-H-i "'' -,,v--"... .- yJi;Sjgi'v:'-'--i-y.'--r LANCASTER DAILY INTKLLlGENCERt tfRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9. 188L rs' RMS'' -; Lancaster ntclligencet "FRIDAY EVKNINO, SEPT. 9, 1881. In HarrlsbHrg Yesterday. The Republican state convention, which was held yesterday in Harrisburg, was one of the most docile ever known in the history of arbitrary ring domina tion and servile popular submission which has been written by the Republi can party of this state. Until within the last two weeks it had been triumph antly, and, as the result shows, rather incautiously blazoned abroad that W. T. Davies would be the nominee for state treasurer ; and that,inasmuch as he was a belter last winter, his selection by the state convention for this distinction would be a formal approval by the or- - ganizatinn of the righteousness of that belt, and a forerunner of the control of the gubernatorial nomination next year ' by the opponents of the family. All the while the managers of the Cameren dynasty seem te have been only waiting for their enemies' plans te fully mature that they might the mere effectually frustrate them. A circular issued by Wharten Baker's clique warning the party against certain disaster if any body but Davies was nominated, fur nished provocation and pretext for the showing of hands. Gen. llaily, of Fayette, was made the Cameren-Quay candidate and his sole political distinc tion was proclaimed te be that he had been a faithful though obscure member of the (J rant guard at Chicago. He wis Mr. Quay's choice and a3 such at least 150 of the delegates who were corralled into liis support gave him their voles. Beyond a few of his immediate neighbors none of them knew him or hud ever heard of him before. They went into a caucus called in his interest and agreed, exactly as Quay and Magee directed, who should make each motion and what all the motions should be en the tloer of the convention, and hew they should vote en every matter that the grace of the management allow ed te be introduced. The pregramme was slavishly adhered te and the con vention might as well have adjourned after the ring caucus dissolved. It is true Davies was a peer selection as the head of an aggressive independ ent movement in Republican politics. The element that supported him was as unfortunate as in its choice of Grew last winter. Davie is a time-serving pol itician, and had long trained with the Cameren faction. He would have been glad te have had its support, sought it, and expected it ; and even new his de feat is embittered by his reflection that it was elTected by his relations with the Independent element of his party. Se long as that wing of the party selects such men as Grew and Davies as its can didates, it will lese net only snccess but credit in its struggles, and save net even honor in defeat. Nene the les? the winning faction saw in Davies's punishment a chance te avenge the defeat of Oliver and the over over theow of the caucus last winter, and they went, te the end of their tether. It was net enough te rule the convention with a caucus and make Quay its chair man, hut the resolutions were directed by a studious effort te exclude every thing offensive te the ring and the cap- sheaf of its impudence is the brazen se lectien of the notorious Tem Cooper as the ellicial head of the party erganiza tien in Pennsylvania. The Republican party j estcrday shoul dered up for luggage in this campaign nearly everything that has been iniqui tous and shameful in our state govern ment for the past fifteen years. It must have been in a spirit of satire that the cenve ilieu declared its active support in the prompt and courageous correc tion of all governmental abuses," when it made as its chairman the living ex penent of these abuses in our state ad ministration and put its campaign into the hands of the most pliant tool which a corrupt and audacious ring litis had in either of the legislative bodies of the commonwealth. The platform of the Republican state convention is a most remarkable literary composition and political deliverance. Senater Themas V. Cooper and Edward MacPhersen, esq., arc credited with its several authorship. That it was net a joint production is painfully manifest, and we must insist that its authors have done discredit te their profession of journalism in their attempt te declare Republican principles. There is the slushiest sort of a mixture of sympathy with the president's afllictieu and ap proval of his administration two mat lei's that should have been treated of in separate planks, and upon which there might at least have iteen some distinct utterances if any opinion was intended te be expressed about them. The high sounding Reform pretensions of the platform are, it will be seen, en tirely vague and general. Upen no one of the living questions of stale policy has it anything te say. The pilfering in the departments, the abuses of the state treasury, the aggres sive power of corporations, the legisla tive wrongs of the suffering people, the raids upon the public funds, the pardon of convicted lobbyists, and subjects of like import, get no attention in the plat form of Mr. Quay's convention for Mr. Cooper's campaign. m m In the death of Sidney Lanier, Amer ican literature loses one of its most scholarly, original and premising young poets. His compositions were unique and musical, and often unappreciated and misuudeistoed. But they have fixed lodgment in the literary development of the age, and such productions as his " Cern," the weird cantata written for the centennial, and the exquisite " Bal lad of the Trees" will live in our litera ture. He had much of the " elusive quality" of the poet, which only these who measure peatry like tape deny te be a genuine poetic quality. " --.- The rapid improvement in the presi dent's condition indicates the wisdom of his removal te a batter atmosphere than that which was vitiate! by the breezes from the Potomac flats. He is getting along se welt that he growls a little at his phys:cian3 and reduce3 their nam her. TnE Philadelphia Press is displeased because the New Yerk Democratic state committee, in deprecating the assault by force upon the dignity of the presidency, recalled the assault by fraud four years age. "We can appreciate the feelings of Republicans at seeing the ghost of mur dered Banque, but we cannot under stand by what reasoning the Ameri can public can be exacted te forget the assault of the return-tinker and yet keep vividly in. mind the desperate deviltry of the assassin. MINOR TOPICS. Davies is another early worm that out in geed time te be caught. get The Press had plenty of editors and enterprise at the state convention, hut no votes. Wilt, wonders never cease ? Here is an English scientist going te farm by elec tricity as his plan, published en our first page, sets forth in detail. The New Yerk Times thinks " the com mittee which drafted the platform of the Republican state convention of Pennsylva nia seems te have been sorely puzzled te find anything te say. " The railways new building in various parts of Bengal, and these which arc pro jected there, indicate rapid progress in the extension or facilities for rapid inter communion! ion between the districts of that rich province of the Indian empire. Theki: are many signs of returning prosperity for canal navigation in Euro pean states notably se in Helland and Northern Germany, and especially in France, where it premises te exert a marked influence en railway rates. Ik some of the able editors of the Press, who had a convention in Harrisburg yes terday, had been searched, "a platform might have been found containing em phatic condemnation of the stationery steals. The matter seems te have been overlooked. Quay and Cooper give notice that " as Republicans we are in favor of any proper and well considered reform, either in the government of the nation, the state, muni cipality or county ; and we court sugges tions te any or all of these ends." It is te be hoped reformers will net be backward with their suggestions. The latest returns of live stock and fresh meat importations from the United States and Canada into England at the pjrt of Livorpjel show large increases. Fer a single week in August the quantity of live stock was double the quantity for the week preceding it, and in fresh meat there was considerable advance, particu larly iu beef. The New Era has discovered that " the Parden Mill which took such fine care of Bess KcmbJe and his fellow legislative corruptienisls, t'j the infinite disgust of all honest men, assumed the management of the Republican state convention. " But the "pardon mill" is henceforth te grind out ''economical and honest admin istration, " Tem Cooper is at the wheel. President G.vuriEi.e is new regarded by the physicians and the cabinet as in a much mere hopeful condition than he has been for thirty days. While there has been only a hope, and at times only a very slender one, of his lecevcry for seme time, there is new a reasonable expectation that he is safe. He has been cheerful and confident himself during all the day, ami a feeling of general confidence prevails as te his speedy recovery. "Fer the first time during the last three weeks it may new be said that there is warrant for a rational belief that he will he spared te the nation," writes Cel. McClure from Leng Branch. PERSONAL.. Priucc Frederick, uncle of the King of the Netherlands, is dead. Enw. MacPhersen is in town en busi ness relating te the Thaddcus Stevens es tate. Ex-Secretary Rokesex, who was re cently robbed en a street car in Philadel phia, has refused te go into court te testify against the pickpocket. Rev. Jaceis Mulfeiid, ex-lawyer, tem perance advocate, and, until a few weeks age, pastor of the Greenland M. E. church in Camden county, N. J., has committed suicide. A brilliant New Yerk wedding en the tapis is that of Miss Vanderiiii.t, the youngest daughter of William II. Yan derbilt, aud Dr. Weiju, a son of Janus Watsen AVebb. Yicc President Arthur remained quiet ly at his heurc yesterday and did net at tend any of the churches where prayers were being offered for the recovery of the president. Rev. Jehn M. Crozier, pastor of the Third Reformed Presbyterian church, Deal street, cast of Frank ford read, Philadel phia, died en Wednesday night, in his 29th year. Stephen S. Fester, prominent as an agitator for anti-slavery, temperance aud women's rights, has died at his farm, in the suburbs of Worcester, Mass., at the age of 71 years. Peachy R. Grattan, art eminent lawyer and author of " Grattan's Reports," died at Ashland. Ya., last night, at the age of 80 years, during 40 of which he held the position of law reporter of the Virginia supreme court of appeals. Judge Leren P. Walde, the eldest member of the Connecticut bar, died last night, at Hartferd, at the age of 80 years. He was a member of the Thirty-first, Con gress and was a ju Igc of the supreme court. Sidney Lanier, musician, poet aud scholar, died yesterday at Lynn, a little hamlet among the hills of North Carolina, whither he had gene iu search of health. He was but thirty nine years eK1, aud his Centennial cantata, his ether poems and his work as professor of literature in Jehns Hepkins university had made him famous en both continents as one of the rising stars in American literature and iu the development of the new Seuth. Pere Hyacintue, who, through some canonical difficulties, had net hitherto been allowed te preach in the Anglican church, has beeen invited Je preach in the English churches iu the Channel Islands, where he is at this moment. The Gallican move. ! movement, though looked upon coldly by most people here, would