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4 T DAILY HERALD. —PUBLISHED— SEVEN DAYS A. WEEK. JOSEM D. LTHCH. JAMES J. AVERS. AVERS h LYNCH, - PUBLISHERS. Entered at the postofflce at Los Angeles as second-data matter. I , DELIVERED BY CARRIERS At toe. per Week, or SOc. per mentis. Office ol Publication, 123-125 West Seoond street, Los Angeles. Telephone No. 156 The '•Dally Herald" Hay be fcund ia San Francisco at the Palace hotel Dews-stand: in Chicago at the Postoffice news-stand, 103 East Adams street; in Denver at Smith & Sons' newt-stand, Fifteenth and I an retire 6treetß. WKUNfcSMAY. UKC. 25. tSB». 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 Angelefios should 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 med luster, notwithstanding the rain clouds. Whatever inconvenience we may suffer from these last is at best but temporary, and it will be recompensed to ub 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 elfacts of the unpre cedented rainfall for years to come. Then a merry Christmas to all, and may every vigorous Angeleflo 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 inches, making tbe total for the season 21.49 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. As 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 Btreet. Early in the night information came into the city that a bridge had given way over the Arioyo Seco under a con struction train. Tbe 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 tbe Saventh-street en gine bpuse the water rose at least a toot •on tlie engine. Last, Dul n °t least, the press-room of the Hi:tm» 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 tbe 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' ran, 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 tbree 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 atorm drains, and a scene of indescribable rain and violence was disclosed on every hand. No one who ever witnessed that 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 ia 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 ont the hand of good fellowship. Fancy such hesitation and indecision in the days when Daniel Webster or William L. Marcy held the portfolio of Secretary of Stato. For a jingo statesman Mr. Blame is the. most extraordinary individual who has figured in onr annals. That Russia should halt THE LOS ANGELS DAILY HERALD. WEDNESDAY MORNING DECEMBER 25 1889. in recognizing the Republic of Brazil was 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 the 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. "Cbrlßt was born across the sea, With a glory In 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 Canaan it ish 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 Judah changed the designation of the town to Bethlehem, the meaning of which is: "Tbe 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 Lahm, 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, moetly n >minal Christians, and there are few Moslems in the neigh borhood. This was the home of Jesse, the father of David, and the poet King of Israel was probably born there. Although there are no springs of run ning water within or near the town, tbe 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 longed 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 ?2r from me, 0 Lord, that I should do this. Is not this the blood of the men that 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 wag 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 tbat after many genera, tions tbe blessed child who was laid in a manger-cradle derived his earthly pedi gree from the landed proprietor of Beth lehem and his devoted wife from the land of Moab. As is generally understood, the modern Bethlehem contains no traces of the old time inn, the stable, or the manger. Only in retrospect can the familiar line of Bishop Heber be considered accurate: "Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall." Palestine has again and again been trampled under foot by invading hosts, aud 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 Constantino, erected the church of St. Mary over the reputed place of the nativity. Ksv. Dr. Wm. Thomson has remarked that this building is "perhaps the oldest and most valuable specimen of a Christian church in the world." It is embellished with marble columns surmounted by Corin thian capitals, the ceiling being com posed nf cedar wood from the forest of Lebanon. Connected with the 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 tbe 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 the 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 in marble, covered with silver and gold, surrounded with burning lamps, and pervaded with tbe 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 taa*i Jesus or His mother ever visited Bethlehem after tbe flight into Egypt. Yet Jesus and Mary were often in Jeresalem, only six miles away. From these premises the missionary deduces the conclusion that no importance was attached to the birthplace of 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 conventß. Protestant schools for boys and girla have been established within the town, the instruction being imparted by miseionary 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 tbat 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 degre? 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 stieet, 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 tbe 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 proprietors. All the Houses of the Montana Legis lature adjourned until December 27th wiihout new developments arising in the situation. The Commercial Telegraph Company was sold at Sheriff's sale to John W. Mackay and Edward C. Pratt, of the Nevada Bank, for $155,000. At Oitawa, Ont., W r . 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. In 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 i» 25 to 35 cents. Corn makes ex cellent fuel. The crop is immense and is causing a transportation blockade. A Brutal Prize Fight. Wilkksbarre, 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, lie was removed to an adjoin ing farmhouse. A physician was sum moned and found him injured internally in tbe region of the stomach. Lockjaw has since set in. A Smooth Callfornlan. Walpole, Mass., December 24. —About a year ago Charles Metcalf came to this town from California, and subsequently became engaged to Miss Sarah Kicker 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. Lkmoke, December 24.—Dominico Ba cigalpni, 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 Fe Blanket. El Paso, December 24.—Jacob Decon, of Eldorado, Kansas, arrived today to have a mortgage of $150,000,600 recorded on the Santa Fe railroad. A Living; Target. ErfPAS'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 Waipatli. AN ELECTRIC LIGHT DECISION. A Negress Held Twenty-five Years in Bondage Since the War- Other items. [Associated Press Dispatches to the Herald Scranton, Pa., December24.—Edward Callaghan, who achieved so much notoriety through his efforts to have General Master Workman Powderly ar rested, 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 arrest 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 wap in accord with my sworn information, I shall hold you and Judge Archibald responsible for obstructing an officer in tbe discbarge of hie duty. PRUPU.ULS WANTED. Bids Invited for Mealing- Privileges in ihe Pribylev Islands. Washington, December24.—Secretary Windom this nf iernoon prepared the fol lowing advertisement, inviting proposals for the exclusive right to catch seals in Alaska: The Secretary of the Treasury will receive Bealed 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 Ist day of May, 1890, agreeably to the provisions of the stat utes of the United States. 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 thereon 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 l c sixty thousand, and for the succeeding years the numher 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 tc 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<i catch duriag the first year from 100,000 to 00,000. JJISSATISFIEO corn's. A Printers' Strike Threatened at Philadelphia. Philadelphia, December 24. —Edward T. Plank, President of tbe 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 fony-tive 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 waa to have gone into effect tonight, but tho 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 days, 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 tbe Typographical Union, the matter being in abeyance. AN UNIQUE CASE. A Negrcia Held lv Boudage Twenty live i cum after tlie War. Kansas City, December 24.—An unique case was decided in tbe Probate Court oi Cooper couuty today. At the commence ment of the war Joseph Hickham, now a wealthy and influential farmer in the county, bought a negresß maid and took her to his farm as a sewing maid. Since that time she bas 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 that 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. BR&WLINU BLAOKitiniTHS. A Carousal Tbat Cost Two of Them Their Lives. 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 pome is in pursuit. The friends of the murdered men swear they will shoot Peterson on eight. Hovey, who was badly hurt during the fight, haß mysteri ously disappeared. ELECTRII) I lUHT DECISION. Judge tlrcibam unnnlui the Brush Patent. Indianapolis, December 24. —Judge Gresham today decided a case of general interest, being the suit brought by the Brusn Electric Company, of Cleveland, against the Fort Wayne Electric Light Company for the infringement of the Brush patent upou the so-called double carbon lamp. The case has been vigor ously prosecuted and defended, and has been pending abtut tbree years. All of the claims of the Brush patents are sustained—six in all—and declared to be infringed. Theee claims cover all night electric lamps ueed 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 mt avail. The electric lamps controlled by this patent are in use throughout the country and, in fact, tbe world over wherever street lighting by electricity is had. A missing; Business man. New Yokk, December 24.—John Wil liams, Secretary of the RamelConley iron and Sceel Company, and also representing tbe 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 inßane asylum. Edmund Huerstel, Treasurer of the Ramel-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 Compauy, willfully and fraudulently altered checks and appro priated money to his own use. A Train Loud of Pflianeri. Galveston, December 24.—Tonight's train brought in fifty prisoners from Fort Benti couuty, under escort of United States Marshal Dickenson and a posse 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 tho.e thus charged, are indicted for murder. Burke In Ilnndura*. New Orleans, December 24.—The Times-Democrat will say : A gentleman who arrived yesterday Btates that ex- State Treasurer Burke arrived at Teguci galpa two weeks ag), and was cordial I v received by President Frogran, bis Cab inet and other high officials of Spanish Honduras. It is said Burke has $250,000 or $300,000 with him and ia going to his mines. Nllcott'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. Austin, 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-ehopactof 1879. Tbree Lives Lost. Wilmettk, Ills., December 24.—Three persons lost their lives in a railroad acci dent here tonight. They were J. D. Revell, 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 this 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 tbe 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 tne mountains. Sacramento, December 24.—Today snow has been falling along the line of the Central Pacific road. The work of handling the snow is taxing the tbree 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 tbe company ie making every effort to have traine 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 side. One of the contestants, 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 was declared the winner after two hours' fighting. Demoralized Traffic. San Diego, December 24 —The South ern Calilornia road is no better off than it was 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 Oceaneide is in bad shape, bo tbat 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 Vlcksburgr. New Orleans, December 24 —A dis patch from Vicksburg a» midnight said: A wholesale dry goods store ia 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 Fbancisco, 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 the Herat. > Portland, Ore., December 24 —A Ya quiua City, Oregon, dispatch to the Ore gonian says: The steam schooner Far rallone, commanded by Captain Bon field, after being towed across the bar tuuayby the tug Resolute, was struck by a swell, carrying overboard Chief Engi neer Pugsley, a cabin boy and three sailors, named Frank Johnson, Charles Dickinson and William Brown. Tbe sailors were drowned before assistance could reach them. They were ail 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 Francieco, and was char tered by the Oregon Development Com pany. Captain Bonfield reports over twenty-four feet of water on the bar where tbe vessel was when struck by the sea. The three seamen were probably drowned at once. The bar was compar atively smooth when the vessel started to go out, but a heavy swell arose. 0!d residents say that the swell that struck the steamer was the heaviest ever Been on the bar. THE Fit I n ><» SEIZURE. Uovcrumenl Agents CI at 111 to Have a Strong; Case. San Francisco, December 24 —Assist ant Special Agent Thomas said today tbat all the persons employed 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, aa 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 un 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 difficulty is Fettled. Tlie i pldemtc stages. Paris, December 24 —The epidemic reigns aud rages. A conference of law yers, wbic'u was convened yesterday, did nothing because the majority of the s..leakers were ill. Reports from Berlin are to tbe 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 increa ing, but it is diminishing among both the garrison and people at Amsterdam. It has appeared at Dordrecht among the soldiers and sailors and in the factories. It is very serious in the barracks at Brussels. HEROES OF THE FRONTIER. Cowboy « Who Sacrificed Their Lives to Duty In the Hecent Blizzard. No more heroic deed has been recorded in this 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 connty last week, says the Stock Orower. These brave fellows were accustomed to severe changes of tbe 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 this vast herd of infuriated cattle in a blind ing, freezing storm, ac they rushed Over the plains in the shadowy nigbt, now and again falling over embankments, without realizing that tbey were heroes worthy a nobler fate? Did they ehrink 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 waa 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 hie 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 line of what they consider their "duty." Frequently deserving tbe cat - sure they receive, yet there is much fo admire in the typical cowboy. He mi y break every law of nature and morality himself, and yet no man haß a higher re gard for virtue, or will fight quicker for the weak and afflicted, or give more freely of his scanty means to the pot i and unfortunate. He is usually a misguided and badly misunderstood individual. He Admired Courage. Briggs— What the dickens are you 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 wonld applaud him for his magnificent exhibition of nerve.—[Terre Haute Ex | press.