davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1903-10-28
GREAT SEAL RECUT
NEW ONE INSTALLED AT THE
STATE DEPARTMENT.
Old One Had Nearly Worn Out and
Was Hardly Suitable for the
Government.

There was installed in the Office of Mr..
Mosher. chief of the bureau of appoint
ments of the State Department today
| new seal of the United States and a new
press for operating the same. Authority
for this action was contained in the general
deficiency act of 1902, in which an appro-
priation of 81 $50 was made for the purpose,
but no action having been taken under that
act in the meantime. the appropriation was
| re-enacted in the general deficiency act of
1902
''TO enable the Secretary of State to have
the great seal of the United States recut
from the original model and to purchase
a suitable press for It's use, and cover
to protect the same from dust, the sum of
S12JO appropriated by the deficiency act
approved July 1. 1860, to enable the Secre-
tary of State to have the great seal of the
United States recut. is hereby reapproprl-
ated for the purposes above mentioned
The execution of this statute was intruSt-
ed to Third Assistant Secretary Peirce. He
executed contract with Mr.. James ID. Nc
Bride of this city for the work. and that
gentleman engaged Mr. Max Zeiller an en-
pert engraver Of Philadelphia. to cut an ex
act duplicate of the Old great seal. He also
arranged with the Hoe Company Of New
York to furnish the press and the cover for
the same.
There was some delay in the work of cut
ting the seal. owing 10 the temporary ILL
NESS ol MI Zellief, ana neCauSe or the I'M
Willingness Of the authorities to intrust the
work to any other engraver. Mr.. Zeillcr
subsequently recovered his health, how
ever. and was finally enabled to complete
the delicate and important work to the en-
tire satisfaction of Ass stant Secretary
Peirce.
The seal, the press and the cover having
neen accepted they were today perma nently
installed in the office of the chief of the
appointment division.
Inc necessity for new seal arose from
the tact that the old one is nearly worn out
and hardly suitable for the purposes of the
government.
Ihe old seal was cut in 1885 while Mr.
ffeiinghuysen was Secretary of State after
the design had been approved by several
recognized authorities on heradry and On
the history of the great seal. The history
OF the great seal dates from July T. 1T16
On that day at the conclusion of the cad
ing of the Declaration of Independence in
the Continental Congress. DR.. Franklin
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. jefferson were appoint
ed a committee to prepare device for Il
seal of the [ nited States of North America
Various devices were suggested. ard con-
Sldera Bile study devoted TO the subject but
1t was not until June 20. 11S,. that the pres
ent great seal was finally adopted.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
HER BROTHERS HELD
Suspected of the Murder of
Mabel Bechtel.
STATEMENT OF POLICE
CONFIDENT THAT THEY HAVE
THE GUILTY PERSON.
Weisenberg Apprehended at New York
Consents to Return to Allentown
Without Objection.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. October 2S-The
murderer of Mabel H. Bechtel. the young
woman who was found slain in the sub
way alley adjoining her parents home.
621 Cedar street. early yesterday. is now
under arrest. This statement made
at noon today by Chief of Police East
man.
Later in the day we may make known
the whole story. said Chief Eastman.
Just now it is sufficient to say that we
are on Easy street; We have the right
party He is now being examined by the
mayor, who is also taking the testimony
o. other witnesses. This may take some
time. and when the examination is over
il is likely that everything will be made
clear
Has the prisoner confessedc~ the chief
was asked.
That ] am not able to say, but you can
rest assured that we have the right per-
SON
A half hour before Chief Eastman made
this statement he placed under arrest Al
fred r. Eckstein. the favored sweetheart
of the murdered girl
Eckstein arrested at the Bechtel
home. Chief Eastman. Coroner Scheirer
and Policeman Whitehead visited the
house ahut II O'Clock and We're later joined
ccmpaned by Policeman Whitehead. Chief
Eastman appeared few minutes later.
He was asked if he had found the muir
derer. He replied
Wait until l. O'Clock and / will tell
you.
Thomas, Charles and John Bechtel, the
brothers of Mabel Bechtel being held
at the police station with Alfred Eckstein
as witnesses in the cHSe. Chief Eastman
and Policemen Whitehead and Jacoby
made another search OF the Bechtel home
today and found blood stains on the floor
and wall of the second-story front bed room
in the garret.
The belief Is that family row occurred
at the Bechtel home in which one or all of
tie brothers figured, and that one or more
of them implicated i'll the murder OF
the girl.
Mrs. Bechtei's story that she heard dogs
barking saw team in the rear alley and
two men carrying an object into an adjOin-
ing yard early on Tuesday morning IS not
credited. Neither do the police believe that
Miss Bechtel was away from home on Mon
day.
Every cab driver and livery stable owner
in town and for miles around has been
seen, and every resort in and for miles
around this city has been visited and the
occupants questioned. ut no place had
Miss Bechtel been seen and none of the
liverymen had hired team that might
have been used by the person or persons
who murdered the girl.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
DOUBLE DROWNING.
Two Men Lose Their Lives in the
Potomac.

A double drowning accident occurred
near the Long bridge about noon today,
two colored men losing their lives There
were three men in a batteau at work IN
connection with the driving of piles for the
new highway bridge. when the boat was
.;wamped and the trio went overheard
They We're Andrew Lumpkins, forty years
old and Edward Farrow, thirtySiX years
of age and Conway Stewart. colored Tie
first two named were drowned. but the lat
ter manag ged to swim to pile some aus
tance away to which he retained hold
until he was rescued by some men iii a
small boat.
The men were trying to pull the anchor
of their boat up. which caused one end to
sink rather low, and the water being very
rough the waves swept aboard and
swamped it. Lumpkins and FarroW went
below the surface Immediately, ana al
though the latter was reported to be an ex-
pert swimmer neither came to the surface
again. ~ ,
The crew of the police boat was notiled
and went to the scene of the accident, put
were unable to take the Nigilant with them,
the drowning having occurred above the
bridge and the channel not yet being open
for traffic to large boats. Several small
boats were pressed into service ana tne
river at that point was dragged. dhe
bodies were recovered about 3 o'clock and
were conveyed to the mOrgue.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
INVESTIGATION ENDED
SECRETARY HITCHCoCK'S REPORT
MAY BE READY THIS WEEK.
Will Not Be Made Public at Once
Amount Of Fraud Exag-
gerated.

Secretary Hitchcock today said that the
investigation which he has been making
into land frauds on the Pacific coast had
been practically completed, and he hopeo
to be able to present his report on them
to the Department of Justice by the close
of the present week.
1.-The report will not at present be MADE
public" he said, ''as that would defeat
the ends of Justice
He also refused to discuss the contents
of the document but confirmed the gem
orally current rumor that there have been
extensive efforts to defraud the public He
said, however, that as bad as the coho1-
ton is it had been grossly exaggerated
1T is absurd he said. ''to say that the
frauds amount to $15,000Ono or SlsO0Ooeo,
or anything like that sum. A million acres
would be large estimate of fraudulentlE
entered lands, and the government price
for lands ranges from $1.25 to $50 per
acre
The Secretary also said that while the
investigation doubtless would involve some
officials of the government. he had not
intimated that members of the United
States Senate are involved in the scandal.
Conference With Senators.
Senators Mitchell and Fulton of Oregon
had a conference with the Secretary today
relative to the land frauds and assured him
of their hearty cooperation in all efforts
toward the discovery and punishment OF
Irregularities. They said they had united
in recommended Receiver Thompson of the
La Grande office. who has been indicted Tor
bribery and had done so because of their
confidence in him. the man being FARMER
and a former member of the Legislature.
They said that while they would suspend
Judgment pending his trial. they would do
not hing to shield him.
The Secretary talked with the senator's as
to the advisability of amending the TIMBER
and stone act and the homestead law, SO
as to prevent frauds such as those winch
are being perpetrated and they assured MN
Of their willingness to do all possible to
that end.
The senator's agreed with the Secretary
that there have been some fraudulent prac-
tces in the administra ton of the land laws,
but contended that there is no more fraud
in Oregon than in other states. They re-
ferred to the entry of land in lieu of pa tent
cd land within fOreSt reserves. and said that
while there had undoubtedly been some
sharp practice in that connection, the fault
was largely due to the law. Senator
Mitchell also pointed out that a stricter in
snection of the area to be ncloSed in in
tended forest reservations would do much
To prevent the frauds complained of.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
JAMES L. BLAIR VERY LOW,
Physician in Attendance Nearly the
Whole of Last Night.

ST. LOUIS. October 2S.-When DR.. Wyer
left the bedside of James l.. Blair, the
stricken attorney this morning, after ten
hours attendance the patient, it was
stated that Mr.. Bairs condition was worse
than it had been at any time since Sunday.
The doctor was summoned to the Blair
home last night "a 10 o'clock and remained
with the patient until morning.
1t was stated by one of the nurses at the
house that shortly after 10 o'clock last
night Mr.. Blair began to show symptoms of
sinking. and before DR.. Wyer could reach
the Blair home the patient relapsed into a
condition of collapse. from which he was
revived upon the arrival of the physician.
There followed a night exceedingly uncom-
Portable and restless for the patient. DR..
Wyer considered Mr.. Blair's condition SO
unsatisfactory that he remained by his
side constantly until DR.. Homan was sum
moned early in the morning to take charge
of the case
Evening star., 1903-10-28
ST. LOUIS DRIVERS QUIT WORK.
Four Hundred Engage in Sympathet
ic Strike.

ST. LOUIS October 2s.-Drivers of all ST.
Louis express companies to the number of
900, went on strike today because the de-
n.and of the Pacific Express Company's
employees for a wage increase of ten per
cent has not been granted.
Following is a copy of the communication.
giving notice of the strike. which Mt
TO the local express managers:
We, the undersigned, duly authorized
committee of your employees in s.. Louis,
acting under instructions from our fellow
employees hereby notify YOU that we are
convinced that you and other express com
panieS are assisting the Pacific Express
Company to defeat their striking emplO yes
and this will be notice to you that unless
the assistance is removed and settlement
is reached by Wednesday morning we will
lay down our work and refuse to resume
our duties until some consideration is
shown our brother employees of the Pacific
Express Company"
This communication is signed by u.
O'Connen and a. Gibson.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
IROQUOIs TO TAKE FOOD.
Men at Midway Island Cable Station
Short of Provisions

Acting Secretary Darling today cabled or
ders to Honolulu for the cruiser lroquois
to take on a supply of provisions and pro-
ceed al once to the Midway Island in the
North Pacific ocean for the purpose OF af-
fordine relief to the force. of twenty men
employed al the cable station at that place.
This action was based on information that
the merchant steamer recently dispatched
to the Midway Island with provisions for
the few Inhabitants there had been wrecked
and that their supply of food was rum nS
low and would soon be exhausted. The
Midway Island is nearly l 300 miles distant
from Honolulu. and it will take the TO
quois about five days to make the run.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
CLERICAL CHANGES.
Appointments and designations il
Navy Department.

Changes in the classified service of the
Navy Department have been announced as
foiows;
Appointments-Mss Alice NJ Gray. mis-
Ceilaneous comnuter at naval observatory:
X. Bond, craftsman, at $1,000 per an
mum. photographic office: Ernest f Bisbec,
clerk at $1,000 per anuum, Secretary's Of
flee; Norris Stern. stenographer and type
writer at 5000 per annum, bureau of steam
engineering; j. Pawling. jr.. miscellaneous
c0mputCr. at naval observatory: Edward
+ Able. firSt-class marine engine and boiler
craftsman, at S5.O4 per diem, bureau of
steam engineering; F. A. knowlton, copy
fst, marine engine and boiler craftsman. at
SIS per diem, bureau of steam engineer
ing
Resgnations-P. j. Willett, copyist at
81 - per diem, bureau of navigation; l.. A.
Davis. laborer, at $500 per annum, bureau
of navigation; j. +. Buckley. special la
borer. at 81. per diem. bureau of nav-
cation.
Promotions-R. II. Moses. from writer at
81. - per diem to clerk a 81 200 per annum,
Secretary's Office.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
AT LUNCHEON,
Missionary Delegates Entertained and
Visit President

The American Church Missionary Society
entertained the delegates to the council at
luncheon. andcat half-past . o'clock this
afternoon the delegates were received by
President ana Mrs. Roosevelt at the White
House.
AT the luncheon, addresses were made by
Bishop McVickar of Rhode Island, Bishop
Coadjutor Mackay- Smith of PENNSYLVANIA
formerly rector of ST. Johns Church. this
city; Bishop Peterkin of West Virginia and
Bishop Van Buren, of Porto Rico.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Success of a Whaler

NFRANCISCO. October 2s-The whaI-
ing bark Charles W Morgan. the first OF
the blubber hunters has come into port
with a cargo valued at about ST. 900. Size
left here November - 1882, has hunted the
south seas and the waters along the coast
of Japan and came here from the Okhotsk
sea In her hold are about / 500 barrels Of
sperm oil She reports that IN company
with the whalers California and Alice
Knowles she passed through the hurricane
which in January last swept the Paumoio
Islands with fatal results. when all the yes
sells suffered more less damage.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
GOVERNMENT BONDS.
Baltimore Markets,

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
BALTIMORE. Md October 2S.-FIOCR-tAiet.
unchanged; receipts 20. 492 barrels: exports. 272
barrels.
WIFE AT-Weak; spot contract, S5aS5L,; spot No.
red western. S512as5a.; October. s5as3lI: Novem-
Der, S5lIaSjla; December, S6AsaS63s: January Ss
asked; May. s3Aas31a; steamer No. 2 red. 76a76l.
receipts, s,616 bushels Southern by sample. 7Sa
S51a; southern grade. 77ieaS5Ia
CORN-Weak; spot, 49Ma43a.: October, 49tsa
49al: November new or old. 4ss4a49; year, 4sl4a
iS% January, 47aia4S steamer mixed, 475aa47a, ::
receipts, 7S, ,2sl bushels. Southern white corn,
50a54; southern yellow corn. 50a54.
OATS-Steady: No. white. 42; No. 2 mixed,
4Oa4Ok; receipts. Is, ,313 bushels.
RYE-Firn; No 2 80; No. western, Go; re-
ceipts, 2,342 bushels.
HAY-Firm unchanged.
GRAIN FREIGHTS- Steady, unchanged.
BUTTER-Unchanged.
EGGS-Unchansed.
CHEESE-U nchanged
SUGAR-J nchanged.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
TREMENDOUS GAS EXPLOSION.
Three Injured, One of Whom After
ward Died.

FORT WAYNE. Ind. October 2S.-An ex'
ploson of natural gas at an oil well just
drilled in by the National Oil Company OF
Lima Ohio on the Davis farm, three miles
northeast of Monroevlle. this county, late
last night, resulted in the serious injury
OF three men. one of whom died later
The casualties: Charles Jackeway. Lima
Ohio died of his burns; Oran Dickinson
secretary National Oil and Supply Com
pany. Lima, Ohio. badly burned, and may
die: a. d. Rhodes, drilling contractor
Lima. Ohio, seriously burned.
Preparation was being made to shoot the
well today, when a stiff wind blew the
heavy volume of gas escaping from the
well toward the engine, where il ignited.
tremendous explosion following. Every
thing combustible about the we'll was cor
sumed. promising flow of oil was de
veloped by the well, which is in new terri
Evening star., 1903-10-28
SAILED FOR JIBUTI.
Departure of Consul General Skinner
From Naples.

The Navy Department was today advised
of the departure of the gunboat Machias
from Naples. with United States Consul
General Skinner and party on board bound
for Jihuu, French Somaliland on the Gulf
of Alden. The Machias will stop at Beirut
and take on the marine guard which Is to
accompany the party to Ads Abcba. the
mountain capital of Abyssnia. Lieutenant
Hussey, aid to Rear Admiral Cotton, COM
mandiue the European station, will COM
mand the small military force. He is now
at Jibuti. where he went to arrange for the
transportation of the party into the inte
TiOr
Evening star., 1903-10-28
.DOWIE HAS SLIM AUDIENCE.
Says People of New York Do Not Low,
Him.

NEW YORK, October 2s.-John AleXan-
Ger Dowie addressed slim audience at the
carly service today on the Eleventh Com
mandment,' his own addition to the deca-
logue, the wording being, Love Ye One
Another Dowie said that he had come
to New York because he loved the people
of the city, but he said the people of New
York do not love him because of the vicious
and untrue attacks made on him by the
newspapers.
A healing" service was held later in the
day "
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Passengers on the Steamer Lain.

NEW YORK, October 2S-The steamer
Lain, which arrived today from Naples and
Genoa. brought the Rev. DIR. E. E. Strong
of Boston. editorial secretary of the Ameri-
can board of foreign missions, and the Rev.
DIR. Sydney Strong of Oak Park, ILL.,, the
deputation sent abroad by the American
board to South and East Africa; also the
body of Mrs. Sydney Strong, who died in
Naples of heart disease just before the
steamer sailed. DR.. Sydney Strong on the
outward trip had pneumonia. The deputa-
ton was warmly received by representa-
tiyes of the British government in London
and South Africa.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
PHILADELPHIA Theater Burns.

PHILADELPHIA, October 2S.-The Girard
Avenue Theater. on Girard avenue near 9th
street. was gutted by fire early today, en-
failing loss of $4,000. Of which $4,000
was on the building and the remainder on
the contents. The fire started at about
$50 am. on the stage. and is supposed to
have been caused by an. electric light WIRE
A travelling company was producing THE
Minister'S Daughter" All of the company $
scenery and costumes were destroyed
Miller & Kaufman We're the lessees, and
Nixon & Zimmerman were interested in the
mana cement.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
DENIED IN MEXICO
That an Attempt Was Made on Life of
President DiaZ

Tie following was posted 1T the State De
p1rituent today:
Gen. Clayton. the United States ambas-
sador at the City of Mexico, has informed
the Secretary of State that the report of an
attempt upon the life of President DiaZ yes
terday is without foundation
Ir view of the precise sta atement of ,he at
tack on the president in the newspaper dis
patches published this morning from Guam
aiuato the wholesale denial of the affair by
Ambassador Clayton is only to be explained
tu the satisfaction of the officials here by
the assumption that he was himself in the
city of Mexico. and not at tle scene of the
AFFAIR. and that he simply accepted an OIL
ctai statement issued by the Mexican au-
thorities. who had their own reasons for he
littling the matter
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Funeral of Col. Waters

Funeral services over the remains Of
Lieut.. Col. William f. Waters T. S. A.. re-
tired, who died suddenly Monday night
will be held at the Church of the Covenant
Friday afternoon at $50 o'clock, and the
interment will be made at the Arlington
National cemetry where the usual cere-
monies will be performed.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Gen, Miles at Seattle.

SEATTLE. Wash, October 2S.-Gen. Mel
son A. Miles came to Seattle last night
from California, where he has been look
ing after property interests. He will leave
today for Washington. General Miles de-
MED recent stories that he had made heavy
investments in Texas oil fields and intended
to make that state his home. He declared
he has no interests in Texas.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Wife Asks for Divorce.

Ida M. Blue, through Attorney George p.
Hoover, this afternoon pettioned the Dis
tr;ct Supreme Court to grant her divorce
from bed and board from Chas. II. Blue
The parties were married July p. 1876. and
have eight children Mrs. Blue charges that
her husband is an habitual drunkard. and
that he has practiced upon her systematic
cruel policy.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
DEGREES of Divorce Signed.

Justice Anderson. in Equity Court No. 1,
today signed a decree granting Minna
Steinberger a divorce from Isaac Stein
berger on the ground of desertien The
petitioner is authorized to resume her
maiden name. Fischer.
decree was also signed today by JUS
tice Anderson granting Lucy Hense a di-
vorce from Adolph Hense. on the ground
of habitual unkenness.
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Prof. Worcester Here.

Prof Dean c. Worcester. member of the
Philippine commission, is in Washington.
He Is about to return to the Philippine
Islands. having been away for several
months
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Grain, Provisions and Cotton Markets
LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS.

At the meeting of the stock exchange to-
day a question was asked during the pro-
eress of the call, when Columbia railroad
second mortgage per cent bonds was
reached as to whether the bonds that were
offered were of the old or the new issue.
This query. it was developed. had reference
to ii circular sent to the stockholders who
were of record at the time of the issue of
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Sailor Masquerades as Officer.

Special Dispatch 70 The Evening Star.
NORFOLK. Va, October 2S.-A naval ap-
prentice from the cruiser Olympia was ar
rested here last night in citizens attire. He
declared he was lieutenant from the
Olympia by the name of Johnson. The
charge was drunkenness, and the alleged
Heutenant's arrest caused a sensation. In
court today the apprentice, who said he had
given a fictitious name, laughed over the
stir he. had caused. He paid a 81 fine and
returned to the Olympia. His correct name
was never learned
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Former Policeman Convicted of Rob
belv

\ verdict of guilty was rendered by a Jury
In CT minal Court No. late this afternoon
in the case of Samuel Paynes colored for
merry a member OF the metropol.ta tan police
force. accused of robbery. The verdict was
qu with recommendation OF mercy
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Gear and Kaiser to Meet

BERLIN, October 2S-According to the
present arrangements Emperor William
and the czar will meet first at Darmstadt.
the former travelling thither to meet his
brother monarch. The czar afterward will
return the visit at Wesbaden
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Today's Government Receipts

Nauohai pank notes received today for
redemption. S'lI,o1o. Government re,,ipt,
from internal revenue. S5S3 2l3: customs
Sf.o2S,Io': miscellaneous. So 3S2 EXunudi-
dltures. S.4Aot01. Available cash balance
$222l4 aS:, 7tia
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Prof. Landrich Accepts.

CHICAGO. October 2S.-ProfesSor lfa
Landrich of Nashville, Tenn. has accepted
the general secretaryship of the Religious
Educa ational Association. Professor Land
rich is prominent in the Cumberland Pres
byterian Church.
Evening star., 1903-10-28

LONDON, October 2S.-1acklers Pride
won the Cambridgeshire stakes at New
market today. Burses was second ana XII
glass came i'll third Twenty-seven horses
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Washington Stock EXCHANGE

'alcs-Regular call. IL O'Clock noon Washington
Halfway and Electric Is. 81 900 al 20, 81 uO
at 12is. 81 900 nj 722. '''
Columbia Railroad IS 81 900 NJ 10aIs
Washington Gas cert. 500 at 111is
nion TrIst and Storage 10 at lo45 Ia N Ia,
l.anston Monotype 10 AT ~
! at 235 " ''
After rdll-'apitai Traction Is. $500 a. los
Lanston Monotype. - at ~.
American GraphOphone pref 10 Mt 81
Evening star., 1903-10-28
Steamer for Army Purposes.

SEATTLE. Wash. October 2>.-A board
of army officers will meet today 10 purchase
a steamer for the use of the forts l0clied
on the lower sound.