CONVICTION FR GULTY OFFICERS PRESIDENT DETERMINED. In an Address He Gives the Investigating Committee of the War Department Unlimited Seope and Autherit; —All Classes Represented. The commission appointed by Presi- dent McKinley to investigate the ad- ministration of the war department in relation to its conduct of the Hispano- American war began its labors formal- ly last Monday. The commission ef- fected an organization by electing Gen. Granville M. Dodge president; Mr. Richard Weightman, secretary; and Maj. Stephen C. Mills, of the regular army, recorder. The president is understood to be thoroughly pleased with the personnel of the comnsission. It was his effort to secure as members of the commis- sion men of the highest character and standing, in whose opinions and judg- ment the country would have all con- fidence. He desired also to have repre- sented on the board all phases of public and political feeling, every section of the country and all classes of business —professional, commercial and mili- tary. Spr In addressing the commission president sid, among other things: “Gentlemen—Before suggesting the matter which shall come before you for investigation, 1 desire to express my appreciation to each of you for vour wiilingness to accept the patriotic service to which vou have been invited. You are to perform one of the highest public duties that can fall to a citizen, and your unselfishzess in undertaking it makes me produndly grateful. “There has been in many quarters, severe criticism of the conduct of the war with Spain. Charges of criminal neglect of the soldiers in camp and field and hospital and in transports have been so persistent that, whether true or false, they have made a deep impression upon the country. It is my earnest desire that you shall thorough- ly investigate these charges, and make the fullest examination of the adminis- tration of the war department in all of its branches, with the view to estab- lishing the truth or falsity of these ac- cusations. “I put upon you no limit to the scope of your investigation. Of all depart- ments connected with the army, I in- vite the closest scrutiny and examina- tion, and shall afford every faculty for the most searching inquiry. The rec- ords of the war department and the assistance of its officers shall be sub- ject to your call. “I can not impress upon you too strongly my wish that your investiga- tion shall be so thorough and com- plete that your report, when made, will fix the responsibility for any failure or fault by reason of neglect, incompe- tency or maladministration upon the officers and bureaus responsible there- for—if it be found that the evils com- p:ained of have existed. “The people of the country are en- titled to know whether or not the citi- zens who promptly responded to the call of duty have been neglected or misused or maltreated by the govern- ment to which they so willingly gave their service. If there have been wrongs committed, the wrong-doers must not escape conviction and pun- ishment.” the EIGHT MINERS KILLED. Disastrous Explosion in a Mine at Brownsvile, Pa. Many Workmen Narrowly Escape. Eight miners were killed last Friday in the Empire mine at Brownsville, Pa. The disaster was caused by a gas explosion resulting from the careless exposure of a naked lamp by one of the miners. More than a hundred men narrowly escaped with their lives. The dead are: James Hall, «27 and one child. John Bennett, driver, Harry Hager, 17; single. John Harrison, eolored, 35; wife and two children. : Salem Harrison, colored, 25; single. William Pritchard, 350; wife and seven children. John Cartwright, 30: wife. Robert Davidson, 45; single. Startling statements were brought out at the inquest over the bodies of the victims of the Umpire mine horror near Brownsville. Under a fire of ques- tions from the mine inspectors Henry Farran, fire boss, told. of having found and reported gas in parts of the mine. James Broderick, mine boss, admitted that he knew there was gas in places, and both knew there was gas k o'afia and both acknowledged that they al- lowed the men to go into dangerous places with naked lamps. years of age; wife 29. single. President Visits a Hospital. Unannounced, President McKinley a few days ago made a personal inspec- tion of the hospital at Fort Meyer, Virginia. The President carefully in- spected the kitchen and examined the food supplied to the hospital patients. At the conclusion of his examination he expressed himself as well satisfied with the arrangements made for car- ing for the sick, but desired it to be un- derstood that the patients were to want for nothing that would improve their condition or render them more comfortable. The patients were par- ticularly pleased at the visit of the President, and Maj. Davis said, as the party left the hospital, that it would do more to cheer up the sick men than any quantity of medicine. Maria Teresa Floated. The wrecking company at Santiago er gaged under Licutenant Hobson in the work of saving the wrecked Span- ish warships has succezded in floating the cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa. The cruiser after being got afloat was taken in tow by the Potomac and, cenvoyed by the cruiser Newark, the Scorpion and the Alvarado, proceeded for Guantanamo Bay, Sunday. The successful issue of the attempt to float her was greeted with the blowing of wlkistles, the firing of National salutes and by cheers, in which the Cubans Joined, disturbing the noon siesta. Prisoners Revolt. The deputy for French Guiana has received information of the outbreak of a mutiny among the convicts at Ca- yenne. A large body of prisoners re- volted, murdered their guards and captured the military stores, and are now trying to effect the release of 4,000 other prisoners still in confinement. Military assistance.is.urgently sought from Martinique. Cervera Deplores the Injustice. Before Admiral Cervera landed at Sanander from the steamer City of Rome last Thursday, the local author- ities went on board the transport to welcome him home. In response to their greetings the admiral thanked them fcr their courtesy and said that he needed consolation after undergoing such heroic, but barren sacrifice as he and his men had experienced. He spoke with bitterncss of the situation in which his sailors were placed. They had returned calmly, having done their duty, but were filled with sadness by ‘the atmosphere of injustice which en- veloped public opinion. RELEASING CUBAN PRISONERS. A Havana Paper Argues That the American Methods Are the Most Bubstantial. The Cuban cabinet composed of the colonial secretaries meets daily, and pardon is granted to a great number of prisoners, who are thereupon turn- ed into the streets of Havana. La Lucha, in an editorial recently treating upon the question of the fu- ture of Cuba, concludes with saying: “The only difference between ourselves and the Americans is that they occupy themselves with material interests and the organization of public health, while we write verses on liberty and sonnets to the moon as a solution of our very terrestrial problem. We are supporters and followers of ideals and the muses, while they are stanch dependents upon reality and earthly things. We are of heaven and they are of the earth. Vic- tory, therefore, cannot be doubtful, un- less we change our tastes, ambitions and temperament. Capt. Gen. Blanco, amplifying his de- cree of August 22, has pardoned 119 persons who were exiled from the island for all kinds of crimes. THE ROUGH RIDERS. President McKinley Receives Them at the White Fouse and Extends Congratulations. President McKinley Wednesday in- fcrmally received a delegation of about a dozen members of the Roosevelt Rough Rider regiment. A majority of the delegation are from New Mexico and are en route home. Each of the callers was presented in- dividually to the president, who, after greeting them personally, talked with them and to them as a body in an in- formal manner. “Your record is one,” he said, “of which the entire nation is proud. I tell people who talked with me about the Rough Riders, that you left the boats in squads of twenty or thirty, inquir- ing the way to Santiago, and that you hardly stopped until you arrived there. “You have not only done well,” he said, ‘‘but I h&ve no doubt you would all be willing to again serve your coun- try in an emergency.” The response was that they would be to a man. . “We want our colonel to raise a bri- gade instead of a regiment, next time,” said one of the younger members of the party. MOVEMENTS TOWARD PEACE. At Santiago 1,200 soldiers are on the sick list. Secretary Alger inspected the camps at Chickamauga Park last Thursday. Gen. Garcia, the Cuban leader, will visit Washington in the near future. Gen. Alger inspected the hospital at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Ga., last Sa- turday. Tuesday the Spanish troops at San Juan, Porto Rico, began. embarking for Spain. There were 500 serious cases of sick- ness among the soldiers at Camp Wi- koff last Wednesday. The United States Peace commis- sicners arrived in London on their way to Paris last Saturday. Spanish prisoners at Manila, who are in the hands of rebels, are suffering for the necessities of life. The Philippine insurgents are exper- iencing difficulty in raising taxes with which to maintain their army. Corporal Bernard Bohn and Private Morris, both of the Eleventh infantry, were killed by lightning at Porto Rico. Convicts who fought in the : war against the United States have 're- ceived a pardon from the Spanish Queen Regent. Camp Meade, at Middletown, Pa., will probably be abandoned soon, the troops there being sent to Cuba or. to camps in the South. General Woodford, late minister to Spain will not return to his former post. His presence at Madrid might revive bitter feelings. Charges are made against the Philip- pine rehels of brutal treatment of priests. An American officer has been sent to investigate the matter. The Rough Riders’ herses were sold at auction:in New York last Tuesday. There were 1,007 of the horses and their prices ranged between $15 and $30. It is said that the Rothschilds will loan Spain $25,000,000 as soon as the treaty of peace is signed. The Alma- dan silver mines will be taken as se- curity. "The meeting of the peace commis- sioners at Porto Rico continue without friction. Spanish troops are leaving for home as fast as transports can be supplied. Secretary Alger received the troops at Camp Hamilton, Lexington, Ky., last Tuesday. He denies that he offer- ed his resignation to the president a few weeks ago. Capt. Gen. Blanco has sent a mes- sage to the government through Gen. Pando, his second in command, to the effect that the army in Cuba will do its duty in the event of the failure of the peace commission and a renewal of hostilities. The quartermaster’s department claims that much of the illness among the soldiers was due to their refusal to drink boiled water which the govern- ment furnished. The United States insists cn an im- mediate evacuation of Cuba by Spain's troops. There was a desire on the part of Spain te keep her troops in Havana until next spring. Two representatives delegated by Aguinaldo, are their way to see President in the interest of ultimate ence for the Philippines. The sickness among the American troops at Porto Rico is still increasing, and at last reports there were 2,500 soldiers under treatment. There are 700 111 in Gen. Ernst’s brigade. Twenty Spanish vessels, including twelve steamers, at Manila, have com- pleted their transfer to the American flag and a majority of them have now proceeded on coasting voyages. The peace commission st Havana has requested the United States to grant them a special credit, for the purpose of relieving the distress of needy Americans on the island of Cuba. Brigadier General G. A. Garretson, in his official report of the battle near Yauco, Porto Rico, July 26, in which the position of the enemy was stormed, recommended for promotion for gal- lantry Major Webb C. Hayes, of the First Ohio cavalry. ; Applications for the discharge of soldiers must go through the regular army channels. The influence of sena- tors, congressmen and other officials has no weight. whatever at the war de- partment. Aguinaldo, the Philippine insurgent leader, in a message to President Mc- Kinley, reasserted that his people would be friendly to America, and asks only that the islands be not returned to Spanish domination. C. W. Metcalf of Cleveland is mak- ing an effort to have Gen. Otis. re- moved. Otis is now in command of the troops at Manila. Mr. Metcalf’s son died in a pestilence camp at San Fran- cisco which was selected by Gen. Otis. from = Manila, now on McKinley independ- FRENGH PEOPLE HEAR A WARNING. PICQUART'S PREDICTION. Intimates That Ropes and Razors, Found in Accused Prisoners’ Cells, Are Not Always Evidence of Suicide—Dreyfus Examination. The trial of Col. Picquart and M. Loblois, a lawyer, on the charge of re- vealing documents concerning the na- tional defense, was to have begun at Paris a few days ago before the cor- rectional tribunal. The public prose- <utor, however asked for an adjourn- ment on the ground that the prosecu- tion of Col. Piquart bn the charge of forgery and using forged documents had been ordered by the minister of war. M. Labori, who was counsel for M. Zola during the latter's famous trial, indignantly opposed the adjourn- ment, which he said was an attempt to hand over Col. Picquart into - the clutches of the military authorities. Col. Picquart then rose and made a statement, which caused a sensation. He said: ‘This is, perhaps, the last time I shall speak in: public. I shall sleep, perhaps, in the military prison of Cherche Midi. Therefore, I wish to declare that if 1 find there the strang- ling cord of Le Mercier Piclerd, or the razor of Col. Henry, it will be murder, for TI have no idea of committing sui- cide.” The audience was intensely and shouted “Vive Picquart.” The judges, however, after a: short deliberation, decided to indefinitely ad- journ the case, and Col. Picquart was led away between policemen. : I.e Mercier Pickard, the man referred to by Col. Picquart, was a detective, understood to have been employed in the Dreyfus affair, who was found hanged in his lodgings about a year ago under circumstances which sast some doubt upon the theory put for- ward that he had committed suicide. The commission appointed by the minister of justice, M. Sarrien, to ex- amine the documents in the Dreyfus case and pronounce upon the advisa- bility of the government formally granting the prisoner on Devils island a new trial, met the other day at the ministry of justice. The greatest pre- cautions were taken to insure secrecy. It is understood the commission will come to a decision shortly when M. Sarrien will communicate its finding to a cabinet coucil, which will be pre- sided over by President Faure. The London Observer recently as- serted that Comte Esterhazy has said in the presence of more persons than one that he was the author of the fa- mous Dreyfus bordeau, which he wrote ‘“‘at the request of Col. Sandherr, now dead.” moved CRUELTY OF A SPANISH GENERAL. Assassinates Thirty Citizens Who Were Declared Loyal Citizens by Superior Officers. A prominent Spaniard who has just arrived at Havana from Santo Espiritu tells of many atrocities committed by the Spanish general, Ignacio Estruch, in that vicinity. As a result many fam- ilies have fled to the fields and others have died panic-stricken, suffering from untold cruelties. Gen. Estruch surrounded himself with advisers, who indicated to him persons to be killed or exiled. Estruch made a list of fifty persons, submitting it for approval to General Aguirre, commander of his divisiom who consulted with Marco Garcia, civil governor of Santa Clara provinee. Garcia said tne list was not reliable, as all the persons named therein were loyal autonomists. Estruch, chagrined at his failure, formed a secret service police of twen- ty-five gendarmes, armed with dag- gers. The blacklisted persons were ar- rested by night and slain outside the city walls. When the families of the missing inquired, Estruch replied that they had been arrested and released, and had probably escaped to the fields and joined the rebels. Thus Estruch assassinated about thirty persons. Estruch was arrested for his crimes, but was released and sent to the Jau- cargstrocha, not being court-martialed on account of lack of proof. One of the daggers used by the Es- truch police was presented to Capt.- Gen. Blanco, who was horrified at the sight. Among the persons assassinat- ed was Candido Spalederon, a newspa- per man. War Whoops in the White Housa. President McKinley met a dozen of Roosevelt's rough riders last Tuesday. They assembled in the east room and the president shook hands with them. He also complimented the plainsnien and they became enthusiastic... One of them proposed three cheers. They be- gan with an Indian war whoop as an overture and followed it with three cheers which shook the mansion. The president smiled with pleasure. “Will you go to Cuba again call you?’ he asked. “You bet we will. We will go ndw,” exclaimed one enthusiast and similar expressions were heard all ‘along the line. if we Epain Assisting Reconcentrados. Marquis Cervera, military governor of Marianao, Cuba, has issued an order providing for the return of refugees from the country—reconcentrados—to their farms and fields, offering absolute protection to all those going back to their homes and lands. To this end he has arranged for three omnibuses to run twice a week from Marianas to different interior points in the vicinity, taking, free of charge, the families and baggage of those who wish to return to their homes. The civil governor, beside issuing orders to the mayors of Cano and Bauta to co-operate with the mayor of Mariano, has to the same end cet aside the sum of $500 to be dis- tributed among these families who re- turn to labor cn the farms. Forgeries in the Dreyfus Case. The lI.ondon Observer states that Count Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy, of France, has been in London for 10 days past. He explains that there is no longer justice for him in his own coun- try, and says that what he did was done in blind, unquestioning, brutal obedience of orders from superiors. If I were ordered to take a gun and shoot my own brother, I would de so without hesitation,” Count Esterhazy declared. He added that out of the 1,000 docu- ments in the Dreyfus dossier, approxi- mately 600 were forged, and that he was prepared to show by whcm and in what circumstances the forgeries were committed. Five Hundred Dervishes Killed. The only organized remnant of the Khalifa’s army was defeated, and its last stronghold, Gedarif, captured on September 25, after three hours’ fight- ing, when an Egyptian force number- ing 1,300, under command of Colonel Parsons, routed 3,000 Dervishes, of whom 500 were killed. Three Egyptian officers were wounded and 37 Egypt- fan soldiers killed and 59 wounded. General Kitchener, commanding the Anglo-Egyptian expedition, has re- turned to Omdurman, having estab- lished posts at Fashoda and on the So- bat river. The troops did no fightinx except with a Dervish steamer NEWS NOTES. Twenty thousand Odd Fellows paraded in Boston last Wednesday. Hazen S. Pingree has been renom- inated by the Republicans of Michigan for governor. Capt. Brooks of the yacht Chispa was murdered by pirates at Sausalita, Cal., last week. The wheat crop of Manitoba this season will be 40,000,600 bushels against 20,000,000 last year. Cadet Philip Smith has been pended from West Point one without pay for hazing. Policeman Tuxfcrd of Chicago was killed by Clarence White, a burglar, whom he was trying to arrest. Three men locked August Arnold, a Chicago saloonkeeper in his ice chest and then robbed the safe of $10. Acting secretary of state Adee was given a. special commission by presi- dent McKinley, making him actually secretary of State. Dense clouds of smoke covered lake Superior last Monday and Tuesday. Twelve vessels were wrecked repre- senting a loss of $350,000. Dentist Kennedy of New York will have to stand trial for the death of Emeline Reynolds who was found murdered some weeks ago. Ex-United States Senator William W. IKaton died Wednesday morning at Hartford, Conn., aged 84. He was stricken with paralysis Sunday. Seven masked men held up a train within seven miles of the Kansas City depot, blew up the express car and are alleged to have secured a large sum. The German bark Olga arrived at Philadelphia a few days ago. Six mem- bers of her crew. including the captain and mate died of scurvy on the ocean. To entertain President McKinley during the Knights Templar Conclave at Pittsburg next month, Christopher Magee, of that city, will spend $15,000. St. Patrick’s church at Audenried, near Wilkesbarre, Pa., is slowly’ sink- ing into an abandoned coal mine and the entire building is likely to disap- rear. Gen. Merritt who has returned to this country from Manila, will marry Miss TLLaura Williams before he leaves for Paris. He is one of the advisors of the peace commission. Major General ‘Joe’ Wheeler ac- cepted an invitation to be commander of the mounted division in the grand parade during the Knights Templar conclave in Pittsburg. The body of Jennie Hickey was found in the lake at Chicago last Thursday. Bruises upon her throat showed that she had been strangled to death and then thrown into the water. Mrs. C. L. Foster of Louisville; Ky., sent her 4-year-old child to the drug- store for quinine Monday and soon af- ter taking the drug Mrs. Foster died. It is believed the child was given pois- on by mistake. Sir Arthur Curtis, an English noble- man, searching for gold in the Klon- dike, has disappeared. Indians want $1,000 reward for finding the body, and this leads his friends to believe that he met with foul play. By means of poisoned wheat thous- ands of sparrows have perished at Mishawake, Ind. It now develops that these birds are killed and shipped to Michigan where a bounty is paid for sparrows’ heads. Indiana pays no bounty. General Nelson A. Miles will in a few days receive from the chief bankers in New York and prominent commercial men an invitation to a banquet in his honor, which will be held in this city next month, the date to be set by Gen- eral Miles. The dismembered body of the young woman found at Bridgeport, Conn., has now been positively identified as that of Miss Emma Gill, a domestic. She was employed at Hartford, Conn., and her suitor, Harry Foster, has been ar- rested on suspicion. Chris. Shuh, a German miner of l.ong Run, O., who was bound over for Killing Julivs Baldash, a Spaniard, during a heated argument and quarrel at the outbreak of the recent war, was released by the court a few days ago as no indictment was found. Mrs. Temperance Hollis, who died at Dover, Del, a few days ago, was 125 years old, according to the certificate filed with the health department. She was buried from the home of her youngest daughter, Mrs. Margaret Wooders, who is 75 years of age. A decision was handed down :in the supreme court at Madison, Wis., re- cently which upholds the law forbid- ding the printing of a candidate's name in two columns of the ballot and practically knocks tusion in this state in the future. sus- year out A Train Losd of Bilver. A train bearing 10,000,000 ounces of silver bullion from Philadelphia to San Francisco is soon to work a new era in the Federal government's method of transporting the precious metals bet- ween its mints. The shipment is to be made on a special freight train guard- ed by Federal soldiers and detectives. This amount means over 300 tons or fifteen carloads. The express charges on any such quantity, at anything like schedule rates, would be an item which even the United States treasury could afford to figure on saving. Assistant secretary Vanderlip, of the treasury department, has been in Chicago for the purpose of making the definite ar- rangements. Forty Thousand Men for Cuba. It is the present intention of the Ad- ministration to send to Cuba as a gar- rison force about 40,000 troops, in addi- tion to the force now in Santiago un- der command of General Lawton. Within two weeks orders will be is- sued for the movement to Cuba of the first 10,000 of the permanent garrison, and it is the expectation now that they will sail from the United States about October 10. These troops will be fol- lowed quickly by others, until the en- tire force of 40,000 has been established on the island. Havana Now Admits Supplies. The supplies on the steamer Comal, intended for the relief of starving Cub- ans, will probably be landed at Havana now free of duty. A dispatch to the Herald says that in answer to a second request by thg American commission- ers in Havana, the Spaniards have re- plied virtually granting the principle for which the Americans contended. The Spaniards have all along tried to collect $60,000 in custom duties on the cargo. Hieccoughed to Death. The Rev. H. F. Schnellendreussler died in the hospital at Plainsfield, N. J., the other night from a violent at- tack of hiccoushs. He was attacked three weeks ago with gastritis, which developed in hiccoughs. These refused to yield to treatment and death finally resulted from exhaustion. Yellow Fever and Malaria. Two deaths from yellow fever, one from pneumonia and 25 believed to have been caused by malaria are re- ported to have occurred since August 20 among Ray's troops and the com- panies of the Third volunteers. official. COMMISSIONERS URGED T0 HURRY CUBANS SUFFERING. The Evacuations of the Spaniards Must Begin Ootober 15—Protest Against the Removal of the Columbus Monument. The officials at Washington are watching with interest the progress be- ing made by the Military Commission at Havana in securing the evacuation of Cuba. The commission has been very slow in making reports to the war department, but from the latest re- ceived it appears that the body would like to have more definite instructions as to procedure. It seems that the Spanish side has said that they could not begin the eva- cuation of the island until the 1st of November, and that it could not be completed before the 28th of February. In view of the alarming state of the Cubans, who are suffering from hunger and the inability in the present uncer- tain conditions to obtain work, the pre- sident decided that he could not assent to the consumption of so much time. Therefore, he caused the commission to be instructed to demand that the evacuation by the Spaniards begin not later than October 15, and that it be completed by December 31. What the result of this demand will be is not yet known, but it is said that the administration is determined to tolerate no dilatory tactics on the part of the Spanish forces in leaving the is- land, although disposed to permit reasonable indulgence. Notice has also been taken of the ex- pressed purpose of the Spanish Cap- tain General to remove from the island the remains of Christopher Columbus, with part of the surmounting monu- ment. If a monument is not a perma- nent fixture, then it is hard to decide what is, and it is possible that atten- tion will be called to the infraction of the terms of the protocol, although this must be done with haste in order to succeed in its object, as the removal is said to be fixed for Tuesday. The officials of the war department pronounced to be without foundation the alarmist stories coming from sour- ces in San Francisco that Germany had shown a disposition to arm the Philip- pine insurgentsfwith a view to inciting them to harrass the American army at Manila. A Madrid dispatch -says that the ministerial authority has declared that the United States government has no right to a protectorate over any of the islands of the Philippine group and that the Spanish peace commissioners will energetically defend Spain’s rights to their possession. EMPEROR YIELDS HIS POWER. China Now Governed by the Dowager Empress— Re- form Edicts Caused the Change. An imperial edict just issued defin- itely announces that the emperor of China has resigned his power to the dowager empress, who has ordered the ministers to deliver to her in future their official reports. It is difficult to obtain reliable infor- mation at the palace in regard to the proceeding, but the recent reformatory edicts probably caused the change. While the emperor was subservient and a mere figurehead, the dowager empress permitted him to remain in peace, but so soon as he attempted to act on his: own .initiative his practical deposition was the result. His princi- pal adviser, Kang Yuomi, the Canton- ese reformer, fled in spite of the vigor- ous attempts made to arrest him, and it is said ‘he is now on his way to Shanghai. : Although there is no positive confir- mation, all the evidence tends to the conviction that the emperor of China is dead. A private dispatch says he died on September 21, directly he is- sued the edict giving the dowager the regency. Nobody doubt that Yang and Chang yen Hoon, who was minis- ter at Washington in 1895, are both in- nocent of the charge of poisoning the emperor. CANADA GREETS AMERICAN SEAMEN. The Cruiser Marblehead Participates in the Exercises Honoring Champlain. Last Wednesday the Canadian peo- rle paid a magnificent tribute to the memory of the French explorer Cham- plain, who 290 years ago founded the city of Quebec. To Americans the most interesting feature of the occasion was the hearty and enthusiastic reception given to Capt. McCalla of the United States cruiser Marblehead and his marines and sailors. Three British warships, the Renown, the Indefatig- able and the Talbot, arrived several days ago to participate in the cere- monies, but her majesty’s seamen did not get the spirited reception given the battered and bruised old Marblehead and her little handful of Yankee sailors fresh from the stormy scenes on the south coast of Cuba. Fatal Sham Naval Battle. A representation of the Manila naval battle was one of the attractions at the Pittsburg Exposition last week. Thurs- day night, after the preliminary shots bad been fired the time approached for the blowing up of the opposing vessel. When this occurred two bodies were seen being hurled through the air which the spectators considered part of the performances. The two men, however, were really Killed. "They were G. C. Adams, who had charge of the battle and his assistant, Charles Miller. The bomb explosion was pre- mature. An Epidemic May Result. The condition of the Spanish prison- ers at Manila is beginning to excite anxiety among the military officers. Eleven thousand of these prisoners are auartered in churches and other public buildings within the narrow confines of the walled city, where most of the Spanish people live, where the Americ- an garrison is necessarily quartered and where Gen. Otis has located the army headquarters, the Spaniards hav- ing not the least knowledge of the laws of sanitation. $10,000,000 Tobscco Deal. Practically all details of the negotia- tions for the purchase of Drummond’s big tobacco plant in St. Louis by the American Tobacco Company have been closed. The price to be paid is said to be on a basis of $10,000,000. All this money will not be paid in cash, a certain number of the shareholders of the Drummond Company having con- sented to take stock in the new com- pany. Cubans Taunting Spaniards. Disturbances in public places be- tween Cubans and Spaniards at Ha- vana are becoming frequent. The Cu- bans are assuming an insolent and abusive manner in their treatment of the Spaniards, whom they lose no op- portunity of openly referring to as vanquished. Many of them wear mini- ature Cuban flags, the lone star of which acts upon the Spanish officers as does a red rag upon a bull EIGHT PERSONS KILLED. Spontaneous Combustion Causes a Terrible Disaster at Toledo—Viotims Hurled Through the Air and Found Burned to a Crisp—Loss $450,000. Eight men cremated and eight more fatally burned is the result of the most disastrous fire that ever occurred in Toledo, O. The spontaneous combus- tion of dust in the Union grain eleva- tor, owned by Paddock, Hodge & Co., Tuesday caused this terrible destruc- tion of life. None of those who were taken out after.the fire started were far enough from death's door to tell any of the details. The list of dead, so far, is as follows: Grace Parks, aged 19; John Carr, shoveler; Fred Farrett, shoveler; Everett Smith, machinist; unknown ‘Polish shoveler, another shoveler, un- known. The following are missing and are believed to have been burned in- side the building; Frank Van Hoesen, grain inspector; Samuel Alexander, weigher; Harold Parks, aged 6, son of Supt. W. J. Parks; Charles Keefer, en- gineer; Davenport and Brinkerhoff, shovelers, William J. Parks, the superintendent after being blecwn through the window of the lower story, was conscious for a moment, and said that a terrible ex- plosion occurred on the south side of the elevator, and that he knew there were about 20 men at work on the seven floors of the enormous building. None of those who are now alive will survive the burns and bruises with - which they are covered. Besides those regularly employed at the elevator the three children of Superintendent Parks were visiting him at the time. One of these may recover from his burns, but Grace, a 17-year-old girl, is burned al- most beyond recognition, and Harold, the third child, has not been found, being either blown to atoms or cremat- ec. The river cut off escape on one side and the flames seemed to be less fierce there. The families of a dozen men who were known to be at work within rushed to the scene and women calling for their imprisoned husbands, broth- ers and fathers made a scene indes- cribable. It was learned that the force of 20 men expected to load 80,000 bush- els of grain during the night. William Parks was found first. He was twenty feet from the building, frightfully burned and his clothing al- most entirely torn off. He had been hurled from his place in the main room through a window and his ago- nizing cries were most pitiful. Another employe, John Carr, was hurled from the fifth floor of the build- ing, and was found bleeding and burn- ed with many bones broken. He did not long survive. Fireman David Kemp and Charles Keifer, the engineer, were found at their places in the engine rooms, They were wounded by falling timbers and their faces were charred to a crisp by the flames, The little daughter of William Parks was sitting at the desk in the office at the time of the explosion, and she was hurled out of the door. She walked down the elevation on which the build- ing stands and dropped down, to be carried away unconscious. The heat became so intense that twenty cars standing on sidings near the burning building were added to the loss. Mr. Paddock, a member of the firm owning the plant, said that there was between 500,000 and 600,000 bushels of grain in storage at the time, the most of it being winter wheat. The property and the grain are an entire loss and will reach $450,000. The insurance is $135,000 on the building, and the grain is covered with $238,000 insurance. A Human Coupling Pin. Albert Tatzke, of Rochester, N. Y., who has gained much notoriety as “the strong jawed man” in dime museums, added to his fame a few days ago by drawing a freight car weighing 74,000 pounds on the level for 15 feet with his teeth. New York Central engine No. 23, with John Ott as engineer, had Tatzke on board. He held a mouth piece, to which a chain was attached connecting the car. When. all was ready Ott started the engine gently and with it came the car. Last spring Tatzke arranged to pull against a team of horses. The driver started the hors- es on a jump, which resulted in the loss of three teeth. Btars and Btripes Float at Havana. Tuesday morning the first American flag in Havana was hoisted on the flag- staff of the Trocha hotel, the head- quarters of the American .evacuation commission. A guard of marines was posted at the entrance to the grounds. Col. Clous and Capt. Payne stood on the roof of the hotel at either side of the flagstaff. At 10 o'clock sharp a quartermaster of the steamer Resolute hoisted the flag, which unfurled and fluttered proudly in the breeze. Strangled to Death. Andrew C(Cassagne was strangled to death by three men the other night in the tenement in Brooklyn. Mrs. Cas- sagne had left the room for a few min- utes, and returning found her husband dead on the floor, while three men stood over him. She was grasped by two of the men, who choked her nearly to insensibility, while the third man searched the room, finding §500 under the mattress of the bed. The three men then fled. Parson Embezzled $20,000. Nebraska Methodist conference, three day's trial, Saturday found Rev. ('. M. Ellenwood, late trea- surer and. acting chancellor of - the Wesleyan university, guilty of misap- propriation of funds of the university to the sum of $20,000. The verdict of the jury is that he be deposed from the ministry and expelled from the church. No criminal suit has yet been begun. The after a Prisoner's Finger Shot Off. IKugene D. Mosher, deputy warden of the branch prison at Marquette, Mich., was perhaps fatally stabbed by convict Dick Huntley, Sunday morning. News of it has just sifted through the prison walls. Half a dozen prisoners were in the plot, which included the murder of Warden Freeman as well as the murder of the deputy. Huntley's finger was shot off before he was subdued. Will Not Dwell Under the American Flag. It is announced that 10,000 Spaniards, residing in the island of Porto Rico, have refused to live in the island un- der the American flag, and have de- manded that they be returned to Spain at the expense of the government. The question of the repartition of the dis- contented Spaniards has been referred to the state council. ; CABLE FLASHES. All anarchists who are not residents of Hungary will be expelled. While hunting the other day Em- peror William brought down ten splen- did stags. Twenty fishermen were drowned in the Baltic sea during a storm a few days ago. The French vessel Ville de Fecamp foundered last week off Fecamp and her crew of thirty-six were drowned. England took as a defeat for herself and a victory for Russia the ascension to power of the empress dowager of China.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers