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A FEARFUL CONFLAGRATION AT KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. SIX PEOPLE UNACCOUNTED FOR. Property Valued at Nearly $3,000,000 In Ashes—The Very Heart of the City Wiped Out. The largest fire in the history of Tennessee started in the basement of the McNulty Grocery company’s store, next door to Hotel Knox, at Knox¬ ville, at 3 o’clock Thursday morning. The flames quickly spread to tho hotel and made such rapid progress that the local fire companies were unable to check their headway. As the great hotel was burning the excitement was intense. Guests were hurriedly aroused, and before they could roach the street be¬ low the angry flames had leaped to the very interior of the building and had spread through the halls and corri¬ dors, cutting off the passageways and even breaking into the sleeping apart¬ ments. The proprietor of the hotel says that he had five or six guests who have not put in an appearance. The list of the dead so far as report¬ ed is as follow: F. H. Wentworth, electrical inspector of national board of underwriters; A. E. Weeks, Cocke, N. Y.; R. W. Hopkins, St. Louis; Robinson, Pulaski, Tenn.; S. E. Will¬ iams, Springfield, Mass.; P. C. Dyer, of Knoxville. The entire block between Union and Reservoir streets, on Gay street, with the exception of the McGhee building on one end, the longest and hand¬ somest block in the city, is also a mass ■of ruins and the loss is estimated at nearly two million dollars. Prom the Knox hotel the flames quickly spread to the adjoining build¬ ings and at 5 o’clock all the big whole¬ sale stores along the west side of Gay street from Commerce to Union, in¬ cluding a number of smaller retail stores, were in a s did mass of flame. The loss is variously estimated at from one to one and a half million dol¬ lars witlx about 60 per cent of insur¬ ance. The loss of life, supposed to be lim¬ ited to six persons, is very uncertain, as the register of Hotel Knox, in which fifty-six people were sleeping, was burned. List of the Injured. When the fire was first discovered seventy-five guests were in the Knox hotel. They were all aroused by the porter and the manager. The list of injured is as folloxvs: J. C. M. Bogle, Tennessee, will die; H. M. Dean, Indianapolis; Thomas S. Peck, Morristown, Tenn.; Lieutenant Hood, Knoxville; Claude Harris,Knox¬ ville; Policeman Asquith; Policeman Duncan, badly burned; Fire Chief McIntosh; W. H. lveephart, Knoxville, internal !y hurt. Keephart saved the lives of five other guests by letting them down by ropes made of bed clothes before he jumped himself. I. W. Dean, of Kansas City, Mo., slates that when heeseajJed he saw six men lying in the upper hallway over¬ come by smoke. Dean jumped from the third story to tho roof of au ad¬ joining building. A cabinet maker named P. C. Dyer fell dead on tbe street from fright. Among the heaviest losers are Mc¬ Nulty Griscom, Hotel Knox, Daniel Briscoe Bros. & Co., dry goods; Bris¬ coe Bros., E. P. King & Co., McNulty & McGhee, S. B. Newman & Co., printers; W. W. Woodruff & Co., hardware; Nullen & Newman, queens- ware; Henegar, Doyle & Arnold, cloth¬ ing; M. D. Arnold, M. L. Ross & Co., grocers; Murphy & Robinson, hats; A. P. Lahr, dry goods; Ross Hayne, Starchi Bros., furniture; C. C. Mc¬ Ghee, Sanford, Chambers & Aimer, drugs; McMillan & Meek, Gusick sta¬ bles, City stable and buildings. Cannon Blows Down a Wall. It became necessary at last to have the walls of one building blown down by a cannot to stop the mad career of the flames. A mountain howitzer of the Knoxville Legion was called into play and a load of canister did the work, at the same time tearing up j some resideuces in a different portion of the city. FOR REDUCTION OF WAGES. The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company Makes Proposition. The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail¬ road Company at Birmingham, Ala., have made a proposition to its miners, 8,000 in number, to accept a reduction of 5 cents per ton on coal digging. President Nat Baxter addressed a monster mass meeting of miners at Blocton announcing the matter. The miners made no immediate re¬ ply, but will hold meetings to discuss matters. It is stated that the miners are averse to accepting the reduction, and trouble is not an impossibility. Sharp competition is given as tho cause for the request of a reduction in wages. STRIKERS RETURN TO WORK. Employes In Oliver’s Mill Go Back to Their Old Places. The strikers all returned to work at Oliver’s mill, at Pittsburg, Pa..Thurs¬ day and the plant is in full operation. Byers’ mill is running single, turn, many of the strikers refusing to go back at the reduction. The plant will be operated single turn until the old men decide to accept the reduced ■wages. FOUR CHILDREN DROWNED. Swept Away by Broken Hushing Levee. Waters From a The following dispatch has just been received from Greenville, Miss.: Every day now livings some tale of woe from the overflow region. Here is one which is perfectly reliable: When the levee broke at Mound Landing, a family consisting of a mother and six children were overtaken by the water and before they could reach a place of safety four children were caught by the furiously rushing current and washed away almost in the twinkling of an eye. Who these people vi ere was not learned in the confusion of the night. It is believed the mother and the other two children were taken care of. Railroad bridges, across the main streams in the country are going fast. An iron bridge across the Bogue, on the Valley route, was washed away. There were some 150 cattle and horses upon it at the time. The Southern bridges on the Bogue have also been washed away. The Zazoo river is rising up-stream from its mouth nearly to Greenwood on account of the high stage of the water at Vicksburg. The river report received Thursday is anything but encouraging, and there is frankly no hope of relief from the present conditions for five weeks at least. EXPLOSION AND CONFLAGRATION. Car Loaded With Wlilaky Caused Anni¬ hilation of Train. A Big Four freight train was anni¬ hilated by an explosion at the Belt Junction, Indianapolis, Thursday morning. There were many theories as to the cause of the wreck, but tbe trouble probably originated in a car loaded with whisky. Just before daybreak a terrific ex¬ plosion awakened tbe people of the neighborhood. A fire company went to the scene, but the train of 12 or 14 cars was destroyed. Tbe wreck ex¬ tended a distance of about 200 yards along tbe “Y” and is marked by dis¬ mantled trucks, twisted iron rods, V nr- rel hoops, burned timbers and frag¬ ments of cars. • Tbe cars were loaded with whisky, tobacco, grain, theatrical property and miscellaneous merchandise, and the only articles that escaped in act were three barrels of whisky. HUNTER’S LAST DAY. The Doctor Failed to Land on the Last Moment of Grace. A dispatch from Frankfort, Ky., says: Not since the day of the first joint debate has there been so much suppressed excitement in the senator¬ ial struggle as there was Thursday prior to the meeting of the general as¬ sembly. understood that if It was generally Dr. Hunter, the republican nominee, did not win he would be drop¬ ped by his party and a new man se¬ lected. All but tho paired members voted. There were no significant changes and tho vote stood: Hunter, 61; Black¬ burn, 44; Martin, 13; Boyle, 7; Stone, 1. Necessary to e choice, 64. There was no change on the second ballot, with the exception that Hunter received 60 instead of 61 and Martin 12 instead of 13, owing to a pair. The general assembly then adjourned with¬ out a dissenting vote. PIAZZA COLLAPSED While W. J. Bryan Was Addressing Citi¬ zens of St. Augustine, Fla. William J. Bryan arrived at St. Au¬ gustine, Fla., Thursday afternoon and was greeted at the station by several hundred people. At 8:30 he address¬ ed fully 3,000 persons from the piazza of the San Marco hotel. His theme was “Good Government aud the Money Question.” At the close of his speech hundreds of people flocked about him and so great was the strain that one section of the piazza forty feet square fell through, precip¬ itating 400 people to the ground be¬ low, a distance of twenty feet. No one was seriously hurt, but a score of people received bruises arid sprains. Mr. Bryan was picked up unconscious and received rnedii rd at¬ tention. He was not seriously hu t. Republicans to Meet in Detriot. Secretary M. J. Dowling, of the re¬ publican national league, has an¬ nounced that the next convention is to be held at Detroit, Mich., July 13th, 14th aud 15th. At least 3,000 delegates are expected to be in attend- ance and the usual reduced rates will probably be secured. , NEGATIVE FAILED TO DEVELOP. No Reproductions of tho Carson Pugilis¬ tic Fight Will Be Seen. According to the New York Evening World the photographs of Bob Fitz¬ simmons and Corbett at Carson have proven a failure. The negative, it is said, will not develop. The failure, the World article says, has involved Dan Stuart and others directly interested in a heavy loss. Stuart was under such heavy expense that his only hope to come out was in the photographs. A big fortune would undoubtedly have been realized, os applications for rights had come from the most remote parts of the world. Christened New Torpedo Boat. Secretary of the Navy Long has christened torpedo boat No. 3, now building at the Union iron works, “The Foote,” to perpetuate the mem¬ ory of one of the fighting naval com¬ manders of the civil war. Overcome By Gas aud Smoke. Seven men were overcome by smoke and gas at the Strickler tunnel, on the west slope of Pike’s peak, Col., and two are dead, while the others are in a critical condition. THREE MEN KILLED AND MANY MORE ARE INJURED. BOTH WERE GOING AT FULL SPEED. Engines and a Number of Cars Torn to Splinters—PattsengerB Escape Without a Scratch. Two passenger trains of the South¬ Harrisburg, ern railway collided at full speed at N. C., about noon Sun¬ day killing three men, fatally injuring a fourth and severely wounding three others. The trains were No. 36, the fast mail which left Atlanta at 11:50 Satur¬ day night, and No. II which left Rich¬ mond at 2 o’clock Sunday morning. The dead are: Will Donaldson, fire¬ man of No. 36; J. C. Benton, mail agent of No. 11; Clyde Eu.dy, mill hand, who was stealing a ride. Those injured bad enough to be sent to the hospitnl are: J. C. Kinney, engineer of No. 11, scalded, fatally injured; W. B. Tunstall, engineer of No. 36, badly scalded; Robert E. Gal- laher, Southern Express agent; Will Clements, cotton mill hand, beating his way to his home in Durham, hurt internally. Railway officials refuse to locate the blame as yet, but apparently the south¬ bound train is at fault. No. 36 left Charlotte an hour and a half late, and No. 11 was instructed to take the siding at Harrisburg, which is thirteen miles north of Char¬ lotte. No. 36 passed the station at the time ordered. No. 11 had stopped at Concord to take water and was be¬ hind in reaching Harrisburg. Just as it had reached the siding No. 36 came thundering down the track at the rate of miles an hour. Apparently neither engineer realized the impending disaster till it was upon them, for no whistles were blown and the frightful shock of the collsion was the first warning the passengers had. They felt the jar of airbrakes suddenly set, and then the trains came together with an awful crash. Train No. 36 consisted of nine cars. Next to the engine were two express cars filled with fruit aud truck bound from Florida to the north; then came two postal cars, a baggage car, first aud second-class day coaches, and two Pullman sleepers. No. 11 consisted of four cars—a postal car, a baggage car and express car and two coaches. The engine of No. 36 plowed under the engine of No. 11. The two ex¬ press cars were literally torn to pieces. Both postal cars of No. 36 wrecked and one of them was upon the five-foot embankment. postal car of No. 11 was piled in splin¬ ters about the engine and the baggage car was wrecked. None of tbe passenger coaches the track and none of the were even seriously bruised. CHARGED WITH BRIBERY. Senatorial Candidate* Hunter Accused Crooked Doings. A special from Frankfort, Ky., Indictments charging bribery and con¬ spiracy to bribe have been prepared by the Franklin county grand jury against Congressman W. Godfrey Hun¬ ter, of the Third district, the most prominent republican in the state, nominee for United States senate, and Ex-Congressman John II. Wilson, of the eleventh district, one of Dr. Hun¬ ter’s closest advisors, and Hon. E. T. Franks, one of the leading republican politicians of the second district. The indictments were prepared up¬ on the testimony of Captain Noel Gaines and Captain Tanner, his brother-in-law, and Fred Gordon, all of Frankfort. The charges are indignantly denied by Dr. Hunter, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Franks, all of whom say they will prosecute for criminal libel all who have testified to the above facts before the grand jury. NUNEZ IS ARRESTED. Cuban I.earler CharjEted With Violating Health Regulations. General Emilio Nunez was arrested at Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday charged with violating health regulations. He was put ashore in a row boat from the Bermuda and was promptly arrested by the deputy collector of customs. BATTLESli11* KtW A IN LUCK. The Big Ship Wins a Premium of $ 100 ,- OOO for Speed. Wednesday the battleship Iowa, tho last of the premium built battleships of the na\y, earned for her builders, William Cramp <t Son, of Philadel¬ phia, $100,000 by making an average of seventeen knots an hour over the regular government course off the Massachusetts coast in the four hours’ speed trial required by tbe government under the contract. The Iowa by her grand work proved herself to be superior to either the Indiana or Massachusetts by a corisie- erable fraction of a knot, and is new the acknowledged queen of the Amer¬ ican navy. FELL THROUGH BRIDGE. A Freight Train Wrecked and Two Men Are Killed. The wooden span on the north end approach to the Ohio connecting rail¬ road bridge at Pittsburg, Pa., col¬ lapsed Monday morning, while a Port Wayne freight train was crossing and the engine and 13 cars precir it.r ed to the ground, 50 feet below. Fireman Wm. Haggerty was instantly killed and Engineer Win. Graham was badly in¬ jured and cannot lecovor. THE CRETAN SITUATION. Itcport That Actunl Hostilities Between Greeks uml Turks Have Begun. Advices from London state that short of an actual declaration of war between Greece and Turkey the situa¬ tion could not possibly be graver than it is. Saturday was the soventy-fifth anni¬ versary of a day tho Greeks have only too great cause to remember with hor¬ ror—the massacre by the Turks of 4,000 of tho inhabitants of the island of Scio during the war of inde¬ pendence. The memory of this, in connection with the little the pow- ers have done by their vaunted con¬ cert, is not likely to put the Greeks in the humor to withdraw now even though King George and his ministers are surprised at the immense army Turkey has unexpectedly put upon the frontier, well armed and organized in spite of her supposed want of resources, and may foresee the futility of fighting Turkey if the powers are determined, as they threaten, that neither com¬ batant shall get advantage therefrom. Dispatches received at Athens Sat¬ urday from Larissa give the details of an invasion of Macedonia by a force of irregular Greek troops, Three thousand men, it is announced,crossed the frontier the day after tho celebra¬ tion of the anniversary of the declara¬ tion of Greek independence in 1821. The Greek expedition force is com¬ manded by ex-iffieers aud ex-non-com¬ missioned officers of the regular army of Greece, and they include the band of Italian volunteers commanded by Colonel Cipriani. The so-called insurgents are well armed and have been equipped at the expense of Ethnike Hetria, the famous and powerful Greek secret society, which is the root and branch of the present crisis, practically controlling the Regarding the fight going on be¬ tween the Greeks and Turks on the frontier posts it is explained at Athens that the Greek posts were obliged to reply to the fire of the Turks, who, when the insurgents crossed the frontier, attacked both the insurgents and the posts. A dispatch to the Observer (London) from Rome says that it was reported at 1 o’clock Sunday morning that war has been declared between Turkey and Greece. HON. DANIEL VOORHEES DEAD. He Was For Years a Conspicuous Figure At the National Capital. Daniel Wolsey Voorhees, ex-United States senator from the state of In¬ diana, died at 5 o’clock Saturday morning at his home in Washington city. health The senator had been in poor for several years, and for at least two years past had taken little part in the proceedings of the senate. He had been a constant sufferer from rheu¬ matism of the heart, and his friends, therefore, had come to expect that they might hear of his death sud¬ denly. At the time of his retirement from the senate, the “Tall Sycamore of the Wabash” was affectionately held by the devotion of his followers of the Hoosier state. He was the leading democrat on the finance committee and by virtue of this position the natural leader of his party on the floor of the senate on all tariff and financial questions. In the appeal of the Sherman bill, Senator Voorhees t;ok a prominent part. It was his last important w ork in the senate. Mr. Voorhees was 76 years of age last September, and prior to his re¬ tirement from public life on March 4, last,had been for many years one of the most picturesque figures in the senate. Ho was born in Liberty township, Butler county, Ohio, and in his early infancy was carried by his parents to his pioneer home in the Wabash valley in Indiana. COALITION AGEED UPON. Compact Entered Into by Silver Demo¬ crats, Silver Republicans and Populists. The final agreement among demo¬ crats, silver republicans and populists in the senate, looking to a permanent coalition was reached at a meeting of representatives of those parties in Senator Gorman’s committee room at tho capitol Saturday. The agreement had its origin in the effort to reorgan¬ ize the senate committees, but it is destined apparently to reach far be¬ yond this, reaching, in fact, the future proceedings of the senate on all ques¬ tions, to the extent of shaping party politics throughout the country. MORGAN ROASTS SPANIARDS. Tliird Successive Speech On His Cuban War Resolution. The senate Thursday heard Mr. Mor- gan, of Alabama, for tbe third succes- sive day on his resolution declaring that a state of war exists in Cuba. He was severely critical of Spain’s meth¬ ods against American prisoners, and ■went over iu detail the circumstances in the Competitor case. Mr. Morgan said he would close his speech at the next meeting of the senate, when he would present a letter from oue of the Cuban officials of the eastern province of the island showing the complete civil system of government now main¬ tained by tlm Cubans. before courtmartial. Twenty-Six Member* of Atlanta Artillery Company On Trial. The courtmartial called to try twen- ty-six members of the Atlanta, Ga,, . Artillery for insubordination aud dis- 1 obedience of orders aud Captain J. F. Kempton on charges not yet made, convened in tbe state senate chamber Monday morning. It that tho real interest _ of appears trial of charges the case will he the against Captain Kempton. M’KINLEY NAMES WOLCOTT, PAINE AND STEVENSON. TWO CLASSED AS BIMETALLISTS. Appointment* aro Made Under Approved Act and Will Need No Confir¬ mation By Congiresti. President McKinley has announced the appointment of Senator Edward O. Wolcott, of Colorada; Hon. Charles J. Paine, of Boston, and Ex-Vice Pres¬ ident Adlai E. Stevenson as commis¬ sioners to an international monetary conference. These appointments are made under the act approved March 3d last, “for the promotion of an international agreement for bimetallism,” and by its provisions do not require confirma¬ tion by congress.” It lias been generally conceded that Senator Wolcott would be made a member of the commission. He has been an active leader in tbe movement for a monetary agreement and well known as an advocate for free coinage. His trip to Europe last summer was conceded to be at least semi-official as the representative of the new admin¬ istration. His tour extended over sevei'al months and embraced the leading European capitals. He had audiences with the more noted finan¬ ciers and ministers and it is believed then laid the foundation for the inter¬ Senator Wolcott is now serving his second term in the senate, having been elected to that body in 1885. While a pronounced bimetallist, he was a stanch supporter of the St. Louis ticket. Ex-Vice President Stevenson, the democratic member of the commis¬ sion, though generally known as an advocate of bimetallism, was a support¬ er of Bryan and the Chicago platform. He and Senator Wolcott, however, are said to be in accord on the financial question. General Charles J. Paine, who may be termed the minority member, is a republican, and was a McKinley man. He is one of the most prominent busi¬ ness men of Massachusetts, and is said to be a deep student of the finan¬ cial question. supporter While he is classed as a of bimetallism, based on international agreement, he is regarded as allied with the sound money faction. It is not yet known when the com¬ missioners will meet and organize. When an organization is affected, how¬ ever, it is believed that Senator Wol¬ cott will be made president. , It is authoritatively stated that tbe commissioners will not go abroad be¬ fore May 1, by which time the new em¬ bassadors will be at their posts and render the special envoys the assis¬ tance necessary to the comsummation of their mission. QUESTION OF ROYALTIES. Claimed By tlie Bell Telephone Company Before U. S. Supreme Court. The supreme court of the United States Monday denied the petition for a writ of certiorari in the case of the American Bell Telephone Company against the Western Union Telegraph Company to compel the circuit court of appeals for the first circuit court to carry the ease to the probate court. The case involves the question of royalties claimed from the Bell Com¬ pany by the Western Union Company, and wa3 originally brought in the cir- cuit court for the district of Massa¬ chusetts to secure an account of these royalties. It is understood that about $5,000,000 is involved. JORDAN MAY HOLD ON. Probable That He Will Be Reappointed By President McKinley. It. is said in Washington by persons who are believed to have knowledge of the matter that Assistant United States Treasurer Jordan, whose term of office will expire in a few' days, will be reappointed by President McKinley. Mr. Jordan is a gold democrat and it is given out that this fact is one the reasons for his retention in office as Assistant Treasurer by the present administration. INSECTS KILL HORSES. Buffalo Knats llolhg Terrible Damage Among Texas .Stock. The great quantity of rain and the overflow of many streams near Big Sandy, Texas, have caused an abun¬ dance of Buffalo gnats in that section of the country. Old citizens say they have never known them to be so bad. In the last week they have killed tw'enty-seven head of mules and horses, seventeen in the immediate vicinity. This is a great calamity on some of the farmers. If the cool nights and days continue there is fear among the farmers and owners of stock of great destruction among the stock, not only of horses and mules, but of cattle and hogs. PAPER COMPANIES ASSIGN. Death of President, of Two Concerns Causes Their Failure. Owing to the death of M. J. Fitch, th 0 paper dealer, of Chicago, two com- p an j es 0 f wnich he was president,have made an assignment. qpe names of tbe companies are M. j Fitch Paper company and the American Roll and Wrapping Paper company. The Fitch company is said t0 have‘assets of $75,000, with an aqua ] amount of liabilities. i ARKANSAS HAS AI "ORM. I’luntntlon* Arc Hwcpt Clear of Houce* nml Stork- Flood Situation. A special been from Hamburg, Ark., hurricane says news has received of a which devastated the country near the Onohitu river. Several plantations were swept dear of houses and stock. The wind was followed by hail, which destroyed crops. The mighty A Memphis special says: sweep of the wnterB south of Vicks¬ burg has at least bad its effect upon the lower levees and a telegram from Tallulah, La., reports that the levee which protects Davis island has given way and the island will in all proba¬ bility be flooded. Twenty-five hundred people inhabit Davis island, which consists of about 5,000 acres of land. The place is sit¬ uated in Warren county, Mississippi. Captain Martin and others made a trip by skiff through a portion of the overflowed country Monday afternoon. He witnessed many evidences of the fearful work of the great flood. Fully 8,000 negroes in Washington county alone are penniless and must be taken care of. SENATE HONORS V00RHEES. Body Adjourns as a Mark of Respect to Their Rate Associate. TJje senate met Monday morning for the first time since the death of ex- Senator Voorhees, who until recently was a conspicuous member of the body. In the opening prayer, Rev. Dr. Milburn, the blind clergyman, made an eloquent reference to Mr. Voorhees’ brilliant talents, his impas¬ sioned ardor, kindling eloquence, gen¬ uine patriotism and unselfish dedica¬ tion of his great powers to every cause, human and divine, which en¬ listed his career. Divine consolation was invoked for the family of the great man who had inscribed his name on the tablets which perpetuate the great orators and statesmen of his genera¬ tion. Immediately following the prayer, Mr. Gorman, of Maryland, moved as a mark of respect to their late asso¬ ciate that the senate adjourn, adding that many senators desired to attend the funeral. The motion prevailed and at 12:05 p. m. the senate adjourned. EXCURSION OF CRIMINALS. First Step In Reformation of Penal Law In Indiana. The first and most important step toward putting into effect the prison reform law, passed by the last general assembly of Indiana, having for its purpose the reformation of the penal system, was taken Monday morning when a train leaded with convicts serving sentences in the Jeffersonville prison, started on its journey to Mich¬ igan City, where the prisoners are to be placed in the prison located in that city. The northern and southern institu¬ tions are to hereafter serve for distinct and separate purposes. The institu¬ tion at Jeffersonville becomes the In¬ diana reformatory, while the Michigan City prison is to be known as the In¬ diana state prison. The effect will be to separate the hardened and confirm¬ ed criminals, among whom are classed the murderers, and the first term pris¬ oners under thirty years of age. WEYLIR’S DODGING TACTICS. Hi« Grand Stand Playn Call Forth Harsh Criticism* A dispatch to the New York Herald from Havana, Cuba, says: The extra¬ ordinary conduct of Genaral Weyler has caused a storm of diverse com¬ ment. Sinoe he left Havana on March 21 the captain general has done simply nothing from a military standpoint. General Weyler is now in Trinidad and it is believed that he is going to the Jeruco-Moron trocho, presumably to inspect that much-talked-of barrier, which serves no other purpose than to fence General Gomez off from Calixto Garcia. PENSION ORDER REVOKED. Consolidation of Agencies May Nov, Be* come Operative. The sweeping order of President Cleveland affecting the consolidation of pension agencies has been revoked by President McKinley, if present plans are carried out. Though it is stated that a conclusion has been reached on the matter the president has had time to inquire into it and to hear reports of congressional delega¬ tions and it is learned that he is prac¬ tically convinced that it should never be allowed to become operative. DYNAMITERS IN GADSDEN. Several Other Attempts to Wreck Prop¬ erty Have Been Made. Dynamiters have again been at work at Gadsden, Ala. The hoisting engine of the Christopher coal mines was de¬ stroyed by an explosion Sunday morn¬ ing. On the morning before a house occupied by two women was blown to pieces. Later in the day a bomb was found under a house in the eastern part of the city. The greatest excitement prevails and extra guards and police¬ men are doing duty. Several parties are suspected of the crimes, but so far only one arrest has been made, Charley Johnson, who says ho can easily establish an alibi. Government Cotton Report. The government cotton report issued Saturday gives the following estimate: Total crop, 8,534,870 bales; on planta¬ tions, 362,268 bales; in warehouses, 593,727 bales; at public gins, 161,569 bales; at depots and yards, 130,421. Eight Persons Were Crushed. : Advices from Paris state that the roof of a church near Castres fell in Sunday during services. Seven wo¬ men and one man were killed, while many others received injuries.