The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-08-08


 IN recent pension case Assistant Secretary Reynolds, of the interior de- partment, decided that where there is service in the confederate army, such record failing to show whether the service was voluntary or involuntary, it will be presumed that service was voluntary, but such presumption may be rebutted, the burden of proof being on the claimant.
 A DECISION involving portion of the town of Ponca City, Ok, was rendered in the land office at Perry on the 3ist, giving the land on which are the Santa Fe depot and many of the best build ings of the town to Andrew NJ. Waugh, homesteader. During the hearing, 1t was developed that one of the claim ants obtained booth certificate at Arkansas City, and it was held to be no good and the holder not entitled to hold land in the Cherokee strip. This decision, if sustained, will knock thou sands of men out of claims they are now holding in Kay, Pawnee and P county.
 "A Ddu hEC OCCuTTCu db Mich, on the 3lst. It started in pile of lath in a lumber yard and brisk wind famed the flames. Conservative estimates place the lumber burned at 80, 1000, GOO feet, which, added to the buildings destroyed, makes the loss about $500, 900. For two or three hours the inhabitants of the district were in state of panic and every available wagon of the town was employed in saving household effects from threat ened destruction.
 M. ANDRE proposes to start on an aerial voyage from north Sweden for the north pole in July, 1896. The duration of the voyage will, of course, depend on the wind. Thirty days, he believes, will suffice for cruising about the cen tral polar basin in all directions. Dr. Wichman, one of the most eminent German geographers at the interna- tional meeting at London, said the project had been cautiously worked out in the light of science and was by no means fantastic scheme. The balloon car will contain a sledge, boat, weapons and photographic camera to take pictures.
 AT Durham, N. C., fire destroyed the Reams tobacco warehouse with cousid- erable stock. Loss about 5000
 THE Chicago police have obtained partial confession from Pat Quinlan, the janitor of Holmes castle" and have, they believe, positive evidence that Benjamin F. Pietzel was mur. dered in Chicago by Holmes and the corpse sent to Philadelphia
 A FREIGHT train on the Florence & Cripple Creek railroad was caught in freshet and derailed on the night of the 3Oth near Adelaide, Col. Six per sons were known to have been drowned and two others were reported missing. The railroad for 10 miles near Wilbur was washed away. All the wires were prostrated.
 WATER rushed down the eastern slope of the Magdalena mountains late on the 30th through the principal streets of Socorro. N. NJ. More than fifty houses were destroyed and almost every residence damaged. Six persons in family named Duran were drowned and many other people were missing. The Santa Fe tracks were washed out in several places, and a branch road was practically destroyed for 10 miles, five bridges being washed away besides the damage to the track.
 THE delayed Cunard steamer Aurania reached New York on the 30th. A DISPATCH from Market Lake, Ida, dated the 30th stated that there had been no collision for the past few days with the Indians, but that the settlers were in state of constant alarm. The troops now on the ground were ex. pected to hold the situation well in hand except in isolated cases where in' diwidual settlers might be attacked.