Newspaper Page Text
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|fcwWEEK|
MTZ XT 4 7 ( THE MORNING NEWS. |
J Established 1850. - -Incorporated 1888. >
| . J. H. ESTILL, President. }
MISS SKINNER’SJAPID PROGRESS.
BY NOBA VYNNE.
%
Author of “Honey of Aloes,” “The Blind Artist’s Pictures,” “A Comedy of Hon
our,” “A Man and his Womankind,” “The story of a Fool and his Folly,” etc.
Cop/rlghted, 1897, by Nora Vynne.
' She was a poor, dowdy, thin little thing,
very nervous, very anxious, and utterly
inexperlencd; if she had not been utter
inexperienced; if she had not been utter
dreamed of calling unbidden on the ed
itor of the “New Universe,” for the “New
Universe” put on a very g rea t deal of side,
and the editor could not be seen without
a written mandate, a sort of “card to
view," as if he were a house to let. But
Ignorance knows no fear. Poor, shabby
little Miss Skinner walked calmly Into
the office and said, “I have come to see
Mr. Wentworth,” and every one was so
much astonished at her that she was
shown upstairs.
She had never in all her life seen an
editor, or offered a story for
sale before; so she was quite
calm and unembarrassed. She said
simply; “I have brought you a
•little story, and I thought I should like
to read It to you, because then you would
know better what it is about.”
The great man was absolutely speech
less with amazement, and this, of course,
gave Miss Skinner an opportunity to be
gin.
“I don’t read very well,” she said, mod
estly. “But then I write exceedingly bad
ly, so you will really be able to judge the
story better If I read It. It is about In
dian life; it is not very long. I had bet
ter leave oft talking and begin.”
She began to read. He let her begin;
he lot her go on. He listened, first in
surprise, then In dismay, then with some
thing very like fear—so like that at last
he knew It was fear and sat In his chair,
trembling mentally, If not palpably. How
did she know these things? The terrible
little creature, in her pale voice, void of
all emphasis, read calmly through the ac
cusation of her hero, telling how he did
such and such evil deeds remorselessly.
Names were altered, names of places and
people, details as to the manner of com
milting the various evil deeds, but there
was no mistake as to the identity of her
hero. Wentworth’s blood rail cold—lt real
ly did. He had not felt the sensation since
that night at Quetta, when he saw—Hor
rible! Sho was coming to that now. She
was describing the incident. After ten
years of immaculate and dignified life in
Eifirland, Nemesis hud overtaken him in
fl. pen on of a little, thin o*d maid-
»i<_r trembling, colorless vhice grew ter
rible to him—more and more terrible.
What? She was making that disgraceful
incident the turning-point of his Career!
Instead of being discovered and known
for a villa’n,-he was mistaken for a hero,
applauded, promoted. How did she know?
How, In the devil’s name, did she know?
Rhe had nearly finished reading. He wip
ed his face stealthily, then his fingers.
She dropped the hands that held the man
uscript on her lap. He was confronting
her calm and unmoved.
“That Is all,” she said. "I should have
liked to have made just retribution over
take the hero for his crimes, but I
thought it was more in accordance with
modern taste to leave him unpunished In
my story. Do you think you would care
to buv it?”
He commanded himself perfectly.
“What price do you set upon it?”
“I hadn't fixed—l thought—l mean—you
know best what it Is worth, I think.”
He did, nnd set his teeth hard,
“A hundred pounds?”
“Oh!” Surprise and pleasure showed in
her eyes for a moment. He saw she
would have taken leas, but he did not
abate hie offcv He waa no niggard.
“I shall be quite content with that,"
su d Mies Skinner, coolly.
• “I will write you a cheque."
He did so. She took it and said, "thank
you.” He held out his hand for the man
uacript. She hesitated.
“I noticed one or two little slips In
grammar and spelling as I was reading."
she said. "If you do not mind I should
like to take It home and correct them.”
"The printer will see to that," ho said,
•lulling grimly. "Good afternoon."
Ho turned her out with dignity. She
went down-stairs smiling to herself.
"And they say literal uro Isn’t a paying
profession,” she murmured.
The officials aownstairs who. meanwhile,
had been suffering much trepidation over
the general paralysis of astonishment to
which she owed her admission to the edi
tor's sanctum, saw her come downstairs
well pleased, and began to be reassured.
They hadn't made a mistake after all.
Later, when the day had passed over, and
no one had been dismissed, they liegan to
think M!sa Skinner must be a very great
personage Indeed, who went about shabby
and wot through from eccentricity.
Bus Miss Skinner was a, business wo
man after all. With her hundred-pound
cheque In her hand she went straight to
another editor. This was a very courte
ous well-bred man. whose sense of humor
prevented him from ever mistaking him
self for the Sultan of Turkey. Moreover,
he was the aort of man who had no dif
ficulty In remembering that a woman is
still a woman, even when she has to work
for her living. Therefore, no one was
too astonished to ask her to send up her
name and wait until the editor waa at
leisure.
He wns a little amused when, on admls
•lon, she suggested reading a story to
him, but kindly amused, for he saw at a
glance that she was gentleness and mod
esty Itself. He said he would look over
the story himself, and did so, in a few
minutes.
It waa a fairly good story, no better
than the average, but the editor decided
to take It. and being, in his great heart,
sorry for the* thlu, little figure and jaded
little face of the woman, offered her 3
guineas, and asked If she would like to
be paid at once,
Shs quietly mentioned what she had re
ceived tor a story at the “New Universe,"
and seeing that his Incredulity for the
moment almost overcame his good breed
ing. showed him the cheque.
lie waa not inordinately surprised. Ho >
explained that there was no accounting I
for wh.it they did on the "New Universe." !
He couldn't do the like here, because
they had not so much money. The price *
be had offered waa a fair price for an av
erage story by an unknown author. Very I
poicslbly there might be something in the .
other story which the editor of the "New •
Universe" counted on to make a hit. Au
thors were never good judges of their own
work. It might be very much more striking
■ ■ Vcy _____
than the one she brought to him. After
she had made a hit in such a paper as the
“New Universe” she might command
much higher prices. Possibly it might
be better to hold her stories until she had.
But no. Miss Skinner wanted to dis
pose of as many now as possible.
“In that case, If she would agree for
this present story not to be published un
til after the appearance of that in the
‘Universe’ he would give her 5 guineas,
Instead of 3. He really did not think she
would get more for it.”
Somehow his frank and kindly manner
was more convincing even than the hun
dred pound cheque. She took the five
guineas, smiled "nervously, and said:
"Good afternoon.” The editor turned to
his work. He wondered a little at the
liberality of the "Universe,” and doubted
whether the story they had bought was
worth the money, but was far too simple
minded to Imagine any special reason why
such a sum had been paid. He saw no
reason whatever why he should not men
tion the incident to one or two othe r men
at luncheon next day. The story got
about; a few people who had not seen
Miss Skinner murmured But by
the end of the week she had placed seven
stories very well Indeed. # A few days la
ter she received: through’the post a card
requesting that she would call at the of
fice of the “New Universe.” She was
rather glad, because she wanted to ask
when her story would be published, see
ing that the publication of the others
must wait for |t, and during the week she
had found that editors were not always
altogether glad to receive callers.
She was shown up to the editor’s room
without delay. She gave a little fright
ened smile—as if she wished that he
would be pleased to see her. .
“Miss Bklnner,” he began, "you have
been showing the cheque I gave you in va
rious offices. I hear.”
“Yes,” she said, simply. “I thought
that would make them give me more for
my stories —and It did.”
“Did you not consider showing it a
breach of faith?”
“No. You never told me not to show it.”
“I did not auppose that was necessary.
I thought you would see so much for your
self. To speak of the affair was to,” he
was about to say, “betray me,” but
caught, himself up short. “1 am thinking
of you quite as much as of myself. I dare
say you did not mean to break faith with
me. But what did you expect people to
think of you when you said you had been
paid a hundred pounds for a short story.”
“I wanted them to think I had written
a clever story,” she said, innocently.
“They did think so. Some of them paid
me very much more when they heard’
what you had paid.”
He almost laughed.
“You are an exceedingly clever woman,
and you should write exceedingly clever
stories; we will say no more of that par
ticular one.”
“I wanted to say just one thing about
It,” answered Miss Skinner, cheerfully.
“How soon do you intend to publish it?
Some of the editors are keeping theirsl
back until yours has come out. They
seemed to think you would not have paid
so much if you had not expected that
story to make a sensation.”
“Make a sensation! He ground his teeth
and answered politely:
“When a story is bought and paid for '
on the spot, it’s publication rests on the
convenience of the editor. That is under
stood.”
“Os course, of course,” she agreed. I
was not being so silly as to try to hurry
you, but I want to know when you are
likely to find it convenient to have it pub
lished.”
He rose, shaking with helpless anger.
To b£ mocked and brow-beaten in his own
office by a woman—a little, plain, shabby
woman. It was unendurable. He began
to lose his self-control.
"Your story Is burnt to ashes!” he said.
“Oh, how shocking! However did it
happen? A story you had paid so much
for, too. How did it"happen?”
"An accident—an accident,” he said, res
training himself again. For it was just
possible this iittle jaded Nemesis might be
managed, if he were careful.
"A most unfortunate accident—unfor
tunate for me too. 1 have been paid much
more highly than I should otherwise have
been, on account of that story, as I told
you. But what will the other editors say
when it never comes out? What had I bet
ter do?”
She looked up at him appealingly.
"You must write me another 'story in
place of it.”
“Oh, yes!" her face brightened. "I can
do that easily.”
“I will pay you the same sum for it.”
"Oh. but it may not be so good?"
"You are very scrupulous,” he said, po
litely. "Your first story being so exception
ally good it is only fair you should have
some compensation for the loss of adver
tisement consequent on its suppression.
