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THE MORNING NEWS. Established iB6O. - . Incorporated ISSS J. H. ESTIL.L. President. CRONJE GIVES UP THE GHOST. HE HHREXDEHED UNCONDITION ALLY.TO LORD ROBERTS. Aakel fop anil Was Granted the Kindest Treatment Cronje and Party Sent to Cupe Town in the Afternoon—Mach Rejoicing- in Lon don Over the Victory, Hut the Suc cess Is Not Over Estimated—Ten Thousand Additional Troops to Go Forward. London, Feb. 28, 4:30 a. m.—From John O Croats to Lands End there has been i.' ering to-day 'for the Queen and a nni vt rsal singing of the national anthem. Tni-. with mutual congratulations, is the Briton’s way o<f celebrating the most cheerful day of the war. Already he is taking stock of the situa tion and measuring the future. There is ii > disposition to overestimate the suc cess. The government entertains no il lusion. As announced in the House of Commons, 10,000 additional troops will Jm m-1 lately go out and the effective -will be kept near 200.000. Lord Roberts has done more than to capture 4.000 Boeis and a few guns. He is within striking distance of one oKthe Moer capitals ar.d is master of a large district of the Free State. He has given a shock to Boer confidence and immeas urably restored the spirit of his own ttviops. Tn capturing Cronje he has taken a leader whose presence alone was worth thousands to the Boer cause. The best opinion here is that the Trans \aalers are certain to continue the fight with valor, hut it is not so certain about the Free Staters. lx)rd Roberts has not allowed Ihe corps of descriptive writers with him to sup plement his plain narrative, as yet, and there are some points in doubt. It is not • ’ear whether the 1,000 prisoners include • lose taken in small parties before the • ipitulation. What has become of the st of the Boers, who held the Magers fontein lines, and where are the big guns? The smaNness of Cronje’s force causes some -wonderment. The morning papers, without exception, • imment on the achievement of the Boer Fader and men in holding off for ten days a force from six to eight times as large as their own. British opinion is far more generous in victory than in defeat. Sir Redvers Bullcr is having a hard time in Natal. It is evident now after a fortnight’s fighting that he was misled v hen he wired that there was only a weak r< ar guard between him and Ladysmith. Apparently some of the hardest fighting ef the war took place at the end of last v*eek as an armistice was agreed upon to allow attendance upon the wounded and burial of the dead. Both sides must have lost heavily. At any moment, however, news may come of Gen. Buller’s success. Friday will begin the fourth month of the siege 1 f the garrison, which is seemingly in a position where it is unable to do any thing to help Gen. Buller. FIRST NEWS OF CRONJE’S FALL. I >MI Robert* W ire* the War Ofllee at London I mined lately. linden, Feb. 27.—The war offire has re eeived the following dispatch from Lord • rts: i’anrdeberg, Feb. 27, 7:4." n. m.—Gen. ri, *nje and all of his force capitulated " onditionaily nt daylight and is now a I ' i.'Oner in my camp. The strength of force wiir he communicated later. I 'c (hat Her Majesty’s government will consider this event satisfactory, occurring II i; does on the anniversary of Majuba.” STORY OF THE SI It RENDER. herd Robert* l)l|atelien Details to the War Ofllee. London, Feb. 27, 5:02 p. in.—The war of ■ has received the following dispatch from Lord Roberts: i’aardeberg, 11 o'clock Tuesday morn* b From information furnished daily to n “ by the 'inte'lligence department it be • unc apparent that Gen. Cronje’s force W,IS becoming more depressed and that • discontent of the troops and .the <fia -1 r, l among the leaders were rapidly in- ' ising. Thin feeling wa.*, doubtless ac centuated by the disappointment caused v “n the Boc*r reinforcements, which tried to relieve Geti. Cronje, were defeated by ‘ ur < l oops on Feb. 23, I resolved, there ton *. f o bring press lice to bear on the < 1 ‘ my. Each night the trenches wore iod towards the enemy laager so as to idu illy contract his position, and at the > > ae- time I bombarded it heavily with artillery, which was yesterday materially aided by the arrival of lour 6-Inch How itzers, which ! had ordered up from De Aar. in carrying out these measures, a vaptlve balloon gave great assistance by k'-eping us informed of the disposition and of the enemy. At 3a. m. to ' 'V a most dashing advance was made h tno Canadian regiment and some en gineers, supported by tin* F!r.-t Gordon •l ?h lander* and Second Shrorwshires, re ■ " Fng in our gaining a point some 600 . u.s nearer the enemy and within about • iKhiy yards of his trenches, where our nu n entrenched themselves and main lined their positions until morning, a gallant deed worthy of our colonial com an<* which, 1 am gtad to say, was '•tki ’ by comparatively slight loe. Anis apparently clinched matters, for, @ljc iUorniiuj ffrtml at daylight to-day, a letter signed by Gen. Cronje, in which he stated that he sur rendered unconditionally, was brought to our outposts under a flag of truce. “In my reply 1 toki Gen. Cronje he must present himself at my camp an l that his forces must come out of the r laager after laying down their arms. By 7 a. m. I received Gen. Cronje and dis patched a telegram to you announcing the fact. In the course of conversation he asked for kind treatment at our hands and also that his wife, grandson, private secretary, adjutant .and servants might accompany him wherever he might be sent. I reassured him and told him that his request would be complied with. I in formed him that a general officer would be sent with him to Cape Town, to as sure his being treated with proper respect en route. He will start this afternoon un der charge of Maj. Gen. Preityman, who will hand him over to the general com manding at Cape Town. The prisoners, who number about 3,000, will be formed into commandoes under own officers. They wall also leave here to-day, reaching the Modder river to-morrow, when they will be railed to Cape Town in detachments.” The above dispatch was read in both the House of Lords and the House of Con :nons to-day. The reference to the Canadians revoked Immense and pro longed cheering. Mr. A. J. Balfour, the government lead er in the House of Commons, said he had no information relative to the Boer guns. Lord Roberts has notified the war of fice that the number of Boer prisoners approximated of which about 1.150 are citizens of the Orange Free State. The remainder are citizens of the Transvaal. Twenty-nine Transvaal officers were cap tured and eighteen Free States officers were made prisoners. The guns captured from the Transvaal forces three 7.5-centimeter Krupps, nine 1-pounders and one Maxim gun. From the Free Staters the British cap tured one 7.5-centimeter Krupp and one Maxim gun. The officers captured by Gen. Roberts besides Gen. Piet Cronje include the fol lowing well known commanders: Chief Commandant M. J. Wolverans, a member of the Volksraad; Field Cornet Frus, a Scandinavian; Maj. Albrecht, the famous German artilleryman; Maj. von Dewitz. the distinguished German officer responsible for most of the splendid en gineering works of the Boers since the commencement of the war. Cronje Tried to Escape. London, Feb. 28.—A special dispatch from Cape Town, dated Monday, says: “Gen. Cronje last night attempted to escape with a party of Boers, but he was driven back.”# ANNIVERSARY OF MAJUBA HILL. The Magnitude of Lord Robert*’ Sns ce*M Somewhat Overlooked. London, Feb. 27.—“Majuba avenged!” “Cronje surrendered!” “Great British victory!” These are the expressions being shout ed all over London tb-day, yet there are few outward signs of the natural joy that Lord Roberts’ dispatch has really caused. The capitulation of Gen. Cronje had been looked upon as almost a certain ty' for a week past, and now that it has come, enthusiasm finds itself discounted by anticipation. The magnitude of the success of “Lit tle Bobs” is almost overlooked in the fact that it synchronized with the anniversary of Majuba Hill and wiped out a dishonor of nineteen years standing. There was a much more outward display of rejoicing in the provinces than in London. The Glasgow' and Liverpool stock exchang s Were greatly excited. The members sang “God Save the Queen” repeatedly and cheered for “Little Bobs.” Flags were liberally displayed on the municipal and public buildings in all the large to-wns. Windsor was very jubilant at the news, which the Queen disseminated immediately after it reached her. She immediately telegraphed her congratulations to Ix>rd Roberts and the troops. The in habitants seized he occasion of Her Majesty driving through the town on her way to take a train for a visit to the wounded Sourh African sol diers at the Netley Hospital, to make a demonstration. The Queen, who was looking remark ably well, showed evident signs of deep satisfaction, smiling continuaMy, and bow ing in response to the congratulatory cheers. Speculation is rife as to how soon Lord Roberts will be able to press on to Bloem fontein, but before he enters the capital of the Free -State he will undoubtedly have to overcome a powerful force and take strong entrenchments. BOERS RETREAT BLOCKED. 'I hey Were Trying to Form a Bridge %cross Klip River. London, Feb. 28.—The Daily Mail has the following from Ladysmith, dated Sat urday, Feb, 24: “The Boer retreat continued yesterday. A party of about seventy, en route from the north, drew rein near Limit hill. A battery of fifteen-pounders, placed not far off, suddenly opened fire and practically annihilated the party. A Roer ambulance was later on seen collecting the dead and wounded. . . “The Boers are trying to form a bridge or drift, across Klip river south of I'm bulwana. evidently for the purpose of per mitting the passage of wagons and artill ery in their retirement from Colenso. Our guns are preventing this work being Car ried on.” _______ FIGHT AT PIETER’S HILL. lloer Fire So Hot That the British Fell Hack— Henry Lo**e*. Colenso. Sunday, Feb. 25.—1n the attempt of the Enniskillen* Friday evening to rush the Boer |>osition on Fieter’s hill, the Boer fire was so terrible when the Infantry emerged from the cover of the trees that almost o\ory man in the lead ing half of the comi>any fell wounded. The advance line cf the British reached a donga in front of the first Boer trench, which was not apparent until they were actually In it. The Boers retired to the crest and then returned on either flank of the Enniskill en*. enfilading the captured donga with a terrible cross-fire. Finding it Impossible to advance or lo hold the position the British fell hack and entrenched themselves half way up the hill. The Boer* maintained a heavy In the course of the night the Dublin (Continued on Fifth Page.) SAVANNAH. GA.. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 28. 1900. BATTLING THE TARIFF BILL. MR. HAILEY ON THE CONSTITUTION ALITY OF THE MEASURE. If the United State* Take* In In ferior Race* They Must Share Our Destiny—Mr. De Arninml Say* the Porto Rican* Are to Be Crucified to llni.sc a Cross in the Philippine*. Twenty-Mlnnte Speeches for and Against the Rill. Washington, Feb. 27.—'The general de late on the Porto Rico tariff bill closed Jo-day in a blaze of glory. The galleries were banked to the doors and every seat on the floor was occupied when the rival champions of the respec tive sides, Mr. Dolllver of lowa, and Mr. Bailey of Texas, made the closing argu ments. Each spoke for an hour and a half. The speech of Mr. Bailey, devoted al most exclusively to the legal phases of the controversy, was profound and im pressive. Mr. Dolllver was at his best and his wit, eloquence and sarcasm In turn drew salvos of applause from his Republican associates. Before these closing speeches were made Mr. Clannon of Illinois, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and one of the veterans on the Republican side, made an exceptionally effective speech in support of the bill. Messrs. Carmack, Democrat of Tennes see; Clay, Democrat of Alabama; Kle berg, Democrat of Texas; Pearce and De Arinond, Democrats of Missouri, had also made speeches lifcoppositlon to the bill. The Republican managers are now con fident that with the modifications agreed upon at the conference last night the hill will command a narrow majority on the final vote to-morrow. The general debate opened with a twenty-minute speech by Mr. Carmack of Tennessee in opposition to the bill. The alternative presented by the bill, he said, was the abandonment of our priceless principles or of our new possessions. The country had been dazzled with the gorg eous picture of empire, yet at the very threshold of the new departure, he said, gentlemen on the other side, had been appalled lest the trade which they had looked at with covetous eyes would bring ruin and destruction to American labor. Therefore the new possessions were to be come colonies and be turned over to car pet bagger adventurers. He read from the Republican platform of 18<X> to show' that it set up the very contention maintained by the Democrats now—that the.consti tution was supreme in the territories and extended over every foot of ground over which the United States had jurisdiction. Mr. Clayton of Alabama created much amusement and enthusiasm by reading a letter written by Chairman Payne to W. H. Curtis, Palmyra. N. Y., Jan. 24, 1900. in which he advocated free trade with Porto Rico on the- ground that it would give relief to the stricken island. The letter also contained the following refer* ence 4o the Philippines: “Under the treaty the Philippine Island* are to have free trade with Sixain for ter years. We could not extend these tariff laws to the Philippine Islands, even if we would.” Mr. Kleberg of Texas and Mr. Pearce of Tennessee also opposed the bill. Mr. De Armond of Missouri said this bill proposed 4o set aside the constitution, not for the purpose of doing something phil anthropic, but in the interest of the par tial or complete enslavement of a help less people. “This change of front has been brought about by the influence of‘the agents of mighty corporations.” The Porto Ricans, he said, were 4o be crucified in order that the cross might he raised in the Philippines. We could withdraw' from- the achipeiago and leave 10,000.000 of tropical people to work out their own salvation. “In my opinion,” he said, “that is what we ought to do. (Democratic applause.) But if <hey are held they must be held under the consti tution. The inhabitants must be Ameri can citizens, black, brown and yellow, and ultimately be represented upon this floor with more representation than all of New England.” Mr. Do Armond argued that noth ing could be done outside of the con stitution. There was always one supremo test from the beginning of the republic until the last sad hour of its existence, if that should come, and that test was the constitution. Ho thought the time is coming when there will be a revulsion in the Republican party when the Republi