.
w: -j
r;
-, u.ri s
nmnii i.mrnvrnn
, -w.a,
This question is discussed at
Suxdatts Dispatch by a number
prominent churchmen of tiro continents.
PORTY-rOITRTH TEAE.
A
L
Sweeping Like a Cyclone
Over Greene County.
MANY M DOWNED BY IT.
Assignments Becoming a 3!r.'
Daily Occurrence.
of
CAUSED BY GREAT GULLIBILITY.
'Some Peculiar Methods of Transacting
Easiness Developed.
LIY-ELI TIMES IS THE NEAE FUTURE
The epidemic of assignments and the fail
tires in Greene county continue. Two ad
ditional assignments were made yesterday,
and more are expected to-day. A staff cor
respondent of The Dispatch, in investi
gating the cause of these financial troubles,
has come to the conclusion that politics has
had nothing to do with them. He explains
what has caused the failures.
TEOII A STAFF COREESrONDEKT. J
WAVNESBtrEG, December 5. Never be
fore in the history of Greene county ha it
suffered from such a financial cyclone as
has struck it within the last few days.
How any person could say that it resulted
from political influences I cannot imagine.
The numerous failures which have occurred,
the many that are imminent, are simply the
result of astonishing gullibility on the part
of Greene county people. Politics had
nothing whatever to do with it.
CAUGHT THE CATTLE CBAZE.
Two horse and cattle companies were
organized in Waynesburg for the purpose
of operating in the West. One of these
companies is that of Dowlin & Bush. This
is composed of John Dowlin, ex-Collector of
Internal Eevenue for the Twenty-second
district, and John B. Bush, of the East End,
Pittsburg. The other is known as the
Wyoming Cattle Company. The latter com
pany haB two ranches,one located near
Laramie City and the other at Sweetwater.
The Dowlin & Bush Company operated in
Dakota.
COULDN'T STAND THE STEAKS'.
Agricultural pursuits constitute the bulk
of the business in Greene county. It has a
population of 38,000. Panning is not the
most profitable business in which, any one
can engage. It can be readily understood,
therefore, that when $400,000 in cold, hard
cash is taken out of the community, and ab
solutely lost, there must be a financial
breeze. Greene county could not stand such
FINANCIA
T OHM
a strain.
t The great bulk of the money was bor-
v, rowed capita, and the methods of borrow-
4-jstorfincjrereccnl Iar. to fay the -least. A would
J indorse for B, and B and, C would indorse
for A, and A and B lor C. Not one of them
was worth more than $5,000, nor altogether
were they worth $15,000.
The Farmers' and Drovers' Bank of
"Waynes burg advanced the money on these
notes. On maturity of some of the obliga
tions, ex-Sheriff David A. Sprasg accepted
judgment in favor of some of his individual
creditors on the 26th, and then made an
assignment to his brother, Henry Spragg.
GENERAL AT.Atrw AEOUSED.
This awakened general alarm, and atonce
the numerous creditors of W. T. Lantz,
cashier of the Farmers' and Drovers' Bank,
commenced to enter judgments against him,
Wednesday.
' Soon the Prothonotary's office was a scene
of bustle and excitement. The spirit of un
easiness increased, and judgments against
other members of tbe cattle company and
their bail commenced to be taken. Dr. Dj
W. Braden, president of the cattle com
pany, executed a deed of assignment to
Isaac Wood later in the day. This was
followed by ex-Internal Bevenue Collector
- John Dowlin, who assigned to his son-in-
law, A. N. Greenlee, and Jacob Bush. A.
N. Greenlee made an assignment to S. M.
Smith, Jesse Dowlin, assigned to Bichard
Iiong, Abner Hoge to James M. Hoge,
Elias Cary assigned to Smith & Closser.
CAME IN THICK AND FAST.
The judgments came in so fast that they
had to be numbered, and are being recorded
as fast as possible. It is estimated that
judgments have been taken aggregating in
the neighborhood of from 200,000 to 330,
000, but this does not represent the actnal
indebtedness, as there is so much cross
firing. There are charges made that there
was crookedness upon the part of throe men
who were the leading spirits of the two cat
tle companies, but if there was, the sinful
people have suffered, as well as the righte
ous. Dr. D. W. .Braden, President of the Wyo
ming Cattle Company, has lost 56,000.
Ex-Collector Dowlin has made an assign
ment to his son-in-law, A. N. Greenlee, for
35,000. Mr. Dowlin cannot pay this
amount, and 35,000 was all that Mr. Green
lee had on this mundane sphere.
CAUGHT IN THE GENERAL TVEECK.
v Jesse Dowlin, ex-Collector Dowlin's
brother, has also made an assignment,
and goes into the general wreck. Bemem
branee Lantz, of Blacksville, W. Va.,
brother of W. T. Lantz, cashier of the
Fanners-and Drovers' Bank, loses 22,000
through his indorsements for the latter gen
tleman. The talk of "crookedness" seems to he on
a par with that of political influence. Ex
Congressman Welty McCullough had
about as much to do with the failure as had
the man in the moon. If storks about
political corruption are to be made a part
of the story, then there is another side to the
question.
THE OTHEB BIDE OP THE QUESTION.
It must be remembered that D. A.
Spragg and Mr. Lantz were exceedingly
active workers for Mr. Boyle when he was
running for Congress against Welty Mc
CuUongh and Gilbert Bafferty. The alle
gation! that Messrs. Spragg and Lantz
bought 800 gallons of whisky to be given to
"persons who would vote for Boyle may be a
falsehood, but even if it were trne, it would
not be an indication that they became bank
rupt on that account.
To-day two additional assignments were
filed In the Prothonotary's office, and more
are expected to-morrow. Nearly every per-
son ia Greene countywho had any money
1
.
Minrrr -,iWi"--,-?,-- .
i .
..w. -iWSh-S
length In next ' $k & sTT J
of tbe most -y.
;
, U-
1
seems to have been caught "by the South
Sea bubble in the shape of Western cattle
ranches.
SUEE TO BE LIVEET.
A meeting of the stockholders of the two
wrecked companies will be held on Satur
day. There are Intimations now that there
will be a lively time. In fact, there will be
decided trouble. Every man accuses his
neighbor, so that but little harmony exists
in tbe town of prohibition.
As to the condition of the bask, I would
rather not say anything to-night A run
has commenced upon it, but it will take
to-morrow to demonstrate whether or not it
will be kept up. It is thought by conserv
ative people to be entirely sound.
C. T. DAVTSON.
JEFFERSON DAVIS DEAD.
HE EXPIRED AT AN EABXT HOUR THIS
MOUMNG.
The Holly a Few Days Since Proved to be
Only Temporary A Brief Outline of
tbe Life ot tbo Confed
erate Ex-President.
rSrECTAI. TZXXQBAU TO TBS DISPATCH.l
New Orleans, December a Jefferson
Davis died at 12.15 this morning after a lin
gering illness of several weeks. He rallied
somewhat a tew days ago, but his physicians
at no time have had any confidence in his
recovery.
The leading features of the dead man's
life are too well known to need reproduction,
but njirief sketch follows:
Jefferson Davis was born June 3, 1S0S, in that
part of Christian county, Ky., Which
now forms Todd county. Soon after his birth
his father removed to Mississippi, set
tling near WoodviUe, Wilkinson county.
He received an academical education and was
sent to Transylvania College, Kentucky, which
he left In lSli having been appointed "by Presi
dent Monroe a cadet in the Military Academy
at West Point, where he graduated in 182S.
He remained in the army seven years.
In 1S4S he began his eventful political career,
and in 1844 was one of the Presidental electors
of Mississippi to vote for Polk and Dallas. The
following year he was elected a Representa
tive in Congress, and took an active part in tbe
discussion of important questions. While he
was in Congress the First Regiment of Missis
sippi volunteers, then enrolled for service in
Mexico, elected him their Colonel. Overtaking
the regiment at N cw Orleans, on its way to the
seat of war, he remained with It until the expira
tion of the term of its enlistment. He dis
tinguished himself in the battle of Buena
Vista. February 23, 1S47, where he received a
severe wound, but remained in tbe saddle tin
til the close ot tbe action. This wound caused
him considerable trouble throughout tbe re
mainder of his life, and indirectly hastened his
death.
In tbe Thirty-tilth Congress, which met In
1S39, be was tbe recognized loader-of tbe Dem
ocrats in tbe Senate,'' His name lor years had
been frequently mentioned as a candidate of
the Democratic party for the Presidency.
At the convention for the nomination of
President in ISCO be received many
votes, although bis friends announced tbat he
did not desire the nomination. Every school
boy Is Informed as to the part Jefferson Davis
took in the secession and the war that fol.
lowed. Since tbe close of tbe rebellion Davis
has remained most of the tune at bis rural
bomb in Mississippi.
THE APPBEXT1CE QUESTION
la tbe Chief Trooble Between tbe Glass
niannlBctnrers and Employes.
rsrzciAi. telegram to ths disfatcim
Philadelphia, December 5. Louis
Arlington, District Master Workman of
the combined District Assemblies 143 and
149, K. of L., was at the Windsor Hotel
this afternoon, and when questioned about
the future movements of the striking glass
blowers, said:
Onr meeting with tbo manufacturers in the
Continental Hotel on Wednesday afternoon re
sulted in no practical agreement, and we ad
journed, with the understanding tbat at tbe
call of Chairman Moore another conference
will take place. I think that a settlement
of the existing difficulties will be
made very soon, but If tbe manu
facturers should reiuse to come to any
agreement we will be aided by the flint class
blowers, who will be ordered out of all shops
where non-union gTeen glass blowers are em
ployed. Tbe chief tronble has been the
apprentice question, and we have always held,
and we still maintain, that we are right in the
stand that we have taken. The system pro
posed by the manufacturers in regu
lating the apprentice question is
one that Keeps a great many men out
of employment. We have a membership in
the combined districts of more than 2,035, and
we allow 534 apprentices: the flint glass work
ers have a membership of nearly 5,000, and they
only permit the manufacturers to engage less
than 300 apprentices, -while the window glass
men do notallow their managers to engage any
at all, excepting where they will benefit the
journeymen. Now, then, you can see that
although the Manufacturers' Association is
continuallv opposing u, we are more liberal to
oar employers than any other department of
the trade.
JAI GOULD'S WEALTH
The Cause ef a Missouri Conductor Being
Perbnps Fatally Blabbed.
Kansas Citt, December C Chris
Eroeger, conductor on the Missouri Pacific
night train, from the central part of tbe
State, was severely stabbed last night dur
ing his run to this city. At Joplin six
miners boarded the train. All paid their
fares but one, who insisted that Jay Gould,
the owner of the road, was wealthy enough
to stand the loss of one fare.
Conductor Kroeger thought differently,
and while attempting to put the passenger
off the train the latter attacked him with a
knife and cnt and stabbed bim in the face
and neck. At "Webb City the party was ar
rested. The conductor was brought to this
city and placed in the hospital. He may
recover.
EESCUED FROM APBICAN WILDS
Only to be Fatally Injured by Falling Oat
of a Window.
London, December 5. A dispatch from
Zanzibar announces that Bmin Pasha has
met with a probably fatal accident Being
nearsighted he walked ont of a window by
mistake, and fell on his head, fracturing his
skull. He now lies at Bagamoyo in a criti
cal condition. All the doctors except Stan
ley's physician declare that Emm's injuries
will prove fatal.
Stanley's physician is hopeful of saving
Bmin's life, but says that under the most
favorable circumstances the patient cannot
be moved for at least ten days.
Worklns Without on Appropriation.
Habhisbtjbg, December 5. Notwith
standing the failure of the Legislature to
make an appropriation for the payment of
factory inspectors, the act creating them is
being enforced. Headquarters will De estab
lished in this city,
Jefferson Jaffa, From a Hecent Photograph.
THE OTHER SIDE.
Wood's Attorney Insists That Fornker Knew
That the Ballot Box Contract Was '
Not Genuine It Wns Aimed
at Leading Ohio Be-
publicans.
rsrsciAz, vmxasita to ths prsFxrcn,
New YobK, December 6. Thomas C.
Campbell, the New York lawyer who has
been spoken of in the Ohio ballot box forgery
matter as the attorney of B. 6. Wood, but
who is really the attorney for the ballot box
company which uses Wood's invention, and
whose interest in the matter is due to the
damage done the company by the odium
brought upon it by Wood's forgeries, was
interviewed by n Dispatch correspondent
upon the subject In reference to JToraker's
disclosures he says:
II he really thought it was genuine, would be
not hare brought it in some way to tbe atten
tion of Sherman, MeKmley and Butterwortb,
'all ot whom he could bare reached in a few
hours, and have songbt some explanation of it
daring the weeks be was carrying it about In
bis pockett And, above all. if he,Tiad really be
lieved it was genuine, would ho have even al
lowed it to be printed as it was, knowing that
tbe first thing Campbell would do, tbe docu
ment being genuine, would be to say: "Certain
ly I signed that, but so did John Sherman.
William MeKmley and Ben Butterworth. If I
have done wrong It has been in good company."
What answer could have been made to thatT
But If Governor Forakerknew it was a forgery
be could well calculate that all the defense
Campbell could make Campbell, of course, be
ing Ignorant of what other names were on it
would be a simple denial, while if the docu
ment ruined Campbell, tbe suppressed part of
it, containing the Republican names would be
greatly strengthened in effect when used after
election.
It onght to be said that the primary object of
tbe forgery was not to injure Campbell. Tbe
name of Campbell was put in merely by chance,
because it came handiest, just as were the
names of Senator McPberbon, Senator Stock
bridge and others. The men it was desired to
hit were Sherman, McKinley and Butterwortb.
Orosvenor would have been on the list, too, but
when tbe forger was getting tbe autographs
from which to do his worV be couldn't find one
of Grosvenor, and therefore Grosvenor's name
didn't appear.
BEEFSTEAK COOKING ITSELF.
A Peculiar Circumstance Leads to a Phila
delphia Man's Arrest.
rsrzctu. tzleguaji to toe pispatcti. 1
Philadelphia, December 5. When
Mrs. Magdelena Plad, of 2743 Mascher
street, went down into her cellar at 5 o'clock
last Monday night for beefsteak for supper
she saw blue flames an inch long
creeping out from beneath the folds
of the meat Her husband, Michael, went
to jail to-day on suspicion of attempting to
poison her as well as their son and Mrs.
Slad's brother, .who was boarding with
them. The meat had been purchased on
Saturday, and some of it eaten on Sunday;
Between 3 and 4 o'clock Monday morning
Flad arose and went into the cellar, and
when he came upstairs threw a box into tne
stove to burn. It is thought he rubbed blue
matches on the meat.
The couple have lived unhappily for 20
years. The husband has been a copious
drinker. The meat still glows in the daik
like a miniature section of a phosphorescent
sea, and Mrs. Plad says she intends to keep
it until court sits to try her husband, if it
takes six weeks. With some -warmth to
night, she declared that she never knew a
beefsteak to be afflicted with spontaneous
combustion before, or to try to cook itself
alone, in defiance ot a peaceable and
well-bred family.
GOOD FINANCIAL BACKINGS.
The Rothschilds the Monetary Aaents of the
New Brazilian Republic
London, December 5. A. steamer from
Brazilian ports arrived at Lisbon' to-day.
She ""brings intelligence 'that Spontfie
proclamation of the Republic in Para the
Conservatives demanded a share in theGqv
ernment, but their demands were refused.
The troops and a majority of the people of
Bahia refused at first to recognize the Re
public, but they afterward yielded on learn
ing that elsewhere in the country it had
been accepted. The Provisional Govern
ment of Brazil has sent a cable dispatch to
the Rothschilds asking them to continue
their financial snpport The Messrs. Boths
childs have consented on condition that the
union be preserved and that order be main
tained throughout the Bepublic.
Baron de Penedo, Brazilian Minister to
England, has been dismissed from office and
his name removed from the diplomatic list
because his hostile attitude to the Brazilian
Bepublie was doing an injury to the State.
Dcnor xutjuua win Kucueeu mm.
COWHIDED BY AN ANGEI MAN.
A Baltimorean Proves Ills Wife's Confidence
Was Not misplaced.
rSPECIAt. TELEGBJLM TO TTIE DISPATCH. 1
Baltimore, December 5. Some days,
ago Lewis M. Sherwood wrote a letter to the
wife of Bichard Mister, in which the writer
accused Mister with being too intimate with
one ot Sherwood's relatives. Mrs.
Mister, who appears to hare had
unbounded confidence in her husband,
gave him the letter, and Mister at once
started on the warpath. He armed himself
with a heavy cowhide, came up with his
man on Baltimore street and began to be
labor him with the whip over the face, head
and shoulders.
Mister plied the cowhide with such vigor
that Sherwood was soon a mass of bruises. A
policeman interrupted the sport, which had
attracted a crowd of. people.
CHASED BY A BIG WHALE.
A Frisky Monster of tbe Deep Causos Some
Consternntlon.
rsrrcui. TELEcnm to sws dispatch, i
Long Bean'ch, N. J., December 5. A
40-foot whale came near capsizing a fishing
boat four miles at sea off Long Branch to
day. Lewis Chasey and Jesse West
were setting lobster pots from a small
skiff, when they saw a big dark object rising
irom the depths. It came to the surface
within ten feet of the skiff. The fishermen
rowed rapidly shoreward.
The whale followed, frisking about In a
way that threatened disaster to the boat and
its occupants. Finally its attention was
diverted by a board floating in the water.
The whale lashed It about and raised high
jinks in the billows. When last seen the
monster was touzing with the board out
near the horizon.
CHEATING THE HANGMAN.
Two Convicted While Murderers In South
Carolina Break Jnll.
rerxcut. teuokax to the dispatch.!
Columbia, S. C, December 5. Two
weeks ago tbe county of Edgefield distin
guished itself by convicting two yonng white
men of mnrder. Wm. and G. W. Mnrrell,
aged 18 and 20, were convicted of murdering
P. Preston Tounee, another young man,
whom they shot down in the public road.
This morning Governor Eichardson was
notified that these murderers, who were to
be hanged early in January, had broken
jail before daylight and made their escape.
The Governor at once offered a reward of
500 for their capture. It is rumored and
generally jjUieved that there was some co
operation Between the prisoners and some
jail officials.
An English Syndicate In Kentucky.
MiDDLEBOEOUOH, Kt., December 5.
The sale is reported of 260,000 acres of coal
and timber land near this place to English
capitalists, who, it is stated, contemplate
the establishment of one of the largest coal
siiniag iadttftriea ia the country.
PITTSBURGy :FKEDAY
FAMOUS AND ON F1BE:
The Monosgahela Hotel Gutted by
Flame andiWater. .,
A LIVELY HEGIBA OP0CC0PAHTS.
Losses Estimated at $75,000 and Insnrakca
of $200,000. ff
THE WH0EE CITI FLOCKED 10 HAZEL"
A. Conflagration of Kyiteriosa Origin sad Bipld
Ascendancy.-
The famous old hostelry landmarking its,
location, the Honongahela Honse, was at
tacked by fire" at -noon yesterday and badly
damaged. Guests were forced io vacate
hurriedly and the flames spread so rapidly"
salvage was impossible. The loss was about
76,000, amply covered by insurance. In
cldents of the blue make interesting read
ing. HE very remarkable se
ries of sudden and dis
astrous fires which vis
ited the large cities dnr-
Eingthe past two weeks,
yesterday added a Pitts-'
burg experience to the
list by the burning of a
part of the Hononga
hela House, The fire re
suited in an almost totaL,
destrnetion of fha furni
ture and the rain 6f
floors and ceilings by
water.
The blaze began at
-. about 11:30 o'clock. It
started in the basement,
neartbefootofthefreight
t-r- elevator. The opinion of
employes of the house is
that the flame com
menced in the engine
room, which is near the
elevator shaft There
was considerable waste
and oil about the ecgine,and the fire probably"
communicated from a furnace coal or cinder,
to the oily waste. The first notice that any
;n r'
-
sfvYs
I 1 I IV -.
VIEW OF THE PIKE FROM SMITHFIELD STBEET AND TIBS! AVENUE.
person on the ground floor had of the danger
was the issuing of smoke from the passenger
elevator at the left of the main entrance.
The freieht elevator is on the other side of a
partition from the passenger elevator,
and opens on the baggage room. The
smoke was quickly followed by
flame, and it shot up the elevator shaft
from the base to tbe top of the building.
Johnny McBride, the elevator boy, was just
about to start the elevator from the office
floor, when the smoke rolled info it and
flames appeared outside of the car, between
it and the walls of the shaft McBride and
the lady who was in the elevator with him
lost no time in leaving the car.
AN EAELT ALAEM.
The alarm was rang in at 11:45. As soon
as Superintendent Evans and Assistant
Steele reached the hotel, they sent in a
general alarm. The whole bnllding was
full of smoke, and it was rolling in clouds
from almost every part of the roof. The fire
did not leave the elevator shaft until the
top story of the building was reached.
There the flames spread to the halls and
rooms in the southeast part of the honse.
At tbe outset the fire appeared to be more
dangerous than it really turned out to be.
Starting in the basement, it seemed as if
the whole house would be destroyed. One
of the porters used a Bahcock extinguisher
on the lower floor, and succeeded in putting
out the fire there. The real blaze was soon
found to be in the upper story.
The hotel was completely1 'filled with
smoke. This caused great excitement
among the guests and employes. As the
dinner hour was near a large majority of
the guests were in their rooms, preparing
for the meal. A few persons were sleeping.
When the noise in the halls or the hammer
ing on the doors alarmed the guests and
they hurried to the halls, they met dense
clouds of wood smoke which blinded and
alarmed them.
HOW THET GOT DOWN.
The stairways weie untouched by the fire,
but not knowing this, at least a dozen men
occupying rooms on the third and fourth
floors escaped by fire ropes let down from
their windows. In this way also trunks
and sample cases were lowered to the pave
ment One gentleman on the Water street
front carefully let down a canary bird in its
cage from the fourth floor. Many people
got out by tbe spiral fire escape on the First
avenue side of the building. It was in this
way tbat a large number of the female
domestics descended from the upper floor.
The first lines laid by the fire bureau
were run into the street floor and into the
basement It was not long until the fire was
all out on the lower floors, and by 12:15
o'clock the flames were pouring from the
roof on the east and south sides. The efforts
of the firemen were then directed to getting
lines of hose to the roof. The crowds of
sightseers at first greatly interfered with the
firemen. Inspector McAleese,Assistant Su
perintendent O'Kara, Captain Silvis and a
large force of policemen were soon at the
1 pls.ee, asd fee Ikes wer 'sketched. 0
viiOj.
r?..',
.f
DECEMBER 6, 1889.
line was run across-Smithfield street at the
crossing of Eirst avenfle and another at the
north end of the Smithfield Street bridge.
There was great delay in getting water to
'the top of the building-. Hook and Ladder
iCompanyftb.'2 erected Its'inwiense ladder
itt'Sraithflelcf afreet, right In front W 'the
main entrance tol the hotel.'trat for4 some rea
son no hosfline'vis'taken'rfp'thei ladder for
tfveraquarter-'oranhour. There- was" said
to be great difficultr1 'ia lmin2 the'heavy
bose rip ths ladder! Iwo of the heaviest
engines were attached to one line of hose,
a&d au effort was made to" throw a stream
from the street to the top of fhe southeast
corner.
the Engines -webe tvea&
' The strongest pressure that could, bepnt
on lifted thepray only to' the" fburth'story
windows. Coroner McDowelf then" "sug
gested that the firemen he placed in -wagons.
He secured onfe fearon ' from. Dennis Shan-
non, r and another from the Pittsburg
j-ransjer company, xney; were rujt into
Smithfield street and the firemen .mounted
upon them. The water would not yet-reach
any higher than the lower1 slilof ,thei fifth
floor windows, and the attempt H6 tbrow
tf ater from the street was given 'Tip. The
engines were not powerlul enough Hone
of the standplpes were us;d. One was
hoisted on First avenue and another on
Smithfield street but for one reason or an-
Lother they were not available, and stood un
used as monuments of some of the real
jrettyapparatus which the Pittsburg Fire
'Bureau is able to figure in Its list of assets.
1 Tbe first hose earned to the- roof of the
hnildinc was taken no under the direction
fit Assistant Superintendent Coates by way
of the iron stairway on the outside of the
First avenue side. Two lines were soon up
there and began playing on the roof. Soon
afterward one lino after theother was hauled
up the long ladder of truck 2, until three
lines were up at that point Then the real
work of putting ont the fire was commenced
and it was not Over half an hour until the
deluge of water poured upon the roof of the
hotel had drowned out every chance which
tne nre had lor life.
XUINBir BtfwAHSB.
After that it was; a deluge Instead of a
'conflagration. The water filled the house,
soaked and cracked 'dll the ceilings, mined
the interior walls, soaked carpets, chrtains,
bedding and furniture- brown .and black;,
warped the floors, and poured in black jets
from the outer walls into the street The
axmen went to work on the sontheaSt corner
of the roof, chopped away the sheetiron and
bnrned timbers and hurled them into the
streets. Telegraph and telephone wires were
broken and cnt and dangled loose about the
hotel. All the currents were turned off, and
a gang of City Hall workmen set to work
to get the wires out of the way.
xnero were some apparently narrow
escapes, although as a matter of fact no lives
were in much danger at any time. Two of
the night clerks, B. S. Bechtel
and I. B. Statler, were asleep on
the upper floor. Mr. Bechtel was on the
First avenue side. He heard no alarm, and
did not know that there was a fire until the
smoke filled his bedroom. When he jumped
out of bed he was alarmed. The hall was
full of smoke. He ran to the window and
let ont the fire rope. The dizzy height was
too much for him, and he felt that he could
not make the descent sqfely. Men on the
street shouted for him to try the rope, but he
would not. In a few minutes a young man
named Kouth made his way up the stairs to
Mr. Bechtel 's room and told him that the
stairway was all right Through the smoke'
they got out in that way without danger.
Mr. Statler slept on the south side, and he
too -was alarmed only by the smoke in his
room. He escaped in his bare feet by the
rear stairway,
BBAVE MEN AT WOBK.
Sheriff McCandless, Coroner McDowell,
Harry Mohler, of the First Avenue Hotel,
and other outsiders climbed the smoke
darkened stairways and broke open bed
room doors in the search for penned-bp
guests. In a room on the third floor Mr.
Mohler fonnd a woman who had fainted.
She had her arms full of dresses. He car
ried her out of the building. Sheriff Mc
Candless carried ont Major John M. Tier
nan. He is 68 years old and occupied a
room on the top floor. Judge John H.
Bailey add wife had a "room on the fourth
floor. The Judge has been ill for several
weeks, but was strong enough to walk down
the stairs with his wife to the parlor. There
they waited awhile, and then went to the
Hotel Central. Their clothing and valu
ables were left in their room, which they
locked.
Few of the regular boarders saved any
propertv. It was left in the rooms and del
uged with water. Captain A. J. Logan and
wile had their furniture in their rooms on
the Water street front. It was worth about
52,000, and is an almost total loss. Mrs.
Gusky and her children escaped without
Baving a single piece of property except a
portrait of the late Mr. Gusky. Some of
the transient boarders paid good sums to
porters and others to carry their trnnks
downstairs.
Much damage by water was done to tbe
offices on the street floor. On the Water
street side was the office of Kay Brothers,
dealers in machinery supplies and hard ware.
Their stock was not seriously injured by the
water. The corner storesom, No. 1 Smith
field street, was occupied by H. K. Porter &
Co., manufacturers of light locomotives.
Their papers were put into the safe, and it
was:wheeled out of the office Info the
street No. 3. Smithfield street was occupied
by the Atlantic Dynamite Company, the
Judson Powder Company, the Savage Fire
Brick Company, the West Virginia Fire
Brick Company and the Morrn Coal Com
pany. Books and papers were placed in
the safes, and although the office was del
uged with water, the loss is slight It was
supposed that the cellar under1 that office
Continued on Sixth fug.
i
m .saw sbs,svsV. W . F, A?H
H 'ssssr ss BsfTsp sBr- Ssl tfSB bbtbbs?
S1LC0TT SKIPS OUT.
The "Cashier of tbe Hosse of Kepre
sentatives Not to be Found.
ABOUT $72,000 IN CASH MISSING.
Sergeant-at-Arm3 Leedom Euined by the
MaaHeso Greatly Trusted.
A NUMBER OP CONGRESSMEN ALSO BIT.
The Capitol Struck as. Hard by a Soasatloa as If
Hit by a Bomb.
O. E. Bilcoti, Cashier of the House of
Representatives, is missirig from Washing
ton, and about $72,000 of the House fnnds
cannot be found. Sergeant-at-ArmsLeedom,
whose appointee Silcoit was, is ruined finan
cially, -as well as being nearly distracted
over the alleged defalcation. A number of
the members of the Honse lose some of their
salary, and several of them other funds be
side, on deposit with Mr. Silcott
1FBOJI A STAFV COKEISPOUDEUT.l
Washington, December S. If a bomb
bad been" exploded in the Capitol this morn
ing it could not have caused a more genuine
sensation than did the news, equally bruited
abroad, that Mr. O. E. Silcott, Cashier of the
House of Bepresentatives, had absconded
with nearly $100,000 of the House funds.
From the Capitol the announcement soon
spread to the city, and the Fbst issued a late
extra, giving some of the particulars. Its
appearance on the streets caused the greatest
excitement, especially as its hurried account
gave the impression that Sergeant-at-Arms
Leedom was equally concerned in the defal
cation. Both of the gentlemen are well
known in this city, and the news was a great
Bhock to the community.
MANX MEMBEE3 JNTEEESTED.
JLs soon as they heard of it, members of
Congress hurried to the Capitol to ascertain
the1 truth for themselves. Nearly all of the
Bepresentatives were personally interested,
since but few had drawn their salaries for
the last two months, and. some of them had
used the Sergeant-at-Arms' office as a sort of
banking house, and made personal deposits
in the safe.
Consequently, it was an excited and dis
mayed crowd of Legislators which soon oc
cupied the office and plied Sergeant-at-Arms
Leedom with questions. Some of the mem
bers were wild because they had checks out
which will almost certainly be dishonored.
All sorts of wild hopes were indulged in,
many trusting that the defaulting cashier
had not drawn on the Treasury, but they
soon had alHhe positive information they
were looking for and were reduced to hope
lessness and helplessness.
MB. LEEDOM DISTBACTED.
Mr. Leedom was almost distracted by the
discovery of the defalcation. After having
served three terms in his present position, to
close his official career under a cloud of this
sort was a severe blow to him, though he was
in no Way at fault The cashier was under
$50,000 bonds, his bondsmen being among
the wealthiest and best known men in
Adams countv, O., and Leedom had known
him nearly ail his life, regarding him as a
man of the greatest integrity.
A curious feature of the case is that the
Government has the receipts of all the mem
bers for tbe amount of money drawn. It is
the custom for members to give their re
ceipts to the cashier, who is made their
official agrntto-draw theirmoney4 Mr. Sil
cott drew the money on these receipts, and
tbo members will have to look to Mr. Sill-
cott's bondsmen and Sergeant-at-Arms Lee
dom for their money. They have nearly all
lost something. Some have lost their full
salary since the 4th of March, and many
have lost irom one to two months' salary,
while others have lost less.
BAYNE AND DALZELL LOSEBS.
Among the heaviest sufferers by the defal
cation is Mr. Rife, of Middletown, Pa., who
had deposited with the Sergeant-at-Arms
$2,500. Representative Bayne lost $1,000
in the same way, and Mr. Dalzell is a suf
ferer to the extent of his salary for the last
month. Sergeant-at-Arms Leedom had left
$10,000 of his personal money in the sale,
and he is a loser to that extent at least
Some of the sporting fraternity around
town, when they heard of this expressed
surprise that he, on a salary of about $3,600
a year, should have that amount of money
on deposit in his office, but Mr. Leedom has
a very respectable income outside of his
salary as Sergeant-at-Arms, and his wife
also has a considerable yearly revenue.
A WOMAN IN THE CASE.
Of course there is a woman In this case.
She was a good looking but weak woman,
and was named Lulu Barrett She has been
a surreptitious companion of the ex-cashier
for sometime past, and she had habits that
called for a good deal of cash. To her is
laid a good deal of the blame for Mr. Sil
cott's lapse from his previous good record.
The ex-cashier leaves a wife and two little
children penniless. His eldest son, who was
the hero of a sensational elopement about a
year ago. upon hearing this morning of his
father's crime, fell to the floor in convnl-
BIOUS. liIGHTNEB.
ME. LEEDOM EUINED.
All Ho Can liaise, 333,000, to Go fownrd
Paying tbe Deficit Not His First Ex-
perlcnco of the Kind The Ex-
net Amount Hlislng.
IBT ASSOCIATEP PBESS.
Washington, December 5. During the
afternoon the employes in the Sergeant-at-Arms'
office were" busy going over the books
and accounts. A statement secured from
the Treasury show3 that last week, Mr. Sil
cott, in three days, drew $133,442 from the
department. The payments were as follows:
November 27, $36,608; November 29, $36,
206; November 30, $60,628. Total, $133,442.
Ont of this total a considerable sum was
paid out to members, some money was
turned over to the paying teller to meet cur
rent needs, and the exact balance missing,
according to the books, is $71,859.
Last Saturday Silcott notified Mr. Lee
dom that he was going to New York, and
would be back Snnday night A message
was received from him dated New York,
Monday morning, saying that he had been
detained, bnt would return that night A
similar message reached his wife in this
city. As he did not appear Tnesday, Mr.
Leedom was fearful that he had been over
taken by some accident, but to .satisfy rising
suspicions, began an investigation. The
information that Silcott had drawn his bank
balance deepened those snspicions, and the
inquiry was pursued. The enormous
office safe could not be opened at the mo
ment, as Silcott bad the combination, bnt
when an entrance was finally effected, it was
found that some $30,000 set apart for the use
of the paying teller was intact. The next
inquiry was made ot the Treasury Depart
ment, and Mr. Leedom was Btunned by the
result He was informed tbat Silcott had
called there Saturday, and had drawn
abont $72,000. It was possible for him to
draw this large sum without exciting com
ment, as he had for a long time been
charged with the duty of collecting the
money1 with which the salaries of the Bep
resentatives are paid.
Mr. Leedom says it was within, Silcott's
power to have carried oS not less than $156,
000 instead of the $72,000 which is missing.
It was suggested by a person standing near
that to hare earned off the bahwee would
' '-Srft
.aV?.1 :!?;
3""rs
W
,.i,
,.
3
have changed theaatareof the crime from
embezzlement io theft, and have subjected
the perpetrator to extradition, even in
Canada, whither, it Is already rumored, the
missing man has fled. This is on the theory
tbat Silcott was the. custodian of the money
drawn: from the-treasury for the payment of
salaries, and that his retention of this
money would constitute simply embezzle
ment while if he had taken the money in
the paying teller's drawer of the safe, IJ
would be theft
w It is stated that Mr. Leedom was victim
ized once before, by the predecessor of Sil
cott, bnt to an amount insignificant in com
parison to his present loss. Mr. Leedom is
reported as having said that he could raise
about $22,000, -which would leave a deficit of
$49,860 to be made good by his bondsmen.
A BTATTHEHT BI MB. 1EED0M.
Ho
Explains How He Discovered
the
Shortage of Mr. RllcolU
1ST ASSOCIATED FEXSS.I
Washington, December & Mr. Lee
dom made the following statement- to-night:
Tne Committee on the Celebration of the In
auguration, of which Mr. Histoclc is Chair
man, was in my office on Wednesday, about
3.30 o'clock. While there Mr. Ballentine, the
paying teller, called me aside and saidr "lam
distressed. I believe something has happened
to Mr. Hilcott. 1 tear be may have been killed.
Here is the combination tbatunlocks the safe."
I told him that I knew nothing about the mat
ter, and asked him to unlock the safe, and then
he said we had better wait until tbe committee
should go out, which it did at 4 o'clock. I told
the messenger to close the door, and then Bal
lentineook the combination that Silcott had
iren him, some four years ago. and as I was
yhis sloe he unlocked the safe, after cou-
siaeraoie irouDie.
Mr. Ballentine said he wanted me to count
the money. The first packet I picked np was a
package of SI bills, with a $100 bOI on the back
of it. The next was a similar packaee. That
was a very unusual thing. 1 said; "Ballentine,
the jig is up. Something is wrong." We went
through the work of examining the contents of
the safe, and found there was $33,400. He
should have bad in the safe $105,000. I told
Ballentine;that was the first intimation I had of
anything wrong, and that we had better sus
pend criticism. I said we knew but little about
the matter, and tbat I wanted to go to the bane
and see how much was there, thinking tbat
perhaps Silcott bad gone to the bank and de
posited money to our credit.
We closed up the safe and went to dinner,
going back at 7 o'clock. We stayed there until
12 o'clock, but our minds were in no condition
to deal in figures. Ballentine and I went away.
At 2.30, having gone borne, I dressed myseU
and again went to the Capitol. Joe Lee, a po
liceman, was there, and I asked him to go to
my office. He asked me what the matter was,
and I told bim I wanted to go over the books
and see if anything was wrong. That kept me
irom a unui aju ocioct, when a, went toltepre-
sentatlve Crisp's room.
at the Metronolitan
Hotel, and told him the situation.
itnation. I then went
to Mr. Wbitem, cashier of the National Metro
politan Bank, abont 6 O'clock this morning.
The rest of the morning was consumed,
according to Mr. Leedom's statement, in
calling on Mr. Carlisle, telegraphing to Mr.
Felton, one ot the bondsmen, and preparing
the statement for Mr. Beed.
The committee to investigate the Sergeant-at-Arms'
office held a meeting at the
Arlington Hotel to-nighf, and made 'ar
rangements to begin the investigation to
morrow morning in the Fnblic Lands Com
mittee room. The investigation will be
secret for the present at least
FOUE MILLION MEN
In the New Combination of the Fanners
and the Knights of Labor The Ar
rangement Now an Established
Fact Powderly's Address.
St. Loots, December 5. This has proved
a busy day in the "next revolution," as be
gun by the Fanners' and Laborers' Union
of America, resulting practically in the
combination of the middle classes, with
4,000,000 votersin the ranks. A. secret con
ference between Master Workman Powderly,.
of the Knights ofLabor, and Evan Jones,
President of the Farmers' and- Laborers'
Union, last night, which lasted uniil an
early hour this morning, resulted in a thor
ough understanding being reached, and to
day President Jones said that the confedera
tion was now an established fact, while
Master Workman Powderly admitted that
there was much truth in what Mr. Jones
said.
During the day General J. B. Weaver, of
Iowa, the famous Greenbacker, arrived and
was, next to Powderly, the lion of the honr.
AH were jubilant save a few farmers, who
think the indorsement of tbe Henry George
land doctrine debars fall fellowship with
the farmers. At the afternoon session the
committee, not being ready to report, Mas
ter Workman Powderly delivered an ad
dress. He was enthusiastically greeted.
Mr. Powderly paid attention to the land
question, railroad transportation, formation
of the Knights of Labor and the present and
future hopes of the order. He related how
the Knights had attempted to ran a co-operative
coal mine in Indian a,in which they were
thwarted by the railroads, and dwelt at
length upon the advantages o (confederation
of the middle classes. General J. B.
Weaver, of Iowa, aIso,addressed the conven
tion. PARNELIi fiOT STOLES.
He Has Been Qaletly Restloc, and Is Now on
the Warpath.
:HT CABLE TO THE DISPATCH.
London, December 5. All the disquiet
ing Tory rumors abont Mr. ParnelTs "dis
appearance" have been set at rest by the
great Irish leader himself. In the first
place, his health is greatly improved.
His step is firmer, and his eye
brighter, and the extremely worn look has
left him. As is well known, Mr. Parnell
is not a man to parade himself, bnt
he has not been "lost, strayed or
stolen." He has been passing the
autumn partly at the pleasant seaside town
of Bournemouth, and partly in London at a
hotel in St Pancras.
Mr. Parnell is on the warpath, loo. He
will speak at the monster Nottingham meet
ing on Tuesday, and pay his respects to the
latest maunderings of Salisbury and Bal
four. ON AS INSPECTING T0UB.
Bending Hallrosd Officials Take a Business)
Trip to Harrlihurs.
tSTZCIAI. TZXZGRAH TO THX DISTATCH.J
Habeisbtjko, December 5. A number
of Beading Bailroad officials, including
Vice President McLcod, arrived here in tbo
directors' car to-day to inspect the proposed
route to connect the company's tracks with
those of the Harnsburg Terminal, which
has its starting point at Bowmansdale, Cum
berland county.
They were taken across the Cumberland
Valley railroad bridge slowly to enable
them to inspect tbe South Pennsylvania
piers, which has been leased to the Beading
by the Pennsylvania Bailroad Company.
Work on the tracks to be run over the piers
will, it is understood, soon be begun.
END OF A FAMOUS CASE.
A Housekeeper RecoTers $8,364 30 for fie
Labor for Thirty Years.
JSriCTAL TXXXOBAKTO TIES EISPATCH.1
Meadville, December 5. In Crawford
County Court to-day Willlamina Beatty
secured a judgment against the estate of the
late Dr. William Gibson, of Jamestown,
Pa., for $8,364 30. This is the famous. Dr.
Gibson whose tomb is marked by an $85,000
monument
The prosecutor entered the Gibson man
sion as housekeeper in 1856, and remained
the greater portion of the time until 1883.
&ht eWms to have never received eompen
latkti.asd brought wit to raeever 35,0W.
--J jrr-
sftlr,
:tK
Errant .
- An Irish gentiemaVisdveBareslBAineTios)t
is describeSiexfrfeuwDAT'a Dispatch by
Justin HAttjjTVfcCarthy and Albert Delpit
VMV
THREE CENTSV
V-x
ftgBE TRADE EEASBi
f-f i
CfJr& . .' ;
v$)$X of Cleveland's FamouJ
. e Celerjrated by
JUBILAHT BDCKfilB DEMOCRATS.
Several Senatorial Candidates' Try t9Eixf
Their Fences. ;
1 .j- A
onntrpp BT.lwpn -Dno vtvmvor,
UikvlHJ fcjljfl 1 Mr luir nivm BftJ
fi
Tftnjl Wf4&M ftf tfcfi Tariff Efnrntr Pi fjtfi Otarrw' '
UwHaBor. V''
nw.
The second anniversary of President '
Cleveland's frea trade message to Congress "
was celebrated by the Ohio Democracy, at',
Canton last night Brice, McManoa and ,
McSweeney all candidates for Senator
were present and delivered addresses. Let-,
ters were received from Cleveland, Mills,
Chauncey Black, M. D. Harter and others..
rsriCIAL TXLXGBAU TO THX DISPATCH.!
Canton, O., December 5. The second,
anniversary of the promulgation of Grove?
Cleveland's tariff reform message was cele
brated hero this evenine in royal style. The '
exercises were held in the Tabernacle, which
Was handsomely decorated with bnntinz,,.-
mottoes and portraits of Democrats of r
national fame. Standing room was at a
premium at 8 o'clock when Bepresentatives
Monnot, President of the Young' Men's'
Democratic Club, called the assembly -to
order, and after a- brief speech, introduced ,
the President of the evening, Hon. William
A. Lynch.
Among others upon the rostrum were
Calvin S. Brice, of Lima; Judge) Blandiat
and Virgil P. Kline, of Cleveland; John
McSweeney, of Wooster; John. McMshon,
of Dayton; W. A. Taylor, of Cincinnati;
Mayor Blake, Prosecuting Attorney Welty
and Johnson Sberrick, of this city.
ANT AHOHNX OF BEOKET. .
Letters of regret were read from Grover;
Cleveland, Boger Q. Mills, Chauncey F
Black, Governor-elect Campbell, ex-Governor
Hoadly, John H. Thomas, of Spring--field,
and JI..D. Harter, of Mansfield. Mrs
Cleveland's letter is as follows:
I am pleased with the Invitation you extend
to Mrs. Cleveland and myself to be present ac
the anniversary meeting of the Younc; ilea's
Democratic Club on the oth of December. It
the exercises you contemplate and outlined ia
your letter are carried.out, all who attend them
are certainly promised a rare exposition ot
sound doctrrhe from the eloquent and abla
speakers you have secured. I am sorry, that,
owing to other engagements, wo must ha
among the absent ones. The spirit and tone of
your fetter, so far as it relates to the purposes
of your club, are very gratif ylog. The con
stantly growing Interest manifested by our
young men in tbe principles of tba Democratic
patty constitute. In my opinion, tbe most relia
ble hope of their ascendancy. If at any time
in the past it has with any truth been said that
our party did not invite to its standard the en
terprising and thoughtful young men of the
country, to-day such an allegation shall be dis
puted. And these men, keenly alive to their
country's welfare, quick to discover the needs
of the present, to lead in tbe freedom of up
trammeled thought, and follow In thapathway
of good citizenship, can be safely trusted with,
political responsibilities. Hoping your meet
ing may be very successful, I am yours truly.
Q bo veb Cleveland.
THX TSXAS ttvea,
Boger Q. Mills felt tbat the miserable
superstition that has held tho country in
its blighting grasp for a quarter of a cen
tury can't stand in the light of tho day..
M. D. Harter was unable to bo present
'through death of a relative, but said he sow-.
had tne pleasure or seeing tne views ot tne
message triumphant!? vindicated at the.
ballot box, and felt that a second term of V
urover Cleveland could be looked for. Ha
added that it cannot be more than four
years longer that onr manufacturing- and
farmluEr interests- will be weighed down, tar
the heavy burden of onr dishonest tariff,'- y
ana ieit that only sucn representatives
should be sent to Washington as are faith- -ful
and able exponents of the truth.
Mr. Thomas' letter of regret is a heavy .
bid for the Senatorship. His work in that
direction kept him from being present. He -
ieit in tnis inai ne was wonting lortna
future of the Democratic party. He felt
that Ohio was in line for Democratic suc
cess for many years. ,
xne speecne3 0t uon. wuuam A.Xiynca"
was in tne line of a tribute to Democratic
clubs locally and generally, and upon the-,
straightforward cause of Democracy;
THE CANDIDATES TAKE.
Hon. John McSweeney's address was ona
of the wittiest tariff efforts' evermade In the
city, and the applanse was almost continual
during his remarks. Ex-Congressman Mc
Mahon came to the meeting for a purpose.
He had not used his name for tha Senator
ship, but his friends had, and it was dua
them that he was here. He came to bo
looked at and to'have his position as a tariff
reformer recorded.
The Hon. Calvin S. Brice, who followed
him, spoke not of his Senatorial aspiration.
He confined himself exclusively to tha sub
ject of Democratic clubs, and tha grand re
sults achieved by them. He was greeied
enthusiastically. Owing to the lateness of
the hour the address of Virgil P. Kline and
Jndge Blandin, of Cleveland, were brief,
and referred principally to the attitude of
the Democratic party on the tana subject-
BOLOGNA OF H0BSE&
A Newtown Health Officer Makes an Astern hJ
iibjds; uiscoTory a aassago iiiaKer
Who Used No Cattle- Nor
Fork In His Wares.
rSrXCIALTELEOBAM TO THX PXSrAKS,
. li r . a i- -
KW Tobk, December 6. Bologna o
sages, big and little, have been turned out
in quantities from a factory in John
son avenue, near Maiden lane, New
town. Tha factory is a two
story frame building. It has always
been a mvsferv to the people round about
Wason loads of sansaees were sent awar
daily, but no one remembered ever having;
seen any meat or cattle orongnt to tne place.
The rattle of the steam chopping and stuffing
machines conld be heard night and day.-"
Tbe odors of the place had tHora than a
local reputation. Henry Myer, the pro-i.
prietor, and three other men were employed -in
matin? the sausaces and the smells, r 1
Tb-dav people hvintr In tha vicinity re
1-.J . .1 IT .. V-u.. it TT. ..1.1..:
that the refuse from the place was contain-?!?
mating the water of a pond near by, ands
rendering it unfit for watering stock om
other purposes. Health Officer Wickhaa -
made an investigation. He found that the i
complaint was warranted by the condition's
of the water, and decided to inspects
the factory itself, lortihed against tha
smells with a pipe of tobacco and a bottle oft
narunorn, ne enierea me uuhuiuk. aaa
nended in different parts of the place weral
large pieces of dressed meat The doctori
examined them, and found tha? they wenl
When nnMtinned nn the subiect tha DTO-
prietor did not deny that he used horseflesh
in manufacturing his sausages, xnere is naa
law to prevent it A special meeting of that
Newtown Board of Health has been called!
to consider the matter. Dr. Wickhsmj
thinks nothing can be done, provided'thei!
meat used in the factory is not diseased. .
Nine Fatally Injured In an Explal
ISriCIAI. TZXXOKAII TO TCT DISrATCH.IJ
Mabion, Ind., December & WiUIasaj
Dennis was killed and eight other persaasi
fatally Injured in a boiler: exploiiotfhaw
w-oayr
m.
y i
e
i
XT-