Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1901 — Page 2

WEEKLY REPUBLICAN QEO. B. MARSHALL, Publisher. RENSSELAER. - • INDIANA.

RAINS HURT COTTON.

CROP AVERAGE, HOWEVER. IS NOT IMPAIRED. Yield Will Exceed Those of Last Two Year*—Report* Generally Are Encouraging—Drouth Does Not Prose the Worst Enemy of Product. Conservative reviews of the cotton crop situation have been made in the principal States of the cotton belt, all tending to show that there has been no great impairment of conditions on account of the drouth. The greatest damage has befen in sections visited, by excessive rains, notably the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Florida. These fire States produce a very small portion of the cotton crop, however. The crop in Mississippi far surpasses any that has been raised since 1899 and the government report places its genera) condition at five points above the ten years' average. Louisiana has a crop that is far better than that of 1900 or 1899. Alabama expects a 'bounteous yield. Texas. Continues to be the center of interest and the reports from that State are narrowly watched, as the usual crop of the commonwealth is one-third that of the entire South and one-fourth that of the world. The general yield would be expected to fall something short of'the average crop. 8,500,000. The increased acreage will probably bring the total crop up to the average. In western Oklahoma the outlook is not bright, but the eastern part of the State and the Indian territory will produce average yields of cotton. With a fair degree of moisture from now on a crop of from 10,000,000 to 11,000,000 bales ought to be assured. LIMESTONE IN A BIG POOL. New Trust Under Projection by Officials of the Steel Concern. Another great industrial combination of special importance to the iron and steel enterprises of the country is now unddr way to completion. The object is to place under the control of one corporation the limestone output in this section of the country. It is one of the most important materials used by the blast furnaces of the United States Steel Corporation about their Pittsburg mills and Bessemer steel cannot be made without it. Prominent Pittsburgers, most of whom are stockholders and officers in the steel trust, are promoting the enterprise. It is estimated that fully $1,500,000 has been invested. PROGRESS OF THE RACE. Standing of League Clnbs in Contest fsr the Pennant. Following is the standing of the clubs in the National League: W. L. W. L. Pittsburg ...53 34 Boston 43 40 Philadelphia 54 37 New Y0rk...37 47 St. L0ui5....52 39 Cincinnati ...37 53 Brooklyn ...48 44 Chicago 37 01 Standings in the American League are as follows: W. L. W. L. Chicago ....58 35 Philadelphia. 44 43 Boston 52 38Cleveland ...38 51 Baltimore .. .53 42 Washington. 30 50 Detroit 48 38 Milwaukee. . 35 00 Upholds Cruelty to Beast. William Hess, a wealthy citizen of Evansville, Ind., was in the police court on the charge of cruelty to animals. His neighbor has a calf and the other, night Hess could not sleep for the calf’s bawling, so he tied its mouth up with a rope. The judge released Hess, saying be believed he would have done the same thing. Bryan Bays a Paper.

William J. Bryan ha* purchase,l the National Watchman, a weekly paper published in Alexandria, 5 a., chiefly in the interest of organized labor. Mr. Bryan believes that the principles advocated by the Watchman are similar to those of the Commoner, which he pule lishes in Lincoln, Neb., and if will therefore be merged with the Commoner. Waives Annoy Former*. A pack of wolves has appeared in Noble township. Indiana, and farmers report raids on their stock. They are believed to come from the Kankakee region and their howling at night can be plainly heard. Posses of farmers are being organized to track the auimuls and kill them. Eighty Cannibals Killed. The German punitive expedition sent to avenge the massacre of Dr. Menoken and other members of the first German south sea expedition on the cannibal islands of St Mathias landed from the German cruiser Cormoran near the scene of massacre, killed eighty natives and captured seventeen. Worker* Hefnse to t)nlt. The South Chicago and Milwaukee members of the Amalgamated Association on Sunday voted not to strike as ordered hy President Shaffer. At Joliet the workmen postponed final action, but the sentiment was opposed to striking. Kllle>l by Llchililiic, Miles Swanty, while taking straw from n thrashing maohiue, was struck by lightning and instantly killed .at Allegan, Mich. Money Hart* C^n*cifnir. Secretary Gage has received from n sol dier in the Philippines a conscience contribution of $270. M r . Notion Week* Divorce. David Nation, through hit attorney at Medicine Lodge, Kan., brought suit foT a divorce from his wife, Mrs. Carrie Nation, the temperance crusader. Mr. Nation alleges that hie wife held him up to public ridicule, neglected her family duties and abandoned her home. Frost Cut* Lit* Wheat. There was a general frost around Bottineau, N. D„ Thursday night. It caused some damage to late wheat in low lnnda, but did no other injury. t- 'A . i - ;

FROM THE FOUR QUARTERS OF THE EARTH

WHITE CAPS FLOG HUSBAND. Wife-Beater la Severely Punished by Masked Men in Indiana. Willard Gore of Young America, Ind., accused of habitually beating his wife and child, was taken to the woods recently by sixteen of his neighbors, tied- to a tree and given a flogging. Three buggy whips and a blacksnake were worn out on his bare back. The White Cappers were masked with muslin over their faces. Faint and covered with blood, Gore dragged himself to the office of Dr. Lybrook, who dressed the wounds. Gore will leave the country as soon as his wounds heal. Gore came to Young America three years ago from Walton Slid married Mrs'. Chandler, a widow, who owns a farm near the village. He was a widower with a 5-year-old son. Ajs an instance of the. cruelty Gore inflieted on the son and his stepmother it is. related that to save the boy from punishment Mrs. Gore climbed on the house roof to get a hat the child had thrown there. She fell from the roof and alighted on an inverted harrow', the teeth of which ran through her feet, inflicting frightful injuries, followed by lockjaw. While lying helpless it is alleged that Gore came home drunk and kicked her. The same night an organization was formed to White Cap the wife beater and the-work was carried out. WANT NEW RESERVES OPENED.

Losers in Lawton Lottery Start Another Movement. A movement has been started at Lawton, Okla., among the home seekers who lost to have the government open up-the three reserves in the land lottery which it set aside in the Lawton district before the opening. At a meeting of one hundred or more of them it was decided to petition the Interior Department at once to take such action. These reserves embrace 532,500 acres, or about 3,330 quarter sections. The land was held in reserve, it is believed, because the government anticipated that the cattlemen who had all of the Kiowa-Comanche country leased for pastures would not be .able to find pastures in Texas or other cattlegrazing sections readily. If the cattlemen can round up their cattle and get them to the government reservations this fall, the home seekers argue, they can find pastures somewhere else by next spring. The home seekers are willing to buy the land outright from, the goy-. ernment.

KICH MINKS OF ASBESTOS. Block* Welshing 400 or 500 Pound* Fount in Black Hill*. A remarkable discovery of asbestos has been made near Keystone, S. D., in the vicinity of the Wealthy mine by Chet W T hee!ock and Louis Everly. They unearthed large blocks of asbestos weighing 400 to 500 pounds and the quality is pronounced excellent. The ground has all been located on the ledge. Development work is in progress and it is considered one of the most important discoveries made in the Black Hills. Asbestos has been found in other places in the Hills, but not in such large ledges as this. Melancholia Causes Suicide. The body of Miss Emma Tizzard was found in the well in the rear of the family home at Eaton, Ohio. She had been suffering with melancholia and during the early evening became ill, supposedly from having taken poison. A brother who lay in the doorway to prevent her escape fell asleep. Some time during the night Miss Tizzard tiptoed her way over 1 his body and lifting the cover from the well, leaped in.

Drink* Poison and Jumps. Louis Helpern, a young man who about three mouths ago tried to jump from the Brooklyn bridge, committed suicide by swallowing chrbolic acid and then throwing himself from the fourth story of a New York tenement-house. Young Helpern left a note saying that he was tired of life. Noted lowa Woman Gone. Mrs. Mary Newberry of Dubuque, widow of Judge Austin Adams, once chief justice of lowa’s Supreme Court, is dead, aged 83 years. She was prominent in literary circles, State and national, a close friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson and schoolmate at Cleveland of John Rockefeller and Mark Hanna. Exposition Kuilding Burn*. The exposition building at Kansas City, erected during the boom of 18.87, at a cost of over $200,000, was destroyed by fire in less than two hours the other afternoon. It had not been occupied for ten years. 1 rove* of Chinese foraine. Chinese Inspector Ralph Izard, in an interview says Chinese are coming in at present by the hundreds, and if it keeps on they will have to build new and bigger jails*the whole length of the Canadian border. Population*ot Canada. The total population of Canada, as shown by the new census, is 5,300,000. The increase is only 460,761 over the figure* of ten years ago, or an increase of less than 9.7 per cent. Hanker I* Kent to Jail. The Commercial Bank of Andrews. Ind., closed with only $25 cash on hand. President Key has been arrested and 12,000 depositors, mostly farmers, fear loss at all their savings. Fxpret* on Electric Cara. The Everett-Moore syndicate, which controls a number of electric railways in Cleveland and adjoining counties, Is about to establish a package and freight cairylng system of its own. _ t ■ , 5 Seriously Hurt by Eiplotlna. William F; Coston, the manufacturer of the Coston marine night signals, was seriqnsly injured In an expjoainn which occurred at his works on Staten Inland. One building was deatroyed.

THE MARKETS

Chicago—Cattle, common to prime, $3.00 to $5.75; bogs, shipping grades, $3.00 to $6.10; sheep, fair to choice, $3.00 to $3.05; wheat, No. 2 red, 70c to 71c; corn. No. 2,55 cto 56c; bats, No. 2,34 c to 35c; rye, No. 2,55 cto stic; butter, choice creamery, 19c to 20c; eggs, fresh. 13c to 15c; potatoes, new, $1,05 to sl.lO per bushel. Indianapolis—Cattle, shipping, $3.00. to $5.75; hogs, choice light, $4.00 to $5.87; sheep, common to prime, $3.00 to $3.50;. wheat, No. 2, Otic to 67e; corn, No. 2 white, 56c to 57c; oats, No. 2 white, new, 30c to 37c. St. Louis—Cattle, $3.25 to $5.70; hogs. $3.00 to $0.00; sheep, S3XO to $3.60; wheat, No. 2,68 cto 09c; corn. No. 2, 57c to 58c; oats, No. 2,35 cto 36c; rye, No. 2,62 cto 63c. Cincinnati —Cattle, $3.00 to $5.25; hogs, $3.00 to $5.95; sheep, $3.00s to $3.50: wheat, No. 2,08 cto 09c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 50c to 57c; oats, No. 2 mixed, new, 30c to 37c; rye, No. 2,52 cto 53e. Detroit—Cattle, $2.50 to $4.70; hogs, $3.00 to $5.75; sheep, $2.50 to $3.75; wheat. No. 2,09 -to 70c; corn. No. 2 yellow, 55c to 50c; oats, No. 2 white, 37c to 38c; rye, 54c to 55c. Toledo —Wheat, No. 2 mixed, 70c to 71c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 55c to 56c; oats, No. 2 mixed, 34c to 35c; rye. No. 2,55 c to 57c; clover seed, prime, $0.22. Milwaukee—Wheat, No. 2 northern. 70c to 71c; corn, No. 3,55 cto 50c; oats. No. 2 white, 38c"to 39c; rye, No. 1,55 c to 57c; barley, No. 2,59 cto 00c; pork, mess, $13.87. Buffalo—Cattle, choice shipping steers. $3.00 to $5.90; hogs, fair to prime, $3.00 to $6.12; sheep, fair to choice, $3.50 to $4.00; lambs, common to choice, $4.50 to $5.50. New York —Cattle, $3.75 to $5.80; hogs, $3.00 to >6.25; sheep. $3.00 to $4.00; wheat, No. 2 red, 75c to 76c; corn, No. 2. 59c to 00c; oats, No. 2 white, 41c to 42c; butter, creamery, 18c to 20c; eggs, western, 14c to 10c.

MAY HAVE BEEN WIFE MURDER. Body of Mr*. Seth Davia, Wife of Suicide, Ha* Been Found. The finding of the body 'ot Mrs. Seth Davis, aged 49, with her skull crushed in. near Fottsville, Pa., is regarded as indicating that her husband, who hanged himself recently, had murdered her. The couple were last seen together by their daughter the day before her father's suicide, when they were supposed to be on the way to Pottsville. Only the man reached Pottsville, and there was strong suspicion that he had made away with his wife. The suspicion was strengthened when the woman did not appear at the funeral of her husbaml. SAYS WHEAT CROP IS AVERAGE. _____ I Yield of Minnesota, North find South Dakota Ha* Been Overestimated, The wheat crop of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota for 1901 :s 183,000,000 bushels, according to the estimates of H. V. Jones of Minneapolis. This is distributed as follows: Minnesota, acreage, 0,250,000: average yield. 12% bushels; total, 78,000,000 bushels. North Dakota, acreage, 5,200,000; average yield. 14% bushels; total, 75,000.000 bushels. South Dakota, acreage, 3,000,000; average yield, 10 bushels; total, 30,000,000 bushels. Suicide in Wichita Hotel. A respectable looking young man of 23 committed suicide at the Hamilton Hotel in Wichita, Kan., by taking laudanum. He tore his name off all his marked garments, including his hat, and loft an unsigned note asking that his body be kept for three days, when Elmer Scripture of Westport, Ind., would take charge of it Fast Gunboat a Wreck. H. M. S. Viper, the torpedo boat destroyer which broke all records and was the fastest ship afloat, was totally wrecked on the rocks off Alderney Island in the English Channel during the mimic battle of the British fleet engaged in the maneuvers. The entire crew was rescued and taken to St. Anne’s. B. & O. Flyer Leave* Track. The spreading of rails three'miles east of Nappanee, Ind., on the Baltimore and Ohio, caused the flyer to the east to be derailed. Six cars left the tracks while the train was going at the speed of sixty miles an hour, but the eighty passengers escaped with only a bad shaking. Killed in Railway Cra*li. A Pan-American special heavily loaded and a regular , train collided a few miles east of Lockport, N. Y., on the New York Central. Thomas Hyland, an engineer, and George Webb, trainman, were kiljed and a fireman was severely injured. Heat Kill* a Parriqide. At Marlin, Texas, Porter Sawyer, aged 18, shot and killed his father and was overcome hy heat and died while trying to escape. The boy became angry at his father for whipping a horse and, slipping up behind him, killed him with a rifle. No Strike of Railroad M*ij, Officials of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Brotherhood of Railroad Truiuujen having headquarters in Cleveland believe there is little probability of railway employes becoming involved in the steel strike.

Think* We Will Fight Germany. Commander Murdock believes the United States will next fight Germany. He declares navy must be increased to check Kaiser in South America or Monroe doctrine must be waived. Memphis Car Jump* Bridge. A, trolley ear of the Memphis, Tenn., Street Baliway Company ran off.a bridge over Bayou Gayoao and five persona were injured more or less seriously.

SLAIN ON UNIMAK ISLAND. Three Prospectors Kitted by Deserters from Fishing Schooner. According to advices from Dutch Harbor, via Sitka, on the steamship Queen, two white men shot down Con and Florence Sullivan and P. ,T. Rooney on Unimak Island last June. Owen Jackson, the only surviving member of the iHr, fated party, expresses in a statement the belief that natives shot down the defenseless prospectors. Other evidence, however, tends to make two deserters from a fishing schooner responsible for the deed. It has since been learned that when Rev. Mr. Scott, with a party of prospectors, was camped on Unimak Island about the...time of the murder two white men who had deserted from one of Lynn & Iloff s fishing schooners came to them and told a story of having stopped over night at another cuujp. where they found two of the prospectors dead uhd evidences of another, having left. Those men showed Scott about $1,200 in money, a Savage rifle, revolver and a gold watch. They said they were going back to bury the men. This was tbc last seen of them.™

DEATH STOPS WE ..DING FEAST. Tragic Death of a Pututh Man While at Worship. A religious service and preparations for a wedding-feast were abruptly terminated the other day in a tragic mauner. at Duluth, Minn. Moses Cohen went to the Jewish synagogue to worship. He left his family preparing a feast in honor of the marriage of his son Isaac. Friends and relatives from many Northwestern points were in attendance. During the progress of the religious service Mr. Cohen suddenly stood erect, his eyes fixed and staring. The next instant he reeled and fell to the floor unconscious. A panic was narrowly averted among the excited worshipers. Mr. Cohen was placed in the ambulance and was being driven to the hospital, but died- before reaching there. The remains were then driven to his home, which he had quitted but forty minutes before in apparently perfect health, and where preparations for the feast were in full progress. Word had not reached the house when the remains were driven there, and muclt excitement prevailed.

CONFESSES ■JHKbT OF CHILD. Actress on Deathbed Restores Girl to an Indiana Merchant. Tile death of Emma Andrews, an actress, in a cheap theater at Omaha, has disclosed that a waif in her custody is the daughter of John Richards, a wealthy Indiana merchant. The woman confessed 6n her deathbed that she had abducted the child when the latter was 5 years old. The baby had been intrusted temporarily to her care. Rev. A. W. Clark, who listened to the confession, at once notified Mr. Richards and has received a telegram from' the overjoyed parent. The girl is now 14 years old and is an accomplished singer and dancer. She has appeared on the vaudeville stage with the woman whom she believed to be her mother.

Killed by Nitroglycerin. A stock wagon loaded with 700 quarts of nitroglycerin was blown up at a railroad crossing one and one-half miles south of Bowling Green, Ohio. ’’Jack’ Radalbaugh, the driver of the wagon, was blown to atoms, only a small piece of his scalp being found. Remnants of two horses were scattered over adjacent fields. Pad Fire in Winona, Minn. Winona, Minn., experienced the worst fire in several years the other day, when -several manufacturing plants near the St. Paul depot were burned. The losers are the Wood Rim Company, Dotid Sons Company, coopers; the Winona Fence Company and David Walworth, dwelling- • Thousand* Die in Flood*. Great floods caused by the overflowing of the Yang-Tse have caused the death of many thousands in China. The river has risen forty feet and for hundreds of miles the country is a great lake, with only tops of trees and an occasional roof showing. “ . Make* a Fortune in Corn. Corwin H. Spencer, a prominent member of the St. Louis Board of Trade, has already cleaned up $250,000 on the big bulge in corn. He has cornered 1,000,000 bushels of the grain, which he expects to sell in September at the handsome profit of $400,000. Thieve* Get Rich Plunder. Thieves tunneled uuder the walls of the Selby smelting works at Vallejo, Cal., secured $280,000 worth ot gold in bars and escaped in a bout, leaving $50,000 in bars on the beach and SIIO,OOO in dust in the vault. Insane Deel of Jealousy. Private Louis Haggerty, Tenth United States artillery, killed his wife nnd then blew out his own brains In his quarters at the government barracks ori Sullivan’s island, Charleston. S. C. Jealousy was tho cause of the tragedy. Fall* root a Window. James Craig, a well-known attorney, formerly a millionaire who liberally patronized the stage, was fatally injured by falling from the second-story window of his home in St. Louia. Both arms were broken and his head was badly bruised. To Protect American Interest*. The Navy Department has ordered the gunboat Machias, no-v at Boston, to proceed to Hampton Roads and thence to Colon, at the eastern terminus of the Panuma Railroad, to look after American interests thfre. .* an Murdered and Robbed. On Clear creek, Kentucky, the body of J. B. Hawkins, a fruit tree peddler from Knoxville, Tenn., was found. . From marks. on the body nnd the condition of the .pockets it was evident that the man had been murdered atop l robbed.

INDIANA INCIDENTS.

RECORD OF EVENTS OF THE * PAST WEEK. Grim Reaper Rapidly Decimates the Ranks of the Boys ia Bine—Robber Gang Comes to Grief at ghoala—Bank Failures at Avilla—Korty Years in Bed. The passing of the Civii War soldier is told in the reports of Gen. K. M. Smock, of the Indiana department, G. A. R. The report for the six months ending June 30, shows there were 220 deaths. The total G. A. R. membership given in the last report is 15,859. Six months ago the re 7 port showed a membership of 16,211; June 30, 1900, the membership was 1(5,811: 1889, 17,257; 1898, 18,100; 1897, 19,184; 1890, 20,503. In five years the membership has fallen off almost 25 per cent. Not all is due to death. Some neglect to pay- dues and drop out of the order. The report, just made shows there are now 440 posts, a net loss of three in six months. Gains from muster-in, 109; reinstatement of those suspended, 422; total, 741. Loss by death, 220; honorably discharged, 20; transferred, 190; suspended, 051. The total net loss ip six months was 352. Deducting the 220 deaths, the losses from other causes were 120, Total money in the hands of quartermasters of the posts, $23,715.22. Dee. 30, the amount was $22,738.81. In the six months the total receipts were $15,862.27. Total disbursements, $14,791.24. In relief $1,055.99 was paid out. The total value of the property, money and collaterals of all the G. A. R. posts of Indiana is $77.493.19.

Catch Gang ot bobbers. Deputy Postmaster Parsons was passing the Shoals postofflee the other morniffil front which he found open, and as he stepped inside the building a burglar thrust a revolver in his face and commanded him to throw up his han;is. As he did so the burglar rushed past him and escaped. The alarm was given and the pursuit was taken up. At daylight a boy, aged 15, was arrested and gave his name as Roy Christian of Memphis, Tenn. He confessed and gave a description of his companions. They were arrested two miles west, hiding in the woods. They gave their names as Hal Buchanan, aged 17 years, of Memphis, Tenn., and Harry Collins, aged 37 years, of St. Louis, Mo. They had enough pitroglyeerin to blow up a block.

Death Ends Sintrular Vow. When the Bond family, who reside in Orange County, Was broken, up nearly forty years ago the mother decided to sell the old farm. John Bond, then 43 years old, vowed if the place was solif he would go to bed and there remain until death. The farm was sold and he has kept his singular vow. He was carried in his bed to the polls to vote. His sisters stayed with him, keeping him company until the end, which came a fefi’ days ago. Bank Falls at Avilla. The bank at Avilla closed its doors the other night on account of lack of funds to meet demands. The announcement caused great surprise. The failure is believed to be a sequel to the failure of the Avilla Carriage Company, in which H. W. Leatn, president of the barfk, was interested. The liabilities are estimated at $20,000. Hoy Incendte. ries in Jail. Four boys, the oldest 11 and Ihe youngest 7, were sent to jail at Terre Haute on their own story of burning the Hndnut hominy mill and warehouse, causing a loss of $45,000. Only one, George Boland, aged 8, is feeling badly over tb4 predicament their desire to see a big fire and the department at work has got them into.

Within Our Borders. John Songer, a sawyer, was killed on the Wabash Railroad near Williamsport. Frank Coburn of Speichersville accidentally shot and killed himself while hunting. Work will soon be started on the public library building at Goshen. It will cost $25,000. Berry Bellamy, Madison, shot and accidentally killed his son, Roscoe, 7, near Plowliandle Point. An Evansville and Terre Haute passenger train killed Charles Hammond neat' Vincennes. Hammond was deaf and dumb. James P. Goodrich of Winchester has been elected chairman of the Republican State committee, vice Charles I - ’. Hemlcy of Newcastle, resigned. Prc.f. Thomas S. Lowden of Muncie, who lias been dean of the faculty apd professor of philosophy and education iti the Eastern Indiana Normal School, his been elected principal of Dc Pnuw Academy. at Green Castle. Eveline Cane, the 10-year-old daughtei of Thoman Cnne, and Fay Hixon, the 8-year-old daughter of William Hixcn. were fatally injured by the explosion of a railroad torpedo at Brazil, They foupu the deadly contrivance by the Vandulia Railroad track, and thinking it was a box endeavored to open it with a knife, when it exploded. Several days ago John Moore, a fannei of Brqwn County, found a bundle ol switches at his door nnd a note warning him to leave the county. He moved tt Salt Creek township, and a few nights later he and his wife were taken from their beds, dragged across the yard fad tied to trees uud severely whipped with switches. Mrs. Moore was unconselon* when the “white caps” left, and Mr, Moore had to go a mile for a doctor before she could be restored. The "white enps” threatened them with death if complaints were filed nguiust the gang, liloort claims not to know any cause for the assault upon him and his wife. Richard Sample, i 7 years old, died In nn Indianapolis hospital from the eff«*t» of a knife wound received in a quairel with Chnrles McAree. MtvAree Is held for murder. James Cannon of Kentlnnd, one of the most trusted patients of the northern In •liana hospital for the insane, jumped la front of a Vandnlia fast train while out in search of turkey* and was killed. Asa Cohee was assaulted at midnight by four highwaymen about three mile* from LogansporL Tho robbers took $240. Cohee showed fight and in the encouatej was so badlv knifed that he mav die.

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

A series of experiments, unique even in the history of the Agricultural Department, has been approved by Secretary Wilson at the instance of what is known as the Pomological Bureau of that department. There were some misgivings as to the legal aspect of the proposition. vorable decision of the Comptroller of the Treasury. It is proposed by the Agricultural Department to go into partnership with a number of merchants and exporters, the terms of the partnership being that the United States shall stand all losses and the exporters reap all the profits. Y'et it is claimed by the pomological experts of the department that the government wili reap profits enough in the form of scientific knowledge to. compensate for any loss that may be sustained through the otherwise unequal partnership. At the late session Congress made the following provision for pomological investigations: “To investigate in co-operation with other divisions of the department and experiment stations of the several States the market conditions affecting the fruit trade of the .United States and foreign countries and the methods of harvesting, packing, storing, and shipifiug fruit and vegetables, and for experimental shipments of fruits to foreign countries for the purpose of increasing the exportation of American fruits, and for all necessary expenses connected with the practical work of the same." The huge lottery that Uncle Sam has conducted in Oklahoma for land taken from the Indians has brought to light ti peculiar phase of the homestead law. Judge Ryan, first assistant Secretary of the Interior, said that under the homestead law a married woman could not make an entry for a homestead because she is not the head of a family. A single woman, however, can make an entry. This ruling was given in answer as to the correctness of the report from K 1 Reno that Miss Minerva McClintock of Oklahoma City, the young woman who drew ticket No. 18, entitling her to make an entry for a homestead near El Reno, had forfeited her right because of her marriage. In continuing, Judge Ryan said: “If the young woman who lost her chance for the homestead had only waited until after she had made her entry for the land before getting married it would have been different. Had she perfected her entry and waited sixty days she could have relinquished her claim and the land would then have become public domain. The man she married could have made an entry for the land and thus have saved the homestead.” An official report of the biting off of the leg of Quartermaster S. McKie, third class, of the gunboat Annapolis, by a shark or other sea monster at Iloilo June 24 has been forwarded to the Navy Department by Admiral Keiupff. A party was sent out from the vessel for rifle practice. Commander Rohrer,” in command of the Annapolis, states that permission was given to several of the men to go swimming while others were engaged in firing. McKie made a dive and a moment later appeared on the surface and shouted: “Shark! Shark!” The water was stained with blood. McKie started to swim and, although crippled, reached the boat and was pulled in by his companions. His leg was bitten off near the knee. He was taken aboard the Annapolis, where the surgeon found it necessary to amputate the limb between the knee and hip. ,

One of the greatest thoroughfares in Palestine, according to Consul Merrill, at Jerusalem, is that between Jerusalem and Nablous, in ancient Shechem. For centuries it has been only a camel path, in many places rough and stony, and in spite of the vast amount of traffic it was not until 1900 that an effort was made to connect the two cities by a carriage road. Early in that year the route was surveyed and specifications sent to Constantinople, whence orders for the construction of the roads must emanate. Work was begun the follow’ing autumn, and in March of the present year the first carriage passed over the completed section between Jerusalem and Bireh. Carriages go from Jericho to the Dead Sea and the River Jordan, but there 1s no road, the carriages driving across the plains. Only a few of the letter carriers of the country have availed themselves of the privilege granted by the Postmaster General, after several years of petitioning, to wear shift waists during the summer season while on duty. A. W . Mnchen. geuernl superintendent of free delivery, said the other day that the shirt waist had not become, popular among the carriers and that in most cases when the official permission had been taken advantage of the garment had not been a shirt waist, but merely nn ordinary shirt of the color prescribed in the Postmaster General's order. The second largest claim yet presented w’ith thexSpanish treaty claims commission was filed the other day on behalf of Francis Zeiglie of Havana. He was owner of a sugar estate of 2,970 aerea., worth $1,000,000. which was laid watte by Spanish troops in May, 1890. For this he wants $722,427. Indignities were heaped upon him hy Spanish soldiers nnd he was compelled to flee for his life. For his shattered henlth and the persecution of his family he aAks un additional $150,000. /

The Postofflce (f)epartment lias issued an order that is designed to be of special advantage to business men. Those firms aud business houses that have been in the habit of sodding money order blanks to their customer* will be supplied free of cost with ihe special money order blanks in whi(4h the name of the payee or firm sending Wm out will be conspicuously printed id red Ink. Tbn department announces ribat if the uae of these •fowna-be-adoptedAunall-oeina and stamps ns a means of the exchange of the values may disappear froth the mails.