The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 12, 1895, Page 1

'OLUME LXXIX —NO. 12. SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 12, 1895. PRICE FIVE CENTS. AUN DOWN IN A FOG The Steamer Cumbrae Sunk by the Atlantic Liner Germanic. SPITTED UPON ITS BOW. The Side of the Vessel Penetrated to a Depth of Fourteen Feet. PASSENGERS PANIC-STRICKEN. All Are Rescued Before the Wreck Plunges Forward and Goes to the Bottom. LIVERPOOL, Ex6., Dec. 11.—The White Star line steamer Germanic, Captain Mc- Kinstry, which sailed hence to-day for New York, came into collision shortly after leaving the Mersey with the Glasgow steamer Cumbrae, inward bound, for Liver- | The Cumbrae was sunk and the Germanic’s bows were stove in. Fortunately the accident resulted in no loss of life. The Germanic’s lifeboats res- cued the passenger and crew of the wrecked vessel and returned to this port. A dense f revailed at the time of the collision. Among the passengers on the Germanic were Lord Dunraven and the members of 1 Hare’s company, including Mr. and Gilbert Hare, son and daughter-in- f John Ha Charles Groves and d the Hon. F. G. Curzon and wife. rzon is the actress Ellice Jeffreys. brae was a vessel of about 900 T pool. Mrs. law nage. She was commanded by r, and was engaged in a and passenger service between Liverpool and Glasgow. The Cumbrae was owned by G. and J. Burns. The Germanic left her quay under an easy head of steam. The weather at the time was very thick, and every precaution was taken to avoid an accident. Two séa- men were stationed in the crow’s nest in addition to the ordinary lookout. After about eight miles of slow steaming, warning whistles being sounded in the me ne at short intervals, the vessel reached Crosby channel. By this time the fog had become so intense as to hide Tom view. Suddealy a whistle sounded close by and the Germanic promptly responaed. It was too lute, however, to avoid a collision, and the White Star liner struck the Cumbrae a slantimyblow vetween ‘the forecastle and the forghateh. The Germanic’s bow pene- trated twe side of the Cumbrae to a depth een feet. If the Germanic had ier more way she would doubtless cut the smaller vessel completely in the Cumbrae’s decks a scene of terror There were twenty-eight pas- on the vessel, including a number of women and children, who rushed toand fro shrieking in their terror or fell upon ir knees and prayed alond to be saved. On the Germanic also there was much ex- citement, all the passengers rushing on deck to ascertain what had happened. The shock of the collision was not se- vere enough to cause great alarm, and the excitement on the big liner soon subsided. Captain McKinstry at once ordered suffi- cient headway to be maintained to keep the bow of the Germanic in the hole made in the Cumbrae’s side, and officers and men calmly and actively proceeded to the of rescue. Bolts, ropes and ladders thrown upon the Cumbrae’s decks, nd within a minute all of the passengers i crew of the doomed vessel had either scrambled or been hauled upon the Ger- manic’s decks. One passenger was slightly injured while being hauled on board, and a woman fell overboard, but was instantly rescued by a boat from the Germanic, which had been previously lowered. When all were safe the Germanic’s en- gines were reversed, and the vessels sepa- rated. The Cumbrae immediately lurched and began to settle. Seventeen of the Cumbrae’s crew and a dozen of the Germanic’s entered a boat with the intention of boarding the Cum- brae in order to draw her fires to prevent an explosion and try to save property. They rowed within fifty yards of the sink- ing vessel, when she suddenly plunged forward and went down. The Cumbrae foundered in compara- tively shaliow water, the tide being three- quarters full. The beat’s crew fixed lights on the masts of the sunken steamer to warn passing vessels. The sea was calm et the time, but the fog still prevailed and the boat could not find the Germanic. After cruising around for a while the boat was found by the tug Gamecock, which took the men on board. The Germanic's men were transferred to their vessel, while the Gamecock conveyed the Cum- brae's sailors to Liverpool. The passen- gersand crew of the wrecked vessel lost everything. Among the passengers on the Cumbre were the members of a provincial theatri- cal company, who were going to Birken- head to perform the play “S8aved From the Bea.” Immediately after the collision occurred the Germanic’s water-tight compartments were closed and every precaution to se- cure the safety of the vessel was taken. After the rescue of those on board the Cumbrz an examinstion of the Germanig was made. It showed that seventy feet of the vessel's bows above the water line were damaged, and the captain decided to return to port. Subsequently the Ger- manic anchored off Egremont, where the vassengers of both the Germanic and the Cumbre were embarked on tugs and landed at Liverpool, where they were con- veyed to hotels. Late -to-night it was arranged to have tlie Adriatic sail to-morrow in place of the Germanic. Lord Dunraven, in describing bis expe- rience in connection with the accident, said that he was in the cabin when it oc- curred, and that he was extremely hungry and was awaiting the summons to dinner. He did not feel any pronounced sensation when the collision occurred. He heard only a slignt crash. e denled that there was any excites - ment among the passengers on board. Everybody, he said, showed the utmost coolness. All the officers of the steamer were at their posts and it was evident that the greatest celerity had been shown, for, when he reached the deek, the passengers and crew of the Cumbra were already be- ing hauled aboard the Germanie. Mr. Helmsley, the manager for John Hare, said that he was standing on the deck when the collision occurred, and the shock was only enough to disturb his bal- ance. He attributed the rescue of the woman passenger who fell into the water to the good work of the Germanic's crew in Jowering the boats. Nobody on the Germanic, he said, imagined that the ves- sel wasin port. The members of Mr. Hare’s company sail on the Umbria. — THE SYLVANIA DAMAGED. Collides With the British Steamer Bruns- wick Near Liverpool. LIVERPOOL, ExG., Dec. 11.—The Brit- ish steamer Brunswick, bound from Liver- pool for Brazilian ports, came into col- lision with the new Cunard line steamer Sylvania, from Boston, in the Mersey last evening. The latter was seriously dam- aged. ENTOMBED BY AN EXPLOSICN., Three Laborers in a Missouri Coal Mine Lose Their Lives. RICH HILL, Mo., Dec. 11.—An explo- sion occurred in mine No. 15 of the Rich Hill Coal Company about 6 o’clock this evening. The entrance is badly torn up and the mine cannot yet be entered. Three men are imprisoned beneath. These are two shot-firers and the stable boss, Richard Towes, James Donaldson and Ownen Meals. The lutter’s body has been recovered, but the others are beyond reach. This mine is located a mile and three- quarters south of Rich Hill and employs 175 men, thoueh at the time of the accident all the regular miners are supposed to been out of the mine. No cause for the disaster can yet be assigned. WAR N THE REICHSTAG Herr Bebel, the Socialist, Makes a Bitter Attack Upon the Emperor. William's Speeches on Sedan Day and at Breslau Are Roundly Denounced. BERLIN, GErMaNY, Dec. 11L.—There was an exciting scene in the Reichstag to-day upon the delivery of the speech by Herr Bebel, one of the Socialist leaders, in re- gard to the recent prosecution of socialists | and the closing of socialist unions by the Government. In the course of his speech Herr Bebel made a violent attack on the Emperor because of the tpeeches delivered by bis Majesty on Sedan day and more re- cently at Breslau, referring to the Kaiser as “a certain somebody.” Genperal Bronsart von Schollendorff, Im- perial Minister of War, said amid a tre- mendous uproar on the part of the social- ists, who attempted to drown his voice, that during the Sedan fetes the socialists were very dirty ink-slingers. Their in- famy, however, was unable to soil the memory of the great Kaiser, but neverthe- less the army would never forget the de- pravity of the socialists upon that occa- sion. e a e DEFENDED IN ENGLAND. Embassador Bayard Championed by the British Press. LONDON, Exc., Dec. 11.—The Daily News to-morrow will say in regard to Mr. Bayard: “Perhaps the American Embassador would have done more wisely by saying nothing about questions of political econ- omy at a time when the protection party had been set up with new strength, but we are inclined to believe that the men who called for his impeachment would have liked to impeach him in any case for his professions of goodwill toward England {and the English. Mr. Bayard may, how- ever, we fancy, eat his meals in peace and sleep despite the echoes of jingo thunder. He is the sort of man, to use an American phrase, that won't scare worth a cent.”” P ITALIAN ¥ORCES RETREAT. Seventy Thousand Abyssinians Invade the Tigre Country. LONDON, Exc., Dec. 11.—A dispatch to the Central News from Rome says that General Baratieri, Governor of Erythrea and commander of the Italian troops, telegraphed that fully 70,000 Abyssinians had invaded the Tigre country and were besieging Makalte and Antalo. Forty thousand of the enemy were in the vicinity of Adowa. Consequently he had ordered the Italian force at Adowa to fall back to Adigrat, where he has only 6000 men. Upon the receipt of the foregoing dis- patch it was ordered that the preparations for. sending re-enforcementsto General Baratierl be pushed forward with the greatest possible dispatch. LA, LORD DUNRAVEN TALKS. He Desires an Impartial Investigation of His Charges. LIVERPOOL, Exc., Dec. 11.—An inter- view was had with Lord Dunraven, who was a passenger on the disabled steamer Germanic, just previous to the departure of that vessel to-day. While refusing to speak about the rela- tive merits of Valkyrie 1II and the De- fender, Dunraven said he wished it to be distinctly understood that his going to New York was a perfectly voluntary act on his part, ana that his sole object in making the journey was to secure a fair and impartial inquiry by the committee of the New York Yacht Club into the charges brought by him against the defender of the America cup. A Much-Discovered River. OTTAWA, OxtaRrIO, Dec. i1.—The report of the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the province of Quebec has just been is- sued. and contains a map and explana- tions that effectually dispose of the won- derful “Nile of the North.” alleged to have been discovered by an Ottawa explorer, Dr. Bell. £ map s h the river is really the Mekishau, which was discovered and mapped years ago. —_———— Six Lalorers Drowned. DUBLIN, IreLaxp, Dec. 11.—Water burst into a colliery at Cong, County Mayo, to- day, flooding the shaft and drowming six men. is issued showing that | AIKEN LENDING AID, Work Upon San Francisco's Public Building Soon to Begin. COMING IN ITS TURN. The Architect Hopes to Have It Well Under Way by Spring. PLANS REMAIN THE SAME. Prospective Occupants Have Not An- swered Requests for Desired Changes. WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 11.—A Cary correspondent saw Supervising Architect Aiken to-day and asked what progress was being made in the plans for San Fran- cisco’s public puilding. He said: “The sketch plans will not be modified as reported. There will be practically no change in the appearance of the building. Weare now at work on the drawings. ‘While in San Francisco I consulted with Federal officials about arrangements of va- riousrooms. The United States Judges said they preferred to be located in tbe top of the building with their library there, so as to thus be rid of the noise, bustle and con- fusion of the street. “They promised to send me their ideas of how different rooms should be arranged, but asyetI have received nothing from them. We areat work on thirty public buildings, and I hope that Congress will give us some help, as we need it badly. We try to push our work forward as rap- idly as possible in the order in which Con- gress authorized the various public build- ings, and it is not our fault that the work of construction is not expedited. “You can say to San Francisco people that we are doing the best we can for them. Please wire tnem, ‘Don’t shoot the pian- ist; he is doing his best.” By early spring I hope to have {he S8an Francisco builaing under way. ‘“Senator Mitchell was here the other day asking why Portland’s building was not expedited, but we explained that there were other buildings which Congress au- thorized first, and we must reach Portland in its regular order, but, notwithstanding, Senator Mitchell introduced a resolution in the Senate wanting to know why we did not commence the construction.” ‘Work 6n plans for the building at Stock- ton, Cal., has been suspended at the re- quest of Congressman Grove L. Johnson of California, who will try to secure an ap- propriation of $250,000, in lieu of thé $53,000 now available. HAYWARDS A DEGENERATE Brutish Characteristics Found by Physicians at the Autopsy. The Microscope Reveals No Defect in the Brain of the Mur. derer. MINNEAPOLIS, Mixx., Dec. 11. — One of the specialists who conducted the au- topsy upon the body of Harry Hayward, hanged this morning for the murder of Catherine Ging, expressed the belief that Hayward was a degenerate. Of the four stigmata named by Cmsare Lombrosa as invariably characterizing degenerates three were found—marked symmetry of skull, brain and face; protuberant front teeth and narrow and . sharply arched pal- ate. The brain weighed fifty-five ounces— about normal—and if there were any de- fects 1 it the microscope did not show them. This afternoon the aged parents of Harry Hayward followed the body of their son to Lakewood Cemetery, where it was interred, after a few words by the Rev. Dr. Marion D. Shutter, a Univer- salist. Mr. and Mrs. Hayward Sr. expected to pay a last visit to the condemned man yesterday afternoon, but they could not pluck up sufficient courage and strength to go through the ordeal of parting. They spent the last night of their son’s exist- ence in their own apartments. attended by their oldest son, the doctor, and & number of kind-hearted ladies, who did their utmost to console them. SN R COLORADO’S MINING BOOM. Large Buying Orders Have Beem Cabled From London by English Capi- b talists. DENVER, Coro., Dec. 11.—The manipu- lations of one of the new stocks yesterday and to-day created quite a change from the routine of the past two weeks. Though the dealing was heavy, the stock was steadily forced upward, standing at the close several points better. On other stocks the market stands firm, and trad- ing remains apparently heavy in volume. Several large buying orders from the East were filled to-day, and in Colorado Springs it was learned that some very large buying orders had been cabled during the night from London. . The discovery that the West Creek min- ing district is upon the Pikes Peak reserva- tion will check interest somewhat in that locality, as Congress must act before a patent can issue for mining properties there. A similar mineral formation is re- ported near Pine Grove station, on the South Park Railroad. Transfers of Cripple Creek properties by sale, lease and bond are numerous in spite of the advancing prices placed upon their claims by the origina; locators. S LA SAT UP IN HER COFFIN. A Funeral Party Alarmed at the Revival of a Corpse. NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 11.—Susan Wright, her parents at Suffolk, sixty miles west of a 15-year-old colored girl residing with this city, died on Monday afternoon. The body was coffined yesterday morning and brought to Portsmouth, just across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, for burial. When the lid of the coffin was removed the girl sat up and began laughing, throw- ing those present almost into a panic. The girl says she could hear everything that was said around her bier and she knew she was to be buried, but she could not move or speak. Last evening she re- turned home with her parents. MACKAY’S SAD MISSION. He Starts on the St. Louis for Paris to Bring Back the Body of His Son for Interment. NEW YORK, N. Y., Dec. 11.—Among the passengers on board the steamer St. Louis, which sailed for Southampton to- day. are John W. Mackay and James J. Van Alen. Mr. Van Alen’s name was not on the passenger list and it was only a few minutes before the vessel threw off her lines that he reached the steamer. A half dozen friends, including Thomas P. Ochil- tree, visited the big steamer to see John W. Mackay off. Mr. Mackay goes abroad to bring the body of John W. Mackay Jr.. who was thrown from his horse and killed near Parisa couple of months ago, home for in- terment. He did not know whether Mrs. Mackay would return with him. He said that Mrs. Mackay was very fond of Paris and London, but now that she was in mourning it was probable that she woula accompany the remains of her son to this country and be present at the last rites, to be performed at Greenwood Cemetery, where a $600,000 mausoleum is to be erected by Mr. Mackay. BESIEGING THE HOTELS, Presidential Aspirants Deluge St. Louis Landlords With Orders. One Candidate Wires for Scores of Rooms at the Leading Hos. * telries. 8T. LOUIS, Mo., Dec. 11.—Local enthu- siasm over the capture of the Republican National Convention has not abated, and all who will have any connection with the entertainment and comfort of the dele- gates are determined to do their best. The deluge of outside orders for hotel accommodations began immediately upon the committee’s decision and still con- tinnes. So large were some of the demands that an informal meeuing of hetel proprietors was held to-day, snd a decision reached that no one candidate will be allowed to monopolize a botel. The chief backer and friend of one of the foremost candidates for President wired an order to-day reserving forty of the best rooms in a large hotel. It was learned on investigation that orders in proportion from the same source were received at other hotels. It was then decided by the hotel men that no individual should be allowed to ‘“‘corner’” accommodations for the purpose of entertaining convention shouters. There are ample accommodations in the principal hotels for 10,000, while the minor hotels and lodging houses can comfort- ably bouse several times that number. Apartments have n secured at the Southern Hotel by Reed, McKinley and Alger, while Allison is booked at the Lin- dell. ANDERSON, I~p., Dec. 11.