M MAKING I FIERCE MICK. GLOOM IN BRITAIN. Effect ol Reverses and ol Fears tor ladysmltn Intimated That Joubert'i Siege Mi) Bt SuccesstoL ' The week open with only fresh ad ditions t the disasters that have bc fallen British arms, ami there is no lon ger any sustaining confidence to bnoy up public opinion. The editorials this morning fully relied the extreme grav ity ol the situation, with a painful under current ol ominous forebodings, mainly caused by the fact that, while the Bo ers have now changed their tactics and assumed the offensive. Gen. Puller is apparently unable to do more to assist Gen. White than in making a demon stration. Little doubt remains as to the mean ing of the Boer attack. A dispatch from the Boer camp at Colcnso, dated Thurs day last, sent by way of Lourenzo Mar ques, mentions that a thunder storm had turned the dry ravines into torrents and flooded the Tugela. Doubtless Gen eral Joubcrt felt sure he had secured a couple of days in which he could attack Ladysmith without fear of interference from General Bnller, who. even if he de cided to attempt to relieve the town, would probably occupy three days in reaching it by even a victorious advance. Great Britain has to face the terrible possibility that the next news will be the fall of l.adysmith. The disquieting feature is that tne Boers seem to have had sufficient force to deter General Buller from attacking, while themselves making strenuous efforts to reduce the town. In the presence of this ominous situa tion, even General French's disaster, of which apparently the worst has not yet been heard, assumes unite minor im portance in the eyes of the public. The war oflice has already decided upon immediate steps for sending the Eighth infantry division to South Af rica. Some of the regiments for this division will be taken from Gibraltar and Malta. They will be replaced by militia. It is asserted that the customs author ities on the river Thames have detained two outgoing steamers and seized two large guns and six Maxims, packed in piano cases, intended for the Transvaal It is also said that a quantity of food stuffs on another vessel have been sciz ed. "Saturday's bombardment of l.ady smith was the heaviest yet recorded. All the heavy guns were working and the Boers seemed to be pouring in shell from cverv Available lighter gun." The war office publishes the following dispatch from Gen. Foresticr Walker, commanding at Cape Town: "lien. French reports under date of January 6: 'The situation is much the same as yesterday, but I regret to report that a serious accident has happened to the First battalion of the Suffolk regi ment. The Boers attacked Gen. Gatncrc's position at Moltcno with great energy Wednesday morning, and at last reports a brisk engagement was in progress Moltcno is the town to which ticn. Gatacre retired after his recent defeat at Stormbcrg. There was brisk fighting Tuesday in the hills around Colcsberg. The Boers stubbornly resisted the British at every point, but gradually retreated. 1 h British held the extreme position to the south and cast, overlooking the town An unexpected development of the situation at Colcsburg lias occurred Late advances arc that the Boers return ed with reinforcements durin" the night and occupied the position from which they were driven by Gen. French. s Boer remits Enlist Recruiting for the Boer Red Cross service eocs on daily in rcw York Gustav Simon, who is directing the , movement and whose headquarters arc a cigar stand, said that when he adver tised for nurses a week ago to enter the Boer service he received about 500 applications in one day, and that an plications were coming in on an average of 50 a day. a Rout 1,000 men ana wo men, the majority men, had gone from New York recently to south Alrica Simon said that he had now about 000 applications on hand. He remarked that tie did not wish to violate the neu trality laws and he did not desire to say anything about the possibility of the Red Cross recruits joininor the Boer military service, as he had nothing, to do with that. Chicago Canal Open. Tuesday morning the last IS feet o earth separating the collateral drainage canal ol Chicago trom the mam cana that empties into the Desplaines river and through it into the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, were knocked away and the immense system was put into operation. 1 hus has been laid the foun dation ol a mammoth ship canal con necting the Great Lakes with the Miss issippi river and the uuit. and saving the sanitary district ol Chicago and the Federal government the great expense that would in .the future be necessary in . rock excavation and blasting under the flowing water. The canal, if confined to the single requirement ol disposing of Chicago's sewage, could have been con structed lor from $12,000,000, to $14. 000,000, so the sanitary district can just ly claim to have expended at least $JO, 000.000 in the direction of the great nav igable waterway, the entire cost of the work thus far having been $33000,000. AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL At the close of business December 30, the public debt, less rash in the treasury, amounted to $1,134,100,007, a decrease (or the month of $5,791,824, which is 1 rgcly accounted for by the purchase of bonds. Government receipts exceeded expen ditures by $7,613,545 during the month ol December. 1 he surplus . (or six months was 21,026.934, against a deficit for the corresponding period of 1898 of $8.t.7I9.t22. Captain Swsbee. the hero of.ttie Maine, and who will take charge of the Naval Intelligence Bureau on February 1, has purchased a house in Washington which will soon be occupied by the Sigsbee family. The total coinage at the mints during 1899 was $139,243,191. as follows. Gold. $111,344.29; silver,. S.061,519; minor coins. $i.8i7.tu. LATEST NEWS NOTES. The Lawton fund to date amounts to $4. 4.U 3- rope Leo has Indicated Cardinal Gotti as his successor. The Union National Bank, of Rail way, N. i lias suspended. The Wanner palace ear Interests have been absorbed by the Pullman Com pany. Senator Vest, of Missouri, says this term will bring his public life to a close. Over 7,000 men are engaged In har vesting 12-inch ice in the vicinity of Chicago. Allegheny, fa., Carnegie library, re ceived a $10,0 o New Year's gift (rom its totimlcr. Cripple Creek's gold output for the year just closed was 422,805 tons, worth 20,000,000. Philadelphia is to have a $2,000,000 hotel. The structure will have 350 guest rooms. The Montezuma Lead Company, cap- tat $.1,000,000. is ready to operate in New Mexico. A statue of Vice President Itobart will lie erected at Paterson, N. J., at a cost of $15,000. Indications are that Carnegie, the iron and steel magnate, will enter the Ala bama iron field. Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, savs that State constitutions cut no figure as to senatorship. Andrew Carnegie has given Chey enne, Wyo., $50,000 with which to con struct .1 free library. Joseph P. Dickcv of Greenville, has been appointed mercantile appraiser for Mercer county. Pa. The Irish societies of Philadelphia. Pa., arc endeavoring to raise $100,000 to equip a hospital ship. Companies A. B. C. D. I. K. I. and M. of the Fifteenth Infantry, arc home ward bound from Cuba. While Irving to mount his horse. Richard C'roker was thrown backward and had his leg broken. A mad don in a Pittshnrir. Pa., cafe. New Years, succeeded in biting six ocr- sons before it was killed. During December 2.400.000 stamps were sold at the Pittsburg postolhce. 1 ins ureaks the record. On account of the great demand for green coltec, that article has advanced one-half cent per pound. Senator Harold, of Kentucky, de clares he was offered $4.s00 to stay out ol the Oocbel caucus. I resident Kruirer has consented to the sending of an American military observer to the Boer armies. The American Electric Vehicle Com pany, with a capital of $5,ooo,ox, has Been licensed 111 New Jersey. W illiam Johnston, a gas expert, was asphyxiated Saturday while repairing a regulator at Youngstown, O. The annual financial report of the Pittsburg Stock Exchange shows a cash halancc in bank of $8,100.03. The paying teller of the Fidelity Trust and Guarantee Company, of Buffalo, N. ., gets away with $48,000. Indemnification has been demanded for recent seizure of American cargoes in Dclagoa Bay by the English. Preparations arc being made by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for its new passenger depot at rittsburg. A lamp explosion at Johnstown, Pa., Thursday evening, destroys a house and ten inmates are seriously burned. Jones & I-auililim have decided to spend $2.wo.ooo on the construction ol a modern steel plant at r ittshurg, l'a. Eight hundred bodies have been re covered (rom the ruins caused by the earthquake in the uistrict ol lillis, Kus sta. Andrew Carnegie has promised the college at Emporia, Kan., $50,000 for a library as soon as the present debt is paid. No trace has been discovered of 14-ycar-ol'J Hattic Hall, who disappeared from her home at Utica, O., Christmas night. The British-American Furniture Company has been organized at To ronto. Can., with a capitalization ol $3, oco.coo. It is stated that General Otis does not wish to capture Aguinaldo for fear the rebel chieftain might prove a "white elephant. Professor Charles H. Schwartz, foun der of Bethlehem Academy for Boys, died Saturday night at Bethlehem, Pa., aged 09 years. A donation of $300,000 has been given by Carnegie to Cooper Union, New York, with which to found a Mechan ics Art school. While attending a funeral Wednes day, Miss Kryder. of Belleionte, Pa. was badly burned by her celluloid col lar catching fire. Governor Roosevelt will soon present plans to the New Y'ork Legislature for a lake-to-ocean canal that is estimated to cost $6o,ooo,coo. The Cativada Colonization Company, in which over 200 Pittsburg families we financially interested, has gone into the hands 01 a receiver. J. F. Creenan, manager o( the To' peka, Kan., branch of the Standard Oil Company, was run over and killed by an engine in that citv. H. H. Warner, formerly a well-known pntent medicine manufacturer, of Rochester, N. Y., has failed. Liabili ties, $2,319, 027; no assets. By continuing the war tax it is csti mated that by June .10, the end of the fiscal year, there will be a surplus in the U. I. treasury of fully $60,000,000. The Wisconsin Central Railroad Company lost $100,000 Saturday night by a rrain of 28 loaded cars going through a trestle and being destroyed by fire. The board ol education of Chicago has excluded from the public schools ol that city all histories ol England which refers to that nation as the "mother country." , The National Dairy Union is. urging the passage of the Grout bill now pend ing before Congress. This bill provides (or an increase of 10 cents a pound on colored butterine. W. M. Harrison, ol Allegheny, Pa., proposed to build a railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific by contributions of workine-mcn, who are asked to sub- scribe $2 apiece for a "stock bond."- ILL OBSERVE NEUTRHLITT LAWS. HIBERNIANS LOYAL They Desire to Assist the Boars. All They Ask It That Undo Sam 8ldt With the Boers. The National officers ol the Ancient Order of Hibernians met in Washing ton, D. C. Sunday, and issued the lol- owing statement: "1 he National officers met to discuss a demand on the part of a large ma- ontv of the representatives ot our 150,- 000 members that the order render some assistance to the Boers in the 1 ransvanl. It was agreed to render any assistance compatible with our lovalt" as Ameri can citizens and which would not inter fere with the neutrality laws of the United States. We arc impressed with the splendid precedent shown by the Re public in going to war with Spain to free Cuba from the oppression of that country. We believe that American sympathy is with the Doers, and that we arc acting in accord with the prin- iples which urged the United Mates to carry the flag in a struggle for the liber ation of the gallant Cuban. Our peo- c won d flock to the armies of Amer ica if the government marched to as sistance of the South Africans. It is un necessary for the Hibernians to pro claim their loyalty to the United States, but it becomes them to state that no act of theirs will be contrary to the laws. Knowing the character of the British government, its cruelly, its ambition, we are desirous to assist the citizens ot a sister republic in their struggle to de feat English aggression. What kind ol aid will be given we can not state at the present time, but it certainly will be ol a practical nature and acceptable to the Boer government. ere this nation the antagonist ol England, we could from our ranks send IS to 20 regiments of the best lighting material the world ever saw. In fact, in any just cause in which the United State may sec lit to draw the sword, the society would rcgond as it did in the (inner wars. I he Irish regiments ol Illinois. Michigan. Massachusetts and New York were largely recruited Irom our ranks, and in some of the regiments of United States regulars recently sent to the Iront are divisions ol the A. O. II., duly affiliated with the parent order in this country. The order at large are hopeful that the government will yet rise to the wishes and hopes of the Irish-Americans nnd extend to the brave Boer the sympathy France gave to the country 111 76. lhe resolutions are signed bv John I. Keating, national president: James E. Dolan, national vice-president; P. T. Morgan, national treasurer, Washing ton: James A. Sullivan, national secre tary, Philadelphia: P. J. O'Connor, Georgia; P. K. O Neill, Philadelphia; ). Slattery. Massachusetts: Kcv. M. Bryue, Indiana, national directors. Frrncs Makes a Bluff The French government has cabled the commandent of the naval squadron in the Atlantic to proceed immediately to Santo Domingo, This order grows out of the feeling in Santo Domingo against the action of the French consul in pressing the Boismare-Caccavclli, claim of 2t-'o,ooo francs. In accordance. with the treaty concluded in l8cp, be tween President Heurcaux and the French minister to Hayti, the govern ment of Santo Domingo agreed to turn over to the rrench consul a monthly indemnity in reparation for services ren dered and damages sustained by fam ilies of French citizens who had boen assassinated. In default of payment the treaty stipulated that action might be taken against the improvement company having the concession to collect the rev enues of the island. Since the assassi nation of President Hcureaux the in demnity has been withheld, but, on ac count ol the disturbances following his death, France made no immediate de mand for payment. As more than six months have passed without action and banto Uomingo showing bad laith in the execution ol the obligations, the French consul received an order to place an embargo on the revenues ol the improvement company. The execution ol the order provoked disturbances. which the government ol Santo Domin go has not attempted to suppress, and serious insults have been offered to France and the consulate." Peter Dinke. accused of murdering May Holwif. at Franklin. O., in 1886, was arrested at llcrpeck, Ind. Kentucky Bloodshed. In a general fight on Otter creek, Clay county. Ky.. "Lighe" Lewis and Gen. May were shot and killed and (our other participants seriously wounded. The fight occurred at a school house, where one of the Jacksons was on trial before a magistrate for killing another Jackson. The light was started soon af ter the trial began and court was ad iourned and the fight carried on in the school house and yard. Four ol the men were taken to Manchester Satur day night and placed in jail. "Lighe" Lewis, one of the men killed, is a broth er of ex-Sheriff "Joe" Lewis, ol Clay county. Slaves Freed In Guam. A naval officer who lias arrived in Manila from Guam brings a proclama tion issued by Capt. Leary, naval gov ernor of that island, decreeing the abso lute prohibition and total abolition of slavery or peonage, the order taking ef fect February 22. lhe prologue of the proclamation declares that the Spanish system of peonage, amounting to slav ery, is a menace to popular liberty and a violation of the privileges guaranteed bv the American constitution. Cant. Leary also deported all the Spanish priests lor reasons sufficient to him. it Bit FLASHES Lord Salisbury, the English premier, will resign at the close ol the Transvaal It Is said that John Churchill, younger brother ol Winston Churchill, will ac company the Duke ol Marlborough to the teat ol war. An earthquake, Tuesday, destroyed ten villages in the Aichalkalka district o the Government ot lalhs. The British nubhe revenue for the nine months enuing December, reaches 2.77744. as against 78.340.468 for the corresponding ncnod 01 119. - OEM. RAID'S TRIBUTE TO OEM. WOOD. Cubans ol All Shades ot Ptllllosl Opinion Get Togsthtr at a BanquiL The dinner given at Havana in honor of Gen, Maso, Saturday evening, at the Tacon theatre, was a great success. Gens. Wood, Ludlow and ChafTc were present, as was also Gen. Gomez, Scnor Govin, the former autonomist leader, Scnor Zayas and others spoke. Govin was loudly cheered. At this banquet lor the first time since the American occupation began Cubans of all shades of political opinion came together for social purposes. Gen. Maso, in re sponding to a toast to his health, said: "The cause ol Cuba Libre was never brighter than now. President McKin ley, in sending Gen. Wood, chose the only man to whom the confidence ol oil classes of Cubans could be given. It was Gen. Wood who, when a former governor, told Presidrnt McKnIey that it would be dangerous to remove a sin gle American soldier from the island, urged the reduction ol the military in his own province by one-half. Nor do we forget that the province of Santiago was admittedly the most difficult to govern. Gen. Wood administered the affairs of that province in a manner elic iting the plaudits of the civilized world. He did nut truckle to faction nor to his own countrymen, but he gained the love and confidence of the entire community by his splendid work, his fearless and impartial management of affairs and his evident desire to give the Cubans every opportunity to prove themselves worthy of self-government." ONE VOTE WORTH $20,000. Ths Montana Speaker Alleges That He Was ' Offered That Amount to Support Clark. Henry G. Stiff, speaker of the Mon tana House of Representatives, testified before the Senate committee on privi leges and elections Saturday, that A. R. Cook, former State auditor, had offered him $20,000 to vote for William A. Clark for United States Senator. "I made no definite reply," said Stiff, "be cause I wanted to further investigate what was going on, I told him that if Mr. Clark rcnlly wanted to secure my otc he could ufford to pay more than $30,000, and suggested $50,000, saying that I did not want this to be under stood as an offer on my part." Frederick Whiteside, a Montana State Senator, testified that he had been ap proached in the interest of Clark's can- idacy by John S. Neill, John B. Well come and Charles W. Clark, a son of the Senator. He ha I co-operated with the supporters ol Mr. Clark for the purpose of exposing the corrupt meth ods which he was satisfied were being used to secure Clark's election, lie exhibited a list of the members of the Legislature whom Mr. Wellcome and Senator Clark's son had requested him to sec. They told him they were willing to pay $10,030 lor any Democratic vote, and more for the vote of J. T. Ander son, ot Meagher county. National Perk at Atlanta. The movement looking to the estab lishment of a National military park on ground made historic by the battle of Atlanta and other engagements in that icimty during the civil war, lias been given an impetus by letters from many prominent men indorsing the plan. Ex- residcnt Harrison writes: "The military incidents connected with the investment and ultimate capture of Atlanta ure certainly worthy of com memoration, and I should be glad to see your project succeed." During the Atlanta campaign, lien. Harrison was colonel commanding the First brigade, Third division of the Twentieth army corps. He took part in aU three battles around Atlanta. Let ters ol indorsement have also been re ceived Irom Maj. Gen. Daniel Butter- field, of New York, Gen. Coburn, Col. Orland Smith, and Maj. Goodspccd. Home From Alaska. John N. Wright, postmaster at Nome, Alaska, has just arrived at Indianapolis, Ind. He tells many marvelous stories ol the wealth of the Nome district in the extreme northern part of Alaska, It is the greatest placer mining dis trict in the gold helds. says Wright, 1 he pay dirt extends for 35 miles along the beach. Two thousand men in six weeks took out $4.000000 in gold, half ol which came from the creek and half from the beach. Conservative miners estimate the value of my six claims at $35,000,000 on the beach proper, not counting the gold that may be found on parts ol the claims back from the beach. My claims aggregate 800 acres." Wright organized a company last week in New York with $5,000,000 cap ital to work his claims for which lie is to receive $1,000,000 cash as a starter. He stopped at Washington, and was as sured that 300 soldiers would be imme diately sent to Nome in addition to those already there. Cubans Are Pleased. One of the secretaries, who displayed the customary reticence of the best class of Cubans in respect ol giving their names for publication in connection with interviews, made the following statement: A vondcrful change seems to have come over the Cuban people during the last few weeks. It would have been im possible, on December 1. to have aroused the enthusiasm which was dis played Sunday night during the play ing of "The Star Spangled Banner." Such cheers as were iven (or President McKinlcy, while the procession was passing through the streets, could not nave been raised for him or (or any other American a month or so ago. The change, in my opinion, is due to a dis appearance of that distrustful feeling which during the preater part of last year had been gradually growing among the Cuban people. Chinese Murder Trust The police believe a Chinese high binder trust has been lornied in Sun Francisco, and Marysville. and that the price (or the murder ol an enemy has been cut from $1,000 to $300. Hereto fore, the police sav, it has been custo mary (or cuch ol the two highbinder so cieties to employ (rom six to twelve hatchet men, who were paid salaries and who were expected to execute any or- I ders, even to the killing of an obnoxi- ous merciiani wnu reiuscu 10 pay DiaCK mail to.itie society,, ...... . HDFRIIinU AMERICAN PRISONERS FREE. The Recapture Made by Col. Hare's and Col. Howie's Forces Sixteen Sailors Among the Number, After a silence of several days, Gen, Otis is able to notify the war depart ment ol the complete success ol the mil itary operations in Northwest Luzon, the main object ol which was the res cue of the American prisoners whom the insurgents took with them in their flight. Although Gen. Otis does not specify Lieut. Gilmore, U. S. N., by name the wording ol his message is taken to mean that that officer was among the list ol rescued prisoners. Gen. Otis' message is as follows: "Manila, Jan. 5. Colonels Hare and Howze just arrived at Vigan, North west Luzon, with all American prison ers. Their successful pursuit is a re markable achievement. Generals Schwan and Wheaton now with sepa rate columns in Cavite province. Af fairs in Luzon, north ol Manila, greatly improved." The officials of the navy department have prepared the following statement of the prisoners released, subject to amendment by Admiral Watson: Wil liam Juraschka, Benjamin J. Greene, Edward Burke, Geo. Daniel Powers, James Farley, Lieut. J. C. Gilmore, Wm. Walton, chief quartermaster; John Ellsworth, Lyman Paul Edwards, Paul Vandoit, Silvio Brisolez, Albert Peterson, Fred Anderson. William H. Rynders, Orrison W. Woodbury and Denzcll G. A. Vcnvillc. The statement thus makes it appear that the following American sailors in cluded in the Urndanctta and York town parties were killed: Cadet W. C, Wood, William Mitchell, Samuel Jones, lihlen Herbert, Arthur William Drum mond, 1 nomas Gray. Samuel Stone, John Dillon. Charles Albert Morrisey, Ura li. iUcUon.tld, Edward J. Nygard SOLDIERS BECAME INSANE. Lost Their Minds as a Rcsul! ol Sorvlco In lhe Philippines. The following soldiers, declared to be insane, have been sent to Washington, D. C, from the Presidio military reser vation, Cala. : Scrgt. Thomas F. Collins. Company G, Sixth infantry; Scrgt. Owen H. Wissman, hospital corps; Privates Thos. I. iJarry. hospital corns: Anitoii Har- bcr, Company E, Fourth infantry; Michael Gallagher, Company C, Twen- U'-third infantry; George M. Barton, Iroop C, roiirth cavalry: Walter A. O'Neill. Battery F, Sixth artillery; Louis Ford, Company L, Fourth infan try; Emcrick Mulncr, Company B, Sixth infantry; David h. Young, Com pany A, Seventeenth infantry; Frank Thayer, Company I, Seventeenth infan try; Ucorgc W. Decker. Company v., iMgntccntn ininmry; Joseph jionnian, Company E, Twenty-second infantry. and George J. Nixon, Company I, Twelfth infantry. Nearly all of these men lost their minds as a result of campaigning in the 1 hilippincs. Arctic Explorer Home. James F. McSherry, of New Ken sington, Pa., is home from an adventur ous trip. He crossed the Arctic circle and with 28 companions he founded Feavy. one of the outposts of civiliza tion in Alaska, 750 miles north of the Yukon river; he penetrated the land of snows still 200 miles farther with dogs and sledges, until he had reached a re spectable latitude (or an Artie explorer. Mr. McSherry was prospecting (or gold (or the panics Dcitrick Company, o( San Francisco. The party found the mctar and staked the claims, which will be worked by the company as soon as the machinery can be gotten on the f round. Mr. McSherry left in May of ast year. He will return in a few weeks. This time he will go to Cape Nome, where the latest gold discoveries have been made. Moonshine Semation A large distillery operated by moon shiners on the mountain near Hawtcy, Wayne county. Pa., has been discover ed by United States secret service men. Frank llawley was arrested by Marshal Lowery at the home of his mother-in- law at Pittston and held under $1,000 bail. Many prominent liquor dealers of Wayne and Lackawanna counties arc said to be interested in the illicit traf fie and many arrests will follow. CROPPED DOKN A SHAFT. A Machinist's Wild Ride ot 240 Feel Picked Up Alive. Charles Bowden. a machinist at the United Cable plant at Grecnsburg, Pa., made a miraculous escape from a tern ble death Tuesday night. He was, how ever, seriously injured and is now in a critical condition. A wild ride of 240 feet down a shaft was his thrilling expe rience. A broken piece of machinery at the bottom of the mine needed attention. and in the absence of the regular engin eer, Bowden concluded to lower the big cage. He lost control at the start and down the deep hole he and the cage went at an awful pace. 1 here being two cages in a shaft, the other moved up ward at the same pace and was smashed to pieces at the mouth f the pit. The downward cage struck the bottom with awful force. Bowden was hurled to one side, bleeding and unconscious. Tlie crash was heard bv the army ol miners in the pit, and believing that an explosion had occurred, they Iptrricd panic stricken to the snait entrance. There Bowden was found in a terrible condition. He was picked up, and on the remnants of the cage, was, after great difficulty, conveyed to the top. Effic's ot an Earlhquzk). The recent earthquake was the cause ol i number of strange happenings. The mud volcanoes on the desert near the Colorado river, in California, have be come active alter a long rest and are now spouting mud again. The natural gas wells near Yuma are also in work ing order since the heavy quake. They have been lighted and the glare ut night can be seen for many miles. At Moosa a number ol fissures were made in the grouad thirty or more feet 111 length. . , - REVIEW OF TRADE. Report ot Failures for lhe Year Just CloteJ The Outlook. R. G. Dun & Co.'s "Weekly Review of Trade": Failures in 1899 were 9,393 In number, with liabilities ol $123,132,- C79. The last days of the year added few to the number and some millions to the known liabilities ol firms and bank which tailed close to the end so that commercial defaults reached $90,070,880, of which $30,792,104 were in manufac turing, $48,924,771 in trading, and $11, 162,954 in brokerage, promoting and other commercial liabilities. There is nothing unsound in the business ol the great industries, but an extensive revis ion ol prices may disappoint extreme expectations. Two ways of stimulating business are adopted. The "Iron Age notices "transactions of magnitude in foundry iron which indicate that some sellers arc willing to make concessions to secure the trade ol good customers." But the Steel and Wire Company has advanced prices of wire nails, barbed and smooth wire 25 cents. Bessemer pig is not higher than it was six weeks ago, and steel plates have declined front 310 to 225 at Philadelphia, bars at Pitts burg from 225 to 215 and sheets (rom 315 to 280, while the structural and rail producers have held but refused to ad vance their prices. Some new business is reHirtcd, but not enough as yet to in dicate the tendency. In tin, after a fall from 33 to 25 cents, the price rises to 225 with London, and in copper 1 cents is 'quoted instead of iH'A cents moniii ago. Wheat still moves ver' sluggishly, with small change in prices. in six months of the crop year about 09,000,000 bushels, flour included, have been exported, against 123,000,000 last year. Atlantic exports have now fallen to only 2,060,926 bushels (or the week, against 5.214,420 last year, and Pacific exports were 5.U.225, against 614,833 last year. The price is practically un changed, as also for corn, of which 3, 923.195 bushels have been exported for the week, against ,1572,412 last year. Failures for the weckhave been 27J in) the United States, against 243 last year, and 2? in Canada, against 24 last year. Bradstrccts' review of bank clearing! for 1899 shows that the total of the Uni ted Slates was $93,504,932,656. an in crease of $25,004,596,426 over the total of 1808. New York ranks first among the cities, with a total of $60,76 1,791,900; Boston is second, with $7,086,285,271, and Chicago is third, with $6,612,313.- 611. The clearings for 1800 were more than double those ol 1894. Philadel phia, St. Louis. Pittsburg, Baltimore, San Francisco, Cincinnati. Kansas Citv and Minneapolis maintain the rank held in l))8. J he heaviest increase was that of 56 per cent., shown by Pittsburg. Exceptional activity in the iron trade it responsible for this gain, and increase of 32 per cent, nt Cleveland. a Blow at lhe Hemp Trust Secretary Root has taken measures to break the corner in hemp. As a re sult of discussing the matter with the president he has cabled this instruction to Maior-Gcneral Otis, "lhere is ap parently a speculative corner in hemp here. It is raisintr the price to the great injury of legitimate consumer-,. It is desirable to get the south hemp ports open as roon ns practicable." 1 his instruction is due to the pro tests made by rominent cortgage man ufacturers nnd by farmers, calling atten tion to the fact that tin: opening of ports 111 northern Luzon to-day would afford no relief to the hemp situation and earn estly requesting that southern ports be garrisoned and oncned to the trade. In a letter written by Mr. Meikleiohn, assistant secretary of war. the writer said that if the hemp now at the several ports of the Philippines were exported, it would be immediately dispatched to this country by steamships ct low rates of freight and be manufactured into binder twine in sufficient time for the farmers' use. ' Relirnad 60cm in Hswiil R. E. Candon. a railroad contractor of Chicago, just home from Honolulu, reports a regular railroad boom in Ha waii, and that the next year will see more railroads built than the islands now possess. Plans laid call for the contnuution of 300 miles or more. The largest part of this will be built, he savs. by Thom as L. Johnson and Albert Johnson, of Cleveland, Ohio, who have formed a syndicate. Their project includes sev eral lines of electric roads in Honolulu and elsewhere on the island of Oahu. Ferry boats will ply between the ter minal and various islands. Work is to commence in February. , . 1 To Admit N:w Vjtsrans. The secretary of war has sent to Con gress a report from Gen. Knox, inspec tor general of the army, on the condi tion of the National soldiers' homes. It shows the homes in excellent condi tion, clean, modern and well policed. Some ol them are crowded. The (ood is well cooked and served, but the bills of fare do not always indicate a di:t suitable (or feeble old men. The num ber of officers and members attending last year was 18,843. It is recommended that a law be framed to admit veterans of t'le Spanish and Philippine wars to the homes. Open Door a Reality. The negotiations opened by Secretary Hay with the great powers of Europe and with Japan, toward securing a com mon understanding for a continued open door policy throughout China, have met with gratifying results. From thoroughly reliable sources it is learned that favorable responses have been made bv Great Britain, Germany, France, Russia and Japan. There is no doubt, it is thought here that Italy, the remaining country addressed, will make favorable answer, if indeed it has not already done so. A Horrible Murder. The dismembered trunk ol Jessie Jones, a young woman, has been found near Rosser, Choctaw county. Ala., in nn old ditch, partly covered with dirt The head, arms and legs had been sev ered and the body was frightfully hack ed. An effort had been made to bum the remains. The theory is that the murder was the result ot a conspiracy, the outcome ol jealousy in love affairs, and that another woman led the plot. The coror.er has had Mary Evans, 2J years old, arrested on suspicion. Other - arrests are cxpuctc. 1 it v 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers