Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1898 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

Ex-Ministef Phelps, while making an argument in the United States Supreme Court, fainted and had to be carried from the court room. Services in all of the Episcopal churches in Washington were conducted Sunday by bishops of the churches in attendance upon the general council. The.war department has instituted - a search for Maj. Frank Gordon, paymaster United States Volunteers, who reached New York a few days ago from Santiago and has not been heard of since. The Treasury Department has been advised that the Governor General of the Dutch East Indies has issued a proclamation that all American yachts having war correspondents on board will be treated as privateers. Numerous requests have been received at the War Department from municipal authorities and enterprising citizens for a share in the captured cannon, which, according to Santiago dispatches, are to be forwarded north for distribution among the principal cities of the United States. Secretary Long said the other day that ordinarily a higher officer than rear admiral should head the navy, but the signal accomplishments of Rear Admiral Dewey during hostilities with Spain entitle him to the title of vice admiral, and Congress wiU be asked to bestow that honor upou him. The War Department is constantly in receipt of requests from soldiers asking to be mustered out, stating that the war has closed and they wish to go home. The War Department officials say the war will not be over until the treaty of peace is ratified by the United States Senate, and that the soldiers may be needed for further duty. The Navy Department will place on sale in New Y’ork a quantity of Spanish money, gold and paper, found on the Spanish armored cruiser Ahuirante Oquendo. The money was damaged by exposure to salt water and heat, and is valuable principally to relic hunters. It was in the treasure chest of the Oquendo that the gold and bills were found. Chaplain Mclntyre of the battleship Oregon is sentenced to dismissal from the service. The court martial which tried Chaplain Mclntyre at Denver found him guilty of every charge and specification, and unanimously agreed upon the verdict without any recommendation for clemency. Mclntyre criticised Admiral Sampson and Captain Evans in a public speech. The board of ordnance officers has made its report to Gen. Flagler, showing that the 8.2-infh field guns are satisfactory in every way. The board reports favorably upon the Krag-Jorgenson arm for the infantry and cavalry. No fault is found with the Springfield rifle, except that smokeless powder would be much better. Smokeless powder is also found very desirable for field guns.