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.