Indianapolis Journal, Volume 52, Number 349, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 December 1902 — Page 1

f I Li ALoÜ r Ulli 1 1 j-i ;..L-, CJ s r NBIANAJ JOITKNAI hi A WEEKLY ESTABLISHED 1S22. xrrT X TT AT C 1 O DAILY ESTABLISHED 10. I UL. JU11 O. INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 15, 1902 TEN PAGES. PRICE 2 CENTS, j ON RAILWAY T HA INS. FIVE CENTS.

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PUERTO

Fort Is Fired On and Silenced by Two Crusiers, One British and One German.

SEIZURE OF THE TOPAZE OSTENSIBLE CAUSE OF THE HASTY ACTION BY THE ALLIES. Venezuela Given but Two Hours in Which to Satisfy the Demands of the British Commander. NEW DEMAND ON CASTRO VENEZUELAN MERCHANT SHIPS MUST BE KEPT AT HOME London Press Criticises the Govern merit Views of Washington Participation by Italy. PUERTO CABELLO, Dec. 13.-The British cruiser Charybdis and the German cruiser VIneta bombarded the fortress here at 5 o'clock this afternoon and quickly silenced it. The bombardment lasted fortyfive minutes. The fortress is composed of Fort Solano and the Castle Llbertador. After the firing ceased the Charybdis sent marines to occupy the castle. The fortress was almost demolished. It is probable that only a few persons were Injured by the shellinr. The commander of Castle Llbertador has been taken prisoner. The cruisers are tili here. At 7 o'clock this morning the Charybdis and the VIneta arrived here searching for Venezuelan gunboats. The cruisers sent their boats into the inner port,, but finding no gun boa fa the boats returned. The captain of the British merchant steamer Topaze, which was seized by the mob here last Wednesday, then visited the British commodore on board the Charybdis and lodged a protest against the violation of his ship. The British captain returned an hour later with a detachment of fifty marines, who took charge of the' Topaze. Trj populace was greatly excited at this incident, and raised the cry "To arms," but Xher w?g no disorder. The British commodore then sent a mes-. sage to the authorities at Puerto Cabello demanding immediate satisfaction for the action of the mob in having hauled down the British flag from the Topaze. saying that if this satisfaction was not forthcoming in two hours, at 5 o'clock, the fortress and the custom house would be bombarded. On the receipt of this demand the authorities sent a message to President Castro, asking for instructions. A committee of the merchants of Puerto Cabello then approached the American consul here, petitioning him to intervene. The consul accepted this mission and visited the cruisers, but he could obtain no alteration in the decision of the allies. At a quarter before 5 a reply was received from President Castro, who authorized the chief offclal here to give the British commodore ample satisfaction. Before this answer could be communicated to the American consul the hour stipulated for its receipt had arrived; the cruisers Immediately openea fire on the fortress. The Are was returned from Fort Solano and Castle Llbertador, but the Venezuelan guns were soon silenced. "While the firing continued there was intense excitement in this port. Every house in town was closed. The people of Puerto Cabello cannot account for this precipitate action on the part of the allies, which they consider to be proof that Great Britain and Germany intend forcing war upon Venezuela. The British marines purpose to make use of the cannon in Castle Libertado. No damage was done to the town. The excitement of the people la subsiding. The entrance to the inside harbor at Puerto Cabello is through a narrow channel, not more than a few hundred feet wide. To the left of this channel, as one enters the harbor, situated on a low sand spit, is the fortress wnteh was bombarded by the German and British cruisers. It Is an oldfashioned structure which was built in the eighteenth century. Its sides are comparatively low and would offer but poor resistance to modern shells. It Is not probable that the Venezuelan government has any modern cannon there. , The custom house at Puerto Cabello is ritaated on the right, or mainland, side of the channel. It is a long, two-story brick building, and contains, besides executive offices, large warehouses. Steamers discharging at Puerto Cabello tie up immediately in front of the custom house. The town itself is flat and stretches? from the water front Inland to the base of the hills, a distance of two or three miles. The outside harbor at Puerto Cabello is hardly more than a large bay, offering comparatively little protection to shipping. The inside harbor is very secure and quite commodious. Several Killed and Wiianded. t CHICAGO, Dec. 14. An' nter Ocean cablegram from laguayra says, concerning the bombardment cf Puerto Cabello: The shelling was the outcome of a protest Sled with British Commodore Montgomerle yesterday afternoon by the captain of the little merchantman Topaze. which was seized by the Venezuelan authorities on Tnursday. The captain of the Topazes which was at anchor in the harbor, sent a note to Commodore Montgomerie demanding reparation for the treatment he had received at the hands of the Venezuelans. -Commodore Montgomerle immediately sent a note to the Venezuelan authorities, demanding prompt reparation. He added that, unless Immediate satisfaction was given, he weld begin to bombard the town. He gave the Venezuelan authority but a thort time for reply. No answer was received to this note, and after a short hesitation Commodore Montgomerle ordered the British gunners to begin firing. The first shell was directed at the custom house, and very nearly wrecked the building. A few more well-directed shots and the custom house was a mass of ruins. Then the Charybdle directed her attention to tha fcrts above the harbor. 'By this time, however, the Venezuelan gunm-rs had succeeded in getting the range, and poured ia a hot fire on the Charybdis. buUiag her Mveral times. The British r

CABELLO

ply was so severe that the Venezuelans were compelled to cease firing. They returned to their guns almost immediately, however. A number were killed and wounded on both sides, but the real extent of the casualties are not known here. The Inhabitants of Puerto Cabello are In a state of abject terror. Great numbers had fled before the bombardment began, and hundreds of others left' as soon as the first shot was fired. Most of them are camped in the hills back of the town. A dispatch from there, received late Saturday night, says a large force of troops is hurrying to the city and will arrive to-day." The dispatch added that a bombardment of Laguayra was expected on Sunday. - DEMAND OF THE ALLIES That Veneonela Keep Her Ships In Harbor President Castro Courtesy. CARACAS. Dec. 13. A note from the commanders of the allied Anglo-German fleet, which the Venezuelan government refused to receive yesterday at Laguayra, was sent to-day to United States Minister Bowen at Caracas and forwarded by him to the proper government official here. The note, in the name of Great Britain and Germany, requests that ail Venezuelan ships, after the lapse of five days, refrain from sailing from the port of Laguayra until the present difficulties are over. The question what right Great Britain and Germany have to coerce Venezuela without declaring a blockade is being asked on all sides here. "El Mocho" Hernandez and certain other revolutionary leaders left Maralcaibo today for Curacao, on their way to Caracas. Hernandez is probably the most popular of the revolutionary leaders. President Castro has kept him imprisoned at Maralcaibo for several years past. The news of the shelling of the fortress and customs houre at Puerto Cabello this afternoon by the British cruiser Charybdis and the German cruiser VIneta reached Caracas late to-night. It caused considerable excitement, and in spite of the preventive measures taken by the police of Puerto Cabello, trouble Is fearedr at that port. President Castro learned this morning of the illness of Madame Von Pilgrlm-Bal-tazzl, and this afternoon, accompanied by his wife and a number of Venezuelan officers, "he called at the German legation. Here the visitors were received by United States Minister Bowen, who escorted them to the room of the invalid. President Castro greeted Madame Von Pilgrlm-Baltazzi. and spoke to her of her husband In a friendly way, saying he held the German envoy in high regard. - The President made a favorable impression on Madame Von Pilgrlm-Baltazzi, and before he left the German legation he offered her the hospitality of the "Yellow House," his official residence at Caracas. The British legation here will be reopened to-night under the American flag by W. W. Russell, secretary of the American le gation. The statement that Italy, through her legation here, Is to demand payment of her claims against Venezuela has been confirmed. The arrival of the United States gunboat Marietta, at Laguayra, yesterday, was due to a rumor that United States Minister Bowen was In danger. There has been no ground for such a rumor, and the presence of the Marietta was not requested by Mr. Bowen. The situation in Caracas continues to be critical, and there is intense excitement among the German residents of the city, to-day (Saturday) the Germans sought refuge at the American legation, where they will be sheltered. Mr. Bowen has laid In quantities of all kinds of provisions, to be prepared for an emergency. The enlistment of Venezuelan . soldiers continues, and 2,000 men from the environs of Caracas and Valencia came Into this city to-day. The boycotting of British and German goods continues. The British and German colleges here, which we-e boycotted, have closed their doors. The University of Caracas also Is closed. Priests are preaching for war. It is reported that ninety Germans living in the country have offered to support the Venezuelan government against Germany. eaaing uermai) ana Urttlsh residents of Caracas are very bitter against their respective ministers, whom they accuse of leaving Caracas without giving any intimation of their intention to abandon the city. The note from the commanders of the allied fleet, which was sent to the Venezuelan governme through Minister Bowen, concerning . enezuelan vessels leaving Laguayra, is supposed to herald the blockade. The people of Caracas are astonished that the government at Washington remains silent, in spite of the recent acts of the allied fleet. The fact that the people of Venezuela are in absolute ignorance of the designs of the allies upon their country creates a deep and disturbing impression here. The chief officer of President Castro's guard said today to the representative of the Associated Press: "If .tttTU8 war let us kno. and we will fight. If there Is to be only an assault on our coast, where we cannot reach the allies, the only thing left for us to do is to declare that 'to destroy your debtor's furniture is a strange way to force the payment of his obligation.' I -believe this situation will soon come within the scope' of the Monroe doctrine.' VIEWS AT WASHINGTON. I " Officials Mneh Disturbed by Reports of the Bombardment. WASHINGTON, Dec. .-Minister Bowen, In a dlspitch received by the State Department this afternoon, cabled that he had been informed by President Castro that British and German warships were bombarding Puerto Cabello. In an earlier dispatch, received by the State Department at 3:22 o'clock Sunday mornlrg, Minister Bowen said that the situation at the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, was much quieter. The great excitement noted at the outset of the affair, he said, was caused by the precipitate flight of the British and German ministers, the arrest of all the subjects of those two nations and the seizure of the Venezuelan gunboat without first declaring a blockade, thus causing the people to fear a bombardment would fouow at once. Aside from the dispatches from Minister Bowen there were no important developments in the Venezuelan situation so far as the State Department is concerned. The officials are watching events with keen interest, so as to be able to act promptly should such a step become necessary, but nothing wa done to-day except to make some representations to the German and English governments in the matter of the peaceful blockade now being enforced by those governments in Venezuelan waters. Secretary Hay took the dispatches from Mr. Bowen over to the White House during the day and discussed the situation in Venezuela for some time with the President, but he had nothing to make public on the subject. In the matter of the blockade the secretary has Instructed our ambassadors at Berlin and I-ondon to represent to those governments that the United States must nut b understood as giving its consent to

any extension of the International right of peaceful blockade. It Is not known that this instruction was called forth by any incident making such representation necessary. It was made simply as a cautionary measure and gives the attitude of Ms government should any development a. 1 'nakIng its position a matter of import.- .e. It was confidently hoped lat before this time some answer wouK r.; been received from the German a: i rrltsh governments to President Castro's r.- j.icst that the claims of those povernmems submitted to arbitration. The request w transmitted from Caracas by Minister Bowen during the latter days of last week, and in turn was handed to the embassies of Germany and Great Britain at this capital. Secretary Hay up to this time has not received any reply. The visit of Castro to the bedside of the invalid wife of the German diplomatic representative at Caracas has created a good impression here, as it did at that place, whereas the necessity for bombardment of Puerto Cabello made an equally unfavorable one. It Is regretted that the commanders of the German and British vessels should have found It necessary to resort to such a severe step as bombardment of the city for an act for which satisfaction might have been obtained in a more peaceful manner. The greatest fear Is that such acts will result in inflaming the minds of the Venezuelans, who are of an Impetuous nature, and that retaliation may follow by assaults on foreign residents In Venezuela, but that these may lead to far more serious consequences and the shedding of blood. Nothing has been heard here in official circles of the report that the Italian government has presented to Venezuela an ultimatum for the payment of the claims of that country, thus taking action similar to that already Instituted by Germany and Great Britain. The presence of the United States gunboat Marietta at Laguayra. according to official explanation here, is without any special significance, the vessel having gone to that place simply in accordance with the itinerary heretofore arranged for her. Nothing came to the Navy Department to-day from her commander. Secretary Moody said to-night that it had not been decided to send any vessels of war to Venezuelan waters.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. London Press Intimates that Blnnderderlng Haute Has Been Used. LONDON, Dec. 13. In a dispatch from Willemstad, Curacao, dated Dec. 14, the correspondent of the Dally Mall says the Anglo-German warships are blockading Laguayra. The steamer Yucatan was warned by the British cruiser Indefatigable not to enter Laguayra and returned to Curacao. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2, COL. 2.) GASOLINE AND CIGAR THESE THE CAUSE OF A TEKRHILE ACCIDENT TO AUGUST LAYDEN. lie Dropped a Jug of Gasoline and the Flnld Caught Fire from III Lighted Cigar. BURNED FEOM HEAD TO WAIST DOCTORS AT CITY HOSPITAL SAY SUFFERER CANNOT RECOVER. Lay den n -Foreman for Fife A Son In Construction of WashingtonStreet Drldge. August Layden, foreman for Fife & Son in the construction of the West Washington-street bridge over White river, was terribly burned last night by gasoline, and is in the City Hospital near death. A slippery pavement, gasoline and a lighted cigar are responsible for the accident. Layden and 'his half-brother, Henry Hasselburg, were going to their home at 140 Bloomlngton street about 6:30 o'clock. They carried with them supplies they had obtained at a grocery near the street ear barns. Hasselburg carried a gallon jug of gasoline and a basket of groceries. Layden carried an armful of stovewood. When the two men reached the front of 1224 West Washington street Layden dropped the wood and said it was hurting his arms to carry it. As he threw the wood to the ground he said: "That is the last wood I will ever carry." His brother laughed at him for his display of wrath, and handed him the Jug of gasoline. Layden started toward the middle of the street, while his half-brother undertook to pick up the wood. Layden, on reaching the outer edge of the sidewalk, slipped on the ice. When he fell the Jug was broken and gasoline was thrown all over his clothej. Layden was smoking a cigar, and instantly his clothes Ignited and he became enveloped in flame. CONTINUED SMOKING. The little river of oil that flowed from the Jug also caught fire and In a second Layden was in the midst of burning oil. Hasselburg Immediately took off his overcoat and tried to smother the flames, but Layden unconsciously continued smoking his cigar. The lighted cigar naturally kept the oil burning and Hasselburg was unable to extinguish the flames. He called for help, and several women living In that vicinity ran there with heavy comforts. Mrs. L. M. Garbison, of 1224 West Washington street, spread several blankets and comforters over Layden and succeeded in putting out the fire. Hasselburg in the meantime had taken the cigar from Layden's mouth, and In so doing was severely burned about the hands and wrists. Layden lay In the flames for several minutes before the fire was completely extinguished. He was taken into Mrs. Garblson's house and doctors from the City Hospital were called. Layden was unconscious, but the doctors applied remedies to keep up his heart action while they used lotions on the burned parts. It was found that Layden was burned from his head to his waist. His hair was burned from his head and his scalp and face were nearly cooked. While he lay in the pool of gasoline with the lighted cigar still in his mouth he inhaled much of the flames. On account of inhaling so much of the flame It is thought that his lungs are badly burned. Dr. Hughes, of the City Hospital, said there was no chance for Layden to live. Layden has resided in this city since the construction of the West Washington-street bridge several months ago. He came here from Danville, 111. He was married, but he and his wife are divorced. His ten-year-old daughter lives with him on Bloomington street. Layden Is forty-seven years old. EXPLOSION IN TUNNEL. Tvro Men Killed, Others Seriously InJured, tit Cleveland. CLEVELAND, Dec. 14. Two men were instantly killed, two others perhaps fatally burned and a number of others less severely burned to-day in an explosion of gas in the water tunnel 10) feet below the bottom of Lake Erie. The Dead. BEN RUDNER. Rochester, N. Y, ARTHUR BELGER. Canton, O. The Injured. WILLIAM KNOX. Brooklyn. N. Y.. civil engineer, sorif-usly burned about head, face and body; probably will die. JAMES OSSMAN, Willlamstown. Pa., burned about head and face; condition serious. Others less seriously burned are: Edward Kngleson, Cleveland; Peter Garlin, Cleveland; Henry Hairfer. Canton; John Powers. Cleveland; Albert Arnet. Cleveland; Ernest Bures, Cleveland. The cause of the explosion. It is believed, was a spark from the Joining of two electric wires in the tunneL

DAMAGE AND DELAY

STORMS OF SLEET AND SNOW CRIPFLE RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS. Through Trains Behind Scheduled Time on All Roads and Wires Down in the East. SLOPPY WEATHER PREDICTED INDICATIONS POINT TO. PREVALENCE OF UNSETTLED CONDITIONS. Gradually Rising: Mercury Lends to the Forecast that Dark of Cold Wave Is Broken. STREET-CAE SERVICE AFFECTED ICY STREETS PUT PEDESTRIANS IN DESPERATE PLIGHT. Philippine Soldier Frosen to Death In Kentncky -Heavy Snow in Nebraska Weather Conditions Elsewhere. Indianapolis and Indiana generally is in for a siege of sloppy weather, the weather man says, and all indications point to unsettled conditions for some time to come. A grain of comfort is extracted, however, by the statement that the back of the cold wave Is broken. The temperature has been rising gradually for twenty-four hours, and everything points to wet overhead and underfoot. The coldest hour yesterday was at 6 o'clock in the morning, when the mercury was at 16 degrees above zero. The temperature then began to. go up, and at 7 o'clock last night it was at 2S degrees, the highest point reached during the day. About that time it commenced sleeting, and as the precipitation immediately froze on the streets and sidewalks the annoyance and positive danger to 'which pedestrians were subjected was considerable. Indications pointed last night to a further rise of temperature with rain, and the local observers hinted at bad conditions for the next few days. Rain was reported at Louisville and was expected at Cincinnati and Chicago. SLEET-COVERED WALKS. A fine sleet mixed with rain began falling at 6:30 o'clock. This caught many pedestrians in the down-town streets and made walking unpleasant. The temperature increased about 9 o'clock and the sleet changed to rain. This continued for several hours, and a fast a? It fell it froze, making a fine coating of Ice over all the sidewalks and streets. Late pedestrians down town found it almost impossible to walk for any distance. It finally became so bad that walking was nearly out of the question, except for those who cared to risk breaking a limb. There were many, however, who tried to get to their homes, and in their efforts were able only to walk a few steps until the slippery ice caused them to fall to the pavement. About Pennsylvania and Washington streets, where many waited for street cars, the sight of people falling on the sidewalk or in the street was common. When people went to the rescue of those who had fallen others laughed as the would-be rescuers also fell. Fortunately no horses were out last night. If any had been they could not have maintained their footing on the icy pavemfit. Blacksmith shops opened earlier this morning than for many months in order to accommodate the rush of business. On Saturday many owners of horses being unable to get their stock shod took the shoes from the fet of the horses and let them walk on their hoofs. On account of this rush blacksmith shops were overcrowded this morning. No cold wave is In sight for this part of the country, according to the observers. The temperature in the lower Mississippi States is unseasonably high, as much as 70 degrees In some places making reports. ALL TRAINS LATE. Railroads and telegraph companies have been inconvenienced badly. Particularly is this true of the railroads. All through trains were late getting in to the Union Station yesterday and last night, one or two being as much as twelve hours late. All trains having a long distance to go and a limited schedule were uniformly off their time. The Southwestern Limited on the Big Four, which should have left Indianapolis yesterday morning at 11:43 a. m., did not get out of the city until 8:43 o'clock last night. Panhandle train No. 11, the fast mail which negotiates the distance from New York to St. Louis in twentythree hours, and which carries no passengers, was one hour and forty minutes late last night. Bee-line train No. 33, due at 10:10 o'clock last night, was marked six hours late. Other trains had bad marks against them, ranging all the way from one hour to twelve hours. Sleet on the tracks and heavy falls of snow in the East were given as the principal cause by railroad men. The greatest trouble lies in the East, where weather conditions have been very bad for transportation. While the weather is perhaps the principal cause, there are other reasons for delay that affect the running of trains. The congestion of freight has much to do with it. Engines are like men. railroad people say, and when they are overworked they do not behave well. A night such as last night was Is always passed with nervousness by railroad men There is always more or less probability of wrecks, and wrecking crews are especially Instructed to be on the alert for hurry orders. TELEGRAPH WIRES DOWN. Telegraph companies suffered as much as railroads, if not more. The Postal Telegraph Company probably experienced the greatest .trouble. The heavy sleet storm has crippled the service between Knlghtstown and Richmond, and to-day the company will have 500 men at work repairing broken wires and setting up fallen poles. All damage, it Is hoped, will be repaired by to-night, unless another sleet storm should make the work of no avail. Manager Samuels, of the Postal, said last night that his company had not been so annoyed in years as by the unsettled weather of the past day or two. The Western Union has also had a bad time over east, where sleet and snow has burdened the wires and caused their fall. The company has not had much trouble near Indianapolis, and last night the wires were working fairly well. Street-car E?rvice was interrupted to some extent, and cars on many lines were badly off their schedules, to the annoyance of people who stod on corners waiting for cars that never c ime. Sleet-covered tracks was the chief cause of Impaired service. FROZEN TO DEATH. Former Philippine Soldier Loses Ills Life' in Northern Kentucky. MAYSVILLE. Ky.. Dec. 14. James Quaw, a discharged soldier, who recently returned from Manila, was found dead in a buggy

near this city this morning. He started for his home at Flemingsburg last night when, it is said, he was under the influence of liquor. When found his body was half way out of the buggy, lying across the dashboard. There is no doubt that he froze to death.

Kockles Covered with Snow. DENVER, Col., Dec. ll.-The entire Rocky mountain region from northern Wyoming to southern New Mexico has been visited by a snowstorm during the past thirty-six hours. The ground in the plateau sections is covered to a depth of six inches, while the fall In the mountains has been much heavier. To-night the weather is clear. Much Snow In braska. OMAHA, Neb., Dec. H.-Seven inches of snow, half of which has fallen since. morning, is on the ground. Trains to-night are coming in late from all directions. No wind accompanies the storm, however, and beyond the delay of railroad trains no serious results are reported. Blizzard in Central Illinois. BLOOMLNGTON, 111.. Dec. 14. A blizzard is ragimj over central Illinois to-night. Snow began to fall at dusk, accompanied by a driving wind. It is growing colder, and it is thought that traffice will be impeded. 75,000 TONS OF COAL. Hendln? Company Claims to Have Moved It In Two Days. READING. Pa., Dec. 14-The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company had over fifty locomotives in service transporting coal to market yesterday and today. The company claims that 75,000 tons were started last night and to-day, and are now on the road. Most of it is destined for the large Eastern cities. The motive power of the company has never before been taxed as it is at the present. Heavy Plttsunrg Shipments. PITTSBURG, Dec. 14. The Monongahela and Allegheny rivers are falling to-night, after a continued rise of three days. The Ohio river mark at the dam is fifteen feet and falling slowly. Three million bushels of coal were started south to-day, and fully 5,000,000 more Is expected to be shipped tomorrow, which will make the aggregate for four days nearly 15,000,000 bushels. COLUMBIA CLUB PLANS STATEMENT CALLED FORTH BY AN UNWARRANTED ATTACK. John D. Cockrnm Says There Is Practically No Opposition to the Proposed Change. THE DUES HAY BE INCREASED A BUSINESS PROPOSITION THAT CONCERNS NONE BUT MEMBERS. It Would De as Sane to Talk of a Re. celrcr for the Republican Party or the Methodist Church. The unwarranted attempt of the Democratic State organ to make political capital out of the private financial affairs of the Columbia Club by publishing a story of alleged Impending dissensions In the club, based on the fact that a number of the members have signed a resolution asking a change in the by-laws to provide for an Increase In the annual dues, has caused the officials of the club to make a statement of the true situation. Ten days ago President Sweet called a meeting of the officers, present and past, and of the chairmen of the club committees, present and past, to consider the finances of the club. The situation was discussed at length and a committee was appointed, of which John B. Cockrum Is chairman, to consider certain changes in the organization that were deemed advisable. This committee prepared a resolution for a change in the by-laws of the clubwhereby the annual dues of resident members will be increased from $30 to $40, and non-resident members, who have heretofore paid no dues, will be required to pay $20 annually. This resolution was signed by a large number of members and has been posted on the bulletin board of the club. After thirty days it will go to the board of directors, and if they pass upon it favorably it will be laid before the stockholders at the annual meeting early in February for final action. STATEMENT OF CLUB'S AFFAIRS. Last night Mr. Cockrum made the following statement of the club's affairs: "In the first place let me say that this is purely a private business affair of the Columbia Club; the public is not concerned, it is not a matter of general interest, and but for the Sentinel's efforts to make political capital out of it by an unfair, unwarranted and untruthful story to the effect that the proposed change In the by-laws had aroused such opposition that a spilt in the membership was imminent and the club might be placed in the hands of a receiver, nothing whatever would be published concerning it. The Sentinel might as well talk of a receiver for the Republican party or for the Methodist Church. There is no dissension among the members of the club, and any intimation to the contrary is unqualifiedly false. "In the first place the club expended a large amount of money and attempted to carry this on a system of dues for resident members of less than one-half the dues of similar organizations In any other city and of no dues whatever for nonresident members. There is not a club in the country in which nonresident members are not required to pay dues. The organization of the Columbia Club was wrong in this respect, and seeing our mistake we are asking the members to meet the situation in a business way. In a canvass of over onehalf of the club membership only two resident members and one nonresident have been found who oppose the change, and these three men are not radically antagonistic to the proposition. The Sentinel's article is malicious and false and Is an unwarranted meddling with an affair with which the public has absolutely no concern. "The clubhouse represented an original investment of a little over $103.000. Of this amount about $123.000 was paid, leaving abalance due of about $70.000. The tangible property of the club, including real estate, was worth $244,000 at the time the clubhouse was completed. On Jan. 1, 1302, the tangible property of the club. Including real estate, was worth $258,000, with the real estate assessed at $38.000, when iUis really worth $75.000 to $100,000. On Oct. SI. 1302, the tangible property of the club was worth $203,000. showing a net increase of $18,000 in twenty-two months. The indebtedness of the club on Jan. 1. 1&01. was $151,000; on Jan. 1. If02, it was $138.000; on Oct. 3L 1002. it was $113.000. The total reduction of the indebtedness in twenty-two months was approximately $38,000. SALE OF NEW MEMBERSHIPS. "This reduction of the indebtedness has been made, however, solely through the sale of new memberships. There has been a loss in the operation of the house of from $6.000, to $3.000 per year. 'In other words, the revenues of the club from dues and the net profits on the business of the various departments of the clubhouse have not been sufficient to pay all the operating expenses and the interest on the indebtedness,

which amounts to $3.500 per year, and in running the club on the present basis we have found It necessary to encroach on our capital derived from the sale of new memberships. That is not a business-like method of conducting tne club, and we propose a change which Is not radical and which will not meet with the opposition of the stockholders. "We have at present 710 resident members, paying annual dues of $30, which amounts to $21,300 per year. We have eleven contributing: members, who pay & each, or $330 per year. We hae 53S nonresident members, who pay nothing, and yet they are the ones who derive the most benefits from the club, stopping at the club whin they are in the city at one-half the expen.-e they would be put to at one of our hotels and using all the club privileges. There is not one of them who would cancel his membership if his dues were made twice $20. The Columbia Club is not made up of cheap skates or of kickers; its membership is drawn from the very best citizens of Indiana. "With the proposed increase in dues the club would have an annual income of $40.ooo from that source, an increase of $19,i"0. This would enable us to run the club in first-class shape and pay off annually $10. of our indebtedness. The submission of this question to the stockholders is purely the submission of a business proposition to the members of a business organization. Each of the members Is a stockholder to the amount of $100 or more in the club's property, and. as in all other organizations, it is to the member's financial interest to protect his investment, if for no other reason. "We do not anticipate any difficulty whatever In securing the adoption by the stockholders of this change in the club's organization, because all the members have the Interests of the club at heart and are willing to lend their support to its continued success and ultimate freedom from debt. The club is not in a bad way financially; on the contrary, its present financial condition is most excellent. It is to prevent any future difficulties that this departure is proposed. INCREASE IS REASONABLE. "The increase in dues is not unreasonable. If it Is made the dues of the Columbia Club will still be considerably lower than those of any similar organization in the country. To show this let me give a statement of the dues of other well-known clubä: i Resi- NonresiClub and City. dent. dent. Chicago Club, Chicago $80 $40.00 Athletic Club, Chicago GO 30.00 Union League, Chicago 80 40.00 University, Chicago 80 20.00 Calumet. Chicago 60 30.00 Urion, Chicago GO 30.00 Pendennis. Louisville GO 3O.00 Phoenix, Cincinnati ino KM.OO University. New York 75 35.00 Athletic, New York GO 30.00 Union League. New York 73 75.00 Union, New York 75 75.0") New York Club, New York.... 73 37.ri0 Union League, Philadelphia 60 61.00 Minneapolis Club, Minneapolis 75 23.0) Montana, Helena GO 30.00 Dequesne, Pittsburg 100 50.00 Denver Club, Denver 80 40.00 Athletic, Bojton 50 23.00 Columbus Club, Columbus, O.. 60 25.00 "Understand, please, that no change has yet been made. The matter Is merely being put in shape for the stockholders to decide, and if there is any opposition the stockholders can defeat the resolution. We regret the necessity of parading the private affalr3 of the club in the newspapers, but in justice to ourselves we had no alternative in the face of the attempt of the Democratic state organ to hold the club up as a bankrupt organization which might be thrown Into the hands of a receiver in the near future." NOT PESSIMISTIC.

James J.' Hill Refutes Reports of an Alleged Interview. ST. PAUL, Minn... Dec. 14.-J. J. Hill returned to-day from an Eastern trip and said that the alleged Interview with him sent out from Chicago, In which he was made to take a pessimistic view of Industrial and financial conditions, was purely imaginative and that he did not talk with newspaper men there. "The business of the country is undergoing a readjustment to meet changed conditions," said Mr. Hill. "The most alarming thing is the decrease in our exports. We are importing much more than we export. This is not due to a larger home consumption: it is because our articles-cost tob much. Our people demand better things than do those of other countries, and our production has been overtaking the needs of the country too rapidly. The things we manufacture cost more than other nations will pay, and they buy elsewhere. Agricultural products, provisions and such things sell readily everywhere and are staple the world over. They are not affected by local conditions. I do not look for the production of articles of a cheaper kind to meet the demands of the export trade. I do not know what will be done. It is hoped that some adjustment will be made to meet the conditions. There is too much speculation or too much 'boom.' Just how It will come out I do not know." NIGHT OF EXPOSURE. Crew of a Newfoundland Schooner Has a Hard Experience. ST. JOHNS, N. F., Dec. 14. The schooner Molly, carrying a crew of seven men, was struck by a gale yesterday morning. The vessel was heeled over until the stove in her cabin upset. This resulted in setting fire to the woodwork and the schooner was soon a mass of flames. The crew ran the Molly for outer Gooseberry island, an uninhabited Island twelve miles off Bonivista. There the schooner was beached and the crew landed on the rocks. Residents of the mainland caught sight of the burning schooner and the mailboat Dundes was dispatched to the rescue. The Dundee reached outer Gooseberry island in the evening. A heavy surf was breaking on the island, and only the captain of the Molly risked the plunge through the surf necessary to reach the Dundee's boat. The Dundee remained in the offing until this morning, when she succeeded in getting the other men of the Molly's crew on board. They were badly frostbitten as a result of their night's exposure. ADVENTIST'S SALARY CUT. Dy Not Working on Saturdays He Loses 4SO a Year. WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. Assistant Secretary Alles has disposed of the case of Elmer Pcttyford, a colored clerk in the Treasury Department and a Seventh-day Adventlst, who refused to do work on Saturdays. Mr. Alles has concluded to transfer the man to the sixth auditor's office, where he will be put to work assorting money orders. He will be reduced, however, from $1,200 to $720 a year, that being the maximum pay allowed by law for that work. He will be paid only for the time he Is actually employed. HIS ELECTION ASSURED. Gen. Nord Enters Port-au-Prince with a Large Army. PORT-AU-PRINCE. Haiti, Dec. 14. Gen. Alexis Nord, who was war minister under the provisional government, entered the capital of Haiti to-day at the head of his army. He was accorded a sympathetic leception by the people. General Nord's intentions are not known. It Is generally believed that In case he announces himself as a candidate for the presidency his election to the office is assured by reason of the numerous forces at his command. John W. Ein Critically 111. ' PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 14. John W. Ela. a delegate to the recent National Civil Service Reform Convention and president of the Civil Service Reform League, of Chicago, is critically ill at a hospital here. Mr. Ela. who Is sixty-five years of age. spoke at the session of the convention held last Friday night, and a few hours after returning to his hotel he was suddenly stricken with apoplexy. His physician has telegraphed his wife to hatten to her husband's bedside.

US. GRANT DEAD

WIDOW OF THE SILENT MAN PASSES AWAY AT WASHINGTON. Death Due to Heart Failure, Mrs. Grant Having Been Subject to Heart Disease for Many Years. HER DAUGHTER WAS WITH HER NELLIE GRANT SARTORIS THE ONLY CHILD AT Hint 11EDS1DE. Story of Her Life with the Grcnt Coraluunder and President m It Came from Her Own Lips. OTHER DEATHS OF THE DAY 3IAJ. ALEXANDER SHAW. DISTINGUISHED BALTIMORE RESIDENT. He Wns a Financier and Philanthropist The Rev. Kdwnrd Hannin, Well-Known Toledo Priest. WASHINGTON, Dec. ll.-Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, widow, of the late President Grant, died at her residence in this city at 11:17 o'clock to-night. Death was due to heart failure, Mrs. Grant having suffered for some years from valvular disease of tho heart, which was aggravated by a severe attack of bronchitis. Her age prevented her rallying from'the attack. Her daughter, Nellie Grant Sartoris, was the only one of her children with her at the time of her death, her three sons, who had been summoned here, all being out of the city. There also were present at the bedsida when the end came Miss Rosemary Sartoris, a granddaughter; Dr. Bishop, one cf the attending physicians, and the two trained nurses. Death came peacefully, th sufferer retaining almost complete consciousness, practically to the end. Word has come from Jesse and Ulysses S. Grant, two of the sons now in California, that they have started on their way to Washington. The other son. Gen. Fred Grant, is in Texas, and-he will hasten here as soon as he receives a message telling hlra of ht3 mother's death. Thebody of Mrs. Grant will be deposited in the tomb at Riverside Park, New York, where those of her husband now repose. Whether they will be taken there Immediately or this ceremony will be postponed for a time could, not be ascertained at the house to-night. - Julia Dent was born In SL LpWonFib. 16, 1S26, the daughter ö"r"Frederick andtfcT Bray Wrenshall DenL She married Lieut. U. S. Grant on Aug. 22, 1S41 After his death Congress passed a bill giving her a pension of $3,000. ' In the early history of Missouri Mrs. Grant's father. Judge Dent, occupied a prominent place in political and social circles. Her brother was a classmate qt Grant's at West Point, and It was through this fact that Julia. Dent became acquainted with the young lieutenant who afterwards became, first the commander-in-chief of all the Union armies during the civil war, and afterwards occupied th White House. Mrs. Grant's own story of her acquaintance with and marriage to the general and their life before and after the civil wai has been written. In It she said: "General Grant was my brother's chum at West Point. It was an odd coincidence that after they graduated my brother wai sent to a distant post, while Lieutenant Grant was stationed at Fort Jefferson, a few miles from our plantation near St Louis. Several months later came thi Mexican war and Lieutenant Grant went away. Before he left for the front I had promised to be his wife. "When the Mexican war closed Lieut. Grant came back with laurels and a captaincy, and we were married. Soon after Captain Grant was ordered to a Western post, and for several years we did frontlei duty. "Captain Grant, however, was a better soldier in time of war than of peace. He was happy in the fight and the din of battle, but restless in the barracks. He resigned from the army and took a plantation in Missouri, and went to farming. That was the first real domestic life w had experienced since our marriage. "My tenderer t memories cluster tound th old farm. It was there our children wer born, and it was the first place the captain and I had that we could call 'nome "When the civil war broke out Captain Grant drilled a company and volunteered his services. He could no more resist th sound of a file or a. drum or a chance to fire a gun than a woman can resist bonnets. "His achievements In that war are an old story, and any soldier's wife and children must suffer and fear and hope as we did then. We did not waste our time la useless walling, however. We could not go to war, but ours was the soldier spirit, and our hands were busy working for tht men at the front. "It was some time before my husband would consent to my joining him, and then with great eagerness I took up life at hl side in a soldiers' camp! I did not miss the comforts, the anxiety was so greatly les. sened, and who could think of luxuries with cannons booming and bullets flying and the strains of martial music swelling every fiber with patriotism? "I shall never forget VIcksburg. It Is ai vivid ass if it were yesterday. I not only se it. like a brilliant panorama, but there are times when the whole scene recurs to me so terribly that I almost hear It again. "That was ihe general's greatest battle, 1 believe. But we were all thankful when It was over, when peace came, and tho bloodshed ceased. I grieved for them all, the blue and thj gray, for both colörs cove-red hearts that were loyal and loving; heartt which, when they ceased to beat, threw homes, whether Southern or Northern, lntc deepest mourning. "Then my captain was a general, and 1 was a general's wife. "When my general became his country's President I was as proud of him as hbi country was. My life at the White Hous was like a bright and beautiful dream, and we were Immeasurably happy. "I suppose I might say that the qulel tranquillity of the farm and Its home associations were sweeter to me than the gayety and excitement of the executive mansion, but it wouldn't be true. I do not know what the general would select as th happiest year of his life if he were here; probably it would be the field of battle, for he was a soldier first and all things else after. "But I am a woman, and the life at the White House was such that I wish it mlghl have continued forever, except that It would have prevented others from enjoying the same privilege." Mr. and Mrs. Grant were married in 1S41 Their first home was at Detroit. It wa while their home was In Detroit that thelt first son. Frederick D. Grant, was born, Mrs. Grant being on a visit to her parent! in St. Louis at the time. Two years latri Ulysses, the second son, was born at Bethel. O. The other children born of this unloc are Nellie, the only daughter, and Jesss, the former in August, ls55. the latter to 1SSS. Both of these were born at theii grandfather Dent's country home, near St. Eouls. the birthplace of their mother. During recent years, since Genera,' Grant's death. Mrs. Grant spent most ot her winters In Washington, living at Ho

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