10 I J5 fnrtrf mt 6iSuS3SlsS STrihirm 10
. ,-. ' c . ' , i
CUt
) UJGJNTS.
Ij'ett
S STAGE"
ST BE NEAR
, Will Refuse All
Demands for Maine
Indemnity.
COURT OF INQUIRY REPORT
Every Precaution. Adopted to
Keep the Matter Secret.
Idmiml Sicard Ii Determined Thnt
thn Administration Shall Have Op
portunity of Inspecting the Uoporl
Trior to Publication in Newspapers.
Tlio Honrcli lor Good Ships Conlln
tiGs on 1'artol IJolh Spain und the
United Mtatei.
Washington, March 17. The trend ot
today's news In the Spanish-American
Imbroglio Indicates that an acute stage
may he reached before many more
hours have passed.
It Is stated that the president expects
the report of the court of Inquiry to
morrow or next day, and that It may
even now be on Its way from Key West.
It Is almost a foregone conclusion that
the document will attribute the cause
of the Maine disaster to an external
agency.
In the face of this comes a seml
ofllcial declaration from Madrid that
tha Spanish commission will almost un
doubtedly aver that the explosion was
due to an Internal accident and that
If such be their finding, any demand for
an indemnity will be indignantly re
pelled by Spain.
The other important developments
were the determination to form a new
squadron of war ships at Hampton
Roads, and Senator Proctor's exposi
tion to the senate of what he saw and
heard in Cuba.
Upon the court's arrival at Key West
yesterday, Admiral Sicard communl-
cd.eu wun wasnington arci . "vs at
termined that to maintain the secrecy
.of the court's verdict, the report should
not lie teiegrapneu in cipher or other
wise. Admiral Sicard was therefore In
structed to place the documents in the
custody of a naval officer, who should
carry them to the capltol. Whether or
not he has vet started Is not known,
any more than his identity. lieuten
ant Commander Marlx, judge advocate
of the court, will probably be the man
to undertake this grave mission.
ADMIRAL SICARD'S CAUTION.
Kvery precaution thri human Inge
nuity can suggest will be adopted to
safeguard the report, the main nppre-
lon being that there may be some-
r n rmbllontlnn In ihf pu'snmm
.? tnat may lnterfere seriously with
uj successful working out of the policy
ot tne administration. The documents
will be sealed at Key West under the
personal observation of Admiral Sic
ard and the nuval officer will be ex
pected to deliver the envelope with seal
unbroken Into the hands of the secre
tary of the navy.
As Admiral Sicard Is the very Incar
nation of caution In the discharge of
official matters and as he Is technically
responsible for the safe delivery of the
court's report to .the secretary of. the
navy It may be safely set down as a
fact that any publication that attempts
to set out either in full or in substance
the court's report will be absolutely
conjectural In its basis.
SPAIN'S ATTITUDE.
The semi-nflicinl statement of th'e
Spaniards comes under Madrid date
and reads:
The report of tho Spanish commis
felon on the Maine Is not yet known;
but, tho statement of several technical
officers, who have made a close, exam
ination of the bcene of tho disaster
show It was Indisputably due to un
Internal accident. American 'asser
tions to the contrary are therefore de
plored In olTlclnl quarters as tending
to mislead public opinion and rentier
the bltuutlon more dlfllcult from tho
standpoint of maintaining friendly re
lations between tho two countries. It
may be recarded as certain that
should the American technical com
mission present a report declailng the
disaster to be duo to an external ex
plosion, tho public here will refuse to
accept such a finding and any demnud
for nn indemnity based thereon will
be Indignantly repelled by Spain.
This statement has attracted much
Interest in official circles. There has
been little doubt for some time that
Spain was preparing for th'e contlngen
of an adverse report by the AmerJ
I court of inquiry and to that end
was preparing to anticipate and offset
it by making clear the government pol
icy of standing by the report of the
Spanish commission. The report ot the
latter body was due in Madrid yester
day and while its conclusions are not
officially known. It Is a foregone con
clusion that It will find that the Maine
disaster was due to accident resulting
In Internal explosion. This was fore
shadowed In tho advance utterances ol
Captain Pernl, head of th'e Spanish
commission who stated publicly several
days ago that the theory of external
explosion was untenable.
Along with the semi-official state
ment from Madrid that a demand for
Indemnity will Ijo Indignantly repelled,
la the further rtatertient from reliable
source3 that Spain has made it clear
, to the authorities here that interven
tion may lead to war. The prospects of
such Intervention appear to bo seri
ously entertained by Spain, and strong
efforts have been modo to avert It by
Bhowlng that tho condition of tho re
concentradoes Old not warrant the step
and als-j that It would threaten to end
nil prospects of further pacific negotla-ilnnx.
r1 I
CONFERENCE WITH JUDll$)AY.
