Newspaper Page Text
The Jones County News.
VOL X.
I ! I
oo
Grim Reaper Takes from Earth’s Labors
Idolized Hero of Confederacy, States¬
man, Orator and Beloved Civilian.
PASSED AWAY AT IDS HOME IN FLORIDA
His Illness was Sudden and of Comparatively Brief
Du ration= = Close of Great Life was Calm and
Serene==Short Epitome of His Career
in War and in Time of Peace.
General John B. Gordon died at
10:05 Saturday night at his plantation
home, eight miles from Miami, Flori-
da. All the members of his family
were present when the end came to
the illustrious soldier.
The last moments were apparently
without pain, and General Gordon
passed away as peacefully as if lie
were sinking into a refreshing sleep,
The death struggle began at 7
o’clock. At that hour the attending
physicians, announced that death was
only a matter of a few hours.
An examination showed that the
sufferer’s kidneys were failing to per-
form their functions, and that urae-
inic poison had set in. From that
hour General Gordon gradually be-
came weaker and weaker, until death
fixed his seal on the beloved soldier,
General Gordon was taken with a
violent chili about 3 o’clock Wednoa-
day afternoon, Jan. 6, which continued
for half an hour or more. Two phy-
sicians were summoned from Miami
by telephone.
The chill was followed by a high
fever and when the physicians reach-
ed his bedside, the general’s tempera
turo was 105. An examination show-
ed that he was suffering from acule
indigestion, followed by congestion of
the stomach and liver. His condition
was rendered more alarming by per-
sistent hiccoughs, which began Thurs-
day, exhausting still further his
strength. He also suffered great-
ly from pains caused by the strained
condition of the stomach owing to liis
advanced age and previous ill health.
On Friday his stretngth gradually
increased and he took some interest
in his surroundings. The secretions
of the kidneys, however, were not sat-
isfactory, and on Friday evening they
were much below normal.
Saturday the distinguished patient’s
strength began to gradually ebb away
and it soon became apparent, that
death was inevitable.
Brief Sketch of His Life.
Lieulenant General John Brown
Gordon was born in Upson county,
Georgia, July 6, 1832, of Scotch ancc3
try, his grandfather being cne of sev¬
en brothers who immigrated from
Scotland previous to the revolutionary
war, in which they all took part in be¬
half of the colonies. The grandfath¬
er made his home in Wilkes county,
North Carolina, whence Rev. Zacha-'
riah H, Gordon, the father of Gen?r-il
Gordon, removed to Georgia. Young
Gordon was graduated in 1852 from
the Georgia Elate University, and a
few months later was admitted to the
practice of law. Early in 1861 he en-
listed with the volunteer confederate
soldierly.
His Military Record.
Began as captain “Raccoon Roughs," :
Sixth Alabama Infantry, being pro- ;
' moted soon after to major. ;
Lieutenant Colonel Bixth Alabam 3
;
Infantry—December 20, 1861.
Colonel Sixth Alabama infantry— ,
April 28, 1862.
Brigadier General C. S. A.—Novem-
ber 1, 1862.
Major General C. S. A.—May 14,
1864.
Lieutenant General,- commanding
Second Army Corps—January 31, 1865. j
Lieutenant General, commanding
left wing Lee’s Army at Appomat-;
tox—April 9, 1865. 1
Principal battles in which General j
Gordon took part were:
-
Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Sharps
burg, ChanceliorsvHie, Gettysburg,
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Monocacy, j
Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Fort S-ted-
man and Appomattox.
He was wounded five times at
Sharpsburg, once at Fort Stedman
and in other battles.
His Services in Peace.
Candidate for governor against Kit
fns B. Bullock in 18G8, at the age ol
36. Was elected but counted out.
Id 1872 was elected to the United
States senate over Alexander H.
Stephens and Benjamin H. Hili.
In 1878 was reelected to the United j
States senate without opposition.
"VOTE FOR RATIFICATION."
is Request cf Mobile Citizens to the
Alabama Senators.
A well attended special meeting of
the Mobile, Ala., commercial club, was
held in the club rooms Saturday night
for the special purpose of considering
the Panama canal question, now pend
ing in the United States senate.
Resolutions were passed urging the
Alabama senators to vote for ratifica¬
tion.
. Resigned in 1879 to take up tht
| building of the Georgia Pacific Rail-
; In 1886 was elected governor of
i Georgia over Hon. A. O. Bacon.
| In 1888 was reelected governor
j without opposition.
j in 1890 was elected again to the
j United States senate, and was the
j only Georgian ever elected Three times
to that body,
Retired voluntarily at the expiration
0 f his term in 1897.
I Since ' 1897 he shared with Presi-
deni McKinley the glorious work of
| finally uniting the sections by his
; masterful lectures, and the prepara-
tion of his patriotic reminiscences,
Universally Loved.
Probably no character in public life
!
was more universally loved than Gen-
oral Gordon. Possessing every trait
of character that appeals to the con-
fidence and esteem of his fellows,
General Gordon has not only main-
tained the enviable position in the
hearts of his people, but as time
j passed on increased his friends and
1 made more secure his position in the
hearts/ of the public,
After his brilliant campaign during
: the civil war, at which time he dem
' onstrated his nobleness character,
of
as well as his courageous manhood, he
struck the keynote to his future cou-
duct, by advising His overpowered soi-
diers to return home, obey the laws
of the Union, and aid in upbuilding
those very things which they had all
but succeeded in destroying. Return-
ing to his stricken home, under these
conditions, General Gordon began the
greatest work of his life, in aiding
to stanch the flow of blood and erect-
j ng 0 n their former site the homes
of the south,
His Course in Peace.
Laying aside his sword, with an
ever abiding faith in the future of
right and justice, General Gordon
sought to win the hearts of his peo-
pie not by violence, of course, but
by the earnest pleading of his elo-
quent voice. No man ever more cor-
diatly received, or more earnestly
given the support of his people, than
John B. Gordon.
Magnetic, eloquent, with his marlial
bearing, lie found no difficulty in hold¬
ing his audiences, or in converting
them to his plan of thought. Every¬
where, during those troublesome times
of reconstruction, General Gordon was
hailed as one of the greatest men
of his day. He wielded an influence
for good that cannot be exaggerated
nor overestimated in after years.
Though be was one of tile most en-
c-rgetic and enthusiastic supporters of
the southern cause, after the surren¬
der he became one of (he most zoai-
ous of the builders of the New South.
His counsel was sought on all occa-
sions, and was always found to be
good. His judgment was unerring, bis
energy without limit.
chief of the Confederates.
General Gordon has alwpys oecu-
pied a conspicuous position in the or-
ganized ranks of the United Confeder-
ate Veterans. At the several re-
unions, sinee he became com¬
mander-in-chief, he was the most
picturesque character of the Confedor-
ate cause. He had repeatedly been
elected commander-in-chief, though
time and again, influenced by his in-
creasing age and ill health, and by
the ever growing demand made upon
his time, suggested that tome other
veteran more active than himself, be
elected eommander-in-chief of the
United Confederate Veterans; each
time his suggestion has fallen upon
deaf ears, and it is conceded by every
one, that so long as Gordon lived,
Confederate veterans would have no
other leader than himself.
Stricken While in Fine Health.
General Gordon arrived at his coun-
try home on Biscayne bay, 8 miles
above Miami, on Monday before
Christmas, to spend the holiday sea-
son with his family. He enjoyed the
rest ft om the requirements of an ex-
tensiv - lecture tour, from which he
had just returned.
ZION CITY FOR TEXAS.
"Elijah” 'Dowie Decides to Build in
the Lone Star State.
A San Antonio dispatch says:
John Alexander Bowie end party has
returned from his trip of inspection
along the Texas coast. He said that
ha would locate a new Zion City and
farm in Texas, but would not give
out any details.
Dowie has not abandoned his Aus¬
tralian trip,
GUAY. JONHS CO. GA.. THURSDAY. JANUARY 14,11904.
DOOM OF BOLL WEEVIL
Amendment Providing Appropriation
for Examination of Enemy of
Cotton Passed in the House.
A Washingon special says: The
liouse Friday made available llie sum
of $250,000 to be used to meet the
emergency caused by the ravages of
the cotton boll weevil and other in¬
sects and diseases affecting cotton.
The measure was adopted without di¬
vision, meeting general support. The
sum is to be diverted from the half
million dollars appropriated last year
to eradicate Hie foot diseases among
cattle.
Mr. Burleson, • of Texas', speaking
for the bill, explained that the meas¬
ure simply diverted money■‘’.leretofore
appropriated for another purpose, and
did not make a new appropriation. He
urged the importance of the passage
of the bill to the cotton growing sec¬
tions, giving the history of the boll
weevil, and what it has done.
The bill was passed witnout divis¬
ion. It provides that the sum made
available may be expended by llie sec¬
retary of agriculture in such manner
as ho shall deem best, in co-operation
with state experiment stations and
practical cotton growers-, if the secre¬
tary of agriculture shall deem It ad
visable to meet the emergency caused
by the ravages of the cotton boll wee¬
vil and other insects affecting cotton.
The house then went into committee
of the whole to consider pension bills.
The committee arose at 2:25 p. m.,
having acted favorably upon 115 bills,
29 of which were senate bills. The
house passed the 115 bills in twenty
minutes.
At 2:45 p. m. the liouse adjourned
until Monday.
DEITRICH EXONERATED
Charges Against Nebraska Senator
Quashed in Omaha Court at Sug¬
gestion of Presiding Judge.
At Omaha, Nebr., Friday, United
States Senator Dietrich, who appeared
in court to answer the charge of
agreeing to receive, while a member
of the United States senate, eonsider-
ation from one Fisher, for aiding to
procure the appointment of postmas¬
ter, was released from custody, the
jury being instructed to bring in a ver¬
dict of not guilty.
The decision of Judge Vj»ndeventer
sustained a demurrer interposed by
counsel for Senator Dietrich. The
demurrer was made to the introduc¬
tion of evidence on the ground that
Dietrich was not actually a member
of the senate when the alleged brib¬
ery took place. The effect of the de¬
cision is that a man is not actually
a member of congress from the time
of his election until he shall liav# la
ken the oath at the bar of the liouse
to which he is elected, and that he is
not amenable to law as a member of
congress and officer of the United
States.
Judge Vandeventer said that the
court was unable to find a single in¬
stance, nor had counsel cited any in¬
stance, where a member of congress,
after his election and prior to his
qualification, lias enjoyed greater
privileges than any other person by
means of their election, although they
often enjoyed much greater Influence.
Continuing he said:
“Under the law, therefore, there is
no crime, except where congress has
so declared. The court does not make
the law and say what it should like
to hav£ it be. Congress makes the
law and the court construes it. Here
congress has said that members of
that body who take bribes shall be
punished. It might perhaps be com¬
petent for congress to enact a law
which would make it a penal offense
for any person to attempt to secure
for another an office under the United
States government, but such a sug¬
gestion is not included in this statute.
Instead of saying every person, it is
confined to members of congress, offi¬
cers and agents of the United States.
The two houses of congress, under
the constitution, are the only judges
of whom shall sit as members of their
respective bodies.’’
A nolle was then entered in the case
of James Fishor, postmaster at Hast¬
ings, by the government.
SLAYDEN AS PEACE MAKER.
Texas Representative Seeks Interven¬
tion in the Far Eastern Trouble.
Representative Slayden, democrat,
of Texas, introduced a resolution in
the house Friday requiring the presi¬
dent to tender the good offices or me
diation of the United States to Russia
and Japan. A reference of the mat¬
ter to The Hague is also suggested.
He Looted Bank of Large Sum.
The latest revelations of the defal¬
cations in the Bank of Highland,
Kans., by Cashier J. E. Marceile, show
an aggregate loss of over $160,000.
FIGHT ON BUCHANAN.
Many Senators Deny His Right to be
Minister to Panama..
In an executive session of the sen¬
ate Friday, the nomination of W. I.
Buchanan, to be minister to Panama,
was discussed for more than two
hours, the debate being confined al¬
most entirely to the constitutional
right of the president to appoigt a
minister to the new republic without
the co-operation of the senate.
1 FOR GOOD ROADS
Latimer of South Carolina
Introduces Important Bill.
GOVERNMENT AID ASKED
Sum of Twenty-Four Million is Car¬
ried by Measure—Eight Millions
to be Available for
Three Years.
A Washington special says; Twen
ty-four million dollars for good roads,
to he expended at tho rate of eight
millions a year during the next three
years'. That lo the amount of appro¬
priation carried in the good roads hill
which Senator Latimer, of South Car¬
olina, lias just introduced. His bill
sets forth an elaborate scheme for
federal aid of the good roads move¬
ment, for wliicn purposes he proposes
to establish in the department of agri¬
culture a bureau of public highways.
The object of this bureau, accord¬
ing to the terms of the bill, shall ho
to cooperate with the various slates
in the improvement and construction
of permanent public roads in accord¬
ance with the scheme set forth in do-
tail in the hill. This bureau is to con¬
sist of three commissioners to he
known as commissioners of highways,
two of whom shall he appointed by
the president, one from each of the
two leading parties, these to bo men
who have practical knowledge of road
engineering and construction. The
third member is to he an officer o.' tho
engineering corps of the army of rank
not below captain. Each is to receive
compensation at the rate of $5,000
per year for their services. These
commissioners shall be under .ne gen
eral supervision of the secretary of
agriculture.
After the expiration of six months
from the time of the passage of this
act, any state, through the proper of¬
ficers having jurisdiction of public
roads, may apply for aid in the im¬
provement or construction of public
roads, under general rules to ba
made by the commissioners. No state
shall he entitled to receive tho bene¬
fits of this act. until it shall have es¬
tablished, to the satisfaction of the
commissioners of highways;
1. That tho highway or section
thereof sought to he improved or con¬
structed is of sufficient public use to
come within the purview of this act,
taking into account the use, location
and value of such highway for the pur¬
pose of common traffic and travel and
for the delivery of the mails.
2. That the requisite right of way
shall have been secured.
3. That the highway will be improv¬
ed or constructed in accordance with
the regulations of the bureau, and
when so improved will be maintained
and kept in repair without recourse
upon the United States.
4. That the state has provided for
its portion of the total cost.
One-half the expense is to be borne
by the federal government, the other
half being borne by the state, but it
is provided that the states may dis¬
tribute their portion of the expenses
among the counties directly benefited.
It is further provided that no money
shall be advanced by the United
States in payment of its proportion of
the expenses except as tho work of
actual construction progresses, an'd in
no case shall the payment or pay¬
ments made prior to the completion
of the work be in excess of 80 per
cent of the value of the work actually
performed.
To carry out the provisions of the
bill an appropriation of $24,000,000 is
provided, $8,000,000 for‘1904, $8,000,-
000 for 1905 and $8,000,000 for 1906. If
any part of this is not expended in
the year named it shall be available
for the succeeding year. And it is
further provided that no state shall
receive in any one year a larger pro¬
portion of the sum appropriated than
its population bears to the total pop
ulation of the states of the United
States.
REYES IS STILL WAITING.
Tarries in Washington Pending the
Answer to His Last Request.
General Reyes is still awaiting the
state department’s reply to his re¬
quest that the correspondence be¬
tween him and the Washington gov¬
ernment regarding the Panama inci¬
dent be sent to the TTTilted States sen¬
ate.
Jt is quite possible that upon re¬
ceipt of the state department's reply
to the last note, Reyes will leave im¬
mediately for Colombia. In t?iat event
Dr. Herran, the Colombian charge,
will also close the legation and return
home,
mine disaster in Mexico.
Powder House Wrecked by Dynamite
and Twenty Men KTl lied.
At the Los Laurejss mines, near the
little hamlet_ of La Yosca .west of
Guadalajara,$ jxico, a large number
of boxes of dynamite exploded, killing
twenty men and injuring forty others.
Complete details are lacking, but It
is rumored that the disaster was toe
result of the explosion of a dynamite
cap.
L0NGSTREET ENTOMBED,
Mortal Remains of Valiant Horo of
Two Wars Laid to Rest With
Befitting Ceremonies.
The mortal remains of General
James Longstreet, warrior of two con¬
flicts, the hardest fighter of the Con¬
federate army, distinguished author,
politician and statesman, wore con¬
signed to earth at Gainesville, Ga,,
Wednesday afternoon.
Beside the grave of his first wife,
who shared llie hardships of many
an arduous campaign of the civil
war with her distinguished husband,
the casket containing his remains was
buried In Alta Vista cemetery.
Since Tuesday at 2 o'clock the body
had lain iu state in the rotunda of the
county courthouse. The handsome
casket was draped with the old Con¬
federate flag and massed about the
bier were hundreds of floral tributes.
All Tuesday afternoon tlio steady
stream of those who would honor the
memory of the gallant general passed
by the casket and looked upon the
calm, white face, noble in its- repose.
Daughters of the Confederacy, some
with little children in their arms, and
comrades of the campaigns of the six¬
ties, those who followed their intre¬
pid leader into the jaws of death,
slumped upon crutches to look upon
their chief.
Wednesday morning special trains
brought hundreds who were eager to
honor Iho memory of the distinguish¬
ed dead.
After the funeral service at the
courthouse, which could he heard by
not one-hundredth of the throng that
was present, the funeral procession
was formed and slowly proceeded
from the courthouse campus to the
cemetery.
The funeral services were delayed
an hour and a half by the throng,
which pressed quietly but anxiously
into the court house campus to file by
the bier for a last look at the dead
general. For three hours 3,000 people
filled the campus and streets standing
on the frozen ground waiting patient¬
ly to contribute their offering of re
spect to his memory. All business
was suspended and stores, factories
and offices closed.
The funeral procession was more
than a mile long, hundreds of gray-
haired veterans and hundreds of (lie
children of the Confederacy forming
part of the cortege.
AFTER PERRY HEATH.
Late First Assistant Postmaster Gon
eral Scored in Senate.
When tho senate met Wednesday
Mr. Morgan’s resolution declaring
that the president has no power to
declare war was read, hut at the re
quest of Mr. Morgan it went over for
the day.
The resolution of Mr. Carmack, di¬
recting the postmaster general to
send to the senate papers connected
with Hie postoflice irregularities, and
preparing for a senatorial invcslig.1-
tion, was taken up, and Mr. Lodge
moved its reference to the commit¬
tee on postofflcee.
Mr. Carmack resisted ibis motion,
declaring that, if departmental irreg¬
ularities were lo be investigated only
by the department themselves, it
would not he long until they would
be a stench in the nostrils of the
people. The only safeguard was lr.
congressional investigation, he said.
Mr. Clay expressed surprise Itiat
there should be opposition to llie res¬
olution and he called attention to the
declarations by Fourth Assistant Post¬
master Bristow and Counsellors Bon¬
aparte and -Conrad that the investiga¬
tions should he carried further. H<!
declared that the Bristow report “de¬
monstrates the absolute guilt of the
late first assistant postmaster gener¬
al, Mr. Heath. He (Bristow) says
himself that this leading high official I
was guilty and Hie proof
ing. If this Is true, Mr. Heath should j
have been indicted. '
“I will do Mr. Bristow the credit to
say that hie report shows that the
frauds of the postoffice department
originated in Heath's office. IT so ho
must have had cognizance of them
Then why should the subordinates in !
that office be indicted and tho princi¬
pal be allowed to escape?” !
j
GAYNOR PAYS BONDSMEN. j
Alleged "Pal" of Carter Makes Good j
the Sum of $40,000. J
Colonel John F. Gaynor, who flee i
to Quebec to escape trial in connoe-
tion with the Savannah harbor con- j
tract scandal and left liis bondsmen
in the lurch for $40,000, is reported to !
have made good the loss to William
B. Kirk. ! -
The latter visiled Gaynor at Quebec
recently and on returning to Syracuse, j
N. Y., called a conference of the Gay- j
nor family, Members of tho latter
then journeyed to Canada and reports
of reimbursement followed.
FIRE AGAIN VISITS JASPER.
Georgia Town Hard Hit by Alleged
Incendiary Blaze.
The Jasper Manufacturing Compa¬
ny’s plant and the depot at Jasper,
Ga., were destroyed by fire last Tues¬
day night. The fire is thought to have
been the work of an incendiary. The
loss amounts/ to about $25,000; Insur¬
ance, $5,000. This is the third large
fire In the town within the last three
months,
SEVENTEEN KILLED
In Terriffic Crash of Trains
on Rock Island System.
THIRTY-SEVEN MORE HURT
Swiftly Moving Passenger and Cattle
Trains Meet in Frightful Head-
On Collision—Victims Were
Horribly Mangled.
Seventeen persons were killed and
thirty-seven injured in a head-on col¬
lision between the Rock Island, Cali¬
fornia and Mexico express and a
freight train near Willard, Kan., Wed¬
nesday morning. Most of the Injured
are in hospitals in Topeka. The doc-
torsi announce that all will recover
with one exception.
It is thought that carelessness of
trainmen caused the wreck. Instruct¬
ed to meet a special freight train at
Willard, tho engineer and conductor
of the ill-fated passenger, noting that
a freight train stood in the sido track
at Willard, rushed through, thinking
that the ears they saw were llie ones
which they had been instructed to
pass.
H. G. Persons, a reporter of The To¬
peka Slate Journal, who was on the
wrecked Rock Island train, arrived in
Topeka at 8 o’clock Wednesday room¬
ing after driving overland from tho
scene of tho collision. Parsons es¬
caped with slight injuries, while two
persons on the seat In front of him
were killed. Parsons tells the lollow
ing story of the wreck:
“Both trains were running at. a high
rate of speed, and when the engines
met they were welded together by a
terrific impact.
“The engineer and fireman on llie
frelgnt escaped without injury by
jumping. The fireman on (ne passen¬
ger engine was fatally injured, but
the engineer escaped. It was in the
third car of tho passenger train, tho
first roach being preceded by a smok¬
er and baggage car, that tho most
kiss of life occurred. The smoker,
which was occupied by only two or
three men, was overturned and push¬
ed through the car behind It, which
was crowded with passengers, some
standing in the aisleo.
"The first warning given the passen¬
gers of tho car was the sudden set¬
ting of the air brakes. The lights
went out, leaving all in darkness. A
moment later a mass' of splintered
wo*>d and iron was crowding upon
thorn. No ono was thrown out of his
seat by tho blow.”
Most of those in the forward end
of tho car were instantly killed. Thir¬
ty in the rear end of the coach, how
over, succeeded in escaping. In the
front end of the car the victims were
crushed down between the swats by
the smoker. When rescue was finally
possible only three living persona
were taken out.
A dozen or more Topeka physicians
arrived at, tho scone on the reliof
train from Topeka as soon as a brake-
man could run to Willard and notify
headquarters. The physicians went to
work relieving the Injured, and made
no attempt for the time being to re¬
move the crushed and disfigured bod¬
ies from tho debris.
Fires were built along the track at
short intervals, and by the light of
tlieso tho rescuers, in their eagerness
to removo the victims, chopped open¬
ings in'the wrecked coaches until ex¬
hausted, then handed their axes to
others.
Tho freight train fared differently.
The four cars Immediately behind the
engine were crushed into kindling.
Dead and dying cal I lo littered tho
rKlt- way ' while many which had
egl !l P c ^ Horn Hie cars uninjured ran
about, adding to tho confusion.
The hero of the wreck was a Dr.
Bell, of New York city, a young phy¬
sician, himself crippled, walking on
crutches. Dr. Bell, although slightly
hurt as a result of the collision, was
tho first, man to leave tho Pullman
sleeper, which was not damaged.
First he ordered the chair car and
sleeper cleared. Then after directing
the removal of the injured to thAso
cars he alleviated the pain of the in-
jured as well as he could without mod-
icine or instruments, bandaged broken
leg# and arms with strips torn at liis
direction by others from sheets and
pillow slips, administered what whis-
hey was at hand to deaden the inju-
ries un,iI tho re,Ief 'rain arrived,
and saved the lifo ot a fireman by ty-
. an ar,ory wllh tho aM oI
a P™
(nl e anfi a p . fic0 fing. .
Aitor working until nearly exhaust-
r,r ’ on ' y Kavo wa M when the
physicians arrived from Topoua with
medicine arid instruments. Then he
steadfastly refused to disclose his
name and It was only learned from
his fellow passengers.
FIRE AGAIN VISITS JASPER.
Georgia Town Hard Hit by Alleged
Incendiary Blaze.
The Jasper Manufacturing Compa
ny’s plant and the depot at Jasper
Ga., were destroyed by fire last Tues
day night. .The fire is thought to have
been the work of an incendiary. The
loss amounts to about $25,000; insur
ance, $5,000. This is the third large
fire it) the town within the last, three
months.
NO. 8.
REYES HAS ANSWER
Hope Entertained by Colom¬
bians Goes Glimmering.
TOLD PANAMA IS LOST
Secretary Hay Transmits Govern*
ment's Expected Decision in the
Matter—Contents of Document
Not Made Public.
A Washington special says; Gen¬
eral Rafael Reyes, the Colombian
special envoy, has received tho answer
of the Washington government to his
note charging the United States with
open violation of tho treaty of 1846.
The answer, which was prepared by
Secretary Hay, though couched in the
most diplomatic terms and expressing
the wish of this government to deal
justiy with Colombia, Is an emphatic
refusal to reopen the Panama ques¬
tion.
Prior to the receipt of the reply
General Reyes wrote to the state de¬
partment requesting that, the corre¬
spondence he transmitted to tlie sen¬
ate for 11 s consideration. Pending an
answer to this request, tho corre¬
spondence will not be made public.
Colombian Troops Concentrate.
The relay mail steamer Atrato,
which arrived at Colon Thursday from
Savanilla and Cartagena, reports that
there Is groat military activity in both
those towns, and that laTS^ numbers
of troops/ are being concentrated in
Cartagena. Many of the troops ar¬
rived from the Interior during the past
fortnight.
It is 1 owned by the Associated Press
correspondent from a reliable source
that, tho Colombian troops at Carta¬
gena now number at least 2,000.
The Colombian cruiser General Pin-
zon and the steam tug Nellie con¬
tinue lo convey troops' to Titumati as
they come in from tho interior. The
last detachment, which consisted of
300 men from tlio department of An-
lloqiial, wore brought to Cartagena by
train.
The war talk is unabated in Carta¬
gena and in certain quarters discon¬
tent is openly expressed with the dip¬
lomatic policy of General Rafael
Reyes, which, up to the present time,
has resulted in Inaction.
Major Cole’si division of 300 ma¬
rines from the United States cruiser
Dixie, disembarked at Colon Thurs¬
day morning.
The training ship squadron at Pen¬
sacola, Fla., has received orders to get
ready at once to take station at Guan¬
tanamo Bay, to be on hand in case
trouble comes from tho present un¬
settled condition of things on the Isth¬
mus of Panama.
The orders were to get ready as
soon as possible, and it is generally
given out that the ships will sail just
as soon us possible. Tho vessels at
prevent at Pensacola are tho cruisers
Minneapolis and Columbia, two of the
fastest in tho navy, the training ships
Hartford and the Yankee.
Colombia Appeals to Courts.
Notice of an important step taken
by an agent of the Colombian govern¬
ment in Paris was received at the Co¬
lombian legation in Washington
Thursday morning in a dispatch to
Dr. Herran, the charge d'affaires. It
was to the effect that a French tri¬
bunal had been appealed to with a
view of preventing tho transfer of the
Panama Canal Company’s rights on
the isthmus to the American govern¬
ment without the consent of Colom¬
bia. Counsel for the Colombian gov¬
ernment, according to the dispatch,
assured tho general that he thought
there was good ground for believing
that the effort to prevent the trans¬
fer would be successful.
The step taken, it is understood, is
with the full cognizance of the Colom¬
bian authorities.
Serious Charge Against Pharmacist.
E. A. Hall, proprietor oi the Pal¬
metto Pharmacy, the largest drug
house in Charleston, was arrested
Thursday by a United States' marshal
charged with sendl'g obscene matter
through tho mails. He was bound
over to the federal court.
HOSTILE MOVE BEGINS.
Russian Warships Hasten to Intercept
a Japanese Squadron of Iron Clads.
A dispatch from Port Arthur stales
that several war ships left there at
midnight Thursday night to be rein¬
force cruisers sent for the purpose ot
intercepting a Japanese squadron of
four ironclads which, it is understood,
was approaching Korea for the pur-
pose of stopping six Japanese coal-
laden ships from Japan destined for
Port Arthur and cancelling their char¬
ter to a Russian firm at Port Arthur.
The Port Arthur defenses are com¬
plete, and tho authorities are confi¬
dent.
MINE DISASTER IN MEXICO.
Pcwder House Wrecked by Dynamite
and Twenty Men Killed.
At the Los> Laureles mines, near the
little hamlet of La Yesca .west of
Guadalajara, Mexico, a large number
of boxes of dynamite exploded, killing
twenty men and injuring forty others.
Complete details are lacking, but It
is rumored that the disaster was the
result of the explosion of a dynamite
cap.