Newspaper Page Text
f THE MORNING NEWS, l
•< Established IKBO. Iwookporated 1886,1
} J. H. LbTILL, Fresideut. \
A RIVER STEAMER AFIRE,
THE L.OSB OF LIFE ESTIMATED AT
FROM 35 lO 60.
The Brave Officers Stood at Their
Posts to the Last and thus Pre
vented Still More Horrible Resulis
-Many of the Deaths the Result of
the Benumbing of Limbs in the Cold
Water—The Monetary Loss Heavy.
Msmfhib, Dl-c. 23.—The elegant pas
senger steamer Kate Adams, running as a
semi-weekly packet between Memphis and
Arkansas City, was burned this morning
near Commerce, Miss., forty miles south of
this city. Bhe was en route for Memphis,
and had about 300 people aboard, including
her deck and cabin crew of 80, aud 25 cabin
and 60 deck passenger*, aud 25 colored
cabin passengers.
THE ALARM AND THE PANIC.
The fire, which caught in some cotton
near the forward end of the boilers, was
discovered about S o’clock. The passengers
were at breakfast, and when the alarm was
given they all made a rush for the forward
deck. At the time, the steamer was about
300 yards from the Mississippi side of the
river, and her bow was at once headed for
the shore.
HEROES OF THE DISASTER.
Pilot J. A. Barton was on watch, and he
remained heroically at his post until she
was safely landed.
Harry Best, the second clerk, who was
seated at the table when the alarm was
given, had brought all the ladies aud chil
dren forward and assisted them ashore.
Captain Mark Cheek, who was on the
hurricane deck, remained there giving his
commands until the stage plank was safely
lowered.
DRIVEN FROM HIS POST.
The fire by this time had spread through
nil the cabins, and he was compelled to re
treat to the rear and climb over the rails,
aud descended to the cabin.
Here ho found Chief Clerk W. C. Blanker,
who had made an effort to save the money
and papers of tho steamer, which were in
the safe.
HEMMED IN BY THE FLAMES.
He managed to grab the money, but was
cut off from the bow and forced back into
the cabin. As ho was groping his way aft
he stumbled and fell over 8 -me chairs and
lost all the val ables he had secured, and it
was with great difficulty that he succ e led
in reaching the rear through the blinding
smoko and flam s which filled the cabin.
floating for three miles.
Capt. Cheek seized a life-preserver and
placing it on Chief Clerk Blanker, helped
him overboard into the water. He floated
down about three miles before he was
rescued by parties who had walked ashore
and followed him down the river.
THE CAPTAIN SWIMS ASHORE.
Captain Cheek assisted s veral others in
aecui lii©-preservers, and when it was
no longer possible for him to remain with
out being burned, he, too, jumped into the
river and swam ashore.
There were übout twenty-five colored
cabin passengers, who were saved along
with the white passengers.
ON THE LOWER DECK.
On tho lower de?k, however, a fearful
panic seized the crew and deck passengers.
Those who wore cut off from escape from
the bow, were coinj>elled to jump over
board to save their lives. The stern of the
burning steamer had swung ut into the
river, and an effort was made to launch a
yawl. It was copsized by the crowd which
tilled it. and many of its occupants drowned.
They were mostly colored men, but there
were three or four women in the crowd.
SOME OF THOSE LOST.
The lost, so far as can be learned, are as
follows:
George Corbet, third clerk, aged 39
years, who had launched the yawl and was
trying to save tho colored woAen on the
lower deck. He leaves a wife, who resides
in St. Louis.
Joseph Porter.
Andrew Rees.
Monroe Jackson
James Nelson.
Senator Coleman.
Hilliard Horton.
The six last named wore part of the col
ored cabin crew.
Lee Finley, a colored roustabout.
Frank W ells, a colored roustabout.
FIFTEEN DKCK PASSENGERS DROWNED.
In addition about fifteen deck passengers,
four of whom were white men, were also
drowned. lu this list of unknown were
three* colored w men and two children.
They were c >miag to Memphis to Rpend the
holidays. T o whites had been working on
the levees and their names and destination
are unknown.
THE BLAZING HULL AFLOAT.
The burning steamer drilled away, after
Ling at the bank twenty minutes, and
floated down the river, her hull sinkiug at
tho head of Peter’s island, four miles below
Commerce.
The Kate Adams was owned by the
Memphis and Vicksburg Packet company.
Khe was built by James Rees & Sons of
Pittsburg, m 1882, and cost $102,000.
BEST OF HER TYPE.
She was the finest and fastest steamer of
her type, aud her owners this summer spent
$20,000 in repairing her at Paducah. .She
was insured for $33,750 in St. Louis, Cin
cinnati and other foreign offices. This
would have been the completion of her
602nd trip in the Memphis and Arkansas
City trade.
HER OFFICERS.
Her officers were: Mark It. Check, cap
taiu; W. C. Blinker, Harry Best, George
Corbett aud William Donahue, clerks;
William Hodges and Joseph Barton, pilots:
Lewis Bolto and Richard Young, engineers;
Thomas Allen and Frank Brady, mates;
Jeremiah Matson, steward.
HER CARGO.
Her cargo consisted of 1,161 bales of cot
ion. 1,900 sack* of cotton seed, 87 bags of
*eed, and a good list of sundries. The cot
ton was consigned to Memphis merchants,
and was fully insured in their open policies.
Fader, Frank & Cos., Hill, Fontaine & Cos.,
and Thomas ILa lien & Cos., wore the largest
consignees.
THE CABIN PASSENGERS.
The cabin passengers who wer e on board
w "re Mr. atid Mr*. I homo* McLemore aud
two children, of Bolivar county, Miss.;
Mrs. Maggrcfleld, of Memphis; JohnCuebu
and five children, ot Roseuale, Mis*.; A. M.
Harris and wife, of Laconia, Mi**.; Mrs.
Johnson and child, of Lac <ia; Capt. T. C.
Glotter, assistant engineer of the
Miasußippi liovee Board; John
Woods Harris, of Memphis; Capt.
Elisha Evans of Memphis, ana W. P. Jack
man. agent of the American Cotton Seed
Oil Trust Company. There wore several
other female passongor*, but their names
could not be learned.
CONTENTS or THE KAFR.
The safe contained about $5,000. About
$2,000 of this belonged to passengers who.
The Morning News.
had given it to the clerk for safe keeping.
All the surviving passengers and crew ar
rived at Meinp is this afternoon at 6
o’clock, having taken a Lo lisville, New
Orleans and Texas railroad train at Robin
sonville, which station is eight miles dis
tant in the interior from where the disaster
occurred.
WILLING HANDS.
The citizens of Commerce rendered the
passengers and crew every assistance in
reachi g Robinsonville, conveying them
there in wagons and every conceivable
vehicle that could be procured. There
were 107 from the ill-fated steamer that
came to Memphis, Capt. Cheek defraying
the expenses of all those who did not have
funds.
NOTHING SAVED.
Tho passengers and crew lost all their
clothing and effects, and some made their
escape to the shore from the burning
steamer en dishabille , but were provided
with clothes by tho kind cilizens of Com
merce.
Three of the colored cabin crew who
were rescued from the water died after
ward. Their names appear in the list
already given. The water wa* very cold,
which benumbed the limbs of those who
jumped overboard, and to this is attributed
the greatest loss of life.
PRAISE FOR THE OFFICERS.
All speak in tho highest terms of the
coolness and bravery displayed by the
officers. The captain, cle k, pilots and
engineers, all remained at their posts until
tho last, and it was through iheir efforts
and courage that all the lady passengers
were safely taken ashore.
John Woods Harris, who was a passenger,
jumped from the *tage plank before It had
been lowered, and was internally injured.
A WOMAN’S PAINFUL FALL.
Mrs. Dr. Harris of Laconia sustained a
sprained ankle by fulling from a cotton bale
in descending from the cabin to the lower
deck.
Capt. Elisha Evans, who is an old steam
boat pilot, was a passenger on the steamer.
Ho was in the pilot house with Barton when
the fire was discovered, and aided in safely
landing the steamer. Ho came down and
assisted Clerk Harry Best in getting the
women and children ashore.
THE BOAT THAT NEVER CAME.
John D. Adams, the principal owner of
the steamer, arrived early this morning
from Little Rock. He was on the bluff
about noon, looking for the boat to arrive,
when informed that she had burned at
Commerce.
AN INSURANCE MAN’S STORY.
Col. J. M. Hunter of Louisville,solicitor for
the New York Mutual Life Insura ce Com
pany. who was a passenger on the ill-fated
vessel, gives a thrilling account of his ex
perience on board the steamer. When the
alarm was given he was at breakfast, and
hastily repaired to his stateroom to save
his effects. By the time he had gathered
his valise, he found that his escape by way
of the bow of the boat was cut off by the
flames, which had spread with lightning
like rapidity, and he made for tho stern of
tho boat.
SINK OR SWIM. .
Tho distance to the stern was fully 100
feet, aud he saw at a glance that it was
to bo death or swim, so ho disrobed himself,
and securing a life-preserver, pe pared for
the struggle. He remained aboard until
almost suffocated by smoke, and as
the pilot house of the steamer foil,
he jumped overboard, and after a struggle
in the water of ten minutes, succeeded in
reaching shore. He had nothing on but his
underclothes, and was given a pair of pants
taken from a white man who had been res
cued from the water, but who afterward
died. A negro man also gave him a coat
and hat, and with these coverings be came
to Memphis.
MOTHER AND CHILDREN DROWNED.
Col. Hunter also says that while he was
in the rear of the cabin he saw a colored
woman throw her three children into the
river and then jump in herself, aod all
four were drowned.
Mrs. Harry Fields, one of tho lady pas
sengers, said to an Associated Press
reporter that she boarded the
steamer at Friar’s Point, Miss.,
about 2 o’clock 'in the morning, and in
structed the chambermaid to awaken her at
10 o’cloc*. Instead, she was aroused at 7:30
o’clock, and was seated at the breakfast
table when the cry of fire was heard. She
paid little attention to it at first, but when
she saw smoke filling the cabin she ran to
the bow of the steamer, which by this time
had touched the bank, and tried to jhmp
ashore. She failed and fell to the lower
deck.
SAVED BY A NEGRO.
A negro, who was close behind her, fol
lowed her example, and, like her, failed to
reach the shore, but fell near her. The fire
was scorching hot where they were, but the
negro took her in his arm* aud took her to
the bank, and thus saved her from being
burned to deith, as she was unable to move
after having fallen from tbe boiler deck.
A PLANTER PERISHED.
Mrs. Fields is positive that W. A. Cov
ington. a planter and merchant of Rose
dale, Miss., perished in the flimes. She
thinks he mu.t have been suffocated In his
stateroom, as he was* aboard and nothing
has been seen or heard of him since the dis
aster.
Billy Hodges, one of the pilots, was in the
barbershop getting shaved when the alarm
was given. He rushed to the stern of the
boat, and, providing himself with a life
preserver, jumued overboard. While Swim
miug to shore he found Samuel Robinson, a
passenger, struggling in the water, and as
sisted him to land.
A MURDERER LOBT.
It is reported that a negro murderer, who
was being brought back here for trial,
perisho lon board the steamer. He was
handcuffed and the officer in charge made
his escape, and left the negro in his helpless
condition, and he was burned to death.
