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9b'Sf
TWO CENTS.
8CBA3STON, PA., MONDAY MOIlNINGr, DECEMBER 27. 1897.
TWO CENTS
THE CRISIS
British Warships Sup
port the Claims of
Their Consul.
JAPAN IS ALSO AROUSED
Alarm at Russia's Advance
in the Flowery Kingdom.
Seventeen KnglUli lintllcships Aro
OH'Chcinulpo, Corcn, to Sustain n
Protest Against the Yielding oi the
Government ot Corcu Into the
Hands of the Russian Minister.
Jnpnn Oilers to Postpono tlio l'ny
ment ol Unr Wnr Intleinnity.
London, Dec. 27. A special dispatch
from Shanghai says:
"It Is reported that seventeen Brit
ish warships are off Chemulpo. Corea,
south wfst of Seoul, supporting the
British consuls protest, really amount
ing to an ultimatum, ngulnst the king's
practically yielding the government of
Corea Into the lmnd of the Russian
nmlster.
"The protest Is especially directed
against the dismissal of McLeavy
Brown, British adviser to the Corean
customs, in favor of the Russian nom
inee. The news has produced conster
nation at Seoul, which is heightened
by the knowledge that Japan has a
l'eet of thirty warships awaiting the
result of the British representation that
Jupan fully supports. Japan Is irritated
by the arrival of Russian troops in
Corea, and it is believed that she will
opposo them.
According to advices from Tokio,
Japan has offered to .insist the- ofllcers
at I'ekln In drilling .the Chines army
nnd to consent to a postponement of
the payment of the wnr indemnity.
Many of the viceroys and I'ekln ofllc
ials favor the proposal.
According to a dispatch to the Daily
Mail from Shanghai, it Is reported
ther" , from reliable sources, that the
British force landed at Chemulpo on
Saturday and caused the reinstatement
of McLeuvey Brown. The same dis
patch r.efeio to "u native rumor that
the T'nion Jack has been hoist d on an
island in the mouth of the river Yang-
Tse-Klang.
THE RUSSIAN LOAN.
The Pekln correspondent of the
Times says: "The government refuses
to place th Llkln under foreign con
trol as secutlty for a loan proposed by
the Hong Kong and Shanghai bank,
and asserts that unless the loan Is pro
curable without this condition arrange
ments will forthwith be made for a
Russian guaranteed four per cent, loan
of 100,000,000 taels to be issued at 1)3
n t.
"The secutlty would be the land tax
which would remuln under Chinese ad
ministration. China in return would
glvo Russia a mono-poly of the rail
roads and mines north of the great,
wall, open a port as a terminus for a
railway (trans-Siberian), and would
agree that a Russian should sumod
Sir oRbert Hart as director of Chinese
im perlal maritime customs. If these
conditions should bo permitted, Brit
ish trade interest would Buffer severe
ly -
The 'Shanghai correspondent of the
Times says: "The sloop Phoenix sailed
today (Sunday) under orders to Join
the British squadron. The utmost se
er ey Is preserved with regard to the
latter's movements, but gossip here
suggests that its destination is Ta-Llen-Wan."
THAT INDEMINTY YARN.
The Secretary oi State Denies
the
It ii in or.
"Washington, Dec. 20. Secretory of State
Sherman was seen tonight regarding a
stury cabled from Madrid to the eltct
that tho I'nlted States had demanded ot
Spain J8.000.000 indemnity to American
traders for damages sustuined during the
rebellion In 'Cuba. The secretary stated
that If any such demand had been made
ho had not heutd of It.
Judge Day, assltant secretary of state,
said: "As fur as 1 know, thero is abso
lutely nothing in the story. Some one
may have attempted to foot up all the In
dividual claims that have been tiled but
even on that suposltlon 1 should not at
tempt to say their estlmato was correct."
At the Spanish legation It was said that
no Information hail been received of any
such action. Tho legation hud heretofore
been notified ot tho tiling of all Individual
claims but It was thought Improhublu
that any claim in bulk would bo mudo.
NEWPORT NEWS LIVELY,
Celebration of Christmas .Mnrkotl by
Minuting Afrrnys mill Scrapx.
Newport News, Yu Dec. 26. The eele
bratlon of Christmas In this city was
productive of live shooting uffruvs bo
sides numberless street tights and cutting
scraps. The most serious of the wounds
was received by Charles Mcillroy, who
will probably dlc In a quarrel over a
woman Ernest Saunders lired throe times
nt McKlroy, two of the bullets taking ef
fect 'im participants In the other affrays
were negroes who resorted to the use of
pistols In n general melee In tho negro
section of tho city. Tho wounded men nro
Edgar Scott, Charles Thornton, A. Wur
den and Sam Wilson.
KIONDIKE RELIEF.
Jnck Dnlton Will Adviso Gen. Mor
rim nn About the Kxpedilinii Route.
Washington, Dec. 26. J. W. Boyle, tho
promoter of tho snow locomotive us a
means ot opening up a route to tho Alas
ka gold fleldB. has a new proposition,
which ho explained yesterday to General
Nelson A. Miles at tho war department.
