davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1898-02-24
RATE WAR Nv THE NORTHWEST
Trunk Line Passenger Agents Will Try to stop
the CuttinE OF Rates.

Two members OF the committee appointed at
the meeting of railroad passenger agents in this
city last week viii! go to Montreal tonight.
They are General Passenger Agent Roberts Of
tho Erie and General Passenger Agent Daniels
OF the New York Central. In Montreal they
will meet Passenger Traffic Manager McNicoll
of the Canadian Pacific and canvass the whole
situation with him in the cndeavor 10 find some
ground on which TO base an agreement for the
restoration OF passenger rates. The committee
is without authority 10 act and was appointed in
the interest OF harmony.
While such a result is not expected. there is
the danger, of course that if the fight continues
the roads in the JOINT Traffic Association may
be drawn into ii. and they will exert every effort
to prevent this. 1t is believed here that the
Chicago,St. Paul lines have been able TO main,
tain full tariff SO far, and the appointment of
tho committee has had a reassuring effect.
CHICAGO, Feb. .3.-All the W estern Passenger
Association lines will hold meeting tomorrow
to discuss the policy 10 be pursued in the rate
war declared by the Canadian Pacific. All the
st. Paul lines are in favor of meeting the Cana
dian Pacific rates. hut the Missouri River lines
are divided on the question. The Union Pacific
announced to-day that its interests required IL to
keep out of the entirely. Its action will
tend to influence other lines 10 try and contne
the cut rates 10 the st. Paul gateway.
The sun., 1898-02-24
THE SHOOTING OF 1INsMI7H OFT.
Mrs. Lnnser, Disturbed by skyiarkinE Men,
Said Have Fired Two shots.

Mrs l-nuser, Disturbed by skylnrkinE Men,
said TO Have Fired Two shots.
Mrs. Barbara Lanser OF IS Meserole street,
Williamsburg. was held without bail in the
Even Street Police Court yesterday. on a charge
of shooting. with intent to kill. Otto L. OFT, q
tinsmith, of 403 Broadway, Williamsburg. The
injured man is in st. Catharine's Hospital and
may die
OFT is a brother OF ex.Assemblyman and pres
ent Supervisor. Louis C. OFT. He is unmarried
and lives with his married sister. Mrs. Mary
Stone. great many stories of the trouble early
yesterday morning which resulted in the shoot
ing Of OFT are told, but the one which came out
In the course of the examination OF Mrs. Lanser
In court is probably the true one.
After OFT had been shot he was carried by his
friends into the house of Engine Company G.
on Scholes street. There the police found him.
A Sergeant of police is said to have asked OFT
who shot him.
My old woman" was what the Sergeant
understood OFT to say.
"You mean your wife r. asked tho Sergeant;
and although OFT was weak and his voice
faint his reply was understood to be an atfirma-
tive one.
From other persons who were hanging around
the police heard that OFT and some friends had
been in a disorderly house. To reporters who
asked for information about the case the police
said that OFT had met his wife in disorderly
house with strange man, that there had been II
fight, and that the woman had shot her hus sband.
The police were very much excited. and gave
out this story without first investigating II.
The Lansers are thoroughly respectable
family, They alone occupy the house at 10
Meserole street, and it is of irrcproachabe
character. OFT ana his friends had been drink.
ing in Gustave Wuest's saloon at Union ave-
nue. and Meserole street and were skylarking
through the streets. When they reached Ian.
gested that it would be good joke TO ring the
doorbel. 1t is alleged that they did this and
also kicked at the front door. One of the crowd
broke pane Of glass in the basement window.
Then woman appeared at the door. 1t is al.
legged that she was armed with revolver and
fired two shots after the roystercrs. One of the
bullets entered Otis back and he fell. He was
carried into the engine house and the police
were notified.
Mrs. Lanscr. who is so years old. her husband,
who is to, their two sons, and young woman
named Sadie Deffendale, who lives with the
Lanscrs. were all arrested. So were six young
men who were in Otis party. They were
wanted as witnesses
Mrs. Lanser's husband and all the others who
were arrested were held In 800 bail each as
witnesses. The revolver with which the shoot
ing is alleged to have been done was found, SO
tho police say. in bureau drawer in Mrs. Lam
scrs room.
The sun., 1898-02-24
Ex-MArOR PIERO ACCUSED.
Former Canton, o.. Official Accused or .
Post once Robbery.

CANTON, O.. Feb. CIV. J. Piero. ex.Mayor of
Canton and a leading attorney. is under arrest
on the charge OF having burglars tools in his
possession. This is preliminary to proceedings
in the United States Court. The arrest was
made at the instance of Post Office Inspector
A. =. Owen, who has been working on tho rob-
berry OF the Massillun Post Office on Sunday morn.
ing. A Cincinnati publishing house, having
used newspaper stamps which are never sold.
told the authorities that the stamps came to
them in a remittance from Piero.
Armed with a search warrant, the inspector
went through Picro's Office, finding more than
1000 stamps of one and two-ccnt denominations.
some odd stamps, fuse caps, keys, tools. and
from notorious crooks.
Detectives say that this is the beginning of the
arrest OF large gang OF crooks who have been
operating in Ohio and PENNSYLVANIA. William
Henderson and James Crowley OF this city arc
under arrest on suspicion and other arrests will
follow.
The sun., 1898-02-24
COMPETING FOR SOUTHERN TRADE.
81. Louis Merchants Doing Their Best to Car.
ture Business.

ST. LOUIS, Feb 23.-Press dispatches from
New York received here yesterday announcing
that business men there havo concluded addi.
tional arrangements with the Cromwell and
Mallory steamship lines for reduced rates for
Southwestern merchants have stimulated local
commercial circles to renewed efforts in tho
same direction. The Interstate Merchants As
sOciation and the st Louis Traffic Bureau have
secured special rates from all points covered By
the Western Passenger Association for mer-
chants who agree to buy their goods here.
A rate of one and one Il fth fare for the round
trip has been secured from Feb. 20 TO 27, March
TO 13 and April 3 to TO-
Other Inducements to Southern buyers have
also been offered by local Wholesale jobbers.
such as scaling periods OF credit according 70
the value OF purchases made and also giving
additional reductions of trip expenses or paying
them altogether according to the amount of
the Texas trade.
The sun., 1898-02-24
GEORGE ". sIMMoNs's DEATH.
Case OF Suicide or Accidental Death st Hts
Summer Home in Hnhnnt.

LYNN, Mass, Feb. 23.-The tragic death Of
Millionaire George w. Simmons yesterday a.
his summer home in Nahant remains very
much Of q mystery in spite of the tact that to-
day Mr.. Simmons's two brothers expressed
their belief that the shot that killed him vas
fred by accident. Tho indications strongly
point 10 suicide. The theory Of murder has
bcen advanced but it seems to be untcnable
Shortly before noon yesterday MIR. Simmons ap-
pearcd at the house and told who he was. 1t
was an unusual thing for him to visit his sum
mcr home in the winter, and.although Caretaker
Charles r. Smith had been in charge of the
place for about two years he had never met Mr..
Simmons.
Mr. Simmons asked for a rife which he knew
was in the house. and when it was brought to
him with ammunition he said that he intend
ed to go hunting. He went along the shore
toward Nahant village. and several shots were
heard in the distance. On his return he visit
ed tn, different buildings on the property, and
later asked Mrs. Smith to prepare luncheon
for him When he had finished his meal ho
went into another room and sat down to smoke
and % read anewsPaper ., 49,. u.
Of a gun from the room where Mr.. Simmons
had besn sitting. Mr.. Smith was returning TO
the house and entered the room with his wife,
Mr.. Simmons was found lying on the floor in n
dying condition with the rife across his body
Mr.. Smith hurried away for physician but
when he returned from Lynn Mr.. Simmons was
dead.
Medical Examiner Pinkham viewed the body
and after a careful examination said that he
was unable to say whether death resulted from
accident or suicide. There WAS nothing in his
clothing to throw any light on the cause In
the pockets were found only few cents in
change, and this is regarded as being unusual
for man in his position. The police think that
Nr. Simmons was examining his gun when it
was discharged.
Mr.. Simmons was at the head of the Oak Hall
clothing concern, which was founded by his
grandfather. He leaves widow and two
brothers,
The sun., 1898-02-24
PLACE FOR JOHN 4. DooNER.
CommiasioneF BRADY Appoints Him superin-
teHdent or buildings.

teHdent or HuildinEs.
The appointment of John A. .Dooner as Super
intendent of Buildings for Manhattan and the
Bronx was announced yesterday by Commis-
sioner Brady. Mr.. Dooner is well.known
builder and contractor. He was born in this city
IN 1858, and is n graduate OF Grammar School
3D. He served his apprenticeship as a mason
from 1867 TO 1871 with Arnold Il Van Dosen.
attending the Cooper Institute trade schools.
after which he became foreman for the firm.
lie supcrintended the construction of the Dime
Savings Bank building, broadway and Thirty
second street the Mechanics and Traders
National Bank. and several other buildings. In
1881 he engaged in business on his own account,
erecting the building 10, ~, and IA Grand
street. and conducted large building operations
on the upper west side.
Subsequently. under a contract with tho
Panama Canal Company, he constructed more
than 800 houses, a hospital which cost 81, 600.
600 and other structures between Colon and
Panama. At Colon lie built mansion for Do
Lesseps at a cost OF $SO0.OO0. While in South
America he built tho residence OF the President
OF Ecuador at Guayaquil. In Peru he construct
cd the abutments OF the Verugas bridge. as
well as the penitentiary and the extension OF
the palace.
City Clerk Sculy has appointed NJ. J. Collins
his deputy clerk for Richmond.
The sun., 1898-02-24
BOROUGH OF QUEENS.
January Salaries Paid TO Watsr Department
Employ ees-Deputy city Clerk Appointed.

The clerks. engineers. iremen. and laborcrs
employed in the Long Island City Water De-
partment received their January salaries yes
tcrday. 1t was the first money they had re-
cevod in six months.
Thomas =. McGraw. former City Clerk OF
Long Island City, assumed the duties of Deputy
City Clerk for the borough OF Queens yesterday
having been appointed to that position by City
Clerk Scully.
The Borough Board of Education met at
Flushing yesterday. Mr.. Spaeth, a member
from Long Island City, reported the transfer OF
seven teachers in the schools OF that city.
Spaeth alleges that ut a teachers examina ion
held In 1896 the competitors had secret infor-
nation as to tho questions. He produced affi-
dayits containing information TO that effect
The matter of appointing a Superintendent
and three associate superntendents OF schools
was deferred for future action on account of
Leavitt announced that he had consulted with
the Comptroller and was informed that the
The sun., 1898-02-24
PRIMARY ELECTION LEGISLATION.
'urr OF the independents 10 AVree IL the
WHY stumbling HlocL In the way,

"mOilhg HlocL In the Way.
albany, Feb. @3.-Gov. Black had another
~ Is conference On primary election legislation
sr,H WIN senator LexOw and John Sabine
G. ~Ca"' '" inc tounty Committee's Primary Law
~ hH''ee. They took luncheon together at
N. o'u'INc mansion and were in session at
sri, "p,'o! aierward for two hours. Mr..
ma,' ooJecied 10 the Kentucky plan of enroll.
purnoa. ~ 'e lne OF registry for general election
1tss,,' o"t II Is understood that this will be
on ol any b!!l that lie passed as IL ia the one
n,osa''-i 'he Independents are united. Anotber
az a 'O" 'Iai Was discussed was'the insertion
tomo .o stringent test for enrolment than
~ ~ VI The bills contain. II was nractioaI,,,
Be reuuir"i ,he applicant for enrolment shall
party /. i ~ make oath thgt he belongs TO the
'SLs The ticket VAN 'Is ooJccts ana VIII
Root bro,',iit' OF a primary bill which EIihu
Of recen, 1Eul Eul NJ here yesterday as The nutcnina
the Union II.,ottNres between representatives. OF
three and I"sun !lih, the Committed OF Fifty
Il p.cmto over In detail. one festwre - 3Sii hii
cast uilaF. 1t recognizes nniy snh VI tnlb uill
ton H. 'ehl. Oi the total vote al the last eIec.
h0nistt s"a Nhtlnnal democracy the prohibj
than q " Hsr me tht socialist Labor party cast less
important nr,, 'rni, u the vote last year. In one
Expressed by Mucu1sr the bill meets the views
1hsi hs That represcntation in ns,, ~
district Al t5u either on the vote cast in each
eiAtricts tHe wy lasl election or on the nnmher III
declsion 4. HiIs,spectiye Of the party vote Tha
The siluRria," Az WIN the party authorities.
y becominS @ regarding primary leRislAtion
more mixed day by day. This Is
The sun., 1898-02-24
FIRE THREATENS SKELETONS.
Insurance Patroimen Scared by Specimens Q,
EmbnlminE.

