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FLORENCE ON POKER.
The Popular Actor Had Just Prepared
a Volume on the Game
AS A SCIENTIFIC AMUSEMEXT.
Rule3 to Be Follotred to rrerent a
generacj Into llere Gambling.
De-
FEATUEES OF TOE AMERICAN FASTIHE
rTSTJTTKX FOR THE DISPATCH.1
The Saturday preceding the last illness of
Actor "William J. Florence he entered the
office of George Kutledge & Sons, in La
fayette jilace, and seated himself weariedly
in a chair.
"I want you gentlemen to get through
with me in a hurry," said he, "lor I'm a
sick man. I've just got in town on a train,
and a hard time I had of it traveling I
fell flat on the floor of the car once through
sheer weakness, and the porter had to lift
me up."
The publishers brought some proof sheets,
and Mr. Florence hastily read them over
and made a few corrections. Then he threw
aside his pen, and said he had to take a
train to Philadelphia and dreaded the trip.
One of the managers offered him some fine
Scotch whisky and he took a few drops.
This seemed to cheer him, and he drove off
to the station in a cab.
Mas a Great Poker n.yer.
The proofs that Sir. Florence nas revis
ing were for a book on draw poker, Tibich
he had finished writing only a short time
before, and which it was proposed to put
upon the market very soon. 3Ir. Florence
was very fond of a social game of poker.
His acquaintance among men of Etanding
who were poker players was very large,
and he was the author and hero ofmany a
good poker story of wide circulation. He
was generally recognized as an admirable
player.
The nature of the book is set forth in the
following excerpts from the advance proofs:
The game of poker has become popular
during the last two decades and is now
known in almost every civilized land. I
have seen it played by the donkev boys in
the streets ot Cairo and by the "Piute In
dians on the plains of Nevada. I was
present on one occasion when a poker party
as made up of a reigning monarch, a
future king and three princes imperial.
jLuat nugui wen oecaiiea a roval nusn.
That the game which could hold such
competitors must be a fascinating one can
not be denied. It is indeed held by some to
be the most dangerous of aU games of cards,
since it can only be played for stakes; but
it must be remembered that this is true of
all games in which the player conceals the
alue of the cards he holds.
Certainly Xot an Unsocial Gam.
To the objection that poker is an unsocial
game, since it admits of no partners, each
participant striving for himself alone, it is
to be said that since one object of the game
is to mystify your adversaries as to the
value of your hand, and as all sorts of chaff
and badinage are permitted, nonsense
may fly from tongue to tongue, fast and
furious, to any extent, providing it docs not
delay the game. A hand shown down de
tects its owner's futile attempt to mislead
the table, a rousing laugh usually follows,
so that the fun is always kept up. Of course
one may have a bad tempered or a churlish
companion at the table, but such a one gets
the orst of it when he betrays his peevish
ness. As in any game of chance or speculation,
there are in poker opportunities to cheat.
Longbefore poker, however, was invented
cneaiinsrai cnance games was practised dv
the unprincipled. I have seen loaded dice
taken from ihe ruins of Pompeii and Her
culaneum and now preserved in the Govern
ment Museum at Naples. So poker is not
responsible for all the charges brought
against it. It is well, how ever, to be care
ful about going into a (jame of poker'on an
ocean steamer, in a railway canfage or a
Western hotel without som"e know ledge of
your companions.
Harmless If Flayed by Gentlemen.
But with a party of gentlemen, and for
limited stakes, poker is a fascinating and
harmless pastime. "While a number of
books have been written about it, none can
claim absolute authority. Tnough the
rules of the game are really simple, the
deviations, alterations and amended allow
ances, and the fact that almost any party
t-itting down to play may and often does
make its on rules about "certain matters,
render poker a by no means easy game,
such regulations, for example, as to the
value of a "straight," piaylng "around the
corner," "passing the buck," "blazes" and
jack pots. It is to fix the positive and long
accepted rules of the games that this book
is written, the rules herein set forth having
been sanctioned by the best custom where
ever draw poker is played in its integrity.
"Whatever its oriein, poker is now con
ceded to be one of the most intellectual, as
it is doubtless the mot fascinating of
card gatres. Attack and defense are in it
developed to a amazing perfection, the op
portunities of seizine strategic advantage
being wonderful. There never was seen
such a combination of logic and luck, ot cal
culation and speculation. It has by some
been declared the offspring of the famous
and difficult English came of "gleek,"
which we know to be 300 yrars old, while
others dtrcribe it as a direct development
from the Knglish game of "brag."
EUdertij Originated in Enclttml.
The derivation of the name from the old
English "pot and pair" seems fanciful, but
the striking analogy between the use of the
poker terms "seeing" and "seeing you
again," or raising, and the "vying" and "re
vying," or seeing and resecing referred to
by Ben Johnson in "Every Man in His
Humor" is notable and suggestive.
It would seem by all odds, therefore, to
have sprung, like so much of what is best
in America, from "the right little, tight lit
tle island." Sir "Walter Raleigh may hae
brought it over and Captain John Smith
may, in defiance of the legend, have won
his'life and Pocahontes' hand by bluffing
her old red father 5
Baron Rothschild advised speculators:
"Cut thort your losses; let your profits
run." Poker is so admirable an exposition
of human nature that it is fruitful of max
ims. Play liberally with liberal players
and cicely with close players. The father
of American poker, General Bob Sehenck,
said: "The main elements of success are
good luck, good cards, plenty of cheek and
good temper." Richard Guerndale, in his
'Poker Book," adds, "and plenty of pa
tience." To these it isjiot misplaced toadd
ihis: "Push vour luck when winning, stay
oat when losing until a little better hand
than the average comes to you.
Etiquette of Raising the Lim'.I.
It may not infrequently happen that a
player who has had a run of. luck desires to
raise the limit and increase the ante. This
procedure it mnch to be deprecated, as it is
apt to be a sacrifice of the comfort of all for
the caprice ot one. Of course in that method
of playing know nas "table stakes," wherein
any one player on depositing in full view
outhe tabletlie sum total of what he is
willing to risk, has a right to "sec" any
hand for that sum, a raise of the ante or
limit beyond the amount so deposited is im
possible. And in the game of "ireeze out," a
variety of poker, any player .losing the
iroount so deposited on the table is for
bidden to come again into the game, the re
maining players continuing the game until
ill the chips are in one player's possession.
"While the ante and the limit are, as be
'ore said, generally arranged at a fixed
ralue, an unlimited game is sometimes
jlayed. This, however, is gambling pure
ind simple, and at once' places the plaver
rith a smjll capital at the mercy of "hia
icher rivals. As this little treatise has
een prepared for the use of those in search
f harmless amusement, using stakes solely
i a controlling influence to keep the play
ithin bounds and hold the interest of the
players to its spirit, I would suggest that
the limit be never more than the equivalent
of ten times the ante.
"What straddling fforas
Generallv speakinc, good players never
straddle. For straddling does not in reality
alter the chances of winning of anyone at
the table. It simply gives the straddler the
opportunity of drawing last and so of ob
serving what the other players draw, with
a view of formini the poker player's lesriti-
mate inferences as to the value of their
hands to begin with.
If the player next the age on the left does
not straddlcno one else can, and he must
use his privilege before the completion of
the deal. Xo one, of course, may properly
look at his cards before the deal is com
pleted all around. After the third player,
who sits next the age, has straddled the
"blind," as the ante is often called, the
players next him may in turn straddle his
"blind" or raise, so long as the "blind" is
not in this way made more than half the
limit of the betting.
But there isanother kind of betting before
the draw which is recognized as legitimate
in draw poker and w hich does notcarry with
it the privilege of drawing cards last. This
is called "raising before the draw," and by
this means any player beginning on the left
of the age is allowed to raise the stake then
being played for by putting that much addi
tional into the pot to the limit or to any less
amount he chooses.
As such a raise has an inevitable tendency
to keep other players from drawing cards at
such an additional expense it is not wise to
resort to it except in extreme cases, where
the player so raising has a good hand which
he believes the others are specially willing
to "buck against, or lor "blulhng pur
poses. AU in the Draw.
There is a slangy saving that the game of
poker is "all in the draw." "While this is
an exaggeration, it is not so very far from
the truth. And, in the first place, it should
be borne in mind that it is a duty each
player owes to the game, his neighbors and
himself to discard and draw quickly and
decorously. It should be concluded as
soon as possible after every one has come in
or passed out. The practice of poring
over the card should be deprecated; it
often prevents some other plaver from act
ing on an impulse suggested by the first
view of his own hand, and, by delaying
further procedure, annoys the other players
in general.
As to the method of discarding, one
should throw his discards to the center of
the table as nearly as possible in front of
the next dealer. This discarding should be
done quickly and unhesitatingly. The
dealer must announce his draw in an audi
ble voice: the other players, of course,
must ask for their cards so as to be heard by
the dealer and other players as well. "When
thev have once spoken and received their
cards they cannot be required to answer
questions" about them or to reannounce how
many they drew. The chances of having
dealt on the "go in"" are as follows:
Straight flush, once in 65,000 deals.
Fours, once in 4,161 deals.
Full hand, once in 693 deals.
Flush, ouce in 507 deals.
Straight, once in 254 deals.
Threes, once in 45 deals.
Two pairs, once in 20 deals.
One pair, 10 times in 13 deals.
For the Fnrpose of a Blufi".
Two cards should not be drawn to a pair
unless the ace or king car. be retained with
them, except for the purpose of a "bluff,"
If most of the other players are "in" the
chances of drawing an ace or a king are not
nuite so good as those of drawinga small
card, because the other players are more
likely to be staying in on high than on low
cards. The probabilities of such being the
case are of course quite impossible to
determine, but they ara very slight and are
more than compensated by the chances of
increasing the comparative value of the hand
by making aces or kings "up" instead of
iwo small pairs. Thus, while it has been
well said that the actual mathemetical
expectations ot improving such a hand are
greater by drawing three cards, yet it cannot
be denied tliat tne practical value ox the,
hand is much enhanced by a successful two'
card draw. The odd card should only be
retained with a small pair that is, on the
merits of n hich the pot cannot, presumably,
be won, say a pair of nines or under.
The only possible way of improving two
pairs being to make a full hand, the chances
are 11J4 to 1 against its being made. When
two smali pairs are held and there are indi
cations of fairly good hands being out the
smaller pair is often discarded, the chances
of drawing a third to a pair being greater
than of making a full hand out of two pairs.
Again, if two pairs be held with aces or
kings up and a raise followed to a two-card
draw bv one or the other players points to
threes being held by him, the smaller pair
might be discarded in the hope of making
high threes. 'o rules can be laid down for
either of the above cases, as a question of
judgment is involved.
"When to Stand Pat.
A great manr players of experience rec
ommend standing pat occasionally on two
small pairs- This is unwise, as the only
hand which is liable to be driven out is a
hand which is just a little better. Alinost
any player with "aces up" or three of a
kind will call a pat hand, particularly if
the pat be a large one, and to stand pat on
two pairs against an inferior hand is to
waste yonr resources.
To p"lay a hand pat. the limit should be
raised both before and after the draw, and
the game will seldom be found to be worth
the candle. The only hand to stand pat on,
other than a genuine one, is a hand without
a pair and nothing to draw to.
In the Southern States players consider
it almost a point of honor to stand pat on a
hand called a "kilter" that is a hand with
a nine for the highest and a two for the low
est card. It is impossible to make anything
of such a hand by drawing, and the" only
thing to be done is to discard the whole or
plav pat
When a player finds threes in his hand on
the first deal he at once recognizes the fact
that it may be improved to either a full
hand or fours. There is no other increase
of value possible. Once in every 23J times
four of a Kind may be made by drawing two
cards to threes. Just twice as often, or
about once in 12 times, a full hand may be
made. It is possible, therefore, to improve
this hand by drawing just once in every
eight times.
3Iasklng of the Hand.
A favorite play is to retain an odd card,
discarding and drawing one card, and thus
accomplishing the valuable result of de
ceiving one's rivals as to the strength of the
hand. The probabilitief of improving the
hand are, of course much less, four of a
kind being possibly made in this way only
once in 47 times. The one card draw will
result in a full hand about once in 16 times.
The one card draw creates the impression
that thehand is either a straight, a flush or
two pairs. It seems to be the opinion of
good judges that as three of a kind is 19
times out of 20 a good enough.hand to win
the pot, it offers the possessor a very wide
range for the exercise of his own judgment .
in the draw. It matters not how the draw
is made, the hand is bound to remain good
and ma- be improved. For this reason the
policy of masking the hand is often advis
able; for the one card draw especially is
calculated to create an appearance of bluff
ing, indicating a draw to a bobtail straight
or flush.
Some excellent authorities on poker say"
that with three of a kind it is almost always
best to hold up a card and draw one.
While it seems a little paradoxical to talk
about drawing cards to a hand which is
dealt you in its complete form, such as a
full, yet it often occurs that for reasons of
the moment it is advisable to discard the
pair and draw two cards, or more probably
to throw away one of the associate pair and
draw- one. Where there are only a few
playing and a full hand with aces or kings
pat is dealt it is better to mask the strength
of the hand by throwing away the small
pair, or one of them at least, retaining the
three aces or three kings. But this, of
course, is largely a matter for individual
taste and the emergency of the moment.
Drawing to a Bobtail.
The larger the number of players in a
game the better play it is to draw one card
to a bobtail flash or straight. As far as the
element of chance goes, it must be remem
.THE PITTSBURG.
bered that the four cards are of Absolutely
no value without the odd fifth which is' to
be drawn, except so far as bluffing is con
cerned. Tffcre is no earthly probability of
a bobtail winning on its merits, conse
quently the only chance of winning is of im
proving the hand. It is hardly worth while
to take the risk unless the pot is one of con
siderable size.
Drawing to a straight with both ends
open is verv-eood plav, as the odds are only
about 6 to 1 against its being made. But
drawing to an intermediate straight is tak
ing a chance of 1 in 12. A flush, according
to the calculus of probabilities, should on a
one card draw be made 9 times out of 47.
The Betting and the Bluffing.
After the discarding comes the betting.
Primarily the bettor, or the player on whom
the duty of betting or "passing out" first
devolves, is the second to the dealer's left,
C He bets first or goes out, and each
player after him has the privilege of either
"seeing" what U has bet, raising it or pass
ing out. When in this way the turn of the
age is reached he may raise up to the limit
or simply "see" the highest bet already
made, and the advantage of his position is
such that nobody can "raise" him. His
"seeing" calls for a "show down" of bands.
The form of betting known as bluffing
which, by some, is erroneously supposed to
so characterize the game of draw poker as to
give it, actually, the name of ""bluff" in
some localities, is a necessary part of the
game as best played. But it cannot be de
nied that many poker players do get
through an evening without once resorting
to it. The fact that they pretend to
bluff, or bluff at bluffing, has, however, the
desired result, in producing an erroneous
impression on the minds of their compan
ions at table, producing such impressions
being indeed a sine qua non to success. For
the plaver known never to. bluff is never
"called" except on some hand shown by
experience to be probably superior to his.
Successful bluffs are almost impossible in
"jackpots."
A Delightful Episode.
The jack pot is a delightful episode in a
game of poker. But it must be permitted
to arise naturally and to dawn upon the
vision of the wearied traveler like an oasis
in the desert rather than be forced upon
him. "Passing the buck," which is simply
the phrase applied to the circulation of a
buckhorn knife or any other such object
around the table, should never be employed
as a means of artificially producing jack
pots, since the jack pot is a direct and
serious innovation on the regular routine of
the game, making a difference not only in
the dealing, but in the drawing and betting
also.
A jack pot is a pot played for when every
player around the table passes. This re
quires the supposition that when all have
passed around to the ante man he also
passes. Thereupon, it being his deal, he
takes the cards and deals as usual, but be
fore so doing every player around tha
board, as one of the solemn ceremonials at
tending upon jack pots, is required to con
tribute to the pot before the deal the amount
of the ante or some other amount arbitrarily
fixed upon by the ante man, who exercises
very considerable authority in the matter.
The Opening of the Pot.
The second distinguishing feature of the
jack pot is the fact that after the ante man
has so dealt and all around the table have
so contributed, the first bettor is called
upon not only to bet but to perform that
mysterious ceremony known as "opening
the pot," which he cannot do unless he
finds in his hand the equivalent of a pair of
jacks or better. If he finds that he has not
in his hand a pair of jacks or better he
passes and the next player in turn ex
amines his hand for the openers. If he
does not find them the privilege of opening
the pot passes around the board, and if
nobody can do so the next player in turn
deals again after every player present has
"fattened" the pot with either one chip or
an amount agreed upon.
The process of opening the pot must now
be gone through with again, and if the sec
ond time no player in his turn discovers a
pair ot jacks or better the pot must be
aeain fattened and the new deal made until
the mystical openers are finally discovered.
When the discovery has been made and
the player finding in his hand a pair of
jacks or more says. "X will open the pot,"
ne'is at once called'upoh' to" bet, no matter
what his position at the table may be, and
all those who do not see his bet fall out and
lose their share of the pot.
It is considered the best play te open a
jack pot for the limit if it is of any special
value. If, however, the opener has an ex
traordinary good hand and wishes to induce
everybody else to come in he may make the
open as light as he chooses. If, however,
he finds in his hand openers only it is gen
erally considered best for him to open for
the limit. The drawing and betting in
jack pots,outside of the opening bet, are ex
actly similar to those of the regular game
of poker. Any player other than the
opener who desires to come in may do so on
putting up the amount for which the pot
was opened, regardless of the value of his
hand.
The Show-Down Mast Be Made.
Of course, as the opener must have a pair
of jacks or more he must prove to the other
players at the end of the pot that he did
hold such a hand on the go in. For that
reason he must invariably show his hand at
the termination ot the pot, openers and all,
face up on.the table. And it is considered
an excellent rule, by the way, to open a
jack pot whenever you can.
The question of discards naturally arises
when the opener has such a hand as this a
pair ot jacks and four hearts. Naturally it
occurs to him, with a big pot and a good
many playing, that were he to discard the
other jack and keep the four hearts with the
jack at the head, he may stand a good chance
of drawing the fifth heart and getting a
flush. In such cases it is considered allow
able for him to do so if he carefully puts the
discarded jack on one side, where it remains
in full view, and announces his intention of
discarding one of his openers.
SOKE PETTY LAW BKEAKBES.
A box of eggs, valued at $7, was stolen
from the front of Charles Briol's store, 2514
Penn avenue, yesterday morning,
Peter Gaixegheb and Patrick O'Brien
were arrested last evening by Officer Elmer
for fighting on Wylle avenue. They were
locked up in the Eleventh ward station.
John Stkes has sued Harry Wlialen before
Alderman Mclnemey for the larceny of a
lot of potatoes from his cellar on the Morn
ingside road. A warrant has been issued.
John Whales was arrested and locked up
in the Central station last night for keeping
a disorderly house at Grant and "Water
streets. Eight inmates were also locked up.
William Feazieb, who lives on Clark
street, made an information before Aider
man Richards yesterday charging Thomas
Allen with assaulting him with a beer glass.
Allen was arrested and held under $300 bail
for a hearing Saturday.
Tns man arrested by Officers Shafer and
Foster on Eighteenth street jesterday
morning, clad only in his undershirt, was
Anton Kouser, oi Fifteenth street. The
police say that bo was suffering from tem
porary insanity or that he was drunk. He is
still in tho Twelfth ward station house.
J AMEsMcDoxoraH.who was arrested in the
Seventeenth ward on Tuesday evening for
neglecting his family, was sent to the work
nouse by Magistrate Leslie. His wife was
discharged and allowed to take the two
youngest children. The other five were
placed in the hands of the Humane Society.
SurEBiNTlsDEST Weib ordered the arrest
of two men yesterday who were parading
the streets, in violation of a city ordinance,
with placards hung over their shoulders.
One was arrested on Fifth avenue and the
other on Marlset "street. They gave their
names as Alex Burkbart and Dan Hagerty,
and tho agent they represented put up a
forfeit for their appearance this morniug.
Diamonds
Set in studs,
Rings,
Brooches,
Lockets.
Diamond settings in great variety.
Our factory being in the same building, the
gems can be set while yon wait.
Henry Terh byden,
Manufacturing Jeweler, 530 Smithfield
street. tvs
DISPATCH, THURSDAY,
BUT A SINGLE CLOUD
Now Visible in the Political Sky of
Happy, Liberated Brazil.
THE OLD CONGRESS IS RECALLED.
President Peiiotto Denies Pretensions
Dictatorship.
to
THE ARM I AND NAYI NOT IN HAEM0NI
Eio Janeiro, Nov. 25. President Peix
otto promulgated a manifesto to-day, which
is received with general satisfaction. In
this he altogether abandons the arbitrary
and dictatorial authority assumed by Da
Fonseca, and declares that the legal order
of affairs is re-established.
As a consequence of this general state
ment, the manifesto announces that the dis
solution of Congress decreed by Da Fonseca
is annulled and the state of siege in the
Federal District has been raised. The
manifesto summons Congress to reassemble
December 10 and resume its functions.
This proclamation makes it clear that the
new President does not sympathize any
with the policy inaugurated by Da Fonseca
and that he proposes to do all in his power
to restore the political situation to normal
condition. A new Cabinet has been formed
as follows: Senhor Aires, Finance; Senhor
Faria, Husbandry; Senhor Pereira, Jus
tice; Senhor Oiiveierea, War; Senhor
Mello, Marine; Senhor Pallita, Foreign
Affairs. Senhor Pereira, Minister of Jus
tice, will take charge temporarily of the
Minister of Public Instructions and the In
terior. ,
The latest advices from Rio Grande do Sul
say that there is general and great rejoicing
over the Dictator's retirement. The insur
gents, under command of General Ossorio,
were marching toward the north with the
intention of invading the adjoining State of
Santa Catalina, and thence of moving upon
Eio Janiero, when the news of Fonseca's
abdication reached Ossorio. They had just
arrived on the frontier of the two States.
A later dispatch says that dissensions be
tween the army and the navy-are now caus
ing disquiet.
WILL HE EVES COME BACK!
William Allison Fleeces Several People and
Then Disappears.
William Allison, an employe of the Lake
Erie road, is a much-wanted man at present,
especially in the neighborhood of Chartiers
andMcKee's Rocks. Some three. or four
months ago Allison made his appearance at
Chartiers, and engaged board with a lady
named Morris. He then proceeded to make
friends with everyone by posing as a model
man. He did not drink or use tobacco in
any form. He also became a regular at
tendant at church. Among those favorably
impressed was sister of the land
lady, to whom Allison made love
and in a short time they were engaged to be
married. Allison then went to John Schmid,
Sr., and purchased a lot from him for $400,
at the same time telling Mr. Schmid of his
approaching marriage and asking him to se
cure a carpenter to build a house, as he did
not have the time to attend to it. Mr.
Schmid consented and soon the house was
in course of construction. When it was
completed Allison went to Schmid and gave
him a check on the Marine National Bank
for 5873 in payment for the
house and lot which was to be
1800. He received the difference, $73,
and also borrowed 57 lrom JUrs. Morns.
Allison then disappeared and up to the
present time nothing has been heard of him.
The people at the bauk deny that Allison
had any account with them. Suit has been
entered against Allison before Squire
Bryan, of Chartiers, for false pretenses, and
officers are now endeavoring to locate him.
FBOM THE HIJTHEOXATE.
Colonel Frank Gray Talks of Connecti
cut's Hot Politics.
Colonel Frank Gray arrived in Pittsburg
yesterday from New Haven, Conn., where he
has been for some weeks actively engaged in
the gubernatorial fight of the Nutmeg State.
He says the Democrats still feel sanguine
of installing General Morris in office. Ho
says the contest is so bitter that it has en
tered into the very family circle of every
little village and hamlet of the State and
that members of the State Legislature are
being invited on by delega
tion after delegation. In some
towns meetings have been held and resolu
tions passed instructing delegates how to
vote. "I am here," said Mr. Gray, last
night, "in the interest of Comedian Crane
and 'The Senator, "and while my business
makes life a whirl ot excitement, show
business is like a 'summer sea' in compari
son to the seething, sizzling political battle
that is now raging in Connecticut."
CHIEF JONES IS MAD.
He Asserts Positively That Somebody Is a
Preiarlcator.
Allegheny Common -Council will meet in
special session Friday night to consider
some important questions. It is said that
a resolution will be introduced to abolish
the office of the Assistant Superintendent
to the Fire Bureau, a position which is now
held by John Hunter.
Chief Jones was seen last evening by a
DisrATCH reporter and was most emphatic
in his laneuaze when asked as to the truth
. of the rumor that he was looking for Mr.
Hunter s scalp, lie saia: "ou may say
for me that any man who asserts that I am
backing this resolution to depose Mr. Hun
ter, or that I know anything whatever
about the resolution which it is said will be
introduced, is .a liar."
Arranging Proceedings Against Wjmtn.
City Solicitor Elphinstone and the at
torney'of the Allegheny Reform Associa
tion had another meeting yesterday after
noon with the expert auditors in regard to
arranging a course of legal proceedure
against Mayor Wyman and ex-Mayor Pear
son. No definite plan waB agreed upon, as
the reports have not yet been thoroughly
sifted. They will meet again to-day and
finish the examination.
Growing Impatient Over the Delay.
The citizens along Butler street, between
Forty-eighth street and Shacpsburg, arc be
coming somewhat impatient at the pro
longed delay in starting the electric branch
bf the CitizensMraction road. It was an
nounced some time ago that the road would
be in operation by the middle of the pres
ent month. It is given out now that it
may not be started before the first of the
new year.
Discriminating Against Pittsburg..
Freight Agent Bates, of the Allegheny
Valley road, returned from New York yes
terday where he attended a conference with
Southern railway representatives about
rates on Pittsburg products. The local iron
men claim the Southern roads are discrim
inating against them. Mr. Bates said he
thought a satisfactory schedule ot rates
would be prepared.
Will Start a Pawn Bank.
Sam Steam, better known as Uncle Sain,
the Smithfield street pawnbroker, proposes
to start a pawn bank on a new scale. His
scheme is to reach a different class of people
by making . loans to business men on col
lateral at 2U per cent interest per month,
which will bring quite a respectable income
And will alti t'nftl nf thr nrftcnnt 1,,1.
rate of 20 per cent now charged by pawnbrokers.
NOVEMBER 26, 1891:
LIGHT WILL BE CHEAPER-
Two Electric Companies Will Contest for
the Jottor Lighting Pittsburg.
The city's three-year contract with the
East End Electric Light Company for
lighting the city will expire January 1.
Next , week Chief Bigelow will let a new
contract for a four-year term,, and consider
able interest is being manifested to know
who will be the bidders. The East End
company, having its plant and all the light
equipments, will be a bidder, and the
Thomson-Houston Electric Company is
also expected to make a proposition.
If the Jatter company comes in it
is said they will make a much
lower figure per lamp than the
city's present contract, but the East End
Company is also expected to bid much lower
than their last proposal, becauso in event of
anomer company securing the contract the
East End people would lose considerably
on the wires, lamps and mast arms they have
erected. In any event the prospect of
getting much cheaper light for the next four
years seems very favorable.
The Pennsylvania Globe Gaslight Com
pany will be a bidder for the gasoline lamps
that are still in use. and Booth & Flinn,
who have the gasoline contract now, will
also file an offer before next Wednesday,
when the bids close.
The advertisement for bids calls for a
proposition for incandescent lamps, but
Controller Morrow says that incandescent
lamps for street lighting purposes have been
tried and found to be a failure, and he will
oppose any award of contract therefor. All
bids on the lighting contract must be made
at so much per lamp, and bonds aggregating
$75,000 must accompany each bid as indem
nification for the city against loss and for
the faithful performance of contract.
One point discussed in connection with
the possibility of the Thomson-Houston
Company getting the contract, is how they
will arrange for lighting the city while they
erect a plant. This company has no plant
here at uresent, and, as the new contract
would require them to be in operation by
January 1, they would not have- sufficient
time to erect a plant, and, consequently
under the city's conditions, they would be
expected to furnish light and would have to
make an agreement with the present con
tractors. Failure on the part of the East
End Company to secure the contract would
make them rather revengeful, it is said, and
they would either refuse entirely or compel
the Thomson-Houston Company to pay
handsomely for the service.
PUT 05 THE BRAKES.
County Commissioner Mercer Refuses to
Approve a Soldier Bnrlal Bill.
County Commissioner Mercer yesterday
refused to approve a bill for the county's
proportion of the expense of the burial of
an indigent soldier. Under the act of As
sembly providing for the county paying for
the burial of indigent soldiers, the Commis
sioners appoint representatives in each
ward, borough and township, whose duty it
is to attend to all the details of the funeral
and examine into the financial condition of
the deceased or his family before the burial.
If the deceased is an indigent soldier, sailor
or marine the representative so
certifies to the Commissioners, and
the county pays 535 for the funeral
and provides a headstone costing 515. Com
missioner Mercer stated, yesterday that
many of the representatives, who are old
soldiers and interested in G. A. R. work, do
not seem to understand the act of Assembly.
They are required to examine into the finan
cial condition of the deceased before burial,
and if indigent attend to the details of the
funeral, and so certify to the Commission
ers. This mnnv fail to do. but certify nil
the same. In the case in question this had I
i.nrt i...in.i tu tni i.;it a1.a n.nn cinn I
UCCil UCLlCUhCU. 1UC IWWI Ul ClQVr w . VU
for the undertaker, and indicated, that if so
much could be paid the deceased, was not
an indigent. As no investigation had been
made as required by law, payment had to be
refused. Another case occurred recently
where a representative collected the $33
from the county and gave it to the widow of
a soldier for her support, instead of apply
ing it to the funeral expense. The under
taker's bill -went to' the Commissioners and
the representative had to pay the amount to
him.
THE TEST CASE HEABING.
Wholesale Liquor Dealers Testify Against
tho Drivers.
Alderman McKenna yesterday held a
hearing in the case of Victor Docsch
against John Langan for selling liquor
without a license. This is one of the test
suits brought by the Wholesale Liquor
Dealers' Association of this city, against
drivers of beer wagons, whom th'ey accuse
of illegal liquor selling. '
A large number of liquor dealers were
present at the hearing, and considerable
time was taken up hearing the testimony.
The evidence proved that the derendant
was in the employ of Pier & Dannals,
wholesale liquor dealers, had the name of
his employer on the wagon, the number of
his license plate, and it appears, as far as
this goes, complied with the law. The tes
timony on which the prosecution bases his
suit was slightly different It was proven
that Langan had received an order for beer
on Websteravenueana delivered tne sameat
a house on Wylie street. This, it was
claimed, was a direct violation of the law,
it being a'leged that the beer should have
been ordered of Pier & Dannals personally
at his brewery and delivered from there in
stead of the way it was done.
The attorneys spent considerable time in
discussing the matter without bringing out
any new features in the matter. Alderman
McKenna then said he would leserve his
decision in the case until next Thursday.
The other suits against Sebastian Herman,
Henry Rupp and Charles Lorisch will be
heard next Wednesday afternoon at 4
o'clock.
VALUABLE PAPERS REPORTED FOUND.
They Are Said to Be Absolute Titles to Vast
Estates in New Countries.
A story was printed yesterday to the
effect that a box containing valuable papers
had been unearthed while workman were
tearing .down an old house on Brereton
avenue, 'Lawreneeville. There was a deed
said to have been signed by John Penn, at
that time Governor of Pennsylvania, and
dated February 18, 1775. The deed calls for
conveyance of certain property on the Kis
kimimtis river in Armstrong county. Squire
Leslie was said to have the papers, and to
have expressed the opinion that they in
volved a great amount of interest to West
moreland and Cambria county people and
land owners.
The Squire was seen last night by a DIS
PATCH reporter, but he simply said he had
glanced at the papers and did not look nt
them carefully. He gave them to an
evening newspaper man, who based the
story on them, and he didn't know how im
portant they were,
A Jiew Allegheny Teacher.
At a meeting of the school board of the
Ninth ward, Allegheny, last night, Miss
Mary Hardies of Beaver Falls, Pa., was
elected an additional teacher in the Ninth
ward.
Highest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U. S. Gov't Report
lV
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ABSOLLfTELY PURE
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
Five Horses and Twenty-Six Electric
Cars Are Destroyed.
CE0SSED WIRES WERE THE CAUSE.
Second Avenue Railway Crippled and Bor
lin's Hotel Burned.
THE LOSS WILL EASILY I5EACII $60,000
About 1:30 o'clock this morning fire
broke out in the car barn of the Second ave
nue electric line destroying the entire
building together with 2G cars. Five horses
that were in a portion of the bnilding were
cremated.
The fire communicated to the hotel of
James Borliu adjoining and the house of
Mrs. Grau across the street The hotel was
entirely destroyed and Mrs. Grau's house
was damaged to the extent of $500.
The loss to the electric line will reach
$50,000, and to J. Borlin $4,000. The
building occupied by Borlin was owned by
J. Buting and was valued at ?3,000. Borlin
had $1,500 insurance on his goods. It could
not be learned whether the railway's prop
erty was insured or not.
The fire originated in the car barn, and is
supposed to have started from an electric
light wire becoming crossed with the
trolley wire. The alarm was turned in
from box 98. Glenwood engine No. 4 was
telephoned for and went to the assistance
of the Hazelwood company. The residence
of Mrs. Grau is insured.
The Second Avenue Electric line will be
disabled for some time. None of the au
thorities could be seen last night
DETECTIVES AWAITING HTJBLBUBT.
Positive Evidence That He Wrote, the Let
ters to Gladys Evelyn.
IBY CABLE TO THE DISPATCH. 3
Londojt, Nov. 25. Detectives are await
ing the arrival of William Henry Hurl
burt, at Queenstown with a warrant for
his arrest on the charge of perjury.
Several months ago Gladys Evelyn
sued Hurlburt for breach of
promise of marriage. Part of the evidence
consisted of a series of obscene letters which
she received, signed "Wilfrid Murray."
The plaintiff declared that these were writ
ten by Hurlburt. This he denied on oath,
but no one was able to find "Murray."
Ever since then friends of the girl have
been at work hunting up evidence that
Hurlburt really wrote the letters, and de
tectives have visited every place in Eng
land and France where Miss Evelyn lived
and was visited by the American. The
necessary proof is now said to have been
obtained. Miss Evelvn was quietly sum
moned to Bow street Monday, and, on in
formation sworn by her, Sir John Bridge
issued the arrest warrant. Prosecution was
advised by Sir Edward Clarke, Solicitor
General, after an examination of the proof
found by the detectives.
ZANESVILLE IBOJT WORKERS STRIKE.
Amalgamated FreiueuE Weihe Falls to
Bring About a Settlement
Zanesville, Nov. 25. Special Will
iam Weihe, President of the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers, ar
rived in the city to-day, and this afternoon
held a conference with the management of
the Ohio Iron Company with reference to
signing the scale which was presented
them several months ago. The result of the
qonference was not; satisfactory, and Jo
night, at a meeting of Ihe lodge of the'as-
srciation here, a striKe was declared aDouc
200 men are engaged in it.
The mills have been shut down for about
a month, and the men are in a noor condi
tion to stand a long strike. The present
management of ths mill represents
only about 8130,000 oi the $500,000
capital stock, the remainder being held
by small stockholders. They are beginning
to complain of the long idleness of the mills,
and it is predicted that they will combine
to elect a new Board of Directors, and thus
solve the difference.
SPAIN'S HEW MIH1STBY.
The Policy of the Government Unchanged,
With Greater Economy.
Madrid, Nov. 23. A semi-official note,
issued to-day, says the political policy of
the new Government is identical with that
of the previous Cabinet Referring to the
financial condition of the country, the note
declares that the Government considers that
the present position is due to accidental
causes. The first necessity in the prepara
tion of the budget will be the expression of
truth, not fiction. Reductions in the ex
penditures are necessary in all branches of
the public service. The Government 'will
always provide to meet the coupons on the
debt as they fall due.
A meeting of the Cabinet was held to-day
at which the question of customs duties was
the principal subject of discussion. A ma
jority of the Ministers favored a single
tarifi:
THE EIRE RECORD.
At Belgrade, the capital of Servla, the
courts of justice were badly burned. Many
important documents were destroyed.
At Oldenberg, Prussia, Tuesday night the
Grand Ducal Theater was completely de
stroyed. Fortunately tho flre did not break
out until after the performance.
Fibeecgs seem determined to burn up
Belpre, O. Last night the third attempt was
discovered. A barrel filled with tarred rope
and saturated with oil was put into a tan
nery building and set on fire. When it was
discovered a keg filled with powder was
lound nearby. The powder soon caught
from the flames and an explosion followed,
several persons narrowly escaping. Three
weeks azo two attempts of a similar kind
were made to destroy the town.
At Lacrosse, Wis., yesterday, flre broke
out in nomas' grocery store. Firemen Wil
liam Doano and Frank Killian, who were
handling the hose on a ladder, called Wil
liam Drake to strap the hose to the ladder:
When Drake ascended the ladder it broke,
throwing the three men to the ground.
Doane's arm and leg were broken, Drake
suffered severe sprains and Killian had his
ribs broken and is in a. critical condition.
The flre was caused by a lamp exploding.
Loss, $2,500; insurance unknown.
At Jlirelialltown, la., yesterday afternoon
while workmen were putting a tar roof on
the Trcmont House a barrel of tar exploded
and the structure was gutted by the flames.
The postofllco and a number of large busi
ness Arms on the ground floor suffered se
vei oly bv fire, water and smoke. Total loss
about $75,0C0, nearly covered by insurance.
Tho heaviest damage is to the hotel, the
clothing house of P. A. Stern and the boot
and shoo stock of Bromley, Ingledue A Co.
Baking
Uiftxln
1 WWMVl
A WOMAN'S DREAM.
Happier Days They Can Return.
m
rag
SS5SS3SSSw,J
Dow many women have thus dreamed
about their lost health and strength! Tbey
Buffer greatly from weakness and debility,
become nervous, fretful, pass sleepless)
nights, wake tired, without appetite,
strength or ambition.
Tired and miserable all the time expresses
their feelings, and theyolten have palpita
tion, indigestion, gas, bloating, malaria,
liver trouble and constipation. If a woman
thus troubled is wise she will procure im
mediately that great nerve care and restorer
of strength, Dr. Greene's Xervnra. HealtH
of body and strength of nerve will return,
and she will again know her old-tima
strength, power and vigor to enjoy every
moment of life. Dr. Greene's Uervura" iJ
purely vegetable and harmless. Druggists
sell it, $1 00.
"I deem it my duty to say that I think Dr.
Greene's Nervnra the best medicine in tha
world. My kidneys were in a terrible state.
I had awful pains in the back and side, and
could not sleep at night. My headache was
a source of great annoj ance and I suffered
much at certain periods. I cannot speak.
too highly of Dr. Greene's Ifervnra. for it
cured me of my terrible complaints. Why. I
felt so miserable that I often thought that I
would take my own life. I thank God for
directing me to Dr. Greene's Nervnra.
Mrs. Lila C. Boot,
36 Elm St., Xew Bedford, Mass."
N.B.
JO" Dr. Greene, the successful
specialist in curing all forms
of nervous and chronic diseases, S3
W. 14th Street, Sow York, can be consulted
free, personally, or by letter. Call or writs
him about your case, or send for symptom
blank to fill out. and a letter fully explain
ing your disease, giving advice, etc., will ba
returned free. tIi
NO OTBDEIt
Leaves aDeijcate and Lasttnq Odou
For sale 3yallDrugand Fancy Goods Dealers orlf,
unable to procure this -wonderful soap send
JBCc in stamps and receive a cake by return malL
JAS. S. KIRK & CO., Chicago.
aPECIAIr-Shandon BellsWalt (the popular
Society Walu) sent FREE to anyone sending n
three wraDDers of Sbandon Bells Soap.
ARE WE
Right
or
Wrong?
A Shoe Dressing must restore the bril
liancy of a worn shoe, and at the same time
preserve the softness of the leather.
LADIES will the Dressing you are
using do both ? Try it !
Pour a dessert spoonful of your Dressing
into a saucer or butter plate, set it aside for
a few days, and it will dry to a substance
as hard and brittle as crushed glass. Can
such a Dressing be good for leather?
Wolffs ACME ciing
will stand this test and dry as a thin, oily
film which is as flexible as rubber.
25 Dollars worth of New Furniture for
25 Cents. HOW? By painting
25 square feet of Old Furniture with
JOIK-TjiON
WOLFF & RANDOLPH,
S27 North Front Street. PHILADELPHIA.
?
-mwa
&
ELITE PHOTO PARI-ORS,
516 Market St.
Finest $1 per dozen Cabinets in the two
cities. Also, life-size Crayons for Christmas
presents. No stairs to climb; use the elevator
no!7-TT3
KoeMers iDstallnientHonse.
4 m9 SiXth St. 2d Floor,
I HEN'S & BOYS'
CLOTHING ON CREDIT,
(Ready-Made & to Order. )
Ladies' Cloaks & Jackets
Watches & Jewelry,
ON
INSTALLMENTS.
AT
Cash Prices-Without Security
TERMS: Ons-tUrd of theamount purchased
must be paid down; the balance in small
weeKiy or montniy payments. .Business
transacted strictly confidential. Open
dally, from 8 ATM. till P. M. Satur
day! until 11 P. BL
BffiUUK k?r
IsssssssssssBK. -jmr. J t irrr
559
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