The Weekly Wisconsin from Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Page 5

Ex-Secretary Lament's Assistant Accused of Improper Conduct. A WAR DEPARTMENT SCANDAL Alleged that He Used Governmen Requisitions to Get Things for His Personal Use, 111., May E. Curtis says in his Washington eorrc Bpondence to the Chicago Itecord corcern- ing the tcrtninntion of Gen. Joseph Doe with the war -department: "During the lust few inunths of thf administration Joseph B. Doe of.

J.unesville, was uissist secretary of war, held a fsimxnire. anc people junt beginning to find out tlu reason why. He was deprived of all authority, was not allowed to issue orders or sign any but routine mail or perform any other function of his office. He was not even permitted to issue requisitions. Secretary Lamunt assumed all the labor and responsibility, and did all the work that had formerly been done by his assistant, except such ns could be intrusted to the chief clerk.

These extraordinary circumstances were known by the-employes-and people who nre In the habit of visiting llie department, and were upon in "whispers as of mtich Kifjuiricance, but the reasons were not understood. There also considerable comment concerning the unusual act of President Me Ivinley in v.et-opting l)oo's resignation before the Selection-of his successor. It is customary for the assistant secretaries to'hold over from one administration to another until the new members of the cabinet have familiarized themselves with the duties of their ofiicc. and in all the departments except the war and navy some of the Cleveland ollicials are still retained. But Doe's resignation was accepted at once, and his desk was Vacant until Mr.

Meiklejolm of Nebraska was nmwiutixl. This WHS due to a hint from Col. Lamont. who, as already etatel, had practically made a vacancy ill the oHice several months before. "As soon as he was able to find the time Secretary Alper commenced an investigation of the official conduct of Mr.

but soon discovered that Secretary Lamont had anticipated -him. and the only result of his was the dismissal of Richard Whittoii. also from Janesville, who was bronj-ht to Washington by Doe and served as his private eecretary for two years or more, lie was then transferred to the supply division, Bud us soon ns he had familializcil him- eelf with the duties of the oHice was promoted to chief of the division in the place of Capt. Thorps. old soldier, Who had held the olh'iV for a of a century with credit to himself and satisfaction -to the several secretaries of War under whom he had served.

There Were no charges against Thorpe and no complaint of his ollicial conduct. He Was simply forced out by Doe to make a place for Whitton. Mr. Whitton's duties were to buy the supplies of the department and disburse the appropriations, except the pay roll. Shortly after he came in Whitton endeavored to secure the dismissal of David Criinmcr, another old soldier, who had been for the department for innuy yeors and had the custody of the supplies, but the conspiracy was defeated by Col.

Ainsworth, chief of the war records division, who had strong personal influence with Secretary Lament. "About a year ago Assistant Secretary Doe commenced to issue orders to the division of supplies and other branches of the department that caused considerable among the clerks, and to r.ake requisition for articles for his personal use whiili had not before been with public funds. He continued to do so during the frequent absence of Secretary until after the election in November, when that sort of business lie- came 60 active as to attract generiil attention, mid within a few weeks the gos- elp reached the ears of the head of the department. Secretary l.amont at once made an Investigation. He called before him the clerks in the supply division.

Hie Storekeeper and other ollicials of the department, and secured statements from them which caused him to require Assistant Secretary Doe and Whitton'to restitution to the amount of nearly in. cash and to surrender to the department a considerable amount of property which, in his opinion, belonged the government. was disclosed, for example, that during the absence of the secretary of war -Doe had ordered two bicycles, one for himself and one for Whitton, which returned to the department and rre now stored in the basement. The olliciul photographer of the department testified that he hud made two sets of prints, nbout 1000 in number, from the negatives purchased by Congress some years Bgo, from Brady, the celebrated v.ar George K. Jcnvy, in charge of the department bindery, testified tlm't 'he had mounted these prints bound them in handsome Hussin leather albums, about twelve by eighteen niches in size, at the expense of the government.

A. K. Johnson, the department carpenter, testified that he had been emploved for several weeks, under the orders of Assistant Secretary Doc, in making and packing furniture and other articles which were shipiwfl to Wis. Among otherS things he made Mr. tea handsome chests, two of cedar, two of ash and six of poplar, and two chests of cedar for Whitton, which hud been packed with articles unknown nnd shipped away.

He had also made line innhognny guncnsc, which cost $4(1 lor the material alone, without icnnsidering the labor, and twenty-five picture frames. nnd about forty packing cases, which were packed full of articles by Mr. Doc's messenger and shipped to Mr. Johnson wns not aware of their contents. Edward McQnnide, the foreman of the department stables, testified that he hauled two wagon Iliads of packing cases.

from the department to the express otiice, which were shipped to in an express car obtained by Joseph S. Moss, a clerk in the department, whose brother is the general manager of the Adams Express company in this city. "Secretary Lamont himself accidentally discovered one day in the carpenter's room large chest, sealed and addressed to Gen. Doe at When opened by his orders it was found to contain a large quantity of line stationery. Sufficient to last Doe the rest of his life.

It had been packed hy the storekeeper on Mr. Whitton's requisition. Col. Lament had the chest emptied and its can- tents restored to the shelves of the storeroom. There wns another box caught ithe which was also addressed to Mr.

Doe nnd ready for shipment. When opened by Col. Lament's orders it 'found to contain six United States flags. One of them was made of silk and cost the department $200. The others were of bunting and from $50 to S200 each.

These were unpacked and Returned to the shelves. tvas also reported to Secretary Lament that a quantity of fine furniture, bookcases, cabinets and writingr desks ittf mahogany had -been shipped to Janes- tille, and he had an interview with Mr. Doe on that subject, but What occurred is known only to the.two men. Col. Lament is very secretive nnd naturally 'to avoid a-scandal during the dosing days of the Cleveland administration, so left no record on this point, and the investigation was not further.

It is that Doe made restitution in cash, and that he would have been dismissed In disgrace but for the intervention whoso dent, However, from an3 this interview Mr. Doe Was practically idle, so far as business was concerned. The'storekeeper, received instructions to fill no requisitions that. were approved by Secretary Lament himself, and he did not trust the supplies to the protection of the ordinary lock and key. Shortly after Secretary Alger took charge Whitton was removed and Capt.

Thorpe was restored to- his old position." Largest City Drygoods House in the and Several Other Stores Go Up in Smoke. DOE DENIES IT ALL. Answer of the Ex-AwUtant Secretary of War to Charges of Misconduct. Milwaukee, May 4, 1897. J.

B. Doe yesterday made an emphatic denial of the charges concerning his conduct as assistant secretary of war. It was his wish, he said, to take no notice of the accusations and he yielded only upon being pressed. Gen. Doc said that he did nothing and that he took nothing- that he did not have a right to do and take.

The statement that a number of cases that he had caused to be packed for shipment had been seized and opened in Washington was news to him. That he had taken books and other articles with him, he did not deny, but they belonged to him, had been given to him, nnd he had a right to take them away. The ex-assistant secretary of war appeared to be more anxious to refute insinuations made against his former secretary, and until recently chief of the 'ipply department, Mr. Whitton. than to defend llu- attacks upon himself.

The charge that the f-inner chief, Mr. Thorpe, discharged. Gen. Doc characterized as false. The truth of the matter was, he stated; that Mr.

Thorpe resigned of his own accord and for jier- sonul business reasons. Mr. Whitton was made acting chief of the division and his work was so satisfactory that he was appointed chief clerk by the secretary, with an increase of salary. During one year of Mr. Whitton's service.

Gen. Doe Hinted, he saved many thousands of dollars to the government. (Jen. was averse to making specific denial of the charges against him because he said it was simply lending dignity to a mass of ridiculous falsehoods. The fact that President Cleveland and Secretary Liiinont had called on him before he left Washington, Gen.

Doc said, and expressed their appreciation of his services nnd commended his administration, he considered sufficient. Mi' denied that he had been obliged to make restitution to the government in any way. THRILLING RESCUES. would not permit Mr. had beeOj Neither would the bishop The serr ices of of the Firs Presbyterian procured and the ceremony toot place in the residence of the bridegroom's cousin.

'told Rector Oheal Yotmg Women Who wDl No1 Wear Hats Ornamented with Slain Songsters. A WOMAN IS BOBBED. from Sun to Sun, A Woman's work by Noon is AUOUBON SOCIETY ORGANIZES. Splendid Work Done by a Party of Maine Men After the Guthrie Flood. Guthrie, May 3.

Interesting stories of rescuing during the first and second days of Outline's big flood are constantly developing. Many of them are of heroic efforts made on the part of those who were fortunate enough to have been missed by the resistless wave that swept away houses and lives. Among others the of party uf (Me.) men is notable. The second boat built after the flood struck was manned by who recently located here from Maine. I'mler his direction nnd with -the aid of Auditor Nichols and Bob Huston aboul a dozen people were rescued from trees and dismantled houses, the work in each instance being performed under dangerous and trying conditions and while the rescuers' lives were in momentary peril.

Guthrie, O. April and Cimarron rivers are not yet within their banks and searching parties have gone out in boats and rafts to coast both banks for sixty miles from Guthrie, or farther, if necessary, to search for the dead bodies known to have been carried down stream. Thieves and pillagers wore among the wreckage last night, entering many of the dismantled houses in the absence of their owners. Guards were placed everywhere possible and there were threats of lynching any- of the guilty ones, but none were caught. Ix'o additional bodies have been recovered in the vicinity of Guthrie.

A man was reported floating dawn the Cimarron last nipht on a log and a party lias gone out to intercept him if possible. Farmers along the bank recovered large amount of livestock nnd furniture and an- gradually brinsrinc order out of chaos. The destitute are being cared for 'n cmid shape and their sufferings have jeen materially ameliorated. Wichita. April Guthrie T.I special to the Beacon, says: "The of George Owen, who was swept down while saving others, has been found where it caught fast in a all tree.

Mrs. Fannie Ruffin. colored, WIIH found buried in the debris in her nwn doorynnl. Several more bodies are reported found on the Cimarron. Hundreds arc at work in the wreckage at the railway bridge hunting for bodies.

New Orleans. May the last week of the great fight against the rising river lias begun. The fine weather has enabled the long patched- up line of levees to be patched more nnd more, and with an army in the breastworks the line is expected to last through he crisis. The situation along the whole Louisiana front is just the same as it ivas any day last week. LOST IN THE STORM.

Two Men Drowned by the Capsizing of a Sailboat at Eagle Harbor. Eaplc River, May Nelson, Oliver Berruault and Webster left Eagle Harbor sailboat for their home in Copper rlarbor Wednesday night. Nelson reached here in an exhausted condition Thursday night nnd reported the boat with the other two men lost in the storm. Beau- 'hanip leaves a wife and family. HAD A PRIVATE POSTOFFICE.

7nole Sam Objected to the Competition' and Arrested Air. New York, May E. French, who accused of having on February 1 lust it Williamsport, established a pri- express for the conveyance of letters ind packages over postroutes in vioia- jon of the revised statutes, was today arrested bv United States Deputy Warhol McCarty at Newbnrgh, N. Y. The complaint upon which the arrest was made was sworn out by Hugh J.

Gor- uau, postoffice inspector at Philadelphia. hiding place wns discovered by he postmaster at Newburgh. The pris- juer was brought to this city for exam- nation. Dr. Zertacba Arrested.

New York. May dispatch to the onrnal from Havana says: "Dr. Maximo Zertncha, Antonio Maceo's physician, vho is alleged to have betrayed the Cujan general to the Spaniards, was ar- i-sted at his home near Guines yester- and brought to Havana under close ru'ard. It is at the nalace iiat Weyler this morning ordered his der xirtnient to Chiafarinas island, the Span- penal island off the African coast." Death of W. W.

Rossiter. New York, May W. Rositer, president of the Terminal Ware- louse company of New York, ia dead at his home iu Brooklyn. He was a brother of B. V.

W. Rossiter, treasurer of the New York.Central Railroad ompany, and Clinton L. Rossiter, president of the Brooklyn Heights Railroad Company. He wag 49 years old. Death of EX-GOT.

Porter. Indianapolis, May G. "orter, ex-governor-of Indiana and min- ster to Italy under Gen. Harrison administration, died at his home in this city hortly after 3 o'clock this (Monday) morning, aged 74 years. Gov.

Porter has been'confined to his room almost con- tantly for two years. Thfc immediate aose of his death wag paresis. new gas company whose officers say they will gas mt cents per 1000 feet has beeaJnootponrted JDen- ir, CWL, LOSS WILL REACH $3,000,000 One Fireman Killed. While Fighting the Persons Are Injured Pittsburg, May most disastrous fire that has visited Pittsburg since the great fire of 1845, excepting during the riots of 1877, destroyed worth of merchandise and property last night and probably resulted in two deaths and the injury of four others Not is the figure enormous, but i1 involves the complete destruction of tW( of the greatest mercantile houses ol Pittsburg, houses of long and proud record and known far and wide in Pennsylvania and the aeighboring states ami sister cities. The great wholesale grocery establishment of Thomas C.

Jenkins and the mammoth retail store of Joseph Horne Co. are total ruins. There remains oi the first only jagged portions of walls here and there towering in blackened pinnacles and of the latter there stands only the great huge framework built of structural iron which did not fall, but is stripped of walls and floors and festooned only with the draggling shreds of blackened strips of timber, crinkled pieces of sheetiron and twisted rods and wires. They are mournful monuments of wealth and commercial enterprise. The burnt section extends from Fifth street to Cecil alley on Penn avenue and Cecil alley to Fifth street on Liberty street covering an area of several acres.

The names of the killed, missing and injured are: The killed: GEOBGE ATKINSON, engine company No. 15. The missing: GEOBGE THOMAS, engine company No. 15. The injured: Elmer Ooko.

engine company No. li, struck on head by fulling bricks. Michael Daly, engine company No. (, cut nnd bruised ana arm broken by falling arc lamp. Hubert Badger, engine company JSo.

4, anlclc broken. (ieorge Meekln, engine company No. struck by falling bricks and cut and bruised. A number of firemen are missing and are supposed to be buried under the walls at Liberty avenue and Cecil alley. The sufferers by the fire and their estimated losses are: T.

C. Jenkins, wholesale grocery; totally destroyed; stock valued at iu- snnuic-i- X15U.OOO: building valued at Ouu. insurance about Horne retail dry goods; totally destroyed: stock iiud building valued at fully Insured. Horne office buildiLit 1 totally destroyed; valued at SjKXJ.OOO, Insurance sGU.UOO. Methodist Bonk Concern building; valued at badly damaged: loss about insured.

I'hlpps bulhJing, valued at slightly damaged; loss about $5000; Insured. H. Volght, wholesale produce, Liberty street; damaged; loss estimated at insured. S. Hnck, tobacco.

Liberty street; destroyed; loss estimated at J3000; partly ln- J. Hall, Liberty street, wholesale groceries; destroyed; toss estimated at Insured. Scoble Parker, farming Implements; damaged; loss estimated at SSOOO; insured. Hall building, occupied by Hail wholesale liquor. American Press association nnd T.

C. McElroy, pictures and mirrors; slightly damaged; loss $1000; Insured. The fire broke out. no onp knows how, about midnight in the wholesale grocery building of T. C.

Jenkins and burned with great fury until 4 o'clock this morning before it was finally controlled. The insurance has not yet been figured up, but it must surely exceed Fireman Atkinson's mangled remains were taken from the ruins this morning. George Thomas and the other missing firemen have all turned up. The injured men will all recover. CONDITION OF WHEAT.

Winter Growth Is Very Low, but the Spring Area will be Very Heavy. Chicago, May Orange Judd Farmer report of wheat condition throughout the country was bullish as regards winter wheat and bearish concerning spring. It indicated winter wheat as verging upon sensationally low condition, but the spring wheat area promising to exceed by 1,250,000 acres that of the previous season. It is considered, however, as on the whole bullish. The visible supply was also a favorable presentment for the bulls.

The reduction for the week was 1,789,000 bushels compared with 2,127,000 bushels on the similiar date a year ago. The decrease last week, although so much smaller than last year's, was larger than expected. The world's shipments to the United Kingdom and Europe last week amounted to 3.027,000 bushels compared with 6.G62.000 bnshels at the similar time a year ago. The qnautity on ocean passage was unchanged. Telegrams from San Francisco about the weather in California were A "MIX" THAT WAS FATAL.

When the Smoke Cleared Away One Stan JDead, Another Kansas City, May Adler, one of the most notorious characters of the city, lost night committed his second murder within three years and was himself shot and perhaps fatally wounded. Adler "mixed with the negro keepers of a crap game at Sixth street and Broadway, and when the smoke cleared away it was found that Adler had shot and killed William Johnson, a negro, that Adler had been shot in side by James Gordon, colored. In 1894, during the street masquerade which concluded the fall carnival, Adler killed Postoffice Inspector Jesse McClure. He was convicted of manslaughter and served ten months in jail. CITY OF LA CROSSE WINS.

Entitled to Keep tne PnbUo Square Donated by Cameron. Chicago, 111., May right of the citv of La Crosse, to the Cameron lands which form 'part of its public square was affirmed by the circuit court of appeals today. In 1851 the land farming the public square was given to the city. One of the donors was Daniel Cameron. The grant was made in his name by his brother Peter under a power of attorney.

Several years since Daniel Cameron claimed that he had never authorized the gift on hJs part. The circuit court of Wisconsin decreed in favor of Cameron, bst the court of appeals holds that Cameron was bound by his act and twenty years' possession by the city gave it legal title. Spaniards Mowed Down. New Tort, May dispatch to the World front Havana via Key West says that in a fight within a few miles of Santa Clara a Spanish column nn- der Col. Afiuirez was defeated by Col- Barrios with a loss of nearly 125 killed mnd wounded- The contending- forces numbered about 800 men.

One of the Hotchkiss guns that had "been landed mowed the Spaniards down as they advanced to the attack. Jacob Vmnderbilt Marries Again. Tacoma, Waslu, Hoy derbilt, Jr, was married to Miss Carrie Uttle, who here a few weeks ago from New York to wed hiau The wed- was to- nave taken dace in'quaint Mrs. Ellen MoElroy Is Relieved $12OO on a Street In. Chicago.

Chicago, May highwaymen, dressed, like dudes, brutally assault ed Mrs. Ellen McElroy at 9 o'clock last night robbed her ot in bills that she had concealed in another part of her clothing. Mrs, McElroy conducts a millinery establishment at 111 Blue Isl and avenue and boards at 205 Congress street. A few months ago she lost through the failure of a. bank, and since then she has kept her earnings in hei own possession.

Last night she st.irtec for home a few minutes after 9 o'clock, and she walked west on the north side Harrison street alone. As she the alley opposite Gold street two men sprang ont. One clutched her arms from behind, dragged her into the alley, nui the other menaced her with a revolver. She was quickly rendered helpless and most unconscious. The man with the revolver made the search for the money.

He tore oj)en her dress, but did not find $350 which she had hidden in her bodice. Mrs. McElroy was almost stripped of h'er clothing before the $1200 was found pinned to the inside of her stocking. With this money in their possession the robbers dashed across Harrison street, disappearing into Gold street. McElroy was found half dazed bv a passer-by and word was sent to the Desplaines street station.

No trace could be found of the thieves or their plunder by the police. A score of detectives are working on the case. Mrs. McElroy says both the robbers were well-dressed men. She thought at first they were mashers out for conquests.

One wore patent-leather shoes and carried a. cane. Mrs. McElroy says the robber's coat was torn in the short struggle which followed, and upon this information Lieut. Kelly sent a message to nil the police stations in the city to look out for and arrest a man with a torn coat.

When Mrs. McElroy was taken to the station she was srreatly excited, and it was some time before she regained her composure. Later she was accompanied to her boarding place. WILL BOW YALE. The Wisconsin 'Varsity Crew will be Sent East This Summer.

Madison, April An enthusiastic meeting of University of Wisconsin students was held at Library hall this noon. It was decided by acclamation to send the 'Varsity crew East to row Tale. Capt. John R. Richards was president of the meeting.

Speeches favoring the action decided on were made by Richards, H. F. Cocheins, Dr. E. A.

Birge, dean of the college of Letters and Science and President C. K. Adams. The amount necessary to pay the expenses of the crew on the trip is about $1500 and it is expected to raise the greater part of this among the students, and alumni. PECUL1AB SHOOTING CASE.

John HU1, a FInlander, Killed Under Suspicious Circumstances at Ironwood. Ironwood, AprU Hill, a Finlander, was shot and killed on the outskirts of the city this morning. The circumstances of the case are peculiar. Hill and a companion named Charles Basmere had started out hunting, both carrying rifles. About 10 o'clock Basmere came iii and notified a police officer that Hill had shot himself.

Basmere claimed that Hill was walking along holding his rifle before him witu-the muzzle pointing towards his body when the trigger caught against a log, discharging the weapon and killing him. The officers went out and found him dead with a bullet hole in his abdomen and a rifle lying his side. He also noticed that Hill clothes were uhbnttoned and thought it very peculiar, as the weather was very chilly here this The body was brought to the city and examined by physicians, but no bullet tiole could be found in the clothes. A coroner's jury his been empaneled and the ease will be thoroughly investigated. Basmere has been placed under arrest.

FOUND AT EHINELANDEE. Frank S. Schmidt, Wealthy Brewer of St. Louis, Believed to be Insane. Chicago, 111., April S.

Schmidt, the St. Louis brewer, who disappeared in this city last Friday while on his way to Cincinnati, has been heard from. Prof. Louis Henius today received a letter from Schmidt dated Rhiue- ander, which the latter asked for money to return to St. Louis or that the professor come to Rhinelandur and release htm from his bondage.

He is believed to be insane, the theory of the police being that he was held up and beaten while in Chicago and then rat on the train for the Wisconsin ci'y. Schmidt had $1500 in his possession at the time of his disappearance. Rhinelander, April the St. Louis brewer, has jeen here for several days. He was 'not njured, as intimated in dispatches from Chicago, bnt is apparently here on a jleasure trip.

Friends are caring for faun intil he is able to start for.home. THE REFORMS FOB CUBA. Granted Strength of Declaration of Pacification. Washington, D. April 3opuy de Lome has received an official dispatch from Madrid confirming the press cable that" the Queen had applied he reform to Cuba.

The dispatch says: "In view of the report of Gen. Weyler leclaring that he considers that the slate of pacification of the central and western irovinces of Cuba permit the application if 'the reforms offered by the government, hese were considered at the council of the ministers, presided over by the Queen today (29th) and her majesty signed a royal decree that will be promulgate tomorrow (30th) In the official gazette or- lering the fcrrafication of reforms in the said To-that end there will be successively and immediately he necessary regulations for the enforcement of the WE HAVE A SURPLUS NOW. During the Cleveland Bcign Deficit! Were Common. Washington, May The comparative statement of the government re-: -eipts expenditures for the month of April shows that the total receipts were and the expenditures $32,072,097, leaving- the-surplus for the month $5,740,038 as compared with a deficit for the of April, 1896, at 4,704,488. -For -the last ten: months a eficit is shown of $33460,696.

During April the receipts of customs amounted from internal reveaje, 11.447.213; from miscellaneous, sources, 1,910,570. These figures show a gain in the receipts from customs as compared with April, 1896, of or, over 100 per cent. gain from, internal revenue akoot $221,500. C. Bristol.

Oueagi," C. Bristol, superintendent of contraction of the West-, era division of the Western Union Tete- with- Final Steps Taken at a Meeting Held at the West Side High School. Milwaukee, May 1, 1897. Andubon society of Milwaukee was organized this, morning at the west side high school, and a constitution adopted whose second article announces the association's object to be: "To discourage the buying and wearing for ornamental purposes of all feathers except ostrich plumes, quills and the plumes'of domestic fowls; and to otherwise further the protection of the native birds." The meeting was not a large one, but the constitution was adopted, and about twenty have either signed it and paid the dues, or signified their intention of doing so. Three classes of members will be received, these being general, associate and life associate; the membership fee of the general members will 23 cents, that of the associate $1 and life members will be received upon the me.nt of a fee of $5.

The society is" to be managed by a board of directors to consist of not more than nine members. Three of these have been already appointed and are Mrs. H. F. Whitcomb, Mrs.

George B. Ferry and Mrs. Rissman. The board will have its first meeting next Saturday, the other members being appointed in the meantime by the officers. The latter, elected at the first meeting held at the home of Mrs.

Peckham, are: President, Mary Peckham: vice-president, Frances Winkler; secretary. Madge Anderson, and treasurer, Charlotte Gilbreath. Whatever becomes of the Audubon society in the futnre, and whether it grows or only exists, it has had the advantage of a most parliamentary beginning. The meeting this morning, called to order and conducted by girls of high-school age. was an example in its way to many of the older clubs of the city.

The officers waited a reasonable time for the corning of those interested, -and then, they took their places, and though the meeting was small, there was not a moment of formality in its course. There was a knowledge shown of Roberts' rules, which was far from being instinctive, and there was a refreshing dignity about the whole affair that said much, for inevitable woman's clubs twenty and more years from now. And one of the enviable features about the movement of things was the minimum of delay which was found possible in the making of motions and the adopting of them. There was the call to order, and the reading of the minutes, their speedy adoption and the putting of the constitution, and in ten minutes from the time of the chairman's first word, those present went out a fully organized association. The association will only.meet yearly, its annual election taking place every April.

The society was formed by Mrs. George Peckham, and is one of the outgrowths of the visit of and lectures in the city of Mrs. Olive Thome Miller last week. Following are the names of its members: The Misses Mary Peckham, Frances Winkler, Louise Day, Lillian Day. Alice Robertson, Blanche Ring.

Catharine Ryan, Alma Schuetze, Cowles, Husting, Ellsworth, Horn, Joyce, Hunter, Mowat, Phillips, Payne, Ruth Robertson. Grace Sercomb, Packlman, Jane Whittemore, Leavitt, Madge Anderson and Charlotte Galbreath. TENNESSEE WATERSPOUT. Farmhouse Is Struck and Five Persons Are Is Wrecked-. Monticello, May a wag- oudriver who has arrived here news of a terrible disaster on White Oak creek, across in Tennessee, several miles from this town, was learned.

A waterspout struck the farmhouse of a farmer named Branders, demolishing the house and killing the farmer, his wife and one child Two farmhands who were stopping-upstairs were so badly mangled that they died in a few hours after the sheet of water struck the house. Np further damage was done in the neighborhood so far as the teamster had learned. ELOFF EE1NSTATED. Grandson of President Krugrer Who Was Acquitted of Slander- Ing Queen Victoria. Pretoria, May Eloff, the grandson of President Kmger, has been reinstated and appointed chief lieutenant of the Pretoria police.

Eloff was recently suspended from duty for using insulting language regarding Queen Victoria. The charges against him were dismissed on account of conflicting evidence. Even the semi-official newspapers expressed disapproval of the promotion of the lieu- Joseph of the Nez Perces has appealed for land for his tribe near the 5nake river in Idaho, an industrial school, a sawmill and $1000 a year for limself. The time when witches were expected to charm away diseases is gone by. In this age woman del-stand that only sensible and scientific means will cure the ailments of their sex.

Only an educated, experienced physician is competent to prescribe remedies for disease! of the delicate and intricate feminine organism. One of the most skillful specialists in the world in treating women's diseases is Dr. R. V. Pierce, chief consulting physician of the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Institute of Buffalo, N.

Y. His "Favorite Prescription" is acknowledged as the most perfect and thoroughly scientific cure ever devised all feminine disorden and weakness. It reaches the inner source of trouble and cures naturally and completely; strengthening both the special organism and thf leral constitution. It the only med rane of its kind; devised bj a regularlj graduated skilled specialist in diseases of iromen. Any Voman consult Doctot Pierce either personally or by letter, and will receive sound professional advice, free of charge.

Dr. great flxmsand-page fret "The People's Common Medical Adviser." contains ciapten OB womem's- physiology, and joanj valuable soggestioni for-ncone-treatment. It hai over three hundred engravings and colored plates. It is a complete storehouse of practical wicdam. Astronglj paper-bound copy wfll be sent absolutely free on receipt of twenty-one cents in one-cent IT the cost of BnftalA, 1OT.

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EARLY-DAY RAILROADING Railroad building in Wisconsin: in early days was aa evolution, a slow and tedious process, costing the promoters of the different lines many sacrifices, of time and money, and attended with all the setbacks and discouragements that usually go hand in hand with great enterprises ia an undeveloped. country. The pioneer settlers in Milwaukee soon realized that the town would never attain to proportions beyond a country village, unless some rapid and convenient of. communication with the interior of state were provided, better than, mud roads, or even, turnpikes and plonkroads, and on the other hand, the people in the: country soon appreciated the fact that their surplus farm products must be sent to market or be lost, and Milwaukee was the only hike port for a large portion of the territory. So the necessities of eity and country made a bond of agreement twteu them, and the talk of railroad lines reaching from the incipient metropolis to the interior counties and the Mississippi river, was soon, heard in.

both, town and country, but how to build them, that was the rub. Solomon Juneau, Morgan L. Martin, George Walker, E. D. Holton, Byron Kilbourn, Garrett Vliet.

Hans Crocker; Richards and their associates, all agreed that at least two lines of railroad from Milwaukee to the Mississippi river ought to be speedily built, one line to run bv the way of the capital of the state to Prairie du Chien, and the Other via Portage City to La Crosse. Other shorter lines and lateral feeders were soon projected, but the two main routes above mentioned were those to which Milwaukeeans first bent all- their energies. The first charter for a railroad ever granted by the Wisconsin Lesisla-- ture was called the Milwaukee fcesha railroad, afterwards changed the Milwaukee Mississippi, and then again changed later on to the Milwaukee Prairie du Chien, at last found peace and rest from receivers and bankruptcy courts iu the bosom of the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul Railway company. The poor old Milwaukee La Crosse railroad found it necessary also to change its name at the end- of every foreclosure suit, beginning'with Selah Chamberlain's time and ending: with its being "gobbled" by the St.

Paul company. A change of corporate name was often found to be a convenient method of getting rid of old debts incurred in the construction of a railroad and. wiping out claims that could not be paid. In those days there was no money iu Wisconsin to invest in building railroads, or for auy other purpose. The state had but recently' been admitted into the Union; incorporated cities were few in number and small in population: the roads were miserable; the farms were but half developed; farm produce was almost worthless for lack of a market; lumbering cut a small figure and manufacturing of any kind was something to come in the futnre.

The citizens of the state had io credit abroad, neither had the city or state. think the first sale of Milwaukee city bonds brought only about 80 cents on the dollar, and they carried a rate of-interest of 7 or 8 per cent, per annum, but of this I am not Bnt those indomitable men determined to munication by rail with the and' the country people were as anxious as the city folks, so they all resolved to. lelp each other and the good cause-tci the best of their ability. Thie city. Milwaukee would aid with an, Issue of.

rands and the farmers the line would give the right of way. depot grounds, help to grade the roadbed and furnish ties and bridge timber-very: cheap- I have often heard E. D. Holton how some of the road was graded jetween Milwaukee and Wankefha, and low hard it was to pay the men who did the work. More than once the Tactors had to resort to store pay, and orders on the grocery and batcher shops: were often taken ia lien The directors were often at 'their wits provide ways and means to keep on with the work, and sometimes had to draw on their private means to prevent a strike among the workmen.

If it was: not a time to try men's souls, it severely' tested their credit and their private re- sources. At length the farm mortgage scheme was hit upon, and then every, hing went booming. That plan to aid the construction of a railroad was irst invented by Mr. Goodrich of Milton, a rich Rock county farmer whaled.off. mortgaging his own farm for stock the railroad company.

The scheme ook well, and many farmers along the me of the road, between Milwaukee and adison, followed Mr. Goodrich's These-farm, mortgages were takenj Sast, and as they all drew 10 interest, they sold readily at. their, face value for ready cash, to persona having money to invest. This plan proved disastrous to many Wisconsin farmers he end, by reason of the failure of the company, not only on the old Milwaukee Mississippi line, but on. other Jiroject- ed lines, many of which were never rant, but the mortgages were taken and sold aD the same.

Where the roads were built, the farmers had the benefit cheaper transportation, and the: privi- ege of a better market, to which might added the enhanced value of and "which alone waa equivalent to the amount of their From 1850 to 1836 there wait quite a railroad fever ia Wisconsin, and there hardly a session of the Legislature that there were not a nnmber. railroad charters granted to companies that promised to build fines in MBiejmart of- he nearly all of whichAi ed been found willing to mortgage their homesteads and take stock iii the companies. Of course some of the cities that "issued their bonds had them to pay in the end, the same as the farmers, after years of vexatious and expensive litigation. The city of Watertown, for example, did not extricate herself from her obligation in that respect until after tne lapse of a quarter of a century, ana ftt, an enormous expense to her people. There were many strong Inducements at that time to encourage the farmers to aid the companies in the way they did.

and to take the great risk they did of "losing their homesteads. Many of them had tried hauling their wheat from CO to 100 miles to Milwaukee, and they it a losing business. When the 'roads were good and the price high they would make a quick trip and have some thing over in the end, bnt unless the conditions were all favorable, they came out at the little end of the horn. The isolation of farm life was somewhat wearisome, especially in the winter and they yearned for the railroad train that brought the daily newspaper and the privileges of the telegraph. Shakespeare has pithily described the seven ages of man, and a railroad sees three great epochs in its career.

First when it is proposed to build a line that every one wants to hove built and every one is willing to do all be can to help' on the good work. Public meetings are held; stock is liberally subscribed; right of way is freely given; town and county bonds are voted, and all agree that the one- thing desired and needful to make them happy is a railroad. This is the first stage. The next is when the first train, of cars arrive over the new road at the- inciuient village. The first locomotive is received like a conquering' hero, and there is music and speeches and banners and cannon and all goes as merry aa a marriage bell, for it is the wedding of the city and the country.

This is the second stage of the fever. After this comes the relapse. In a little while people get used to the sound of the passing train and the locomotive whistle and they find that the railroad has been built as a money-making scheme on the part: of the projectors; that free passes are. not always to be had for the asking; that rebates on freight are not always allowed: that the company ia "a goalless corporation," and they appeal to the Legislature to stand between them and this octupns that is eating np their sub-. stance! It was not until after the close of tie war that Alexander Mitchell and 8.

Merrill conceived the idea of gathering up all the odds and ends of the different railroad lines in the state, building connections where they were needed, and consolidating the whole into one grand system: Mr. Mitchell had never taken a very active hand in. railroad' building in an early day, but devoted all his energies to his bank, which hi those times was considered one of the soundest financial institutions to. the country, and Mr. Mitchell himself was rated on Wall street as one of the richest men in, the West.

At that time each road was run independently of the others, having its own officers and board of and garding all others as rivals and enemies. The different companies were the Milwaukee Mississippi, the Milwaukee La Crosse, the Milwaukee Watertown and the Milwaukee Horieon. Tie two first named had occasion to change their names more than once, according to the necessities of the situation, brought about by foreclosure suits, the bankruptcy court and the manipulation of receivers. The Milwaukee Watertown had built a line between the two cities named, and was unable to finish, to Madison and beyond. The Milwaukee Horieon used the La Crosse line to Hori- eon and went straggling off over the prairies towards Ripon.

Several other important lines bad been projected in different parts of the state and some grading done and the right of way pro- cdred, but they were never, finished. Chief among these lines was'the one from this city to -Beloit in Rock county, penetrating a fine country which some of our citizens occasionally try to into life. A new company was formed with. Mr. Mitchell at the head and the control of all these lines was secured.

The Crosse line was finished to St EanL Watertown branch completed- to Madison, a connecting link was pot in between Madison and Portage City, and. at last a new line was built from Mil- wankeee to Chicago and terminal facilities of great value were secured in that city. Meantime the citizens of Chicago had built a line through Janesville and Fond do Lac to Green Bay, and beat trade of the state was being diverted from Milwaukee to that city. The North-Western company had also been, doing all the business between the, cities, except what was earned on. tte lake, and was pushing tine to tto northern part of the state and np the lake shore as fast as possible.

To secure? the valuable franchise which the NortB- Western company obtained very cheaply in this city along the lake front was aft exhibition of business tact on fte PWJ-" of Albert Keep and Marnn Hngnitt that Milwaukee aldermen will cease to admire! Gen. Miles OlTen Washington, D. (X, April i MHes this 1 assent of the President to Wo to Ttokey snd Greece. reads: The President grsats tner.