IB5HRSI M&rf&Qfz rr-T7S THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH SUNDAY, TEBRTJART 1, 189L 3 BH JOYS AHD SORROWS Attendant Upon the Lives of the Men TTn, in the Olden Days, Kan a Southern Eiver Circus. DEATH AKD BOEIAL OF A COMRADE A Natural Gas Man Fredicls a Bright, Char Atmosphere for Tittshnrg in " the Hear Fatnre. BASE XOTES AS SrEdACLE POLISHERS. lattrtsthg Chits Witi azd About So, Picked Up is Trcrj of the City. It seems a pleasure to Colonel Sam Saw son, of the Bijou Theater, to forget the wor ries of the present while he opens some of the rich chapters of the past Here is one he gave out yesterday, while he was seated in his coxy little office in the Bijou, sur rounded by a cloud of cijrarette smoke and pleasant memories: "Possihly the happiest time I ever spent in the show business was when I was with a river circus, and yet there were sad scenes, too. A river circus, you Snow, is one that travels along the river iu a steamboat and fives shows on land the same as do other regular ciicuses. Our boat was the Parole. We did the Mississippi river and its South ern tributaries. Among tbem were the Red and White rivers, Bayou Douche and the Yazoo river. The country and the climate are beyond description in the winter season, except on rainy days. We showed in day light and usually moved at night. Life was a poem of existence. The Circus Man's Easy life. "The climate was enervating and we all fell into a sort of a happy, easy existence, and did notcare whether the world moved or stopped. It made but little difference whether salaries came or not, Ko one ever objected. One day we would live on chicken and wild turkey, and possibly the next on salt bacon and hard tack. It was all one and the same. Life ran too smooth for any one to murmur. One Christmas, and it's not more than ten years ago, we ate Christmas dinner In our shirt sleeves and then settled it by playing hotball with oranges in one ot the great croves that line Bayou Douche. "We carried about 100 men. Rapidity of movements was one of the great features of the Southern river shows. "Night was the favorite time for saying goodby. The strongest reasons for favoring the darkness was to escape the intense heat and the numerous Sheriffs. "But Sheriffs will be Sheriffs," he added with a sigh. "There is a strange affinity 'twixt tbem and the show business. They were a part of our life then. Still, we had a good time. A Grand Holiday All 'Bound. "Sundays were our great days. Then we would pull into one of the beautiful islands, where both the ground and the trees are covered with a soft rich moss. We would take all the stock ashore and such of the animals as could be allowed to run at large. and all would enjoy a day of rest. The boys indulged in all kinds of games, and there were eight or ten female performers to add life to the party. "It was up the .Red river that I had the strangest experience of my life. The owner of the. show had discovered his wife was un faithful. He was a crack shotjand we all expected a duel, but instead he was cold as a refrigerator. At sunset he ordered both bis wife and ber lover to pack their trunks. The lover hesitated, but a revolver was argument enough for him to proceed. The boat was run into the shore and the couple and their baggage landed on the west bank. Tns husband waved a farewell as the boat shoved off, and the woman fainted That did not move him, lor he ordered the baud out on the upper deck and made it plav 'The Girl I Le t Behind Me,' while be stood ana watched until a bend in the river hid the faithless wile from view. "All over the cotton belt," said he, "we showed to from 1,000 to 1,200 people at each performance, and there would only be a half dozen white persons in the audience, and les than a dozen seats would be sold at the ticket office. It was a frequent occurrence f.ir a planter or a storekeeper there to buy 1,000 tickets with the understanding that we were only to give one show and that at night. A Substitute for Cold Cash. "What prices the negroes had to pay I do sot know, but I do know that many a planter has paid for the entire labor on a year's crop of cotton by one of these per formances. The Southern negro would rather go to a circus than to heaven. Tbev sever have any money. All the land is owned by the planter and storekeepers. "The negroes r.iise cotton for half the crop, the owner turnbhing everything. The negro starts in at the first of the year and the storekeeper gives him what provisions he thinks he needs and at prices made only to suit the storekeeper. When the crop is gathered at the end oi the year, the negro, if he is lucky, has a balance of $8 or $10 coming to him. This he spends for bad whisky during the holidays and then starts in the new year as poor as before. But they were always ready for a show. "We had a brass band with us. A musi cal education was not one of the require ments for admission, and when it played it only created a disturbance. They were mu Eicians that burglarized nature, for they breathed in good air and only blew out dis cord. Kevertheless, we were often 40 miles from a railway or telegraph station. A brass band of any kiud was a novelty. In daylight the band played on the top deck. The negroes would leave their work as soon as they heard it, and follow along the river banks until the shore would be lined. I have seen them follow the boat for five or six miles, and when the canvas was raised they were willing to give all they could earn iu a year lor admission. Death at Night on the River. "While we were in the Yazoo river I was sent on ahead to join the advance boat at Greenwood, Miss. Abe Ogden, one of the best known bill posters in the country, was with the boat. The uilot was down with tne fever and dying. At midnight Ogden came to me and said, 'Come quick! I can hear the death rattle in his throat," When we reached the cabin he was dead. It was a dark, uncanny night at Lest, with a drizzling rain falling. I never felt so much unnerved in mr life as that lonely night when we kept watch over the dead. Each shadow seemed a phan tom and the monotonous patter of the rain made the loneliness more terrible. "We did not know what, to do. It would be ten days before we would reach a town where we could buy a coffin; and be sides that, we had eight towns to bill in that time. We could not keep the body in that climate without it decomposing. The only thing was to bury him at daybreak. There were some Cottonwood planks on board, and, with the aid of a negro, who afterward proved to be an escaped convict, we em ployed the hours until morning in making a rough coffin. It was strange work, and I can remember how Lshuddered when every i.ail was driven. He Was Given a Christian Burial. "At dawn we reached the bead of Honey Island. Placing the rude coffin in a boat beside us, we rode to the farm of Miss Jen nie McAfee. It was cloudy, raining and muddy, circumstances depressing enough on an ordinary occasion, but on this the strain was terrible. We started to dig a. grave, but when two feet down we struck a buried stump. I sug gested giving it up and trying some where else, but the negro's eyes bulged, out in terror at the very thought of such a thing. Some Voodoo doctor had told him that bad fortune would follow if a grave was started and not finished. We could only let him have his way and he got -an ax and' chopped out the stump. The coffin was lowered. Miss McAfee furnished a prayer book and I read the Episcopal service for the dead. Then Miss McAfee offered a firayer. She had known the man and the ife he had led on the river. Her petition was the simplest and grandest that I ever heard and one that would find answer were God's heart made of stone. She simply said: " "Father, we send Thee another soul. Thou knowest the trials that he had ou earth and for Christ's sake be merciful. Amen.' "The clods rattled down on the lid of the rough box like a curtain falling over the last act of a tragedy. We parted in silence. Neither spoke until we reached the boat and were well on our way down the river, but marked on my memory was a scene never to be forgotten," DOESN'T LIKE THE SMOKE. A Gas Man Predicts a Clear Atmosphere in the Near Future. "I hate to see the heavy, black pall lying over Pittsburg," said the secretary of a nat ural gas company yesterday. "I think since the mills have returned to coal the city is dirtier than it was in the old smoke davs. The number of manufactories has increased, and the result is quite natural. Down about Btverside the atmosphere is clear, and you can get an idea there ot what the city used to ba like, but as you look up the river nothing but heavy black clouds of smoke can be seen. This state of affairs won't last much longer. A great many men arc at work seeking a remedy. I think the natural gas could be mixed with an artificial one that would make a plentiful supply. "In my judgment there is lots of gas, but new fields must be developed. God is never scant iu His gifts to man, and thegas is here. Of course wells run down and the pressure becomes low; so do oil wells play out, and the supply of coal is growing less. Chicago tried the plan of compelling its citizens to use smoke-consumers, but I am told it is not successful, though the average Windy City man will try to make you believe it baa improved the cleanliness of the atmosphere." THE DE1VEK HELPED HIM. Trials of a Young Man in Takins His Best Girl to the Theater. A certain newspaper man in Pittsburg de sired to give his best girl who lives in the East End a gorgeous treat last week. He blew in the major portion of his weekly sti pend to buy seats lor three nights to hear the Kendals. He wanted to do everything in elegant style however, and in addition he hired a cab, and found he had 20 cents lest. He gave the driver 10 cents as a tip to put him iu a good humor, and spent the other 10 for cigarettes. This left him without a sou iu bis best clothes. He remarked afterwards that he took the cab ou tick, as he knew the driver, and he hadn't enough money to pay the street car fare. Arrived at the beautiful home of the mil lionaire's daughter, she proved to be a ve'ry democratic and sensible girl. A cab, she said, was a useless expense, and sne would ride to the theater in a' street car. Cold drops of perspiration ran down over the young man's face, leaving marks like rills through a field of snow. He hadn't the fare, but a happy thought struck him. He borrowed 20 cents from the driver and the young reporter was happy. XOTHnro AT ALL LIKE IT. Captain Orcott Uses a Bank Note to Polish ills Eye-Glasses. "I clean my eye-glasses these days with a ten-dollar note," said Captain Orcutt at tlie St. Charles Hotel yesterday, with a smile, as he commenced to tub his spectacles with a bill. "It cleans the glass and doesn't hurt the money. A one-dollar bill would answer the purpose as well as a note for a hundred, but iu this case I happened to have the ten and nsed it. "I have been cleaning my glasses for years with bank notes, and I nave never found anything that mates them as clear. If you use a handkerchief it leaves the lint behrnd, and ten to one the glass is blurred. The money removes all the dirt and grease, and leaves no trace of itself. Am I afraid of con tracting some disease of the eyes? Well, I never thought ot that, and I know that some physicians claim that diseases are trans mitted by money, since it passes through so many hands. No, I am not afraid; and I will still continue to use the bank notes for this purpose. The textnre is soft, and it cer tainly removes dirt. Indeed, there is noth ing like paper money for polishing fine glassware." HOW H0YT GOT EVH. He Writes a Part la His Play to fit a Mod ern Society Editor. In Hoyt's "A Trip to Chinatown" a character was put in after the play had been written and produced for some time on the stage. It is the editor of the modern society journal. In San Francisco one of these fellows attacked Hoyt in a most scurrilous manner, and as the playwright did not have the op portunity to reply through the newspapers, be sat down and wrote a part to fit him. The character was produced before the com pany left the coast, and Mr. Hoyt had his revenge on the society editor. He is the one man iu the play who re ceives all the kicks and cuffs, and as he is a constant eavesdropper, as represented, he deserves all the punishment he receives. MAKING THEM QUARREL. The Owners of a Gas Well Unable to Agree What to Do. A gentleman wbo lives down the Fort Wayne Bailroad says the owners of the gas well on the Courtney farm have degenerated into an unorganized mob. While the well was gasing they were offered a big price for it by a gas company. They couldn't agree among themselves, so the well was not sold. Now she is turning to oil, and they are quarreling as to whether she shall be put deeper and fully developed. Meantime, the gentleman quoted states that a corner is likely to be effected and the stock pass into fewer" hands. CONSIDERS IT A GREAT BOOH. Dr. Rosenthal Still Full of Faith in the Koch Lymph. Dr. Charles H. Rosenthal, who took care of Dr. E. T. Painter on his way to Berlin, and looked after him subsequently, as long as the former remained in the German capi tal, passed through Piitsburg on his way to San Francisco, a few days since. Dr. Kosentbal is as enthusiastic in his be lief of the efficacy of the Koch lymph, as he wat a month ago. He is willing to admit all that has been claimed for it,and regards it as the greatest boon medical science has conferred on humanity for many years. 0!fE PROPRIETOR HOW. Mr. Holmes Boys Oat His Partner's Share In the Mononzahela House. The formal transfer of the Monongahela House to Charles Holmes, one of the part ners, was made yesterday. All the papers were signed, the money paid and Mr. Arnold retired from the active management of the hotel. Mr. Holnres said yesterday that no changes would be made, and the hotel would be conducted in the future as it had been in the past, Some improvements will be made as the opportunity presents itself. The dissolution of the partnership was a purely business transaction, and the best of feeling prevails all around.' RILEY OH THE GUITAR. He Says the Music Needs the Moonlight to Sound Sweetest. James Whitcomb Riley and Judge White sat together at the Press Club banquet They talked about a variety of things, and Biley, in the exuberance of his poetical nature, introduced the subject of the guitar. The Judge remarked that he was very fond of this Kind of music, when Biley said: "The guitar needs the moonlight, the blinds and the shutters to sound the sweetest. I don't like to hear a guitar played during the day. For that matter I think humanity is more susceptible to music at night than while the sun is shining. When the shades begin to fall the business man ceases his cares the busy housewife lays aside her work, and everybody seeks enjoyment. I like the night. It is a bless ing to the world." FRANCIS MURPHY HOT WELL, Box Mr. Holmes Says He is Not Dangerously HI, as Reported. Charles Holmes, a son-in-law of Francis Murphy, returned recently from Indian apolis, where the temperance lecturer now is. Mr. Holmes says Mr. Murphy is not a well man, but he is not dangerously sick as had been reported. When in Pittsburg re cently he fell and hurt his side, and he has been troubled since with what the doctors call a stitch, but his trouble is not serious. Players on the Move. The Baltimore and Ohio road will have this week the "Later On" company to Bal timore, the Indian Mail Carrier Company from TJniontown to Dayton, and some strag glers from the World's Museum. The next excursion to Washington will be run Feb ruary 12. TRAMPING THROUGH MUD. City Officials Spend a Bay in. the Bain Looking at Farm Lands Too Mnch Hill and Too Little River Front Eight Places Tet to Visit The Department of Awards spent most of yesterday plodding around through mud and slush in its search for a new Ctty Poor Farm. The members of the board returned to the city tired out. The party started at 8:15 A. 31. on the Allegheny Valley Road, and the first stop was made at Coleman station, in Plum township, where the tract offered by Mrs. James McKay is located. There are 135 acres, adjoining the city line, for which $100,000 Is asked. The whole property lies on top of a high hill, which overlooks a steep precipice, at the foot of which the river lies. Its inaccessibility wag so ap parent that hut a few moments were spent in viewing it, and the party continued on to Sandy Creek station, where the 210-acre farm of Captain James 5oyd is located. The (price is 100 per acre. Much of the Boyd farm is very good land for ordinary farming purposes, but it is broken up by deep ravines and steep hills, so that after an hour's tramp it was left be hind with an unfavorable verdict. Inac cessibility is one of its worst defects. But little time was wasted upon the Tom linson farm, at Johnson statioq, in Plum township. It contains 213 acres, and is offered at $230 an acre, but it has the same objectionable features as the McKay prop erty, being perched upon the top of one of the tallest hills along the river and has no bottom land at all. Logan's Ferry was the next stopping place, where are located side by side the farms of James W. Drape and F. J. Glass. The Drape farm had no bottom land at all, but an arrangement had been made with a Mr. Logan, who owns a strip of land be tween the Drape property and the river, wnich would give the former a river front age if sold. The Drape tract, including that of Logan, contains 302 acres, and is offered at $175 per acre. The bottom laud is, however, rather limited in extent and liable to inundation by spring freshets, while the balance of the property is mainly hillsides, part of which is covered with timber. The Glass farm contains 300 acres, and is offered at $450 per acre. While it has but a limited amount of bottom land, and that liable to floods, the main part of the prop erty is very fair farm laud and in good con dition. At Hulton the farm offered by W.H. Alex ander, was revisited. It contains 444 acres and is offered to the city at $600 an acre. It is part of a 1,400-acre tract belonging to an old family named Lee, of which Caleb Lee was a member. There is a gas well on the place, where one day last week a small flow of gas was struck at a depth ot 3,100 feet. The supply of gas would be amply sufficient to supply the Poor Farm building. The greatest drawback to the Alexander farm is its lack of accessible river frontage. Of the 20 farms thus far visited there ap pear to be not more than four that are looked upon with favor by any member of the Department of Awards, and the dif ference of opinion in relation to the desira bility of farms will probably cause a hitch when the time comes to decide which farm shall be bought. There are eight farms yet to be visited, but enough is known of some of tbem to say that not more than one or two will meet with any consideration in the competition. THE GREAT SALE OF FIRE GOODS Still Continues at the New Tork Grocery. These goods were consigned to us by one of the largest insurance companies of the East, and consist of canned goods, dried fruits, teas, spices, cigars, etc. Everything must be disposed of within the next ten days: 1G lbs granulated sugar $1 00 12 cans tomatoes (3 B cans) 90 12 cans sugar corn 75 12 cans good peas 75 12 cans red cherries 75 12 cans string beans 75 12 cans blackberries GO 12 cans golden pumpkin 90 12 cans California peaches 2 40 12 cans California apricots 2 15 12 cans California egg plums 175 12 cans California green gage plums 1 75 12 cans California white grapes.... 175 12 cans California white cherries.. 2 35 12 cans California black heart cher- rie 2 35 12 cans California pears 2 25 &i lb s evaporated apricots 1 00 5 lbs evaporated apricots, very best 1 00 7 lbs California peaches 1 00 5 lbs California peaches, choice.. 1 00 5 lbs California olivet peaches, verv finest 1 00 8 lbs pure black pepper,gropna. ... 1 00 8 lbs pure cinnamon, ground 1 00 1 0 lbs cream tartar 1 00 lOlbsEnglish mustard 100 12 lbs cream cheese 1 00 16 lbs California raisins... 1 00 14ftsfine raisins 1 00 Good Amber flour, per bbl 5 25 Good Amber flour, per sack 1 30 25 good 5o cigars 40 50 good 5c cigars 70 5 lbs good chewing tobacco 1 10 S0-B) pails home-made preserves. ... 2 00 35-& pails home-made apple butter. 2 00 5 bottles imported chow-chow, mixed pickles and onions 1 00 Choice Orleans molasses, per gallon 33 9 cans fine French peas 1 00 '16 lbs dried lima beans 1 00 Goods delivered free to all parts of both cities. To those living out of the city we will prepay freight on all orders of $10 and upward to any station or landing within 100 miles of Pittsburg. Send for price list M. R. Thompson, 301 Market street and 69 Third avenue, op posite Gnsiy's. 81 00 Until May 1S3 CO. 12 cabinet photos or one life size crayon for $3 60 at Anfrecht'i Elite Gallery, 516 Market street, Pittsburg, Use elevator. AFTER .LEGISLATION. Building Trades Council Wants a Mechanics' Lien Law Passed. EIGHT-HOUR MOVEJIEHT IS DEAD. The United Mine Workers Beaffirm the Seventy Cent Sate. A DAI'S GEIST FROM LABOR CIRCLES The Building Trades Council last evening heard the reports from the various organiza tions represented in it, upon a circular or dered to be sent out a short time ago, bear ing on the mechanics' lien, Australian bal lot system, and other matters. Favorable answers were received from every union ou the following propositions, which had been submitted to them: First The enactment of a mechanics' Hen law which will give to labor a lien upon any building to secure wages. Second The abolition ot conspiracy laws, which class the efforts of labor organizations as conspiracy to restrict trade, and also en danger the lives of all the members for the rash act of one. Third To prohibit armed bodies of men, miscalled "detectives," from being hired or brought into this State by corporations or em ployers. The security of our State must de pend upon the civil authority and not upon any irresponsible military body in the employ of citizens or corporations. Fourth To favor the enactment of any sim ilar plan, which will enable elections to be con ducted with better protection to the voters as well as candidates. Legislation to Be Looked After. It was decided to employ an attorney for the purpose of preparing a bill to be pre sented to the present Legislature, covering the points included in the'circular. It was reported that another serious diffi culty is about to occur ou the Government building. During the recent strike ot steamfitters there, two hodcarriers' were fined for working after the strike had been declared. They are still at work and have not paid their fine. "Within the next week about 50 plasterers will be put to work, but it is expected they will refuse to work with the two men who'are under fine. If the plasterers strike all other trades must support them, and work on the building will be completely stopped. The report on the vote among the painters on the eight-hour movement was announced. The result was largely against making the demands for shorter hours. The painters have prepared a scale asking for nine hours, with some readjustment of the other rules governing their work and wages. No Demands for Eight Hours. The carpenters have also failed to carry their vote in favor of the eight-hour move ment, which strongly indicates the truth of the prediction made in The Dispatch several weeks ago, that no demands would be made among the building trades in Pitts burg this year. No action was taken upon the trouble be tween the painters' unions, although it was reported that, be lore the end of the present week, the contest will be settled. This has been the hottest fight in the history of the painters' unions. Interest in the election of walking delegate has reached such a high pitch that it is said all sorts of tricks have been resorted to. Three candidates have withdrawn, leaving W. J. Jewell and B. Davenport in the field to fight alone. The former represents the Allegheny unions and the latter those in this city. Davenport's friends are charged with bringing religions matters against Jewell, and even some of the workers are alleged to have been offered money-for bis inflnence in the fight. The voting for delegate will begin to-morrow night, and No. 10 will decide the con test Friday night. J. L, .EVANS' REPLY. . He Takes Exceptions to an Ontslde View on the Ihmsen Matter. Begarding the statements made by an un interested labor man relative to the Ihmsen trouble, Master "Workman Evans said last night: "No threats were ever made that a strilce would occur on the 28th of January if the firm declined the demands. There are 12, not 2 mixers and teasers employed in the shop, and all but one have signified their willing ness to join the K. of L. That is what we want. Wc were after no trouble, and no one connected with our side of the case wanted a strike. "All we were after was to get those men into the union, and they will come. in. The gentleman who has seen fit to meddle with other people's business knows he has made false statements, and knows that because Mr. "Wright was not here was because he was sick. He will be looked after in his own organization next Friday." CONDEMNED THE ACTION. Plasterers Resent the Stand Taken by the Building Trades Council. The trouble between D. A. 3, K. of L., and a Smithfield street hatter, is becoming interesting. Master Workman Evans said last evening: "At the last meeting of the Building Trades Council a resolution was passed indorsing the hatter and the new salesman's union. I have positive infor mation, however, that quite a number of the delegates voted against the resolution, and among others those from Plasterers' Union No. 31. At a meeting of the latter organi zation, held last night, a resolution was unanimously passed condemning the action of the Building Trades Council and in dorsing the action of Salesman's Assembly 4907. K. of L." This makes an open fight between D. A. 3, K. off,., and the Building Trades Coun cil, which promises to become decidedly in teresting. A GOOD THING FOE PITTSBURG. A Scheme to Displace the Oid-Fashloned Street Sprinkler. The old-fashioned way of sprinkling streets, will, in all probability, be super seded by a sprinkler made at South Bend, Ind., in which the radical departure con sists of throwing water directly downward, and not up and out backward as heretofore. This makes it impossible to throw water on pedestrians that may be close to the rear of the wagon when the water is thrown on. The water is thrown 22 feet wide and more evenly distributed than heretofore. Much or little water can be hrown, to suit the re quirements of the street. The Miller KnoblocK "Wagon Cojipany is erecting a large new factory in which to build the sprinklers on a large scale. MAKING COKE IN VIRGINIA. The Norfolk and "Western Itoad "Will.Glve Operators Better Markets. J. B. Stephenson, of East Brady, went to Boanoke last evening to attend the annual meeting of the Keystone Coal and Coke Company, of which he is President. Mr. Stephenson is also the Secretary of the Buckeye Coal and Coke Company at the same place. Both companies are manufacturing coke, the first concern having 100 ovens, and they are building a lot of new ones. Mr. Stephen-, son says as soon as the Norfolk and "West ern road is completed to Ironton it will bring them 300 miles nearer to their AVest ern markets. He thinks Virginia is the coming coke country. New Trial Befosed. Judge Magee refused a new trial yester day in the case of Matthews versus Park Bros. & Co. The plaintiff was a roller at the works and was discharged for throwing land on the rolls and sued to recover -wage alleged to be due ou a yearly contract. The verdict in the case was for the defendants and Matthews appealed. ar THE MINEB3 ADJOURN. Tho Vote on Seventy Cents a Ton for Min ing Coal Sustained. The miners' convention adjourned yester day after having held the longest meeting in the history of the organization. The price of mining was again taken up and dis cussed. The point that was most difficult to settle was whether the price should be fixed at a certain rate ior coal overl inch screen, or whether the men should be paid a fixed sum for the run of the mine. It was decided finally that the latter should prevail, and 70 cents 'per ton was voted as the price to be sustained. The election of officers followed, and re sulted in the re-election of the present Pres ident and Secretary. Michael McQuaid, Peter Collins, Samuel Devore, John Maddie, Charles E. Wallace, Hugh Leonard, John A. "Williams, John Morgan, Samuel Pardo and Alex Cherry were elected as members of the Executive Board. William Barker was elected delegate to theCoIumbusconvention, which meets on February 10, with discre tionary power regarding the vote on the scale ior next year. Before adjourning the convention decided that the coal and river miners should con tinue to have the power to settle difficulties in their respective territories independently. MORE GAS TERRITORY. A Boarer Struck at Aladdin, Up Along tho Allegheny Biver. George Pottene, who owns a tar works at Aladdin station, on the Allegheny Valley Bailroad, brought in a roaring gas well yes terday. The well has not been fully tested, but registered 150 pounds in ten seconds. Further tests cannot be made until the casing is anchored more securely. The gas was struck in the 100-foot sand and the well is,probably the strongest from that forma tion except the one near Sarver station, owned by the Pittsburg Plate Glass Com pany. The importance of the strike lies in the fact that it opens a new territory. It is five miles from the developments made by the Plate Glass Company, at Kelly station, and seven miles from the Sarver field. Mr.' Potterie's works have been shut down for some time, but will resume operations at once. A SCORE OP THEM OUT. Window Glass Factories Continue to Be Blown Out of Fire. Window glass factories continue to go ont of fire. To date the following have been shut down: Barnhard's Bay, Clyde, Dnnbarton and Ithaca, N. Y.; Bavenna, Zanesville, Massil lon, Findlav, Toledo and Lancaster, O.; Meadville, Covington, Blossburg, Belle fonte, Croton and Wellsborro, Pa.; Muncie, Ind.; Standard Glass Works, Woodbury, N. J., and the Warrick Glass Co., Gltfss boro, N. J. To Investigate Further. The General Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America will meet Tuesday at Scottdale to inquire more closely into the cause of the Mammoth mine disas ter. The coming convention at Columbub will also be arranged for. They Want to Dissolve. A petition was filed yesterday asking for a decree for the dissolution of the Duquesne Steel Company. THEY BEAT HER BOY. Mrs. Murray Goes After a Tarentnm Teacher and a School Director. Lea Murray, of Tarentum, yesterday en tered suit against Elmer Wartman and Mack Griffiths, of the same place, charging tfieni with assault and battery upon her 10-. year-old son. wartman is tne principal ot the Tarentnm public schools and Griffiths is one of the directors. It is alleged that Wartman whipped the boy rather severely and that Griffiths took a hand in the matter and threw him down'a flight of stairs. Do Ton Cough? Take Kemp's Balsam, the best cough cure. Sample bottles tree of druggists. Lai go bot tles 50c, tL Do Yon Eatf The old saying is, money talks. Well. I'll give you a pointer, the following prices will talk. Talk I yes, more than that They will make you jolly, laugh and grow fat. Business is business, and quantity makes all the difference in the world in buying goods. I have bought right and I am going to give you all a benefit. All orders ot ten ($10.00) dollars and up ward I will give you the benefit of the fol lowing: LOOK AT ZHESE FBICES: Every article bought iu my store not proving satisfactory can be retnrned, and I will cheerfully refund your money. All goods guaranteed No. 1. Send for Febru ary price list Order now or you will miss these bargains: 1 can blackberries $ 5 1 can string beans 6 1 can peat 6 1 can solid packed tomatoes 6 lean pumpcin 7 1 can genuine sugar corn 7 1 can best Lima beans 8 3 cans red salmon'. 25 9 lbs white clover honey 100 15 lbs California dried grapes .. 1 00 7 lbs choice evaporated apples 1 00 12 lbs sun dried apples 1 00 4 lbs chewing tobacco 1 00 1 gallon glass oil can, tin-covered 20 33 lbs Butler co. buckwheat 1 00 3 lbs evaporated raspberries..., 1 00 4 lbs Weynian's tobacco 1 00 5 lbs tea (in all varieties) 1 00 7 lbs roasted coffee (fresh ground) 1 00 50 bars pood family soap 1 00 Large family scales 1 95 10-lb kit mackerel 1 00 9 cans fresh mackerel 1 00 1 sack family Amber flour 115 1 sack high grade Minnesota flour.... 1 45 1 bbl high grade Minnesota flour 6 05 30 bars (5 cents size) soap. 1 00 ,New codfish, per lb 5 sugar cured ham, per lb 10 Sugar cured shoulder, per lb 7 4 lbs dried corn 25 1 clothes horse (4 wings; 6 feet) 85 7 lbs dessicated cocoauut 1 00 5 Ei finest .California evaporated peaches 1 00 1 package Johnny cake flour 7 Delivered to all parts of two cities. To parties living outside of the city will prepay' freight on all orders of $10 and upward. Send for price list, James J. Weldok, No." 201 Market street, Corner Second avenue, Pittsburg. Telephone No. 1861. GOOD THINGS For Most Men to Know: That Monday (to-morrow) is aday of special bargains in men's overcoats, suits and pants at the P. C. C. C. That our S7 40 men's overcoats are the finest ever sold for the money. They include silk-lined chinchillas, smooth meltons and cassimeres and fine ker seys price lor choice, $7 40. That our $6 50 men's suits in neat desira ble patterns (sacks or cutaways) are worth three times the price we ask. That we sell men's cassimere pants for ?1 50, and also for Monday only we will offer 100 heavy ulsters at only $2 10 each. P. C. C. C, PlXTSBUBG COMniNATIOlT Clothing Company, corner Grant ami Diamond strects.opposite the Court House. Excursion to Cincinnati, O. The Baltimore and Ohio Bailroad will sell excursion tickets to Cincinnati, O., at rate 111 20 for the round trip. Tickets good for return passage -until February 3, 1891, inclusive. FKIENDS OF FIDELITY. Manager Frank B. Fleming, of the Pittsburg Office, Promoted. IN CHARGE. OF WESTERN AGENTS. A Grand Banquet Given at the Hotel Du quesne Last Evening. IHTEEEBTIXG AKD ISSTKUCT1TE TALK Frank B. Fleming, who has for a long time been the Pittsburg manager of the Fi delity Mutual Life Association, of Phila delphia, has been promoted to the position of manager of Western agencies, with head quarters at Chicago, and in honor of his ad vancement banqueted, the new manager, A. J. Heniptoge, his office force and agents, at the Holel.Duqucsne, last evening. The , Pittsburg agency covers Western Pennsylvania, and is, the banner agency of the association. Ever since Mr. Fleming took charge the business has rapidly in creased, and his successor starts out in such a way that it seems extremely likely to keep its proud position. The banqueters bad a, jolly good time, ior though tbey are sorry to lose Mr. Fleming, they are all glad of his advancement and were not slow in their demonstrations of the fact. Tne occasion was made all the more pleasant and notable by the presence of John A. Cass, of Philadelphia, General Superintendent Agencies, as a representa tive of the company. The banquet was pre sided over by the Duquesne chef, George Savo, who, by his affable manner and splen did arrangements, made the affair an ex tremely pleasant one. Mr. Fleming's Interesting; Address. Mr. -Fleming presided, and was the first speaker. He expressed his pleasure at meet ing so many of his co-workers and others prior to his transfer to another field. He referred to the fact that while the Pittsburg agency had been for the past six month the banner agency of the Fidelity, the work had been done by four or five active men, who, in that time, had written about three fourths of a $1,000,000 of paid busi ness. He attributed that success to the fact that his assistants were properly versed in the science of life insurance, being familiar with their own system, as well as all others, and so able to institute compar ison. He believed that where a comparison was fairly made it wonld always be found to be true'that the Fidelity offered advantages to the insured whicn could not be equaled by any other company in America. He de clared that neither he nor his agents had ever yet been defeated in a case of fair com petition'for business, nor did they exnect to be, for the Fidelity's plan was sure to win if properly stated. Some Different Kinds of Insurance. Mr. Fleming went on to analyze an old line premium, and showed that at the age of 45, when the average life of a policy is but about nine years, and the vearlv premium tor each $1,000 insurance is $37 97, the ex pense element alone is $10 85, while the mortality element is but $10 55, and the balance, or $16 57, is the reserve or banking element. He called special attention to the fact that the expense element, or the money used for the prosecution of the business, is larger than the amount used lor the pay ment of death losses. This he characterized as an injustice, and declared that the Fidelity's plan was the only just one, wherein the expense element was limited to $4 per $1,000 at every age. He then showed that if a man lives to the end of his expectancy, according to the American experience table, it proved that the company had taken- no risk on his life, but that he had paid his own share for the poorer risk who had died and had banked with the company an amount of money, which, at 4 per cent compound interest. would be equal tj the face of the policy. An Absolutely Uncalled for Charge. This, the speaker characterized as a charge iu every respect excessive, and ab solutely uncalled for on the basis of past ex perience. As against this, he stated that the Fidelity's rate at the same age was bnt $25 17, of which only $4 could be used for the expense of management, while $12 33 was setapart'for pavment of claims, and a reserve element of $8 79 is held to cover the increasing cost of mortality due to increasing years. On 'each element of the premium he insisted that the Fidelity had; an advantage over the older system. The expense charge is more than 50 per -cent less; the reserve element about the same; while the mortality element, which is the essential feature in an Insurance premium anyhow, was consider ably larger. The reserve element of an old line company he pronounced excessive and unjust; it was collected on the idea that every policy will become a claim at death, or at maturity, whereas the sworn statement of the company shows that less than 50 per cent of the policies ever do become claims. The Fidelity Guards Against Error. The Fidelity guards against the error ef the ordinary assessment company. That error consists in sot providing for the in creased cost incident to increasing age. Any company which does not collect more than enough o pay its. current claims, and do not hold some reserve, paid in by each policyholder, as a sum which he must forfeit in case he declined to pay other just claims upon him, would surely come to grief, just as hundreds of poor assessment companies have already done. In short, the Fidelity took into account all the probabilities or chances in the business, and constructed its premiums with these in mind. Its rates were such that no company had yet existed long enough to prove their in adequacy, and there was no human proba bility that the Fidelity would ever be called upon to levy an additional assessment, though they reserved tbe right to do so, in case of need, and in this way gave tbe very strongest assurance of their ability to meet auy future experience, which might come. Opposes the Endowment Insurance. In closing, Mr. Fleming opposed the en dowment insurance on tbe ground that no policy bad ever paid any man as an invest ment unless he died, and then he might have had his insurance without paying the excessive endowment prices. He expressed the opinion that the district under his suc cessor was bound to be the leading agency in this country, and urged that every man should give his best effort in this direction. Alter the close of Mr. Fleming's address short speeches of a complimentary charac ter were made by the new manager, A. J. Emptage. John A. Cass, J. E. Stevenson, Dr. William Mercur, Dr. William McCas lin, AY. J. Armstrong, F. Wheaton, L. Strayer, E. Berrick and others. SECOND MIDWINTER EXCURSION TO "WASHINGTON CITY, Via the B. & O. IE. K., On Thursday, February 12. Bate, $9 the round trip, tickets good for ten days and valid for trip to Baltimore. Trains leave Pittsburg at 7:25 A. M. and 950 p. m. Pull man parlor cars on day traiu and sleeping cars on night train. Tills Month Only We will make with every dozen of our best cabinet photos an 8x10 handsomely colored photo, with elegant frame, also cabinet photos at $1 per dozen. Life size crayon portraits $3 50. LIES' Gallery, Tlisu 10 and 12 Sixtli street. Messrs. J. F. Makqtjardt & Son, prominent druggists of Tiffiu, O., say tha Chamberlain's Cough Remedy gives the best of satisfaction and takes the lead there. WSu Do Yon Intend to Move? Rooms and bouses eligibly situated ad vertised in The Dispatch. Special To-Let lists Mondays and Thursdays, IT DRAWS THE PEOPLE. KAUFMANNS' CtEVEB PI AN FOE FOX ING THEIR STORE. A System of Free Distribution That Seem to Have Caught the Popular Fancy Goods Given Away to Customers Every Five Minutes or the Day. The Kaufmanns have hit upon a wonder fully unique scheme of advertising their goods. They adopted a system of free dis tribution of merchandise last Monday which they proposed to run for one week, but it has proved so successful that they have de cided to give their customers another oppor tunity to try their luck- dnring'the coming week. From 9 o'clock last Monday morn ing up to the closing hour last night they had given away over $4,000 worth ot goods. The system of distribution is a very sim ple one. Whatever amount of money first reaches the cashier's desk, on the first floor, immediately after the expiration of every five minutes after 9 o'clock in the morning is immediately handed back to the cus tomer. It makes no difference whether the amount be 50 cents or $50, the customer gets his goods for nothing. All money for pur chases are sent to the cashier in little cash carriers through pneumatio tubes. Stand ing at the cashier's window is a clerk with a watch in hand. Every five minutes he taps a bell, and the first carrier that drops from the tube contains the money of the lucky purchaser. The party is called, the money handed back, and a happy customer leaves the store. There is no doubt of the fairness of the scheme. The people who are buying cannot tell what their luck may he, nor can there be any collusion with the people who receive the little cash boxes or with the clerk who calls the time. By actual count there are given away under this five minutes' rule 108 purchases between the hours of 9 A. m. aud 6 P. m. Yesterday cash was retnrned to 156 persons. That this free distribution has been most popular is shown by the crowds that daily fill the mammoth' store. The list of lucky buyers is printed each day in The Dis patch. The members of the firm, while acknowledging that 'it is rather an ex pensive way of advertising, are satisfied that it pays them in the long run. It is a busi ness venture, which, though costly at first, pays them by attracting thousands of buyers which tends largely to reduce the stock of fall and winter goods. A member of the firm said yesterday that the increased sales mean a saving to them of about $2,000 in insurance, $5,000 in interest, gives them plenty of room lor new spring goods, and en ables them to lay in an entirely new and fresh stock next fall. Beginning with to-morrow morning at five minutes after 9 o'clock the free distribu tion will continue every five minutes nntll 6 o'clock in the evening each day, and on Saturday evening until 10 .o'clock. The interest that is taken in this novel mode of drawing people to this popular bouse is well illustrated, not only by the throngs on tbe several floors, but by the crowds that stand about the casbier's'wln dow aud watch the lucky cash receiver as it pops' from the tube. If they have not already tried their luck the temptation is too great for them to resist, and they forth with proceed to make a purchase. It is amusing to see some who watch the timekeeper closely, and .when they think they have just time to make a purchase and have their cash reach the office as the bell rings, rush to a counter and buy same thing, no matter what. And sometimes they "get there,'.' too. Still, all have an equal chance for, as stated above, nothing could be more fair than this system of free distribntion. For the Children. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is a great favorite with mothers for their children, as many of them have learned from long ex perience in the use of it that it is reliable. It promptly cures their children ot coughs and colds, prevents them from having the croup, or cures them of croup. They have also found that there is no danger in giving it even in large doses, and that it is pleasant for them to take. wsu . . Bargains. $6 pants, $25 suitings to order, at Pit cairn's, 434 Wood street. TiRcnur -A. An Exact Reprint of the Encyclopaedia Britannica with the American Supplement, Complete in Thirty Volumes, at 81 50 Per Volume - J X-ir-A- - rz4 S-4- 1 - '-i j 1 t i - 4- py Wo are publishing a new reprint of the ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA at $150 per vol., being less tban one sixth tne price of tbe latest English edition, which we reproduce pago for page, map for map. vclums fur volume. No such book has ever been put upon tbe market of such size and quality ot binding, tor so low a price. It contains tho highest character of Knowledge and literature in tbe world, written by the most eminent living authors and specialists. It Is the greatest work of its kind ever pub lished in the English language. In offering the Encyclopaedia at this unprecedentedly low pnce.the publishers have reason to believe the opportunity will not be lost by the purchasing public The Encyclopaedia Britannica t a library itself, and stands ready on tha shelves to answer every question In Physics, History. Politics. TradL Art, Geography and Philosophy, to fnrnlsa the latest information wanted on every .subject, we are the only publishers In the United States that can furnish this valuable work, including tbe American supplement. We speciallv desire to obtain as subscribers all those wbo ever entertained an Iilei of owninc; tbe Encyclopaedia Britannica, but hesitated on account of the higl. price. We are now ready to deliver tho set complete on easy tsrms. Agents wanted. Note our new address, 68 Sixtn aye. THE, HENRY G. ALLEN COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, 68 SIXTH AVENUE, - - - PITTSBURG, PA. fel-33 WE HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO C0XTINDE DURING FEBRUARY OUR OFFER OF THE PAST MONTH, Free of Charge ! Free of Charge ! ALL YOUR CARPETS Made and Laid. The past month has shown the eS'eot of "Printers Ink" in this regard. Hundreds of people have taken advantage of onr extraordinary oner and availed themselves of the op portunity to save a few dollars, which they surely have done. In order to accommodate those who have not had a chance financially or otherwise to have this work done free for them, we shall continue during the month of February to make and lay all Carpets bought free of charge. Come early, get the best selection, good atteutiou and prompt work. Of coure. when you think of a new Carpet, then something seems to say, Well, a. new PARLOR SUIT would look nice on it. Come down aud see onr new Parlor Boom. It is actually a feast to look into it. Completely remodeled and refurnished. All new suits, and all at our extraordinary low figures. 75-DJFFERENT SUITS TO SELECT FROM-75 Bedroom Furniture is our specialty at this time of the year. If early spring. cleaaejs) would call now, they can secure some rare bargains. WE ABE COMPLETE HOUSE FURNISHERS. CASH OK OBEDIT. HOPPER BR08. & CO,, 301 WOOID STREET, 307 Jfear Fourth NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. TnT-Jv The trouble with all imi tators is that they are apt to overlook the excellen cies and copy the defects. Sensible men adopt sen sible things whether they are native or foreign. The xgreat point is to avoid going to extremes. Our styles are in good taste simply because we throw aside the absurdities and avail ourselves of the best ideas wherever we find them. They include nothing that good, sound common sense will not immediately approve of. We are now manufactur- ing our . stock of Spring Clothing. We must make room, and every garment in the house must go if a big cut in prices will make it go. Pants and Overcoats must be sacrificed. All-wool Pants,sold every where at $4, $5 and $6, we are now selling at $2. 50, $3, $3.50 and $4. Overcoats, ready for spring wear, $8, $10 and $12. These are excellent values and worthy of at tention. The Only Manufacturing Clothiers, 954 and 956 liberty St - STAR CORNER. fei-TTsa live -aratieie ALL YOUR CURTAINS Hung to Order. Avenue, ,i3 Ci.a '"Li Jl. ijnf-3 tJ SBzSS ..&
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers