CASTRO RESIGNS POWER
President ol Veneincla Springs a New
Surprise.
SENDS A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
la It Ordinary Court ol Event President
CattiV Tern Would Hv Ended February
20, I908-He wit Elected Pretldenl of
Veacnela la February, Last Year, For Six
Year, Beflnnlnf February 20.
Caracaj.Venczucla (By Cable). Presi
dent Castro hat resigned.
He placed his resignation in the hands
of the President of the Congress after
reading the Presidential message. Gen
eral Castro handed over the exercise of
the Presidential office to that official.
Washington. D. C. (Special). Secre
tary Hay received a dispatch from V.
W. Russell, the United States charge
d'affairs at Caracas, confirming the report
of President Castro's resignation, but
Stating that he doubted if the Venezuelan
Congress would accept it.
From an authoritative quarter it was
learned that this move on the part of
president Castro has long been contem
ffdated. Representations were made to
Jiim several months ago by leaders in
Venezuela that his resignation would
Jiave the effect of enabling the people of
that country to present a solid front to
the world in the questions in controversy
with the powers. The statement is made
that the resignation is the result of a
secret agreement with the leaders refer
red to that President Castro should tcni
Jorarily relinquish his office pending the
adjustment of the di-putcs which Min
ister Bow-en has in hand.
While President Castro nominally
arivet up his office it is said in well-informed
quarters his intention is to keep
1t within the family by an arrangement to
make his brother Vice-President so that
Jie would succeed to the Presidency. It
is the belief here, based on information
which has been kept secret, that the pres
ent plan is to allow President Castro to
remain out of office for a short time and
then re-elect him at the next election.
BATTLE WITH SAVAGE CATS.
Man Finally Kill Them After They Scratch
HI Face and Hand Terribly.
New York (Special). William Bar
rett, of Bloomficld, X. J., had a fierce
battle with three savage cats in the
cellar of Frederick Crane's house.
The had attacked women and children
until the residents held a meeting and
decided to have them killed.
Garrett was sent for and engaged to
do the extermination. lie went into
the cellar armed with pistol and club,
and after closing the windows, so that
the cats could not get out, .started to
kill them.
He saw three pairs of fiery eyes glar
ing at him from behind a barrel. The
cats were biting and growling, but Bar
ret raised his club and aimed a blow
at one's head. He missed, and then
the three animals sprang at him, one
landing upon his shoulder, while the
ether clawed savagely at his breast.
He tried to shake them off, but
could not. Finally he seized the one
on his shoulder by the throat. As he
drew it toward him it clawed him across
fhe face in a frightful manner. Barrett
threw it to the ground, placed his foot
on it and then killed it with his club.
In the meantime the other cats made
things lively for Barrett, tearing his
clothing in shreds and lacerating his
flesh in several places. Barrett had
fought for over half an hour before he
killed the second with his revolver.
The third cat fought more desperately
than had the others, and before he
could land a blow on its head it seized
him by the throat with his teeth while
it clawed his breast. It was with diffi
culty he dislodged and killed it.
LA SOLFRIERE VIOLENT.
Load Roarlnf and Flnihet Accompany Spread
ol Cloud ol Smoke.
Kingstown (By Cable). The erup
tion of La Soufriere continues. At
3ia1f-past 8 o'clock a.m. its violence was
vnabajed and the spectacle was arvve
Snipiring. The crater is belching forth dense
black clouds which rise heavenwards,
accompanied by loud roaring and
flashes which rend the spreading pall of
smoke which now envelops the entire
island in darkness.
Electrical discharge? occurred at in
tervals during the night, wl.'.e at day
break the sunlight playing on the stu
pendous volcanic clouds produced ex
ceedingly beautiful effects.
Relying upon the scientific opinion
That Kingstown, although covered with
heavy clouds which completely obscure
the un, is not in danger, the popula
tion shows no alarm. According to ad
vices from Chateau Belair dark sand is
falling there, and Point-a-Pitre reports
that strong detonations were heard
there throughout the night and morn
ing. Tbe Hague Pro:o:o!.
Washington, D. C. (Special). It is
believed here that Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy have agreed as to the
amendments to be proposed to the draft
The Hague protocol, and since the
British Ambassador has received his
imtructions as to the exchanges to be
proposed, it i thought that instruc
tions to Baron Sternberg and the Ital
ian Ambassador may be received here
probably by the middle of the week.
Just what amendments the British Am
bassador has been directed to propose
is not stated, and the character may
not be made iublic until negotiations
are again taken up with Mr. liowen.
Ask Pardoa (or Motsraiaa Midden.
Pittsfield, Matt. (Special). A peti
tion for the pardon of Euclid Madden,
tnotorman of the Pittsfield Street Rail
way, who it serving a six months' scn
tence in the House of Correction for
the death of William Craig, secret ser
vice officer to the President, will come
before the Berkshire County Commis
sioners April J. It it considered prob
able that the petition will be granted.
Tbe fine of $500 is to be paid by the
railway company, upon whose tracks
tbe fatal accident occurred.
Sat Fulfilled rUr Wbfc.
Southern Pine, N. C. (Special). Mr t.
George A. Johnson, of Rochester, N. 11.,
after returning from a dance at the
Southern Pines Hotel, remarked to her
tiasband : "Oh, I wish I was dead.'
Knowing that she was subject to hyu
tens. Mr. Johnson paid s hunt attention
to her remark; but in a few minutes she
went into an adjoining room, locking the
door. Mr. Johnson was startled at the
report of a pistol, and, after summoning
a neighbor, forced the door open, to find
bis wife dead, with a pistol clutched
vgMiy in ber 1 igiit baud.
THE LATEST NEWS IN SHORT ORDER.
Domestic.
As a result of a battle between union
and non-union structural ironworkers
employed on a bridge in Cleveland
three men were badly cut and bruised
by being struck with bricks and clubs.
Twenty-five men took part in the fight,
and only quit upon the arrival of the
police.
Suit has been brought by the de
scendants of the original proprietors of
Ellis Island, in New York Bay, who
claim the island through royal grant
given their ancestors. They aver that
the island is part of New Jersey.
Five men of the crew of the tug
Pilot were drowned in the Delaware
near Philadelphia as the result of a
collision witli the steamship Winifred.
Mrs. Albert A. Phares, of Jackson
ville, X. J., was held for the action of
the grand jury on the charge of poi
soning her husband.
President Gonipcrs, of the American
Federation of Labor, addressed a let
ter to the chief of police of Tampa, Fla.,
demanding protection for two organ
izers, who have been threatened with
death.
The attorney general at Manila de
cides there is not sufficient evidence to
justify the prosecution of President
Gomez and other leaders of the Na
tionalist 1 arty, charged with assisting
the ladrones.
It has been learned that the son of
President I'alma, of Cuba, was secretly
married in New York to Miss Mabel
Jacobs, the daughter of a wealthy to
bacco importer.
The annual meeting of the Federa
tion of the Alliance Francaisc in the
United States was held in New York
and attended by delegates from all parts
of the country.
'I he American Bridge Company im
porter a number ot nonunion men
from Virginia to work on the new Wa
basdi bridge across the Monongahela
river at Pittsburg.
Miss Alice Roosevelt arrived at
San Juan, Porto Kieo, was received by
Governor Hunt and his family, and
held an informal reception at the pal
ace. There was a collision between union
and nonunion men, the latter being dis
placed at the shipyard on Staten Island
to make room for returning strikers.
A negro attempted to burn the home
of W. II. Boyd, at Birmingham. Ala.,
and attacked his wife, who had fired at
the man. She is severely injured.
Evidence was given in New York
that Police Instructor Cross had in
structed Wardnian Bisscrt to tip off
poolrooms that were to be raided.
The steamer Metamora sank in the
Acklawoha River, Fla.; two negroes
were drowned and some of the passen
gers made narrow escapes.
The Manville Company's mill, at
Woonsocket, was shut down on ac
count of the strike of the mule spin
ners. George B. White, vice-president and
a director of the Bank of South Penn
sylvania, at Ilyndman, Bedford county,
Pa., was arrested on a warrant sworn
out by Bank Examiner W. A. Mason,
charging him with embezzlement and
other irregularities amounting to about
$-0,000.
Ex-Attorney General Griggs made
the final argument in defense 01 the
Northern Securities Company in the
n.erper case before the United States
Circuit Court of Appeals, and Special
Consul Watson began the final argu
ment for the government.
Fcreign.
Dr. Stuebcl, director of the German
Colonial Office, replying to socialist in
quiries in the Reichstag, said house
hold slavery had been abolished in Tag
oland, German West Africa.
Premier Combes, in the French Sen
ate, stated that the government would
maintain the concordat between church
and state on condition that the clergy
keep out of politics.
The political situation in England is
complicated by the announcement that
the government proposes to bring in a
bill providing a modified form of home
rule.
It is considered certain in Vatican
circles that Mgr. Joseph F. Mooncy,
vicar general of the Archdiocese oi
New York, will be chosen bishop of
Buffalo.
Baron von Hollebcn, the former
German ambassador, has been order
ed to return to the United States to
formally present his letters of recall.
The elegant residence of the Hum
bert family, in Paris, which was the
scene of their triumphs and downfall,
was sold at auction for $64400.
The epidemic resembling smallpox
on the Island of Trinidad is pronounc
ed by medical men there to be variuj
loid, or chicken-pox.
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain stat
ed in the House of Commons that 100.
000 Boers had been repatriated, and
that the British government was giv
ing the new colonies as military com
pensation $75,000,000 toward . the ex
penses of their resettlement.
Samuel Untcrmeycr, of New York,
is organizing a combination in Eng
land, Germany, Austria, Russia and
France to control steam-pump, engine
and waterworks.
There was a clash between the Cath
olics and Protestants of the Fiji Is
lands as the result lf the conversion
of a number of Catholics to Protestant-.
ism.
The midlent festival in Paris was wit
nessed by many Americans. An Amer
ican cakewalk by Southern "darkies"
was a feature of the procession.
The first Cuban consulate general in
France was inaugurated at Marseilles
with much ceremony, the Cuban flag
being saluted and cheered.
The Austrian War Minister has for
bidden all officers to join the Anti
dueling League.
The anniversary of the death of Louis
Kossuth at Budapest was the occasion
for riotous demonstrations by the stu
dents, who hoisted mourning flags over
the university and compelled the pro
fessors to suspend lectures.
Financial
New York Central directors have de
clared the regular quarterly dividend of
I 1-4 per cent.
J. P. Morgan and William Rockefel
ler attended the New Haven Railroad's
labor conference.
If Keenc wins his fight against Har
rinian in Southern Pacific it may in
duce minority interests in other rail
roads tO follow fllit.
Kumor again name W. P. Snyder,
of the Clairton Steel Company, as the
future president of the United States
Steel Corporation. '
Boston advice say that the Domin
ion Steel Company needs $10,000,000
to put it upon a good earning basis.
Pittsburg hat subscribed to a large
part of the Union Steel Company's
new J lT cent, bonds at 101.
At a recent half-yearly meeting of
the directors of the Bank of England
the statement showed net profits for the
six mouth ending February 28,
739,815, making the reserve 3,750,
127. After paying a 5 per-cent, divi
dend the reserve will be 3,023,479.
The impression prevails that Keene
and Harrunan will settle the Southern
Pacific dispute so a not to damage the
rest of the market.
STRIKE COMMISSION'S AWARDS
Miners Get Nearly all They Asked For Increase of
Wages, in Most Cases, Ten Per Cent, and Shorter
Day for Laborers Sliding Scale of Pay Practi
cally a Profit-Sharing Device.
Washington, D. C. (Special). The re
port of the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission, appointed by the President to
investigate the differences between the
operators and miners in the Pennsylvania
anthracite region, just made public, oc
cupies 87 printed pages, bearing date of
March 18, 190.?, and is signed by the
seven members of the commission.
Briefly stated, the report recommends:
J. Increase in wages of miners at an
average of 10 per cent.
2. A sliding scale of wages and a mini
mum wage rate.
.1. That no person shall be discrimi
nated against in the matter of employ
ment by reason of membership or non
ir.emhcrship in any labor organization.
4. Decrease of time of working hours.
5. That the laws restricting child lalxir
in the mines be more rigidly enforced.
6. That the awards of the commission
shall remain operative until March 31,
loofi.
Upon the general propositions de
manded by the miners the latter, accord
ing to the report have won in the con
tention for an increase in wages and
against the employment of child labor.
The main contention of the miners,
however, that the United Mine Workers
be recognized as an organization by the
operators, is lost. The commission de
clines to make any recommendations of a
specific character as to whether the labor
organization shall be recognized. It
treats of the subject in a general way,
but refrains from recommending that the
United Mine Workers' organization be
recognized or not.
Basil of the Award.
A recapitulation of the awards of the
commission is as follows:
That an increase of 10 per cent, in
wages be paid to all contract miners.
Engineers employed in hoisting water
shall have an increase of 10 per cent, on
their earnings between November I, 1002,
and April 1, 1003. Other engineers and
pumpmen shall have an increase of 10
per cent, on their earnings covering the
same period.
Firemen shall have an increase of 10
per cent, for the same period. All em
ployes or company men other than those
for whom special awards arc made shall
have an increase of 10 per cent, for the
period named.
During the life of the award the pres
ent methods of payment shall be adhered
to, unless changed by mutual agreement.
Any difficulty or disagreement arising
out of the award which cannot be ad
justed by the superintendents of the
mines and the miners shall be referred
for settlement to a permanent joint com
mittee. No suspension of work shall take place
pending the settlement of the differences.
Whenever requested by a majority of
the contract miners, check weighmen or
check docking bosses, or both, shall be
employed.
Mine cars shall be distributed among
the miners as uniformly and equitably
as possible, and there shall be no con
certed effort on the part of miners to
limit the coal output. In all cases where
the miners are paid by the car, the in
crease of wages is to be based upon the
cars in use.
The Sliding Scale.
A sliding scale of wages shall be adopt
ed, as follows:
For each increase of 5 cents in the aver
age price of white-ash coat of sizes above
pea coal, sold at or near New York, be
tween Perth Aniboy and Edgewater, anil
reported to the Bureau of Anthracite
Coal Statistics, above $4.50 per ton free
on hoard, the employes shall have an in
crease of I per cent, in their compensa
tion, which shall continue until a change
in the average price of said coal works a
reduction or an increase in said addi
tional compensation hereunder; but the
rate of compensation shall in no case be
less than that fixed in the award. That
is, when the price of said coal reaches
$4.53 per ton the compensation will be
increased I per cent., to continue until
the price falls below $4.55 per ton, wlcn
the I per cent, increase will cease, or
until the price reaches $4.6q, per ton,
when an additional 1 per cent, will be ad
ded, and so on.
These average prices shall be computed
monthly by an accountant or commission
er, named by one of the'eircuit judges of
the Third judicial circuit of the United
States, and paid by the coal operators,
such compensation as the appointing
judge may fix, which compensation shall
be distributed among the operators in
proportion to the tonnage of each mine.
A to the Union.
That no person shall be refused em
ployment or in any way discriminated
against on account of membership or
non-membership in any labor organiza
tion, and that there shall be no discrimi
nation against or interference with any
employe who is not a member of any
labor organization by members of such
organization.
The following general recommenda
tions are contained in the report :
1 he commission thinks that the
practice of employing deputies, upon
the request and at the expense of em
ployers, instead of throwing the whole
responsibility of preserving peace and
protecting property upon the county
and State officers, is one of doubtful
wsdom, and perhaps tends to invite
conflicts between such officers and idle
men, rather than to avert them. Peace
and order should be maintained at any
cost, and should be maintained by reg
ularly appointed and responsible offi
cers and deputies, at the expense of the
Packtrs Fined $5)00 Each.
Jefferson City," Mo. (Special). The
Armour, Cudahy, Swift, Hammond and
Schwartzschild & Sulzberger Packing
Companies, the five defendants in the
ouster proceedings brought by the At
torney General of Missouri against the
alleged beef combine last summer, were
fined $5000 each in the Missouri Supreme
Court and ordered to pay the costs of
the case, which amounts to $5000. Un
less the fines and costs are paid within
30 days, the defendants will lc ousted
from the State, so the court orders.
Moody al Sintlaia.
Santiago, Cuba (Special). The Unit
ed State dispatch boat Dolphin arriv
ed here from Havana with Postmaster
General Payne on board. Secretary
Moody, Senator Proctor. Congress
men Cannon and Foss and their party
arrived in the evening on a special
train from Havana. They alt express
ed their surprise and enthusiasm at
the wonderful and undeveloped re
source in the interior of the island.
They expect to remain here everal
day, when they wilt go to Guantana
mo and inspect the proposed site for
a coaling station there.
' public, and reinforced as strongly as
may be necessary by public authorities,
rather than by guards hired by cor
porations or individuals. The fact that
deputies arc. to all intents and pur
poses, the employes of one of the par
ties usually works injury to the cause
in which they are engaged that of
preserving peace and protecting prop
erty. Coal and Iron Police.
"The employment of what arc known
as 'Coal and Iron policemen' by the
coal-mining companies, while a neces
sity as things arc, militates against the
very purpose for which they are em
ployed Although the testimony before
the commission proved that, as a whole,
the Coal and Iron policemen were men
of good character, there were a suffi
cient number of bad characters, taken
from cities, to discredit the efforts of
the whole body. The employment of
this body of police is authorized by'
law, but they are really the employes of
the coal companies, and thus do not
secure the respect and obedience to
which officers of the law are entitled.
Their presence is an irritant, and manv
of the disturbances in the coal regions
during the late strike grew out of
their presence. Should this matter be
remedied bv legislation, so that the
laws could be enforced and peace pre
served by a regularly constituted con
stabulary, appointed and paid by the
county or State, the commission be
lieves that much of the disorder which
accompanies strikes would be avoided.
Employment of Children.
"Another subject, not a matter of
submission, but concerning which much
testimony was offered, is that of the
employment of children. Roys are em
ployed in the breakers. The attention
of the commission was called to the
painful fact that in other industries
boys and girls are employed and work
long hours both day and night. While
the law prescribes the ages at which
boys may be employed in and around
the mines and at which children may
be employed in factories or mills, it
appears from the evidence that the age
is not placed sufficiently high. Infancy
should be protected against the physi
cal and moral influences of such em
ployment, and there ought to be a
more rigid enforcement of the laws
which now exist.
No Compulsory Arbitration.
"There are some who have urged the
commission to recommend the adop
tion of compulsory arbitration, so call
ed, as the means of securing this de
sired result, but we cannot see our way
to recommend any such drastic meas
ure. We do not believe that in the
United States such a system would
meet with general approval or with suc
cess. Apart from the apparent lack
of constitutional power to enact laws
providing for compulsory arbitration,
our industries arc too vast and too
complicated for the practical applica
tion of such a system."
MYSTERY OF BAR OF GOLD.
An Ingot Valued at $23,500 Has Disappeared
From Union Depot Office.
Detroit, Mich. (Special). No arrests
Uave been made as yet in connection
with the mysterious disappearance
from the Union Depot office of the
Pacific and Dominion Express Com
pany of a bar of gold in transit from
Salt I.akc City to the East, which is
valued at $23,500. The whereabouts of
the precious ingot is a mystery.
The missing ingot was one of four
weighing about 80 pounds each that
were in transit from the West, pre
sumably Salt Lake City. It is said that
the Philadelphia Mint was the destin
ation of the gold.
The four bars arrived from the West
on Wabash train No. 4 at 8 o'clock,
and were checked out by the messen
ger in charge. They were receipted for
by l"orcman Miller, of the local de
pot office. All express matter for the
East received on No. 4 is held in the
depot for an eastbound Wabash train
which leaves at 10.50 o'clock. The four
ingots were taken into the depot office
and placed in the safe.
Shortly before the eastbound train
was due to leave they were removed
from the strong-box and loaded on a
truck, to be wheeled out to the ex
press car. The train was an hour and
a half late, however, and it is under
stood by the police that the gold was
not put into the safe again pending
the time for the train to leave, but lay
on the truck in the office, which is on
the level of the street. Captain McDon
nell says that he has found that at least
nine persons were in the office at dif
ferent times while the gold lay on the
truck exposed to view and that several
of them handled it and commented on
its value. Two men who were in the
office were taken into custody, but
proved to the satisfaction of the offi
cers that they had nothing to do with
the disappearance of the gold.
When he train was finally ready it
was found that there were only three
ingots on the truck. A frantic search
of the office was made, but no trace of
the fourth bar was found. The train
was held for a time, but finally the three
ingots were dispatched on their way
and Foreman Miller notified the po
lice of their disappearance. It was at
first thought that the bar might have
been left by mistake in the express car
of train No. 4, and the car was search
ed at Buffalo, but there was no gold
bar found.
SPARKS FROM THE WIRES.
A man giving the name of John Ben
nett gave himself up to the sheriff at
Fremont, Neb., declaring he was the
murderer of Nora Fuller, a girl killed
in San F'rancisco a year ago.
George Willard, who is wanted by
the police of France as well as a num
ber of American cities for daring rob
beries, was arrested, after a hard fight,
on a Chicago st-ect car.
Rear Admiral Crowninshield towered
his flag and gave up the command of
the European Squadron.
Superintendent Bull, of the Buffalo
police, still insists that a woman killed
Burdick, and he says he suspects the
same woman now that he did the day
of the murder.
The Venezuelan gunboat Restaurador
is reported to have bombarded the town
of Carupano and to have destroyed many
houses there.
Arugments were concluded in the
Wabash injunction case, which was
taken under advisement by Federal
Judge Adams in St. Louis.
The Reichstag adopted the appropria
tion of $750,000 to cover the expenses of
Germany's participation in the St. Louii
Exposition.
WITH THE NATIONAL LAWMAKERS.
February Break Record.
The February figures of the Bureau
of Statistics just made public, show the
largest exports of any February iruthc
history of United States commerce, and
also that the exports for the three
months ended with February were larg
er than those of the corresponding pe
riod of any earlier year.
On the import side the figures show
a continuation of the growth which
has characterized the- last two years,
and the figures of the eight months
ended with February suggest that the
imports of the United States in the fis
cal year 1903 may exceed $1,000,000,000,
while the export figures seem likely
to exceed $1,400,000,000.
In February the exports amounted to
$125,502,105, which is $12,000,000 in ex
cess of any preceding February. Tak
ing the three months ended with Febru
ary, 1003, the total exports arc $401,520,
200, against $215,151,471 in the three
months ended with February, 1893. These
large figures, the Bureau of Statistics
bulletin says, arc due in part to the fact
that the new corn crop is rapidly enter
ing the markets of the world, to which
the United States was able to make but
slight contributions last year, the corn
exportation in February, 1003, having
been I3.ooo.coo bushels, against a little
over 1.000.000 bushels in February last
year. Cotton exports also show a marked
gain over those of last year, the value of
cotton exported in Februarv. 1003. being
$.'7,423,3'", against $24 -(,roj in Febru
ary of last year.
Ex-Confederate Pensions.
The Interior Department has decid
ed that the bar to allowance of pensions
to soldiers who served in the Union
Army during the Civil War and who
had previously served in the Confed
erate Army is removed by Section 1
of the joint resolution of July I, 1002.
relating to pensionable status of such
soldiers.
It is held to be unnecessary for such
claimants to file a new application for
pension subsequent to July I, 1902.
The application of these veterans fil
ed previously to that date, it is held,
gives them a legal status as pension
claimants. The decision was the last
one signed by Assistant Secretary
Campbell before relinquishing; his of
fice. The department holds that claim
ants who have been pensioned and af
terward dropped from the roll because
of such service arc entitled to restora
tion, and that tl'.osc who had claims
pending which were rejected under a
departmental decision in 1894 arc enti
tled to have their claims adjudicated
on tiieir merits, notwithstanding pre
v ions Confederate service.
Appropriations for Cenal.
It is considered doubtful whether the
appropriation of 40,000,000 for the
purchase of the property ot the Pana
ma Canal Company and the appropria
tion of $10,000,000 ftr the payment to
Colombia and for preliminary work
upon the Isthmian canal, as provided
in the Spooner act, arc legally avail
able upon the ratification of the canal
treaty by Colombia.
If the treaty just ratified by the Sen
ate complied with the law making the
appropriation the money would be
available for all the purposes desig-
naled immediately after the ratification
by Colombia. The appropriation,
however, is made conditional unon cer
tain things specifically and distinctly
indicated, and the treaty, it is assert
ed, does not comply with these con
ditions. If the law officers of the Gov
ernment deal with this question in
conformity with their custom in deal
ing with appropriations the money will
not be available, but will have to be re
appropriated, with the conditions in
consistent with the treaty omitted.
Egyptian Clover la the United States.
The attention of the Department of
Agriculture has been directed to state
ments that the department recommends
Egyptian clover for general distribu
tion in this country. Officials say this
statement is not correct. Bulletin No.
23, Bureau of Plant Industry, shows
that the latitude in which Egyptian
clover is grown is that of Central
Florida and the extreme southern point
of Texas. It is probable that this
clover will be of no value in this coun
try except in the extreme South.
la ibe Department.
Mr. Bowen received a handsome sil
ver loving cup as a testimonial from
the people of Venezuela.
In response to requests of the Gov
ernors of Arkansas and Tennessee, Sec
retary of War Root ordered that tents
be immediately sent to the flooded dis
tricts. Marcus Braun, of New York, has
been appointed immigration inspector,
to go abroad and investigate immigra
tion conditions.
An agreement has been reached by
the allies upon amendments to the pro
posed draft ol The Hague protocol.
Count and Countess de Castcllanc
called on President Roosevelt at the
White House.
It was discovered that there were
several conflicting and apparently im
possible conditions in the Cuban Rcci-
Crocity Treaty as amended and adopted
y the Senate which may kill it.
Civil Service Commissioner Foulke
strongly resented criticisms made upon
him by senators for writing letters to
correct inaccuracies in statements bear
ing upon the action of the department.
The President appointed Dr. W. D.
Crum collector of the port at Charles
ton, S. C, and W. M. Byrne United
States district attorney for Delaware.
A court-martial was ordered to try
George H. Edds, chief commissary
steward at Newport, R. I., on the
charge of securing commissions on
purchases of provisions.
The United States Senate ratified the
Cuban Reciprocity Treaty after the
amendments agreed to by the Foreign
Affairs Committee had been adopted.
Col. Peter O. Hain will be pro
moted to the rank of brigadier general
when General Wade becomes a major
general.
The Sclignians, affliliated with the
Speyers, have offered to assume the
Venezuelan debt.
Judge Gray, chairman, and Carroll D.
W right, recorder of the Strike Commis
sion, have presented the report of the
commission to President Roosevelt.
The President withdrew the nomina
tion of William Pliinley for assistant
treasurer at New York, and substituted
the name of Hamilton Fistj, who was
confirmed promptly by the Senate.
Dr. Thomas llerran, secretary of the
Colombian Legation in Washington, has
informally advised hit government of
the ratification of the Par.ama Canal
Treaty. ,
The Caribbean squadron ha ailcj
from San Juan for Puerto Cortcz, lion
dura. The Navy Department ha issued the
new regulations governing the examina
tion of candidates for admission to the
Naval Academy. j
TWO BOATS CRASH IN FOG
Big Steamer Plymouth Ran Into la the
Sound By City of Taunton.
SIX LIVES LOST IN THE COLLISION.
Larue Vessel Has Gaping Hole Torn to Hei
Side Member of the Crew Drowned In
Their Bunk In the Hold Pastenjen' Cabin
Splintered, and Many Have Narrow Escape
Both Craft In Badly Disabled Shape.
New London, Conn. (Special). In a
heavy fog which descended upon the
waters of Long Island sound, the bis
Fall-River passenger steamer Ply
mouth, which left in the afternoon for
Fall River with 500 passengers and a
crew of 200 men, was run down while
passing through the Race by the
freight steamer City of Taunton of the
same line, also from New York. Five
of the crew, one passenger and prob
ably others were killed.
A full hundred feet of the starboard
side of the Plymouth was smashed in
as if it had been paper. The staterooms
of the second cabin and seven on the
saloon deck were entirely cut away,
while down in the hold members of the
crew who were asleep in the steerage
were drowned by a torrent of water that
poured in through the great gap made.
The hole is 10 feet square on the star
board side of her hull, about 35 feet
from her bow.
The collision was totally unexpected,
and one of the worst in the history of
navigation on the sound. The Ply
mouth was proceeding slowly on he
course and blowing her whistle. Hear
ing the whistles of the Taunton in
close proximity, she had slowed still
more. Out of the fog. close at hand
came the Taunton. The Taunton was
proceeding at a fairly good rate ol
speed, blowing her whistle and ringing
her bell. There was a quick inter
change of signals, b'.it the sharp prow
of the Taunton sunk itself into the
starboard side of the Plymouth a dis
tance of 8 or 10 feet. The collision
was square, so that the Taunton, cut
deep, carrying in the rail of the Ply
mouth and the steel straps which sur
rounded her.
Second Pilot Hammel and Captain
Davis of the Plymouth were on duty
in the pilot-house when the collision
came, l'irst Pilot Edward Gcer had
just gone to his stateroom, having left
his post at midnight.
As soon as the lights of the Taunton
appeared Captain Davis sent a warn
ing over the boat by signals. The head
watchman, McCarthy, had started to
call some of the crew in the steerage
when the Taunton struck. McCarthy
was instantly killed.
When the crash came there was much
fright among the passengers. Every
one aboard was awakened. Many were
thrown from their berths. They rushed
out on the decks and into the cabins.
Shrieks were heard all over the boat.
Persons ran to and fro in an excited
and terror-stricken condition. The
excellent discipline that prevailed
among the officers and crew alone
averted a panic.
MARRIED SEVEN TIMES.
A Michigan Man's Varied Experience In
Matrimony. ,
Buchanan, Mich. (Special). William
I lul bet t, of this place, is claiming the
record in the matter of contracting
marriages, and up to this time tlieic
has been found none to contest the
claim. Hulbert has been married sev
en times and he is not yet 50 years old.
He got four wives out of two families,
having married two sisters in the Mad
11011 family and two in the Murphy
family. Death claimed three of Hul
bett's wives, and three were divorced.
He is a stone mason and works at his
trade in this city.
In the matter of romance the seventh
or last episode is said to hr.ve eclipsed
all of the others. He advertised in a
New York paper for a wife, and as a
result the woman of the Empire State
now presides over his home.
Tbe General Staff.
Washington, D. C. (Special). The
Navy Department issued a general or
der convening a board to meet in this
city March 30 to recommend the detail
of 42 officers from the Army at large
to constitute the personnel of the gen
eral staff under the act of February 14.
The board is to consider only the effi
ciency of officers, and no recommenda
tions or letters except those submitted
through military channels, are to be
considered by the board, which will
consist of Major Generals Young,
Chaffee and Bates, Brigadier Generals
Carter, Bliss and Randolph and Major
Henry A. Green, asistant adjutant gen
eral. Had Premonition of Death.
Mahanoy ' City, Pa.' (Special). John
P. Price, a former borough supervisor,
called on several friends here and ask
ed to be pallbearers at his funeral, say
ing he had a premonition of death.
Although he seemed to be in his usual
health when he made the strange re
quest, lie fell dead of apoplexy two
hours later as he sat in the sun in front
of his home.
Bill Failed to Pass.
Harrisburg, Pa. (Special). In the
House the bill presented by Mr.
Blumle, of Cameron county, and which
had previously passed second reading
"to subsidize large families and pro
vide for gold medals for mothers of
large familits"-rfailed on final passage
by a vote of 65 to 55, less than a con
stitutional majority.
Lost $:00; Haaied Himself.
York, Pa. (Special). Hamilton Hin
kle, of Dover, seven miles from York,
committed suicide by hanging. He wa?
suffering from aberration of the mind,
caused by the sale of his house several
days ago. Hinkle offered his dwelling
for sale, and Samuel Wallick bargained
with him for $2,200. Soon afterward
another purchaser appeared and offered
him $2,400. Hinkle tried to Ret Wallick
to release him, but without success. The
loss of the $200 so preyed upon his mind
that he went to his bam and hanged him
self. Abiorbed By Steel Trust.
Pittsburg (Special). The Crucible
Steel Company of America has sold to
the United State Steel Corporation the
controlling interest in the Clarton plant
According to the Gazette, the minority
interest, it is said, will be owned by the
Crucible people and W..P. Snyder. Mr.
Snyder will remain a president of the !
concern. 1 hi sale include a bihet con
tract by which the Steel Corporation will
sell billets to the Crucible Company. Il
also ends the hopes of independents for
cheap sheet bar aud billet. - -
THE KEYSTONE STATE
Latest Neg ol Pennsylvania Told Id
Short Order.
Pensions granted Pcnnsytvaniam:
John Huiy. Sheffield, $6; Frederick
Hillegas, New Bucna Vista, $12; John
McQuiston, Pittsburg. $6; William P.
Beatty, Washington, $12; John C. Mil
ler. Tunnclton, $10; William Reed, Al
legheny. $10: Henry Lane. Turtle
Creek, $12; David L. Dcyarman. Brush
Valley, $12: Robert Armstrong, She
locta. $8; Alfred H. Pierce, Smcthport,
$12: Stephen U. Dav, Washington, $24;
Solomon Graybill, Richfield, $12; D,
G. C. Peer, Bolivar, $2; Samuel Yahres,
Etna, $6; Daniel McQuintcn, Pitts
burg, $8; Andrew Miller, Altoona, $6;
John W. C. MeCurdy. Pittsburg, $8;
William D. Gordon. Erie, $6: John W.
Coughlcr. Clarion, $6; John Miller, Al
toona, $10; John P. Shannon, Titts
burg. $12; George Kichl, Bcntlryvillc,
?to: John Svvcir. Ellb'burg, $8: George
F. Austrow. Millwood. $10; Catharine
Gibbs, Mt. Pleasant, $S: Mary E. Pew,
Mercer, $8; minor of Abram P. Pew,
Mercer, $to; Mary Hensal, Madera,
f8; Margaret J. McCurdy. Pittsburg,
$8; Jacob W. Glossner, Chicora, $6;
John A. Stambaugh, Green Park, $8;
William Hirst, Altoona, $12; Alfred
Kerr. New Haven, $10: John A. Hor
lon, Mines. $ro; John Dice, Keystone,
f8; John Y. Sinner. Wolfs Store, $10;
Henry Savitz, Tyrone, $10: George
Markcl. Bcllcfonte, $10; Frederick
Coyer. Johnstown, $12; minor of Hen
ry . Kobb, .Monaca, $14.
George Smith was killed by a train
near Uniontown.
Mrs. Elizabeth Comisky, aged 40,
committed suicide at Oil city by taking
laudanum.
Mrs. Samuel Davis, who was arrest
ed for shoplifting at Mcadvillc, was
committed to jail for court.
A freight wreck at Larimer sta
tion, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, de
railed an engine and several cars and
delayed passenger traffic several hours.
In answer to a knock at her door,
Mrs. John Wren, of New Castle, was
confronted by a masked burglar, who
forced bis way into the house and com-p-cllcd
the woman to hand over $So,
which her husband had received a few
days before.
The congregation of the First Chris
tian Church at Sharon will erect a
novel temple of worship. The present
church will be disposed of and in its
place a two-story brick block will be
erected, with storerooms underneath.
The second floor will be used for
church purposes.
Superintendent Beavers, of the sal
ary and allowance division of t lie Post
Office Department, announced the fol
lowing list of additional clerks aud pro
motions in post offices in Eastern
Pennsylvania, to take effect July I:
Bryn Mawr, two promotions, from
$500 to $600: Scranton, three addition
al clerks, at $6on; two promotions from
$100 to $200; one from $300 to $400;
one from $500 to $6oo; three from $600
to $700; one from $700 to $800; five
from $900 to $tooo; Tovvando, one pro
motion from $500 to $800, two from
$7co to $800; Waynesboro, one promo
tion from $500 to $600, one from $700
to $800; Mcchanicsburg, one promo
tion from $500 to $(ko; Roycrsford, one
promotion from $600 to $800, two from
S500 to $600; Hanover, one additional
clerk at $600. one promotion from
$700 to $800, one from $800 to $1000;
Carlisle, one promotion from $400 to
$600, three from $500 to $600.
When all the appropriations arc made
by the Legislature this year it will b?
found that they will be less by $2,000,
000 than the estimated revenue for the
next two years made by the State's fi
nancial officers. Chairman Bliss, oi
the House Appropriations Committee,
who is regarded as voicing the views of
the State administration in the House,
has told the committee that it is the
Governor's wish that $2,000,000 remain
for emergencies after all the appropria
tions arc made. The estimate made by
the financial officers is $31,000,000 for
the next two years. The committee
will scan 11 bills very closely, but it
its appropriations are over $29,000,000
the Governor will do the rest.
A jury awarded fifteen-year-old Har
ry Hulstinc. of Londonderry Township,
$4695 and his mother $851.25 damages
for alleged injuries inflicted by John
Bauni, a farmer with whom the lad
was employed three years ago. The
farmer, it is alleged, in chastising the
lad with a strap, struck him with the
buckle and tne hoy is threatened with
the loss of his right arm.
Dr. H. D. Heller, State Quarantine
Physician, wants an appropriation of
$25,000 for a boarding boat for which
a yearly rent of $3000 is now paid. A
request has been made to reduce the
ppropriation from maintenance from
(45,000 to $39,000, which reduction
equals the amount of the rent.
Theodore Weaver, a Westmoreland
:ounty road supervisor, was killed by
train near Tarr station.
Michael Ryan was assaulted and rob
bed on a principal street in New Cas
tle, and Edwin J. Cole and Harry
Brown, colored, were arrested for the
;rime. Ryan identified both principals
Atorneys for Harvey Tillcfro, charg
:d with the murder of his wife, have
petitioned Judge W. D. Patton, of Kit
tanning, to continue the trial to the
June term of court, alleging that public
opinion is so strong against the pris
oner that a fair verdict would be im
possible. There is a move on foot among the
(00 employes of the Lawrence and She
lango glass factories to erect a $50,000
:o-opcrative plant in New Castle, by
reason of the men being thrown out ol
Niiployment by the shutting down of
:he window glass concerns by the com
bine. The move meets with the ap
proval of all the employes, as it is an
tounced that the glass-blowing devicct
sill be introduced into the factories ir
N'cw Castle.
While attempting to cross a moving
rain on the Pennsylvania tracks .at
New Brighton Charles Frick, a well
mown resident, fell and had both legs
aken off.- He was head machinist at
he Picrce-Crouch engine works, and
vas returning from work when the ac
:ident occurred. Little hope is cnter
amed for his recovery.
In his garrctt, where it has been for
rears, William A. Caldwell, of Buyers
town, recently discovered a sign of the
.ild Hat Hotel, which was painted by
Benjamin West, the celebrated Amen
:an painter, of the eighteenth century.
George Croft, aged 50, a, well-known
'csidcr.t of Vesta, was found dead in a
odging house at Charlerol. Last night
Croft and Andrew Frew secured a
room at the house and when Frew
twoke in the morning he found Croft
on the floor dead. Croft had been
drinking hard for several day.
The 3-year-old daughter of John Al
len, steward at the Mercer county alms
house, was burned to death while play
ing with matche.
The charge of embezzlement pre
"erred against Councilman W. G
Leddy, of New Castle, by the trustee
cf the Knight of the Golden Eagle
will be withdrawn.