Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 16, 1889, Page 2

JOHN BROWN'S FORT MUST G0, It Stands in the Way of the B, & O, Rallroad, BOUGHT UP BY A RELIC MAN, | Be Placed on Fa- a Whe Historic Pile to Exh bition—Story of th mo Rawd by Varticipaut, Corporations Have No Santiment. WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.—[Staff Correspond- ence of Tur Ber. ] —Corporations are said to have no souls, have no romances., To the railroad engi neer who wants to straighten out a curve there is nathing sacred, and to prove it goes ‘the fact that the engineers of the Baltimorc & Ohio railroad have determined that old s Fort must Tverybody who had ever come to Wash jogton on the Baltimore & Ohio railrond Yemembers tho eager anxiety with which he sticks his head out of the window of the xailroad conch as he approaches Harpor's Terry., The old dismautiod ruins of the national armory are first seen, and then one oan just about make out the old engino house that is famous in history as John Brown's Fort. The relic-hunter has gotten in his work, and for , years and years small boys have dono a thriv- g busines seiling bricks from John Brown's Fort. dnough bricks from John Brown's Fort o 1 sold to visi- tors at Harper's Forry to stock up half a dozen brickyards for . yoars to come. ‘L'ue engiveers of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad Thave been convinced that the magnificont bridge thera must be rebuilt. Uafortunately for the lovers of American history the route of the. Baltimore & Ohio railroad passes right over the spot whore John Brown's Fort now stands, and as a result the fort must go. It has been sold to William S. Beown of Kansas City, Mr. Brown victim of the same peculiar fever that animated the mer- cantile gentlemen who bought Labby prison and set it up in Chicago as a public sight at 80 much entrance fee. Mr. Brown proposes Certainly railroad eaginoers | to take down the fort brick by brick and re- build it somewhere, wherever he thinks he can get the most money out of it. He has not yet decided whether he will select Bos- ton, New York, Chicago, St. Louis or XKansas City. It will _be remembered that not long ugo some Washington gentiemen bought John Brown's gallows, and it 1s not improbable tnas these two antiquarians will combine fortunes and exhibit John Brown's Xort and John Brown’s g side, as *he Alpha and Ome; most remarkable episode: tory. The destruction of this shabby little old buildine will recall to many the vivid scenes that alarmed and stirred to its very center the whole country just thirty years ago. Such an eventas this has probably never had paraliel in_the history of any country and even to this ‘day, wonder, admiration, horror and hate are called out into a living existence by the very mention of Ossawoto- mie Brown. OI the insurrection of this brave and over- zealous fanatic there is not a single correct or trustworthy account that can be obtained. “The reason is simple enough, The wild ex- citement. into which the quiet, sleepy, little town plunged by the midnight raid of the old Kansan killed all attempt at reason- able or concerted action. The people en- [gaged in the various conflicts that was rag- ng found their efforts contined to such lim- ited areas thut they knew nothing of what Was transpiring in their immediate vicinity and ofien gave garbled and distorted counts of such events as came under their notice. All published accounts of ‘the insur- rection obtainable at the congressional li- brary were consulted in the preparation of his article but the contradictions and incon- ncies were in many cases o glaring as to make tie compilation of a correct nnd condensed account of the affair impossible. There 18, however, at present living in this city a gentleman who 100k an active part in the insurroction at the “Ferry” and from Him an accurate account of the raid was ob- tained. Mr. George W. Decker now residing on K. ptreet in this city, was living at Harper's Perry 1n charge of one of the departments of the government armery when John BErown entered tho villaze, and in an interview re- cently he toid the tory of the events of tho days of terror, “John “3rown” he said, “‘entered Harper's Ferry sometime between 10and 11 0’ctock on the night of the 16th of October. Just what hour he came however, has always been in dispute, but it could not have boen much later thun 11, as he broke camp in the moun- taws aud started for the Ferry shortiy after 8 o'clock, and the distance of ‘the camp from the forry was not over four wiles, a distanco easily traveled in two hours. Tl party had with them a wagon loaded with Slmrg‘l rifles and pikes, and there were probably about sixty men in the crowd. It is generaily understood that there had been some desertions umong the men Brown hiad with him, as many of them were op- posed to attacking Harper’s Ferry in the way intended. They pointed out the absurd- ity of vhe whole affair, and the lack of ade- &'unc defense in-case of attack from troops. hey called his attention to the defenscless charactér of Harper's Ferry. A force of amen coming into theso mountains would ‘have u body of men at Harper's Ferry on. tirely at their mercy, and even with an enemy entrenched on Boliver Heights, there would be no hope for escape fora vartv in the town. % Nevortholess, Brown determined to enter Harper’s Ferry, capture the rifleworks and The magazine, and thence startout on his .grand campaign ugainst slavery and slave awners. For some time before this Captain Cook, one of Brown’s lieutenants, had Lved in Harper's Ferry, where he kept Brown con- stantly posted on everything that transpired an the little village. He became one of the villagers in fact and entered completely into their methods of life. He made love to the village maids in a _style that carried most of them by storm. He became very intimate awith the men in the place and won their ad- Iuiration by his splendid performance with the pistol. - He carried & magazine weapon, a ‘wonder in those days, that fi twent; shots, and oo holidays, accompan! by his friends in the armory, he woula up ivto the mountains surrounding the Ezrry and 'E‘" such exhibitions of marksmanship, that is reputation spread even beyord the town If. A common feat with” him was to Asten a piece of tape to a tree trunk, with 0 OF tweuty tacks, and then without a Tailure drive the into the tree with sliots from his rifle, flually aropping the tape to the Ero-u:d 88 the last tack was cut out. By this and other methods Cook succeeded in becoming fully acquainted with the town, its people and surrounding country, On sevoral occasions he visited the farmof Col. Lewis Wasnington and his agroeable wauner made him & welcome guest of the G‘w randson of the brother of George ashiogton, Washa allows side by aof one of the in American bis- Eion place 1t ost tavited Couk iata ashington wvited Ce to Lhis library to view his precious treasures in the shape of relics of tue immortal Washing- ton. Awoug these was an autique sword gvuunud by Frederick the Great to George ‘ashinglon and & pair of pistols presented to Washington by his friend and compatriot, Lafayette. As these d other relics iwere exhibited,Cook leisurely examined thewm ‘With an air of easy nonchalance, quietly con- ‘scaling all sigus of delight he felt at having 80 easily accomplished the wishes of his chief; for Brown koew of the treasures and fi was his burning desire Lo possess tbem. Puluu eatire afteruoon of his visit ibrary of el Washinton noting “mmnn of every article iu the w{lfl:l‘:: ovemng wore on, passed twilight futo night he ml sat betore the cheerful grate thay the autama chill tertaiued bis ina way that wou latter's admiratiou, for Cook's versatil- l.:..d conversatioual powers were of & high i dvsight into the character of Buwn! flz'lu the impracticable entbusiasm of l'z by ‘fl;. kw:’hd.fl- of his Pussess el Washington's . and pistols. It was his intention o “&rm the colonel’s most popularslave with the #word of Washingtou sud when be nad con- to send him on to other conquests wieiding the sword of the great American doliverer. Consequently when the band had passed across the river making prisoner of the watchman, Brown's first move was to send Cook together with several others apture Colonel Washington. This was done very ietly, and bafore midmght Colonel Wash- of Captain Cook, wno, procate tae conrtesios in n manner to please the colonel. sther with Mr. Allspadt, o farmer living 1n London, ware carried to the engine house in the armory yard and there held captive. The enginé Nouse is a solid_brick structure, containing an _old hand fire en gine, the “‘rough and ready” and hose reel The curine was used in extinguishing fires in the town, tha avmory itself being protected by numerous water plugs in the power of sich force that a hosecould be sent anywhere Captain Brown retired to the zine nouse and selocted it as his hoad s, recozniung it as the most easily nsible position to be found in tho town, Colonel W and_soveral ra brought before him *d that he had selected them as hostages because he recognized their influ. il werth, He told them that so long as were with him they would be in no danger. He calmly told them that he had no idea how long he mightdetain them but bado them hope for the best, He then retired, loaving them under a guard and went ont to complote his arrangemonts for taki town completely, a8 8oon as it woki When the Washington and Alltadt far wore visited the negroes of both places were brought to Brown. Thero were twelve bo longing to Washington in the party nea all of whom know the nature gof sthe under- taking in which Brown was engared, having been thoroughly posted in numerous conyver- sations with Cook. The negroes w rmed with short rifles or carbines in Brown's pos- session and were instructed in their use. Then with a full supply of cartridges they were sent out and posted about the lown as sentinels, These preparations were concluded shortly after midnight and by that time a strange condition of affairs existed in Harper’s Ferry a condition utterly without precedent. A town lay quietly sleeping in virtuous sium- ber while in their very midst lay a band of invaders ready for murderand carnage when the town should wake. About davbreak the people of the village began to stir about, and thewr surprise and consternation can better be imagined than described when on coming out of their houses they found themselves confrouted by armed negroes, most of whom they recog- nized as slaves from the surronnding plantu- tions, Tho arrests were conducted very quietly, most of them being made at tho avsenal where the employes were picked up as they came to their daily Asthe mist rolled away from the mountain-tops aud the full of daysight appeared, however, matters began to take on a different appoarance. Several bands of workmen starting for the armory discovered the cloaked and armed figures standing about the streets and were t00 seasible to upproach that end of the town where they weremassed. Instead they began assembling at the upper end of the vi few minutcs those uncaptured in v some means unknown to themselves, it , had received news that a party of abolitionists from the north had de: on the town and had taken prisone of their fellow-tow Then bitter guerila warfare unequplled in t of histc T'he people of Harper's Ferry naturally enough hated the very word abolitionist, and their batred burned even ficrcer at the great wrong they fancied had been put upon them, ‘They wers in a certain sense defenseless, Working in the armory as they did, any man in the village might bave had arifle almost for the asking, yet on this bright October day they found that therawere not half a dozen rifles in the whole town, ‘There were some old short guus used for hunting and a few pistols among the men, but these weapons were of no value against the weapons of theinvaders. Fate, however, threw into their hands the means of their salvation. Some days before a number of finishea rifles had been removed from the arsenal to a small wooden shop inthe side of the hill leading up to Boitvar and which was used as a lumber stors-room. This shop was directly back of the armory buildings inside the armory wall. Knowing of these guns a scouting party started up into Bolivar cut across the heights and carefullv made their way down to the house in which the rifles were stored. Thney reached there only through great danger and succeeded in carry- ing off enough arms tw furanish all the men With weapons, Then the warfare began in earnest. A bitterdeadly feud between Virginians and aboitionists. The quiet streets of the town rung out in echo of the sharp crack of rifles and the hideous death yell of murdered men. The Harpers Ferry folk were strategic. A numberof Brown’s men were 1n the upper part of town near the arsenal buding and a determined assault soon had them all caged in this building. Then the villagers charged down on them with such flerceness that caused themn to leave their shelter and wildly break for the lower part of town where Brown and his other forces were located. ‘The arsenal was located where the newly erected pulp mill now stands and as the men broke from its shelter they were 8o suddenly and actively assaulted that they were utterly routed. Some continued on towurds the town where a few gained safety and others started for the opposite shore of the Shenandoah river. Mauy of these were there shot down like fleeing dogs. Captam John Kagy, one of Brown's most trusty officors, was shot down just as he reached a flat rock in the middle of the river. Lewis Beary, a negro that Brown had brought wich him, was also shot down in the river and brought to Bremmerman's cooper shop, where he was g1ven every attention possible by tho women of the place. Kugiwas left where he fell, as it was impossible to reach him, and he was not taken out of the water until two days afterward. Colonel Washington's carriage driver, in a wild endeavor to escape, rushed into tne millrace and actually succeeded 10 reaching the opposite side of the race. As he clamored up on the bank be was wet by a determined looking Virginian who had fired his last shot av the negro as. ho swamn across the race, The two men faced each other for @ single second, then the negro, impelied by @ bare hobe for life, sprang forward. . ‘There was A dull crash as the heuvy rifle-stock broke across his face, swung by the power- ful arms of his foe, and the negro staggered wnd fell back into the race to become u mo- ment later a target for a well-aimed bullet that took his life. 1In the lower end of town the fighting was fully as savage. It was one conunnal skirmish from the time the villagers armed themselves until the insurgents ere finally driven into the engine house. All slong the mam street at the lower end of the town until quite late in the morning some of the sentinels kept pacing their assigned beats, One burly negro kept moving restlessly about Shensndoah street, undetermined whether to run or stay. Suddenly a shot strack at his feet and bounded off across the street. He immediately caught up his carbine and was about to fire, when fire when a gentlemaa op the upper bal- coby of ahouse across the way, who was calmly smoking a cigar appareatly’ oblivious of the wrouble about him, raised a long squirrel riflo to his shoulder and drove small buckshot in just behina the sentinel ear. He dropped like a wet dish-cloth and immediately afterwards the man was seen to rush across the strect and pick up his car- bine and ammunition and scurry back to the house. Insurrectionists, however, were also onnini notehes on thew ritle stocks. Hay- way, the porter at the depot, was the first mau sbot, and he was killed for refusing to join the crowd of invaders. Tony Burley, a well known citizen in the Ferry, was snot he vame to the door 1n the morning to learn the cause of the disturbance. He aied almost immediately and lay on his door step for hours, his relatives in the house fearing to again be seen at the door, Samuel Turner, & young man living out of town came into the Ferry on horseback, carrying a small hunting riffle. Not knowing of the trouble in the Ferry be started down High street and was shot from his horse, at (xxul of the turus in the tortuous thorough- ares. By noon the iusurrectionists were in- trenched in their fort, with “fi" skirmsh ards hols railroad bridee. The Bu the citizeas of the Ferry well satisfled with baving caged Brown bad drawn off and were l;nwlnx to make & charge on the engine ouse aud bridge, when a party of Charles- town troops under command of Colonel Rob- ert A. Bayler,whio had crossed the river some distance above were seen approaching the bridge trom the Maryland side. ‘Ihey cawme up at double time and dashing across the bridge routed the insurgents and drove thom back iuto the engne house without bloodshed. In this engagement William ana oxpia THE OMAHA DAILY BEK: MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1889 Thomp tured, At this moment HBrown's Iast hope do- parted. Ho was caged np in the engine bouse without hope of escape and no rein- forcements on the outside from whom he might expoct aid. The Shopardstown troops arriving shortly afterwards and joining the Charlestown @nards and the citizens' forces at tho bridge rendered the situation utterly lopeloss, “Lhe fight from this time on centored at the fort, 1t had only vaken about three nours of roal fighting to clear the town of insuree- tion iste, and when they were once in the cn- gine hotiso their capturo or destruction was only a question of time. The fighting now becamo a desultory sort of wa . Brown’s men ind made port holes in the briok wall n, one of Brown's men, was cap- erything being in sight, The last men were gotton iato the fort about noon and they were kept thero until the ar- rival of the marines next day, whon the fort was taken, About this time an oceurrence took place that has 1o justification, and can only be uc- counted for by vhe unoatural condition of af. fairs, Mr. Fountain seckham, the mayor of the town, along in the afternoon walked out on the platform of the raiiroad trestle and looked down toward the engine house. A moment later he was shot down whero he stood by one of Brown's sons. The mur- derer did not have a long lease of life. He nad stepped out a few step from the engine house and befora he could reach shelter ho fell to the ground, literally torn to pioces by riflo balls. This did not sat- isfy tho citizens of Hurpers Ferry who had that strange, almost filial love for their mayor that is sometimes found among small communities, Cheir rage for this reason was boundless, and a living sacrifice was at once demanded to satisfy their wrath. Such a sacrifice was found in Thompson, the man taken a few hours before at the bridge. He was dragged vut; o score of ritles emp- tied into his body and then tossed over the railing into the river. A dull, restless quiet now sottled down over the town that was unbrokoen until 1 o'clock that night, when Colonel Robert E. Lee arvived with troops, and at onco Major J, D, B. Stuart to make a truce with Brown, Nothing could be done, however, as the insurgents refused to make terms of any sort, saying they preferred bullets to halters. Periy S, Haara. PO e BRAZIL NEWS, Republican Plans Lald ‘With Wond- ertul Secrecy. New Yok, Dec. 15.—The steamer Horrox arrivea here today from Brazil. = Stre left Rio Janeiro November 23, On the second day of the revolution a cipher dispatch was received nunouncing that there had been an upmsing in Babia and that a ficht had taken place between the militia and the imperialists and that 500 persons had been killed. After that the government at once stopped all cipher tele- graphic communication and placed a strict watch on all ordinary mossages, So comblete were the arrangements of the republicans that when'the republic was an- nounced all of the imperial war vessels that for weeks had heen lving in the harbor were so fixed it was impossible for them to parti- cipate iu any uprising that might possibly have occurred. Another rumor was one regarding the late of eight naval oficers who had rcfused to submit to the republicans. These officers se- cured a boat and rowed out upon the harbor bearing aloft the imperial flag. A party of republicans gave chase and some shots were exchunged. The naval officers were cap- tured gud put in prison. Nono of the men had been sesn up to the tine that the Horrox left, and the general belief is thay they had been secretly shot while n prison, as the noise of a discharge ‘of firearms had been heard in the prison the next day. or the Republio. ‘The Lisbon correspond- ent of the Times says: Advices from Rio Janeiro up to November 28 state that even the local journals are threatened with suppression 1f they criticise or fail 10 approve the new regime. Private let- ters brought here by pussengers on_vossels from Brazil paint the situation in that country as rather- alarming. The navy appears opposed to the new government and many sailors have been in- prisoned _and shot for cheering for Dom Pedro. One report states that 150 sailors were shot while other reports piace the number at fiftcen. The sol- diers are also showing symptoms of discontent. The citizens are recovering their moral courage and are protesting against tho military movement. The gov- ernment has become alarmod anc 1s massing its naval forces at Bal Trouble A Manifesto to the Brazilians. Lissoy, Dec. 15—Viscount Presto, the Brozilian imperial prime minister, has issued o manifesto to the people of Brazl. Hesaysit was impossible to crush the plotters, as the government could not rely upon either the officers or soldiers. When he was urrested and placed in prison Presto deciared that a oon of soldiors was kapt in readiness to shoot him if is friends offered armed resistunce. In conclusion the ex-prime_minister appeals to the people to exercisa their freedom of choice at the coming election. He counsels his supporters not to surrender but to vote for all bia (riends wko may become candi- utes. The Czar Snubs Brazil. LCopyright 1589 by James Gordon Bennett.] Beruiy, Dec. 15.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to Tme Bre.|—A private telegram received here from St. Petersburg says that Russia has broken off all diplo- mate relations with the Brazihan minister, telling him that the czar will not recognize the present government of Brazil, e FEARFUL EXPLOSION, Ten Tons of Nitroglycerine SBhake the Keystone State. TirusviLLe, Pa., Dec. 15.—Three separate nitroglycerine magazines exploded this morn- ivg at North Clarendon, about seven miles above Warren, The amount of nitroglycer- ine exploded was over ten tons, The explo- sion set fire to twe 25000 bar- rel tanks full of oil belonging to the National Tranmt company, They are still burning and will be a total loss. Several o1l derricks and small wooden houses were also burned. No one, 80 far as can be loarned, are injured. y every window in Clarenaon was broken and much damage was done to the surrounding property. The loss is estimated at $100,000. PmrapELran, Dec, 15.—The remains of Fraokho B, Gowen, who committed suicide in Washington, reached this city this morn- izg and were at once conveyed to dence at Mount Airy, near Germantown, The funeral will rfl\loe It )8 said that Mrs, Gowen close friend of the family that for ten days previous to her husband’s last visit to Washington she bad noticed somethipg strauge in his conduct. It is thought by many here that the great lawyer’s mind be- came unbalanced through too persistent uwp- plication to business, and that suicide was due to this cause. el Kitrain Advised to Take His Medicine NWew Youk, Dec. 15.—|Special Telegram to Tue Bee. | —Stevenson, the backer of Kil- rain, today telegraphed Jake to stay at Pur- vis and he would send him $200 to pay the fine, Stevenson says Jake better serve hiy two months term and settle the matter, as it will cost him less than to take an appeal @and bhave to go back with a prospect of con- viction again. If he stays be will go out just as Sullivan’s trial begins, In Memo nf Prof, Olsen. Cu10460, Dec. 15.—~There was & large at- tendauce at the memorial meeting held this afterncon to do honor to the memory of Prof. Fdward Olsen, who met a tragic death in the Tribune building fire at Minneapolis. Several addresses were made. A movement is on foov to endow & chair in the new Bap- List university to the memory of Prof. Olsen and it is intended to raise $50,000 for the purpose, et L The Fire Record. Burravo, Dec. 15.—The exchange elevator buraned this morping, The loss will aggre- gale §225,000, © “WEVEGO EMBY THE HAIR.” So Say thfivynrbom Who Are Op- | posed to Sunday Work. THEIR PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. Y8 The Result of Wesrorday's Moeting— An Assessmént Levied—Two Are rests Made—Prosecution 10 Follow, To Shave or Not to Shave, About fifty barbers crowded themselves into a hittle shop at 709 North Sixteentn strect yesterday afternoon and had & session two hours long. Joe Cooney rappsa the meoting to order with the butt end of a broom and announced that the first thing in order would be to choose a chairman and secrctary, W. M. Smith, president of the Barbers’ union, and Jerry Jacobs were elected. E'rank Slee stated the object of the meat- ing. It was to get the sentiment of the bar- bers on the Sunday closing question and to discuss the mode of proceedure in prosecut- ing the men who kept open. Also to discuss in a general way any topic that might prove beneficial to the barbers. Slec is chairman of a committee that was appointed last Sun- day, the duty of which was to no- tify all the boss barbers that those who kept open on Sunday in the future would be prosecuted. This work, he stated, had been fatthtully performed. But the committee met with some opposition, and 1t was de- ded that a general meeting be beld last dy night. “‘At that meeting,” said Slee, ‘‘fraud was comntitted to down the Sunday closing move. Louis Faist voted twenty votes against it, and [ saw him cast the ballots, But we beat him anyhow. In fact we ot there with both feet, and now we have got the kickers by the hair, They bulldozed us at the meeting by eleoting their own chairman and secretary, but we shaved 'em at the finish. **This morning our committee visited every shop in Omaha to see who was keeping open. In all about forty men were at work. They are s follows: Adam Morrell and fourteen men, Louis Faist and seven men, Kmmel Patterson and ten men, Billy Magner and three men, Christ Wile and one man, Martin Costell, Nels Hill, Jim Brown and several John Does. “All of them will be arrested tomorrow. When we went to Judge Berka’s house he said he was sick. Fiually be agreed to allow wformation to be lodged against two of the men, They are A. R. Campbell and Milt Picket, who work at 205 North Sixteenth streel. They were arrested but bailed out by Lonie Faist. Your committes would have made move arrests, but were nnable to do s0 on account of not being able to secure warrants. In cuse our work is continued and the eommittee'is not discharged, we will file the complaints tomorrow. We have em- ployed Attorney Munn and propose to make @ hard fight.” On motion the ¢cdmmittee was instructed to continue in the work and two new mem- bers were added to" it, making five in all. ‘I'his committee 1§ empowerad to raise money, prosecute and dct’ as an executive board until the fight is either won or lost. Slee is its chairman, 3 Attorney Mung was then called for and amid deafening applause he, with a *Judge" Cooley air, sauntérdd out to the cenier of the floor and plagtd‘with his “Black Donald” whiskers until thers was absolute silence, ‘Then he told the tonsorial gentlemen that victory was staring.them boldly in the face. What with him as their attorney, the law at their backs, Judge Berka in the chair, several attormeys in sympathy with the move, the 'ecitizens ‘‘next,’” how could they be defeatedt . How! Impossible! But the jury! That was the thing which choked the lawyer. He was leary of it. He must have the aid of eyery barber, both finan- cially and otherwise, and then they would see whether a gank of’ law breakers could step in and with a féw' dollar bills bulldoze reputable citizens out of their rishts in en- forcing a state law., *Stick together, boys, and we will clip the whiskers of our enemies if it takes all wiater to do it.” [A whole 1ot of applause.] A large colored man by the nameof Frank- lin bad a great deal to say, He knew that the committee had paid considerable cash out of their own pockets, and thought tbey should be reimbursed. Klsasser wanted to make & permanent organization and assess the boss barbers §1 each per week and the jours 25 cents each untilthe fight was set- tled. This motion finally prevailed and the temporary organization was made perma- nent by adding the name of Richard Gam- ble (colored) as treasurer, Gambie was called upon for a speech. He responded by giving his experience in a similar fight in Lincoln twelve years ago. At that time he bucked the Sunday closing law and was fined, He then turned around and prosecuted every parber who worked on Sunday for the following six months and was victorious to a man. Since that time there has been no barbering done n Lincoln on Sunday. ‘‘Public senti- ment is with the closers,” he said, *‘and all we will have to do is to ' be persistent in our fight and we will win. It will be a long bat- tle and a hard one, however, Tho first case of conviction will prove a successful prece- dent, and that is what we must strive for hardest.” The only person who spoke against the Sunday closing at the meeting was & chunky little German named Konvalenka, His the- ory was to close the shops at 8 o'clock each evening and keep open a halt a day on Suri- day, but to charge extra prices on that day, For instance, 25 cents for a shave and 50 eents for a hair cut. In this way he argued that the bosses could pay their workmen better salaries and the public could be served the same as in the past. His remarks were not sympathized with by any of the men present, and the gentleman sat down in disgust, In fact he was ruled out of order. The shops that were kept open yesterday did a rushing business and the bosses do not feel a bit uneasy over the future prospects of being prosecuted. The fine i case of conviction is small and more than likely they will continue to run even after they have been fined. At any rate the fight prom- ises to be a lively one and will last for sev- eral weeks, In the language of a barber, “‘the outcome of the whole thing will be the organizing of one of the strongest barbers' unions in the country." v Cozzens hotel, $1.50 and $2.00 per day. i Fort Omaha Notes. ) Joseph Muner of Battery I, Fifth artillery, was found guilty gf fgsortion and was sen- tenced to be dishonorably discharged, to for- feit all pay andtobe imprisoned at hard labor for three years in the military prison at Fort Leavenworth. Captain Charles (A.:Dempsey has returned 0 Fort Omaha with his charming bride. Mrs, Girard, wife-of Dr. Girard, United States army, is at the Millard. Miss M. Brown,. the daughter of Major Brown, 18 & guest of Miss Sherwood. ‘The court-martial of which Major Butler is president and Lieuténant Maliory is judge filvocn )y Will run:na ite sitlings™ today at +80, aE A most enjoyable dance was given at Mr. F. L. Joves' hall, near Fort Omaha, last night. Music and dunciog were the features of the evnnin:. A most delicious supper was served at midnight. Among tnose present were: Mr. and MrsiF, Jones, Mr, aud Mrs. Stillwell, Mr. sod Mrs. Burgess, Mr. aud Mrs, Clarke, Misses Amelia Burgess, Grace Wesbey, Cora and Ella Siakey, f)olha Mil- lor, May Miller, Ella Hock, Ada Hock, Emma Hamiilon, E. Montgomery, . Welsh, Messrs. Frank Sprague, John Pugh, W. Hoch, E. Forbes, Kurtz L. Butts, H. Ander- ‘Burkhart 'B. Sabby, E. Hilieker, 5. Moore, J. Butts, 8. T. Frutt, B. Roth, H. Miller, H, L. Kirtz and J, Schullinger. ——— A Mecting of Omaha Scotchmen. There will be a meeting of Scotchmen in Kaufman's hall, 1816 Douglas street, this evening at 8:30 o'clock for the purpose of or- mnlx:n( aclan of the Order of Scottish | in Omaba. 'The committes having the matter in uhugs request all Scotchmen and those of Scotch descent to be present. —— A Sad and Budden Death. M. J. Dowling, city passenger agent of the B. & M. road, recéived o telegram at 10'clock yosterday from Chicago notifying him of the very sudden death of bis sister, Mrs. J, N, l Hickey, The sad messago was sont to her husband and rond as follows : “*Wnen I awoke this morning 1 found Bes- sio dead by my side.” Mr. Dowling left on the 4 o'clock train to attend the funeral. Not over four weeks ago he was present at her wedding. So far as kaown the lady was well and hearty when she retired Saturday night. o " ) BY A Witk The Motor System Unites the Two Omahas, A fairer, brighter Sunday fn this season of the year could not have boen desired to signalize the advent of the motor cars to South Omaha. The temporature was almost that of an 1deal day in the sprirgtime and thousands of people took advantage of it and spent the day outdoors. When a motor line is extended to a section of the city which hias hitherto boen without such an accommodation, the first Sunday after the opening of the accommodation is generally a red letter day in the records of the company. It was such yesterday in the estimation of the motor people, Six trains were put upon the line. These ran at intervals of fifteen minutes and made very rogular trips, Notwithstanding that the track is stil in an imperfect con- dition, the speed attained, especially on the down grades, is somewhat remarkable, It occasioned univorsal expression of ap- preciation and congratulation bocause of the rapid communication which 1t showed to be possible between the Magic City and Omaha, lvery car was loaded both in going to und returning from South Omaha, aud it fro. quently happened that the trains were com pelled to pass people on the strect without stopping, und compel them to wait for the next ono, It is estimated that not less tha ten thousand people rodo on the new li and the number is sure o increase wivh each succeeding Sund; The advantage which tho motor cars af- ford, namely of conveying people to the heart of the city, will have a serious effect upon the dummy traffic, and be of incalcula. ble benefit to the citizens of both cities. Jot e e The Result of a Drunk. .James Dugan was arrested yesterday morning charged with ooing drunk and breaking into a store. He will plead guiity the former charge, but the latter will hardly Dbe substantiatad, as ho merely went through au open doorway of a Sixteenth street furni- ture store hunting a place to sleep. This is the secoud timo that the police have dis- covered the building open, and last night the safo was not even touched. Asivihoegoene ) Charged With Arson. James Marshull, a man lhving on the bot- toms, was arrested yesterday morning charged with arson, Marshall claims that s brother, who lives on the bottoms near Fourth street and the river, owes him 8175 which he refuses to pay. On Saturday nignt James got drunk and in order to get even, 80 it is charged, set his brotner's house on fire. The damage to_the bnilding was very slight, but it may result seriously for James, AMUSEMEN “The King’s Fool” opera company sang to one of the usual Sunday night audiences at the Grand last night and the performauce was greatly enjoyed, Every seat in the house had an occupant and all the standing room was filled. The singers did their very best to please. Miss Maym Kelso appeared in Helen Bextram’s part, that of Prince Julian, and was much admired for the manner in which she carried it through. Both Miss Kelso and Miss Della Fox were the recipients of handsowe floral tributes. The fencing con- test between Miss Englehardt and Cap- tain Alford was more spirited, earnest and interesting than on the former occasion, and elcited several hearty rounds of applause. The result, after three bouts, showed two points in the lady’s favor, the score being 10 to 8, Loud calls were made by thechorus for Dick Berlin to referce the match, but he failed to respond, and then the audience shouted wildly for George T, Mills, thav gentieman also declined and Sandy Griswold was again pressed into ser- vice. Tho greatest specialty company in Amer- ica, the Boston Howard Athenaeum com- pany, will open its Omaha engagement at Boyd's opera house this evening, presenting a programme of vwelve special features. The Chicago Tribune said of thejcompany: *“This was one of the first companies to give a high class vaudeville performance in first class theaters, and 1ts phenomenal success has en- couraged hosts of imitators, Ida Heatn, the Irwin sisters and George Thatcher arc old favorites in this city, the other members of the compaay being Conroy and Fox, Wilson and Mora, Wood and _Shephard, M. Brunin, Dutch Daly, M. and Mile. de Blanche and and the wonderful Arabs, Abachi and Mazuz.” ——— A Brokea Wrist. Ex-Councilman Kaufman met with an accident on Saturday on Saunders street. A runaway team dashed into his buggy, throwing hum out. He sustained a broken wrist, CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT, OR MONEY. The Contest Going on For Colonel Saxton's Wealth. St. Joserr, Mo., Dec. 15.—|Special Tole- gram to Tre Brs.|—The logal heirs of the Iate Colonel Albert B. Saxton will file a pe- tition in the probato court tomorrow praying that his will bo sot aside in 80 far as R. U. Hendrik and Harry Saxton are concerned. Colonel Saxton bequeathed a large portion of his property to Mr, R. U. Hendrick, his | business partner, and to Harry Saxton, bis | foster son. 1t is estimated that his property 18 mnot worth less than §1,500,000, Col- | onel Saxton left a portion of his estate to his brother and sistor and hestowed $25,000 cach upon Missos wa and Anna Roberts, danghters of 7. C. Rob- erts and step-granddaughters of the de- ceased. He also mado amplo provision for the support of his aged mothor during her life. The proceedings to invalidate the will will be brought by the children of Mrs, Saxton, of whom there are four, us foilows: W. P.and John D. Flint, Mrs, T, C. Rol and another daughter, and by the fmme: relativos of Colonel Saxton. An_agroement has been entered iuto by these hoirs that the nprovisions of “the will far as they Are mentioned not be disturbed und the cou 1o divide the remainde; statutes prescribe, the will is to be co timo of her marriago to Flint ‘was the owner considerable property, consisting of land, farm stock and other personal effec Colonel Saxton was also possessed of quite large estate. It is claimed that an ante- nuptial contract was entered mto by which it was agreed that in the event of the death of either of them the other should become sole heir to any property of which the ono aying was the owner, and that upon = the death of tho survivor the property accrued by both should descend to their children, if any the 1 and that the children of Mrs former husband should participate in the inherit of the prope It is claimed that, th ntract, which was made prior to the marriage of the parties, was binding and that therefore Colonei Saxton could not lekrally make disposition of the property, as was sought to be done by the will. Itis further claimed that undues infiuonce was used over Colonel Saxton in making his will by the defendants to the suit, Able attor- neys have been employed by the plaintiffs, and as the estate is worth over 1,500,000 u very interesting legal fight is exvected. - unters Ris Pulpit. New Yor |Speeial Telegram to Tue Bek. | of expectancy ex- isted among the congregation of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church today when Rev. Dr. Rylance occupied the pulpit for the first time in five six months, he havinz recently returned from Europe, The suit which he brou against some of the trusices for slander is still pending, and 1t v assertel as many of the congregation believed tic charges made against Dr, Rylance were trae they would leavo tha church as scon as ho entered the pulpit. He preached today though as 1if pothing had happened, und aithough there was a large congregation no demonstra- tion of any kind was made. between them as the olonel Suxon, Mrs. in her own right of Dr. Ry et A Siberian Massacre. LoNDON, Dec. 15, —Roports have been ro ceived here of the massacre of Siberian ex- iles. The alleged party of exiles having hesi- tated, contrary to orders, in regard to the withdrawal of a petition wero attacked by the polico and soldiers. Six were shot dead, including a young woman. Nino were wounded. A~ court-martial _condemned those of the survivors to death. One of the wounded was carried to the gallows onabed. When the novse had been ad- justed the bed was removed. The friends of clare this to be the worst case in Siberian records, e A Surgical Operation on Barrett, New Yonrk, Dec. 15.—Arthur B. Chuse, manager for Lawrence Barrety, the tragedian, returned from Boston toduy and stated to a reporter that Mr. Barrett will undergo a surgical operation at the Massachusetts general hos- pital in Boston tomorrow. Barrett hus been troubled for several years with swelling of the thyroid glands. Of late the swelling has become extremely disfiguring. ehaa e No Quarrel With England. Lissoy, Dec. 15.—All the newspapers here in commeating upon the latest advices from Zanzibar express astonishment at their dis- tortion of the real facts of Serpa Pinto's doings inMakololand. The papers all de- clare there Is uo chanco of a quarrel with Eugland if Lord Salisbury deals jusily with the subject. e A Lucky Printer, A happy man today is the humble printer Franssens, by birth a Belgia domiciled and naturalized in Frauco, who has won the big prize of 500,000 francs, or £20,000 in the Exhibition lot- tery bonds, writes a Paris correspond- ent. Franssens is & married man with A Former Omana Bookkeeper Who Loes not Want to Return. CmicAGo, Dec. 15.—Charles T. Eckley, £aid to have been at one time a millionaire, was arrested here this afternoon charged with embezzling $3,000 from employers, Hay- den & Co. of Omaha, who hired bim us book- keeper. He will fight extramition. Since leaving Omaha he has been in Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, finally comng here. He worked for two wholesale gro- cery firms in this city ten or twelve years ago. S Captain Shepard Gets His Rewara. New Yonrk, Dec. 15.—[Special Telegram to Tur Bee.]—Commodore Bateman has re- ceived word from Secretary Windom that Captain Shepard of the revenue cutter Rush, which did such effective service in Alaskan waters, has been ordered to Washington to take the position of chief of the revenue marine division. ‘This is a position which no other oficer in the service has ever secured, it having always bown filled by a civihan before. Officers of the revenue marine of this city are pleased. Captain Shep- a is a very popular ofticer. It is underttood that the Influence of Com- modore Bateman had a great deal to do with the preferment, he baving been befriended by Shepard in the days of adversity, aund has since been his firm friend. e The Weather Forecast. For Omaha and Vicinity—Fair, followed by light rain, . Nebraska—Light rain, followed by clear- ing weather by Monday night, colder, north- westerly winds. lowa—Light rain, fair, warmer in eastern lTowa, colder in western lowa, southerly winas. South Dakota: Rain, followed by clearing weather, lower tem perature, winds shitting to colaer, northwesterly, fair and lower tem- perature on ‘Tuesday. e Mgr. Satolli On America, Loxpox, Dee. 15.—The Chronicle’s Rome correspondent says: Mgr. Satolll, in a long interview with the pope, gave an account of the good reception accorded him in America, He said he found the civil authorities will- ing to grant full liberty to Catholicism and expressed bis belief that the Washington goverument is favorable o sccrediting & diplomatic representative to the vatican. D McCorkle Gel Cane. CuarrestoN, W. Va, Dee. 15.~[Special Telegram to Tue Bee.]—W, A, McCorkle, who distinguishea himself a few days azo by slapping United States Marshal White in the frco for some offensive remarks about Jefferson Davis, and last night whipped Editor Rober for uncomplimentary criticisw, wis presented with & gold headed cane this evening ?y his admirers. —————— Another Lone highwayman. Nevapa, Cal, Dee. 15.—The stage from Downiesville was held up this afternoon near bere by alone highwayman., About §150 and five packages of registered mail were taken, The robber attempted to break open th e express box but failed, six children, and was employed in the TLahure printing works as a’ foreman. As a matter of form’ Franssens had in- vested a franc in thelottery and bought a ticket numbered 54,639, which he threw curelessly 1nto a drawer in his dwelling. On Al Saints’ duy the printer was at home idle, when he took up the list of lottery numbers, which had lately been published, and running his eyes over the seried battalions of black figures, he found that by a freak of fortune he was promoted suddenly to afuence. His first impulse was to execute a pas seul, but he restrained his choregraphic im- pulses, and ealling his wife and chil- dren around him he announced to them his good fortune, in which his partner refused to believe. M. Franssens ne hailed a cab und drove to the Credit Foncier, which was closed, 8o he had to return to his domicile in order todream of his sudden accession to wealth and the new prospects which it unfolded to his view. The secret was not long kept by Mme. Franssens after sbe had made sure that her husband had the winning ticket. She told all her friends and neighbors the tidings of great joy, and numerous calls were made upon her during the day. This morning M. I'ranssens received the official notice of his lucky haul, which he eannot, however, touch until December 1, His rize will not fall to himin its entivet, or he will have to pay a duty of 3 p cent, which will make a hole in his gross lot to the tune of 15,000 francs, or £ B Gas Mado Solid, A process of condensing natural gas has been inyvented and patented in An- derson, Ind., and is attracting wide- spread atteution, says Fire and Wale The great possibilities of it have at- tracted the attention of the Stundard oil company, and representatives of that corporation from Cleveland and New York have muade the inventor fattering propositions should the plan prove a success. According to Modern Light and Heat the inventor states that there can be no doubt as to the possibility of his process. He is now engaged in the construction of the necessary ap- paratus, and will lhfil"“{ give n practi- cal exhibition by reducing aquantity of natural gas into solid substance. The process itseil, as well as the muchinery needed to carry it out, is very simple. Gas when trunsformed into solid mat- ter is not dangerous to handle, Its ex- pansive force is very great, and when the substance becomes beated above a certain uefiree it will become very vola- tile and will burst an ordinary cask or can, but the effect is gradual and does not explode. The inventor claims that with @ ten-horse power engine he cau reduce euough gas in one day 1o sun- ply a city of 50,000 inhabitanis with fuel ,ur twenty-four bhours. 80 | shall will be asked | he ground upon which | ssted are that ab the | ok Noods Saxsapariia PARS Qo Dok Tho Chief Reason for the great of 1 suceo d's Sarsaparilla 18 found in the article It s Merit That Wins, and the fact rauparilla actuaily aceomylishos all that i claimed for it, has glvon this medi: cine & popularit 1 sals g r than any other sarsaparilia or blood purifise, Hood's Sarsaparilla 1s sold by drug- sts, ei5. Prepared by (. 1. lood & { Co., ries, Lowell, Mass, Give it s | trial, —_— JOSEPHUS DID IT, How the Golden Opportunity Camo toa Loan and Hungry Negro There wi a grocery just across from the depot, ud on & bench under the | window wero seven large watormelons, suys the New York Sun, A short, caaaverous-looking colored man sat on a bagguge truck looking across at the 3 After o biv one of our crowd wantered up to him and carelessly ob- ved: “*Some fine melons over there. *ODeed dev s, boss,” was the reply. ‘Do coloved folks cver cat water- melons? “Does dey? Docs dey eut water- mellyons! T should reckon to cousider dat dey did!” “1s that s0? How many colored men about your would it take to get away with one large melon? “How many? 5 pears to me No; U'm just over from England.” “Dat accounts. r doun’ know us. How many would ittake? You'd better ax how many mellyons would be wanted furone cull’d pussun nwmed Josephus Pardon.” “You don’t whole one?” “Doan’I? If T can’t cat the hull seben 'l go off in de swamp an’ die!” We chipped in to bhuy up the lot and give the man the golden opportunityol his life, The melons were brought over and laid ina row, and Josephus removed hat and coat and let out his leather belt three votches and sat down Wwith his back braced against a box. R-1-p! went the knife as he got the word, and the storm had burst. He cut the melon into four pieces, dropped the knife, and in just two minutes by the wutch nothing was left but a heap of rinds and a handful of sced. A second 13 rolled over to him and he gained five scconds on his other time, On the third he lost ten seconds and on the fourth nearly a minute. He cut the fifth, ate a quarter of it, and then stood up to inauire: f *‘Was it ’spected that T was to eat de hull seben right down?” **Oh, no. The idea "was many you could eat at ot “Well, Ize a_leetle disappinted my- self. I did believe I could git away wid de lot in ’bout half an hour, but Ize sorter fitled up on fo’. Reckon I hain’t feelin’ over well, an’ dat de dozen tur- nips I ate dis mawnin’ hev sorter held me off. If you would be so kind as to give me 'bout five minutes to finish de rest of dis, an’ den let me take ae odder two down dar in de bush by elf, 1'm o believin™ dur won't be nuthin’s left by sun high He soon finished the fifth, and then took & melon under each arm and made for a thicket down the track. Twenty minutes after he left the train came along, and as we rode past the thicket Josepus rose up with a solitary melon in his hands, bowed his tbanks and shouted: **Ize gwine ter do it, white man! It's de only one left, and Pll git away wid him befo’ you dun got down to Peters- 1 burg! meun you could eat a to see how » s Tt Reading Ruins the Sight. Bernard H. Blank, the Maiden Lane optician, has just returned from Eng- . land, wheve ho has been studying the question of defective vision, and has some_pronounced views on the subjeet. **We are rapidly,” snid Mr. Blank to a New York Star reporter, “becoming a spectacled nation like the Germans; and presumubly from the same cause— too much reading. Walk along Broad- way, from the Battery to Harlem, and you will find every tenth young man you meet, and every twentieth young woman weuring glasses, Thero aro more of them worn now than weve worn ten years ago, and there will be more still'ten years hence. Indeed, no one who shall live till then need be surprised it in lifty years from now people with glasses” will be as much the rule as thoy are at pres- ont the exception. The cause for this has been stated in newspapers and mag- uzines time und agnin—it is, in fact, told regularly once a weelk, and yet peo- ple will persist in reading in the cars, rcu(lling by geslight and reading too Th eternal reading wears what, for plain talking's suke, Lehall call.the sight, as well as the brightness of the eyos.” You don't see suvages or illiter- ate natiows with defective sight. It stands to reason that the jogging and jolting of the cars—the street cars espe- cially—strain the vision, which tries to grasp small letters and keep them in view, and it is absolute lunacy to read on the cars by poor gaslight. Still, people do it, and peaple at that who are shrewd and clever in the orainary af- fairs of life.” Absolutely Pure, This powdernever varies. A marvel of parit, strength and wholesomeness. More econout cal than the ordinary ginds, und cannot be 8ol in competition with the multitide. o Low aort Melghs s or phospliala punders. onl ey UYaAL Baking WU, a8 N, . o~