THE COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBURG, PA. M AL FALLS Gallant Leader of Highland ers Badly Wounded. Other British Officers Suffer From Boer Bullets. London Gets Unconfirmed Ru mor That the Siege of Lady smith Has Been Raised. LONDON, Fob. 21. It Is reported that General Hector Mitcdotinld, coiniiiiiiuler c the HiKhlnnil lrlniul, whs severvly wounded yesterday. The Inst news re reived about Oenernl Mitcdonnld and the hiithlamlcrs was that they were pursuing General Cronje. The following dispateh has been re ceived at the war otlice from Lord Rob erts, dated l'nardeberg. V'eb. 20: "Between I'ub. It) and Feb. IS Major General Knox was wounded. Major (Jen ersl Hertor Mnrdnnald severely wound ed aud Lieutenant Colonel Aldworth was killed." The war office adds that no details of the fighting have yet been received. These casualties occurred in fighting near taardebsrg. A curious dispatch from Pretoria, dnt d Tuesday, Feb. 20, announces that Commandant Ferrelrn was killed Feb. 19, adding that his deuth was believed to be the result of an accident. Further details of the attack made by Colonel Plumer's forces on the lloer po sition defended by a 12 pounder, near GENERAL MACDONALD. . Crocodile pools, not far from Gaberones, show that as the British were struggling op the hill In the dark, through a net of barbed wire, they alarmed the Boer watchdogs, who gave tongue. The Boers Opened fire, and the British charged, but the Boers exploded dynamite mines, do ing much damage, and the British re treated. A private telegram received here from Berlin this afternoon declares that Gen rsl Cronje is in a bad position, bearing out yesterday's Berlin rumor that Gen eral Cronje was surrounded and that a time limit had been given him within which to capitulate. The war office hus received the follow ing from General Buller, dated Chieveley Camp, today: "The Fifth division crossed the Tugela today by pontoon and drove back the en emy's rear guard, our naval 12 pounder silencing u 11 of the enemy's guns." LADYSMITH RELIEVED? Unconfirmed Report of the llulalnff of the Sieve, LONDON, Feb. 21. The wor office de Clares lute this ufternoon it is unable to atitiNtontiate the reports of the relief of Ladysmith. But this does not prevent the public from believing the queen linn gain forestalled the authorities at Full Mall and preferred to communicate the . glad news direct to the public through the mayor of Windsor, jut as yesterday she dramatically announced through Lord William Cecil, commander of militia corps, the tidings of General Buller's success hours before the war office was able to relieve the impatient anxiety of the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, as the queen's words are not actually quoted In today's announcement, official con firmation is eagerly awaited, especially as General Buller's dispatch of yesterday is very generally regarded as foreshadow ing a juncture of his and General White's forces some time today. Public interest, expectation and anxiety therefore sway unceasingly and impatiently between Ladysmith and Bloemfontein. The prac tical relief of the former place is regard ed as due more to Field Marshal Lord Roberts' brilliant strategy in drawing off the Boers than to General Buller's numerous assaults, and the news of the result of the buttle between General Kitchener and General Cronje, re-enforced by the forces thus drawn oft from Ladysmith, is expected to almost syn chronize with the announcement that General Buller hus reached his objective. The accomplishment of the latter event, however, is regarded with greater confi dence than is the ability of General Kitchener to thoroughly cripple General Cronje, for the Boer general has proved -himself so clever and daring in slipping through the British lines that, even if Lord Roberts quickly occupied Bloemfon tein, there are many fears expressed that General Cronje might still preserve the effectiveness of hj mobile force. The war office this afternoon announc ed that it bud no news from other ! sources. There Is yet nothing to throw j light on the main issue. Regarding the military conditions, the critics of the afternoon papers express the keenest satisfaction at the phase of the campaign, as reveuled by the lutest news, drawing attention to the fact that whether or not Lord Roberts succeeds in inflicting decisive defeat be has forced the Boers to release their grip on Ladysmith, Klmberley, Zululand and lower Natal, though admitting that the siege of Msfeking may be made more severe by the arrival of a portion of the Boer force driven off from Klmberley endeavoring to avenge itself ou Colonel Buden-Powell. Arundel dispatches, dated Tuesday, Feb. 20, show tbut the Boers, in force, made a determined attempt to invest Arundel, but were bathed by the smart maneuvering of the British mount ed troops. t . , Boer Commander's Report. PRETORIA. Feb. 21.-A portion of an official report from General Crouje, duted Punday, Feb. 18, has been given out as follows: "Yesterday morning, about 0 o'clock, While removing the lnnger near Scholia nek, we were ntlncked by the British. The fight lasted until 7:.10 in the evening. Although, on the whole, the British were driven back, they each time renewed the attack. The Ions to the British must have been considerable. Thus far the Boer loss has been S killed and 12 wound ed. This morning the British nhellcd us with cannon. Chief Commandant Fer reira's force was too small to slop the rnvnlry from entering Kimbcrley." Official reports have also been received ts follows: "Commiiiiiliint Stoyn says flint Satur day, Feb. 17, nnd Sunday, Feb. IS, nenr Kondoosrnnd, he fought the British, who tried to encompass General Cronjo's laa ger, and drove tlJin oh. They fought until lute Sunday evening. The Boers had one mnn killed and one wounded and captured booty and 21 horses and mules. "General Dewet snys that on Sunday afternoon he arrived between l'nni'de berg and Koodoosrand, in which direc tion there has been heavy firing since morning. lie stormed several kopjes which the British vacated, leaving their dead and wounded and 40 prisoners in the hands of the Boers, who captured the kopjes. The Boer loss was two men lilled and four wounded. The fight lnst d until late In the evening." ' To Preserve Historic Home. NEW YORK. Feb. 21.-A movement is on foot nt Yonkers, N. Y to save the historic old manor house, now the city hall, yie place where Mary Philipse re sided when courted by George Washing ton. The present movement came about as the result of a proposition to alter the building by putting a wing on the west side to be used by the nldermen for a committee room, there being need for In creased accommodations. The Yonkers Historical society has objected to the propostion, and the Daughters of the Revolution regard it as little short of sacrilege to alter this building, which was erected in 1(1X2, which stood nil through the Revolution, was the home of Frederick Philipse and was often visited, by Washington while his troops in this vicinity were holding the British in check in New York. Tnft Confers With Root. WASHINGTON. Feb. 21.-Judge Taft, president of the Philippine commission, had Ml long conference with Secretary Root at the war department yesterday in regard to the proposed work of the com mission. It Is expected that the com mission will be completely organized iu the near future and that it will sturt for Manila about April 1. Only two mem bers of the commission have been up pointed so far viz. Judge Taft and Pro fessor Worcester of the original commis sion. Colonel Denby of the old commis sion, who was also invited to serve on the new commission, has declined the offer. As the commission will consist of five members it remains for the president to appoint three others. He has several distinguished men In mind nnd will an nounce his selection in a day or two. Mother nnd C hildren Droit tied. ' CAPE MAY, N. J., Feb. 21. -The wife nnd two sons of Knoch Stevenson were drowned in a pond near their home ut Kldora, near here, yesterday. The two boys, who were 10 nnd 13 years of age, were playing on the ice, when they broke through. Their screams attracted the at tention of the mother. She ran on the ice close to the hole where her two sons were struggling, and in attempting to draw them from the water she also fell in. By this time the father and several of the neighbors enme to the rescue, but the three were, beyond human aid when taken from the water. The father in his frantic effort to save his family nlso broke through the ice, but was saved by the other rescuers. Ilnrse Sunlit Crew Drowned. NEW YORK. Feb. 121. It s ns quite likely that the missing Pomroy Coal company's barge Oakland, which was lost on Sunday morning off the New Jer sey coast while in tow of the tug Nathan Halo, cu route from Norfolk to Provi dence, lias gone to Hie bottom with ull hands. The Oakland's crew of four men were Captain A. B. Crooker, 4."i years old, of Boston; Cook W. H. Wutson, 3:1 years old, of Norfolk; Engineer Corsur Ignacio Ferio. 23 years old, of Bruva, Capo Verde islands, and Deckhand S. E. llopkius, 23 years old, of Maine. Join Inspect American Machinery, FALL RIVER. Mass.. Feb. 21. The four Japanese cotton manufacturers who are making a tour of the spinning nnd weaving centers of this country are iu the city to visit the Full River Iron Works company nnd the American Print ing company, the machine shop of Kil burn, Lincoln & Co. and the Fall River Machine works. Their object is to exam ine the improved cottou muchinery used In this country. Killed Wife and Hlmaelr. ALLENTOWN. Pa., Feb. 21. Wil liam I'lmer, a tailor, shot his wife In the left check, causing a severe but not se rious wound. He then shot himself dead. The couple had frequent quarrels on ac count of Ulmer's failure to provide for the wife and two children. Ulmcr had been out of work for a couple of weeks. He was 45 years of age. The couple had been married 17 years. Pol It leal Crisis la Jamaica, KINGSTON, Jamaica. Fob. 21. There Is excitement here over the political cri sis. The elected members of the legisla ture, as a protest against the subversion of the constitution left the chumber in a body. Additional otSclul members were then introduced and sworn, marking the re-establishment of crown government. The American reciprocity treaty is being Considered. More Graves In Arlington. WASHINGTON. Feb. 21. The re mains of 80 soldiers were buried at the National cemetery at Arlington toduy vlth the usual military honors. Most of these men lost their lives in Cuba during and since the Spanish war. The remain der died in the military service in Porto Rico. Their bodies were brought home on the transport Buford and other ves sels. More Drydocks Needed. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. The house committee on naval affairs, continued its work upon the uuvul appropriation bill yesterday.. The committee has practi cally decided to place In the bill a pro vision for two new dry docks to cost $1, 250,000 each, on at New York uud one at Norfolk. TALK OF CONGRESS House Still Debating Porto Rican Tariff Bill. A. Place Provided For Mrs. Daniel Manning. Resolution Adopted Providing For Her Appointment as Paris Commissioner. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Thc house today adopted the senate resolution au thorizing the president to appoint one woman commissioner to represent the Fnited States nnd the National Society of the Daughters of the American Rev olution at the unveiling of the statue of Lafayette nt the Paris exposition. This resolution was introduced last week by Senator Depew and pas.ied without opposition. It Is intended fc provide for the appointment of Mrs. MRS. DANIEL MANNING. Daniel Manning to the comniissioncrshlp thus created. Mrs. Manning has already been selected to represent the Daughters of the American Revolution, by whom the statue of Lufayctte is to be presented to France. Before the debute upon the Porto Ri can bill was resumed it was agreed that the debate hereafter should begin nt 11 o'clock in the morning and that there should be night sessions on Thursday nnd Friday. Mr. Ruy (Rep.. N. Y.) was the first speaker today. He supported the bill in an extended argument. Mr. Ray is the chairman of the judi ciary committee of the house, and he de voted himself closely to the legal and constitutional phases of the controversy over the broad question us to whether new territory wns a part of the United Stutes iu a political sense. He denied thnt any act of the president or congress could extend the constitution as o consti tution over territory while it remained territory. The immunities of constitu tion could be so extended, but not the constitution itself. The constitution only covered the states of the Union. Mr. McClellan (Dem., N. Y.) spoke in opposition to the Porto Rican tariff bill, considering, it from two aspects, the legal and the moral, iu neither of which, he urged, was it defensible. "The moral aspect of the case is quite," he snid, "as important ns is the legal. It i involves the good faith, the credit and the honor of the United States. Some gentlemen distinguish between individual honor and national honor; some Insist that there is one standard of honesty for the individual nnd no standard whn'tevcr for the nation. Porto Rico cuine to us freely and of her own accord, believing thnt she would become a part of the United States and enjoy the blessing of our constitution and of free intercourse with us. 1 find myself tnkin;; my stand with the minority in support of the pres ident of the United States ugaitist the party that elected him to office." The blind chaplain of the senate in his invocation nt the opening of today's ses sion made touching reference to the be reavement which has fallen upon Mr. Lodge I Mass.) In the loss of his mother and to the illness uud injury of Senators Pettigrew, Elkins and Bacon. President ProTcm. Frye named as mem bers of the Memorial Association of the District of Columbia Hon. John Huy and Judge Walter E. Cox for three ycurs and Major General Nelson A. Miles for two yenrs. As routine business wns concluded Mr. Penrose (Pa.) gave notice that on Wash ington's birthday immediately after the reading of Washing u's farewell address by Senator Foraker he would call up the senate resolution providing that "the Hon. Matthew S. Quay is not entitled to take his seat Iu this body as a senator from the state of Pennsylvania." Mr. Penrose directed attention to the fact that the question involved was privileged and intimated, therefore, that It would take precedence over other mutters. The senute received the following nom inations from the president. Volunteers Brigadier General Harri son Gray Otis to be major general by brevet; colonels to be brigadier generals by brevet Owen Summers, Hurry C. Kcsslor, Wilder S. Metculf. The Treaty With France. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The senate committee on foreign relations today or dered a favorable report on the treaty of reciprocity with France. No amend ment was made to the treaty. The com mittee did not take up the Hay-Paunce-fote treaty relating to the Nicaragua canal. No opposition wns manifested on the part of any member of the committee, and the report in its favor will lie unani mous. The members of the committee discussed the provisions at some length, but only for the purpose of becoming fa miliar with them. The fact was em phasized that if the treaty should be rati fied 0(19 articles of American origin would be admitted to France at the min imum rate and only 1!) subjected to the present rute. Weullier Indlcntlons. Rn'l, followed by clearing; colder, with increasing somheust winds. tfll i k JtW.v , yJw$2Hfa&2i (- nnd Uire-Awsy. Mrs. Ondd Did you ever notice bow polite nnd attentive Mr. llnyfcllow it to his wife? Mrs. Gudd Yes. Ixxiks mighty sus picious. N. Y, Weekly. Wlthant n Jasper llig-hctul is Isn't be? Peer. a stupid fellow Junipuppe Stupid 1 Why, be isn't oripinnl enough to get off a chestnut Town Topics, The l.ntest. Walter This is the latest, on boiled beef. Tfttron What is it? Waiter - Horseless horse-radish. Judge. Wise Crnsoe. Silly Billy Why did Robinson Cru soe call him Friday? Pious Perclval To save him fro it the cannibals. Yon can't cat meat ot Friday, you know. N. Y. Journal. The Modesty of Knfnrr, Kathryn 1 wonder what makes thi leaves of the trees turn red in tin fall. unetn Probably blushing ut tliei, bhrc limbs. Harlem Life. Ills Mote of Mlud. "Your bookkeeper is subject to lit. of ill-humor, isn't he?" "No; be bus widely isolated attack, of amiability." Chicago Record. Hat It Aln Dor. I'ncle Bob Lightning never strikf, twice in the same place. Johnny I wish ma's, slipper didn't N. Y. Journal. . Very Strong Indeed. Bacon Is nn onion like a leek? F.pbert Well, yes; there is n ver; strong reseniblunce. Yotikcrs Btat'S Ji .n. Wc look in amazement at the burdens some women carry upon their heads. Yet how light they are compared with the burdens some women carry upon their henrt9. There are childless women whose hearts ache ceaselessly because of the childless home. That bualcn of childlessness has been lifted from the heart of many a woman by the use of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription. Mauy of the obstacles to maternity are remov able. Such obstacles are entirely re moved by "Favorite Prescription." It contains no alcohol nor narcotic. Harried Six Years and Childless. "I have never written you how grateful I am to you for your help in securing good lieulth and one of the sweetest, dearest, thirteen pound girls that ever came into a home," writes Mrs. M. Vastine, of 647 South I,ilertv Street. Caleshurg, 111. "I took six bottles of f)r. Pierce's Favorite Prescription, four of the 'Golden Medical Din covery and four viala of Dr. Pierce's Pleasant l'ellcls. Before I had token four bottles of the ' Favorite Prescription ' I was a new woman, I cannot make peu deserilie my heartfelt grati tude, so will close by saying if anv one disputes the value of Ur. Pierce' inediciuta I wilt 1 pleased to confirm the truth of ull I my if they will enclose stamped envelope for reply." Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets are a ladies' laxative. No medicine equals them for gentleness and thoroughness. NERVOUS, WEAK, DISEASED NO CURE-NO PAY THE NEW JIKTHOD TREATMENT, original Willi lira. K. .It K.. will ioi- tively curs forever any form of III.mmI or I Hoxual discs. It is tliu runult of Jil) I y Bars' experience in t'ue treatment of I laeae auwases. WE CURE SYPHILID This terrible Blood Poison, the terror I ui uiuuKiiiM, yieiun reiiuny 10 our ir..v iniiAiMJ'.M. Duwaro ot .Mercury, Potash, eta. 'l'hevinuv ruin vntir Hv.lf.in. if you have lores in the mouth or tunuue. pains iu the poiuts, tore throat, hair or I vjnrfniffl ll(IIK IIUI, imuiijiob ir uiuiuuui,, stoinach derangement, sure eyes, houd aohes, oto., you have the secondary stage of this Wood l'oiron. We solicit the most obstinate canes, and challenge the world (or souse we accept for treatment and cannot cure. Ity our treatment the uloers heal, the hair grows again, pains disappear, the skin beonines healthy, slid inarriago is postiuio ana lute. CURES GUARANTEED 1 Thousands of voune and mlddle-aires I men have their vigor and vitality sapped I by early sbuses, later excesses, uieutal I worry, etc No matter the cause, our I flew Method lroutment Is the refuge. IWECUREIMPOTENCYI I And restore all Darts to s normal oondl. I tion. Ambition, life and energy are re-1 newed, and one feels n'uinli s man I I among men. livery case is treated indi vidually no cure-all hence our wonder ful suuoeKS. No matter what ails vou. I consult us confidentially. We can fur-I I ni'h bank bouda to guarantee to eoooiu- pnsu wnut we claim. 250,000 CURED W treat and euro: KMTSSTOXS I V A WIY'I si'VIV CVbUll Ikl ilT L'L'rn' ISTHICTUHK. i.MPOTKN'l fitiUKE'l' DRAINS. UNNATURAL jrfsriUKU- I Vt! L'l liVIfV --.1 1)1 A TiTkL'U 1.1 I aUS'Ji IV L' .1 11 & Sail 14 JJ&stfT I'l'U&h JS I F Dtl POTI I FRKK. if linM in nll mrl f., ak'!'islI0N. BLANK for 110MK LKCAlltlL,!!:. rMa. li Kennedy Kergan M 247 Superior St., h CLEVELAND, O. h mmm JCVegctablcPrcparationror As similating ihcTood andHcguia ling theStomachs oixUJowela at PromolcsBig'cstion.Checirul ticss and Itest.Contalns nrilter Oprum.MorphinC nor Ifincral. Not NAitcoTic Amnfus SJ Alx.Sinn UmAtlU SJa -Anltt Jd Jhfvrmint Jh firrnwes) Mi hwm Strd - (IsiMJu llsasyf tmwt Apcrfect Remedy for Constipa tion, Sour Stomach.Diarrhoca Worms .Convulsions .Fevcrish ncss and LOSS OF SLEEP. eHSaHBHS SB1SSBBBBSM Toe Simile Signature cC NEW YORK. EXACT COPrOf WHAEfiEB. GGLE j m r 01 America naviug over a minion and a-uall regular reader. Any ONE of the BIGGLE BOOKS, and the FARM JOURNAL 8 YEARS (remainder of 1809, 1000, 1901, 190a and 1903) will be scut by mall j to any address for a DOLLAR BILL. Sample ol FA kM JOURNAL and circular describing BlddLE BOOKS 'roc. WILMBR ATKINSON. CHAS. r. JKNSUN. THK MAJSKKlfc. BUXmSRURU MAKKKTS. OOKBKCTSD WSliLT. SSrill. fHIOBS. Huuer periu ....9 .22 Eggs per dozen T 1 It. L,aru per iu .eg Hani per pound .ij rorK, wnoie, per pound Beef, quarter, per pound .... .o j nrl & 1 1. -I ' t ncai per uuauci. . ......... .90 uais 4C T tt tt ye " " 50 wneat nour per ddi 4.00 Hay per ton $12.00 Potatoes per bushel ... .c0 lurnips ,a Unions " " 80 Sweet potatoes per peck .40 Tallow per lb 0 Shoulder " " .Oo Side meat " " 0q Vinegar, per qt 05 Dried apples per lb 05 Dried cherries, pitted it Raspberries tM Cow Hides per lb 1 eer " i CalfSkin go Sheep pelts Shelled corn per bus 60 Corn meal, cwt iSe Bran, " l Chop ,.00 Middlings " , 00 Chickens per lr-new ,Cq " " "old Turkeys ,,j .14 DtirVa " .of COAL. No. 6, delivered s.6o I "4andS" ,8, - o ai vara t " 4 and s at yard 360 PARKER'8 HAIR iims ana. BALSAM mMtuet kMutiJlwA tha hate. romol a 1111un.nl rruwui. Wever Valla to lienors Orar linlp to lta Youthful ColorT ICurvl lilp dlwSMl ll littr lulluiiZ. j i,le,f"H yl.lii.t IMijTKMl ("51 ni For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of The Kind You Have Always Bought. TMt OINTIUN COWUHT. WW VOWW PITT. Aw & ill IK A Farm Library of nnequallcd value Practical, Up-to-date, Concise and Comprehensive Hand somely Printed and Beautifully Ulustrau. By JACOB BIOGLl No. 1 BIGGLE HORSE EOOK All about Horses a Common-Snse Treatise, with ow 74 illustrations ; s standard work, price, y Cents. No. 0 BIGGLE BERRY BOOK All about (trowing Small Fruits read and Icarn how ; contains 43 colored life-like reproductionsof all lecrtint; varieties and loo other illustrations, l'rice, jo Cents. No. 3 BIGGLE POULTRY BOOK All about Poultry ; the best Poultry Book In xltrnr ; tell everything ;' withJ3 colored life-like reproductions of all the principal breeds; with 103 other illustrations, l'rice, ;o Cents. No. 4 BIGGLE COW BOOK All about Cowa and the Dairy Kusinena : having a arent sale; contains 8 colored life-like reproductions ol ,-ath 1 breed, with 131 other illustrations, l'rice, jo Cent. i No. 5 BIOOLB SWINE BOOK Just out. All about Hofrs Breeding, Feeding, Butch- cry, Diseases, etc. Contains over 80 benutilul half- ! tones and other engravings. Price, 50 Cents. j TheBiaOLE BOOKS are unique.oriirinBl.uscful you never saw anj'thing like them soprnctical.sosensible. 'Ihey j are having an enormous sale Kast, West, North end bouth. Kvery one who keeps a Horse, Cow, Hog or J Chicken, or grows hmnll Fruits, ought to stud right t away for the UIUOLE BOOKS. The . t FARM JOURNAL Is your paper, made for you and not a misfit. It is as yrsrn 1 old ; it ta the great boiled-down, hit-the-nail-on-the-hend,-- t quit-after-you-have-aaid-it, Farm and Household p&per in ' the world the biggest paper of Its sire in the United Swt ! Address, FARM JOITRKJ PUM.4i. -UIA tott'.! ; i !:';' ,!::,;;:;: H Ou can mv. mnnM nn t,:. i a- Vo will always find the larges lock, best makes snd lowest prices. PIANOS. From $175.00 and Upwards. ORGANS, From $50.00 and Upwards Vl ttll nn tl. 1 i.l) ... . w me uikiaiimcni pmn nan os V 25.00 rlown and 10.00 per month. Or Bans, $ 10.00 down, $5. 00 per momh. Lib eta I discount for cash. Sheet music, at one nail uric. M.it;..l ... 1 .1 t- iiici ciiuiiuiac ot kinds. We handle Genuine Singer High Arm SEWING MACHINES, $(.00 down nn,t ft - .a . u 11 r i . handle the Demoreit Sewing Map' Ine, from :9.5o and upwards. Sewing Machine Needles and nil r. .it t- : Machines. Best make of WASH MACHINES, FROM $4.00 UP TO $9.00. J. SALTZER. Music Rooms-No. 115 West Main St., below Market, liloomsburp, Ta. 3ml 1.3 MvToyCpillo JaArit6,nJr-''SlTW tt KKSrJ?lV..AJ:;f..r'.l.'.'J UruMls) !j .rv,Mssu'B KiMiuiui ...t.f U ""l lll BWISUI SOIH. U "axtwaaa Huk.lliull... aaS ImUm Unns. uj of jr.,iir lirmti.i, or 4u. Is f,u'i!" lrticlii, 'i'o.uHUIs SS Rells fur l.ill,. M Uum. T l m 7ry iht COL UMBIAN a ytar. 11-2J-U & 1-4-4(4
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers