Pittsburg dispatch. (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, January 21, 1889, Image 1

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FORTY-THIRD YEAH.
PITTSBUKGr, MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1889.
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THREE CENTS
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PROHIBITION.
The Dispatch Begins a Canvass
of the State on the Great
Issue of the Hour.
WILL IT BE WET OR DRY?
.Washington Comes Outfortlie
. Constitutional Amend
ment and
DOFTCABE TOO KNOWS IT.
The Gigantic Business Done by the
Distillers in This End of
the State, and
THE EKOEHODS SUMS INVESTED.
Interviews With Prominent People, Who
Differ in Their Tiews on
the Subject.
PARTY LINES WILL HOT BE DRAWN
A canvass of counties in Pennsylvania is
now being made by The Dispatch on the
Constitutional amendment question. June
18 having been virtually fixed by the Legis
lature as the date for a popular election to
decide the matter, it is now squarely before
the people as a live issue. Preparations for
the campaign are already being made in
Pittsburg and Allegheny county. The
Special Commissioner detailed for The Dis
patch's work began in the southwestern
corner of the State, where vast distilling in
terests will be ruined if the amendment is
adopted. "Washington county was first
isounded. It will give a majority for the
amendment.
tFBOM OCT! SPECIAL COMMISSIONER.
Washington, Pa., January 20. Did
you ever sit near a well-behaving man and
become impressed with the belief that he
was under the influence of liquor because
the air about him was redolent with fumes
of whisky? Well, you often found, on
closer observation, that he wasn't drunk.
But there this plenty of whisky about him.
It happened that a flask, in which he had no
ownership or interest, had been uncorked or
broken in his vicinity.
A Whlffor Whisky.
The counties south and southeast of Pitts
burg smell very strongly of whisky. Every
lew days you get a whiff of it. The Monon
pahela and Youghiogheny Valleys bring
the tempting odor almost in an air
line to your city's wharves, and with the
waters of those two rivers mingle the refuse
of a score or more distilleries. Bailroad
freights distribute this Southwestern Penn
sylvania smell a little faster and farther.
It long since penetrated Philadelphia, and
'Gibson's best" is synonomous there with
"Old Monongahela Eye" in Pittsburg.
But the counties embraced in this whisky
producing region are not drunk. It's only
the smell that makes their conduct and
future policy suspicious. And it must be
admitted that the smell is surprisingly and
remarkably loud! Here are some figures
which will convey some idea of its strength:
BeBcnojra of Whlskv.
In the territory described there are at this
moment 7,000,000 gallons of whisky in bond
at the various distilleries. This represents
fe capital, in the liquor itself, of $7,000,000,
or SI per gallon. "Where will all that ocean
ofwhiskygoif Pennsylvania votes for the
Constitutional amendment?
The amount of whisky taken out of bond
in the same district every year is worth
about 52,200,000. That represents the busi
ness done in a year by the distilleries of
Westmoreland, Greene, Payette and Wash
ington counties. In addition to all that,
the amount of money invested in buildings,
apparatus, real estate, live stock, etc, by
the distillers will not fall much below
5,'000,000. What effect will the annihila
tion of this industry have upon the valleys
of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny?
A Demand for Kyc.
These distilleries must have grain to pro
duce whisky. I am told that at one Mo
nongahela distillery alone that at Gibson
ton, which is the most extensive rye whisky
manufactory in the United States rye only
is used, and the present daily consumption
is 500 bushels, making CO barrels ofwhisky.
The establishment has a capacity of double
this and sometimes attains it, operations
being kept up the year round. The grain
is selected, cleaned and ground with all the
care and cleanliness of a flour mill. It
takes 1,500 cars a year to transport grain to
and whisky from this one distillery.
The Government tar of 90 cents per gallon
amounts to about $50,000 per month on the
product of this single establishment, fully
90 per cent of which is clear gain to the
Government Eight Government officials
are kept busy in the buildings all the time.
Whisky made at Gibsonion is exported to
all parts of the world. Attached to the
works are large cooper shops. About 50
men are employed in all departments. The
rnn enforces strict total abstinence about
A t v y -t
the premises, any employe found drinking
(liquor being immediately discharged, and
the same penalty is imposed on anyone
"known to have seen another drink and failed
to report it.
Washington for Prohibition.
Yet in spite of this large and long-established
industry, there is much of encourage
ment in the southwestern corner of Pennsyl
vania lor the advocates of the prohibitory
amendment to the Constitution. A deep
rooted temperance sentiment pervades at
least two-thirds of the region. This bore its
first fruit 15 or 16 years igo when the Legis
lature passed the local option law. Under
it Washington county voted "no license"
with 1,500 majority. Greene county pro
nounced against license with 1,400 votes to
spare, and Fayette county gave a majority
of 1.200 against license.
In two of the counties that result was re
garded as remarkable. Beside being identi
fied with the distilling business, Greene and
Fayette were overwhelming Democratic in
politics.
Can't TJnvo Saloons.
It was under the same law that 42 of the
06 counties in the State voted "no license."
The next year the law was repealed. 'But
never since that day have there been saloons
in Greene county or Washington county.
