OXFORD E AG LE.
. T«,.h .. .h. w«non With wmeh we Finht SUBSCRIPTION, <1.00 a Yt*ar
BBS. E. A. THOMPSON, Proprielrea*. Truth is tha Weapon with wn.ch we f ignt.
VOL. XXVII. OXFORD, MISS., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1903. NO. «>1.
Geological Survey of the State.
The Mississippi Agricultural and
Mechanical College has begun a geo
logical and industrial survey of the
State. This piomises to be the most
important piece of work ever under
taken by that institution and it em
phasizes a function of the institu
tion that has not been sufficiently
prominent in the past, that is, the
college is intended not only to give
instruction to the boys and young
men of the State, but, tbrougli its
experiment station, its farmers’ in
atitutes, and its other industrial de
partments, to help in the material
development of the State. As an
object lesson to what should be ac
complished in every county of the
State, the hoard ot trustees of the
instituion have authorized a geolog
ical and industrial survey of Oktib
beha county embracing the following
features:
By Dr. W. X. Logan, Professor of
Geology and Mining: 1. Physiog
raphy—The surface features, relief,
etc. 2. Hydrography — Streams,
lakes, wells, springs, water supply,
rainfall, etc. :t. Stratigraphy—The
•geological formations, their distribu
tion, dip, relations, fossils, etc. 4.
Economic Geography—(a) Cements
—A report on experiments in the
manufacture of cements from the va
rious formations of the county, (b)
Building Material—The manufac
ture of brick, etc.
Bv Prof. W. L. Hutchinson, Di
rector of the Mississippi Experiment
Station: Soils and fertilizers.
By Dr. W. F. Hand, State Chem
ist: Artesian waters, aud water
supply.
By Prof. Gleen W. Herrick. Pro
fessor of Biology: Grasses and live
By Prof. A. B. McKay, Professor
of Horticulture: Trucking and for
estry.
By Prof. J. W. Fox, Professor of
Civil and Bural Engineering: Dirt
roads and road materials.
The result of these investigations
will la* published as a special report
to the legislature, and will furnish
facts that will enable the legislature
to determine definitely whether or
not such a geological and industrial
survey would la* of practical value to
the Slate. It is the belief by those
who have studied the question that
♦ his work must be done, if Mississip
pi is to la* properly and intelligently
advertised to the world in her true
light as having the greatest undevel
oped resources of any State in the
Union.
Water Famine la Critical.
The water famine in Mississippi,
mused by the,long drouth, is daily
becoming more serious and a condi
tion lias been reached that can be
considered as nothing less than crit
ical. Each day brings to Jackson a
long caravan of wagons from the
country, the sole object of their trip
to town being to secure water from
the river, and at any hour of the day
these wagons may be seen on the
streets wending their way homeward
and carrying from two to six barrels
filled witli the precious fluid. From
all parts of the State comes the com
plaint of scarcity of water, and a
heavy burden has Iteen added to the
expense of operating manufacturing
plants on account of the long dis
tance they are compelled to haul wa
ter. The famine is causing great
distress among the cotton ginners,
and many of these plants are closing
down each day, finding it impossible
to obtain water. In numerous sec
tions of the State gins are front ten
to fifteen miles away front available
water supply. For instance, the gin
at Flora, over twenty miles from
Jackson, is hauling water from that
i ii/, nuu im mu> luiunru
lias reduced flic profit ou oi>eration
almost to nothing.
Contract for New Well.
The city authentic.- of Indianola
have awarded a contract for sinking
a second artesian well. The entire j
water supply is furnished by one!
well, and since the location of so
many industries at that place, the
pressure has at times been inade
quate. The water from the first j
well is so heavily charged with soda
and sulphur that it is somewhat
undesirable for drinking purposes,
and the now well is being sunk al
most a quarter of a mile distant.
The old well is a little more than
1.200 foot deep and furnishes about
200,000 gallons a day.
Pearl River Traffic.
There promises to be considerable
commerce on Pearl river during the
winter and spring season. For
many years traffic on this stream
has been neglected, but last year two
small steamboats were placed in
service and handled large quantities
of cotton seed and cotton from inte
rior points. This year a new boat
will be placed in service from Jack
son to Carthage, and a new boat will
ply the lower river trade between Co
lumbia and Jackson.
Oyster Commission Report.
Auditor Cole has received the fi
nancial report of the Oyster Com
mission. The report shows that the
total collections of the commission
have been $14,025.45 and the dis
bursements have been $11,660.25,
leaving a balance of $2,159.93 in the
treasmy of the commission. Five
thousand dollars of the amount ex
pended was allowed the commission
for the propagation of n»w oyster
beds by the last legislature.
Exempt From Supervision.
The railroad commission of this
State has been permanently enjoined
by Judge Xiles from making rates
on the Gulf & Ship Island railroad.
The Gulf & Ship Island railroad,
ever since it was built, has claimed ,
that it was exempt from the super
vision of the railroad commission,
settitng up that its charter exempted
it from such supervision. Some time
ago the road secured a temporary in
junction preventing the railroad
commission from interfering with
the rates on this road. Last week
Judge Xiles handed down an opin
ion in which he made the injunction
a permanent one. The charter of
the road was granted n 1882, and tit
exempts the road from the supervis
ion of the commission. The Su
preme Court, in a case a few months
ago, decided that the commission
had no supervision over the road.
Judge Xiles, in his opinion, holds
that the charter granted by the legis
lature is binding, and that the com
mission has no right to supervise
either the passenger or the freight
rates of the road, and makes the
temporary injunction perpetual.
Cotton Crop Proapect.
Fine headway was made during
the week just closed with the pick
ing of the cotton crop in Mississippi.
The dry weather has caused the sta
ple to open with astonishing rapidi
ty, and all available labor forces
have l>eeu constantly employed in
marketing the crop. There is no
longer any doubt that Mississippi's
yield will he shorter than last year.
I^ess than half a dozen counties re
norr a top cron, and this causes the
heaviest reduction in the prospective ,
yield. The delta crop will average
from 15 to 30 per cent, below that
of last year, although the bottom and
middle crop is about up to the av
erage. The interior movement to
the market towns continues quite
lively, and there is very little ten
dency on the part of the farmers to
hold back the staple.
Fine Stone in Rankin.
Prof. Echel, the government geol
igist who is making a survey in Mis
sissippi, makes a highly favorable re
port on the Kankin county stone
quarries, near Star, which he finds
to be a good quality of fine-grained,
white sandstone, occurring in beds
of from ten to fifteen feet in thick
ness, separated by thin layers of,
clay, and having a total thickness of
workable stone at least fifty feet in
depth. Prof. Eckel states that the
clay deposits found in Mississippi
are the equal of any in the country.
« Tried to KliTa White Man.
Considerable excitement prevail
ed at Taylor, in Lafayette county,
last week, when a negro, Simpson
Barry, attempted to kill a white man
named Joe Tubbs. The negro used
a razor and it took effect upon the
throat of Tubbs. Tubbs is a highly
respected citizen and a lynching was
averted only by the vigilance of some
of the citizens who guarded the ne
gro until the arrival of the sheriff
from Oxford. Everything is quiet
now, but Tubbs is in a serious condi
tion.
Bureau of Statiatics.
State Senator \Y. B. Walker of
Monroe county will introduce in the
legislature at the January session a
bill providing for the establishment
of a bureau of vital statistics. There
is hardly any doubt that a measure
of this kind will be enacted by the
body, as public sentiment seems to
be strongly in favor of it as the best
means of promoting publicity of the
State's resources.
Heavy Cotton Receipt*.
For the months of September
and October the town of Xewton has
• 1 ■* aha 1_l __ .f __
RITimi u»n i ivo wi tuuvn
more than it did for the same two
months last year. During Septem
ber and October last year 3,612 hales
were marketed there, while for the
same period this year the town has
bought 4,667 bales. The yield in
Newton county will no doubt be
better than last year.
Fancy Price for Cotton.
A fancy price was paid at Green
wood last week for 308 bales of Ben
der cotton, this amount being pur
chased at 12 cents per pound, the
transaction amounting to over $19,
000. This section of the State pro
duces the finest cotton to be found in
any part of the cotton growing belt.
To improve Paecagoula Harbor.
The Mississippi members of con
gress will make a strong fight at the
coming session to secure an addi
tional appropriation for the im
provement of the harbor at Pasca
goula. Chief Engineer Gillespie of
the government engineering force
has recommended an appropriation
of $223,000 for this purpose, and an
item for this amount will be offered
in the rivers and harbors bill, and
an esort made to secure the full
amount.
Yazoo City Cotton Statement.
Cotton receipts for Yazoo City for
the week ending October 31, were
4.056 bales, against 3,306 last year;
shipments, 3,135, against 1,759;
stock in warehouses, 10,880, against
9,534. Receipts since September 1,
21,164, against 16,377; shipments,
10,411, against 7,182. The fine
weather prevailing for picking oon
linnes, and cotton is being gathered
as fast as possible. The grades are
! running cleaner than usual.
MsHee Imp*riant Reoemmendatlone.
Stata Superintendent of Educa
tion Whitfield haa commenced work
on the narrative feature of hia bien
nial report to the legislature, which
will be one of the most important
documents of this kind submitted
to the lawmakers. Superintendent
Whitfield will make » strong recom
mendation for the establishment of
a State normal school, to be con
ducted under the supervision of the
department of education, and in
urging this action he will have the
unanimous support of the school
teachers of the State. The superin
tendent will also suggest the estab
lishment of a rural high school sys
tem, better salaries for county su
perintendents, and the placing of
new subjects in the common school
curriculum, including the elements
of agriculture, vocal music and
drawing. _
Many New Banks.
Within the past month six new
banking institutions have been
launched in Mississippi, and the
next report of the auditor’s office on
banking institutions will show a
good increase in the amount of cap
ital invested in this branch of fi
nance. The latest bank to apply for
a charter is domiciled at Carthage,
to be known as the Leake County
Bank, with a capital stock of $30,
000. _
Lumber Industry Booming.
With the completion of the branch
line of the Gulf & Ship Island from
Mendenhall to Columbia, a distance
of sixty miles, aaw mills and lumber
manufacturing enterprises having
an aggregate capital of over $2,000,
000 will spring into existence. Al
ready saw mills are being started
along the line of the road and will be
in readiness for operation before
trains commence running.
A Chinese Warmer.
Claiborne county has the honor of
claiming the only Chinese farmer in
Mississippi. His name is Quong
Thomas, and the almond-eyed Celes
tial runs a farm of 100 acres near
Port Gibson, where he cultivates a
fine variety of cotton, all of which is
. . i . .i n • rrvi -t _
Sllip(.M*U lO lilt V/rifIU. XJiUlliao imo
been quite successful, and within the
past few years has accumulated a
snug amount in the savings bank.
Piney Wood* Development.
The development of the piney
woods section of the State seems to
be in its infancy, judging from the
large number of new lumber manu
facturing enterprises that are being
chartered each week. The latest
charter of this kind to reach the gov
ernor’s office is that of Collins &
Co., who will establish a $150,000
plant in Marion county near Oloh.
A Peculiar Accident.
Jean Petit, a native of France,
and a well known resident of Scran
ton, was fatally injured last week at
the Farnsworth Lumber Company's
saw mill. He was working at the
edger when a sliver of a plank was
torn off and buried in his side near
the abdomen. _
Fund for Superannuated Preacher*.
Rev. A. F. Watkins, of Jackson,
agent for the fund of $5,000,000
which is being raised for superan
nuated preachers by the Southern
Methodists, says that he is meeting
with much success in getting to
gether this large fund. Since his
appointment he has attended several
hundred conferences all over the
South.
White Boy Robbers.
An organized gang of thieves,
composed of white boys, last week
broke into two stores in the western
part of Meridian and succeeded in
getting away with considerable
booty. The police believe all of the
members of the gang belong to re
spectable families of that section of
the city. A number of arrests are
expected to follow.
'Decapitated by a Switch Train.
A shocking accident occurred in
the Mobile & Ohio yards in Meridian
1 i i . ___j r_
laol v» rxiVj « iicii a uinu uaiucu
Dossett, about 50 years of age, was
run over and instantly killed by a
train drawn by a switch engine.
Dossett’s head and shoulders were
completely severed from the rest of
the body.
Sent Up for Kidnaping.
Traveling Sergt Dodds of the
penitentiary brought in from Jack
son county last week three prison
ers for the penitentiary who were re
cently given prison sentences. On*
of the number was convicted of kid
naping, and is the first criminal of
this class to be placed in the peni
tentiary in some time.
Delta Real Estato Active.
The real estate market in the delta
of Mississippi is enjoying a season
of remarkable activity. Never be
fore has there been such an influx
of capitalists and realty agents seek
ing to purchase rich cotton farming
lands and uncleared tracts which
' can be easily converted into produc
tive farms. Bona fide homeseekers
are pouring in from all sections,
and the next year will show a larg*
increase in the acreage under culti
vation. _
Delta Development.
At present only about 50 per cent,
, of the delta is tillable land, hut thf
. next two or three years will show
(valuable farms and plantations
, where dense forests and canebrakes
- in which deer and bears now abound
in existence. The country is being
( oonveited into a beehive of industry,
and it i6 doubtful if there is anuthei
section which offers so many induce
ments to homeseekers of the sturdy
; sort.
LYNCHED AWHITE MAH
BRINKLEY CITIZEN8 AVENGE A
POLICEMAN’S MURDER.
WAS BASGED TO A TELEGRAPH POLE
Zallie C. Cadle, in a Drunken Frenzy,
Cut the Throat of Policeman J. C.
Fox, Which Resulted in the
First Lynching in the His
tory of the Arkan
sas Town. ^
Brinkley. Ark., Nov. 8.—For the
flrBt time in the history of Brinkley
Judge Lynch held a bloody session last
night, Zallie C. Cadle, the assassin of
Policeman J. C. Cox, being the victim.
Mr. Cox died shortly after 10 o’clock
last night from the effects of the gash
cut in his neck by Cadle about 5
o'clock yesterday evening.
From the best evidence obtainable, a ■
squad of five to ten men visited tbe
calaboose between 12 and 2 o’clock last
night, forced open the outer door,
broke tbe cell lock and speedily
wreaked bloody vengeance upon the
victim.
8imons Escaped.
Charlie Simons, who was locked up
in the cell next to Cadle for complic
ity in assailing Policeman Cox, says
he was awakened in the night, by the
electric lights being turned out and by
the noise of footsteps in the prison.
He at first thought the marshal was
bringing in another prisoner, but pres
ently beard them ask his fellow-pris
oner. Cadle, how he felt. He said they
seemed to have no trouble in opening
the cell door and a scuffle ensued.
Then he heard a voice say, “Stand
back, I am going to shoot.” immedi
ately three or four shots were fired.
Then he thought a scuffle occurred in
side of the prison and more shots were
fired. Then the party left the prison
and he (Simons) heard one or two
shots on the outside, which was all he
knew.
Broke Away From Captors.
Other evidence seems to show that
the victim broke away from his cap
tors just outside of the prison and ran
through the front gate of a house just
across the street, from the prison on
the west side and on to the back of
the garden aboin-nW feet, vMtP, vDi
was overtaken and klu^jLjr ms cap
tors.
A man living in the house, hearing
shots fired and the noise of tramping
feet, got up and saw four or five men
runnine- through the yard and imme
diately heard four shots fired back of
the garden, where clots of blood, other
evidences of a scuffle and the victim’s
hat were seen this morning.
Swung to Telegraph Pole.
From this spot the mob carried their
man about 200 feet east and swung
him to a telegraph pole near the pris
on. Coroner W. W. Chinault impan
eled a jury this morning and they ren
dered a verdict to the effect that Cadle
came to his death by gun or pistol
wounds at the hands of parties un
known, and that he was afterwards
hanged. The body of Cadle shows
four bullet wounds, one of whic><
passed through the body from right to
left about six inches below the armpit.
Policeman Cox was a man of irre
proachable character and a splendid
officer. He was everybody's friend.
Just before he received the fatal
wound he was endeavoring to get the
two men, Cadle and Simons, to get in
their wagon and go home, so as not to
get locked up. The lynching is sin
cerely regretted generally, yet the sen
timent Is that Cadle's death was de
served, although the legal course is
given preference by every one.
HEl R TO FORTUNE.
Chicago Hotel Clerk Receives Joy
ful News.
Chicago, Nov. 8.—Fortune knocked
at the door of F. H. Cook, clerk at
the Sherman House, in the shape of
a cablegram, which came from Dub
lin yesterday, announceing that he
was one of three heirs to an estate
valued at $1,000,000. The cablegram
was as follows:
Frank H. Cook—You are named as
beneficiary, together with James M.
Sullivan, Sydney and Mark Sullivan,
London, In the will of the late Mrs.
Cook Micheal Sullivan, your aunt, in
the event of your marriage within the
expiration of ten years. The property
Is the Guinness Stout Breweries, and
the Sullivan homestead, Cork, valued
at 202,000 pounds. Particulars later.
Dublin. McGrath & O'Leary, at
torneys.
"The thing I object to,” said Cook,
“is the fact that I will have to wait
ten years before I receive tthe money,
1 4 1 J *4 .. 1. 4 „ A
will, a uuu i wi/jvvu vv, ---
says I must be married.”
On receipt of particulars about the
will, Mr. Cook said be would go to
Ireland and investigate the matter.
He had not known of an aunt by the
name given in the cablegram, but he
does know one of the heirs.
FATAL FAMILY ROW.
A Quarrel Over Property Causes Two
Deaths.
Neenah, Wis., Nov. 8.—Mrs. Daniel
Rohrer was shot and killed by her
brother-in-law, David Rohrer, who
afterward committed suicide. The
man was a cattle dealer and wealthy.
The double killing was the result of
a quarrel between the Rohrer broth
ers over property. A settlement had
been effected but this proved unsatis
factory- It is said that David blamed
Daniel’s wife for this condition of
affairs.
LONG BATH FOR COLLECTOR.
Iowa 8tudents Keep Him in Cold
Water Two Hours.
Dubuque, la., Nov. 8.—Warrants
have been sworn out for the arrest of
six students of the Iowa Normal
School at Cedar Falls for hazing Har
old Cunning, driver of a laundry wag
on, who quarreled with the students
over the payment of a laundry bill.
Cunning was locked in a room occu
pied by one of the students, stripped of
his clothing, and thrown into a bath
tub which had been filled with cold
water. He was compelled to remain
in the water for two hours.
Pipe Line to New Orleans.
New Orleans, La., Nov. 8.—A corpor
ation with a capital stock of about
$1,500,000 has been formed to pump
water by a pipe line from the famous
Stafford Springs of Vosburg. Miss., a
distance of 160 miles, to that cib;
Bids have already been accepted. pn>
viding for a total cost of about $600,
000, the work to commence January
1, and to be completed about May 1.
A deal is now being put through with
the Northeastern railroad, whereby
-the pipe will be enabled to run the en
tire distance along its track, in return
for which the road will be supplied
with a certain amount of water
DEATH IN BURNIN6 MINE
Seven Known Dead and Perhaps
Many More Lives Lost.
Victim* of a Fire In the Knnatft
Mine at $aanlt,-Ei(ht Miles
From Batte, Moat.
- _
B ute, Mont., Nov. 7.—A dispatch to
:he Inter-Mountain frogs Virginia City,
Slont., says:
Seven are dead, a number more
burned and perhaps scores lost in the
underground workings in a fire which
started in the Kearsarge mine, situated
it Summit, eight miles from there, Fri
iay tqjorning. The known dead are
3ppirt«endent R. B. Turner, a miner
named Tobin and five other miners, too
badly burned to be Identified, have
beenUfeovered.
, Fro« 50 to 75 men are still down in
»lne and may have perished from
<$r smoke. The plant employed
200 men. It is the property of United
States Senator Millard, of Nebraska
and was valued at about 11,000,000.
There is no way to estimate the loss at
present. The fire, which started at
seven o’clock Friday morning, as the
shifts were being changed, still rages
fiercely and the rescuers, hundreds of
whom have gone from Virginia City,
will be hampered, as there is no appa
ratus at the mine. It is not known
how the fire started.
Superintendent Turner gave his life
tor his men. He was at breakfast and
partially dressed when the alarm came.
Dashing into the house in his shirt
sleeves, with another minor whose
name l)as not been learned, Turner
made his way into the main tunnel.
Here they found everything ablaze.
They groped their way down and
dragged out five bodies. Including To
bin’s. In a second attempt they did not
come out and were later brought forth
dead by the rescuers, the man who so
heroically aided Turner, perishing
with him. Turner was acknowledged
as the leading miner of the west.
JOHN P. DOLAN ON TRIAL
More of the S«tor»Ui*tlon From a
1 Cnit. Brxnii In the Federal
Court at St. Loots.
St. Louis, Nov. 7.—The cases of Jon*
P. Dolan, chairman of the democratic
city committee and Thomas E. Barrett,
tx-marshal of the St. Louis court of ap
peals, charged with participating in
naturalization frauds, were commenced
in the United States district court Fri
day morning, following the conviction
of Adolph Fein, Thursday, on similar
accusations.
Fein was sentenced to live years’ im
prisonment and assessed a fine of |1,
900 by Judge Adams, who, in a lecture
from the bench, severely rebuked the
first vice-president of the Hebrew JeL
ferson club for his work in degrading
American citizenship.
Charles Weissman, one of the vice
presidents of the Hebrew Jefferson
club, was sentenced by Judge Adams,
In the United States district court, Fri
day morning, to serve three years in
the state penitentiary and to pay a fine
Df $1, for his connection with the
fraudulent naturalization of aliens in
the St. Louis court of appeals.
ARE CHARGED^ WITH ARSON.
Clarence and Benjamin Jacoha
Chnrgcd With Firing Their
Clothing Store at Peoria, 111.
Peoria, 111., Nov. 7.—At midnight the
Jacobs clothing house was badly gutted
by a fire of incendiary origin, which
did several thousand dollars damage.
While the fire was in progress, Clar
ence and Benjamin Jacobs, brothers
and proprietors of the place, were ar
rested, charged with firing the build
ing. It is said they came here from
Massachusetts, where they had just
passed through a fire.
ACCESSORY TO AMURDER
The Specific Charge Made Agalnat
David I.. Xelaon, Arrented la
San Frauclaco.
San Francisco, Nov. 7.—"Accessory
to a murder” is a specific charge made
by the authorities of Coffeyville, Kas.,
against David L. Nelson, who has just
been arrested here. The police ars
holding Nelson, pending the arrival ol
requismon papers, ^eiouu nucmin w
resist extradition, and has employed
an attorney to make the legal fight
for him.
LEONARD WIEGAND LOCATED.
A Mission Nebraska Farmer Located
lit San Francisco—Says He
Has Been 111.
San Francisco, Nov. 7.—Leonard
Wiegand, an aged farmer of Knoi
county. Neb., whose disappearanct
some weeks ago resulted in a search foi
him all over the country, has been lo
cated in this city. He has a familj
of nine children in Nebraska. He claim!
to have been in a hospital in Seattlt
during the time his friends were hunt
ing for him.
PEORIA SWEPT~BY FIRE.
Two Men Have Been Arrested and
Are Held on a Charge of Arson
Loss Estimated at $10,000.
Peoria, 111., Nov. 7.—The store of thf
Cobs Clothing Co. was destroyed bj
fire which started shortly after mid
night Friday. The stock of goods wai
valued at $15,000, and the loss is esti
mated at about $10,000. The police ar
rested the proprietor of the clothing
company and his clerk. They are helt
on a charge of arson.
Elroy S. Platt Is Dead.
Pittsburg. Nov. 7.—Elroy S. Platt
the St. Louis contractor, who, oi
Wednesday, shot himself with suicida
intent, died Friday evening at thi
homeopathic hospital from the elect!
of the wound.
German Warships to San Doming*
St. Thomas, D. W. I., Nov. 7.—Thi
German warships here are coaling, anc
it is reported that they have been hur
riedly ordered to San Domingo, owing
to the seriousneaa of the sltuatioi
there.
COMMUNICATION
FROM ED, L, WENTZ
Yonng Philadelphian Confirms the
Story of His Detention.
HE ASKS THAT RANSOM BE PAID
Aa Autograph Letter Received From
the Toong Millionaire, and »go
tlations For Hia Releaae
Are la Progreaa.
Chicago, Nov. 7.—A dispatch to the
Tribune from Bristol, Tenn., says;
Edward L. Wentz, the young Phila
delphia millionaire, who mysteriously
disappeared from his father's home at
Big Stone Qap, Va., October 14, is alive
and a captive in the Cumberland moun
tains. A letter has Just been received
from him addressed to his parents, in
which he states that he is well and
asks that the ransom of $100,000 de
manded by his captors be at once paid,
so that he can get his freedom.
A strange well-dressed man appeared
at Big Stone Gap last Friday and in
quired for the Wentz’s offices, to which
he was directed, and there had a talk
with Dr. John S. Wentz, the father of
the missing man; D. B. Wentz, and the
chief detective under whose directions
the great search was being carried on
in the mountains of southwest Vir
ginia and eastern Kentucky. The
strange man told them that E. L|
Wentz was still alive, and that for
$100,000 he would be delivered to hie
family.
Dr. Wentz informed him that if he
would bring back a letter from his son
or some evidence that his son was still
alive he would then consider the prop
osition.
The man said he would do so, and
that night left on a Louisville & Nash
ville train for Esserville, Va., from
which place te went into Stony moun
tain.
The stranger has just returned to
Big Stone Gap, bringing a letter from
young Wentz himself, who in his own
«... .« III _LI. r. _: 1.. ka
uaiiunilliug uooui vu — ~
is alive, is being held captive, and asks
that they at once pay the ransom and
effect his release.
J. Wentz left here Thursday night for
Philadelphia.
When the negotiations are to be com
pletaed and Edward U Wentz restored
to his family, can not now be told,
but it is known that he is still alive and
that negotiations for his release are
being made.
JAS. L BLAIRS INSURANCE.
Life Insurance Company Takes Steps
to Cancel $250,000 of Life
Insnranee Policies.
St. Louis, Nov. 7.—Papers were
served on James L. Blair, his wife and
two sons, Thursday, by United States
Deputy Marshal Strazer, calling for the
family’s appearance in the United
States circuit court to show cause why
certain life insurance policies held by
Mr. Blair in the Mutual Life Insurance
Co. of New York should not be can
celed.
Petitions were filed in the United
States circuit court by the St. Louis
counsel for the insurance company.
The petitioners ask that the court can
cel and declare null and void two poli
cies, amounting to $250,000, taken out
by James L. Blair.
Tne unearned premiums, together
with the interest accumulated, already
paid by Mr. Blair on the two policies
amount to $33,064.47. This amount was
paid into the circuit court, to be paid
back to Mr. Blair in case the policies
are canceled.
The company makes some broad and
rerious allegations in its petition to the
court in support of its action.
SAID TO BE A DEFAULTER.
Elroy S. Platt, Wko Attempted Sal
ciile at PIttaborg, Pa., Alleged
to Be a $20,000 Defaulter.
St. Louis, Nov. 7.—Elroy S. Platt,
the St. Louisan who attempted to com
mit suicide in the Duquesne hotel at
riUBUUlg, * O., »• —
bullet at his heart, is alleged to have
been a defaulter to the extent of over
$20,000 by stockholders in the George
Platt Contracting Co., of which he was
secretary and troasurer. George Platt,
president of the company, and the
father of the attempted suicide, as
sumed the liability for his son's short
age. n is ii'.g.-tu, and procetdin «:«
now being taken to secure a settlement
from the elder Platt.
Five Firemen Injured.
Chicago, Nov. 7.—While responding
to an alrm of fire five firemen of a
truck company were seriously injured
Thursday night. The truck was struck
by a passenger train on the Chicago &
Northwestern railroad. Two of the
horses were instantly killed and the
wagon demolished.
The Law la Good.
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 7.—The supreme
court has dismissed the suit attacking
the constitutionality of the amendment
passed in 1887, providing for a 60 in
stead of a 40-day session of the legis
lature and increasing the salaries of
members from $3 to $5 a day.
Reunited After Forty-Three Venn.
Harrisburg, III., Nov. 7.—Two broth
ers, G. Wade Hughes and Ira V. Hugh
es, who had not seen each other 'or 43
years, and each of whom believed the
other dead, were reunited here Thurs
day
Seven Peraonn Killed.
Madrid, Nov. 7.—During a meeting
of a scientific society in the Atbana
eum at Mula, in the province of Mur
, cia, Thursday, the building collapsed,
! killing seven and injuring 20, some fa
tally.
Reoolutioa of Appreciation.
! London, Nor. 7.—The royal commis
sion of street traffic passed a resolu
tion placing on record their apprecia
tion of the many kindnesses shown to
the sub-mission of that body in the
United 8tates.
QUEER STORY OF ABDUCTION
Girl Who Disappeared From East
Orange Found in Omaha.
She Assert* That a Woman With
Black Eres Exerted Hypnotlo
Influence Over Her.
Omaha, Neb., Nov. 7.—Mist Clara
Josephine Coffin, daughter of W. Ward
Coffin, whose mysterious disappear
ance from her home in East Orange, N.
J„ last Tuesday has caused her parents
great anxiety, arrived in Omaha early
Friday and is now at the home of Post
master Joseph Crow, whose wife is a
niece of the girl’s father. The young
lady is prostrated by a nervous shock,
which is the result of an attempted
abduction from her home by two
strangers, a man and a woman.
According to the young lady's ac
count of her abduction, she had been
attending the high school in East Or
ange, and las) Tuesday, there being no
school, she made a trip to the gymnasi
um to take her usual exercises. For
the last month she had been passing a
strange woman near the school build
ing.
The woman had piercing black eyes,
and the girl says they had an extraor
dinary efTect on her. Tuesday the
strange woman approached her and
told her in a very commanding way to
pack her clothes and follow her. In a
half-dazed state, and acting under the
hypnotic spell, the girl made the trip
back to her home and, without seeing
any of the family, packed her clothing
and did as the woman had bid. She
had arranged to meet the girl at a
certain place, and when Miss Coffin ar
rived there was a strange man in com
pany with the woman.
The girl was placed in a carriage,
and after the man and woman had en
tered, they were driven at a rapid rate,
finally landing in Newark, N. J. From
there they were taken to the railroad
station and, boarding a train, they
soon landed in New York city. She
next realized that the party was aboard
another train and on its way to Chi
cago. She was driven from one rail
road station to another, and when they
again boarded a train the woman re
mained with her and the man occupied
a seat in the coach next to the rear.
When the train reached Cedar Rapids
Miss Coffin had recovered her senses.
She slipped out and sent a telegram to
Postmaster Joseph Crow, asking him
to meet her. Meantime her captors
had left tne car. Postmaster Crow met
the girl as she alighted from the mid
night train on the Northwestern. As
soon as Miss Coffin saw Mr. Crow she
recognized him and fell ino his arms,
prostrated. He assisted the young lady,
who is almost a complete nervous
wreck, to his home and placed her un
der tl.e care of a physician. Miss Coffin
is confined to her bed, and is in a very
weak condition. No trace has been
found of the mysterious man or woman,
and the only supposed motive is that
they expected to abduct the girl and
hold her for a ransom.
MRS. IDA GULLER ON TRIAL.
AccnsrR of Poisoning Slx-Yenr-Old
Ewart C'lircksBrld at flanker
Hill, 111., on July 20.
Carlinville, 111., Nov. 7.—The case of
Mrs. Ida Guller, charged with the mur
der of six-year-old Ewart M. Checks
field, a St. Louis boy, in Bunker Hill,
on July 20, was called Friday in the
circuit court, Judge R. B. Shirley pre
siding. It required 100 men to select
the jury.
The first witness was William Tunk
er, drug clerk, who testified that he
sold the defendant ten cents’ worth of
strychnine on July -0.
Dr. Bley was next called. He stated
that he was caned July 29, and found
the Checksfield boy in convulsions. He
administered medicine to relieve
spasms. He went to his office for some
medicine and on returning found the
boy dead.
The first victory for the prosecution
was when Judge Shirley admitted the
testimony of James W. Checksfield,
father of the deceased boy, which con
sisted of the boy's story just before
he died. A strong fight was made on
this point, and without this testimony
the state had little hope of conviction.
The jury was excluded while arguments
were being made.
He said when the child came home he
was spitting, and asked what he had
eaten, said:
"Mrs. Guller gave me some candy
and told me to eat it. It is bitter.” In
a few minutes he was dead.
LAWS HINDER EXTRADITION.
Chief Desmond Wire* Thai I nwieldy
Mexican Una Will Hold Charles
Krais For Two Months.
St. Louis, Nov. 7.—Chief of Police
Kiely Friday afternoon received a mes
sage from Chief of Detectives Desmond
stating that Charles Kratz, the fugitive
St. Louis boodler, could not possibly
be returned from Guadalajara, Mexico,
where be is a prisoner, in less than
two months, even if the cfTorts at ex
tradition prove successful. Chief Des
mond explains that the unwieldy Mex
ican laws bring about this condition.
He Hot Olf Easy.
Springfield, 111., Nov. 7.—Joseph Kil
loran, charged with complicity in the
theft of more than $6,000 in stamps
and silverware from the safe of Post
master Ridgley, of this city, eight years
ago, was sentenced to one year in
Chester penitentiary.
Charted With Killintc a Gambler.
Aurora, Mo., Nov. 7.—Nick Davis,
Fred Brown, Henry Putney and Goldy
Osborne are in jail at Galena, Stone
county, charged with the assassination
of Tuggey Price, a gambler, who had
skinned them in a craps game.
Riebard M. Klmber.
Galesburg, 111., Nov. 7.—Richard M
Kimber, superintendent of the Gales
burg division of the Chicago, Burling
ton A Quincy railroad, is dead at the
age of 52. He commenced work for the
Burlington in 1875.
Sam Parkt Sentenced.
New York Nov. 7.—Sam Parka was
sentenced to two years and three
months in Sing Sing prison. This sen
tence was passed on the cnarge of
extorting $500 from the Tiffany Stu
dios. He was takes to Sing Sing.
NEW GOVERNMENT
1$ RECOGNIZED
United States First of Powers to Ac
knowledge Defacto Government.
CONSULS ARE SO INSTRUCTED
Action Wa« Agreed Vpon lit Cabinet
Meeting Friday and Inatrurtlon*
Cabled to Oar Representative*
at Bogota and Panama.
Washington, Nov. 7.—The United
States has recognized the uew re
public of Panama as a de facto gov
ernment. This action was agreed upon
at the cabinet meeting Friday morning.
Instructions in accordance therewith
were cabled to Minister Beaupre, at
Bogota, and to Vice-Consul-Gencral
Ehrman, at Panama. They were or
dered to notify the republic of Colum
bia and the republic of Panama of tilt
action of the United States.
The decision to make such a state
ment was tentatively reached Thurs
day after a conference at the White
House with Secretary Hay, Secretary
Moody, Assistant Secretary Loomis,
Rear-Admiral John Walker (retired)
and Rear-Admiral Henry C. Taylor,
chief of the bureau of navigation.
Cablegrams from the American con
sul at Colon and from the commander
of the Nashville were received.
Transit to Be Kept Open.
Orders have been sent to the vari
ous naval commissioners in the Carib
bean that the isthmus is to be policed,
the transit kept open and also that
bloodshed must be prevented at any
cost.
A'otIBed of Recognition.
The following telegram was sent by
the state department Friday to Mr.
Ehrman, acting consul-general of the
United States at Panama:
“The people of Panama have, by an
apparently unanimous movement, dis
solved their political connection with
the republic of Colombia and declared
their independence. When you are
satisfied that a de facto government,
republican in form and without sub
stantial opposition from its own people
is established in the state of Panama,
you will enter into relations with it as
a responsible government of the ter
ritory, and look to It for all due action
to protect, the persons and property of
citizens of the United States, and to
keep open the Isthmian transit in ac
I (.M UttlU c niut uiu uuugauuuo wi
isting treaties governing the relation of
the United States to that territory."
C'on.al Haa Antlmrltr.
Under the instructions sent, Vice
Consul General Ehrman will be author
ized to conduct diplomatic business
with the officers of the provisional gov
ernment in that city. The recognition
of the provision government as a da
facto government does not necessarily
mean its recognition as a permanent
institution. Not until the new govern
ment has been thoroughly organized
and has demonstrated its ability to
maintain order, will the formal recog
nition of the new republic as a perma
nent member of the family of nations
be extended by the United States.
Almost the entire time of the cab
inet meeting Friday morning was de
voted to a discussion of the new de
velopments on the isthmus. Secreta
ries Hay and Moody laid before the
president and cabinet the latest dis
patches from the isthmus, which made
it quite clear that the provisional gov
ernment was in entire control of the
province of Panama and that order
was being maintained and that the
populace had accepted the new regime,
not only with satisfaction, but with re
joicing.
After a full and free discussion, the
action indicated above was agreed
upon. The framing of instruction to
aur representatives in Colombia and
Panama and of the public statement to
be issued later in the day was left en
tirely to Secretary of State Hay.
BEX, GIDGKK LEAVES TO-MOKKOW
To Aaanrne Command of the Amer
ican fonwnlate at Panama.
Washington, Nov. 7.—Under personal
Instructions which he will receive to
day from the president, Consul-Gen
eral Gudger leaves here to-morrow for
Colon to assume command of the
American consulate mere, r nene in
structions will be of the most minute
character, though, of course, much will
be left to the discretion of Mr. Gudger,
In whom the adminst ration has the
fullest confidence. On the arrival of
the Mayflower at Colon Mr. Gudger will
make himself known at once to the de
facto government, and the usual for
malities in Buch cases will be ob
served. He will do business directly
with the republic of Panama, which in
Its provisional form at present consists
of an executive board, but which be
fore his arrival may easily take the
form of a permanent government. Con
sul-General Gudger was for a long lime
Friday in conference with Assistant
Secretary Loomis, and afterward talked
interestingly of the isthmian situation.
Snow Storm In Chicago.
Chicago, Nov. 7.—Chicago and the
entire lake district are in the grasp
of the first real cold wave of the sea
son. A half inch of snow fell during
Thursday night and early Friday morn
ing and remained on the ground the
greater portion of the day.
Rebels March Inn on Snn Dnmlnao.
Washington, Nov. 7.-Minister Pow
ell cabled the state department Friday
that the insurgent army is marching
on the city of San Domingo. He asks
that an American man of war be sent
there. The Baltimore is on the way.
Warrants Issned For'senator Green.
Washington. Nov. 7.—Justice Pritch
ard. of the supreme court of the Dis
trict of Columbia, Friday issued four
‘alias” bench warrants for the arrest
of State Senator George E. Green, of
New York, who is under indictment by
the grand jury of the District of Co
lumbia for alleged complicity in the
postal frauds.
Sawmill Destroyed.
Lacrosse, Wia., Nov. 7. The N. B.
Lolway sawmill in this city was de
itroyed by fire Friday, loss $65,000.