The Daily News Batavia, Genesee Co., NY August 28-1888 Opening the Theatrical Season. New York, Mrs. Mary FISKE's play, "Philip Herne" was produced last night at the Fifth Avenue theatre. Joseph HAWORTH appeared in the title role and made a decided hit. At the end of the second act Mrs. FISKE was called out and was loudly applauded. The season at the Fourteenth Street theatre was opened by Miss May WILKES, the young Californian who made her debut as a star in "Gwinne's Gath." She was warmly received and her acting is highly praised. + Robert Garrett's Condition. New York, Dr. JACOBS reports that Robert GARRETT is resting quietly at the Miller villa at Ringwood, N.J., and that his family and physicians have every confidence and hope for the best. + Not Known Here. The Buffalo 'Express' this morning prints a special dispatch dated Batavia, which says: "J.M. BEEMAN, a well-known business man, left early last month on a commercial trip. The last heard of him he was in Chicago on July 9th. Foul play is feared as the cause of his disappearance." As there is no business man named J.M. BEEMAN in Batavia the 'Express' has either been imposed upon or made a mistake. + Local Political Notes. The Cleveland Guards will hold their regular weekly meeting at their headquarters this evening. Mr. F.c. PEEK of Nunda, a Democrat well known in Western New York, and who was a delegate to the National Convention at St. Louis, will deliver an address. He is said to be a spirited speaker. The Glee Club will be in attendance as usual. Judge Harland J. SWIFT, a well known Buffalo lawyer, will deliver an address at the Republican headquarters in the State Street Rink on Tuesday evening next. Judge SWIFT was formerly a resident of Alleghany county where he was known as "the silverhaired orator of Alleghany." A Harrison and Morton pole will be raised by the Republicans of Darien at Darien Center Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock. Addresses will be delivered by Hon. John McKENZIE and Hon. George BOWEN and F.S. TYLER will sing. The Juvenile Harrison and Morton club will meet at seven o'clock to-morrow evening at the Republican headquarters on State street for drilling. + County Court Next Week. County Court and Cout of Sessions will convene September 4th, the Hon. Myron H. PECK, County Judge, presiding. There are but few civil cases on the calendar, as follows: For trial by jury--Timothy FOLEY against Edwin PARKER and Fred B. PARKER, Frank CHAPEL against Manley F. FORD, David MORSE against Charles BROOKS; for argument, Charles TAGGART, by guardian, etc., against John O'RILEY, Robert CARRUTHERS against Job STAPLES and son. + Missionaries who contemplate going to Africa should use Tulip Soap. It will make them more palatable to the cannibals. + Forepaugh Near at Hand. The cirque de Forepaugh, with all its renowned and remarkable arenic, zoological and hippodromatic attractions, together with its late reinforcements, the famous original "Wild West" show and historic Custer Battle, will be the only tented aggregation to visit Batavia this season. The route of the Barnum show is confined this year to territory West of New York and Pennsylvania. Brother Adam, with his circus stars, elephants, cowboys, crack shots and bucking horses, wills strike Batavia on the 13th prox. + The Elbas Defeat the Bergens. Elba, In a game of ball last Saturday with the celebrated Bergen nine the score stood 8 to 7 in favor of Elba. This is the second crack nine the home nine have defeated in this county within a week past. + Now We'll Have Gas. Last evening a well-dressed man of about medium height, with a ruddy complexion and red whiskers, arrived in town and registered at Purdy's Hotel as "J. CHAMPLIN, Penn Yan, N.Y." He had with him a curious V-shaped instrument, apparently made of wire covered with rubber. He was a locator of gas and oil wells, he said, and it was with this instrument that he was enabled to locate them. About four o'clock this morning he left the hotel. When he returned about seven o'clock he seemed considerably excited and informed Mr. HINMAN that he had discovered the richest source of natural gas that there was in the country. The vein was situated East of here, he said and was nearly a mile in width. Later on he visited President DODGSON of the Natural Gas Company and informed him of the find. To prove his assertion that the gas vein is East of here he requested Mr. DODGSON to take hold of one of the prongs of his locator while he took a hold of the other. The two gentlemen then joined hands and that portion of the instrument where the two prongs met, on which there was a rubber ball, turned to the East. No matter what position the gentlemen got in the ball still turned Eastward. His proposition to Mr. DODGSON was that a stock company be formed and for a nominal sum he would direct them where to put down the well. Afterward he said, however, that if he could secure a franchise from the village he would go on and put down a well himself. He visited several other gentlemen in town, but none of them put much faith in his assertion. He claims to have located several wells in the State and says all of them have been successful. At 9:40 he left on the Canandaigua branch for Canandaigua where he is putting down a well. He said he would return to Batavia as soon as he can complete arrangements to develop the great natural wealth which exists near here. Dr. LEFLER, who is acquainted with Mr. CHAMPLIN, says he has a great deal of success in locating wells that he knows of, but the doctor has little faith in his locating instrument, as this morning when he was holding it with CHAMPLIN it turned to the West instead of the East. + submitted by Linda Schmidt