P.T. Barnum has just made his will. In order that there might be no question as to his sanity upon which to ground contests after his death, he had eminent physicians examine him, and secured their attestation that he was of sound mind. The will and its codicils cover more than 700 pages of legal cap, closely written, and disposes of real estate and personal property of the value of $10,000,000 to twenty-seven heirs. The property is in New York, Brooklyn, Bridgeport, Colorado, and several other places. Mr. Barnum values his interest in the Barnum and London Shows at $3,500,000. He gives largely to charitable institutions.
The number of lives lost by the more noticeable accidents of last year give a total of 125,000, or over 342 for each of the 365 days of 1883. These colossal figures are attained principally through the results of three calamities—Ischia, Java, and Syria. Aside from the earthquakes the year was unequaled in shipwrecks, cyclones, fire-scenes, and mining horrors. Over thirty people were killed for each day in January, the Newhall fire, the Russian circus horror, and the Cimbria shipwreck being the principal of thirty calamities during the month. Three hundred and ninety-eight people went down in the Cimbria alone. Two hundred and seventy people burned in the circus at Berditcheff. The panic later on at Sunderland, England, caused the death of 197 children and 150 workmen were drowned like rats in the tub called the Daphne on the Clyde. There were 1,697 murders, 107 executions, 135 lynchings, and 727 suicides.
MARKET REPORTS.
Office of The Prairie Farmer,
Chicago. Jan. 2, 1884.
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
The general bank business of Chicago last week was rather dull. But few new business contracts were made as everyone was waiting for the New Year to begin before extending business.
In the loan market money was quoted throughout the week at 6@7 per cent interest.
Eastern exchange opened Saturday at 25c off between banks, but subsequently sales were made at 25c per $1,000 premium. The market closed at 25@30c per $1,000 premium.