" """""' """ ' " ' ' ' I I ... I II .1 , I ...,.... , , I, , .1 .1 .1 I I , M, ,. ' ' " ' ' ' ' ..,. ... ,- - .... -, .- ,, ..,, , - TWO CENTS. SCRANTON, PA., TUESDAY MORNING. MARCH 15. 1898. TWO CENTS. MOREWARLIKE DEVELOPMENTS The Government Buys Two New Brazilian Warships. x&ft SPANISH SQUADRON SAILS Cadiz Fleet Closely Followed by United States Boats. The llnncrolt nnd the llolenn Leave lilbion in tlio Suitiu l)lroction-A Ilcport That Spain Ha Purchased tlio Itattlcntilp O'lliggius Irom Chllo--(;rcut Activity Contlnnea in the Lino or Army and Navy 1' re parations. Washington, March 11. The develop ments of today in the American-Spanish situation were these: The consum mation of the purchase by this gov ernment of the cruisers Amazonas and Admiral Abreuall, building In England for Brazil; the sailing from Cadiz pre sumably for Cuba of the Spanish squadron, and the almost simultaneous departure from Lisbon in the same di rection of the United States war ves sels Helena and Bancroft: and the denial of the Spanish minister and by Senor Juan Aballos that the latter was in "Washington as a commissioner from the Spanish government to make ov ertures for a settlement of the Cuban question. There was also a report th'at Spain had purchased the batleship O'Hlgglns from Chile, but this was not confirmed. Meanwhile, the greatest activity con tinues in the line of army and navy preparations fcr possible hostilities. The negotiations for the purchase of the Brazilian warships had been pend ing for a week and were doubtless hurried to a closo because of the knowl edge that the Spanish agents had been striving to secure them. It is said th'at It Vr the cruisers would, in the event of war, be of much greater vaiuc to spam man to the United States. The next ques tion is how to got the ships homo and it has not yet been settled, accord 's? the secretary of the navy. The ti. A States flag will be hoisted over the new ship within a week probably and Just as scon as the crew can bo Lut aboard the Amazonas she will Btft-t-for the United States. The other vessel -will follow at the earliest pos slblcmoment. The terms of sale are secret. AVAILABILITY OF SHIPS. The availability of the two Brazilian ships was first brought to the atten tl n if the navy department by Mr. La' , agent of the Maxlm-Nordenfeldt ce pany, who was authorized to di rse of those ships building at Els wlck, und two others In course of con struction in France. Mr. Lane said to day that the two shiiw purchased would be a most desirable acquisition to the American navy, as they were the latest and best products of the famous Armstrong yards. One of the ships Is complete in every respect, has her coal supply and ammunition on board and steam can be raised at any time. There will be no trouble in bringing this ship across, as an ade quate force from the local yards can be secured for the service. It is said the coal and ammunition on board passed with the sale to the United States. The ammunition Is not all of the kind In use by the United States navy, so that the supply of ammuni tion Is a necessary adjunct to the new whips. The other ship has been launch ed, but It will take some time to make her ready for sea. Mr. Lane believes, however, that there will be no difficulty In bringing her over Immediately If It Is desired to make the move without delay, as the hull of the ship Is so well along that she could be towed and her own sail power utilized for the trip across. A dangerous deficiency in the engi neer branch of the navy hae been brought to light strikingly in the fact that It Is scarcely possible to secure a staff of engineers officers to bring back to the United States any of the ships purchased abroad. A short time ago when orders were given to ruh the work of putting the cruiser Chi cago In shape for active service, the en gineer in chief proposed that he would have the ship ready In three months Instead of six as was estimated. WOULD WORK DAY AND NIGHT. To do this he would work forces day and night and to keep them at work he would place an engineer officer aboard the ship to stay there day and night. Passed Assistant Engineer Dix on was chosen for the work but he had not been employed more than a week 'before it was found necessary to de tach him In order to find an engineer oqicer to act as a member of the board Pfcolnted to examination auxiliary cruUers. This state of affairs has been brought to the uttentlon of the house anval committee but so far It Is fear ed without meeting that degree of suc cess which was hoped for In the shape of an amendment Increasing the num ber of engineer officers In the service. Colonel Heywood, the commandant of the marine corps, today made Ave de tail of marines for cruisers now being repaired or ready for commission. There are two drafts of 45 each for the Philadelphia, and the Charleston at Kare Island, .one of 62 for the Newark at Norfolk, and two of thirty each for the Columbia and Minneapolis ut League Island. Senator Proctor visited the White house and up town departments today and his calls excited a good deal of Interest. He spent half an hour, first with Secretary Alger, explaining, it Is believed, thomllltary situation In Cuba nnd afterward had a conference with Judge Day, assistant secretary of state. Then he wentjn-nVVhUe house and was clQiL2ji;"V 'a president for fvv,- l,i '!- a quarter. When he '. . rvnm flirt rnnin lip nnllrtpnllRlv 'uecllned to speak regarding the nature of the Information he had communicat ed to the president. N. F. Palmer, representing the Quln tard Iron works, of New Tork, which built the engines of the Maine, was at the navy department today In consul tation with the officials representing the conversion of vessels of merchant marine Into war craft. Because of a protest from some of the western people, the secretary of war has modified his order of last week changing the names of bounds of the military department so as to retain the name of the department of the Mis souri. To do this, however, it was nec essary to abandon the naming of "the department of the Platte" and the ter ritory Included within the present lim its of that department will be known as the department of the Missouri. The old department of the Missouri retains Its new name of the depart ment of the lakes. The bureau of ordnance of the war department opened bids today for a large supply of armor-piercing projec tiles and for 12,000.000 rifle ball cart ridges. The bidding brought together a number of the representatives of the large steel and ammunition companies, some of whom took occasion to give assurance that In the present emer gency government work would be given the preference over commercial orders. The bidders for steel projectiles, vary ing In size from the 8-lnch steel capped shot to the 1,000 pound shot, were the Mldvale Steel company, the B. Atha Illlngsworth company, the Carpenter company, and the Furth Sterling com pany. Awards will bo made within a few days. Two estimates of appropriations to meet the cost of the recently author ized addition of two regiments of ar tillery to the army were sent to con gress today by Secretary Alger. One was for a supplemental astlmate of $491,103 for the appropriation for the pay of the army for the next fiscal year nnd the other was for a deficiency of $154,170 In the current year appropria tions to defray the added expenditures for the remainder of this year. COURT OF INQUIRY. No Sessions Held Yesterday-Relief Stations to IIo Closed in Havana. Havana, March 14. During the morn ing there was no session of the court of inquiry, the members of the court sitting on the Mangrove discussing various matters In connection with their work. Arrangements are In progress to dis continue a number of the relief sta tions In Havana, which are open only at certain hours, and to establish In stead one large central station, which will be open for relief at all hours of the day, with four suburban stations. Rumors are In circulation here to the effect that Italian warships are about to arrive In this port, and it is further reported that the United States gov ernment will send either the battleship Iowa or Indiana to this harbor, to stay two or three hours. No cause Is as signed for the latter story, nor can the report be confirmed officially. One unidentified body was recovered today from the wreck of the Maine. Important factions of the Autono mists of Matanzas and Santa Clara, representing all races, have agreed not to take part in the general or local elections next month. In some politi cal circles the opinion is expressed that this agreement is the result of discon tent, caused by the fact that the Au tonomist government has been unable to give employment to the excessive number of people who have been seek ing positions In the government offices. THE READINO FLEET. Will be Placed nt the Disposal of the Government in Ciiho ol War. Philadelphia, March 14. The Press will say tomorrow: A representative of the United States government has been In the city several days, on a spe cial mission, with the Philadelphia nnd Reading Railroad company, In regard to finding what the company wants for Its fleet. The question was put to one of the officers and he said that the company did not