The Savannah press. (Savannah, Ga.) 1891-1931, February 24, 1899, Image 1

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THE SAVANNAH PRESS VOLUME VIII. DEWEY SENDS FOR THE OREGON. ♦ < Admiral Wants the Big Battleship. His Fleet Must be Strength ened Just Now. Political Reasons Compel This Step. Foreign Powers Must be Kept Off. Filipinos Slip in Behind the American Lines. Washington, Feb. 24.—The following dispatch was received at the navy de partment: ■ Manila. Feb. 24.—For political rea sons the Oregon should be sent here at once. “The Yorktown has arrived. "The Charleston and Petrel are cruis ing around the Philippines islands. "Affairs are more quiet. Dewey.” , The Cablegram from Admiral Dewey asking for the Oregon was received with surprise by officials here. No one knew, or would acknowledge that he knew, of political reasons Mjhich the admiral says demand the immediate presence of the peerless battleship. The cablegram was taken to the cabi net board and fully discussed there. The admiral, it is said, possibly feels that the moral effect of the presence of the big ship upon the insurgents will be good. But there is an Underlying doubt whether or not the admiral may not be keenly sighting a gathering cloud in the east and is looking to the prevention of any possi' lc intervention o r interfer ence by European powers in the strug gle now in progress in the neigborhood of Manila. It is believed that in the big fires much property of foreign residents and business concerns were destroyed. That these fires were caused by the insurgents cannot be denied, and it may be that some of the foreign naval com manders in the east are disposed to seize upon the pretext that their in * terests demand protection, which we cannot afford, to make a landing or do something obnoxious to the United States and likely to encourage the in surgents. Manila, Feb. 24, 10.30 a. m.—Owing to the wholesale arrests of all sus pected Filipinos yesterday and the clearance of th«> streets at 7 o’clock last night the threatened renewal of the scenes of the previous night did not occur. With the exception of a few shots fired in the neighborhood of the peni tentiary the city was as quiet as pos sible. Outside of Manila the rebels are very active. Near Caloocan the brigade com manded by General Harrison Otis had several lively skirmishes with the rebels, but at daylight the enemy was driven back with a severe loss. The feeling in the city is much im proved today and business generally has been resumed. Excellent order is maintained by Gen eral Hughes police force. The following officers have been ap pointed to conduct the civil affairs of Iloilo: Major Theodore Stomberg, treasurer; Captain J. T. Evans, collector of cus toms; Ensign L. H. Everhardt, port Captain; E. C. Hatch of the Eighteenth infantry, collector of revenue. Manila, Feb. 24, 4.40 p. m.—- The ene my’s sharpshooters have been particu larly active about Caloocan all day. Special attention was paid to their gun battery near the railroad and an improvement of the rebel marksman ship was very noticeable. The rebels fired volleys at the bat tery, their bullets frequently skimming the tops of the sand bags. A lieutenant of the Twentieth Kan sas volunteers and three other men were slightly wounded. A man was killed in the trenches to day. The rebel battery has not been used since a shell from the Unfted States monitor Monadnock exploded over it yesterday. The enemy's fire was so hot during the night in the vicinity of the Hig gins house that the headquarters were removed to the church, 400 yards inside the line. A few small fires have destroyed na tive shacks in various parts of the city. . The Twentieth infantry is being dis- • embarked from the transport Scandia. 1 The regiment will be encamped on the water front at the former quarters of the Tennessee volunteers tempo rarily. Washington, Feb. 24.—General Otis today cabled as follows: ‘‘Manila, Feb. 24.—The Scandia ar rived last night. “On the nights of Feb. 21 and 22 and yesterday morning the insurgent troops gained access to the outskirts of the city behind our lines. “Many are in hiding and about 1,000 entrenched themselves. “They were completely routed yes terday with a loss of killed and wounded of about 500 and 200 prisoners. “Our loss was very slight. “The city is quiet, confidence is re stored, and business is progressing. _________ "Otis." IKON COMPANY SUSPENDS. FAILlfttE OF A GEORGIA ENTER- PRISE TODAY. Unfortunate Collapse of a Big Concern In North Georgia. Rome, Feb. 24.—The Rome Iron com pany has suspended on account of financial embarrassment. The company has property in Rome, a large furnace, and land in Alabama and Tennessee. The principal cause of the suspcu-ijn is the failure of the Rome Iron com pany to pay Interest on its bonds. The holders of the bonds and trustees have called a meeting for March 1. They hope to make satisfactory ar rangements and place the company back where it has always been. The liabilities, including bonds, ag gregate $150,000 and the assets probably SIOO,OOO. The laborers have filed liens upon raw iron and other material for wages due. REVOLUTION FAILED, DEPUTIES TRY TO INDUCE ARMY TO MARCH ON PALACE. Senate May Sit a. a High Court to Try Them. Paris, Feb. 24.—Deputies Deroulede, Marcel, Herbert, and Millevoye, who were arrested last night, were confront ed at 2 o’clock this morning with Gen eral Roget, W'ho declared that De roulede tried to induce him and his troops to march on the Elysee palace. The friends of Deroulede fear that he will be tried before the senate sitting as a high court. | In all the police made about 400 ar rests yesterday. BULGARIA ARRIVES. SHIP GIVEN UP AS LOST HAS BEEN SAVED. She Arrives Safe in Port Today With All on Board Well. Ponta del Gada, Feb. 24.—The Ham burg-American liner Bulgaria, which sailed from New York Jan. 28 for Ham burg, which the British tank steamer Weehawken reported in distress 800 miles from Azores islands, entered this port today. Ai on board the Bulgaria are in good health. The Weehawken arrived here Feb. 12 with 25 passengers which she had taken off the Bulgaria. The Bulgaria was pronounced to be in a sinking condition then. GOMEZ IS COMING. ARRIVAL OF THE CUBAN CHIEF IN HAVANA. Rockets Are Burning and a Big Time Is Expected There. Havana, Feb. 24.—General Gomez is expected to arrive this afternoon. Triumphal arches have been erected in different quarters bearing patriotic inscriptions, rockets are popping in the air, bands are playing, and General Ludlow, governor of Havana, has given ' permission to the Cubans to bring 500 of their troops in the city with General . Gomez. CHESTER GETTING READY. ' THE TRANSPORT WILL PROBABLY GET AWAY SUNDAY. Will Take Eighth Illinois Regiment to , Newport News From Cuba. Colonel Bellinger, depot quartermas- ~ ter, expects to be able to get the trans port Chester away by Sunday. The < vessel will take a large number of mules to Cuba. The animals are expected ; daily by Colonel Bellinger. The Ches- < ter will take the Eighth Illinois regi- < ment from Havana to Newport News. < The vessel will then resail for Cuba ; and take aboard the Third regiment of j volunteer infantry, which will be < brought to Savannah. This regiment, . which is best known as Ray’s immunes, t will be mustered out in Savannah. < NEW ASSISTANT CLERK. Assistant Clerk O’Brien to Leave the City’s Employ Next Week. < Mr. John P. OBrien, assistant clerk of the market, has been notified by i Mayor Myers that his services will not >. !be required by the city after March 1. He will be succeeded by Inspector of < Meats Weil, who is now employed in the office of Dr. LeHardy. The posi- ■ tion of inspector of meats is to be i abolished and the assistant clerk of the ' ( market will have to perform the duties ( of that office. Assistant Clerk O’Brien has been in the market during the past • two years serving with Clerk L. P. Mas- i iters. _ ......—~ i* SAVANNAH, GA.. FBI DAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 24, 1899. GALLS PRESIDENT 1 A PECKSNIFF 1 Republican Rasps McKin ley on the Raw. ! < Is a Hypocrite and Misstater ( of Facts. • < 1 A Sensational Speech in the ‘ House Today. ( Says President Stifled Ba- I con’s Resolution. 1 “Civilizing With Caunon and Sword.” Washington, Feb. 24.—1 n the house i .’.if. Johnson of Indiana, who made a vigorous opposition to the army reor ganization bill some time ago, secured ‘ 40 minutes, in which he delivered a most remarkable and sensational I speech, arraigning the administration in bitter terms for its alleged impe- , rlalistlc program. j He referred in the opening’ to the re cent banquet at Boston, attended by the president and cabinet. He paid his respects to Secretary Al- , ger, who, he said, had been detained in 1 the cabinet despite his incompetency on 1 account of his contributions to the , campaign fund of 1890. ( Secretary Long, Mr. Johnson said, i had the audacity to repeat the baseless charge that those who were opposed to ' the ratification of the treaty were re- ; sponsible for the bloodshed in the Phil- , ippines. As Mr. Johnson proceeded his re i markable utterances fairly amazed the house. < "Christianizing with the sword and « civilizing with cannon,” he declared, ’ “was the administration’s policy." ( The president’s speech, Mr. Johnson declared, was the most disingenuous that ever fell from the lips of a chief executive. Apart from its platitudes and profes sions of virtue It was, he said, “a care fully devised and studious misstate- 1 ment of facts." Mr. Johnson likened the president to Pecksniff. If the president really felt that con- ( gress should determine upon the future j of the Philippines he asked why the ; president did not call congress in extra ’ session and then keep his hands off. He charged 'that the president co- 5 erced the senate into ratifying the t treaty ; that he would not permit a vote 1 on the Bacon resolution and only al- , lowed the McEnery resolution, which j meant nothing, to pass in order to lull 1 the opposition of the country to sleep J while he went ahead waging a relent- ' less war against a helpless people struggling for liberty. The true cause of the president’s <: change of attitude toward the Philip- ' pines, Mr. Johnson declared, was to be ( found in the demands of selfish capital- 8 ists. * They were the gentlemen, he said, 1 who had furnished the money for his j nomination and election and he had no j r doubt they had already pledged him a t renomination and reelection. 0 EVANS READY FOR ANOTHER. v a Has Been in Two Wars and, God Will- 1 ing, is Ready for a Third. ‘‘ Cincinnati. Feb. 23.—Captain Robley r D. Evans was the guest of Cincinnati o today. He appeared at noon at the I a chamber of commerce, which was filled ' from floor to gallery. Captain Evans , had an enthusiastic welcome. In a speech he said: “I fought as best I could in our late . difficulty because our great command er, that clearheaded commander, Will iam McKinley, told us that a state of ' war existed and we knew that he ex pected us to be victorious. What we 11 knew away down in our hearts was that we were fighting to avenge the y 266 brave comrades who died in Ha- a vana harbor. It was the blowing up of the Maine that started the buzz saw; those who got in the way of it got hurt. .Much has been said of the men who ’’ commanded the ships, but let me add a word of praise to the men behind the guns. Our men stood ready to flash out their lives with their guns, and the only reason they diu not do it was be- . cause of the enemies' bad aim. I thank ' you for this reception, which I feel is not for me, but for the service i repre sent. I have been in two wars and, if God is willing, I am ready for the third.” . Captain Evans spoke tonight at the ’ dinner of the Republican league. FUTURE ARE OFF. tl New York, Feb. 24.—Futures opened y steady at a decline. Following are the u quotations: February 6.16, March and a April 6.19, May 6.20, June 6.19, July 6.20, t! August 6.22, October, and ®, November 6.11, December 6.13, January ; J < CHICKAMAUGA MONUMENTS. ~ Chattanooga. Feb. 24.—1 t is definitely e decided that Kentucky monuments at Chickamauga will be dedicated on May 3. j; Illinois and Georgia expect to hav? dedicatory exercises ui stuue week. FUNERAL ON SUNDAY. CAPT YIN H. M. BRANCH TO REST IN BONAVENTURE. Died Lest Night Shortly After an Attack of Apoplexy. Th funeral of Captain Hamilton M. Brar. h will occur Sunday afternoon from his residence on York street east. The interment will Ke at Bonaventure cemetery and the burial will be at tend d by the Savannah Cadets and the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, to both of which commands Captain Branch belonged during his life, and by the Confederate Veterans. Ca tain Branch died last night short ly alter midnight after an illness last ing but a few hours. He was attacked on the streets with something like a stroke of apoplexy about 11 o’clock. He was sent home in the police ambu lance and after lingering a few hours expired. Dr. E. R. Rollins and Dr. T. J. Charlton attended the stricken man. but they could do nothing for him. Captain Branch was very well known in Savannah, where he had lived for many years. He will he missed by many friends. He was of a most cheer ful disposition and had a pleasant and cheering nod and word for every one. He was 56 years of age and was the picture of health. His death has caused as much surprise as grief. At the breaking out of the civil war Captain Branch l<?ft Savannah with the Oglethorpe Light Infantry as a private. He and his two brothers were in the same company at the battle of Ma nassas. After being away from home and in the army some time Captain Branch returned to Savannah. The Savannah Cadets had but recently been organized. They were anxious to go to the front and Captain Branch was requested to lead them. He did this, going away as captain Os the company. His conduct in battle was superb. He was ns brave and fearless as any of the young officers w'ho wore the gray. After the war he returned to Savan nah and engaged in the stevedoring business. Later and for several years he was connected with the Central railway and Ocean Steamship com pany. The flags on the tugs and many of the other vessels in port are at half mast in his memory today. The deceased leaves a wife and one daughter and son. uts daughter is Mrs.' James L. Sexton of Charlotte, N. C., i and Ills son, Mr. Hamilton M. Branch, I Jr. His son-in-law, Mr. R. S. Gibbs, ■ lives in Waterbury, Conn. He has, wired that he will be in Savannah to attend the funeral. Captain Branch was especially devot ed to the cause of the Confederacy. He and his mother, who passed away about three years ago, were among the hard est workers In Savannah in the name of the lost cause. THEY WANT WAR, Wh .ATLANTA BOYB ARE ANXIOUS 'I TO GO ro MANILA. Fifteen of Them Have Enllited and Are on the Way to the Philippines, Atlanta Journal. Fifteen young Atlantians will go to the Philippines to take part in the sup pression of Aguinaldo and his insur gent band. Eight of tne young men are to leave the city this afternoon and the others will go tomorrow. They will proceed to the Presidio in California, where they will be encamped with the Sixth artillery before sailing for Ma nila. The young men belong to some of the best families in the city and all of them have a number of friends who will be interested in learning of their plans. All of the arrangements have been Conducted with the utmost secrecy and the announcement will occasion great surprise. The idea of going to the Philippines originated with Mr. Max Thebaut, who was formerly a member of the Atlanta artillery. When the war was declared with Spain he entered tne navy as a seaman and was assigned to duty on the Vesuvius. His knowledge of teleg raphy and the code of signals in use by the government caused him to be pro moted to the position of chief quarter master and to be placed in charge of the signal corps on the Vesuvius. Al though the promotion was a desirable one Mr. Thebaut was not well pleased with it, as it prevented him from tiring any guns. His iuea ,n joining the navy had been to get a chance to do some of the shooting and ne was very much disappointed that the opportunity did not come to him. After the cessation of hostilities he secured his discharge and returned to Atlanta. Recently Mr. Thebaut read in The Journal that a number of men had been recruited at Chattanooga to go to the Philippines, and the idea occurred to him that the same thing might be done in Atlanta. He communicated with Major Allen the adjutant general of the department, and Major Allen secured authority from Washington to enlist 15 men here. There was no difficulty in finding the 1 young men who were willing to join the ’ army with the prospect of a voyage to the Philippines before them. In a short , time the names of 40 applicants were . secured; and it said a whole regiment ‘ might just as easily have been recruit ed. Yesterday afternoon a large party ' □f the young men went out to Fort Me- . Pherson to take the necessary pnysica! ’ examination. Surgeon Watkins exam ined them and a large number were re- ' jected, as they did not come up to the 5 requirements. Those who were selected to leave this afternoon were Messrs. H. A. Allen, Dick Allen. Chauncey Foote, W. Max 1 Thebaut, J. C. Thebaut, and O. Hol lingsworth. The party will consist of two others whose names could not be secured this morning, as the examina tion had not been concluded. Under the terms of the enlistment the young Atlantians will not do any duty until they reach the Philippines. They ; will be encamped at San Francisco with , the Sixth artillery, but will not be as- , signed to any regiment until they ar- ; rive at their journey s enu. Ai are en thusiastic at the prospect of seeing ser- I ce on the other side of the Pacific and will go determined to do their snare' in any conflicts in which they may be i engaged. _ EGG FAMINE. Indianapolis, Feb. 24.—An egg fam ine is on in this city. The retail price today is 60c. and i wholesalers are holding at 55c. J: ARMY BILL MAY PASS NOW Senators Still Fighting It Stoutly. House Amendments Unpop ular in Senate. There is to be No Increase in Staff Officers. Native Soldiers Are Not Pop ular Here. Hull Bill May be Compromised at Last. Washington, Feb. 24.—1 tis reported that there has been a hitch in the progress of the army reorganization bill owing to the refusal of the Demo crats to accept that provision of the compromise bill which carries with it an increase of the staff provided for in the Hull bill. While the foregoing view was ex pressed at the war department at the capltol the senators generally accepted the compromise as a foregone conclu- i sion and the understanding is that it was along the lines indicated last night. So far there has been an expression of opinion that such a bill will be ac cepted, but even this will not go , through without debate. Some of the senators hesitate to give ! ! up the provision for the enlistment of I native troops on the islands, while oth ers indicate a determined hostility to this provision if it should not be i changed. COLONEL HAINES IN THE CITY COMMANDED BRIGADE IN PORTO RICAN CAMPAIGN. I« Now En Route South Whft'i He Hu Inspection* to Make. fYrlonel Peter C. Hnine engin eenng corps of the U. S. jSived in the city this morning. He is a guest of i the De Soto. Colonel Haines was in 1 Savannah just before the sitting of the ! Carter courtmartial, having inspected the work in the river. He is enroute to Tampa at this time. During the war with Spain Colonel Haines was ad vanced to the rank of a brigadier gen eral and served with General Miles in Porto Rico. Since the war he has again taken up his work in the engineering department. He made a casual inspec tion of some of the river work this morning, but states that his visit here is not an official one. DIED ON A TRAIN. E. T. COLE OF BOSTON EXPIRED LAST NIGHT. He Wa. En Route to Florida via the Plant System. Mr. E. T. Cole of Boston, Mass., died 1 last night shortly before midnight on train No. 23 of the Plant system. His death occurred just out of Savannah and the remains were brought to this city and turned over to an undertaker. Mr. Cole was an invalid and stal led to Florida with his wife and daughter to see if the change would not prove bene ficial. He was not feeling more unwell than usual when he retired last night, but after being in his berth a short time he began to complain and shortly expired. Mrs. Cole and her daughter left with the remains at noon today, going directly back to Boston. BE READY MARCH 8. ARMY HOSPITAL TO BE READY F,OR ISE THEN. Inquiries From Cuba a. to How Near Completed Buildings Are. The army hospital will be open for the reception of patients March 8. This is the date settled upon this morning ■ by Major Appel, who will have it in charge. The force pump which was lost on the road for so long has been found and will soon be in place. Major Appel received a cablegram yesterday from the medical officers in Cuba ask ing if the hospital was ready for use. There are plenty of sick men in Cuba who will be brought to the hospital as . soon as it is ready for occupancy. FIRE THIS MORNING. ■ BLAZE IN THE CUPOLA OF JOHN ■ ROURKE’S FOUNDRY. Was Extinguished by the Department With But Little Damage. The sounding of an alarm from box 5, at Bay and East Broad streets, called out the northern section of the fire de partment ait 8.50 o’clock this morning. The firemen made a splendid run. The bla-ze was located in the cupola on John Rourke’s foundry on Bay street. The fire was extinguished 'before it had gained any headway. The damage does not amount to much and is covered by insurance. It is supposed that the • fire originated from flying sparks. TODAY’S TEMPERATURE. Maximum, 3.00 p. m 54 Minimum, 7.30 a, m 36 j NUMBER 82. GAVEL FOR THE MAYOR. MADE FROM PART OF A SPANISH BLOCKHOUSE. Lieutenant H. C. White Sends it to Mr. Myers as a Gilt. Mayor Berman Myers received this morning throug.. Aiderman John Schwarz a handsome gavel to be used during the deliberations of the city council. The gift coinefe from Lieuten ant W. C. White of the United States steamship Glacier on which Lieuten-, ant White is stationed. In his letter to Major Schwarz the lieutenant asks that the gavel be presented to the mayor. It was made from a log from the Span ish blockhouse at Guantanamo bay, Cuba, where the first fight took place between the forces of thp United States and Spain during the recent war. It was here that the United States ma rines so distinguished themselves and reflected such credit on the personnel, discipline, and bravery of the naval forces. “As a souvenir of the battle of ‘Ma rine Hill,’ "Lieutenant White says, “I have no doubt it will be appreciated by you." Mayor Myers appreciates the gift very highly indeed. He has written to Lieutenant White thanking him for the gavel. In his letter of thanks Mayor Myers states: “The gavel is especially appreciated by me as a constant reminder of the bravery of our naval forces at Guanta ; nanio bay and all other places where I they were brought face to face with i their foes. The heroism displayed at | Marine Hili' and in every conflict of ' the war was in keeping with the mag i nificent record our navy had made for itself in previous struggles. As a souve- Inir of a battle in which such magnifi |cent qualities of endurance and patri lotic devotion to the flag were splayed is is more than a welcome gift and sur prise.” ■ The mayor will use the historic gavel in presiding over the meetings of coun i cil. It is of mahogany and is hand somely made. MICHIGAN HAS ‘GONE. SAILED AWAY HEAVILY LOADED THIS AFTERNOON. The Trunxpnrt Will Return to Savannah With Maine Artillery. ; Colonel J. B. Bellinger, the depot I quartermaster, is certainly a busy man. | Colonel Bellinger has his hands full in keeping up with the transports and the ! movement of governrhent live stock. The transport Michigan sailed this j afternoon for Havana via Key West. lAt the latter place some 500 hospital I beds Will be taken aboard and carried to Havana. The vessel was heavily i loaded. Several pack trains and a I large quantity of supplies were on the I transport. Besides this a large number of were taken to Havana to jbe replaced in their respective comi j mands. The Michigan will return to i Savannah with the Maine battery of ar ! tillery, which is to be mustered out of the service. YACHT CLUB ELECTION. OFFICERS ARE TO BE CHOSEN NEXT WEDNESDAY. Commodore W. W. Starr 1* Booked for Reelection. The annual election of officers of the Savannah Yacht club will be held on Wednesday of next week, which is March 1. The event this year promises to be a very tranquil and quiet one. It ) is not thought there will be any oppo sition to the gentlemen now holding of ' lice in the club. Commodore W. W. Starr is booked for reeleotion. The | club's affairs have prospered greatly ' under the auspices of Commodore ! Starr. The membership during the year now closing has been increased by about 75 members. WANT THEIR SALARIES. FORMER HEADS OF CITY DEPART MENTS WISH THEIR PAY. Messrs. McDermott. Williuk. and Hun ley Apply to Council. At the meeting of council Wednesday night communications were received from Messrs. Frank McDermott, Michael Hanley, and Harry Willink stating that they had been elected for two years re spectively chief of the police depart ment, chief of the fire department, and superintendent of public works for the city of Savannah. The letters were all of the same nature and stated that the writers wished to put the city on notice that they were ready to perform the duties of their offices. TWO WEEKS TO LIVE. JOHN CHARLON IS DANGEROUSLY NEAR THE GALLOWS. The Slayer of Harry McLeod Soon to Pay the Penalty. John Charion, the murderer of Harry McLeod, the food inspector, has but two weeks more to live. He will be ex ecuted in Chatham county jail on the morning of March 10, which is just two weeks off. Charion is making active preparations for death. Hp is a great ■ Bible student and is often closeted with 'his spiritual adviser, Rev. I3lack. who administered to the spiritual wants of Abe Small. CITY BREVITIES. —r. E. H. Hinton, traffic manager of the Central raiway who has been re cently indisposed, is at nis desk again. Mr. J. W. Johnston of Teeple & Co. is very ili at tyis home in this city. He has been threatened with pneumonia, brought on by the extremely cold weather recently. Colonel W. S. Edgerly, inspector general in the Unted States army, ar rived in the city this morning from Augusta and is stopping at the De Soto. He will remain here a day or so. j The body of Mrs. .uena Olmstead was shipped this morning to Anniston, Ala., jfor burial. The lady died last night at the residence of her mother, Mrs. M. jHetterich, on Broughton street.