Mr, Boyle proposes that the government
purchase his locomotive outfit, and that
ho himself purchuso Hlxty tons of provis
ions to bo carried to tho miners. He
would pluce tho expedition In chargo of
IN CHII
A
the. otllcors of the government, thus In
suring u satisfactory conduct ol the en
terprise. The provisions, ho says, would bo sold
wherever miners are tihlu to buy. nt prices
In the rutlo of one to two In Hummer and
winter respectively. Mr. lloyle nsks on
the part of the government that he bo re
imbursed lifter tne enterprise shall Imvo
been consummated for the money lie
spent for provisions, with a nominal
prollt added to pay him for his trouble.
Ho InslstH that his scheme Is not a
moncy-muklng one mid promises to enter
Into such a contract with the government
as will preclude tho Idea of great per
sonal advantage. The government of
ficials have given Mr. Boyle no decisive
answer to his proposition.
MICHAEL'S VICTORY EASY
Tim KiiKlishmiin Chnsc llnnlly in
the Hues Bight Thoiisnml Per
sons Sec tho Welshman Win the
Thirtv-.UIlc Ilueo at .Madison
Square Giirclcn-Tlio New Comet
Outclassed.
New York, Dec. 2(1. An enthusiastic
crowd of about 8,000 persons gathered at
Mudlson Square Gulden lust night to seo
a special programme of cycling events.
The chief feature was a thirty-mile
match between Jimmy Michael, middle
distance champion, and Arthur A. Chase,
described as middle-distance champion
of England.
The word match was a misnomer, as
Chase was "never in it." Ho was a good
mllo astern before half tho distance had
been covered.
The latest rival of tho Welshman had
several legitimate excuses to otter. Ho
was noorlv mounted, carelessly paced and
had a couple of falls, tho last of which
put him clean tut of the game.
The winner showed remarkable speed
for ten miles, but subsequent delays res
cued the recotds from any threatening
danger.
The track was the old one remodelled so
that tho banking had a pitch of twelve
feet. To prevent tumbles Into space at
cither end guard rails of rope wero con
structed, and they tilled tho bill admir
ably. The circuit was said to represent one
tenth of a mile, good measure.
That It was fast Is shown by the times,
and it will probably be retained as the
standard during the season.
The star pel formers were preceded on
the track by a veritable host of pace
makers mounted on tandems.
Thirty-mile race Between James Mi
chael, middle-distance champion of Am
erlct, and Arthur A. Chase, middle-distance
champion of England. Michael led
at every mile.
Time. I Time.
Miles. M. S. Miles. M. S.
1 1 6!) 4-3 16 K! S'l 3-5
2 II to 2-5 17 35 S3 4-.'i
3 5 50 3-.i IS ...- SS 11 1-3
4 7 50 2-311!) 40 19 4-5
5 0 St 4-5 20 42 20 3-5
G 11 57 1-321 44 32 2-5
7 14 00 3-5 22 4'i 3S 4-5
S Hi 01 23 4S 47 4-5
fi IS 07.'!-5 24 51 00 4-3
10 20 10 !23 53 07 3-3
11 22 05 3-5 211 55 15 4-5
12 21 07 3-5 27 57 24
13 20 10 3-5 2S 59 34 4-5
11 is 10l-5 29 01 1114-5
13 30 24 3-5,30 01 03 1-3
Steamer Harlequin Ashore.
Nassau, N. P.. Dec. 20. The schooner
Harlequin, which was previously report
ed, went ashore on the reef near Rum
cay, Bahan.as, on the 12th, became a total
loss. The crew and mate were saved.
The vessel was owned In New York. Tho
British man-of-war Patrldge went to nor
assitance and spent several hour in a
vain effort to float her. The schooner
was In ballast.
."Mr. Silvu I)ie nr the Ago of 110.
San Francisco, Dec. 26. Mrs. Madeline
Rita SUva, 110 years of age, died at the
residence of her daughter, near Pleas
nnton, on Wednesday. The old lady had
lived in Alameda county about twenty
years and was born in the Azore Islunds.
for the past two years Mrs. SUva had
been quite feeble nnd was bedridden most
of tho time, but up to her lusth birthday
she was In the best of health and was
skilled In all kinds of fancy needlework.
ftrcrcc Against Union.
oux Kails, S. D., Dec. 26. Judge Car
land, of tho federal court, has entered a
decree of judgment against the city of
Huron for $5i,uo0 and Interest In a suit
brought by the holders of school bonds
to leeovcr their face value. Tho town of
Huron sought to repudiate payment,
claiming the bonds were Illegally Issued
because the legal amount uf Indebtedness
has been exceeded. The bonus wero held
by eastern banks.
Killed by n Rcpuly Slier. 3"
Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 2C Deputy
Sheriff Stanton MeWilllams shot and
killed Edley Heard at Dunlap, Tenn., yes
terday. Tho deputy had arrested Heard's
brother who hud disturbed a church fes
tival. Edley Heard met tho deputy
later and threw a stone at him where
upon MeWilllams resented tho assault
with his revolver with a fatal result.
IM unpnrcinl Wants Ships.
