The Abilene Reporter. (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 47, Ed. 1 Friday, November 18, 1892 Page: 1 of 8
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THE ABILENE REPORTER.
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VOL. XI.
ABIIENE TEXAS PKID AY MORNING NOVEMBEK 18 1892.
NO. 47
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NEWS NOTES.
Nov is. A terrific explosion of
i? t dynamite occurred near the main wheel
r.. . ...v. .............. """
'party's turinellNiagara FalU.this morn-
ing. A magazine containing about
1 66 pounds of high explosive ignited
from some mysterious cause. John
' Hoben. 24 years of age master me
' chanic was blown 120 feet arid killed.
; A number of others were more or less
injured.
The Star's Fort Scott. (Kan ) spe
cial says: . The victory of the' constitu
'' tional amendment proposition in this
'' country was assured yesterday and si
". multancously several saloons were op
3r ed in Kansas Ciiy.
- A dispatch from Corpus Christi
says: At 2 p. m. to.day Rudolph
1 Zimmerman a section boss on the San
Antonia and Aransas Pass railway shot'
and slightly wounded N. Gussett ban-
ker. Z.mmemian afterward to evade
arrest suicided.
Thursday niglit when the democrats
were celebrating Cleveland election at
West Point Miss. a cannon burst while
the parade was passing and five per-
sons were seriously injured and ex-
Mayor N W. Wart had both legs frac-
tured and may die.
Nov. 13 A riot occured at Home-
stead Pa which was started through
a fight between negroes and white men
-Several people were Severely injured.
A dispatch from New Orleans says;
The case brought into thd federal court
against 100 of the strikers' leaders
charged with violating the interstate
commerce law and with conspiracy
intimidation threats and violence will
ht heard Saturday Nov. 19.
A heavy shock of earthquake was
felt at San Francisco at 4:45 o'clock
this morning. The shock was felt at
numerous places throughout Califor-
nia. No damage was done.
The New York Herald will tomorrow
advocate the abolition of our foreign
ministry. In the course of Us article
; the paper says: Some day a great
political parly will take up the question
seriously and make Itself famous by
wiping our useless and cumbersome
diplomatic service from the face of the
earth. It was" prophetic when James
G. Blaine uttered this prediction s Jine
years ago to -the then Congressman
McAdoo of New Jersey: "Nearly
$400000 is empty trappings of a use-
less office.
Nov. 14. A mass meeting of prom-
inent citizens was held at the Hoard of
Trade rooms in San Antonio this mor-
ning (or the purpose of discussing the
question of offering percuniary encour-
agement to the rainmakmg expedition.
It was decided to raise a sum of
$2000 tu be applied in the work and
a soliciting committee was appointed
to canvass the business men for sub-
scriptions. Milwaukee had another disasterous
lire visitation this morning when the
large dry goods store of T. L. Kelly &
Co fronting on Wisconsin street and
Broadway was completely gutted To-
tal loss $175000 covered by insur-
ance. Between 5 and 6 o'clock this mor-
ning a fine team of horses of the Texas
express company were instantly killed
by electricity from a trolly wire of the
Houston city street railway company.
George W. Phillips the driver also
received a shock but was not serious-
ly hurt. It seems the wire had broken
some time last night and was left hang-
ing. As it was dark Mr. Phillips
" being unable to see the deadly wire
drpve his team against it both the
horses falling dead.
The London Financial News says;
American speculators have not yet
grarped the potential source of traffic
expansions that will be afforded by the
Chicago Columbian exposition. There
is nothing extravagant in the estimate
Vy that $250000000 of foreign money
will be left in America as a harvest of
the exhibition. The Americans will be
9 litterally burdened with money seeking
investment
Nov. 15 .Tlie Knights of Labor
held their annual convention aj St.
Louis. Only preliminary busine'sr was
transacted.
W. T. Rosecrans register of the
treasurer has been ill for some time
His condition is critical.
