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V Ville IO J flstubllshed 1850. - -iQc- -7 1888.1
I J. H. EriTILL, Preside )
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COURT’S EVIDENCE COMPLETE.
CAPT. SAMPSON REFERS TO IT AS
GRATIFY INGLY SO.
HIM Statement Might Mean the Dis
covery of nn Accidental Cause.
The Indications Looked Upon an
Ail the Other Way-Talk of the
Divers Contradictory, But Bits of
Evidence Picked l'p From Time to
Time Tend to Show That the Ship
Is Broken in Two.
Havana, via Key West, Fla., March 16.
With the departure of the court of in
quiry,* after a second visit to the scene of
the wreck of the Maine, the tension grows
serious.
The court, a body like a grand jury in ite
functions, is nearly ready to report.
Unless there are new discoveries here,
which is unlikely, there is nothing to be
done, but for -the members to seclude
themselves in the lowa and formulate the
convictions already firmly held.
There is no reason to change the belief
that the court will find that the disaster
was (caused by an explosion outside the
Maine.
The chief officers have been absolutely
discreet, while the talk of the divers has
been contradictory.
From bits of evidence that have come
out during the. three weeks’ examination,
it seems as sure as anything in this lati
tude can be that the plans of the court
show that the ship was broken in two and
the forward part rent assunder by an ex
plosion from the outside.
Capt. Sampson Intimated to the corres
pondent yesterday that the testimony was
"gratifyingly complete.”
This might mean that an accidental
' cause had been discovered, but the indi
cations are all the other way.
No one believes that any Spanish offi
cials or officers of rank will be implicat
ed, whatever may be the finding of the
court.
CapL Sampson, before leaving, said the
court's d< parturd was not due to orders
received, but was decided upon solely by
the members themselves.
The wrecking work has been very slow,
but it Is hoped that now, with the added
facilities and the others that are to come,
•work will be advanced with greater rap-*
kilty.
Spaniards an<l Cubans alike are greatly
Interested in the forthcoming elections end
their probable results, whether the Con
servatives will vote at al|, whether ra
cial difference* outside the city of Havana
will be fatal to the hoped of autonomy,
011 .V" 1 ' h” oj . 710 w.fll be *•' w ’’ fb
kivli of IM sutoth-UMJUH j”» glnwlty loTiI
The volunteers are. apparently more
quiet, though many of the leaders are
pngcred by private advices from Madrid
to the effect that Senor Sagasta. is as
firmly resolved as ever otv their disarma
ment. r
This correspondent has seen cable mes
sages from Ixmdbn to several English to
bacco merchants telling them to leave the
Island nt once and hinting that war seems
inevitable.
The Associated Press correspondent at
Matansas tells a sad story, not only of
the suffering there, but of the difficulties
which the bureaucratic. methods of the
Spanish officials place tn thp way of the
relief, even of those who are actually
starving. For instance, a bridge has to
b«' crossed in conveying the stores from
the vessel to the warehouse. The local
authorities actually tried to charge a-toll
for each cart loud ami were only prevent
ed by gn order from the government.
In the hearing of the Associated Press
correspondent at Matanxas, a custom
house officer on the whats called out to
tt crowd of starving people, who were cry
ing for food: “Do you think the Americana
sent this food? Well, they did not. It
was sent you by the rich Spanish in NeW
York city.” •
Important ndvlccs from the insurgents
show that Gen. Maximo Gomes han sent
a mission to the Insurgent chiefs in Mid
dle and Western Cuba telling them of a
great movement that la likely to go
through successfully. Gen. Pando, from
Santiago de Cuba, ordered the Spanish
Gens. Castellanos and Tenquet to advance
on the insurgents numbering from 2.5U0 to
3.000 under Menlcal, Capote ami Cebreco,
in Puerto Principe province. His plans,
he supposed. were perfect but the Insur
gents Hanked the Spanish, and are
now moving toward the Jucaro trocha.
They are expected to raid Matanlas, Ha
van« and possibly Pinar del Rio prov-
Inoes during the next fifteen or eighteen
days.
All negotiations on the part of Ramires
and Chaves, near Manxaulllo, have been
fruitions. Not an Insurgent of any rank
whatever has surrendered. An important
faction of autonomists at Santa Clara and
Mntanxiis declines to take part in the com
ing elections on the ground that Gen.
Bianco has not carried out Important in
• i ructions In the establishment of the au
tonomic government.
It >4 believed that the deaths of the in
surgent leaders Cayito, Alvercx and Nu
n»'i. first ryi>orted undue to Hied own com
*ad<s, were really duo to the treachery of
the Autonomist Governor of Santa Clara.
Manx* Garcia, who made an appointment
for a conference with them and then had
them macho led.
cot KT’S OPINION A RIDDLE.
Ofllcera of the Maine Abaelutely in
the nark.
Key West, Fla., March JG.— The arrival
of the court of inquiry from Havana on
the Mangrove to-day w»» not unexpected,
but the extreme mystery which has sur
rounded the be ha voir of Hs members dur
ing the day is in attvn>t contrast with
their former cond'tct at Key West. The
most deltaite »talemew| obtainable was
from a BNObrr of the court, who. after
stipulating that hl* name should be sup
pressed, said;
•T do not know whether we wIU hold a
•e»*ton. but I suppose wo wdL”
Thr only trvttitle ilcYvlo'inictH which lot
lowed the court's arrival was the release
of th** h*jiw ot of thv
here. 4lihou«h the only apparent reaxNi
for their attendance i> that they may lew*
tlfy further. lUh a’i the htaUwfa othcera
Marix lunched e -»r on the lowa,
which lies six miiv /ft. They did not
return to land.
Among .naval officers and others, it is
generally believed that the court of inquiry
has come to the definite conclusion that
the explosion was external and that the
court is now only busied over minor tech
nical details.
One of the officers of the Maine so.id to
the Associated Press correspondent: “I
believe the Maine was blown up from the
outside; but judging from the questions
asked by members of the court when pre
viously here, I am utterly unable to as
*certain whether they have even counte
nanced such a solution of the disaster. I
have talked with fellow officers, and bas
ing their opinions on the character of the
questions asked, they, too, were bound to
confess that they were just as much in
the dark.”
Amid cheers from their fellow survivors
and friends, a number of the Officers of
the Maine left to-night on the Plant Line
steamer Olivette, via Tampa, for their
homes.
IHPARCIAL SCORES LEE.
Accuses Him of Sending False Re
ports to Wnsliingtoii.
Correspondence Associated Press.
Madrid, March 16.—The Ifnparclal to-day
devotes its leading article to Consul Gen
eral Fitzhugh Lee. It remarks that he is
a “factor in the Cuban problem to which
sufficient attention has» not been paid,”
adding: “In no capital of Europe would
a full blown ambassador be allowed to do
what this consular agent indulges in with
impunity in Cuba. This gentleman lets no
chance go by of showing in what quarter
lie his sympathies and good will. Does
any difficulty arise between his country
and Spain, he increases it; does friction
arise between the two countries, he does
his best to add to it; his reports are al
ways hostile to our country, and very
often full of falsehood. The insurgents
look upon him as a protector,the Spaniards
as an enemy. A paper of his own country
has hinted, many European papers have
stated, that he belongs to the syndicate
who wish to buy up Cuba, and every in
dication points to the truth of this state
ment. His malevolence against our
country is so marked that it has been
noted even by the New York press, which
is in no way predisposed in our favor.
“Is our government so timid and fright
ened that it dare not present a petition to
a government with which it assures us it
is on friendly terms? If thut friendship
really exists the United States would find
no difficulty in relieving an official who,
far from Improving that friendship, does
hite level best daily to interrupt it.”
WAR FRONT CAUSES SURPRISE.
La I.arlm Unable to Explain Uncle
Sain'M BellteoNe Attitude.
Havana, March J 6._ La Lucha. its
-'. jrtinhg iki*?' 'nt 1 hrn»»M“ f wPt 4 „
unable to explain the bellicose attitude of
the United States, and inclines to the be
lief that this ls t the fault of business syndi
cates like the Sugar Trust, or due to some
new desire to annex'Cuba which has
“changed the physiogomy of the American
l>eople.” It claims that Spain has done
nothing to hurt the people of the United
States, nnd refers to the friendliness of
Spain to the American colonies when they
were lighting England, and also to the
"strict neutrality Spain maintained during
the civil war."
La Lueha says it can only explain the
help given to the tnsubgents from Ameri
can sources during the pros, nt ihaurrectlon
in Cuba by "defective law, varying in the
different states of the American Union.”
The editorial concludes: “The end of the
journey will show which nation has the
more to lose in a contest that may'come
now. No doubt Spain docs not fear war.
Public opinion, if not demanding, does not
repel hostilities. It is believed by many
that this way is the only means of reach
ing an end of tho question.”
WORK ON THE WHECKi
Cliance Tlmt the Court of Inquiry
Ma, Return to Ilavann.
Havana, March 16.—The officers of the
Maine, who remain here, are disappointed
nt not being ordered north, and believe
they will not be sent back to the United
Stntce until It is certain the court of in
quiry into the loss of the battleship will
not return to Havana.
Witte the arrival of the big derrick Chief
nnd other machinery the wrecking work
already signs of progress.
Tho naval divers are still working about
the wreck, under the direction of Capt.
Slgsbee nnd Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright with Ensign Powelson to
make any changes fit the drawings which
may be caller for by new discoveries.
BATTLE WITH GOMEZ.
Government Force** Claim to Have
Won n 1 Ictory.
Havana, March 16.—According to a
Spanish report ;i column of government
I troops, under Col. Falanca. was engaged
on Friday and Saturday last with the in
surgent forces under Ger Maximo Gomes
and Brigadier General Jose Maria Gomes,
at the Maja Gua farm, in the district of
Sanctl Spirit us, province of Santa Clara.
The Insurgent km* said to have been
considerable, while the Spat 1 ish force is
alleged to have lost only three men kill
ed and a captain., a lieutenant and thir
teen soldier* wounded.
DKFARTMENT OF THE GULF.
Story That Arranurmrnt In Only
Temporary Probably 1 ntrue.
Washington. M.trch 16.—Senator Bacon
wiit at the war department to-day tjnd
had a talk with the officials about the
I new military department of the Gulf. He
went partieularly for the pur|x>se of •*-
I certaintaK whether the present division
is to be only temporary, as, has been re
ported in some quarters.
lie fmpresse.l upon the Secretary of
War the Importance of maintaining the
ph -ent department in the South with
hetulquartera at Atlanta, showing the
ervat geographic and strategic value of
(Continued ou Fifth Page.)
SAVANNAH. THURSDAY. MARCH 17, 1898.
SPAIN KICKS ON UNCLE SAM.
Army and navy preparations
TOO WARLIKE.
Definite Representations Submitted
to the State .Department by the
Madrid Government in Reference
to the Matter—Cruiser Montgomery
to Return to Key West at Once—No
Information Received by the Navy
Department From the Court of
Inquiry. 4
Washington, March 16.—The main devel
opments in the Spanish situation to-day
was in connection with the definite repre
sentations submitted by the Spanish gov
ernment to the state department concern
ing the assembling of a large fleet of
American warships at Key West, the war
preparations, and the influence which
these have had on the approaching elec
tions in Cuba-
These representations were exactly in
line‘With the semi-official utterance given
in these dispatches last night and credited
to a high official conversant With the
views of the Spanish cabinet.
While these representations cannot
properly be regarded as a protest against
the attitude and acts of the United States
government, it may unquestionably be set
down as a remonstrance calculated to have
an effect in European court circles.
Not, "however, being a technical protest,
the statement has not called forth any of
ficial rejoinder on the part of the state de
partment, for it is lacking in tangible ac
cusations, being rather an argumentative
presentation of alleged Spanish grievances.
The Fern sailed for Havana from Key
West this afternoon. She goes to relieve
the Montgomery as a home for the officers
engaged in supervising the wrecking oper
ations in Havana harbor.
It may be stated unequivocably that the
Montgomery is not withdrawn owing to
any suggestion from Spanish sources that
her presence is not desired.
It was the announced intention of Sec
retary Long when the criuser was sent
to Havana to keep her there only so long
as the Fern should be engaged in the
work of distributing relief among the
sufferers in Eastern Cuba.
This task having been performed, and,
owing to the return of the court of in
quiry from Havana, there being fewer
persons to accommodate, the Fern, which
is better equipped than the Montgomery
to assist in the wrecking operations, is re
turned to her position.
Up to the close of office hours .the navy
department, yiough it knew officially that
the court of inquiry had corne, over to
*ed as to the findings
The late Mr. Ogd< n-Goelet’s yacht May
flower, wns purchased by the government
to-day. It is said that the object of the
navy department is to provide as quickly
aS possible a number of picket boats of
good spebd and sea-goidg ability to act
as scouts, and also to aid our iron clads
and more expensive vessels in operations
against torpedo boats. A large number
of private yachts have been offered to
the department, and other acquisitions of
the same type as the Mayflower may be
expected.
The fleet at Key West will be aug
mented within the next day or two by
the arrival of the gunboat Annapolis, the
torpedo boat Foote and the naval tugs
Ix'.vdcn and Samoset, while the gun ix>at
Helena is now on her way from the Euro
pean station under orders to report <t
Key West.
The Helena reix>rted her arrival to-day
at Funchal on her w.ly to join the fleet.
These and the other vessels previously or
dered to that point constitute the largest
assemblage of war vessels made since the
demonstration following the Virginias af
fair. and considering the effectiveness and
armament is the strongest assemblage of
ships for other than review purposes
since the war.
The fleet now at Key West and Dry
Tortugas is as follows: Cruiser New
York, battleships Massachusetts, Indiana,
lowa and Texas, criuser Detroit, gun
fyoat Nashville, cruiser Marblehead, dis
patch boat Fern, torpedo boats Dupont,
Cushing, Porter, Winslow and Ericsson.
To these will be added the five ves
sels now en route there.
111 addition to these the Montgomery is
at Havana and is practically a part of
the fleet, the gun boats Wilmington and
Castine.and cruiser Cincinnati are at Bar
badoes, the Newport at Colon, with the
Puritan, Newark. Amphitrite and other
ships of .the North Atlantic, squadron at
points along the coast further northward.
In point of ships, the fleet under Rear
Admiral Cason, Jan. 3, 1874. following the
Virtrinlus affair) was considerably larger.
Although formidable in Its day, this ag
gregation was maile up of the old-style
wooden ships, monitors, which had gone
through the civil war, and every available
craft that could bear guns. /Compared 7
with the modern battleships and cruister4
of the new navy it was insignificant in
tonnage and general effectiveness. It is
noteworthy, however, that this formidable
gathering of ships was at the same point
1 as the present gathering, and during a
critical period with Spain, and that it ‘
did not eventuate in war.
Secretary Alger has made requisition on I
the President* for two large allotments j
from the appropriation of J5t.b00.000 for I
the national defense. One is for $5,000,000 I
for the use of the engineer department of I
the army, tn the completion of certain
fortification works along the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts now Is progress, and the other
Is for f.'.VAjW for the use of the ordnance
department of the army in the acquire
ment of arms and ammunition. Pretty
much all of this money is needed to cover
contracts already made by the military
I establishments.
An encouraging telegram came to the
I department from Admiral Bonce, 00m-
I mandant of the New York navy yard. It
I was: “Naval constrqctor report* dock
No. 3 pumped dry last night. Test of the
structure satisfactory. Caisson joint
leaks, but easily remedied.”
The department places the date for the
I final compktioa erf the dock at April 30.
I in view of this report.
Surgeon General Van Revpen of the
j navy returned to-day Jnom Newport News.
where he went to examine into the practi
cability of converting the Plant lane
eu'umer Ua Grande Duchesse into an am.
bulance or hospital ship for use of the
navy in the event of hostilities with Spam.
Thu steamer, which Gen. Van Keypen say s
is large, roomy and airy, formerly plied
between New York and Savannah, but was
laid up because of complaint about her
So far as the accommodations
are concerned the vessel, after some neces
sary work, would make an admirable am
bulance ship, but the lack of boilers,
which it would take several months to re
place, limits her adaptability for use at the
present time.
The surgeon general has in view several
ships which, with but a limited expendi
ture of money, could be changed into am
bulance ships, but he will be compelled to
await the report of the special board
which is examining into the question of
auxiliary cruisers before taking any ac
tion.
The war department is making ready
for another big contract looking to the
procurement of a lot of shot and shell.
An advertisement has just been issued
calling for “cast iron projectiles for sea
coast cannon.” The bids are made re
turnable next Monday at 3 o’clock at the
ordnance office, war department. The shot
and shell are of the heaviest description,
187 ten-inch solid shot, 910 twelve-inch
mortar shells, weighing 800 pounds each,
and 500 twelve-inch mortar shells weigh
ing 11000 pounds each being wanted. These
projectiles are entirely different from the
$1,000,000 worth ordered yesterday. Those
were wrought steel shot and shell known
as armor piercers and intended for at
tack upon battleships, monitors and such
armored vessels. Those called for now
are for use either against lightly armor
er or unarmored ships, or else for “deck
piecers,” being fired from the mortars
with a plunging fire into the deck of ves
sels lying out at sea. Being of cast metal,
these projectiles, it is expected, will be
much cheaper th&n the armor piercers al
ready ordered..
The equipment bureau of the navy de
partment has prepared itself .for the equip
ment at very short notice of any vessel
of the auxiliary navy that may be ac
quired with the most approved signalling
devices now employed.
Considering the competition offered by
the navy and marine corps, in the enlist
ment of recruits, the war department feels
that it is doing very well in securing men
for the artillery regiments. The adjutant
general’s report td-day was that 220 men
had been secured. This is at the rate of
800 per month, and about as fast as the
men can be properly taken care of.
Adjt. Gen. Corbin yesterday received a
military visitor,who said he was fresh
from the battlefields of Cuba and desired
to arrange with him for the immediate
investmem. of the j>ort of Havana. He
was dressed in a militar y uniform of green
cloth, and said he was ready to take the
field at once. He gave his name as Lieut.
Col. Jorg A. Rivera y Monez, Fourth Army
Corps, Cuban Army, and said he had come
from Gen. Mayria Rodriguez, second in
command. To use his own words, he
“was just from the field and had blood
on his boots,” and he gave every indica
tion of being earnest and eager for the
fray. What he desired .was an army of
5,000 from the United States with which
to begin the invasion of Cuba, and his
plan was la fire on Mr r.> < astte and sack
V’*- f >; ~ i wt
him courteously and .-aid he would see him
later about the army of invasion.
MORE. SOLDIERS FOR TYREE.
tußiisfa Reports 200 Coining From
Old Point Comfort.
Augusta, Ga., March 16.—50 many car
loads of guns and munitions of war have
passed through here en route to southern
coast points that is is an old story.
Late to-night comes the news that a
special train will run from Old Point Com
fort to-morrow, passing through here Fri
day morning, and bringing over 200 sol
diers from Fortress Monroe for Tybee
Island. They will pass through Augusta
about noon Friday and will no doubt at
tract great crowds of interested specta
tors.
There is great activity nmotig the local
military, and some of the companies are
enlisting new members in anticipation of
war service. The Clinch Rifles have been
summoned to their armory under a rath
er mysterious call fpr to-morrow night,
and all sorts of rumops are afloat to-night
among the militiamen.
SPAIN'S FINANCIAL RALLY.
Madrid Paper Certain a Fresh Loan
Could Be Raised Easily.
Madrid, March 16.—The Financial Press
comments upon the facility with which
Spain has supported the heavy financial
burdens incurred on account of the insur
rections in Cuba and the Philippine Isl
ands, and points out that although since
Senor Sagasta has been premier the cost
of the wars has exceeded 300,000,000 pese
tas. the note circulation of thq Bank of
Spain has only increased from 1,174,926,306
to 1,259.630,650 pesetas. Upon this show
ing, the Press asserts that no one doubts
if a fresh loan should be required it
could be raised as easily as was the loan
a year ago.
LIRA NOT FOR SALE.
No Spanish Chamber Would Consent
to Sncli a Proposition.
Madrid, March 16.—A semi-official agen
cy to-day publishes the following an
nouncement: "It is useless to talk of the
sale of Cuba. The question could not be
arranged except by Parliament, and it is
impossible that any (Spanish chamber
would agree to sell the island at any
price.”
STAIN DOESN'T WANT WAR.
El Heraldo Snirgeni* n Compromiie
With the United States.
Madrid, March 16.—El Heraldo, in a very
conciliatory article, supposed in official
circles to be inspired, after pooh-poohing
the "fiction that Spain desires to provoke a
war," says: "If the United States really
wishes peace and Spain is resolved to
maintain it. let each go half way, and the
paciflcauvu ol Cuba, and the tranquility
of Europe will be accomplished."
Sandoval After Ships.
Berlin. March 16.—Senor Samjoval, the
Spanish agent, is negotiating for the pur
chare of a number of old and alow steam
ers of the North German Lloyd Steamship
Company.
North Carolina’s Mar Quota.
Raleigh. N. C.. March 16.—Gov. Russell
to-day received a message asking how
many troops the state could fur- : «h in case
of hostilities. The reply of the Governor
gave 245.t<0 as the number.
FATAL OUTBURST OF FLAME.
FIVE TO FIFTEEN L|VES LOST AT
CHICAGO.
Fire Has Its Origin in an Explosion
Mi the Basement of a Six Story
Business Building' Containing 400
Toilers—Men in Charge of the Two
Elevators Show Great Heroism.
Three Men Hurl Themselves to
Death From Sixth Story Windows.
Chicago, March 16.—1 t required just
twenty minutes this afternoon for one of
the most savage fires Chicago has seen
since the famous cold storage warehouse
fire on the World’s Fair grouids in 1893,
to take ahywhere from five to fifteen lives,
maim thirty people, and reduce a six-story
brick building to a pile of blazing timber,
red-hot bricks and twisted iron.
The number of dead is still in doubt, and
probably will not be definitely known until
the debris is sufficiently cooled to admit of
a search being made for the bodies of
those who are undoubtedly in the ruins.
This will require two days at least.
Three men are known to be dead. They
are:
Samuel A. Clark, bookkeeper for the
Olmstead Scientific Company.
Miles A. Smith, salesman for the same
company.
Edward Binz, cashier for the Sweet Wal
lace Company.
Those reported missing and who had not
returned home or communicated with
their friends to-night, and whose bodies
are believed to be in the ruins, are the fol
lowing:
W. A. Olmstead, proprietor of the W. A.
Olmstead Scientific Company, rushed
through the sixth floor, notifying his em
ployes of their peril, seen to go toward
rear of the building, and was not seen to
leave.
C. H. Armns, secretary of the W. A. Olm
stead Scientific Company.
Mrs. M. E. Harris, widow, 42 years old,
employed as bookkeeper for W. A. Olm
stead Scientific Company. *
Unkown woman seen at the window on
sixth floor shortly after Miles Smith leap
ed to hts death.
C. T. Anderson, employed by 'Sweet,
Wallach & Co.
Tony , last name unknown, office
boy for Sweet, Wallace & Co.
Fred Hamill, vaudeville singer, employed
by National Music Company.
C. A. Brice, cashier for W. A. Olmstead
Scientific Company.
Solomon Grollman, Jr., Western agent
for Henry Holtzman of-Columbus, 0., had
rooms with Sweet, Wallace & Co.
Solomon Grollman, Sr., with Solomon
Grollman, Jr.
Nina Guest, cashier for the National
Music Company.
H. R. Nelson, worked for W. A. Olm-
William Maiv.n, snipping clerk for Pres
byterian Board of Publication.
William Boss, errand boy for Presby
terian. Board of Publication.
W. J. Wilcox, partner of W. A. Olm
stead.
W. R. Nelson, employe of Olmstead
Company.
William A. Marvin, employed by Pres
byterian Publishing Company.
The injured are:
Paul C. Snyder, employed by Sweet,
Wallace & Co., severely burned about the
head and body, taken home; may die.
Emil Bresserman, dropped from third
floor to street; hip broken and spine in
jured; may die.
A. E. McCullough, salesman for Alfred
Peats, jumped from third floor; right hip
and shoulder broken and internal Injuries;
may die
Mary Lepere, burned about face and
head while climbing down fire escape from
Sweet, Wallace & Co.’s floor, fell from
second floor to ground and sustained in
ternal injuries; may die.
Hugh S. Elliott, manager Presbyterian
board of publication, hands and face burn
ed, not serious.
Herman Overman, fell from Are escape;
badly bruised.
H. B. Cunningham, agent for the
ern Pacific Express Company, head and
body buyned.
W. S. Lemley, colored waiter at H. H.
Kohlsaat & Co.’s restaurant, jumi>ed
from s/econd floor of restaurant; right leg
broken. , z
Officer Joseph Rogers, overcome ly
smoke while rescuing people from the
burning building.
Prof. Hansline of the National Music
Company, face and hands burned while
helping employes to reach the fire escape.
E. A. Wise, legs and hands severely
burned.
• Philip Farley, piano mover for Conover
Piano Company, right leg broken In jump
ing from second-story window.
W. H. Murphy, engineer, burned about
face and shoulders.
Josie Baxa, right ankle broken In jump
ing from second-story window.
Annie Baxa, jumped with her sister
from second floor, severely bruised.
David Schaefer, arm broken trying to
catch E. A. McCullough, who jumped
from the third floor.
Andrew Nystrom, face and hands burned.
A. J. Nystrom, face, hands and legs
burned.
Fred Smith, face and nedc cut by fall
ing glass and head bruised by falling
brick.
Jacob Kerchln, letter carrier, jumped
from second story, back injured and
ankle sprained.
John McDermott, jumped from second
floor and dislocated left shoulder, y
James W. Wall, pipeman, hty'd and
back injured by falling wall. <
Kate Carney, forewoman of the Na
tional Music Comi>any, face and
burned in descending from the fourth
floor.
Eiiward D. Hill, employed by the Pres
byterian Publishing Company, ’severely
burned about the face and neck.
The building was eix stories high, had a
frontage of 58 feet on Wabash avenue,
Nos. 215 to ’216. and extended back 160 feet
to an alley. It was of what is known ns
mill construction, and had two elevator
shafts, one on the front and one in the
rear, and reaching from the third story
to the roof was a light shaft, which gave
the flames every chance. It was because
of this shaft that the Are spread with such
rapidity.
The building was occupied by a number
of concerns, some of them employing large
numbers of people. It is estimated that
400 persons were at work in the building
when the fire was discovered.
The origin of the fire is in dispute. The
weight of the evidence eeems to be that
an explosion occurred to the lower part of
i DAILY, 510 AYE AB. i IkT/"k OO
5 CENTS A COPY. I IN O,
I WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK $1 A YEAR f
the building, for the flames shot up the
light shaft at once.
The sound of the explosion threw the in
mates of the building into a panic, and on
several floors a wild stampede for
the stairways and elevators.
*To add to the i/anic the men in charge of
the elevators ran their cars up to the top
of the building shouting “fire” at every
floor. < When they reached the top both
elevators took a load of frightened wo
men and started for the bottom.
The front elevator was iq charge of Har
ry Gleason, a boy, and the rear one was
handled by William St. John,a young man.
Both of these kept their heads, showed
much coolness and bravery, and were in
strumental in rescuing many lives.
The elevator in the front of the building
was a deliberate affair in good order, but
not calculated to produce speed. Gleason
made one trip to the seventh floor, car
ried down a load of women and, although
the smoke was rolling through the build
ing in dense clouds, he started up again.
At the fourth floor he stopped to take on
a crowd of girls from the rooms of the
National Music Company, being assisted in
his work by Miss Katherine Carney, the
forewoman.
A man attempted to force his way into
the elevator, but Gleason shoved him back
into the hall that the women might have
the first chance. The man never came
out and with brave Katherine Carner,
who showed a braver and more unselfish
spirit, probably met death in the flames.
Miss Carney was a true heroine. Al
though at the outset she had an opportun
ity to escape with the other women she
seemed to feel it her duty to stay and help
the escape of the girls over whom she had
charge. Her voice could be heard above
the shrieks of the panic strucken girls,
advising them to preserve order and reas
suring them again and again. She stood
near the stairway and attempted to seize
the frightened women as they dashed
down to the next floor, but was thrown
aside. When she saw that there was nb
hope of stopping the panic, she darted
to the elevator cage to calm- the others.
As the elevator ascended, Miss Carney
ordered the conductor to stop. She then
turned and helped her frightened charges
into the cage. Durng all the excitement
she remained calm and issued, orders' as
though directing the women at work. As
the elevator started to descend without
Miss Carney one of the girls cried to the
conductor to stop, but the brave woman,
though staring death in the face, shouted
for them not to to mind her, that she
would take care of herself. The girls she
sent down the elevator escaped unharm
ed. Miss Carney subsequently left the
building by means of the fire escape.
After reaching the bottom with his load
of girls, Gleason was about to start up
again when the supports of the elevator
machinery at the top caught fire and
seeing that they would give way before
his slow elevator could make another
trip, he gave it up.
At the rear St. John did equally good
work, but was not able to make more
than one trip as the fire swept through
that portion of the building before it at
tacked the front.
Tq msiputes after ex
piosiui that Smarted the fire, u'c esCufie
for the inmates by the stairs and eleva
tors was cut off. There remained only
the windows and the single fire escape, a
narrow iyon thing not over eighteen
inches from side to side, and was speedily
covered with a string of people, some on
one side some on the other. of
them who could not reach the fire escsfre
made their way to the front windows,
and it was out of thes# that Clark, Smith
and Rinz hurled themselves to death.
Clark was bookkeeper for the Olmstead
Scientific Company on the seventh floor,
and remained to put the books in the safe.
He might have escaped had he run upon
the first alarm. He was first seen at one
of the seventh story windows and a few
minutes after showed himself in a win
dow of the sixth floor. The fire was close
upon him, the floors and walls behind him
were crashing down and it was certain
death for him to remain where he was.
There was no possibility of help and he
took his only chance. Three seconds later
he was dead on the pavement below.
Mlles A. Smith, a salesman ’for the
Olmstead Scientific Company, also leaped
from a window in the sixth floor. He hes
itated some time before taking the leap,
but like Clark, understood that it was
his only hope. He was instantly killed,
his body being horribly manglefl.
\ Edward Binz, the cashier of Sweet,
Wallace & Co., on the sixth floor, fell a
victim to his desire to save others and to
protect his books from harm. He, upon
hearing the alarm, ran to the rear of the
stone to warn the employes to run for
their lives.
He then rushed back to his desk, gath
ered his books and jammed them into
the vault. Then he started for the star
way, but the flames were ahead of him
and he turned back. Tnere was nothing
but the window and to *this he went. He
clambered upon the sill and stood there
in view of thq crowd below. Clark and
Smith had already bedaubed the pave
ment with their life blood. The building
was a roaring mass of flames and Binz’s
face and hands were badly burned before
he jumped. He pondered the matter but
a few seconds, then his form shot down
ward through a cloud of flame and smoke
and in the drawing of a breath he was as
lifeless as the stones over which his blood
and brains were spattered.
A fireman distinguished himself by a
daring rescue. He was upon a ladder
close to the building when he heard a cry.
The fireman saw a man in a window of
the fifth story carrying an inanimate form.
That the rescuer was about to throw the
unconscious human being into the street
in the vain hope of saving the man from
a death by roasting, was evident. The
fire was roaring so that no voice could
be heard. Putting up his hands as a sig
nal to wait until he got ready the fireman
braced himself upon the ladder and then
waved his arms for the rescuer to drop
the unconscious man to him. With a
shock that nearly knocked the heroic fire
man from »his position, the body of the
man struck the fire fighter. But tt did
not get .away from him. He held the un
conscious man through ail the swaying
and swinging of the ladder. Hastily de
scending the fireman turned his burden
over to the police and returned to his
post. The man who had saved the workman
had disappeared. He had a chance to es
cape. had he been brave enough to dash
through the smoke and flame. But if he
did. not Immediately follow the fireman
who bore away the man he had picked
up on the fifth floor his charred remains
will be found In the ruins when the search
for the dead is made.
W. A. Olmstead, president of the Olm
stead Scientific Comjany. ran to the rear
of the building 215 Wabash aveue, and has
not been seen since. It is thought he has
been buried in the ruins.
George Fenters isroperty man at the
(Continued on Fifth Page.)
WATSON HEADS THE TICKET.
POPULISTS NOMINATE A FULL
STATE TICKET.
Mr. Watson Fails to Say He Will Nos
Accept the Nomination mid tiro
Convention Thereupon Selects
Him—L. O. Jackson Named for Sec
retary of State and Ben MillikeiW
for Controller General—W. L. Peele
Named for Commissioner of Agri,
culture.
Atlanta, Ga., March 17, 2 a, m.-—The pop.
ulist state convention broke up at 1 o'clock
this morning after threatening to sit up
till daylight wrangling over a proposition
to recommend a non-partisan ticket fofl
Supreme Court judges, composed of W. B.
Hill, Pop., of Macon, for chief
W.i R. Leaken, 'Rep., of Savannah, and
H. T. Lewis, Dem., of Greene. /
The convention had already adopted a'
platform denouncing a partisan judiciary,,
but there was a bitter fight made when it
came to carrying out the idea by the mixed
ticket. The leaders were for it, however,;
and it finally went through, roll call being
resorted to, and the leaders vindicating
themselves by manipulating the vote.
Tom Watson was nominated for Govern
or with a whoop.
During the afternoon, it was believed
that he would not take the nomination,,
and in the confusion that followed, all
nominations put off till the night ses
sion.
Then a message was received stating
that Mr. Watson would not say he would
not accept the nomination, though he did
not want it. At this hfe was nominated
with a rising vote.
Maj. McGregor, Mr. Watson’s close per
sonal friend, gave the message to the con
vention and brought on the nomination.
He thinks Mr. Watson will accept
the situation as forced upon him and make
a vigorous campaign. If he does the gu
bernatorial campaign will be a warm one,
Mr. Watson hhs declared repeatedly of
late that he is out of politics, however, and
he would not come to the convention.
Yancey Carter, the big Populist from
Hart county, who was expected to be a
prominent figure in the convention, and
possibly as nominee for Governor, did not
show up at all. His absence caused a
great deal of comment.
The convention held three sessions. Thel
attendance was not nearly so large as in
past conventions, which is doubtless an in
dication that there is a slump in popu
lism.
W. L. Meek was made permanent chair
man, and his son-in-law, M. D. Grivin,
secretary.
Chairman Cunningham called the con
«v mi u<. 'iu .in dphe, so flepv.-ved,
hingicif of a Sjieech that had a,lol of gin
ger in it for the three Democratic candi
dates for Governor and Democrats in gen
eral. The full ticket nominated is as fol
lows: , ]
For Governor—Thomas E. Watson.
(Secretary pf State—L. O. Jackson of De
catur county.
.Controller General—Ben Milliken of
Wayne county.
Attorney General—Carey Thornton of
Muscogee county.
Treasurer—W. J. H. Traylor of Troupi
county.
Slate School Commissioner—B. M. Zet
tler of Fulton county.
Commissioner of Agriculture—W. L.
Peek of Rockdale county.
Prison Commissioner—J. $. Davitt of
Polk county.
C. G. McGregor, Gen. William Phillipa
and W. D. Howkins were, elected members
of the national committee.
Sixty-six degcates were elected to
the national Populist convention. The
delegates from the First district are J.
D. Franklin, H. S. White, C. S. Grice’,
W. P. Bfewer, D. C. Newton and H. G.
Edenfield, the latter to be accerdited as ai
delegate from the state at large.
The following is the resolutions and plat
form reported and adopted, after a hot
fight over the prohibition plank, which
was sought to be stricken out, but without
effect. The resolutions tire-.
“Taxation of the state, being under Dem
ocratic administration, increased more
than 100 per cent, since the Republican ad
ministration of R. B. Bullock, notwith
standing the taxable property of the state
has doubled since 1879, we pledge ourselves
if placed in power to reduce the present
high rate of taxation without a reduction
in the pension or common school funds.
"Resolved, by the convention of the Pop
ulists of Georgia, That as a political party
we are without a national chairman, and
call upon the national committee to rem
edy the evil at the earliest possible mo
ment.
"Resolved, That wo indorse the action
of the Nashville v conference and the re
organization committee at St. Louis Jan,
12, in favor of a national convention, to bo
held July 4, 1898.” .
The platform in substance is:
"We endorse the St. Louis platform.
“Civilization, to say nothing of religion,
has entered up judgment of condemnation
against bar-rooms. The public conscience
revolts at the license system which fat
tens the saloons and generates its mani
fold evils in consideration of revenue that
pays Itss than a tithe of the public bur
dens it entails. It is monopolistic and es
sentially immoral.
“We favor the passage of an anti-bar
room bill which shall close the bar-rooms
at once; which shall make secure the local
prohibition already obtained and provide
for the sale of non-intoxicating liquors oth
erwise than in bar-rooms under public
control.
“We unqualifiedly fondemn the convict
law passed by the legislature of 1§97 as be
ing the enactment of a system more in
iquitous than the old lease net. We be
lieve the state herself should keep pos
session of her prisoners and should em
ploy th» m on the public roads o nd rot
allow them brought in competition with
free labor, and that reformatories be es
tablished for juvenile criminals.
“We indorse the St. Louis platform and
condemn the convict lease system and fav
or the establishment of juvenile reforma
tories.
"We declare in favor of the
ment and extension of the
system, favoring the printing of school
books by the state and the payment of
teachers monthly.
"We condemn the acceptance of free
passes by public officials.
"We condemn lynching and demand of
(Continued on Fifth Page.)