New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-20
STRANGE VISITORS IN CHICAGO.
INSECTS AND BIRDS NEVER SEEN BEFORE
CABLE EVILS-DRAMATIC.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE-1


Chicago, May 19-The West is having the most
remarkable and backward spring ever known There
have not been more than half dozen days since last
November when one would have been comfortable
without heavy overcoat, and although generally at
this of the year the trees are In full lear they
have now been at sandsti for the past month, and
the buds which started have never come out The
country around Chicago looks more like December
than the middle of May, and vegetable gardeners and
florists are much troubled at the outlook There
have been heavy fross this week. phenomenon
supposed be to the season is that during the
past ten days the city has had strange vistations OF
"bugs, and birds heretofore entirely unknown In
Illinois The Insects ranged in length from one to
two inches and had the general characteristics Of the
locust Multitudes of small birds, unlike anything
ever seen here before, also made their appearance
They settled down on Michigan-ave and many OF
them dashed themselves death against the electric
lights They pretty little birds, rfhe smaller
then the English sparrow, and had bright plumage
yellow red, green and darker shades. They were
exhausted as II from long flight and large numbers
of them been found dead in all parts of the city,
1t is thought that they driven out of their course
by the high winds which prevailed the first part Of
tho week
Even the warmest advocates Of the Yerkes cable
cannot be satisfied with the working of the system.
Although the road has been In operation for two
months there is still no attempt TO provide means
Of papid transit than already given by the
horse cars. There stl moro of the latter run on
the cable tracks than there grip cars that
of course greater rate Of speed than the horse cars
attain is impossible Horse cars and cable
sandwiched in together all along Clarb-st. On Thurs
day the road blocked for than three hours.
One of the strands Of the cable first broke and caught
In wheel, this caused the cable TO ravel and finally
break The blockade became so serious that 1t was
found necessary dismante OF the of their
yripc onde nv, borc Joxp Tho
Knze-st. switch, where they were switched to the
other track and drawn back to the limits Although
the main cables were running all right, It was, of
course impossible the grips the return trips
in such instances this In the tunnel there was
considerable CONSERVATION when the accident occurred
the cars stopping with a suddenness that piled the
passengers all in a heap.
The Brotherhood of Engineers still keeps up its
fight against the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Railway and maintains its quarters at the Grand
Pacific Hotel The strikers have long made the claim
that the stockholders were much dissatisfied with the
management If the road, and that at their meeting
sensational developments were predicted. SO when
tie stockholders met here Wednesday and passed
resolutions indorsng the action Of the management in
the strike great the disappointment I'm the Brother
hood headquarters. Chiefs Arthur and Sargent are
here and the of the leaders of tho Brother
hood and the fact that the entire Grievance Committee
OF the o. system Is In the city has revived the
rumor that the strike will DO declared OF. A prom
nent railway official says that when the strike began
the brotherhood had at least $350,000 cash in tho
treasury. This amount has not only been wiped out
but large amount in voluntary contributions to help
the o. strike along well 1t is also asserted that
the assessments which were made have not been all
paid, and that there is not enough money in the
treasury TO make tho full monthly allowance TO the
strikers.
In drafting tho ordinances for the several
elevated railway companies tho corporation coun
sci has decided to insert clause binding
each company to pay to the city three per
other taxes. This clause S'p win doubtless meet with
strong opposition from the companies, especially as
has secured ordinance without such provisions
The Alley Company has about week moro in
with the city Controller When the ordinance was
passed several weeks It announced that the
100000 security money would DO deposited within
not been complied with and the general Impression
Is that tho 100000 will not be forthcoming in time
TO save the franchise. This Is the company that tho
New-York syndicate projected.
There has been regular feast Of good things at tho
opened with school for Scandal Mrs George Drew
Peter: Mr. Vernon, Sir oliver; Edward j. Henley ~
Charles Surface. and Henry Lee. Joseph. " Paul
has had an enthusiastic welcome at tho Maymarhet
while Robson and Crane in The Henretts' at tho Chi
ever played In Chicago. Tho house has been packed
every night this week Indeed grcat was the demand
1 Hs s s s Ct c S sna o az siss
moved 10 the siege.
Mr. Balcom a wellknown lumber merchant here.
gave dinner al the Rche,Icu on Thursday evening
Tor Chief justice SS,' Among his guests wcro Judge
SreShsm Judge Wso9 81 San sy who ,r Was
Coast: General croot. Mr. Blackstone. president of