davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
WHEELING MEN LOSE
TfIRIY=FIYE THOUSAND
Dollars in Stock Speculation Syndicate Through
the Failure of Broker Erastus Ford of New
York. Efforts to Force Restitution.
WAS A TWO ER=CENT A MONTH SCHEME,

II has just leaked out that q number
o! Wheeling business men have been
yctImzed by smooth talking invest
nent-inducIng New York broker, who
was n recent visitor in the city and
worked up his scheme. His unsuspect-
Ing victims had the utmost confidence
in the New Yorker, who came armed
with credentials that stamped him
with the Al seal of responsibility.
The brokers' visit resulted in the
Wheeling men putting up $4,000 In cool
cash, which was taken to New Yolk.
The days passed but nothing was sus-
Iected. Then the days grew into weeks
and nothing was heard from the smooth
New Yorker. Some of the investors be-
came nervous, and efforts were made to
get line on what the promoter was
doing with the $3.50 Letters and t,l-
tgrams failed to bring satisfactory re-
turns, and the nervousness OF the
Wheeling men became n scare.
Then Wheeling man visiting In New
York began an investigation. and the
fact that they had been duped wac
brought to light.
Speculation by Machine.
Dut 10 take up the thread OF the
story at the start, it should be stated
That Erastus Ford. New York broker.
came 10 Wheeling last spring and
stopping at the Mcclure. remained sav-
eral days. He had with him machine
by the operation OF which he claimed to
be able 10 "woris' the New York stock
exchange in speculating on the board.
The machine was his own invention,
and the result Of q life's experience In
SPECULATION methods. he explained. To
Wheeling men who became interested
he showed n letter from the Stevens
School Of Technology, endorsing the
machine. He also spoke OF having got
into controversy with New York news
laQaIs which had claimed his machine
to be a fake, to which lie had respcnd-
ed with an offer to, give $4,000 to oEy-
one who. after Investigation could show
Hup rs q fake.
Capt. Devore Investigated.
Among others who investigated
was Captain D. B. Devore, Of
the United States army, the officer who
was in charge of the expedition into
Russia three years ago for the purpose
Of bringing reindeers for use in the
k'ondlke. The captain enthused over
The machine, as did his brother, Col.
J. Harvey Dcvore. OF Wheeling. both of
whom placed money in the hands of
Ford for speculation In the stock en-
Change. For some time the Devores
drew two per cent month on their In
'eStmcnt. so when Ford and his ma
chine came to Wheeling last spring,
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10

Los ANGELES. CAL, Dec. s.-Tha
local dispatcher Of the Santa Fe road
announces that all trains are on tlinc
and that the strike will In no way in
terferc With traffic. Hc declared that
In all, less than sixty operators have
gone out west OF Albuquerque. and Of
these forty belonged to the division be-.
tween Albuquerque and Mojave, six to
the San Joaquin Valley division, and
five or SIX to the Southern California
division. In this city. only four opera
tors quit work. The strikers places
have been filed in every instance, ao-
cording to the dlspatcher's statement.
There Is great reluctance on the part
of the members of the order who have
good positions to go on the sympathet-
ic strike
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10

he cited what the Devores had
got out Of their investment. Twen-
ty-iour per cent n year Is, cf
course, quite an inducement, aud
in short time Wheeling men had put
up SS5,OOO or $4,000 with Ford for spec.
ulation In stocks. Ford gave notes for
the money and agreed to pay two per
cent month to the Investors. For a
short time the investors here got their
dividends and were congratulalIns
themselves upon having one OF the best
Of good things" Then the dividends
ceased, and the Wheeling men began to
grow nervous.
The Denouement.
Bernie McMechen. the we'll known To-
cal merchandise broker and capitalist.
who had invested In the scheme, went
to New York few weeks ago and
heard that Ford had made bad fall
ure. Telephoning to Wheeling, another
local man went on to New York and to-
gether they entered upon an investiga-
ton. They confronted Ford. who ad-
mitted that he was In trouble, and ex-
planned that his partner, Edward Ford,
the financial man Of the firm, had died
recently, and 1t had then developed
that the latter had been speculatIng In
dependently with the firms money and
lost all. Ford promised to make rc5ti-
tuition, but the Wheeling men were not
satisfied and hired lawyer to look
deeper into the matter. Their inyesti-
gution developed certain matter that
gave them q hold on Ford, and COM
PEELED him to come to their terms, which
were that he give notes bearing G per
cent interest for the money that had
been lost through the brothers wrong
doing, Ford, although he failed, is
said to be the son-in-law Of a New
York millionaire. and the Wheeling
people hopeUto be able to force the
payment Of the notes!
Had Been Exposed.
At an carly hour this morning, the
following was received from the New
York Journal by member of the In
telligencer editorial staff:
NEW YORK. Dec. 10. 1900.
On July q. 1899. We published story, fully
exposing this Erastus L. Ford. Do we
understand that your people were victim
lied since that time? Give exact date of
Ford's visit to your city.
NEW YORK JOURNAL.
Upon investigation 1t is learned that
Erastus E. Ford. of New York, arrived
In Wheeling on March .. 1900. and reg
istercd at the Mcclure, where for sew
oral days he remained and had on exh!-
bition his stock specializing machine.
Here he was visited by large number
of Wheeling men, a. number Of whom
entered his speculation syndicate and
were ultimately victimzed. as related
above.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
Running Smoothly.

GALVESTON, Texas, Dec. Cd. J.
Polk, general manager of the GUT.
Colorado & Santa Fe railroad. tonight
made the following statement: AT S
o'clock this afternoon everything wan
running smoothly. We arc gaining
ground rapidly In the matter OF install
Ing now agents and operators and will
continue TO do so even more rapidly
from now on. Our business Is not SUI
fcrlng In tho slightest degree"
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10

the British minister. have received in
structlons from their governments
agreeing to the joint note. proposed at
the last meeting. Another meeting will
probably be called for Tuesday next.
Should the British minister have re-
celved his Instructions to sign the joint
note by that time communication will
be Immediately opened with Prince
Ching and Ii Hung Chang, who are in
daily touch with the court by the Chi
neSe telegraph. ti7EahA
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10

| got there the Foster plunged In an
awful sea and dove down nose first.
There was not cry from u soul OF the
crew OF eight she carried Just MS she
pitched down. / saw n man on her fore
castle with n lantern. The tow line
parted when shc went down. The storm
was so heavy that could not put about
to hunt for any one. There would not
have been II particle of usc anyhow,
because In those tremendous seas no
one could have lived u minute, even Il
the water had not been Ice cold. Had
there been u cry for help, l would have
turned anu riskcd my ship, but It was
no Use. l had all could TO to make
port In safety myself"
Cause Of the Sinking.
When asked for IN opinion us to tho
c'tuse Of the sinking OF the Foster. Cap
tain Ashley said that he could not tell.
apparently everything was nll right
aboard her until she took that fatal
dip. There had not been single Sig
nal OF distress from her up to that
time"
There IL from eighty tn, 100 feet OF
water where tho wreck occurred, and
there is little hope of over being able to
locate the place. The Foster was val
und 1T $4,000, but there was no insur-
ancc, as II elapsed December l. Tho
cargo was not insured. Tho llru.saviug
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
Strike Being Folt,

ALBUQUERQUE. n. NJ, Dec. 9.-Tha
strike Of the Santa Fe operators Ia bo.
ginning to be felt here. Passenger.
trains are all several hours lato to-
night and while there are plenty of op-
orators here. freight trains are tied up
waiting for orders at several stations
where men have gone out. The closing
OF the shops here will throw six hum
dred men out of work and greatly In
terfere with business.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
Ready to Settle with China.

LONDON, Dec. 1O.-"General Chat
fee wrote letter to Count Won Walder-
sce,' says the Pekin correspondent of
the Morning Post, complaining OF tho
removal by French and German troops
OF the astronomical Instruments from
the wall of Pckin. but the letter was
returned to him on account of Its tone,
He has notified the foreign ENJOYS that
all persons are prohibited passing the
American guard on entering the south
gate OF the palace. owing to the trc-
Qucnt cases Of looting. The ministers
are offended at this individual as
sumptlnn OF authority
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
QUEEN VIC
Wires Her Nephew, King of Portu-
gal, Thanking Him for Courtesies.
British Squadron Toasted.

Wires Her Nephew, King Of Portu-
gal, Thanking Him for Courtesies.
British Squadron Toasted.
LISBON. Dec. 9.-King Carlos has
received from Queen Victoria the fol-
lowing telegram In response to the one
sent by his majesty yesterday:
II am greatly touched by your kind
telegram. l sincerely thank you, my
dear nephew. for 1t and for the good
wishes you entertain toward me and
my people. 1t Is again with the great
est pleasure that recognize the cordial
and friendly understanding between
Portugal and England"
After cordial farewells to the Portu-
guese officials and an exchange OF sa-
lutes the British squadron sailed for
home.
AT Saturdays banquet on board the
British battleship Majestic, when King
Carlos, Queen Marie Amelie and Prince
Louis Philippe, together with members
Of the cabinet and other disnltaries,
were entertained by Vice Admiral Sir
Harry Hnldworth Rawson, the Portu-
suesc premier. Senior l.. Luciano de
Castro. toastinG Queen Victoria and
Great Britain saluted the alliance
that has long existed In treaties and
has been confirmed in recent acts"
He said the Significance Of the alll-
ance was ian assurance that our. rights
will be respected and our. nominations
maintained"
Assi Thanked the Government.
Sir H. G. MacDonnell, the British
minister, in responding, thanked the
government of King Carlos for the
friendly attained maintained with such
correctness toward Great Britain during
the war in South Africa, which hus been
warmly appreciated by the government
Of Queen Victoria"
THE confirmation of the alliance
which unites us indissolubly," contln-
ued the British minister" is there In the
presence Of the channel squadron. An
Client ties are drawn closer by recent
events. The British government de-
sires that n firm and durable alliance
may be ever maintained"
In conclusion he proposed "the pros
perty of Portugal and the happiness OF
the royal family.
Senior Villaca, minister OF marines
and the colonies. who responded, said:
1--WE welcome our allies. Here (point-
ing to the British ilag), Is the British
flag. Let us salute 1t with respect and
affection. rs the Portuguese flag was
saluted at Komntipoort. These two sa-
lutcs are public affirmation OF the al
lance"
Senior Villaca toasted the British
squadron.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
FOX MURDER
Related by an Intelligencer Cores
pondent--Body Of Unfortunate Man
Sent to Pittsburgh.

Related by an Intelligencer Cores
pondent--Body of Unfortunate Man
Sent to Pittsburgh.
special Dispatch TO the IntelliSencor.
NEW MAItTINSVILLE. W. Va.
Dec. 9.-The remains of Charley Fox
who was shot by Frank MaIse. a full
account OF which appeared in the In
te!Iigcnccr was brought here to-day
and shipped to Pittsburgh. Squire J..
T. Morgan came In with the remains,
ana II was from him your correspond
m learned the following particulars.
I"" ana haiSC had had trouble on
.nIee diHerrnt occasions, and met In
sae e Eooinc hotel ut PinegrOvc. Thurs
auE' Ihey talked over their troubles,
apparently In friendly manner, and
Wook Wok Il Few drinks together at the bar.
"l"Ise stated that he was going, and
vent out OF the saloon. stood on the
Iorch In front and talked with some
men who were with him. He came back
mo the saloon, and sat down on the
ZAP ot man named Craigg
rpS went to the slot machine and
E'Iced MS elbow on It. resting his head
~ ~, MS hand. and with his back to Maisc.
sI SGo went toward him and commenced
mHs' and did not cease until he had
emntied his revolver, Fox moved into
S"o'iler room and by this time had his
wyoLFrr out. MaIse ran, Fox following
WH'n 70 the door and firing two shots at
,sH TsnH without effect. Fox sat down on
", %s HooFStep and remarked that he was
III y's ior' but was able to walk to his
;t.'l'' t.a' where he died In thIrty-six hours
''om the effects of HIS wounds.
~ post mortem examination showed
s"s., "at one ball entered the left breast.
S..orhihf nut behind the right shoulder, n
second ball entered his right side: pass
. snS 'hrough the body, cutting the liver,
Is. %ri INC third ball passed through the
,,, S'ihcq. piercing the right kidney and
''!nliIE cut at the back.
,,i, ,iH,l,"r the shooting. Maisc went five
,r,N,a ,r,, up the creek to Lot. where he wns
ESulhlhr. ana Mt this time no arrests
"o'e been made.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
@ssoaaSas&aa @0Q9@@a~@0@o~e Observation-Disclosures
.FILIPINOs RECEIVING OUTSIDE AID.

LONDON, Dec 1o"Reable mail advices from Manila
that the position of the Americans becoming increasingly hope
les the Hong Kong correspondent of the Daily Mail
being freely subscribed and ammunition
imported for the insurgents The Americans will capture
rebel cntraband running While in order fater the
official view the trade is Aourhing goods permitted be
freely imported into MANILA they distributed from that point
to the insurgents who numbering pgng all native SYM
pathizers with Americans"
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
Trade With Denmark.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 0-Mr. Frank
II. Hitchcock. chief of tho section of
foreign markets OF the agricultural de-
partmcnt has Issued n special bulletin
on the subject OF the trade OF Denmark,
which has developed steadily in exports
of dairy and other farm products. Tho
bulletin Suys tho foreign trade OF Dem
mark during 1893 amounted to moro
than S20o, 900.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10

found dead this morning IN his room
ut the Red Lion hotel. He worked all
day yesterday, returning Mt 10:3O Inst
night. A blood vessel In his forehead
burst. the blood running down beneath
the skin and smothcr!ng him. He was
thirty-seven years old, and leaves n
wife and four children. The remains
will be taken to Washington, Pa, where
his family Ia now visiting.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
Durclnra in the Country.

'pve'n' DiSpntch TO the Intelligenccr.
f"''SoNS. W. Va. Dec. 0.-Burglars
.",e'"H ,,,,,H the store OF u. +. Wolf. Reeds
Wv. NV Preston county, and stole what
,"''''y There wns In tho change
ftn".r' ftm. amounting to about 800. and n
/, ,r nlher articles OF not great value. 1t
wh IMPOSED to have been II stranger
tpv %"" h"d been pccpInE around for II
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
Burned to the Ground.

',,'lI Dispatch To tho Intolllgencor.
ynm,M,SitSoNS. W. Va, Dec. 0.-Thc
go,yI g,yI"nnc Manufacturing Mil, near
tba If"Ston county, was burned to
in Eto'ind the other night. II caught
,t we hlEht from sparks from the boil
m, royo "nu got n big start before It was dis
'''er'd; loss about ii,1OO. f'T
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
weather Forocnst for TODAY.

For West Virginia. cold Monday and
Tuesday, northerly winds.
For Western Pennsylvania, fair and cold
Monday and TUESDAY: fresh northcrly
winds.
day, fair not so cold In western portion;
fresh northrrly winds
Local Temperature.
by c, SChncpf. druggist, corner Fourteenth
aud Market streets, IS ms follows:
! n, m,..."...... k . y. n.."".....". "a
2 u, m"..",,.,..,. Gl.. y. m,.'..,...;,.'. ~
12 m,...,,......"..,t SlWcathcr, cloudy.
9@ Sunday.
y n, m,,.....,..s.. vi p.' 'nl,............. 80
0 u, ,m,....S..,.td1l Z. y, W,.,.......... al
l. m...",...........y3IW 81 Weather cl,nnge'ole.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10

,r',, looNA, Pa, Dec, 9..-7Iamca j.
n. p"I''rH' travelling nBrnt for Jones
'A'' musical dealers. OF thia city, was
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
TELEGRAPHERS' STRIKE
HAS BACKBONE BROKEN,
Thought that before Two Weeks All the Operators on the Santa Fe
Road will be Back Again TO their Desks
Difficulty Likely TO be Adjusted. a
ORDERCLOSING THE SHOPS WASRESCINDED.

TOPEKA, Kas.. Dec. 9.-Thc officials
of the Santa Fe road take a decidedly
hopeful view Of the teleGraphers' strike
situation. They all say the back-bon
Of the strike is practically broken al
rendy and that the affairs of the raad
will be In their normal condition inside
Of two weeks. The officers felt justified
tonight, in view Of the alleged In
provement in conditions, In resembling
the order closing the shops. H. U.
Nudge. general manager of the road,
sent out a general order this afternoon
to all operators who had not gone out,
offering to promote them IL they would
continue in their resistance to the
strikers. He told them that they liad
been faithful to the interests Of the
company thus far, and that they could
fill out their application blanks for the
better positions at once. The general
manager added that all the men not
taking part In the strike should have
better positions IL they were capable OF
would be filled from outside sources.
Mr.. Nudge expressed great satisfac-
ton this evening at the order he had
sent out and said 1t was only fair that
the company should thus recognize
those of the men who had been faithful
to their interests.
More Sanguine. .s
~ feel much more sangulne about the
result of the strike than I did last
night" said Mr.. Nudge.
II thought then that We would have q
serious time. In this belief the order
was issued for the closing OF the shops.
To-day the conditions seem to be SO
much improved that the order closing
the shops will be rescinded. think we
can use all our men in the old way. This
much is certain. however, not one of
the men who have gone out on the
strike will be taken back into the en-
ploy Of the company, Those who were
formerly below them will be promoted
over their heads and they will see that
the road can get along without them.
Some of the strikers have already made,
application to be reinstated In the en-
ploy of the company, but 1t will be no
use. This will be permanent. They left
our employ without cause and now
they will have to suffer for their neg
loot
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10

Chnffec Shows His Authority.
PEltIN. Dec. 9-All the foreign on
Yoys except Sir Ernest Mason Sntow.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
IRON ORE BARGE GOES TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE RAGING LAKE.

CLEVELAND, O., Dec. "a sprcla,
TO the Plain Dealer from Erie. Pa, says:
In the midst of one OF the most bitter
gales that ever swept Lake Erie, the
iron ore barge Charles Foster, In tow
of the Iron Duke, went to the bottom Mt
O'Clock this morning, ten miles off
Erie, and eight persons were drowned,
rs follows:
Captain John Bridge, of Cleveland.
First mate, name unknown.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
At Telegraph Keys.

General Manager Nudge, In COM
pany with some Of the other officials Of
the road, spent several hours at tnc
telegraph keys in the general office OF
the road to-day, transmitting the nee
essary messages. They have adopted
the plan Of sending much OF their mat
ter by mail. This morning it seemed MS
though the operators had decided to so
TO work again. Some few operators
had refused to work under the mlsap-
prehensiop that the strike had been de-
clared off, but soon left again,
CT. Mcclellan, superintendent Of the
eastern division, returned this after
noon from trip OF inspection over the
entire division in his private car. He
started out yesterday afternoon as soon
as the news of the strike became
known. He reported that matters were
very satisfactory so far as the eastern
division Is concerned.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-10
Visited ALI Operators.

Mr.. McClelland visited all the opera
tors along the route and asked them
point blank IL they intended to strike.
In case man would answer In the af-
flrmatlvc. he would be quickly inforn.-
ed that his services were no longer
needed and a check was given him.
This had the effect In some places and
the operators agreed to remain at work.
To-day. however, many who made suc'i
an agreement struck as soon rs the?
asccrtained the facts in the case.
probably twenty operators are out
on my division tonight" said Mr.. Nc
Clclland, but have men In sight for
all these places. Men are coming to-
night from Chicago, Kansas City and
st. Louis and soon all the stations on
the division will be supplied with oper-
ators." Ur
w. NJ. Coombs, chief dispatcher for
the eastern division. reported that al!
trains were running satisfactorily.
Some very late. but that was natural
consequence. lie said that the plan had
been adopted OF sending all the west
bound rrelghts over the cut-of, from
Argentine to Emperiu, where they could
take the double track on west. Tie
cast-bound frclghts will be dispatched
on the main line.
Came From Argentine Cutoff.
MIR. Coombs said that most of The
trouble came from the men on the Ar
gCntinc cutoff. When any Of the
faithful" men would attempt to send
n dispatch reporting the condition OF
the trains. some OF the strikers were
Immediately cut In and the effect of the
message would be lost. However, he
said, the CUTOFF was of little coiisc-
qucnce and the attitude OF the strikers
there would cause very little inconve-
nenrc.
General Superintendent Rcssegulc anl
Superintendent Shoics. Of the telegraph
service, united In expressing the samu
Views M the other officials and all pro-
fegs to believe that the strike will, soon
be settled.
The otIlcials have kept In close con.
sultntlon NIL day and hnvc not lot the
smallest detail OF the developments cs-
cape their attention. They have hnd
some detectives In Topeka ull day,