Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1899 — LONG TRIP IN CHINA. [ARTICLE]

LONG TRIP IN CHINA.

GERMAN SCIENTISTS EXPLORE THE YELLOW RIVER. Drs. Futtterer and Holterer Gain Valuable Information in Central Asia— Their Safe Return—Striving to Control Transportation in Guatemala. Advices by the steamer Empress of India say: There arrived at Shanghai recently two distinguished travelers, Prof. Futterer of Karlsruhe, geologist, and Dr. Holterer of Lorrach, Baden, who have just crossed northwestern Thibet from Turkestan, discovering the source of the Yellow river, and entering China by the northwest, reaching Hankow and civilization by the Han river. The professor has left for home via Japan and the United States. The two men left Germany Nov. 19, 1897, accompanied by a German servant. Reaching Suchou, the explorers went to Siningfu, which they reached in the middle of last July.- It was from there that the scientists arranged to start on an expedition, having for its object the exploration of the Yellow rtver south of the Kokonor. At this point their servants deserted them. In the upper Taho valley the party was attacked by about thirty robbers, one-half of whom kept up a lively fusillade while their companions raided the animals of the expedition. The explorers returned the fire and wounded several of their assailants. Dr. Futterer made a valuable geological collection, besides taking careful observations for meteorological and mapmaking purposes, while Dr. Holterer more particularly interested himself in zoological matters, getting together an important collection.

NEW GUATEMALA RAILROAD. C. P. Huntington Likely to Build Another Line There. Negotiations are on foot between C. P. Huntington and President Cabrera of Guatemala which, if consummated, will result in the building of 130 miles of railroad in Guatemala, by the means of which the little southern republic will have an overland line from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Mr. Huntington already owns a road in that country. It runs from San Jose, a port on the Pacific, to the city of Guatemala, a distance of seventy-four miles. It has an important branch runhing from Santa Maria north to Patulul, through a rich coffee district. The railroad cost about $3,000,000 in gold, and pays an annual net profit of about 15 per cent. Mr. Huntington will also probably secure control of the Government road from Porto Barrios to St. Augustin and a line between Champerico to San Felipe. By joining these properties w’ith his system he would control the transportation problem in Guatemala. MANY DESTITUTE AT DAWSON. Consul McCook Says the Situation Is Growing Serious. The United States consul at Dawson, J. C. McCook, informs the Department of State at Washington concerning the condition of the people there as follows: “The situation as to persons who will be out of food in a couple of months is becoming very serious. Many hundreds will have to be helped out when navigation opens. Many have gone out over the ice and are going out daily. The relief committee at this place is unable to extend any more aid, as all funds collected have been exhausted and it is some $2,000 in debt.”

Sentence for Maj. Wilson. Maj. Edward Wilson of the Third immune regiment at Santiago de Cuba, who was recently tried by court martial on charges of forgery, falsifying records and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, has been convicted and sentenced to dismissal from the service, forfeiture of pay and allowances and confinement for one year at hard labor in the penitentiary. Man and Woman Hanged. At St. Scholastique, Quebec, Mrs, Cornelia Poirier and Samuel Parslow were hanged. The crime for which they were executed was the murder of Isidore Poirier, the woman’s husband, Nov. 21, 1897. They killed him with a butcher knife while he was sleeping. Both confessed the crime, each laying the blame on the other. Approves Yukon Railway Bill. The railway committee of the Ontario Legislature has passed the bill relating to the Sault Ste. Marie and Hudson Bay Railway, which is the beginning of the scheme to connect Ontario with the Yukon by way of Hudson bay, Chesterfield inlet and the chain of northern great lakes and rivers. To Fight for Higher Wages. Officials of the National Metal Polishers, Platers and Brass Workers’ Union, with headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, state that fifty organizers have been sent to the larger cities in order to strengthen their organization for a big fight for higher wages.

Quarrel Over a Cigarette. As the result of a quarrel over the smoking of a cigarette David Powell was fatally injured and Arthur, his brother, is in jail at Akron, Ohio. Arthur started to smoke a cigarette in the house. David objected. A quarrel ensued and Arthur shot his brother. Costly Fire in Mississippi. At West Point, Miss., nearly $400,000 worth of property was destroyed by fire. The Mary Holmes College, an industrial school for colored girls, burned, and a cotton-press shed, etc., together with a large amount of cotton, was destroyed. Killed by Drinking Wood Alcohol. The examination made upon the stomachs of the four members of the Underwood family, who were found dead in a tenement house at Marlboro, Mass., gives the cause of death in every case as the drinking of wood alcohol.

Absconder Caught in Mexico. Beehler, the Wells-Fargo Express Company messenger, charged with absconding from San Antonio with $50,000 in h\s charge, was captured at Bustamente, Mexico. Heiress Runs Away to Wed. Miss Sarah Norfleet Mason, an heiress, eloped from Hopkinsville, Ky., to Clarksville, Tenn., and married Claude Berry of Washington, D. C., a Southern Railway official. No Senator Chosen in' Utah. The joint assembly of the Utah Legislature has been declared adjourned sine die without electing a United States Senator.

SAVED FROM SINKING SHIP. Crew of a Russian Bark Is Taken Off in Midocean. The British steamer Cape Corrientes, Captain Metcalf, which arrived at Baltimore from Shields, brought the information of a brave rescue made at sea. In about latitude 40 and longitude 32, the steamer sighted a vessel in distress, which proved to be the Russian bark Barunga, Captain Sundman, which had sailed from Ship Island, Ga., with a cargo of lumber for Dieppe. When Captain Metcalf sighted the vessel she was waterlogged and partly dismasted. A life-saving crew from the steamer started to rescue the Br.runga crew. It was 9 o’clock at night when the last of the Barunga’s crew were on board the Cape Corrientes. The machinery of the steamer was out of order when the rescue was made and Captain Metcalf bore for St. Michael’s, where he arrived in safety. NOBLEMAN DIES IN POORHOUSE. Story of a Man Who le in County Infirmary at Toledo, Ohio. Harry Berkeley Brown, who died at the Lucas County infirmary at Toledo, Ohio, recently, had a romantic story connected with his life. It is claimed that Brown belonged to the English nobility, but had been cast off and disinherited by his father over a quarter of a century ago. He received remittances of large amounts from England every few months regularly. His brother, Frank Brown of Cliff House, St. Nicholas street, Worcester, England, has been notified of his death. The deceased was an expert draughtsman and stonecutter, but of late he had been dissipating so that his physical strength had been exhausted before he was taken down with lung fever, which killed him. Cashier and $30,000 Gone. Herbert W. Smith, cashier for Edwin J. Gilles & Co., New York, coffee importers, is a fugitive. Experts who are going over his books have reported thus far a shortage of nearly $30,000 in two years, and they have yet to finish the examination. He squandered the money on women. Smith’s father died recently at Columbus, Ohio. Kansas Minister Is Missing. Rev. Mr. Von Herlick, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, at Wichita, Kan., who went to New York several months ago to secure SIO,OOO to pay off the church debt, has not beefi heard from. All efforts to find him have proven futile, and it is thought he met with foul play, as he carried large sums of money. Priest Gives Up His Life. Rev. Father J. A. Hartnett, a Catholic priest, died at the parochial home at Dallas, Texas, of smallpox. The priest contracted the disease while visiting patients in the Dallas pesthouse in the blizzard a few weeks ago, when he walked six miles with the thermometer 11 degrees below zero. Liberals Are Triumphant The litigation, long standing, between the liberals and radicals of the United Brethren Church was decided in the United States Court at Cincinnati. The decision is in favor of the liberals. It involves the church property in every State of the Union. Lashed by Mob of Masked Men. A mob of fifty masked men rode into Missouri City, Mo., the other morning and before they left compelled nine men to strip and receive from twenty to forty lashes each on their bare backs. The thermometer stood at about zero.

Peace Congress Meets May 18. The peace conference, otherwise the congress of representatives of the powers, called by the Czar to discuss the possibility of taking steps toward a general disarmament, will meet at The Hague on May 18. Jeanesville Collieries Shut Down. At Hazleton, Pa., orders were received for an indefinite suspension of work at the Jeanesville collieries of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. Over 500 men and boys were thrown out of employment. Allen Law Is Dead. The Allen street railway franchise law ceased to exist, when Gov. Tanner, of Illinois, affixed his signature to the Alling repeal bill. The measure went into effect when signed. Suing the Sugar Trust. Attorney General Monnett of Ohio has brought suit against the sugar trust in the name of the State of Ohio to recover $56,000 alleged to be due for violations of State laws. Z. R. Carter for Mayor. The Republicans of Chicago have nominated Zina R. Carter for Mayor.