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SCR ANTON, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 4. 1898.
TWO CENTS
" JLWilUJlJIM.LI 1 1. SM(M1M i lBSS3tf?F US
pages Tww--v mssmTSbs
OB'W
DOINGS OF
LAWMAKERS
Mr. Caffery's Speech the
Feature of Senate
Session.
OBJECTS TO H. W. CORBETT
Has the State Authority to
Fill an Original Vacancy?
The IIouso at Representatives Spend
tho Day in tlic I)lt.cusslon of Politi
cal Toplcs--Rcmurknblc Discovery
Mndo 1V Jerry Simpson IIouso
Civil Service Committee Gives
Hearing to a Number ol Itcprosi'ii
tntives ot Wnr Vuternns' Interest
Washington, Feb. 3. Olio of the fea
tures of today's session of the senate
was a speech by Mr. Caffer.v, of Louisi
ana, in support of the resolution re
ported by the committee on privileges
and elections, declaring that Henry W.
Corbett is not entitled to a seat in tho
senate from the state of OreRon. 'Mr.
Corbett was appointed as senator by
the governor of Oregon after the fail
ure of the legislature to elect a sen
ator to succeed Senator Mitchell. Mr.
Cattery maintained' that the governor
of a state had no authority to appoint
to fill an original vacancy a vacancy
beginning with a new term after the
legislature had had an opportunity to
elect, and had failed to do so.
Tho agricultural appropriation bill
was under consideration the greater
part of the afternoon nnd was finally
passed. After a brief executive session
the senute adjourned.
Germany's order prohibiting the Im
portation of American fruits into that
empire called out a resolution from Mr.
Davis (Minn.), chairman of the com
mittee on foreign relations, calling up
on the president, if not Incompatible
with the public Interest, to transmit to
the senate correspondence and other
Information bearing upon the matter
In his possession or In that of the state
department. The resolution was agreed
to.
HOUSE PROC RIO DINGS.
The house spent the day ostensibly
considering the fortifications appropri
ation bill. In reality the major portion
of the time was consumed in the dis
cussion of political topics. The exist
ence or non-existence of prosperity in
this country was ugain the main ques
tion of dispute. The feature of the day
was the discovery by Mr. Slmpsontho
Kansas Populist, nnd the exploitation
of the alleged fact that Mr. Dingley
wore a London-made pot hat. Mr.
Dingley explained that the hat was
mnde In New York. The London trade
mark was simply Placed there to please
the Anglo-maniacs who always pre
ferred things English.
All attempts to Increase the appro
priations In fortllicatlon bill, or to
amend it In any respect, were voted
down today.
The house civil service committee
gave a hearing today to a number of
representatives of the war voUrans' in
terests involved In the proposed civil
service legislation. Representative
Howe, New York, urged the interests
of the survivors of the rebellion. A. S.
Iffla and E. W. ICay, of Brooklyn, the
latter the editor of a Grand Army Jour
nal and representing several patriotic
organizations of Iirooklyn, protested
against the olaure in the pending bill
depriving veterans of their pensions
during their continuance In govern
ment employ at over $1,200 per year.
There was it general desire expressed
for the obliteration of the distinction
betwem the veterans discharged in the
war on account of wounds received in
the service and those not wounded und
those who served out their terms, as
to preference In government employ as
against civilians. Charles W. .Surout,
of Brooklyn, protested agulnst the al
leged 75 per cent, of civilian employes
In the navy yard there, citing the ef
ficiency of the veterans who before
December 20, 1S3G, he said, had out
numbered the civilians.
Commander in Chief Gobln, of the
Grand Army, also objected to the
clause suspending pensions during gov
ernment employ.
YELLOWSTONeTaRK EXTENSION.
A Hill Increasing (lie Reservation by
:!,()( qure .Miles.
Washington, Feb. 3. '.Secretary Bliss
has sent to the public land committees
of the senate and house a bill prepared
by Colonel Young, the acting superin
tendent of the Yellowstone National
park, for nn extension of tho limits
of that reservation by about 3,000
square miles. In this extension Is in
cluded the existing timber reserve In
Wyoming which abuts partly on tho
east and partly on the southern por
tions of the reservation.
It also embraces a portion ot the res
ervation set aside by President Cleve
land In his order of Feb. 2C, 1S3C, known
as the Teton Forest Reserve, oIko In
Wyoming. Another strip included Is
that at the southwest corner, where
there is a large amount of marshy land
to which tho animals resort for feed.
To the northwest ot the park, In Mon
tana, Is Included a strip of mountaln
ou country In which wild game
abounds and which Is the locality
where most of the poachers get Into
the park.
NOMINATED BYHrFpRESIDBNT.
Washington, Feb. 3. The president to
day sent the following nominations to tho
senate:
Itobert Carson, of New Jersey, to be
colleptor of customs for tho district or
Perth Amboy, N, J,
Commodoro Charles S. Norton to bo a
renr-admlral.
Colonel M. I. Ludlngtou, assistant qunr.
tcrmastcr general, to be brigadier gen
eral and quartermaster general.
REPUBLICANS 0RQANIZE.
Congressional Committed Selocted
Tor the Coming Cnmpnlgn.
Washington, Feb. 3. The Republican
members ot both houses of congress
held a caucus tonight at which tho
Republican congressional committee
was permanently organized for the
campaign. About seventy senators
and representatives attended, and the
delegations of all but eighteen of tho
states announced the selection' of .their
representatives on the committee. Tho
committee us far as chosen tonight fol
lows: Colorado, Senator K. O. Wolcottj
Connecticut, Senator O. II. Piatt;
Idaho, Senator George Shoupi Illinois,
Representative Joseph a. Cannon: In
diana, Representative Jesse Over
street; Iowa, Representative J. A. T.
Hull; Kansas, Representative Charles
Curtis; Massachusetts, Representative
John SImpklns; Michigan, Represen
tative George Spalding; Minnesota,
Representative James T. McCleary;
Missouri, Representative Charles K.
Pearce; Montana, Senator Thomas II.
Carter; Nebraska. Representative Da
vid H. Mercer; New Hampshire, Sena
tor Jacob II. Galllnger; New Jersey,
Representative II. C. Loudenslnger;
New York, Representative James S.
Sherman; North Carolina, Representa
tive Richmond Pearson; Ohio, Kepre
sentatlve H. C. Van Voorhis; Oregon,
Senator George W. MclJrlde; Pennsyl
vania, Representative William C. Ar
nold; Tennessee, Representative Henry
R. Gibson; Texas, Representative II.
H. Huwley; Virginia, Representative J.
A. Walker; Washington, Senator John
U Wilson: West Virginia, Representa
tive- Warren Miller; Wisconsin, Rep
resentative Joseph W. Babcock; Wyo
ming, Senator Francis E. AVarren.
As .soon ns the other delegations se
lect their representatives on the com
mittee, which will be within n few
days, another caucus will be called to
perfect the organization by electing of
ficers nnd mapping out tho campaign
work. It seems to be permanently set
tled Chairman liabcock will be reelected-
that Secretary Mercer nlso will
succeed himself; that Representative
SImpklns, of Massachusetts, will lbo
made vice chairman In place of Mr.
Apsley, who was not re-elected to this
congress; and that General Grosvenor,
the present chairman of the caucus,
will continue in that office.
The caucus tonight was very brief.
General Grosvenor presided, and after
the call of the states, and the enroll
ment of members, the meeting was ad
journed. THE GERMAN FRUIT
EXCLUSION DECREE
An Act ol'Discourlosy Kntirely With
out Precedent--American Fruit
Growers Will Lose Heavily.
Washington, Feb. 3. During the af
ternoon further advices were received
from Ambassador White as to the na
ture of the German fruit exclusion de
cree. It would seem that the full de
tails are not yet obtainable In Herlln,
but it Is expected that Ihe ambassador
will cable the entire decree as soon as
he can obtain it. The important facts
that were established by the last ad
vices werjp, llrst, that the decree ot ex
clusion uses tho word "American" as
descriptive of the place of origin of the
fruit, as was at first supposed, includes
In the prohibition all dried fruits from
America.
State department officials have not
yet recovered from their surprise at
the method adopted by the German
government of accomplishing its ob
ject in this matter and undoubtedly
the correspondence to follow will set
this out very clearly. The objection
to the course pursued Is three fold.
In tho llrst place, It Is said to be en
tirely without precedent and discour
teous towards the American ambassa
dor at Berlin to make the decree and
put It into effect without the slightest
warning to him. In the second place,
by making the decree take effect at
once and stopping all fruit In transit
a great injustice is done to shippers
who thus without warning, nro made
to lose heavily on their capital invest
ed in the fruit.
Third, the decree Is claimed In that It
makes no provisions for the admission
of frnlt of absolute puiity; permits
no demonstration of origin or health
ful condition, and In fact condemns all
fruiC good and bad alike.
These considerations ure to be strong
ly urged upon the German govern
ment as reaions why it should either
revoke or modify tho decree on the
lines Indicated before any more radical
action is taken.
THE PEARFUL BLIZZARD.
Recent Chilly Seoion nn tho Atlantic
Const Ik n Record Hrcnlier.
Highland Light. Mass., Feb. 3. Tho
fearful blizzard which has Just swept
the coast was a record-breaker, and
exceeded in duration and violence the
storm of 1SSS.
About 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon u
large four-masted schooner was sighted
ten miles northeast of this point. She
appeared to be helpless and drifting
shoreward. After dark a strong breeze
sprung up from the westward and she
was probably blown far out to sea.
Tho cutter Manning nnd tugs have
been looking for her oft the coast. She
is believed to be the vessel which was
in collision with u fishing schooner in
the buyym Monday night, nnd that the
crew ot fishermen are now in the four
master, as they abandoned their own
craft.
Had the wind been northeast It is
believed tho outer coast of Capo Cod
would have been strewn with wrecks.
Suicide In Jnll.
Atlantic City. N. J., 'Feb. 3.-Jamos
Johnson, a prisoner In the city Jnll, com
mitted sulclda this afternoon by hanging
himself from a cross bar. He used two
handkerchiefs to make a l.oose. John
son's fear of being sent to state prison
from committing a theft causod him to
take his life, Johnson will bo rememberd
as an Important witness in the Farrell
will case of Philadelphia two years ago,
when an estate of 2uo,O0O was Involved.
Stniuiklilp Arrival.
Now York, Feb, 3. Sailed: Frlcslaivl,
Antwerp;'' Kdam, Amsterdam.
QueeiiBtown-Salled: Urttanlo (from
Liverpool), New York.
Genoa Sailed: Fulda, Now York.
Hremerhaven Arrived: Lalm, New
York, via Southampton. ,
Itotrdam Sailed: Veendam, New
York.
NO BACK DOWN ON
PART OF ENGLAND
The Opening ot Tallen-wan Never a
Strict Condition.
IT WAS MERELY A SU0QESTI0N
.Statement from High Olliclal Source.
Report of Preparations to Strength
en tho British Moot In tho Par East
With Three Squadrons.
London, Feb, 3. On incontrovertible
nuthorlty the Associated Press learns
that Great Britain has not bucked
down on the question of making Ta-llen-Wnn
a free port. The MnrqUls
of Salisbury, George N. Curzon, .the
parliamentary secretary of the foreign
oltlce, the Russian ambassador and the
Chinese minister each remarked yester
day In conversation that they had not
heard of any backdown.
The opening of Tallon-Wnn, It Is
pointed out, was never made a condi
tion, in nny sine qua non sense, In con
nection with the loan to China. In tho
preliminary negotiations on the sub
ject the opening of Tnllen-Wan was
"sketched In neutral .tints," Great
Britain only suggesting it as one con
dition favoring a speedy completion
of tho loan. She never demanded It,
and, therefore, in no sense can be said
to have backed down, if the desire was
not persisted in. The question of Ta-llen-Wnn
is, however, with other sug
gested conditions of the loan, still In
negotiation.
SQUADRONS IN READINESS.
Shanghai, Feb. :;. The China Ga
zette, says the British Indian, Austra
lian nnd Pacific squadrons have been
ordered to be ready to -reinforce the
lleet In the far East, thus giving the
British admiral a lleet capable of cop
ing with "any combination opposing
British policy."
"In the meanwhile," says the China
Gazette, "the British cluinis in the
Yangtse-KIang will be supported by a
strong squadron stationed nt Chusan,
where two other war ships are en
route. In the event of Russia hoisting
her flag over the forts at Port Arthur,
the British admiral has been ordered
to hoist the English flag over Chusan,
nnd the Japanese lleet will ascend the
Yang-tse-Klang aa soon as the river
rises.
"About 7,500 Russian artillery and
cavalry and quantities of stores anil
munitions have arrived nt Klrln, the
capital of the Manchurian Province of
Klrln."
London, Feb. 3. 'Some of the after
noon newspapers today refer to the ab
sence of the Russian and German, am
bassadors from the Marquis ot Salis
bury's regular Wednesday reception of
the Diplomatic Corps as being a dis
quieting portent.
According to a special despatch from
Shanghai, published today, two Brit
ish warships entered Port Arthur yes
terday and left without anchoring.
JAPAN NO LONGER OBJECTS.
Willing That Hawaii Should lie An
nexed to tho United States.
"Washington, Feb. 3. Japan ha.i been
removed ns an element in the opposi
tion to the consummation of the an
nexation of the Hawaiian islands by
the United States. This result has
i been attained by the conclusion of an
j agreement between our government
and that of Japan as represented hy
Minister Toru-Hoshl which 'by practl
I cnlly settling the status ot the Japan
ese In Hawaii removes the onlv sub
stantial difference that has existed be
tween tho two governments. The Jap
anese government for its part announc
ed some time ago that it no longer
cared to interpose any objection to an
nexation of Hawaii based on nrlnclnle.
i Since that time the correspondence be
tween Minister Hoshl and the stale
department has been directed to a sat
isfactory settlement of tho status of
the resident Japanese in Hawnii nnd
this last point has now been ndjusted,
so far as tho executive branch of our
government is capable of acting inde
pendently, the agreement being reduc
ed to tho shape of a written memor
andum. The exact basis of this agreement has
not yet been made public, but tho gen
eral scope of it is understood to be a
recognition ot the rights of Japanese
in Hawaii to claim equal rights with
Japanese In the United States after the
taking effect of the treaty with Japan
proclaimed In 1S93.
BANK UNDER AN INJUNCTION.
The Action Follow the Arrest of n
I'ormer Cannier.
Bcrston, Feb. 3. The Massachusetts
Savings bank's commissioners today
placed the Frnmingham Snvlngs bank
under an injunction to prevent it from
doing business until further action can
be taken. The action followed the ar
rest of WllJIam II. Bird, former cashier
of the bank, who In the Framingham
court today was held In $20,000 for the
grand Jury on a charge of misappro
priating $9,000 of the bank's funds.
There Is a shortage of $21,000,
Mr. Bird Is about 70 years old, and
for many yeais was ono of Us most
trusted employes. He resigned Jan. 1.
NEW POSTAL SCHEME.
Senator Penrose Introduce u Bill to
i:tabllli New Itutcn.
AVashlngton, Feb. 3. Senator Penrose
today Introduced two bills for the regu
lation of rntes of postage. One of them
provides a uniform rate of one cent an
ounce on all letters, with a minimum
rate of two cents on letters. Tho other
provides for one cent postage on letters
not to be delivered by carriers In the
city to ,whlch directed.
These ono cent stamps are to be trl
colored, ted, white nnd blue. Both bills
were introduced bv request.
Charged Willi .11 order.
Belfast. Feb.' 3. Philip King hns been
nrrested on tho charce of murdering his
mother-in-law and ij children. King,
who Is a farmer residing near Bhercock,
Is alleged to havo committed the mur
ders on Monday last, but tho bodies were
only discovered today, and King, who
had run away, was soon afterwards
taken into custody.
ELLIS ISLAND ABUSE.
Roprosontntlvo Bobbins Sitrs tho In
spection Is ii I'nrop.
Washington. Feb. 3. Representative
Robblns, of Pennsylvania, Is going to
mnko nn attack in the house on tho
methods of Immigrant inspection pur
sued nt Ellis Island, If what ho
charges Is based on fact, his disclos
ures will be sensational. Some time
ago Mr. Robblns spent three days, nt
Kills Island keeping nn eye on the work
of Inspecting Immigrants. He Is a Re
publican member ot the house com
mittee on Immigration and as he de
sired material for use in the commit
tee he did not make himself known.
He says ho found the Inspection a farce.
Favoritism Is practiced and the in
spectors, according to his statement,
ure so lacking In experience, so poorly
paid, and so completely under tho In
fluence of politicians and selfish inter
ests, that they arc practically value
less. He says that if the Lodge bill now
pending In the house were to become
a law, It would be rendered of no effect
through the Inefficiency of the Ellis
Island service, nnd that n complete
chonge Is necessary.
Mr. Robblns proposes to create a new
board of immigrant inspectors, to be
compoaed of twelve members, to be
appointed by the president from civil
life and to receive a salary of $3,000 a
year each. He will Introduce a bill to
the effect.
MR. WANAMAKER
WILL CONSIDER IT
Is Not Anxious to Ite Cnndidato lor
(inventor ot Pennsylvania, but Will
Think It Over.
Philadelphia, Feb. 3. Ex-Postmaster
General John Wanamuker, who was
decided upon yesterday at a meeting
of business men and politicians from
all parts of the state as their choice
for governor, returned home toduy
from the south. He freely discussed
yesterday's meeting, but was silent on
the question of his acceptance, or of
the request that he permit the use ot
his name us a candidate. He said,
however, he would give .the call his
serious consideration. In a statement
he said:
My first Information ot the proceedings
of the meeting came this morning at
Richmond, Va., from the Washington pa
pers, und, later In the day. from the Phil
adelphia and New York papers on my
way homeward.
It stfems to me as If the oUO or -100 men
who marched together yesterday nad
broken a new path. Now that the path
Is broken, it remains to be seen who will
follow.
It tho people are on the warpath they
are irresistible. Yesterday s 4li0 will bo
4W.0IK) In a few weeks. If the Republicans
of Pennsylvania cannot get a governor,
except he bo chosen by those who man
ipulated the legislature last winter, it
will go hard with the Republican party
of Pennsylvania, .ind .vith our peoplo
generally.
Fewer people come into Pennsylvania
nowadays to settle, and many of our best
young men are going out of Its great
cities to locate elsewhere, partly becauso
they cannot havo political opinions or
place, except by tho grace of one or two
men.
Pennsylvania Is again a slave state.
Many of tho newspapers nnd thousands
of our citizens In and out of the cities
know this, nnd talk tremendously about
It. but weaken In battle, for fear of los
ing favor with those who dictate Wash
ington appointments, nnd nominations at
state and city conventions nnd who
mysteriously Influence contracting cor
porations. If there was reason for the people to
rise at the Cameron dlctntion of Gov
ernor Heaver's first nomination eighteen
years ago, there Is eight-fold reason
now for them to rise und overthrow nn
evil that penetrates to the extremo of
even a court room.
So far as the deliverance of tho con
ference launches me personally, 1 must
say frankly I vastly prefer to be al
lowed to conduct my business. I have
the first quurter of a wish to he gov
ernor, even If nn undisputed nomination
wero offered me.
I confess to moderate ambitions to bo
useful to the state nnd city I was born
In, and would gladly and faithfully help
In contributing what I havo gathered of
experience In and out of public life, but
I repeat 1 do not want the office.
Mr. Wanamaker thanked the meet
ing for the compliment paid him and
said: "After rellectlon, I will make
whatever answer I find It my duty to
give when their committee calls upon
me."
Thomas Hooper, of Chester, the chair
man of the notification committee, is
expected to call upon Mr. Wanamaker
tomorrow and arrange for a time to re
ceive the committee.
OUR TORPEDO FLEET CRIPPLED
Four of the Six Ilnnts IiijureCbr tho
Ilnnvy Wenthnr.
Washlncton. D. C. Feb. 3. The toi.
pedo boat flotilla, in the Gulf, Is badly
disabled by Its rough sea service. Tivovf
iy
remain unlniured. the cCiiKliInc nnrt I '
the Ericsson, the second torpedo boat
built for the government. The Porter
and Dupont had their propeller struts
broken: the Foote has broken or badly
cracked her shaft, and the Wlnslow
shaken ufi.
The Foote , goes to Norfolk, to bo
overhauled, and tho Porter and Du
pont will remain ut Mobile until new
struts are made. It is, doubtful if nny
of the boats can tuke part in the ex
ercises with the fleet at Dry Tortugas.
FRANCE AS A NAVAL POWER.
The .Minister of Murine Defies Other
Mrdifprrnnrnii Nations.
Paris, Feb, 3. Tho committee on
naval estimates today proposed that
nn ironclad, three cruisers and eleven
torpedo boats lie begun this year.
Vice Admiral Besnnrd, the minister
of marine, said, tho government's naval
programmo had made tho Mediterra
nean a French gulf. It was intended
now lo build ironclads for extra Euro
pean waters, with an extensive sphere
of nctlon. The government Is actively
pursuing experiments with submarine
boats.
Very Cold Morning.
Wilmot Flat. N. II.. Feb. 3,-Tho titer
mometer registered 42 degrees below zero
this morning,
llernld's "riillirr Porncni.
Now York. Feb. 4. In the middle states
and Now England, today, partly cloudy
weather will prevail, followed by slowly
rising temperature. On Saturday, In both
of these sections, partly cloudy, warmer
weuther.
tiik mm THIS MOltNINW.
Weather Indications Today!
Pair: Warmer: Southerly Winds.
1 Goncrnl--Y. M. C. A. Building Burned.
Statement of England's Position in
tho Far East.
Doings of a Day In Congress.
Mr. Wanamaker Undecided,
2 Stnto-The 8herlff Martin Trial.
3 Local Y. M. C. A. Fire (Concluded).
4 Editorial.
Comment of tho Press.
C A City in Which Crime Is Thought
Clever.
C Local Tho Halstead Reception.
Criminal Court Proceedings.
7 Local-Select Council Sets Mr. Sun-
dorson's Ruling Aside.
Kohut Acquitted of Murder.
5 Local West Sldo and Suburban.
0 Lackawanna County News.
10 Neighboring County Happenings.
Tho Markets.
BISCUIT TRUST FORMED
It Includes All tho Crnckor IJukcrlos
Between Portlnnd, Jllaitio and
Snli I.nko City.
Chicago, Feb. 3. All the biscuit and
cracker companies between Salt Lake
City on tho west, Portland (Me.) on the
cast, St. Paul on the north and New
Orleans on tho south will tomorrow
morning be under one management.
The name of the new concern, which
was Incorporated today In the state of
New Jersey with a capital of $23,000,000
of preferred and $23,000,000 of common.
Is the National Blpcult company.
The actual transfer of the deeds of
the various plants controlled by the
companies merged Into the National
company took place today In the otllce
of tho Illinois Trust and Savings bank
I In this city. Benjamin F. Crawford,
of Manslleld, O., was elected president;
I II. F. Voorhees, of Chicago, vlce-presl-
I dent; Frank O. Lowden, Chicago, sec
ond vice-president: C. E. Rumsey,
Pittsburg, secretary nnd treasurer.
The following board of directors was
elected: Benjamin F. Crawford, Mans
lleld; H. F. Voorhees, Chicago; Thomas
S. Oliver, Lewlston. Me.; David F.
Bremmer, Chicago; S. S. Marvin, Pitts
burg; Henry J. Evans, Chicago; Lewis
D, Dosler, St. Louis; Norman B. Ream.
Chicago; William T. Baker, Chicago;
Joseph S. Loose, Kansas City; C. E.
Ramsey, Pittsburg; James "W. Hazen,
Boston; F. O. Lowden, Chicago; A. L.
Garrettson, Morristown, N. J,; A. W.
Green, Chicago.
FAILURE OF AUTONOMY.
Weighty Information from This Gov
ernment from Mr. Atkins.
Washington, Feb. 3. Important In
formation as to the success of the
Spanish schemes for nutonomy in
Cuba has been received here. Mr. At
kins, of Boston, who is ihe most prom
inent American grower of sugar on the
islands, has written to Consul General
Lee expressing the opinion that auton
omy Is n failure and that there is no
Immediate prospect of peace.
Mr. Atkins has hitherto been an en
thusiastic believer in the success of the
Spanish policy. It was due largely to
his representations to the last admin
istration that Mr. Olney pursued so
conservative a course, and the present
administration has been no less strong
ly Impressed with .the value of his
judgment. He was in Washington soon
nfter President McKlnley assumed of
fice, and urged that Spain be given nn
opportunity to show what could be
done to restore pence to the Island be
fore the United States took any steps
toward intervention. What he says
now, therefore. Is likely to have con
siderable weight. His letters to Con
sul General Lee are almost despondent
In tone. Some of his plantations have
been burned by the Insurgents, and he
Is convinced that the Insurrection Is
far from being under control.
MANY PASSENGERS INJURED.
Allcnr-Knd Collision on the Boston
nnd Mnino Rnilroad.
Srmerville, Mas Feb. 3. A local
passenger train from Stoneham, on the
Southern division Boston and Maine
railroad, was struck In the rear and
telescoped at tho Winter Hill station
this morning by a train from Concord,
and several persons were Injured, some
seriously. The number of those who
were hurt severely enough to require
medical attendance is reported as fif
teen, but it is said that several who
received minor cuts and biulses were
nblo to care for themselves until they
reached their hemes or places of busi
ness. The accident resulted from the inabil
ity of the engineer of the Concord train
to see the other ahead of him on ac
count of clouds of steam which cscap-
i -..
from the locomotive.
BREAD RIOTS IN ITALY.
Violence to Prevent a Corner In the
Corn Kxchnngp.
Loudon, Feb. 3. A special despatch
from Rome says that some of the grain
dealers on the Corn Exchange of Ces
ena, Province of Forll, who accepted
reduced prices, were violently attacked
by the members for attempting to cor
ner grain. The troops, it Is added,
had to clear the Exchange,
The despatch adds that there were
bread riots nt Castellamare yesterday,
and that tho troops frequently charged
tho mobs.
LOSSES BY FIRE.
A Church in Indiana nnd n Sawmill
in Wisconsin Burned.
New Albany, Ind., Feb. 3. The First
Presbyterian church, the largest In tho
city, was destroyed by fire last night.
The loss is estimated at $50,000. The
fire was caused by a defective flue.
Menominee, Mich,, Feb. 3. The big
Sawyer & Goodman sawmill at Marin
ette, Wis., was burned to the ground
early this morning. The loss Is esti
mated nt $50,000.
Cold Wnvo In New England.
Boston, Feb. 3. A cold wavo of a se
verity almost equal to that of last week
prevails in Mnlno and Now Hampshire.
At Nashua, N. II., tho temperature was
28 below zero this morning and the ranga
was from that figure to 40 below at Rum
ford Fulls, Me. In Boston and vicinity
tho temperature was about 10 below.
Y. 1. C. A.
Was the Center of the Larg
est Fire of Recent Years
in Scranton.
NUB OVER A QUARTER OF A HIM
Electric Wire Is Said to Have Been
the Cause of the Blaze.
THE mm SPREAD WITH
From the Y. n. C. A. Building They Found Their
Way Into the Powell Building on the North, the
Handley Estate Buildings on the South and the
Frame Stables Across Breck Court in the Rear.
The Fire Broke Out at 11.10 and It Was About 1
O'clock Before the Firemen Had It Under Con
trol Details of the Progress of the Flames and
the Losses Sustained by the Occupants of the
Various Buildings.
BUILDINGS and contents to the
value of a quarter of a million
ot dollars or more disappeared
In the fire and smoke which
last night destroyed the Young
Men's Christian association building
and several nearby structures. It
started at 11.10 o'clock from an explo
sion of cinematograph films used In
displaying exhibition pictures in a va
cant store rm m in the association
building. The buildings wholly, or
partially destroyed wero:
OUNG JIKN'8 CHRISTIAN ASSOCIA
TION BUILDING, 218. 220, 222 and 221
Wyoming avenue, totally consumed
by fire.
TWO APARTMRNTS QF HANDLUY
BLOCK. 214 nnd 218 Wyoming avenue,
crushed In by falling walls.
II. S. GORMAN & CO.'S LIVERY STA
RI.KS, barns nnd wagon sheds. Spruce
street, between Breck and Forest
courts, about half consumed.
SCRANTON DAIRY COMPANY'S BARN
am wi '-jon sheds, almost totally de
stroyed. L. B. rOWKLL .t CO.'S Bl'II.DlNG.
22fi and 22S Wyoming avenue, roof
damaged.
The flumes spread immediately to all
parts of tho association structurn.whlch
was a seething mass of flame and
smoke almost before the firemen who
responded to the llrst alarm, from Box
22, nt the corner of Wyoming avenue
and Spruce street, began to work. Chief
Hlckey sent In special calls for five
additional companies as soon as he
reached the scene nnd a half minute
later summoned every company in the
city on a general alarm, eighteen com
panies in all.
Thousands of curious people were at
tracted by the repeated alarms, and
sea of flames and dense volumes of
smoke, which in all parts of the city
gave the Impression that a morp seri
ous conllagratlon was in progress. At
first tho crowds Impeded and confused
the firemen in their work, but the In
tense heat and tottering wulls soon
drove the spectators to distant points
of observation.
At 12.45 o'clock tho flames had been
confined to the Young Men's Christian
association building, the udjacent dwel
ling of the two-story row owned by
the Handley estate, Gorman's livery
stable and the barn of the Scranton
Dairy company, the two latter on tho
alley In the rear. All these buildings
were totally destroyed with their con
tents, excepting the stock and a part
of tho vehicles in the atables and a
few goods from one of tho stores In tho
association building and one of the
dwellings.
The association building was a four
story modern brick structure. It con
tained nn assembly hall, the well
equipped John Raymond Industrial In
stitute, association educational depart
ment, library, gymnasium, living apart
ments for instructors and numerous
parlors and other rooms: tho sporting
goods store of C. M. Florey nnd the
tailoring establishment ot Mosher &
Coleman.
The large four-story brick structuro
on the north, owned by 1. R. Powell &
Co,, musical goods dealers, appeared to
be enveloped In flames nt Intervals, but
was saved by Its thick party wull, It
contained several music studios and. a
vucnnt store room In addition to the
sales, repair and storage departments
of tho firm,
The direction ot the wind was nearly
IN RUIN;
LIGHTNING-LIKE RAPIDITY
always toward the east and so not
much apprehension was felt for the
Westminster hotel and adjacent build
ings across the street, though at In
tervals In the early progress of the tiro
the heat cracked all the windows In
thoso buildings and drove away the
crowd that lined the sidewalk. It was
once reported that the hotel roof was
afire, but such was not the case. All
the guests In the house, however,
packed their effects, left the upper
lloors and were ready to seek places
of safety.
Tho fierceness of the fire before tho
association building's roof collapsed
and the front wall fell Into the ave
nue sent a steady storm of sparks
nnd burning embers with the heat high
Into the air. They fell with almost the
thickness of snow Hakes as far as Lin
den street and Washington avenue.
The descending sparks and burning
emberK, many of them ns large as
shingles, fell on tho roofs along the two
latter thoroughfares and set fire to
several structures. .Men on these roofs
with buckets of water prevented what
probably would have been a total de
struction of tho whole block, and pos
sibly buildings on the north side ot
Linden street.
Origin of the Fire.
THK fire started in the southerly
storeroom of the Young Men's
Christian Association buildlns-,
No, 21S Wyoming avenue, where a
cinematograph entertainment bad been
holding forth' for several weeks. It
was caused by an electric wire, whir h
rarrl'.'d power (o the machine, coming
In contact with tho combustible films
on which the pictures are tnad. An
explosion occurred and in nn utmost
incredible space of time the building
was wrapped In flames.
A Tribune reporter was standing di
rectly opposite the building when tin1
explosion occurred. The llrst evidence
of anything wrong was a blight glare
In the .Uoreroom. Some one In fmnt of
tho Westminster shouted "Fire" or
rather loudly remarked it in an Inter
rogatory way. When the people near
by looked about they saw a man In
his shirt sleeves and his arms over
his head rushing out of the store, fol
lowed by a blast of llame that si)t tho
window glass Hying to the middle of
the street and reached Itself to the
curbllne.
The flame receded for nn instant and
the eoatless man staited bark Into the
store. He had only reached tho door
way wlvn he was collided with by a
second mnn who crjpt out from be
neath the cloud of flame that was how
hanging within three feet of the lloor.
Smoke now commenced to pour rut in
derse black volumes and tho two men
ran away from the heat Into the crowd
that had already commenced to collect.
By this time the crowd commenced
to realise that a dangerous conflagra
tion was Impending. Som" one rushed
to tho alarm box at the Jermyn hotel
corner and sent In an alarm. A young
man named Huff who happened to
have a key tg the Young Men's Chris
tian nuscclutkn corridor entrance,
rushed up und aroused J. M. Chance,
who occupies one of tho third floor
rooms ns n sleeping apartment. Oth
ers roused th.- neighbors, and others
hurried to notify the street car em
ployes to take away the cars that are
left standing on the switch over night.
Spread of the Flames.
THK Crystals wero the first on the
sct,ne, but even before they ar
rived after their run of only a
bloclc thi show-room was ono solid
mass of file from ono end to the other
and tho (lames were attacking tho up
per lloors hhmedlateyl above, In botli
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