Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1898 — Page 2

B|jtgriiwtn)titstiitiiiti JT. W. McEWEN, Publisher. RENSSELAER, - - • INDIANA

ALASKA WITCHCRAFT

NATIVES STILL PRACTICE THEIR DARK RELIGIOUS RITES. Governor Brady Makes His Annnal Tria of Inspection to Various Points on the Coast—Fire Wipes Out Downtown Property in Chicago. Cling to Old Customs. Secretary Bliss at Washington has made public an interesting letter from Gov. John B. Brady of Alaska, containing observations made by him while on his annual trip of inspection to the various points on the coast aboard the United States ship Wheeling. Special attention, the Governor says, should be paid to vessels navigating the Yukon, the traffic on which is so large that the tendency is to .take great risks. The Wheeling, after leaving Dyea, called at the village at the north of Chicago Island, called Hoonah. Here one of the leading men of the village had been accidentally killed by a child 6 years of age. The people never take account of accidents, and the Hoonah natives held the child's mother and her people responsible and demanded reparation, which was given, a body of 200 men thoroughly armed going to a native village near Killisnoe, at which place the child’s mother and her people belonged, and compelling them to turn over many blankets, trunks and money. The Governor severely admonished the natives and told them their old customs would not be tolerated. From this point the Wheeling proceeded to Yakutat. The Governor has considerable to say about the practice of witchery, which seetns to exist to a considerable extent in that part of the country. He tells of a man and two women who were bound and tied for bewitching ajnan. On the ninth day the bound man was released, and as he had nothing to eat, and but a few drinks of water, he was‘in a terrible physical condition. The Governor spent some time talking to these people, and after explaining the laws of the United States told them that in the future he would not deal leniently with those who had practiced witchcraft. The Wheeling returned to Sitka. Her cruise, in the Governor’s opinion, had done great good to the natives, as they dread a gunboat more than anything else. He says he is convinced it is time to take the natives vigorously in hand and break up their witchcraft, distillings of rum and manufacturing of beer, and compel them to conform to our laws in all respects.

POLITICS IS THEIR AIM. Railroad Employes at St. Louis Bring Oat a New Organization. An organization known as the Independent Order of Railway Men has been perfected in St. Louis, Mo., and St. Louis has been chosen as the headquarters for the grand lodge and the president elected is James S. Hardin, also of that city. It is said by one of the officers of the new organization that politics will be taken up, because only by dealing in politics cau certain objects iu view be obtained. The new organization is made up largely of former members of the Switchmen’s Mutual Aid Association, which went into liquidation in 1894. There is a paymei.-t in case of death and a disability weekly payment. Organizers will be started out at once to all sections of the United States and Canada. DISASTROUS CHICAGO FIRE. Burning of the Monroe Restaurant Places Many People in Jeopardy. Fire which started in the basement of the Monroe restaurant building, 118-120 Monroe street, Chicago, at (1:45 o’clock in the morning, swept away $20(1,000 worth of property, imperiled scores of lives and resulted in injury to eight persons. At noon the five-story structure was a ruined shell. No lives were lost, but there were many narrow escapes and the conflagration will rank among the worst in the city's history. It was the third great fire in Chicago’s downtown district within a week, and, as in the others, the Hames baffled the efforts of the firemen until the destruction was almost complete.

Accused by His Child. Several weeks ago Mrs. John Cox and one of her children werejiurued to death two miles east of Texarkana, Ark. It was reported as an accident, in which Mrs. Cox had fainted and fallen into the fireplace, where the embers set fire to her clothing and burned her up. The flames ■were supposed to have also ignited a cradle and burned the baby. Now, ns the result of a story told by rfn older child of John Cox, the husband and father has been arrested and is confined in jail charged with the murder of the woman and her child. Mysterisusly Disappeared. The whereabouts of H. H. Craig, a prominent merchant of Rochester, N. Y., have been a mystery to the .San Francisco. He was separated from his daughter, Miss A. B. Craig, in the crowd at the ferryboat, as they were on their way to take the train at Oakland for Pasadena. No clew has been found to account for his sudden disappearance. It is still a question whether he met with foul player succumbed to paralysis, to which he has been subject for some time. Marries Russian Count. Count Alexis Rozanoff of Kodisk has just been married to Miss May Dickson of San Francisco. The count is a young Russian who has business interests in Alaska. He has asked permission of the War Department to build a hotel on the reservation at St. Michael’s and is confident of a favorable answer to his request. He met his bride in Seattle. • Hocking Canal Sale Is Legal. The Ohio Supremo Court has decided that the act authorizing the sale of the Hocking Canal to the Columbus, Hocking Valley and Athens Railway Company is constitutional. The projectors of the road say it will now be built. Fatal Mine Explosion. An explosion occurred at Manown coal mine, near Monongahela City, Pa. Two are known to have been killed, five injured, and from fifteen to twenty-five are said to be still entombed in the mine. Ex-Cashier Is Found Guilty. In the United States court in Covington, Ky., the jury in the case of the United States against Thomas B. Youtzey, excashier of the First National Bank of Newport, Ky., charged with misappropriating the bank funds, found the defendant guilty on thirty counts. Get Gold from Sea Water. A consignment of bullion which was deposited from the water of the ocean was received at the United States assay office in New York. It weighed ninety-two ounces. It was extracted by the Electrolytic Marine Salts Company at North Lubec, Me.

WOOED AND MARRIED

BY CHARLOTTE M BRAEME

CHAPTER XXI. Lord Caraven had made two announcements to his household, whicn no one even thought of connecting. The first and most startling was, of'course, that Lady Hamilton had been shot accidentally—a chance shot —though why a ball cartridge had been used was a puzzle—supposed to have been fired by poachers in the wood; the second was that Lady Caraven had been suddenly summoned to her father's home in London. No one dreamed of connecting the two announcements, and in the disordered state of the household it never occurred to any of the guests to question the servants as to when the countess had gone. She had been sent for after dinner, and the apologies that the earl made were deemed quite sufficient. Some of the guests indeed said that it was as well Lady Caraven was out of the way, as she would probably have been greatly distressed. To this day the earl is uncertain what in his panic he said or did. The only idea quite clear to him was that he must shield the woman who bore, his name. It was not very long before the doctor arrived, and then all alarm was at an end. He found the ball at once; it had not gone very deep into the shoulder. It was extracted and the wound bound up. Then lovely Lady Hamilton raised her golden head and asked, languidly: “Shall I be very ill, doctor?’’ “No, I hope not. You will suffer a little pain—nothing much, I trust.” “Shall I be ill for a long time?” she asked. "Ah, me, how little I dreamed that I was coming to Raveusmere to be shot!” \ “It is very unfortunate,” said the doctor; “but I df> not think you will be ill very long, Lady Hamilton.” It was with a sense of relief that Lord Carnven went to his room that night. He wanted to be alone to think over the events of the day. He found himself dwelling less on the terrible fact that his wife had shot Lady Hamilton than on the wonderful fact that she loved him. He could not sleep or rest. Never had his pillow seemed so hard, his thoughts so troublesome. The excitement had been too much for him. Wherever he went, whatever he did, his thoughts were with Hildred. Had she reached Arley Ransome’s house? Had he acted wisely inletting her go alone? Would any clew to her guilt ever be found? These questions followed him. haunted him, pursued him. If he went to talk to any of his visitors, the conversation . was sure to turn upon the poachers and Lady Hamilton. Wearied of it all, he sought refuge with Sir Raoul in his room; and the old soldier noted with concern how worn and haggard the handsome earl looked.

CHAPTER XXII. “Let me stay with you, Raoul,” said the earl on entering his room; “my guests tease me to death. One hears of nothing but Lady Hamilton and the poachers. I have had to tell the story over and over again, until I am fairly tired of it. Let me find rest here.” Sir Raoul looked at the earl’s haggard face. “And to make matters worse,” remarked the earl, with a gesture of weary despair, “here comes the doctor.” Dr. Randall entered the room unannounced and in great haste. The earl sprang to his feet at the sound of his agitated voice, bis face growing pale and anxious.” “Surely,” he said, “Lady Hamilton is not worse?” “No, she seems better. It is not about Lady Hamilton that I want you, Lord Caraven. I was sent for the moment I left here in behalf of the man who used to act as your steward—John Blantyre.” “John Blantyre,” said the earl, vaguely. “Is he ill?” The subject did not interest him very much—indeed, he thought it trivial amidst the excitement of his own affairs. “No, not ill in the common acceptation of the term,” answered the doctor. “He is dying, I fear.” “Dying, yet not ill! You speak in riddles, doctor.” “It is all a riddle to me,” said the physician; “perhaps you can solve it. He has committed suicide—that is, he has made an attempt on his life, but he has not quite succeeded.” “He was very foolish,” remarked the enrl. Even the fact that his confidential steward had attempted to destroy his own life seemed to him a matter of less moment than the fact tnat hie wife loved him.

Dr. Randall looked uneasily at the unconscious face. “May I speak on a private matter?’’ he said. “Certainly,” was the quick reply. “I have no secrets from my relative, Sir Raoul.” "I cannot quite understand it,” continued the doctor. “They sent for me, and when I reached the house I found that Blantyre had attempted to take his life. I will not tell you how—there is uo need to add to a list of horrors. I Sound him dying, not dead; he is dying now. His only cry was for you, Lord Caraven; he wanted to see you.” “I do not in the least desire to see him,” said the earl, quickly. “Frankly speaking, doctor, repentant sinners and deathbeds are not much in my line. Fcould do him no good.” • “Perhaps not—yet he gave me no rest until I had promised to ask you to go and visit him—no rest at all. The strange part of the story has to come, Lord Caraven. It was not a poacher who fired the shot —it was himself. We have this time done the poachers an injustice.” The doctor was not prepared for the effect of his words. The earl sprang from his chair, rushed across the room and seized him by the arm. “Say that again!” he cried. “John Blantyre fired that shot?” “So he says,” replied the doctor. “He gasped the story out to mo in byoken words. ‘I always hated her,’ he said; ‘hated her; and last night I shot her by the edge of the lake. I shot her through the heart, and I saw her fall, and ’ ” “It is impossible!” cried the earl. “The man mast have been delirious! He never saw Lady Hamilton in his life—how could he hate her?” “That is the strangest part of the story,” said the doctor. “He persists in saying that he shot Lady Caraven. I cannot understand the matter.” “I do,” put in Sir Raoul, calmly. “Blantyre was dismissed at Lady Caraven’s desire. and be swore to be revenged upon

her. This is his revenge—he has shot Lady Hamilton, believing her to be the countess.” They were not long in reaching Blantyre’s house, and before long the earl stood by the death-bed of his late steward. The man’s dying face was turned toward him, bis dying eyes gleamed as they recognized him. “My lord,” he said, “you were always kind to me. Her ladyship ruined me—she turned me away—and I hated her. I would not harm one hair of your head; but I have killed her; and I am not sorry. I am glad.” “Thank heaven that you have not!” said the earl, hastily. “I am thankful to say that your murderous shot never reached my wife. The lady you have injured is a stranger to you—Lady Hamilton; she had thrown Lady Caraven's scarf over her shoulders —hence the (for me) fortunate mistake.” The look on the dying man’s face was terrible to see—the fiendish disappointment, tue bitter hatred. “Then I have not killed her after all,” be cried. “No; you have wounded an innocent lady, a stranger to you—that is all; my dear wife you have not injured.” “And I sent for you believing that she wns dead, dreading lest an innocent man should suffer for my deed, longing also that you should know I had taken my revenge.” "I can only thank heaven you have failed,” said the earl. John Blantyre raised himself; the hatred, the bad passions in the dying face were terrible to see. “aell her,” he cried, “I am sorry I did not kill her; tell her that she ruined me and that I hate her for it; tell her that I sent her my curse, and that after I had cursed her I never opened my lips again!” He fell back exhausted, and he kept his word. Never again were his lips opened in mortal speech. The earl tried, Sir Raoul left his sick room'to try to soften and persuade him, gentle, low-voiced women knelt by -his side, a grave minister pleaded with him—it was all in vain, after that one terrible curse his lips were mute and dumb, whether so stricken by heaven or whether the result of his anger and disappointment, no one ever knew; he died in obstinate, sullen silence.

CHAPTER XXIII. Lady Carnven had refused to see anyone; she had refused to quit her apartment. The horror of the charge made against her overpowered her. Could it be within the bounds of possibility that she, Hildred, Countess of Caraven, would ever be brought before a public tribunal and tried for a crime of which she was perfectly innocent? Her vivid imagination ran riot about it. She pictured herself in a dark cell. She wept until from sheer exhaustion she slept. A knocking at the door aroused her. “Hildred,” called Arley Ransome, “I wish to see you.” "Papa,” said the girl, “I am tired of the world—tired of my life. Let me die in peace.” Fearful of the attention of his servants, he went away, returning again and again with the same entreaty, but she would not see him. She refused all food, she never attempted to go to rest, and at last Arley Ransome grew alarmed about her. He would not force open the door—that would create a scandal, and the notion of scandal was as bitter as death to him. It was with a feeling of intense relief that he saw Lord Caraven arrive. "This is a terrible business,” he said. “My daughter must have been driven to great extremes before she did this.” “It is all a foolish mistake!” cried the earl. “Where is she? I want to see her.” “A mistake!” cried the lawyer, with dignity. "Most men would give your conduct another name. Lord Caraven. People should be careful before they make such mistakes.” "Where is Hildred?” cried the earl. “I want to see her at once.” “I am not at all sure that my daughter will see. you,” said Arley Ransome, must say that she has been cruelly treated. You are a peer of the realm, Lord Caraven, but have you behaved as a gentleman to my child? Have you treated her with courtesy or affection?” “Let me go to her at once,” said Lord Caraven. “Do not be hard on me, Mr. Ransome—l have had a great deal to suffer.” And these few words disarmed the lawyer. They went together to Hildred’s room. Arley Ransome spoke first. “Hildred, I have something very particular to say to you—open the.door.” There was not a sound, and Lord Caraven began to feel slightly alarmed. “Hildred,” said her father; “I have a message from your husband.” . Still there was no sound, and, unable to control himself, the earl cried out:

“Hildred, for heaven’s sake, speak to me! Let me in—l want to see you!” The sound of his voice seemed to have an electric effect upon her. The next moment she turned the key in the lock and opened wide the door. With a cry of fear and surprise he started buck when he saw her. He had seen her lately so beautiful, so radiant—now her long black hair hung in disorder over her shoulders; her fact was pale and stained with tears, her eyes were dim, her lips white. He hardly knew her. “Hildred!” he cried. She looked at him with dim, sad eyes. “You!” she said. “Is it you who thought me guilty of murder?” Lord Caraven turned to Arley Ransome. “Leave me alone with her,” he said. “I have much to say.” Mr. Ransome went away. The earl entered the room and closed the door. He went to his wife, holding out both his hands. “Will you forgive me?” he said. “I can never pardon myself.” But she shrank from him. “You believe that I committed murder,” she answered. “No, I cannot touch your hands.” » "Hildred, listen. It was almost all your own fault—you said you were guilty.” “Not of murder,” she rejoined. “I could not have supposed that you would think me capable of that, much as you dislike me.” “I do not dislike you, Hildred,” said the earl, in a voice full of emotion, “and I am indeed grieved at having offended you. Do not refuse to pardon me.” “There can be no pardon, my lord, for the wrong you have done me,” she replied. And then the earl knew that, if ever he won his wife’s pardon, it would be a work of patience and of time. He gazed anxiously nt her. She looked pale ana wan, with the stains of bitter weeping on her face. He saw, too, that ■she shivered like one seized with mortal cold.

“Mildred," he cried, “do forgive me—you do uot know how grieved I am to see you like this. I want to tell you how the misunderstanding happened. Will you listen?” “Yes,” she replied, mechanically; and she sat silent and motionless while he told her the story. She looked at him when it was ended with dull, dim eyes. “I am very sorry,” she said, “that Blantyre made the mistake. I almost wish that he had shot me through the heart. What have I to live for?” “I could not spare you, Hildred—you have been the good angel of my life!” he cried. “You would be better without me. Your estates are free and unincumbered now—you have roused yourself to a sense of your duties—you know how to perforin them. I am of no more use. I am sorry that John Blantyre missed his aim.” “That is not like you, Hildred. Where is your bright energy, your ►ope, your cheerful animation?” She clasped her bands with a jhudder. "I am sick,” she said, “sick with a terrible despair.” The earl was compelled to return to Ravensmere, and he did so almost despairingly. Lady Hamilton was fast improving; she would be able to go to her own home soon, the doctor said, and all anxiety about her was quite at an end. The truth of the story had come to light; all the papers had it; every one knew that Lady Hamilton had been shot by mistake, and that it was the young Countess of Caraven whom John Blantyre had intended to kill. The Vari confided the result of his mission to Sir Raoul, who was not much surprised. “You have tried her beyond her strength,” he said; /‘I should advise you without loss of time to return to London again.” . Lord Caraven did so, but his journey was fruitless. Hildred refused to see him; to all entreaties from her father she answered simply: “I have uot one word to add to have said;" and with that answer the earl was obliged to be content. In sheer despair he sent for Sir Raoul, who, though almost unfit to travel, hastened to him; he besought him to use his influence with the beautiful young wife who had no pity for him. Then he grew wildly jealous at the idea that she would listen to Sir Raoul when she refused absolutely to listen'to him. "Why should you have more influence over her than J have?” he asked, half angrily. “Because,” said Sir Raoul, “I understand the higher, better, nobler part of her nature, as you, I fear, will never understand it. I will try what I can do.” (To be continued.)

ARE PAWPAWS GOOD?

The Head of the House Is Disappointed Over Hie Experiment, Whenever you find in the city an old man who was born in the country, and passed his boyhood days on a farm, you are likely to find a man who has fond recollection of the free and easy life he spent in fall days, when nuts and pawpaws w’ere ripe. If he sees a few of the custard apples displayed at a fruit stand, he wants them. Of course they don’t taste just as they did when he was a barefooted boy, but they make him think of his youth and his days on the old farm. A mau of this kind saw some pawpaws a few days ago on a stand, of course he bought some. He was on his way home, and for the first time he Introduced the fruit into the home circle. It created some excitement, and every one tried the Ohio banana. Now there is one thing to be said of a pawpaw, and that Is, if it is ■well frosted and just beginning to turn black, It is not so bad, but if it is pulled green—as many of them are —It is not fit for a hog to eat. And these were of that class. The old man bit into one and made a stagger at eating it, though he acknowledged that it didn’t taste like the fruit he had gathered by the bushel when he was a boy. The family rather ridiculed his explanation that they were not ripe, etc. His boy said: “Say, father, honestly, did you ever like them mushy yellow things and think they were good. If you did youmust have been very hungry.” “But these are not frosted, and that’s what’s the matter with them. They’re splendid when they’ve been blackened by frost.” “Oh,” said his wife, “I expect you’ll say next that they ought to be cooked or scalded, or something, to excuse yourself for all the praise you’ve given the nasty thing for years and years.” “Well, whether you like them or not, they’re just as good an bananas, and all of you rave over them. Walt till frost comes and I’ll get you some that will make you think the banana is poor eating.” “Now, father,” said the daughter, “own up. You don’t like them yourself. When you wete a boy on the farm you had a ravenous appetite, and of course, after traveling miles and miles anything tasted good. That’s the way with those nasty pawpaws. You know they don’t taste good, and, even if they were frozen, they wouldn’t be much better. I guess you had better throw them away.” “Indeed, I’ll not,” he sajd. “I’ll put them on the porch .roof, and you’ll own up after- a while that they’re good.” And now the family is waiting patiently for the hard frost that it may taste a pawpaw at its best. But it’s doubtful if they will like them, even then, for the taste is one of the acquired kind.

Great Travelers.

William H. Dall, of the Smithsonian Institution, says in Science that “during the early days of the whale fishery several well-attested instances occurred of whales struck in one ocean, as the Altantic, being afterward killed in the North Pacific, and vice versa.” This would indicate that some whales are great travelers, for to get from the Atlantic to the North Pacific they W’ould have to go many thousands of miles, passing either around Cape Horn or around the northern end of North America and through Bering strait

Unconscious State.

“I can’t help being a little bit afraid of the dark,” remarked the small boy, apologetically. “That is very silly,” replied his father. “You will outgrow it when you are older and more sensible.” “Of course. It won’t be so very long before rm big, and then I’llbe like you and mother and not be afraid of anything except spilling salt and seeing the new moon over my left shoulder.” The truly good man seems to derive his greatest pleasure from the refiecthat others are bad.

UNCLE SAM IS READY.

This Government Prepared for the Worst that May Come. ■ CAN MEET ANY EMERGENCY The War and Navy Departments Have Not Been Idle. Both Spain and the United States Have Made Preparations Indicating a Probable Conflict—Ships Disposed So as to Be More Advantageous-Con-gress Importuned to. Increase the Regular Army Purchase of War Vessels, Guns and Ammunition Abroad Continues. Washington correspondence: The United States is prepared for war. Its magnificent fleet of fighting ships is lying within striking distance of Havana. Its coast cities and towns are strongly fortified and guarded by coast defense vessels fully equipped for business. It has immense supplies of ammunition and stores distributed where they will be easily available. In regard to land forces, it has the army departments reorganized, reoflleered, and its 25,000 regulars so distributed as to be within call of any point threatened by the enemy. Furthermore, it has the National Guardsmen of 115,000 ready for any emergency. Spain, too, is prepared for hostilities. She has on Cuba, fully 80,000 men, the army there having recently been re-en-forced. She has called out her reserves, and made every preparation to enlist volunteers. She has quite a formidable fleet at Havana, and, to support the same, quite a number of warships, distributed at other points in the West Indies. She has raised a small loan, and is fast supplying her navy and army with everything that is necessary to their efficiency. Spain intends to fight if she’s given half a chance. Her Government dare not do otherwise, else civil strife break out and the monarchy be overthrown. In order to be fully prepared for whatever may come, a further disposition of the warships on the Atlantic coast has been made. Two powerful fleets have

REDISTRICTED DEPARTMENTS OF THE ARMY.

Outline Map Showing the Various Departments as They Are Now Constituted. The Importanee of he Department of the Gulf May Be Readily Seen.

been created—one at Key West to guard the gulf and be in readiness to make a demonstration against Havana, and another at Hampton Roads to guard the North Atlantic- coast, and serve in case of emergency as a support to the Gulf fleet. Besides coast defense vessels have been disposed at the principal harbors. Each fleet consists of battleships, doubleturreted monitors, armored cruisers, gunboats, torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers. Spain has also divided her available ships into squadrons. One will defend Havana, another will guard home cities, and a third will hold itself in readiness to proceed wherever directed. To effect this arrangement she halted her torpedo boat flotilla at the Canary islands and retained the second fleet about so sail from Cadiz. Spain evidently intends to have a “flying squadron” to utilize wherever opportunity occurs. Vessels Made Ready for War. At League Island, Key West and other points all warships have been coaled to their full capacity and have been supplied with a full quota of all kinds of ammunition. The Montgomery has been overhauled since her return from Havana, and the gunboats Helena and Bancroft also. Preparations have been made with the secrecy and assignments to the one fleet or the other have been carried on so guardedly that it is impossible to find out just where any vessel is going to be found when the first shot is fired. The newly acquired Brazilian cruiser, Amazonas, under convoy of the San Francisco, will arrive in a few days all ready for service. Her sister ship will be brought across the Atlantic within two weeks and completed in an American yard. Several other vessels will have in the meantime been purchased and added to our available warships. So delicate is the situation that our Government cannot wait for guns to be manufactured by our own shops, but is purchasing them in England and Germany. These guns being of a caliber different from ours, ammunition has to be purchased with them. Batteries are moving from the West to the Atlantic and Gulf coast cities, and large quantities of ammunition and supplies are being forwarded in advance of their arrival. A bill was introduced in Congress providing for the increase of the regular army to 104,000 men; another for the building of three battleships with an amendment increasing them to twelve, and for the construction of six torpedo boats and six torpedo boat destroyers. Steps have been taken by the Navy Department to re-enforce the ships in service. The board on auxiliary cruisers has examined the American liner St. Louis and measured her for armament. The owners of the fleet which comprises this vessel and the St. Paul, New York and Paris, will, it is said, not insist on the purchase of these vessels by the Government as it has a right to do in the event of their impressment, but will permit the Government to charter them. The board will inspect the Ward line boats, and is also looking at steel yachts and at iron and steel coal tugs. Information received by the Government shows that there were 929 vessels of all types available for impressment at its service. Plans are near completion for utilizing as many as possible of these in connection with the naval .militia. In the desire to'have in the North Atlantic squadron coast a fleet superior to any Spain might send to Cuba the naval authorities ordered the first-class battleship Oregon to proceed with all dispatch from San Francisco to Key West, by way of Cape Horn. Protection to the Pacific coast afforded by the Charleston, Philadelphia and Monterey is considered efli-

cient by the officials, who point out that a Spanish war vessel would have no coaling facilities there. Work is being hastened on the Newark, Charleston and Philadelphia, and Chief Constructor Hichborn announced the other day that these vessels would be ready for service on May 15.

OTHERS MAY RECOGNIZE CUBA.

Southern Republics and Britain Would Follow Our Example. There has been much discussion in. Washington during the last few d#s on the question of the attitude of foreign powers in the event of the recognition of the independence of Cuba by the United States. The President has been told that many, if not all, the Southern republics would recognize the independence of Cuba simultaneously with the United States, and although no officialdeclaration, as far as can be ascertained, has yet come from Great Britain on that point the earnest desire of that country to avert war between the United States and Spain will, it is believed, induce her to promptly follow any action in this direction which may be taken by this country. Appreciating, as they do, that such joint action would begone of the strongest guarantees .against war, the administration officials are naturally anxious that other countries should follow our course in recognizing the new republic.

CHARGING WAR RATES.

Insurance Companies Take Action Concerning Gulf Shipments. Insurance companies carrying risks on American breadstuffs for export are charging war rates. This applies to all shipments from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ports. One of the largest exporting firms in St. Louis has been endeavoring to secure an expression from the big insurance companies that insure exports, but was not successful until Monday, when it was wired that war rates were in effect. This is one-quarter of 1 per cent added to the regular rate covering loss from all ordinary causes. On parcel shipments this is an advance of 50 per cent. The regular cargo rate is five-eighths of 1 per cent from Atlantic and three-quarters of 1 per cent from gulf ports. The cause for the adoption of war rates is that in the event of hostilities any ship carrying the American flag would not be safe from attack by a Spanish war vessel.

MEN WANTED FOR THE NAVY.

Posters Calling for Recruits Are Issued at Washington. “Men wanted for the United States navy.” Large posters with flaming headlines and magnificent portraits of two battleships were issued from the Navy De-

partinent in Washington Monday. These will be sent throughout the country and the work of enlistment will follow. The age required is 18 to 35 years; the pay ranges from $lB per month to S4O. The following classes of men are desired: Seamen, ordinary seamen, chief machinists, machinists first-class, machinists second-class. All applicants must pass a physical examination. The department in Washington accepts no enlistments. Applicants are referred to the following recruiting stations: Boston, Brooklyn, New York, League Island navy yard, Washington, D. C„ navy yard, United States steamer Michigan at Erie, Pa.; New Orleans, Mare Island navy yard, Norfolk navy yard and Gloucester, Mass.

THURSTON FOR INTERVENTION.

It Is, the Senator Says, the Only Solution of the Cuban Trouble. “If the time for the intervention of the United States in the affairs of Cuba is not here now, it never will come,” said Senator Thurston to a reporter. The Senator says that the only solution of the trouble is such intervention, unless the people of the United States are willing to look on and see the work of starvation, already so far advanced, completed. The reconcentrados are absolutely without hope, and if the death lists in any part of the island are decreasing it is only because the material for starvation to work upon is giving out. All that the reconcentrados can now do, with their homes and implements destroyed by fire, their little farms devastated and growing in weeds, their stock driven off to furnish food for the Spanish soldiers, and themselves emaciated and diseased, is to remain in their pens with a look of quiet despair and take the little food that they can get, sent by the charity of the United States. It is perfectly true, says the Senator, that the insurgents practically have the whole island. All that the Spanish hold is Havana, and even while the congressional party was there there was fighting in the suburbs of that city. Senator Thurston was asked what effect intervention would have.in increasing the volume of the insurgent movement. He said that it would have some effect in that direction, for then the Cubans generally would rise and declare themselves.

FORTS WELL MANNED.

Capital City’s Defenses Are at Last Prac.ically Completed. The preparation for the defense of the national capital has been practically completed, so far as its approach by water is concerned. The battery at Sheridan's Point on the Potomac, just above Mount Vernon, is now completely manned, and will prove a powerful auxiliary to the main battery at Fort Washington, on the opposite shore of the river, nearer the city. A garrison was established at Fort Washington several months ago. It consists of a detachment of the Fourth artillery from Washington barracks, under command of Captain Howe. The work of building the emplacements and mounting the guns at Sheridan Point was completed only a short time ago, and its establishment as a post was accomplished only within the past few days, when battery K of the Fourth artillery arrived there from Fort Monroe and went into camp. The Collector of Internal Revenue at Louisville has received a payment from unknown parties of $2,400 in gold, representing taxes on whisky of which the Government was defrauded in 1863.

CONGRSS

On Wednesday the postoffice appropriation bill, which was technically the subject before the House, was almost lost track of in the debate. The Cuban-Span-ish question, which had been kept in the background heretofore, forged to the front. Mr. Cochran (Dem., Mo.) brought the question into the arena, and in the course of the debate that followed Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio took occasion to deny emphatically the stories afloat to the effect that the President desired an early adjournment of Congress in order that he might effect a settlement without congressional interference. The subject of Hawaiian annexation also came in for attention. Mr. Williams (Dem., Miss.), Mr. Adams (Bep., Pa.) and Mr., Berry (Dem., Ky.), all members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, made speeches on the subject, the former in opposition and the two latter in favor of the proposition. Business in the legislative session of the Senate was confined to the passage of a rew bills, largely of a local character. The national quarantine bill was not considered. On Thursday the session of the House was devoted strictly to the postoffice appropriation bill, which was taken up for amendment under the five-minute rule. The questions which consumed the major portion of the time related to the allowance for clerk hire at postoffices and to rural free delivery. The House increased the allowance for rural free delivery from $150,000 to $300,000 and defeated the proposition for increased clerk hire. Among the bills passed in the Senate was one to authorize the construction of a gunboat on the great lakes to take .the place of the United States ship Michigan, nnd to cost, exclusive of armament, not to exceed $230,000. Adjourned till Monday. On Friday the House spent another day on the postoffice appropriation bill, but disposed of only two pages of the bill. Most of the day was devoted to a debate on the merits of the pneumatic tube mail service in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, and the advisability of continuing the existing contract. An effort to strike out the appropriation of $225,000 was defeated, but the opponents of the appropriation succeeded in securing the adoption of an amendment providing that no additional contracts should be jmade.' An amendment was adopted making it a misdemeanor for any person to “pad” the tnails during the period when the mails are being weighed to determine the compensation to be paid to the railroads for their transportation. The Senate was not in session.

The House on Saturday passed the postoffice appropriation bill, which had been under consideration since Wednesday. The main points of attack in the debate were the appropriation of $30,000,000 for railway transportation of mails and $171,000 for special facilities between New York and New Orleans and $25,000 for special facilities from Kansas City to Newton. Kas. These items annually attract more or less of a contest. This year the opposition seemed to be less intense. All effort to reduce the appropriation for railroad transportation signally failed, and the vote on Southern mail subsidy was 77 to 98 against striking out. By neat parliamentary maneuvering the opponents of the subsidy were prevented from getting a direct vote on a motion to recommit with instructions. The Maine relief bill was passed unanimously by the House on Monday. The Senate bill to satisfy the claim of the legal representatives of John Roach, amounting to $331,151, for labor, material and dockage furnished by Roach, and the occupation of his yards by the gunboats Chicago, Boston and Atlanta, was taken up out of its order and a long and bitter fight followed. Without action upon the claim, the House took a recess until 8 o'clock. The evening session was devoted to the consideration of private pension bills. In the Senate Mr. Bacon introduced an amendment which he announced he would offer to the resolution providing for the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States. The amendment provides that the resolution shall not be effective until the question of annexation shall have been submitted to the qualified electors of Hawaii and passed upon affirmatively by them. Mr. Allen secured the passage of a resolution calling upon the Secretary of the Interior for information as to the number of all classes of pensioners, including the percentage of" men anfi women and children, carried on the pension rolls. A number of bills of minor importance were passed. In the House on Tuesday the naval appropriation bill was reported, but as it had not been printed the contested election case of Thorpe versus Eppes. from the fourth Virginia district, was taken up and debated until 4 o'clock, when, owing to the illness of Mr. Rhea of Kentucky, who was to have spoken in the afternoon, the House adjourned. In the Senate the quarantine bill was further debated. Mr. Carter of the Committee on Territories called up the measure reported by him making further provisions for a civil government of Alaska, and addressed the Senate at length upon it. Mr. Gallinger, who recently returned from a trip to Cuba, announced that he would briefly address the Senate upon his observations in Cuba. Mr. Foraker presented the credentials of his colleague. Mr. Hanna, for the term as United States Senator covering six years from March 4. 1899., The credentials were read and ordered filed. Among the bills passed was that to raise the age of protection for girls in the District of Columbia and the territories to 18 years.

Told in a Few Lines.

Over 700 deaths occurred from the black plague in Bombay, India, during February. , During the cattlemen's convention at Fort Worth. Tex., stock to the value of $2,000,000 changed hands. A committee of the Norwegian parliament has recommended universal suffrage to all men above 25 years of age. Negotiations by the Government for the purchase of the two Japanese cruisers now being built in the United States are off. Oklahoma society is much interested in a divorce case which will be heard at this session of the District Court. The suit, has been brought by Mr. Sain Bigsnake, who wishes legal separation from Cress Bigsnake Littlecook, his wife. They are fulj-b’ooded Ponca Indians. William Weber has filed suit at Austin, Tex., against the Houston and Texas Central Railroad Company for $2,500 damages, alleging that he held a first-class ticket but was forced by the conductor to ride in a smoker, was abused by the conductor, and charged with being drunk, when, in fact, he was only in bad health, which was aggravated by his treatment and mental anguish.