Oregon Gity Gorier. A. W. OHIKII, Fnbllsher. OBEGON CITY OREGON MS OF THE WEEK Interesting Collection of Current Event! In Condonsed Form From Both Continents , The Peoria, 111., water works were Bold under decree of court to bond holders for $1,500,000. ( Destructive brush fires in the oolony of Victoria, Australia, have done an enormous amount of damage. In a fight over a game of cards at Sandy Forks, Ky., eight men, all col ored, were killed, and four seriously wounded. W. J. Trenholmi former comptroller of the currency, has retired from the presidency of the American Surety Company. Governor Btidd, of California, has ordered an inquiry to be made into the mental condition of Salter D. Worden, the trainwreeker. While at small arms practice at Tampa, Fla., four men on the cruiser Marblehead were injured by an explo sion, two seriously. Funds have been secured in London, and three immense sugar beet factorios will be ereoted at Chicago, Marysville and lied Bluff, Cal. Mrs. Eliza Kohler, widow of a well known San Francisco liquor dealer, has made an assignment, with liabilities of $333,174; and assets, $323,735. Since the serious illness of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Willium K., his brother, has become the actual dominant force in the New York Central railroad. The court martial of Captain O. M. Carter, which has been in session at Savannah, will sit at Augusta hero after for the convenience of witnesses A Chicago syndicate with $1,000. 000 has purchased tho 1,200,000-acre Lopez ranch in Northern Mexico, which has on it valuable deposits of asphalt um. Amorioan schooner George W. Whit ford has been ordered forfeited by the Colon supreme court for loading a car go at Porto Bello in violation of port regulations. Charles Marsh, arrested at Kansas City for swindling J. F. Calhoun, of Spokane, is the well-known confidence man, known by the alias of Boston Charley. The Oakland, Cal., authorities have suspicions thai Josoph Raeside, the trainer, whose mangled body was found alongside the railroad track at Shell Mound, was murdered. The board of exports engaged in con sidering and adopting standards to govorn the importation of tea for the coming year, lias decided upon four out of the eighteen standards. Sanford B. Dole, president of the Hawaiian republic, has arrived at San Francisco, en route to Washington, where he will discuss annexation of the islands to the United States. Ships Aryan, for San Francisco, and Dirigo, for Shanghai, left New York together on Friday. Heavy bets wore put up by tho masters as to which ves sel would arrive at her destination first. Mrs. J. M. Farloigh, of Chicago, and Mrs. May Miller, of Dexter, Mich., have started for Montana to lay claim to an interest in the $1,000,000 estate of a deceased uncle, ,lohn D. Allport. Edwin T. Earle has brought suit in the United Statos circuit court at San Francisco against the Armour Packing Company to reoovor $100,0000 damages for violation of plaintiff's patent on a refrigerator. The'controller of the ourrency has declared a dividend in favor of the First National bank of Helena, Mont., of 10 jxir cent. The Western Union Beef Company has sold 8,000 head of steers off its Texas ranch to Clinton Anderson, of Wyoming, and will retire from busi ngs. Ore assaying $052 in gold and $70 In silver to the ton was discovered two miles from Adams Springs, Lake coun ty, California, and the district is wildly excited. George Dohhs and Mrs. Emelie New, jointly indicted for tho murder of the lattor'g husband at Eureka, Kan., have been convicted of murder in the second degree. Patrick A. Largey, president of the Mate Savings bank, and one of tho best known citizens of Butte, was shot and killed in tho bank building by Thomas J. Kiley. The Steer mansion at Nyatt, one of the best known residences along the shore of Narragaimett bay, Rhode Island, was burned to tho ground Sat urday night. An insane man named Ramon Vivos created a sensation in the cathedral at Madrid, by firing several revolver shots, lie was arrested and will be sent to an insane asylum. Civil Engineer A. G. Menreal, U. S. N., will be drought to court-martial on account of the faulty character of the work of construction of dry dock No. 3, approved by him. At a session of tho Augusta, Ga., city council, Councilman Gong got into a controversy with Jailer Collins, aud reached for a gun. Peacemakers in terfered and quiet was restored. The civil service debate which was inaugurated in the house a week ago lias been ended. It opened with a row, but ended very tamely. There was not even a vote on the appropriation In the executive, legislative and judicial ap propriation bill for the commission, upon which the debate was predicted. BIG STRIKE NOW ON. Over One Hundred Thousand Cotton Operatives Affected. Boston, Jan. 19. The fight between employer and employe in the New England ootton mills is on, and what it will lead up to cannot be foretold. The great corporations in New Bedford are silent, and thousands of operatives are idle, while here and there discon tent has oropped out all day, the most serious being at Biddeford, Me., when 8,200 persons refused to work, thus closing two mills; and at Lewiston, where one mill was crippled by 800 weavers staying out. The general wage reduction is estimated to affect 127,000 persons in about 150 mills. Tonight finds the textile operatives everywhere intently interested in tiie New Bedford strike, for there the real strength and endurance will come, and upon the outcome will depend the ques tion of an industial battle the entire length and breadth of the New England states. The chief point in this will be discipline. From the point of view of the millowner the New Bedford situa tion is now a lock-out. Intervention by the state board of arbitration this week is hardly likely to be allowed, and no overt act on the part of the strikers and no attempt to open a mill is expect ed for a number of days. The New Bedford strikers will receive strike money from operatives elsewhere, but the sum total will be reserved until a protracted battle brings on want and hardship, which the unions will then try to relieve. All the New Bedford mills opened at the usual time. When noon came the lights wont out, speed stopped, over seers and second hands prepared to make everything snug, and mill gates were closed indefinitely. The labor unions did little work today except to carry out plans of campaign which will be developed only as fainthearted weavers seek to return to work. Of tho other strikers, little has been developed in them as yet to forecast the future. All of the employes of the La conia and Pepperell mill works in Biddeford Btruck because they were anxious to, while the weavers alone in the Androscoggin mill simply took matters into their own hands, regard less of otiier departments. These two strikes, with identical issues, will serve only as minor tights along the line, unless the strike fever grows and they become the nuolous of a general tight in Maine cities. One other minor fight now is at Bur lington, Vt., where the Queen City mills shut down indefinitely because the operatives ;refused point-blank to aocept the reduction. The trouble, however, began a number of days ago, but reaohed the acute stage today. Taking today's events throughout, it may be said that things oame to pasB just as expected. It is the immediate future which awakens apprehensions. WORK BEING PUSHED. Klondike Belief Expedition Will Not lie Abandoned. Washington, Jan. 19. Arrangements for the departure of the government expedition for the Klondike are being pushed. Under date of January 12, Sifton, minister of tho interior for Canada, wrote Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn as follows: "Referring to the conversation which passed between us on the subject of furnishing an escort for your relief ex pedition, I have given inst.uotions that a sufficient number of men be sent for ward to Skagway for the purpose, and I have no doubt they will be waiting upon the arrival of your people on or before ttie 1st of February." Hifton telegraphed the following Sat urday evening: "Ottawa, Jan. 15. My reports in dicate no Immediate danger of starva tion at Dawson, but great necessity for provisions being distributed between Fort Selkirk and Skagway at various posts. I believe ioe lias formed all the way through. Our provisions are be ing pushed down by horses and dogs. I intend to keep supplies moving until the waterways are open in the spring, to avoid the possibility of disaster." Eight Killed Over Cards. Middloboro, Ky., Jan. 18. A spe cial from llynon says thoro was a fight on Sandy Fork. Eight men were re ported killed, as follows: John Wil liams, Doc Wilson, Bob Colwell, Tom Shelton, Peter Barrough, Mark PalMo, Eli Howard and Abel Coombs, all col ored. Sim Paine, Harry MoComas, Ed Martin and Lew Gossnian are serious ly wounded. Intense excitement pre vails and further lighting is expeotod. The fight occurred over a game of cards. The extraordinary bloodletting began Wednesday, when a party of ne groes, who were playing cards, got into a dispute concerning the way the game was progressing. Drunkenness added to tho brutality of the fight. Four men were killed, and subsequently the fighting was renewed by friends on both sides, until tho mortality list is equal almost -to the casualties in a mil itary engagement. The feeling aroused gives rise to apprehension of more crime. Seven Tenons Drowned. Colon, Jan. 19. A boating party, consisting of United States Consul Ashley, Dr. Huffman, tho Gorman cosnsul; Master Mechanic Mott and four others are supposed to be drowned. The body of a boatman, has already been recovorod. Washington, Jan. 19. Consul-Gen-eral Gudgeon, at Panama, cabled the state department today announcing the drowning of Consul Ashley at Colon. No details were given. Ashley was ap pointed only a few months ago, and had been well-known in this city and Vir ginia as a newspaper man. iolil for America. Sydney, N. 8. W., Jan. 19. The steamship Mariposa saied today for San Francisco, via Aucklaud, carrying 450,000 sovereigns. VERGE OF A REVOLT Intense Excitement Contin ues in Havana. PRUDENCE MUST BE EXERCISED No Hostile Demonstration Against the American ConsulateNorth At lantic Squadron Sails. Havana, Jan. 18. Although out wardly order is restored here, great ex citement continues, and unless the newspapers exercise, under the present press censorship, great prudence, a gen eral revolt is probable with much bloodshed, because in such an event the army and volunteers would fratern ize. General Blanco's position is more diffioult becauso his methods of warfare disqualify him to urge energy upon the mob. The rioters intend going in a pacific manner to the palace to request General Blanco to release Senor Jesus Trillo, a prominent attorney, who has been unjustly charged by political in triguers with fomenting mob violence. Up to the time this dispatch is sent no hostile demonstration against the American consulate has taken place. General Fitzhugh Lee, the American consul, and other consular officers wit nessed the riots from the balcony of the Hotel Ingaleterre. On the first news of the riots, when a crowd of 5,000 men had massed in Central Park, and began stoning windows and shout ing "Death to Diario," "Viva Wey ler," and "Down with autonomy I" General Parrado, General Solano and General Garrichs rode up and General Solano ordered the cavalry to charge the mob. The cavalry commander re plied: "Whom shall I charge? Loyal Spaniards for shouting 'Long live Spain' and 'Long live the Spanish generals?' " The commander then dismounted and endeavored to persuade the mob, in which were a number of officers and Several adjutants, to retire. General Garrichs, an intelligent, no ble Cuban, whose loyalty has never been doubted, confronted the leaders of the mob, Major Fuentes and Captain Calvo, of the artillery. Major Fuentes resented the rebuke, and General Gar richs, infuriated, snatched several dec orations from the breast of the officer, saying: "You have dishonored the army." Major Fuentes and Captain Calvo were arrested. General Solano, in an interview, has denied that he called the rioting offi cers drunkards, but he confirms the re port that he characterized them as "unworthy of the uniform they wore." Some of the papers having criticised this language, Seneral Solano said: "I used those words, and I am will ing to sustain them at the point of my sword." Wednesday and Thursday nights the theaters and cafes were closed, and the miltary band did not play at Central Park as usual. When the newspapers were being attacked General Blanco called upon several friends to use their influence to calm the rioters. They re plied that they deplored tho outburst, but did not know the leaders. They offered to do everything in their power to calm the outbreak, and pointedly suggested that General Arolas should try to calm himself also, as he was "in creasing the disturbance by his intem perate and insulting language." At one point the mob moved toward the private residonoe of Senor Bruzon, the civil governor of Havana, but was promptly dispersed by the police. A Determined Suicide. Chicago, Jan. 18. Albert C. Green. leaf, a bookoeper, committed suicide today bv jimmine from the lfith floor of tho Masonic temple. He had been out of employment for some time. nnd. becoming despondent, decided to make away with himself. His first attempt was made in the Chamber of Commerce buildim;. where he was eaiiL'ht in tlm act of jumping over the railing to tho rotunda and ejected from the building. Ho thon went to the Masonic temple, ascendod to the 16th floor, climbed upon the railing and jumped off into the rotunda. His body struck a mar ble landinir on the third floor. shut terrl a slab two inches thick, and landed on the balcony of the Becond floor. The body was reduced to a mere pulp. Greenleaf's fall was witnessed by scores of people id tho rotunda. Coal Trust Indicted. Springfield, III., Jan. 18. The grand jury of the Sangamon circuit court to day indicted 10 of the, companies form ing the alleged Springfield coal trust. They are charged with conspiring to defraud. The companies formed the Springfield Coal Association and ad vanced the prioe of coal 50 cents per ton, claiming they were compelled to advance the price to consumers because they advanced tho wages of their em ployes. The advance in wages to their employes was 73 cents per ton. Escape of Lieutenant Turner. Calcutta, Jan. 18. The report of the escape of Lieutenant Tutney, of the British survey party, recently attacked by tribesmen in the province of Mek rami, Belochistan, is confirmed. Killed at a Blind Titer. Barbonrsville, Ky., Jan. 17. News reached here today of a bloody tight at a "blind tiger," Wednesday night, on Sandy Fork, in which Robert Caldwell, Smith Helton, John Williams and Tom Wilson, all colored, were killed. Government l'lgeon Loft. Atlantic City, N. J., Jan. 18. The United States government is to have a carrier-pigeon loft in this city, to be used in connection with the naval service.. LATEST FROM DAWSON. Twenty-Two Klondikers Arrive on th Steamer Corona. Seattle, Jan. 19. Twenty-two per sons arrived here tonight from Dawson City on the steamer Corona, bringing with them a small amount of gold dust, and drafts on the North American Trading & Transportation Company and the Alaska Commercial Company amounting to between $800,000 and $1,000,000. In the party was one woman, the only woman to come out this winter. The party consisted of Andrew Oleson, E. H. Jenkins, Leon ard Sedgwick, E. Thoinassini, D. Camp hell, L. V. Grady, W. M. Kaufman, T. E. Brenier, Joe Brand, H. C. Bolong, Carl Hunt, Colonel Brosius, J. J. Baker, B. Tragedio, Chris Nueber, James Wardell, J. O. Berth, James O'Brien, W. H. Welsh, H. T. Coffin, H. L. Burt and Miss Lou Keller. The amount of drafts brought down represents the proceeds of sales of claims to the Cudahy, Healy,, Yukon & Klondike mining companies and private parties. The largest individual amounts were brought by the following: D. Campbell, $130,000; E. H. Jen kins, $125,000; Leonard Sedgwick, $100,000; Andrew Oleson, $120,000; T. E. Brenier, $40,000; Joe Brand, $15,000. In reference to the food situation at Dawson, tonight's arrivals corroborate previous reports that, while food is scarce, there will be no starvation. They consider that it will beimpoEsible to get a relief exedition in at this sea son of the year. Relief expeditions can easily reach the foot of Lake La barge, but the trou ble will begin when the Yukon river is reached. The Yukon is filled from shore to shore with great ice ridges from 10 to 20 feet high, the ice being thrown up in great blocks, and stand ing at all sorts of angles. Men with dogs can make their way by hugging the shore, but no great amount of sup plies can be carried with dog teams. A roadway can be cut through these ice ridges, but it would require a great amount of money, and it is doubtful if the work could be completed before the ice moved out of the river in the spring. The proposed use of reindeer in this country is considered entirely imprac ticable. Heavy snow Btorras have occurred this week on the Chilkoot pass, and travel has been praotically impossible for days at a time. Inspector Stuek land of the Northwest mounted police stationed at Tagish, was delayed five days near the summit by snow and wind. A detachment, consisting of 80 men of the Northwest mounted police, have arrived at Skagway. They were to have been stationed at different posts in the interior, but, owing to the short age of provisions, and the cost of trans porting supplies, the detachment will remain at Skagway for the present. HIS SATANIC MAJESTY. Indiana Parson's Son Flayed the Devil in a Kealistlo Manner. Chicago, Jan. 19. A special to the Times-Herald from Bourbon, Ind., says: Rev. Mr. Aikin, pastor of the Bethel church, on Sunday night took for his theme "His Satanic Majesty." He is an eloquent man, and he painted the arch-fiend in vivid colors. At the climax of the description, a being dressed to represent a devil, with a large head and switching tail, ambled up the aisle, blowing smoke from its nostrils and bellowing: "I am the devil, aud I want all of you." The audience became panic-stricken. Men, women and children were hurled to the floor and trampled upon in the made rush for tho door. ,In the confu sion the Btove was upset and the build ing caught fire. Before the horrified members had regained their senses, the fire had made such headway that all attempts to save the church were in vain. This morning George Aikin, Bon of the pastor, confessed that he, in com pany with other boys, rigged up a devil suit, and, knowing the subject of his father's sermon, concealed himself and awaited the arrival of the audi ence. TO STAND BY THE GUNS. , Two Additional Regiments of Artillery Asked For. Washington, Jan. 19. In a com munication to congress today on the care and preservation of the government fortifications and their armament, Act ing Secretary Meiklejohn calls on con gress for an additional force of two reg iments of artillery, imperatively re quired to keep the guns and mortars throughout the country in good condi tion, and to use them effectively when required. He incloses reports of Gen eral Miles and others on the subject, and says the most practicable and eco nomical plan having in view the pur poses for which the fortifications and armaments are provided, as to quarter the artillery force by units of organiza tion in batteries, behind the guns .icy ire to use, as far as the existing force will go, caring for the remainder by luitable detachments from those garri ions. The present authorized strength of the artillery force of the army is in adequate to tho proper care and preser vation of their armament. Earthquake In Italy. London, Jan. 19. A dispatch from Rome says there was a severe earth quake shock today at Argentina, 18 miles southeast from Ferrari. Several buildings and a church were wrecked and many persons injured. London, Jan. 19. A special dis patch from Cairo says that a party of friendly natives has captured the Derv ish post of Sarfioh, taking 10 prisoners and obtaining ooneessions of quantities of supplies. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE Henry Savage Laynor Tor tured by Thibet, ns. ATTEMPTED TO REACH CAPITAL Ha and Native Companions Crippled and Disfigured for Life by Pun ishment Inllloted. London, Jan. 17. The Daily Chron icle, in a description of the experiences in Thibet of Henry Savage Landor, the artist, who narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Thibetans when en deavoring last autumn to reaoh Lassa, the capital of Thibet, says: "His valuable diary and notes, in cluding interesting photographs, was only interrupted when Mr. Landor himself was under torture. One of these represents the scene of torture of a native companion, tied naked to a tFee and slashed and bruised by a cir cle of hideous beings dancing around, jeering at and taunting their victim. Another photograph, taken after the rescue, shows two unreoognizable men, all the hair burned off their heads, the skin lacerated and seamed with burns, and in place of their eyes two ghastly ..slits. Mr. Jjanuor lost one eye. The Thibetans repeatedly held white-hot irons so close to the eyes of their cap tives as without, touching them to Bhrivel and wither them. Mr. Landor was rescued when nearly dead, after be ing three days without food or water, by a party including Mr. Wilson, Mr. Larkin and Kasak Singh Pat, nephew of the rajawar of Askote, who had heard from the natives that a white man was doomed to be beheaded in the interior of Thibet. Mr. Landor had almost lost his reason. After three hours' attention he regained sufficient consciousness to say where he had con cealed his camera. They had a photo graph taken of the savages cowering in terror of the avenging whites. "It is not probable that Mr. Landor will ever be well enough to return." FORT SMITH STORM. The List of Dead Numbers Forty-Three About Seventy Injured. Fort Smith, Ark., Jan. 17. The la test official death list shows a total of 43 lives lost in the tornado which swept through Fort Smith Tuesday night. Not less than 70 others are injured, a large number of them seriously, and several are expected to die. The work of removing the bodies from the ruined buildings progressed today. Five new names were added to the list of the dead. Two bodies were dug from the ruins of the Smith block, from which 11 had previously been taken. The full extent ef the storm may be comprehended, from the fact that 85 miles northeast of the city a quantity of tin roofing from Garrison avenue buildings was found. A woman was taken from tho ruins of the Burgess ho tel today, and was identified as Mrs. Ida Innis, of Elm Spriug, Ark. Her brother is missing, and it is believed his body is still buried in the ruins. Business in the devastated districts, where the buildings were only partially damaged, was resumed today. Ladies of the city are at work distributing food and clothing to the needy. The relief oommittee.composed of prominent business men, finds difficulty in hous ing the sufferers. One hundred and fifty buildings were demolished, anil will have to be rebuilt to accommodate the people. Orton and Wright, two of the dead,' were Indian territory farmers, and had just stepped into the Smith building for shelter. Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Little Rock and other oities wired readiness to lend aid if necessary. The number of dead will not exceed 50. Vanderbllts In Possession. New York, Jan. 17. The oontrol of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company having heen obtained by the reorganization committee of the Union Pacific, the Vanderbilts are now in vir tual possession of a through transcon tinental line. The New York Central is the first road in the combination from this point. At Buffalo ' it con nects with the Lake Shore for Chicago, from which point the chain is carried on to Omaha by the Chicago & North western, and from there the Union Pa cific, the Oregon Short Line and the O. R. & N. Co. lets the line to Portland. All these roads are1 Vanderbilt roads, and the total mileage is 13,420. Negotiations Successful. San Francisoo, Jan. 17. A cable gram from London announces the suc cess of the mission of Willard E. Greene, who recently left for Europe in the interest of the beet-sugar syndi cate which has been negotiating for lands in the Sacramento valley. Satis factory arrangements have been mane to eecure the proper persons to culti vate the beets. Contracts have been signed bv which 150,000 acres of land near Chico, Marysville and Red Bluff liave been socured, and the work of erecting three immense sugar factories will be started at once. The Byndioate has a capital of $15,000,000. New York, Jan. 17. The World says: E. N. Wbitton, a banker, re ceived word yesterday that Professor A. J. Keeler, F. C. Kingsiey and Thomas Field, all of this vicinity, had lost their lives in Arizona while in quest of treasure. The supposition is that the adventurers, who had secured treasure in gold aud precious stones, were murdeied by a roving band of Na vajo Indians. Mr. Whitton says he will at once send an agent to Arizona to get all the particulars of the affair. ACCIDENT, IT IS SAID Daughter of Ex-Senator Blackburn Shot Herself. Washington, Jan. 18. In her apart ments in the Wellington hotel last night Mrs. Lucille Lane, youngest daughter of ex-Senator Blackburn, of Kentucky, shot herself. Acoording to the statement given out by the family, the shooting was accidental. Both Mrs. Lane's physicians refused, to dis cuss the subject, even to the extent of Baying whether or not the wound would prove fatal, but from the best that can be learned she will probably recover, although now suffering severely from the shock. A friend of the family nominated to give out a statement said that about midnight Saturday Mrs. Lane was pre paring to retire. Her husband at the time was in the adjoining room look ing over a paper. Mrs. Lane opened a bureau drawer to get a handkerchief, and picked up a handful of glove and laces which had been tossed together in the drawer. Under this fluffy mass was a tiny lady's pistol, a gift to Mrs. Lane from her father, and a possession of which she was particularly fond. It caught in a piece of lace aa she raised her hand, and, falling of its own weight, Btruck the hammer on the edge of the open drawer. The pistol exploded, and the ball ponetrated her left breast. What became of the ball it is impossi ble to say. According to the statement given out, it struck a rib and ranged around beneath the left shoulder, mak ing a superficial wound. At the same time it is said Mrs. Lane is suffering so from the shock that the physieans have devoted all their energies to allay ing her pain without attempting tc definitely ascertain tho extent of the injury. The most precise statement that either physician would make to night was that Mrs. Lane would prob ably live until morning. At the request of the family, the block in which the hotel is situated has been roped off. Ex-Senator Black burn is deeply att'eoted by the occur rence. He doos not live with his daughter, and when the affair occur red was summoned from his room on New York avenue, remaning thereafter at Mrs. Lane's hotel. THE DAY IN THE HOUSE. Debate on Army Hill-Late Representa tive Milliken Eulogized. Washington, Jan. 18. The house devoted two bonis to general debate on the army appropriation bill, and the remainder of the day to eulogize the life and public Bervice of the late Rep resentative Milliken, of Maine, who served for 14 years in the lower branch of congress. On motion of Lanham, a bill was passed authorizing the president to ap point an additional district judge for the northern district of Texas. It was explained that Judge Rector, now judge of the district, was utterly inca pacitated from poi forming the duties of the office. The house then went into oommittee of the whole and took up the army ap propriation bill. The bill, the chair man of the oommittee explained, car ried $23,165,990. New provisions ia the bill required the payment of troops by the paymaster in person. During the debate, McHenry took occasion to denounce Gage's funding scheme, and Gerry made some remarks about the protective tariff. At 2 o'clock the debate was suspend ed to give the members an opportunity to pay a tribute to the memory of the late Representative Milliken. Those who spoke were Burleigh, who suc ceeded Milliken; Dingley, Boutelle, DinBmore, Skinner, Mercer, Hilborn. and Little. At 8:25 P. M., as a further mark of respect, the house adjourned. Among the bills introduced in the house today were the following: By Lewis, of Washington To estab lish the eight-hour law in all states and territories. By Maguire of California (by re quest) To presoribe the manner of holding elections for representives in congiess.. A FIRE IN BUTTE. Nearly Caused a 1 ante in the Opers House Butte, Mont., Jan. 18. Fire, sup posed to be of inoendiary origin, broke out in the Boston dry goods store, ia the Odd Fellows' building, on Broad way, adjoining the Maguire opera house, about 9 o'clock. Before the fire was extinguished, the block was practically a total loss. It was insured for $25,000, which is believed to be the full value. The dense smoke pene trated the upper part of the building, where Thomas Steets, a paralytic, and his vifo lived. Thev were rescued with dfflculty. The smoke also penetrated the opera house, where "Under the Dome " was being given. As Manager Hagan started for the stage to advise the au dience to withdraw quietly, some one rushed into the gallery, and gave an alarm. There was a rush for the doors, and several women fainted and were slightly injnred by being tram pled upon. No one was seriously hurt. The attaches of the theater acted with great coolness, and this, probably prevented a more serious disaster. The play was not ended. Lighted the Spray, Wheeling, W. Va , Jan. 18. Two thoughtless boys caused great mischief by applying a match to a spray of coal oil issuing from a small aperture in the Standard Oil Company's pipe line from Sisterville and Mannington to George town. The pressure at the point was strong. Soon, the burning spray melt ed the lead in the joints of the pipe, which was six inches in diameter. Fifty acres of forest and field were toon, ablaze, and two small bridges and two barns were burned