Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1898 — M’KINLEY AT MONTAUK. [ARTICLE]

M’KINLEY AT MONTAUK.

President Cheer* the Soldier* by Kind Word* While Making Inspection. President MeKiniey spent seven hount in Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point, bareheaded most of the time, visiting the sick in the hospital and inspecting the well in their cantonments. He made a speech to the assembled infantrymen, reviewed the cavalrymen, expressed his opinion of the camp to the reporters, and issued an order directing the regulars to return to their stations east of the Mississippi. With the President were Vice-President Hobart, Secretary of War Alger, Attorney General Griggs, Senator Redfield Proctor of Vermont; Brigadier General Eagan, commissary of the army; Brigadier General Ludington, quartermaster of the army; Col. H. Hecker and Secretaries to the President Porter and Cortelieu. The ladies of the party were Mrs. Alger and Miss Hecker, a daughter of Col. Hecker. Gen. Wheeler, his staff, and nearly every officer of prominence in the camp met the President at the station. After greetings and introductions on the railway platform, the President took Gen. Wheeler’s arm and went to a carriage. The column of carriages wound up a hill, escorted by the Third cavalry regiment, and the mounted band of the Sixth cavalry, and drove Mr. McKinley to Gen. Shafter’s tent in the detention camp. The general, who was flushed and weak from a mild case off malaria fever, was in full uniform, sitting in a chair at the door of the tent. He tried to rise, but Mr. McKinley said: “Stay where yon are, general. You are entitled to rest.” The President congratulated Gen. Shafter on the Santiago campaign, and after a few minutes' rest proceeded to the general hospital. The soldiers recently arrived on transports and detained in the detention section of the camp lined up irregularly on each side of the road and cheered. Mr. McKinley took off his straw hat then, and scarcely more than put it on for more than a minute at a time during the remainder of his progress through the camp. Miss Wheeler, a daughter of the general, happened to be in the first row of the hospital tents, and she showed the President through her division. Geu. Wheeler announced in each ward: “Boys, the President has come to see you,” or, “Soldiers, the President of the United States.” Some of the soldiers were unconscious, some listlessly raised on their elbows, others feebly clapped their hands. Mr. McKinley gently shook hands with many, and at every cot he paused an instant, and if he saw the sick men looking at him he bowed in a direct and personal way. He had many bits of talk with the men, and seemed to be in no hurry. He almost outwore the patience of all his party by slowgoing through ward after ward. PAN DO ETEALS AWAY. Spanish General Starts for Madrid with 12,000,000 Francs. Havana is in a state of surprise at the secret departure of Gen. I’ando with 12,000,000 francs. Few can offer any explanation of the general’s conduct, and apparently no one can tell where the big amount of treasure came from. The army and civil pay rolls are both several months in arrears, and there is much dissatisfaction among the Spanish at the withdrawal from Cuba of a sum of money which more than represented the amount due them. Gen. I’ando, with the big hoard of money secretly went aboard the French steamer Notre Dame de Salut. He turned his wealth over to Captain Pillard and locked himself in his cabin until the boat left the harbor. SPANISH CORTES MEETS. Sagasta Introduces Bill for Surrender of Lost Islands. The’ Spanish Cortes opened Monday, and, contrary to general expectation, small interest was shown in the proceedings. The public galleries were densely crowded, but those occupying them were silent. In the Senate Prime Minister Sagasta read a bill authorizing the Government to conclude peace with the United States and also authorizing the alienation-of territory. He said that the immense superiority of the Americans deprived the country of means of defense. The destruction of the squadrons compelled Spain to seek peace and necessitated the acceptance of the dismemberment of the colonies proposed by the United States. NAVY TO HAVE 20,000 MEN. Enlisted Force Will Be Maintained at This Strength. The enlisted force of the navy is to be maintained to the full strength secured during the war, and as fast as vacancies occur through discharge and expiration of enlistment period they will be filled by other seamen. The highest number of men enrolled in the navy reached 24,000, including about 4,000 naval militia, all of which have been mustered out. Reduced to 20,000, there is every indication that i will soon be less unless enlistments are made to make up the deficiency. All to Be Released. Acting Secretary Allen has authorised the release of all the Spanish naval oners captured in the battle of July 3 from Cervera’s fleet. These are now at Annapolis and Seavey’s Island, Portsmouth, the officers being at the academy and the sailors at the island. The condition of the men physically is all that eOuld be desired. The prisoners are to be returned to Spain at the expense of the Spanish government. This was the coni dition upon which our government agreed! to release them without parole or other restriction. (Camp to Be Deserted. By Oct. 1 Camp Wikoff, at Montauk Point, Long Island, will have shrunk to slender proportions. «The well men, according to the War Department's present designs, will leave the camp as fast as transportation can be conveniently provided, probably at the rate of 3,000 or 4,000 a Week. The convalescent from the hospitals, instead of being sent again into eamp with their commands, will go to their homes. Registered War Bonds Issued. The Treasury Department on Saturday sent out its first batch of the registered war bonds, the issuance up to now having been confined to the coupon bond! payable to bearer. The department sorted putting out the coupon bonds in tbflrast week of July, and the issue has comprised S2O, SIOO, SSOO and a few SI,OOO bonds. There are about 20,000 cases calling for the coupon bonds still to bfc met. About 45,000 cases are on file caning for registered bonds, and these will be met as rapidly as possible. The issue will be in the 20s, 100 s. 500 s. I.ooos, 5,000 s and 10,000 s.