i&M Sl'ECIAI, TO LET LISTS Apiiear TO-DAY in THE DISPATCH'S CtA-siiriKD COLUMNS. RENTERS WILL FIND SPECIAL TO LET LISTS IN THE DISPATCH MONDAYS AND TIIUBSDAYS. L FORTY-SIXTH YEAR. PITTSBURG, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1891. THREE CENT& WW LIE WILL REFUSE To Take the Presidenta! Nomi nation in 1892 Under Any Circumstances. REASONS FOR DECLINING. The Secretary Announces to a Friend That He Will Sot Oppose His Chief, Who Is a CANDIDATE FOR A SECOND TEKU. His Health, While Somewhat Improved, Not Kobnst Enough to Be Kisied in an Excitinj Campaign. HOOSIEES WHO DID KOT GET OFFICES ire Deseruig the Ericn Staiflird in Droves nd Are AezIcu That the Ksine Ku Shall Etty is the Kite. iPIAKS Of SHE FARMERS' AIXIAKCE LEADERS rrnOM A STAFF COERESrOXDEXT.l "Washington, March 8. The reported veleof a majority of the Republicans of the Indiana Legislature for Blaine as the next Bepublican candidate for President, and the significant speeches for Blaine of several Teniinent members of the Indiana .Repub lican Club of this city, at their meeting last evening, have caused much gossip and a geoil deal of amusement among the politi cians irerc President Harrison was hardly installed is onicc before prettr nearly every able bodied Bepublican, and many who bad been etiaky both physically and politically for years, became an applicant for office. They wanted office, but they wanted all the good, tat. soft places, where there was big pay and little to do, and they wanted them right atttfv. ?sot Enough l'laccs to Go Around. Sir Harrison started in bravely and got oway with some hundreds of his immedi ate constituents, hitting with remarkable Eccuracy those who had been of most use to ium in the past, or who could be put to good Bse in the future, but it took him only a few months to discover that there were not enough offices to go round the Indiana appli cants, to say nothing of a candidate here anil there from other States, who modestly End with apologies tiled his pacers in the liepe that Indiana would one day be satis fied!. That Indiana is not satisfied has been evident for a long time, and now it appears that the several thousand oPicc-seeking Hoositrs who were left out are about to formally declare war against Mr. Harrison. Most of the present members of the Indi ana Legislature are local politicians, who, to use their own sort of English, have been "turned down" by Harrison. The Indiana Jtepwblican Clnb here was organized lrom Heosiers already appointed, or who hoped 10 lie appointed to cilice. Cause of the Chunse of Heart. Some of them have abandoned that hope end hence the "ringing" speeches of last evening landing Maine and reciprocitv to the seventh heaven. Mr. Blaine Is. taken lip by the anti-Harrison men because they Ijclicvo that another Blaine furore like that of 1SSS will manifest itself within the next year and no one denies thai the man from Maine bids lair to be talked of immensely in connection with the Uepublican nomina tion. But right there comes in the question of Elaine's acceptance and that, to those who pretend to be thoroughly posted, is not even ss problematical as in 16SS. While some of Ins nearest friends, not to say relatives, as sert that if "Jim" is nominated without anv action or ccn ni vancc on his part be will ac cept, there is very definite information to to the contrary. Unbosomed Himself ton Friend. To-day the correspondent of The Dis patch had a long conversation on this sub ject with a citizen of Maine who is a close sad loyal friend of Mr. Blaine. The jeal ousy of the Secretary, entertained by Speaker Beed and Senator Frye, was dis casseu at some length, and then followed the subject of Mr. Blaine's candidacy. "I think I know Blaine's mind in this matter as well as any man living except liimself," said the Secretary's friend, "and I know that he will not be a candidate. "Within the last week he has assured me in the most positive manner that he would not n-cept, even if be were nominated. I am S ire his decision is final. There are several r-isons, and all of them good ones, as he t-Iices, why he should not. In the first place, he thinks it would be in very bad taste for him to permit it to be even sus pected that he would antagonize the renum jnation of Mr. Harrison, who is ascertain to be a candidate for the renomination as the sun is to rise on the year 1892. Again, though his health is much better than it was in 168S, it is ot or That Kolmst Kind which would probably endure uninjured the strain of a campaign, or if that be success fully passed, the horrible wear and tear of a term of the executive office. His health is Eolt, hut it has to be looked after and Bursed. If he were absolutely sure of election he might be willing to run the risk of an early death for the honor of having Ins name enrolled in the roster of Presidents, tint tne doubt thut hangs about the thing is enough to decide him. Having been de feated once, and Lis Democratic victor hav ing been in turn defeated by a Bepublican, and that Bepublican Ben Harrison, you can see that it would be ten-fold more humili ating to go in and be de eated again. It would be crushing. Whether these and other reasons separate and combined, justify Mi. Blaine in bis cour-e or not, he -has dc t'ied, and, I believe, beyotid the possibility l aciutigeof mind, not loc'pt the nomi nation in any circumstance. With all the Ulliocholdin; Machinery at IiU Command, end as really strong and clean an adininis iiralion at his back as has ever been given since the republic was founded, there is no good reason why Harrison should not capt; ure the nomination a second time, notwith standing the opposition of the kickcr6 who failed to get office, and once nominated it is probable he could be elected, if any Bepub lican can. In that case Blaine, it he de sired it, would certainly be retained in the Cabinet. Therefore, in case of Republican defeat, he would be relieved of responsibil ity and humiliation, and in the event of success he would still hold his high office, scarcely less distinguished and honorable than that of the Presidency, and in which he could continue the grand work of draw ing together all the American republics now so thoroughly begun." LlOIITXEE. ALL RIPE FOR ACTION. LEADEES OF THE FABMEES' ALLIANCE FAVOH A HEW PASTY. Strong Probability of a Fresidental Ticket Being Hoisted In 1893 Ignatius Don nelly and Weaver, of Iowa, Mentioned as Candidates Jerry Simpson Exultant. ffrtCIAL TELBOBAM TO TIM DISrATCn.1 Washington, March 8. The two fore most leaders of the Kansas Farmers' Al liance, Senator Peffer and Congressman Simpson, are both in favor of the organiza tion of a new political party under the au spices of the Alliance. It is important that this fact should be duly considered, and also that the two Kansas feminine boomers of the Alliance, rs. Lease and Mrs. Driggs, take the same ground. The influence of the these four leaders is very great. Congressman Jerry Simpson Eays that the party is sure to be set up at the Cincinnati conference in May, on the plat form adopted last year at St. Louis, as the representative of all the industrial interests of the country ; and he almost loses control of himself as he predicts the triumphs that it is bound to win this year and next. Senator Pefler speaks with less assurance, but be is ready for action in the month of May, when, in his opinion, the working forces of the country will be united. Sena tor Kvle, of South Dakota, has also taken ground in favor of the new party. "I stand," he savs, "upon the triple-plank platform adopted at St. Louis by the Alli ance and the labor organizations, and shall uphold the course that is taken at Cincin nati." Mr. Driggs says that the new political party is to be known as the People's Party, and that it will hoist a Presidcntal ticket in the election of next year. Congressman Davis, of Kansas, says that the Alliance will surely put up a Presidental candidate; that the.new party will probably nominate Greenback Weaver, of Iowa, and that its action may be the means of throwing the election jnto the next House, which will have 13 Alliance members. Others leaders, how ever, hold that Iguatins Donnelly, of Minnesota, has a chance of getting the nomination. If Streeter. of Ill inois, should be elected to the Senate by the Legislature of that State, he might become the Alliance nomiuee for the Presidency next year. The President "of the National Farmers' Alliance, Colonel Polk, of North Carolina, is jruarded in his language wheu referring to this tubject, but he recently went so far as to utter the remark that "the Alliance contemplates patting a National ticket in the field in 1892." NICKEL-STEEL ABKOK. , I A-European Synfflrato,-tn2rffiinsg,'K Itojalty on Carnegie, Fhipps & Co.'s l'latcs, trjiou a STArr copjiespoxdent. AVashingtojt, March 8. Since the United States has begun to experiment with nickel-steel for armor-plating, a syndi cate of European capitalists, including Schneider & Co., of Le Creusot, the French armor makers, have set up a claim for a royalty of 2 cents a pound on all nickel steel rrraor made, claiming that their pat ents cover the prooess. This claim will be contested by Carneg'c, Phipps & Co., of Pittsburg, wiio are now making five experi mental plates, two of steel aud three of nickel-steel, with differing proportions of nickel ore steel plates and one nickel plate will be treated by the Harvey process. The plates will be eight feet high six feet wide and three inches thick. They will all be tested under the same conditions to de termine the comparative value of the dif ferent compositions and processes. On ac count of the thinness of the plates, the gun used will be a six-pounder Hotchkiss. The test ill occur within the next two months. JOBS IN THE INDIAN BILL. Tho Sweeping Charge Made by a Member of the Late Congress. EI-ECIAt TELECBAM TO TUB DIsPATCI. . Washington, March 8. "If any job was left out of the bill it was through an oversight," said an experienced Congress man to-day in speaking of the Indian ap propriation bill. ,, The character of 4hat bill has created great astonishment It was finally passed as the handiwork of a conference commit tee, nut it cannot yet ue ootaiued in printed form aud nobody can tell, until it is printed aud minutelv examined by the Treasury experts what the real charactor of it all may be. Congressman Peel, of Arkansas, a member of the Com mittee on Indian Affairs, says he thought the amount of money it carried would ranee somewhere between S16,000,000 and 520,000,000. Of this amount, what ever it is, only about 50,000,000 is appropriated for the Indian service proper. The unknown remainder is for ex peuses of outside legislation, said to be of the most questionable character in the shape of shady treaty stipulations with Indians and downright jobs. A TALE ON BECIPE0C1TY. Canadian Officials to Meet and Discuss tho Subject. rrrrciAi. teleokak to tub dispatch.i Ottawa, March 8. On Wednesday there will be a full meeting of the Cabinet, lor the first time since the elections, to de cide upon the line of action that the Gov ernment will take with regard to opening reciprocity negotiations at Washington. Sir John Thompson, Minister ol Justice, who represented Canada at the late conference at Washington, will be associ ated on this occasion with Sir Charles Tnp pcr as Canada's commission. Newfound land will be invited to join in the negotiations and send a representative to look after the interests of that colony during the negotiations. Parliament will meet in six weeks. It has not been definitely decided whether the Canadian Commissioners will start out for Washington also, or whether their visit will be delayed until the new Parliament has in some way expressed its desire for the open ing of negotiations and the line thev shonld take. SENT BICK TO ITALY. A IS.itch of Contract Laborer Returned to Their Nutiie soil. frF:iAl-TtLtG ISAM TO TUE DISPATCH. New Yobk, March 8. Twenty-eight con tract laborers, who had been broucht here from Italy by padroncs, were sent back Saturday. They had been assured, before leaving their Italian homes that they would be welcomed here and would get big wages. When it was discovered that they had come here under contract to work in the mines of Pennsylvania they were deprived of their libertv. SAWS IN THEIR CELLS. THE NICELY BOYS HEADY FOB ANOTHEB DESPEBATE BBEAK. Discovery ot Sheriff Good That Will Balk Thoir I'lans for a Time at Least The Cool Confession made by One of the Brothers. Somerset, March 8. Sheriff Good to day discovered that the convicted murderer, Joe Nicely, was shamming insanity. The The Sheriff found six saws in different places in his cell and several in the cell oc cupied by his brother Dave. This discovery prevented the third attempt of these des perate criminals to escape from the county jail. The Sheriff was walking through the corridors at noon when his attention was at tracted by a bright spot on the grating of Dave Nicely's cell door.nearly sixfeetabove the floor, and just even with the Sheriff's eye. Without apparently noticing the bright snot on the grating the officer retired from the prison, and going to the court house requested several of the court officials to go with him and assist in making a search of the Nicely boys' cell. Returning to the jail the sheriff transferred Dave to another cell before beginning the search. The bright spot that had attracted his attention he found had been made by the teeth of a sharp saw. In a short time he found seven thin scroll saws. Some were hidden between the steel plates of the cell walls, and the others were concealed in the ceiling of the corridor, within easy reach of the prisoners. Ex-Begister Swark kept a close watch on Joe Nicely while the search of his brother's cell was being made, and when the Sheriff entered and asked, "Joe, have yon any saws in rour cell?" the prisoner replied; "I guess you can find a couple in here." The Sheriff found three without much trouble, and turning to the prisoner asked: "Are there any more?" "I think you will find two in the tick in my bunk," said the prisoner, "and down there in that corner you will find an other." Two saws were found in the bunk and one in the corner, as the prisoner had indicated. A small file for sharpening the saws was discovered in another corner of ths cell. "The grating on these cells is entirely too hard for saws of this kind, and yon might as well take them all, as they are of no use to us," added Joe. SHOT TEEOTJGH THE HEAET. The Son of n Swedish Nobleman Ends Ills Llfo in Chicago. Chicago, March 8. Arvid Erickson, 21 years of age and the son of a Swedish nobleman, committed sui cide by shooting himself through the heart at No. 9237 Commercial avenue this afternoon. Erickson came to Chicago, August 2 last, and immediately obtained employment from" Charles Will iams, the manufacturing jewelei iu Kensing ton. Some time ago Mr. Williams jokingly re marKed that no ought to bestow his ntlec- tions upon some young lady.to which tricky marked that he ought to bestow his affecj son repueu mai ne uuu learnea oy Dittsr experience the folly of it, and that his. com ing to America was owing to an oltair be' tween a woman he loved and liimself. The only correspondence carried on by Erickson was with some unknown person in Sweden. He received a letter every week, and when it came would always go to his room to read the missive. Saturday he re reived the usual letter, and was out of sorts during the day. No particular attention was given his mood, and toward night he bec3ine more cheerful. To-day when the family returned from church they found the suicide in his room. TK0UBLES IN THE CHTJBCH. Straggle at Reading Between the Bowman and Anti-Bowmanltos. Beading, March 8. The trustees of the Sixth Street Evangelical Church this morn ing refused Be v. A. H. Krecker, the Bow man representative, permission to enter the pulpit, and Bev. J. H. Shirey, anti-Bowman, was accepted as the pastor. Bev. Krecker and over 100 of his followers filed out of church in a body and worshiped in the Hebrew temple. The injunction issued by the court yester day against A. Kresge, the Bowman pastor, restraining him and his followers from in terfering with Bev. F. P. Lehr, anti Bow man, haJ the effect of keeping Kresge and his parly away and Bev. Mr. Lehr held undisputed possession. At Mohnsville, this county Bev. Joseph Sprecht, anti-Bowman, was refused admission to the pulpit by the trustees, and Bev. D. B. Albright, Bowman preacher, was received as the pastor. A 5PCAETHYITE DELEGATE. Dr. ToxArrlTes in Now York on His Finan cial Mission. srECIAI. TELEGHAM TO TUB DISrATCn.1 New York, March 8. Dr. Joseph F. Fox, a member of Parliament from Kings county, Ireland, and a supporter of Justin McCarthy, has arrived in this city. Dr. Fox comes as the representative of the anti Parnellite party to raise money to aid evicted tenants. Although it was known that Dr. Fox had intended to come to this country, very fev knew when he started on his journey. He is well known to Irish Americans, having spent many years in this country. It is hisplan to raise money for the exiled tenants' fund by private subscription, in stead ot by public meetings. He intends to carry out the same plan in Boston, Philadel phia, Chicago and the other large cities which he will visit. PERISHED IN THE SNOW. A Manltoban Priest Who Tried to Get Hoine for Sunday Service. Winnipeg, Man., March 8. A Begina dispatch reports that Bev. Father Graton, a Catholic priest of Begina, was fonud dead this morning five miles outside of the city. He left on Thursday to assist in the elec tions. On the return his team gave out. Father Graton then walked on, being anxions to reach Be?ina for Sunday services. He was found dead this morning in the snow, hav ing perished from exposure. ANNA DICKINSON IMfEOVING. Her Untlro Recovery Said to De Only a Mat ter of a Few Months. Pittston. Pa., March 8. According to reports received here to-day 'from the Dan ville Asylum, Anna Dickinson is gradually improving. Dr. Shnltz.the superintendent, says that her entire recovery is only a mat ter of a few months. He is of the opluion, hmrcver, that when she is discharged from that institution she should have a foreign trip, and the fund now being subscribed by her PhiladelDhia friends will doubtless be used for this purpose. TOO STINGY TO LIVE. A Miserly Mother and Son, Who Were Worth More Than $50,000, FOUHD DEAD IS THE SAME ROOM, Every Indication That Starvation Was the Causo of Their End. A TERRIBLE TALE OP THE QUAKER CITY (ErSCIAL TELEORA1I TO TUB DISPATCH.I Philadelphia. March 7. Surrounded with squalor and filth, worth over $50,000, and divided by a stove, the dead bodies of Nancy, otherwise known as Hannah McWil liamsand her son David were discovered to-night by special officer Beading and Lieutenant Burke, of the Fourth district, lying on the floor of the chambers of their house at the corner of Maryland and Mul berry streets, which are small thoroughfares running between Bace and Vine and Fifth and Sixth streets. The scene of the deathbed of the female miser aud her son is beyond description. They apparently died from starvation, as all the surroundings seem to lead to this con clusion. The old woman, Hannah McWill iams, was known around the neighbor hood as Miser Naney. She was 70 years of age, and was the widow of David McWilliams, who amassed a fortune in the saloon business at the corner of Mary land and Mulberry streets, and who died about 1878, leaving ah estate at thU time es timated to be worth $00,000 to his widow. Before his death McWilliams had retired from the liquor business, and spent his time in collecting rents from real estate which he owned in different parts of the city. A Lifo of Entlro Seclusion. After his death the old lady and her two sons, Frank, who since died, and David the youngest son, who was fonnd dead by the side of his mother to-day, began to live a life of seclusion. They lived entirely in the kitchen of the honse and refused to give themselves the benefit of the ordinary comforts which their means would have amply allowed them to do. The old lady eyed with surprise all her relatives who called upon her, thinking thev were scheming to steal her hoarded wealth. When any of her neighbors, of whom sho hail four, endeavored to induce her to live decently and comfortably, she would abuse them and order them out of her house. Her relatives accused her of being the cause of the death of her son Frank, who died five years ago from neglect and starvation. He was taken ill with typhoid fever, and it is said she refused to allow him the aid of n physician. She also refused to buy food for him, and consequently he died shortly after he was taken sick. Accidental Discovery of tho Bodies. The discovery of the bodies was made by accident. About 5 o'clock this attcrnoon a handsomely dressed young woman walked up Maryland street, and stopping at the McWilliamt honse knocked at the door. The shutters were all fastened tightly from the inside and the place seemed to be deserted. The young woman, who was Mrs. John Tainer, a niece of the miser, knocked at the door several times, aud, receiving n- answer, she turned to a man on tfw corner and inquired if "Nanny" had been seen lately. While the two were talking Special Officer Beading, who lives near by, approached and inquired th.i causo of the disturbance, for by this time a large crowd of people had been attracted by the strange sight of the pretty and "Handsomely dressed woman" at the door of the miser's home. He was told by Mrs. Trainer of her unsuccessful at tempts to gain admittance, and her fear that something had happened, and she in duced the officer to force open the door. He then forced his way to the kitchen where a horrible and sickening sight met his eyes. He picked his way through the filthy rags piled high in the 'room and ex amined the bodies. They were cold in death. The woman was lying on her back on the floor both hands clntching her neck. She apparently died some time on Saturday. One Dead for Set oral Days. Her eyes and mouth were wide open as were also those of the dead son, who from all appearances has been dead for several dajs. He had apparently died in pain, as his face was much distorted and the body was badly discolored. Both bodies lay on large piles of old clothing on the floor, and were only about three feet apart, being separated by a stove which has had no fire for several days. The old lady was last seen on Friday afternoon late by some neighbors. The sou has not been seen for over a week past. Mrs. John Trainer, wife of John Trainer, a nephew of Mrs. McWilliams, was seen at her residence, 444 Christian street, to-nicht. She was very reticent at first, but finally told the history of Mrs. McWilliams. She said: "She has been this way ever since David," meaning the old man," "died, and all our efforts to induce her to live decently were met with a refusal, aud we always got a good blackguarding when we visited her. She was immensely wealthy beyond a a.doubt, as she has been hoardingiiway for the past 15 years. She has a large bank acconnt at the savings fund at Seventh and Walnut streets. She is Known to own a number of houses, five of which adjoin her own, where she was found dead, and four or five at Second and Thompson streets and two or three in Richmond. She has bonds and securities put awiy in some bank, as she was afraid to have them about the house, for Sho Had a Dread or Barglars. She always eyed me with suspicion, and when we visited her she always thought it was for the purpose of stealing her money." Mrs. Trainer accounts for her aunt's miserly habits by saying that she was de mented. The cause of her insanity she at tributes to the loss of her two daughters, who were on nn ocean steamer bound to this country which was lost at sea. The loss of her children preyed upon her mind and she has not been the same person since. She married David McWilliams in Ireland aud they came to this country 40 years ago and at once opened a saloon-at Maryland and Mulberry streets. "The way in which I came to visit the house to-day was this," continued Mrs. Trainer. "My husband was up to see theni last Sunday aud David was very sick. He was suffering from consumption and had no food or proper care. This afternoon after finishing our supper my husband requested me to take some of it up to David, which I started to do. The rest you know." THEOWN FEOM THE TBACK. Fatal Sinashup of a Passenger Train on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe. Peoria, March 8. The Jacksonville Southeastern fast passenger train over the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, whichleft here at 1:30 this morning, met with ter rible accident at Havana, 41 miles south of this place. At Havana there is a sharp curve a mile and a half from the depot, and the engine struck tie curve at the switch and left the track. All the carp followed, piling up in great confusion. Under the engine was Fireman .Saddler, who was in stantly killed. By the side of the engine was Engineer Qeorge Birkenhead, of this city, with one arm aud a leg cut off. The others injured are: Edward Hemmett, of Peoria, burned and badly bruised; Walter Conover, of Manito, Ills., left arm torn out and fatally injured; Charles Mulvaney, of Streator, 111., back and head crushed, Till die; Miss Emma Busktou, of St. Louis, seriously bruised; Messenger Bates, of Chicago, left foot torn off and badly'bruised; Frank P. Lewis, of Peoria, seriously jammed in the breast. The wreck immediately took fire and burned wilh great rapidity. It was with the ut most difficulty that some of the passengers were rescued, and one or two were severely burned. THE WHEELING TRAGEDY. DB, GAEBIS0N TELLS WHY HE SHOT AND KILLED DR. BAIRD. The Latter Dad Often Threatened His Iife and Acted as if no Intended to Shoot lie Expresses Much Begret for tho Oc currence. I PI'ECIAI. TKLEQKAM TO THE DISPATCH, t Wheeling, March 8. About midnight last night Dr. George Garrison, the mur derer of Dr. Baird, made a statement of the tragedy for publication. He said: "I have long been the victim of slander ous statements from the tongue of Dr. Baird, and only those fully acquainted with the circumstances are aware of the humili ation and discomfort it has caused me. There has been an ill-feeling be tween us ever since the unfortunate occurrence in the city building last spring. Dr. Baird repeatedly made dire threats against me. Immediately after the fight at the city building. Dr. Baird threatened to blow my head off some day. Yesterday morning I got up and first at ended to some business with a friend rela tive to a deed, and then proceeded down town in a car, arriving at Eleventh street I alighted, and walked to the lower end of the Market House. I had proceeded but a short distance down Eleventh street, when I saw Dr. Baird coming along slowly in a carriage. I was aware that my presence Would excite some remarks from the doctor, and anxious to avoid unpleasantness, I lowered my head as if to pass by unnoticed, bnt just 3.3 Dr. Baird was passing he caught a glimcse of me and began blackguarding me. Afte' exchanging some words Dr. Baird placed his hand in his left-hand pocket, and thinking he was going to suit his action to his words, I immediately pnlld a revolver out of my pocket and fired. "I deeply regret the occurrence, but I felt at the time it was only a question of a mo ment wheu one of us was to die, and, act ing on the delensive, I fired the fatal shot. The testimony at the inquest in regard to taj walking some way with the pistol in my hand is false, as I did not pull it from my pocket until the actions of Dr. Baird ex cited me." A VAST SUM OF HONEY Said to llavo Been Burled Near Wilkcsbarro by a Spaniard. Wilkesdarre, March 8. The First National Bank of Pittston has received a letter from Spain, signed by a priest, stating that a vast sum of money is buried somewhere iu this vicinity. The letter says one of the most favored of the courtiers of the late King Alphonso was given a large sum of money, said to be 1,000,000 francs, while the King was on his death bed, in re turn for the performance of a dying wish. The Queen was jealous of the courtier, and at the King's death instructed her am bassador to arrest the courtier for stealing a casket containing a number of jewels from the palace. He fled to America and buried his treasure, but returned to Spain and was arrested and put in prison, where he died. MRS. WHEAT DIVOECED. A Baltimore Case That Onco Threatened a Tragedy Finally Ended. rEFECIAI. TELEORAM TO THE DISPATCTM Baltimore, March 8. The Wheat divorce case, which came near terminating in a tragedy about three months ago, has been decided in favor of Mrs. Annie M. Wheat, the plaintiff. Possession of ber children and alimony were awarded to her. A brother of Mrs. Wheat came here from Louisville last October with the avowed in tention of killing his sister's husband. He succeeded in meeting Wheat on the street, and before the police could prevent him, bad dealt his brother-in-law a blow in the lace, knocking him down. When searched a cowhide and a revolver were found on him. THE MISSISSIPPI EISINO. An Unprecedented Baiufall, With Fears of a Serious Flood. MEMrms, March 8. Tho rainfall in this city and section of the South for the past two days is unprecedented. Nearly five inches have fallen in this city during the past 48 hours. Specials from the adjacent coun try report the rain as general. The entire lower part of Canton, Miss., is under water and all trains on the Illinois Central road are delayed. Jackson, Miss., reports the Pearl river as having risen three feet in 12 hours, and all trains delayed no trains having arrived from the South since Saturday. The Mis sissippi, at Memphis, is one and a half feet above the danger line and still rising. CABPENTEES PEEPAEH1Q TO STEIKE. Chicago Workmen Determined to Dave a nigher Scale of Wugcs. CniCAGO, March 8. At a mass meeting of the journeymen carpenters of Chicago this afternoon it was decided that should the master-carpenters not conclude to accede to the proposition to arbitrate to differences between the carpenters and their employers, a strike of great magnitude will be in augurated. Fully 3,000 men were present at the meet ing, and by their frequent outbursts of cheers showed their enthusiasm. The ques tion of wagts was declared to be the only point at issue, the journeymen wishing to establish a minimum rate of 37 cents per hour. ANOTHEE FLOHAL VOTE Will Bo Taken to Select a State riower for New Yorlc. ISPECIAL TrLEORAJITOTIIEDISPATCn.l Albany. March 8. The Arbor Day cir cular of the Department of Public Instruc tion announces that another vote will be taken on the selection of a State flower. This count was begun lst year, and re sulted in the choice of the golden I od, which received 81,308 and the rose 79.000. To all but the Assistant Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction and the florists of the State, who hoped to reap a profit out of the further popularity of the rose, the decision was accepted as satisfactory and final and the golden rod understood to be the State flower. PEESEEVING SHB?S BOTTOMS. .Experimenting With Japanese Laqaer on Naval Vessels. fSPECIAl, TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.I New York, March 8. Japanese laqner is being tried at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with a view to the protection of the steel hulls of the new vessels from the corrosive action of sea water and the fouling ot the bottoms by marine growths. An engineer officer at the navy yard, who has recently returned from a cruise in Asiatic waters, where he had an opportunity to study the princlpels and results of lacquer treatment, said that there seems to be no question that lacquer on ships' bottoms ia superior to any paint yet found. A BATTLE ON TAIES Now Looming Up as the Great Com ing Event in the Lejjislatnre. OPPOSITION OF THE RAILROADS To tho Manner in Which They Are Assessed by the Revenue Bill. ANT AMOUNT OP W0EK FOE THIS WEEK iFEOM A STAFF COBRESrONOENT.l Hakkisbukg, March 8. The coming week promises to be a busy one. Both houses seem settled down to work, and each has plenty before it. In the Senate the road bill comes up on third reading. The amendments were all made on second read ing, and the bill will doubtless go to the House in its present shape. The half-holi-d:y bill and eight-hour law also come up on final passage. Senator Mylin's bill appropriating $1,000, 000 for the improvement of the roads is up for second reading, as will be Senator Eobm son's bill for the calling of a Constitutional Convention. Mr. Minn's bill authorizing the courts, when an applicant for license dies before his petition is heard, or the license granted, to issue it to his executor or administrator, is on this calendar, as is that of Mr. Meek limiting the licenses in cities to one for 700 population, and to two iu boroughs of 500 or less, with additional licenses for every additional 500 or frac tional part thereof. The bill authorizing boroughs to manufacture electricity for lighting pqrposcs, and Senator Penrose's measure to pay to retiring judges who have served 25 years, and are 70 years old, their salary for life, are both on for second read ing. The Baker Ballot Beform l'lan. In the House the main bills outside of the regular calendars are the Baker ballot bill, which comes up Wednesday, and Wherry's sinking fund bill, which is a special order ior Wednesday and Thursday. The latter will not arouse much opposition, except, perhaps, from some country members who aro inclined to regard it as an attempt to head off the revenue bill. It will likely pass. On the ballot bill there will be consider able debate. It is safe to say that there are not 20 members in the House who fully understand its provisions, and it will require endless explaining. The Tagg3rt revenue bill will, in all prob ability, cause protracted debate. Everyone seems agreed that something must be done on the subject of taxation, but what to do and how to do it are questions upon which there is as wide a variance ot opinion as prevailed among the commission which drew up the present bill. Its supporters claim that it equalizes taxation by taxing for local purposes all kinds of property. They estimate tint it will put into the local treasuries SG.000,000 annually, the greater part of which will come from transportation and transmission companies and moneys at interest, now taxed for State purposes only. This, they urge, is treating the corporations very generously, as even then they will not be hearing as heavy a burden as does real estate. A Feature Which Arouses Opposition. Its opponents charge that the taxation of everything that has value, over and above 5300, is entirely too severe, if not inquisitor ial. Tinder this provision a man would have to return the value of his clothes, his wife s aresses, aud the money in his pocket This would be practically impossible, and the law, so far as this feature is concerned, would be inoperative. It is upon the taxation of railroads that the w.idest divergence of opinion occurs. Under section 17 the railroads are to return to the Auditor General, State Treasurer and Secretary of Internal Affairs all neces sary information as to the value of the lands, bridges, tunnels, viaducts, tracks, embankments, cnts, tools, batteries, rolling stock, etc., in the State used or leased by them. Upon this the board, having due re gard to the gross receipts, expenditures, net earnings, cost of construction and market value of the capital stock, shall fix a valua tion, and shall ascertain the average value per mile by dividing the aggregate sum by the number of miles of track, including four tracks on the main line, if so many, and all switches aud sidings. This average per mile shall be certified to the commissioners of each county, who shall multiply it by the number of miles of track within their county, and upon the sum thus obtained levy a 4-mill tax for local purposes. Apart from the predicted difficulties which will assail the Auditor General and his associates in correctly appraising the value of a tunnel, an embankment or a cut, it is claimed that this provision would be grossly inequitable to Philadelphia and Al legheny. Here the railroads have terminal facilities and property worth millions of dollars, and yet may not hive many miles more of track than an inland county whose whole length is traversed by the road. In this case a county having practically noth ing but the bare track would perhaps re ceive as much tax as Philadelphia or Alle gheny, with railroad property 50 times more valuable. In addition to its injustice, it is argued that this would be in effect taxing property in one community for local pur poses in another, something which cannot be done constitutionally. Tho Other Scheme Proposed. The plan proposed by those who oppose this feature of the bill is to levy a State tax of i mills on the capital stock, taking as a basis its par value where it pays dividends, and its market value where it does not, and unon the market value of its bonded in debtedness, the money so derived to be dis tributed tothe counties in appropriations lor various local purposes. These are but a part of the objections to the bill, the income tax clause being strongly opposed, and the prospects for a wrangle are exceedingly great. The railroads, which fought it step by step in committee, suc ceeding in delaying its introduction several weeks, will have their advocates in both House and Senate. Its funds are equally determined, and it is said a project is being discussed of circulating an agreement in the House, to whicdi it will be endeavored to get 103 signers, pledging themselves not to agree to a date for final adjournment until the bill is passed by the Senate. Henry Hall. OFEENSIYE PABTBANSHIP Causes a Peculiar Situation of Affairs in the State Library. FEOSI A STAFF CORBESPOXDEJ.T. 1 Harkisbueo, March 8. There is a flurry in the State Library. The law places the appointment of assistant librarian and night watchman in the hands of the Libra rian, but vests the power to remove in the trustees, who are now Governor Fattison, Secretary Harrity and Attorney General Hensel. The trustees have asked the resig nations of Assistant W. K. Miller and Watchman Karns, and they will have to go. "Offensive partisanship" is said to be the cause. The question now is, will Librarian Egle, who is a Bepublican, with three years yet to serve, have the nerve to appoint two other Bepublicans to the vacancies, or will he permit the trustees to bulldoze him into making bis choice from among the "unter rified." Mr. Egle is not regarded as, being absolutely a desert so far as sand is con- cerned, and the faithful fear that the Demo cratic trustees will have things their own way. REPUBLICANS AT SEA. THE LACK OF A PASTY LEADEB FELT Ui THE I0WEB HOUSE. Democratic Forces Are Skilfully Managed, and Piling Up Quantities of Campaign Ammunition One Member Anxious for a Steering Committee to Tuko Hold. 1FK0M A BTArr CORBESPOHDEJ.! Harmsburg, March 8. There is some dissatisfaction, us well as uneasiness, among the Republicans of the House over the way things are running. There seem to be no leaders, and with the Democratic side well organized and watching every chance to make political capital, many Republicans fear the session will result disastrously to the party. "We are all at sea," said a prominent Bepublican to-day. "Nobody seems to know what must be done, or the best way to accomplish it. The Democrats have a steering committee appointed by their cau cus, and when important bills are to come up they meet and agree upon the course to pursue. We have no organization. Last week we had an excellent chance to put the Democrats in a hole on the ballot bill. They are pledged to it the same as we are, but when it came up we sat in our seats practically dumb and let Wherry and Fow postpone onr own bill for a wek. Thurs day we let the solid Democratic party, aided by some Republicans, amend the Brooks law and stultify our party on this question. We have control of both Houses, and ifweletthe Democrats ontwit us, and cause us to break the promises made in our platform last year, the Bfcpnblican party will have to suffer. The sooner we hold a caucus and agree opoi. ''at we are going to do, and put matters i fg of a. "steering committee," the bett As. 9jCfor us." In the views express 'ftfe Oq ieman who hails from a western's' "f Jq ".t Kcuerui uuuuurrcuue ui uiiiiii.. 0. v'-fr. Republicans. A BITTEB CONTEST EJH5ED, iJed TJetwoller Chosen Chairman of th o Harris bars Republican Committee. rSPECIAI. TELEORAM TO THE DI3PATCIT.I Hakbisbubq, March 8. The bttter struggle for the chairmanship of the Bepub lican City Committee of Harrisburg last night resulted in the re-election of 3Ieadp D. Detweiler. Opposition was waged against him because the city has gone Democratic several times during his administration.and his enemies ascribed these results to his in competency and treachery to the party. Mr. Detweiler defended himself against the criticisms that had been passed on his course and broadly intimated that some of the men who had made charges against him had gone politically astray, and that ifthey had followed his example, by remaining true to the Bepublican organization, the Democrats would not have had so many victories to rejoice over. Ed. Feisely was elected secretary of the committee. BOOTED OUT BY FIBE. Salvation Army Soldiers Torced Into tho Streets In Night Dresses. rSPECIAL. TELEOKAII TO THE SISFATCTM Kew Yoek, March 8. Tho Salvation Army barracks in Brooklyn came near being burned up, early this morning. A. M. Stein & Co., who have a livery stable in the basement ot the barracks, had more than 20 horses there when the fire was dis covered. Fifteen sleeping soldiers upstairs were aroused, and they made their way through the smoke, which filled the build ing, to the street without mishap. Some of them were in their night dresses. The firemen soon extinguished the flames, and for the fourth time within a month the Salvation soldiers had the satisfaction of seeing their quarters saved from destruc tion. The horses were all rescued. There is a suspicion that this, as well as all the other recent fires in the building, was of incendiary origin. AN UNACCOUNTABLE SUICIDE. Charles J. Edwards Threatens to Marder Someone and Kills liimself. Toledo, March 8. Last Friday night a young man registered as Charles J. Ed wards at the Boodv House. That evening he called upon Father F. Quigley, a well known Catholic clergyman, and told him that he was going to kill someone, at the same time reaching toward his bio pocket. The priest calmed him and he left, but the Chief of Police was notified. Upon eomg to Edwards' room on Saturday he was found dead with sereral bottles of poison on a stand near by. Father Quigley Says ho believes that, while the man's mind was unbalanced, he called at the parsonage with the intention of killing him. He says he noticed a Masonic emblem upon the man, and his belief is based upon the fact that he has denounced the Masonic order in several sermons. The suicide ha3 not been identified. ABDUCTED IN DAYLIGHT. A loans 3Iarried Woman Snatched Upon the Streets of Chicago. CniCAGO, March 8. Mrs. Tillie Mowrey, a rather pretty little woman, was forcibly kidnaped to-day, by two unknown men, thrust into a carriage and driven hastily to the Wisconsin Central depot in time to catch the train for Northern Wisconsin. Mrs. Mowrey is scarcely 19 vears of age, bnt has been twice married. Her first hus band, from whom she was divorced, was Hubert Secord, a young man whose present address is Fackwaukcc, Wis. He is said to have beeu writing letters importuning her to return to him. Last night a telegram signed with the abducted woman's name was received by her parents. The message was dated Bugby Station, Wis., and said: "His friends" had taken her away. A SOCIETY WOMAN'S END. She Drowns Herself While Temporarily De ranged From Social KvcnU. FPECIAI. TEIEOIIASI TO THB DISPATCIt.1 New Havek, March 8. On Friday, Mrs. W. H. Minor, who is a remarkably handsome woman, left her .home at 10 Vernon street without her wraps. She was about 25 years of age and possessed many brilliant accomplishments. Of late her husband has noticed that she has acted rather queerly, but nothing was thought of it, as he supposed that she wa3 suffering from over-excitement, brought on by the many society events before the beginning of Lent. The body of Mrs. Minor was fonnd this evening in the West river. She had com mitted suicide while temporarily deranged. CHICAGO'S MUNICIPAL CONTEST. Tho Citizens' Committee and Socialists Name Their Candidates for Mayor. Chicago, March 8. Before either the Democrats or Bepublicans have held a con vention two candidates for the Mayoralty of Chicago are already nominated. Last night the Citizens' Committee held a meet ing and voted a nomination to Franklin McVeagh, a well-known merchant. About the same hour a convention of the. Socialistic labor party made Thomas J. Morgan, the locally noted agitator, their nominee. The Socialists for the first time in many years also put up a full list of candi dates lor other city and town officers, SIXTY YEARS SILENT, Except to One Man, All Because of a Vow Taken by His Mother. TWICE WEDDED, BUT SPEECHLESS, - Pecnliar Discoveries Following the Arrest of John Pratt. RESULT OP AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING Dakbueky, Conk.. March 8. John Pratt, leaning on the arm of his brother William, the only person he has spoken to in CO years, was arraigned in the Police Conrt accused of shooting James Morrow. He made no reply to the charge and all efforts of Judge Hough and attorneys failed to elicit a response. When Clerk Holmes put him to plea Pratt wrote on a card "Not guilty," and handed it to Judge Hough. Pratt's written explanation of the shooting being an accident was accepted by the Court aud Pratt was discharged. Pratt left the courtroom followed by a crowd of curious spectators. He conversed freely with his brother, but in whispers and never without first taking precautions that he should not be overheard. Morrow's face and neck are filled with shot, but he is not seriously injured. Mor row is satisfied the shooting was an accident and congratulated Pratt on his acquittal. Pratt, however, made no reply and only smiled. John Pratt, on Friday afternoon, fired a charge of bird shot into James Mor row, while trying to shoot a dog. When he saw the man fall to the ground bleeding he disappeared. Most Peculiar 3Ian in the World. Although it was well known the shooting was an accident a warrant was issued lor Pratt's arrest Pratt is perhaps the most ' L pecnliar man in the world to-day. During 1 the GO years of his life he has been dumb, t so lar as one person is concerned he is in j ' possession oi vi nis iacuities. Anat ? K ,son is his brother William, who is several jars his senior, and for whom John has profound affection. John has never spoken a word to any living person except his brother William. With him he converse, fluently and with freedom, but always as sures himself that there is no other listener within hearing. He has been married twice, each time his wife being a sister of hi3 mother. His sec ond wife is now living. No children bleosed either union. The efforts to entrap John into conversation have been many and in genious, but never successful. His hearing is unnaturally acute. Many interesting incidents concerning him are told by the older residents of Dan bury, where John was born and where he has always lived. When he was a young man the boys used to resort to all sorts of schemes to find au opportunity to listen to him while talking to bis brother. The brothers were farmers and worked in the fields together. Trying to Catch a Word. The boys would creep along behind the fences until near John, and lie there hoping to hear his voice, but they were only suc cessful a few times. Then John became wary, and one day he caught Lemuel Tay. lor eavesdropping and gave him a thrashing. John was arrested and tried for the offense. All efforts to induce him to speak in court were ineffectual, and John spent 30 day3 in the county jail for contempt of court. At another time six young men about town thouzht they would compel him to speak. They visited him while at his work in a corn lot and began badgering him about his peculiarity. John stood their abuse for a while, and then turned on them. He whipped every one of them, and from that time he was not troubled. On another occasion he was hired to go to Newtown, 16 miles distant, with an ox team after a load of Inmber. He was to drive over one day and load up and retnrn on the next. He reached Newtown in the after noon and was unable to find the lumber. B3ther than ask the station agent where it was John retnrned at night to Danbury in the face of a driving snowstorm and the thermometer hovering near zero. John Pratt is a prosperous farmer, and is fairly well educated. It it believed that not a dozen persons have heard him speak. A Brother's Vow tho Explanation. Perbap3 the best explanation of this strange man's peculiarity is that given by a relative who is familiar with the family history, ne says John's mother incurred the enmitv of "her husband's father, who lived with them. She swore that she would never speak to ber father-in-law again, and she kept her oath for 15 year', when she died. On her deathbed her husband tried to get her to at least say she would forgive his ftther, but she would not relent Three months after taking the strange oath John was born. When John was abont 50 years old a young married couple from New York ' spent the summer at a house near John's farm. The young wife was deenly impressed with the many stories told of her temporary neighbor and expressed a desire to be intro duced to him. Her husband humored her whim and an introduction took place. From that time there was a marked change in her. She returned to her home in New York and in due time a son was born to her. That son now occupies a responsible posi tion with the Government at Washington, but he is a deaf mute. A WIDENEB NOT IN THE SECBET. He Knows Nothing of tho Bill to Consoli date Motor Companies. lSFECIAI. TELIQEAM TO TUB D1BPATCH. Philadelphia, March 8. P. A. B. Widener and W. L. Elkins, who arrived last niaht from a five weeks trip through Mexico and the South, were interviewed to day relative to the bill to consolidate motor companies introduced on Thursday by Sena tor Grouse. Both gentlemen said they knew nothing of the bill or its purport, and that it could not affect the Pittiburg Traction Company in anyway. Mr. Widener said that there was no intention on their part to consolidate, and volunteered the opinion that the bill was intended to legalize some thing contemplated or already done by the Duquesne people. Senator George Handy Smith, when spoken to on the subject, said the bill came from Pittsburg, and was given to him Dy one ot the Allegheny county Senators, with the request that he present it Not caring to do so, he gave it to Senator Crouse, who introduced it. Senator Smith said he knew nothing of the bill further than this, and that Messrs. Widener and Elkins, David Lane, their manager, and Mr. Glendenning, their broker, have all assured him that they were utterly ignorant of its import BAIDING THE SALOONS. Two rriests Start Out on a Trip With Successful Results. ISrECtAt. TELEGEA5I TO THE DISFATCII.t New York, March 8. The Bev, H. P. Fleming and the Bev. Mr. McDowell, two Catholic priests of Orange, after the services in their churches this afternoon, started out on a crnsade against Sunday liquor selling. They succeeded in getting into a place kept by Michael Beilly. Then they went to police headquarters and laid the case before Sergeant Leary, giving their names as wit nesses and complainants. They then started out again and succeeded in gaining entrance into five other saloons. These will be reported to-morrow morning and summonses issued for all the saloon keepers. - f i m.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers