Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1898 — BITS OF INFORMATION. [ARTICLE]

BITS OF INFORMATION.

The monitor Catskill was placed Jn commission Saturday at League Island navy yard. Steps are being taken to prevent the further shipment from the United States of coal and other supplies to Cuba and Puerto Rico. An extra freight train and a local freight on the Rock Island railroad met in a headon collision near Libertyville, fa. Three men were killed. American diplomats and consular agents have been Instructed to watch for and report the movements of Spanish war vessels in British waters. A dispatch from Cette, department of Perault, France, says all able-bodied Spaniards here have been ordered to return to Spain as early as possible. The members of the diplomatic corps In London have now abandoned all hope of effectual mediation upon the part of the powers between the United States and Spain. The steamer New York sailed from Southampton, England, Saturday for America, under urgent orders from Wash-_ Ington, having been chartered by the gov-' •rmnent. In political circles in Paris, where hitherto hope of peace has prevailed, the feeling now expressed is that war is imminent. I>epreclation of certain stocks on the bourse is severely felt. The departure of the two big Spanish cruisers for the east is puzzling military critics in England. They would not be surprised to discover that Spain ts planning some ooup. Cheyenne Indians in Oklahoma are reported to be engaged in a ghost dance, and, owing to the absence of troops from Fort Reno, they are likely to make demands for Increased rations. A telegram received at the state department from Ambassador Porter states that Hon. Robert M. McLane, former minister to France, died kt Paris Saturday morning. He had been ill for some time. Edward Bellamy, the famous author, who went to Denver from his home in Massachusetts last fall in the hope of regaining his health, Is dying of coneumptlon. He Is very low and the end is believed to be near. Ed C. Dimmit, who was out on $2,000 ball awaiting trial at Kansas City on the charge of holding up a Kansas City, Pittsburgh & Gulf train on the night of January 5 last, is dead at bls home in Butler, Mo., of heart disease. The White Star line steamer Bovio, which sailed from Liverpool for New York Saturday, had on board a large consignment of Lee-Metford rifles, ten Maxim guns, 6c Krupp quick-firing guns and 200 tons of ammunition. A special dispatch from Singapore says that the steamship Leo XII., from Manilla, has arrived there crowded with Spanish officials and well-to-do Spanish families who are escaping from the rebellion, which is spreading rapidly in the Philippines.