The News and Observer. VOL XXXIX. NO. 11. TO mm IST NMIATiN IF ANY HM UmiMk DAILY. A PROSPEROUS YEAR REPO It IS OF ALI. CHURCHKB IN THE CONFERENCE ARE ENCOURAGING. FIVE THOUSAND CONVERSIONS -Ananal Meetingofthe Conference His torical Society Bnd Dr. Bassett’- Able Paper oa the Nature and Prob lems < f the Work of the Society—Dr. Hoes' Talk About the Trials of an Editor—-The Chrl-tiaii Advocate natter Stilt Unsettled. ELIZABETH CITY, N. C., Dec. 13. (.Special) —The third day of the X. C. Conference opened with devo tional services conducted by Rev. 11. P. Troy. Many reports from pastoral ■charges were received. These reports show that the year ahs been a prosper ous one with the churches. It is esti mated that there have been about five thousand conversions during the year, tout the statistical report is not yet complete. After a very animated debate lasting one hour and a half, Rev. .sno. T. Aber nathy was re-addmitted into the con ference. Rev. Dr. Law, of the American Bible Society wus introduced to the confer ence and made an interesting state ment about the work of the Society. Rev. Dr. lloss, editor of the Nashville Christian Advocate, was presented to the conference. Dr. Boss spoke at foine length concerning the great or gan of the Southern Methodist Church. Dr. Boss is editing one of the ablest religious journals n Ameri ca, a pj*i« r that every Southern Meth odist con be justly proud of. Dr. Boss remarks were in a very happy vein. I>r. Hoss said that he had come to the editorial chair of Southern Methodism without having had any previous ex ]*erience in conducting a public journ al. He had served in nearly every oth er office from plowing a one-eyed mule upon a poor farm in Tennessee to a professorship in a great university, and yet. he was a stranger to the edi torial chair. The Doctor said that the hardest place he had ever been in is that of the editor's chair. Be told of the old Kentucky brother who wrote him that he did not lxdieve he was anything but an old whiskey Dem ocrat, and that lit* wanted him to stop his paper. The doctor said there could not be a more intense temperance ad vocate ii\ing than he was, but that he ■did not believe a great paper ought to be run just on one line. You can't ’whip the devil out of tlie world by shaking a tin pan in liis face. The doc tor made-pleasant reference to tlie Bish op"! * t’ * church. Be said t;<- had known each one of them personally during the last thirty years, and that he had not known one who was not a cultured Southern Christian gentle man, but*vh;d some of their coins-bu ttons sometimes found a home in the »\ aste-basket. The Conference unanimously passed a resolution stating its hearty endorse ment of Dr. Kilgo's position on Chris tian education. The report of tin* special committee appointed at the la 1 t y ear's Conference to select one of the editors of the North Carolina Christian A'boeao wav submitted as follows: “After con fere'ifee with the present editor--, the committee was unable t<, come to any agreement, two memix*rs of the committee concurring in tin plans of the present editors and two memls rs non-concurring. Your com mittee is therefore unable to advise any line of action to tin* Conference in this matter.” The report was referred lo tin com mittee on books ami period h-uis. In the afternoon the Conference His torical Society held its annual meet ing. A {taper of rare merit w.jis read by Professor Bassett. of- Trinity Col lege. Dr. Bassett's subject was the “Na ture and Problems of the Work of the Historical Society.” He said: “Some how the thought is to-day fill ing the minds of our continent that the South is entering on a period of new life. The intuition of the world is aglow with the idea of Southern de velopment. In industrial lines the be ginning* of the process tire easily to be discovered. There are many © f us that are anxiously looking for the announced that John C. Kilgo or Jesse 11.. Page was to preach in sdine other pulpit. When Dr. Tates was presenting the ease of a \oung preacher on his dis trict, lie stated that the only objection he had heard to him was that he was lather diffident. The Bishop replied, "i an’t you get some of the brethren to divide out with him?” (Laughter). When the report of a young preac her from Dr. Gibbs’ district was being eon idered by the Conference, Dr. Yates asked if he had any cranky notions in Ids head. Dr. Gibbs arose and said that they did not produce cranks in hi t country, but that they seemed to abound in Dr. Yates’ section. Also Mr. N. M. Lawrence, the Super intendent of the Oxford Orphans’ Home. Mr. Lawrence is doing a great and benevolent work which is dear to the hearts of all good people and of the Methodists in particular. Rev. Dr. Brooks and Rev. Dr.dioome, of the Western North Carolina Confer ence, were also presented to the Con ference. A large part of the ministry »i Dr. Brooks has been given to fields em braced in our Conference. Dr. Brooks justly ranks as one of the most, learn ed and accomplished ministers in North Carolina. He is a man of great bead, and of great heart; and is ten derly beloved l»v a large company of friends in many parts of the Stale. Elizabeth City is giving the Confer ence, a cordial and hospitable enter tainment. They have welcomed their new pastors with that grace that shows how greatly they esteemed those faithful men of an adjoining conference that wrought among them in former years. It is a delightful ex [>eri« nee of our preachers to hear how the Virginia Conference pastors are tenderly beloved by the good people of this section It assures them of kind treatment at their hands. Rev. J. B. Hall, pastor of the church here, has had a fine year’s work. The membership of this church has stood by him and given him their constant co-operation, and pastor and people have been happy in the work they have w rought. Dr. Ball is giving every at tention to the comfort of the Confer ence. Me is one of the popular young preachers of this body. The Ecclesiastical orders of Rev. M. L. Miller were recognized by the Con ference. Rev. Mr. Miller came from the Baptist church to the Methodist church, and he takes his place as a local preacher in the Methodist church. While his ease was being considered, Rev. Dr. Betts asked if he had any children. Dr. Black replied, “Yey, but he is not applying to join the itiner ancy.” “But I want to know,” said Dr. Betts, “if he has his children baptized.” “Oh. aid Dr. Clack. (Laughter.) Rev. W. L. ( umnggim made the re port from Fifth Street Methodist church, Wilmington. He lias done a hard year's work, under great difficul ties at this important point, liis peo ple have made a record of liberality* and devotion to their church that, is tj'uly commendable. Mr. Cuninggim combines three elements of a success ful preacher: Be is a close student, a diligent pastor, n deeply pious man. RALEIGH, N. C.. SATURDAY, DEC. 14. 1895. ID KKPfiAL THE WALTON LAW. Another Bill Providing a New Elec lion Law for Virginia. RICHMOND, Va., Dee. 13.—The feat tire of the legislative proceedings to day was a bill introduced by Senator Wickham, regulating elections ballots and repealing the Walton law. The distinct features of the bill are the requirements for the ballots to be uniform, requiring the same size of type to be used for all candidates; pres cribing how ballots shall be printed; making special provisions for presi dential electors and for cases wherein constitutional amendments are sub mitted to the popular vote. Another distinctive feature is that it is made the duty of the judge of a county, when the electoral board meets, to stamp the ballots with a seal, to cause to be delivered to the clerk of the county a sample ballot, which shall be placed upon tile for ex amination by the public, it being made the duty of the clerk to attend to this. The bill also provides that there shall not be less than one booth for every one hundred voters registered at a vot ing place, also provides careful and full directions for making ballots. Anoth er feature is that the special constable is abolished, and in lieu is given the following provision: “Any voter may call to his aid any qualified elector in the same district w ho irufy retire to one of the booths with him and there mark his ballot for him; but no such person shall so mark the ballots of more than one voter at any one elec tion, and the judges of elections shall keep upon the poil books a memoran dum in writing of the names of each and every one of such persons so as sisted, specifying the name of the elec tor so assisting.” Violation of this provision is made a misdemeanor and penalty consists of a fine and imprisonment. A duplicate of this bill was offered in the house by Mr. Winston. BIDS FOR CARRYING I II F HAH . Tin 1 r>inlrni't« Will h-* ‘.warded D» - ccmbi-r 21 L*» *■ ur » *hi>. W \SH I Mil < >.\, Dec. I (Sptcial.) Bids were iqiened st the l’ostoiiiee Department to-day tor carrying the mails in various Southern cities, by covered regulation wagon, mail mes senger, transfer and mail station ser vice. B. B. ColgTove. of Washington, wa* the lowest bidder for Asheville, N. <'.. s4!»n and ( harlotte. V. (~ (. I’iotlitt. $538; Raleigh. N. < .. E. A. Clifton. ss*7; \\ il niington. X. < .. William J. Meredith: Tomahawk, X. $741. The contracts doubtless will be awarded before bkls jh r year for the four tears l*e gifining July I t next. K. G. Starke was to-dav appointed fiostmaater at 'Townsville. X. < .. vin W. B. Thomas resigned. . • II £ MT VTF !i \ Mi TA The People of Georgia 44 ill li*r its Con titutionaL tv . ATLANTA. ectators and eventually a panic which spread far ami wide, from one end of the city tin the other, from one quarter to an other. until matters began to look very serious indeed. The Armenians and other Christians were terrified bv tlie shouting and yelling, tlie rushing here and there of exciting crowds naturally imagined that a fresh massacre had commenced. They hurriedly closed their shops and houses, barricaded the doors and win dows, concealed their most valuable belongings in various ways and ninth* all the preparations possible for de fense. Crowds of |K’Ople. male and female, old and young, were seized with terror w hich grew in strength as time wore on and the .confusion increased. Peo ple fled hither and thither aimlessly, helplessly, apparently unaware of what they were doing, not knowing what had actually happened, but with the general impression that a massa ere was In progress somewhere. From Stamboul the wave of terror swept to Galata and Pera carried on ward by the panic-stricken fugitives from the first named quarter, w ho w ere evidently under the impression that they were fleeing for their lives. The inhabitants of Galata quickly caught the fever of alarm and in turn shut their stores and houses and joined in the scene of cons usion, an « .vample which was promptly followed by the jieoplc of tin; Pera quarter. Seeing jieople fleeing through the streets in terror caused others to do the same until the air was filled with excited cries and the noise of a rush ing multitude. Those who did not join in the stampede barricaded themselves within their houses and prepared to see their most, horrible fears realized. Evidently the police regained their presence of mind and, desirous of put ting an end to the panic, they circu lated the report, that the stampede from the Stamlxml quarter was occa sioned by the escape of a lion from a manager!© and that the animal having been killed there was no occasion for any further alarm. This report, as good its any other under the circum stances, spread quickly and tin* dis turbance liegan to subside. Finally the gendarmes circulated among the peo ple and explained to them the real state of affairs which has caused the majority to return to their occupation somewhat disgusted at having been so needlessly frightened. THE WORK OF 11 ELI EE. WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.- The Amer ican Red Cross Society has decided to accept the duty of distributing the re lief funds for the Armenian sufferers, and has issued the following state ment : “Owing to the unanimous and ur gent appeals from the friends of hu manity, representing nearly all the people of this country, the American Red Cross Society has decided that it must accept the sacred trust of i ndea voi’ing to relieve the starving Arme nians in Asia Minor. According to conservative estimates, there are 350,- 000 utterly destitute people in that country who will have to be assisted six or eight months (until the next harvest). “Fully realizing the difficulties and dangers to be met, the Red Cross will start for Turkey us soon as sufficient funds are placed at its disposal, or guaranteed, to insure success. “Funds mav be sent to Miss Clara Barton, president and treasurer of the American Red Cross, Washington, I). C. “Authorized agents to receive funds and materials will lx* published in a few days. “The Red Cross also suggests that goods, grain arid other material may Lo sent by chartered steamers. (Signed) “Am. National Red Cross. “CLARA BARTON, President.” The society has had this plan of re lief under consideration for some time, but, it is stated, was reluctant to as sume the dangers and responsibilities nvolved. .Miss Barton feels that it will be the most extensive relief work ever undertaken. Letters and telegrams have come from all directions urging that the work be undertaken. Rev. F. I). Green, the writer on Turkish ques tions, the heads of missionary and re lief bodies, editors of leading Christian papers, as well as public men and pri vate individuals, have asked that the Red Cross assume the duties of dis tributing the funds. IT \V A MODERN VENICE The City of Noifclk Flooded bv a Terriffic Northeast bale. NORFOLK, \ a.. Dee. 13.-The ter rific northeast gales raging in Otis re gion for the past week reached u cli max at an early hour this morning. W hen the residents of the lower sec tion of the city awoke they were con fronted with raging rivers in front of their doors, where formerly had been avenues of traffic. On York street the chapel of “Our Lady of Good Counsel” was entirely surrounded by water. Row-boats traveled up and down Cove street almost to the police station. The Queen street bridge leading to Bram .bleton, a populous suburb, was flooded above the roadway, and the toll-bridge to Atlantic City was awash with tide water. At the corner of Clay and Queen street.* a saloon-keeper's stock of whiskey stored in his cellar was afloat, awl all along the water front business houses were flooded to the depth of two feet on the first floors. The weather bureau here has issued warnings to detain all shipping in the harbor. Only two vessels cleared from here to-day, and they are report ed to have anchored in Hampton Roads. Many small boats have gone adrift along the Elizabeth river and its branches, and fears are entrtained of the beaching of several large vessels reported just outside of this port. A fierce wind storm swept the city about nine o’clock to-night, doing great damage throughout the suburbs. On the Main street signs were blown down, and in the residence section win dow blinds were torn from their fas tenings. The temperature has gone down si’veral degrees and the weather is very bitter. No news can lx- bad of Prescient Clevfand. The telegraph wire* are down between here and Hatteras and no vessels have arrived from the Caro lina sountls.'owing to the heavy gales. Old sea-dogs say that the Violet could not possibly live if she should attempt to leave the refuge of the dangerously flooded marshy districts where she was last heard from. The present where abouts of the Chief Executive of the United States is veiled in as great a mystery as if he had passed across the river Stvx. Beyond the reach of man. owing to the sill-powerful elements, he may lx* dead, or h may be at death's may Im* dead, or he may l> at death's duckling leg. but of all this no mortal outside of liis own shooting coterie can be positive. WEEKLY COTTON SIN rEM ENT For Decern!* r the Loss From Las Year Ha* Been *2511,0110 Bales. NEW ORLEANS. Dec. 13. —Secreta- ry Hester’s weekly New Orleans cotton exchange statement shows a falling of cotton movement in sight compared with the seven days ending tliis date last year in round figures at 112,000 bales. For the 13 days of December, the total show a loss from last year of 259,000. For the 104 days of the season that have elapsed, the aggregate is behind the 104 days of last year, 1,683,977. The amount brought into sight during the past week has been 322,408 bales a gaiust 434,333 for the seven days end ing this date last year anil for the 13 days of December is has been 607,080, this year against 863,830 last year, the 104 days from Kept. 1 to ilat** These make the total movement for 4,184,181, against 5,868,158 las year. The movement since September 1, shows receipts at all United States |x>rt*s 2,- 896.570 against 4,435,128 last year. Foreign exports for the week have been 183,947 against 276,240 last year, mak ing the total thus far for the season 1,803,522 against 2,795,134 last year,.or a decrease of 991,612. IIOI'SESIIITII’S STRIKE ENDED. It Resulted in a Complete Vsclcrv ter tlie Iron League. NEW YORK, Dee. 13.—The strike of the Mousesmiths, which commenced on November IS, lias terminated in a decided victory for the Iron League. An agreement’lias been signed by J. lb and J. M. Cornell and company, and the 1 nitvd Ilousesmiths’ and Bridge men’s Union, the latter retracting its demands for recognition by the Iron League, and an increase of 25 cents in the wage scale. The terms of the agreement will not be made public, either by the leaders of the strike or the Cornell people. Os the 109 men who quit work on the Sie gel, Cooper and company building at 108th street and Sixth avenue, when the strike began only about fifty will be taken back. The non-union men now employed on the building w ill not be discharged. PRICE FIVE CENTS. AND STILL NO CO.MHiTTKKK. The Speaker Will Not GiveThiwOu Till Next Week. WASHINGTON. Dec. 13.—Speaker Reed did not apj*ear at the capitol to day and it was announced that he had remained at his hotel to work on the formation of the committees. It lins been quietly hinted about that Mr. Reed will not give out the committees until the end of next week and that immediately thereafter Congress will adjourn for the Christmas holidays. This being the programme quite a number of members see no necessity lor remaining in Washington longei and several of them, including Mr. Ho pkins, of Illinois, will return to their homes this week. Although nothing seems to lie abso lutely known concerning the chair manships of tin: leading committees over which there is a contest the im pression continues to grow stronger daily that Mr. Dingley, of Maine, will be chairman of Ways and Means, in stead of Mr. Payne, of New York, who ten du» s ago w as supposed to lx* slated for leadership of majority on the floor. This week Mr. Dingley lias lx*en rec ognized by the speaker to make the motions which naturally devolve upon the floor leader and this with other circumstances art* accepted as almost, though not quite conclusive evidence that he is to l>e chairman of Ways anil Means. Mr. Milikcn and Mr. Boutelle, of Maine, art* also in line for chairman ships. the former being the ranking member on Public Buildings and Grounds and the latter of Naval Af fairs. In the Fifty-first, Congress all three headed committees. Almost as much iineertainity exists concerning the chairmanship of Ap propriations committee as Ways anti Means. Next to the latter it is the most ini|x>rtaiit committee in the House. The contest lies between Gen. Henderson, of Colorado, the ranking member, and Mr. Cannon, of Illinois. . The chairmanships of the following committees seem to be almost certain: Foreign Affairs, Hitt, of Illinois; Judi ciary, W. A. Stone, of Pennsylvania; Pacific Railroads, Powers, of Vermont; Banking and Currency, Walker, of Massachusetts; Inter-State Commerce. Hepburn, of Iowa; Elections (which will probably be divided), Daniels, of New York, and Naval Affairs, Boutelle, of Maine. SPAIN’S CABINET CRISIS. The Policy of I hat Country Toward Cuba Not A fleeted. WASHINGTON, Dec.. 13.-lu diplo matic circles here it is said that the cabinet crisis in Spain will have no ef fect on the policy of Spain toward Cuba, nor in any way affect the diplo matic or general questions. The crisis is due to a local contest in Madrid, into which some of the cabinet ministers have been drawn. It is pos sible that the resignation of the Min ister of Justice might result in exe cuting the plan of Cuban reforms soon er than had been contemplated. These reforms giving limited autonomy to Cuba, were adopted last March, but the present. Minister of Justice has with held their execution because the is land was in relx*llion. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has had no part in the local contest in Madrid, so that his retirement will not occur under any circumstances. THE DEMOCRATIC CON I ENTIILN. A Meeting of Co .limit tee Cttlltd lor January it*. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Dee. 13.—W. F. Harrity, chairman of the Demo cratic National committee, this after noon requested the secretary of the committee to notify the members thereof to assemble in Washington on January 16th next, for the purpose of selecting the time and place for hold ing the. next Democratic National con vention. Chairman Harrity has received let ters from commercial bodies in fifty cities urging the National committee to select a late date for the convention. Business people contend that n long campaign unsettles trade and they therefore want the political battJe made as short as possible. It is be lieved that a date not later than the middle of July will Im* selected. HALF MILLION DOLLAR FIRE. COUNCIL BLUFF, lowa, Dec. 13. Fire in the elevator and wholesale dis trict to-night caused a total loss ex ceeding half a million dollars. The principal losses are: Deere-Weles implement company, all implements and building, covering a half block. $200,000; Kinigart, White anil Weiss, implements, $200,000; Empkie and Suehnrt. hardware, $100,000; lowa Barheil Wire Fence Company, SIOO,OOO. I' ILIHU ST ERS .\ ( QUTTT ED. WASHINGTON, Ike. 13. The State Department received a dispatch to-ila\ stating that the twenty-one Cubans on trial in Nassau on the charge of con ducting a filibustering from this country were acquitted after a trial lasting only ten minutes. This is the same party arrested at Wilming ton, Del., and acquitted after an ex citing trial. LYNCHING STILL FEARED. RICHMOND. Va, Dee. 15. The Lunen burg prisoners will certainly not, be taken to that county for ti ial until the January term of the court. When they go Gov. O’i errall is sure to send military for he has every reason to be lieve that the granting of a second trial has so angered the people of Lunen burg that they will lynch the man and women.