The morning call., 1893-09-13

a gang of train-rObbers in Indiana have
very effectually broken the stringenoy in
their own case by looting an expresS-car
Of from 100000 to $500, 000-according to
the conflicting veracity of the dispatches.
The amount is mostly in gold, which is
the most convenient standard to handle in
order to escape detecti on. So many men
were engaged in holding up the train that
it is very impr 70 able they can all keep
their counsel or steer clear of the SheTiff's
myrmidons. 1t is limited that the robbers
were only tramps, but they performed
their work in manner equal TO the neat
est exploits of the Daltons. They had
abundance OF dynamite and knew how to
use 1t To exert the strongest effect short of
blowing gold and safe away together.
The eXpress-car which would resist the
pressure they applied has yet to be in
vented, but if these robberles are to be put
down absolutely the companies may have
to place a mitrailleuse turret on their
express-cars from which the ensconsed
messenger could apply deadly hail. Per-
haps road agents would circumvent even
this.
The boomers who are about to burst
into the Cherokee strip are reminded by
the price they have to pay fox drinking
water that il is a valuable mmodity, the
supply of which a CO immunity should study
for itself. A city should own its water
supply, and the best way to get at owner
ship is to commence at the beginning wheG
cities are founded. The difficulty Is that
some Of the new cities in the strip may
not thrive-may return almost to prairie
in few years. But the water engineer
will study the opportunities for all they
are worth, and charge all he can get.
The State penitentiary of Kansas issues
a paper to which contributions are made
by the convicts. No doubt there are some
pre-eminent scoundrelS among them who
can furnish sensational retrospects, if not
current news, and as the taste of many
people turns toward bloodcnrdling hor-
rOrs, and their mind is enlhralled by stor-
les Of nefarious adventure, quite profita-
bic circulation is possible, If the sheet is
allowed outside the walls. The convicts
uphold the Populist administration. which,
in Turn. supports them and gives them this
outlet for literary ability.
The Senate Committee on Public Lands
has had before it a bill by Dolph pro-
vidng for the repayment of fees, purchase
money and commissions on void entries of
public lands. 1t proposes to give half the
money back to settlers who paid 50 80 per
acre on lands found TO be within railroad
grants. Some legislation of this equitable
character is needed in the cases of those
settlers in the San Joaquin Valley who
are in danger of being Ousted from their
lands under decision of Judge Ross of
the Southern District of California. The
acreage affected by that derision is esti-
mated at 10000 and it will be harsh in the
extreme il settlers who have put in years
of toll on what they believed to be their
own land are turned adrift
-
death of General Miribel, chief of the gen.
eral staff of the army. He was regarded
as very capable strategist who has done
great service in drawing up plan of mo-
bilizatiOn and otherwise preparing France
for the struggle of war believed to be in-
evitable some day with Germany.
Bismarck is in low water from govt and
cold, and both these ailments of the BODY
seem to have been excited by incautious
speech in the open air. The most CALLING
chill the venerable Chancellor has had,
however. comes from his isolation and the
perception that the German empire is
doing pretty well without him. In the
speech referred to he made point of
being enthusiastic about the maintenance
OF the small German princedoms as
against policy OF swallowing them up
in too much unity under Prussia. He
also dropped an odd remark about his
never having lied even when dip
l0mRtist. But the imminent probability
is that when he told the truth he was set
down as all the more crafty prevari-
Gator and simulator, so much is the world
in the habit of looking at diplomacy as
running In two currents, one on the sur
face and the other very deep.
The household effects of the late Squire
Abingdon" Baird, who died at New
Orleans after doing service as second at
prizs-fght, have been disposed OF at re-
markedly high prices. There was a rage
to possess something which this eccentric
millionaire sport had owned. and many
pieces actually went at an enhanced