4
ySr 'xr NT "V
VOL. XXXI. NO. 20.
WILMINGTON, N. C, FKIDAY, MARCH 18, 1898.
$1.00 PER YEAR.
THE FORMIDABLE FLEET
ASSEMBLED AT KEY WEST BY
OUR GOVERNMENT.
Spain Objects toTbls and to Our War Prep
arations, Which are Still Being AetlTeJy
Made The President Asks What Number
of Troops North Carolina Can Furnish,
The Work of the Court About Completed.
Situation In Harana Mor Serious
Washington, March 16. The main
development In the Spanish situation
today was in connection with the defi
nite repetitions submitted by the Span
ish government to the state department
concerning the assembling of a large
fleet of American warships at Key
West, the war preparations, and the
influence which these have had on the
appraoching elections in Cuba. These
representations were exactly in iine
with the semi-official utterances given
5n these dispatches last night and ac
credited to 'a high official conversant
with the views of the Spanish cabi
net. "While these representations con
not properly be regarded as a protest
against the attitude and acts of the
United States government, it may un
questionably be set down as a remon
strance, calculated to have an effect
an Kuropean court circles. Not, how
ever, being a technical protest, the
statement has not called forth and of
ficial rejoinder on the part of the state
department, for it is lacking in tan
gible accusations, being rather an ar
gumentative presentation of alleged
Spanish grievances.
TO WITHDRAW THE MONTGOM
ERY. The Fern sailed for Havana from
Key West this afternoon. She goes to
relieve the -Montgomery as a home for
the officers engaged in supervising the
wrecking operations in Havana harbor.
It may be stated unequivocably that
the Montgomery's 'withdrawal is not
owing to any suggestion from
Spanish sources that her presence is
not desired. It was the announced in
tention of Secretary Long when the
cruiser was sent to Havana to keep
hp., there only so long as the Fern
should Ik engaged in the work of dis
tributing relief among the sufferers in
eastern Cuba. The task having been
performed and, owing to the return
of the court of inquiry from Havana,
there beiing fewer persons to accom
modate, the Fern, which is better
equipped than the Montgomery to as
sist in the wrecking operations, Is re
turned to her position.
Up to the close of office hours the
navy department, though It knew of
ficially that the court of inquiry ha
come over to Key West from Havana,
was not informed as to the findings or
plans of the court.
THE YACHT MAYFLOWER PUR
CHASED. The late Mr. Odgen-Goelet's yacht
Mayflower was purchased by the gov
ernment today. It is said that the ob
ject of the navy department is to pro
vide as quickly as possible a number
of picket boats of good speed and sea
going ability to act as scouts and also
to aid our ironclads and more expen
sive vessels in operations against tor
pedo boats. A large numiber of private
yachts have 'been offered to the depart
ment, and other acquisitions of the
same type as the Mayflower may be
expected.
FORMIDABLE FLEET AT KEY
WEST.
The fleet at Key West will he aug
mented wiithin the next day or two iby
the arrival of the gunboat Annapolis,
the torpedo 'boat Foote, and the naval
tugs Leyden and Samoset. The gun
boat Helena is now on her way from
the European station under orders to
report at Key West. The Helena re
ported her arrival today at Funchal,
on her way to join the fleet. These
and the other vessels previously or
dered to that point constitute the larg
est assemblage of war vessels made
since the demonstration following the
Virginius affair, and considering ef
fectiveness and armament it is the
strongest assemblage of ships, for other
than review purposes, since the war.
The fleet now at Key West and Tor
tugas is as follows: cruiser New York,
battleship Massachusetts, 'battleship In
diana, (battleship Iowa, battleship Tex
as, criuser Detroit, gunboat Nashville,
cruiser MarbUehead, dispatch boat
F&rn, torpedo boats Dupont, Cushing,
Porter, Winslow and Ericsson. To these
Will soon be added the five vessels now
en route there. In. adition to these the
Montgomery is at Havana and is prac
tically a part of the fleet, the gunboats
Wilmington and Castine and cruiser
Cincinnati are at Barbadoes. the New
port at Colon, with the 'Puritan, New
wark, Amph'itrite and other ships of
the North Atlantic squadron at points
along the coast further north
ward. In point of ships, the fleet un
der Rear Admdral Case on January 3,
1S74, following the Virginius affair,
was considerably larger. Although for
midable in Its day, this aggregation
was made up of the old style wooden
ships and monitors which had gone
through the civil war and every avail
able craft that could bear guns. Com
pared with the modern battleships and
cruisers of the new navy, it was insig
nificant In tonnage and general effec
tlveness. It is noteworthy, however,
that this formidable gathering of ships
was at the same point as the present
gathering and during a critical period
with Spain, and that it did not even
tuate in war.
DRAWING ON THE $o0,000,000.
Secretary Alger has made requisi
tions on the president for two large al
'lotments from the appropriation of
450,000,000 for the national defense. One
is for $5,000,000 for the use or the engi
ineer department of the army in the
4-omoletion of certain fortification
works along the "Atlantic and Gulf
coasts now in progress, and the other
5s for $2,225,000 for the use of the ord
nance department of the army in the
acquirement of arms and ammunition.
Pretty n:uch all this money Is needed
to cover -contracts already made by
the military establishment.
An encouraging telegram came to the
department from Admiral Bunce, com
mandant of the New York navay-yard.
It was: "The naval constructor re
ports dock No. 3 pumped dry last night.
Test of the structure is satisfactory.
The caisson Joint leaks, but is easily
remedied." The department places the
date of the final completion of the
dock at April 30th, in view of this re
port. AMBULANCE SHIPS.
Surgeon General Van Reypen, of the
navy returned today from Newport
News where he went to examine into
the practicability of converting the
Plaint Line steamer Grand Duchess in
to an ambulance or hospital ship for
use of the navy in the event of hos
tilities with Spain. This steamer,
which General Van Reypen says is
large, roomy and airy, formerly plied
between 'New York and Savannah, but
was laid up because of the disarrange
ment of her 'boilers. So far as accom
modations are concerned the vessel af
terteom e necessary work.mould make an
admirable ambulance ship, but the lack
of boilers which it would take months
to replace, limits her adaptability for
use at the present time. The surgeon
general has in view several ether ships
which, with 'but a limited expenditure
of money, could be changed into ambu
lance ships, but he wall be compelled
to await the report of the special board
which is examining into the question
of auxiliary cruisers before taking any
action.
CONTRACTS FOR MOUE SHOT
SHELL.
The war department is making ready
for another btig contract looking to the
procurement of a lot of shot and shell.
An advertisement has just been issued
calling for "cast iron projectiles for
sea Coast cannon." The bids are made
returnable next Monday at 3 o'clock at
the ordnance office, war department.
The shot and shell are of the heavy
description, 187 10-inch solid shot 910
12-inch mortar shells, weighing 800
pounds each, and 500 12-lnch mortar
shell's 'being wanted. The projectiles are
entirely different from the $1,000
000 worth ordered yesterday. Those
were wrought steel shot and
shell known as armor piercers and in
tended for attack upon battleships,
monitors and suioh armored vessels.
Those called for now are for use either
against lightly armored or unarmored
ships or else for "deck piercers," being
fired from mortars With a plunging fire
into the deck of vessels lying out at
sea. Being of cast metal these pro
jectiles, it is expected, will be much
cheaper than the armor piercers al
ready ordered.
The equipment bureau Of the navy
department has prepared itself for the
equipment at very short notice of any
vessel of the auxiliary navy that may
be acquired with the 'tmiost approved
signaling service. Considering the
compe'tition offered by the navy and
marine corps in the enlistment of re
cruits, the war department feels that
it is doing very well in securing men
for the artillery regiments. The ad
jutant general's report today was that
220 men has been sect red. This is at
the rate of 800 per mo: ith and about as
fast as the men can be properly taken
care of.
WANTS TO INVADE CUBA.
Adjutant General Corbin yesterday
received a military visitor who said he
wais fresh from the battlefields of Cuba
and desired to arrange with him for the
immediate investment of the port of
Havana. 'He was dressed in a mili
tary uniform of 'green cloth and said
he was ready to take the field at once.
He gave his name as Lieutenant Col
onel Jorge A. Rivera y Monez, Fourth
army corps, Cuban army, and said he
had come from General Mayriia Rod
riguiezf second in command. To use his
own words, he "was just from the
field and had Mood on his boots" and
he gave every indication of being earn
est and eager for the fray. What he
desired was an army of 5,000 men from
the United States with which to begin
the invasion of Cuba and his plan was
to fire on Morro Castle and sack the
city of Havana. General Corbin treat
ed him courteously and said he would
see him later about the army of invas
ion. NO TALK OF SALE OF CUBA.
Madrid, March 16. A semi-official
agency today published the following
announcement: "It is useless to talk
of the sale of Cuba. The question could
nbt be arranged except by parliament
and It is impossible 'that any Spanish
chamber could agree to sell the island
at any price."
The financial press comments upon
the facility with which Spain has sup
ported the heavy financial burdens in
curred on account of the insurrections
in Cuba and the Philippine islands and
points out that although, since Senor
Sagasta has been premier, the coast of
the wars -were exceeded 300,000,000 pesa
tas, the note circulation of the Bank of
Spain has only increased from 1,174,
926,306 'to 1,259,630,650 pesatas. Upon
his showing he press asserts that no
one doubts that if a fresh loan should
be required 5t could be raised as easily
as was the loan a year ago.
El Heraldo, in a very conciliatory,
article, supposed in official circles to be
irispiredaft'erfpooh-tooohing the "fiction
that Spain desires to provoke a war"
says:. "If the United States really
wishes peace and Spain is resolved to
maintain it, let each go half way, and
the pacification of Cuba and the tran
quility of Europe will 'be accom
plished." '
Berlin, 'March. 16. Senor Sandoval,
the Spanish ,agent, (is negotiating for
the purchase of a number of .old and
slow steamers of the North German
.Lloyd steamship company.
PRESIDENT'S INQUIRY AS TO
NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS.
RALETGH, N. C, MARCH 16. GOV
ERNOR RUSSELL TODAY RECEIV
ED A MESSAGE FROM "PRESIDENT
M'KINLEY ASKING HOW MANY
TleOOPS THE STATE COULD 'FUR
NISH IN CASE OF HOSTILITIES.
THE REPLY OF THE GOVERNOR
GAVE 245,000 AS THE NUMBER.
Havana, March 16. The officers of
the Maine who remain here are dis
appointed at n'tft being ordered north,
and believe they will not be sent back
to the United States until ft is certain
the court of inquiry inVo the loss of the
battleships will not return to Havana.
EXPEDITING WORK ON THE
WRECK.
With the arrival of the big derrick
Chief and other machinery the wreck
ing .work already shows signs of prog
ress. The naval divers are still work-,
ing about the wreck, under the direc
tion of Captain Sigsbee and Lieuten
ant Commander Wainwright, with En
sign Powelson, to make any changes
in the drawings which may be called
for by new discoveries.
SPAIN NOT AFRAID OF WAR.
La Lucha in its leading editorial fhis
afternoon- says it Is unable to explain
the bellicose attitude of the Uniteld
States and inclines to the belief that
this is the fault of business syndicates
like the sugar trust, or due to some
new desire to annex Cuba which has
"changed the physiognomy of the
American people." It claims that
Spain has done nothing to hurt the
pride of the United States and refers
to the friendliness of Spain for the
American colonies when they were
fighting England, and also to the
"strict neutrality maintained during
the civil war." La Lucha says it can
only explain the helping1 Of the insur
gents from American sources during
the present insurrection in Cuba by
"defective law, varying in the differ
ent states of the American union."
The editorial concludes: "The end of
the journey will show which nation has
the more to lose in a contest that may
come now. No doubt Spain does not
fear war. Public opinion, if not de
manding, does not Tepel fhbs'tildties. It
is believed by many that this way 3s
the only means of reaching an end of
the present knotty state of affairs." ?
HEADQUARTERS AT ATLANTA. J
Atlanta; Ga., March 16. Brigader
General William H. Graham the com
mander of the new department of the
south,, and his chief of staff, Lieuten
ant Adams, arrived in Atlanta today.
General Graham will, it is said, at once
establish his headquarters and remove
the offices of himself and staff from
San Antonio.
Munitions of war are passing through
Atlanta to gulf and Atlantic ports daily
Railroad men expect thirty cars" of
war material during the balance of the
week.
London, March 16. The final contract
providing for the sale of the warships
Amazonas and Almirante .Abrouall, to
the United States has been siemed. Th
price is something over 500,000 pounds
sterling ($2,500,000 for both ships. An
American crew is expected here from
Lisbon tonight, to take posess'ion of the
Amazonas on Friday.
TENSION GROWS SERIOUS AT HA
VANA. Havana, via Key West, Fla., March
IP With the departure of the court
of inquiry, after a second visit to the
scene of the wreck of the Maine, the
tension grows serious. The court, a
body like a grand jury in its functions,
is nearly ready to report. Unless there
are new discoveries here, which is un
likely, there is nothing to be done, but
for the members to seclude thmselves
in the Iowa and formulate the convic
tions already firmly held.
There is no reason to change the be
lief that the court will find that the
disaster was caused by an explosion
outside the Maine. The chief officers
have ibeen absolutely discreet while
talk of the dfivers has been contradic
tory. From bits of evidence that have
come out during the three weeks ex
amination it seems as sure as anything
in this latitude can .be that the plans
before the court show that the ship was
broken in two and the forward part
rent asunder by an explosion from the
outside. Captain Sampson intimated
to the correspondent yesterday that
the testimony was "gratifyingly com
plete." This might mean that an acci
dental cause had been discovered but
the indications are all the oth- vay.
No one believes that any Spanish of
ficials or officers of rank will be impli
cated, whatever may be the findings
of the court. Captain Sampson, before
leaving, said the court's departure was
not due to orders received, but was
decided upon solely by the members
themselves.
The wrecking work has been very
slow, but 'it is hoped that now, with
the added facilities and the others that
are to come, work will be advance i
with greater rapidity.
The volunteers are apparently more
quiet, though many of the leaders are
angered by private advices from Mad
rid to the effect that Senor Sagasia is
as firmly resolved as ever on their dis
armament. ADVISED TO LEAVE CUBA.
This correspondent has seen cable
messages from London to several Eng
lish tobacco merchants telling them to
leave the island at once and hinting
that war seems inevitable.
The Associated Press correspondent
at Matanzas tells a said story, not only .
of the suffering there, but of the diffi- 1
culties which the bureaucratic methods
of the Spanish officials place in the
way of the relief even of those who are
actually starving. For instance, a
bridge has to be crossed in conveying
the stores from the vessel to the
warehouse. The local authorities ae-
cart load and were only prevented by I
an order (from the governor. In the
hearing of the Associated Press cor
respondent at Matanzas a custom
house., officer on the wharf called cu: i
to a crowd cf starving people who v.-r re
crying for food: "Do you think the
Americans sent this food? Well, they
did not. It was sent you by the rich
Spanish in New York city."
CUBANS TO RAID HAVANA.
Important - advices from the insur
gents show that General Maximo Go
mez has sent a mission to the insurgent
chiefs in middle and western Cuba tell
ing them of a great movement that is
likely to go through successfully. Gen
eral Pando, from Santiago de Cuba,
ordered the Spanish generals, Castel
lanos and Tenquo, to entrap the in
surgents, numbering from 2,500 tar 3,000,
under Menical, Capote and Cebreco, in
Puerto Principe province. His plans,
he supposed, were perfect, but the. in
surgents flanked the Spanish and are
now moving toward the Jucaro trocha.
If able to get 3irough, as they have
done before, by the use of dynamite,
these leaders and a large force are ex
pected to raid Matanzas, Havana and
possibly Pinar del Rio during .the next
fifteen or eighteen days.
TROOPS LEAVE FORT RILEY.
Fort Riley, Kas.. March 16. Battery
F., Fifth artillery, destined for Savan
nah, GaT and Battery B., Fourth ar
tillery, for New Orleans, left here at
10 o'clock tonight In two rpecial trains
over the Union PaJbific road. Battery
F., of the Fourth artillery, destined for
Fort Monroe, will not leave until to
morrow. WORK OF THE COURT ABOUT
FINISHED.
Key West, Fla., March 16. The ar
rival of the court of Inquiry from Ha
vana jkmiihe Mangrove today was not un
expected, but the excitement and mys
tery which has surrounded the behav
ior of its members during the day is in
strong contrast with their former con
duct at Key West. The most definite
.statement obtainable was from a mem-
oer or the court wno, arter stipulating
that his naime should be suppressed,
said: Among naval officers and others,
it is generally believed that the court
of 'inquiry has come to the definite con
clusion that the explosion was external
and that the court is now only busied
over minor technical details." One of
the officers of .the Maine said to the
correspondent: "I believe the Maine
wa3 blown up from the outside; but
judging from the questions asked by
members of the court when previously
here, I am utterly unable to ascertain
whether they have even countenanced
such a solution of the disaster. I have
talked with fellow-officers, and basing
their opinions on the character of the
questions asked, they too, were bound
to confess that they were just as much
in the dark."
Amid cheers from the fellow survi
vors and friends a numiber of the offi
cers of the Maine left tonight on the
Plant Line steamer Olivette, via Tampa
for their homes.
SOLDIERS FOR UNCLE SAM.
Men Wanted for the Infantry, Cavalry and
Artillery Service
A big poster has been put up in the
postoffiee with the following heading:
"United States Army Recruiting
Service Wanted for the United States
Army able bodied men of good charac
ter, between the ages of 21 and 30
years."
The men are wanted for the infantry,
cavalry and artillery service. For the
infantry and artillery service men must
be not less than 5 feet and 4 inches
high and must weigh not less than 128
pounds nor more than 190. For the
cavalry the required length is not less
than 5 feet 4 inches nor more than 5
feet 10 inches and the weight not over
165 pounds. The. term of enlistment is
for 3 years for all arms of the service
Applicants are required to satisfy the
recruiting officers regarding age and
character and should be prepared to
furnish the necessary evidence. Only
unmarried men need apply. Original
enlisttoents are confined to persons
who are citizens of the United States
or who have made legal declaration of
their intention to become citizens there
of, land who can speak read and write
the English language.
The pay for enlisted men is as fol
lows: Serjeant majors $23 per month;
regimental quartermasters, $23; chief
trumpeters and principal musicians,
$23; sadler sergeants, $22; first ser
geants, $25; ordinance sergeants, $34;
quartermaster sergeants, $34; ser
geants, $18; corporals, 15; soldiers fer
riers, artificers and blacksmiths, $15;
wagones, $14; field musicians and
privates, $13. The men are also fur
nished rations, clothing, bedding, med
icines and medical attendance.
Soldiers who have served honestly
and faithfully for 20 years or who have
been discharged for wounds or disease
are entitled to admittance in the Sol
diers' Home at Washington. Twelve
and a half cents per month is deducted
from the monthly p'ay for the benefit
of the Home. Men who serve 30 years
Willi be retired and will be allowed
threee-fourths of their pay monthly
and $9.50 per month for clothing and
subsistence.
Applications should be made to Cap
tain F. Hartz. Captain 11th infantry,
recruiting officers 624 East Broad
street, Richmond, Va.
FREIGHT RATES QUESTIONS.
Fertilizer Rate on the Carolina Central o
Stand Qafttlon of Discrimination
Against Wilmington on Rate on Molaa
e to be Invetigrtl Pamener Rate
Question to be Decided Today
CSpecial to The Messenger.)
Raleigh. N. C, March 10. The railway
commission's rates allowed the Carolina
Central railway on fertilizers-in car load
lots stand. C E. EorJen acknowledged
they were proper. He wanted them cut
to the same special rate on the Cape
Fear and Yadkin Valley, or as Chairman
Caldwell puts it, wanted a double cut.
R. V7. Hicks appeared before the com
mission regarding freight rates on mo
lasses to Interior points of the state from
"Wilmington. He made a strong presen
tation of his claim that there was dis
crimination in this matter against Wil
mington, and in favor of Richmond and
Norfolk. The commission served notices
on the railways to show cause why the
molasses rate to interior points in North
Carolina should not be as low as from
Richmond and Norfolk, considering dif
ference in mileage.
The commission gives notice, that it
will meet tomorrow morning and render
a decision as to whether its order reduc
ing passenger rates shall stand or be re
voked. Impure Blood in Spring.
This is the almost universal experi
ence. Diminished perspiration during
winter, rich foods and close confine
ment indoors are some of the causes.
A good Spring Medicine, like Hood's
Sarsaparilla, is -absolutely necessary
to purify the blood and put the system
in a healthy condition at this season.
Hood's Pills are the best family ca
thartic and -liver tonic. Ajentle, relia
ble, sure.
A pot that belongs to many Is ill
stirred and worse boiled. , ..
IN A FIRE TRAP.
FOCU HUNDRED PKRSONS IN A
BUKNING BUILDING.
The Flames Rapidly 8 weep Through the
Tall Bnlldiojc-Paale Ameer the Ir
matee The Elevators and Stairways Soon
Utelets FiTe to Fifteen Death and Thir
ty Persons Injured Elerolc Deed In Sar
in; the Panic-stricken People
Chicago. March 16. It required Just
twenty minutes this afternoon for one of
the most savage fires Chicago has een
since the famous cold storage ware
house fire on the World's Fair grounds
in 1S93 to take anywhere from five to
fifteen lives, maim thirty people and
reduce a seven story brick building to a
pile of blazing timber, red hot bricks
and twisted iron. The number of dead
is still in doubt and probably will not
be definitely known until the debris
is sufficiently cooled to admit of a
search being made for the bodies of
those who are undoubtedly in the ruins.
This will require two days at least.
Three men are known to be dead. They
are: Samuel A. Clark, book-keeper
for the Olmstead Scientific Company;
M51es A. Sm"ith, salesman for the same
company, and Edward Binz, cashier
for Sweet, Wallace & Co.
The building was seven 6tories high,
had a frontage of fifty-eight feet on
Wabash avenue and extended back 1C0 (
feet to an alley. It was of what is
known as the Mill Construction, had
two elevator chafts, one in front, one
in the rear, and reaching from the third
story to the roof was a slight shaft
Which gave the flames every chance.
It was because of this shaft that the
fire spread with such rapidity. The
building was occupied by a number of
concerns, some of them1 employing
large numbers of people. It is esti
mated that 400 persons were at work
in the building when the fire was dis
covered. The origin of the fire is in
dispute. The weight of evidence seems
to be that the explosion was in the
lower part of the building, for the
flames shot up the light shaft at once.
The sound of the explosion threw the
inmates of the .building into a panic
and on several floors a wild stampede
began, for the stairways and elevators.
To add to the panic the men in charge
of the elevators ran their cars up to
the top of the building, shouting "fire"
at every floor. When they reached the
top both elevators took a load of
frightened women and started for the
bottom. The front elevator was in
charge of Harry Gleason, a boy, and
the rear one was handled by William
St. John, a young man. Both of these
kept their heads, showed much cool
ness and bravery and were instrumen
tal in saving many lives.
The elevator in the front of the build
ing was an elaborate affair and In good
order, but not calculated to produce
speed. Gleason made one trip to the
seventh floor, carried down a load of
women, and although the smoke was
rolling through the building in dense
clouds, he started up again. At the
fourth floor he stopped to take on a
crowd of girls from the rooms of the
National Music Company, being assist
ed in his work by Miss Katherine
Carney, the forewoman. A man at
tempted to force his way into the ele
vator, but Gleason shoved him back
into the hall that the wotmen might J
have the first chance.
Miss Carney was a true heroine. Al
though at the outset she had opportuni
ty to escape with the other women she
seemed to feel it her duty to stay and
help the escape of the girls over whom
she had charge. Her voice could be
heard above the shrieks of the panic
stricken girls, advising them to pre
serve order and reassuring thm again
and again. She stood near the stair
way and attempted to seize the fore
most women as they dashed down to
the next floor, but was thrown side.
When she .nxw there was no hope of
stopping the panSc, she darted to the
elevator cage to calm the others. As
the elevator ascended. Miss Carney or
dered the conductor to stop. She then
turned and helped her frightened
charges into the cage. During all the
excitement she remained calm and is
sued orders as though directing the
women at work. As the elevator
started to descend without Miss Carney
one of the girls cried to the conductor
to stop; but the brave woman, though
staring death In the face, shouted for
them not to mind her. that she would
take care of herself. The girls she pent
down 'the elevator escaped unharmed.
Miss Carney escaped by the fire es
cape. After reaching the bottom with his
load of girls Gleason wa about to
start up again when the supports of the
elevator machinery at the top of the
shaft caught fire and seeing that they
would give way before his slow eleva
tor could make. another trip, he gave
it up.
At the rear St. John did equally good
work, but was not able to make more
than one trip, as the fire swept through
that portion of the building before it
attacked the front. In less than ten
minutes after the explosion that start
ed the fire all escap? for the Inmates
by the stairs and elevators was cut off.
There remained only the windows and
the single fire escape, a narrow iron
thing not over eighteen inches from
side to side. This was speedily cover
ed with a string of people. me on one
side, seme on the other. Many of those
who could not reach the fire escape
made their way to the front windows
and it was out of these that Clark,
Smith and Binz hurled themselves- to
death.
Clark was book-keeper for the Olm
stead Scientific Company, on the sev
enth floor and remained to put the
books in. the safe. He might have es
caped had he run upon the first alarm.
He was first seen at one of the seventh
story windows and a few minutes af
ter showed himself in a window of the
sixth floor. The fire was close upon
f him, the floors andtwalls behind him
were crashing daw nv, and it was cer
tain death to remain where he was.
There was no possibility of help and
he ttook his only chance. Three sec-
Royal males tbe food pare.
wfceJcsum and dctlcloauw
mmm
Absolutely Puro
eovAi bakimg rowuw rw yT""X.
onds later he was dfud vn th
ment below.
Milts A. Smith, a salesman for t!a
Olmstead Scientific Cvtnpany, uk
leaped from a window in th mxrij
floor. He hesitated Mine t:mo Utfur"
taking the leap, but ikf Clark. uml.rT-1
stood that It was his only hoi-, lie
was instantly killd.
Edward Hinz. the cashie r f tvw.et
Walach & Co.. on the pixth fl or. ;wi
a victim to his desiiv to mvi- ui.'T
and to protect his l?iok-H frosn harm.
He, upon hearing the alarm, run to t"f
rear of th store, to warn ih,.- iniplintF
to run for their lives.
A fireman distinguish! himsWf
a daring rescue. He was upon u iatUlnr
close to th building whn hi !r.rrI a.
cry. The fireman saw a man in a "ivine
dow of the fifth ftory earning n in
mate. That the rescuer was aUut tr
throw the unconscious human lnU-c.
into the street in the vain hoj, ,f f wir
ing the man from a death by rout
ing was evident. The fire w:is ro.irHrvr
so that no voice could be hard. !urc
ting up his hands as a signal to vntii
until he got ready, the fireman hkuiS
himself upon the ladder and thui .tit
ed his arms for the rescuer to drop tli
unconscious man to him. With a sJx.;c
that nearly knocked the heroic flrcTrntn
from his position, the lody of the rrusn
struck the fire fighter. But ft dM mvt
get away from him . He held th ur
scious man through all the swnyfris?
and swinging of the ladder. HastiJje
descending, the fireman turned liiss
burden over to the police and roturrKdl
to his post. The man who hail riwif
the workman had disappeared. Ho Tittd!
a chance to escape had he been brarr
enough to dash through the snnk nnvl
flame. But if he did not I m miliar' Tjr
follow the fireman who lre away t-r
man he had picked up on the flfTSi
floor his charred remains will N forma
in the ruins when the search for ttr
dead is made.
George Fenters. property man at
Great Northern theatre and H. I. CuJ
len saved several lives. Fenters vnxm
passing through the alley in th rtvwr
of the building when he saw flamv
bursting from the roof. He rushcrf
the fire alarm ox at Jackson crud
Wabash avenue and turned in
alarm. He met Cullen running Jm-
the street with a blanket and foIlonWJ
him. The men stood 1n front of tfrv
burning building and held the Man.
extended, shouting to several grirt&
on the second floor to Jump. A"nmjz
those who leaped wore Josie and Annir
Baxa. Several others jump'.! Into
blanket and thus escaped injury, law
men stood at the spot until dnm
from it by the heat.
'After years of untold suffering from
piles, B. W. Pursell of Knltnervrr.
Pa., was cured by using a fingle lnc
of DeWItt's Witch Hazel Salve. -Sn
d seases such as eczema, ran".:. p!rrrp7"
and obtinate sore are readily curvl ?jr
this famous remedy. T.. B. Bellamy-
Extensive Naral Preparations In Prs
Pari?. March IG.-The Aurore today .af
firms that the French fleet Is -inr.
pared for mcbolization. alllrg that f
veri.h anxiety prevails at all the r
nals and shipyards, which an- worki'sv:
until 10 oVloek at nleht. ntlnmf.c
Thf. Aurore pay.s the Fr.-nrh Nortfir7i
squadron at Cherbourg Is reaJy for im
mediate departure. Finally. It Is avert
ed, that In order to complete h numfi'T
of officers, fooml year Mudents arc sit
he apfoJnted midshipmen, and alt the mA
mlrals have been instructed to arnn
to reach Paris within twrrty-four hoturt-.
after being summoned. The Aurore ex
plains that the mobollzation U -onn-rc
-! with preparations to siipjHrt Kia'.vi
by a naval demonstration In the; 2xt
east.
Maber XWrat 0'Ionnrll
Philadelphia, March 16. IY-ter Mr
finished up Steve O'Donnell in rtrt
order at the arena tonight, the nfere'
stopping the fight in the second TouwdL
when Steve was so groggy as to la? C1
but knocked out.
At the opening of the flout, wtrirti
was to haw been ?lx round. Mai'anr
objected to O'LKmnell wearing Lar3
ages on his right wrist, but this ir
quickly settled by the Australian re
moving them.
Rasll to RaU the Pre Hllrar rK
(Special to The Messenger.)
Puilelgh, N. C, March 1Z. Ir. J. J
Motte makes he Insjared announccmcsil
that if the democrats endorse the r-o-c5-eratlon
of all the free silver element in
North Carolina. Chairman Town uutX
Governor Ituse!I ftanj ready to raiat
the republican free silver Mandanl Ixl
this state.
We are anxious to do a lltt'.e good In
this world and can think of no pT.np
anter of better way to do H than Iry
recommending One Mimrte Cougli Cue
as a preventive of pneuraonwa. con
sumption and other serious Jansr
troubles that follow neglected coKAl
R. Ji. Bellamy.
Freight Rate on Flro Wood
(Special to The Messenger.)
Raleigh. X. C. March 1 Th nailaayr1
commlWjon orders th following mm- tha
rate of freight on firewood in car ,
released, loaded and unloaded by L2k
shipper, ten cords minimum: One to ta
miles, per cord. 40 cents; 10 to 13 mile. KZ
cents; 15 to ZD mileft, 50 cents; 30 to B
miles. 55 cent: 40 to SO mile. GO crac.
This i a reduction from 10 to 20 per cn
per cord.