Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1873 — EPITOME OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

EPITOME OF THE WEEK.

Condenied from Telegrams of Accompanying Dates, Saturday, December O. —A London dispatch says the Spanish squadron had not been seen in the vicinity of Cartagena for a week. The insurgents, in its absence, had been able to procure fresh supplies daily, and had captured several provision boats.... The report of the Department of Agriculture lor November and December shows that the average of tobacco in comparison with last year us ninety-four. A falling off of 17,000,000 bushels in the potato crop is indicated. The ' hay crop is 500,000 tons less than last year.,.. A Washington dispatch says our Government is not so hopeful as it was some days ago of the ability of Spain to carry out its orders. The suggestion of a modification of the protocol, that the Virginius may be delivered to a third party to await adjudication does not meet with any official favor. Sunday, December 7. —Pourcet has has closed his argument in the Bazaine courtinartial. He demands, first, the degradation of Bazaine, and, second, his execution... .Announcement is-made in Paris of the appointment of Bartholdc as Freuch Minister to this country-.... The opposition to the delivery of the Virginius is said to be decreasing in Havana. It is reported in Washington that the Castelar Spanisli Government has not asked for a modification of the protocol so that the Virginius might be placed in the custody of a third party to await adjudication. While fifteen men were recently descending the slope of a Honey Brook (Pa.) coal mine, the staple ring of the car broke, and the ear fell 170 yards. Two of the men were killed, two were severely bruised (one probably fatally), and the others more or less injured.... Operations are being actively pushed in all our navy yards. All the heavy ordnance which has been stored 1 in the arsenal at St. Louis since the war of the rebellion is being shipped to Pensacola, F1a.... A Dea Moines (Iowa) dispatch says Adjutant-General Baker lias returned from a visit to Osceola, Lyon and O’Brien Counties, and states that the general reports made through the press of the suffering there arc not exaggerated, and that many families there must be helped to food and fuel till spring, when they will also require a supply of seed for the land that they have broken. He has full confidence in the local committee appointed to distribute the donations.

Monday, December B. —The crew of the Loch Erne, the vessel that caused the sinking of the Ville du Havre, have nrrived at Plymouth, Eng., having been taken there by the ship that rescued them from their vessel, which was disabled by the collision. They report that the Captain and his Second Mate betook themselves, after the collision, to the Loeh Erne, andrdid nothing to assist in the rescue of the sailors or passengers... .A special dispatch to the London Daily AVtro from Madrid says great indignation is manifested at President Grant’s message and Seuor Castelar’s alleged pandering to the United States... .A Washington special to the Chicago Tribune says Minister Sickles bad decided to leave Madrid at an early day. This movement is said to be of his “own free will, and is not caused by any rupture or bad fueling between our Government and that of Spain. He has been ignored by his own Government during the recent difficulty, in a manner which lie is disposed to resent in the only way possible—that is, by withdrawing from his position as United* States Minister to Spain”.... General Burriel lias left Havana for Santiago de Cuba to resume charge of that department;... Says a Washington telegram of the 7th: “Whatever may have been suggested heretofore as to the programme, it can now be asserted that the Virginius will be delivered to one of our naval vessels within the next ten days, at a Cuban port, in the open day, and the surviving passengers and crew be transferred to a United States ship at Santiago de Cuba in an equally open manner. The vessels to perform this service will soon be, if they are not already, designated by the Secretary of the Navy. Admiral Polb’lias lately received a communication from Captain General Jovellar, in which there is no reference to the subject of his reported resignation.” Tuesday, December o.—News from Havana is to the effect that Captain General Jovellar has not resigned, and has no intention of doing so. He authorizes the statement that the entire island is quiet, and has no doubt that all will be arranged peaceably and satisfactorily without the slightest difficulty. The disposition to (Comply with the mandate of the home government, and the obligations of the treaty with the United States, without further discussion, is becoming general. ~ ..A Washington special says the stories in regard to the serious embarrassment of the Castelar Government at Madrid are not credited. While the department has not officially received the resignation of Minister Sickles, a private dispatch from the Legation at Madrid makes it known in Washington as a fact.... Hon. John C. Underwood, United States District Judge for the District of Vir ginia, died suddenly of apoplexy, at his residence in Washington, on the night of the 7th. Wednesday, December 10.—A very heavy fog prevailed in London on the 9th. At half-past three p. m. the density of the fog was almost without precedent, and all traffic ceased, as it was impossible to transact business. The streets were filled with men and boys bearing torches to light pedestrians on their way.. ..A Paris dispatch says the resignation of Minister Sickles was based on the fact of the Washington Government negotiating directly with Spain, and overlooking him. He claims that the Government failed to’protect him.... The Secretary of the Navy stated before the Committee nn Appropriations that he did not think there would be a war between the United States and Spain, although it was necessary to strengthen the navy as the best method of preserving peace and protecting American interests.... At the recent city election in Manchester, N. H., the Democrats elected their Mayor by 511 plurality.... Four women were elected on the school Committee, at the late Boston City election. Mr. Samuel C. Cobb was chosen Mayor of the city, receiving the largest vote ever cast for ons candidate for that office.... Over six hundred delegates are in attendance .upon "the session of the Illinois State Grange at Bloomington. In his address to the Committee Grand Master Golder placed the number of subGranges in the Btate at about eight hundred.... Grand Master A. B. Smcdley delivered the opening address before the lowa State Grange at Des Moines. He stated that the aggregate membership in the State is nearly 100,000. Referring to the suffering in the northwest part of the State, be said the

Committee should adopt a method for the relief of their brethren. Thursday, December 11.— The trial, by court-martial at Versailles, of Marshal Bazaine is concluded. The judges declare him guilty of the charges of the capitulation of Metz, and of the army in the open field, without 1 doing all that was prescribed by honor and duty to avoid surrender, and unauimously condemn him to death, and to be dograded from his rank previous to his execution. After judgment was rendered, all the members of the court signed an appeal for mercy, which Duke d’ Aumale immediately conveyed in person to President MacMahon. Bazaine was greatly agitated when he heard the decision of the court... .In a recent proclamation, the Cap-tain-General of Cuba announces his belief that amicable relations will remain uninterrupted between Spain and the United States.... A Washington dispatch says the Navy Department has completed all the necessary arrangements providing for the reception from the Spanish forces, in the harbor of Havana, of the steamer Virginius, and for the transfer of the survivors at Santiago de Cuba from prison tbbne of the United Btates vessels of war, in accordance with the terms of the diplomatic agreement. The Canandaigua, carrying ten guns, and commanded by Captain Lowry, is to sail from New York for Havana to receive the Virginius, and Captain Brainc will receive the prisoners at Santiago on the Juniata... .In a recent decision in the case of Fuller vs. the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, the United States Supreme Court holds that it is competent for the State of lowa to regulate railroad freights, because such a law is within the power of the State to protect its citizens from imposition. The road was charged with imposing double rates from Chicago to Marshalltown, lowa. .. ... J. T. Irving, the self-accused Nathan murderer, has been sentenced to seven years and Bix months’ confinement in the Sing Sing prison on a charge of burglary.... The lowa State Grange has elected the following officers for the ensuing yeari Grand Master, Colonel Smedley, re-elected; Overseer, J. M. Dixon, of Mahaska; Secretary, J. G. Little, of Muscatine; Lecturer, J. Wilkinson, of Tama; Chaplain,, William * Duane Wilson, of Des Moines; Steward, D. W. Frindle, of Fort .Dodge; Assistant Steward, Jonathan Thatcher, of Van Buren; Treasurer, M. L. Devlin, of Des Moines; Executive Committee, J. W. Whitman, of Dallas; E. R. Shankland and Clark, of Fottawattomie; Mrs. Colonel Smedley; Mrs. Spencer Day, of Marshalltown; Mrs. Cole, of Jasper, and Mrs. White, of Howard, were elected the usual lady officers.