2 HOPE TO SAVE FIBREJOR U. S. War Vessel Will Garry Fortune In Gold to Yucatan, Mexico BIG CHANCES BEING TAKEN 300,000 Bales of Sisal Fibre, Primary Constituent of Binding Twine Used • by Farmers Here, Tied Up—Govern ! Pient Adopts Extraordinary Method ) of Sending Gold to Be Used For Commercial Purpose In Mexico. Washington, March 24. The re markable spectacle of the United States government sending a warship to Mexico with money for commercial purposes is soon to be shown. A ves sel with about. $625,000 aboard is tc start for Mexican waters on a mission of peace. The money will have a purchasing power of $3,500,000 in Yucatan, where it is to be spent. The ship, which is yet to be desig nated by tne secretary of the navy, will proceed to Progreso, Yucatan, with funds to pay for 300,000 bales ol sisal fibre which is the primary con stituent of binding twine that is used to the extent of 270,000,000 pounds by American farmers to harvest a year's crop. Chaotic conditions in Yucatan ren der necessary this step. The banks will not honor bills of exchange and for that reason cash must be pro duced for the present in carrying on international trade. In announcing that a vessel would be dispatched to Yucatan Secretary Daniels said the ship would carry ."gold." This big wad of money will be transported to Progreso and paid out under the direction of agents of American manufacturers as fast as sisal fibre is placed aboard vessels bound for the United States. It is admitted that in sending much treasure to Progreso the owner run the risk of losing some of i. through the covetousness of Mexican in and arouftd Progreso. Despite this, American manufactu ers, impelled by the needs of Amer; can and Canadian farmers, are dt termined to run this chance rathe, than take the chance of a shortage in binding twine. There is no cneap sub stitute for sisal in the bases of twine and the United States looks to Yuca tan for its supply. Accordingly the unusual spectacle will be presented of an American ship of war converted to commercial uses with a view of al- i leviating an exigency that confronts farmers of the United States. The secretary of state communicat ! ed a note to First Chief Carranza, whc Is dominant in Yucatan, suggesting that moneys for the fibre now avail able for shipment would be transport ed to Progreso if assurances were re ceived that the commodity would be released in accordance with the de mands of American importers. It is believed Carranza will agree to the arrangements. Gibbons Against Intervention. Baltimore, March 24. —"Armed in tervention in Mexico by the Unit*" I States should never take place. We who have the interest of the country at heart approve of the course of the present administration in withholding troops from Mexico." This declaration was made by Cardinal Gibbons, just back from New Orleans, where lie conferred with Archbishop Mora of Mexico City on conditions in Mexico. Carranza and Villa, he declared, are not to be trust ed and neither he nor anyone else interested in the future welfare of Mexico wanted to see either at tho head of tho country. There is another candidate, said the prelate, who will soon be brought forward and who ' most worthy and the one who can bring lasting peace to the country. He preferred not to mention the name of the candidate at this time. "It is true there is much disorder in continued the cardinal, "and this is to be regretted. There ! are about thirty dioceses in Mexico, •ach with a bishop, but I am informed that about twenty of these with the archbishop of Mexico City have taken refuge in San Antonio, Tex. They have established a seminary and will remain there until conditions become settled in their own country." Increase Debt $40,000,000. Philadelphia, March 24. —William H. Barnes, George Wood and S. Stu art Patterron were re-elected direc tors of the Pennsylvania Railroad company. A resolution to increase ' the indebtedness of the company by j $40,000,000, which was presented at the annual meeting on March 9 and upon which a stock vote was demand- 1 d, was adopted by a large majority. __ Sees Fund to Fight Prohibition. \ < Parkersburg, W. Va., March 24.—Ac- ! cording to Fred O. Blue, state com- 1 missioner of prohibition, the liquor in terests of West Virginia and other etates are prepared to spend $1,000,- 000 to break the prohibition law in this state. Blue made that statement < In an address here. , Spain Sends Flotilla to Hold Ships. ' , Gibraltar, March 24.—Spain's de- ! ] stroyer flotilla has been ordered to the . Canary islands from Cadiz to prevent j !the departure of German ships in- J terned at Las Palmas. ! FIRE ENGINE IN PORTLAND ROSE FE^^L. X Millions of roses are seen annually at the flower festival of Portland. Ore., which this year Is held June 9 to 11. French Battleship Bouvet Sunk In Dardanelles > A / J \ ggiggK<ps I* U '.l '!MW•;-:••• '" • ; • Photo by American Press Association CLEVELAND'S HOME A MEMORIAL. i lIKIfI DNL qgr- o -xg^ja ygy ' ' c ovxSv M . a Birthplace of President Cleveland in Caldwell, N. J., which has been fully restored in his memory and Will be presented to the nation. Knew Traveling Men. "She's a sensible girl," said the first traveling man. , "You bet she is," said the second. "Last night when I took her to dinner before ordering she asked me if I was going to pay the check myself or work It into the expense account."—Detroit Free Press. Sir Isaac Newton. The discovery of gravitation was the first of many great ideas that came to "the greatest original thinker of all time." Newton was also the pioneer in announcing the physical properties of light. His epitaph, translated from the Latin, on his monument in West minster Abbey describes in a few words the greatest accomplishments of Newton. It reads: "Here lies Isaac Newton, who by vigor of mind always supernatural first demonstrated the motions and figures of the planets, the paths of the comets and the tides of the ocean. He discovered what before his time no one had even suspected, that rays of light are differently refrangible and that this Is the cause of colors." An Eye For an Eye. The law of Afghanistan is in theory the same as that of Mohammedan countries in general—that is, of the Koran. This is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and enables the par ty wronged to avenge himself on a relative if circumstances prevent hin* from reaching the aggressor in person, hence revenge becomes among the Afghans a point of honor, which no man may waive except with disgrace. GERMAN HEADQUARTERS IN POLAND. ■■"' 1 & - j*** r , wfl<irw<ini,un i iiinm. .h mJ^ The historic cathedral and convent Btoehowa, Russian Poland. Humor In Old Wills. A certain Lieutenant Colonel Nar-.h left an annuity to the bell ringers of Bath to "toll dolefully" on each anni versary of his wedding day, and con trite Mr. Withipol of Walthamstow left the bulk of his property to his wife, "trusting," he says—"yea, I may say as I think, assuring myself—that she will marry no man for fear to meet with so evil a husband as I have been to her." Mr. Jasper Mayue at least considered himself witty when he bequeathed to his valet a wornout portmanteau, as it contained something, said the will, which would make him drink. The excited valet ripped open the trunk and found a red herring in it. So. doubtless, did the Scotch gentleman who in 1877 left to his son's care his two worst watches, "because," he said, "I know he is sure to dissect them."— St James' Gazette. Wonderful Memory. A few years ago there was a team ster in Milwaukee named Israel Mullin who was able to tell at the end of the week the number of loads and their weights he had hauled for the six days past without so much as a figure on paper. It would have been useless to furnish him with paper and pencils, his memory was found to be unerring. He was dismissed once for using liquor too freely and a man appointed to his place who used pencil and paper. The first week the pencil and paper man made over a dozen errors, and Mullih got his Job back.—Pittsburgh Press. THE PATRIOT of Jasna Gura (Holy Mount) in Czen OLD ENGLISH HOUSES. In the Days of Huts, Thatchecf Roofs and olay Floors. The habitations of English common people for, centuries consisted of a wooden hut of one room, with the fin built in "the center. To this but if a man increased in family and wealth, a lean-tr- was added and later another and another. The roofs were of thatch, the beds of loose straw or straw beds with bolsters of the same laid on the floor or perhaps eventually shut in by a shelf and ledge like the berths of a ship or by a small closet. The Saxon thane or knight built a more pretentious "hall," a large open room like the Roman atrium with a lofty roof thatched or covered with slates or wooden shingles. In the cen ter of the hard clay floor burned great fires of dry wood, whose thin acrid smoke escaped from openings in the roof, above the hearth or by the doors, windows and openings under the eaves of the thatch. By day the "hearthsmen" and visi tors, when not working or fighting, sat on long benches on either side of the fire and, as John Hay puts it, "calmly drinked and jawed" or, gathering at long boards placed on trestles, regal ed themselves on some sort of porridge with fish and milk or meat and ale. At night straw or rushes spread on the floor formed beds for the entire company in the earlier and ruder days, when the "baser sort" were glad to share their straw with the cows.—Na tional Magazine. SEEING THE WIND. Easy to Watch the Air Currents Flow ing Like a Waterfall. It is said that any one may actually see the wind by means of a common handsaw. The experiment is simple enough to be worth trying at least According to those who have m/de the experiment, all that is necessary is a handsaw and a good breeze. On any blowy day hold the saw against the wind—that is, if the wind is in the north hold the saw with one end pointing east and the other west. Hold the saw with the teeth upper most and tip it slowly toward the ho rizon until it is at an angle of about forty-five degrees. By glancing along the edge of the teeth you can "see the wind." It will be pouring over the edge of the saw much after the manner that water pours over a waterfall. This is doubt less due to the fact that there are always fine particles of dust in the air, and in a strong breeze the wind forces against the slanting sides of the saw, slides up the surface and suddenly "pours over" when it reaches the top. It is doubtless the tiny partioles that make the air dust laden that can be seen falling over the edge of the saw as the wind current drops, but it is about as near as any one can get to seeing the wind under normal condi tions.—Washington Post. NURSES HEROINES OF STEAMSHIP FIRE La Touraine's Captain Says Their Help Was Magnificent. WERE UNDISMAYED AT FERIL Cheered Crew at Work—Skipper De clares "Nothing Inspires a Frenchman More to Deeds of Valor Than Pres ence of Pretty Women"—Displayed Wonderful Nerve Throughout. Thrilliug stories are told of the fire on the French liner La Touraine, which arrived safely at Havre. Tbe passen gers are unanimous in their praise of the coolness and courage of CaptaiD Caussin in the trying hours at sea. The captain pays tribute to the work of his officers and crew, but reserve* the highest praise for the Red Cros* New York women nurses aud doctors, who, with the lire raging under then feet, cheered on the men. The steamer, convoyed by twc French cruisers after tbe Rotterdam had left her. made Havre under hei own steam. "Too much praise cannot be given to those young women nurses," Captain Causslu said, "They realized the dan ger we were all in. yet not one of them showed the slightest sign of fear or hysteria. "With the fire licking its way to the freight compartment where the explo sives were stored, they were out on deck giving every encouragement to my officers and crew. Starts*! In Boiler Room. "The tire was discovered at 2 a. m.," the captain continued, "when we were In latitude 45.14 degrees north and lon gitude 21.0G west. It started In the base of one of tbe ventilators in the boiler room, and heavy smoke soon found its way to the bridge. "Then one of the night watch report ed hearing the crackling of flames In the forward part of the vessel. I or dered all the crew T to their stations, and as there was a heavy mist I stop ped the ship in order that I might visit the scene of the blaze forward. "Wo found that the flames were eat ing their way toward the postofflee and beginning to attack neighboring cabins. They were spreading to the partitions and floor of compartment No. 2 in the hold. Involving a large amount of the freight. "Then, realizing that we had a seri ous task ahead of us, I sent out the 'S O S' signal. I did not arouse the passengers then, fearing a panic. "Every man and woman had a life belt on. and they were as cool as any of the officers. The example of the doc tors and nurses was responsible for their display of nerve. "The women nurses made their way forward, and as fast as a man was carried up unconscious they took care of him while the others cheered the crew at work. "Men never had greater reason to act as heroes. Nothiug inspires a French man more to deeds of valor than the presence of pretty women. "When the Rotterdam arrived we had the fire practically under control The captain of the Rotterdam got his boats ready to transfer our passengers to the Holland-America liner. Our own boats had been ready, but not one of the passengers would leave La Too raine." PLANNED TO "CHEAT WORMS" Dead Philadelphian Sought Permanent Preservation of His Body. A weird life, equaling the imagina tive production of a I'oe or an Am brose Bierce, was revealed in Philadel phia when the extraordinary prepara tions made for his burial by Henry Close, engineer and mathematician, were made public. He left his entire estate of $30,000 to provide for a "scientific" burial of bis body and the care of his grave. For years Close lived a recluse, en gaged in experiments the nature of which was not revealed until he died. Then It became known that all his knowledge had been concentrated OB evolving a method of burial which, he believed, would prevent the decompo sition of his body. Notes left by him disclosed his one ambition to be "to cheat the worms after death." He was determined that his body should remain intact for ages. Two years ago he superintend ed the construction of a mammoth vault In St. Michael's cemetery, at Birdsboro, Pa. The vault was built of brick, faced with plates of steel, be tween which cement was poured. A granite slab weighing three tons was placed on it Before his death he designed and had made an outer case of phosphor bronze, weighing a ton. and a coffin of iron wood. He engaged the best me chanics obtainable for this work, pay ing them big salaries. He ordered that after his death the bronze case shonld be hermetically sealed and caulked with molten lead. John B. Rutherford, an attorney, was retained by Close to superintend the burial, and $5OO was bequeathed to him for this service. Russian Losses 1,650,000. A dispatch from Paris to the Netie Freie Presse of Vienna says: "The Matin announces that the Rus sian losses in dead and wounded up to Dec. 22, 1914, amounted to 1,650,000. w Famous Italian Soldier One j ol Country's Leaders GENERAL GARIBALDI. SCOTT HAD NO TROUBLE General Tells How Piute Indian War Was Quieted. Bluff, Utah, March 23.—General Scott's party escorting tho recently surrendered Piute Indian ringleaders reached Thompson .rom Bluff, Utah. They will take a train for Salt Lake early tomorrow morning. General Scott, loath to discuss his success, finally consented to give a statement to a correspondent who overtook him on an hour's ride out of Bluff. The general said; "I can only say that I am glad I succeeded in quieting this affair so easily. There is no use in trying to hurry Indians. "My policy is first to make the In dians thoroughly familiar with my terms, and when that is accomplished broach the question, 'What will you do?' After my arrival at Medicine Hat I sent a Navajo Indian whom I induced to be good a year ago la"* December and who had confidence in me out to find Old Polk and the other hostile warriors. He succeeded I" doing this and only a short time after ward twenty-seven Piutes came in to ward Medi' ine Hat to talk It over with me. "I soon convinced them that I was their friend and when they realized this they were not hard to deal with. They all expressed their willingness to surrender, considering me their pro tector. In all my past work among I Indians it has never been necessary for me to go over the ground twice, and in no - stance have they broken I their pron/ces to me. When we reach Salt Lake I will turn the prir oners over to the federal authorities and they will probably be tried there." . -r • FORCES OF NATURE. Boft Their Touch, but Constant and Effective Their Work. What adds to the wonder of the earth's grist is that the millstones that did the work and are still doing it are the gentle forces that career above our heads—the sunbeam, the cloud, the air, the frost. The rain's gentle fall, tho air's velvet touch, (he sun's noiseless rays, the frost's exquisite crystals, these combined are the agents that crush the rocks, pulverize the moun tains and transform continents of sterile granite into a world of fertile soil. It is as if baby fingers did the work of powder and dynamite. Give the clouds and the sunbeams time enough and the Alps and the Andes disappear before them or are transformed into plains where corn may grow and cattle graze. The snow falls as lightly as down and lies almost as lightly, yet the crags tumble beneath It; compacted by gravity, out of it grew the tremendous ice sheet that ground off the mountain summits, that scooped out lakes and valleys and modeled our northern land scapes as the sculptor his clay im age.—John Burroughs. The Distinguished Guest. Captain Itaabe was a man whose name had weight in the French cav alry. He was a tall man. belonging to the middle aged trooper type. With military qualities of the highest kind, he had a singular bearing, a savage sort of misanthropy and a cynical tongue, which stood in the way of pro motion. When be was in the Sixth lancers, on garrison duty at Coin mercy, one of his comrades brought his father to dine with him at the offi cers' mess, a man of humble position and unpretentiously dressed. Captain Raabe, considering that this guest had not been fitly received, gave expres sion to bis opinion, saying that if the executioner of Com mercy had come in evening dress he would have had a bet ter reception. The officers demurring, he made no rejoinder, but shortly aft erward came to mess with a guest whose dress was irreproachable. Every one lavished attentions on the un known. When dinner was over Cap tain Raabe, raising his glass, proposed the health of "the executioner of Com mercy."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers