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FIRE RODE THE FLOOD. Great Loss of Life and Property in the Oil Regions. A Dam-Burst Carries Death to Titusville and Oil City. T! e oil regions of Pennsylvania have been visit el bv a disaster of fire and water that is on y eclips,*! in the history of that country by the memorable flood at Johnstown just thi-ee years ago. On the day after the calamity it was knowu that at least eighty persons were drowned or burned to death. Estimates of the loss of life increased, hour by hour, and it wfes thought that the death roll might well to from 150 to 200, if not more. A dam seven miles above Titusville gave way in the night. Oil tanks were swept way, the stream leaped its banks, and, bearing on its back a widespread layer of oil, dashed into Titusville a roaring, tumbling mass of flame. There was a terrible tampede. Scores of persons were swept way in an effort to find safety. One-third of the town was burned, and at 10 o'clock that night forty bodies had been recovered. The scenes oE the night in Titusvil'e were repeated on perhaps even a larger scale at Oil City, eighteen mi!e3 below. The damage to property in Titusville and Oil City, ana the towns along the creek between those cities, amounted to millions of dollars, and appeals for help Lave been made to the country at large. For nearly a month it had been raining throughout Western and Northern Pennsylvania almost incessantly, and for the three or four days before the disaster the downpour in the devastated regions had | Deen very neavy. ine constant rains naa converted all the small streams into raging torrents, so that when the cloudburst came the streams were soon beyond their boundaries and the great body of water came sweeping down Oil Creek to Titusville, which i? eighteen miles south of its source. A dispatch from Titusville tells the following pitiful story: Flood and fire have wiped out fully on?-third of this town, and at least two score of human lives have been miserably lost amidst horror and destruction. The bursting of the huge dam of Thompson & Eldred at Spartansburg, seven miles from Titusville, at midnight, loosed a lake one and a half miles in length by one-quarter in breadth, th? waters of which came rushing down, swelling the historic Oil Creek to a raging torrent, which overran nearly half this town with resistless force, sweeping many of . the smaller buildings and scores of people away down the valley. Many oi the latter reecned the shore farther down, but at least eventy-Ave were undoubtedly lost. The waters ot Oil Ci 5?ek rushed through the treets in the lower par^ of the city with resistless fury. From housetops, windows and driftwood piles came wails and screams of anguish and distress from the helpless victims, all imploring aid. Brave men with boats and ropes battled against the terriSo current, and hundreds of the captives were brought safely to land. w?n- inn ? X* U-LiJ iuu pc?uua ul an a^ca vaincu down with the flood. Five persons, all males, were seen to perish while grasping a piece of timber. Just as the thousands of spectators who were looking on with bated breath, unable to render the slightest assistance, were led to believe that the sufferers would reach land, a neighboring tank of burning oil exploded in close proximity, and in a moment the men were enveloped in flames, and death came speedily to relieve their sufferings. Their bodies were at once wallowed in the raging waters. Immediately a streak of flame fully 200 feet high pierced the inky darkness and threw a glaring light over the angry waters. At once the cry rang out that the Crescent Oil Refinery Company, owned by Schwartx ft Co., close to the north bank of the east end -was on fire. Never before did a fire seem to spread so rapidly, and iu less than three minutes from the time the explosion was heard the vast plant was aflame. 1 hen it was that pandemonium seemed to break loose and terror reigned. Thousands of persons rushed pell meli through the streets, tumbling over and knocking each other down in their endeavors to tscape from what they appeared to imagine was the crack of doom. The bright light thrown on the surroundings revealed a truly appalling sight. vu but? ruuis ?uiu iu tun ffiuuunow tuo up^/u i ctories of most of the bouses in tha flooded 1 districts appeared men, women and children dressed mostly in night clothes, and all piteous! v appealing: for aid. Clinging to the driftwood, timbers and other debris as they were borne onward down the stream were scores of human beings, their white and terror stricken faces and desperate struggles and cries for aid combining to create impressions never to be forgotten. About one hour from tha time the Crescent Works took fire another alarm was ounded. Oil on the creek, spilled by the water overturning a tank locate 1 some distance up stream, had taken fire, and the ex? panse of creek for a number of acres square was all a so>id blaze, aad the sky was filled with dense and pitchy clouds of smoke arising from the smouldering ruins of refineries, cooper shops, furniture factories, radiator works, hotels, railroad warehouses, cars and dwellings The illuminating gas works, the electric light plant, the water works ura all under water, while the natural gas mains bad been turned off at Oil City. This leaves TitusviUe without water, fuel, or light, at least from the sourcaa from which these necessities have been accustomed to come. PaTtanfrp onrl flKIIHpan hv without I the power to aid one another's struggles , against the clutches of the flood until eventually they went down to rise no more. As sad and as sickening scenes as ozcured in the alley of the Conemau^h three years ago were repeated, while thousands looked on unable to avert them. One father is a maniac over the loss of his whole family, a wife and seven children, <*ne a babe thrae days old. A brother was rescued from a burning building, where he was forced to leave a sister, her husband, two children to perish. Fully one- third or the business ani resi* dence portion of Titusville is in ruins. The terrible flood rushed through th6 streets. Brave men with ropes tied about their waists breasted the terrible current rescuing the unfortunates who patiently awaited their return. A little four-year-old boy, just brought to shore from the wreck of a handsome residence, was placed in tho hands of friends. When asked where his parents were he replied with a sob, "Papa and mairvia bof' drowned." Oil Creek was swollen to 500 time* its natural size and reached from one hillside to the other, presenting an appalling picture. Floating; swiftly by on its bosom were all sorts, manners, and kinds of animate and inanimate objects--tanks, stills with the steam in them and blowing-ofif house, barns, horses, cowa, chickens?everything almost being borne onward with a rush. Clingin? to various objects, such as driftw<>od, pieces of boards, timbers and any other oMect they could lay hands on, were cores of human beings, their white and terror-stricken countenances, desperate struggles. and plaintive, soul-piercing cries for aid all combining to create impre3eions in the minds of the beholders never to be forgotten. The undertaking establishments of Davidson and McNitt have been turned into temporary morgues. With the exception of the bodies of seven Hebrews and two chil dreu, ail tne ooaies were tanen tnere as last as they were brought from the water. Most of the bodies bear evidence of having: met death from burninj oil, many of them burned almost beyond recognition and teveral of them in such a terrible manner as to leave the bodies notbin? but blaekenod erisDS, entirely without the Teast se.mbiancj of the human form. One woman, with a babe closely classed to her breast, was burnt to a crisp. Another woman found burned had a prematurelyborn babe bv her side. No sooner was the true state of affairs apparent to the citizens than a meeting was called and over $2500 in cash contributed for the immediate relief of the sufferers. Committees were chosen and the Rous? Artrsiry turned into a vast hospital and sleeping and eating house. No less than 100 homeless people were cared for. The loss in the country by washouts and Joss of bridges will bo enormous. There is not a county or township bridge for many miles that is not washed away, and the roads in every direction are nearly impassable. The above harrowing scenes were repeated on an even mora dreadful scale at Oil City, eighteen miles below Titusville, a3 told by the following dispatch^ from the illfated city: At 11:30 o'clock in the forenoon a large proportion of the population of the city waa distributed along the banks and bridges of the Allegheny River and Oil Creek watching the rise of the flood in both streams, the chief cause of the rise of the latter being due to the cloudburst above Titusville, which resulted in the loss of many lives in that city. AT tne time mentioned an ominous covering of oil made its appearance on th9 crest of the flood pouring down the Oil Creek Valley, and the dangerous foreboding waves of gas from distillate and benzine could be seen above the surface of the stream, which, at the bridge, is about 100 yards wide. People began slowiy to fail back from the oridge and the creek. Hardly had they begun to do so when an explosion was heard up th9 stream, which was rapidly followed by two others, and qnick as a fiish of lightning the creek for a distanceof two miles wis filled with an awful mass of roaring flames and billows of gmoke that rolled high above the creek and river bills. Oil City is bounded on all sides by steep hills. Oil Creek comes down the valby from the north, and just before its junction here " with the Allegheny is crossed by a bridge to the portion of the city embrace t in the Third War.i, which lies along the west bank of the creek and the north ' bank of the river. Almost all that portion of the town was on fire within three minutes from th e time of the explosion, and at the time this dispatch was sent no oue knew how many of the inhabitants ware iying dead in the rnins of their homes. An eye witness at the time of the first explosion stood at the east end of the bridge. Almost as quickly as the words can be written fully 5000 persons in that portion of the town were on the streets, wild with terror, rushing to the hills. Men forgot that they were men, and scores of men, women, and children were knocked down and trampled upon both by horses and persons in the mad flight for safety. Just as this frantic throng had started up Centre street a second exnlosion occurred!. knocking many people down, shattering the windows in the main part of the town, and almost transforming the day to night with an immense covering of smoke. Hundreds thought the day of judgment had come, and many prayers were heard mingled with moans and lamentations. The heat was intense, and the awful spectacle presented to the panic stricken people was that of a cloudburst of Are, bordered and overcappod by a great canopy of dense black smoke. It was no wonder that people wept and fainted, leaving everything behind them, and ran or were helped to the hills. And after they were out of danger, and even before it, came the anxiety and suspense regarding relatives and friends who had been along the creek watching the flood when the avalanche of flame came. The flood in the Oil Creek Valley had it undated the upper portion of the town, flooding from fifty to saventy-fiva houses on North Seneca street. Most of the inmates reached places of safety by the use of boats or by swimming and wading, but soma of them were yet in the upper stories or in the water when the fire came, and their fate wa3 quickly sealed. Some of them were seen to jump into the water to escape death in the flames. From the remnants of the only building remaining in the waste after the flood was over three persons were removed in a boat severely burned, but alive, namely, Mrs. Hawk and daughter and Mr. Hassenfritz. The distillate and benzine on the creek came from a tank lifted by the flood, and is supposed to have been ignited by a spark from an engine on the Lake Shore road, just above the tunnel at the northern part of the city. The flre shot up the creek as well as down, and several tanks were set on flre up the creek. The Bellevue Hotel, the Petroleum House, the Oil City barrel factory, the new building of the Oil City tube works, the big furniture and undertaking establishment of G. Paul & Sons, and probably 100 other dwelling houses have been totally destroyed. Meadville, Penn., was swept by the worst flood in its history. A midday rain of great volutin* swelled every stream ban!c full, and the storm which followed in the evening brought the floo 1. In Meadvillo, Mill Run overdowei its banks and swept the whole business portion of the city, demolishing a aozan or more buildings and entailing a total loss of $150,000, of which $50,000 is to the streets. The loss throughout the country cannot be estimated now. Bridges were washed away in every direction, leaving scarcely passable roads in the country. The damage to growing crops is haavy. The most destructive rainstorm that has ever visited Corry, Penn., and vicinity began in the afternoon at 3 o'clock. It was like a heavy cloudburst, and by 9 o'clock tbe business portion of the town was under water. The worst was reached at 11 o'clock, when First avenu?, Main street, the railroad yards and Centre street were like roaring rivers, the water beinj from one to three feet deep, and all emptying into tbe flats in the eastern portion of the city. 8idewalks are carried away and the roads in places gullied from four to six feet deep. Nearly every basement in the business part of the city was flooded and also many of the stores. The loss on stock to merchants is heavy. It is safe to say that the loss throughout the city will reach $50,000. The storm was general throughout that-locality. The property loss will reach far into the millions. At Titusville the loss is estimated at $1,500,000: Oil City, $1,500,000; Corry, 560,000; Meadville, $150,000, and surround inz country probably a million mora. Of the devastated cities Titusville has a population of 10,030 aad Oil City 12,000. Oil Creek rises in the north part of Craw?'ori County and flows in a general southerly direction to Titusville, ani from there almost due north to the Allegheny River at OU City. Just below Titusville it is joined by East Oil or Pine Creek. Between Titusville and Oil City there are nine little hamlets where oil wells have b?en sunk which have attained the dignity of Postoffices. Altogether these hamlets have a population of about 2000. The eighteen miles between Titusville and Oil City probably represent a population of lrom 40,000 to 45,000. Later Details. Tha loss of life an 1 destruction of property in Oil Creek Valley, Penn., were far greater than was stated in the first reports. At Oil City sixty-seven bodies were recovered in one day, ani it was believed that not leas than 150 persons perished by flood and fire. At Titusville fifty-five bodies were found in the ruin?, and there was every reason to believe that many were washed away ani wil! ba recovered when the water recedes. The latest estimate of the total loss of life placed the number at 350. Ca!U for financial help arc made by both cities, and a generous response has already been receivei. Several hundred thousand dollars at least will be needed. ODe-third of Titusville has been destroyed by the combine! horrors of fire and flood, ani 31,000,000 will not cover the property .oss. It was impossible at the time this dispatch was received to estimate the loss of li.'e and property in the Oil Creek Valley, outside of Titusville and Oil City. Tweuty-nine miles of the creek banks on eit her siae were laid waste. CREEDE WIPED OUT. Colorado's Newest and Most Famom Mininir CatnD Destroyed by Fire. Creede, the newest and most .famous of Colorado mining camps, is in ruins, and the loss will aggregate $1,000,003, while hundreds of families are homeless. The fire started in a saloon at Main and Cliff streets, at 5:10 a. u., and in a short time the entire towa was in ashes. The fire swept up Chimney Gulch before a srrong wind, and the dry wooden houses burned like kin dliag-wood. "Gimtown," as the place is popularly called, is situated on a narrow gorge with natural mountain walls high around it. In some places these mountain walls are several hundred feet in height. The town is about one and a half miles * ? ?1??Crt/1 inhnKifnnfc long ana nas aoum. u? There are desolation ani ruin all along Vain and Cliff streets, Railroad avenue and First street, and on tne side of the bill on each side of Creeda Camp. Tiikrk is someimng vtry rotten in Russia when she talks of war, despite the fa<-t that America is helping to feed the Russians at home and receiving lh >usa;i<ls of them in poverty within >?" ''orders. REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. Tenth National Gathering of the Party at Minneapolis. Details of the Proceedings, Scenes and Incidents. i The tenth National Convention that the- i Republican party records in its annals be- 1 gan at Minneapolis, Minn., under a cloud- j strewn sky, with thunder in the air and un ] certainty in every condition. J CONVENTION HA.L Minneapolis and St. Paul had been wait- i ing impatiently for weeks to'see the opening c of the great convention, and thousands of e people from all over the Northwest had 2 journeyed thither to enjoy the novel specta- 1 cle. Yet, though both cities are overrun i with visitors, the arrangements at the con- t vention hall were almost perfecc, and the delegates were enabled to gather and do their work without discomfort or interference. As early as 10 o'clock the march began across the bridges of the Mississippi River to the convention hall, and an hour later the first few had swelled to a steady stream, which lasted until after the convention had been called to order. The Exposition Hall, as its name indicates, is a Dig show building or permanent exhibition place for the products of Minnesota and the two Dakotas. It is a huge square wooden structure, built close to tne . eage of the Falls of St. Anthony in South Minneapolis, on the opposite bank of the river from Minneapolis proper, and its tall tower commands a fine view southward of the neighboring city of St. Paul. The interior of the building is plain, but spacious, tali pillars supporting a broad, flat BENJAMIV HARRISOW. roof which rises in the middle a dozen feet or more into a heavy skylight through which the sun's rays filter down into central body of the hall. In this central portion are the seats for the 900 delegates. On one side of the square, court-like space in which the seats are arranged is the platform of the President, with seats on it for perhaps 200 twmio Aflch mumber of the National Com mitfcee' having a place reserve! here for hia JAMES G BLAnfK. [From his latest photograph.] own use, and one or two extra chairs for his friends. On each side of the main platform are the seats for the newspaper press, 300 or 400 In number. Behind the* space railed off for the delegates are sections of seats for spectators stretching back to the entrance, and above are tiers of galleries all the way around the building. About the pillars which uphold the roof, half way up, were sheaves of wheat gracefully capped, and festooned against the gallery foot-rails about the hall were the shields and coats of arms of the forty-four States. Directly opposite the Chairman's platform, up under the roof, was a sort of elevator *?ge for the band. LKVI P. MORTON. The hall looked very beautiful in the morning sunlight. Lillies and ro3es bloomed in front of the Chairman's table, vrbich, conspicuous article was of rich mahogany, specially carved for the occasion. The chair was of carved oak, and a handsome Turkish rug covered the platform. The first burst of cheering arose when Governor McKinley of Ohio was recognized moving down the main aisle at a quarter of 12 o'clock. Immediately afterward New York's bi-; four?Platf, Hiscock, Miller and Depew?closely followed by the entire delegation in a body, marched down the centre, and were warmly applauded. They took their alloted seats immediately in front of the chair. ??j?i. .? There were hundreds ana cunuroua ui vacant seats in the galleries, but not raanv on the ground floor, when the time for calling the convention to order had arrived. But there were C000 to 7001) persons in the hall easily enough at 12:45 when General James Clarkson, Chairman of the National Committee, stepped to the desk and took the special convention gavel in his hand. The convention and galleries came to orderi quickly, and there was not a delegate standing when Mr. Clarkson announced that the session would he opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Brush, Chancellor of the Uni versity of 8outh Dakota. A moment afterward the whole convention stood as Dr. Brush, a venerable-looking man with sparsely covered head and long whito beard, began to deliver the invocation. Ha prayed for harmony and that the platform and the other Issues might be subordinated to "Thy great will." When he said "Amen," the convention settled down again with a rustling of badges that was like the whispering of antnmnleaves. There was a murmur of conversation, which was bushed quickly as M. H. Do Young, of California, stepped forward and read the call for the convention. At this time there were not a dozen of the delegated jeats unfilled, but the galleries were very smpty. When the reading of tha mil was concluded, and Chairman Dlarkson arose and announced that he was Instructed by the National Commit* tee to present to convention for its Tem L, MINNEAPOLIS.' wrary Chairman the Hon. J. Sloat Fassett, >f New York. There was a round of ipplause at this announcement, led by the Sew Yorkers, and Mr. Fassett, unescorted, eft his seat and started for the platform, i path was cleared for him, and a ninute later Chairman Clarksoa was h % M JOHN 8HIRMAN. jresenting him to the convention.; le received the customary vocrfl welcome, he New York delegation risine and wavine heir hats in his honor. Mr. Fassett looked; >erfectly self-possessed as he gazed about he vast hall. In his hand was a typewritWILLIAM M'KIVLKT. :en manuscript, to which he referred occv lionally as he spoke. Mr. Fasaett's speech was well received, ;he delegations listening more attentively hnn they usually do to the oratory of a temporary chairman. The first touch upon the lentiment of the convention came in an illusion to reciprocity, artistically led jp to by the speaker. It was the lignal for a storm of cheers. The most skillful bit was his allusion to the great names >f the DM-tv?Lincoln, Seward, Grant,SherTiftn, Garfield and Logan. The speaker paused after each name, and gave the contention an opportunity to cheer, then, with x pause a little longer than the rest, he rai>idly ejaculated, "Harrison and Blaine," and raising his finger as a signal, the entire con WILLIAM B. ALLISON. venUon rose in one grand, swelling chorus ol cheers for the rival candidates. Almost equal to the ovation to Harrison and Blaine was the enthusiasm inspired by i reference to e?-Speaker Reed. Mr. Reef was. seated far in .the rear in the speaker'i stand and was invisible to most of the audience, some one staruju ma ul Reed!" Reed!" and it was instantly taken up by the delegates and the gallery. The building rang with the popular demand for the appearance of the man from Maine. Not until the Chairman of the convention turned and beckoned commandingly to him did he finally arise from his seat and make a speech, which was frequently interrupted by applause, which was renewed as Mr. Reed closed. There were also loud calls for McKinJey, Foraker and Quay. General Clarksou then reported the names THOMAS B. REED. of the temporary officers of the convention, and the selections of the National committee were at once approved without opposition. The rules of the last Republican National Convention were adopted, and on motion of General Sewell the roll was called and the Chairman of each delegation an> nouncdd the members of committees selected. This order of business gave the spectators a chance to see some of the leading men, and all of them was sufficiently popular to receive approving applause. Powell Clay ton, of Arkansas; M. H. De Young, of Call fornia; Townsend, of Colorado; Governoi Bulkeley, of Connecticut; Ingalla, of Kansas; L. E. McCarns, of Maryland: W.W. Crapo, of Massachusetts; H. M. Duffield, of Mich igan; George William Warner, of Missouri; . General Sewell, of New Jersey: Warnei Miller, of New York; Governor McKinley, of Ohio; Senator M. S. Quay, of Pennsylvania; General William Ma hone, of Virginia, and ex-Senator J. C. Spooner, ol 1 Wisconsin, were all applauded. nOBIRT T. LINCOLN. j At 1.50 P. H. the convention adjourned an c til 11 A. M. next day. c Immediately after the convention ad- c journed the Committee on Platform met and 1 organized. Ex-Governor Foraker, of Ohio, ? was elected Chairman. The Committee I on Permanent Organization organized t by the selection of Lockwood, of ld*ho, 1 'is Chairman and King, of New Hampshire, t as Secretary. A sub-committee, consisting I of Ellis, of Kansas; Thomas, of New York; T, Madison Vance, of Louisiana, and Depauw, of Indiana, was apnointed. >] The Committee on Credentials organizad by the selection of Congressman Coij3well,of j Mftjui&chnsetta. as Chairman, and H. Terrell r and Henry Lamm, as Secretaries. | Second Day's Proceedings. Long before 11 o'clock the convention hall t was crowded by an anxious throng composed > of delegates, committee men, shouters nnd spectators. 3 The body of the big hall was so dens sly crowded that it was only with the greatest difficulty that the late comers were able to reach their seats. The crowd took advan- \ tage of every opportunity that was offered to cheer and applaud, ratersperinfij it with t shouts for Blaine, Harrison, McKinley and c Reed. t At twenty minutes before 12 Temporary 8 Chairman Fassett entered the hall and was t welcomed with cheers. As soon as quiet t was restored the convention was called to order, after which Bishop Whipple stood up to deliver the invocation. TEflEVT k W V UTTflE. , When Governor McKinley, of Ohio, ar- 1 rived he walked down the main aisle to an ' accompaniment of cheers. After he reached i the platform three rousing cheers were given i for nim, accompanied by cries of "He's all 1 all right." Governor McKinley returned f his thanks for the reception. ( Chairman Fassett then introduced Mr. ( RUSSELL A. A LOSS. Waltcer, of Nebraska, who presented a gavel to the convention in a speech that hardly any one could hear. Mr. Fassett returned thanks. The Temporary Chairman announced the order of business to be the presentation of the Credentials Committee report. Mr. Cogswell, Chairman of that committee, took the floor and said that the committee couldn't report before the next day. Leave to sit continuously was granted. Chairman Fassett then announced that 1 the report of the Committee on Permanent Organization was next in order. Governor McKinley's name was reported 1 for Permanent Chairman. This was fol* 1 lowed by prolonged applause, delegates wav- 1 ing hate and handkerchiefs for nearly half a 1 minute. ' Governor McKinley was escorted to tha chair by Messrs. Spooner and Mahone amid great enthusiasm. Cbarlee W. Johnson was named for Sec- 1 retary and the assistant secretaries of the i temporary organization were recommended 1 to be continued. Chairman McKinley then delivered his j speech, which was frequently aoplauded. 1 The convention, at 12:50, adjourned until 1 the following day. 1 "BOB" FOBD KILLED. I 1 The Slayer or Jesse James Shoe to Death in His Dance Hall in Creede. i "Bob" Ford, the slayer of Jesse James, 1 was shot and killed by Deputy Sheriff Kelly J In Ford's dance hall ia Creede, Col., the t new mining town. Kelly and Ford had a ( quarrel in Pueblo in February last and ill- i leeliag had existed between the two men c since. Kelly was standing in the doorway of I Ford's dance hall when an unknown man was c seen to hand him a double-barrel shotgun, ? after which Kelly stepped inside the ball t and called "Bob." Ford, who wa3 about Ave ? feet away turned around, at the same time * reaching for his hip pocket. Kelly raised t his gun and fired a load of buckshot into a Ford's neck, severing the windpipe and c jugular vein. Ford died instantly. Ford is an ex-train robber, a murderer, ] and an ex-memb?r of the James boys' gang. Ever since he shot Jesse James, in Missouri, he has been fearful of the fate which over- 3 took him. He never went unarmed, and had mirrors so placed in his dance bouse tbat from any point of the room he could scrutinize any one E entering. <j ASTRAKHAN SHEEP. s \ They Are From Persia and Have c Wonderful Forty-pound Tails. * Sixteen astiakhan sheap, purchased by Mr. Beale, United States Minister to Persia, p and consigned to Secretary Rusk, of tae Agri- ? cultural Department at Washington, arrived t -* Vnftnn kho etpamshin Helvetia. The tl distinguishing features of thess sheep are v their tails, which practically was the sheep. The average weight of each of the sixteen * Imported tails is forty pounds. a Secretary Rusk is going to try to domestl- tl cate the astrakhans in America. They give tl milk from which a strong, intoxicating liquor is made; the lambs furnish astrakhan tl fur, and their tails yield meat and fat. i to n , : ' > . i : ' ' ' r BLAINE RESIGNS. Che Secretary of State Retires From the Cabinet. lis Hesitation Immediately Accepted by President Harrison. Mr. Blaine is Secretary of State no longer, fa the DeoDle of Washington. Cabinet Minis era, Government employes, Congressmen, ind all bis resignation wa3 a stunning sur>risa. A few minutes before 1 o'clock vouis A. Dent, Mr. Blaine's Private Sdcreary, went over from tbe State Department o the White Bouse and banded the enrelope containing the resignation to he President, who was just on he point of going down to the East Room a bold the usual reception there. The President read the letter without changing ?lor or moving a muscle, and then vent down stairs and shook bands rith about two hundred persons vho had assembled in the East Room is calmly as though nothing unusual bad lappened. Tbe reception over, he returned o nis office, wrote his acceptance of the resgnation, and handed it to Mr. Dent, who ook it to bis chief at the State Departnent Ex-Secretary Blaine glanced over the locument, put on bis hat, left the >fflce and went home. The Presilent meanwhile designated William F. Wharton, the First Assistant Secretary, tn ict as Secretary of State until a new apKiintment can be made. Mr. Wharton has wen in the department for three years, and las acquired a thorough familiarity with be practical details of the office. The folowing is the correspondence: Depabtmknt op State, i wkaurwnmv .Tun-*4 1s92. 12:45 p. h. C To the President: I respectfully beg leave to submit my resgnation of the office of Secretary of dtate ?f the United Scatss, to which I was apMinted by you on the 5th of March, 1889. The condition of public business in the Dejartment of State justifies me in requesting :hat my resignation may be accepted im~ nediataly. 1 Bhve the honor to be, very respectfully, rcur obedient servant, jahe3 G. Blaine. Executive Mansion, . ) washington, June 4, 1893. f To the Secretary of State: Tour letter of this date, tendering your esignation of the office of Secretary of State if the United States, has been received. The ernu in which you state your desires are uch aa to leave me no choice but to accede o your wishes at once. Tour resignation is herefore accepted. Very respectfully yours, benj. ?Lark*son. Eon. James G. Blaine. A copy of the President's letter given out >y Mr. Blaine to the press was endorsed as laving been received by him "at five minittts ot 2 o'clock." \ ? The news of Mr. Blaine's resignation luickly flew over Washington, creating the nost intense excitement. Ic naturally eached first the State, War, Navy, ana rreasury Departments, and in those buildngs work was generally suspended, ind the news was eagerly discussed ? nt auhni-riinntAa CAthftred in the 'J K?uui? vr?o.?? 0 leveral rooms and corridors, while in the naer sanctuaries of the chiefs of departnents there were many hurried and anxious :on8ultations. The Cabinet colleagues of Hr. Blaine were as completely and genuinely turprised as anybody else. The scene at the Capitol when the news irrived there was a striking one. The Seaite was not in session, but the House was vrestling with tha Postoffice Appropriation )ilL The chamber was like an oven, ind the members were hot, red-facea md angry. At a quarter be/ore 3 m official messenger entered the vest corridor of t^e House, bearing in his lands an open telegram in thes9 words: 'Secretary Blaine has resigned." He then vanished into the House, carrying the news ?:?k him Tn Hnif a minuta thereafter tha louse was in an uproar. A hundred men gathered in aa excited group in front >f the Speaker's desk, peering over one anther's shoulders at the telegram held aloft n the centre of the throng. Then tbe mem>ers turned away into little knots of five or an, and discussed the intelligence with aninated gestures and a subdued chorus of exited conversation reverberated throughout ;he room. STATE CONVENTIONS. . The Democratic, Prohibition and People's Parties Elect Delegates. On the same day the Democrats held State Conventions in Maine, Maryland, Mississippi and Texas, while the Prohibitionists met in Georgia and the People's Party in Kentucky and Iowa. The greatest Democratic 3tate Convention the party ever knew in Maine was held at Bangor. One thousand and sis ty-3ix delegates were out, and they nominated four rielegates-at-large for Chicago and a candidate for Governor. It was a Cleveland delegation, the name of no other man of National fame being mentioned. Charles F. 1 Johnson, a young but well known lawyer of Watervlile, was nominated as candidate foi Governor. The Maryland Democratic State Conven- I tion at Baltimore carried out Senator Gorman's programme, indorsed Mr. Cleveland's Administration, refused to instruct for his nomination, adopted the unit rule, and selected oninstructed delegates to the National Convention. The Mississippi Democratic State Convention assembled at Jackson. Robert Powell, % Hill man of Madison, was elected Chairman, and R. E. Wilson, Secretary, the Chicago delegates being voted for strictly on their merits as Democrats. The eighteen selected were asked no qu3stions as to whether they were for Cleveland or for Hill. They go uninstructed. The Texas Democratic State Conventionit Fort Worth, adopted a resolution instruct, Ing the State Delegation to Chicago to vote Tor Orover Cleveland's nomination as the Democratic candidate for President. The platform denounces the Force bill and the Sub-Treasurv sceme, and calls for the free coinage of silver and gold on a parity with 3ach other. The first Kentucky State Convention of the People's party was held at Lexington, and delegates and alternates were appointed to the National Convention at Omaha on July 4. The Georgia State Prohibition Convention net at Atlanta, in the Hall o' Representatives. There were 100 delegates present. Rev. Sam Small was elected Temporary Chairman. Action in regard to a* State ;icket was referred to the State Executive Committee for final action. Rev. Sam Small *as nominated for Congress in the Atlanta listrict. The lowaState Convention ot m3 reopie s jarty to select dolezates to the National Convention was held ut Des Moines. The it. Louis platform was adopteJ, and resolutions condemning the Iowa Congressmen ind the Harrison Administration for their ittitude on the silver question were passed, Janeral J. B. Weaver's name wiil be preented to the National Convention as Iowa's andidate for the Presidency. 3URIED THE MAN ALIVE. rhe Shots ot His Woald-be Executions Bad Only Wounded Him. An inhuman and barbarous incident con *- ? -- T? lectea wita an eiacuuuu a? * Lilian Territory, the capital of the Seminole ration, ia related by Albert Tennie, United itates Commissioner. It is the custom at Vowoko to execute those convicted of a apital crime by shooting. The executioners rere two members of the National Light lorse, detailed for the purpose. They were drunk, ana only wounded tho risoner, who was tied fast. The executionrs left the ground at once and a colored lan brought a rough coffin to tho side of ho wounded man, who protested against he proceedings as vigorously as his strength rould allow. Assisted by two other colored men, the -ounded prisoner was put in the cofBn, and n effort was made to nail down the lid,but tie victim pushed and kicked against it so hat the task was only accomplished by two f the colored men sitting on the lid while he other drove the nails. The interment ras then made. The horrible affair excited ut little comment among those who wit* eased the execution. l ^ll" ? A NATION'S GREAT WEALTH It Shows Well On Paper According to the Census. The United States Census Bureau has is* ffued a bulletin on the subject of assessed valuation of property in the United States in 1830. The bulletin saovrs mat me vaiue of all property, excluding: railroad property, except in certain specified States, has increased from 116.903,993,M3 in 1SS0, to $24,651,685,465 in 1890, an increase during the decade of 17,748,591,922, or 45.84 per cent. Should it be found, upon the completion of the inquiry in relation to the true valpe of all property in the United Statee, that the same relation exists in 1890, between the assessed valuation and the real valuation as existed in 1880, the absolute wealth of the United States, according to the Eleventh Census, may be estimated at $63,6(8,000,000 or more than $1000 per capita, against $514 per capita in 1860, 1780 per capita in 1870 and $870 per capita in 18S0. Owing, however, to the fact that in soma States property is assessed at ite full value and in ot&era at only a fraction of its value, comparison of the wealth of the Statee is quite impossible. In ssme States, too, the lists of the kinds of taxable property vary greatly from those in others. TnQQPQ "DP A PIT Ortrt rtrtrt uuuuuw uwauu i)fv/v|0vuiwvv< _ i Appalling Figure? of Dimages by the Great Flood. Now that the great flood has began to pass away an estimate of the losses occasioned thereby has been made from statistics gathered from various Boards of Trade, exchangee, etc., throughout the afflicted districts. The total reached $29,300,000,divided as follows: Missouri?Wheat and corn destroyed (590,* 000 acres), $10,000,000; homes ruined, $1,000^000; cattle drowned. $59,000; railroad property destroyed, $150,000; total, $11,700,000. Tennessee?Cotton loss, (600,000; wheat loss, $1,200,000; homes and cattle, $100,000; total, $1,900,000. Arkansas?Farms inundated, 9338; loss as follows: Corn, $2,500,000; cotton, $5,000,000; ottier products, f"2,500,000; total, $10,000,000. Mississippi'* loss is $1,000,000. Louisiana Ibses $5,000,000. Kentucky's loss, $200,000. This estimate does not include stagnation in business among the merchants and transportation lines. A conservative estimate of the amount of damage caused by the loea from the high waters from Kansas City to New Orleans will reach the enormous figures of $50.000.000. ?/wTTrt/iiBn t\t * nTirrnr m * uunviuibijn A jiivuiii, rhey Killed Three Guards and Tried to Batter Down (he Gates. In the Valencia (Spain) prison 274 convicts revolted as they were being marched to dinner. They overpowered the guards, tilled three of them, and put the rest to Sight. They then smashed all the furniture of the prison and tried to find the Governor, Whom they intended to kill. He bad been warned by the fleeing guard*, how* ever, and bad left the prison. The convicts got two beams and were pounding at the onter gates of the prison when the military arrived. General Salcedo, commander of the garrison, shouted to the convicts to desist, at the same time threatening to cannonade the gates in case they refused. During the parleying General 8afcedo mounted the wall of the prison and explained to the convicts the impossibility of escape. Ill 9 conviots eventually cootented to submit The military was marched Into the prison and the convicts were taken ' back te their quarters. The ringleader* were shot GLADSTONE FULL OF HOPE. He Says the Liberals Always Win in Great Fights. Mr. Gladstone spoke unexpectedly the other day on current issues before a party of Liberal excursionists at Hawardea, England. He said the Liberals had woa every great political battle of the last fifty years. . "Even the Conservatives now admit," ha continued, "chat all these victories have benefited the country, including our free trade victory, although it seems, according i to recent statements in high quarters, that they are about to change their minds again on this point. This does not matter, howaver. The Liberals, please God, will win in' the coming battle. They certainly have never had a greater, more sacred and more . hopeful cause." MORE THAN 300 VICTIMS. I An Official Report on the Great Mine Disaster. An official report has been made of the recent disaster in the Birkenberg silver mine, y ear iTxibram, Austria. According to this report, there were 807 i men at work in the mine at the time of the ;. disaster, of whom only 475 were rescued. The bodies ot 304 of the 333 men who lost their lives have been recovered, leaving only twenty-eight bodies still In the mine. ] Two hundred and ninety-two women wars left widovrs by the fire, and 693 children , j under fourteen years of age were mads fatherless. i 1 TO 0B0SS IN A DORY, !( Japtain Jjawlor Again Tempts Fate on the Atlantic. Captain Lawlor, amid firing guns and olowing whistles, sailed the other morning j from Gloucester, Mass., on his voyage across the Atlantic. His departure was witnessed M by a thousand or more spectators. / I He will stop at Nevrburyport, and then jc6 I to Boothbay before crossing the Bay of 5 Fundy. His boat has been refitted. J I WORDS OF WISDOM, J I Oar years move slowly at first. ? Any body can be happy in sunshine. Hope can only die by our own hand. I Economy is as commendable as avarice isn't. I Comfort is tedious when it lasts too I long. fl Industry overcomes a world of discoa tentment. I " ' 4 +"><> Hint hftara the B II 13 UUI/ I.UC wuw? ?.?< %. ?? _ most fruit. Some mea think alike, and some don't think at all. We love the flowers, but they gives us no recognition. Children are earthly idols that hold us from the stars. After all, we are not so very much better then our neighbors. Count the day lost on which you havo aot made somebody happy. A woman who says silly things, easily learns to say malicious ones. Wow VetilClM. An ingenious contrivance Js shortly jxpected to endow street life with idditional interest. The machine is I in appearance like a comfortable cab, Is set upon three wheels, the front g| jne, is in a tricycie, oeing usea 10 steer by. A metal box or cistern behind contains a supply of benziece oil, from which, while the machine Is in motion, the gas required in the motor is generated. A quart, or about throe cents worth, of oil is all that is required for a drive of ten miles, which can be accomplished in an hour. The vehicle holds four persons.