therefore appear te be exercising a real influence ever the religious thought of the day. Six Ameri can clergymen of the various denomina tions were present at Pere Hyacinth's church the ether day. Among them were Professer Mitchell and one of the revirers of the New Testament. REORGANIZATION. Party Rales and Regulations. Cliambcisburg Valley Spirit. The committee en rules appointed at the last meeting of the Democratic state committee will convene for the first time next week and, since it is determined te de something, it would be well that its work be performed under all the light that Democrats can give it. One preposition likely te receive the at tention of the committee is the future composition of the state committee. Seme persons have advocated the formation of a state committee from the chairmen of each county committee but we trust this recommendation will net be made by the committee en rules. If anything above personal advancement is considered in the selection of a county committee chairman, and let us hope there is, it is the peculiar fitness of that chairman for local work. His acquaintance, iu most of cases, does net extend beyond his county, and his knowledge of political tactics has been ac quired only by local cxpeiiencc. He is, in a measure, under the direction of the local candidates, whose will he is te work, aud as a sub captain may perform much valuable labor. But as an adviser, it is altogether likely, he would preve a fail ure. Members of the state committee should be chosen because of their eminent personal fitness aud their ability. They arc te be commanders, laying out a plan, or plans, for their lieutenants chairmen of ceuuty committees and ethers te fol fel low. These local chairmen should be con suited freely, for their experience, when directly or iudircctly made use of, is often or great practical value, hut their elevation te a membership in the state committeo would evidently destroy much of their local usefulness. An executive, or working, committee actiug under the directions of the general committee might be selected, mainly or wholly from the state committee, and the general plans laid qut by the committee might thus be promptly and intelligently put into effect. The officers of the state committee might either be selected from its membership or outside of it. The ex ecutive committee should, of course, be officered by one of its own members. The best reason for allowing either of the com mittees te clioeso its own officers is that there is a greater likelihood of the mem bers being in harmony with their chief. But te this plan of selection there arc ob eb ob jectious which present themselves. At present we can see no need for one or the ether of such committecscnipleying a per inaneut paid secretary. We de net think our conventions are tee large. They are never uuwicldly. But the representation allotted senatorial dis triats. might be proportioned among the several counties and the senatorial district delegate system be abolished. This class of delegates is a constant promoter of dissension and strife in senatorial districts. Iu four cases out of five such delegates are likely te represent only the sentiment of the county which happens by chance, common consent or alternation te secure them, and leave the balance of the district unvoiced. They are counterfeit represen tatives in most cases, since they de net wholly reprcscut, and may as well be re jected. The vote of the party seems a fair basis for convention representation, yet the mi nority most net be overwhelmed, or any difficulties placed in its way te discourage ; and the committee may well proceed with great cantieu when it comes te consider a change in this direction. The temporary organization of any con vention may be safely left te that conven tion te detcrmiuc. The freedom of the delegate's choice must be in no way abridged, either in the selection of the officers of his convention or of the can didates who are te compose the tickets which he is te aid in forming. It must be remembered that many coun ties have a brief scries of rules te facilitate busiucss in their local conventions, te provide for the selection of delegates te state conventions, etc., etc. This com mittee of course will net interfere with these, since such interference new en the eve of an important campaign would create dissension where only harmony exists. We have net entered iute any detailed consideration of " new rules " for the rea son that our feelings arc that the fewer rules we have as a party the better for ns. Our local organization in this state has been well kept up through a long line of defeats with the system under which we arc uew working and as it cems te have afforded an easy way through all our troubles in the past we have felt iu no haste te favor or urge a change. The matter new lies with this committee and later with the state convention and we have no fears that the best interests of the party will net at all times be carefully and conscientiously considered and regarded. STATE ITEMS. Elias Rhodes, an cmployee of the Read ing railroad, was killed yesterday by (all inc from the railroad bridge at Yardlcy, near Trenten. Isaac Shallcress, who died en the Gtli inst, in the eighty-fourth year of his age in Franklerd was an old-time teacher and surveyor. Miss Minnie Schooley, a sixteen year old maiden of Easten, took two ounces of laudanum " all for love," but a stomach pump prevented the accomplishment of her desperate design. The big steam hammer, made for the Black Diamond steel works, Pittsburgh, has been put in operation. The hammer weighs 17 tens and will work steel ingots two feet square. The motive power for this monster will be furnished by an cn cn gine with 40-inch cylinders requiring 80 pounds of steam. Benjamin Freeman, a colored prisoner in the Fayette county jail, committed sui cide by hanging. He made a rope but of strips tern from his blankets and tied it te the water pipe that runs through his cell. He was committed en chargrs of carrying concealed weapons. He was fifty years old and leaves a family. J. II. Lambert, writing te the Times from Harrisburg during the Republican convention, said : " I never saw a tirae when the general run of the delegates seemed se willing te be shown which way te go. 'I'm net instructed,' says an interior delegate ; show ine te Quay's room ;' and the carpet en the way te Quay's room is pretty badly worn." At the next session of the beard of par dons an effort will be made te secure a pardon for W. Heward Fussell, who was convicted in November last for keeping a disorderly house, known as "In Berlin," en Sausem street, Philadelphia, abeve Ninth, and with selling liquor te miners. He was sentenced te undergo an imprison ment of fourteen months and pay a fine of $300. During the progress of festivities in the celebration of Mrs. Miller's birthday in Easten, the latter's daughter was engaged in swinging a hammock iu which Mrs. Bewers, one of the gucste, was enjoying herself The hammock tilted ever, caus ing Mrs. Beweis te fall heavily te the pavement below aud strike en her face with great force. Miss Miller, at the sigh t of the accident, fell into convulsions iu which she remained about au hour. THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. CONTROLLED BY CAMERON. The Harrisburg Convention Nominates the Kin? Ticket. In the se-called Republican state con vention in Harrisburg yesterday commit tees were appointed as prearranged, the Hen. C. W. Gilfillan, of Ycnange, being made chairman of committee en platform, Cel. Gee. S. Gallupe, of Allegheny, chair man of committee en permanent organiza tion, aud McClcery, of Allegheny, en con tested seats. General Harry White was made permanent chairman, and after a characteristic speech from him the plat form was adopted as reported by the com mittee, net, however, until a delegate from Chestir had moved te cut down the effusive declaration concerning Garfield te a simple endorsement of his administration first, last and all the time. This proposi preposi tion after some wrngliug was laid en the table. The convention was then somewhat en livened and a geed deal bored by speeches nominating and seconding the nominations of the two candidates for state treasurer. Attorney-General Palmer named Baily and Davies was urged in a homely and loug-drawn-eut harangue by his constituent, ex-Senater Landen, who made some geed points, and illustrated with frontier stories the dangers into which the ring was run ning itself and the party by riding rough shod ever the wishes of the pseple. He protested against a candidate whose only distinction was that he had been one e ' the 300 at Chicago. Although he said he supposed he aud etheis of Davies's trieuds would have te vote ler any candidate, named by the convention, he begged it for Ged's sake net te force upon the party ene whose candi dacy would be construed as opposition te the sick aud suffering president. Senater Lee, of Ycnange county, conspicuous in the senatorial belt last winter, followed in a speech for Davies and against the sudden opposition sprung upon him. The con vention settled down te a ballet, and Baily had 157 votes te 84 for Davies. Philadelphia, Allegheny aud tle Deme cralic counties of the state contributed largely te Baily's strength. Gen. S. M. Baily, of Fayette county, was then declared te be the party nominee for state treasurer. The platform is as fellows : Rcselicd, First That the Republican party of Pennsylvania is in most hearty accord with the administration of Presi dent Garfield, and while uniting in the prayers of all geed peeple for his speedy recovery, pledges continued fealty and the most active support in the prompt and courageous correction of all governmental abuses. As Republicans we are in favor of any proper and well-considered reform, either in the government of the nation, the state, municipality or county ; and we court suggestions te any or all these ends, and only ask that in their advocacy well established safeguards shall net be hastily supplautcd by experiments. The admin istration of President Garfield has set the right example in this dircctieu, aud while firmly adhering te the principles and bet ter practices of the great party "which called it into cxistence, it yet insists upon faithfulness aud honesty in every branch of the public service. The bullet of an assassin should net interrupt this work. It should be pursued while its author lives, aud beyond his life, if, through in creasing misfortune, it should be taken away. Second The Republican party has ever heeu progressive and reformatory, and while realizing that nothing in gev ernment is wholly right, we desire it te be always brave enough te seek every avenue of approach te the right, te the cud that all our people may enjoy thatever-incrcss-ing blessing of geed government. Third That te Prcsidcut James A. Gar field, this tender aiul loving, this strug gling and suffering, this pure and brave man, new become the beleved of this peo ple and the admired of all peoples, we ten der for ourselves and our constituents as surances of deep and heartfelt sympathy ; and keenly appreciating the value of such a life te his country we express the pray erful hope that he may seen be restored te the discharge of the important duties for which he is remarkably qualified, and from which by a peculiarly infamous crime aud au undeserved assault upon whom for a conscientious excrcisa of proper executive power, he has been tem porarily withdrawn. Fourth That in state, as in nation, the Republican party is committed te the course of economical anil honest adminis tration. Wedemand the use of all neces sary means and the enforcement of all laws intended te prevent fraud and waste, ami we require a close and watchful guardianship ever all of the multifarious interests committed te the care of our or ganization. Fifth That in any revision of our tariff legislation which may be made, care shall be taken te discriminate in favor of our industries and thereby te promote the causes which arc rapidly making Ameiica a controlling power in finances as it al ready is an established leader iu political thought. Sixth That the administration of Gov. Heyt merits our warmest approval. We regard with satisfaction the results of a purely Republican administration under his leadership, in which all departments have been faithfully conducted, the credit of the state raised te the highest point, and its finances placed upon a proper basis without increasing the burdens of the people. It has been disclosed that the latter res olution was inserted by Edward McPhcr McPhcr seu, aud that the Cameren men at first opposed the last clause as au insinuation that Guitcau's act was cotnmitted en be half of the Stalwarts. It was finally con sented by the ring only upon a pressure for it by the rural members of the committee, who were for the strongest possible ex pression of sympathy with Garfield. The Independents resent the action of the convention as a rebuke te the belters in the senatorial contest and as an insult te the federal administration. The regu lars ward off the latter charge by pointing te the fulsome praise of Garfield in the platform, but admit that the convention was handled se as te punish the rebels and make belting odious, and that this year's action was only the initiatory step te an unending prescription of the kickers. The delegates scattered te their homes almost before the convention adjourned, and the comments of the state press will have te be waited for te determine whether there will be any echoes te the mutterings of a belt which were expressed by Wolfe, Wharten Barker and a few ethers, hut which met with no encourage ment from the delegates. There was a funny fuss about a contested seat from Schuylkill, where a man named Phillips had been elected last year, hut since became an Independent. Sam Lesch made a contest against him, and the com mittee en credentials rather grotesquely decided that Phillips was net entitled te the seat, but that he ought te be allowed te keep the seat. This . was agreed te, although McCleery, of Pittsburgh, who was chairman of the committce, refused te make the report. Iu the opinion of the 1'imes the resolu tions adopted at Harrisburg yesterday are among the most wonderful productions of their kind that have been presented te an admiring public iu a long time. It appears from this official declaration, though it would net have been generally suspected, that the one-absorbing purie.se of Quay, Magee and Cooper. Leeds, McManes and the rest of them "is Reform, with the larg est kind ei an R. BEFORE AND AFTER. BRAVE WORDS, THESE, BRETHREN. The Duty of the Convention. l'hiladelnliia l'reis, Sept. S. The convention which meets at Harris burg te day is charged with grave respon sibilities. The manner in which it per forms its important duty will exercise a potent influence en the future of the Re publican party. It is within the power of the representatives who will gather in the capitol, by conciliatory counsels and pru dent action, te unite the party and make it irresistible. And it is equally within their power, by pursuing an arbitrary and prescriptive course, te sew the seeds of discord and disaster. It is ler you te determine whether the party shall cuter upon the campaign with the unity and the inspiration of victory or whether it shall at the very outset trample en the influences and repel the votes which are indispensable te success and te make sure that the Republican party of Pennsylvauia shall net be arrayed against the honored president who is waging the heroic battle between life and death, but shall upheld and strengthen his hands. Yeu cannot safely proclaim in the present .state of the public temper that the arbitrary power of the machine shall ride roughshod ever the uumistakable sentiment of the people. If President Garfield shall live you cannot prudently undertake in this hour of his trial te array the Republican party of Pennsylvania against him and flaunt in the iace of the country a reasscrlien of the offensive domination weich was rebuked and defeated in his nomination. AFTER. The Werk of the Convention. Xet Irein the Philadelphia Press, Sept.fl. The work "of yesterday's convention must exercise "a potent influence" for evil ' en the future of the Republican party." While it was "within the power" of the convention, " by conciliatory coun sels ami prudent action " te have ' united the party aud made it irresistible " it chose te pursue "an arbitrary and prescriptive course," and te "sew the seeds of discord and disaster." The foolish and unpatriotic majority of the convention led their party into the path of danger and defeat. Having " trampled upon the influences" aud " repelled the votes indespensable te success ; " having " made war upon a leader who has rendered conspicuous ser vice te the Republican party ; " having " raised the standard of faction " and pro pre scribed the better clement of the party ; having, linally,arrayed the party erganiza tien of Pennsylvania against its " honored president" new "waging the heroic battle between life aud death," the men who con trolled yesterday's convention can net ask " honeiable aud right minded Republi cans" te endorse their felly aud censum mate their blunder, worse than a crime. "The question of man is of small conse quence. The question of principle is of supreme impertaucs" ; and when " the machine " rides " roughshod ever the uumistakable sentiment of the people," the best interests of the people and the Republican party, require the wreck of that " machine." " The offensive domi nation which was rebuked and defeated " in the nomination of President Garfield new speculates upon the chances of his death by exercising its notorious " appli anccs " te promote the wishes of the poli ticians who are against him and te defeat the people who are with him. Frem the decrees of the caucus and the verdict of the ring the Press appeals the cause of the president aud et the people te the judgment of the voters at the ballet box. LATEST NEWS BY MAIL. Governer Bigclew, of Connecticut, has designated Tuesday, September, 13, as a day of prayer for the president's recovery. The planing mill of Plumhley & Seu at Buffalo was completely destroyed by fire yesterday! Less, $25,000 ; fully insured. The Vermont lumber company's mill, at Wcstpert, Vt., has been burned. The less U 5,000 ; insurance $4,000. The man Wemtcrs, who attempted te blew up several families at Lille, France, some time age, has committed suicide. The authorities at Aden have established a quarantine against vessels from the Arabian coast in consequence of cholera. Baseball : At Buffalo Buffalo 8 ; Chi cago, 1. At Trey Trey, 12 ; Worcester, 5. At Providcnce Providence, 7 ; Bosten, 1. The house of Engine company Ne. 4, in Elizabeth, N. J., was gutted by fire yes terday morning. The less is $2,500 ; cov ered by insurance. A slaughter house occupied by Libhy, McNeill & Libhy, at the Chicago stock yards, was burncu yesterday morning, throwing several hundred men out of em ployment. The entire less is about $100, 000. The Heme Lawn hotel, at Ncwtenvillc, near Albany. N. Y was burned. Less about $10,000. There were 15 families bearding at the hotel, all of whom escaped from the premises uninjured, though with some difficulty. In Ithaca, N. Y., three thousand people assembled te a banquet provided for fifty year residents of Tompkins ceuuty. A large grand stand, containing the speak ers and three hundred aged honorary guests, crashed te the ground, injuring four people, but none fatally. Sixty ene persons were burned te death iu one day in the recent forest furs of Algeria. Many persons were wounded, and 0S2 dwellings were destroyed. The value of the cattle, grain and ether articles devoured by the flames is 200,000 fiaucs. Prof. G. A. Rogers went up from Point of Pines, Mass., in his "Oak Hall" balloon with 24,000 cubic feet of gas. In de scending at Leng Beach the hag ripped about GOO feet above the earth, and when 150 feet from ground shot down like lead, striking en the edge of the beach with terrific force. Rogers was conscious though all jammed up and is iu a critical condition. A prisoner iu the Baltimore penitentiary for a long time, insisted en the marvelous story that he had placed in a Philadelphia hotel keeper's charge a package containing $20,000 worth of valuables as security for a $25 lean. Finally he pre vailed en an examination of the matter and, sure enough, the proprietor of the North Amer ican hotel, en Seuth 8th street, was in duced te give up the package when as sured that the warden of the Baltimore penitentiary would repay the advance. The box was opened and Ie ! proofs of the truth of the convict's story ! A diamond ring, with nine stones, worth fully $7,000 ; United States bends, each bearing one year's fringe of coupons, with a face value of $15,850, and an actual market value of $19,000. Venner's finesses. Prof. Henry G. Ycnner, the Canadian weather prophet, has arrived in Washing ton aud registcicd at the Arlington hotel. He wrote out for the Pest this forecast of the weather : " Indications recently observed and gathered from the telegraphic dispatches of the day, appear te me te point te very wet weather generally ever the North American continent aud perhaps particular ly iu the northwest territories en and after the leth of the present month, while iu Eng land and Scotland cold and stormy weather pesibly with a snowfall in the northern sections, is likely te occur in the neighbor hood of the 21st and 22d days. The wet weather en this side is likely te continue through the latter half of the present month and "into October. ' During this latter month the outcry is likely te be "tee much rain, " aud sleet aud snow will fall early in the northern sections, with sharp frosts. In November frosts will disappear again for a time, and some very fine and balmy weather is likely te form a feature in the month. " AX AWFUL. CALAMITY. The DteatltuI Ferest Fires. Iu addition te the destruction of prop erty aud lives from forest fires reported iu our telegraphic advices yesterday from Michigan Mrs. Streng aud two children ; Humphrey, stage driver ; Mrs. Frank Dmniseu, child and sister, and Geerge Krietch, who went te their rescue have perished. Tweuty persons are are reported te be burned te death in Custer newnship, Sanilac coeoty. In Bingham township : Themas Barnes, wife, sister, mother and two children. In Austin township, au old man named Payne, and Michael Welsh, wife aud two children. Nearly every farmer iu th township has lest either his house, barn or crops, or all of them. The iess of life and property is immense. Dead bodies are being brought iu from all di rections. It is estimated that 500 human beings have perished, and that 5,000 peo ple are homeless and in want of i mined i ate assistance. The farmers iu the newer townships leso stock, houses, barns, crops everything. A farmer from Austin township saved his family of eight chil dren in a field of buckwheat, but the whole country in that part is totally destroyed and many lives have been lest. The less of livestock is simply immense. The 'elder settled townships escaped with but little less, but iu most of the newer townships nothing remains but a tire-swept, black ened wilderness. The entire section of the country lying te the north and cast of Maricttc has been en fire, and the number of families rendered homeless will reach the hundreds. Seven teen persons arc known te have met their death by fire. The herse of Ira Hum phrey, a mail courier, came home badly burned, with a card attached 'te the saddle written by Humphrey, stating bis peril from fire. A relief party found him in the read dead. He was entirely denuded, his clothes cither having been burned en his person or taken off-by himself iu his des peration. " In the township of Argyle, Sanilac coun ty, the following were burned te death : Paul Whitslc, wife and five children ; Geerge Grateb, wife and three children ; Mrs. Merris Welch and two children ; Mrs. James Gilseu and two women re cently from Canada, names unknown. There were also several se badly burned that they cannot live. Iu some sections the fire swept everything before it, and spread with such rapidity that the people we re obliged te lice with only the clothing en their backs. In Lapeer aud Huren counties, back from Lake Shere, the de vastation has been mere serious, especial ly in less of life, although the property losses have also been severe. The less iu Tuscaloosa county is estimated at $20, 000. The work of forwarding supplies of feed and clothing from Detroit began last night by beat and rail. In Millington township, Tuscola county, 21 families are left homeless ; in Denmark, Guilferd and Tuscola townships, of the same county, 20 or HO families have been burned out, aud many acres of timber and crops and many miles of fences de stroyed by the Hamcs. The Indian set tlement, seven miles below East Saginaw, which is surrounded by a dense forest, is reported te be burned, and, deubtlces, a number el lives were lest Thirty laiiu lies lived there, and there was no mode of escape. Flames In Eastern Weeds. The Delaware valley is filled with dense smoke from the forest fires which are breaking out in every direction about there. The beech weeds, thousands of acres in extent, iu Wayne and l'il.-e coun ties. Pa., arc afire, and fires are reported in Shohola and Blooming Greve town ships, Pike county, aud in Sussex county, N. J. The large swamp at the head of Fletcher lake, at the west side of Ocean Greve, was set en lire by sparks from a locomotive, and the tire is slowly eating its way through the dried jwat. Furious mountain fires have prevailed for several days past in the Berks county mountains aud the sky is obscured by dense volumes of smoke. Thousands of rails and many cords of bark, together with miles of valuable timber, have been de streyed, entailing a less of thousands of dollars. At Miller's tavern, en the .sum mit ei the lilue Mountains, rattlesnakes arc fleeing from the (lames aud have taken possession of the hotel. A great many have been killed. Along seme of the railroads net a single panel of fence re mains. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. CRKSWKLI, AMI VICINITY. The Crept, and Other Lec.il News. The wheat crop iu this section was bet ter than last year. On account of the long dreuth the coin is net much mere than half a crop. Oats were geed. The crop of early potatoes was geed, hut the late potatoes are nothing te beast of. Garden vegetables are scarce. AH you can notice iu the garden are tomatoes and a few worm-eaten cabbage heads. Fruit is also scarce. There are some apples and a few peaches. Dr. E. B. Herr has the largest crop of peaches iu this vicinity. He may realize $100 from his crop. The farmers in this vicinity are se ac customed te raise large tobacco that they de net think of boasting when they have an extra crop. The tobacco iu this neigh borhood is geed. If it was net se the buyers would net pay 40, 15 and 5 for 3 acre lets, and still offer from 30 te 35 cents for wrappers. A certain man walked into a three acre patch, and did net hunt long, until he found a leaf 4G inches in length. The most of the tobacco was set out very early. Hence the geed ciep. Cer tainly there is seme small tobacco, that was set out late, and the continued dry weather kept it from growing large. They have sampled the tobacco at the warehouse of Jehn ftteigclman, Mason Masen ville. and found it te be in excellent con dition. Messrs. D. O. Wissler & Hcrshey, to bacco dealers, went West this week en business. A steer owned by D, O. Wissler was running at large en the C. & P. D. rail road, near Turkey Hill. The consequence was that he was thrown into the river and instantly killed. A valuable Alderney cow owned by F. II. Frey, for which he paid $90, has died. Drunks Who reugiu. Last evening two men .'named Jehn Slean and Wm. Merdcrcif went iute the water closet at the Pennsylvania passen ger depot, where they became engaged in a quarrel and Slean was whipped. He had his face badly cut. Officers arrested both' men and Slean had his injuries at tended at the station heuse by Dr. Fitz patrick. This morning the mayor sent Slean te jail for 10 days aud his- pugilistic friend for 15. Twe ether drunks get 15 days each from the mayor. A v who was Probably Fatally Injured. Last evening Geerge Coevcr, aged 17, residing at Highspire, attempted te jump Ireni a freight car, which was standing en a siding about a quarter of a mile west of Middletown, te a moving freight train, which was eastern bound and drawn by engine Ne. 99. He fell under the moving cars and had both legs cut off abeve the knees and was otherwise badly injured. He was removed te his home. IN EUROPE. 1 RACING Suae LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS. Mrs. Gibbens at Crefem Germany. Special Correspomlence ixrELLiiiESCER. Crefeld, Germany, Aug. 22, 1831." In visiting ene of the old buildings of the Seventh Day Baptists, at Ephrata. in our county of Lancaster, I saw a clock which bore en its face Iloeekcn, Crefeld. We read also that a certain Ludwig Hoecker established a Sabbath-school at Ephrata, long before the first Sunday school was formed iu England. (As Sat urday, however, is the Sabbath of the. Scveuth Day Baptists, it was held en that day.) I have visited in this town a Men Men nenite minister, and understand from him that there onto were Heeekcrs here, but that they have disappeared. The name is doubtless the samj as Hacker, where that name is found among our Pennsylvania or Lancaster county Germans. I came hither from Cologne especially te learn about the Menuonites wlie are here. I had passed through this town en my w ty te Cologne ; whero I was appoint ed te attend the conference for reforming aud codifying the law of nations. This coufereuco was very favorably received by the poeplo of Cologne, s far as raising a handseme sum of money te entertain the members, and granting a venerable pictur esque hall in the city hall or rath haus Ter the sittings of the conference. The mayor of Cologne iu a large double necklace, ap parently of geld, received the delegates at a public meeting ; he aud his wife were also present at an elegant banquet given te members of the conference anil their wives, in another hall of venerable recollections, and of present grandeur. But as regards attendance ou the sittings by the pjople of Cologne themselves, this was very slender. This small attendance may have been caused iu great measure by the proceedings being mostly carried en in English ; but when, if ever, a universal tongue is established and generally taught, then intcralienal conventions may he mero generally established and frequented. Among Americans present at this late con ference were David Dudley Field, Justice Field, of our supreme court, and President Barnard, of Columbia college. New Yerk. President White, of Cernell university (who was ou his way home, having re signed his place of miuist'u- te Germany), was also present, and spoke at one of the meatiiigs. Perhaps the address which was most favorably received at the con fereucc was that of Henry Richard, mem ber of the British Pailiainent, en the progress made towards arbitration as a means of settling the dilli'iilties between nations. The conference having closed its ses sions last Friday, I made my way back te Crefeld (a ride of about an hour and a-half ou the railway), te endeavor te learn something of that people here, among whom I live at home. But, first, let me remark, thabthis part, of Germany seems te be overwhelmingly Catholic. If the reader will pleas! take a map of Ger many and find the city of Cologne, upon the Rhine, he can then leeate this town of Crefeld as net far north of it and a few miles west of the river Rhine. A gentleman of this town ir.u; estimated its population for me thus : Catholics, 50,000 ; Evangelical (or the united Luth eran and Reformed chinches). 18,000; Jews, 1,500; Mciiuenitcs, 1,000. But the attendance at the Meutieiiilu church yes terday morning did net seem te iudieate se large a nuiifeer of " Mcntiists " (as our Lancaster county people say). I cannot express mere fully te our own people, hew much this church here differs from their own simple meetings at home, than te tell them that the preacher is paid : that he spoke from a pulpit ; weie a black robe and read one of his prayers from a book. Yet what they will perhaps consider as a mero inward and vital dif ference is this, that the Mcuiienites of this town bear arms. Since 18GS the Mennonites here have net been exempted .from mili tary service by the government (as these were in Pennsylvania during the rebellion who plead conscientious scruples). The Mennonites here at Crefeld seive iu the army when drafted. They could, however, if they chose, take peaceful position-;, such as nurses in military hospitals or clerks, but while Moiineuites in East or West Prussia avail themselves of this permission these iu Crefeld de net. 1 am told by ene net a Mcnnist, that the positions in the army are mere honorable ! "Then," said I, in substance te the young preacher, " Why net join the Evangelical (Lutheran or Reformed) church, if there is se little difference between you '.'" He then gave me a little pamphlet whence I learn that two of the chief dif ferences are that these Mennonites only baptize these of matuic years (aud vjet in fants) ; that they refuse te swear in courts of 'justice ; making use of a privilege of the government by which they declare nearly thus : " My yes is yes, my no is no, and in testimony thereto I offer my right hand" the handschlag. I have, however, learned from an agree able gentleman here, a preacher iu the Evangelical (or united Reformed and Lu theran) church, that iu tint part of Ger many te which I expect seen te travel, there are ether Menno nites. These arc in Seuth Germany, and therefore nearer te Switzerland, whence our Lancaster county Mcnnists originally came. I think that I may be able te visit one or two of these communities in Seuth Germany. Seme el the Mennonites there, as I understand, arc farmers (whereas here at Crefeld they arc all townspeople), and I also hear that there arc some who de net wear buttons en their coats, thus resembling our Amish. Before closing this letter I may add that among the scattering Mennists of -Switzerland who came te Crefeld (for the Men nists here are net of Swiss origin) there was one family named Ilunsickcr, or called Hunzingcr (which is said te be the same). New however, the family belong te the Evangelical church, before mentioned here in. P. E. On: wins. Mite Sucicty Festival. Attention is called te the advertisement of the Ladies' mite society of St. Paul's M. E. church. Their festival, which opens this evening, premises te he a very pleas ant affair, and as their object is a very worthy one, they will, doubtless, be liber ally patronized.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers