Pittsburg dispatch. (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, February 08, 1889, Image 1
m: P5 TX r ju "i -T7X Ji.iP(.,w .aria's flpma Mgpvm . PEOPLE who want HOUSES Rhnnlrl nnriiRn ti - shrewd men in BUSINESS Can reach the best third pace of TTXV. TYTRTJ A Tf'TT class of Investors- throurfr THE D1S-? , PATCr yThe best mer- 'ness can ah. ., . -eached thrrfSj ?&, DIS- ,''); i.'rr T't- sr All having Houses ro nem can secure tenants toy adver- j PATCH. ?' SM JHi rORTT-FOUKTH YEAR. IffflLiil By Maharneke, Who Even Gives the Lie to Good Mrs. Mair the Others. MORE CRUELTY TOLD OF And a Galvanic Battery That . Wouldn't Hurt a Sick Kitten Shown INEYIDENCE OFESTf OOEXCE 'A Threatening Me From McPliil- lamy to the Doctor is Amended and Bead. DE. RANKIN'S LITTLE ADMISSION. The Electric Machine Slight 'he Made More Uncomfortable for Its Actual Easiness. THE IKQU1EI TVILL COXHXUE TO-DAT The Riverside inquiry was continued yes terday. The defense began. Dr. Mahar neke coolly denies almost everything. He acknowledges he once used a big D . Quite a squabble ensued over a mysterious note. It was finally read, piecemeal. McPhillamy succeeded in shielding another man. A row between him and Maharneke was rather disastrous to the doctor. "Wright says the Legisla ture may investigate if it wants to. At 12:30, with everybody tired and mad, an ad journment was made until to-day. The ferment, and almost war, at Eiver side is growing livelier; interest instead of waning is more intense than ever, and the little party that gathered in the hall of the hospital department there at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon betrayed an anxiety the individuals apparently did not care to con ceal. The fact that the Legislature might take a hand Jn affairs was received very coolly by "Warden "Wright and the board, and they say the Legislature can consider itself Invited most cheerfully to come down to Eiverside and conduct the fullest, fairest and most searching investigation. The party was scattered about the room in the same general manner as during the previons sessions. The board, the lawyers, prosecutor, defendant, witnesses and press, all forming a rather hard picture, were it not that a glow of brightness and gentleness was thrown over the scene by the three kindly-looking, but most determined, ladies who sat quietly and patiently and listened to every word with an interest not exceeded even by the principals. The usual monotony of an investigation of every sort was greatly relieved by sud den and striking evidence brought out by the relentless cross-questioning of Mc Phillamy, and between him and Mahar neke there occurred some verv livelv tilts, indeed, and in one especially, the Chair man was obliged to interfere when the doctor attempted to drag in the past records of some people. How It Began. There was present at yesterday's Eiver side investigation the full Board of Prison Inspectors, composed of President George A. Kelly, Secretary James L Heed, and "W. L. Trimble, James McCutcbeon and John S. Elagle, also the Visiting Committee of State Board of Charities, Mrs. Mair, Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Holden. Messrs. "W. J. Sawyer and James B. Scott were also pres ent as representing the "Visiting Board. Also B. C. Christy and Rev. E. R. Donahoo, Prison Chaplain Milligan and Major E. A. Montooth, the latter counsel for the Board. "With Stenographer Donnelly ready for work, and after a short star-chamber session of the board, everything was ready to go. Dr. B. B. Maharneke came quietly in, looking a trine more serious than a few days ago, and a constant twiddling of his thrnibs showed the natural anxiety of the man, though his short, reddish side whiskers were combed just as prettily as ever toward the end of his insignificant nose. The enormous prosecutor and witness in one, McPhillamy, came lounging carelessly in between two guards. He was clean shaven, and looked out of place in his con vict stripes. It Wan Ominous. The man was just as cool and quiet as ever, but it was an ugly qniet that showed a fixed, unalterable determination, a deter mination to see the end. As before, he sat directly facing the entire Board ot Inspec tors, and his were not the eyes that dropped at some sudden charge or unexpected evi dence. The board, with the legal representatives of the Visiting Committee, finally returned from their private confab, and President Kelly said all was ready. -John Van Staten, was the first witness called, and he demanded to know the exact charges before be took an oath. This was explained, and the thin, middle-aged man held up his hand, when things proceeded as follows: President Kelly "Were yon a former pris oner? A. Yes; I came in '81 and left in '87. Yes, I was in the hospital at different times. Kelly How long? A About a year. Dr. Maharneke used a great deal of profanity. Kelly I ask of his cruelty. A. I can't say I ever saw him hurt a man real bad; that is, he didn't break any bones. Keliy Any act yon would call cruel? A. No; I only heard him give orders for men to do so and so. I was day or night nurse, and often in the kitchen. Kelly You said something of profanity. A. I never heard a man swear bo in my life at sick men and dead men. I even saw him Maharneke was always excited. A Potential Suggestion. Bcott You might ask the witness about money, Mr. Chairman. Also ask him about those cruel orders. Kelly Urn, yes. Did you hear of this? Van Staten I saw him put the straight jacket on men. Borne were playing crazy. Kelly Do you know of any cases where Maharneko extorted money? A. He tried to get some out of me Juno 1, 1885. I was on the block, and Haley said he would get me a place in the hospital. Mahar neke came along and said Haley had nothing to do with it, but he was the man, and Mahar neke went to see the warden. He came back and said I mustn't forget him. He then asked me if I had any money. I said I had none, but airiendwouidget me some, and I would give him $5. He said that was business. My friend failed me, and the very day General Grant died, I was fired out of the hospital. Reed This occurred before Maharneke was an officer. Van Staten It was in 1SS5, while ho was still a prisoner. Scott Ho may have been in tne same capac ity. I don't think it fair to take advantage of dates, if he were in the same position. Kelly That's a wide latitude. Scott "Was Maharneke in the position of hospital steward? Van Staten There was a quarrel between Haley and"Maharncke; eacLone told me he was steward, and sometimes we didn't know who was. I understood the warden told Haley he was steward, and Maharneke was in the dis pensary. He overworked me, and because I couldn't do what ho asked he complained. Scott What about that insane man you spoke of? Van Staten His name was Moore. They had muffs and jackets on the man named "Gyp." Moore was fooling, and they made him give in. They were probably put on for protection. Was Once Enough? Scott Did Maharneke try to get money from you more than once? Van Staten No, only that one time. Scott Do j on know of any cases of general corruption, cruelty or bad conduct? Van Staten Only by hearsay. I went to the hospital for the asthma; also pneumonia of the lungs. Sawyer What about his profanity? A. When James Elliott died I was In the kitchen when he was laid in his coffin. I stood beside him, between Miller and Mrs. Mair. She was praying, and suddenly Mahar neke came in. and swore. This was just as the prayer was over. He used aw f ul language too bad to repeat. He su ore he would send mo to tne block; but Mrs. Mair begged liim not to. Siagle When men were playing crazy what would thy do with their hands? Van Staten Nothing, when tho jacket was on. Mrs. Swift I would like to know if he knew of acts of cruelty performed by Maliarneke's orders. Van Staten Yes, I did. In regard to "Gyp," I was ordered to bathe and duck him. Kelly What cruelty, if any. is in that ? Van Staten They put his head under water and held it until he could just catch his breath, then, when ho came up, he begged Maharneke not to do it again. Yes, he was very uncleanly, "Gyp" was. Maharneke only told me to duck him good. Hon- He Made It Hot. Mrs. Swift Did jou ever hear any prisoner make threats thai be would make it hot for some people ? Van Staten Yes. Maharneke was in the hospital, a prisoner; he said he was goins to work there, and he would make it hot. Well, he did come back and fired three men in ono day. He then came to my cell and said: "Didn't I tell ) on 1 would fix the saoozer ?" Mrs. Swift What about a man called "Jesse James,' named "Watt. I believe? Van Staten The man had been shot. Mahar neke poked his finger in the wound and told the prisoner Bis own foolishness had got him into it, ana he must die. - '" -' " '' Kelly Dr. Marhameke, you Maharneke Before yon were released here, were you fired from the hospital? Van Staten Yes, you rcmember-you came back from j our pleasure .trip and found me in the kitchen. Maharneke Didn't you ask me to get money f or 3 ou to cet out? Van Staten I asked you to see what you could do for me. I also asked the warden and he gave me S15 extra. Maharneke then asked some other interest ing questions in the almost unintelligible dia lect he uses, when the witness was excused, and the general opinion was expressed that tho Maharneke case had been ratuer benefited than injured. Kelly I understand, McPhillamy, Van Staten is the only witness produced. You want two witnesses now from tho cells. What do you expect toprove? McPhillamy I can prove Maharneke went to one for money, and I expect to prove cruelty in the other case. Kelly AVe have no desire to hide anything. Deputy, please produce the men. No. 7946 "Wouldn't Swear. Witness 7940 was a little, black-haired, black eyed fellow, whose white face formed a con trast to his heavy mustache. He affirmed, in stead of taking the oath, and said his name was O'Hara: Kelly Were you in the hospital ? A Yes, sir. Kelly Do you know of any cruelty? A. Well, they claim the electric battery was cruel. I never tried it. but I guess it hurts a little. Yes, it was pretty cruel. Kelly When? A. I saw it on Keck, Phillips and Bishop. They used it on Keck. They said he was crazy. They nsed it in his month and face. He had the fever afterward. I don't know if it camo from that. Kelly What about Phillips? A The battery didn't seem to have any cHect on him. Yes, it was cruelty in spite of that. I saw it used on Wheeler for paralysis. No, that wasn't cruel. Tho same treatment was tried on Bishop; they claimed he was crazy. Kelly Was he crazy? A I think he was. Maharneke seemed to do all he could for the other patients. Yes, I heard him use a little strong language sometimes. That ii, with the cranks. Kelly The what? A The cranks are the crazy ones. No. his language nidn't startle me; I am hard to startle. McPhillamy Did j ou ever see the two bat teries on a man at once? O'Hara No, bat I heard of it. The same day they tried the battery on a man who wouldn't walk. He walked over to the block. McPhillamy Has he walked since? A No, he hasn't walked since, and I don't think he ever will. McPhillamy Don't you think if he had been treated right he would have walked? They J not Growled. A growl from every member of the board showed this suggestion to be ont of order. O'Hara Yes, f heard of Maharneke inject ing whisky and morphine into a man to bring him to. Scott What did you understand was the use of the batterj? A. To see if the man was playing off. They tied the man down and put it on him; I heard them say because it was playing off, not be cause tney tnougnt no was paralyzed. Scott I just wanted to hear his opinion if it were a punishment or not. McPhillamy You understood the battery was used for puulshment? You know that for yourself? O'Hara Yes, I know that. And the witness went back to the "block." w herever that is, in the tender care of a warden. No. 8153, looking very much like a gigantic mill man, said he was willing to testify in re gard to the charges against Maharneke. His name was Angus Buchanan, and he had been here three years, but had never been in the hospital. Kelly McPhillamy, why did you call this man? McPhillamy Did Maharneke ever ask you for money? Buchanan Yes; abont two months ago he asked mo for S10. I told the warden, and I think he tended to it, for Maharneke hasn't spoken to me since. Maharneke When was It? A Two months ago. I was in the cell. You stand over a corpse and curse it, asked ono or two, I think, before you came to me. Maharneke Did you come here with Mc Phillamy? A Yes, we both came on tho same charge. Saw er 'What language did he use? Money for Marriage. Buchanan He came to me and said he was just getting married and was short, and he wanted to get $10, and I understood he would get the job. Maharneke has acted very sulky since I told the warden. Maharneke Did I ask you of other people's money? A I hardly remember. You (Maharneke) were standing talking to me, and he saw the hall boy and he told him to get me some pills. I had three or four boxes of pills in my cell then. The doctor said tho hall boy was a sucker and he was afraid of him. Tho witness was then excused, and walked out without a glanco at anybody but the keeper fn charge. No. 7469, James W.Kellly, recalled, in answer to a question from McPhillamy, said: I saw Maharneke going down tho block, and heard him say he had cither $15 or $50. Mr. Dean was standing by; he has charge of the hall. ilcPhillamy What did you do? Reilly I said, "Dean, did you hear the doc tor's remark?'' He only smiled at this. Reilly I would like to ask you a question, if I can, Mr. Kelly? Kelly Go ahead. Reilly Have I the privilege of making any charges I wantto? I have been trying to make a charge for the last year. ' Kelly That -Kill do. Dean, recalled In answer to McPhillamy's qnestlon, "Did you hear Maharneke tell Frank something abont paying back money?" he said: "No, I did not hear it" Kelly The witness is relieved, and I under stand this closes the case for the prosecution. EOB THE DEFENSE. Maharneko Wnnts ConnscI if McPhlllamy Has It, nnd the Attorney Assigned to the Latter Withdraws What the Defendant Has to Sav In His Own Behalf. After the prosecution had closSd, Mr. Scott, of the State Board, arose and said: "Mr. Chairman, will you please have the stenographer put on record that the case of the prosecution rests, and he will want to call some more witnesses in rebuttal. I also ask the board to allow B. C. Christy, Esq., to cross-examine witnesses, as the prosecutor is not a lawyer." The proceedings were resumed in the order reported below: Siagle I move that Mr. Christy be requested to act for the prisoner; that is, the prosecutor. Maharneke Tho defense has not had a lawyer. Scott I see no objection to moving and sec onding this case, and if the witnesses tell a straichtforward story there will bo no harm done. Kelly (to Maharncko) Do you wish to have your objections recorded? The motion was then carried, and the board unanimously told Mr. Christy he was permitted to sit beside the smiling prisoner and to talk to him all he wanted to. He also had tho priv ilege accorded of retiring with him in charge of an officer, however. With everybody m a good hum or even Ma harneke a little breathing spell was taken, in order that affairs might settle down, or rather simmer down in some sort of reasonable shape. In this interval George LReid attempted to talk to McPhillamy, but was prevented from so doing by the board. He Wouldn't Have It. A little excitement was created when Mr. Kelly asked Maharneke if he was satisfied to goon. v t Maharneke I am not SaTBnea to go on with out counsel. I ask for an adjournment until such time as my counsel can be present. Kelly The doctor complains of his lack of knowledge of the English language. Every thing has been smooth until the counsel for the prosecution was named, when the doctor ob jects. Christy I have quietly been watching affairs, and I must now decline to take any par t, Kelly McPhillamy's counsel has withdrawn, and the proceedings In rebuttal will now begin. Maharneke then held up his right hand, and swore to tell the truth as per legal formula. Kelly 1 will ask you direct questions, and you can make your statement. "What is your position here? A. Hospital steward. I have been so since October, 1SS5; my duties are to see the Doctor's orders are carried ont and that neatness is ob served, and to see the sick are cared for. Kelly Under whose direction? Maharneke I am under Dr. Rankin, and 1 report to him daily. He is present often, and, if not, 1 report to him. I have general over sight of the hospital. McPhillamy says he was sent to the hospital on a certain day. The day he said I spoke to him. Warden Wright interrupted here to say that had nothing to do with It. Maharneke I said to McPhillamy I camo to get him into the hospital. Excited Interruptions. Kelly then read the charges of McPhillamy, and was interrupted frequently by Maharneke, who said: "I never received any money from McPhillamy. Mr. Dean was at the cell and opened the door for me. The hall boy assisted him (McPhillamy) to remove his things. That's all." Kelly You deny you received money? Maharneke Yes, I do. I want to add to my first statement that I was married August 20, and I always paid my rent m advance, and I didn't need any money at that time. McPhillamy's story was then continued, and Maharneke interrupted to explain the dic tionary dodge by saying that McPhillamy wanted to see the bones of the human body. Kelly You still deny the money? Maharneke I never at any timo received money from this man. Onco more was the reading of McPhillamy's evidence continued, and Maharneke broke into say: "I never had any talk or exchanged let ters in regard to his escape with McPhillamy. I was anxious to have him removed from the hospital. He was sick, but got better, and I told Dr. Rankin, and marked him to be sent to the cell. My orders are to notify the warden in order to have room in the cells, because they were greatly crowded. I was notified to keep him a few days longer. All that language of bribery, of money, and that I said I wonld buy clothes and revolvers, and all such, I denymost emphatically. Very Vigilant. "In order to watch him I cautioned the nurses and night officer, and I watched "him most carefully until his attempt to escape. The day before he tried to get away 1 suspected something, for the nurse asked me about his conduct. I gave instructions concerning him. I asked for the day nurse, and said, 'I want to change the night nurse,' and I told him to go to bed in the closet that night, not in the middle room as usual. This was in the closet of the south ward. "A few hours passed, and I asked if the night nurse had gone Into the south ward to sleep. 1 saw the middle room was darkened again, and it set me thinking. I told tho man not to go to bed there, and still be had. I asked if my in structions had been given, and they said they were. I went into the room and wo woke up the night nurse. Fanning. His excuso was he would clean up the room Monday if I let him stay. I said 'All right, and left. I wondered what reason he had in wanting to stay there. It was nearly 11 o'clock, and I took my overcoat and went home and to bed. The first thing I heard about the escape wras the ringing of the bell. I jumped out of bed' and told my Wife 8493, a man sick with consumption, had died. Young Wnght called to me to come over quick, as some prisoners had escaped. I was amazed to hear they had got out of the hospital. I met Warden Wright and he ordered mo over to the hospital. I had him in view, and I thought of McPhillamy. I saw the hole, and learned the names of tho men who had escaped. I asked Continued on Sixh Page. PITTSBURG, ERIDAT, TWO OF THE JOHNS Causing Cabinet Constructors Con siderable Conjecturing. WANAMAKER'S SCALP DEMANDED, And Senator Sherman Won't Say He Will Tote to Confirm Xlger. THE FIEST JOPLV A MIGHT-HAYE-BEEN. Booms for Wlnaom and CaarleT Foster In Apparently Good Shape. "Wharton Barker and his friends, as original Harrison men, and Senator Cam eron and friends, as anti-Quay men, are said to be working hard to keep Mr. Quay's selection, John Wanamaker, of Philadel phia, out of the Cabinet. John Sherman's antipathy to General Alger causes those who know him best to believe that Mr. Alger's confirmation by the Senate will be delayed or maybe defeated, if Ohio's senior Senator can accomplish either. ISrECIAI, TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCII.1 "Washington, February 7. The latest gossip around the Capitol about the Cabi net is that Pennsylvanian are making a hot fight against assigning Mr. "Wanamaker to the Naval Department, and that two sets of Pennsylvania influences are resisting his appointment to any Cabinet position. The real reason whyPennsylvanians didn't want Mr. "Wanamaker to be Secretary of the Navy is that the Philadelphia postofficefcs a good deal bigger than the League Island navy yard. In other words, the Secre tary of the Navy has very little patronage, while the Postmaster General has more patronage than any other member of the Cabinet, and the Pennsylvanians want substance, not show. But they are ostensibly opposing the assignment of Mr. "Wanamaker to the Navy Department from considerations of the utmost unselfishness and the highest delicacy. They represent that all the contracts for steel for the navy are awarded to Pennsylvania concerns, and most of the contracts for the building of ships are held by the Cramps and the Dela ware River Ship Building Company, and the appointment of a Pennsylvanian to be Secretary of the Navy WOULD AROUSE CRITICISM and suspicion; that General Harrison will promote his peace of mind and the good repute of his administration by appointing a Secretary of the Navy from spme other State than Pennsylvania. " There are two influences in Pennsylvania that ar? strongly opposed to the appoint ment of "Wanamaker to any Cabinet office. Wharton Barker is reported to have de clared that such an appointment would be a personal affront to him. Barker was an or iginal Harrison man, and is said to have contributed more of his own money to the campaign than "Wanamaker, who was orig inally a uresnam man. barker is supposed to be'exerting himself to protect himself from afii ont Matthew Stanley Quay and James Donald Cameron, came intosharp collision with "each'other'nt'the'Pennsylvahia convention, a year ago, and while the result was'in the nature of a compromise, Quay had a good deal the best of it. The Cameron clan is somewhat alarmed for its own existence at the exalted position into which Mr. Quay has leaped as the result of the election. If Quay gets "Warramaker into the Cabinet now, be is credited with the intention of defeating Don Cameron for re-election two years heuce. Hence all the influence of the Camerons is said to be exerted to defeat Quay and Wanamaker now. SHERMAN STILL HATES ALGER. It is asserted with great positiveness by some of the Republican politicians tha't John Sherman has written a letter to Gen eral Hanison, assuring him ot his warm pel sonal regard and his desire to assist in making the incoming administration a suc cess, but warning him that Alger's conduct at Chicago was such that he could not with self-respect submit to Alger's appointment to a place in the Cabinet without making a fight on it from the start. One of the "West ern Republican Senators was asked this afternoon what he thought of this story, and replied that he didn't believe Senator Sher man had written such a letter, because it would be carrying things a little too far, and Mr. Sherman was a very discreet man, but that he had denounced Alger with entire frankness to his colleagues in the Senate, and given them the impression that if Alger was nominated SnERMAN WOULD DEFEAT HIM if possible. On the other hind, one of Sen ator Sherman's closest Ohio friends says that he has talked a number of times with the Senator about the Cabinet, and has assumed in his remarks that Alger would be a member of it, and the Senator has never expressed resentment toward Alger, and has never intimated that he would resist his confirmation. It is a fact, however, that Senator Sherman's friends believe that Sher man would be injured by any; threats against Alger, or any effort to defeat Alger's con firmation, and they are very anxious to re move the impression that Sherman is hostile to Alger. So much has been said about his hostility and his intention to carry it into the execu tive session of the Senate, if necessary, that some of his friends have advised the Sena tor to publicly disclaim any such feeling or intention, but the Senator has not yet seen fit to take the public into his confidence, He was asked to-day if he were willing to say anything about the widely-circulated report that he would try to defeat Alger if the latter were nominated, and he declined to speak about the matter at all. AMONG THE MIGHT-HAVE-BEENS. A dispatch from Indianapolis to-night says: Cabinet booms are as thick as au tumnal leaves. They bud, blossom and ripen in a single day. No matter whether the puzzling kaleidoscope is turned forward or backward, or angrily shaken up and down, the familiar countenance of Mr. Blaine always turns up conspicuously in the front The face of Mr. "Wanamaker, the mer chant prince, is now to be seen in the back ground among the "might-have-beens. n Regarding certain of the other prominent names, some plausible indications of an en couraging character are obtainable, but as to Mr. "Wanamaker's, none of tho intimate friends of the President-elect have been brought to admit that he is a fixed star. The probable fact that Mr. "Wanamaker has purchased, or intends to purchase, a residence in "Washington does not shake these gentlemen in their belief. They say if he was really going into the Cabinet and desired to keep that fact from the public, in accordance with General Harrison's well-known wishes, he wonld not openly negotiate for a house in Washington. Perhaps no name, unless it be Windom's, is growing in public favor with greater rapidity than that of ex-Governor Charles Foster, of Ohio, who received a boom, or a boomerang, to-day at the hands of the Ohio Legislature. The train this morning brought five members of the Ohio State Sen ate, headed by Senator Edward G. Rath bone, of Hamilton. How many members of the Ohio Legislature these gentlemen repre sented is not known, nor what encourage ment they received at the hands-of the President-elect. FEBRUARY 8, 1889. OIL MUST GO UP. The Producers' Association Will Take Strong Measures to That End The Ueserve Oil Will Bo Held Until tho Price Shall bo One Dollmv tSPICIAL TELEGBAH TO THE DISPATCH.l Oil Cut, February 7. The members of the Executive Committee of the Producers' Protective Association and tho members of the Advisory Board met hero this after noon for the purpose of holding a confer ence. They assembled at 4 o'clock in the Arlington Hotel, and after a short session adjourned. They are now holding the second.spssion, which will probably be con tinned 'until quite late. During the inter mission the Dispatch reporter endeavored to pump some of the members, but found them all very close mouthed. From the an imated manner in which they discuss mat ters among themselves it would seem they have important business on hand. The im pression prevails that some action is to be taken with reference to the retired oil, pos sibly to proclaim that it will not be put on the market during the next three months. However, nothing of a definate nature can be ascertained. It is doubtful if the busi ness will be completed before to-morrow. Another correspondent says: Tho meeting was called to formulate some plan of action for the disposal of the remaining 3,500.000 barrels of oil held under grant from the Standard Oil Company. The members of the committees were reticent as regards the de tails of the plan adopted, but it may be defin itely stated that no oil will be sold at a price under SI a barrel, and if between now and June 15 the market advances to a point approximate ly near that figure, the oil will be held for a more substantial increase in value. The sale of the oil was vestod in one individ ual, not a member of the committee, and who is satisfactory to both interests represented at its meeting. His name could not he ascer tained, but he is said to be a man well known to the trade, and whoso position and character is such as to warrant a full carrying out of the plans of the committee. The advance in the market to-day was based on a belief that the action taken by tho committees would lead to better prices. PANIC IN A WINTER HOTEL. A Fine NowEesort Near Jacksonville Now a DInssof Ruins. rrrrctAL telegram to the dispatch.! Jacksonville, Fla., February 7. The fine new Hotel Sutherland, on the Gulf coast, built and owned by the Sutherland Loan and Improvement Company, of Omaha, Neb., is a heap of ruins, and the loss, including valuables and clothing of guests, etc., is over 570,000. Early yesterday morning fire was discovered in the main building, and before the alarm could be given the house was a mass of flames. The help consisted of 20 persois, mostly girls, and the1 guests were 18 excursionists from Omaha. Shrieks filled the air as the fren zied and. frightened women tried to get out of thcir'rooms and found the hall was one bright blaze. The male help nobly organ ized, and began rescuing the imperiled women. Hopes of sheets, etc., were made, nnd nearly all the inmates lowered from windows in this manner. Several in their fright jumped and sustained serious cuts and bruises from glass and sharp roots. Nearly all were in their night-clothes, and some with hardlv a rap to their h.ir.ks. os the fire had burned off their lieht cotton dresses as they were being conveyed through the hall ways on the first appearance ot fire. Two w omen who were lowered from the front windows on the second story were terribly burned before they reached tho ground. Incendiarism is suspected. 'mistaken identity:. Bello Starr, the Desperado, and Belle Boyd, tho Spy, Two Distinct Persons. SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCn.l Wheeling, February 7. A telegram sent out from Fort Smith, Ark., and widely published, eiving the history of Belle Boyd, the famous rebel spy, and identify ing her as Belle Starr, the female desperado, killed near Eufala, Ind. T., on Sunday, cre ated a decided sensation here and all over West Virginia, where Belle Boyd has been well-known siuce her girlhood'. She was born at Martinsburg, Berkley county, and until three months ago, lived at Parkers burg, having taken up her abode there about 18 months ago. If the Starr woman and Belle Boyd are the same she covers ground more rapidly than Madam Blavatsky ever claimed to, yet nobody of all who knew her here are prepared to say she is not. It is probable, however, that the Fort Smith writer has confused the history of one Belle Carpenter, who formerly lived in this section, and now has a half-breed Choctaw Indian son near here in Pennsyl vania, where he owns a large farm. This woman answers the description of Belle Starr. She was last here in 18SG on her way home to Arkansas from a visit to her son in Pennsylvania. She had an unsavory reputation. A E0AIANTIC ACCOUNT Given of tlio CIrcnmstnnccs Surrounding Crown Prince Rudolf's Death. Vienna, February 7. The following is another account of tho circumstances at tending the death af Crown Prince Rudolf. Rudolf had courted M. Baroness Marie Vetsera for four months. The liason, it is stated, was encouraged by Countess Wal-lersse-Larisch, a niece of the Empress Marie, who was of a romantic disposition and nervous temperament, and was devoted to Rudolf. On January 28 the pair started in a two horse closed carriage for Meycrling, where they passed the next day together. On the morning of January 30 the two were found dead in bed. Marie had been shot through the forehead. Rudolf had also been shot as already described. It was evident that the two had resolved to die together. The coverlet was strewn with flowers. The body of Marie was secretly taken to a cottage, and thence removed for interment. The Vetsera family left Vienna on Saturday for Venice. W0KK OF THE OHIO S0L0NS. Telephone Rates Will Slav Up, but Bntterlne Must Get Oat. ISrECIAL. TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.l Columbus, February 7. The .House to day had under consideration all day the bill for the reduction of telephone rents in the State. The last Legislature came within one vote of passing the same bill. Many speeches were made on both sides. Several amendments were offered and voted down. The bill on passage received 25 votes and 48 against, with 34 ot the members dodging or absent. This closes the telephone engage ment of the session. The Committee on Agricnlture of the House to-night recommended the passage of the bill to prevent the manufacture of oleo margarine in imitation of butter. A strong fight has been made against the bill, bat the impression prevails that itwill become a law. BANK OFFICERS INDICTED. They Made False Statements of the Condi tion of Their Institution. Norfolk, Va., February 7. George S. Oldfield, President, H. 0. Percy, cashier, H. B. Nichols and H. L. Page, directors, were indicted to-day by the grand jury for making false statements to the State Aud itor in October last as to the condition of the Home Savings Bank of this city, which failed last November. Bail was given in all cases, except that of H. C Percy, who is absent from the city. A GUN THAT SHOOTS. The Thurlow Open-Hearth Cast-Steel Cannon Successfully Tested. TEN RAPID ROUNDS ARE FIRED,- And the Gun to the Naked lye Seems Not at All the Worse for Wear. THE MANUFACTUEEKS WELL PLEASED That Their Pet Tared Better Than Its Ill-Starred rittstnrjr Slral. The cast-steel gun made by the Standard Steel Casting Company, of Thurlow, stood a remarkable test yesterday without bursting. Ten rounds were fired in rapid succession, and no visible expansion of the alls of the gun followed. The star gauge is next to be applied, after which it ma be ascertained whether such guns can be used safely and with success. Their manufacturers think they can. Naval officers hope it won't be tried, for they have no faith in their security. rEFEClAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.l Annapolis, Md., February 7. Mr. Fred Baldt, General Manager and Superin tendent of the Standard Steel Casting Com pany's works at Thurlow, near Chester, Pa., left the Government proving grounds near this quaint old city this evening a very happy man. , His six-inch steel gun, the twin in appearance of the Pittsburg gun, which burst a few weeks ago on the spot, stood the tremendous racket of 12 shots to day without any evidence of injury that the eye could detect. The result surprised everybody. It as tonished the dozen or so or handsome young lieutenants who shivered in the biting at mosphere to witness the test. Probably no one was more astonished than Mr. Baldt himself. While he believed that this gun, made of steel manufactured by the open hearth process, was superior to the Hains worth Bessemer steel gun, the lamentable ending of the latter had made him skepti cal, and he would not have been surprised if his pet had burst as the Pittsburg gun did at the first shot with a full cartridge. TESTED ON A l'ATAL SPOT. The test was made on the same spot that marked the tragedy of the great Bessemer casting. An old carriage had been rigged up for the occasion, that the loss to the Gov ernment might not be several thousand dol lars from the destruction of a good carriage, as happened before. Aheavier barricade of hewn timbers and round loss took the place of that which had been blown to smithereens by the Pittsburg gun. The triangular bomb proof behind which the man stood who jerked the lock line and fired the gnn had been materially strengthened, and; in addition, a score of big sand bags were piled around it. Other bomb proofs were cov ered dejep with sand for the protection of the workmen and the visiting officers, and civil ians were not allowed .nearer to the scene of action than the office, some 400 yards away. These precautions showed that there was no expectation that the weapon would stand the test,. and -that- there' wtono assurance that the.bursting would be as luckily harm less as on the former occasion. It was after 1 o'clock when the assembled officers and visitors were warned to get to cover. Lieutenant Commander Dayton had charge of the proving ground, having suc ceeded Lieutenant Knight, who was in charge when the Pittsburg gun was tested. Mr. Baldt was the only representative of the Standard Company present. The others did not care to witness the expected wreck. MERELY AS A WARMER. Thirty-six pounds of powder were used for the first round for the purpose of com pressing the gas pad. When this shot was fired it was found that the pad had not been properly compressed, and was therefore use less. Another pad was fitted and another cartridge of similar size slid into the breech and touched off. The charge of 48 pounds ot urown s prismatic powaer, with the 100-pound projectile, was used for the next shot, and the visitors were given a few minutes to get into an interesting condition of suspense, as nearly everybody expected that this would be the'last charge ever fired from this gun. The workmen scattered behind the bomb proofs, the visitors got into good positions to the rear of a moundof earth near the of fice, some standing within the office, a pufi of white smoke from the muzzle, which pro truded in plain sight from the shed, a tre mendous explosion that made the office rock as though struck by an earthquake, and a shout went up that sue was "all right," simply because the shed was not lifted into the air, as on the former occasion. "But where's the muzzle?" exclaimed Lieutenant Commander Sperry, and sure enough, the muzzle was not to be seen, but in anothef moment, as the workmen rushed to their places under command of Lieuten ant Wilner, the black muzzle was run out of the shed, and then the office,rs remem bered that the gun would not "return to battery," as they called it, on this carriage, and that she had to be run to place by hand. PLEASED, BUT NOT CONFIDENT. Mr. Baldt looked immensely pleased that this gun had stood at least one more shot than its Pittsburg rival, but he was not yet confident of the success of the test. An other shot, and another and another were fired at intervals of abont two seconds, and after the fourth Mr. Baldt remarked. "I be lieve she will go through all right now. She will be getting better all the time, as she warms up." Whether she did get bet ter or not, she was well enough, for as round after round was fired in quick succession, the shed was not lifted toward the heavens, and no little pieces of metal weighing a ton or two came hurling through the air toward the precious bodies of the visitors. If the test was successful the Standard Company would get 55,000, which was the amount of their bid, and as the rounds pro gressed the jolly, joking Sperry would ex claim that that shot was worth so and so. "That one is worth $2,050," he exclaimed at the ninth and tenth; "there you are, Mr. Baldt; that one was worth 503," and everyone gathered about the happy Baldt, and warmly congratulated him. He took the result very coolly, saying that he would not feel certain until he had heard the re port of the official examination. The pro cess of "star gauging" had to be gone through with, and the result of that would not be known exccDt through the official re port of the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance at Washington. NO EXPANSION VISIBLE. The interior of the breech was so be grimed with powder and water used in sponging that one could not be certain in regard to its condition, bnt a close examina tion could not detect any expansion. The walls seemed as perfect as before the test. The star gauge, however, discovers 'any irregularity, given, even to the thousandth part of an inch, and that delicate instru ment alone would tell the story whether the gun had endured the strain. The officers say, and Mr. Baldt admits, that even this will not prove the cast gun to be a success, and that a thorough test can only be made by repeated and rigorous firing at a higher pressure. But Mr. Baldt is of the opinion that if the star gauge discovers no permanent expan sion, the Government should order several guns and prove them gradually to the point of bursting. He declared that he can make a much better gun than the bna proved to day, which was what is known as a crude casting, not tempered at all. He experi mented with specimen bars -of this gun to note the changes made by tempering in oil, and found that he increased, the elastic strength from 40,000 to 77;000, the tensile strength from 80,000 to 109,000, and the elongation from 21 per cent to 9 per cent, with no appreciable reduction of the mass. In its crude state the gun has stood the statutory test of ten rounds with 48j pounds of prismatic powder, which gives a pressure of 15 tons to the square inch, and a muzzle velocity of 2,000 feet per second to a projec tile weighing 100 pounds. EVEN BETTER RESULTS EXPECTED. With the "increase of strength given by tempering, Mr. Baldt is certain that the cast gun of open-hearth steel will endure the severest strain that could be demanded, with better results than can be gained from the built-up guns. But he asserts that this cannot be done with Bessemer steel. The great mass that is melted together, he de clares, renders impurities unavoidable, and that the casting must therefore be irregular in its density, and not homogeneous. It is not to be forgotten, however, that the Standard gun contains more metal than the Pittsburg gun. The latter weighed onlv 10,500 pounds at the navy yard, while the former weighed 13",125 pounds. Mr. Hains worth admitted that he had tempered hia gun too hard, and the casting was shown not to be satisfactory. Mr. Baldt savs his cast ing was perfectly satisfactory. The Stand ard gun is 195 inches in length, 6 inches in bore, 22 inches in diameter at the breach, and the walls at.that point were li inches in diameter, which is thicker than those of the Pittsburg gun. Officers stationed here at the naval school, who are thoroughly versed in such matters, say they cannot understand why the Pitts burg gun burst. They have tested pieces of it and found its tensile strength. GREATER THAN WAS DEMANDED. Lieutenant Commander Sperry remarked to Mr. Baldt: "Theydidn't use dynamite in jrour gun as the Pittsburg papers say we did in Hainsworth's?" Mr. Baldt declares that if the Govern ment will authorize the construction of a few more guns he, will produce a casting far superior to the one tested to-day in the first place by means of careful tempering, and in the second place by securing a greater headpressure in pouring the metal, of which their facilities did not admit when the present gun was cast. Mr. Baldt is nothing if he is not practical. A few years ago he was a puddler. He as sisted in the establishment of two great plants at Chester, when he was asked two years ago to take charge of the Standard Company's works, which had been running at a heavy loss for several years. When he took charge the stock was selling at about 535. Last week it was quoted at close to $18p. "And to-morrow," remarked Mr. Baldt, "it will be worth 5200." A quarter of a million of capital is invested, aud Mr. Baldt holds a third of the stock. The annual value of the' product is about $500,000. Nearly all the castings for the Government war vessels are made at the Standard Works, and many contracts se cured by other firms are turned over to them. NAVAL OFFICERS NOT PLEASED. Notwithstanding the apparent perfect endurance of the statutory test by this gun, the naval officers who will have to handle the guns of the navy in case of war are not satisfied with the experiment. While they declare4they have no prejudice, and that they"hope it will be discovered that cheap cast guns can be made, a majority of them have no faith in the efficiency of such guns mannfacturedundexAxicticg circumstances, but ttey fear that with partial test the steel influence of 'the country, which is al most omnipotent, will be strong enough o secure the adoption of the guns. This, they say, would be fun and profit to the steel men, but death, probably, to the poor of ficers and seamen. Therefore, while they encourage experiments, they want them to be absolutely conclusive before the guns are adopted. They confess, however, that the firing of these ten rounds to-day, inside of 33 minutes, without apparently damaging the Standard gun, has shaken their skepti cism and rendered their conversion to the cast gun thereby a possibility. THE COKE STBIKEOTEB. The Entire Movement Tins Met With a Practical Collapse Offer to Fay for Damages Sustained if They Are Reinstated. SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.L Connellsville, February 7. The coke strike is practically at an end. All the works have resumed, except the Standard, Jimtown aud Mammoth. At the latter place a new fan is being put in or these works would be put in operation to-morrow. A few men are at work in Jimtown, and it is thought these works will be running full in a day or so. The men at the Standard works made a proposition to Superintendent Lynch, offering to pay the damages caused by the suspension at these works, if they were allowed to go to work under the terms of the old scale. He replied that it would be impossible to make such an estimate, but he was willing to have the men make one, which, if high enough, he would then consider. He had already stated that the only terms upon which they could return was at the wages paid the Alice mines employes. AtLeisen ring 124 men were at work to-day, and more are expected to apply to-mcrrow. Meetings are being held at the Frick works to-night to determine whether or not the employes will continue to work under the old scale as extended indefinitely on Tuesday. Delegates will be elected to a convention to be held at Everson to-morrow, when a conference with Superintendent Lynch will be asked. The Knights will hold a convention on Saturday. The cokers regard the strike as a failure, and any at tempts to inaugurate a general strike cannot possibly meet with success. The operators do not consider a strike in progress and maintain indifference as to the outcome. ADJOURN TO MEET AGAIN. Miners Attack the Illinois Operators and the Northwestern Kailway. ISFECIAI. TELEOKAM TO THE DISPATCH.l Indianapolis, February 7. The Na tional Progressive Miners, composed of coal miners aud operators, after three days of wrangling? adjourned to-day without agree ing upon a new scale of wages. Another meeting will be held at Columbus on the second Monday in March. Resolutions were passed charging the Northwestern Bailway with discriminatipi in rates in favor ot Illinois mine operators, and con demning Judge Cooley for rendering a de cision favorable to them. The Illinois coal fields were characterized as "the common enemy of everybody engaged in the coal mining business." The Secretary was or dered to send copies ot the resolutions to every member of the United States Senate. As there is misapprehension in some quarters concerning the base of scale adopted in committee last nicht, it is here repeated: Hockint: Valley, CO cents; Pitts burg, 69; Beynoldsville, Go; Indiana block, 80; Indiana bituminous, 63. A Tug and Three Men Lost. (SPECIAL. TILXGItAM TO THE DISPATCH.l Erie, February 7. A few days ago John Peterson bought the steam fish tug Maggie Mitchell, and started for Ashtabula. The weather since then has been terrific and a3 the craft has not reached Ashtabula, it is believed that she is lost with her crew of three men. No tidings have been received from her at Ashtabula. THE&J-3 ENTS THE!Wff IT The Counties of Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Will Make a Vigorous WAR AGAINST PROHIBITION. Farmers Fear Increased Taxation if. the Amendment Passes. PITTSBURG PATEHESTS AND BEEE. Three Wet Counties 'Large Malorltles Against Prohibition Beadlns; Conncll mea as Beer Consumers Inspecting Pavements and Breweries Tho Thrifty .Pennsylvania Dutch Opposed to Sump tuary Legislation Vnlne of Berks' Liquor Interests Liquor Men Organi zingThey Favor the Brooks' Law Farmers Want Lower Taxes Prohi bitionists Few and Weak. The three counties of Berks, Lehigh and Northampton are aiming to roll up the tremendous majority of between 15,000 and 20,000 against Constitutional amendment. Berks alone will give two-thirds of that. Our special commissioner finds that the farmers in Northeastern Pennsylvania are afraid of heavier taxes if the amendment is adopted. Thus far The Dispatch's can vass of counties shows the following result: $ 3 ? 7 O O Counties. g, o 3 " 2. 5 JT s- P 3 Armstrong.... Bedford. Berks Cambria Cameron. ...... Clarion Elk Tayette Forest Greene. Indiana.. ....... Jefferson. Lancaster. Lehigh Northampton.. Potter. Somerset Venango Warren Washington ... Westmoreland. In favor of In favor of Atralnst Against In favor of Fairly sure Acainst 8.986 s.iai 28.9-12 11.702 LS Adopted Adopted Defeated Defeated Adopted G.9J5 Acioptea 3,197 (Defeated Veryd'btful K2K! 1.MJ1 6,E0 7,60") 7.53 S2.987 1,094 17,103 4,434 7,282 8.587 7,645 U22S 19.958 AdoDtcd in favor or In favor of In favor of In favor of Defeated Adopted Adopted Adopted Defeated Defeated Against Against Against In favor of In favor of In favor ot In favor of In favor of Defeated Adopted Adopted Adopted Adopted Adopted Adopted Close Acgrejpite of votes for Harrison. Cleveland and i isk. FROM OUS SPECIAL COMMISSIONER. Beading, February 7. About the most innocent remark people in this city make in regard to Constitutional amendment ia that "it is a non-partisan fight." They then proceed to prove it Lancaster county, a Eepublican stronghold, will probably give as high ai-d,000"inajo"rityagainst probiSf." tion. Berks sees this and goes Lancaster' three better. The Democratic majority in Berks' is abont 9,000, and if Republican Lancaster will vote for whisky and have so many votes to spare, Berks concludes she must not allow her reputation to be tarnished by such rivalry, and immediately gives notice to the balance of the State that her majority for apple-jack and beer will be between 12,000 and 15,000. That is what she says in her enthusiasm. Perhaps 10,000 will be nearer the mark. A BEERY LEGEND. The City Councils of Reading visited Pittsburg four or five years ago to inspect the fire department. A tabulated statement was printed a few days later in one of the Pitts burg papers giving the amount of beer they consumed in 48 hours. It was simply mar velous. So mutual was the attraction of Pittsburg beer for the Reading Councilmen, and theReadingCouncilmen for the Pittsburg beer, that not more than a year had passed when the brewers in Lawrenceville, seeing that something must be done to keep up trade, sent a beautiful parchment invitation to the City Conncils of Reading asking them to come to Pittsburg to inspect the Ligonier stone pavements. An ordinance was at once railroaded through Reading Councils for a Ligonier pavement on one of the alleys here, and Councils authorized to not only go to Pitts burg but clear to the Ligonier quarries, if necessary, to make sure there was such a stone. The Allegheny county beer trade was perceptibly improved, but that Reading alley was never paved. MORS OF THE DUTCH. Having heard this legend in Pittsburg, I scarcely thought it worth while to waste time hunting for Prohibitionists in Reading. And as the agricultural section of the county is populated by the Pennsylvania Dutch almost exclusively it was equally ab surd to expect to find any among them. These Dutch people and their more Ameri can descendants are a thrifty people with a simple creed. They are principally Lutherans and Re formed Church communicants. They seldom drink to excess,but they would no more think of keeping house without a keg of beer on tap, or a barrel of whisky in the cellar, than they would of denying their nationali ty. It's in them. "Shall the law say whatl must eat and drink?" they ask. The major ity of them, being Democrats, have tradi tional arguments at hand to bolster up this argument against sumptuary legislation. There is an entire absence of activity among their clergy for the advancement of the amendment, and if their prayers at church do hot touch upon the subject, their votes will in June, and their influence long be fore that time will have an effect, MONEY IN LIQUOR. Berks county defeated local option in 1873 by 0,514 majority. There was at that time not one-half the vote there is now, and with the increase of population the appetite for beverages seems to have increased. The iron furnaces, which form a big part of the county's industries, have but a small per centage of the grosser foreign element, but the laborers are decidedly more liberal on the question of liquor (aud in their use of it, too,),than the vulcans of "Western Penn sylvania. Then the population of Berks was not much over 100,000. Now it is about 150,000. Reading has now 04,600 population, and then it had scarcely 38,000. Although fhe courts cut down the num ber of saloons here under the Brooks law, the liquor investment is still very heavy. There are in the city six or seven costly brewery plants. The friends of liquor have caused to be published this estimate of what Reading alone will suffer if the amendment ' Continued of. SizthSPage. 4 1- t 1