.irr; :>1. ?' - ,7.. riJ. >U'-V ' 4 ROBBERS HOLD VP f; ; .:• -1 * ~ "t- TRAIN NEAR CHICAGO Posses Scour the Country in Search of Ban- ; dits Who Plundered Rock Island Express --One Man Under Arrest. More than a dozen posses are scour ing the country for the two men who held up the "Big Five" express on it the Rock Island July 3, and the farm ers, who also suffered at the hands of the robbers, are particularly enraged. The holdup occurred near Dupont Btneteen miles from Chicago, shortly before 11 o'clock the night of July 3. Pursuit of the robbers began at •nee. One of the two men under ar rest, Charles Nessler, is known to have been with the robbers, but the police believe his story that he was an unwilling accomplice, being forced to aid the robbers under threat of death. In the chase that followed the rob bery the two desperadoes stole seven horses and fought a battle with farm ers who attempted to capture them. Several times they were almost cap- tared, but each time they managed to tiude their pursuers. The posses of detectives and citi zens lost the trail at Willow Springs, twelve miles northwest of the scene . of the holdup. Later it was reported L that the men had been seen at Le- mont, where It Is thought they may have boarded an Alton or Santa Fe train. After disappearing into the woods beside the railroad tracks at Dupont the robbers, with their bag of booty, made their way to the nearest farm house to the northwest of the rail road. There they broke into a barn owned by James Abbey and secured a farm of horses, which they hitched to a buckboard. After driving Che horses at a fur ious pace for two miles further on one of the fugitives entered the barn yard of Herman Nicha, where they took possession of a surrey, 10 which they hitched a team of horses, which they hitched to a buckboard. Five miles farther on,' in the vicini ty of Willow Springs, Adolph Chance engaged in a running fight with the fugitives. At Chance's farm the lv horses stolen from Nicha were un hitched from the surrey and a fresh pair taken from the barn, while the f horse which was being led was again hitched to the rear of the vehicle, to be used, apparently, as a reserve. f The robbers made quick time in Changing horses at Chance's place, end soon were speeding down the road as fast as they could urge them. Chance, who had been awakened by * the robbers, secured a shotgun and •hells loaded with buckshot, then awakened one of his farm hands. The two harnessed a horse to a light bug gy and' gave pursuit After the chase had lasted fifteen minutes Chance rounded a curve in the road within range of the men in the surrey, and when a command to halt was unheed ed the farmer discharged both barrels of the gun at the fleeing men. Flashes from the revolvers of the robbers an swered the farmer's shots, and bullets j whistled about the heads of the pur- It suers. The show of resistance caused Chance to drop behind, and, as his horse was fagged, he was compelled to abandon the chase. The Rock Island train No. 5, which is the Denver and Omaha express, left Chicago at 10 o'clock. It consisted of an engine, express car, a baggage car, and five Pullman sleepers. The train was in charge of Conductor Cof- iey and Engineer Charles Goodall. The express cars were in charge of Messenger John E. Kain and William Rejahl. After stopping at Englewood the train ran through Normal Park, Wash ington Heights and Blue Island with out slackening its speed. As it was approaching Dupont, about three miles from Tingley1 Park the fireman open ed the furnace door to shovel in coal. By the light of the fire within Engi- neer Goodall noticed a man climbing W over the tender towards the engine cab. "Stop the train at Dupont," called out the man, as he clambered for ward. "Obey orders." Both the engineer and the fireman, Albert Duckett, after a moment of astonishment, broke into laughter. "You are held up; stop your train at Dupont," repeated the man. "This is no joKe." The engineer and fireman continued to laugn. "If you think this Is a joke, look up tnere," the man called out, at the same time pointing upwards where the cab roof and tender nearly join. Through the open space the engi neer and fireman saw four revolvers pointed at them by two men dressed in dark clothes and wearing masks over their faces. An attempt to speak on the part of Engineer Goodall was met with a command to obey orders and keep his "mouth shut." Rising in Values. "Our last giraffe," said the manager Of a Philadelphia zoo, "died in 1885^ after a life here of ten years. Since then our collection has been wanting in this animal. Giraffes now cost 96,000 apiece. In 1874 we bought six, and they lived with us respectively five, eleven, nine, three and two years, while one died in ten days after its arrival of congestion of the lungs. Of the others, one was carried off by heart disease, another by a spinal trouble, and the remaining three by ailments of an unknown kind." Record for Rose Tree. Six thousand is the record number of roses produced by one tree at a tire*. This was in Holland, on Mme. Regnew's land. A Marechal Niel at Whitby's had 3,500 blooms on it at fee same time. Sensible Belgian Idea. Three-tenths of the earnings of a Belgian convict are given to him on the expiration of his term of lmprison- •Tent Some of them thus save more money in jail than they have ever •aved before. "Stop," shouted one of the masfrort mep. and the engineer brought the train to a standstill. "Climb out and be quick about it,1* came another command. Both the engineer and fireman obeyed, and as they did so the man who had climbed over the tender dropped out of sight on the other side of the engine. "Make a hot foot to the express car," commanded one of the robbers. A a Engineer Goodall hesitated to obey he was threatened with death. He was told to pound on the door to the express car and ask the messenger to open it He obeyed and the ruse was successful. As the messenger opened the door the two robbers covered them with their revolvers and ordered them to come out Both obeyed. "Hands up, or you are dead ones," commanded the robber who appeared to be the leader. "We're held up," gasped RejakL "You are up against It" retorted one of the robbers. The four men then were lined up along the side of the express car and guarded by one of the robbers while the other began to fire his rovelvers to frighten the passengers, who had become curious over the delay and were climbing off the train. At the first shots they clambered back again. At this point Messenger Kain, who, with the rest had been standing on the ends of the ties with his hands up, slipped and nearly fell to the ground. Without a word one of the robbers fired at ( him, and with a cry of pain the messenger fell to the ground, shot through the groin. "I did not attempt to escape or put up a fight," groaned Kain. "Yes, you did," came the reply, ao companied by oaths. Several of the more venturesome passengers saw the messenger shot down and, fearful that all would be killed, began shooting from the coach windows. The robbers returned the fire, and the bullets rattled on the sides of the cars. The women and some of the men In the train were panic stricken. One woman fainted, and others were hysterical. While one of the robbers was hold ing the passengers at bay and guard ing the engine crew and wounded ex press messenger, the other directed Engineer Goodall to uncouple the ex press car from the rest of the train. The command was enforced at the point of a gun. "Be quick or we'll shoot you, too," came from the masked bandit The engineer, realizing the plan of the robbers to run the express car forward and crack the safe,,professed to be In ignorance of the coupling ap paratus, and although apparently en deavoring to cut the train in two failed to do so. "Cut that off or you are a dead one," shouted the robber, but the en gineer only fumbled at the coupling. He twisted and pulled and kicked it and finally the fireman was sent to his assistance. Still the connection remained unbroken. As a last resort Rejahl was ordered back into the express car and told to open the small safe. The large safe is sent through without the messenger having possession of the combination. The robbers, apparently, were aware of the fact, for they made no attempt to force the messengers to open this safe. Rajahl dropped to his knees as he was bid and soon opened the safe. A number of packages of jewelry and a small amount of money was dis closed to view. One of the robbers pulled a canvas bag from under his coat and shoved the contents of the safe into it "Here, carry this," Rajahl was com manded. He obeyed, and leading the way dropped down from the car and walked as directed a short distance westward from the railroad tracks. After the messenger had dropped the bag by the roadside he was com manded to return to the car. Then the robbers ordered the messengers and the engine crew to climb back to their places. As Engineer Goodall was about to climb into his cab he encountered the man who had first commanded him to stop the train. Seizing him the conductor pulled him aboard. It was this man that afterward proved to be Charles Nessler. With a volley from their revolvers the robbers then backed away from the train and disappeared. As the train pulled out Engineer Goodall caught a glimpse of the two men as they disappeared in the woods. "The British museum Is the prin cipal building in Paris." For Illuminated Signs. The movement to furnish travelers about the streets of New York with information as to where they are going, by providing illuminated signs on the corners, is practically accom plished, although none of the signs are yet in place. Another needed re form is about to be inaugurated, un der the auspices of the board of alder men. That is to compel owners of buildings to place the street numbers upon the same in some conspicuous place, so that they may be read by night as well as by day. Putting Wires Underground. The recurring destruction of tele graph and telephone wires by winter storms is causing companies to put their wires under ground, even where councilmanic provisions do not call for this method. Career of Lord Woiseley. Lord Woiseley has probably been in more engagements than any other general. Since entering the army in 1852 he has served in Burmah, India, China, Canada, Ashantee, Egypt and finally in the Soudan. Dog JVon't JTorgive Him " W " Warning to Sportsmen to f Treat Their Doge Haimmly The mental status of Fancy, a female pointer belonging to James Melllsh of Arkana, La., Is a warning to every gunman to treat his dogs with con tinuous and appreciative kindness. Fancy is a wonder in her way. She haa no great weed and prefers close range to covering a large territory, but finds plenty of birds mainly be cause she is old enough to have learned where birds are at certain times of day. She has a fine nose and as a worker after single birds has few superiors. It used to be a cpmmon thing with Melllsh, aided by Fancy, to find a bevy of quail, flush It get a bird or two out of it mark it down in broom-sedge, or on an acre of close-standing dried weeds, and then get It out bird after bird, leaving only enough for seeds. In this work the dog would come down with her nose within two feet of the quail and stand as steadily as a .rock while It was kicked out and killed. She is also a great retriever, following winged birds sometimes for a Quarter of a mile, trailing them remorselessly, and bringing them in so deli cately mouthed that scarce a feather was ruffled. Melllsh would not have taken $200 for her and talked about her a good deal with brother sportsmen. One day in early March he was shooting over a field which had not been ploughed in the spring. With him was a fifteen-year-old boy, a neighbor's son, able to kill one bird in five. They had but the one dog. This boy had marked down a couple of quail 800 yards away and Fancy went with him to work them out. Meanwhile Melllsh accidentally flushed a bevy of fifteen which pitched a little distance away. J He called to the dog, not wishing to give the birds a chance to run far, a trick they have late in the season. Fancy heard him distinctly, but liked the boy and paid no attention. Mellish called until he was red in the face. Then he resorted to his dog-whistle and blew and blew. Just then Fancy found one of the birds and the boy flushed it and missed it, as she expected he would. She went on calmly to hunt for the other one. Melllsh, naturally an impatient man, lost his temper. He started toward her on a trot. The day was warm and by the time he reached her he was furious. He seized a corn stalk still standing and pulled it up. Attached to the roots was a couple of pounds of soft earth. Hfe swung the stalk over his head and brought it down violently, striking her on the side and knocking her over and over. She did not growl at him, or show her teeth. She simply picked herself up and, without one backward glance, went home at her leisure. From that day she has not hunted for Mellich. She will not follow him to the field or about the place. He whistles to her in vain. She will not permit him to pet her, nor take food from his hand. She is not afraid of him, but simply dislikes him Intensely. Most of her time Is spent at the home of the boy. Melllsh Is In hope that she will get over her anger by the" time the autumn season opens, but there is little chance of it Famous Western Scout Dying Judge J».ck Stilwell le Strioken With Fatal Illneee George Bleistein, who gave to President Roosevelt the handsome saddler which the President named Bleistein, arrived in New York the other day from the Big Horn Basin, Wyo., bringing the news that Judge Jack Stll- well is dying there, in the shadow of Eagle Mountain. The old scout Is In the grip of Bright's disease and can live but a few weeks longer. Giles Stilwell, who has been known all his life as "Jack," was the friend and contemporary of Gen. Custer, "Wild Bill," "Texas Jack," "Buffalo Bill" and the Indian fighters, scouts and frontiersmen of that day. When he retired from the army, from cattle raising and ranching, he studied law and was admitted to the bar. His arguments before the court of Arizona, Texan, Wyoming and Oklahoma are remembered for wit as well as a com prehension of the law. He has always had the rare art of telling a story well, which 1b half the work before a Western Jury. Stilwell's most notable achievement took place while he was a scout un der Gen. Forsyth. A little body of scouts and soldiers was hemmed In by a thousand Sioux and Cheyennes on a sand island in the Arickaree fork Of the Republican river in the summer of 1868. The Indians killed all the horses the soldiers had. Qen. Forsyth was shot twice. The soldiers dug holes in the sand to escape the Indian sharpshooters. The Indians galloped over them. Stilwell's recollection of the charge is that the Indian ponies looked like a flock of pigeons as they passed over him. Gen. Forsyth found be couldn't hold out much longer against the In dians and as a desperate measure decided to try to get a message through to Fort Wallace. He picked out Stilwell and a Frenchman named Trudeau for messengers. Trudeau was about flfty-flve years old, naturally brave and generally recklessly drunk. They disguised themselves as Indians and at nightfall slipped into the river. They forded the river and got in the high grass on the opposite bank. The country was alive with Indians. They lay all day in a washout within sound of the cries of the Indians, and traveled slowly that night About daybreak an Indian rode in sight They saw but one place to hide. That was inside the carcass of a buffalo, which had been killed some time before. Into it they crawled and lay there all the hot day, although the stench of the carcass made them ill. The next night they made the old Denver stage road. They met a Mex ican driving along and asked him to turn back and take them to Fort Wal lace. He refused, but when two rifles were Jabbed into his ribs he con sented. They got to Fort Wallace four days after leaving the Island, and Col. Carpenter took his regiment to the relief of Gen. Forsyth. How Authors Are Fleeced Deeire For Literary Fjame Ie Taken AdveL.nta.ge Of In this era of well nigh universal authorship there has arisen a band of unscrupulous knaves who, with the skill of a confidence man, endeavor to turn the popular desire for literary fame to their own advantage. "It is the greatest 'graft' that ever happened, my boy," said one of the most cold blooded of these rogues, as he boasted of his achievements. **We have our hands on the most potent valve of the human mind--the conceit of literary authorship--and when we press the button the money is sure to follow. "We keep a sharp lookout and as soon as we learn of an aspiring author who is engaged upon a 'magnum opus,' or has had one turned down by a big publisher, we camp on his trail, and we never let up until we land him. *^"Of course we adopt a 'stand offish' policy as soon as he begins to nibble, telimm that we can never consider his book until It has run the gauntlet of our readers and critics, but that is only for the purpose of increasing his own belief in its great qualities. Lord bless you, if it Is the veriest rot ever penned we will handle it An adverse criticism upon a book is an un known quantity in our shop. "Then we inform him that the expense of publication will be about $300, which we expect him to stand. He demurs, whereupon we ask him how many copies he thinks he can dispose of himself. "Incautiously and lgnorantly he estimates the number at a thousand. In reality, if he has good luck and lots of friends he can sell about fifty. "We show him, however, that by his own statement he will be able to publish at his own risk to much better advantage than If we offered him terms, and so he is at last firmly hooked. "That $300 is merely a first contribution, though. He speedily finds that his manuscript must be thoroughly revised, corrected and punctuated, at a cost of $100; illustrations must be secured; the proof must be read and a hundred other little things done, each of which has its separate fee. I may say that I never let an author get away from me for less than $600. "Finally, when he is milked dry, we turn over a thousand printed and bound books to him and give our attention to a fresh victim." "Do they ever come back with a second book?" "Never. That is the sole drawback to the business. One never has the ctiance to make steady connections, for our clientele is always changing." MeJting the Fish Bite Angler Tells How to Toase Them Into Anger Both the bass and the troil| as they grew older betray the infirmities of temper natural to their years. When they have attained the utmost limit of size and have formed a habit of lurking in the depths of pools and darting out upon their prey instead of seeking it as they did in youth, they are easily Irritated and under the influence of anger lose a good part of their Inherent caution and the wisdom they have garnered from experience. They are generally able to detect the line above the hook when natural bait comes their way and can tell the difference between a spoon and a minnow, but they are blinded by vexation, and attack even though they know jfiyt the object of their anger is not entirely natural. This trait Is known to certain anglers and they practice upon it This knowledge enables them to make noteworthy catches upon days when no body else 1 is taking anything. It is necessary only to whip the surface above the fish repeatedly, bring ing tiio flies down with a swish and Jerking them along the surface so as to create considerable disturbance. It may take sometimes ten minutes of hard work to bring the trout to the fighting point but the result Is always worth the trouble. Of course the ""n with the rod must be quiet and must be utterly hid den. This receipt for getting big fish on a day when no flsh at all are biting la nearly sovereign. As an old angler once said, the first requisite of the successful fisher man la the ability to the most absolute silence. WW wmrm Illinois State News CIVIL 8ERVICE EXAMINATION Tests for Federal Positions to Be Held at Springfield. Civil service examinations will be held at the federal building in Spring field on July 8 and 9 of applicants for the position of Finnish interpreter in the immigration service, with office with the coast and geodetic survey, at a salary of $1,200 a year. Only July 10 an examination will be held for the position of laboratory assistant in the national bureau of standards, with salary from $900 to $1,400 a year. On the following two days an examination will be held for the position of aid in the coast and geodetic survey, salary $720 a year. On July 15 an examina tion will be held for the position of assistant in the road material labora tory, bureau of chemistry, department of agriculture. On July 15 and 16 an examination will also be held for as sistant computer in the naval obser vatory and nautical almanac office at Washington. Centralia's Library. The contractors have commenced work on the Carnegie public library building at Centralia. It is being erected In the center of the city park, which is located in the most aristo cratic part of the city and beautifully shaded. It is to be of pressed brick, with Bedford stone trimmings, and will eost $20,000. Dave Littler's Estate. In the matter of the estate of the late Hon. David T. Littler it was found that the senator left no will, and letters of administration were issued to his son, Col. Stephen L. Littler, with a bond of $25,000. The personal property amounts to about $12,500, and there are about 2,000 acres of land In Logan county. SLOT MACHINE8 ILLEGAL. The Madison County Saloonkeepers Pay Heavy Fines. In the trial of the test case In the slot machine cases, on indictments found against a large number of sa loonkeepers of Madison county, the jury returned a verdict finding the accused guilty' of keeping a slot ma chine as charged in two counts of the indictment. The case was against Thos. Lewis of Venice, and he will pay, in addition to the $100 fine paid by those who pleaded guilty, also the costs in the case, which will amount to about $50. Four others of the seven who banded together- to contest the cases against them also pleaded guilty after the verdict was rendered, leav ing only two cases undisposed of out of some eighty indictments. QUEEN OF THE ELKS. At the recent carnival held by the Elks at LaSalle., Miss Margaret Mc- Guire was chosen by popular vote to FARMERS' ODD ORGANIZATION Banks Claim Tax Exemption. A decision has been made against the petitions in the case of several of the city banks against the Sangamon county collector, in which the institu tions sought to restrain him from col lecting taxes on the bank buildings. Their claim was that^axes were paid on the capital stock, which included the value of the building. New Christian Church. Former Consul General to Turkey Z. T. Sweeney delivered the dedicatory Bermon at the new Christian church In Carbondale. The edifice is nearly completed, and is one of the finest structures in southern Illinois. Three memorial windows have been put in place. The building cost nearly $12,- 000. Fatal Oil Explosion. John Crofton, aged 73, was fatally burned at Alton by the explosion of a can of coal oil, which he was using to start a fire in a range at nls home. His clothes were burned from his body and the house was set on fire. Mr. Crofton had been a resident of Alton over fifty years. MISS M..RGARET M'GUIRB. preside over the festivities, and it is declared that she filled the position with a dignity and grace worthy of royalty. Girl Passes Teachers' Test. Miss Carrie Abel, who resides with her parents ou the Abel farm, near Rochester, Sangamon county, although but 14 years of age, has taken and passed with creditable percentage the teachers' examination for a teachers' certificate. On account of her age she cannot receive a certificate at this time but County Superintendent Van Dorn has written her a letter of high commendation, in which he informs her that she passed the examination with an average per cent of 87%, which is 2 per cent higher than that usually made by applicants. Fooled with Pistol. Daniel Cobel, living west of Pulas ki, 111., died from injuries received in carelessly handling a target pistol. He was twirling the pistol over his finger when it was discharged, the ball entering his abdomen. He leaves a family. ; Gen. Ueeper Is Released. Gen. A. B. Leeper, who several months ago gained national fame by the publication of a paper called the Lunatic Herald, has been discharged from the Jacksonville insane hospital after three months' confinement. It was his tenth commitment to that in stitution. Gen. Leeper says he in tends to resume the publication of the Lunatic Herald. He is now at his home, near Owaneco, four miles east of Taylorville. NEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LAKE FOREST. mm j». 1 The new Episcopal church of Lake Forest was dedicated by Bishop Coad jutor Anderson of the Chicago diocese and a gathering of the Episcopal clergy. The church building, which has cost $20,000 with the furnishings, is of the old English type of parish church. It is a typical country church, in which simplicity has been made a feature of every detail. The building Is of stone and is finished Inside with brick and rough plaster. There is a Deaths at the Quincy Home. The following deaths occurred in the state soldiers' home at Quincy during the month of June: Henry Cavarly, company I, 11th Illinois in fantry; Waller Menzier, company D, 28th Illinois infantry; George D. Cooper, company B, 123d Illinois in fantry; Samuel Vaughn, company E, 64th Ohio infantry; Felix Decoursey, company E, 49th 'Illinois infantry; James McCann, company D, 22d Mis souri infantry. Present aggregate membership, 1,898. Clay County Wheat Crop. The wheat crop of Clay county has been harvested and the yield is claimed to be the best since 1882. Many fields are estimated at twenty bushels per acre. Many Valuable Inventions. A. E. Dolbear, who has Just received the degree of LL. D. from Tufts col lege, first came into prominence forty years ago, when he invented a writing telegraph. In 1874 he Invented a mag neto telephone, in 1879 the static tele phone and as long ago as 1881 a sys tem of wireless telegraph brick wainscoting twelve feet high with the plaster above. The pipes of the organ are exposed in a semicir cle above the two doors at either side of the altar, and beside them are two mural paintings. These are long panels, each representing an angel of heroic size with a musicai Instrument. The paintings are the gift of the art ist, Frederick C. Bartlett, who has won a reputation for work of this character. Ammunition for Militia. One hundred thousand rounds of am munition for Springfield rifles have been shipped to Camp Logan, near Chicago, for the use of ttye members of the I. N. G. This consignment was part of the output of the state reload ing works at Camp Lincoln. The works are now reloading at the rate of about 10,0^0 rounds each day, and it is estimated that it will take nearly a mouth to load enough cartridges for this summer's tour of duty of the mili tiamen. Percheron Horses. A movement has been started among the prominent farmers about Carbon- dale to organize a Percheron horse association with ,a capital of $2,500. Leading Swine-Raising States. The leading swine-raising states are in their order. Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Indiana and Kansas. Iowa, with 9,723,791, has 15.7 per cent of all the hogs in the United States, and they constitute nearly one-fifth of the wealth of the state. Up-to-Date Club Bars Members When They Reach 45. - One of the most unique farmers' organizations in the central West haa just held its first regular meeting at Jerseyville. It la known as the Illi nois Farmers' Club. It is proposed to organize in every county an auxil iary club, to be affiliated with the parent club, whose members shall be young men actively engaged in farm ing, for the purpose of exchanging ideas, securing the most profitable production of farm products and developing the agricultural products of the state. No person over 45 can remain an active member. The of ficers of the club are: President, Eu gene D. Funk of Bloomington; vice, president, Joseph Fulkerson of JW*' seyville. HAVE CHARGE OF THE ASYLUMS. Superintendents of State Institutlone for the Insane. 4 Dr. W. E. Taylor, at present super* intendent of the western hospital for the insane at Watertown, will take charge of the asylum for the incur* able insane at Peoria, pending the return of Dr. George Zeller, the regu lar superintendent, from the Philip pines. Dr. H. B. Carriel, who has Just been appointed superintendent for the central hospital for the insane at Jacksonville, has been in temporary charge of the Peoria asylum since ita opening. Dr. Taylor will continue in his present position of superintendent of the hospital at Watertown, so that, for the time being, two Institutions will be under his supervision. Blew Coal Out of Tender. Engine No. 511, which pulls the Prairie State Express on the Chicago and Alton railroad, blew out a safety plug while standing at the station at Springfield. Engineer Sidney Bean and his fireman escaped without in jury. The plug was one of those lo* cated in the cab and the rush of steam was such as to blow all the coal out of the tender. Why a Boy Killed Himself. Alfred Radcliffe, ten years old, com mitted suicide by hanging himself with a halter in a barn on the farm of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Q. W. Tarwin, near Bath. He became despondent because his father, who lives near Chandierville, had sent him no money witu which <.0 purchase fire crackers. Reserve Coal Supply. The Illinois Central Railroad com pany is still unloading coal In the 7ards at Centralia. It is the inten tion of the company to have a four months' reserve supply on hand in case a coal miners' strike Is ordered. Knights Quit Even. The Charleston Knights of Pythiaa came out "even" on financing the street fair and carnival, despite the almost Incessant rain. They have an nounced their intention to hold a carnival next year. Resented an Insult. A. B. Dusch shot and killed Will Woods near Metropolis during a quar rel. Woods accused Dusch of having insulted his sweetheart. Both be longed to prominent families of the county. Illinois Men Buy Oil Lands. William Geiser of Chanute, Kan., has sold his gas and oil interests there to H. M. Powel and C. A. Satt- ley of Taylorville for a consideration of $75,000. Water Tower. The town council of Maroa has' or* dered the expenditure of $4,000 * to build a new steel tower for the waterworks. Bonds will be. issued. Day for Woodmen. The Modern Woodmen societies will be given a day at the Decatur com carnival to be held October Special prizes will be offered. Flora Street Carnival. The Flora city council has granted a franchise for a street carnival July 2S to August 2 to Alderman Sam ft Smith. In addition to the free fran chise, the business men of the city contributed $750 to the enterprise. Replace Old Church. Plans at Chester have been acccpted for the rebuilding of St Mark's Epis copal church. The present quaint, old- fashioned structure is one of the most familiar landmarks of Chester. Ita corner stone was laid April 12, 1849, since which time it has served ita purpose. County Short of Funds. Randolph county is in a financial dilemma, there being no money in the country treasury. At the meeting of the county board it was ordered that no warrants be drawn for the payment of claims allowed until the September meeting. * Rains Drown Pests. Reports from the farming districts about Charleston say that the heavy rains have drowned the chinch bugs, at the same time doing much damage to the oats and corn crops. Disease and Imagination. Gloom and sadness are poisons us and the origin of hysteria. Toe are right in thinking that this disease springs from the imaeination, for it la vexation which causes it to spring up and fear that supports it--Sevigna, Nile and Missouri Mud Alike. The Nile mud, which renders Egfft a habitable country, is said to bear a striking resemblance to that which every season is brought down by the Missouri. •