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UAXCI?: OK THERMOMETER. The Tange of Ine thermometer at The Times ?office >-eslcr?Jti>? was as follows: T? ?. M. :?>: 12 "A?.."'.*?: ?! P. M.. Si?; f. TV G?.. Si; S G. M.. 30: 12 >I? 27; average. 32 1-3. VOL?. 14. SO. 27c/. RICHMOND VA., THURSDAY-JANUARY 4, 1900. WEATHER *-*Ottf"*DA?*T. Forecast - fat? Thursday .-ind Friday: . Virginia?Fair Thursday. Inc-**aeiD*g cloudiness - Friday, threatening hi th? afternoon : light variable winds, becoming easterly; North and South Carolina?Fair Thurs? day, increasing cloudiness Friday: light variable -winds. PRICE TWO CENTS. MANAGEMENT OF/ STATE LIBR/RY -:- / Bill to Take Institution Out of Politics. -- BE OFFERED /TO-DAY. Provisions of Important Measure Drawn by Mr, Patteson. ?MCREASE ITS USEFULNESS. Board of Trustees Elective by Board of Education ?o he iuTControl In? stead of Secretary of Coiuiiioii >\calili and Legislative Com ?nitWHi?Bona Fide Libra I'ian Provided For. ? ?measure which Is. sure to attract Twdespread interest will bo introduced In the House of Delegates to-day by Mr. S. S. P. Patteson, o? this city, who has summed up th?: results of a large amount of research, investigation and conference with feilow lawyers in a bill designed to take the State Library and Librarian out of politics, and to increase tiie practical tiseiulness of the institution. The Code of Virginia constitutes the - Secretary of the Commonwealth State Librarian also, and g?ves that official at? roci supervision and control of the Libra? ry, responsible to a Library Committee of the General Assembly. In actual prac tlc???, the Library is in charge of a gen? tleman nominally known as a clerk in the office of the Secretary o? the Common? wealth, who has as his assistant a door? keeper, who receives ?30 per month. The gentleman performing the function of Li jM-ariaii, who happens to be Mr. W. ??. Scott, receives, it is stated, ?1.200 per an? num. PROVISIONS OF THE BILL. Mr. Pattcson's bill, providing for the rmanagement of the iState Library, creates i? Board of Trustees, transierring to them the powers of the Secretary of tne Com? monwealth under chapter IS of the Code of Virginia USS7). arid repeals section ilil of the Code. ?Paragraph 1 ot Mr. Pattcson's bill reads: ? "Be it enacted lay the General Assem? bly of Virginia, that t-he State "Library .shall be under the management and con? trol of live trustees, citizens of this Sta?>e, to be elected by the Board of Education ?during November, nineteen hundred, or as soon thereafter as possible, who shall be known as Board of Trustees of the . ?State Library. One of said truste?1? shall ?be elected by said Board for a term of one year, one for two years, one fur ihrc.e years, one for four years, and one for live years: tne terms for said trustees to be . gin on January lirst, nineteen hundred and one. They shall receive no compen ? sation of any kind for their services." THE LIBRARIAN. The trustees, it is provided, shall, in Marcii, 3901, elect a Librarian, who, sub? ject to the orders of said trustees, shall have charge and management of the State Library and the rooms provided for it. He shall hold office for a term of four years, .but shall be removable at any time for cause by said trustees. He shall receive a salary of two thousand dollars per year, payable monthly. The trustees are empowered to elect a "clerk or Assistant? Librarian." who shall hold office for one year, and who shall Toe subject to the orders of the Librarian and the trustees. His compensation is ffxea at $!?0 per year. TO BE BONDED OFFICER, The Librarian ij required, under the provisions of the bill, to give bond in the penalty of $10,??) for proper custody of the books, maps, documents, etc., of the Li? brary, and fcr the faithful performanci.? of his duties. He shall accounts for and pay over all moneys which may come into his hands as Librarian. He shall make such purchases and do such other things as the trustees may direct within the scope of their powers. The clerk or Assistant Librarian is re? quired to give bond in the penalty of $5,1)00. EXTEND USE OF LIBRARY. An important provision is made in para? graph seven of the bill, concerning rules and regulations for the government of the Library, in which it is provided that "suitable provision shall be made for th? loan of the books to persons engaged in ecientilic, histori?ral or literary pursuits in any county, city or town in the State, provided, that the rights of the State are properly guarded where the books are bo loaned." Touching this matter the Code provides that "the judges of the Court of Appeals, the Governor, the At? torney-General, reporter of the Court of Appeals, members of the General As? sembly, and such other officers of gov? ernment as the Library Committee may drem proper, shall be allowed to use the Library." Provision is made for the submission of an annual printed report by the Li? brarian, showing the conduct and affairs of the office for the preceding twelve months. SULZER'S RESOLUTION Offered in House Yesterday and Re? ferred to Committee. "WASHINGTON. Jan. 3.?Representative Sulzer. of New York, offered the following resolution in the