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THE ROME TRIBUNE VOL. VI. NO. 1.96 i SICKLES’ SEAT. ■ He Will Hold It and Draw His Army Pay Too. COMPTRbLLER REPORTS. The Senate Committee Has the Tariff Bill Ready for Con sideration. Washington, Fpb. 24. —The secretary ■of war has .received from the second ■comptroller a decision in the case of ©eneral Sickles, which, while setting forth a strong constitutional argument against the qualification of a retired army officer to enter congress, finds that ©•neral Sickles cannot be divested of his retired pay, amounting to $5,625 an nually, and continues to hold his mili tary office. However, in his conclusion upholding the claim the comptroller shows himself pearly of the opinion that General Sick ,«ls is ineligible to election as a member « •congress, and w«» not qualified to ke the oath of off.ce. This will tend to 4jjrevent<retired arsny officers in the <u '••tuxe from entering congress. The t uiff jjill ’"-si practically completed xaud will bh .laSd before the full senate 'committee on finance at a special meet ■ thig-without.dAay. When it will Teach 'the senate is eot known. Senators Voor ihees and Mills stated that they expected 'the bill to be reported before the end of - v the week. The coal people say they Tiave secured 50 cents per ton on coal. Iron ore'will be by an ad valorem duty of not less than 20 per -■•ent, and it is by no means settled that wool will be en the free list. Lumber will be taken care of in consideration of votes from the united party. Sugar has finally reached the stage where the com rtjittee may be said to be in accord with •ne another. Louisiana senators wiTl not gst the •ent and a half per pound they have held •tit for so strongly, but they will be con tent with the duty that hovers near a •ent a pound with a graduated system above, probably. Sugar is standing the test of 80 degrees. la <lmj ■House. Washington, Feb. 24.—Speaker Crisp ’ was in his place wl»u the ibouse met. ©n a motion to take up the seignorage bill and close the deflate ins3o minutes, the vote stood, yeas, 152; nays, 7—no quorum, and a call of the house was or dered. A call of the house showed that 273 members were present. Mr. Wilson, of Washington, moved to adjourn. The motion was lost by a vote of 43 to 175. A* Indian Agency BnHdtaff Destroyed. Washington, Feb. 2-I.—The Indian bureau has received a dispatch from Agent Powell at Leah -Boy, .Indian agency, Washington announcing the total distraction of the main agency building and contents by fire. THE BRITISH WHIPPED. A Disaatrous Fisht with Slavctradera In Wart Africa. London, Feb. 24.—Dispatches just re wived state that the cruiser Raleigh, flagship of the British squadron, on the West African coast, and ;the gunboat Widgeon, had arrived at Bothurst, the capital of the British West African col < ony of Gambia. Landing parties were sent a shore to ■ punish Fadislah, the notorious slave traders. The sailors landed in force and marched some distance on the island and in a fight with Fadislahs followers, were repulsed with a loss of three officers and 10 men killed and 47 wouned. Several machine guns, provisions for a few days and an ample supply of am munition were taken ashore. Force was led into ambush. An attempt was made to use the ma chine guns, but the attack was so sud den and fierce that the British were un able to do so and were quickly routed. BUSINESS IN BIRMINGHAM. The Iron luterests Are Booming aud Him deeds Are Getting: Work. Washington, Feb. 24.—A special from Birmingham, Ala., says: The in dustrial revival continues. The Clifton Iron company has just blown in its two big furnaces after an idleness of two years. The Birmingham Rolling mill, which resumed last week, has just added AGO more men to the force. I The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- I joad com patty’s immense ore converter ' by which ordinary iron oro can be con •verted into Bessemer ore for steel mak ing, is nearly complete. Its success, which is now assured, means the early ■ erection of a big steel mill. Several large shipments of coal iron has just been made to foreign ports. CYCLONE SWEPT AN ISLAND. Nifty Person. Killed and Many Injured oh a Kail road Train. London, Feb. 24.—A dispatch from Port Louis, Mauritius, reports that a cyclone swept the islapd, doing great damage to property and killing aud in juring many persons. A crowded railway train was blown from the track and rolled down an em bankment into the Coromandal river, killing 50 persons and injuring a large number of others. I SHE GOT A SHINE. I < i A Brooklyn Young Lady Who Did Not < Quibble at Trifles. ’ New York, Feb, 24. —Two modest young women, quietly dressed, crossed Broadway at 8:15 p. m. The young Women had very rosy cheeks. They >u;>y ' ? have been from the country or they may live in a remote suburb of Brooklyn. One wore gold rimmed eyeglasses. As her toes peeped in and out from . under her dresses everybody could see that she wore brand new shoes. She could see them through her eyeglasses and they worried her, they spoiled the effect of her fine dress and coat and bonnet. The shoes were entirely innocent of polish; dull black, they had never been “shined.” On the north side of Park place, near Broadway, stood a bootblack’s chair. 'Of a sudden impulse the girl with the eyeglasses jumped into the chair and seated herself. She put her feet—very pretty little feet—on the pedals, and the matter-of-fact l ootblack set to work to shine her shoes. The other girl stood bravely by. A great many people passed, and the unusual sight affected them differently. Seme of the women turned up their noses when they saw the girl in the chair. Th* thoughtless men who passed grinned. One man scowled and said: “Humph! they'll be in the bar ber chairs next. “Another looked on admiringly and complimented the young woman thus; “Th.re's a girl with good sense.” ; When the two yoting women saw • 'they were attracting attention they then blushed Until their eheeks were even tedder. Then the girl with the glasses ( recovered her self-possession and stared , stoutly at those who stared at her. It was noticeable that th* bootblack, per haps from sheer force of habit, turned I up the hem of his customer’s dress about an inch When he had put a “patent leather shine” on her shoes. the young ’ woman jumped down from the chair, paid him and walked away with her j friend, looking at her shoe tips with the : ’greatest satisfaction. ' -.BRADSTREET'S REVIEW. The State of Trade in the South for the W.< k. New York, Feb. 21.—1 n their weekly ' review of the state of trade, Bradstreet ’ says: The demand for fertilizer s remains i moderately active at Charleston and Au- ■ gnsta, and at the latter city collections , have improved, as has the demand for 1 cotton factory products. Trade in Atlanta is dull, but at Qhat v tano iga the season’s business in hard [ ware is reported more satisfactory than j last year. General trade is unchanged at Savannah and quiet at Nashville, where collections .are only fair. Memphis reports, moderately* active, with a tendency to improvement if. busi- 3 ness. At Birmingham and at Galves ■ ton no change is reported in business. 3 Heavy rains have affected dealings at , New Orleans, although needs active and » the corn export movement heavy. Dallas - reports a growing volume of business, with cold weather stimulating request i and immigration enhancing values of f farmlands. _ I . Indians Are Growing Ugly. Guthuik, O. T., Feb. 24.—Thu pro crastinating policy of the federal govern -1 ment in regard to turning oyer to, ths ' Kiowa Indians $60,000 of pasturage i money has led to much discontent • among them and It is feared they will ’ take to the warpath. The Cheyennes are concentrating in large bodies at one of their villages where Lone Wolf is in hiding. He recently got out of jail at El Reno and if any attempt is made to 1 capture him there will be fighting, so the Indiana say. He wae in jail on the charge of continually assaulting’ a little white girl. The Doctor Was the licit -Shot. Indianapolis, Fab. 24.—Dr. F. M. Abctt, a well known } hysician of this city, was shot by highwaymen at 3 p.m„ aud in turn he shot aud fatally wounded one of his assailants. The highwaymen pointed revolvers at the doctor and com manded him to throw up his hands, but instead of doing so their intended victim drew a revolver and fired at the robbers hitting one of them in the abdomen. The other robbers then fired four shots at the doctor, one of which caused a slight wound in the abdomen. The Poor Miners Are Doomed. WiLKESBARRE, Pa., Feb. 24.—The res cuers at work in the Gaylord shaft aro now working under great difficulties. Late in the afternoon there was a cave in of serious proportions, but the nrne owners will not admit that it is going to stop the work of the rescuing party. ' There seems to bo little hope, however, of recovering the bodies within the next 10 days. To Spring: a Trap on Bomb Throwers. Vienna, Feb. 24. —The recent fre quency of bomb throwing and other afii- I archistic villainy has lead to the erection | of an apparatus in the chamber of the I Reichsrath which will enable the presi dent in the event of an outrage to im mediately close all the doors of the house. The authorities have also taken other measures to protect public build ings. Mansfield Rioters Sentenced. Pittsburg, Feb. 24.—The Mansfield coal region rioters were sentenced by Judge Ewing. Os the 35 foreigners con victed seven were sentenced to the peni tentiary for terms ranging from 15 ' months to two years ami six months, and 28 were sent to the workhouse for terms ranging from two months to one year. An Important Arreat In London. London, Feb. 24.—The police hava arrested in a workshop in Melbourne a I'ieuch anarchist named Petijean, an intimate friend of the anarchist Martial Bourdm, who was killed by the explo sion of one of his own bombs near the Greenwich observatory on the evening : of r eb. 15. His arrest is regarded as very important. William Congratulates Caprivi. Berlin, Feb. 24.—Emperor William i visited Chancellor Von Caprivi, and con- j * gratulated him upon his birthday. J 1 ROME- UA„ SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 25, iav4. WIMAN’S FALL. He Will Confess and Ask for Judicial Clemency. BUILT UP DUN’S BUSINESS The Firm Knew, a Year Ago’ the State of Affairs as Well as it Is Known Now. New York, Feb. 24.—Erastns Wi man, whose indictment for extensive forgeries, followed by arrest and impris onment in the tombs, has caused such general surprise to the.publio and sor- 1 row to the thousands of friends and ac ' quaintances he has made during his busy ! life, will plead guilty and throw himself . upon the mercies of the court if he ac« 1 cepts the counsels of those who are »d --' vising him in his present extremity. In a long interview, upon the various , phases of the case, one of Mr. Wimau’s i most trusted advisers and staunchest 1 friends said: 1 “We do not propose to get bail for 1 Mr. Wiman today or at any other time. : In fact, if Mr. Wiman follows the ad- • vice of his friends, as I have no doubt I that ho will, and the advice of those t who are thoroughly conversant with bis ; affairs and his relations with R. G. Dun ; & Co., he will enter a plea of . guilty. : “There is nothing else for him to do. > Ex-District-Attorney Nicoil, who pre pared the complaint in behalf of R. G. Dun & Co., did not go too far when, speaking of the matter, ho said it was an ‘open and shut case.’ It is much » better for Wiman to.throw himself upon the mercy of the court. He is not the . sort of a man who would attempt along ' defense on the flimsy hope that in some c manpef he might escape.- That is nit ’ his nature. There is pot a cowardly - bone in his body <or a drop of evasive g blood in hiS veins. He knows his re , sponsibility for his acts and he will shoul der it. 1 H. Made Don What Ho <«. “So, it is much better to throw hirn -1 self upon the mercy of the court. He 1 can submit to the court or to the prose- > cuting officer all of the facts which con cern these criminal charges. Theta • facts are not without weight, I can as ‘ sure you, as the public, I confidently be ’ lieve, will agree when acquainted with • them. Mr. Wiman did forge the names 5 of E. W. Bullinger and Ogden Brower, 1 as the indictments .charge. That he can -1 not and will not deny. ■ “But he made R. G. Dun & Co. the “ great paying property that it is today. *■ He had the absolute management of the business. He was a practical printer. The books which they formerly got out two or three months alwpys had " out on time. He increased the number -of agencies from 16 to more than 100. a - “Now, R. G. Dun & Co., in the state ment of complaint against Mr. Wiman, J prepared by De Lancey Nicoil, state ? that Mr. Wiman was in no sense a part -1 ner in the business, but was, in ftlfct, ’ dependent upon a certain percentage 3 profits as bis salary. That is rather a J remarkable statement in view of the fact that the books of R. G. Dun & Co. 3 will show that in the mans libel suits 3 brought against the firm he was held re -3 sponsible for one-fifth of the losses. ’ “Another strange circumstance is that when 11. G. Dun & Co., at the time of Mr. Wiman’s failure, filed a claim against his estate, it was for $315,000. • Now their claim is only for $229,018.00. i Mr. Wiman has not paid the difference. , Knew All a Year Ago. “R. G. Dun & Co. were quite as thor oughly cognizant of the facts a year ago as they aro today. Mr. R. G. Dun is a very old man. in feeble health. He is now in California. I believe this action would never have been taken if he had been left to his own will. He has two nephews, R. D. Douglass, who is his manager, and another nephew of the same name who is counsel for the firm. They never nave liked Mr. Wiman, par ticularly since he ended his connection with the firm. The elder Dun and Mr. Wiman during their SOyears of business connection had many private money transactions together, and Mr. Wiman’s ipirit in all these was that he would stand the lion’s share of all losses. i “But he is guilty as charged, and there is nothing for him to do but to so plead and to throw himself upon the mercy of the court, first submitting ell the facts that are to his advantage con cering his business relations with R. G. Dun & Co.” The statements that have so far been given to the public by the district attor ney's office only account lor $30,000 ot the $229,000 which Wiman is alleged to have appropriated to his own use from the funds of Dun & Co., although the general statement is made that it was ;11 appropriated in about the same way. De Lancey Jicoll stated, after Mr. Wi maii's arrest, that later on he might give out a detailed statement as to just how the entire amount ot $229,000 hrd been obtained and just who were in volved. Ilf Dkl Glv* Bond. New York, Feb. 24. —Erastus Wiman i was released from custody at noon on a $25,000 bail. Charles H. Deere, of Mo line, Ills., deposited 25 SI,OOO bills in the office of the city chamberlain. Recorc r Smyth signed the bail bond. Deere is the father-in-law of Wiman’s son, Wil liam, now lying in a precarious condi tion at his home on Staten Island. Three Men Terribly Beaten. St. Louis, Feb. 24.—Four masked men entered the office of the Hazel Flom mill in East St. Louis early in the morn ing. beat a watchman and a boy into in sensibility and then bound and gagge 1 them. They tried in vain to open the safe, and after robbing the watchman 1 and two citizens who had comi in fi r some flour lift. All three men were terribly boatan. BETTER STREETS. ■Tho Most Important Work Be- | _ fore the City Council. QAN BE VERY EASILY DONE So Say Several of Rome’s Prominent Citizens, Who i Talk interestingly. Street improvement is the subject which is now causing many prominent citizens to do some hard thinking. Since Rome has taken the title of “city” the condition of her streets and sidewalks have been a source of mortification to the citizens who have her best interests at heart. The first floors of the build ings which have been put up during the last |ew months are several feet higher thnn4he old ones, and the sidewalks and streets' in their front are above those on either side. This causes a hill here, and a sink there. It must be admitted that this is not exactly city looking. Some few weeks ago the council had an en gineer to establish a grade, but it has as yet hot affected the property owners along Broad street, so far as having the first'floors of their buildings brought up to the line. A few nights ago a drummer staggered into? the Armstrong, and said to the clerk, “Please send me to my room; I have been walking down Broad street, and it has made me seasick.” Yesterday a prominent citizen in con versation with a Tribune reporter, said: “The discussion of the union depot question has brought forward other mat ters of much interest in the way of pub lic improvement. Now, that the water works issue is settled for all time to comp, the most important matter that can claim the attention of our our city authorities is the grading and paving of our streets —to get rid of the peaks and canyons, the mountains and valleys, the hills and dales, the beaver slides and slip-downs, that ornament the principal thoroughfare of the city—not very well caloqgated to make a favorable impress ioq’pn the passengers in the through traiife to and from the union depot. The present council has established a grade linejor Broad street. This one long step in the right direction, even if said grade line be a little higher than it should be. But it is established, never theless, and there is now t a definite basis for of peraianent street im provement. T<- “Heretofore, for many reasons, the ■ street work has been scattered, tempor ary, and unsightly. This is not- the farjlt of any one council noriof any one individual; but it is the general result of "many years of temporizing with the streetNrtfiuestion and of using such “cow ardly makeshifts”as were needed to tide each successive council over its term of office. , But Rome is now large enough, and > rich enough, to institute a system of i street work —so that when a street or a > block is paved, it is done with, and will , need no further attention for a quarter i of a century. ‘‘Now, let the incoming council select some one block on Broad street; have ■ the street raised to the established grade, ' and pave it with vitrified brick. Have i the work done by contract, under pro , per supervision, and the result will be , something durable, permanent, smooth, , and highly satisfactory. “Next year take another block, or two blocks, if the condition of the city treas ury will justify it, but make a start ' this year. Every citizen of Rome and 1 of Floyd county travels Broad street. 1 There can be no reasonable, objection to having the first permanent work done upon that street, because all use it. “This brick paving will cost about $1.75 per square yard—so that the cost j of paving the block at the lower end of Broad street will be, say, $9,000, or say j about $35,000 for the four blocks from the Central hotel to the Etowah bridge. If it cannot be done in four years, take Sx, or eight years—but make a start I this year. “Fifteen years ago, our county roads were almost impassable in the winter; now they are better that any street in Rome, and their good condition is sim ply the result of a little work each year I —work that is done well and permanent i and stops further expence on all that | is done. , If our city authorities had instituted I a system of permanent street improve ment fifteen years ago, we wouln now have smooth, slightly thoroughfare—but we haven’t. It is always in order to begin a refor mation. Begin it this year—do some street work that will show for it oil, and reflect credit on the council that ordered it. Somebody will doubtless say the times are too hard to stand such work—but hard times or not, the usual street appro priation will be made, and if it be spent in the usual manner, at end of the year we will have nothing to show for it ex cept the same old make-shifts,and growl ing will go on as usual. “So let us make a start this year, on a systematic and permanent improve ment of our streets. Is this plank in the platform of the candidates now in the field?” Major W. F. Ayer says: “Improve Rome’s streets? Well, now you are talk ing sense. I have been in Rome a long time, and I had rather see good level paved streets than a union depot. There has been much talk lately of building a carshed. Well, I shouldlike very much to see it done, but at present I fail to see how it can be. “The railroads can’t afford it, but the streets can be improved. Now, stop talking about things you can’t get, and let s use our time, influence and money on things there is some chance of get ting. Everybody want good level streets and sidewalks. The present condition ' of the city treasury would not allow ' much to be done at on rime; this how- ‘ ever, will not keep the work from start ing. Establish a grade and fiqish one block. When the city can afford it finish another. In this way only few years will pass before Rome will have as good streets as any city in Georgia.” THE INSURGENTS GAINING. Another Victory Is Reported In Rrazil. Peixoto’a Ships Deserting Him. New York, Feb. 24.—A Herald Mon tevideo special says: The Herald cor respondent in Santos sends word that it is expected that the city will be iu pos session of the insurgents before the end of a week. There is great excitement. The streets are filled with soldiers and citizens in terror. The insurgent forces have won another victory, the loyal troops being defeated near Forkima, on the road from Stanore to Sao Paulo. During the fight the na tional police deserted Peixpto and joined the rebels. The Report Partly Confirmed. Washington, Feb. 24.—The report from Brenos Ayers via London that the vessels fitted out in New York for ser vice in Brazil, with the exception of the Nictheroy, had gone over to the insur gents has been partially confirmed in a letter received nerd from au American officer in the service of the Brazilian government. This officer says while these vessels ate not actually in posses sion of the insurgents their officers have such high personal regard for the insur gent naval officers that they are unwil ng to take any steps against the force of Da Gama, although they would not turn over the ships to him. Honduras' Capital Capitulated. Washington, Feb. 24.—Senor Guz man, minister from Nicaragua to the United States, has received a cablegram to the following effect from the minister of foreign affairs of Nicaragua: The capitol of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, capitulated last night. • Publish this ca blegram. Our victory pn‘s an end to the war in Honduras. “So,” said the minister smilingly, “Nicaragua came out victorious.” ■■ *■ Sunk nn Insurgent Transport. Buenos Ayres, Feb. 24.—Advices from Rio de Janeiro says the government battery at Ponto Madame has sunk the insurgent transport, Murcurio. The boiler of the transport burst and several of the men were killed. FROM THE BLIZZARD. Extremely Cold Weather Reported All Over the Country, Atlanta, Feb. 24.—After an all night drizzling rain a sleet began to fall in the early morning, which soon changed to Bh9: w ' , Housetops are covered, but the ground being wet none remains under lybt. At Other Points. | • CONASOHANE, N. Y., Feb. 24.—The night has been the coldest of the season, the mercury being 17 below zero, ft was 22 below at Sharon Springs, and at Cortlandt„N. Y., it w.ts 24 below zero. Cold at Saratoga. Saratoga, N. Y., Feb. 24.—The mer cury is 25 degrees below zero; at North creek it is 32, and at Utica, the ther mometer stands 14 below. Rllzzard In Mississippi. Grenada, Miss., Feb. 24.—A blizzard has been raging for'24 hours and every thing is covered with ice and sleet with no signs of abatement. Cold in Gotham. New York, Feb. 24.—This is the cold est day of the winter. The mercury is 5 degrees below zero, with a nipping north wind blowing. Outlaws Refuse to ray Fare. Cincinnati, Feb. 24. Conductor Hayes put three men off the train from Sandusky, between Franklin and Mia misburg. They refused to pay their fare, and when told to go into the smoking car declined. The officers of the road had been warned that an at tempt to hold up the train would ba made, and detectives boarded the train at Franklin. When the men were pi t off the detectives left also to watch ti. j gang. The express messenger had $16,- 000 in his safe. A Salvation Army Colony. City of Mexico, Feb. 24.—A syndi cate of capitalists interested in the work of the Salva.ion Army has concluded the purchase from the Mexican government of 200,000 acres of land in southern Mexico. With the aid of General Booth, plans will be perfected by which 5,000 families from England and the Unitod States will l i put on the tract for colo nization purposes, operating under the direction of j.dicers of the army. It is a coffee growing region. Other Roads Made Defendants. -"iChijago, Feb. 24. The Farmers Loan and Trust company, under whose foreclosure suit receivers were appointed for the Northern Pacific railroad, filed an amendment to its bill in the United States circuit Aonrt. The amendment makes the Baltimore and Ohio and the Chicago and Great Western Railroad companies defendants on account of t. > leases under which they use part of the tracks of the Nortnern Pacific. Tried to Destroy Hi* Brother** Proper t. Lewisburg, Pa., Feb. 24.—“ Jimmy Wolfe, brother of the late Charles f Wolfe, who was a leading character ;■ Pennsylvania politics, is under ariosi i'o trying to blow up a business bio k i longing to his brother’s estate. H claims he was cheated in the seltl j :i | of the estate. I PRICE hIVE CtfNTS. BUYING VOTERS. An Alleged Scheme to Legalize the New Jersey Senate. TO BE DONE BY BRIBING. Four Democrats Were Needed to Help the Republicans Out--Names Are Given. New York, Feb. 24.—A special to The World from Trenton says: While the lawyers were quarreling among themselves about tlje constitu tional status of the senate organiza tions, and were preparing to appeal to the supreme court to end the legislative deadlock, some of the practical politi cians of both parties, who are in public for revenue only, appear to have been plotting to bring order out of chaos by the power of the almighty dollar. The World has discovered a conspira ,cy in which Republicans were and are to pay $60,000 cash for the votes of four Democratic senators. The negotiations, which are not yet entirely completed, have been carried on by ex-Mayor James H. Edmunus, of Cape May City, for the Democrats, and ex Riparian Commis sioner Riclrard B. Reading for the Re publicans. Mr. Reading, when confronted with the facts Wednesday, admitted his own complicity with the plot and implicated Edmunds and others, but he insisted when he found that the facts were about to be published that he had only been amusing himself at the expense of the Democrats, and did, not and does not now intend to carry out the bargain he made with Cape May’s ex-mayor. There are good reasons for believing that all the parties to the conspiracy were in earnest, and that the votes were to have been paid for and, if possible, delivered. Mr. Reading is generally understood here to be the personal representative of General W. J. Sewell. He is a tall, slender, affable person, and has been employed in the lobby several years. His home is at Raven Rock. He is the Republican boss in the counties on the Delaware, north of Camden; is a shrewd politician, and has made not a little ' monej' with his wits. When the known facts regarding the conspiracy were re lated to him he became very nervous, and said: ‘‘Yrn, ca ” l .‘ 3 tn r.« several weeks ago with a proposition to turn over to the Republicans three or four or five Democratic senators- -whatever we needed—to enable us to organize a sen ate in such a manner that its constitu tionality couldn’t be questioned. "How much did he want':” “Well, he started at first at $100,006, and afterwards scale 1 down. His latest offer. I think, was $60,000, or something like that.” “Did he specify how the money was to be divided?” “No, wo didn’t go into that. His pro gramme was to deliver tl e men to us, and then wo’d give him the money to do as he pleased with.” “Whose votes did he promise to give you?" -• “He assumed to bo able to get us the aid of Senators Miller, of Cape May; Perkins, of Burlington; Martin, of Hun terdon; Mi Mickle, of Sussex, and an other if we really wanted five.” “What shape are the negotiations now in?” “They are supposed to be still under consideration.” “Where do you propose to get the money?” "What money?” “The price fixed by Edmunds?” “My dear sir,” said Reading, who by this time was still more nervous- than at the beginning of the interview, “I never had the slightest intention of making such a contract.” Then as a new ; thought struck him, he said: “It was all a jolly on my part. Ed monds came to me with the proposition and I just let him think that I was going into the deal. I wanted to have some fun and wished to see how far he’d go.” “No sir,” he continued, as still an other thought came, “the Republican leaders wouldn’t give a cracker for all the votes that Mr. Edmunds controls. They are satisfied with the situation as it is.” “Did you consult with any of the other Republican leaders about this?” “Ah—no, not one.” “Why not?” “Oh, I knew they wouldn’t take any stock in such business.” At the conclusion of the interview Mr. Reading repeated his statement that he had been only having fun with Ed munds, and he nervously and anxiow’y tried to convince The World correspond ent that he had never had a serious thought about the matter. To Save the Nbw York, Feb. 24. The Merritt Wrecking company, has submitted a proposition to the navy department to save the wreck of the corvette Kear sarge. Secretary Merritt said that he was waiting for a response to his offer from the secretary of the navy. He says the bid is very low. Ohio Democrat* Make a Choice. New York, Feb. 24.—A special from Hamilton, Ohio, says the Democrats have decided on Paul J. Sarg, the to bacco king of Ohio, as their candidate for congress to succeed the late Repre sentative Houk. Bourke Cockran, Chairman Wilson and Senator Brice will speak for him. Reed, McKinley, Sherman •and Foraker will be the Re publican speakers.! Another World’s Fair Building Gone. Chicago, Feb. 24.—Fire was discov ered in the dome of the agricultural building at the World's Fair grounds, and soon spread to all parts of the roof. The dome was entirely destroyed and ’ building ruined. The monetary lose .4 practically nothing.