Newspaper Page Text
THE MORNING NEWS,
established 1850 - . incorporated 1888.
J. H. ESTILL. President,
german steamer seized.
IitVOESSATH TAKEN TO DI'RRAN
AS A mtITISH PRIZE.
Captured Off Delation liny by the
M i raiser Magirienne—Henson Given
|> That She Carried German Offl
eere and Men Who Were Guinn to
Serve llie liners—German Govern
ment Has Promised to Take Early
Action in the Case.
Lourenzo Marquez, Delagoa Bay, Dec.
3(l—The German steamer Bundesrath, be
longing to the German East African Line,
has been captured, as a prize, and taken
to Durban. The Bundesrath arrived here
from Mozambique.
The capture of the Bundesrath has in
, i • sed the already strong anti-British
(V, iing here of the Hollander and German
section of the population.
To Go Ilefore Prise Court.
Durban, Dec. 29.—The British cruiser
Magicienne seized the German steamer
Bundesrath in North Delagoa bay. She
w ", be brought before a prize court.
Had So Contraband of AVar.
Hamburg, Dec. 30.—The directors of the
German Eat African Line have received
laws of the arrest of the imperial mail
steamer Bundesrath. The commander of
ihe i>ort of Durban refused an explanation
of the cause of the seizure.
It is declared here that there was no
contraband of war on board, and when ap
plication was made to the German for
eign office, the latter immediately prom
pt and interposition with the British govern
ment.
The seizure of the Bundesrath was re
ferred to at a meeting of merchants held
here to-day. After a speech by Adolph
Woertnann, president of the Hamburg
Chamber of Commerce, deal ng with the
great progress of the German empire dur
ing the closing century, Herr EilTe, speak
ing in behalf of the firm* trading wi h
South Africa, asked whether ihe Cham
ber was doing all that was necessary for
the protection of German trade in that
part of the world. German commerce,
he asserted, had already suffered de rl
ment through the war In South Africa.
Herr Woermann replied that the Cham
ber had already considered the matter:
the vessel’s owners had telegraphed to
Prim e Hohenlohe, the imper al chancel
lor. asking the govenment’s intervention,
and it was declared that nothing what
ever had been done by the company which
could in any way Ire regarded as a breach
of neutrality.
Why Steamer Was Seised.
London, Deo. 30.—A representative of
the Associated Press has learned that
there were three German officers and
twenty men attired in Khaki, and intend
ing to serve the Boers, on board the Bun
ik.-rith, which explains her capture.
Kegarding traffic generally on the east
co,ist of Africa, the British admiralty offi
cials gay the British government desires
that all ordinary and legitimate trade Con
ti t,d by foreign vessels, should suffer as
link.- restriction as possible.
ALL IS WELL AT LADYSMITH.
Boers Sought to Interfere With
Flashlight Messages.
London, Dec. 31, 4:30 a. m.—During the
night of Dec. 28, Ladysmith and Chievely
• ' nip wore In full communication, Ihe
former reporting "Alt well.”
, While Ihe signalling was in projffess
the Boers attempted to muddle the mes-
Sives with flashlights from each extrenr
iiy u their long, entrenched line. The na
val brigade shelled the Boer positions,
I M h were plainly revealed by thrown
lights.
The naval battery resumed the shelling
of the Boer trenches on the morning of
L" 29. but their fire failed to elicit any
Hsu of life.
and dispatch from Cape Town datid
Wtdmsday, Dec. 27, announced that an
am o and train had restored communication
viiii 11 rdrecht, where the Free State flag
i gel been hauled down, and the Boers had
" driven from the adjacent hills to
Form berg.
BRITISH LOSS AT MAFEKING.
brim Christmas Greetings Were
Fired Into Ladysmith.
Lour, t zo Marquez, Dec. 29.—Advices re
'eivo l here from Pretoria under date of
' ■ I: ' sday, Dec. 27, say that un official
I al h from Mafeklng announces that in
ilu s irtle which the British made from
II a pace Dec. 25, attacking one of the
I" forts with cannon, Maxims and an
artro cd train, so persistently that the
*8 b x raged up to the walls of the fort,
1 ‘ Lriiish lost 109 men killed and wound-
L while the Boers only lost two men kill
"i aid seven wounded.
' ••e dispatch adds that C'apts. Kirkwood
an Grenfe.l were captured by Boer scouts
lf t'oienso and were being sent to Pre
tnr a
“ n unloaded shells Inscribed “The Sea
* 1 Greetings” have been fired at Lady
"int ■ h.
' ' Bouth African medical students
i Ldlnhurgh have arrived at Pretoria
1:1 I t' i igoa Bay with five tons of mod
i' toll from the Boer camp at Mod
-1 iv <r dated Thursday, Dec. 28, reports
_'| i >i lery duel lasting an hour. Dec.
i ■' 'i i-h reconnollerlag party made a
' '' !li it did not come within the Boer
'■ Ihe British Dec. 28, commenc. and a
L mbar Intent of the Boer iiosltlon.
tf TIVITV AT CHIEVELY.
hull, r Probably I'repHrliiK for Im
portant tiiarnirnl.
Iy " ion, Dec. *o.—The reported sortie
l!l Liijysmlth, resulting In the capture
1 **' > r<o*Uion, la not confirmed.
’ i'-vely dispatch, dated yesierday,
I't.i wed activity of the British, ap-
I preparatory to om action. The
5 iilon eastward of the camp was
■ v i I ' onnolirred Thuraday.
■ *'i, ,| guna are engaged in drily
n and it is said on good authority
I Of forty Mam have lawn k<lt*
I llf at* dining two d.i>#
■ 'i 11om Durbar jn*-')!' 1 a ftits (
■ *li Is relieve-1 on of a trout
a 1 h*r* la soßiw dfsrerai i ton to In*
■ 'Butatr la preparing ausd/na a' *
|f!F J&fttittg
tempt to advance, this time by an attack
ta . n * le ® oer position on Inhlawe moun
e^!)?. 80Vernm * nt haf accepted 125 Ceylon
n^!l!S rS fu mostly l >la nlers, and has oiso
_ te< l th< ‘ ofters ot Indian princes to
supply horses.
•WO CAPTAINS WERE KILLED.
Sortie From Lndyamlth for Purpose
Taking Boer fan non.
Pretoria, Friday. Dec. 29.—Thtee British
prisoners from Maiapo report that Crpys.
Vernon and Sandford, of Col. Be.len-Pow
ell’s staff, were killed during the engage
ment In which Lords Edward Cecil and
Cavendish Bentinck were wounded. The
object of the sortie was to capture Boer
cannon. The losses of the British wer
very severe.
The “Long Tom.” injured at Ladysmith,
has been rejiaired and is being replaced.
The new contract reducing the price of
dynamite instituted by the Raad in Au
gust was registered Dec. 21 between th
government and the factory.
BOERS WERE DRIVEN BACK.
Their Attempt to Cot the Railroad
Track Was a Failure.
Cape. Town, Dec. 29.—The troops in the
British camp of Victoria West turned out
last night to repel an attempt of the Boers
to cut the railroad near the station. A
patrol reported early in the evening that
they had sighted the Boers in the neigh
borhood.
At 10 o’clock at night the Boers opened
a heavy Are near the station. The British
replied and the Boers retired at daybreak,
their attempt having turned out a fail
ure.
GREETINGS FROM KIMBERLEY.
Compliments of the Season Exchang
ed With the Queen.
London, Dec. 30.—The war office issued
a dispatch, dated Cape Town, Friday. Dec.
29, evening, saying that Col. Kekewich
wired, through the general commanding
at Modder river on Dee. 28, as follows:
“I am desired by the Mayor and Coun
cil to forward the following for trans
mission through the proper channel:
“ ‘To Her Most Gracious Majesty, the
Queen: The Inhabitants of Kimberley beg
to send Your Majesty New Year’s greet
ings. The trouble they have passed
through and are still enduring only tends
to love and loyal# towards Your Majes
ty’s throne and person.
“ ’R. H. Henderson.
“Mayor, on behalf of the inhabitants.’ "
The war office also issued the follow
ing addressed to the Secretary of State
for War:
•Please send the following to Cos!. Keke.
wich for communication to the Mayor and
Council from the Queen:
"’I am deeply touched by yoffr kind
and loyal New' Year’s greeting. I watch
with admiration your determination and
gallant defense, though I regret the un
avoidable loss of life incurred.’ ”
IT IS A PRETEXT, SAYS LEYDS.
Boers Are Not Importing Arms
Through Delagoa Bay.
Hamburg, Dec. 30.—The Handelsblatt
publishes reports of interviews with Dr.
Leyds, in the course of which the Trans
vaal representative dentes the statements
that munitions of war are being imported
into the Transvaal through Delagoa Bay,
end says these reports are spread as a pre
text for the coming Briiish occupation.
Dr. Leyds furiher says that the Boers
are now able lo manufacture their own
war munitions.
BOERS SEIZED ALL THE GOLD.
Took Thousands of Dollars From
British and Americans.
New York, Dec. 30.—Howard J. Roths
child, an American citizen, who was em
ployed on the Standard and Diggers News,
a mining paper published in Johannes
burg. has just got back to New York
from the Transvaal. Mr. Rothschild was
at Pilgrim's Rest, a little mining camp 180
miles northeast of Johannesburg, when
the Boers declared war, Oct. 11.
“There were 800 whites, mostly Ameri
cans and Englishmen, in Pilgrim’s Rest,”
said Mr. Rothschild, “when the war was
declared. We ail asked permission to stay,
and the Boers at first gave us permission
to do so, on the understanding that we
would form a home guaid lo protect the
place from tr.e British or any one else.
We accepted on these conditions, but the
next day we were told by the burghers
that we had twenty-four hours to either
eniist in the Boer army or get out of the
p ace Most of us decided to get out.
"There was 890,000 in gold which had
been taken from the mine and the burgh
era seized this, first giving F. B. Thomp
son a Scotchman, and secretary of the
Exkstetn Mining Company, a receipt and
a note promising that the Transvaal gov
ernment would repay the money upon the
conclusion of the war. This same pro
ceeding look place at all of the mines not
shut up in the besieged towns.
"Mr. Thompson and I went to the sta
bles lo get horses to ride out to inspect
a mine some miles in the country, when
we were approached by an American nam
...t Blake now a second lieutenant in the
Boer army. Biake, who had recruited 200
Americans for the Boer army, showed us
a proclamation confiscating all horses,
fodder, gold and stores.
“Thompson ;u*d I returned to his house,
hut found that the Boer commissioner had
taken possession of Ills residence, worth
tWMtXt In it was the finest collection of
void nuggets lit South Africa, worth |sfl.-
on Mr Thompson also had 845,000 in gold
in his own, all of which went lo the
'"Tnou-and of Engl shmen were treated
in the some way. When the Boers look
possession of the gold mine at Pilgrim's’
R. -t titey turned out all the Kaffir labor*
,-!> hrok- the pumping machinery and
flooded the mine, ...
•The Boers furnished us witli hors"*
and on armed escort for Ihe ton* r!d to
Johannesburg. .. , ,
• Being unable to prove tliot I was an
Amerelan <Risen, I was treated Ihe same
as the British subjects.
“The Boer women, the yobn* boy* and
the old m.n have left the r own firms
and sre worltln* the government farms,
nided by Kaffirs Jn this way they can
keep ihalf armies well proylslonad."
1,,s mans In Montgomery.
M'Sitgomery. Ai*., I*c. .ry
.sieved tlta first snowsiaim of th rea-oti
This sf.etnoon •<“ -"tobt Tie lief.
ti ion a tel be* been 'town tv sad do
#/ vv. above *VIu lor at*••! "*• j
SAVANNAH, GA., SUNDAY. DECEMBER 31. 1893.
THE FAMOUS HILTON TROPHY.
NEW JERSEY REPLIES TO GEOR
GIA’S STATEMENT.
Gov. Voorliee* and .Indue Advocate
Mean;- Express Surprise That Geor
gia Should Say Anythluu More
About It—They Charge ttu Effort to
Prejudice the Public by -Garbled
Facts"—Georgia’s Contention "Jus
tilled But Not Well Founded.”
New York, Dec. 30.—Gen. Bird W. Bpn
-cer, inspector general of rifle practice of I
the New Jersey Guard and head of th
rifle range at Seagirt. N. J.. issued a
statement to-day in. rep’y to the Georgia
rifle team, which claimed It won the Hil
ton trophy last year at Sea Girt, although
the trophy was awarded to New Jer.ey.
The statement is as follows:
"The Georgia team, desiring apparently
lo keep alive the controversy ab ut the
Hilton trophy, and having published an
address to the public, notwithstanding
their appeal was heard and decided
against them by the Executive f mitiitio*
of the New Jersey Rifle Association, Gate.
Voorhees and Gen. Meany constituting ttu
committee which heard and decided the
appeal, have given out to the pubi c the
following statement:
“ "The attention of the undersigned has
been called to a communication, published
in the public press of Dec. 22, 1899, ap
parently signed by members of the rifle
team from the state of Georgia, which
competed at Sea Girt at the last meeting
of the New Jersey Rifle Association, ques
tioning the Justice of our decision with
reference to the protest from the Georgia
team upon the award of the Hilton trophy
to the New Jersey team.
" ‘The facts which were brought out in
the hearing had before us and upon which
we rendered a decision, dismissing the op
tical of the Georgia team and affirming
the award of the executive officer, tire
not fully set forth in said communication.
“ ‘At said hearing the members of the
Georgia team and their counsel, Col. Law
lon, were given every opportunity to pre
sent all facts within their knowledge or
reach, and to make such arguments as in
the judgment of Col. Laiwton the evidence
would permit.
" ‘After hearing all the evidence offered
by both sides to the controversy, and af
ter a full and fair consideration thereof,
the undersigned were of the opinion that
there was not a shadow of doubt that the
decision of the executive officer was cor
tect and should be affirmed.
“ ‘We assumed that the memhers of the
Georgia team were also convinced that
they were in error, and that their conten
tion, though Justified, was not well found
ed, and their counsel did not consider it
worth while to make any argument ufter
hearirg the evidence in behalf of the
claims of the New Jersey team.
’’ ‘We, therefore, confess considerable
surprise that further efforts should be
made to prejudice the public mind by the
rub 1 ntlon of garbled facts end arguments
lased upon, but a partial statement of the
evidence produced before us and upon
which our decision was made.
"Foster M. Voorhees,
Governor of New Jersey.”
“Edward P. Meanv,
Judge Advocate of N. J.
Executive Committee N. J. State Rifle As
sociation.”
MERCIER MAY HE ARRESTED.
Report Tiint He May Hi* Prosecuted
Before High Court.
Tarts, Dec. 30.—There are persistent
reporis In Nationalist circles that the gov
ernment has decided upon the arrest and
prosecution of Gen. Mercier before a sec
ond high court immediately.
According to these reports an important
debate respecting th’ conspiracy cases and
the charge against Gen. Mercier will take
place in the Chamber of Deputies ns soon
as the session begins, and it is said the
premier, 'M. Waldeck-Rousseau. will re
ply to his adversaries by announcing the
arrest of Gen. Mercier and his arraign
ment before the high court.
The Nationalist organs insist that the
government has decided on the plan, but
they suggest that it may be changed, in
view of the premature revelation.
Gen. Mercier at the present moment is
a senatorial candidate In the Lolre-Infer
ieure. One of his friends said to-day the
general has resolved not to discuss 'ha
matter ns he was determin’d not to give
the government a weapon to use asainsi
him. He was convinced, however, that
his arrest would sound th? defiat of the
government candidates In the senqiorlii
elections, while he him.-elt was certain of
election.
It is expected that the trials before the
high court will be concluded before h>
middle of nex> week and MM D roulade
and Meurlt will almost certainly be con
victed. although gome of the other pri-on
ers will probably be acquitted.
The Journal des Debats to-night says:
“Th? nearer the trial draws to a con
clusion. the plainer the emptiness of th?
charges becomes. Agitation, demonstra
tions and a few slight offenses have per
haps occurred, but there is no evidence
shown of the concerted plot or crime
against the state, the repression of which
the public, prosecutor demands."
The Journal des Debats concludes with
out expressing itself in favor of the sim
;le solution of the unsatisfactory situa
tion suggest'd by the Figaro, namely, that
W aideck-Rousatau accord the convicted
prisoners the benefit of the Berenger law
which pardons first offenses.
AN OFFH ER WITH THE BOERS.
Permission Granted the I nlled Slates
lo Send One.
Washington, Dec. 30.—President Kruger
has granted a request of this govern
ment, made through United States Con
sul Hollis, at Pretoria, to allow an Amer
ican army officer to accompany the Boer
troop* a* on observer and the war de.
parttnent will hurry to the scene of h<-
1 titties a suitable nun an soon us se
lected
France, Germany and perhnpa other na
tpitta have offirera In ilmt capacity thera
now,
1.1 Ilona ( haute Honored.
Wsahlngtotl. Dae. i~Mr W# Tin*
Fan*. Ike Chinese mltlliW, h received
it <1 leaf’ll Dora China *i'ln* that J J
Hun* Chun* bo* been appointed aettli*
vt .y of two province* hi Die Mouth of
China, adjacent to Canton, an unusual
honor. Mil to Ur a tut >o*olol to that of vto
loy of India.
FI SFaR AI, OF GKV UWTOX.
Hl* ll<]y lit* in i* veil to Trmift|orf
TliomiiN (o Bo llrouwlit Homo.
Manila. Dec. 30, 3 p. m —The funeral of j
Gen. Henry W. Lawton, who was k.aed
a< San Mateo Dec. 18. was held to-day with I
impressive ceremonies. The remains weifo I
conveyed from the Peco Cemetery down to :
the Luneta. to Pasig and ihence to the I
transport Thomas, which sails to-mor- !
row afternoon.
As the body was removed from the vault
Chaplain Marrin read the prayers. The
personal staff of the lata General was aug
mented by Color Sergeant Simon, Trump
eter Haberkam and Privates Oakum and
Mohrusen. The latter, who were closely
connected with Gen. Ijewton’s recent cam
paign, bore the casket from the vault to
a sixdiorsed caisson waiting ai the gate.
The funeral procession was composed
of the band of the Twentieth Regiment,
Gen. Hall and his staff, two troops of the
Fourth Cavalry, who were with Gen.
Lawton at the time of h s death, a bat
tery of artillery, a number of clergymen,
the caisson, covered with flowers; the per
sonal staff of the General on foot. Gens.
Wheeler, Bates, Forsythe, Kobbe and
Schwan and Rear Admiral Watson In
three carriages; a naval bivttalion, MaJ,
Gen. Otis and tiis staff, the foreign con
suls in full dress and the members of the
Philippine Supreme. Court.
Native delegat ona from the towns
where Gen. Law'ton establish**d civil gov
ernments presented wreaths. Women
from the same towns waited on Mrs. Law
ton yesterday and presented her with their
condolences and flowers.
Crowds of natives and Americans wit
nessed the procession, the band played
dirges and the crowds uncovered.
At Pasig the casket was transferred to
a tug. “taps” was sounded and prayers
were offered by Chaplain Pler<?e.
Four enlisted pell-bearers will accom
pany the remains to the United States.
LOCKETT DROVE THRU Ol T.
Georgia Colonel Had Another Tilt
With the Insnr&enti.
Manila. Dec. 31, 9:30 a. m.—Col. Lockett
has had a second engagement with the in
surgents northwest of Mantalban and by
a brilliant charge drove the enemy from
their position.
Only one American officer and five sol
diers were wounded, but the loss of the
insurgents wos heavy.
Our troops captured a number of rifles
and a quantity of ammunition nd pro
visions.
SCHOONER BLOW* ASHORE.
1
Life Saver* From Hooky Point Sta
tion Rescued the* Crew.
New York, Dec. 30.—The twomasted
schooner Rabborri, Capt. Thurston, bound
from Providence for New York, with a
cargo of empty barrels, is to-night drag
ging her anchors in Long Island found,
and will likeiy go ashore before morning.
All the crew, numbering six, have been
rescued.
The Rabboni hall* from Bangor, Me. At
1 o’clock this morning, in a heavy gale,
the schooner lost her main top mast.
Then her main mast and fore mast broke
away, and anchor* were of no avail. The
schooner was blown rapidly ln-hore.
The life saver* from Rocky Point sta
tion loaded their boat on a wagon and
traveled nine miles to I’econic, L. J., to
the rescue. With a head seu running. It
took the life savers over an hour to reach
the schooner. They found live men and
a boy aboard her and took them ashore.
HI > G\ A SAVIAGS DANK.
Wan the Result of Globe Hank Fail
ure, But \\m Easily Met.
Lynn, Mass , Dec. 30.—A run on the
Lynn Five-cent Savings Bank began to
day because of rumors that the bank is
involved in the failure of ihe Globe Na
tional Bank of Boston. This five-cent sav
ings bank held eighty-eight shares of the
Globe stork. The surplus of the hank is
41.000,000. About 440,000 was withdrawn dur
ing the day and about $14,00(1 was depos
ited.
Judge Harman said that in several In
stances depositors who had withdrawn
ihelr money, almost immediately re-depos
ited it. The bank’s solvency wos not in
the least shaken by to-day’s demonstra
tion against it, as it has a guaranty fund
of $193,(00 and with that alone could stand
many demands like the one mode on its
treasury to-day.
The officials of the bank anticipate no
further trouble.
ANDRADE IN PORTO RICO.
American Rule Affords Him Every
Proper Protection.
Washington, Dec. 30.—Word has been
received here that Gen. Andrade, late
President of Venezuela, who fled on a war
ship when the’ Castro revolution proved
successful,,is living quietly in Porl<* Hlco.
where the American ru!e affords him ev
ery proper protection. Gen. Andrade ha*
sent back the warship on which he eft
Venezuela, together with every other pos
session in any way belonging to the coun
try. and he Is now living as a prlva .e cl i
xen.
DYNAMITE ON A HOT STOVE.
Two Italians Are Dead and Several
Are Badly Injured.
Pittsburg, Dec. 30.-Two Italian. Peter
Yolente and Ambrosio Donatello, were fa
tally injured and several others slightly
injured in a dynami e explosion in the
East Knd to-day. They were blasting in
a cut and sought to thaw out some frozen
dynamite by placing it on a hot stove,
with the usual result
fcuteide of 11. It. Hood,
Norfolk, Vs., Dec. TO-Mr. R, B Hood,
a prominent druggist of Bmlthftrld, S. C.,
committed suicide at his home yesterday
by taking an oveniose of laudanum. Ifo
was writ known .both In North Carolina
and Virginia.
■— S> *
Fire Isnm !m New lrl* f7fW.no'*.
New York, Dec 2W.~~Klre Utils? Crokrr
MHiumtc* Pats of isf ii fbts fbe, which
dswifuyod lb#- wail pspor factory of Will*
lam Csmptwi * Cos., at ITSfUtM* iPiasoi
:jv nr A 4Us employe* ere thrown u-t of
work.
CONFLAGRATION IN CHICAGO.
LI’SS IN ESTIMATED VT NEARLY A
MILLION DOLLARS.
Two La rat’ Monro* Str.-.-t RulKllna*
anil Their I’.ontenta Were De
stroyed—Two Firemen Were Nerl
onal y Injured—Walt Fell til and
Several Narrowly Eaenpeil With
Their Live*—Firemen Had to t’on
tend W ith Severe Cold,
Ohleajro, Dec. 30.—Fire at an early hour
to-day completely gutted the building* ex
tending from 210-222 Monroe street, badly
damaged the building at 212-214 Monroe
street, causing a loss aggregating 8950,-
OCO, and resulting lti the Injury of nine
firemen. Two of them. Capt. Robert
O’Connor and James VVolley, were serious
ly Injured.
The fire Is supposed to have originated
on the second floor In the work room of
Woolley & Cos., wholesale woolens, at 220
and 222 Monroe street, and fanned by a
fierce northwest wind, spread so rnpldly
that when the first fire companies arrived
on the scene the whole south end of the
building was a mass of llames.
A second and then a third alarm was
sent In, but in spite of the tons of water
thrown Into the burning buildings by
thirty-eight, engines and two fire tugs, the
wind and the bitter cold no hindered the
firemen that for a time the entire whole
sale district was jn danger.
The flames quickly communicated to the
buildings at 216 and 218, but there tnelr
progress was finally checked. Immense
brands were carried long distances, und
the firemen were kept busy extinguishing
small fires on near-by roofs. The prin
cipal losses follow:
' Building at 220-222 Monroe street, loss
JC25,010; Edwards, Stanwood & Cos., suc
cessors to Phelps, Dodge & Palmer, boots
and shoes, third and sixth floors, woolen
goods, toss 1136,000; building at 216-218
Monroe street, occupied by J. W. Butler
Paper Company, loss $25,030; J. W. Butler
Paper Company, damage to stock. 1250,-
000, fully insured; Henry O. Shepard Com
pany, printers, occupying building at 212-
214 Monroe, loss, iion.unn. The building
at 217 Fifth avenue was damaged to the
extent of $2,000. Most of the losses are
well covered by Insurance.
gome Narrow Escape*.
The i scapes from death of Capts.
O’Conno:-, Evans and Carey, and Firemen
Pad en, O’Hara and three others was lit
tle short of miraculous. All of the men
were working on 4he roof of the building
:it 216-218 Monroe street, and us the Hie
crept closer to the west side of the etruc.
lure, the men were gradually driven to
ward the middle of the roof.
Suddenly the east wall of the building
adjoining fell with a terrific crush. An im
mense mass of brick and timbers crushed
Into the roof where Capt. O’Connor and Ills
men were at work. The roof tore away
from th? sides and tell with a crash to the
floor beneath, carrying Plpemen O’Hara
anil Padden down In the debris ond leav
ing the otfters on the fmil broken edge of
the roof high above the flames,
Capt. O'Connor, Lieut, Callahan and
Plpemen Fountain and Horgan, Anally
sue eeded In rescuing the two unfortun
ate pipemen, and crawling along the
shaking walls, made their way to the tire
esetpe and safely to the ground.
Af er the fire had been raging about an
hour and a half, the walls began falling,
and several firemen were more or less in
ju ed, James Wolley so seriously that he
w s tak< n to the hospital.
The fire was one of the worst In years,
ond the Intense cold hampered the firemen
In their work,
CLAIM OF THI-: DEMOCRATS.
They Nay They Will Organise Rath
Houkc# in Kpntiifk)'.
Frankfort, Ky., Deo. 30.—The Demo
era tic leaden* to-night assert that they
will organize both houses of the Leglsla
ture Tuesday. They say that in no event
will more than a half dozen of the anll-
Qoebrl Democrats vote for tho candidate
of the antl-Ooehel and Republican coali
tion. If a slate Is put up by that side.
The anil-Goebel leader* held several con
ferences in Louisville to-day and were In
communication with Republican members
ek'Ct here to-night. Their plans serin to
he atlll In embryo as to the most import
ant matters.
tiOV, GEN. WOOD’S < AIIIMiT.
Assignment of the I’orlfollos W 111 Re
Made To-day.
Havana. Dec. 30,—The names of the
members of Gen. Wood's cabinet and the
assignment of portfolios will bo Issued to
morrow. It Is believed that the list will
be as follows:
Secretary of Stale and Government—
Die to Tamayo.
Secretary of Justice—Luis Estevez.
Secretary of Education—Juan Hautlste
Hernandez.
Secretary of Finance—Enrique Varona.
Secretary of Public Works—Jose Ramon
Villa lon.
Secretary of Agriculture, Industry and
Commerce —Gen. Rlus Rivera.
MERGED INTO THE PULLMAN.
Wanner Palace Car Company Has
( eased to Exist.
New York, Dec. 30.—The Wagner Palace
Car Company to-day ceased to exist as
an Individual organization. The formal
and official transfer of the Wagner Com
pany, under the terms of Its merger agree
ment with the Pullman Company, was af
fected this afternoon at the offices of the
Wagner Company in this city, $20,000,000 of
stock of (lie Wagner Company being trans
ferred lo Pullman interests and an equal
amount of Pullman stoek being transfer
red la Wagner people on even terms.
New Trade Treaty W lib Spala.
i/mdon. Dec. 30—A special dispatch
from Madrid a ays It la officially snnoun el
there that negotiations have lawn op net
with the Untied Slates for a n* w treaty
of commerce; and that tlm United Stun
government has agreed to pa> e Hpn l<h
trade on an equal fooling wl h I hit of
America In (lie I’UUrttia* fr a decade
Eighteen He toll Zero
Alba. Mb h . Dsn JO -The Is tip future
Lara 10-dsy was 1 degrees briow *ro
INCREASED FREIGHT RATER.
Attorney General Can Take. No Ac
tion Under Anti-Trust Uw.
Washington. Dec. 3f1.-Attoi ivey Gene al
Qrtgga 1,, ,i u raturned i<> tin- Tnitfilßn
Commerce Commission tho transcript of
the evidence taken at a hearing liefore the
commission last week in the matter of tho
new freight classification, with a view to
aelion by the Attorney General under Ihs
anil-trust law. If his judgment war. an s
the same.
Tho Attorney General he’d that on lh
facts submitted such "action would not
only be futile, but absurd,” arwl that the
only remedy is by appeal to iho commis
sion under the Interstate commerce law.
The new classification, operative next
Monday, advances rates all along the line
on the railroads, north of the Ohio and
Potomac and east of the Mississippi riv
ers, some sixty roads in alt adopting the
new schedule.
The Attorney Genernl aay#*‘the cl ang, s
mode and not the method of making them
Is what the shippers complain of; that
there Is no contract combination or con
spiracy shown as Is necessary to violate
the anti trust law; no supp:esslon of com
petition, no arbitrary fixing of tales, n r
restraint of Interstate commerce.
WAS THE ATEAMF.It PEI.OTAA.
Ashore Near Danueriess—Two Other
Atrnioers Were l.nst.
London, Dec. 30.—The Hamburg and
South American Line steamer Pelotns,
from Santos for Rotterdam, went ashore
near Dungcncss soon after midnight dur
ing the heavy storm. She was laden with
coffee and had eight passengers on board.
In spbe of the heavy weather prevailing,
the Dungensss life boats succeeded In
reaching the steamer and remained with
her all night.
The Pelotas Is so far In shore that she
is left almost dry at low water. Her stern
lost and rudder have been washed away.
The captain of the Pelotas refuses assist
ance and Is rapidly Jettisoning his cargo,
The tugs uie attending her anil It Is hoped
she will lie refloated at the next high tide.
The gale, however, continues.
The Hamburg and Month American Line
Is In no way connected with the llamburg-
Atr.erlcan Line.
The Hrlttsh sailing vessel Emily Lloyd
has been wrecked near Cherbourg. The
captain and twelve of her crew wifre
drowned.
The French steamer St. Jean has been
sunk near llresi. Seven of her crew were
los'.
FOUR KILLED HY EXPLOSION.
Life anil Property Lost by the Horst,
log of a Holier,
Lancaster, Pa., Dec. 30.—Four men were
killed and several others Injured by a
lioiler explpslon one mile west of Kllxa
bethtop this morning. They were em
ployee of Keller A Kresson, railroad con
tractors. The dead are:
Donald Haldeman of Halnltrldge, Wit
Sherbahn of West Donegal, Burt Davis, a
negro of Orange county, Virginia, and
on Italian, known as Tony. The latter
was hurled 150 feet.
The boiler was used lo drive a steam
drill, ami the explosion occurred just ns
Davis, who was the engineer, turned on
the steam He was decapitated, his head
and body being found forty yards opart.
Ilaldeman's head was crushed flat. The
littban's body was torn In two, und parts
distributed over 100 yards.
The shed and all the machinery were
completely wiped out. The cause of the
explosion Is unknown.
CAPT. KEEN SENT TO TAMPA.
lie Has Been llellcved From Daly
at Fort Ottra. N. Y.
Washington, Dee. .30.—Capt. Thomas H.
Rees, Corps of Engineers, who was re.
cently called to account by the war de
partment for visiting O. M. Carter, for
merly of the army, In Ills cell at Govern
or's Island, in contravention, of (he ar
ticles of war, has been relieved from duly
at Fort Otten, N. Y., and ordered to take
the station at Tampa, Fla., relieving Capt.
Jervcy, Corps of Engineers, who Is as
signee! to Capt. Rees' former duties at
Fort Otten.
■ROBERTS CASE IN THE HOUSE.
Chairman Tnyler Says It Will Come
Up (be Middle of .Innanry.
Washington, Dec. 30.—Representative
TayJer of Ohio, chairman of (he special
committee investigating the Roberts case,
says that the case Will not come up for
action in the House before the middle of
January. The arguments will begin Jan.
1. When they are finished the commit
tee will form Its conclusion. Then the
report must be written. As It will lie ex
haustive, the greatest care will be re
quired In Its preparation, and Mr. Taylor
does not think the cose will reach the
House before the middle of the month.
AUDITOR ROGERS A SUICIDE.
Well-Known Railroad Man Shot
Himself In llie Head.
G rind Rapids, Mich., Dec. 30.—Auditor
Uriah B. Rogers, of the Chicago and West
Michigan and Detroit end Grand Rapids
snd Western Railroads, commlt’ed suicide
(hts neon by shooting himself through the
head while sifting at his desk In his pri
vate office. Death was Instantaneous. Des
pond* ncy ovi-r a long Illness, and a severe
nrrvous strain are the probable causes.
CLOVER COM MITT ED SUICIDE.
Mu, Former Congressman nod
Farmers' Alliance Lender.
Topeka, Kan., Dec. 30.—Former Con
gressman Ben Clover, a Farmers' Alli
ance leader, commuted suicide at his
home near Douglas, Duller county, to
day, by shooting himself Despondency,
resulting from sickness and business re
veries, was the cause.
Price of Silver Gars Down.
Washington, Dec JO.—The quarterly
statement of the values of foreign coins
leaned by Ihs director el (he mini allow*
that during Ihs last three months the
value of sliver has dnereaw .0111 cenia per
Olga e, and ih* status of foreign l oin* has
d* creased accordingly These figures will
be followed In estimating the value* of all
foreign meiv handler raja>rd to Ihe Cull
ed tlsu* on mid aflr Jan. I, MM.
PAftiT, W A TSAR, 1
S CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY S- TIMES-A-WEEK H A MUI
ALL BUT ITALY HEARD FROM.
POWERS AGREE TO MAI N'T AIN AN
OPEN DOOR IN CHINA.
Favorable Responses Have lleea Re*
eel Ted From Grent Britain, Gr
many. Kroner, Russia and Japan.
Believed Italy Will Give a Favor
able Reply—-Pills Important Ver—
diet Concerns Future Commerce
of Ibe World With China.
Washington, Dec. 31.—The negotiations
< per.ed by Secretary !lay with the Great
Powers of Europe nnd with Japan, to
wards securing a common understanding
for a continued open door policy through*
out Ch tin, have met with most gratifying
(•suits.
The stale de|>artmenl Is unwilling al
present lo make public the nature of Al-o
replies received, as this Information will
lo unit all . and in a special message to Con
gress But In other quarter*, thoroughly
re table, and In a |>osltlon to have trusl
worthy and accurate Information, it Is
learned that favorable responses hava
been made by Great Britain, Germany,
France, Russia, the Russian communica
tion coming as late as yesterday, and
Ja; an.
There Is no doubt. It Is thought here,
that Italy, the remaining country ad
dressed, will make favorable answer, If,
Indeed, It bis not already done so. Tho
IKisition of Europe Is felt to Is- assurrod
by the favorable course adopted by thS
oilier four great Powers of Europe.
The Importance of this unanimous ver
dict by all tin- tlrst-class Powers of tha
world—Great Rrltuin, Russia, Germany,
France, Italy and Japan, In conjunction
with the United Stales—can hardly b
overestimated so far ns It relates to the
future of China, and the commerce of tha
world In that empire., The state deport
ment is loath to discuss the far-reaching
results to be secured when the agreement
advance* lo the stage, of formal consum
mation, for each favorable response Is con
ditional on the favorable action of all the
other parties, so that In each case the
negotiations may lie regarded as short of
tibsolute finality. But while the depart
ment la silent, the details come from
sources believed to be fully conversant
with what has occurred.
British Answer First.
According to this information, the Brit.
Ish answer was the llrst to be submitted,
and was exceptionally comprehensive and
explicit In yielding to every suggestion
made by the United States relative la
maintaining the freest entry to the ports
of China.
Tho British answer Is said to emphasize
the concurrence with the Unite! States
by adopting, word for word, much of tha
phraseology empoyed by Secretary Hay
when he addressed, his original note to
Great Britain and the other Powers.
The wording Is auch as to make It pi.in,
that tho British government concurs, for
the present and hereafter without limlla
tlon. In a petlcy of free ncceaa to China.
Although much secrecy was observed Inr
the transmission of the British answer, its
general purport soon became known at
the other European capitals, and there
was not a little Irritation at what was re
garded as a precipitate response, |>ur-
IxMifiy designed to embarrass the conti
nental Powers by .showing Great Britain
and the United States acting In concert,
while the rest of the world held aloof.
But this situation was made much more
satisfactory to the continental Powers by
their determination to act for themselves.
Germany Is said to have been the nex*
Power to answer in the affirmative. Ac
cording lo the Information already refer
red 10. the German answer was rathe#
more vague than the one which had pre
ceded 11, but 11s general tendency was
favorable, the only condition being that
any arrangement as to free access to
'China should be universal, and assented
to by all of the Powers.
Haw France Replied.
Tho French answer Is understood to hav#
come nexi, and the clrcumstanoes attend
ing It were rather peculiar and not In tha
nature of a direct answer, although tha
result wa* regarded as most satisfactory.
Secretary Hay'# note had been forward
ed to <l*n. Horace Porter, the United
Stales ambassador to France, who prompt
ly called upon M. Deleaose, minister of
foreign affairs In the French cabinet. Gen.
Porter made known his mission, where
upon M. Delrasse showed the moat sym
pathetic spirit, and stated that he had al
ready made ample answer to just auch
a communication, although at the tlm#
he had not intended It as an answer to
the American note. This answer, M. Del
eu nse explained, was given in a speech
made by him on Nov. U, in the French
chamber. The main point of that speech
in its references to China, was that Franca
desired the, most ample freedom of com
merce. M. Delcasee referred Gen. Porter
to this speech, and told him that it fully
gave tho assurance which the United
States desired. It is said that the meet
ing wa# gratifying on both sides and that
the results were considered to 1* a fav
orable acceptance from France.
Russia Ha# Joined In, Too.
The Russian negotiations have proceedod
less briskly, so that it seemed for a time
(hat Russia's attitude might not be fa
vorable. This was dissipated, however, by
ti e Russian ambassador, Count Cassini,
In the course of interviews with Secretary
Hay. On the** occasions, Count Cassini
pointed out that a hurried answer was by
no means the best evidence of a favorable
attitude toward the American proposition,
but that Russia was proceeding with duo
deliberation in order to arrive at somo
solid ground for a iiermsnent understand
ing. The Russians were desirous of weigh
ing the many Incidental questions lnvolv
. <l, such as the effect of the understanding
of the territory known as "spheres of In
fluence;" as well as on the territory act
ually leased to the foreign powers, sueti
as Talltn-Wnn. Klao-Chou, and the Brit
ish and French ports.
Beside# giving these assurances Count
Catmint showed pertonally the mt friend
ly spirit toward the American proposition
as well as being dslrou# of giving an an
swer In thl* case which wood be anoth
er Instance of the friendly co-o|ieratl<>n
long observed between Russia and thl
United Slates.
The tiuKHtan position. It Is understood.
Is similar lo those preceding 11. with tho
same condition that Russia alone thill
not tie bound, but that ull of the Interest
'd countries shall Join In the agreement
to keep the ports of China forever open.
In what order In the negotiations Ja
pans favorable attitude was made known
cannot l— stated, but It suffice* that Ja■
l,u:i made her position unmlmakaMe n
favor of the American piupoalllon win
ilie same reservation a* In nil the other
tasea that unanimity should he retched.
Although Rely I* yet In be hoard tretn
definitely. nu doubt is tiiimi nett that
this eternity will he favorable, iboa mak
ing complete the ant Ist actor y ivapuoeo# o{
ail thi great Uowtrs.