The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-01
WASHINGTON.
News Gathered About the Capital
City.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-Secretary
Chandler received telegram this at.
ternoon, announcing the death in New
York of G. n. Fox. who was assistant
secretary of the navy under Secretary
Welles, and acted in that capacity un-
til 1866, when he was sent, aboard the
tions of the American people to the
car of Russia on his escape from
death.
Hon. John New, assistant secretary
OF the treasury, resumed his duties
this morning.
Real Admiral Crosby, commanding
the Asiatic station, has asked to be re-
lieved Immediately, under the forty
years service law. The request will
be granted.
Excess value exports over imports
in merchandise for the month ended
September 80, 1883, $3,917,572; for the
twelve months ending September 30,
1888, Sill, 326,9O9. Value of imports
of merchandise for the year ended
September 80, 1883, $79, 400 O36; de-
crease $54, 744,662 compared with pre-
vious year, Value of exports in mer-
chandise for the year ended Septem-
Der 80, 1888, $11 1856, 945; increase $74-
$50, 739 over the previous twelve
months.
Capt. Burrell, chief of the bureau
of engraving and printing, in his an
nual report says, as result of the years
work there were completed and de-
ivered 9.223,505 notes and securi-
ties with face valuation of
1895, III ,48O; %, 357, 641 sheets internal
revenue and custom stamps, contain
ing 1885,, $685. 54 stamps; 734, 466 sheets
of checks, drafts, ETC., and large
amount of miscellaneous work be-
sides imprinting act of March 3, 1883,
upon I,833,833 sheets Of tobacco,
snuff, cigar and cigarette stamps, con-
tanning 38,214,744 stamps, furnished
by the commissioners of internal rev.
enue for that purpose. This is the
largest increase over last years work
and the rapidly increasing business of
the bureau leads Captain BuIrell to
recommend the enlargement of the
building at an early day.
To secure uniformity in the exami-
nation of teas imported into the Unit
ed States at ports on the northern,
northeastern and northwestern from
tiers, the secretary of the treasury di-
rected samples to be forwarded by the
collector of any port on said frontiers
east of Detroit, to the collector of
customs at New York; at Detroit and
ports west thereof, but east of the
Rocky Mountains, to the collector of
customs at Chicago, and any such port
further west, to the collector of Gus
toms at San Francisco. On the re-
ceipt of samples they will be examined
by proper officers and the result of the
examination reported to the collector
at the port of Importation.
Commodore John Lee Davis, on
duty with the light house board, will
succeed Admiral Crosby in command
of the Asiatic squadron.
A. B. Webb, of this city, has been
suspended from practice as pension
attorney for making false representa-
lions as to the rights of claimants I'M
der the pension laws.
On November Is the interior depart
ment will adopt the seventy-seventh
meridian time as the local time of
Washington.
It is probable Secretary Teller will
recommend the establishment of an
1uuldA 1uuuoUl1d4 CldlA1AS oCAOO4 al
Sitka and common schools at other
points.
A Terrible Disaster.
CONFLUENCE, Pa, Oct, 29.-A terri
BILE disaster occurred near Brooks tun-
mel, on the Baltimore & Ohio road. yes
terday morning, about 9 o'clock, re-
sulting in the killing of five men. The
railroad company have been widening
and strengthening the tunnel, and
some distance out a magazine had
been erected, which was stored with
200 pounds of dynamite, which was to
be used for blasting. About the hour
named d freight train had just passed
through the tunnel and was side
tracked to allow the passenger that
was overdue to pass. Four of the
crew walked back to the vicinity Of
the magazine, and were engaged il
conversation with the Waterman
when the people living in the vicinity
were startled by terrible conclusion
Houses for fifteen miles around
were shaken to their foundation, anC
windows at a distance of seven mile;
were shattered. Horror stricken. the
people ran from their houses. and the
investigation showed that the dyna
mite had exploded with a fearful eff
feet. Everything in the vicinity CAV,
evidence of its terrible force. Tree
were uprooted, large rocks torn assun
der and telegraph poles for half mile
Frustrated. Nothing remained of tn
magazine, while the five men VIII
were present were missing. Portion
of their bodies, legs, arms, hands ant
heads were picked up half mile dis
tant so badly disigurcd as to be un
recognizable. The names of onl.
three of the victims are known: En-
gineer George Reynolds, Branten
Tice and Watchman Hammonds. No
far from the scene of the accident
gun was found. 1t is supposed one o
the victims discharged it, the concus
sion causing the dynamite to explode
Hundreds have gone to the scene O.
| the disaster.