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ESTABLISHED 1887.
LADIES, READ THE ADSJH TODAY’S TRIBUNE
FINANCIAL
FAILURES.
j Three Big Banks Crash
In Chicago.
—:
GREAT SURPRISE
khe National Bai k of Illinois Precipitates
the Panic.
MONEY CIRCLES ARE IN A FLURRY
Unwarantable and Injudicious
Loans,
SURPLUS SERIOUSLY 'SCATTERED
In the Hindi of the Bank Exam ner By
Oeder Os the Comptro'ler of th*
Currency -
I
Chicago, Dec. 21. The National
Bank of Illinois, one of the oldest and
best known banking institutions in the
city and with assets between $12,000,-
! 000 and $15,000,000, has closed its doors.
The4feilir.ving notice was placed on the
doors before the opening of banking
hoars:
“This bank is tu the hands of the na
*tional bank examiner, by order of the
comptroller of the treasury.”
This action was decided upon at, a
meeting of the directors of the bank
Sunday night, after the bank had been
suspended from the Clearinghouse as
sociation of Chicago at a meeting of the
f clearinghouse committee held earlier
in the day.
Os the 16 banks that cleared through
k the National bank of Illinois, two closed
P their doors as a result of the closing of
1 that institution. They are E. S. Dryer
& Co. and Wasmansdorff & Heine
man. These two institutions are mort
gage loan banks and saving societies in
L a small way. and their failure is not ex
l pected to affect any business houses.
B The assets of E. S. Dryer & Co. are
■ given at $1,600,000, with liabilities of
■ $1,200,000. The figures for Wasmans-
■ dorff & Heineiean are approximately:
■ Assets, $650,000; liabilities, $400,000.
■ The Security, Title and Trust company
■was appointed receiver for both firms.
■ Six banks have arrangements to clear
■ through other balances and the balance
■of the 16 are making similar arrange
■ments as fast as possible. The failure
Bywas a great surprise in financial and
■msiness circles. The causes of the sus
■pension as given in the resolutions
■adopted by the clearinghouse commit -
■tee are “unwarrantable and injudicious
Moans,” through which the “capital and
■surplus of said bank was seriously im-
Bjerilled if not absolutely lost.”
i'i Kckela Give.. Ont a Statement.
|a Washington, Dec. 21. Comptroller
■general Eckels gave out the following
concerning the failure of the
■National Bank of Illinois:
■ “4 am advised by Bank Examiner
■ McKeon that the National Bank of Illi
■pois has closed from business and is
Hiow in the hands of the comptroller of
■the currency. In order to prevent any
■delay in proving claims against the
I bank and to obtain for creditors at a
I very early date, the largest part of the
I amount due to them, I have appointed
I Mr. McKeon temporary receiver with
L telegraphic instructions to publish no
s tice of proof of claims at once.
I "The clearinghousecommittee of Chi
| cago have advised me, through the ex
| aminer, that the clearinghouse will im
k mediately advance 75 per cent of the
■ face value of the approved claims and
M the crediters of the bank im-
■ mediate relief and prevent unnecessary
■ disturbance of business. I have also di-
■ rected the receiver, while securing nil
■loans of a doubtful character, to exer
■cise the utmost caution so as not to work
■a hardship upon the business interests of
■those dealing with the bank and depend-
King upon it. The advance made by the
■ clearinghouse, it is to be understood, is
I not in payment of such claims in full,
I but simply a loan of such amount, with
I certificates as collateral security.
••The failure of the bank is due to the
■ injudicious, reckless and imprudent
I methods followed by the officers, and
■ not checked by the directors, though
f their attention has been individually
I called to the same and over their indi-
I vidual signature they had promised to
■ remedy the weak points in the bank’s
New York Banka Nnt Affected.
j New York, Dec. 21.-—The officials of
■ the Mercantile National and the Atner-
I lean Exchange banks of this city, cor-
B respondents of the National Bank of II-
■ liiwis k egy they will not be affected to
THE ROHE TRIBUNE.
ariy ’importaut extent uy its tenure. The
American Exchange has merely handled
collections tor the Chicano National
bank people, say that the Chicago bank
does not owe them except for notes in
their hands for collection and express
deep sympathy for the officials of the
Chicago bant
LIL ON THE WAY TO BOSTON.
The KxQueen Will Call on the Relatives
of Her Late Hu*b»nd.
San Francisco, Dec. 21.—Ex-Queen
I. of Hawaii and her suite
left for Boston on the Sunset express
via New Orleans. The royal visitor
will arrive in the Massachusetts me
tropolis at 2:30 p. m. ou Christmas day.
"I shall visit my husband’s relatives
while in Boston,” she “and my
plans for the future will be announced
shortly after my arrival there. lam
not at liberty to state them at present.
"Regarding the stories that have been
circulated concerning the object of my
visit, I have nothing to say. I wish to
state, however, that I highly appreciate
the kind treatment accorded me in San
Francisco.”
The ex-queen was accompanied only
by her maid and secretary and Mrs.
Ellen Graham, an intimate friend.
STRUCK BY A LARGE WAVE.
Thrilling of the Crew of the
Malting .*chooner Kleiiouora.
Gloucester, Mass.. Dec. 21.—The
crow of the schooner Eleonora, which
has just arrived from a haddocking trip,
has a thrilling story to tell.
The Eleonora, which is a staunch, up
to-date vessel, left here Monday after
noon. When she was about half way
to Georges Banks she encountered a
terrific storm. U.'-.der close reefs the
little craft lay to for hours Enormous
seas swept her deck. At length a
mountainous sea, inky black and crested
with foam, rose to it great height and
seemed impelled toward the vessel by
some irresistible force. It retired its
vast proportions above the mastheads.
When it struck the vessel’s sides and
rigging it broke with terrible force,
thousands of tons of water literally
burying the vessel from truck to davits.
The little craft quivered like a leaf un
der this shock for a moment, and then
was thrown on her beam ends. The
mast ends were submerged in water.
A redhot stove in the cabin was over
thrown, the coals set fire to the bedding
and in a moment the interior of the
cabin was a mass of flames.
After a struggle of ten minutes the
vessel righted and the crew by desperate
work extinguished the fire. Her decks
were swept of boats and gear. John
Hendrickson, a sailor, was washed over
board and lost. Cook Oliver Sternberg
was horribly scalded by the upsetting of
a kettle of boiling water on the galley
stove. The vessel was almost a wreck
when she returned to Gloucester.
WORKMEN ARE GOING HOME
Many Vacant Seats at the Seventh Day's
Session of the Labor Convention.
Cincinnati, Dec. 21. —When the six
teenth annual convention of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor reassembled
for the seventh day’s session there were
many vacant seats, as some of the dele
gates had gone home.
Chairman Duncan from the committee
on law recommended an amendment re
quiring that copies of all resolutions of
a general character or proposed amend
ments to the constitution be sent to the
secretary two weeks in advance of con
sideration by the general officers and
the officers of the different tradesunions
and that no such resolutions or amend
ments can first be offered in the conven
tion except by consent of two-thirds of
the delegates. After a long discussion
the report was agreed to and the resolu
tion adopted.
The law committee reported favor
ably on the defense fund resolution,
which increases the dues to 50 cents per
capita per month; adopted. The action
of the former conventions was re
affiimed, requiring all conventions to
affiliate with the central organizations
or their national federal unions.
A general discussion occurred on a
resolution to change the representation
in the convention so as to exclude local
representatives and have delegates only
from central and general organizations.
MARKED DECREASE NOTED.
Receipt* at the Largest Poetoffice* 1» the
Country For the Paet Mouth.
Washington, Dec. 21.—The receipts
at the 30 largest postoffices in the coun
try for tiie past month, as compared
with November, 1895, decreased $151,089
not, or more than 5 per cent. The only
explanation that can be given is the
natural fluctuation of receipts and ex
penditures generally.
In October the augmented correspond
ence in the interest of the political par
ties was expected to offset the effect of
the excitement on business, but there
was a slight decrease. The total re
ceipts for the month of these 30 ofli :es
were $2,630,511. Only five offices
showed increases. These were Brook
lyn and Rochester, N. Y.; Newark, N
J. Toledo, O.; and San Fruuciso. At
New York there was a decrease of $49,-
139, the total receipts being $683,551).
At Chicago the receipts were $116,942,
a decrease of $12,783.
Montgomey. Ala., Dec. 21. Hon.
Warren S. Reese of this city has gone
to Washington, where he will inau
gurate his contest for the seat in the
United States senate occupi d by the
Hon. John T. Morgan. Colonel Reese
said just os he was leaving the city that
he was confident that the contest case
would come up for consideration at a
very early date; that it had almost been
reached on the regular calendar, and
that he had no misgivings as to how it
would result
ROME, GA., TITESDAY, DECEMBER 22* 1896.
SILENCE PREVAILS.
Tiie State Capl ol Is Nov a Veritable
Whispering Gallery.
THE STATESMEN ALL GONE HOME
President Berner and Speaker
Jenkins Remain.
SOME WIND-UP WORK TO BE DONE
Th* cOovanor Vary Bu*y Kxamialng
Bill* That Hev* Bera Paat aad Await
Hi* Sl«natur* to ■•cam* Law*—Bill*
Have All B«*n Eogro*«*d By Clerk Har
din and Hi* a**l*t*at«.
Atlanta, Dec. 21.—The capital wore
a deserted appearance today. With the
adjournment of the legislature and de
parture of the members the crowds which
have congregated in the galleries and
about the capital remained away and few
persons other than the regular attaches of
the building were to be seen in the state
house. The big building will now re
sume its former quiet and lonesome ap
pearance and news about the state office
will become scarce.
Tne exodus of legislators begun Sun
day morning and on every train leaving
during the day the law makers left for
their several homes. Only a few mem
bers remained overto spend Sunday in
Atlanta and today there is not more than
a dozen of the legislators in the city. The
officers and some of the clerks of both
houses remain for a few days to complete
the work of enrolling and arranging bills
and other matters unfinished at the ad
journment hour.
President Berner, of the senate, and
Speaker Jenkins, of the house, and
Clerk Hardin, of the house and Secr
etary Clifton, of the senate, held a
conference today and looked over the
unfinished work and mapped out a
plan to finish up everything in three
or four days. The dozens of bills
passed duriag the last two or three
dnys of the session have not been en
rolled and prepared for the signature
of the presiding officers and they are
being examined by the subcommittees
from the committee on enrollment of
the house and senate. Chairman
Oliver, of Burke, and Mr. Mozlay, of
Cobb, and Mr. Edenfield, of Screven,
of the house committee on enrollment,
are here, and Mr Brinson, chairman
of the senate committee is looking
after bills which passed the senate.
The governor’s office presents a busy
scene, the executive having several
dozen bills to examine and sign. He
is behind in the work and is devoting
the greater part of his time to the
labor of going through the bills and
resolutions which require his signa
ture to become laws The officers of
the two houses were authorized to
remain five days at the state’s expense
to clear up the work unfinished and
they will be in the city the greater of
this week.
Although the item in the general ap
propriation bill to set aside $4,000 to
make a state exhibit at Nashville was de
fcated and no appropriation has been
made for the purpose the state officials
will endeavour to send an exhibit in some
way and it is altogether probable that the
exhibit will be made. The matter may
be brought up again at the February meet
ing of the general assembly.
The special committee to investigate
charges against the judiciary is arranging
for the work before it and everything
will be in readiness to proceed witn the
investigation when the committee assem
bles on January 12th.
THE LITIGATION IS ENDED
Thoma* A. Billion and the Gc»ph<iphoiie
People Settle Their Dispute*
Washington, Dec. 21. —The litigation
that has been proceeding for several
years between the American Grapho
phone company of Washington, and
Thomas A. Edison and the Edison phon
ograph works, relative to the talking
machine patents, has been brought to
an amicable conclusion.
Edison, it is stated by counsel for the
graphophone company, admits the fun
damental character of the graphophone
patents, and that they control the com
mercial art of sound recording and re
producing asitis practiced today, and
agrees to a decree of injunction in the
principal case pending in the United
States circuit court for the District of
New Jersey.
The American Graphophone company,
on the other hand, admits the validity
of patents for various improvements
that Edison has taken out since the is
sue of the graphophone patents, and
consents to decrees in favor of Edison
on those patents. The entering of the
decree has been followed by an ex
change of licenses between the parties,
and u satisfactory adjustment of ull
other differences.
>*■•l I'lnitt co the South.
Lc-UisviLl.E, Dec. 21. -Tiie new time
table of the Louisville and Niuirville
railroad, by which the time between
Louisville and southern points has been
materially reduced, went into effect
Sunday. Heretofore passenger train
No. 1 left Louisville for the south nt
8:22 o'clock every afternoon. Sunday
the time was changed to 5:45. The
train carried through sleepers to Now
Orleans, Memphis, Jacksonville and At
lanta, the latter being an entirely new
addition to the sevioe. The n«w schud
ule is fast and means the cutting of run
ning time between Louisville and New
Orleans tyro hours.
CONGRESS AND CUBA
rhe*_Que?tion Goes Over Until After the
Holidays.'
MR. VEST WASTED I DISCUSSION
Chelton of Texas wants Uncle
Sam to Be Neutral.
OPPOSES CAMERON RESOLUTION
•at Mr. Hal* Objected aad th* Mlaanurl
Senator Waived Debit* of the Matter.
Bacon *f Georgia and HUI of New York
Offer Cuban Resolution*—Th* immlgm-
Uoa Bill In the Hon**.
Washington, Dec. *l. The aenate
galleries were crowded long Itefore the
hour for assembling. The chaplain’s
prayer alluding to the opening of the
Christmas week invoked peace on earth
and good will among men. Petition*
from many quarters, urging lecognition
of Cuban belligerency, were read.
At 12:20 p. m. while the routine busi
ness was proceeding Mr. Cameron arose,
and in a voice hardly audible presented
the report of the committee on foreign
relations favorable x to the recognition of
Cuban independence.
Mr. Sherman arose to ask if it was
understood that the motion remain o i
the table until after the holidays. Mr.
Cameron answered in the affirmative.
Senator Vest of Missouri attempted
to discuss the Cuban question, but Sen
ator Hale of Maine interposed an objec
tion, saying that with the understand
ing that it was to go over until after tbo
holidays, it was unfair. Mr. Vest said
that he would waive discussion of the
matter.
Senator Hill then offered a resolution
in favor of recognizing the Cubans as
belligerents.
Senator Bacon of Georgia introduced
a resolution on the constitutional ques
tion raised between the executive and
the congress by the Cuban war. The
resolution deciares that the recognition
of government is a sovereign power
which does not appertain to the execu
tive except as to the right of veto makes
him a part of the lawmaking power.
Senator Chilton of Texas introduced
a substitute for the Cameron resolutiou,
declaring that a state of wur exists in
Cuba and that the United States should
remain neutral according to the rights
of belligerents to both parties.
When the immigration bill was laid
before the house, Mr. Barthold (Rep.)
made a speech opposing the senate
amendment; and claimed that the for
eign residents of America had saved tlie
country in the last election. He claimed
that they should now be treated fairly
and not discriminated against. He also
ridiculed the amendments proposed by
the senate.
The house nonconcurred in the senate
amendments to immigration bill and
a rreed to a conference. The considera
tion of the legislative appropriation bi.l
was then resumed.
l’*rl» Newspaper* Offer Advice.
New York, Dec. 21. —A dispatch to
The Herald from Paris says: All the
Paris pa. ers have a good deal to say
about “American jingoism” and the
danger of war between the United
States and Spain, which could, in their
opinion, do nobody any good. The
Royalist Gaulos, Conservative Figaro,
Republican Debats, The Liberal Temps,
representing the solid bourgeoise of
France, are all of the same views on
this question.
“It is quite certain,” writes M. Den
nis Guibert in The Figaro, “that if the
people of the U nited States were con
sulted on the question whether they de
sired war with Spain, even with the
future annexation of Cuba, the answer
would be in the negative. American
jingoism is a profitable mine which cer
tain New York journals are working,
just as Dr. Jameson’s companions
dreamed of exploiting the gold reefs of
the Transvaal. It may be well, there
fore, that the agitation of the senate
committee’s resolution recognizing Cu
ban belligerency is nothing more than
a ‘huge humbug’—one of those interest
ing gigantic demonstrations of which
the country of Barnum lias given us
undying examples.”
Continuing, the Figaro’s foreign edi
tion argnes that it is not likely that a
two-thirds vote of congress, necessary
to annul President Cleveland’s veto of
the belligerency resolution, will be ob
tained and that the immense situation
caused by the prospect of imminent,
perhaps inevitable war between Spain
and the U nited States, must be placed
to the discredit of the minority mia
chiefmakers for whom there can be no
excuse.
The Journal Des Debate is likewise of
the opinion that the majority of the peo
ple of the United States do not want
war with Spain.
“So far,” says this paper, editorially,
•‘the men of sound sense have been able
to keep jingoism within bounds, and
there is all the more reason to believe
that they will enter upon a new cam
paign against it. because of the warning
given by the full of stocks in Wall street
on Friday. Everybody knows that
these people know not only how to tmk
to the electorate, but also how elfica
ciously to influence an election. In con
clusion, The Debats thinks there are
reasons to hope for the continuation of
a policy of prudence and neutrality till
the advent of Mr. McKinley, whose im
penitent protectionism might raise prac
tical questions important enough to re
duce Cuba to a secondary rank among
the preoccupations of Americans.”
Mill*.- th* C*h*a Qa**H«a.
IxDiAjtAFOlu, Doq. >l.--Th.« Jvarua?
prints i le'.ter signed by W. H. H. Stil
ler, ex-attorney general of the United
States, on rit.i Ciibnn question. It i» as
follows:
"As the issue made by the secretary
of state as to whether the recognition
of the insurgent government in Cuba is
a legislative or executive function, is
now of public interest, the fallowing
expressions by the courts may be wor
thy of attention. In the case of Wil
liams versus the Suffolk lusurance com
pany the right of recovery upon an in
surance eon tract turned upon the ques
tion whether the sovereignty of ruenos
Ayres extended over she Falkland is
land*. It was on one ride contended
that the question was one for the conrt
to decide as it would any judicial ques
tion. Mr. Justice Story, deciding the
case at circuit, said:
•• ‘lt is very clear that it belongs ex
clusively to the executive department
of our government to recognize, from
time te time, any new governments
which may arise in political revolutions
in the world; and until such new gov
ernments are so recognized, they cannot
be admitted by our eourts of justice tc
have or to exercise the common rights
anil prerogatives of sovereignty.’ ”
“The case being carried to the su
preme court of the United States, Mr.
Justice McLean, *peukiug for that
court, said:
“ ‘Can there be any doubt that when
the executiveh ranch of the government,
wldoh is charged with our foreign rela
tions, shall in its correspondence vi it-h
a foreign nation assume a luct in regard
to the sovereignty of any island or coun
try, it- is cenoltiA.ve on the judicial de
partment, and i.j this view it is not ma
terial to inquire, nor is it the province
of the conrt to determine whether the
executive be right or wrong. It is
enough to know that in the exercise
of his constitutional functions he has
decided the question. Having done this
under the responsibilities which belong
to him, it is obligatory on the people and
government of the union’”
“These decisions have been repeatedly
cited, and, so far as known to the writer,
not questioned.”
Porto Rico Rejoice* at Maceo** Death.
New York, Dec. 21.—A dispatch tc
The Herald from San Juan de Porte
Rico says: The political situation in
the island is excellant. The people are
satisfied with the certain prospects of
reforms which Spain has given assur
ances shall be granted. Upon the re
ceipt of the news of the death of Auto
nio Maceo congratulations were sent to
the government His fall is regarded
as of great importance as tending in the
immediate pacification of the Cuban
province of Piinir del Rio. Reports
from all parts of the island have been
received here, showing that the people
rejoice at the blow which the Cuban
revolution has received.
England anil Spain Keproached.
I’ar.r?, Dec. 21. —The Gaulos publishes
interviews with General and ex-Minis
ter du Barail, M. Imbert De Saint
Amana and a foreign diplomat, all of
whom reproach Great Britain and Spain
for abandoning France in the Mexican
expedition of 1862, the object of which
they say was to create in America a
government to counterbalance the
power of tiie United States.
Spanish War Scare l’:ss»ed*
London, Dee. 21. —There was a sharp
rally in the Stock Exchenga here, the
Spanish war scare having passed.
THE INQUIRY CONTINUED.
Crcvasae at Point I* Outre, on tti« MlhaH*
Bippi Kire.'t, May lie Repaired.
Washington, Deo. 21.—The senate
committee on commerce continued its
inquiry into the necessity of repairing
the crevasse at Point T Outre, on the
Mississippi river, having before it Ma
jor J. P. Quinn of the corps of engineers
in charge of the lower Mississippi river
works, and Mi - . McHenry of St. Louts,
who is the manager of the affairs of the
Eads estate.
Manager Quinn stated that while he
was not an advocate of the Eads scour
ing sy*tem, he considered the repair of
the break as imperative. He said the
crevasse was constantly growing and
that’ it might reach a point where it
would be impossible for the Eads estate
to maintain the channel through the
south pass lu that event a lawsuit
would probably ensue and the com
merce of New Orleans would be bottled
up. Major Quinn said that he gave his
advice entirely independently of the le
gal question involved in the contract
with the Eads estate to maintain a 23-
foot channel.
Mr. McHenry said that the Eads es
tate would not., on account of it* con
tract, stand in Che way of the closure of
thec-evasse but that the estate did not
ask the government to do this work.
He said the estate had so far maintained
the full supply of water demanded from
it, and that for the present no help was
needed. He agreed with Major Quinn
that the danger was in the growth of
the erevasaa.
Ttiuohe* Their Honor—*n<l Pocket*.
Boston, Dee. 21. —At a meeting of
Post No. 2000, G. A. 11., resolutions
were passed resenting the pension ut
terances of President Cleveland in his
recent message to congress, which the
post terms as undignified and unwar
ranted, being wi assault upon the integ
rity mid honor of the veteran wards of
the government.
N«» For IBor<4 '.iloKxnv.
Albany, Dec. 21. —Governo: - Morto.
has refused to pardon or commute th*
sentence of John Y. McKine. Me
Kane’s friemis, accompanied by hi
blind sou, George, and his youngest
daughter, waited on G voruor Morton
to plead in behalf of their father for ex
ecutive clemency.
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PRICE FIVE CENTS.
NICARAGUA
PREPARING
For War With Colombia
Ofei Corn Islands.
TREY MAY CLASH.
« ■ J '■
The Norweigian Steamer Jast Brings the
lews From BlneHelds.
PATROLING THE COAST BY BOAT
Colombia Has One Man-of-War
That Can Blow
NICARAGUA OFF THE GLOBE
The Government Is Conscrip'ing Fvery
Available Man to Make Warrors of
and Sending Them Forward.
Mobile, Dec. 21. The Norwegian
steamer Jast, which has just arrived
here from Blnefielda, Nicaragua, brings
news of aeti ve preparations which are
being made in Nicaragua, looking to a
war with Colombia. Thera have been
no open hostilitses as yet, but the Nicar
aguan government has a patrol l»oat
going up and down the Raiua river,
conscripting everybody who can be used
as a soldier. The labor*?’s on the planta
tions are being taken, and the men thus
conscripted are lieing taken to Rama
and the bluff, where they are put in the
garrisons.
It is said that the cause of the prepa
rations for war is a dispute between
Colombia and Nicaragua as to the own
ership of great and little Corn islands,
which are situated about 40 miles from
Bluefields and 160 miles from Rama.
The fort at Bluefields bluff has been
garrisoned in expectation of a visit from
the warships of the Colombian navy,
but it is reported that there is no arma
ment on the fort except a few oldfosh
ioned mortars.
Officers of the Jast state that Nicara
gua is not in a position to cope with
Colombia in open warfare, as one Co
lombian mau-of-war would have no
trouble in blowing Rama and Bluefieids
off the earth.
FITZGERALD HAS BIG FIRE.
Business Portion nf the New Georgia Town
Wiped Out by a Bl axe.
Fitzgerald, Ga., Dec. 21. —This city,
which is made up largely of men who
wore the blue during the late unpleas
antness, has been visited by a destruc
tive fire. Half of the business portion
of the city is now in ruins.
The fire broke out at 3 a. m. in the
store of H. B. Carter & Co., and from
there it spread and burned without in
terruption until after daylight.
There was absolutely no means to
fight the conflagration, and the flames
ceased only after destroying all of the
business places that stood near the cor
ner of Pine and Grant streets, the busi
ness center of Fitzgerald. |
A conservative estimate places the ag
gregate loss at $70,000. though many
place it at SIOO,OOO. The insurance will
not cover more than one-third of this.
The origin of the fire is unknown, ex
cept that it is surmised it was caused
by the explosion following the tipping
over of a lamp in Carter’s store, where
it was first discovered by a nightwatch
man. From there it spreaa rapidly.
Fortunately there was no wind, for
otherwise it is probable that the flames
would have swept over most of the city.
Fitzgerald is absolutely without fire
protection, and the bucket brigades
were of little avail. Every building the
flames touched was destroyed. Only
the intervention of empty lots saved the
buildings upon adjoining streets.
There were ugly rumors all day that
the fire was of incendiary origin by par
ties whose identity is not clearly known;
but an examination of the facts tends
to show that they are merely of con
jectural foundation.
>**u*.«* Coal Combine at Work.
Kans is City, Dec. 21.—The first real
effect of the recently organized Kansas
Coal combine was made manifest when
a local dealer, who had been cutting
rates and refused to enter the trust, re
ceived a “Kansas City rate card. ” which
stated that unless he chose to sell at the
combine's price, he would be unable to
obtain coni from the mines with which
ha hod been dealing. The local dealer
had an ugraemeiit with a Pittsburg.
Kun., mine to serve him with coal, but
this agreement, the miners now claim,
is not binding. The boldiie.m of th*
trust has caused alarm among dealers
generally.