Daily globe., March 03, 1881, Image 1

About Daily globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

VOL. IV.
A BIGJIffI
Reviewing the Scene the Day After
It Happened.
GETTING INTO NEW QUARTERS.
The Market House Turned Into an
Impromptu State House.
HOW IT IS BEING FITTED UP.
Got. Pillsbory's 3lessage Recommend-
ing Immediate Rebuilding.
MANY NOTES AND INCIDENTS.
Crowds of People Gathering About
the {tains of Old Building.
At a role there ars but few loafers to be seen
about St. Paul. We are a busily working peo
ple, rarely sparing time for more than neces
sary rest. The constant presence about the
gaunt walls of the burned capitol yesterday
anist then be accounted for by something
more than idle curiosity. It i? no stretch of
Imagination to suppose that most of those
trho came to look ot th<: ruins and
learn how much was saved were mindful that
that the fire was a public calamity— that it had
destroyed a record in brick and Etone of the
birth of th? territory, the creation of the State
the wonderful development of the com
monwealth— and that it had broken into and
endangered a. great variety of relics, treasures
and historic records which were
being accumulated in all
the departments of the.State government. The
burned, gaping and ragged exterior, and the
charred and smoking debris of the interior,
with tangles of bent, broken and half melted
pipes, black fragments of floors aud timbers,
smoked remnants of partitions, great warped
and rusty looking iron safes, and the mys
terious looking piles in which the treasure and
record vaults were barely recogniz
able; made a saddiutr picture for all who were
familiar with the old aud homely but roomy
and comfortably appointed building.
The opening of safes aud vaults showing
their contents preserved seemed to give satis
faction to all the spectators, as if they had a
direct personal interest in the property, and
the discovery that the the clerk of court's safe
would have to go to a Ehop to be opened ap
peared to be a commou disappointment.
A little of the walls of the original west
«ing have fallen, aud in the Wabashaw street
wall of the new west wing there is a slowly
widening crack from the top to near the bot
tom; but most of the Avails look to be sound
and firm. It was a common remark that the
walls stood the fire, fierce as it was for the
brief time in which it rnged, better than peo
ple thought they would at the time the whole
interior was filled with roaring flames, formed
fcv the strong wind from the east.
Origin of the Fire.
Ihe ongiu of the fire is still »■ mystery.
The attempt t® make Jefferson Davis Hudson,
the darkey flag raiser, responsible for th* dis
aster, is not likely to succeed- He raised the
Hag In the morning and immediately got drunk
to celebrate his birthday. He went to bed iv
the capitol at 3r. M. and slept continuously
until the fire occurred. Mr. Choppe!, janitor
of the building, went to the dome with some
ladies between 5 and 0 o'clock. Everything
wa« all right then and he locked the door lead
ing to it. There seems little doubt that the
fir»; was 1 ltf work of an incendiary.
The Executive Officers.
Yesterday wm& a busy and withal a noisy
flay, from dawn to sunset, ou the first floor of
the market house. Carpenters, plumbers and
upholsterers were hurriedly making ready
apartments for the several State officers and
their assistants, while the latter were indus
triously encaged in sorting out books, papers,
furniture aud fixtures. The attorney general,
"ho had personally superintended the removal
of his office to the market house, while yet
the fire was raging, was first to lean back in
his chair, survey his new quarters and pro
nounce himself ready for business. By night,
the governor's and secretary of state's offices
were in fair business order und this morning
all the rest will be ready for business.
The governor and his secretaries are located
in rooms 32,39, 28 aud 96, on the Seventh street
front next to Wabashaw.
The public examiner has fot his office room
D, opposite room 26, in the center, and the
office of the boavd of immigration is in
room E.
The secretary of state and his assistants
have rooms 24 and 22, and the large central
room A for storage of stationery and printed
documents.
The attorney general has his office in
room 20.
On. the opposite side, beginning at the Wa
bashaw street front, the auditor of stats and
his assistants have rooms 29, (with fire proof
vault) 27 and 25.
The insurance commisbioner has rooms 23"
and 21.
The railroad commissioner has room 19.
The superintendaut of public instruction
has rooms 17 and 15.
The adjutant general has roomJ ;it the St.
Peter street end of the building.
All these offices occupy at present nut more
than half the space on the first floor.
The State treasurer has his rooms and fire
proof vault in the second story, (cutrauce by
stairway from Wabashaw street), over the of
fices of "the auditor of state.
The large second floor room, corner of
Wabashaw and Seventh streets, ha-, been as
signed for a supreme court room, while the
small room in rear is to be the judge's room
and the small room at the front will be the
clerk's office. Temporarily the books saved
from the State library will be shelved in the
court room.
Of course there is yet more to do before the
offices are made just what they ought to be;
but the only serious lack is safe and vault
room for the protection of books and papers.
This will, however, soon be supplied.
The Senate 'in Its Xeic Quarters.
The Senate very readily adapted itself to its
new chamber, and in some respects hardly
knew it had been burued out. The dining room
of the market house was assigned to that
body and was fitted for the business of legis
lation more conveniently than could have
been reasonably expected in the short time
between the fire and its occupation. The
room is somewhat larger than the destioved
Senate chamber, with liigh, white walls and
n-ell lighted by three large windows at each
The handsome black walnut desks in
tended for the Judge and clerk of the munici
pal court were placed at one end for the use
of the lieutenant governor and Secretary Jenni
oon and his assistants. The secretary missed the
pigeon holes of his old desk, but he extended
tables on either side so that he was not serious
ly inconvenienced. The Senators were pro
vided with chairs and tables of a variety of
patterns,— extension tables, long tables, short
tables, square table- and round tables, and
some of the double desks formerly used in th?
House of Representatives, which seemed to
experience no inconvenience from the change.
During the forenoon the temperature was
rather iowcr than was conducive to comfort,
but. in the afternoon and evening the temper
ature and ventilation was all that
the most fastidious could desire. The
room was carpeted during the noon recess, so
that the annoyance causca by persons walking
Daily
upon the bar 6 floor was abated. In the even
ing gas was turned on and the beautiful chan
deliers were lighted. The one in the center of
the room had twenty-four burners, and the
one over the secretary's desk had six, and the
light, mellowed by the ground glass globes,
flooded the room. Everyone was very much
pleased with the extemporized State house.
The House in Market Hall.
Though every effort had been made during
the night, the new market hall was but poorly
prepared for the reception of the House when
the hour for meeting arrived yesterday morn
ing. The atmosphere was eliilly in the ex
treme, while chairs and deal tables were ar
ranged iv confusion on the main floor. The
clerks had been unable to procure stationery,
and there were no printed lists of bills on their
third reading or ou general orders, and the
members were considerably at sea as to the
business before them. Everybody kept their
overcoats and wraps on, and by special per
mission those who chose to do so were allow
ed to wear their hats. The result was that
nearly all kept covered during the
forenoon session, and kept themselves warm
by vigorous exercies and by puffling their
cigars. To add to the discomforts of the hall,
the noise of the workmen and the tread of the
members and the lobby upon the bare floors
rendered it almost impossible for the clerks to
hear or be heard, and all efforts of the chair
man of the committee of the whole to main
tain anything like order were futile. As a re
sult but little progress was made.
During the noon recess the tables were ar
ranged in something approaching order.
The members were 6eparatea from
the lobby by atemrary raipollng, and stoves
had been setup which sent forth a genial
warmth, and aided by the steam in the
coils kept the members comfortable. There
was still great confusion, however, and the
speaker's gavel was beating a continual tattoo
during the greater part of the afternoon.
Dunng the evening recess a few pieces of
carpet were procured and laid upon the floor
around the members' tables, and these served
to greatly deaden the noise, and considerable
progress was made
Although there was nearly a full House
present the body looked like a mere handful
of mortals in the middle of the vast hall. The
echo wns noticeable, aud the acoustic proper
riea of the hall were found to be defective, at
vny rate when there wa3 such a small crowd
ptesent.
Interview With the Qovernvr and Auditor.
Searching for information as to the present
condition aud future prospects of the dispos
sessed State government, a rep
resentative of the Globe culled
upon Oov. Pillsbury in his new office
yesterday afternoon and found him engaged
in preparing a message intended to be sent to
the legislature last evening. In the short
conversation permitted by his engagement the
governor spoke of the promptness of the
mayor and council committee in relieving him
from anxiety by tendering the use of the
market house, and of the energy which the
city officers aud the mechanics they employed
had shown in making the building ready for
the resumption of legislative and executive
business yesterday.
You see, said the governor, ure are con
veniently located here and will soon
have everything in order ami be quite com
fortable. We will have to remain here of
course until the capitol is rebuilt. I have
had Mr. Radcliffexamine the burued walls and
make au estimate of what it will cost to re
build. He has had all the assistance he could
employ through the day and has furnished me
his estimates, and I am now preparing a
message to present them to the legislature.
They are so complete that I think the legis
lature can act upon them without delay.
Leaving the governor the reporter sought
State Auditor Whitcomb and asked him how
long he expected to stay in his present quar
ters. Not more than four months, said he;
we can have a new capitol built in that time.
Mr. Radcliffe has gone over the matter thor
oughly to-day, and he Bays the capi
tol tan be rebuilt * in that
time. He proposes to use all that i 6 left of the
old capitol which can be profitably usedjStiffen
the outer walls that he use 6, put in brick par
tition walls where they were wooden, make
the building better and stronger throughout,
with four wide stairways convenient to the
outer doors and with the space better divided
according to the needs of the offices. He esti
mates the cost, after examining the walls aud
foundations, :it £60,650. There is some talk
about waiting to build more expensively, but
when men come to consider that the cost of
rebuilding on Mr. Radcliff's plan will not be
more than Ithe interest for one or two
years ou a half million or million dollar build
ing I think most of them will prefer rebuild
ing.
"Certainly," said the reporter, "if they
think how much ib wanted right away to
bring the State institutions up to our popu
lation, and that such a capitol building as
this State will build some dny it cannot afford
to build now."
"Yes," was the answer. In continuing the
conversation Auditor Whitcomb remarked
upon his surprise as he found how much wa6
saved from the burning capitol. Carpets,
pens, pencils, desks, erasers, rulers, big and
little things— it was remarkable how com
plete in some cases had been the saving.
Especially was he pleased to find among the
things saved from his oiflee the familiar por
trait of the late J. R. Lucas, chief clerk in the
land department of the auditor's office under
Mr. Whitcomb and his predecessor.
the Governor.
Prompt Action
The governor last evening transmitted the
following message to the presiding officers
of the Senate and House of Rapresentatives,
aud it was read to the respective houses. In
the Senate, Col. Crooks moved its reference to
the the finance committee, and Senator
Congdon moved that it be referred to
the committee on public buildings.
Col. Crook's motion prevailed by
a vote of 24 to 6. In the House the message
was laid on the table temporarily, but af
terwards referred to the finance committee,
together with Judge Wilson's bill making the
appropriation recommended.
THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
Executive Office, )
[St. Paul, Minn., March 2, 1881. $
Sir: The destruction by fire of oiir State
capitol last night is a calamity demanding at
once wise and prompt action . We have much
reason to be thankful that this great disaster
resulted in no loss of life, and that all our cit
izens escaped without harm. The loss ia one
of property only. Appreciating the short
time which the legislature would be in ses
sion, I have employed A. M. Radcliff, Esq.,
a competent architect, to prepare a careful
estimate of the cost of replacing buildings
upon the original site, having in view the
sewerage, water supply and vaults, which are
all in good order and can be utilized in the
erection of new buildings, together with the
brick walls, which are mostly in good condi
tion, and can also be utilized in replacing new
buildings.
Mr. Radcliff has submitted his estimate,
which I have the honor to transmit herewith.
Should the legislature determine that it would
be for the best interests of the State to rebuild
on the old site, I would suggest that an ap
propriation be made sufficient to cover these
estimates. I have thought under the circum
stances that it would be wise to expend the
amount estimated for rebuilding the capitol,
rather than to convene an extra session of the
legislature, which would cost the State as
much or more money than the whole expense
of rebuilding as proposed.
I have also to inform the legislature that
the mayor and city authorities of St. Paul have
generously tendered the use of the Market
house free of charge until such time as the
contemplated new capitol buildings shall be
ready for occupancy. After the recant de
struction of the hospital for insane at St.
Peter, and the unusual heavy demands
upon our State treasury, It
is unnecessary for me to
say that the State is at this time in no condi
tion to expend such sums of money for capi
tol buildings as this commonwealth will re
SAINT PAUL, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 3, 1881.
quire to meet the growing demands of the fu
ture. Very respectfully,
J. S. Pillsburt, Governor.
ME. RADCLIFT'S ESTIMATES.
St. Paul, Minn., March 2, 1381.
To His Excellency, John S. Pillsbury, Gov
ernor of the State of Minnesota:
Sir: After a careful examination of the
stone and brick walls of the capitol building,
I have the honor to submit the following esti
mate for the reconstruction of the building in
a good and substantial manner ready for occu
pancy:
Clearing away rubbish $ 1,500
Repairing stone and brick walls S,9CO
Brick partition in basement and first
and second story 3,500
Cut stone, iron and tin work 4,600
14,000 yards of plastering 3,300
800 windows and doors, and four flights
of stairs. 7,200
170,000 feet of dimension lumber 2,550
150,000 feet of flooring 4,500
Carpenter work, hardware and finishing
lumber 21,500
Painting and glass 3,500
Plumbing, gas and steam heating 4,600
160,660
Yours Respectfully,
A. M. Radcliff, Architect.
The United States Court Roan Tendered.
The federal powers that be have come to the
assistance of the State officials in their hour of
need, with paternal promptitude, as witnessed
by the following correspondence between U.
S. Marshal McLaren, and Attorney General
Devens, and the communication of Judge Nel
son to Chief Justice Gilflllan:
St.. Paul, March 2, 1881.— Hon. Chas.
Devens, attorney general: State capitol burn
ed last night; our court room will not be
needed until June term; Judge Nelsot being
willing, can I offer the use of the United
6tates court room to the supreme court until
some arrangement can be made by the State
for permanent quarters ?
R. N. McLaren, U. S. Marshall.
Washington, D. C, March 3.— Consult
judge. If he consents, do so. Expressing my
regrets that the court has been disturbed by so
unfortunate an occurrence,
Cdas. Devens, Attorney General.
The following was 6ent to Chief Justice
Gilfillan by Judge R. R. Nelson:
U. S. District Court Chambers, )
District Minnesota, >
St. Pacl, Minn., March 8. )
My Dear Chief Justice.
I beg leave to tender, for the use of the
supreme court of the Btate, the room of the
federal courts, in the United States custom
house. Regretting the disastrous fire and the
calamity to the State, very respectfully
your obedient servant, R. R. Nelson,
United States Judge.
To James Gilfillan, Chief Justice, State of
Minnesota.
The Historical Society.
Mr. J. F. Williams, secretary of the Histor
ical Society, estimatea that the loss of the so
ciety does not exceed $2,000, and believes that
no valuable papers or rare books were lost.
He did not attempt to move his rescued trea
sures yesterday from the places where they
were stored Tuesday night, but will probably
remove them into the market house after con
sulting with the executive committee of the
society. That committee is to meet at 3P. M.
to-day at Gen. Sibley's office and will, it is
understood, consider, among other matters,
the some time ago mooted project of erecting
a fire-proof building for the offices and collec
tions of the society.
Personal Xotes and Incidents.
Secretary of State Yon Baumbach lost a set
of Appleton's Cyclopedia in the fire.
Mr. C. F. Solberg, the railroad commission
er's late assistant, had his private library,
worth $1,000, stored in th« basement of the
capitol, and none of it was saved.
Victor Hjorttberg, the zealous and always
accommodating clerk in the secretary of state's
office, made a special point of saving the great
teal of the State, and he saved it. It came into
use yesterday in finishing up several executive
papers.
Senator Bonuiwcll lo6t about $1,600 worth of
railroad maps and profiles, which were in his
desk in the Senate chamber.
The vaults iv the burned capitol, appertain
ing to the offices of the auditor of state, sec
retary of state, insurance commissioner and
State treasurer, aud the safes belonging to the
railroad commissioner, clerk of courtj attor
ney general and governor, were all opened yes
terday and their contents found well preserved.
On account of the lack of fire-proof room m
the new quarters, the auditor ,J treasurer and
secretary of state have as yet removed from
their vaults only such things as they have daily
need of.
All day long crowds of bight beers were
gathered around the ruins of the capitol, cu
riously inspecting the ragged, blackened walls
and the charred piles of debris and with un
flagging interest repeating iv every possible
form the unanswerable queries, where and how
did the fire start?
The State librarian, Col. Taylor, counted his
rescued books yesterday and found them to
number 1,343 volumes. The library, before
the fire, numbered 12,560 volumes, "and had
costabout $65,000. The insurance wa6 $10,000.
Not one set of books is left complete, but Col.
Taylor thinks that in fsme, though at con
siderable cost, the broken sets can ds filled and
the whole library be replaced.
The general appropriation bill, which passed
the Senate yesterday morning, was among the
saved flies of Secretary Jennison, and was en
rolled yesterday to be presented to the govern
or to-day.
A good many people noticed that Chief
C'lerkKenvon, of the State auditor's office,
who was in the Senate when the fire broke out,
was quite panicky and escaped by a ladder.
Kenyon says that he was anxious to secure
some valuable plats which were lying unpro
tected in the auditor's office, but a elance at
the Senate proceedings explains the whole
matter. The Senate had just passed a bill in
creasing his salary to $2,000, and Kenyon was
anxious to live to draw it.
Jay Whipple, editor of the Wiuona Herald,
wants his overcoat delivered at the Globe of-
flee. See advertisement elsewhere. The way
Mr. Whipple came to lose his coat was this:
He is boss of a whole fire department, him
self, when at home, and when the fire alarm
was sounded through the capitol, taking it
for granted he would find hose and fire appar
atus there, he rushed down into the basement
to help make ready for putting out the fire.
When he had found out his mistake, he went
back for his overcoat, but meantime some
body had take ait away. If that somebody
will bring the garment and the gloves it con
tained to the Globe office, there wont be any
complaint about the three good cigars. He
wouldn't expect to see them come safely
through a capitol fire and the Globe too.
The boilers in the basement of the east wing
of the capitol appeard not to have been much
harmed by the fire.
The portraits of cx-Governor'a Ramsey and
Miller, which adorned the Governor's cham
ber, were mislaid or stolen during the fire.
Parties having the same in possession will
please return them to the governor's office.
The Historical society's insurance was
placed as follows: St. Paul Fire & Marine,
$5,000, 9nd German-American, of New York,
85,000.
The 6oluiers of the late war owe a debt of
gratitude to Senator Adams and Capt. C. E.
Davis for rescuing the records and battle flags
in the adjutant general's office. Not a thing
was destroyed in that department except such
furniture as could not be readily removed.
Senator Castle's love for the artistic and
the beautiful induc«d him to return to the
Senate chamber after the firemen came with
their ladders, for the purpose of rescuing that
superb picture of the Falls of St. Anthony,
which had been placed on exhibition theTe.
It was so large and heavy that he was unable
to take it down the ladder, so he dropped it
from one of the windows. The box la which
it wa9 enclosed was broken, but the picture
is said to be uninjured.
Pepper, the photographer, cast his lense6 on
the House yesterday at a time when it was in
the greatest disorder in the great market
hall, and the members will se6 themselves as
they were, shortly after the period of recon
struction.
The members got up a handsome purse
yesterday for the crippled young man who
has Kept the cigar stand in the rotunda during
the session. The young man lost his entire
stock of fruits and cigars by the conflagration.
One of the Representatives who joined in
the mad rush of Che panic-sticken at the first
alarm, of fire, came almost to his senees before
he had run down anyone or barked his shins
against chair or desk, and in rapid thought
said to himself, "Here am I, a fireman for
eight years, captain of a company and chief
of a department, making s fool of myself and
likely to lose my life because I haven't got my
senses about me." He was shaking as with
ague and weak as if he had been through a spell
of fever; but his will was up. Back to his desk
he walked, seated himself in his chair, lit his
cigar and waited till he could comprehend the
scene about him and judge his best means of
escape. Then he gathered up his papers,
walked to a window and down a ladder, and
when he reached the ground felt grateful to
think he had come to his senses and kept them.
Representative Schmidt, of Washington
county, who Jumped from the window of the
House on Tuesday night, was not m his seat
yesterday. Though not badly injure! he was
considcrablejshaken up. Hs says he has no
recollection of anything that occured in the
perilous moments after the alarm of fire' ! >tts
given. The first thing he remembers after
leaving the cloak room was his awaking as
from a trance wading through the snow in the
capitol square, cane In hand.
Ansel Oppenheim, Esq., who has been a
member of the third house for several weeks,
was out in a new overcoat and hat yesterday.
He suspects that the fire had something to
do with the disapparaucc of his old habili
ments.
James Smith, Jr., of this city, left his
overcoat, hat and overshoes in the capitol on
Tuesday evening. A diligent search through
the ruins yesterday revealed no traces of the
missing garments.
History of the \Capitol.
[From the Legislative Manual of ISBl.]
By the organic act of Minnesota Territory
$20,000 were appropriated for a capitol build
ing. By the lime the Territory was organ
ized, however, (June 1, 1849) the permanent
capitol had not been determined on, and the
money was not available. The "Central
House," a frame building since burned down
on the corner of Minnesota and Bench streets,
St. Paul, was rented for the public offices and
the legislative assembly. It was for some
months known as "The Capitol." Gov. Ram
sey kept the executive office at his residence
The Territorial library was for a time located
in a building on Third street. The first legls
lature failed to permanently locate the capitol,
and nothing was done for some months, tem
porary apartments being rented for the next
three sessions. The next session (1851) the
6eat ofgovernment was fixed at Bt. Paul. Df
F. Brawley, Louis ßßobertt t J. Me-
Kusitk and E. A. Hatch were
elected building commissioners. Charles
Bazille donated a block of ground for the
capitol, and a plan drawn by N. C. Prentiss
was chosen. The contract was let for $83,000,
but the building finally cost over $40,000. It
was commenced at once, but not completed
until the summer of 1853. On July 21, the
governor (W. A. Gorman) first occupied the
executive chamber. The original building
was in the form of a T, and so many have been
the alterations and repairs that but little of
it, except the walls, remain, For 6ome years
it amply accommodated all the Slate business,
and Its interior furnishiL^ and equipments
were as plain as the exterior. Up to 1866,
when gas was put in, the legislative halls were
lighted during night sessions with candles;
and up to 1871, the building was heated with
wood stoves, and all the water used in It was
supplied by carts. That year the 6team heat
ing apparatus and water works were ordered
by the legislature, and the building "began to
have some of the comforts of civilized life,"
as a witty member expressed it in one of his
speeches; but it had grown too limited for the
rapidly extended business of the State, which
had increased in population eight fold since
the building was completed. After the in
creased representation commencing in 1872,
more room was imperative. Next session the
wing fronting on Exchange street was order
ed, costing $8,000, while the changes in the
assembly rooms, roofs, cupola, etc., cost
$6,000 more. This gave relief for several
years, but at every session of the legislature
the members suffered from the crowded con
dition of their hall, bad air, etc., so much
that a larger room was absolutely demanded;
The session of 1878, therefore, ordered the
erection of a new wing fronting on Wabashaw
street, capable of accommodating the House
of Representatives properly. It has
just been completed at a cost of
$14,000. The third floor of this wing is
devoted to the House assembly and ante
rooms. The main hali is 96x48 in the clear
and is handsomely furnished. It will seat
1,000 persons comfortably, and the ventila
tion is believed to be perfect
The capitol building with its additions, is
now of cruciform shape, and is not, there
fore, a symmetrical building, while its archi
tecture is plain; but it is, notwithstanding, a
very fair and creditable edifice . The material
is red brick. It has cost in all $108,000. It
has an extreme length of 204 feet anda width
of 150 feet. The top of the flagstaff is 135
feet above the ground. There are fifty apart
ments in the building, most of the offices
being supplied with fire-proof vaults.
THE GLOBE HOROSCOPE.
As it Casts its Light on the Chicago
Markets.
[Special Telegram to the Globe.J
Chicago, March 2.— Cables were firmer.
Our wheat irarket opened firmer with sales of
April at $1.00 to $1.00 S', declined Xc per
bushel, but closed a sh\de firmer and steady at
99*»' c. The market does not respond to cables
as we expected. The weather will have the
most effect for the nest thirty days. Corn
was in fair request with little change in prices.
Oats firmer.
Provisions inactive and prices easier. The
market is feverish, and we think the trade fear
the trichina scare may affect consumption.
Land League Meeting and Remittances.
A very interesting meeting of the Michael
Davitt branch of the Land League was held
last evening iv the Father Mathew Temperance
room. Spirited addresses were delivered on
the forthcoming crisis in Ireland and the prob
able needs of the hour.
Three hearty cheers were given for the
Boers In their struggle for independence, when
the meeting adjourned to meet next Wednes
day evening.
The land leaguers in St. Paul are rendering
practical assistance to the struggling people
of the old sod. Yesterday Mesdames O'Brien
and Prendergast forwarded to Miss Anna Par
nell, honorable secretary of the ladles' land
league off Dublin, a draft for forty pounds
(£4O), being the first contribution of the Fanny
Parnell league of this city, to assist the women
of Ireland to defend their homes, and soon to be
followed by another. Messrs. MacCarthy and
Bell, of the central league, also forwarded to
Dublin a draft for twenty-three pounds (i 23),
the usual remittance. The leagues of the
city will join in and open a public meeting at
Pfeifer's hall Friday evening next, March 4th.
Eloquent speakers will discuss the land ques
tion and revive the memory of Robert Em
met, the patriot martyr.
Ladies, Take Notice.
Lindeke, Ladd &Co. will close out the bal
ance of A. H. Lindeke & Bro.'s stock at cost,
in order to completely dispose of the remnant
now on hand. The sale will commence this
morning, Thursday, March 3d, and will con
tinue until the entire stock is disposed of.
This is a genuine closing ont sale, absolute
finishing of this stock, and prices will be
marked so low as to warrant the 6ale of
every article offeied. At the old stand. 13 E.
Third street.
(BlnbE.
LAST HOURS.
OF THE FORTY-SEVEyTH SESSIOF OF
CONGRESS.
The Last of the Appropriation Bills
Through the House-Funding Bill Com*
pleted and Ready for the Signature of
the President— Report that He Will Suc
cumb to the Bank Scare and Veto It—
Democratic Organization of the Sen
ate—Cabinet Gossip and General Capital
News.
The Senate.
Washington, March 2.— The Senate ap
propriation committee amended the sundry
civil bill to appropriate for the establishment
of a life saving station at Ohio Falls, near
Lauesville, and $50,000 for military surgeons
in the West; also $75,000 to hunt for the miss
ing steamer Jeanette, and $38,000 for improve
ment of the Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Among the added items are $50,000 for the
bureau of engraving and printing, and $50,000
for the national board of health. An appro
priation of $175,000 to provide for a search by
United States vessels for the Jeanette and $350,
--000 to purchase a site for a building for the
use of the pension bureau.
House of Representatives.
Washington, March 2.— The House met in
continuation of Tuesday's session. Mr. Tuck
er demanded the previous question on the
motion to concur in the Senate amendment on
the funding bill. This is an amendment au
thorizing public subscriptions for bonds and
notes. No quorom being present, a call of
the House was ordered and 125 members re
sponded, less than a quorum.
Mr. Tucker moved to dispense with further
proceedings.
Mr. McMahon reported back the deficiency
appropriation bill and moved to suspend the
rules and put it upon its passage. After dis
cussion, at Ip.m. Mr. McMahon' s motion
was agreed to, and the hill, the last of the ap
propriation bills, was passed.
Consideration of the funding bill was im
mediately resumed, the question being on or
dering the previous question on a motion to
concur in Senate amendment 16.
A large majority of the Republicans re
frained from voting, but enough cast their
votes to make a quorum, and the main ques
tion wa6 ordered, 134 to 35. The following
Republicans voted: Anderson, Belford, Bqyd,
Browne, Cannon, Dunnell, Davis, Cabell, En*
steine, Haskell, Hawley, Kellv, Killinger.
Mar6h, Neal, Orth, Ryan, Robinson and
Washburn.
The question then recurred on concurring
la the amendment, and on a division the Re
publicans did not vote, and left the House
without a quorum. After further delay the
sixteenth Senate amendment was concurred in,
146 to 16.
The next question was ou the twenty-fifth
Senate amendment, wljich is to insert the
word temporarily in the fourth section, which
authorizes the secretary of the treasury to use
$50,000,000 in the redempted 5 and 6 per cent,
bonds. The committee of ways and means
recommend concurrence with an
amendment to substitute for the
word temporarily the words from time
to time; also to insert the words "at any one
time," so as to make the section read: "The
secretary of the treasury is authorized to use
from time to time not exceeding $50,000,000
of any of the standard gold and silver coin in
the treasury in the redemption," etc. The
ways and means amendment was rejected,
yeas 88, nays 126, and the Senate amendment,
the twenty- fifth, was then concurred in.
Conger's amendmeut to the fifth section was
defeated; yeas 117, nays 132.
All the Senate amendm(a'B to th 6 funding
bill were th>n agreed to without change and
the bill passed.
The speaker laid before the House the en
rolled funding bill, and it was signed by
him, and it new goes to the President for his
action. Adjourned.
The Senate:
Washington, March 2. — The Democratic
Senators will organize iv committee immedi
ately after the new Senate meets aud act
promptly on all nominations. The
Chinese treaty will probably be
considered, but the extra session of
the Senate wiil be adjourned before the vacan.
cy from Wisconsin can be filled, and that will
leave the Senate Democratic until the Forty
seventh Congress meets. In auy event promi
nent Democrats in the Senate say there will
be no opposition to any of Garfield's nomina
tions.
The JFundlng Bill.
Washington, March 2. — It is evident now
that the funding bill will pass, but there is a
report traced to the White House that the
President will veto. An inmate of the White
House closely connected by official relations
with the President, informed a Michigan mem
ber of Congress to-day that the bill would be
vetoed. This is not entirely credited because
it is known that Secretary Sherman advised
Republican Congressmen not to filibuster
against the bill.
Visiting Delegations.
Columbus, 0., March I.— A car load of
State Senatois and their wives left here at
noon, via the Panhandle route, for Washing
ton. The special legislative committee of
arrangements having decided not to allow
ladies to accompany the excursion, such Sen
ators as desired to have their wives witness
the Inaugural ceremonies, declined to wait
for the legislative stag party to-night, and
hence engaged a special car and left aFnoon.
Governor Foster and staff, the governor's
guard of Columbus, the Champion City guard
of Springfield, and barracks and band from
this post, left for Washington via the Pan
Handle route at noou.
Cabinet Gossip.
Washington, March 2.— The cabinet gossip
to-day, 13 that Allison will be secretary of the
treasury, Wayne McVeagh attorney general,
Robert Lincoln secretary of war, and Levi P.
Morton secretary of the navy. Senator Kirk
wood says he knows nothing about the rumor
of his appointment as secretary of the interior;
that he has not seen Garfleld, and not asked
anybody about the matter. Senator Blame
stated to some Republican Senators last night,
that Allison would be secretary of the treas
ury. Blame said that a few days ago he had
doubts about Allison, but now he is satisfied
Allison will be appointed. Benator Windom
is mentioned as secretary of the treasury, but
the general's opinion holds to Allison.
Secretary Sherman Informod the officers of
the treasury department his administration
would close Thursday next, In order to take
his seat in the Senate on Friday.
Previous to convening of the cabinet to-day,
President-elect Garficld called at the ex-man
sion and paid his respects to the president and
members of the cabinet. The president and
president-elect then concluded to convene the
Senate in special session.
Carpenter's Successor.
Milwaukee, March 2.— The opinion hare
among politicians is that either Angus Cam
eron or ex Chief Justice Luther S. Dixon will
be chosen United States Senator. The chnuees
are abont even.
Historical Society.
The, members of the executive council wiil
meet at the office of Gen. Sibley this after
noon, March 3d, at 3 o'clock p. m.
By order of President, J. F. Williams,
JJecretary.
Mmc. Demorest's Spring and Summer styles
of Patterns just received at Mrs. M. Schwartz 1 ,
corner Seventh ail Broadway.
RAEIOAD CORPOBATIOM
Queries of a Railroad Publication An
swered by Hugh J. Jewett of the New
York & Erie Railroad-Defense of Rail-
road Management, Bat the Desirability
of State Supervision Acceded to.
Chicago, March 2.— The Railway Age ad.
dressed a letter to Wm. H. Vanderbilt, Hugh
J. Jewett, Jay Gould, John W. Garrett and
George B. Roberts to the effect that they are
looked upon by the public as practically con«
trolling the railroad policy of the United
Btates, and are, of course, well aware that
there is, in the West particularly, an increas
ing feeling on the part of the agricultural
communities, and to some extent of the mer
cantile and manufacturing interests, against
railroad corporations and managers, and that
this hostility is being exhibited very strongly
at the present time in many of the State legis
latures. The letter continues: The advocates
for legislation against railroads claim
First— That you are opposed to all legisla
tion upon railway matters, and deny the au
thority of the right of State or national gov
ernments to regulate railway management.
Second— That there Is great danger to the
political liberties of the people In the growing
power of the railway interest.
Third— That the consolidation of railway
lines, that has been so rapidly going on, and
seems likely to contiuue, threatens an increase
In transportation rates by removing competi
tion.
Fourth— That the pooling arrangements
among railway companies are against public
interest, are also destructive of competition,
and attended by unreasonable rates of trans
portation.
Fifth— That the, 60-called watering of rail
way stock, or In case of capital stock conse
quent upon an increase in its actual value, ls in
no case justifiable (while it ia proper lv other
enterprises), but is In effect a robbery of the
public.
Bixth— That passenger and freight rates
by rail are unreasonably high and that re
duced maximum rates ought to be fixed by
law.
Seveuth— ln short, that the people are suffer
ing and in danger of suffering still more from
railway exactions, discrimination and combi
nations, and that railways must be regulated
by the most stringent legislation.
Mr. Jewett, president of the Erie railroad,
has written an exhaustive answer to this let
ter. He begins by saying the public attach
too much Importance to the position, influ
ence and power of the* gentleman named in your
letter. Instead of practically, controling rail
road interests, they are obliged in order to
manage successfully the properties tinder
their immediate charge, to consult with and
accommodate their own views to the views
and sentiments of those representing a much
larger aggregate of interest! and to subordi
nate their own Judgment to the Judgment and
interests of the public.
Replying to the fir6t statement Mr. Jewett
says: "I am not opposed to all legislation
on railway matters, but I deny the authority
or right of the national government to legis
late upon the subject matter of railway man
agement, or in any way to regulate such
management, or that of any other Btate, cor
poration or institution. To a certain extent I
do not doubt the right of State legislatures to
regulate railway management. States, how
ever, have no right, by legislation, to impair
the value of the franchise of railways,or of their
property, unless they are such a public neces
sity as would justify compensation therefor.
Paising onto the, tolrd_ statement the writer
does nofapprehend any great danger to the
political liberties ofthe people In the growing
railway Interest.
Third— There ought to be no consolidation
of partial or competing lines of railway. Such
consolidation ought by law to be prohibited.
The effect of such consolidation is no doubt
to suppress healthy and proper competition
and might tend to increase transportation
rates, but the consolidation of continuous
lines couldn't well have that effect; railways
to be successful must earn enough to pay ex
penses, keep their property in
perfect worklug order and to
discharge all their obligations, whether to
holders of their securities, or to their stock
holders. As these expenses can be reduced
the company is enabled to decrease rather than
increase its charges for transportation. As
long lines of road can be operated at compara
tively less rate of expense than a short one,
the consolidation of continuous lines does not
seem therefore to be objectionable.
Fourth — We have so little experience in this
country with pooling arrangements that it is
very difficult to tell what their effect would
be. So far as my experience and
observation extend, however, they have
not been destructive of competition, nor have
they been attended by unreasonable, or even
by an advance of rates for transportation.
Fifth— As to what is called watering stock,
I think there i 3 considerable confusion in the
public mind relative to the meaning of the
term. The capital stock of a railway ought
not to be increased either for speculative pur
poses, or to represent its supposed future
earnings, or because of its present earnings
being in excess of the amount required for fts
maintenance, discharge of all its fixed liabili
ties, and a dividend upon its existing stock.
But to a large majority of case 6 m which
capital stock of a railway has been increased,
I can see no objection.
Sixth— l can't understand how any fair
minded man can regard existing passenger
and freight rates as unreasonably high. In
proportion to capital invested, service per
formed and to risks incurred, there is no mode
of transportation in this country, or in any
other country, within my knowledge, in
which the rates for carrying passengers or
freight, are so low as those ofthe railways of
this country.
Seventh— That the people are suffering or
are in danger of suffering still more from rail
way exactions or discriminations, is I think
an entire misrepresentation of the case, as it is,
or, as it can hereafter be.
In conclusion Mr. Jewett says: I doubt not
that selfish, designing and aspiring men, re
gardless of all duties of life, are laboring to
cultivate the public mind and to impress it with
every species of unjust prejudice and sentiment,
but my faith in the sober and upright judg
ment of the people leads me
to the conviction that in the end they
will deal justly with all interests, all enter-
prises and all institutions, regardless of the
purposes sought to be accomplished by indi
viduals. My experience has led me to the
conclusion a great deal of apparent hostility
on the part of the people to railways proceeds
from the want of information with regard to
the management of their necessities. I have,
therefore, long thought it advisable that in
each State there should be either a board of
commissioners or some State officers
whose duty it should be to act
as a medium of communication between the
people and their representatives and the rail
roads and that if It was made the duty of some
such officer or board of officers to familiarize
themselves with the necessities of railroad
management, to listen to the complaints of
the people, to Inquire whether or not Buch
complaints were well founded, and if well
founded to inquire wherein they could be law
fully removed, and to take such steys as might
by law be authorized to remedy them, the
principal cause of friction now apparently ex
isting would entirely pass away.
A Deplorable Condition of Affairs.
San Francisco, March 2.— Thi Bulletin
this afternoon will publish an interview with
a reliable gentleman, a passenger by the bark
entine Ella, which arrived yesterday from
Honolulu. He reports a deplorable condition
of affairs there. Smallpox is epidemic. Many
houses are quarentined and no one is allowed
to enter or leave the city, and inter-communi
cation between the Islands is stopped. The
city is Jn a very bad sanitary condition; not a
single sewer within its limits and the ground
honeycombed with vaults which have not been
cleaned in a quarter of a century.
Lawyers will find Moore's Patent Office
Queen Desks at Stees Bro.'s.
NO. 62
DOUBLE DISASTEE.
Terrible Catastrophe on the Hannibal i
St. Jo Railroad— A Relief Trala on an Er
rand of Mercy Drops Through a Bridge-
Seven Persons Already Dead, and Many
Others Dangerously Injured.
KILLED WHILE ON AN ERRAND OF MEBCT.
Macon, Mo.. March 2.— The engine, bag
gage car and two coaches of the West bound
train on the Hannibal & St. Joe road were
thrown from the track yesterday. Several
persons were more or less injured. The 6e
riously hurt are, Fireman F. H. Roche, of
Suincy, injured in the chest and head; Oliver
obart, of Omassa, Mich., cut In the head and
concussion of the lungs; Jno. Jarreta, Shelbi
na, Mo., rib broken and concussion of the
lungs;Bimon Woodruff.Binghamton, N. Y.,left
hip nurt; three or four others were slightly
cut or bruised. There were two sleepars on
the train, one of which was darailed, but none
of the passengers in them were hurt. A
wrecking train, consisting of a wrecking car,
caboose and one passenger coach,
in which were physioians ana a number
of citizens, was sent from Brookfield to aid ths
wounded and clear the track, but in crossing
Brush creek, ten miles east of Brookfield, the
bridge fell and the train except the engine and
twonat cars went through, falling a distance
of about thirty feet. Some fifty persons are
said to have been on this train, fire of whom
are reported killed and a large number wound
ed. Information regarding this wreck is very
meagre.
THE KILLED.
The following are the names of persons
killed: Dr. O. H. Wood, W. S. Heliet^ Jno.
Conners, Geo. Swlck, andE. F. Larck. Brake
man J. Conners waa fatally wounded.
_:. • THE INJURED
are Jas. Conway, in head, seriously; Jas.
Doyle, legs and back; J. Morehead, head and
face; W. H. Hasen, head; W. H. ; Carter, legs
broken; D. R. Rearbody, slightly injured; Jas.
Nowlan, roadmaster, chest seriously broken;
M. D. Fitzgerald, conductor, hurt In head;
Mr. Carter, a bridge builder and Fitzgerald,
conductor, and so far as known about a dozen
bthers.were slightly hurt.
THERE WAS GREAT EXCITEMENT
at Brookfield, all th« men on the wrecking
train living there, and when the relief train ar
rived a great crowd had congregated at the
depot. The scene was heart rending. Another
wrecking train has gone to the scene. . -
■ ADDITIONAL LIST 07 INJURED.
- Macon, Mo., March 2.— The following is an
additional list of Injured:
C. E. Walker, Brookville, fireman, injured
in the small of the back; 11. H. Rasban, Qutn
cy, injured In back of head, shoulder and
chest; Oliver Hobart, Omassa, Mioh., cut on
the head and concussion of lungs; John Gar
ritt, Shelbina, Mo., cut on the head, one rib
broken and concussion of the lungs; Jack Tlb
dale, engineer, Hannibal, slightly cut on the
head, with other slight bruises; Anthony Ba
lig, Quincy, 111 , fireman, severely cut on the
wrist with other slicht bruises; Joseph Ed
wards, Hayes City, Kan., Blight cuts and abra
sions about the face; D. C. Wells. Chicago,
6llght cuts on the hands and face; G. F. Mo-
Cobb, Quincy, baggageman, Injured in shoul
der and chest; Simon W. Woodruff, Binghamp*
ton, N- V., injured on left hip. There were
others slightly injured but their nam63 were
not learned.
The Burton Trial.
The trial of Robert Burton, charged with
the murder of George Larkln, was resumed in
the district court yesterday forenoon. On the
opening of court County Attorney Eagan
called a new witness, one Augustus Distler, in
behalf of the State. The witness testified to
having been on Cedar street the Sunday night
of the murder.
Witness was on his way home; he was pas
sing up Cedar street, near Sixth street, when
his attention was attracted by loud conversa
tion; heard some one say, "You're a son of a
b— h;" saw two men comedown Sixth street;
two or three men were on Cedar, near Bixth
street; heard one of the Cedar street party say,
"You will, eh;" after which
the men met at the corner,
saw the men meet; noticed a left hand blow,
heard one of the men exclaim, "Ongh, I'm
stabbed; I'm gone; I'm a sou of a gun If I
ain't." Witness could not identify the men,
He testified to calling the police and other de
tails.
John Carr, Officer McMahon and Capt.
Clark were called for the prosecution, their
testimony being the same as at the first trial.
The prosecution then rested, and Messrs. C.
D. O'Brien and T. R. Selmes, counsel for de
fendant, called Gen. Flower, James Norrls, the
defendant, C. Devlin, Capt. Martin and Sheriff
Richter to prove the previous good character
of the defendant, and as to his actions after
the affray.
County Attorney Egau then addressed the
jury for the people, making an emphatic and
able argument.
The court has adjourned until this morning,
when Mr. C. D. O'Brien will sum up for the
defense.
THE BOER WAR.
CASUALITIES IN TEE LATE BRITISH DEFEAT.
Mocnt Prospect, March I.— General Col
ley was shot jnst before the close of the
engagement^ while giving an order to
cease firing. The official list shows twenty
officers killed, one of whom was Gen. Colley.
Four captains, a major and three lieutenants
were wounded, and two captains and four
lioutenants taken prisoners. One colonel, one
mnjor and one lieutenant are missing.
London, March I.— ln the house of com
mons, Childer, secretary for war, said the
British loss in the engagement with the Boers
had been exaggerated. Thirty- five officers
and 693 men were engaged. Three officers
were killed, nine wounded and seven taken
prisoners. Total killed eighty-three, wounded
122, taken prisoners or missing fifty.
Besides the reinforcements already an
nounced it has been decided, he said, to pre
pare theee more infantry regiments, to be
shipped from Gibraltar and Malta.
Burglary Frustrated.
' Officer Phil Gibbons was on his ear last
night, and all because he failed to bag a bur
glar. But he did ; better than this, Inasmuch
as he prevented a burglary. About 7 o'clock,
while patrolling his beat on. Robert street, he
observed the figure of a man moving abont in
Schmidt & Minor's liquor store on Robert near
Third street. - Seeing that he was watched, the
man bolted for the rear part of the store, and.
was lost In darkness. Officer Gibbons sus
pected that all was not right, and he inquired
next door if entrance could be had through
the rear door, and the parties answered no. By
going up stairs he found a stairway in the
rear of ' - the building , leading from
the second story '\ to the ground.
The rear door was found to be open, and
tracks could be traced in the snow, where the
thief had taken long strides in making his es
cape. Mr. Schmidt was sent for, and it is
thought nothing was taken. *It is 1 the opinion
that the man secreted himself in the store be
fore closing time. Either this, or he had a
key to the door, ___________
*" • ■ -'■
': : ]. : \ .--,' PERSONAL. > •■" ; _ ■
Hugh McFadden of the Stone] Farm, D. T.,
at the Merchants. -'• "'•'•,':." ■ . fPli
J F Armington, Bismarck, was among the
arrlVais at the Merchants yesterday.
George Wlshart. Alspher and R. Gerrl«,
all from Winnipeg, are at the Merchants.
; Jos.' McKey, Esq.- of the Boston One-Price
clothing house, returned * yesterday from . his
Eastern business trip. ; ;' ;. . :' .
H. J. Strouse left on the noon train i yester
day for the . Eastern * markets : and a bonanza
stock of spring goods. • > "Vv; "i-rv-
Hon. E. G. Bwanstrom and John C. Hunter}
Duluth, and James Barden, ,' Superior, formed
a triumvirate representing the great • unsalUd ,
sea, at the Merchants yesterday; -. , v^. -