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WATER-SOAKED Town*, Villages and Citlca 09wn the Ohio River, A MILLION DOLLARS WEREtOST By Lumbermen and Others ln the Monongahela Valley. ~ AND ENORMOUS DAMAGE Di)NE (To Property Throagkoat th? Ohio ValUr-CiMi?atU and Vicinity KxpcrUar. lug an Old TIru Flood-Huntington mid Point PlMMMt ?aftr-Tfc? Wont Owlathp Kmwht Vtlltjr-RiilrMd Traffic lUdlf later Ar?d With?Tfe4 Poor I lh? Wont Saftran. Cincinnati; o., Feb. 24l?!$e pres. <nce of a deatructive flood was felt here verjr positively to-day. While estimates have heretofore limited the flood 10 sixty feet, the developments, of to-day l?egin to make It appear that that figure ulH be exceeded. One of the evidences of the flood's presence Is the effect upon , thf railroads. The Incoming passengers i un roads that use the Grand -Central, ii'jpot were compelled to debark;at the I h'lghth street transfer depot, where fortunately an electric street car line made the change lets troublesome. The Chesapeake & Ohio, however, has Its Fourth street station, which is far above any !??88lble flood. The Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and the Pennsylvania tracks are not likely to be involved. Up the Mill creek valley one of the maddest sights is the utter destruction of lite vast areas 01 nut ucua, nunc ?*numerable vegetable gardeners earn ihelr living. All the labor of weeks and months is destroyed, and after the waters subside a long time will ensue before their slender Income can be reestablished. Many gardeners view the desolation from their houses, which are accessible now only by boats. The back water up the valley has reached South Cumminsviile, and is near the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton tracks at the Htatlon. Every foot of the rise from now on only adds vastly to the discomfort and loss that must ensue from fam- I illes driven to upper stories or out of their houses and from the removal of property from the water. At 10 o'clock the stage was 51 feet 111 inches, and in the next half3iotfr it had I risen to 57 feet. The rise Ism been almost uniformly two inches ah hour. Over In Newport, Ky., the flood has I stopped many manufacturing establishments and has flooded the houses of numerous families. Street car communi-| cation' between It and Be 11 erne and, Dayton has been stopped, and passen-1 gers are transferred in flatboats. In Covington the low lying houses are be/loa?p|prt (Below at the Lagoon, a pleasure resort, the water la already on the floor of the dancing pavilion and the club house In endangered. Great anxiety han been felt and still continues at Lawrenceburg, Ind.. where lurlug the flood qf 1884 thg-water ran tluough the main street and jyirrled i}way many houses. . Since- then a big levee has been built for the protection of the city. The fear that the levee would break under tho effect of the waves caused by last night's high wind kept half the town awake. A force of men patrolled the levee all night. No breaks occurred. The levee can fairly withstand from 65 to 68 feet, while rlv trmen at mot poim uu uui c*s|i6k < ? <;. than 61 feet The problem now la how soon will the 1 rise end. It has ended at Pittsburgh and la all the tributaries of the Ohio, and rh<> cold weather Is moat favorable for a i rapid decline. It la estimated hero that la must continue to rise hera until Friday at least, though of course at a lower rate. Observer Bassler, of the weather bureau, says it will reach 60 feet by Thursday, but will not go much beyond that mark. A Mllllan Lwt In Monoiigahcla Valley. At 9 o'clock to-night the. river here was flfty-etght and one-half feet and rising steadily an inch and ia half an hour. Everywhere the Ohio valley above here the weather is clear and cooL Above Wheeling the Ohio river !<<-falling at all points. In the region of the source of the Hood the streams have been going down for twelve Lou's and the damage is past. No less than a million dollars loss !??vi /tamase to lumbermen and farm ers I* the rough estimate for the Monongahela valley. On the Ohio there win* more or lew loan and damage to rjilmads all the way down to Portsmouth. More or lea# loss in Home business houses was suffered in Steu* benvlllc, Parkeroburg, Galllpolis, Huntington, Catlettaburtr. Ironton, Hanging Hock, Portamouth.Aberdeen.Maysrifle and several smaller towns, either in actuat lots or Inconvenience of moving goods. To-night In Portsmouth alone, over 1.500 persona have been driven from their homes. Much the same aort of suffering exists in the other cities and town* mentioned, but Portsmouth Is the greatest. School houses, town hall, churches and all other available buildings ar* used for lodging these suffer" m snd public charity feed a them. At Newport. Ky? opposite here, one hunan/i flftv noor families are driven from their home*, but they are well sheltered. In East Cincinnati. about .hi equal number of families have been temporarily driven from their dwelling*. Coney Island, an up-river summer report. I* under water deep enough to float the largest river steamer. In l.uriloiv, Ky.. below Covington, the grounds ore deep under water, and It In feared that the dyke that retains the great lake will be Hoftened so as to break and drain the lake when the waters go down. The backwater In Mill creek, west of the city, has destroyed many thousand dollar* worth of garden ?tuff. At Lawrenceburg, Ky.. there have l>een fear* for the safetv of the big government dyke, built since 1884 for the protection of that city. At Portsmouth, washouts have stopped the u.ie of two railroads: the Norfolk & Went rn and the Cincinnati, Portsmouth & Virginia. Here In Cincinnati exposed bunlncNH jiouffc* l?avc? ftccureu tnemnt'ivp* .iirttnit further inconvenience. All railroad* here arc running from their depot* except thone using the Gram! ''cntral. and they now utart from Klghth Htreet. It I? believed now the rlie hero will not go mueh over iilxty feet. KAIfAWHA VALLEY. Tlit Waftrt Hnliildr. I?nt There la Hitclt nfrimi Amour th? Vo*>r. Special DlKpAtch to th* Intelligencer. CHARLESTON, W. Va.. Feb. 24.-The tvater in the Knnnwhn in falling slowly, and 1>y morning It will likely be off the "trfelg In Charlwton. No great damngc 10 properly along the rlvar I* reported. hough th?r? If a great deal .of dlatna* iind suffering among the poorer people, who wtn driven out of tlMr home*. J Traffic la entirely tuaptndtf 90 all rail* J im&amw ... roads In the Kanawha valley, with the exception of the Cheaapeake A Ohio, ana that 1? running only paaaenger trains. All freight train* are Hopped in consequence of the dlfflculty In supplying the engines with water. CHEAT DAMAGE DONE At Folat Pleaftant?Large Part of lla Town Vm&tr Vfmfr. SpccUl Dlipatch to lh? Iottlllctneer. POINT PLEASANT, W. Va., Feb. 24. ?The greatest flood since'1881 Is at present causing Point Ptaupnt great loss of property and much Inconvenience. Boats are going to and fro through the main streets of the town, and all the people In the flooded district are living on the second floor of (heir residence*, or have moved to the upper end o( town, out ot the water's way. Merchants have suspended business and moved their stock to places of safety. Although much loss has been their share, small dwelling houses, outhouses, fences and driftwood are afloat in plenty. The Kanawha ft Michigan rllroad has annulled trains south of here, but No. 1, east-bound, left for Columbus at 8:25 a. m. The Ohio River railroad also annulled their tralnB. Their east-bound passenger No. 1, has been her* since 11 a. m., and the prospects are that it wtll be here all night, perhaps to-morrow morning. The flood occupies one-half of the portion of the town east of the Kanawha & Michigan bridge, and has been fed by the Kanawha river until yesterday very early, when the Ohio river's raise helped swell the danger line. The Kanawha Is reported from Charleston to be falling fast. Main street here register* six feet, and the river SI feet and rising an Inch and a quarter per hour. The prospects are for three feet more. DISTRESSING SCENES Iu Huntington and Nearby Totrna?Hundreds of Peopl* Homeless. Special DUpatch to the Intelligencer. T*T v- V.k OJ _jm,? nuniinuivii! if ??., icu.n.? ??ic scene in Huntington anil nearby towns Is Indeed a distressing one. Water Is running Ave feet deep on Second avenue, and at Rockwood, Ohio, opposite here, the water Is In the seoond stories of most all the buildings In town. The river Is now almost 66 feet and Is still rising. At Centra! City, Ceredo, Kenova and Guyandotte the loss will run tar Into the thousands. Water Is six feet deep In all mills and Industries along Front street, and all the schools In the city closed to-day. and to-night hundreds of poor people are being cared for in the school buildings. The Ohio River depot has almost six feet of water on the first lloor. and no trains are running on thli end or the IIIUJ. Oirni utr UUUIl. JO nuoircimru auu all motor trains have been annulled. The town la In darkness, aa the electric plants are flooded. HKAB THE DAltOKE LINt TheOkio May Go B*xond It at Parkerabar*-L*w<r Bad or U?Towa wUl bo Sabnurgnl This Moraine. Special Dispatch to the Intelligence?. PARKERSBURG, W. Va.. Feb. !(.? Ohio is thirty-six feet to-nljht and rising Jwur. Thlrty-elgh;. feet Is the danger-line. AH day it has been rising one end one-half Inches an hour, but late this afternoon Increase.] to three inches. Residents In the lower end ot the city will move out to-night. *k the lower part ot Ann street will be under water by morning. A number of residents in Riverside and South Side have been chased out by the water. These two suburbs are lower than the city proper. The Parkereburg mill suspended to-day, water coming In on thera. The Little Kanawha Is falling everywhere but here, and It If prevented from doing so by the rising Ohio. It Is the back water of the Kanawha that is troubling 8outh Slder*. The Ohio River railroad Is open only to Ravenswood, as the tracks are covered at Clifton and between Point Pleasant and Huntington. By morning It Is expected that transportation will be carried on only between here ond Wheeling. No freight trains will be sent over the lower end of the road at all. There have been no mall trains In from New York for about thlrty-Ilx hours. The rise Is Increasing here each hour and the lower end of town will be submerged by morning without doubt That Is the way It looks tonight. River men counted on ?the water running out faster than it has, so that the present swell from the last Pittsburgh rise would cause no damage, but their hopes and calculations <}ld not pan out AT 8HTKBBV1LLE. People on liir Uroiind Preparing to Novo Out. Special Dispatch to tho Intelligencer. HlSTfiitaVlljLiU, ?Y. *?., rcu. The river is still rising here at the rate of about 7 Inches an hour and Rome of the streets In the lower part of the city are already under water, and the people are I moving out on the .t^uth Hide. In the ! bottom* there is about eight feet of water and some of the houses are Inundated almost to the second floor. The pavilion at | Coney Island, a pleasure resort located about a mile below the city, went out this afternoon, and several tanks and rigs have been washed away. It is estimated that there will be flvo or six feet of water yet before tho rlyer commences to recede and those living In low portions of the city are preparing to move out. H'EIKIBY'^ ILLHESfc. lf? Is Rapidly Improved?Senator Penrose In Canton. CANTON, Ohio, Feb. 24.?While Dr. Phillips Insists that the Prenldent-elect must not receive visitors, but continue resting from the unceasing ivork of the put fourteen months, Major McKinley continues to sain In slrcngth, Although not yet fully recovered from the lassitude after his attack of the grip. Henator-elect Boles Penrose, of Pennsylvania, was In Canton, this morning. He was accompanied by his I brother, R. O. Penrose, of Chicago. ' Senator Penrose said his call was not <>f n political nature. He had been In Detroit and wan on his way home to Philadelphia. lie said he had Irarned In Cleveland that Mr. Hanna was In Canton and turn" here to see the national chairman. Mrs. Berclirr'a Condition. HTAMFOItD, Conn., Feb. 34,-Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher showed no ilgna of Improvement this morning. 8hc passed a quiet night, but she has gained no slrength and Is exceedingly weak. Died of Ilia InJnrlM. BTKUBENVILLE, Ohio, Feb. 24.? Richard Voder, who was assaulted a month ago by Mlcliacl Necdhem, died this evening u a result of hla Injuries. Need ham. who .waa out on bond, waa rearrested. TOBACCO TRUST Under Fire by the New York Investigation Committee. THE COAL TRUST COMES TO-DAY The American Tobacco Company's Official Show* That They Hare Increased the Employment of Labor?Thnrbcr Says Combinations area Benefit to the Pabllc and to Labor, Becaase Tbey Badnos Prices?Wholesale Cigar Dealer Xteased of DelBf a Prtjadloed Witness. NEW YORK, Feb. 24.-Jamw B. Duke, president of tbe American Tobacco Company, was one of the first to appear today in the room of the joint legislative committee on trusts. He brought with him the labor statistics asked for yesterday by Senator Lexow. The papers show that prior to the incorporation of the American Tobacco Company in 1890, the several companies gave employment to 5,895 tobacco workers. To-day the number of employes in the employ of tl\e company is 9,194, making an Increase since the date of consolidation i\t S.''M hnnrl* In calling to'order Chairman Lexow said; "It Is the Intention of the committee to Investigate the so-called coal trust tomorrow. Charges have been made that the ooal combination Is the most vicious trust that exists and certain newspapers have made specific charges of the existence of this combination or trust." President Duke then took the stand. He said that the capital stock of the New Jersey concern rrlor to consolidation was $10,000, which, with the acquisition of the various companies, was Increased to $25,000,000. This was subsequently raised to $79,830,000. The witness said that in distributing the stock the earning capacity of the five original companies was increased. The number of the original stockholders was from fifteen to twenty-five: it is now somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000. Twoflfths of the company stock to-day wo* preferred and three-fifths was common stock. The books of the company are kept In the main office In New Jersey. An effort was made to have Mr. Duke admit that by the consolidation the trust secured control of competing: cigarette rolling: machines, but his responses were of a negative character. Francl* 13. Thurber was next called. He said he is president of the American Grocer Publishing Company, which office he has held during the last three years. Mr. Thurber naid that aggregations of capital ought to receive encouragement and not be subjected to unnecessary obstruction. Combinations intelligently administered were beneficial to the public at large and to the laboring classes. The profits of capital, he said, have been steadily decreasing and those of organized labor steadily increasing. ^Mr TburW "rnuirt a dealer buy more, than at the present time." Mr. Thurber contended that the centralization of capital was a natural evolution of the time. George D. Wheeler, a wholesale cigar dealer in Syracuse, was the next witness. He said he had been injured by the American Tobacco Company, ee a holder of the factor's agreement. This was brought about because he bought dlgarettes of the National Cigarette Company. The American Tobacco Company refused to consign him goods because he dealt with the National Cigarette Company. During Wheeler's testimony, W. W. Fuller, counsel for the American Tobacco Company, elicited the fact that Wheeler until n year ago had been a salaried employe of the National Cigarette Company. "I desire to say," said Mr. Fuller, "that this witness Is but the mouthpiece of the National Cigarette Company, who brought oil the litigation 1 * * u-"- * ?/.?!? ? Tnlinor>n Onm. UKBiuni uic Aintuv?ii -?""-"v. < ?H pany." _ GOVERNOR'S PALACE BURNED At 111? Capital oTCrete?A Urave Jtltaetlon. BlatlulntllM Arownl. CANEA, Island ot Crete. Feb. fl.?The governor's palace, with all the archive*, was destroyed by (Ire to-day, and as Arcs broke out elsewhere In the town at the same time. It Is suspected that Incendiaries have been at work. The situation !? most grave, Armed and excited Mussulman! ar* parading thy street*, run 01 inuisnawon ut me news from Sellnos, where Mussulmans are besieged. The Benghazi Arabs threaten to bum the whole of Canea. "While the palace was burning a strong box containing 7,000 poundj fell into the ruins and broke, whereupon there was a wild rush of Turkish soldiers and Mussulma ns to secure the treasure. The foreign marines were obliged to fire blank cartridges to restrain them and for a time a serious conflict between the Turks and Europeans was threatened. The admirals are about to issue a proclamation in all the towns and villages, explaining the reason for the presence of the foreign fleets in Cretan waters and exhorting tranquility. This view Is spreading with the population which is divided in Inveterate hatred that schemes for reforms are futile. The best plan. It Is urged, is to permit the Greek troops to occupy the country and escort the besieged Mussulmans abroad, for the Mussulmans cannot remain in Crete. The suggestion of the consuls that a foreign force be landed at Sellnos In order to cover the retreat of the beleaguered Mussulmans has not been adapted, nf \lnr_ OVVlntr tO MB aVMBiirit jiuiuvci Inen beln* Insufficient. In view of the large force of the Insurgent* the admirals have decided to conflne their action to the dispatch of warnhlpi to Saltan*. The attacks of lhtln?ur*ftnt? continue nt various points. The Insurgents have descended Into the plain behind the convent of Chrlsoplshl and have let Are to Mussulman* bonne*. Tlio I?mr?ra Will Art. COLOGNE. Feb. 24.?The Cologne Gaxette publishes n dispatch fron? Berlin *nylng,that all th<* power* have agreed In the event of Greece not wielding promptly to moral pressure that the proposal to blockade the Piraeus will be adopted. Morr Urtrk Troop* I/and. CONSTANTINOPLE, Fe4>. 21-The Turkish government ha* received u dispatch saying that 600 Greek troop*, three gun* and a quantity of ammunition, have landed at Chersnnesus, in the province of Candle Island of Crete. DAY IN CONGRESS. Thru Important Cabaa BMolatMu In the Scnat*?Sir. Bryan VWti th? Utan. WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 24.?Attention was recalled to the Cuban question In the senate to-day, by the presentation of three resolutions on that subject One of these came by unanimous vote from- the committee on forelim relations, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of Julio Sangullly, held at Havana. Mr. Morgan, who reported the resolution, trill endeavor to aecuie action on It to-morrow. Another resolution by Mr. Allen, (Neb.), calls on the President to effectively protect American dtlaens (n Cuba, and for that purpose to send battleships to Cuban waters. This resolution, also, comes tip to-morronr. A third resolution, by Mr. HIU, (N. Y.), was afreed to requesting the secretary of state for all correspondence with Consul General Lee relative to Americans Imprisoned In Cuba. A sensational episode occurred late in the day during the consideration of the Indian bill. Several of the New Borland senators had criticised various items. This aroused Mr. Pettlgrew, (S. D.). In charge of the bill, to some caustic recitals of barbarities practiced against Indians In Massachusetts in I ?ue ewriK UB/B. | Mr. Hoar, (Mass.), defended his ; state, and amid impressive alienee arraigned Mr. Pettigrew,' a New EngI lander by birth, for "befouling: the nest in which he was born." Little progress was made on the Indian bill, and Mr. Allison warned the senate that the status of appropriation bill9 was most dangerous. Beginning to-morrow the senate will alt until 12 p. m. In th? Hobm. WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 24.-The feature of the session of the house today was the appearance of William Jennings Bryan, late Democratic candidate for President, on the floor. He had come to the city to attend a dinner given in his honor by John R. McLean. of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and as an ex-member entitled to the privilege of the floor. Ho came into the hall with Mr. McMillln, of Tennessee, Mr. Magulre, of California, Mr. Sulzer. of New York, ana ex-uon&ressman George Fred Williams, of Massachusetts. He was given an ovation by the Democratic members and the galleries, and his old Republican colleagues Joined in the applause. Most of the day was devoted to District of Columbia business. The conference report on the bill to define the rights of the purchasers of the Atlantic and Pacific railroad under the foreclosure sale was adopted. OFFICIAL DENIAL fhitfonral General Lm Has Offered Ills Resignation and That Thers is a Clash. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21-Notwlthstandlng the repeated statements from outside sources to the contrary, the state department officials are firm in the denial of the reported resignation of United States Consul General Lee and- the Impression Is-given out that any trouble that threatened between, the department and the consul general has been com posed and tfiaTtEere is no longer danger of a rupture. It is now known that there has been some friction growing out of the cases of Americans arrested In Cuba, but the officials refuse to admit or deny this, EXTENDED SESSION Of Legislature-May Have to be Called by the Governor. 8psdal Dispatch to the Intelligencer. CHARLESTON. W. Va.. Feb. 24.-The resolution providing for an extension of the session for Ave days of the legislature on account of the delay caused by the flood, will come up to-morrow for consideration, and if enough Democratic votes can be obtained to give It the necessary two-thirds, the^resolution will be passed. All or tne Kepu oilcan members will vote for It. because they would rather have an extended session than a session called by the governor, for manifest reasons. It will be Impossible now to dispose of the pending business In the two houses within the time left of the regular session. Assuming that all of the Republicans will vote for the resolution It will require seven Democratic votes to make the two-thirds. The Indications are that the Democrats will vote solidly against the resolution, and a called session by the governor will be the consequence. _ IRON AND STEEL WOEMB* Coiutug Convention of (be Amalgamated Aiaoftatlon. PITTSBURGH, Feb. 24.?The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin PIAte Workers Is preparing for Its annual convention to be held In Detroit during May. In pursuance with a custom of long standing In the organization, the suggestions on the programme begin to come In during February and March. They are tabulated by the officials and then sent bock t<? the lodges for a vote, and from these second returns the programme of the convention Is made up. The suggestions cover all the points of the scales In all departments, questions of reviling by-laws, etc., and general topics relating to the good of the order. The scale this year will hardly amuse the Interest It did jam year, ax team that Is the general Impression, although very little definite Information ever leaks out on these topics In the organisation. It Is thought that the organisation will not demand n great many changes. Miner*' Strike In Progress. PITTSBURGH. Pa.. Feb. 24.