By a railroad accident near Fort Dodge, on Wednesday last, three persons were killed and several wounded.  Among the killed was Mrs. J.H.  South, of Bureau Co., Ills.

Mrs. Holcomb, daughter of the murdered millionaire Crouch, of Michigan, has committed suicide.  There is some suspicion that she knew something about the murder.

A nihilist proclamation has been issued threatening the Czar.  There is much anxiety at Gatschina palace.  It is now said the Czar’s injury in the shoulder the other day was caused by a bullet.

The United States Consul General at Cairo reports the deaths by the cholera epidemic at from 65,000 to 70,000.  A member of the international tribunal says there are still from one to three fatal cases each day.

The Gould system of railroads is about to establish a telegraph school at St. Louis, with a view not only to educating operators, but of selecting pupils from the acclimated people along the Southwestern lines.

The Catholic convent at Belleville, Ill., took fire from the furnace Saturday evening, and in an hour was reduced to ashes.  Sixty pupils made desperate efforts to escape, some of them leaping from the windows.  Twenty-seven lives were lost.

The Secretary of State at Springfield has issued papers of incorporation to Col.  Wood’s museum, at Chicago, with a capital stock of $100,000.  The Colonel is said to have secured a lease of his old stand on Randolph street, and the Olympic Theatre.

Henry Villard closed his business career by handing over to assignees his mansion on Madison square and other property, with instructions to dispose of the same, pay a mortgage of $200,000, and discharge any indebtedness to the Oregon Railway Company, the residue to be given to his wife.

The directors of the Northern Pacific road held a meeting in New York, on Friday, of last week.  A letter was read from Henry Villard, resigning the presidency of the company because of nervous prostration and in deference to the interests of the stockholders.  The resignation was accepted, and a special election was ordered to choose a successor.  The directors voted Mr. Villard $10,000 per annum for his services.  Vice President Oakes reported the line in first-class order except one hundred miles near the junction west of Helena.  It is understood that the Oregon Navigation company will reduce its dividends to 8 per cent.  The Oregon Transcontinental has raised $3,000,000 in Boston with which to lift its floating debt.

MARKETS

MARKET REPORTS.

OFFICE OF THE PRAIRIE FARMER,
CHICAGO.  Jan 8, 1884.

FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.

The extremely cold weather of the past week interfered with business very generally.  In financial circles, as in others, the arctic wave made matters rather quiet.  Early in the present week, however, business at the banks was active.  The arrival of delayed mail trains added to the volume of business; but while there was much activity, the monetary situation remained about the same as usual.