Pittsburg dispatch. (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, December 12, 1889, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    V,
Every successful Business Man Advertise
Iil Business.
TDE DISPATCH ll the Best medium
throagh trblch tha Purchasing Public cam
lie reached.
Wide-awake people always scan Its col- i
nmss for Holiday Bargains. Kow li ibo
time to catch their eye.
FORTT-FOTTEtTH YEAH.
ONWIOVEDJY DEATH,
The Stricken City of Johns
town Tiews Ten Corpses
WITHOUTBEING STAETIED
That Opera House Disaster is Ex
plained and Investigated,
LEADING TO AYERDICTOFCEHSURE
Fall Details, of the Sad Affair, With Some
Personal Experiences.
IT WAS SENSELESS ALARH AKt) FLIGHT
'While there Is an element of instruction
inithe details of the Johnstown Opera
House panic and disaster, the principal
features thereof have been already told
In these columns. The alarm and panio
appear senseless, now that cool people on
the outside of that little death trap have
counted the cost The Coroner's jury yes-
," terday condemned the Opera House and
.recommended official action against it.
TraOat jl stirr cobbxspoxm-it. 1
Johnsto-wn, December 11. There tsbnt
little excitement in Johnstown, though ten
- of its inhabitants lie dead, their poor bodies
trampled, blackened and crushed by their
frightened fellows, in a wild desire to escape
death. Nothing short of an earthquake will
stir Johnstown alter the late deluge with its
ghastly results. Little croups of citizens
can be seen on the street corners, discussing
the situation, but there is not much external
manifestation of feeling.
It may be because the majority ot the
unfortunate dead are newcomers in the
place that the people show so much apathy;
out I think there is a deeper reason. Death,
except as it comes groping after them indi
vidually, has no terrors, after the late flood,
Exterior o the Zittte Death Trap.
for the present generation of the Mountain
City citizens, and the presence of cold,
stark bodies, whether drowned or suffocated
in a theater panic, elicits little response
from the native.
EASILY TOLD IK BEIEF.
' There is not much to add, except by way
of description and a further list of the in
jured, to the admirable account of the panic
m-lhe Parke Theater which appeared in
The Dispatch of to-day. The names o
the dead are correct, and the wounded are
yet to be given. It is the old story of an
opera bouse with insufficient exits, a cry of
fire, panic, a wild rush; a fearlul struggle
and crush for 25 minutes: the shouts of
men and screams of frantic women,
tbe groans of injured and dying, and, in
tbe end, ten dead and a score or more in
jured. This tells the simple story. It was
the most foolish thing recently heard of,
and, when one looks at the miserable little
deathtrap, with its one narrow stairway, be
T wonders how it is possible sueh a catastro
phe should have occurred. But at any rate
the awful truth must be told.
THE TL ACE WAS TACKED.
'Stetson's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company
was( performing in the Parke Opera House.
Messrs. Flinn and McCann, the managers,
claim the house will hold 800 people,
comfortably seated, and over 700 were
'present. In short, the auditorium was
packed. The house is divided into a
parquet and two galleries, the first of the
latter running around to the two
proscenium walls, and. the upper
one taking up the space in the
rear of the hall. A narrow stairway about
sixeet wide, leading from tbe street to the
rear portion of the room, is the only means
of ingress and egress. The galleries are not
ligh above the parquet, and an ordinary
h jjf H ft wi
1 1.,
f acrobat could stand on the top railing of the
upper gallery and turn a somersault, com
ing down on bis feet below without burling
himself.
It was in an abominable, insignificant
place like this that so much havoc was
wrought.
f JUST AT EVA'S DEATH BCENE.
tfThe company was playing the parts in the
, ldstscenes when the fatal moment arrived.
f JTwtVas about to depart to the angelic re
gions beyond, which in a few short moments
' became a sad reality to ten of the audience.
A fire bell rang, somebody cried out in the
' callery, and the panic was complete. Tbe
people in the parquet rose tip with ashen I
laces-"or ueavu Bccuicu uj ue alter uiemjQ-
dividually and made one wild rush for the
narrow staircase. A crowd of idiots stood
at the doors below and tried to enter the
hall. A blockade followed, and the death
trap was soon filled with struggling human
llyk, Ordinarily 20 average men would take
t ' npYall the room in the cheese-box, but it is
-claimed that at least 100 people got packed
in the stairway.
Then ensued struggle for life that was
terrible. The weaker were pressed to the
floor and trampled as if undera Juggernaut
t One strong man", wedged in near the door,
braced himself lor a final effort; buthemight
fj-jns well have attempted to remove a stone
;wall by banging his head against its rocks.
Leading from the stage to tbe street is a
narrow stairway, downwhich one man can
waitiflt s. timpj esu.cuuic incmeaea
pwp!elhedjfo1rlfcaTrag&&adln their J
anxiety broke some of the electric lamps on
the proscenium.
THE LIGHTS TTERE KEPT GOING
'Manager Flinn, who was on the stage
and realized at once there was no fire,
reached forward to keep the lights from
going out. God only knows What would
have happened then If darkness hafl sud
denly ensued. The manager and actors
called to the people, "Sit down!" ''Stand
backl" "There Is no fire!" and
same of the cooler heads in
the audience ably assisted them.
But their cries for order were useless. Men
jumped from the upper galleries down Into
the parquet, and at every window from the
Down the Fatal Stairway Wtlh an Awful
JftuA.
street could be seen terrified people trying
to get out. So far as could be learned,
none jumped to the ground, though some
were Been hanging on the edges of the
-window sills. But the crowd on
the outside is much to blame
for the catastrophe. They blockaded
the door and kept the people from com
ing out. Chief Harris with a sqnad of po
lice soon appeared on the scene, and tried to
beat back the jam in vain. Finally he
tnrned a hose on them, and this had some
good effect, though tbe terrified people
would persist in rushing back.
For fully 26 minutes the struggle lasted,
when it began to dawn upon the audience
that there was no fire and no danger. Then
kind and willing bands carried out the dead
and. wounded When it tras too late.
Iseael.
AFTER THE MAD BUSH.
SCENES FOLLOWING THE PANIC, WITH
TOE lit LESSONS.
Tbe Dead and Dying Cnred For One Terr
Pathetic Incident Why Prominent
Citizens Bad Avoided tbe
DenthTrap Why Waan'i
It Condemned?
fFBOK A STAFF COERESPONPKTT.I
Johkstowk, December 11. "Wnen the
excitement had subsided Miss Barns was
carried out, screaming with pain. The poor
girl had been crushed internally, and she
died shortly afterward in John Thomas'
store window, suffering great agony.
A big colored man, as he was re
leased from the jam and tried to
walk, staggered and groaned and then
fell to the ground. Little George Horner
jumped down from the upp;r trallerr and
landed cafelv in the parauet but the bricht.l
boy was pusned into in aeatncirap. and be
died with the other nine. Georce was a
newsboy, and sold matches and other small
articles ior a living. He had a handsome
face, and more than one tear was shed over
bis remains at the morgue this morning.
His face was bruised sligntly, but aside
from this he was not disfigured.
STAIKED WITH BLOOD.
The little fellow's clean white shirt and
red cravat he had evidently donned his
best suit of clothes wer& stained with
blood that had poured through his mouth
and nose. He was tramped to death be
neath the heavy heels of men and women.
When your correspondent arrived here he
went to the morgue at the upper end of
Main street, an old building of Henderson,
the undertaker, having been pressed into
service. Tbe room is not large, and
is partially filled with lumber and furni
ture. A small crowd of anxious women
stood outside in the drenching fain, and a
copper guarded the door. The dead were
washed and prepared for burial by Andrew
Hambacher, who came to Johnstown the
day after the flood, and bas worked like a
bero here ever since. ,
In one part of the room was Mrs. Burns,
the mother, and a short distance away was
the body of Hiss Clara Burns, the daughter.
The shriveled features of tbe elder save her
a ghostly appearance, but the girl was fair
even in death. The reporter was reminded
very vividly of the earlier scenes of the
. x ...-.-. . . " I
nood.
WD3ESPEEAD SYMPATHY.
George Horner's father and mother are
both quite ill, and they have the sympathy
of the entire community. John Miller, the
colored man wbo was killed, is abont 20
yeara old. He came to Johnstown a short
time aso. His body was taken to Chambers
burg, his home.
Mrs. John Nestor was a native of Johns
town. Her husband is a carpenter, who
worked for Ben Horner. The lady was
about 25 years old, and leaves several small
children to mourn her.
It is difficult to estimate the number in
jured. The doctors state that they at
tended abont 30 persons.
They also say. what is rather peculiar.that
no bones are broken. Many of the hurt
were squeezed badly, but the dodtors be
lieve thev are cot seriously injured inter
nally. Some suffered irom the fright, but
are all right to-day. "With the exception of
Charles Vaughn, wbo was crushed about
the hips, it is expected that the others will
be out in a few days.
The stories of eye-witnesses to the horri
ble scene only confirm what I have de
scribed in a general way.
ONE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
John M. Rose, Esq., slated that he was in
the hall a short time before the accident oc
curred. He was attracted there with
many others by the accomplishments
of one of the ladies who played
-well on the harp. Mr. B'ose
states that the space down stairs was en
tirely taken up by the people, and he had to
stand near the door while he was in the
bouse. A number of other men were
also standing, and tbe aisles, of conrse,
were partially- blockaded, though Man
ager Flinn said there was plenty of
room for the people to pass out Mr.
Kose had scarcely gotten home when he
-beard the alarm and he rushed back. Every
thing -was then in confusion. The noise
made by the frantic people, he states, was
terrific ft was impossible to distinguish
any of the cries. Finally he managed to
hear the men in the upper windows calling
to the crowd at the door to stand back. He
says the windows in the second and
third floors were filled with
people, some of them hanging from the sills.
He aided the police all he could in trying
to drive the crowd back, bat they pressed
and snrged around the doors to such an ex
tent that it was impossible, but when the
hose was turned on them they scattered,
only to return like redmea. to an attack
when the water was tnrned-off.
UXCLE TOM AS END KAN.
The Parke Theater, or Mala Street Opera
House, as ft bas been called i .latter days,
was built 20 years ago. By aV.strasge coin
cidenee. TTacle Toss's CaWa'sMs tba first
RtoflTrmnt'd, ) rf
fhe IJitt'ilntra
completed. The audience sat on boards
supported by barrels.
By some queer fatality the house began
and probably will end with the performance
of "Uncle Tom," The poor old negro has
sent Eva to heaven often, but last night he
watched 10 human beings so down to death.
Pnblio opinion thas condemned the Opera
House as unsafe for' some years, though it
was never officially put undet the
ban. There is no building inspec
tor in the town, but there
is loud complaint against the Mayor and
Council that they did not compel the
owners to provide proper exits and fire es
capes. It is claimed that efforts have been
made often to have the building condemned,
but it was never done. More than
one man was heard to sayk that he
never would enter the place, and it is a fact
that people who valued their lives never
attended the theater. Ex-Chief of Police
Hart stated that he had forbidden" his chil
dren h go Into the house, as he had always
deemed it unsafe, and he drcaded;lest such
a calamity might happen. ?
WHY HE XEVEB WENT THESE.
Mr. Morrell, the chemist at the Cambria
Iron "Works, said he hadn't been in the
theater for years. He understood the
floore were Unsafe, and he was afraid.
ISRAEL.
COKDEMNEDBY VERDICT.
THE miSERASLK DlAN-TRAP HANDLED
WITHOUT GLOVES.
The Coroner's Jnrr Hears the Evidence
and Acta Recommendation That
the Authorities Interfere With
Farther Performances
There The Exit Ed
tirelt Too Small.
rrEOH A STAFF COEKfeSPOS-tlEitr.l
Johnstown, December 11. Coroner
Evans to-night gathered the jury around
him in his little office on Napoleon street,
in Kemville, and proceeded to take further
testimony. The first witness called was
John Leber, cashier for Hugh O'Donnel in
the restaurant business under the Opera
Honse, who swore that he heard a noise, and
he thought the building was falling. The
first thing he saw was a man f ome through
the door and fall on the pavement He
thinks he was Mr. Parsons. He went to the
door, when the crowd inside crabbed bis
coat, and they yelled to b&
pulled out He caught one boy
and dragged him Out Some men
came along, when they pulled three others
out A crowd gathered and worked around
the door. He concluded to go around On
the stage, where he veiled to the people to
come forward, that there was no fire, andi
some men were lving at the foot ot the
stairs. When he told them that, they gath
ered toward the stage. He got down to the
head of the stairway shortly afterward.
People wanted to know why they did'nt go
out He told them some person's were lying
in the passage way. The people did'nt even
know what had happened. He got the
people to go back, when they found a boy
and woman Who appeared to be dead. A
few people went out the back way but the
hall was still packed with people. Contin
uing, he said:
I also saw a dead boy and woman, and Dlb
ert's son, who was hurt When I came bick to
the pavement there was a bis crowd. Police
were clearing the street They hit one man
who was drunk, and going toward the door.
Firs t people commjr down the steps f ell, anU
lodged against the inner doors.
SOME DrPFICULTYTO ESCAPE.
James Dillon, a waiter in Hugh O'Don
nel's restaurant, testified that as. soon as he
heard the noise be went -out -of the-Ves-taurant
to -see what was the matter. He shjt,
several people lying In the doorof the Opera
House. "'I tried," said be, "to get them out,
bnt could not. When helped I nianaeed to
get two out Three of us tried to get one
man out, but could not; he was wedged in so
tight His body was half out on the pave
ment, but his legs were held in the crowd.
I then went around to see what
I could do at the back." He didn't go up
on the stage, bnt found a lady with a child
coming down the stairway. The electric
light in front at the door was broken down
by a man climbing over the heads of-the
people. O'Donnell told him to take alight so
the people could see what they were doing.
He thought it was about 15 minutes from
time he heard the noise first until the har
row passageway was cleared.
Manager Michael McOann, of the Opera
House, swore he was standing at the door
talking to some men about the time for
closing the show. He heard a fire hell soon
afterward, and he asked the men to leave
the door. He opened the door and tried to
go up. A number of people were sitting on
the banister, and they commenced to jump
over. Tried to stop them, but failed. The
crowd behind pushed, and be was forced
down the stairs. He thought about 20 peo
ple landed on the sidewalk before tbe jam
occurred. He helped some of them up to
clear the way. It got serious, and my wife
being inside, I went around to the back
stairs and went on to the stage. Told the
people to keep quiet
wnen tne evidence naa oeen tasen, alter
consulting for a little while, the jury ren
dered tho following verdict:
THE VEEDICT.
We, the undersigned, the inquest summoned
by D. W. Evans, Coroner, to inquire into the
cause and manner of death pf Lizzie Claycomb,
John lllller, Mrs. Wesley Hums, Miss Clara
Burns, Isaac Foler. George Little Horner, Mrs.
2?estor, Eddie Bigler, George Fresno! tz -and
Georgo Blonakcr. find that death was caused
in each case by suffocation in a jam resulting
from a panic precipitated by a false
alarm ot fire in Parke's Opera House
daring a theatrical performance, on the even
ing of December 1 1SSD; and do alto find
that owing to the insufficient number of exits,
the narrowness and faulty construction of the
only one to the house, we condemn the building
as entirely unsafe for any public gathering,
and hereby ask the authorities to take proper
measures to prevent any public assemblies in
the building as now constructed.
James M.Situmaeeb,
Geobqe Duhneb,
EunABT ZAKO.
Joseph Price.
Thomas Seibebt,
Jacob Hoenek.
full list of the dead.
The list of dead, with some slight descrip
tion of each one as furnished by W. w.
Evans at the morgue, is as follows:
GEOBGE BLONAKElCased 25: came here
from Mt. Pleasant
MISS LIZZIE CLAYCOMB, aged 17; domestic
in tbe family of John Bowser, corner of Bed
ford and Adams streets; came here five
weeks ago from Mower's Mills, Bedford
county, whither herremains were taken over
land to-day bv her cousin. John Claycomb.
JOHN MILLER, colored; came here five
months' ago from Chambersburg, worked
tor Druftcist Griffith, and latterly in the
restaurant under the Opera House.
MRS. WESLEV BURNS, aged 40 years,
formerly of Snyder's station, Somerset
county, whither her remains will be taken in
the morning on tne S. & C
MISS CLARA BURNS, aged 18, daughter of
the above; remains will also be taken to
'Somerset county, in the morning.
ISAAC FOLER, coal miner, aged 68; came
here from Benscreek; worked for W. J. Will
lams, of the Soutnside; has a brother In Osce
ota, wbo has been notified.
GEORGE LITTLE HORNER, aged 11 years,
son of Lafayette Horner, of the Park build
ing, opposite Dr. Lowman's; this boy is said
to have jumped from tbe top gallery to the
parquet, probably 80 feet; his neck was
broken.
MRS. JOHN W. NESTOR, aged 25 years, of
the Southside. No. Z36 Napoleon street
EDWARD BLEiGLOR, aged 9 years, son of
William Bleiglor, of Chapln street, Cone
m&ugh borough, s neater in tho Gautler; also
known as Bigler.
GEORGE FRESHOLTZ, aged 22: unmarried;
born in Germany, where his parents still live:
be came to America ayear ago and to Johns
town since the flood; worked for Piack Bros.,
tinners.
There have been no additions to the
list of dod iro,ths .disMtor as reported.
noTjmaayjM sutf-arim m enuciu evu
01WV
PITTSBURG, TETOBSDAT,
DUDLEY IN DANGER.
The Koted JPdliticiati Pays a Sadden
Visit to Indianapolis.
A HEW WARRANT FOR HI8 ARREST
Bpeedily Bwoni0nt, Bnt -the Colonel
Escaped tho .Officers.
QUITE A CONFLICT OF AUTH0KITX.
The District Attorney Orders That
Taken in tni Matter.
So Etepl to
Colonel W. "W. Dudley. Treasurer ot the
National Bepublican Committee, visited
Indianapolis yesterday. List night a war
rant for his arrest on the "blocks ol five"
charges was sworn Out, but the officers
failed to find him. At midnight the new
District Attorney endeavored to put a stop
t& the proceedings.
rEfXCUI. TELXQBAM TO TUBS WSf ATCB't
iNDlAKArOLIB, December 11. A -warrant
has been issued to-night for the arrest
of Colonel "W. "Vf. Dudley, and officers
are now hunting for him, hut up
to a late hour have Dot located
him. Colonel Dudley, accompanied by
his 15-Year-old son. Was one of the first men
to get off of the Pennsylvania limited which'
arrived hero this afternoon. He looked
around in vain for anybody he knew, and
then went to the station dining room, where
he ordered dinner for himself and son.
In a few minutes the news of the Colon
el's presence at the station got up iownj and
several persons, dut ofjjuriosity, hastened to
the depot to see hijifr The story was of
course soon currenV he was In the
city and was afraid' to come up town.
Dudley, as soon as he had finished dinner
boarded a oar and proceeded to the new
Denison Hotel. A reporter met him at the
hotel entrance and learned very quickly
that an interview would not bo granted,.
NOTHING TO SAlC
"I have not anything to say to the pub
lic," was the Colonel's answer to the first
question.
''It seems that you are not afraid to come
back to Indianapolis," suggested the re
porter. '1 do not know of any reason in the world
why I should he afraid to come back here,"
was the reply.
Bo far as the records Show Mr. Dudley
was correct in intimating that there was no
reason for apprehension On his part. At
the United States Marshal and Clerk's office
it was learned that no warrants
were out nor had there been, for
the arrest ot Mt. Dudley. The only
warrant known of was that issued in Octo
ber, 1S88, by Commissioner Van Buren.
An affidavit was made before Commissioner
Van Buren and was Bworn to by Captain
John A. Lang. . Upon this affidavit a war
rant was issued by the Commissioner, This
was returned indorsed, "Not found in the
district'
''There is no warrant out from this offiie,"
said Tan Buren, v , N
Ther amdavU-Badeby Xang contained
seven counts. These were based upon the
alleged "Blocks or Aye" letter. Since the
return of the warrant "not found,"
the case has been entered as
dismissed on the commissioner's docket.
To-night the scene changed and it is under
stood that the new warrant issued is based
on an affidavit covering the seven counts re
ferred to by Van Buren.
A CONFLICT OF AUTHOEITT.
The machinery of the .Federal Court here
now is in the bands of the Bepublicans and
United States District Attorney Chambers,
appointed by President Harrison. As
soon as he heard that & warrant had
been issued for Colonel Dudley, without any
inquiry into the matter, be ordered that it
be not served, and thus the matter stands at
midnight.
Dudley kept himself hidden away during
the night and to-morrow goes to a soldiers'
reunion at Winchester.
A BATTLE IK BRAZIL.
Imperialists and Republicans Flgbt, Killing
Twenty Men.
rCrSCIAt. TXLHOBAst tO HB DISrATCfl.l
New York, December 12. The TForldof
this morning contains the following letter
from Maranham, Brazil, dated Novem
ber 11:
I arrived at Bt Lutz de Maranham this morn
ing, 400 miles from Para. I found the place in
a repressed state of excitement There had
been fighting between the Imperialists and
Bepublicans immediately after the dethrone
ment of Dom Pedro, and on November 8 tbe
excitement grow so great that the military
fired on the people, 20 of whom were killed.
Tbe attempt to Create a revolt was
undoubtedly the work of the Imperialists and
the Portuguese. Maranham is naturally In
clined to royallsm. It is the fourth city of the
empire and the capital of tho rich and Im
portant province ot tbe same name.
At present tbe city is qnlet so far as con
cerns actual disturbances, but there Is still
much Intriguing going on and serious trouble is
likely to occur if the Imperialists and the
Portuguese persist in refusing to acknowledge
the altered condition of affairs.
CA8HIER BILCOTTB SHORTAGE.
The Official Report Completely Exonerates
All His Associates. '.
Washington, December 11. The Sit
cott Investigating Committee to-day agreed
to a preliminary report, and will submit it
to the House to-morrow. The amount of the
deficit is given, as has already been stated,
at about 571,800. The committee finds that
the funds of the office have been used by
Bilcott for the purposes of discount, hut to
what extent cannot be stated. Forgeries of
the names of members have been committed,
and these are set forth in detail so far as
known. The report exonerates Silcott's as
sociates in the office, the teller and book
keeper, from any connection with his crime.
A special from New York says: A rumor
was current here to-day that Silcott had left
this port on the bark Antoinette for Val
paraiso on Wednesday last Her agents
were seen, and stated that they did not
know that the vessel had any passenger on
board.
IMLUEKZA EVER! WHERE.
There Are Mow 678 Casta la One Great
Paris Store Aloae.
Pabis, December 11. The medical re
port upon the prevalent epldemio shows that
there are 670 cases among the employes in
the great drygoods store, the Magasin du
Louvre. These are all cases of simple be
nign influenza, which ordinarily lasts only
about four days.
Complications arise. is. aseae him whisk
make it ssere serfs.- Ii.tfaW.kttt s4tM
prevails ptjmjMmvtAlk JHi,
Aiouvsa,!
DECEMBER 12, 1889.
out m, mkumu.
General Keeder Favors tho Nomination of
the Crawford Man His Reasons for
the Choice A Section of the
stake Solid fdrHlBi.
tsmtAX. Xt.kOBAtt TO the ouri.TCK.1
, Philadelphia, December 11. Qeaeral
Prank Seeder, of Easton, Northampton
county, who has been looked upon as a
"dark horse" candidate. for thd Republican
nomination for Governor, to-day declared
himself oat of the race, by declaring in
favor of Senator George VTi Delatnater, of
Crawford ooUnty, who is popularly sup
p6sed to be the Quay Candidate for the
nomination. Speaking On the subject,
General Beeder said:
I favor the nomination of Btsnatdf Del&mater,
ot Crawford cohnty, for Governor on the Be
publican ticket. My reasons are that be rep
resents the younger element of the party in tbe
State, and is a level-headed business man Who,
although not Over 40 year of aee, haS had lots
OI experience in public- affairs and has
stood tbe test Welt During the past
four years he has been tested in a greater
aegree tnat an'
and has sHowh
judgment Hi
f 01 man. I was personally brought into contact
with him at the headquarters of the National
Committee in New York City last fall, and be
was very active in assisting the organization
and was onebt Senator QnaJ's most trusted
advisers. In state affairs (bis advice has
always been in favor of calm and feasonabld
treatment of the various elements of the party.
I admire him for his personal qualities, and
favor bis nomlnatlonforreasons of sound party
oolicy. As a soldier myself, I-ish to say that
there Is no man upon whom 1 would have
greater reliance for fair treatment to the sol
dier clement than George Wallace Delamater,
of Crawford connty.
Senator Hi B. Paoker, of Tioga County,
who was present) said:
ThS feeling in oaf section of tbe Statethat
is, In the counties ot Tioga. Potter, McKean
and Lycoming Is in favor of Senator Dels
mater's nomination for Governor. For myself
I desire to Say that he has In my judgment tbe
Sualities requisite to the making of a successful
orernor. He is made of good material, and
to those who are acquainted somewhat with
the inside history of the party, organization be
is known as an untiring and actively zealous
Republican. He spent considerable time at tbe
headquarters of the National Committee in
New York, and was always regarded as a safe
advisor. .
A DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD,
Unprecedented Rainfall Swells California
Streams, Canting Great Damage.
ISFSCIAL IH.EQBAK TO THH DISPATCH.!
San Feancisco, December 1L For two
weeks past heavy and almost incessant
rains have deluged California and more
water bas fallen near San Francisco than
has been known in the same length of time
since 1898, There was a cldudbnrst last
night at Perry's Mill settlement on Boulder
creek, about 80 miles from here, in which
five houses were swept away, great redwood
trees were uprooted and the surrounding
country overflowed. Joseph F. Easton and
his wife were swept down the stream and
.Easton was drowned. His, wife crawled out
upon the bank a mile below the town of
Boulder Creek. She was' badly injured.
Many others had narrow escapes.
Great damage is reported at other interior
points wherever there are streams. Bridges
have been washed away, and railroads are
inconvenienced by landslides and washouts.
Three inches o,f rain fell at Boulder In less
than an hour. At Colusa the river bas
risen over 26 feet above low water mark,
and thousands of acres are flooded.
LINDENTUAL'S BRIDGE FLA5
Jltts Been Officially, Indorsed by tho G-v4,
1 ' ernment HxamteloavBeara.
"Washington, December 11. Tho
board appointed to examina the river at
Detroit and investigate the various plans
proposed for bridging the stream at that
point, has made a report to the
Senate Committee on Commerce. The
following conclusions are reached:
first, It is feasible to bridge over the De
troit river at Detroit; second, that a high
bridge, as proposed by Mr. Lindenthal (140
feet above low water), is the least ob
jectionable and most conservative to ship
ping interests, and therefore the best plan.
The board to examine and report upon the
best site for a proposed new bridge over the
Ohio between Louisville and Jeffersonville,
Ind., report recommending that the bridge
be located at or above Wall street. Louis
ville, with a channel span of at least COO
feet lathe clear.
THAT ENGLISH SINDI0ATB
Has Purchased Property to the Amount of
94,000,000 at Dnlutb.
Chicago, December 11. The English
syndicate, having completed its large in
vestments In mills and elevator property in
and about Minneapolis, bas moved over to
Duluth and is taking in that town, a $4,
000,000 purchase having been .made this
morning. Mr. Levi Myer, the attorney who
is acting as an agent for the Englishmen,
received a cable dispatch from his London
client this morning) in which it was Btated
that the Duluth property and the terms of
purchase were satisfactory, and which in
structed bim to close the deal immediately.
This was done.
The purchase includes some of the largest
mills and elevators in Duluth.
S
A DAUGHTER OF GEJf. 8ICKLES,
Jnst Out of a Convent, Elopes With a
Young Bartender.
White Plains, N Y., December 11.
An elopement came to light here this morn
ing when Thomas Dinham and -Miss
Alta Sickles applied to the pastor
of Grace Episcopal Church to
get married. Miss Sickles is a daughter of
General Daniel Sickles, and a grand
daughter ot George F. Sickles, who died at
New Eochelle about three years ago, leav
ing an estate valued at about $2,000,000.
Miss Sickles is 18 years old, and was re
cently graduated from a Catbolio convent
in Montreal. Dinham is about 23 years of
age, and is employed as bartender at New
Eochelle. "
HE EMBEZZLED $75,000.
A Merchant's Failure Lends His Creditors
to Make an Investigation.
Binohamton, December 11. What
was at first considered a simple assignment
for the benefit of creditors by E. B. Heming
way, druggist and private banker, doing
business at Whitney Point, in this county
i s now regarded as a matter of great impor
,tsnce. Hemingway's assignment was filed
Monday afternoon.
Yesterday, his creditors, upon learning
that he not been seen since Saturday previ
ous, became alarmed, and insfitnted inqui
ries, and it was ascertained that he was an
embezzler to the extent of probably abont
$75,000.
AN ALLEGHENY AGENT ARRESTED.
Ho Is Charged With Fradnleatlr Appropri
ating the Company's Money.
1 rsrsciAL TstzaaAX to tub dispatch. i
Philadelphia, December 11. W. H.
Edams, the agent in this city of the Alle
gheny Silk Works, the principal works of
which are located in Allegheny, Pa., was
arrested to-day on a warrant issued by
Magistrate Biley, charging him with fraud
ulently appropriating moneys due to the
company.
Tha sisoaat withheld is not exactly
sW,r,Hrt.lt,is,te;M juitvyt
mu,
INMdl
UNITED AND STE0N6.
The American Federation of Eater, li
Its jfembership. Stands
AHEAD OF AIL ORGaNIZATIMS.
President Gompers' Report ot tie Xarfced
Progress of tbe Part Tew.
A FRENCH SINISTER IISTUSS,
Compliments the Delegates; Sad is sfaek UladkS Iff
US rroceedltis.
The main features of yesterday's session of
the American Federation of Labor Conven
tion were Secretary Gompcrs' report and the
speech of Mr. Say ward, of the Builders'
Association. The French Minister of Agri
culture was present as an interested spec
tator. lErSCIAI. TXLBCIBAl! TO TB9 PffirATCH.1
Boston, December 11. The red-hot
fight over to-morrow's election was viewed
with a good deal of interest by tbe delegates
to the American Federation of Labor Con
vention. It was not a-new thing for them,
but it afforded tt good opportunity for seeing
how political wires are pulled In Boston.
To-day the smoke Of the battle still hangs
over the City Hall, but the brave corps' ef
delegates continued- their deliberations with
the calmness of veteran warriors. There
are about 100 of them, and tbey ore trying'
to formulate pubs' that will result In the
inauguration of ari eight-hour nloYenient
next May, bat it is not a star Chamber pro
ceeding. Everybody who can secure admission to
the galleries has the privilege of doing so,
and their crowded condition today is evi
dence of the interest in the work Of the con
vention. - peeSideni! GOarpEES' beOSt.
the annual report of President Gompers
was the pnnoipal featnrs of tho day's busi
ness. It stated that there are affiliated with
the American Federation 3,800 local unions,
and a membership larger" than in
any organisation in tho world.
Of the trades unions that did not
affiliate with the Federation last year, nine
have joined, and the Federation is now
affiliated with- nearly every trade union, in
tbe country. Efforts td establish fraternal
relations with, and secure the co-operation
of, other labor organizations have met with
success.
Beferring to the organization of railway
employes, the report says tb isolated policy
pursued by tne .Brotherhood ot Locomotive
Engineers, which is unworthy of that or
ganization, has prevented the establishment
of a federation of railway mCd.
THE EIGHT, HOTJB QUESTION.
The results of the conferences with tbe K.
of L., the final decision of which is still
pending, are submitted and it is suggested
that the trades unions voice their sentiments
unmistakably upon the disputed points.
Beferring to farmers' organlzationttbe re
port says all propositions received were
from employing farmers, while the purpose
of the federation is to organize farm labor
ers. The eight-hour question is recommended
io the consideration of s committee, to be
Idigeutedaad. a- report made. Tbe report
federations should formula(6 the legisla
tion that labor demands and empower tho
officers to take action. The necessity for the
more strict enforcement of the alien con
tract labor law and the Chinese exclusion
act is set forth and the President pays bis
respects to ther census officers of 1850, whose
action in omitting tbe enumeration of tbe
unemployed, he thought was designedly
taken.
A PSENCH MrNISTEB PEESENT.
Regarding the first International Labor
Congress, ho suggests that the exeeutlve
council be authorized to hold the congress
in the city selected for the World's Fair.
The prospects of the general adoption of
ballot reform In the several States are re
ferred to hopefully. Action upon the prac
tice of United States army musicians com
peting with private musicians at lower
rates is recommended, and definite decisions
upon the management and distribution of
the strike assessment is called for. Special
attention is nailed to the condition of coal
miners.
When the report had been read the dele
gates formed themselves inip a committee of
the whole to receive a genuine French
count, M. Le Vicomts de Meauz, who with
his daughter, was desirous of seeing a body
of representative workingmen of America.
He is the French Minister of Agriculture
and Commerce.
COMPLIMENTS FEOM THE COUNT.
The Count entered the council chamber
with all the grace and dignity that he would
have shown in the highest court in Europe,
and his courteous reception by the well
dressed representatives of tbe laboring classes
would have done credit to Lord Chesterfield
and his noble associates. The occasion was
one of thrilling interest. French nobility
and American independence met on an
equal footing had each was honof ed. Count
Meanx addressing President Gompers -with
true French Suavity and distinction of man
ner, said in broken English that he desired
to pay his tribute of admiration and praise
to this convention. The courtesy, the man
liness, the helpfulness and the intelligence
displayed had astounded him and he could
better realize the condition of the working
people ot America from their action.
President Gompers replied, in a highly
gratified manner: "We are plain, everyday
workingmen. If there is any skillfulness or
any conrtesy, it is because we have organ
ized ourselves and learned them through
organization. It is entirely through organ
ization that we have developed the manli
ness, tbe courtesy and the intelligence which
I hope you see exhibited."
WHAT THE BUILDERS' "WANT.
The announcement of committees and
short speeches by delegates Immediately fol
lowed the President's address, and then the
convention listened attentively to what Sec
retary William H. Say ward, of tho National
Builders' Association, had to say. As it
is against this association the labor unions
will combine in favor of eight hours' em
ployment per day, there was ,a natural in
terest to know how the builders looked upon
the situation. Mr. Sayward did not com
mit himself or his associates, but
he succeeded in pleasing the dele
gates with what he said. Be assured
the delegates that there was no real conflict
between their organizations and that which
he represented. They had the advantage'
ol being first organized, and it was the re
sult of his observation that workingmen
were better organized and better posted on
general economic features of interest to
both sides than the employers.
In bis individual capacity he was willing
to diall he could to forward the prosperity of
their organizations, and he thought that the
more wisely and thoroughly both sides
were organized tbe less friction and hard
feeling there would be.
HAKMONY AX ALL TIMES.
When friction and hard feeling did come,
it was the duty of all not to let the matter
rest, but do everything possible to restoro
harmony. He should do all he could to
this end, and be wanted the delegates to
understand that, if ia is.tB.re be appeared to
beoppeHttieSB, htw sot ttjtesisftka
StfM H MW, MM WK M MtMVM
aeskaaeyafaf) sUBJusl sf'BaB sjaLs ) , akf)aaiBa;,m.
aaa"lssB,,aaM VsWer i 'SBBssjfaBSBPsassa lfjnj sWrv'i
ialaaas)J;
A a News
flew I1U!
v ...
mulaffwilt
Year.
r
Mr. SavwaTd'a remarks were frequen
s&tilasded. A feature of the afteraov-
session w"as a uatier on "Immlerratioa" bvjSteSU
Samuel Leavift,of NewYoik. TheChlneKj
fcesiid, are bdnr introduced Into thlseotin-VjglV
try with great rapidity and in defiance of
tne laws, -xne question w wnexner
the United States shall be & refuge
for the nations or shall become 8
refuse of. the nations; This state Of
things is going off at a rate which will soon
force down the working; classes to the lowest
limits. He pointed oat 'the methods ia
which immigration was encouraged, sueh as
tbe low rates offered try ttearasbip com
panies, aad quoted largely from1 the utter
ances of public meu and newspapers to show
the perils of unrestricted immigration.
A. Desperate Band of Bobbers Brake Up
Same of Their IJCeds of Cruelty
Tho Loader Abdncta a. Bride
and Fights for Her-
CnirsBHNE, Wto.T., December 11 A
report comes from the north that tbe people)
of the Big Horn Basin, Johnson county,
haver broken up "Kettle1 Jack's" band of
robbers' and cutthroats by lynching; 11 mem
bers and driving the remainder from the
county. "Kettle Jack" and four com
panions appeared in that re-noTt a
year- ago equipped for prospecting. They
established a rennezvous la the isolated
valley high up in tho mountains and lived
like- barbarians. The party was content to
fish, and hunt for some months, but being
reinforced by other desperate characters,.
Commenced to plunder the settlers; At first
they only slaughtered beef and stole sup
plies, but soon Ihey began stealing" horses,
which were run Into Utah and Montana.
John Benjamin and two sons followed the
thieves, made a fight and were shot down
and left to rot on a mountain trail, Tha
gang had hotf become strong and bold, and
run things to suit themselves. The basin is
90 miles byCOT and contains about 400
people, and everyone lived in mortal terror
of "KettIO Jsck" and his gang. Cattle'
were driven off the range and sold at trade
points.
A hot battle occurred when Jack married
a young girl whom bo abducted. The father
headed a rescuing party, bnt the citizens'
wereT repulsed With a loss of two killed.
The outlaws frequently quarreled among
themselves, and one is known to have been
killed ind quarrel. Two hundred citizens
at last determined to wipe the- gang; out.
The outlaws did not retreat, bat remained
intrenched in their mountain stronghold.
They were surrounded and starved out
Eleven were- captured and hanged, the zest
escaping across the mountains.
BLAISE WILL TAKE A HAND.
The King of Cores. SfnstKeep His Contracts
With American Citizens.
Washington,, December 1L Senator
Cdckrell, Ot Missouri, received a letter front
Secretary of State Blaine yesterday In re
gard to the case of the three Americans who
left this country about a year ago to take
service under the King of Cores, and who
were summarily dismissed a few days ago.
Mr. Blaine, in his letter to Mr. Cockrell,
states that he has cabled and since written
instructions to the American Consul Gen
eral at Seonl, Corel, ordering film to Insist
in the" name of this Government that the
King shall faithfully carry out everr
coutract be has' made with Colonel Cum-
mlngs and his companions.
These gentlemen, on entering the Coreaa
service, did. not renounce their American,
citizenship. They "undertook to -teach
Coreaa soldiers how to bo real soldiers irom
an American standpoint, and to introduce
into other branches of the Coreaa Govern
ment American notions of progress and
civilization. The Corean nobility, who saw
their ancient prerogatives threatened, com
bined against the Americans and finally suc
ceeded in ousting them.
THE END IN SIGHT HOW.
Prospect of a Speedy Settlement of the)
Stewart Will Case.
SPSCXU.TII.EOlUJl TO TUB DISPATCH.!
Ne-w Yoke, December 11. Thu order
signed by the Surrogate on Tuesday, grant
ing power to Henry Hilton and Charles J.
Clinch, executors of the will of the late
Mrs. A. T. Stewart, to execute and deliver
any agreement or instrument relating to the
property belonging to her at the time of her
death, proves to be in fact the forerunner of
the final settlement of the famous contest at
law.
Ever since last April, when both sides to
tbe suit in court rested awaiting the sum
ming up, there have been all sorts of rumors
of a compromise, and various alleged agree
ments, purporting to be the terms of the
compromise have been printed.
THE CR0W5 JEWELS STOLEN.
Brazil's Former Monarch Loses His Wealth
With His Throne.
Lisbon, December 11. The ex-Empress
of Brazil bas received a telegram from Bio
Janeiro informing her that all her jewels
have been stolen, and that the police are in
vestigating the ease. This loss will be a
heavy blow to the Imperial family. In the
collection of jewels were comprised the finest
Brazilian diamonds there are in the world.
If tbe Brazilian Bepublic should decline
to continue Pedro's income, the loss of these
treasures will be severely felt, as they were
looked upon as the chief immediate resource
of the family.
COONBI CAUGHT AGAIN.
The Long WIshed-For Croala Suspect Has
Beea Captured la Wisconsin.
DODGEYTLLE, Wis., December 1L A
prisoner in jail, sentenced fonr months ago
for carrying concealed weapons, is suspected
to be Cooney, the Chicagoan supposed to be
implicated in the Cronin tragedy. The
prisoner gave the name of John Jones.
A habit of concealing himself in his cell
when any stranger entered the jail first
aroused suspicion. The man tallies well
with the description of Cooney.
A DEMAND UPON PORTUGAL
To Recognize the Newly Established Repub
lican Government of Brazil.
Lisbon, December 11. Senhor Bocayura,
the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs,
has cabled to Senhor H. De Barros Gomez,
the Portuguese! Minister of Foreign Affairs,
a formal request that he shall have pro
claimed the recognition of the Brazilian
Bepublic .
Lights of London In Danger.
London, December 1L Negotiations
entered upon m the hope ot preventing the
general strike of the workers have failed,
and a strike is now imminent which msy
leave all of London that depends on gas in
total darkness.
Ceatd Not Blake Ends Of est.
Toledo, December 11. H. O. Asking &
Co., commission merchants, have failed.
Liabilities over f 50,000, and assets between
fW.OOd and 545,000. s
CajiBflog Jack the Rlpssr,
LsjsJBdef ,DeeaV 11. There is rumor
osAtsvt ksM that Jfttx te JUftr has en
.'!) XCT.,
jm a Mm ttmTjHjWu
'JMWIWMssVI
Gatherer BBa Aiistrwwer ,, -
DlSrA'lVU ". .
AH who uU least wUJt tho- ay' - "
! ikafl mil THE DISPATCH. , ,V
. . fawrtM rrtHaf F 7V
now imiwrn uu a .."aa -a. - -
the present elaborate- faerJrtlee for new
mark th dvattOT the Sow ,, i j
THUEB CENTS;
vs u
-
m ANONJMOUS NOJi
1&is
ft) fn, DifCOTerT Of
aTy?!
Glaring Conspiracy to
- r
,
k
fK
A- HESEFICIAL obdeo
P
uor Gives
I-wVW
a Falsa Certificate ,wf JM
YnTncrflfrr'a fjprtth A ' 'S
SECURE TIB INSURANCE Otf BBS liSS
The Sarprisb'j Eesnlt itteadfog a Cortnns SearsMJ
fag Invesilgztlsa.
An
anonymous note warned Coronsfw
ridge, of Philadelphia, to hrresiJgafVj
Ashebridge,
the death, of Miss Annie Melntosnv In
quiry disclosed some signs of mystery, ami
the case was pushed- Yesterday s doctor;
made A confession that hs had given a false
certificate to defraud so insurance order, -i
and that Annie was vet alive.
Philadelphia, December 11. A most , .1
remarkable-attempt to Swindle s beneficial y.
U.ITC. WAV HUVMN1IM J WW.WM .u uw . a &
in this eitr to-dav. On November 23 avp
iJoflfli Trrtfln -.tiitintf Oit Anni Irf.Trttixh'?
'sged 22, had died the-previous day at tha
resldeneaof Mrs, Ellen Behm, No- isa?
Uber street, was published, and that Inter
ment would beat Media, Pa., on November
23. An anonymous communication eaUed '
the Coroner's1 attention to the case-, and fro
deemfnsr an investigation necessary, direct.
ed one- of Bis1 deputies to make inquiries) i
concerning the alleged death.
Ascertaining that no body had bees
TiirTMd nwr tbft "Pennsvlvanl. Tna fay Z&
Media that day, the deputy Coroner called1
jpa Mrs. Behm, and was informed by her
that Miss Mcintosh, who was an old friend;
had been taken ill while living at servkev
and bad come to her house for treatment ?;
She stated that the young woman had been"
treated by Dr. Alexander Tait, and had A
died on November 21. The Hitter's Drotner
dertaker, who took the body away that day- M
A doctoe's denial. -
Tt- m-tc AiA -11 1.......1.. T.- At nrM,k-'v
Mcintosh, stating that be had never prSUi
scribed for any one m the U oer street nouse.
On same night Dr. F. Murray called on thaT'
depnty coroner and stated that be had .at
tended a woman at the above place, who
bod died, but insisted that the death was "a
straight one." In a subsequent interview Dr.
Murray stated that he had been called upon!
to attend the patient who1 wax formerly in
his employ as a servant, and that on the
22nd of November a man alleging to be
Bobert Mcintosh, tbo brother of tbe de
ceased, called upon bim for a death certifi
cate, which he gave him. The doctor said
that lis wrote It on a prescription blank.
giving the canse of death as "Peritonitis.' ?
He also claimed that tbe brother was ac
companied by a man. who was connected ?
with Quinby's undertaking establishment
at Media. He admitted that he had not
seen the body of tbe deceased, but bad is
sued the certificate solely upon the. informa
tion Af ihfc,ntliir thst she was dad-
- -- - j-.
AN ABBEST MADE. 4
An effort was then made to ascertain what,
disposition had been made of the body, the'
services of all the attaches of ther Coroner's
office.,, being- called into requisition but
noihfnz eouIdTK -"learned on that'SpofnC
Ifaeliritr convinced that s crime of some
kind had been committed, the Coroner yesj
f erday afternoon placed Mrs. Behm under
arrest, and she spent last night in prison.
This morning she acknowledged that her .?
previous story wasuntrue.
W neu. .He Bearing was resumcu, w-uay
Dk Murray was the first witness placed oa-'
the stand. He detailed circumstantially "
the issuing of A certificate by him on learn- K
'"6 it t """ , j . -. jl
xnen .airs. Asenia was piaceu oa ue buwu,
and in answer to Questions she said that
Annie Mcintosh had not died at her housei
ana tnat sue never anew sucu person, ui.
Murray, she testified, had promised to re
wrad her handsomely for allowing her house..
and name to be used. ,,
a complete confession.
Dr. Hurray then broke down and con
fessed that he had manufactured the story
of the girl's death. In order to defraud the
Order of Fraternal Guardians out of $625,
the amount for which her life was insured.
He said that Annie Mcintosh was at present
alive and well at her home in the northern
section of this city.
The doctor's discomfiture was complete
and after a scathing rebuke from the";
Coroner, he was allowed to depart, nut tne
case will not end here, as it is thought the
Tlisiriei Atfnrnpv urill iaka rntrnixanca of
th Hltrmrtt rtAfrTii1 Mml Bhm va td
discharged from custody.
A PLACE FOE A BONAPARTE
Prince Loots to be Given tho Comma ad of a
Kasslaa Keslmeac
St. Peteesbtjbo, December 1L It ii ,"
application of Prince Louis Bonaparte, the
son of Jerome, in a way not to neglect its .
obligations to provide for a Prince and not1
offend tbe susceptibilities of the French
Government, by appointing him to a regp
na f .4alTna.il In 41.A l!,Tfr,amff Ttlfa
Prince was in the Italian Beserve and ztvr"'
signed at the reauest ot his father at a time
when there was a good deal of irritation in
France against Italy because of its alliance
with Germany.
He subsequently applied for and obtained
a commission as Major of the Bussian serv
ice. He asked that he might be assigned to
duty in tbe Imperial uuard, but tne usar
has now decided against that. It is not
known whether the French Government
had any hand in the decision reached.
NOT THE RIGHT HARI.
The Famous Poem of tho Lamb- HaaT-Ho
Heroine In Life. fc ,
Boston, December 1L The author of .
"Marv Had a Little Lamb" was
Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, who died at PhUadel-
pill. ecTcxai jfcaxs agu, Bgcu w. .siv iu. ..v-
card to the late Mrs. Tyler's connection with.t
iha nnm "Mr TTttljk'n Tiamli0tr t JtnthnTltV
Tn-i that ltntm.nt tnftlshA huA T1A neetol
person as heroine. Mrs. Tyler doubtless M
had suen an experience, and it is not imj
prooaoie some doggerel lines were wnueag
describing the same, but she was not thai
heroine of Mrs. Hale's poem. "4tji.
auo Macs u.to ocea at iiiuca wsiuwu mj.
TflBntr srhnnl tnnfllipi- Tie may have writtefit 1
some lines about Mrs. Tyler's lamb, but; ifj
so. they have been lost, as Mrs. Hale's!
authorship of the lines, as known to-dav.'
has been clearly proved. - a
HUNTING FOR A QUORUM.
An Effort te Compel the Attendance of tMj
Montana Senators.
Helena, Mont., December 1L The!
Senate has ordered the Sergeant at ArmstSj
bring in the uemocraua memoers-eiec
He found several of them, buf they claimed!
thev had taken no oath of office, and were!
private citueas, and refused to go. Tbej
.sergeant at Arms cion t attempt to uses
force. -.!
The Deweeratie Senators havebeert
summoned. te'asBear in the Senate chaalier jl
,aadmaJte aMwihattneyAwuifeappeBjpyj
aeneyi jt-asarc aenuM iasie.9;MitsKi