4
JAILY HERALD.
—ruFUßHin—
BKVKN DAYS A. WKKK.
JOSErTr D. LTKCH. JAM KB J. AT»BS.
AVERS & LYNCH, - PUBLISHERS.
Entered at the postofflce at Loa Angeles as
second-class matter.l ,
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street, los Angeles. Telephone No. 156
Tbe "lmliy Herald"
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hotel news-ttand: in Chicago at the Postotlice
newsstand, 103 East Adams street; in Denver
at Smith & Sons' news-stand, Fifteenth and
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WKUNCsUIY, UKC. 25. ISB9.
Oyez! Oyez!! Christmas Greeting
To All.
Bain or no rain, the Herald wishes
all its readers, including those who have
been nearly drowned out, a merry
Christmas. There is no reason why
Angelefioe shonld not turn toward the
giver of all good gifts with grateful hearts
on this anniversary of the coming of the
Saviour. There is not on the footstool a
more plenteous land than this, and the
traditional roast turkey is within the
reach of every one, even the poorest.
On no city in all this broad land does the
sun of hope shine with a more undim
ined luster, notwithstanding the rain
clouds. Whatever inconvenience we
may suffer from these last is at best but
temporary, and it will be recompensed
to us a hundred fold in the coming
months. From every quarter we are ad
vised of the disappearance of the red
and white scale, crops though late are
bound to be abundant, and the rank
growth of the alfilerilla alone, which
mantles on mesa and valley, is of itself
wealth. Meanwhile, all our springs and
reservoirs are full to bursting, and we
shall feel the good effects of the unpre
cedented rainfall for years to come.
Then a merry Christmas to all, and may
every vigorous Angeleno fall to on his
turkey and plum pudding, and may di
gestion wait on appetite and health on
both.
The Storm and Storms.
The storm of yesterday has been by
long odds the most violent of an unpre
cedented season. For the twenty-four
hours ending at 5 p. m. the rainfall was
1.10 inchec, making the total for the
season 21.40 inches. At times yesterday
evening the rainfall was almost a cloud
burst, the downpour flooding the streets
and converting many of them into rivers.
Telephonic messages were sent in from
the corner of Hope and Sixth streets ask
ing for rescuing parties, so great was the
fear of a disastrous flood. A« a matter of
fact, on portions of Hope street the water
was quite three feet deep, and an even
greater depth was attained on Alameda
street. Early in the night information
came into the city that abridge had given
way over the Arroyo Seco under a con
struction train. The engine fell through,
but, fortunately, tbe engineer and fire
man escaped. All the cable cars were
compelled to stop running at an early
hour. The Temple street line encoun
tered four feet of water on Beaudry street,
and incontinently suspended the effort to
keep a-going. At the Seventh-street en
gine bpns; the water rose at least a toot
tn the engine. Last, onl not least, the
press-room of the Herald office was
flooded.
The writer has only once before in his
life seen such a tremendous downpour
of rain as visited this city between 6:30
and 7 p. m. yesterday. That was in
Pittsburg, in the summer of 1874. On
that memorable occasion the downpour
only lasted for some twenty minutes, but
during that brief space Perm street was
running to a depth of three feet. Out
side of a thorough drenching the good
citizens of Pittsburg had no idea that
anything particular had taken place in
their immediate neighborhood. The
next morning news came of a fearful
disaster which had occurred in Alle
gheny, across the river of that name. A
cloud-burst had broken at Butchers'
rnn, a sort of funnel-shaped conforma
tion of hills, and the great confluence of
waters rushed down the gorge with re
sistless fury, tearing up the sewers and
storm drains as though they had been
children's playthings. Four-story brick
buildings were lifted bodily up by the
angry waters and jammed on other four
story brick buildings, four or five
blocks lower down. Nearly three
hundred people were killed, together
with innumerable horses and other ani
mals. Men, women, cows, horses and
domestic creatures of all kinds were
rammed into the disrupted sewers and
■torm drains, and a scene of indescribable
ruin and violence was disclosed on every
hand. No one who ever witnessed tbat
scene of destruction and havoc will ever
forget its lightest detail.
Thus far we have only suffered damage
and annoyance by the storm, and we
heartily hope that later, intelligence will
not aggravate the situation. At the rate
at which Jupiter Pluvius is "spreading"
himself this season, we need be sur
prised at no figure of the rainfall. From
the indications obtainable just now,
about four thousand inches might be
safely assumed as the maximum.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable
things in the history of the United States
is the unwillingness of the Republican
leaders to recognize tbe Republic of
Brazil. Here we have an instance of an
overwhelming movement of a people in
favor of self-government, and an im
perial government overturned absolutely
without a struggle, and yet the United
States, the premier republic of the world,
is laggard in holding out the hand of
goodfellowship. Fancy such hesitation
and indecision in the days when Daniel
Webster or William L. Marcy held the
portfolio of Secretary of State. For a
jingo statesman Mr. Blame is the most
extraordinary individual who has figured
in our annals. That Russia should halt
THB LOS ANGELS DAILY HERALD. WEDNESDAY MORNING DECEMBER 25 1889*
in recognizing the Republic of Brazil
waa to have been expected, and indeed
any monarchical country is excusable
for a little delay. But for the United
States to stand on ceremony in a matter
which makes the whole American conti
nent republican from tbe Canadian bor
der to the straits of Magellan is some
thing passing strange.
Bethlehem Ephratah.
This ancient town, although "little
among the thousands of Judah," is one
of the most interesting localities in the
world. The words of Micah have been
fulfilled in a degree far beyond his own
expectation, and the Ruler who came
forth from Bethlehem is held in highest
honor among all the civilized nations of
the earth.
"Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory lv his bosom that transfigures you
and me."
The origin of the village dates back to
some unknown age of remote antiquity.
When the children of Israel first came
to the Promised Land, this Canaanitish
hamlet was known as Ephrath or Ephra
tah, the signification of which is "fruit
ful." It is probable that the name was
suggested by the remarkable fertility of
the surrounding fields. On gaining posses
sion the tribe of Judab changed the
designation of the town to Bethlehem,
the meaning of which is: "Toe
house of bread" —an appellation be
stowed for the same reason as the previ
ous one. With a slight change in the
orthography the town is known at the
present day by the Arabic name of Beit
Lanm, or house of flesh. Clinging to the
high crest of the hillside, looking toward
Jerusalem six miles toward the north,
Bethlehem is surrounded with terraces
bearing tbe fig and olive in profusion.
The elevated site upon which it is lo
cated is about 2 500 feet above the sea
level, or nearly the same altitude as the
Mount of Olives, towering above Jerusa
lem. At present tke population is nearly
4,500, mostly nominal Christians, and
there are few Moslems in the neigh
borhood. This was the home of Jeßse,
the father of Bavid, and the poet King
of Israel was probably born there.
Although there are no springe of run
ning water within or near the town, the
inhabitants and their domestic animals
receive a plentiful supply of excellent
water from cisterns outside the gates,
some distance down the declivity. In
all the towns of Palestine public life,
says Bey. Dr. Edmond Stapfer, is
centered around the wells. The inhabi
tants meet there every morning and even
ing. Young maidens come with pitchers to
draw water for each household, and the
numerous flocks are watered there.
Beside the wells travelers halt at mid
day to prepare their meals, and also
encamp near the source of water supply
at night.
About twenty-nine centuries ago
Philistine troops held possession of
Bethlehem, and posted a guard near the
principal well. A beautiful story is
related of David, who was taking refuge
in the cave of Adullam. "Aud David
loDged and said, oh, that one
would give me drink of the water of
the well of Bethlehem, which is by the
gate." Learning their commander's
desire, three valiant soldiers hewed
their way through the ranks of the
enemy, drew water from the well, again
rushed through the hostile lines, and
presented the refreshing draught to
David. "Nevertheless he would not
drink thereof, but poured it out unto the
Lord. And he said, see it fir irom me,
0 Lord, that I should do this. Is not
this the blood of the men tbat went in
jeopardy of their lives?" Few Generals
have manifested such consideration for
the lives of their subalterns.
A century and a half earlier, in the
history of Boaz and Ruth, from whom
David was directly descended, in the
course of an exquisite idyl contained in
the sacred canon, the local customs of
Bethlehem are portrayed with a mas
terly band. The simple, yet touching,
narrative is of no small importance, in
view of the fact that after many genera
tions the blessed child who was laid in
a manger-cradle derived his earthly pedi
gree from the landed proprietor of Beth
lehem and his devoted wile from the
land of Moab.
As is generally understood, the modern
Bethlehem contains no traces tf the old
time inn, the stable, or the manger.
Only in retrospect can the familiar line
of Bishop Heber be considered accurate:
"Low lies bis bead with tbe beasts of the stall,"
Palestine has again and again been
trampled under foot by invading hosts,
and even if the land had always
enjoyed the blessings of peace, every
stone belonging to the Messiah's birth
place would long ago have been carried
away by devoted pilgrims, St. Helena,
mother of the Emperor Constantine,
erected the church of St. Mary over the
reputed place of the nativity. Rev. Dr.
Wm. Thomson has remarked that this
building is "perhaps the oldest and most
valuable specimen of a Christian church
in the world." Tt is embellished with
marble columns surmounted by Corin
thian capitals, the ceiling being com
posed of cedar wood from the forest of
Lebanon. Connected with tbe building
are Latin, Greek and Armenian con
vents. From the interior of the church
several stairways descend to the sacred
grotto of the nativity. A silver star in
the marble floor, surrounded by a Latin
inscription, indicates the most revered
spot in the grotto, but the reputed
manger was carried to Rome centuries
ago.
Pilgrims are also directed to an altar
erected in commemoration of the Magi,
who presented their costly gifts and
adored the infant King. Near;by are the
tombs of Eusebius and Jerome; also the
chapel where tbe latter prepared his ver
sion of the Scriptures. To Protestant
visitors the entire scene is usually disap
pointing, notwithstanding the rich adorn
ments of the interior. "Everything is
cased iv marble, covered with silver and
gold, surrounded with burning lamps,
and pervaded with the odor of incense.
Everything is overlaid with man's work."
Dr. Thomson, who long served as a
missionary in the Holy Land, remarks
that the gospels do not state theft Jesus
or His mother ever visited Bethlehem
alter the flight into Egypt. Vet Jesus
and Mary were often in Jerusalem, only
six miles away. From these premises
the missionary deduces the conclusion
that no importance was attached to the
birthplace erf the Messiah.
The native Christians residing in Beth
lehem mostly belong to the Greek com
munion, the Latin and Armenian priests
being employed in the service of their
respective convents. Protestant schools
for boys and girls have been established
within the town, the instruction being
imparted by missionary teachers. To
Western visitors it must indeed be
an unexpected incident to hear Moody
and Sankey's "Gospel Hymns" sung by
the school children of modern Beit
Lahm. It is stated that not a single
Moslem mosque exists within the limits
of the town. Considering the Moham
medan fanaticism which prevails in Je
rusalem and elsewhere, throughout the
length and breadth of Palestine, this
single exception with regard to Bethle
hem (ii it still exists), is quite remarka
ble.
"Peace on earth and good will to men"
was the refrain of the angelic song on
the neighboring plains. It almost seems
as if their benediction still rested upon
the hillside of the nativity. Greek, Ro
man Catholic and American priests per
form their rites with an unusual degres
of concord. Protestant missions carry
on their work without molestation. No
where does the crescent offensively seek
to supplant the cross. From Bethle
hem, where Christianity was first em
bodied in the person of Jesus, its reno
vating and uplifting influence has gone
forth in ever widening circles till the
song of the angels finds a responsive
chord in every nation under heaven.
At 1 o'clock it is still raining steadily,
with no sign of cessation. Up to this
hour the damage done is slight, but the
river is nearly over the bulkheads from
Buena Vista to First street. It has
broken through the levee at two or three
points, and has washed out the ap
proaches to the Kuhrts-street bridge.
On the flat across the river, near First
street, the houses are inundated and the
families are moving out. The situation
is grave, the immediate future hinging
on the heaviness of the downpour in the
mountains and on the continuance of
this unprecedented precipitation. Should
the rain cease we may escape serious
trouble, and the river may be shrunk to
a email measure by morning, as it very
rapidly runs down; but should the storm
be renewed in a severe degree great dam
age is sure to ensue, and loss of life is
among the probabilities. Later develop
ments will be found in the Herald's
local news.
Eastern Echoes.
H. L. Miller & Co., cloak importers,
New York and Berlin, have assigned.
J. Q. Preble & Co., wholesale station
ers, have made a general assignment
without preference.
The Attorney-General has received the
resignation of L. L. .McArthur, Attorney
for the district of Oregon.
Annibal Price, tbe New Haytian min
ister to the United States, was presented
to the President yesterday by Secretary
Blame.
The statement that the C. C. Wash
burn flouring mills have been sold to an
English syndicate is contradicted by the
proprietor?.
All the Houses of the Montana Legis
lature adjourned until December 27tb
wiihout neV? developments arising in
the situation.
The Commercial Telegraph Company
was Bold at Sheriff's eale to John W.
Mackay and Edward C. Pratt, of the
Nevada Bank, for $155,000.
At Ottawa, Ont., W. Ford killed his
wife, attacked his daughter and sister
in-law, and failing in the attempt to kill
them, fired the house and cut his own
throat.
It is stated that the Northern Pacific
and Wisconsin Central will be consoli
dated January Ist, under the name of
the Grand Central, but the officials of
the roads deny the statement.
The Superintendent of the State Board
of Health, of San Diego, has gone to
Eureka, the center of the great Russian
settlement, to take measures for the sup
pression of the malignant diphtheria now
raging among the Russians. Thirty
deaths have already occurred.
Iv Northwestern Kansas thousands of
bushels of corn are being burned for
fuel. In some instances the market
price of corn is less than 15 cents, while
coal is 25 to 35 cents. Corn makes ex
cellent fuel. The crop is immense and
is causing a transportation blockade.
A Brutal Prize Fight.
Wilkesbarre, Pa., December 24. —A
brutal prize fight occurred in a barn four
miles from Plymouth, early this morn
ing, which in all probability will end in
murder. James Burns and James Far
rell were the principals. Four rounds
were fought, characterized by most ter
rific slugging. When time was called in
the last round Burns was unable to re
spond. He was removed to an adjoin
ing farmhouse. A physician was sum
moned and found him injured internally
in the region of the stomach. Lockjaw
has since set in.
A Smooth Californium.
Walpole, Mass., December 24.—About
a year ago Charles Metcalf came to this
town from California, and subsequently
became engaged to Miss Sarah Nicker
son, of Lynn, who was the guest of a
wealthy resident of the town. He inter
ested her in a mining scheme and in
duced her to trust him with $1,000 with
which to purchase stock in Chicago.
The stock failing to materialize, an in
vestigation followed, which is said to
have proved the falsity of Metcalf's rep
resentations, and he has been arrested.
A Wife Poisoner Captured.
Lemorb, December 24.—Dominico Ba
cigatpni, who is charged with poisoning
his wife last September, and for whose
capture a reward of $500 was offered,
was arrested here today and turned over
to the Sheriff of Amador county.
The Santa re Blanket.
El Paso, December 24.—Jacob Decon,
of Eldorado, Kansas, arrived today to
have a mortgage of $150,000,000 recorded
on the Santa Fe railroad.
A LI vine; Target.
EtfPAS'o.Tex., December 24.—Mariano
Turrieta was shot and killed in Valencia
county yesterday by Pilar Vigil during a
jollification. Turrieta allowed Vigil to
use him as a target.
EASTERN HAPPENINGS.
Powderly's Prosecutor on the
Waipath.
AN ELECTRIC LIGHT DECISION.
A Negress Held Twenty-five Years
in Bondage Since the War-
Other items.
[Associated Press Dispatches to tbe Hkbald
Scranton, Pa., December24.—Edward
Callaghan, who achieved so much
notoriety through his efforts to have
General Master Workman Powderly ar
teßted, yesterday wrote a letter directed
to Judge Archibald, J. P., but the con
tents were addressed to Alderman
Fuller. It is in part as follows:
Scottdale, Pa., December 23, 1889.
Alderman F. Fuller, Scranton, Pa.:
Dear Sir—Your failure to indorse the
warrant for the arreet of Fowderly is a
flagrant violation of your oath of office.
The charge of conspiracy is specific and
clearly and distinctly set forth in the in
formation mado before Squire Kener, of
Greensburgh, Pa. I can prove the
charge, and as for Powderly bringing a
counter charge against me, tell him I
will be only too glad to confront a
scoundrel like him. If the warrant for
his arrest was in accord with my sworn
information, I shall hold you and Judge
Archibald responsible for obstructing an
officer in tbe discharge of hie duty.
PRUPU<IAI,B WANTED.
Bids Invited for Sealing: Privileges
In the Prlbylov Islands.
WASHINGTON, December24.—Secretary
Windom this nfternoon prepared the fol
lowing advertisement, inviting proposals
for the exclusive right to catch seals in
Alaska: The Secretary of the Treasury
will receive sealed proposals until 12
o'clock noon, the 23d day of January,
1890, for the exclusive right to take fur
seals upon the islands of St. Paul and
St. George, Alaska, for a term of twenty
years from the let day of May, 1890,
agreeably to the provisions of the stat
utes of the United Stf.tes. In addition
to the specific requirements of the stat
utes, the successful bidder will be re
quired to provide a suitable building for
a public school on each island, and to
pay the expense of maintaining the
schools theroon during a period of not
less than eight months each year,
as may be required by the
Secretary of the Treasury.; also
to pay to the inhabitants of said
islands for labor performed by them such
just and proper compensation as may be
provided by tho Secretary of the Treas
ury. The number of seals to be taken
for their skins upon the islands during
the year ending May 1, 1891, will le
sixty thousand, and for the succeeding
years the nun nor will be determined by
the Secretary of the Treasury in accord
ance with the provisions of the law. The
right is reserved to reject any and all
proposals not deemed to be in accordance
with the best interests of the United
States and the inhabitants of said
islands. As guaranteeing good faith,
each proposal must be accompanied by a
properly certified check drawn on the
United States National Bank, payable to
the order of the Secretary of the Treas
ury in the sum of one hundred thousand
dollars. The check of the successful
bidder will be retained and forfeited to
the United States unless he executes the
lease as the bond required by law.
This differs from the present lease
with the Alaska Commercial Company
in the reduction of th*j catch duriog the
first year from 100,000 to 60,000.
DISSATISFIED COmPS.
A Printers' Strike Threatened at
Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, December 24, —Edward
T. Plank, President of the International
Typographical Union, arrived today to
confer with the officers of Typographical
Union No. 2, relative to the demand of
the printers on five morning newspapers
for an advance from forty to fori.y-five
cents per thousand in the price of type
setting. He saw some of the local offi
cers, who explained the situation to him.
The demand the printers made was to
have gone into effect tonight, but the re
fusal of the employers to grant it, served
to complicate matters. Most of the
men are not satisfied with the
40 cents per thousand rate, and they
are not inclined to accept the employers'
action as final at present. President
Glazer, of the local union, said this after
noon no trouble would be experienced in
any of tbe newspaper composing rooms
tonight. A meeting will probably be
held in a few daya, he said, at which the
situation will be considered.
William M. Singerly. of the Record,
has granted to his printers an advance
from 40 to 45 cents per thousand for set
ting minion. This action, however, it
was said, was purely voluntary and had
nothing whatever to do with the demand
of the Typographical Union, the matter
being in abeyance.
AN UNIQUE CASE.
A Negress Held lv Bondage Twenty
live Years After the War.
Kansas City , December 24.—An unique
case was decided in tbe Probate Court of
Cooper county today. At the commence
ment of the war Joseph Hickham, now
a wealthy and influential farmer in the
county, bought a negress maid and took
her to his farm as a sewing maid. Since
that time she has never been allowed to
go beyond the bounds of the farm, and
in her petition she alleged that she had
been permitted to hold conversation with
none of her race, and none of the family
were ever permitted to tell her the re
sults of the war. When her old master
died three weeks ago she ran away to
Booneville, and while there learned tbat
tbe slaves had been emancipated. She
told her story to a lawyer, and he
brought suit to recover $1,400 (wages at
$5 a month for twenty-five years) from
Hickham's estate. The court decided
for the plaintiff today, and allowed one
half of the amount claimed.
BsUWLINH BLACKsIIITHs.
A Carousal That Cost Two of Them
Their Elves.
Dover, Del., December 24. —At Hart
ley, a small town in this county, Fred
Maas and Alexander Dill, who ran a
blacksmith shop, were carousing this
afternoon with several friends, among
whom were George Peterson and John
Hovey, of Dover. Peterson, who is also
a blacksmith, taunted Maas with the as
sertion that he did not know his busi
ness. This angered Maas, and he struck
Peterson and a general fight ensued.
Peterson cut Maas with a razor, the blade
passing through the left lung. Peterson
also slashed Dill's throat in a fearful
manner. Mass died in a few minutes
and Dill is dying. Peterson escaped, but
a posse is in pursuit. The friends of
the murdered men swear they will shoot
Peterson on sight. Hovey, who was
badly hurt during the fight, has mysteri
ously disappeared.
GLECTBIV I lUBT DECISION.
Judge Urcsbam ftustalns the Bruth
Patent.
Indianapolis, December 24.—Judge
Gresham today decided a case of general
interest, being the suit brought by the
Brush Eiectrie Company, of Cleveland,
against the Fort Wayne Electric Light
Company for the infringement of the
Brush patent upon the so-called double
carbon lamp. The case haß been vigor
ously prosecuted aud defended, and has
been pendiDg abcut three years. All
of the claims of the Brush patents
are sustained—six in all—and declared
to be infringed. These claims cover all
night electric lamps used for streetlight
ing where two or more pairs of carbon
are employed. The patent was attacked
by the defense mainly upon the grounds
that its claims were too broad and
sweeping, but this, defense did nit
avail. The electric lamps controlled by
this patent are in use throughout the
country and; in fact, the world over
wherever street l.ghting by electricity
is had.
A missing Business TO an.
New York, December 24.—John Wil
liams, Secretary of tbe RameiConley
iron and Steel Company, and also
representing the United States Sealed
Postal Card Company, at 290 Broadway,
has not been seen at his office in three
weeks, and business men who know him
say he is confined in an insane asylum.
Edmund Hnerstel, Treasurer of the
Kamel-Conley Company, had obtained
attachments against Williams for $4,000
money loaned. In his affidavit Huerstel
alleges that Williams as Secretary of the
Ramel Conley Company, willfully and
fraudulently altered checks and appro
priated money to his own use.
A Train I.oud of Prisoners.
Galveston, December 24.—Tonight's
train brought in fifty prisoners from Fort
Benu couuty, under escort of United
States Marshal Dickenson and a ponse of
dapu'ies. Tnese, with twenty-three other
citiz9ns of Fort Bend county, were in
dicted by the Federal Grand Jury here,
for the violation of the Civil Rights Act,
for running citizens out cf tho county,
while twenty-six, besides thoie thus
charged, are indicted for murder.
Burke In Honduras.
New Orleans, December 24.—The
Tunes-Democrat will say : A gentleman
who arrived yesterday states that ex-
State Treasurer Burke arrived at Teguci
galpa two weeks agj, and was cordially
received by President Frogran, lub Cab
inet and other high officials of Spanish
Honduras. It is said Burke has $250,000
or $,'IOO,OOO with him and is going to his
mines.
Silcott's Tracks.
Montreal, December 24 —The police
have discovered that Silcott, the ab
sconding treasurer of the United States
House of Representatives, accompanied
by his paramour, Herminie Thibault,
arrived at Montreal on Saturdiy, the 7th
inst. Herminie remained until Friday,
when she left for New York.
Death of a Philanthropist.
Chicago, December 24 —Henry W.
Austiu, a wealthy citizen, well known as
a philanthropist and an ardent tempor
ance worker, died today. He was instru
mental in the passing of the first broad,
sweeping temperance legislation in Illi
nois, known ac the dram-shop act of 1879.
Three laves Lost.
Wilmette, Ills., December 24. —Three
persons lost their lives in a railroad acci
dent here tonight. They were J. D.
Re veil, formerly station agent at Wil
mette, and his wife and child. While
crossing the tracks they were struck by a
passing train.
A Starved family.
Connellsville, Pa., December 24.—A
very distressing sight was witnessed here
thia evening. A family of eight persons,
consisting of a mother and father and
six children, were discovered in a starv
ing condition, near Moyer, and brought
here to be sent to the county home. The
gaunt faces of the elder people and the
hollow eyes and hungry looks of tbe little
ones, elicited much sympathy from the
spectators, but little money or assistance.
The parents had been ill from fever, and
as they lived in an isolated place, the,
children could procure no aid. Their
condition was accidentally discovered by
a farmer. The family reached such a
stage that it is thought none can recover.
Snow in the mountains.
Sacramento, December 24. —Today
snow has been falling along the line of
the Central Pacific road. The work of
handling tbe snow is taxing the three
snow plows on the overland route, and
this morning one of the plows left the
track, impeding travel and giving the
snow an unequal advantage, ill the
available help that can be secured is be
ing engaged and the company is making
every effort to have trains run on time.
Which Were the Brutes?
San Francisco, December 24.—A bru
tal fight between two bull dogs took place
this afternoon, the owners of the dogs
backing them for $1,000 a Bide. One of
the contestedts, it is alleged, was Napo
leon Jack, whose record is well known
throughout England and the Eastern
States, while the other was a Boston dog.
Jack woer declared the winner after two
hours' fighting.
Demoralized Traffic.
San Dieoo, December 24 —The South
ern California road is no better off than
it waß yesterday. It is impossible to say
when trains will be running again, al
though there is some prospect for the
service being resumed Friday. The track
above Oceanside is in bad shape, so that
the boats between there and San Diego
are useless. Traffic is badly demoral
ized.
The storm at Ventura.
Ventura, Cal., December 24.—Over
four inches of rain has fallen in the last
few days. There was no train from Los
Angeles today. The tracks are badly
smashed between here and that point.
It is still raining tonight.
The Sioux Visitors. ■
Fortress Monroe, Va., December 24.
—The delegation of Sioux chiefs who
have been in Washington some time,
passed the day at Hampton school,
where many children from the agency
are pupils.
Fire at Vlcksbarsr.
New Orleans, December 24 —A dis
patch from Vicksburg at midnight said:
A wholesale dry good j store in the busi
ness portion of the city is in flames. The
telegraph service is now closed, and
further particulars are not obtainable.
The Charleston.
San Francisco, December 24. —The
United States cruiser Charleston will
probably be formally declared in com
mission next Thursday.
ALONG THE COAST.
Seamen Carried Overboard
and Drowned.
A REGULAR TIDAL WAVE.
Railroad Traffic Demoralized by
Snow and Rain—The Big
Fresno Seizure.
Associated Press Dispatches to tho Ukr.ui
Portland, Ore., December 24 —A Ya
quina City, Oregon, dispatch to the Ore
gonian says: The steam schooner Far
rallone, commanded by Captain Bon
fif>ld, after beiDg towed across the bar
todayby the tug Resolute, was struck by
a swell, carrying overboard Chief Engi
neer Pugsiey, a cabin boy and three
sailors, named Frank Johnson, Charles
Dickinson and William Brown. The
Bailors were drowned before assistance
could reach them. They were all young
men and natives of Sweden.
The chief engineer and the cabin boy
succeeded in catching some wreckage
and were rescued by the tug after being
in the water some time. They were
nearly exhausted. The seas put out the
fires. Tne assistant engineer and two
firemen had a narrow escape from
drowning in the fire-room. The steamer
was towed in by the Resolute, badly
damaged. The starboard side was stove
in, the rail carried away, the davits and
life boats washed overboard and the
hatches torn up, filling the hold with
water and damaging the cargo of wheat.
The schooner is owned by Dolbear &
Carson, San Francisco, and was char
tered by the Oregon Development Com
pany. Captain Bonfield reports over
twenty-four feet of water on the bar
where the vessel was when struck by the
sea. The three aeamen were probably
drowned at once. The bar was compar
atively smooth when the vessel started
to go out, but a heavy swell arose. Old
residents Bay that the swell that struck
the steamer was the heaviest ever seen
on the bar.
THE FRESNO SEIZURE.
Uoverument Agents Claim to Have
a strong- case.
San Francisco, December 24 —Assist
ant Special Agent Thomas said today
that all the persons em ployt d about the
Fresno distillery, which was seized,
would be summoned as witnesses for the
Government. He continued : "The seiz
ure is the biggest in the history of the
country and is worth over half a million
dollars. In regard to the charge that
the informer was a laborer who wanted
to blackmail the company, I can state
positively that the Government will
prove its position by twenty or
thirty witnesses. There was, as
was not generally known, a se
cret pipe to the winery, carrying
the spirits. This pipe was buried in the
ground and came up in the winery nn
der the plant. I dug for the pipe myself
and found it. It had conducted the spir
its in defiance of the internal revenue
laws, for a month."
MARSHAL HAVES IN POSSESSION.
Fresno, December 24 —United States
Deputy Marshal Thomas B. Hayes, of
the Southern District, arrived in Fresno
this morning- and took possession of
the Fresno vineyard, recently seized by
internal revenue officers. The property
will remain in charge of the Government
until the difficuHv in pettier).
Tiie fiwldenitc Kages.
Paris, December 24 —The epidemic
reigns and rages. A conference of law
yers, which was convened yesterday,
did nothing because the majority of the
sjeakers were ill. Reports from Berlin
are to the effect that there is no abate
ment of the evil there. In Brunswick
it has assumed a malignant type, and
there have been many deaths. At
Frankfort it is increasing. The tram
ways have ceased operations because the
employees are all ill. At Ant
werp the disease is increasing, but
it is diminishing among both the
garrison and people at Amsterdam.
It haß appeared at Dordrecht among tbe
soldiers and sailors and in the factories.
It is very serious in the barracks at
Brussels.
HEROES OF THE FRONTIER.
Cowboys Who Sacrificed Their Lives
to Duty In the Hecent Blizzard.
Nd more heroic deed has been recorded
in thia Territory in years than that of
the poor cowboys who followed their em
ployers' stock to their death in the fear
ful blizzard which raged over the great
plains of Colfax county last week, says
the Stock Grower. These brave fellows
were accustomed to severe changes of
the elements, and fully comprehended
the dangers of a night in such a storm.
But they were intrusted with thousands
of dollars' worth of property, and like
true knights of their profession they pre
ferred to do their duty and die rather
than abandon the herd and seek shelter.
Who can think of those daring riders,
following and attempting to control thie
vast herd of infuriated cattle in a blind
ing, freezing storm, ao tbey rushed over
the plains in the shadowy nigbt, now
and again falling over embankments,
without realizing that they were heroes
worthy a nobler fate?.
Did they shrink from the inevitable re
sult of such a night? No, they rode
boldly to death, conscious only that it
was their "duty/* and the end was typi
cal of their race.
Only recently the whole world ap
plauded a sea captain for stopping his
craft long enough to rescue the survivors
of a wreck. It was plainly his duty to do
so. ■ And yet he was wined, dined and
made a hero of on both continents. To
our mind, while the judgment of these
men may be questioned, they did a far
braver act in discharging their duty as
they saw it.
A cowboy is usually considered a des
perado and a tough, yet they all have
hearts easily touched, and few there are
among them who do not hold their lives
subject to the order of the "boss" when
in the Hue of what they consider their
"duty." Frequently deserving the cur.
sure they receive, yet there is much to
admire in the typical cowboy. He mi y
break every law of nature and morality
himself, and yet no man has a higher rt
gard for virtue, or will fight quicker for
the weak and afflicted, or give more
freely of his scanty means to the poi I
and unfortunate.
He is usually a misguided and badly
misunderstood individual.
He Admired Courage.
Brigge—What the dickens are yon
applauding that jay for? . Why, he can't
sing that song any better than a fourteen
year-old boy.
Braggs—l know he can't; but I thought
I would applaud him for his magnificent
exhibition of nerve.—[Terre Haute Ex
press.