V JE WIG 10 SURRENDER. FIGHTING FOR LADYSMITH. trlllsh Advane'ng on Iht Boers Byond Iht Tin gola Gatacre't Scoutt Are Repulsed Withfeavy lor. Dispatches from Natal, dated Satur day, say: Tlic Boers, xvho had been re inforced, made n Maud on Thur-day nt Groblcrs Kloof ami im n range n( hills running cast. Tliry liad been forc ed from all their positions on tlie right. Cien. Littleton's division on Thursday advanced under cover of tlie kopjes. The Boers fired a Oensot ami a "Long Tom." The liiitish artillery was well sheltered in the action at daybreak and until late in the aucrnoon, when a heavy nlle lire on both si. Us developed. The British infantry had sidvamed a mile and a half, and a continuous fire xvas kepi up until after dark. Hie Boris MM--!; to tluir positions. The British nitillcrv lire was irreirttlar. A few sal voes were sent toward the thickly wood ed spois and names from which the Boit lire was heaxicst. The Boers sent shells into the head quarters baggage, close to the hospital, but no material damage xvas done, (ien. Wynne xva slightly wounded. Boer position are not considered strong, xvith the exception of Groblcrs Klooi. The hills eastward are not so high, and cannot be intrenched so well ns the mountains which the British have taken. The liritish crossed the Tugcla in law nunibcrs, with cannon and over 60 wagons. They attacked the Frmelo ami Middle Unrulier' commandoes, but xvere forced to retreat under a heavy Mauser fire. A renewed attempt to Ktorm the Kriuelo men xxas made this morning, but the liritish xvere again driven off. The liritish losses were very heavy. Eight ambulances xvere employed in collecting the dead and wounded. A reconnaissance Saturday in force under (ien. Gataerc. xvith eight guns, found the Boers occupying a ridge three miles beyond Moltcno in the Stormbcrg direction. Montmorency's scouts charged the Hoer. who crept around the scouts' llank, pouring in a deadly fire. The scouts xvere finally com pelled to retire, having lost heavily. Voiirleen arc missing. Capt. Mont morency was killed. The reconnaissance xvas valuable and would have been most satisfactory had it not been for the unfortunate disaster to the scouts, xvith whom l.ieut. Col. Hoslicr happened to be. Their loss was four killed and many wounded and missing. The liritish are now within two miles of being in touch xvith l.advsmith, but the ground still covered is the hardest part and sonic severe fighting must be expected. The campaign is noxv approaching a most, interesting phase. In about a fortnight the congress of the At'rikand erbund Will meet, and it is rumored tint Mr. Hof-.ncycr will then propose peace terms on the basis of the republics re taining absolute independence, but of fering to disarm, If these terms arc rejected it i.s understood that a mani festo will boldly be issued to the Dutch throughout South Africa, calling upon them to throw off their allegiance to Great Rritr.in. Detail;, have arrived xvith respect to the capture of the Iiriti-.li convoy at Rict river. It appears the wagons xvere laagered near the drift and that (he con voy xvas attacked by 1.830 Boers xvith four guns. The shelling continued all day. Ortc hundred and eighty wagons were captured containing provisions and forage. Half the driver and lead ers xvere killed or are missing. Col. Plumcr sent Maj. Bird xvith 203 Colonials to attempt the capture of the Boer !2-poumlcr on a kopje near Croc odile pools. Maj. Bird met xvith such a terrific ritlc and shell fire th.it he con sidered the position too strong, and or dered a retirement. A dispatch from Mafcking says: "All business here is being conducted un derground. The resident commissioner has sumptuous apartments in a subter ranean bomb proof. The Cape police have a large ball, with a piano. The Mafcking hotel dining room seats 40. All these have been dug out and are Impervious to shells. When the cruiser Charleston was wrecked two months ago on a reef north of Luzon, she carried twenty thousand Mexican dollars and $400 in gold in the safe, which had to bs aban doned. PIONEERS IN EXPANSION. America's First Settlers Wers Expansionists, so Says Gov. Nash, ol Ohio. Gov. George K. Nash, of Ohio, speaking at the banquet of the Michigan club at Detroit, Wednesday night, said, in part: "In these modern days we hear of 'expansionists.' What were the sturdy pioneers, the patriotic soldiers and the men who threw the comforts of civil ization to the winds and built up this great empire, other than expansionists? They deprived the Indians of their lands and their hunting grounds, and made them a' part of the territory of the United States. By this means bar barism was destroyed and civilization advanced. What our fathers did their children have continued to do. In great numbers they became pioneers, liavo gone beyond the Mississippi riv er and carried civilization to the Pa cific ocean. We have been expansion ists from the beginning and will con tinue to be such as long as there re mains savage peoples to whom we can carry the benefits and blessings of civ ilization. No power can stay our hands. This is as it should be, for in this way and in this way alone, can freedom, religion and knowledge be carried to the ends of the earth." Action taken by the Chicago building material trades council Sunday is ex pected to result in extending the strike of machinists to 3,000 men in other trades and stoo work in brickyards, where 10,000 brickmakers are employed. Victor Hochenstein, of Spencer, Ind., has filed a claim for $200,000 against the Spanish government for treatment received from Spanish soldiers in Cuba, while he was in the service of the Red Cross Society. He publicly charged in Havana that the Spanish blew up the Maine and was confined in Morro cas- LATEST NEWS NOTES. St. John's Episcopal Church and fiar- ish house at Franklin. l'a.. burned. causing a loss of $48,000. William E. Miller and Edward Sehlcssingrr. of the Franklin syndicate, xvere indicted in Nexv York Friday. Another suit to enioin the collection of duties cm goods from Puerto Rico was commenced in Nexv York Friday. It is feared that the xvar will serious ly affect the big Christian Endeavor convention to be held in London this summer. Twelve passengers in a street car at Atlanta, (la.. Sunday morning, were oioudy hurl bv the car rolling down an embankment 15 feet. I Me Kentucky Democratic Senate Friday passed a bill making it un. awful for co. porations to nl.eribc money to political can'pa'eii funds. Judt.e Woodward, of Luzerne coun ty. 1 .1 . Friday deflated a recent arc of the Li gUlaluif. classifying townships into xo finises, uiH'on-tititlional. W. C. P. llreekeuridge, of Kentucky, received an enthusiastic ovation at the Anglo-Saxon baii(i;et at Toronto, Out., ut which he responded to a toast. Mrs. Amber Louise McLcllan, xvife of (). I. McLcllan, a millionaire State Senator of Louisiana, has. sued for di vorce on the ground of extreme cruelty. American officers returned front the Philippine arc spreading a report that Aguiualdo xxas once captured, but re leased before bis identity xvas discover ed. Russian armv and navv commanders arc gathering at St. Petersburg for a conference. The crar ha ordered the army reserves of the first clas called out. The French senate ha sentenced DepiitvMascel-Habertto banishment for five years (or inciting soldiers to insub ordination at the tunc of I-aurc s fun eral. II. If. Hanna. chairman of the In dianapolis monetary convention, while declaring the compromise money' bill not an ideal nuasurc, gives it his ap proval. The Con olidated Kansas Citv Smelt ing and Refining Company has filed, in Albany, N. Y., a certificate of reduc tion of capital stock from $4,503,000 to f2.5co.ooo. To Wing, a Chinaman, recently con victed of murder at Binghampton City, Ltah. and sentenced to be shot, com mitted suicide Friday by hanging him self in his cell. The sight of Mrs. V. G. Tarker. of Chicago, was restored by a remarkable surgical operation, involving the remov al of a tumor in the brain which affected the optic nerves. A diary kept by a correspondent dur ing the siege of Kiniberley shows that 2.500 women and children were nightly lowered into the mine for safety against the bombardment. Governor J. C. W. Beckham, of Ken tucky, has entered suit for an injunction to oust W. S. Taylor, the Republican usurper. Taylor is the nlaintiff in a sim ilar suit against Beckham. A double force is to be put to work in the issue division of the treasury de partment printing $1. $2, $5 and $10 bills. Each day 48,000 sheets of four notes each will be printed. E. W. Bliss, president and chief stockholder of the E. W. Bliss Manu facturing Company, of Brooklyn, has sidd out his steel tubins interest to the Shelby tube combination. Lilian Paimccfotc, daughter of Lord Paitnccfote, liritish ambassador to the United States, xvas married in Wash ington ,D. C. Saturday to Robert Bromley, of Stokchall, England. France is making a popular hero of Colonel Villcbois-Marcuil. who is Gen eral Jouberl's chief of staff, and Repub licans fear that the Nationalists xvill at tempt to use him as another Boulanger. Henry Wntterson, editor of the Louis ville 'Courier-Journal," asserts that the late William Gocbel, governor of Ken tucky, xvas not only not the author of the Gocbel election law. but had omios- cd it. At a dinner eiven bv the Plavers' cluliHn New York, Raoul Pictct, a Sxviss scientist, produced oxygen from air bv a secret process, the first time the ex periment has been performed in this country. The United States transnort Sedirudrtf arrived at New York Sunday morning from Matanzas, Cienfuegos and Ha vana, with 27 cabin passengers, 46 dis charged soldier. 54 soldiers' bodies and $230,000 in specie. Br lish Navy to Bs Increased. The naval estimates of England for 1000-1901 total 27.s:22.6oo. an increase of 028.000, providing for an increase of 220 officers and 4,000 men for new ships. It is proposed to build two new battleships, six first-class armored cruis ers, a second-class cruiser, txvo twin scrcxv sloops, txvo gunboats and two torpedo boats. Of the 108 destroyer the turbincr Viper's preliminary trial reached .15 knots. There xvill be under construction in 1000 17 battleships. 20 armored cruisers, a first-class protected cruiser, two second-class protected cruisers, a third-class cruiser, eiaht sloops, two gunboats, four torpedo boats and 21 torpedo boat destroyers. California Crud Oil. According to late estimates the pro duction of oil in California is now about 5.000 barrels a day. or nearly 6.000.000 barrels a year. Los Angeles contributes about one-half of this amount, the re mainder being distributed between the other Southern California fields and those recently loci'ted in the central part of the State. The engagement of Lieutenant W. W. Fiscus, of the Nineteenth United State infantry, now in the Philippines, to Miss Annie Wheeler, youngest daughter of General Joseph Wheeler, is announced. Flva Killed b a Train. Shortly after midnight Saturday night the midnight express on the Le high Valley railroad struck a carriage containing seven persons at Tuttles Crossing, about 25 miles east from Ho Chester, instantly killinir five of the oe cupants, fatally injuring another and badly brusing the other. All were mem bers ot a family. Freezing temperature is reported as far south as Tampa, Fla., and it is fear ed orange and fruit trees have been uamagea. OLD TIME 80KT RACE ON 101 PASSENGERS TERRIFIED, Crews ol the Boats Indulge fn Mlnialuro N val Ballle While Their Crafts Plunged Ahead. One of the most exciting occurrence that has taken place on the Ohio river for years transpired Saturday. The Val ley Belle and the Duffy, two steamboats of great speed, started front Marietta, ().. on their way South, and when they had reached just below the point of Neals Island the steamers began a race, the txvo boats belching huge billoxvs of clouds in their efforts to gel axvay from each other. Finally, inter tbev xvere under full headway, they came together, guard aainsi uiiard. and held their places for nearly 15 minutes. By this time the rexvs of both boats had become work ed up to such a pilch of excitement that their anger got (he best of their com mon sense. They began hostilities, cursing, swear- ina and shakinii fists nt one another. one man of the Valley Belle's crexv be coming so enraged that be drew a re volver and fired at the fireman on the Duffy, but missed him. T hen one of the Duffy's crexv got hold of an ax and made an attempt to sink it into the head of one of the opposing crew. The pas senger on both boats became frighten ed and left the scene. The dangerous state of affairs kept up for ta miles, when the Duffy rapidly drexv axvay from her adversary. The affair is without parallel in the local history of the Ohio river, and it was undoubtedly only an accident that some one xvas not killed, a the fight reached such proportions that the crexv of both boats deserted their station to take part in it and only needed a leader to pre cipitate a bloody encounter. Legal ac tion will probably be taken in the mat ter and some one xvill have to answer before the Federal court for endanger ing the live of passengers on the two boats. PHILIPPINE WAR ENDED. Present Expedition ol Gen. Bales Closet Mill Itary Operations Pollcs Work Next According to information received at the war department from Manila, with the end of the present expedition of Gen. Bates into the two province at the extreme southern part of the island of Luzon military operations in the Philippine will close. Afterward, it is said, there is nothing to do but to un dertake to maintain order through a police system. Attention is noxv being given to that subject and step are be ing taken to form a thoroughly mo bile, lightly-armed gendarmerie, some thing on the order of the Canadian mounted police, to cover the islands at all points and conserve the energies of the regular troops. The arrest of a Tagal on the charge of being a guerrilla, a reported from Manila Wednesday, it is said at the de partment, mark the initiation of anoth er policy toward the insurgents who still remain under arm. A the sum mary punishment of guerrilla cannot be had until some action has been taken to declare the termination of the application of the rule of war, it is assumed at the war department that Gen. Otis had already issued some kind of a proclamation or notice to the na tives warning them that if they defy the rules of xx'ar and pursue a predatory warfare, they will be treated as guer rillas when captured. The president is devoting special at tention to the formation of the new Philippine commission, acting upon the advice that the army has reached the end of its functions in the islands and that the time is ripe for the establish ment of civil governments throughout the archipelago. It is hoped that the personnel can be completed before the end of next week. An Infant's Escapi. A buggy containing W. Gilbert, wife and- a sevcn-wecks-olcl baby, was struck by the xvestbound Chicago and Erie limited flt the famous Mercer street crossing, Decatur, Ind., Sunday after noon. Gilbert and his wife were thrown 100 feet and both badly injured. Mrs. Gilbert may not recover. The fireman or engineer did not know of the acci dent until they reached the depot, three squares distant, when the babe was found lying on the pilot of the engine uninjured. Gilbert is a farmer, and had just started home from the city. Battto at a Kentucky Ball. A special from Whitesburg, Ky., tells of a free fight near Pounds gap, in which one person xvas killed and several were injured. The trouble occurred during a dance at the home of Bill Mullins, a Virginia moonshiner. Pis tols and knives xvere used in tho scrim mage, which lasted until the place had been cleared of all but the wounded. John Newberry xvas shot and died xvithin two hours. Ed Newberry, his brother, was fatally wounded. Luclla, the 18-year-old daughter of Mullins, was stabbed three times with a dirk and can not recover. Mrs. Mullins xvas severely bruised, and one Keller, of Dickinson county, was shot in the knee. Mullins has been arrested and taken to the county jail at Clintwood, where he is under a heax-y guard to prevent lynch ing. Cut Cfl Both Hands. John Stenrn, a mill worker of Bridge port, O.. while temporarily insane from the grip, arose from his sick bed Sat urday morning and went to Aetna stan dard mill, where he stuck both hands in the doubling shears. Both hands were amputated. He said he had a vision that if he had his hands cut off he xvould EeMwcll. Reduoing Cubin Troops. It is understood to be the purpose of the war department in carrying out its already announced policy of reducing the force of American troops in Cuba to begin within six weeks the reduction of the present force of 9,000 to about 5,ono, which limit will be reached by the Beginning 01 tne summer. The proposition is under considers tion to organize three complete Cuban regiments, witn Cuban olhcers, to re place the United Stutes troons in Barri son and to form the nucleus of the Cu ban army which would exist when the island passes from the United States' control. NO SECRET ALLIANCE. Ex-Consul Never Reported lo 8late Department Thai Nit Mall Was Tampered With by British Officials. The most important part of the re ply of Secretary Hay to the House res olution of impiiry concerning the alle gations made by Charles E. Macrum, formal consul at Pretoria, i contained in the concluding paragraph, which is as follows: "The undersigned, secretary of state, has the honor to say that there is no truth in the charge that n secret alli ance exists between tlie republic of the United Stale and the empire of Great Britain; that no form of secret alliance is possible under the constitution of the United States, inasmuch as treaties re quire the advice and consent of the Senate; ami finally that no sucret alli ance, convention, arrangement, or un derstanding exists between the United States and nny other nation," As to Macrum's chaws that bis of ficial mail was tampered xvith by the British authorities, tlie reply says: "The department of slate ha been in regular communication by mail and tel egraph xvith Charles E. Macrum, late consul of the United States at Pre toria, South African republic, since hi entrance upon the duties of hi office. Communications made to him have been answered and the execution of in structions sent ha been reported by him. His dispatches to the department, forwarded through the consulate at Lo renzo Marques, have during that time been regularly received. The only in stance of complaint in respect to the transmit of the mails for Lorenzo Mar ques and Pretoria was in November last, when a temporary stoppage of the mails occurred at Cape Town, against which Mr. Macrum and the consul at Lorenzo Marques protested. Arrange ments xvere made for the prompt deliv ery of the consular mails to the United States consul general at Cape Town, by whom the mail for Mr. Hollis ami Mr. Macrum xvas forwarded to Lorenzo Marques. The delay lasted but a few days, and has not recurred, so far as the department is advised. Since the reply xvas sent to Congress it has been given out at the state de partment that inquiries set on foot im mediately after the publication of Ma crum's first statement, developed the fact that the British government had no knowledge of any interference with the correspondence of the United States consulate at Pretoria, and that if any such interference had taken place it was contrary to instructions. MUCH MONEY AT STAKE. Suit In Which $12,000,000 It Involved Taken lo Cour . A suit for the infringement of pat ent, which, if successful, xvill involve over $12,000,000, was begun in the Unit ed States circuit court before Judge M. W. Achcson, Pittsburg, l a., rriclay. The particulars of the case arc interest ing. J lie plaintiff s claim that tlie al leged infringements are on patents on a friction clutch and compensating gear of a traction engine, such as is used to operate threshing machines. The suit is brought by E. R. Bliss as trus tee for the A very & Rouse Steam Trac tion Company, of Peoria. HI., with head quarters in C iucauo. and the Minnesota Threshing Engine Copipany, whose works are at Stillxvatcr, Minn. The plaintiffs made no claim for a snecified amount in their action, but they arc claiming the profits on about 40,000 engines that have been made and sold during the past to years under pat ents that they say they own. Some 25 concerns arc made dclcndanls 111 tne action, but the suit in Pittsburg is brotmht anainst D. R. Breed, of Pitts burg, wdio is the agent for the Garscott Company. o Kicliniomi, inn., tne H uber Company, of Marion, O., and the Frick Company, of Waynesboro, Pa., of which A. O. Frick is the presi dent. It is said that the money for de fending the suits is furnished by all the traction manufacturers who have form ed a pool for the purpose, and there arc sonic IQ actions to oe (icierinmcci auer this one is disposed of in Pittsburg. Naturally all these companies arc inter ested in the outcome of this suit, as it is reearded a a test case on which the others will depend for a settlement. A breach of promise suit was filed at East Livernool. O.. bv Zenora E. Hus ton anainst Edward B. Toland. of Fred- cricktown for $10,000 damage. She says they were engaged for lour years and lovers for twelve year. ANARCHY OR IMPERIALISM. Bourks Cochran, While Denouncing Expansion, Wants No Chicago Platform. W. Bourke Cochran, of New York, and cx-Gov. George S. Bnutxvell, of Massachusetts, championed the cause of the anti-imperialists at a mass meeting held in Fainted hall, Boston, Friday night, and Boutwell vehemently argued against the re-election of President Mc Kinley. Cochran, while denouncing imperial ism, said: "While we believe that the Chicago platform was revolutionary, no one ever doubted for a moment that the candidate who stood upon it was ani mated by the loftiest principles of pa triotism. Indeed his virtues made his candidacy doubly dangerous. Vicious principles are never formidable when supported by vicious men. It is only when they arc championed by misguid ed virtue that they become formidable and the principles involved in the Chi cago platform I do not hesitate to say that I should pnrsue the same course in '96, because, while I regard imperial ism as fatal to this form of government, I regard the Chicago platform as de structive of all government, and I should prefer some government to no government." Opposed lo Fortified Canal. Regarding the contention that the United States should not build the Nic; aragua canal without erecting expensive fortifications, Admiral Dewey is quot ed as saying: "Fortifications? Why of course not. As I understand it, the canal is to be, and should be, a neutral ized commercial pathway between the two great oceans. Too fortify it would simply result in making it a battle ground in case of war. Fortifications would be enormously expensive and ought not to be erected. Our fleets will be a sufficient guarantee of the neu trality and safety of the canal in time of war as well as in peace." 200 MEN SACRIFICED. Bloodies! Ballle ot thaYaquI War Indians Usa Maxim Guns With Telling Efl.ol Town Relieved. The Mcxicon troops under (ien. Tor res have saved Guaymns from the Ynquis, but by dint of the fiercest fight ing of the xvar and at a sacrifice of 200 soldier. The town of Potam is filled xvith wounded and nil the public build ings arc utilized. The Indians were accompanied by 10 miner and coxvboys, who acted as commander of separate companies of 40 men each. The Yaqiiis hail also a Mexican gun, which was manipulated, the Mexicans claim, by txvo ex-rough riders. Torre reached Potam Thursday afternoon and decid ed to divide his army of 700 men into two divisions. The first nml strongest, flanked by the gunboat Demoerata, left nt day break Friday morning. The first inti mation of tlie presence of the Yaqtli was a withering fire from the Maxim and of rille volleys from concealed for tifications in a dense thicket. The first division retreated in confusion to the timber groxvth along the river. More than loo men Mi nt this first fire. Late in the afternoon hill signal showed the waiting commanders of the first division that the second detachment had reached the neighboring hills to the southeast in it llank movement. A simultan eous attack was then made from the front and flank and the Indian retreat ed. Seventy-three Indians were found dead. REVIEW OF TRADE. Prices Aro Yielding Slock Orvclocmenls for lha Hock Favorable Shipments ol Grain. R. G. Dun & Co.'s "Weekly Review of Trade" says: "Prices in materials arc yielding. Industries could not long prosper without reaction from the ex treme prices caused by actual or sup posed scarcity of materials last year. The great iron industry has been em barrassed by prices for pig and billet, which were no longer sustained by the gradually yielding prices of products. Considerable transactions arc now re ported at Philadelphia $t.oo to $1.50 per ton below recent quotations; at ritts burg 20,000 tons Bessemer have been sold and 75,0.-10 tons billet, both iron and steel being reported $1.00 per ton lower. The new furnace supplying foun dry iron have been competing sharply at the East, and small sales of Bessemer have been made for Pittsburg delivery at 50 to 65 cent below previous Quota tions. Sheets are strengthened there by the nexv combinations, though it does not embrace some large works, but with this addition of 500.000 tons yearly and its sales to the hoop and tin plate companies, the National Steel Com pany has secured large and rich mines in Minnesota. Rail mill are full, but have taken a small contract for export, and better business enables tin plate works, which have been idle, to resume. At last it is admitted that the wool quo tations so long held arc fully 3 cents per scoured pound higher than prices in large actual sales last xveck, and since, the decline covering grade bc twee.n one-quarter blood and loxver, w hich is in demand and scarce, and fine fleece graded XX or above. Failures for the week have been in the United States 201, and ,13 in Canada." Wheat, including flour, shipments for the week aggregated 3.610.850 bit., against 3.834.060 bu. last week, 3.84I.S.VI bit. in the corresponding week of iSoo, 3.722,460 bit. in 1808, 1.3716 bu, in 1807, and 2.206,771 bu. in 1K06. Since Jul" 1 this season the exports of wheat aggregate 130.507.241 bit., against 132.807.280 bu. last year and 161.204,750 bu. in 1807-08. Corn Exports for the week aggre gate 2.806,175 bu.. against 3.4'xi,33S hit. last week, 2.871.057 bu. in this week a year ago. 1.692.701) bu. in 1898. 4.744,858 bu. in 1807 and 3. 158.3 18 bu. in 1806. Since Julv I this season corn exports aggregate 138.003,284 hit., against 107, 711,173 bu. during the same period a year ago and 114.256.045 bu. in 1807-98. II. C. Frick. Henry Thipp. F. T. F. Lovcjoy and John Walker, all of whom are or have been partner in the Carnegie Company, are about to erect near Monongahela City the largest plant in the world for the manufacture of car axles, driving rods and similar products. Mora Puerto Rico Troops. TL .1 Iia. .1,.i,1rtt tn 1 IIC Will III llliv Ilk una . ,... ,-, v form a second battalion of native Puerto . , .,, t Tl.! . Kicans lor service on inc isianu. 1 ins l.nMftlinn will be mounted, while the other will remain infantry. Puerto ... , . 1 1. . Kican norscs win oc useu, as 11 iui been shown that American horses do not stand the tropical climate well. Maj. Joseph A. Buchanan, of the Fif teenth infantry, has been nominated as lieutenant colonel and xvill b'e placed in charge of both battalions. The additional use of native soldiers is in the line of carrying out the plan of the secretary of war to withdraw as many American troops as possible from Puerto Rico and Cuba. Gen. George B. Davis, the military governor of terms of the native troops on the island. Chance lor Corn Growers. Consul Canada at Vera Cruz has re ported to the State department that ow ing to lack of rain the corn crop has been short in his district and corn will have to be brought from other parts of tlie country, as it is virtually the staff of life for a large majority of the inhabitants. He suggests that United States exporters give the matter atten tion. Germany Has a Surprise. Germany is preparing to surprise the world with her exhibits at the Paris exposition, which it is said, will greatly excel those of the United States and England. The German exposition commission er, Herr Richter, declared in the reich stag Saturday that the German exhib itors would number thousands. They xvould take a high rank in every group, he said, and lead in many. "France has fulfilled all our wishes," said Herr Rich ter. "The French and German laborers are working with the best understanding." GAGE FULL OF HOPE. The 8eorelary Predlosfet Iht Next Century Up. it Iht Great Aohlevtmentt of Iht Present Secretary of the Treasurer Gage wa the guest of honor at the dinner of the National Association of Merchants and Travelers at Chicago. Tuesday evening, and made an address on "The Outlook. Mr, tinge, after speaking of the present wonderful prosperity of the country, said that it might afford a basis for judg ing of the future. Taking the period between 1870 and 1809, he showed that, the population had increased from 3,-' 558.000 to over 76,000,000; salaries in public schools from $37,732,556 to $123, 8x).4i2: the number of newspapers and periodicals from 5.87! to 21.178, the number of postoffices from 28,4112 to 75, 000; postal receipts from $10,772,221 to $95,021,384, and the number of miles ol railway from 59.222 to 186.810. The freight carried" one mile was in 1880, 39.302,209,249 tons, and in 1890, 1 14. 566.173,191 tons, xvJiile the cost of trans portation fell 61 per cent. Corn pro duction increased from 1.000,000,000 bushels in 1870 to more than 2.000,000, 000 in 189c), and wheat from 235,000.000 bushels to 547.000.000 bushels. The production of pig iron increased from 1.665.179 tons in 1870 to 11.773,934 tons in 1898, and steel from 68.750 tons to 8,932.857 tons; coal from 32,863.000 tons to 196,405,95,1 tons; petroleum from 185, ooo.ooo gallons to 2.325.000,000 gallon." r.xport have increased from $.)92,77I,' 'jo m 1070 to $1,227,023,302 in while imports have increased from 058.408 to $607.1 aH.aHo. Mr. Gage referred to our failure tne carrying trade upon the ocean the only dark snot on the nation's 1 ord. He said that wacrrs nf labor Hnr. mg the last half century have increased something over 60 per cent., while the general course of prices has been down xvard. "Thei dawn of the next century brings into view a nobler and a fairel world than has yet been revealed to the sons of men. Education is more un iversal, the powers of the mind greatly enlarged, the average of virtue higher, the sense of human brotherhood great er, xvar and cruelty more horrible in their aspects, industry more inviting, and peace more charming. Those of us xvho are permitted to march in column over that imaginary line which separ ates the two centuries may well take neart and nope and enter upon its un disclosed mystery with faith in God, and faith in man. determined each fot himself that he will nobly strive to meet as a man and a citizen of the republic the higher career to which a kind dcs tiny calls us." Indians Fled In Terror Details of the eruption of the Colims volcano on the Pacific coast of Mexico, recently reported by telegraph from Guadalajara, Mexico, have been receix ed. An immense river of lava ran ovel the side of the volcano and threatened to overwhelm three Indian villags neai its base. The Indians fled to the Santa Ana mine in the center of Colima cop per region and sought safety by hiding in the mine, leaving their women and children to shift for themselves. A company of Mexican troops drov the Indians from the mine and sent them back to their homes to protect their families. One of the most serious results of the volcanic disturbance is the entire cessation of work on a tram way now being built to connect the cop per mine xvith the Port of Manzanillo. The contractor xvere unable to restrain the terrified Indians employed in the; construction of the road. . Many ol them hax-e gone to Michoacan and Jal isco, and others have fled to the more distant southern states of the republic. One of the reasons for the fright of the Mexican natives is that for many yearj belief has prevailed that the close 01 this century xvould be marked by devas tating Hoods and earthquakes. Mrs. Ltw'on's Thanks. 1 Mrs. Lawton. widow of Gen, Lawton, has sent Gen. Corbin the following let ter of acknowledgment of the receipt of the home fund: "Such kindness as yours can never be repaid, and my heart is very full when I try to thank you. Words seem very poor at such a time. Will you please beliex-e that I do ap- fircciate it and all my life will find cont ort in the remembrance? The univer sal feeling, which prompted such won derful generosity from the nation is so beautiful to me, and so dear my grati tude is inexpressibly profound. It has rclicx-ed the anxious thought Henry would have had and I do not know how to thank you or the nation." 1899, $435.' ee- stei wireco's. Prows. - The annual meeting of the stockhold- I ers of the American Steel and Wire 1 Company, which controls 39 plants in 1 cities of the United States, and has a J capital stock of $90,000,000, was held Tuesday in Jersey City. Five directors J xvere elected to serve three years, and nexv powers were conferred upon thA board of directors by amendments tov the certificate of incorporation. The first annual statement shows as sets aggregating $106,161,947.78, accord ing to the balance sheet struck on De cember 31. Of this $79,629,512.72 is in ' ' real estate, buildings, plant and machin ery, $3,235,393.43 in cash and the re mainder in investments, inventories and accounts receivable. The net profits, including dividends and miscellaneous income, after allowing for bad debts and depreciation, were $13,162,529.73. The allowance figured for depreciation is $1,000000 and for bad debts $300,000, but Mr. Gates' statement says that this reduction was made for the purpose ol conservatism and not because any de duction xvas justified. James Phillips, the original "noted speller" in Edward Egglcston's novel, "The Hoosier Schoolmaster," is dan gerously ill in Switzerland county, 111. China Would Make War. The empress of China has dispatched a circular to the governors and viceroyt of maritime provinces appealing to re sist by force of arms all further aggres sions by foreign powers on Chinese soil. The empress says: "It is our express command that shall any high official find himself so hard pressed by circumstances that nothing short of a xvar would settle matters, he is expected to set himself resolutely to work out his duty to this end." The Russian ministry of finance is working 0111 a laxv 10 mane tins petrol- cum utuu'jiry a siate monopoly. ' J