EmbnlminE.
The insuraLce patrolmen who responded to Q
fire alarm from the Big Seven" seven- story
factory building at "a University place, yester-
day morning before daylight. received a shock
when they turned on the gas in q second.floor
rear room into which they had gone to " cover
up row of skeletons grinned at them from
the wall, and in the corner stood two dead men
holt upright, scanning them with CLASSY eyes.
The patrolmen slammed the door with a. yell,
but got their senses back when they read tho
sign outside, United States School Of Embalm-
ing. The dead men werc specimens kept on
hand to show the durability of the embalming
process.
The fire did SIC 900 damage. chiefly in George
G. Heimord inger's shirt factory on the sixth
floor and the Toledo Press art rooms on the
seventh floor. 1t was discovered by boy who
slept IN Burton $ undertaking shop on the ground
The sun., 1898-02-24
SILVER HEELS BACK AGAIN.

Sho Went TO Barbados Tor MoIasses in Plao0
rrto Cuba as n Filibuster.
The little schooner Silver Heels. which sailed
from this port about two months ago. loaded.
according to rumor. with lot of ammunition
and arms for the Cuban revoutionists. returned
yesterday with 900 barrels OF molasses from
Barbados. Her skipper declared that she was
peaceful commercial craft and that she had
no: been filibustering. She stopped only short
IIaso, IIine nt ouaEahtihG ahG mroceeded 10 New
cargo TO Stoddard, Gilbert * Co OF that place.
A revenue cutter was sent in pursuit OF her
when IL was SUSPECTED that she was bound for
Cuba. The cutter did not catch her, chiefly be-
cause the marshals on the cutter were not much
interested in the chase.
The sun., 1898-02-24
SHOT By HIS OWN REVoLVER.
Express Messenger MortAlIy Wounded In the
Now York Central Money Train.

NV HoFL trhtF"I Noht5 IFAIu'
Morris V. Bancroft. a messenger long In the
service of the American Express Company, shot
himself mortaly while in charge OF the safe Of
New York Central money train" from tho
West yesterday morning. The rules of the COM
pany require the messengers in charge OF
press cars to carry revolvers in outside belts,
where they may be got at readily. Bancrofts
train had just come in. and the express car had
been switched over to the Madison avonuo
track. lie was bending over the safe. taking
In his cloth ing and was jerked out OF the holster.
1t fell on its BANNER anu went of. The bullet
struck him just above the navel and went clear
through him.
The expressmen called up the Flower Hos
pital on the office telephone and an ambulance
took the wounded messenger there. Laparot-
omy was resorted TO at once as his one chance
for life. He survived the operation, but sank
rapidly. lie was still alive last evening. Ban
croft is Al years old. His home is In Buffalo.
The sun., 1898-02-24
Cowboy Herman Hiuu Goes Free.

Herman Him.. the Texas cowboy who shot
and killed his brother-in-law. Otto Diehl. at ~
Morgan avenue ON Jan. Is. was discharged by
Judge Hurd in the County Court in Brooklyn
yesterday. At his trial last week the jury failed
TO agree upon verdict. They stood o TO for
acquittal. District Attorney Maresn moved for
KINGS discharge on the ground that II would be
impossible 10 convict him ON the evidence tho
prosecution had in its possession.
The sun., 1898-02-24
NEW ELEVArED ROAD STATION
PIatropm Room at II0th street and Eighth
Avenue Doubled.

A new elevated railway station was opened to
the public at ll6th street and Eighth avenue at
daylight yesterday morning. Tho new platform
Is 200 feet long and is a duplicate OF the old
one which hereafter will be used as stopping
place for the Sixth avenue trains, while the
Ninth avenue trains will stop at the new station
While each platform Ia separated from the
other by the stairways. which are between the
tracks. both can be reached by the elevator,
which was built years ago TO carry passengers
to the roadway, the station being ON one OF tho
highest points on the line OF the road.
The sun., 1898-02-24
CLAIM HER As THEIR DAUGHTER.
MIR. and MRS. Turion Say the Girl Rescued
from Indiana 10 Theirs.

SIOUX FALLS S. d., Feb. 23.-John M. Turlon
and wife of Moose Mountain. British Northwest
Territory, arrived here to-day, after travelling
nearly 1000 miles. to identify the girl who was
recently rescued from the Sioux Indians Both
say that she is their daughter and steps are now
being taken to establish her identity beyond
question. Turlon and his wife are English and
live on ranch 500 miles west OF Winnipeg.
Their child disappeared when years oid. and
trace of her was never found until they saw tho
girls picture IN the papers. They corresponded
with the rescuers. obtained a photograph, and
started at once for Sioux Falls.
The sun., 1898-02-24
CAPITAL RAISED TO $4,000, 900.

Coney Island ana BrooLIyn Rond Shareholders
Double the CompnnS's Capital stock.
The shareholders OF the Coney Island and
Brooklyn Railroad met yesterday and voted TO
increase the capital stock of ~ 200 900 to $2.-
100000. About year ago the company leased
aneI ane hfGohym n Iity ana Hewtown halr2sd' gen
gotintions are now under way for the complete
consolidation of these roads and the increase in
the capital stock OF the Coney Island and Brook
lyn is the most important step so far taken in
that direction. With The union OF both roads
there is purposed the erection of "A large depot
at the island and many other improvements.
The sun., 1898-02-24
Ansther Attack on OIsOmArxarins.

TOPEKA, Kan. Feb. 23.-The Kansas State
Creamery Association to-day appointed com
mittee to present to the next Legislature bill
TO prevent packing houses from coloring oleo-
fund OF $1,000 10 assist in securing the passage
OF such measure. Kansas and Indiana are
now the only States in which the Law permits a
close resemblance ms to color and shape between
The Artillclal and the genuine article.
The sun., 1898-02-24
Foster Released ON $4,000 Hall.

William Riley Foster, who is under indict-
ment on a charge of forging mortgages BY which
it is alleged he stole Sl93,OOO from the Gratuity
Fund OF the Produce Exchange, was released
from the Tombs yesterday, bail being furnished
in the sum OF $50, 900. Samuel w. Milbank of
IL Pine street furnished the bail, giving as se
curity his residence. 1873 East Thirty-eighth
street, which ho swore was worth 100000 over
SnG SnGd sSove al nSgm6r9mGes 10 HPoa II: The bail
i. OF the General Sessions.
The sun., 1898-02-24

ATLANTA. Ga, Feb. "3,Arnod Bumstcad. a
wcllknown tcnchcr, was defendant in II law
suit here to-day, and coming into Judge Berry q
court spoke to ono or two friends and then
seated himself. Half an hour afterward a
bailin called the attention OF the Court 10 tho
peculiar glaze Of llnmstoad's eyes. On exam
ination IL WAS discovered that he was dead
The court broke up III disorder.
The sun., 1898-02-24

OAKLAND Cal. Fob. 23-Leon Labonde Jr..
a young New Yorker. who has resided here for
a year. to-day hogan suit for divorce against his
wife, Ruby, who is now in North Dakota. Ho
accuses her OF dCsertion.
They were married in North Dakota In 1905
and parted a year later in Rochester. y. y.
Lahonde'a father. il is said. is q MeallhY man.
The sun., 1898-02-24
supreme Cenrt Decl.lon Aavrr.s % cllaora.

TRENTON, Feb. 23.-Tho Supreme Court to.
day refused the application of Senator DAILY for
mRndamus to compel the Hudson County
Court to amend its records in the case OF Ed
ward Clifford. Daly wanted the records
changed TO show that Clifford was tried by
struck jury. SO that application might be made
for Gnother writ of error and the case reviewed
Clifford has been reprieved till March 15, when
Judge EppincOtt will resentence him.
The sun., 1898-02-24
Vale Nol LlLsl, "a Meot OXFORD ON .he Track.

NEW HAVEN. Feb. % President Isaac y.
Swift OF the Yale Track A. \. was asked to-
night whether Yale would acrept the invitation
OF the Oxforl University 4. A. 10 either Yale or
Harvard for a track meet this yelr. lie said:
There is no PROSPECT of u. Yale has taken no
move IN that direction. We shS!i nave = raIher
ward and tine regular intercollegiate game"
President Swift said that the negotiations for
the meet between OXfOri and thG American
intercollegiate a. A. had been ,unductod largely
by President Shirash vi Cornell Oh behalf Of tho
latter association.
The sun., 1898-02-24
HIS NAME rs roo SPANISH.
So Charles BoLn Has Applied TO the Courts %
Have IL Changed.

Charles Boka. said TO be student at the New
York Dental College, has obtained permission
from Justice Conlan OF the City Court to change
his name TO Charles Bokay. He declares that
his present name gives the impression that he
Is Spaniard. which he is not. He says that no
has no sympathy with anything Spanish and
has q pronounced pre- judIco against Spain.
The sun., 1898-02-24
FIREMEN's UNIFORMS TO BE ALIKE
Contract Awarded fer Badges and Buttons for
BrookIyu's and Queens's Force.

Fire Commissioner Scannell awarded con-
tracts yesterday for badges. buttons, and insig-
MIA OF rank for the hremen OF the borough of
Brooklyn and Queens, 30 rs TO have them
conform in appearance to the hremen OF this
borough.
The Waterbury Button Company got the con.
tract for the German silver uniform buttons for
SlOI6. Sheriff Thomas j. Dunn was an unsuc-
cessful competitor his bid being $1,000.
y. Stafford of Brooklyn bid $8O6 10 supply the
contract.
The sun., 1898-02-24
SHE WAS SHIPPED IN n TRUNK.
Her Cramped Quarters Took ALI tho Romance
Out OF Her Elopement.

SAN ANTONIO. Tex. Feb. 23.-A despatch from
Lerdo. Mexico. says that a remarkable elope-
ment has just been frustrated there. Senorita
Juanita Beran daughter of prominent citizen.
secreted herself in a trunk and arranged with .
servant to have 1t shipped to Torreon where
she was to join her lover Enrique SerreRa, and
the two were to como to Texas and be married.
Before the trunk reached Torreon the girl
was suffering so terribly that she made her
presence known. She was released and taken
to a hosptal. Serrega, her lover, was arrested
and is now in prison.
The sun., 1898-02-24
I.nltsr xIheaI ArrI1as nsra.

Fifty.soVen carloads of wheat, believed to be
the first of the grain being shipped TO this port
by tho Letter interests OF Chicago. arrived yes.
terday over the Lehigh Valley Railroad and
were examined by the Produce Exchange in
spectors. The wheat Is TO DO loaded AZ once
upon SteamAhIps for Europe.
The sun., 1898-02-24
Los. Her Ruaaer In . Gale.

The Nova Scotian schooner Shenandoah,
bound from Porto Rico for New Haven, put into
this port yesterday for repairs. She encountered
she lost her ruddeT' % mainsaii and iib and sprung
her foremast. She rugged q jury rudder and
proceeded under shortened sAil after III" gale
The sun., 1898-02-24

A temporary injunction was served on the
Board Of Public improvements yesterday re-
straining 1t from executing three-y ear contract
with the Citizens Water Company OF Newtown
for supplying water TO Long Island City. Tho
injunction was granted by Justice Gaynor OF tho
Supreme Court upon tho application OF eN. Mayor
Gleason, and II was made returnable on Monday.
The sun., 1898-02-24

ALBANY. Feb. 23.-The Canal Investigation bill
was signed by Gov. Black to-day just before he
left the Capitol to go to the Executive Mansion
for luncheon. The Governor has not appointed
the commission called for by the bill.