davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21

The news comes from Maine, and by a
physician well qualified to speak. that
James G. Blaine is not only in feeble
physical health, but that for him to UNI
dertake the anxieties of another political
campaign might possibly result fatally.
This. if true, and there is no reason to
doubt it. puts an entirely different light
on Mr.. Blaine's candidacy or rather the
candidacy proposed by his friends If he
is unable to stand the intense strain
which the coming battle must necessarily
require, it would be unfair, cruel in fact,
to ask him to offer himself as sacrifice
to the ambition of party.
The American people. are too chival>
rous in their nature to ask sick man to
stand up and fight. Party feeling and
party differences are sunk when it comes
to question of physical incapability.
Democrats as well as republicans will
unite in expressing the opinion that it
would be unmanly to take advantage of
an opponent 10 the extremity which Mr..
Blaine is now said to be placed.
Whether the letter of withdrawal was
sincere or insincere does not enter into
the question. Mr. Blaine is an ambitious
man, man of unusual mental strength,
and q man VINO could rise above physical
ills by mere force of will. Did he really
believe that the interests of his party
were To be considered above his own per
sonal preferences, he would, in the face
of possible fatal result, immediate him
self on the party altar.
Mr.. Blaine's political opponents be-
leve that as a candidate for the presS
dency he could be more easily defeated
than he was four years ago, and were a
concensus of opinion be taken today they
would rather see him the republican nom.
inee than any man yet named, but Mr..
Blaines friends should see to it that he IL
not forced into a position which his con-
dition warns him he cannot afford to
take.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
They emit Reflected.

A New York state republican news
paper heads its leading editorial with the
question, Whats the matter with Depew
and Lincolnp
Nothing in the world, as far as we
know. Mr.. Depew certainly has good
lungs and lots of brains, ready for use
too. at all times. Mr.. Lincoln is re-
ported to be in excellent health, and he
has certainly first rate opinion of him
self. 1t would be good Investment, in
deed. to buy the republican Bob Lincoln
at his true value and sell him again at
his own conception of it.
But we presume that the question re-
lates in reality to the matter of the gen
tlemen named as the component parts of
a presidential ticket. On that score
there is only one reply possible to the
question of What's the matter with
Depew and Lincolnf' and the answer is
a brief one
They can't be elected
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
PUT SENATOR'S ON RECORD.


Edsaslunds Takes an Opportunity to See
How They Stand On the Tariff.
WASHINGTON CT TY, Feb. 2!.-The bill be
fore the senate for charter to the Washing
ton electric cable street railway was debated
quietly enough Monday until an am endment
was reached requiring the rails to be OF
American manufacture, when Edmunds
suggested informally aud in low tone of
voice that that was in opposition to Presi-
dent Clevelands message, and at variance
with all principles of the administration.
Vance opposed the amendment as unusual In
bill of this character. and altogether
absurd.
Edmunds in order 20 have the votes of
senators placed on record on this indirect
tariff question, demanded the yeas and nays.
The vote was taken and the amendment
adopted-yeas %; nays, l1-as follows:
Blair, Bowen, Brown, Chace, Chan
dler, Davis, Dawes, Edmunds, Farwell, Frye,
German, Hiscock, Hoar, Henderson, Mitch
ell, Morrill,, Paddock, Palmer, PIatt, Plumb,
Riddloberger, Spooner, Stanford, Stewart,
Stockbridge-25.
Nays-Bate, Blackburn, Call, Coke, Dam
iel, Eustis George. Gibson, Hampton, Har-
ris, H earst, Pugh, Reagan, Vance, Vest,
WaIthall, Wilson of Maryland-l7,
Among the pairs announced were the fol-
lowing: Cullom with Gray, Evarts with
Morgan, Hale with Beck.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
THE READING SITUATION.
Twenty-nine of Forty-four Mines In Com
piete Operation -Kiclers.


louisville, Pa. Feb 2l.-It was off.
cially given out Monday evening that twenty
nine out of forty -four company collieries
were in complete operation, but the Shenan-
doah miners threaten to stop work again if
discharged engineers are not renstated. The
same intelligence is reported from st, Clair
Tower City, and other towns in the region.
The strike is, however, irrevocably broken,
and by next Monday the region will be run
ming smoothly again.
The striking rallroa1ers Of Donaldson held
a meeting Sunday night and passed resolu-
tious denouncing the leaders who declared
the strike OFF, declaring that they would
fight to the bitter end, and calling upon Mr..
w. T. Lewis, if he has the first principle of a
man, if he has really and truly the cause Of
the laboring people at heart to do us a
brotherly turn now, at least, and resign"
SCRANTON, Pa, Feb. 2l.-District AS
sembly 10. X. of L., assembled in this city
Monday afternoon to hear the answers of tho
coal operators to demand for an advance
OF l5 per cent. ia the wages of the miners in
the Lackawanna and Wyoming valleys.
The replies from several small companies
and indiqidual operators were received and
read before the meeting, and We're conciiatory
in tone and expressed u willingness
to make any concession in the direction
of an advance in wages that might
be granted by the Delaware Lackawanna 81
Western, or other large corporations After
an extended discussion, the whole matter
was referred to tho district executive board,
to strike, or not to strike. The action of the
employees at several of the collieries of the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, who
have passed resolutions deprecating the de-
mand for an advance in wages, was
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
AS TO THOSE BANNERS.
ENplcoTTs REPORT ON THE MAT
TER OF THE BATTLE-FLAeS.

A Senatorial Vote on a Tariff Proposition
-PhIIanthroplst Corcoran siuking-Re-
fused TO Change Inauguration Day-A
Bulky Petition-Doings In Congress
A senate DIlemma-BrooISsi In Luck.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 2l.-Secretary
Endicott on Monday sent to the house his an
swer to the Boutelle resolution calling for in
formation as to whether the flags captured
by the United States have been removed
from the place where they are displayed and
concealed, and II so, by what authority and
for what purpose; and further, what propo-
sitions have been made by government off,
Gals for the surrender of these flags; and
whether 1t Is true that portion Of them
were actually surrendered 10 persons having
no right to their possession
As a preliminary the secretary gives a
brief history of the flags or the whole num-
Der captured and deposited with the depart
ment, 230 were United States flags origin
ally captured by confederates, and recap
tured from them, and GA were confederate
flags taken by the United States troops,
making total of 80 in custody of the de-
partment. When received they were de-
posted in vacant attic room of a building
on Seventeenth street, occupied by tho clerks
Of the adjutant generals office Iu 1867 the
superintendent of the buildings, without in
struction so far as can be ascertained, had
them removed to his office, where few
were placed upon the walls and the re-
mainder upon shelves or in pigeon-holes At
this time an inventory of these flags was en-
tered in book, in which was also entered
description aud brief history of the capture
of those that could be identified as belonging
to particular organizations. They remained
there until the latter part OF 1874.
The report states that while some of the
flags have since been given COM
panies or regiments capturing them, none
has passed out Of the custody of this depart
menJ that was in such custody when Secre-
tary Endicott assumed charge of the de-
partmeut The order to return the flags and
the order revoking it are given, and the
statement Is made that no flags were actually
under the first order. As to the
law requiring the public exhibition of cap
tured flags and trophies, it is assumed that II
construction put upon it by former secre-
taries of the war and navy, that the law ap-
piled to trophies taken from foreign enemy
and not to those taken during domestic hos
Utilities, was the correct one.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
squabbIing Over ppatue's Withdrawal.

NEW YORK, Feb. 2l--At the meeting of
the Republican club Monday light John A.
Groo introduced a resolution regretting Mr..
Blaine's retirement Several speeches sup
porting the resolution were male Cephas
Brainerd. Jr, then opposed it, and de-
nounced Blaine's presumption in with.
drawing his name when it was not
at all certain that he would have
been nominated. Kisses and cheers enliv.
ened Mr. Brainerds speech. C. H. Apple
gate also opposed the resolution, and said
that if adopted it would be- heralded from
Maine to California that the club wanted
Blaine for president. After a warm discus
sion motion to lay on the table was de
feated amid cheers The resolution was
then referred to committee of five by
vote Of % to 80 The committee greatly
modified the resolution and it was then
adopted.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
nNsLAIrGHr OLE TILE TERROR.

lows became yeilowish, then green, and hnal-
ly a deep copper hue During these rapid
flashes of color the clouds became peculiarly
agtated. From the earth, toward which
they were speeding with terrible swiftness,
they looked rs though they were locked in
Titanic struggle and persons who were
out of doors watched the elemental bat
tie with mingled awe and fear Such
grand spectacle in tine heavens was
without parallel in the doomed city.
Twisting and rolling like corks in whirl-
pool the clouds came nearer the earth until
their ragged, copper. bordered edges seemed
to be within an arms reach of the cross
tipped spire of the churches, Ribbons of fire
darted spitefully from the tumbIing, grind
ing mass, and then one of the clouds, more
terrible in its aspect than all the rest. sud
denly left its fellow combatants and fell to
the earth with roar that startled every iv-
ing thing. Now black as night and filled
with innumerable darts of electricity the
storm.cloud, with its broad smoke-colored
apex buried in corona of gold and its mar
row hase dipping aud grinding over the
earth, swept through the city with a deafen-
ing noice. Before the roaring cloud the air
was choked with dusi and flying bricks and
timbers A cushion of air was sweeping in
advance of the cloud, and as it demolished
the windows of houses and stores, the sides
and the roofs of the buildings burst open as
though they hal been shiyered by explosions
from within. The storm-ClOud did the rest.
1t caught the timbers in its rosistless fury,
ground them to pieces and then left the
wreckage upon the dead and dying
Alighting at the Louisville " Nashville
railroad station, the storm-seekers' attention
is first directed To the two-stury supreme
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21

In the town of Puerto Rico, Mexico,
last week prominent citizen died and
was duly prepared for burial by being
dressed in his best suit and placed in a
coffin with candles at his head and feet.
The friends of the deceased gathered TO
condole with his widow and pray for the
soul of the departed A table literally
supplied with eatables and drinkables
was visited quite freely by the assembled
mourners, and the noise which they
made in their lamentations was so great
that the corpse rose up in his coffin and
wanted to know what the row was all
about. The mourners shrieked and fed,
aud even the wife deserted the house and
could not be induced to return until the
next day. when she was assured that her
husband was not dead, but had only been
in trance.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
INoUIRlNG INTO THE SUGAR TRUST.
A New York Legislative Committee Finds
Mighty Hard Boring.


NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-The state senate
committee to investigate trusts began Mon
day by examining Henry Havemeyer, who
testified that he and several other New York
sugar refiners were trustees of the trust
He declined to give the names of concerns
outside of this state The refineries decided
their property to the trust and received GER
tifiGates in return. Witness gave his testi-
mony grudgingly, but finally admitted that
one refinery in st. Loais, two in Louisiana,
one in Boston, two in Philadelphia, and two
in San Francisco had been induced" to Join
the pool, which now controls 81, 600
barrels a day capacity. The pro-
duction OF sugar juice Decem-
Der, when the trust was formed, has
decreased about 25 per cent. and the price
has gone up. The North River refnary has
been closed and the trustees intend to close
some Others including those in Boston. The
owners of the closed works will draw their
profits the same as If running Mr.. Have
meyer refuse to produce the agreements.
He further said that the certificates received
from the trust in exchange for interests In
the formerly existing firms represented three
or four times as much face value as the
value Of the interests. In other words, the
nominal capital of the trust is three
or four times az large as the value Of
the property 1t holds The members can not
withdraw from the trust and get back their
former property, even they wished to do so.
John Z. Parsons counsel for the trust, and
who was a leading spirit in its organization,
was next called. He declined to produce any
agreement, claiming lawyers privilege The
amount of certificates issued by the trust is
S45, 600, 900
Mr.. Parsons refusal to produce the agree
ment brought on legal wrangle as to the
powers of the committee. In adjournment
was finally taken for the day.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
THE CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Some Matters OF Interest Brought Up
Public Buildings for the West

Public buildings for the West.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. L. "A petition
with Is, 900 names was presented in the SEN
ate Monday asking legislation to protect
women and girls from rape also several Pro.
hibition petitions. 1t was agreed that on
Wednesday after the morning business the
chairman read Washington's farewell ad-
dresA A debate on the Washington Electric
railway bill resulted in an amendment re-
curing the rails to be of American manu-
facture. The bill was laid aside aud bill re
ported to establish bureau of animal indus
try. After an executive session the senate
adjournod.
The reply of the secretary of war to Bou-
telle's battle flag resolution was laid before
tue house 1t is to the effect that no flags
have been disposed of contrary to law, and
none returned to ex-rebes Bills were intro
duced: regulating the classification and pay
of postmasters; apportioning on the basis Of
illIteracy SOS 90 900 for educational pur-
poses; a resolution directing the education
committee to report back the Blair bill be-
fore March 90; limiting homestead entries to
eighty acres instead of 10, and to American
citizens only; constitutional amendment ex-
tending the presidential term to eight years;
for the erection of public buildings at Ster-
ling, Ill d; South Bond, Ind, Burlington, la. I;
Canton, o.; Sheboygan, Green Bay and
Manitoba Wis; Yankton, d. T., and
Oberlin, Kan A motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution proposing con-
stitutional amendment making April 30 in
auguration day and extending the Fiftieth
congress to April 30, 1851, was defeated
yeas, 1919 nays, l%S-not the necessary two
thirds, and the house adjourned.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
THE OYSTER BANK TRAGEDY.
some Unnecessary Indignation at BaIti-
morc-Ihs Curoner's Verdict.

BALTIMORE. Md, Feb. 9l.-The killing of
Capt Wnitehuu,s has caused intense ex-
element in Il Ist Baltimore, where lie was
we'll and favOrably known among the oyster
men and commission merchants. An indig.
nation meeting was held Monday at the bust.
ness house OF Hanson F. Barnes & Sons.
Speeches were made denouncing the action
of the captain of the police boat Folly, and it
was claimed that no navy could be formed
under other than United States authority to
shoot down people on the high sens. A com
uittee was appointed so inquire whether
the police boats are authorized by the consti-
tuition to destroy the lives of inotfensive
dreiger5"
ANNAPoLTs Md, Feb. 2l.-The coroner's
jury met Thursday to inquire into the cause
Of Capt Warehouses; death, who was killed
on tue Nichols ON Saturday night during an
encounter with the pollce boat Folly. The
testimony added nothing to the facts already
printed except to show that there WIS no
conspiracy and that WhitehOuse sent all his
crew forward and did all the shooting him
self that was done from his vessel. The jury
decided that it was impossible to say who
killed Whltehouse.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
DESOLATED MT. VERNON.
FULLER DETAILS OF THE AWFUL RE-
SUITS OF THE CYCLONE.
Thirty-Three Souls Hurried Into Etern'
ity, Eight Fatally Injured and
Forty-Five Severely Hurt.

The Homeless People Number 900, and
$50 Houses Are in Ruin--GrsPhie De-
scriptIon of the Approach and Onslaught
of tho Electric DevastatOr--A Tour
Through the wrecked Town-Names Oi
the Dead aud wounded-Appeai for
Prompt Relief
Mt VERNON, Ills, Feb 81. The black re-
volying cloud which fell from copperish
sky in the southwest at 4;li o'clock Sunday
afternoon, and swept diagonally through the
city with roar like the beating of heavy
sea against "a rocky shore, left nothing but
bleeding bodies and heaps of ruins in its
track. For half an hour before the cloud
dropped to the earth the atmospheric condi-
tons were such as TO affect both man and
beast. Rain and hail fell for fifteen minutes,
and then the stiffness became oppressive The
atmosphere seemed surcharged with cleo
tricity. A peculiar soft yellow light fell upon
everything, aud sparrows that had been fit
ting about the streets during the afternoon
suddenly arose to great heights and after
circling around in the oppressive air dropped
into trees, where they uttered tho most dis
cordant noises Meantime the clouds were
passing through an ominous transformation.
From bleak grayish color, the great bill
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 4l.-In deciding
the complaint of the Danvile, Va, chamber
of commerce against the Richmond & Dam
vile railway company, Monday, the inter
state commerce commission held that the
justice of local rates can not be determined
by a comparison of them with the rates
charged on long through lines upon which
the freights are carried for long distances in
great volume Railroad, can not be COM
PEELED % give the same rate for the two ship
ments, say for instance from Richmond,
Va, to Danville, and then re-shipped to
Goldsboro, n. c. that is given where there is
but one shipment direct from Richmond to
Goldsboro. TIE fact that refusing to do
SO operates in favor of one town or adversely
to another does not charge it with unjust dis
elimination
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21

SHAMoKIN, Pa, Feb 2l.-An attempt to
blow up the Philadelphia & Reading Rail
road company's handsome freight house at
this place early Monday morning was frus-
trated by the ignorance of the would be Guy
Fawkes in mixing the explosives. The jani-
tor, while opening the building, discovered a
large dark coIored glass deuiijohn placed at
the main entrance, with consumed miners
"squib" sticking in the neck. An examina-
ton revealed several quarts of giant powder,
saltpetre blasting paper saturated with
naphths and quicksilver, the latter probably
preventing the explosion. Detectives are
seeking for clewS
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21
DENOUNCED By HIS WIFE.
LIGHT TURNED UPON SEVERAL MYs-
TeRlCUs CRIMES IN IOWA.

wife in jan Charges Her Husband with
Murder aud Other y'iiuinies -sensatio nal
Anair at "a Washington city Hotel That
Was Nenr'y Murder-The KILLING of the
Oyster Pirate Denounced.
WICHITA, Kan, Feb, 81. Mira Ellen War
ner, prisoner in the county Jail made an af-
titavitMontny TO the effect that her husband
William Warner, a house-moyer OF this city,
was a murderer, counterIeiter and thief.
She said; Ten years ago my husband and
lived in DJs hoiDes Ia He belonged to a gang
of despsradocs who would stop at nothing 10
get money. One night Henry Scribner, a
wealthy old mau, was killed NY husband
was out almost all night and came in very
much excited, When ! asked the cause he
swore me to secrecy, and then told me that
Scribner had been murdered aud that Dan
and Bon Smith and himself had done the
deed and robbed the body. The Smiths were
arrested, but they suceee led in getting Off.
my husband was also in a plot to murder
a saloon keeper named Applegate, but l
heard their plans and warned him. Four
years ago II sNt month my husband helped TO
smuggls some tools into the jail at Dos
Mones, aud assisted in the lpa of six.
teen despsrnloss from there. He WAS
also connected with n notorious counter
feiter Bill Harden, and many narrow es-
capes he and Harden had from capture
My husbands brother, Louis, is also in
Wichita, aud one is as bad Us the other. At
SevastOpo, Iowa, Louis made grand raid
on property aud was captured, but escaped
from the c lurt room. He went to Trenton,
Mo, whore he was sent to jail for six months
for theft but escaped through the aid of my
husband. My husband has ottcn threatened to
kill me, and one night in Au ,uIt he held an
open knife over mo all night"
The officers at Des Moines have been COM
muuira ed with, aud they say they remem-
Der the Scrbuer murder and that the muir
derer escaped 1t is not yet known what
Will lee done in the cnsa
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21

WAsHISGsoN CITY, Feb. 2,.-A petition
presented by Blair in the senate Monday was
30 large in bulk that he could scarcely lift it,
The petition contained 1900 names and had
been circulated by the Women's Christian
Temperance union and the Knights Of Labor.
1t was in favor of legislation for the better
protection of women and girls and the pun
ishment of oifenSes against them. In refer.
ence to his mammoth petition, Blair said
that the traffic in young girls in the great
cities had become so Infamous and notorious
as to call forth this petition with signers
from every part of the country, aud to de-
mand federal legislation.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb 2l. - In the
United States supreme court Monday the
chief Justice gave notice that mandates to
enforce the decisions of the court would
issue in all cases decided previously to jan
uary !st, except those in which petitions for
rehearing are pending, aud those docketed
and dismissed under the ninth rule In view
OF the fact that petition for a rehearing
has been forwarded, but not received. in the
Maxweil-Preller murder case, the issuance
OF the mandate in that case is postponed
The effect Of this will be to put off for the
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-21

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Feb. CIV. C.
Bernhardt, aged 80, prominent attorney of
Richmond, Ind, son-in-law of Hon. Lewis
D. Stubs of the Republican state central
committee was found dead Monday in a
room at the New Dsnnison hotel On table
was note saying; "This man is just smart
enough to be a DID fool" This is supposed
to have been written by Bernhardt. He
came to this city Saturday, and Sunday
afternoon was missed by Col Bridgeland
aud other associates. Death resulted from a
bullet in the heart, firei doubtless by him
self. Wbisky-drinking led to trouble with
his wife, VINO returned to her fathers home
last weak