The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 27, 1895, Page 1

" VOLUME LXXVIIL_NO. 180, SWEEP OF THE STORM Sticky Snow Caused a Big Wire Blockade in Chicago. ALL LINES ABANDONED. Street Transportation Tied Up and a Series of Minor Dis- asters Reported. DAMAGE TO THE SHIPPING. At Cincinnati a Resident Was Fright- ened to Death by the Violence of the Gale. CHICAGO, ILL., Nov. 26.—This morning found Chicago cut off from all telegraphic communication with the outside world, and with very uncertain and inadequate means of transportation not only to other cities, but to its own suburbs. The steam railroads were blocked with drifts of wet snow, while the cable lines made little y against the frozen slush, and the trolley wires of the electric roads lay in tangled masses in the streets. shutting off the motive power on the cars and men- acing the lives of men and horses. The telegraph and telephone companies threw up their hands and admitted that thev had gone out of business—tempo- rarily at least—and even the fire-alarm nes, which are carefully guarded nst any ordinary contingency, had gone down in the general wreck, and orders were carried to the various engine-houses by messengers. There had not been such a general de- ion of telegraphic and intra- railroad communication since 1888. The trouble was due to a combination of rly unfavorable weather conditions. began falling Sunday night. It was | of that peculiar putty-like consistency | which caused it to stick to evervthing it | touched as if applied with a whitewash br On Monday morning there wasa | thick coating of this sticky substance on | the walls of bmldings, on the sides of | streetcars and on the clothing of pedes- | trians, while the wires of the telegraph and telephone companies and the copper conductors of the trolley lines bad begun | to assume the sbape and size of new ag! manilla cables an inch in diameter. Under foot the situation was even W The trampled slush was a foot deep at the street intersections and tho sewer openings, blocked with mud and debris since early in the fall, did noéthing toward carrying off the surface water. The sidewalks were slippery and the un- wary pedestrian who stepped on a coal hole cover was sure to find himself on his back in a mass of indescribable stuff of a dirty grayish color. Teams of horses | floundered and splashed through the half- | m d snow and the snow-sweepers of the streetcar lines contributed their quota to the general unpleasantness oy piling up great windrows of slush in close proximi to the sidewalks and over the street cros: ings. Asthe day wore on the thermome- ter ro ightly, with the effect of making the streets even more impassable, and toward evening a storm of mingled rain and sleet set in. The situation had thus become about as disagreeable as it well could be; but the actual damage was yet to come. About 6 o’clock the rain and sleet ceased, and the sticky snow again made its appearance. The temperature also fell perceptibly and | the snow froze to everything it touched as | it fell. The telegraph, telephone, trolley | and electric-light wires, already loaded almost to the breaking point, rapidiy in- creased in disaster, and as the wind rose toa velocity of forty-five miles an hour spans swayed, wavered and finally gave way, falling into the streets, blocking all travel ana threatening death to passers-by. Telephone wires broke under the strain and fell across trolley lines. Great flashes of vicious-looking blue and green fire snapped in the air at the point of contact. Ten-inch sparks cracked and sputtered in the tetephone exchanges and drove the operators away from the switchboards in the telegraph offices. * Hello” girls screamed, superintendents swore, fusible plugs melted like wax, and before 10 o’clock the telegraph and telephone sys- tems were at a standstill to all intents and purposes. At midnight both telegraph companies admitted that they were abso- Intely cut off from every point on their respective systems. As for the transportation systems within the city, they gave the fight up at an early hour, and, except in a few instances, suburbanites were compelled to walk long distances or remain at the downtown hotels over night. Up to midnight twelve inches of snow had fallen, the greatest quantity for any twenty-four hours of November for twelve years past. Meantime the wires continued to tumble. * A Milwaukee-avenue cable-car ran into a broken telephone wire at Robey street. In an instant the trolley current heated it white hot and the passengers rushad from the car, while the motorman dragged the dangerous wire from the pole and threw it into the street. At Thirty-first street and Calumet avenue a red- hot wire was drawn up to a pole and fastened withropes. AtTwenty-sixth street and Cottage Grove avenue and at South Park avenue half a dozen wires writhed and twisted in the air, sending out green eparks as they touched each other. All along West Twelfth street wires charged with death hung in the air or wriggled along the ground. At the inter- section of Chicago and Milwaukee ave- nues a tangle of wires were down in the middle of the street, emitting sparks and blocking all traffic. All the switchboards and instruments at the police stations el_e;tric wire of any kind in working con- dition throughout the city. All had either been disabled by the storm or had been rendered harmless by the cutting off of the current as a matter of precaution. As for the streetcar lines, they made slow work of clearing their tracks, and toward noon cars were running after a fashion on most of the lines. A singular feature of the storm was the suspension of traffic on the West Side elevated roads. Both the Lake-street and the Metropolitan lines were compelled to discontinue travel for several hours. The trouble, of course, was not caused by snow, but by the fallen telephone and telegraph wires that lay across the tracks at many points. The Metropolitan L, which employs electric- ity as a motive power, was in a still worse conditioy. The fallen wires had come into contact with the charged rail and robbed it of its current, Jeaving the motors useless. It was not until late in the day that all the obstructions were removed and the roads resumed operations. Nearly all trains running into Chicago are late to-night. The Illinois Central passengers from sthe south which should have reachea Chicago at 1 this after- noon, is not expected until 12:55 to-night, and the Big Four train which comes into the same depot is forty minutes late this evening. The following is a report re- ceived from some of the principal lines: Lake Shore and Michigan—No. 15 arrived late. Trains to-night reported on time. Only one wire working. Afchison, Topeks and Santa Fe—Trains hirty minutes Jate all along the line. Wires n fair condition. Baltimore and Ohio—New York limited, 1:30 late to-night. Local trains three to four hours late. No wires all day Chicago, Burlington and Quincy—Trains running on senedule and on fair time. Wires all down. Grand Trunk—Wires all right, but trains half to three quarters af an hour late sll along the line Chicago and Northwestern—Trains late, ranging from ten minutes to one hour. Wires in very bed condition, and giving trouble in the handling of trei WIND CAUSED MUCH DAMAGE. During the Progress of the Gale One Man Expired From Fright. CINCINNATI, Onro, Nov. 26.—A terrific windstorm swept over this section last night, doing considerable damage to prop- erty. Trees were uprooted, buildings un- roofed or wrecked, telegraph lines broken down and boats were torn from their moorings and set adrift. The watchmen and crews of packets and towboats were all aboard and consternation reigned among them. None of the boats had steam up and all were left to the mercy of the gale after the lines had parted. Justabove the Big Sandy wharf were moored the steam- ers T. J. O’Connell, Rob Roy and Lee Brooks. The shore lines of all three were snapped and when the wind subsided they were all in a bunch at Brown’s coal dock, fully half a mile distant. A $4000 barge was sunk at the marine drydock. Nearly a hundred empty barges were set adrift from the Queen City landing at the foot of Washington street. The damage in the river here will amount to $10,000. ried, living at 1812 Polk, street, wasfright- awakened by the heavy wind, and feeling the house shaking, he left his bed and walked. the floor constantly during the storm, wringing-his hands and praying for deliverance. After the storm he became somewhat calm, but every nerve in his body suffered from the effect of his awful fright. Shortly after daylight reaction set 1, and he was so prostrated that he was forced to lie down. From that mo- ment he sank rapidly and was a corpse in a short time. FURY OF e THE STORM. Great Damage to Navigation on the East- ern Portion of Lake Erie. BUFFALOQ, N. Y., Nov. 26.—One of the most furious windstorms of recent years Lake Erie. As far as the eye can reach the lake is lashed into tumbling waves, which are dashing high over the pier here. The warnings sent out yesterday, how- ever, kept many vessels in port and proba- bly prevented a number of wrecks. Tele- graph wires suffered badly, and communi- cation with the West was for a time entirely cut off this morning. More than 100 feet of the westbound track of the Buifalo Creek Railroad and more than 200 feet of the eastbound track near the Hamburg turnpike was washed away by waves from the lake. Near the same point 400 feet of the Erie track is also gone, and 200 feet from each of the double tracks. A dozen or more cars of the Erie line in the vi- cinity were wrecked. —_————— SWEPT A LARGE AREA. From Many Points Come Reports of Dam- age by the Storm. ST. LOUIS, Mo., Nov. 26.—The first bliz- zard of the season struck this city early last evening and continued until nearly daylight this morning. The snowfall is about five inches, but on account of the high winds it is badly drifted. The heavy sleet had a bad effect on telegraph, tele- phone and other electric wires and the ser- vice was demoralized. From 11 o'clock last night until 11 o’clock this morning St. Louis was cut off from all telegraphic com- munication with all points east and north. Reports received to-night state that the blizzard extended from North Dakota to Texas and from Colorado to the Atlantic Ocean. Railroad traffic suffers severely and nearly all roads report trains from one to four hours behind time. Itis feared that the storm will cause great hardship to cattlemen in the territory and in Tsxas, GRAND HAVEN, Micn., Nov. 26.—It snowed furiously here all lasc night and there are drifts six feet high in the main streets to-day. Trains on all the railroads are in bad shape and country roads are blocked. LORAINE, Onro, Nov. 26.—A second accident occurred at the new St. Mary’s Catholic Church here during the wind- storm this morning. It was at this church that the temporary floor fell during the ceremonies of laying the cornerstone two months ago and forty people were in- jured. When the storm struck the church the north wall was blown out and the other walls were wrecked with the roof truss. CLEVELAND, Onio, Nov. 26.—One of the worst windstorms that Cleveland has Gottlieb Lautenschiager, aged 58, mar- | ened to death by the ‘storm. He was | { Dr. raged to-day over the eastern portion of | wam.-—Y\ O\ [After New York Recorder.] IN THE COLD, WEDDED WHILE SICK, Harold McCormick Kept in His Hotel by Sudden Illness. NO SERVICE IN CHURCH. Miss Rockefeller, the Bride, and Her Relatives Went to the Buckingham. TEERE THE KNOT WAS TIED. [ o ‘Greal Disappointment of Friends Who Attended the Decorated Place of Worship. NEW YORK, N. Y., Nov. 26.—Miss Edith Kockefeller, youngest daughter of Jobn D. Rockefeller, was married at noon to-day in the Buckingham Hotel to Harold McCormick, son of Cyrua McCormick of Chicago. In point of brilliancy the wed- ding had given promise of being one of the most notable of the season. The marriage wae to have been solemnized in the Fifth- avenue Baptist Church, and the beautiful interior of the edifice had been transformed into a tropical garden. Some forty men had been at work at the church yesterday afternoon and had nearly completed the arrangement of eiaborate floral decorations when word was received that the marriage ceremony would take place at the Buck- ingham Hotel instead of the church and the order was given to stop work. The Rev. Dr. W. H. P. Paunce was to be officiating clergyman, assisted by the Rev. John Hall. Certainly a grand cere- mony was promised, but the hand of provi- dence interfered, and Mr. McCormick found himself confined to his room on his wedding day, ill with an attack of pleurisy, which threatened pnenmonia. His physi- cian decided that the groom-elect was too sick to venture out of doors, especially as the weather was inclement. The Rocke- feller family was notified and the young couple, not wanting to postpone the cere- mony, it was decided to have the marriage solemnized in Mr. McCormick’s apartments in the Buckingham Hotel. It was an awkward predicament for the families of the contracting couple. Overa thousand invitations had veen issued for the church, and irom Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo and other cities hundreds ot friends had come to witness the ceremony. A no- tification of the change of arrangements was sent last night to all with whom it was possible to communicate. Despite this, quite a number of persons presented themselves at the church this morning with cards of admission. They were told there would be no ceremony at the church and they drove oftf with a puzzled and dis- appointed expression upon their counte- nances. Shortly after 11 o’clock the bride, accom- panied. by her sisters, her father and mother and all the bridesmaids, arrived at the Buckingham Hotel. The wedding party went directly to the McCormick suite. The rooms had been beautifully decorated, pink and white chrysantie- mums, interspersed with tall, overspread- ing palms, being exclusively used. The groom had arisen about 10:30 o’clock and dressed himself in his wedding suit. Mir. McCormick was feeling quite weak, but had recovered sufficiently to leave his bed with safety. A few minutes after noon everything was in readiness for the wed- ding. Grouped about the apartment where the ceremony was performed were Mrs. Cyrus ever known began this morning and in- creased in severity until about 5 o’clock when the greatest velocity of wind in the history of the Cleveland Weather Bureau was attained. At 5 o’clock the wind blew atthe rate of fully seventy-four miles an hour and probably a2 higher rate. The tower of St. John's Cathedral, one of the were burned out early in the evening, and at midnight, while a big fire was raging at the corner of Randolph street and Wabash avenue, an electric-light current becawne crossed with a firc-alarm wire, burning out the switchboard in the headquarters of the Yire Department and cutting off all com- munication with engine-houses through- out the city. By daylight there was literally not an Continued on Second Page, McCormick, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus H. Mc- Cormick Jr., Mrs. Emmons Blaine, Mr. and Mrs. William G. McCormick, Miss Car- rie McCormick, Robert Hall McCormick, Miss Elsie and Miss Etta McCormick, John Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Mrs. Strong, Mrs. Stillman,- Mrs. Scott, John D. Rockefeller Jr., Mrs. Dr. Hall, Mrs. Dr. Paunce, the brides- maids, miaids of honor, the ushers and about thirty intimate friends of the con- tracting parties. They formed in two rows on either side of the room, leaving a center aisie for,the bride and groom to walk through. The bride wore a rich white satin gown made in Princess style, with a lony train and a white veil of considerable length. Both the front of the skirt and the corsage were draped with point lace, and the veil was also of point lace. This was fastened with the bridegroom’s gift, a superb tiara of diamonds and emeralds. The wedding ceremony was short, beginning at 12:05 ana being concluded at 12:20. The Rev. Dr. Paunce officiated and Dr. Hall assisted. The wedding party re- mained in the hotel. Some time later they were driven to the Rockefeller man- sion, where the reception and wedding Mr. breakfast .took place. McCormick remained at his hotel. CARS THROWN FROM THE TRACK. Narrow Escape of Passengers on a Train That Was Wrecked on a Grade in Nebraska. CHADRON, NEBr.,, Nov. 26.—A wreck occurred on the Caspar branch of the Elk Horn about 11 o’clock last night at a point between Andrews and Harrison, Nebr. ‘While descending a steep grade one of the coalcars of jumped the track, followed by two cars of merchandise, a baggage and smoking car and a passenger-car. The latter was filled with passengers. The cars were thrown on their sides close to a 50-foot embankment. The passengers were piled in a heap in one corner of the car, but with the exception of afew bruises they escaped serious injury. The position of the cars was such that the passengers were obliged to alight and make a huge bonfire and remain in the open air until the arri- val of the wreckage crew. —— e FATAL ENCOUNTER AT A CHURCH. Fight Between Kentucky Mountaineers the Result of & Quarrel. LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 26.—An en- counter took place at a church near Man- chester, | . Cla; County, Sunday, resulting in the death of one man, the serions if not fatal injury of three athers and wounding of two more. I'le trouble was the out- | growth of an old quarrel. As is usual in the mountains, all came to church armed, and John Boles, his two sons and Robert Belden, were on one side and John and Julius Webb, aged 25 years, were on the i other. A fusillade ofshots were exchanged. John Boles fell dead from a pistol wound, his two sons and Robert Belden were said by the messenger who brought the news here to be fatally shot, and John Roberts was slightly wounded. Deputy Sheriff Allen, who tried to stop the fight, received a scalp wound. ATERROR IN THE WOODS, Great Consternation Caused by the Deeds of a Wild Man. Unlucky Lumbermen Slain and Their Bodies Mangled in a Shock- ing Manner. BANGOR, ME., Nov. 26.—A lumberman who returned to-day from the forest in the north of the State brings the most harrow- ing intelligence of the doings of a wild man in the lumber region of the west branch. He states that great consterna- tion has been caused and a large number of lumbermen have left the camps and returned to their cities rather than face the monster. For over two months quite a number of men have disappeared from the camps and when found bore the semblance of having had an encounter with some wild animal, their bodies in every instance hav- ing been terribly mangled and torn. A lumberman who returned to a camp a little north of this city a week ago startled all by stating that while at work he had been attacked by this wild man, and it was only by the help of his ax that he had been | able 1o defend himself from the murder- ous attacks. Since that time he has been seen by the crews several times, but on their approach he fled into the deep woods with the speed of a deer. an animal that it is almost impossible to detect him from one. He has a long, shaggy beard, and is covered with a huge, skin coat. The general belief is that he is a sportsman who has become lost in the deep forests, and after wandering around for weeks has gone hopelessly crazy, and already there have been over half a dozen instances of a similar character in the State, The crews of the lumbering camps are out hunting tfor the man and hope by shooting him 1n the leg to effect his capture. ¥ e FOK EUGENE FIELD'S FAMILY. An Interesting Programme of Authors’ Readings at the Benejit. CHICAGO, ILL., Nov. 26.—A programme of authors’ readings was rendered at Hoo- ley’s Theater this afternoon for the benefit of the family of the late Eugene Field. Those who contributed were: Mrs. Mary Hartwell Catherwood, John Vance Cheney, Miss Lillian Bell, Mrs. Linden W. Bates, Henry 8. Fuller, Miss Harriet Monroe, Opie Read, Mrs. Madeline Yale Wyune, H. C. Chatfiela-Taylor and Hamlin Garland. The readers were introduced by Frank- lin Head. While the storm affected the attendarice, all seats had been sold and many society men and women were pres- ent. The money will be used. to clear the debts from the family homestead., . the Chadron-Caspar train | He is described as being so nearly like | TRADE OF THE WEST, Plans of Improvement by the Trans-Mississippi Congress. BIG PROJECTS FAVORED. Importance of the Completion of the Nicaragua Canal Dwelt Upon. AFTER THE PACIFIC ROADS. Unjust Discrimination That the Inter- state Commerce Commissioners Should Check. OMAHA, NeBg., Nov. 26.—At the sec- ond days’ session of the trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress ex-Governor Prince, chairman of tke comr ittee on resolutions, reported back a resolution on & National bankruptcy law. It favored the enact- ment of a National bankruptey 1aw, just and equitable and uniformly applicable to all creditors. It was unanimously adopted | by the congress.. Resolutions on the following subjects were read and referred to the committee: On deep-sea harbor at San Pedro and Far- allon cable, by F. W. Gibson of Califor- nia; on railroad rates to conventions, by C. W. Norton of Iowa; on foreclosure and rates on Pacific roads; on Cuba and on silver, by W.J. Bryan of Nebraska; on naturalization of foreigners, by T. W. Launt of Missiouri; on improvement of the Columbia River, by Mr. Eddy of Ore- gon; on restoration of duty on wool, by M. B. W. Holman of Missouri. The committee on permanent organiza- tion, through C. W. Norton, chairman, and Thomas H. Wells, secretary, sub- mitted the following report: For presi- dent, Hon. W. J. Bryan of Nebraska: the other officers to serve during this session and after the location] of the next meet- ing, the executive committee to have power to select a permanent secretary and assistant secretary and a treasurer. On motion of Mr. Paz Valverde of Mexico the report of the committee was unanimously adopted. President Gannon congratulated the congress on the election of Mr. Bryan as its president for next year and said it would meet with universal approval. He appointed ex-Governor Prince of New Mexico, Hon. Hugh Craig of California and Captain Mason of Missouri a com- mittee to escort Mr. Bryan to the stage. President Bryan was received with ap- ' plause, which was renewed several times during, and at the close of his speech ac- cepting the office. Mr. Bryan’s response was: “I am deeply sensible of the honor which you confer in selecting me as permanent president of this congress. The trans- Mississippi country is an empire in itself and surpasses in its area, in its resources, in its undeveloped wealth and in its possi- bilities many of the nations of Europe. Between the Mississippi and the Golden Gate and between the Canadian border and the border of the Mexican republic are found all the necessaries of life in pro- fuse abundance. “The last half century has witnessed the transformation of this great region from a wilderness into a garden, from savagery to civilization. The next half century bids fair to dwarf the achievements of the past and to realize the hopes which we are al- most afraid to express. Our people are first in intelligence by every test that can be applied and last in pauperism and vice. If we lack stupendous accumulations of wealth, we also lack, as some one has said, the shadows which they cast. “We have not met in a narrow or selfish spirit, nor have we assembled to plan an invasion of the rights of others. Our pur- pose is not to appropriate to ourselves the wealth produced by others, nor to throw an obstacle in the path of any fellow- laborer in the Nation’s vineyard. In local matters, such as irrigation, transportation from the Mississippi to the Pacific and railroad communication to the seaboard, our experience and our necessities not only qualify us to speak, but make it impera- tive that we do speak if we - desire relief. “Only those who live in the arid regions can understand the advantages of irriga- tion or be impressed by the magnitude of the subject; only those whose commerce is burdened by the extortionate rates col- lected to pay an income on fictitious cap- italization and watered stock—only those, 1say, can appreciate the iniquity of an extension of the Pacific liens, which would enrich the stockholders at the ex- pense of the public; only those remote from deep water can appreciate the neces- sity for direct and cheap railway connec- tion with the ocean. “If our sympathy is quicker to span the seas which separates us from the inhabit- ants of an 1sland struggling to establish a republic, it must be remembered that we are nearer to those who are struggling. If we insist strenuously upon the mainte- nance of the Monroe doctrine it will be re- membered that the expression comes from a people who contribute to a nation’s strength in time of war as well as toa nation’s wealth in time of peace. If we e mphasize our advocacy of a ship canal across the isthmus it must be remembered that such a waterway would be of immense advantage to the States along the Pac"fic Coust and of great value to the Cen- tral West in reducing transcontinental rates. ““If we reiterate our oft-repeated demands for the restoration of silver to its ancient position as a standard money, equal with gold in mint privileges and in legal tender qualities, it must be remembered that, as producers of wealth, we find the products of our soil falling with the appreciation of gold and that as debtors we find our debts increasing in weight, because the money to liquidate them can only be secured by an ever-increasing sacrifice.” Senator Allen of Nebraska, who was present, was elected a delegate-at-large. Hon. Hugh Craig of California delivered an address on the Nicaragua canal. The great advantage to the commerce of the United States which would result from the construction of the canal could be fully appreciated, Mr. Craig declared, by every business man and farmer. It would reduce the distance from New York to San Fran- cisco from.15,700 miles to less than 6000; it would reduce the time ofa voyage from the Pacific Coast to Liverpool and London from three to five months to less than a month; it would make theexport of wheat and other products from the Pacific Coast to Europe profitable, and the life of the Pacific Coast commerce to Europe might be said to depend on the construction of the canal. Figures were given showing that on an estimated cost of $100,000,000 the canal would pay 14 per cent on the invest- ment. Mr. Craig asked that the paper on the canal, prepared by Captain Merry of San Francisco, the recognized American au- thority on the subject, be made a part of the official records of the congress in place of his remarks on it. Hon. James V. Mahoney of Towa was the first speaker on trans-Mississippi rail- road tariffs, The vital importance to com- mercial and industrial prosperity of just and reasonable freight rates was noted. The demoralizing influen~e of rate wars, rate-cutting and the giving of rates was dwelt upon. An amendment to the inter- state commerce law allowing the railroads to make legal agreements for special rates under the sanction of the Interstate Com- merce Commission was advocated. He also spoke in favor of the pooling bill. Captain Bryson of Davenport, Iowsa, spoke of the improved methods adopted of 1ate-to -settle disputes between railroads and the people, but said many unjust dis] criminations exist. Principles of exorbi- tant charges could be found in the bridge tolls ‘at bridges' connecting some of the ‘Western States. Captain Bryson read reports showing that under the Iowa laws, which had been opposed and condemned by the railroads, the earnings of the railroads had increased and that they had prospered. An enlargement of the power of the Inter- state Commerce Commission was advo- cated, and- also the principle that rates should be regulated by the cost of the service and a just return on the actual capital invested. The benefit of water routes in lowering railroad rates was noted and the speedy completion of the Henne- pin canal was strongly advocated. Freeman Knowles of South Dakota took issue with the sentiments expressed by Mr. Mahoney. He was surprised, he said, to find an advocate of the pooling bill in the Trans-Mississipp1 Congress. The Elk- horn road from Omaha to the Black Hills, he said, was capitalized at $45,000 per mile: there was little grading on the line and competent engineers had told him the line could be duplicated for $10,000 per mile. But rates were fixed to pay interest at 7 per cent of $45,000 per mile, and this method of fixing of rates would apply, more or less, to all the railroads in the country. It was for the people to change this method. His speech was interrupted often by applause. This afternocn the delegates visitea the Omaha and Grant smelter and the pack- ing-houses at South Omaha. A reception was given by the Omaha Woman’s Club to the wives of the dele- gates at the woman’s clubrooms, from 4 to 6 o'clock P. M. About 200 women were present. At the evening session Hugh Craig of California made an address on the Hawaiian question. Resolutions were adopted in favor of a cable to Hawaii, the completion of the Hennepin canal and pro- portional representation. A hot debate on the silver question will occur to-morrow at 2:30 o'clock, in which Mr. Bryan will speak for silver and John L. Webster of Omaha for gold. FOUL PLAY S SUPECTED Death Under Peculiar Circum- stances of a Wealthy Man of Kansas. Recently He Recovered Stolen Bonds and It Is Believed He Was Killed to Hide a Secret. EUREKA, Kaxs., Nov. 26.—W. H. Orvis, a prominent and,wealthy citizen of Severy, Kans., was found dead in bed just before noon to-day. Foul play is suspected and an inquest is being held to-night. Orvis was sandbagged and robbed of $6000 in Government bonds at Severy a few months ago. Subsequently some one gained access to his room at night and left a note telling how the bonds could be recovered. Mr. Orvis followed the directions and re- covered his property by the payment of a sum of money. It is now thought by many persons that he has been murdered in order to prevent the exposure of the ies who robbed him. The fact that is room was entered on the previous occasion lends support to the idea. There is much excitement at Severy. SAVED BY THE BOYS, Rescue of Wrecked Crews by the Evanston Col- lege Students. GALLANT DEEDS ON ICE, Freezing Men and Women Finally Taken From Their Peril- ous Positions, DRIVEN IN SHORE BY A GALE, Citizens of Glencoe Joined the Lifes Savers in Caring for the Res- cued Persons. CHICAGO, ItL., Nov. 26.—The steamer J. Emory Owen and the schooners Eliza- beth Nicholson and Michigan went ashore early this morning off Winnetka, on the north shore near this city. All the crews were rescued from death by freezing or drowning by the gallant college boys of the Evanston life-saving crew, aided by citi- zens of the suburb of Glencoe. Water was lat into the holds of the vessels after they had struck the bowlders to keep them from pounding to pieces. It is believed the Owen and Michigan may be saved, but the Nicholson may prove a total loss. The Owen is worth about $100,000 and insured for $75,000, The schooners. which were in tow of the Owen, are valued at $100,000. The steamer carriéd a crew of sixteen men, commanded by Captain Marion Tenney, and there were eicht men on each of the consorts. All were coal laden from Buffalo to Chicago. The signal of distress from the freezing men on the vessels was first seen by a Winnetka resident, who notified the Evanston life-savers. They hurried their lifeboat in a wagon, hitched to a team of horses and drove along the shore to the spot where the ships were pounding in the fufy of an icy gale. When the boat was within half a mile of the shipsin its journey over the icy bowlders it sprang a leak and the life-savers were compelled to retreat to the shore and hitch up the old lifeboat to & team of four horses. It was daylight before the second trip was made to the rescue of the men and women on the stranded vessels. The life« savers crawled with their boatover the ice« field which separated them from the sufe fering people, and the suburban citizens, including women and children, braved the storm to bring warm clothing, stinu« lants and other comforts- for the use of the sailors when they should be taken off. The lifeboat was launched in half an hour after leaving shore and a line from the Owen was made fast to the boat. The women were the first to be lowered to the boat. They were Mrs. Tenney, wife of Captain Tenney; Mrs. A. C. Northway, cook of the Michigan, and Mrs. William Smith, wife of the Nicholson’s captain. Mrs. Smith also had a 6 months old child to take care of. With the women and child the brave lifeboat men made the perilous trip in safety to shore, where all were lustily cheered by a big brigade of volunteers anxious to lend a helping hand. To and fro the life-saving crew and their stanch boat made the journey of rescue, each time carrying a load of men from the ships until no living soul remained to be saved from death. On shore bonfires were lit and the kind-hearted citizens minis. tered to the wants of the women and men. The houses of all in the neighborhood were opened to the sufferers. Captain Tenney said that his steamer struck first and the Michigan went on the beach to the southward, clearing the Owen. When the Nicholson came up to the Owen she struck the steamer under the stern and the crew came piling over the rail to the Owen’s deck, even Captain Smith’s wife and baby being easily taken aboard. EPLOION I CELLI, One Man Killed and Nine Others Injured by the Bursting of a Pipe. Defective Steam - Heating Apparatus Caused a Disaster in a Theater. NEW YORK, N. Y., Nov. 26.—Death and injury to unfortunate workmen wasg wrought this morning by a steam-pipe ex- plosion in the cellar of Hammerstein’s New Olympic Theater, at Broadway and Forty-fifth street. One man lost his life, another will die, while eight others were very badly scalded. The list of the dead and injured is as follows: Dead—Frederick Weins. Injured — Andrew Higgins (fatally scalded), Johy Russell, Eugene Cette, Joseph Gillott (engineer), George Johne son,William Johnson, Frederick Richards, Robert Taylor, John Verter (also badly scalded). A defective steam-pipe fitting is said to be responsible for the explosion and are rests may be made in consequence. It was first revorted that the boiler in the building had blown up, but this proved to be an error. The building was not dame aged in the least and the engine and other machinery are uninjured with the excepe tion of the pipes. New pipes were put in during the day and there was no interfer« ence with the performance to-night. The loss is about $300. For Pacific Coast Telegrams see Pages 3 and 4. e - oo————————— | Better engraving-than Crockers’ ? Where ? 227 Post street