VOL. LXXI1.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
A RICH BRIBE FOR THE CUBANS
TO DISBAND.
Thelr Officers Now Living iu Like Frinces
McKinley Buys Them Off for the Time
Belug.—Alger Wants a Junket,
WASHINGTON, March 20.—Accord-
ing to War department officials, Gen.
Gomez will not receive a dollar of the
£3,000,000 about to be distributed, en-
tirely on his say so, among Cuban sol-
diers, by this government. This state-
ment has caused everybody to wish wo
know where Gomez got the money to
pay for his present very extravagant
mode of living, in Havana. It is
known that previous to his beginning
the negotiations with R. P. Porter,
who acted as Mr. McKinley's personal
representative, which’ resulted in the
agreement to pay $3,000,000 for the dis-
bandment of the Cuban army, Gomez
had no money, and that ever since then
he has apparently had plenty. Did
Porter make an individual payment of
money to Gomez? Ifso, how much,
and from what fund was it derived ?
These are some of the questions sug-
gested by the situation and asked on
every hand. Congress did not appro-
priate a cent to pay Cuban soldiers,
but there was an item added to the
Sundry Civil Bill bv the last Congress,
appropriating $3,000,000 as an emer-
geney fund, to be expended at the dis-
cretion of the President. That is the
money that will be used, but if the
claim that Gomez has got none of it
and will get none of it, be true, the
source from which Gomez exiracted
the wealth to pay his present enor-
mous expenses is left a mystery. But
it will be solved. The acting Secreta
ry of War says that the administra-
tion intends to make Cuba repay from
its revenues, this money.
Senator Thurston, of Nebraska, isn’t
one of those wild Republicans who re-
gard the Presidential election of next
year, as already settled. In an later
view, Mr. Thurston said: “The Presi-
dential battle next year promises to be
lively and exciting. McKinley will
probably be renominated and I pee
sume that Bryan will head the Demo-
cratic ticket. I believe that the Re-
publicans wiil win if we stand togeth-
er and work hard, but our Democratic
friends will undoubtedly put up a stiff
fight. We must not indulge ourselves
with the delusion that we are going to
have a walk over.”
Secretary Alger does'nt appear to
care anymore about being
than he did about the welfare of the
soldiers during the war. Several days
before Congress adjourned, Alger an-
nounced that the junket he had in-
tended to conduct to Cuba and Porlo
Rico was off, because his official duties
would prevent his leaving Washing-
ton. Of course, it was well known
that Alger abandoned the intended
junket because he failed to get a sufll-
cient number of Democratic Senators
and Representatives to sceept invita
tions to accompany bim. But for con-
sistency’s sake, it was supposed that
Alger would remain on duty and make
a bluff of being busy. Not he. He
left immediately after Mr. McKinley
did, for a trip to New England, which
was extended to Canada, and this
week he is going to start for Cuba and
Porto Cico, but he wout carry aoy
Congressmen with him. He says he
is going to pay the expenses of himself
and the two men who will accompany
him, but it would require the vouchers
for the payments to convince the pub-
lie.
If any proof were needed that Mr.
Kinley isn’t in the south solely for rest
and recreation, it is furnished by the
fact that he will, during the present
week, meet Czar Reed in person, on
Jekyl Island, where Mr. MeKinley
will be the guest of ex-Hecretary Bliss,
aud Mr, Reed will be the guest of a
rich Wall street banker, both at the
same elub house. [It is stated by Mr.
Reed's friends that the meeting is his
idea, and that he intends to compel an
immediate show down on the part of
Mr. McKinley that will make the po-
sition of the administration on the
Speakership of the next House, per.
fectly clear. The queer part of the
whole business is that two men who
have spent the winter within a stone's
throw of each other, in Washington,
should find it necessary to meet in the
spring, on an island off the coast of
South Carolina, in order to come to an
understanding.
Private news from the Philippines
indicates that the administration is
again juggling with the public in re
gard to the situation. While no offi-
- cial dispatches have been quoted, offi
clals have talked so as to leave the im-
‘pression that the reports of Gen. Otis,
since the victories of the past week
have been to the effect that Aguioal-
do's army is about feady to ask
conditions existing, can be sent from
Manila direct, but some have been
sent to Hong Kong by boat and ca-
bled from there, which do not take
such a rosy view of lhe situation. Ae-
cording to these, the war is a long
ways from being ovér, and the only el-
fect that will follow thrashing Aguin-
aldo’s army, which our troops do every
time they come in contact with any
portion of it, will be to transfer the
fighting ground to the hills and bush-
es, where it will be difficult for our
men to get at them except when they
choose to be got at, and possibly to oth-
er islands of the group. There is a
nightly panie in Manila and most of
the white women and children have
been sent away for fear of a native up-
rising, Time will tell which is cor
rect, the official or the private view of
the situation. The Oregon has arrived
in Manila Bay.
co A—
APPLICATIONS BY THE THOUSAND
A ————
Over 60,000 applications were filed
for appointments in the regular army
to fill the 700 positions to which ap-
pointments were made by the Presi-
dent last week.
Congressman Brociux stated that for
the 101 Second Lieutenancies which
were to be filled there were 23,000 ap-
plicants, each of whom had his partic-
ular qualifications to urge. Some of
them were non-commissioned officers
in the regular army. These, of course,
had little to otler except the fact that
they were experienced men. Many of
the applicants were fire-eating adven-
turers, who wanted to visit strange
lands and witnessslirring scenes. Oth-
ers again were young lads who dream-
ed of wading to fame through seas of
Philippino blood or any other kind.
a ———————,
Good Roads,
The construction of good roads
received wide attention in this cdlin-
try, but as yet no practical system has
been devised by which any considera-
ble portion of our roads can be improv-
ed. The construction of good roads on
any except a gravel soil is a costly bus
iness, so expensive that the farmers
simply cannot bear the burden, It
would amount to the confiscation of
the farms if the burden were placed
upon them, for on the black prairie
soil, for instance, there must be a deep
solid foundation laid. Gravel on such
a soil will not stand. It will go down
out of sight during the spring thaws,
Where such roads exist wide tires
would go a long ways toward preserv-
ing them, but it would be a long time
beforé everybody adopted wide tires
But bad roads are very expensive. The
harness and
horses, which they entail, amounts to
millions of dollars in a year, and the
farmer is shut out from the market
and from all social intercourse with
neighbors frequently for long periods,
All this is a loss and a serious one, so
serious that in many sections where
the conditions are altogether favorable
to road improvements, there should be
no negligence in the matter. No one
should object to the small outlay neo-
essary to make a good, serviceable road
when only a small outlay is needed.
Every road should be made as good as
it is possible to make It at reasonable
expense, for money thusexpended will
pay a large dividend.
eto. sete —
A Jastifiable Swear.
A piousexchange says: With a ter
rible cold in his head, and his eyes
heavy and sore, the editor sat on a
broken chair and earnestly, bitterly
swore. A youth bad dropped in with
a poem, a man was there with a dan,
and a chap was there to tell how the
paper ought to be run, An irate sub-
scriber had told him his paper was not
fit to read, while another had careful
ly promised to punch the editor's head.
The devil wus calling for copy, snd
this with a few other reasons was why
the editor swore. But the angels took
it to heaven and recorded the verdict
there, and “The jury finds in the pres-
ent case it was a justifiable swear.”
Sn —————— I MA AS
To Allow Fish Baskets
An act has been introduced into the
legislature allowing fish baskets and
fish pots from the 15th of September
to the 20th of November, the baskets
to have moveable bottoms, rounded
strips three-fourth an inch apart, the
bottom to be removed not later than
one hour alter sunrise, and not replac-
ed sooner than one hour before sunset.
three-fourths of the river.
smb PARA.
I have been afflicted with Rheuma~
tism for fourteen years and nothing
seemed to give any relief. I was able
to be around ail the time, but co:
ly suffering. I had tried everything
could hear of and at last was told to
1 did, snd was immediately relieved
and in a short time cured. —Josh, Ed-
ot Gewatows Ouls_For sale oy J, 18
WORST CH ARGE AGAINST BEEF,
Canned After It Was Infested With Mag-
gots
The latest witness ealled before the
army beef court of inquiry in Chicago,
on 15th inst., proved to be sensational.
He was First Lieutenant M. F, Davis,
of the First cavalry, called at the re-
quest of Major Lee, representative of
General Miles. Lieut. Davis testified
that in Cuba half the canned roast
beef issued to the soldiers was thrown
away because it was unfit to eat. He
testified that he had opened one can
himself and found maggots in it, Ma-
jor Lee asked :
“How did the maggots get in the
can?"
“They were canned in there,”
witness replied.
Col. Davis-
the process of canning this meat un-
dergoes such an intense heat that no
animal life could survive in i?
“I don't mean to say they were alive;
they were dead.”
Major Lee—In consequence of the
canned roast beef not being sufficiently
sustaining, and not having nutriment
in it, did your men lack for food ?
“They did 2"
Dr. John B. Shaw, of Joliet, Ill
surgeon of the Third Illinois volun
teers, testified that on the voyage from
Newport News to Porto Rico
canned roast beef was stringy, pulpy
and nauseating. He attributed the
sickness to ptomaine poisoning. He
believed ptomaines would develop in
the hot sun in five or six minutes after
a can was opened,
While in Porto Rico
Ponce, the matter of rations was taken
out of the regiment’s hands to a great
extent. General Grant seemed to know |
more about it than anybody else,
“He cannot violate the law ?”’
“He did.”
“Did he issue orders 7"
“He issued whatever he saw fit. We |
saw what was issued and took it, be-
cause could not get anything else.
the
buried a lot of it.
if we did not bury it it would bury us.’,
Dr. Shaw told about being called out
one night to lock after the men of
Company A, who were reported to
have been poisoned by eating canned
roast beef. He said they vomited fear-
injections of morphine would bardly
relieve the pain. When the men
ceased eating the canned roast beef
there was improvement,
rs —
DEATH IN THE STORM,
18 Killed in Three States Many Injared
Reports from different points in Ar
kansas, Mississippi and Alabama indi
cate that in tae storms which swept
over those states on Sunday, IS per-
sons were killed outright and 21 in-
jured, as follows :
Alsbama, 16 killed, 4 injured.
Arkansas, 1 killed, 7 injured.
Mississippi, 1 killed, 10 injured.
The property loss will run into hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars,
—————— SY] ISI,
Not Dead.
Aun Ohio newspaper recently took a
“igtraw vote’ to determine the greatest
living American, and gives its readers
the following result: Admiral Dewey,
9,500 votes; William Jennings Bryan,
7,866; President William MeKinley,
7,758; Rear Admiral Behley, 5,580;
Lieutenant Hobson, 4,674; Rear Ad-
miral Sampson, 3,584; Governor Roose
velt, 8,842. For some time the Repub-
lian papers pronounced W. J. Bryan
dead, but according to the above those
reports were not true.
The Skank Not In It,
An exchange says a calf, a frog, a
duck and a skank wanted to attend a
circus, and after taking an inventory
of finances it was found that the calf
could go because he had four “quar
ters; the frog could go because he had
a “greenback;’ the duck having a
“pill” could also go, but the skunk
only having one “(sjeent,”’ and that
being a bad one, was obliged to stay at
home,
Recent Mifflin County Deaths,
Lewistown, C. K. Mark, age 75 y.
Decatur twp., Issac Rheam.
Decatur tp., widow of Daniel Rheam
in her 70 year,
Minnesota, Adam V. Bigler, age 85y.
Illinois, Robert Stine, aged 47 y.
Lewistown, Thomas Williams, aged
82 years.
MORE BATTLES.
——
a
in their attempt to attack Iloilo and
ING THE PUBLIC MIND.
Happeniogs in the Town and the Surroand-
long Country of Timely Interest to All
Too Much Name.
sion in addressing mail matter, caus.
ing delay and frequently Joss of letters,
Few people know there is a post-of-
fice called Fleming, which village is
widely known as Unionville its name
| as a railroad station, In this case the
| railroad company should change the
i name of that station to Fleming since
country called Unionville,
Jacksonville in Nittany valley, goes
{by the post-office title
{which latter should be
the former discarded since there are
many other post-offices named after
Old Hickory.
Stormstown, a post village up in
! Halfmoon valley, goes from all lips as
| Halfmoon with 50 per cent. of mail
Spring Mills post-office, has Rising
Springs for the name of the village
railroad station. There being a Spring
| Mill in Montgomery county express
| packages often went the wrong
{ place, the Penn's railroad changed
| the name of its Spring Mills station to
| Rising Springs and thus avoid the an-
| noyance,
We will not refer to the eraze which
{existed in this county to have the al-
| fix of “Hall” in naming new localities
| in this county until there were a dozen
to
| the re are any more “Hall” stuck on,
| the parties guilty of it be sentenced to
| subsist upon C hie ago “canned roast
tbeel”’ of t jotage,
DEATH OF A GOOD CITIZEN
Moses I} Richard Died Last
Consamplion,
Moses B. Richard died at 4 o'clock
this morning, of consumption, having
been confined to his bed for a number
of weeks,
The deceased had been in ill health
was attacked
Instead of yielding
disease de-
veloped other complications. For
weeks past his condition was critical
and his death was not upexpected.
Our town loses one of ils most up-
right citizens and the Latheran church
one of its most devoted and consistent
members, The deceased lived a ocor-
rect life : inoffensive, kind and a mod-
el neighbor—he leaves no enemy be-
hind. He was a carpenter by trade
and ever industrious in his occupation.
What a paradise the world would be
were all men of the conscientious qual-
ities of Mose Richard. He leaves a
wife to mourn the loss of a devoted
husband.
Mr. Richards was aged years, 9
months and 25 days. The funeral will
take place Saturday afternoon, at two
o'clock, services in the Lutheran
church. Interment will be made in
the cemetery here. o
Night from
with lung trouble.
57
Skioning Lambermen.
A gang of shark lumber dealers lo-
cated near New York city has been en-
gaged in fleecing Blair coucly saw
mill men and lumber merchants
Their plan of operation is to send an
order for lumber to a country merchant,
The order is neatly typewritten on
lithographed office stationery, and
closes with a promise to pay within
thirty days after receipt of the merch-
andise. The country merchant, with-
out making any inquiries as to the fi-
pancial standing of his customers,
ships the lumber, and finds out when
too late that be has been victimized by
section recently lost over $800 through
sure of your man and pay before you
ship your goods.” —Altoona Tribune.
AS AI MA SS Sp.
General News Condensed
end, Is improving.
pneumonia, is improving.
his end supposed nigh.
liating step for Quay.
pr 4 DIED AT SPRING =
Sarah, Daughter of the Late Dr, VF,
Van Valzah,
On Bunday evening about nine
o'clock, Barah, only daughter of the
late Dr. Frank H., and Mrs. Van Val-
zah, died at her home at Spring Mills,
after an illness of about three weeks,
from tuberculous meniogitis, at the
age of fourteen years,
Harah had not been in good health
for several weeks but was not consid-
ered of a serious nature until avout
three weeks ago, when she rapidly
grew worse, and since that time
MH,
has
been a great sufferer,
The best medical skill and
without avail.
case,
It isa peculiarly
her father, one of the most wide-
i
of the valley, having died only about |
three months ago,
er and one younger than Sarah,
The funeral will take place
{ Thursday morning at 10.30 o'clock, |
{ Rev. F. ¥. Christine officiating.
terment in the Union cemetery
Bpring Mills
at |
sui ont —————
APPALLING FIRE
10 People Perish, Many Injured nad Mis- |
sing in Windsor Hotel, |
The large, 7-story Windsor hotel, in |
New York, fire
| Baturday morning at 10 o'clock.
number of wealthy families made it
their home. In less than an hour the |
hotel was in ruins,
Ten persons were killed by perish-|
ing in the flames or jumping from
windows. 52 were injured and 43 are |
missing. Among those who perished
are the wife and daughter of Mr. Lel- |
and the proprietor.
It is estimated that upwards of a
million dollars in diamonds, jewelry,
and other valuables belonging to the
guests, were lost in the fire,
How the fire originated is vet a mys.
tery. The Bt. Patrick's Day parade
was passing the hotel at the time.
Thieves were seen searching the
rooms for valuables.
i
On |
Al
was dest wed by
-
tat
The Country Newspaper,
The country newspaper is an import-
ant agency in the cultivation of public
spirit, and however humble it may
seem beside the metropolitan daily it
has a place in popular education which
is too little regarded.
While the editor is not often above |
the rank of a practical printer there |
are many persons in most of the subur-
ban towns-—clergyvmen, lawyers, teach-
ers and others, who have the leisure
and ability to use the paper as the ve-
hicle of influence over their fellow cit-
izens.,
The country newspaper is usually lo-
cal in its news, and the very people
who might make it fresh aud sugges-
tive are those who complain most
loudly of its meagre character.
Short articles pertaining to local in-
terests are always welcome in its ool
umns, and the men and women who
most desire to make home life in the
country rich and influential ean best
do so by contributing freely to its col
umns of what they have in mind. In
some places this has been done, and
the result in the quickened life of the
community has been gratifying.—Bos-
ton Herald.
————
The Cork Popped Out.
George Schull, a Benner township
farmer, had an experience in Belle
fonte last week that he will remember,
He was carrying a bottle of nitric acid
in his pocket, intending to use it in
mixing some horse medicine, but
when in front of the Jackson & Co.
bank the cork popped out of the bottle
and before Mr. Schull discovered it
the acid had ran down his entire right
gide. It smoked and burned as if his
clothing had been on fire and before
he could get it stopped great holes
were burned in his overcoat, coat, vest
and trousers.
A Sunday Robber.
Last Sunday while the family was
at church, thieves forced an entrance
to Col. James Coburn’s residence at
Belletonte. They ransacked the house
and tound $110. which was appropriat-
ed by the thieves, It was a daylight
robbery and the thieves left no clue.
Improved Mill
well-known Red mill is now
turning out first-class work. Mr. Har
ter has recently put improved machin.
ery in his mill and now makes flour |
LOCAL ITEMS,
Culliogs of More than Ordinary Interest
from Everywhere.
I look into my glass,
And view my wasting skin,
And say: “Would God it came to
yams
"yr
My heart had shrunk as thin !
For then I, undistrest
By hearts grown cold to me,
Could lonely wait my endless rest
With equanimity.
But Time, to make me grieve,
Part steals, lets part abide ;
And shakes this fragile frame at eve
With throbbings of noontide.
Thomas Hardy
Rain last night, .17 inch.
Wm
Penler advertises executor’s no-
r
If you have lots of cannpe
| keep ‘em for next year, there
ches
be
d pea
may
A dealer is buying up §
vicinity at 50 cents per
60 pounds.
The senatorial deadlock continues at
Harrisburg, the ballotings having the
usual result.
pfatoes in
bushel of
Ramuel Wise, of near Madisonburg,
He was
Cook Hubler, of Penn township, has
where, he in-
forms us, he has a good job.
at the sin
in another eolum they
The grain and coal dealers
tion advertise
Sun-
p. m. ;
10
Rev. Rearick's appointments,
day, Mareh Centre Hall, 7
St. Johns, 2p. m. ;
a
rd
Georges valley
The finest shops in a Chinese city
Wf coffins,
the Chinaman’s
Mrs. D. W. Reynolds, of Reedaville,
formerly an esteemed resident of our
town, has just recovered from a severe
spell of grip.
of a little daughter at
Hoffer street, glad-
mother and
The arrival
Mr. Shunks,
dened the household, and
babe doing well.
on
Three new trusts are peeping heads
from their egg shells, namely, the roll
ing mill trust, linseed oil trust, and
a window glass trust.
Jacob Winkleblech moved from east
Haines township to the Reifsnyder
farm west of Millheim. is one of
the good farmers down that way.
Sunday night's fierce storm blew off
part of the stable roof on the Willow
property, and discounted six feet of a
chimney on the bank building.
Jake
Sunday last opened with rain; at
noon there was a sudden swing round,
a fierce storm with snow squalls was
the song. ‘The storm continued to rage
all day Monday.
In a recent issue we mentioned the
burning of Puella Dornblazer’s farm
near Clintondale. We learn since it
was insured in the Sugar valley com-
pany for §1,300.
Noah Cronmiller, years ago a popu-
lar stor. clerk in this place, and during
the past dozen years in Harper's Belle
fonte grocery, has retired and will go
to his old home at Aaronsburg.
By the will of Mary Murphy, for
several years housekeeper for ex-Gov-
ernor Beaver, who died in Columbia
Hospital a few days ago, $600 is left to
St. Patrick’s Pro-cathedral, Harris
burg.
Jt is getting to be the fashion to ad-
dress and stamp envelopes on the buck
with the directions written across the
folds the letter cannot be opened by
an unauthorized person withofit the
fact being noted.
Our townsman Josiah Dale, while
walking across the bridge at Williams-
port, during the very cold spell several
weeks ago, had his face badly frosted,
the effects of which have not yet
passed away.
We are in receipt of two copies of
“The Kinsman,” with the compli-
ments of Mrs. Horace Zerby, of Salt
Lake City, where this magazine is
published. Its pages are fillad with
forcible articles against polygamy.
The board of pardons have refused
to grant a pardon to James Cornelly,
of Bellefonte, convicted of setting fire
A banquet was given a few
ago to two of the retiting
Smith and dn