Washington county will in June next
cast a majority of votes for the constitu
tional amendment. It did nottake me very
long to find that out. In beginning
The Dispatch canvass of the State on the
outlook for this unusual campaign, I
selected the counties named above. Wash
ington county was not picked out as the
first reportorialj pumping station because it
was considered important in the distilling
business. On the other hand less of the
distilling interest lay along its Mononga
hela river boundary than in either West
moreland. Greene or Favette. Gibsonton
is in Westmoreland. Knowing that there
was harder work beyond, I concluded to
make r easy start with Washington,
knowing well her temperance proclivities,
having heard of her moral influences, and
doubting not the reputation she has for
political power.
llicb Judicial Fences.
It has been 20 years since the Judges of
Washington county courts commenced re
fusing to grant licenses for the sale of
liquor. They have adhered rigidly to this
policy without interruption up to this day.
The judicial fence has never once been
jumped by an agile liquor dealer. A few
have tried it, but their failures were so
funny that they retired to the legal gymna
siums of Grant and Diamond streets in
Pittsburg to go into training before making
such leaps again.
I wonder if it ever occurred to the Wash
ington county judges of the past 20 years
that they have a most illustrious example
for their fearless policy toward the liquor
interests. If I remember history correctly,
Allegheny county got her celebrated Judge
Alexander Addison, from Washington
county. He first appeared in public as a
preacher in the town of Washington, in
1786. The legal profession there tempted
him, and reading law in a building that is
still standing here, he was admitted to the
bar in 1787.
The Whisky Insurrection.
Subsequently he became the Judze of
Allegheny county's courts. He had to exe
cute his functions a iionga turbulent people,
and it was Judge Addison who undauntedly
attended the enforcement of the excise laws
of the United States, which culminated in
the Whisky Insurrection of 1794. It was
his bold stand on this question which made
him many enemies, and was partly the
cause that led to his impeachment.
Washington county was involved in the
Whisky Insurrection as badly as either
Allegheny, Payette and Westmoreland. It
was in Washington county that some of the
worst depredations were committed, and it
was on that' spot of the county where
Monongahela City now stands that the army
of 15,000 militiamen raised by General
George Washington to put down the in
surrection, finally encamped. Washington
had stopped at Bedford, and Lighthorse
Harry Lee, as commander of the army,
issued his proclamation to the insurgents
on Washington, county soil.
Handsome Majority Predicted.
Yet, notwithstanding all the past, the
county proposes to stand by its Judges and
vote against the liquor traffic. This is the
only inference that is to be drawn from sev
eral interviews which I have had with lead
ing men here.
Eev. J. M. Barnett, the financial agent of
Washington and Jefferson College, has had
perhaps better opportunities of guaging
public sentiment than other ministers, be
cause of his wide acquaintance throughout
the county and his frequent visits to the in
terior. When questioned to-day about the
coming issue, he said:
Washington county will vote for the consti
tutional amendment. There is no doubt of it.
The amendment will have a handsome majority.
This will be about the same as the usual Re
publican majority, not that party lines will be
drawn in the contest, but that where a great
many temperate Democrats will vote with us,
about an equal number of whisky Republicans
will vote against the amendment. That, I cal
culate, will give the temperance people a sig
nificant majority. I base my prediction on my
knon ledge of the character of the population.
AVe are an agricultural people in the townships.
devoted to the care of beautiful farms and
wool growing.
Keeping Students From Temptation.
In the towns of Washington, Canonsburg and
Monongahela City, we are proud of our seats
of learning, and with college students from all
parts of the country the common desire seems
to be to keep the liquor temptation far out of
their way.
On the borders of the county, up the Monon
gahela river and along the Panhandle Railroad,
there is probably a strong liquor element
among the coal miners, but whatever influence
they exert at the June election will be offset by
the vote of sturdy temperance yeomanry in the
heart of the county. The policy of the courts
refusing license here for 20 years past has bad
such a healthy result In educating the people
that nobodyln the town of Washington wants
saloons. Under the Brooks laweven there were
scarcely any applications. On the whole I
feel very sure that Pennsylvania will adopt the
constitutional amendment, for in every county
you will find plenty of drinking men who will
vote willinglv for it. That was our experience
several years ago when local option was voted
for. People who were perfect sots did all they
could to abolish that which tb.ey knew was a
temptation they were powerless to resist so
long as it was around them. It will be so
again."
One lor Another Aenitut.
J. P. Miller, Esq., who was formerly
Chairman of the Republican Committee of
the county, said when questioned:
I believe the legislative caucus did right In
ordering a special election for this question.
The qnestion is thus removed from all partisan
influences. It now stands on its own merits. I
feel assured that Washington county will vote
for the amendment and give it a safe majonty.
It would be difficult at this time to estimate
the majority. If gauged by the majority of the
Republicans In this county, it would be impos
sible to say what it would be, for Republican
majorities here have been growing every year.
Continued on Fifth Page.
TOTHEVANDEKBILTS.
Hostetter's Big Stock Interests in
the P. & L. E. Eoad Sold Out.
WHAT THE TRANSFER ALL MEANS.
A New and Formidable Rival to the Penn
sylvania Main Line.
SHOULD THE SOUTH PENN FAIL,
The r. A- L E With the Beech Creek and Beading
Would Connect to the' East.
The heavy Hostetter interests in the Pitts
burg and Lake Erie road have been sold
to the Vanderbilts. This means great
changes and the probability that if the
South Penn is not finished, a rival to the
Pennsylvania will be made by connecting
the P. & L. E. with the Beech Creek road,
thence to the Beading. It seems the Van
derbilts will keep faith with their partners.
The positive information was received in
this office, from a most reliable source, that
D. Herbert Hostetter had sold to the Van
derbilts all stocks and interests of the late
Dr. Hostetter in the Pittsbnrg and Lake
Erie road.
The information also said that at the board
meeting Tuesday some changes would be
made, and that the transfer of the enormous
Hostetter interests meant a great deal more
than a simple transfer of stock in a single
road.
Mr. Hostetter was called upon at his home,
and was perfectly noncommital upon the
subject, refusing to either affirm or deny.
He said that the developments at the annual
meeting Tuesday would be open to all
papers, but he did not care to say one word
as to whether the report was trne or not.
THE REPORT IS TRUE.
The information, however, has come from
a source th at cannot be questioned, and a
well-known financial man who has an in
side knowledge of railroad affairs, when
questioned as to the significance of the sale,
said:
"This gives the Vanderbilts full control
of the Pittsburg and Lake Erie, which they
have desired for several reasons.
"The Hostetters held the largest interests
next to the Vanderbilts, and though the
latter probably wanted the stock as a good
investment, there may be deeper and far
more important reasons why they should
control the road.
"In the first place, it has a bearing on the
South Penn road in this way. It heavily
increases the Vanderbilt interests in a line
through Pennsylvania, of which the P. &
L. E. will be a most important connecting
link. The Vanderbilts held a key of the
situation of the South Penn when they held
a little under one-half of the stock of the P.
& L. E. How they hold three-quarters, and
the Sonth Penn will raise the P. & L. E.
from a mere local line to the commanding
position of a through line toward the West,
where it connects, at Youpgstown with- -the
Lake Shore. .
WHV THE NTPAKO IS SAFE.
"There has been some talk about the in
crease of the Vanderbilt interests in the
Pittsburg and Lake Erie shutting ont the
Nypano interests; and this is the reason:
The Vanderbilts and Nypano people went
into the Pittsburg and Lake Erie on equal
terms, with the understanding that the
Nypano get the passenger traffic, as the
Kypano and the Pittsburg and Lake Erie
form a beautiful air line from Pittsburg di
rectly to Cleveland, while the Lake Shore
goes around by way of Ashtabula.
"With reference to the talk that the Van
derbilt interests will throw out the Nypano
and force them to seek a new connection
with Pittsburg, or give it up entirely, I
would say that it is impossible, as it would
destroy the value of the Pittsburg and Lake
Erie and its northwest passenger traffic.
This traffic heretofore has not been very
great, but is largely increasing during late
years.
THE 'STOCKHOLDERS NIGHTMARE.
"There has always been a dread of large
transfers of stocks to the Vanderbilts, for
fear thev should repeat what William H.
Vanderbilt did with the South Penn, sell to
the Pennsylvania Railroad, but at present
the youngerJVanderbilts sem to be pursuing
a different policy. Beside that, they have
been in a position to sell to the Pennsyl
vania Railroad for two or three years past,
and if such a move were contemplated, it
would have been made by this time.
"The increase of their interest in the
Pittsburg and Lake Erie would indicate
that they intend to keep the Vanderbilt in
terest in Pittsburg transportation, and pos
sibly increase their interests by the develop
ment of new lines, as they did in the case of
the Beech Creek, and as they profess to be
ready to do in the case of the South Penn.
"The Pennsylvania Railroad has been
moving heaven and earth, and using every
possible and impossible means to prevent
the South Penn irom being built, because
they are so afraid of it as a competitor.
President Roberts has been able to convert
to his views Channcey M. Depew, who is
seeking in the interest of the Pennsylvania
Railroad to have the South Penn line
shut off.
WHEREIN THEY DIFFER.
"The difference between the situation of
the South Penn and Beech Creek roads is
that at the time W. H. Vanderbilt made his
agreement to sell out the Beech Creek was
nearly completed, while work on the South
Penn had only been about one-third done.
The Beech Creek was Also merely a coal
road, while the South Penn would complete
a new trunk line.
"The death of William H. Vanderbilt oc
curred somewhere about the time the in
junction was issued against the completion
of the Beech Creek and South Penn bar
gain. His sons succeeded him shortly
after, and the young Vanderbilts joined
their partners to go .on and complete the
Beech Creek.
"Mr. Depew, as President of the New
York Central, had adopted the views of the
Pennsylvania Railroad and used all his in
fluence with the young Vanderbilts to pre
vent them from putting the Beech Creek in
operation, and while private reports say
that he has the strongest influence with
them in all their railroad operations, young
Cornelius Vanderbilt told him that as peo
ple all along the line of the Beech Creek
were interested in the development of that
country, and had put their capital in with
Vanderbilt in good faith, he regarded it as
nothinsr less than binding on the Vander
bilt interests to act in equal guid faith with
them, and go on and finish the road on the
original basis.
CORNY STICKS TO HIS WORD.
"Their talk and arguments continned
long and earnestly, but young Vanderbilt
was firm and stuck to the stand he had
taken, and the road was finished. I would
remark incidentally, too, that the net earn
ings of the road each year amount to abont
what the Pennsylvania was to pay for the
entire property.
"This aotion of young Vanderbilt has a
double bearing. In the first place it shows
the-position. of the younger Vanderbilts
toward their partners who put money into
railroad enterprises in good faith, and the
situation in the South Penn case is in this
respect exactly what it was in regard to
Beech Creek affairs; that is: Pittsburg cap
ital, Heading Bailroad capital and local
capital went in for the building of the South
Penn, believing that the Vanderbilts would
stand up for their partners in that road as
they had done with the Beech Creek.
A PROBABLE BIO RESULT.
"And It shows another tbing If any
misadventure, disagreement or inability
should devj'op to prevent the building of
the South Penn, the Vanderbilts have the
Beech Creek road within easy building
distance of Pittsburg.
"The natural presumptionv since they
own a vast majority of the Pittsburg and
Lake Erie, and large interests in the Beech
Creek, which is at present only a local coal
road, is that the day it becomes clear that
the South Penn will not be finished, they
will start to connect the Beech Creek and
Pittsburg and Lake Erie.
'.This will'make a through line between
Pittsburg' and the East, over a northern
route by way of the Beech Creek and con
necting with the Reading, instead of over
the southern route by way of the South
Penn. So it can be seen tha,t the secrets of
this transfer probably means something of
greater magnitude than appears on the
surface."
President John Newell, of the Pittsburg
and Lake Erie Railroad, is in the city.
The object of his visit is to attend the an
nual meeting of the Board of Directors of
the road.
SHE WOULD HATE NEITHER.
Two Young Men Figlit For a Girl, Bat She
Smiles on Another.
rSPrCtAJ, TELEOItAM TO THE DISPATCH.l
Noewalk, Cojtit., Jannary20. Tommy
Donnelly and Edward O'Hara, employes at
thq Union Mills, and exponents of the fistic
art, met yesterday morning with a number
of friends on the county fair grounds here,
pitched a 16-foot ring, and then went at
each other in true pugilistic style. Don
nelly was championed by his brother James,
and his antagonist's interests were looked
after by William Edgars, a brother work
man. There was no time keeper or stake
holder, but a mutual friend, who was pres
ent to see fair play, acted as referee. After
the contestants had pummeled each other to
their heart's content for upwards of half an
hour they were separated by the lookers-on
and later returned to their work.
The trouble which led to the fight has
been in existence several weeks, and grew
out of the fact that both young meii were
sweet on the same girl. A meeting with
bare knuckles in a 16-foot ring, Marquis of
Queensberry rules governing, was considered
the only means of settling the matter, but
since all this occurred it is said that the
maiden refeses to recognize either of the
pugilists, and is lavishing her smiles on
another fellow.
BURNED1 lit THEIR BEDS.
A Widow aai Her Four Children OInrdcred
1
and Cremated.
rsrxcxii. tzleobam to the disfatcim
Bbookfield, Mo., January 20. Mrs.
Minnie Hallj a young widow, and her four
children lived in a little honse about
four miles from this place.
At 1030 'o'clock last night the
building burned, and when neighbors
searched. theSnijii .this-morning- trrcyfound
the charred bodies-of the entire familv. The
house had been set on fire, for those who
were first to reach the building saw hay
packed into the basement w indows, and the
footprints of a man in the snow. At 3
o'clock this morning James A. Howell
was arrested in a room at the Babb House.
The prisoner had an unloaded revolver In
his pocket. Howell was a cousin of Mrs.
Hall, and it is believed that he shot the en
tire family, and then set fire to the building
in order to conceal his crime. He had been
in the habit of spending Saturday and Sun
day with the Halls. He says he knows
nothing about the crime.
Howell is 24 vears old, and does not ap
pear to be much agitated over his arrest.
There were threats of lynching all day, and
to-night a heavy guard was thrown abont
the jail. The prisoner will have a hearing
to-morrow.
STOPPED AT NEW YOEK.
A Large Consignment of Contract Laborers
Bound for Florida.
New Xoek, January 20. What appears
to be one of the biggest consignments of
contract labor ever landed here in one ship
was discovered by accident at the landing
of the passengers of the La Champagne at
Castle Garden to-day. It was noticed that
more than every other one of the 213 steer
age passengers were bound for Florida. It
was found that all had come from Alsace,
Germany, and that their passage money
had been paid by a man named George
Strum, of that province.
Later in the day a member of the firm of
Straiton & Storm, of this city, appeared at
Castle Garden. He said he was an Alsa
tian and had arranged to have his country
men come here, bnt denied having paid their
fare. He had a large tract of land in Flor
ida, and proposed to furnish each family
with a house and 40 acres of land and start
them at raising Sumatra tobacco. ' He would
buy the product The people, to the number
of 130, were detained awaiting the action of
Collector Mogone.
INTERESTING BUT DOUBTFUL.
A Report That One of Leclllme's Generals
Hns Jumped to tbe Enemy.
1 SPECIAL TELEQI1A1I TO THE DISPATCH.
New York, January 20. The brig Alice
Bradshaw was at anchor in the bay some
where last night. She left Aux Cayes on
January 1. Captain Dahm reports that
General Paul, of Legitime's forces, with
3,000 men, has deserted the defense of Port-au-Prince
and joined Hippolyte's army in
North Hayti. outside that Capital.
This is interesting if true, and tallies
with the recent not well-authenticated
reports that Legitime was losing ground,
and was about to fly to Kingston, Jamaica,
to escape the triumphant North. But word
came here three weeks ago that General
Paul had been shot.
AXWORTHY REFUNDING.
Ho Tarns Over to His Bondsmen All His
Property in Cleveland.
Ci.evet.and, January 20. Attorney An
drew Squire returned this morning from
Toronto, 'Ont. He bore with him papers to
which he had obtained the signature of
Thomas Axworthy, the defaulting city
treasurer of Cleveland, transferring to J. H.
Wade, Jr., as trustee for the bondsmen all
of Axworthy's real estate and vessel prop
erty. Axworthy's wife is with him, and the
couple will settle in Toronto.
Miss Cleveland Goes Sonth.
SPECIAL TELEOItAM TO THE DISPATCIT.3
Utica, N. Y., January 20. Miss Bose
Elizabeth Cleveland has left Holland Patf
ent for Naples, Florida, where she will re
main till spring.
PROHrBITIONVA
issue.
The Dispatch mill
make a thorough canvass of the Stale and se
cure the views of all classes on the subject. The
first letter appears this morning. Mead it and
waicnjor wnaiis iqjouoxv.
FIGHT FOBTHE FLAG.
The Administration Vigorously Re
sents the Samoan Outrages and
ORDERS A MAN-OF-WAR TO SAMOA.
Germany Will Have to Back Down
There Will Be Trouble.
or
SECRETARY WHITNEI AT THE HELM.
Later Intelligence Corroborates the Earlier Accounts
of the Difficulty.
The Administration is determined to
make a bold stand in the matter of the
Samoan outrages, which have been con
firmed by later intelligence. Men-of-war
are to be sent to the scene at once, and
Americans are to be protected. Secretary
Bayard has turned the conduct of the affair
over to Secretary Whitney, who has a rep
utation for standing no foolishness from
foreign powers, no matter how great they
may be.
tSPEClit TELEGRAM TO Tni'MSFATCn.
Washington, January 20. The Ad
ministration is not giving out any valuable
information about Samoan affairs, but the
control of the operations in that direction
has passed with the sailing of the Trenton
from Secretary Bayardjo Secretary Whit
ney, and American war vessels will Sot be
idle spectators of German aggression, as
they have been. Mr. Bayard knows noth
ing of the art of bluffing; as he didn't feel
warranted in plunging the country
into war with Germany he felt that
he must be very careful not to assume a
determined and possibly hostile attitude,
but Secretary Whitney has great confidence
in our naval resources, and still ereater
confidence that Germany would back out of
Samoa together rather than risk an un
friendly attitude on the part of the United
States. The younger members of the
Cabinet, Secretary Whitney and Postmaster
General Dickinson, for example, believe in
maintaining a bold front in Samoa, and the
dispatch of ships to the island shows that
they have got the President on their side.
Secretary Whitney began his administra
tion with a very energetic display of force
at Panama, and his influence in the Cabinet
has been used in the direction of a more ag
gressive tone toward England and Germany.
The more pacific counsels of Secretary
Bayard have generally prevailed.
THE STOBYCOMBMED.
The Account of the German Outrages Upon
Americans at Samoa Substantiated
The Germans the Aggressors
In the Fight With
niatnnfa.
San FEANCISCO, January 20. The de
tails of the events at Samoa which followed
the attempt of the Germans to land their,
forces, and the defeat of their troops de
scribed at length this morning, are supple
mented by other accounts which are pub
lished here. The Samoan Times, published
at Apia, and which has been impartial in
its account of the events on the islands, gives
the following version or the hght of Decem
ber 18:
At 2 o'clock on tho morning of Tuesday SO
sailors from the Olga were landed at JIataafa,
and 40 more were sent in boats along the coast,
thoSOmcn marchlncon land to mectMataafa
at a German firm's plantation, Vailele. The
shore party were reinforced by all the imoorted
labor, said to be New Britain men, so that JIa
taafa was between the 200 men who came down
the day before and the German sailors and for
eign laborers. Mataafa, knowing the danger
of interfering with the German soldiers, re
tired inland a few hundred yards.
THE GERMANS THE AGGRESSORS.
The Germans followed up and fired into
JIataafa's people, killing a young man, son of
the chief. The chief, getting terribly excited,
was only prevented by his own people from
firing Into the Germans, but while straggling
against the former's efforts he himself was
shot, and fell dead beside his son. Mataafa's
people could not stand this, and by common
impulse, without orders, returned tho fire.
Their first volley killed six Germans and
wounded others. Several of Tamasese's men
fled and the laborers refused to fight it out.
Knowing that this meant certain death against
vast odds,tbe sailors beat a hasty retreat to their
boats, Mataafa's warriors following them some
distance. Mataaia lostaDout ten Killed and
wounded, while the German loss is stated at 20
killed. Among the dead is Lieutenant Sieger.
The United States steamer Nipsic steamed to
Saluafata on Tuesday on hearing that German
war ships were going to shell Mataara's strong
hold. Captain JIullan had communications
with the German commanders and entered
his protest against their renorted project. His
protest was not taken notice of, however, for
the Olga threw shells into the spot where
Mataafa was supposed to be, but which he
had vacated.
INVITED THEIB FATE.
The Chronicle says:
Concurrent testimony of the action of the
Germans shons that the Germans brought
upon themselves the fate that overtook them,
as It was not until two of Mataafa's chiefs were
killed that he ordered his men to fire on tbe
Germans. The marines were only saved from
extermination by the prompt arrival of their
gunboats. After their defeat the Germans
bombarded the village of Mataafagatele,
although warned by the American Consul,
lilacklock, that three houses In the place
belonged to an American citizen. Over these
houses an American flag floated, yet the flag
was torn down and partially burned by the
German sailors, wbe landed to complete the
destruction of the place. Correspondents also
cive accounts of insults to an American in tbe
neutral district of Apia. JIataafa has threat
ened that if the Germans again attack his men
be will destroy all the German property on the
islands.
The San Francisco Examiner prints a
long letter from its correspondent at Apia,
which describes the assault made by the
Germans and their repulse, and describes
in detail the firing on the American flag
and American houses, and the assaults
made on the American residents. Speaking
of the matter editorially, the Examiner
says:
INSULTED THE FLAG.
It is easy to see why the German officials
spread reports of American interference. They
had treated American citizens and the Ameri
can flag with indignities that demand exem
plary reparation, and they thought it advisable
to put in a counter complaint in time. In tbe
devastation of Samoan towns they seemed to
take especial pains to single out the property of
Americans for destrnction, and riddled the
flags that, if sent to Washington, would be evi
dence of friendliness thatneed no commentary.
While the United States man-of-war Adams
was at Apia, early in December, it
appears that an American's house was
invaded and his country's flag
found therein, cut to pieces by Tarnaseses, men
from the stronghold at Mullnuu Point. Cap
tain Leary, of the Adams, sent a categorical
question to tbe German Consul as to whether
Tarnaseses' headquarters were under German
protection or not. Failing to get a reply with
in reasonable time, the Captain of the Adams
begau making arrangements for land
ing a batallion, and throwing up a
fortification facing Tarnaseses' fort He
was determined. if no satisfaction
wero given the outrage to march his
men upon Tarnaseses' stronghold and take that
chieftain Drisoner. The intention of the Cao-
,fain becoming known, great commotion en-
sueu in ramaseses camp, ana at iu o'cioce on
the same night the evacnation of Mulinnu
Point was begun with vigor. The Adams
sailed from Apia prior to the occurrence of
December 18, and is now in Honolulu.
IJEADY TO FIGHT.
At 4 o'clock this afternoon the United
States man-of-war Vandalia left Mare Island
Navy Yard in this harbor, bound for Samoan
Islands, the present seat of warlike disturb
ances. Next to that of the Trenton, the Vandalia
carries the heaviest battery in the Pacific
squadron. She carries a 60-pounder breech
loading rifle on her forecastle, 8-inch pivot
muzzle-loading rifle forward of the foremast,
and six 9-incK Dahlgrens in broadside in
the waist. She also has a 3-inch rifle, a
wicked little gun, on the poop deck, a 20
pound breech-loading rifled howitzer and
two Gatlings. She also has a Hotchkiss
rifled cannon.
To man the ship and serve all these guns
the vessel carries a complement of 210
officers, crew and marines. Seven of the
officers of the Mohican, who have not yet
entered upon their three years' cruise, were
transferred to the Vandalia. A number of
long-time men were also sent to the Vandalia.
DESERVEDLY IYflCHED.
A Farmer Kills Two Men Who Were
Eloping With Ills Daughters, and
Beinrns to Find Two More
or Ills Girls Gone.
St. Louis, January 20. The little town
of Bolar, in Mercer county, Mo., turns out
the following tragic story:
Henry Thomas, an old farmer, has four
grown daughters named Hattie, Margaret,
Nancy and Jane, aged 16, 18, 20 and 22
years respectively. Last Wednesday night
Samuel and Charles Hasburn, brothers,
procured a ladder and helped Margaret and
Jane out of a second-story window of their
father's house, and as they were
about to elope with the girls the old man
appeared on the scene, but too late to pre
vent their escape. He at once procured the
best horse he had and a shoteun and started
in hot pursuit. When about 12 miles from
home he overtook the party. He immedi
ately opened fire on them, killing both the
Doys and seriously wounding Margaret.
After getting nearly home with the girls
he was told that the other two, Hattie and
Nancy, had also eloped with Ned Greoson
and Thomas Allison. He at once left the
girls he had with him in charge of some
neighbors and started after the others. After
securing the other two girls without any se
rious trouble, he started bark, but when
about two miles from home a mob took
possession of him and strung him up to a
tree.
The old man was terribly strict with the
girls. He would hardly let them out of his
sight, hence the elopement. He always
bragged that he would not be bothered with
lazy sons-in-law. Public feeling is strongly
in favor of the lynching. Margaret died
last night
BARELY ESCAPED BIGAMY.
A Woman Who Wasn't the Woman
She
Thought Herself.
tSFZCUI. TILIOKAM TO THE DISFjLTCB.l
Wilkesbaere, January 20. Fifteen
years ago John Lamb, a machinist, and
Miss Mary Cahan, both of Ashley,
Pa., were united in marriage. Ths
couple went to St Louis, where
Mr. Lamb accepted a place as
foreman in the Missouri Pacific Bailroad
shops. Differences arose between man
and wife, and Mrs. Lamb decided to
return to her home in Ashley. Her
husband wandered through the West, and the
last his wife heard of him was that he was
drowned in the Mississippi. A friend sent
a clipping from a paper giving an account
of therowning. Mrs. Lamb, thinking her
husband dead, went into mourning.
A few months ago the widow accepted
the offer of marriage of John Adams, a
well-to-do business man. The wedding was
to take place the coming Tuesday, and all
arrangements had been completed.
On Saturday, to the great surprise
of the intended bride, her long
lost husband turned up. He called at his
wife's home, where she was busily engaged
in preparing her wedding trousseau. A
reconciliation followed, and this evening
the reunited couple left for the West.
Adams is much put out over the turn af
fairs have taken.
THE BOY PEEACHEK 0DTD0XE.
A 10-Year-Old Kentucky Girl Terr
EIo-
qnent In the Fulpir.
SFXCIAI. TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH. 1
Paimotjth, Kr., January 20. Mary
Semons, 10 years of age, has delivered four
sermons in this place, and is becoming quite
popular as a preacher. She has a good voice
and splendid delivery for one so young.
Mary is the daughter of a fairly well-to-do
farmer who lives about four miles from this
place. From infancy she displayed unusual
brightness. About eight months ago she
joined the Baptist church here,and said that
the Lord had called upon her to preach.
She first addressed a small congregation
at her father's house, and succeeded so well
that she spoke next in a church near by.
The little girl soon had a repntution
throughout this and neighboring counties.
After several month's in the countrv she
preached here, and her success was greater
than it was in the rural districts. Under
her ministry several persons joined the
church.j',Many allesc that her sermons can
not be surpassed by any grown man or
woman.
Mary is rather small for her years, has
sharp features, Dlack eyes and hair, and is
very intelligent. She " win continue her
services here for several'weeks, and then she
will go to the larger Kentucky towns.
GOT AWAY WirflOUT MISHAP.
The Atlnnta Sails Without Even Sticking in
tho Mad.
SPECIAL TBLEGBAM TO THE DISPATCH.5
Brooklyn, N. Y., January 20. The
Atlanta sailed from Cob dock, Brooklyn
navy yard, about 930 o'clock this morning.
A small crowd was present to give her a
hearty Godspeed. As she passed ont of the
basin the band aboard of the Vermont
and the officers aboard the Atlanta acknowl
edged the attention by lifting their caps.
Cob dock was the scene of the Galena's in
glorious stick in the mnd, but profiting by
Admiral Luce's experience, the commander
of the Atlanta got away without mishap.
The Atlanta had just come from the dry
dock and had not had ber powder aboard
more than 21 honrs. Her officers and crew
were in no fear of "warlike" Haytians, but
felt a little nervous about yellow fever. The
Atlanta's destination is Port-au-Prince, but
it is understood she will stop at Kingston,
Jamaica, and take orders from Admiral
Luce.
L0TTEEI PB1ZES K0 PfiOPEBTY.
A New York Judge Throws a S?nit for One
Ont of Conrt.
rSrECIAL TELEOItAM TO THE DISFATCH.1
Oswego, N. T., January 20. About two
years ago Byron D. Houghton drew $25,000
in the Louisiana lottery, one-fourth of which
he paid to Mrs. Mary Goodrich, in consid
eration of her interest in the ticket. She
claimed a one-halt interest, and her suit to
recover has just been thrown out in the Cir
cuit Court by Justice Churchill, who ruled
that the contract entered into was repugnant
to the laws of the .State, and couldn't be
recognized by the Court.
The Court also said that the District At
torney would be justified in proceeding
against both the parties for a violation of
the law prohibiting lottery dealing, and to
recover and confiscate proceeds. The case
will be appealed.
TCUDCD Aline people should bear in
I E-mE.TUnlE.,Hid the fact that Tun
Dispatch is making a thorough canvass of
the Slate in order to ascertain the drift of pub
lic sentiment for or against Prohibition. Mead
the opening review this morning.
m TO BE IDE,
;-sj
An Attempt to Bribe a Mercer
Member of the House
TO AID LIQUOR INTEREST.
Representative Speir Says an Effort
Was Made to Buy Him.
A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CALLED,
At Which the Beverage Qnestion is Ex
pected to he Handled.
A EEYISION OP THE BB00S BILL
A startling statement is made by Repre
sentative Speir, of Mercer county. He says
a liquor man approached him and told him
he could make "a nice lamp" of money by
voting against the submission of tho pro
hibitory amendment. A revised version of
the Brooks bill is to be introduced in the
House this week. It is considered quite an
improvement, the most objectionable fea
tures of the law being eliminated. The
Democratic members of the Legislature will
hold a joint caucus to-morrow evening, at
which the liquor question, it is thought,
will be discussed. '
CrBOM A STAIT CORRISFOOTENT.J
Harrisbdrc, January 20. "I am very
sorry you feel that way, for there are a
couple of millions in the Treasury, and you
might just as well have a nice lump of it as
not"
This remark was made to Representative
Speir, of Greenville, 3Iercer county, just
before he started forHarrisburg. Mr. Speir
is one of the few members of the House of
Bepresentatives left in the city. A greater
number of legislators than at any time this
session, left for their homes after adjourn
ment, Thursday and Friday, and the two
chambers were almost deserted yesterday
and to-day.
Representative Speir sat in his seat this
afternoon and entertained a group, in" which
newspaper men largely predominated, with
an explanation of liquor affairs in Mercer
county, where the temperance sentiment is so
strong that the county is very nearly a Pro
hibition one.
PLEDGED BY PROHIBITIONISTS.
The constitutional amendment was made
an issue in the last election, and the mem
bers from Mercer came here pledged to sub
mission. Before coming to Hamsburg Mr.
Speir was approached, he says, by a liquor
man of his acquaintance, who said to him:
"Speir, when you get down to Harrisburg
I want you to vote down the prohibition
amendment and help to carry some amend
ments to the Brooks' high license law."
"It isn't possible," responded Mr. Speir;
"don't you understand that I am pledged to
my constituents to vote for'the -submission
of prohibition? It was made an issue in the
campaign, and I was elected to the Legisla
ture on it. I always stick to my pledges."
Then it Vwas that the liquor man made
tbe significant remark quoted above.
Mr. Speir thinks the fight will be a hot
one in Mercer connty, and that there will
be very little dodging of the point at issue
at the special election. The county has
been so wrought up during several years
that the lines between the temperance and
liquor forces are sharply drawn.
NO POLITICS IN IT.
Mr. Speir thinks that about 20 per cent of
the Democrats of the county will vote for
the amendment, and that probably 30 per
cent of the Republicans will vote against it.
Beside this, he thinks many of the extreme
I' party Prohibitionists will vote against it on
tbe ground that no measure not carriea by
their party can be a good one.
Representative Pugh, of Somerset, who ex
pected his county to give a majority for the
prohibition amendment, has received a num
ber of letters from prominent people in the
county which causes him to falter somewhat .
in this view.
On Tuesday evening, at 8 o'clock, the
Democrats will holci a joint caucus. Rep
resentative Smiley, of Clarion connty, one
of the few Democrats remaining in the city,
says he doesn't know just what the object of
the caucus is, but thinks the liquor question
may be touched on. As for himself, he is
against the constitutional amendment, and
so is his colleague, Judge Brinker, and their
constituents. Simpson.
BROOKS' BILL REVISED.
An Improvement on the nish License Bill
to Bo Introduced In the House This
Week Uniform Fees and One Saloon
Only for Bvery 500 Inhabitants A
Temperate Measure.
Philadelphia, January20. The Press
has the following concerning a new high
license bill to be presented this week in the
Legislature:
A new high license law will be introduced in
the House next week. It has the sanction of
some of the foremost leaders of the Republi
can party. Great care has been shown In Its
preparation, and it is expected to meet the ap
proval of all tbe friends of high license. Tbe
object of the new bill is to improve high license
in such a way that it will command tbe support
of what Senator Cooper calls "the temperate
thought of Pennsylvania." .
The act ha3 been prepared on similar lines to
that of the Brooks bill, with the objectionable
features of the latter eliminated. It proposes
to keep the power of granting licenses m the
courts and to continue the discretionary power
of the Judges. In order, however, that the
courts of certain counties of the State shall
not grant all applications that may come before
them there is restriction placed npon the num
ber of licenses that may be granted. This is to
be regulated by the law, which will provide
that not more than one license shall be granted
for everv 500 population in any city or county
in tne State.
It is believed that this restriction will be a
great improvement upon the Ucooka bill which
leaves tbe wholo matter in the hands'of the
courts. In Philadelphia, Pittsburg ana other
localities the judges 'have exercised the dis
cretion vested in them by the law and have
made a great decrease in the number of sa
loons. Just the reverse has been the case in Schuyl
kill, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lehigh, Bucks and
some other counties. Tbe judges in these
tonnties have granted nearly every application
for a license that has been presented to them.
It is said that Schuylkill county, with a popu
lation of abont 150,000, has between 700 and 800
licenses. The same state of affairs exists in
other counties. It is to remedy this defect and
make tho law applicable to every county in
the State that the restriction of one saloon to
every 500 of the population of a city or county
is proposed.
THE PROPOSED FEES.
Another Tespect in which the new bill will
differ from the Brooks law is the fees to be
charged. In Philadelphia and Pittsburg the
fee will contmne at $500, but in the cities of the
third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh classes it
will be increased from $300 to $500, there by mak
ing a uniform fee for all cities. It Is proposed
to raise the fee in boronshs from Sl&O to $309
and iu the country from $75 to SIoO. Four-fif tbs
of tbe license fees will, as at present go to the
local authorities and the other one-fllth will be
paid into the State Treasury.
There will also be a provision In the new bill
for the transfer of licenses In cases of death.
The person, however, to whom such a license Is
transferred must first pass an examination of
the court of the county In which the transfer is
made.
Still another alteration is one with reference
i.X.
r