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Fri-y1 l:-' M 7943 THE ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC. (NINETY SECOND YEAK. ST. LOUIS. MO.. TIirKSDAY. MAKCII 1. 11)00. In St. Lonla. One Cent. I 'Tv. I (TR i Otslo St. I.01 nis. Tuo Cents. res Cents. BULLER TAKES ICE IS KING IN ST. LOUIS. N PIETER'S HILL I'r ) Two Weeks' Continuous Fighting Wins the Position. HUNDREDS SLAIN. British General Reports Hard Work Still Before Him DRIVES THE BOERS. They Retreat to New and Strong Lines of Defense. 3T RICHARD HARDING DAVIS. SPECIAL BY CABLE. Pleters Station, Sunday. Feb. 23. (Copy right, 1900, by tho New Tork Herald Com pany. The, attack of the Inr.Iskilllng Fusiliers on Friday night on Railway Hill Pieters Hill) and the stand made through Cm the night was one of the most gallant and stubborn efforts yet made toward the relief of Ladysmilh. For twelve days the battle has been con tinuous, by night as well as by day, and this was one of Its supreme moments. Tho Tnnl.kI1ln?a tnlned this column with twenty-four officers. They have five re maining. That tells the story. Kb map, no penned account, can give a 4, Jkrrect idea of the difficulties of these hills Mi ridges, which succeed each other like . -; .-wives in a heavy sea. One elves way only to another. Each can be enfiladed, and un til one Is taken Jt Is Impossible, even with the keenest scouting, to know what fortunes '- lie beyond It. The military problem changes as the col tinm advances, each kopje refusing to give up- its secret until the troops have touched " " its crest. To add to the difficulty, the tropical, rainy season set In to-day. For twelve hours the .t uniforms of ths men clung- to them like wet -' eea,wecd. Mud caught them under foot: mist closed down and shut out the position - of the enemy. -This discomfort was borne by all alike. Bailer and his staff are actually living the "- life jtt a. prlvafo. There has net been even . a lent to cover the commanding Generals. They eat from their knees, with their shoul ders against a rock. They sleep where they can, and their field work Is carried on un der a transport wagon. tx KraiSKIIAIXGS IN AX IXFEIIXO. FECIAL. BY CABLE. fcLLondon. Thursday, March L Copyright. by the New York Herald Company.) A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph, dated Colenso Camp. Monday, says: .- "An armistice ruled all day yesterday, -fcoth sides being engaged in burying their dead. The Boers and Britishers fraternized during the suspension of hostilities. 'At half past 9 last night the enemy made "frantic efforts to capture the kopjes to the - north of Colenso, where our howitzer bat-'-tery is posted, but they were repulsed. "It is reported that 4.00) Iloers have left -' their positions surrounding Lad) smith and - gone to Dundee. "A Boer commando Is hovering in the vicinity of Ennersdale, its object presum . bly being to smash the railway bridge. "The enemy admit having sustained heavy losses. "At 1 o'clock on Friday, a general attack against the enemy's whole position wan or dered. Our men gained some ground by degged courage. By sections the troops rushd across the open space with the bul lets of the Boers whizzing among them, while their comrades, secure behind rocks, fired well-directed volleys to cotcr their - sdvan.ee. "A score of men would dash forward and seek cover. Then, in turn, they would fire . volleys and allow their comrades to join them. Such wcrc,thc tactics adopted until he fhen nearly get up to the Boer trenches. - "At 6 o'clock the leading company of the Inniskilllng Fusiliers reached a platform about 200 yards distant from tho Boer "trenches and charged. Tn rinr stood un nnrt fnrd nur flr. lUi courage born of determination. Heed li courage born of determination. Heed- ''is cf thc lyddite and shapnel shells fall ing over and about them, which made thc crummlt of the hill look like an Inferno, thcy .phot down our advancing line with unerring ecccracy. "t saw the first company waver and then break before a sheet of well-directed leaden hail. Within a minute net a. man was left standing. I thought that the -whole company or Fusiliers was annihi lated, but shortly afterwards I could see some of them move, then rlw. walk quietly to the rear and take cover. The suppcrt lng company was also cut up, and the Inniskllllngs, perceiving the uselcssness of this tttr.clc, began to build walls to protect ? themselves from the Boer fire. Thtre they lay over night, almost within "apeakiag distance of Uie enemy, the Boers posted on high, unassailable kepjes. It . iwould take ten times the defenders nun Jjsr tc successfully carry them." , oclu:r's dispatch. London. Feb. rs. The War Office has re ceived the following dispatch from General 3Juller: . "Headwaters, Illancw.ini. Feb. 2S, 5 a. m. " --Finding that the passage of Langewacht'a . pru!t was commanded by strong intrench- j inents, I reconnoltered for another pass-J ags of the Tugela. One was found for me . fcelow tho Cataract by Colonel Sandbach. "Jtoyai Engineers; on February 5. We commenced -making an approach thereto. - ad on February 2!, finding that I could jnake the passage practicable. I crossed the " pins and baggage back to the south side Of the Tugela. took up the pontoon bridge -.on Monday night, and relald it at the . cew site, which is Just below the present 'parked Cataract. .During all this time the troops had been scattered, crouching under hastily con structed, small stone shelters, and exposed . - - ;. fat. galling shell and rifle fire, and through- ,--Vi,ut- they maintained the most excellent i-f l9a IX' i-jfjj "-'-."(.'v- fSererM TfcT"3 r-tj t-n ". I GKNEltAI. Win KS. , Buller reports that after two v eoks of severe fighting his troops have carried Pietcr"s Hill, which, he sas. "in a measure turns the enemy's po- sltlon." The British lossos were severe, and, after driving back the Boers ani gaining the crest of the ridge, tht victors discovered that the Beers still occupied strong positions on Umbul- wana Hill. Buller several days ago was com pelled to cross the Tugela to the scuth side, but he immediately rccrossod again at another point During jlie entire operation, he says, his troops were under a galling fire, but bore up with wonderful fortitude. The Innlskilllngs lost nineteen out of twenty-four officers in cne charge. Buller and his entire staff lead the life of the private. All are without tents, and eat and sleep when orpor- tunlty offers. Experts declare that the roughness of the country and the ease with which it can be defended render It necessary that the aggressors must outnumber the defenders twelve to one. CnoXJE SEXT TO CAPE TOWS. Cronje has started for Cape Town. The Boer women w ere grief-stricken at being separated from their hus- bands, whom they feared they never would see again. The women were sent back to their homes. Cronje accepted the situation gracefully. He declared that his losses were terrible, but gave no out- ward evidences of what his Inner emotions were. The British have rcoccupled Rends- burg. U lions of the Sixth Brigade and the Dublin Fusiliers, crept about a mile and a half down the banks of the river, and ascended an almost perpendicular cliff of about 3M feet, assaulted and carried the top of Ple tcr's Hill. "This hill, to a certain extent, turned the enemy's left, and the Fourth Brigade, un der Colonel Jforeott. and the Elevrnth Brigade, Colonel Kitchener commanding, the wholo under command of General War ren, assailed the enemy's position, which was magnificently carried by the South Lancashire Regiment about sunset. "We took about sixty prisoners and scat tered the enemy in all directions. There seems to be still a considerable body of them left on and under Bulwana Mountain. Our losses. I hope, arc not large. They cer tainly are much less than they would have been were it not for the admirable manner in which the artillery was served, espe cially the guns manned by the Royal na val force and the Natal Naval Volunteers." Colenso, Monday. Feb. .-Yesterday an armistice was agreed upon and both aldei removed their wounded and burled their dead. The Boers lost heavily In attacking and many were killed among the trees. Severe musketry Are was resumed last evening. It was started by the accidental discharge of a rifle It is reported that there are 400 Boers near Bnnersdale. TASK DEFORB IllLLKH. BY MILTON V. SNYUEH. London. March L Copyright. 1W0, by the New York Herald Company.-General Rol ler has at last succeeded, after two weeks' continuous hnmir.erlnir in hroqWrn. ,.. steel band which the Boers have placed . around Ladysmlth, by his successful attack on Tuesday. He now holds the backbone of the rugged j country between Colenso and Ladyzmtth. uelore Mm He some minor hills called the Bestcrs Farm position. Then comes an open valley and then Caesar's Camp, Ladysmlth and low hills and open valleys commanded by the great Bulwana Mountain, still oc cupied by the Boers. Until the guns on that eminence are silenced no stores can be sent to Ladysmlth. Buller, if he brings up Ills big guns to his present position which Touii take pome days should be able. act..j; with the Lady smith garrison, to pour x cross fire on the Boors and silence their hvy guns. If tho relief of L.idysm!th is to be effect ual, l: must be accomplished quickly. Despite tho optimistic reports hello graphed from the beleaguered city. It Is known to the War Office that the garrison is rlmost at its last gasp. This Is net so much on account of lack of provisions or ammunition, which are not jet exhausted, although the report that a jjonvoy had been thrown Into the city is now authoritatively stated to be untrue, as "u-e because of the rclsonous water from the raiP llwer and thc unhealthy effects of the moist heat on thc rrstrictcd area In which the garrison has no choice of residence All the few spots shxlti-red from bom bardment were spteVllly polluted and even those who escaped fever, dysentery or diarrhea, have now reached a. state of low vitality. The garrison can still man the trenches and could probabV hold its own against a last desperate assault by thc Boers, but It Is unable to make a strong offensive move. The water of the Klip River and ncne else Is available for drinking Is thick with decaying animal matter, and Is horribly contaminated by the Boer camps. The Boers are well aware of the desperate condition of the beslegrd. nnd appear con fident that they cannot only maintain the elrge. but also block Buller. There Is sure to be heavy fighting before the two Victoria-Cross Generals shake hand. Apparently, the cliborate Groblers Kloof and Ondcrbrook works still remain in the llocr hands. Before bis right. Buller has the biggest nut to crack that hat yet presented Itsi-ir. If the Uovrs stand on Bulwana Mountain, which they fortified and occupied a long tlrie, and on which Bullr reports they are seen un the top. as well as the lower slopes, it will take a supreme effort by Butler's entire force to dislodge them nnd will entail terrific slaughter. It Is said In well-informed circles that when the complete returns are received of Butter's losses In thly last ten days" or two weeks fighting they will amount to 3,0. while the same authority is of the opinion that Roberts's casualties in his operations against Cronje will total close to 2.0t0. The War Office returns, which dribble out In small Installments, fall far short of these figures at present. Details of the surrender of Cronje nnd Via tr.lnmnt fni' lnn Trnn u.wtr.w4 by City of London Volunteers, have been I rrlYfH but thprf. Is no nnwn UA to TtnU I : firnT rrvomfnts nd It ! r-r ' understood that French has not started for Bloemfontrln. as was reported. The announcement that Clements reen tered Rendsburg. and the report that ilark-ly-East has offered to surrender, inow tho effects of the victory at Piardebcrg and the other of Brabant's advance. two sides ok noi:n ciiAincTr.it. London. March 1. A dispatch to the Tlms from Colenso says: "Before Sunday's armistice many of the British wounded had been left out for thirty-six hours. The Boers gave them water." Winston Churchill In a dispatch from Co lenso. dated Tuesday, says "The condition of the wounded who wore untended on the hlllsM Sunday was so painful that General Buller sent a flag of truce to the enemy, and It was arranged that throughout Sunday military move ments should continue on both sides, but thero should be no shooting. "This truce terminated at dusk. The Boers then resumed a furious muri.elry at tack on the British left. The attack was repulsed. Fighting continues vigorously. Wo shall see who can stand 'buffeting' best, the Briton or the Boer." Mr. Churchill goes on to say that there Is abundant proof of the Boers using a largo JULIAN RALPH DESCRIBES CRONJE'S SURRENDER. Had Lost Terribly and Accepted the Inevitable Graceful ly. tr JULIAN RALPH. SPECIAL BY CABLE. Faardeberg. Tuesday. Feb. S. Copyright. 1S0O. by the New York Herald Company.) It was a picturesque scene when Cronje was brought to Roberts at his headquar ters camp. A hcavy-shouldercd. alinoit hump-backed man. heavy-bearded, hcavy-llppcd. clad In farmerlike garb, wearing a broad-brlmmcd felt hat. lumbered along on a little, gray Boer pony, followed by an escort of lan cers. Dismounting, he found himself before little, wiry, cloee-knlt Robtrts. It was the greatest contrast poslblc. but Roberts, who was wearing his sword, re ceived the Boer General with a dignity that made him look six feet high. Cronje bore himself with a dlgnlfHd simplicity, accept ing with a bow the chair which Roberts himself preferred him. They talked together for pome minutes, Cronje's secretary. Kelxcr. Interpreting. Cronle raid that It was Impossible for him to hold out against the position which the British had gained, and he had to rccognlz; the Inevitable. The Boer leader showed no emotion at his situation, accepting It with fortitude, even occaonally smiling grimly. He had had a very uncomfortable time. He said he had lost terribly. Between 3.OD0 and 4.0M prisoners mardv-d out of the Linger, as well as Mrs. Cronje and her grandson, who accompanied tho commandant. Tnc only disappointed man is MacDcnalJ, wlio was nursing his wounded foot and talking of the anniversary of Majuha. He thought that the victory was cheaply bought. It was a grewsome sight. wbn the river, which had been swollen by night rains, carried through thc malt camp thousands of dead horse and oxen, washed from the banks of the enemy's position, where they had been killed by shell. This proves the awful execution which cur guns did nnd also the terrible condlticns from which Cronje sutTered. Some dead Boers were also seen floating In the river. cninK-STiticicEX womex. SPECIAL BY CABLE. London. ThursJay. Msreh 1. Copyright. 1S. by the New York Herald Company.) A Dally Telegraph special dated Modder River, February 3. says: The Boer Laager at Paardeberg pre sented an extraordinary scene after thc sur render. Wagcns and carts were heaped about everywhere, forming an outer line of defense, which has been smashed by our artillery. Three of the Boer guns had been wrecked. "Remarkable Intrenchments had been con structed by General Cronje to a great depth. These trench'-s formed veritable catacombs. Many wounded Boers, who 1....1 nattnAA for vml vt itw. n- -i th rlvr banks, tozcther with "wi:r,:e2S all JDOTW2T. proportion of illegal bullets, no fewer than five different kind of exploding or expand ing bullets having been found. He also as serts tha the Boers ate employing armed Kaffirs, and he add: "I hare always tried to be fair toward the Bers. but after making every allowance, it must bo said that they show- when In strev a ery dark, cruel and vengeful underside of character." DULLER XKKUS MORE ME.. London, March 1. Spenser Wilkinson, commenting on General Buller'a operations, says: "It hardiv seems an though Tuesday's attack had vovrrcd more than an advanced position, covering the Boer main lines of Investment, or that the Boers have aban doned any part of those line. Otherwise, Genera! Bullrr and Sir oeorxe Whi-e would have met the saras night. "The next night attack ought, one way or tho other, to be decisive Apparently. Lord Roberts cannot for some time Influence the course of events In Natal, and General Butler's force has now been subjected to a very considerable and prolonged strain. The moment seems epportune to point the necessity of sending General Buller re enforcements." hundreds of dead horses, the .tench from which poisoned the atmosphere. The prisoners conversed readily with our mn. but the wildest grief prevailed among tho few women present when the Boer legions were headed for the Modder River en route to Cape Town. The women Imagined that this would be their last meet ing with their husbands and relative. "General Cronjs had hoped to hold oSt over Majuba Day. but considered sur render necessary to utt his little army from un anticipated bayonet attack." CIIOXME SEAT TO CAPE TUW.. London, Feb. H The War Office has re celled the following dispatch Iron Lord Roberts. "I-aardeberg. Feb. IS.-CronJe. with his family, left here yesterday la charge of Major General Prettyman. and under the escort of tho City Imprlal Volunteers and Mountr.l Infantry. "Later In the day the remaining prisoners went In charge of the Earl of Erroll and escorted by thc Gloucesters and 1ft) Imperial Volunteers. "The women and children are being sent to their homes. I understand a great dis satisfaction was felt by the Boers at Cronje's refusal to accept my offer of safe conuuet to tho women and children, and medical care for the wounded. 170 of whom are now In our hospital. Many of them are in a terrible rlliht fcr want of care at an earlier stage. "I Inspected the Boers' laager yesterday and was much struck by the ingenuity and energy with which the position was made almost Impregnable to assault." HOW CItOXJK sritltKMinitUD. Paanlcbrg. Tuesday. Feb. K (Majuba Day). The British camp was awakened by the continued rattle of rifle fire at day break, and the news arrived that the Canadians, while In a trench, quite close to the nwrs. were futllladed. The Cana dians gallantly worked forward nnd occu pied the edge of the river bank, entirely cntllidlng the Boers. This movement was followed by a cessation of the fire, excert an oeca'lonal solitary report. Suddenly a regiment stationed on the crest of a Kll perceived a white flag and burst into cheers, thus first announcing the surrender cf General Cronje. Shortly afterwards a note reached Lrd Roberts bringing tidings of the Boers' un conditional surrender. General Prettyman was sent to accept the surrender. At about 7 o'clock a small group of nen eppeared In the distance, crossing the plain toward headquarters. The latter be ing apprised of General Cronje's approach. Lord Roberts went to the front in thu modest cart in which he sleeps and or- n iriinrn' of Zsftr1Yim In Un.. tin A errrr ft borreroen then proi preached. On General Prettyman's rlht rode an elderly man, clad In a rough, short over coat, a wMc-brlmmed hat. ordinary tweed trousers and brown shoe.. It was the re doubtable Cronje. Ills face was burned almost black and his curly bmrd tinged with gray. Cronje's face was absolutely Impassive, exhibiting no Hgn of hi Inner feeling.. Lord Roberts was surrounded by his staff when General Prettyman, addressing the Field Marshal, said: "Commandant Cronje, sir!" The Commandant touched his hat in sa iLte and 1-onl Robert saluted In return. The whole group then dismounted and l4rd Roberts stepped forward and shook hands with the Boer commander. "Tou mnde a gallant defence, sir," was i he first salutation of Lord Roberts to the vanquished Boer leader. He then motioned General Cronje to a seat In a chair which had been brought for hit accommodation, and the two officers conversed thr jgh an Interpreter. General Cronje afterward breakfasted with the British officers. DF.fOlin THE SlltltKMJKH. Paardeberg. Monday, Feb. M. (Delayed In transmission.) When the history of Lord Roberts's movement Is written. It will be found that the marching power and mag nificent endurance of the British soldier is an great as ever. The march Jtalf. as seen on the map. would be nothing very marvel ous, but It must be remembered that thc whole original plan of march was changed. When General Cronje made his magnifi cent night trek on tbe 15th. the whole army swung to the left l't hot pursuit. Some of the regiments marched twenty-seven miles In twenty-fcur hours, outstripping tbe transport supplies and living for days on almost quarter rations. Yet the fatigue and Incessant hardship were borne with wonder lul cheerfulness. There has been a drenching rain for the last three days, the men lying fully ex posed to the rain and the subsequent cold winds, all of which r roved the admirable p'.i.ck and endurance of the men. There are now COO prisoners here, most of whom surrendered Friday and Saturday. Thej aro kept unier guard between wire fences. nOOERTS TO TUB QUEKX. London. Feb. a In her dispatch to Lord Roberts, following the anouncement of the surrender of Ceneral Cronje, her Majesty said: "Accept for 0Jrself and forall under your command my warmest congratulations on this splendid news." I.ord Roberts replied as follows: "Ali under my command are deeply grate ful for your Majesty's most gracious mes sage. Congratulations from their Queen are an honor the soldiers dearly prise." General Buller has wired his thanks to the Queen tar her telegram of "gracious sympathy and encouragement." ADDITIONAL CASUALTIES. London, Feb. rS. Lord Roberts has for warded an ad-lltlonal list of the British casualties durisg the three days' fighting at Paardeberg, showing twehe killed, eighty-two wounded and four missing, and Including seven officers and four Canadian privates wousdtd. CROXJIT15 WOL'AOCD OXLY I'lGUTY. s-pnciAL nr carle. Iindon. Thursday. March 1. A dispatch to the Morning Poit from Paardeberg says: The Cinadlans w ere only prevented from carrying General Cronje's laager at the point of the bycret by the Imperative or der. to the contrary. Their gallantry Is the universal theme of camp conversation. "We captured 5.COT small arms. Our shell fire hd no appreciable effect on the Boer trenche. despite the evidences of wreck nge everywhere seen. Their wouided during the siege number, only about eighty. The number of their dead we have not ascer tained." LITTLE FOOD IN KIMBERLEY. Inhabitants Are Still Suffering From Hunger. Kimberley. Feb. ST.-Colonel Peakman. with a mounted foice and a Maxim, pro ceeded to Hartley West, where be was wnrmly welcomed. He left a strong guard, and then proceeded to Long-lands and KUp dam. There were rumors of Boers la tho neighborhood, but no demonstration oc curred. The Diamond Fields Advertiser draws pointed attention to the fact that although Kimberley was relieved about two weeks ugo, there has been no amelioration In re gard to the food supply. It Is still Impossible, as it was during thc Continued on Pasje Twa. Heavy Fall of Snow,Rain and Sleet, WithFrcuz- ing Weather. NO STREET LIGHTS. Current Off in Residence , Districts Because of Danger. CAR LINES TIED UP.? Dr. Hyatt and Washing ton Disagree on To day's Temperature. PHKDICTIOX AXO WAn.MXt; FOR TO-DAY. Thc storm Is due to cross the river 4 from west to east early this morning. leaving a. cloudless sky; but the mercury, according to Doctor Hyatt. is expected to fall from 2) to IS de- grees, precluding the possibility of an Immediate thaw. The Central Weather Bureau at Waihington de- Clares that It will be warmer In MUeouri to-day. Wind with a velocity of thirty miles an hour U following the storm, and promises to do much damage to trees and wire. Pedestrians should be on tbe lockout for broken electric wires. The blizzard which was central over St. Louis at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon and Is now howling across Indiana and Ohio to ward shivering New England was the worst winter storm the city has known since rec ord' of the doings of the Ice King have been kept. There have been deeper snows, higher wind, lower temperature readings and sleets almost t hravj; but nevrr had the four been combined to -work such "hard ships. The storm locked the Southwest in a coat of mall which days of sunshine will be re quired to unloose, and left scars which noth ing but the gentle hand of mother nature can ever heal. Less serious, prbapd, but more disagreeable were the temporary ef fects. Street car travel was practically tied up for a whole night, exposing hundreds of cltlstn to the cold; wire were snapped off. brewing telgraphlc"lctcphbnlcatt-llg!rr-Ing circuits; valuable shade tree? gave way under their loads of Ice, and man and beast who were ford to face the storm sufr fered indescribably. That no human live were lbst In St. Louis was a surprise to those whom uuty called out to make repairs. The strvets were strewn with branches of trees, with here and there n sizzling electric wire. and added to thc danger of tripping and elec trocution, the sidewalks were so slippery a in make walklnr anything but safe. A dozen persons were treated at city Institu tion, for casualties resulting from th-j storm, and eight hors were shocked to death by stray wire. Lpst night all that section of the city west of Twenty-second street, south -of Spruce street and north or Wash street wan In total darkness, as far as the lighting of the streets and olleys was concerned. Su pervisor of City Lighting O'Reilly yester day afternoon addressed a communication to Kx-retanr Pike of tho Missouri-Edison Klectric Company, and to General Manager Ross of the Laclede Ccmpany. which com panies furnish the power for the lighting of the streets and alleys la this district, ad vising them. In view of the probable danger threatening the lives of citizens abroad at night from broken wires, not to turn on the current until further notice. Ho received a reply stating that his request wculd be com piled with. The district bounded by Twcnty-s-cond. Wash and Spruce streets, which was tho only portion of the city Urbted by electrici ty last night. Is supplied with power by the underground system. Thc wires In this dis trict, being carried In conduits underground. there to little or no danger of pedestrians bclag Injured by contact with broken wlte. Business In many lines was para.yzed. Whclesalers found that they could neither receive nor ship freight without the most serious Inconvenience, the stores were prac tically desrted by shoppers, and the river front looked almost sepulchral under Its shroud of wtlte. The hum of business was not heard because every acumi was muraw by the blanket of snow. Weather Predictions (or To-Day. If the predictions of tho Weather Bureau are realised, this will be a danger ously beautiful day. The clouds were mov ing east at midnight at a rate which prom ised a fair sky by sunrise; the mercury was going steadily downward, and the stiff breeze which kept the snow dancing throughout tho day and eight was whistling out of the southwest at a pace which Indicated railroad speed before It reached Its maximum velocity. Tto clear ing sky promised the reflected glory of thc sun from every twig on every tree and from the myriads of pendants on wires. eaves and awnings; the falling mercury promised that thc sun's warmth should not mar the beauties Its beams brought to light, but the wind whispered a warning to remain Indoors. btralncd to the utmost of their endur ance by the weight of their ley shrouds, trees and wires will be wrecked If the wind reaches the velocity promised, and will tumble without warning. The earth, being Insulated by sleet, would not readily ab sorb thc electric currents set free by fell ing wires, and auddes death would lurk in the beautiful debris. It was estimated last night that every exposed wire in the city was carrying five times its weight of sleet, nnd every tree was bowed down and held motionless In tlw Icy hand of winter. Snould .March "come In like a lion." the daroaie In the city parks will bo tar more serious thsn mot persons suppose. T2o keepers and caretakers went to bed fear ing that the result of years of patient work would b swept away before they sat down to breakfast. Fruit growers In St. Louis and surround ing counties were even more alarmed than the parkkpe" and every gust of wind made them shiver apprehensively. The dreaded wind means the loss of bread and meat to many, f them, not to mention the extra comforts which a good fruit year brings. Young orchards were In danger of annihilation, tho trees being so slender that they wtJd snap: and more mature trees were .I14.Vmd with the loss or all their frul n-J,T twigs. In thf i lo-?- street-car line had emerge-an,ia,."et work all night re palr!itt.T,"fa,i st1" n ir. "" and puttl." .... r.o tln P31" WB'cb threat in.!"1"- ""', ' vr4nd man ro earn . llEhUnir dmirt. (h. a.f,. I.L...I. .!.& geon of ' pair of Ca' f . Pa are iyor. -tvi:nty-sk'om stp.kct. - GDncGhnaannacD unnnnanDanannD i ill iQnnrnann jGQDDDDnnca JUUUUi lUUUUUUUU GDDO ill 'lOaaDOQQQ qcddi i iDDQanaaa DDDDi liauaDDDQD ddddi janauoauD unuui ouQuLOJLi acnai iQQnQaaaaG aanai ii oaaaaona onnnr i innnnuuua laaDairConDOGoau qqdqlii lanDDQuag aopniXiDnruLjjLiLi auQDujaacproQpi nnnnre infirm ? : WHARF. 'o imlilic stirot and alley liht iiij; was done last night outside of the district represented by this diagram. City Lighting- Super visor ordered the lights to be sltuf ! otr in the residence sections of the city because of the danger to hum an life from fallen wires. In that part of the city .shown above the electric light wires are under ground. LEADING TOPICS TO-DAY'S REPUBLIC For Vlltioarl- Fair and warmer Thurda; Inrrtaalng clondlnesa Frl itn t vurtlierljr. ahlftlnir ti .southerly, wlndn. Fur Illinois Fair In western, snore followed hy fair In eastern portion Thursdays high northerly winds, a iii In foiling In force and becoming; tnrlaklr. Friday fair and warmer. 1'ur rLnnn Pair Thursday, with uarutrr Su western portions; Friday fulr mitt warmers northwesterly winds. Page 1. RuH" t&Lr Piter' HI1L Ice Is King in St. Louis. 2. Roberry Severs Party Moorings. Besleced Troops Suffer Terribly. Difficulties That Confront Roberts. 5. Puerto Rico BUI Pastes the House. Heavy Demand for American CoaL Sentenced for Selling "Sapho." Tbe Rescue of Lieutenant GU more Da scribed. 4. Colder Weather Predicted. Residence Districts In Darkness. Trolley Lines Operated with Difficulty. Z. Fruit Endangered by the Storm. Nearly Every State Swept by the Blu nrd. 6. Sporting News. Results at Race Tracks. Z. Financial BUI in the Senate. Adulteration of Food Products. New s of the Churches. Life a Burden to an Old Engineer. S. Kdltorial. Bad Methods in Purchasing City Srrj- plies Speculation In Cotton. Langtry Tea Concert. Report of Grand Jury. 8. Frlck-Carnegie Fight. Big Reward for Goebel's Slayer, Opposition to Bart hold t, II. Transfers of Realty. Government Weather Report. . New Corporation". The Railroads. J. Grain and Produrf, Cattle Sales. . II. Financial News. River Telegrams. It. Business College on the Sldewallc Mechanics' Clothing Cornpany-laquir Filipinos Buy Gold Bricks. , James Gordon Arrested. WILL APPEAL TO CONGRESS. Kentucky Republicans 'Ask Other! States to Join Them. Frankfort. Ky Feb. 25. The Reoubllcart joint caucus of the Legislature- met thlai evening, and after a long discussion con ccrnlng election laws in tho South, and par ticularly the Goebel election law la this State, decided to take the Initiative In a) movement to bring the matter befora Con gress. Thc purposo Is to call a convention la which the States of Kentucky, Tennessee. Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri. Virginia and North Carolina and South Carolina are to take part, at which convention action is to be taken memorializing Congress to amend the national election laws so as to take out of the hands of the election ma chinery of the various State governments the details of at least congressional and presidential elections. The caucus convened at 6 o'clock and sev eral prominent Republican leaders. In addi tion ta the Republican members of both houses, were present- National Committee man John W. YcrSes was amonir the lead ers present and made a speech. The speak ers declared that the election laws in tho States nuntloned practically amount to disfranchisement of the Republican voters living In those State3. and the call for the convention will Invite all persons who op pose partisan election laws to participate in It. State Senators Cox and Howard and Representative Slack were named as a com mittee to take the matter up and secure the co-operation of Republicans In thc States named and all over the country and Interest them In the movement In favor of election reform. One of the Republican leaders said that the movement wjs as much to secure en forcement of the present Federal statutes relating to congressional district apportion ments as anything else. Hantllton-ltrown Shoe Co.'a Sales. Sales for February. 19 H,0$M7 Sales for February. 1SH9 107,27151 Onin .13.511.64 Sales for 1D0O up to March lst....fI.$0.ltS.S9 Sales for 1S. up to March 1st . Lffl.TS&U, Gain ,. a-.-O-i-snTflCJI-rsfSfi I - nnni'innnilQLJQDt-'-L iXM-lai .i a fl 9 L -3-.iX.-rA- 1 ?t-r. t .n . :?i 1 sASS -w ra