The number of converts to Christi
anity in China Una been greater within
the last eight yearn thnn during tha
preceding thirty years.
Announcements of the opening of
new mills in southern centres are be
coming more and more frequent, aa
industry recovers from the depressive
effects of the past few years.
Three thousand head of mixed
sheep sold in Menard county, Toxas,
a few days since tor 87500, $'2.(i() a,
head. Four years slnco, or less, these
sheep would have brought possibly
70 cents, if a purchaser could have
been found.
The search for whiskey in tho hull
of the Arabia, sunk in the Missouri
river, near 1'arkville, over forty years
ago, has been abaudoiiod, with com
plete loss of cnpitul invested in the
venture. This is not the first failure
that whiskey can bo credited with.
The aggregate bonded debt of the
cities of the United States is over
eN0O,0(M,000; that of the citios of
England, ? 1,025, 000, and that of tho
cities of Fraiye, $iUO,000,000. In
the last seventeen years the increase
In the debt of American cities was
SI 10, 000,000, and of those of England
1505,000,000.
A gang of thieves organized to prey
npou thieves has been discovered in
Paris. Their plan was to watch for
shoplifters in tho department stores
like the Louvre and the Don Marcho,
to follow thorn home, and thou enter
under pretence of being police in
spectors to search the apartments for
stolen goods, which they carried off,
with no fear of complaiut being made.
Ihe advantage of drawing boards of
health to the service of the publio
schools has been abundantly proved
by results in Boston and Now York,
where competent medical inspection
of schools has been secured through
the combination. The health commis
sioner of St. Louis, authorized to re
port on the snuitary condition of the
schools of Unit city, has disclosed nu
alarming array of unsanitary ami even
pestilential evils. It seems almost
incredible that a city whose schools
were but a few years ago the pride of
the West, should suffer the neglect
indicated by this report.
The parliament of the United King
dom is the largest representative body
in the world. In the Ilouse of Lords
there are C53 persons entitled to vote,
and iu the Ilouse of Commons there are
670 members. France in its Corps Leg
islatif has 300 senators aud 58 1 depu
ties. Italy has a varying number of
senators and 508 deputies. J apan has
800 peers and SOU representatives.
Germany, in its Bundesrath, or Ben
ate, has fifty-oight members, but its
Reichstag has 397 members. Spain's
Cortes has 431 members. Canada has
' m Senate of eighty members and a
House of Commons of 215 members.
A writer in the New York Independ
ent discassos at some length why the
United States is so unpopular with
Europeans. Beginning with France,
the writer says: "For years there has
been a large American colony in Paris,
bnt its members find it difficult to get
any entree into French society.
French ideals differ from ours as
mnoh as they do from the English.
Besides, the natural sympathy of
France is with its neighbor, Spain,
which has a large oolony in Paris; and
Spanish bonds are held in France
which would be almost worthless if
Cuba were to secure independence.
The French believe what the Span
iards tell them, that the United States
is hungering to annex Cuba. We need
not argue the ill-will of Germany; it
is too plain to be misse l. It is cause !
partly by the operation of our tariff
and partly by the loss to the United
States of so many German citizens
and possible soldiers. Bnt still more
the cause is in that which is seen all
through Europe, the 'growth and pros
perity of this country, the develop
ment of its manufactures and com
merce, which excite general appre-..
hension. What Germany feels is
what the Anstrinn premier, Golu
ohowski, startled u by proclaiming
'that the twentieth century must see
the nnlon of Europe against Amotion
to shut out American products andiu
fluence. The yellow peril, from China,
is not so much feare I as the American
peril. This apprehension affects all
, Europe, though just now more clearly
expressed in Germany and Austria.
Bat Italy feels it as well, although she
bai her special grievance in the New
Orleans lynching oase. Of the great
powers there remain Russia, which
has no publio opinion and Great Bri
t 'u, tha mother country, lewciua cm
' . ,
pRosPEei of mrxR not so certhin.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS. I
Spain Hakes Oonesiiloni Which the Presi
dent Presents to Congress in Bis
Cuban Meaaago.
Although It was expected that the
present week would open with decisive
action on the part of this government
toward Hp&in, Indications now are that
there will be another delay.
Hpaln has apparently yielded to the
European Powers, and granted an
armistice to the Cuban Insurgents.
Hhould the Cubans recognize this ces
sation of hostilities, then the United
States imiKt Keep hand off Cuba In or
der to observe the neutrality laws. It
Is not likely, though, that the Cubans
will ylold, and the original plana of the
government will not be altered.
After a cabinet meeting Sunday
night, one- of the members said:
"Our meeting to-night was for the
final rending of the message which will
he sent to congress. It Is a strong state
paper nnd will contain a review of the
conditions existing In Cuba for years
post. The president will ask that he
be given authority to use the army and
navy to bring about pence In the Island
of Cuba, and to Insure there a stable
government. An argument Is made
agelnst the recognition of Indepen
dence of the Insurgents for the repjion
that there is lacking the essential feat
ures of an Independent people. There Is
a quotation from one of the former
presidents, who argued against the
recognition of the Texans when In re
bellion against the Mexican movement,
and from the opinions expressed by
President Cleveland and Secretary
Olney during the Inst administration In
opposition t a recognition of Inde
pendence. "There was but one addition made to
the message, and that was In relation
to the dispatch presented to the state
department by Minister Polo de Her
nahe and containing the Information
that the queen regent had granted au
thority to Capt.-Uen. Ulanco to Issue
an armistice, the terms and conditions
of which would be left to his Judgment.
This was the first communication the
state department hns had with the
Spanish minister since a week from
last Friday. Bo fnr as I am aware there
has been no suggestion mnde to the in
surgents by this government with a
view to their considering the proposi
tion for an armistice authorized by the
Spanish government. This government
has never had anything to do with the
gentlemen composing the Cuban junta
In New York. I do not think the ar
mistice Idea will have the least effect
on any action that may be contemplat
ed In congress."
The Spanish government, through
Its minister at Washington, Senor
Polo de Harnnhe, Monday, delivered an
Important official document to the state
department stating that the ar
mistice which the queen regent
of Spain had commanded Oen. Ulanco
to proclaim was without conditions,
that her majesty's government hail
granted liberal institutions to the
Island of Cuba which the coming
Cuban parliament would develop, re
calling the condolence and sympathy
expressed by the queen regent and her
overnmnt on the disaster of the
lalne and the horror this disaster had
occasioned, and appealing to the cour
tesy and sense of Justice of the United
States government to enllghton public
opinion upon the attitude of Spain. The
hots also reports an offer of the Span
ish government to subject the Maine
question to experts designated by the
maritime powers of the world.
VICTORY IB HI0H.
With liberty Almost Within Their Orasp
Cubans Wsat Ho Armlitioe.
Mr. Quesada, the diplomatic repres
entative of the Cuban Insurgents In
Washington, was seen this afternoon
by a reporter in regard to the con
stantly reiterated report that the
Queen Regent might Issue an armistice
proclamation.
"It Is useless for us," said Mr. Que
sada. "to reiterate again for the thous
andth time that we will not accept an
armistice and give up the advantages
we naturally possess In the rainy
Seison. We understand perfectly that
pain seeks only delay. We will have
nothing but an Independence. As a
matter of fact an armistice Is a suspen
sion of hostilities to be arranged by the
opposing Oenerols. General Blanco
and General Gomes would have to
agree to an armistice. Does anyone
think that General Gomes would sus
pend hostilities Just aa we are about to
win the great boon for which our peo
ple have fought and struggled so
long?"
VKIKLXT TO THE POPE.
American Prejudice Would Hot Permit of
Papal Interference.
The pope received Tuesday morning
a telegram from President McKlnley,
which, while declining the Intervention
of his holiness between the United
States and Spain, also contains what is
virtually a declaration of the presi
dent's policy.
Mr. McKlnley says he la extremely
sensible of the Initiative taken by the
pontiff, but that It Is Impossible for him
to overcome the prejudice, even though
unjust, which is entertained by a ma
jority of the American people against
the. Vatican's intervention in political
affairs.
The dispatch adds that President "Mc
Klnley la opposed to war now, aa he
has been In the past, and will still do
all that la possible to avoid recourse to
such a lamentable expedient, which is
considered by him as unworthy of a
civilized country.
For and Againat XcEialey.
President Dwlght, of Tale, sent the
following telegram to President Mc
Klnley the other day:
"After conference with the members
of the several faculties here, I feel
authorised respectfully to assure . you
that Yale university regards with cor
dial satisfaction the efforts which you
are making to settle our difficulties with
Spain without a resort to war, and on
terms just and honorable to both, na
tions. 1 .
"Timothy Dwlght,
President of Yale University."
While President Dwlght's telegram
was being sent over the wires, a crowd
of men In New Haven were burning
President McKlnley In effigy.
A Tale Prom the Klondike.
During a storm the steamer City of
Columbia, bound for Klondike, was
compelled to seek refuge at Harbor Is
land near the entrance of the Pacific
some weeks ago. The cannibals on the
Island made desperate efforts to secure
thirteen widows on board the ship, but
were finally dispersed.
teenier leeared ia the Orient
The United States officials U Hong
Kong have purchased the' British
steamer Zallro. The Zaflro Is of 1,041
tons gross register. She is biigantlne
rigged, 813 feet T inches- long, having
81 feet t Inches beam, and draws HI feet
I inches l water.
TXltOSAM I TIUELT TOLtt
Minister Woodford's family have left
Madrid for Paris.
The war scare has raised the price of
wheat at Odessa.
Margaret Mather, the actress, died at
Charleston, W. Va., last week.
Plnkerton detectives are watching
the Spanish consulate at New York.
Consul Lee has cabled his wife that
there Is no violence to fear at Havana.
The remains of Frances K. Wlllard
were cremated at Chicago last Satur
day. The new Utlea, N. Y., academy was
almost entirely destroyed by fire. Loss,
J7B.0OO.
A conference of Methodists In New
York decided In favor of war to save
Cuba.
The wife of Justice rtrewer of the
United States Supreme Court died Bun
day night.
A gun exploded at Morro castle,
Havana, last week, ' killing seven
Spaniards.
M. J. Coleman, a lineman, fell from
the top of a Pittsburg building Monday
and was killed.
Municipal reform candidates won In
Chicago and Milwaukee at last Tues
day's election.
In a race riot at Columbia, S. C, last
Wednesday, four negroes and four
whiles Wero wounded.
In nn election riot at Brownsville,
Tex., two men were killed and one
lynched lust Tuesday.
Cuban engagement agnlnst the
Spaniards continue dally with but
small success to either sldex.
The Morgan line steamship, Algiers,
refused to carry 800 mules from New
Orleans to Havana for Spain.
Six persons have died In New York
city within the last ten days of what Is
known as ptomaine poisoning.
Dr. Forrest, of Log. Angeles, Cal.,
was arrested at Chicago accused of
swindling to the amount of flW.OOO.
Large quantities of supplies belong
ing to the Cuban Insurgents wore de
stroyed by Gen. Pando a few days ago.
It Is said that Spanish vessels are
prowling on the trull of steamers ply
ing between the United States and Eng
land. A Chicago court has decided that ma
nufacturers have a right to color but
terine or oleomaigurlne In Imitation of
butter.
The American flag Is being Insulted
In the streets of Madrid, the govern
ment doing nothing to suppress the
outrage.
Six more of the Spaniards who con
templated an invasion Into Texas In
case of war have been arrested at
Nuevo Laredo, Mex.
Ilecelvers have been appointed for
Joshua Huker A Co., of Boston. Attach
ments for 1120,000 have been Issued
against Joshua Baker.
Sanchex and Haya, Spanish cigar
manufacturers, last Saturday dis
charged 1M) American and Cuban ci
gar makers at Tampa, Flo.
Competition prevents Massachusetts
cotton mill owners from puylnff higher
wages, and If operatives will not accept
the mills must remain idle.
The new American schooner Nomnld
450 tons, Captain Aleop, which sailed
from Shanghai December 7 for Tacoma
Is believed to have foundered.
The will of Charles B. Wright, former
president of the Northern Pacific rail
road company, left $"0.0(10 to Anna
Wright seminary, at Tacoma, Wash.
The falling roof of a burning resi
dence pinioned Mrs. Cnrr and her two
children, and they were burned to death
at Bowling Green, O., the other day.
The overhead trolley patent for which
the Wcstlnghouse and General Electric
Companies have been contending was
declared void at New York a few days
ago.
Harry Harris, colored, developed a
case of small-pox at White Rock, S. C.
A mob visited tho place, drove out the
negro and burned the house last Mon
day. Fire destroyed the Piazza Opera
House, Pitts drug store. Piazza harness
factory and buggy warehouse, at
Vlt ksburg, Miss., the other day. Loss
JlM.000.
The Maine disaster has caused the
Insanity of Anton Lorens of Chicago.
He Imagines that he la commissioned
to blow up Spanish vessels and avenge
the Maine.
The employes of the Ponomah cot
ton mills of Taftvllle, Conn., went out
on strike, to the number of 1,100 the
other day. A 10 per cent reduction in
wages was the cause.
The Bpanlsh steamer Barcelona
sailed from New Orleans the other day
for Genoa via Havana, having on board
600 mules, 'ifi horses. cattle, poultry and
other supplies for the Spanish Govern
ment In Cuba.
D. J. Mackaye, the ex-mllllonalre rail
road king, has gone to work as a fac
tory employe at Anderson, Ind. He
found employment with the Anderson
Paper company and has been given a
position in the office.
The steamship Mascotte arrived at
Tampa Sunday afternoon from Havana
bringing her full capacity of passengers
Capt. Hanlon says that Americans are
leaving Cuba as fast as the transporta
tion facilities will permit.
The other night Mary Brady, of New
York, a servant girl, brought home
palms blessed at a neighboring church,
arranged them with decorative effect
In a bath tub. Jumped in and turning on
the hot water boiled herself to death.
Seventeen Judgments 1 aggregating
1377.819 were filed In the county clerk's
office at New York In connection with
the failure of J. Stetthelmer & Co., and
Stetthelmer & Bettman, bankers and
oil producers of this city.
The total liabilities of the several
firms, it is stated, exceeded 11,000,000.
ism H net Pay.
The award of Blr Nicholas Hannan,
as arbitrator in the Cheek case, render
ed recently orders Slam to pay the
Cheek estate an Indemnity of 700,000
taels. This Is a brilliant victory for
United States Minister Barrett, and a
successful conclusion to efforts of four
years' duration. The award Interprets
a grave question of International law,
and that 81am loses by a fair test is no
discredit to her.
Pesre fer the Italians.
The Rome correspondent of the Lon
don Dally Chronicle says:
"The Government Is anxious for
peace on account of the half million of
Italian emigrants In the United States
States, whose Spanish sympathies
would tend, in the event of war, to
bring them Into dangerous conflict
with the American people." i
t ii.
rinding Svldeaoa
Spain's official connection with the
destruction of the Maine is in a fair
way of being finally determined. The
authorities are conducting a quiet in
vestigation based upon evidence furn
ished by J. P. Gibbons, an electrical and
mining engineer of England. Gibbons
has declared that he sold several des
tructive submarine mines to Spain, to
gether with cables, wires and electrical
appliances. He believes that one of his
mine blew VP the Maine.
GOLD SEEKERS CRUSHED 10 DEATH.
SIXTY KILLED.
An Avalanche on the Chllkoet Pan Indt
forever the Portonce of learoh
en for Wealth.
At about noon Friday on the Chll
koot trail, Alaska, between the Scales
and Stone House, at least 81 men met
death and a large number of others
were Injured more or less seriously In a
snowslide.
Tho dead were orushed under an
avalanche of snow and Ice, which came
down from tho mountain side upon the
left-hand side of the trail, midway be
tween the Scales and Stone House.
The known dead are: Gus Sebarth,
Seattle; Steve Stevenson, Seattle;
Ritchie, residence unknown; Tom Col
lins, Portland, Ors.; C. P. Harrison,
Seattle; Oamson, residence un
known; one woman, name unknown;
Kd Atwood, New York; Iiurber,
Seattle; C. Beck, Sanford, Fla.; L.
Wldeleln, Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Hyan,
Baltimore, Md.; John Morgan, Hmpor-
In, Kan.; Grimes, Sacramento,
Cel., who has a brother In business at
Dyen.
Two of the seriously Injured are Wal
ter Chnppey, of New York, and John C.
Murphy, of Dixon, Dakota.
Fully 00 people were overtaken by
the slide and are either burled In the
snow or scattered along the borders of
the avalanche In a more or less injured
condition. The point at which the ac
cident occurred Is about five miles
above Sheep Camp. A blinding snow
storm was raging all day upon the
summit. As a consequence many of
those In tho vicinity were making no
attempt to leave. Sebnrth, Sprague
and Stevenson, of Seattle, were travel
ing together as partners, and were
found side by side In bed.
Thousands of people were encamped
In the vicinity of the accident at the
time and were soon upon the scene,
rendering such assistance as was possi
ble. All day Saturday and Sunday a
southerly storm, with rain, wind and
snow, prevailed In this vicinity, and it
Is believed the softening of the snow
on the mountain side was the cause of
the avalanche.
It swept directly across the trail,
which, notwithstanding that the
weather was unsuitable for travel, was
thronged with wayfares. The last ves
tige of the troll In that vicinity was
wiped out of existence, and where It
luy Is now a mountain of snow and Ice,
under which are many dead bodies that
cannot be recovered for days to come.
People were digging up their goods
when the slide occurred, at noon.
Later details received from Alaska
Increase the horrors of the avalanche
In the Chllknot pass Instead of lessen
ing It. Sixty-nine dead bodlea have
thus far been recovered, and the names
of 150 missing have been reported as
unaccounted for. It Is barely possible
that some of these had succeeded In
crowing the paxa before the avalanche
occurred. A conservative estimate Is
that between 75 and 100 persons were
killed.
A Startling Statoment.
All the electric lights in Havana
were extinguished the moment the
Maine waa blown up. Consul Lee be
lieven the electric current turned Into
the mine was so strong that It was
useless for lighting purp 'Scs. This msy
prove a strong argument showing that
the Maine was destroyed by dedlgn.
A Pesd fettled.
Henry ami Ernest Howard, brothers,
and James Murr were killed by John
and Joe McOhce, father and son, and
Thomas Howard received fatal wounds
at Knoxvllle, Tenn. Tho McGhees,
heavily armed, fled, and have not been
captured. A family feud caused It.
THE C0MIHO CONFLICT.
The pope Is pleading with the United
States for delay.
The government has ordered 60 ml.es
of torpedo cable.
The pope is pleased because of the
armistice, and predicts peace.
The United 8tates has purchased
three torpedo boats in Italy.
Forty submarine mines were planted
in Havana harbor last week.
The National Guard of New York,
13,000 strong, is ready for action.
In event of war the Pennsylvania
National Guard will be sent to Cuba at
once.
The cruiser Diogenes recently purch
ased in England, has been renamed the
Topeka.
Submarine mines are being placed In
all the iiarburs along the Atlantic
coast.
The Bpanlsh cruisers, Vlzcaya and
Almlrante Oquendo have arrived at
Porto Rico.
The tattered flag of the wrecked
Maine has been granted to Capt. Bigs
bee as a relic.
The swiftest tug at New Orleans, the
Robert W. Wllmot, has been purchased
by the government.
The United States has purchased the
cruiser Diogenes from the Thames Iron
Works at London.
Cipher dispatches from Havana to
Washington are prohibited by the press
censor unless first translated.
The British steamer Nanshan has
been purchased by the United States
and will be used as a coaljig vessel.
Tho Chicago Board of Trade pr-sented
the naval reserve of that city with
11,000 last week with which to buy uni
forms. The government may bo compelled
to offer 1300 and 1400 In bounties In or
der to secure the services til able-bodied
seamen.
" That the United States selxeCuba and
hold her as indemnity for the Maine, Is
a suggestion made to McKlnley a few
days ago.
Ten thousand canvas uniforms, de
signed especially for the climate of
Cuba, have been Ordered for the Unit
ed States army.
Secretary Sherman says there Is no
such thing as party division now In
congress. Democrats and Republicans
are all Americans, and they are stand
ing together. '
The Westing-house Electrical Com
pany of Pittsburg Is to receive a bonus
of fco.OOO from the government It it
completes a 1692,700 contract within a
specllled time. '
The Ohio Senate has passed the bill
appropriating 11,000,000 for National
and State defense. The Seventeenth
Infantry, l S. A., has been ordered to
move from here at once.
The whaleback steamer Christopher
Columbus, which during the World's
Fair at Chicago carried 7,SuQ people on
one trip may be engaged to carry
tioops to Key West as soon as war la
declared.
An order for (0.000 blouses, besides a
number of shirts, draweis. etc.; has
been received at the quartermaster's
depot in Jeftersonvllle, Ind. One hun
dred and fifty extra sea mi tresses have
been employed.
LEE LEAVES HAVANA.
Oeneral Blanco Befaeed to lay Parewell M
the Courageone American.
Saturday afternoon Consul General
Lee, accompanied by his staff, boarded
the Dispatch boat Fern, and Consuls
Springer and Barker went on board
later. The Machlna wharf, where they
embarked, wa crowded with curious
persons, but no discourtesy was shown
the oMIclals. At 6:8 the American ves
sels began leaving.
The steamer Kvelyn followed with
about 6 passengers, and after her came
the Olivette with 247 passengers,
among whom were Miss Clara Barton
and the other representatives of the
Med Cross Society who have been en
gaged In relief work In the Island.
The Olivette was followed by the
Itache with 10 passengers, and last of
all came the Fern, having on board
Consul General I.ee, Consul Springer
end Barker, Consular Clerks Fosca,
D'Js and Drain.
As the Fern rounded to, hesded for
the open sea, she passed near the
Maine wreck. The group had been
laughing and talking, expressing their
satisfaction at leaving Havana, With
one accord, each mnn doffed his hat In
salute to the brave dead, while silence
fell on all several minutes,
Oen. Lee being on board the Fern,
made that boat a target for redoulilud
hisses, groans, catcalls and whistles
from the crowds on shore.
"Get out, Yankee swine," was ameng
the mildest expressions used. Tils
seemed to strike every one on board
as ludicrous. Vice Consul Springer,
who hud been on the Island 80 yeurs,
waved his hand to a particularly
abusive group, saying In tones loud
enough for all to hear, "Walt, wait, my
friends, we shall all bo back soon."
There was one pretty Incident. On
the Cabanas shore, a British steamer
was unloading at her wharf. As the
Fern passed the Union Jack was
dipped, while the English crew gave a
hearty cheer. It Is needless to say that
the compliment was returned with all
possible gusto.
Saturday morning Consul General
Leo, accompanied by British Consul
Gollan, called on Oeneral Blanco to bid
him good-hy. Tho governor general
was very busy and could not receive
Oeneral Lee.
Oen. Dee arrived at Tampa, Fla.,
Sunday and left immediately for
Washington.
PLOTTED AOAIHBT LEE.
Hen Charged With the Attempt How ia
Prison at Havens.
Havnna Is grarded more closely than
ever, the A roles Battalion being posted
s round the limits of Vldano, the swell
suburb of the city.
Within the last few days a number
of Cubans have been arrested and are
new confined Jn the Cuban fortress
charged with various offenses. Some
say the prisoners have been engaged In
a plot to assassinate United States
Cotisul Oeneral Lee, and others assert
that they have been acting as spies for
the United States Government.
There Is no doubt that the Spanish
Government Is more alarmed than it
has ever been before and Is taking
every precaution. There are reasons to
bellevo that there was a plot to kill
General Lee, and that It was allowed
to come to a head by the Spanish de
tectives In order that they might get
credit for defeating It.
EUROPE WOULD PROTEST.
Heither Spain Hor the United States Will
Engage in Privateering.
Spain and the United States are the
only two great powers which do not
prohibit privateering. A treaty to
which every European nation except
Spain Is signatory provides that let
ters of marque shall not be Issued In a
war, authorizing private armed ves
sels to attack the merchant ships of an
enemy.
The reasons advanced for this at
titude were considered good and suf
ficient by the civilized powers which
made the treaty. It was urged that
the margin between a privateer and a
pirate was too easily abolished. If
business should be dull In the priv
ateer's legitimate line the temptation
to strike the merchant ships of a neu
tral nation might be too strong to ba
resisted.
While there Is no treaty stipulation
to prevent either Spain or the United
States from sending out privateer, It is
not believed at Washington that either
nation would be permitted by the great
powers to resort to this method of war
fare. The United States, of course, would
not countenance privateering, and it Is
said In official circles that If Spain at
tempted It the warships of Europe
would take concerted action to make
her amenable In fact to the treat
which she refused In terms. The priva
teers, after due notice given, would be
destroyed aa pirates by the warships of
Europe.
It has been suggested In congression
al circles that a portion of the Ameri
can merchantmen might be floated un
der the flag of Great Britain. This
might be done in the case of vessels
engaged In deep sea trading. The
drawback Is that ship owners could not
bring their vee:aels back Into American
registry after peace was declared with
out an act of congress. In the case i f
vessels engaged in the coastwise trade
the plan Is absolutely Impracticable.
The law prohibits ships of a foreign
nation from engaging In coastwise
trade. It Is the only vestige of protec
tion left for the American merchant
marine, and the New Englanders cling
to It tenaciously. If It were proposed
to suspend the law for this purpose the
suspension would let In a horde of for
eign' ships which would Immediately
drive our schooners from the trade.
The navy department does not antici
pate damage to the ice and coal tradj
of the coasters. They will proceed as
usual. Only vessels sailing to gulf
porta will be in danger.
Prediots a Lengthy War.
Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper of Jxm
don recently published an Interview
with Colonel John Hay. the American
Ambassador, whose remarks are - of
the most discreet character. The paper
also publishes an Interview with Count
de Rsscnn. the Spanish ambassador,
who Is reported to have said:
"The responsibility rests with Presi
dent McKlnley. If he makes war
there will be a war which
will last Ave or six years or for
ever, and will ruin both Spain and the
United States. We shall avail our
selves of letters of marque. The Maine
was lost through the Ignorance or cure
leesness of her offlceta and crew."
CAPITAL OUAHIHUl
Minister Woodford baa been ordered
to leave Spain.
Consul Lee will not leave Havana un
til the last American Is safe.'
The New York Life Insurance Com
pany Is willing to loan the government
fio.uoe.ooo.
Postal clerks are awaiting a decUlin
aa to whether their situations will b(
held for them in case they should go to
war.
SEME STATE EJ IQSE3
GLOOMY OUTLOOK.
Pretts Bate Destroyed the Prolt Orep ,
Thronghont the State.
Secretary Edge, of the Agricultural
Department, speaks in the most gloomy
manner on the outlook for fruit in this
State this years. He says that the
frosts and snows of the past few days,
added to the freezing weather, have al
most destroyed the peaches and that
the buds have been frosen black where
they had developed at all. He has had
reports from a number of hie corres
pondents and all have the same story
to tell of black frosts and ruination of
the fruit orop. Even the strawberries
are frosen, and are almost a total loss.
The Secretary thinks that there may be
K few peaches In places where the hills .
formed a protection, but this Is the case
In only a few counties, and the crop
will be woefully short. From the South
Mountains, where It was supposed the
trees would be protected, come reports
that the blight Is over everything and
from the Juniata and Cumberland val
leys there Is no encoursgement. A bul
letin will be prepared when the major
ity of the correspondents are heard
from.
The following pensions were granted
last week: Horace B. Smith, Gallatin,
Potter, t; W. W. Seaman, Leota, But
ler, t; George Shlngledecker, Slverly,
Venango, l; John E. Shlvely, Fayette
vllle, Franklin, t; Nehemlah Camp
bell, Gallltsln, t; Thomas W. Douglass,
Ptinxsutawney, t; George Payton,
Kendall Creek, McKean, t8; John N.
Coleman, Clarksburg. $6; W. H.
Cowen, Frankfort Springs. Beaver, tit
to t5; Joseph Sorayer, Fossllvllle, Bed
ford, tlO to tit; Wesley V. Tate, Klp
ple, Blair. ia to $17; Cyrus Thomas,
Greensburg. t8 to tlO; Timothy Rourke,
Oil City, 1 to tlO; Joseph Fisher,
Deckers Point. Indiana, t: Jane F.
Cowan, Frankfort Springs, Beaver.
12; Sarah Cumberledge, Brave.
Greene, tl2; Elizabeth M. Hasklna,
Coudersport, tH; Margaret D. Patter
son, Alexandria, Huntingdon, 8; Eli
sabeth G. Simpson, Eltta, Kittannlng,
t!2; Washington R. Christy, Rosston,
Armstrong, t; John M. Detwller.
Waterside. Bedford, $4; William T.
Foley, Allegheny, 1: William Kam
merer, Allegheny, t6; Oeorge P. Bell,
Puritan, Cambria, t6; David Shenefelt,
Huntingdon. $6; Henry T. Kulp, Brad
dock, t; Samuel H. Williamson. Bell
wood, $S to tl2; Peter R. Kelts, Hath
vllle, Jefferson. $8 to $14; William
Scalaford, Lewlstown, tS to tlO; Ell
R. Booth, Burlington, Bradford, S12 to
tl7; Robert Craig, Soldiers' home, Erie,
M to tl2: Harrison Mansfield, Latrobe,
tlO to tl2: William Sloan. Pittsburg,
t to 10; Luther Reed. Sweden Valley,
Potter, t30 to t50; James Grace, Cen
tertown, Mercer, t to $S; Mary A.
Riley, Altoona, t; Rachel Duer, Mur
raysvllle, Westmoreland, 18.
David B. Landls. president of the
Conestoga National Bank, one of the
most prominent citizens of Lancaster,
wss shot and killed Thursday morning
by Ralph W. Wlreback, who occupied a
house owned by Landls on a conspicu
ous residence thoroughfare. Mr. Lan
dls had served notice on Wlreback to
quit the premises April 1. Wlreback
said he had a lease which allowed him
to stay, and this morning a couple of
constables went to Landls to evict the
recalcitrant tenant. Wlreback had for
tified the house In an ingenious man
ner, locking himself In a third-story
room, where he had stacked the doors
and windows with lumber, bedsteads
and other heavy material. When Mr.
Landls and tho constable arrived Wire
back shot and killed Landls.
William Dearolph, employed In the
Watsonvllle pool by the South Penn Oil
Company, of Oil City, was on the top
of a 74-foot derrick a few days ago
when a line which he was pulling part
ed at a splice and he lost his balance,
falling to the ground and landing on
his feet. One foot and leg was driven
Into the ground to the knee, but the
other foot struck a root and stayed
above the ground. The only mark he
carries Is a pair of black eyes, where
they struck his knees when the concus
sion of the fall doubled him up.
The vote on the question of bonding
the city of Meadvllle to enable coun
cils to purchase the plant of the Mead
vllle water company carried recently.
The plant will cost 1200,000. The de
cisions of Justice Dean In this and the
Beaver Falls case prevented the city
from building Its own plant.
Mrs. James Colbert, wife of a coal
miner living near Harrlavllle, has been
suffering from typhoid fever, and last
Friday morning, while delirious, es
caped from the house. Monday morn
ing she was found In an abandoned
out-building, two miles away, uncon
scious, and almost dead from exposure.
Benjamin and James Mitchell,
brothers, living at Larimer, were killed
near the big railroad cut west of Irwin
last Tuesday. They started for home
early and an Jreur later their bodies
were found sine by side In the dltcb
alongside the track.
William Phennlecie, of Lucyvllle,
employed as a policeman, was lodged
In Jail, at Washington the other day,
by Conctable Tobln of Ruscoe on a
commitment Issued by Squire William
McKenna charging him with killing
Robert Hughes.
The sheriff has sold the Macungle
Iron Company's furnace, six houses
and the property, consisting of St acres
at Allentown, to Emma Audenrled. of
Philadelphia, for 110,000. The property
Is subject to a mortgage for tl7,000.
An offer has been made to the Gov
ernment by John H. Barnes, of Pitts
burg, to take submarine photographs
of the sunken war ship Maine, by an
apparatus of his own Invention.
A trolley car which Jumped tha track
at Watsontown, Northumberland coun
ty, fatally crushed William Maggs,
who was standing on the front plat
form, against a pole.
Search Is being made throughout the
eastern part of the State ifor James
Blank, a 17-year-old. who disappears!
from his home at Bethlehem tin Febru
ary 28.
While eating an apple Moses Knap
pen berger foil from his ehalr and ex
pired at Jeannette last week. He was 72
years old, and leaves a widow and four
children.
A. J. McKean, who has been connect
ed with the First National bank, Mer
oer. Pa., since 1874, has been chosen Its
president to succeed William Logan,
deceased.
By the blowing out of a cylinder In
an engine, James Gougan, a pump run
ner In a mine at Nantlcoke, Luserne
county,' sustained Injuries from which
he died.
Amoa W. Stauffer, a veteran residing;
at Petersburg, Lancaster County, re
cently coughed up a bullet, with which,
he was wounded in the shoulder In ISM.
Operations will be resumed about.
May 15 at the- big iron furnace at
Sheridan. Lebanon County, which havj
been leased by an English syndicate.
Professor James E. Kseler. of Alle
gheny, has accepted the position) of d.r
ector of the Lick Observatory, at
Uoant Hamilton, California,