Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 20, 1888, Page 1

SEVENTEENTH YEAR. OMAHA, MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 20, 1888, DEMONS OF WIND AND FIRE. They Wipe Out of Bxistenco a Little Illinois Town. A TERRIBLE FATALITY RECORD. Nearly Fifty People Known to Have Been Killed and Fatally Injured —A Tale of Horror From Mt. Vernon. A Fearful Catastrophe. Evassvinee, Ind, Feb. 19.—A cyclone struck Mt. Vernon, 111, at 4:50 p. m. to-day from the northwest, sweeping around in @ half circle and levelling half of the town. The remainder of the place caught fire, and 08 thero was a strong wind blowing the flames soon got beyond the control of the fire department. Above the roar of the wind could be heard the groans and shrieks of the dying. The bodies buried in the debris could be seen on every hand. 1t is feared many more than are now known to have been killed will be found in the ruins of the buildings. The fire broke out all over the city amid the ruins, spreading rapidly, done to the engines by passed from the south- east and had a rotary motion. Ttvsweptdown with fearful fury, striking first just south of the city hall, then carried away the third and fourth stories of the Mt. Vernon mill. From there it swept on in a path 500 yards wide.The Methodist church fell just a few minutes after 2600 people had left the Sunday school room. The Commer- cial hotel lost its third story. Next the wind struck the county court house and rendered it a heap of ruins, By rare luck, however, the county records were saved. The Crews block on the south side of the square is leveled with the earth. Under it was found the body of John Crews, owner of the block, formerly of Chicago. The news of the cyclone is still fragment- ary, but an Associated press reporter will correct the accounts as soon as possible. The train due from there at 12 a. m. will bring details, The telegraph lines are working un- satisfactorily. The cyclone struck the town about half past 4 and committed terrible damago. So far as learned twenty-seven dead have been taken from the ruins. Over 200 are injured. The town is on fire in several places, The damage is principally in the northern part and on the court house square, The mayor telegraphed here for aid. One fire engine and two hose reels were sent, with firemen to work them, also nine physicians and twenty-five citizens, including news- paper reporters. The telegraph line between Mount Vernon and St. Louis is reported down: The distance from here is eighty-five miles. A special train will reach there about 11 o'clock and will have some details after. A destructive storm is reported at Norton- ville, Ky., but no particulars are obtainable. The only connection from Evansville is by a railroad wire used to run the train by. St. Louis has limited telegraph connection. The roof and second story of R. L. Strat- ton & Co.’s hardware store blew away. A large two-story brick schoolhouse did not withstand the terrible shock any better than the smallest house in thetrackof the cyclone, ‘The large two-story frame house of George Ward was picked up and carried about twenty feet and left unhurt, while two brick buildings in 100 feet were left in ruins, The loss cannot be estimated, but not less than $500,000 worth of property has been de- stroyed by the cyclono or fire in that neigh- borhood. The sky has cleared and no clouds gave any intimation of the disastrous storm of a fow hours ago. It is growing colder and many homeless will suffer if the weather be- comes sovere. Reports are coming in from the country and the storm scems to have swept every- thing for miles. An incalculable loss of life and great suffering will follow unless outside assistance is given Mayor C. H. Harnell, who will give it to the proper committee. A meeting of business men was held and committees appointed to care for the dead and wounded and protect property as much as possible. Many who escaped ‘With their lives have nothing besides. Many are walking the streets with no home to go to. The north side of the court house square is injured considerably. No buildings were wrecked except Howard & Stratton's., BThe wounded are being cared for by physi- cians in the best possible manner. The rail- road shops are badly damaged and a great number of homes destroyed. People are out of doors who lived in the track of the storm, ‘The dead and dying are scattered through- out the city. All the doors of the remaining houses have been thrown open to the less fortunate. Three-fourths of the business portion of the cityis ruined financially. The public square is in the center of the town, the court house is in the genter of the square. The school building is in the northeast corner of the cil All dwellings in that portion of the city are destroyed and the ruins of some are still burning. In all 500 buildings are de- stroyed and many others injured. The dead are now being gathered at the supreme court house, which has been con- verted into a hospital for the dead anda wounded. This building is also damaged, but not seriously. The latest reports shows twenty-nine dead and about 100 injured, some of whom will die before morning. ~ Later reports say two more have died. They are Eddie Maxey and Mrs. Colonel Coopér. A number of wounded are dying. A number of men struck by falling and whose names cannot be learned nt are reported badly injured and The storm was preceded by hail, but not more than five minutes clapsed until the fear- ful destroyer had swept over the doomed town. It came from the southwest. Build- ings were wrenched, twisted, then dashed to pieces total wrecks. The storm passed south of the city hall, missed Joe Chance's house, swept away the third and fourth stories of the Mt. Vernon mill and de- stroyed nearly every house from the mill north for a space of about five hundrea yards. The Commercial hotel lost the third story. The entire west side of the square was wrecked. The county court house was struck and the building reduced to a massive pile of ruins. The clerks huve worked into the ree- ords and they are saved. Henry Ellis was covered by the brick of his building and escaped by a miracle. He was covered up and Charies Ellis, his brother,was seriously injured. R. E. Ryan es- caped in a peculiar manver. He wasstanamg by Murray in the Crews block, and told him « %o run, but Murray remained and was killed. lyan ran west, and finding the street full of . ying timeers jumped into a doorway, held o the latch, and the building aguinst which ke Was standing fell around him, but he es- caped untouched. f A. B. Cox's store, G. W. Morgan's jewelry store, Maxey, West & Swift's store, and Jackson's saddlery store are all ruins, On the south side of the square the frame buildings, though injured, escaped de- struction. Hasserman’s bakery, the Baptist church, Cook’s drug store, Marron's saloon, Perry's hotel and Stratton and Johnson's brick stores were leveled with the ground. The entire east side of the square is destroyed, and in one of the build- ings John Walters and child lost their lives, as did Henry Walters, father of John., Mrs, Walters was found with her babe in her arms, both dead. The northeast corner of the square, Howard's grocery store, was blown down and the roof and second story of R. L. Strat- ton & Co.'s hardware store was blown away, while the frame hotel adjoining was un- bharmed. Across, toward the northeast por- tion of the city, swept the storm, and a number of people were killed and the school building blown down. Not less than half a million dollars worth of property has been destroyed by the cyclone and fire, The southern portion of Mt. Vernon is the newest part of the city and has many large and fine buildings. The court house has not been injured, but stands alone. All about is ruin and devastation, and it is now being used as & hospital for the wounded. Many are suf- fering greatly. It is now thought that the morthern portion of the town will escape the fire, which is con- fined to the cast and south and west sides, and is being fought manfully, A pathetic incident of the disaster is the fact that the operator at the Mount Vernon end of the Louisvile & Nashville, whose name is Yearwood, has an uncle and cousin dead in the ruins, and the poor fellow, with his heart bursting with grief, is sitting manfully at his post of duty, Four men in the Evans bank were impris- oned in the ruins and burned to death. Their cries of pain and distress were agonizing in the extreme, but nothing could reach them. Their names could not be obtained. Tywenty-one physicians joined the relief train from Evansville en route. They ar- rived shortly before midnight. 1t is growing colder and many helpless peo- ple will suffer if the weather becomes severe. Reports are coming in frcm the country and the storms have swept everything for miles. At 1 a. m. the fires are under control. Only occasional groans of the dying and the broad track made by the cyclone tell of the terrible catastrophe, The following is a list as far as known of the killed and seriously wounded: LIST OF THE KILLED, Mnrs, RusseLn DEWEY, Mrs. JonN M. WALTERS AND BABE. Hexry WALTERS, Davip F. YEARWOOD AND WIFE. Jony C. MURRAY. Mz. ComwmiNgs, an engineer, Manry WESTBROOK. JAMES BEARSON. Mns. Horcomn, Dr. JonN YEARWOOD AND WIFE. SAMUEL YEARWOOD AND WIFE. GEORGE PURCELL, Mgs. WILLIAM JONES AND CHILD, Jonx Dopso: Maiss Josie Jonx Suew. A BLACKSMITH, name unknown, Mgs. CoLONEL COOPER. Eppie Maxey, S. K. WALTERS. GEORGE PIERCE. Mgs. L. F. Leaa. TWO TELEGRAPH OPERATORS. THE FATALLY INJURED, LAwLER E. LEGG. Mus, HENRY WATERS, Miss LAURA LISENBY. CuarLes Enus. Mr. AND M&s. C. GALORAITHED CranrLes WIER. Mg. AND Muis, WESTBROOR. AMANDA BEARDEN, TTON. J. C. HANBRICK, Crarres Poor. Miss CorINNE HANBRICK. BRrowNLOW HAWKINS, Mus. ALBRIGUT, Hexnry Evuis. Mx. MiLuickop, JorL HowaRp MR, AND Mgs. G, ik B T ANOTHER FIRE AT PROVIDENCE. Over $200,000 Gone and the Flames still Raging. RROVIDENCE, R. L, Feb. 19.—The Daniels building, in which are located the grocery of Danicls, Cornell, and J. A. and R. A. Reid's printing establishment is on fire, although tho flames are under control. Damage §235,000. The Lebanon mills at Pawtucket are burn: ing; one mill_is gone and the other is going. Riversipe MiLws, (Olneyville), Feb. 19.— The private alarm has just sounded twice, The Atlantic mills boarding house is known to be burning. ——— TIFFANY TROUBLES. Suits Follow the Marriage and Es- trangement of the Young Couple. New York, Feb. 19.—|Special Telegram to the Bee.]—Burnett V. Tiffany, son of the senior partner of the big jewelry firm of Tit- fany & Co., married Emma N. Pierson last March. Young Tiffany greatly feaved his father's objection to the marriage, which cavsed o great sensation in the city, The senior Tiffany vowed never to receive the wife of his son and never has. Now young Mrs. Tiffany says her husband came from New Jersey, where they lived, to try to con- ciliate his father, and never returned. Mrs, Tiffany went to her father-in-law’s house and was refused an audience with her husband. She soon learnea that her husband had gone to Europe, She sued the senior Tiffany for $25,000 for ulienating her husband’s affection and also sued Charles T, Cook, partner of the senior Tiffany, for the same amount for con- spiracy to deprive her of her husband's so- ciety. The court has 'now discontinuea the suit and the wife appeals. The suit against Cook will be tri ———— Suing Her Husband. New Youk, Feb. 19.—([Special Telegram to the Bek.)—Mrs. Hannah L. Bailey, of Jamaica, L. has brought suit against her husband, William T. Bailey, to recover $50,- 000, which she advanced to him several years ago to improve the tract of property which he had purchased at Far Rockaway known as Bayswater. The understanding at the time of the loan was that Mr. Bailey was to pay to his wife a just share of all moneys accruing from the sale of any portions of th land. He failed to keep his part of the agree- &.;m, The property 1s now valued at §250,- mship New NEew York, Feb. 19.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.]—Arrived—The Servia, from Liv- erpool; the Panama, from Havana; the Scheidam, from Amsterdam, via Plymouth, 1o 'm -h,\' - II’MMA;\ —The Swilu.':j and, from New York for Antwerp, pass Lizard Point to-da; y Loxpox, Feb. 19.—Passed—The Aurania, from New York for Liverpool, passed Fast- net to-day. e The Death Record. Cmicaco, Feb, 19.—Rev. James Schofield, father of Major General Schofield, 17. 8. A., died in this city last evening, in his eighty- seventh year. NDON, Feb. 19.—The death 'is.announced n John Hewett Jellett, provost of Trin: ege. CLEVELAND'S SOUTHERN TRIP. How Pleasure and Politics Will Probably Be Combined. SENATOR INGALLS ON BLAINE. He Would Support Him If Nominated But is Doubtful About His Elec- tion—Shadowing Fast Clerks ~—Washington Gossip. A Dull Week Promised. WasniNGrox Bureav Tne OMARA Bee, 518 FOURTEENTI STREET, Wasmyaron, D. C,, Feb. 19, President Cleveland’s absence in Florida will make a very dull week in Washington. Congress is expected to adjourn on Tuesday, the day the president and Mrs. Cleveland leave, until Thursday, as Wednesday is Wash- ington’s birthday and a hohiday in the Dis- trict of Columbia. The only thing of interest will be the meeting of the democratic national committee for the purpose of selecting a date and place for holding the nominatise conven- tion, San Francisco, St. Louis, Chicago and New York have already delegations here laying the pipes for the prize. A great deal of talk is heard favorable to San Francisco, but the distance to that city is a serious drawback., There 18 not near as much inter- est shown in this meeting as there was i the republican committee’s gathering. MR. CLEVELAND'S TRIP SOUTH. The president expects a good deal of pleas- ure from this trip to Florida and not a little political gain. Leaving here on Tuesday evening he will arrive with Colonel Lamont and Secretary Whitney and their wives at Jacksonville the next evening. There are to be no ovations on the way. The special train is to run right through, and at Jacksonville they will be reccived quietly and shown around the city a couple of days and nights and then they return here ready to attend to business a week from to-morrow. INGALLS ON BLAINE. John J: Ingalls, president pro tempore of the senate, says it was & wise and patriotic thing for Mr. Blaine to withdraw; that if Mr. Blaine was president he would be vigor- ous and American, but that it was a question whether, if a candidate, ne could be elected, although the nommation was within his grasp. Senator Inglalls, who is said to be an ardent supporter of Senator Allison, continu- ing says: SAIL I can say for myself is that I could support Mr. Blaine's candidature with great pleasure. 1 would like very much to see him vindicated. He was cheated in 1884, The election was stolen from him. Ballot boxes were stuffed, and thousands of votes were openly bought in the streets of New York. Then there was that Burchard speech, which was essentially a dishouest and immoral trick devised and played by the enemy just on the eve of election, when there was no time to deny or repudiate the words. The democratic leaders by whom it was concocted openly boast of it. Personally I should have liked to see Mr. Blaine vindicated in a cam- paign where there would be no such knavish tricks, ballot box stufing, and no marketing of votes.” GOOD DETECTIVE WORK, A Bee special some days ago mentioned that detectives from the secret service divis- ion of the treasury department were detailed to shadow clerks and watch the billiard and poker rooms of the city for the purpose of ascertaining who were dissipating and be- coming dissolute, It is stated that there has been a perceptible falling off in the number of government employes in these places. For a long time it was a source of much trouble in some of the departments as to what could be done to induce the clerks who were afflicted with the mania of “playing the horses to give it up, for in many instances they were valuable clerks and were ruining themselves and bringing their families to want by sinking their salaries . the coffers of pool room sharps. After mature consider- ation it was decided to ‘‘shadow" all patrons of gambling establishments and note those in government employ. If, after being warned, the clerk does not cease gambling he will be dismissed. TIE RETIRED LIST, It is stated at the capitol that General Sheridan’s proposition to retire the eighty odd army ofticers now on the sick list and thereby give stimulus to much needed pro- motion in the several branches of the service has not met with that prompt and unanimous approval by the military committees ex- pected and 8o much desired by army ofticials. “The fact is, considerable opposition has de- veloped from the officers now on the retired list. They object to further increasing the retired list, for the reason that they do not want to endanger their own pay and emolu- ments, They say it is all well enough to add to the list while there is a good sized surplus in the treasury, but as soon as this is reduced congress begins to look around for a place to cut, and a lengthy list of high priced pension- ers would hikely be the first place of attack. This subject has been under discussion dur- ing the past two meetings of the senate com- mittee on military affairs, The majority of the members do not object to the effect that would be given to promotion by the retire- ments proposed, but the debate indicated quite a decided opposition to further extend- ing the retired list. In the house committee no action whatever has been taken on the subject, but some of the members, speaking individually, are not favorable to the pend- ing bills on the subject. PERSONAL TO MAJOR TERRELL To-day’s Capitolsays: *“Sometimes 1t hap- pens that an officer of the service resorts to a sharp trick in order to gain some advantage over a fellow oficer, The senate has just run across a case of this sors, in_which the active individual seems to be Major C. M. Terrell, of the pay department of the army, whose station is at Omaha, Some tine ago he sent an innocent looking bill to Senator Manderson which was entitled “a bill to secure monthly payments in the army,” and which contained in_ its belly a provision for the promotion of certain officers who had per- formed continuous service for a certain per Mr. Manderson introduced the bill and it was duly referred to the committee, and after that came up for consideration. ‘I'hen it appeared that the innocent looking provision in the bill about promotions, em- bodied the real purpose of the bill and that it was intended to promote Terrell over another 'my officer named Smith, who had served as ong as he had, but whose service had not been continuous in the regular army. The bill was thrown out as soon us its true char- acter was known, and the wily Major Terrell will have to try again.” A" SMOOTH DIPLOMA There is a report in society ci of the finest looking members of diplo- matie corps augments his salary by *standing in with some of the leading confectioners and caterers in whose behalf he uses his ex- tensive social influence in obtaining for them the custom of wealthy lwuph! with ball-giv- ing propensities. Of all ordors so obtained a heavy percentage is exacted by the diplomat, who is a frequenter of one of the leading clubs of the city, les that one kY S. Heatn, e CANON FARRAR MILTON, An Eloquent Tribute to One of Eng- land's Noblest Sons. [Copuright 1685 by James Gordon Bennett.) LoxvoN, Feb. 19.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to the Brr.] —Archdeacon Farrar this morning, before a large and dis- tinguished congregation, including the Amer- ican minister, many judges sud barristers, and of peers—peers not only by title, but in literature and art—in conncction with the unveiling of the Milton memorial window already described, preached o special ser- mon from the Lamentations of Jere- miah, 5:7. The text was. applied to Milton's purity, his bodily strength, his whitcness of character and the pulish of his verse. The preacher bega: It has been my desire, during the twelve years syrround- ing this ancient and famous church with noble associations, to revive the merories of those great men with which it has been con- nected and thus te indicate the relation in which it stands to the history of England. To commemorate thesd eventa, in recent days the members of the house of commons, whose church it is, have erected the window which recalls the tragic death of Lord Frederick Cavendish and memorials have beenplaced here to Lord Hatherley, the good lord chancellor, to Lord Farnborough, who spent his life in the ser- vice of parliament, and, in token of our grat- itude for fifty years of almost unbroken pros- perity under the reign of our beloved queen, the Caxton window was given by the paint- ers of London in memory of that great man who lies buried here, and citizens of America, in their large-handed gen- erosity and care for the great traditions which are their heritage no less than ours, have presented us with that brilliant west window which commemorates nothing less than fhe founding of the new world, and 08 we have these and other memorials we were yesterday reminded that this church may also claim its special interest in the mighty name of Milton. That name is re- corded in our marriage register and here lies buried, with Milton's infant daughter, that beloved wife, “my lato espoused saint,” whose love flung one brief gleam of happiness over the poet's troubled latter years. Once more we are indebted to an American citizen for the beautiful Milton window which was yesterday unveiled. The well-counselled munificence of Mr. Childs, of Philadelphia, who has alraady enriched Stratford-on-Avon with a memorial of Shake- speare, and Westminster abbey with the window in memory of Herbert and Cowper, has mnow erected this abiding memorial to the great Puritan poet. Myself the debtor to American friends for great kindness, I cannot but-rejoice that the chureh of St. Margaret's should furnish yet one more illustration of these bonds of com- mon traditions, blood, language and affection which unite England to the great republic of the west, and I am glad that the public spirit of the church wardens has assigned from henceforth the use of one pew in this church to our friends and visitors from the other side of the Atlantic. There was something specially appropriate in the Milton windows being the gift of an American, for the United States represent much that Mil- ton most deeply loved. The commoniwealth, which, happily failing in England, in America gloriously succeeded., The Puritanism which was bruised in England inspired vigor and mobleness into our kin beyoud thesea. ‘‘Para- dise Lost” was the one. English poem which the sons of the pilgrim fathers loved, until Longfellow inspired New England with afresh sense of the sacredness of art and song. Some of Milton's most honored friends were closely connected with Amer- ica. The younger Sir Henry Vane to whom he addressed the sonmet: “‘Vane, young in years but in sage counsel old.” Vane, who has been culled oneof the greatest and purest. men who ever walked the earth, emigrated to New England in 1683, to be chosen its gov- ernor in 1636. Milton too, speaks of Roger Williams, the apostle of soul freedom and the founder of Rhode Island, as that extraord- inary man and most ghlightened legislator. “The venerable ppet Mr. Whittier, who has written lines o yonder window, most justly says:” - The new world hondrs him ‘Whose lofty plea for England's freedom Made her own morg pure; ‘Whose song, immorgal as its theme, Shall be their common freehold ‘While both worlds endure. I propose this morning to speak to you about Milton—not, of course, on the political aspect of his life, and still less by way of criticizing his poems—but as & man of nobler personality, who, whatever may have been his other errors, set to the world an example of a godly life which is supremely needed in the present day. “‘Char- acter,” says Emerson, *is higher than_intel- lect,” and a great writer has said of Milton that it may be doubted whether any man was altogether so great, taking into our view at once his manly virtue, his superhuman gen- 1s, his zeal for truth, for true patriotism, true freedom, his eloguence in displaying it, his contempt for personal power, his glory and exultation in his country. WereI tosearch the whole range of English history for a type of christian mobleness who might inspire our youths withi the glory of a disci- plined life and the magnanimity of a lofty character, I know' no one in whom was better manifest the indefinable distinction, the life long self-restraint, the intense pur- pose, the grave self-respect, the lofty disdain for all which was sordid and ignoble, which marks the sincerity of the sons of God. Archdeacon Farrar then reviewed Milton's young life, referring to him as a student. He also spoke of him as “‘an athlete who would probably have defeated, in every manly exercise, a dozen of the youths of the present day who have nothing to be proud of save their ignorance ,and their vices—those dissipated loungers and oglers at refresh- ment bars who need perpetual glasses of ardent spirit to support their wasted energies, To Milton the sound body was the fair tem- ple of a lovely soul.” Milton’s travels in Europe were next fol- lowed, his prose writings briefly criticized and his blindness at the age of forty-four pathetically commented upon. Alluding to the restoration, the preacher cortinued: ‘When Charles II yas restored and Milton was barely saved from imminent peril of death to be flung aside as a blind ana fated outcast by a country which at once sank to the very lowest depth of vice and cor- ruption, that = restoration was & hid- eous reaction of seryllity against all freedom and of impurity aginst all righteousness. Amid that Dbarbhrous dissonance of Bacchus the ome ' pure lofty voice was drowned.” | Archdeacon Farrar drew many rhetorical pictures of Milten, in retirement, at his organ, at his peetie ‘dictation; pen pictures which all readers of Farrar's ‘Life of Christ” can well believe to be life-like pictures, of Samsom Agonistes, and the preacher remarked: “That great tragedy has been compared to g white marble statue from the hand of Phidiss. Yet, like the statue of the dying gladiator, it throbs with a pathos too deep for uttermnce. It reveals to us, under the agonies of the ignoble Samson, the ways of the poet himself struggling amid the storms of fate.” The sermon ~ concluded with this perora- tion: “If there be anything excellent in whole- hearted sincerity® shown in a chaste and laborious life; 1f it be heroic to bow with un- murmuring submission to the sternest dis- pensatious of pravidence; if it be noble to maintain the undanntedness of an upright manhood sud to render to thankless genera- tions immortal services amid the roar of unscrupulous exeeration, then surely we all may learn lessGus from Milton's life of intent labor, exalted aims and stainless chastity, of a fortitade which never weak- enencd and a duty which uever succumbed.” THE HAWKEYES FOR ALLISON. Blalne's Withdrawal Clears the ‘Way For Him. IOWA'S UNANIMOUS CHOICE. A Sentiment Springs Up. in Favor of Making the Inter-State Com- merce Act a State Law— The State Guard. Allison Towa's Second Cholce. Drs Moixes, Ia., Feb. 10.—[Special to the Ber.]—The letter of Mr. Blaine has cleared the way for Jowa republicans, and left them free to go in the direction to which state pride, as well as persenal interest and admira- tion, would lead. There is no doubt that if the letter of declination had not been writ- ten, or if there had been any reason to expect that Mr. Blaine's name would be presented to the convention, Jowa republicans would have come up for the fourth time solid for the man from Maine. What a record of de- votion and constancy to his bauner they have shown! For twelve years they have pinned their affectionate admiration to his cause, and stood a solid phalanx of loyal retainers, to go up and down with their chief. But they accept his letter in the spirit in which it was written, and loving him still more for the magnanimous course he has taken, they turn away to the man who, with Mr. Blaine out of the race, is their first choice. It is not that they value Allison less highly that Blaine was put first, for no man stands higher in the confidenco and regard of Iowa than he, but it is simply a case of prior attach- ment. The state pledged its faith to Mr. Blaine many years ago, before Mr. Allison was to be considered a candidate, and like a loyal lover, it has stood by him till now. But with Mr. Blame out of the race the state gladly and proudly takes up Mr. Allison and transfers to him its enthusiastic devotion. The early state convention that has been called shows a desire to give him a rousing state endorsement ns soon as practicable, so that the nation may know that Towa is heartily and tremendously for its favorite senator. The news which his friends here receive is very encouraging as to his pros- pects. He is the choice of a large element of conservative business men, who want above all things a safe and prudent administration. For this reason he is very strong in the ecast, where capital is so distrustful of the distinc- tively “brilliant’’ men. No man in congress is better authority on matters of general leg- islation than he. No man's advice is mo frequently sought by democrats and republi- Ghte ot a1l nonpaitiann qnoetions, and fotr fifths of the legislation of is of that kind. He is n(ron% in business circles in the east, without being weak in the west. He is for tarift reform, and reduction of taxation, and that is what republicans of the northwest want. He is not a high tariff man lke Sherman, and he believes that the tarift should be revised and cut down wherever it can be done without imperiling American interests. Heis abso- lutely free from factional quarrels or entan- glements. He enjoys the friendships ofcstal- wart and halfbrecd and never loses a friend. He has always been with the people in every _gmnt reform, and is entirely ui smitted y compromising alliances, or cdrporate con- trol. Why isn't such a man with twenty-five years’ experience in public service, with a personal character o pure and unsullied that no slander_can assail it, with ability of the highest order, and a positive genius for state- craft; why isn’t such a man the best candi- date for the republicans of the northwest to support? That is what the republicans of Towa are courteously asking their brethren of Nebraska and other adjoining states, KAILROAD LEGISLATION. The drift of sentiment on railway matters now before the legislature inclines toward the adoption of the Sweney bill for applying the priuciples of the inter-state commerce law to state traffic. The business men of omplained bitterly that they have d comparatively little relief from the law, because the railroads would violate all of its principles in their local or state business, Jobbers have had to contend against _discriminations, agaiust o greater charge for the short than the long haul, and against unjust treatment in many ways, which could not be reached by congressional legislation. But if the legislature will enact a fuw applying the same principles to state trafic that are now enforced in inter-state trafiic, the situation will be greatly relieved. In addition to this, if the railroad commis- sioners are given authority to hx rates. adopting them to inter-state rates with a flexibility that cannot be obtained by an arbitrary state schedule, the prospect for better times will be very good. There is a strong sentiment m favor of downg this, and it is growing the more the subject is studied. Two bills of this character will about cover the pressing needs on the matter of railway regulation and control. CHANGING THE SUPREME COURT SITTIN One of the first acts of the general st bly to become a law is that providing for changing the number of terms of the supreme court from four to_three. The new law pro- vides that terms of court shall be held only in May, October and January, instead of March, June, September and December as formerly. The impression prevails to some extent that there is a colored individual con- cealed around the wood pile somewhere. This bill was reported upon in the senate and almost immediately passed. It was then hurried across to the house and passed under suspension of the rules, it promptly received the signatures required from speaker, pres dent of senate and governor, and was made to take effect upon publication, and has al- ready been published, so that it now has be- come alaw. Whether it was to prevent some litigant from having a hearing in the ex- wected March term, or for some other reason, {msn't developed yet. But it looks very much as if there was a job of some sort behind _the measure, it was rushed through so rapidly. The people scarcely kuew that any such change was even proposed before they wake up and find it a fact. THE CITIZEN SOLDIERY. The state of lowa, which is pretty liberal inits treatment of some nterests, is very stingy it its treatment of the national guard. The state has forty-eight military companies, and it is remarkable,under the circumstances, that it has even eight. It allows to every en- listed man the generous sum of four dollars & year to pay for his uniform, and then at- taches this string to the appropriation, that after the four dollars has once been paid the uniform shall belong to the state. The guardsman may have paid £0 for it and be compelled by sickness or removal to leave the service aftes a year's or less enlistment. The state bags the uniform and he is out just &6, *In pursuance of the same generous policy the state allows 80 a year to each company for armory rent. That sum would not rent a decent barn, and the companies ‘who have some pride in the matter pay out five or six times as much and hire a respect- able hall at their own pense. Once a year the boys are ordercd into camp for five days. The state allows them for this service the sum of §1.50 per day, while they lose four or five times as much by their ab- sence from business. If they should be or- dered out for other occasions, unless there was special provisions for the case, they don’t get a cent. And yet, in spite of these drawbacks, in spite of the personal burden of expense which the men have to bear, there are forty-cight companies kept up to the stangard of effciency all the while, and if one company drops out, another town is ready to supply its place. What else but the inborn masouline love of military glory could call out such sacrificet All the same, 1t 18 no credit to a rich statc to treat its citizen sold- iery 50 shabbily. ——— ‘W. W, Corcoran Seriously Ill. WasmNaroN, Feb, 19.—~W. W.: Corcoran, the aged millionaire of this city, is again congress seriously ill, PETE BARRETT CONVICTED. Found Guilty of Murder in the First Degree. MisseAroLls, Minn, Feb. 10.—[Special Telegram to the Ber.]—The trial of Peter Barrett, indicted in company with his brother Timothy for the murder of Thomas Tollef- son, a street car driver, came to an end at 8:30 last night, when a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree was brought in. Barrett was a member of the notorious Me- Carthy gang of Omaha and foliowed in the footsteps of his brother Tim, who was con- victed 8 month and a half ago. Law Erwin, his attorney, had made a very k- ing peroration, but it had no effect on the jury. Hereitis: Gentiemen of the Jury: To bo or not to bo is the all-absorbing question with every one of us. No question like that to = you, no question ike that to ‘me, no question like that to Peter Barrett. To die—to sleep—to sleep! perchance to dream, For in that sloep of death, when we have shufiied off this mortal coil, what dreams must come. And in the light of the dread of that something after death—that bourne whence no traveler returns—what dreams may come to you if you should unwittingly, in haste and "by mistake of your duty, send this boy unshriven to meet his God. Will you dare, on the testimony of Henry Barrett to see before your conscience ut that dread time that figure swinging from the scaffold, and to have on your memo- ries forever that you put out the light of life which you canuot give? That is the ultimate question in this case. 1invoke upon you, so far s I dare, the commendation of the great God to assist you as you go to the jury soon. And so I confide my client into your hands, But he confided his client in vain. At 8:27 Judge (Lochren entered the court room. Devuty Sheriffs Raun and Johnson followed and between them walked young Peter Bar- rett as smiling and suave as ever. Apparently he did not feel his position and smiled faintly as he dropped into his old seat. As the twelve men went to their seats each one cast a look of pity at Peter, who smiled sarcastically and turned and whispered to his father, who had just taken the seat beside him. Foreman Mills handed a folded paper to the clerk, whoread: “First degree—We, the jury, do find the prisoner guilty of mur- der in the first degree, as charged in the in- dictment.” As the clerk reached the word ‘‘guilty,” Peter raised his head with a frightened look, turned pale, trembled violently and, dropping his head upon his breast, sobbed audibly. His father leaned toward him and whispered a few words, Peter straightened up @ smile, but it was hard work and he it up as his head fell again. Ondof the prisoner's attorneys asked that a stay be given so that they might put in a plea for clemency on ac- count of extenuating circumstances, Judge Lochren said he would rather wait until Mr. Erwin was present and so set Thursday, March 1, as the time for arguing the matter. After finishing up this business Petor was taken back to the jail again and court was adjourned. ity THE CLEARANCE RECORD, The Financial Transactions of the Past Week. BostoN, Mass.,, Feb. 19.—[Special Tele- gram to the Bre]—The following table compiled from dispatches to the Post from the managers of the leading clearing-houses of the United States, shows the gross ex- changes for the week ended February 18, 1888, with the rate per cent of increase oxr d?_-_ as compared with the amounts for the corresponding week last year: CITIES. New vork. Boston.... ... Philadelphia’; Chicago...... St. Louis. = 1] 3 Minneapoiis . Oom Memvhis Indianapoll Hartford Peori St. Joseph.. New Haven Syracus Grand Rapids. Total Outside 510 i) *New Orleans flve days of the week this year and six days last vear, tDuluth not included in totals, Aideadalatis SMUGGLING OPIUM. Startling Discoveries Made By New York Customes Official New Youk, Feb. 10.—[Special Telegram to the Bee.] —Of all frauds on the cus- toms, the opium cases now under consid- eration promise to prove the most widespread and farreaching. For three months Collec- tor Magone had his men at work and the con- clusion reached is a startling one, Officially, Collector Magone and his subordinates i the custom house will say nothing definite, but inside informotion is to the effect that nearly every importing drug house in the city is concerned in the disclosures that will soon be made, These frauds ha ot been con- fined to smuggling across the Canadian fron- tier, but in New York the biggest and clever- est swindles were perpetrated. It is the presumption of the officials at work on the cases that the opium that has been brought in from Canada was landed at Vancouver or Victoria by vessels engaged in the smuggling and then skipped by the Canadian Pacific railroad to points on the New York state line in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counti Once over the line and star the w for New York the chance of tion was very slight. Large quantities of opium have heen withdrawn from pablic stores, ostensibly for shipment to Havana, These amounts are said to aggregate at least 100,000 pounds. Collector Magone and the Spanish ofticials have been in consultation, and there is uothing to show that the opium ever arrived at Havana. This is evidence that it never got any farther than the piers from which it was taken for shipment. Col- lector Magone knows the disposition of some of this opium and the firms engaged in the sharp dealing. A custom house official csti- mates that the loss in duties may foot up over §2,000,000. All the wholesale and importing druggists of the city declure they cannot believe the story, e Killed a Captain, AxxaroLts, Md.,, Feb. 19.—During an at- tempt to arrest an illegal dredger to-day, the state oyster police schooner Kolly, Captain Clarke, was attacked by three vessels and considerable shooting done on both sides. Captain Whitehouse, of the schooner Albert i of Baltimore, was killed. e The Childs' Memorial, LoxpoN, Feb. 19.--A large congregation flocked to St. Margaret's church, Westmin ister, to-day, the occasion being a special ser mon by Archdeacon Farrar in connection with lg:l) unveiling, yesterday, of the Milton memorial, presented to the church by George W. Childs, of Philadelphia. 2 LITTLE PHIL WILL NOT RUN, Goneral Sheridan Makes Some Very Positive Statementa. DON'T WANT TO BE PRESIDENT If Nominated He Would Refuse ta Accept — His Boomers Simply Wasting Their Breath—Too Old a Soldier. Sheridan Not a Candidate. Wasiizaroy, Feb. 10.—The Washington agent of the Associated press sought an ine terview with General Sheridan this evening for the purpose of ascertaining whether he would consent to muke an suthoritative states ment in regard to his alleged presidential erndidacy. The general gave his consenty and it will be seen from the following vers batim report of the conversation that his declarations are thoroughly explicit: Agent—*Of course, general, you have nos ticed that there has been considerablo mene tion of you during the past few weeks as & possible, or probable, candidate for the presis dency next autumn.” General Sheridan—*‘Yes, T have noticed it, but have never looked upon these newspaper articles as anything more than the usual shooting around in the woods which has once or twice before in presidential years brought my name up in that conn 1y “But, general, the talk is more serious this time, and there appears to be something like a concerted movement to bring abous your nomination,” General Sheridan—*‘Well, I know nothing | more ubout this alleged ‘boom’ than wlmz b have read in the papers, except that now an then some friend has twitted me about bes coming a candidate. But, if the matter is really now discussed seriously, it time" that all parties concerned’ shoul be informed ~that they are waste ing their breath. I have never had the presidential bee in my bonnet and I don't ins tend to have it, for there is nothing that would induce me to leave the profession im which nearly forty years of my life have be spent to enter upon a civil car So all tal about my being o candidate may as end.” “But suppose the republican conventiom should—-" General Sheridan—Nominate met I woul not accept. But there is not the slights probability of my being nominated and, f any event, T would not accept. No, not undes any circumstan 1 do not want that o any other civil offi paexte. s STTHESC CLEVELAND AND THE WEST, Views Expressed By a Promineng. Democrat of Colorado, Cnuicaco, Feb. 19.—[Special Telegram the Bee.]—C. S. Thomas, the democra| national committeeman from Colorado, ¢ in the city this evening on his way to Washe ngton, “Mr. Oleveland’s policy has not pleased the west,” said he toa reporter. ‘‘We exw pected that the territorial officers would bd appointed from territorial residents, M, Cleveland’s letter of acceptance led usto hope that broken down, cranky officeholdery in other states would not be sent out to gové ern the territorics as had been the practi der previows administrations. . The peo) of the territories wantod TS&3T government, They have been largely disappointed. The platform and Mr. Cleveland’s letter wero for a gold and silver currency. The west— both republicans and democrats—want silver put back where it was before the demone- tization,. The administration has not helped us. I like Mr. Cleveland’s mess: I want revenue reform and would be i favor of his renomination if no other as proms inent democrat is found who would represent tariff reform doctrines as well as he. Therd is a large element of Colorado democrats who are pleased with the president and there is & much larger element that is not. 1 thinly Governor Hill would suit Colorado better than President Cleveland, “Is there an organized effort by Governor Hill's friends to obtain the delegation for him?”? “*O no. My feclings toward Cleveland arg generally known and if there was any organs ization I'feel sure 1 would know it. The deles gation will probably go uninstructed. If there was d contest a Hill delegation would be chosen.” As to where the national convention should' be held Mr. Thomas said: “If there is & large city in a doubtful state which we could probably carry were the convention taken there I think it should be done. San Frane cisco is such a city. Ithink New York is democratic way. Beyond carrying o doubtful state considerations of conscience ought to guide the choice of either New York or Chicago. Iwill decide according to my own judgment, not what the administration may wish, if anything is wished.” e e SUFFERING SAVAGES. Canadian Indians in the Extreme North Forced to Cannibalism. WiNNirEG, Feb, 19.—[Specisl Telogram to —Further reports of the terrible distress existing among Canadian Indians in the far north are at hand. Rev. W. Spende love, a missionary from north of the Kenzie river, is in the city and tells of many hards ships. He has been in the district for nine years ana his journey down occupied eighty or ninety days. Mr. Spendlove thinks that the country in the far north will never be vopulated to any extent and that it is the greatest nonsense to suppose that where the five or six thousand Indians and a_few white people almost starve to death, Icelanders o any other people could eKe out a liveli- hood. These 6,000 people cover area of 700,000 square Peace river, Mr. Spendlove heard of cases where Inaians had died of starvation an their comrades had to subsist on huma flesh. Explorers coming to civilization stated that deer were killed by thousands in t} north. Mr. Spendlove says that this is nof 80 nowadays, For the past two years these animals have been very scarce for some rege son or other, and hence the destitution, Mr, Spendlove was 80 run down with want and suffering lust wintor thut hg had to come away to regain strength. So It will bo seen that the country is not ono flowing with mill and honey, These cases of destitution have been repeatedly brought to the notice of the Canadian government at Ottawa, but nothing has been done to aid the sufferers and the feeling against the officiuls is invense, e S Strikers to Return to Work, Snexaxpoan, Pa., Feb. 19.—At a meeting of the miners of this section to-day & resump- tion was agreed upon after considerable dis- pute. It is understood that the Lehigh com- any has agreed to the sume terms as tho Reading copany, and w rk will also be re- sumed at their packer collieries here this week, - - Contradictory Reports, Feb. 19.—The offl bulletin ree garding the condition of the Crown Prince to-day says: *“The wound in the throat pres sento a more favorable appearauce and is ‘The cough is the same aa. 18 a little more expectorae appetite 1s excellent, Other reports say the cough is troubles some and that the expectoration 18 ti with blood. Weather Indications, For Nebraska and Iowa: Colder, genej fair weather, light to fresh variable wi generally northerly. For Dakota: Snow, followed by cols . fair weather, with cald wave, fresh | winds; Lecoming variable, A