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Atlanta SanraaL VOL. IV. CHINESE REBELLION RAPIDLY SPREADING Rebels Crushingly Defeat Imperial Troops and Capture Several Towns. ■ - : i KONG KONG. March 19,-The rebels of the aotrthem prox-ince continue to crush inglv defeat the imperial troops sent to ■ubdue them. Ma and Marshal Su report that It Is impossible to suppress the rebellion with the troops at their disposal, and the viceroy of Canton has requested Yuan Shi Kai. the viceroy of Chi Lo. to send reinforcements over-land from Chi Li. The Imperial troops have been defeated at Sek Shin*, in Kwang Tung province, and at Popak. in Kwang Bl province. In Tung Nan province the rebels hold the town and district of Foo Chuen. twenty miles northwest of the pre feet ua I town of Tun Nan. They have also captured the town of Liu Chou in Kwang 81 province, and the town of Yung Nlng. in Kwei Chou province. SENATE HAS PASSED SHIP SUBSIDY BILL WASHINGTON. March 19.—After a long debate and bard fighting the senate pass ed the ship subsidy bill Monday, the final vote being 42 for and 31 opposed to the measure . The measure has been up in the senate for several days, and some of the hardest fighting seen on the floor of the senate has resulted from the bill. Senator Clay, of Georgia, figured prominently as an oppon ent of the bill, and bis colloquy with Sen ator Hanna, the champion of the bill, was the feature of Monday's session. The senate galleries and chambers were well filled Monday when the measure came up for its final debate. Senator Han na had the floor, and many of the weak points tn his argument he filled up with bursts of patriotism, but he did not-at tempt to answer the stinging questions put to hhn by-Senators Clay, Vest and Spoon er. * Senator Clay followed Senator Hanna, and chided him for not answering the questions that had been put to him. but the Ohio senator claimed that the time al lowed Mm was not sufficient to answer all the questions propounded. The measure now goes to the house, and there is said to be a stumbling block in that body. Speaker Henderson is opposed to the Mil. and there is talk that the house will decline to act on ft until the congres sional elections of this year, forcing the MU to go over until the short session. Several amendments were made to the Mil. but they were agreeable to Its cham pions. and the measure came up for a final vote at 6 o’clock. Wants Ships Depths Regulated by Law WASHINGTON. March lA-The house. aft¥t electing a new dbbrkeepe-r. weitcinto ■ q committee of the whole and resumed the consider*tfon of the river and harbor bill. AVhen Mr. Hepburn (Iowa), who has ffcught river and harbor Mils ever since he came to congress, arose to speak, there was an outburst of applause on both sides of the >ouae. ’T rise to make my annual con tri but lon'Ta river, and harbor litera ture. with a mlsceUaneous assortment of motions.** he began. "I recognise. * he continued, "the utter futility of saying anything against thia Mil. I recognised that fact years ago. when the pork in the barrel was only W. 000.000. How manifestly impossible it is to make headway against it now that the appropriations aggregate $65,900,000. At the same time I find in con nection with the presentation of the pend ing bill some things to commend—a rare thing in mv experience. We have at the head of the river and harbor committee an ideal chairman for the purposes in view—one who. I believe, is striving to Secure public rather than private benefits, one looking for the welfare of this great nation and the promotion of its commerce, not the elevation of A. B. or C. to seats upon this floor.' (Applause.) Mr. Hep burn commended the committee for taking . the "back track" upon wasteful expendi tures in certain directions, pointing out the abandonment of further improvements of the Missouri river as a final fulfillment of predictions made eighteen years ago. He said that congress should set a definite limit upon the depth of water sought to be obtained in seaport harbors, thirty feet for instance, and- place a limit on naval architecture. Otherwise, he declared, there would be no end to the depth of wa ter which would be demanded. Mr. Bali, of Texas, a member of the river and harbor committee, contended that his committee was more economical in proportion to the interests served than any committee of the house. Speaking of the Hennepin canal. Mr. Hepburn admitted that he had voted for It. "But. considering the mental penance I have undergone since." said he, "and my infancy and Ignorance when I cast the vote. It will not go as hard with me as with a hard-hearted old sinner like my friend from Illinois (Mr. Reeves) if he should attempt to Indulge in another such freak of legislation. (Laughter.) "ThS canal was projected to get the pro duce df the farmers of lowa to the great lakes.'* suggested Mr. Reeves. "Quite true," retorted Mr. Hepburn, "but the farmers of that day are all dead, while the inenmpieted canal continues to draw its annual appropriations from the treasury.” (Renewed laughter.) While acquitting the chairman of the committee of looking to anything but the public welfare. Mr. Hepburn said there were gentlemen upon the committee who did not hesitate |o "log roll" to secure ap propriations for their own schemes. Without desiring to reflect upon the cour age of the present speaker, he expressed the hope that the time would come when there would be a speaker with "wonderful courage." who would see to it that the committee was composed of men who had no special interests to be conserved. Mr. Lawrence, of Massachusetts. and Mr. White, of Kentucky, spoke in favor of the bill. SHIP SUBSIDY UP FOR VOTE IN THE SENATE WASHINGTON. March 15.-The senate convened at 11 o'clock, thia being the day on which the final vote upon the ship subsidy bill is to be taken. By agreement the voting on the bill and all pending amendments is to be given at 3 p. m.. speeches on the measure to be limited to 15 minutes, except that Mr. Frye, in charge of the bill, was granted 30 min utes in which to reply to arguments made against the bill. A resolution providing for the appoint ment of a board to investigate the pro ject of constructing an inter-oceanic ca nal across the Isthmus of Darien, was re ported unfavorably by the Inter-Oceanic cabal committee and was indefinitely post poned. Pending discussion of the subsidy bill, the following bills were passed: For the acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments in the Philippine islands and Porto Rico, affecting lands situated in the district of Columbia, op any ter- rttory of the United States; appropriating $6,000 for the purchase of the Francis B. Heitman manuscript of the Historical Register. United States army, from 1789 to 1901. After the last public bill on the calendar was passed the ship subsidy bill was taken up and Mr. Galiinger, of New Hampshire, spoke in favor of it. He said he was not troubled about the constitutionality of the proposed law or the charge that the sub sidy Is a gift to private interests. “If it shall prove to be a gift,” said he, “it will be no worse than other legisla tion that has had the support of some sen ators who seem to be greatly distressed over the pending measure.” He then referred to the large annual appropriations paid southern railroads for fast mail, and the river and harbor ap propriations. "The capacious and rapacious maw of the Mississippi river will be opened,” said he, "and will take in millions of public money.” Mr. Paterson supported his proposed amendment to prevent the employment of Chinese seamen on subsidised vessels. Mr. Money, of Mississippi, said it had been claimed that the American people were losing >160.000.000 a year because that amount was paid to foreign bottoms for carrying our commerce. As a fact the United States had lost nothing, as it sim ply paM a reasonable rate for services rendered. Mr. Vest spoke in favor of his free ships amendment and in support of the proposi tion to apply the anti-trust laws to ship owners who enter into a conspiracy in re straint of trade. Mr. Frye declared that ten years ago England carried 63 per cent of the ocean trade of the world, while now England carried only 53 per cent of that trade. (Treat Britain, he said, was losing the world's carrying trade. In response to some of the arguments advanced. Mr. Hanna spoke briefly. He insisted that it was a loss to the American people to pay >150.000.000 or >200,000,000 for the carrying of our foreign commerce for under just laws perhaps 50 per cent of that amount would remain in the hands of Americans. The American merchant marine had gone down and down until it cut a sorry figure among the nations of the world. In the course of a reply to a statement made by Mr. Hanna, Mr. Clay, of Geor gia, declared that one per cent per gross ton was all that was necessary to equalise the difference between the cost of con struction and operation of American ships and the construction and operation of for eign ships, yet the present bill provided for a subsidy of nearly three cents per gross ton. Mr. Wellington, of Maryland, favored the pending measure, because he believed It would go far toward building up the American merchant marine, \ In hte closing speech on the ship sub sidy bill. Mr. Frye said hs would accept the amendments offered by Mr. Allison, limiting the time of the operation of the measure because he believed they were u» the tatereet of the MIL U - OtFIFfHEIBS LOST BROTHER IS FOUND SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MUR DERED BY INDIANS HE WAS IN REALITY DIGGING GOLD. LA GRANCE, Ind., March 18,-Lewls J. Grant, of Kalamasoo has just heard from his brother Alexander, whom he has not seen for 50 years, and who was supposed to have been murdered by the Ute Indians and Mormons In the Mountain Meadow massacre. The family lived at Glengary, Ont., and Alexander went to California in search of gold. After a few years had elapsed and no tidings came from him, Lewis started in search of him. Then a third brother started in search of the two broth ers, and he is still missing. Alexander, now 70 years of age, is liv ing at Beil Grade, Neb. He inserted an advertisement in a newspaper, and thus his whereabouts became known. It devel ops that Lewis' children attended school where Alexander's daughter acted as teacher, but the identification never be came known. Every effort is now being made to find a trad of the third brother. EVANS MAY SUCCEED A. E. BUCK IN JAPAN WASHINGTON, March 19.-The report that H. Clay Evans is to be promoted out of the pension office has revived the belief in official circles .that he will succeed Al fred E. Buck as minister to Japan. That Mr. Evans is to leave the pension bureau is certain. A committee from the Grand Army of Republic, appointed to investi gate his record tn the matter of pensions, has agreed on a report begging the presi dent to remove Evans for his strict ad ministration. and it is known that Roose velt will listen to their pleadings. He docs not want to fire the commissioner bodily and has announced that he will promote the Tennessee boss. Buck's administration at Tokio has not been satisfactory, it is said. At the state department an official eye has been look ing for a successor. Now it. is declared Evans has been chosen. Members of the Tennessee delegation say they would not be surprised to hear of his appointment to the Oriental mission. Postmasters Appointed. . WASHINGTON. D. C.. March 19.-T. J. Bush has been appointed postmaMer at Jamai ca, Glynn county, vice B. H. Daniels, resigned. FILIPINO INSURGENTS SURRENDER TO GEN. SMITH MANILA. March 19.—General Lukban's efforts in influencing Gueverra, who re cently issued a proclamation declaring himself the successor of General Lukban in the island of Samar, to surrender have been succeesful. Both General Smith, in command of the United States forces in the Island of Samar and Ouevarra have agreed to an armistice to facilitate the collection of Guevarra's men with their rifles when the formal surrender will be made. The arms will be paid in at the fort. • General Smith cables that Guevarra baa ATLANTA, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1902. PRINCE Os RUSSIA WITH DISPATCHES HASTENLHOME NEW YORK. March 18.—Speeding to St. Petersburg with secret dispatches on the situation in Manchuria from the Russian embassies in Tokio and Washington, Is Prince'Lobanow Rostowsky. a confidential agent of the exar. He is making his jour ney as short and as rapid as steam, en durance and an unlimited supply of money can make it. The prince has at his entire disposal the services of every Russian embassy, consulate and consular agency from Tokio to Kronstadt, for the purpose of hastening his urgent message. The courier of the exar left this city on the steamship Aquitaine for Havre. Prince Lobanow-Rostowsky has been a special attache in the Russian embassy in the Japanese capital. He left Nagasaki on the Pacific liner Nippon Maru just before the ratification of the Anglo-Japanese treaty for the maintenance of the integrity of the Chinese empire was known to the powers. He left Washington on the midnight train. He was preceded by a telegram to the Russian embassy at Washington to the Russian consulate in this city, which in structed the consul here to assure the prince’s passage on the Aquataine at all costs. The passage was obtained and Prince Lobanow-Rostowsky sailed under the Gallicized name of Lobanow de Ros tow. The mystery and the haste of his transit began in Tokio, where he had been sent out at the special request of the czar to watch the developments of the alliance which was then in process of negotiation, and which was designed to check Russia’s move to obtain the permanent occupation of Manchuria, a province which in extent, population and future possluultles is an empire hi itself. The Russian embassy in the Japanese capital knew that the Anglo-Japanese treaty was an accomplished fact for days before the official announcement of its ratification. Prince Lobanow-Rostowky Is now hastening to St. Petersburg to lay before the czar and Count Lamsdorff, the minister of foreign affairs, important con fidential information concerning the im mediate prospects of the alliance. The Russian foreign office is said to have had humiliating experiences with ca ble messages transmitted in secret codes which failed to keep their secrets, and so Prince Lobanow-Rostowsky set out to bear the dispatches himself. U. S. mTnISTER DECLARES ALL CHARGES ARE FALSE WASHINGTON, March 18.—A telegram has been received by Secretary Hay from Powell Clayton, United States amnas.-ador to Mexico, declaring that the charges pre ferred against him connecting his nama with the ownership of Mexican mining stocks are false. It is said at the department there Is nothing in the law or regulations to pro hibit a minister or ambassador from hold ing stocks or even engaging in business in Yhe Codrrtry ttrwhlchbe is accredited. It ia further stated at the department, and this has an Important bearing upon charges preferred against Ambassador Clayton, that in every step taken by him in the Mealy case he acted with the ap proval and In most cases by the direction of the department. henryWchcoclT DEAD IN ST. LOUIS WASHINGTON. March 19.