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WDAY M(
THE MACON TELEGRAPH.
Established is 1828.
MACON, GA., MONDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 18,1895.
Daily, $7.00 a Year.
i im mmi.
lie People o! Cleveland Appalled at
the Honor ol the Plunge
to Death.
THE SHRIEKS OF AKXIODS HOTHERS
•The Elver Banks and Bridge Crowded With
Hen, Women and Children, Eagerly
Watching the Search for Bead
Bodice—Pathetic Scenes.
Cleveland.' Nov. 17.—The people of
this city stood appalled today when
they realized the full horror of the ter
rible accident which occurred laBt eve
ning on tho big Central viaduct. It was
the worst accident that had ever hap
pened In this city, and the story of how
the motor car, loaded with men, women
and children, had plunged through.the
open draw, straight down a hundred
feet into the river, was told oyer and
over a gain. 1
Thousands of people remained by the
river bank all last night and thousands
more were there early this morning.
Great crowds are still standing on the
bridge above the wrecked car and
about the place where the wreckage is’
buried in the river, eagerly discussing
every detail of tho accident.
The first reports of the disaster have
been verified In every particular, with
the possible exception of the number
of vlcltms, which Is a trifle smaller
than was at first supposed. The work
of rescuing the bodies has gone'steadi
ly on since 0 o'clock last night and It
liVnow believed that nothing more can
begone until the last bit of the wreck-
ogtjof the car has been removed from
the river.
PATHETIC SCENES.
The scenes about the rived late last
night, while the work of rescue was
being prosecuted, were pathetic In the
extreme. The thousands of people who
had assembled waited with bated
breath for the discovery of the bodies.
It was a sad crowd, and out of respect
for the unfortunate dead, blit very lit
tle noise was made.. Occasionally the
wild scream of some frantic woman,
who believed some dear to her was
among the unfortunate ones, would
echo over the flats, only to be taken up
at a distance by some other woman
whose heart was breaking over' her
loss. It was almost Imposlble to get
-td the river. Patrol wagons dashed
tills way, and that, their hells, clang
ing, adding to the din and confuBioh.
Ambulances dashed up to the scene
only to turn and drive away again,
carrying the remains of other unfortu
nates. It was almost impossible to
work with any Bystem. The crowd
pushed Its way as near the scene as
possible and the efforts of the large
force of police to maintain order was
almost in vain. It was with great dif
ficulty that a body, when recovered,
was taken to one of the-dead wagons.
Pour bodies were found almost at tho
same time. They were placed on
stretchers and the solemn march to
the ambulance otarted. As tho bodies
were passed from the fire boat to the
willing hands on shore, an aisle was
made and the bodies passed along.
Every few feet some woman would
step out from the crowd, peer into the
face of a body a3 It passed and "Its
not him, thank God," she would say.
And so the sad procession moved on.
AN OLD WOMAN’S ANXIETY.
As the body of a ypung boy was
taken from the fire boat an old lady
nearly fel Into the river In her anxiety
to see the face of the dead boy. She
would not be put back. She threw her
self on the body, looked Into the face
and cried "thank God." Palling upon
her kncc-B she raised her voice to
heaven and prayed only as a mother
could under the circumstances. Press
ing close around her were many thous
ands of people. Those who could see
her raised their hats and not a few
Joined her In prayer.
At another spot, Cwoi men were try
ing to hold an almost distracted wo
man. Sho believed her husband was In
the Ill-fated car and was almost Insane
with grief.
On board the fire boat, along side of
which was the raft containing two
filvers, Coroner Arbupkle and several
of the boat hands were all busy grap
pling for bodies and all was confusion.
A hook would catch on something in
the bottom of the river. The man
handling It would ahout. "I've got an
other." The crowd would take up the
cry. But In many cases, the man was
Wrong; his hook would bring to the
surface an oldl board or piece of rub
bish. Again the news would be carried
to the noxiously waiting crowd.
• WATCHING FOR THE DEAD.
All toe time the search was going on
cars kept running over the viaduct.
Both rails from the west to the east
epproaeh of the bridge were blocked
with people. In the centre of the bridge
inen, women and children fled this way
end that, screaming and Jostling each
other, womtn tearing their hair and
calling upon God 'to save their dear
Ones. Women fainted and were tram
pled upon by the mad, rushing and in
sane crowd. It was Impossible to keep
any kind of order and the effort was
Anally abandoned. It was a crowd
with a common grief. Not one of the
multitude but knew that perhaps a
brother, mother, father or sister was
at that moment lying cold in death at
the bottom of the river.
From the dizzy height the thousands
of people who occupied positions on
the bridge watched the proceedings be-
low. Their view was* unobstructed and
they saw everything that took place.
The second body was brought to the
surface and a rush was made try hun
dreds.
The finding of the body of little Ger
tie Hoffman filled the cup of sorrow for
a whole family, a grocery salesman liv
ing at 1508 Pearl street. She was the
last member of his family. His wife
ar.d son, Harvey, the latter aged 7. was
taken fr/m the river last night. The
little girl's body was found lodged
against the bank of the river. Her lit
tle ban dr were filled with splinters
from the car and her baby face was
badly bru:*r*d. When Hoffman realised
what bad happened to him be became
bereft of his reason. Rushing to the
river he plunged In and tried to drown
himself, but be was rescued by his
friends who took him away and tried
to oomfort him.
The final Identification of the body of
Curt Lephne by his step-father, Profes
sor Charles E. Clements today, dis
closed a romance. Iaoptine's mother
was an English girl. Several years ago
she went to Europe to study music and
there married a German army officer
named Lephne. Four children were
bom to her and her husband died. Bast
summer she met Professor Charles E.
Clements and the two became engaged.
Professor Clements was a teacher In
a musical school in Berlin, but he ob
tained an orfer of a position in this
city. He came hero and Mrs. Lephne
followed him here, arriving only last
month with her children. They were
married soon afterward. Curt, who
was 14 years of age, was her eldest
son. *
THE DEAD IDENTIFIED.
The number of victims was increased
to fifteen today by the discovery of
two more bodies In the river. All the
dead have been identified but four per
sons whd were supposed to have % becn
on the Ill-fated car as It made Its
plunge are still missing, and there
seems to be no doubt that their bodies
will be taken from the river when the
heavy iron trucks of the wrecked mo
tor car are raised.-
One of the bodies found today was
that of little Gertie Hoffman, aged 4,
who was going home from -the store
where her father was employed with
her mother and brother.' The child's
body was found lying against the bank
of the river some distance below the
scene of the accident and Identified
soon after feeing taken from the water.
The ether body found today was that
of Louis Huletz, a mall carrier, aged
26 years,, who lived with his wife at 38
Brevie street. His head was split open
from the forehead down to the chin,
and 'there is no doubt that he was
killed before the car settled Into 'the
water.
One of the bodies Is that of Miss Ma
rie Mitohen, a German domestlo em
ployed at a house on Bell avenue. She
was 21 years of age. Another body was
that of Mrs. Martha* Palmer, a dress
maker of 165 Kenilworth avenue. Mrs.
Palmer's father, Isaac Russell, and her
brother live at Kent, O., and her daugh
ter, LIga Palmer, lives at Jamestown,
New York. -
Augusta S,arlnskr8 body was Identi
fied by her employer, who lives at 207
Central avenue. She. was aged ID and
was the daughter of a German police
official. She had been in this country
only a few months.
The list of killed and missing is as
follows:
KILLED.
J,ames McLaughlin, baseball player,
77 Trowbridge avenue.
Henry Mfecklenberg, tailor, 58 Mary
street.
Edward Hoffman, conductor, 121 East
End avenue.
Mrs. John A. Sauerhelmer, professor
Street.
Misa Bessie Davis, school teacher In
Saclcett school, living at 107 Noyes
street.
Harry W. Foster, clerk for Root &
McBride Company, 515 Mentor avenue.
Mrs. Minnie C. Brown, 10 Thurman
street.
Curt Lepehne, 66 Jennings avenue.
Mrs. A. W. Hoffman, 30 years old,
1508 Pearl street.
Harvey Hoffman, 7 years old, 1508
Pearl street.
Mrs. Martha Applemore, 165 Kenil
worth avenue.
Marie Mltchen, 21 years old, domes
tic, Bell avenue.
Augusta SarU.Bki, 207 Centr/il avenue.
Gertie Hoffman, 4% year old, 1608
Pearl street.
Louis F. Hnletz, mail carrier, 38 pre
vie street.
MISSING.
Miss Martha Sauerhelmer, 145 Mer
chants avenue.
Looney, 9 years old, 37% Clifton
street. v
Q, C. Pace, residence unknown.
Matthew 1 Callahan, Hamilton street.
THE MOTGRMAN’S STORY.-
Augusta Rogers, the motorman,, Is
still locked up, though he is now held
only as a witness before the coroner.
Ho talked’ about the accident today. ,
••It was my second trip,” he began.
"Just after leaving the market house
I looked Into the car. flni fr6m what
I can remember there were aljout twen
ty or twenty-flve passengers. They
were mostly women and children, I
think. When my tnotor reached the
switch at the approach of the draw in
the viaduct I shut off my current and
applied the brake. The car came to a
full stop and the conductor ran ahead
and threw the switch. He motioned
me ahead with a wave of his arm. I
put my lever at the first notch and as
It passed the conductor, who always
stands on the switch lever until the
car lias passed, was running at the rate
of about four miles an hour. I looked
back, as I .always do, and saw him get
on the rear platform. Hooking ahead,
I thought I saw the gates at the draw
closed over the track, bul as my lights
were burning and I had the current,
the thought occurred to me that my
eyes must have been M fault. I was
Just in the act of giving, and possibly
gave, the lever a slight push forward,
when I was startled by Xh4 gates Just
In front of me and I heard some one,
yell 'Jump.* I do not know whether I
reversed the current or not, for I re
alized the danger and I leaped from the
car. As I leaped I thought I would
plunge headlong down Into the*river,
but as the car struck the gate I caught
it and saved myself. I never heard a
murmur or anything that resembled a
scream as the car went down.”
Here Rogers cried: "My God, it’s
3n awful thing.”
His wife, who stood by his side, con
soled JiJm by saying: “Certainly It
was no fault of yours.”
••No." he replied, “Lut think of It.
Oh, My God! Just think of ItP
When he had recovered himself some
what Rogers continued:
“When I was freed from the Iron
gate I scarcely knew what to do. I
was dazed. I finally concluded to run
back to the market house and tell the
police I did this and then ran back
to the tern* of the ardent. I hurried
down the embankment and began to
pull bodies out from the wreck. I
worked there about an hour, perhaps
more. Then I grew sick and went
home."
“When you first saw the gates of
the draw, were your lights burning
and did you have a current burning?”
“I did have a current and my lights i
were burning. That is why 1 thought l
of no danger. When the draw is open
the lights usually go out. but they
did not this time. As I told you, I was
surprised when I saw the gates and
knew that I had both lights and cur-
rent^whlch had never been the case be
fore when the gates are closed, as tho
swinging of the bridge cuts off the cur
rent and then the lights go out.”
“How do you account for this strange
fact?”
“I cannot account for it, but I swear
that it is true. I have never had an
accident of any kind until this one,
and I believe this will kill me.”
A HANDFUL OF HAIR.
The diver at work on the wreck to
day brought up a handful of hair from
the head of a woman whose body was
wedged under the motor trucks. The
body Is believed to be that of Miss
Martha Sauerhelmer of 154 Merchant
avenue, who wns erroneously reported
among the list of Identified bodies last
night. Miss Sauerhelmer went to the
market last evening with her sister-
in-law, Mrs. John Sauerhelmer, and
they were returning home together on
the ill-fated car. The boay of Mrs.
Sauerhelmer has not been found and
there is no doubt that the corpse of the
young woman is at the bottom of the
river. Her friends and relatives have
walked up and down the dock under
the bridge all day; wringing their
hands any crying. The girl's father
became so desperate that it was found
necessary to take him away to prevent
his Jumping Into the river and drown
ing hmiseif. ' .
Augusta Sarlnskt, although employed
as a domestic, was a young woman of
refinement and education. She was the
daughter of a German military officer
and had been in this country about a
year. She came to America to see tho
country and determined to pay her
own way. She sought employment as
a domestic here and had-Won the love
and esteem of her employers, Mr. and
Mrs. . Schwab of 207 Central avenue.
When she met death, Miss Sarlnkskl
was on her way to the soutbside to vis
it an uncle who is ill.
The coroner will begin an Investiga
tion of the accident tomorrow.
The people on .the southslde, where
most of the victims lived, suffered the
greatest shock. This morning the regu
lar services at Pilgrim Congregational
church, the largest In that section,
were abandoned and the remarks and
sermon of the pastor were devoted to
the calamity. In tho afternoon a
largely-attended meet^pg of citizens
was held at the same, church, at which
resolutions welre adopted expressing
sympathy with the families of the vic
tims and calling upon the city council
to take Immediate steps to guard
against accidents on all the city
bridges.
RAISED THE TRUCKS.
The diver succeed tonight In fasten
ing a chain to the trucks of the motor
and they were raised from the river.
The bed of the river was then dragged,
but no more bodies were found. Two
persons are.still missing and It is prob*-
able their bodies have floated away.
They aro those of Miss Sauerhelmer,
who was thought to have been wedged
under the motor, and Matthew Calla
han. The search was given up tonight
and all the wreckage removed.
Arrangements' have been made for
tho funerals of the victims, nearly all
of which will occur on Tuesday.
Tonight Augus£ Rogers, the motor-
man, who has been held as a witness,
was charged with manslaughter. This
action was taken by Chief of Police
Hoehn, after he had Investigated the
accident.
Late tonight the coroner announced
that he would not begin the Inquest
until the bodies now supposed to be
In the river ha,d been recovered.
THREE SUNDAY FIRES.
A Half Million Dollars Lost, Partly
Covered by Insurance.
Meridian, Miss., Ndv. 17.—Frio broke
out last night In the Meridian Sash and
Blind Factory and raged until 4 o’clock
This was entirely destroyed, throwing
twenty-five men out of employment. A
largo quantity of lumber in the yard
adjoining was also destroyed. About
the time th6 above fire seemed to be
under control, fire broke out in the
Citizens* compress and warehouse,
which together with a largo c.’iantlty
of cotton, were entirely destroyed.
Losses:
Sash and blind factory. $100,000; In
surance $32,000} compress, warehouse
and cotton $11‘2.000; fully insured.
AT SHERMAN, TEXAS.
Sherman, Tex., Nov, 17.—This city was
visited by a destructive fire this morn
ing. The Lins? block, the finest In the
city, was burned, resulting In a total
loss of $100,000. Tho lower floors were
occupied by I. Goldsmith & Co., dry
goods and Skillern & Thompson, drug
gists. Goldsmith's loss Is $30,000; in-
hu rar.ee $1:2,000.
Skllkrn & Thompson's Joss in $15,000;
Insurance $5,000. Jacob Llnse, owner of
th<- building sustatn-d a loan of $35,000;
insurance $50,000.
A BREWERY BURNED.
Cincinnati, Nov. 17.—Early this morn
ing the Banner Brewing Co., comer
Canal and Walnut streets, was burned,
loss $175,000; Insurance $150,000. The
loss of the Varwig Faucet and Beer
Pump works was $15,000, and of the
Cincinnati Tin Stamping Co.,' $10,000,
both Insured. Fireman Sweeney was In
jured by the copper cornice filling on
his head. The Banner brewery was in
the hands of a receiver, and was re
cently appraised at $300,000.
ELOPED WITH A NEGRO.
A White Girl's Shameful Act May
Cause Several Murders.
Ashland, Ky., Nov. 17.—Marshall
Black, colored, and Bertie Wooten,
white, daughter of a well-known farm
er, yesterday eloped to Ohio. Black's
brother, Jim, worked for Bertie’s fath
er and helped the girl to get away.
Bertie’s brother met Jim returning
from the Ohio aide of the river last
night and killed L!m. The brothers are
still In pursuit of the couple, swear
ing they will kill Marshall Black on
sight.
EXPLOSION IN A MINE.
Eagle Pans. Tex., Nov. 17.—As fore
man Lennon of Joliet, Ill., started
down this evening in the Hartz mine,
three miles from h*re, an explosion
occurred in some unknown manner. It
has been impossible for rescuers to en
ter the mine on account of the gas. It
is supposed that Lennon is dead. For
tunately. no miners were In the mine
at the time* V; ) ... , ,
SI SINS
It Is Estimated That Twenty Thousand
Han Been Killed In Recent
Massacres.
SULTAN’S SYMPTOMS OF INSANITY
The Engliih Premier Will Do Hi, Utmost to
Prevent a Clash With Turkey—Every
Peaceful Method Milt Be
fteeorted To.
London, Nov. 1’.—Sir Philip Currie,
British ambassador to Turkey, who has
been in .England during the p,ist
month in consultation with Lord Sal
isbury in reference to tho troubles be
tween the Turks and Armenians, starts
back In tho morning for Constantino
ple via Vienna. His Journey back t6
Turkey will bo mado In as short time
as possible and he will resume his post
at Constantinople without loss of time.
Lord Salisbury, accompanied by hlB
wife, went to visit tho queen at Wind
sor Castle last night. It Is evident
that Important decisions have been ar
rived at regarding eastern affairs, since
tomorrow morning's Post will publish
an article evidently Inspired by the
foreign office. The article Is understood
to Indicate that the prime minister has
decided that the utmost effort must ho
made to maintain the integrity of the
Turkish empire,' and therefore efforts
must, In the first place, be directed to
restoring order In tho disturbed dis
tricts. Continuing, tho article says:
"For the moment all thought of oo-
erclng the sultan should be laid ,aside.
He has already given evidence of a de
sire to introduce reform. It cannot bo
doubted that he will defer to the wishes
of the powers as soon as circumstances
will permit him to do so. It Is difficult
to apportion tho blame Justly between
the Turks and Christians, and It Is be
lieved on good authority that the dis
orders are partly duo to tho careless
order of the sultan, who- commanded
the provincial governors not to molest
tho Armenians while they were quiet,
or if they revolted to exterminate
them. Th|s order has been Interpreted
with much, generosity by tho Turks,
while the Armenians themselves are
blamable'to some extent for fomenting
disorders'i
"The Ambassadors of tlio foreign
powers In general, and Sir Philip In
particular, have acquired a position en
abling them to give Important support
to the Turkish government at this crit
ical time.",
The article In the Post concludes by
expressing tj>a hope that the ambassa
dor wHK able' .to place more confi
dence in-Jls ministers', add that ho can
be' Induced to abandon his personal
government, • but adds that Sir Philip
Currlo and Ills colleagues must remem
ber that they aro not only.apoBtles of
humanity but also guardians of peace.
Hon. Francis Seymour Stevenson, M.
P„ president of tho Anglo-Armonlan
Association, In an Interview says:
SYMPTOMS OF INSANITY.
"The . sultan has lately developed
symptoms of monomania baldly dis
tinguishable from Insanity,' and It Is
not unlikely that he will meet with tho
same fate ■ that overtook his brother,
Muratc, tho former sultan, and thuB
simplify tho task of Europe.”
A dispatch to tho Times from- Con
stantinople says that tho sultan gavo
an audience to the Austrian ambassa
dor Friday. The ministers meet dally
and tho ambassadors also held a meet
ing today, tho Austrian ambassador
presiding.
The money market Is righting Itself.
Tho run on the Ottoman Bank affected
none of Its thirty-four branches ex
cept tho br.inch bank at Beyrut, which
had slight trouble.
It Is officially announced that an Ar
menian disguised as an Arab was ar
rested at Orfah bearing a letter from
tho bishop of Aleppo to tho Armenian
bishop flt Orfah, asking him to send
gunpowder and saltpetre to Zetoun to
aid tho Insurgents, adding:
"Baion of Zcttoun will organize an
army. The Armenians of Marath aro
ready and eager for the fray."
Tho Odessa correspondent of tho
TlmeB learns that tne constitutional
party professes no personal animus
■gainst the sultan, but cnrnplulns only
against him on account of his odious
mlsgovemment. Tho constitutional
party should not be confounded with
Midhats (young Turks p.i rty). The
members of tho constitutional party
say that they desire only government
by peaceful means. They have never
cared for vengeance or for bloodshed.
MASSACRES CONTINUE.
A dispatch to the Standard from
Constantinople says that French offi
cials report yesterday that there are at
least fifty victims as a result of the
three days' mosascre at SIvas, yet this
eeems Incredible. Tho idea prevail*
that when tho Inhabitants of the Zel-
toun district have been wiped out tho
massacres will temporarily cease, leav
ing for winter and famine the i-om-
pleto extermination of the Armenians.
Order has ben restored at Gurun. a
town of Asia Minor, and official dis
patches during the las*, two days seem
to show that the sultan, fearing action
by the powers, has ordered tho mas
sacres to be stopped. The campaign
against the young Turks continues, ac
cording to the correspondent of the
Standard, who says: "Thirty-six more
of the members of the young Turks
party have been drowned off Kalkt Isl
and. This will be denied officially, but I
am satisfied of the truth of the re
port.”
The correspondent say* that repre
sentative* of tho different government*
at the Moosh consulate* Alport a small
lo-r of life during the reent riots there,
owing to the gallant behavior of the
governor, who exposed his fife In order
to stop the fighting, while the better
class of the Moslems sheltered the Ar
menian* In the various mosques. The
correspondent of the Standard says
that thi various Turkish papers pub
lish fresh appeals, urging upon the peo
ple the nece.ity of abstaining from all
act* of violence.
A Constantinople dispatch to tho
Dally News says that the Armenian
missionaries at liltlls have wired the
English and American representatives,
asking that the government provide an
escort to Van for them and their fami
lies.
The correspondent makes the as
tounding statement that fully 20,000
Armenians have been killed during tho
recent massacres.
The Vienna correspondent of tho
News asserts that It Is reported In ad
vices received from Constantinople that
several officers have submitted letters
to tho sultan, which, they 'claim, con
vict Klamll Pasha of treason. The
Vienna correspondent of the Dally
News also announces that tho sultan
has been so upset by the recent turn
which affairs -have taken that a ner
vous fever has sot In and that ho Is
now so sick that ho devotes two hours
daily to public affairs. Tlio young
eon of Sultan Abdul Hamid Is always
with him.
The Telegraph's Constantinople dis
patches announce that the Armenian
reform commission held Its first meet
ing on Saturday. Tho sultan promises
to carry Into effect tho reforms pro
posed when the disturbances are sup
pressed. Tho correspondent adds that
fresh disturbances arc reported from
the neighborhood of Aleppo,Alntab, Ma-
roun and Amasla. Tho Turks accuse
tho Armenians of provoking trouble,
claiming that no non-Armenian Chris
tians have suffered during the recent
dlstrbancos In Asia Minor.
The correspondent at Constantinople
of the Chronicle complains of the punc
tiliousness of tho British embassy,
which, for tho sake of conforming with
tho requirements of International cour
tesy, has consented to tho exclusion of
tho English papers containing Lord
Salisbury’s lord mayor's dinner speech.
The correspondent says that ho can
obtain no trustworthy evidence Indi
cating any Improvement in the mental
condition of Abdul Hamid ir.
The Dally News this morning pub
lishes a long special dispatch from New
York which describes the Indignation
and anxiety awakened In America be
cause of tho condition of affairs In
Turkey and because of recent attacks
upon Armenian missionaries.
Commenting 'Upon this dispatch, the
Dally News says:
"The new world Is asserting Itself to
redress tho wrongs and alter the bal
ance of tho old. The lethargy of the
powers In general and Russia In par
ticular Is hard to realize, still harder
to explain. Tho present disreputable
Turkish ministry is, by Its very exist
ence, a defiance to Europe.
“President Cleveland Is not likely to
Intervene except for tho purpose of pro
tecting American citizens In Turkey,
tfir Phillip Currie will naturally do
what he can for tho Americans. It is
well, however, that tho Turks should
know that there Is a great nation be
yond tho Atlantic who will not allow
the blood of Its sons 'to be shed with
Impunity.”
CHRISTIANS MASSACRED.
Constantinople, Nov. 17.—Later ad
vices received here from Alexandcrotta,
Northern Syria, confirm tho accounts
of a massacre of Ohrlstlans In that
town In Oho presence of 200 Turkish
soldiers, who did not render any as
sistance In the suppression of the dis
orders, Armenians and, Mussulmans
accuse each other of burning the vih
lagos and other outrage* which have
occurred In- Northern Syria.
The sultan has prohibited tho entry
Into Turkey of all papers containing
accounts of Lord Salisbury's speech at
the lord mayor's dinner at London a
we.lt Reports received from nu
merous Armenian villages toward tho
end of September describe numerous
and well organized Kurdish raids, fol
lowed by tho stealing of all tlio flocks
and herds of tho Armenians. Any
complaint made to tho authorities was
Ignored
IN THE CONGO FREE STATE.
A Horrible State of Affairs Reported
by a Missionary,
London, Nov. 17.—Tho Asosclatdd
Press haB received a statement con
firming tho reports of tho horrible con
dition of affairs In Congo Free State
from an American missionary who has
JUBt returned from Europe. The mis
sionary in question, tho Rev. John B.
Murphy, was on tho staff of tho Ameri
can Missionary Union. He has worked
In tho Congo for nine years, and re
turned to Antwerp recently by tho
steamship Leopoldville. His last sta
tion was Equatorvllle, right In tho
centre of tho Congo Free State. He Is
the last arrival from there. Ho says:
“Tho seat of tho government of the
Congo Free State Is at Beard, which
I* about fifty miles from the coast and
K0 from Stanley Pool, which ought to
bo tho'rcal Congo centre. It takes four
weeks to communicate between these
two places, hence It become* Impossi
ble for tho governor to manago his vast
and unwieldy territory, consequently
tho commlssalres, nr petty governors
of tho Interior districts, havo almost
unlimited power. The officers qf tho
state are young and Inexperienced;
they do not come out as colonists to de
velop the country, but In order that
they may receive quick promotion and,
abnvo all, to get money. Of course,
there are exception*, but^lt Is only the
few who have an interest in the coun
try and the well-being of tho people, ft
lias been said by two trader* that tho
king of the Congo Free State 1* the
largest slave-holder In tho dominions,
and this Is true, although the officers
by a play upon words conceal the facts
by calling them liberated slaves. Fifty
per cent, of these wretches are In a
starving condition.
"A word about the rubber and Ivory
trading, or, rather, plundering of tho
etato. Tho official* have placed 'posts'
In all the towns up tho river banks and
In most of the Inland towns. Each
post Is commanded by a black corporal
and a company of soldier* belonging
to a hostile tribe, armed with Euro
pean guns, so that the natives are ter
rorized by their presence. These sol
diers are commanded to stop every ca
noe that passes the river ‘post.' Tho
native* try to pass without being no
ticed; then the soldiers fire upon them
and some are generally killed. The sol
diers then seize tho canoe and confis
cate Us contents. If the natives should
muster up courage enough to call, then
they are forced to sell their Ivory, or
whatever the canoe contains, at tho
soldiers’ own price. I have seen these
things and havo remonstrated with
the state for years, but got no satis
faction.
SHORT IN HIS ACCOUNTS.
New Orleans, Nov. 17.—Charles G.
Hoffman, assistant cashier of the New
Orleans Brewing Asosclatlon, Is report
ed to be about 720,000 short In hls ac
counts, Hoffman’s whereabouts Is un
known. It Is stated that false entries
on the book* was the method resorted
to by Hoffman,
fl SUNDAY MINS 1.
Ia Maryland a Negro Received t&e Usual
Punishment lor the Usual
Crime,
IAS A MOST DASTARDLY ASSAULT
The Young Lady Was Csught In a Garden,
Hacked and Cut Witn a Razor, From
the Ef foots of Whiob She Died-
The Sheriffs Reilitanoe.
Frederick, Md„ Nov. 17.—James
Gerngs, who assaulted Miss LUlio Jones
at tho homo of Hamilton Golsbert of
this city lost night, was taken from the
Jail by a mob of 300 men this morning;
and hanged to a tree.
A report reached the city about mid- ■
night that tho woman had died from
tho cut* and beating inflicted by the
negro, and this enraged tbo crowds
that had been gathering in tho streets
and discussing tho outrage. A moll
was quickly gotten together, and un
masked but armed with revolvers, tho
men mnrehod to tho Jail. They had
previously broken Into a machine shop
In tho neighborhood of tho Jail and pro
cured sledges, crowbars and files. Then
mado at once for the door of the west
wing of tho Jail and began to batter
upon It.
Fully twenty shots were fired from
tlio windows abovo by Hljerlff A. H.
Zimmerman and hls reputics, but tho
mob r.il'l no attention to them and
went on with their work. Tho Jail bell
was rung to summon assistance but
none came.
In twenty minutes the largo door
panels gavo way under tho heavy,
blows aftd tho mob burst Into the cor
ridor. They quickly overcame' tho
slight resistance tho officers on tho In
side made and found Gerngs cowering
and cringing In hls cell. Tho trembling
wretch was seized and dragged out In
hls night clothes .end stocking feet.
Gerngs wbh led out amid tlio howls
of the crowd, tho ropo placed around
hls neck, and ho was hurried down the
road to hls placo of doom. lie pro
tested hls Innocence as they dragged
him along nnd begged them not to kill
him. lie whs promptly recognized by,
a number of men who know him and
the mob did not hesitate In Its work.
Arriving at tho tree, the negro w.as
asked to confess, but this ho would not
do. Two ofilccr* of the Balvatlon Army
asked to be allowed to pray with tho
man and their request was granted.
Tho Lord’s prayer was then repeated
and tho negro and most of the crowd
joined In. Gerngs' feet p.nd hands were
then tied and the ropo was drawn
around hls.neok.
"Let him go,” was shouted, and,
quick as a flash, ho was Jerked from
hls feet and hung dangling in the atr
six feet from tho ground.
Tho mob during tho process of lynch
ing observed order. No shots wore
fired. A member of tho mob made a
brief speech, In which ho said that they
were there with tbo unfortunate wretch
not In a spirit of malice, but to make
an cxamplo of him and teach hls race
that they must lot tho womon of Fred
erick county alone.
Tho assault for which Gerngs suf
fered death was /> cruel and dastardly
one. Mies Jones has thirteen cuts and
stab woundB on her body where ho
hacked at her with, a knife and razor.
Bhe says ho asked her for something
to oat, and when sho gave it to hint
he said:
"I will glvo you ft dollar."
She screamed and ran fifty feet
down tho garden, where ho overtook
her, knocked her down and cut her,
also crushing her nose.
Tho field In which tho negro was
lynched la tho samo point the negro
Guy was lynched In November, 1839.
After watching tlio body swing In tho
air a few minutes tho crowd left It
dangling there and dispersed.
SHOT WITH DEADLY EFFECT.
A Robber Killed Two Men, Wounded
a Third and Then Escaped.
Wheeling, W. Vn., Nov. 17.—A ter
rible tragedy occurred this afternoon
at Wllcyvllle, In Wetzel county, W„
Va., twelve miles from Now Martina.
vIIK Hi" county seat. The result Is (hi
death of an officer, who was instantly,
killed, tho falul wounding of another
man, serious Injury to a third and tho
escape of tho perpetrator.
Last summer John White was arrest
ed and convicted of robbing freight
cars on the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road. In August he escaped and since
that time the officers havo been look
ing for him. This afternoon County
Constable Newt Furbco learned that
White had been r.een about. Wlleyvlllo.
He went nfter hls man, but White had
been drinking, and when Furbec at
tempted to make tho arrest White
whipped out a revolver and brought
down the oonstablo at the first shot.
He died almost Instantly.
Tho tragedy occurred on tho out
skirts of tho town and was witnessed
by several persons. Among others were
James Baird and a Mr. lllbbe, who at
tempted, with others, to overpower thq
murderer. While fired on them, bring
ing down Hlbbs with a wound In tho
stomach, from which he will not re
cover, and hitting Baird In the leg. This
Intimidated tho others and White mado
Ids escape. It Is reported this evening
that a posse has been organized and Is
now after the murderer. If captured lie
will probably be lynched.
SLASHED WITH A KNIFE.
Theodore Royal's Throat and Arm. Cut
by Unknown Parties.
Athens, Nov. 17.—(Special.)—At a
political meeting In the Swift building
last night Theodore Royal was cut on
the throat and right arm by two un
known parties. While hls condition Is
bad, he will recover, although tpere
are many chances against him.
BURIED HtS ONLY SON.
Indianapolis, Nov. 27.—Governor
Matthews today buried hls ot.'.y son
In the old family vault. There were
present Senators Turp'c and Voorheeo,
also state officials, members of the
supreme court and 1,000 people.