Madrid. Dec. 26. Today El Imparclnl
urges that, In view of the character of
the reply of United States Minister
Woodford to the note of the Spanish guv
emment to the llrst communication of tho
American government through him. it
Is neccsusry to increase the Spanish fleet
us agulnst tho eventuality of a conflict
with tho United States.
Striking Ihiglneors.
London, Dec. 10. Tho outcome of the
ballot of tho striking engineers, taken us
a result of tho recently adjourned confer
ence between the representatives of the
men and the employers, will not bo
known otllcially for several days, but
there Is no doubt tho verdict is over
whelmingly nguliiht the ucceptunco of
tho terms of tho employers.
Dentli ol William (nice.
, Now York. Dec. 20.-Wlllium 11. Graoo,
a leading Republican of Brooklyn, Is dead,
aged 57 yours. Ho was conspicuous In
the Harrison campaign; was ono of tho
founders of the Home Protective leugue,
und was u candlduto for congress a lew
years ui;o,
Jlr. und Jllrs. I'enry Arrive.
New York. Dee. 26. Tho Amorlcun line
steamer St. Paul arrived today from
Southampton after a very stormy puss
tigo ot six days, 22 hours and 51 minutes.
Among the passengers wero Lieutenant
It. E. Peury and Mrs. Peary.
Result ot ii ( lirlstmns Row.
London, Ky., Dec. 26. In a drunken
Christmas row at Pittsburg, this county,
this evening, Grant Moore shot nnd mor
tally wounded Ooorge Klnloy. Tho ball
entered tho forehead Just over the left
eye,
EXCITING RIDE
ON A RUNAWAY CAR
Conductor and Motorman Arc Terribly
Injured.
THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL WRECK.
On Vn Icy Truck the Car Becomes
IJitniniingcublc nnd Dashes Down a
Steep 11 ill nt u frightful Rale.
While .linking n Curve It I, eaves the
Truck nnd Strikes a Brick Wnll.
Philadelphia, Dec 2C Three per
sons wore injuied today In u runaway
trolley car crash on the Roxborough,
Chestnut Hill and Norrlstown road at
Wlssahickon, the circumstances lielng
strikingly similar to those accompany
ing the fatal accident on tlte Wissa
hlekon nnd .Manayunk road, last Mon
duy, Tho injured ate:
Conductor William Webster, disloca
tion of the left h'lp, general contusions
of tho body and limbs and a badly lac
erated face.
Motorman William Wiltons, contu
sions of the left arm nnd extensive lac
erations of the scaln.
George Dorwarl, 51 years old, pass
enger, compound fracture of his nose.
There wore three other passengers on
the cars but they escaped with only
slight bruises. While the company will
not sustain as much loss as Us rival
did last week, the damage done out
slue of the building into which the car
clashed nt tho northwest corner of
Ridge avenue and Osborne street, will
probably foot up to several hundred
dollars.
The accident occurred about G.15 n.
in., when It was still dark. Tli" cat
was No. 14, the llrst out on Sunday
morning. When the car left the depot
In Upper Roxborough a fine mist and
hall was falling, but as the motorman
had little diHlculty in the upper end
of the line, ho anticipated no danger
when he struck the top of the long half
mile hill that extends from Hermit
lane to WIsahlekon street. Conductor
Webster, nevertheless, had gone to the
front platform at Shun's lane, to be
there in case he was needed. There
was plenty of sand, but the heavy car
got a start 'ind from that moment
gained rapidly in speed.
CAR LEAVES THE TRACK.
Tho men in front labored 'with all
their strength to check It, but by that
time the four passengers Inside had
realized that they were running at an
Inordinate rate. On u nearly level
stretch there they checked the speed a
little, but about a square below, in
swinging around a curve the wheels
loft the rails, and the cur ran over the
paving stones toward the curb and up
onto the sidewalk, on Its way snapping
off a giant telegraph pole at the
ground, dragging down a sheet Iron
uwnlng and finally rounding up against
the brick wall and bulk window of
Samuel T. Banham's cigar store. When
the crash came Motorman Wiltons was
hurled some twenty feet from the car
nivl laid In the middle of Osborne
street, while his conductor was all but
burled in the mass of wreckage on the
front platform. The two firemen who
had escaped, hurried to lend their as
sistance, Yaecker curlncr for the mo
torman and McGeehan extricating the
conductor, who was then most serious
ly hurt, and was In great pain.
By that time Mr. Banham, with his
brother, Frederick Banham, who, with
other residents of the locality had been
c wakened by tlie noise of the crash, ar
rived on the scene, and opened his
stole to receive the Injured.
None of their injuries will result
fatally. It was several hours before
the damaged car could bo extricated
from the mass of debris and retrncked.
Nearly the entire dasher, front plat
form and vestibule and a part of tho
roof were wrecked. When the car
struck the telegraph pole It was with
such force as to turn It half around.
Had It not been for tho telegraph pole
It is likely tho building wall would
have been partly demolished.
CHESS TOURNAMENT.
Tho Sixth Seiics ot Intercollegiate
(utiles
Now York. Dec. 26. The sixth annual
Intel collegiate chess tournament will be
gin tomotrow afternoon at tho Columbia
Grammar schuol, In this city. It will
extend over the entire week, and repre
sentatives of Columbia, Yale, Harvard
and Princeton will compote for tho honor
of holding tho cup during ISO!!. Each col
lego has two representatives unci each
man will play one gamo with every other
player In the series.
