davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
EXPLOSION ~ WALHiLLi HALL.
ABOUT $1,000 DAMAGE DONE AND LOT or
PEOPLE FRIGHTENED.

ABOUT $1,000 DAMAGE DONE AND LOT or
PEOPLE FRIGHTENED.
An explosion In the basement OF old Walhalla Han.
nj Nos is 20 and 80 Orchard-st.. yesterday after
noon caused about 81 900 damage ard created no end
OF excitement among the hundred or so peope that
were In the building At the time. John iaynor OF
No 292 Eighth-ave.. and Charles Schroeder, en-
ploycs OF the Gas Consumers Company. were look
ing for n leak the gas meter In the lower nall
way Schroeder had gone upstairs for moment.
when he heard a loud explosion. lie rushed TO the
street only to find that most OF the occupants OK
the building were already there. including thirty
men who had been In saloon at No 90 Three
men who were In "A room Immediately above the gas
meter were knocked down. but they soon regained
their footing and joined the crowd in the street. A
cloud OF dust came out OF the basement. and some-
body turned I'm alarm of fire.
Schroeder then fastened to rescue his fellow
workman, expecting 10 find him crushed In the
ruins Meanwhile Gaynor walked into the saloon.
with his face and hands badly burned but not seri-
ously injured. Gaynors wounds were dressed at
nearby drug store and he went home alone. AT
first he said that "A man passing through the hall
had lighted match. but finally admitted that he had
applied the flame himself without knowing how
much gas had collected around the meter.
The appearance Of the fire engines and the rumog
that Gaynor had been killed caused "A large crowd
to collect, but the excitement was soon over.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
A REVISION or STATE LABOR LAWS.
ALL ACTS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT Gun
DENsED INTO ONE BILL

ALL ACTS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT CON
DENsED INTO ONE BILL
Albany Dec. S-The Statutory Revision 'o"'"i'-
sion has prepared n revision of the Labor laws oi
the State X Is 10 be known as the LABOR law
and II passed. will constitute chapter 81 Oh 'he
General Laws II proposes re-enactment oi al thr
present statutes regulating the employment OF
labor and relating to the protection OF empoyes'
tho collection OF labor statistics and the settle
ment OF differences between employers and en-
poyes.
Article 2 Is re-enactment OF the law OF 'his
wear relating to the establishment and management
Of free public employment bureaus. The appnca-
tion OF the act IL extended to Brooklyn ana bui-
falo 1t now only applies to New-fork city.
BY Chapter s2i OF the Laws Of 1885 the once or
Mining Inspector was abolished. and It's duties
were imposcd upon the State Factory Inspector IL
is proposed to re-enact the laws relating 10 the
regulation and Inspection of mines I'm Article
The commissioners In revising these laws nave
retained the substance without change Their ei-
forts have been directed toward a systematic ar
rangcmcnt of the subject matter and a consollda-
tion and condensation Of existing laws. where pos
sible For the sake OF simplicity many superhuous
words and expressions are eliminated.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
FLOODS IN THE NORTHWEST.
RAILROADS UNDER WATER AND BRIDGES SWEET
AWAY ~ WASHINGTON.

RAILROADS UNDER WATER AND bRip"ES S"h''
AWAY n WASHINGTON
coo,,,e Wash Dec. Sin t' second HOOD vista
, ,ho Pacific Northwest Is suffering to fully as
,roo, an extent as during the disastrous November
,rrs Retween Friday and Monday morning all
,h railroad bridges which were constructed and the
,r.ckaee rebuilt during the latter days OF last month
,,ore again swept away The Snohomish R'ver
ha,ween Snohomish city and Everett Is six miles
r,de The Great Northern tracks between sultan
c,,v and Everett are inundated TO depth OF from
,o ~ Ave feet and three big bridges over the
SL,,Louish River In the Cascades were swept away.
rhe skykomish River Is a raging torrent. running
IN many places like a mrace. The Everett and
No,ts Cristo road Is almost total wreck and II Is
only with the greatest difficulty that food supplies
oro IN be had at Monte Cristo and the neishboring
towns
Nearer Seattle in the fertile valleys OF Duwamish
White Green and Puyallup. great damage Is being
done. To private property. The tides backing up
Duwomish River from Puget Sound are forcing the
waters through the dikes and out over the low
lands The Northern Pacific and Great Northern
railroads are sun unapie 10 operate '"e'' "i"'
lines from Seattle: ~
Shawano WIS., Dec. S-The ice gorge at keshena
sbnws no signs of breaking. and the high water
,nointains ts level Evidently the river has forced
n channel beneath the Ice bridge. and II the weather
continues moderate there Will be no danger OF
obstructive floods There was some damage to the
machinery In the Government mill.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
COSTLY FIRE IN MONTREAL.
THE BARRON BLOCK AND OTHER PROP
ERTY DESTROYED.

Montreal. Dec. S.-One of the most disastrous
fires Montreal has had for long time broke out
shortly before o'clock this evening in of the
upper stories In the centre Of the Barron Block. In
st. James-st. extending from John-st. to ST. Fran
els Xavier-st. facing St. Lawrence Hall. The fire
was in the most dangerous locality. in the heart
OF tho city and in the immediate vicinity of the
Temple Building. the Standard Life Insurance
Building. the Postoflce. Carsley's big department
store. the Canada Life Insurance and other great
business structures.
The fire spread with alarming rapidity. and when
the fire brigade reached the scene the flames were
shooting out OF the middle OF the block. while
dense clouds Of sparks and fell St. Law
renee Hall. the Postoffce and other structures.
placing them in imminent danger. The whole
brigade was called out and the fremen made dcs-
perate efforts to stop the flames The waterfowl
ers and other apparatus were brought into play
but at first the volume of water did not seem TO
have much effect and the flames rose with increas-
ing fury.
The fire spread to the old Bank OF Toronto Building
st. John and ST. James sts and II was soon mas
of flames While the firemen were working on this
building the corner Of the wall fell out. sending Il
OF flames across the street.
After burning for three hours with terrible
fury, the fire got under control shoty after 10
o'clock. The Barron Block, valued at $4,000. Is a
complete wreck. The total loss Will reach nearly
$JQQ0O0
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
LIVED TO ROUND OFT A HUNDRED YEARS.
DEATH IN THIS CITY OF NATHAN T. WEBB.
VETERAN or Two WARS.

DEATH IN THIS CITY OF NATHAN T. wEBB. A
VETERAN or TWO WARS
Nathan r. Webb. n veteran OF two wars, died at
his home. No lOl West Sixty-third-st., yesterday
morning He was few days over 100 years DID,
having been born In Delaware County. ~ T.. on
December g. 1926. Up to n few days ago ne was
about the house as usual and seemed bright and
cheerful but on Monday he was taken ILL., and
died yesterday.
Whom the War Of 1912 broke out. Mr. Webb. then
eighteen years old enlisted and served as water
boy When the country was stirred in civil strii''
In 1861. he again volunteered, ana became a pr,
vnte in Company c, 1st Regiment. New-fork Vol
untccrs lie assigned to the mounted rifles
After the war Mr.. Webb removed with his family
"a chemung County. and three years ago came 10
live with his daughter. Mrs. Eta Downward III
No lOi West Sixty-th!rd-st.. where he died lie
remembered the digging OF the Erie canal ana
used TO say that he was one OF the men empioye"
on the work Mr. Webb had seven chiidret iour
NJ whom are still ving-onc in this city and three
IN the West His son. Willard Webb. who Is IN
tho Indian Territory is said to own considerable
land I'm that section OF the country. MT NeDp
had many grandchildren and great-grandch'idreh
and under the same roof with him lived MS great
grandson RAYMOND George Hathaway year and
=, half old Mr. Webb's oldest son. Oliver. would
h ',x six,v,two years old had he lived He died with
out children. Mr.. Webbs second ch,'n. o1se ,so
Webb married Ee % nr rGs h he"
ast daughter OF Mrs Prices oldest daughter -
married. and has two children She Is living l"
Tnthen Webh's third child. Harriet. married ana
b,d sixteen children six OF whom are now living
and four are married and have children. Wharu
,hc fourth child married. and had one child VINO
died Mrs Etta Downward. formerly Mrs hatma- ,,.
w,v is the next and II was with her that Mr
Wshb lived I'm this city. Her oldest daughter May
w, ,hn mother OF i've children. Her son. Nathan
Wns I,,waw , ,s twcnty-seven wears old. and Is the
father OF the year-and-a half-9ld BOY. hhymonu no.
%,n' rhe next il Calvin Webb and through nm IN, tne
& me was carried to the third generation. his chill
dren being unmarried. Jane was the ,,,sn sevsntn
nh,ih ~ Nathan Webb None OF her three children
are living
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
THEIR SALARIES INCREi SED.
BETTER PAY FOR THE MEMBERS OF TIE STATE
COMMISSION ~ IIShCY.

BETTER PAY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE
COMMISSION ~ LrHhCY.
Albany Dec s-Tnc salaries OF the State Commits
sloners in Lnnacy materially increased to-day
by the action OF a State Commission desgnat ted for
that purpose In a law passed by the Legislature this
year. This Commission consists OF Governor Morton.
Secretary OF Statc Palmer and State Controller Rob
erts The Commission met to-day and fixed the
salary OF the Lunacy Commissioners follows:
President WIS., s. 5cO Goodwin Brown. s. O00 Henry
W Reeves $500 Heretofore the first named re-
ceived a salary OF 5000 the second 5000 and the
third $40 a day for his actual services. The Comm.s-
sion adopted "A resolution that the I.unacy Commits
sIoners shall hereafter give all of their time their
duties as Commissioners. All OF the Commissioners.
with the exception OF Mr.. Reeves. expected 10
devote all OF their time 10 the dute, OF their Office
heretofore
In a statement given out to-day the Governor says:
."rho Largely increased labOrs devOlying upon this
Roard due IN great measure TO tho taking over of
tho care OF the dependent insane OF NeW-York and
LIInps counties puts In It's charge some 5000 in
,fes located twelve separate hospitals In various
nar,s OF the State. we'll as the expenditure OF
'Lout a. 600 90 annually. The Increase OF the salary
hin, nm to The amount OF the salary and allowances
witch ne cnjoyed when he resigned his position "a
snernfendent of the St Lawrence State Hospital TO
,Le this Office and each OF these Increased saiare-
49, hccn urgently recommended by persons who
stand high by OF their intimate knowledge or
the public needs In the administration OF TINS great
uublic trust.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
MOB LAW SOUTH AND WEST.
A NEGRO HANGED IL TENNESSEE AND FIGHT
WITH THIEVES IN INDIANA.

Nounhls Tenn Dec. s.-"Jim" Davis tho negro
uho on Saturday last killed thirteen-year-old
hoy and seriously wounded another. aged eleven.
.ons Of Joe" Williams. his employer. was cap
turod I'm the woods near here last evening. In
s,cad Of bringing him to this city his captors took
hin, I'm n southerly direction. stating that they
wer. going TO take him to the house OF the father
Of his victims but 1t IL an open secret that Davis
was hanged.
Decatur Ind. Dec. s-A desperate fight between
n posse OF citizens and gang OF thieves occurred
early Yesterday morning at Berne. this county.
For the last few weeks numerous robbercs have
occurred I'm the vicinity OF Berne. and hundreds
Of dollars worth OF valuables havc been stolen
citizens lay I'm wait for the thieves. and early
Yesterday morning fifteen men were seen to ap-
proach a store and begin their work The alarm
w,s given and n posse was soon upon them. The
thieves began shooting. and n running night en-
sued The robbers were driven To the woods near
nv About one hundred citizens attempted to cap
fiirc them in the woods. hut the robbers were well
armed and In the battle which followed made
their cscane one of tho gang. giving the name OF
(;uihart Brown. found fatally wounded. He
s now I'm ail here. but refuses to talk or tell any
thing about his companions Posses headed by
officers are vet giving chase and officers OF Wells
County will join them. The country Is Wild with
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
SIR E. J. MONSON AT THE ELYSEE.
HE PRESENTS HIS AMBASSADORS 5 CREDENTIALS
TO PRESIDENT FAURE WHO REPLIES IN
MOST CORDIAL MANNER.

TO PRESIDENT FAURE. WHO REPLIES IN
MOST CORDIAL MANNER.
Paris Dec s-Sir Edmund John Monson. who
was recently appointed British Ambassador TO
France in succession to Lord Duferin visited the
Palace of the Elysee to-day for the purpose OF
presenting his credentials TO President Faure lie
was received with the usual honors. The salon
where President Faure entertained him was hiied
with State officials. military and other omcers.
In the course of his speech presenting his credeh-
tials the Ambassador said that the Government OF
Great Britain was convinced Of the reciprocal dis
position OF the Government OF France 10 adhere
firmly to the maintenance and development OF the
good relations that had long subssted De-
tween the two countries adding much more OF the
same tenor.
In reply President Faure referred TO the Iehgth
OF the reign Of Queen Victoria. and said no oe-
sired to convey to Her Majesty his best wishes Tor
its longer dura ton He complimented Sir hdinund
Monson upon his career, and. continuing, said
Il am happy to find in the words htV' ~ =
heard fresh proof of the value tho TWO cOuHtil'H
agree in attaching to the main tenance III their re-
lations OF the frankness and loyal entente 50
necessary to the work of civilization ana pios,.S
which il is the destiny of both to perform fou
are welcome among US. and may rely entlreiy upon
my assistance In accomplishing your mission
interest attaches TO the words OF the PRESIDENT
in view OF the attack made yesterday upon breat
Rritain in the Chnmbcr Of Deputies. II is apparent
from the brief speech OF President FauTc that ne
has little sympathy with those VINO are cidcaVoi-
,ne IN nreyeut a better understanding DetWces
France and Great Britain.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
aI1 ANXIOUS FOR CURRENCY REFORM.

Indianapolis Dec (SpecaD.-fiugh H. Hanna
chairman of the sound money movement commit
tee said to-day that the movement Is meeting
with favor from all parts Of the country. Louis H.
Enrich the Colorado author. writes that he Will
bc present; Charles T.. Adams president OF the
Massachusetts, Board OF Trade heartily indorses
the movement for Il convention: James II. Sey-
mour OF New-York. writes that he is greatly In
tcrested In the work The latter says: DO you
ealize how much the East appreciates the Central
West since the election? The Central West can be
the great Industrial arbitrator between the East
West and South. and can remove all thought or
sectionalism for the future.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
MAJoR-eENERAL ANTONIO MACEO.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE MAN WHO Is SAID TO
HAVE DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY

SOMETHING ABOUT THE MAN WHO is SAID 10
HAVE DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY.
Antonio Maceo, a mulatto, was born In Santiago
oe Cuba In lH3 Perhaps, next to Geherai uo"io"
he has been The most conspicuous man IN inc re-
be!ion lie was a member Of General Gomezs
raY during the rising Of 1868 TO 1873. and was in
command OF large bodies OF tho Insurgents III the
department Of the Oriente at that time. lie han d
iarge plantation and a family In the Province Oh
santiago de Cuba When the rebellion OF 1910 was
ended General Naceo travelled in Central America
.nd there tried 10 raise troops TO Invade 'uoa '"
70 contest the Spanish sovereignty. In 1915 ne went
70 Hayu and urged the Government 10 hid 'hc
Vroan reyolution!sts in rising and to provide the
Insurgents with men and money. He was opnged
"nee Hayti, however, and went to Jamaica where
nc i'ved In retirement for considerable 'ime'
he subsequently, returned TO his plantation and
Ised there quietly for some time He was very
rDular In Santiago de Cuba for his generosity anu
~ bravery In 1890 he was visited by n squad OF
snefs and ordered TO report at once 10 the 'ap
s.'fneral Of Santiago de Cuba lhe'e he "
n'esced to leave Cuba at once and was escorted
~theoast
"an the present rebellion began GeneraI Mace"
10. ~ Florida. and he Joined large expeu'''o"
aen EFT Port Lmon on March y. on the s'e""-
'p Adirondack When approaching the CUBAN
aN' the Adirondack was chased by npai''s"
,-oi'war for eight hours and was obNged 10
-. D the leaders Fortune Island. one OF 'he
fmrsst Indies He made his way to Cuba with ms
liz th"Ss ~ and upon landing was put In commano 3a 4
Crh. Insurgents In the Province OF santiago uc
ssrss., numbering 1000. to hold command untii the
csai OF General Gomez
I'll! ts!"shai hai Maeeo was strikingly handsome man,
yes,.~ broad shOuldered. and about forty-seVe'
bsHiH;ss oId. He had been wounded In various re-
iv"s twentycight times.
bronssh before captain-General Martinez Campos
note tn % about peace In 1875 he sent the following
loaS, ~ Inc Spanish Premier: at Is impossible 10
6snti. any particulars from the enemys camp In
tCnin ~. Tor this region is commanded by An
0ensr.1a .1aaceo formerly II mule driver, but now q
vefv a. IL This man has much ambition ne Is
pfess, outrageous has incredible amount OF
hsdiioassei and under outward appearance OF
HSS.Ity ne hides milit3ry talent"
ctals ~ Deen The custom OF the Government on'-
Shcn.m III Havana to announce the death OF Maceo
resSr" ne defeated the Spanards. II has al.
49, neen announced six times that Maceo had
Sictor, ,'ied He may therefore have gained another
.has ~. over Weyler's troops. the news OF which
IcSsene YET reached us. The report that Maceo had
~ ~ tne trocha and Is moving eastward to join
~ S1sces or Gomez may have prompted the Span
- scsais TO circulate the statement that he
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
uopK FOR ONLY A FEW CONVICTS.

albany. Dec s (SpeciaD-Austin Lathrop. the
c,nor,ntendent OF Prisons. arrived here to-day from
h,s home at Corning for the purpose of examining
a letter which had been sent 10 him by the Prison
Commission. stating the occupations which 'he con-
,a,. ,n,v follow after January L. Superintendent
the, said later that he estimated that about l2J
nvicts could be put ut work In the manufacture
., the articles indicated by the Commission. Hc
,dar oi THE Prison Commission has suggested
~, ,.e manufacture blankets for the State fnsti-
tmtions I will make an investigation and learn 'he
presume we could employ about 300 convicts In
making blankets.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
raTHER AND DAUGHTER DEAD.
THEY PASS AWAY on TIE SAME NiGHT-HE HAD
nvrx EMPLOYED IN THE NAVY YARD

p.,r,ck Meehan and his daughter Mary both
,,s on Monday night within three hours OF each
other Meehan was old employe OF the Navy
n.nartment For some time before his dea'n ne
had been tho engineer OF the captain > ia"'o" ~
-. Nayv Yard In Brooklyn. About week ago
80 .s taken III with crysipelas and died IN the
Naval Hospital at 10 o'clock Monday night. AL l;i'
- his daughter Mary. twenty-five years Old
aiso nassed away she had been III with br'gh'
disease for long time ana ner "raa "au shoek "
nr,,a, wos horn In Ireland. but had lived In this
',n,rv ever since he was seven years Old Al me Inc
im" OF his death he was ps Ronnd
,eayes lanes Of the Tenth PTeenef bois ns
dead man arrunnmt,cth mi, Ward OF Brooklyn for many
In the ,,c was a member OF the Catholic Benevo-
lent Leg gion ,,hsr and daughter will take place
this the chnrch m of 70 he ana he
Clei ,,I he I'm Holy Cross Cemetery. Inc nome
~ osr'hs ,hn Weehans at No 30 Norm o~'o'os''
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
WILLIAM VESTS SENTENCE COMMITTED.
ur WAS A LIFE PRISONER AND MANY PRoMi-
xrxr MEN HAD INTERCEDED FOR HIM.

Albany Dec s-Govcrnor Morton to-day reduced
~ forty wears subject to commutaiion ior goo"
hobavior the sentence OF william West. or New
work CIV a llfe prisoner In Sing Sing THIS VIII
release West In September. 1895 when he VIII nave
., ,,..r,v-four wears. West n convict In
g., c,,g and I'm a quarrel he killed one OF his
,,uox-couylris He at that time nineteen
v.ars old The application has been on file for n
number Of years and Wests pardon v,i,,, h9s been
LII. Samuel l.. NJ Barlow. Charles A. Dana,
Thomas l. James, Chaunoey n pr9sw' Wt,1; JSmm y;
~ G,,ion Richard Croker August belmont. Gen
eraI r H. Spinola Bernard Biglln Perry belmont.
William Dorshcmcr. Robert Hail. several clergy
mon and others.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
CLYDE MEN GO on A STRIhE.

,,,v ,pv TO PREVENT THE SAILING or THE
ANCHOR AND ALLAS LINE STEAMERS
<,,.uxou, Dec s-The CLYDE seamen and hremen
. ore ont on strike. and are endeaVofihs 10
mrevent the sailing Of the Anchor and Allan Line
steamers The Shipping Federation profess 10 w
IN e mrnmnt departure OF these vessels at the
TO- 10 III" pt ppatns OF wages paid by the employers
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
THE PORTE DENIES A FLAG OtTRAdE

,,,or Dec S-Thc Turkish Legation au-
,, 10 following statement to-day:
..rhe reports published recently In some OF the
.n'oar napers. to w.t. that the American flag
naa heen torn down and tramped upon IN iiasKehy
ia, THAR Armenian village. are entirely with
ana III iSn,ion Thc Turkish Legation Is author
out ou, 20 rontradct catcgorically al scn statements
,ne T rcnorts as false and perhdiouS'
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
DISORDERLY AT AMMERSTETN'S
ARREST OF A COUPLE WHO MADE THEMSELVES
OBNOXIOUS ON THE ROOF GARDEN
AND IN THE STREET.

A young woman. urged on by her escort. persisted
in doing a skirt dance one OF the tables OF Ham,
merstelns Roof Garden az late hour last night. The
couple escorted down stairs TO the lobby. where
they resumed their fun and were then elected from
the building. The woman then amused herself by
trying to kick hats of passersby at Broadway and
Forty -nfth-st Policeman Cox advised her 10 go
home and her escort resented the interference and
tried 10 tear the shield from the officers With
Policeman Ross. Cox took the couple to the West
Forty -seventh-st. station. On the way there man
whom the prisoners addressed as Kip and who de-
cared that he was member Of the Board OF Health.
stopped the policemen and insisted upon their letting
the couple go. He was also arrested.
At the West Forty y-seventh-st. station the woman
described herself as Bessie Sutherland. seventeen
wears old OF No. 2l7 West Forty sixth-s, and her
escort raid he was Edward Brown. OF No. 3H wes.
one hundred nd forty hfth-st The man addressed
as 'Klpp' said he was Frederick Mason. OF Chicago.
New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
WRITING INSURANCE WITHOUT A LICENSE

punaIo Dec s-The international Fraternal Al
lance OF Baltimore ~ to be prosecuted on the ground
that the concern IL doing business Illegally in this
cltv Dlstrct-A Attorney Kcnnefck stated to United
Associated Presses reporter this morning that he Will
,sk IN. Grand Jury indct the Buffalo agent and
,a,v,ssers OF the Alliance for violating Section 600
~ tbc laws OF 1892 Superintendent OF Insurance
Pierce saws the Alliance has never received from the
Insurance Department any license or certificate or
authority and has never complied with the require
nents al the insurance law.