The greatest excitement prevailed in
Memphis wneii the first news of the disas
ter was received here. It came a out noon
in the shape of a private telegram from
Robinsonville, and said that lftO lives had
been lost. Later account* were reassuring,
and a large crowd of citizens were at tue
depot when tile train arrived, bringing
those who had succe ded in escaping.
THIRTY-FIVE TO FIFTY LOST.
It is impos-iblo to definitely ascertain
how many lives were really lost, butca
comparative estimate places tbe number at
not less than 35, and it may possibly reach
50.
When the Are broke out many bales of
cotton were dumped overboard, and during
the stampede a great many negroes threw
themselves in the water aud floated away
on them.
Alexander Harris, his nife and several
children (colored) from Bolivar Landing,
aro said to have been drowned.
Bea Swept In Florida's btraits.
Philadelphia, Dec. 23.—Tbe •chooner
John H. Wood, from Pascagoula yesterday,
report* very severe weathe- during tue en
tire passage, and while iu tbe straits of
Florida had her deck load of lumber washed
overbuild. Bhe Is leaking slightly.
Ex-Congressman Sprlgg Dead.
Utica, N. Y., Dec. 23.—Kx-Congroasman
J. Thomas Bprigg died at bis residence In
this city to-day from apoplexy.
SAVANNAH. GA.. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1888.
PEACE WITH HAYTL
The Seized Steamer Surrendered to
, the Men-of-War.
Havana, Dec. 23.—Ad vices have been re
ceived from llayti to the effect that tho dis
pute over tho seizure of the American
steamer Haytien Republic ha* been fettled.
The steamer has been delivered to tho Amer
ican nion-of-war and the latter have honored
the liaytian flag with a salute of twenty
one guus. Among the people the action
of tho United States government is
considered an abuse of power against a
helpless nation, and this opinion is said to
bo shared by >ome of the foreign diplomatic
representatives.
Gen. Letigimo has been unanimously
elected President of the Republic and is
taking energetic steps to rep. ss the revolu
tion.
SECRETARY WHITNEY EXPECTED IT.
Washington, Dec. 23.—Secretary Whit
ney when shown tho associated press dis
patch announcing tho surrender of the
steamer Haytien Republic, said.that he had
expected such a termination of the matter.
So far as tho navy department was con
cerned, it was a satisfactory set
tlement of the alTair. He supposed
a claim for indemnity would be
made, but that was a matter belonging to
the state department. The secretary said
that the United States vessel* would cruise
about In the neighborhood of Hayti fora
short time to pro ect the interests of
American citizens and watch the progress
of events. It would probably boa dav or
two before anything would be heard from
Admiral Luce.
A NEPHEW OF GEN. YOUNG KILLED
Western and Atlantic Railroad Cars
Piled la a Heap.
Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 23.—The Western
and Atlantic railroad had a disastrous
wreck this morning near Mclvers Station,
sixteen miles from Atlanta. Railway
Agent Hugh Young of Carterville, a
nephew of Gen. Pierce M. B. Young, was
killed, and Engi >eer George Buffington,
Fireman Robert Burnett, and Postal Clerks
Alex inder and Bunn were painfully but
not seriously injured. The accident was
caused by a defect.vo joint at a switch. The
engine tore loose from the tender, which
was mounted by the mail car, it being
thrown across the track on the too of the ten
der. The combination express, and baggage
car also piled up on the postal car and both
were completely wrecked. The remainder of
the train left the track and rau into freight
cars on a sidiug whicn were loaded with
bulk corn. Two of them were torn open
aud their contents distributed with the con
tents of the mail aud baggage and express
cars. This much of the train was com
pletely demolished. Tho roof was torn
from the first coach. The wreck covers
the track for over 100 yards and travel will
not be restored until to-morrow as tho rails
are also torn up.
A NEGRO TORN TO THREDS.
The Work Don® By the Iron Wheels of
• a Night Express.
Augusta, Oa., Dec. 23.—When the night
express of the Georgia road ran into the car
shed this morning here, a ghastly spectacle
met the view of those around. On the pilot,
of the engine, the tender wheels and the
steps of the ladies' car were fragments of a
human body, while adheri g to the steps
was a piece of bloody clothing. The indica
tions were that tue blood marks uad been
on tho train for quite v a while. Information
from up the road tejjs of the Killing of a
negro manat Dorsey, mx miles above Madi
son, but the retnai s were so badiv man
gled that they could not be identified.
STANLEY'S SAFETY.
The Congo Free Btate Receives Con
firmatory Dispatches.
Brussels, Dec. 23.—Official dispatches
to the government of the Congo Btate con
firm tbe report of the arrival of Stanley
aud Emin Pasha on the Aruwhimi river.
CARDINAL LAVIGERIE’S VIEWS.
Rome, Dec. 23. —Cardinal Lavigerie made
an address ou the slavery question lu the
Gesu church to-day. He said that a gen
erul expression of public opinion was newini
to force European governments to take
action in the matter. The Mussulman
princes must be compelled to fulfill their
engagements. It was impossible to expect
the abolition of domestic slavery, but the
trafllc in slaves must be suppress^!.
THE KHEDIVE’S LETTER.
London. Dec. 24, 5 A. m.— Tho Daily Tfl
egraph't correspondent at Suakim, says:
"I am assured that the K iedive’s letter to
Emiu Pasha, a copy of which Osman Digna
sent to Gen. Greniell, was positively a state
secret, aud that no copy ever left Ca ro.
Tbe news of Stanley's return to the
Aruwhimi is not considered hero as neces
sarily conflating with the report of the
capture of Emin.
ITALY'S LEGISLATORS.
Tho Credit for the Defenses Voted by
the Deputies.
Rome, Dec. 23.—The chamoer of deputies
yesterday, by a vote of 175 to 32, passed the
bill authorizing a credit of 145,(X)0,000 lire
for defenses. The chamber adjourned to
January 15.
The Senate by an informal vote agreed
to the emigration bill.
Sigma- Magleani, minister of finance, has
resigned. Tue cabinet is considering the
appointment of his successor.
BWARMING WITH ARABS.
The Enemy Bald to be In Strong Force
at Handoub.
Suakim, Dec. 23.—Arab deserters say
there is a 6trong force of rebels at Handoub,
aud that many bodies of natives killed in
tho recent fight are being oonveyed to that
village.
Shots were fired to-day at the British
outposts, showing that the enemy continues
to bo active.
Zanzibar'* Sultan Cool* Down.
Zanzibar. Dec. 23.—Owing to the pro
test of the British i eprese itatire here, the
Sultan has cancelled his order for the
wholesale execution of criminals.
Tbe German war ship Leipsig has cap
tured another dhow, with 140 slaves. Tue
squadron has captured no arms or ammuni
tion. This shows that the coast natives aro
amply supplied.
Lawrence Oliphant Dead.
London, Dec. 23.—Lawrence Oliphant,
the well known writer, died of cancer of the
lungs this afternood, at Twickenham, the
residence of Sir Grant Duff.
Austrian* Made Generals.
Vienna, Dec. 23.—Emperor Franci*
Joseph has appointed Count Andrassv a
general of cavalry and Baron Beck a gen
eral of artillery.
John Bright Recovering.
London, Dec. 23 —John Bright 1* recov
ering bu health. He set lo e ctaeir half au
hour to-day.
FIRE LICKING CP A TOWN
THE TERRIBLE BWEEP OF THE
FLAMES AT MENOMINEE.
The Red-Tongued Monster's Rush
with the Wind Down the House-
Lined Street—Bitter Blaeta of the
Northwester Add to the Suffering
of the Homeless Women and Chil
dren.
Menominee, Mich. Dec. 23.—The town
of Hermansville, in tho upper peninsula, 47
miles north of here, has been entirely de
stroyed by fire. Hermansville is a luml>or
ing settlement at tho crossing of tho Menom
inee division of the Chicago and North
western and Sauit Ste. Marie railroads, and
had population of about 400. The tire
originated in on© of two largo
sawmills owned by the Wisconsin
Land and Lumber Company, it is thought
from a match carelessly dropped by a
workman. The sawdust and shavings
quickly ignited, and the flames communi
cated to iJjo sawed lumber, which sur
rounded the mill.
SPREAD OF THE FLAMES.
Efforts wore made to prevent the spread
of the fie, but the flames extended
o an adjoining saw mill, which,
together with an extensive plauing mill
quickly fell prey to the fire, it was then
apparent tha the remainder of tho towu
was doomed, and every effort was devoted
to saving the merchandise in the stores aud
the g>.*>ds in the dwellings. The work was
prosecuted with great vigor in the face of
a bitterly cold northwest wind, laden with
particles of suow, which rendered out of
door work extremely difficult aud exhaust
ing.
HUTS FOR THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
A great part of the personal property of
the inhabitants was saved, however, and
tents and rude shanties were con tructod in
the woods on the outskirts of the town for
the accommodation of the women and chil
dren, who suffered greatly from their ex
posure to ihe cold. No lives were lost
either by the fire or through exposure.
After tho plauiug mill took fire the flame
ate their way steadily down the oast side of
t o single street of the village for a dis
ance of 250 feet, aud then leaping across
an intervening space, seized upon the post
office on tho opposite side, au l in a few
minutes the buildings on both sides of the
street were burned.
Within three hours from the time the fire
originated in sawmill No. 1 the entire town
was in ashes. The total damage will ap
proximate $250,000, a large part of which
will fall upon the Wisconsin Laud and Lum
ber Company.
A 810 BLAZE AT MONTEZUMA.
A Warehoua® Ita Star tngr Point and
Incendiarism
Montezuma, Ga., Doc. 23. —About 4
o’clock this morning firo was discovered in
the QQttou warehouse of Brown & Wes
brook. It was a wooden building and was
soon in ashes. Four hundred and fifty bales,
of cotton, together with 500 bushels of oats.
500 bushels of cotton seed and a lot of agri
cultural implements were totally destroyed.
G. W. Forehand & Cos., proprietors of a
general merchandise store adjoining the
warehouse, lose about SI,OOO by water.
They are insured.
The cotton was all insured, except abou*
fifty bales. The building was insured for
$1,500.
J. M. Harrison’s Sons lose 300 bushels of
oats and have no iusuranc *.
W. P. Maxwell loses 500 bushels of cotton
seed and about SI,OOO in agricultural im
plements. Ho has no insurance.
The loss will aggregate $20,000.
The fire is suppo ed to have ben tho
work of an incendiary.
The cotton is still burning, and the water
supply is very near exhausted, but no
further outbreak is anticipated.
FLOOD FOLLOWS FIRE.
A Chinese Town Visited by Two Dlsae
ters in a Day.
San Francisco, Dec. 23.—1n Raigo,
China, on Nov. 20, fire destroyed 700 of tbe
1,000 houses in the town, including the
iiostoflice and most of the temples. The
flames had been extinguished only half an
hour when the river, swelled by a flood,
-wept away the embankments, broke a
bridge anil caused great damage to crops.
T- e double visitation has caused great
misery.
FIRE GcBS TO CHURCH.
The Result le the Destruction of tbe
Edifice.
East Orange, N. J., Dec. 23.—Christ
Episcopal church, a wouden structure at the
corner of Mulford and Main streets, of
which Dr. H. S. Bishop is rector, wo
burned early this morning. Tbe structure,
together with a piano, organ, clerical vest
ments, and other valuable articles, was en
tirely destroyed.
JACSONVILLE'3 SUNDAY LAW.
Mayor Smith Causes the Arrest of
Saloon Keepers.
Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 23.— The
whiskey men are again in trouble in this
city. During tbe epidemic they have had
full swing owiry; to the great confusion,
and openly violated Ihe Sunday ordinance,
but since Mayor Smith’s return he has beon
on the alert for all Sunday violators. He
gave tho police orders t is morning 1 1 keep
a lookout over all b sines* houses and to
arrest any persou caught violating the Sun
day law.
John B. Tognl, who runs a saloon on the
Corner of Bay and N ’wnan streets, was ar
rested this morning charged with selling
liquor on Sunday. Another violator was
L. Smelling-, who has been selling whh-key
at No. 3UI West Bay street without license.
They will h .ve a heart g (p-morrow morn
-1 g bef re tbe police judge. Mayor Smith
seems determined to nave the Sunday ordi
nance rigidly enforced, and bis action meet*
the approval of all good citizens.
ANEW ROUTE TO THE NORTHWEST.
Th* Orange Belt Road to Connect with
tbe Mobile and Ohio.
Oakland, Fla., Dec. 23.—C01. Samuel
Tate, a prominent railroad ex-president,
arrived here to-day cn a special train
en rou s to Clear Water. Contract* bav*
been let and engineers put in ihe Held for
an extension of the Orange Belt railroad
into Sanford. It is expected that the work
will be completed to that city in thirty
days. The Orange Belt r ad has just made
an arrangement for opening anew freight
and ruunetiger route to the northwest via
the Mobile anil Ohio railway and sleamers
from Mobile to St. Petersburg. The steam
ers Cumberland and Lizzie llenderson leave
Mobile twice each week for Hr. i’eterihurg,
the deep water gulf terminue of the Orange
Balt road. Freight shipments over this
new line ore enormous.
GILBERT’S INSANITY.
A Statemont That Seems to Justify
His confinement.
Macon, Ga., Doc. 23.—A special to the
Telegraph from Albany say*: “With re
gard to John D. Gilbert, who ts now con
fined in tho asylum, tho following state
ment is necessary to show the true state of
tho case, after tlio publication of the Gil
bert letter: Mr. Gilbert does belong to one
of the first aud best families of tho stuto,
but the story, as published, has not the
shadow' of truth about it as fur as his rela
tives hero are concerned. Mr. Gilbert was
reared in Albany, and was a you g man of
fine busiuo'S qualities before his sad mis
fortune overtook him. Mr. Gilbert became
an habitual drinker, aud tho loving in
fluence of a devoted wife and
kind, considerate, patient brothers could
not Mop him iu his downward cour e.
Finally ho became violently insane and
made violent attacks ou Dr. W. W. Bacon
and others of his frien is. ITo was triod for
luuacy according to the laws of the state,
and .sent to the asylum for the protection of
himself and his family, and tho whole board
of physicians of Albany will testify thut lie
is u tit subject for his | resent quart©, s. If
any does, your correspondent knows Mr.
Gilbert, and held a conversation with him at
ihe Central depot w hen he was at home
last. I was waitiug for a train, and Mr.
Gilbert approached me and wanted to
pawn his gold watch for 25 cents
or half a pint of liqu >r. I remonstrated
with him and told him to go homo to hi*
wife and children. "No,’' said he. “1
will die if I don’t get a drink, and if you
wou’t tako the watch some ou© else
will. I am not in fit condition
to go to my family and am going back to
MiTloiigcvillo where 1 can be cured.” Ills
quotation from Hon. Lewis Arnheiui is noi
true. His wife and children are in danger
f their lives when be is at homo, and it
will be fouud, if Mr. Wright listen* to th
s’-ory of the distorted mind aci
makes an investigation, that Mr.
Gilbert's story is not true. As to being tie
tuiuod by his brother, it is true, and his de
tention was sanctioned by his deeply
grieved wife and every one of Albany’*
good citizens, and their actions in the case
are through the kindest of fe lings toward
the patient and his wife and children.
Your correst ondent is per onally h
quainted with the patient’s family relatives.
Knows well Gilbert’s periodically violent
condition, and that the story written bj
him is uutrue. Dr. Powell is well ac
quainted with tho particulars of the case,
andean get ail tho proof necessary to jus
tifv Gilbert’s dete tion.
Gilbert’s wife and children have a coin
fortable home here, where they now resnb .
It is for the best that he should stay who
he is until kiud providouco restores hi
reason.
“In an interview with his wife, she said:
‘I never expect to live with Mr. Gillie t
airain, for I con ider him unsafe, and a fi
subject for tho asylum, and he ought t*
•have been in the asylum long before no wa*
sent there. He is a confirmed morphia*
mebrate and was for years before any one*
knew it. It was first administered by o
physician and became habitual with him. J
have known him to eat a dollar’s worth in
a day. He claims it has a pleasant offer
and allays hi* third, for liquor.*
“Gilbert escaped from th© osy
lum once, and went to Augusn,
sold his watch aud came home. Ilia brother
are very km i to him, and would have trie.
to keep him at home had he not returne
under the influence of liquor or morphine.
He is uncontrollable at such times, an<
when he arrived hero about a month
ago he was immediately placed und i
arrest at the request of Dr. Powell. lam
ery sorry there has been any publicity < i
tbo matter, but your letter shows up th<
f rue state of the case, and is but doiru
justice to his br >ther. “Mr. Gilbert should
not be allowed to write such letters for pub
lication or anything el e.”
MAY MARCH ON MARCH 4.
Washington, D*c. 23.—The Bibb Bluet,
a colored military compa y of Macon, hav
applied to the inaugura ion committee for
information about quarters about March 4.
LONGdTREET .N THE CABINET.
A Belief that He will be tbe Repre
Bentatlve of tbe South.
Washington. Dec. 23.—Gen. Harrison
was very much impressed by Gen. Long
street when tbe latter called on him a
I dianapolis. Those who have seen Gen.
Harrison since are saying, that thoy rather
expect to see him selected os toe souther
member of the cabinet. It is practicaili
certain now that Gen. Mnbo o will not bt
the southern representative. Willinm 0.
Bradley of Kentucky is making a very act
ive cauvas for this honor, but is not at al
likely to receive it. In the opinion of thos
win have been in Indiannpolis th: latent
cabinet slate is: John Sherman, Be •
retary of State; William li. Allison,
8e rotary of tbe Treasury; a
New England man, either Dingley, Long
or Crapo, Secretary of War; John Wnnn
maker, Secretary of the Navy; Jehu L.
Swift, Att rney General; Warner Miller,
Secretary of tiie Inter] r; James Long
street, P st,master General. It seems to
to bo perfectly understood since Renatoi
Quay’s return from Indiannp dia that. Mr.
Blaine will not go in the cabinet ahd tha:
Senator Sherman and his friends will pre
dominate in it.
NEW YORK’S CABINET CLAIM.
A Movement in the Intereet of Ellhu
Root for Attorney General.
Albany, Dec. 23.—Fearing factional
troubles if New York’s claim to a cabino
position is left for settlement to the “big
four," republicans who are anxious foi
peace within tho party are casting about
for available material outside of the quadri
lateral.
The latest eligible name under considera
tio i Is that of ill 1 liu Root of New York for
Attorney General. Ho is co :ceded to possess
the requisite ability, and his experience at
district attorney anil Ills prominence in tbe
management of the party in New York
recommend him with special fo ce to the
IMtaMtOk His appointment would,
no doubt, relievo in my republicans from
the anxietv they feel about harmony within
tbe party in this state.
DYNAMITE MAKES A RACKET.
Buildings Burned and Loos of Several
Lives Rumored.
Wheeling, W. Va., Dec. 23.—At 2
o’clock this aftgrnoon a dynamite magazine
on tbe Wheeling and Lake Erie railroad at
Mount Pleasant, fifteen miles west of this
city in O io, exploded, wrecking windows
and burning buildings. Tbe shock was felt
and the report beard here and ail around.
It is reported that several persons were
killed.
lie tails are meager and a full report will
not be received before Monday.
Chinese Big Concession*.
San Francisco, Dec. 23.—The steamer
Belgic arrived from Hong Kong yesterday.
Cum* papers, brought by the sto.m r, sis
full of details and rumors of Mltklewicz
Barker concessions. They say Barker will
be given concession* with Mitltiewicz left
out, and that a protocol will soon be signed.
FIGHTING ON SAMOA.
About 120 Men Killed Outright and
160 Wounded.
Ban Francisco, Dec. 23. —Tho oceanic
steamer Zea.andia arrived hero last night
from Sydney and Auckland, Samoan Island
aud Ilono ulu. A special correspo dent of the
Associated Press at Apia, Samoa, writes as
follows, under da o of Dec. 7: “Since the
In t oceanic steamer left this place for San
Francisco a mouth ago, two battles of im
portance und numerous skirmishes have
taken place between the forces f Maliatoa
Mataafa and Tamaseso, the rebel chief ami
present king. About 120 men have been
killed and 150 wounded, many of t ,e dead
having beeu l arbarouslv mutilated. This
state of affairs on toe islands seems
duo to the continued agitation of tho
German consul. Dr. Knappe, supported
by the men-of-war, Adler and Eber and the
German Planting and Garden Company,
who insist that Tamasese shall be king, al
thougn two-thirds of the Saunau people
have elected M itaata h* their choice, while
the Germans oppose him, knowing he will
not consent to their rule of tho islands.
A MEETING OF THE CONSULS,
“On the 15. h a meeting of tho United
States, British aud Gerinnu cousuls was
held at tho request of t ie German consul
for the purpose of considering what
should li© taken to stop the fighting.
U nited States Consul Black lock said thut he
would consent to the natives returning to
their homes au>l allow tho government to
be carried ou by tho three consuls until
ieflnito news could be received
from the respective governments.
The English consul said the only
way to restore peace was to divest Paints®*®
and Zradeii! of all power. Consul Knappe
replied that lie must continue to recognize
Pauiane e as king, and the meeting came to
an end. The next day the British consul
issued a proclamation making alt British
subjects amenable to his jurisdiction,
and directing that nil taxes of
English subjects bo paid to him in trust
for tho Samoan government, whenever it
should bo pr. perly established. This proc
lamation is regarded herons very import
ant, being a virtual admission that there is
io government existing in Bain >a, although
i he British consul had heretofore recognised
i’amasese as king.”
BIG LAND fcUIT IN OHIO.
H. 8. Walbridge Seek* to Recover
from the btate Land® Valued at
£3,000,0J0.
Toledo, 0., Dec. 23. —Suit will bo en
tered in the common pleas court of this
c mnty to-morrow to recover from the
■tat© of Ohio large tracts of canal lands
m this city and in Paulding county.
The Miami and Erin canal onoo extended
through the city of Toledo, entering the
Maumee river near the bay. The land was
obtained by the s.ate for canal purpose**,
mil upon this the suit is bawd. A number
of years ago the portion of the canal
through the business part of tho city was
abandoned and tho legislature by enact
ment gave the land to the city of Toledo.
Parts of it were sold a id private structures
erected thereon. Over a mile of the lower
•nd was given to the Wheeling aud Luk*
Erie railway as an entrance to the city, oid
its fine passenger depot stands on it. Th •
county house, the memorial building, a
lire-e igiue Louse, and the new city library
building stand oj tbo portions yet held by
the city.
H. 8. Walbridgo has obtained possession
of tho reversionary interest to t.ie la id
from heirs of tho original owners, excep
that |ortiou once owned by J*s*op W.
Scott, ami now brings suit to obtain posses
■•ion on the ground tsat, tue land, being
tbatidoned by tho state for canal purposes,
reverted to tho or giual owners, their heir*
or assigns, aud could not be sold or other
wise di posed of by the s'&U*. The preseni
value of the laud involved and the buildi g
and improvements is upward of $2,000,000.
The Paulding county suit is fur tho pos
session of the oid canal reservoir iu that
county, and is bused on the same ground.
This reservoir wan built for the benefit of
tlie old Ohio and Indiana canal, extending
to Evansville, Ind. Th® Indiana portion of
this canal wa* abandoned yeai sag . a id
tie six mile* or morn of it in Ohio to the
junc ion with the Miami canal, including
the reservoir, has beeu abandoned as a ca
nal, and tho state is preparing to sell it to
the highest bidder. The reservoir embraces
nearly four thou and acres and is worth
ove. SSO an acre a* it stands.
THE BRITISH BEER TRUST
Gradually Gaining Control of Brewer
ies in the Principal American Cities.
Chicago, Dec. 23.—Rumor* of the forma
tion of a gigantic trust intended to control
the production and sale of beer have boon
afloat for snvrral days. John H. McAvoy,
one of the biggest brewer* iu the west, laid
to-night:
“The rumors of a trust have practically
grown out of the fret that a syndicate of
English < apitalists, through their Agents,
have been in the Arid here for the past iw,
months negotiating for t e purchase < f
some of tbe Chicago breweries. This
movement doe< not apply to Chicago alone.
T o syndicate is trying to buy breweries in
Cincinnati, St. Louis and Milwaukee. It
has bought two breweries in New
York aud two in Philadelphia al
ready. The principal part of the
purchase, at least, is paid
in casn, and the balance in stock or bonds,
tbo equivalent of cash. For instance, If I
sold out to the syndicate for $2,000,000, I
might take $1,500,000 in cash and t e
equivalent of $500,000 In lioiuls or stock.
Tbe syndicate bus dema idcd our price, and
we have a ked $1,800,000 for the pr 'party.
It has taken the nutter mi ter ail idem lit,
and will probably purchase tbe plunt and
goodwill at those figures. The brewery
business is not satisfactory. The hign
license prevalent In th# country Is injurious
to us, as we have to help our poorer cu
torners to meet their taxes. Tue injustice
of charging as high a license for beer
saloons * fur those at which spirituous
liquors are sold is the cause of the trouble.”
Other big brewers expressed tho satnu
opinion. It is believed bore Unit English
men, who are bucked by unlimited capital,
intend lo gohble up all the prominent
breweries in the country and monopolize
tbe business.
H ARBIS ON 'B IN AUG ÜBATION.
No Room* Yet Engaged at Any of tbe
Hotels at Washington.
Washington, Dec. 28.—Four hotels
claim to have received orders for room* for
President-elect Harrison and hi* party for
March 1. He soem* to have made no
arrangements with the hotels, so that the
people shall not know where he is goiug.
Up to date only $50,000 of tue $75,000 uecu
sary for the inauguration ha* ecu subscribed
and only $3 ),00i) paid up. William M. Galt,
who was o ndruian of tha executive com
mittee on tbe inauguration four years ag >,
is lying at dentil's door to-night, lie is
suffering from fever and an abscess.
Turn* are more 'ban twenty Russ an prince*
who are entitle I to let at yled grend duke. There
are Are grand dukes Nicholas, three grand dukes
Michael, and two grand dukes Alexis, hcrglus,
George, Alexander and (JoualAuUne.
1 DAILY, $lO A YEAR. )
SCENTS A COFY. >
f WEEKLY.fi.lift A I I.Alt. I
A BOIL CURED BY FIGS.
HOW kinghfz kiah was CUBED
BY FAITH IN PRAYER.
Tha Unhealthfulnoss of High Living;
Proven by the Inclination to Brain,
leesneea In the Second Generation-
Most Men Too Confident of Their
Own Wisdom to Put Much Faith In
Praver Nowadays.
Brooklyn, Deo. 23.—At the Tabernacle
today the Rev. T. Do Witt Talmage, D. D.,
read and expounded a chapter about the
multiplication of loaves aud fishes. The
opening hymn was;
"The morning light is hreaking,
The darkness disupiwars."
Dr. Talmage took as the subjeot of hie
sermon, ‘‘A Bad Boil Cured.” The text
was: "I have heard thy prayer: hehold. I
will heal thee. And Isaiah said: Take a
lump of figs. And they took aud laid it on
the boll, ami ho recovered.”—2 Kings, xx,
ft, 7.
Luxurious living Is not healthy. The
second generation of kings and queens and
lords and princes is apt to b * brainless and
invalid. The second crop of grass is al
most always short. Royal blood la
generally scrofulous. You will not lie
urprißed, then, to hear that King
Hozeklah had disorders which broke
out in a carbuncle,virulent and death
fill. The Lord told him he must die; ha
did not want to die. He turned nis lace to
the .vail, so that his prayer would no be
interrupted, aud cried to God for his life.
God hoard the praver it, ..ly
ing: “Behold. X will heal thee.” But there
was human instrumentality tobeoinnloved.
This carbuncle needed a “ontaidasm." That
U a tough word we us> t ■ s row how m teh
wo know. If in the pulpit wo always used
words the people understood, we never
should have ouy reputation for learning.
Well, this curb ncle needed a cataplasm,
which is a poultice. Your old mother, who
doctored her own children In the time
when phys idana were not ns plenty os tuey
am now, will tell you thut tho very best
poultice is a fig, mid that wus v.h it wax
used upon the carbuncle "f Ki >g Hex dtiuh.
The power of G and, accompanied by this
human instrumentality, cured the kluy.
Iu this age of discovery, when men know
so much it almost kills them, and write so
wisely it almost kills us, it hts been ound
out that prayer to Und Is a dead failure. All
things are trranged ncoordlog to Inexorable
law. There is no use m praying to Go t for
rain in time of tin ught. I no'‘weather
probabilities” in the morning papers will
decide the queeuori, rain or no rain, and the
whole nation in prayer before God would
not bring down a single drop. lam not
now speaking of an imaginary theory, but
■f that which is believed by ten thou and
tunes ton thousand men.
If sickness comer to your household, it
will depend entirely upon ventilation, good
diet and the bkill of the d'Xitors us to
whether your on hd gets well. Thu father
night pray all day, and the mother might
pray all night—it would not have any
effect upon the case. If squills, belladona,
la ogoric u and gruel do the work, your child
trill get *ell; if not, not. The e is a cast
iron God o' ited at the head of the universe,
holding in the cold graep rit his metal Bng
is a band of law from which nothing can
break sway. J -
ftlou a id women of God, at this p int the
great tm tie of Christianity is to ue foug t.
The great foe of Cnristiauity to-day tl
ration ilisui, that coinns out from our
school, and universities, and magazm sand
lewspapers, to send at Bible truth and
arica ure the old religion of Jes s. It
says Jesus is uot God, for It la impossible to
explain how be can tie divine and human
at tin. same time. The Bible is not in
spired, fur there are things In it that they
don’t like. R generation is a farce; there
h> good enough in us, and the ouly thing is
to In dug it out. llevelopme it is the word
—development. The Garden of Eden is a
fairy story, aud uo more to be believed
than the Arabian nights, or Gulliver*
Travels, or Robinson C uoe. We all
rtai'tod as balloons, and are blood relation*
to tbut monkey squirming about on the top
of that band-organ. L izaru. was not dead
w.iuu Christ pretended to raise him; be wa*
only playi g dead. The water was nob
chanced into nine at the wedding, bub
Christ brought in some wine that he bad
fouud elsewhere to make up tho d.dlciency.
Christ did not walk on the sea, bit onto*
shore, so near that it so.-mod as if he really
were o i tile wai or.
What is ati.l more alarming is thab
chrislian men dare not meet this rld oule.
There is not one ebri tia.i man m five tnab
cm, nnbla/cbed, stand in the preeeooe of
all this raillery, saying: “I believe in th*
w hole Hi le, ad m every single statement
that it make*. Christian men try to sof tea
the Bible down to suit the skeptics. Tha
skeptic, sneer at the dividing of the Red
sea, ami the cnristian goes to explaining
that the wind blew a hurricane from on*
direction a good while, until all the water
piled up, ami, besides, that it was low water
anyhow, a id so the Israel to* went through
without any trouble. Why not be frank
and say: “I believe that tho Lord G and Ale
mighty came to the brink of the It'd sea,
ami with bis right arm swung back the bil
lows on the right side, and with
his left arm swung back the bil
lows on the left side, and the abasbe l water
stood up hundreds of feet higu, waile
through their glassy wall the sea monster*
Saxe i with affrighted oyes on th* loosing
iiarlite*;" The rationalist comes to you,
saying: "How anout Jonah and
the whale j Do you really believe
that fish story i” There were never
so many Nantucket lishermen after on*
whale ns there have been rMUoualls a fling
ing har|iuoni at the Muditurranoin so i
inouster, and from that one wnale they
nave got enough oil to light ten thousand
souls u> tierdili m. A skeptic tells you thab
Jon .li would have been killed iu the pro
cess of swallowing, aud that be could nob,
anyhow, liavo lived three days in such close
quarisrs, bet would have b e i sen >thered
by the poor ventilation. How tue good
chriolia s immediately go to work, and try
to oxplam the wools ltn..g by natural laws,
so a- to please ti.e ratiuna lets, aud say that
a whale i* an air-breattiiug fish; that every
little while it comes to the sur aoe, and lhat
the whale that swallowed Jonah did the
same thing, and thus got a supply for itself
aud for ihe prophet. Why not rather say
that God can do anything; ad he could
take Jonah through the whale's throat,
although the throat would not have been
half iurge e ougti ordi ariiy to let lum
pass, and coukl have kept him alivo in tha
weal# live years without any air. if lie had
chosen tof Who mode the whalef G al.
Who made Jeuali? God. Then he could
do anything he pleased with either of them.
The moment you begin to expla n away
the miraculous aud supernatural, vou sur-.
render the Bible. Take the eu;>er,.a .uraf
out of the Bi le, and you m ke it a collec
tion of he*and hu übugs, in preference to
which I ebouee aE.op’a Fables. Tneyaro
w hat they pretaiid to be—fable* But if,
alter all that the Bible deolar s, Jews is not
God, awl Lazarus was not raised from th*
dead, and Hie water was not turned into
wine, and the Rod Hea was not divided, aud
i . answer to prayer H'-wkl* boil did nob
get well, tlieu trie Bible is tbe worst trawl
over peri-.*!rated In God’s uinverse.
An! my friends, have we been mistaken!
Does God hear aud auswer prayer, or duct