CANAL COMPETITION A Powerful Factor in Per suading the Railroads to GIVE LOW PBEIGHT RATES. Morgantcnvn Would Like the C. fc 0. Extended to That City. TOW TATHS TO BE ABOLISHED. Practicability of Overhead Electric Wires Suggested TO SUPERSEDE TBE MULE AS A MOTOR. The citizens of Morgantown -would be glad to bare tbe Chesapeake and Ohio Canal extended to that place. On the prac ticability of the scheme there is, however, a difference of opinion. The value of water competition is forcibly illustrated by the decreased railroad rates since steamboats began running on the upper Monongahela. rrjlOM X 6TAFF COUBESPOXDEXT.'; Morgantown, W. Va., March 14. "And so your trans-Allegheny towpath would end here?" "Xo, sir." "Where, then? Possibly in the glades of Lanrel Hill over yonder on the Cheat river?" "Xo. sir." "Why, sir, I certainly could not have misunderstood what I read about this scheme. It was to be a canal from Cumber land to Morgantown to connect the Chesa peake and Ohio Canal with the Mononga hela river. Is not that right?" Te, sir, it is." "Well, of course, then, the towpath would end at Morgan " "2fo, sir. That is where you make the mistake. It is true the canal would end at Morgantown, bnt the tow-path I think you said the 'tow-path,' sir?" "Certainly, I said the tow-path! How in the name of common sense are you going to brine the canal to Morgantown without lay ing a tow-path beside it?" CANALS OF THE FUTURE. "Ah, I see now. I was afraid your thoughts were clouded by the darkness of the early canal days. 2To, the tow-path will not end at Morgantown, neither will it begin at Cumberland. In fact, there will be no tow-path at all, bnt there will be a canal all the same. Edward Bellamy failed to look backward on the subject of canals. He could get out a second edition of bis famous book on this alone, telling about how screw-propeller steam canal boats were successfully used on the rock-walled canal over the Alleghenies before all the mules of the Erie Canal had yet died off. And then he could sketch the decay of the steam canal boat and describe the operation of electric boats climbing the briery moun tain from the Potomac valley, and sizzing and whirring down the western slope to the Monongahela. "If overhead wires pnll ponderous street cars up hills and around curves against nil the friction of iron wheels and steel rails, the people of the year 2000 may ask why were we so long about erecting overhead wires lor the softly-gliding canal boat. You are quite sure you used the word towpath in connection with the proposed trans Allegheny canal, are you, my friend ?" MOEGANTOWN'S UNIQUE rOSITION. My traveling companion's imagination might have taken higher flights, but the supper bell of the Wallace House just at that moment gave the cynical holder of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad stocks and bonds a convenient means for escape. Leaving the canal to the future (and the Maryland Legislature) and the problems of its construction to the engineers, I inter viewed Morgantown business men as to what they desired most, railroads or water ways, and their answer "We want both" brings us down to the things which exist to-day. Since last December Morgantown has been a striking example of the influence which water navigation has upon railroads. In that month the dam highest up the Mo nongahcla river was opened to navigators, and ever since then steamboats have been plying between Pittsburg and Morgantown. The river voyage is 105 miles. LOW FEElGni BATES. The shortest rjossible railroad route from Pittsburg to Morgantown is on the Balti more and Ohio via the Wheeling division, and that is 173 miles long. Xotwitbstand iug this great difference between the two routes, just as soon as the Mouongahela packets began to discharge Pittsburg ireisht at Morgautown the railroad company low ered its freight rates one-third, meeting the river tariff. Xow the business men of Mor gantown have a healthy competition for their freight, which they did not have prior to December, and those who preler railroad carriage have much lower rates. I asked Captain Adam Jacobs, master of tbe packet James G. Blaine, it the steadv maintenance, year after year, of the line of steamers on the Mouongahela river, in face of the railroad development in that valley as lar soutn as Brownsville, had not oper ated to keep railroad rates down, and in this way benefited the shippers of the valley. A STBIKING ILLUSTRATION. "Undoubtedly it has," replied Captain Jacobs. Here is a forcible illustration of that fact Some time ago the Secretary of the United States Treasury notified the "offi cers of this packet line that we would have to stop carrying oil barrels to and from Greensboro. It was purely a technical voint he raised, these being passenger steamers, and in a few months he modified his order. But just as soon as we stopped carrying the oil barrels, up went the rail road freight rates on them. We had carried them for 8 cents. The railroads instantly raised from 8 to 18 cents. J have no doubt that were the railroads to have a. similar opportunity on other lines of freight which we carry they would increase rates just as quickly. "As it is now, rates by either rail or river are about the same, and yet we carrv the bulk of the freicht between Pittsbure:" and Brownsville, and all of it for points above Brownsville where railroads do not exist. A trans-Allegheny Canal would bring into the Monongahela Valley enormous com merce. THE. RIVER COULD STAND IT. "These grand locks and dams, planting the head of Western river navigation in the heart of the mountains, are too perfect and extensive for a merely local commerce. .The whole United States should ue them. Money can lift that proposed canal over the mountain peaks from Cumberland. It is thoroughly practicable." When the Pittsburg, Virginia and Charleston was completed to Monongahela City it charged 25 cents per hundred for dryeoods freicht Now it carries it lor 12 cents. These recent examples of a water way regulating the Jreight tariffs of railrods, have broadened the viewspf business men in Mor gantown. They will not object to being made the terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal instead of Cumberland. "Give us the canal," said Mr. T. Pickenpaugb, "and also build us a railroad ironi here direct to Pittsburg. Then increise our river facili ties still more. We can stand them all. Wc have been starved so long we are now eager for everything movable, cither by water or dry land. The Fairmont branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad our only railroad outlet was only given us three years ago. Before that we reached Pittsburg by stage coaches to Fairchance. FREIGHTING IK OLD TIMES. We hauled our freight from the Pitts burg steamboats at Greensboro by flatboats, rafts and horses to Morgantown. We did this until navigation was completed this winter to this point, for the Baltimore and Ohio route to Pittsburg was away round by AVheeling and their freight rates were high until the Monongahela packets made them bring them down, ifow, if a railroad was built from here to Pittsburg by way ol Uniontown and a canal ironi the railroad to Morcantownwe would secure both increased railroad and river accommodations, and Morsantown could measure arms with Pittsburg as 'the head of Western naviga tion.' " Judce J. A. Dille hailed the canal scheme with delight as a just recognition of Morgautown's position on the maps as re gards river navigation. "Why, do you know," he said, "over 40 years ago we or ganized a company up here to slackwater the Monongahela in West Virginia. That is a good while ago, but we kept at it with the Government until they built the two upper damson the Monongabela, and now we h.ve the slackwater. It may take time for a trans-Allegheny Canal to reach the Monongahela, but it will come. "Such a canal might find an entrance to Morgantown by way of Coburn's creek, which cuts its way through the Laurel Hill mountain, or it might come down the valley of the Cheat. One of George Washington's early canoe schemes was along tbe Cheat." A VEEY MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY. Prof. I. C. White, of the University of West Virginia, in Morgantown, has a per fect knowledge of the mountains of West Virginia, between here and Cumberland, on account of his geological researches among them. I asked him if lie thought the trans-Allegheny project practicable. "It is possible," he replied, "but hardly prac ticable, I thiuk. Between here and Cum berland it would have to cross the summit of the mountains at an elevation of about 2,G00 feet. The Will's creek route I im agine would be best for a canal, iT it is trnc the summit-level there would be only a little'Over 1.900 feet. And yet a tunnel of the same size as there contempleted would reduce the altitude of a Morgantown route very materially also. And if the Will's Creek Valley is practicable for a canal, cer tainly the Cheat Valley would be. "A canal from Cumberland to the vicin ity of Morgantown would have to come down the Potomac to the Cheat, and down the Cheat to the Monongahela. The Cheat is exceptionally wild and rocky, but it has an advantage over the Youghiogheny and Will's creefc route in that it is not yet occu pied by railroads. A NOVEL PROPOSITION. "No." continued Prof. White, "I believe the $25,000,000 necessary for such n canal could be much better spent by the Govern ment lor the development of this country. The Monongahela river is finelv slack watered and navigable all the year around. But how much more useful would it be if the Ohio river was navigable all v the year around. Now, if the .money proposed to be spent on a trans-Alle gheny canal were put into the erection of dams on the Ohio river between Davis Island and Cincinnati there would be more general benefits result I like Colonel Mer rill's recommendation to Congress this week. "Another way money could be spent to advantage would be in building storage reservoirs along the Youghiogheny, Cheat and Allegheny rivers. Dams for such pur poses are built to an immense height in France. Along the Cheat theyjwould be very easily constructed, and that valley being sparsely settled, there would be no danger of a repetition of the Johnstown disaster. The Tygart's and Buckbannon rivers are two tributaries of th'e Cheat, and on each of them dams 40 to 50 feet high might be erected. These streams are really noth ing more than mountain gorges. Out of their native rock tbe dams could be cheaply thrown across the narrow valleys. All our floods come from the mountains. These big dams would catch much of tbe surplus water of a freshet, thus lessening the damage along the big rivers. In dry seasons gates in these storage dams could let out the water to keep up navigation along the larger rivers. The millions of dollars lost in one flood alone along the three rivers joining at Pittsburg would build these dams." L. E. STOFIEL. TEIUMPH OP BOODLE. Br n Close Vote the Blnrjland S-nnto Gobble the Cannl ior n CnllroiW-" The Case Will Now Go to ho Conns. rsrrciAL telegram to tiie dispatch, i Annapolis, Md., March 14. The bill to lease the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to the Cumberland and Washington Bailroad Company was passed in tbe Senate to-night by yeas 15, nays 11. The act now awaits the Governor's signature to become a law. He will undoubtedly sign it, as be pro posed the lease to the Legislature. The canal is now in the hands of the courts, and there is a belief that the pro posed act is futile. A Rnttler for To-Day. To-day we hold a genuine bargain sale of men's fine suits and overcoats at $10 each. The garments we will sell are far snperior to anything ever before shown at that price, being goods worth $16. $18 and even $20. With one big sweep we place them all within your reach at $10. There are fine cassimere, cheviot and worsted suits, nnd beautiful spring overcoats, made from costly meltons and kerseys. Price $10. P. C. C. C, Cor. Grant and Diamond sts., opp. tbe new Court House. Remodeling Hnle. On account of remodeling we will offer for the next 20 days our complete line of decora ted table and toilet ware, fancy odd pieces for table use; also our immense stock of handsome ornaments at greatly reduced prices. A call will convince you that this is a bona fide sale. Chas. Reizenstein, 152, 154 and 156 Federal, Allegheny. TTSSU Ladles' Gloves. Our line of aousquetaire suedes at$l 25 is superior value. Jos. Hokne & Co.'s Penn Avenue Stores. Excursion to Washington City. B. & O. B. B. will sell excursion tickets to Washington, D. C, good to visit Balti more, on Thursdav, March 20. at rate of 59 the round trip. Trains leave at 8 A. M. and 950 P. M. Challis The finest and best qualities nttOc a yd.; a beautiful assortment of both light and dark colorings. TTSSU HUGUS & HACKE. Ladles' Suit Parlor. Early snrine (menino ThnrndaT-. -Friday and Saturday, Marrh 13, 14, 15, "of street, carnage and traveling dresses. Parcels & Jones, 29 Fifth ave. New lace curtains from Jl a pair no to the finest at Arthur, Schondelmver & Co.'s, 68 and 70 Ohio St., All'y. " xts Theee's no other make of beer so popu lar as the Iron City Brewing Co.'e. All first-class dealers keep it. BIECHALL TALKS. He Claims to Be n Victim Instead of a Victimize! Uli Bxperlerces as a Fnpll Farmer Ills Defense to Be an Alibi. Woodstock, Ont., March 14. Birchall was induced last evening to make a state ment concerning the purpose of his coming to Canada, but could not be persuaded to say anything that would throw any light on Benwell's murder or his own movements on the fatal day. Birchall said he came to Canada as a pupil farmer, and continued: The Arm of Ford, Rathbun fc Co. took 70 from me and promised to securo me a first-class place on a tine Canadian farm. I came here with my wife. We came through to Wood stock and I met Pupil Farming Agent McDon ald. He said he would fix me all ricbt, ami in a few days sent me oat to a farm near Spring field. Icoaldnotsiandit and stopped there only one dav and a half. We then took up our residence at Woodstock. Picktballis also one of the pnpil farmers and was sent out by the sarao agency. I think tlio firm has now changed, and is Ford fe Co., and their address is New Wall Brook. They hold a big position In .England, and to an applicant tbey will show a stack of original recommendations from bishops, canons, peers and others. They are making piles of money out of tbe business. They have also agents in Ohio and some other Western States. About that bank book, I see it staled 'hat tbe author ities suspect that I have no such amount as 4,000 in the Imperial Bank, and that I simply used that book to decoy dupes. Now this is a fact. I deposited the amount with the bank in stocks and bonds, and when tbe time comes the deed will bo made clear. I will bring a number of witnesses from .England, but 1 am not at liberty to say what I intend to prove by them. It was learned from Birchall 's counsel that the principal line of defense will be that the prisoner could not possibly have walked tbe distance from Princeton station to the place where Benwell's body was found, committed the murder, looked over the clothes, cut out the name from them and returned to tbe station between the hours of 11 a. M. and 3 r. M., during which time it appears that Benwell lost his life. A GAMBLING DEBT LEGAL. The Pool-Selling Law Slakes It a Valid Contrnct la New York. tSrZCUI. TELEOUAM TO THE DI8PATCH.1 New York, March 14. A decision of importance to the sporting community, con struing the Ives pool bill was rendered to day by tbe general term of tbe Supreme Court. The point at issue was whether a person buying a pool ticket on the race track upon a horse which turned out a win ner can bring a legal action to recover the amount won. The case was that of ex Assemblyman Michael Brennan against the Brighton Beach Racing Association to recover 773 winnings on Elsie B. on August 10, 1887. Brennan with a party of friends went to the race track and called for tickets on Elsie B, for which he paid $100. Elsie B won, but when Brennan went to cash his tickets he was told they represented a horse called Belvue, which had lost. Brennan brought suit through Fromme Bros., to re cover the amount won. Judge O'Brien dismissed tbe complaint, holding that the transaction was a gambling one, and that at most Brennan could only recover the amount he paid for the tickets, inlbe same manner as if he bad lost at card. The assemblyman appealed to the General Term, claiming that the effect of the Ives pool bill was to put gambling at tbe race track on the same level with any other (contract. This view is sustained by tbe General Term, which holds the purchase of pool tickets to be a contract, and en lore able in law by either party. FLEECING AMBITIOUS AMERICANS. Lady MnndcvIIIc's Plans for Introducing Them to London Society. TBT DUXLAP'S CABLE COMPANT.3 London, March 14. The sensation cre ated by the publication of an offer by a lady of title to introduce Americans into the highest London society has been revived by the discovery of the identity of 'the so-called "Countess." She turns out to be no less personage than the well-known Lady Mandeville, formerly Miss Elorence Yznaga, and sister to Fernando Yznaga, who recently married Mabel Wright Lady Mandeville's plans were for Americans to provide themselves with letters of introduction from her Lady ship's agent in the United States, which were duly presented in London. The Americans were then 'introduced to her ladyship's bankers, modistes and circle of acquaintances. The Mandeville balance at the banks wa increased by gifts from the visitors, and her bills at the milliners were regularlv raid by her proteges. In addi tion to these returns a system of presents was established oi which the Americans were auickly made aware, and were expected to live up to. A THOUSAND COMPLAINTS. Arrest of a Porter lor Stealing Jewelry From(lhe Malls. rSPECIAL TELEO BAM TO THE DISPATtH.t New York, March 14. John Hogan, a porter employed on the mail cars running between this city and Boston, was arrested at the Grand Central station to-day by Postoffice Inspectors, on a charge of stealing jewelry from the mails. For several months there have been complaints of the loss of jewelry sent from the manufactories of Attleboro and Provi dence to Chicago houses. The inspectors said that the packages were stolen at the Grand Central station at the time that they were to be transferred to the westbound cars. They said they had traced some of the stolen jewelry to Hogan's house, and thai he had confessed the theit. A dispatch from Chicago says that tbe news of the arrest was telegraphed to In spector Stuart, of that city, who said: "For months I have been in receint of com plaints from all the wholesale jewelry houses of this city about the loss ot jewelry from the mails. Here on my books are the complaints, 1,000 in all, with the amount of jewelry taken." SUSPtNDING OCEAN TRAVEL. A Stevedores' Strike Prevent Vessels From LenTlnc Liverpool. New Yoke, March 14. The agent of the Guion Line of steamers in this city to-day received a cable dispatch stating that the Arizona would not sail from Liverpool on account of the strike. This strike is among the stevedore's, and it affects all the steamers sailing from Liver pool as far as is known. It is thought that this strike will extend all'over the British Isles if not thewhole of Europe. The strike has caused excitement. AH engagements for freight have been declared off and passage tickets have been called in and the money refunded or en gagements made for the tickets to be used at some future date. Ihe Guion Line haB not had a ship in here for two weeks. The Inman Liner City of Paris, which arrived here on Wednesday, had a hard time to get out of Liverpool. la Mrmora of Chief Crow. Last niebt the Allegheny Fire Committee, accompanied by Clerk Dilworth and Chief Jones, visited the house of Mrs. James E. Crow, wife of the late chief, and presented her with the handsome memorial volume prepared by Councils. The presentation was done in a quiet manner, no speeches be ing made. The book contains a record of Chief Crow's life and services. Tbe School Principals' Meeting. A meeting of school principals will be held in the Central Board of Education rooms this afternoon to discuss the question, "Should Promotions be Based on Class Records?" Twenty Thousand Enclneers Strike. London-, March 14. Twenty thousand engineers in the northeastern part of En gland have gone on strike. They demand a reduction ot the hours of labor. FIGHTING THE FLOOD. Thousands of Men Kept at Work Strensftheninj: the Levees. ENTIRE COUNTIES UNDER WATER. Farmers Compelled to Travel From House to House in Skiffs. THE ARKANSAS LEYEES CANNOT STAND Is the Opinion of an Expert, Who Predicts Still Greater Floods. The situation in the flooded districts is still one of great gravity, although the peo ple are working bard and hopefully to keep rivers within their banks. It is predicted that the Arkansas levees will be unable to withstand the pressure. Memphis, Tenn., March 14. The river rose one-tenth to-day, and is now 36.4 on the gauge the highest point ever re cordedand is still rising. The consensus of opinion here is that the levees on the Mississippi side will be able to withstand the pressure of the great flood. The splendid levee and equipment of the Mississippi Valley Bailroad are contributing in a ma terial degree to tbe preservation'of the levees in the Yazoo Delta. Nothing is being left undone by the railroad to maintain the levees and prevent disaster. The situation on the Arkansas side below Arkansas City is far from reassuring, al though the damage, should the levees give way, would be slight if comparison were made with the destruction which would ensue should the. east bank break. the country desolated. Passengers on the Louisville, New Or leans and Texas Bailroad, on trains leaving New Orleans last night and arriving here 'this morning, were treated to novel scenes along the road. The lowlands and lagoons in the Mississippi delta are flooded until the dry land visible is the ridge on which the track runs and a few promontories, whose black hulks protrude above the water now and then. These places afford shelter for hundreds of squirrels and small game driven to them by the inunda tion. Huts and cabins in lower lands are submerged several feet in water. Tied at their doors are skiffs and dugouts, which afford the occupants their only means of transit Irom one place to another. Every thing presents an air of waste and desola tion. The railroad embankment is still 12 or 15 feet above water and in no imminent danger. The scene is picturesque in the ex treme between Vicksburg and Lula, Miss. In that district the water is highest, and farmers who have not already moved are making every preparation to do so. BUSINESS SUSPENDED. A special from Newport, Ark., says: The river commenced running over the levees at 10 o'clock last night, -'id the whole town, except Fort street, is now from 4 inches to 2 feet uuder water. Bua.ess is entirely suspended. The White and Black rivers commenced falling this afternoon and it is hoped the worst is over. The damage to tbe adjacent country is immense. Oil Trough county, containing 75,000 acres of cultivated land, is now under water from 6 inches to 20 feet. The rise was sudden and without warning. Fences and everything movable are gone. The country south of Newport, which embraces some of the finest farms in the State, is also inundated. The losses at Newport are very heavy regardless of the loss of business. A Helena special says: The river rose two inches during the past 24 hours and is now four feet below high water mark. Mr. J. B. Miles, an authority on river matters, says: AN EXPERT'S OPINION. The present indications aro that the river will go to or over tbe high water or 188648 feet 1 inch and will probably be at least one foot above that at Friar's Point, Miss. Below Old Town tbe water will be bnt little above 1880. Above the Arkansas river the highest point will be reached abont the 26th. Thn Arkansas river is now moro thau two feet higher than ever known and tbe levees oA tbe Arkansas side will have to give way. When the fall reaches new Orleans many will suppose the danger is over, but tbe overflow ot tbo Tensas swamp will return at the mouth of tbe Red river in two or three weeks and with the addi tional water here will raise the river below Baton Rouge until tbero are one or more crev asses. The east side of the river must be held until tbe west side gives away. Between Helena and the mouth of the St. Francis river there are very few snots of dry land and a rise of two feet will certainly cover everything. Quite a number of houses have been abandoned by their tenants who have either removed to Helena or the high lands. Iu some places the river is from five to seven miles wide. LOUISIANA WILL GO UNDER. A special from Vicksburg says: The steamer Helen Mead, under charter to Louisiana Levee Board for tbe past few days, returned here last night. Her master reports weakest places on the Louisiana side are Wilson's Point, Alsatia and Long wood levees, but conditions critical every where. At Willow Point, La., he found water running over levee. He is an ex perienced riverman and considers that Louisiana will inevitably go uuder even if the Mississippi levees were down. President Maxwell, of the Louisiana Levee Board, is in the city to buy material. He takes a more hopeful view of the situa tion and says his people are still hopeiul and working, thougn owing to rains in the past few days nave done little beyond patching levees. He considers Alsatia levee the most dangerous point on the Louisiana line and the one where a crevasse would do the most damage. Barges and 100 men are at work there. He regards the situations very alarming on account of the rise in the npper rivers. He says the peo ple of Louisiana are determined to hold their side. H0PFFDL AT NEW ORLEANS. Tbe Condition of Affairs Felt to bo More Satisfactory. New Orleans, La., March 14. The condition of affairs on the river front this evening is much more satisfactory than at the same time yesterdav. The city authori ties, aided by the railroads, have strength ened the weak places in the levee, and have constructed a temporary levee of bags filled with earth, from St. Louis to Hospital streets, and at other points, but from St. Louis street to Canal, where so much water onie in yesterday, nothing has yet been done. The city authorities will, however, con tinue the work of constructing a temponry levee along the river front until the city is secure from overflow, even with a'still higher tide of the river. GLADSTONE WINS ANOTHER VICTORY. Interest In a Bre-Elecllon Brines Oat a Large Tote. Londoit, March 14. An election was held at Stoke-Upon-Trent to-day to fill the Parliamentary seat made vacant by the resignation of W. Leatham Bright. The poll resulted in the return of Mr. Gower, the Gladstonian candidate, who received 4.157 votes against 2,928 cast for Mr. Allen, the Unionist nominee. In the election oi 1885 Mr. Bright, who stood as a Home Buler, received 3.255 votes and Mr. Corser, Conservative, 2,093. Heimnn Sore's Birthday. A pleasant birthday party was given at the residence of J. H. Sorg, President of the defunct F. & M. Bank, on the Southside, last night, in honor ot Herman Sorg's 21st birthday. There were 30 ot the young man's friends present A supper was served and tbe pastimes of the evening were numerous and were entered Into with a Tim. SATURDAY, BUSHELS OF JEWELRY. Enormous Stealings of a New York Postal Employe One Tboasaad Complaints Made by Chicago Jewelers Lead to Ills Arrest. Chicago, March 14. Postoffice In spectors Harris and Stoddard arrested this morning a man for whom all the postal in spectors between Chicago and New York have been searching for six months. The man, John Hogan, was employed asjtransfer agent at the New York Central Depot. It was bjs duty to see that all mail consigned to Chicago was properly loaded in the mail cars. The news of the arrest was tele graphed to Inspector Stuart this noon. Mr. Stuart said in regard to the arrest: It concerns Chicago business men alone. For months I have been in receipt of complaints lrom all the wholesale jowelry houses of this city about the loss of jewelry from the malls. Here on my books are the complaints, 1,000 in all, with the amount of jewelry taken. Our in spectors worked all along the line toward New York until they were satisfied the thefts oc curred at that end. After watching Hogan for several days, the officials secured conclusive evidence of his guilt. Hogan has confessed, and will be held for trial. The robber, he said, had been seizing and unloading whole bagsof packages of jewelry sent from the manufactories at Attleboro and Providence and assigned to the jewelry houses in Chicago. Nearly everv wholesale jeweler in the city was made a victim of the fellow's stealing. Mr. Stuart gave it as his opinion that Hogan had stolen bushels of jewelry, as many empty boxes that had originally contained shipments ot goods had been received here. CREATED A SENSATION. Important Testimony Elicited at tbe Bay View Accident Inqarst. Buffalo, N. Y., March 14. The Bay View inquest was continued this afternoon. Mr. Minnick testified that he was a saloon keeper at No. 1700 Fairmount avenue, Philadelphia. He had noticed tbe j erking of tbe cars but paid no at tention to it, and next observed the breaking of the bell cord. He heard some body say! "Stop the train." The bell was pulled and the train went on for a minute or two, and those in the rear of the car went out. The train then rapidly stopped. I put on my rubbers and overcoat and went out justin time to get caught. I hung to the rail oi the sleeper till it stopped, and then dropped to the ground. I am positive that it was a trainman who sat opposite me, a seat or two to the rear who pulled tbe bell cord. They told us not a word of the danger. If tboy had everybody could have got out. After we knew the train was broken in two, there was from five to seven minutes before the collision. Nobody said a word of danger that I beard. I put on my coat leisurely and might have got off easily. Mr. Minnick's testimony created some thing of a sensation and it was the general verdict that tbe brakemen have not been adhering strictly to the truth in their testi mony. The inquest was adjourned to next Tuesday for developments. FIFTY PER CENT OFF. The Deficit for Next Yeor Will Not bo Moro thna Ilnlf the Last. Yesterday the Board of Assessors con cluded their work on the city taxes and turned their books over to the City Treas urer. The footing up of the books shows the total taxes levied to be as follows: City taxes, 52,724,114; special tax, 48,430; sub school tax, $297,878. Compared with last year the levy shows a decrease of nearly SO per cent in the special taxes and slight decrease in school tax. Last year special taxes levied were 596,494 and school tax S289.348. Last vcar's city tax levy was 52,138,978, of which 51,912,699 13 was collected up to Jan uary 31. The Controller's accounts show that from 12 to 15 per cent of the taxes levied are not collected within the year, but that last year the proportion uncollected was a little less than 12 per cent. Estimating that the same percentage of this year's levy will not be collected there will be a deficit of about 5150,000, accord ing to the levy, but the Controller thinks that the revenues trom other sources of the city will almost cause the accounts to bal ance at the end of the year. PREMIER TIKARD RESIGNS. The French Cabinet Follow Their Leader and Give Up Tlirir Portfolios. PARIS. March 14. The adverse action of the Senate yesterday, on Prime Minister Tirard's demand for the adoption of the order of the day, when the matter of the commercial treaty with Turkey was brought up, has caused the downfall of the entire Ministry. An interpellation was submitted during yesterday's sitting regarding the treaty, and in response to this M. Tirard moved the adoption of the order of the day. The Senate, by a majority of 78, refused to adopt M. Tirard's motion, which was tantamount to a refusal to vote confidence iu the Government. M. Tirard then ten dered his resignation to President Carnot, but the latter persuaded him to remain in office until after Easter. A Cabinet meeting was held to-dav, to discuss the matter, at which Premier Tirard reconsidered his decision to remain. After the meeting was over he went to the palace of the Elysec, President Carnot's residence, and tendered the resignations of all the members of the Cabinet. INVESTIGATING MAI0R GRANT. A Senate Committee Wants to Know Aboat His Conduct as -lirrifT. ISrEClAl. TELEGRAM TO TIIE DISFATCIT.I New York, March 14. Mayor Grant has been subpoenaed before the Senate Com mittee on Cities for to-morrow morning, and ordered to bring with him all the books and records of tbe Sheriff's office kept when he was Sheriff. It was reported to-day that the investigation was being directed toward the conduct of affairs in the Sheriff's office during Mavor Grant's term. It was said that Sheriff Flack had bnsied himself and some of his deputies in a search of the records of the office during Mayor Grant's term, and that be had supplied data to the District Attorney's cpffice. Assistant District Attorney Lindsay, who has charge of the grand jury's investiga tion, said to-day: "Whatever investigation is going on before the grand jury is not com pleted. As to the nature or scope ot tbe in vestigation I cannot speak. All that I can say is that the investigation is still going on." OPENING OF TUB LABOR CONFERENCE. The First Diy to be Devoted to Addresses nnd Examining Credentials. Berlin, March 14. The time of the Labor Conference to-morrow will be taken up with opening addresses, the verifying of delegates mandates, and the arranging of business for the session. The debates will not be published until the conclusion of the conference. A Farmer Assassiaated. Atchison, Kan., March 14. Henry Butter, while returning to his firm in Phillipps countv yesterday from Kirwin, was shot and killed by an unknown man. There is no clew to the assassin. TUnnkioB the Pnrooll Commission. London, March 14. Lord Salisbury, in the House of Lords to-day, gave notice of a motion approving the report of the Parnell Commission and thanking tbe Judges for their just and impartial conduct. Civilizing; the Savoees. Paris, March 14. The French gunboat Emeraude has bombarded Abomey-K.il- avy, a village of Dahomey, near the coast. The Dahomiani were nanio stricken bv the V attack. FIYE AGAINST HIM. Two of the Jury in the Mansell Trial Stand Up for the Doctor. A DAT OP DRAMATIC EPISODES. The Stenographer's Notes Attacked and Vigorously Defended. GEEAT CROWDS AROUND THE CHURCH. An AII-NIght Secret Session of the Committee That Bad a Jafc The ministerial jury is out considering the Mansell case at McKeesport. Five of tbe members are reported against the doctor and two for him. A vigorons attempt was made to preserve the session's secrecy. rmOK A STAFF COniHSFONDEVT.l McKeesport, March 14. To-day was the most exciting one in the now famous Mansell trial. It opened with a fight between the defense and the official stenographer. Its ending was even more dramatic. Policemen were guarding the committee room and officers were hunting for newspaper correspondents on a charge of house breaking. In tbe excitement the representative of one newspaper was ar rested on suspicion, and a McKeesport editor offered to put up his whole establish ment todelend him. The committee went into secret session at 7:30 o'clock, and will probably.coutinue until daylight. The committee is divided. Five of them favor a verdict of guilty, and two are standing out for Dr. Mansell. On the outside all was excitement, and the members of the alleged ring waited anxiously for a verdict. Beside this, an immense crowd was congregated about the church, and they declare they will stay there until a verdict is given out. A PIiEA IN REBUTTAL. The morning session of the celebrated case was opened to-day in the presence of the us ual large crowd. After a prayer by the Eev. J. C. Gourley, Dr. "Wright gave bis rebuttal plea. He said: "This brother pub lished certain rumors against persons who are present at to-day's trial. It is in evi dence that they were injnred both in char acter and business " "That's not in the testimony'interrupled Dr. Wheeler. "It is there," responded the counsel for the prosecution. "By tbe testimony of your own witnesses Mr. Coursin was defamed. Beside this, it was proven that Dr. Mansell said he had taken legal advice, and could send certain preachers to the penitentiary. How, then, in the face of these facts, can the defense continue to claim the trial is a persecution, and that a 'ring' is fighting Mansell?" He then referred to the fact that Dr. Wheeler had classed certain preachers as tricksters, ringsters and rogues. "There may possibly be a ring in the conference, for all I know," he added, laughingly. For that matter the honorable Chairman may be a member of the ring." The laugh expected did not follow this sally, but instead, a voice from the audience rung out: "Yes, and you are the tool of the ringl" The doctor, however, paid no attention to this, but coutinued. "Tbe defendant has told a bare-faced lie.and no one wants a man of that character in the conference. Should Mansell be declared free.it will be a sad day. The present time is too liberal. Under the present way of explaining everything, even adulterv becomes less sinfnll, and is classed asa mistake of love. Gambling loses its vice under the names of dealing in longs and shorts, and a lie is only a mistake. I now submit the case." STILL AS THE GRAVE. At the close of his argument the room was wonderfully still, and although Dr. Wheeler looked troubled the plucky little parson looked as pleasant as if returning from an opera. Then came a speech from Dr. Wheeler, followed by another storm. He suggested that the witnesses should have their testi mony read to tbem, as there was a great chance for a possible change while in the bands of the stenographer. It bronght tbe stenographer, the Bev. J. F. Hill, to his feet like a flash. "That's an insinuation I won't standi" he exclaimed. "I leave it to you, Dr. Wheeler, as a man and a brother, that you made a misleading statement." Dr. Wheeler promptly apologized, but it was decided to read the testimony. The morning session then closed, and most of the afternoon session was taken up in reading the testimony. But few ot the witnesses made any objections. At 4:30 o clock the case was given to tbe jury. They adjourned until after supper. They reconvened at 7 o'clock in secret session and then began a seance which ended in having your staff coirespondent chased by a gang of policemen and in the arrest of another correspondent on sus picion. As soon as it was decided to have a secret session and shut out the reporters, some of the reverend doctors, remembering what dismal failures previous secret church sessions had been, tbey became alarmed. -PRECAUTIONS FOR SECRECY. They then wanted to know whether the re porter was in town who caught the Danks trial through a register. As soon as it was learned that he was they took every precau tion to preserve secrecy. Henry DeLong was delegated to look alter the newspaper men, and he was ably seconded by Mr. Janeway and a number of other members of the church. "When the reporters asked abont the meeting in the evening the gentlemen named emphatically denied that the committee was in the church. In the meantime, however, vour correspondent had dropped into a dark corner, and, when the other reporters retired, Mr. De Long and the others congratulated themselves on bow they had beaten the reporters. They laughed over the fact that the committee was meet ing in the next room. When they found they had been overheard their faces were long enoUL'h to eat oats out of a churn. Then the reporters found a window, and by hanging to the sill managed to catch some of the proceedings. They discovered a window in the back, opening into a kitchen in the rear of the committee room. Your correspondent crawled through this and un locked a door leading into the alley. The reporters were then admitted, and up to 958 beard all that was going on. At that time only vour correspondent was in the room, and' the outside door was locked. Something aroused suspiaion, and the members ol the jury burst open the door, just in time to see the reporter take a leap into the mud, and by the vigorous use of his legs he etcaped. Then the officers and the men on watch began the chase. They did not get their game, but on their way caught anotner correspondent, and arrested him on suspicion. He was taken before the committee. AN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE. Just then Jumes L. Deviqney, of the McKeesport Keics, appeared and offered to back the arrested correspondent for all be was worth. As they had no evidence against him, he was released, but not before one of the brethren took occasion to tell him to "go and sin no more." The real work done by the committee was quiet. In a general way they were going ail over the testimony. Two of the com mittce was much in favor of Mr. Mans ell's side of the case. As soon as tbey would quote some testimony on tbe side of the plucky parson, Dr. Cox and the other mem bers of the committee would at once pro duce some testimony from the other side,and they would talk over the relative cbarcters of the witnesses. Though the jiedium of a keyhole and a crack, it was apparent that five favored conviction and two stood up for Mr. Mansell. At 11 o'clock the committee had become much louder in their talk, and they bad not taken a ballot. Tbe indications were that they would be out all night, with all the probabilities favoring a verdict against Dr. Mansell. A CALL FOE PUKE WHISKT. Dr. Christy After a Law lo Prevent Adulter- allon II Has Interested Senators BIKcbell and Faalkner Fhjslclaas Will Not Prescribe It for Invalid". Br. S. S. Christy, of Penn avenue, has received a letter from Senator John Mitchell, of Oregon, in reply to a request made by the doctor, in regard to the adulteration of wines, liquors nnd other beverages. Several weeks ago, tLe doctor who has always taken an active part in the efforts to remedy this abuse, wrote to Senator Mitchell, who is a close personal friend, asking him to use his influence with the Committee on Pure Foods and Drugs, and secure the passage of a law making it a misdemeanor to adulterate liquors. Senator Mitchell says he turned theletteroverto Senator Faulkner, who is chairman of the committee. The last named Senator replied that bewould do everything he con Id to have such a law enacted. A Dispatch reporter called on Dr. Christy yesterday and questioned him in regard to the matter. The doctor said: "Before President Arthur died he -was interested in this question and promised me he would do all he could to have such a law made and enforced. He had several talks with the German Minister about the sub ject, and from the latter had secured much data as to the operations of the law in Ger many. v hen the President died tbe matter, of course, was dropped by us. I have now taken it up again with Senator Mitchell. "People do not understand the extent of the adulteration business. You cannot buy any pure liquors in this city, and everything of an alcoholic nature put into medicines nowadays is adulterated. I have lately re ceived notice that Cognac brandy, which is supposed to be pure, is now made from 'rot gut' whisky. Pure whiiky cannot be pur chased for less than 58 per gallon, and tbe fact that the ordinary stuff sold over a counter costs 15 cents per drink, shows that it is not pure. When one takes a drink ot the latter, he has a craving taste for more. In less than five minntes after taking the drink, the effect of the liquor dies out. Tbe appetite craves more and more until the system becomes diseased. Then it is called delirium tre mens, which is the cause of so much misery and many deaths. "I remember the time when pure whisky was sold. Delirium tremens was unknown in those days. The whisky did not stimu late, the blood, as the stuff now being sold does. I have seen men in the harvest field on a hot day drink a tin cup full of whisky without any evil effects afterward. It did not make them reel and stagger, bnt was beneficial in its effects. I have seen whisky lately, sold at high prices, which I would be afraid to prescribe to be taken in moder ate quantities. The same can De said of beer. There is no lager beer in this country, and an analyses of the slop now being sold for beer will show it to be heavily adulter ated. If we bad pure beer and whisky there wonld not be so much business done in criminal courts." Dr. Christy favors a law in this country similar to the one in Germany. He wants a chemist and inspector appointed in each district to analyze al( liquors made and sold in this country. It the stuff is bad it is con demned. The doctor is one of the best known men in the oil country. He left this city in the spring of 1860, when the first well was struck in the vicinity of Oil City. He opened the first drug store and was the first Mayor of that town. SPENT HIS BROTHER'S ESTATE. A Scrlons Clinree Preferred Against a Prominent I.aacaster Citizen. Lancaster, Pa., March 14. Frank A. Diffenderfer, a former banker and ex-Alderman and prominent in social and sporting circles, was brought here to-night by a Pinkerton detective. He was ar rested in Brooklyn whither he fled a few days ago, charged with the embezzlement of 510,665 61 from the estate of his brother, J. Leno Diffenderfer, for whom, by reason of mental weakness, he had acted as trustee, under deeds of trust exe cuted by their father and grandmother. They are children of the late Dr. William Diffenderfer, of New Hol land, who, prior to his death several years ago, gave the greater part of 560,000 to bis son Frank and the remainder to bis mother, whom he required to execute a will leaving it in trust to Leno. After the doctor's death, Frank, it is al leged, induced his grandmother, then 86 years of age, to destroy the will and make him the sole trustee of his brother's inheritance. He then entered up on a career of extravagance. When the court enforced an examination of his accounts, the Auditor found hiin to be short 510,665 61. When the court began to investigate he removed to Philadelphia, where he became connected with the Kennel Club and recently returned to Lancaster, when his brother's wife's relatives instituted proceedings for embezzlement, for which be will be held for trial. THE HEW STAMPS TEAR. Clerks In tbe Posiofflce Complain ot Poor Paper In Them. New York Sun.1 Tbe new stamps have not yet won tbe af fections of the postoffice clerks, who have to handle tbem. One of the clerks, instead of handing out a stamp for 2 cents yesterday, said to the customer: "Let me take your letter, please." When he got the letter he carefully pasted upon it two fragments of a torn stamp, see ing that the ragged edges joined so perfectly that the stamp looked all right. Then he handed the letter back saying: "That's the seventeenth one of those darned rotten things I've had to stick on this morning." "What's tbe matter?" "Oh, these new stamps' are no good; they tear too easy; you've got to handle 'em like tissue. Inquiry showed that, either because the clerks have not yet had practice enough to enable them to rip off a row of the new stamps with the same dexterous twist that used to work safely with the larger stamps formerly used, or because tbe paper of the new stamp really is poor, the clerks are having a deal of trouble. It is thought that the ink used on the new'stamps may aflect the paper. THEI WILL SPEAK USIER. Tbs 1.1st of the Illegal Liquor Dealers In thr Hands of the License Judges. The license question is now looming up in a prominent position and becoming especially interesting to the applicants. To those who have been doing a free-for-all speak-easy business it will be very interest ing to learn that yesterday Jndges Bwing and Magee were furnished with duplicate typewritten copies of the names and ad dresses of speak-easy proprietors up to tbe Twenty-fi fth ward. The list will be finished and furnished to-day. The information was furnished bv the De partment of Public Safety at tbe request of the two judges wno win preside next week in the License Court, and will be used by them in determining what law-abiding citizens will be permitted to purchase a 5500 chroino entitling them to quench the thirst of Allegheny county. The police officials say this information' will have tbe effect of making a number ot applicants whose petitions are already filed withdraw. Insured While la Ireland. Janes Duroey and wife, ot the Tenth ward, yesterday sued Superintendent H. S. Kay, of the Pittsbnrg office of the Metro politan Insurance Company, to recover pre miums on a policy illegally Issued on the life ol Mrs. Durney's father, who lives in Ireland. The suit "will be heard next Tues day by Alderman Burns. Air. itay says that the policy was written by an unscrupu- I Ions agent, who bad not been retained long, j its RiGHrDispTjam The Pitlsburj: Traction Company Takes Action Against a Eiral,- ALLEGING PKI0RITT OF CHARTEB. The Attorney General Asked for a DeeisIoA That Will Prevent ? THE JUMPING OF A GREAT CLAUd. All the Officials arc linn, bnt Lawyers Disclose Ut Secret. I Application for a writ of quo warranto against tbe Duquesne Traction Company has been made to the Attorney General by the Pittsburg Company. The purpose is to contest the charter. A big fight may result. There was considerable stir yesterday in railroad circles over the report that the Pittsburg Traction Company had filed docu ments with the Attorney General against the Larimer avenue, Duquesne and Craig street railways, showing a priority of right of way. This was given only as an indica tion that a big fight would be commenced, although it is recognized by tbe peopls spoken to on the subject that there are many stockholders interested in each organization, and whether an effort to create a freezeout is in prospect or not cannot be determined from the statements made by those inter ested. EIGELOW 13 ST.3NT. T. M. Bigelow, Vice President of the Pittsburg Traction Company, was as elo quent as the traditional oyster on the ques tion. He thought that the proceedings be fore tbe Attorney General would be beard on Wednesday next. He thought that there were some charters secured before those of tbe Duquesne Traction Company, but be did not wish to say anything at present, Charles McKee, attorney for the Duquesne Traction Company, sid that an application for a writ had been made to the Attorney General, but had been refused, and would have a hearing through courtesy within a few days. Attorney Wilson professes the utmost ig norance of tbe matter, although acting in a legal capacity for tbe traction company, and G. W. Elkln'gs, the President, professed to know nothing about the matter while wait ing for one of his company's cars at the cor ner of Fifth and Smithfield. A HEABING NEXT WEEK. A telegram from Harrisburg says that a hearing was fixed before tbe Attorney Gen eral for to-morrow in th matter of the ap plication for a writ of quo warranto against the Duquesne Traction Company, contest ing the charter recently granted to several companies under its control, because the streets proposed to be traversed by tbem are the same outlined by charters issued to com panies incorporated last summer, but owing to the inability of some of tbe counsel to be present the argument has been postponed until next Wednesday at 11 A. M. D. T. Watson and Walter Lyon represent the ap plication for a writ and Attorney Wilson, ol Pittsburg' and ex-Deputy Attorney Gen eral Gilbert and John H. Weiss, of this city, the other side. This case will, it is said by several law yers, come up before tbe local court on the question of the priority of right of way. This will have to be decided by the records of Councils, and will require an overhaul ing of tbe City Hall Library, which has recently been placed in order to some extent by H. H. Bengougb. A WOXDLRFDL MARKSMAN. He Cats OfTtbe Four Feet of n Sly Eejnard at Loaff Ranee Lewis ton Journal, l Andrew Hutchins, of Gardiner, was on deck last night with a fox story, which was almost as marvelous as his memorable shot at the partridge on Iron Mine Hill. "Boys," he said, "you youngsters don't remember Tom Burnbum "who owned the land around there, but I do. He had the greatest shooting gun you ever heard of. Why, he could shoot a fox dead from the grist mill to the New Mills. "It wasn't the gun altogether, but be had something to do with it, for no one else could make such shots. Well, I was going to tell you about his shooting a fox, wasn't I? One morning he looked out of the win dow aud away down on the flat, much as half a mile away, was a fox. He was so far off tbatyou could just tell what he was. Mr. Burnham saw at once that it would be use less to try to get nearer, forthe fox was look ing right at him, so he up with tbe old gun and let her go, aud down went the fox. It was one of the prettiest shots I ever heard tell off. That fox lay right there until Mr. Burnham went up and stooped to pick him up, when, wbisb I he was np an out o' sight quicker'n ligbtnin'. But he didn't get off in very good shape, for the shot had cut off all four of his feet and they lay right there. Thatgnn was a ripper an' you don't find 'em now days, no, sir I" M'GOTERN GIVEN A HEARING. A Blrmlncbnm Conductor Tried for Eject Ins; a Man From His Car. The hearing in the case of Patrick Mc Govern, the Birmingham street cars con. d actor, charged with putting a passenger off his car because the latter reiused to "move up," to make room for passengers who were standing, was held before Alder man Flacb, of the Southside, last night. The office was filled with spectators and considerable interest was manifested in the case. The testimony given by tbe various witnesses tended to show that Lang, who had been elected from the car. had monor- olized space enough for two passengers and that tbe conductor was justified in putting: him off the car. Alderman Flach said he desired time to look up some legal points on the case and reserved his decision uutil this evening. TALMAGL'b TABaK-NACLE. Tbe Site, WblcU Has Had a Novel History, Bousbt for a Theater. Xew York Star.: A poDuIar-price theater manager has purchased the site of the Bev. Dr. DeWitt Talmage's Tabernacle, and will erect upon it an immense house of amusement. The property is almost as large as that covered by the Metropolitan Opera House. It has undergone any number of changes in the past 40 years. During that period it has been tbe site of a circus, a boxing ground Tor pugnacious yontns, a coal yard, of a lot of hovels, and of two" churches. Both the latter were destroved bv lire. THE RIVERS SIILL RISING. Coal Operators Expect the Water to Reach) 17 Feet. The river last evening registered 14 feet 0 inches. The coal operators expect that the stage of water will reach 17 feet before it be gins to tall. The Nellie Walton started with a tow of barges. There is no coal to go out The coal men have loaded boats located at various points along the river near Cincin nati, but as the winter has been warmJrQie. demand for coal is not good. ainrpby Wins the FenlbervTelBbtFlght. San Fbancisco, March 14. Billy Mur phy, ot Australia, and Tommy Warren, of California, fought here to-night fcr 51,800 and tbe featherweight championship. Three good rounds were fought, Murphy having the best of it. and the fourth rnnnd thn men clinched, and the referee awarded the light to Murpby. . ' 1 i m p ! M 1 4 m tfMJ : ijgtlttkiJi. "- KKIKKKKKItKtKKKtKKKKKtlKKKKKIKtiKtKKKKKKSjmmKf BKUKKHKMKKHEBtJQBBKKfEKtm99tBK& wBBKSBBKBfWBBBBBlESKBIBBBfTKUKIESKSKBK BIBWsMisssy3sssssBWseWEi.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers