Newspaper Page Text
THE MORNING NEWS.
Established 1860. .- - Incorporated 188S
J. H. ESTILL, President.
* ■ BODIES
Days Already Been Taken Out
of tile titan Mine.
LIST OF DEAD MAY BE 300.
Every House in Scofield Is a House
of Mourning.
Re’.ief Movement Started for - tile
.Families of the Victims—'Theory
•of the Explosion Is That Giant
Powder Used by Finns Ignited tile
Coal Dnst—One Half-Head Victim
Begged to lie Killed—Many Bodies
Remain to lie Taken Out and tile
Death List Is Expected to Do Fully
300.
Scofield, Utah, May 2.—At 10:30 o’clock
to-day 201 bodies had been recovered from
inline No. 4.
It is now known that between 300 and
400 men entered the mines, and it is also
known that a great majority of them
have been killed in the powder explosion
of yesterday.
Among the dead are about twenty boys,
who acted as douplers and trap boys. In
the Hunter family alone seven are miss
ing. A large number of the dead were
married men.
Just how the catastrophe occurred is not
known.
At Provo a mass meeting has been held
for the relief of the families of the vic
tims and 33,000 subscribed.
To-night’s estimate of the number of
the killed in the terrible mine explosion is
250, but the total death list may yet
reach 300.
Relief work is still In progress, being
conducted by shifts of men. The shift
now In the mine has fifty bodies ready to
bring out, and the number of corpses yet
co be reached is still uncertain.
Arriving trains are constantly bringing
relatives of the victims from outside
points, and the coal company has desig
nated a committee to carry the dead to
Salt Lake, Ogden and other cities. Oil
account of gas, No. 4 mine has been aban
doned as a means of rescue, and bodies
are arriving at the mouth of No. 1 mine
by the carload.
Ferrish Level has been cleared of dead
and ail are burned and unrecognizable.
I |
Mourning in Every llounc.
Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2.—Every
house in the little town of Scofield ia a
house of mourning. The awful scene of
yesterday gave place to-day to the calm
of despair.
When the removal of the bodies from
the mine began, hundreds of men volun
teered their services for the purpose. The
rescuers came from other mines and towns
surrounding, and worked incessantly to
bring out the burned and mangled re
mains of the dead miners.
The bodies were taken to the company
buildings as soon as they were brought
out of the mine, and were there dressed
6nd laid out preparatory to the coroner's
inquiry and for identification.
Many of the rescuers came near losing
their lives from the fatal after damp,
but the work was continued in the face
of all danger and most of the brave fel
lows remained at their posts until they
were almost ready to drop from physical
exhaustion and the deadly effects of the
poisonous fumes.
BogßtMl to He Killed.
John Klrton was the first man brought
the surface. He was still alive, but
presented a terrible sight. His scalp was
burned to a cinder and hl3 face was al
most unrecognizable.
In his horrible pain he cried out to his
companions, begging them to end his mis
ery by taking his life.
ft was 2:20 o’clock this morning when
Sup*. Sharp sent his valiant workers to
their beds and was himself the last to
leave.' When active work ceased at the
mines 137 dead had been recovered. Fif
ty of these were laid in a row in the lit
tle meeting house of the Latter Day
Saints, while others were stretched out
ln the improvised morgue, just as they
were found in the mine.
According to the closest estimate there
about 300 men, all told, employed at
the two mines, which are practically one.
About fifty of these were working in what
Is known ns the No. 1 back level, which
was so far from the explosion that it had
its force before the shock could
rf och them, and they all got out. They
bf'ard the -report, but did not grasp the
situation o/t once, one of the men contin
uing to load a car after It occurred.
All efforts are now being concentrated
to bring out a large number of bodies
known to be In No. 4, where 185 men
!*rished. Here the force of the explo
s,on broke down the timbers, and the
bodies can only be rot at through No. 1.
' P to noon 149 bodies had been brought
out.
Theory of the Explosion.
The theory of Bishop Parmalee is that
pome of the Finns recently imported se
rrr<ly took giant powder down Into the
'nine to assist them in their work. They
w re exceedingly anxious to moke a good
lowing, and moke as much money as !
possible, .a n4 j lB thought this form of ;
was used in order that great j
oiies of coal could more easily be dls- '
lodged. It is thought that when the giant
powder W’as touched off it ignited some of
the dust, of which every coal mine has
more or less.
Some of the miners are exceedingly bit
ter in their denunciation of the company,
while others hold no one responsible.
One of the rescuing miners said when he
came out of the tunriel:
“This explosion is the most disastrous,
so far as loss of life is concerned, that
has ever occurred in America. There will
be 200 dead when we are through Work.
“Wo have had some hard experiences
digging through the mine. Several times
members of our party w*ere overcome by
the damp, but we got them out in time.
We found the bodies of the men in every
conceivable shape, but generally they
were lying on their stomachs with their
arms about their faces. The men died
almost instantly when struck by the
damp and did not suffer. They just be
came unconscious and were asphyxiated.
Their faces were calm and peaceful as
though they had just fallen asleep. The
inen in No. 1 might possibly have escaped
had they started to run as soon as the
explosion in No. 4, which connected with
it, occurred. But they put on their coats
end arranged their tools before starting.
They started just in time to me t
the damp half way. The bodies
found near the entrance are bad y
crushed as they got the full force of the
explosions. Mine No. 1 was damaged com
paratively little, but No. 4 is badly dam
aged.”
"Was Blown 21M> Yards.
John Wilson was blown with his horse
200 yards across the bottom of the canon.
The back of his skull was crushed and
something had been driven into his stom
ach. He is in a terrible plight.
Three hundred and ninety-eight men en
tered the mine for work yesterday morn
ing and a great majority of them have
perished. It will not be surprising if the
total death figures aggregate 300.
The Mayor of this city hae issued n
proclamation, appointing a committee to
solicit and receive subscriptions for the
helpless mothers, widows and orphans.
A Later Report.
The reports from up to 11
o’clock to-night say that it is now known
that 158 are dead from the explosion and
that the estimate of loss will increase
rather than decrease. One estimate is that
there were 390 men in the mine, and on
that basis there must have been at least
300 lives lost.
A special to the Herald from Scofield,
says it sec-ms that at least 250 men have
been killed in the mine accident. The ac
curate figures cannot be given and will
not be known for some days. The mine
managers say it will be impossible to se
cure a list of names until the dead bodies
have been brought out and identified.
Superintendent Sharp says that there
were 200 men in the mine at the time of
the explosion. Of these it is impossible to
account for more than sixty. In the tur
moil and confusion those who escaped
cannot be seen.
T. ere is great variance between the fig
ures given by Superintendent Sharp, and
those given by Mine Superintendent Par
melee.
MOTIOA FOR KAIL OVERRULED.
Culton Gives. Sensational Testimony
In Goebel Case.
Frankfort, Ky., May 2.—W. H. Culton,
State Auditor Sweeney’s clerk, indicted as
accessory to the Goebel murder, testified
in the hearing of the motion for ball in
his case this afternoon and gave some
sensational testimony.
Culton’s testimony followed af;er the
motions for ball in the case of Powers,
Davis, Youtsey, Whittaker and Combs
had been overruled. An order was entered
transferring the prosecution against them
to Georgetown for trial on a change of
venue.
Culton said:
“Henry Youtsey told me that Goebel
would be killed. I told him that it must
not be done. 1 told Gov. Bradley what
Youtsey said and Bradley said: My God,
this must not be done.’ Youtsey afterward
so id there, was nothing in it.”
The witness told of another conversa
tion with Youtsey, who came with Bur
t n of Breckinridge county.
"Youtsey said he had the greatest
s?heme yet; that Goebel could be shot
frem the Secretary cf State’s office and
n body would ever know who did it.”
“At a me: ting in l owers’ office I pre
sided and the question of providing board
ing flacks for contest w tnesses was dis
cusseJ. B. B. B 4 urton pulled out a hand
ful cf car;ridges ard said: ’A few of
these turned loose in the proper place
would soon settle this contest.’ ”
EXGLAXIPS U.M'HKPAKKUXESS.
Rml yard Kipling’* View* n* to M hy
Army Warn Xot Ready.
London, May 3.—The Daily Chronicle
publishes this morning an interview with
Ttudyard Kipling. When asked as to
what he attributed the British military
unpreparedness, he replied:
“Mainly to the British public, who have
never taken the army seriously and w’ho
have thus unconsciously encouraged the
system of playing at soldiers; to people
who have objected to rifle ranges, because
they made a noise or w’ere dangerous to
individuals who got in their way; to peo
ple who have made as much fuss ns a
dozen soldiers going through a farm yard
ns if a fleld day were a bean feast, and
consequently helped make Qie proper ma
neuvers for many years an Impossibility;
and to people who call un officer a cad
if ho wears tho Queen’s uniform when not
on actual duty.
“For years we have been preparing the
way for Stormberg, Magersfontein and
the rest. The result has been the loss
of thousands of lives.”
Looking; for Unban Arm*.
Santiago de Cuba, May 2.—C01. White
side. department commander, left this af
ternoon on board the United States trans
port Wright to Investigate the report that
large quantities of Cuban arms and am
minition are concealed near Puerto Prin
cipe
SAVANNAH. GA„ THURSDAY. MAY 3. 1900.'
TWENTY AMERICANS KILLED.
MAJORITY OF A SMALL GARRISON
WAS ANNIHILATED.
Surrounded ly Rebel* tin* I’liiokr
Americans Within n Church at
Catuhig Fought For Two Days.
Killing About 3200 of tlie Enemy.
The Suvivors Were Famished and
Weak—Were Relieved by u Lieu
tenant and Eight Men.
Manila, May 2.—The American garrison
at Catubig, Island of Samar, consisting of
thirty men belonging to the Forty-third
Regiment, has been attacked by rebels.
Twenty of the Americans were killed.
The remainder we e rescut and.
The Americans were quartered In the
Catublg church, which the enemy, num
bering several hundred men, surrounded
and fit reely attacked.
The Americans fought for two days and
then the rebels managed to ignite the roof
of the church, and it burned away and
finally fell upon those inside the edifice.
The walls remained intact, however, and
were used as a shelter by the besieged
Americans for three days longer, the en
e ny attacking the building on all sides at
once.
The Americans continued firing from the
windows and doors of the church and did
great execution among the Filipinos. It
is estimated that over 200 of the latter
were killed, many dead bodies being re
moved from the scene of the fighting.
After five days resistance by the Amer
icans, a lieutenont an<l eight men arrived
from Laoan andi engaged the besiegers,
who thereupon retired.
The fortunate arrival of these rein
forcements prevented the annihilation of
the American force entrenched in the
church, who had repeatedly declined to
surrender when ordered to do so by the
Filipinos.
The ten survivors were without food,
had little ammunition and were physically
exhausted when relieved.
This fight has encouraged the Filipinos,
who are now acting in an aggressive man
ner, and threatening that section of the
coast, particularly the town of Catarma,
whence the garrison, probably will be
withdrawn to Laoan.
OTIS HAS NOT REPORTED IT.
Probably Holding Report Until He
Cnn Give tlie Name*.
Washington, May 2.—Gen. Otis has so
far not reported to the war department
the casualties sustained by the American
garrison at Catublg. The officials be
lieve that he is holding back the news
with the object of supplying the names of
the victims of the siege.
The loss reported in killed is the most
severe suffered by the American forces
since the beginning of the insurrection,
but even so, the officials at the war de
partment could not but express their ad
miration for the heroic endurance and
courage displayed by the little garrison.
The department is not informed as to
the composition of this particular garri
son, having only a rough statement from
the commanding general of the disposition
of each regiment among certain is ands,
without particulars of the location of each
company.
The officers at the department who have
seen service in the Philippines are not sur
prised at the fact that an officer with
eight soldiers was able to raise the siege.
They say that the Filipinos were probably
dismayed at the extent of the punishment
inflicted upon them, by the garrison before
the relieving party came near, and then
they supposed it was but the advance
guard of a formidable force and ran off.
IXSIKGENT GUERILLA BA YDS.
Yew Plan of Campaign Han Been
Adopted by the Filipinos.
Washington, May 2.—Recent mail ad
vices to the war department from the
Philippines indicate that the latest plan
of the insurgents Is to organize Into
mounted bands of 100 and harass the
American forces wherever possible.
These bands will be scattered through
out the islands and will be in daily com
munication with each other as far as pos
sible by means of scouts, who will carry
orders to govern concerted movements
and all information concerning retreats,
reinforcements, etc.
According to the Liberal, the organ of
the Filipinos, a complete plan of military
strategy will be drawn up, “as a result
of which the Americans will soon suffer."
The paper declares that the present war,
far from being over, is really more vig
orous than ever. It is reported that a
strong insurgent camp Is being organized
In the Zambalcs mountains by a promi
nent general, and that nearly all the
towns of the provinces, whether occu
pied by Americans or not, continue to
pay taxes for the sustenance of the Fili
pinos in arms and the prosecution of the
struggle.
SOUTH PLATTE IS OY A TEAR.
River nt tlie Highest Point Known
In Six Years.
Fort Morgan, Col., May 2.—The South
Platte is the highest in six years and is
three-quarters of a mile wide. The long
dike connecting bridges over the two
channels is under water and washed
away to a depth of ten feet in several
placer. The Platte and Beaver canal Is
washed out Just below the bridge and the
Morgan canal washed out at the heud
gnte, as is also the Bijou canal.
The railroad bridge at Hoddin has gone
out Into the river. The bridges at Orch
ard and Snyder are impassable; there Is
no way to cross and travel Is tied up.
Higher water still Is feared.
Clilll Wants n Settlement.
Lima, Peru. May 2—Dispatches from
LaPaz, capital of Bolivia, announce that
the Chilian Minister to Bolivia has pre
sented to the Bolivian government a
quasi ultimatum to the effect that Chill
demands a settlement cf pending ques
tions without the cession of a port on the
Pacific coa.t
WHAT ROBERTS IS DRIVING AT.
Ha „ Establishing a BrltiNli Line
Aero., the Free State.
London, May 3, 4:10 a. m.—The Immedi
ate objective of Lord Roberts Is to estab
lish a line of British posts from one fron
tier of the Free State to the other at
right nnglee wilh the railway, thus pre
venting Boer raids southward. This ne
cessitates forcing the Boers back from
the rugged Thaba Nchu district at Lady
brand.
As the result of the desultory firing
Monday and Tuesday the Boers were
pushed back a few miles.
The Boers continue to follow' their ha
rassing tactics. One W'ell-horsed com
mando near Sanna’s. Post, Interferes with
the British convoys going from
Bloemfontein to Thaba Nchu. The enemy
nearly captured a convoy Tuesday.
Preparations for an advance continue
at Kimberley.
The Rriiish garrisons along the railway
to Warrenton have been strengthened and
supplies are going forward. A mounted
force has gone to Barkley West In conse
quence of the Boers having occupied
Windsorton. A thousand Boers threaten
the communications between Boshof and
Kimberley. ,
According to a correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph with Lord Roberts,
President Kruger Is again asking peace
terms.
TRYING TO HEM IN THE BOERS.
Object of the Recent Operations
Around Tlinbn Nchu.
London, May 2.—lt Is difficult to unravel
the tangled stories coming from the neigh
borhood of Thaba Nchu, but apparently
the British forces are engaged in a move
ment having for its object the hemming
in of the Boers still In that district.
While Gens. French and Bundle are
holding the Boers at Thaba Nchu, Gen.
Broadwood’e cavalry has been pushed on
Houtnek (not Houtney) in the hope of In
tercepting the federal convoys between
Ladybrand and Wlnburg. As iGen. Botha
has been reinforced there In every prospect
of sharp fighting.
The new scene of operations and the
general movements of tho various colums
arc taken to Indicate that Lord Roberts
is deploying his army preparatory to begin
ning his northern march It now seems
likely that It is the cormnander-in-chlef’s
intention to advance simultaneously from
Kimberley, Bloemfontein ami Ladysmith,
with the view of preventing the Boers
from concentrating their forces at any
given point.
A patch from Bloemfontein, dated
yesterday, chronicles the prevailing opin
ion among the townspeople there that the
war is not likely to last mbre than six
weeks once the British advance begins,
but adds that the corn-spondent ha 6 been
unable to discover any ground for this
opinion, beyond the fact that Gen. Car
rington has arrived at the Marandelles
base, whence a flying column will be dis
patched in a direction not mads public.
Expulsion of the British.
A dispatch from Pretoria gives the text
of President Kruger’s proclamation, ex
pelling British subjects from the Trans
vall. It says:
“As numerous burghers Insist on the
removal of the British and as the gov
ernment Is desirous of Complying with
the wishes of the burghers and others
favorable to the republic, all Britishers
residing in the district and town of Pre
toria, and the W’itw'atersrand gold fields
must leave the stale within thirty-six
hours from noon, April 30. Exception
will be made In the case of those obtain
ing special permits.”
Lord Roberts forwards a list of the cas
ualties of Gen. lan lYamlkon’s force April
So as follows: Killed, Maj. Showers,
Lieut. Parker and one private; wounded,
four officers and five men; missing, two
officers and ten men.
A dispatch from Mafeklng, describing
the Boer attack of April 11, says;
“The bombardment of the Creusots was
the hottest of the siege. . Many shells
entered the hospital and women’s laager.
Under cover of 4he artillery a large force
commanded by Cronje (the younger), in
cluding the German Corps, advanced close
to Fort Abrams. The garrißon laid low
until the Boer force was at close range,
when they fired a volley, killed five,
wounded many nnd the attack was re
pulsed The bombardment then ceased.
The Boers, under a Red Cross flag, later,
were permitted to recover thetr dead.”
la Honor of the Powerful,
Windsor is in holiday attire to-day and
decorated from end to end In honor of
tho naval brigade of .the British cruiser
Powerful, which assisted In the defense
of Ladysmith. The naval men were sum
moned to the castle to be lhspected by the
Queen. The l>and of the Grenadier Guards
mot the naval brigade at the railroad
station and played them to (he castle
through cne-rlng throngs of peop'e. The
inspection occurred In th- quadrangle and
was witnessed by the Duke of York and
oth r members of the royal family, and a
number of high naval and military of
ficers. Her majesty drove down the line
'of blue Jackets, who then advanced and
pave three cheers for the Queen. Capt.
Lambton of the Powerful, and the of
ficers of that vessel were afterwards pre
sented to Her Majesty, who thanked
Capt. Lambton and the brigade for their
noble services to the empire. The captain
replied that what th- y had dene was noth
ing to what the navy was prepared to do
for Her Majesty.
The Queen some time afterwards, saw
the blue Jackets entertained at dinner.
DOERS DRIVEN FROM HILLS.
English Finally Cleared a Passage
at Houtnek.
Thaba Nchu. May 1, afternoon.—Gen.
Hamilton’s division was engaged yester
day and to-day In forcing a passage north
ward. At Hou:nk the Boer front held a
line of hills commanding the sides of the
nek.
The Canadians and Gordons attacked
the hill to the left, and the Shropehires
and Marshall’s horse, supported by a bat
tery. also-made an attack on the enemy,
who finally tied, leaving many wounded;
and the passage was cleared.
The Boers on tho mountain are now
shelling the outlying ramp, necessitating
removal to a safer place.
The Boers havs three guns on the hill
to the eastward cf this place, outside of
the range of the British artillery. The
Boer shelling is not doing any damage.
The enemy retain their positions and the
Biltish are not attempting to dislodge
them.
Gen. Hamilton, by reaching Houtney,
after a full day'a fighting, secured the
Thaba Nchu Bloemfontein toad.
CHADWICK HARSHLY REBUKED
DEPARTMENT TAKES NOTE OF lIIS
CRITICISM OF SCHLEY.
lie Explained That His Statement
Against Schley Was Not Intended
for Puhl trillion Secretary Long-
Told Him He Had Further Im
paired the Confidence of the De
partment in Ills Deneretion—llepri
tunnd Wni Emphatic.
■Washington, May 2.—Secretary Long to
day, after a conference with the Presi
dent, made public tho corrosiiondonce
which has taken place between the navy
department and Capt. Chadwick, respect
ing the published Interview in which the
Captain 19 reported as severely reflecting
upon Rear Admiral Schley.
The department’s action in tho case Is
a severe reprimand, and 14 is noteworthy
that Its letter has been made public; a
fact which, ill itself, adds to the weight
of the punishment administered.
The correspondence consists of two let
ters, one from Capt. Chadwick nnd the
other from Secretary Long. In his letter
to Secretary Long, which is dated New
York, April 27, Capt. Chadwick says he
was In no way privy to the publication
of the article. On the 16th or 17 h of this
month he said he met the Brooklyn Eagle
correspondent, whom he had known some
years and always favorably. The latter
had previously called his attention to an
Eagle editorial, discussing the contro
versy over Rear Admiral Schley and pro
posing a remedy, viz, the promotion of
both Rear Admirals Schley and Sampson
to be vice admirals.
At the casual meeting mentioned he
conversed with Mr. Atkins, the corre
spondent. regarding the editorial and ask
ed If he had received a note which he
(Chadwick) had sent him on reading It,
merely saying the writer was not aware
of the facts in the case and that he en
tirely mistook the principle involved.
Chadwick says;
What Chadwick Said.
"I repeated what I had said in the note,
and said the question upon which the
navy stood was not the advancement of
any particular man, but one of honor; that
the whole difficulty was with the press in
general, which had failed to put before
the country the facts, based upon Rear
Admiral Schley’s own signals and dis
patches, stated In the letter of the Secre
tary of the Navy to the Senate on Feb.
6, 1893; that the people In general were
thus ignorant of the true status of the
case; that the Secretary’s letter, which,
of course, was virtually the President s
statement of the matter, was ns revere an
arraignment as It was possible to make
regarding an officer, and accused him of
conduct such that no officer should remain
silent under the accusation*; that every
sentiment of military honor demanded
that Admiral Schley should ask for a
court to clear himself of such charges and
that I believed every officer of the navy
would be most pleased to see him cleared,
for the honor of the service, and that I
could certainly say so for myself; that so
long as he remained silent under these
charges, I would not take his hand or
meet him socially; that it was impossi
ble to advance Admiral Schley (as the
editorial proposed) so long as he rested
under these charges without destroying
the whole slanaard of honor nnd duty In
the navy, and that the whole navy so
far as I knew it was of this opinion, and
that Its attitude was a matter of self
preservation.
“The conversation was entirely private,
and so regarded, I supposed by Mr. At
kins.”
A Severe Reprimand.
Secretary Long, In his letter, says:
"The department regrets that It has
occasion to reprimand an officer of your
rank, and experience for Inexcusable in
discretion and offense against the navy
regulations.
“It appears from your letter that in your
Interview with Mr. Atkins, whom you
knew to be a newspaper correspondent,
you epokn of a follow officer, your senior
in rank, in a way calculated to bring him
into contempt. You know this to be a vio
lation of the rraval regulations which for
bid the communication by interviews of
such comment and criticism. You knew
It to be against the good order and disci
pline of the service, because it is the ex
ample of one officer In high rank reflect
ing upon the honor and character of an
other—an example which, unrobuked and
followed, tends to bring the whole ser
vice into contention and scandal. You
know that the professional business of
your interviewer is to dolled material for
publication. While he may not have had
Justification In publishing what you un
derstood and regarded as understood by
him to be private conversation, you knew
the risk you ran, and within a year had
been reprimanded for similar misconduct
In putting yourself and the welfare of the
service to the same risk with the same
result. You have thus again and further
Impaired the confidence of the department
in your discretion.
“It is true that your case differs from
some recent cases of offense on the part
of other officers In that objectionable re
marks mode by them were made on oc
casions and under circumstances which
they knew assured their publicity. In
your case the department unreservedly
accepts your statement that your re
marks were ’ln no s-nse and In no part
Intended for publication, nor considered
as an interview.’ It is for this reason
that it takes no action other than this em
phatic reprimand, the receipt of which
you will acknowledge. Very respectfully,
"John D. Long, Secretary."
ALGER MADE A BIG DEAL.
He llouglit $2,004),OOO Worth of Pine
Lands In Alabama.
Pensacola, Fla., May 2.—The recent vl-it
here of Gen. Russell A. Alger and Col.
W. D. Mann, representing a Michigan syn
dicate, to Inspect the timber lands hnd
milling interest* of Martin H. Sullivan,
the millionaire mill owtier of this city, lias
resulted In a deal In which $2,000,000 Is the
money consideration.
For this sum Mr. Sullivan transfers to
Alger and others 300,000 acres of p,tch pine
timber kinds In the counties of Conecuh.
Monroe, Baldwin and Escambia, In Ala
bama.
The syndicate will erect Immense saw
mills and build railroads. I’rnsaccin will
be their chief port of export.
Ipmey Cannot Retire.
Washington, May 2.—A naval examining
board has declared Capt. H E. Ipmty,
commandant at the Key West navy yard,
tit for duty. He therefore cannot retire
and will return to his post
GEN. MERRITT GETS A LEAVE.
Will Retire From the Army Before
His A'ftentlon Plnrls.
Washington, May 2.—Two Important or
ders were Issued by tho war department
to-day. One granted MaJ. Gen. Wesley
Merritt, commanding the Military De
partment of the East, leave of absence
from May 10, with permission to go
abroad. The other assigned MaJ. Gen.
3. R. Brooke to the command of the De
partment of tho East, with headquarters
at Governor's Island, New York, lo lake
effect Mtiy 10. ;
On that date Gen. Merritt virtually ter
minates his executive connection with the
military establishment, for his leave of
absence extends beyond June 10 next, on
which date he will retire from the army
by operation of law on account of age.
His retirement will make a vacancy In the
list of major generals, which It Is gener
ally conceded will be tilled by the promo
tion of Gen. E. S. Otis, commanding the
troops In the Philippines, who Is the rank
ing brigadier general in the regular es
tablishment. His promotion will not ef
fect Gen. Brooke’s assignment to the com
mand of tho Department of the East.
Gen. Otis’ future duties will not be deter
mined until after he has arrived In Wash
ington and conferred with the President.
It is understood that Gen. Merritt ap
plied for leave of absence In advance of
his retirement In order that he might ac
company Mrs. Merritt and a party of
friends on a tour of the continent this
summer.
AMENDMENT OF NAVAL BILL.
Senate Committee Provide* fop Ar
mor Plate nt Jjtriiri.
Washington, May 2.—Tho Senate Com
mittee on Naval Affairs to-day decided to
recommend tho amendment of the naval
appropriation hill, so as <o authorize the
purcha.se of live submarine torpedo boats
of tho Holland typo, and also so as to
restore tho original provision appropriat
ing $lOO,OOO for lakes and oceans surveys.
Tho Vandiver armor pint© amendment
offered In tho House, was agreed to. tt
authorizes tho payment of $545 per ton on
tho plate of the Maine, Ohio and (Missouri,
tho three vessels now approaching comple
tion, oral provides that if thd contractors
will not supply lit for $445 per ton for the
remaining eleven shl.p9 authorized, tho
government shall construct an armor plat©
plant of ita own.
Messrs. Chandler, Tillman and Butler
contended for <i limit of not to exceed
$550 per ton on orders for the future, after
the plate for three shdpe named is con
tracted for and gave notice that they
would muke this content ion in the Sen
ate.
The committee also adopted amendments
providing against any further increase of
the rnnrino corps, and extending the limit
of cost of the enlargement of the navul
academy from $6,000,000 to $8,000,000.
TELLER'S IIKIH KESOI.rnOS.
Wnnt I nltrd Stair* to Aid In Bring
ing; War (o a Hour,
■Washington, May 2 Senator Teller of
Colorado to-day Introduced the following
resolution:
“Whereas, from the hour of achieving
our Independence as a people, the people
of the United Stales have regarded with
sympathy the struggles of other people to
free themselves from European domina
tion; therefore
“Resolved, That we watch with deep
and abiding Interest the war between
Great Britain and the South African re
publics and with full determination lo
maintain a proper neutrality between the
contending forces, we cannot withhold our
sympathy from tire struggling people of
the republics, and It is our earnest desire
that the government of the United States
by Its friendly offices, offered to both
powers, may assist In bringing the war to
a speedy conclusion In a manner honora
ble to both Great Britain and the South
African republics.’'
MAY SOT BE GRANTED.
Oil Company geeks ♦<► Re-establish
Itself In Texas.
Houston, Tex., May 2.—A special from
AUetJn, says:
"Hio Water-Plerce Oil Company to-day
applied to the Secretary of State for a
new permit to do business In Texas. The
application was referred to the attorney
general, who will officially pass upon It
to-morrow. In view of the fact that tho
Supreme Court of the United States has
perpetually enjoined the company fr*m
engaging In commerce, not Interstate In
this state, because of Ms violation of the
state’s anti-trust law, Attorney General
Smith will advise that the permit asked
for cannot be granted.
EMPEROR INSPECTS TROOPS.
Denied Thai Germany Wants the
Danish West Indies.
Berlin, May 2.—Emperor William arriv
ed at W 1 and Park station at 8:10 to-day,
mounted a horse there and rode to tho
parade ground to Inspect the troops. .
The sentiment, said to emanate from
American sources, that Germany has of
fered Denmark a portion of Schleswig In
exchange for the Danish Antilles Is semi
officially d>nl<d.
. , /
JUMPED WITH AN CM 1111 EL BA.
Foolhardy Englishman Leaped From
Brooklyn Bridge,
New Y'ork, May 2.~A>bert N. Bryan, an
Englishman 22 years old, Jumped from
Brooklyn bridge to-day, holding an um
brella lo lueak the fall and bladders to
keep him afloat. He Is a prisoner In Hud
son Street Hospital to-night and his con
dition 4s precarious.
Investigation of Xtlehardson.
Washington, May 2.—The Senate Com
mittee on printing to-day began Its Inves
tigation on the charges made against Rep
resentative Richardson of Tennessee in
connection with the publications of tho
message and papers of the Presidents of
the United States, The committee heatd
Mr. Richardson's statement, which was
made in private.
Lynched for the Usnu! Crime.
Liberty, Mo., May 2.—Henry Darley, a
negrof was lynched In tho Court House
yard here Just before midnight to-night
by a mob of masked men. The negro was
charged with having brutally assaulted
Miss Vera Armstrong, a hotel waitress at
Excelsior Springs. The mob came from
Excelsior Springe on horseback
DAILY, *8 A YEA*
S CENTS A COPT.
WEKKLV 2-TIMES-A-)VEEK.SI A YEA It
HOUSE PASSED CANAL BILL
NICARAGUAN MEASURE CARRIED
BY VOTE OF 335 TO 35.
lit Spile of Opposition Hie Bill Went
Through With a Hush—Appropri
ates 0,000,000 and Limits the
Cost of *llo,ooo,4loo—Closing De
bate Marked by Severe Personali
ties Between llephnrn and Cannon,
and Others.
Washington, May 2.—The House today
at the conclusion of the most stormy de
bate of tho present session of Congress,
passed tho Nicaraguan canal bill by the
overwhelming vote of 225 to 35.
All attempts to retain in, the bill the
language of the original bill for the forti
fication of tho canal, and to still further
strengthen the language on that line, wero
balked and tlie victory of Mr. Hepburn
and the committee Was complete.
A motion to recommit the bill with In
structions to report back another bill,
leaving the selection of tho route to the
President, was burled under an adverse
majority of 62 to 171.
Mr. Cannon, chairman of the Appropria
tions Committee, and Mr. Burton of Ohio,
chairman of tho River and Harbors Com
mittee, made a gamo fight to stay off ac
tlou ot this session, but their appeals
wero in vain, and the members redo
roughshod over all their arguments and
protests.
Much excliemfnt reigned through the
day and several times bitter words were
used. The excitement reached Its climax
In a highly dramatic scene between Mr,
Hepburn and Mr. Cannon, when the for
mer used the word "lie” and "liar” as ha
denounced the distinguished chairman oC
the Appropriations Committee for at
tempting to “dishonor him.” The Housa
was in riotous confusion during' the quar
rel. Members crowded the aisles and tho
situation at one time was so threatening
that Mr. Wheeler of Kentucky, Democrat,
sought to pour oil on tho waters by rais
ing a point of order. But he was not up
held and the two Irate members carried
their war tc the very nilt.
There was a show of peace at the close
of the incident, but the feeling between
the two men ran so high that the mutual
retractions with which such Incidents
genera ljy end, were but the cloaks for the
keenest and most cutting sarcasm.
The Bill ns It Passed.
The bill as it passed the House is as fol
io wa:
"Be it enacted, etc., That the President
of ihe United States be and is hereby
authorized to acquire from the states of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, for and in be
half of the United States, control of such
portion of territory now belonging to Cos
ta Rica and Nicaragua as may be desira
ble and necessary on which to excavate,
oontruct and protect a canal of such depth
and capacity as will bo sufficient for tha
movements of ships of the greatest ton
nage and draft, now In use, from a point
near Greytown, on the Caribbean sea, via
Lake Nicaragua to Breto, on the Pacific
oe: an; and such sum as may he necessary
to secure such control Is hereby appro
priated, out of any money In the treas
ury not otherwise appropriated.
“Section 2. That when the President has
secured full control over the territory In
section 1 seferrol to he shall direct ttia
Secretary of War to excavate and con
struct a cnnal and waterway from a point
on the shore of the Caribbean sea near
Greytown, by way of Luke Nicaragua, tot
a iiolnt near Breto, on the Pacific ocean.
Such canal shall be of sufficient capacity
and depth as that it may bo used by ves
sels of the largest tonnage and greatest
depth now in use, and shall be supplledl
with all necessary locks and other appli
ances to meet the necessities of vessels
passing from Greytown to Breto; and tha
Secretary of War shall also construct suets
safe and commodious harbors at the term
ini of said canal, and such provision for
defense, as may be necessary for the
safety and protection of said canal an 4
harbors.
“Sec. 3. That the President shall causa
such surveys as may be necessary fog
said canal and harbors, and In the con
struction of the same shall employ such
persons as he may deem necessary.
"Bee. 4. That In the excavation and
construction of said canal the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua, or such parts
of each as may be made available, shall
be used.
"Sec. 5. That In any negotiations with!
the states of Costa Rica or Nicaragua!
the President may have, the President la
authorized to guarantee to said state*
tho use of said canal and harbors upon
such terms ns may be agreed upon, for
all vessels owned by said states or by
citizens thereof.
“Sec. 6. That 4he sum of $10,000,000 1*
hereby appropriated, out of any money
In the treasury not otherwise appropriat
ed, toward the project herein contemplat
ed, and the Secretary of War Is further
hereby authorized to enter Into a con
tract or contracts for materials and world
that may be deemed necessary for th*
proper excavation, construction, comple
tion and defense of said canal, to be pa 14
for ns appropriations may from time to
<lmo be hereafter made, not to exceed Its
the aggregate $140,000,000.”
"Protect” Instead of "Defend.”
At tho opening general debate was rl.v-e.J
and the bill rend for amendment under
the tlvovnlnute rule.
Mr. Hepburn offered the commute*
amendment to sulwtMute the word "pro
tect” for "defend” In the first section. It
was adopted.
Mr. Parker of New Jersey, offered an
amendment 10 strike out that portion of
the bill limiting tho President’s selection
to the NU-araguo route. This amendment
called forth a protest from Mr. Hepburn,
who declared that it was Intended to re
vive Interest in the Panama route, which!
bad caused one of the “foulest scandals"
In the history of the modem world. H*
charged that the emissaries of this dis
credited corporation were seeking to un
load tho enterprise on the American peo
ple. Ho would not trußt any chief execu
tive with tmllm'ted means at disposal
to make the choice of routes ol tho canal.
Mr. Burton of Ohio declared very em
phatically that ho was not In favor of
the Panama canal route, but plain busi
ness sense demanded a proper Investiga
tion und examination of both routes.
The Parker amendment was defeated,
31 to 87.
Sir. McCulloch of Arkansas offered a 4
amendment 4o Insert the words "fortify,
garrison” between the words “construct’'
and “and defend.”
A Sensational .Scene.
Here occurred the aensatlonal scene be
tween Messrs. Cannon and Hepburn. Mr,
(Continue*! on Seventh Page.),