang Lothario, stepped to the front amid the fall- ing embers and said: “Don’t move; its nothing”” In the stalls and pit where the danger was most evident, the audience began rapidly but quietly to leave the house. In the galleries where the magnitude of the fire was not visi- ble the people remained seated. By the time the stalls were emptied the house was full of smoke, and the entire stage ablaze. SCENES OF TERROR followed. The screams of ladies mingled with the shouts of the people upon the stage. ‘The frantic crowd trampled over each other, pretty women in full evening dress, the de- licious totlettes of Worth and Felix Routf, rushed vell-mell with the shop gzirls and cocottes, and came pouring out like an ava- lanche into place Boiledicu. Cloaks and wraps, of course, were left behind. A cold rain came down steadily, but luckily nota breath of wind. Other scenes of panic oncurred in rue Favare. where from the stage entrance bevies of figurantes and ballet girls half dressed came tearing into the streets,followed by the chorus of sinzers, scene shifters and carpenters. No one knew that the fire had not been fatal to hundreds of people in the lir\lll'rlflm The police and tiremen declare that most of the people es- caped. The officials report seventeen killed, 110 wounded. Onescene shifter, & young looking man with a bushy black "beard, was dragged from the flames suffocated and bleeding from a bad gash in the head, and brought into the ultra tashionable cate Ang- Ini orner of Boulevard des Caliens and rue Merivaux, and !’J]wfiml on adining table, where he died in about five minutes. Six stout firamen made a gallant charge, axes in hand, through the flames and rescued the fron safe containing the receipts, which they carried to the editorial rooms of the Gau- lois near by. Thé consternation on tho boulevards “reached the climax about 10 o’clock. At least 100,000 people blocked all streets leading to the burning theatre, while the firemen, in_brazen helmets, aided by a battalion of the Thirty-first regiment, kept back the crowd and aided the wounded to the police station on rue Richelieu, ‘where themilitary ambulances stood in readi- ness to convey them to their homes. In the cots at the police station I saw three figur- antes, pretty young elrls, Iving dead, their clothing burnt off them, their chests and arms black from the flames. THE NUMBER OF DEAD in this police station was seven. Eleven wounded men and women were lylng about fm-nln: with pain, while the doctors were hard at work doing their best to resuscitate those partially suffocated. There were pres- ent at the opera many Americans, but none, fortunately, were injured as far as known. Chas. A. Duvivier, 49 Broad street, New York, was with his son. He gives a graphic account of the escape of the audi- ence: “Woarrived early, secured seats, sat through the little opera “Da le Chalet’ that preceded ‘Mignon.’ ~ When the curtain rose after a lon%walt the first act of the opera moved off brightly and cheerily. Toward the end of the act we noticed pieces of burn- ing canvas falling trom the flies. We con- cluded the safe thing was to get out. As we were passing along the alsle, Taskin, stand- ing amid the sparks, beseeched the audience to remain seated. His courage was magnifi- cent, but his judzment was faulty, When my hed the fover the stage was a Screams to resound on all sides and fill @with smoke. We did for coats, saw nobody descending the stair- way leading to the galleries and I believe the jam had already occurred thereon. I be- lieveeverybody in the partierre escaped alive, though many ‘were badly bruised, but am equally sure many people sutfocated in the gallerfes. SCENES OUTSIDE were pitiful in the extreme. Kriendsand rela- tiyes were separated in the mad crush. Ladies wearing elegant evening toilettes were fran- tieally begging the firemen and onlookers to save relatives and friends. When we saw we coula not render further assistance, we came to Hotel de Lanthenee.” W. J. Ayres, of New York, had a lucky es- cape. With his wife, daughter and N, E. Rutter, he occupied the thigl box from the stage on the left side. e was greatly disap- pointed at being compelled to take this box, which was the only one obtalnable, but it turned out to be a lucky purchase. Mliss Ayres noticed the act: looking up: then other actors glaneed uwnrdi evidently alarmed. What seemed to bo a ball of fire fell to the stage. Mr. Ayres, looking up, saw the flies already a s of flame, He sprang to his feet ready to take his family out, but the actors advanced to the front of the stage and asked the audience to he calm, as thero was nodancer. Ayres says he and the whole audience were perfectly quiet for two min- utes, losing most precious time, Then theair draught carried a_sheet of tlame downward from the flies, cu out into the theatre like a liguid cascade. he fire deseended, burn- ing the canvas, which, dropping, drove the actors from the stage. As Mr. Ayres turned to take his wife out he noticed the whole au- dience rising together, rushing like A HEKD OF STAMPEDED CATTLE toward the doors, In half a second the the- atre was a mass of struggling animals,shriek- ing and howling with fear. Women were already being trampled upon even before Mr, Ayers could turn around. In a jiffy Ayers took Mrs. Ayres, Rutter took Miss Ayers and rushed out of the box into the corridor, then to the passage leading to the side door. The gmuu was nearly empty as Ayers got there, ut the rush of “desperate men began so quickly that the crowd pressed between Mr. and Mrs. Ayres and Rufter with Miss Ayres. r. and Mrs. Ayres were pushed out before the crowd like corks in a stream. Rutter and Miss Ayres were caught in the crowd, swayed with it, erushed, lifted up, set down, but gradually working towards the door. Miss Ayres told me her feet did not once touch the tloor or a step on the staircase. Her mother not a moment before had walked without difficulty, hence it will be seen how suddenly the terrible rush for the door an, At the foot of the stairs a curtain ung across the passage, Here a burly renchman P"“' the curtain aside and de- liberately seized Miss Ayres by the shoulder with his right hand and attempted to twist heraround or down so that he could trample her out of his way, Mr. Rutter grabbed the stageering girl just in time to save her from the feet of the crowd, but struggling to pro- tect her, could not stop the brute who pushed past unpunished. Finally, out of breath, crushed and exhausted, the whole party met asain uninjured in the street. 1 found the party st “Hotel Bnnc}:‘ uear the Herald of Ul sitting up, talking over the es- capade. Mr. Ayres tells me he feels certain the fire burned unnoticed a long time, as from his position in he co zt.n.oh {Il- n‘finm:l real l,‘v" Riven to the audience. reached the street cab, he noticed the street alread; hmoke. n«m:: he ht‘ficdmo'\‘ P ubiosh and saw nt of the theater @ fames. Fortunately the party got out- side the door before the worst of the crush began, hence escaped a nervous shock. A TALK WITH AN ACTRESS. I saw Mlle. Marguillier at her residence, No. 9, rue Saint Lazare, at midnight, sur- rounded by friends. Excellent artist that she is, she re-enacted while speaking, the dreadful scenes of the evening, “Ah, m poor theatre, L loved it so,” she exclaimed, ragicall 1t seemed a part of me. 1 was in the scene with the choristers when the fire bezan. [ had finished the duet with Mon<ieur Soulacrol when he said to me, raising his eyes, ‘look, we are afire. Save yourself wufmnl delay.” 1 left the stage in he midst of the sceué, but notwithstandin, cast my eyes over the auditorium where al- ready the people were springing to their feet, climbing over the stalls and rushing rear- ward, with eries of terror. 1 hurried tothe green’ room where I hoped to find com- rades whom I could accompany to the stage entrance, but it was deserted and almost dark, The loneliness terrified me. but 1 tried to coilect iny thoughts. I remembered thata corridor running parailel with rue Meriaux ended in an exit reserved for the administration. In two seconds I was face to face with that door. It was fast. knocked violently with bleeding knuckles, but without answer, At that moment I was filled with a terrible aneuish. 1 was caught inatrap. 1 waslost. My retreat across the stage was cut off. 1 felt that behind me were unknown horrors. 1 knew not where to turn for ald. Already the corridor was full of smoke which chased me. Then in sheer helplessness and despair [ shrieked. A voice without answered, ‘We will save you.” ‘The door-was burst in and I fainted. I came toin acafeon the Merivaux. Then, ufter a little time I came home. I am sure that unfortunate people have been I am so sorry,” and _rolline her gi eyes heavenward, she looked all she said. DARING FIREMEN, While ‘watching thefiremen from the cafe Anglaise, I noticed a daring fireman rush up a ladder placed against the totterinz part of the top story, front wall, The roof had already fallen and part of tihs wall had gone with it. ‘The remainder, a semi-detached iece, jutted out from the neighboring build- ng, held almost solely by the mortar. The flames ‘played above and below and on one side. Up went another fireman with a line of hose. I could almost see their clothes shrivel 1n the intense heat. ‘L'heir hats glistened in the light of the flames. The crowd below velled and_shouted applause almost as wildly as if Boulanger nimself had turned fireman. The water spouted from the hose and put the flames out and the fire- men went back into self-made darkness. At about 10 o'clock two men who had been driven by the flames to the roof jumped from the top ot the chimney into the rue Favare and landed a mass of jelly. They provea to be two employes of the theatre. I had an inferview with M. Taskin, who was singing the role of Lothario when the e broke out. 'Taskin sai I said to the audience the moment I saw the flames, *‘don’t move: i’s nothing, 1 then went to the room of M. Carvallio, the director of the Opera Comique. It was so hot in the passageway that I thought Ishould roast to death. ~ With a violent push of my shoulder L burst through the partition. [t was then that I was slightly wounded by a portion of a burning beam that fell on my arm, Having broken down the partition I reached Carvalho's room, nearly suffocated, but found that the tiremen had already taken him away sate. L returned and aided two figurantes to get safely out by the exit on rue Merivaux. Ithink the number suffo- cated will not be known for several days, for I saw many apparently lifeless bodies in the galleries.” : DAYLIGIT SCE: The bodies of the ballet dancers who lost their lives by the burning of the Opera Comique last night are lying in a heap of ruins of the theater. The firemen assort that many bodies are lying in the upper galleries, ‘The number of persons killed %mnlly ex- ceeds the z!fl!'lulls estimates. Excited crowds surround the ruins, which are guarded by a military cordon. are witnessed. . 1l 'wenty more bodies have been received this afternoon from the ruins of the Theatre Comique. ‘The remains of three men and two women have been found in a stage box. It is ascer- tained that many bodies lio buried in the debris in the upper galleries. The govern- ment has proposed to cl several Paris theatres because of their deticlency in exits, Late this afternoon the bodies of eightecn ladies in full dress were found lying together at the bottom stalr case leading from the second story, These ladles all had escorts, but no remalns of men were found near them. The walls of the theatre bezan fall- ing this evening and the search for bodies has been abandoned for to-day. ‘The library attached to the theatre was en- tirely destroyed with its contents, including many valuable scores. Six thousand cos- tumes were burned in the wardrobe. [he work of searching for the bodies was re- sumed to-night, and a number more were exhumed. The official statement says fift bodies have already been rcoovered. M, Revelllon, speaking in the chamber of deputies this afternoop, estimated that at laast 200 persons lost tneir lives in the fire. Already 156 missing persons have been in- quired for by relatives. They are supposed to have verished in the flames. -‘I'he bottom of the theatre is flooded with water to a depth of five feet. Many bodles have been fouad floating in the water by the firemen. A TERRIBLE DIRCOVERY, ‘The consternation was increasea to-night h{ a terrible dlscovorir. similar to that made after the burning of the Brooklyn theatre in December, 1876, At 11 o'clock pompiers working with picks came upon a mass of hu- man remai rom which they dragged forty corpses, There are many more now who certainly are in the debris of the theatre, Following are the latest official figures: ‘Total number of bodies found 53, 28 of whom have been identified, 13 severely wounaed, 60 slightly wounded, and 100 mlssInA:; that is to say, whose relatives and friends have re- gonsd to the police as having wone to the pera Comique Wednesday night, but who have not turned up. This brings the total list of casualties up to 226, Crowds stand round the vyolice statlons eagerly gazing at the face of each pewly unearthed victim with the hope of finding a father, or mother, or brother, or sister. "The streets are filled with women in tears. No Amerl- cans are among the dead, nor wounded, nor missing. Owing to the courtesy of the pre- tect of police, Monsieur Gragnon, 1 was per= mitted to be present at the ghastly work of extricatins the bodies of the victims from beneath the ruins, Nearly all the bodies are those of well-dressed person Most all still have on their gloves. Many ies are twisted into strange, weird shapes, and some seemed broiled as if on gridirons. Under the debris of a narrow stair case [sawa Emup of seven corpses, whose charred and lackened wembers were intertwined in almost Laocoon coils. One of these was that of a woman whose face was literally roasted like an overdode piece of beef. In her ears elistened a Enlr of large solitaire diamond earrings, The right arm was fractured and the left arm was wound ahouta smaller corpse apparently that of a ¢irl twelve years old,probably her daughetr. The other corpses in this groupe were so black and so mangled that this was almost impossible to say whether they were the remains of human beingsor of ‘animals, A few vards distant were the remains of a young basket girl the limbs still clothed with rose colored tricots that made her look as if still living, No art of the body was burnt nor did it bear races of any wounds. Death had been evi- dently caused by suffocation for she had torn from her skirts a handful of gauze which the poor girl had erammed into her mouth in a valn “effort to keep out the smoke Itisnow 2 o'clock in the morning. The sk{ is black as ink but there is no rain. Soldiers of the Garde Republicaine, in dark blue uniforms stand guard over the ruias, keeping back the erowd of several thousand silent, but curious spectators, and allow no carriage to pass through tne Boulevard des 1tali eryten or fifteen minutes the ghastly ns *of some newly unearthed victim'is borne silently on a st r §across the boulevard to the police stations on the Rbue Dronet and Rie Richelien, near the National Library, Strong disinfectants ver- and occasionally comes the A l;“ ‘:m:llfot{' burnt 'h?nuln s [Q vet of the gayest city In the world has transforined l'nto a glr- nel house. . —_— Deatructive Conflagration. LoxpoN, May 26.—Dr. Hatch from St Petersburg, gives the particulars of & de- structive conflagratiou which oceurred near there on the 24th Instant by which sixty houses were destroyed, The lu was incen- ?l‘xflzs ‘Ihe. loss amounts to several willion Many distressing scenes TERRIBLE NEW YORK FIRE. Sixteen Hundred Horses Burned to Death—Several Lives Lost. New Yorg, May 27.—3 a. m.—Flames broke out at 1:30 in the south end of the Belt Line stables, on Tenth avenue, between Fifty-second and Fiftp-third streets. The building was entirely destroyed, with 1,600 horses and nearly all the cars in the building. Two blocks of buildings are also in flame: The stable was a five-story structure and covered & square block. There was no chance to save the books of the com- pany. Onlya few cars were saved. At2 o'clock the walls of the buileing fell in with a crash, sending millions of sparks and blaz- ing pleces of wood in the air. Engines from all over the city were summoned. The heat from the flaming building was so great that several firemen and two policemen were prostrated. The flames, aided by strong winds, leaped across the wide avenue and com mun= icated to the whole block on the east side be- tween Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth street. ‘The block was composed of six-story tene- ment houses, out of which the terror stricken veople poured like a swarm of bees, praying, fighting and cursinz by turns, The scene of terror was indescrible. The builnings burned rapidly though the fronts facing the avenue were of brown stone. By 2:20 they were completely gutted. The flames spread to the entire square block over to Ninth avenue from Eleventh avenue, to which the stables extended. At 2:30 a, m. the next block below had caught tire and was blazing fiercely, The eets In the vicinity for blocks away were filled with frightened, crying, woe-stricken tenants, fleeing from the ravages of the flames. 'The fire attracted thousands of spec- ators. The loss to the Belt line people is not less than $40,000. It is estimated now that the entire loss will be over 81,000,000, The tenement houses were thickly peopled, every oor having from four to five families, all were poor people who will lose thelr prop- florty. 3:30 a. m.—A telephone message from the scene of the disaster says it is believed a large number of lives are lost. 3:45a. m.—The fire is believed to be under control. Seventy-five dwellings, mostly ten- ements, a soap factory and brewery are among the buildings burned. Another in Cincinnati, CINCINNATI, May 27.—The street railway stables, near the site of the Brighton house, are burning. It 1s thought they will be to- tally destroyed and a large number of horses burned. _Loss between £100,000 and $200,000. LATER—The fire i now under control, Only about half of the stable is burned, and most of the horses and cars were saved. The loss, it is thought, will be as large as first re- ported. e Strikers Talking Civil War. [Copuright 1887 by Jumes Gordon Bennett.] Brusskrs, May 26.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to the B —The acting committee of the Belgium strikers has writ- ten a letter to Beernaernt, chief of the cab- net, saying the cattle bill makes the cup of bitterness over the brim. The letter calls upon the minister togrant uniyersal suffrage, amnesty to the colliers condemned for last year’s outrages, the withdrawal of the cattle bill and a revision of the constitution, *If the minister does not answer satisfactorially before next Sunday,” adds the letter, ‘‘be answorable for the civil war which will en- sue.” The zovernment decided to-night to call out two classes of militiamen. The Ghent strikers appear bent upon coming next Sunday or Monday to Brussels to dem- onstrate, Beneft performances for the victims of the Paris Opera Comique will shortly be organ- ized here. BRusSELS, May 26.—The public prosecutor has ordered the enforcement of the la: against the sale of arns with a view of check- ing the trade outrage. A Tory Attack on Parnell. DusLIN, May 20.—The Express, conserva- tive, accuses Parnell of cruelty to one ot his Avondale tenants named Kennedy. The paper says that althouzh Kennedy K;s been a tenant leader’s estate for nine years, Parnell has cqerced him {nto exchanging the farnd he has occupied and improved, for a tract of inferior land. In addition to thi Parnell, the paper says, has refused to mal 25 per cent reduction in rent requested by Kennedy, and has sued him for'a year's rent due only siuce April, on the Irish The Hungarian Diet Adjourns. Prsth, May 26.—The Hungarian diet was closed to-day by Emperor Francis Joseph. 1n his closing speech the emperor gratefully re- ferred to the patriotic self-abnegation of the deputies in mvhllnfi’mr the safety of throne and monarchy despite an unfavorable con- dition of finances. French Politics, PAnis, May 26.—1t is reported that Fraycl- net finds 1t impossible to form a stable min- istry and that he will again decline to under- take the task, The chamber of deputies voted a credit of 200,000 francs for the relief of the sufferers by the Opera Comique fire. ‘The senate agreed to a 10 franc purtax on sugar, 1t is now dcumulr learned that Freycinet has informed President Grevy he cannqt form a cabinet. The ‘n'cshlenl's three re- publican_groups \IIFN President Grevy to remove General Boulanger from office, Canadian lmport Duties. LoNpox, May 26.—Various British cham- bers of commerce and other assoclations propose to issue a protest against the import duties on iron and seeel imposed by the Can- adian government. A Conspiracy Crushed. CONSTANTINOPLE, May 26,—It is reported that the sultan dismissed & number of ofti- cers holding high positions in the palace who were discovered to be engaged in a conspir- acy to overthrow him, - —— Oil Conduits Destroyed. ODESsA, May 20.—Nobels and Rothschild’s petroleum conduits near Batoum have been destroyed with dynamite. ‘The outrage is said to be the outcome of trade jealousy. Bismarck's Rheumatism. BERLIN, May 26.—Prince Bismarck has been suffering from muscular rheumatism, and his physicians have advised him to take complete rest, A Dead Earl. LoNDON, May 26,—Wilham Brabagon, earl of Meath und baron of Ardee. died to-day. He was in his eighty-fourth year. Off For Home, May 20.— Count Herbert Bis- s London tor Berlin, S A Rich Old Oaptain. ST, PAUL, May 26,—"Commodore” F. Davidson, au old Mississ: LONDON, marck has will- 1 river stea man, died this evening. He leaves & wifeand two children, and an estate worth ——— Steel and 1ron Pool. P1TTSBURG, May 26.—At a meeting of the steel and iron manufacturers to-day a pool 'was formed to regulate prices. e Three Men Ci ated. WILKESBARRE, Pa., May 26.—Three men were fatally burned by a gas explosion this afternoon hulop!(o.i-t Nanticoke, ——————— Governor Hill to Entertain Grover, ALBANY, N, Y., May 26.—President Cleve- land'and wite'wiil be the guests of Governor Aibiod on thelr veturd 0 thele tie o+ =} BENKLEMAN'S BIG ‘“BOMB.” Scoretary Lamar Ronders an Adverse Dee cision On the Townsite Ownership, CLEVELAND GETS COURTEOUS. The Fishing Party Leaves—A. Strin- gent Oattle Qaarantine — The National Drill—Army News —Western Pensions, Benkleman “Busted." WasniNGToN, May 28.—[Special Telegram to the Ber.|—Secretary Lamar to-day de- cided the case of the occupants of the town of Benkleman, Neb., vs. James A. Erwin, involving the town site claim, The following is the decision sent to Commis- sloner Sparks to-day: “I have considered the case of the occu- pants of the town of Benkleman vs. yames A. Erwin as presented by appeal of the former from a decision of your oflice dated November 10, 1855, afirming the action of the local land officers at McCook, Neb., re- jecting the application of the couniy judge of Dundy county in behalf of said ‘inhabi- tants to file a town site declaratory statement for the east half of the southeast quarter of section 18, township 1 north, range 87 west. Said application was rejected for the reason that at the date when it was offered said tract was covered by soldiers’ additional entry No. 8,076, final eertificate No. 576, n_the name of James A. Erwin, upon which a patent was issued February 20, 1883, and de- livered March 7 in the same vear; that when said entry was made on June 10, 1882, there was nothinz of record to show an adverce claim to the land;; that no action was taken by any adverse claimant after the allowance of said entry, and prior to the issuance of sald patent, attacking the validity of sald entry, and that, since said patent ‘was regu- larly issued, your oftice had no jurisdiction to allow said application. It has been repeat- edly said, and may now be considered a rul- ing of this department, that the Issuance of a patent for a tract of land exhuusts the jurls- diction of this department, except, perhaps, a8 regards proceedings looking to a recom- mendation of the institution of a suit in the courts to set aside and cancel the patent, where the same has been improperly issued. Upon the authority of the case citad, §the de- cision appealed from must be, and it ishercby aflirmed.” The President Smiles, WASHINGTON, May 26, —[Special Telegram to the Beg.|—For the first time since his 1n- auguration, President Cleveland entered the Baltimore & Potomac depot to- day by the front door. He walked right over the star which marks the spot where Garfield fell, and bowed cor- dially to everyone in sight. The charming face of Mrs. Cleveland beamed out pleas- antly on the crowd, and she responded with smiles and nods to the greetings of the assem- bled people. 1f Mr. Cleveland had adopted a policy of friendliness to the populace when he first came here, he would have had far less cause to complain of the treatment waich he has received. As it is, he has come to his senses rather Mte, and inasimuch as Dan Lamont stood by his side to-day, the imlpl‘«mmn rapidly spread that Dan had helped him don the mask of cordiality solely 1or poljtical effect. Southern Millitta Fools. WASHINGTON, May 96:—|Special Telegram to the Ber.)—The Vieksburg southerners who made such arrant fools of themsclves during the parade yesterday by withdrawing from the line of march because the colorea company from Virg{nia had been assigned a place in the line ahead of them, went still fur- ther to-day. They have formally withdrawn from the drill and it is said have started for howme. By this course they forfeit all rights to a share in the prizes, There was an excellent chance for them to e apturethe first prize of $5,000, but now they wil! have nothing. Their action has caused great amusement as well as chagrin, The northern companies from Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa and New York were sandwich in among colored troops all along the line, yet there was not even a protest from any of them. They are willing, too, to resign all claim to prizes if the colored men prove better on the drill field than they. The Vicksburg men’s action is looked ugon by demacratic politicians as exceedingly unwise from every standpoint, and politically as suicidal, An Tilinols Company Withdraws. WS N, May 26.—The weather was superb, and to-day was industriously devoted to competitive drilling. Company H, Sixth Illinois, was enteraa for competition, but withdrew on account of the illness ot one of its officers. ‘The rifie competition bezan this morning at the Washington arsenal. The contests were at 200 and 800 yards, Lieutenant Pol- lard, of the Washlngton Light Infantry corps, led with a score of 85 out of a possible 100. In the competition tor military prizes two commands took part, Battery A, of the Indianapolis Light artillery, came first and the men acquitted thewmselves well, very few mistakes being noted. 'The First Light bav- tery of the Wisconsin National guards, Cap- tain §Oliver® showed gzreat Ereclsmn. In the zouaves competitions the Chicagoans were 7n~au-d with loud applause. hey per- ormed but few fancy movements ‘but in wheeling, marching, bayonet and back marching, bayonet and skirmish drill, showed great proficiency. One of their feats, the scaling of a twelve foot fence, was perhaps, the most difficult: vet attemnted on a drill ground. I'he Memphisians were warmly ereeted in their turn. Their firing and their skirmish drill were littie short of plerfacllon. Rain prevented other competi- tion. Western Pensions. ‘W ASHINGTON, May26.—[Speclal Telegram to the B! ‘The following pensions were issued to Nebraskans to-day: Minor of David F. Hamilton, Omaha; Luey Carpenter for widow of David F. Hamilton, Owaha; Caleb L. Cannon, Jessup; Isaac B. Hayes, Byrom; increase for William R. Hubbell, At- kinson, The following pensions were issued for Towans to-day: Clarissa, widow of Dennis Holden, Burlington; minors of David W. Hamilton, Cottage Grove; minors of James M, OComnor, Warrensburg; Esther A., ‘mother of ludson M. Gohen, Spickardsville; Henry Erne, Mil- lersburg; Kobert Elkin, Kulton John Klune- man, Guttenberg; Bemjamin D. Ketcham, Centerville; Sylves L Rhoades, Marshall- . Drake, Sanborn; Gottlieb | Bluffsg increase for John Gunning, Toledo; Abel M. lluqm. Irving; Aliner B. Mankattan; Nathaniel S. Ervin, Erline: Willlam Neal, Newton, thé Iatter being a reissue. Quarantisiag Scotland, WASHINGTON, May #6.—The treasury de- partment has received in@ermation of the prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia to a some- what alarming extent in Scotland among neat cattle. To-day Acting decretary Thom- son 1ssued a circular to eustoms officers pro- hibiting, until further notice, 1mportati on of neat cattle and hides of neat cattle from Scotland. — Stringent Quarantine. WASHINGTON, May 26, —The commissioner of agriculture has deelared a rigid quarantine against Cook county, Iilinois, and certain counties in New York and Margland. These orders have been certified to by the governors o the states and territories, and all warn- ings will be given to railroads inst a breach of the quarantine. Army News. WASUINGTON, May 26.—(Special Telegram to the Bee.1—~Forty reeruits are ordered to the Fifteenth infantry 1n Dakota. Army leaves—Major Vaa Buten Huhbard, 8urgevn, one mouih from June 1; First ieu- tenant Stephen C, Mills, eight months, A further extension of army furlonghs— Sergeant Andrew Keefe, company G, Fif- teenth infantry,three months: Corporal John Rebstock, company I, Twelfth_infantry, three months: General Service Messenger Michael Norton, headouarters, department of the Missouri, Fort Leavenworth, one month; Private Edward Sehmidt, troop 1, Second cavalry, two months. kil LANSDOWNE IN OTTAWA, Twelfth infantry, thusiastic Reception—--The Gov- ernor General's Speech. OTTAWA, Ont,, May 26, —Governor Gen- eral and Lady Lansdowne arrived in ‘To- ronto this afternoon. 'The demonstration was the grandest ever seen in this city Large deputations from the citizens’ cominit- tee met them and an enormous procession es- corted them through the streets to Carlier square, where 2,000 school children on a large stand sang a chorus of welcome. The address of welcome felicitated the governor gencral or the regard and estcem in which he is held in Ottawa; refers to the progress the city has made during his term of oftice, and expresses the devotion of the city to the queen. The governor gencral, after thanking the citizens for their magnif- icent welcowme, said: *Of myself you have spoken 1n terms which 1 feel reflect the good will which exists between us, rather than my own deserts. 1 am afraid, however, even upon this assnmption, I cannot entirely account for the extraordinary recention we have encountered at the hands of your peo- ple.” After reterring to the quietness of former receptions he asked ‘‘llow are we to explain the change which has taken place? We have had such reception as, 1 will ve ture to say, has never been accorded any gov- ernor general before.” Ile could not acconnt for ail this upon the lllr'urf that _the purpose for which le absented himself for a few weeks had been such as to merit such exhu- berant marks of approbation. In all places where he had stopped he had emcountered similar oubursts of loyalty to the queen and d will and kindness toward himself. have made inquiries,” he said, “and endeavored to arrive at some ex- lanation of the facts, and I am given to un- derstand the explanation is this, that since we last saw you an invasion of Canada has en place, and that the invasion has not been successful. 1 learn that the invasion was In some respects rewarkable. ‘rhe in- vading forco was not numerieally strong, but made up in intrepidity for its weekness in numbers. It appears, moreover, to have taken at the outset of its operations a step which believe, not unusual with skilled strati- It scized the possession of telegraph es through which information of the most startling character was liberally poured into the country. I understand a further ob- ject was to overrun the country and above all things to put to fiight a certain high offi- cial of the state of whom, unless L misunderstand what has taken place to-day, the veopla of Ottawa are anxious to getrid of. There appears to have been a weak point in the arrangement. The invaders were completely misled by their intelligence department. They had been assured that the moment they showed themselves there would be a great rising of the natives. Well, a general rising took place, but unfortunately it was on the wrong side. ' Now, the end of all this has been that ‘the invasion’ is over; that Canada is still a part of the British empire; that the governor general is still her majesty’s repre- sentative, nay, more, 1 think we might also say that but for the events which I have de- seribed, he would not have received the mag- nificent reception accorded us by the people of Toronto which you have followed up this evening, ‘T'hese events will have their effect, not only in Canada, but on the other side of the Atlantic where the conduct of your people s being closely watched, and I think 1 am ‘]usmhd in saying that the moral which will be drawn will be twofold—tirst that the Canadian people do not look with an aj vroving eye on sueh interference with their own affairs, and secondedly, that as ]""i" as an public officer does his dufy be is likely to 0 supported bv your people.” 1 trust if these events have occasioned any difference of opinion or bitter feeling that bitterness will dot be allowed to end. The governor-general closed with warm expres- sion of thanks. The horses were taken from his carriage and a large body of youug men drew him to Rideau hall two miles distant,at lllmt. ‘The demonstration continued some time. Black Eye For Lansdowne. OTTAWA, Ont., May 26.—In the commons to-day the loyalists had prepared a motion to commit parliament to theendorsement of the governor general’s welcome home from the west. Mr. Small of Toronto moved that the house take a recess in order to give the mem- bers an opportunity to take part in the re- ception to the governor general. Mr. Blake, leader of the opposition, took objection. The wministerialists received this with jeers but it was suflicient to kill the motion. ‘I'he house of commons adjourned at 5 o’clock to meet Lord Lansdowne, Sir Charles Tupper asking the opposition not to object. e CORROBORATING AMES, Directors Blame the Government For the U. P.'s Trouble. BosToN. May 20.—Before the Pacific in- vestigating committee to-day, K. Gordon Dexter, who has been a director ot the Union Pacitic for twenty years, testitied. 1lis evi- dence corroborated Ames’ version of the condition of the Union and Kansas Paclfic roads prior to the consolidation. He was satisfied that acquiring the Kansas Pacific was very important and a good thing for the Union Pacitic to do, 11is judgment was that it was to the advantage of both roads, but he ‘was not sure it was to Gould. Judge Dillon incidentally testified as to certain suits brought against the company, including that in tt:mmecliou with the Ames-Fisher con- tract, After recess the examination of Mr. Dexter was resumed. He was asked as to his judg- ment on_the resuit of the policy pursued since 1875 by the Union Pacific in connection with the construction of branch lines and the vestinents made by in branch roads. ter replied: “Althofth we made hera and there nistakes, thes about the general po! i advocate the pursuance of the same policy the future.” To his knowledge, he said, no director or oflicer of the road was interested in any coal operation of the company for private profit. The witness said Gould’s ideas about the duty of a di- rector were sometimes peculiar. The only thing the Union Pacific suffered under was the uncertainty attending its relations with the government. He agreed with President Adams that it would be better for the road to pay the gross sum instead of mnkixui Day- menton the net i Ezra H. Baker, another direc! ught the action of Gould as a Union Pacitic man at the time of the consolidation very proper. He knew of no intention of the "directors to abandon the road to the government. Adjourned. Ll Ll The Baptists, SPRINGFIELD, [Il, May 26,—In the after- noon session the following Baptist offi- cers were elected: President, Samuel A. Rozeer, Pennsylvania; secretary, Benjamin Grifith, D.D.; recording secretary, Howard Gendall; treasurer, Charles H. Banes, There were 772 delegates present at the publication society meeting, thirty-eight states and terri- tories” being revresented. ‘The Woman’s Baptist Foreign missionary society also met this afternoon. The correspondinz secre- taries of the east and west also delivered brief addresses, The enrollment committee reported thirty- eight states and territories represented, twenty-four life managers present, 114 life members, 170 annual members and 400 visit- ors, a total of TU8, ’1‘!1} finance committee's report was adopted. Rev. D. D, Prosper, of ansas, presented a resolution declaring un- ‘ophosition to all forms of the liquor or beverage pur] the eve- g session able an quent addresses on the subject of the day were delivered, after which the anniversary of the publica- tion society ended, Regatta Postponed. CEDER RAPIDS, la, May 26.—The execu- tive committee of the lowa Rowing associa- tion has postponed the annual recatta at .7.'}:'"'95.""" to July % and 27, Entrigs close ‘an Legally Peal Forth, PnirApeLPitiA, May 26— Clergymen from ne to Texas and from the Atlantic to the Pacifie were in attendance this morning at | the opening of the Twenty-ninth general as- sembly of the United Prosbyterian church of North America. There were present about 8,000 delegates, comprising an equal number of ministers and laymen. The opening prayer was followed by the election of a new moderator. [t was one of especial interest, since it involvea the “instrument music’ issue, over which the church for some time has been divided. ‘Two nominations were X “ormick Gibson, D). D, of San Francisco, an earnest advoeate of the orzan, and Rev. J. G. Carson, of Xenia, 0., an anti-instrume candidate. Tue an- nual financial reports of the boards of for- eign missions, church extension, education, fr 'lhlmn|s niission and publication were nted. he result of the ballot was a decisive vie- for the advocates of the church organ, itindicates how this question will be wosed of Ta the session, Rev. Dr. on received 120 votes and Rev. Mr. Ca tor; and ib: e only important business durin afternoon was the presentation of the report of the permanent committes on reform, which was read and Flm'm( on the docket. In it the committee declares the right basis of all true reformers is christiamty, Reforma- tion built upon any other foundation will be unsound and unsettled. T The Millers Ground Their Grist. ST. Louts, May 26.—The Millers’ Natlonal assoclation concluded its session to-day. Resolutions were adopted that the merchant marine should be restored by the repeal of the navigation Iaw; the subsidizing of ship buildiny, treaties with foreign nations, etc. ; protesting against and calling the attention ot the state department to the adoption of the heavy tax on flour by Brazil, while wheat s admitted free: .protesting against the scrimination on flour in the interest of wheat by certain railroads; also against sack flour in Tavor of barrel flour. Buffalo was chosen as the next place of meeting. The offi for the ensuing vear John Croshy, president: C. H. Seybt, vice presi- dent; Po H, McGill, second vice president. - the The Brewers, BAvrTivorg, May 26.—The convention of the Brewers’ association resumed their la- bors this morning, and after listening to re- vorts of various committees adopted a resolu- tion appropriating $5,000 for assistance of the brewers of Michigan, $5,000 for the brewers of Texas, and $3,000 for the brewers of Teunessee, the money to be wused in defeating the efforts of the prohibitionists in those states. Nine thousand dollars was also appropriated for the use of the publication committee. An extra assessment equal to one year's dues was agreed upon to enable the board of trus- tees to fight the temperance fanatics in various sections of the countrv, William A, Miles, of New York, was elected president. -— Good Templars Meet. SARATOGA, N. Y., May 26.—To-day’s ses- sion of the right worthy grand lodge of Good Tewplars, and of the English, or seceding body, was almost entirely ;ih'en up to the discussion of the question of reunior. The matter came to a vote and the reun.on was ratilied. The terms made set forth provisions atlength to prevent discrimination on account of race, sex or color, t the evening session a reunion took place. Members of the English branch en- tered the lodgeroom in a body amid cheers arn applause. i TR Big Butchers® Barbecne. CRICAGO, May 26.—The Natlonal Butch- ers’, assoclation held a grand barbecue to-day at Chetenham beach. Fifty beeves and a hundred lambs were roastad and with bread fed free to the hungry muititude, The ag- gregate weight of the meat was 31,000 pounds, The total attendance was fully equal to the number of tickets sold, nearly 40,000, —— - American Tract Soclety. BosTtoxN, May 26.—The annual meeting of the American Tract society was held yester- day afternoon, The old board of officers was re-elected with the exception of the secretary, Rev. Jeremiah Taylor. D. D., being elected %o that oftice in place of Rev. M, McCutter, resigned e Reformed Eplscopalians, PHILADELPHIA, May 26.—The eleventh bi- ennial session of the general council of the Reformed Episcopal church continued to-day. ‘The new canon on marriage and divorce was taken un for consideration. After prolonged discusslon the subject was recommitted to tlie committee on constitution and canons. pdbadi N Southern Presbyterians, St. Louts, May 26.—The attention of the general assembly of southern Presbyterians was entirely occupied to-day by discourses on the advisability of orgarfic union with the northern church, . it 8 wales A Judicial Race in Chicago. CHICAGO, May 26.—As the outcome of the charges of bribery made against candidates selected by the democratic central committee for circuit judzes, a number of leading mem- bers of the bar met yesterday and prepared a petition asking Julius 8. Grinnell, Ingolf K. Boyeson and Richard W. Clifford, to make the race for judzes in connection with the republican candidates. Another meeting will be held next Saturday to take final ac- tion in the matter. o~ The Old Kargo Insurance Company. MiN roris, May 26.—The KEvening Journal, Sioux Falls, Dakota, special says: People holding policies in the “Old Fargo Insurance Company” are holding a meeting to-day, to Investégate the condition of the company. The alleged company has assets of “lifty-five” dollars to pay liabilities, which are $125,000. 'The local ofticers here claim that Secretary Lowell, of Chicago, had made away with £100,000 belonging to the com- pany. Vi A Horrible Mistake, RockvILLe, Mo., May 26,—The shooting to death of John Vanderburg in the court room yesterday during the preliminary ex- amination on the charga of outraging Jennie Anderson, is now believed to be a horrible mistake. It is thought Vanderburg was cooking for a camping party fonr miles from the scene of the mnnufie at the time, The coroner’s jury bronght in a verdict of muraer against the Anderson boys. e Weather Indications. WASHINGTON, May 26. — lowa — Local rains, light, variable winds, slight changes in temperature, Nebraska—éienerally fair weather, slicht changes in temperature, variable winds, gen- erally easterly. . The New York Legislature. ALpAxy, N, Y. May 26,- The Veddar liquor tax bill passed the assembly this morning. It now goes to the governor. The final ad- journment of the legislature will occur this afternoon, e Editor O'Brien in Albany. ALBANY, N, Y., May 20.—Editor O'Brien and party arrived here this morning. The party visited both brauches of the legisla- ture, and O'Brien made a few remarks in the embly chamber, They left for Montreal fternoon, Piling WisrieLp, Kan, 20, Yesterday morning two Santa Fe trains collided near Wichita, and before thoy could wet flagmen out two extras from each direction viled into the wreck. * The details regarding the accl- dent are meagr 0zARK, Mo., May 26.—Three of the nine Bald Knobbers arrested last Friday were tried here yesterday. A verdict of guilty was returned and each Was lined ¥100. FREMONT ~ SHIPPERS KICK, Obarges of Discrimination in Favor of Omabg Mado Before the Comutission. AN INVESTIGATION PROMISEDy Judge Mason Sets Forth the Objootd ot the Trip—Quacks Mobbed at Wahoo-Struck Dy Lightning, The Commission at Fremont. FreMoNT, Neb, May 26.—[Special the Ber.|—The Necbraska railroad cqu mission was in the city yesterday, on a toug over the Fremont, Elkhorn & ssourl Vale ley road. They came in at I remained until Ip. m. At 2 o'clock they held a meeting In the parlors of the Eng hotel to confer with business men and ship< pers, of whom a number were present. Judge Mason announced that the purpose of the visit was to hear complaints of injustice and discriminations, if any existed, and to meet shippers and estavlish a friendlier re- Iation between them and the commission, Heretofore, he said, there had been a prone: ness on the part of shippers to withe hold grievances through fear of being sub. jected to still greater oppression from the ratlroads, but under the present law it would be made decidedly unliealthy for any com-= pany that thus sought to niete out punish- ment to any one who objected to their methods. The rights of the people, he de- clared, are to be protected so far as the an~ thority and power of the commission goes, He also said that i'remont, with Lincoln, s entitled to Missouri river, or Owmala, rates and the purpose of the commission is to es- tablish them peaceably it possible, tforcibly if necessary. 'Ihe only complaints made here were against the treatment of shippers by the Union Pacific rond. Messrs. Meyer & Schure man, wholesale grocers, tiled a formal come plaint to the effect that they were diserimie nated against bf‘ the road in favor of Omah rchants; that the same rates ar en on shipments to Grand lslan r' Omaha, as from Fremont, which is forty-seven miles nearer, and that thereby they are at a disadvantage of from 4 to I cents per 100 pounds. ~ Other shippers come lained of delays of shipments of goodd rom this point, their customers west on the Union P iming oftentimes that they could get | from Omaha. The excuse given by the local agenth nl\vn?'s by that cars could not be obtained, The sion promised to ascertain why caf for such shipments could be had at Omaha and not at emont. The commission left ) for Blair, and will thence proceed up lkhorn valley, Quacks in a Quandary. Wanoo, Neb., May 26.—|Sp | Telegram to the Bik.]—For several days two or three quack doctors have been operating in thig vicinity and succeeded in obtaining quite a lar;e amount In notes from the farmers about town, and were andeavoring to sell the same to-day, when their swindling opes rations were discovered. A mob was raised and before the officers of the law could res cue the villains they were roughly handled and made to fiivn up all the notes and money they had obtained from their questionabla ractices. They were placed in jail for safa eeping until "the pmb r charzes can be brought against them. One gave his name as Sabin and claimed to hail from Beatrice, Struck By Lightning. FAIRMONT, Neb,, May 26.—[Special Tele= eram to the Bre.[—T. Edgelill, living north of this city, while riding horseback on his way home and within: fuur miles of his house was struck by lightning, knocking him insensible. When his horse reached the barn Ed:ehill regained his senses and found his horse uninjured but that the skin om his hands and tace was burnt off. Runaway Fatality, Neb, May 2.—|Special Tele- :E.|]—This afternoon Captain Warren was thrown from a carriage by a y team and seriously and perhaps ly injured. Warmnoo, . The Coronet Returns, NEW Yonk, May 26,—|Special, Telegram to the BEE.]—The Coronet, victor in the ocean race of 1887, returned to American waters yestorday. She passed the bar at Sandy Hook shortly after noon and anchored off Forty-third street, Brooklyn, at 3 o’clock. As she came up the bay and through the Nar- rows her appearance provoked a volley of salute from sharp toned cannon on a score of yachts in the harbor. The Coronet left Cowes on April 80, and was twenty-tive days in com- ing acros She encountered head winds much of the #ine and was hemmed in by heavy fogs almost continually during the Inst ten days. 'The greatest run_of 230 miles was made on May 10, when a series of southe west gales helped the yacht along. gace s Ll The Steedman Statue Unveiled, ToLEno, 0., May 20.—Fully twenty thousand visitors were in the city to-day and witnessed the dedication of the statue of General James B, Steedman, cere= m onies included a grand procession and oras tion by Lientenant-Governor Suuth, of 1llis nois, who waus General Steedinan’s chief of staff. ‘The statue was unveilea by the grand daughter of General Steedman and Governoy Foraker, of Ohio, acted as president of thg day, Governor Luce and stalf of Michigan were among the visitor Pl Boodlers' Book-Keeping. 3 Di1cAGo, May 20.—Nic Schnelder resumed his evidence in the boodle trial this morning,” It tended to show there were general instruod tions to his book keeper to double the price of all articles supplied to the county, I'we sets of books were kept and the witne: stated that the itemns charged in the newed set were 20 per cent hizher than in the olde Both sets of books had been approved of by the committee of county issioners. -~ City Crooks, CHICAGO, May 26,—Robert Rathburne filed a petition in the circuit court yesterday foff awrit of habeas corpus, which the courh granted, making it returnable forthwiths Rathburne is held on a telegram from Kansag Jity, charging him with grand larceny, 1t d that Rathburne, in company witl Lewis Wilson and Samuel Harris, "robl William ‘. Hollingsworth of Kansas City, $4,000 dollars in governinent bonds on the train coming to this city, The Presia New York, May 26. Mr: ntial Parey. he president and Cleveland and party arrived at the spirits shortly after 9 o'clock to-night, an without alighting from the car were whirle away over the Susquehanna road towards Albany. —_——- Judgment Against Vanderbile, BurraLo, N, Y, May 26.—In the suit of Henry B. Haltins against William K. Vane derbilt et al, as trustees of the New York, Chicazo & St. Louis railway, a judgment fop $254,000 in foreclosure was ordered by the sus prewme court here to-day, Pennsylvania depot in excellent health -na 3 e The Frisco Elects Officers. New YoRrk, May 26.—The board of direce tors of the St. Louis & San Francisco rail road met to-day and elected the following K ficers: ideat, John O'Day; second vice-presidenty Lillie. £ President, E. F. Winslow; vice-prese = Henry L. Morrill, and secretary and treas«’ = urer, Thomas W. Steamship Arrivals. NEW York, May 26.--[Special Telegram o theBEE. | —Arrived— i, from Glasgow ; steamer Rotterdam, fromy Rotterdam, and steanier Labourgogne, Havre,