—Secretary Hitchcock has telegraphed here that his brother. Henry Hitchcock, died at his home in St. Loupls this morning. Mr. Hitchcock had been ill for some weeks with heart trouble. He was 71 years old. He was formerly president of the St. Louts Bar Association, and had a wide reputation among lawyers throughout the country. He was offered a seat on the bench of the United'States supreme court, by President Harrison, but declined on account of his large law practice. The deceased was the original "Stephen Erice' ’ in Churchill’s “The Crisis.” EVANSIOT TO BITmADE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR ———— > WASHINGTON, March 19.—Commission er of Pensions Evans was shown today a dispatch from Birmingham, Ala., to the effect that a special from Chattanooga, Tenn., stated that close personal friends there of Pension Commissioner Evans claim to have information that President Roosevelt will make him secretary of the Interior. “There is absolutely no foundation for the report," said Mr. Evans, “and 1 would be glad to have the Associated Press deny It.” CONGRESS TO HEAR OF THE CONTESTED ELECTIONS ‘ WASHINGTON, March 19.—At the open ing of the session of the house today Mr. Mann, of Illinois, of the committee on elections No. 1. gave notice that immedi ately after the disposal of the river and harbor bill he would call up the contested cases of Spears vs. Burnett and Moss vs. Rhea. The general debate upon the river and harbor bill was then resumed apd Mr. Randall, of Louisiana, a member of the committee, defended the appropriations for the lower Mississippi. BODY OF MILLICNAIRE~ TO BE BROUGHT BACK NEW YORK. March 19.—The body of Jonathan Boyce, the millionaire lumber merchant of Essexville, Mich., will be shipped to the United States for burial, says a London dispatch to the American and Journal. Mr. Boyce died a few days ago at Tives hall, where he spent his boyhood as a herd boy. He emigrated in 1851, became a lumberman rose to affluence, founded EsoMMlle. crossed the Atlantic fourteen recently bought the farm at TfWWHIe, where he had worked as a boy for two shillings a week. 400 rifles, and that Guevarra guarantee* the absolute peacefulness of his me* General Chaffee is greatly pleased with what he considers as closing the activa insurrection. The resistance in Batangaa and Laguna provinces practically is ove* There are dally surrenders there of men and guns. The Insurgents have been com pletely starved into submission by General Bell's aggressive tactics In preventing any exterior assistance from reaching them. Some surprise is expressed at the num ber of rifles to be turned in by the men under Guevarra. as it was thought there w«e hut 200 Lu Samar. FIRST ESCAPE FROM NEW PRISON CONVICT CRAWLS THROUGH THE BARS TO LIBERTY —HE IS SAID TO BE A DESPER ATE MAN. The first escape from the new federal prison at Atlanta occurred yesterday evening at 7 o’clock, when R. E. East, known as convict No. 82, crawled through, the bars of a basement xWndow and gained his liberty. East was the prison barber and had just finished shaving a number of priso ners in the basement room, and began cleaning up his razors. The guard step ped out of the room for a few minutes. East, it seems, had noticed that the lower cross bar of one of the windows was higher than it should be. While the guard was out of the room Bast squeezed his body between the lower bar and the win dow sill, and was gone before the guard knew what was happening. East had on his convict clothes and a barber's jacket when he escaped. Fol lowing is the official description of the escaped convict: Age 30, height 5 feet 7 3-4, weight 145 pounds. Dark hair, smooth, dark com plexion, medium build, blue eyes, long straight nose. ‘One upper front tooth missing. Woman tattooed on front right forearm. Bust of woman tattooed on front of right side. Child tattooed on front of right leg below knee. Nude wo man tattooed on front of right leg below knee. At time of escape prisoner had on striped prison suit and white under clothes stamped No. 82 In large figures. Sixty dollars reward is offered for his capture. East was sent up for 15 years from Indian Territory for burglary. WHY LORD WOLSFiIy“ IS GOING TO AFRICA NEW YORK, March 18,—A good deal of needless agitation has been caused in the war office by Lord Wolseley's sudden de scent upon South Africa. pays the London correspondent of The Tribune. The real explanation of his Wolseley when feeling jaded, met Sir Donald Currie and learned that he would be sailing to Soutfl Africa within forty eight hours. Lord Wolseley exclaimed: “You ought to take me with you.” "Come on,” was the reply, and Lord Wolseley .went at the shortest possible no tice. It is not unlikely that he will see Lord Kitchener and obtain some side lights on the mysteries of the campaign. Short Fall Kills r Wowwa. PIERCEVILLE. Ga., March 19.—Mrs. ■on died yesterday morntag at her home onw half mile from here,' from thw effects of a fall which she received about a week ago. She Whs 91 years old. . One morning last week Mrs. Patterson start ed out her door to feed her chickens when the top step gave way, causing her to fall about three feet, and breaking her hip. She lay there on the ground unable to move about five hours, until her daughter, who is 75 years old, found her. HELT WE FOR YEARS IN "BUSH” NEW YORK MINE MAGNATE, CAP TURED BY BUSHMEN IN AUS- TRALIA AND HELD A CAPTIVE. NEW YORK, March 19..—After twelve years' imprisonment among the bushmen tn Australia, Joseph J. Gill, a son of the late Thomas Gill, a well known Brooklyn manufacturer, has been heard from by his family, who mourned him as dead. Gill left home In 1886, and in 1893, his wife, believing him dead, married again. On August 18, 1886. Joseph G. Gill sailed from New York for Australia, where he had extensive mining Interests. The mines were situated about 500 miles from Syd ney, and Gill expected to be gone two or three years. He left behind a wife and two children, boys of 7 and 5 years, re spectively. For two years letters were received reg ularly. His mining Interests were pros pering and he hoped soon to return to the United States, he wrote in his last letter. A period In which no tidings were receiv ed from Mr. Gill followed and then came a letter from the American consul at Syd ney. N. S. W., stating that Joseph Gill, a wealthy mine operator and four compan ions had been ambushed and killed by Australian bushmen in Australia not far from the mines which the Brooklyn man controlled. This was the last heard from Gill until the news of Imprisonment, which has just been received. It came in the form of a letter to Inspector Mc- Laughlin, of the Brooklyn police. The letter was dated Dalgupan. Northern Lu zon, Philippine Islands. The letter which was written in November, 1901, was ad dressed to the chief of police of Brooklyn. It was as follows: “In 1886 I left my home in Brooklyn for Australia, where I' was held a captive in the interior by the bushmen until two years ago. I then came to these islands and entered the campaign with the Maca bebe scouts. Prior to Agulnaldo's capture I was severely wounded and I am afraid lam a cripple for life. I am now working my way back to Sydney, Australia, to my wife and child. “I do not know if my dear mother is dead, but would be glad to know her ad dress if she is alive. I shall be In Sydney by the time you receive this letter. Please address me in care of the United States consul at Sydney.” The Brooklyn police had very little diffi culty in finding Gill’s mother. Cable mes sages were at once sent to Gill at Sydney. No details have yet been received con cerning Gill’s imprisonment among the bushmen who murdered his four compan ions. After his escape Gill Is said to have attempted to secure information concern ing his family. The private detective whom he is said to have employed report ed that his wife was dead, and soon after ward Gill married a Sydney woman. Gill’s love of adventure led to his enlistment in the Philippine service. DUD GIRL’S SISTER IN WILCOX TRIAL GIVES EVIDENCE MISS OLIE CROPSEY SAYS HER SISTER HAD QUARRELED WITH WILCOX IN SEP TEMBER. ELIZABETH CITY, N.C., March 18.— Miss Olie Cropsey, a sister of the dead girl,testified yesterday in the Wilcox trial. She said that Wilcox had been very atten tive to Nellie since June of 1898. They were on friendly terms until September of last year, when they began to quarrel. Wilcox gave Nellie several presents and often took her to places of amusement, boat riding and driving. Wilcox called after they quarrelled in September, but Nellie would hardly speak to him. The night Nellie disappeared, witness said, Wilcox called and sat in the parlor till 11 o’clock, when he asked Nellie to speak with him in the hall. She was never again seen alive by any member of the family. Wilcox, according to the witness, said he left her on the porch crying. The State Rests in Wilcox Trial. ELIZABETH CITY, N. C., March 19,- The state yesterday rested its case in the trial of James Wilcox, charged with the murder of Miss Nellie Cropsey. Caleb Parker, a farmer, who passed the Cropsey residence about 11:15 o'clock on the night of the girl’s disappearance, testified that he saw a man and woman of about the same size, talking on the sidewalk as he passed. He did not know who they were. W. H. Cropsey. father of the dead girl, testified that Wilco* had offered no consolation during the search for the girl. Thomas Hayman testified that Wilcox told him he would help with the search for Miss Cropsey, but for the fact that if her body was found people’ would think he killed her. ICE GORGE IMPERILS LIFE AND PROPERTY SIOUX CITY, la.. March 19.—The for mation of a huge ice gorge in the Mis souri river Imperils thousands of dollars’ worth of property in this city. Early on Sunday morning the river suddenly ceas ed running till the water was but two feet deep at Chamberlain, S. D., and so sudden was the fall that a ferry boat was stranded in mid-stream. This great stream Is stjll running as no more than a creek. Couriers sent up the river to find the trouble report a great Ice gorge had form ed at Little Bend, sixty miles above Chamberlain, S. D. ' For sixty hours the water has been piling up behind this obstruction and there is now enough water collected to sweep the Missouri valley in a flood that will cause disastrous losses. Ia all the records of the government engineer's of fice here nothing like this has occurred. In the great flood of 1881-2 counties were flooded by an Ice gorge,, but enough water escaped the dam to make a good sized river. Between Chamberlain and Little Bend, there are enough tributary creeks to supply all the water now run ning. In this city. 250 miles from the gorge by river, the water has fallen three feet within 24 hours. DUMB SOLDIER PROVES A HERO CHICAGO. March 19.—George L. Howe, the youthful soldier who caused excite ment during the visit of Prince Henn’, by trying to pass a letter to the royal vis itor distinguishing himself before leaving Chicago for New York by enacting the role of hero. The young man was on his way to the railroad depot and was cross ing the thoroughfare at Van Buren street and Michigan avenue, when an automo bile approached. A girl was crossing the street and was almost directly In front of the automobile when young Howe dragged her to a place of safety. The act was witnessed by a number of per sons. The youth, who has been rendered speechless by a bullet wound sustained in the Philippines, will endeavor to Join the army In New York. MINERS’ DELEGATES ARE IN SESSION TODAY SHAMOKIN. Pa.. March 19.—This morning’s session of the Miners' convention began promptly at 9 o’clock with President Mitchell in the chair. , ■ . The credentials committee a report showed the total number of delegates present to be 631 with 926 votes. The convention appointed a scale committee of 21 members, seven from each district and a committee on resolutions Consisting of three members from each district. The next business in order was the report of the special committee consisting of Presi dent Mitchell and the district presidents, ap pointed at Indianapolis, to seek a conference with the operators. President Mitchell an nounced that letters had been received from the operators and he deemed it advisable for the convention to consider them in executive session. His suggestion was adopted, and the convention went into executive session. LAKE RAILROADS LOWER RATES ON DOMESTIC FLOUR ST. PAUL, March 19.—One of the most Important freight meetings, from a north western standpoint, this season, has just completed its session. A't this meeting lake and rail rates on export and domestic flour and products incidental thereto were determined upon. The flour rate was cut 3 cents from the tariff in effect when the season of 1901 opened. This season the lake and rail rate on domestic flour flour will be 22 cents to the Seabord and 19 l-2c on the export business. These rates are 3 cents under the agreed all rail rate, the recognized differential al lowed the lake carriers. These new tariffs will take effect on April Ist. King to Dine London’s Poor. LONDON, March 18.—Half a million of London's poor will be the guests of King Edward during coronation week. His ma jesty notified the mayor of the metropolis today that the sum of 30,000 pounds was placed at their disposal, and he Invited them to make the necessary arrange ments to entertain the very poor, to the number of 500.000, at a dinner in celebra tion of his coronation. WESLEY OAK CUT DOWN AND PEOPLE ARE ANGRY (Special Dispatch to The Journal.) SAVANNAH, March 19.—The Method ists of Savannah and some of the prop erty owners of Thunderbolt, near this city, are much exercised over the felling of the Wesley oak at Thunderbolt. The oak was famous because Charles Wesley had preached under it upon his visit to Geor- SEVERAL LIVES LOST IN HOBOKEN FIRE COUNTESS DE LA WARR . IS GRANTED A DIVORCE LONDON. March 19.—The divorce court today granted the Countess de la Warr a decree providing for the restitution of her conjugal rights. The case was not de fended. Counsel for the countess told how the de la Warrs visited South Africa in 1899 and returned in 1900, since when their relations had been most unhappy. Last June the respondent left the family mansion and had not since lived with his wife. In December the countess wrote to “My Dear Cantelupou' inviting him to return and restore her wifely rights. The Earl's j reply was prompt and uncompromising. “My Dear Marie,” it began. “I have come to the conclusion that it will be much bet ter if we live apart, and I have finally de cided not to return and live with you. I have no explanations to give of the rea sons for my decision.” , The Countess went into thejwltness box and gave just sufficient evidence of her husband's desertion to justify a decree for the restitution of her conjugal rights. The Countess de la Warr is a daughter of Lord Brassey. She was born in 1872. Earl de la Warr was prominent in the Hooley company promotions, which caused financial sensations in London several years ago. He was born in 1869. VENEZUELAN REBELS TAKE CITIES AT WILL PORT OF SPAlN,Trinidad, March 18.— The Venezuelan insurgents, commanded by General Monogas, captured "the Port of Guentan March 13th. Six custom house officers were wounded. A Dutch steamer arrived off Guanta shortly after the in surgents had taken possession of that place and transferred to the revolution ists several bags of mall matter, the steamer’s officers thinking they were deal ing with the legal authorities. Government troops, commanded by Gen eral Veluntlni, recaptured Guanta yester day. The insurgents have taken possession of Carlaco, and are marching on Cumanas. The Insurgents also continue to threaten Carupano, which place, it is said, they PORTO RICANS GIVING TO M’KINLEY MEMORIAL CLEVELAND, 0., March 19.—Thousands of Porto Ricans have contributed to the McKinley national memorial. Governor William H. Hunt, in a letter received to day by Ryerson Ritchie, national secre tary, reports that >1,497.42 has been raised in the island and the number of contribu tors runs far up into the thousands. Gov ernor Hunt asked some one in each town to receive the funds and no contribution was to be over ten cents. To each of the contributors will be presented a certificate, and In this manner pictures of McKinley, the white house and the McKinley home at Canton will thousands . homes and cabins in Porto Rico. ■Mil - 111. ■ ! - T J - •- ■ T BUSINESS BOOMS IN BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT. NEW POWER PLANT BEING ERECT ED ON WARRIOR RIVER AND OTHER LARGE IMPROVE MENTS BEING MADE. BIRMINGHAM. Ala., March 19.—Indus trial conditions In the Birmingham dis trict were never more promising than at this time, nor was there ever before so much evidence of future growth and de velopment. Articles of Incorporation have just been filed by the Warrior River Pow er company, which concern will establish a power station on the Warrior river about twenty miles above Birmingham. ’The company is capitalized at >1,000,000. Later it is to be consolidated with the recently Incorporated Steel Cities Railroad compa ny, the joint capital being >2.CQp.OOO. The power for the operation of the system of street railways to be built by the Steel Cities company will be furnished through the Warrior River company. The compa ny Will also enter the commercial field In this city and surrounding places and will do a general lighting business. It Is claim ed that 10,000 horse power can be obtained at the proposed station on Warrior river, which will be not only ample to meet the needs of ttie new railway system, but to furnish light and power for the towns and cities in this valley. The proposed system of street railways will diverge from Ens ley, taking In Birmingham, Bessemer and Pratt City and intermediate points. The Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company, which controls the pres ent street railway and lighting system, is making tremendous improvements, the.to tal amount of money being expended ag gregating >1.760,000. , The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company Is preparing to-install five new hoisting plants, four to be used In the op eration of the mines in the Red Mountain district, and one to be used at John's. The total cost will be about $59,000. The ma chinery has been ordered. This company is putting in a purification plant at Ens ley at an outlay of >35,000. The Birmingham Rolling Mill Is now working triple time In order to keep pace with the orders. All the Industries In the district are unusually busy and many of the furnaces have their output «oid for the aitire year. BABY BUFFALoTbORN IN CENTRAL PARK ZOO NEW YORK, March 19.—An unusual event has occurred at the menagerie at Central park. It was the birth of a baby buffalo. The mother has been in captivity several years. gia. Mrs. Bannon, who claims to own the ground upon w’hich the tree stood, says she gave permission to have it trimmed, but not felled. The railroad people’declare that Mrs. Bannon had no right to claim ownership of the tree. They say the trunk was rotten and that it split during the trimming process and had to be Destruction of Pier and Ships InHoboken Tuesday Night More Disastrous Than Thought. NEW YORK. March 19.-No estimate could be made today of the loss of life in the fire started last night on the Phoe nix line pier in Hoboken, and it was thought the number of dead would never be known. Patrick Hussey, a longshore man. who was burned while trying to es cape from the Phoenix pier, died today from the effects of injuries. Besides Hussey, four longshoremen were taken to St. Mary’s hospital, and are now under treatment there. All were more or less burned. Some of the longshoremen who saved: themselves by swimming ashore say they saw twenty or thirty men leap Into the river. Although some of those who Jumped into the water were picked up by tugs it is feared that a number sank before they could be reached by the rescuers. Many of the longshoremen are single men and have no relatives who could report them in the event of their being missing or hav ing perished in the fire. The police say that no one except Engineer Scott had been reported to them as missing. The British Queen has been beached off Communipaw, in the upper bay. Hussey, the longshoreman who died to day, was 47 years old. He leaves a large family. Superintendent Mason, of the Phoenix line, said it would be impossible to defi nitely state the loss by the fire in less fes than two weeks. He was asked if he thought >1.250,000 would cover it and he re plied that he did not think it would. The British Queen was worth SBOO,OOO, and there was a great quantity of valuable merchandise on that vessel, on the pier and on lighters which was destroyed. This includes cotton,' hides, oils, graine and a quantity of harvest machinery. There was a rumor today that the fire was of incendiary origin, but Mr. Mason said he was positive there was no truth in it. He said he thought the blaze start ed In a quantity of Belgian wicker bask ets on the Phoenix pier, and this was confirmed by Charles Christiansen, who was at work on the lighter Castleton, which was lying forward off the dock. Christiansen said the flames seemed to burst from a pile of wicker baskets that had been unloaded from the British Queen on Monday. He said the fire spread in an incredibly short time over the outer end of the pier. The British Queen was soon ablaze and the men on board had to leap into the river to save their lives. The lines by which the vessel was moored to the pier were burned away and it was then feared she might float against other ships and set them afire. Jn spite of the intense heat given out by the burning steamer a tug ran in under her stern and made a line fast to her rudder. Unes were then passed from several other tugs to the first one and 4n that way the big steamship was hauled out Into the stream. The ruins of the pier were still smoulder ing today. Those seriously hurt In the Are are John Jensen, who jumped from the burning pier and struck his head against a beam, and Peter Carroll, who was badly burned. The Chinamen who fled from the steam ship Heathburne when that vessel was endangered by flames, and who were cap tured by United States customs offiicers, were returned to their ship today. The Chinamen were arrested in order to pre vent a possible violation of the Chinese exclusion act. Chief Engineer Scott, who it was sup posed perished in the fire, walked into a Hoboken hotel today. He was badly burned about the face, and said he had had a dreadful experience. It was learned today that Fireman Thomas Cooney, of the fire boat David A. Boody, fell off his boat last night and was drowned. Engineer Scott said that a short .while after he had gone to his room last night he smelled smoke, and on investigation saw the ship was on fire. Scott, who 1s a sufferer from rheumatism, groped his way along the deck and took refuge in a large cattle pen on the ship's deck. Here he was joined by one of the firemen of the ship. The smoke and flames sdon drove them from the pen. Scott then fastened a wire v rope to the stanchion and threw one end over the rail. He then slid down the rope to a lighter lying alongside the burning steamer, where he remained unrescued. Scott said he did not see the fireman after he (Scott) made his escape, and does not know what tecame of him. CHINESEHISTORYON - TABLETS OF STONE SAN FRANCISCO, March 19.—Ten jade tablets on which, almost 20 years ago, the cunning hand of a Chinese workman engraved, by order of his Imperial master, an acknowledgment of the wisdom, power and goodness of Shun Che, the founder of the Tartar dynasty in China, are locked in the safe of the customs appraiser, J. T. Dare,'awaiting authority from Washing ton to return them to the emperor of China, or his representative. The stones are one foot in length, six inches wide and nearly an inch thick. Through holes drilled across their width cords are passdd to hold them together, and when taken by the customs Inspector from a private soldier, returning from service in China, they were wrapped in ' elaborately embroidered yellow silk. It Is believed that they were taken as loot from the imperial apartments in the For bidden City. Recognizing their value to the ChlneM ruler as a descendant of the emperor whose deeds they commemorate, the cus toms authorities notified the secretary of the treasury and await notification as to the arrangements he may have made with the department of state for the return of the tablets. . , • HARDWARE MEN TO FIGHT MAIL ORDER BUSINESS CHICAGO, March 19.—Delegates from 15 states extending from Pennsylvania to North Dakota will meet in Chicago in na tional convention today to carry out the wishes of the various state associations of retail hardware men which they rep resent. While all of the meetings of the organizations are active, it |s understood that many of the delegates carry instruc tions from their home organizations to f use every conceivable legitimate means to defeat the plans of the various catalogue houses. The convention will last three days. CORNER IN SPOT TIN OF SHORT DURATION NEW YORK. March 79.—The corner in spot tin was of short duration. The de mands of consumption at present do not seem to be of sufficient importance to help the effort to put up prices. It was freely offered at 26.50 cents for spot the last call, • —■— -t- . NO. 54.