?'T ' '- Jl - ,j. .,- ,- - - - ' - - - . H LANCASTER DAILY INTELLIGENCER WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881. T r s ti Ife A iv.f r n r- Lancaster intelligencer. WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUG. 10, 1881. Tiakeriag at Refcrm. The republicans of this county have become se universally disgusted with their present corrupt, demoralizing and expensive system of, making nornina nernina ' tiens that they are, in geed faith, we have every reason te believe, casting about for some new device. After some ten or twelve years of trial theCrawferd county system is found te neither secure honest practices nor geed results. Many, in whose minds the leg-rolling and corrupt combinations of the old delegate conventions are fresh, hesi tate te return te that system, know ing that with the increase of political deviltry the manipulation of conven tions, like the management of return judges and county committee meetings, could be easily effected by the trick sters. The editor of the Xew Era pro pre iwses an improved plan, in substance in onenitien elsewhere and known as the Clarien county system, which combines features of both the ethers, and is claimed te,afford semrelief from their evils. It proposes te nominate by dele gates, mie .shall in county convention poll the total Republican vote cast at the last gubernatorial election -in their district for the candidate who at the primary receives a plural ity of the votes of their respective districts ; that after a certain time the lowest candidates shall be successively dropped, and whenever the plurality can didate or any district is dropped its total vote shall be cast for the one who had the next highest vote in the district. This'system has :;ome geed features, though under it, as pointed out by a correspondent of the Examiner, it would lie as likely as net th.it minority candi dates would often defc.it these who had a larger share of the popular vote ; and it is hard te see upon wliat principle the whole or a district's vole and that, tee, of a vote polled at the geueral and net the primary election should be given te the candidate who happens te have a plurality, instead of assigning it te the candidates in the proportion in which it was cast for them. Then in districts where a home candidate had nearly all the votes, though he was weak in the country at large, after he was dropped, the second highest candidate in the district micrht neel its 500 or COO votes by virtue of 15 or 20 cast for him. It is easy te sec hew, under this system, inducements would be offered for a com petition among the desperate men en gaged in the trade of our local politics that would engender greater corruption than new prevails, and only combine in results the evil :ispects of both the dele gate and primary systems, instead of eliminating them in a better plan. It may be, however, that no better sys tem than the Clarien county mode can be devised te meet the existing local dif ficulties. Certainly no device can se cure fair and henast elections, unless it is administered by fair and honest men. Ne laws hedging about the ballet-box will be oflicacieus unless enforced, and they will net be enforced unless backed by a healthy sentiment and resolute men. The rogues will break through them, and will beat the honest people every time, tee, unless that sentiment and resolution are organized. Individ ual effort counts for little against organ ized fraud. We believe there are certain evil prac tices in our political system, responsible for most of the corruption pervading it, which can be eradicated by the agree ment of a few men of all parties, all of whom have equal interest in suppressing them. It is for this reason that we have advocated and again propose joint action by representative Democrats and Repub licans of both factions--active politicians, we mean, who knew these evils and hew te suppress them. Te be specific, we believe that if the system of paying voters' taxes, of hired "poll committees," of assessing candidates or officeholders, and of giving any sort of valuable in ducement te voters at primary or gener al elections for their votes, were abated, most of the political abuses te which we are subject would vanish, and almost any decent system of nominations would be satisfactory. We believe that a com mittee of one hundred, equally divided, say, between the Democracy and the two Republican factions, witli its chairman chosen by let from three persons, selected one by each of these wings of the whole, could abate these evils. Such a com mittee could readily be named, and if its members would agree te work together, te give their individual efforts aud ex ample te the suppression of these things, and te enforce the laws strictly and punish every violator of them, a long way would have been traveled toward the necessary reforms, our elections would no longer be" carnivals of fraud," the expenses of them would net be a burden for people who take an interest in politics, aud money would net be poured out here, every Republican or general campaign, for the demoralization of the community and the corruption of its youth. "We de net want te conceal the fact that such a movement could net result in any less te the Democracy here, great gain as it would be te every interest of decency and geed morals. The abuses complained of have net originated with nor have they been profitable te the minority. The local practice of paying the taxes of voters was inaugurated by the Republicans, and early advantage was taken of it te completely over ever slaugh the Democracy of the city and elect seven out of twelve school direct ors. With such an experience the Democrats were compelled, te defend themselves, disagreeable and expensive as it has been, te pay every two years the taxes of some 1,200 or 1,400 voters in this city alone, who were se indifferent te the pnHege3 of the franchise as te neglectTthis matter or saddle it upon the party organization. Trained te the ac ceptance of money for se-called " serv ices " at the primary elections, where tee often Democrats are found in the mercenary employ of Republican fac tions, a large number of the voters of this city have been led te expect com pensatien for election-day "work" en what are known "as " poll committees ;" and both parties are subjected at every election te enormous expenses en this score, which, u net strictly ille gal, are demoralizing and are fertile sources of corruption . and cause the barter and sale of many a-vote. As te the assessment of candidates and officeholders, which is mainly relied en by the opposition te supply the funds for the purposes we have indicated, the few Democrats around here subject te such an assessment have never bad it levied upon them in the general acceptance of the term. While in a few instances a formal assessment has been made sel dom if ever as great as that proposed in the new rules offered te the Republican party within the knowledge of the writer, covering an acquaintance with the local political management for near ly ten years, 119 such assessment has ever been enforced, and scarcely ever collect ed, and never sought te be collected by any tlireats of striking a name off the ticket or against a recalcitrant office holder's tenure. Such payments te the campaign fund have been made, or made in part, or, as often happens, net made at all, exactly as it suited the candidates or office-holder's pleasure, and we de net remember any instance when the whole of them sufficed te pay such expenses as are " expressly author ized " by the act of Assembly defining legitimate election expenses. We would be glad and richer had they mom fre quently reached te defray even Hie print ing expenses. We de net hesitate te say this, as a matter of fact, though it is neither here nor there as te the preposition we make in the cause of a reform of our local politics. Geed men of all parties want te -see that accomplished. Nene such will step te weigh the slight advantages any party or any faction will gain, the benefit te all being se immeasurably great in securing these results. Let the laws be amended and the rules revised as much as necessary, but the great want new is an organized body of intelligent men te enforce them.- The Republican county committee made quite a show of virtue ever its dis inclination te levy a campaign assess ment upon Judge Livingston, because of the dignity of the office for which he is the party candidate. Its action was quite right, but we can hardly concede the purity of the motive claimed for it, seeing that no such exemption was made for Judge Livingston ten years age, nor for Judge Patterson, who was taxed $1,000, an amount which no man could pay and honestly take the oath of office. It is much mere likely that thespasniod thespasnied ic virtue of the Republican committee this year is due te its plethora of money. It has levied an assessment of ever two thousand dollars for the most indifferent year in Pennsylvania politics since 1873, and when two hundred and fifty dollars would be ample te meet all the legitimate expenses of the cam paign. They could well let the judge off this year. Had his time hap pened at another period he veuld net have get off se easily. But seriously, with a surplus of fifteen or eighteen hun dred dollars, for which the committee has no use this year, aud which it has net even a pretext te spend, it might pay back a portion or the whole of the as sessment se indecently levied upon Judge Patterson. At least let it pay for the court's paper-books in the Stcinman and Ilensel case, which bill, we believe, has thus far been paid out of the county treasury. What Mr. Buchanan, as president at the outbreak of the rebellion, did or fail ed te de, has net been a matter of doubt. It. is historical and the verdict of history could be made up en the facts long since familiar te the public. The dispute has been as te the influences which surround ed him at the time and hew his different advisers ceunselled and prevailed with him. That some were in ardent sym pathy with the rebellion is net te be doubted ; that some were weak and in decisive and ready te let the cotton states secede in peace,, like some of Lin coln's succeeding cabinet, is equally true ; that ethers entertained a sound, constitutional view of the powers of the general government te maintain its ex istence and te wage war r.gainst insur gents is true; tee, and that Judge Black was one of this number his letter te Gen. Scott proved and his memorandum of suggestions en the reply te " the Seuth Carolina commissioners" confirms. WiJ cannot believe that Mrs. R. B. Hayes has been se silly -as te say that the issue in the Ohie election this fall is: " Shall I endorse Garfield or Guiteau." Wise women, perhaps, have said mere foolish things, and whether or net this particular exhibition of silliness has been afforded, the Cincinatti Commercial brings the matter fairly into contro versy by declaring that Mrs. Hayes has thus put the question of the Ohie cam paign into the shortest sentence yet em ployed. If Mrs. Hayes made a feel of herself, which in abundant charity we gravely doubt, the Commercial is unkind te advertise her felly. PZBbONAL. A full-length portrait of the president, painted by Mr. Berthrong, is te be pre sented te Mrs. Garfield by divers citi zens of Bosten. ' It is stated that the deanery at West minister has becen offered te the Rev. Henry Montagu Butler, head master of Harrow Scheel, who will probably ac cept. Colonel Cameren and Jehn W. Daniel, opposition candidates for governor of Vir ginia, may make a joint canvass of the state. Beth aie geed orators, and au ex citing campaign is predicted. The friends of Hen Charles J. T. Mc Intvre, of Perry county, are endeavoring te prevail en him te permit his name te be used in connection with the Democratic nomination for president judge of the du trict composed of the counties of Juniata and Perry. The late William G. Farge by his will leaves his residence aud grounds at Buffalo and an annuity of $15,000 te his wife. His two daughters, Geergianaand Helen, each I receive one-third, and the ether third is divided among bis grandchildren. When Miss Claim Lecipe Kellogg, the American prima denna was in. St. PetersTmrg. the government authorities, se she tells a newspaper interviewer, were as suspicious of her as if she was lined with dynamite. Her mail was opened aud all supposed incendiary paragraphs were cut out. Thee. Allen, the noterious'Xew Yerk gambler, murderer and Republican ballot ballet box stuffer, being divorced from his first wife, has been married te a haudsome and refined young woman named Ella Abbic Glever, worth half a million. Allen ex plains that he get his divorce from his first wife in Indiana. " It was granted a few days after the last presidential election, at which time I had been a resident of Indi ana for thirty days." Allen was out there distributing " tracts " for Arthur. The wealthiest widows in England are the Hen. Mrs. Meynell Ingram, daughter of Lord Halifax, and Mrs. Ger ard Lkieii. The first inherited from her husband two splendid seats, each with a deer park, and an income above $150,000 a year. Mrs. Gerard Leigh, who sails in the finest steam yacht afloat, owns Luten park formerly the seat of the Bute family, and a fine house in Gresvener square, Londen, She entertains liberally, whereas Mrs. Meynell Ingram lives quietly. m MINOR TOPICS. Tun New Era has concluded that Whit taker slit his. own ears aud that Dr. Bliss suppresses the truth in his White Heuse bcllctins. The New Era is getting along. Aged and infirm people, with one feet in the grave, can have a new charm added te life by getting their lives insured for $100,000 and then putting themselves under the treatment of the doctor in whose favor the policy is made out. Vknxeu predicts a gieat change in the weather about the time the new comet is in its perihelion. According te the astron omers this will occur about the 20th of the present month, and ifVeuner knows any thing concerning the matter, we may leek for cold weather, accenipaniad by frosts aud ether chill-iuducing agencies. Fer "reasons obvious" from Lt. Cem. Goedrich's letter te Mayer MacGenigle, Lancaster city ought te have a coat of arms. Fee want of a belter design Cem. Goedrich might tie a big red rose around the head of a champaign bottle when he re-eh j ist ens the refitted ship named after our town. The unanimous rcuomiuatien of Hen. Henry P. Ress for president judge of the Montgomery courts, by the Democratic convention of that county, is a deserved tribute te a jurist, whose term of service has demonstrated his fitness for the posi tion he new adorns and in which he has achieved a reputation that is net confined te the borders of his own county or state. Net a single member of the cabinet has seen the president since the day after the sheeting. The history of the case, the condition of the piesideut, is alone known te his doctors, aud they keep their coun sel vciy closely te themselves. Whatever is telegraphed or written about the inside history of the sick president's condition is the merest crumb from the table, nothing mere, for nothing mere is known. The amenities of journalism in our sister city of Reading arc beautifully exemplified in one esteemed contemporary, the News, alluding iu feeling terms te the "low, mean, disreputable practices" resorted te by another esteemed centem perary, the Eagle, te secure the advan tages of the greater enterprise and super ior facilities for collecting news cujeyed by the first-named e. c. The JVJ?im pleas antly insinuates that Mr. Hawley wears the brand of a sneak thief. The Pittsburgh Leader (Rep.) raps its party contemporaries in that city sharply ever the knuckles, and gives them the cheice of cither horn of the dilemma iu which they have placed themselves by urging a coalition of the Republicans of Virginia with Maheuc's -Repudiation party, "by telling them that if they don't knew that the "Bourbons" are ically the debt paying party and the Readjustcrs the re pudiation party, then the political ignor ance they display is discreditable. And if they de knew it and nevertheless try te confuse their readers as te the issue, then they display a moral turpitude still mere discreditable. STATE ITEMb. G unison Cargalf, one of the most premi nent and highly esteemed citizens of Wilhamspert, has died, agedninety-eue years. Stirred by public clamor, the lower branch of Philadelphia's municipal legis lature removes the ebstacles in the way of clean streets. At au unusually large at tendance and harmonious meeting of the common council yesterday morning money te move the dirt was voted. The Berks county grand jury has feuud true bills agaiust Dr. L. C. B. Yergcy, of pottstewn, ana A.ueriavcn, of Monocacy, charged with conspiracy in obtaining $5,000 en the life of Daniel Gebris. The case was called for trial, but Yergey failed te answer. His bail was forfeited. DcHavcn entered bail for the November term. The P. O. S. of A. state camp opened in Pottstown yesterday. Daniel M. Thorp, of Lebanon, is president ; W. S. Reycr, of Pottstown, vice president ; II. J. Steger, Philadelphia, secretary ; Jehn II. Hetter, Lebanon, treasurer. Upen the ar rival of the Philadelphia members, accom panied by a drum corps, a short street parade was made, the Pottstown members acting as escort. The aunual reunion of the Eighty-eighth regiment Pennsylvania volunteers was held in Reading yesterday. The following officers were elected : President, Jeb 11 D. Veutier ; Vice President, S. fturkart ; Secretary, A. Gardiucr ; Treasurer, J. Martin. Resolutions were passed, ene commending the movement te erect a monument at Gettysburg te the memory of General Reynolds and ene deploring the brutal attempt en the life of the president and expressing sympathy for -iris family. The Philadelphia Evening' Tetf graph, one of the super-sensitive journals, which was se henilied at the Intelligencer's criticisms of the president's doctors, new concludes that "either they have been often insincere or they have rested iu igno rance only a degree removed from that of the much-reviled newspaper doctor. It would be better, unless the surgeons should conclude te act in absolute geed faith, and confidence with the people, te issue no bulletins at all eraf 'east ueth- iug but the barest outline, without com ment, regarding pulse, etc. The opponents of Mr. Gewen advertise a list of the subscribers- te bis tiB? ferred bend scheme te show that "Count Melchoir G. d'Wezle, is al lotted half a million; Prince Ladislas Cyarteryski, half a million; Cennt C. Zameyski, a hundred thousand ; and Sir Philip Roje, Bart., a quarter of a million. Of the total of ever fifty millions sub scribed, the new defunct Angle-French Union bank asked for $10,000,000 ; James McHenry for $10,000,000; Franklin B. Gewen for $5,000,000 ; and Mr. Yautrain for $1,000,000, while six ether individuals took each half a million. The allotment te these great subscribers was $7,555,000. and while the less liberal subscribers paid their guarantee as a matter of geed faith, and te secure their right te the bends, none of these large subscribers paid a pen ny en their allotments." LATEST NEWS BY MAIL. Davidsen, And rows & Ce.'s lleuring mills at Seuth -Point, O., were burned ; less $10,000. While engaged in filling a gasoline stove iu Austin, Texas, Mrs. Sneed was fatally burned by the ignition of the oil. D. Helt, of the Massachusetts supreme bench, was found dead in his office, having committed suicide by sheeting himsclt through the head. Ne cause is assigned for the act. Mrs. C. II. Heskcll, of Harvard, Mass., was found dead in her bed room. The lamp was bieken add the body lay en the carpet badly burned. It is supposed that she died of heart disease. . A file in the stables en the race track at Lexington, Ky., burned two fine two-year-old racers and occasioned the death of a three-year-old filly, who broke her back by running against a fence in a fright. All the horses were the property 01 James Murphy. At Andersen, Ind., James D. Powers killed Wm. R. Hougham, at Perkins villc. Pewers, with a crowd of roughs, was trying te break up au icecream party. Hougham, as one of the party, tried te step him, when he received a fatal blew across the forehead. Powers is iu jail. At a moonlight picnic of colored people at Steny Point, Bourbon county, Ky, Dan Harper, a mountaineer, was pnt off the grounds by Wm. Hatchcreft, a white man, whose services had been engaged te pre serve order. Harper returned with a shot gun and killed Hatchcreft. The boiler of a steam thrashing machine en the farm of Henry Yeung, near Col umbia, III., en the St. Leuis and Caire narrow gauge railroad, exploded, killing five persons and seriously injuriug five ethers. The names of only three of the killed are reported, viz : Fitzgerald White, Nathan Brown and Alfred Arneld. The two latter are colored men. The dead body of a woman was found in a barn near Plainfield, N. J. 'It was identified as that of Annie Decker, a laun dress, who resided in Plainfield for many years. She had been demented recently. She disappeared last Wednesday from the place where she was living. Upen her person were $322. A pest mortem exam ination showed that she died from nat ural causes, accelerated by exposure dur ing several days of wandering. The house of Dr. Wm. II. Bewcn, a temperance crusader, in Scituatc, R. I., was burned lately with nearly all its con tents. The family were aroused in time te save their lives. After the house had been burned down lire broke out iu the barn. The flames were extinguished, when it was found that the fire was caused by an incendiary machine operated by clockwork. Doubtless a similar apparatus was used te burn the house. Three prisoners escaped from the Lin coin, Neb., penitentiary. They were as sisting at the burning of a brick kiln aud scaled the wall. James Kennedy and Samuel Goddard were in for horse steal ing, and had three years te serve ; and the ether, Geerge Davis, was serving a sentence of two years aud a half for grand larceny. Wardcu Nobes eilers a reward of fifty dollars each for their cap ture. Scouting parties are out in every dirctien. Mrs. II. C. Robinson, a resident of Men roe, a small town about ten miles west of Bridgeport, Conn., while visiting a nciirfi ber, attempted te head oil a pair of bulls which had escaped from a neighboring field. One of them turned en her, forced her against a fence, goring her iu a shock ing manner, she succeeded in making her escape from the infuriated animal, climbed ever a fence and fell insensible. bhc died from the injuries. She leaves a husband and two children. An altci catien occurred between Nathan Prettyman and Charles W. Curry, at the house of the former, Ne. 1125 Pine street, St. Leuis, growing out of atten tions paid by Curry te Prettymau's daugh ter against the wishes of her parents. They came te blows, and Prettyman was knocked down aud beaten and stamped upon iu a brutal manner. He died at 3 o'clock this morning. Curry was arrested, and is new in jail en the charge of murder. Beth of the men are said te have been in toxicated at the time. THE i-BESIDEN'T. He signs tils JS'ame in a Steady Keund Hand. The president, according te the state ments of the attending physicians, has passed another conilei table day. He par took of liquid nourishment without the renewal of gastric disturbance. A pleasaut incident occurred in the sick room yesterday morning. It appears that after the dressing of the wound the presi dent was in better spirits than usual, and the doctors taking advantage of the fact indulged in some mild levity between themselves. Finally, Dr. Bliss said te the president that he believed he could sign his name te a document as well as he had overwritten it. The president replied, "Have you a pencil, doctor?" "Yes," answered the doctor, "here is one." Thereupon a small tablet, used by the doctors in writing out the bulletins, was also handed the president. lie held it up before his eyes with his left hand while he wrote upon it with the pencil he held in his right. He did net raise himself while performing the task, but layas the doctors had placed him. Returning the pencil and tablet te the doctor, he remarked : " There ! what de think of that signa ture for a sick man?" The doctors immediately crowded around Dr. Bliss anxious te get a glirapse of the chirography, and were astonished te see written upon the tablet in a- steady round hand: : .1. A. UAUP1ELI), : : August 0.18S1. , ; The Supreme Bench. N. Y. Times, Kcp. The people are fully conscious, uevcrthe less, that the last three accessions te the supreme bench, these of Harlan, Weeds and Matthews, were net of such a charac ter as te add greatly te its authority or dignity. Each ene of them ewes his distinc tion te his appointment rather than his ap pointment te his distinction. Ne one of them had made a great reputation even locally as a jurist. These three men, with the two next te be appointed, will consti tute a majority of the bench. The ether members, Chief Justice Waite, and Asso ciates Field, Miller and Bradley, though able and experienced judges, have no such superfluity of weight that the bench will sarely admit of any further lightening. There ought rather te be added te its membership two of the very best jurists that the country can furnish, and they should be appointed for their ability and learning their uprightness and judicial character, and without regard te political considerations in any narrow sense. PRINCETON COLLEGE. Curious Charges Aealnst Treasurer Harris. Seme consternation has been caused in Princeton by the publication in the Phila delphia Times of a dispatch purpeiting te come from Princeton and accusing the Rev. Wm. Harris, treasurer of Princeton college, of having in various ways swin dled the students. At the beginning of the term the students are required te deposit a stun of money te cover their expenses for fuel and gas. The fuel is taken te the students' rooms and dumped into a coal box. The account of the amount of fuel used by each student is kept by the carrier. At the end of the term the student is paid the money remaining from his deposit in ex cess of what has been expended for his coal. This sum is called a " drawback." The Times correspondent says that for years the students have found these draw hacks tee small, and that they began te accuse the treasurer of defrauding them. He instances cases where an accurate ac count of the fuel and gas was kept by the students, who found that drawback of from $10 te $15 were due them. When they went for this amount they were told that no money was due them, and in seme cases they were told that they owed money te the college, but that en insisting that money was due them they were generally paid. Mr. Harris is also charged with keeping money sent from home te the students. He is also charged with the re sponsibility for the epidemic of malaria that prevailed some time age iu that col cel "lege. The entire story, a despatch te the New Yerk World from Princeton says, seems te be an exaggeration by some interested party .Mr. Harris is net m Princeton, nor is Dr. McCosh, but Professer Duffield said in dignantly that he believed the entire story was an unfounded aud malicious libel up on Mr. Harris, who is a divine of high standing. He is net a member of the faculty, aud the faculty would have nothing te de with the case. When the malaria trouble broke out Mr. Harris had nothing te de with the sanitary condition of the school, that hav ing been in the hands of a curator who has lest his place Professer Duffield had heard of the cemplaiuts of ovcrcharge for fuel, which he compared te the usual com plaints of exorbitant gas bills. Professer Yeung said he did net knew Mr. Harris intimately, but had no idea that the charges could be true. Mr. Osberno, Mr. Harris's clerk, was seen. He thought the story came from some dissatistiedstudent. In Edwards Hall, which was used for the first time last winter, there had been some complaint among the studeuts, as the approximation for fuel used there fell short iu many cases. The unusual severity of the winter made the consumption greater than had been expected. Mr. Osberno would net say, however, that some of the students mere than used up their deposits. There had been no complaints in any ether building. He knew that the figures given by the Times were net correct, as all the accounts passed through his hands, as did these also for the money sent te the students. The meter iu each room was the guide for eas charges. The catalegue gives the fuel de posit for the first session as $5, for the sec ond, $8. Destructive Floods In the West. A special dispatch from Central City, Cel., savs : "The most destructive flood in the history of this district occurred en Monday afternoon. At 2:30 o'clock a heavy storm cloud appeared, accempauied by almost incessant thunder and lightning. At 4 o'clock people were startled by an unearthly rear te the west, and in stantly a volume of water of be tween four and five feet iu length came rushing down Nevada aud Eureka streets. Heavy quartz teams standiug in the streets were overturned and carried down stream like feathers. Rocks weigh ing 500 or COO pounds were rolled along the streets like pebbles. . Auimals and everything in the track of the flood were swept away. Large masses of debris were carried through the street at the late of fifteen miles an hour. The whele length of the gulches, from Nevadavillc en ene side and the head of the Eureka en the ether, presents a most desolate ap pearance. The roadways are entirely de stroyed, in many places the ruts being four or six feet ucep,and extending for hun dreds of yards. The entire length for about thrce miles is stiewn with debris of every kind. At several points between Central and Black Hawk streets, the debris is piled twenty-live feet high. Eureka street for a quarter of a mile is 0110 mass of rocks and rubbish. On Main street four feet of sand are deposited. The flood was caused by the bursting of a rain cloud a little west of the city. The natural channel of the stream became dammed, turning the water into the streets. The only less of 1110 known at present is that of Jeseph Gerry, whose body was found in the Black Hawk. The flood lasted only twenty min utes. The damage is estimated at $50. 000." Advices from Idaho Springs say the flood was the severest ever experienced there. Several houses iu Virginia Canen were carried away. A girl of six years was drowned. Nearly all the railroad and ceuutry biidgcs between the forks of the creek aud Idaho were swept away, aud Dearly all the houses iu the business part of the town were flooded and the streets damaged. The damage at Idaho will amount te $20,000. lt is estimated that it will take 100 men 48 hours te repair the damage te the railroad track between Idaho and Floyd Hill. Ne trains are ex pected te depart or ariivc in Central City until late te-day. tm SWINDLED OUT OF 35,000. A Husten MorchnntTaken in by an Alleged llreker and Ills Principal. Quite recently Daniel Goeduow, a wealthy merchant doing business at 91 Commercial sIPect, Bosten, was appreaebed by a plausible stranger styling himself G. A. Fuller, an alleged cotton broker, who, according te the directory had an office at 54 Kilby street. Fuller said he desired te negotiate en behalf of the Peppcrell manufacturing company of Biddcferd, Me., for the purchase of a cer tain let of damaged cotton in Goodnew's possession. This cotton Goodnew had bought at an auction sale and it was valued at nearly $30,000. The merchant was favorably impressed with his visitor and an arrangement was entered iute whereby the agentef the company should call and see him. At the proper time the " agcut" called, in company with the wide awake broker, and a bargain was seen made between the three for the cotton, the price which the Pnpperell company was te pay being $29,931. Goodnew was in formed that the company was engaged in heavy law suits with railroad companies aud that consequently the goods would have te be sent by water te thsir destina tion. The upshot of the palaver was that Goodnew bought an old bark named the Winter Sea, put the cotton and several hundred gallons of wine and a large quan tity of tea aboard and sent the bark te sea. He has neither seen nor heard of the vessel, goods, agent or broker since, and investigation shows that he has been de frauded out of about $35,000. Hew be came te put the wine and tea aboard is net known. Caught by a Merman. A young lady of Jamestown, N. Y., while in bathinp near Ttamna Pr,;nf Chautauqua lake, had a narrow escape irem drowning, a turtle caught held of ber ear, which caused her te scream frightfully, and but for the timely arrival of assistance she would have strangled. In order te extricate the turtle's teeth from her ear its head was cnt completely off, after which it took ten minutes te pry its jaws apart. The lady went through the operation bravely, but says she will never again float in the Chautauqua. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. m "Why Islt?" It has been always alleged that when ladies meet aud pass each ether they in variably leek around at each ether, and the question naturally arises, "Why is it ?' Seme say they desire te see the back of each ether's bonnet, whilst ethers as stout ly contend that they desire te prevent each ether from seeing the back of each ether's bonnet ; and the contest en this subject, in the debating societies the coin ing autumn and winter, is likely te be as long, as animated and as .stubborn as the late Conkling Piatt contest in the Legislature of New Yerk. We believe it has never yet been decided whether the inau upon whom the brick from the house-top fell aud killed, was walking tee fast or tee slew. Had he walked slower the brick would have fallen before he reached the spot ; had he walked faster he would have passed the spot before the brick fell. This is a question of humanity and it's a pity it was net decided ene way or the ether. The abeve question belongs te a similar category ; because, suddenly look ing round jeopardizes the superior portion of the vertebral column, and it is hoped that charity towards the " geutler sex " will prompt the " sterner sex " te solve the problem without a pcradventurc, equivocation, or prcvariacatien, the ap proaching debating season. Sword Presentation. At the annual convention of the Grand Circle of Pennsylvania of the Order of Brotherhood of the Union iu Reading, Washington Lcgieu Ne. 3. Knights of the Revolution, arrived from Lancaster about 25 strong shortly before nine o'clock yes terday morning. They were met at the outer depot by the Philadelphia delega tion, and were accompanied by the Eden band, 13 pieces of Lancaster. The efliecis of Lancaster Legien are : Capt U. McElroy; first lieutenant, Jehn Obcr decr ; second lieutenant, J. B. Dorn Dern myer. After some preliminary exercises, in which both Legien3 anticipated, the Majer, O. W. C. Whinna, stepped ferwaid 'and created a genuine surprise te many of these present. First, he presented a mag nificent sword te Captain Geerge S. Kiel, of Legien Ne. 1, and another equally handsome te Captain Hiram McElroy. of Legien Ne. 3, complimenting them for the zeal, energy and devotion they had shown in advancing the cause of, the order. The recipients both made suitable re sponses. Captain McElroy's sword will be en ex hibition in the window of E. J. Erisman's store. North Queen street, for a few days. The Reading papers speak in compli mentary terms of the haudsome appear ance of the Lancaster Knights, who re turned te the city last evening. T1IU .SELLS 1SKOT11KKV CIKUl'S. Their Arrival and Parade This Morning. This morning the " Sells Brethers' Mil lionaire Confederation of Stupendous Rail -read Shows" (or words te that effect) ar rived in this city. They pitched their tents en the park greuuds, and shortly after 10 o'clock made a street parade. A number of chariots, eight elephants including ene with about as much hair us a side of leather, which is advertised as the "woolly elephant," aud a number of haud haud haud soeo cages were seen iu the parade. The figures en each cage were very funny. Twe Jjands of music enlivened the parade with their music. One baud was composed entirely of colored men and the music they made was very bad. The steam organ played two pieces from that "eiitircly new" opera of ' Pinafore," which were very refreshing. This afternoon the attendance at the per formance was large, a great many coun try people being in town. The riug en tertainment is said te be very geed and the show gave great satisfaction in Col umbia last night Held fur Postage. A letter addressed te "Miss Ilattie liar kins, Chestnut Hill, Haiford county, Mil.," is held for postage. The sender of this letter cut the stamp from a stamped en velope aud placed it upon the cnvekqie containing the letter. This is illegal, and all letters thus stamped will be detained at the posteflico for non-payment. If a stamped envelope is misdirected, or in any way becomes defaced tiie owner of it can get a new stamped envelope in exchange for it by presenting it at the postefliee, but he is net allowed te cut out the stamp from the defaced envelope and paste it upon an unstamped envelope. This state ment of the case has been made many a time, but it may be well cnenj.li te make it again, as some people appear te have net known, or forgotten it. Heme Again. His honor Mayer MacGenigle lias re turned from a fortnight's sojourn at Sar atoga springs, and has resumed the duties of his office. His honor says he had a de lightful time while away, and his health ful color aud improved appcarauce bear witness te the correctness of the state ment. James M. Burke, esq., reached his home iu Lancaster last evening, after a four months' sojourn in Ireland. Cross Cress ing the brine has deue him a world of geed. M. J. Treacy, of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of Londen. England, arrived in this city last night with J. M. Burke esq., whom he accompanied from Europe- He will locate here. Obituary. Mrs. Anna Wilsen, a venerable and re spected woman, aged 73 years, died at the residence of her son, Jeseph Wilsen, in Leve Laue, te day and will be buried en Friday as is stated in the obituary depart ment of te day's paper. Mrs. Wilsen, whose maiden name was Shupp, was a native of Lancaster county and for many years past resided in the city. She was a member of the Dunkard or German Baptist church, and her remains will be buried in the Menneuite burying ground en the Millersville pike. Mrs. Montgomery's Fuuerul. The funeral of Mrs. J. V. Montgomery took place from Millersville yesterday. The religious services were held iu the corridor of the hapcl of the normal school, Prof. Montgomery's family and friends occupying two adjoining rooms. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Moere, of the Millersville Reformed church. The funeral cortege contained twenty-five or thirty carriages and moved from Millersville te Lancaster cemetery, where the interment took place. Seventh Annual Convention. The association of directors of the peer of this state will held their seventh annual convention iu Erie en September 20. B. F. Cox, superintendaut of our Lancaster county hospital, is ene of the vice presi dents of the association. He and the di rectors will attend the meeting. The " Heme " ricnlc. The annual picnic of the " Heme "' will ba held en Saturday next at Tell's Hain, and it is hoped the friends of the little folks will remember U10 occasion and con tribute something towards this entertainment. BROWNSTOWN CAMP. The Services in the Weed Yesterday. Tuesday Morning. The weather to day has been all that could be desired, fine and cqfL Early prayer meeting at 6:30, conducted by Rev. Knarr. Family worship at 6:45. Breakfast at 7 o'clock. Prayer meeting was conducted by Daniel Buch, of Lititz. The opening sermon was bv Rev. F. Lehr. from ,i i- ,. he, Pe part of Sth verse, followed by Rev. J. E rt.narr, auu snore auar prayer meeting. The attendance was large. Afterrnoen. General prayer meetings in the altar by Rev. A. Warfel; at 2:30 preaching by Rev. J. Zern, from 1 Peter, 3d chanter. latter rart of 1.1th tknd uriti. an earnest appeal by Rev. J. E. Knarr te the members for a closer walk with Ged ; and he appealed te the sinners te come te iiirist. Ecening. Prayer meeting conducted by Martin Bellinger, snrmnn hv Uf- T W Bickler, of Birdsboro. The disceurse" was able and eloquent. The order has been geed for the very large attendance. A number of young men, boys and girls, who came te show oft, wanted te walk inside of the tent dur ins service. Bv a little advice all nhsnrveil the rule. The Flagship " Lancaster." Lieutenant Commander C. F. Good Goed rich, of the United States navy, has writ writ ten the following letter te his honor Mayer MacGenigle : IT. S. Xaxv Vaiip, Portsmouth, X. 11.. ( m JulySUtli. 151. Te His Hener the Mayer of Lancaster, I'n .- Dear Sir : The ship named after the city of which you are the chief magistrate is fitting out at this yaul as flagship of the European fleet. Fer certain purposes, which you may readily surmise, it will be agreeable te the ellicers for whom I take the liberty of speaking, te have a copy or copies of the seal of the city of Lancaster. Will you have the kindness te send me. say,half a dozen copies of the seal, or, better-yet. of the coat of arms :' By se doing you will greatly eblige Your obedient servant. C. F. GoeDitu'ii. Lieut. Commander U. S. Navy. In compliance with the above request Mayer MacGenigle will forward Lieut. Cem. Goedrich half a dozen copies of the city seal. Lancaster has no coat of arm?. i;iis Ter Water Pipe. Last evening at the mayor's office the bids for furnishing water pipe for the en suing year were opened. They were as fellows : The Melleit foundry and machine com pany, of Reading, propose te furnish and deliver free en cars at Lancaster cast iron pipe te the amount of 100 teiw, tested te 300 lbs. per square iueh and made out of geed, strong, gray iron, net exceeding 100 tens up te Jan. 1st, 1SS2, at the following prices : 4-inrii pipe per ten $.l;CO ' . ). ! lik tt .- r.v 1 44 ..- ft R. D. Weed & Ce., Philadelphia, pro posed te deliver pipe of tluj test qualitv at $39.S0 per ten of 2240 pounds. The contract was awarded te Mellert !c Ce. WATER GAS. A Letter te " Ills Worship the .Mayer." Wilsen King, consul of L'nilell States at Birmingham, England, having heard that Lancaster is lighted with new kind of water gas, writes te "his worship the mayor of Lancaster." lie wants, te as certaiu all about the manufacture, price and illuminating qualities of the gas and what proportion of the city has been or will be lighted by it. He writes iu the interest of Gee S. Dwight, an American citizen, who thinks that information en the above points will be of signal service te the American enterprises of some mag nitude in Europe. Or course Censul King has been misin formed as te our city being lighted by water gas, and ' His worship the mayor" will se inform him. Driving Accident. The spindle of Hoever Met'hiru:; buggy broke while he was driving te the Gap last evening, and his wife who was with him at the time, was tin own out and get ting entangled in the lines was dragged scvcial times around Harmony school house, injuriug her quite seiieusly. She was taken te the house of Mr. KIlis I'iekL. aud Or. Parke called. who rendered all the assistance he could. Sh was then taken te her home and when last heaul from was doing as well as could he expected under the circumstances. Mr. McChuc is em ployed with Sewer. Potts it Ce., Philadel phia, and was en his way te Ohie when the accident occurred. Itmuriuice Paid. The insurance companies in ir!iti1i Philip Hilkc had his tobacco iusiiied,whicli was recently destroyed by lire, yesterday paid ever te. 1. Ij. McmmcU, esq., the lol lel lol lewing sums of money, the amount of the insurance : Xnrth British j&t'M ."" Commercial Union , McrcluiiitM, Newark 1IOW ill riHi'iiix ilrilish AiiiurU-a Trans-Atlantic. , -IIlIlt ! Williamsburg City The Union Plia'iiiv, Londen.... Londen AMiruncf :;i:is :i; kc.m 71 ;'; 71 . ... . yj 71 (fJ 71 - CI1H !." :;.iK:r. . tZfJe 71 Total ....f.VI.173 Police Cases. Alderman Spurrier sent Jimmy (juinn te jail for ten days at his own request te sober up. Alderman Alex. Dennelly has dismissed the cempiaint he made against Sue Mar tin, of malicious mischief, for tearing his coat te pieces during the recent row en Rockland street. Mary Boekraycr w.is arrested and held for hearing en the charges of keeping a dkerdeily house and selling beer without a license; and Clara Geistweidu en a charge of diunkcn and disorderly conduct. The Policy Sharks. A Press correspondent, iu siatch of rot ten insurance risks, feuud old Eliza Helder, in Earl township, Berks county, aged 12, sick from various ailments and doctored by men who have from $100,000 te $200,000 en her lifu ; Reuben Trout, aged 86 and ready te die, leaded down with insurances iafaver of a gang of spec ulators and apprehensive of murder by poisoning ; Jacob Stahr, rolling iu the gutters of Reading, aged 88, aud worth at death $75,000 te the insurance sharks. Ames Dcverter's Funeral. The funeral of Ames Deverlcr took place yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock and was attended by many of our best citizens ami friends from Philadelphia. The re ligious services at the house were conduct ed by Rev. Dr. Greenwald, of Trinity Lutheran church. Theodere Wcnditz, Ames Lee, Gcerge W. Brown and Jeseph Cremcr acted as carriers. The interment took place in Woodward Hill cemetery, where the closing religions services were conducted by Rev. E. L. Reed. The Oxford Itacef. On Tuesday Sept. 27 and Fr.day Sept. 30, there will he races at Oxford. Ne. 1, , class 4 : 00, premium $100. First, $50 ; second, $25 ; third, $15 j.feurth, $10. Xe. 2, class 2:50, premium $175. First, $95 ; second, $45 : third, $22.50 : fourth." $17.50. Xe. 3, class 3:00, premium $125. First, $G5 ; second, $30 ; tiiird, $17.50 ; fourth, $12.50. Ne. 4, class 2:40, premium $200. First, $110 ; second. $45 : third, $25 ; fourth, $20. yv-.-y ' .T-i-