Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 7, 1890, Page 1

¥ THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. NINETEENTH YEAR OVER A HUNDRED CREMATED An Incane Asylum Horror at Longue Pointe, Near Montreal THE INMATES UNABLE TO ESCAPE Burning to Death Before Their Terror- tricken Companions and Attend- nts—Sights and Sounds Which Beggar Description. Loxare Poixte, Quebee, May 6.—A long Line of gaunt towers is all one now sees of the Longue Pointe lunatic asylum, located ten miles from Montreal, and which, with many lives, was today consumed by the flames. The sights witnessed in this tragic scene such s can never be forgotten, Nothing could exceed the horror attending the terrible calamity, considering the number of victims, the TERRIBLE NATURE OF THEIR DEATIT™ and the manner in which the helpless victims 1 their fate. What to the spectators was a scene of hor- ror was to the lunatics a moment of supreme glee, and in their delight they disported them- selves in the flames and waved their blazing limbs in era satisfaction at the ruin that was about them, and not until the walls tum- bled over their heads were their MANIACAL SCREAMS $iLENCED. There were incarcerated at Longue Pointe 1,800 lunatics, for that asylum was a prison rather than a Lospital, and now not more than 1,100 are accounted for, but many-cscaped in the fields and woods, and the dead a shes amongst the ashe: The number of the dead is purcly a matter of conjecture and ean neverbe ascertained, since no other record is kept than that in the asylum books and they are destroyed. Taking into consideration the whole of the evidence from the firemen, the: half-sane inmates and the sisters in charge, it is a conservative estimate tosay that 100 victims met their death, though some asscrt the number double that and othy place it below this figure. However, the fact remains that no such calamity has fallen upon the provinge of Quebec since the carliest times, Ever since Quebee was a province its man- agement of these most helpless creatures has been its shame, They ha )een farmed out to nuns at $100 a head per year and the sis- ters’ aimwas to keep them as frugally as possible. From the corstruction of the building there 1s doubt in some minds as to whether it was intended for an ASYLUM OR A T FURNACE. In any case, it served the latter purpose ad- mirably. It was constructed of brick and swas 600 fect long, running back from the river half the distance. The main building ovcupied the center and on each side extended four wings stories in height. The fire today was started in a cupboard in the second ward on the woman’s side in an upper story by a carcless patient, and as the veatilation was carried on by a longitudinal shaft connected with the towers, the flames soon uppeared blazing up through the roof in the center of cach tower, A telegram was sent to Montreal for aid and an englne and reels started at once. They might as well have remained at home, for in five minutes they EXTAUSTED THE WATER SUPPLY. The only thing that could save the building ‘was the St. Lawrence river, and it was half a mile distant. When an Associated press reporter arvived with the firemen the dome of one tower had Just fallen and the flames were bursting out everywhere, As the heat increased statues fell from their niches to the ground and then the in- habitants prostrated themselves, erying aloud that the saints had de: ed them indeed. Beds, furniture and utensils of every deserip- tion were showered from the windows and streams of ill-clud mon poured out of the eastern wing. Not & male patient was lost. Among the women it was different. The less hopele ca were placed in the lower wards, and they were removed without dificulty, but from the upper wards, where the violent pa- tients were secured, there came the wildest screams, as they resisted the nuns who were BESEECHING THEM TO ESCAPE, At & window a maniac would seen peering through the bavs, g ning und jabbering at the & bright flame that went up to the sky. As the heat became more intense she would grasp the bars and remain there until the flames en- veloped her. The inhabitants had come from all around, attracted by the hlaze and in an hour the little village was one surging mass of shouting, vociferating people, When the firemen found they were power- less to save the building they turned their at- tention to the inmates and burst in the doors with a Inside, Chief Benoit says, was such a sight as no fireman ever before wit- nessed. In one ward he entered were twenty- five patients, und at his approach the HUDDLED TOGETHER LIK entwining their arms into one mass. Heseizod the nearest, “but,” suid the chief, “I could no more separate them than I could 'the parts of your horsa,” He tugged at them until the five darted into their garments and enfolded them like a shroud of flames, and then he escaped with his life, In another ward three firemen were nearly trapped to death, They entered, and tho door, which had a spring lock, closed behind them. As is customary, there was no handle on the inside, The door resisted their axes and they rushed to the window, but were driven back by tho flames, ‘The chief, sus- pecting their peril, sent aid to the other side and the men were cavried down on ladders, The engineer of the building did good work, saving uine patients, and every fireman made @ record of which he may feel proud. On the first alarm the engineer turned on the hose, but if was utterly usel as the fire leaped along the ventilating shaft to the towers and burned in a dozen places at once, One of the nuns, Sister Ma lay sick in the infirmary on the fifth floor and to her res- cuo came three others, They scized their companion and bore her in a Dlauket to the staircase, but they were i MET BY A SHEET OF FLAME and all perished. Noue of them twenty years of ag The'sisters worked with the persistence of hetoin 8, by turns imploving, beseeching and commanding the patients, and finally saying in view of the inadequate be 9 were over s the superioress, is broken heurted, und being at present in il heal her panie may bo udded to the alrcady i list of victims, Y Drs, Bourqua and Baralet were carr from the building unconscious, and what must be said of the wanagement as & wigole, the individuals exercised every power to lessen the calamity they had neglected to avert, A LOUD EXPLOSI was followed by & crash of beams. tevior was giving way. Wild faces sank fron the windows and’” tho shrieks of maniacs were lost in the general uproar, and one by one the walls toppled inward and a fie hluze burst up from tho newly added fuel that rose to the dark sky and shot its glare over the St. Lawrence to' the southern shore and even tluged the crest of Mount Royal, ten miles distant. Then it died down nto bluckness, and nothing but a towers remained bounding the se The in- not the bodies, but the ashes of 100 victims. By this time it was 6 o'clock and growing durk and very cold, The spring rains hud the | converted the place into a quagmire, and only horsemen could get from p}llw- to place. The poor sisters, most of and delicate, stood ankle the mud securing and superintend- ing the removal of such furniture as had been saved, The patients wandered about aimlessly, clad in scant garments, When re- leased many of them leaped for joy and bounded like deer across |{.n flelds to the woods, Patients of both sexes aped and though a cordon of police was thrown round not all were included, and a horribly sug- gestive tale was borne in by an.inhabitant who was_coming through the woods to the scene of disaster, A NEW DREAD. has come upon the inhabitants from the pres- ence of so many escaped lunatics, and they will count themselves fortunateif they are not visited by a series of such crimes as only madmen can devise, All the time the fire was burning every high houso top in Montreal had its curious sightseers, ‘The long road was thronged with arriages, Tho transport service of Mantreal was pressed into and every availablo cab, omnibus and hack went out filled with people, mier Mercier has placed the Montreal exposition building at the disposul of the nuns. and tomorrow the buildings will be stocked with provisions, FIREMEN ASTONISHED. ngest wonder to the firemen is that hting facilities could tuem young deep in The stra such an absence of fir exist, Although the appliances were there. they were utter sless, The institution had excellent_engines, ten good pumps and new boilers, but no connection existed be- tween the pumps and the boilers, The Sisters of Providence spent in found- ing and organizing this institution $1,132,232, of which £760,000 spent on the buildings, The building was insured by the government for $300,000. With the exception of the medical depart- ment_consisting of doctors, the sisters tained complete control of all departments of the asylum. Later—At midnight the death roll is esti- mated at fifty, although many more are miss- ing, but they are expected to turn up. that seven tertiary nuns were burned, as three more are missing besides named above. They were not, however, seen in the flames and the sisters prefer not giving out their names, SE""I('LTH IN THE SENATE. The President, Cabinet and Other Dig- nitaries View Beck's Remains. WasmiNatoy, May 6.—The remains of James Beck, late United States senator from Kentucky, were borne from the residence of Representative Breckinridge fof Kentucky to the marble room of the capitol this morning. There the remains will be viewed by several hundred people before removal to the senate chamber, A number of *floral tributes were brought to the senate chamber and displayed on the clerk’s desk. Among them was a wreath of lilies and roses from President and Mrs, Har- rison. The scnate chamber was opened at 10:15, but owing to the rain and _the announcement erroncously made that admission would be by tickets the galleries were not filled at 12 o'clock when the scnate was called to order by President Pro Tem Ingalls, The floor of the chamber had been supplied with chairs for members of the house of representatives and other officials invited to attend the services, the pall bearers and members of the family with invited friends. - After the reading of yesterday's journal, Mr. Blackburn presented the order of cere- monies and it was read and entered on_the journal. Then, on motion of Mr. Morrill a Tecess was taken until 12:30, At12:30 President Pro Tem Ingalls called the senate to order, Fifteen minutes later the pall bearers and members of the house were announced and they were followed by the chief justice and associute justices of the supreme court, diplomatic corps, represented by Sir Juliun Pauncefote, the British minis- tér and the members of the Chinese, Japanese tions. President Harrison and the ed the assemblage, Short futo_the Goodloe, Se Goodloc, he family Affe the hearse by o ubor, following it came Mrs, or Beek's daughter, and Major husband, and the friénds of the es the coftin was horne to ail of the capitol police, The floor und galic n emptied of spectators, and at 1 te was de- clared adjourned until tomorrow noon, As soon as the services were concluded the rted for the depot Following 5 o the family and relatives, the president and members of the cabinet in’ car- and the members of the senate and the house on foot, after & wait of a few minutes, the casket was placed in one of the coaches of a special train which at § o'clock started for Lexington, Ky. Thatcity will be reached tomorrow at 9'0'clock and the funeral will take place Thursday: The House Adjourns. WasiINGTON, May 6.—Immediately after the reading of the journal the house took a recess until 12:15 p. m. After recess adjourn- ment was taken until tomorrow, to enable the members to attend Senator Beck's funeral, e e AMURDEROUS MOTHER. Mrs. Bresler of California Strangles Daughter and Sulcides. y Cal,, May 6.—Last night during the absence of her husband Mrs, T. A, Bres ler, soon after sending her little girls aged leven and nine to bed, went to the bed room and proceeded to strangle the older child, Tho younger one ran from the room pursuéd by the mother, still carrying the other child by tho neck, - Bhio did nof, drop 16 until it was dead and by that time the little daughter had managed to get a good start and reached o neighbor's house. The neighbors started back with her and Mr. Bresler came back about the same time, Mrs. Bresler wus found in the back yard in a pool of blood, haviug chopped in the front of her head with an ax. ‘The physiciuns say she cannot live. She was conscious, but would give no reason for the deed and is supposed to have suddenly gone insane, e A LETTER FROM HAWLEY, The Wisconsin Absconder Co His Guilt, Minwavker, Wis,, May 6. Berling, Wis., says @ received from Joseph M. Hawley, the absconding member of the banking firm of C. A. Mather & Co., which failed yes- terday, in which he confesses thut he appro- priated bank funds and lost ull in deals on the Chicago and Milwaukee boards of trade and in bucketshop speculation in stocks. ter written in_,Chi Saturday Hawly d ho was on his W } York and uld soon be on the ocean bound for Cuba, 1t will be some time before the asignee can make statement. In confession by Hawley the worst is f - ‘Clayton Investigation, Lirree Rock, Ark., May 6.—The Clayton committee heard & number of witnesses the most important one being Oliver esses A special from letter has been Bent- county suspects of having killed his brother. ley is the deputy sheriff of Conway and claims to have been In Mo rilllon on the night Clayton wi Killed at Plumm Today ho brought in papers o corroborate this elwm, Ohalrmon wey dictated to Bentley a letter recoived by the town marshal of Morrillton afteg the kill- ille. w broken | hing mass | of metal and debris, under which are now, | ing signed * the Ripper,” and containing ny dive threats. There was no similarity atever between the handwriting of the let- 1 that of Bentloy, Carvoll Armstrong today apologized to the committee for the strong language used by him lust night. - C Fremont Gets a F WasuiNatox, May 6.—The president has approved the act providing for & public i building at Fremont, Neb, . Bently, the man whom General Clayton | L OMAHA, WEDNESDAY |THE CAUSE OF THE DELAY.| New Fort Omaha's Location Too Costly by About $3,000, STATUS OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING. As Soon as the Site Title is Vested in the Government Work Will Begin - Fish Commis« sion Fight. WasmiNaroN Bureau Tin 513 Foun Wasmisaros, D. In response to a number of inquiries from Omaha as to the cause of delay in beginning work upoh new Fort Omaha, Representative Connell today called upon the quartermaster general of thearmy and learned that the delay was due to the fact that the cost of the site, sncluding the land necessarily condemned, ex- ceeded one-third of the appropriation, which is the limit under the law allowed to be ex- pended for that purpose. The excess is about £3,000, which it is presumed Mr. Clark will arrange satisfactorily to the government. The quartermaster general said he would submit a statement-to the secretary of war in a few days from which the exact condition of affairs could be seen, Mr. Connell also called at the office of the ing architect of the treasury and was informed by the architect that there will be a deficit of at least 1,000, not including com- ssions for disbursing the funds, in excess of the 6,000 already paid in by the bondsmen on thesite for the Omaha postofice. Mr. Windom stated that this would not necessarily delay action, as it was the purpose of the secretary. to at once tender the amount of award which would vest the title in the government, and for the deficit ho would look to the bond, and that when the exact amount is ascertained the district attorney will demand it. Mr. Connell was assuved that as soon as the title is complete in the government work on the plans will be commenced, Mr. Connell leaves on Thursday for his home at Omaha, arriving there on Saturda; He will remain there a week or ten days, re- turning to his_seat inghe house in time to vote on the taviff billand the proposed amend- ments THE TARIFF BILL, The tariff bill comes up tomorrow and the balance of this week will be consumed in general debate, Although the work in the committee of the whole under the five minute rule is to be limited to eight days, the understanding or impression is that the bill will not be finally passed by the house *till about Saturday, the 24th insty CONCERNING FORT SIDNEY. The secretary of war today wrote to Sena- tor Manderson as follow “In reply to your letter of the 24th ult, in- closing a petition from Mr. William J. Free- man and numerous citizens of Sidney, for the retention of Fort Sidney as a military post and expressing the hope that the post will be continued until the new Fort Omaha is fairly under way, 1 have.the honor to state that in my communication dated the 30th ult., sub- mitted to me by the major general command- ing the army on the subjzct of the abandon- ment of Forts Sidney and Bridger, he re- marks as follow 41t is not yet practicable to give the infor- mation upon which the abandonment of Forts Sidney and Bridger must depend. The meas. ure upon such action in part depends_can not yet be matured. Itis not propable that the garrisous of these posts can be provided for elsewhere earlier than the coming autumn.’* THE FISIT COMMISSION, The fish commission is making a desperate endeavor to prevent any change in its organ- ization or its methods of busin Copies of Senator Poddock’s bill transferring the fish commission to the agricultural department have been mailed with blank petitions to all the boards of tradein the countr ) associations and to private ividuals, wherever they can be reached, urging that the commission be not interfered with *‘be- cause any iuterference would certainly injure its usefulness.” The proposition to place thefish commission under the agricultural department came from warm friends of the commission and admirers of its work. It was the 1t of an attack made upon the commission in the senate, provoked by the dis v that s death of Prof. Baird the fish c been entirely without respon and reports through no exceutive department, of the government to congress, in this re- speet being singular and alone among all the bureaus of the government. This fact being brought out in a debate in the senate upon the urgency defici i enators on both sides of the led at- tention to this anomalous situation and an- nounced their intention of bringing in bills placing the fish commission, as is the case with every other bureau and commission in ‘Washington, under the head and control of an executive l\r'll,)m'l ment of the government, ‘When Senator Paddock’s bill was introduced it was certain that if the commission were not placed under the department of agricul- ture it would go to either the navy or the treasury departments, The assaulis, how- ever, which have been made upon th seem to be divected against any supervision of the fish commission by an executive de- partment of the government, Upon being examined by the senate com- mittee onagriculture, Marshall McDowell, the fish commissioner, admitted the propriety of a connection with' an_executive department through which estimates could be sent and recommendations for appropriations trans- mitted. He expressed @a preference for the treasury department, but made no defense of the independent position which the commis- sion now oceupies. The senate committee on agriculture will the bill favorably, with amendments providing that the fish commissioner shall be appointed by the S“‘.Nmm“- and not by the secrotary of agriculture, as called for in the bill as originally pr The charge of t oppase any tinter- ference,” us they call it, with the commission is that fo place the fish'commission under an exceutive department will at once throw it into the “cesspool of politics.”” It is answered to this that the geological survey, the coast and geodetic surveys and the lighthouse board, all of which are distinctly scientific bureaus, ave under executive departments and that their action is in no way impaired or their efficiency abated. RATION DILL The senate committee on agriculture ex- pected this morning to report the bill on which it has been working for the past three months for the proe ution of the adultera- n of goods and drugs, The delay was used by the necessity for further amend- ments to the clauses relating to the compound drug busin The bill, us drafted for the consideration of the committee and which followed closely the anti-adulterdtion bill, has been seriously objected to by a large number of the most prowinent and notable wholesale drug houses in the country and by proprietary medicine interests, on secount of the obscurity of cortain clauses which, in the opinion of those interests, might be' inter- preted unfavorably to them by the courts, enator Paddock has accordingly called upon wholesale drug dealers’ assoclations of al states to present in writing their suggestions for the amendment of that po tion of the bill which refers to compouude drugs, and it is expected that this will be re ived and the Dbill reported when the com- mittee meets next weel, today Senator Paddock ot of this bill is not to assail itimate industry nor to_interfere with auy honest dealer. 1ts object is to protect the consumer against fraud and to adulteration of food and drugs. The most reputable wholesale drug houses are entirely with the committee and the delay is simply to make such changes in the wording us will thoroughly protect honest dealers in these products from being placed in the same th category with dishonest dealers, and also to | make it certain *h t the patent medicine busi- uess shall nos assuilad ws some of its | wind prevent the | = MORNIN friends think it might possibly be under the bill now being considered by the committee.” WYOMING AND IDAHO COMING, It has been determined ' that the bills ad- mitting Wyoming and Idaho to statehood shall come up in the senate tomorrow, and the silver ccinage bill Wil go over probably till next weok. 'The statehood bills will pass as they came from the Senate and Wyoming and Idaho will likely be states within i week. Wi UKL ENONERATED, Colonel A, F. Wilgocki of Chadron, who was appointed as speefal agent for the census and was about entering upon his duties when he was suspended, has been exonerated from the chas prefested, and he will now tako his position. He presented a lot of afidavits from citizens of” Chadron disproving the charges in toto. It I8 believed the charges were the outgrowth of political feelings. ORDERED RELEASED, Some time ago, 80 it is understood here, a man named Rowand committed a murder in Montana. Despite the vigorous efforts of his counsel, who is @ brather of Governor Toole, he was sentenced to the penitentiary for life. The governor, it i$ 8aid, has been anxious to ardon him, but the board would not consent, Rowand's family, Canadians of wealth and prominence, got Sir John A. McDonald, the Canadian premier, interested in the case and he communicated with Sir Julian Pauncefate, the British minister, Sir Julian_has tatked the matter over with' Secretary Blaine, and tho result is o request from the secretary to the board of pardons asking as matter of international courtesy that’ Rowand be re- leased. Mrs. Rowand and two daughters are stoppiug here at the Hamilton house and haye done much toward bringing about this result. MISCELUANEOUS, Grace I. A. Bradley was today appointed ostmaster at St. Liborg, Howard county, Nebraska, vice Mrs. €, A. Latham, resigned, and J. Miller was appointed at Adelphi, Polk county, Towa, vice N. Johnson, resigned. D. C. Nicol has been appointed postn at Fairbank, Sully county, South Dakota. At London, Nehemah county, Mrs. Jean- netto Harding was recently appointed post- mistress, She did not want the _position and sentin her rosignation, Mr. Councll, ypon the request of most of the patrons of thé of- fice, has recommended the appointment of Mrs. Mary E. Sim. He has alsorecommended the appointment of J, L. Wind to be post- master at Walton, Neb, Nebraska farmers. continue to send into congress petitions against the proposed free sugar clause in the MeKinley tariff bill. They want tariff protection for Nebraska beet sugar interests and oppose a bount; Perry S, HeaTH, gl T ILLINOIS REEBLI(. NS MEET. The Next State Convention. to Be Held at Springfield. Cuicaco, May 6.—~[Special Telegram to Tur Bee,]—There was an immense attend- ance of western politicians at the meeting of the republican stat¢ central committee of Tllinois in this city today. A great many of ‘the well known state politicians were at the hotels yesterday, but this morning the number of republican lead- ers present was trebled. The new comers arrived on every train that reached the city during the forenoom, and they came from every county from the lake to Egypt. Old war horses who have been fighting for party success since the days when Lincoln was on the stump mingled'in the hotel corridors with the young bloods who are now learnlng their first lesson in politics. Probably two hundred men who are recog- nized as notable among Tllinois republicans were_in the ladies ordinary when General Martin called the “loye feast” so called, to order. A great many topics were discussed. The leading subject wag the time fov holdidg the convention. It:makes n great deal of difference this yem the convention is early or laté, and meémbers arguo both ways. The reafon why is explained* when the name of , ex-Governor mer is menticned, The republicans belicve it is assured that the sturdy campaigner will re- ceive the endorsement of the democratic con- vention that meets June 4 at Springfield. They also believe that when once he com- mences the fight it will be aggressively forced all along the line. There was no attempt to deny the situation, but no one expressed any fears that with good management Illinois will not roll up the usual republican majority fall, ommittee discussed the advisability of placing Cook county in the hands of the state committee, as New York city was placed in the hands of the national committee in the campaign of 1888, but no definite action was takel Many favor the change because it is believed the fight will be most bitter in Chicago. Several prominent republicans from out- side the state were Yl‘est‘nlr, and among them was General Russell A, Alger, commander-in- chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. General Alger shook the hand of almost every soldier republican in_the ci He said'he had no special political mi in Chicago, but only wished to express his good feeling to the Iliinois men. He was accom- panied here by Mrs. John A. Logan, and the visit was evidently in the interest of his boom for the presidency. ‘Among the other 'prominent republicans present were General Raum, commissioner of pensions; Senator Farwell, comptroller of the treasury ; A. C. Matthews, ex-gcvernor, and ex-United States Senator Oglesby and scores of leading uh'}ullltichms. The meeting of the committee was a most harmonious one and the reports showed the condition of of the party to be good in all parts of the st s Springfield was selected without opposition as the place for holding the state couvention. - Unitarian Ladies 1n Session. Cnicaco, May 6.—[Special Telegram to Tune B —The ninth annual session of the women’s w rn Unitarian conference was held in this city today, The session opened with an address by the president, Mrs, Vi toria M. Richardson of Princeton, 11l Miss Florence Hilton, the secretary, reported that the society had 352 members, twenty wom- en’s societies and four branch associations, The object i gl dom, fellowship and chas to successfully accomplish this obje have been formed for the study of hi and religion. In addition to_the classe postoffice missions and Sunday home ¢ have been established. During the year en home circles have been establishedand tracts and religious pap distributed, Miss Francis LeBaron of Elgin and Mvs, M. Savage of Cooksville, Wis., of the national committee gave repoits of 'the national post- oftice mission. The pestoftice mission sends lettors, tracts, books aud other public: to localities where ‘there are no chu 5 Miss LeBaron said there were ninety locali- ties, each of which’ distributed about two thousand publications which were read und transferved until they were worn out. Tho remainder of the sesslon was devoted to the reading of y the dele: gates from sixtecn weste This aftc noon the labors of the conf closed, S ) i Nebraska ana lowa Patents, WasiINGTON, May 6 Pelogram to Tue Bre Patents were issued today as follows; Dewitt B Brace, Lincoln, Neb., dynamo electric middne; Edward J, Calla- han, Omaha, dumping wagon; William I r, Dubuque, In., wood working ad 1 Friend, Neb,, . Fiifled, Dubuque, 1 Fletcher, Blue Spring Neb,, windmill; Harman H. Frenzier, Alli ance, Neb,, havrow; Eugene Gertanor, Colum- bus, ., book butting machine; William Rinehold, Danbury, la, chain for whif- flotrees; Riley H. Sargent, Walwortn, Neb wheel attachment; Burchard H, Siefken, Omaba, sponge holder, - Capital Punishment Retained. Ausaxy, N. Y., May 6.—The senate judi clary committee this afternoon, by a vote of Tto?2, Yf\llp(in‘l Indefinitely the Curtis (l"n n:’nh\-h @pital punishment, thus killing a0 bill. G, ter couy ink stand; Louls A. (AL e, Stanley Goes to Windsor Castle, Loxvox, May 6. —Stanley went to Windsor castlo today by the queen's command and Was given au sudience by her majosty, ma- | MAY 7, 1800 AN EXPERIENCE MEETING | Presidents of Western Lines Hold a Very Communicative Session, THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR TROUBLES, Passenger Agents Convene and Try to Reorganize the Western States Passenger Association. Cnioaco, May, 6.—[Special Telegram to Tur B ]—The presidents of the western lines had a regular old-time experience meot- ing today. They told all about their troubles with each other, on what points they disa- greed and in one or two isolated s nc- knowledged a shortcoming of which thoy were guilty befdre the interstate commerco act law camo into effect. In twine, lumber, grain, cattlo and packing house product rates were discussed and each of the pre dents took a turn at showing just where™ his competitors had struck below the belt and where his line had an underhold which it proposed to keep. The meeting was unique in every way. The presidents yesterday del- egated to the general managers of their roads the authority to meet Thursday and organ- ize an association and advance rates to the old basis. This was cven more than they themselves had met to do, but, not satisfied with this, they met today and will again tomorrow to discuss their grievances, Many of the general managers beingin attendance on the presidents’ meeting will render unnecessary the threshing overof much old straw by them at the Thursday meeting. For this and especially for a thor- ough understanding of the rate troubles the meeting is a valuable one, but not a resolu- tion was passed except the one to adjourn until tomorrow. While the presidents of the western rafl- roads were holding their experience meeting the general passenger agents of the same lines were holding a meeting. The passenger men met to reorganize the Western States Passen- ger association, and as a consequence to passenger rates to the basis in effect before the present war began. The proposed agreement, alveady formulated at previous meetings, was copsidered, seetion by section, and at the close of the meeting this afternoon not one had been considered which had not been passed unanimously. It is thought the agreement will be finished to- morrow. The only hitch in the proceedings was the statement of Assistant General Pas- senger Agent Eckstein of the Wisconsin Central, that his line would insist on the dif- ferential which it has demanded on St. Paul business, This statement was havc pected, in view of the fact that the Wis sin Central is part of the Northern Pae and a terminus of a vast and ostensibly first stem. A caucus of the remaining déveloped that under no circumstances would the diffeential system be introduced in the west, and all the lines agreed that if necessary they would jznore the Wis- consin Central from the association and fight the Wisconsin Central at every poiut_ until it was forced to drop its demand for a diffeven- tial. This fight, should it come, involves a rate war on the Northern Pacific's Portland and Puget Sound business by the Union Pa- cific, which will be extremely interesting. The Iowa Joint Rates, 4 Des Moixes, la, May 6-—[Spacial Tel- egram to Tue Bee.]—Several days ago the Western States Traffic association at Chicago appointed a committee to meet with the Towa railroad commissjoners and see what arrange- ments could be made concerning the new railroad law for low rates. This law empow- ers the commissioners to make out joint rates at a sum mnot to exceed what the rate would be if it were for one continuous haul over the same That committee, consisting of Fish of the Milwaukee road, Solicitor W, of the Rock Islund and Solicitor Blythe of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, met, the com- missioners today. They proposed that a test ¢ be made up for submission to the state supreme court on the question of the consti- tutionality of the luw, and if it should be de- cided adversely to the stateit could be carried to the United States supreme court not later thanthe October term. The commissioners, after discussing the proposal,” declined, “They said it would look as if th were trying to tie up the law so as to delay its enforcement. Ty old the committee that they (the com- missione should have to go ahead and order the joint vates, and if the railroads re- sisted would then take the matter into the courts, and thus test it. ‘The committee also proposed that the railroads should voluntarily put in joint®rates where they thought public interests would be served if the com- missioners would agree to a test case for the other applications, But the commissioners refused, so it is understood that the railroads will refuse to put in the joint rates and will fight the law on the ground that a compulsory partnership between two or move roads is un- constitutional. Rates on Packing House Products, Cuicaco, 11, May 5. —[Special Telegram to Tue B 'he southern connections of the Chicago and Ohio river lines have raised es 4 cents on packing house products to Carolina points, This renders nugatory the 4-cent reduction in these rates made by the o and Ohio viver lines to meet the r duced rates of the western lines from Kansas City to southern poin The Chicago and Ohio river lines are now in the position of Laving thrown away 4 conts per 100 on valu- able trafic and would go back to the old tariff if their southern conunections would muke a corresponding reduction, The Chicago & Atlantic Sale, Cuicaco, May 6.—Special Telegram to Tus Bee.]—The Chicago & Atlantic road will be sold August 12, and by September 1 Receiver Malotte will be ready to turn over the prop- erty to the buyer. President King of the Srie, which road will buy the Chicago & At- e, is i 1go and oxpresses himself as pleased at My, Malotte's veceiyership, The road has been vastly improved in every s the Chicago division of the ) I be a much g than formerly, Pr retain Receiver Malotte as general manager of the Chicago & Atlantic, but as Mr. Malotte is already o twico millionaive and has large railroad and banking inte in Indian- apolis, it is doubtful if he can secure his ser- vices, Went Back on Their Liberahty, KaNsas Ciry, Mo, May 6.—[Special Tele- gram to Tne Bee, ]—The Sunta Fe railroad, under its new { management, on tho first of the y sed the salaries of all ofco men from # to 850 @ month, The announcement was happily received by railroad men all ov the countr'y, and the libevality of the Santa me proverbial. An order has now od restoring the old salavies and commanding the men to refund all of the in. crease received since January 1, To a num ber of the men this leaves thein in debt tothe bill | compuny. Itis a cascof either pay or quit Sec f men have contracted new schemes and laid new plans based on the increase in : order almost ruins them. The indignation und excitement is great, Fifteen Million Will be Expended, New Youk, May 6.—A contract has:been cntered into by the Wyoming and Pacific im provement company by which $15,000,000 will be spent in building a railroad from Si City to Ogden, Utah, a distance of 500 miles, and Mr. Steacy has been awarded the cou- | tvact for the work A Big Railvoad Deal. Lins, O, May 6,—Au important deal was - T | made | | lish | ve her” ropresentath synd New York, G C. Fauratof th % signed a ¢ building 1 s of the national railroad from Deming, Topolabampo Bay, on the Pacific' coast. amount involved a wealthy Eng- Major Tuss of Chi i itract for n Inter M., to he sses the Members n the Needs of Legislation. Beruiy, May 6.—The refchstag was opened today by the emperor in p In his speech from the throne his majesty hoped it would be practicable at tho present session to solve the important and pressing questions which would como up for considera- tion. He wanted above all things to effect further legis fngmen, Th rson. strike movements during the past year had suggested an i nation” of the question whethe law or the existing organizations ad 3 took into consideration thoso wishes of the workingmen which were justifiablo and capable of realization, The questions claim- ing the foremost attention were those of Sun- day rest and women's and children's labor. ‘I'he emperor continu it solicitude for workmen will constitute the most_effect- ual means by whicl to strengthen the sources with which Tand my cxalted all are resolved to oppose with unbending deter- mination any attempt_to disturb tho legal order of things. In effecting these reforms only such measures will come up for consid- eration as can be carried out without endan- gering the industry of the fatherland, Our industry only forms a link in the work of the nations competing in the world's markets, I have therefore made a point of going about | among the Kuropean states whose cconomic position is of the same character, for an cx- change of v rding the joint recogni- tion of the workingmen, I most gratefully acknowledge the favorable recept o of my suggestions by ned. adopted by therecent labor | conference in Berlin expressed the common views on the most important field of work and culture of our time: 1 do not doubt that the principles laid down’ in those resolutions will' form the seed, with God's help, from which will spring np happiness. The wor! ing men will be blessed by its fruit,whichwill l)Al! harmonious relations between all the peo- ple.’” : Referring to the foreign relations of Ger- t, At his efforts were uncéasingly divected toward the m of peace. The veading of the emperor frequently interrupted by cheers, After the del! peech, Chancellor von Caprivi de Chstags open, The members innige party laid a motion on the table, demanding t bill be passed reducing the corn duty to 3 marks per double quintal, abolishing the beet root tax and the export aud withdrawing from the distille ting privileges relating to Cand finally de- manding a gene riffs with a view to the aboiition of the corn and cattle duties and the reduction of the duties on other articles of general consumption, es- pecially farm produce, The socialists will introduce a bill for the immed of the corn duties, The bill fixes the peac at 456,783 troops, exelusive of o teers, After October 1 the arm, of 538 battalions of infantry, 4 quadrons of valvy, 434 field batterics, 31 batteries of ‘00t, 20 pioneer and 21 train hattalions. The non-recurving expenditures entailed by The new measures amount to 31,500,000 mark: The increase in the yearly expenditures is 15,000,000 marks. . ntenance specch was force olun- will consist The: Tagblatt Comments, BerrniN, May 6.—The Tagblatt,commnenting on Emperor William's speech, suys: *It is significant that it shows no intention to main- fuin socialist laws.] His~ views on the duties of government must be approved everywhere. The scope of the measures to protect worl ingmen is limited by the avowal that many’s industrial activity willnot be affected, ore the workmen’s interest will not be ed. The radicals, animated by pate al, will be willing to grant all that is required to strengthen the country’s defensive forces,” ——— SENATE SILVER COMMITTEE, Bill With Amendments Will 1 to the Caucus. WasHINGTON, May 6.—An effort was made by the senate republican silver committee to agree upon a silver bill to be reported to the caucus, Three of the thirteen members were absent. The ten present, together with Sen- ator Stewart, who was invited to take part in the proceedings, after a discussion lasting nearly three hours, decided to report to a to be held some day this week the cported by Senator Jones from the finance commiitee some weeks ugo, with amendm One of the amendments strikes out a provision reported in the bill that notes issued for the purchase of bullion when redecmed shall be cancelled, and instructs the secretary of the treasury to reissue them, with the proviso that the amount outstanding shall not at any time be in_exc of the amount paid out for the bullion deposited, Another amendment is an addition to the sixth section of the bill adopted by the house caucus, which provides for covering into the treasury about $70,000,000 of lawful money now held for the redemption of national notes, The Jones bill directs the of the treasury to purchase monthly silyer bullion to the value of #4,500,000, the notes in ‘payment thereof to b redeemable in - luwful Jones be: Repor Senator Mitchell stated that while person- he was in favor of the free coiuage of crhie belioved the measure—the bullion demption clause having been omitted—to be frec from hny vicious principle, and one that if adopted would ultimately ledd to free colunge, In this Senator Teller agreed. Opposed to House Pension Bills, Wasiisaroy, May 6.—A meeting of the senate committee on pensions was held today at which the Morrill disability and the s vice pension bills combined, substituted by the house for the senate dependent pension bill, was considered. Formal action was postponed until the next meeting of the com- mittee, . It is understood that opposition to the house measuro wus unanimous aud that the committee will recommend that the sen- ate non-concur in the action of the lower body. —— Novel Breach of BARNSTABLE, Mass., May 6,—[Special Tele- gram to P'ne Bep.]—In the superior court today was begun a breach of promise suit for £50,000 damages, brought by Mrs, Eliza B, Dally against William M. Atking, both of Provincetown, Tho plaintiff is sixty-eight vs of age, while the defendant is seventy- two, and the wealthicst resident of Provines town, The plaiutiff claims that defendant proposed marriage; that she accepted, but that after she had prepared her wedding tros- sean defendant deniad that any engagement had been made, The defense “closed its case toduy and the court udjourned until ton row. mise Suit, Got the New CiicaGo, May 6, ex-Licutenant reach his relatives at morning. His wife, who has been an invalid for a long time, got the first news from a orning paper, faintedguw \ reading the announcement and wad revived with difi culty, She is gratly prostrated The republican st itedl committee passed resolutions of enlogy und extending to the fwally profound sympathy iu their affliction, HLHE from a Pap, fact of the death of Shuman did not anston, 1L, till this ruon - Church Members in O CmicaGo, May 6.—The trouble in the Hum boldt Park Evangelical church, growing out of asplitat the late conference, came up in police court today. ) William Sod man and Edward Hiutz weve fined §100 cach rurt, | for forcibly ejecting Pastor Vetter from the » | pulvit tion required to protect | tion for the protection of work- | > | that the terrible sccnes of stavy: | | mines of Kilpatrick Brothers & Cc =8 NUMBER 317 ERS GOING OUT, | Thirty Thousand Men Likely to Lay Dowm Their Tools, STARVATION SURE TO FOLLOW, Tne Carpenters and the BDosses Sign Articles of Agreement—Atehi- ¢ son Tailors Strike-Some Gotham Gains, Crzcaao, May 6.—Special Telogram to T | Bee ]It is evident that the miners of the Tllinois flelds are going on a strike, just as they did last May, and thero is every prospect ion and sufs fering of last summer in the mining seetions will be re-enacted this season, The present troubles arise from strikes for better wage terms. About fifteen thousand have already struck and there is a prospect ,000 will go out within a fow days un- less tho difficulties ave settled. During the miners' strike last season the people of Chicago and the surrounding ci contributed about five hundred tons of pr visions and forwarded the samo to the famil- fes of the miners, Had such not been done hundre if not thousands, would have died of starvation, As it was, the death rate was greatly increased and there was untold suffer- ing. The Illinois low wages miners receive on account of the competition in this market from In- dm[ , Ohio and Peunsylvania, where Hune garians, Poles and other nationalities have supplauted the American or English-speaking workmen. The present strike will find 10,000 milies, in which there are at least 30,000 small children, in destitution and want before a week's idleness ensues, A. L. Sweet, the head of the ( Mino Owners’ association in the northern distric state, said today that there were 000 men out, who demanded an inereaso of nts o ton. He claims that tho operators nnot possibly grant the demand. 1t will be remembered that a year ago or less when the last strike was settled the miners ask an increase of 10 cents a ton and got cents, The 7'4 cents now de- manded is just the part of the demand of last year which they wera compelled to forego. It is true that castern competition is so great in the soft conl field that Illinois oper- ators cannot increase present wages and make a profit, and yet the Illinols miner is working on_ starvation wages. This is owing to the competition of Hungarian labor eme ployed in the eastern soft conl mines. very, ormally Scttled. Cmieaco, May 6.—[Special Telogram toTrm Brr.]—The signing of a written agrecment by both sides has finally settled the earpen- ters’ strike on the basis ugreed to a couple of weeks ago, but the industrial sky is by no means cloudless in other diveotions. Affairs on the Black road are beginning to have an ominous look aud the police are mak- ing preparations fov trouble, President, iley of the malleablo iron works has abso- refused to grant the demands of the men for a uniform day of ten hours, 10 per cent inerease in pay for rvegulne work and 50 per cent inérense for overtime, None of the 1,100 employes went-to work this morning, as the union had declared a_formal strike in the- big wovks. A lavie majority of the steikers are Hungarians, Poles and Bohemains, who- ae very violent in their utterances. Tho ‘strike fever is rapid] throughout the district. The plants of tho iriffin car wheel company and of Barnum & Richardson are idle and the Wells, French & men went to work spreading morni he men strike at McCormick's or s00n have to shut down, suflicient supply of ivon, be true of the Deering w “The ovder for a coopers’ strike at the stocl yards has heen but partially obeyed. This morning most of the men were' at work. Ahout five hundred men in all ave idle, In an address to the public by a joiat arbi- tration committee, the statement is made that a fair cstimate of 1oss tothe city by the strike will not fall short of 81,000,400 per week, be- sides causing much suffering to thousands ot~ cther thero Is . not s will cannot, got a. id to | men, women and chilaren. Tailors Strike. TemsoN, Kan., May 6. [Special Telegram to Tur Ber.]—There is excitement in mer- chant tailoring eircles today on account of a. strike ordered by the journeymen’s union inst tho shops that vefuso to acc of prices submitted tods have signed and thoirmen ave at work. objection to tho scale is that it permits the employ of only one man in a shop by the week, sven More Capitulate. W Yok, May 6.—Seven more shops to- day gave in to the striking carpenters, and it is belioved the strike will be ended in’ a fow days, as there ave only a few shops still hold- ing out against the men’s demands, Struck for Higher Pay. Ciicaco, May 6.—About one hundred em s of Andrews 0., manufacturers of »sks and office fittings, struck today for an advance of wages, —_——— HE €URSED THE JUDGE, A Condemned Criminal Raves Wildly and Falls In a Pit, Cixeisyatr, 0., May 6.—[Special gram to Tur Bie) -Judge Schrod Dailiffs, the jury aud all the spectat. in the criminal court room yestevday started to their feet and gazed at Joseph Morris, a sixty- year-old man whouw the judge had just sen- tenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary for attempted criminal - assault upon seven-year- old Estella Spinner. Morris sprang before the judge, and with oaths und hnprecations cursed the court. He prayed the judge might rot in the street, decluring him unjust. He then turned on the spectators, but before he had said half a dozen words he turned blac) in the fuce and fell headlong at the judge feet. He was carvied out and this morning is in a precarious condition, A Visit to Wyoming Mines, EweastLe, Wyo., Muy 6.~ [Specinl 1 gram to Tue Bree.]—An excursion party, cor sisting of Governor Warren, the leading stockmen of Wyoming and B, & M. oftle arrived at 2 o'clock. They visited the famous ins this on and expressed themselves in terms ation at the largo deposits of coal and the lmmense plant of the company, which 18 unequalled in the United Statds. The party s being entertained and bans quetted under the auspices of the board of trade, Tomorrow they visit the Black Hills on their return to Cheyc R . Hlinois A, O, U, W, Quixoy, 11k, May 6,—The fifteenth annual Tele- r, the | Master Wilcox shows i weeting of the Ilinols Grund Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen convened this morning in this city and will continue in session three days. ‘The report of d nine new lodges sineo muking u total of 325 in the gate membership of the last session stute, with an 20,00, - e Weat For Omaba and vicinity Nebraska and Towa: Warmer, fair, varl > winds; warmer, faiv weather Thursday puth Dakota: Wurmer, fair, winds bee coming southeriy . QU Fair weather.