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V ( > I i 4 > < Established 1850. - - Incorporated 1888. >
T V/XJ. T « | j. 71. ESTILL. President. f
THAT STRANGE OLD HOUSE.
A TALL OF OLD ABERDEEN.
By JANET A. McCULLOCH.
Copyrighted, 1895, by Janet McCulloch.
It was a bright September morning, and
we were all in the breakfast-room at
Heatherdyke, Elizabeth in her chair by
the as yet tireless grate was reading the
newspaper. Christina, at the window,
with the best light, was touching up her
last water-color sketch, and I, at the
other window, was doing nothing In par
ticular. I was thinking gloomily that In
three weeks or less, we should have to
leave our dear old Heatherdyke, and as
yet we had found no suitable house. Sud
denly Elizabeth looked up with a little
cry of delight.
“Listen, girls,” she said, excitedly, “here
la just the very thing for us, what we
thought we should never find,” and she
read rapidly:
“To let, by the year or on lease, a com
modious house In the old town of Aber
deen. There are three jiubllc rooms, five
bedrooms, kitchens, servants’ accommoda
tion and every convenience. There is a
large garden well stocked with fruit trees
and bushes, a good lawn in front, and (if
required) a two-stalled stable and coach
house. The house is an old-fashioned one
and mosit comfortable, the late tenant hav
ing put It into thorough repaid; the view
is beautiful from the back of the house,
and the situation is retired without being
dull. To a suitable tenant, who would take
a lease of it, the trustees would make
any alteration or improvement desired.
Apply, etc.” Elizabeth read it with great
empressment.
"These,” shi> said, emphatically, “Is
the very house for us, I shall go into
Aberdeen to-morrow and look at it, girls.”
"But,” objected Christina, "I thought
you said, Elizabeth, that you did not like
to be in town, and this house seems to
bo right in the cfenter of Old Aberdeen.”
“But Old Aberdeen is not the same as
New Aberdeen," responded Elizabeth loft
ily. “It is a very quiet, aristocratic old
place, With no tine shops or staring new
houses. The best people are to be found
there, and they are very exclusive, I am
told. It just seems to me the place for
us.” and Elizabeth bridled and looked
around as if she thought Christina’s ideas
rather low, and her sense of dignity de
ficient.
“1 don’t see,” grumbled Christina, “why
we should leave Heatherdyke at all. Rob
ert need not have been so fidgety about
us, as if the want of a mdn In the house
laid It more open to burglars or thieves.
We could have got on very well, I know.”
"Christina,” said Elizabeth, solemnly,
“I do believe you have not the faintest
aenae of propriety. How could we live
here for three years and manage the men
and the farm work. Robert was perfectly
right, and neither you nor Agnes seem to
\feol how careful he has been to look after
yOM. T am
not uttered a word. house may oe
very nice and just what we want, but, as
Christian says, we need not have been at
all afraid to stay here. Mr. Millan could
have looked after the farm work and the
men, as he has done for Robert so long.
However, if we are to leave, I don’t ob
ject to old Aberdeen in the least.”
"Well,” said Elizabeth, as she folded
her paper and picked up her key basket
preparatory to going oft on her usual
domestic tour for the morning, “I am go
ing to Aberdeen to-morrow, and if that
house is what It is said to be, I'll take it.”
She went off, and Christina uttered a
little groan as she laid down her brush
and looked at m.e. . .
"I just feel, Agnes, as though 1 could
do something spiteful to the people who
put that advertisement in ihe paper,’
she said, with much disgust. "I had hop
ed wo should at least have got a new
house near the New Town, and now Eliz
abeth Will plant us right In the very heart
of the old one. Very likely that precious
'commodious' residence is an old tumble
down affair not lit for gentlewomen to
live In. But there is no use trying to
convince Bet, she is always right.”
When Christina was angry or put out
at her elder sister she always spoke of
her as “Bet." Never to her face, though,
only to me, as of course it did no harm
and relieved her feelings. I consoled her
and myself by saying that probably it
would all turn out right, and hh we heard
Elizabeth coming back along the hall we
relapsed Into silence. Christina resumed
her task, and I went off to have a run
with Kandy. Robert’s retriever, which he
had left in my charge.
Heatherdyke was our estate—a very
small one. but It had belonged to our
family for many generations. The Mor
risons of Heatherdyke had a better stand
ing in'the county than some of those
whose acres were more, but whose pedi
grees were shorter than ours. It belonged
now to our brother, or rather our half
brother, Robert, who was not only an ag
riculturist, but a man of science as well,
and who, on our father's death, had boon
our more than brother. He would not
hoar of our leaving the old home, and
we had all been very happy together. But
that summer Robert had joined a scientific
expedition to Africa, and meant to be
away three years; so he had counselled
Elizabeth to live In town or near It, and
let Heatherdyke for the time. We had
soon found a tenant for Heatherdkye,
but igs yet wo had found no house for our
selves, and it wanted only three weeks
of the time when the Lindsays were to
enter upon their thre® years’ lease of our
home. Christina and I bad both objected
to leaving the place of our birth, but as
It was pretty far away from both a town
or a railway .station, and had no house
near It but the laborers’ cottages, Robert
thought we had better go to a place where
we should at least have a few near neigh
bors of our own rank. The Lindsays were
a large family, nnd Heatherdyke was just
the sort of house for them.
Next day Eliasbeth went to Aberdeen,
taking Christina with her. Elisabeth I
never condeeeended to consult either of
us, bitt she liked to have one of us with
her on any Important occasion. We were
none of us particularly young. Eliza
beth was ten years older than Christina,
and 1 was live years younger. 8o that
when I say lh«l I was over twenty-eight
you may gue.s neither of my sisters was
in the bloom of youth. Hut although!.
Christina wtw over thirty she was the
lamuty of our family; a tall, fair, gra
cious-looking woman, pealde whom 1 al- I
want feltl nopHcsaly plain and brown.
Elisabeth was handsome yet. ami had, I I
thought, the most graceful figure of the j
three of us, and not a grey thread could
be seen in her glossy brown hair. She ;
hud been like a mother to us younger
ones, and from being so much older, we
had always given her the place of honor
ns mistress of the house, after Robert-s
mother died leaving hint a baby of only
a war In Elizabeth’* care. Her pride
an<| delight In the “boy" was repaid by
him with so deep a love as If he was really
her own son. und Elizabeth had let no
other love come between them.
When my slaters returned from Aber
deen they were in raptures over the
house, Christina even going so far as to j
say it was absolutely perfect, Elizabeth ;
had given our lawyer Instructions to .
come to terms about it; so now we had
only to hasten our preparations so as to :
be In the new house before our time wan '
up with the old vn«-, But devoured by :
curiosity as I was. I never saw <nir new 1
abode tilt we went, after all our furni
ture was sent off, to our two matds
arrange and set It in order. We took only
two girls with uh,' though we had alwavs
kept three at HvatherdykA, because the
hotia* Wtu much smaller, and as we
were only ladies in family now, a laun
dress was not really needed, Jean, our
Savannah weekly news.
cook, being a beautiful washer and dress
er. Cook and housemaid were all we re
quired, as we did not intend keeping the
pony and basket carriage. The Lindsays
had taken them for the three years and
were taking on our groom as well, so we
were t strictly feminine household.
We all arrived at the same time, mis- 1
tress and maids, and I felt as I entered I
the ivy-colored porch that my sisters had i
not deceived me as to the beauty of the '
house. The dining-room was panelled in 1
oak, the drawing-room had a quaint little !
anti-drawing-room behind it, while the
morning room or parlor was a perfect
gem, all terra-cotta and pale blue. Really
It was as pretty a house as one could
desire, and my room over the porch was
as cosy and pleasing looking a chamber
as any one could wish for or call their
own. Christina’s room looked to the gar
den at the back, and had two windows
"or her convenience In painting, while Eliz
abeth took the large room over the din
ing-room. Jean and Bella had an attic
bedrocm also looking to the garden, so
we were all accommodated to our satis
faction.
The first few days we were all-so busy
that we could talk of nothing but how
we . were to arrange the several rooms,
and where certain articles of our hand
some old-fashioned furniture were to
stand. But by the end of the week I be
came aware of a certain strange feeling
of aversion to my bedroom, and a dislike
to going to bed at night, for w-hich I
oould not in the least account. I thought
that as my bed stood right opposite the
yindow it might be the eerie look of the
white blind, so I told Elizabeth I wanted
a dark one, and Bella put up one of a
very dark green calico. But It was no
had that terribly uncomfort
able, shrinking feeling, and ndw I decided
it was because my bed stood against the
wall instead of standing out from it. I
was quite sure it was this that kept me
from sleeping. I myself turned It with
its head to the wall and its end toward
the window. But that night I felt worse
than ever, not a wink of sleep could I
J with my eyes fixed upon
the dark window, only outlined by a faint
band of greyish dimness round the blind,
sh ink Ing, thinking all night long, and
wishing for morning. When morning did
C0I ? e - 1 ,F 08e an hour earlier than usual,
and finding it was a clear, cold, crisp one,
* have a run in the garden
with Randy. Passing the breakfast room
door I saw Bella busy dusting. Tired as I
felt myself, I thought she looked very
pale and tired, too. “Are you well, Bel
la? I asked. “You are very pale.”
I don’t feel very well, Miss Agnes,”
she answered suddenly flushing red; “but
I shall be all right by and by. I did not
sleep well.”
I thought this very odd, for the ser
vants had both worked so hard these
last few days they ought to have slept
like stones. But I made no other remark,
only asked where Randy was.
"He’s the garden, Miss Agnes,” Bella
said, but I really can’t say where. He dll
not sleep in the house lost night.”
"He nVust not be allowed to He out as
, I S en , n s l for him,” 1 replied, |
f ••'•••Vj, .-r r -Us.! 1
trn nt ho ran up to me, I took him out ihtol
the lane between our houte and the -fiex't
for a good scamper, I forgot to sa\ that
on both sides, and not
very far off. The right hand house, a
larger one than ours, belonged to two
bachelor brothers called Webster, whom
I had never seen; the left hand one was
a wfialler one, and a Mrs. Gibson, a widow
with two children, lived in it. I felt all
right after my morning run with Randy
and returned to breakfast thinking I had
been a perfect fool to lot my nerves get
the better of me. But neither Elizabeth
nor Christina looked well; the former took
hardly any breakfast, the latter was dull
and quiet. Neither spoke of feeling ill,
however, ho I took no notice, as both
seemed to wish it.
After Elizabeth had gone on her usual
morning business with cook. Christina
looked at me, hesitated a moment, then
spoke hurriedly, "Do you mind going Into
the High street with me. Agnes? I want
to get some stamps, as well as something
from the chemist’s.’.’
“All right,” I replied, jumping up, "I
am ready,” so donnittg our hats, we set
off at once. I was very fond of a walk
down Hie High street, on through College
Bounds, Into the Splttal, and over St.
Margaret’s Brae as far as Mounthooly.
The quaint, old-world look of houses and
ancient walls, the savor of monkish sanc
tity and romance that seemed to linger
round them, gave them an inexpressible
charm to me. We bought our stamps,
and, as we came out of the little postof
fice, two gentlemen passed, going down
the street. Christina bowed slightly to
them, remarking when they had passed
out of earshot:
“These are the Websters; I met them
at Mr. Munro’s yesterday (Mr. Munro was
our lawyer); they seemed nice men. Now
I wish to go on to the chemist’s for
something. Will you come, Agnes?" This
was said In a flurried sort of way, very
unlike Chrlstana.
“Os course, I will,” I answered, and we
went on to the shop of Mounthooly. To
my surprise and dismay she asked for a
sleeping draught, explaining that she had
hud such bad nights since we came to
Jive tn town she was quite 111 from want,
of sleep. The chemist, a pleasant young
fellow, told her he would not advise any
sort of artificial means to procure sleep,
that plenty of exercle was much better,
and sure to induce it in a healthy young
person. But Christina insisted, and at last
got what she wanted. As we turned to
retrace our steps she said, with a faint
sad smile, and a swift look at me:
“Agnes, don’t mention It to Elizabeth;
but 1 am either going to be ill or else I
am bewitched (with another little smile)
for not a wink of sleep have I got since i
we settled down. I just lie awake all
night, and tremble and fancy things."
1 did not hesitate now. 1 told her all
my terrible sufferings for the past few
nights—shey were just the same as hers
We agreed to sleep together that night to
i see If we fared any better, but resolved to
say nothing to Elizabeth about our cow
ardice, In case she might think us silly.
We were much refreshed by our walk
and went back with lighter hearts to the I
pretty house we were beginning to hate
already, and during the rest of the day
we were so busy that w< almost forgot
our terrors. In the afterhoon Mrs Gib
son called, and was. I thought, rather in
quisitive, asking many questions as to
how we liked our house. But as Eliza- I
beth assured her wo were charmed. The
dropped the subtect wth the remark that
it was a lovely house, and was built, she
I believed, on the site of an older house—l
i one of the Canon’s residences. I did not
care for Mrs Gibson, as she talked a deal
about the neighbors, especially of the Web
; sters whom she seemed to dislike. She
asked us to call, and Elizabeth gave a
civil answer and thanked her, but made
no definite promise. I saw that Elizabeth
of d lt nOt Hke her elther ’ and 1 was 81ad
We all went upstairs together that
night, servants and all. Suddenly I re
membered Randy, and called up to Jean
to ask ifWhe had put him into the back!
kitchen, as I had told her. She came 1
halt-way down the attic to answer, Bella
behind her.
he is not in." she
said. 1 have never been able to induce
I him to enter the bouse after dark He
, just aits beside the well and wags his tail
and when I try to pull him in he runs off I
; down thes garden, and I can’t catch him
■ 1 think he feels the place strange yet ’
Christina's eyes met mine. It was Aot
merely the strange place kept Randy
out—it was the strange house, we knew
The dog's refusal to enter the house at
night gave me a thrill of such fear as I
had never felt before. I touched Christi
na’s band—lt was cold and trembling.
“Agnes,” she whispered, “the dog
SAVANNAH, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1896.
knows something; he won’t come into this
horrible house at night.”
“Hush, dear,” I whispered back, “don’t
let Elizabeth or the maids hear you.” But
my own limbs were shaking; I could hard
ly speak, and I looked after my eldest
sister with a wild yearning to call her
back, that we might all be together. It
seemed so selfish of Christina and me to
let her face the unknown danger alone.
We shut our door, and heard Elizabeth
close hers; then the mad terror in my
heart found expression.
“Christina,” I cried, almost sobbing in
my intense fear and anguish, “let us Cith
er call Elizabeth here or else go to her.
She must feel the same as we do—l read
it in her face. Come with me to her
I room, I dare not go alone.”
And together we went out upon the
I landing and stood there a brief space
I before crossing to Elizabeth’s door. We
j could see by the light coming from under
!It that she was not yet in bed. Our own
; light burned behind us, and the long stair
case window was just opposite. As we
stood thus, a terrible chill seized me, an
awful dread of I knew not what. I clutch
ed Christina and she clutched me in re
turn; we were absolutely powerless to
move. As, mute and frozen with fear,
we stared at the window before us, a
something—l can’t tell what, a vague
shadow, like the fluttering of 1 a thin
blagk veil—passed across it. It seemed
to wave for a moment before the door
of Elizabeth’s room, and was then lost in
the obscurity of the attic stair,
Even In that moment of mortal fear I
remembered the girls upstairs, and Bella’s
shrinking look as she went up to bed.
With an effort which seemed to rend
my very being, 1 raised my voice and
called:
“Jean, Jean,” I shrieked, “Jean and
Bella, oh come down. We must all be
together in this dreadful house.”
There was no answer—the silence of
death seemed to brood over us. Christina
sank upon her knees and hid her face.
Again I screamed Jean’s name, and now
a pale, tottering figure, came down the
stair in answer to my call. Jean, with a
face like a dead woman, it was so white,
came into sight, pointing upward in
speechless anguish. Bella was up there
alone, and it flashed upon me even then
that there was no one to reach her but
me. I knew it, but how I managed to
get up, or how I dragged her down, to
this day I know not. But
it was done, and I nearly faint
ed with the terrible strain upon my
strength and my nerves.
Christina had risen when I came down,
and Jean leant against he wall by Eliz
abethfs door. 1 aould only point and
sign for her to open it. She tried and
failed; then I dropped Bella, who was
reviving, anti, wrenched the handle round,
almdst flinging myself into the room.)
Elizabeth lay on the floor in a death-like
swoon, but her eyes were wide open with
an expression of .such awful terror as
1 hope 1 shall never see in any eyes
again. Bella had come round by this
time, and we all tried to raise Elizabeth,
but our strength had been so shaken that
we could not. My own efforts in bring
ing Bella down had made me utterly
useless, my hands had no power in them.
Suddenly In the hall below the old gong
clock rang out midnight. The sound was
so startling that we all screamed, but
Christina and Bella seemed to lose all self
control, and uttered shriek after shriek in
violent hysterics. In the middle of all this
panic the door bell pealed loudly, but the
ufUKxpected ring at such an hour made
the two almost frantic. Another and
’ntidcr peel came, followed by the sound
&-> a tWBBM voice la.--.ieath 1
hail senae nm.mieft to L:wMr TTrat the ■
voice was human.
. "who Is there?" I called out as steadily
as I could.
“It is I, Ronald Webster,” answered a
deep, pleasant voice; “don’t be afraid. Will
you let us in?"
A great thankfulness filled my soul.
Without hesitation—for fear vanished now
that help had come—l ran down, unbolted
thq heavy oaken door, and flung it wide
open. Two tall figures entered, a match
was struck, the gas was lit, and I found
myself face to face with the two gentle
men I had seen that morning in the High
street. Half crying in my excitement, I
told them what had happened, and about
Elizabeth's state.
They went Upstairs with me at once.
Ronald Webster lifted my sister on to the
bed, while George accompanied me to the
dining room for brandy and vinegar. With
great difficulty we brought Elizabeth
round, but after her senses returned she
seemed to be utterly unhinged. She clung
to me, Imploring rpe not to leave her in
that hateful room, and before morning she
was in a high fever. It was a terrible
night—a night I shall nover forget. The
Websters stayed with us till morning,
then George went out after a conversation
with his brother, and Ronald remained
with us, for not only Was Elizabeth very
ill, Christina and Bella were quite pros
trated, and even Jean and I were pale and
shaky from terror and want of sleep. At
1 o'clock George returned, bringing with
him an old lady, his aunt, Miss Webster,
and soon after we ail removed into the
next house. Ronald Webster locking the
door of our dreadful abode, and taking the
kev to Mr. Munro. x
We never entered the house again. For
many weeks Elizabeth lay too ill to be
moved, and ! of course, we had to stay
with her. On her recovery we took a
pleasant house at Fonthill, and £here she
and Christina gradually regained their
former health and spirits. We learned
that the house we had at first thought
so delightful had stood empty for many
years, the old man to whom it belonged
neither living in it himself nor seeking a
tenant. He had simply used the garden
for fruit growing.. But upon his death,
about four years previous, the trustees
of his estate had put the house in thor
ough repair and tried to let it. But
though taken several times, nobody had
ever lived more than a week In it. I met
the trustees, two old town residents, in
Mr. Munro's office, and told them all our
experience. They had always scoffed at
what * the former tenants had asserted,
and refused to believe them, but they
I could not refuse to believe me, my sister s
I state was sufficient confirmation of thef
I truth of my story. Bo to prevent any gos
sip about It in the town, they cancelled
the lease, and we were quit of the place
altogether. s
Years have passed since that memora
ble night, and have brought their changes.
Christina is far away in Australia, mar
ried to George Webster, to whom she be
came engaged soon after our frightful
; experience, and as Ronald’s wife I have
1 had a perfectly happy life in the house
that sheltered us when we left our own.
Elizabeth still keeps house In her stately
fashion at Heatherdyke, for Robert is a
bachelor and likely to remain so. The
house we vacated under such strange
s circumstances has never been inhabited
since We left it. but I have heard lately
that it Is to be demolished, and a hand
some modern villa erected on its site
Whether the nameless haunting rnorror
I that filled the old house will be banished
from the new one 1 cannot tell, but I
, think not. from something which occurred
‘soon after my marriage.
Ronald and I returned from our honey
; moon on the first anniveraarv of the day
; on which 1 and my sisters had left the
. old house. After dinner, as it was a love
ly. moonlight night, we took a stroll in
the quiet road under the trees still cov
ered with foliage. As we turned at the
end of our own garden wall to retrace our
steps, we saw coming toward us on the
; same path two figures, a man and a wo
man. clad in a style which certainly did
not belong In this century. The man wore
a monk’s robe with the cowl drawn over
bls head, the woman a long black gar
ment and streaming black veil. Slowly
they came down the moonlit path toward
us, and again that awful, numbing hor
ror seized me. I grasped my husband’s
arm. and as I looked up into his face I
saw an expression of awe stricken dread
But before they had quite reached us
they turned, and as they did so the woman
raised her face in the moonlight, and the
silvery beams shown full upon it. It was
a beautiful face, as lovely as a dream,
but with a wild, despairing look upon it
like the anguish of a lost soul. For a full
minute they paused in the clear soft light,
•
then turned aside, and together passed
through the locked gate of the old house
and we saw them no more. I may be
wrong, but in my secret soul I believe
that let the builders build whatever they
please upon the site of that old house,
the blight, the curse of an unforgiven
crime must remain upon the spot for
ever.
(The End.)
MORTON TO KUN FOR PRESIDENT.
He Announces Himself a Candidate
for the Nomination.
Albany, N. Y., Jan. I.—Gov. Levi P. Mor
ton has finally announced to hig friends
that he will be a candidate for President
before the national republican convention
to be held at St. Louis. He stated his
position at the dinner given at Chauncey
M. Depew’s residence in New York city on
Monday night.
The others present were Hon. Thomas
C. Platt, Benjamin F. Tracy, Hon. War
ner Miller, State Controller James A.
Roberts of Buffalo and ex-United States
Senator Frank Hlscock of Syracuse.
These gentlemen had the dinner ten
dered Gov. Morton in New York city and
ten days previous assured him that he
could have a solid delegation from this
state and the; undivided support of the
the republicans of the state without re
gard to leaders.
The first step in securing him this unan
imous indorsement was the resignation
of State Controller Roberts as president
of the state club, which was organized
by John E. Milholland of New York city
as an anti-Platt organization. Mr. Rob
erts is preparing a statement which he
will give out for publication to-morrow
afternoon, in which he will indorse Gov.
Morton’s candidacy and show why, in
his judgment, he should be nominated.
Mr. Platt and other prominent republic
ans will also be interviewed to-night or
to-morrow and give like statementes to
that of Mr. Roberts.
These publications will be with Gov.
Morton’s full knowledge and consent, as
he is now satisfied that the republicans
of the state are anxious to give him a
hearty and unqualified indorsement.
It is stated that w’hen Gov. Morton
acceded to the wished of the party leaders
to become a candidate for President, he
at the same time announced shat no mat
ter what the result of his canvass might
be, he will not be a candidate for re
election as governor when his term ex
pires on Jan 1, next. If he is unsuccess
ful, which is not for a moment expected
that he will be by those who are cog
nizant of the circumstances which have
led Gov. Morton to announce his candi
dacy, he would, it is thought, go to the
United States Senate fls a successor to
David B. Hill, whose term expires next
year.
The decision of the governor has led
to much speculation as to who among
the many candidates for governor Is like
ly to succeed him. State Controller Rob
erts, Speaker Hamilton Fish, Secretary
of State Palmer, Adjutant General Mc-
Alpin and J. Sloat Fassett have time
and again been mentiqned as possibil
ities, while there are who seem
t 0 tl L a i Hon - Variey MiHer would j
I which have caused t;
nouncement of his candidacy for the nres
idency.
Albany, N. Y., Jan. I.—James A. Rob
erts, the state controller, at midnight to
night gave out the following statement
announcing Gov. Morton’s candidacy for
President and his own support of it:
’ The positive knowledge that Gov. Mor
ton is to be a candidate for President is
received with great popular favor. It is
unfair for a moment to assume that Gov.
Morton would sacrifice any of the distinc
tion and honor which he has so ablv won
by being a stalking horse or a complimen
tary vote candidate. His candidacy
means that he is in the race to win, and
that he will stay in until the contest is
decided in the St. Louis vonventlon. Hfs
distinguished career in this capital, his
ability and his conservative judgment
are the qualities which his friends bank
confidently upon for success. It is a great
thing in a political contest to have a can
didate against whom no one has anything
to say. This is true of Gov. Morton, and
in addition the party can point: to the
services performed with distinguished
ability by him in many positions as a
guarantee of what he will do in the high
est office. I fully believe he will win.”
BRADLEY FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
Kentucky's Governor to Be Boomed
for h Place on the Ticket. -
Frankfort, Ky., Jan. I.—An important
political conference was held yesterday
by twenty-five or thirty of the most prom
ient republicans in the state. The object
wsq to canvas the situation and discuss
the advisability of putting Gov. Bradley
forward as a candidate for a place on the
ticket. After discussion of some length
the governor was called and acquainted
with the nature of the proceedings. He
said frankly that 'he was in the hands of
his friends, and that whatever action they
took would be satisfactory to him It
has been the crowning ambition of his
life, he said, to be governor of Kentucky
but now that this had been gratified he
was not a candidate for any other office
He assured his friends that he appreciat
ed their .interest in his political future
and said he hoped always to merit the
confidence and esteem of his party.
The conference adjourned to meet again
when, it is understood, some definite ac
tion will be taken.
ROUNTREE IN A NEW ROW.
A Man He Introduced at a Club Chal
lenge* Him to a Duel.
Atlanta. Ga.. Jan. I.—Albert German,
who claims to be highly connected in
Paris, handed his card at the Capitol City
Club reception last night to Dan W.
Rountree. Mr. German Intimated a desire
to meet Mr. Rountree outside of Georgia.
Mr. Rountree had met Mr. German, and
under the impression that he was an im
portant member of Parisian society gave
him a card to the club. Mr. German and
his brother appeared at the reception with
a woman whom they introduced as Mrs
Jean German. During the reception the
Germans were requested to withdraw from
the club. They asked Mr. Rountree for an
explanation, which he declined to give
Thereupon Albeit German handed Mr
Rountree his card. Albert German claims
that he has fought four Parisian duels
and wants to try another. Mr. Rountree
will not make any statement about the
matter. .It is said, though, that he con
cluded he had made a misake in giving
Mr. German a card to the club. Mr. Roun
tree was mixed up in an affair with Dr
Willis Westmoreland in the Casino New
York, a little over a year ago, and a duel
was looked for, but it did not occur Mr
German claims to be an intimate friend
of John Wanamaker.
RAINEY ADVANCES RATES.
All the Employe* to Receive the
Frick Scale of Wage*.
Scottdale. Pa., Jan. I.—Notices of an ad
vance in wages have been posted at all
the Rainey plants. Rainey will pay the
Frick scale of wages, except in one in
stance, in which the Frick rate will be
higher. The Rainey employes are satis
fied with the turn th# affair has taken
and there is no prospect of any trouble. ’
CLEVELAND’S COMMISSIONERS
FIVE MEN NAMED TO PASS ON THE
BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
They Are Justice Brewer, Judge
Richard H. Alvey, Hon. Andrew D.
White, Frederick R. Coudert and
President Daniel C. Glllman of
Johns Hopkins University All
Have Agreed to Serve.
Washington, Jan. I.—The President has
announced the composition of the Vene
zuelan commission, which will consist of
five members, as follows.
David J. Brewer of Kansas, associate
justice of the supreme court of the United
States.
Richard H. Alvey of Maryland, chief
justice of the court of appeals of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Hon. Andrew D. White of New York.
Frederick R. Coudert of New York.
Daniel C. Gillman of Maryland, president
of Johns Hopkins University.
David Josiah Brewer was born June 2,
1837, at Smyrna, Asia Minor, his father
having been an early missionary to Tur
key. He was the son of Rev. Josiah and
Emelia W. Field, a sister of David Dud
ley. Cyrus W. and Stephen J. Field. Jus
tice Brewer was graduated from Yale col
lege in 1850 and from the Albany law
school in 1358. He began the practice
of law in Leavenworth, Kan., a year af
ter his graduation from the law school,
and was a citizen of Kansas when he
was appointed to a place on the supreme
bench. He served as United States com
missioner, was judge of probate criminal
courts of Leavenworth county 1862 to 1865,
Judge of the district court from 1865 to
1869, and was afterwards county attorney
of Leavenworth. He was elected a jus
tice of the supfeme court of Kansas in
1870, and was re-elected for two succeed
ing terms. In 1884 he was appointed cir
cuit judge of the United States for the
Eighth district. He was appointed asso
ciate justice of the supreme court of the
United States in 1889 to succeed Justice
Stanley Matthews, deceased. In politics
he is a republican and was put on the su
preme court bench by President Harri
son.
Andrew D. White was born in Homer,
Cortland county, New York.on Nov. 7, 1832,
and graduated from Yale College in 1853.
He was secretary to the legation at St.
Petersburg at one time and was appointed
by President Harrison envoy extraord
inary and minister plenipotentiary to Rus
sia in 1892. He is a diplomat of'wide ex
perience and a scholar of high attain
ment. In 1857 he was appointed to the
chair of history iri the University of
Michigan. He was president of the re
publican state convention of New York
in 1861, and was elected to the New York
state Senate in 1862. He was a member of
the commission sent by Gen. Grant to
San Domingo to examine into the proposed
annexation of that island. In 1879, while
president of Cornell University, he was
appointed minister to Berlin by President
Hayes. He has held many other impor
tant posts, political and educational.
' Daniel C. Gillman is distinguished as
lan educator. He is a graduate of Yale
college, and has been an extensivatrav-
1 ten,’.-m to the several
tions of various countries. w ln 1875 he
was elected the first president of Johns*
Hopkins University in Baltimore. Among
the many works that he has written is a
memoir of James Monroe, which was pre
pared for the American Statesman. His
fame as a scientist and historian is well
known. He is not known to be affiliated
w’ith any political party, but his ten
dencies are inclined to the republican or
ganization. He is a native of Connecti
cut, and in his 65th year.
Judge Richard Henry Alvey is a na
tive of Maryland. He was on the judi
ciary committee of the constitutional
convention of 1867 and was elected chief
judge of the Fourth circuit under the new
constitution and was re-elected in 1882.
He was designated by Gov. Hamilton as
chief justice of the court of appeals of
Marjeand to succeed Judge Bartol. This
place he resigned to accept the office of
chief justice of the federal court of ap
peals in the District of Columbia. This
court had just been created by act of
congress and President Cleveland strong
ly urged Judge Alvey to take the place of
chief judge and organize the new court.
Upon the death of Chief Justice Waite,
during Mr. Cleveland’s first term, some
of the justices of the supreme court who
had been impressed by the opinion deliv
ered by Judge Alvey on the appellate
bench of Maryland, urged the President
to a.npcint him chief justice of the United
States. This the President, was disposed
to do, but was deterred by the fact, it is
said, that Judge Alvey is a southern man
and it was feared that if that position
went to the south it might create ani
mosities.
Frederick R. Coudert is the head of the
law firm of Coudert Bros, of New York
city. He has a world-wide reputation as
an advocate and authority in international
law. He served with distinction on the
Bering sea commission, and was compli
mented by the President of the French
republic for his speech before the com
mission and was entertained at the palace.
Mr. Coudert was president of the Manhat
tan Club for several years, and is now a
member of nearly a dozen prominent New
York clubs. He is a democrat, and Is
classed as anti-Tammany. He presided
at a mass meeting at Cooper Union called
to oppose Tammany in 1894. He is a bril
liant orator and a shrewd advocate. He has
been one of the leaders of the New York bar
for many years and has been engaged in
many famous cases. His firm administers
the affairs of many French estates and In
vestors in this country.
President Cleveland has not yet notified
the appointees to the Venezuelan commis
sion of their selection, but he has assur
ance from each that they would accept
the high office if tendered to them.
It is stated that because Mr. Justice
Brewer’s name appears first'on the offi
cial list given out to-night it does not
necessarily mean that that gentleman
will be chairman of the commission. The
selection of the presiding officer will be
left to the commission itself, when an
organization is effected.
It is the President’s intention to have
the commission meet as soon as possible,
but information received to-night is that
he has not yet decided when to call the
primary meeting.
SALISBURY’S CASE SHAKY.
The London Chronicle Point* Ont
Some Weak Point*,
London, Jan. I.—The Chronicle to-mor
row will print an article saying it has
learned on the highest authority that
Earl Granville, in 1885, virtually concluded
with President Blanco a treaty containing
an arbitration clause covering the Vene
zuelan international boundary dispute.
The Marquis of Salisbury, however, on
coming into power later in the same year,
virtually cancelled this clause by limiting
the provision of the treaty to commercial
questions.
Nothing could have been more unfort
unate, says the Chronicle, inasmuch as
the boundary dispute was on the eve of a
permanent settlement.
The Chronicle adds that it is convinced
by careful researches that there is de
batable land both north and south of the
Schomburgk line, and that it would be
a grave error to imagine that a rigid in
sistence on the Schomburgk line and a
declaration that there is no ground for
arbitration constitute the essence of the
English case.
Paris, Jan. I.—The Estaeffett, in an
article treating of the Venezuelan dispute
between Great Britain and the United
States, suggests that France, Germany
and Russia might intervene to settle the
trouble. %
I WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK $1 A YEAR 1 _ _ _
< 5 CENTS A COPY. I NTOI 1
< DAILY, 510 A YEAR. f 4-N V 1.
SURRENDER OF ZEITOUN.
The Porte Makes Evasive Replies to
the Offer of the Powers.
Constantinople, Jan. I.—The porte has
made evasive replies to the foreign diplo
mats who have offered to mediate be
tween the Turks and the Armenians fof’
the surrender of Zeitoun, which place is
now in the hands of the Armenians. The
foreign representatives, accordingly, held
another meeting yesterday and decided
to make another effort to induce the
porte to accept mediation and named the
foreign consuls at Aleppo as mediators.
There were disturbances at Orfah on
Dec. 28 and 29, but no details have been
r received.
United States Minister Terrell has re
ceived telegrams from Aintab, Asia Minor,
saying that slight disturbances had taken
place there, in which three persohs were
killed. The telegrams also said that there
had been a bloody outbreak at Orfah,
lasting two days. Miss Shattuck, a mis
sionary at that plaoe, the dispatch said,
had received the assurance that she would
have a guard and be protected and taken
to Aintab.
Dragomans of the various embassies,
went to the pbrte Tuesday afternoon for
the purpose of obtaining a definite reply
to the requests of the foreign diplomats
that the matter of the surrender of Zei
wtoun by the Armenians to the Turks be
arranged through the mediation of the
consuls at Aleppo.
Telegrams from Harpoot say that the
government has put a stop to the work
of relieving the needy and suffering at
that place, (which has been conducted
through the missionaries.
On Dec. 16 the Armenians in Zeitoun
made a demand upon the porte for food
with which to feed the Turkish prisoners
in their hands. On Dec. 23 the sultan is
sued an order that food should be sup
plied.
During the massacre at Matalia two Ar
menian members of the governor’s coun
cil rushed into the*presence of the gov
ernor and begged mm to save their lives.
The governor refused to interfere in their
behalf, and the men were killed by the
guards in the government building.
The Turkish commission of six, which
was sent to pacify Armenia, have visited
three cities. They refused to pay any at
tention to the'written complaints of Ar
menians, but summoned the most promi
nent of the Armenian Inhabitants before
them.
The summons were obeyed and the Ar
menian notables were blamed for causing ,
all the trouble in Asto Minor and threat
ened with death if quiet was not at once
restored. The commission secretly met
the most prominent men of the Moslem
inhabitants before they summoned the
Armenians before them.
London, Jan. I.—A later dispatch from
Constantinople says that the dragomans
of the different embassies who w’ent to the
porte yesterday to try to induce the gov
ernment to take some definite action in
regard to the surrender of Zeitoun bv
the Armenians were referred to the pal
ace, whither they accordingly went.* At
the palace, they received a reply similar
to the porte’s first one, namely that the
offer of mediation was not rejected, but
that its acceptance would be postponed
until the result of the government’s en
deavors should be seen.
NEW YEAR'S AT
The Reveille Sounded From Hte Cas
tle to the llrundenbni'K Gate.
Berlin, Jaq. I.—The New Year’s festivi
ties were carried out according to pro
gramme. The leather was clear and
bright. The exercises began at 8 o'clock,
with the sounding of a reveille from the
castle to the Brandenburg gate and back
by the massed bands of the Berlin gar
rison. Religious services were held in
the castle chapel at 10 o’clock, and the
court ceremony of filing past the emperor
was afterward held in the white hall. At
12 o’clock there was a parade in the yard
of the arsenal, the emperor conducting
the parade, in the presence of the com
manders of the German army corps. The
ceremonies ended w’lth the firing of salutes
in the Lustgarten.
All of the Prussian princes and the for
eign diplomats drove in carriages to the
white hall to take part in the ceremony
of filing past. Mr. Runyon, the United
States ambassador, wks no longer the last
of his rank in a procession of this kind,
the Russian and British ambassadors—
both recently appointed—having been ac
credited to the German court at a later
date than himself.
After the filing past the emperor walked
to the arsenal with Princes George of
Saxony and Arnulph of Kavaria, follow
ed by the commanders of the army corps,
and gave the garrison there parole for
the day.
The emperor remained at the arsenal
-some time conversing with the various
generals and reviewing the company at
tached to the arsenal, which marched
past his majesty.
Crowds of people lined the approaches
to the arsenal and cheered the emperor
with genuine ardor. The official build
ings were all decorated with /lags.
GREETINGS TO KING HUMBERT.
A Deputation From Parliament Calls
at the Qnlrinal.
Rome, Jan. I.—A grand New Year’s day
reception was held at the Quirtnal to-day.
King Humbert received the presidents of
the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, to
gether with a committee representing both
houses, who presented him with an ad
dress, conveying the good wishes of the
Italian parliament. In the course of his
reply the king spoke of the Italian cam
paign in Africa, praising the heroism of
th© Italian soldiers who fell at Amhalagl
and paying high tribute to the coolness
of Gen. Baratieri, commanding the Italian
forces in Abyssinia, in the face of diffi
culty, and also acknowledging Italy’s
glorious enthusiasm in accepting the sac
rifices made in Africa as a pledge of cer
tain ultimate victory.
London, Jan. I.—The correspondent of
the Central News at Rome telegraphs
that in accordance with Gen. Baratieri's
plans, the Italian troops occupying Adawa
in Abyssinia, retreated, allowfng Ras
Mangascia and the vanguard of the Abys
sinian forces to occupy the place. The
troops will join Gen. Baratieri at Adlgrat.
PILLSBURY STILL LEADS.
He and Lasker Play a Draw After
Thirty .Moves.
St. Petersburg, Jan. I.—Play in the in
ternational chess tournament was re
sumed in this city yesterday. The re
sults follow:
Lasker (white) and Pillsbury drew a
Petroff after 30 moves.
Steinitz (white) beat Tschignrin, in a
Queen's Gambit after 35 moves.
The score stands now as follows: Pills
bury, won 5’4, lost 2*4. Lasker, won 5,
lost 3. Steinitz. won 4, lost 4. Tschigorin,
won 1%, lost 6%.
ENGLAND SENDS OVER A CRUISER.
The Pallas to Join the North Atlantic
Squadron.
London, Jan. I.—The British cruiser
Pallas has been put' in commission at
Portsmouth and ordered to join the North
American station. She will sail in two
weeks. The Pallas is a steel screw vessel
of 2.575 tons, and 7,610 horse power. She
• carries eight guns and a crew of 217 men.
MONDAYS
AN—■
THURSDAYS
TROUBLES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
THE BRITISH COLONIAL OFFICE
CONDEMNS THE INVASION.
Efforts Being Made to Head Off Dr.
Jameson’s Expedition—The Doctor
Bent on Carrying Out His Plans
and Cuts the Telegraph Wires Be
hind Him no as to Place Himself
Beyond Communication—Berlin Pa
pers Call on the Kaiser to Back the
Boers.
Berlin, Jan. I.—Considerable excitement
prevails here over the crisis in the Trans
vaal and the attitude of Great Britain is ’
denounced on all Sides. The National Zei
tung says: “The South Africa Company,
holding the charter of the queen, has
committed a grievous breach of the peace
and violation of the law of nations. Ger
many’s interests demand that the inde
pendent republic shall be maintained in
tact and w’e expect Germany to interpose
with all possible emphasis to assist Presi
dent Kruger.”
The Vossische Zeitung says: “The pro
ceedings of the British South African
Company cannot be tolerated and Ger
many must at once take energetic steps
to protect the South African republic.”
The paper expresses the hope that Dr.
Leyd, the secretary of state of the South
African republic, who is now in Berlin and
in close communication with the foreign
office, has already telegraphed to Pre
toria that Germany will grant the Boers
protection that will not be merely diplo
matic.
Advices have been received from Pre
toria that 300 more armed men of the
British South Africa Company have
crossed the Transvaal frontier. The gov
ernment, the dispatch says, is resolved
to drive back the intruders by force. A
rising has occurred at Johannesburg.
The Cologne Gazette says that Ger
many has sent an official inquiry to Great
Britain as to what steps are to be taken
by the British government in regard to
the invasion of the Transvaal by the
British South Africa Company.
London, Jan. 1.-Ijoseph Chamberlain,
secretary of state for the colonies, has
issued an official statement that he is
now in communication with President
Kruger of the South African republic,
in an endeavor to avert serious conse
quences of the unauthorized and alto
gether unjustifiable act of Dr. Jameson,
the administrator of the British South
African Company, in leading a force of
from 500 to 700 men into the Trknsvaal
to assist the Uitlanders in their conten
tion against the South African republic.
Gov. Robinson of Cape Colony has is
sued a proclamation publicly repudiating
the act of Dr. Jameson and has caused
to be published in ■the. newspaper of Pre
toria and Johannesburg an injunction in
the name of the queen to all her majesty's
subjects in the Transvaal not to give aid
to Dr. Jameson, but to obey the law and
observe order.
Messengers have been sent to overtake
Dr. Jameson, conveying orders to him and
every officer accompanying him. that they
shall retire from the Transvaal territory
at once. The situation is very much ag
gravated by the fact that Dr. Jameson
cut Hie wires behind him, rendering tele-
Mr. <’■ ' Wt-Wsiin s" n|u l a^!f^JßLl 1 1.' l h (o t’lT'S*®*-
British w Juth Africa Company, asking
them Dr. Jameson and his
acts. To* this dispatch the company re
plied that they were entirely ignorant of
Dr. Jameson’s acts or purposes.
Cecil Rhodes, prime minister of the Cape
Colony, in connection with this reply,
stated that Dr. Jameson had acted without
authority. He (Rhodes) had tried to
stop him when he learned that he had
gone into the Transvaal, but found that
■the wires had been cut. and that conse
quently he could not communicate with
him.
Dr. Jameson wrote a letter to the com
mandant at Maryocland refusing to with
draw from the Transvaal and avowing
that he would proceed upon his original
plans, which in acceptance of the invita
tion of the principal residents of Rand
were to assist them in their demands for
justice.
The cablegram sent by Mr. Chamber
lain to Dr. Jameson ordering him to re
turn cannot reach the latter until he ar
rives at Johannesburg, at which place
there are arms enough to equip 30,000 men
for fighting.
It 11 rumored here that advices have
been received announcing the arrival of
Dr. Jameson with his followers in Johan
nesburg.
President Kruger, according to the lat
est Information received here, has called
the burghers to arms and a large force
of them Is proceeding against Johannes
burg. They are advancing rapidly and a
battle Is hourly expected.
The newspapers to-morrow will unan
imously express approval of the action
of Colonial Secretary Chamberlain in or
dering the return of the Transvaal ex
pedition. The liberal newspapers espe
cially laud the statesmanlike wisdom of
the colonial secretary, while they de
nounce Dr. Jameson as a lawless free
booter.
The conservative papers recall proofs
of Dr. Jameson’s ability and discretion,
and urge that he be not condemned until
the reasons for his action shall have
been made known.
The Times gives a qualified approval
of Mr. Chamberlain’s course, and ex
presses the strongest sympathy with the
foreign residents of the South African
republic.
The Times to-morrow will print a dis
patch from its Berlin correspondent, in
which he says: “The crisis In the Trans
vaal endangers British relations with
Germany. The government hitherto has
endeavored tp restrain the newspapers
over which It has some control, but
judging from what has already been
written, one does not like to contem
plate what will happen when the re
straint is removed. Inasmuch as the
numerous German residents of the Trans
vaal cannot but be affected by a serious
breach of the public peace Germany can
not be at a loss for a concrete cause lor
interference, if she is determined to In
terfere. There is some reason to believe
that she is determined and resolved un
der no circumstances to tolerate a dis
turbance of the status quo in South
Africa.”
The Standard to-morrow will print a dis
patch from its Berlin correspondent say
ing that the news of the invasion of the
Transvaal has caused a storm of indigna
tion in the German capital that has rare
ly been witnessed. Emperor William yes
terday summoned, by telegraph to the
new palace, Baron Marscha.il von Bieber
stein, secretary of state for foreign af
fairs, to discuss the situation. The cor
respondent adds that there is excellent
reason for believing that German states
men expect a peaceful and satisfactory
settlement of the affair.
SKIPPED FROM SCREVEN.
The Zeigler Brothers Believed to
Have Left the State.
Atlanta, Ga„ Jan. I—lt is believed that
the Zeigler brothers, who killed the
sheriff of Screven county, and have been
defying arrest for several months past
have left the state.
Solicitor General Beverly Evans called
at the capitol to-day and had a confer-*
ence with Gov. Atkinson on the case in
which he made this statement. The gov
ernor, as late as Monday, increased the
state’s reward for the two men to ssw
each, in the hope that this would Induce
some one to undertake their capture he
being under the impression that they were
still at their home, unmolested by the
officers of Screven county, The news
from Solicitor Evans that they have left
the state, without leaving information as
to their whereabouts, puts a different
phase on the situation.