NNERENKLEDIN |B SLAIN IN AMBUSH. A Negro Assaults His Employer and is Chased by White Citizens—Blacks Fire a Volley Into the Pursuing Party. Ten lives were sacrificed in a race war at Harpersville, Miss., a few days ago, and the feeling between the whites and blacks is so aroused that military aid has been invoked. The trouble was the result of an attempt to arrest a negro. One white deputy was killed, three wounded, and accord- ing to the latest report nine negroes have been killed by the citizens of Harpersville and neighborhood and the sheriffs posse combined. The pursuit of about 50 negroes, who had joined the original offender with the avowed determination to prevent his arrest and capture, and ambushed the party attempting the arrest, continues, and the number of fatalities will undoubt- edly assume larger proportions. The trouble originated last Friday, when a negro named Bill Burke had an altercation with his. employer, Charles Freeman, a white man, in which the negro got the best of the difficulty. The next night a crowd of white men, headed by Wallace Sibley, who was deputized to arrest the man, went to Burke's house, which is about a mile from Harpersville. When they arrived upon the scene and called for Burke, they were greeted by a fusillade from the negroes concealed in ambush in the bushes surrounding the house and in the house itself. Wallace Sib- lev. the leader, fell dead at the first volley, and three more white members of -the crowd, James Johnson, James Hamilton and James Wells, were wounded. The whites returned the fire, but were unable to do any exe- cution, as their assailants were all con- cealed. There were not more than eight men in the white crowd, and, finding it im- possible to resist effectively, they dis- rersed towards Harpersville. It was not known at that time that Sibley was injured, but upon a return to the scene Sunday morning, he was found dead in the yard. The wounded deputies were able to get back to town with the assistance of their comrades. * When the crowd returned to Har- persville the news spread like wildfire. During the night a large crowd gather- ed from the neighborhood. They im- mediately went to Burke's house and got from his mother the names of all rarties in the crowd which had am- bushed the men the night before. In all there were about 40 negroes, who had gathered to prevent the arrest of Burke, and a list was made up at their dictation. All of them had fled. Then the pursuit and search for each of the proscribed darkies began. According to the statement of reliable citizens, six negroes were found and killed by the crowd of armed and determined citizens before the sheriff arrived. The sheriff lives at Morton, 10 miles from the scene. Gathering together a posse of 20 or 30 men the sheriff started at once for the place. When he arrived in the afternoon he was joined by crowds of citizens, until a conservative estimate placed the number in the posse as over 300 men. Negroes were accused of attempting to burn a store at Ashpole, N. C., the other day and a guard was placed about the building. The negroes threatened to burn the town. Saturday they began shooting upon the guards and three of the men were slightly in- jured. Bloodhounds were then sent in pursuit of the blacks and three of them were caught. Their lives are feared for as the whites are assembling in great numbers. In defending the arrest of a comrade, Sergt. Allen, colo j:d, shot and killed Charles Beagles, a’white man at Chat- tanooga, Tenn., last Sunday. John Anderson, colored, charged with the murder of Charles Holmes, at Lafayette, Ala., was lynched last Sunday. THE PEACE COMMISSION. Sovereignty Over the Island of Cuba Declared by America. The American commissioners _de- clined to accept a cession of sovereign- ty to the United States of Cuba, for in that case Spain would claim that such a cession by its own force would im- pose the obligation for that debt. It is confidently believed that in re- fusing to accept a cession of sovereign- ty the American commissioners are acting also upon their announcement to the world in the intervention reso- lutions disclaiming any intention to exercise sovereignty or authority over Cuba, except for pacification, and then to leave the island to the control of its people and its people to the as- sumption of its obligations. This position of the commissioners couples itself with the declaration in the resolution that the people of Cuba are by right and ought to be free and independent, and good faith requires the performance of this declaration, it being plain that if Cuba were annexed to the United States, while she might be free, she would not be independent. Insurgents Maltreating Friars. General Otis is giving attention to the complaints that have reached him that the Philippine insurgents are ill- treating and killing such of the Span- ish friars as fall into their hands. There is difficulty in dealing with such cases, owing to the fact that the United States military and naval fore- es are not always in possession of the places where the outrages are commit- ted, but they are under instructions to use their good offices with the insurg- ents to prevent the commission of these outrages. : President Greets the Clerks. The President and Mrs. McKinley and party reached Washington on their return from the west last Sattirday afternoon and were driven at once to the White House. All were in excellent health and spirits. Soon after their ar- rival, the president walked through the several executive offices and shook hands with the clerks at their desks. Nine Lives Lost. - W. E. Bondy, of Berkeley, Cal.,, who has just returned from Sunrise City on Cooks inlet, Alaska, tells a story of the wrecking of a sloop about four weeks ago. in which it is probable that nine persons lost their lives. Bondy could learn the names of only two. They were Frank Robinson of Santa Cruz, Cal., and Chris Johnson of Cooks inlet. After leaving Kiniakarm the party wis never heard of again. Storms Along New Foundland’s Coast. Reports of shipping disasters con- tinue to come in at London and the east coast is strewn with wrecks. In nicst cases the crews have been saved, 30 persons have been ree Aa been swe is feared eo entire coast line of the island has by the recent storms and it that there has been great actation in the northern section rg the Labrador shore. Two were: drawned at Rose Blanche. niacs west of £t. Johns, IE WIR NEWS ITEMS. Creditors have purchased the St. Louis, Kansas and Southwestern rail- road. The coal mined this year will be above that of 1897. The Judson dynamite works at Oak- land, Cal; blew last Saturday and lwo men were killed. An American syndicate has offered to the Transvaal government a loan of $12,500,000 at 5 per cent. A Homestead, Pa., bricklayer has in- vented an automatic car _ coupler for which he received $150,000. A trust which will control the entire paving brick output in the United States has been formed at Chicago. In order to curtail the production, five cotton mills at Fall River, Mass. closed down for four weeks last Mon- day. Four members of Henry Goldbach’s family at Trenton, N. J.. died last Tuesday. They mistook toadstools for mushrooms. Seven Mussulmans, convicted for the murder of British soldiers during the recent uprisings in" Crete were hanged Wednesday. Frost having occurred in the state of Louisiana, all restrictions on traffic have heen removed. Yellow fever germs are destroyed by frost. Mrs. Nellie Mailand of New York, claims that a robber took $12,000 worth of jewels from her, threatening to shoot if she made a noise. The quarantine against the West In- dies has been extended until November 15. The extension is due to the preval- ence of yellow fever this year. Capt. Josiah W. White, a well-known messenger of the capitol at Washing- ton died last Tuesday. He had only one arm and claimed many famous legis- lators as his friends. A riot occurred at a saloon in Phoeb- us, Va., last Tuesday. Five regulars from Fort Monroe were shot, one being killed and another mortally wounded. No civilians were hurt. The boilers on the towboat Rescue exploded on the Monongahela river near Pittsburg last Friday. Capt. Chas. N. Seidell was killed and six of his crew seriously injured. Two Englishmen arrived in New York City Sunday to purchase a gold brick for 2,000 pounds. The police in- terfered and Robert Marten, who was negotiating the deal is in jail. A letter has reached Vancouver, B. C., from St. Michaels saying that the balloonists sent out to search for An- dree were there. They have given up their balloon trip and staked 25 claims. Capitalists are talking of a canal between I.akes Superior and Michigan across Schoolcraft and Alger counties, Mich. The distance across is 40 miles and would save vessels 600 miles of travel. A wreck on the Rock Island Road near Fort Worth, Tex., a few days ago resulted in the death of five men. A freight train broke in two and the rear portion crushed into the front section on a steep grade. Eight hundred Klondike gold seekers are now penniless at Kotzebue, living in tents. They have no money with which to return home and no supplies for the winter. Amon¥% them are sev- eral women and children. Governor Hastings of Pennsylvania has designated Thursday, Oct. 27, as the day to be set aside for thanksgiv- ing and prayer to Almighty God for the unparalleled valor of Americans in defeating a foreign power. Three children of Michael Anderson, aged 2, 4 and 6 years respectively, were burned to death Tuesday at Pe- quaming, Mich. Their house caught fire while the father was away and the mother was out milking. A shell preserved as a relic of the war of 1812 accidentally got in among a lot of scrap iron at the Phoenix Iron Works at Ashtabula, O. It went into the furnace and a terrific explosion followed. No one was hurt. The steamer Roanoke arrived at Seattle a few days ago from St. Michaels with about 500 passengers and gold dust estimated at $2,000,000, and of this the Canadian Bank of Com- merce has $600,000; the Bank of British North America $750,000. The administration of local affairs in San Juan is progressing as before. Dr. Brechemin, who succeeds Dr, Huidekoper, is vigorously taking hold of matters relating to public health and sanitation. A system of street cleaning will soon be inaugurated. The trial of Captain L. C. Duncan, of Kansas, at Fairfax Courthouse, Va., charged with robbing the grave of Major Duke, a confederate officer, near Bull Run, has been postponed until the November term of court. The belief is general that the case will never be tried. The Wainwright board, convened to determine the positions of the war- ships in the action at Santiago July 3, reports that Sampson was nearly ten miles away from the scene. Admiral Schley’s claim that he was nearest the Colon when that ship surrendered was held good. The oath of allegiance to the United States has been taken by five judges of the superior court of Porto Rico, who later will administer the same oath to their subordinates. Spanish judges who do not desire to forswear their allegiance to Spain will be re- turned to the peninsula. B. F. Whitten, aged 73, filed a suit for divorce at Anderson, Ind., against Nellie M. Whitten, aged 16, his two- months bride. Whitten is a well-to-do merchant. His people attempted to head off the match. He now charges her with marrying him for his money. She comes from a prominent family. The police of Minneapolis a few days ago found $51,000 worth of government bonds in an old closet in South Minne- apolis. They proved to be all but $5,000 of the bonds stolen from the Hardwood Manufacturing Company some two weeks ago, and had evident- ly been secreted by the thieves. West Virginia 3,000,000 tons in over Fighting in the Transvaal. Serious trouble is-brewing with the Magato tribe in the Zoutpans Berg district, south of the Limpo river. The natives recently massacred a Luther- an missionary and his family at the town of Zoutpans Berg, and the Transvaal Government sent an expedi- tion to punish them. The affair has now assumed serious proportions. Chief Opefu, with 20,000 followers fully armed and four cannon supplied by white traders, "has attacked the Laager. Heavy fighting is proceeding. Opposed to Colored Officers. Missionary Ridge Post, G. A. R,, of Chattanooga, at its last meeting passed resolutions recommending to the war department ‘that it is not expedient to have colored commissioned officers in the army, either as volunteers or regu- lars.” The resolutions were sent to the war department. An effort will be made to push this matter in other G. A. R. pests throughout the south. National Naval Reserves. Secretary Long purposes recom- mending in his annual report to con- gress, the establishment of a national naval reserve, somewhat similar to those maintained by Great Pritaio BRYAN PREFERRED HOT TO TESTIFY HIS WISH GRANTED. His Lieutenant Colonel Speaks Concerning the Poor Clothing and Wormy Pork Furnish- ed the Third Nebraska Regiment. Colonel William J. Bryan, of the Third Nebraska regiment; was called before the war investigating commis- sicn at Jacksonville, Fla., a few days ago. He asked to be excused from tes- ttifying, requesting that his lieutenant colonel be examined in his stead. “You will, I have no doubt, under- stand my reasons for the request,” he said. “I think the request very proper and reasonable,” responded Governor Beaver, and the entire commission ,as- sented to the concession. Colonel Bry- an was excused with the request to send up his lieutenant colonel. Lieutenant Colonel Vifquain, of the Third Nebraska, a veteran of the civil war, and -a graduate of the military school of Brussels, said the regiment was excellently equipped, except that the tenage was poor. He also said that quality of the clothing was bad. The perk had been wormy at times and the beef tainted, but these had been ex- changed. He thought the clothing bet- ter than in the civil war, but the ra- tions were not so good. He thought the camp entirely too much crowded. Lieutenant Morrow, acting commis- sary of the Third Nebraska, mention- ed one or two instances when poor ba- con had been received and said there were occasional complaints from the men. Dr. Alex. Kent, pastor of the Peo- rle’s Church at Washington, and field agent at Jacksonville for the Red Cross, had noticed the absence of shgets and pillow-cases at the Second division hospital in its early history. Many men lay uncovered on account of the short supply of blankets. He supplied the deficiency. There was also at that time a shortage of tents and food suitable to typhoid fever pa- tients. ‘It seemed,” he said, ‘‘as if the hos- pital was arranged upon a smaller scale than was demanded and as a consequence there was a constant de- mand upon the Red Cross to supply the deficiency.” Dr. Kent said he had heard many complaints concerning misconduct at the hospitals, but they had not gener- ally proved well founded. He thought it had been difficult to get medical men of sufficient administrative ability to manage such institutions as the divis- icn hospitals. Men of the hospital corps were not capable. They did not, for instance, seem to regard it as of consequence if flies were crawling in and out of a sick man’s mouth, and he had seen as many as six cases of this kind at one time. The witness said the principal reason for the failure of the physicians to make requisitions on the government for supplies was found in the fear of their making demands that would not be sanctioned. The commission heard several of the professional female nurses. Miss Cope- land, chief nurse at the Third division hespital, said that when the nurses first came to the camp there was only cne nurse to each 40 or 60 patients, but this condition had been steadily im- proved. There was also in the begin- ning some scarcity of appliances for the sick. She spoke of some nurses who had made complaints, but these were of the kind of persons who are THIEVERY AND CORRUPTION Mark the Last Days of the Spaniards in Cuba. High Prices for Transportation. Paz y Libertad, one of the daily pa- rers of Cienfuegos, Cuba, published with the sanction of the government, prints a manifesto with over 309 signa- tures, a good many of those of Span- iards, openly proclaiming Cuban inde- pendence. Owing to the fact that Spanish offi- cers are selling commissary stores at any price obtainable, army supplies are now a drug in the market in the interior, making legitimate trade im- pcssible. It is asserted that as the Spanish rule in Cuba draws toward a close “corruption, plunder and robbery become daily more open and wholesale. The commission of the transportation, charged with furnishing passage tickets to Spanish officers returning to Spain, is charging an_ arbitrary price of $4 each for a berth. If the victim refuses to give up he is made to wait for several steamers, the commission claiming that there is no room. Gener- ally the offieer is glad to pay the tax in order to get away. This abuse is openly spoken of, but the present situation is a free-for-all, grab-as-grab-can game, and every one. appears eager to make money while the Spanish sun still shines. Revenue Receipts. The monthly statement of the collec- tions of internal revenues shows that during September last the total re- ceipts from all sources were $21,713,389, against, as compared with September, 1897, of $8,858,883. The receipts from some of the sources of revenue are given as fol- lows: Spirits, $7,662,231; gain, $222,131. Tobacco, $4,229,028; gain, $1,202,575. Fermented liquors, $6,448,178; grain, $4,170,632. Oleomargarine, $142,874; gain, $54,557. French Murdered by Chinese. At the French cabinet meeting last Friday the minister of foreign affairs, M. Delcasse, read a dispatch from the French minister at Pzkin, M. Gerard, announcing that a French missionary and several Chinese Catholics had been massacred or burned to death in a chapel at Paklung by a riotous mob. M. Gerard immediately demanded rep- aration from the Chinese government, including pecuniary compensation. M. Delcasse instructed M. Gerard to in- siruct the Chinese foreign office that the French government would take ac- tion if China does not adopt meas- ures absolutely guaranteeing the lives of the missionaries. Spaniards Leave Cuba in Great Numbers. Gen. Wade, president of the Americ- an evacuation commission has tele- graphed the war department from Cuba that 6,000 Spanish soldiers had been embarked already for Spain, and that arrangements had been completed of which the American commissioners had been duly notified by the Spanish commissioners, for the embarkation of 40,000 more troops in the near future. On the whole this rate of progress, in view of the limited resources of Spain, is believed to be reasonable. A Hero Among the Drowned. E. Simmington, chief steward of the Mohegan, who went down with the vessel last week after lending all his efforts to save the passengers was chief steward of the Missouri when she rescued the passengers of the steamer Denmark in midocean. On his body, which was washed ashore, was found a gold watch given him by the Americ- ans for heroic conduct on that occasion. His picture iss in the famous painting showing the Missouri's rescue, entitled “And Every Soul Was Saved.” BUSINESS REVIVING IN CUBA. Capitalists are Investing and Confidence Among Merchants Has Been Restored. Brig. Gen. H. W. Lawton of the mili- tary department of Eastern Cuba, ar- rived in New York Thursday, accom- panied by his aides. The general, who has been granted a leave of absence for 60 days on account of ill-health, looked fairly well and said that the voyage had done him a great deal of good. He will make an extensive re- pert of the condition of affairs in the department of which he had charge while in Cuba. Speaking of the con- dition of affairs in Santiago and other portions of Eastern Cuba Gen. Lawton said: “The general situation is good, and Gen. Wood, who is now in charge, is rushing the sundry work to completion as fast as possible. The people down there claim that in the history of San- tiago the city was never so clean as it is at the present time. Business is re- viving also and confidence among busi- ness men is almost completely restor- ed. Capitalists are now investing money. The people have accepted the United States government with the ut- most confidence.” When asked as to the feeling in gen- eral about annexation the general looked quizzicaily at his questioner and said he was not prepared to talk about that matter just now. He added however: “The great trouble is that the Cub- ans have an army. However, the great majority of the Cuban troops are anx- ious to disband. 1 was fortunate in having portions of the Cuban army under me, and was on intimate and most friendly terms with Gen. Calixto Garcia. This friendship brought about a very much better state of feeling between the American troops and those in Garcia’s command than had existed before, ‘No serious breach of the peace and no robberies have been reported as having occurred in Eastern Cuba. Many of the Cuban soldiers are grad- ually leaving the army and returning to civil occupations.” GOVERNMENT IN NO HURRY. Cuba Must be Free From Pestilence Before Our Troops Occupy the Island. Reports received at the war depart- ment from the American military com- missioners in Havana indicate that the season has not yet sufficiently ad- vanced in Cuba to make it even rea- scnably safe to send any large number of American troops to the island just now. According to the last advice from General Wade, president of the Ameri- can commission, it probably will be December 1 before additional troops will be required in Cuba. This statement, in connection with the assurances that the Spanish offi- c¢ials are earnestly trying to complete the evacuation of the island, has tend- ed tgp reconcile the authorities to a postponement of the original date of the completion of the evacuation a month beyond the date originally fixed upon. It is felt, however, that there is no actual loss of time upon this: score since the delay not only affords oppor- tunity to better arrange and sift the troops in the United States now being prepared for garrison duty, but mean- time the Hecker board, now in Cuba selecting camp sites, will be enabled to have almost every detail of the camps arranged so that comfortable quarters will be in readiness when the troops arrive. BLANCO'S SHREWD PLAN. Had Intended to Place Himself at the Head of a Republic in Cuba. A story of a most sensational nature comes from Cuban sources concerning a plot formed in Havana by leading Spaniards, including Capt.-Gen. Blanco and Gen. Pando, to proclaim an independent Spanish-American re- public in Cuba, which would eventual- 1y revert to Spain. The scheme, it is alleged, was deeply and cleverly laid and: all the prelim- inary steps were taken toward carry- ing it into execution. The destruction of Cervera’s fleet, followed shortly by the surrender of Gen. Toral in Santi- ago and the peace protocol, prevented more decisive action being taken. It is. said that Gen. Blanco was bit- terly opposed to the action of the Ma- drid government in entering into the peace negotiations. He is reported to have called into consultation Gen. Pando, together with his staff and chief supporters, including the leaders among the volunteers of Havana, and after repeated conferences the plan, so the Cubans aver, was agreed upon. Thousands of Spaniards Remain. General Wade, the president of the American military commission in Ha- vana, has informed the war depart- ment that Captain General Blanco has offered the Spanish soldiers to secure their hqQunorable discharge from the army and give them their back pay if they desire: to remain in Cuba. The Spanish commissioners and. the eva- cuation commission estimate that about 15,000 soldiers will avail of this offer, but General Wade believes that the actual figures will be much larger. Emperor's Illness Explained. The emperor of China is believed to be afflicted with an incurable disease, though it is probable that he will linger for a considerable time. The French physician who recently examined the emperor has reported to the tsung li yamen that his majesty is suffering from albuminaria, with incipient phthisis and great debility. Ground Glass Causes Death. Ground glass placed in the oatmeal of former Senator Rudolphus Sander- son, of Battle Creek, Mich., is said to have caused his death. His wife is charged with the crime. The senator was 80 years of age and his wife is 28. He left a large estate. MOVEMENTS TOWARD PEACE. Commander Snow has taken charge of the naval station at Porto Rico. Spanish authorities estimate that the cost of evacuating Cuba will be $16,- 000,000. Aguinaldo’s insurgent army consists of 37,000 men and he has 9,000 prisoners of war. A franchise for an electric line from Santiago, Cuba, to El Caney has been granted. The Sixteenth Pennsylvania. regi- ment received a tremendous ovation at Oil City, Pa., last Wednesday on the occasion of its return home. Spaniards are removing all the guns at Havana in spite of the provisions of the protocol and the protest of the American peace commissioners. The American commission has informed the Spanish commissioners that the United States troops would begin to come to the island during November. ' Secretary of War Alger has ordered the mustering out of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Pennsylvania regiments. The Tenth Pennsylvania recruits at Honolulu have been ordered to proceed to Manila on an early transport, al- though the majority wish to come home now. FANGE LAYS CLAN 10 FASHOA WAS THERE FIRST. England Persistent in Her Demands for the Evacuation of the Soudan City-Russia May Take a Hand in the Matter. France claims the possession of the Soudan city in Africa, Fashoda, by right of prior occupation. England recognizes'no such right and the rela- tions between the two countries are threatening. France has semi-officially declared that she cannot yield outright in the Fashoda affair without the sacrifice of national honor, and there can be no pcssible backdown on the part of Lord Salisbury without placing England in the position of having bluffed and then laid down. The Fashoda yellow book issued by the French government takes the ground that neither England nor Ilgypt has any right in the Soudan without the sultan’s consent, and that France being first at Fashoda claims it by right of prior occupation. Whether this ground be tenable or not, England cannot concede any dual occupation of Egypt or the Upper Nile, inasmuch as she has spent millions in the conquest of the latter from the mahdi. The report from Cherbourg that the French army is being massed at coast fortresses serves but to add fuel to the flames, and the feeling throughout England is deeper and more intense than ever. There can be no question, deccording to those in a position ‘to judge, that England means business. She is not averse to a war with France or even with France and Russia combined. A war with one or the other is inevitable, and, according to the British military party, ‘‘the sooner the better.” England has been looking for years with ever-increasing disfavor on the growing good feeling between these two powers, and has become imbued with the idea that it bodes no good to her. - Therfore, if she must come to blows with them, she prefers to take them single handed. In diplomatic circles it is not thought probable that Russia will actively as- sist France, as in that event Germany would of necessity be compelled to take a hand in the game. Germany could not afford to passive- ly look on while England was being defeated and France and Russia power and prestige enhanced, for the next step might be an attempt to regain Alsace-Lorraine. Great Britain's naval strength is equivalent to that of France and Rus- sia combined. The English have in commission in European waters 28 battleships, the French 18, and the Russians 9. 3ritain has 62 battleships, France 36. Britain has 14 coast defense ships, France 16. Britain has 105 cruisers, France has 34. Britain has in the Ma- jestic and her eight sisters incompar- able first-class battleships. The coast defense ships of France include a large number of armored gunboats. Britain’s first aim in the war with France will be to defeat its main fleet in battle. Her second aim will be to maintain a sufficient force of cruisers or privateers designed _to prey upon commerce. Its third object will be to capture the coaling stations and colo- nies of France. These are more valu- able now than they were before the use of steam. The insurgent troops at Manila are becoming desperate. They have had no pay for three months. The promise of complete independence is the only thing that has thus far prevented a revolt. Dan Connor, a mine boss at Wallace, Idaho, was ordered to leave the coun- try a few days ago by a mob of armed miners. Connor had discharged several mine workers for incompetency. WARRING ABORIGINES. Natives of Formosa Attempt to Rid the Land of the Japanese. The steamship Victoria brings news that two more battles. have been fought in Formosa between Japanese troops and the natives, who seem bent upon exterminating all the Japanese on the island. Europeans and num- bers of Chinese merchants are fleeing to Amoy by every steamer. One thousand aborigines attacked and set fire to one of the principal Japanese military stations. After eight hours desperate fighting the natives retreated. In this battle more than 200 were killed. On the following day a large band of natives advanced to Hankyo, burning the station at Tajo. Japanese troops reached Hankyo at the same time and surprised the aborigines in their headquarters at Anko, which was burned. In another battle scores of natives were shot dcwn. The overflowing of the Yellow river in Shantung provinces has swept vil- lages away by hundreds. One hundred thousand people are ruined and home- less, crouching along the river banks in the pitiless rain. Two thousand were drowned. FAVOR ANNEXATION. Philippine Congress Opposed to a Policy Restor- ing Spain's Power. ‘rhe Philippine congress has been in session since Thursday, September 15, The first thing decided was that the Philippine. republic should not counte- nance any policy that should be agreed upon whereby Spain would have any- thing further to do with the islands, and would resist by force of arms any such measure. A vote was taken on the policy of annexation to the American republic, and annexation was decided upon by a large majority, some seven out of eight voting in favor of annexation. Aguinaldo now expresses himself as personally in favor of annexation, ad- ding that he does not think that the natives generally will support such a policy. Law to Discourage Lynching. The circuit court has handed down a decision in the case of Ben Church against Champlain county, O., for $5,000 damages. The suit grows out of the lynching of Click Mitchell two years ago, and it gives the nearest kin $5,000. The. common pleas court held the law unconstitutional, and the cir- cuit court reversed the former's decis- fon. The case will now go to the su- preme court. Wheeler Has an Enemy. During a speech at Jackson, Miss., a few days ago United States Senator Sullivan, of Mississippi, said the people everywhere were lauding Gen. Joe Wheeler to the skies. He did not think he deserved it. It was a strange thing to him, indeed, to notice that one so distinguished as Gen. Wheeler should be the only southern congressman who voted in favor of the bill authorizing the issuance of bonds. He said Wheeler was not appointed major general until after the issuance of those bonds, and now he was an apologist for the ad- ministration. PORTO RICO FREE. Admiral Schley Takes an Important Part in the Ceremonies—Work of the Evacuation Commission Now Over. Promptly at noon Tuesday the Ame= rican flag was raised over San Juan, Porto Rico. The ceremony was quiet and dignified, unmarred by disorder of any kind. The Eleventh regular infantry with two. batteries of the Fifth artillery, landed in the morning. The latter proceeded to the forts, while the infan- try lined upon the docks. It was a holiday for San Juan and there were many people in the streets. Rear Admiral Schley and Gen. Gor- don, accompanied by their staffs, proceeded to the palace in carriages. The Eleventh infantry regiment band, with Troop H of the Sixth United States cavalry, then marched through the streets and formed in the square opposite the palace. At last the city clock struck the hour of 12, ‘and the crowds, almost breath- less and with eyes fixed upon the flag pole,watched for developements. At the sound of the first gun from Fort Morro Maj. Dean and Lieut. Castle of Gen. Brooke's staff hoisted the Stars and Stripes, while the band played “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 11 heads were bared and the crowds cheered. Fort Morro, Fort San Cris- tobal and the United States revenue cutter Manning, lying in the harbor, fired 21 guns each. The work of the United States eva- cuation commission is now over, and all the reports will be forwarded to Washington on Thursday next. The labors of both parties have terminated with honors for all concerned. The American commissioners worked with- out the least delay and in the most thorough and effective manner. The secretary or war received the following: ‘San Juan, October 18.— Flags have been raised on public build- ings in this city and saluted with na- tional salutes. The occupation of the island is now complete. Brooke, chair- man.” In view of the fact that with the ac- quisition of the island of Porto Rico by the United States, about 800,000 inhab- itants of that island lost their Spanish citizenship, the question as to what shall become of these people politically becomes of importance. Madrid ad- vices report that leading citizens in Porto Rico have already taken steps to become naturalized as United States citizens. This is an error, for existing law provides no way in which this change of citizenship can be effected by the residents of the island. There is no United States court there ‘before which a declaration ¢f intention can be filed. Inquiry into this subject at the state department discloses the fact that it kas been usual to provide for a bodily transfer of the citizenship of people conditioned as those in Porto Rico in the treaty of peace which terminates a war, but it may be prudent for the commission at Paris to avoid any re- ference to Porto Rico again, in which case congress will be called upon by the president to confer citizenship upon the Porto Ricans in the same act as that which must be passed to pro- vide a stable form of government for the island. SPANISH OFFICIALS RETAINED. Gen. Brooke's Policy Causes No Discontent in Porto Rico. at Porto Rico has made no mention to the war depart- ment of any discontent expressed by Porto Ricans over the retention in of- fice by him of certain officials of the defunct Spanish administration. The department is satisfied that the general is managing affairs in Porto Rico with wisdom and prudence and it would re- quire very strong representations to induce it to interfere with the execu- tion of his plans. It is presumed that he is proceeding according to the ad- mirable methods followed by General Lawton and General Wood in adminis- tering affairs. -at Santiago, namely, avoiding any great disturbance of the routine of public business by retain- ing temporarily in the service such of the incumbent officials as appeared to be disposed to carry out the new order of things in a loyal spirit and only sub- stituting insurgent leaders gradually, at moments when the changes are not injurious. Gen. Brooke now Spaniards Will Not Withdraw. The Spanish military commission at Havana has sent a reply to the Amer- ican note concerning the evacuation of the island. The Spaniards continue to insist that the troops can’t be sent from thé island as readily as the Americans desire. The Spanish note declares that eva- cuation, according to the terms of the protocol, means only the withdrawal of the military from the island, and not the surrender of Spain's sovereign- ty in Cuba. This latter question is a matter to be settled by the peace com- missioners in Paris. Until it is settled the Spanish government is sovereign here. The note concludes with a dec- laration that it is a physical impossi- bility for the Spanish troops to leave for several months. Admiral Dewey Coming Home. The San Francisco Evening Post says that Admiral Dewey will arrive in that city on December 6. He will come here on the steamer City of Pe- kin, which is due to arrive here on that date from the Orient. Admiral Dewey is interested in several mining enterprises on this coast, and it is these interests that prompt his coming at this time. He has telegraphed friends in this city that he has al- ready applied for leave of absence. Senator Proctor has been re-elected by the Vermont legislature. Strangled Her Three Children. A dreadful tragedy was enacted in Toronto, Canada, a few days ago, when Eliza Burrill, wife of a well-to- do mechanic, became demented and strangled her three children, Ethel, aged 8; Stanley, aged 3, and Harold, aged 11 years. The husband of the woman found all of them on their mother’s bed dead when he came home from work. The woman says she did not want them to grow up wicked. CABLE FLASHES. Li Hung Chang and the dowager empress of China are reported mar- ried. The Emperor of China is not dead as has been reported but seriously ill. The nature of the ailment has not been de- cided. The Sultan has presented to Emper- or William a magnificent sword, and to the empress a diamond necklace of al- most priceless value. Furope is following Emperor Wil- liam’s tour in the East with suspicion. Russian papers have warned the Sul- tan, that if he presents the emperor with any territory it will mean the partition of the Turkish empire. Lord Rosebery, the Liberal leader and former prime minister of England, in a speech at Perth, Scotland, said .that England and the United States, in spite of two wars, had always been friends, and that their destinies lie to gether. :
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers