Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — IN GENERAL. [ARTICLE]

IN GENERAL.

Regiments of the regular army are being hurried to convenient points in the South for transport to Cuba. The Queen Regent opened the Spanish Cortes with a speech blaming the United States for existing conditions and appealing, to the patriotism of her people. The war spirit seems strong in Spain. According tp the statement of M. B. Hall of Spokane, a Klondiker, who arrived on the steamer Utopia from Skagtiay, and his party of four men brought out gold dust and drafts Amounting to $200,000. At Vienna, a decree has been published forbidding importation of American fresh fruit, plants, fresh fruit refuse, fruit wrappers and fruit packings, etc., in cases where the examination at the port of entry results in the discovery of traces of the Sau Jose louse. The complete failure of the Alaskan reindeer expedition has been announced to the War Department at Washington in a telegram from Brigadier General Merriam, commanding the military department of the Columbia. This telegram summarizes a report from Dr. Sheldon Jackson at Dyea, to the effect that reindeer are a failure in Alaska for want of prosier forage and useless for all the exploring expeditions iu Alaska. Many are already dead. Charles H. Walker, third mate of the steam whaler Orca, has arrived at Seattle, Wash., after one of the most remarkable trips on record. He left Point Barrow, Alaska, the first of last November with two Indians and a dog team nnd followed the shore line of the Arctic ocean to the mouth of the Mackenzie river, which he ascended, coming into civilization at Edmonton. Mr. Walker brings an appeal from the captain of the whaler at Point Barrow to the Pacific Coast Steam Whaling Company to use every effort-to get supplies to them by the Ist of July. They knew nothing of the Government relief expedition now on its way. There are, Mr. Walker says, 186 people at Point Barrow, who, by living on short rations, will have enough supplies to last them until the Ist of July. The whalers east of Point Barrow are in better circumstances. Besides having plenty of provisions, they have a large stock at Herschel Island to draw on. Mr. Walker confirms the report of the loss of the Orca and the burning of the Freeman. All the vessels east of Point Barrow are safely anchored. The Fearless and Newport are situated ninety-five miles east of Point Barrow, off Tonicent point. The tender Genie is further east nt Pitt point. The Belvidere is at Sea Horse rapids. The Norwhal. Binis, Grampus and Bea-lan’-i are at Bailey Island. From the of the Mackenzie river to Edmontor" Mr. Walker’s trip was without specif.' incident, but he had a very hard trip from Point Barrow to the mouth of the riv’.r. Owing to the scarcity of procisland at Point Barrow. he started out with bri a small amount, trusting to the chi nee of killing sufficient meat ou the roi.d. For three days previous to reaching Herschel Island he was practically wi-Jiout food.