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( THE MORNING NEWS, I
ESTABLISHED 1860 IKCORPORATSD 1888. •
I J. H. ESTILL. President. i
QUANTICO’S TRAIN ROBBERY.
The Amount Secured hy the Bandits
Estimated as High as $250,000.
Officials of the Express Company Say
it Will Not Reach 8150,000 The
Trainmen Unarmed and Absolutely at
the Mercy of the Robbers —An Eye
Witness of the Robbery Qives an In
teresting Account of How it Was Ac
complished.
Washington, Oct. 13.—Astonishment is
the feeling uppermost hereabouts con
cerning last night’s train robbery within
twenty-five miles of the city. The de
tails are as follows:
The train “held up” was the north
bound express train on the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad,
leaving P.iehmond, Va., at 7 o’clock last
night. The train left Fredericksburg at
8:53 o’clock on time. The robbery oc
curred near Acqula creek, between
Brooks station and Wide Water, an ex
ceedingly wild part of the country, en
tirely suited for the purpose. It is not
known at what point the robbers boarded
the train, and the first intimation any
body had that trouble was brewdng was
when two men Jumped from the ten
der down into the cab, and levelling re
volvers at the astonished engineer and
fireman, ordered them to stop the train.
The engineer hesitated for an instant, but
when informed that he must stop the
train or be killed he closed the throttle,
and the train, which had been runing at
about forty miles an hour, slowed up,
and finally came to a stop. The fireman
and engineer were compelled to leave the
engine and sit quietly on the bank along
side the track.
Then the bandits, who were seven in
number and all disguised by masks or by
handerchiefs tied over the lower part of
their faces, made for the Adams express
car. which w r as in charge of Messenger J.
S. Crutchfield. One robber entered the
car. As described by Crutchfield, he was
of heavy build and dressed like a farmer,
although he seemed to thoroughly under
stand the express business. He had a
red handkerchief over the lower part of
his face. "When the train was stopped,”
says Crutchfield, “I opened the door of my
car. The robber fired a shot at me. I
dodged back and closed the door. He
called, ’Open that door.’ I did not do it.
‘Open that door, or I’ll blow the whole
car to pieces with dynamite.’
‘‘Then he threw a stick of dynamite. It
struck the door and shattered it and the
casing. The force knocked me off my
feet. I .then opened the door. One robber
came in and made me open the Bafe. He
took everything. There was one package
which he must have thought contained
only papers, for he threw it into the box.
It contained J 6.000. Then he said, ’Open
that other safe.' ‘That is simply a dead
head safe/ I explained.
” ‘The h—l it is,’ he roared. ’Show me
your waybill for it.’
"I started to get the bill, and he said,
’Keep your hands up. Show me the pa
per, I’ll get it.’
’’He looked at the bill and was satisfied
that the second safe contained nothing,
which was true.
“The man was very cool all the time.
We had seven or eight through express
pouches, each containing packages of
money; how much. I can’t guess. The
man cut a small slit in each pouch and
took every package.”
Crutchfield thinks there may have been
$150,000 in the packages. The robbery oc
cupied about twenty minutes. The night
was dark, and the place selected a deep
cut. The engineer and fireman sat on the
bank on one side of the train during the
whole robbery, and were not ten feet from
two or three of the robbers, as they fired
shots into the air. The man who entered
the car seemed to be the leader, al
though a man on the outside, with a
high key voice, had a good deal to say
about things. This man was tall, anil
ran about a good deal. He drove Charley,
the porter, who rushed ahead at first,
thinking that tramps were shooting, back
into the sleeper, and fired two shots at
him.
The train crew, the postal clerks and
all of the messengers were thoroughly
cowed, the terrific dynamite explosion
having caused them to fear they would
be blown to pieces at any moment.
Conductor Birdsong, who is one of the
oldest conductors on the road, alone of
those In the rear showed fight. He passed
through the train asking each passenger
whether he had a revolver, and finally
succeeded in finding a small revolver.
Armed with this, he stationed himself
at the head of the ladled car, caution
ing the passengers to keep their seats
and remain quiet. He cooly asserted he
would kill the first person who set foot
on the platform. All the passengers hid
their valuables, and many of them
dropped down In the aisle and between
the seats.
There were seven postal clerks in the
car ahead of the express car. The postal
car was full of windows, and the clerks
were badly frightened. They had no arms.
The postal car had many sacks of regis
tered mall, but no effort was made to
touch them.
When the robbery had been completed
the tall man, who had fired the first shot
Into the express car, gave the word .'go
ahead with the engine.’ The bandits com
pelled the englno crew to uncouple Ihe lo
comotive, jumped aboard, and made good
their escape In the direction of the Po
tomae river, where it is supposed they had
a boat In waiting to take them to Mary
land.
The robbers are supposed to have left
the engine before it passed Wide Water,
and the telegraph operator at that sta
tion comprehending that something wns
W’rong. telegraphed ahead to Quantlco to
lookout for a wild engine. A switch was
thrown Just outside of Quantlco, and
when the engine arrived It was thrown
over on a switch, crashed Into a number
of empty freight cars, and In a moment
more a huge pile of debris marked the
spot where the collision occurred. The en
gine was thrown on Its side and is a com
plete wreck. The freight cars were re
duced to kindling wood. The long Atlanta
special was standing on the main track
at Quantlco. and narrowly escaped being
struck by the runaway engine. A brake
man hail Just thrown the switch as the
wild engine dashed into the yards and out
the side tracks Into the freight cars. An
engine was sent from Quantlco to bring
In the delayed train, and It arrived in
Washington with It* frightened and de
moralized passengers at 1:17 a. m., a lit
tle over two hour* behind schedule time.
The train with the rifled express tsr still
in charge of Agent Crutchfield, was im
mediately switched on Ihe New York
track, and In ten minutes after its arrival
was on Its way to New York. The rail
road company har. placed a reward of
H.utN sack on the robbers.
Advices received in Washington are to
the effect that residents of Stafford
county, Virginia, in which county the
train hold-up and robbery was perpetrated
last night, believe that the leader of the
band of robbers was George Carter, who,
it is said, up to Iwo years ego, lived about
a mile from Aquia creek, the scene of the
robbery. Carter Is described as 31 years
old, 5 feet, IC I - Inches in hight. and his
weight is about 130 pounds. He has brown
hair and dark complexion, two moles on
his left cheek and a mole on the under lid
of his right eye. The thumb and Index
finger of his right hand are gone. In
January of last year, it is stated. Carter
was sentenced to seven years imprison
ment in Sing Sing for robbing the home
of the superintendent of Blackwell's
Island, but escaped after a few months’
incarceration and has since evaded cap
ture. He is also wanted in Pennsylvania
and Virginia for robbery. He was at one
time a locomotive engineer, Is crafty and
a thorough desperado.
This afternoon a man came to police
headquarters and gave himself up. de
claring that he was one of the bandits,
but being refused a share of the booty,
would turn state’s evidence. He is closely
guarded by the detectives and the re
porters are not allowed to see him.
Richmond, Va., Oct. 13.—N0 event that
has taken place in Virginia for many
years created as much excitement as the
hold-up and robbery. The affair was lit
erally the talk of the town here to-day,
and there was a good deal of wild rumor
as to the amount of currency on board
from Richmond.
None of the Richmond banks had cur
rency on the train. As one of the cash
iers said, the robbers might have been
well up on train robbery, but they were
aadly off on the laws of trade, for at
present all shipments of currency were
southward. If, however, the hold-up had
taken place Thursday night a good haul
of mutilated currency would have been
made.
The Merchants’ National Bank sent
north by express last night a package of
drafts and other papers, valued at SI,OOO.
This package was on the robbed train,
but it is supposed that as the robbers
coud make no use of the contents, it was
thrown away. At any rate, the payment
of the paper has been stopped by tele
graph.
The two express messengers, J. S.
Crutchfield and H. Murray, will not re
turn to the city until to-morrow and un
til their reports are made and the several
points from which packages were shipped
are heard from it will be impossible to
give the exact amount stolen. Andrew'
Welsh, the agent of the Southern Ex
press Company here, said this afternoon
there was sent from Richmond on the
train $5,000 in currency and $16,500 In listed
bonds. The bonds had been received at
the Richmond office from another road,
the currency was in miscellaneous remit
tances of SSO and less. He knows of $14,-
500 that was going through from the
south, and also that thfre was in the ex
press car light pouches from Savannah,
Ga. t Jacksonville, Fla., aqd Charleston,
S. C. He did not think that the aggregate
amount stolen amounted to more than
$25,000.
It Is said that if the robbers had made
their raid on the southbound train, No.
43, they would have struck a bonanza.
There was in charge of the express mes
senger one shipment of SIOO,OOO in cur
rency.
As soon as Gov. O’Ferrall heard of the
affair, he issued a proclamation offering
a reward of SI,OOO for the arrest of the
robbers, and sent the following telegrams
to Gov. Brown of Maryland, the district
commissioners at Washington and the
mayors of Philadelphia and Norfolk: “At
about 9:30 o’clock last night the north
bound train of the Richmond, Fredericks
burg and Potomac railroad was held up
by robbers, supposed to be seven in num
ber, at or near Aequia creek, county of
Stafford, state of Vh*ginia. The door of
the express car was blowm open by dyna
mite, and the express safe robbed of a
large sum of money. The engine was
then turned loose and a collision with the
southbound train, which would necessa
rily have caused great loss of life, barely
averted.
"1 have offered a reward of SI,OOO for the
arrest of the robbers, or $l5O for the arrest
of any one of them, payable after trial
and conviction.
“I respectfully request that you call
upon the officers of your state (or city)
generally to be on the alert and to use
their best efforts to secure the arrest of
these men. They are supposed to have
escaped by boat.”
Maj. Myers, president of the railroad
company, has offered a reward of SI,OOO for
the arrest of the outlaws, or any one of
them.
Mr. Walsh, Richmond representative of
the express company, to-day said that
he had no doubt that his company would
follow' suit.
No further Intelligence as to the amount
of money looted could be obtained this
afternoon at the Adams Kxpress Com
pany's headquarters. The officials of that
company were busy receiving reports
from the places whence the dif
ferent consignments of money were
shipped and were endeavoring to
sum up the total los3. The
amount stated to have been taken ranged
from $150,000 to $250,000, but the Adams
Express Company say that It will not be
near the lowest of these figures.
It was also rumored that a clew had
been discovered to the robbers, but the
oificlal* of the company would not speak
about it.
Maj. Myers ordered Conductor Birdsong
and Engineer Gallagher of the robbed
train to report at his office this afternoon
and assisted by W. C. l’reton, one of the
atorneys for the road, made a rigid and
close inquiry into the proceedings of last
Friday.
t'apt. Birdsong was then called upon
for a statement of what he saw and heard.
”1 was back at the rear of the smoker,
counting out my tickets,” he said, "when
the train was brought to a standstill.
Charley Munford, my porter, rushed past
me and out of the door. I followed him,
and just as 1 got to the front end of the
car 1 heard two reports, which I took lo
be torpedoes. Charley came running
hack Into the car and exclaimed that the
train was being robbed. I then went out
on the platform, and he advised me to
come back, saying I would be shot.
Just then I saw a man run up by the
platform, and stopping Just In front of me,
he fired his pistol Into the air. 1 at once
r allzed that we had been held up, and
thinking to Intimidate the robbers, I
called out loudly: ’Charley, bring me my
Winchester.’ I then went through my
train and cautioned all of ihe passenger*
to be calm and remain in their seats. I
borrowed the only pistol there was on
board and advising the male passengers
to draw their knives, 1 again went out on
the platform, where I remained until the
bandits had gone. I only saw three men,
am one of them I’m sure 1 would reeog
■ if I ever saw him again. When I
vain entered Ihe coaches someone pro
posed three cheers for me. They were
given with a will, and ladle* and all re
sponded. I whs very much gratified, and
lifted my hat In recognition.”
SAVANNAH, GA., SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1894.
New York. Oct. 13.—The train which was
held up last night on the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad
reached the Pennsylvania station at Jer
sey city at S:OS o’clock this morning, bring
ing with it the badly shattered express
car. The Adams Express Company’s
messengers left the train and proceeded
at once to the headquarters in New York
city. They reported that all of their
safes had been rifled by the robbers. It
is supposed that the bandits obtained be
tween $150,000 and 200,u00. When the ex
press car, which is one belonging to the
Atlanta division, was side-tracked the
passengers, passersby and train men
gathered around to examine a spectacle
unique in the history of railroading in
this section. It was found that the heavy
oak doors had been splintered by the
sticks of dynamite thrown into the car
by the robbers. In addition to this,
marks of revolver bullets were plainly
visible. Every pane of glass in the win
dows of the car had been shattered by the
force of the explosion, and fragments of
glass were still scattered over the floor
of the car.
“The officials of the Adams Express
Company In charge of the car at the sta
tion claimed that only the pouches and
safes had been ransacked, the other pack
ages in the car remaining Intact. Many
of the pasengers who witnessed the hold
up left the train at Washington and Phil
adelphia, and but few of them completed
the jourr.ey to New York city. The train
men were, as usual, reticent about dis
cussing the affair. But Col. J. Shackel
ford, a newspaper man who happened to
be on board the train at the time, dis
cussed the Incident freely and gave an
account of the manner In which the rob
bers secured their plunder and made their
escape. Col. Shackelford was formerly
editor of the Newark Journal. He is now
connected with the Tlmes-Enterprise of
Thomasville, Ga. He told the following
story: 'About seven or eight miles the
other side of Quantlco station the train
came to a sudden standstill. Quantlco Is
located on the Potomac river on the Vir
ginia side. When the train stopped Con
ductor M. A. Birdsong was thus andressed
by one of the masked robbers, evidently
the captain of the gang: 'Throw up your
hands, or we’ll blow your brains out.’
“From the manner in which they
arranged their signals for stopping the
train, as well as the manner In which
they afterward made their escape, it
was evident that several of the gang
were experienced railroad men. That
they were desperate men was even more
evident, and the conductor and fireman
lost no time In obeying their instructions,
and wisely,l guess. There were at least
six or seven masked men, and I could
pllnly distinguish them all In the clear
moonlight of the early evening; in fact,
so near did they come to me that In spite
of their masks X am almost sure that I
could recognize some of them if I could
see them again, from certain little pe
culiarities of dress or speech. When the
alarmed passengers crowded out of the
cars to see what was the matter the rob
bers fired a perfect fusillade of shots to
intimidate them, as well as to frighten
the railroad men. The robbers rifled the
express car without loss of time. They
put their sticks of dynamite under the
door of the express car and blew It
open.
“The manner In which those men got
on the train was a mystery at first, but
we afterward discovered that in all prob
ability they boarded the car at White
Brook station, a few miles outside of
Quantlco. They evidently climbed upon
the platforms and while the train was in
motion worked their way along the top
of the cars until they succeded in boarding
the tender and cab. Then without any
ceremony they held up the engineer and
fireman. The engineer is named Frank
Gallagher. He Is an old employe on the
road, and as brave as could be, railroad
men tell me, but two or three of the vil
lains attended to the engineer while two
or three more of them attended to the ex
press messengers, and another one or
two kept guard on the passengers and
train.
“Some of the desperadoes even went
so far as to converse in a clever, daring
fashion with the passengers and train
men. This made us all more indignant,
but we could do nothing to help ourselves.
All of the passengers were cool and col
lected after the first flush of excitement
was over.
The robbers cut the engine loose, piled
the plunder in the cab, and the whole
crowd piled In on the top of It. They then
turned on steam and started for Quan
tlco as fast as steam could carry them.
The conductor pursued the engine on foot
as fast as he could run for six or seven
miles. When he reached Quantlco Btatton
he found that the desperadoes had turned
the engine loose and that by the clever
ness of the operator It had been side
tracked and ditched Just in time to pre
vent a collision with a south bound train.”
The Adams Express Company is not In
formed as to the amount of money se
cured by the robbers. Detectives have
been sent from New York, Philadelphia
and Washington to gather clues. Express
Messenger Crutchfield accompanied the
New York detectives. President Weir of
the Adams Expresg is believed to have
gone south with the detectives to help
them in their work.
Baltimore, Md„ Oct. 12.—The police and
detective force have been on the alert all
day for clues to the Aquia creek train
robbery, but up to midnight their efforts
have been unavailing. The railroad sta
tions. roads and other entrance* leading
Into the city have been carefully watched,
but not a suspicious character have the
law officers found.
An examination of the manifests of the
express company shows there was at least
$182,000 In the express car at the time of
the hold-up.
AIKEN TO APPEAL.
The Dispensary Case to Bn Carried to
to the Federal Supreme Court.
Columbia, 8. C., Oct. 13.—The attorneys
for the city of Aiken against which a de
cision was recently rendered in the dis
pensary case by the supreme court of the
state, by which the act was declared con
stitutional, have notified the attorney
general that they will appeal to the Ku .
prerne court of the United Stales. They
simply gave the notice without stating
the grounds of appeal or when the Issue
would be Joined.
A Big Blow at Pye.
Bye, Oa., Oct. 13.—This place wns
struck by a severe wind and rain storm
Wednesday night about 6 o’clock, up
rooting many trees and blowing down
fences, besides doing much damage to
com. cotton, peas, etc. The storm lusted
about 5 minutes and probably reached 50
miles an hour.
Tennessee's Blxth*Dlmtrlot.
Nashville, Tenn., Oct, 13.—Hon. Ell
Timmons has withdrawn from the race
for the democratic congressional nomi
nation In the MixU> district and Joseph
Washington, the present member, will be
nominated without opposition.
BATAVIA’S OLD BUILDING.
The Historic Land Office Dedicated to
Robert Morris.
Most of the Members of President
Cleveland’s Cabinet Present at the
Exercises Secretary Carlisle Deliv
ers the Address of the Day—The Svils
of a Depreciated Currency ae Illus
trated by the State of Affairs When
Morris Was Called on fo Straighten
Out the National Finances.
Batavia, N. Y., Oct. 13.—The morning of
the day set apart for the dedication of
the Old Holland land office building broke
dark and threatening, but the gloomy
outlook did not prevent the assembling of
the largest gathering this little village
has ever witnessed. The normal popu
lation of 9,000 has, by the Influx of visitors
from various sections of Genesee, Wyo
ming, Livingston, Niagara, Erie and Or
leans counties, been swelled to twice that
number.
Promptly on time the train bearing the
members of the cabinet and others from
Washington rolled Into the depot, when
the distinguished visitors were welcomed
by a reception committee and escorted to
the Richmond hotel, The party was made
up of Secretary and Mrs. Carlisle, Secre
tary and Mrs. Lamont, Secretary
Herbert and his daughter, Mrs.
Micon, Secretary Smith and
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Maxwell, Secretary Gresham and
Assistant Postmaster Gen. Jones. Post
master-General and Mrs. Btßsell arrived
from Buffalo on a morning train, and
Joined the party at the hotel, where a re
ception was held.
Following the reception the distin
guished visitors were driven to a stand
in front of the land office, from which
they reviewed a parade of civic and mili
tary organizations. Then the unveil
ing of the tablet took place, followed by
a prayer by Bishop Ryan. The tablet Is
of marble, two by four feet in size, anl
contains the Inscription: "Erected 18—;
dedicated 1894 to the memory of Robert
Morris.”
The exact year is left blank, because it
Is found impossible to determine In what
year the building was completed. At
the conclusion of the ceremony of un
veiling the tablet the visitors were enter
tained at luncheon.
After luncheon the ladles were driven
to the state park, where, with the cabi
net officers, they occupied seats on the
stand. The weather had cleared and
the sun w r as shining brightly. The exer
cises at this point began promptly at 2
o’clock, with selections by the Sixty
fifth Regiment band of Buffalo. "To
Thee, O Country" was then sung by a
chorus of 100 voices, and Bishop Coxe
followed with prayer.
The song of "Xtoii, Awake,” was next
sung, and was followed by the reading of
the dedication poem by John H. Yates,
the author. The chorus sang “O Colum
bia. Columbia, Beloved.”
Secretary Carlisle then delivered a his
torical address reviewing the life and ser
vices of Robert Morris. He said Ip part:
"Although an Englishman by birth he
promptly Identified himself with the
friends of the colonies in the controversy
between them and his mother country,
and in 1765, ten years before the battle of
Lexington, he signed the non-importation
agreement. He was known to be opposed
to the declaration of independence, and
had voted against it, believing, with many
other good and patriotic men of that pe
riod, that opportunity for reconciliation
upon terms which would preserve the lib
erties of the people had not entirely
passed. But as a member of the conti
nental congress from the beginning he
was placed upon some of the most Im
portant committees, and was almost con
stantly called upon to assist In the con
duct of financial affairs, not only by his
advice and counsel, but the use of his
name and personal credit. At that time
there was no treasury department nor
any national executive organization of
any kind. Almost every financial ex
pedient that the Ingenuity of man could
devise, except regular and effective tax
ation, had been resorted to for nearly
six years to raise money or procure credit
for the prosecution of the war. The coun
try was smothering to death under a
mass of worthless paper currency far
more disastrous to the commercial and
Industrial Interests of the people than all
the spoliation and devastation committed
by the Invading enemy.
“Extravagance, speculation, frsud and
selfishness prevailed everywhere to an ex
tent never known in this country before
or since. It was the harvest time of the
dishonest public official, the unscrupu
lous debtor and the unfaithful trustee of
private estates. The widow nnd the or
phan, the poor and dependent classes
in all the walks of life were, as they have
always been and always will be, the prin
cipal sufferers from every fluctuation ln
the exchangeable value af the currency
The rich and the powerful can gen-rally
take care of their own pecuniary Interests
no matter what kind of currency may be
In use, but the poor, who are compelled
to labor for the necessaries of life and
to receive whatever Ik offered them in
compensation, and the ignornnt, who art
always exposed to the seductive devices
of the speculator and swindler, constitute
the c lasses upon which the evil effects of
a vitiated currency invariably fail with
the heaviest weight.
"At this time, continental notes had
been Issued to the amount of 1160,000,000 or
about *53 per capita, and the depreciation
was 30 to 1. that Is, one dollar In specie
was equal In value to *3O. By July, 1780, it
was 0414 to 1, and early In the next year
the whole miserable system broke.
‘•Congress, with only one dissenting
vote, resolved that all the debts then due
from the United Btates, which had been
liquidated according to their specie value
and all debts which had been, or would
thereafter be made payable In specie
should be actually-paid In specie, or Its
equivalent at the eorreet rate of ex
change between specie and other cur
rency. This was the condition of affairs
when congress on Feb. 30, 17*1, unani
mously chose Robert Morris to be superin
tendent of finance.
'•The selection at once revived the hopes
of the despondent, stimulated the courage
of the wavering snd confirmed the faith
of the friends of liberty In every part of
the world.
"In June, 17*1, before he had taken
charge of his office, he secured the repeal
of the embargo, believing, to use his own
language, that 'commerce should be per
fectly free and property saoredly se> ura
to the owner.'
"He applied himself with goal and d*
termination to the dlfllcult task Imposed
upon him snd the result of hi* labors soon
began to be felt In all the affairs of the
government, st horns and abroad. He
was, in fact, the autocrat of the finances, j
He engaged in a great number of mercan
tile enterprises on account of the govern
ment, buying and selling goods here anil
In othey countries, and using the proceeds
in the public service. Congress had de
clared that the obligations of the govern
ment should be paid in specie or its equi
valent, but the government had no specie
and no visible means of procuring it. It
is true that considerable specie, or hard
money, as it was then called, had been
brought In the country and disbursed by
the British and French armies, but it had
not reached the treasury. The worthless
paper currency was now rapidly disap
pearing. In a short time the people began
to realize the benefits of that inflexible
law of trade and finance under which
sound money tn sufficient quantities to
transact the business of the country will
always make its appearance to take the
place of unsound money, if the latter can
be got out of circulation. It was not long
until specie was circulating tn all the
channels of trade, and from that time to
the close of the revolutionary war nil the
business of the government was conducted
upon a specie basis.”
In conclusion Secretary Carlisle said:
"It may be that hereafter, somewhere in
this broad land of ours, for w-hich they
sacrificed so much to make free and pros f
perous, there will be gathered beneath the
dome pf an American pantheon the re
mains of all our honored dead, nnd If so
the obscure grave at Philadelphia will
give up its tenant, and the mausoleum of
Robert Morris will become a consecrated
shrine, where generations of freemen will
uncover their heads to honor his memory
as long as the republic endures."
At the conclusion of Secretary Carlisle’s
address the chorus sang "America,” and
Rev. Phil O. Cook of Buffalo delivered
the closing prayer and benediction.
The guests were then driven back to the
Hotel Richmond, where the visiting la
dles gave a reception.
The Old Holland Land Company’s office
dedicated to-day was erected, as nearly
as can be determined, in 1813. Previous to
that time the business had been transacted
in a smaller building, but Its growth ne
cessitated Increased quarters and the
present building was erected. It has a
frontage of about forty-six feet, with a
depth of thirty-five feet, and Is two
stories In hlght. It is built of stone, In a
most substantial manner ard stands to
day practically the same as it did fifty
eight years ago, when first erceted, and
will doubtless stand for years to come.
The Holland Purchase Historical Society
proposes to use it as a museum, storing
historical rollcs connected with the Hol
land purchase within its walls. The office
was discontinued In 1837. The Idea of pre
serving it as an historical landmark ori
ginated with Prof. John A. Kennedy,
principal of the village schools.
STEVENSON AT STKE A TER.
The Vice President Makes Two Speeches
Before Enthusiastic Crowds.
Streator, 111., Oct. 13.—Vice President
Stevenson arrived in this city this morn
ing at 11:40 o’clock, and was met at the
depot by a committee of prominent cit
izens with carriages and a brass band. A
large crow’d w T as essembled at the depot.
The Vice Presidential party was driven to
tho Plumb house, where on informal re
ception was held. At 8 o’clock a meeting
was held in the opera house, about 1,000
people being in attendance. The principal
addresses at the afternoon meeting were
delivered by B. J. Olaggett, candidate for
state treasurer, and Judge R .R. Gibbons
of Princeton, 111., candidate for congress
In the Eleventh district.
Vice President Stevenson was intro
duced, and was received with prolonged
cheering. He made only a short talk,
reserving his strength for the evening
meeting.
He held a reception In the parlors of his
hotel this evening, nnd hundreds availed
themselves of the opportunity to grasp
his hand. The evening meeting held at
the opera house was large and enthusi
astic, the house being filled, while the
stage was occupied by prominent demo
crats. The Vice President has been greatly
fatigued by his labors on the stump, and
his appearance plainly indicated that fact.
His address was closely listened to, and
was received with frequent ontbursts of
applause. The distinguished speaker left
on a special train to-night at 10 o’clock
for his home in Bloomington.
GRACE’S WAR ON TAMMANY.
Nominations to Be Made in Each Dis
trict ln the City.
New York, Oct. 13.—The executive com
mittee of the New York State Democracy
held another meeting In Cooper Union
this afternoon. It remain in session two
hours. William R. Grace, presided. Res
olutions were passed authorizing the dis
trict leaders to get up petitions for sig
natures for the nomination of candidates.
This action was taken, Mr. Grace said,
so that in the event of there being any
difficulty In having their candidates rec
ognized, they will be nominated by peti
tion as well as by the party.
The slates for uldermanle and assembly
nominations were talked over at some
length. It was evidently the feeling of
all present that nominations should be
made In each district in the city, and that
ail disaffected Tammany men be taken up.
A letter was read from Dr. Anderson,
State Democracy's nominee for coroner,
declining the nomination. Dr. O’Meagher,
the candidate of the committee of seventy,
was nominated ln his stead.
The placing of the name of Dr. Will
iam O'Meugher In Dr. Anderson's place
clears up the situation, and the tickets of
the Grace democracy and the commit
tee of seventy are Identical. Dr. Anderson
was the original choice of the committee
of seventy, but he was withdrawn for
Dr. O'Meagher. Mr. Grace said to-day that
his organization was In good shape and
that the enrollment was dally Increasing.
BRECKINRIDGE SUSPENDED.
A Presbyterian Church ln Fayetta
County, Kentucky, Take* Action.
Baris, Ky., Oct. IS.—Rev. Charles T.
Thompson, pastor of Mt. Horeb Presby
terian church, In Fayette county, read
publicly last Sunday the action of the
< hurch concerning Col. W. C. I*. Breckin
ridge. who had made to them a confession
of his guilt, and naked the prayers and
love of Ills brethren In leading a Christ
ian life.
The unanimous dedslon of the officer*
v.-as that while accepting his repentance
as sincere and heartfelt, the gteat pub
licity of the sin demanded some public
action, so he was suspended from the
sai rumentH till Feb. 1, 1895.
The law of the book of church orders,
paragraph 158, Is: “Definite suspension is
administered when the credit of religion,
the honor of Christ übd the good of the
offender demands It, even though he may
have given satisfaction to the court."
Keifer a Candidate for Oovernor.
Springfield, 0., Oct. 12.—Gen. J, Warren
Kelfnr, ex-speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives. announced to-day that he
was a candidate for governor.
BRECKINRIDGE'S BANNER.
The Colonel Makes a Characteristic
Speech in Presenting It.
Lexington, Ky„ Oct. 13.—C01. Breckin
ridge to-day delivered one of the most re
markable addresses of his career. The
occasion was unique In that he, a de
feated candidate, had been invited to
present, in behalf of the Breckinridge or
ganization, a banner to the precinct
which gave him the largest proportionate
vote of any In the district. This pre
cinct was Harper’s Ferry, in Henry
county. Of the 17'.# votes cast Col. Breck
inridge got 139. In presenting the ban
ner the colonel took occasion to drag open
in his skilful manner all the old wounds
of the campaign and to refer to nearly
everything that was done against his
candidacy. From a literary standpoint,
it is one of the most perfect speeches he
ever made. Already thousands of Col.
Breckinridge's supporters have signified
their intention of voting for Judge
George Denny, the republican nominee,
and to-day's speech will have a tendency
to drive many strong Breckinridge men
to Denny's support.
The closing sentences of the speech
breath the spirit of the man, as well as
Ills supporters. They are as follows: "I
know not what the future has In sure for
me, r.or am I disquieted thereby. Tnore
is work somewhere, and it will come to
me at the proper time ns He sees fit. I
carry into it the fruitful Influence that
your friendship creates; to be worthy of
your confidence, to Justify your friend
ship, and you need no promise that I will
so live. Hereafter, If there be some ship
wrecked brother groping from darkness
to day, trying to pull himself together for
another and purer career, yearning to
do better work for man ami God may
be told in the simplest language the story
of your friendship for me and take heart
that he will find true men and real women
who nre full brothers and sisters to him
when touched with the sense of our in
firmities, You have been derided as the
only county that could be controlled by
such motives. Fayette and Bourbon asic
to stand by you; thousands In the other
counties hasten to share any condemna
tion you may receive, and In their name
1 present this banner, bearing the effigy
of a defeated man, upon
whose head has beaten
a pitiless storm, and bid you receive It
as evidence that they applaud your act,
and In the light of the world, avouch that
it was such nn act as all democrats could
approve, all brave men applaud, ail gen
erous men praise, all Christian men emu
late. They bid you keep It until the day
comes to unfurl It—for they know
that that day will come; the day of bet
ter and purer political methods; of kinder
and more charitable brotherhood; of
frank and more truthful utterance; of
courteous and respectful discussion, when
mendacity will not assume the role of po
litical argument, nor hypocrisy be ac
cepted as Christianity.”
FIGHTS WITH THE POPS.
The Congresaional Elections ln Two of
the Districts to Be Lively.
Atlanta, (la., Oct. 13.—The state ex
ecutive and state campaign committees
held a meeting at the Kimball house to
duy to close up some of Ihe unfinished
business of the late gubernatorial cam
paign and to discuss the situation on the
several congressional districts of the
state. Messrs. Maddox of the Seventh,
Tate of the Ninth, Livingston of the
Fifth, Moses of the Fourth, Bartlett of
the Sixth and Lawson of the Eighth con
gressional districts were present ut the
meeting and took part in the discussion.
Charles R. Crisp, son of Speaker Crisp,
presented a letter from his father, which
was heard with Interest.
Messrs. Moses and Tate have hard fights
on hand with the populists, but both ex
press perfect confidence in their election.
Mr. Fleming of the Tenth district re
ported Maj. Black’s prospects very bright.
The committee after discussing the ques
tion of registration, decided to take no
action, as the state committee has noth
ing to do with congressional elections,
but will co-operate with the congressional
district committee nutll the fights are
all closed and whipped. Whether reg
istration is or is not necessary the com
mittee held is a matter for the courts to
decide.
DR. MINNIGERODE DEAD.
Ho Was tbe Pastor of Ex-President
Davis at Richmond.
Alexandria. Va., Oct. 13.—Rev. Dr. Min
nlgerode died here at 2:45 o’clock this
afternoon. Dr. Minnigerode has been
seriously ill for some months, and his
death has been expected daily. He was
formerly pastor of Christ church at
Richmond. Va., of which Jefferson Davis
was a member, and the reverend gentle
man ministered to Mr. Davis while he
was In confinement at Fortress Monroe
after his capture by the United States
government. Mr. Davis was attending
service In Dr. Mlnntgerode's church when
the news of Lee’s surrender reached the
confederate president.
A GREAT MUSIC SCHOOL.
Augusta Secures Talent of National
Fame to Manage It.
Augusta, Ga., Oct. 13.—The people of
Augusta will open on Monday the greatest
music school In the south. They have se
cured Thomas Ryan, the famous direr
tor of the Mendelssohn Quintette Club of
Boston, also the Quintette Club, which
has removed to Augusta from Boston,
and will be allied with the conservatory.
Besides Dr. W. O. Berklng, the founder
of the London Meister singers, John Wle
gand, the composer, and a large corps of
other teachers, mostly brought from Eu
rope. The school will open with a large
attendance from all over the south, pupils
attending from as far as Texas and Ari
son a.
HARRISON’S HUBTfE,
Ho Addreaaes Twenty-one Audiences in
a Journey of 482 Milea.
Indianapolis, ind., Oct. 13.—F.x-f’rcsldent
Harrison returned to this city to-night
after a short, but vigorous campaign
through the southern purl of the state.
He was absent only two days, but during
that time he addressed twenty-one audi
ences, aggregating about GO,OOO people, and
his speeches, taken together, reach a total
of 80,000 words. The Journey covered 4X3
miles.
Part of Lorenxo Marquea Captured.
London, Oct. 13,—A dispatch to the Pall
Mall Gazette from Johannesburg says
the Kaffir natives have captured a part
of thn town of Lorenso Marquez on Dn
lagou bay. The Portuguese authorities
euppress all newspaper messages.
1 DAIRY, *lO A YEAR, I
■J „ 5 CENTS A COPY. >
I WEEKLY, * TIMES-A WEEK, $1 A YEAS, f
BLECKLEY OFF THE BENCH.
Georgia’s Chief Justice to Retire on
Oct. 29.
He Send* Hi* Resignation to th#
Governor The Failure of the People
to Increase the Number of Judires to
Five the Reason for His Retirement*
He Looks Upon the Work of the Court
as Too Much for Three Mon.
Atlanta, Qa., Oct. 13—Chief Justice
Bleckley to-day handed the following let*
ter of resignation to Gov. Northen, who
accepted it:
Atlanta. Qa., Oct. 13, 1894. His Excel,
lency, William J. Northen. Sir—ln ten
dering to you for the second time my res
ignation of the office of chief justice, it
aeems proper to malte a brief statement
of my reasons for so doing.
For some years it has been manifest
to the bench and bar of the whole state
that the business of the supreme court
has become too heavy to be adequately
handled and disposed of by three Justices.
The fact has also boen twice recognized
by the general assembly, and a constitu
tional amendment to Increase the number
from three to live has been twice passed
and submitted to the people for ratifica
tion. The people, either not being con
vinced of the necessity for the proposed
increase, or If convinced, not caring to
better the efficiency of the court by adopt
ing the aproprlate means, have twice re
jected the amendment by a decisive vote
against it. Now, whether the people know
It or not. I have personal knowledge that
the necessity exists, and whether they
care to remedy it or not, I feel constrained
to cure to the extent at least of declining
to remain longer in a situation of high
und responsible public service in which
three men must either do the work
of five, or violate the constitution by
leaving undone a considerable part of that
which the constitution not only requires
to be done, but limits in positive terms
the time within which it must be per
formed.
For several years my associates and my
self. In order to comply with the consti
tutional mandate ln respect to hearing
and deciding all the cases within a given
time, having been obliged to omit tha
preparation of written opinions ln very
many cases in which, according to ju
dicial usage in this state and elsewhere,
such opinions would rightly bo deemed
indispensable to render our work thor
ough and complete.
The opinions which I, myself, ought to
have written and would have written
had time and strength permitted, In ad
dition to those which have appeared of
will appear in the reports, number. I arn
sure, not less than 200 or 300.
Had there been two additional Justices
to aid In deciding the cases and In writ
ing opinions, all these opinions might
easily have been written, for from such
aid a double saving of time would have
resulted: First, decisions could havs
been made more rapidly: and, secondly,
the work of preparing opinions being di
vided amongst live Instead of amongst
only three, each Justice woud have had
hut one-fifth of the whole number of
opinions to write instead of one-third
thereof.
It may be thought that as my brethren
remain at their post and struggle on, I
should do likewise, and that if the loss of
the constitutional amendments affords
any reason why I should resign, the same
reason applies with equal force to them.
One of them Is ten, tile other twenty
years my Junior, and it is reasonable to
suppose that both can hold out better and
longer against the wear and tear of over
work than I can. If I remained with them
and did my full part, I could not hope to
rival them In endurance. I should have to
drop out sooner, and I might as -veil do it
now. Besides, they work faster than I do
or can, and 1 sincerely believe thler oner
ous task would be somewhat lightened it
they' could have in my stead someone
more expeditious than I am In deciding
cases. Being a slow and cautious Judge,
unless I have ample time for research
and study, 1 can decide nothing difficult
with any absolute assurance that my con
clusions ure correct. I am quite too slow
to co-operate with them on equal terms In
the exercise of this most important Ju
dicial function. They can well spare me
for a less timid and hesitating mind, es
pecially If their new colleague, as he
easily might, should excel me in legal
learning.
1 frnnkly confess that I withdraw from
the court with much reluctance. At this
period of my life judicial work Is that for
which 1 am best fitted, and 1 would rather
do it for nothing than be idle on full pay.
I have no wish to retire from active life
or to shun moderate labor.
My health Is good, and both by mental
constitution and long habit, occupation.
In essential to my happiness. No feeling
that I am superannuated troubles or op
presses me. Gladly would I serve out the
four remaining years of the term, for
which I was elected, if I could do so
with justice to inyself or with real ad
vantage to the state.
Finally to those, if any, who may b*
disposed to criticize my present conduct
adversely I would urge this consideration,
not Indeed as requiring, but as indicating
my retirement forever from public office
I am upwards of 67 years of age, an<i
have had more than my due share of of.
flclal opportunity and emolument, having
been an office holder under the state in
sundry positions for a third part of my
whole life. Surely I ought to he satis
fied with what the state lias done for me
and If 1 have been fulthful and efficient
the state ought to be satisfied with what
I have done for It. If, on the other hand
I have failed either In fidelity or efficiency
It ought to part with me now with no tel
gret save that my exit was so long de
layed.
I beg to add, In conclusion, that in
private life I shall not the less cherish
sentiments of grateful affection toward
all those—the living and the dead—by
whose favor and confidence I have been
trusted, promoted and honored. 1 desire
this resignation to take effect on Mon
day. the 39th day of October instant.
With high respect and consideration,
personal and official. I am your obedient
servant. L. K. Bleckley.
The dale upon which Judge Bleckley’s
resignation takes effect relieves the gov
ernor of the duty of appointing a suc
cessor, ns the legislature will be In ses
sion and will elect the new justice.
Marion’s Fostofflco Robbed.
Fharleston, 8. t.'., Oct. 13.—A special to
the News c.nd Fourier from Marlon, 8.
C.. siiys: "The postortlce at this place was
robbed Inst night by unknown [arsons.
Htamps. money orders, money anu cash
aggregating *383, was stolen from the
safe, the inner door of which was locked
but was broken open by the robbers."