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2 ■■HUB. Attack on Forts and Ships Reported Begun. AMERICANS GET ADVANTAGE Guns Turned on Cervera After . Silencing Forts. WASHINGTON GETS NOWORD Navy Department Don't Believe B tile Has Begun. t Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press. Cape Haytien, May 31, 5:15 p. m.—Ad vices just received from Havana say that since 2 o’clock this afternoon the American fleet at Santiago de Cuba has been can nonading the batteries of Morro Castle, La Zeeapa and Punta Gorda. At the same time, it is added, the Ameri can ships have been engaged with the Spanish warships. The firing was ex tremely heavy. At 3:45 p. m. the cannonading became leas heavy against the fortifications, but was more accentuated in the locality where the fleets were engaged. Morro Castle is at the entrance of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, La Zeeapa also shown on the maps as La Zeeapa Cas tle, is a short distance inside the harbor entrance, and Punta Gorda is situated on a point well inside the harbor of Santiago de Cuba showing that the American fleet has entered the harbor according to the Havana advices via Cape Haytien, and has engaged the Spanish fleet. ADVANTAGES WITH AMERICANS. lint tie Still in Proper e** After Hoard of Fighting. Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press: Cape Haytien, May 31, 6:40 p. m.—At this hour the Santiago cable is still work ing from Santiago. Private messages intimate that there has been a severe fight between the Amer ican fleet and the outer fortifications and the Spanish fleet. The fight lasted the greater part of the afternoon. The advantage appears to have been with the Americans. „ „ According to the latest advices the con bat is still in progress. HEARD THE CANNONADING. * hound of the flattie Heard nt Cape Haytien. Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press: Cape Haytien, Hayti, May 31.—Persons who climbed Ixiokout mountain, at the entrance of Cape Haytien harbor, this afternoon declare that they heard can nonading low but distinct to the west and to the north beyond Tortuga Island. The correspondent of the. Associated Press who was at the signal station about the same time also heard sounds resemb ling a cannonade. The wind was in the right direction to carry the detonation to him. It. Mt>mu certain that the fleet the Hay ’ tien gunboat saw passing Cape Mays! going northward found its opportunity of turning backward across the front of rn opposing force. MORE SHIPS GOING TO SCHLEY. Five Vessels sighted off Mole St. Nirholns. Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press. Cape Haytien, Hayti, May 31, 11 a, m.— The Haytien dispatch gunboat Capois la Mort, which arrived here from Port an Prince at 8 o'clock this morning, having the minister of public works on board, seems io have sighted five American war ships while (Msslng (he Mole St. Nich olas yeateixiay afternoon. The correspondent here of the Associated Press haa just interviewed the officer of the Capo! la Mort and learns that at about 3 o’clock yesterday, when the gunboat was about abreast of (ho Mole, columns of black smoke were espied on the horizon, on st by north, from her bridges. The ships were about thirteen miles dis tant and their hulls could not be fairly made out, but all appearances indicated that several vessels were of great ton nage.’ The fleet seemed to be making north ward with all speed, past the eastern end of Cuba, and while the officers of t'he Capois la Mort were observing the ves sels they were gradually lost to view be hind the protruding outlines O s Cape Maysi. It la hardly to be doubted that th* shl|>e sighted were American war ves sels. HAMPSON'S SHIPS IN IT. Fire Directed Principally Agnlnst the Farts and Harbor. Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press Port au Prince. Hayti, May 31. 8 p. m About 3 o’clock (his afternoon an Ameri can squadron, composed of about fourteen warships, of which the cruiser New York displayed the flag of Rear Admiral Samp son. and a number of torpedo boats, began <* bombardment with heavy guns of the fort* and the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The American fine was directed princi pally against the forts and the harbor. The torts of Morro Castle, I_a Zocapa and Punta Gorda suffered especially. The cannonading was very persistent, and cannot have failed to be destructive. It lasted until SV> o’clock this afternoon The town, which is satuatvd near the in ner and of the harbor, escaped damage. At I.tt the cannonading diuunisbed. 'Salt Rheum Intense Suffering—Could Not Sleep —Cured by Hood’s Sarsaparilla. “ I had salt rheum on my arms, which itched intensely and kept me from sleep ing. The skin on my hands would crack open. My friends believed I was suffer ing from blood poisoning. I decided to take Hood’s Sarsaparilla. I did not see any improvement with the first bottle but continued with the medicine and after taking five bottles I was completely cured. My hands are now as smooth as I could wish.” t A. D. Haoey, Elroy, Pa. Hood’s Sarsaparilla Is the best—in fact the One True Blood Purifier. Sold by all druggists, gl; six for 85. •_» «, rvii are prompt, efficient and IlOOu S HlllS easy in effect. 25cents. 1*1! ■—»— i i m About 3 o’clock cannon discharges were heard at a distance (presumably at sea) continuing some time, when the firing ceased .completely. The Spanish authorities maintain strict silence as to the number of victims, who were apparently numerous. According to advices from a Spanish source, fourteen American warships and two torpedo boats were engaged in the combat. A very careful fire was directed against the batteries of Morro castle until 3:45, when discharges of cannon began to be heard a;t sea off the port. These discharges continued until 4 o’clock and then entirely ceased. From the Spanish account it is Impossi ble to judge as to the exact merits of the encounter. DISCREDITED AT WASHINGTON. Navy Department Confident Battle Hasn’t Taken Place. Washington, May 31.—Naval officials here absolutely discredit the reports sent from Cape Haytien stating that Commo dore Schley forced the entrance to Santi ago bay and engaged the Spanish fleet in the harbor. The latest official advices received from Commodore Schley were contained In a ca blegram which came late this afternoon, and In it the commodore gives no indica tions of an intention to try to enter the harbor of Santiago. I While the contents of the dispatch were not made public, tlje bulletin issued upon it by the navy department indicates that Commodore Schley is still endeavoring to determine just what Spanish vessels are in the harbor. The bulletin says: “Commodore Schley’s fleet has sighted another vessel of the Vizcaya class in San tiago harbor.” The naval officers declare that Commo dore Schley would not endeavor to force his way into the harbor in view of the great difficulties of navigation, which would have to be surmounted in the effort. LONDON SHAKES OFF LETHARGY. News of Rattle Not Discredited in the Brlfifth Metropolis. London, June 1, 5 a. m. —The news of the fighting at Santiago de Cuba has revived the dwindling interest In the war. It is suggested that the Americans may be bombarding the forts in order to cover the laying of mines, or the sinking of hulks to blpckade the channel. Credence is given the report that Ad miral Cervera tried to run the blockade before the arrival of Gen. Shafter’s expe dition. It is not believed that Commodore Schley would venture to imitate Admiral Dewey’s feat at Manila. Everything, so far as Spain is concern ed, is now held to depend on Admiral Ca mara’s movements; and unless, as is un likely, he is able to display masterly skill, it is evident that the bold strategy of the Spaniards will only result in the destruc tion of their fleet detail. A second reserve squadron could not btf prepared for months, as the vessels recent ly mentioned by the Madrid press are all in a backward state at Ferrol, Cadiz and Cartagena, except the Numancia and the Vittoria and the Dona Maria de Molina, which could be ready in a few weeks. Advices from Barcelona by mail to the Daily Chronicle, says: “Alongside the iron clad Numancia, orders to hurry the prepa ration of which have just been received, lies (he Covadonga of the Compania- Transatlantlc line. Her foremast and two funnels have been painted black, and she is ready to go to her armament. “The lain de Panay, ‘which is unloading, will be the next prepared, and after her will come the Jova Serra. “As additional defenses at Barcelona, the Spaniards are hastllj erecting six large guns dated 1881, which have just been mounted at Barcelona. "Three hundred engineers arc construct ing new batteries at Barcelona, under Moiitjuich fortress, in a corner unobserva ble from the harbor. Three immense guns are said to be a part of the battery. “All Barcelona is heartily sick of the war. The people regard it as merely a con tinuation of the Cuban war.” WARSHIPS OFF JAMAICA. Vcaaela Movlna Westward and Br lleved to lie Sampnon’a. London. June 1. 6a. rw—A dispatch from Kingston to the Daily Mail says: “A large American squadron, supposed to te Rear Admiral Sampson’s, was seen to day. off Port Antonio, on the north roast of Jamaica, 25 miles? west of Moral Poln* the eastern extremity of the island, steam ing westward.” Santiago < able Cut. Key Y\ est, May 31, 13:40 p. m.—News re ceived here to-day from off Santiago de Cuba says the auxiliary cruiser St. Paul has cut the cable off that port. NEW MINISTER TO Tt RKF.Y. Name of O*car S. Straus of New York Sent to Senate. Washington. May 31.—The President to day sent the following nominations to the Senate: Oscar S. Straus of New York to be min ister to Turkey. Sixth Regiment, United States Volunteer Infantry—to Be Lieutenant Colonel— First Lieutenant Andrew S. Rowan, Nineteenth United States Infantry. To Ke Commissaries of Substance, with Rank of Major— Robert Lee Longstreet of Georgia. Evelyn S. Garnett of Arkansas. Oaten tn Go to ChieknniauKa. Washington. May 31.—Brig. Gen. Oates, ex-governor of Alabama, will be assigned to duty with one of the army corps at Camp George 11. Thomas, Ciuckamaugx THE WEEKLY NEWS (TWO-TIMES-A-WEEK): THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1898. MAY ATTACK TWO POINTS. SANTIAGO AND SAN JUAN MAY BOTH BE TAKEN. Government Relieved to Have n Suf ficient Number of Regulars and Well-Seasoned Volunteers to Carry Out Roth Projects—The War From Thia Time to Be Prosecuted at All Points With the Utmost Vigor. Washington, May 31.