Tho order of play tomorrow will bo as
follows:
Arthur S. Meyer, Columbia, vs. James
Howins, Harvard.
Louis A. Cook, Yale, vs. David T. Dana,
Princeton.
Guorgo O. Seward, Columbia, vs. Will
lam W. Young, Princeton.
William M. Murdoch vs. Elmer E.
Southard, Harvard.
Play will begin at 2 o'clock and bo con
tinued until 6 and In case thcro should bo
any games left unllnlshed at that time
thero will be an evening session from 8
until 10 o'clock.
JAPANESE DIET REOPENED.
The .Mikado Claims to Bo nt Peace
With nil the World.
Yokohama, Dec. 20. Tho Imperial diet
has been dissolved before tho house of
representatives had sturted a discussion
of the motion of no confidence In tlm
cabinet. It Is expected that theie will bo
boverul ministerial chunges.
Tho Japanese diet was reopened on
Monday last, with such a union of tho
threo chief political parties as to mako
It certain that a vote of no eonlldenco In
the government would bo carried. On
Friday last the Mikado, In the speech
'rom tho throne, declared that the rela
tions of Jupan with all tho foreign powers
wero friendly, though ho mudo no speclllc
allusions to the complications In China.
He announced that tho government In
tended to submit fresh taxation measures,
tho chur.icter of which Is known to havo
united tho threo chief political parties
in opposition ami to Introduce a bill
umendlng tho codes, civil nnd criminal.
AID TO SUFPERINQ MINERS.
Tho Promoter oftho Snow Locomo
tive .11 uk ok n ev Proportion,
Seattle, Wush,. Dec. 26. This morning
Jack Dalton, of Juneau, tho discoverer of
Dalton Duwsou, received u telugram trom
General Mertiam, commander ot tho de
partment of tho Columbia, requesting
him to corao to Vancouver, Wash., for
tho purpose of consultation with regard to
the best routo for the Klondike relief
expedition now organizing. Daltou, who
has spent years In Alaska and who has
the reputation of being tho most experi
enced packer In tho territory,, has con
sented to Impart his Information to tho
general, and left on this morning's train
for Vancouver. W. 8. Gardiner, one of the
last miners to como out over Dalton trail,
arriving In Seattlo yesterday, was also
lequesled to visit tho general on tho samo
mission. He uccompunled Dalton this
morning.
While these men are somewhat reti
cent, It Is understood they do not look fa
vorably on the scheme to employ reindeer
and are more Inclined to well trained dogs
and pack hoises, Unit have been accus
tomed to trails. Gardiner says that In
coming out It was very ti.td packing part
of the wuy until they reached Lake La
barge, when It was much Improved. On
the lower river the Ice had frozen In
hummocks, which would have to be lev
elled in order to permit the passago of
largo sled trains. The government Is not
advertising for proposals for relief goods.
WATCHING FOR '
FILIBUSTERERS.
Tho Cutter Senwurd nnd Cruiser
Montguinory nro Floating About
Mobile Ready to Pounce Upon the
Pilot Itont Somers .. Smith.
' Mobile, Ala., Dec. 26.-K pilot boat Som
crs N. Smith, of Fcnsaeolu, gets out of
this port Willi a filibustering expedition
she will have to tun over the cutter
Seaward In the river and u cruis
er off the bar. The Smith was
here In August last, was docked and
blackleaded and had a speed wheel put
In nnd also took off the figure 3 from her
smoke stuck and went to sea at night,
bound, rumor aftervvatd said, to Cuba,
with eighty men on board and a lot of
arms and ammunition. No traco of tills
expedition was afterwards found, how
ever, and William Hazel, commodore of
tho Pensaeola Pilots' association, pre
sumably the owner of the tug, denied em
phatically that the Smith was In tho
filibustering business. Two weeks ago tho
tug re-uppeured In Pensacolu. nnd came
Immediately under suspicion, the papers
there saying the cruiser Montgomery was
on watch over her. The papers also said
the Smith needed docking for repairs,
but that the Mobllo docks were too busy
to tuko her. Nevcrtlu less she arrived
here Thursday and Immediately went on
the Mobile ways to be re-palnted. The
manager of the ways says the paint on
her does not need renewing and Is just us
good as when put on four months ago.
She Is to have been followed as far as
this port by the cruiser Montgomerv.
Telegraphic orders were sent here
through Mobile last night and the col
lector was notllled to be on the lookout
for illlbiisteis.
United States Marshal Simmons went
on board the tug today and had the boat
searched, but nothing suspicious was
found. Bnzel. who Is here with the
Smith, says there Is no Intention ot fili
bustering and that she is merely here for
repairs. The cutter iluawurd dropped
down the river this afternoon and came
to anchor just opposite the exit of the
marine ways and lies there with steam
ui "d keeping an eye on the Smith.
Persons from the lower bay report that
the cruiser has been off tho bur for tho
past twenty-four hours.
i m
BICYCLE MEN DELIBERATE.
Stories ot tho Short Track nt Mndison
Square to Mo Investigated.
New York, Dec. 2C The Lcuguo of
American Wheelmen racing board was in
session all of yesterday In this city, hav
ing under consideration tho shortness of
the truck on which the recent big fclx
day race was held at Mudlson Square
Garden. Those present were: Albert
Mott. of Baltimore, chairman; A. D.
Wulte, of Troy, and J. F. Foltz. of In
dianapolis. Isaac B. Potter, chief consul
of the New York division, and C. M.
Sands, chief consul of the Maryland di
vision, were also present.
The managers ot tho race. P. T. Powers,
William Brady and James Kennedy, wero
examined, ns were also Charles AshlUf,er.
who constructed the truck, olliclals of
the garden nnd a number of the riders
and ti diners.
Tho meeting was held behind closed
doors nnd at Its conclusion Chairman
Mott made tho following statement:
"Wo cannot make public the testimony
until a decision has been rendered. All
of the testimony taken will be mailed to
the dlfi'escit members of the racing
board. After they have reviewed it care
fully they will write their decision and
punishments merited, ir they And that
there has been anything wrong and send
It to me. When this has been done 1 will
Immediately send out tho final verdict."
Chairman Mott admitted, however, that
there lias been little If any conflicting
testimony. In reference to Ashlngcr's ex
amination, be said that Ashinger hud
made a statement, but the nature of this
statement ho refused to dlvulgo.
Child Itiiriieil to Dentli.
Franklin. Pa., Dee. 26. Grace and Annie
Nelson, whose parents live near hero,
wero left ulono In their homo lust even
ing. Tho former fell Into tne grate llro
and her clothing was Ignited. Sho was
burned to death. In trying to savo tho
life of her slstrr. Annie, was badly
burned and it is believed she cunnot re
cover. Henry George .Memorial.
Now York, Dec. 21. Tho committee hav
ing charge of the Henry George memorial
fund have mudo another appeal fpr sub
scriptions. In their report the committee
state that $13,000 has already been sub
scribed, but that this Is In no wiso ade
quate for the erection of a memorial such
as hud been contemplated.
MeninMilp Arrivals.
Now York, Dec. 26. Arrived: La Cham
pagne, Havre; Etruriu. Liverpool. Liver
poolArrived: Sauiic, New Yoik. LU
nrd Patrla, Hamburg for Now York; La
Guseogne, Now York, for Havre, Prawlo
Point Passed: Southwurk, Antwerp for
New York. Queonstown Sailed. An
ranla (from Liverpool) New York (de
tained ut Liverpool and Quoenstown by
fog).
Looking For I'lliliiisterers.
Jacksonville, Via., Dee. 26. A special
from Punta Gorda states tho cruiser
Montgomery and cutters Forward and
McLano arrived In Churlotto harbor this
morning In search of u llllbusterlng ex
pedition that was reported in bo about to
set sail for Cuba. Vessels In port wero
searched but nothing of n contraband na
ture was found.
Dentli ofCol. Whitney.
Royalston, Mass., Dec. 26. Colonel Geo.
A. Whitney, a prominent manufacturer of
this town, died today after a month's
Illness. Ho was born here In 181V and lor
llfteen years drovo a stage coach between
Royalston und Boston.
Shot and Mortally Wounded.
Rockvllle, Ind., Dec. 20. Isaac Durrott
wuh shot und mortally wouncied at a
duneo hero. His assailant Is unknown.
Durrott pitched for tho Washington, Ind.,
base bull club during the punt season.
THE TANGLE IN
THE ORIENT
Qrcnt Britain Will Not Try to Annex a
Part of China.
NAVAL STORIES ARE DOUBTED
The London Standard Sots Forth the
Present Itcmnrlinblo Complication
in r.uropeun Pollllc--Russlu nnd
O'ermiiuy Do Not Fuvor a Confer
ence on the Chinese O.uostlon--An
Austrinu Nowspnpcr IlnlnrKC on
tho Advantages of nn Occupation ot
China.
From tho Sun.
London, Dec. 25. The story of a com
bined naval demonstration by England
und Japan finds few believers. The
Jopanese would have nothinir to gain
thereby, as the British concern Is en
tirely for the commercial position
which may result from seizing n port
for a naval station. But certainly
Great Britain will not attempt to oc
cupy nnd administer a tract of Chinese
teiiltory. With the present object les
sen ot India staring It In the face, the
Brltlzh Eovernment Is not in a mood
f. r rnnexlng nnd governing a few more
millions of Orientals, oven if it had
tue cpunce,, which it Is not likely to
get. Even the government's mouth
piece, the Stnndnrd, dues not seek to
put an tpllmlstlc coloring upon the
piesent situation. It says ' i an article
today:
"We have for Christmas contempla
tion one of the most singular tangles
that have ever tried the patience and
perspicacity of diplomatic experts. The
Eastern outstlon in Europe, as effected
by the system of Continental alli
ances, was baflllngr enough In its in
tricacy. Republican France, from mere
fear of Germany, or from a desire for
revenge, became the sworn friend of
despotic Russia. But while the Czar
Is full of grace and enthusiasm toward
President Faure, he has also the lan
guage of .sympathetic, warm friend
ship and close understanding to offer
the German emperor.
"Such Is the lucky magnetism of the
Muscovite autocracy that Austria per
mits itself to forswear Its distrust and
dismiss, for the time being, .ny ex
treme apprehension about the Balkan
peninsula. But Austria-Hungary i.s it
self rent by Internecine disputes which,
to those who watch with admiration
and gratitude the noble devotion of
the emperor-klng, appear to threaten
the cohesion ot tho vast fabric that la
held together by his personal Influ
ence.
"Italy meanwhile Is forced by re
verses which the auspicious gallantry
of its army has failed to avert to re
duce the sphere of its activity abroad
and husband its resources at home.
Great Britain, because it refuses to
identify itself either with the Russo
French or the German-Austrian alli
ance, becomes a mark for the Ill-nature
of at least two powers. Yet a con
cert of all these powers Is contrived to
prevent the reopening of the eastern
question, which, it Is recognized, would
be tho signal for the long-postponed
collision. This co-operation, however,
permits Germany to show Its bad tem
per and masterfulness at the expense
of Crete and Greece.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
"While things in tho Levant are In
this harassing condition of uncertain
equilibrium, suddenly the Chinese ter
ritory is, so to speak, thrown into the
diplomatic market. Germany and Rus
sia, whether In pursuance of a concert
or In amicable rivalry, each occupy
positions on the mainland, which must
provoke Great Britain, the paramount
commercial power, to seek compensa
tion as a safeguard against exclusion."
There has been a suggestion of an
international conference on the Chinese
question, but It is not likely to come
to anything. Neither Russia nor Ger
many thinks It desirable, and, despite
tho flamboyant orations at Kiel, it suits
both to put nn entirely pacltic com
plexion on their policy. The Fremden
blatt, which Is the Inspired organ of
tho Austrian foreign ollice and ap
proves of the occupation both of Kiao
Chou and Port Arthur, discusses the
partition of China as a natural and
proper proceeding, thus:
"The form which tho opening up of
China will take can scarcely be deter
mined now, as the enormous territory
is too little known, and ns It is impos
sible to foretell the effect of European
interference on the people and the or
ganization ot tho state. There can be
no doubt that it would bo an enormous
advantage to any nation to be brought
into connection with such a market as
the Chinese. For China, on the other
hand, the appearance of Europeans
within her bor.ders will mean the let
ting of a current of fresh air into her
rigid culture. This, not improbably,
will causo many a crisis, but will put
new life into that nation's stagnant
existence. Europeans will supply the
Chinese with the meuns necessary for
cultivating the whole empire. Rail
roads and steamers will connect the
remote provinces with the centres of
trado and uctlvlty from which hither
to they have been cut off, and one con
sequence of better communications will
be tho stoppage of tho emigration
which so disquiets Australia and Amer
ica, as tho surplus population will in
future How into tho distant provinces,
thero to earn a livelihood."
STEAMER ON FIRE.
A Ilritlsli Cnili Ilnters Port With Her
Cargo ol'Cotlon Smoking.
St. Johns. N. F.. Dec. 26.-Tho British
steamer Lamberts Point, Captain Hum
phreys, seven days from Norfolk. Vii..
for Liverpool, with cattle, cotton, gruln
and a general curgo, has arrived hero
with her cotton on tiro and tho ship In a
bad state. On Friday nfternoou tho llro
was discovered In the compartment umld
ship, und It gained homhvay rapidly.
Holes were cut In tho cabin flooring,
pipes Inserted and tho compartment wis
Hooded with steam nnd water. The cap
tain headed tho vessel for this port; and
for forty hours nobody rested, all hands
battling-lire, which, steadily gaining,
spread to the foro compartment. It then
became necessary to flood this, which
gave tho ship a list of 15 degrees to tho
sterbcurd, She met terrible weather in
trying to reucli here. Ser sides und deck
wen almost unbearable with heat and
the provisions were all spoiled by steam
and smoke. Tho paint Is now peeling off
her sides; while gangs of men nro land
lnif tho cattle, almost maddened with
heat.
Captain Humphreys admits that ho
could not have controlled the flro twenty
four hours longer. Holes are now being
cut in her sides to udiplt more steam
pipes, In tho hope of having the lire sub
dued by Tuesday, when tho cotton will
be discharged until the heat of the tiro Is
reached. Nearly mo entire cargo was
damaged.
KENTUCKY TURNPIKE WAR.
Rnldcrs Put Toll Cute Guards to
LiiFhb
Flemlngsburg, Ky., Dec. 26. Five negro
guards sent to protect a toll-gato near
hero on the Maysvllle pike. Friday night
were uttacked by raiders and put to
flight. Tho toll house was set on lire,
but the green bourds would not burn,
one negro received two buckshot In his
neck. As fur as it Is known none of tho
raiders were hurt.
Turn pike olllcluls may ask tho governor
for troops to protect their property.
AN AGED COUPLE
BRUTALLY MURDERED
.Milton Neul mid Ills Wile arc Shot to
Dentli by nn Unknown Assassin.
Friends llnvc n Clue to Work Upon.
Indianapolis, Dec. 20. Milton Neal and
his aged wife wero shot to death by an
unknown assassin at their home near
Jacksonville, nine miles southwest of
hero, some time during Christmas. Their
bodies were found at II o'clock that night
by their son, Harry, who was passing
tho house and stopped to pay u Christmas
call on his parents. Neal was one of the
most prominent and prosperous farmers
of tho vicinity In which he lived. Ofllcers
are today scouring the country for tho
murderer, but ns yet ho has not been
apprehended. When young Neal tried to
enter his parents' home he found the
door locked. He forced his way in
through the cellar and on entering the
sitting room a horrible sight met him.
On a chair near the window lay the form
of his mother, her face entirely blown
away. At her feet was all that remained
of her husband nnd a ghustly hole In the
middle of his head told the tale of his
murder. At his side lay a double-barreled
shot gun, the Implement of death. All of
the wulls, ceilings and furniture In the
room were sputtered with blood, and on
tho celling was a good sized dent In
which was Impeded a piece of the mur
dered woman's skull.
For a time there was a suspicion of
suicide, but as the facts in tho case de
veloped the murder theory gained
strength. The woman was killed with
bird shot; the husband with buck shot.
There wero no marks of powder on his
face, something which, It Is said, would
have been Impossible to avoid bad suicide
been committed with a shot gun. There
is nothing to lndlcato that tho crime was
committed for plunder, ns In Mr. Neat's
pocket was a $10 bill, and a $20 bill lay
on the top of a dresser.
The friends say they have a clue upon
which they will nt once begin work to
truce the murderer.
BODY BURNED AFTER MURDER.
Florida Cnttlcninn Assnssinntcd nnd
Ills Body Fnrlinlly Uuriicil.
Leesburg, Kin.. Dec. 26. I. O. Arms, a
cattleman and farmer, was murdered on
Wednesday and his body burned on his
place at Emerelda, Marlon county. Mr.
Arms had gone to his pasture, a quarter
of a mile west of his house, to cut sills lor
a new barn.
The report of a shotgun was heard In
that direction, und when Mr. Arms did
not return at night search was made, but
no trace could be found. At daylight yes
terday parties went In all directions. At
night the remains wore found on the
banks of tho Ocklawaha. They had been
burned In a bonfire. Only a few bones,
with two buttons and matchbox were left
to tell tho tale. A gold watch and $11. j0
had been stolen.
The assassination occurred In the samo
neighborhood where Ruben Starke was
murdered by negroes ten years ago. Mr.
Arms came from Indiana. About nine
years ago ho bought a large tract of land
on the east side of the Ocklawulia river
from P. B. Alsabroot and fenced lands or
stock pastures. This action was disliked
by men who had free use ot the land lor
years.
MINISTER'S WIFE RUNS AWAY.
Ho Finds Her With the Aid of the
Police, Hut She Re I inc. to Itetnrn.
Haverhill, Mass., Dec. 26. The Rev.
Frank It. Welch, pastor of the First
MA.l,,wllut rli,ir,.h nf Xownollts. Mp.. is
hero looking lor his wife, who. he says.
has (leserteil Him. JO city larsniu nw
rcster he said he hud traced her to this
city nnd all that ho wished was to secure
his two children, whom nho had taken
with her. Sho had become Infutuuted
with a former resident of Newflelds, ho
said.
City Marshal Worcester detailed Inspec
tor Durgln to investigate the case, ami ho
and the husband llnnlly found the missing
wife. A long conference followed, but the
woman flatly refused to return home.
The husband asked that she surrender
tho two children, but nt flrrt she refused.
After a two hours' Interview she consent
ed to ul'ow him to tuko the llttlo boy
home with him.
m -
President llyruo's Condition.
Now York. Dec. 26. President Charles
II. Byrne, of tho Hrooklyn base ball club,
was unconscious for several hours today
and during the remainder of the time he
was semi-conscious. Tho physicians,
howover, believe that his condition shows
a slight improvement over that of yester
day. He passed a quiet lilsllt.
Killed Four Children und Himself.
Park River, N. D.. Bee. 26. The wife
of Jacob Peyter, living near this place,
poisoned her four Utile children with
strychnine last night, und then took It
herself. AH am dead. Mrs. Peyter had
quarrelled with her husband and had "sev
eral time threatened to kill her children
and herself.
THE NEWS THIS JlOltXINU.
Weather Indications Today:
Pair; Colder; Northwesterly Winds.
General Tho Crisis in China.
Exciting Ride on a Runaway Car.
The Taiisr'o In the Orient.
Scovel Vurn Is Denied.
tleneral Some Implosions of Wur
Swept Cuba.
Local Christmas Services In tho
Churches.
Record Breaking Week In Business.
Editorial.
Comments of the Press.
Local Scranton'tf Pioneer lintel Alan
Dead.
Vote of Dunmoro Being Recounted.
Local West Side and Suburbiu.
Lackuwunna County News,
Miscellaneous,
SCOVEL YARN
IS DENIED
The Correspondent Has
Not Been Hanged by
Insurgents.
REGARDING C0NCENTRAD0S
Their Condition is Still to Be
Deplored.
A Holier Fund of 9100,000 Will
Hardly Give tho Sullercrs Twenty
Cents Unch--iNunieroin Robberies
nnd Stabbing .Mirny s Occur nt Iluv-ann-Insurgcnts
Burn Cornfields
nnd Strip Clothing Irom Residents.
Woylcr's Friends Itccomo Intoxi
cated on Chrlstinus and Itaiso a
Rumpus nt Ilnvniin.
Havana, via Key West, Flu., Dec. 26.
Rumors which have been circulated
l'cro that Sylvester Scovel. a New
Yiirk newspaper correspondent, had
been hanged by the Insurgents, aro
untrue. It is reported that he and
Senor Rafael Madrigal, the American
consul at S.ancti Spirltus, were the
bearers ot an important dispatch from
President McKmloy to "President"
Masso and General Gomez.
Generally sneaking, the condition of
the coiuentrados Is as pitiful as It
was during tin- administration ot Lieu
tenant General Weyler, despite Captain
General Blanco's relief decrees. A re
lief fund of $100,000 will hardly give the
sufferers twenty cents each. La Luclia
demands that tho amounts expended
by municipal authorities for the relief
of tho destitute Inhabitants be pub
lished.
During the Inst month numerous
robberies and stabbing affrays are re
ported to have occurred In Havana.
Those outrages are ascribed to the re
turn to Havana from Ceutn prison of
the "Nanlgos" who have been putdon
e;l for political offenses under recent
decrees.
It Is ofl'clally stated that many cano
flelds in Havana province have been
burned by the insurgents. It Is rer
ported that Brigadier Aranguren was
nt Cuanabacoa night before last. A
party of Insurgents. It Is reported, un
oiliclally, recently dynnmlted a culvert
and bridge midway between Sagua
and Ren.dlor.
It Is reported that in various en
gagements with tho Insurgents the
forces of General Pundo have suffered
considerable losses. The column for
several days was hort of provision,
owins; to tho vigorous resistance made
by the Insurgents to the advance of
the Spaniards and tho many impedi
ments placed in their way. General
Pando's exact losses are not known,
owing to difficulty of communication,
the hellgraphlc towers nt Gulf a ha -Intj
been destroyed.
INSl'RGENTS 8M7.K CLOTHING.
Elghtv residents of Bejucul, In Hav
ana province, while foraging a few
days ago, wero surprised by a band
of Insurgents who stripped them of
their ciothlny. Tho Insurgents have
burned tho canellelds on the estate of
Senor Cardunns at Cal.ibaza Sagua,
r.ear Mlnnx. While a number of Insur
gents wore carrying a case eontainlper
dynamite in tho province of Puerto
Principe, the dynamite exploded, kill
Ins; seven of the pnny nnd wounding
eight others.
As I'J customary hero on Christmas
ove, lanro crowds of Spaniards assem
bled In Central park and Indulged in
dancing, singing and other forms of
nmusement. A largo number of thoso
1 resent, becoming Intoxicated, began
to mako demonstrations and to shout
"Viva Weyler," "Vlvi Ksymn," "Viva
T'nion Constitutional." "Down With,
Autonomy" and other disturbing cries.
The police wore summoned and upon
their artlval ordeied the crowd to dis
perse. No attention was paid to their
orders, and, the ofllcers being reinforc
ed, guards were' stationed in all the
avenues In the vicinity of the park.
In the mennwh'llo the groups In th-
park continued their shouting and
demonstration, compelling the cavalry,
a detachment of which had been sum
moned to the scone, to charge upon
them, i?!bro in hand, and disperse
them. Several of the police weio
slightly Injured by stones thrown by
tho populace. Eight arrests wero made
but no shots were fired.
The Herald's Weather Forecast.
Now Yoik. Dec. 27. -In tho mlddlo
states and New EpkUiiuI, today, lalt to
partly cloudy colder weather and fresh
southwesteily to northwesterly wind
will prevail, followed ly light local snow
In nnd near the New England and possi
bly the I'pper New Jersey const, but
clearing by evening. On Tuesday. In both
of theso sections, clear, slightly coldor
weather and fiesh northwesterly to west
erly winds will picvall.
Kov. N. W. Tnvlur Dip.
Wilmington, Pel.. Dec. 20.-Rov. W. W.
Taylor, aged M yeais, tho oldest Pres
byterian pteacher In this state, died to
day. Ho was graduated from Yalo sixty
years ago. At one time he was pastor of
the chinch which President McKlnleys
wife's parents attended and olllclated ut
their marriage. In his career he had held
many charges.
Illnncu Cive
s n Banquet.
Havana. Dec. 26. T
onlgiit Captain (Jen-
oral lllanco iruvo a
cers of the aeirrun c
guests were present,
banquot to the ortl
orvette Stein. Forty
Including tho Span.
ish udmiral, tho ma
yor of Havana and
II authorities. Con
enry Kin., of Utah,
other naval and civ
gressman Wllllum.il
has urrlvrd here.
right Declared OIL
Now York, Dec. 26. Tom O'llourlcn,
manager of the Long Island City Athletla
club, announces Unit the Yank Kenny
Bob Armstrong tight, scheduled for
J March 30 ut the club, is off.
4&&ft