BRITONS VICTORS.
A Great Struggle Along the Banks
of the Vet River.
The Kii£li»h Troop* Win a ol
Stubborn linitntrnirutii and the
Kurni) Ketreats, Alter Suffer"
Ins Considerable LOPM.
Warrenton, May 7.—On Saturday
Gen. Burton drove from 2,000 to 3,000
Boers from hilly positions at llooidan.
They retreated after stiff fighting,
leaving- a number of dead on the field.
The British casualties were slight.
The engagement on Saturday was
severe and lasted from 0 in the morn
ing until 4 in the afternoon.
The British losses were five killed
and 25 wounded—mostly Welsh I'usi
leers. The British took a hatch of
prisoners, including the Swedish am
bulance, which they allowed to re
turn. The Boers, in their hurried re
treat, left 13 dead.
Vet River, May 7.—Gen. I'ole-Carew
started at daybreak Saturday on a
10-mile march. lie first came Into
contact with Boers holding the river
at 1 p. m. The British soon had two
batteries in action and later they add
ed two naval nine-pounders and two
siege guns.
(ien. Button started early to find
the drift on the west. When this was
discovered it proved to be strongly
held and protected by two guns. The
British speedily engaged the Boers,
"who enfiladed the dismounted firing
3ine with a Maxim, but (ien. Button
pushed forward his own pompom and
a Maxim and forced the Boers to
leave the river bed.
The encounter was terribly hot.
Later the whole British force crossed
the river.
London, May 8. —The Boers are ev
erywhere retiring before the British
—except on the Natal frontier and
at Mafeking—to the inner circle of
their defenses.
Fifteen thousand British are now
operating on the western frontier of
the Fret* State. As the deadlock at
Warrenton has been broken and the
Boers are retreating, there is nothing
formidable, except distance, between
Warrenton and Mafeking. The most
hopeful advices from Mafeking on
April 22 were that the garrison would
be barely able to hold out for a
month. At that time the J'ever was
spreading.
The Lorenzo Marque/ correspond
ent of the Times savs- "Command
ant Snyman is so alarmed at the
prospect of having his retreat cut off
that he has appealed for permission
to retire northward from Mafeking
to intercept ("oi. Plumer."
Smalldeel, May B.—The movement
that culminated in the capture of
Wiriburg and Smalldeel was part of a
great general movement extending
from Gen. Hunter on the west to Gen.
Bundle on the east. Lord Roberts*
admirable strategy resulted in plac
ing everywhere five British to one
Boer. Out of what appeared the in
extricable confusion of divisions and
brigades order was quickly evolved
.and the Boers were compelled to meet
Lord Roberts under unfavorable con
ditions.
On Saturday the Boers held a real
ly strong position, from which, ear
lier in the campaign, tbev could only
have been forced by hard fighting.
Gen. Hamilton's arrival at Winburg,
Although not directly outflanking the
Boers, made their position extremely
uncomfortable. (len. Button's move
ment on tin' left was even more suc
cessful than at first imagined. Forty
Boers were killed.
London, May 9.—Four thousand
British cavalry watered their horses
on Monday tit /and river, 25 miles
beyond Snialdeel, where Lord Rob
erts continues to date liis dispatches.
The scouts who have been searching
the country for miles along the
•stream found no Roers south of the
river. i'he enemy are laagered in
unknown force on the north bank.
Thus the British advance guard is
within 45 miles of Kroonstad.
London, May 10.—Gen. Button's
mounted infantry brigade, including
flic Canadians, with a part of Gen.
French's cavalry, crossed the Zand
river on Tuesday and began to work
its way cautiously along the railway
northward, in the track of the retir
ing Boers.
About 8,000 horsemen were proba
bly engaged in this advance. Gen.
Button, before he was joined by a
part of (ien. French's force, had a
sharp fight. This was on Monday,
when he reached the river and saw
Ihe Boer convoys on the other side
and pressed forward, intending to
cross and capture them. The Boers,
however, opened lire with from eight
to ten guns, forded the river above
and below, seemingly in thousands,
-and sought to envelop the British.
Gen. Button fell back several miles,
the Boers following until other Brit
ish cavalry reinforced Button. Dur
ing the night the Boers retreated.
London. May 11.—Members of the
house of commons were freely betting
last evening that Lord Roberts would
be in Pretoria in two months. The
ministerialists are building confident
hopes upon the plans he lias commu
nicated to the war office.
From 15,000 to 20,000 is the highest
estimate of the Boers under the com
mand of Gen. Botha, who is said to
have 10 guns. (ien. Botha and (ien.
De Yet. are reported to have quar
reled.
Lord Roberts is pressing hard after
this force with .'>5,000 men and 140
\*uns, and 20,000 more men are easily
available.
.Hunt Keep the Old Faith.
Chicago, May 7.—The report of the
constitutional commission to the
Methodist general conference, which
will probably be presented this week,
will call for the continued mainte
nance of the religion of John Wesley.
The episcopacy may be abandoned
md other constitutional features
•hanged, but the articles of religion,
the doctrines of the church, are to be
retained in their purity. The heretic
of the future must leave the church
is he has done in the past, but Meth
odism wlil not accept any departure
from the theology of the fathers.
EVERY LINE TIED UP.
-
('ara Planned by Mon-tulunUlH Are
Attacked by Angry 'loll*.
St. Louis, May 9. — In accordance
with the decision reached by the St.
Louis Transit Co.'s employes early
Tuesday morning, a general strike
was inaugurated on the entire sys
tem at daybreak. No cars were in
operation, save a few on the Park
avenue division. The first car oil this
division left the sheds at 8 o'clock.
The strikers at the sheds did not at
tempt to prevent tfie crews from tak
ing tile cars out. The crews were
allowed to run the cars unmolested
until 12:45 o'clock, when car No. 5 of
the Park avenue division was badly
wrecked on Washington avenue by a
volley of stones thrown by a crowd
of men and boys.
'Wit 1 Suburban line, many of the
employes of which had been on a
strike for several days, was also tied
up after the early morning hours.
Cars were run sis far east as Thir
teenth street, but when efforts were
made to bring them down town
crowds of strikers and sympathizers
interfered with the crews and in sev
eral cases dragged them off the cars.
From time to time during the after
noon and night attempts were made
to operate the cars, but in nearly ev
ery case resulted in attacks on the
crews by crowds along the streets,
practically stopping traffic.
At 1:15 o'clock a Park avenue car
was considerably damaged at Eigh
teenth and Washington avenue.
The crew on the car stuck to their
posts, although the stones flew thick
around them. The company, when it
found that the. cars could not be op
erated, sent them back to the sheds.
Numerous cars were stoned and the
men operating them attacked by
■rowils along the streets. The strik
ers declare that they have had no
active part in these hostile demon
strations.
Chairman Samuel Lee, of the na
tional executive board, the man who
is conducting the strike, said that
the union was satisfied with the re
sults of the strike.
"We struck to tie up the system."
■*aid he,"and we have succeeded. The
ompany has precipitated this strike.
We are ready at any ftine to do our
| part towards settling the differences
between us and the company."
St. Louis, May 10.— The second day
of the great street railroad strike
was as quiet as the first was riotous.
The St. Louis Transit Co. made no
effort to run its cars and the St..
Louis iX- Suburban made none until
late in the afternoon, when policemen
massed along the line and with a de
tachment on each car succeeded in
jetting a number through. Far from
relieving the situation, however, this
demonstration had no further effect
than to show that by massing their
forces on a single line the police could
keep that line open.
The first tragedy in connection with
the strike occurred last night. As a
Suburban car, en route to the com
pany's sheds in the western part of
the city, was passing the Baptist san
itarium, a number of men gathered in
the grounds of the institution threw
rocks at the car. Some one on the
car 11 red a shot at the crowd, the bul
let finding lodgement in the breast of
Frank Lebreeht. The wounded man
attempted to enter the sanitarium,
but fell dead on reaching the door.
One story is that a police officer on
the car fir d the shot. Dan Donovan
was arrested by the police, charged
with firing the fatal bullet. Donovan
is employed by the railway company.
St. Louis, May 11.—-The feature of
Thursday in the great, street railway
strike was the conference between
Gov. Stephens, the members of the
executive committed of the local
Street Railway Employes' association
and the officers and attorneys of the
Transit Co., called for the purpose of
ascertaining if some amicable under
standing could not be arrived at 1o
end hostilities. Tfce conference last
ed for several hours, but at its con
clusion Gov, Stephens announced that
nothing had been accomplished. The
strikers' officials announced that they
were willing to arbitrate the question
of differences provided the proposi
tion to do so came from the railway
company. The railway officials firm
ly refused to entertain any such pro
posal, stating that they had nothing
to arbitrate.
The riotous demonstration on the
part of the strikers and their sympa
thizers, especially noticeable on the
day the strike was inaugurated, were
almost entirely missing yesterday.
The suburban company operated its
system under police protection during
the entire day and was patronized lib
erally by the public. The Transit Co.
ran two cars over one branch of its
system, but attempted to carry no
passengers. The cars were guarded
by police and were seldom molested.
Another fatality as a result of the
strike was recorded last night. As
Flora Siegfried, a young woman, was
crossing Washington street carrying
an infant in her arms, she was hit on
the head with a brick that had been
hurled at a passing car on the Sub
urban system. Her skull was frac
tured and she died shortly after be
ing carried to the City hospital.
VeMivlu* in ICriiptlon.
Rome, May 9.—■ A dispatch from
Portiei, at. the north foot of Mount
Vesuvius, says: "Loud explosions
within Vesuvius continue, accompan
ied by frequent but slight shocks
that are felt at San Vito and in the
direction of Pugliano.
Will Ignore I.oclireii'ni 9>eri«3oii.
Washington, May 9.—Officials of
the war department claim that .fudge
Lochren's decision relative to the con
stitution and Porto Rico will not re
quire any change of policy on their
part. Bad Judge Loehren released
Ortiz, whose case brought forth the
judge's opinion respecting the exten
sion of the constitution to Porto
Rico, the authorities would have tak
en immediate steps to appeal the s.
to a superior tribunal. But as it is,
the judge's ff.tat.emenf s relative to
Porto Rico are regarded by them as
uot hiudiruz uaou the administration.
CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1900.
HE WAS AMBIDEXTROUS.
An Operator llelil Revolver In On#
Hami ami Telegraphed with
the Other.
Six tramps entered the telegraph of
fice of the Southern railway at what is
known as Alexandria and Fredericks
burg- crossing about three miles west of
Alexandria, shortly before ten o'clock
one night recently, says the Washing
ton Post, and threatened to kill the
telegraph operator. James Cox. unless
he agreed to flag the Chesapeake &
Ohio train, which leaves Alexandria
southbound at 11 o'clock. This train
is a through express, one of the fastest
on the road, and the operator refused
to comply with the tramps' demands.
Two of them had come into the office
to make the demand, and when it was
refused they set upou Cox and the
COL. WINFIELD TAYLOR DURBIN.
This gontlem in. who has just been nominated for governor by the republicans
of Indiana, is a native of the Hoosier state, having been born in Lawrenceburg, May
4, IS 17. He served throughout the civil war as a private in an Indiana regiment.
After a business career in various places he removed to Anderson, Ind., in IST!'
where he engaged in banking and in the development of the natural g.is resource?
of that section. He has taken an active interest in politics for some years. Dur
ing the late war he was colonel o£ an Indiana volunteer regiment which saw
some garrison service in Cuba.
other four entered the office to assist
in the attack upon the operator.
When the tramps sprang upon Cox
he drew a revolver and razor from the
drawer and held them at bay. At the
sight of the weapons all drew back and
four of the six tied from the office and
disappeared in the darkness. The
others tried to follow suit, but Cox cov
ered them with his revolver, made
them throw up their hands, and forced
them into a corner. Covering the
hemmed in men with the pistol held in
his left hand. Cox used his right to
work his key, and telegraphed to the
railroad office at Alexandria, describ
ing the situation out in the little office,
miles away from help.
The instant the message was re
ceived at Alexandria the police were in
formed and an engine was made ready.
In a few minutes it started for the A. &
F. crossing with trainmaster and of
ficers on board. When they arrived at
CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
.= ~
The picture showsi how the Canadian contingent lighting; under Gen. Roberta
Brossed the Modder river by the aid of a life line. The brave fellows followed
the road from Jacobsdal to Paardeberg, which presented an exaggerated repetition
of a spectacle common to many old "Forty-Niners" who followed the overland
trail to California in search of gold. All the way between the two points the road
was strewn with dead and dying oxen and horses, fallen exhausted by the way. and
hordes of vultures flocked to the gruesome feast. The bravery of the Canadians
In tliese circumstances was truly cuoiine ndable.
the telegraph office they found Opera
tor Cox, with both of his captives
penned in a corner, still covered with
his pistol and thoroughly cowed. The
prisoners were placed aboard the en
gine and taken to Alexandria and
locked uj). The country around the
telegraph office was searched by the
officers, but no trace of the other
tramps could be found.
Value uf Violet lOxtrnol.
A pint bottle of"the strongest vio
let extract" was recently advertised
for sale by the customs authorities at
lialtimore. It was seized for under
valuation. The importers entered it
as worth sl3". Investigation dis
closed that it was valued at $(545 in
Kngland. With duties which are high
011 "necessaries" of this kind added,
the upset price i't the advertised sale
v\ill be $1,2U0. The product is called
"ionoue."
INCREASES SALE OP EER.
The Demnnd I'pon Knxliiti werie*
Una Hern Knlnrgcd by (ue
Mouth African War.
The depression of spirits which tha
war has undoubtedly produced doea
not seem to have extended so far us
the great brewing districts, says a
foreign exchange.
At Burton-on-Trent. at any rate,
they say that there has been, if nay
thing, an increase, raiher than .1 de
crease, in the output .since th<* out
break of hostilities, as the railway
tonnage itself will show.
Last year was a tremendous year
for brewing. Nothing like it had
been known in the history of Burton,
and the brewers and the railway com
panies were practically at loggerheads
because t-.e latter, try hov/ they
would, could not supply the trucks
in sufficient number to carry th<j
liquor from the town to its desti
nation. The carriers have scarcely
yet recovered from the terrible strain,
and the flow of beer, in spite of th*
war. continues to increase in vol
ume.
One firm alone is still paying to fha
Midland company alone a quarter of
a million annually for the carriage of
their product; and the other large
breweries can boast of proportionate
sums. Nor is this increase in any way
due to exports to South Africa. There
is one company which knows as much
as any other firm concerning a sup
ply of beer to her majesty's forces,
and the senior managing director at
Burton, who is also mayor of the bor
ough. says that his company had only
sent 1,000 hogsheads to the troops in
South Africa since the war began.
So. if there had been any real falling
off in the public «ppetite it could not
be said that it Ij-hI been neutralized
by consignments to the seat of war.
Traits of tlie Hindoo.
The Hindoo is a strict vegetarian
The low-caste Hindoo is a fatalist, So,
when the famine stalks abroad, the
Hindoo submits uncomplainingly. Day
by day he will subsist 011 less food,
until at last, when a mere shadow,
he will drag his bony self' to a relief
station. There he may gei food—or
he may not. If not, he crouches in
some corner, or out in the fields, un
der tin- trees and awaits the coming
of death.
Clenn Slri'rt* in Oiihnn rilie*.
The streets of Havana. Matanzas,
Santiago and other cities are kept
scrupulously ciean Disinfectants are
sprinkled over the loads and thor
oughfares by big street sprinkl :r
--every morning.
BRYAN AND TOWNE
Nominated for President and Vica
President.
l*>]>uli«t Convention at Sioux Falls*
U., Hold* a Two lluyn 1 SCMIOU-
Kl» e Hundred Ili-legaten l*rex
ent Nome KII IIIIIK Kernel
lie tore Adjournment.
Sioux Kails, S. I).. May 10. —The
people's party convention began busi
ness Wednesday in the big tent on
111<■ top of the hill on the western side
of the city of Sioux Falls. There
huve been larger crowds in attend
ance upou national conventions and
possibly there have been questions
upon which more enthusiasm has
been manifested, but there have been
few similar events which have been
marked 'by more evident sincerity of
purpose or more pronounced decorum
of behavior, it was evident that the
delegates were there for a well un
derstood purpose and that whatever
that purpose it was to be carried into
effect.
There were 500 delegates in their
seats, and surrounding them there
was a fringe of alternates and visit
firs numbering 000 to 800. Seats had
been provided for a larger number,
but the attendance did not appear
meager and what was lost in attend
ance was made up in enthusiasm.
All told it was a well dressed, good
mannered and thoroughly well be
haved assemblage of people. By no
means the least noticeable character
istic of the gathering was the pres
ence of a number of women. Color
ado led the list in the number of wo
men delegates, three being present
from that state. They were given
front seats. Kansas, Idaho and the
District of Columbia also sent wo
men delegates.
Chairman Butler called the conven
tion to order and prayer was deliv
ered by Bishop O'Gorman. At the
conclusion of the prayer Chairman
Butler called on Secretary Kdgerton
to read the call for the convention,
which he did.
Senator Butler then introduced
Gov. Lee, of South Dakota, who on
behalf of his state welcomed the con
vention to South Dakota. Chairman
Butler responded for the convention.
At the conclusion of his address
Chairman Butler introduced the tem
porary chairman of the convention,
L\ M. Bingdale, of Minnesota, who
made a speech.
Tno committees Were appointed
and the convention adjourned until 8
p. m.
Hon. Thomas Patterson, of Colora
do, was selected for permanent chair
man of the convention by the com
mittee on permanent organization.
The evening session was devoted
entirely to singing and music by the
Fifty-first lowa regiment band.
Sioux Falls, S. I)., May 11. —While
yesterday was full of events in the
national populist convention, it began
rather inauspieiously for the consum
mation of its work. There were three
sessions. The first of these was bar
ren of results except in the way of
supplying 1 machinery for the conven
tion work and the afternoon session
was well under way before the as
semblage really got down to business,
l'he forenoon session fras given up to
■ffecting a permanent organization,
by the election of Hon. T. M. Patter
on, of Colorado, as chairman and the
(election of other officers.
Mr. Bryan's nomination was made
by acclamation and wtis accomplished
with expedition and tact. There were
not to exceed half a dozen speeches
in Mr. Brian's behalf. All of these
were brief and pointed, while full of
praise for the candidate. 'The speak
ers were led off by Senator Allen, of
Mr. Bryan's own state, and he was
followed by (ien. Weaver, of Iowa;
px-Congressinan Jerry Simpson, of
Kansas; "Cyclone" Davis, of Texas;
"Senator Butler, of North Carolina,
and one or two others.
Then towards the close of the after
noon session began the real contest
of the convention. This was the fight
over the vice presidency, or rather,
the tight over the proposition not to
make any nomination for vice presi
dent, but to refer the entire matter
to a committee to be appointed to
confer with the democrats and silver
republicans in their conventions to
be held at Kansas City. Both the
propositions to nominate and to refer
and also various compromise sugges
tions were presented and upon them
was based a debate which not only
developed a great deal of oratory but
came near culminating in fisticuffs.
The exciting event of the conven
tion was reached when ex-Congress
man Kelly, of South Dakota, becom
ing excited over a failure to secure
recognition, rose in his seat and de
nounced the occupant of the chair as
a ''bunco steerer." To this Chairman
Patterson responded spiritedly. There
were cries of "But him out" and a
number of delegates gathered about
Mr. Kelly. Quiet was, however, soon
restored and the convention decided
to nominate a candidate for vice pres
ident.
Howard S, Taylor, of Illinois, was
placed in nomination for vice presi
dent. together with John Kreidenthal,
of Kansas; J. Jl. Davis, of Texas;
John .1. Lentz, of Ohio; T. T. Rynder,
of Pennsylvania, and Charles K.
Towne, of Minnesota.
All the candidates except Towne
vyithdrew their names and Towne was
nominated by acclamation. Then tho
convention adjourned sine die.
Four »re .TllKnln
Galeton, Pa.. May 10.—The property
loss resulting from the forest fires at
( orbett and vicinity is about $:i00,()00
Mr. and Mrs. George Loueks, who
were reported as burned to death,
were found yesterday alive and well
They had been rescued with great
difficulty and taken to a place of
safety. Four other residents of Cor
hett are still missing, and it is feared
they perished. The body of Samuel
George was found by the roadside.
Tie had been burned to death white
lighting the fire. Tea buildings ivera
destroyed in the villai"*
1 NEW CONVERT.
Prominent Filipino Proposes
a Peace Platform.
PROTECTION IS NEEDED,
Fnele Sam's (laid,nice Is Essen
tial to Filipino Welfare.
TO PREVENT CIVIL STRIFE.
A Former Iffemberol' Agulnaldo's < ab
iuet Claim* that If Guaranteed I'eaeo
Willi Honor, tlie Insurgent Leadert
IVlll Surrender.
Manila, May 12.—Senor Bueneami
no, at one time a member of the Fili
pino republican cabinet, who was re
cently liberated by (jen. Otis, an
nounces that he has become recon
ciled to American sovereignty and
that he will devote his influence to
bringing 4 about peace, lie has sent, a
proposed peace platform for the na
tional Filipino party to the insurgent
leaders in Manila and to the insurgent
generals, including Aguinaldo, in the
field.
l'liis platform declares that it is im
possible for the Filipinos to exist as a
nation without the protection of the
United States and that, consequently
they must recognize American sover
eignty and strive to attain, under a
constitution, the utmost liberty pos
sible.
Continuing, Senor Bueneamino ar
gues that the Filipinos are incapable
of self-government. He says: "fu
our independent government llie most
predominant notes were abuses and
immoralities, the offspring of ignor
ance and the inherited vices of Spain,
by which the Filipino regime was ren
dered odious to our own people."
Therefore, he contends, American
control is necessary to prevent civil
strife. lie recommends to the na
tional Filipino party the adoption of
a programme embodying the follow
ing features:
"First-—Recognition of the sover
eignty of the Fnited States, cessation
of hostilities and co-operation on the
part of the Filipinos in the prosecu
tion of bandits who continue depreda
tions in the name of independence.
"Second—A request for a declara
tion by the United States government,
guaranteeing to the Filipinos person
al liberties and rights under a consti
tution.
"Third—A Filipino delegation ti»
present to the American congress and
the public the desires of the Filipi
nos respecting political status.
"Fourth—The application of a part
of the public funds to the mainte
nance of hospitals for sick and
wounded Filipino soldiers and for the
establishment of schools.
"Fifth—The transfer of the insur
gent funds to the American treasury.
"Sixth—The establishment of a
permanent system of Filipino repre
sentatives to the civil commission.
"Seventh —The exclusion of friars
from the administration of the par
ishes."'
Discussing the political outlook
with a press correspondent yesterday
Senor i'uencamino said:
"There are three elements in the
Philippines which obstruct the at
tainment of peace. The first is the
body oi Filipino agitators in Manila
who are continually shouting for in
dependence and who thus influence
the ignorant masses. The second is
the friars, who desire a prolongation
of hostilities, because in peace be
tween the Filipinos and the Ameri
cans they foresee the end of their
prestige and power and the ultimate
loss of their properties. The third
element is—(suppressed by the cen
sor).
" if the civil commission brings lib
eral ideas and will approach Aguin
aldo and the other leaders still light
ing, in a way that will make it possi
ble for them to surrender and yet to
retain the respect of their country
men, then peace in the Philippines
will be only a question of a few
weeks.
"If the civil commission will guar
antee protection to the personal and
individual rights and liberties of the
Filipinos, leaving the determination
of our future political status to the
United States congress, Aguinaldo
will come in, will order a cessation of
hostilities and will direct the surren
der of arms."
I'HUSht a I'air of Hurglarn.
Chicago, May 12. —Facing a shower
of bullets while chasing supposedly
petty thieves for nearly a mile yes
terday, (Mirer Frank J. Me.N'amara ef
fected an important capture. The
men arrested are noted ex-convicts
and since their release from prison
have been conducting wholesale bur
glaries in l>es Moines and South Oma
ha, the loot aggregating SIO,OOO in
value. They are Jim Demmitt and
George Thompson, both colored.
They confessed to a series of 12 bur
glaries they had committed in lowa
between May 3 and 7. They further
told the police that there is a third
member of their gang here and de
tect her, are on his trail.
A 4«reut Conflagration.
San Francisco, May 12.- Advices
from Yokohama give particulars of
the big tire at Kukin, a large town on.
the western coast of Japan, April IS.
The Dames originated in the suburbs
of the city and were carried by a
heavy wind to several parts of the
city at once. The tire raged for six
hours before it could be controlled.
Sixteen hundred houses, including SO
temples and all the principal build
ings, were burned. Sixteen persons
perished and nearly 100 were injured.
The property loss is estimated at
about >oo,ooo. There was but small
insurance.
3