Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-01-27
ELEVATOR BURNED.
A Disastrous Fire Experienced in
East st. Louis.
OPIUM JOly7IS1S BLACKNAILED.


ST. LOUIS, Jan. 20. One of the most
disastrous fires experienced in st.
Louis in many years started about $3.50
last night in the Union elevator, East
st. Louis, the largest building Of its
kind here. Before it had burned itself
out property to the estimated value Of
81, 1000, 900 was destroyed. The elevator
and contents, supposed to be not far
from 5000, 900 bushels Of grain, the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy freight
house adjoining, with ten cars Of
merchandise, IS car loads of corn, and
number Of small dwellings were
burned, together with the stables Of
the St. Louis Transfer company. The
fire was discovered by the elevator
Waterman some distance from the
engine room, aud before he could turn
in an alarm the flames had got such a
start, being famed by strong north
west wind, that they soon enveloped
the whole building. The elevator,
which had capacity of more than
100000 bushels, was about full Of
grain, a greater part of it being corn
owned by st. Louis firms. This made
an intensely hot fire and was soon
ablaze all over; the strong wind sent
sparks and burning embers for at least
aquarter of mile.
OPIUM JOINTIsTs BLACKMAILED.
CHICAGO, Jan. rs. The committee
from the state senate investigating
charges against the police force, heard
testimony yesterday tending to show
that regular police system Of black
mail on the Chinese and white opium
joints exists. Several Chinese ap-
peared before the committee, but, with
one or two exceptions, said they were
afraid to testify. Sing Tin, proprie-
tor of an opium joint, said that If Gov.
Tanner or Mayor Harrison would guar
antee him protection he would tell all
he knew. He said that, within the
past ten days, the police had visited all
the opium joints and warned the keep
ers against giving testimony before
the senate committee. Sing Tin crea-
ted somewhat Of sensation by stat
ing he and Sam May had once been
imprisoned for Is days on the North
side for talking too much" and that
Sam May had been compelled to leave
the city. Moy Tin said that most
opium joint proprietors paid $40 a
week for police protection. He, how
ever, paid but So a week.
ATTEMPTED HoLDUP.
ST.. LOUIS, Jan. 26. About noon YES
terday tall thin, well.dressed young
man walked into the private office of
Judge Madill, president of the Union
Trust company, and, pointing a re-
volver at the gray-haired financier's
head, demanded 20, 900 in cash, threat
ening to kill him if the money were
not paid. Judge Madilps GOODNESS
saved him. He engaged the man in
conversation until detectives arrived
and handcuffed him. The would-be
robber whose name is unknown, was
taken to the Four Courts and locked
up. When searched small bottle of
nitro-glycerine was found in his
pocket. The police spent all the aft
ernoon trying to get him to reveal his
identity, but failed The young man
who made the assault isabout 20 years
of age, with very dark complexion,
large, bright eyes, gold-rimmed spec
tacles and walk that approaches
stride. He wore long overcoat and
peculiar looking cap.
TRIPLE LOUISIANA TRAGEDY.
VIDALIA, La, Jan. 26. On the For
est plantation five miles below here
yesterday, Charles Beard, Jr., white,
aged IS, was shot through the stom-
ach and fatally wounded by negro.
While lying mortally wounded Beard
shot and killed his assailant and an
other negro. The trouble grew out of
an assault upon Charles Beard, ST.,
father of the boy, by party of three
negroes, earlier in the day. Beard,
senior. placed his son to guard house
in which the negroes had congregated
while he went for officers. An inmate
of the house shot young Beard, who
opened fire with shotgun, killing two
of the party, and then was dubbed to
death by negro woman. A tug with
a party from Natchez, where the
Boards are well known, and from this
place, left for the scene late in the
afternoon upon receipt of the news of
the tragedy. Feeling is high and the
remaining negroes of the gang may re-
ceive rough handling If captured.