-Thls was the day fixed for the rtrlke of the river miners If the operators refused the advance asked by the men. As all of the mine* along the river were forced to close down yesterday on account of high water, no action was taken by the miners. The operators declare positively that no advance will be granted. Should a strike be ordered 7,000 men will be affected. _ BEIEF TELEGRAMS. The committee on organisation of the ' Ttrno mill In l\ailUIIUI DI'UIIU iuvt?? ?..... ... New York yesterday, but has not yet completed Its work. The Pivnidont lias ln.?ued the usual call for an extra session of the senate at noon on .March 4, to confirm President McKlnley's cabinet appointments. The German-American bonk, of Tonawandn. N. Y., closed yesterday on account of a run that was made on It. The officials say the suspension 1s only temporary. President Cleveland declines to pardon Editor J. P. Wilson, of Indiana, convicted of sending his newspaper tontalnlnc obscene matter, through the malls, and expresses his surprise that respectable people should slm a petition for such a pardon. J FIRE BUG'S WORK In the Heart at the Wholesale DIs* trict Early This Morning. A CHICAGO HAN IN TROUBLE. The Police Are Now Searching For a Fire Fiend. TUP TlimtCD COT ATE DllliniMn inn xuiuicn toihit. uuiluihu Alhfidt* Ran Bmi M ou Flr? at (1m Instigation of a Man wno Ouu Hera a Wak Ago, and Took Oat Exetalv* Inaarane* In vLoeal Agenclii Vary Llttlo Hcrcliamdlao waa In tho BnlMtng?Tho Underwriters Inspected Something mi Wrong. j This morning at 2:15 o'clock,. Will Underwood, a young man, on his way | home, while passing along Main street, j saw smoke rolling out of the third j story windows of the building at the corner of the Stamm house alley, Nos. ! 1300 and 1802 Main atreet He at once turned In an alarm at box 25, calling out the entire fire department, which made a very fast run to the scene. The chemical hose was first turned Into the Interior of the building through a second story window at the front, but the smoke was 00 dense and fire had attained such headway that It was seen the chemical could not master It. Then Chief Klieves had a line of hose sent up into the second story at the front, while another line was Introduced Into the building at the rear through the third story window. The fire started from an unknown cause at the rear of the building on the second floor, near the elevator shaft, which made it more dangerous. However, the flood of water that was poured into the building at front and rear speedily had the desired effect and at 2:40 a. m. the fire was under control. The fire was in the building, No. 1302 Main street, which has been unocpied since Henry Speyer, the wholesale notion man, vacated it several months ago. The loss to the building was not very large. The principal loss is that of the wholesale millinery firm of A. L?. Rice & Company, located in the upper half of the same building, No. 1300. at the corner of the alley. The smoke soon permeated the entire building and this was followed by tons of water, which soaked through and carried ruin to the wholesale stock of millinery, which is said to be worth from $10,000 to $20,000. At 3 o'clock no estimate of " o ln?c ho mad#. The buildlngi, Nod. 1300 and 1302 Main si reft, are owned by the Elizabeth Turner estate, ot which Mr. W. D. Johnson la the administrator. The loss to the building could not be named. At 3 o'clock the engines were still at work and the Rice stock was rapidly becoming ruined, which means a big loss reaching from 35,000 to the full value, said to be $20,000. The loss on tie building will probably reach 12,000. AT aj flat on Tin, At 3:10 o'clock this morning the Intelligencer learns of additional facts which tend to show that the Turner building was set on Are,' with the object of securing Insurance on a stock that was worth not nearly the amount for which It was Insured. n tuaalr nvn n man rfllflP hCffi from Chicago, calling himself William Eaton, and representing that he was a manufacturers' agent. Among other goods he received and stored In the second story of the Turner building, was a lot of willow ware. He also said he had other lines of merchandise which he would Job in this territory. One of his first steps was to go to the W. R. Rice Insurance agency and take out insurance to the amount of $3,000. This was thought to be fully as much insurance us the stock would stand, so when Mr. Rice learned that Eaton bad taken out *4,500 additional insurance in the Morgan and other agencies, he became alarmed and the local underwriters' association placed a special watchman at the Turner building in order to nip in the bud any attempt to burn out the stock. It is also learned that Eaton went to tne nre ana aiarlnt> Insurance Company, of Wheeling, and endeavored to take out $1,500 more Insurance, representing that there was no other Insurance on the stock. This would have been W.OOO Insurance on a stock that may have been worth 13,000, but was probably not worth J1.500. Eaton Is said to have left Wheeling on Monday night for Pittsburgh, and at this hour. (3:30 a. in.) there Is nothing to Indicate that he tired the building. though the circumstances detailed above would load the tinner of suspicion to point In his direction. The police have been notified, hut no arrests iiav? uurn made yet. Pollf* A fur Eaton, This morning at 3:40 o'clock the police ofllccrs are searching the town for Eat on. who was seen In Wheeling yesterday morning. He. had returned from Pittsburgh. He was not'scen about the Turner building this morning, but the general theory Ih thnt he set the building on Are for the Insurance money, nnd It will take a rock-ribbed alibi for him to got out of a very tight holo If the police succeed In landing him. This morning at 3:40 o'clock the Intelligencer representative saw Mr. S. M. Rice, of the firm of 8. M. Rice & Company, and asked him to make an estimate of hln loss. He said his stock J.< valued at 130,000. He had Just received a largo nnd valuable consignment of spring millinery from tht? oust yesterday. He has Insurance aggregating in the neighborhood of $18,000, which he anticipates will fully cover the loas his firm sustains by the water, which ruins almost all -the stock, on the first and second floors. The most valuable portion of the stock Is on the first floor, over which n torrent of water la pouring as the Intelligencer goea to pn?*s. a? i-Ul ihn nmrlnr.it liuvn Mtnnm?d. Will Arrwt Ratuu't I'al. At 4 "o'clock the pollco were Informed that the "lnalde" of the cauao of the flro would come out In thl* morning'* Intelligencer. and It wan then determined to arrerfl ft "pal" of Eaton, who waa In bed at the Howell houae. Water afreet. It aeema that Baton did not return from Plttaburgh, an reported above. The information on which the arrent wa* made la that the man at the Howell la In with Baton on the deal. Hla name could not be learned. Their iame *tt that the , Are waa to occur while Eaton waa out of the city; they auppoalng that the underwriter*' auaplclona had not been . aroused and that It was not known that there ?u the second person "or blind" g Id the cmt. -J The police discovered at lit S. m. I that be "blind" man was not at the -'3 SoveU. They are now looking tor htm. . S Mr. W. R Rloe, the Insurance man. Si says the stock was not worth two. KB8 AT 8T. EOUH., ImkuWBubufi MUUf bUIr 8T. Loins', Mo, Feb. K-Xt * *> a. m., flame* were dlnovered breaking forth from the root of the Merchants . i Exchange building:, which oooaplea ...-.tig two-third* of the block on Third (treet. ' bounded by Chestnut and Pine. The I'W Are .started in the elevator shattr pre- -'i aumablv from defective Ucht wires. Sfj and spread to <i? offices on the top . -J9 floor. Three alarms were turned in '.''38 mod the Urge number of engine* called out cot the flame* under control br M 1:30 o'clock. The damage la conflned J principally to the eastern, or offloe par- 9 tlon ot the building, and was mostly - caused by the water with which the .3] roof waa flooded. All the ofllcea on the top floor was destroyed. The nar- 9 row street* and' the mass ot overhead wires hampered the work of the lire* H| men and had not the building been al? .? most lire-proof the Are would un- . -tO dolibtedly have destroyed it. No estl- . ft mate of the loss can be made yet Quests at the Planter's Hotel, a halt B block distant, were frightened, and rushed from their rooms, but returned m when they learned that they were in no danger. _ THE TYLER COUNTY TRAGEDY. || First Report* Correct?Author! tlM Malta *.. lag m Investigation. Special Dispatch to the Intelligencer. SISTERSVILLE, W. Va.. Feb. 21? The latest developments in the story concerning the burning or the speak- <9 easy and bawdy house in the Interior of , the county Is that the first report was " correct and that all of tho parties r^ ported dead were burned, and that in addition some of those Injured are In a ..ySaM very serious condition and may not r?N The county officers have taken the matter up and will investigate thor- .tfj ouphly. The better element all over the county are highly incensed at the high- 3 handed outrage and great pressure is ; - S being brought to bear on the authori- i]S| ties in order to compel them to probe /'SB the matter to the bottom/ So far no arrests have been made, but it Is expected that within the next couple of days warrants will be issued, and some very B sensational developments will likely crop out. as some well-known citisens . g are said to have had a hand in the &f? 8 BBVnr WERE TTTTilH. j Terrible Fate of Family Ttmx flbmnni j HtlxhU, Ttanemi. .: JB CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Feb. UA Seven oat of a family of eleven wore kill- .',^2 ed on a railroad crossing near Sherman Vffia Heights, a suburb of Chattanooga* this X'tiB afternoon. The accident occurred where :'-;M the Georgia division of the Southern railroad crosses Harrison avenue. .>* The family, whose name was Wood- . ;M ward, consisted of ten members, mother and nine children, were in the wagon.. The mother and six of the children ware' -] killed Instantly and the other three oliH- . dren were dangerously hurt. They Nyed '. eight miles out in the country and wefr? coming to Chattanooga. The father, ,W? <^3 J. Woodward, was already in town. n\u-.. .aHm ilmala ilwii wM by the trainmen and death came before ;3 they were aware of their danger. - ;..3M Both horses were killed and the wagon -H utterly demolished. The shock to the train was so severe . that all the window glass In it was Jar- ' ~:?S8 red to fragments. . The bodies of the dead family were J brought to an undertaking establishment ,/ in Chattanooga soon after the aootdent. ; 5 H Two of tho children who were not killed Instantly cannot recover. Seven persons are dead. Special train* . -5| have left for the scene of the accident EvlditieM ot? Awfkl Tri|i4y. I RIVERTON, N. J., Feb. 24.?While ; workmen were digging a trench, on. ; 3 the property of Henry C. Dreer, near tho Delaware river front.they unearth- ,:;J9 ed from the soft mucky soil Ave hu- ' jfj man skeletons. The spot where the skeletons were found Is near a dense ' tfl growth of underbrush, which*screens .yfljtt the- river front. A physician who ex- \-jjM amlned the skeletons said that ont Have evidence of comparatively recent N. burial. This latter was apparently the V;vgi bones of a white man of mature years. < The skull was fractured and seemed to 7 hnvA crushed In by a blow. No ' definite theory can be advanced aa to bow the skeletons came thege. ; The spot where they were found is - {3 JuRt back of the Faunces flsh cabin, 39 which in used by shad fishermen In 3SH9 the spring. ^ HUhop Unlgley CouMorated* BUFFALO, Feb. 24.?The Rev; James ; E. Quigley. rector of St Bridget's church in this city, was to-day eleoted to the . position of bishop of the Roman Catholic ? >39 diocese of Buffalo. Archbishop Corri- rajfl pan officiated as consecrator. and tats as- . .# slstam* in the-ceremony were Bishop McQuaid, of Rochester, Bishop McDon- -i? nail ?f nmnklvn 1W>?n Rtvunrhiim of '..liB Batavla, Father Vanderpool, of Leroy, .;J51 and Fathers Connoy and Hoehrcher, of ? this cfty. Bealdea those named there ig were present Archbishop Walsh, of To* . .#H mnto, Bishops Gabriels, Wlffger And McFaul. Mrts. Sparettl and De Regf?e, and .-ItaB Father Bandinelll. head of the Pasott* .? 1st order In this city. Impcncllrtl a Witness. Special Dispatch to the Intelllrenccf. $ WESTON, \V. Va.. Feb. 2<.-Con test- '3 ant Lightburn got In some strong rebuttal testimony to-day. The principal. witness relied on In the effort to throw ,'jai out the Collins school house vote, wai ^^B Impeached by his brother. He was shown* to have refused -to vote b> , cause he was not paid Cor doing so; . "'ojjj Koarner Convicted of MiHir. NEW -sronK, Fob. H?William 7. Koerner, a newspaper arttsc, wno#? ;W home wan In Pittsburgh, was adjudge? ig jrullty of murder in the first decree uw thin afternoon. Sentence was suspended, uontllnit a motion for a new hearing:. Koerner shot .to death his sweetheart, , Rosa RedipUe. while she> wa* on .the J street atxait a year a*o. Anattemptto phow that Koerner was an epileptic and * J| slave to drum was made. ' Weather FoneaU fbr To-da jr. ' For West Virginia, fair and wWgjWM JSH Ink the day; ooldor Thursday nlfht, westl'VorWW?itern Pennsylvania and Ohfo. generally fair, excrnt on the lakM, Jocal ...H now* and partly cloudy weather, wlMS.-^AgM ahlftlng to northwesterly; colder Thura- ;J day nlirht. Loeal Timparatarf. jSH The temperature y^terday aa obserr?(S W offigr, J