,Jt.
Mysterious Meeting llctwren thn
Judge nnd Spanish .Minister.
Washington, March 17. The Spanish
fnlnlster called at tho state department
at 'J o'clock nnd remained with Judge
Day something over an hour. Roth
patties to the conference were extreme
ly reserved at Its conclusion. It Is un
derstood, however, that It developed
no new phase, but was a general talk
in which pacific assurances wire ex
changed und a hopeful view of the sit
uation expressed. At that time, the
naval orders taking the battleships
Te.vas and Massachusetts from Key
West and assigning them to tho lleet
nt Hampton Roads was not known at
the state department, so that the min
ister was not officially Informed ot tho
fact. He heaid It later, however, nnd
was t.aturally much gratified as the
gradual strengthening of the American
ileet at Key West and has been tho
source of grave apprehension by the
Spanish government.
The largest measures of preparation
yet made by the war department to
meet tho contingencies of tho future
probably has Just been completed. It
Is the preparation of a bill providing
among other sections for th'e placing i
of the army on a war footing for thn I
full strength of 101,000 men. Tho bill
0 OO f 0OKKK OO
I CUBANS WILL NOT
$ Proclamation of the Cuban Junta, Through Its Presi
S dent, to the People of the United States.
New York, March 17. The Cuban junta, through its pres-
l iclent, T. Estrada Palma, tonight issilctl a proclamation to the
) people of the United States, declaring that the Cubans will not
accept autonomy; that their motto is still independence or death,
and expressing confidence that the United States will not aid
y Spain to subjugate the insurgents. 0
fHO-fHOHOtO0OtO000COfOOK00
has been carefully gone over by the
war department and will be Introduced
In the house by Representative Hull,
chairman of the house committee on
military affairs, who, It Is expected,
will urgo it vigorously Inasmuch as It
Is nn administration measure. The
basis of the bill will be the well known
three battalion organization. That Is
the Ideal peace status of tho army, but
provision Is made for the exercise bv
the president of full power to Increase
each one of the existing companies
from seventy-five men, the present
strength to 230 men.
According to the latest report to con
gress, based on the returns for 1S97,
(the total organized stiongth' of the mil
itia of the country Is lil.liu men, while
the total of men available for duty
(unorganized) Is 10,501,339. Of these, to
mention tho chief states of tho union,
Pennsylvania leads tho unorganized
list with S7S.39I. She has 8.521 organ
ized. Naw York has 00.000 and 13.894
respectively; Illinois. 750,000 and G,2f0;
Ohio, 050,000 and C.00I, and Indiana,
500.000 and 2,873.
The house committee on naval affnlrs
h'ad disposed of tho question of in
creases in the vessels of the nnvy, un
less there is some change of disposition
among the nmmbers. Tho committee
by unanimous vote adopted the motion
of Lepiesentatlve Foss, of Illinois, to
authorize the construction of six new
torpedo boats and six new torpedo boat
destroyers nnd the provlslc.n for this
has been incorporated in the naval bill.
It has not been decided what appro
priation will be made for this purpose.
Representative Wheeler, of Alabama,
introduced the following Joint resolu
tion today:
Resolved, That a Joint committee,
consisting of five membeis of the sen
ate to be appointed by the vice presi
dent, and live members of the house,
to be appointed by the speaker, be
created to report without delay to the
two houses nn address to the govern
ment of Spain declaring In firm und
diplomatic language that Americans
nnd American interests In Cuba must
be protected and that the atrocities
now being perpetrated In that Island
must cease.
Resolved, That tho executive be re
quested to Immediately transmit this
address to the government of Spain
by such methods as ho may deem
moat advisable, together with a letter
of endorsement nnd appioval of this
action nnd the part of congress.
DAY. H CONGRESS.
Sonnto 1'nsBon n Hill Authorizing the
Erection ot n Stnluu to Presi
dent Lincoln nt Gettysburg.
Washington, March 17. No political
questions were discussed in the house
today. The whole session was devoted
strictly to the postofllce appropriation
bill which was taken up for amend
ment under the flve-mlnute rules. The
questions wh'lch consumed the major
portion of the time related to the al
lowance for eltrk hlr-a at postofllce and
to rural free delivery. The house In
creased tho allowance for rural free de
livery from J150.000 to $300,000 and de
feated tho proposition for Increased
clerk hire.
In the senate today a bill was passed
to authorize tho erection of a statue of
T resident Lincoln at Gettysburg, aP..
to cost $50,000, the statue to be erected
by a commission composed of the sec
retary of war, the commander of tho
nuny, the governor of Pennsylvania
and th'a commander of the Grand Army
of tho Republic.
Ited 'rnss Supplies.
Philadelphia, March 17. The Red Cross
society of this city today shipped Its sec
ond contribution of relief supplies to the
starving Cubans reconcentradoes, The
shipment weighed 13,220 pounds and was
sent on the steamer Kcnnott. The des
tination Is Matanzas. The cargo consist,
ed of clothing, cornmeal, beans, con
densed milk, canned goods, Hour, bread
and medicine. Another shipment will be
made on April 2.
NienmMilp Arrivals.
New YorW. Mnrnh 17.Rril1ivl. jnmn.4i
Liverpool. Queenstown Sailed:' Cermnnloj
lum. nunciuum-Buueu; Hotter
dam, New York. Brcmerhavcn Arrived:
Havel. New York. Genoa Arrived: Buule,
New York. Sailed: Kins, Ntw York.
SCRANTON. PA..
PURCHASE-OF MORE
WAR IMPLEMENTS
A Torpedo Boat Deslroycr Bought In
England.
WILL SAIL UNDER SEALED ORDERS
Itnpnrled New Acquisition ot Tills
(Juverniiit'iit--Ituly Snltl to Have
Sold bpniii the t miser Vnretio--''lin
I'onnnl TrunMor of the Amnzonns
to This Government to lie Made
Today.
London, March 17. According to a
special dispatch from Sunderland, the
United Status government has pur
chased n torpedo boat destroyer from
a sh'ip "builder of that place, named
Doxford.
The warship Amazonas, purchased
by tho United States, will bo formally
tinnsferrcd to the United States gov
ernment tomorrow at Gravesend. lieu
tenant Commander Colwell, the United
States naval attache here, will take
possession of the vessel on behalf of
O OOOOOOO OO A
ACCEPT AUTONOMY.
the government, and will receive the
ship from her Brazilian commander. A
crew from the San Francisco will then
be marched on board and the Rrazlllan
Hag will be hauled down and the Bia
zlllans will be landed. The executive
officer of tho San Francisco will prob
ably take command of tho Amazonns,
and sl will sail for the United States
as speedily as possible, under sealed
orders. It Is pupposed she Is going to
tho nearest American stntlon where
her crew will be reinforced.
The Amazonas has Just been provis
ioned nnd coaled for her trip to Iira7.il.
The United States government has
purchased all her supplies.
Commander Wlllard II. Brownson,
tho ajiun? 01 tho United Stntes navy
department, who arrived here yester
day from Now York, has been besieg
ed by ship-men and reporters. He says
the reports of the objects of his mis
sion are Incorrect, and that his errand
is one which' ho cannot speak iibout.
Apparently Commander Browns,on Is
acting as advisor to Lieutenant Col
well. A special dispatch from Rome says
the Italian minister ot marine. Admit al
Brln, has informed tho Spanish am
bassador to Italy, Count do Bonomar,
that his request that Italy should sell
three warships to Spain will be dis
cussed at the next cabinet meeting.
Another special despatch from Rome
says tho Italian government has sold
the armored cruiser Varese to Spain.
Cravesend, England, March 17. Part
of the otllcers and crew of the Ama
zonas, the vessel built for Brazil but
sold to the United States, left here this
afternoon. Her American crew will
take charge of her tomorrow morning
at 11 o'clock.
SEARCHING FOR SHIPS.
Administration Explains Its Pur
chase ol Vessels.
Washington, March 17. Both govern
ments have been sounding each other
on th'e activity of the other In search
ing for ships, but there has been little
ground for objection on either side ns
both have been in the same markets.
The administration explain its buying
of ships on the ground thaRpaln's at
titude has been so menacing as natur
ally to call for an augmented navy,
while Spain tokes the same view that
the activity in th'e United States re
quires suitable preparations by the
Spanish navy.
The report that Spain had protested
against a filibustering expedition to Pu
erto Rico cannot "be verified as officials
here tay this expedition has not yet
got away.
Tlie Hampton Roaas squadron will
fit at consist of flvo ships all the best
of their types. Two of them, the bat
tleships Massachusetts and Texas, are
withdrawn from the present North At
lantic lleet at Key We3t and Tortugns.
It would be a gntvo mistake to suppose
that In ordering this movement, the
navy department is nnimnted by any
purpose of yielding to reptesentutions
or Imitations that may have come from
the Spanish minister, as to iho mischief
caused by the gathering of so large a
naval force cs Admiral SIcard's lleet In
tho vicinity of Cuba. On the contrary
the formation of the new squadron vas
brought about by purely strategic con
siderations, although It appears from
the nature of the forco so far under
orders to rendezvous at Hampton Roads
that this strategy Is of tho defensive
nature. T" new squadron cannot be
called a "flying squadron" because the
association of htiavy battleships with
fleet cruisers like tho Brooklyn, Colum.
lila and Minneapolis reduces the avail
ahia speed of the whole to tho speed
of the slowest vessel und tho squadron
could not do much "Hying" In the nuval
sense. Tho Indications rather nro that
when reinforced by smaller cruisers,
the squadron will constitute an Ideal
naval defense.
INFLUENCES AT WORK.
For the past two months Influences
have been ut work In the navy depart
ment to bring about this change and
as n policy board headed by Captain
Crownlnshleld has been in frequent ses
sion of )ato at the department, It Is
believed that It has endorsed tho plan
at last. Although the other ships to be
added to tho squadron have not yet
been definitely selected it is surmised
that they will Include some of the other
battiohin "IT ' - ,r
FUIDAY MORNING.
mored cruiser New York, In which case
Admiral Sicard, it. Is believed, will com
mand the now force. In place of the
crulrer New York the people of Key
West will look upon tho grim outlines
of tho big monitor Puritan, supposedly
the most powerful ship In smooth wuter
in tho whole world. She will have to
assist her on guard the double-turretted
monitor Mlantonomoh and the monitor
Amphltrlte. Tho Puritan Is now at Nor
folk almost ready for sea, the Mlan
tonomoh is at League Island quite
ready and so is the Amphltrlte nt Port
Royal. H. C. So the order will In the
end result in the gathering of tho pick
of the North Atlantic squadron at
Hampton Roads. Tho point Is said to
bo tho best strategically on the Atlnn
tlc coasts. It is almost centrally lo
cated nnd the Fhlns from that point
can reach any portion of the coast In
short order, which Is regarded as de
sirable since no one can .tell Just where
a flotilla of torpedo destroyers or a fast
cruiser mny turn up with hostile in
tent to attack a town.
The gunboat Helena reported to the
department that she had sailed today
from Funchal Madeira for Key West
to Join the squadron. It Is now said
that It has been definitely determined
to bring the battleship Oregon around
South America to Key West.
The new torpedo boat Rodgers will
also Join the flotilla nt Key West. The
Columbia and Minneapolis are still each
2C0 men short of their full mmtn i..,t
it is expected that enough men will bo
secured In the course of a few days to
enable the ships to be sent to Hampton
Roads to execute tho orders Issued to
day. The naval recruits officers In the
south are meeting with success at New
Orleans. Yesterday they secured forty
men who were professionally fitted for
the navy.
SPAIN PLANS DELAY.
Seeking Pretexts lorPutting oil Intor-
vcntion.-Tliut Is Supposed to
lie Sngnitn's Policy.
Washington, Mnich 17. The Mont
gomery has been ordered from Havana
to Key West, but the move Is not In
response to the Spanish representations
with regard to tho massing of the lleet
in southern wateis. It Is simply in pur
suance of the established policy of tho
department to keep the vessels of the
fleets In motion. The Montgomery was
ordered to Havana originally to take
the place of the Fern, and that vessel
is back again with wrecking apparatus.
It may be partly a sanitary measure,
for It has been found Invnrlably that
sickness has appealed In the crews of
American warships stationed at Ha
vana soon after their nrrlval. It Is not
safe to keep the crew of any vessel
there for a long period. At the same
time a good deal of feeling has been
aroused by the attitude assumed by
the Madrid government. Of course It
Is open to the construction that the
Sagasta ministry Is putting Itself In a
position to shift upon the shoulders or
the United States responsibility for the
falure of autonomy and for troubles
which may arise later from that source
and to enable Spain to go before the
world as a victim of American aggres
sion. Spain's object now, It Is thought,
111 be to delay conclusions. The pur
pose Is to make other nttempts In the
direction of autonomy, and by Inter
posing one excuse after another induce
tho United States to defer indefinitely
a recognition of Independence. In this
policy It Is supposed the Spanish gov
ernment will have the secret sympathy
of one or more European powers, so
that in the event of an acknowledg
ment of the failure of uutonomy the
United States In recognizing Independ
ence will be regarded as guilty of an
act of aggression.
If such n policy Is Sagasta's purpose,
he has selected his agent with gieat
skill. Senor Polo y Bernabe Is the most
plausible diplomat who has represented
Spain in Washington since the pres
ent controversy nrose. He has an ad
mirable air of frankness.
LUMBER YARD FIRE.
Establishment ol Ezra Cnnlisld, ol
Willlnmsport Dostiovcd--Sovrnl
Millions or Lumber Ruined.
Williamsport, Pa., March 17. The ex
tensive lumber yard of Ezra Canfleld,
three miles east of this city. Is In
flames, and several millions ot feet of
lumber will be destroyed.
A lire company from this city was
tent to the scene, but owing to the
wind it is not probable that any of
the lumber can be saved. An estimate
of the loss cannot be given nt this hour.
SAYS SHE IS IIAWLEVS WIDOW.
Former Housekeeper linn tVlttiuat to
Nubstiuitlnle Hnr Clnini.
Aurora, III., March 17. The former
housekeeper of the lute Paul Hawley,
of Kendall county, now claims to bo
his widow nnd seeks to have tho pres
ent administrator of the estate remov
ed. She shows a marriage license and has
witnesses who testify that they were
married at Kenosha, Wis., July 21, 1S97.
The administrator claims that Hawley
spent tho day of July 21, 1S07, at the
Aurora races.
Negro Lynched.
Greneila, Miss., March 17. Alexander
Andeivon, a young negro, attempted to
criminally assault a school glil last night
ut 9 o'elock. Threo hours later he was
captured by a mob, confessed and wus
hanged. Anderson was made to climb a
cotton-wood tree with a rope about his
neck. He was then pushed oft a limb und
strangled to death.
Ol II III II H CollttpM).
Chlcugo, March 17.-Tho two big col
umns forming tho mnln support to the
entrance of the Colllseum building de
stroyed by fire not long ago .collapsed
without warning tcday, killing K. R.
Baker and futally Injuring John Rico.
Several others were slightly injured. All
wero workmen engaged In clearing up the
ruins.
Mupeilor Jmlgim Dine.
Harrlsburg, March 17. The Judges of
tho Superior court und the Judges ot th
Dauphin county court wero tendered a
dinner' this evening at the Hotel Rubs by
John II, Weiss, a leading member of tho
Wnl bar.
MAHCII 18. 189S.
TERRIBLE STATE OF
RECONCENTRADOES
Air. Proctor's Rcmarknbla Statement
to tbc Senate.
AN AWFUL TALE OP WANT
Duntli in tliu Ktreoti Not Uncommon.
Victim Die of Starvation in Hie
Mnrkut Plai-o with Pluntf ol Food
All About-.JJcorcs tho HulbtirUy
Inuuiiurnled bv Uovlor.
Washington, Match 17. From many
view points tho statement of Senator
Proctor to tho senate was remarkable.
Every element of sensationalism had
been studiously eliminated from It, and
except so far as the facts recited were
sensational, it bore not the slightest
evidence of an effort to arouse the pub
lie mind, already keenly alive to the
condition of affairs on the Island. The
utterances of the senator aroused a
breathless interest. Ho said, in part:
"Outside Havana, It Is not peace, nor
Is It war. It Is desolation and dis
tress, misery and starvation."
He rend sections of thn nnlw lannH
by Weyler to tho reconcentradoes. They
forbid the transpottatlon of provisions
from one town to another without per
mission of tho military authority, direct
the owners of cattle to bring them into
the town, prescribe that eight days
shall be counted from the publication
of the proclamation to the head town
of the municipal districts and state
that If news Is furnished of the enemy
which can be made use of it will serve
as a "recommendation."
Many doubtless did not learn of this
Older. Others failed to grasp Its ter
rlblo meaning. Its execution was left
largely to tho guerillas to drlvo in all
that had not obeyed und I was satis
fied that In many cases a torch was
applied to their homes with no notice
and the Inmatos fled with such cloth
ing as they might havo on, their stock
and other belongings being appropri
ated by tho guerillas. When they
reached the town they were allowed to
build huts of palm leaves In the su
bjrbs and vacant places within the
trorlms and left to livo it they could.
Their hLts aru about ten by fifteen
feet In size mid for want of space aro
usually crowded together very cloielj.
They have no floor but tho ground nnd
no furniture and after 11 year's wear
but little clotrlng except such stray
substitutes ns they can extemporize.
With largo families or with moro than
ono In this little space, the common
est sanitary provisions are impossible.
Conditions are unmentionable in this
respect. Torn from their homes, with
foul earth, foul ulr, foul water and
foul food or none, what wonder that
one-half havo died and that one
quarter of the living are so diseased
that they cannot be saved.
DEATHS IN THE STREIJTS.
Deaths In tho streets have not been
uncommon. 1 was told by one of our
consuls that they have been found
dead about the markets In tho morn
ing, where they had crawled hoping to
get Fome stray bits of food from the
early hucksters nnd that there hnd
been cases where they had dropped
dead inside the market surrounded by
food.
I went to Cuba with n strong convic
tion that tho plcturo had been over
drawn: but a few cases of starvation
nnd suffering had Inspired and stim
ulated the press correspondents and
they had given freo play to a strong,
natural and highly cultivated Imag
ination. I saw plenty as bad and
worse; many that should not bo pho
tographed and shown. I could not be
lieve that out of a population of 1,000,
000, two hundred thousand had died
within these Spanish forts, practically
prison walls, within a few months
past from actual starvation and dls
easo caused by Insufficient and Im
proper food. My Inquiries were entire
ly outsldo of sensational sources.
They were made of our medlcnl offi
cers, of our consuls, of city alendes
(mayors), of relief committees, ol lead
ing bankers, physicians and lawyers.
Several of my Informants wero Span
lnsh born, but every time tho an
swer was that the case hud not been
overstated. What I saw, I cannot tell
so that others can see It. It must be
seen with one's own eyes to bo ic
allzed After an enthusiastic tribute to the
relief work of Clara Barton, Senator
Proctor said he did not learn that the
210,000 Spaniards resident in the Is
land had contributed largely In blood
or treasure to suppress the Insurrec
tion. He compared tho Spaniard with
the Cuban to tne latter's advantage
and next discussed the military situa
tion there, asserting that tho Spanish
aimy In men, system and equipment.
Is of a very inferior character. On
the political situation In Cuba, Senator
Proctor said:
"I Inquired In regard of autonomy ot
men of wealth und men a, prominent
In business as in any of the cities of
Havana, Matunzas und Sagua. With
out exception they replied that It was
"too late" for that. Some favored a
United States protectorate, somo an
nexation, some free Cuba, not ono
has been counted favoring tho insur
rection at first. To mo tho strong
est appeal is not tho barbarity prac
ticed by Weyler, nor the loss of the
Maine, If our worse fears should
provo truo, terrlblu as aro both of
these Incidents, but tho spectaclo of a
million and u half people, tho entire
native population of Cuba, struggling
for freedom nnd deliverance from tho
worst mlsgovernment of which I ever
hud knowledge. I merely speak of tho
symptoms ns I saw them, but do not
undertake to prescribe Such remedial
stops aa may be required may safely
lie left to an American president and
tho American people.
FIRST NEGRO SALES SINCE '65.
Vagrants to Go Into lionUnge Instead
nl Prison Cr-IU,
Glasgow, Ky., March 17. After re
peated convictions of vagrancy, two
negroes will Iki sold Into bondage nt
the court house next Monday, the first
In this section since IPCS.
This Is Kentucky's new form ot Im
prisonment at labor, and th'e negroes'
purchasers must agree to properly
clothes and house thtm.
I'lrp tit Lebanon.
Lebanon, Pa., March 17, Tho houBe,
barn und grist mill of Mayer & Bright
bill, at Derry Church, wero totully de
stroyed by flro late last night. Tho' mill
was a flve-Btory brick and ono of the
finest In this section. Tho loss Is about
125,000; partly covered by Insurance, The
flro Is thought to havo been the work of
sn turemaiarv
THE MWS THIS M011N1NU
Weather Indications ToJayi
Pair and Colder,
1 General Crisis In the ripanlsh-Amcri-
can Imbroglio Is Near.
Senator Proctor's View of Conditions
in Cuba.
Unelo Sam Buys Another Warship.
Captuln General Blanco's Prophecy.
2 Tho Tribune's Popular Wnnt Columns.
Financial und Commercial.
3 Local New Homo for tho Friendless
Is Now Occupied.
Stato Guard Subject to tho Orders ot
Undo Sum.
I Editorial.
Comment of tho Press.
C Story "A Rcgulnr Amazon."
C Local-McHugh Did Not Prove His
Case.
Oft for the Klondike.
7 Local Marvellous Exhibition in tho
Conncll Building.
Observance of St. Patrick's Day.
8 Local West Scranton and Suburban.
9 Lackawanna County News.
10 General Patriotism Displayed nt tho
Philadelphia Methodist Conference.
Ei..lcnt Postolllco Facilities for
Alaska.
EARLY MORNING FIRE
It Caused a Loss of Over
Seven Thousand
Dollars.
A large two-story barn, owned by
Mrs. Patrick Donnelly, of C20 Beech
street, was totally destroyed by fire
at 2 o'clock this morning. The origin
of the fire Is a mvstery, but It Is
thought to bo from ah Incendiary cause.
Two enndy wagons, two carriages,
1215 barrels of flour, about 5 tons of hay,
three valuable horses, and several oth'
cr things were destroyed, Mrs. Don
nelly estimated her loss at about $7,000
with only about n quarter of that
amount covered by insurance.
The fire was discovered 'by Miss Bes
sie Lansran who lives In one of the
Donnelly dwelling houses In the rear
and about fifty feet from tile barn. An
alarm was sent In from box 4S, corner
of Beech street and Prospect avenue.
The Century, Neptunes and William
Connell companies responded. The
stream of water, oven with the steam
er In use, was meager.
BERESF0RD ADVOCATES ALLIANCE.
Tho HritUli Admiral Saya We Can
Jierer Lour in War.
London, March 17. Rear Admiral
Lord Charles Beresford, member of
parliament for York, In an Interview
todny, advocated an Anglo-American
alliance as "a move in the direction of
pence and calculated to immensely de
velop .trade." He added: "Such an al
liance Is natural, and I believe the mere
fact of Its conclusion would deter oth
ers from attacking any Inadequately
defended Interests of either country.
Now is the time to accomplish it, when
the advantages are apparent to both
countries. A decade hence, when. If
she desires, the United States can havo
become a first class naval power, and
will, perhaps, have adopted the policy
of free- trade, it might not be worth
her while to undertake the responsibil
ities of nn alliance wPh Great Britain.
When Amr-ilra has liullt her navy she
will be in a position to enforce her de
mands, which will not take her long
now with her enormous latent resourc
es and mechanical and engineering fa
cilities. An Anglo-American alliance
would be the most powerful factor in
the world for pence and the develop
ment of commerce."
Speaking of the possibilities of the
United States going to war, Lord Ber
esford remarked: "If she ever does,
no matter what happens at the begin
ning, she must win eventually, because
of the enthusiasm and Intent patriot
Ism of her people."
THE CHICAGO FIRE.
Three Ilnrned nnd .11 mingled Bodies
Tnkon from the Ruins--r'our-
teen Persons Missing,
Chicago. March 17. Three burned and
mangled bodies were today taken from
the ruins ot the building, 215-221 Wa
bash avenue, which was destroyed by
fire yesterday. This brings the number
of known dead to six, while fourteen
persons reported ns missing had not
been accounted for at a late hour to
night. Firemen today unearthed the
bodies of Charles A. Price, cashier;
Henry R. Nelson, chemist, and Mrs.
M. E. Harris, bookkeeper, all employed
by the W. A. Olmstead Scientific com
pany. The three victims who lost their lives
by leaping from tho building to thu
pavement below were Edward BInz,
cashier, for Sweet, Wallach & Co.;
Miles A. Smith and Sam A. Clark, em
ployes of the Olmstead company. The
missing were all connected with these
firms.
HARA10NI0US CONVENTION.
Tom Cooper, of .lledin, Is Endorsed
lor Governor ith n Hinh.
Media, Pa., March 17. The Repuhll
can county convention here today wus
marked by perfect harmony. It lasted
only two hours. Ex-Congressman John
B. Robinson was chairman and ex
Senator Thomas V. Cooper was en
dorsed for governor with a rush.
Ho got 232 delegates to six for Henry
W. Meyer, of Radnor: one for John
Wanamaker; two for Thomas J, Clay
ton and two for W. A. Stone. The
ticket Included Assemblvmen Thomas
H. Garvin, of Sharon Hill: Wurd R.
Bliss, of Chester, and Richard J. Bald
win, of Birmingham, The stato dele
gates are Jared Darlington, W. S. Ellis,
John U. Hannum, Theodore F. Kreo
ger, William J. McClure, W. S. Mc
Dowell and John S. Rogers.
l.nvlgnuUnilr I'lplit n Draw.
Cleveland. O., March 17. Tho Lavlgne
T""v rleiit was a rtmw in twenty rounds.
TWO CENTS.
BLANCO'S
PROPHECY
Says Spain Will Rule the
Gulf During Present
Generation.
STATEMENTS AT A BANQUET
Blanco's Bluff Is Received
with Shouts of Approval.
Spniilih Papers Claim That Cubn
Will He Defended to the End ot the
Chapter--General Loo Denies tho
Humor That Ho Hns Applied lor a
Position Elsewhere, and .States
That Ho Will Look After Amoricnn
Interests In Cubn Until Kscallod.
Havana, March 17. General Blancoi,
at the banquet last night to the offi
cers ot the Vlscaya and the Almirante
Oquendo, toasted "Tho King, the Queen
Regent, the Army and the Navy of
Spain." He said: "The present gen
eration will never see another bannen
than that of Spain at the entrance to
the Gulf of Mexico. That banner, rep
resenting civilization, progress, liberty,
humanity and religion, will be eternal,
like that of the first American nation."
These sentiments' were received with
shouts of approval and cheers.
Admiral Manterola, responding on bo
half of the navy, said: "In union tho
nrmy and navy will always bo Inde
structible." La Union Constltuclonal publishes to
day numerous Interviews with leading
politicians and other authorltcs on thn
situation. Tho trend of nil Is to the
effect that there Is no reason for war,
but that Spain would defend her pos
session of Cuba to tho last drop o(
blood. Some of the prominent Cubantt
Interviewed are represented as saying
that Spain can count on the support of
all peaceable Creoles.
La Lucha, In today's Issue, says edi
torially that Juan Cemballos, ot New
York city, who recently visited Presi
dent McKlnley for nn interview on tho
Cuban question, has no authority from
or standing in Cuba or" Spain, and
asks: "Whom does Senor Cembnlloa
represent in Cuba?"
The American yacht Buccaneer.whlch
has been expected here to take the re
mainder of the congressional party
north, Is more than forty hours over
due at the time this dispatch Is filed,
and there are fears that some accident
has befallen her. Messrs. Money.Smltlt
and Cummlngs decided not to wait
longer, and left for Key West today on
the Aransas.
VALUABLE WRECKAGE RAISED.
It Is hoped tho wreckers will find
tampions In the big guns, and if this
proves the case the guns can bo saved.
If otherwise, and the marine growth)
has ruined the steel of tho cores, the
breech mechanism can be used in other
guns. Today another one-pounder and
two of the three anchors, with theln
chains, all very valuable, were raised,
and tho swords of First Lieutenant oC
Marines Catlln and Lieutenant F. W
Jenkins.
The two battalions of Havana volun-.
teers are drilling In heavy artillery ex
ercises at the Cuban fortress.
The Viscaya. Is still coaling and IK
is now announced that sho will prob-
ably not go to Mexico.
The Montgomery left this port for1
Key West. General Paulo ia expected!
to nnive tonight.
Consul General L?e, Interviewed to
day as to the report that he had ap
plied for H. Maltland Kersey's former
position as New York agent of tho
iYlllte s'ar l'ne' "aid there was nq
truth in It whatever.
"1 have not made nnd do not con
template maklnjr applIcatlOT," said)
General Lee, "for any place of any
kind. I purposo staying 'lere to look
after tho American Interests until my
own or the Spanish, government den
munds my recall."
REPAIRINQ OP THE MONITORS.
Tive of tho Old H'nr Ilonts will He
fitted Up for Harbor Defense.
Philadelphia, March 17. At League)
Island navy yesterday It was learned
that tho board of experts who exam
ined tho eight old monitors havo de
cided that three of them, the Canonl
cus. Manopac and Lehigh are useless
and cannot be put In condition for ser
vice. These three were today returned
to their old moorings in the back bas
in. The other five, tho Nahant, Jason,
Catskill, Montauk and Manhattan can
he fitted out for harbor defence. Tho
principal work required on them Is to
lav new decks and make a few minor
repairs to the machinery.
Commandant Casey said today that
tho monitors could be made effective
na defenders of torpedo fields, or where
they could be anchored In shallow wat
sr and their big guns used to ndvunt
age. The battering capacity of theso
guns, out of dato as they are, Is form
idable, and appearances Indicate that
they will be retained in their old tur.
lots. Ammunition for these fifteen,
inch muzzle-loader, Bmooth-bores has'
been ordered and Is now being pre
pared nt the government magazines at
Fort Milllln.
Flotilla Shuns llnrnnn.
tadrld, March 17. Admiral Bermejo.
the minister of murine, has wired tho
commander of tho torpedo flotilla at tho
Canaries not to proceed to Havana.
The Herald's Wpnther I'nrecnst.
Now York, March IS. In the mlddln
states and New England today clear I'lid
fair, couior, brisket fresh northwesterly
and westerly whlth some eloudlnes
and possibly iWic southern puit4
01 uun necuQ
i