GEN. DE WET ROUTED.
British Force Swiftly Sweeping Through
the Country.
BRITISH NOW OCCLPY AMSTERDAM.
Ocoeral Kitchener Report that Oe Wet's At
tempt to Invade Cap Colony "Has Evidently
Completely Failed"Msnr Howard, of the
Canadian Seoul, and Five Other British
Officers Killed.
hxidim (By Cable). The War Office
received the following dispatch from
1-ord Kitchener, dated at Middleburg. in
the Eastern Transvaal, ami relating
chiefly to operations in that part of the
country :
"Freneh reports that the town of Piet
Rcticf, February 22, that the result of
the columns sweeping the country east is
that the Boers arc retreating in scattered
and disorganized parties to the nutnher
of some 5000 in front of him. Aniter
dam and Fict Rctief have Wen occupied
and troops arc protecting the Swai fron
tier. French will push on. but is much
hampered by the continuous heavy rains.
"Summary of total losses indicted on
the enemy up to February to: Two hun
dred and ninety-two Boers known to
have been killed and wounded in action. 50
taken prisoners, 1N3 surrendered, one im
pounder gun, 462 rillcs, 1(10.000 rounds of
small ammunition, ,1500 horses, 70 mules,
.1530 trek oxen, 18,700 cattle. 155.400
sheep, and 1070 wagons and carts cap
tured. "Our casualties: Five officers and 41
men killed and 4 officers and 10S nun
wounded. I regret to ay that Major
Howard, a very gallant officer of the
Canadian scoiits. was killed February 17.
"Plumer reports that Colonel Owen
captured De Wet's !5-poundcr and pom
pom February 23. as well as 53 prisoners
and a quantity of ammunition. We had
no casualties. Knciny in full retreat and
dispersing, being vigorously pursued.
De Wet's attempt to invade Cape Colony
has evidently completely failed."
The Weekly Dispatch says it learns
''on good authority." that a sH-cial Cahi
iie; council has been summoned to con
sider a communication from 1-nrd Kitch
ener to the effect that General Hotha had
sent an emissary admitting that he was
outuianeuvred and asking for a meeting
with a view of arranging a general sur
render. CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Some el the Work Being Done By the Na
tional Legislature.
The Senate passed the bill which re
leases the appropriation of $5,000,000 for
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St.
Louis in 1903. It was amended by pro
viding an appropriation of $250,000 for a
government exhibit at the Charleston
Exposition to be held next December.
Be fore the bill passed amendments were
adopted closing hoth expositions on Sun
day. Eulogies were pronounced in the Sen
ate Saturday on the late Representative.1-.
HofTecker, of Delaware: Wise, of Vir
ginia, and Daly, of New Jersey. Those
who pronounced eulogies upon Mr. Uof
fecker, of Delaware, were Senators Ken
fey, McComas. Allen and Heitfeld.
Those who paid tribute to Mr. Wise, of
Virginia, were Senators Daniel and Tur
ley. Tributes were paid to Mr. Daly, of
New Jersey, by Senators Kcan and
Jones.
The Agricultural Appropriation Bill,
uith Senate amendments, was presented
to the House. The amendments, except
that appropriating $100,000 additional for
seeds and those applying to the reor
ganization of the bureaus of the Agri
cultural Department, were disagreed to.
The House adopted a resolution to in
vestigate the pay of its employees, as a
result of the condition of affairs un
earthed during the debate on the Defi
ciency Bill, and the Speaker appointed a
Committee to make the investigation.
Mr. Dayton, of West Virginia, in
troduced a bill in the House to amend
the copyright law by omitting the pro
vision requiring that the printing of
copies deposited with the Librarian of
Congress shall be done from types set
within the limits of the United States.
The House devoted its time Friday to
tmanimous-conscnt legislation and pri
vate claims and private pension bills, in
cluded in the latter being one for the
widow of Gen. Henry W. Lawton for
$50 per month.
The Senate passed the Postoflice and
the Diplomatic and Consular Appropria
tion Hills.
The House adopted a resolution of
inquiry into the holding of employes of
one position and drawing salary for an
other. The House passed the Sundry Civil
Bill and began the consideration oi the
General Deficiency Bill.
The Senate had under consideration
the Postoflice Appropriation Biil.
Senator Gallingcr offered an amend
ment to the Army Appropriation Bill
by which post exchanges can take the
place of army canteens.
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Two volumes of testimony in the Cu
ban postoflice scandal were submitted to
the Senate, the new features being state
ments by General Rathbonc and former
postmaster at Havana Thompson.
The Senate Committee on Relations
with Cuba considered propositions defin
ing the relation between that island and
the United States.
The remains of 3.5 soldiers who died
in Cuba were buried in the National
Cemetery at Arlington.
Seven eager candidates have already
filed applications to be Consul-General
Wildman's successor.
The President has selected Capt. Wm.
Crosier, of the Ordnance Department, to
succeed the late Professor Michie at
West Point as professor of natural and
experimental philosophy.
The Secretary of War detailed Capt.
Charles G. Treat, Artillery Corps, to be
commandant of cadets and instructor of
tactics at the Military Academy, with the
rank und pay of lieutenant colonel, to
succeed Lieut. Col. Otto L. Hcin.
The Secretary of the Interior submit
ted to the Senate treaties between the
United States and the Choc tans and
Chickasaws.
Senator Mo rgan submitted a minor
ityreport declaring that the ratification
ofTlie Hay-Pauncefotc Treaty should not
I a condition precedent to the building
ef the Nicaragua Canal.
The President sent to the Senate the
nomination of Brigadier General Shaf
fer to be major general.
Black walnut canes were given to the
Cabinet members by President McKin
ley. The canes were sent the Presi
dent from Illinois and were cut from a
walnut tree on the larni formerly the
property of Abraham Lincoln in Haris
town township, Macon County, III.
An effort to obtain an appropriation to
continue the pneumatic tube service in
New York, Boston and Philadelphia
failed.
Congressman Mudd thinks the Mc-C.'omas-Klkins
ship canal project far lets
practicable than the scheme he formulated
NEWS IN PRILT.
Domestic.
fly an explosion in one of the build
ings a! the City Gas Works, in Rich
mond, Va., Mortimer Hogan was killed,
one end of the building was blown out
and six men were injured, but none se
riously. Three more women were attacked and
nearly killed in Denver by some mys
terious person, who has been waylaying
lone women on the streets of that city.
Three professors of political economy
published a report strongly criticizing
the dismissal of Professor Ross, from
Stanford University.
The North American Trust Company
has ahsorlcl a number of other trust
companies and will conduct business oil
an extensive scale.
Rev. Henry Blatchford, for 60 years a
missionary among the Chippewa Indians,
died at Odannh, at the age of 03 years.
Carroll K. Boreman, nephew of ex
Governor Boreman. died in Parkersburg,
W. Va., of typhoid fever.
Lottie Kane was sentenced in Harri
sonvillc. W. Va.. to five years in the
penitentiary for infanticide.
The Universal Steel Company was in
corporated in Jersey City with a capital
of $JO0,00O.
Five inches of snow fell in Atlanta and
other parts of Georgia and Texas.
Salvatorc Giovanni was found shot
through the heart in Chicago, with Carlo
BattcMa, supposed to be his best friend,
standing over him. It is supposed to be
a Mafia murder.
A letter was received by Edward
Cudahy. Sr., which is believed to have
been written by Pat Crowe, offering to
surrender if offered protection from
lynching.
The Delaware House of Representa
tives appointed a committee to investi
gate alleged charges of corruption in
connection with the senatorial election.
The jury was unable to agree in the
case of Dr. Samuel J. Kennedy, who was
tried in New York on the charge of mur
dering Dolly Reynolds.
It was reported in Charleston. S. C.
that the Fertilizer Trust had bought out
the Charleston Mining and Manufactur
ing Company.
The Northern and Southern Presby
terians of Missouri agreed to joint con
trol over several Presbyterian colleges
in that State. ,
Mrs. Charles W. Fairbanks, of Indi
ana, was elected president of the Daugh
ters of the American Revolution.
The University of Pennsylvania cele
brated Washington's Birthday, Bishop
Potter delivering the oration.
Isaac Shaffer died suddenly on the
street in Hanoxer, Pa., from heart dis
ease. John Valentine Peterman died at his
home, in Martinsburg, W. Va.
Thirty flouring mills located in Mary
land and Pennsylvania have formed a
combination as the Eastern Milling and
Export Company. .
Thomas Vital,- colored, accused of as
saulting a thirteen-year old white girl,
was lynched by a mob in Lake Charles,
La.
Arthur Fuller. 21 years of age, was
convicted in Chatham of attempting a
felonious assault on Miss Mattic V.
Cook.
Former United States Senator Stephen
M. White, of California, died at his
home in Los Angeles.
F"ire in the business section of Atlanta
destroyed property valued at nearly half
a million dollars.
The jury in the case of Frank Hamil
ton, charged with killing Leonard U.
Day in Minneapolis. Minn., brought
in a verdict of manslaughter, with a
recommendation for mercy.
John P. Squire & Co., with a capital
stock of $7,500,000, was incorporated in
Trenton to do a pork-packing business
in Boston and other Eastern points, ab
sorbing about a dozen concerns.
The Italian steamer Jupiter was lost
at sea. The captain and engineer are
supposed to have perished. The rest of
the crew were rescued and landed at
Bermuda.
Foreign.
Minister Conger has cabled to the
State Department at Washington that
the Chinese court has agreed to all the
punishments named in his demands.
General Kitchener reports a sevcx- en
gagement between Methuen's forces and
the Boers, in which the British lost 3 of
ficers and 13 men killed and 5 officers
and 25 men wounded.
Major T. J. Atherton, second in com
mand of the Prince of Wales' Royal Lan
cers, sued his wife for divorce.
President Steyn and General De Wet
issued a joint proclamation declaring that
the war was not over and accusing the
British of barbarous practices.
The Russians sustained severe losses
in an engagement with the Chinese head
ed by the military governor of Mukden.
Mr. Brodrick informed the House of
Commons that the Boers in the field
numbered 20.000, and that in January
there were 16,000 Boer prisoners.
The Viscount Hinton has instituted
proceedings to eject his younger step
brother from ,he possession of the earl
dom and estate of their father.
The people of Finland protest against
the scheme to Russianize their country.
The situation in Venezuela is reported
to be quite critical.
Cardinal Vaughan has issued a decla
ration against the anti-Catholic oath
taken by King Edward.
An American soldier, possibly Loys
Darrell, of the Seventh Cavalry, charged
with the murder of Henry L. Crouch, a
private of the same troop, in Cuba, was
arrested in South Africa.
The opinion is expressed in Berlin that
Russia is working to establish the closest
relations with the United States.
The Marquis of Headfort contradicts
the report of his marriage to Rosi . Bo 'te
The Russian battleship Tzarevitcli
was launched at La Soyne.
Our New Possessions.
Washington's Birthday was observed
in Manila by a procession of the Fed
eralists and a celebration in the open
air which was attended by thousands of
Filipinos.
American flags to the value of $25,000
have been sold to the natives in several
provinces of the Island of Luzon.
The Federal party in Manila gave a
banquet at which Washington was eulo
gized, and Governor General MacAr
thur assured the Filipinos that "under
the American flag injustice and oppres
sion are impossible.
Francisco Reyes, the Italian consul at
Manila, and Manuel Peypoch, consul
for Uruguay, were arrested for aiding
the Filipino insurgents.
Lieutenant Vaughan, of the Thirty
seventh Infantry, arrested Fernando
Runstan, general agent of the Tabaca
lonia Company, on the charge of aiding
the insurgents.
A joint commission has been propos
ed by Secretary Root for General
Wood's opinion to revise the Cuban
tariff.
The government buildings at Iba,
capital of Zanibale province, have been
burned,- the jail alone escaping the
flames. The Twenty-fourth Infantry's
supplies were destroyed by fire.
LOOKING AT NEW STAR.
One of (he Brightest Which Ha Ap
peared in Centuries.
IT IS FLARING UP VERY RAPIDLY.
The Heavenly Visitor Can Be Seen About 8
P. M. West ol Capella, Which It la the
Zenlth-Dr. Anderson Thought the Color ol
the New Star Was Bluish White-Seen la
Maryland.
Boston (Special). One of the most
important astronomical discoveries in
several years was announced by the
telegram received at the Harvard Col
lege Observatory from Rev. Dr. T. D.
Anderson, of Edinburgh, which stated
that he had discovered a new star in the
constellation Perseus.
With great interest. Dr. Pickering,
Mrs. W. P. Fleming, curator of the as
tronomical photographs, and other
members of the staff at the Harvard
Observatory observed the star through
the clouds and examined Harvard's
priceless set of photographs of the sky
with important results as to its history,
magnitude and spectrum.
When the average reader understands
that such a star as this appears in the
sky suddenly he will comprehend the
great value of the collection of 100,000
photographs at Harvard, which reveal
the condition of the sky, as well as the
weather will permit, 011 almost every
day of the year.
By reference to the charts of that
section oi the sky where the new star
was reported to be the Harvard as
tronomers were able to say that the star
on February 19. was fainter than the
magnitude 10.5; and this result w.'is
confirmed by photographs taken on
February 2, 6, 8 and 18.
This technical statement means that
the photographs taken before February
10 did not reveal the presence of the
siar. although later examination of
them may throw additional light on this
point: but the photograph of February
19 indicated the star's presence for the
first time. ,
The star then shone so faintly that it
was difficult to see it with the naked
eye, but within four days it had flared
up greatly. It is said to be the bright
est new star which has appeared in
three centuries. The position of the
heavenly visitor is right ascension 3
hours 24 minutes 24 seconds and decli
nation plus 43 degrees 34 minutes.
UNDER TAFT AND CHAFFEE.
First Named Will Be Oovernor and the Latter
Will Succeed MacArthur.
Washington (Special) According
to the latest advices from the Philip
pine Commission, the time for the es
tablishment of civil government in the
Philippines is near at hand. It was
stated at the War Department that
the civil government will be estab
lished as soon as Judge Taft reports
that the conditions in the islands. jus
tify such action. It is generally un
derstood that Judge Taft will be the
first civil governor of the islands, and
that Gen. Chaffee will succeed Gen.
MacArthur in command of the mili
tary forces to be retained there to as
sist in the maintenance of order and
the enforcement of the laws. It is not
likely, however, that there will be any
Immediate change in the military
command, or that there will be any
material reduction in the military
strength for many months to come.
CHINESE ATTACK THE GERMANS.
Two Hundred Celestials Killed la the Fight
Germans Outnumbered.
Tientsin (By Cable). Several hun
dred imperial Chinese troops attacked 50
Germans, west of Paotingfu. The Ger
mans were hard pressed, fought a rear
guard action anil eventually drove the
Chinese back. The Germans had 'one
man killed and seven wounded. It is es
timated that the Chinese lost 200 in
killed and wounded.
London (By Cable). The Foreign Of
fice, though satisfied with what it is
pleased to consider the immediate result
of Count Von Waldcrsee's action, re
gards the Chinese back-down with some
suspicion. The officials here believe it
would be far better for Von Waldersee
not to withdraw his orders for the expe
dition, and to hold it over the heads of
the Chinese until their professed submis
sion materializes.
Two Olrls Cremated.
Montgomery, Ala. (Special). Bessie
and Alice Wilkes, aged 16 and 18, re
spectively, were cremated in a fire at
the home of their widowed mother,
Mrs. Wilkes. at Prattville. The
charred remains of one of the young
girls was found in the hall. The other
was found with a mattress over her
head, which she placed there in en
deavoring to protect herself from the
flames. The mother, in saving the life
of her blind son, forgot about her
daughters.
Washington Honored Abroad.
Berlin (By Cable). United States
Ambassador White and Mrs. White kept
open house for American visitors in
honor of Washington's Birthday. The
American colony in Berlin celebrated
the evening with a supper and dance at
the Savoy Hotel. At all other Ameri
can embassies in Europe except that in
London there were similar celebrations.
The usual one in London was omitted on
acount of mourning for the Queen.
Deal for Islands Not Broken Off.
Copenhagen (By Cable). A semi
official communication relates that the
statements published in London to the
effect that Denmark has definitely re
fused the offer of the United States to
purchase the Danish West Indies for
12.000.000 kruners are untrue. The
negotiation for the sale are protccd-
iK-
$5)0,000 Fire at Atlanta!
Atlanta, Ga. (Special). Fire in the
Markham House block resulted in a
loss of $500,000. Among the buildings
destroyed were those of the Arnold
Hat Company, the Draper-Goggins
Shoe Company, the R. N. Fickett Pa
per Company and three new residences.
The flames spread to buildings of the
Gramling-Spalding Shoe Company, the
McConnell-Christopher Dry Goods
Company and the Binkers-Davis Hard
ware Company, which were burned.
The fire was caused by an explosion of
an oil tank.
All the Powers Agree.
Washington (Special). Our govern
ment has now received assurances from
nearly all the powers represented by
military forces at Pekin of their entire
agreement with the United States gov
ernment as to the inexpediency of resum
ing offensive military operations in China
while the peace negotiations are in pro
gress. Much apprehension is felt here
as to the outcome of the negotiations on
the next point amount anil manner of
payment of indemnities.
Dr. Mayo G. Smith, the inspiration of
the character of The Doctor in Mark
Twain's "Innocents Abioad," died in
Colorado Springs.
THE SENATE SUMMONED.
President McKlnley Issues the Proclamation
for an Executive Session.
Washington (Special). The Presi
dent issued the following proclamation
calling a special session of the Senate
for executive purposes:
By the President of the United States
of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, Public interests require that
the Senate of the United States be con
vened at 12 o'clock on the 4th day of
March next to receive such communica
tions as may be made by the Executive.
Now, therefore, I, William McKin
ley, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim and de
clare that an extraordinary occasion re
quires the Senate of the United States
to convene at the Capitol, in the city of
Washington, on the 4th day of March
next, at 12 o'clock, of which all persons
who shall at that time be entitled to
act as members of tha body are hereby
reuircd to take notice.
Given tinder my hand and the seal of
the United States, at Washington, the
23d day of February, in the year of our
Lord one thousand nine hundred and
one, and of the independence of the
United States the one hundred and
twenty-fifth.
WILLIAM McKINLEY.
By the President:
JOHN HAY.
Secretary of Stale.
CONSTITUTION OF CUBA.
One Copy Send to General Wood, Another
Placed la Records of Convention.
Havana (By Cable). The Cuban
constitution first submitted by the
Central Committee to the Convention
at the public session of January 21
was signed Thursday. One copy was
sent to Governor General Wood and
the other placed among the records of
the Convention.
The attendance was not l.-ircr,. f.-ill-
png considerably short of that of the
opening day and not equaling the at
tendance of many other public ses
sions. The members affixed their sig
natures, the president and vice-presidents
leading off, the delegates follow
ing and the two secretaries signing
last. Senor Cisncros created a sensa
tion by refusing to sign. He said: .
'Cuba is now independent, and I
can see no reason for sending this con
stitution to the United States for ac
ceptance. The L'nited Slates govern
ment has no right to pass upon it for'
it is a distinctly Cuban document and
was drawn up by this Convention,
which has assumed the responsibility of
establishing the Republic.
As the delegates retired Senor Ta
mayo remarked "We are all Cubans,
Senor," and Senor Cisncros replied,
'Yes; when the times comes to fight the
Americans we will fight them to
gether." Then he turned toward the press
table and, shaking his fist at the
American newspaper men, he said:
"The Americans are like the monkey.
When the monkey closes its paw on
a thing it never wauls to let go.
Subsequently he said he would sign
the copy of the constitution that had
been filed with the records of the
Convention, but would wait until the
other had been sent to Washington in
order to avoid any possibility of his
name being attached to that also.
Senor Capote, president of the Con
vention, delivered the document to
General Wood. The latter could not
say whether he intended to forward
it immediately to Washington or to
wait until an agreement had been
reached as to the future relation be
tween Cuba and the United States.
DECIDED IN MRS. NATION'S FAVOR.
One Case Against Her for Saloon Smashing
Dismissed by a Topcka Judge.
Topeka, Kan. (Special). A decision
favoring the defendant was rendered
by Judge McCabe in the City Court in
the case against Mrs. Carrie Na:ion
for smashing the Senate saloon two
weeks ago.
Judge McCabe in dismissing the case
held that, since Mrs. Nation had no
malice toward the proprietors .-f the
place and destroyed it in abating ,1 pub
lic nuisance, she was not guilty 01 ma
licious destruction of property.
Mrs. Nation is to enter politics and
to become the editor of the Smastiers'
Mail. She has refused tempting offers
to lecture, and will remain in l'opeka
to help elect a "clean man" for mavor
at the spring election. These matters
were announced by the crusader. Mrs.
Nation, who has decided to become a
citizen of Topeka, at least for a time,
was enthusiastic.
"We decided," she said, "to nominate
a clean man a man who does not
drink, smoke or blaspheme. No other
need apply."
The newspaper that Mrs. Nation in
tends to edit will be published by
"Nick" Chiles. Mrs. Nation's husband
is coming to Topeka to help his wife
with the enterprise.
Urge Water Tank Bursts.
Richmond. Va. (Special). A wooden
iank containing 50,000 gallons, the
reservoir of the water works of the
town of Abingdon, exploded with great
force. Anderson Cook, colored, en
gaged in filling a deep ditch containing
iron delivery pipe, was washed down
hill 200 feet through a wire fence, tear
ing away the calf of one leg and caus
ing probably fatal injuries. A machin
ist also was injured. The tank was on
a frame 100 feet high and 500 feet from
the main residence street, which was
badly inundated.
Rear Admiral Sampson, III.
Boston (Special). Rear Admiral
William T. Sampson, commandant of
the Charlestown Navy Yard, is ill at his
home at the yard. Captain Charles .'
Barclay, captain of the yard, is acting
commandant.
Resignation ol Spanish Cabinet,
Madrid (By Cable) General Azcar
raga, the premier, presented the
resignation of the Cabinet to the Queen
Regent and will probably be charged
with the task of reconstructing the min
istry. The responsibility for raising
the state of siege will be left with the
new government.
Children Stricken by the Plague.
Cape Town (By Cable). A white
child died here of bubonic plague and
three white children have been attack
ed by the disease.
Sword (or Captain Evans.
Washington (Special). The presen
tation of a sword to Captain Roblcy I).
Evans, of the Navy, was the occasion
of speech by Speaker Henderson, ol
the House of Representatives, paying
a glowing tribute to "Fighting Bob"
and to the American tar in general
The sword was presented by the peo
ple of Iowa in recognition of his com
mand of the battleship Iowa during the
battle of Santiago Bay. Speaker Hen
derson referred to the thrilling events
of that naval engagement. Capt.
Evans made a graceful reply to the pre
sentation speech
BIG- STEAMER GOES DOWN.
122 Persons Probably Perish With the
PJo Near Sao Francisco.
EXPLOSION FOLLOWS COLLISION.
Captain Ward, a North Carolinian, Ooes Down
With Ills Ship Trying to Save Passengers
Engulfed a Short Time After Striking
Obstrnctlon-ltallsa Fishermen Give Valua
ble Aid.
San Francisco (Special. The Pacific
Mail Company's steamship City of Rio
de Janeiro, while entering the harbor
from the Orient in a heavy fog, struck
a sunken rock and went down in about
fifteen minutes in 30 fathoms of water off
Fort Point.
A large number of lives are known to
have been lost, but owing to the confu
sion following the terrible accident and
the failure of those who managed to get
ashore to report their safe arrival at the
Merchants' Exchange or the Pacific Mail
offices it is impossible to fix the exact
numlier of those who went down with
the vessel, although it is said that more
than 122 persons perished.
Capt. William Ward, the ship's mas
ter, an old employe of the company, went
down with his ship.
Purser John Rooney, who had the pas
senger list and roster of the crew, is
among the missing.
Ten bodies have been recovered 2
white women, I white man and 7 Chi
nese. The most prominent passenger on
the steamer was Ronnsevillc Wildman,
United States Consul-General at Hong
kong, who was acompanied by Mrs.
Wildman and two children. It is thought
all were drowned.
As near as can be learned there were
201 people on board the Rio de Janeiro,
as follows: Cabin passengers, 29; sec
ond cabin, 7; steerage (Chinese and
Japanese), 58; officers and crew, 107.
The following have been accounted for:
Rescued, 79: bodies at the morgue, 10;
total, 80; missing, 1 12.
Quartermaster Frederick Lindstroin
gave the clearest idea of the sinking of
the craft. He said the Rio struck Mile
Rock, against which a stiff current was
setting. The rock is in a line off Fort
Point with Point Lobos and about two
thirds of a mile from the San Francisco
shore.
Lindstroin said the vessel struck head
on, crushed in her bows and began to
fill immediately.
At this juncture there is reported to
have been some sort of an explosion,
something similar to that which occurred
when the ill-fated Colima plunged to the
bottom of the Pacific off the Central
American coast some years ago, taking
down with her 180 souls. Men from the
Rio found themselves in the water,
struggling to grasp a piece of wreckage,
and it seemed hours before boats from
passing craft and a gasoline launch cruis
ed among the floating wreckage and res
cued the survivors.
San Francisco (Special) So far as
can be ascertained from reliable data 128
lives were lost in the wreck of the Pa
cific Mail steamer City of Rio de Jan
eiro. Sonic fishermen found a packet
containing the papers of Purser Rooney.
Among them was the passenger list and
a bunch of cancelled tickets, and as
there were names on the list whose can
celled passenger tickets did not appear
among those recovered, it is assumed
that they laid over either at Yokohama,
Kobe or Honolulu. That they were not
on the vessel at the time she went down
is certain.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL BURNED.
Large Institution (or Soldiers' Orphans at
Scotland, Pa.
Chambersburg Pa. (Special). A fire,
which had its origin in the electric light
department of the Scotland Soldiers'
Orphans' Industrial School, destroyed
the entire building, entailing a loss of
at least $5,ooo. The fire was as sud
den as it was unexpected. Engineer C.
E. Mickey observed flames shoot from
the rear of the switchboard, and almost
instantly the room was in flames. A
fierce gale was blowing at the time, and
the sparks were carried to the adminis
tration building and to the roofs ol
houses in Scotland, half a mile away.
The administration building was saved
by the boys' fire brigade of the school.
In drawing the fires from under the
boilers to prevent explosion, Engineer
Mickey was badly burned, but there
were no other casualties.
HUNTINGTON LEFT $70,000,000 ?
The Amount ol Inheritance Tax Paid by the
Estate Indicates This.
New York (Special). In order to
take advantage of the 5 per cent, re
bate which is allowed upon the pay
ment of inheritance taxes within six
months after death the executors of the
will of the late Collis P. Huntington
paid to the State $665,000. The execu
tors estimated that the tax which
would be assessed against the State
would amount to $700,000. and by pay
ing the tax last week a rebate of $35,000
was secured. Much surprise was ex
pressed yesterday at the amount of the
tax which the executors have deter
mined is due to the State. It indicated
that the Huntington fortune approxi
mated $70,000,000
Shot During an Initiation.
Kokomo, Ind. (Special). Milton
Haney was accidentally shot by a wo
man member of the local tribe of
Daughters of Pocahontas in an initia
tion ceremony held at the lodgcroom.
In mistake she used a revolver that had
fallen from the pocket of a member,
instead of the one filled with blank
cartridges provided for the occasion.
The bullet struck Haney's shoulder,
badly shattering it. .
A Great Year for French Wines.
Paris (By Cable). Official statistics
estimate the French vintage of 1900 at
1,678,110,250 gallons, which is an increase
of 513,347,408 gallons over 1809. The
harvest is the biggest since 1875.
- Consul Hay Is Cautions.
London (By Cable). In an inter
view in this city, United States Consul
Adelbert S. Hay, American representa
tive at Pretoria, was generous in his
praise of Christian De Wet. llr. Hay
stated that De Wet was a great man
and that he knew South Africa like a
book. In the opinion of Mr. Hay the
British will experience difficulty in cap
turing the Boer leader, as the latter
knows well every inch of the country.
Mr. Hay was careful in expressing opin
ions as to the drift of the wwr, or the
drift of peace proposals.
Conger Coming Home.
Washington (Special). Minister Con
ger wilt leave Pekin immediately for
this' country on 60 days' leave of absence.
Commissioner Rockhill will have full
power to conduct the negotiations now
in progress. Mr. Conger returns of his
own initiative. For some time past he
has been anxious to get back to Iowa,
but the opportunity has not presented it
self until this moment. Now that the
foreign ministers have satisfactorily set
tled the question of punishments of the'
offending Chinese officials and a new
subject is to be taken up, it will be easy
to pa j the negotiations into Mr. Rock
hill a hands.
FIVE BURNED TO DEATH.
George James and His Four Daughters Cre
mated In Their Home.
Versailles, Ind. (Special). George
James and his four young daughters
were burned to death in their farm
house four miles from Versailles. Mrs.
James and another daughter were away
from home.
Just before daylight James arose and
built a wood fire in the kitchen range.
In some uncxplainable manner the
stove fell apart, and in a short time the
house was tilled with smoke. The fire
spread quickly. It first awoke the four
girls, who slept on the second floor.
They rushed down stairs to their
father's room and tried to get him to
leave. Apparently, he was stupefied
by the smoke and refused to move.
A 12-ycar-old son, who had been
sleeping with his father, escaped
through a rear door, and, finding it im
possible to get back, owing to the rapid
spread of the fire, rushed to a window
of his father's room and broke in the
glass with his fist. He begged those
inside to climb through the broken
sash, but they made no reply. Then he
ran to the farm bell, which he rang for
several minutes, arousing the neigh
bors. When help arrived the house
was a mass of flames, and in a few
moments the whole structure fell, bury
ing the five inmates.
TRAINS CRASH HEAD ON.
Ten
Persons Killed and Twenty five
Were Injured.
Trenton, N. J. (Special). A collision
occurred on the Amhoy division of the
Pennsylvania Railroad at Ruslings Sid
ing, near Bordentown, and about eight
miles south of Trenton. The "Nellie
Bly" express from New York for At
lantic City, collided with passenger train
No. 330, running from Camden to Tren
ton. The number of dead so far as
known is 10, and the number of injured
upward of 25. The wounded were dis
tributed among the three Trenton hos
pitals. Other wounded passengers were
taken to Cooper Hospital, at Camden.
Among the killed was Walter Earl, en
gineer of the express, and James Birm
ingham, baggagemaster of the local train,
Most of the killed were Italians. Michael
McGraw, fireman on the "Nellie Bly,"
was badly injured, but is expected to re
cover. The scene at the wreck is described
by those who were present as horrify
ing. The two trains collided at full
speed, and both engines were com
pletely demolished. The forward car
of each train, in both instances a com
bination baggage and smoker were
entirely demolished also, and, to add
to the horror, the wreckage took fire.
The second car of the "Nellie Bly"
turned over on its side, and the pas
sengers had to climb out through the
windows. In this they were assisted
by passengers from the cars that did
not leave the track. The trck at this
point is so close to the Delaware and
Raritan Canal that the passengers, in
getting out of the overturned coach,
got into the canal, and many of the
bodies of the dead and injured had
to be taken from the water.
The "Nellie Bly" was running in
three sections, and it was the third
section with which No. 330 collided.
The local train had taken the siding
to permit the express to pass, and it
is believed that through some misun
derstanding or mistake the local came
out on the main track after the second
section had passed mistaking it for
the third section.
MARKED STRIDES IN EXPORTS.
American Locomotive Trade Has Increased
450 Per Cent.
London ' (By Cable). Sir Christo
pher Furncss, well known as a ship
owner and engine builder, said at the
annual meeting to-day of Robert
Stephenson & Co., that the exports of
rngines from the United Kingdom were
decreasing and the exports from the
United States were increasing "at a
very marked rate." The . com-
gany's information was that while
Britain's exports have decreased"
one-quarter during recent years,
American exports of locomotives have
expanded 450 per cent.
It was announced that Stephenson &
Co.'s works at Ncwcastle-on-Tyne
would be transferred to Darlington, 18
miles south of Durham, in order to se
cure land for extensions of the works
cheaper than is possible at Newcastle.
Rockefeller Gives $250,000.
New Y'ork (Special). -A' contribution
of a quarter of a million dollars by John
D. Rockefeller to Brown University
was announced at the' usual dinner of
the Brown University Alumni Society
of New York, held at the University
Club. Rev. Dr. W. H. F. raunce,
president of the university, made the
announcement. Dr. Faunce said: "I
have the pleasureof announcing tjat Mr.
John D. Rockefeller, who gave $250,
000 last year to Brown University, has
now offered to increase that amount to
$500,000, if we will go on to increase the
new endowment from $t, 000,000 to $2,
000.000. His second offer makes his
total subscription, contingent or other
wise, to the endowment fund of Brown
larger than his gifts to an o'1
American university."
Tragedy In Atlanta.
Atlanta, Ga. (Special). The dead
bodies of Mrs. H. M. Wjlson, a young
widow, and William Hamilton, a stu
dent in pharmacy, who disappeared
from Atlanta one week ago, were found
one mile from the end of the Chatta
hoochee River car line. The surround
ings indicated that Hamilton had killed
Mrs. Wilson, set fire to the woods near
her body, and then ended his own life.
Both bodies were fearfully burned, and
rested upon breastworks thrown up by
the Confederates to stem the advance of
the Federal army 011 Atlanta in th'
war between the States.
Bobbers Steal Oold From Mine.
San Francisco, Cal. (Special). The
Examiner says a rich deposit or pocket
of gold was discovered recently in a
Grass Valley mine. After the superin
tendent had taken about $jo,ooo worth
of rich quartz from the mine he board
ed up the pocket in which still remained
a seam of gold valued at $15,000 and
sent (or the directors of the company.
When they arrived it was found the
mine had been blasted out and the gold
carried away. Detectives" are' scare' ,
ing (or the robbers.
IN THE FIELD OF LABOR.
New York Postal Clerks' Union will
demand the eight-hour day.
Youngstown quarrymen won a strike
against a cut from 20 cents to 17 i-a
cents per hour.
Among the questions asked appli
cants lor employment by the Christen
sen Engineering Company, of Milwau
keek, are: "Are you married or single?"
"What is your height and weight i"
The company states to all applicants by
letter that there is a strike on in its
machine shop.
Oak Park (Chicago) carpenters want
37 I-a cents per hour.
TfiE KEYSTONE STATE
Newt Happenings of Interest Gathered
From All Sources.
FIVE MEN KILLED ON A BRIDGE.
Joseph E. Cheesmaa Says He Was Compelled
to Steal According to the Plans of a Com-panloo-P.
R. Lines, ot Bethlehem, Wins the
Lehigh First Prise-Failure to Cross a Ballot
Elected aa Alderman-Other News.
The Junior Class of the Lehigh Uni
versity held its oratorical contest in the
Packer Memorial Church, South Beth
lehem. The following are the names of
the contestants and the subjects of their
orations: William S. Browncll, Jr., "A
Phase of Industrial Life;" James N.
Downey, "International Arbitration to
Satisfy National Honor;" Foster Hew
ett, "The Corporate Movement;" W. S.
Johns, "Washington's Political Ideas;"
F. R. Lines, "Washington's Interest in
the West;" William F. Roberts, "The
Labor Movement in America." First,
second and third prizes were awarded
to F. R. Lines, of Bethlehem, Pa.; J.
N. Downey, Lancaster, Pa.; and Wil
liam F. Roberts, Frceland, Pa., respec
tively. An interesting part of the cere
monies was the reading of the honor
roll of the Senior Class, which was as
follows: Conrad E. Martinez, Havana,
Cuba; Frederick A. Hausman, Allen
town, Pa.; Ernesto Franco, Quito,
Ecuador; Joseph J. Nolan, Carbondale,
Pa.; W. N. Haas, Hcplcr. Pa.; L. A.
Frendenberger, West Bethlehem. Pa.;
Samuel D. Harlcman, South Bethle
hem. Charles Collum, one of the best
known business men in Allentown,
made public the fact that he has re
ceived a letter threatening that if he
does not deposit $500 in a cigar box
at the East Pcnn junction one of his
boys will b'e kidnapped. The letter
reads as follows:
"Charles Colom: We have struck
town and need money, and we want
you to put 500 dollars in a cigar box,
take it down to East Pcnn Depot, and
put it under the steps. If you don't
and put the chief and his men on we
will have one of your little boys. We
will have our game or the dot. So
come down with the money. We will
watch you or any one you put on, and
we have two others spotted. If we take
the kid you will never sec him in these
parts again." Mr. Collum has two
bright boys and he is prepared to pro
tect them.
The confession a boy made in jail at
Uniontown is a queer talc of crime and
may lead to the detection of several
robbers who have been working this
section. William Jones, aged 18 years,
was arrested while in the act of stealing
a pair of shoes and held for trial. He
lent for a justice of the peace and made
a sworn statement that his name is1
Joseph Edward Cheeseman, of Balti
more, and that he was compelled to'
steal. He says he fell in with an aged
cripple whose name is Jones and a man
named Duffy. Jones, he asserts, taught
him to steal and compelled him to rob
as he planned wherever tlicy went.
ones has been working Uniontown all
the week on a crutch, ostensibly selling
pencils. He was arrested and denies
the boy's story.
At the annual meting of the Mont
gomery. County Historical Society held
at Norristown the following officers'
were elected: President, Joseph Forn-'
ance; vice-presidents, Rev. A. A. Mar
pie, Rev. T. R. Beeber. H. W. Kratz;
recording secretary, Miss Frances M.
Fox; corresponding secretary, Mrs. A.
Conrad Jones; treasurer, Dr. W. HJ
Reed; librarian, Ellwood Roberts; trus-'
tees, W. W. Potts, S. G. Smyth, Samuel
C. Jarrett, Mrs. Mary Preston and F.
G. Hobson. A committee was appoint
ed to take steps tpward forming a his
torical museum.
A straight mark has re-elected Geo.
Kellow alderman of the 14th Ward,
Scranton. Tuesday's election show-'
ed that he was defeated by one vote, but
he succeeded in getting the ballot-Uoxes
brought into court and examined ior
the reason, as he alleges, that some
votes werj improperly marked. Scl
eral were found cast for his opponent
where a straight mark was used by the
voter instead of the cross, as rcnuired
by law. These w-cre thrown out, and
Kellow declared elected by three votes.
Five Italians employed at the blast
furnaces in Sharon were ground to
death while on their way to work, as
they walked along the Krie and Pitts
burg .Railroad track. They were over
taken on a small iron bridge by a
southbound freight, and crushed be
tween the wide steel hopper cars and
the bridge structure. The men were in
the habit of walking on the track on
their wey to the Sharon furnace, where
they worked.
The house of Dr. Lincoln Hulley,
professor of history in Bucknell Uni
versity, Lewisburg, was burned. Mrs.
Hulley and two children were rescued
with difficulty, one girl being overcome
by smoke. Dr. llulley's valuable li
brary, the manuscripts of sermons and
lectures and the manuscript of a book
to be known as "The Psalter," which
he expected to publish, were burned.
His loss is $3000, with no insurance.
Samuel Wertz, who resides at Shin
town, is the hero of the village by rea
son of having killed a catamount with
a stone. While Wertz was on the
mountain near his home the catamount
attacked him. Having no weapon
Wertz jumped to one side and picking
up a large stone hurled it at the beast
as it sprang toward him. The stone
struck the catamount squarely between
the eyes, killing it instantly.
Findlay Blose, a 12-year-old boy, at
tempted to cross the railroad tracks at
North Point in a sleigh. A train struc
the sleigh. Theboyvwas caught on the
pilot of the locomotive and carried over
a mile. He escaped with only a few
bruises. "
The annual report of Mine Inspector
Davies, of the Fifth Anthracite District,
just made public shows that the total
:oal production last year was 5,343,291
tons, or 20,243 less than in 1899. There
were forty fatal and seventy-six non
fatal accidents, leaving seventeen wid
ows and forty-four orphans. The total
number of persons employed was 15,
111, an increase of 818.
The employees of one of the mines of
the Lehigh Valley CJ Company at
Hazleton adopted plans v for a bene
ficiary (und. The company will con
tribute a sum equal to that paid by the
men and from this (und benefits will be
paid.
Chester Staples, who was shot by
Deputy Detrick, near Spragueville, - in
mistake fo his brother, Charles
Staples, is dead. In the encounter
Detrick was badly injured. Charles
Staples was arrested in the office of
District Attorney Gearhart as he was
arranging for the arrest of Detrick on
tbacnarg of murder.
Daniel Wananiakar, aged 86, a re
tired fmruier, of Lynnport, felt and
broke a leg and sustained other in
juries from which he will die.
Henry Koiman, aged I3 years, died at
the Fottstown Hospital from bloof
' poisoning. A few dy ago he sus
tained a slight injury te bit band.