desire to part with Its fleet unless It was an absolute neces sity, but If there was war the com pany would do all it could to help the government. The government wants to know what the company values Its whole fleet at. In case of war the various vessel?, barges and tugs owned by this com puny would be of Immense service to the United States for the transporta tion of coal, as all the boats are built for this kind of service. Pennsylvania Pensions. Washington, March 14. These Pennsyl. vaula pensions havo been issued: Orlg Inul Robert M. Smith, Dorranceton, Lu zerne, ti; Francis A. King, Panons, Lu zerne, $6. Supplemental John M, Strub ble. Austlnvllle, Bradford, 12. Original widow, etc. Nancy J. Atherton, Hunlock Creek. Luzerne, $8; Mary Miller, Scran ton, J8. Renewal Seth M. Jorduu, Brad ford, $0; Ova mla Hudson, Kingston, Lu zcrne, $6. Reissue John Wlnnewetter, Scranton, $12. I'n mo in .Mine Locnlor Dad, Denver, Col., March 14. E .C. Basslck, locater of the famous Basslck silver mine, near Silver Cliff, Col., died last night, aged 66 year. Mr. BaBs!ck was a poor man In 1877 when he located the Dub sick mine, out of which he took 1450,000, afterward selling the property for $300,. 000 and $1,000,000 htock in a company. lliirncd to Dentli. Clearfield, Pa., March 14. A miner named Jacobson and his 12-year-old son weie burned to death In a lire which de stroyed their house at O'HImnter, near here, yesterday, Mrs. Jacobson and three other children saved their lives by lumn- I Ing from the second story windows. THE FERN FEEDING STARVING CUBANS Terrors of tbt Situation Have Not Been Exaggerated. TII0 TERRIBLE FEELINQ OP UNREST Iteconceiitrndoe Aro Harassed by nn Overpowering Dread That Hangs About Tlioiif-Tlie Impression I Growing 'I' lint the Report of Court ot Inquiry "III Not JJo Presented lor Some Tlmo Yet. Key West, Fin., March 14. The Uni ted States dispatch boat Fern arrived here this afternoon from Matanzas. The Fern's trip was uneventful. She reached Matanzas on Saturday and at once began discharging provisions In to lighters. On shore a few persons had gathered, but there was no demon stration of any kind. The shnre of provisions for Matanzas was got rid of in a business like way and the Fern then sailed for Sagua la Grande, where the same programme was gone through on Sunday, the operation of the lading of the stores occupying about six hours. United States Consul Barker boarded the Fern upon her arrival at Sagua. He was overjoyed to see an American ship once more even 'though it was only the little Fern. The consul said there were about 25,000 starving recon centradowi in his district. An officer of the Fern said to the correspondent of the Associated Press today: "It seems as If the gladness of the wretch ed Cubans at our arrival was stifled by the overpowering dread that hangs above the people of Cuba and that could not be dispelled even with the coming of the food for which thoy longed. Naturally we saw little. Ours was no exploring trip. But we saw enough to convince us that the stories emanating from Matanzas and espec ially from Sagua la Grande are not exaggerated." The Fern will probably go back with more provisions about Friday. The torpedoes and shells which nrrlved Friday were transferred today to Fort Taylor and considerable local excite ment was raised over rumors that they were being placed in position. An olll cer who would be connected with such work, however, denied this report and said: "When you see these mines or torpedoes being placed you can make up your mind that war Is more Immi nent than It Is at present. They will not be put In position until the last moment; for however good the mine. It Is always liable to become useless through the action of water. WILL NOT RISK USEFULNESS. "We are not going to risk the use fulness of expensive explosives by premature submersion. All these tor pedoes rn i be laid In twenty-four hours. If we laid them now they would not only be liable to corrosion, but everybody on the Island would get an idea of their positions. The delicate nature of these defense torpedoes seems hardly to have been realized by theor ists as to the Maine explosion. It would bo against the judgment of all experts and the practice of all gov ernments; for, nowadays, these weap ons can be laid nt the shortest notice. "Although I do not think Havana harbor was mined, I know there are torpedoes In Morro castle and the naval nrsenal that can be put In position very quickly." The return of the court of Inquiry Is wearily awaited, especially by the offi cers of the Maine, who will have been here a month next Wednesday. They have been expecting to go to their homes on every boat ot late, and now the hope deferred, added to the fact that they are still without adequate wardrobes, makes them thoroughly dis contented. The Impression Is growing here that the report of the court of Inquiry will not be presented for some time yet. More torpedoes are expected, and some of these will be taken to the Tortugas for submarine defence. The torpedo boat Winslow has arrived from Mobile, and the schooner Harry A. Bruner, Captain Hewitt, from Philadelphia, is here with 1,300 tons of coal for the "jet. m WAR SCARE AND STOCKS. Olher Countries Resides tlio United States Involved. London, March 13. The money mar ket has tightened considerably and an advance in the bank rate Is mooted. The American demand for gold has ex ceeded all expectations and In addition to nil the bar gold about $2,000,000 in Japanese yen has been bought for New York. This, with the withdrawal of eagles, has Induced the bank of Eng land to raise the price of Japanese, French and German gold coins to 70s. Ed. per ounce. The Stock Exchange Is unsettled. Settlement was only got over with con siderable assistance for the "lame ducks," which, coupled with the politi cal uncertainties, keeps the market very nervous. The Miarp advance In Madrid ex change Is interpreted as foreboding an imminent collapse in Spain unless Paris assists her. Th'o situation in Brazil Is also mak ing holders very uncomfortable. For eigners generally are depressed. Ar gentines and Chilians range from Vi to 3 points lower, and Brazilians 4 points. Chinese and Japanese show substantial decreases; Portugese and Turkish aro leading the European declines. Homo railways are distinctly lower, and "Americans have lost heavily, mainly on Wall street selling. I'orlnnt) Inr a Miming Girl. Stroudsburg, Pa., March 14. Search Is being nuldo for KItle Woolbaugh, 15 years old, daughter of James and Elizabeth Woolbaugh, formerly of Smlthtiuld. The girl, If found, will Inherit an estate. Whun the child was only a few months old her mother eloped, taking Eflle with her, Woolbaugh has since died. Ppiiiltylvuiiia Postmasters. Washington, March 14. The president today sent to the senate the nominations of these postmasters for Pennsylvania: Irador Sobel, Erie; 1). J. Kuntz, Lehigh ten; A. M. Woodward, ReynoldsvlIU; Frederick W. Ulrlch, South Bethlehem; George W, Shneff, Susquehanna. KILLED IN II0RNINQ SEltENADB. Bridegroom and lilt rather1 Fire on a I'nrtr or. Men with t'ntnl Results. Frederick, Md March 14. Leslie Horine, a white man, 19- years old, was shot and killed last night while taking part in a horning serenade tendered to Mr. and Mrs. G tor go Gibbon at the home of Jacob Gibbon, tho old "White House," at Braddock. The elder and younger Gibbon were arrested this morning and lodged In Jail. George Gibbon was married on Tuesday last and took his bride to his father's home. The young men In the vicinity decided to give them a serenade. There were eleven In the crowd and they were armed with drums, horns, fiddles, pans, and other Instruments. They arrived at the Gibbon house at 9 o'clock. As they drew near they heard a window open and caught tho remark: "Hero they come now." Stopping In front of the house, thoy began their noise, but hardly a minute elapsed before the shutters of a second-story window were thrown open and three pistol shots were fired In rapid succession. One of the bullets struck young Horltie, and he was found lying unconscious In the road with a. bullet wound In his right temple. The wounded man was carried to a near by house, where ho expired at 2.10 o'clock this morning. Both the elder and the younger Gibbon are accused of the killing, but nobody saw which one fired the revolver. Young Horine lived on tho country place of Mr. J. Roger McSherry. a few miles from tho city. The Gibbons are highly respected. DEAD ON A YACHT. Mrs. Thurston, Wife of tlio Senator. Expires While nn a Pleasure Trip on the Anita. Washington, March 14. Consul Gen eral Lee has notified the state depart ment of the death today at Sagua la Grande, Cuba, of the wife of Senator Thurston, of Nebraska, on board the yacht Anita. Senator and Mrs. Thurston were members of a congressional party which left Fort Monroe, March 2, for a trip to Cuba on the yacht Anita. The party had a stormy night off Hatteras nnd put Into Charleston. The trip was continued after a few days' rest. The Anita, first touched Cuba at Havana and afterward went on to Matanzas and Sagua la Grande. The brief an nouncement of Mrs. Thurston's death was quite unsatisfactory to hermany acquaintances In this city, and every effort was made to Hecure details, as the demise was unexpected. Mrs. Thurston was in excellent health when she left the city, having taken an ac tive part In the annual convention of the Daughters of the American Revo lution, which met here the week before her departure, Mrs Thurston before her marriage was Miss Martha Poland, a niece of Luke Poland, of Vdrmont, prominent years ago in the house of representatives. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston celebrated their silver wedding here last fall. They have several children. Mrs. Senator Galllnger, who was one of the party which left here for Cuba but who abandoned the trip when the yacht reached Charleston, was great ly shocked at the announcement of the death. When Mrs. Galllnger left Charleston, Mrs. Thurston was In per fect health and had best withstood the storm off Hatteras, being the only one who was not made sick. She confided to Mrs. Galllnger a strange presenti ment, saying she had written her son now at Harvard certain desires to be carried nut In case of accident and ad ded: "I do not expect to return alive." Little was thought of tho remark and Mrs. Thurston did not explain whether she feared a natural death or some ac cident to the vessel. Havana. March 14. Consul General Lee received the following telegram this afternoon from Mr. Walter B. Barker, United States consul at Sagua la Grande: "The wife of Senator Thurston died on th'e Anita .today. Shall give every attention and wire you from Borea," Meagre advices say that Mrs. Thurs ton died from apoplexy about 8 o'clock this morning when the yacht was In sight of port. The Anita left Matanzas last night with all the congressional party except Congressman Smith and Congressman Cummlngs, who went to Sagua by rail. Th'o passage from Hav ana to Matanzas was very rough and that to Sagua even worse. It Is thought that this, together with the rough pas sage down the coast, may have has tened the end; but nothing definite Is known here as to the circumstances of Mrs. Thurston's death or as to the time and place of the funeral. RECRUITS P0URINQ IN. Twenty Accepted Yesterday at the Philadelphia Station. Philadelphia, March 14. The recruit ing otllcers at League Island navy yard were busy today. Seventy applicants for the service were examined, and twenty accepted. These were mainly coal passers and mess attendants. Landsmen are especially needed now, nnd under orders from Washington all men who fulfill the physical and other requirements will be sure of berth as landsmen If not fitted for ordinary sea men. Seamen and machinists will con tinue to be enlisted as heretofore. The government tug Leyden will ar rive In tho morning, and after placing a number of Whitehead torpedoes on the Columbia and Minneapolis, will proceed to tow the coal laden barge Edith Howes .to Key West. President Dole ut Homo Again. Honolulu, March 6, via San Francisco, March 14. President and Mrs. Dole ar rived here on March 4, but, at the presi dents special request, there was no of ficial welcomo after his absence of, nearly two months. The Baltlmoro and Benning ton cave a salute of twenty-one guns, and the battery on the shore answered. The president oxpressed much pleasure at his reception In the United States and nt the general favor in which annexation Lis held. i . Drowned In the Juniata. Hollldaytburg, Pa., March 14. Christian Kamm, of Harrlsburg, Pa., was found drowned In the Juniata river near" this place today, Tho deceased was 70 years old and leaves a widow and four children In Harrlsburg. Relatives identified the remains this evening. SETTLEMENT OF CUBAN QUESTION Open Letter on the Subject from Dr. Qulteras. THE PLAN OP FORCINO AUTONOMY The Wrltor Cannot Belters Thnt Such Plans Aro Entertained by the United Stnles--Tho Canadian Situ ation Not a Parallel Case. Philadelphia, March 14. Dr. John Gultcras, the representative of the Cuban Junta In this city, In nn open letter today discussed tho published statements that there Is a project on foot to settle the Cuban question on a basis ot autonomy. "The plan, sayfl Dr. Gultcras, "suggests for Cuba all the privileges now enjoyed by Canada. I cannot believe that such a plan Is entertained by the United States gov ernment, and I feel that an appeal should be made to public opinion to pronounce Itself against the consum mation of such a sacrifice." He holds that there aro two reasons why the plan of forcing autonomy should not be considered; because it would not bo right and because it would not bo possible. J.n support of the first reason he says the English flag In Canada "means conciliation, prosperity, progress; It means partici pation In one of the grandest evolution ary movements of the human race, "while In Cuba the Spanish flag signi fies devastation, ruin, murder; It sig nifies participation In a movement of decadence and degeneration that has no parallel In history," he then de clares it would not be honorable to in sist that the Cuban people remain In any way dependent upon a government which has made systematic starvation a procedure of war, and which under a military authority has pursued a poli cy of extermination. He quotes the letter written by ex-Minister do Lome In which he refers to him as Spain's trusted representative, declaring the plan of autonomy to be a farce. Of his second reason he says: "You can wipe the power of Spain from the seas; you can crush the island and her people under your hand, but you can not force autonomy on the Cuban peo ple. Their contention for separation from Spain Is too Just; the gap be tween them Is too deep; the debt of blood, failure and desolation Is too great; and there Is not a shadow of community of interests that can hold together what everything tends to dis rupt. You can force a temporary peace, but Spanish domination In any form, never. War with all its horrors will constantly recur." ESTRADA PALMA'S OPINION. New York, 'March 14. Thomas Es trada Palma, of the Cuban revolution party, In this city today said: "Proposition for the Cuban pacifica tion reported to hve been offered by Senor Cebellos, was not satisfactory to the Junta. "We will not consider any proposi tion for a settlement of the war," said he, "unless it be based upon the abso lute Independence of Cuba. We are willing to pay Spain an indemnity of not more than $100,000,000. If this is not satisfactory to Spain, we will con tinue the war. Our resources are suf ficient to do this. I will not receive Senor Cebellos unless he wants to treat on the basis of absolute Independence." When Senor Palma was told that Spanish fours were selling In the Lon don market at 52, he replied: "I have recently sold some Cuban bonds at 60 per cent." MASON CmLENGED. Editor ol the Spanish Newipuper 1 Cardo Wants Ulood--8arcnstio Utterance to Amoricans. Washington, March 14. Senator Ma son today received the challenge sent him by the editor of the Spanish Illus trated paper, El Cardo. The document Is printed and is signed by the editor, the Marquis do Alta Villa. The chal lenge Is to be a combat at swords point and Is preceded by a short column of personal abuse In which Mr. Mason is described as "an Ignoble Yankee sen ator who scolds like a woman and who has not the valor to fight like a man and who would take a slap In the face without resenting It." The American people are referred to as a "people who deal In pigs and whose flag Is the almighty dollar." The senator accepts the challenge In a Jocose spirit, tie says he will have to see the marquis before he decides whether he will accent, but that It scarcely accords with Spanish modesty for the challenging party to name the weapons as Is done In this .Instance. SPANISH SENSATION. Reports ol the Death of Cuban Insnr itrntM Cause Joy in Madrid. Madrid, March 14. A great sensation has been caused here by an official dis patch from Havana saying that the Insurgent leadprs Caylto Alvarez and Nunez have been killed by other Insur gents while the former were on their way to tender their submission to the Spaniards. Official circles here claim that the ac tion of Caylto and his companions Is proof that an Important section of In surgents Is anxious to accept the "leg al regime." For Hnbtmtli Observance. Harrisburg, March 14. The Hnrrlsburg Ministerial association, composed of the lcudlng pastors of this city, adopted a res olution today Invoking the assistance of Mayor Patterson lu the enforcement of tho laws for the closing of cigar stores and tho prohibition of the sale ot to bacco and cigars in the drug stores on the Sabbath. .. . The Quoen'a Plivslcinu Dead. London, March 11, Sir Richard Qualn, Bart, physician extraordinary to Queen Victoria, president ot the general medical council and editor ot the dictionary ot medicine, Is dead. Ho was pom October 20, IMG, was a fellow of several learned societies nnd the author' of numerous medical and sclentlflo works. THE NEWS THIS MOKNINU Weather Indications Todajri Pair; Sllztitly Colder: Northerly Winds. 1 General The Spanish-American Situ ation Unchanged. , Opinions of Prominent Cubans on tho Now Scheme of Autc nomy for Cuba. Senate Votes Money for Eight Rove- nuo Cutters. Relief for Starving Rrconcentrados. 2 The Tribune's Popular Want Columns. Sermon by Rev. W. A. Carrlngton at Forest Cltv. Financial ond Commercial. 3 Making ot a Mnn-o'-Warsman. 1 Editorial. Comment of tho Press. 5 Local Many Opinions Handed Down by tho Court. Opening Day of tho Llcenso Court. 6 Local The Completed Estimates Bill. Judge-Bartloy Fight a Draw. 1 Local Present Board of School Con trollers Declared Illegal.. Board of Control Has a Buslncss-Llko Meeting. Pertrust Is a Wily Bondsman. 8 Local West Side and Suburban. 0 Lackawanna County News. 10 General Annual Report of the Com missioner of Patents, Supremo Court Decides Against tho Appellants in the Capitol Award Case. 1IUIIRY ORDERS. Received ut the Brooklyn N'nvy Ynrd Yostorday.-e.nn lor San Francisco. New York, March 14. A hurry order was received at the Brooklyn navy yard today from Washington for a six inch gun to be sent Immediately to San Francisco. The gun Is a large rapid fire breech" loading rifle which has been on the receiving ship Vermont. The work of transferring the gun com menced at once. It was dllllcult as tho gun weighs 10,070 pounds. It was one of the first rapid fire guns built for the navy, and of the old cen tral pivot gravity return variety. It was mounted on blocks on the spar deck of the receiving Bhlp, where It was used for Instruction. The officers at the navy yard were reticent as to what tho gun was need ed for at' San Francisco but It was reported th'at there Is something wrong with one of the guns of the cruiser Philadelphia, and this gun is Intended to replace it. 1,500 PERSONS HOMELESS. Floods In Camidie-Overilow ol' the Grand and Thames Rivers. Toronto, March 14. Despatches from Western Ontario tell of the overflow of the Grand and Thames Rivera, causing serious damage along the valleys. Sec tions of London, Branttord and Gait are submerged to a depth of from live to seven feet. In London 1,500 persons are homeless. Bridges and buildings havo been swept away. In Brantford Bremen and citi zens fought the raging waters all ot yesterday, but were beaten out, and West Brantford Is a lake. At Gait a heavy loss was sustained by the ".nisl Jiess men. The Ice Jam In the Grand River gave way and the flood follow ing, tore away bridges, trees and wrecked a number of factories and private residences. QREAT COAL STRIKE. Tlio Miners of Contrnl Pennsylvania Mny Quit Work. Cleveland, O., March 14. Concerning the possibility of another great strike of coal miners, Thomas Young, man ager of the M. A. Hanna Coal company, extensive operators in Pennsylvania, is quoted as saying today: "A strike involving about 20,000 miners will probably soon be In full Bwing In Central Pennsylvania. Tho operators declare they will not pay the Chicago scale and the miners announce their Intention to strike. There will be a tremendous rush for coal with the opening of navigation on' the lakes. It Is probable that the Hocking Val ley operators will sign the scale rather than to lose their share of the spring business. MORE MININQ BOOMS. Ore Compnnles Preparing to Resume Operations. Malone, N. Y March 14. The Cheat eauguay Ore and Iron company is ar ranging to resume operations at Ly ons Mountain and Standlsh. Orders have been received for iron from firms in Pennsylvania and elsewhero that have contracts with the government for steel plates for armored vessels. From two to three hundred men were formerly employed nt those mlnea but they have been closed of late ow ing to lack or orders for this particular grade of metal. SALISBURY ILL. The Premier Ordered to Take Host in the South of France. London, March 14. Lord Salisbury, the premier and minister of foreign affairs, is suffering from an attack of weakness and has been ordered by his physicians to take a complete rest in the south of France. The rumor that Lord Salisbury con templates resigning either of his olllces Is declared to be groundless. Dnatb of Charles (). Skeer. Mauch Chunk, Pa'., March 14. Charles O. Skeer, the millionaire coal operator and ex-dlrector of tho Lehigh Valley Railroad company, died late yesterday nt nlH home lu this city. lie was born in Lu zerne county in ISIS and came hero In IS II He was twice married, his first wifo being the adopted daughter of Hon. Asa Packer, and his second Mrs. 8. Frank Walter, who survives him. Overtime In a llleachrry. Mlllvllle, N. J.. March 14.-The Mlllvllle Manufacturing company's bleacherles are rushed with orders and were compelled to run nt night lost week. The normal capacity for finishing goods Is 25,000 pieces br about three and a quarter mill ion yards per week. During the past week the product amounted to over 40,000 pieces. INDEMNITY FROM SPAIN Will Be Asked in the Case of Bolton and Richelieu. REVENUE CUTTERS ORDERED Eight New Boats Will Cost $1,025,000. National (iunrnnlino 11111 Mndo tho Regular Order of l!usliioss--BilI Passed to Pay tho Heirs ot tho Late John Roach, the Ship Builder, for Labor ou tlio Gunboats Chicago, Bunion and Atlanta. Washington, March 14. During its session of three hours today the sen ate passed' a considerable number ot bills from the calendar, among them being one authorizing the construction of eight new revenue cutters not ex ceeding In aggregate cost the sum of $1,025,000. The national quarantine bill was made the regulur order of business and will be taken up probably on Wed nesday. Mr. Lodge (Mass.) of the foreign re lations commltttee, called' up the Joint resolution for the relief of August Bol ton and Gustave Richelieu. The reso lution as reported from the foreign re lations committee Is as follows: That tho president of tho United States be and he lis hereby empow ered to take such measures as In hl3 Judgment n.ay bo necessary to obtain the Indemnity from tho Spanish gov ernment from the wrongs and In juries suffered by August Bolton and Gustav Richelieu, by reason ot their wrongful arrest and Imprisonment by Spanish authorities at Santiago de Cuba In the year 189.': nnd to secure this end he Is authorized and requested to employ such means or exercise such power' as may bo necessary. The resolution, to which objection was made a few days ngo, was passed without debate. Among the bills passed was one to pay the heirs of the late John Roach, the Chester, Pa., shipbuilder. $330,151 for labor and material.dockage and de tention, etc., of the gunboats Chicago, Boston nnd Atlanta. The proceedings In the house today were utterly devoid of public Interest. The time was devoted to District ot Columbia business. EUROPEAN SYMPATHY. An Endeavor to Create Sentiment Against te United State. London, March 14. Tho Paris corres pondent of the Times says: "According to information obtained from good sources, the Austrian em peror Is making great efforts to Induce the European powers to present to the United States the danger to Enrope ot their carrying any further their Inter ference In Cuban affairs. "Emperor William Is warmly sec onding the efforts of Emperor FranclM Joseph. The American government is aware of this situation." The Vienna correspondent of the Standard declares that Austria and Germany sympathize with Spain, tha former being actuated by family ties between the two reigning houses and the latter by a grudge against tho United States. CHILI AND PERU. Their Disputo Has Not Been Com posed. Lima, Peru, via Galveston, Tex., March 14. Private Information has been received here to the effect that the minister for foreign affairs re ceived on Saturday last a cable dis patch from Senor G. 13, Btllinghurst, the vice-president of Peru, dated from Chill, the tenor of which Is that an ar- rangement of the disputes as to the disposition ot the provinces of Tacna and Arlcn, now held by Chill under the terms of the treaty of Ancon, has not been arrived at, but Is almost certain to be concluded. The Peruvians ot Santiago do Chill have been congratulating each other under the belief that the arrangement was nn accomplished fact. The gov ernment has ordered a general Inscrip tion of the National guard for April 10, which will Include all citizens from eighteen to flfty-nlne years of age. RUSSIA'S NAVEL FUND. Not So Large Hhcn the Tlmo ot Its Expenditure Is Considered. London, March 14. Tho St. Peters burg correspondent of the Times mini mizes tho significance of the Russian naval credit. He says: "The sum Is not so large, In view of tho fact that It Is to be spread over the next seven years. The minister of marine, Admiral Tyrtoff, asked 200,000, 000 roubles six months ugo, but owing to budget considerations only 00,000,000 were granted, which practically ex hausts the frco balance." Juryman Threatened. Hazloton, Pa., March 11. Alfred Wash burn, one of the Jurors who served In the case ot Sheriff Martin nnd his deputies, stated today that ho has been discharged by Houtz Bros., Freeland carriage mak ers, because the firm was threatened with a bocott in case of his retention us an employe. The Herald's Weather Forecast. New York. March 15. In the middle states nnd Now England, today, clear to fair weather will prevail with light north westerly and westerly winds, shitting to northeasterly and easterly and slightly lower by slowly rising tempernture. On Wednesday, lu both of theso sections, fair to partly cloudy, sllgh'iy higher tempera ture, with fresh easttTy to southeasterly winds followed by tain in this section.