Newspaper Page Text
The County News /
Jones
M. C. GREENE, PUBLISHER.
AS the INVESTIGATION PROCEEDS
EXCITEMENT GROWS APACE.
CONSUL LEE WARNS AMERICANS.
■H# Trlli Them, If They Value Their
Lives, to Leave Havana at Ear¬
liest Possible Moment.
The correspondent of the Washing¬
ton Star, who is considered the most
conservative newspaper representative
in Havana, cabled his paper as follows
Wednesday:
. “Inquiry into the Maine disaster
progresses results along definite lines. . The
so far may be summed up in
the statement that the probabilities
that it was an accident seem to de¬
crease with the progress of the invest¬
igation.
* “The most intense anxiety is shown
by the Spanish officials here, who ara
in constant communication Madrid.
They realize (hat the relations with
the United States were never so much
in danger of rupture as now. This is
the general feeling.
“The commercial classes here are
hopeful of American intervention on
peaceful lines, but what they base
their hopes upon is unknown.
“The. insurgents continue to win
minor military successes. The auton¬
omists are restless and some of the
leaders seem to be on the point of
breaking away from the government.
Army en^BAlherican officers continue to show an
sentiment. They are
apparently looic the only class that does not
for an early crisis.
(Signed) “PscrER.”
A special from another source says:
The highest Amcricun officials in
Havana are confident that General
Blanco, and tho other high Spanish
official^,, had no knowledge, direct or
indirect, of tho conception or execu¬
tion of a_plot to blow up the Maine, if
such a plot existed, but they believe
that the junior Spanish officers who,
from the nature of things are more
conversant with modern explosives
than their elders and superiors, were
at the bottom of the disaster, I if thero
.was any outside agency. It is pointed
out that it would not be impossible to
plant a mine of wet and dry gun cot¬
ton near where a foreign war vessel
was directed to anchor, such a mine
connecting thoro. with an electric battery on
It is regarded as an interesting
point that, tho Maine, for the first time
during her stay in the harbor, lay at
the particular spot where she was at
the time of the catastrophe, and, it
is said, though not officially verified,
that, tho Maine was the first foreign
war vessel moored to this particular
buoy since the troubles in Cuba grew
acute.
I.ee Warns Americans.
AAVashington special says: The most
significant feature of Wednesday’s
news, as it is regarded at tho capital,
is the warning given by General Lee
to Americans in Havana to leave that
city. Throughout his days of trial in
Havana Fitzhugh Lee has been calm,
cheorful, confident. There was never
a traco of nervousness or uneasiness
in him.
AVlien he advises Americans to get
out of Havana the opinion at AVnsning-
ton is that he fears the inevitable. It is
believed that in view of this warning
it would be a little short of suicide for
Americans to stay there.
Despite the denials in administra¬
tion circles, tho work of preparing for
war is going rapidly on in every de¬
partment. It is highly significant of
the conditions facing the administra-
tion that General Alger has hurried
back to Washington from Fortress
Monroe to give his personal goin^ attention
to the preparations on in the
war department. Another thing in
this connection is significant, and that
is the joint resolution which General
Henderson of Iowa, introduced in tho
house Wednesday, reviving tho rank
of lieutenant general of the army.
It has beon the policy of the gov¬
ernment to have no such officer except
in case of war. It is understood that
this resolution was introduced at the
instance of General Miles, who be¬
lieves there will be a war, and who
naturally hopes for the honor of su¬
preme command.
INDIANA POPULISTS
Hold Convention, Select State Ticket and
Adopt Plalforin.
The Indiana state populist conven¬
tion, which closed at Indianapolis
Tuesday night, selected a state ticket,
three national committeemen and
adopted a platform against fusion and
government by injunction and for
free silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, fe¬
male suffrage, prohibition and the
abolition of the issue of money to na¬
tional banks.
The anti-fusion plank was carried
by a close vote, and after a fight last¬
ing all day, the result causing intense
feeling and threats and the action will
disrnpt the party.
GEN. GORDON STHICKEN.
GeoTslnti Taken Suddenly III at Port IIu-
ron, Mich.
A special from Toledo, O., of Tues-
day says:, “General J. B. Gordon, the
brilliant ex-confederate officer, was to
have lectured in this city tonight,
Shortly after: noon a telegram came
from Port Huron announcing that the
general had been taken suddenly ill nt
that point and could get no further,
Private advices since are to the effect
that he is very ill.”
V _ ~ —
NEGRO POSTMASTER MURDERED.
HU Body and That or ITU Hub. Cremated.
The Work of a Mob.
The most revolting crime ever per¬
petrated by white men in South Caro¬
lina was committed at Lake City, Wil¬
liamsburg county, at 1 o’oloek Monday
morning, when Postmaster Baker, a
negro, and his family were burned out
of their home, the postmaster and a
baby in arms killed, his wife and three
daughters shot and maimed for life.
Baker was appointed postmaster
three months ago. Lake City is a
town of COO inhabitants, and the negro
population in the vicinity is large.
There was a protest at the appoint¬
ment, but not very vigorous.
Three months ago, as tho postmaster
was leaving the office at night in com¬
pany with several colored men, he was
fired on from ambush, but it was not
known that the would-be assassin was
prompted by other than personal
malice.
Since then Baker moved his family
into a house on the outskirts of the
town, where he also established the
postoflice.
One night last week a body of men
v.ho kept concenled behind build¬
ings and fences in the neighborhood
riddled the building with shot nnd
rifle bullets. They shot high and no
one was hurt, but it was supposed to
convey a warning. It was a short time
beforo that Senators Tillman and Me-
Lam-in and Congressman Horton had
asked the postmaster general to re¬
move Baker because of his color, and
the request had been refnsed. Bnker
did not move his family and gave no
evidence of being frightened. He felt
confident of protection from Washing¬
ton.
At 1 o’clock Tuesday morning a
torch was applied to the postoflice and
Baker’s house.
Back, just within the line of light,,
were over a hundred white mon.armod
with pistols and shotguns. By the
time the fire aroused the sleeping fam¬
ily, consisting of the postmaster, his
wife, three daughters, a son and an
infant at the breast, the crowd began
firing into tho building. A hundred
bullet holes were made through the
through the thin boarding and many
found marks in the people within.
Baker was tlio first to reach tlio
door, and he fell dead just within ilia
threshold, being shot in several places.
The mother had the baby in her
arms and bad reached the door over
her husband’s body, when a bullet
crushed through its skull and it fell to
the floor. She was shot in several
places.
Two of the girls had their arms
broken in tho shoulder nnd will prob¬
ably lose them. Another of the girls
is believed to bo fatally wounded. The
boy is shot.
'Two of tho seven occupants of tho
hoirso escaped with slight, injuries.
Tlio bodies of Bnker and tho infant
were cremated in the building, All
mail matter w-as destroyed.
A coroner’s jury was impaneled
Tuesday evening and visited the
charred remains and adjourned ’till
Saturday.
There is general, bitter indignation
expressed everywhere.
PRESIDENT AT PHILADELPHIA.
Fays Tribute to George War hlug-ton In a
Patriotic Speech.
A Philadelphia special says: Presi¬
dent McKinley ate an early breakfast
with the family of Charles C. Harrison
Tuesday morning. He did not leave
the house until a few minutes before
11 o’clock, when, in company with
Mr. Harrison, he was driven to the
Academy of Music, where the AVash-
ington day commemorative exercises
of the University of Pennsylvania
were held.
Over 2,000 students assembled on
the university campus at 9:30 o’clock
and marched four abreast to tho Acad¬
emy of Music. The route was arrang¬
ed so that the procession should pass
Mr. Harrison’s home,and the students
gave a cheering welcome to the presi¬
dent.
The president's address at the Acad¬
emy of Music, which was delivered in
his customary, easy, graceful manner
and with clear, distinct voice, could be
plainly beard by every person in the
audience. His remarks were i. ter-
rupted at frequent intervals with ap¬
plause.
The phrase that Washington and his
compatriots had founded the financial
operations of the government upon
principles that the national credit was
the national honor met especially en¬
thusiastic approbation.
LEGISLATOR INDICTED.
Hon. Joseph Felker Chareed With Per¬
jury In Inanrance Cane.
A new and sensational chapter in
the celebrated Dr. J. J. Poore insur¬
ance case was developed Thursday in
the returning, by the grand jury of
AValton county, Ga., of an indictment
against the Hon. Joseph H. Felker,
representative from Walton county.
This indictment is based upon the
discovery of a written contract, alleged
to be in his own handwriting, made, it
is said, by Colonel Felker with Dr. AV.
H. Moss, in which Colonel Felker
agrees to pay 8560 to Dr. Moss, pro¬
vided he would keep the matter a se¬
cret and nid iu the collection of the
policies oo the life of Dr. Poore.
ADOPTED GOVIN’S PLAN.
Autonomist Committee In Cuba Increased
Fifteen Members.
At an important meeting of the cen-
trnl committee of the autonomists at
Havana, Thursday, Henor Govin, sec-
retary of the interior, proposed an
amendment increasing the committee j
from forty to fifty-five. The fifteen
new members will be taken from emi-
grants to the Ignited States, and insnr-
gents of prominence, who agree to
support autpnomy. The amendment
was adopted by a large majority.
GRAY. JONES CO..GA., THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1898.
SAYS CONGRESS MUST UK READY
TO ASSIST ADMINISTRATION.
DOUBTS HAVE BEEN DISSIPATED
lly Evidence Disclosed In Examination of
The M nine’s Ilall Hy
the DlvCrit
A Washington special says'. To a
senator who called upon him Thurs¬
day in order to ask some serious ques¬
tions us to the policy of the adminis¬
tration, President McKinley, with thti
utmost frnnkness, uttered the follow¬
ing words:
“I do not propose to with do auything at
all to precipitate I war think Spain. Up
to the present do not war is
either necessary or inevitable. I would
be lax in my duty, however, if I did
not prepare for the future, The sitn-
ation is grave and the policy ol tho
administration will be determined al¬
most entirely by the course of events
from time to time. There is no neces¬
sity of alarming the people, but the con¬ ad¬
gress must be ready to assist
ministration without making too many
inquiries as to the course of current
events.”
FIGURING ON INDEMNITY.
There is now not the slightest doubt
that the president, tlio secretary of the
navy and ilie oilier members of tho
cnbinet believe that the Maine was
blown np by treachery, if not by actual
design nnd connivance of junior Span¬
ish officers.
War pvepavatiohs continue to-be the in
active progress. The experts in
stnte department no longer attempt to
conceal the fact that they are busily
engaged in figuring up an indemnity.
The president feels that the American
people cannot be held in restraint any
longer than the investigation requires,
and that the government must be pre¬
pared to make instant domands on the
Spanish government as soon as it is
conclusively shown that the Maine
was not blown up by accident.
This indemniy will be fixed, it is
said, at about $13,000,000. This will
be followed up by a demand for in¬
stant payment, which demand it is be¬
lieved will lie refused by Spain.
It is in anticipation of this contin¬
gency that this government is keep¬
ing pace with the Spanish government
in preparing for war.
SPANISH SQUADRON MOVING,
A special from Madrid says: Tho
queen invited to lunch with the royal
family Captain A'illamil, the com¬
mander of tho Spanish squadron about
to start for Cuba. Ho bad called at
the palace to take leave of the regent,
After lunch tho queen talked a long
time with Villamil, inquiring into all
the details of the contemplated cruise,
Villamil afterwards wont to the
ministry of marine to take leave of
Admiral Bermejo, with whom he had
a long interview.
He went to Cadiz, where he will
spend three days in preparations for
departure.
The squadron will bo composed of
three torpedo destroyers—the Pin-
ton, the Terror and the Furor,and tho
torpedo vossels Rnyor, Alcor and
Ozor. These craft will bo accompanied
by the steamer City of Cadiz,
ing coal and provisions.
The vessels will stop at Canary
Islands and also at Porto Rico before
reaching Cuba. It is officially an-
nonned that there is no hurry for their
joining the cruisers Oquendo and Vis-
caya at Havana.
ADVICES FROM HAVANA.
A special of Thursday from Havana
says: As the hours pass and the in-
vestigation proceeds the divers are de-
veloping important results. From ex¬
amination of the interior wreckage
they have securod evidence which
seems conclusive that the explosion
came from underneath the ship.
Some of the smaller magazines may
have exploded. The main 10-inch
magazine did not explode. The con¬
dition of the interior of the ship shows
further probability of the wreck Lav¬
ing been due to outside force.
The further the investigation pro¬
gresses the more untenable becomes
the theory which the Spanish govern¬
ment adduced to show accidental
causes.
UPRISING IN CUBA FEARED.
The government is preparing for
war. The hope that war may be
averted is growing weokcr, but the
little hope there is will snslnin tho
government iu the effort to keep down
public excitement as long as possible.
The sudden conservatism of the sen¬
ate arises from a conviction that a rup¬
ture with Hpain is about to occur on
account of cause already existing and
a desire not to run tho risk of any false
step which would enable Spain to
ship ground and fix the immediate re¬
sponsibility for the conflict upon this
government.
The situation, too, demands that
nothing should be done in this coun¬
try to give excuse, however poor, for
a popular uprising of tho Spanish in
Cuba. The declaration by Senator
Thurston in the senate Tuesday that
it would be a grave mistake if our
strained relations were to come to a
crisis before the completion of the
Maine inquiry, voiced an apprehension
whicli is felt by those most familiar
with the situation.
NEGRO FARMERS MEET.
Ildlil Srvlfllli Annual Convention In To»-
kt'KI’C, AiiU
At the seventh itnnurtl negro confer -
ence lielil in the Normal school pavil¬
ion at Tuskegoe, Ala , Thursday, abottt
2,000 colored farmers, representing
nearly With every southern state, were promi¬ pres¬
ent, thenl were many tile
nent men and womon engaged in
various branches of negro education.
The speech of Bishop Clrritit) of the
African Methodist Episcopal church,
was greatly appreciated. Booker T.
Washington presided. To encourage
gltrdeninft rt free package present. of seeds was
given to every one
The result of the conference Was
the unanimous adoption of the
follow ing declarations:
“Wherever oui people have been
reached by outside influence w o be¬
lieve there is constant building growth in school ac¬
quiring education, the school term,
houses, extending character, im¬
developing Christian
proving and purifying the ministry,
securing land, diversifying replacing crops,
raising fruit and poultry,
the one-room cabin, ceasing to mort¬
gage crops, getting out of debt and
living more economically.
In saying this we would not be mis¬
understood, but emphasize the fact
that wherever the rank and file of our
people have not been touched by
Some outside iuItaetice their condition
Us to property, education and molality
is most linsfttis'aelory and will de¬
mand for a long time the earnest help
and thought of the best peoplo of our
country. Tho possession in larger de¬
gree of the elements of strength enu¬
merated above, we believe, will con¬
stitute the foundation for all the high¬
er rights and privileges of citizenship
which every race should enjoy.
“Since 85 per cent of our people in
tho gulf states live by agriculture, with other wo
strongly Urge that, along
forms of education, special streBs lie
laid Upon training in agriculture. Wo
earnestly urge all to liny land, if only
in small tracts, while it can bo secured
at a low price. Wo would especially
call attention to the large amount of
government land in the south open to
settlement. We deem it of vital im¬
portance that the educated young men
and women bear in mind that they owe
it to the race to give to the most un¬
fortunate tho benefit of their education
in every way possible. local conference
“We urgo that negro
or other organizations with the same
object lie formed throughout the state.
We believe the holding of annual
county fairs throughout the state would
prove most helpful. We strongly be¬
seech our people not to be satisfied
with their present condition, but to
reach forward to something higher and
better. ”
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Corbett's Itljfht to Sent Championed by
Spooner.
A AVachington dispatch says: A
feature of the senate session Thurs¬
day was the speech of Mi. Spooner,
of AVisconsin, on tho right of Henry
AV. Corbett to n seat in the senate
from Oregon under the appointment made
of the governor. Mr. Spooner
a constitutional argument in favor of
seating Mr. Corbett and lmd not con-
eluded when the senate adjourned.
An effort was made to obtain con-
sideration of the Alaskan homestead
and railway right of way bill, but on
a technicality it went over.
The resolution offered Thursday !*y
Mr. Allen of Nebraska, to appoint a
committee of five senators to investi-
gate the Cuban situation, was witb-
drawn by its author when it was laid
before Hie senate,
AVlien Mr. Spooner secured tlio floor
to advocate Mr. Corbett’s right to a
sent in the senate, ho said that tlio
primary power to fill seats in the sen-
ate from any state was in the legisla-
tore of the state, but in tlio reading of
the constitution it ought to be remem¬
bered that tliis very matter was one of
dispute in the constitutional convon-
tion. He pointed out that the consti-
tution provided that each state should
* )e e peer of every other state, not
in population, not in wealth, not in
area, but in the number of votes in the
senate.
Mr, Hansbrougb then endeavored to
get before the senate the Alaskan
homestead and railwuy right of way
bill. The senate was about to proceed
with the Dil] when Mr. Rawlins, of
Utah, made the point of no quorum.
A roll call developed the lack of a
quorum and Mr. Rawlins moved to
adjourn. Division was demanded and
the senate adjourned at 4:36 p. m.
ORDERS TO HUCKLAND.
Commander of Connecticut Navftl Battal¬
ion Goch To \Va*hInKto«.
In response to orders from the sec¬
retary of the navy, E. G. Buckland,
who commands the naval battalion of
Connecticut, left New Haven for Wash¬
ington Thursday. The order received
read as follows:
“Commander Buckland, of tho Wy¬
andotte, will report to the navy de¬
partment at Washington on Friday.”
Although nothing definite as to the
import of Mr. Buckland’s summons to
AVashington is known, it is though he
is to receive instructions about getting
his men ready for service at short no¬
tice if necessity arises.
SIGSBEE HEARD FROM.
Divers Find More Bodies In the Wreck
of the Battleship Maine.
Late Thursday night the navy de¬
partment at AA’asliington received two
brief telegrams from Captain Sigsbee.
One related to some routine matter
of expenditures in connection with
the work on the Maine, and the other
was as follows:
“Divers report more bodies in
wreck. Some in hammocks involved
in debris probably not recognizable,”
RIG CONTRACTS GIVEN TO SEV¬
ERAL PITTSBURG FIRMS.
QUICK DELIVERY IS DEMANDED.
Quarter Mililmi 'tons Will lie Fovvtardett
at Once to Key West Fdf
the 111# Fleet.
A Pittsburg, Pa., special states that
most extensive orders for Coal to ba
I. Kef wci,...
■' 1 8°' * 1 lllm " > lrt ' ( 1,11 1,11 1
coalbarons of that, section to become
thoroughly impressed with the belief
that, war with Spain is inevitable and
their belief is based upon Hm conduct,
of the government officials, who are
in position to know what the adminis-
tratiou Contemplates.
It would be almost impossible to
make one in that locality beliefe the
government is not preparing for war,
and preparing in earnest. In that
preparation the officials have boon
necessarily compelled into to take the coal
mino owners their confidence,
because of the nature of the prepara-
tions, while the general activity the
mine owners are showing spreads the
war theory. closed
The navy department lins jiist
contracts with tho incorporated firm of
Gastner,Curran & Bullitt, of Philadel¬
phia, for the delivery at Key West,
Hand Keys, Dry Tortngas, Savannah,
Cliarloston and Fortress Monroe of
250,000 toils of Pocahontas coni, and
with tile Rhodes & Beidler Coal Com*
pany, of Cleveland, for the delivery of
50,000 tons of the Goshen coal, of that
Company. stipulations
The of the contracts
just, placed are that the coni so ordered
shall bo delivered nt tho designated
coaling stations ns soon ns it is possi-
ble to do so, and that the utmost so-
ereoy be observed about the matter.
In carrying out these contracts the
railroads play n most prominent part,
and for the purposo of moving every-
thing President as M. expeditiously K. Ingalls, as the possible Cliesa-
of
peake and Ohio; Receiver Oscar G.
Murray, of the Baltimore and Ohio,
and General Manager L. F, Loiroe, of
the .Pennsylvania railroad, went to
Washington last week and consulted
with Secretary Long, tif the navy, nnd
Assistant Secretary George D. Meiklc-
john, of tho war department, on the
matter.
Contracts nnd all arrangements for
the rapid handling and shipping of Hie
coni wore made and the government,
it is understood, is to pay a bonus to
both the coal miners nnd tho railroads
if tho 300,000 tons tiro delivered with¬
in a specified time.
SPANIARDS MAKE DENIAL.
Declare There Is No mine Hither Inside
or Out*i<lo Havana Ilarlioi*.
In view of the widely published re¬
port that the harbor of Havana con¬
tains a system of submarine mines,
Honor Du Bose, Hpanish charge d’nf ■
fairs at Washington, has niado the
following statement which, coining
from such authority, may be consider¬
ed as an official denial:
“I wish to Hi,ate on my own official
knowledge that no mine exists ins hie
or outside of Havana harbor; nor is
there any submarine defense of any
kind. Tho report is so absolutely
fnlse and ridiculous that it could only
have originated in the minds of those
persons anxious to incite the evil pas¬
sions of both nations for their own
miserable ends. I consider tho very
suggestion of such a thing an insult
to Spain.”
FULL CABINET MEETING.
1 ’icHlilent McKinley anti HI* OHIclol A«l-
vl.er* Have a Conference.
The first full meeting of tho cabinet
in some weeks was held Friday, both
Secretaries Alger and Sherman, who
have been sick, being present.
The cabinet talked about the Maine
disaster at some length as a current
topic of vital interest, but no action
was taken.
No intimation, it was stated, has yet
come from tho court of inquiry as lo
how long it will bo occupied with its
work and consequently no conclusion
can be reached as to when its report
will bo avnilable.
CUBAN WOMEN STARVING.
A Board of Inquiry Reports Upon tbo
Situation In tlio Inland.
Advices from Santiago do Cuba fitate
thnt while the United States cruiser
Montgomery was at Matanzns recently
a board of officers was appointed to
inquire into the condition of the peo¬
ple of that province. Although the
exact terms of the report are not
known, it may lie said that in sub¬
stance it sets forth that there are 14,-
000 people absolutely without food
and clothing within the city limits,
About 3,000 of these live in small huts
of palm branches. The other 11,000
unfortnnaies live in the streets of the
city and are absolutely without homes
or shelter.
ILLINOIS REPUBLICANS
Will Hold Their Stale Convention on June
J4tli Nest.
The Illinois republican state central
committee in session nt Springfield,
AVednesduy, decided that the repnbli-
ran state convention will Vie held Juno
14th. Representation will he based
on the McKinley vote, one delegate
for each 400 votes. This means a
convention of more than 1,500 dele¬
gates, the largest in the history of the
state.
VOL. IV. NO. 10.
ZOLA FOUND GUILTY.
A Year In l'rltini nrnl n Heavy Pino For
Libeling French Army.
A cnblo dispatch from Paris
M.Zola was found guilty on all counts
Wednesday afternoon. The verdict
was returned in a few minutes after
the trial had concluded, lie was sen-
charge PSt tho
against him Wns libeling
Frmioh administration and the army.
Tho greatest possible excitement
followed the announcement of tho
verdict and Hie guards were forced to
keep back the congregating crowds
and prevent demonstrations by force,
The author takes the sentenoo without
any display of anger or emotion. His
-sx—f .iirc;;*:,;;”:::
posed is believed to be the result of
the strong legal talent employed in
hie defense.
Exceptional measures were taken
^ public emerged from ll.o As-
H 126 M OutHulo tlio building
there was terrific cheering, especially
upon the appearance of the officers
who have figured iu tho trial. They
were almost carried in triump li as
shouts of "death to the Jews" re*
Spotidod on all sides,
A number of violent fights ensued
and a police secretary was slightly do¬ in-
jured. The mob seemed to bo
liroun, shrieking cheers for tho army
ft nd howling down ilio Jews with
fierceness,
BOUND FOR KEY WEST.
Many of Unfele Sum's Warships to GUthr*
at That Point.
Advices from Key AVost state that
under orders from AVnshingtou tho
best ships of tho navy will be gathered
off that point in formidable array
within tho next few days.
It is supposed that this action is iu
pursuance of a request made by Cnp-
tian Sigsbee, who it is believed, fears
trouble nt Havana when flic result of
the Maine investigation is made known,
Tho Texas and Nashville have left
Galveston for Key West; tho Marblo-
bend is under way from New Orleans;
the left Montgomery Hnn is on her way, having
Domingo several days ago;
tho Brooklyn is on a cruise in these
waters already; the New A'ork will bo
on hand along with the Indiana, tlio
Massachusetts, the Iowa, tlio Detroit,
Hie Erriesson and tlio Cushing. Tlio
Porter and DuPont,, torpedo boats, are
now in the dry dock nt Mobile and will
go to Key West as soon as they are in
I trim for service.
;
GOVERNMENT AVI EL PROSECUTE.
Ifispoctorm After Uynclicm of Ndgro Uost-
master In South Carolina.,
Washington dispatch says: The
postoffiee department is going to act nt
O.UOO in regard to Hie lynching of the
The colored oflieiuls postmuster at Lake City, S. C.
state that the department
cannot deal with the shooting, but the
destruction of the postoflice nnd tho
mail matter came under their jurisdic-
tion and that they will prosecute to tho
limit of tlio law. Inspectors will be
sent to Lake City at once to hunt down
the parties.
Mr. AVelister, the national commit¬
teeman who is tho arbitrator for offi¬
ces in South Carolina, called nt the
postoffice department Wednesday and
staled ho was certain the outrage was
committed by the patrons of the office
and the best way to punish them was
to abolish tlio office. The department
will probably do this, and at the same
timo begin an investigation.
ANTI-ANNEXATION ,SPEECH
]VIii< 1« In the IfoiiHo by Mr, Jolingon, of
Indiana.
Washington’s birthday was cele¬
brated in the house after a mol ion of
Mr. Bailey to adjourn had been voted
down, with a vast dial of political
speech-making, nnd it was also signal¬
ized by the firing of tho first gun in
opposition to Hawaiian annexation.
Mr. Johnson, of Indiana, republi¬
can, delivered a speech that, electrified
the house and Hie gntleries in denun¬
ciation of what lie termed an attempt
to cut loose from tho traditional policy
of the United States and enter upon a
scheme of colonization that had proved
Hie min of empires and of nations.
His remarks were enthusiastically ap¬
plauded, nnd the minority and many
republicans joined in tlio demonstra¬
tion.
ALL LOOKING FOR AVAR.
President and Conzres* Seem Convinced
That Rupture Will Occur.
A AVashington special says: The
feeling about congress is that the ad¬
ministration now fears that a rupture
with Hpain cannot be avoided. The
conviction is being forced upon tike
administration, ns it has already beov
upon most of the men in congress and
upon a considerable proportion of the
public, that the destruction of tho
Maine was by design.
Huspicions of official connivance aro
now finding expression. It is sug¬
gested as a significant thing that none
of the Hpanish officials have denied
that there were mines in tho harbor.
HARK MAY DE AYRECKED.
him Hud on Board a Barky of Gold Seekers
and it Crew of Sixteen.
The New York Press says: There is
a possibility that the baik Agate,
which sailed from this port last week,
bound to the Yukon river may have
been wrecked.
The Agato carried forty men who
were going to the Klondike to seek
their fortunes. In addition to these
the boat carried a crew of about sixteen
men.
SENATE PASSES A RILL FOR AM .
INCREASE OF ARTILLERY.
mlls for two more regiments
The Menmiro Went Thronjrh Almost
Unanimously, the Vote Rcing Fifty-
Four Yeas To Four Nays.
A Washington special says'. Aa
soon an tho reading of the historic
furowell address of Washington was
^
clmsetts, in tho senate Tuesday, Mr.
Hawley, of Connecticut, chairman of
tho military affairs committee, called
«P tbe , bill providing for t»e -
ment of two additional regiments of
artillery foT service in manning the
heavy J coast defense batteries which
congvoss has provided during the past .
two years,
Mr. Bate, of Tennessee, objected to
tho bill, because it tended to nn in¬
crease of tlio army, to which he said
he was unalterably opposed. Ho
thought there wore onongli troops
already under enlistment to man all
the guns now being provided argued for by it
the government. Ho that
would be better to assign infantry reg¬
iments to tho manning of these guns
than to put them in charge of raw re¬
cruits.
In reply Air. Hawley pointed ont
that the strength of the army was
really decreasing in proportion to the
inhabitants of the country. In addi¬
tion, lie said, congress had made large
appropriations in recent years for
great gnus for forts and coast defense
stations. Of tlieso guns 139 were
guns of large caliber and delicate
mechanism. To these must be added
232 rifled steel mortars already placed
or soon to lie placed in tlio coast de¬
fense stations. In order that these
guns may bo properly handled a body
of trained artillerists is necessary.
Each of these great, war engines re¬
quires to handle it ns much skill as it
requiros to run rt locomotive or an or¬
dinary river steamer, The war de¬
partment estimates that Hie 1,600 men
which tliis bill calls for will be neces¬
sary to properly man the gnus.
Vote Almost Unanimous,
Mr. Cockrell, of Missouri, said ha
was opposed to nn increase in the in¬
fantry or cavalry arms of tho service
but in this case the country was con¬
fronted by a serious condition. He
regarded it as necessary that the guns
provided by Hie government should be
properly cared for and manned. For
that reason he had consented as »
member of tlio committee to have the
bill favorably reported.
The bill was then passed—52 to 4.
The negative votes were east by
Messrs. Bute of Tennessee, Clay of
Georgia, Cliiltou of Texas, nnd Vest of
Missouri.
Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, secured
tlio adoption of the following resolu¬
tion :
“That Hie committoo on naval affairs
is instructed to inquire nnd report
whether a man-of-war equal at least to
any warship in the world,to be named
tho George Washington, can be built,
armed nnd commissioned within a pe¬
riod of twelve months l»y the use of
the facilities of the shipyards,machine
shops, mines and forests of the United
States wherever Hie same are found,
and that the committee has leave to
report at any time, by bill or other¬
wise.”
Tho resolution was adopted without
debate.
At 1:30 o’clock the senate went into
executive session and at 4 p. m. ad¬
journed.
HANSEN-DONNELLY.
Populist Reader, Author and Lecturer,
IVeils Ills Stenographer.
The marriage of Miss Marion Olive
Hansen nnd Ignatius Donnelly was
solemnized at Minneapolis with much
pomp and ceremony. The nuptials
were celebrated in the church of the
bride, the Norwegian Methodist, w-hich
was completely tilled with an audience deep
of about 600, which evinced a
interest iu the affair.
Outside a vast concourse assembled
lo catch glimpses of tho pretty bride
and the distinguished groom os they
entered the church.
HitYAN TO VISIT ALABAMA.
Nebi-askun Will Make Several Speeche* In
f lic State.
A Birmingham tpecial says: Hon.
William J. Bryan will come to Ala-
hama March 1st to make a series of
speeches at r-everal towns throughout
the state, having been invited for that
purpose. He will come to Tuscaloosa
and speak March 1st. His dates for *
speeches are as follows:
Tuscaloosa,Tuesday night, March 1.
Birmingham, Wednesday night,
March 2d.
Mobile, Thursday night, March 3d.
Pensacola,Friday night, March 4th.
Talladega, at noon, March 5th.
Montgomery, Monday, March 7th.
COLLECTING MUNITIONS. ,
Projectiles For Big Guns of Cruiser*
Iiench Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The first of the expected projectiles
from the Carpenter Steel Works ar¬
rived at the Brooklyn navy yard Tues¬
day. There were about two thousand
of them for the six, eight and ten-
inch guns of the cruisers and battle¬
ships. collection of ammunition, . .
“The not
said an ordnance officer, “fioes
mean that we expect immediate war.’