—Winfred T. Durbin, ex - President Harrison’s right- hand man, left to-night for St. Louis. He will on his arrival contract for Indiana’s delegation headquarters. He answered all inquiries that Indiana would be for Har- rison first, last and all the time, and that he was confident of Harrison’s success, SEPREN e UNDER TWO FLAGS. Hundreds of Soldiers and Marines of the United States Join the Christian Endeavorers. DETROIT, Micg., Dec. 11.—The trustees of the United Society of Christian En- deavor began their semi-annual session here to-day. Nearly all of the thirty members of the board were present at the business meet- ing this afternoon, when the reports of President Francis E. Clark and Secretary John Willis Baer were read. The secre- tary’s report in part is as follows: “Inroads have been made in the United States navy and army. The number of floating societies is 160, including the so- cieties in the navy-yard in Brooklyn, N. Y., and the marine corps in Washing- ton, and there are societies in the army, so0 all thege are doing good work and are making progress of a definite character, “The ‘boys in blue’ need Christian en- deavor, and will be better soldiers if en- rolled under the banner of the King of kings and Lord of lords. “Last spring, when the new societies were reporting at the rate of an average of 100 a week, it seemed as though the growth would at some near day be re- tarded: that the progress that was being made could not be kept up, but God continues to direct its momentum and the same average is being made week after week. Last week 133 societies were enrolled, the week before 115 und the week before that 105. “There are now 42,800 societies, with a membership of 2,568.000; 34,392 societies are in the United States, 3185 in the Do- minion of Canada and 5063 in foreign and missionary lands. You will be interested to know that 1n England there are now 3000 societies and in Australia over 1600."” ——— KNOCKED DOWN BY BRADLEY. The Ewecutive Fist of the Kentuckian ZLands Upon a Pickpocket. FRANKFORT, Ky., Dec. 11.—The first act of Governor Bradley aiter he had taken the oath of office was to knock down a pickpocket. Chief Justice Pryor had just finished his formula and extended his hand to the Governor to congratylate him when the Governor saw a pickpocket. put his hand in the Chief Justice's vest pocket. He landed a heavy blow in the thief's face, which staggered him, but in the crush the thief managed to escave. The Chief Justice was bewildered at the suddenness of the Governor's. onslaught, and was surprised to learn that he ind lost some money, : WHITES LAND SOLD. Thousands of Acres Placed Under the Hammer at Ukiah. BID IN BY HIS EX-WIFE. Mrs. Frankie White Secures the Property in Lieu of Alimony. VAST TRACTS DISPOSED OF. The Judgment of the San Francisco Court Is Carried Into Effect. UKIAH, CaL., Dec. 11.—The sale of property belonging to George E. White, the Round Valley cattle king, took place here to-day. It had been adver- tised to occur at the Courthouse door at noon, and promptly at that hour Wilson T. Smith, the receiver appointed by the Superior Court of the City and County of San Francisco, began the sale. It was the intention to sell the land asa whole, but at precisely one minute before the appointed hour J. A. Cooper, repre- senting Edward Lynch, the attorney for George E. White, served on Receiver Smith a demand by White that the land be sold in separate parcels. This demand on the part of the cattle king was complied with, and each tract offered for sale sepa- rately. No bids were received for any single tracts, and after each had been offered the entire tract was placed under the hammer. Then Walter H. Linforth, representing Mrs. Frankie White, offered $75,000 for the entire lot of land. No other bids were made and this offer of Mrs. White was ac- cepted. To-day’s sale was under an order of the Superior Court of the City and County of San Francisco, issued out of Judge Heb- bard’s court on the 19th day of April, 1895, and to realize the amountof a judgment obtained by Mrs. Frankie White in her case against George E. White for alimony and counsel fees, which judgment amounted to some $103,000. The sale had once before been advertised to take place, but was stopped by an injunction served upon the receiver. The land which was to-day sold to Mrs. ‘White consists of 7200 acres in this county, standing in White’'s name, and a fraction Lover 1600 acres standing in the name of other persons. There aré about 2000 acres in Trinity County, which it is claimed ‘White owns, but which do not appear in his name on the records, and also about 16,000 acres, in which White owns a half interest, situated in Trinity County. Of this about 15,000 acres stands in White’s name, and about 2000 does not. In Humboldt County there are about 6000 acres all in the name of White, and a half interest in 4400 acres in the name of other persons. In Kern County there are three sections and 480 acres in another section, making, in all, 2400 acres, and in Tulare County there are over 2300 acres. The land in Kern and Tulare counties all stands in the name of J. M. Costigan. Besides all this there were sold eleven town lots in Covelo, three in Ukiah and one in Blocksburg, Humtoldt County. The land in Trinity County includes the best ranges in this part of the country— among others the Alderpoint. Long Ridge, Kickawaket, Moore, Ked Mountain and Person Camp ranges. The Person Camp range, consisting of 1100 acres, is recorded in the name of H. T. Fairbanks. Taken altogether, the sale to-day was for over 20,000 acres the sole property of White and 20,000 more in which he owned a bhalf interest. The property included in this sale is incumbered by several mort- gages, the largest of which is one for $70,000 to the Sun Insurance Company. THREATENED BY A MOB, Troops Called Out to Protect a Kansas Medical Col- lege. Citizens Enraged by the Discovery of Stolen Bodies in the Dis- secting Room. TOPEKA, Kax., Dec. 11.—Governor Mor- rill to-night cailed out Battery B of the State militia here to proiect the Kansas Medical College, which was thneatened by amob. A company in Lawrence was also notified to be in readiness to move on Topeka. A cordon of police officials was vlaced on duty at the college. At a late hour, however, all was quiet in the vicinity of the college building, ana the Governor retired, having notified the Lawrence com- pany that its services would not.be re- quired. The trotble was caused by the discovery in the dissecting room of the college of the bodies of three women stolen from Topeka cemeteries. HIS WIFE A “TATTLER.” The Plea Upon Which Manufacturer Colb Secured a Divorce. PERRY, O. T., Dec. 11.—Delphin Mc- Leod Cobb, a wealthy manufacturer of Brooklyn, N. Y., was granted a.divorce here to-day from his wife, Phaebe M. Cobb. The piaintiff is a nephew of Congressman George T. Cobb of New Jersey. In the petition for divorce Mr. Cobb says he was married in 1877, and that he and his wife lived together in Brooklyn till May, 1882, after which time his wife aban- doned him. Mr. Cobb says his wife was a “tattler” and that she had no regard for the truth, and further that she went from home .ostensibly to visit. an aunt, Mrs. Bailey of Jersey City, often, and when the truth became known_his wife had no such aunt and made her visit to other places. it sl i) End of the Colt Scandal. PROVIDENCE, R. I, Dec. 11.—The Colt case was called this morning in the Supreme Court and a motion for discon- tinuance was granted. The attorneys in the case said the affair was now all over, and there was nothing more to say. bl " FIRE IN AN ASYLUM. Two Hundred Orphaned Children March Out in Good Order From Their Burn- ing Home. MILWAUKEE, Wis., Dec. 11.—A fire raged in the suburb of St. Francis to-night. The St. Amilianus Orphan Asylum has been destroyed and heroic work alone pre- vented a spread of the flames to the Cath- olic seminary, which is separated from the asylum by a small creek only. The wind was blowing a gale and communication by wire was interrupted. Close to the asylum are the chapel, the printing office and a barn, which are all built in the shape of a triangle. The fire started in the printing office at 6 o’clock. At that hour all employes stopped work, and the pressman, Chris Furhmann, ac- cidentally knocked over a lamp, which ex- ploded. He tried to extinguish the flames by throwing clothes upon them, but at the same instant the door was blown open by the wind and the draft carried the flames to the ceiling. The pressman rushed out of the build- ing and called for belp, but as there is no fire department at St. Francis the flames ate their way unchecked to other parts of the building. 1§ In the asylum there were 192 boys, ranging in age from 3 to 15. They all marched out in good order and no one was hart. As there was no fire apparatus a bucket brigade was formed and helped asked from this city. Engine companies 8 and 10 were ordered to the scene of the fire, but they were absolutely powerless. The building, with all its contents, burned to the ground, and the firemen directed their efforts toward saving the seminary and adjoining buildings. FIRE NEAR THE MAGALINE. A Frightful Disaster Narrowly Averted on the Cruiser Cincinnati. Flames Eat Their Way to the Ammu. nition Room Before Discovered and Extinguished. JACKSONVLLE, Fia, Dec. 11.—A special to the Times-Union from Key West, Fla., says: Yesterday about 2:30 p. M. smoke was discovered issuing from the coal bunkers next to the magazine on board the United States steamship Cin- cinnati. Thebunkers had not been opened in three months and the fire was from spontaneous combustion. When discovered the fire had so far pro- eressed as to have the walls between the bunkers and the magazine red hot. The wooden casings in which the fixed ammu- nition was inclosed had been burned away. As soon as the alarm was given every man was at his post, the magazine flooded and the danger was soon over. A few moments more and the magazine would have exploded, killing every man on board and wrecking the ship. The coolness of Captain Jpohnson and his officers and the discipline of his crew averted what might have been one of the most serious calamities that bas ever happened on board of an American man- of-war. In consequence of the heavy norther, from yesterday noon until this morning 1o communication was bad with the shore to report the accident. —_— PITTSBURG IS CHOSEN, Prohibitionists to Hold Their Convention in the Smoky City. CHICAGO, IrL., Dec. 11.—The Prohibi- tionists are the second in the field to con- sider their plans for next year’s campaign and to fix the time and place for holding the National convention. This morning a special meeting of the National committee of the party opened at the Sherman House. Members of the committee say that from 10,000 to 15,000 people will attend the National convention, but this estimate would appear to be largely exaggerated, in view of the fact that the Cincinnati con- vention of four years since attracted less than 1000 people outside of that city. Local Prohibitionists were out in force at the Sherman House, and their discussions evidenced the fact that tbere is no lack of timber for the Presidential nomination. Ex-Governor John P. St. John of Kansas a’Fpears to be the favorite, with John P. Wooley, the temperance lecturer, formerly of Minnesota, but now of this city, a close second. Only one formal ballot was necessary to determine the location of the convention, Pittsburg winning with 22 votes. Denver received 13, Baltimore 2. The convention will be held on May 27. 4 Cimen R NO PRAYER IN SCHOOL. Religious Services Not Permitted Under the Minnesota Law. CHICAGO, ILL., Dec. 11.—A special from St. Paul says: The State Superintendent of Public Instruction recently received an | inquiry whether or not the law prokibited the opening of public schools with a recital of the Lord’s prayer, and asking the advice of the Superintendent when one person in the district objected to the service. In an opinion yesterday Attorney-Gen- eral Childs, to whom the matter was 1e- ferred, holas that the service is in violation of section 16 of the State constitution, which provides that no person shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship. As the constitution re- quires the people of the State to support its schools, a religious service at the open- ing of school is unconstitutional and can- not be maintained where there is an objec- tion. MATTHEWS FOR PRESIDENT. His Boom Formally Lawnched by the Democrats of Indiana. INDIANAPOLIS, Ixp., Dec. 11.—A con- ference of the Indiana Democrats was held to-day. The committee declared that it recom- mended to the Democracy of the Union Governor Claude Matthews as a suitable candidate - for the Presidency of the United States;. that he was a life- lon, Democrat and the possessor of Jeffersonian qualifications, honest, com- petent and worthy; that he was devoted to the fundamental principles of the party and like Jefferson .and Jackson came into official life from among the agricultural mp{a, and was broad and liberal in all views. ABDUL IS DICTATOR, European Powers' Will Not Profit by the Sultan’s Firmans, NOT READY FOR ACTION, The Porte Informed That No Extra Guardships Will Enter the Bosphorus. THE PLIGHT OF SAID PASHA. Thwarted in His Intention of Exils ing Himself From His Native ¢ Country. LONDON, ExG., Dec. 11.—Dispatshes from Urumi Yah, under date of December 10, say it is now certain that the Ham- adieh cavalry aestroyed 200 villages in the vilayet of Van. Eight hundred homeless Armenians are flocking to the city of Van. According to these dispatches, the Gov- ernment is doing nothing to prevent out~ rages upon Armenians. VIENNA, Avustria, Dec. 11.—The Neue Freie Presse has a dispatch from Con- stantinople saying that the representatives of the foreign powers have informed the Sultan that they do not intend to make practical use of the firmane granted for the passage of the additional guardships into the Bosphorus. LONDON, Exa., Dec. 11.—It is learned at the Admiralty that the dispatch-boat Cockatrice sailed on the 1lth to join the squadron at Salonica. The Dryad is expected to arrive on the morning of the 12th. A dispatch from Constantinople, dated December 12, says that Said Pasha’s re- turn to his residence was contrary to the public expectation. He drove thither in the carriage of Sir Philip Currie, the British Embassador, accompanied by the dragoman of the British embassy. On the same evening the secret police who had been stationed around the embassy were withdrawn. Said Pasha, in his letter to Sir Philip Currie, dwelt upon his forty-three years of public service, including five vizierates, and said that now that his health was ex- bausted he was unable to bear the burdens of the post the Sultan wished him to assume. His Majesty had afterward of- fered him a special appointment in the palace to direct important affairs of state. Unhappily, his health did not allow him to do this. His purpose in going to the embassy was to'escape the embarrassment and try to leave the country with his family. Said Pasha intended to pass one night at the embassy, in which belief he wrote im- mediately to the Grand Vizier, expressing the hope that his request would be favor- ably regarded. On the same evening, however, the Sultan sent his Foreizn Min- ister and the President of the Council to Sir Philip Currie and informed Said that his Majesty continued to hold his former Grand Vizier in high favor and had entire confidence in his fidelity. On the following day the Sultan gave similar assurance to the other embassies, expressing a desire that Said should not leave the country. While grateful to his Majesty Said was compelled to consider the intolerable intrigues of the palace and consequently felt bound to reiterate his re- quest to leave Turkey. Despite this the Sultan on thirteen occa« sions sent his chamberlains and his secre- tary to reassure Said of his Majesty’s wish that he abandon hisintention. The Sultan, moreover, gave ‘written assurances, for which reasons he remained five days at the embassydespite hisintention to remain only one night. But on the one hand his request had not met with a favorable reply, while on the other hand he felt obliged to attest his appreciation of the sentiments and as- surances of his sovereign. The letter concluded with an expression of gratitude to Sir Philip Currie and his wife, Throughont the communications with the palace Said Pasha had fuil lib- erty of action. The Standard to-morrow will print a Constantinopte dispatch saying that the Porte is absolutely deserted and that the Ministers are living day and night in the palace, where confusion reigns supreme. The correspondent of the United Press in Constantinople telegraphs under date of December 10 ihat the Porte has granted exequaturs to Major Williams and Major Bulman, the newlv appointed British Vice-Consuls at Van and Sivas, and also to a British Vice-Consul at Harpoot. The Vice-Consuls will start for their posts im- mediately. In the appeal made to the Sultan by M. Nelidoff, the Russian Embassador, in the name of the Czar, he strongly advised the Sultan to concede the demands for extra guardships in order to avoid magnifying the matter, as he assured his Majesty the demand would be persisted in by the powers. The negotiations for a Government loan of £1,000,000, secured by the revenues on Turkish tobacco, have failen through. It is learned, the correspondent says, that Said Pasha, in reply to the Sultan’s demand that he leave the British embassy and return to his home, informed his Majesty that he was willing to live in any place outside of Turkey that theSultan might appoint. and would also pledge himself to keep entirely aloof from poli- tics, being, in view of the circumstances, extremely anxious to leave the country with his family. To this the Sultan re- plied that he was not willing that Said should put himself outside of his (the Sul- tan’s) power, as he was the custodian of too many secrets. The result was that Said received the assent of the Sultan to his living anywhere ———————————————————— Crockers’ have some of the daintiest little dinner-cards you ever saw. ; Stationery, engraving, leather goods. . 227 Post street _215 Bushstreet. . i '