I BGERS F.RE REPORTED EEBTEN. RUMOR UNCONFIRMED. Londoners Full ol ConflieneB Everyone Takes heart at (he New trcm the- Front Al- though Not Crediting All. The war office had nothing to com municate to the public Sunday. It may bo taken for granted that the rumor of General Brabant's victory at Wcpcil-i-r is premature. With the remainder of nit force he left Aliwal North Saturday for Kouxville, and there ha scarcely been time for an engagement. There i practically no fresh new. All the Bocmfontcin dispatches, how ever, breathe a confident tone. There seem to be a heavy demand on the rail way. f"r so large' nn army leave the populace bare oi everything save the absolute necessities of life. The fact that the censor allowed Winston Churchill' dispatch on the subicct of remount to pas speak vol ume! for the condition of that question and concerning the prospect of any im mediate advance toward Pretoria. The utmost Lord Robert will be able to do for some time will be clearing the Itoer from the southern part of the Tree State. The dispatches announce the ap proach of winter. The first pinch of frost ha been felt at nioemfontciii, ulit-ie con siilerable rain ha fallen. Telegram from Cape Town Sunday, say: "An unconfirmed report i in cir culation here that Gen. Ilrabant ha inilirtrd a crushing defeat upon the Hoer at Wenener. capturing guns and InLinir nrisrmers " A dispatch from Pretoria by way of JJcingoa Day, says: n 1 onuuny an pounced that a battle ha been fought south i.f ltr.mili'iiil. in which boo Brit ish troops were killed anil wounded and Hon taken prisoners. Lord Roberts is declared to be find ing prcat difficulty, owing to scarcity of water. The encniv arc makiniT a general at tempt to discover a strategic opining. Tin ir numbers are unknown to us. but are anvwherc between 3.o;ia to o.noo. Thev rrc moving cautiously. Kemounts are arriving, but the Argentine animal are little liked by the cavalry. Among the valuable documents discovered be longing to Messrs. Stcyn and Fischer is some correspondence proving that the fall of Lndysmith was to be the signal for a general Dutch rising. Trustworthy refugees a-scrt that the Hoer recently obtained at least thirty pieces of artillery, some of large cali ber, which were brought overland a machinery from a West African port. Light of these gun were dispatched to the Free State a week ago. The Hoer officials openly boast that they have succeeded in smuggling ammunition through Portuguese territory. In the course of the Dempsey trial, State Engineer Munnick admitted un der pressure that, acting under instruc tions from State Secretary Reitz, of the Transvaal, he had bored holes in 25 mines. Heavy fighting wa continued at Wcpener Tuesday. Three Boer com mandos are attacking the town. The fighting was severe and lasted all day long. The Boers received a check. The casualties were rather .heavy on both sides. Another commando is ad vancing toward Wepcner from DcWets dorp. ONE WAN KILLED. Five Olhers Were lnured by an Explosion el Natural Gas In Indiana. High pressure and a piece of alleged defective pipe in the mains of the Chi cago Pipe Line Company, at a point four miles southeast of Logansport, Ind., were the cause of a terrific ex plosion Sunday, in which Michael Elli son, Jr., was instantly killed and five other men received injuries from which it is doubtful if some will recov er. Twelve men were in a trench repair ing a leak in a lo-iuch main from which the gas had been transferred to an tight-inch main near it. The men were around a "T" in the eight-inch main, and Ellison was stooping over it when the explosion occurred, and he was thrown 150 feet away, and instantly killed. The "T" weighs 1,000 pounds, and it was carried a distance of 50 feet, tak ing off the top of George Nelson's hat and a small bunch of his hair, other wise not injuring him. New Creed Called For. The Presbytery of Nassau, in ses sion at Northport, Long Island, unani mously adopted the following resolu tion: "That it is the prayer of the Presbytery of Nassau that the general assembly formulate a short and simple creed that would be acceptable to the church. J he resolution as introduced was stronger, but was modified in the inter est of harmony. Rev. C. O. Gray, who offered the resolution, said it meant to set aside the present creed as an heir ' loom and to make a new creed that would be more precise. Thereupon Mr. Gray was elected delegate to the general assembly, with the understand ing that he would present his views to that body. Blown Up by a Dewey Gun. A large cannon captured by Admiral Dewey at Manila and loaned by the government to the citizens of Clarks burg, who have it on exhibition in the cark. was loaded to the muzzle with heavy charge of powder and fired at Madam Dowd s resort near the Haiti more & Ohio depot about I o'clock Wednesday morning. The building and the contents were totally wrecked. The inmates escaped with slight injuries. aUmmolh Real Estate Deal. A syndicate headed by O, A. Rob ertson and Frank O'Meara, of St. Paul, and F. . Kennaston, of Minneapolis, has purchased all the Northern Pa cific lands in Minnesota, approximately 230,000 acres. The deal was the largest ever made In Minnesota, and with the exception of the Weyerhaeuser Wash ington pine land deal, probably the largest ever made in the United States. The price paid is' said to have been about $1,900,000. LATEST NEWS NOTES. Three hundred miners arc on strike at Knoxville, Tcnn. Telegrapher on the Southern rail way arc out on a strike. rhva Prniddhi. the new minister from Siatn, arrived in Washington Fri day. Two hundred and fifty thousand per son visited the 1 arts exposition un lay. There have been lit case of bubonic plague anil 38 deaths at Sydney, Aus tralia. Hryan Democrat decided to welcome Admiral Dewey into the ranks of their party. Stephen Crane, the novelist, i said to be living at his home in Sussex, England. During the winter there were .10 Meatus ironi ivpuoiu icver hi nmiu, i oi 300 cases. Snow ha damaged planted crop anil delayed railroad traffic in all parts of Colorado. John R. Reese, president of the Unit ed Mine Workers, of 1 jwa, is ill with smallpox at Albia, la. Andrew Carnegie in an interview said that all young men should marry "common sense women." Joseph Stringer choked hi wife to death at Bakcrvillc, Tcnn., and blew his own head off with a gun. A company of Pittsburg and other capitalist ha been formed to cultivate coffee and rubber in Mexico. In New York 5,000 cigarmakcr are on strike for a raise in wages and a general strike i threatened. The President ha nominated John P. V. Gridlcy. of Erie, Pa., to be sec ond lieutenant in the marine corps. At Alexander. Ark.. Mrs. T. H. Hol land shot and killed William Cook, who sh(. claimed had defamed her charac ter. Owing to the good offices of Ameri can missionaries the revolution in the Cameroon, Africa, is said to be dyins o::t. The sca'ing steamer Terra Nova, with 37.0.V1 seals, and the Walrus, with 12.000 M.ils. have returned from the ice fields. While setiinir fire to a pile of brush ncir Wilkesl.arre Mrs. Michael Fox's clothes ignited and she was burned t death. Prof. K. IVniamin Andrew, of Chi cago, will probably decline the office of chancellor of the University ot in braska. The a-lhoritie of British Columbia have decided to repeal the law cxclud ng alien from mining privileges in me province. The Democratic State convention of North Carolina nominated Charle B Aycock for governor and elected Bryan delegate. David Zimmerman and James Moffitt were killed and Oscar Zimmerman bad ly injured by a boiler explosion at Syl vester, Mich. Augustus Young shot, but did not fa tally wound, Kate Van Clooster, at Murpheysboro, 111., and blew out tus own brains. Rufus Wricht. a Chicago millionaire. was shot and perhaps fatally wounded bv Mrs. Louisa Lottridgc, who says it was accidental. lohn C. Farrar. teller of the Water bury (Vt.) National bank, is missing ami mere is a iicum-unem ui of the bank s funds. The St. Louis Sunday School Union 1 arranmniT to nave 10,000 numiay school children sing for Admiral Dewey at his reception in May. George W. Hull, the Rhode Island millionaire arrested in isew i one on perjury charge, has been admitted to bail 111 the sum of $10,000. Five hundred miners employed at the Mt. Pleasant colliery, near Scranton, Pa., went on a strike. The miners arc dissatisfied with the wages. The custom house receipts at Ha vana for the first three months of 1900 were $3,120,000. being $777,000 more than for the same mouths in 180.9. Miss Nellie Lewis, of Colorado Springs, secured a verdict of $110,000 for breach of promise against Menry Strong, a rich mine owner of Cripple Creek. Thomas Blaney, a bartender, was ar rested in New ork, having in Ins pos session $10,000 worth of beer tax stamps, supposed to have been stolen in Wash mgton. Capt. Goldman, with 30 men of the Thirty-second regiment, was attacked bv insurgents Friday, near Orion, and two men were killed before they could retire. Secretary Alger says he is sorry for Dewey and considers that his head lias been turned by praise. He predicts for him in his presidential aspcrations a melancholy disappointment. The United States Glucose Company, the National Starch Company and the United States Starch Company are to combine ns the National Starch Com pany, with $9,500,000 capital stock and $4,000,000 111 5 per cent, bonds. The State convention of the League of Democratic Club of Ohio opened in Columbus Wednesday, and although the sentiment is said to be for Bryan, President Huclitel rclerred only indi rectly to the Ncbraskan and ignored sit ver entirely. At Omaha. Neb., the sheriff learned that a mob intended to raid the jail to lvnch James Corney, charged with as saulting Kate Vavra. The prisoner was taken for safety to Lincoln. The Mollicans, of southeast Russia. numbering io.coo, are said to be only waiting the czar's permission to follow the Donkhobors to Canada. Tolstoi had advised the Donkhobors not to leave Canada for California. It is rumored that a consolidation will be effected of the National Steel Com pany, American Tin Plate Company and the American Steel Hoop Company, with a capital ot $140,000,000. President Kruger is reported to be nt kroonstarr. in an interview Mrs. Kruger said that she prayed for an end of war, but that the Boers will never relinquish their independence. Rev. Dr. H. W, Bennett, of Ander son, Ind., is to be put forward for a bishopric in the M. E. Church.' He once had a charge at Akron, O. Dr, : Bennett for several years practiced law. WM Of DEHION III KANSAS. FIERCE TORNADO. Two Fatalities Reported Many OlherS Said lo Be lnured Farm Houses Blown Down Telegraph Wires Are Disabled. A storm approaching n tornado In proportion is reported from near Win field, between Wichita, Kas., nnd New ton, and in the vicinity west of Clearwat er, t wo dcatli arc reported, nun tour people are said to have been injured by overturned house. Wire are down and names and particulars arc unobtainable. At Putnam, it i said, several houses were blown down and tour people seri ously injured. Word was brought by passenger on the southbound Santa Fc passenger train that two person were killed. The telephone and telegraph wire were rendered useless by the wind nnd all attempts to reach Putnam, New ton, or affected points, have proved fu tile. West of Clearwater it i reported that n strip of country five miles long was swept by a storm at 6 o clock Sun day night, and several farm house, barn and other outbuilding blown down. No casualties arc reported from there. The fact that indefinite scraps of In formation are all that can be secured givis cause for alarm that the storm is much more serious than is generally admitted. At a small settlement sev eral mile west of Frcemont. in Stun ner county, it is said all of the houses were wrecked with loss of life. The storm area, so far as can be learn ed, extends over about ten counties near and at the southern line of the State. The cyclonic disturbance seems to have followed the course of jhe Ar kansas river. WAR LOSSES. Washington Authorities Try lo Make a Compar ison ot Two Campaigns. The war department has prepared a statement comparing the mortality fig ures 111 the Spanish-American war with those of the first six months of the South African war, the purpose being to show that the casualties suffered by tho American troops at the time of their occurrence (which are regarded 111 some quarters as excessive, and are the basis of much criticism) were actually very much less in number proportion ately than those suffered by the British army up to date. As to tnc ilritish snowing Irom Oc tober 11 to April 7. .100 officers and 3.- 944 men were killed in action, or by ac cident, wounds and disease, nnd 2N8 of ficers and 4.Q.14 men were invalided home. It is estimated that nearly 10.- 000 officers and men are sick and wounded in the hospitals. During the war with Soain the American army lost, by death, 107 offi cers and 2,803 men. They were wound ed 113 officers and 1,464 men. Only u per cent, ot the American death rate resulted from wounds or occurred in battle, while the corresponding rate for the British army was 63.13 per cent. A PRIEST MOBBED. Mexicans Demanded Costumes for Passion Play in Vain, Then Grew Angry. The new order of the Archbishop of Mexico regarding the Passion Play, customary on Good Friday, was ob served m the valley of Mexico, al though the masses resented the prohibi tion ot the spectacle which has been a feature of Holy Week for centuries, originating with the clergy when they were Christianizing the Indians. But nt 1 autepec. in the State of Morclos, the people assembled at the parish priest's home, demanding that he distribute, as usual, the costume for the Passion Play. This he refused to do. It is reported that he was driven out of town, the people declaring that they would not stand such a priest, ami must be allowed their ancient customs. Boers Reach St. Helena, The Niobc and the Milwaukee have arrived at St. Helena with the Boer prisoners. Their health is good, with the exception of four cases of measles, necessitating the Milwaukee being quarantined. The prisoners are quiet and well behaved. The governor has been notified of the desire of the author ities that the prisoners be treated with every courtesy and consideration. Chicago Millionaire Shot Rufus Wright," the millionaire manu facturcr of rubber tires, was shot Sat urday during a scuffle for possession of a revolver in the apartments of Mrs Louise Lottridgc, at the Lcland hotel, Chicago, III., and died Sunday from the effects of the wound. The body of the millionaire is now at undertaking rooms, where an inquest will be held. It is the opinion of the police that the coroner s investigation will mark the close of the sensational case. A state ment by the deceased to Chief of De tectives Collcran, that the shooting was accidental, will, it is believed, clear Mrs, Lottridgc of all responsibility. Italians RIoL At a sncak'-easv at mine No. 11 of the Berwind-White Coal Company, near Windbcr, Somerset county, Pa., a riot occurred shortly before midnight Sun day in which three men were killed one being shot and two stabbed to death, and another man was so badly stabbed that his recovery is doubtful One Italian is supposed to have done the killing, He is said to have fled to ward Pittsburg, and the police are on the lookout for linn. Got Rich and Went Crazy. Julius Koster, a bricklaver of New York, who recently inherited $300,000 from his brothers estate "in .Germany, was found dead swinging from a rope in an empty water tank on the roof of his house. Koster recently caught one of his fingers in a hook while fishing and blood poisoning resulted. He was still weak in mind and body and th sudden change from poverty to riches left his mind permanently affected The shah of Persia is en route to Kv.stia. BUILDING COLLAPSED. Three Killed and Flvs nured In the Ruins ot a Largo Business House Nar row Escapes. The four-story brick warehouse of the Armstrong-McKelvy Lead nnd Oil Company, nt Wood street nnd Second avenue. Pittsburg, collapsed Thursday morning at 9:45 o'clock. Three per sons were crushed to death and four were injured. Many others employed in the doomed structure had thrilling adventures before they were saved The Imililinir. which wa a relic of tnc first half of the century, wa a complete wreck and entailed a his of about $15, 000. It was owned by T. M. Arm strong, president of the Armstrong Cork Company, whose illness was great ly increased by the shock tnc disaster gave him, and the estate of the late John II. McKelvy. The entire con tent of the building, containing be tween $30,000 nnd $40,000 worth of paints, oils and colors, were destroyed. They are believed to be covered by in surance placed in New York by the Na tional Lead Company, on n fire and water risk. A searching investigation will be instituted by Coroner Jesse M. McGcary to place the responsibility for the awful disaster. The cause i shrouded in mystery, but is believed to have been due to some neglect. Cor oner McGcary declared that only a su perficial examination has been madp and no one had suggested that any crim inal neglect wa at the bottom of the catastrophe, but he declared that every fact would be brought out nt the in quest, which he set for next Tuesday morning. An expert examination will be made in the meantime. ONE GREAT POOR HOUSE. No Doctors Within Reach ol the Poverty-Slrlck-en Population ol Pusrlo Rico. The startling fact wa recently made public that in many districts of Puerto Rico where the population reaches thousands there is no resident physician. For instance. Wavuva. a town of 1. 500, must depend on the simplest remedies n the case o( illness, ns there is no pny- ician within call. At Utuado the ath rate is 8 per cent, annually, and 11 town is a day s rule Irani 1 once through the mountains. It appears that physicians nave icen sent to these districts, but they refuse to remain, largely because no own is able to support one. As a re ult of this condition of things the order providing a physician for every 500 people is now very difficult of en ircemcnt, because the towns reply that there is no tund to pay for such service. 1 his island is onu vast noorhouse and there arc opportunities for charity nt every step. Were $10,000 to be ex pended immediately for medicine and medical aid it would possibly save the ives 01 3,000 people. At one tune the government considered the feasibility of assigning a physician to each town at an aggregate cost of $80,000 per year. but the funds for such an outlay are not available. British Losses 23,000. The British war office has issued a re turn ot the total JJntisli casualties up to April 7. as lollows: Killed in action, 211 officers and 1,960 men. Died of wounds, an ofheers and 465 men. Missing and prisoners, 16H officers and 3.723 men. Died of dis ease, 47 officers and 1.4R5 men. Acci dental deaths, three officers nnd 34 men Repatriated invalids, 2NN ollicers and 4,934 men. total, 13,305, exclusive of the sick and wounded now in hospital. 10 tne war oince returns 01 casualties must be ndded the losses of the last week and the wounded, aggregating about 10,000 men, making a grand total of upwards of 23,000 officers and men put out of action. Led lor Caps Noma. A party, including a number of Pitts turgors, left on Monday for the Cape Nome gold fields, taking along a huge dredge, named the "Iron City," which was shipped 111 sections. 1 he machine is to dig up dirt and gravel at the rate ot a ton a minute. ihe prospector represent the Alaskan Gold Drcduing and Alining Company, of 1'ittsbiira. I'a which has a capital of $35,000. Among those going arc C. O. Johnson, general manager ol the company; Dr. J. C. Ir win, John Dale Porte. McClcllan. Leonard, of Pittsburg, and lohn H. Todd, William H. Rankin, of Union- town, nnd John C. Bakewell, of Brownsville. Murdered by Tramps. Shortly before midnight Sunday two tramps .with white handkerchiefs tied over their faces stopped at the house of two sisters. Kate and Johanna Sulli van, living four miles west of West Toledo, Ohio, knocked at the door, and as Johanna opened the door one of the men struck her across the head with a club, knocking her down. Kate sprang to the assistance of her sister, when a second tramp felled her with an axe helve. The women were bound and eaeccd and the house robbed. Johanna died in a short time, and Kate is a raving maniac as the result of her iniurics. The tramps escaped with $200 in money. Royal Gift to Belgium. In the Chamber of-Dcputies Wednes day a communication from King Leo pold was read presenting all his real estate to the nation on the occasion of his 65th birthday, which was April 9. He pointed out the necessity for open spaces and gardens near growing cities, for the benefit of hygiene and artistic effects, and expressed the hope that these naturally adorned spaces would not be allowed to deteriorate. A bill has been introduced to accept the offer. British Were Avsngcd. The steamer Rio Jun Maru, which arrived at Victoria, B. C, Sunday, from the Orient, brings the story that a party of British government surveyors en gaged on the work of defining the Bur mese boundary had collision with a large body of Chinese laborers, who sometime ago waylaid and murdered Consul Lytton, Major Kyttle and Mr. Sutherland, of the former boundary party. This time the Chinese were completely routed, 80 being killed and pany injured. IHMnHBU TRUST OF FARMERS. To Ralss the Pries ol Wheal Schema Manlptl. lated In tho United 8lates and Swl!2srland bolng Advocated. "All the farmers of the world in a sort of international trust to restrict the production of wheat and raise prices" is the plan which it is hoped to carry into effect nt the International Agricul tural Conference in Pari. July 9-i6. It is proposed to ask the farmers of the world to reduce their wheat out- put by 20 per rent bushel for less thai lit., and not to sell a an n dollar. J. Hart ley, hi fit. 1 am, executive agent 01 me Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union; the National Cotton Growers' Associa tion, the banners Federation ol llie Mississippi Valley and the Na tional Grain Growers Associa- ion. is the chief promoter of the In- ernational Agricultural Trut in Atncr ca. Prof. G. Ruhland. of the Univer sity of iTihotirg. hwttzerland, is tne chief promoter of the plan in Europe. 1 he idea wa conceived by these two men independently. Mr. Hatiley haf been interested in many hold-your-wheat" scheme, and i prominently as sociated with the farmers' elevator and various co-operative undertakings. He has long believed that if the farmers would onlv conic to nn understanding as to limiting production and agree to sell only when their price could tie ob tained they could easily master the sit uation. SCALDED A SCORE. Ballory ol Boilers in lha Riverside Iron Works Explode Loss may bs $125,000. About 8 o'clock Friday morning a battery of two boilers, each 50 feet tug, between the blast furnace nnd steel plant of the Riverside iron works. at Wheeling, W. a., exploded with terrific force from a cause which has not yet been definitely fixed. The en gine house of the steel plant ami a wall of the blast furnace were destroyed and 20 men working in the vicinity were more fir less seriously injured. 1 he accident caused an immediate suspen sion of work in the various departments of the big plant, located near the boiler. Mying ore, falling missiles and escap ing steam caused the injuries to the em ployes. One Pole wa blown through the air 60 feet nnd fell beside a workman who. in describing the incident, says he thought the man fell from the clouds. Singularly enough, the laborer who was blown up was not fatally injured. Sev eral of the victims will probably die. 1 he pecuniary damau will exceed $25,000, and if the metal in the blast furnace chills there will be an addition al loss of over $100,000. A BIQ STRIKE BEGUN. Fivo Thousand Maryland Miners Lay Down Their Picks. Five thousand miners of the Georges creek, Md., region struck Wednesday night and began what promises to be a protracted struggle for an increase of wages and incidentally the recognition by the operators of the United Mine Workers of America. The operators assert that they will not endeavor to work the mines, but will let them remain idle until the men get tired of inactivity and return to work of their own volition. On the other hand the miners claim that they are prepared to continue the contest in definitely. The general strike of the miners of the Georges creek coal region will se riously affect the manufacturers and plants of nil kinds that use bituminous coal produced in that region. There is comparatively a small supply on hand, and it is thought that a couple of weeks idleness at the mines will cause a ma terial increase in the price, if not cause a partial famine of that class of fuel. Booth Gals $200,000. The birthday of William Booth, com mander of the Salvation army, who was born at Nottingham, l-.ngland, April 10, lS9. was signalized Tuesday by the' re ceipt of hundreds of congratulatory messages from all parts of the world and the presentation of a purse of $200, 000, as the result of the ' collections made during the self-denial week of the army just concluded. Cuban Teachers Welcoms. Simt. Frye, of the Cuban schools, ha telegraphed to Gen. Wood, military governor of Cuba, that the president and fellows of Harvard have voted to guar antee $70,coo to welcome 1.450 Cuban teachers. This action on the part of the university places the success of the enterprise beyond a shadow of a doubt. Mr. Fryc now goes to Washington to complete arrangements with Secre tary Root for the transportation of the party. Five or six of the largest army transports will be needed to bring the Cuban teachers to Boston. Plans ore being made to take the Cuban party to New York, Chicago and Washington. CABLE FLASHES. It is rumored in St. Petersburg that on the Russian Easter the czar will issue a manifesto calling on England to stop the war and threatening to occupy Herat. The czar on his visit to Mos cow for the first time dispensed with his bodyguard of soldiers. In the German town of Grunewald. Janeicke, who professed to be a ma gician, murdered Louise Bergner by inducing her to drink a potation con taining strychnine.. The Tahitian government has accept ed the Oceanic Steamship Company's proposition for a steam service from San Francisco to Tahiti. A consistory will be held rriday in Rome for the appointment .of new bishops to the United States, including one at Columbus, O. Austrians in Berlin are preparing give a tine reception to the emperor of Austria on the occasion of his visit there May 5. The opening of the Paris exposition Is an augury of peace among the Eu ropean nations for a time at least. INDIA'S SAD STATE. Dll'ress Eslslt al Present Over an Area of 800,000 Square Miles Aid Asked lor 3,500,000 People. The Stale department ha made pnbtie one of the reports upon which it based its statement relative to the famine In India. This report is from Consul Fee at Bombay, who says that, notwith standing the season of acute distress ha hardly commenced, the return far ex reed those during the initial stages of tl, f., .1. ........ ,. 1. t. . affected only 1,000.000 person; now the figure is 3.500.000 nnd the daily expendi ture is placed at $4,000. 1 he famine area cover 300.000 square mile, with a population of 40,000.000, and there is a further nrea of about 145,000 square mile, with a population of 21,000,000, in which more or le distress prevails and where relief ha been or will be given. The consul says that the appli cations for relief nrc overtaxing the state authorities and are increasing at an appalling rate, the number of appli cants at the relief work during- the last week in January riclvancing 250,000 and bringing up the total to 3.500,000, with the most trying period still two months distant. AMERICA TO THE RESCUE. Navy Department Takes Steps lo Transport Ro lief lo India Famine Sufhrers. The navy department is doing arl1ti it power to relieve the famine-stricken I people of India. In view of the recent J decision of the comptroller of the treas- ury, that the unexpended amount of the 1 sum appropriated by Congress in 1097 to charter two vessels to carry food stuffs to India, is available (Secretary Hay having decided that the present famine i n continuation of that of 1897), Judge Advocate Letnly has telegraphed Pay Director Doniston, in charge of the naval pay office nt New York, to proceed with dispatch to ascertain the terms by which he could charter -a ves sel to carry to India the foodstuffs which have been collected. The cargo will consist entirely of corn, thoroughly dried so a to with stand the violent changes of climate which it will undergo en route. The quantity will be about 5,000 tons, or about 100,000 bushels, representing ; cost of nearly $92,000. This amount o rorn, distributed in the faminc-strickcil area will save approximately 5O0,nor ives, according to the calculation of th promoters of the plan. 1 he hfe-savinu ship, the first of the relief fleet novi planned, will sail before May t, reach ing Bombay by the middle of June, jus at the critical time, when food will bJ most needed and do the most good! The cargo thus sent on a shin authonz ed by our own government will be dis tributed by American missionaries. MACRUM SAYS IT'S A LIE. Ex-Comul's Reply to Hay's Statement Regard' Ing Tampered MalL Charles E. Macrum, of East Liver pool, O., ex-consul to Pretoria, when seen Wednesday morning regarding the statement that Consul Adelbert Hay has laded to find any evidence of the con sular mail being tampered with durin Mr. Macrtim's stay at Pretoria, said: "While I do not take much stock in newspaper reports, this is such a pal pable perversion of the truth that it is impossible to allow the matter to pass unnoticed, as it seems to have come from the state department. This state ment is on a parallel with the maliciou misrepresentation which came from th same department before I reached thi country. If proofs of all my charge are not on file at the consulate in Pre toria it is because they have been will fully abstracted therefrom. In short. want to say that the statement published is a lie, nothing more or less. 1 hav been slandered and maligned until have become tired of it." Scathing Criticism on War. The London Leader says; "the ref ports from Boer as well as from Britisll sources of our reverses near the Bloemy fontein railway are truly laincntabUI Thev show a distinct lack of care anl leading. In the face of surprise w seem utterly without resources excep reliance on pluck. That is a safe can in the play, but a costly one. .. ... 1... t , , , 1.10ns icu uy iisscs, was an oui ae scription of the British army, but w thought we had learned something o late years in the commissioned ranks What light dors this war throw upoi that possibility f ..r.. Lands Revert to tho Crown. ' Akron stockholders of the Vcrmillio- Mining Company, incorporated in On tnrio, Canada, with $360,000 capital an- holding 3,000 acres ot mining property in the sudbury district, have been noti fied by the Canadian government tha their charter has been declared forfeit ed and that the lands revert to f crown. The Vermillion Company wa ord ized bv Akron men. but the direct of the Canadian Copper Company Anglo-American Iron Company sec ed a controlling interest, and the Aki men recently brought suit against th for $1,000,000 damages, alleging that interests of the V ermilhon ComD, were neglected. Col. Hays Leaves the Army, Lieut. Cot. Webb C. Hayes, of Thirty-first infantry, son of the 1 President Hayes, has been honora discharged from the army at his request. He has been servinir in Philippines with Col. Pettit, but is if on Ins way to isan Francisco. It is sinned that he does not care to dev his time to the guerrilla warfare i which the operations in the Philippi nave uegeueraieq. Bubon e Plague In Havana. A report on nuuonic conditions i Hawaii up to March 31 has been re ceiveu uy tnc marine nosuital servic from Surgeon Carmichael, stationed a Honolulu. 1 he total cases to dat nuinner 70, 01 which 1x3 oieu. 9 recover ed and one is in the hospital. Of tho: who died 32 were Chinese, 8 Japancsi 10 Hawaiian and 4 whites. The active part of the disease, the su geon says, seems to have passed, and u crusade against the rats is carried in conjunction with other saint measures tne surgeon hopes for a spe cessation 01 tne present plague. 11
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers