Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 7, 1889, Page 1

o DaiLy BEE EIGHTEENTH YEAR. — OMAHA FRIDAY. MO NG, JUNE 7. 1889, NUMBER 356 A WALL ABOUT JOHNSTOWY, | Soldiers Guard the Entrances to the Stricken Oity. SIGHTSEERS NOT ALLOWED. The Belief Growing That the Bodics in the Debris Must be Cremated ~A National Retief Com- mittee Proposed. Dismal Sights and Scenc Jonxstowy, Pa., June 6.—A bird's oyo view from the mountain side this morning shows that the waters in the Conemaugh valley have subsided almost to their usual level. With tho receding waters the sceno of desolation becomes hourly more wierd and picturesque. Like a descrt swopt by somo day or two longer, but in the hot sun de- composition will set in very soon. Four bodies were found in the rear of the stone bridge this morning. One was identified as that of John Wickee. The others were those of & young woman and two small children. This morning the workmen found three members of Benjamin Hoffman's family, which occupied a large residence in the rear of Lincoln street. THE LIVING AND DEAD, The real work of ascertaining what the number of living and dead of Johnstown is started to-day. A corps of clerks, under the direction of & relicf committee, started out, this morning, and they will go to every house in this vicinity and secure the names of the living, Another corps of men will endeavor to find out who the missing are, and in this manner it can be definitely known_just how many lives were lost in the flood. A’ revision of the register list shows that only 13,000 people had registored by 1 o'clock this after- noon at the different registration stations, By this list it 1s plainly apparent that a large number of the survivors will not take the trouble to register. At one of the sta- tions, conscquently, the ptan of having rog- fierce simoon, the valley level isan unbroken plain for miles, only at last to find abrupt termimation in the mountain of debris that found lodgment on sowme projecting rock. The work of recovering the dead goes on with undiminished vigor, and as the workmen become ACOUSTOMED TO THEIR GUASTLY FINDS, and the horrors of the scene become com- monplace, they apply themselves more dili- gently to their duty and labor with a system that produces rapid results, The Altoona delegation has been one of the busiest and most useful on the ground. They ook charge of the two leading hospitals and ran them until this morning, when they were relieved by the Philadelvhia branch of the Red Cross society under Clara Barton. They have also been in charge of the wreckage above the bridge. The party of sixty men from Altoona have done so well that a big blast of TWENTY-FIVE DYNAMITE CARTRIDGES at 10 o'clock loosened up the debris and made it possible to oven the mouth of the old chan- nel. This gang of workmen has located the day express which was swept away at Cone- maugh, The ruins of the train lie about a hundred feet from the fourth buttress from the western end of the stone bridge. Parts of parlor cars have to-day been found, as well as traces of the passengers. About 9 o’clock the baggage of Miss Annie Chisholm, of Nashville, Tenn., was found, She was u missionary on her way to Brazil for the foreign missionary society of the Methodist church. Among her effects was a bible, and in it was a message to be filed at Altoona and addressed to tho Methodist Book Con- cern, New York, announcing she was on the train. Her watch, some money and a Greek testament were also found. It is evident many lives were lost on this train, more thun at first supposed. The whole train affair is STILL A MYSTERY. At least the passengers have not so far been found and located. There was a small-sized riot at a labor camp this morning on account of there not being food or utensils to cook it with. Two workmen complained because they did not have soup and meat. This enraged Flynn, who is at the head of the labor burcau, and he ordered the guards to take the men out of town and not allow them to enter again. This seomed to have the de- sired effect, and there was no more trouble, “Chis morning twenty time-keepers arrived {rom Pittaburg, and they are now hard at ‘work getting the nawes of the men employed, and it was stated that FIVE TIOUSAND MEN ARE AT WORK. 1t is expected that by to-morrow at least 10,000 will be employed, but even this large force will not be able to remove the debris in less time than several weeks. Last night abour five hundred of the laborers had no tents to sleep in, but word has been received from Washington that tents are on the way, and it is expected that they will arrive to- night. Shortly after midnight a riot was reported at Cambria City and word was sent to Adju- tant-General Hastings, requesting a detach- ment of soldiers, He immediately ordered a company of the Fourteenth regiment to the place, but when they arrived it was found there was little or no necessity for their ser- vice. The general reports thing quiet lust night, and this morning states there 1s no truth in the report that he was going to order out the Tenth regiment. The soldiers are getting down to work and guards are posted at the stone bridge, and it is now im- possible to get into Johnstown without a pass, MANY UNIDENTIFIED CORPSES. There are at present thirty unidentified bodies at the Fourth ward ‘school house. These bodies have been lying there for the past three days, and in that time at least forty thousand people have viewed them. No one has identified them and there is noth- ing in their clothing to indicate who they are. During the past twenty-four hours sixty bodies were embalmed und taken from this pluce. This morning five bodies were brought m. Their names are Henry Ludwig, Albert Werry and Oscar Henuekum". of Johustown, and Maggie Hillside, Moreiand county. Oscar Hennekamp was a well- known merchant of Johustown, and his rela- tives, who have been looking 'for him since the had offered a large reward for the Tecovs of his body. NDRED BODIES FOUND, Some doubts have been expressed as to tho estimates that 12,000 to 15,000 people have been lost in this flooded district. - Of course, there 15 at present no way of deter- mining with any degree of exactness how mauny are dead, but the guessing is reasonable and conservative, and is based on closc figuring. At least 2,500 bodies have been 1. Two thousand, at the lowest caleulation, are in the burned debris 1 the river; 3,000 are in the unsearched sand banks around the Cambrin works, down along the river end in the lower part of Johnstown; from ove to two thonsand are scattered in the valley from Woodvilie to the bridge, and a thousund or two below the bridge between Johustown and Bolivar, Hundreds were carried down the broad river in the tre- riendous current and may never come into the hauds of the living. TUE FEARFUL DEATH ROLL, Said Adjutant-General Hastings this morning: *In my opinion the loss is greater than we can show figures for.” William Jones, of Braddock, thiuks at least ten to twelve thousand are los The statement ~ that 18,000 persous had istered at the reg- istration b a8 yesterday was incorrect. One of General "Hastings' aids said ut 10 o'clock that so muny persons registored twice or moro that the'list had to be revised and that the total was not more than 13,000, This registration not only comprehends the population of Johnstown and adjoining towns, which was about 83,000, but embraces places fither aw in the flooded region, the total population of which was at Jeast 45,000, including villages, strageling hamiets and farms, Chairmun Hicks, of the Altoona delegation, who has been all over the district since Sunlay wmorning, suys the loss is 12,000 10 1L0(0, and he buses it ou talks with scores of people. UNDER MARTIAL LAW, At noou today the boreugh of Johnstown and adjoining boroughs, or what is left of them, prectivally passed under martial law. EMUALMING THE LODIES, Up to noon today bodies have been sbalmed at St Columbus Catholie church, mbria City. A pumber of bodies were talgn from the debris st Kernville this fmoruing. They were identificd as Mr. and Mrs, Joseph, Nora Potter, Mrs, Larry Hiles, Mrs. Reese, Irank Heaman, Lizzie Wagner sud Luursand Jessio Jones. A number of ple arrived from Pittsburg to-day, caus. B tliaiable troubie s thoy oot eat i tho provisions brought here for the surviy- ors. Even the undertakers were unable to work in the Fourth ward morgue this morn- g, owiur 10 the stench. Forty bodies wero @ small sehool room, and all the unknown were taken frous the room and placed @ front yard, ‘They will be kept fora isters make a canvass was adopted. A great number of bodies are not identitied, They » lain in the different morgues for four Thousands of people from different sections of the state have scen them, yet they remain unidentified, At Nineveh they are burying all the un- identificd dead, but in the morgues in this vicinity no bodies have been buried unless they were identified. KEEPING OUT SIGITSEERS, A wall has been thrown about Johnstown, and nobody can enter it unless it is shown he has business in tho city. The Vennsyl- vania railroad has been malking an effort to keep out the crowds, but the Baltimore & Ohio people yesterday brought in a Hood of people from Somerset Valley. This morning when General Hastings heard of it he had a conference with Scott and O’Mara of the Pittsburg police, and it was decided to send Company F, of the Fourteenth regiment to Somerset for the purpose of preventing any further rush of people this way. A comu tee of citizens accompanied the militia. They will stob off at all the stations along the road and remonstrate with the people against coming to Johnstown. The crowds of curious ones ar constantly growing, and hinder t® work of removing the bodies and cleaning away the debris. On the Pennsylvania road side the gates are practically shut, and it is hoped this move will have sowe efiect on the Balti- more & Ohio. There is but one bridge across the Conemaugh, and nothing but pass from Adjutant-General Hastings or Scott will carry one over it. GLOOM DLACK AS INK settles over Johnstown as the sun goes down, the colored lanterns of the railroaders being about the only relief to the darkness, Su- perintendent - Duncan, of the Alleghany County Light company, is still here waiting the arrival of his engines, dynamo, etc, which have been blockaded in the Pennsyl- vania freight yards west of town. There are tons and tons of supplies in this blockade. The savitary question is the paca- mount one of the hour. The state board of health is looked on as a more potent factor than the militia and the civic forcer combined. This after- noon the work of the board was distributed, Dr. Lee taking a relay vo Pittsburg with the intention of establishing his headquarters in the city hall. The office of the sanitary in- spectors will be established there, half of which go up the river by boat and the re- majnder take a construction crew up on the railroad. The latter have adopted crema- tion as their cry, and to-morrow night the desolate valley will be lit up with bonfires of the wreckage, which will be THE PYRE OF HUNDREDS of dead bodies. Dr. Morriil, deputy chief ot the state board of health, said to-day : “The point has come in this horror when sentiment should be laia aside. To endanger the lives of the living that the dead may be identitied is no longer justifiable. Besides, they are all past being embalmed, and friends can scarcely recognize the features any longer. Identification i3 only possible by the clothing or jewelry worn.” Dr. Groff, who is now in charge of the Johnstown bureau, states that the board of health and the sanitary inspectors, assured the Associated press correspondent this afternoon that there is no 1mmediate danger of an epidemic in Pittsburg. *“The danger is,” said he, ” that people will be scared into being sick. We need thousands of men to ‘work on the debris and to clear it of car- casses.” An inspector who just arrived from the Woodvaie district reports great destitution. There is nothing in town but flour and bacon, and very littie of that, After noon to-day 1t was reported to Chief Gagely, of the police committee, that a body of alleged rescue at the foot of Main street were removing ewelry from the bodies they carried away. Gagely ordered a policemun to go and pre- tend to superintend the work, for the pur- pose of apprehending the thieves. A special police had to be detailed to prevent stealing from the debris back of the general hospital. A NATIONAL RELIEF COMMITTEE. The relief committee 13 to be made national in its scope. Action to that effect was taken at a meeting of the finance com- mittee of the relief organization this after- noon. The plan was proposed by parties high in authority, and has been given the ofticial sanction of the finance committee by .the following clauses in this afternoon’s resolutions: ‘“*Survivors of the flood are now and must be for some time, wholly dependent upon issues to them of food and clothing as thore are no goods except those brought in by the relief committee, and no places in Whicl commerce can be carried on. Agencies for making such distribution should receive grave consideration. It is with the unanimous consent of this committee that another committee should be appointed for this purpose, composed in part of citizens of this locality 'and members appointed by the governors of states or by the chambers of commerce of the cities from which the con- tributions shall be received, or in such other way as will give this agency a national char- acter aud assure the couutry that its most generous charities wili be judiciously und fully applied to the relief of the victims of our unprecedented calamit, ACTUAL CASIL RECEIVED, Up to to-day the committee has received in act cash contributions #25,706.16, with #57,115.45 promised in additios The greater partof this is revresented by telegrams from A distance instructing the committee to draw on certain banks. This1s an impossibility, a8 there are no banking facilities left here. The committee hopes that the contributors will forward their money by express. To-day J. D. Roberts stated that Philadel- phia has pro:nised $300,000, which is now at the disposal of the committee. Governor Beaver hus reported $100,000, but has not made any move to send it, 8o far us known, Pitwsburg has sent about §300,000, BRIGUTENING A LITTLE, A tonr of the outlying districts of Johns. town was made to-day by the Associated Press correspondent. Affairs are brighten- ing slowly and moving forwurd with some system, Supplies huve arrived at Mineral Point, and_accommodations are being pro- vided for the comfort of the survivors, The same are being made at Conemaugh and Woodvale. One or two cases of pneuwmonia are reported at theso places, but none of them are serious. Measles and sore throut have broken out among the children, An epidemic is feared. . D. Swmith, of the Gautier steel works, Woodvale, issued an order requesting all employes to' report at the mill ofi to-da The mill, which manufactures strect railway specialtlos, is to be removed to Moxhaw, another suburb of Johustown. This will leave only the woolen unll and chemical work 1 Woodvale, The removal of the mill will be a scrious blow to its future prosperit The new site is lo- cuted on Stone ereck near the Moxham steel worlks. Captain Logan, of Morrellville, unlonded thirty cars of relief goods to-day. fle ad- vises that all goods be eonsigaed to him, but to send no committees, us it only creates confusion. Drafts for relief funds should be aadressed to James 13. Scott. A carload of supplies was unloaded on the track in Johns- | 1WA to-day by the relief comwmittee, THEKE WAS A KUSH | for tho goods. The strong overpowered the weak and got the best. One fight cceurred. At Conemaugh, Mineral Point, and Wood- vale provisions and clothing are still badly needed. Byron's Kernville woolen mill burned, At one time it looked as if the whole would be destroved. The mill was a story brick, situated in the midst of the wrecks of several houses. The ruins weraon firo several times, but were 6x- tinguished after a hard ficht by the bucket brigade. There is a strong movement on foot tavoring the applying of the torch to the wrecked buildings in Johnstown, Al- though the suggestion meets with strong op- position there 18 little doubt the ultimate solution of the existing difficulties will be by by this method. Army men have been for two days employed 1n clearing ap the wreck in the city proper, and although hundreds of Dbodies huve been discovered, not one-fifth of the ground has yot been gonoover. In many places rubbish is piled twenty or thirty feet high, and not infrequently these great drifts cover an ai of nearly aa acre. Now pas- sages have been cut through in every direc- tion, but the herculean labor of removing the rubbish has yet Lardly begun. At a meeting of the central relief commit- tee, General Hostings suggested the advisa- bility of applying the torch to the great sea of waste. He explained briefly the great work yet to be accomplished if it were hoped to thoroughly overhaul every portion of the debris, and insisted it would take 5,000 men months to complete the task. A motion was made that after forty-eight hours further search the debris of the city should be consumed by fire, engines to be on hand to play upon any valuable building, that, despite previous precautions, might be- come ignited by the general conflagration. Those whose relatives or friends still rest beneath the wreck remonstrate strongly against any such summary action. The physicians warned the committee that further exposure of the putrid bodies could have but one result. typhus or some other epidemic equally fatal to its victims. Although the proposition to burn wrecks was defeated, 1t was eyident that the movement was ganing many ad. herents, and the result will doubtless be l.llmtd in a few days he torch will be ap- plied. At Nineveh 746 bodies were consigned to the carth to-day from the morgues about town. This ARMY OF DEAD was placed in trenches. TLess than 100 had been recognized by friends. None of them were claimed for private burial, however, as in the majority of instances, the survivors were too poor to stand the expense. There1s an unusual amount of sickness about Kernville. Physicians claim that sev- eral hundred cases of pneumonia exist, The reaction, now that the great shock has passed, in a measure, has left hundreds of survivors with their nervous forces badly shattered and broken. Johnstown and ad- joming villages are now under thorough mil- itary and police regulations, Each place has been provided with men enough to keep out intruders, and none save those who are actu- ally employ will be allowed to remai Oficers are arresting men every hour, some of them on the slightest provocation. Notices were posted in all the morgues to- day stating that after to-day bodies would be held only twenty-four hours for identifica- tion. If at the expiration of that time they are not recognized they are photographed, the photograph bearing the same number as the morgue number of the corpse. The work of blasting the gorge atthe Pennsylvania bridge was prosecuted to-day with much better success than on any previ- ous day. Several men armed with poles were busy pushing logs loosened by the blast out into the stream so that they would float away. AN OLD SETTLER'S THEORY. Thomas Jacobs, of Morrellville, is one of the oldest inhabitunts of the Conemaugh valley. He said to-day that the water of the river was much higher in 1837 than last Fri- day, even after the dam bad broken. *‘The whole trouble about this deplorable affair,” he continued, ‘‘results from the narrowing of the channel of the river and the deflection of its course. I remember well when the chan- nel ran down where themill below the bridge now stands. The Conemaugh always has been a shallow stream. After heavy rain- falls it rises rapidly, as all = moun- tain streams do. Its watershed 18 large, and the hillsides are so_ constituted that the water runs down rapidly, causing quick rises and turbulent currents. Pri- marily I hold that the Cambria iron com- pany is responsible for narrowing the chan- nel; secondly, the South Fork club for not having made the dam secure beyond all pos- sibility of break, especially when thoy caused the dam to be enlarged by raising, and third, the Pennsylvania railrcad for having con- structed a viaduct with such low arches, with ribs calculated to catch picces of drift- wood if they happen to strike diagonally on the piers. The dam made by the gorge at the bridge 1s what engulfed the town,’" Heavy Damage to Property. WiLLiansront, Pa., June 6,—The people here arc a little easier now that apprehen- sions of suffering from hunger have been dissipated. Several cars of supplies brought up yesterday evening, are ready to be un- louded and the work will begin some time to-day. The river is now down toseven feet at this place. The body of Calvin Miller, who was missing since the Maynard streetbridge went down, has been found four miles below here. This makes two lives only lost at the Maynard street, bridge instead of the large number falsely reported drowned tnere. Advices coming show that the loss of | roperty is very heavy in all places near here. Morris, Tioga county, is a total wreck. Many mills, dwellings and other buildings weré swept away and the Pine Creek railroad has suffered greatly. At Hollidaysburg much damage was done. Bridges were carried away and great destruction was caused at every point, _All along the line of the Phila- delphin & Reading road in this city de- struction meets the eye. The number of houses taken away or demolished can not be stated yet,but it is quite large. All along the entire river front from Pine street and back 10 the heart of the city are piles of debris, Clothing, which has been called for, 18 badly needed, as o many lost all but what they had on. Some of the large mills aro still filled with people, and freight cars and improvised shanties are occupied by otnhers, Teuts sent will be extremely welcome, but they may not be obtained in time to get them erected to-day. The weather is cold at present. Word has been received from the Crescent Nait works, on the Northern Central rail- way, that the place has been nearly all washed away, any houses and a part of the nail works are gone. The people took refuge in a church on the side of the hill, and are loft entirely destitute. Most of the men of the town have gone to work along the rail- road, belping in repairing it, bat theiwr fam- ilies are staying wherever they can find shelter, Other Towns Need Axd, New York, June 6,—Mayor Grant re- ceived the following from Governor Beaver this morning, dated Harrisburg, Pa.: We succeeded in reaching Williamsport last evening with seven car loads of sions by ferrylag the river twice. averts the present danger of a lack of food, ‘T'he area of the flooded districts increases. The city of Lockhaven is in a distress plight. © Reserveirs and bridges ure de- stroyed, and the city is entirely covered with water. Provisions and other supplies are utterly ruined. We hope to reach them with provisions to-day, as we did at Wil- lismsport yosterday. Both cities need sup- Dlies, clothing of all kinds and bedding. Jounstown is being well supplied in these respects, bug the work of cleariug uway the wreck and putting things in order wiil beone of weals, — We will need further help of ull Lunls for a few days. Mayor Grant this afternoon asked Gov- ernor Beaver if portable houses would be useful, In a few minutes Governer I3eaver senta reply. It read: “Supplies of clothing and bedding are greatly needed in Wilhamsport and Lock- haven. We are shipping supplies to both points. Houses I tuiuk very desirable, us I have urgeny requests for more tents to shel- ter the homeless und those at work re- moving the debris, 1f these bouses could be pushed forward at once they would bring much needed relief, The removal of the vast accumulation of wreckage at Johnstown will bo the work of woeks, and it estimated by reliable parties to cost over $1,000,000," sty General Manager Mellen Safte. Cricaco, June 6,—A telegram dated at Bedford, Pa.,, June 5, from W. S, Mellen, general manager-elect of the Northern Pa- cific railroad, was reccived here to-day, He was on the train which was wrecked by the Johnstown flood, and it was feared he was lost. Ho had traveled by wagon and expross to reach Washington to-day. In a letter dated on the 21 instant, at Altoona, he says: “T have with me Mrs. Falford, wife of Pres- ident Harrison's private sacretary, and her daughter; Mrs, M. E. Brady, of 'Chicago; Gertrude, and 13, L. Spangler, United States postofiice’ inspector, The latter gentleman saved at least two lives.” The lady men- tioned as “‘Gertrude” is supposed to be mel- len’s wife. The Sanitary Situation. Wasningron, June 6.—Surgeon General Hamilton of the marine hospital service, has received several telograms from Johnstown, Pa,, concerning the situation there. One of them is from Past Assistant Surgeon Car- rington, in which he says: “There is dan- ger ot sickness unless active sanitary meas- ures are taken, A corps is now being or- gonized. Dead animals are being burned as rapidly as possible and disinfectants used freely. The work will require considerable time.” A telegram from Dr. Lee, sccretary of the Pennsylvania state bourd of health, says; ‘‘Temporary depopulation is being urged.” A pontoon bridge, in charge of Lieutenant Biddle reached Martinsburg, W. Va., this morning, and will probably be at Johnstown by evening. Adjutant-General Hastings telegraphs there is pressing need for wagon comumunication across the river. The Balti- more & Ohio expects to have a_temporary railroad bridge across the river before night. $300,000 Raised For Johnstown. Prrrsnure, June 6.—Contributions are coming in rapidly for the relief of the Johnstown sufferers. It is estimated that at the chamber of commerce $300,000 has been subscribed. Chairman McCreery, of the rehief committee, to-night issued a cir- cular, in which he states: It will require 10,000 men for thirty days to clear the wrecks along the ten miles of destruction and placa the city in a safe condi- tion. This will cost double the amount now in the hands of the committtee and does not in- clude the relief for the sufferers and desti- tute, which is very great, all of which has been carefully attended to. The destitute are brought to this city, fed, clothed, and housed, or sent free to friends all over the land. We ask the gendrous subscriptions, which are coming from all over the country, t0 be continued until sufficient funds are pro- vided to comple the above work. Female Fiends. JonxsTowy, June 6.—Early this morning, Chairman Heinz, of the relief committee, was mformed by several Pennsylvania rail- road conductors, that two or three women of questionable character had arrived in town last night, whow they think are procuresses, come to prey on unfortunateé young women, He reported to the police who will warn all suspicious characters to leave town at_once* All young women who lpgly for relief will be warned to beware of these women, On Their Way to Pittsburg. PriLADELPHIA, June 6.—General Manager Pugh, of the Pennsylvania railroad, was notified, to-day, that the following passengers were among those who left Altoona this morning to o to Pittsburg by way of Kden- burg: Mrs. C. H. Lefferts and Carrie Bar- ber, of Manilla, la.; Charles Heersen, Among the Missing. PHiLAbELPHIA, June 6, —General Superin- tendent Pettit telegraphs from Altoona that Miss Agnes C. Christman, of Beaver Ford, and a colored Pullman porter, who were on the second_section of the day express, are missing. When last seen they were going back into the car, as if to get something. ‘Wreckage Passing Oincinnati. CINCINNATI, June 6,—Portions of the wreckage of the Conemaugh valley began to pass the city to-day. Not much of it was caught, wnd nothing of interest, or value was ound, Germans Will Assist. Berriy, June 6.—The North German Ga- zette, speaking of the Johnstown calamity, says: ‘‘Americans are always charitable. The condition of the sufferers by the Johns- town floods demand German assistance. A Carload of Corn. Juxeriox Ciry, Kan., June 6,—A carload of corn has been donated by the citiz this city to the Johnstown suffercrs car loft for Chicago last night, and will be auctioned off, Jay Gould’s Mite. New Yokk, June 6.—Jay Gould has sub- scribed $1,000 for the Johnstown sufferers. —_—e LARD REFINERY EXPLOSION, Two Former Omaha Residents Bruised and Scalded. Hureminsox, Kan., June 6,—[Special Tele- gram to Tue Bee.|—A terrible accident oc- curred at the lard refinery of N. K. Fair- banks & Co., this morning, by which three men were badly mjured. These works are under the general management ot James L., Woods, late of Omaha, and they were just preparing to draw off the first refined lard. For some days past Mr, George D. Lewis, superintendent of the Fairbank refinery, at St. Lows, had been here assisting in testing the machinery and getting everything under headway. This morning, those two gentlemen, to- gether with a steamfitter named John Gavin, also from Omaha, were testing the heat of the lard tank, when it exploded. The men were directly over the tank, and were thrown against the ceiling above and deluged with boiling lard. Mr. Woeds, in addition to several bad bruises, was scalded in a fright- ful manuer from bead to foot. Mr. Lewis was also terribly scalded, sustained a com- pound fracture of an ankle, and was severcly cut about the head. Galvin was badly scalded, but it is thought he is not otherwise seriously injured. Medical assistance was smmoned and the men werg removed to their hotel, where they are resting comfortably, Itis tne general opinion of the doctors that Mr, Lewis’ chances for racovery are doubt- ful. The others will survive. Various theories are advanced as to the cause of the accident, but the most probable one is an over-pressure of steam, e Declared a Dividend, Cuicaco, June 6,—The board of dircctors of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad company met here this wmorning and de- clared the usual quarterly dividend of 13{ per cent on preferred and 13 per cent on common stock. The annual mecting ot the stockholders is now in jon. The old bourd of directors were re-elected with the exception that I, L. Ames was chosen in the place of D. O, Mills, resigned, The annual report shows the net earnings were £4,004 703, with a surplus of #020,000. ‘The net earnings of the lines west of the Missouri river were §195,822; towal surplus, $770,022. - Americans Will Celobrate in Paris, Pans, June 6. idCabinet has considerea favorably the report of the Awerican res dents for permission to hold a public celebr: tion in Paris on June 4. President Carnot has consented to unveil the statue of liberty on that day. ——— The Weather ind Towa and Nebraska—Showe cooler, winds becoming northerly. tions. slightly FORT OMAHA'S SITE CHOSEN. A Tract of Land About Eight Miles From the City. THE CHEROKEE COMMISSION. It is Sclected at Last—Peters Ap- pointed as Collector of Inter- nal Revenue for the braska District. 513 FOURTEENTA STRRET, WasmiNatoy, D. C., June 6. The secretary of war has decided to pur- chase as a new sito for Port Omaha a tract of 540 acres of land about eight miles from Omaha, which can be had for about 87,000 ['The above teiogram was shown to Mr. H. T. Clarke this morning, and he was of the opinion that the selection must be a part of his property. ‘““If this is about eight miles south,” he said, “it must be u section of the 4,000 acres T offered to sell.” *Does the price correspond?” “Well, the appropriation only provided for the expenditure of §00,000, one-third of which was to be used for the purchase of the property, and the other two-thirds for the buildings and improvements. That would make £66,666, or about §57,000 for the pur- chase of a site. Of course, 1 can not tell yet whether or not that is my property, but, as I say, the distance about corresponds, and if it is south of the city, it is probably a portion of the 4,000 acres.”] A NEW OKLATOMA, The president has succeeded in completing the commission which 18 to negotiate with the Cherokee and other Indian tribes lo- cated in the Indian Territory for the cession of their lands to the United States. It will have to treat with every Indian tribe in the territory and complete negotiations that will require the entire time and attention of the commissioners for the time being. They will have to thoroughly understand the his- tory of the various tribes from the date they 100k the lands they now own up to the pres- ent time; they will have to be conversant with the title by which the Indians now hold their lands, and be prepared to meet a thousand and one other minute and intricate points which will either arise during the treaty with the Indians or the knowledge of which will be necessary to secure a result that will not only be a satisfactory one to the United States government and the Indians, but which will be binding upon the parties to the contract, should the Indians decide to sell the lands to the government. President Harrison recognizes the importance of the situation, and accordingly looked over the country for a man whom he thought could satisfactorily fill the bill as chairman of the commission. The position twas first offered Judge Robinson, of Massachu- setts, a man of undoubted ability, who par- tially accepted, but upon inquiry nto the nature of the ofiice and its requirements, he was unwilling to sacrifice his business interests, as he would have to if he accepted the office, and he consequently declined the appointment, Then another search was begun, and Mr. Baker, of Indiuna, was se- lected. He also declined to accept the po- sition after he understood its requirements. To-day the appointment of John D. Miles, of Lawrence, Kan., to bea member of the commission was anuounced, and he will be chairman. The other two members of this body are Mr. Humphreys, of Illinois, a bright young lawyer, and Mr. Wil- son, of Arkansas, @ well-known lawyer. The latter gentleman, although appointed and commissioned, may not be a member of the commission that will tinally go into the In- dian territory. His resignation would not be & surprise’ to his friends in this city, who say that he has about determined to with- draw from the commission, as he does not consider either the glory of the oftice or the salary attached a sufficient recompense to warrant him in leaving the law practice. The fact that the commissioners are re- quired to so thorouhgly understand every- thing appertaining to the tribes they will meet, which necessitates great study and consequent delay, and the unor- ganized condition of the commission, has postponed the work of negotiation. It was thought when the board was authorized that it would have been on the grounds long ecro this, but now it will be ten 3 before the start is made. After the commis- sion begins its labors trey will be engaced anywhere from one to two years. The Chero- kee tribe will probably be the first visited, and then the others in turn. The government, if the commission is successful in its negotia- tions, will acquire about twenty-two million acres of land, enough for a new state. These lands are very fertile and rich in minerais and settlers will pour into them when they are opened more rapidly and in greater num- bers than did the boomers into the territory of Oklahoma, A LITTLE RED TAPE ABOLISHED, Soon after Mr. Black assumed the position as commissioner of pensions, he issued an order to examining surgeons, prohibiting them from giving any statement on aflidavit to a claim for u pension, without first asking permission from the pension bureau. This order has been in operation for nearly four years, and 1t is found that, besides being use- less and without reason, it has acted as a bar to the business of the office and has caused much needless delay in the examination of applications for pensions, Recognizing these facts, Commissioner Tanner to-day issued the necessary order to examining surgeons to declare the ruling of Cowmwmissioner Black void. The commissioner states in his circu- lar that he is unable to find any reason or law to prevent a man, simply because he is an examining surgeon of the bureau, from testifying as to any matter within his knowl- edge, provided this information was not ac- quired in his oficial capacity. IT BRAPED LINCOLN'S CASKET. Av the request of Secretary Proctor, Brigadier General Townsend (retired), has ofticially 1dentified the large flag now on exhibition in the secretary’s ofiice, as that which draped the casket of President Lin- coln, WasmiNaroN Bureav, Tae OMAnA Bre, } PETERS APPO . The president to-day appointed John Pe- ters, of Nebraska, to be collector of internal revenue for the district of Nebraska. MISCELLANEOUS, The secretary of agriculture has issued what purports to be u. very learned treatise on lard and lard adulteration. It 1s the work of H. W. Wiley, a chemist in the de- partment, and forms a number of the “food and food adulterants” series. There are 154 printed pages devoted to the work, and as stated in the preface, the object 10 show the character of true lard. How it is made and how it may be distinguished from its imitations and the substan used in adul- terating lard, have been studicd and their properties described. The character of the wmixed lards pointed out. Congressman Dorsey, of Nebraska, has formed a campaigning party to spend o few weeks in Dakota, subsequent to the aajourn- wment of the coustitutional convention to be held this month, mong those who will compose the party are Congressmen McKin ley, of Ohio, Burrows, of Michigan, and Bayne, of Pennsylvania, C. Nelson was to-da; appointed post- master at Hazleton, Buch an county, Ia. . Heati, XCITED, e THE CHAMUOER ¥ Ex-Premier Ferry Rises and is Greet- ed With a Stormy Protest. Pamis, June 6,—In the debate on the edu- cational budget in the chamber of deputi w-day, the rising of ex-Premier dress the house caused & great Uproar. members of the right sbouted, “The blood of the Tonquin dead chokes you,” and many similar cries were heard. De Cassagoac ad- vised the house to submit aud listen. *We can swallow our disgust,” explained Bou- zcois, deputy for the department of V Pinally, on the demand of the president, order was restored and Forry proceeded with his remarks. CORNVALL AND JOHNSTOWN, Anxiety For the Cornishment in the Flooded District. [Copyright 1889 by James Gordon Bennett.| Pryysovrn, Eng., June 6.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to Tur Ber |—The calamity i Pennsylvania has caused the greatest alarm and anxiety among the people of West Cornwall, large numbers from ail parts of the country having migrated to Johnstown and formed quite a Cornish col- ony there, and thoro is very little doubt but that a majority of them, if not all, are vic- tims of the disaster. No definite information has been received, but several young men from St. Davy's and Cambourne were known to have been employed in the iron works which wore swept away by the floods. On receipt of the news of the catastrophe Mr. Harvey, of Penzance, who recently re- turned from Johnstown, became alarmed, for he left his married sister with six children in the state: and he received such a shock to his system that from the first his life was despaired of, and he expired yester- day at his brother's residence. Ivis calculated that fully five hundred families in Cornwall have relatives in Johns- town, and grief, of course, cat through- out the countr, MURAT HAL BERLIN. A Report That His Name is to Go to the Senate Again, | Copyriaht 1§59 by James Gorlon Bonnatt.l Beruiy, June 6.—[New York Herald Cable- Bee.|—Murat Hal- stead told me to-day that he is still shaky and suffers much from rheumatism. He is going to take some baths av Joplitz in Bo- hemia. There is a report that his name is to go to the senate again for the Berlin mission. ey iuriees American Engineers in England. [Copyright 1850 by James Gordon Bennett.) Liverroor, June 0.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to Tne Bee.]—The visit of the American engineers to the United King- dom promises to be one of the most satis- factory kind, and the distinguished strangers are likely to return home with pleasant momories of the hospitality of their English friends. They reached the Mersey in two detach- ments; the first being the members of the American Society of Civil Engineers, who came by the City of New York; and second the representative members, and their friends, of the Joint Engineering Societies of the United States, who arrived by the City of Chicago. A general reception committee, embracing the most prominent men of Liverpool, was formed, and with them were associated a distinguiched deputation from the Institution of Civil Engineers, and other technical so- cicties of Great Britain and Ireland, and rep- resentatives of the Liverpool Engineering society, to welcome the Americans on their arrival in England. To-day a scries of ex- cursions were arranged for the cobvenience of the visitors. The committee sent convey- ances to the various hotels to take them down to the place of mustering. The enjoyments of the day included a recherche lunch oa bourd the fine ferry boat Lancashive, whilst crossing the river. An- other,and in many respects quite as inter- esting an excursion, was that to Messrs. Laird Bros., Birkenhead iron works, and to the Mersey tunuel railroad. In the evening an official recention was given, by the mayor of Liverpool, in the town hall. To-morrow most of the American en- gincers will visit the ship canal, in progress, which will bring Manchester into direct con- nection with the sea by way of the Mersey, after which they will disperse all over the kingdom. S g M Another Yacht to Be Beaten. [Copyright 1889 by James Gordon Bennett.| Eastnourse, June 6.—New York Herald Cable—Special to Tne Beg. |—The launch of the yacht Paradox, which will compete for the American cup if it answers expectations, was cffected here this afternoon. In the presence of a large concourse of spectators the vessel was moved to within ten feet of the sea, and will enter the water at high tide to-morrow morning at 4 o'clock, It 18 more than a generation since a lug- ger-rigged yacht has been seen in English waters. In the case of the Paradox the ne- cessity of lowering the sail when removing it from one side of the mast to the other will be obviated, by an ingeirious arrangement. The foremast is 60 feet hign, the mainmast 70 fect, and the foreyard 52 feet long. The sail area will be about two thousand square feet. The Paradox is the largest yacht ever buiit at Eastbourne, and is the largest in the world, It has been constructed by G. Gadsden, the weli-known shipbuilder of that town. The peculiarity of the hull is that it 18 perfectly straight at the bow and tapers off towards the rudder. Mr. E. Ropham, the owner, will command the yacht, which will take part in the yacht race at queens- town June 17. e Vanderbilt's Yacht Alva, | Copyright 1859 by James Gordom Bennett.) Pryyovrn, June 6.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to Tur Bee.]—The Alva steam yacht, belonging to Mr. Vanderbilt, which has for sowe time been lying at the governmeut moorings in Barnpool, sailed from Plymouth, to-day, eastward, The vessel has urdergone an extensive overhaul in the Greav Western docks, and will pro- ceed along the coast of Norway to North Cape and then to America. Vanderbilt is noton board, e More Subscriptions. [Copyright 1839 by James Gordon 13 ennett.] Loxpoy, June 6.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to Tie Bee.|—The following further subscriptions have been received by the London edition of the Heruld for the re- lief of the sufferers by the Pennsylvania floods: James B. D, A. Boulton, of New Jorsey, £ nyder, £53 Dr. Mitchel, David Scott, £1; 1. W, Capman, 10s. e Movements of American Gunboats, (Conyright 1859 by James Gordon Bennett,) Loxvoy, June 7.—|New York Herald Cable—Special to Tug Bep,|—The United States gunboat Swatara arcived at Mo- zambique on Wednesda pd the Cornette Enterprise ut Port Said to-d - aska and Lowa Pensions, oN, June 6.— 1 Telegram Tur Be ~Pensions grauted Nebraskans : Original invalids—Alexander May, James Walton, David ¥, Weimer, Irving 8. Smith, James Devore, Iuncrease-—-John J. Cain, Charles Growe, Reissue—Charles Harkins, Joel P, Calkins, J. Rock Williamson, Orig- inal widows, ete.—~Surah, mother of George J. Bye; Solomon, futher' of William R. Cor- Nel Wasiy for Towans: Original invalids-- Samue! J. Gunsalis, Joseph Dain (decoased), William P. Culver. Restoration and ssue seman, Increased—-Andrew , Christian Hack, Heiphroy, Jobhn Gif’ ford, Reissue ~Sawmuel V. Duncan (O, W.), Boniventura Heinz, Ieissuc and increase— Charles Simmons. Original widows and children—Isabel, widow of Joseph Daing Armor W., father of Thompson Lewis; Elizabeth A, mother of Joseph 1. Milier. SEATTLE, W. T., IS BURNINGK The Wholo Business Portion of the( Town in Ashes. THE FIREMEN ARE HELPLESS.f ' Over a Thonsand Foet of Hose 1193! stroyed—An Engine and Orow * On the Way From Portla Nothing But Residencos Lott, PorT1AND, Ore,, Juno 6.-Fire broke ouf at Seattle, W. T., at 2:30 this aftornoon i the Pontus building, and is now raging ov o district of five or six blocks, and tho in dication aro that the whole business portio of the town, involving millions, will go. Th magnificent San Francisco storo is o fire. The firemen arc helpless an have telegraphud in all directions for hels Alater dispatch from Seattlo says: * Qisastrous fire 18 now sweeping through ¢! heart of the business part of the city. Twi blocks have already been destroyed. Man; other buildings are in flames, and the co flagration has passed beyond the control of the fire department. To add to the city’ peril a smart breezo is blowing off the b fanning the flames, and about oue thousan feet of hose have been burned. At prosentf no idea of the extent of the loss can bo formed. Tho opera house blocly the block opposite, and the warehouses at the foot of Column street, and also fous buildings in the roar of the Post-Tntelligencon are burning. The people in the Yester blocky occupied by the Western Union and the Poste Intelligencer, are moving out.” At 6 0'clock to-night the best engine in the department, fully cquipped with a crew, eto, and 1,000 foet of hose, started on @ speolal train, and will probably reach Seattle midnight. Later.—From several insurance agencies in this city it is learncd that thirty-one blocks so far nave boen burned in the very: business portion of the city, and there 18 great danger of the loss of about twenty blocks more. The fire is not yet under con= trol. The very latest despatchos stato thg fire has reached the great coal bunkorsh Should these be destroyed, it is certain thafy the flames will be communicated to a verg large number of wooden buildings. Later—A dispatch from Seattle at 10 p. says the business portion of the oity is id ashes. Every bank, hotel and vlace uj amusement, all leading business houses, a newspaper offices, railroad depots, miles of steamboat wharves, conl bunkers and telds, graph offices are burned. The fire began neaj the corner of Front and Pearl streots i the Seattle candy factory at 2:30 p. m. Tha' whole of the business section north of Stet- son & Post’s mill along front and Secon streets to the water front have been burned,) involving a loss of over 5,000,000 The cit; is literally wiped out, except the residence portion on the high ground. At 6:30 p. ms the flames had reached the wharves aud the steamboat and shipping were compelled to put out into the strom A stiff breeze was blowing from the mm% west when the fire started, and it soon gof the best of the fire department. The watex supply gave out within two hours after the fire began, and then the flames had a cleam sweep. A greatdeal of property was move only to be burned in other places, 5o quick); did the flames spread S THE MONTANA TRAGEDY. Inquests Establish the Identity of the Dead Murderers, HELENA, Mont., June 6.—[Special Tel gram to Tne Bee.|—Inquests on the defi bodies of the murderers and murdered of the Silver City tragedy were held, to-day, and resulted in establishing the identity oq the murderers and completely exonerating and even commending the action of the shers if’s posse 1 hunting down and killng the assassins. The victims of the murder, Agent Jobss and Operator Burwell, were embalmed to- day and will be shipped eust; Jobst to @ brother in Dakota and Burwaell to his parents in Detroit, Mich. Both were young men and respeoted employes of the Manitoba rafl road. The murders have been id ert Quaido apd Julius Quaide, cousins, Who came here from southern Minnesoti iash, spring. They had frequently been seen in Helena, and were undoubiedly connceted, with several daring’ burglarics” within the past two months, Their former home wag’ in southern Iowa, where they were uullnw% for various crimes, For two years office have been on their trail for crimes come mitted there. ified as Rob- —— Railway ployes Organize. Cimicaco, June 6.—Quite an importan, move occurred i railway labor cles here, this evening, when nine delegates assembled here, ratified a constitution for t| future government of three of the importangy railway employe associations which ars nos federated in one body, known as ghe Unite Order of Railway employes. The delegategy represented the brotherhood of railway brakemen, switchmen’s mutual aid assos ciation, and the brotherhood of locomotive firemen, The governing body will be a supreme council, of which . the following are the officers president, >, Surgeant, of the Firemen's as80¢ vice president, Frank Sweenie, of the Switchmen’s ussoclation; secretary, E. . O'Shea, of the railway brakemen’s association, President Surgeant was asked to- night what is the stand of the new order on strikes, and repli “AlL difficultics that can possibly arise are pro- vided for, butas the coustitution is & secret one 1 cantiot state the provisions,” —~— The Regatta at Salt Lake. Sanr Lake Crry, June 6,—|Special Teles gram to Tug Bee)—The dispute between the Lake park and Garfield beach resorts, as to the noted oarsmen, is assuming serious provortions, O'Connor sud Lee were billed W app at Garfield beach, and their sculls were sent there, Later, they wero advera tised to appear at Lake vark, At this write ing both resorts are billing the town that the regatta will positively take place at their re- psorts, T arficld beach folks refuse to deliver the sculls unless a freighy bill of #4100 is paid, the ses for hauling the boats sixteen miles, The excitement is at ov heat here, and it is impossible to ot which resort will carry off the prize, >, B. Wincote und wife, G, 1. Franilin, M. A. Mainton and Charles . Willls, of Owmalia, ara i the civy. - France and England. Paxts, June 6.—[Spaeial Cablegram to Tue e | —Two hundred and fifty mem- bers of the French chamber of deputies have signed a response to the memorial sent by 236 members of the Hritish house of com) mous to President Caruot, in relation to the absence of Lord Lyton, the British embas= sador, at the opening of the Paris exposition, The response expresses gratitude for the ag- surauce of sympathy for Fravce which the mewmorial contained, und utters the hopo thak those who sign it will join in an internse tioual parliamentary conference on the 29l wst, ot which authovized represcotatives of public opinion may unite to chase sway the | Whrculs aarkeniug the political borizom,