House to-day: "Resolved. That the Secretary of the Treasury be. and he hereby is, directed to furnish the House of Representatives as soon as possible with the following in? formation: "1. All letters, agreements, papers or ??documents between the Treasury Depart? ment of the Unlt??d States or any person connectfid therewith, and rhe National Ciiy Bank and the Hanover National Bank of the City of New York, or any person act? ing for them or either of them, since the fourth day of March, 1S97, relating to the depositing of public funds, bonds" or reve? nues. In said bank, or banks, or any other relations or business tranactlons now ex? isting or heretofore had between the gov? ernment and the aaid banks, or either of them. / , "? The amount of public money, bonds. or revenue deposited with said banks or either of them, by the government, for .what length of time, and the reasons therefor, and whether eaid banks or either of them, have paid the -government any interest on ?aid deposits, and If so how much, and all other Information concern? ing the name, or in" any way relating thereto.*' The resolution wa? referred to the Com ?mittee on" Ways and Means. It will prob? ably be reported back from the Ways and , Meane Committee to the:House to-morrow ? to admit specl&c reference to two banks and refer generally to all banks. I The committee?, will m<?et prior to the Pession of the House to-morrow to adopt this courte. It is paid that tho resolution will pass without objection. PETTIGREW RESOLUTION. To Place Responsibility for Be*-riiinin?? of Hostilities in Philippine.-'? WASHINGTON. Jan. 3.?Senator Petti srrew to-day ottered, the following resolu? tion, which went over under objection: "Resolvea. That the Secretary of War ho. and he is hereby ditectcd to inform the Senate whether General Torres, one of the officers of the Philippine army, came to General Otis with a Hag of truce on February 5. 1$?d, the day after the lighting commenced between our forces and those of Aguinaldo, and stated to ?General Otis that Aguinaldo declared that lighting had been begun accident? ally and was not authorized by Aguin? aldo, and that Aguinaldo wished to have it stopped, and that to bring about a conclusion of hostilities he proposed the establishment of a neutral zone between tho two armies o? a width that would bo agreeable to General Otis so that during the peace negotiations there might he no further danger of confile*, between the two armies, and whether General Otis replied that fighting having once begun must go on to the grim end. "Was General Otis directed by the Sec? retary of War to make such an answer? Did General Otis teleraph the Secretary of War on February P, 1$3?, as follows: '* 'Aguinaldo now applies for a cessa? tion of hostilities and conference.: have ?deellned to answer;* and did General Otis afterwards'repiy that ho was di? rected by the Secretary of AYar, and what answer, if any. did he or the Sec? retary of War make to the application to cease fighting?" BRIGADIER GENERALS.' The President yesterday Nominated Yoimjr, Lud low ami Macinimi?. WASHINGTON. Jan. 3.?Tho President to-day sent the following nominations to tho S?gnate: To be United States Consul?Aionzo C. Yates, of Virginia, at Patras, transierr<xi to Martininue. War?Brigadier-General J. ?. Bates to be major-general of volunteers; Briga? dier-General Lloyd Wheatnn to be major general of volunteers by brevet. To be Brigadier-Generals?Colonel S. B. M. Toting, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Mac-Arthur, ?Lieutenant-Colonel William Ludlow. GOLD AND SILVER. Amendment Offered to Financial Bill for Coinage of* Both Metals. WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.?Senator Chand? ler, of New Hampshire, to-day offered an amendment to the Financial Bill, de? claring it" to be the policy of the United States to continue the use of both gold and silver as standard money and ?? coin both gold ami silver; providing for inter? national agreement, or safe-guard of Legislation to ensure maintainance of the parity: and for the appointment of commissioners to an International con? ference. FOR LONG TERM The Result of the Contest for the Short Term as Senator From Mississippi is Uncertain. JACKSON, MISS., Jan. 3.?The Demo? crats of the State Legislature held a caucus in tiie Senate Chamber to-ni*;ht and unanimously nominated Ansel man J. McLaurin, whose term of Governor will soon expire, for the long term in the United States Senate. The total membership of both houses is ITS, and 320 members were present at the caucus. It is more than probable that the name of "Private John Allen" will not be presented. THE SHORT TER-?G. Who will be the winner in the con? test for the short term United States sen atorshlp from Mississippi is to-night an open question. There were several cau? cuses of the .Sullivan men to-day. The claim put forth by them several ?lays ago -was that their* men would have a majority of 38. At this morning's caucus It was seen that the majority had narrow? ed' down to twelve, and at a later hour 'to-night Senator Sullivan's supporters claim he Will receive a majority of six on joint ballot. The sensational charge brought against Mr. Sullivan during the past three months have apparently had some effect, and it is believed that he will have a hard fight to deteat iLowry. Many rumors _are afloat, among them being one to the effect that a portion of the instructed vote is prepared to bolt. Little credence can be placed in the story, as the individual members who are sup? posed t?i be party to the scheme, deny that they have any such intentions. It has not yet been decided when the election of the short term senator will be brought before the joint session. AFFAIRS OF PACE COMPANY. Believed That the Corporation Will Soon lie in Good Shape. The annoumement of a temporary embarrassment in the affairs of the Pace Pork Packing Company, which has sus? pended operations on the abattoir in the West End. was read with a great deal of interest yestorday. The universal hope was expressed that the company wo'old very shortly reorganize and continue prosecution of th?; enterprise. The only question raised was whether those who had been counted upon for subscriptions to bonds /of the company are absolutely sincere in pleading stringency of the money market as a reason for not taking bonds now, or whether the refusal to make subscriptions is for other reasons. There is no reason to believe, however, that the gentlemen are not In earnest. and that they will fall to come forward when the money market has become easier. It Is stated to be undoubtedly true that it is a matter of difficulty to obtain mon? ey, even on good security, since the flurry In the money market several weeks ago. A Freijthc Wreck. HAMLET. N. C, Jan. 3.?Special?Lost night, about 8 o'clock, a freight train was wrecked. near Pee Dee, a. station about twelve miles below here, oh the Seaboard Air-Line railroad. The wreck was caused by the train breaking at-art and the two.parts afterward runninc to? gether. Several passengers, who were in tho caboose car, were bruised and much shaken up. thou-rh no one was very se? riously hurt The cars were badly broken up and the: line completely blocked ior I several hours. 1 COMMITTEE TO BE CHOSEN BY LOT To Hear Evidence inTay lor-Goebel Contest. FIGHT TO BE BITTER. Very Sensational and Damaging Tes? timony is Promised. COLONEL-WHALLEN ARRAIGNED. Magistrate Thompson Held Him. for Franklin County Grand Jury, and Fi.vcil His Bond at SIO.OUO. Senator Hand to he Indicted in.Louisville on Char-go of Bribery. FRANKFORT. KV., .Ian. 3.?The joint committee? which will hear evidence in the Goebcl-Taylor and the Peckham Marshall contests for Governor and Lieu? tenant-Governor, will be formed to-mor? row. The law provides that the members of the cornmiUtje shall be drawn by lot?, three in the Senate and eight in the House. The poilcy of the Goebel leaders will be to push the contests to a linai issue as speedily as possible. Governor Taylor's attorneys are prepar? ing not only rebuttal evidence to offset tir- charges of fraud set forth in Gof-bel's notice of contest, but, according to Sena? tor Deboo, are going much further ..nel attempting to show up counter-frauds "f a glaring nature on the Democratic aide. The Senator says that, among other things, it will be brought out that Taylor was robbed of over 2,000 vows in Kenton county. Goebe'.'s homo. SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY. The Goebel side, under the Kentucky c-ode of practice in its taking of proof, Is restricted to the grounds laid down in the notices of contest, but under these they pi-mise very sensational testimony re? garding the election in many counties alleged to be damaging to many people prominent in the Kentucky political and business world, compansd with whicli the Whallen alleged attempted bribery of Senator Harrell is only a sample. Colonel Whallen was arraigned on the attempted bribery charge before Magis? trate Thompson to-day, and held over to the Franklin county grand jury, his bond being fixed at $10.CC0. In the Circuit Court, ?President H- V. Loving, of the l^uisvllle Trust Company, was before Judge Cantrill, charged with contempt for disobeving tho order of the court, to turn over the vault box alleged to hold the S4.?0O whicli. it is claimed, was to be paid to Harrell in tiie event he voted against Goeb?l in the contest. TO PRODUCE THE BOX. Loving stated that he merely desired to protect the customers of his company, and his attorney moved to quash the sum? mons against him. This the court over? ruled. Thereupon a response ivas filed to the rule for contempt and in this it is stated that Whallen, Harrell and Charles Ryan rented the box in question and deposited something in it. the box being sealed up and covered with ?vhite paper. The Trust Company officials were notified not to allow the box to be opened except in the presence and by the consent of all three parties. Judge Cantrill adjudged the response insufficient and ordered the box to be pro? duced in court at 11 o'clock to-morrow. It is understood the order of the court will be complied with, a motion for an appeal to the Court of Appeals having been overruled. It is said that an attempt will be made to have Senator Harrell indieed in Louis? ville, where Whallen's attorneys claim the prosecution should have been Instituted if any offense has been committed. The charge against Harrell would probably be conspiracy or accepting a bribe. PLAGUE IN MANILA. War Depa.. : nient Taking Steps to Pre? vent Its Spread. MANILA. Jan. 3.-3:50 P. M.?Tho health officers have found a. native with all the symptoms of the bubonic plague in :?. house in the walleil city, where two suspicious deaths have occurred. The .patient has been Isolated and every pre? caution has been taken to prevent a spread of the disease. WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.?The War De? partment is taking steps to prevent the introduction of plague in the Philippines, and Secretary Root this morning called into consultation Surgeon General Wy r.ian. of the Marine Hospital Service, to discuss the establishment of a quarantine; system for the islands. It was decided that the War Department should adopt toward the Philippines a policy like that it pursued toward Cuba in the matter of protection of health, namely: Con? fide the machinery of a quarantine sys? tem to the Marine Hospital Service. Surgeon-General Wyman has no con? firmation of the report that three sus? pected, cases of bubonic plague have been discovered within the walled city of Manila, but no attempt is made to con? ceal the gravity of the situation should the report prove true. Still, it is said, a few sporadic cases need not necessarily result in an epidemic in the islands. Surgeon-General Wyman^ says the dis? ease r.o longer creates th? ?dread it once did, because it has been demonstrated that it can be handled by modern scientific work. It has been stamped out of Alex? andria, Egypt-; Kobe. Japan, and Vienna, Austria. The methods of fighting it are the siine used against smallpox?isolation, disinfection and sanitation. The greatest danger is due to its possible introduction into new localities through ambulant or walking cases which defy the surveil? lance of the authorities. One feature of the- disease, which is gratifying to the authorities in view of the possible out? break of an epidemic in the Philippines, is the fact that its history shows that it, does not attack Europeans as readily as natives. RIO JANEIRO. Jan. 3.?The bubonic plague has broken out In the city and neighborhood of San iPaulo. NEWPORT NEWS TANGLE. A Pisht on Between the Mayor and th?*-City"Council. NEWPORT NEWS. VA., Jan. -3.? Special.?There is another light on be? tween Mayor A. A. Moss and the city council. The controversy i? over the appointment of Mr. T. ?halk?ey Hatton to .the position of consisting engineer oli the proposed paving. When the question of paving first came up after the bond issue was settled, the council put everything info the hands ot the street committee, instructing them to employ aii^ngineer, should they see fit to do so. Tne committee employed Mr. Hatton on a per tentage basi?, and the council ratified the'saction. H.s Honor announces, however, that if there is no other t-fay out of it, he wr-'il get out an InjJupiiUon preventing the employment of ??? Hatton. In view of the fact that some^of the best attorneys in the city hold that the city now has a bind.ng contract With Mr. Hatton. it would seem that this proceeding on th? part of the Mayor would involve con? siderable personal risk, financially; on his part; but he dec-lares that he is willing to take the risk and abide by the result. The Mayor further holds that under the charter the Commonwealth's Attorney, who is now the City; Attorney, must repre? sent the Mayor. It is claimed by some in the council that? the Commonwealth's Attorney can only.'.represent the Mayor upon Instruction from the council: that his duty is primarily to the council. At any rate, the pv-ople here, it is prob? able, will soon be treated to the curious spectacle of the Sfayor instituting pro? ceedings in behalf SJf the people, opposed by the city councIFiin behalf of the peo? ple,) both claiminr the services of the Commonwealth's Attorney, though by the time ail this happens there will be a city attorney, to whom the same conditions will apply. President Powell,: of the Council, an? nounced to-day th? appointment of the special committee which will go to I??ch mond in a day or two with the bills that are now- being prepared by Acting City Attorney Garrett, providing for certain changes in the charter of the city. The committee is consiituted as follows: Councllmen Burcher, Ford, Hughes, Coiy and Cooper. Captain George W. Fitchett. First Lieu? tenant J. H. Giikerson and Second Lieu? tenant John A. Moss, of the Newport News Light Infantry, have received from Captain Barrows, Assistant Adjutant Genera!, a notification to the effect that they very successfully passed their officers' examination, held recently at Hotel . Warwick. One hundred and twenty-six questions were asked, and it is understood that the average of all three officers was in the neiirhborhoo?! of ?? per cent., an unusually high average. It is promised that the company shall be mustered in within three weeks, and eipiipped as scon as possible after that. NOT GUILTY, This the Verdict of Jury In the Case of Howai;d Owens. ALEXANDRIA, VA.. Jan. 3.?Special.? The United States Court for the Eastern District of Virginia! is In session here to? day. This afternoon the jury in the case of Howard L. Owens, of TVarrenton,' Va., charged with fr?.?.udulently obtaining money amounting to $30 from Colonel W. T. Hartz, of Richmond. Va., as instructed by Judge Edmund Waduill. brought in a verdict of not guilty. Colonel Hartz. when put on the stand, testified that he had been influenced 'in giving -the defend? ant money largely by the belief that he was the son of Colonel Ward, ?G the United States Army; as the tiovernment had based its prosecution on the ground that the Federal u. ?iforni had been cm ployed for the perpetration of fraud. Col? onel Hartz's evidence killed the case for the prosecution. Owens was represented by Attorneys James Campbell and George D. Wise. In the Alexandria County Court, Judge J. M. "Word pt'csiding, on Fort Merer Heights, this afternoon, the jury in the case of Howard P. Marshall against the Commonwealth. which was better known as the '-Military Road case." the jury returned a, verdict . of guilty, as charged with obstruct? ing a public highway, and lined the defendant one dollar. A motion for a new trial was noted', but the motion was over? ruled, and. it is said, an appeal will be? taken. This knocks the private claimants out. Strike for Old ??-iees. Nearly every man, boy and girl at the Allen & Ginter Branch of the American Tr.bacco Company, at the corner of Sixth and Cary streets, went out on a. strike yesterday mornir^-, and as a consequence of It, all of the machinery In the big building had to be shut down. When the watchman arrived last night all of the lights, which usually burned until S o'clock, were out and hands who worked up to 7 o'clock were not there. lu fact, the building was free of em? ployes and as still and quiet as it is at a midnight hour. ?Several hundred girls are out with the strikers, about sevfnty-five or a hundred of whom live in Manchester. 'S'orno of the girls say that they will not go back to work unless the former raV> of pay is. re-established. They did not seem "inclined to think that work would be resumed to-day. The grievance of the strikers, from the best information obtainable, is a reduc? tion in the rate of pay announced at the first of the year, whereby, it is alleged, ninety-five cents is paid where formerly the remuneration was a dollar. The operatives out on strike are em? ployed in making all-tobacco cigarettes and cheroots. Marietta at Manila. WASHINGTON. Jan. 3.?The Navy De? partment, has been informed that the Marietta has arrived at Manila THE SEIZURE OF British Government Has Not Decided Whether or Not Food Stuffs are Contraband of War. LONDON, Jan. 3-?The United States Ambassador, Jcseph H. Choate, visited the British Premier, Lord Salisbury, at the Foreign Office this evening for the purpose of making the first official repre? sentations on the subject of the Delagoa Bay flour seized. Mr. Chcate received no definite reply as the Premier informed him that the British government had not yet arrived at any decision as to whether or not food stuffs were* contraband of war. But Lord Salisbury assured Mr. Choate that the commercial rights of the United States would be equitably con? sidered and that a decision In this im? portant matter would be reached as soon as possible. The interview was brief. WORKING HARD. Lord Salisbury has not only got tho Attorney-General, Sir Richard \ Webster, working hard on the question of the Delagoa Bay seizures, but- he" is consulting with the", ablest lawyers In Great Britain. . It was further learned that Great Britain may lay down a new regulation regarding?, contraband, making a dis? tinction : between food evidently intended for domestic purposes and food palpably Intended for field rations. Under the latter head might come certain classes, of. canned goods, : MOLTENO ATTACK IS UNCONFIRMED French Not Within Five Miles of Coiesberg. UNABLE TO PUSH ON. His Request for Reinforcements-Dis? pels All Hope of That. CANNONADE MORE LIVELY. Since Jo ? hen's Arrival Bombard ment of Lati yam ?th Has Been Do?ii?; G router Damage?A British Supply Train Lost ariti Treachery Suspected. New Artillery. LONDON, Jan. 4.-4:30 A. M.?There is a complete absence of anything new from the seat of.war. The report of the Boer attack upon Molteno is not yet confirmed. Apparently General French holds noth? ing within five miles of Coiesberg Junc? tion. His request for reinforcements dis? pels any present hope that he will be able to push on the crossings of the Orange river. It is expected when Lord Roberts ar? rives General French will be ordered to quit his present unsupportable position, and to concentrate his command at De Aar or Orange river. As the Daily Telegraph says: "General French seems to be in the position of a man having a tiger cat in a trap and un? able to kill it for want of a stick." A dispatch from Dover Farm announces Lieutennant-Colonel Pllcher has returned there safely from Douglass. Since Commandant-General Joubert's return to the front the cannonade of Ladysmith by the Boers has bten much livelier. Between December 12th and December 20th four shells killed one officer and 13 men, and wounded 13 officers and 11 men. ARTILLERY INFERIOR. The War Office acknowledges the in? feriority of the regular artillery by au? thorizing equipment of the new battery attached to the London vqlua-eer ??