BRITISH ASTOUNDED I BOERS. ON TO BLOOMFONTEIN. Only Fitly British Casuallties in Relieving Kim. berly Boert Reported Very Strong I Koflytontein. A dispatch from British headquarters on MoiKlrr river, dated Sunday, Feb ruary 18, says: "Our midden appearance seems to have astounded the enrmy and thrown them into a panic. All their position were hurriedly evacuated and the 1IR guns at Magersfoutcin and Kimberlcy were left behind. 'Gen. Cronjc moved Ins transport, consisting of hundreds ol wagons, along a bank of kopis north of the Modder river, near KoiTyfontcin. It goes past our mounted infantry, but owing to weariness, had to stop. Thereupon our artillery opened tire upon it. 1 he mam body of the Boer force kept up a run ning fire the whole day, vainly trying to escape. , "Fach time their advance guard . sought to move off, our mounted in fantry galloped round and checked them. We never attempted to stop their main movement, contenting our selves with trying to check them. "Their position rt Kotiyfontcin is said to be very strong. They entertain a wholesome dread of 10.000 cavalry mov ing more quickly than they do them selves. Wc hope to be in lilocmlontein shortly." "At dawn on Friday the Boers were observed moving wagons along the kopjes toward Kofiystcin. Our mount ed infantry was scut out from Klip drift, but was driven back, and the ene my's wagons passed. "(Jen. Knox's Twelfth brigade, how ever, quickly attacked the enemy's main body, and severe fighting went on all day, over a line which was very extend ed. The enemy, making a desperate attempt, finally escaped, owing to the mounted infantry suffered from the try ing Hanking movement. Our force has now been reinforced." "Gen. Cronje's army of 10,000 men with a thousand wagons is in full retreat toward Hloemfonttin. hotly pursued by Gen. Kelly-Kenny.' It will probably be a rear guard fight all the way to Illoctn fontein. Our cavalry has already re turned from Kimberlcy to join in the pursuit." The London war office announces that General French reached Kimber lcy Thursday evening. Lord Roberts message follows: "Jacobsdal, Feb. 1(1 French with a force of artillery, cavalry and mounted infantry reached Kimber lcy this evening." The war office makes public another dispatch from Roberts, saying: "Jacobs dal, Feb. 16. The following from Gen eral French was received this morning: 'I have completely dispersed the enemy from the southern side of Kimberlcy from Alcxandersfontein to Olipliants fbntein and am now going to occupy their ground. Have captured the en emy's laager and store depot supplies and supplies of ammunition. Casualties about so of all ranks wounded. Kim berlcy cheerful and well.' "I have good reason to believe the Magcrsfontcin trenches have been abandoned and that the Boers arc en deavoring to escape. General French is scouring the country north of Kim berlcy. One of General Kelly-Kenny's brigades of infantry is in pursuit of a large Boer convoy moving toward Blocmfontcin." Gen. Cronjc, with a start of a day or two, Ts seemingly in full retreat from ien. Roberts, moving northward. Gen. French, with the cavalry, simply stayed over night in Kimberlcy, and then puslt : cd on to get in touch with the retiring nemv. Militarv opinion is that Rob erts will not push far after the Boers immediately, because of the transport problems and the need of rest for the troops. He has to feed 70,000 persons in bis army, and the whole Kimberlcy population. Roberts has wrought a genuine preliminary success and the im pression is that he has done enough for the nresclit. Correspondence from Pretoria gives an extraordinary account ot 2,000 Orn ish soldiers, who. it is said, arrived toward the end of December last during the retreat from Dundee at the River Maputa, the boundary between Swazi land and Portuguese territory. According to the narrative they had lost their way and wandered (or weeks i Zululand, arriving shoeless, in rags and dying of hunger. These soldiers, the correspondent says, were thought to have been shut up with Sir George AVhite tn Ladysmith. A dispatch, dated February 15, says The British army for the first tune since the war began is inside the Boer frontier. Gen. Roberts, with at least 40,000 infantry, 7,000 cavalry and 150 guns, has turned the Magersfontein lines, and with half of his corps is oper ating on Free State territory. The re I re- lief of Kimberlcy is within reach a the way to Bloemsfontein is cas' Gen. French ha fixed himself on Gv frn!'a main lin nf rimiimritrafin-.V with Bloemfontein and 20,000 infantry, ...:.u ... ... w-: 1 1 .. . Willi 4 gUIlS, ftIC UCIli$ JU311i:u Vl KM support there. A great battle is expect ed soon. Mlnntiota'Minci Leased. The National Steel Company has about acquired the lease of the Spruce mine, in Minnesota, which is controlled toy the Spruce Mining Company, of which P. L. Kimberlcy, of Pittsburg, is the principal owner and of the Clo quel mine for a consideration off ap proximately $1,100,000. The Spruce mine has already shown up an ore de posit of 8,000,000 tons. It embraces about eighty acres, and is owned by T. E. Dorr, of Saginaw, Mich.; E. M. Fowler, of Detroit, and other Michigan men. A lease of fifty years was obtain ed by Mr. Kimberlcy seven months ago for about $120,000, and royalty of thir ty cents a ton. Sought Death Together. Sadie Le Masters, aged 18, and Mere dith Hall, aged 19, of Farmington, III., lovers who were forbidden to marry by the girl's parents, procured morphine and took it. They were discovered lock ed in each other's arms. The girl was dead, and Hull was unconscious, but was revived. Hull was a jockey on , the St. Louis race course. The Ohio House of Representatives passed the Suifin bill, abolishing con tract labor in the Ohio'jirisons. LATEST NEWS NOTES. From New Orleans Sunday t.sso mules sailed for British South Africa. The survey of the boundary line be tween Idaho and Montana has been completed. Major John Tl. Hall, of Taola. Kan., committed suicide because his son's life is despaired of. France will send troops and a cruis er to the island of Martinique, where a race war is on. The flood in Montnelier. Vt. is the worst in 30 years, $150,000 damage hav ing already resulted. Dr. I.ryds, the European representa tive of the Transvaal, will have an au dience with the 1'opc. A cold wave i9 doing considerable damage in the Texas roast country to truck farming and fruit. Armour & Co., of Chicago, will be made a corporation within a few days, with a capital of $20,000,000. A corns of English yeomanry com posed entirely of men of good social position has started for the front. Indian maharajahs and English offi cials started a famine fund for India, raising $.'50,000 at the first meeting. The fifth annual convention of the Slate Association of School Directors met Wednesday in llarrisburg, l'a. Barllett Tripp, of North Dakota, is regarded a certain of appointment as one of the Philippine Commissioners. William McGuirc. of Fairhopc, O., is dead from a supposed attack of hydro phobia, resulting from the bite of a dog. The cxchanirc of ratifications of the Samoan treaty look place Friday simul taneously in Washington, Loudon and licrliti. New York City lias 206 veterans of the Mexican war, 7 of the Indian wars and 15,000 of the Civil War on the pen sion rolls. Fight persons were injured, one fa tally, in four tire that occurred in dif ferent parts of the residence district of Chicago. The Boston and Maine Railroad is tied up by floods, and through traffic for points north of Clinton, Mass., has been suspended. A serious storm has interrupted com munication with England. Italy, Spain and part of Germany. A number of deaths are reported. The puddling department of the Amer ican Steel Hoop works nt Sharon, Pa., has closed down indefinitely. The en tire mill is now idle. , G. W. Purcell. of the Miners' Na tional Executive Board, was arrested at Jcllico, Tcnn., Friday, charged with "unlawful assemblage." John Hentcs and Nels Linden were killed and J. L. Bcardsley probably fa tally injured by an explosion of com pressed air at Topcka, Kas. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has authorized a favorable re port 011 the bill to incorporate the American National Red Cross. The steamship Tiger, carrying a car go of O.ooo bales of cotton and 2.800 tons of phosphate rork, cleared at New Orleans Sunday for Kobe, Japan. Secretary Root has determined to continue the policy begun by General Leonard Wood of reducing the force of United States troops in Cuba. The St. Charles College, nt Grand Cotlcau, La., together with a large and valuable library, was destroyed by fire Sunday, causing a loss of $50,000. Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest Methodist church buildings in Chicago, was almost total ly destroyed by fire. Loss $100,000. Subscriptions to the fund for the per petuation of the Dewey arch in marble have reached $164,3.27, and the commit tee has assurances of $50,000 more. The Domocrats of the Kentucky Leg islature, who have been in Louisville, have adjourned, to meet again in Frankfort with the Republican mem bers. Suit has been begun in the federal courts of Chattanooga by the Hanover National bank of New York to test the constitutionality of the national bank ruptcy law. Puerto Rican merchants declare Con gressional action is essential to the in terests of the island, as under the For akcr bill, the duty on sugar and tobacco is prohibitive. The government steamship Nero, during its recent survey for a trans pacific cable, broke the record for deep sea soundings. One sounding near Guam island marked 5,360. fathoms, only a trifle short of six statute miles. The New York General Committee of the Transvaal war relief fund has raised $12,900, which will be forwarded to London to be applied to the Lord Mayor's fund. The plantations of La Cocotte and Champigny, at Martinique, have been free hy the negro rioters. The situa- If red ) growing worse. 1- ranee will a cruiser. harlcs E. Brewster, captain of a 'itia company at Bath, S. D.. was kill . , uv I a wad trom a gun of one of his men while he was putting them through the firing manual. Jefferson Medical college sophomores and freshmen in Philadelphia indulged in the luxury of a flag "rush" Thursday night. With the aid of the juniors, the lower classmen were victorious. Sev eral particinants are in the hospital. Edward Galcr, the cadet on the steamer St. Louis, who was arrested at Southampton, England, for stealing notes valued at $4,100, has been releas ed, as the British authorities had no jurisdiction over an American ship. The Ways and Means Commute) of tile Mouse nas agrecu 10 rcpun a uiii abolishing what are known to the brew ing trade as sixth and eighth barrels making quarter barrels the smallest fiackages of this character authorized by aw. The Massachusetts G. A. R. asked the Ancient Order of Hibernians to not parade on Memorial day, on the ground that such action would detract from the saeredness of the day. Queen Victoria has summoned to Os borne for special honor a 15-year-old bugler of the First Royal Dublin Fusil iers, who was first to cross the Tugela river tn tne tirst battle 1 11 ere. Seventy-four Republicans and 63 Democratic members ol the Lackawan na County Bar have petitioned Govern or Stone to appoint lohn P.. Kelly, democrat, to tne vacancy on the bench, PAID FOR PRAYING. Large Basket Factory In Maryland Closed Down ' by Reason of Big Revival Services. Owing to the result of a revival which i being, held nt the Sliarpstown, Md., Methodist church a large basket factory bail to close down Friday. Soon after 8 o'clock in the morning about .10 young women employed in the factory became enthused with religious fervor and began to sing, pray and shout. The men at work in another depart ment were attracted to the scene. The proprietor of the factory.who is a prom inent Methodist, was called. He made no effort to control the girls, but told them to shout and rejoice and he would pay them as much for this as for work ing. News of the unexpected demonstra tion spreail and so many persons visited the factory that the work was brought completely to a standstill. Probably 500 persons visited the scene. Without stopping for food or rest the services were continued until late in the after noon, when the people went to their home completely exhausted. A num ber of conversions were made. A LOVER'S REVENGE. 3 tot and Killed His Sweolhearl's Father When Refined Admittance to the House. Leslie Eustburn, aged 2t, shot Jasper Sutton, an aged citizen of lllootnfield, Iowa, Sunday, three bullets penetrating Sutton's abdomen, and causing almost instant death. Ensthurn called at Sut ton's home to take Sutton's 18-year-old daughter Alice to church, the father met Eastburn at the door, and ordered him away. An altercation ensued, and Sutton fol lowed Eastburn to the road. Finally weapons were drawn by both men. Eastburn fired first, the older man fall ing before he could raise his weapon. Eastburn gave himself up. going in to Sutton's home and consoling the daughter until an officer arrived. The shooting caused much excitement, many people who were en route to church having witnessed the duel. SEAT OF WAR A PARADISE. The Country Being Reconquered From Maya Indians a Marvelous One. Gen. Bravos' force of government troops has driven back the Maya In dians in Mexico, and taken possession ot several important towns that were occupied by the rebels during the week. The country occupied by the Mayas is little known to the outside world. Its natural riches arc great. An army offi cer with Gen. Bravos' troops writes as follows of the country: All tins vast territory, which is now being recon quered, contains fabulous wealth and an exuberant fertility of soil, which can raise everything in the way ot agricul ture. Its forest arc extensive nnd have all the valuable woods. The whole country is well watered. There is an abundance of game, and singing birds, many with splendid plumage, arc every where. Deer and mountain turkeys arc here by the thousands. The Yucatecos, living in Belize, arc only waiting to sec the war ended and then they will rush lor these splendid hclds. Gloomy Picture ol Marrlaga. Trof. William Graham Sumner lias begged the dean of Yale University to help mm find out which one of the .too seniors who heard him lecture on "Marriage" Saturday caused reports of it to be sent to the newspapers. lie wishes to have this student expelled. After showing the difficulty of defining closely just what marriage is the pro fessor said: "Only 10 per cent, of married couples find that they have realized their ideals. The other 00 per cent, are unhappy. The novelist takes his hero and heroine to the altar, nnd there leaves them to f glU it out. Love and romance fade out of married life with the sound of wedding bells. Weddings really amount to little more than show and fuss, and the old-fashioned system of a civil instead of .1 religious ceremony should be established." George McMurray. Jr., a former em ploye of the Pittsburg Coal Company at Noblestown, Pa., Saturday shot and killed James Rudge, a pit boss, because, it is alleged, the victim refused to give him back his job in the mine. BUBONIC PLAGUE IN MANILA. Forty-Two Genuine Cases Have Be:n Discov ered Half Being In Chinese Quarter. Out of a total of 51 cases of sus pected bubonic plague reported, 42 proved genuine and 32 deaths resulted, half of them being Chinamen. There were 12 cases during the past week, mostly within the walled city, and 100 inspectors, under the superintendence of a health officer, Major Edie, are en forcing the sanitary regulations. Thirty of the inspectors are China men who have been furnished by the Chinese merchants. The health depart ment census shows the population of Manila is about 190,000, including 31, 000 Chinese. No'ed Kentucky Judge Dead. Judge Richard A. Buckner, of Lex ington, one of the most noted lawyers of the Kentucky bar, died Saturday night, aged 87 years. He was an in tense Union man during the civil war, and did much to keep Kentucky from seceding. He was Common wealth's attorney, circuit judge and was defeated for Congress in 1863. He was one of the commissioners to form the Kentucky code in 186.1, and was speak er of the Kentucky House of Repre sentatives in 1861. .T 1HE NATIONAL CAPITAL General Wood, commanding at Ha vana, has reported to the adjutant gen eral the death by suicide at Havana. January 21, of Private Martin Erickson, 01 tne Hospital corps. The President has r.enewed his effort to reward Generals Shaffer and Corbin for what he considers their fine work in the Spanish war. At bis instance Chairman Hull, of the Committee on Military 'Affairs, Saturday introduced bill to make each a major general. NICARAGUA CANAL FEASIBLE. The House Commerce Commute Reoommends Thai the Governimnt Shall Build the Waterway. Chairman Hepburn, of the House Commerce committee, has submitted the committee's favorable report on the bill which he introduced for the con struction of the Nicaragua canal. It say that if the bill is carried out the United State will in six or right years own a waterway between the ocean that it ran defend and use in the inter est of its navy and merchant marine. The enterprise is entirely practicable and the latest estimate of cost $145,000, 000, provides for the largest ships. The committee believes that the rights claimed by person of concession from Costa Rica and Nicaragua have cither lapsed or arc of small value, nnd this government should deal directly with Nicaragua and Costa Rica, leaving them to ndjtist nil questions growing out of such concessions. A to the lim itation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty with Great Britain, the report says: "No one can read that article without concluding that the Nicaragua canal contemplated wa an undertaking early to be completed through the kindly aid of the two governments. Great Britain has allowed year to elapse without any movement on her part to enrryout the provisions of that, nrti le. It has been a dead letter from the day the treaty was signed to the prervnt moment." Islands North ot Luzon Seized. It is reported that the United States gunboat Princeton visited the Tatanes and Calagan islands, which were omit ted from the Paris treaty of peace, be ing north of 20 degrees of latitude, raised American flags nnd appointed na tive governors. It is said that the Princeton found the Japanese flag flying on liayat island and refrained from landing there, pending orders, but the report is not confirmed. The native on the other islands occupied willingly substituted the American for the insur- f'ent officials, and took the oath of al cgiancc. The natives of Samar and Leyte are returning to their town and the normal conditions arc being re sumed. Reports from native sources, which nrc not confirmed, say Gen. Pio del Pilar, the insurgent commander, died of fever recently. Ch'nes) Pirates Active. According to new brought by the steamship Coptic pirates arc causing much trouble in Chinese waters. The Government seems powerless to stop their depredations. During the early part of last month the crew of a steam launch from the gunboat Tweed, sta tioned near Clinton Shang, China, had a lively fight with the pirates who arc known in the Orient as the Order ol the Red Flag." Several pirates were killed and a number wounded. One British bine jacket was shot through the chest. Other fights have been reported near Canton, nnd merchant vessel boats have been held up and robbed. Fatal Hide and Seek. numbers working in an unorcupicd house in New York City found in a closet the decomposed bodies of two boys. They were identified by their parents as Martin Locncr, aged 9 years, and Charles Byrnes, aged II years. They had been missing since August 3 last, when they tcit tncir nomes nearoy saying they were, going to pick apples. The bodies were found in a closet built into the wall and it is supposed the bovs were playing Jiide and seek, went into the closet, aloscd the door and could not open it again. There was a bruise on Ityrnc s forehead, as though in bis frenzy he had dashed his head, against the door. General Miles Officiated. Major General Nelson A. Miles Tuesday laid the cornerstone of the tower and gateway to be erected at the dormitories ot the university ol J'cnn sylvania, at Philadelphia, in honor of the university men wno served in tne war aizamst Spain, trustees of the in stitution, officers of the army and navy, thousands of students and invited guests were present. The university wa represented in every engagement of the war. The cornerstone was put in place by General Miles and the introductory re- marks bv Provost Harrison followed. General Miles made an eloquent ad- drcsss. One workman was killed, two badly injured and several other slightly hurt by the collapse of the sheet-iron roof covering the cast house of the Illinois btccl Company s plant at Juliet, III. French Against Reo'proclty. The customs commission of the the chamber of deputies at Paris has concluded hearing the various dclcga tions of agricultural and industrial bodies who gave their views regarding the France-American reciprocity treaty. I hey were almost tin animous against it, only a few associations, interested in F'rcnch exports to the United States, speaking in its lavor. . Soldiers Go Crazy In Manila. Eleven insane soldiers have been sent from San Francisco to the Gov crnment Hospital at Washington, D. C, and it is probable that about 30 more will go Last during the week. During the last three months nearly 250 demented soldiers have been sent across the continent, and it is said that over 200 more will soon arrive here from Manila. In nearly all cases the men are violently insane. Three hundred Canadian volunteers for service in the British army have letarted from Kingston and Toronto, and will sail for South Africa from Halifax on Wednesday. The first artillery sec tion of the Second Canadian contingent reached Cape Town Sunday. Cuba More Than Self-supporting. In response to a resolution of the Senate the Secretary of War sent to- the Senate a statement, showing the receipts and disbursements of public funds in Cuba for 1890. Receipts amount to $16,346,015, of which $15. 011,089 were from customs. Expendi tures amounted to $14,085,805. The principal expenditures were as follows: Barracks and quarters. $1,209,939; san Italian, $3,052,282; rural police and ad ministration, $1,445.1167; public works, $700,126; municipalities. $1,239,403. BUSINESS CONTINUES ACTIVE. REVIEW OF TRADE. Increased Foreign Demand for Iron and 8leeL Rise In Wheat and Corn Prices. R. G. Dun & Co.'s "Weekly Review of Trade" reports the following: "Business continue larger than ever at this season in amount of payments, and on the whole a large a ever in retail deliveries, though new transaction do not yet give assurance that it will hold nt the same rate. Important branches of business arc hindered by labor trou bles, of which the building trade strike at Chicago aflfecl the greatest number of contract for industrial products nnd tne labor and wage ol the greatest number of men. The rise in wheat brings out larger Western receipts in two weeks, 5.444.202 bushels, against 6,236,1 last year, but Atlantic exports, Hour Included, in the same week, nave been only 3,645,408 bushels, against 6,- 192,407 last year. 1 hat the suit of Mr. Frick against the Carnegie Company may affect the control of many iron work is evident. Prirc of nig have not changed, though considerable sale, including some for export, lire report ed, but the excess of supply over de mand which appeared in January is in creased by the starting of a new fur nace with a capacity of Goo tons daily. A sale i reported of 15.000,000 pounds Calumet fit Hecla copper to consumer. of the Naugattick Valley at 10 cents. Wool sales at three 1. astern markets have been onlv 1 2.134.456 pounds in two week', against 12,305.300 last year. The interior still believes in a further advance, but buying of word on sITeeps' backs ha slopped, nnd the iiinmilaclurcr has made it clear that the mill hold large stocks to fill recent orders. Failures for two weeks have been $5,357,170; manufacturing $2,380, 263; nnd trailing, $2,509,600. Failures for the week have been 21H in the Unit ed State and 42 in Canada." Wheat, including flour shipments for the week, nuizrcuatc i.Hu.rtm bushels. against 2.1102.557 bushels last week. 2. 45171 bushels iu the corresponding week of 1), 3,832.744 bushels in 1898, 2,120.806 bushels in lKo7 and .1.I49.0I2 bushels in 1896. Since July 1 this sea son the exports of wheat aggregate 126.- 846,391 bushels, against 159.052.930 bushels last year and I57,42,.'8i bush els in 1897-98. Lorn exports for the week aggregate 3.400,335 bushels, against .t.4.V.9) bushels last week, 1. 560.845 bushels in this week a year ago, 5.056.575 bushels in 1808. 6.441.420 bushels in 1807. and 2.925.09 bushels in 86. Since July 1 this season, corn exports aggregate t36.097.10r) bushels, against 105.840.12t bushels during the same period a year ago and 110,563,246 bushels in 1897-98. 000 FUNERALS DENOUNCED. Bishop In Paris Creates an Uproar by Attack Ing a Soc'oly Fad. There is a curious little scandal in the fashionable world of Paris. It appears that some time since a company started a cemetery for dogs, so that an animal which had ben a friend for years should not be thrown in dust. Certain fash ionable ladies, however, carried the idea further, and when their dot's died is sued funeral cards. The funeral ser vices were held in drawing rooms. A day or two since a dog funeral card sent out by a titled lady reached a Bishop, who took it noon himself to send a stinging reproot lor the tra vesty on Christian service. , The Bishop was told the thing wa general. 1 Here upon he wrote in a reli"ions publication a tirade against the lack of decent feel ing on the part of modern society wo men, and the whole thing has created quite a little sensation. Asleep on Sentry Duty. The Minister of Militia at Ottawa, Ont., lias recived a report from Colonel Otter, commanding the Ca nadian contingent in South Africa, giv ing details of the court-martial of three members of the Royal Canadian Regi ment at Modder river, for having been asleep while on sentry duty, and who, it has been reported, were sentenced to death. The finding of the court-martial. which was sustained by the ofheer com mantling the division, was that the Ser geant in charge of the post, who was one ot the culprits, be severely rcpn manded. one of the privates admonish ed, and the third sentenced to tight days confinement. Denounced a Crime. Supporters of the Liberal party to the number of 300 or 400 held a pri vate meeting at the Westminster Palace Hotel Wedncsdady afternoon to pro test against the Government s war policy. Sir Wilfred Lawson, M. P.; David Lloyd George, M. P., and Cron wright Schrciner. husband of Olive Schreiner, the novelist, were among those present. The resolution adopted denounced the war as "a crime and a blunder," committed at the instigation of irresponsible capitalists, and demand ed the publication of the full corre spondence regarding the Jameson raid. It protested against the increasing ar maments, reaffirmed the Liberals' grati tude to sir Henry Campbell-Banner man, John Morley and James Bryce, and decided to open a permanent fund to carry on a vigorous political propa ganda for the principles thus enunciat ed. Puerto Rican Coffee. The interesting statement was made Tuesday by the War Department that the total exports of coffee from the island of Puerto Rico from the date of American occupation to November 30, 1890, was S3.4J.025 pounds, valued at $6,l39.95S- . . France received 31,501.479 pounds. Spain 8.102.606, Italy J.727.557. the United Stales 2,608.042. The annual average exports of cotiee during 1887. 1S91 was 40,349,000 pounds, valued at ?4.943.- CABLE FLASHES. Th British steamer Moissci went down in the Caspian sea during a gule Saturday, and her crew of 23 were drowned. It is persistently ruriored that Ger many and Russia hate both offered 1 . , . . 1 1 1 ., . mcuianoii uciwcvn i.ukihuu quu (hi South African republics. MACRUM EXPLAINS. His Official Mall Was Tampered With by Brit ish Censor at Durban, and Cable Dispatches Celiyjd. Charles M. Macruin, former United States Consul at Pretoria, ha given out a signed statement in which he explains hi flctiniM. ( Itiiim (lint lie had the humiliation, as the representation of the United States, of sitting in bis office in l'retoria and looking upon envelopes benring the official seal of the Ameri can government opened and officially sealed with a sticker, notifying him that the content had been read by the censor at Durban, also that bis cable dispatches were delayed. States that he desired a leave of absence fn order to inform the covcrnmcnt of valuable fact, but finds upon his arrival thnt the slate department had discredited him, nud come home to find an attempt has been made ;o tear down my personal reputation. I wish to state right here that when I accepted my post as con sul I knew nothimr of any secret al liance between America and Great Brit ain nnd that I had seen nothing in the regulation which made the consul ol the American republic subject to the whim and caprice of an Knglish mili tary censor at Durban. I came to America with a motive of which I am not ashamed. There is not one soul who can point to a single official act of mine which departed from the strictest neutrality. ily confidential dispatches to the 'df . ' ... . . .. . . K .- . A partment contained information,' which man. can tn no way involve tne public service and I simply make this statement in my own defense as against those which have come from the de partment, secretly and officially. EXPORTS INCREASING. Statement ot the Government for January Is Encouraging. The monthly statement of the Im ports and exports shows that during January, 1900, the figures were as fol lows: Merchandise: Import. $75,826,975. of which $32,946,280 was free of duty. The gain over January, 1899, wa about $i7t- 500,000; exports. $117,620,930, gain over January, 1899. nbout $2,000,000. Gold: Imports. $1,988,272. decrease, $4.01x1.000; exports, $5,691,290, increase, 330,000. Silver: Imports, 52,130,335, decrease, $1,000.0000; exports, $4,599, 190, decrease, $781,000. During the last seven months there was an increase in the importation of merchandise as compared with the cor- responding period in 1899 of $119,439,- 524; an increase in the exportation of merchandise of $50,534,973; a decrease of $42.02.1.711 in the importation of gold; an increase in exportation of gold ot l 1.793,104: a decrease in the im portation of silver if $829,644, and a de crease of $.1,6.18.92? in the cxoortatioi of silver. GREAT BRITAIN'S BLIZZARD. People Frozsn to Death, Wires Down, Trains f Snowbound. The effects of the blizzard which started Tuesday are felt throughout Great Britain. Trains are snowed tip in all directions, street car lines are blocked and telegraph and telephone wires arc down, delaying communica tion in all part. There have been a great number of accidents due to fall- i ing chimney and roof slates and simi lar causes. Mail vans and people trav eling by foot in country districts are rcporteil missing and several persons have been found frozen to death in ex posed places. The vtrects of London are in a fear ful condition from the snow and sleet, and many pedestrians have sustained fractured limbs from falling on the icy pavements. The horses have suffered , greatly, many having to be shot alter breaking their legs. Severe gales have swept the coasts. Bondsman Dropped Dead, Frank G. Simmons, postmaster at Seward, Neb., was arrested and taken to Lincoln Friday evening, charged with a shortage of $3,830. Simmons, who has long been prominent in state politics, admitted his shortage. David Figard, one of Simmons' bondsmen, when informed of the shortage and ask ed to take charge of the office, dropped dead. Destitution In Puerto Rico. Iglesias and Eduardo Conde, Puerto. Rican labor leaders, have issued an ap peal to this government on behalf of the workingmen of Puerto Rico. They declare that the working class of their island have been reduced by reason ol ' the war, the hurricane and the action of this government since the storm, tar a condition of extreme destitution. They add that unless action is taken, soon riots will occur throughout theV island, as the poor are desperate from their sufferings. The workingmen demand a radical change in the government of the island. They ask that the following ordinances of Gov. Gen. Davis be annulled. That laborers on the public works shall get no more than 25 cents per day for eight hours' work. That only property-holders and taxpayers shall vote, and those who can read and write. That the pay ment of $1 shall be made before a vote is cast. Mollneux Sentenced. Robnd B. Molineux, of New York, was Friday sentenced to die in Sing Sing prison during the week of March 26, for the mnrder of Mrs. Katherine J. Adams. He made a statement as serting that he had not been fairly con victed and that "yellow journalism" had put a price upon his head. ttissry of Two Lepers. Dr. J. E. Engstaad. has returned to Grand Forks, N. D., from Walsh coun ty, where he went to investigate the condition of two lepers. He found them confined in a sod hovel, with but one door and one window. A Nor wegian, aged 50, and a Swede, aged 57, the elder in the last stages of leprosy, blind and helpless, with his flesh literal ly dropping from his bones; the young rr still able to wait on his companion. The elder man has a wife and five chil dren, who live on his farm, a sliorf dis tance away. The younger is unmar-Y two. - (
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers