Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1898 — JOINT ACTION URGED. [ARTICLE]

JOINT ACTION URGED.

RUSSIA IS SURELY ABSORBING CHINA. Ex-Minister Barrett Sounds a Note of Warning to Great Britain and the United States—Classmates at West Point Die in Same Battle. Should Check Russia’s Advance. John Barrett, formerly United States minister to Siam, has returned to Shanghai after visiting Peking and the principal Chinese ports. He says the situation in China is of the most critical nature, and that Manchuria is no longer Chinese, but Russian territory. He asserts that NewChwang, the chief northern port for the movement of American products, is also practically Russian and is liable to be closed any day. The only permanent safeguard to the paramount American and British interests. Mr. Barrett says, is immediate and united action by the interested governments to defend the territory of the Chinese Empire, to enforce reforms iu the government, to prevent further cessions of ports and provinces and to insist upon flie “open door” policy in all ports of China, including the spheres of influence claimed by Russia, Germany and France. Otherwise, Mr. Barrett contends, the impending partition of the Chinese Empire will seriously curtail the field of trade by disastrously affecting American and British influence in Asia. THEIR LIVES RAN TOGETHER. Remarkable Coincidence of Events in Histories of Two Lieutenants. Some interesting history is attached to two bills recently introduced in Congress by Mr. Underwo’od for Gen. Wheeler. The bills are to grant pensions to Mrs. Margaret B. Shipp, widow of Lieut. William E. Shipp, who was killed at the battle of San Juan hill, and of Mrs. Louisa D. Sjpith, widow of Lieut. William 11. Smith, who was killed at the same place. There was a remarkable similarity in the history of these two soldiers, They studied together at West Point, graduated together, and after leaving the academy both rose to the rank of lieutenant. They met their deaths in the same battle within fifteen minutes of each other and finally these bills to pension their widows were introduced in Congress simultaneously. Flour Mills to Combine. In an interview at Cleveland Clement B. Stern of the Atlas flourmills of Milwaukee stated that he expected the big flour combination would be in operation shortly. The combine will have a capitalization of $30,000,000. A syndicate of English and American capitalists has been negotiating with the owners of the mills looking to the formation of a trust for some time past. Pottery Trust Is Completed. It was announced at East Liverpool, Ohio, that the pottery trust has completed its organization under the laws of New Jersey with $20,000,000 of capital stock. The options of the American Potteries Company on the East Liverpool plants expire Jan. 1 and the combine is expected to have all of them. Stockmen Will Move Their Sheep. Nearly 400.000 sheep wintering at the South St. Paul, New Brighton and other stockyards in Minnesota are to be sent to lowa and Missouri. This situation has been brought about by the formation of a trust by the Minneapolis millers and the sudden raising of the price of wheat screenings from $5 to $8.50 a ton. Rich Vein of Gold in Ohio. At Toledo a company headed by Thomas Kelly has been organized to develop a vein of gold discovered in Auburndale by a workman who was digging a sewer. The discovery lias caused some excitement, and Mr. Kelly’s assay of the find shows the vein to be richer than some Colorado mines, yielding SSOO a ton.

Miners’ Pay Increased. The Chandler mine at Ely, Minn., has announced a 10 per cent, advance in wages, bringing the schedule back to the scale of 1802, the highest ever paid in tlie lake regions. The increase is caused by the tremendous demand for men from the copper and iroit ranges. Son Shoots His Father. Lindsay Freeman, a wealthy Trigg County. I<y„ planter, and his son Charles, aged 10 years, became involved in a quarrel, which resulted in the son shooting the father, the ball taking effect in the left side near the heart, producing a wound that will result fatally. Philadelphia Kull Burned. Ilartnonie Hall, in Philadelphia, the headquarters of a number of German singing societies, was gutted by tire. The loss, which is estimated at $50,000. is partly covered by insurance. The janitor and his wife and three children were rescued by the tiremen. Bobbed a Business House. At <> o'clock the other night a young man, unmasked, entered the clothing store of A. Goldman. St. Joseph. Mo., sought out the proprietor, placed a revolver to his breast and compelled him to turn over all money in the safe. SSO. The robber escaped in the crowd. Kun Down by n Locomotive. Samuel I*. Flint, assistant superintendent of the railway mail service, wns struck by a locomotive nt Fourteenth and Franklin streets. Oakland. Cal., and received injuries which proved fntnl. He was thrown about fifteen feet and his head badly cut. Killed by Vow ter Kx plosion. Five powder mills in the lower yard of the Dupont powder works, near Wilmington. Del., exploded. Robert McHenry, John Moore. John Wright and another innn named Stewart were killed. Several others were badly burned. Rich Oil Well in Ohio. Oil is being thrown at the rate of fifty barrels an hour from a well in which it wns struck, one mile above Marietta. Ohio. It is the best well in all the region, nnd was put down for experiment in new direction. Wilhelmina Will Wed Wied. London Truth announces that the queen mother of the Netherlands has written privately to Queen Victoria, informing her majesty of the betrothal of Queen Wilhelmina to Prince William of Wied. Duel with Knives la Fatal. In a terrible duel with knives at Mount Vernon. Gn.. between Charles Parley, on inuleback. nqd Thomas Jennings, on foot, the former wns killed nnd Jennings badly wounded.. Jennings is in jail.