Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1898 — Page 2

SHELLED BY SAMPSON

AMERICAN ADMIRAL GIVES DONS ANOTHER DOSE. Five United States Veasels Pay Their Respects to Santiago Fortifications —Stare and Strips Raised at Aguadores—druantanoma Bay Occupied. Defenses Now Dnst Heaps. Washington special: Admiral Sampson does not seem to be happy unless he can give his men daily practice in gunnery at - the expense of Spanish fortifications. Nothing gratifies him and his sailors more than to see masonry and earthworks melting away before the irresistible Impact of huge shells. Having made dust heaps of the defenses pf Santiago harbor Monday and sunk the cruiser Reina Mercedes, five of its sailors and twenty-nine of its marines being killed, as the Spaniards admit, he turned his attention Tuesday to the defenses of Guantanamo bay, the first important harbor to the east of Santiago de Cuba. Five American vessels paid their respects to those defenses so energetically that they were annihilated. The demoralised Spaniards are reported to have evac-

GENERAL DON ARSENIO LINARES. Commander of the Spanish troops at Santiago.

uated hurriedly the positions held by them •nd to have given orders for the burning of the town of La Caimanera, which lies near the entrance to the bay, in case the Americans attempted to occupy it. The sole object of Tuesday’s operations, however, was to cut the cable at Guantanamo and thus complete the isolation of Santiago. Wednesday Admiral Sampson resumed operations at Santiago. After worrying the Spaniards by a heavy artillery fire he landed some of his marines, and they, acting in conjunction with the insurgents, threatened the Spanish at several points. They succeeded in capturing a fort which controls the bay of Aguadores and hoisted the Stars and Stripes there. Artillery was landed and the captured position

REINA MERCEDES.

strongly fortified. The Spanish troops fought in a half-hearted way, and if a few regiments of American soldiers had been on the ground they would have made short work of the enemy and of Santiago. The stories of heavy American losses are untrue. The insurgents under Gen. Garcia •re doing good work. So will those under Gomez when American soldiers back them up. The Sunken Reina Mercedes. The Reina Mercedes, Admitted by the authorities in Madrid to have been sunk by the Americau fleet in Santiago bay, was a cruiser that had been dismantled and which was used as a defense vessel. Her cruising armament had been greatly

GENERALS COMMANDING ARMIES INVADING CUBA.

GEN. JOHN J. COPPINGER.

Strengthened. The Mercedes was raked by • 18-inch shell from one of Uncle Barn’s battleships, and the Madrid reports describe the shell as doing terrible JfMtrnctinn It disabled her machinery fend killed sixty of her crew and one of her officers. is expressed in shipping cird& of New York City because the govMiMiment harbot putrid boats seem to be doing inefficient work in protecting the mine fields. They claim that shipping is menaced by floating mines. Gen. Gredty has issued an order to th? cable companies that hereafter no news concerning movements of American vessels or American troops will be permitted to be sent to foreign countries. / . In the Spanish Cortes the government is attacked from all sides. Sagasta denies, government responsibility for the disaster at Manila or for Admiral Cervera’s tacsOMdiii disgatch totlie Ixihdon Times said that the Spanish believe that the Americans are tired of the war and will gladij make peace.

SMABHKD BY OREGON’S SHELL. Sinking of the Spanish Destroyer Terror Off Santiago. The Spanish torpedo boat destroyer Terror and her crew of sixty men lie at the bottom of the sea, sent there by a single shell from a thirteen-inch gun of the battleship Oregon. Not a sign of the vessel has been seen since she tried to run into Santiago Monday night. That she was destroyed with all hands there is no practical doubt. That the destroyed vessel was the Terror, left behind at Martinique, since reported at Porto Rico, and trying to rejoin Admiral Cervera, is probable. She was first detected by the New Orleans, which was on guard at the eastern end of the blockading fleet. The New Orleans threw her searchlight on the stranger, but the latter slipped from under its beams. The New York and the Marblehead, which were next in line, were signaled, and the alarm was passed to all the fleet. The flanking vessels were ordered to close in and the New York, Brooklyn and Oregon steamed toward the shore in pursuit. The Spaniard was still crowding on all speed and hugging the shore, and was now only a mile from the Cuban entrance. But the New York lay full across her path, and eScape was impossible. Then the Oregon got the range after several efforts. A 13-inch shell from the Oregon struck the plucky Spanish craft full amidships. The chase was ended, and the Spanish vessel was only a tangled mass of steel on the sea bottom. The searchlights showed only black water where the fugitive had been. The guns, which had waked the echoes of the cliffs for nearly an hour, were silent. The midnight tragedy of which some three score Spanish sailors were victims was ended, and the American warships moved out to sea. The Maine hnd been remembered. DISORDER AT CHICKAMAUGA. Alleged that Lawlessness of Every Description Is Prevalent. Gov. Atkinson, of Georgia, has been advised by the authorities of Walker County, wherein is located the Chickamauga Park reservation, that they are powerless to cope with the terrible condition of lawlessness now existing there. Gambling dens and “blind tigers” have their own way, and it is impossible to bring the guilty parties to justice. If a soldier is caught in wrong-doing and an effort made to effect his arrest, his comrades come to his assistance. The report avers that the outrages perpetrated there are beyond description. The Governor has commenced a thorough investigation, and if the truth of his information is confirmed he will communicate with President McKinley and the War Department, and demand that officers be compelled to

GEN. WM. R. SHAFTER.

keep order. It is said that Gen. Brooke has volunteered to detail a regiment for this duty if it can be consistently accomplished. • Fpends •1,000,000 for Hospitals. The Government has paid more than 11,000,000 for the two hospital ships, the Solact and the Belief. The total expense of procuring and equipping the two vesseiAwill not be far from $1,250,000. It is stated that if an expedition is sent to Porto Rico another hospital ship will be needed. To Feiae Osahan. A San Francisco dispatch says that the destination of the United States cruiser Charleston is the island of Guahan, in the Ladrone groups which are, controlled by Carrying Coal to Ban Juan. Two steamers of British register sailed discharge their loads at San Juan, Porto Rico. Lwge quantities of coal are being sent to Cadis from England.

IN CAMP AT TAMPA INSPECTING THE GUARD.

TWO AMERICAN MARINES

LIEUT. COL. HUNTINGTON. Commanding the 800 Morines on the Shores of Guantanamo Bay.

COLOB BEBGEAVT BILVET. First to Baise Our Flag Orer a Captured Fortification in Cuba

WAR BULLETINS.

Philadelphia sent to the front over 4,000 young men during the month of May. Admiral Dewey has been elected an honorary member of the New York Historical Society. All the English newspapers speak in terms of the highest praise of the daring exploit of Lieut. Hobson and his little crew. Herr Hoenig, a well-known German military expert, thinks the war between the United States and Spain will be a long one. Gen. Blanco published an order prohibiting foreign newspaper correspondents from staying in Cuba under penalty of being treated as spies. The London financial market is already treating Spain as a bankrupt nation, and does not boojc any orders for silver unless the gold for it is deposited in advance. A terrible accident was prevented at Tampa by the coolness and heroism of two men who carried a box of ammunition which was on fire and threw it into the river. Spain has hitherto annually exported to this country about $2,000,000 worth of oranges, raisins, nuts and wines. This year this trade will be supplied by the people of California and Florida. Capt. Low, of the fruit steamer Alleghany, just arrived at New York from the West Indies, says that the Cuban race has been practically exterminated, a greater portion of the peaceable population having died since Gen. Lee left Havana. Experiments are being made in the Russian army with tall observation towers, which may be readily unjointed and distributed among the men during a march. In their drills with these, squads of sixty men can erect complete structures in twenty minutes. London capitalists with Philippine interests have urged Ambassador Hay to assure the government of their desire that the United States should hold the Philippines. The Spanish military authorities at Sphtiago pent.Liont. Hobson and his men to MorrokWle, at the entice of the hapbor, so that our fleet will not fire upon that 4ftifleation. Sister Mary, an English nun, has bee» ordered from Havana because she did not report having in her possession a small quantity of food medicines intended'for the survivors of the Maine.

HOBSON COMMENDED.

Admiral Fampaon Telia-of Gallant Work Done By Merrimac’s Crew. The Navy Department posted the following bulletin giving an official report from Sampson upon the heroism of Lieut. Hobson and his men in sinking the Merrimac in Santiago channel: “U. S. Flagship New York, off Santiago, June 3.—Permit me to call your special attention to Assistant Naval Constructor Hobson. As stated in a telegram before coming here, I decided make the harbor entrance secure against the possibility of egress of the Spanish ships by obstructing the narrow part ol the entrance by sinking o. collier at that point. Upon calling upon. Hobson for his professional opinion as to a sure method of sinking a ship, he manifested the most lively interest in the problem. After several days of consideration he presented a solution which he considered would insure the immediate sinkipg of a ship when she reached the desired point in the channel. This plan we prepared for execution when we reached Santiago. The plan contemplated a crew of only seven men and Hobson, who begged it might be intrusted to him. Nothing could have been more gallantly executed. “The chief of staff of Admiral Cervera came out under a flag of truce with a letter from the admiral extolling the bravery of the crew in an unusual manner. I cannot myself too earnestly express my appreciation of the conduct of Hobson and his gallant crew. I venture to say that a more brave and daring thing has not been done since the Cushing blew up the Albemarle. Referring to the inspiring letter you addressed to the officers at the beginning of the war, I am sure you will offer a suitable professional reward to Hobson and his companions. “W. T. SAMPSON.” BUSHWHACKING WAR DREADED. Fighting at Guantanamo Result* in an Unpleasant Discovery. The action at Guantanamo shows that the Spanish are not afraid to charge boldly upon the United States troops, and the prospects of a bushwhacking warfare disclosed by the Spanish movements are anything but agreeable to the persons who have been hoping for a short campaign. A good deal of surprise is expressed at the failure of the report to mention any substantial aid received from the insurgents by the United States marines camped on Crest hill. Re-enforeements were sent from our own ships, but it does not appear in the reports that the marines had help from the men best calculated from their experience in jungle fighting to be of service in an encounter with Spanish guerrilas. BEARS THE SICK. Suffering Tars Brought by Ambulance ship Folace. The ambulance ship Solace, with the Red Cross flag flying at her masthead, came into port at New York, having on hoard fifty-four wounded and sick, some of whom had been transferred from the American warships in Cuban waters and others taken from the hospitals at Key West. The Solace anchored off Tompkinsville, Staten Island. She made the run to New York without incident excepting

HOSPITAL SHIP SOLACE.

for a gale which tumbled her about a bit and made things to some extent uncomfortable for the patients she carried. ' But the seq voyage was a tonic to the men. They had left behind the sweltering of the tropics, had exchanged suffocating and exhausting winds for refreshing breexes —many were nearing home, all at least were to rest in the heart of the great country they had been fighting for. Warship Rune Ashore in a Fog. In the dense fog that enveloped Cape Cod during the early hours of Monday OM>rning the United States cruiser San fh-ancisco.coqdnanddfl bjaCaptßichard P. Leary—the" flagship of the North Atlantic W-rot squddrou, with Com mail ore John A. Howell on board—ran adhore near. High* land light Thg Government stould Jay up the wir ship! and hire those correspondents at Cape Haytien. .They can sink a man-of-war and raise it again in the same day.— St Paul Dispatch. ,

SUMMARY OF THE WAR TAXES.

Classified List of Licenses, Excise and Special Stamp Taxes of the New Law.

sHK new war revenue bill has be- | come a law. President McKinley .X made it such by affixing his signature Monday afternoon, and as originally provided the act went into effect on the day succeeding its passage. Few branches of industry and commercial life are exempted from the operation of the law. Business men will therefore find the following classified summary of the provisions of the bill not only convenient, but invaluable, for constant reference: Annual License Taxes. BANKERS. On capital and surplus, SSO on $250,000 capital; $2 on each additional SI,OOO. BROKERS. Yearly license tax, SSO and stamp tux of 5 cents on .cadi SIOO of face vltlue on bonds, stocks, Shares, etc., and 2 cents on each SIOO of ’face value on eaeh note or memorandum of sale. COMMERCIAL BROKERS. Yearly license tax of S2O. CUSTOM HOUSE BROKERS. Yearly Heense tax of $lO. INSURANCE AGENTS. Yearly license tax of sl2 and stamp taxes on life policies of 10 cents on each $100; marine. Inland, Are, casualty,- fidelity and guarantee Insurance, one-half of 1 cent on each $1 premium charged. MANUFACTURERS OF MIXED FLOUR. Four cents on each barrel and an annual license tax of sl2. PROPRIETORS OF PUBLIC SHOWS. Theaters, museums, concert balls, circuses, SIOO. AU other public entertainments, $lO. Bowling alleys, billiard rooms, $5 for each alley or table. This provision regarding theaters and concert hells applies to cities of over 25,000. PAWNBROKERS. Yearly license tax of S2O. General Taxes. BREWERS. On beer, lager, ale, porter and all fermented liquors, $2 per barrel of 31 gallons, less 7% per cent, on stamps purchased for such tax. CIGARMAKERS. Three dollars and 60 cents on each 1.000 cigars weighing more than three pounds; $1 per 1,000 weighing lees than three pounds, and an annual tax on sales at the rate of $6 on 100,000 cigars; sl2 on 200,000 cigars; $24 on more tlran 200,000 cigars. CIGARETTE MAKERS. Three dollars and 60 cents on every 1,000 cigarettes weighing more than three pounds; $1.50 on every 1,000 weighing less than three pounds. IMPORTERS OF TEA. Ten cents a pound on all teas. SUGAR AND PETROLEUM REFINERS. One-qnarter of 1 per cent, on annual gross receipts In excess of $250,000. TOBACCO MIANUFAiCTURERS. Twvlve cents per pound on all tobacco and snuff and an annual tax, based on yearly sales at the rate of $6 on 50,000 pounds or less; sl2 on more than 50,000 pounds; $24 on 100,000 pounds. Special Stamp Taxes, BROKERS. Two cent’s on-each note or memorandum of sale and SSO annual license tax. PARLOR AND SLEEPING CARS. One cent on every ticket sold for seat or berth. **SCHEDU LE B.” MANUFAiCTURER S. (a) Of medicinal, proprietary articles and preparations; (b) all articles made trader patented right or trademark (except food products and commercial fertilizers); (c) perfumery, cosmetics, etc., must pay stamp taxes at tbo rate of % of 1 cent on 5 cent articles, % of 1 cent on 10 cent articles. % of a cent between 10 and 15 cent articles; % of a cent on 25 cent articles and % of a cent for each additional 25 cents retail price. NOTE.—Dealers in above enumerated articles must stamp goods In stock at these rates when sold at retail.

GREAT WHEAT CROP PROMISED.

Larger Acreage and Finer Condition than for Many Years. Preliminary returns of the spring wheat acreage, with the two Dakotas in particular subject to revision, indicate a total area seeded of 16,800,000 acres, which, added to the area in winter wheat, 26,200,000 acres, makes a total of wheat acreage of 43,000,000, or rather more than 3,500,000 acres greater than last year. There is an increase of 8 per cent in Minnesota, 22 in lowa, 10 in Nebraska, 11 in North Dakota, 8 in South Dakota, 5 in Oregon and 20 in Washington. The average condition of winter wheat js 90.8, as compared with 78.5 at the corresponding date last year, and 81.6, the average for the last ten years. The. principal averages are as follows:

New York 98 Pennsylvania ....96 Maryland 98 Tennessee ........93 Kentucky * 99 Ohio 87

The average condition of spring wheat is the almost, if not entirely, unprecedented one of 100.9, as compared with 89.6 on June 1, 1897, and 92.5, the average for the last ten years. Nearly all the States of principal production report a condition exceeding that indicative of a full normal crop, North Dakota reporting 104, South Dakota 103, Nebraska 105, lowa 102, Minnesota 100, Oregon 101 and Washinglon 97.

GREAT INCREASE OF EXPORTS.

Fiscal Year 1808 Helps Farmer More than Any Previous Cue. The farmers of the United States are drawing upon other parts of the world for more money in the fiscal year which ends with this month than in any preceding year in the history of the country. Even the high-water mark of 1892, when our exi>orts of agricultural products amounted to $799,328,232, will be surpassed by the record of the year which closes w’ith this month. The preliminary reports es May exportations which have neached the bureau of statistics made it quite apparent that the agricultural exports of the year Will be considerably in excess of SBOO,000,000, the total for the year being likely to reach Compared with the last fiscal year, the increase in exports of agricultural products will be fully $150,000,000. In breadstuffs alone the exports of the year will amount to nearly $1,000,000 for each business day, and will be more than SIOO,000,000 in excess of last year’s exports. Of wheat the value of the exports for 1898 will be more than double those of 1897, while the increase in flour will be nearly 50 per cent, and of corn nearly 50 per cent iu values Provisions—in which tergj are Included beef and hog and dairy products—show aldo a marked increase, die total* exports of provisions for the year being likely to reach $160,000,000 In value. Should it happen the international bandwagon plays *Yankee Doodle" and “God Save the Queen” in unison the rest of the world may as well face the music.—Philadelphia Times. , , .

Michigan 97 Indiana 95 Missouri .........96 Kansas 104 California 33

(d) Chewing gum, 4 cemk on each package of a retail value of $1; (e) mixed flour, 4 cents on each barrel and an annual license tax of f 12. Miscellaneous Stamp Taxes. In addition to stamp taxes already enumerated, the following are Imposed: On bonds, debentures, certificates of Indebtedness, 5 cents on each SIOO of face value. On sales or agreements to sell, chares or certificates of atock, 2 cents on each SIOO. On sales or agreements of sale of any products or merchandise at any exchange, 1 cent on each SIOO of value. On bank checks, drafts, certificates of deposit not drawing Interest, sad money orders of all kinds, 2 cents. On each bill of exchange (inland) draft, certificates of deposit, drawing Interest, promissory note, 2 cents on each SIOO. On each foreign bill of exchange and letter of credit, 4 cents on each SIOO. On each bill of lading or receipt for export, 10 cents. On each bill of lading or manifest for goods sent by freight or express within the United States, 1 cent. , On <-acli ' telephone message, costing 15 cents or more, 1 cent. 'On each bond of Indemnity, 50 cents. On each certificate of profits of companies and corporations, 2 cents on each SIOO of face value. On every document Issued by a port warden, £5 cents. On certificates of all kinds requried by law, 10 cents. On every charter of a vessel or renewal or transfer of same: On registered tonnage of 300 tons, $3; on registered tonnage of 600 tons, $5; on registered tonnage of more than 600 tons, $lO. On every conveyance or deed of more than SIOO and lees than SSOO, 50 cents, and for each additional SSOO, 50 cents. On every telegraph message, 1 cent. On every custom house entry, for SIOO of valae. 25 cents; for SSOO of value, 50 cents; for more than SSOO of value, sl. On every withdrawal of goods from customs bonded warehouse, 50 cents. On every lease for one year, 25 cents; for three years, 50 cents; for more than three years, sl. On each manifest for custom house entry or clearance of ships for foreign ports (except in British North America): On registered tonnage of 300 tons, $1; on registered tonnage of 600 tons, $3; on registered tonnage of more than 600 tons, $5. On mortgages, for more than SI,OOO and less than $1,500, 25 cents, and on each additional SSOO, 25 cents. On each passage ticket to a foreign port (not in British North America), costing S3O, $1; costing S6O, $3; costing more than S6O, $5. Power of attorney, 25 cents. Proxy for voting at any election of an Incorporated company except charitable, religious or literary societies or public cemeteries, 10 cents. On protest of note, bill of exchange, check, etc., or marine protest, 25 cents. On receipt for payment of any money or debt exceeding $5, 1 cent. On warehouse receipts, 25 cents. On legacies, exceeding SIO,OOO, and not exceeding $25,000, a graded tax of from 75 cents to $5 on each SIOO, which graded tax Is to be multiplied by 1% on legacies of more than $25,000 and less than $100,000; multiplied by 2, where the value of the property does not exceed $500,000; multiplied by 2% where the value of the property does not exceed $1,000,000, and multiplied by 3 whea In excess of $1,000,000. Penalties. Violation of the act by evasion of the stamp act on proprietary and patented articles la punishable by a fine of SSOO or six months’ imprisonment. Evasion of the stamp tax on documents, papers, etc.. Is punishable by a fine of SIOO. Forging or counterfeiting stamps is punishable by a fine of SI,OOO, or confinement at hard labor for flvo years.

LIST OF PRIZES TO BE SOLD.

Will Be Offered at Key West to the Hi sheet Bidder. The following is a list of the prize vessels and their cargoes which are to be sold at public auction in the city of Key West to the highest bidder for cash: Length, Name— Net tons. feet. Steamer Argonauts 600 182 Stea-mer Ambrosia Bolivar... 106 118 Bark Carlos F. Hoses 324 118 Barkeatine Lorenzo 281 119 Brig Friequlta 325 101 Schooner Can, Uta 51 61 iSdbooner Matilde 64 71 Schooner Sophia 57 69 Schooner Pinero 11l 89 Schooner Tree Hermanos.... 34 58 Schooner Mascots 120 ‘ll6 Schooner Engracia 43 53 Schooner Lola 35 48 Schooner Antonio y Paco.... 47 53 Schooner Quatre de Setleanbre 30 56 Schooner Orient 45 52 Schooner Antonio Suarez.... 33 49 Schooner Poder de Di 05.,... 51 62 Schooner Espana 54 56 Schooner Ferna nd I t 0......... 25 33 Schooner Santiago Apostof... 58 68 Schooner Severitn 41 52 Sloop Parquitta 33 41 Also, at the same time and place, will be sold the cargoes of said vessels, consisting of 3,500 sacks of rice, 1,410 sacks of flour, 373 sacks of beans, 100 cases of codfish, 1,943 sacks of sugar, 680 cases of sardines, 1,750 boxes of vermicelli and macaroni, 47 cases of cigars, 81 bundles of steel, 51 cases of mineral water, 170 cas&s and barrels of beer, 1,260 cases of canned goods, 418 bales of paper, 7 cases of paper bags, 10 hogsheads of wine, 3O\ barrels of wine, 50’cases bf wine and 262 cases of chocolate. *

RUSSIA TO BUILD GREAT CANAL

Will Connect Black and Baltic Seal and Cost $97,000,000. The current issue bf the publication by the office of naval intelligence presents a detailed account of an immense canal about to be undertaken by Russia, which will connect the Black and Baltic seas, and will enable her to concentrate her fleets at either end in less than seven days. The canal’s entire WnjgAwill be 1,080 miles, but by usmgdMM&£ rs the artificial cononly 125 miles. The cost ire construction is esti111 ::! A»W>.*U-000,000. , •<

Money for a Paris Exhibit.

Secretttr y of State Cridler, so hasßjfeently returned from a visit to 1 ' the advisability of an dMWican exhibit at the exposition of 1900, will soon hand his report to the President and will recommend a liberal appropriation.

Fought a Duel in France.

Count Boniface de Castellane, who married Miss Anna Gould, of New York, engaged in a duel in Paris with Henri Turot, of the Petite Republique Francaise. Three rounds were fought with swords and M. Turot was wounded in each round, twice slightly and the third time severely, in the right forearm, thus ending ths duel. We will have to stop the war long enough to permit the usual announcements concerning the Jersey and Delaware peach crops.-Washington Peak