THE TROOPS TO MOVE
ON CUBA AT ONCE.
CONCERTED ACTION ALL ALONG THE LINE TO BEGIN. AGGRESSIVE OP-
ERATIONS FOR THE EJECTION OF THE SPANISH TROOPS.
Orders Given for the Purchase of 5,000,000 Rations.
General Miles with a Numerous Staff Will Leave Washington To=Day for Tampa,
Fla.—Some of the Troops Now Being Hurried So Rapidly to the Gulf Coast
May Be Intended to Co-Operate with Admiral Sampson in the Reduc~
tion of the Fortifications at San Juan De Porto Rico—The Re-
vival of Doubts as to the Whereabouts of the Cape Verde
Squadron Caused a Renewal of Anxiety as to the
Oregon—It is Believed That Admiral Samp-
son Will Safeguard the Ship.
WASHINGTON, May 11.—The army movement on Cuba is now fairly launched, and
to-day’s news developed a concerted effort all along the line to begin aggressive opera-
tions on a big scale for the ejectment of the Spanish troops and government from the
Pearl of the Antilles. An order given this afternoon by the war department for the
purchase of 5,000,000 rations is an earnest of the scale on which preparations are mak-
Of this vast quantity one-fourth is to go to
the Philippines, by way of San Francisco, and the balance to Cuba.
For some reason that was not discoverable there appeared to be a temporary check in
the practical working out of the plans of the war department for this Cuban movement.
After everything had been made ready for his departure last night, General Miles was
detained, and for a time to-day the rather gloomy prospect of an indefinite postpone-
ment of the first military expedition was presented. Tater on, however, the obstacle,
whatever it was, was reached, and it was again announced that the commanding gen-
eral with a numerous staff would leave Washington to-morrow directly for Tampa.
The department has made a great many changes in the original program laid down
for the concentration of the troops, and, as indicated in these despatches yesterday,
many bodies of volunteers that were originally slated for one of the great concentration
camps have found themselves suddenly under orders to proceed direct to southern
points, so that soon volunteers from the East and middle West will be moving swiftly to
Florida and the gulf, while from the far West the cars will be carrying troops to San
ing for the invasion of Spain’s territory.
Francisco.
AN EARLY MOVEMENT TO CUBA.
To-day’s news in connection with the renewal of General Miles’ orders to Tampa is
pretty substantial evidence of a very early movement of troops in strong force to Cuba,
while the Philippine program, of course, has been definitely fixed for some days.
Contrary to expectations, the day again passed at the navy department without
news from Admiral Sampson. Notwithstanding what appears to be confirmatory news-
paper advices relative to the presence of the Spanish Cape Verde fleet at Cadiz, the navy
department officials are beginning to entertain strong doubt of the accuracy of the re-
port. It was not possible during the course of the day to obtain anything like an of-
ficial confirmation of the official report received yesterday, but this is not to be wonder-
ed at in view of the success which the Spanish government has so far met with in keep-
ing secret the movements of its naval ships.
of his doings in and around Porto Rico, it cannot be said definitely what program shall
be decided on as regards that island.
It has been suggested that some of the troops now being hurried so rapidly to the
gulf coast may be intended to co-operate with Admiral Sampson in the reduction of the
fortifications at San Juan De Porto Rico and the subsequent occupation of the island.
WOULD BE IN A PLIGHT.
It is felt that the admiral will be in a rather disagreeable plight, supposing even
that he managed to reduce the forts with his fleet, if he were obliged to remain there in
occupation of the place, for lack of troops, when he might otherwise be urgently needed
either on the Cuban coast or somewhere in the Atlantic to meet the Spanish fleet. An
evidence of the wisdom of having the troops and transports near at hand in such cases
is shown by the predicament Admiral Dewey is believed to be in at Manila, where, for
lack of troops, he is unable to occupy the town and to prevent the atrocities which the
insurgents are capable of working upon their helpless Spanish foes.
The rivival of doubts as to the whereabouts of the Cape Verde squadron caused a
renewal of anxiety as to the Oregon. The ship was at Bahia at last accounts and is be-
lieved to have started a day or two ago up the Brazilian coast to join Sampson’s squad-
ron in the West Indies. She will have to make a run of 3,000 miles, which will oc-
Spanish Expedition to go to the Philip-
pines.
Nothing has been Seen of the Cape Verde Squadron,
But 1t has not Gone Back to Cadiz.—Admiral Ber-
mejo says it's Where it Ought to Be.—Inquiries
Made at London on Board Ships Which Have Re-
cently Arrived There from the Canary Islands,
the Islands of Madeira, Teneriffe and Gibraltar,
Show that Nothing has been Seen of the Spanish
Fleet.
LoNDON, May 11.—A special dispatch
from Madrid says a formidable Spanish ex-
pedition is being organized for dispatch to
the Philippine islands.
NOTHING SEEN OF THE SPANISH FLEET.
- LoNDON, May 11.—Inquiries made on
board ships which have recently arrived
here from the Canary islands, the island of
Madeira, Teneriffe and Gibraltar, show
that nothing has been seen of the Spanish
fleet.
The British steamer Galicia, Captain
Bird, which left Cadiz on April 29th, re-
ports that the only war vessels there were
the auxilliary cruisers Normannia and Col-
umbia, two torpedo boats and an armed
yateh, possibly the Girlada.
The British steamer Tetuan, which ar-
rived here to-day from Gibraltar, after
leaving Las Palmas on April 29th, Tene-
riffe on April 30th and Madeira on May
2nd, saw no signs of the Spanish fleet. She
reports, however, that great excitement
prevailed at the Canary islands when she
was there.
DID NOT RETURN TO CADIZ.
LoNDON, May 11.—A special dispatch
from Madrid says : Admiral Bermejo, min-
ister of marine, denies that the Cape Verde
squadron returned to Cadiz. Bermejo
says that the fleet is now where it ought to
be, under orders.
AMERICAN SQUADRON HAS DISAPPEARED.
MADRID, May 11.—An official dispatch
from Havana says: ‘‘The enemy’s squad-
ron has disappeared. Five warships have
gone eastward.’’
GERMANY MUST HAVE GUARANTEES.
MADRID, May 11.—The Madrid corre-
spondent of a Berlin paper says that it is
asserted in high Spanish official circles that
on May 3rd the German embassador to
Great Britain, Count Hatzfeldt—Wilden
burg, informed Lord Salisbury that, in case
of a change in the form of government in
the Philippines, Germany would be ‘“‘com-
pelled to put herself in possession of cer-
tain guarantees with the view of maintain-
ing German interests.”’
Count Weldenburg, according to the cor-
respondent, pointed out to Lord Salisbury
that Germany had to take into account the
possibility that Great Britain, in order to
protect British subjects in the Philippines,
might be compelled to land an adequate
force at Manila, in which case Germany
would do likewise.
Lord Salisburg replied that he recogniz-
ed the justice of this declaration, but des-
ignated the supposition that England has
such intentions as incorrect, and, accord-
ing to the correspondent in question, pro-
posed to leave the matter open till the con-
flict over Manila has been decided.
BRITISH STEAMER STOPPED BY SPANISH.
LoxNDoN, May 11.—The British steamer
Belmuir, which has arrived at Aberdeen,
reports that a Spanish gunboat fired at and
stopped her in the straits of Gibraltar, on
May 3rd. A Spanish officer boarded her,
but, after examining her papers, he allowed
her to proceed.
Until news comes from Admiral Sampson
Company B to Start for Tampa.
The 5th Regiment, Colonel Burchfield Commanding,
Will Leave for Florida Within Twenty-four Hours.
. Mustering. of Companies.—Orders to have the Se-
lected Regiments in Readiness to Move Within
Forty-eight hours Reached the Camp at Mount
Gretna Yesterday Morning.—Batteries A and C,
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Now at Newport News
MOUNT GRETNA, May 11.—It is proba-
ble that by the time this reaches the eyes
of the WATCHMAN readers B Co. of Belle-
fonte will be whirling southward over the
cupy the Oregon about ten days only, as she is in fine fettle and averaged thirteen knots | Atlantic coast line to prepare for the invas-
an hour in the long run around from San Francisco.
SAMPSON WILL SAFEGUARD THE OREGON.
However, it is believed that Admiral Sampson is as well posted as any one in
Washington as to the conditions existing in the West Indies and he, doubtless, will do
whatever is necessary, in his judgment, to safeguard the ship in her run up the coast.
During the past month the bureau of construction and repair of the navy depart-
ment spent one million and a quarter dollars in the repair and outfitting of ships, and
none of this money went to new construction. This is said to be the largest expend-
iture in this particular line ever made by the equipment bureau even during the days
of the civil war. The navy department felt obliged to decline the offer made by some
wealthy New York gentlemen, headed by O. H. P. Belmont, to build and equip a tor-
pedo boat for the use of the government during the war.
ion of Cuba. Governor Hastings to-day
officially announced that six regiments of
the Pennsylvania volunteers now at Camp
Hastings will be on their way to Tampa,
Fla., within forty-eight hours from noon
to-day.
Orders to have the regiments in readi-
ness to move within that time reached the
camp about five o'clock this morning.
Major Thompson, the United States army
officer commanding, immediately began
the work of mustering in the companies of
the various regiments necessary to make
up the required number, and by nightfall
thirty-five companies had been sworn in.
Arranged with their respective regiments.
a grand total of five regiments is the record
Possibly the declination was brought about through the condition attached to the | of to-day’s work, and, including the two
offer that the boat should be commanded by Mr. Belmont, for without the least reflec-
tion upon that gentleman the naval officials have been obliged to decline to establish the
precedent of appointing civilians to commands in this way. The practice, in some re-
spects, would approach privateering, which is distinctly prohibitd by the agreement
we have voluntarily entered into and proclaimed to the world.
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt to-day turned over the duties of assistant secretary of
regiments completed yesterday, there are
now seven regiments of volunteers ready
to move at the word of command. Over
thirty rail-road cars are side-tracked ready
‘| for the soldiers to board, and the first one
will probably move in the morning.
It was definitely decided to-night that
the regiments to go will he the six of the
seven now mustered in. These are the
the navy to Mr. Charles H. Allen, of Massachusetts, and the latter held a reception at | Fourth, Colonel Case ; Sixteenth, Colonel
the department to all the employes. The rush orders to the Charleston, which went | Flings ; Third, Colonel Ralston; Fif-
teenth, Colonel Krebs; Ninth, Colonel
out to-day, will have the result possibly of obliging the department to send another Dougherty, and Fifth, Colonel Burchfield.
vessel, probably the Philadelphia, along with the troop transports which are expected
to go out from San Francisco about the end of the week, since it is very unusual in time
of war to send such transports without a warship for convoy.
All that is necessary to prepare these com-
mands and the others waiting to be mus-
tered are uniforms for the recruits, canvas
belts and blanket rolls for the guardsmen
=== | and new Krag-Jorgensen guns for all.
Send an Army of Negroes.
Hold the Philippines with a Force of 20,000 Men—
Advice that comes from London—The Americans
Will Emerge from the War with New ideas and
Larger Ambitions.
LoNDoN, May 8.—Referring to the out-
come of the war, the Spectator remarks :
“The Americans will emerge from the war
with new ideasand larger ambitions. They
will have defeated a second class European
state and will feel acutely that, as matters
stand, they would have been defeated by a
first class one. They could not have fought
France, to say nothing of Great Britain,
without suffering grave defeats at sea and
enormous losses on land.
“That is not the position which suits
American temper, and Washington will set
itself to construct a first class iron fleet.
That once built, the desire for a position in
the world equal to their position among na-
tions will compel them to abandon the idea
of non-intervention and change the Monroe
doctrine into a direct and effective protec-
torate of the two Amecricas.
“We hope the Americans will keep the
Philippine islands, and that they can keep
them there is no doubt whatever. Europe,
to put the truth in its most brutal form,
cannot attack them without our permis-
sion.”
The Spectator urges America to raise a
colored army of 20,000 ‘‘and, with this ef-
fective Sepoy army, hold the Philippines,
Hawaii and Porto Rico, paying the army
of occupdtion out of the local revenues.’’
It says:
“With such a garrison these islands
Lieutenant Hay, United States army,
was at work to-day distributing equip-
ments of clothing to the commands muster-
ed in. The non-completion of this will
not interfere with the troops moving, as
the equipment will be completed, in that
And only Poor Marksmanship on the Part of the case, at Tampa. All ordinances will he
Spanish Gunners Saved Them. handed around at the same place.
> In the addition to the muster of the
Key West, Fla.,, May 8.—Only poor :
marksmanship on the part of the Spanish 2hoys SORAnAS, 1x0 Soames x bj
gunners saved the Vicksburg and the cut- Sas T Tegimen t th 8 BR 3 R = Tee o
ter Morrill from destruction off Havana yes- toe on! yoy os Sh el oe y mes
terday: For only half an hour they were t a is 3 aN r f at Toop. All
under the fire of guns of the Santa Clara Jos ’ Janel 2 tota % a 1 gers and 4,-
water batteries, but both escaped without th 0 15 b nen on a United Dar of
material injury, although shrapnel shells Lo von i] samy > he Jy A aL.
from eight inch guns exploded all about P oe ie no Pe i Ties 4 San 2
them and both now show pitted scars of Noway Yama, volunteers, now at Newport
Spanish bullets. "es : ;
Phe wily Spaniards had arranged a trap Elections are, Joti 00 an. B Bulibee of
to send a couple of ourships to the bottom. | SoniPanies to fill vacancies caused by of-
They baited it as a man would bait a ra | Gers being rejected by the doctors. Col-
trap. * A small schooner was sent out from | 0¢l Morrell, who was thrown from his
Havana harbor shortly before daylight yes- horse a injured yesterday, was on duty
terday morning to draw some of the Amer- | 2S Usual to-day.
icans into the ambuscade. The ruse work-
ed likea charm. The Vicksburg and the rt
Morrill saw the schooner, gave chase and Bosrtox, May 9.—Bob Fitzsimmons has
were led right in front of a masked battery | announced his acceptance to the offer of
on the crest of a rocky eminence which | Kid McCoy to pay the champion $10,000
juts out into the waters of the gulf. for a fight at middleweight, and also his
Before the two United States vessels | acceptance of the offer of James J. Corbett
were aware of the scheme, they were in | of $25,000 for an opportunity to regain the
the midst of hot fire from the battery. The heavyweight championship. Fitzsimmons
aim of the Spaniards was, however, very | will meet either man before the regularly
bad, and the Vicksburg and Morrill, after | organized club offering the largest purse,
sending back a few shots, scampered out to | but he will insist on a side bet of $10,000
sea, out of range of the battery. Both sus- | in each case, and both matches must be
tained some slight damage by fragments of | taken before the last of September, this
shells which exploded near them. year.
would be as safe as a drawing room and as
full of business as Broadway or the Strand.”
Two Ships Under Fire.
Fitz Will Fight Corbett.
Spain’s Mysterious Fleet Now the Center
of Attraction.
One Report Locates it at Cadiz and another at the
Canaries, but Spanish Minister of Marine Says it is
Where it Ought to be—Spain Must Throw up the
Sponge or Else Give Sampson Battle.
WASHINGTON, May 12.—Accepting as
true the report that the Cape Verde fleet is
now with the Spanish fleet at Cadiz, it is
felt here that Spain must take without
delay one of two courses. She must either
send her combined fleets westward to give
battle to the American fleet or she must
sue for peace. The report, said to be
official, that she will send a formidable
fleet to the Philippines is regarded in
Washington as a mere bluff intended simp-
ly to prevent further popular outbreaks in
Spain while the government is trying to
settle on a feasible plan of action, which it
is dreading—in short, which of the two
alternatives named above it will take.
To-night rumors are afloat here that this
government has received strong intimation
that under pressure of the powers the
Spanish government is likely to throw up
the sponge and withdraw her army from
Cuba in order to save Porto Rico and on
condition that she will be allowed by us
to re-occupy the Philippines after paying an
indemnity that will cover the expenses we
have incurred in the prosecution of the
war.
These rumors of a prospect of Spanish
surrender are by no means mere gossip of
the street. They are afloat in government
circles, and while they cannot be confirm-
ed in responsible quarters, they are receiv-
ing attention. It is felt that the known
conditions in Spain and the course of the
war thas far fully warrant the government
in suing for peace.
It is not doubted that the Spanish gov-
ernment would gladly take this course if it
believed it could do it without precipitat-
ing a bloody revolution, which would not
only overthrow the dynasty, but involve a
massacre of those whose corruption and
incapacity are regarded as the causes of the
misfortunes of the country.
If the rumor that Spain intends suing for
peace is premature, then it is believed the
combined Spanish fleets will within a few
days be ordered to sail westward to attack
our fleet in West India waters, or to make
a descent on our coast cities. But it will
be at least two weeks before the Spanish
ships can get across the Atlantic from
Cadiz. By that time, unless the plans of
the administration go wrong, both Cuba
and Porto Rico will be in our possession,
with an adequate American army in each
and our squadrons ready to take care of
the Spanish fleet, whatever may be its
plan of operations.
The fact that Admiral Sampson has not
yet been heard from leads some officials
here to persist in the belief that the Cape
Verde fleet did not return to Cadiz, but is
now on this side of the ocean, either hover-
ing about the Windward islands or head-
ing south in wait for the Oregon and
Marietta. But there is good reason to be-
lieve that Admiral Sampson’s fleet is also
ranging far south of Porto Rico, ready to
go to aid the Oregon in case the American
scouting cruisers report that Spanish war
vessels are in that region.
It is believed Admiral Sampson’s ma-
neeuvers are intended to place him a posi-
tion where he can strike north to Porto
Rico to intercept the Spaniards, if they
are making for that island, or south to the
relief of the Oregon in case that becomes
necessary. The factthat Admiral Samp-
son had not communicated directly with
the department up to a late hour this after-
noon was pointed to by those officials who
discredit the report of the arrival at Cadiz
of the Cape Verde fleet as proof that the
admiral had not yet been able to convince
himself that the enemy’s ships were not in
West Indian waters.
EXPEDITION TO PHILIPPINES. CRUISER
CHARLESTON GOES ON AHEAD AND
TRANSPORTS FOLLOW THIS WEEK.
WASHINGTON, May 12.— Government
officials say the Philippine expedition will
be started at the earliest practical moment.
Preparations are going ahead at rapid rate.
For feeding the men who will go on that
expedition the commissary’s department
made arrangements for the delivery at San
Francisco of over 1,000,000 rations, to ac-
commodate an army of 5,000 men for more
than 60 days.
It now looks as if the command might
be placed in the hands of a major general,
possibly General Wesley Merritt, who will
be governor general.
The navy department has decided to
have the cruiser Charleston start at once on
its relief mission to Admiral Dewey’s
fleet. She will leave without waiting to
convoy the City of Pekin and the other
ships loaded with supplies. The orders to
the commandant of the navy yard at Mare
island are to put on board the Charleston
all the ammunition she will carry so long
as her steaming capacity is not retarded. It
is the understanding here that at least 150
tons of ammunition can be put on board.
All the powder, shot and shell requisite
for this relief expedition have heen as-
sembled at San Francisco already.
Owing to the hurried departure of the
Charleston, it is not expected that she will
wait for any considerable number of troops,
as these will follow later on the other re-
lief ships. Sheghas a crew of about 300
men, and this probably will be augmented
by a marine guard of a few hundred men.
The Charleston is a protected cruiser of
3,730 tons displacement, built of steel, and
mounts eight guns in her battery. She
has twin screws and an indicated horse-
power 6,666. The authorites here hardly
expect her to make more than 13 knots
with her heavy stock of coal, ammunition
and supplies. Her trip to Manila will take
about two weeks.
The City of Pekin, which will follow her,
is a very fleet merchantman, capable of
being pushed to 18 knots or more, so that
even with the handicap she has of
starting several days after the Charleston
there is a prospect she may overhaul her
in the race across the Pacific and reach
Manila first. Saturday is the earliest date
mentioned for her start.
The Charleston is commanded by Cap-
tain Henry Glass. Aside from carrying
ammunition and supplies to Admiral
Dewey, the Charleston will prove a valu-
able adjunct to his squadron. She will
come next to the Olympia and Baltimore
in point of size and effectiveness.
Wanamaker’s Two Wars,
Candidate WANAMAKER is dividing
his attention between the Spanish enemy,
that has ravaged the fair island of Cuba,
and the QUAY enemy that has looted the
treasury of Pennsylvania. While he is en-
listing volunteers to fight the Spaniards he
does not allow that service to interrupt his
attack on the QUAY camp. He is carrying
on his campaign against the machine cor-
ruptionists with undiminished vigor, con-
tinuing his anti-QUAY speeches in all parts
of the State. The truth he is telling about
the rascally practices that prevail in the
state government should have its effect
upon the honest Republicans who suffer as
much as the Democrats from corruption in
public affairs.
—————————————— I...
Plucky Winslow, Brave Wilmington,
Silence the Spanish Batteries and
Destroy the Fort at Cardenas.
KEY WEsT, May 12, 10:58 a. m.—Sev-
eral hoats arriving at this point from Car-
denas, where the engagement took place
yesterday state that our forces lost one of-
ficer, four men were killed and several
were wounded.
PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE.
KEY WEST, 12:14 p. m.—The govern-
ment boat Hudson has arrived here. It
brings the intelligence that the steel tor-
pedo boat Winslow, weighing 142 tons,
opened the war at 11 o’clock at Cardenas
yesterday.
The following Americans were killed :
Ensign Worth Bagley, (killed instantly)
Oliver Varnaris, S. Daniel, B. Meek Far-
nell. The wounded are: J. Patterson,
mortally, Lieutenant Brandon, seriously,
R. E. Cox, D. McKean, M. Gray.
THE CANNON BOOMED.
The Wilmington (third rate steel gun-
boat, weighed 1.392 tons, eight guns, )
Hudson (revenue cutter) and Winslow
were cruising off Cardenas yesterday about
11 o’clock. The Winslow got close to the
shore, and when about 500 yards from the
shore the shrubbery saddenly parted and
heavy cannon on the shore boomed. Heavy
solid shot and shell alighted all about the
Winslow, and her forward boiler blew up.
Her men, however, never flinched. Her
rudder was blown away and she drifted
helplessly until the Hudson took her in
tow.
The Winslow was shot through and
through in five places.
After firing thirty-five minutes a six
inch shell pierced her boiler. She is now
being repaired at sea.
Seventy-five rounds were fired from the
Winslow.
The Spanish guns were eventually si-
lenced and the fort was destroyed.
In the meantime the Wilmington opened
with her heavy guns and bravely bore the
brunt of the battle until the Winslow was
towed toa place of safety.
Key West, 1:54 p. m.—The officers of
the Hudson report that Cardenas was to
be shelled by the gunboats Machias and
Wilmington again this morning. They
believe that the bombardment has already
occurred.
——Nothing could have been more con-
temptible than the sneaking design that
was entertained in certain quarters to de-
feat the appointment of General Fitzhugh
LEE to a command in the military opera-
tions against the Spanish in Cuba. There
was a clique of officers in the war depart-
ment who are said to have determined that
the gallant ex-confederate should win no
glory in this war if they could prevent it.
Whether this conspiracy springs from pro-
fessional jealousy or from the old sectional
spite, it indicates a spirit of the meanest
order. Nothing could be more offensive to
the feelings of the people of hoth sections
than the ignoring of a brave officer who so
courageously represented his country in a
position replete with danger when those at
the head of the government were shirking
the decisive action which the situation in
Cuba demanded.
ADDITIONAL LOCALS.
The Centre district Ministerial Sunday
school and K. L. C. E. convention, of the
Central Pennsylvania conference of the
United Evangelical church, will be held in
this place from May 24th to 26th. The |.
meetings will be held in the church on
Willowbank street and there will be about
forty delegates here to participate.
4 '
+A BIG FIRE NARROWLY AVERTED.—
One of the largest mercantile establish-
ments in the county narrowly escaped de-
struction by fire on Wednesday afternoon.
It was exactly 3 o’clock when fire was
discovered in the basement of Joseph Bros.
& Co’s. building on south Allegheny street.
It was burning so fiercely by the time the
alarm was given that it was an hour before
the firemen had it under control.
The fire was discovered by Samuel Wei-
ser, a clerk in the store, who had gone
down to the basement for some underwear.
He tried to put it out and several of the
other clerks ran to his assistance, but they
were unable to stop the flames that were
spreading rapidly among the great piles of
clothing, dry goods and notions that were
down there. The entire duplicate stock of
the store was kept in the basement and the
flames once eating into the bales of woolen
goods made such a dense, suffocating smoke
that the firemen were unable to enter the
place for a long time. Five streams of
water were pumped into it and in less than
twenty minutes there was a foot of water
over the entire length of that 110 ft. floor.
The basement is ceiled with flooring and
partitioned off into a number 6f apartments
in the same way so that the fire got in be-
tween the partitions and burned furiously.
Most of it was located in the front end,
where it was hardest to fight, but by cut-
ting holes in the floor of the store room the
firemen succeeded in subduing it.
The loss in the basement is practically
total. The immense stock of goods stored
there, together with mattings, carpets and
groceries, is all ruined by water or scorched
by the flames. On the main store floor
there is no damage except by smoke, but
that will be a pretty heavy one, because
the smoke was so dense that it must have
saturated everything. It will change the
color of the white goods and taint the wool-
ens.
As to the origin of the fire, it is a mys-
tery. The story was in circulation that it
had caught from a lamp carried by J. H.
Runkle, a plumber who is said to have
been at work down there, but the story is
untrue because the plumber had not been
fn the basement that day and was on the
second floor of the dwelling side of the
building, where he was detaching a radia-
tor and had no light of any kind. It is
probable, however, that the fire started
from a leak in the gas pipe. Gas was kept
burning in the basement all the time and
it is thought that a leak in the pipes be-
came lighted and set fire to the goods.
There is an insurance of $63,000 on the
stock and $11,000 on the building. The
store is closed and will be reopened imme-
| diately after the insurance is adjusted.
——On Wednesday evening the Belle-
fonte band and a number of his friends sur-
prised Robert Gentzell by appearing at his
home, on Willowbank street, with a first
class supper and a number of choice pres-
ents. The affair was in honor of his birth-
day and proved thoroughly enjoyable to all.
ee AA eee.
WERE QUIETLY MARRIED.—At 11
o'clock yesterday morning Rev. G. W.
Lesher, of Boalsburg, pronounced the
words that made Miss Mary E. Hasel and
William Steel, of Axe Mann, one. The
ceremony was performed at the home of the
bride’s father, Adam Hasel, and none but
the family were in attendance.
The bride is an estimable young woman,
fully competent to make a helpful and
lovable wife, while the groom is an indus-
trious young man, now employed at the
Mill Hall brick works at which place the
ouple will probably begin house keeping.
—e-
MARRIAGE LICENSES.—Following is the
list of marriage licenses granted by or-
phans court clerk G. W. Rumberger during
the past week :
Ira Grossman and Kate Sweeny, both of
Potter township.
Samuel Woodring, of Worth township,
and Minnie L. Stiner, of Taylor township.
H. Herbert Stover and Gertrude Styers,
both of Rebersburg.
Adam Yearick, of Marion township, and
Mrs. Louisa Stover, of Miles township.
Jacob C. Runkle and Ada Allen, both
of Potter township.
George. P. Johnsonbaugh, of Bellefonte,
and Alice H. Stover, of Aaronsburg.
George Washington Harter, of Millheim,
and Emma Vonatta, of Hartleton, Union
county.
Harry G. Swabb and Georgiana Krebs,
both of Bellefonte.
William Steel and Mary Hazel, both of
Axe Mann.
George B. Bander and Alice C. Meyers,
both or Philipsburg.
Dilroy R. Young and Lizzie Illian, both
of Potter township.
—————
A Bic DAY FOR THE ODD FELLOWS.
—On last Saturday morning representa-
tives of all the lodges of Odd Fellows in
Centre county met in the rooms of the
Bellefonte lodge to arrange for a joint pic-
nic of the Odd Fellows of Centre county.
It will be held at Hecla park on Wednes-
day, June 8th, and will be known as Odd
Fellows day at that resort. The meeting
here was purely an executive one. J. C.
Meyer Esq., was elected chairman of the
picnic committee and W. F. Fry, of Pine
Grove Mills, was made the secretary. Com-
mittees on transportation, speaker, amuse-
ments, and other events were appointed.
It was decided to invite the societies of
Clinton and Lycoming counties, to join
those of Centre in the outing at Hecla and
make as much of a success of it as possible,
because they hope to make an annual out-
ing day for the order in Centre county.
Three, eminent. members of the order
have been invited to be present to speak 3
one of them, Esau Loomis, of West Ches-
ter, deputy grand master, has already ac-
cepted and the other two, Samuel McKib-
ben, of Philadelphia, who will be installed
grand master at the meeting of the grand
lodge on the 17th inst., and Robert E.
Wright, of Allentown, representative from
Pennsylvania to the sovereign grand lodge,
have both intimated that they would like
to come, though a definite answer has not
been received from either.
The committees for the event are as fol-
lows:
Transportation, W. H. Fry, Pine Grove
Mills ; W. M. Cronister, Bellefonte; S. S.
Crissman, Philipsburg.
Entertainment, A. Lukenbach and W. H.
Musser, Bellefonte ; Dr. 8. S. McCormick,
Hublersburg.
Speakers, C. H. Evey, State College ; E.
W. Meyers, Boalsburg ; C. W. Hartman,
Millheim.
Finance, H. B. Pontius, Bellefonte ;
John D. Brown, Snow Shoe ; Abe Weber,
Howard.
Amusements, F. E. Naginey and J. Will
Conley, Bellefonte ; C. L. Gramley, Reb-
ersburg.
Printing, S. S. Miles, Port Matilda ; Ira
G. Burket, Stormstown ; D. W. Glossner,
Blanchard.
Musie, J. C. Smith, Bellefonte ; John
Williams, Lemont; J. S. Rowe, Centre
Hall.
Madisonbuarg.
Mrs. Mary Shaffer is again very ill.
Rev. H. H. Romig is in Lehigh county
on business.
Andrew Ocker has taken a trip to the north-
western part of the State.
A number of our young people attended
the circus at Bellefonte on Tuesday.
The present work of the farmers is
planting corn. Most of them will finish
this week.
Centre Hall.
D. A. Boozer has added several new car-
riages to his livery and Gross Mingle is sport-
ing a new top buggy and harness which
makes his the finest turnout in the valley.
Mis. James A. Keller is in the Medico Chi.
hospital in Philadelphia being treated for
supposed cancer of the stomach. It is sincere-
ly hoped that her case will not be a serious
one.
The Grammer school will hold an enter-
tainment in the Grange auditorium Saturday
evening next, that will be well worth the
admission of ten cents. Prof. Snyder having
volunteered his services to the government.
D. A. Freeman was secured to finish his term
of school and will conduct the exercises. All
should show their appreciation of the efforts
put forth by the scholars and principal by
patronizing the entertainment. Three amus-
ing plays will be given ‘“‘Murder will out,”
“Wanted, a confidential clerk,” and ‘Hans
von Smash’ and every one of them are en-
tertaining.
James Sandoe now represents Centre Hall
in Uncle Sam’s brave army. He applied for
a position in the navy shortly after the