cans who now have the i>orkbone to op pose the present programme would be hailed as the saviors of their party. Mr. Cannon of Illinois followed. He re membered when the President, with a whole party behind him, asserted that there was no power under the constitu tion to coerce a sovereign state when those stales were already in arms, pre pared to shoot the life out of what was left of the Union. The constitution, ihe said, was the buckler of those who at tempted to embarrass the government dur ing the Civil War. “What is the administration’s policy? asked Mr. Norton of Ohio. ‘ I’ll tel'] you." responded Mr. Cannon. “As o Porto Rico, do Ihe only thing that can bring relief to iihe island—pass this bill. A# to the Philippines, continue to do as we are doing—put down the Insur rection and restore Taiw and order.” (Ap plause.) “The fathers of our country In building the constitution did not buiul a trap.” (Great applause.) Turning directly to the bill, Mr. Gan non scouted the cry that had been raised that the trusts had dictated it. He charged that both the tobacco and sugar stored in Porto Rico was already owned by the sugar and tobacco trusts. They had put forward some natives as stool pigeons to beg for free trade, so that while the Democrats cried out against the trusts they would be voting for them. Their voice would be the voice of Jacob and their hand would be the hand of Esau. (Applause.) The remaining throe hours of Ihe gen eral debate was divided equally between the two sides. Mr. Bailey, Democrat, of Texa<, and Mr. Dolllver. Republican, of lowa, close! for their respective sides. Mr. Bailey spoke first. Ash arose, hi* poll!Pal as sociates gave him a round of appatise. Preliminary to beginning hi* argum* i*r Mr Bailey said an accusation Mr. Cin non had made against the Democratic side for voting the $20,000,000 to Kfiain wa the only portion of that *r>eech that call ed for serious reply. Mr. Bailey sa'd that vote committed the Democrat* to Continued ou Fifth Pag* SEEKING A LOAN IN THE STATES. Russian Government to Sell a s*<£.*,- 000,000 Bond l*ae in Nrn York. New York, Feb. 27.—The Herald to-mor row will say: Ignoring Berlin, Ixxndon. Paris and rthe other European banking centers, the Rus sia n imperial government has come to New York for a loan. * A syndicate of financial institutions of this city—-banks, trust companies and in surance companies—have just arranged the purchase of an Issue of $25,000,000 of 4 per cent, bonds, representing a first mortgage on the Wladikawkas Railway system. The principal and interest of these bonds tire guaranteed by the Rus sian government, and are payable in American gold dollars at the New York Security and Trust Company. The nature and size of this loan and the disclosure which it makes of this coun try’s present position as a financial power of the world, is Us most interesting feat ure. Another is the surprising showing it reveals as to Russia’s purchase in the Amerii'an market of steel, coal and finish ed machinery. Besides, there is the fact that a gold loan guaranteed by one of the great European Powers selling in the American market- at a price which nets the syndicate slightly more than 4 per cent. The first $10,000,(XX) of the bonds have just been delivered in New York and a payment of $5,000,000 has been made on account. This money is now deposited to the credit of the Russian government at the office of J. P. Morgan & Cos., the Na tional City Bank and the New York Se curity company. Special arrangement made with the Rus sian government by a representative of the syndicate who has recently returned from St. Petersburg, provide* that none of the money for the bonds is to 1)© ttans ferred to Russia, but that all of the amounts are to be deposited in New York to the credit of the government and dis bursed under direction of the Russian fis cal agent In. America, M. De Roulkow sky. in payment of the balances which Russia is incurring with American ship builders, iron and steel manufacturers and others of the clas*?. Authorities* believe that this initial pur* chase of cool and the buying of material in connection with the construction of the trans-Siberian Railway and the greet de* velopment of her agricultural products only the beginning of Russia’s purchase* in this country. WILL STRENGTHEN BOER CAUSE. \\ lint Gen. Mile* Think* of Gen. Cronje nml III* Men. New York. Feb. 27.—The World publishes the following statement by Gen. Miles: ‘‘Cronje’s surrender was expected and it was all that could be expected when a fbree of 3,000 holds put for, ftyer .and, week against a force of 50,000 trained troop*. The effect of Gen. Cronje’s surrender will be to strengthen tho cause of the Trans vaal patriots. “You will observe that the first reports said that Gen. Cronje had a force of 9,000 opposed to the British. (But only 3,000 surrendered. What became of the other 6.000? The importance of the sur render under such circumstance® only il lustrates the fighting valor of this b-and fuf of Boer patriots numbering only' 3,000 against an army of 50,000 of English picked so-ldiers. The effect of Cronje’s surren der will be to strengthen ra*ther than lo weaken the Boer patriots’ cause in this war. “We cannot help but admire those Boetrs, no matter where our symixathies may be. In my position It would not be diplomatic for me to say too much, hut whoever is in the right, we must admire the 3.000 patriots who stood off for ten days 50,0C0 of the British army.” WILL NEVER CONQUER BOERS. Montagu W hite Say* They Will Rlmp nii<l Drive Out the Rrltlnh. J?uffalo, N. Y., Feb. 27.—Montagu White, official representative of tho South Afri can republic, was the guest of the Inde pendent Club to-night. Relative to the surrender of Cronje and the probable outcome of the war, he de- Jlared with evident feeling that Cronje’s stand had been most heroic, but that In evitably the little republics In South Af rica would be crushed. He said, however, that England would never conquer the Boers, and that eventually Jhey would rise again and drive the British from South Africa. Whatever the outcome of the struggle might be, he said, one thing was assured, and that was that It would lay the foundation of liberty In South Africa. WILL NOW III: DEFENSIVE. Opinion of MnntiiKu While Relative lo Gen. Cronje** Surrender. Buffalo, N. Y. f Feb. 27.-Montagu While of IVetoria, former consul general of the South African Republic at London, who arrived here to-day, in reply to a query, said the surrender of Gen. Cronje marked the clowe of the offensive operations of Ihe war. The enormous, overwhelming British force had compelled the abandon ment of offensive tactics and the begin ning of defense. SPOKE AT MIHSIMim’I CAPITOL. Mr. Ilr.vnn Give* Attention to the Three Great question*. Jackson, Miss., Feb. 27.—Hon. W. J. Bryan spoke to an audience of 1,500 peo ple in Representative*’ Hull this after-, noon, dividing his time equaffy between Tree silver, trusts and Imperial turn. His denunciation of the latter was especially severe, the policy of the administration in •he Philippines and Porto Rico compared w;th that of Ihe government toward the South during reconstruction period. Col. Bryan left to-night for Baton Rouge, where he speaks to-morrow night. He will be In Shreveport March 1 and Galves ton the following day. At th latter place he Join* h4s wife and will rest for a few weeks. W AGES TO ADVANCE. Eighteen Thousand C oke Workers to Receive Notice To-day, Pittsburg, Feb. 27.—1 tls learned to-night that the 18,000 coke worker* In the Con nellsville region will to-morrow receive no tice of an advance In their wages of about 12 per cent. The price of coke has nearly, or quite, doubled since the coke workers’ wage* was last advanced. SMASH UP IN A SNOWDRIFT. O.'E I*ASSK!SGER TRAIN RVNS INTO ANOTHER NEAR INDEFEVDENCB. It 1/fiißt Two INthou* Kllloil Out rlKl>t anal Hrvrrnl llnally lnjoreil. I'lrat Train Delayed In tile Snow Miami anil the Second t'raaliea In to It. the Engineer I nillim to See the llnii|£er Sianill—J. ii. Selimlal lopii, n t'ineliiuatl Mulll-Mllllon nlre, lladly Hurt. Kansas City. Feb. 27.—The blizzard pre vailing throughout Western Missouri was’ the direct cause of a train wreck to-night on the mail* line of the Missouri Pacific Itoad. in which at least two persons, and possibly more, were killed and several others were badly hurt. The fast St. Louie day express, due to arrive In Kansas City at 5:45 this evening, was delayed by a freight train which stuck in a snowdrift two miles south of Independence, Mo., about twelve miles out of Kansas City. The St. Louis local passenger train, running forty minutes be hind the fast express, came on through the blinding storm and crashed into the express train ahead, the en gineer having failed to see the danger signal which the first train had sent back. Such was the feme of the collision that the parlor car in the rear of the first train was Utterly cut in two. When Engineer Frank Raymond and his fireman escaped from the wreck they crawled out through the windows of the parlor car. Fire added to the horrors of the wreck, coals frbm the furnace of the shattered engine having fallen among the debris of tho splintered coach, and soon the whole wreck was ablaze. Two or more persons were burned, it is believed. A list of the dead and injured so far as known fol low*: . - jLa. , I)€Ml 1 MrV. J. G. Schmtdlapp of Cincinnati, in stantly killed; body recovered. Unknown woman, body consumed In wreck. Injured- ' ~ nr"ii J. O. Schmldlapp, Cincinnati; will re cover. Mlsa SohmidJapp, Cincinnati, scalded; will lose sight both eye*. Mrs. J. O. Blake, Cincinnati, mother of Mrs. Stohmidlairp, badly scaldod, eyesight lost; may recover. W. R. Vaughn, Cincinnati, newspaper reporter, scalded and right arm crushed; amputation necessary. Jj. F. Sheldon. Hedaila, assistant super intendent of telf graph of Missouri Pacific, iwinfiilly scalded. Brakeman Frank Me A far, St. Douis, badly brulsad. Mrs. Elizabeth Peters, Kansas City, scalded. Mrs. Elizabeth I,ee, Cincinnati, scalded. All of the injured have been brought to University Hospital in Kansas City. William Rost, a farmer, who came from tils near-by home to assist the imperilled passengers, is quite sure that at le ist three women were burned In the wreck. When he reached the car. flames were crackling through the splintered wood work at one end. while at the other a cloud of blistering steam was belching from the locomotive, which had ripped the coach oj>en from end to end. On every side were men and women crying for assistance. Other passengers from the forward coaches came hack and helped out all those in the burning car who could be reached. The body of one woman was jammed in the roof of the burning coach and it was not reached by the rescuers, according to Mr. Host. Tho body of another woman was consumed in full view of the passen gers who gathered altout the wreck. Mr. Rostand others reached into the burning debris and tried to drag her out, but she was pinned under heavy wreckage. Mr. Rost says the young woman was appar ently dead as he reached her hand and there was no response to his efforts at rescue. He described the woman as about 2.“) years of age; she wore a dark dross and a leather chatelaine hung from her waist. Mr. Rost believes that he saw the body of at ill a third woman wedged between the timbers of tho burning coach, but be fore he could get closer, the fire, smoke ond steam obscured his view. The locomotive of the first train was dispatch to Independence for surgeons, und after returning with these, came on to Hanses City with the passenger* from the two train*. The parlor car of the ex press train was the only coach wrecked. SCHMinLAPI' \ >111,1,10 WIN j:. I.nrgcly Interested In Ohio mid Ken tucky Industrie*. Cincinnati, Feb. 27.—J. G. Bchmidlapp Is president of tho Union Savings Bank and Trust Company, the Export Storage Com pany, the Clifton (Springs Distilling Com* pany and of other enterprises in this cliy. He is connected with many Industrie* here and in Ohio and Kentucky, and is con sidered a multi-millionaire. He is largely interested In real estate and has in pro-* cess of construction now a twenty-story building at Walnut and Fourth street*. He |e a noted promoter of charitable and educational Institution and was also a leader in ao-Jal club*. For many year* President McKinley has been his guest % when he visited this city. Mrs. McKinley and Mrs. Bchmldlapp have been very close friends for many years. OWNERSHIP OF fIAHIKAM. No O thrift I Information That It linn lit*<*a Transferred to the Prince. Washington, Feb. 27.—1f Prince Ponla towskl or any other individual has secur ed possession of Basllan Island, In the Philippine group as reported in a press <iis|*at<-h, the acquisition will be made in a purely personal capacity and, of course, does not affect in any way the sovereign ty of the United States now existing over the Island. It is wild at the state department that no concessions have been granted to any one In the Philippines, so if there has been a change of ownership as to Hasilan island, the purchaser stands merely In the capacity of a private land owner. Offered to tieorge l„ Hr ml liury. Indianapolis, FH). 27.—1 t Is rumored in railroad circles here that the presidency of the Kansas Olty, Pittsburg and Gulf road has been offered to George I*. Brad bury, Vice president of the lake Erie and Western. TWO STATE GOVERNMENTS. Kentncky Democratic Officer* Open l|> for lliinliicn* at Frankfort. Frankfort. Ky., Feb. 27.—Two state governments, completely officered, and each claiming to be the regular and legal officials, ore in Frankfort to-day, and will remain, each claiming the right to admin ister the affairs of state until the question is adjudicated In Ihe courts. A* antici pated, the banks refuse to recognize either of the contending factions, and a* a re sult both arc without money, anil the stale funds art. us securely tied up as they could be. legislator*, county as well as state offi cials. and all kind* of contractors with the state, will have to wait until somebody I* authorized by a decision of the court to pay them, and the state will have to wait on what i® due it until the courts say who i authorized to receive it. Tho Democratic state officers have open ed offices In the Capitol Hotel. The char itable and penal state Institutions are among the sufferers. GOVERNMENT BONDS STRONG, Feuding Currency Hill Canning Na tional Hank* to Look About. New York, Feb. 27.—Government bonds continued very strong on to-day’s mar ket, the notable advance being In the 4s of 1925, which are not convertible under the refunding clause of the finance bill. The bid quotations for these bonds ad vanced one and one-half points to-day, following a similar rise of one and one half points yesterday. Other classes of government bonds gained quarter-point each. National bank* in all sections of the country are sending to bond dealers in this city to procure United State* 3, 4 and 5 per cent, bonds convertible under the term of the pending currency bill into the 2 per cent. Issue which will be availa ble to secure circulation. Of the $235,830,170 of bonds now on de posit with tho government to secure cir cujation, $197,000,000 are In the convertible issue#. OOL. JOHN E. IIRVANT DEAD. \Ya* Sent South In 1864 to Look After Enin nel pa toil Slave*. New York, Feb. 27.—C01. John E. Bryant died to-day in this oily. In 1864 he was sent to Georgia by Gen. Rufus Saxton, military governor of the Department of the Stouth, cm whose staff he served eov enieen months, to look after ihe interest* of the emancipated slaves. He took charge^of the Freedman’s Bureau. At the same time he published the Georgia Republican at Atlanta. Col. ißryant was appointed postmaster at Augusta., Ga.. by President Grant, in 1869, but resigned 1n 1870 lo take a *oat in the Legislature. President Arthur ap pointed him United State* marshal for the northern district of Georgia in plate of Lieut. Gen. Longifctreet, removed. THREE VICTIMS OF THE PLAGUE. Twelve Days ll<l Passed at Honolu lu Without a Case. San Francisco. Feb. 27.—The steamer Australia arrived from Honolulu to-day. The Associated Pres* correspondent at Honolulu, writing under date of Feb. 20, say*: “After t welve days passing without sign of the plague, three cases were discovered yesterday, and all ended fa tally. The victims were two Chinese males, and a woman, half Chinese and half Hawaiian. It is almost certain that one of the vic tims came to his death through editing in fected food from a Chinese more.” SNOW FALLING AT THE WEST. Stock Not Expected to Suffer and Wheat Will Be Benefited. Kansas C’ity, Feb. 27.—1n Central Mis souri and throughout Kansu* and the ter ritories snow ha* fallen, without let up, since 4 o’clock this morning with no sign of abatement to-night. The ground is covered to a depth from one to two feet. It is Ihe heaviest fall for several years. No serious suffering to stock is expected, a* a high temp ruture prevails and great good to spring wheat will result. In Kan sas City street traffic was Impeded, but not stopped. GILMORE COMING HOME. The Lieutenant llii* Sailed From Ma nila on flic Solace. Washington, Feb. 27.—Lieut. J. C. Gill more, the leader of the York town’s little band who were bold captives by the Fili pinos for so many months, has started on his way home from Manila on the Bal ance. He is in comj>any with the follow ing naval officers: Lieutenant Commander C. K. Vieeland, Lieut. G. H. Signor, Lieut. W. W. Buchunnau, Lieut. L. A. Kaiser, Lieut. J. G. Quinby, Lieut. W. V. Bro naugh. Lieut. L. R. Besteigneuer, Lieut. A. W. Dodd. liieut. W. K. Harrison, Lieut. L. A. Bostick, Lieut. R. L. Speer, Lieut. M. C. Gorgas, Paymaster George Seibel* and Lieut. It. A. Rooney. TELEPHONE CONSOLIDATION, A Deal In Which the Erie System Is A liMorlied. Boston, Fob. 27.—Tho completion of a deal whereby the Erie Telephone System, tho largest Bell system in the United States, pusses Into the hands of the Tele phone, Telegraph nnd Cable Company of America, was announced to-day. The Erie company control* five branches, op erating in North and South Dakota, Min nesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arkansas. Texas and a part of Ohio, and employe $22,000,000 capital. Itltl DROI* IN. STOCK. Third \vrnnr ttl.rl Rnllwir Frll H>% I’olnt. VeMerdnjr. Nw York, Feb. 27.—The price of Third Avenue Street Railway etodc fell 19% point* to 61%, on the Stock Exchange to day. Exactly one year ano the toek sold at 242. Mechanic*’ liens for f1.883.5H were filed agalnrt the Third avenue com pany to-day, and report* were circulated that application for a receiver would be , made DAII/T, W A YEAR. S CENT’S A COPY. WEEKLY J-TIMES-A-WEEK 11 A TBAW NEWARK’S GREATEST FIRE. A CONFLAGRATION SWEEPS TIIRJ RETAIL DRY GOODS DISTRICT. Over a Million Dollars the Estimated Lo**—Vhe Fire Started In a Big De partment store \\ ft fell \\ a* (Illicit ly Enveloped—Superintendent of tlie Ilia Start* flu* a Narrow and Tlirilllnu ICmeape and Wn* Ilndly* ■turned Liven May Have lleeuf I.o*l. y New York. Feb. 27.—The greatest lira Newark, N. J., ever experienced swept! through the retail dry goods district to night, destroying a score or more ofl buildings. Tho lo** I* estimated at overt $1,000,000. Several live* may have beer* lost, and several persons were burned. The fire started in W. V. Snyder’® de* partment store at Broad and Cedar streets, a four-story building, of seventy-five feetl frontage, and extending 2tX) feet alond Cedar street. The stock was valued a0 $500,00(5, and nothing was saved. The build ing was burned to tlie ground. The flro broke out ft bout 6:20 p. m., af ter several hundred employe* had lefg the building, which was then taken charge of by a number of sweepers. It is thought! that some Of th engine room force ami similar employes may have also been ini the building. The flames spread with ter rible rapidity, the entire building belnfll enveloped before the arrival of the fire men. Only one man was seen and he was a| a window on the second floor, In a frenzy} of fear. The firemen raised a ladder, butt before they ou<ld scab* it the man ewunf# HARM elf through the broken window anil on to ihe ladder. As he reached, the lad der a rush of flam** came througll that window, engulfing him. It receded in j * moment, and the man was seen on tha ladder wrapped in fire, a* h 1 clotblipf burned. Firemen ran up the ladder on th*y under side and grabbed him to prove nil him failing. Then other* went up on th upper side and began tearing the burning! clothing from the man.’ They did this* with their naked hands, and were them selves burned. Thousand® of people wit nessed the thrilling scerle. The burning; clothing was torn from the man, and with it came portions of the fleah. The mail was taken to a hospital. Meanwhile a general alarm was turned In and all of (he fifty-odd pieces of flra apparatus in the city were rolling to tha lire. Ten minute* after tlie fire wax dis covered the flam*'* had leaped ariosi Cedar street and were traveling also northward along Br< ad street. Within half an hour the fire wn* beyond control. Tho four-story building adjoining tho Snyder building on Broad street and oc cupied by J. M. Mantz, dealer in laceo and similar good* on the first floor and office* on the upper floors, was totally destroyed, with everything' it contained. Next to it was the restaurant, and bn fectlor.ery establishment of T. B. Allen, a fashionable caterer, this building aisai containing offices of many kinds. 14 was destroyed, as was also Ihe trunk ertore of! <’. B. Peddle. Th* fire completely gutted this building, but left the front part al most untouched. Then 14 gutted the rear of the big department store of David Straus*. The firemen at this point math! a desperate stand to prevent the fire fromt geUing .into Hartegen’s Jewelry store* which w,aft the next in the block. At th-e same time the flame* were trav ling southward w ith a* mu 'll fury a.l on the north of the original fire. \V. TANARUS Rue's Jewelry store occupied the cornet* opposite Snyder’s. Nothing was saved here, although the valuable stock of Jew elry, probably ihe largest in Newark, id securely locked In the vaults ofl the building. Above the jewelry store the building iwas occupied by offices. Within an hour there was hardly a brickl of the buj'.ding standing above a few feei from the sidewalk. The flame® drove through a solid wall Into P. J. Garrigan’g drug store. <'aim’s photograph establish ment and galleries were next above anti nothing could save eih<?r of Chem. The rear end of the Bee Hive dry goods store, owned by L. 8. Strauss & Cos., waa next lo go, and here a large body of fire men concentrated and fought hard to kcepj the fire from entering the main building, which was separated from the rear por tion by a party wall with iron doors. Thel fight was a stubborn one. The doors be came red hot and the task looked hope less. While the flames were thus eating thd heart cut of the most important business l lock on Broad s'reot. tlie fire was spread ing westward along Cedar street on hot hi side*. On the south side of this street, the flro burned M-m No. 2. at the rear of! Rae’s store, to No. 24. These were all small stores, In buildings three and four stories high, the upper floors being occu pied largely a* dwellings. In this ro\y was Bierman's pawnshop, whore many thousand dollar* worth of articles werg destroyed. On the nortf) side of Cedar street, back! o' Snyder’s, the fire attacked a row of eleven brown stone and brick buildings, used a* offices on the upper floors and store* on the ground floor. All the police In the city were on duty at the lire, except those absolutely need ed on post. A hundred thousand specta tors witnessed the conflagration. Tha crowd had to be forced l>aek ogain and again as the advance of the flames caused the firemen to shift position- hack. Finally order* were given to extend tha fire line* beyond the two blocks on- either siik*. and the crowd was pushed back and hues were stretched across the street. Women fainted in the fearful crush. Blows were exc hanged and clothing wax torn from locks in tho crush. Despite the cold, the crowd insisted upon remaining and stood for hour* watching the destruction of h million dollar* wor4h of property. The heat close to the flro was fearful and the firemen were driven back time and again. They had to move their apparatus many times. Several times men handling the hose had to aban don It and flee from the flame® whicti threatened to engulf them. They were coated with Ice when they went a few! feet away from the fire and the next mo ment would Ik* almost roasted by the he*C ns the fire advanced or they returned KJ their battle. The streets for blocks were flooded, and ice covered as the water flowed from tha fire outside the heated scene. The Are wo* under control at 1:30 o’clock. The man rescued from the building proved to be Oscar O. Schaekleton, 60 year of age. He was superintendent of the store, and wa® making his usual round of inspection after the employes had lef| Continued on Fifth I’age,