All that I require is that you will not men
tion the circumstance, and that you will
make no further demands on me.”
“Os course not, oh dear, no. It is am
ple. I will not mention the matter again. I
am new to this kind of life, and do not
know the etiquette of it. I did not mean
to offend.”
She left the office a little troubled and
doubtful. After about a fortnight she re
appeared with a manuscript in her hand.
She began to speak the moment the door
shut behind her.
"I have been feeling very uneasy about
this second hundred pounds,’* she said. "It
does not seem right that 1 should have
it. If you are generous I must not be
greedy. A hundred pounds is too much for
a story which may nut be as good as the
last one."
He let her speak. What was coming?
Was It possible that the woman felt com
punction? She went on with the air of one
who has thought over a matter determin
edly. and is reciting the result.
"One of them” (she meant the editors)
"said that you must have seen something
remarkable In that first story which did
not exist in the others. The fact that no
one offered me much for any of the oth- I
•rs proves him to have judged rightly. So
1 have thought and thought, until I re
membered every word of your story, and
I have written It out again."
The usual office ruler lay on the desk.
The thought came into the editor's mind
that it would be very easy and pleasant to
take that ruler and smite Miss Skinner
ovet the head with ft several times, beat
I the shabby black hat and the meager
I white face Into an indistinguishable mass
•nd hide the remains among the wagons |
of waste paper. As she ended he spoke i
shortly, making his final offer.
•'We aie thinking of buying 'Fashion I
and Fiction,’ which is just now for sale.
Should you care to undertake the post of
editress, under me, of course; we should
pay well. I should not interfere, unless
you happened to write —but you would
have no time to write stories. What do
you say?”
“Say? An editress! Ah, what a lucky
woman I am. Say? Why, of course, I
should only be too glad. Why, such a post
means riches to me. I don’t care about
writing stories. To tell the ti*uth, I don’t
like story-writing, it is so difficult. I
think, and think, and think, and it makes
my headache. After ail, one cannot write
very many of them, and no one but you
seems to pay anything like the value of
the labor they cost. No, I will never write
short stories now. I shall devote all my
working time to the paper."
So the matter was settled. "Fashion
and Fiction” was bought by the “New
Universe” proprietor, and Miss Skinner
became editress of it. She bought herself
handsome»clothes and ceased to be thin
and haggard. She went down to the of
fice in a cab whenever the streets were
in the least muddy, and was very happy
indeed. Certainly other people seemed to
do sail the work, but if Mr. Wentworth
was satisfied nothing could be wrong.
She was not exalted by success She
was still simple and gentle, and low
voiced. She developed benevolence, too;
a virtue for which she had previously had
no scope. She bought a big silver kettle,
with a spirit lamp and some tea, which
she gave with words of consolation to all
the fagged young authors and authoress
es who climbed her stairs, so that she be
came beloved even of those whose manu
scripts she regretfully declined.
Time passed pleasantly for Miss Skin
ner. She became quite an important per
sonage. The other editors waited in vain
for the wonderful story in the Universe,
and published those they had bought one
after the other, and gone of them attract*
ed very much attention. This made Miss
Skinner less regretful that sne had given
up story-writing. A little scandal was
talked abolt her sudden promotion but
she never heard of it.
She heard, however, a good deal about
Mr. Wentworth, editor of -the New Uni
verse. Other people seemed to find him
rude and hard to please. It made her all
the more grateful for his strange kindness
towards herself.
She often meditated writing him a pret
ty little letter of thanks, saying that she
did not understand the full extent of his
kindness at the time, but she did now.
She very seldom saw him. They inter
changed a good many messages about
“Fashion and Fiction” at first. But after
a time she learnt how to do the small
amount of work which seemed to be ex
pected of her, and could do it unassisted.
Meanwhile Wentworth was in a perpet
ual state of unrest. He had escaped his
Nemesis for a time, but who could tell
when she might demand fresh sacrifices.
She seemed quiet enough, but that might
only mean that she was waiting her op
portunity. He never got up in the morn
ing without wondering if she woulil strike
that day, nor went to bed at night with
out wondering if he should hear news
next morning. His hair began to turn
»iiii tirop oB at the temples. For
the first time in his life his liver got oit
of order. "
At last, when the torture of suspense
was becoming quite unbearable, the little
murmur of scandal which bad played
about Miss Skinner’s appointment reach
ed his hearing. His first feeling was that
of relief. The murmur showed at least
that no one had the least suspicion of the
truth. Then he was amused. It was the
first time he had taken any real pleasure
in a joke since the appearance of that
little, thin, shabby figure in his office.
Then he remembered that she was not
thin or shabby now. Slowly a means of
absolute security grew from his first feeh
ing of relief. There was away in which
a woman’s evidence could be rendered ab
solutely null in law.
It was a desperate remedy. But then
the danger was desperate. It would be
a much more serious thing to have those
lost records brought to light than even
to marry Miss Skinner. The idea grew
on him.
While he was in this mind he happened
to dine at the house of a wealthy lady
who was an intimate friend of his. She
had heard the scandal and alluded to it,
being one of those women who like a man
the better for injuries done to their own
sey.
“There is something in it,” she laugh
ed, somewhat vulgarly. “You would not
do so much for a plain little woman like
that without good reason.”
Wentworth, who had not thought once
tattle could reach those diamond-bedeck
ed ears, after a moment’s horrid doubt
as to her meaning, gave her a good rea
son on the spot.
"I hope to make her my wife,” he said.
His friend apologized. After all, she was
not very plain. Sometimes when she wore
pink she looked quite pretty. She was a
nice refined woman. And if she was not
young she was still much younger than
Wentworth himself.
The idea did not seem quite so Intolera
ble when he had put it into words. Next
day he took Miss Skinner to tea at a con
fectioner's, and proposed to her. Little
Miss Skinner had never had an offer of
marriage before in all her life. Os course,
she accepted him. Wentworth gave a
great sigh of relief, for he was safe. But
he hoped, a little uneasily, that she had
never blackmailed any one but him.
On the afternoon of their wedding day as
they were whirled along in the Scotch ex
press. Mrs. Wentworth nestled up to her
husband and made a little confession.
She said that she was the happiest wo
man in all the world, and that she couldn't
understand it. That she knew ail sorts
of women were loved, even quite plain ones
but she had never dreamt of such happi
ness coming to her.
She said that she had taken his kindness
as a matter of course, at first; but W’hen
a little experience had shown her how
rare such goodness was, it had puzzled
her exceedingly. But of course his having
fallen in love with her at first sight ex
plained everything.
“Ah”—and here the trembling of the lit
tle gloved hand made itself felt through
Wentworth’s coat sleeve, "that was a
lucky story, wasn't It? It was more trou
ble than any of the others. I spent days
and days getting up my facts and local
color from ‘Greet's Frontier Studies.* ”
“What!” ha exclaimed. “What's that?
‘Greet’s Frontier Studies’? Then you didn't
mean to—Your story was not founded on
fact?**
"Oh. no! Os course not. I Invented it all
with the help of ‘Greet’s Frontier Studies.’
I didn't 'crib' you know. I only found out
what sort of things might be done by a
clever and unscrupulous man. and made
the atopy seem as lifelike as I could. I
must have done it better than I knew, if
you believed it. dear. The story has
brought us together. We will never pub
lish it, will we? It would be sacrilege.”
And, strange to say, Wentworth's first
sensation was not rage that he had been
I tricked by his own apprehensions, but de
lightful relief at the knowledge that the
I shy little woman was not a black-mailer
I after aIL She did not even suspect his
SAVANNAH, THURSDAY, APRIL I, 1897.
misdemeanors. She thought him spotless.
The humour of the situation'pleased him,
now he knew he was safe. Something
very like tenderness crept into his eyes as
he kissed his wife's loving little face, and
he told himself that she was quite pretty
after all, and that, if he ever let her find
out that he was not the hero she thought
him, or that he had married her for any
reason but the one she believed in so pa
thetically, that would be a worse offense
than any of those others the memory of
which was safely lost.
BI(f SNOW STORM IN NEBRASKA.
Colorado, Wyoming nnd Sontli Da
kota Also Affected.
Omaha, Neb., March 31.—Because of
heavy snows for the past twenty-four
hours, hardly a wheel has been turning
on any railroad in Western Nebraska, and
the same condition applies *to districts in
Colorado, Wyoming and the Black Hills
of South Dakota.
The Union Pacific experienced the great
est trouble on its main line between Sid
ney and Laramie. West-bound express
trains were stalled at Millsdale, Wyo., un
til this afternoon and the fast mail did
not succeed in getting away from Sidney
until to-night, a day late. The east
bound flyer got as far as Red Butte, Neb.,
yesterday, and then was run back to Lar
amie, where it was side-tracked until to
day noon.
The Rock Island’s eastbound limited
train was tied up at Limon, Col., Tuesday
night and has not reached Omaha yet. The
westbound fast train was also stalled at
Limon, together with the lim
ited trains from Kansas City and St.
Joe. It is expected that the rotary plows
will get through the drifts some time to
morrow.
On the Burlington, the bonditions were
very much the same. The limited, which
left Denver Tuesday night, got as far as
McCook, Neb., where it stuck in a drift.
The westbound train was stalled at Hold
redge. Neb., and the local trains were tied
up all along the road. Not a train is run
ning on the Black Hills, Wyoming and
Montana division of the road.
The Elk Horn only suffered on its Black
Hills lines, all trains being abandoned
west of Chadron, Neb.
Most of the telegraph lines were down.
NEW YOBKIS FATAL FIRE.
Five Livea Lost Instead of Three ns
First Reported.
New York, March 31.—Five persons lost
their lives by the burning of the flat
building at No. 61 West One Hundred and
Fifth street yesterday afternoon, an ac
count of which was sent over the wires
last night.
The dead are:
MRS. r’ '
DARLINGTON, S-mfonths-ald baby.
MRS. ELIZABETH FRENCH, 28 years
old.
FIDELE FRENCH, infant child.
ELLEN MORRISSEY, 45 years old, of
Albany.
It was not known positively until this
morning that Mrs. Darlington and her
child were lost in the fire. It was sup
posed she had gone out diiring the day
shopping. When her husband returned
at night he immediately began a search
for her. He visited all of their friends
and relatives, but could find no trace of
her. The police then began a search of
the ruins, and shortly after midnight they ’
found the body of Mrs. Darlington in the
cellar under the debris. It is presumed
that she sank with the caving floor. Half
an hour later the body of the baby was
also found.
LAUHADA IN MORE TROUBLE.
Special limpectorii Make a Report
Anninnt Her.
Philadelphia, Pa., March 31.—Special In
spectors Thompson and Vest of the gov
ernment steam inspection service to-day
notified the collector of the port of Wil
mington, Del., that the steamship Lau
roda, which is now has apparently
violated the neutrality laws.
The communication sent to the Dela
ware collector reads: “We are notified by
the supervising Inspector general of steam
vessels to notify you that the steamship
Laurada left Baltimore on an expired cer
tificate of inspection on or about Feb. 26,
ostensibly for Philadelphia, on a pManit
to go there for repairs to fit her
spcction. Instead of proceeding to Phila
delphia direct, as she should have done,
she is reported by the newspapers as hav
ing just arrived in the Delaware river
from an alleged expedition to Cuba, vio
lating sections 4417, 4418 and 4453, Revised
Statutes of the United States, arifiißection,
7, rule vi. Rules and Regulations, prescrib
ed by the board of supervising inspectors
of eteam vessels.”
It is said, in view of this action, that
proceedings may be inaugurated against
the Laurada in Wilmington.
CAROLINAS CONSTABLES.
Judge Simonton Refn«e» to Set Aside
Order* For Contempt
Charleston, S. C„ March 31.—1 n the
United States circuit court to-day, Judge
Simonton handed down a decision, in
which he refused to set aside the orders
filed recently against state constables for
contempt. There were two cases up be
fore the court, but that selected for con
sideration is William M. Beckroge of Sa
vannah against Constables Hariin and
Roach. It will be remembered that the
constables seized in the Southern Express
Company's office here a box which, when
opened, was found to contain liquor. It
was addressed to Mr. Beckroge, who
claimed that the whisky and wine were
sent here from Savannah for his wedding
feast. The constables were arrested and
notice given of a suit for 56.000 against
them. Last Friday. Assistant Attorney
General Townsend appeared before Judge
Simonton, asking to have the order of ar
rest set aside. This was to-day refused.
VOYAGE Ofr THE PURITAN.
The Monitor’* Officer* Not to Be
C'onrt Martialled.
Washington, March 31.—Secretary Long
has received the record and recommenda
tion of the court of inquiry, which has
been investigating the Monitor Puritan,
and the conduct of that vessel's officers
on their recent cruise from Charleston to
New York, when the Columbia bad to be
sent to the scene. It is understood that
no court-martial of her officers is advised.
GREECE AFTER TURKISH GORE.
GREEK GUERILLAS SWARMING THE
HILLS ON THE'FRONTIEIL
Their Attitude Aggressive and Ex
pected to Result in Open Warfare
" Between the Two Nations —The
Greek Regulars to Be Ordered to
Make an Advance’as Soon as an
Outbreak Occurs —Partial Blockade
of Greece by the Powers Expected
to Begin Immediately.
London, March 31.—The Evening News
publishes a dispatch from Larissa, Greece,
saying that the Greek guerillas are swarm
ing along the hills on the Turkish frontier
and have assumed an aggressive attitude.
Their action, the dispatch says, will prob
ably result in open warfare between Greece
and Turkey. It is bellved that the Greek
regulars will be ordered to make an ad
vance as soon as an outbreak shall have
occurred.
The Daily News will to-morrow say that
a committee, composed of Said Pasha,
president of the council of state, and
Alexander Karatheodori Pasha, was to
have gone to Greece, but an intimation
was given to the porte that it would not
be allowed to land. Russia, the paper
adds, threatened to occupy Anatolia and
other parts of the Ottoman territory un
less the negotiations were dropped.
The News further says that the poire
has taken measures to prevent Greeks
leaving Turkey similar to those adopted
some time ago regarding the Armenians.
A census of the Greeks in the empire will
be taken for this purpose.
Despite the report from St. Petersburg
that complete unanimity does not exist
among the powers as to the proper course
to be followed in the Cretan matters, a
dispatch from Canea stateg that it is re
garded there that the removal of the
Turkish troops is necessary as soon as
the European garrisons are strong enough
to fully occupy the forts.
The dispatch adds that the continued
presence of the Turkish soldiery will seri
ously hinder the pacification of the isl
and, the Christians not being willing to
listen to proposals for peace, so long as
the hated Turks hold the fortified forts.
’a dispatch from Larnika, Island of Cy
prus, states that a number of Cypriote
volunteers and Greek reserves have em
barked for Crete on board the Greek
steamer Elene, which will endeavor to
run the blockade of that island.
Athens, March 31.—Cretan refugees who
have arrived here have made an appeal to
the heads of the European states praying,
in the name of humanity, that the block
ade of Cretan ports by the warships of
the powers be raised in order that sup
plies of food may be admitted to the
island, thus averting a famine which
threatens thousands of helpless men, wp
fmen, and children in Crete. The Red
Cross Society has made an international
appeal for aid for the inhabitants of the
island. Armed insurgents are able to ob
tain provisions by going to the coast for
supplies, but the people living Inland are
destitute.
A dispatch from Retlmo states that the
Russian consul at that place to-day vis
ited the town of Atsipopulo, for the pur
pose of communicating to the insurgents
the proclamation recently issued by the
foreign admirals announcing the Intention
of the six great powers to establish an
, autonomous form of government, and also
r to ihvlte the insurgents to lay down their
arms. His attempt was as unsuccessful
as those heretofore made in the same di
rection by the admirals and their repre
sentatives.
The insurgents listened patiently to the
consul’s explanation of the benefits that
would accrue to them under the form of
government proposed by the powers, and
then declined to make any concessions
whatsoever. Their leaders declared that
tlrey did not desire autonomy, feeling that
it would prove as farcical as the previous
attempts to establish self-government in
the island. They had taken up their arms
to drive the Turks from the island and
to bring about annexation with Greece.
They desired to be placed under the gov
ernment of King George, and they firmly
declared that annexation was the only
thing that they would accept.
It being impossible for Col. Vassos, the
commander of the Greek troops in Crete,
to use the cable for the transmission of
dispatches, the admirals having prohibi
ted it, communication with him was es
ritbßßhed a day or so ago by means of
flash signals byway of the Island of
Antlcythera. To-day Col. Vassos .sent to
King George the following message by
heliograph: "Alikiana, March 31.—Sire:
Contrary to their promises, the admirals
allowed the Mussulmans at Kandamos to
depart with their arms, their aim being
pillage and incendiarism. On the other
hand fvery act of the Christians in self
defense provokes bombardments.
"Mixed detachments yesterday occupied
and re-victualled Anernballi.
“The Turks have blockaded Fort Kissa
mot Kastelli.
“The dispatches sent by the admirals to
their governments accusing me of cruelty,
declaring that I massacred prisoners at
Malaxa and stating that I intend to at
tack Canea. despite my solemn declara
tions, are false.
“I shall address an energetic protest to
thte adfhirals.”
Paris, March 31.—The report that the
powers have decided upon a partial block
ade of Greece to begin almost immediately
is confirmed here upon authority which
may be regarded as official.
Vienna, March 31.—1 tis understood here
that Great Britain does not desire that
the blockade of the ports of Crete shall be
continued. The admirals commanding
the warships of other foreign nations in
Cretan waters, however, desire the con
tinuance of the blockade, and that a
blockade of the Aegean gulf be also es
tablished. This last proposal, it is believ
ed, will be adhered to by the continental
powers, provided England's assent to it
can be obtained.
Constantinople, March 31.—1 t is reported
'here that negotiations have been passing
between Turkey and Greece, looking to a
settlement of the Cretan troubles.
Whether these tiegotiationa have taken
place since those that were reported in
the middle of March or the report is a re
vival of the old story, does not appear™,
St. Petersburg. March 31.—The proposal
that has been made that a European be
selected as governor of Crete and that
the Turkish troops be withdrawn from
the island has not been accepted by all
the powers. It is the general opinion nere
that it is not likely to be accepted. Some
‘ of the powers are still insisting that the
4
1 WEEKLY 2-TIMSS-A-WEEK JI A YEAR ) AT/A
4 5 CENTS A COPY. t IN G
I DAILY, $lO A YEAR. |
withdrawal of the Greek forces now in
the island is a necessary preliminary to
the establishment of the new regime, that
is to say, an autonomous form of govern
ment, that the powers have proposed to
replace Turkish rule.
Canea, March 31.—A force of insurgents
occupied the hillside south of Suda Bay
last night. The position was rather an
exposed one, and the ins drgents were
compelled to withdraw by a warm fire
poured into their ranks by the British,
Austrian and Russian warships, moored
in the bay. This afternoon, however, the
insurgents attempted to recover their
grounds and the firing became very heavy.
WEATHER BUREAU BULLETINS.
Cold Facts About the Rise and Fall
of the Flood.
Washington, March 31.—Gen. Wilson,
chief of engineers, received the following
telegram this morning from Lieut. New
comer, army engineer officer in charge at
Memphis: “Three crevasses are reported
in the lower Yazoo levee district—one at
Deerfield, Northern Lake Lee, Sunday
night; one opposite Island Seventy Mon
day afternoon; one near Stop Landing,
Choctaw bend, this morning?'
The Mississippi river commission now
in sesssion at New Orleans, requested to
be informed promptly by telegraph when
President McKinley signs the joint reso
lution of congress making $250,000 imme
diately available for work on the river
between its head and mouth. The com
mission desires to spend the money at
once, believing that prompt action at this
time will save many lives and much prop
erty.
The weather bureau has issued the fol
lowing special bulletin: “The following
reports have been received from weather
bureau officials in charge of river dis
tricts:
“ ‘Memph's, Tenn., March 31.—A severe
break has occurred just south of Gunni
son, Miss., making four on the Mississippi
front. It is believed that the whole region
from Australia south to Vicksburg will be
inundated. Helena, Rosedale and Green
ville are in great danger. Gunnison is
flooded badly. The flow out of the St.
Francis is increasing. No further rise is
looked for at Memphis.
“ 'Helena, Ark., March 31.—The rise is
over three inches in twenty-four hours for
a day or two. The‘levees are holding for
thirty miles below Helena. We can hold
one foot or more in Helena. Destruction
is going on below, and will probably get
worse.
“ ‘Cairo, 111., March 31.—Sipe water
continues increasing, and has risen about
one inch during the past twenty-four
hours. Many one-story houses in the
lower portion of the city have been evac
uated, otherwise the situation remains the
same as reported Tuesday afternoon.
“'St. Louis, Mo., March dll.—Tbe rivers
rtlie. St. Louis district will remain nearly r
a day or two. The rain to- r
day wilTchi'W the fall, but will probably
not cause another rise within that time.
“ ‘Vicksburg, Miss., March 31.— N0 re
ports of crevasses are anticipated this
morning. The crevasses already report
ed will be very disastrous in the delta.
Heavy rains and a thunderstorm prevail
at this hour—lo:3o.
“ ‘New Orleans, La., March 31.—N0
breaks are reported this morning. The
crevasse on Bayou La Fourche, near Race
land, of yesterday, will cause on>y local
damage and will relieve the pressure on
the lower bayou levees some. Brisk
southerly winds with rain now’ falling lo
cally is causing some wave wash, but no
damage is yet reported?
“During the past twenty-four hours the
following average rainfall in tenths Inches
has occurred over the respective river ba
sins, viz.: Ohio, 1; Central Mississippi,
4; Arkansas and Lower Missouri, 6.
“The Missouri, Ohio, Cumberland, Ten
nessee and Lower Arkansas rivers have
fallen slowly. The Mississippi has risen
from St. Paul to Dubuque, being 1.1 feet
above the danger line at Lacrosse, fallen
from Davenport to below Cairo, and risen
slightly from Memphis to the mouth, ex
cept at Arkansas City, where it has fallen
0.7 of a foot, due to the break in the levee
near that place. The Red and and Upper
Arkansas have risen, f
“Willis L. Moore, Chief of Bureau.”
TWO BACK FROM CUBA.
Carlos Scott and Edward Nelson
Exiled by the Spanish.
New York, March 31.—0 n board the
Ward line steamer Orizaba, which ar
rived this morning from Mexico and Ha
vana was Carlos D. Scott, who was ar
rested by the authorities oh the charge
of circulating “Cuba Libre” postage
stamps. Nothing was proved against
him, and, after being fourteen days in
prison, he was put on board the Orizaba
and allowed to depart. Scott’s father
was a New Yorker, who established an
iron foundry in Havana and married
there. Scott is, therefore, an American
citizen. He speaks little English.
Another passenger on the Orizaba was
Edward Nelson, aged 18 years, 6t New
York city. He left New York on the
last outward trip of the Orizaba with the
intention of joining the Cuban army, but
he was arrested while trying to make his
way out of the city of Havana to the in
surgents’ headquarters, and sent back in
custody of the Spanish authorities. Con
sul General Lee interfered in his behalf,
and he was released on condition that he
would leave Havana and return to New
York.
A NEW SUGAR COMPANY.
It Is to Refine mid Sell Sugar in Op
position to. the Trust.
Albany, N. Y„ March 31.—The "New
York Sugar Refining Company" of Long
Island City, the Docscher Company, to op
erate in opposition to the sugar trust, was
incorporated by the secretary of state to
day. The company will carry on the busi
ness of manufacturing, refining, purchas
ing, selling and disposing of all kinds of
sugar, molasses, syrups and other mate
rials used in the refining of sugar. The
company will begin business with 3200,000.
LEE NOT GRANTED LEAVE.
No Action Looking; to ills Relief
From Havana Taken.
Washington, March 31.—The state de
partment declares that Consul General
Lee has not been granted a leave of ab
‘poqsnqnd ee ‘si ipdv loajja oj 'aunas
or any other date. Gen. Lee has not asked
for leave, and no action looking to his re
lief at Havana or to the acceptance of his
resignation has been taken.
MONDAYS
-AND
THURSDAYS
FLOOD’S FURY STILL FEARED.
THE SITUATION DAILY GROWING
MORE EXCITING.
New Orleans Reports It Probable
That the Worst Has Not Yet Been
Experienced—Greenville Still Dry
and the Water in Front of the City
Lowered by Breaks at Distant
Points—The State Convict Farms
Under Water and the Extent of the
Disaster Beyond Computation.
Jackson, Miss., March 31.—The condi
tion of affairs in the Mississippi valley
grows daily more exciting, and it is prob
able the worst has not been experienced.
One or two more big breaks, one of them
1,000 feet wide, occurred in Bolivar county
last night, and the waters from the last
joining forces with the other three
streams, are now rushing towards the
south, carrying destruction to houses,
barns, gins, fencing, live stock, etc.
'Fortunately, the people of the delta had
taken time by the forelock, and had either
secured their horses and cattle on high
points and mounds, or had driven them
out to the Toot hills, where they will re
main till the waters subside. No efforts
are being made to stop the breaks, they
hiving gotten beyond human control, and
xyork in that direction is fruitless, but
every possible energy is directed towards
the preservation and strengthening of
miles and miles of mushy banks still
standing.
Capt. J. J. Evans, president of the state
railroad commission, and Warden Mc-
Laurin of the penitentiary, returned last
nights rom Greenville, in which vicinity
they have been for a week or more di
recting the labor of 650 convicts in pre
venting the breaks and overflow, and re
port that the state farms, eleven in all,
are now under water, or> will be by to
morrow, and that the extent of the disas
ter is'beyond all computation.
So far the levees around Greenville have
stood the strain. No breaks are reported
within less than ten miles on either side
and as the river, on account of four
breaks above, has fallen nearly two feet
in front of the city, there is good chance
that she will escape the awful calamity
that has been so strongly threatened for a
week.
News was afloat here this morning that
Greenville was six feet under water, com
ing from breaks above, but private ad
vices received later in the day say the
town is still dry. \
Traffic on the Yazoo and Mississippi
jValley, a part of the Illinois Central sys
tem, has been about suspended
above Vicksburg, and there is no Jelling
When a train will< be able to get all the
’ way through again!* . * -
News from all points along the river at
Vicksburg, Natchez and other places, is
that the people are working like demons
to hold their levees until the breaks above
reduce the volume of water In the mam
channel. They have great faith In their
ability to hold out, but the weather to
night, being stormy and blustery,
pan led by thunder showers, is not of 4'
nature to Inspire confidence or lend en
couragement. v
Helena, Ark., March 31.—Telephone
messages say that the Westover levee is
still standing, but there are slender hopes
of saving It. Rumor has it that the La
conia circle levee has broken or is about
to break.
The government rescue steamboat, Ti
tian, due east last night, is not yet in. It
is rumored she anchored five barges of
refugees oft Old Town and them turned
back to Laconia to save life and proper
ty at that point.
On Board Launch Rescue, Arkansas
City, Ark., March 31.—The steamer Kate
Adams saved nearly 300 souls from the re
lentless flood last night, at Rosedale and
Laconia. The break at Dennis, several
miles above Rosedale, has sent the water
down that way and threatened everybody
in town. The water Is now within a short
distance of Rosedale. No power on earth
can save It, and homes, stores and mills
will be swept away within twenty-four
hours. Men by hundreds fought the river
as long as possible, but the river was too
strong.
Breaks above have relieved the pressure
at Arkansas City.
Water from Eaton is now rushing with
frightful speed towards Greenville, Miss.
There is another break at Wayside, sev
eral miles below. The people of Arkansas
City say they will hold the levee.
STRUCK DEAD BY LIGHTNING.
A Planter and His Horse Instantly
Killed in Louisiana.
New Orleans, March 31.—A special to tha
Daily States from Baton Rouge, says:
"Hon. James L. Lobdell, a prosperous
young planter livng in the parish of West
Baton Rouge, several miles from this city,
was killed by lightning about 7 o’clock
this morning.
“Mr. Lobdell had been in the field super
intending plantation work and was re
turning to his residence accompanied by
two of his plantation hands, when he and
his horse were instantly killed by light
ning. The two negroes were stunned, but
were otherwise unhurt. Mr. Lobdell was
at one time register of the state land of
fice and had many friends in this city and
throughout the state.”
CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
Nominations of Brislow, Evans and
Ryan Go Through.
Washington. March 31.—The Senate to
day confirmed the following nominations:
Joseph L. Brislow of Kansas to be
fourth assistant postmaster general.
Henry Clay Evans of Tennessee to be
commissioner of pensions.
Thomas Ryan of Kansas to be first as
sistant secretary of the Interior.
Frank W. Palmer of Illinois to be public
printer.
RAILROAD ORDERED SOLD.
The Peoria, Decatur and Evansville
to Go on the Block.
Springfield. 111., March 31.—Judge Allen
of the United States court has issued cn
order for the sale of the Peoria, Decatur
and Evansville railroad, unless the Inter
est due on 31,700,000 is not paid before May
3. The sale will be conducted in Lincoln,
XII., by Special Master C. S. Brown.