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FORTY-SIXTH TEAR
ATORNADQOFFLAME
Sweeps Away Haifa Million
Dollars' Worth of Business
Property
IN THE HEART OF THE CITY
A Natural Gas Explosion in the Wel
din Block Just Before Mid
night Started a Fire
THAT SOOK GUTTED THE BUILDING.
A Blazing: Arch Then Stretched Across Dia
mond, and the Germania Bank
Was an Easy Trey.
HASTY EXODUS OF THE hEIGHBOES.
Thrcisris ef Ftcple Tlmsgel Upon tie Streets toi
Wttchid the right igifcit tie
Frcgrascf tie Fire.
IITaHS Or THE LOSSES AHD KSUBAKCK
The business center of the city was at
midnight visited by a fire, of such intensity
and rapid action as, for fully an hour,
threatened to merge into a conflagration ot
unparalleled fierceness and destructiveness.
As it is the Weldin Block, at the corner of
"Wood and Diamond street, -was completely
devastated, the Germania Bant building
gutted in the upper stories and badly burned
all through, and much damage caused to
adjacent buildings, including Keineman's
restaurant, and the houses on "Wood street.
As far as could be estimated at a late hour
the damage to property amounts to 500,000,
Regarding the valuable papers in the Ger
mania Bans: building, Government offices,
etc, only a guess can be made. Weldin &
Co.'s stock is insured for 566,000, but the
building is uncovered.
Discovered by Inspector McAleese.
The fire was discovered shortly before 12
o'clock by Inspector McAleese. He Iras
just stepping into his buggy and had said
good night to Detective McTighe when, at
tracted by a sullen roar, he looked around
and saw flames issuing from the basement of
the Weldin building.
"An explosion I fire," cried McTighe, and
the Inspector turned in an alarm without a
moment's loss of time. Immediately follow
ing an alarm was rnng in from box 14,
quickly followed by three two's, calling ont
three districts, an alarm from 11 again and
then from box 9. Before the last alarm had
ceased ringing, the fire had gained way with
such extraordinary rapiditj that lurid
sheets ol flame were shooting oat from the
AVeldin building and reaching high
above its roof before the department
could reach the scene and get down to ef
fective work. A strong breeze sweeping
down Diamond alley fanned the flames into
greater activity, and half an hour after the
alarm had been sounded the double store of
Weldin & Co. was enveloped in one con
tinuous mass of flame, which leaped from
window to window and spent its force sky
ward with an intensity as if fed with oil.
Fighting Wind and Xlame.
The firemen worked well and strongly,
but their efforts were powerless to cope with
the hot haste of the flames. Between the
wind and the want of pressure water could
cot be thrown hightr than the third story
of the buildingsat first, and even then tailed
to stay the destructive element pitted
against them. Later better pressure was
obtained, and from street, ladder and house
top a deluge of water was forced into the
burning buildings.
Very soon the free play the fire had
gained told on the adjoining and neighbor
ing buildings. The excessive heat from
the acre of flame on the roof of the Weldin
block set fire to the roof of J. B. Haines'
premises opposite, but a stream of water
quickly obviated any danger there.
In a few minutes more the third store in
the block, No. 429, occupied by the Pitts
burg Shoe Company, was assailed by the
flames, which swept through it, and then, in
short order, had possession of No. 431, occu
pied by C. B, Brothers, W. S. Brel & Co.
and Schwartz & Cheswright.
Maminoth Tongues of Fire.
Wreaths of flames rolled out in grand
but fierce effect, licking the ladders placed
against the walls, and seeking to draw the
little band of workers who lought them so
stubbornly into their seething embrace.
Heavy clouds of black smoke poured from
the buildings as the water made its force
felt, and hung overhead as a pall to the
pyre consuming the wealth of years of toil.
While the fire raged high above the roof
of the corner stores there was much specula
tion as to whether it would extend across the
narrow alley and seize the Germania Bank
in its grasp. Soon the cornice was seen to
be smoking; then fire leaped forth, and
inside of 0 minutes the demon of destruction
had attacked the upper storiej of the build
ings and took quick possession of the upper
premises. Lines of hose were run upon
the opposite roofs, and good work was
done lrom the street, but the tire made
steady headway, and traveling down the circu
lar light shaft soon reached the lower floors.
The Germania bank offices wero badly burned,
as were the other offices in front, bat
tiio greatest damage was done in
the rear owing to its inaccessibility.
No water could he brought to bear on the rear
and the names rushed quickly downward, un
uermininc the brickwork, which fell with
beavy crashes into the alley and interior ot the
building. Kcineman's restaurant, which is
much lower than the bank walls, seemed
almost to escape until a section of
the rear wall of tho burning building
fell on the roof and set it on lire. 1 ho restaur
ant is four stories high, all the floors being
uod by Mr. Reineman. Upstairs are several
tleeimig apartments. The&o arc occupied by
one ot the daughters ot the proprietor and two
Fcrrant girls. They bad all retired for the
night.
Sating the Sleeping Women.
One of the most extltlng incidents of the fire
is told by Cleveland Lyons the colored porter
employed in the restaurant, Lyons was standi
ing near the bar when, as he glanced across the
street, be saw a sheet of flame burst
from one of the rear windows of the book
store. He says it was hardly an instant before
there was the sound of an explosion and the
flames were shooting across the street. Tho
report was loud and distinct. He at once saw
the danger, and, rushing upstairs, broke open
the doors of the rooms ocenpied by the women.
Miss Reineman was so excited that it was
with the greatest difficulty that he induced her
to dress, and got her. together with the two
girls, out of the building. The heat was then
so intense in Diamond alley that it was a hard
matter to escape. Hiss Beinemaa was taken
to the homo of her father, on Troy Hill, while
the girls went to the homes of relatives.
There was practically nothing of any value
saved from the Reineman building. It was
rilled with everything that goes to make up a
first-class restaurant where from S00 to 400
people dine daily. The restaurant building
runs back to the rear of tho
structure adjoining tho bank on
WOOD AND DIAMOND
the south. This Is also owned by
the Merchants and Mechanics' Insurance Com
pany and the lower floor ocenpied by their
offices. The upper stories arp occupied by tho
Americas Club. The loss there is hard to
estimate. A great many burning brands fell
upon the roof, but tho building at no time was
on fire. The damage is by water only.
Afraid the Flames Would Spread.
For a time It looked as if the People's Bank
building at the southeast corner of Diamond
and Wood streets would also fall a
victim to the flames. The roof and
front were on fire several times
but well-directed streams soon put out tho
flames. When the fire was at its height in the
mansard roof of the Germania Bank a line of
hose was run to the, top of the Peo
ples' Building, and a heavy stream
thrown across the street. It apparently
did the best execution ot any that was thrown
upon tho Germania building, as when the
flames struck it on the fourth floor there was
not a stream that could reach It from the
ground.
The residents in the houses adjoining Reine
man's had an exciting time. Ho one could
form an iaea as to where the flamea would be
arrested. While the Wledin building was be
ing reduced to ashes willing bands were carry
ing ont personal effects from the dwell
ings and securing them in friendly quarters
nearer the Market end. Fire broke out in tho
old house at the corner nr the recessed portion
of the alley, and gradually grew in volnme
until fears began to be entertained that
the block would be set aflame. A
couple of lines of hose were, however,
run down and reduced the second
edition of tho big affair outside. The police
did excellent work in keeping back the crowds
which gathered to witness1 the unusual blaze.
When the upper portions of the building
began to crumble away, and fall into
the streets, the onlookers were moved back to
Fifth and Fourth avenues on the one side and
the Market House on the other. The exciting
time was unatteded by a mishap.
STARTED OTHER FIRES.
BLAZING CT5DEB8 THBEATEN TEE BUSI
NESS DISTEICT.
Awnings Ignited for Squares Around Firo
men Kept Busy With Babcocks The
Cornice of the Bnquesne Theater Ablaze
Another Alarm Turned In.
Several buildings at quite a distance from
the fire were endangered by awnings which
had been set on fire by red hot cinders
alighting on them. An awning at a fifth
floor window on the C. G. Hussey building
was the first to become ignited, and burned
without doing any further damage. Two large
awnings at H. J. King's building, No. 29 Fifth
avenue, and one at L J. Lynch's place, on He
Masters' alley, were also totally destroyed.
The cinders which Ignited the awnings were not
mere sparks, but pieces of burning wood
weighing several ounces, and in' some cases
pounds.
When the awning burned at 2) Fifth avenue
tbo beat broke the plato glass window on tho
second floor, occupied by Parcels A Jones,
dtessmakers. The glass fell into a crowd on
the sidewalk, but no one was hurt. The awning
at bchaeferi Lloyd's jewelry store. No. 37
Fifth avenue, was also burned. Sparks set Are
to the roof of 531 Liberty street, and the are
spread for several feet. A detail of firemen
took a Babcock down, put up a ladder to tho
roof and extinguished the flames. Just above
this, at Sixth street, the awning of the Pitts
burg, Allegheny and Manchester Passenger
Railway station was burned.
Tho worst scare was caused by a spark that f
augu'eu iu ius curuica or mo Duquesne
1 heater on 1'enn avenue, below Sixth street.
The cornice commenced to burn and an alarm
was sent in from box 9. The town had been so
stripped of engines for tho Wood street fire,
that No. 6 Company from Forty-fourth street,
was the first to respond to the call from box 9,
and by the tiins the long run was made the fire
was going briskly. The foreman took in
Babcocks and fought the flames from an upper
window. The damage will amount to 50.
The awning at the corner of Liberty and
Market street b took fire from large sparks and
set the cornice ablaze. It was extinguished
with a Babcock. The awning or A. L. Sailor's
store, No. 62 Sixth street, took fire and ran
along for four doors. The only damage was to
the awninc, whlcn soon burned out. The roof
of the building occupied by Kornbluin, tho
optician, at No. 60 Sixth street; was ignited.,
and a line or hose was run up and the flames
extinguished.
The Amoricnj In It.
The Americus Club will sustain some loss, J
not from fire, bdt water. Tbelr billiard hall is
located on the third floor of the II. 4 M. Insur
ance building ana was flooded with water.
The janitor removed the pictures and such
other pieces of property as he could handle to
a place of safety.
A 1TBED, BUT FEABLESS WOMAN.
She Wanted to Go' to Bed in tho Houso Next
to the Bank, j
From the Market Honse side at 1:30 not much
fire was seen, but the police kept back every
body. Some of tho people who ocenpied the little
honses on Diamond alley near the bank wore
anxious to return to their homes. The lady
who lived in the building next to the bank
begged a policeman to allow her
to go to bed. 8fie said she was tired and sleepy.
Oh, Lord, ma'am," the copper replied, "it
wouldn't be safe for you to go into the house."
It was bard for him to make
herunderstand that the heavy walls of the bank
building might fall at any moment and crush
her.
Another woman had worked her way around
STREETS AT MIDNIGHT.
to Fourth' avenue, and was standing rtearthe
old Lake Erie building, clinging lor dear life
to a dirty, woolly spitz dog that was as badly
frightened as she was. With the other tenants
on Diamond street she was glad she had es
caped, but that precious dog sbo prized above
her home and furniture. It was ever so.
ESTIMATED LOSSES.
OVEE HALF A HILII0N D0LLABS WEST
IN THE FDJE.
Weldin & Co. Thought to Be the Heaviest
Losers, With Dnnn & Co. Next Ger
mania Bank Building Will Have to Be
Rebuilt.
The total losses as near as could be esti
mated this morning were $553,100. These
estimates include the damage by water. The
list of the tenants and owners of the build
ings together with the estimated individnal
losses are as follows:
The Weldon block, Nos. 425 to 429 inclusive,
owned by David Gregg. Mrs. O'Hara, Edward
McKee and William Morrison, occupied by J.
R. Weldon & Co., books. Loss on building,
40.100; stock, 5125,000.
No. 431, owned by David Gregg, occupied by
Cain Brothers, boots and shoes retail. Loss on
building 520,000, stock 530,000.
No. 433. owned by James Herdman, occu-
Eied by Wm. M. Laird, boots and shoes retail.
toss on building $12,000: stock $45,000.
No. 433, owned by Mrs. Denmston, occupied
by Baltimore and Ohio Express Company.
Loss on building and fixtures, IS 000.
No. 437. owned bv Mrs. M. K. Coffee, occu
pied br American Express Company. Loss on
buildinc. $5,000; goods, $8.00C
No. 4S9, owned by Mrs. L. Denniston, occu
pied by Watt's bookstore. Loss on building,
51,000; stock, $10,000.
No. 441, owned by Mrs. S. A. Sawyer, occu
pied by Paulson Bros., bats and furs. Loss on
building, $2,000; stock. $4,500,
No. 443, owned by Mrs. Brading, occupied by
McKnight's bookstore. Loss on building, $1,500;
stock, $1,000.
No. 445, owned by Mrs. A. H. Boss, occupied
by Bennett's bat and cap store. Loss on build
ins:, $1,000; stock. $2,500.
Nos. 447 and 449, owned by Gerwlg & Hunter
and occupied by the Baltimore and Ohio ticket
office. Loss on building, $800; furniture. $1,000.
Germania Bank building, owned by bank and
occupied by bank, Robinson Sc Orr, investment
brokers; Hea & Co., brokers; Morris
Brown, stock brokers; Chamber ot Com
merce, John D. Bailey, Custom House,
HackettJ fc Smith, R. G. Dun
i Co., Junction Railroad offices, Manufact
urers' Gas Company, Chicago and Cleveland
Gas Coal Company, and porter1 Shorthand
fechool. Loss on building, $60,000; fixtures,
S2U.O00, and R. G. Dun fc Co., records that
cannot bo replaced, 100,000.
Rear of bank, owned by George Reineman
and occupied by owner as saloon and restaur
ant. Loss on building, $2,O00: stock, $20,000.
No. 417, owned and occupied by the Mer
chants and Manufacturers' Insurance Com
pany, Americus CluD rooms above. Loss to
building and fixtures, $2,000.
No. 415, owned by H. Palmer, occupied by
Robinson Bros., bankers and brokers. Loss on
buildings and fixtures, etc., $1,000.
No. 413. owned and occupied by Boatman's
Insurance Company. Loss ou building,fixtures,
etc. $800. ,
No. 409, owned and occupied by the People's
Nation tl Bank. Loss on building, fixtures,
eta, JS00.
Nos. 401 to 409, owned by Mrs. Mary A Rob
inson, slightly scorched and wet, 34000.
MOVED JUST IN TIME,
Firemen With Engine Xo. S forced From
Their Post of Duty.
One of the first engines to reach the ground
was No. 2, stationed on SmithficUt' street be.
tween First and Second avenues. It took the
plug ar the corner of the Germania Bank
buildinsr, and soon had a good flow on the
bookstore. It held its ground despite
the falling firebrands and the awful heat from
the Weldin building, and even until the flames
bad got down as far as the third story. The
mansard roof seemed to be a perfect tinder box
and it burned with great fierceness.
At this time tbo dangerous position of the
engine was appreciated, and it was decided to
get it to a safer place. There were plenty of
volunteers, ana after a sharp tussel the
machine was tushed up Diamond alley.
And it was none to soon. It had
not been moved away but a few minutes when
a portion ot the mansard root began to fall.
The supports were seen to be frail and the gal
vanized iron covering was easily loosened.
Continued on Sixth Page.
PITTSBURG, THURSDAY, MARCH 12. 189L
NO NEGRO SOLDIERS
Allowed in .the Eanks of the District
of Columbia Militia.
TWO BATTALIONS MUSTERED OUT;
Aroosing Great Indignation Among 60,000
Colored Citizens.
CONGRESSMEN BACK OP THE SCHEME
fFBOH A STAIT COEEESrONDEXT. .
"Washington, March 11. The drawing
of the color line in the Wimodaughsis Club
caused much excitement in fashionable so
cial circles, but very little among the colored
people themselves, but another occurrence,
an outcome of certain legislation, has caused
a flurry and irritation among the people of
that race in the District greater than has
been known in many years.
Congress refused to appropriate the usual
amount for the equipment of armories, drill
and encampment of the district militia. Tho
annual sum was greatly reduced. How it
appears it was a part of a scheme to get rid
of the colored troops. At least it is an
nounced by General Ordway, commander of
the District militia, that the Seventh and
Eighth Battalions, made up of colored com
panies, will have to be dropped from the
muster roll.
The Colored Contingent Wildly Excited.
A communication to this effect to the offi
cers trom General Ordway to-day has caused
intense feeling among the colored people,
and a meeting of the colored militia is in
progress this evening at which speakers de
nounce the action of Congress andof militia
officers ss a collusive scheme to drive the
colored people from the District troops.
These colored companies, excellently drilled
and with good bands, were the pride of the
60,000 colored people of the Dittrict
General Ordway's official notification to
Majors Fleetwood and Bevells was the cause
of a great deal of heated comment among
those interested in the two colored battal
ions. One officer, who has just resigned bis
commission, talked with a number of those
who wear shoulder-straps in the Seventh and
Eighth, and as a result he prepared the follow
ing criticism and requested its publication:
"General Ordway has at last found a way to
rid himself ot bis two negro battalions. It bag
been rumored for a long time that the General
was desirous of disarming the colored militia
in order to appease
The Wrath of Southern Congressmen
who objected to appropriations for the support
of the militia on the ground that they would
be used in part maintaining negro trooj-s.
The question now is, will the Secretary of War
or the President permit this outrage T The
negro battalions were among the first to re
spond to the call, and are both old organiza
tions. To disband them will be equivalent to
saying that in the District of Columbia negro
militia will not be tolerated, though the
colored people comprise one-third of the popu
lation and are to a large extent taxpapers.
"Every indignity that could be heaped upon
these battalions has been done alreaay. Iney
have been kept at.tho tall end of the entire
foot troop, though longer in service than many
of them. Their officers have been snubbed, in
sulted and ignored on several occasious, tnd
the color line has always been completely
drawn on them, but still they would not down,
and now it is proposed to muster them out and
take away their arms. We are not permitted to
join the white companies, and now are not to
be allowed separate companies. Even our
white citizens, I am sure, will not approve this
action." LIGHTNEB,
A GUATEMALAN SUBSIDY
For a Steamship Line Between That
Country and Hamburg.
WASaiseTotr, March 1L Tho Department
ot State has been informed that tho Govern
ment of Guatemala has entered into a contract
with the Cosmos Steamship Company lor the
establishment of a line of steamers between
Guatemala and Hamburg, Germany. Tho
company agrees to carry free of cost all em
ployes of the Government and to transport for
one-half the ordinary tariff agreed upon all
articles Imported for the use or benefit of the
Government; also to carry all immigrants from
Europe to Guatemala at one-half the regular
fare. The steamers are to carry free the mails
from Guatemala and the other American Re
publics on the west coast of South and Central
America to the people of Europe and European
mails.
In consideration of this concession the Gov
ernment of Guatemala agrees to pay the com
pany a subsidy of $1,000 for every Bteamer of
the Cosmo's line calling at its ports.
BEFUSED A POSTPONEMENT.
KIncald Will Have to Stand Trial on the
ICth for Shooting Taulbee.
Washington. March 1L In tho Criminal
Conrt to-day. Judge Jeremiah Wilson and C.
Maurice Smith, who, with General Grosvcnor
and Senator Voorhees, are counsel for Charles
E. Kincaid, under indictment for shooting ex
Representative Tanlbee, called attention to the
case, which is set for trial on the 10th inst
Mr. Smith read a telegram from Senator
Voorhees, who is under treatment for rheu
matism at Hot Springs, Ark., stating that his
physician bad advised mm that he would be In
no condition to leave there for at least 60 days.
Counsel therefore asked for a postponement of
the case till some time in June. The District
Attorney, 'however, objected, and Judge Hag
ner declined to grant the request
BRAZILIAN CONSULATES.
Division of Those In the United States Into
Two Groups,
WASnrsGTOJT. Maroh 11. The Department
of State has received a copy of a decree of the
Provisional Government of Brazil dividing the
consulates of that country in the UnitedStatei
into two groups, that of the Consulate General
at New York embracing the New England
States, the Pacific coast, and the Middle At
lantic States to the boundary of Maryland, and
that of the consulate at Baltimore all tho
other Atlantic and Gulf States from Maryland
to Texas, inclusive.
BAYNE NOT A CANDIDATE
For the Japanese Mission Nor for Any Other
Office, Tie Says.
iraoM a btait coRr.isroNDEirr.l
Washington, March 11. When Colonel
Thomas M. Bayne was told to-day that the re
port had gone out tnt he was to have the
Japanese mission, lately made vacant by the
death of Minister Swift, be smiled and said:
"This Is news to me. I am not a candidate
for the Japanese mission, nor for any other
office; and what is more, I desire no office I
expect to go abroad in June for a considerable
time to get a much desired rest."
NO IMMEDIATE DANOEB.
Bepresentatlve Breckinridge's Condition Is
Beported as Mnch Improved.
Washington, March ll.-The wife of Rep
resentative Breckinridge, of Kentucky, with
her eldest ion, left Washington this morning
for Pensacola, Fla., upon the receipt of tne
news of ber husband's Illness. A private dis
patch received bere this afternoon stated that
Representative Breckinridge's condition was
much improved.
Blaine Says It's Settled.
Washington, March 1L "There Is nothing
further in the Bering Sea question," said Sec
retary Blaine this afternoon. "It Is practically
settled that we shall submit the question to
arbitration."
DEMOCBATS WONT VOTE,
For by Doing So They Would Recognize
Bulkeley's Authority.
FrXClAL IILIOKIM TO TUB DISrATCIt.1
Danbury, March 1L Mr. Bulkeley has or
dered a special election in the Danbury Pro
bate district, to fill the vacancy which the
death of Judge J. Howard Taylor caused. The
order was duly served, and tho election will be
held on Ihursday, March 19. The Democrats
an easily elect their candidate bat U they vote
.at tho election thov virtually recognize Bulke
ley's authority to" order it, so they .will stav
away-from the polls and the Republicans will
'.have the field to themselves.
' The Democrats will appeal to the courts to
have the Republican judce restrained from
taking possession of the office, on tbe ground
that his election is invalid. Of course that will
involve a decision as to Bulkeley's authority to
order tbe election. Both parties are determined
to fight tbe case, and the State Central Commit
tees will, no doubt, be called upon for financial
aid. In tbe meantime a Democratic judge
from another town will conduct Danbury's pro
bate business.
TAX ON MANUFACTURERS,
A BITTERLY CONTESTED BILL PASSES
THE OHIO SENATE.
It Was Favored by tho Farmers, and They
Fought Hard lor It The Measure Pretty
Sore of Bcco mlng a Law After Insur
ance Companies.
sriCTAI, TILEQBAJI TO TnB DISrATCIT.l
COLuaiBtrs, O., March 1L The measure
which has claimed the greatest attention of
any during the present session of the Legis
lature passed the Senate this evening with
a slight amendment, which will no doubt be
cone irred in by the House and the bill be
come a law. It is known as the Raw lings
bill, and provides for the listing by manu
fncti rcrs of all material and finished or un
finis ied articles in their possession when the
asse: sors call in April. The measure has
bron :ht to the city the representative man
ufac urers ot all'the cities in the State and
large delegations from the farmers' organiza
tion: in theintereBt of an equalization of taxes.
Tl) i bill had an open discussion before com
mitt e last night, and to-day was the only sub
ject before tbe Senate. An amendment was
agreed to, which stipulates that manufacturers
shall not be required to include In their state
ment to tbe assessor any finished manufactured
protijuct wholly manufactured subsequent to
the preceding January L It was claimed that
tbe listing in April would find the manufact
urers all loaded down with finished articles and
would be about tbe same as requiring farmers
to Hit their stock when their crops are on hand
in Oftober.
The farmers claimed the amendment would
kill the bill and that the present Legislature
had kilready authorized the cities of tbe State
to expend over $1,000,000 to foster the different
manufacturing enterprises. Tho amendment,
in the faoe of strong opposition, was
adopted by a vote of 17 to 13. Tho bill was
passed by a vote of 23 to 9. It will go to the
lloise tor concurrence in the amendments,
and! from the temper and former arguments
which was had in that body it is believed
thoi bill in its present form will become a
law before the week closes.
Iills were introduced this evening for a Fed
eral form of government for Columbus, and a
new government fur Springfield on tho board
plan., A bill has been introduced in tbe Senate
requiring foreign mutual insurance companies
doing business in the State to have actual cash
assets in tho same amount and description as
required of tbe mutual fire insurance compan
ies of Ohio and to have contingent liabilities
the same as tho companies in tbe State.
A MYSTEBIOUS PEEIGHT SHIPMENT.
It Was a Box Supposed to Contain Mangled
Hainan Remains.
Chicago, March 11. Tbe authorities of the
Northwestern and the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul Railroads are investigating the
matter of a mysterious dox supposed to con
tain the body of a murdered human being
wbfch the authorities of Manitowoc, Wis.,
claim was sent there from Chicago in charge
of a rough-looking man.
The box reached Manitowoc yesterday after
noon. It was called for by a man whom the
baggage man described as a tramp. This fel
low bad the box transferred to a livery stable,
where be declared that tbe box contained
glass. He bad previously removed the-death
certificate and address. Later he called at the
livery stable and, taking tbe box in his arms,
he proceeded toward the river. Late in the
day the box was found ou tho ice near a hole.
Near by wero some old rags, to which clung
pieces ot4at appeared to be human flesS- It
looked as If the contents had been sunk in the
river. Tbe man who accompanied tbe mys
terious piece of freight could not be found,
though search was made for him. It is be
lieved tbe box contained the body of some per
son probably cut up so as to fit into tbe re
ceptacle. Inquiry at the railroad depots here
disclosed the tact that no record of such a con
signment to Manitowoc could be found in the
baggagemen's books.
AN ADMIEAL CALLED DOWN
By Secretary Tracy for Disrespect to a
Brother Officer.
'FrBCIAL TBLEQBAM TO TUB BTSPATCn.:
San Francisco, March 1L Whon Acting
Rear Admiral Brown, in charge of the Charles
ton, the flagship of the Pacific squadron, re
turned lrom taking King Kalakaua's remains
to Honolulu and had reached the Mare Island
Yard ho ran up the flag which corresponds to
tbe rank of commandant of the yard. Rear Ad
miral Benham, and fired 13 guns, the proper
salute to his brother official. To his surprise
and chagrin, however, the flag of a commiCw o
and 11 guns, the salute for that rank, were T
celved in reply.
Acting Rear Admiral Brown wrote to Secre
tary Tracy, detailing the entire circumstances.
In reply the Secretary communicated with
Rear Admiral Benham, announcing that Act
ing Rear Admiral Brown was entitled to all the
honors of tbe rank he held, ot which very im
portant fact Rear Admiral Benham would here
after please take notice and act accordingly.
BIG ATTACHMENT SERVED
On the President of tho New Steel Com
bination Just Formed.
rSTECIAI. TELEGEAM TO THE DISPATCH,
New Yobk, March lL Deputy Sheriff
Carraher to-day received an attachment for
118,129 against the Scranton Steel Company in
favor of John S. Nichols, of Philadelphia. This
is tbe company which has been absorbed in the
new steel combination called the Lackawanna
Steel and Iron Company.
Deputy Sheriff Carraher served the attach
ment on E. T. Hatfield, President of tbe Lacka
wanna Iron and Coal Company, who Is also
President of the new Lackawanna Steel and
Iron Company, at his office, 52 Wall street, and
it is said there is a large amount or money in
his hands, which was to be paid over to the
Scranton bteei company, and wblch tho at'
tachment is expected to cover.
A DANGEROUS PLAYTHING.
Two Children Secure a Revolver With the
Usual Result.
SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO TUB DISPATCn.
BuiDGEroBT, Conn., March 11, Lizzie
Cook, i years old, was shot in the hoad by a boy
playmate ot her own age last night, and the
wound is likely to prove fatal. The children
were playing in the bedroom ot Mrs. Ellen
Cook, mother of the girl, and in a bureau
drawer they found an old self-cocking revolver.
The two grappled for its possession, and tbe boy
got it. He pointed it at Lizzie's head, and the
weapon was discharged, tbe 22-callber bullet
entering tho forehead over the left eye.
When Mrs. Cook came in from an adjoining
room the little boy bold the revolver, which
was still smoking. Last night Dr. Gllroy took
out the flattened bullet, which was imbedded
in the frontal bone.
THE WINDOM FUND.
Only 8800 of the Proposed 850,000 Yet
Remains to Be Raised.
rSPXCIAI. TELEQBAM TO TUB DISPATCH.!
New York, March 1L Treasurer John Jay
Knox, ot the Windom fund, announced to-day
that all but $800 of the $50,000 bad been raised.
He expects that the $800 necessary to complete
the fnndlwlll be forthcoming in a day or so,
certainly on tbe return of Stephen B. Kleins to
town.
Mr. Elkins IS now in Washington. He has
devoted much time to the fund and is now in
consultation with Senator Washburn and Rep
resentative McMillan, who have had charge of
the Washington end.
European Yoyagors,
1EPECIAI. TELXOBAM TO TUE DISFATCU.l
New Yoke, iiarcb II. Five hundred cabin
voyagers sailed for Europe to-day on four
steamships. On tbo Teutonic were J. W. Fos
ter, ex-Minister. to Spain; Colonel W. J. Ander
son, James R, Osgood and Mr. and Mrs. Ferdi
nand Yznaea. On tbo Rnynland were Court
landt Palmer and Hatry Schnmacber; and
Henry Vlllard and W. L.-Bagot -went away-on
tbe Latin,
FOR
BALLOT REFORM
Republicans All Pull Together
in the House for
the Baker Bill.
NUMBERS OF AMENDMENTS
Suggested by Minority Leaders Yery
Promptly Voted Down.
SOME VERY VEHEMENT SPEECHES.
Dnnhp Allow3 the Wharf Bill to Pass the
Senate Unanimously.
TUE INVESTIGATION OP THE TEEASDEI
IFEOM A ETAVT COlUtESFOlTOEXT.l
Habkisbubo, March 1L King caucus
reigned supreme in the House to-day. Tho
Republicans rallied in response to his call,
and withont a break in their lines carried
his decrees into effect. From the beginning
of the two sessions until their-close the
Democratic minority "wasn't in it."
The contest was over the Baker ballot bill.
"When it came up Mr. Lytle, of Hunting
do n, arose and served notice upon the nnter
rified that no monkeying with the measure
would be tolerated.
In his most exasperatingly incisive man
ner, he informed them this bill was the ful
filment of the Republican party's pledge to
the people. Ballot reform was the child of
the Republican party and it was perfectly
able and ready to take care of its offspring.
If the bill needed amendments those who
had framed it wonld present them. But its
passage must not be delayed. No dislatory
tactics would be allowed. Tbe bill was go
ing to go through in the shape the majority
desired it.
The Democrats Enter a Protest.
The Democratic side looked at the gen
tleman from Huntingdon, and then at each
other. Their breath seemed to have been
taken away. Then Mr. Wherry, trembling
with repressed excitement, arose and said
that with SO years of life behind him, 30 of
them spent in public service and three terms
in this body, he had never felt the humilia
tion he endured now. To hear the party
lash cracked over a measure so dear to the
whole people, must be humiliating to every
one. The amendments that would be
offered were intended only to perfect the
bill, and he implored the House lor God's
sake to consider tbem.
Tbe Republican side seemed if anything
a trifle pleased that they should have given
tbe gentleman from Cumberland a new sen
sation, and even "laughed consumedly"
when Mr. Bitter, of Lycoming, dramatically
demanded to know whether the Democrats
of the House had no rights the majority were
bound to respect. Skinner, Gillan and Fow
grew apoplectically eloquent over the out
rage about to be perpetrated upon the
minority, but the Republicans sat with
determination on every feature, Speaker
A Very One-Sided Contest.
Thompson called Mr. Capp, Of Lebanon,
to the chair and tbe battle began. It was
one-sided from the start, and showed unmis
takably that the Republican majority had
at last settled down to a definite, united
course and henceforth would run things.
Amendment after amendment was sent up by
Mr. Ritter, who bad them in charge, only to be
as promptly rejected. If In desperation, the
Democrats demanded the yeas and nays, a
solid party vote was the result Only twice did
the majority allow their caucus amendments to
be incorporated in the bill, and thoso were two
rather unimportant ones providing for three
watchers instead of one, and allowing these
watchers to keep a poll book and challenge
list
Mr.Fow on bis own hook was allowed an
amendment giving tbe Court of Common Fleas
authority to order County Commissioners to
correct errors or omissions in tickets or to show
why they should not, but when he tried to add
a section prohibiting election officers from
electioneering, on a plea that this was true re
form, since "one election officer well in hand
was worth a dozen voters on tbe half shell,"
it was unavailing.
Mr. Baker, by whose side sat Horace Hinuey,
Jr., of Philadelphia, representing the Ballot
Reform Association, offered tbe amendments
which were to go through and all were adopted.
Among tbe most lmnortant was that to section
16 providing that" two copies of tbe assessor's
list of voters shall be furnished, ono to be
called tbe ballot check list for the use of in
spectors or clerks in charge of the ballots and
tne other to be called the voting check list and
to be nsed In marking the names of thoss wbo
have voted and the numbers of their ballots
now required by law.
Duties of the Commissioners.
feection 19 was amenged to require the Coun
ty Commissioners to provide for each voting
precinct a room large enough to be fitted np
with the necessary shelves and guard rail. If
no such room can bo rented or obtained the
Commissioners shall cause to be constructed a
temporary room of adequate size to be used as
a voting room. The consideration of the bill
ocennied almost all of tbe two sessions. Mr.
Capp, who presided in the forenoon, rushed
things through withont any regard for tba
lacerated feelings of tbe minority, and seemed
to rather relish the title of "Reed No. 2" which
they conferred upon him.
But it was when the bill was ready for the
final voto that tho oratorical pyrotechnics
began to flash. Tho pent-up feelings ol tbe
Democrats then found vent Mr. Gillan said
that before he voted for the bill he desired to
enter bis protest against the action of the
majority. "He had honed to walk hand in
band with them to bring about ballot reform.
But when no one was allowed to be heard, and
amendments offered in a spirit of patriotism
were rejected, only mongrel reform could re
sult. Henceforth he would labor for a consti
tutional convention.
Mr. Wherry added his protest Tho Demo
crats bad bezged for a fair, candid considera
tion of their amendments, but bad been met
by a stolid, determined, whip-driven party, and
refused a bearing. Mr. Capp said the Demo
cratic party always tried to prevent free elec
tions and an honest count But these lndis
pensible conditions of freedom in all the States
of the Union and the Democracy could not ex
ist as a party. Mr. Baker closed tbo debate in
a very temperate speech. He said the Repub
lican party wanted ballot reform and wonld
give it to the people. He had offered his
amendments at the suggestion of the Ballot
Reform Association, of Philadelphia, and had
opposed tbe majority of those offered by the
minority at tbe request of the same association.
His action bad not been dictated by any cau
cus. Last Wednesday he bad urged the House
to consider this bill, and tbe Democrats had, by
a solid vote, postponed it. Of all the men in
tbe House Mr. Wherry had least reason to
complain. He bad been put upon the sub
committee in order that he might present bis
Earty's amendments, and had utterly neglected
is duty. Tbe Republicans of the Honse would
allow no farther delay. The bill then passed
second reading and tbe House adjourned,
giving the Republicans a chanco to congratu
late each other and tbe Democrats a chance to
congratulate by telegram their brethren in tbe
Illinois Legislature over the election ot Sen
ator Palmer. That was tbelr only consolation.
Henbt hall.
THE NEW BE00ES SILL
Fixing tho Wholesale license Fees to Bo
Favorably Reported To-day.
rrnon a staff cobbespoi-dest.i
Habbisbubq, March 1L Tbe Brooks whole
sale license bill will bo reported affirmatively
from tho Ways and Means Committee to-morrow.
It fixes the license fee in cities of the
first, second and third classes at $o00, all other
cities 300, boroughs $200, and townships $100.
It was1 amended by fixing bottlers' licenses at
the same figures as wholesalers, with the im
portant proviso that distillers and brewers
licensed. In this State, bottling their ownprod-J
NO DANQER OF WAR NOW.
nets, shall not be required to take ont a bot
tlers' license and shall be permitted to deliver
their products within tbe Commonwealth.
Wholesalers shall not sell spirituous or vin
uons liquors iu quantities less tban one quart
as is now tbe law, tho original bill having fixed
tbe minimum at one gallon. Applicants for
license shall not bo pecuniarily interested in a
business conducted in any other place in the
county where any of said liquors are kept for
sale, but tbe ownership of stock in an incor-
fiorated company distilling or brewing said
iquors shall not debar the owner from obtain
ing a license.
NOT A SOLITARY NAY
RECORDED AGAUfST ELUTCTS WHARF
BILL m THE SENATE,
t
Dunlap Suddenly Drops His Opposition to It
and the Measure Goes Sailing Through
by a Unanimous Tote Laying for It In
tho Honse.
rrnou A &XAr.OBBX8ToxnzirT.i
HAKKlSBUBG;'ih 1L There. ,t
genuine sensatlor Senate thi
ing when benabW .."a.. Bewer, arose
and said that he ihJj fa, further op-
position to Mr. Fllt'
Vf 'JtT. -Mil. Ee-
So
mem oering mat tna ocn;
SfcjSfc.
day talked nearly
against the measur
TL
tors looked as ttiwttga they sincere;
this cbangaSad come over him z? .rs
sooneryrf: vote was then taken, ancrthe
whsribill, over which so much time and
talk have been spent, passed finally by a
vote of 43 yeas to no nays, not even tbe Sen
ator from Beaver raising his voice
against it.
Senator Dunlap said afterward that when
Commodore Kountz, representing the citi
zens of Allegheny, and Captain T. M. Reese,
representlngtho Coal Exchange, arrived, they
found that it was too late to do anything iu
tbe Senate, and believing that tbe fangs of the
measure had been extracted, tbey advised that
no further opposition be made. Tbey propose,
however, to follow the bill and its companion.
No. Si. to the Houso and endeavor to compas3
their defeat there.
lo-night Senator Flinn and E. A. Bigelow,
Chief of Public Works, spoke for tbe bill be
foro the Committee on Municipal Corporations,
and Commodore Kountz spoke against it in
behalf of tbe people of Allegheny City. He
said that if the improvements proposed by Mr.
BIgelow were made on tbe Pittsburg side it
would throw tbe water of tbe river to the Alle
gheny side and raise tbe water in that city
about three feet higher than the same stage of
water would raise it now. This was in com
ment of the plans proposed by Mr. BIgelow to
improve the wharf above the Exposition
Building, for which Improvements he sub
mitted drafts to the committee.
Captain Reese spoke -or the river interests.
And argued that the whirf ws necessary to the
trade, and that bill Si proposed to validate
what bad been done to injure tbe wharf as well
as to allow the city to make a grade dangerous
to the hauling of freight down to tbe nver.
Both bills, 31 and 35, will be reported affirma
tively. DEBATING THE BOAS BILL.
A Long Discussion Over the State Appro
priation Matter.
I rilOM A STAFF COBKXSFOXPEJTT, 1
Haebisbuko, March lb The road bill came
up on third reading in the Senate to-day, and
was the subject of a debate which lasted until
th'e hour for adjournment came and left the
matter pending. Tbe discussion arose upon an
amendment offered by Senator Hines, of Lu
zerne. The bill provides that the State appro
priation shall be divided among the townships
in proportion to the amount of road taxes col
lected and expended by each township for road
purposes during the preceding year. Mr.
Hines' amendment provided for its distribu
tion on the basis of tbe number of miles of road
in the respective townships.
Tbe change was advocated by Senators Hines
and Brown, and opposed by Messrs. Harlan
and Gobin, the latter arguing that tbe method
In tbe bill was the most equitable and satis
factory. The State appropriation, added to
the 25 per cent of the taxes levied for that pur
pose, is intended to be applied to the perma
nent improvement of the roads, and not to re
pairs. To base tbe distribution upon the num
ber of miles of road would remove all induce
ments to the townships to Increase or even
keep up their tax levy, and would simply result
in the State's money being scattered along all
the roads In repairs, which would work no per
manent benefit. It is not likely that the
amendment will be adopted.
THE TEEASUBY IHVESriGATIOff.
Treasurer Boyer and Auditor General Ho
Camant Give Further Testimony,
FBOK A STAFF COBRE3POSDKXT.
Haebisbuko, March 1L The Joint commlt
teo investigating the Treasury Department
met aealn to-day. State Treasurer Boyer was
examined and testified that only three of the
State depositories were known as active de
positories; those npon which drafts were
drawn. The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank, of
Philadelphia, was the depository upon which
all checks for the payment of Legislators and
the current expenses of tbe State were drawn.
It bad never been the practice to enter up the
indemnity bonds given to secure State deposits,
but he believed that the committee should
recommend that they be entered up against at
least a part of the property of those securing
the State.
Auditor General McCamant testified that
while his department was a check upon tbe
Treasury, yet it was possible for the Treasurer,
at any time, to obtain possession of 3,500,000 in
convertible securities. To secure absolute
safety, tbe Treasurer's bond would have to be
fixed at 1,000,000 something be admitted to be
impracticable. Both Messrs. Boyer and Mc
Camant advocated a law requiring State de
positories to make monthly statements of their
financial condition to tbe State treasurer.
HO HOPE FOB IT.
The Antl-DIscrlmlnation Bill Again Ncga-
atively Beported to the Bouse.
rrnoM A staff coEnxspoxpiarr.i
' Habbisbubo, March 11. The House Judici
ary General Committee held a special meeting
to-day, to again consider the ill-fated anti-discrimination
bill. There was a fair attendance,
14 of the 23 members being present Mr. Seanor
appeared and spoke for bis measure, but to no
avail, for the bill was again returned to the
House with a negative recommendation, tbe
vote standing 8 to 6. '
The bill seems to bave met tbe fate of every
measure of a similar character introduced In
the last 17 years.
Secret Order Men to Appear.
tSrSCIAI. TZXXOBAJC TO THB DISPATCH. I
Habbisbubo, March 1L A delegation of
Pittsburg secret society men, consisting of
Thomas Maloney, J. M. McNair. S. A. Will, a
A. Duncan, E. A. Endsley and V. R. Ford will
appear before the House Insurance Committee
on pending insurance bills.
A Bill Against Tights.
rFrECUL TH.EGRAM TO THE DISFATCFI.l
Harrisbuko. March 1L In the House to
day, Seyleri. of Lancaster, introduced a bill to
prevent actresses from appearing in tights on
.LContinutd on 8ith Eage.1 J
THREE CENT&
BULLETS AT A BALL.
A Sudden Quarrel for the Smiles of a
Kentucky Mountain Belle
CAUSES THE LOSS OF SIX LIVES.
About a Score of Men Waged a 'Pitched
Battle for Some lime.
50 ATTEMPT TO MAKE AS I ABBE8TS
rSFXCIAL TXLECKAM TO TUB DISFATCU.l
Catlettsbubq, Kr., March 11. Ee
ports received at this place this morning teU
or a terrible battle with fatal effect
at Kilgore, a small mining town on
the Newport News and Mississippi
Valley Railroad, about 20 miles west
of this point, last night, in which
six men are said to bave been fatally shot
and several others slightly wounded. I"or
several days the belles and beaus of the lit
tie hamlet have been making preparation!
for a grand ball to be given at the public
hall. To make the occasion moro delight
ful, tbe young men purchased gallons of
Ashland 40 rod.
Last evening the hour rolled round and
also the jugs of red eye. The ball room
was crowded with men, women and chil
dren. Early in the evening tbe men began
drinking, and as the night wore
away began to show signs of in
toxication. Exactly what led to the
battle no one seems to know, more than that
a quarrel arose between two of the dancers
ovr a young lady present. Suddenly a
sobt was fired and a panic ensued. Men,
omen and children rushed for the passage
to the open door. Tbe door became clogged
with the jam of humanity, whose only ob
ject was to escape from the shower of bullets
being fired in the halL .
The first man to fall was Sherman Lucas,
a miner. As soon as Lucas fell his friends
rallied to his rescue and a perfect battle was
the result Between 10 and 0 men were en
gaged on both sides, and it is esti
mated that between SO and 150
shots were fired. The fighting ceased
only when ammunition was exhausted. Dar
ing the fight the lights were extinguished,
which fact no doubt saved many lives. When
tbe smoke of the battle cleared away six men
lay on the floor fatally wounded. Several
others were slightly wounded, but suf
ficiently strong to call in medical assistance.
The tatally wounded are: Sherman Lucas,
Charles Bunting, Sam Bunting. Andy Howell,
Jeff Waugh and David Waugb. During the
day no one has been arrested and it will be a
hard matter to fix tbe guilt where it belongs.
The names of those connected with tbe fight
could not bo obtained. No women or children
wero injured further tban tight squeezes.
THE SOUTHERN FLOODS.
THE LOWEB MISSISSIPPI ABOVE THE
DAHGEB MASK.
The Tennessee River Beaches Its Maximum
Height at Chattanooga The Tomblgbee
Biver in Mississippi Begins to Tall Rain
Still railing in Several Places.
Geeexville, Miss., March 1L The
rise in the river here continued at the rate
of 2 to 2i inches in 24 hours. The water
level at this point is 41 feet, 1 foot above
the danger line, and 2 feet and 45-100 below
the high water mark of last year. Tbe
danger line here Is 40 feet, which means
bank full. Behind this are the levees,
which are from 5 to 20 feet in height in this
levee district
Foil confidence is felt in the outcome and in
the stability of tbe levees to withstand the
flood, even at a greater height than it attained
last year. Major Williams, Chief Engineer of
the Levee Board for this district returned this
evening from a trip over the levees, and reports
them as in good condition.
A dispatch from Chattanooga, Tenn., says:
Tbe Tennessee river reached Its maximum
here this morning, making 33.9 feet on the
gauge. There was a fall of two inches daring
the day, but the rain is again falling, and tbe
chances are that the 10-foot mark will be
reached. All railroads are still hampered by
submerged tracks, and the lower portions of
the city aro still underwater.
A spoclal from Columbus, Miss., says: The
Tombigbee river has commenced to fall. The
highest point reached was three inches below
the highest point reached by the water in 1874.
Tbe damage cannot at present be estimated,
but will be considerable. The steamer Mary M
came up this evening, and reports a lady and
two children drowned near Pickensvllle, Ala.,
yesterday, while being taken from their home,
wblch bad been overflowed. Their names
could not be learned.
A PBETTi PIOHT IH INDIANA.
The Abolished Board or Agriculture Will
Attempt to Retain Its Power.
Indiasapohs, March 1L The Indiana
State Board of Agriculture has decided to test
the constitutionality ot the new law abolishing
it and appointing a new board representing the
agricultural, commercial, live stock, mechan
ical and art interests.
The old board declared that the new law Is
unconstitutional, and has retained attorneys
and will resist the attempt to displace it The
new board has not been named by tne State
officers wno have the appointing power. The
legal flgnt that has been provoked will proba
bly delay the removal of tbe State Fafr site
another year, and perhaps longer.
RIOTOUS BUSSIANS ARRAIGNED.
One of Them Is the Axing Island Titrial
Thrower at Jamaica.
New York, March 1L Central office detec
tives this morning arraigned In the Tombs Po
lice Conrt Joseph Barondess and the 12 Russian
cigar makers who were arrested late last night
for having engaged in the attack on Herman
Greenbaum and bis family at Jamaica, L, L,
Monday night when Mrs. Greeebaum waajbru
tally assaulted and ber 4-year-old son was
cruelly burned with vitrioL
The prisoners were sepaately identified by
Greenbaum and then turned over to the police
of Jamaica. The prisoners were handcuffed to
gether and taken over tho ferry to Long Island
City.
A FORLORN HOPE.
A Desperate Surgical Operation Falls to
Save.lL Clay King's Victim's Life.
Memphis, March 1L David Posten, the law
yer who was shot yesterday by Colonel H. Clay
King, died at 6J0 this evening. Tbe only
chance of saving his life was taken at a lata
hour last night and failed. It consisted in the
catting away of SS inches of the lacerated in
testines. Tbe operation is a most dangerous one nnder
any circumstances, and in this case was ren
dered doubly so by tbe previous laceration
my tho bullet and tbe shock incidental to It
It was, however, a denier resort Colonel
King, in his cell at the jail, received the news
of his victim's death in the same cool manner
that has characterized his bearing since the
tragedy occurred.
THE COLUMBUS TRAGEDY.
The Grand Jury Returns Two Indictments
Each Against Two Participants.
Columbus. O., March 1L The grand jury,
after a session of over two weeks, in which
time over 100 witnesses bave been examined in
the ElUott-Osbome tragedy, reported this
evening, returning two Indictments each
against W.J. and P. J. Elliott for murder in
tha firt degree.
Trey are jointly charged with tha killing of
A. C. Osborne, one of tho principals In the.
tragedy, and W. L. Hughes, an innocent spec-
tator,
1
'4
4
.&..