, V THE ONLY REPUBLICAN DAILY IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY. EIGHT TAGES 5G COLUMNS. SGBAXTOX, PA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY lii, 189. TWO CENTS A COPY. 50 Ctoice Garment We ought to say FXTRA CHOICE, for finer skins of their class, or more carefully finished work, never came to market A Statement - We thought several weeks ago that we had finished liuylng Fur Capes for this season, but the demand kept on and still keeps on. Sizes could not hold out against the heavy inroads made on them dully, and this week we were tempted to buy Just fifty more of the handsomest Pur Capes that have come our way this season. Some are trimmed, some tin t limed, all are In fashion's lutest mould, nnl there Isn't one garment ' that Is not strictly high class In every respect Skits Are 1 Fintst Sc W Electric Seals . . . And we guarantee their real value to be not less than from $35 to $63 For convenience of selling we have ground them Info four lots and prices as follows: . . And.. . . Sizes will be complete at the opening sale on Monday, and as the grades of quality vary con siderably In each price, quick, shrewd buyers have the advan tage over procrastlnators this time. ON SALE AT 9 A. TX.1T AO ID : Warehouse $21.90 $24.91 $29.90 HOT SHOT raRSllLISBORY Lord Rosebery Deplores the Many Mistakes That Have Been Made. VOLLEY OP Ql'lET REI'ROACH Shoncomlngs of the Premier Pointed Out. Mysterious aetloa on Armenian Question-Toe Veneinelnn Affair-Salisbury Replies. London, Feb. 11. In the house of lords the address In reply to the queen's speech was moved by Lord Stanmore and seconded by the Karl of llosslyn. ' Lord Rosebery said he was glad to see that the negotiations for the settle ment of the difficulties In the Transvaal were progressing. He expressed his ap proval of the conduct of Mr. Chamber lain, secretary of state for the colonies, who had exhibited statesmanlike cour age and promptitude of decision. He greatly deplored the recent utterances of Lord Salisbury, which, on the part of the Hoers, had tended to a feeling of distrust of England's good faith and would lead to the belief that the nym pathy of the government was with the Invaders of the South African republic, lie demanded to know what form the government Inquiry would take in re gard to the relations of the chartered Hiitlsh South African company to the transaction which had recently taken place in the Transvaal and also desired to know why the government had been Ignorant of what had been going on at Mafeklng. prior to Ur. Jameson's raid. It was obvious, he said, that the char ter of the British South African com pany must be revised. Turning his attention to the situation in Armenia. Lord Koscbery said that Lord Salisbury's recent statements In regard to the obligation of Kngland un der the terms of the treaty of Uerlln were absolutely Incorrect. The whole point to be taken Into consideration was that the powers signatory to the treaty should see to It that the reforms required by that Instrument were car ried into effect. The t'yphrus conven tion laid special obligations upon Eng land und such an expression of Impo tency as that conveyed by the state ment which had been made by the pre mier had never before been made by a Hiitlsh minister. Was this, he asked, peace with honor? Continuing Lord Rosebery said that the action of tiie government regard ing Amrenia warf most mysterious. He felt forced to believe, he said, that the government had decided to aban don the cause of the Armenians and that Lord Salisbury was prepared to repudiate the utterances made on his speeches ut Brighton und In the Guild hall. Concerning Venezuela. As regards Venezuela Lord Kosebery maintained that the sending of Maxim guns to British Ouiana had not a little to do with causing the alarm felt by the Cnited States. Continuing Lord Kosebery said he welcomed the Inetr veiition of the United States in the Yenessuclun matter, inasmuch as It In troduced luio the question the Import ant element of a solid, substantial gov ernment offering to guarantee the per formance of any settlement that might be arrived at. He welcomed with in finite joy the Indications In the speech from the throne that there had been communications between Great Britain and the I'nlted States in the direction of un equituble urrungement. Two things might be heartily welcomed as teh outcome of the difficulty with the I'nlted States. The first was the un bounded expression of loyalty by Oun ada (cheers) und the second, the ser ious movement on both sides In favor of permanent machinery by which questions referable to arbitration could be dealt with without loss of dignity or Impairment of the sovereign rights of either (cheers). Salisbury's Remarks. Prime Minister Sulisbuty followed Lord Hosebery. He said he concurred with Lord Kosebery that the mingling of the I'nlted States in the Venezuelan question might from some points of vi ;w conduce to desirable results. He did not think the Invoking of the Mon roe doctrine was controversially quite unnecessary. Considering the position of Venezuela In the Carribean sea it was no more unnatural that the t'nited States should take an Interest In the matter than that (Ireut Britain should take an interest in Holland or Belgium and from that point of view he trusted that the negotiations would continue. The I'nlted States attached a more unrestricted value upon that method of adjusting differences than hud hitherto been done In Kngluhd. He ciui cuired with Lord Kosebery tnut the proposal, which at the will of the arbi trator, might hand over 40,000 British subjects to Venezuela could not be ac cepted, but he believed thut means might be round by combining negotia tions and arbitration to effect a settle ment. The great obstacle to a settle ment had been the extravagant claims of Venezuela when she treated the whole country as far as the Kssequibo as undeniably hers, and then broke off diplomatic relations with Great Bri tain. But for that he believed the dllll culty would have been solved long ago. He agreed that the mutual develop ment of the desire for arbitration was satisfactory. He thought it Impossi ble to adopt arbitration unrestricted as to subject matter and conditions, but between the extremes of handing ev erything to arbitration and the prac tice of using too little he fully believed there was a middle term, which- would effectually diminish the chance of a conflict anent differences of opinion. (Cheers.) Position on Armenia. Lord Salisbury rebutted Lord Rnse bery'8 criticism of the government's Armenian policy. He Raid he defied anybody to discover In the treaties or his own speeches a promise or threat that Great Britain would war against the sultan unless he governed better. He defended the government's policy on the lines of his speech delivered by him on Jan. 31 at the meeting of non conformist unionists. In which he as cribed the atrocities In Armenia to the passions of race and creed. He believed that the sultan's government was wretched, but there were no grounds for imagining the sultan has instigated the massacres. England lacked the power to do the only thing necessary to end the troubles, namely, to militarily occupy the Turkish provinces. Patience must be exercised and the sultan will b given time to enforce the reforms he had promised. The Duke of Argyll gave notice that he would, at an early date, call the attention of the house to Great Britain's obligations In regard to Turkey and would submit recommendations as to the course she ought to pursue. THE GIRL IS WF.AKMlXDi: D. Friends of Minnie Mwanger Would tlave Her Placed In an Asylum. - Hollldaysburg. Pa.. Feb. 11. Minnie Bwanger, the 13-year-old girl of Al toona, who poisoned her uncle, William McGregor, by placing a dose of rat poison In his cup of eoffee, petitioned the Blair county court this afternoon for her release on a writ of habeas cor pus from imprisonment. The reason advanced by the prisoner's friends why the court should take this action are that the girl la weak-minded and irresponsible, and that she should be an Inmate of an asylum instead of a jail. Judge Bel! will near the case on Tuesday, Feb. I8- PRESIDENT OF WHEELMEN. Sterling Elliot, of Uoston, Has Been Chosen by the American League. Baltimore. Feb. 11. Sterling Elliott, of Boston, was elected president of the League of American Wheelmen, the unofficial vote being 100 to 30 for Willl son. Louisville has been selected by the League of American Wheelmen con vention as the place at which to hold the next semi-annual mid-summer meet. TALK OX .MONROE DOCTRINE. .Mr. Hlanshard Argues In Favor of Its Recognition by Congress-Toe Gentle men from Loulalsns Thinks a Navy Could He llnilt "While Vou Walt." Washington. Feb. 11. In the senate today the bill for the purchase and dis tribution of seeds for the year 1896, which had been discussed for several days, was finally brought to a vote and passed, but not until after some fur ther severe criticism of the secretary of agriculture. The urgent deficiency bill was taken up and gave rise to sev eral hours' discussion one of the point discussed being the civil service. Sena tor Walcott. ( Hep.. Col.), was very earn est in Its defense: and In arraignment of the president und the secretary of the treasury for debauching; members of congress by the jwwer of patronage Info "ratting" and going back on their pleadges to their constituents on the silver question In the last congress. Senator Blunt-hard, iDem., La.), made a speech on the subject of the Monroe doctrine. He argued thut U was the right and the duty of congress to give legislative construction and recognition to that doctrine. The United States, he said, was not to act as a big brother to every turbulent republic or Ulund In the western hemisphere; but It should proclaim a broad, comprehensive American .policy, Including wlthlu Its system the three Americas, Northern, Central and Southern. He declared that we were always prepared for war, and that In the hearts of nine million lighting men animated with patriotic, fervor and determination, that readi ness would bo found. An to Heels, he suid that whenever the necessity arose, ships of war could be evolved that would give the 1'idted States dominion of the seas; und this republic, would become the first naval power of the world. He would have the Monroe doc trine cover two propositions first, that there shall be no conquest by any Euro pean power of any territory In America: und second, that there should be no treaty acquisition of any such territory without the consent of the I'nlted States. He suld that he spoke In no spirit of bombast or bravado, but in order to contribute to a better under standing with our trans-Atlantic cousins. . .. . Bill Passed rr House. I'nder the arrangements made yes terday the committee on affairs of the District of Columbia hud opportunity today to clear the calendar of meas ures reported by It. I'nder the leader ship of Chairman Babcock. (Rep.. Wis.), the house passed the following bills: To Incorporate the National Univers ity (an old Institution) to extend the time within which 'the Maryland and Washington railroad (the new electric line, joining Baltimore and Washing toil) may be completed; to regulate the issue of licenses to billiard and pool rooms; to regulate the trials before the metropolitan fire and police boards; to authorize the re-assessment of water muln taxes, after being declared II legul by the district courts; to Incorpor ate and regulute medical colleges; to regulate the practice of medicine and surgery. The remainder of the session was de voted to the further discussion of the bond silver coinage. Messrs. Dearmond. (Dom., Mo.), and Ogden, (Bern., Lu.). advocated unlimit ed free coinage: Messrs. Hill, (Rep., Conn.); Lacey, (Hep., la.), and Burton, (Hep., Me.), opposed It. The latter, however, advocated the coinage of the sliver bullion In the treasury1. I'cfcnt Awaits the Tariff Bill. Mr. Quay will tomorrow consent to have his resolution to recommit the tariff bill and free coinage substitute go over temporarily. It is also under stood that an urrungement has been made whereby the silver substitute is to be stricken from the bill by the aid of the votes of the sound money Demo crats, although fhe silver men will subsequently offer the substitute as nn amendment to the tariff bill. Repub lican leaders are In doubt as to the ill-' tiinate fate of the bill. If they keep their own vote lutuct and secure the vote of one Populist they can put the bill through. Some of the leaders pro fess that this will be done through the aid of Mr. Fetter (Hop.. Kan.). Mr. Gorman Is quoted as saying he thinks this arrangement can be successfully carried on, by the Republicans. If on the other hand, the Democrats can rally six l'opullst votes to their side of the chamber, defeut certainly awaits the tariff bill on the final vote. CRAZY "BARBERS DEED. Charles Phares shoots Ills .Vothcr-ln-Lsw and lothcr-ln l ow and Commits Suicide. Newton, la.. Feb. 11. Charles Phares shot and killed his mother-in-law, Mrs. R. T. Smith, fatally shot his father-in-law, and then put a bullet Into his own brain, dying Instantly at noon today. Phares was a barber who had lived for several years at A7!antlc. Some months ago, on account of failure to get work, he and his wife came .here to' live with the parents- of Mrsphares, the Smith family. For several weeks he had been despondent and even threatened a few day to kill himself. Today he went down town, returning at noon. He entered the room where Mr. and Mrs. Smith were and shot Mr. Smith. The bullet enetered the left side of his face and passed ' through his head, coming out In the right ear. Then, It Is supposed, he turned to Mrs. Smith and shot her In the mouth,.-The bullet entered her brain and she dropped dead. He then went out In front of the house and shot himself In the left temple, death resulting Instantly. Neighbor rushed In and found the three bodies. Mr. Smith was not yet dead, and for a time revived, but he will die. When the new of the horrible deed was conveyed to Mrs. Phares, who was visiting In another part of town, she fainted and has since been In a danger ous condition. Her recovery is doubt ful, and It Is probable It will be a tragedy with four victims before the end I reached. Mr. and Mr. Phares had one child, a son fi years old. They had lived comfortably together until his reverses caused htm to become de spondent. Shipping News. New York, Feb. 11. Arrived: Braun schweig from Bremen. Sailed: Spree for Bremen. Sailed for New York: Havel from Bernten. Sighted: Lahn from New York for Bremen, passed the Lliurd. BASTINGS JSF0R QUAY Will Heartily Endorse the Senator : for Presidential Candidate. EFFECT OP HIS CANDIDACY Ibe Governor Believes That Pennsyl vania, the Leading Republican State, Should Be Recognised nt the Nationsl Convention. ' Harrlsburg. Pa., Feb. 11. Governor Hastings declared in an Interview to day that he la In favor of Senator Quay for the presidency If he Is a candidate. Recently the governor was assured by Senator Quay that If he desired the vote of the Pennsylvania delegation In the next national convention he (Quay) would be for him, but the governor de clined. He says: "I knew there was no show for my nomination, and I was not hunt ing for compliments. Senator Quay's candidacy would have a two-fold effect lathis state. It would reunite the party In broad and lasting foundatlons.whlch every true Republican would welcome, and would help to dispel the idea abroad In the country that because Pennsylvania is the leading Republi can protection state and always safe therefore she should never have a pres idential candidate. .. Pennsylvania's constant Republicanism should be the best argument In favor of a Pennsyl vania candidate. I will be for Quay if he la willing to be a candldare." Gilkeson In Line. Harrlsburg, Tu., Feb. 11. Deputy Attorney General Elkin and other state officials supplement the interview of Governor Hastings in declaring for Senator Quay for president. . Hanking Commissioner Gilkeson said tonight: "1 am heartily In favor uf Senator Quay fur president. He possesses every qualification for the place, and. In my Judgment, the mention of his name in this connection will create unbounded enthusiasm among all the Republicans of this state." BAT" SHEA ELECTROCUTED. A Final Protest of Innocence John II. McGoDgh Repeats His Confession as to the Killing of Koss. Dannemora.N.Y.,Fei.ll "Bat" Shea was executed In the elect r to chair at Clinton prison this morning. Shea re tired quite early last night and slept soundly until a little after seven o'clock this morning. For breakfast he asked for ham and eggs. Before breakfast the Rev. J. J. Swift, of St. Patrick's church, Troy, and the Rev. Father Berlanger, the local Catholic priest, ar rived, and Shea received the sacra ment. Shaking hands with Father Swift, Ire said: "I, am innocent, father, innocent." Through the courtesy of Warden Thayer, the United Press representa tive was granted an interview with John B. McUough, who live weeks ago confessed that he, and nut "Bat" Shea, who was electrocuted this morning, killed Ross. McGough still insists that he was the slayer and said: "I made every reparation possible, knowing that 1 killed Ross. It was dead wrong to kill Shea. His revolver was a "M calibre, center fire while mine was a 32 rim tire. It was the latter which killed Ross. In killing Shea they have killed an innocent man. I am the man who should have sat In the chair." McGough made his statement with out a tremor. Official timekeeper. Dr. Ives, says the contact was one minute and twenty one seconds. The voltage was 1,800, gradually reduced to 150. When the current was turned off there was a slight muscular action and an exhala tion from the lungs. Dr. Ransom or dered another contact, lasting less than nine second. Shea was pronounced dead after the first contact. The autopsy showed a diseased con dition of the lungs. Tuberculosis had set In and Shea could not have lived more than a few months at the utmost. The following letter from Shea was opened, after the execution: On the verge of death I desire to say thut I do not think I had a fair trlul. Kxtraontlnary menus were taken to con vict me and testimony given by Mr. Lan sln was absolutely untrue, l ain sorry for Hons' faintly and fur the gloom it has cast over them, but I did not go to the pulls on elect lull day to shorn Robert Koss, ami hail no Intention of Injuring him. 1 die fur a crime I Hid not commit. I am an innocent man. I bid you all fare well. . . Bartholomew Shea. WALLER WANTS DAMAGES. Ex Consul Prefers to Kcmain in Prison nnd Sue the French (iovernment. Washington, Feb. 11. A report from Secretary Olney sent to both houses of congress today by President Cleveland In answer to resolutions of Inquiry, show that John L. Waller, formerly consul of the i'nlted Stales at Tama tave, Madagascar, and now In a French prison serving a sentence of twenty years', imprisonment for treason, will be immediately released by the French government and given a full pnrdon. In accordance with the agreement of the I'nlted States to make no claim In his behalf based on his arrest, conviction or imprisonment. Waller ha not con sented to the arrangement, but It will undoubtedly be carried out and Ambas sador Kusti has been Instructed to furnish him with mean to reach the. I'nlted States. The message of the president nnd Secretary , Olney's report are accompa nied by all the correspondence In the case. SMUGGLER CAUGHT. Captain of a Steamer an tho Red Star Line Brings $'20.0(10 Worth of Gems. Philadelphia. Feb. 11. One of the largest seizures of diamonds ever made by the custom officers of the United States was effected today on board the Red Star line steamship Rhyneland. Twenty thousand dollars worth of gems was seized and Captain Loeswltr. master of the steamship, Is charged with illegally attempting to bring the diamonds In the country, and a warrant for his arrest will be Issued tomorrow. For some time past the Cnited States treasury authorities have been con vinced that diamonds were being smuggled Into this country. The gov ernment's agents abroad were Instruct ed to Investigate the subject, and sus picion fell upon Captain Loeswltz. When the Rhynland left Antwerp upon this trip the government agents abroad notified the treasury department that they .believed Captain Lneswtts had gems aboard his vessel, which he In tended to illegally bring Into this coun try. J Special Agent Cummlngs, of New York, and Special Agent Gallon, of Philadelphia, were detailed 'to await the Rhynland's arrival. When the steamship docked today Agent Gallon went aboard and going directly to Cap tain Loeswltz' room Informed him that he wised him to deliver that box he had containing diamonds. Captain Loes wltz at first demurred and questioned the right of Gallen to demand. When threatened with Immediate arrest he delivered to Mr. Gallen a box contain ing $20,000 worth of as tine diamonds as have ever been brought to this coun try. The box was addressed to Her man Keck & Co., of Cincinnati, one of the largest importing jewelers In the country, and did not appear upon the steamer's manifest. - The gems were taken possession of by the treasury agents and the steam ship put under guard. Captain Loes wltz will be arrested tomorrow. Cap tain Loeswltz has been In the service of the Red Star line for many years and formerly commanded the steamship Pennland. ' ' ' MEETING OF WHEELMEN. Officers Eleeted at the National As serobly at Baltimore-Most Important . Day's Work in lilstory of tho League. Baltimore, Feb. 11. The national as sembly of the League of American Wheelmen got down to hard work at the Royal Arcanum hall today, and succeeded in disposing of a lot of Impor tant matters. First In importance was the election of officers this afternoon, In which Sterling Elliott, of Massachu setts, gained the victory over his only competitor, Archibald C. Willlson, of Maryland, who was a candidate for re election. Later In the day the conven tion passed upon the nespectlve claims of Louisville and Toledo for the honor of entertaining the pedalers in their mid-summer meet, In which Louisville won. Preceding these events was the very Important report of the racing bourd and the unexpected announce ment of the reinstatement of the sus pended Brooklyn rider, Charles M. Mur phy. It was the most Important day's work in the history of the League of American Wheelmen. The convention was called to order at 11 o'clock. The report of the creden tials committee showed that. 110 dele gates were present In person and 67 represented by proxies. After George A. Perkins read the re port of the executive committee. Treas urer Mergenthaler delivered into the financial status of the league and came up with a cash balance of $4,":t5. The cash balance on hand last year was less than $1,000. The receipts from new members and renewals were $U,7:!C; from other sources, $l,4.rl; total. $16, 1S7. The total expense were $11,952. The racing board received from all sources last year $3,831 and paid out $8,104. showing that the board Is self supporting. After finishing his report Mr. Mergenthaler announced that he would not run again for the treasurer ship. Secretary Abbott Bassett's report showed that the membership of the League of American Wheelmen had In creased 11,183 during the vear. The to tal figures are now 40,042. New York made a phenomenal record In new mem bership, and jumped from third place to first wltli a total membership of 10, 414. Missouri, New Jersey ami Wis consin also made big gains. Attention is called to the fact that the list em braces 1.470 lady members, a gala of 780. The ticket was completed by the elec tion of the following: First vice-president. M. F. Cossum, of Poughkeepsle, N. Y.; second vice-president, A. C. Mor rison, of Wisconsin; treasurer, K. S. Hartwell. of Denver; auditing commit tee, J. Fred Adams, of New York; J. J. Van Nort. of Pennsylvania, and O. A. McCarty, of Denver. After choosing Louisville as the place of meeting for the national meet of '9ti, the convention adjourned until to morrow. MINISTERS TAKE A HAND. Teias Clergymen Interview Mexican Officials with a View to Stopping the Fltislmmous-Msher Flght-Uan Stusrt Hopeful. El Paso, Tex.. Feb. 11. Some excite ment was created Bhortly before noon by a delegation from the ministers union taking passage on a street car across the Kin) Urande. It was learned that they expected an audience with Governor Ahumada, of the state of Chihuahua at Culdad Juarez, and that their object was to petition the gover nor to ask President Diaz to reinforce the gendarmerie by a detachment of troops from the city of Mexico. Captain James Lawler, the final stake holder. Is seriously 111 with pneumonia and another stakeholder will be select ed. The opinion prevails that Referee tleorge Siler will be chosen final stake holder. John L. Sullivan and Paddy Ryan are expected here tomorrow niurning and preparations are being made to give them a rousing welcome. Dan Stuart told the United Press rep resentative today that despite all state ments to the contrary, the fights will take place according to programme, If It k't him without a dollar. FlUMmmous. Collins, Wolcott and Dixon took a ten mile spin down the road this morning and on their return to the training headquarters were found to be in perfect condition. Matter sent word from Las Cruces today that he had quit training and was ready to come here at a moment's notice. The betting here Is very slow and is even up, Maher and Fltzsimmons having an equal number of wealthy admirers. I'nlted States Marshal Hall, of Santa Fe, is hern and declares that there Is no possibility of the fights taking place in the territory of New Mexico, and that he has the deputies to back him up if necessary. The committee from the ministers association had an audience with Gov ernor Ahumada this morning. The ministers seemed satisfied - w ith the governor's assurances, but would say nothing for publication. A committee of prominent citizens from Juarez and Kl Pnso was waiting to see the gover nor when the ministers retired. MISS IIOLLINGSWORTII FREE She Is Released from Custody at Cincinnati. Indianapolis. Ind., Feb. 11. At 2 o'clock this afternoon Lulu May Hol lingsworth was released from custody. Superintendent Colbert telegraphed to Cincinnati this morning asking wheth er she was still wanted and the answer came that no expenses would be paid for her. Accordingly Bhe was turned loose. As she left the station She said: "I will go to Cincinnati either tomorrow or tomorrow night. I will not let any body there know who I am. The story which I have told Is entirely true and It will he proven before this thing is over." BOOM EOR PATTISON. He Villi Be Pennsylvania's Democratic Condldnto for President. Horrlsrburg, Ta., Feb. 11. National Chairman Hnrrlty and State Chairman Robert K. Wright, with other prominent Democratic leader in Pennsylvania, arrived at the Commonwealth hotel to night. They are here to attend the meeting of the Democratic state com mittee tomorrow, when Harrlsburg will be fixed as the place and the middle of April as the time for the holding of the state convention. A resolution favoring ex-Governor Patttson as a candidate for president will probably be adopted. THREE' ALARMS OF FIRE Were Sounded in Quick Succession Early Last Night. I'ROMI'T WORK OP FIREMEN Prevented Sorious Blase In Tempi Court and in Cramer's Photograph Gallery-Frothingnam Audience In Blissful Ignorance of Danger. Three fire alarms were sounded last night between the hours of 8 and 10 o'clock. The first alarm at 8 o'clock was for a fire In a dwelling occupied by a Polish family In the Sixth ward; that at o'clock from box 22 was for a blaze in the Temple Court building on Spruce street, and the third alarm, from box 15, was for a fire in Cramer's photographic gallery on the third floor of 309 Lackawanna avenue. The last two fires did not cause serious damage, but either might have proved very de structive but for the prompt work of the Phoenix Chemical company. A blaze In the Polander's house In the Sixth ward had been extinguished at 4 o'clock in the afternoon by Eagle Engine company before more than $300 damage had been done to the building and contents. Flames broke out In the same building- about 8 o'clock and the structure was totally destroyed. C. W. Freeman occupied, with his wife, two rooms, one a living apartment and the other a room In which he did wateh repairing, on the third floor of Temple Court, 311 Spruce street. Mrs. Freeman smelled smoke. She rushed to the door of the ether room, but when she opened It she was mat by a tongue of flame whloh swept across the hall way and set Are to its woodwork. 8he and her husband barely had time to es cape to the next floor below. He suc ceeded In savior a rack of watches be longing to customers. All'ef their furni ture, clothing! and household effects were destroyed. They did not have any Insurance. Attorney Rhodes' Thrilling Escape. Attorney J. E. Rhodes, who occupied & room at the end of the hall, and who was cut eft from tho stairway by the flames which shot across the hall from the Freeman apartments, had a thrill ing escape from the building. He was partially undressed when the Are start ed and was obliged to climb from his window at the front of the building to a narrow ledge. From thin dangerous perch he was helped into a window of the adjoining building and thus gained the street. The stock of Meyer's art store on the tree floor was badly damaged. Ills insurance I not known. The other street floor tenants did not suffer ma terial loss. On the second and third floors the following tenants were slight ly damaged by smoke and water: Dr. Helmer, II. O. Stoddard, Cornelius Smith, James II. Johnson and John II. Collings. The Ore in the building, 307. $4 and 311 Iickawanna avenue, might have de veloped into a conflagration which would have swept the blook between Penn and Wyoming avenues. Smoke was seen Issuing from the windows on the upper floor at 10 o'clock. The alarm was rung from box 22 by Patrolman Gurrel, and within two minutes the central city companies were on the scene. Two minutes later the blaze was found In the "dark" room of Cramer's photographing establishment and the Phoenix company's chemical engine was put to use. The room was filled with chemicals, which in a few mo ments I pore would have exploded and filled 'he upper floors of the three bulldl' pt with flame, a each building was a urated by only thinly plastered, woodi partitions. ; nmage Was About $1,A0O. The structure was damaged to the ex tent of about $1,500. It Is owned by Krotosky Bros., clothiers, of 315 Lacka wanna avenue. The loss Is fully cov ered by Insurance. Mr. Cramer was In Carbondale laat night, and the amount of insuranoe he carried could not be ascertained. Apparently his atudlo and contents were damaged to the extent of about $400. The damage to the other tenants of Nos. tOT and 309 was trifling and was caused by water. A panic in the Frothingham theater, which Is situated directly In the rear of Temple- Court, was averted only by the great presence of mind of two gen tlemen who were attending1 the klr mess performance, and Mr. Jones, the manager, and Mr. Duffy, the ticket sel ler of the theater. Several of the ladles in the lobby, which is being used as a refresment room, ascertained that a fire was in progress in close proximity to them and made ready to rush from the theater by way of the Penn avenue entrance, the regular alley entrance being closed. Such a course would have taken them through the body of the house, and in their excitement they might have given the alarm to the audience which filled the theater. The result may be con jectured. The fear of the ladles were allayed and the four gentlemen proceeded to clear the lobby of Its table and chairs and to quietly unbolt the doors leading into the body of the house and the al ley. This was In anticipation of a pos sibly mad scramble for outdoors. But, fortunately, the 1,700 spectators re mained In blissful Ignorance of their proximity to danger. INDIANS WERE SWINDLED. Oil City by Right Belongs to the De. scendsnts of the Ser.eea Chief Corn Planter. Harrlsburg, Pa., Feb. 11. Chief Clerk Gearhart, of the state department, to whom was refetred 'the cases of the Senecs Indians descendant of Corn planter, who claim the site of Oil City, stated today that lie has carefully ex amined the papers In the matter, and that there is no. doubt but that the In dians hove been shamefully treated. He cannot, however, find any ground for action by the state any more than In any other case of sale. Mr. Gear hart explained that the commonwealth granted the land to the Indians by patent, and then its right in the matter ceased. The Indians sold a large por tion of valuable land to a man named Connelly and took his note in payment. Not being versed In technical law. they had no mortgage made out to them and all they received In payment was the notes. The matter I declared to be deserv ing of rectification, but It Beems to be outside the jurisdiction of the state, and Mr. Gearhart is of the opinion that the Indian should bring suit against the present holders and contest the title In the court of Venango county. They desire to go to Philadelphia and con sult with Herbert Welsh, president of the Indians' Right society In relation to their case, but they are without the necessary funds. Rnfo Burglars at Work. Lcesburg. O.. Feb. 11. Bulgtars effected an entrance Into the leesburg bank last night by the use of explosives. The vuuli door wus first blown open ami then the burglar proof fe was literally blown to Itleces. All 4ho money, amounting to about $6,0UO, was taken, besides valuable notes. I'S New Spring . Goods We have now on sale the most elegant stock of imferoierics mi Laces we have ever shown. , Our line of is up to date and com prises French aid American Claitllly Lace Stripes. with all overs and trim mings to match. and full stock of Staple White Goods. 510 and 512 LACKAWANNA AVENUB Our goc School Shoes' Our Winter Shoes must go. You need the Shoes we need the room. L3BWIS,REELY&MV1BS. 114 AMD 111 WTOMINC A-TH. ' WEICHE TIE JEWELER , WISHES EVERYBODJ0 A Happy New - - Great reductions in prices before taking inventory in ... . Watcks, BiamoMs and Silverware. 408 Spruce St. Near Dime Bank. WEATHER REPORT. For eastern Pennsylvania fair; ellgtltly! colder; westerly winds. New York, Feb. 12. Herald' weather forecast: In the Middle state today claT sliuhtlv colder weather and fresh westerly to northwesterly winds will prevail, fol lowed by a slight rise of temperature In; the Interior of this section. On Thursday warmer fair to partly olouay weathri will iirevall, with fresh northwesterly shifting to stronger va.twly winds, ana) followed by Increasing cloudiness and by snow or rain, the wliwls becoming danger ous on the coast, possibly with foflk