A non-unionist named Maynard was
shot and killed at Homestead by Max'
Newman one of strikers.
A dispatch from Stephensville says:
After beirig out all 1 ightthe jury in the
McKinney murder case brought in a
verdict this morning. They found Mc-
Kinney guilty of killing Farmer Haley
on July 30 1892 as charged and as-
sessed the punishment at imprison-
ment for life.
The National Farmers alliance met
at Memphis. Probably the most im-
portant matter incidental to the mee-
ting will be the attempt to amalgamate
the three orders which now have rep
resentatives in the city. The scheme
has been tried before but failed. The
election of officers takes place to-morrow
The new waterworks plant at Fort
Worth is rapidly ncaring completion.
The Jim Hogg pipe foundry at the
Rusk penitentiary made its initial cast
to-day and everything worked smoothly
It is an extensive plant and will manu-
fjctuse a lafce part of the state's iron
product. Mr. R. F. Carter formerly
of Anniston Ala was the architect and
builder.
Industrial Activity in tho South
The industrial progress of the south
as evidenced by the array of facts ill
this week's issue of the Manufacturer's
Record of Baltimore clearly disproves
the theory that 'approaching national
elections affect the investment of capi-
tal in new enterprises This week
shows a remarkable increase in the
number and diveisiu'esof new concerns
while manv existing factories testify
to their faith in prosperous times
ahead by extensive improvements. A
gratifying feature of the week is the
large number of new factories that
have been completed and commenced
active operations in various portions of
the south. Some of the most impor-
tant items n ttd by the Record in its
issue of November 4 may be briefly
summarized as follows: La Grange
(Ga.) Water Works Co. capital stock
$60000; Melrose Mining & Diamond
Drill Co. of Little Rock Ark capital
stock $1000000; American Publsb-
irtg & Engraving Co. of Atlanta Ga
capital stock $100000; Burrough
Bros' Manufacturing Co. to build
large chemipat works in Baltimore; a
$rooooo furniture manufacturing
company and a $50000 veneer etc
factory at H Austin Heights Texas; a
$500000 electric power plant at
Baltimore; Haes Phosphate Co
Charleston W.. Va capital stock
$500000; Nichola Lumber Co
Nichola Ala with paid in capital of
$39 000; extensive saw and planing
mills to be built near Alexandria La
bv Rapides Lumbtr Co; large railroad
shops at Abbeville S. C by the
Georgia Carolina & Northern Rail
road; McKinney (Texas) Compress
Co. capital stock $50000; Geo. H.
Geiger Co. to do a canning business
at Baltimore capital stock $ ioooo;
Lexington (Va.) Electric Light &
Power Co capital stock $10000;
Mineiva Colliery Co of Laredo Tex-
as capital stock of $50000; Charlotte
(N. C) .Machine Co capital stock
$25000; Florence (Ala) Furniture
Co. capital stock $10000; Meridian
(Miss) Bagging & Manufacturing Co.
capital stock $i5;ooor $i5ooo hosiery
& woo) securing mill at North Galves-
ton; Texas; $15 ooq brick manufactur-
ing company $10000 saw mill com-
pany $25 000 farm implement factory
and $30000 compo-board factory
nlso at North Galveston; El Paso
(Texas) Public Ore Sampling Co
capital stock $20000; Evans Marble
Co Balpmore to cut and polish
marble etc.. capital stock $109000;
Braid & Hut ton Co. Savannah Ga
blank book manufacturing printing
etc. capital stock $20000; Frederick
City (Md) Lime Co capital stock
$15000. The textile industries show
steps in progress for a $250000 cot-
ton mill at Rocky Mount N. Cj $50.
000 knitting factory at Meridian
Miss.; a cotton factory to be built by
the Barnwell (S C.) Oil & Fcitilizer
Co. knitting factory tor Jacksonville
Ala. and cotton mill projects under
way at Dothen Ala. Talbatton Ga.
and Allendale S. C.
THE CITY FIREMEN.
Minutes end Proceedings of Their
Annual Meeting.
The Abilene fire department con-
vened in central station Friday Nov.
12th 1892 at 7:30 p. m. for annual
election of officers. Never in the his-
tory of the department has a more
gratifying meeting been held. Each
number leeling proud as it was the
first time they had assembled in such
a large body in their new and hand
some quarters and they were made to
(eel more proud because of the pros
perous condition of the department
and the prospects of a brighter .and
more favorable year in the future.
The house called to order by Presi-
dent O. W. Steffens
Forty members answering to roll
call
Report of Chief Clinton showing
condition ol department and improve-
ments received read and unanimously
adopted. Moved and carried that said
report be submitted to city council be
given city papers (or publication.
Report of financial condition of
department for year commencing
Nov. 8th 1891 and ending Nov. 12th
1892. read and Submitted to committee
compusedof J. . Williams J M. Cun-
ningham Tom Morris report of Pres.
Steffens showing the work done during
the past year by office and men of de-
partment read and uriamou'-ly adopted.
Moved and earned that said report be
given to papers tor publication. Amend-
ment of section 2 of constitution and
by laws offered by Gus Ackerman read
and adopted. Before the retirement
of the department for the year a
resolution was offered and unanimously
adopted; that each and every individual
of the department seeing the zealous
and untiring woik done by the officers
during the past year; in appreciation
of their service tender them our sin-
cerest thanks.
Next followed election of office for
ensuing ear President Steffens
resigning the chair to Will Julwiler
niniihatinn (or president 111 order O.
W. Steffehs nomination rules
suspended and re-election by rising
vote. President SteffctH taking
chair called for nomination for chief
J 'J. Clinton nominated rules suspen-
ded re-election bv rising vote J J.Pratt
unanimously re-elected 1st asst. chief
Gus Ackerman elected second asst chief
1'. A. Bledsoe nominated for Secretary
and Treas rules suspended md re-elected
by rising vote Rev R S. Smart
unanimously re-electtd chaplain no
further business chaplain offered prayer
and department stood adjourned.
no rus
Pres. Stiffens in accepting his re-
election in a fc-w stirring remaiks
thanked the department for the confi-
dence placed in him and the evidence
of a co-operation in the future made
the bois feel good. (
The tried and true Chie( Clinton
"being too lull for utterance" brought
a fireman's yell
Assistant Chief Ackerman 'claimed
he was no speaker but the boys knew
a good fireman.
The secretary seemed somewhat em-
barrassed when oiled on.
The meeting was one of the largest
ever held.
T. A. Biedsor Secretary
-
Address of O.W. 8teffens President of
the Fire Department.
FEiXQw Firemen Again we have
assembled at the close of our elective
year for the purpose of electing de-
partment officers for the ensuing year.
As we stop td review the nast twelve
months we cannot help but feel that
we have made rem irkaule progress
we have accomnlishcd much towards
greater efficiency. This could not
have been done had contentions or
jealously existed but not so the uni-
versal intei est manifested the united
effort of you all has been the helpmate
to our achievements.
The generosity of our City council
is displayed in the erection of this
beautiful house erected for our use
standing at the corner Of the four fire
ward as a monument proclaiming the
progressiveness of bur city and protec-
tion to the invested capital in our midst.
It promises to the home seekers a low
rate of insurance and bids them settle
in our city encourages the develop-
ment of new enterprises and guaran-
tees safety from destruction as much
as Is possible. We have' on our rolls
a full compliment of men brave men
and true who at all times are ready
and willing to respond to the alarm of
the bells and to battle with the flames
irrespective storm cold or the hour;
men who will do their duty nq matter
where that duty calls them
We have recently purchased a fine
pair of horses a modern hose wagon
and 1000 feet of double jacket hose.
We have paid ill some $800 and arc
still due $500 payable in one year. I
have no doubt that with the assistance
of an appreciative community this
debt will he promptly liquidated at ma-
turity. These things were badly needed
and I can assure you were well bought.
Wc have expended during the year say
$100 for a fireman who became dis-
abled on active duty besides provid-
ing him with medical assistance this
being the only accident of a serious
nature to mar our existence for the
twelve months. Death has taken
from our ranks one of our number
Henderson who was esteemed by each
of us and though he does not answer
roll call still lives in our midst
and is often thought of as a
gallant brave and noble fireman.
With Our new apparatus at hand I feel
wc stand the peer ol any fire depart-
ment in a town this size in Texas and
I feel proud of our record for the year.
The report of our chief has given ou
all details of work accomplished and I
shall not 'dwell on same further than to
say you have done all you could and
performed your duties as loyal volun-
teer firemen.
The discipline of this department is
good and as this is a very important
factor I trust will ever remain so. In
public favor I feel our department
stands as it should as composed of
orderly sober and brave men a lot of
men who feel proud of their calling
and who will always do their duty and
so let it continue.
One thing yet we must accomplish
that is a good system of fire alarms
say two boxes in each ward with an
additional one each on Chestnut and
Pine streets Perseverence will accom-
plish this also.
As your executive officer let me assure
you that my connection with you has
been a pleasure to me. 1 sTiall
ever have cause to remember
the many pleasant associations
of the past. And when I say our rela-
tions and labors have been pleasant
I do not forget they were largely made
so by your efforts and co-operation.
I will ever cherish your token of esteem
in electing me to the position I have
occupied and can only wish that eacn
of you.when occupying a position simi-
lar to mine may be as warmly sup-
ported and assisted as I have been
since my connection with this depart-
ment. A good fire department is a
necessity to any enterprising town the
whole commercial welfare depends on
the protection against the furious ele-
ment which at any moment may break
from its fetters and with a step of might
and destruction march fjtlh through
our s'rects and a man who joins a
volunteer; fire department is a lover of
mankind a patriot who should hae
the love and esteem of all who have
the welfue of their city at heart.
The good showing we make I thank
you fqr without your heaity co-opera-doii
I w hi Id not have been equal to
to the task
In conclusion let me enjoin upon
each one of )ou to always so act and
do that our department shall elicit
only words of praise from ecry one
who comes in contact with us. It is
a blessing to our town and saves our
city thousands of dollars in insurance
rates alone We should at all time
go hand in hand with the citizens we
serve as volunteer firemen.
Continue as you have done in the
past alert vigilant and at your duty.
Let the alarm always bring a prompt
response. See to it that the conduct
of a fireman especially when on duty
is above reproach that we may always
command the respect and the es-
teem ol our citizens. To this end let us
all strive.
I now declare the office of president
viqc president secretary and chief va-
cant and the department ready to pro-
ceed tu elect officers.
Ciilef Clinton's Report.
To 0. V bletTens: president of ihe Fire
Department of Abilene Texai.
Ill accordance with the requirements
of the city ordinance governing the fire
department it becomes my duty as
chief engineer to present to you my
fourth annual report of the fire depart-
ment of the city of Abilene for the fis-
cal year ending November nth 1892:
The property of the city now in the
possession of the fire department con-
sists of one hook and ladder truck two
hose carts four Babcock extinguishers
and eleven hundred feet of hose. The
hook and ladder needs more and longer
ladders the Babcocks have seen their
best days the hose carts are in very
good condition but the hose begins to
show the effect of long and severe ser-
vice. There is now un the department
roll fifty-eight men and officers. The
officers and men have commendably
sustained their high reputation for zeal
fidelity efficiency harmony and good
feeling very necessary conditions of
good service.
During the year just clpscd the d.
nartment has responded to twenty six
bell and still alarms the largest num-
ber in .the history of the repartment.
Although the calls have been numer-
ous it is very gratifying' to be able to
teport that the d.partment has been
very successful in preventing destruc-
tive fires The loss by fire during the
year amounts' to forty-three thousand
nine hundred and eighty-five dollars.
Insurance recovered twenty-eight
thousand onp hundred and fifty dollars
making a ne loss of fifteen thousand
eight hundred and tinny five dollars.
Property at risk and saved by (he de-
partment pne hundred and twenty-four
thousand two hundred dollars. The
cost of operating thet department for
the year was one thousand dollars
making the edst of maintaining the de
pirtment based on the last census of the
city twenty.fhe cents per capita which
will compare favorably with any city of
this size maintaining a volunteer de-
partment. KIRKS CLASSIFIED.
Children playing with matches 5
Unknown 6
Lamp explosion 2
Detective flues 2
Gasolene stove ........ 1
Death has invaded our ranks during
the year the department suffering a
severe loss in the deaih of Leland Hen-
derson and member of rescue hose
company number 2. I can cheerfully
testify to his sterling worth as a nreman
and citizen to his generosity of heart
uniform courtesy and fidelity lo the in-
terest of our organization which en-
deared him lo all.
Improvements have been made dur
ing the year the most noted being
the erection of a central fire station
which is the pride of the department
and an ornament to the city.
I would recommend that the de-
partment take charge of and reorgan-
ize the band under the name 0 the
Fire department band.also the election
of a second assistant chief.
There is one other matter that I
wish to call your attention to: Our
city is greatly in need of a system of
street fire alarms to be located in dif-
ferent parts of the city. I therefore
recommend that a con. Lined system of
fire and police alarms be introduced
whereby either the police or fire de-
partment could be called in case of
emergency.
I fujly appreciate the many demand
made on the city treasury for other im
provements wh ch arc important to
beautify and enhance the value of
property in our city but itr my judge-
ment there is no improvement so vi-
tally important as protection igainst
that dreadful element fire which has
wiped out of the commonwealth of the
Untied States one hundred and fifty
millions of dollars within the last twelve
months and I sincerity hope that you
will give this matter your consideration
It is a genuine pleasure to be able
to report that the depanm nt is well
disciplined in every manner and com
posed ol good soher and trustworthy
men most of whom have L-ecn In fire
service for a number of years and
have by their long experience and
regular dnll bee me experts In com-
bating fire. It has become the pride
and ambition of this department to
subdue fires wiih as little damage by
water as possible and it is certainly
gratifying to know that all fires have
been handled with special reference to
waste by water.
I attribute the good showing of the
department to its rapid movements in
responding to fires and the play pipes
and other apparatus being in the
hands pf well drilled firemen. There
is 110 petty jealousy among the mem-
bers such as would tend to disorgan-
ize the harmony of the department.
I hold that the fireman's profession
is just as legitimate as any otner and
a man may be a fireman and a gentle-
man also and as the Abilene piess and
every good citizen have extended their
hand with no little reserve towards pro-
moting the department to a high state
of efficiency I am of the opinion
that when our citizens meet a fireman
they feel that they have met .1 gentle-
man and I feel and know that the de-
partment will accomplish the work for
which it was created to the satisfaction
of the citizens of this city.
I wish to extend my thanks to the
city council for the valuable improve-
ments which have been added to the
fire department. It has been the dis-
position of the city council during the
past fiscal year to make such im
provements as were urgently needed
by the department. I have found the
members of the city council gentlemen
who have no other motives in dealing
for the city than accomplishing the
greatest good for the people with the
least possible expenditure of the pub-
lic mopey.
I also wish to extend my thanks to
the cit'zens for financial aid and es-
pecially to the ladies of the city who
have in many ways contributed to our
suci ess and to our sponsor who has
always shown a genuine personal in-
terest in the Jcpanmrrit and who is
the pride of its etfery member
In conclusion I desire to express my
thanks to the officers and men of the
department tor the able and efficient-
manner in vvhich they have executed
their work and the personal interest
they have displayed under all circum-
stances to protect the city against low
by fire
It is very gratifying to me to bo in
Command of a body of firemen who
are so well disciplined and gentlemanly
in their bearing. Yours repcct ully
J J Clinton
Chief Fire DcpU
Speech if the Prestdent-Eleot.
Mr. Cleveland made the following
r-peech at the annual dinner given by
the chamber of commerce at New
York:
Mr. president and gentlemen: I ara
exceedingly gratified bv the kindness
and warmth of your greeting. It does
not surprise me however for I have
seen and fell on more than one occa.
sion the cordial hospitality and hcarti-.
ncss of those who assembled at the
rtiinual dinner of our chamber ot
commerce. We all have noticed
that many men when they seek to ap-
pear especially wise and impn-sive
speak of "our business interest" as
something awlul and mysterious and
quite often when the proposition is.
under discussion its merits are" no-
longer apparent to those whose hair
is on end at the solemn suggestion that
4 our business nit-rests" are lying in
wait with numerous vials of wrath in
complete readiness for those who ar-
rive it the unaccepted conclusions. I
am foi lunate in being able to state that
my relation to the chamber of com-
merce of the slate of New York though
merely a ccmphmentaiy kind arising
from an honorary membership Ins 'so
familiarized me with "business inter-
ests" that I no longer regard those
words as meaning a bloodthirsty beast
nor do L have constantly before my
mind those children in the biblical
story who were torn to pieces bv bears
for discussing too much at random the
baldness of an ancient prophet. It is
natural that my familiarity with busi-
ness interests arising from the relations
to which I have referred. should be of
a very pleasant sort and free from
fear and trepidation for the only meet-
ings I have ever attended Of tie clum-
ber of commetce have been precisely
as this when the very best things 10
cat and drink have been exhaustively
discussed I am bound to say that on
these occasions the dreadful beings rep-
resenting the business interests are
very human indeed.
I know you will not do me the great
injustice of supposing that lin the least
underrate the importance of the com-
mercial and financial interests here
represented. On the contrary nq one
appreciates more than I that while a
proper adjustment of all interests
should be maintained you represent
those which are uttirly wdisprnwibie
to our national growth and prosperity
I dp not believe any other intciesis
should be' obliged to feed fr m the
crumbs which fall from the table of
business nor 'do I believe the table
should be robbed of the good things
which are honestly and fairly there
merely because some other tables are
nut so well provided.
It comes to this we are all inter-
ested as Americans in comman pur-
suits. Our purpose is or it ought to
be in our several spheres to add tor
the general fund of national prosperity.
From this fund we are all entitled to-
draw perhaps not equally but justly-.
each receiving a fair portion ol indi-
vidual prosperity. Let us avoid tramp-
ling on each other in our anxiety to be
first in the distribution of shares and
et us pot attempt to appropriate tho
shares of others As I close I cannot
refrain from expressing my thanks for
the courtesies often extended me by the
organization at whose hospitable board
I liaye sat this evening. 1 beg to
assure youf though I may not again
soon meet you On an occasion like
this I will remember the friends made
among your membership and shall
never allow myself to be heedless of
the affairs you so worthily hold in your
keeping.
Cleveland was followed by Whitelaw
Reid who made a brief humorous
speech. After Reid had spoken there
were loud cries for "Depew." "I ex-
pected" he said ''to be here to-night
attending the obsequies of this dis-
tinguished friend of mine laughter
and had prepared a euology which
would have been satisfactory to the
deceased. I discover howeycr that
I have been listening to a democratic
ratification meeting. I find however
that the places are chauged; I am the
cornse." Laughter Much more wa
said in the same strata
ij '
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Hoeny, John, Jr. The Abilene Reporter. (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 47, Ed. 1 Friday, November 18, 1892, newspaper, November 18, 1892; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth330788/m1/1/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Public Library.