flBWlljJIB "WEL'W lHBPr . t SJSHv ;sBK!HMHBn- i - -vv rfk-- w ' ' t - - ' i r z , i .. t . j . t j TFr - 1 the dispatch nasa ,.fi3.7 ,-nfe. j-r - OKLfl- Special Courier with the Oklahoma Bonm-v ers. He -trill enter the New Canaan with them to-day, and will graphically furnish all readers -with events as they occur. FORTY-FOURTH YEAR. IE w BUSH Like a Mad Torrent the Masses of Boomers Broke Into the Promised Land, ' CITIES ALREADY IN SIGHT. One Eailroad Alone Carried in Upward of Thirty Tlionsand People. FOUR FOE EYERY FARM. And in Some Cases a Dozen or More Persons are Claiming One Quarter Section. WEAPONS IN THE HMDS OP ALL. A If umber of Eager Boomers Were Drowned in Attempting to Cross the Swollen Birers. YAGUE EUMOES OP BLOODI CONTESTS Oklahoma is open. At noon yesterday the boomers swarmed over the line in a dense stream. Then ensued a mad race for land. 'Every farm in the territory is now occupied and claimed by from 1 to 15 per sons. Each one is backing up his alleged rights with rifle and revolver. A number of persons were drowned in fording streams. There are unconfirmed reports of fights in the remote districts. The land offices can not attend to one-hundredth of the business shoved upon them. Town site companies are preparing for a bitter contest. rsrxcxu. telegram to the dispatch.i Guthbie, April 22. The gates ot Okla homa, the beautiful land of the Chicka saws, were swung open at noon to-day, and restless torrents of humanity began to pour over its soil. The hunting ground of the Indian is now the home of the white settler. Thewildness of yesterday is a populated territory to-day. Every acre of land from the Canadian to Cherokee strip has a claim ant Every quarter section has its squatter. Around the boundaries and railroad sta tion whole colonies are camped on single quarter sections. Horsemen are racing in every direction to defeat the aims of rival homesteaders. The land offices here and at Lisbon are besieged by an army of eager, impatient men, who are fighting and struggling for a chance to file the records of their claims down in Oklahoma City. Guns Already nt a J'remlum. Rival town site companies are preparing to enforce their respective claims with "Win chesters and six-shooters, and in conse quence an additional large force of deputy marshals have, been dispatched there to help preserve order. Prom the banks of the Canadian come vague, indefinite reports of bloody encounters between old and new boomers, but owing to the lack of telegraph service the report cannot be confirmed. Everything is in confusion and turmoil. Forty thousand men are sleeping in the open air. Some of them are without even so much as blankets to protect them from the night air. Thousands who are gathered at the stations are bewildered and hardly dare to move out ot sight of the troops and marshals. They are like men at sea on a raft with out rudder or compass. The vast expanse of green plain offers them ho relief nor conso lation. It is little more than a dreary des ert in their eyes. Scores of them are penni less, and are moving from tent to tent piti fully beeging for something to eat. Many spent all they had to get to the beautiful land, and now, through an adverse fate, tney are anchored to it as firm as its tallest cottonwood. . Everybody lVm on Time. Tbe scramble for land began promptly at 12 o'clock, and for hours crowds poured into Oklahoma over all the four borders. All were eager; all were determined. From the Cherokee strip came the great fleet of prairie schooners, across the Canadian; from the Chickasaw nation came troop after troop of sturdy ponies, each one carrying a boomer; from the Araphoe and Cheyenne reservations on the west, came a yelling mob of horsemen who fired volley after volley to celebrate their final victory. The Kiowa on the southwest and the Cherokee and Creek nations on the east, also furnished their contingent of boomers. Upon the northern line the boomers' wagons seemed to be less than a hundred feet apart, and the white line extended east and west from the railroad track as far as the eye conld see. At the starting signal they moved all together as if propelled by a com mon force. The big draft horses, lashed by merciless drivers, sprang ahead, and the lumbering wagons rolled over the green turf at a speed that would have done credit to roadsters. Across the line they went together, great waves of cheering breaking upon the air. Undue at Fall Speed. Guns were discharged; at first at irregu lar intervals and then volleys that sent the horses prancing ahead faster than before. There was no halting; no hesitation. The wagons continued on over the level green plain until they were about halfway across the northern tier of claims, and then up ward of a hundred of them were brought to a standstill. The others rolled on to the lower tiers. Men, women and children poured from the stationary schooners, and in an incred ibly short time the foundations for tbe pion eer homes of Oklahoma had been laid by willing hands. Every farm had more than one claimant. Some had two and three and -$?. others as many as ten. They are all ready to swear that they crossed the borders first, and that theirs were the first improvements. So it is all over the territory an d especially on the sections adjoining Guthrie and Oklahoma City. The land offices will have many difficulties to decide before the week is over. One of The Dispatch correspondents, accompanied by a courier, rode a fleet pony from the north and rode clear down the Cimarron river. Before nightfall hundreds of horsemen dashed on ahead of the wagons, riding as if their lives depended on their efforts. Ponies and -men rnshed over the broken trails and plains until many of them fell from sheer exhaustion. Some Exciting Scene. In several instances the racers were close enough to be intensely exciting The horses ran side by side under the influence of whip and spur. The wild riders paid little at tention to each other, but kept their eyes straight ahead. At "intervals one would pull up on his pony, jump from his saddle, and then taking his hat from his head, would wave it with a loud hurrah as a sig nal that he was on his chosen claim. The others kept on to the river. Despite all their plans, which were carefully laid while they were camping in the valleys of the 'Walnut and the Arkansas, the utmost confusion marked the movements of the boomers. They appeared to have an inade quate idea of the land for which they were chasing so eagerly. There were no stakes, no marks, no nothing to guide them but their eyes and their judgment, and in ex ercising this they laid the foundation for many bitter contests. The horsemen in their wild haste filed upon the farms to the number of four and five, and then rather than lose what they already possessed remained there glaring at each other. Other cowboys, from ranges in the Cherokee strip, joined in the scramble, and their wild hurrahs as they tore along on ponies fleet as deer could be heard all along the northern border. Speculator oil tbo Field. Many, too, were in pursuit of land, not, however, for the purpose of making it their homes, but to satisfy an insatiable craving for speculation, which is the inspiration of more than one man who crossed the Okla homa border to-day. From the claims to Guthrie and Lisbon, where the land offices are located, was another race. As fast as men squatted, horses were saddled and then sent jumping toward the treacherous Cimarron. Fords were disregarded, the horses were plunged into the boiling waters at whatever point they reached the stream. Many of them breasted the almost restless tide, and carried their daring riders safely out of danger, but others fell into the deadly quicksands and were swallowed alive. It is feared that many settlers have perished in the same way. Few of them from the north are acquainted with the trails and fords. Having no means at hand to get the desired information they ran every gauntlet of danger. The ferryboats that were to have been stationed at the Clark ford, east of the trail, to give horse men safe transportation across the river, were carried down with the flood early in the day. EYEN WILDER STILL Was the Great Scramble Over tbo Swollen Canndian Elver Finns of tbe Old . Boomer Some Early Bird Who Captured the Beit Land. Down the Canadian, where the colonies of old boomers have been in 'camp for months and years, the scramble was evan wilder tBan on the northern line. The river was high and dangerous. The banks are deep and the soft earth affords bnt a poor foothold even to Indian ponies. -Yet thousands of men unhesitatingly plunged their horses into the roaring stream.' Deprived of all other means of entrance to the land in which their hopes and aspira tions have been centered, they faced the danger and boldly risked their lives. It was a strange sight to see hundreds of horses struggling against the awful rush of water, and the faces of the rough men who urged them past the quicksands and guided them through other channels of danger. A great crowd of gamblers from Purcell and other points along the Santa Fe stood on the banks of the river and watched the race in silence. Finally the ponies began to clamber up the north bank, and some of them waded their way through the soft earth and carried their masters and riders into the promised land with a dash that brought forth cheer after cheer. Others fell back into the water again and again, and went down toward the rocks and the railroad bridges. They Know What They Want. The old boomers who got into Oklahoma give but little evidence of uncertainty or confusion. They had been there before. They had staked the most desirable claims in the Territory, and they knew the trails that led directly to them. There was but i-little competition among them. If they raced their bronchos they did it to beat fel lows they knew were swarming from the railroads. They were all thoroughly armed, ready to defend the land which they believed was theirs by all rights. If they find strangers upon their claims they will doubtless pre cipitate conflicts which will result in blood shed. In fact, they have formed a sort of mutual protection association or colony, the chief aim of which is to band its members together for mutual protection. Every man is under oath to help his fellow against the invasion of strangers, whether he is right or "wrong. Many of the old boomers who foresaw the difficulties and dangers that would attend the crossing of the Canadian resorted to the railroad and proceeded to Oklahoma City, where they will endeavor by combining their forces to control -the movement tor formingindepeudentmunicipal governments If they can do this they believe they can control the apportionment of town lots, and thus make more money than if they simply take up claims. ' Some Early Birds. There was plenty of evidences during the day that the bushes and gorges and creeks along the southern half of the territory were not entirely free from invaders. Before the hour of setting open the gates, many of the followers of Payne were found complacently tilling the soil alone the fertile sections south of the Cimarron, when the boomers from the East and "West reached them. How they get there is only matter of conjecture, but that they intend to remain they stated with as much emphasis to every new-comer as a six-shooter or Winchester could give to plain language. It is safe to say that to night every farm in the territory is in pos session of one or more claimants, and that there are from 20,000 to 30,000 more wandering aimlessly about in search of land. Here at Guthrie the rush is ter rific The new Land Office building, from which the Stars and Stripes are floating, is sur rounded by a mob of howling men which is being augmented by horsemen, who are gal loping in from every quarter. Land Agent Killey and his force ot assistants are unable to give attention to a hundredth part of the business that is being forced upon them. The detachment of troopers, which has been m mumn mmw detailed around the building with a view to keeping the Mob in an orderly line, is com pletely worn out and the marshals under Captain Farlisor are so tired that some of them talk of resigning. . THE RUSH BY RAIL. One Road Poara In Between 20,000 and 30,000 Excited Boomers The Scram bles to Get on Board Everybody Armed and Prepared for Trouble. Between "20,000 and 30,000 people were dumped here to-day by the Santa Fe road, which ran 22 immense trains from Arkansas City at 9 o'olock, with men clinging to the hand rails of the platforms. Superintendent Turner, with the aid of officers and his own assistants, tried to head the mob back by as suring it that he had sufficient accommoda tions for all, but he might as well have tried to stop the flow of the Canadian. An eager, expectant crowd was struggling to reach the track and the first train. Every man wanted to reach Okla homa before every other man, and there were not officers enough in the State of Kansas to keep him from trying to fulfill his ambition. As the train slowly pulled out of the depot amid a volley of cheers men ran after it trying to clutch the hand rails and thus pull themselves aboard, hut they were forced off by marshals and sent back to join the scramble for a seat in the second train. The noise of the crowd was terrific Some men in their eagerness and haste tossed aside grips and blankets, and plunged into the struggling, writhing mass of humanity on the platform to tear their way to the, platform. Coats were destroyed, hats were crushed, and in some instances were bruised and eyes blacked. Trains Fire Minutes Apart, Three hours were consumed in manning the 20 trains in and out of the depot, and by that time every man who was bound for Oklahoma had been accommodated with transportation facilities. The trains moved across the Cherokee strip cautiously and slowly. ' There was no need for hastening, Thev were scarcely more than five minntes apart as they, approached the land of promise. Thousands of heads protruded from the windows, and curious eyes feasted on the green; panorama that lay before them. As tbe noon hour approached there was a noticeable increase of nervousness on every side. Suddenly the cars seemed to bound ahead and then they went swinging down the track very lively. "We're across the line, boys, in Oklahoma," was the word that passed through every car, and it was greeted with cheers. There was a tempo rary halt at the Cimarron bridge, where the engineer exchanged signals with strange men who were armed with rifles, and then the train load of pioneers went on over the turbulent waters which have been the grave of manv a brave fellow. From the Cimarron to Guthrie the run was a short one, and before many minutes elapsed the high hill back of that station came into view. The American flag floated from its crest. The sight seemed to inspire the crowd with enthusiasm. Heady for Any Sort of Trouble. There was as much fighting to get ont of the cars as there had been to get in then), but nobody was hurt and the coaches were soon emptied. It was a curious sight to watch the boomers after they had got fairly on foot. Many of them gazed stupidly to the north, south, east and west and then moved ahead like men who were lost. They started for the hills, and still others bent themselves to the task of raising tents which they brought wUhthemtO 'open -various kinds of business. ' Those who went for the hills Were after claims. They were a restless, tireless lot, and were willing to enter the land with the mounted men who were clattering to the claims on every side of them. They were all "well armed and evidently ready for any sort of trouble. The Dispatch correspondent at Okla homa City telegraphs that the condition of things there is even worse than here. The town site settlers Of the southern cities are nearly all Texans, Arkansans, and white men lrom the Chickasaw and Creek nations. Over at Kingfisher or Lisbon, where the crowds brought in on the Bock Island are gathering, there has been no trouble as yet. TEN THOUSAND TOTES CAST. Guthrie Organized Into a City and a munic ipal Election Held. Guthbie, April 22. No one who has never seen a "Western town take form and shape can comprehend how quickly a full rigged city with a double-deck , boom can be put in running motion. Guthrie already has its mam street, its Harrison street, its Guthrie ave nue and its Oklahoma avenue, and this morning it was a wilderness: the antelope sported and the jack rabbit flapped its ear3 in the sun. In the afternoon at 4 o'clock the firstmunicipal election occurred. The election notice appeared to-day in the Oklahoma Herald, a daily paper pub lished at Guthrie on the first day of its ex istence. Nearly 10,000 votes were polled, a3 there are about that many men in Guthrie with the intention of becoming citizens. The leading candidates for Mavor were Adju tant General Eeice, of Illinois; "William Constantine, of Springfield, O., and T. L. Summer, of Arkansas City. A strong dark horse is T. Volney G. Hagglet, of Helena, Dak. The count of the votes has not yet been completed. GOOD FOE CAPTAIN AEMES. A Number of Witnesses Attest to His Good Character. "Washington, April 22. The Armes court martial began proceedings to-day by the secret examination of Sergeant at Arms Canady, of tbe Senate, and Chief Bell, of the secret service. It was currently reported that the testimony of these witnesses, taken in con nection with that of Colonel Swords last Saturday, went to show that Captain Armes hadappeared in the inaugural parade as a special bodyguard to thePresident, and had the highest warrant for his attendance. General Limon gave some testimony to show the high estimation in which Armes had been held by President Lincoln and Secretary Seward, he having saved "Wash ington by timely warning from a Confeder ate raid. Other evidence to establish the good character of the accused was taken, and when the court adjourned it was gener ally understood that the proceedings would close to-morrow. THE NIPSIC HOT A TOTAL LOSS. Her Ensine Given a Trial and Found to Work All Right. Washington, April 22. Bear Admiral Kimberly has forwarded to the Navy De partment a report from Chief Engineer Kiersted, stating that the engine of the Nipsic has been tried and worked well. The propeller is considerably bent, and its effective area much reduced. The report says the ship can be moved by steam if required. Snpcilntendent Bell Resigns. Washington, April 22. The resigna tion of Nicholas M. Bell, Superintendent of Foreign -Mails, Postoffice Department, has been accepted by the Postmaster General. PITTSBURG, TUESDAY, NO WATER WANTED. Massachusetts Decides to Stick by the Tipple it Likes Best. PROHIBITION BADLY KNOCKED OUT The Majority Against'the Proposed Amend ment Will Eeach 35,000. A W0ESE DEFEAT THAN WAS EXPECTED. Thirt-Party Teople the Only Workers for the Latest .Lost Cause. As was predicted in a Boston special to yesterday's Dispatch, the Prohibition amendment in Massachusetts is defeated. The majority, though, is greater than even the most hopeful of the enemies of.the amendment had expected. It is no less than 35,000. The straw is called a significant one, and may mean much in Massachusetts pol itics hereafter. tSPECIAZ, TXIIGIU.K TO THC DISAfOTM Boston, April 22. Too much water started a landslide which has buried the prohibitory party and the proposed Con stitutional amendment under a drift of about 35,000 votes. Nothing so destructive to party hopes has struck this State since General Butler whipped the Bepuhlican party in 1882. The third party leaders have not yet recovered the wind which was knocked out of, them when the avalanche struck them. It came when the polls closed and the returns began to roll up the ma jority against the amendment. The public sentiment of Massachusetts does not favor Constitutional prohibition, and the friends of the measure find that they have been basing their hopes upon an unreliable estimate of public opinion. For years past they have been demanding a sub mission of the prohibitory question to the people, and have taunted both parties with cowardice.- They have argued that the people would quickly shut up the grog shops in the State if they had an oppor tunity to vote directly on the question. They have had the chance, and have re jected it. Now the leaders are dumb. LOCAL OPTION PBEFEBBED, The people have decided to stand by the local option law, which gives each town and city the right to regulate the sale of liquor within its own territory. The vote shows that the people are not ready for pro hibition. There is general surprise over the light ness of the vote cast. In view of the earn est solicitation of party leaders, it had been expected that the response of the voters would be unusually large, but there were many thousands of voters who dodged the question. - Tbey did not want to see the amendment carried, and they were afraid to go on record as voting in fayor of it. These stay-at-homes were largely Republicans. The dyed-in-the-wool Prohibitionists, of course, stood by their guns to the last, but they were sadly demoralized when the bat 'tie ended. They saw men who had always voted against granting licenses walk up to the polls with'No" allots in their hands, bnt the "No", to-dav, -waaf nafiihe opposite I of the "No" ballot used in the local option vote. There-were men who have never thought of voting with the rum power who could not agree with the straight-out Prohibitionists as to the feasibility of adopting the amend ment. They voted against their cold water brethren, and called down upon their heads loads of abuse. LIVELY SCRAP AT THE POLLS. In Everett there Was a lively scrap in front of the polling place, growing out of a little heated crimination and recrimination. A man who was peddling "No" ballots re sented the imputation that he was a "rum mie" by calling the other man a liar. There was a knock-down, a drag-out, intervention of friends, and voting was resumed as though nothing had happened. The members of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union did yeoman service for the cause of prohibition, but they were not permitted to vote themselves, and their gen tle arguments were of little avail at this eleventh hour. Some committees stuck close to the ballot boxes aud dis tributed "Yes" ballots. Others pre sided with more dignity and grace at the collee tables which were spread in nearly all of the precincts, bnt the majority of the women spent most of their time in the several churches throughout the Com monwealth. Services were held in Evan gelical churches from the opening to the closing of the polls, and the women and pastors and deacons prayed while the politi cians and other citizens voted. After the opening hour there was little excitement around the polls. There was no rush of importance, and the "prohibs" did not even have the pleasure of being wiped out in a spirited contest They died a slow, lingering death. BOSTON ONE OF THE SUEPEISES. Boston wa3 expected to vote heavily against the amendment, but the friends of the liberty-restraining legislation did not expect to hear such an overwhelming nega tive vote. When the votes were counted the anti-amendmentists were in theplnrality by 20,015 votes out of a total vote of 42,135. When they saw those figures, the Prohibi tionists saw that the country would add to rather than alleviate their suffering. But the greatest surprise came from Quincy, the home of Henry H. Fax on, the famous liquor dealer detec tive, who in five years spent more than $36,000 out of his own pocket to convict rumsellers. Faxon managed to answer a' call to the telephone, and in vre sponse to a question as to the vote of Quincy, said: "We're snowed under completely, but we'll have a nice time coasting on Democratic sleds next fall." Quincy cast 491 votes for the amendment and 1,059 against it Last year the town (now a city) cast a vote of 1,394 to 458 against granting license. There was a change of nearly 900 votes against prohibi tory legislation. Brockton's vote of 3,02G against license fell to 1,428 against the amendment. In 1888 Malder voted against licenses 1,803 to C13. To-day the ote stood 1,050 to 1,216 against the amendment The following is the vote of the cities: HOW THE CITIES VOTED. Cities. Yes. Boston 11, W0 Worcester 3,745 Springfield 1,733 ifolyofce 735 Lawrence 9U Lynn 2,281 Kitchburg 1,3)1 Brockton 1,23 Quincy 491 Haverhill 801 Taunton . tin ew Bedford 1,303 Newburyport 403 Salem '. 2.M9 Waltham 740 -Gloucester Ml Maiden .... 1,050 Chelsea 1,192 Woburn 1,007 No. iFor.Ag'st 31,075 20,015 5,637 1,892 2,602 869 J.706 971 3,476 2,490 3,149 863 1,23 62 1,423 199 LU59 678 1672 871 1,420 227 1,470 164 835 527 879 1,130 119 621 LH2 201 1,216 166 1,611 419 1,479 470 Cambridge, the city in which Harvard students are taught mugwnmpian ideas and all the latest scientific points in pugilism, etc., turned a vote of 4,483 to 3,819 against licenses to 4,621 to 1,983 against prohibition. Harvard boys must have their night-caps within easy reach or they won't have any standing among other college students. ' The returns from the towns were even APRIL 23, 1889. more surprising than the vote of the oilies. The cider agitation evidently stirred up the farmers, and they were out in force to kill the amendment. The resultof to-day's vote may not be seen until next fall, but it is everywhere admitted that the third party leaders have sharpened their knives and axes for a regular monkey-and-parrot time with the Bepublicans. INSURANCE FRAUDS. A Test Case to Decide tbe Legality of a Singular Manner of Defraudlngn Mutual Insurance Company Money Col lected on Fake Corpses. SPECIAL, TELZGEAM TO THE DISPATCH. J Chaeleston, S. C, April 22. About a year ago the startling discovery was made that there existed in Charleston a well-engineered scheme to defraud mutual insur ance companies. The whole, plot was un raveled, and the chief swindlers were tried and convicted of forgery, and ane now in the penitentiary at Columbia. A family by the name of Bond were the chief instigators of the swindle. The total amount collected 'by ,the "trust" was abont 580,000, which was paid by drafts on several New York City banks in sums varying from $2,000 to $3,000. &The method pursued was to insure a ficti tious person in several mutual insurance and benefit societies, making the loss pay able to either the wife or mother of the as sured, and then at the proper time to furn ish a corpse from the potter's field to imper sonate the fictitious individual mentioned in the certificate of membership, and a liv ing woman to act the role of widow or mother. In some cases the insurance on a single individual was as high as $10,000, and in others as low as $2,000. This swindle is recalled by an action 'which is now pending in the New York courts for the recovery of $2,000 paid after the supposed death ot an imaginary mem ber of tne Itoyal Templars of Temperance early in September, 1886. The Supreme Council of the Boyal Templars of Tem perance at Buffalo received a notification from John H. Bond, the Secretary of the Charleston branch of the society, of the death of C. S. Smith, which was alleged to Tiave occurred on September 1, the day after '-the earthquake. The usual proofs of death, membership, and other vouchers being in closed, the Secretary of the Supreme Coun cil of the Royal Templars purchased of the bank of Attica, of Buffalo, a draft for $2,000 on the Importers and Traders' Na tional Bank of New York City. This check the Secretary indorsed to the order of Sarah L. Smith, tbe presumptive mother of the deceased man, and then sent it to John H. Bond, to be by him handed to Mrs. Smith. Tom Bond signed Mrs. Smith's name on the back of the check, together with his own name, and got the draft cashed by the Caro lina Savings Bank. The Carolina Savings Bank forwarded tbe draft to its New York correspondents the Ninth National Bank, Who indorsed it and sent it through the clearing house, where it was sent to the Im porters and Traders' Bank, which paid it. The suit is to decide who will lose the money, and will be a test case PLATED A LOSING GAME. A Scheme to Jtlllk a Street Railroad Com pany for Damages Falhb IEFECIAI. TELEGRAM TO THE DISFATCK.1 New Yoek, April 22. Lawyer Arthur P. Conlin aud Henry C. Dubois and Sarah E. Dubois, his wife, wef e arrested in Brook lyn to-day accused of conspiracy. The ar rests were made on warrants issued on the complaint of Henry W. Slocum, Jr., acting President of the Crosstown Eailroad Charles Carlstrand,' a -driver, 'was arrested three days ago on a bench warrant in con nection with the same offense. Dnbois made arrangements with his wife that she should throw herself from one of the horse cars of the company in such a way as to make it appear that the accident was due to the carelessness of the driver. Carlstrand was to be conveniently near when the incident occurred, so as to be able to testify against the company, and arrange ments were made beforehand, as alleged, with lawyer. Conlin to bring the suit One such occurrence, in which all these persons figured, took place on July 10. Mrs. Dubois either fell or threw herselt under a crosstown car in Park avenue, near Wash ington. She made a claim on the company through Lawyer Conlin, but the company refused to settle and a suit was brought, which resulted in the jury awarding the plaintiff damages to the amount of $250. Carlstrand was one of the chief witnesses for Mr. Dubois. it is now asserted that the aocident was all planned days ahead, the time and place where Mrs. Dubois wasto fall from the car being arranged, and this was only one of several other similar plots in which these persons have been engaged in this city and Brooklyn. Carlin and the other prisoners were locked up to-night in the Adams street police station. They deny the charge. ' SWEPT BY FOREST FIRES. McKenn and Potter Counties Suffer Grent Loss by Ibe Flames. rSPECIAt. TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCn.l Beadfobd, April 22. Forest fires have been raging throughout McKean county all day, and some valuable timber lands are to tally destroyed. As yet no oil property has suffered, but it feared that unless checked soon, some rigs and tanks will be destroyed. In the Allegany field.they have been fighting forest fires all day, aud now have the flames under control. A number of barns and crops of hay have been de stroyed. The' business portion of the village of Scio.Allegany county, was totally destroyed to-day. No estimate can be given of the loss in Allegany county, owing to the pros tration of the wires. No lives are reported lost. At Keating Summit, Potter county, a large saw mill and a large amount of sawed lumber was totally destroyed. The loss is estimated at $5,000. CIIURCIIILL TO CHAMBERLAIN. The Tory Lord neaps Repronch Upon The Liberal CnlonlsU London, April 22. Lord Eandolph Churchill, in an angry letter reproaching Mr. Chamberlain for his want of mag nanimity alter the Conservative sacrifices in Birmingham, and justifying in detail his own actions, bluntly tells Mr. Cham berlain that if the Conservatives choose to test their strength throughout Birmingham the result would certainly be the annihila tion! of Mr. Chamberlain and his friends, who, if they have Unionism at heart, had better moderate their pretentions and con ciliate rather than provoke the Conserva tives. EATHEE TOO AVABICIOUS. A Pension Agent Convicted of Appropriating Exorbitant Fees. Cleveland, April 22. Major Daniel O'Driscoll, for many years a lawyer in this city, but recently a pension agent at Wash ington, was to-dav convicted in the "United States Circuit Court here of violating the pensio'n laws. O'Driscoll was charged with withholding $1,000 of the $1,700 pension obtained by him for Mrs. Phoebe Itich. Bail was refused tbe prisoner, and he was committed to jail. Cnrrylnc on tbe Wnr. A well-attended temperance meeting at the Centenary Church. Kirlcpatrick street, last night was addressed by the Kov. J. 8. Llttell, ot the Second U. P. Church. Rev. J. T. Mc Crory will address the meeting next Monday night STUCK ON BASEBALL. Novel Excuse of a Legislator for Absence From His Post of Dnly. HE SAW HIS HOME CLUB BEATEN. Mr. McManes Hustling to Save the Judges' Increase of Salary Bill. NEWS THAT WAS A FEW MINUTES LATE. A Fine Parliamentary Tolnt Causes a Fiie-Minute Adjournment. The 57 members of the House who were absent from Friday's session without leave, were brought beiore the bar yesterday, and after listening to their excuses most of them very flimsy all were excused, with the understanding that this will be their last offense. The New York junketing bill passed second reading, with an amendment. Mr. Lafferty's pool bill was reconsidered by avoteof91to76. rrBOX A STATS' COBBESFOHOKKT.l Habbisbubg, April 22. Fifty-seven members of the House of Eepresentatives were brought to the bar of the House this afternoon to explain why they had been ab sent from Friday afternoon's session without leave. They appeared in a body, but spoke individually. Many had been called away suddenly by busi ness, and others had made business engage ments before the Friday afternoon session had been decided on that could not be broken at a moment's notice. Each was ex cused as he concluded his explanation, with the exception of Chairman Dearden, of the Appropriation Committee, who spoke so contemptuously of the proceedings that he was not permitted by the Speaker to finish. Ex-Speaker Bay, of Cambria, who presided oyer the House in 1852, con vulsed everybody, including Speaker Boyer, with his statement, and insisted on completing it, so that everyone could un derstand his position, though several mo tions were unanimously carried during its continuance to excuse him. Mr. Bay said and he said much of it with emphasis: SIMPLY A BASEBALL CRANK. Mb. Speaker I confess, sir, that I have no valid excuse at all, except my love for the game of baseball. I was seduced out of the House by my admiration for that game, be cause a baseball club was here from Altoona, in my immediate neighborhood, and I have such an admiration for their skill in playing that game. I camo here at 2:30 o'clock that afternoon and found there was no quorum here, and so came to the conclusion I might be absent which I ought not to have done, I will admit. But I went up to that . game, and I saw there 'that club, in which I had implicit confidence, routed horse, foot and dragoons by the Harris burg club, and I reflected on the vanity of human wisdom. That sir, is my excuse, and the only one I have. The Dearden incident created a positive sensation, and is the subject of mnch com ment The stenographic report of his tilt with the Speaker lollows: Mr. Dearden I don't know as I have any par ticular excuse to offer. 1 don't think very much of these proceedings. I went away be cause The Speaker These proceedings are under the call of tbe House, and it is a very disagree able dnty for the Chair to perform. Mr. Dearden I should say so. More farcical than tbe running, away on Friday.. I went away because my personal Interest required It and 1 don't think much of these proceedings The Speaker Tbe Chair will not listen to such remarks from the gentleman. The Chair will not listen. to the gentleman's excuse at this time. r SOME LEGITIMATE EXCUSES. Mr. Jones and Mr. Lemon were among those brought to the bar. The former had been called home by the illness of his wife. On behalf of the latter the Speaker made the statement that Mr. Lemon had been summoned home by the death of a friend and he (the Speaker) had promised to se cure him leave of absence, but had forgot ten it in the rush of business. After all the qthers had been heard, the Speaker annonnced that all had beep ex cused save Mr. Dearden. On motion he was also excused, and immediately there after, on motion of 'Messrs. Marland, of Pittsburg, and Neff, of Fayette, the whole proceedings were expunged from the record. Simpson. ADJ0DENE0 FOR F1TE MINUTES. , A Fine Point, but One That Was Considered Well Taken. FBOM A STAFF COBRESP01TDINT.J Habbisbubg, April 22. During the discussion over the National Guard appro priation bill, this afternoon, Representative Kratz, of Montgomery, who has gained some reputation as" a constitutional objector, raised the point of order that the House having taken recess on Friday afternoon until this afternoon, the consideration of Monday's calendar was out of order, and that therefore the National Guard bill, which was a special order for second read ing at 4 o'clock this afternoon, could not be considered. Speaker Boyer at opce decided that the point was not well taken, because the special order was for a certain hour on Monday; but after the debate on the bill had progressed for almost an hour.the chair reached the conclusion that Mr. Kratz was right, and that his point ot order was well taken. This" left the House in a snarl which could only be unraveled only by ad journment, and on motion of Representa tive Fow, the House adjourned until 4:55 o'clock. It was then 4:50. Whenjit recon vened, the regular Monday afternoon calendar was taken up and regularly con sidered. HIE NEWS WAS TOO LATE. A BUI Signed by the President of tbe Sen ate n Little Too Soon. rrBOM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT. Habbisbubg, April 22. Senator New myer's bill for the renewal, every five years, of municipal liens, was brought to the attention of the House again this afternoon, by a mo tion to" reconsider the vote by which it was passed. This and a motion to postpone for tne present were carried, but the news didn't reach the Senate in time to prevent thePresident of that body signing It after 9 p. M. All Speaker Boyer could do then was sign it The only thinjr now is to pass a resolution through the Legislature to recall the bill from the Governor or to induce his Excel lency to veto it. , ' THE POOL BILL HAS A SHOW: It is Reconsidered in the Ilonse by a Signifi cant Itlnjorlty. FROM A STAFF COBBXSFONDEXT.l Habbisbubg, April 22. In the House, to-day, the pool bill, which was defeated last week, was reconsidered by a vote of 91 to 76. On the basis of the vote to-dav, Mr. Lafferty's bill has a fair show for passage upon another trial. Must Pay Their fhvn Way. (SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO TUB DISPATCH.: Habbisbubg, April 22. In the Senate -to-day Mr. Packer offered a resolution, A RICH HARVEST .v5 wTiirri trna odnnroil onfTioriTinff IllP frfitP nM tft ttnnnln t AAtnmiroinn n Tier A Trt TtYrt resent the Stite at the Paris Exposition ttr their own expense. f- tXJ' THAT NEW YOEK JDNKET. The BUI for tbe Payment of tbe Expense Thereof Not Yet Passed. ISPZCIAt. TELEGUAM TO TUB DISPATCH. 1 Habbisbubg, April 22. The bill appropriating $12,000 to pay the subsistence of Pennsylvania troops at the New York Centennial in case of an emergency, was amended by the House to-day so as to provide for the ex penditure of the money for transportation, food and clothing, which makes it practi cally the measure as introduced. In this shape the bill passed second read ing. NOT SUBE OF ITS PASSAGE. Sir. McManes Hustling to Save tbe Judges' Salary BUI. rrnou a staff cohkesfondent.i Habbisbubg, April 22. James Mc Manes, of Philadelphia, came here to-day to smooth away the opposition to the judges' salary bill. He thinks the Philadelphia members are all right, but the Allegheny and rural members worry him. An attempt will be made to pass the bill to-morrow. GIYING ALE A CHANCE. The Inter-State Commerce Commission No tifies 150 Railroad and Navigation Companies of a ncarlng" in Which Tbey Are Alt Interested. Washington, April 22. The Inter State Commerce Commission has had under consideration several complaints of George Bice, petitioner, versus the Cincinnati, Washington and Baltimore Baiiroad Com pany and others. The commission, in con sidering the complaints, has found that in addition to the question of reasonableness of rates, the following other questions are also raised, namely: The question of the" like classification of barrel and tank oils, and of tbe right of the railroad company to. charge for the weight of the barrel package, in addition to the weight of the contents. Discrimination arising from the re turning of empty tank cars 'fr:e ot charge, and also of the paying of mileage rate on such .empty tank cars; whether railroad companies are obliged to furnish tank cars as well as cars of other descriptions for oil transportation. It further appears to the commission that the questions here presented are such as will affect, or may affect, nearly all the railroads of the country over which oil is shipped. In order to avoid a multiplicity of complaints, and to secure as far as possible a settlement of these "ques tions that may be general and just, and in order to give all of the prin cipal railroad companies of the country an opportunity to be heard, if they so desire, upon these questions in these proceedings, the commission has ordered that the ten dency of said proceedings be made known to said carriers by notice lrom the commis sion, and such notice has been accordingly issued to about 150 railroad? and navigation companies throughout the country. Each of the carriers is informed that upon prompt application by such of them as de sire to intervene or to be heard in these pro ceedings, a copy of the complaint in these cases will be furnished to them by the Inter-State Commerce Commission, and they can, if they desire, present arguments and be heard upon all questions involved. Any other railroad company in any State or Territory of the United States not receiving notice may avail itself, if it so desires, of the opportunity afforded by this notice, in the same manner in .all respects, as the other roads receiving notice. DAISI'S DEFENSE. Physicians and a Priest Testify to Sirs. Bescndorl's Sanity. The inquiry into tbe sanity of Daisy Hutchinson was continued yesterday. Daisy was put on the stand and closely cross questioned by Mr.McKenna. She denied that she ever said her sister had been murdered and answered all the questions asked very in telllgently. Dr. J. Gny McCandless testified that he had talked with Daisy, and he was sure she is not Insane. Dr. WVD. Brown signed the certificate to get her out of the insane department of the St. Francis Hospital. Father Gregory, of the hospital, had con versed with Daisy by request of the sisters and he was soon convinced she is perfectly sane. THE NEW TEACTI0N BRIDGE. A Charter Issued for the One Between Sixth and Seventh Streets. A charter was issued by the State Depart ment yesterday to the City Bridge Company of Pittsburg. The capital stock is fixed at $100,000 and the bridge is to be built not nearer than 250 feet to any existing bridge. It is to be exclusively for traction cars, and will be used byanybf the Pittsburg companies that desire to use it. The stockholders are Joshua Rhoades, who is President; F. C. Hutchinson, who is Treasurer; George C. Wilson, George Rice, A. C. JlcCal lan. Jr., and J. A. McDevitt, of Lancaster, who once was Mr. Magee's candidate for State Treasurer against Mr. Quay. DELEGATES ARRIVING. The Retail Grocer Will Hold Tbelr First Sleeting; This Slornlng. The committee in charge of the Eetail Grocers' Association which convenes this morning in the exchange rooms on Liberty street have completed all their arrangements. About 20 delegates from Eastern Pennsylvania arrived last night, and about 75 are expected to attend. On the third day the delegates will visit the miUs of the rity in carrliges. A regular pro gramme. Including a banquet, has oeen mapped out. W. S. WEIGLEY DROWNED. The Paper Box. Manufacturer Took n Fatal Canoe Ride Last Night. W. S. Wrigley, a manufacturer of paper boxes on Bobinson street, Allegheny, and whose home is on Federal street, was drowned in the Allegheny river near the Union bridge last night In company with his brother-in-law, Frank Jnsenhaus, he went out to ride in a small canoe, and when near tbe Pittsbnrg side the boat capsized. Both men were thrown into the water. Josenhaus swam to tbe shore, but Wrigley was drowned before aid could reach him. NEW THEATRICAL MANAGEE. Walter P. Dean, of Baltimore, is In Charge or Harris' Theater. Walter P. Dean, of Baltimore, has ar rived in Pittsburg and taken charge of Har ris' Theater as local manager of this popular house. General Representative Friedlander will remain in the city for a few days Initiating Manager Dean into ino Dnsiness oi tne tneater. Mr. Dean has for several years been con nected with Mr. Harris' enterprises, ana being an energetic and genial young gentleman, will add even new popularity to the local play house. BAD PITTSBURG LIGHTS. They Cause a Judgment for $30,610 to be Rendered for n Boat. Tbe Court of Claims in Washington yes terday gave judgment, lor $30,610 in favor of Walton & Bunton in their suit against the Government lor damages sustained by their vessel Isaac V. Bonton in colliding with a wharf at Pittsburg, which. Jt Is alleged, was not properly provided with lights. W1U ba reaped by an -who advertise in The Dispatch. It reaches jererr home ana is read by BTerybody. It yon are in business let the Subtle know it through THE IISPATCH. THREE CENTS 93 LICENSES SW tk GraFv Judge White to Re- 'tijsg'quor ueaiers Pittsburg. NOTABLES KNOCKED OUT, Including Wealthy Brewer Darling ton, Who Says H Was Personal. SOME IXSTErCTIYE COMPARISONS. Less Than One-Tenth as Many Authorized Denlers la Pittsburg as There Were Before the Brooks Lair Decimated Them Tbe Conditions Laid Down by the Court for tbe Few Who Are Permitted to Sell Only 183 Granted in tbe County Prominent Retailers Step Down and Out WItb Some of Ibe Greatest Wholesalers and Brewer Only n Few Will Consent to Be Interviewed Tbe Complete List of Winners and Loser. Ninety-three persons are authorized to sell drinks to the something more than 220, 000 people of Pittsbnrg for the coming year. These have Judge White's O. K. Perhaps they have heart enough and life enough left to unite with the poet in singing: " 'Twos a victory? Yes; but it cost us dear; For that company's roll, when called at night; Of a hnndred men who went into the fight, f Numbered but twenty that answered "Herel" Those whose licenses were refused proba bly won't sing. Most of them and their friends will probably do a good deal of thinking, though. Something has struck the liquor business in Allegheny county. It is hit; that's cer tain. It wasn't a cyclone that dissipated it It wasn't prohibition not quite. It was simply subtraction that was it Two thirds from three-thirds left one-third last year. Something less than two-thirds from that one-third doesn't leave many fractions of a third this year. Just think of itl 93 licenses in Pittsburg are less than one tenth of the number in vogue in the city before the Brooks law went into operation. If it knocks out nine-tenths of the business in a little over a year, how much quicker will prohibition knock it out? Judge White, after a hard day's work, finished his labors in the License Court at 9 o'clock last evening. He granted retail license to 93 persons in Pittsburg, 39 in Al legheny, 35 in the boroughs and 21 in the townships, a total of 188 in the county. In the matter of wholesale licenses he was not more liberal. He granted wholesale license to 43 firms in Pittsbunr, 13 in Allegheny, 7 in the boroughs and 1 in the townships, a total of 64." C0UNCTL31EN CALLED DOWN. Even this was coupled with the condition that all members of Council in either city should resign their seats before getting their licenses. Added to this, Judge White im posed the following- as the terms on which he granted license: With reference td the retail list he raid: First That the licensee .shall carry on strictly retail business, and faithfully observe all laws relating to the sale of liquors. becond That the licensee do not sell in buckets, pitchers or vessels of like character, and do not make a business of bottling and selling in-bottles. For a violation of these conditions tbe license will be revoked. Referring to the wholesale list he said: First That the licensee in each class shall carry on a strictly legat business of his class, and faithfully observe aUlaws relating to the manufacture and sile of liquors. Second That he do not sell or furnish any liquors to houses refused alicense or suspected ot selling; illegally; or sell or furnish any liquors to drinking clubs; if a distiller or brewer be shall not sell in jugs; if a wholesale dealer be shall not make a business of bottling or sell ing in bottles. For a violation of these conditions the license will be revoked. The Coancilmen who are affected bv the first condition are: John O'Neill, 'Fifth ward; M. C. Dwyer, Eighteenth ward; J. W. Buhlandt, Twenty-sixth ward, and P. S. Huckenstein, Seventh ward, Allegheny. AIL SHOWN AT A GLANCE. The following table shows the number of retail licenses granted last year, the number granted and the applications made this year: Pittsburg. Ward. 3 es First Second.. , A illUeee f otirtn. Fifth olXlUf.. Ovi6Dbui .it... Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh. .. ..........& A Wlttll.... ..................... Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth... ....& .... Sixteenth,... .... ...... Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth. Twenty-first. Twenty-ecnnd Twenty-third Twent-fourth Twenty-Qtth Twenty-sixth Twenty-seventh. Twenty-eighth..... Twentv-ninth Thirtieth Thirty-first Thirty-second... ...... .......... Thlrty-thlrd Thirty-fourth Thirty-fifth Thirty-sixth. se 33 45 14 20 14 10 12 34 14 9 S8 7 32 25 a 28 lb 19 10 13 1 15 21 2S "7 10 a 24 14 7 7 1 9 1 7 257 93 613 Allegheny. a B w-j a9 "Wjuid, pa 5 i o a 2 &&" a it & e o jt jlx Second. . S A IT Third 15 7 10 Fourth 20 14 47 Fifth, 5 3 18 Sixth .. 8 3 22 Seventh. 8 2 Eighth 4 18 Ninth 4 2 12 Tenth..... ..... ..... 114 Eleventh ..... 0 0 8 Twelfth 10 3 Thirteenth.. 10 5 t i i 1 a M. I A r - -