The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-28
NEWS BY WIRE.
Great Destruction to Life and
Property by the Storm.

MT. ERNON, ILL.,, tebruky N.-Adjutant-
General Vance and DR.. Rauch arrived here at
IL o'clock last night, and Immediately met the
citizens committee and arranged to have for
warded Immediately a number of shelter tents
Tor the use Of the homeless until permanent
quarters can be furnished for them For the
convenience OF many without homes the air.
line and the Louisville and Nashville railroads
have put specials on the railroads to carry such
as choose to 90 to friends i'll neighboring towns
during the night and return during The day.
a message was received from Governor OgleS-
by asking tho advsability of issuing a proca-
nation for aid. He said if no answer was re-
ceivcd soon he would call upon the people of
the country for contributions CT clothing, gro
ceries and money.
AS there is plenty of clothing and groceries
on hand and the dealers show n willingness to
come generously to the front, members of the
committee are more DESTROYS for cash contribu-
lions than other aid There are many persons
who believe that all the people have not been
taken from the ruins, and many point TO
Crews block as q funeral pile from which the
remains of three or four unknown may yet be
taken. The upper stories of this buildingswere
used as boarding house, and it was much
frequented by railroad men who stopped but
for day. a great effort was made in this
building to release old man Murray, but he
was pinned by the head and hips in a manner
that he could not be moved. His cries were
plteous as the flames crept upon him and liter
all roasted him to death. His charred remains
were taken from the cellar of the bank at ten
O'Clock yesterday morning.
Nearly Three Hundred Houses Demolished
and Forty Persons Killed.
MOUNT VERNON. Ill.,, February 2O-The
cyclone that visited this city yesterday after
noon, at five o'clock, destroyed nearly 800 res
licences and places of business, and unhoused
1,2O0 to ECO people. In the fall of walls many
persons were buried under the debris and
thirty-iive were killed, while twice as many
more were injured, eight or ten so seriously
that their recovery is despaired of. Preceding
the destructive wind was a heavy fall Of
rain for half hour, which drove all the
inhabitants TO shelter. This was followed
by slight hail storm, accompanied with light
ming, and then the furious blow which formed
into funnelshapod cyclone, struck the SOUTH
western portion of the city, unroofing every
thing in its path, taking diagonal course
through the business portion of the city, I'M
roofing and dismantling the supreme court
building, near tho Louisville and Nashville
depot and skipping along to the Methodist
and Baptist churches, caving them into worth
less masses
At one point the destructive element jumped
upward and missed several stores and resi-
dences, but soon bounced down again and be-
gan career OF unparalleled destruction, tear
ing down heavy brick buildings, wrecking
and twisting frame structures out of sem
blance and making useless mass of debris
The courthouse, that occupies a public square
i'll the center of the city, was literally torn to
pieces, the walls being twisted end crushed.
The tower was lifted and dropped to the west
ward and demolished the handsome pillars
that supported the entrance. This was the
extreme point to the north that the storm.
reached, although the business block in which
the Mount Vernon National bank and other
business houses was somewhat dismantled by
flying brick and timbers. Fifty yards south Of
the courthouse the storm seemed to be at its
height.
A circular appealing for help has been is
sued. After recounting the particulars of the
disaster, it says:
We ar sorely in distress, and are forced to call
upon charitable people of the country for money,
and such other timely assistance as they MAJ be
able TO contribute. Money is needed more than
provisions as there are few business houses that
may be able to supply the demGn l. Send cash con
trlbutions to George W. Evans, chairman finance
committee, Norman H. Moss, secretary.
Mr.. Havemeyer on the Stand Before an In
vestigating Committee.
New YoRK, February 20.-The committee
OF seven senators who were appointed by the
legislature to investigate trusts" and similar
matters, met today in the superior court and
began their work General Roger A. Pryor
and George Bliss appeared as legal advisers of
the committee.
Mr.. Hayemeyer detailed at length the for
nation of the sugar trust, and during his mar
ration the following points were elected He
was asked:
old you not surrender stock in your COM
pany to the board in consideration that YOU
terest in all other refneries belonging to the
organization?"
Chat is about the idea
Witness thought that under the operations
OF the trust, production had decreased about
one-quarter
Under recommendation of the board three
retneries in Boston and Oxford, and the Mol
Ter a. Siercl retineres of Brooklyn, had been
closed and were still idle. Secretary Searles
who was now in New Orleans, he thought did
not keep any books relating to the business
between the board and stockholders. He kept
one book, he believed, relating to transfers.
about how long has Searles been in New
Orleans?" asked Mr.. Bliss.
"a few days"
Didn't he leave for there about the time
the resolution for this committee passed the
senate 2"
81 don't know"
Senator Ives asked witness if the effect of
this trust was to prevent fall in prices and in
no way to check an ADVANCE but in fact to en-
courage it?
Witness tried to evade the question, but
finally admitted that under the arrangement
prices could not decline below certain limit
and could advance TO point where the compe-
tlton OF other countries would prevent any
further advance.
Senator Coggeshall asked if witness had any
objections to producing the original agreement
between the beard and the stockholders
He had, because it had been stated by the
committees counsel that there was a criminal
act involved IN inc forming OF the trust, and
he wished TO consult with his counsel before
he would say whether he would do so or not
The Cotton Seed Oil Men Kick but Give in
Testimony.
New YoRK, February 24.--The senate in
yestigatiEg committee took up the cotton seed
Oil trust today. This trust made no effort TO
conceal its real status Before the eXamna-
ton Of Witnesses was begun Lawyer EIihu
Root on behalf Of the trust, objected to the
investigation on these grounds The trust has
only to do with cotton seed Oil No cotton seed
is grown Or oil produced in this state; the cor
poration was not formed in this state, but in
Arkansas; only three of the nine trustees live
in this state; no combination or agreement has
been made III this state cotton seed oil is not
an article OF general consumption, and it is not
within the scope Of the committee to investi-
gate the trust the committee has no more to
do with the trust than it would have with a
Connecticut WOODEN mill or western rail-
road"
The committee oYerruled the objections and
| called John Scott, one OF the trustees, to tho
witness stand. lie said there are seventy or
eighty companies in the trust. Last years
crop was 10000 tons, of which tho company
controlled 10000 tons; 274 per cent Of the oil
was exported, the balance was used for soap,
safety lgfuue frr r1,iuqre nd % al, 80