The Austin Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 18, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 8, 1889 Page: 1 of 8
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VOL. XVIII
AUSTIN TEXAS THURSDAY. AUGUST 8. 1SS9.
NO. 35.
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SPOKANE.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF SUN-
DAY'S GREAT CONFLAGRATION.
OFFICIALS' CONDUCT.
Grand and Appalling Fictnre Presented by
the Flames Loss Now Estimated at
Ten Million Dollars.
Spokane Falls W. T. August 6.
The wires are now in such a condition
that somewhat fuller particulars of
Sunday's conflagration can be given.
'1 he hre started at b:lo o clock p.m.
in the roof of the Loring house on
Railroad avenue third door from the
postoffice. A dead calm prevailed at
the time and the spectators supposed
that the firemen would speedily bring
the flames under control. This could
have been done if better precautions
had been taken but the superintend-
ent of the water works was out of the
city and for some reason the mnn in
charge failed to respond to the call for
more pressure. The heat created a
current of air and in less than half
an hour the entire block of frame
shops were
ENVELOPED IN FLAMES
and burning shingles and other debris
rilled the air igniting several of the
adjoining blocks.
At the same time the opposite
block to that in which the fire origin-
ated in which the Pacific hotel one of
the handsomest structures in the
northwest took fire it was now 10
o'clock and by that time a high wind
prevailed from the southwest and it
was evident that the entire business
portion of the city was in danger. The
mayor ordered that the buildings be
blown up with gaint powder to check
the spread of the fire. This order was
speedily put into effect and the ex-
plosions added to the reign of terror.
The picture was weird grand and aw-
ful. Block after block yielded to the
demon of destruction. The sky was
overcast with black clouds.
A STRONG WIND
sprang up from the northeast fanning
the flames furiously while an upper
current continued to carry the burn-
ing timbers in the opposite direction.
The Grand hotel Washington block
Eagle block Tull block New Granite
block the dishing building Falls City
opera house Hyatt block all the
banks and in fact every house from
Railroad avenue north to the river
and from Lincoln street east to Wash-
ington street with the exception of a
few buildings on the northeast corner
were totally destroyed.
Meantime the sudden change in the
direction of the wind carried the fire
southward across Railroad avenue and
destroyed the Northern Pacific passen-
ger and freight depots and several
cars. The freight depot was a splen-
did structure and was filled to the
roof with valuable merchandise very
little of which was saved. The terri-
fying shrieks of a dozen locomotives
mingled with the roar of the flames
the bursting of cartridges.the booming
of giant powder the hoarse shouts of
men and the pitiful shrieks of women
and children constituted a scene never
to be forgotten. Looking upward the
hroad and mighty' river of flame was
against the jet black sky.
Occasionally two opposing currents
of wind met causing a whirlwind of
fire that seemed to penetrate the
clouds forming all sorts of fantastic
gyrations. In this manner the ap-
palling monster held high carnival un-
til about 1 o'clock' when Howard street
bridge over the river went down. The
v boom of logs took fire and burned for
hours on the crystal surface of the
-river. Many times flying sparks of
fire covered the river igniting the
mammoth lumber and flouring mills
that lined its banks but by heroic ef-
forts its career was checked on the
south side of the stream. Looking
backwards however the beholder wit-
nessed A SCENE OF DEVASTATION
that was fearful to contemplate.
Fragments of what were four hours
before magnificent structures of brick
and granite stood like grim sentinels
over the surface of the burning sea.
All was devastation and ruin. The
burned district embraces thirty blocks
besides the depot. The only brick
houses left standing are the Crescent
block and American theater. The
schools and churches college and hos-
pital were beyond the lines of the
burned district and were not lost. I t
is impossible at this writing to esti-
mate the loss with any degree of accu-
racy but it will not fall short of
TEN MILLION DOLLARS
with an insurance of about one-fourth
of that amount. The banks have ob-
tained temporary quarters and several
have already opened for business. The
work of clearing away the debris has
already begun and the work of re-
building will be commenced at once.
The firemen are blowing up dangerous
walls and a militia company is guard-
ing the burned district while mounted
police patrol the whole city. The
company will be reinforced by a com-
pany from Walla-Walla to-day.
The city council has held a meeting
and discussed a resolution prohibiting
the erection of wooden buildings in the
burnt district and a mass meeting of
citizens sustained it unanimously. It
will be passed at a regular meeting
Wednesday evening. The council has
passed a resolution revoking licenses
of all hotels and restaurants and deal-
ers in provisions who advance their
prices. .Only two saloons re-
main and they have been
closed by order of the mayor.
The council ordered the committee on
fire water and sewers to investigate
the cause of the absence of its super-
intendant of the works as the man
left in charge was incompetent. A
hopeful feeling prevails and although
the destruction will retard the progress
of the city for a time it is impossi-
ble hat resources so vast and stability
so well established should be blotted
out. It will rise again grander and
better than before and will still claim
its position as the commercial center
of eastern Washington.
THE SIOUX EESERVATION.
The Indians Finally Sign Away Their Lands
and the Whites are Rejoiced.
Chicago August 6. A dispatch
from Standing Rock agency says the
requisite number of signatures for
opening the great Sioux reservation
was finally secured last evening. The
sensation of the day was the signing
by Chief Gall and all his band fol-
lowed him. All clay the Indians signed
and now the 11000000 acres of land
to which the whites have been looking
longingly for years are theirs. The
commissioners are rejoiced over their
success. It is predicted that the rush
to the reservation will be greater than
the Oklahoma stampede as the
land is of much better qual-
ity and the prospects for
prosperity are brighter. Gen. Crooks
said the commissioners hope to close
their report within a few weeks and
place everything in readiness for the
formal opening of the reservation.
ROW AMONG BARBERS.
A Negro Tonsorial Artist Murders Another
and is Himself FataUy Shot.
Chicago August 6. The colored
barbers' picnic at Island park yester-
day wound up with a fatal affray.
Cal Duncan imagined Ed Bennett
had insulted his wife and whipping
out a revolver shot Bennett through
the head and killed him. He then
walked down to the depot. A crowd
of Bennett's friends followed and
found Duncan in the waiting room.
He tried to use his revolver but his
pursuers put four bullets into his
body before he could shoot. He rose
and again tried to fire and two more
bullets followed the preceding four.
As he lay on his face bleeding from
his wounds a big negro jumped on
him and with a knife slashed his
back until the flesh lay in strips. Not
satisfied with this some of the crowd
kicked the prostrate man about the
head. One hammered him with a
brick. A special officer had a hard
time driving them away at the point
of a revolver. Duncan was brought
to the city and died during the night.
Suicide at Jefferson. '
Special to the Statesman.
Jefferson August 6. Mrs. Elma
Rathhouse recently from St. Louis
committed suicide this morning about
10 o'clock by cutting her throat with
a razor. She had made several at-
tempts heretofore with morphine and
rough on rats but failed. The woman
was thought to be demented.
The Smiths and Slushers.
Louisville Ky. August 6. The
quarrel which has been going on for
some days between the Smith and
Slusher families in Bell county cul-
minated in a fatal meeting last Fri-
day. Wm. Smith and forty armed
men went to Flat Lick and about 1
o'clock in the afternoon were attacked
by the Slusher faction who opened
fire on them from a mountain 200
yards distant. The Smith party
sought shelter and both sides kept up
the firing for several hours. Jim Min-
ter of Slusher's force was the only
man killed. The quarrel grew out of
a contest between the families over a
$2 hog.
Senator Quay's Cruise.
Philadelphia August C. United
States Senator M. S. Quay started to-
day from this city on an extended trip
on the steam yacht Manatee. He
took with him as guests J. Sloan
Fassett of New York Col. A. L.
Conger of Ohio Win. C. Goodloe of
Von tn Lv nml Assistant Postmaster
General Clarkson all members of the
republican national committee it is
the intention of the party to cruise
along the Atlantic coast as far north
as Bar Harbor calling at Atlanticcity
Cape May and other points but the
nrotrramme of the trip will depend
entirely upon the weather.
Killed Tbem Both.
Kiuvtvp.HAv. Ala.. Aucust 6. A
dispatch from Ensley City received by
the Age-Herald at midnight reports
that Anilv imams went iiome aim
found Wm. McCutchen in his room
with his wife. He killed them both
with a revolver and left.
GALVESTON.
STATEMENT OF THE FINANCIAL CON-
DITION OF THE GALVESTON AND
WESTERN R. R. COMPANY.
The Company Fifty Thousand Dollars in
Debt Plan to Increase the Stock by
Forty New Stockholders.
Special to the Statesman.
Galveston August 6. A review of
the statement of the financial condi-
tion of the Galveston and Western
Railway company submitted by the
directors at the meeting of the stock-
holders last Saturday evening by a
stockholder shows that company to be
over fifty thousand dollars in debt.
Upon the admission of forty additional
stockholders increasing the number
to eighty the directors on the part of
the original stockholders represented
in the interest of the proposed reor-
ganization that $70000 would be am-
ple to equip and rebuild so much of the
road as would be necessary for
the sand business this to
include the $21140 paid for the
first 1800 shares of stock.
At this time a total of $80000 had
been realized for 400 shares of stock
the expenditure of $70000 would
equip the road for its local business
and leave a surplus of $10000 in the
treasury. It was agreed that by tak-
ing in forty additional shareholders
and increasing the capital stock the
cash available would leave a nest-egg
of $90000 with which to carry out
such plans for the extension of this
road as might be agreed upon by the
stockholders.
The management of the road was
placed in the hands of seven directors
as follows : B. Adoue W. L. Moodv
F. L. Lee W. Gresham W. B. Walli's
J. C. League and J. N. Burnett.
As near as can be gathered B.
Adoue took little interest in the man-
agement. Mr. Moody was away and
of course had practically nothing to
do with the management. Mr.
Gresham was also absent. So the
management was left practically to
Mr. League the president and Messrs.
Wallis Lee and Burnett.
The result has been the rebuilding
and equipping of about fifteen miles
of narrow gauge road at a total cost
of $156964.55 or something over
$10000 per mile instead of $70000 or
less than $5000 per mile.
Under the amended charter ob-
tained in June nine directors were
provided for. J. II. Burnett of the
old board having resigned assigning
as a reason that he would not be a
party to such a reckless expenditure of
the stockholders money to nil the
three places on the board A. M. Shan
non Dr. T. E. Thompson and Julius
Runge were elected.
About this time President League
intimated that it was necessary to
have more money. This annoyed the
new directors on the board as $82840
in cash had been collected on the
original issue of 400 shares of stock
and $15200 on the second issue mak
ing a total cash collection of $97840.
It was evident from the president's
demand that this amount was ex-
pended and a statement demanded
This was made last Saturday eve and
developed a more deplorable state of
affairs than was dreamed of. It
showed a total expenditure of $189842
with receipts of $32620 leaving a
deficit of $56620. To meet this deficit
there is uncollected on the stock
$64800 and when paid into the treas
ury if it ever is will leave a balance
to the credit of the company of $8180
instead of.$9005 as it was formerly
believed by the innocents who came
in last on the ground floor at the
June reorganization.
This is not jill. Since the full fif-
teen miles of road has been
rebuilt and equipped with steel rails
the old directory discovered that it
would be cheaper to cross the bay for
an outlet several miles further east
than the present terminus. This ex
hibit has caused intense dissatisfaction
and while there are no charges of dis
honesty made against the directory
there is a very general desire to get out
and let what once promised to be a
magnificent and profitable enterprise
fall.
A warm time is anticipated at the
meeting of stockholders next Tuesday
and rich developments are expected.
Senators Reagaa and Stewart la Dakota.
Chicago August 6. A special from
Aberdeen Dak. says : Senators Rea-
gan and Stewart of the senate irriga-
tion committee arrived here Sunday.
An exhibition of the force of the city's
artesian well was given and a public
meeting held at the opera house at
which both senators spoke at length.
They announced the conviction that
irrigation by artesian wells was prac-
ticable and Senator Reagan said that
land now worth from $6 to $10 when
properly irrigated would be worth $50
per acre.
Senator Stewart discoursed upon the
denionitization of silver at great
length denouncing the money bags of
Wall street and calling upon the peo-
ple of the new states to elect senators
and representatives who would help
to break the influence of the bond-
holders. "The debt cannot be paid in
gold" declared Senator Stewart. "It
would bankrupt the country."
Senator Reagan followed in the same
vein. The committee is evidently
bent on doing missionary work in the
new states. This is the first public
meeting held upon the Sabbath in. the
history of Dakota.
TWO TRAGEDIES.
A Young Man Blows His Brains Out An-
other Shot Dead in His Track.
Madison Ind. Aug. 6. This usual-
ly peaceful and quiet city was the scene
last night of two awful tragedies. The
first case was that of Wm. Johnson a
well-known young man. He intended
to go south this morning and last
night with his sweetheart Miss Sadie
Athey attended a wedding. After
the ceremony he took Miss Athey
home and before leaving begged her
to marry him. This she declined to
do when becoming desperate he sud-
denly drew a revolver and fired for-
tunately missing her ; but thinkiug he
had killed her he placed the weapon
to his own head and blew his brains
out dying instantly.
The other case is that in which
young George Schlick shot Richard
Sisco son of Marshal Sisco killing
him instantly. Schlick had quarrelled
with Sisco's brother and afterward
found Dick Sisco in a saloon
and shot him dead at the
time slightly wounding Raeder and
a man named Close who essayed to
stop him. Schlick got away but was
discovered at his home this morning
by Walter Sisco the dead man's
brother who tried to arrest him but
Schlick cut his would-be captor dan-
gerously across the throat and made
good his escape being still at large.
A Horrible Murder.
St. Louis August 6. Sheriff Pohl-
man has declined to appoint a jury to
pass upon the sanity of the wife mur-
derer Wm. Anderson who is under
sentence to be hanged next Friday.
There is evidently no hope for Ander-
son and the preparations for the exe-
cution have been commenced. Ander-
son is weakening and will not talk.
His crime was a brutal one he having
killed his wife with a base- ball bat
while she was asleep.
Kentucky Election.
Louisville August 6. A special to
the Evening Times indicates that
Stephen G. Sharp democratic candi-
date for treasurer of Kentucky has
been re-elected by between 30000 and
40000 majority. The democrats gain
eight and possibly more seats in the
legislature.
Attached by the Sheriff.
OswEao N. Y. August 6. The
property of the Riverside and Oswego
Mills company owning extensive
worsted mills at Oswego Falls Oswego
county was to-day attached by the
sheriff on an attachment for $412000
in an action brought by Juhus Mc-
Kenzie & Co. dry goods commission
merchants of New York city.
NEWS SUMMARY.
DOMESTIC.
The new cruiser Atlanta broke a
piece of her machinery during her
trial trip.
In the land office at Washington
there were about half a million acres
of land certified to railroads during
the heal year ending June 61.
Kentucky democrats elected their
state treasurer by 40000 majority
being a large democratic gain.
The loss at Spokane Falls is now
estimated at $10000000 with one-
fourth that amount insured.
The mayor of Chicago had an inter
view with Burke in jail.
A lawyer of Carthage Mo. hanged
himsclt with a wire.
FOREIGN.
In the French election the republi
cans earned 949 and the conservatives
489 places. '
The revolt in Crete is spreading.
STATE.
The Galveston and Western railway
is largely in debt.
Mrs. Rathhouse suicided at Jeffer-
son. Fred Peck a boy has been arrested
charged with the awful murder of
Leroy Beck.
Hoastoa Defeated.
Spcciul Telegram to the Statesman.
Fort Worth August 6. Fort
Worth scored a hard won victory over
Houston to-day. It took twelve in-
nings to decide the contest.
Score by innings
Fort Worth 1 0000000000 4-6
Houston 0 0100000000 01
CUBA.
A CITIZEZ KIDNAPPED.
Havana August 5. Senor Martinez
Alonzo was kidnapped near Aguacate.
A posse of the civil guard later en-
gaged the bandits and in the con-
fusion consequent upon this attack
8enor Alonzo succeeded in effecting
his escape.
G OLDTH WAITE.
EXAMINING TRIAL. OF FRED FECK
CHARGED WITH ASSASSINATION
OF LEROY BECK.
Statement of the Alleged Murderer and His
Explanation of His Presence at the
Scene of the Murder.
Special to the Statesman.
Goldthwaitk Tex. Aug. 6. The
examining trial of Fred Peck' for the
murder of Mr. Leroy Beck was begun
to-day. At the request of some of his
friends his statemont is given in full
as follows: On August 1 1889 1 left
my home in Big Valley and started to
Big Valley post office. I think I left
about 9 p. m. I went up to and stopped
at the residence of Mr. Nelson about
two miles from my home the way I
had to go. I stayed there about an
hour and a half. Then I went on to
the post ollice three and a half or four
miles ; stayed there fifteen or twenty
minutes. Inquired for my mail. The
postmistress told me one of the Ezell
boys had gotten it. I got some of my
neighbors' mail and started home. It
was after 12 o'clock when I left the
postoflice. I went to Mrs. Ezcll's to
get my mail and stopped there and
took dinner. Mrs. Ezell lives about
three miles from the post office. I got
a postal card for my father that had a
proposition relative to some grazing
land above there. It must have been
1 or 1 :30 when I ate dinner at
Mrs. Ezcll's. I stayed there an hour
or an hour and a half and fed my pony
and read the newspapers. Then I
went upon Pecan creek to look at this
land. It is about a mile or a mile and
a half to this land. I rode over the
land then I looked for father's sheep ;
guess I rode on the sheep ranch an
hour after X looked at tho land. I
came back across the land and came
into the public road leading down
from the valley to Williams' ranch ;
came into tho road when the sun was
between an hour and a half high;
came into this road about 100 yards
north of the corner of Wood Miller's
field ; rode a short distance when I
was overtaken by Mr. Leroy
Beck who was riding horse
back. He had his little girl
behind him. I was riding on the
right hand side of the road he on my
left going towards Big Valley. I had
ridden down the road nearly to Will
Ezell's field ; saw Mr. Levi Ezell about
fifteen steps to the left of the road and
spoke to him ; rode on across a hollow
about 150 yards from the corner of
Will Ezell's field; just after crossing
the hollow some one ran up behind
us there; two or three ran up behind us
and shot Mr. Beck off his horse ; my
pony turned when the shooting began
and ran away with me; I went into
the woods ; I don t known which way
she went; I was scared so bad I
did not know anything; I kept
running where it was clear enough
and when it was too bushy I went a
slow gait. The first place I recog-
nized when I came into the road was
Wash Mauldin's place. Then I com
menced running again ran down the
road saw some parties in the road
took to the woods again and stayed in
the woods until I came into the road
near Steve Trowbridge's place and
there I turned and went up the road
to Mr. Nelson's. I was afraid to tell
what I knew and when told the news
1 feigned some surprise. My reason
for going to Mr. Nelson's was that I
had an engagement with a young
lady there . to take her to a
party. When I heard the news I
went home got a fresh horse ate some
supper then went back from there to
the inquest; hitched my horse back
from the crowd and went up near
enough to hear what was said ; heard
my name mentioned suspiciously; I
don't know who by but was afraid to
show myself for fear I would be killed
as I knew Mr. Beck had many friends.
I got two boys Keith Ezell and Char
ley Trowbridge to go with me for
company and protection; I went to
the residence of Mr. J. D. Willis that
night told him of Mr. Beck's murder
and that my name had been men-
tioned. I asked his advice ; my rea-
son for going to him was that I knew
that he was my mend and
an officer. He advised me to stay
around there until he could go and
see if I had just cause to have any
fear. He returned that night and
wished to come to Goldthwaite next
day. I came with him. I was not
under arrest nor in his custody at any
time. I acted voluntarily. I was ar-
rested August 3 by Sheriff Cunning-
ham. Have been in jail since then.
That's all I have to say. I wish to
further state that as near as I could
tell the parties who did the shooting
came from the left side of the road. I
didn't recognize any of them; couldn't
describe them nor their horses.
The examining trial will be con
tinued tomorrow. There are several
other witnesses. '
Immigration Movement.
Special to the Statesman.. jrV
Fort Worth AuguU fi The Fort
Worth board of trade through its tec-
retary Gen. It. A. Cameron to-day
called a northwest Texas immigration
convention to-meet at Fort Worth
Saturday August 17 to form a per-
manent organisation to invite immi-
gration to nwrthwest Texas. The
northwest is thoroughly aroused and
it is believed tlie most practicable nml
profitable immigration organization
Texas has had will result from this
convention. It is expected thatother
sections of Texas will organize simi-
larly. Challenging the Sluggers.
Special to- the- Statesman.
Fort Worth August 6. Jake
Campbell the Texas slugger who
challenged Jake Kilrain to light him
the first week in October having re-
ceived no reply from Kilrain today
proclaimed himself the champion of
the world and challenged John L. Sul-
livan Jem Smith Charley Mitchell
and McCaffrey to fight the first week
in October London prize rules for
any sum whatever. Camtbell is in
earnest.
The Texas Leaga.
Special to the Stutesman.
Fort Worth August 6. The Texas
Base Ball league met her to-day and
decided to close the season August 19
one month earlier than the scheduled
time. Tho dropping out of Waco
made this action necessary. This
virtually declares tho Houston team
the pennant winner. The Dallas
team has formally challenged the
Houston nine to play nine games of
ball after the league season closes for
$500 a side the club winning a ma-
jority of the games to take the
$1000.
A Terrible Death.
Special to the Statesman.
Bon ham August 6. -Information
has been received from . Moxico of the
horriblo death of Wm. McKamy Who
formerly resided hero and who is well
known throughout Texas. Ho was
working in his fathor's gold mine and
gone into tho quartz crusher to repair
some part of the machinery and his
assistants not knowing that he was
in started the machinery with the
above terrible result.
Accidental Shooting.
Special to the Statesman
Galveston August 6. Jim Turner
Frank Barnes and Louis 'Carraway
negro boys were out hunting near the
fair grounds yesterday evening. Barnes
accidentally shot Turner who was ly-
ing on the ground near him in the
head. Turner cannot survive as last
accounts from him say his braiu was
oozing from the wound in the head
where tho charge entered.
A Pitcher's Arm Broken.
Kansas City August 6. James
Hamilton the Weir pitcher met with
a peculiar accident in a game at Weir
City yesterday. The force of the de-'
livery of a ball broke his arm square
in two between the shoulder And the
elbow.
Arrest of Dick Tate.
Birmingham Ala. August i. The
Herald has just received a telegram
announcingjthat Dick Tate of Ken-
tucky the defaulting treasurer has
been arrested at Scottsborough Ala.
POUDGH
Absolutely Pure.
This powder never varies. A marvel of
purity strength and wholesomcness. More
economical than the ordinary kinds ami
cannot be soldfin competition with the
multitude of low test short weight alum or
phosphate powders. Sold only in cans.
KoTAt Haimo Powdeb Co. 108 Wall street
New York.
Sick Headache
PoslUTaljOars!
tfcese Little Fllla
They alao relieve
Jtraas from
Pafflfestloai tad TociJ
pieartj Eating. A
.foot remedy for Disci
a Kaoeea Drowsf
lows. Bad Teste la
tooth Coated Tongue Pain I . Ma TOE-1
KD LTVXR ato. Thejr reguuw the Boahf
and prevail ConaOpatioa end PUw. The
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JoaU Purely vegetable. Price 9 cents.
T ' CAITIl KSBlOn CO. rnp'is Sn Tat
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The Austin Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 18, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 8, 1889, newspaper, August 8, 1889; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth278178/m1/1/?rotate=270: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .