The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, June 22, 1892, Image 2
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.