—When the cabi net meeting adjourned to-day it was an nounced that the matters under discussion were not of vital importance, nor was there anything of interest that could be given tb the public. The best information obtainable from other sources, however, strongly indicates that the important military movement now in progress will be directed against San tiago, and in co-operation with the fleet under Commodore Schley and the allied insurgent forces. Our forces are expected to speedily capture the city of Santiago and the fleet, or destroy both. It is also Intimated from high sources that the land expedition now embarking at Key West may be divided, and one di vision sent to co-operate with Admiral Sampson against Porto Rico. It is believed that the government now has a sufficient number of regulars and seasoned volunteers to carry out both of these plans to a successful issue. Transports in sufficient numbers and ca pacity already have been secured, and it is the opinion of high officials that one or both of these plans are now being earned into execution. Gen. Miles, who left here last night to take command of the military forces, is known to have the entire confidence of the President, who in the course of to-day’s cabinet meeting, said in effect that he had the utmost confidence in Gen. Miles’ abil ity as a soldier and fully expected that he would prove entirely worthy of his trust. Members of the administration are agreed that the war from this time will be prosecuted at all points with the utmost vigor. The President has begun to prepare to help the families of the insurgents and re concentrados who still drag out a miser able existence. Should it become neces sary the genera] of the army has prepared an estimate of $5,000,000 for the purchase of sufficient supplies to feed 150,000 recon centrados for six months. For the time being, it is felt that the 'real field of action is removed from Wash ington and is centered with the troops, now advancing under orders here,and with our ships. The time of preparation has gone by and it remains only for the prepara tions to be carried into effect. There will continue to be much routine detail In the maintenance of the large mil itary and naval force, but this is now in well established channels. The more vi tal feature of the campaign itself has been fully matured. To a certain extent the military and na val operations will be directed from Wash ington, and yet with Gen. Miles of the South and Admiral Sampson and Commo dore Schley in Cuban waters they will have most to do with the time and circum stances of attack. The commanders, na val and military, have been given latitude, as the authorities here fully appreciate that battles cannot be fought.in advance on paper. The consular reports issued to-day con tain some additional declarations of neu trality, this time from Brazil. Japan, Brit ish Guiana, St. Lucia and Gibraltar. It is noticeable that both Brazil and Japan go out of the way of the usual formal preamble to express regret at the outbreak of hostilities between the United States and Spain. Bermuda modifies her original proclam ation of April 23, so as to make the rule relative to supplying provisions, subsist ence and coal to belligerent ships con form closely to the very severe English rules on that subject. The Japanese proclamation is rather re markable from the great exactness with which it prescribes the rules that are to govern Japanese subjects in their dealings with the belligerents and the treatment that will be accorded belligerent ships. The proclamation evidently was prepared with great care and may serve as a model for the guidance of diplomats of all na tions. The board of naval bureau chiefs Is try ing to hasten the work of construction of the battleships authorized by the present naval appropriation bill. The Illinois type upon which the new vessels are to be con structed, will occupy about three years in construction. After a conference to-day the bureau chiefs, presumably with knowledge of the constructive ability of the American ship yards capable of undertaking this work, resolved to reduce the time allowed for building the new ships to a maximum of thirty-two months. The navy department bought another yacht to-day. the Inquirer, at New York, for use in the auxiliary flee!, by which term the Mosquito fleet will be designated in accordance witli the terms of the recent ly enacted act on the subject. SI’BPECTKD OF POISONING. Spaniard* Believed to Have Tamper ed With Fifth at Manila. Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press. Hong Kong, May 31.—According to mail advices to the correspondents of the Asso ciated Press, dated May 27, there is serious sickness on board the United States cruiser Boston. It is believed that the Spaniards poisoned the fish. Rear Admiral Dewey promised to refrain from bombarding on condition that the Spaniards refrained from strengthening their defenses. On Sunday, the 22d inst., they were observed violating the pledge, and Admiral Dewey fired as a warning. The work was stopped. Nobody was hurt. SHIP ORDERED FROM MANILA. Admiral Dewey Relieved <o Have Contemplated Some Action. London. May 31,—The owners of the British ehip Genista, which has been load ing at Manila, have received a cable dis- ! patch dated May 34, saying Rear Admiral ' Dewey has ordered the vessel to leave the port, from which it is conjectured that the American commander contemplated some action. TORPEDOES FOR MANILA HARBOR. House Asked to Make Another Heavy Appropriation. \\ ashington. May 31.—The Secretary ot ar sent to the House to-day a recom nx’nda:wn for funds for harbor defenses and other worie in carrying on the war, aggregating many millions of dollars. Among other items was a significant brief one recommending an appropriation of slso.vto for torpedo defense of Manila har bor. Philippine Islands, to be available un til expended. CHICK IMAI G A’S VOLUNTEERS. Only Eight RcKiment* Yet Under Or der* to Leave. Chickamauga National Park May XL Much to the diappointmer.t of a number of volunteer regiments here who think they are ready to go to the front, no orders were received to move any of the commands additional to those mentioned yesterday. The Southern and the Western and At lantic Railroads were instructed to move four regiments to-morrow morning. In accordance with tins order, the following, regiments have been designated to move to-morrow: First District of Columbia, One Hun dred and Fifty-seventh Indiana, Second New York and First Ohio Infantry. The Fifth Maryland, Sixty-ninth New York, Third Pennsylvania and First Illi nois will leave Thursday morning. Orders have been issued and are expect ed to-morrow from Washington that all regiments of volunteers be recruited to the full strength of 1.307 officers and men, and recruiting officers are to be detailed at once to secure these recruits. George Schwarts, private, Company D of Pennsylvania, of Allentown, died to day. The cause of his death was pneumo nia. Private Schwarts’ brother was with him. and the remains will be taken home to-night for interment. The First Mississippi Infantry, compris ing 1,000 officers and men, in command of Col. George Govpn, arrived to-day. An incident of the arrival of the Mississ ippians created considerable enthusiasm. When their trains arrived at the central depot there were several hundred of the Northern and Western volunteers there waiting for the park trains. The South erners got out of the train and gave their Northern comrades “the rebel yell,” by way of assuring them that they were ready to fight with them to the last ditch. FITZHUGH LEE AT JACKSONVILLE. General Ha* a Talk With Gen. Miles at the Latter’s Train. Jacksonville, May 31.—Gen. Fitzhugh Lee arrived in this city from Tampa early this evening and his welcome amounted to an ovation. Hundreds crowded the station as his train rolled in and cheer on cheer greeted him as he stepped from Mr. Plant’s private car, which had been placed at his disposal. A committee of prominent citizens met him and he was escorted to the Seminole club, where he was entertained for an hour by his old friends here. No formal demon stration was attempted, as he had express ed his strong aversion to such a welcome. He was driven later to the Windsor Ho tel, which will be his headquarters in this city. He was accompanied by four members of his staff, Capt. R. E. L. Michie, as sistant adjutant general; Lieut. Col. Custis Guild, Jr., inspector general; Lieut. L. M. Maus, chief surgeon, and Lieut. Col. Ol iver E. Wood, chief of commissary. The aides of his personal staff, Lieut. AlgerOn Sartoris, Fitzhugh Lee, Jr., and Cartos Carbonell, are expected to arrive from Washington tomorrow. Later in the evening, accompanied by several members of his staff and other military officers, at present located here, Gen. Lee went to the terminal station and paid their respects to Gen. Miles and his party, during their stay in the city, en route to Tampa. The two generals en joyed half an hour’s conversation in Gen. Miles’ private car, but nothing was given out for publication. Gen. Miles was shown the latest dis patches regarding war news by an As sociated Press correspondent and express ed his gratification at what was shown him. .. .CAPTURED. r Bound From Rto Janeiro to San Jutin With Coal. Key West, Fla., May 31.—Another prize has been captured. She is the Spanish bark Maria Dolores of Bilbao. She was overhauled by one of the Ameri can cruisers six miles off Porto Rico. She was bound from Rio Janeiro to San Juan de Porto Rico, with coal. Some cases, supposed to contain ammu nition, were found under the coal. The Maria Dolores was captured about 6 o’clock on the morning of May 21. A prize crew was put on board and the ves sel was sent to Charleston. The report of the capture was brought by a cruiser which arrived here to-day. I GORDON CONFIRMED. Nomination of Fred D. Grant Also Favorably Acted Upon. Washington, May 31. The Senate in executive session to-day con firmed the following nominations: To be Brigadier Generals—Fred D. Grant of New York; W. W. Gordon of Georgia. , To be Second Lieutenants-^Albert J. Dil lon of Florida. When Col. Gordon’s name was reached in the executive session Senator Bacon spoke of the excellence of the appoint ment and the high character of the man and Col. Gordon was promptly confirmed by uitanimous vote of the Senate. SICKNESS AMONG SOLDIERS. Many Member* of the 71»t New York in the Hospital. Tampa, Fla., May 31.—There is consid erable sickness among the soldiers of the Seventy-first New York volunteers, and although only one fatality has ocurred so far, several members of the regiment are seriously ill. Seventeen of them are now under the care of the regimental physi cian< Moot of the sickness is due to the change of weather, although long hours of drill ing in the intense heat, to which the Northerners are unaccustomed, have re sulted in several prostrations. ALL ABOUT Al GUSTA. Snpplle* Sent Soldier*—Broker* • F'lghtlns License Ta*. Augusta, Ga„ May 31.—Dr. Lansing Bur rows, chaplain of the Sixth Regiment, and Capt. Porter Fleming of the Ogiethorpes, > went to Tampa to-night with a large stock of clothing and groceries and $275 in money for the volunteers from Augusta, now with Col. Brown’s regiment at Tampa. In the Superior Court to-day. Judge Cal laway rendered a decision in a test case, in which there was much local interest, and which may bear upon like conditions in other cities. In levying the tax for the year, the city of Augusta fixed a business tax upon curbstone brokers, who sell from samples and order goods only for purchasers, car rying no stock themselves, and usually having nothing more than desk room in an office. Messrs. Walton & Carr made a test case against the city, and ail the com mission brokers joined in. the defense be ing that the tax was an interference with interstate commerce. Judge Callaway de cided that the brokers were in business lor themselves in Augusta, and were not earning on interstate commerce; and held the tax to be legally imposed. The ease will be carried up to the Supreme Court. EXPEDITION LANDS IN CUBA. CARRIES ARMS AND AMMUNITION TO THE INSURGENTS. Over 4CO Men and a Big Pack Train in the Party—Expedition Equipped to Make a Stubborn Fight on Its Own Account—Capt. J. A, Dorst the Representative of the United States Army—Party Greeted by 1,500 Armed Insurgents on Land ing. Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press. Key West, iMay 31.—Over 400 men, with a pack train and a large quantity of arms and ammunition, sailed for Cuba on the Plant line steamer Florida on the night of May 21. These men and the equipment constitut ed an expedition able to operate independ ently and Vo defend itself against any body of Spanish troops which might op pose it. The expedition was under the command of Col. Jos Lacrete, formerly insurgent commander in Matanzas province. He as sumed the direction of affairs immediately on the landing of the expedition. Until then Gen. Joaquin Castillo was in control. In the landing of the expedition the United States army was represent ed by • Capt. J. A. Dorst and Thomas Estrada Palma was represented by J. E. Cartaya, who has been the land ing agent of nearly every filibustering ex pedition for more than a year. Messrs. Castillo, Cartaya and Dorst will return to Key West. Gen. Julio Sanguilly, on the way to re port to Gen. Maximo Gomez, was also on the boat. This is the most powerful anti-Spanish expedition ever sent to Cuba. About 300 of the men are Cubans; the others are Americans. The engineer corps of the ex pedition is composed entirely of Americans under Aurelian Ladd. The men were dressed in canvas uni forms furnished by the United States gov ernment, and the commissary department had rations enough to last fifteen days after the landing. The pack train consisted of seventy-five mules and twenty-five horses. The expedi tion carried 7,000 rifles and 2,000,000 rounds of ammunition for Gen. Calixto Garcia. The expedition is composed of hardy young fellows, who looked fit for any thing. The expedition was convoyed by the cruiser Marblehead, the torpedo boat de stroyer Eagle and other warships. Two younger brothers of the late Gen. Nestor Aranguerren are with the expedi tion. The expedition was landed on the coast of Cuba on Thursday morning; May 26. When the Florida, escorted by the Osce ola, drew up close to the shore at the place selected for the landing, she sent scouts to see if all was clear. These scouts were greeted by Gens. Feria and Rojas with some 1,500 armed insurgents. Consequently, far from there being any hostite demonstration upon the part of the Spaniards, the landing df the expedi tion was in the nature of a triumphal in vasion. The Cubans, who were in waiting for the party, had a brass band, and wel comed the newcomers with national airs. The work of unloading the cargo of the Florida was promptly begun and carried on by the 432 men composing the expedi tion. There was nothing in the nature of an Interruption. The work was finished'on Friday. While the cargo was being unloaded tne Osceola, an auxiliary gunboat, with her guns ready for action, scouted about the vicinity looking for an enemy, but the Spaniards apparently had no suspicion ot what was taking place. So easily was the dangerous mission accomplished that while some members of the party were getting the supplies ashore, others were providing themselves with fruit, sugar and other products of the landing place, a large stoefc of which was brought back for Key West friends. Nevertheless, no precautionary measure was neglected, and the moment the work was concluded, the Florida and the Osce ola slipped away, leaving the insurgents to convoy their reinforcements into the Interior, which it is confidently expected was done without any casualty. The returning members of the Florida party brought with them several hundred private letters, which, it is understood, give a complete insight into the present conditions prevailing in the blockaded Island. The local Cuban colony is elated over the astonishing success of the expedition. At the Cuban landing place people crowded about trying to exchange fruit for clothes and shoes, of which they stand in great need. When the Florida arrived at Key West she had a large Cuban flag hanging over the railing of her upper deck and a yellow flag flying. The health officer delayed the landing of Capt. Dorst and Gen. Castillo and others for several hours. The expedition landed a large quantity of bacon ns well as army rations. GARCIA’S ARMY 10,000 STRONG. An Additional 5,000 on the Coast Near Manati. Key West, May 31, 2:30 p. m.—Couriers from Cuba to-day Iwought highly encour aging reports from Gen. Calixto Garcia’s army. Garcia, alone, it is said, has 10,000 men, better equipped than ever before, except in the matter of clothing, and they are in excellent spirits. Five thousand men, it is added, occupy territory along the northern coast, near Manati. The Spanish troops have withdrawn to Santiago, Holquin and Manzanillo, and Gen. Garcia’s still hold district headquar ters at Bayamo. Gen. Menocal has been obliged to aban don his contemplated attack on Holquin,- province of Santiago de Cuba, Gen. Luque of the Spanish army having thrown 10,000 men into the city and strongly fortified the neighboring hills. Thomas Collazo, Juan Miguel Portuondo and Capt. Cardenas left Banes in a small boat recently for Nassau, bearing dis patches from Gen. Garcia to the United ■States authorities. Recruit* Leave Atlanta. Atlanta, Ga., May 31— Two hundred re cruits left Atlanta to-day over the Atlanta and West Point Railroad for Mobile. They are in charge of Lieut. Heavey, and are assigned to the Eleventh Infantry. PRIVATE BILLS PASSED. Life Savina Station* May Be Kept Open Thia Sammer. Washington, May 31.—The House tvas in session one hour and thirty-five minutes to-day. A number of private bills were passed and the House in committee of the whole, considered a bill authorizing the Sec retary of the Treasury to keep open during June and July this year such life-saving stations on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts as he might deem advisable. After some desultory discussion the bill was amended to carry $70,000 instead of $125,000, and passed. The House, at 1:35, adjourned. • WITCHCRAFT TERRORS. Witch Proper Has No Kinship With the Enchnntrwji. From the Humanitarian. The primitive mind, steeped in supersti tion, feeds greedily on witchcraft, and with this thought for a basis Mrs. Step ney Rawson has built an interesting arti cle, from which the following are ex tracts: , The witch proper has neither kinship with the Sybil or enchantress of sacred or classic lore, or the Vala of Norse Saga. There were persons of high standing, and generally summoned by sage, hero or mon arch. The link between such and the or dinary witch of legend is the common con juror or warlock. There were these in plenty, men who began as chemists, and dropped into alchemy and all sorts of mysticism, who started as astronomers and lapsed into mere astrologers. The baser callings, then, as now, were those that pay. Something there doubtless was a.t the bottom of their success, a trick of personality, a trace of the thing loosely defined as “animal magnetism.’’ A cer tain number of wizards suffered fop their willful or unconscious machinations, but the wizard was never so popular as the witch. He was too clever, and assuredly not fluid enough for the devil’s purposes. The history of the real witch begins with the fifteenth century. She is the outcome of the northern imagination; she lurked in clefts with the trolls, and rode on the storm. She is treated at length in the lit erature of the time in which she flour ished (sic): “Some are rich and worldly wise,” wrote James I, of witches, evidently thinking of the fourteenth century Dame Alice Kyteler, and the proud Duchess of Gloucester, or of Mistress Euphemia Ma calzean, daughter of Lord Cliftonhall, the last of whom he brought to justice. “Some,” continues the royal scribe, “are fat and corpulent, and most part are given over to the pleasures of the flesh, and further experience daily proves how loth they are to confess without torture, which witnesseth their guiltiness. It is this mixture of saffron and greedy age and this reveling of the body, that forms so appaling a vision, born of the puerile suggestions of monks and the hysteria of epileptic girls. The witch, it was clearly understood,had a lover,a familiar of brut ish shape, she was served by her imps vampires, in essence, and these imps in cited her daily to fresh and wholly pur poseless malevolence It was not hard to establish such a belief, for the most loath some and grotesque details of the entire creed were furnished by the supposed witches themselves when half insane after torture. The famous Massachusetts persecutions had the strangest beginning. A group of young girls from 12 to 16, some of them servants, all alike belonging to the work ing classes, used to amuse themselves with palmistry and thrilling legends. The cur rent belief in supernatural beings was so vivid that it took very little to make one shiver on a dark night. The children with their heads full of fantasies and fears gradually worked themselves up into a species of frenzy. We are told that they “would creep into holes, make antic ges tures, and utter loud outcries and incoher ent expressions.” The parents became alarmed, the village surgeon. Master Griggs, was summoned, and diagnosed the excitability as “possession.” Then there was a prayer and fasting among the par ents, and any divine that happened to be available was invited to come and assist in quelling the spiritual disturbance. The girls grew quite experts at their work. When they were conjured to name those who had cast the spells,they uttered at random the names of three innocent, neigh bors. Then there was a panic in tfalem. The children were brought irfto court face to face with the accused. Whenever a sen sation seemed to be required the "afflicted children” gave it by counterfeiting delir ium or unconsciousness. The most har rowing of ail these qases is that of Martha Garrler, a Godiy-loving woman, whose young children were forced to witness against her. Their wild statements, prompted by the prosecutors, brought her to her death. After a while the witch ma nia died out, certain eminent New Eng land divines having reluctantly discovered, and as reluctantly confessed, in so many words, that there had been a little mis take somewhere, and that they had been misinformed as to the devil’s intentions. The witch owed her importance as an institution to the clergy. It is not sur prising. The misinterpretation of that single sentence in Exodus, thundered (pre sumably) by Moses: “Thou Shalt not suffer a witch to live,” suffices for any amount of fanaticism, with the confirmation of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. And where heresy showed its head, there was witch hounding rampant. The pursuit of tooth less, babbling hags by bland prelates makes pitiful reading. There were also cases in which the poor and old were not always the quarry. Some ladies, both beautiful and powerful, escaped; others fell. They were the majority, for ac quittal was as rare as recovery from “the pock.” We may note that up to the fifteenth century the government paid little heed to witchcraft. The first state recognition of it was marked by two acts of parlia ment in 1541, declaring sorcery false proph ecy, and the pulling down of crosses a felony. The suspicion of heresy, we note once more, almost invariably started the suspicion of witchcraft. The tardiness of the civil law in this respect may be ac counted for by the fact that it had very little to fear from witchcraft, except where any great person happened to feel himself nastily jogged by the popular su perstition. Indeed, had Elizabeth Barton in the reign of Henry VIII, abstained from suggesting unpleasant things about the duration of that pleasure-loving monarch's existence on the throne and in the flesh, she would never have been hung at Ty burn for sorcery. During the two subse quent reigns there were but few witch trials. Historians seem to be commonly agreed that the energetic Mary was much too busy roasting bigger game to trouble about peasant harridans. Queen Eliza beth's divines, however, did not scruple to remind her that witchcraft was “mar velously increased,” the signs being that "Your grace’s subjects pine away even unto the death, their color fadeth, their flesh rotteth. 1 pray God,” thus the wor thy Jewell, “that they never practice further than upon the subject.” Evident ly the naughty hags did, however, for poor Bess had a woful attack of toothache only twenty years later, of which magic is the suggested agency. CASE INVOLVING 500.000 ACRES. United States Supreme Court Hands Downs a Decision. Washington, May 31.—The United States Supreme Court, through Justice Harlan, to-day rendered an opinion in a case in volving a tract of 500,(00 acres of land in Virginia and West Virginia. The land was patented by the state of Virginia to Robert Morris in 1795. The case was brought by Henry C. King against various claimants to the land. King claiming through transfers from Morris and the defendants resisting on the ground that the Morris grant had been forfeited. The case was decided by the Circuit Court for the District of West Virginia against King's contentions and this view of the case was affirmed by to-day’s de cision. Only that portion of the grant lying in West Virginia was directly involved in the opinion, but it also affects the Vir ginia lands. BUTLER SWEARS ALLEGIANCE. IS TO BE ORDERED TO CAMP ALGER FOR TEMPORARY DUTY. Creation of n. New Military Depart ment to Be Composed of the Statej of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida Among the Probabilities—Gen. Butler Mention ed as Likely to Be placed in Com mand. Washington, May 31.—Maj. Gen. M. C. Butler received his commission to-day, and he is to oe ordered to temporary duty at Camp Alger, to assist Gen. Graham in organizing the forces there. It is the intention of the Secretary of War to create a new military department, composed of states along the South At lantic coast, and place Gen. Butler in com mand. The new department will proba bly consist of North Carolina, South Car olina, Georgia and Florida. The subject is yet undel- advisement, and the location of department headquarters is still unde cided. It is believed there will be a lively competition between Charleston, Savan nah and Atlanta for the privilege of furn ishing the site. Gen. Butler will proceed to his home at Edgefield, S. C., to-morrow, and return here in a few days, and report at Camp Alger. In the meantime the Secretary of War will consider the details connected with the establishment of the new depart ment of the South. The incidents attending the taking of the oath by Gen. Butler at the war depart ment this afternoon were full of interest. Gen. Butler called at the war department and was cordially greeted by Secretary Alger. The newly created major general ,and the Secretary of War indulged in some reminiscences in conversation about the late civil war, when they were leading op posing forces in the Virginia campaign Gen. Alger recalled the fact that Gen Butler rode a white horse, which made him a mark for many of the Michigan riflemen. His horse was shot from un der him, but he escaped unharmed. It was the relating of this incident which in. duced.Gen. Butler to remark that he will go into the present war on a less conspic uous horse. While Gen. Butler‘and Secretary Alger chatted pleasantly about the new duties of the South Carolinian, Adjt. Gen. Corbin went to the White House and obtained the signature of President McKinley to Gen. Butler’s commission. In the meantime the departmental notary entered the sec retary’s office and administered the "iron clad oath” to the ex-Confederate general. Gen. John M. Wilson, chief of engineers, witnessed the ceremony and he remarked that he could not keep back the flood of recollections of the bitter past,as he grasp ed Gen. Butler’s hand, and.warmly con gratulated him upon his appointment. It was a touching incident to see two gallant old soldiers almost moved to tears, so firm is their bond of friendship and patriotic de votion. When Gen. Corbin returned from the ex ecutive mansion, he brought the commis sion and also the pen the President had used in signing it. The pen was presented to Gen. Butler, as a souvenir for his wife. Gen. Butler is overwhelmed with appli cations for staff assignments. These came from South Carolina and Georgia, prin cipally, and ■ they are from men who served with the general in the Confeder ate army, or their sons. Applicants for these positions are bound to be disap pointed, however, as the general will have practically no appointments at his com mand. His staff will have to be taken from officers of the regular army. TIFFANY YELLED ALOUD. Thought a. Tarantula Had Bitten Him—He’s a "Rough Rider.” From the New York Press. San Antonio, Tex., May 21.—For the sec ond time since he has been a rough rider William Tiffany of New York disturbed the camp with cries of distress last night. At about 11 o’clock he rushed out of his tent, shouting that he had been bitten on the finger by a tarantula and frantically ' pleading for somebody t» save his life. Men came tumbling out of their tents all along the line, and, although most of them scouted the idea of there being any tarantulas in this pert of the country, Tiffany insisted on having medical aid and hurried to a surgeon’s tent, followed by a large mob of scantily dressed rough riders. As soon as the surgeon could find out what was the matter the wildly excited sufferer he took Tiffany apart from tho turbulent mob and after examining his fin ger, said, rather curtly: "A stinging scor pion has bitten you. Go to the commis sary and get some soda and water and put it on your finger and then go back to bed.” Tiffany did this, but he was not able to sleep for some time on account of the hil arity prevailing in the camp. The New Yorkers got up rather weary after their first night in tents, but they had no tim4 for repining. The third squadron had its first drill this morning, and the "Gilded Gang,” which has been drilling in exclusive squads in the shade, had to march under the broiling sun with the ferocious men from the Indian Terri tory. Lieut. Col. Theodore Roosevelt took charge of the squadron and unrelentingly kept it marching for nearly three hours. Roosevelt has shown himself to be a thor ough tactician, and is devoting all his en ergies toward getting the regiment train ed to the highest possible degree of mili tary efficiency before starting toward Cuba. Nearly all the men are enthusias tic in their admiration of him, and Henry Remming, who lassooed the mountain lion which is the regiment's mascot, has nans ed the lion “Roosevelt.” CROP CONDITIONS IN LOWNDES. Rain Badly Needed—The Watermelon Crop Heavy. Valdosta, Ga., May 31.—The farmers throughout this section neen rain badly. A heavy rain fell yesterday in the west ern part of the county, but it was not a general rain by any means. The earth is dry and dusty all through the section and crops are beginning to suffer. The farmers are living economically this year and are trying to meet the conditions of the war times without locs to themselves. The watermelon crop is heavy along the new roads around here, but is light in other localities. The crop will be back ward on account of the dry weather.though melons will probably be on the market in the next ten days. The growers are fearful now that they will suffer from shipping and that they will have to rely more than formerly upon the home mar kets. The crop in this county is far kss than in former years. Cattle shipping has continued through this section. In consequence cattle bring ing much higher prices than formerly. Shipments have been made from all parts of South Georgia to the western states and the cattle industry has been wonder fully stimulated by the great demand. Another good indication in this section is the little attention that the farmers are giving to politics and politicians. They are learning that their friends who want office are more interested in getting the place than they are in turning every thing the farmers way.