Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1898 — Page 2

WEEKLY REPUBLICAN. ‘ GEO. E. MARSHALL, Publisher. RENSSELAER, - • INDIAN**.

CLARK FOUNDGUILTY

VERDICT IN JHE FAMOUS BOYD MURDER CASE. Attorney and Writer Convicted of Manslaughter Mistaking Him for a Thief, Sister Crushes Brother’s Skull with an Ax. Verdict in Boyd Case. E. C. Clark, a prominent 'member of the Reno County bar, anil who has been known to greater or less extent as a writer on economic questions, has been found guilty at Hutchinson, Kan., of manslaughter in the second degree. This is the first trial in the sensational Boyd murder case. W. C. Boyd was murdered on May 11) in the restaurant of Mrs. Nellie Postlewait. At the inquest it appeared that her oldest son, Harry, had committed the crime, but Mrs. Postlewait made a sensational confession in which ehe declared she herself had killed Boyd. Harry later confessed the crime and said Clark had furnished the weapon a.'d advised the killing. The State claimed as the motive that Boyd were rivals for the smiles of the attractive Mrs. Postlewait. The trial of Mrs. Postlewait and her two sons will occur later. DEATH IN RAILWAY WRECK. e- ■ ■■ One In KHied and Twenty Are Injured Near Dallas, Texas. A Houston and Texas Central train plunged through a 15-foot trestle over Chambers creek, forty-seven miles from Dallas, Texas, injuring at least twenty persons, one fatally. The one fatally injured is Judge G. W. Davis of Oak Cliffe. L. A. Daffan. division superintendent, had three fingers cut off and head gashed. R. D. Berry of Dallas, division freight agent, was pinioned under the wreck in the water and would have been drowned had not an unknown woman passenger held his head up until men came to his rescue. B. T. Moore of Dallas had both legs broken and was injured internally. The wounded were taken to Ennis for treatment. The trestle gave way just as the train struck it, throwing the sleeper and chair car into the stream. CRUSHES BROTHER’S SKULL. Awful Mistake of a Woman LivingNear Kenton, O, George Charlton, living two miles east •f Kenton. 0., will probably* lose his life through a strauge accident. About midnight, hearing a noise in his chicken coop, he went out to investigate. Soon his sister heard a scuffle, and, grabbing an ax, she ran to her brother’s assistance. Finding, as she supposed, the thief on top, she struck him a fearful blow with the ax, but soon discovered it was her brother she had hit. His skull was crushed in, and the doctors have but little hoj>e of his recovery. The burglar proved to be a junk peddler. He was arrested. Omaha’s Mayor Out of Office. The Nebraska Supreme Court has dedared that Omaha’s Mayor, Frank E. Moores, was not eligible to office when dected two years ago because of a technical point in his accounts as District Court Clerk. A new election, therefore, must be held, although W. J. Broatch, whom Moores succeeded, claims the office now because he was elected to serve until his successor was elected and qualified.

Five Men Are I'rowned. Five men were drowned in St. Mary’s River by the foundering of the lighter Monitor. The Monitor was in tow of the tug Bruce and was loaded with iron ore taken from the schooner Carrington, ■which was stranded in the river. In turning the red range light on the way to Point Aux Pins the lighter foundered. The bodies were taken to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Rubber Fhoe Combine. President E. S. Converse*, of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, made the following statement: "Terms have been arranged between the Boston Rubber Shoe Company ami the United Stales Rubber Comimny, whereby the latter acquires control of a majority of the $5,000,000 capital stock of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company.” standing of the Clubs, Following is the standing of the clubs in the National Baseball League: W. L. W. L Boston 91 44 Philadelphia. 07 04 Baltimore ...80 48 Pittsburg ... .07 71 Cincinnati ..84 55 Imuisville ...01 75. Cleveland ...75 59 Brooklyn ....49 78 Chicago 70 03 Washington, 44 90 New York.. .72 03 St. Ixntis 33 97 Financial Concern Gora Under. The New England Loan and Trust Company of New York, which has long been regarded as the atrongeat of the financial concerns that exploited Western mortgages, has gone into the hands of a receiver, Otto F. Bonnard, president of the Continental Trust Company, having been appointed. Her Fody Faked to ■ Crisp. At Auburn. Ky., Mrs. Rainey Johnson, aged 32, committed suicide in a horrible manner, while insane. She saturated her clothes with kerosene and then applied a lighted match to them. Enveloped in flames, ehe ran screaming from the house to the street, and did not stop until burned to death. Tornado in Ontario. A tornado struck Merrhon. Ont., with terrible violence, killing live persons and injuring many. Tornado nt Lima, Ohio. A tornado swept over Lima, Ohio, and vicinity, doing an immense amount of damage. Elmer Baty of Beu ver Ham wns crushed to death beneath u bam. Fully fifty people were Injured, two it is thought, fatally. The damage will aggregate $200,000. Miss Davenport Fomcs Away. Funny Davenport tMrs. Melbourne NacDoweli), the nctrv**. died at Doxbury. Maas. She had been ill for several months. Her death was caused by enlargement of the heart.

STRANGLED BY THIEVES. Williamsburg Man Murdered and Hia Wife Seriously Injured. Andrew Cassagne was strangled to death by three men in the tenement in Williamsburg which he occupied with his wife. According to the story told to the police by Mrs. Cassagne, she had left the room for a few minutes. Returning she found her husband dead on the floor beside the bed, while three men stood over him. She ran to her husband’s side, but was grasped by two of the men, who choked her nearly to insensibility, while the third man searched the room, finding SSOO under the mattress of the bed. Meanwhile Mrs. Cassagne had contrived to reach the door opening into the hall, and kicked upon it to cal) for help. Her assailants relaxed their grasp upon her throat and she was able to scream, which she did just as the three fled from the tenement with the money. There were dark blue marks upon Mrs. Cassagne’s neck, bearing out the story of the assault upon her. MINERS’ STRIKE SETTLED. Work in the Third Pool Resumed--2,000 Affected. The coal miners’ strike in the third pool at Monongahela Cityi Pa., is over and work has been resumed in all the pits pending a settlement of the differences by arbitration. Both sides have agreed to abide by the decision of the arbitrators. The acceptance of the arbitration proposition is regarded as a victory for the miners. Under the terms, of the settlement the operators have agreed to withdraw the suits against the strikers who are now locked up in the Washington County jail charged with riot and to refund the money withheld from the employes under the individual contracts. About 2,000 miners were affected by the strike, which threatened t© spread to all points in the Pittsburg district. RUSSIA’S GAIN. Number of Valuable Concessions Are Given the Czar’s Government. A dispatch to the London Globe from Hong Kong purports to give details of the secret convention signed at Peking. It appears that Hsu-Ying-K’Ouoi, of the Chinese foreign office, thereby concluded an agreement with St, Petersburg by which China ceded Port Arthur and Ta-Lien-Wan, stipulating that only Russian and Chinese warships enter or dock at Port Arthur. Russia, it also appears, gets the exclusive use of the inner harbor of Ta-Lien-Wan, the sole administration of the ceded territories, and a tract of land north of Ta-Lien-Wan is designated as a buffer belt.

Tidings from China and Japan. Advices from the Orient by the Empress of India state that China and Japan have been visited by thunderstorms and disastrous floods, in which many hundreds of people have lost their lives. The region north of Ah Shang Mountains has been inundated for hundreds of miles by the Yellow river. Several hundred thousand persons have been plunged into the deepest distress and many into absolute penury, which local authorities are unable to alleviate. British Consul Butler, at Kiung-Chow, has requested the American consul, Dr. Bedloe, at Canton, to urge the viceroy to send soldiers to Nodoa, near Hoihow, to protect the lives and property of American missionaries in that district. Rev. Dr. I*. W. McClintock and Rev. W. J. Lewerett of the American Presbyterian mission, district of Hainau, were obliged to fly for their live* and seek protection of the British consul at Hoichow. Reports of the rebellion in Hainau indicate renewed outbreaks of the treed society, rt band of thieves nnd robbers who have been strengthened by pirates. This lawless army has committed many depredations in the Hoihow country. ‘ End of a Long-Standing Fend. Word has been received in St. Louis of a desperate and fatal duel between Mate Park Davis and the night watchman on board the steamer Mayflower of the Diamond Jo line, which left there the other night for Memphis. Both men are dead. For some time there had been a feud between the two men. When the boat was tied up at Hugs’ landing, one mile from Creston, Mo., the quarrel between the watchman and the mate broke out afresh. ,The former attacked the mate with a knife. For some time the struggle lasted, both participants rolling about the deck, to the horror of the passengers, who were unable to interfere. Finally, when the mate, who had been cut iu numerous places, was about to give up, he succeeded in pulling his revolver. With a well-directed shot be laid the watchman low. Stephen Hugs, the proprietor of the landing, went up town for an officer and returned with Deputy Coroner Bel). They found both the mate and the watchman dead, lying ou the blood-covered deck. Forest Reserve la Extended. The President signed an order altering the boundaries and area of the Black Hills forest reserve in South Dakota. A portion of the reserve was unsuited for timber growing, and this has been excluded and a large tract extending into Wyoming. 443,000 acres, has been added to the reserve. This action was taken at the solicitation of the people living in the vicinity of the reserve. Exposition Building Burned. The Exposition building at Tacoma. Wash., the largest structure of its kind in the Northwest, was completely destroyed by lire. Fifteen minutes after the flames wore discovered breaking out in the building the vast structure was a mass of fire. The building whs owned by the Tacoma Land Company. There was no insurance. The total loss will aggregate SIOO,OOO. From Court to Altar, Cupid played a funny prank at Mexico. Mo. In the a|Mtee of an hour Thomas Lewis secured a divorce from his wife nnd remarried her. in his petition for divorce he chargt'd his former wife ami preaent bride with trying to kill him with n knife and an iron poker nnd that she cared more for others than she did for him. Alaskan Railway in Operation. The first railroad built in Alnskn is now operating between Hkaguny and Lake Lindeman, n distance of twenty miles. The promoters of the road are confident that by next spring the road will be extended to Lake Bennett, twenty-five miles far ther. Bt. Louis Street Railway Line Bid In. The Fourth J* rect and Arsenal Street Railway at St. Louis was sold nt public auction on foreclosure. It was bought in for John 11. Overall for SIOI,OOO. It is believed he purchased the road ou behalf st the bondholders.

DEATH IN COAL SHAFT

FIFTY MINERS ENTOMBED AT BROWNSVILLE, PA. Explosion of Fire Damp at Umpire Mines Takes Several Lives—Several Bodies Recovered Striking Electricians Cut Out Lights in St. Louis. Killed by jfire Damp. Fifty-four men were entombed in the Umpire mine of Snowden, Gould & Co., one-fourth of a mile below Brownsville, Pa., by an explosion of gas. Immediately following the explosion of gas there was a second explosion of fire damp. There were 140 men iu the mine at the time of the explosion, work having been begun for the <jay a short time previous. Of these fifty-eight were in entries No. 9 and No. 10. Five men, Jacobs, Davis, Whetzell, Walker nnd a Hungarian, were near the mouth of the entries. The others were far in. When the explosion came these men made a rush for the main heading, which they succeeded in reaching, though all were more or less injured. They filially crawled out to the open air. Fiftyeight men were in entries 0 and 10. Intelligence of the disaster Boon spread nnd crowds gathered around the mouth of the mine. Terrible scenes of grief and horror were presented. Wives and children of the entombed men were frantic with grief and their shrieks and wails were frightful to hear. Notwithstanding the great danger, the rescuing . parties worked bravely, and several dead bodies were taken out. EXPRESS CAR BLOWN OPEN. Bandits Rob a Passenger Train in the Suburbs of Kansas City. A Missouri Pacific passenger train was stopped by robbers placing an obstruction on the track five miles southwest of Kansas City. The engine was wrecked aud the robbers blew the express car open with dynamite, but officials of the Pacific Express Company say they got little money for their pains, as few of the night trains carry money packages out of Kansas City. The train was stopped in the heavy woods that line Brush creek. The robbers prevented the train crew from leaving until they had accomplished their task and decamped. Before .committing the hold-up the robbers entered the Frisco station at Belt Line, just east of Leeds, ajid overpowered the operator. After breaking the instruments in his office they took the operator with them to the scene of the robbery. ET. LOUIS IN DARKNESS. Striking Electricians Cut Wires and Shut Off Many Lights. Striking electricians cut twenty-one circuits, extinguishing over (100 lights in the fashionable west end of St. Louis the other night. The first report was at 11 o'clock, and thereafter until almost daylight the lighting department was notified of a cut circuit every few minutes. They were left hanging in the streets and alleys, and that no one was electrocuted is considered as There was scarcely a lamp left burning in all the residence district, either arc or incandescent. The electricians have been on a strike for several wc*el:s. Ten Sank with the Vessel. Australian papers report the wreck of the schooner C. C. Funk, at Flinder’s Island, with ten of her crew. Only two seamen. Albert Krough and John Peterson, were saved, and but one body had been recovered when the Alameda sailed. It was that of Peter Neilson. The vessel was driven ashore by a gale and went to pieces in the surf.

1 Women Are Excluded. Methodist women have for some time been trying to get a standing in the courts of the Methodist Church of Canada, but the clergy will not permit it. The matter came before the Methodist general conference at Toronto and a motion to admit women to the courts of the church was almost unanimously defeated. Australian Bank Robbed, Australian papers report a daring bank robbery at Penhurst, about 200 miles from Melbourne. An unknown man entered the local branch of the Bank of Victoria, and covering the manager, Mr. Jamieson, with a revolver, bound ami gagged him and abstracted about £(100 in notes and gold and made off. lowa Man Stabbed. At Oskaloosa. lowa, James Raymond was stabbed and almost instantly killed by Jacob N. Moyers at the latter’s boarding house. Moyers was insanely jealous of Raymond, who had been attentive to Mrs. Moyers. Tito huslaind found the two talking in his wife's room and the fatal encounter ensued. Saved Wife, but Child Drowns. Thomas McVeigh, who has a cottage at Newcomb. N. Y„ was boating with his wife, daughter and Miss Alice Hollenbeck. The craft capsized and nil were thrown into the water. McVeigh succeed ed in getting ashore with his wife, but Miss Hollenbeck and his ehiTd were drowned. Devastation by Typhoons. Floods and typhoons wrought great damage along eastern and northern shores of Formosa. Five thousand buildings destroyed or rendered unhabitable and 400 people killed and injured is the record of the ruin in the northern district about Taipeh, Formosa’s capital. Great Floods in Spain. The southern (uirt of Spain has been visited by terrible Hoods. At the village of Berrern, near Cadi*, eighty persons have been drowned. A great number of cattle have perished nnd the olive hat vest is lost, ••specially in the provinces of Seville and Granada. Great French Wheat Crop. The French wheat crop is estimated al 123.tMMt.tMMt hectoliters, the largest since 1871. when the yield was 13ti.tHXi.tMMt hectoliter*. This will render France independent of foreign importations of wheat. Fatally Scalded iti a collision. A renr end collision between freight trains occurred <>n ttie Union Pacific near Grand Island. Neb. Engineer Hoddy wns fatally scalded, his engine demolished nnd several ears wrecked. bhoots Two Constables. At Garrett, Pa., F. I’. Myers shot jml killed two constables wljo were trying to arrest him. He was finally overpowered and locked up in jail.

NO TRUST IN SILVER WARE. Scheme to Merge Big Concern* Into One Has Fallen Through. A death blow has been dealt the movement to consolidate all the leading concerns manufacturing silverware in this country, controlling 75 per cent of the total output, into a colossal corporation. According to seemingly well-warranted assertions, one company, said to be R. Wallace & Sons of 225 Fifth avenue, New York, and Wallingford, Conn., after engaging in the preliminary organization, withdrew and was immediately followed by two other companies, whose agreement to the proposal had been conditional upon the first company’s remaining. Many of the manufacturers considered that if they merged their individual reputations into that of a general body the value of trademarks earned by years of honest struggle would fall to nothing at a stroke. The upshot was that a reaction followed and several withdrew. FALLING CRANE HURTS FIVE. Breaking Guy Line Has Seriou* Results at Neville Island. Five men were injured at the new (Government dam at Neville Island, near Coraopolis, Pa., by the breaking of a large traveling crane. The accident was caused by the breaking of a steel guy line of (he crane, which precipitated a large derrick from sixty feet above the crane to the ground. In its descent the derrick tore away the supports of the crane, which crashed down upon the workmen. A huge block of stone which was being raised when the guy line broke fell a distance of forty-five feet among a group of workmen, but fortunately the men ran for their livest and all but five escaped injury. Teutonic Narrowly Escapes. The White (Star line steamship Teutonic, which arrived at New York from Liverpool, had a narrow escape from going to the bottom when almost in midocean. It was during a dense fog, and the machinery had to be stopped to avoid a collision. Those aboard were unable tc ascertain the name of the big steamship which ran across the Teutonic’s bows. People Starving in Ohio. There is much suffering among the miners in Hocking County, Ohio. Three thousand five hundred people are in dire need of the necessaries of life. In many localities families are reported to be starving. The children are living skeletons. The miners have had but twenty-two days’ work since April 1. Gov. Bushnell contributed $2,500. Absorbed by the Trust. A deal was consummated in St. Louis, Mo., whereby the Brown tobacco plant becomes the property of the American Tobacco Company. The price paid was $1,250,000. Paul Brown, president of the Brown Tobacco Company, will become manager of the business there for the American Tobacco Company.

Freight Cars in a Ditch. The first section of a north-bound freight train on the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton road was wrecked -at the Detroit and Lima Northern crossing, two miles south of Leipsic. Ohio, and the entire crew was killed. The train went into a ditch, all the cars being piled up on top of the engine. Lives Lost in a Fire. Ten persons cremated, eight more fatally burned and eight seriously injured is the record of the most disastrous fire that ever occurred in Toledo. The spontaneous combustion of dust in the grain elevator owned by Paddock, Hodge & Co, caused this terrible destruction of life. Burial of Miss Winnie Davis. Miss Winnie Davis, the “daughter of the Confederacy,” lies at rest in Hollywood cemetery, Richmond, Ya. Business in the city was practically suspended and more than 70.000 people either took part in or gathered on the streets to look upon the procession. lowa Bank Robbed. The Botna Valley State Bank at Hastings, lowa, was robbed the other night by cracksmen, who blew the safe to pieces. The robbers, of whom there were probably three, secured $2,135 and escaped with their booty. Two Governors Nominated. Michigan Republicans have renominated Gov. H. S. Pingree. The Democratic ticket in Connecticut is headed by Daniel N. Morgan for Governor. Voorhees for CJovcrnor. Acting Governor Foster W. Voorhees has been nominated for Governor by the Republicans of New Jersey.

MARKET QUOTATIONS.

Chicago—Cattle, common to prime, $3.00 to .$(5.00; hogs, shipping grades, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, fair to choice, $2.50 to $4.75; wheat. No. 2 red, 06c to <6Bc; corn. No. 2,29 cto 30c; oats. No. 2,21 c to 23c; rye. No. 2,48 cto 49c; butter, choice creamery, 10c to 21c; eggs, fresh, 13c to 15c; potatoes, choice, 35c to 40c per bushel. 1 ndianapolia—Cattle, shipping, $3.00 to $5.50; hogs, choice light, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, common to choice. $3.00 to $4.50; wheat, No. 2 red, 66c to 68c: corn, No. 2 white, 29c to 31c; oats. No. 2 white, 24c to 25c. St. Louis—Cattle. $3.00 to $5.75; hogs. $3.50 to $4.25; sheep, $3.50 to $4.50; wheat, No. 2,68 cto 71c; corn. No. 2 yellow, 28c to 30c; oats. No. 2,22 cto 24c; rye. No. 2,47 cto 48c. Cincinnati —Cattle. $2.50 to $5.25; hogs, $3.00 to $4.25; sheep, $2.50 to $4.75: wheat. No. 2. title to 71c; corn. No. 2 mixed, 30c to 32c; oats. No. 2 mixed, 24c to 26c; rye. No. 2. 47c to 49c. Detroit—Cattle, $2.50 to $5.50; hogs, $3.25 to $4.00; sheep, $2.50 to $4.25; wheat. No. 2,67 cto 69c; corn, No. 2 yellow, 30c to 32c; oats. No. 2 white, 24c to 26c; rye, 47c to 48c. Toledo—Wheat, No. 2 mixed. 70c to 72c; corn. No. 2 mixed, 30c to 32c; oats, No. 2 white. 21c to 23c; rye. No. 2. 48c to 40c; clover seed, $3.85 to $3.95. Milwaukee—Wheat, No. 2 spring. (>s< to H7c; corn. No. 3,30 cto 31c; oats. No. 2 white, 23c to 20c: rye. No. 1. 48c to 50c; barley. No. 2,42 cto 44c; pork, mess, SB.OO to $8.50. Buffalo—Cattle, good shipping steers, $3.00 to $5.75; hogs, common to choice, $3.50 to $4.50; sheep, fair to choice wethers. $3.50 to $5.00; lambs, common to extra. $5.00 to $6.00. S’ew Yoik Cattle, $3.00 to $5.75; hogs. $3.00 to $4.75; sheep. $3.00 to $4.75 wheat, No. 2 red. 76c to 77<: corn. No. 2,35 cto 36c; oats. No. 2 white. 28c to 30c; butter, creamery, 15c to 22c; eggs. Western. 16c to 18c.

NO PLACE FOR TROOPS

HAWAII OFFERS NO GOOD CAMPING GROUNDS. So Assert* Major General Merriam on His Return—Americans Should Be Withdrawn as Quickly a* PossibleVitality Sapped by Heat. Maj. Gen. H. C. Merriam returned from Honolulu on the steamer Australia. He said there was no suitable camping ground in any of the Hawaiian Islands. “It is hard, to believe,” he continued, “that good camping grounds cannot be found in the islands. Had anybody made that declaration to me before the trip I would have thought him prejudiced. There is absolutely no place whereon it would be safe to place American troops. Level ground is very unsanitary, and it is impossible to locate a camp on the upper ground. That practically covers my investigations in a sentence. The First New York regiment is encamped four miles from Honolulu proper, at a point called Diamond Head. The camp is worse than any we have had here. Although lumber is at hand to begin the erection of barracks, there has not been any work done, for the reason that a good location has not been secured. The engineers and New Yorkers are in tents, and that, too, at a most disagreeable season of the year. 'The rainy season is just commencing, and will certainly cause hardships for the unseasoned troops. “The weather on the islands was very depressing, and I was compelled to lie down each afternoon to rest because of the terrible heat. I think the troops should be kept on the islands as short a time as possible, as the weather draws the vitality from the men. The suggestion offered some time ago about sending all the troops to the islands and making them a base of supplies for the Philippines is preposterous. There ■would be a larger mortality than in all the camps in the United States put together. I believe that only a short stop, if any, will be made by the troops of the next expedition to the Philippines.”

GERMANY AND PHILIPPINES. Representative* of Kaiser Say Relation* with America Are Friendly. The foreign office at Berlin has been interviewed regarding the Washington cablegram saying that the five regiments to be sent to Manila were needed to watch German manipulations there. The answer was emphatic. Such manipulations, it is declared, exist only in the imagination of Admiral Dewey. As officially reported, the conduct of Vice-Admiral Diederichs throughout has been loyal to both belligerents. Since that report was received nothing his happened to disturb harmonious relations between Americans and Germans in tlhe Philippines. Assuredly, it is further declared, the German Government plans no trickery and intendr no disloyalty there, and of that the Washington Government doubtless is fully aware, else Dr. von Helleben, the German ambassador at Washington, would not have been granted leave of absence. QLJ) GLORY FLOATS IN HAVANA. American Flag Hoisted by the Commission Meeting There, At 10 o’clock Tuesday morning the first American flag in Havana was hoisted pn the flagstaff of the Trocba Hold, the headquarters of the American evacuation commission. A guard of marines was posted at the entrance to the grounds. Col. Claus and Capt. Payne stood on the roof of the hotel' at either side of the flagstaff. At 10 o’clock siharp a quartermaster of the steamer Resolute hoisted the flag, which unfurled and fluttered proudly in the breeze. All the members of the commission raised their hats and cheered the S-tars and Stripes. The approaches to the grounds at either end of the street wore patrolled by squads of the Guardia Civile in order that the commissioners might not be molested. TROOPS LEAVING FOR SPAIN. Evacuation of Porto Rico I* Now in Progress. The embarkation of the Spanish troops for Spain began Tuesday, when 200 sick soldiers and 200 engineers boarded the steamer from Havana at San Juan, Porto Rico, en route for Spain. The palace officials rej>ort that two or three transports have sailed from Spain for San Juan. There is a great feeling of relief on both sides at the receipt of this news. The evacuation of Lares, Aqnadilla and San Sebastian occurred Monday, our troops taking possession and raising the American flag aud the Spaniards retiring to Arecibo. Wednesday morning the Spanish evacuated Vieques island, off the east coast, and the garrison will remain temporarily at Humacao. One company of our troops is already at Viequez island and aqothcr at Humacao. SPAIN’S COMMISSION. The Castilian Peace Body Represent* C>a**c* of Government. The personnel of the Spanish pence commission has been officially sent by the Madrid Government to the French ambassador at Washington. Chairman of the commiasiou. Honor Montero Rios, is (“he presiding officer in the Spanish Senate. Gen. Correro has had long experience in colonial affairs, while Scnor Garnica is counselor of the Court of Cassation. or Supreme Court. The commission is made up of representatives of the political elements, the navy and the diplomatic fraternity, and is, therefore, considered strong. Employment for Cubnn Troops. Gen. I/RWton has made a recommendation to the War Department for the utilization of Hitch Cuban troops a* may relinquish all connection with the Cuban army by employing them upon various works of the United States nt Santiago. Proclaim* the War Ended. President Mnsso of the Cuban republic has issued a manifesto to the Cuban army proclaiming nn end of the war with Simin and expressing gratefulness to the people of the United States. Aaninntdo Itai’ed a* Chief. Aguinaldo, the Philippine insurgent leader, was hailed ns chief nrnid scenes of great enthusiasm at the opening of the Philippine national assembly at Malolas. The free soup kitchens in Havana ar* Keiug gradually closed.

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Although Congress at its last session appropriated $260,000 for the building of a gunboat to take the place of the antiquated Michigan on the lakes this law cannot be carried out on account of theprovisions of the treaty with Great Britain, made in 1817. The curious spectacleis presented of Congress enacting a law which is contrary to an existing treaty, although that body was cognizant of thefact, for it inserted a proviso in the law which authorizes the construction of the gunboat which reads: “Provided construction of said gunboat shall conform to all existing treaties and conventions.” This, treaty has been violated for a number of years, for the tonnage of the Michigan isfar in excess of the treaty’ stipulations, but the Government has decided not tofurther encroach upon the provisions of the treaty and will for the present defer' building the new gunboat. The Navy Department officials have taken no steps toward the construction of this ship, not even going so far as drawing the plans,, and will not do so until the treaty is abrogated or an intimation .is given by the commission at Ottawa as to what action will be taken in this direction. Secretary Long has determined to materially increase the navy. He will present estimates this year to provide foaan enlisted force of 20,000 men and 2,500> boys. The present enlisted strength of the navy is a little over 10,000. This increase is not as great as some of the naval, authorities believe will be necessary in view of the augmented service. It is, of course, the intention of the department to retain a large number of vessels at League Island in reserve, and for this purpose a comparatively small enlisted force will be sufficient to keep the vessels in repaid and in condition for service at any time. Still, there is a feeling that thenavy should have a trained force which would he available in time of emergency without calling upon so many volunteers and making use of such a large number of enlisted men who lack discipline. The sentiment in Congress in favor of a larger navy is a strong one, and some of the officers are disappointed that Secretary Long.has not decided to present estimates for fully 25,000 or 30,000 men. ♦ ♦ ♦ An old colored man named Virgil Blue was at the War Department the other day to inquire about two sons, one in theTenth cavalry and the other in the Twen-ty-fourth infantry, who were both wounded before Santiago, and was greatly rejoiced to hear that they had fully recovered and were with their regiments. He came from Fauquier Courthouse, Va. “I'm proud ob dem boys,” said the old man. “I dun had one son die in de army.” The old man said he had thirty-five nephews in the colored regular and volunteer regiments of the army. He has ten brothers and these nephews arc sons of the brothers. “Sort ob a titin’ crowd,” said the old man, “but I used to enjoy a tussle myself.” . , ♦ ♦ ♦ ' ‘ JI The newspapers reaching the State Department in the official mails from theEast show that the almost universal expression in the public press of Japan is in. favor of the United States holding permanently and governing the Philippine Islands. The position taken is that this will' be in the interest of peace and commerce and good government. The editorials insist that this is the only issue of the matter that will satisfy the highest interests: of the islands and the demands of civilization. The papers declare that the United States, in assuming the eontfol of the islands, will receive the moral support, if not the active co-operation, of Japan and Great Britain. « ♦ * Torn Hoshi, who has been minister from Japan for several years, has taken, his place as a leader of the Government party in the parliament at Tokyo and will' he succeeded here by Mr. Komura, the. present vice-minister of foreign relations, in the Mikado’s cabinet Mr. Komura is. a diplomatist of wide experience. He. served in China fqr several years and was. intrusted with the grave responsibility of settling many perplexing questions that grew out of the late war. He has also been minister to Corea, where he made an excellent record. • * • The Treasurer of the United States recently sent a check for $1.475,0(H) to the International Navigation Company at Philadelphia in paymeht for the use of theauxiliary cruisers St. Paul. St. Louis, New York and Paris for an average period of 120 days each. The amount paid was approximately $12,000 a day, or $3,000 a day for each vessel. « * • Among the orders recently placed for guns for the new battleships are several 12-inch rifles which will take the place of the present 13-inch guns. The new guns will use smokeless powder and'will send their projectile* at a velocity of 3,000 feet per second, 50 per cent greater than the velocity of the present 13-inch shell. • • • Postmasters may make campaign, speeches and otherwise participate in ped-, itics if they do not neglect their official, duties. A ukase to that effect has been, issued by the Postoffice Department. • • • The Government of Hayti has changed Its mind since the recent West Indies hurricane. and will permit the I'nitt-d States, signal service to establish a station at Mole St. Nicholas. • • • Ex-Secretary Morton of Nebraska has been in Washington to confer with the Argentine minister in regard to the offerfrom that Government received by him a few days ago to become its adviser in agricultural matters and to organize ai> agricultural department. • • • The weather bureau has announced that the grnat hurricana in the West Indie*, bad been' foreseen, and warnings given by the new Wert Indian weather service established nnd controlled by the (States signal service.