-?r>s with Vlckers ?nel Maxims, some of which the Boers use. and by ordering KO of these 12-pounder quick tirers built. The officers and men of the new battery will be supplied from the Honorable Artillery Company. Eight adt.itional militia regiments have been called out. Seven of these will serve in Ireland, replacing the regulars sent to South Africa. SUPPL?" TRAIN LOST. LONDON. Jan. 3.?A special dispatch from Rensberg, dated Tuesday. Jant:ary 2d. says a supply train without locomo? tive was set in motion within the British lines near Coiesberg, and proceeded so near the Boer position that it was im? possible to recover it. and the Boer guns, therefore, destroyed the trucks. It is suspected that this was the act of a traitor. The total British casualties about Coiesberg in two days were six men killed and twenty wounded. The supply train, says another dispatch from Rensberg, ran into a broken cul? vert and was wrecked. The Boers be? gan looting it and another Rensberg frain ivas dispatched to the spot in an attempt to recover he provisions. The Boers opened fire on the troops and na? Uves accompanying it, forcing the second train to return after several of the na? tives had been killed. LONDON, Jan. 3.?From a source which has many facilities of gaining inside news from South Africa, It is learned that Colonel Pilcher's occupation of Douglass is regarded as merely the first step of General Methuen's carefully matured plans to outflank the Boers. According ?o this authority, it is prob? able Cilonel Pilcher, in conjunction with General Babington's force from the Mod? der river, will proceed to the near of those Intrenchments which now prevent General Methuen froni proceeding to Kim berley. Colonel Pilcber has only aliout forty miles travel before he accomplishes this end. and If this understanding is correct, an attack by General Methuen and a de termlr _d effort to relieve Kimberley may be expected any day. ATTACK JIOLTEXO. STERKSTRCOM, CAPE COLONY, Jan. 3?Morning?The, Boers attacked Molteno this morning. A brisk action is now in progress. NAUCWAPOORT, CAPE COLONY Jan. 2.?There was brisk fighting to-day in the hills around Coiesberg. The Boers stub? bornly resisted the British at every point, -but gradually retreated. The British hold the extreme position to tho south and east overlooking the town. The hills around Coiesberg are num? erous, not in range?, but in groups, mak? ing it very didlcult to hunt the Boers out. Sixteen wounded have arrived at Arundel. LONDON, Jan. 3.?A special disi?ut-h from Nauuwpoort dated Tuesday January 2, says, the British command Norvalspont bridge with two guns and also command the Coiesberg bridge aad that the Boers havo no way to retreat, except by way of Normberg. The dispatch adds that big develop eroents are expected to-morrow. Kimberley Dec. 26.?The -Boers last night evinced considerable interest in the Premier mine, using their .searchlights. This morning they actively shelled the fort. Tha Royal Artillery replied. Our shells were well placed, and dropped amid the smoke .of the enemy's guns. Last night'3 storm ignited some of our military mines, but there were no cas? ualties. , Cecil Rhodes has supplied the Boer prisoners with new clothing. NOT ACCEPTED. LONDON, Jan. 3.?At Lord CheshanVs headquarters a reporter was informed that the Duke of Maryborough's offer to ac? company the Oxfordshire Yeomanry to Scuth Africa has not yet been accepted, in spite of the published statement to the contrary. It Is further said that It is quite lik_y ho will not go to South Africa, as he al? ready had a black mark against him on account of being married and his success? ful passing of the medical examination is ?oubtful. The Pall Mall Gazette to-day announces that Winston Churchill has been appotnted a squadron leader in the South African Horse." BERLIN, Jan. 3.?It Is seml-offlclally announced that Germany has not - pro? tested asainsc the seizure of tha Bundes rath. hut has merely.; requested that the matter ? be investigated and settled as speedily as possible. Friendly, negotia? tion? In this direction are now proocediug here, . ~L'02vTX>N, Jan. 3.?It has been learned on good authority that Great Britain will not take Delagoa Bay. The British gov? ernment, it Is added, does not contemplate any such step. In spite of? the clamor of the press and public opinion upon the advisability of so doing. BERLIN. Jan. 3.?The German Foreign Office Informed the correspondent this af? ternoon that Great Britain had not yet answered Germany's note of protest against the seizure by the British cruiser Magicienne o? the German Imperial mall steamer Buhdesrath. off Delagoa Bay. NO INTERVENTION. LONDON. Jan. 3.?The Vienna corre? spondent of the Standard says: "Emperor Nicholas has assured the British Am? bassador at St, Petersburg (Sir C. S. Scott) that Great Britain need' not fear Intervention or any sort of difficulty from Russia In the present South African com? plications." This may fairly be interpreted as an as? surance, including an indirect promise that France will abstain from creating difficulties for England. PETER S. WILKES DEAD. Was a Memuer <?r the Confederale Coh-jro?*.?. STOCKTON. CAL.. Jam 3.?Peter S. Wilkes. an attorney, once a member of the Confederate Congress. Is dead at his homo here, aged seventy-eight years. He was born in Tennessee and removed to Missouri, where he graduated from a university in ISTiL'. A week afterward he was elected to the State Legislature. During the last year of the war. Mr. Wilkes was elected to the Confederate Congress. At the. close of hostilities ho tied to Mazzet, Mexico, where he re? mained until about twenty-live years ago, when he came to this city. TUG RESOLUTE SUNK. Goes Down in Boston Harbor After a Collision. BOSTON. Jan. 3.?The United States tug Resolute. Captain George Loring. was sunk in the harbor early to-night in a col? lision with the steel ocean tug S-.varra, and the Read Coal Company's fleet. All on board are thought to have been saved, except Engineer Henry Ottorborn. who had not been found at a late hour to-r'rrht. Tho Resolute tilled and sank almost In? stantly. HANNA WON'T BE CHAIRMAN Will Give Way to Men Who Are More Ambitious. CLEVELAND, OHIO, Jan. 3.-?Senator Henna declared to-day that although he had teen urged to stand for the perma? nent chairmanship of the r.?xt Republican National Convention, he would not do so. "There are other men." ho said "who a-e mere ambitious than I and who value that hmor more than J do. I will give way to them." He alio declared that he will be one of th'i delegates at large from Ohio in the convenue n. ? CAN. 1 Will Sail Tc-Day to Determine the Most Feasible Route for the Water? way Between the Oceans. NEW YORK, Jan. 3.?The commission appointed by President McKinley under an act of Congress to determine the most feasible and practical route for a canal across the Isthmus of Panama will sail on Saturday for the scene of its labor by a steamer of the Atlas Line. The members of the commission are: Rear-Admiral Walker, U. S. N-, retired, chairman; Professor Emery R. Johns?u, of the University of Pennsylvania-, Pro? fessor W. H. Burr, of Columbia Univer? sity; George S. Morrison, civil engineer. New York; ex-United States Senator Pascoe, of Florida: Alfred Nobl?-*. civil engineer, Chicago; General Peter Haines, U. S. ?.; Professor L. Hupt, of the Uni? versity of Pennsylvania; Colonel Ernest, U. S. A. A member o? the commission said to? day the duty of the commission is not to decide between the claims of the Panama canal and the Nicaragua canal? though It may come to that?but to de? termine "the most feasible and practi? cal route, wherever that may bo. Wheth? er th?-:re is any route preferable to either of those which have become so well known we shall do our utmost to dis? cover. FULL EXAMINATION. "We shall sail directly to Greytown, whence we shall proceed to make a full examination of the Nicaraguan cariai route. Upon reaching the Pacific side we shall go down the coast to Panama and follow the route of the French canal back to the Atlantic side. Alternative routes will then be considered and the'r investigation undertaken. We shall be kept at the isthmus for probably three, months. We shall, of course, avail ourselves of all the bfst existing means of travel but expect that some of the journey will have to t>o ac? complished on foot." CROSSED THE WATEREE. Seaboard Train Passed Over at Fivo O'clock Yesterday Afternoon. CHARLOTTE. N. C. Jan. 3.?A special from Spalding, S. C, to the Observer, says : The Seaboard Air -Line train crossed the Water.ee river at T> o'clock this evening. with a train load of rails and material and a private car of one of the high offi? cials of the system attached, on one of the most substantial and secure trestles ever built in the South. This marks the connection with the com. pleted grading between h^re and Colum? bia, and a force of a hundred laborers are laying track into Columbia. Amendments to Finance Bill. WASHINGTON. Jan. 3.?The 'Republi? can members of the Senate Finance Com? mittee authorized 'Senator Aldrlch to pre? sent amendments to the financial bill, which he offered In the Senate to-day.. One of them fixes the gold re3erve at JiZO.CCO. (CO Instead of $1C-J,OCO,COO as in the bill it se'f. The other amendments are for the purpose of making more clear the Inten? tion of the measure. I'l-.vau at Hume. LINCOLN, NEB.. Jan. 3.?W. J. Bryan ' returned to Lincoln to-day, after an ab? sence of six weeks. He found a number , of leading Democrats from other States awaiting him. and conferred with them in an informal way. Mr. Bryan will remain In Lincoln unlll Saturday. He la Interested tn the meet? ing of the Fusion State acd Central com? mittees Friday, and is to respond to a toast Friday at the Nebraska Traveling Men's Club. He will.leave for "New York Saturday. . To Repeal the.Stamp Tax. . WASHINGTON. Jan. 3.?A bill was in? troduced in the House to-dar by- air. Lewis, ? of Georgia, to repeal Um ?U.*np tax. SAVED BY THE BREECHES BUOY Captain and Crew of Schooner Hitchcock. AFTER HOURS OF TOIL A Desperate Fight With the Sea and a Freezing Wind. ALL WERE NEARLY DROWNED. ? Sas In the Line Caused. Each Man to heSubincr^etl la theKoarii?};Surf anil Suine Were. Alinole licatl When Dra-rgcU Asuore. The Vessel Will bo a Total Los?. NEW YORK. Jan. 3.?The three-masted schooner S. P. Hitchcock, of Bath. Main-\ eleven days out. from Brunswick. Ga., ran ashore at 3 A. M- to-day off Mori? ches. Long Island, and stuck hard and fast, the boiling surf'washing her from deck to trucks. She gave the life-saving crews alone the Long Island shore the struggle of the winter, but every man aboard, including Captain Solcnson, was saved by hard work with the breeches buoy, after hours of toil in the freezing wind that swept in from sea. The patrolman made out the stranded schooner through the spray long before dawn, and in a few minutes the Moriches life-saving crew was down at the beach. At the second shot the life-line was rire<l over the battered craft. Her men made the line fast, but in such a way that it could not be worked from, shore. When day broke the schooner was in danger o? breaking up, and yet the line- could not be worked. IN THE RIGGING. Help was summoned from the crews of Forge River and Peainck. and w.g-wag gtng and signalling by the international code was tried, but to no purpose. The crew did not understand. Every stia broached over the doomed vessel, and the men had taken refuge in the rigging. At 10 A. M. those ashore could see the men work.nc. desperately over tue line, and at last they cleared It atrd made It fast to the masthead after seven hours of strug? gling. Then the big hawser was run out with the breeches buoy affixed. Jt spannet! the 40O yards of raging surf. In a twinkling there was a man in the buoy, which dangied-at the schooner's mast? head, fifty feet In the air. al Itti ? a-_?? from na G*"* sa?r 'n -h? line touched the sea,, and the man and the buoy were submerged in the seas. When they pulled the man ashore he was half drowned from his stay in the water One by one his mates, eight, o? them, had to go through the same terrible experience in the roaring, boiling surf, and some were almost gone when taken ashore af? ter their nlghr of exposure and their sub? mersion when the buoy took them ashore. The vess-.'l will likely be a total loss. To-night she lay head on with- her hold full of water, while the seas tumbled high over her. HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. Government Officials Recnmrnenil a li a Appropriation loi? Kiciiiiioi.cl. Tho government officials at Washington are ?ioiiig what they promised tha special cemmittcf: that went to that city some v.eeks a?;o In reference to river and harbor Improvements at this city. Yesterday Chief of Engineers Wilson sent to the House of Rrepresentattves a report In reference to the matter. Tha paper will be seat to the River and Har? bor and the Appropriations committees for tRelr action. It is recGmimenilcd that tho sum of .$721,043.15 be expended in deep? ening and improving the channel between the lower city line of Richmond and th? docks. This amount will be expended in ailditior, to 'he regular improvement of tha. riv?.r. Colonel Allen also urge_ that the sum of ?200.0CO be exF??nd*?xl In the Im? provement of tr.e harbor proper. In this connection Colonel Allen, who is the local engineer of the department, says: "Unless some provision is mado to en? able larga vessels ample harbor facilities, many will require the aid of tugs to nravo them down stream to a point where they may turn. A turning area about 400 feet wide by ?300 fwt long would greatly facil i'.ate the navigation. Th<* area could bo obtained by enlarging tho width of th? proposed Improve?! channel by 200 feet for a length of GOO feet." Onerai Wilson concurs in all of the recommendations made. This means that Richmond wilt have within a comparatively short while a har? bor lieep and wide enough to? carry the largest vessels?. riant System's Now t? a nacer. SAVANNAH. CA.? Jan. 3.?S. R. KnrXt. the rwwly elected vice-president of trie Plant System of Railways? who will ba? the managing head of the properties un? der ihe new regime, made necessary by the death of the late H. B. Plant, took charge this morning. Mr. Knott was formerly vice-president of the Louisville and Nashville. Hi? headquarters will be in this city. SUMMARY OF TO-DAY'S NEWS? L?;caf. ?Work of the-Legislatur?. ?Important bill In reference to the management of the State Library to be offered in the House to-day by air. Pat tesoi:. -_r. Hawthorne to rep*y to Dr., Mason on the-penitentiary chaplaincy. ?Executive Committee of the university of Virginia to meet to-day. State. ?One brother goes to the other's assist? ance on the Ice, in Essex county, and both ate drowned. ?Tne Dukes looking into the water power at Kredertcksburjr with a view- ot^ establishing- enterprise. ?Rev. J? H- Butler, ot the First Bap? tist church. Alexandria, resigns. ?the Petersburg railroad opens Its new cut-off line south of Petersburg. Genera). ?Lthtnlan Canal Commission to salt to-day. -^Governar MeLaurin chosen tor Ions term in Senate from Mississippi. ?Sensational testimony promised In Taytor-Goebei contest. Foreign? ?Boer attack ? on Molteno is uncon? firmed. ?General French ta not within ovo miles of,CQltabers. _ ,: