m "fir y !jfjw;ssrs3-j ivjp - IS STILLJ DOUBT. Stamboul's Stockton Record ' Not Yet Officially Accepted. STATEMENT OF THE CASE. Kremlin's Owner Alleged to Strongly Opposing It. Be PLIMMER AKD Ji'GRATH BATTLE. A local Peolseller lalks Interestingly About the Trotting Reason. GENERAL EPOETIN G KEWS OP THE DAI There Is itill some uncertainty regarding whether or not the record of Stamboul, the trotting stallion, will be accepted by the publishers of the "Tear Boot" A few days ago a dispatch from Stockton, CaL, stated that Secretary Morse, of the National Trotting Horse Association, had declared the records made on the Stockton tracks to be legal Beferring to this an Eastern authority says: There is little that is new in the above dispatch, Auctioneer Kellogg having read such a communication to the crowd at the American Institute building on Tuesday last before he called for a bid on Stamboul, 2:07f. The difficulty is not with the Na tional Trotting Horse Association, but with the American Trotting Eegistry Associa tion, publishers of the "Year Book," which is regarded by the trotting world as the standard authority. Secretary Steiner, of this institution, telegraphed Mr. Kellogg that in all probability all the records made at Stockton during the latterpart of October and the month of November would be thrown out because of alleged irregularities. Affected Stamboul's Price. There is no doubt that this announcement made a crest difference in the price Stam boul brought, for there was one gentleman present who came prepared to bid 60,000, and who never opened his lips. There is also no doubt that the raising of the ques tion as to the correctness of the horse's record has done the trotting horse industry a world of harm, and breeders and those in terested in the development of the trotter are not going to forget the attack, nor the motives which apparently prompted it. Californians tell of a disgruntled driver who wanted to train Stamboul last season, and who took revenge by sending word East to an interested party that the record of 2.-07K was not regular in more ways than one. The horse started before 10 o'clock, and the timers and jutlges were trackmen, are samples ot the reasons advanced for the none allowance of the record, which is Touched for by such men as Senator Lang ford, L. XT. Sbippee, a millionaire horse breeder, and Superintendent Covey, of Senator Leland Stanford's Palo Alto ranch, Harriman Is Not Worried. In other words, the American Eegistry Association, of which 'William B. Allen, the owner of the stallion Kremlin, whose record is only a quarter of a second behind that of Stamboul, is President, takes the word, of this man, whose name is not given to the public, acainst the testimony otsuch gentlemen as Messrs. Langford, Shippee arid Covey. In the mean time Mr. Harriman, who got a bargain in Stamboul at 41,000, is not let ting the fact that bis horse's record is in dispute worrv him any. His plans regard--iug.Stsrcioul are not yet matured, but in all probability he will take the horse out oi the stud early next season and place him in the bands of some first-class man to be trained with a view to lowering hi record, which Californians say he can do very handily. The fact that John E. Goldsmith, the great driver, bid 40,000 ior the stallion is significant, as Stamboul was in his hands a part of the season two years ago. Mr. Goldsmith was thrown from a sulky and had one of his legsbroken, and was com pelled to give up 'work for a long time. Goldsmith ought to know something about the son of Saltan, and Mr. Harriman would make no mistake in giving the horse to him next year. A TALK WITH SAX ENGLISH. The Well-Known Foolsellcr Talks About Trotting and Trotters. Sam English, the well-known poolseller, is in the city. During a conversation yes terday he spoke highly of the past trotting season. He said: "The past season aud its results show that trotting is more popular with the American people now than ever. More money has been handled during the season; more borates have contested aud better time has been made than during any other one season in the history of trotting., "I have great hopes in next season. There will be more young horses than ever. I will not be surprised if the present record of Nanoy Hanks is lowered, either by her self or some other horse." To-Days Guttenberg Card. Louisville, Dec. 25. Sp;riaL The following pools were sold here last evening on to-morrow's races at Guttenberg: First race, one mile, selllnz Prince For tunatus 107, $10; Beeton 107, Brussels 107, Headlight 101, $8; Little Jake 101, JlacAuley 101, Boyle Bhodes 101, Transit 101, $5; Fancy peldlng: S3, llollle Davis 9, $3; others, $2 each. Second race, three-quarters of a mllo, sell ingInferno 110, $10; Fagot 110, Alrplant 106, Merry Duke 104, $5, Kerry Gow 102, Bemorse 102, Mabel Glenn 101, $5: Clotho91, Mayor B 80, Anne Ellzabetu 87; others, $2 each. Third race, flve-cightbs of it mile, selling Caledonia 111. $10; Flay or Pay 107, S5; Helen 105. $5: IAzzIe T 105, $3; Biglitaway 105 IS; Pessimist 103, Bobert ICO. Harlequin 10J. f3; HI Ban lad1 109, Lady Mary 7; others, $2 each. Fourth race, three-qnarters or a mile Beldemonie 118, $15; Blltzen 115, $S; Saun r terer 112, Mobelle 111. $3; Eclipse 110, $5; Gold Dollar 100, Flattery 100. $5; Ella B9, Loau, 97, tt; Sarag&sso 92, Mabel Glenn 90, t$; Panway 89, others $2 each. Fifth race, four and one-half fnrlongs, selling Prlscllla 111, Mucllaire 110, Tom Karl 110; Duke John 110, Charlie Wilson 109. lrre"Ular 109. an Wart 105, Bello D 102, Bub Arthur 102, Elmstvne'102, Bed. Elm 102, Boll rar 101, V alter Keim 101, Fassett 101, Turk: second, 97. Nopolltmr. Sixth race, one mile, selling Jack: Bose 113, S3: Yardee 111, Allen Bane 113, Bess Mo Duff 107, Banning Bird 107, $5; Greenwlcn 107 $10; Shenandoah 101, $10: Sir Walter Baieigb 101, Hyaclntho 93, Lallah 87, $3; others $2 each. the'pboposed.hew BTJLES. A "Western Writer Thinks It Wise to Let "Well Enough. Alone. A little more than two months remain for debating the question. Frank Bichter has swung Sporting Life into line for thechange, and has every gun trained against the op ponents of the measure. A great broadside of cold type has belched defiance this week from Pittsburg. Philadelphia. Louisville. Cincinnati and Chicago. Captain Anson has come out as an opponent of the rule tinkers. It iat 1r t0 cal1 the mea wno oppose radical change "enemies of pro- SMichael Angelo Lane looks at the situa tion in this way: "The growth of baseball has been iu the way of scientific develop ment, and it would be dangerous to play with the rules now. It is a large question whether the removal of the pitcher back would reduce his power much, if at all. The probable result would be a confusion of effects with pitchers and batters. In other words, the change w uld be purely experi mental, and experiments must not, above all, be tried with the league rules. Leave well enough alone is the best advice that can be given to the restless reformers. The people have noflired of the rules, and it is gratuitous to assume that they want & change. The game of baseball is perfect, in the main, and only slight modifications will be tolerated." Tima-Star. TO-DAY'S FOOTBALL GAMS. The Chicago Team Here and 'Expect st Very Hard Contest. Chicago's champion football players arrived in the city yesterday afternoon and located at Stayley's Hotel. They will play the Pittsburg Association team this after noon at Exposition Park, the contest com mencing at 3 o'clock. The "Western players are a fine looking lot of fellows. They came here, of course, expecting to be vic torious. During a conversation last even ing Secretary Fred Kelly, of the visiting team, said: "We have a good team with us, as we know that we have a very powerfnl team to meet. I have an idea that there will be some fine Association football played by the teams to-morrow. I think the grounds will be in good condition, as the snow will not interfere with us." It is likely that the contest will be played near the crand stand so that the spectators can ren al i in the stand and witness all the points of tie game. Secretary Matthews, of the local team, stated last evening that his men will show up in good form. Mr. Kelly, speaking of general amateur sports, said that there will be an extraor dinary amount of athletic sports at Chicago next year. He thinks that the best per formers in the world will be there to com pete in every branch of sport. The teams will line up as follows: Pittsburg: Potitiom. Chtcaffoi. I. Attewell Goal Balster T. AtteweiLJ .,., McFarlaue. W. FoweU? J Back KnPbU. J. Attewell. ) ( Anderson, Redellffe. ..... ..Half Backs Cameron. Burbrldge. 5 Sen?1"' Crook.. 1 fMcTuekle, Worrau, I Cowan, Woods. Forwards t.W. smith. O' Brlen Cant 1 J T. Baiiengall Waldron, J . IC. W. Smith EXQLISH EPOETINS GOSSIP. Howell, the Famous Bicycle Blder, Arrested and Fined for Disorderly Conduct The mail which reached here yesterday brought a budget of interesting news of the latest doings in English sporting circles. At Edinburgh Police Court, December 13, Eichard Howell, champion bicycle rider of the world, pleaded guilty to disorderly con duct and an assault on two fellow profes sionals, J. "W. Lamb and D. Dodds. The last two had been riding in the "Waverley Market tournament and Howell started a three-cornered squabble over the proceeds. He was fined 5 or ten days. The secretary ot the National Skating Association of Great Britain has received official notification from Holland that ar rangements are being made to hold the race for the amateur championship of the world at Amsterdam on Janunry 13 snd 14. This will be the first contest under the aus pices of the International Skating Union, and is expected to be the most representa tive race ever held on ice. A week later the championship of Europe for speed and figure skating will take place at Berlin. There has been some lively speculation in rowing circles since the ratification on December 12 of the match between George Bubear, of Hammersmith, and George Hos mer, of Boston. The race, which is fixed to take place on Monday, January 30, is for a stake of 1,000 a side and the challenge cup recently resigned by W. East DONOGHDE'S F0EFEIT Uf. The Champion Skater Issues a Challenge to Any aian In the "World. Joseph F. Donoghne, of Newburg, the champion amateur skater of the world, Saturday called at the office of a Minne apolis newspaper and made a deposit as for feit, with authority for that paper to pub lish over his name a challenge to skate any man in the world, none barred, a series of races at one, three or five miles ior the championship of the world. Each race is to be for a purse of from 51,000 to $2,500. If desired he will increase the number of races and will accommodate to anr size purse, but for none less than $1,0001 Donogbue will remain at Minneapolis awaiting acceptance of the challenge until January 1, 1893. It not accepted at that time, or if negotiations for a race are not at that date pending, he will return to his home in Newburg and announce himself as champion skater of the world, claiming the title by default. An acceptance of the chal lenge must be accompanied by the posting of a forfeit equal in amount to that put up by the challenging party. PLIMHEB AND M'GBATH. Interest Increasing In the Coming Battle Between the IJttle Fellows. Interest is growing in the Plimmer and McGrath glove contest, whieh takes place next "Wednesday evening. Betting on the result in the East has become quite lively, the English lad, of course, being favorite. Still McGrath has quite a strong following. Among those who have no mean opinion of McGrath's abilities as a fighhermaybe mentioned Bob Eitzsimmons, Joe Choyn ski, Jack Quinn and Martin Ccstello. All these are men of sound judgment in that line. Unlike Costello and Greggains, Mc Grath is not an employer of artlul tactics. He sees but one way to victory, and that is by slugging. As Vlimmer is undoubtedly well prepared to meet his opponent's lurinus onslaughts, the audience may be aibured ot some genniue sport. The Fnlford -Elliott Match. HAltEISBUBG, PA., Dec. 25. Fnlford and Elliott, the trap shooters, will shoot the fitth match of the championship series at Island Park to-morrow. Both men are here. Fulford has won three of the matches, but one is protested. A Pugilistic Hitch. New York, Dec. 25. ."swdaZ. Burge declines to sign to fight McAuliffe unless the articles are materially changed. He will insist on two-ounce gloves and a less deposit! than $10,000. General Sportlns Notes. St. Louis' outfield, according to Von der Alie, will consist of Brodle, Caruthers and Dowd. Tto ex-Brooklyn player will again be the captain of next year's team. Tbird Basevax Joyce claims that his in jured leg, which laid him up for such a long time last season, Is in good shape again. He blames Anson for causing the Injury. The Importations of cycles and accessories into France during the first elsht months of this year amount to nearly $1,600,000, and tlio estimated weight of the same is about 591) tons, and nearly all from England. "Jaok" Haoqebtt, the English champion short distance swimmer, has posted a for leltof $230 with Captain Cook, or Boston, to make a match with any man In America to swim 100 yards for as much money as can be mutually agreed upon. Jim Ball, in speaking of the big purse fe ver, said the other day: "As soon as this news reaches Australia there won't bo enough ships on the Pacific to carry overall the fighters who will want to come. They will simply flood the country." J. c. Etax, of San Francisco, one of the fa mous sprinters of the country, is at the Grand Pacific He says that the best run ner In America to-day in races of from 100 to 220 yards Is Henry Jewctt, of Chicago, a member of the Detroit Athletio Club. Z7i Herald. AT the annual meeting of the Eugby Foot ' ball Interprovlncial Union held at Toronto recently, it was stated that efforts were be ing made to secure series matches in Ens land with a representative Canadian team, also to persuade an English team to visit this country. "Tojjxt" Callaobax, tho Irish feather weight pugilist, who was defeated by "Cal" McCarthy In New Orleans Inst March, will re turn to this country In January. He will challenge "Johnny" Grlffen or "Ike" Welr for a finish right to take place before the Coney Island Athletio Club. THE PITTSBUR& WALTON WONT WIN In His Bace for the Speakership, but Be Expects to .. GET ON SOME GOOD COMMITTEES. illejrhenj Doesn't Care for Any Offiqg if i That of Resident Clerk IS ILL THAT THE QUAI SLATE ALLOWS fSPXCIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH. 1 Philadelphia, Dec 25. Repre sentative Harry F. "Walton is still in the fight for the Speakership, backed by Sen ator Porter, and has been making it inter esting for the others in the race during the past two weeks. Signs that he will soon be called off in order to give a clear track to Thompson, of Warren, are lacking, but may be exp'eoted any day. Senator Porter declares he will remain loyal to "Walton, win or lose, and ex-Marshal Leeds is also working hard to knock out the regulation slate. "Walton's bold and aggressive contest has excited much attention over the State, and has challenged even the admiration of ex Speaker Thompson's friends. His canvass has been strongly and vigorously made with a view to securing the support of the in terior counties, and in this he has succeeded very materially. Uncle John Cessna, the Bedford statesman, is on his list, and Major Sam Losch, of Schuylkill, is not averse to classification on the "Walton side. Why It Pays to Knn for Speaker. The unsuccessful aspirants for Speaker will be given their choice of the committees, and in the customary way be conciliated. "Walton will be placed either at the head of the Committee on Judiciary General or the Committee on Appropriations. This is said to be the real Intent of his present contest, as the managers of the organization of the next House do not regard his position in the fight as at all serious. Two years ago Walton was one of the strongest members of the Judiciary General Committee, considered to be the most im portant committee of the House, as two thirds of all bills introduced in that body, ontside of appropriation measures, go before it Samuel B. Cochrane, of Armstrong, an other candidate ior the Speakership, will likely be placed at the head of the Appro priation Committee. Ward B.Bliss,of Dela ware; William E. Burdick, of McKeau; Martin E. Lafferty and Samuel E. Stewart, of Allegheny.and ex-Speaker Boyer will be cared ior in the make-no of the committees. The Bepnblican legislative caucus will not get together before Monday evening, January 2, and the work before it will be transacted with neatness and dispatch. There is nothing new on the slate beyond the addition of the name of ex-Mayor J. D. Patterson, of Harrisburg, for resident clerk. When the slate was made up in this city, some weeks ago, ,by Senator Quay's approval, the resident clerkship was left open lor Allegheny county to nil, but the Pittsburg end has either snurned the oppor tunity or refused to take a third-rate snap, and the managers have accordingly trotted out Patterson. The retirement of Mr. Graham has knocked the bottom out of the hopes of the opposition to Mr. Quay for Senator, and his return is a foregone conclusion. Attorney-General Hensel was in the city to-day between trains, and touching the newspaper rumor that he sought the com plimentary nomination of the Democratic Senatorial caucus, said there was nothing in it. He added: Mr. Hensel Bed-Hot for Koss. I am not a candidate for that or any other place of honor. My name will not be pie sented to the caucus. 1 haven't had any such idea. I have assumed that Senator Ross would be the nominee of his party. He is too modest a man to seek it, but is pre eminently worthy and deservlnit. Two years ago, although he was mentioned for the place, I thought Lieutenant Governor Black ought to have the preference, because he had been the candidate of his party in the canvass just closed, and had made great sacrifices to help his ticket and to elect Governor Paul son, and yet failed of election himself In the same campaign. Besldo htm many of the other party leaders in the State have received the compliment of this nomination. I recall Cuarle- R. Buckalew, William A. Wallaco and h. P. Wolverton. Senator Boss is the unquestionable leader of his party in the Legislature. He is eminently qualified, comes from an old Democratic lamlly, and from a strong Democratic county. 1 think the nomination will be conierred npon"hlm unanimously, without any solicitation or effort on his own part. I have reason to know that while no will not seek it, he would highly appreciate it. AIT ODD GOLD NTQQEI. It Was Found in Australia and Resembles a Big Human Hand. St. Louis Bepnbllc There have been many large and odly shaped gold nuggets found in the United States and elsewhere, but the oddest ot them all was that discovered 'at the Midhas Mine on Sulky Gully, near Melborne, Australia, in 1887. The nugget was flat and almost the exact counterpart in contour of a colos sal human hand held open, with the excep tion ot the thumb and forefinger, which were closed together in a manner so as to make it appear that the thumb was holding the fin ger in place. Its greatest length was 13 inches Ad its greatest breadth 8 inches. It was of the very purest gold, with but a little of foreign substances adhering (mostly be tween the '"fingers"), and weighed 617 ounces. It was lound in the northwest main drive ot the Midhas Mine, 120 ieet be low the surlace of the earth and at a spot only 50 ieet from where the tamous "Lady Brassy" nugget was discovered the year be fore. It weighed 51 pounds of pure gold, worth 5225 per pound. In 1891 a nugget of 15 pounds weight, shaped exactly like a cross, with the. exception ot the right arm, was dis covered In the Buriss mine near the same place. A MAN TOEN IN TWO. His Leg Found on a Train and His Body Miles Away. Mobeblt, Ma, Dee. 25. When the Wabash fast freight reached here this morn ing the remains of a human leg were found wound around a brake rod. 'It had been dragged a long distance over the cross ties. When the limb was removed it was found to be that of a man torn from his body, and presented a sickening spectacle. It was de void of clothing, the bones were broken and the foot was whipped almost into shreds. The balance ot the body was located at Warrenton, and the leg was at once shipped to that point. Prom letters found upon his person be is supposed to be a young man named Buhrer, whose home is In the country near Warrenton. The train was a through freight, aud he is supposed to have fallen under the car and been torn to pieces while tryinc to emerge from a box car, after riding out from some point near St. Louis. WOUNDED A COUP ANION. A Hungarian Who Thought He Had Emp tied His Revolver. WlLKESBABBE, Dec. 25. Joseph Minka, a Polander. thought he would have a little sport this afternoon in shooting at a hat, placed upon a post at his bearding hocse in this city. After firing several shots, and thinking the revolver was empty, he pointed it at a companion named Louis Scbmid, and a bullet left in the revolver struck Sohmidt in the back and entered near the stomach. The wounded man was carried to the bouse and medical aid summoned. The bullet was removed and Schmidt was sent to the hospital The wound is extremely dangerous and the DISPATCH, 'MONDAY, DECEMBER 26 1892., chances for bis recovery are slight The young man who fired the shot fled in terror from the scene and has not been heard from since. USEFULNESS 0? DEAD LEAVES, If Left About the Tree They Beinvigorate It and Protect It. St. Louis Post-Dispatch.) Leaves do not fall from the trees until their sap has entirely evaporated. They contain at that stage no more nutritions properties and they are of but little nte if gathered up. On the contrary, if left on th e ground around the foot of the tree from which they have fallen the dead leaves form the best kind of shelter against cold for the roots and the grass that grows at the base ot the tree, which they cover as with a porous blanket, so to speak. Betaining irom 82 to 94 percent of water, they form a reservoir for rain and snow, gradually imparting this fecund humidity to the earth, which absorbs it by capillary force.' Even the color of the dead leaves increases the absorbing power of the soil ior warmth and light, those two prime factors of vegetation. Nor is this all. The roots of the tree which draw from the soil constantly their necessary sustenance would soon gradually so impoverish the latter that no nutritions substances would remain, if in turn the decomposing leaves' did not make sufficient restitution. The forests where vegetation is always vigorous through a constantly reinvigorated soil, are the most striking example ot the immense ful part which dead leaves play in the natural economy of vegetable lite. It is wise, therefore, in cities, the streets of which are lined with shade trees, not to sweep the dead leaves from under them, but allow them to gather around the tree boxes, where they will form a natural cov erlet ior the roots against the winter's cold and a drainage reservoir from which the tree draws its alimentation and humidity. JOHN L. A PHILOSOPHER. His Health Improved, bat He Is Sorely Becoming a Thinker. NettYOKK, Dec. 25. Specidi. John L. Sullivan reached this city at 11 o'clock this morning from Washington with his theatrical combination. He was looking in excellent health. He said this evening: "I suppose you were going to ask me whether I am a sick man. Well, I can comfortably say that I ain't I was sick in Washington, though, but not so bad as reported. That story about my being examined by a doctor the other day is not so. Sup pose my health is gone what does it amount to, any way? If I die, they'll lay me beneath the sod with great ceremony and say, as they take a farewell look at my face. 'He was a good fellow. Poor John 'L. I Champion of the world for 12 years until he was licked. ' Then I'll be lorgotten. " There was a touch of pathos in his re marks as he said this. "Possibly one of these days I will try and get on a go with somebody," he a'dded. "I think I would get as much money as any body. What do you think of Jack MoAullfie's latest match? I hope that Jack will knock this Burge out with one punch, and I believe he will, and make him go back to England as quick as he came." TO CATCH THE REBELS. Mexicans Recommend a Concerted Action With the United States. Montbbet. Mex., Dec. 25. Spinal General Bernardo Beyes, commander of the Military Zone, has written a letter to President Diaz recommending that the Mexican Government make arrangement with the United States Government tor the pursuit of the border revolutionists over the international boundary line. General Beyes and other high military authorities, of this conntry, claim that if such an arrangement can be made the border troubles will soon be overcome. Under the existing law the outlaws, when hotly pursued by the troops of one country, esri pe capture by crossing the'' river wUre they are perfectlv safe un til they are discovered by the troops on that side, when they are el .sed across the river again. This game of "hide and seek" has been going on along the lower Kio Grande border tor the past IT months, and the main military au thorities here think it time to adopt some npw measures for stopping the troublesome lUids. DIGBY BELL IN A MESS. His Scenery and Costumes Attached in Chicago to Satisfy a Claim. Chicago, Dec 25. The career of an other star comedian was interrupted to night, when the scenery and cos tumes of the Digby Bell Opera Com pany, which has been giving "Jupiter" at Hooley's theater, was attached by J. H. Bomain to satisfy a claim of 51,600. The company was on'the eve of a departure for a series of one night stands, when the sheriff seized the properties. While Digby Bell has played to two profit able engagements in Boston and Chicago, the company, it is said, has steadily lost money since the opening in New York last spring. The reason for the failure to attract suffi cient business to make the venture a suc cess is attributed bv competent theatrical managers o the failure ot the star ot the company to hold the attention of the theat rical public The New York theatrical critics praised the piece and said that with snruc other popular actor in the title role, "Jupiter" would have proved a great suc cess. ' ' SANTA CLAUS IN A MASK. He Houses a IJttle Boy Who Was "Watch ing for the Good Old Fellow. Bridgefobt, Cons., Dec 25. Special Early this morning a gang of masked burglars entered the residence of Albert Turney, on the outskirts of the city. The "lamlly had retired and were asleep, with the exception of a little grandson of Mr. Turney, who was watch ing ior Santa Claus. The little fellow heard a noise ot some one coming up the stairs, and the next moment a man stood near his bedside. The man wore a mask over the upper part of his face This was not the boy's idea of Santa Claus, and he cried out loudly ior his grahdpa. His cries alarmed the house.-" The burglar was bewildered. Before he could smother the cries of the little fellow, or escape from the room, the inmates were stirring. The burglar managed to break away irom the inmates and made his escape. Adlal Can't Have His Ax. St. Louis Glote-Democrat. In trying to make a greatman out of Adlal E. Stevenson in the South, the people or that section seem to forgot that the last man elected Vice Prc'sidont with Mr. Cleveland was not allowed to name tho Postmaster of his own town. Mr. J. P. Blaize, an extensive real estate dealer in Des Moines, Iowa, narrowly escaped one of the severest attacks of pneumonia while in the northern part of that state during a recent blizzard, says- the Saturday Bevitx. Mr. Blaize had occasion to drive several miles daring the storm and was so thoroughly chilled that he was unable to get warm, and inside of an hour after his return he was threatened with a severe case of pneumonia or lungie ver. Mr. Blaizo sent to the nearest drag store and got a, bottle of Chamberlain's Cough Bemedy, of which he had often heard, and took a number of large doses. He says the effect was wonderful and in a short time he was breathing quite easily. He kept on taking the medicine and the next day was able to come to Des Moines. Mr. .Blaize regards his cure as simply wonderful. CUSTOMS OF. AFRICA. forms of Government and Social Organization of Some Tribes. COMMON PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY. Slavery and the Flave Trade Not let intlrelj Abolished. IDEAS OP BELIGION AND THE FUTURE "Washington, Dec 25. An Interesting sketch of life on the west coasi of Africa is given in a communication to the State De partment by the Hell Chatelaine, United States commercial agent at Loando, in the Portuguese province of Angola. As de fined by the recent treaties with Germany, England and the Congo State, the Portu guese province of Angola is one of the largest territorial divisions on the new map of Africa, Owing to its geographical posi tion, variety of climates, natural resource and to the progress already accomplished in the civilization of the natives, the intrinsio value and immediate possibilities of An gola surpass those of any other possession in tropical Africa. From 4 40' to 17 20' south latitude it has over 12 geographic degrees ot seacbast and the two best harbors of the whole west coast the mouth of the Kongo river and the Bay of Loanda, Stretching to the in terior as far as the Kasai and Zambezi riv ers it forms an irregnjar quadrangle cover ing abont 1,250,000 square kilometers. In the north and east it borders on the Kongo State, in the southeast on British Zambesla, and in the south on German Southwest Af rica. Political Organization of the Natives. The political organization of African tribes is very much the same all over the continent; the differences bear rather on secondary points and the personal charac teristics of tribal or national rulers. These remarks apply immediately to the tribes of Angola proper, that is, of the district of Loanda; hut with slight modifications they would also be true of the other Angolan districts snd of African tribes generally. It will be lound that the native African system of government is both rational and practical; in fact, as good as it could be neither absolutely democratic, nor aristo cratic, nor monarchic, but a happy blending of these three fundamental types. "Whether large or small, every village or town or nation is governed after the same uniform pattern. Tift legislative power is vested in the council of the elders or prominent men, which includes all freemen whose opinions have some weight in the eyes ot the people These elders are called in Kimbundu "ma kota." They are the depositories ot the tribe's or nation's traditional customs, which constitute the laws or constitution according to which the body of the elders, as well as the chief, are to administer pub lie afiairs, and the chief executive is to be elected. Thus this council pretty well cor responds to our parliaments. An Elective Kin;. The executive power is vested in the chief or King, whose title is, in Northern An gola, "mfumu" or "ndembuj" in Central Angola, "soba," and in Southern Angola, "nsoma." As a rule the chief is elected and inaugurated by the elders, in accord ance with definite rules, in one royal family, the heir to the throne being- rarely the son, but? most always the oldest or the ablest son of the defunct or deposed King's oldest sis ter. In the interest of the State the chief has nominally absolute power over the life and property of his subjects; but practically he can do nothing without consulting- the council or the most influential of the elders, and woe to him if he offends publicoplnion. He may suddenly be accused bf witchcraft and fall a victim to the poison test or be de posed or killed by the elders, with the con sent and co-operation of the public The chief is called the father of the peo nle, bis subjects are called his children, and he is expected to treat them as such. As in most Bantu tribes, it is the mother and not the father who determines consan guinity; therefore the child of a sister is held by a man to be his nearest descendant and legal heir. The children belong to their maternal uncle and not their father. The father's relation to his children is as loose as with us that of a stepfather to bis stepchildren. The uncle has the right to sell his nephews and nieces, separating them from father, mother, brothers and sisters. The Practice or Polygamy. Polygamy is everywhere honored, though its evil concomitants and consequences are not ignored. Every wife has her own house, gardens and private property. The first wife, or head wife, has a limited au thority over the conenbines, and the whole system works much more smoothly than people in civilization would imagine. Still Its demoralizing effects are everywhere visible, and there is no hope of a regenera tion of the race as long as polygamy is not condemned by public opinion, and finally eradicated. The family is the foundation of the State and monogamy the corner stone of a normal household. The absence of metal or paper money to represent capital has much to do with the popularity ot polygamy, as each additional wile, with house, children, fields and cattle is considered aaying investment of capi tal. The money or presents given by the wooer lor his bride are not, as usually rep resented, her "price," as though she were simply bought, bat the symbol and pledge of the contract entered into. It he treats her unmercifully she can run away and .he loses his deposit. If, on the contrary, she should prove unfaithful, the parents will have to return the equivalent of the wooing present. Thus it is a mutual check. The greatest festivity of the native Angolans is not the wedding, but the funeral, called "tambl." All the relatives and friends gather and have a regular "blow-out" as long as there is a cent to spend. Slavery and Slave Trade. There is no corner of Angola where slav ery is not in practice among the natives. Nor can slaverv exist without slave trade The worst horrors of the traffic however, do not appear in the local trade They are enacted in the extreme east of the province and in the unsubdued parts of the Kongo State, where the Ma-Kioko and other tribes raid the slaves they bring to the coast. It is then that villages are attacked, burnt, sacked and the human flocks driven to the slave markets, many dying on the road, while others are used as beasts of burden to bring to the coast the rubber, the wax and the ivory so coveted by the whites. Legally, slavery is abolished in all Por tuguese possessions. But forced labor, under the name of legal contract, is more flourishing: than ever, and it is to supply the demand of the ereat coflee plantations of Cszengo, of the great cane (rum) planta tions of the Kusnza and Dande rivers and of the coflee and cocoa planters of St. Thomas and Principe that the Kasanji (Cas sange), Bailundo and Bihe traders canvass all Central Africa in search ot the human plunder of the Mo-Kioto raids. Contract labor "Worse Than Slavery. Domestic slavery among the natives is an evil, no doubt, but not to be compared with that of contract labor on the plantations. The slave of the uncivilized native is treated as a obild and often loves his master Ilka a father and his mistress like a mother. His master having no more needs than he the slave is often as well ofi as the master. He has very little work to do and all he earns in his free time is his own, so tnat, if he wants to become free, he may-after a time redeem himself. Not so with the planta tion laborer. The exacting white man is determined to squeeze out of him every cent he mav produce and the manatee whip is from early morn till dusk in the hands of the foreman and even of the planter him lr. i The eTer-repeated.aHertIon that the Afrl- BSaPIrfAJVATIOI1. '""NCfcODBLXS.'. FABILT CT.OBDT. Arrow ales with wind. First flpires at station indicate temperstnre: next flg-nrM indicate change In temperature: and flgurs underneath. If any. Indicate amount of rain fall or melted snow In hundreths of an Inch during past II hours: T indicates trace of precipitation: Lobars, or solid Mack lines, pass through points of equal pressure; Isotherms, or dotted hues, eqnsl temperature. btorms generally mOTe from West to East la tmosphelo waves, of which the crests are FOB WESTEM3 PENNSYLVANIA. Fair, Eritk and Sigh Northcttt Windt; Cold FOB -WEST YJBOINIA AND OHIO Fair, NprOncat TFtnd"; Cold Wave. "WEATnEB ConDmoss.-Tbe temperature fell rapidly during the forenoon and middle) of the day over all the districts east of the Mississippi river and in the Southwest. Began to rise very rapidly in the atternoon, with increasing; northwesterly winds and rapidly falling temperature over the Lake regions, Central Valleys and tho Sonthwest. An exten sive area of very high pressure Is moving rapidly southeastward from the Dakota and will probably cover tho Eastern States, the Central Valley, the Lower Mississippi Valley and Texas during Monday night, with very low temperature. PrrrsBuno. Dec.25.-The Local Foreeast Official of the Weather Bureau furnishes th following: Barometsii-S A. jr.. 2a89; 2 r. ir., ; S P.K., 20 80. Keiativi: Hcmiditt-8 a. v., SO: 2 r. if. -; r. if., 8. PmcmTATios past 21 hours, from 8 P. st, .15. , Tempebatote-8 a. v., 17; 12 St.. 17; 2 r. ., 13; 5 r. K., 23; 3 r. M., 23. Highest. 23; lowest, 10 average, 18, which f 8 18 below the normal. cans are fetichists, that is, worshipers of in animate objects, is utterly false The An golans have the same religious system as the Bantus generally. They are not idol aters in the strict sense, nor polytheists, and much less atheists, but superstitious deists. They believe in one great God, who made and maintains all things, Invisi ble, yet seeing even the thoughts of men, the author of all the good, but also of much of tho suffering. They generally think that God is angry with mankind and indifferent to the details of their daily Hie They do not formally worship God, nor represent Him by any image, nor do they believe He is contained in any fetich. The only carved image which the Angolans call God is an imitation ot the crucifix, and they clearly state that this is the white man's God, not the God of the universe A Number of Inferior Spirits. What travelers generally call African gods are not cods at Ml, but Inferior spirits, to whom God has intrusted the administra tion oi natural forces. These inferior spirits and the shades of the deceasedare the supernatural beincs whom the natives fear and serve. "With them they converse through the media of their "i-mbunda;' them thev seek to propitiate by offerings and sacrifices, and to them they attribute most mysterious accidents of their simple "What images the natives have horns, bones, stones and sticks, so Often called their gods are simply amulets and talis mans consecrated by their medicine men, differing in -nothing but the form from the host Ot amulets sold in many countries in Enrope He believes that when he dies he lives on in hades much the same as he did on earth, onlv much longer how long he no one can tell"; but It man dies again in hades, he goes to another place about which nothinzat all is known. The slave dreads to die as a slave, because he thinks he will enter the other life as a slave and continue in that inferior state Therefore, he entreats his master to give him his liberty as he passes from this fife The Angolans do not seem to have any definite idea of a hell or paradise; Ml go to the same region and are there, as here, the authors ol their own good or bad fortune THE 7IEE BECOED. Milwaukee Two fires, occuring almost sImnltaneonly yei'erday alternoon, de stroyed the Keennn flour mill and the plant of the Bell Knitting and Flynet Company. Tho los- on tho lntter is $83 000, and on the former $15,100. Both fires are though t to have been incendiary. Philadelphia Flie, caused by an over heated oven, destroyed the bakory of Ed ward Sedden & Brother yesterday morning, and a building adjoining, owned by a man named Ward and used as a public library. In trying to extinguish the names, Charles Stackbouse fell from a ladder and was badly hurt. The loss is about $7,000. Harrishurg The building on North Third street, near Market, owned by L. S. Green, of Philadelphia, was'guttod by Are yester day. It was occupied by Mattoct & Bebert, drygoods and notions, Thomas S. i'eters, real estate agency: Musser & Co., photog raphers. The Are originated in the cellar of the store aud burned fiercely for an hour. The building and contents were destroyed. The total loss will be about $15,000; partially insured. Rochester A destructivo Are yesterday morning destroyed the large storeroom owned Dy William Gossman and occupied by George Chapman as a grocery, the rest denceof Joseph Mellor and a smaller store bulldinz adjoining. Chapman's loss will amount to about $2,500, lully covered by in surance, and Mellor'a loss will reach $2,000, while the unoccupied building was worth about $600. The Are originated in the empty storeroom, and la thought to have been the work of tramps. Springlike in Denver. Denver, Col., Dee, 25. Denver is en joying perlect spring weather, probably as pleasant a Christmas as has ever been seen in this section. Although there is some snow on the ground, the warm sun of yes terday and to-day has melted it consider ably and to-night at 9 o'clock the weather is pleasant and mild. Highest of all in LeaVening Power. Latest U. S. Gov't Report 1 i k Jg2 ABSOLUTELY PURE . 9 TCLOUDT, BAEr Issoif, marked High" snd the oval trough, or depres sion "low." These waves move Eastward on aa average of 600 milM per day. High winds, rain or (If cold enough) snow.South erly winds, and consequently high temperature, usually precei'e "Low s" across the country. When the "Low"passes East of a place the wind changes to North, bringing lower temperature, clearing skies, and often cold waves and furthers. The high area brings sunshine. RIVER NEWS AND NOTES. . Louisville Items The Stage of Water and the Movements of Boats. IEFECIAI. TELEGBAU TO THE EISP ATCH. Louisville, Kt Dec. 25. Elver stationary , with S feet and 4 Inches on the falls. 7 feet and B Inches In the canal, and 13 feet below. "Weather snowing and colder. The Ohio, from Cincinnati, passed down on her way to Memphis. The Harry Brown and tow ar8 due up from Memphis. Depsrtures-For Cincinnati. Big Sandy. What Upper Ganges Show. Browitsville hiTer 5 feet and stationary. "Weather snowv. Thermometer. 14 at 4 P. K. "W ABM5-River 0.7 root. "Weather snowy. Mobuastowx River 4 feet and 5 luchrs and closed. Weather cloudy. Thermometer, 20 at r.st. The News From Below. Cm cwsati Blver 11 feet 2 Inches and falling Fair and cold. New Orleans "Weather partly cloudy. Ar rived gchenck from. Cincinnati. Wheeling River 3 feet II Inches and falling Departures Congo. Keystone State and Lizzie Bar, for Cincinnati: lien Hnr. for Farkersbarg. The C. W. llatchelor Is uld up at Eellalre. Cold and snowing. Notes From the Wharf. The Hnntcr No. 2 came down from McKeesport, 11 lug light yesterday. CAPTArx Steve Dosjtaldsos' is the present commander of the Bob ConnelL The Pacific went down to "Woods' Bun on Satur day night to thaw out empty barges. bTAOE of water at Pittsburg and Davis Island Dam. Vi feet and 3.1 feel. Blver faUlrs. The Fred Wilson Is tied up at Liverpool, waiting on water to return with her empty tow. Tni Little Bill csme down from the fourth pool with ten flats and a tow of coal yesteraay. THE Crescent Is tied nn at the docks with broken hog chains received on Thursday wnen aground at Merrlman. "WILLIAM CRAIC. steward on the John F. "Wal ton. Is spending Christmas with his family at Beaver Falls. Tut. Charles A. Turner got stuck with a flat la the Allegheny river near the Point Bridge yester day alternoon. Mourns SnELCHORS. chief engineer of the John F. Walton, left for his home In Galllnolls on Sat urday to spend Christmas. CAPTAIN" Gniprix SriAW has taken Captain John Myers' place as mate on the Rescue. Captain Myers has been off Tor two weeks. THE crews of the Tom Dodsworth and Smoky City came up from below yesterday aud will spend Christmas with their families here. The John "W. Alles Is having ner broken rudder Tepalred at Brownsville, which she received at the Davl Island Dam while returning from Merrimia after having helped the Crescent off. THE Coal Cltv is reported fast sgrnnndwlth hrr tow near Cable's Eddy, at tne root of Brown's Island. The Havmanil Homer and Joe Nixon maac unsuccessful attempts to help her off. THESnnihine arrived, from Parkersburg yester day after beiug stuck all nlghtattheheadofBrn not's Idand. She will not go out again until thrrn is water, and her crew and passengers were sent back to Parkersburg by rail. PEOPLE COMING AHD GOING. J. R Milroy and wife, of Grtensburg,j and Charles w: Deane, or Indiana, were as the Seventh Avenue Hotel yesterday. Bobert I Lowe, of New Castle, and Q, F. Arnold and wife, of Washington, are stop' ping at the Monongahela House I W. C Kreusch, of Youngstown, and) George Smith, of Canton, put up at thej, Schlosser yesterday. Ovide Musin and his company, and J. A, Crozton, of Philadelphia, are registered a8 the Duquesne. I George E. Handel, of Newark, and A. D. Allen, of Brooklyn, are guests at the An derson. Jav F. Durham, of Washington, a former newspaper man, was in the city yesterday. John Atwood and wife, of Baltimore, were guests at the Central yesterday. Jf. McD Frichard, of Bichmond, put up at Newell's Hotel yesterday. Jasney Betnrns Home. Carlisle, D.ec. 25. Mayor E. Jasney of this city, who left here abouKa month ago, arrived home last evening from Chi cago, He said this evening there was nd truth whatever in the charges which were made against him after his departure and that they were manufactured by bis ene mies. He says his accounts are correct and I that he will resume bis office in a few days. Baking Powder
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers