The Topeka state journal. [volume], July 26, 1900, LAST EDITION, Image 1

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

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LAST EDITION
THURSDAY EVENING.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, JXJET 26, 1900.
THURSDAY EVENING.
TWO CENTS.
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WHITE FIENDS.
New Orleans Terrified by Mobs
of Young Men and Boys.
They Go on a Hnnt for Negroes
All Over the City.
KILLING AND BEATING.
Colored People Were Attacked
Wherever Found.
Shot, Stabbed and Beaten With
out Discrimination.
POLICE POWERLESS.
All Through the Night the Mobs
Worked Their Will.
Even Women Were Not Spared
From Their Fury.
New Orleans, La., July 26. All last
tiight and up to half past 3 o'clock this
morning mobs ran riot through this city
on a hunt for negroes and those unfort
unates who fell into their grasp were
either killed or so badly wounded that
they were left for dead. After the mobs
grot started, the negroes became terror
ized and took shelter in their homes and
the outhouses of white people who pro
tected them so it was only the unsus
pecting and inoffensive negroes who
were the victims.
The police were powerless. As fast :is
they apparently dispersed a crowd in
one section it only reformed and moved
to some other point to continue its dev
ilish work.
COMPOSED OF BOYS.
The mobs were composed almost en
tirely of boys under 21 years of age and
they had no leaders, but acted on a com
mon impulse. The movement started
frcm a gathering of men at the Lee sta
tue, coiner of St. Charles avenue and
Howard street. Being ordered to dis
perse, the crowd moved up St. Charles
street, gathering force as it moved and
gradually becoming inflamed to the
point of desperation. It was not until
after they had stopped in Morrison
square, on Washington avenue and
Franklin street near the scene of the
assassination of Captain Day and Officer
I.amb that they listened to a speech
from a man hailing from Kenner, and
then started out to waylay the negroe3.
Most of the colored population had ta
ken warning from the excitement of the
night before and kept indoors, but there
were some returning to their homes
from work and it was one of these who
was the first victim. He was in a crowd
ed Henry Clay avenue car near the
square and when the mob saw him they
J ushed for the car and dragged him out,
firing one shot into the car. He turned
tut to be Alex Ruffin. a Pullman car
porter, and he was badly used up. He
was cut and shot and beaten over the
liead. There was another negro with
him in the car who hid under the seat
and after the car had started thev dis
covered him. but could not catch "it.
ATTACK STREET CARS.
J. Clury. the conductor of a Peter's
avenue car was shot in the foot on
Franklin street and the car riddled with
bullets.
F. a. Davis, the motorman on the
same car also was shot in the foot
Frank Phepherd.a white man who w.is
In the crowd got a bullet through hW
right arm.
Coming down to Jackson avenue thy
Set.' ' Sanders- the colored porter of
tost & Bowles insurance agenev. He had
heard the indiscriminate shooting and
stepped out of his gate to see what it
was about. He stepped into the arms of
the moo and they made short work of
turn They stabbed him, shot him in th
back and took his watch awav from
him. They left him for dead. Ado
or more of the mob went out further in
to the rear of the town and met a ne
gress named Esther Fields standing in
her door and brutally beat her
The main crowd continued on down
town heading for the parish prison The"
were met a block away by a squad of
police who stopped them. Thev then be
pan breaking into the. second hand stores
Rampart street in that neighborhood
punting for arms and ammunition The
Tdll'- and drove
Part street W an hour. thVSS,v&
a little ,
M .'m h" - SI'! "de,l Oswald
r " - oiu Doy in the 1
The boy had been fn.i '
rhe boy had been following the crowd
Btabbed him to finish, and near"? did"
"""is MAN SHOT
John Deeds, a white man was shot
ll'in of the- Thty chedthe
failing tn fii basm throughly, and
idinng to find anv one walkri
JSSSd aFrank,in -tree, where they
Passed a negro seated in front of
H mnan w1"-- 'y
ThovWay U'ted ,WO "lhandasntoresn
They were try ngto break int., sto.res-
and fired several shots Mn S it with ?he
own they unded i; of their
another secondhand store but a
f8'' j;on full of police came uo
and they desisted. They stood there fo?
ed away " then gradually mel
TERRIBLE EXECUTION
The down-town mob. however did
terrible execution, and kept up its
fiendish work ur.til half past 3 o'clock
A notorious character named Pew
Roses took the lead and they headed
for the neighborhood of FraTkUnand
Custom House street. They found no
negroes, and were going down . Viller
street towards some negro hovels, when
they saw a negro in a crowded Viller
street car. They hailed the car. pulled
the trolley off, ordered about twenty
passengers out, and then murdered the
black. He was dragged out and filled
other starting back up town." Te lat
tPr crowd started for the new tain in
the vicinity of the Illinois Central den !t
Iroeiat RefVP,Ular ezvousfore-1
ETOes. I-Jefore start no- t ,
1
watchman. George Moiv u ' nfrJ
is
with lead, being Instantly killed. He
was evidently a laborer. His name is
not known.
They moved on out to the vicinity of
the old basin on Toulouz street, and
terrorized that neighborhood, but evi
dently found no negroes. Then they
went down as far as Kelerec and Dau
phin streets, where they found an old
negro, 75 years of age, named Baptiste
Filo, whom they beat and shot almvst
to death.
Coming up town again they headed
for the French market and met an un
known negro on Decatur between St.
Philip and I'rsulins, whom they
promptly beat Into an Insensible condi
tion and left for dead. He was dis
covered an hour later and died shortly
after. He had been pulled from a meat
wagon which he was driving to the
French market. They found another
negro in the market and promptly put
an end to his existence. He is not
known. ' '
They located the porter of an L. & N.
Pullman car and chased him up the
levee. He ran into the custom house,
where he was protected by the right
watchman at the point of a Winchester.
The crowd sulked around for awhile,
and then gradually dispersed.
Acting Mayor Mehl issued a procla
mation at half past 11 o'clock, Calling
on all good citizens to keep the peace,
but it did not stop the rioting.
Just before daybreak the remnants of
the mobs gathered In the vicinity of
the Spanish fort railway to waylay
negroes as they were going to their
work at Chalmette. Some of them
came along and the mob chased them,
firing as they ran. An unfortunate
baker, who was on his morning rounds,
caught a bullet in the leg.
William Armstrong, a negro, sitting
on the Clayborne bridge, was shot in
the thigh by a mob that'passed by. He
slipped home and only reported it this
morning.
LIST OF CASUALTIES.
New Orleans, La., July 26. After be
ing in the hands of lawless mobs for
several hours, with the police appar
ently powerless to maintain order, New
Orleans at daybreak again assumed a
peaceable and orderly condition and the
violence has apparently finally ceased.
The last disturbance occurred about 5
o'clock, when a white baker, whose
name is unknown, was shot in the leg,
while a crowd of rioters were chasing
a gang of negroes. The mayor, police
and citizens are arranging today to
take precautions against a recurrence
of last night's scenes of disorder. The
mob was composed of boys and hood
lums and was without a leader. The
rioting grew out of the intense feeling
engendered by the murder of Captain
Day and Patrolman Lamb and the
wounding of Officer Mora by Desperado
Charles. The occurrences of last night
are greatly deplored by the best ele
ments of the community. They repre
sented in no sense an uprising of an
outraged community against wrong.
One man was killed, three others will
die, and fifteen were wounded.
THE DEAD.
UNKNOWN NEGRO, clubbed and
shot to death.
FATALLY INJURED.
Louis Hughes, colored. shot four times.
Baptiste Fileu, colored, aged 75, shot.
Joseph Nelson, colored, skull fractured.
THE INJURED.
T. P. Saunders, colored, aged 35,
stabbed and shot.
Esther Fie!ds,colored, aged 45. stabbed.
Oswald McMahon, white, aged 16,shot.
Frank Shepherd, white, aged 42, shot.
Alexander Ruffman, Pullman palace
car porter, shot.
Joseph Deeds, white, stabbed.
F. G. Davis, motorman, shot.
J. Cluny, conductor, clubbed.
Joseph Lewis, colored. aged 11, clubbed.
George Morris, colored, cut and shot.
Daniel White, colored, shot.
Henry Daurin, white, shot.
Wm. Armstrong, negro, shot.
Unknown baker, white, shot.
A delegation of citizens today went to
city hall and asked the mayor either to
call out a posse of citizens or appeal ta
the governor to order out the militia.
Th mayor decided immediately to pre
pare a proclamation, calling for 500 vol
unteer citizens to assist the police in pre
serving order.
BUSINESS INTERRUPTED.
Wild reports have reached police
headquarters from various sections of
th? city, giving information of the
beating of negroes.
Work on the levee where negro labor
is largely employed has been suspend
ed. The big grocery and produce
houses are also practically doing noth
ing, because they can not get their
negro drivers to risk their lives.
Mayor Capdeville communicated with
Governor Heard, who will immediately
call out the militia to preserve order
in the city.
HOYT GOES INSANE.
Writer of Famous Farces Is in
a Critical Condition.
New Tork, July 26. Charles H. Hoyt,
the playwright and theatrical manager,
has been adjudged insane at Hartford,
Conn., and taken to a retreat there.
His condition is critical.
Charles H. Hoyt was born In I860. His
first piece was "Gifford's Luck," a story
of western life; but his great success
has been made in farce comedy a
dramatic field which so many managers
have found profitable, and in which
Hoyt was a pioneer. A long series of
his farces, beginning with 'A Bunch of
Keys," and ending with "A Day and a
Night," have all been great money
winners.
After "A Day and a Night" Hoyt
wrote "A Dog in a Manger," but this
proved a failurt. He lately completed a
new farce under the name of "A Bunch
of Blue Ribbon." He was for some
time in a sanitarium two years ago.
HAY GOES TO CANTON.
To Talk Over Chinese Situation
With the President.
Cleveland, O., July 26. Secretary of
State Hay, who came here to attend the
funeral of his wife's mother, Mrs.
Amasa Stone, departed this morning
for Canton over the Wheeling & Lake
Erie road to visit President McKinley.
He occupied the private car of President
Myron T. Herrick of the company and
was scheduled to arrive In Canton short
ly before noon.
The secretary's visit to Canton is
largely in connection with the Chinese
situation. He will discuss the matter
at length with the president and expects
to start for Washington this evening.
Weather Indications.
Chicago, July 26. Forecast for Kan
sas: Fair and warmer tonight; Friday
fair exceit showers in west portion;
fresh southerly winds.
FUSIONJLETE
Close Alliance Effected by Tri
une Forces.
Most Satisfactory In the History
of the Parties.
NOMINATIONS MADE
After Amendment of Throop
Agreement
Amidst the Wildest Sort of En
thusiasm. WILL COME TO TOPEKA
Fusion Forces to Open Head
quarters August 1.
Colored Men's League Promoted
by Populists.
Special to the State Journal.
Fort Scott, July 26. The Populist,
Democratic and Silver Republican con
ventions, at 8 o'clock last night, ad
journed sine die, having effected a corn-
Ex
itjkl." tXv flllPk" ''
Lieutenant Governor A. M. Harvey, of Topeka, Fusion Nominee For
Lieutenant Governor.
plete and harmonious fusion by the
nomination of the following state
ticket:
Associate Justice David Martin,
Atchison, Silver Republican.
Governor John W. Breidenthal, To
peka, Populist.
Lieutenant Governor A. M. Harvey,
Topeka, Populist.
Secretary of State Abraham Frakes,
WaKeeney, Democrat.
Attorney General Hugh P. Farrelly,
Chanute, Democrat.
Auditor E. J. Westgate, Garden City,
Populist.
Treasurer Conway Marshall, Gar
nett, Democrat.
Superintendent Levi Humbarger,
Abilene. Populist.
Superintendent of Insurance Webb
McNall, Gaylord. Silver Republican.
Congressman-at-laxge Rev. J. D.
Botkin, Winfield. Populist.
Presidential electors were nominated
as follows:
J. B. Fugate, Newton, Democrat.
C. P. Carstenson, Belleville, Democrat.
J. B. Goshorn, Iola, Democrat.
H. J. Roetzel, Great Bend Democrat.
R. W. Turner, Mankato, Silver Re
publican. James Falloon, Hiawatha, Silver Re
publican. F. M. Brady, Parsons, Populist.
Taylor Riddle, Marion. Populist.
Charles H. Nichols, Osborne, Populist.
James Beck (colored), Galena, Pop
ulist. Of the ten state offices the Populists
have five; Democrats, 3; Silver Repub
licans, 2.
Of the 10 electors the Populists have
4, Democrats 4, Silver Republicans 2.
Congressman E. R. Ridgley was
chosen by the Populist convention as
chairman of the state committee, to
succeed Taylor Riddle, Mr. Riddle mak
ing the motion which elected Ridgley
by acclamation.
John H. Curran, of Parsons, was re
elected secretary of the Populist com
mittee. Webb McNall was re-elected chair
man of the Silver Republican commit
tee: D. O. McCray, Topeka, was chosen
secretary.
The Democrats re-elected Mack Love
chairman: W. H. L. Pepperell, secre
tary; Frank Thomas, Topeka, treasurer,"
of the state committee.
The new state committee for the Pop
ulists follows:
First Grant Harrington, Brown; F.
H. Chase, Jackson.
Second Paul Russell, Miami; A. P.
Elder, Franklin.
Third Carl Vrooman, Labette; J. R.
Charleton, Montgomery.
Fourth d. S. Sallyards, Greenwood;
J. E. Urie, Osage.
Fifth H. N. Gaines. Saline: C: B.
Hoffman, Dickinson.
Sixth H. R. Honey, Jewell; C. H.
Emmons, Graham.
Seventh W. J. Babb, Sedgwick; Har
vey Eckert, Pawnee.
After the conventions yesterday
adopted the conference committee's re
port amending the Hotel Throop agree
ment, the business was rushed, each
convention taking its share of the of
fices. The Democrats were first to get in ac
tion, naming the three officers on the
state ticket and the four presidential
electors to whom they were entitled
under the terms of the agreement.
The Populists named the five officers
which they were given by the general
terms of the agreement, also the five
presidential electors.
The Silver Republicans also nominat
ed their share of the candidates.
Then the three conventions ratified
the action taken by each one separately.
J. G. Johnson visited the Populist
convention and reported the nomina
tions made by the Democrats. These
the Populist convention immediately
ratified. '
Congressman Ridgley reported the
Populist nominations to the Democrats.
K. B. Lawrence, of El Dorado, re
ported the nominees of the Silver Re
publicans to the Populists; R. W. Tur
ner to the Democrats. The nominations
were made on regular motion, then the
complete ticket was ratified by one en
thusiastic vote in each convention.
The Populist, Democratic and Silver
Republican committees, at meetings
held last night, decided to open head
quarters in Topeka. August 1.
APPROVAL AND APOLOGY.
J. G. Johnson's Statement Accom
plishes Two Purposes.
Special to the State Journal.
Fort Scott, July 26J For the surren
der of the associate justice, J. G. John
son, the Democratic leader, prepared
and gave out the following expression
of approval and apology:
"It must be gratifying to all true
Democrats to settle their differences as
we have today, in an orderly and regu
lar manner, and at the same time pre
serve that harmony) and good feeling
essential to Democratic success. The
Populist conferees told us what was
not new to us and what is not new to
you, that the rank and trie of the Popu
list party were demanding the nomina-
tion of Judge Martin in a voice too
strong to be ignored.
"We desire most of all to carry Kan
sas for Mr. Bryan, this desire deep
seated in every heart inspired the com
mittee to continue negotiations even af
ter agreement seemed hopeless."
MRS. DIGGS A POWER.
Was the First to "Knock" on Throop
Agreement.
Special to the State Journal.
Fort Scott, July 26. Mrs. Annie L.
Diggs is largely responsible for the des
truction of the. Hotel Throop fusion
agreement, being the first Populist to
raise a voice in protest against the
turning down of Judge Martin.
Mrs. Diggs first made public a decla
ration in favor cf the nomination-and
marshalled the forces which comprised
her friends arid commenced the fight.
STATE LIBRARIAN ANNA L. DIGGS,
Who Played a Lively and Successful Part
-at the Fort Scott Convention.
The effort was frowned upon by John
Breidenthal and Mrs. Diggs was com
pelled to work very quietly at the state
house to prevent being discovered in
her plans.
Mrs. Diggs weighs less than 100
pounds, but according to the result of
her work and the influence she wielded
at Fort Scott, she controls several tons
politically.
This was a conspicuous victory for
Mrs. Diggs and the Democrats and Pop
ulists admit that her work accomplish
ed the nomination of Judge Martin for
associate justice.
THOSE WHO LOST.
Candidates Who Were Presented to
the Populist Convention.
Special to the State Journal.
Fort Scott, July 26. The following
candidates were presented to the Popu
list convention for the offices indicated,
but they were not at any time factors
of importance against those who were
successful:. '
Governor W. H. Ryan, Crawford.
Lieutenant governor W. H. Sears,
Lawrence; W. H. Ryan, Crawford.
Contlnued on Third Pae.)
m ULTIMATUM.
Foreign Consuls at Shanghai
Have Told Li Hung Chang
That He Must Get Definite Dis
patches From Ministers
WITHIN FIVE DAYS.
Otherwise Report of Massacre
Will Be Accepted.
Russian Admiral is Told What
' to Do in That Event.
London, July 26. While the latest
impression derived from the array of
conflicting telegrams from the far east
is that a portion of the foreign colony
at Pekin may have escaped slaughter,
until a recent date, the consensus of the
best informed opinion of Burope seems
to continue to favor the acceptance of
the worst news and prompt action
thereon, the contention being that the
only possibility of definitely ascertain
ing the truth is by the allied command
ers inquiring at Pekin. Judging from
the news from Tien Tsin, however, re
cording divisions among the admirals
there, the prospects for a speedy ad
vance seem to be endangered unless
the governments quickly agree upon a
supreme leader.
Telegrams from Shanghai report that
Li Hung Chang has taken up his
abode at the arsenal as a measure of
precaution. It is not stated whether he
feared attack by Chinese or attempts
of the powers to curtail his liberty.
Apparently the foreign consuls at
Shanghai have informed the viceroy
that unless he obtains definite dis
patches from Pekin within five days
they would conclude the ministers had
been murdered accordingly.
Reports are recurrent that a number
of missionaries, either American or
English, have been murdered in Shan
Si Hu.
One of the dispatches from Shanghai
published here today says:
"The Canadian missionaries who
escaped from Ho Nan had a terrible
experience en -oute here. The natives
everywhere were hostile. The rabble at
tacked the refugees, beat them, and tore
the clothes from their backs. The la
dies suffered cruel indignities."
The dispatch continues:
"Canton remains comparatively quiet.
The natives, however, are beginning to
fear that reinforcements arriving at
Hong, Kong are intended-to attack the
Rogue forts and occupy the. city. The
military mandarin has asked the colo
nial secretary, at Hong Kong for as
surances that Great Britain does not
intend to take Canton." . . ,
A dispatch received here today from
Yokohama states that the Japanese di
vision will all be landed at Taku by
July -31 and will reach Tien Tsin Au
gust 3.
The legislature of New South Wales
has resolved to dispatch a military con
tingent to Join the imperial troops in
China. . .
RUSSIA MEANS BUSINESS.-
London, July 26. The Daily Express
has the following from St. Petersburg:
"Admiral Shreydloff bel, commanding
the Russian squadron in Chinese waters,
has received precise instructions to
bombard the Chinese coast towns im
mediately on receipt of confirmation of
the report of the massacre at Pekin."
CAN'T PROTECT FOREIGNERS.
New York, July 26. A special to the
Journal and Advertiser from Hong
Kong says:
Consul General Wildman has been
informed that the Chinese governor of
the island of Nai Nan has served no
tice on the consuls that he is unable
to protect the foreigners any longer.
The American missions have appealed
to Consul Wildman to send a warship
to Hoi How to bring away the foreign
ers. It is believed that three men, three
women and three children, belonging to
the American Presbyterian board's mis
sion at Nodoa, Hai Nan, have been mur
dered by Chinese imperial troops.
The last news from there was dated
July 12, at which time they repelled the
attnclt of the boxers.
Hong Kong is full of refugees. An
outbreak is expected on the West river.
ARMY CHANGES IN CHINA.
Washington, July 26. The fact that
Col. Meade, who was in command of the
marines at Taku has been invalided
home on account of rheumatism, has
created 110 surprise among his comrades
of the navy, who knew him best. While
a man of indomitable will. Colonel
Meade's vitality has been below par and
it has been an almost constant struggle
for him to perform his duties. Colonel
Meade has been the ranking marine offi
cers at the Cavite naval station since it3
establishment. His departure from Taku
will leave Lieutenant Coolnel Coolidge
of the Ninth infantry.in command of the
American land forces. The latter's com
mand, however, will be only temporary,
as the arrival of Gen. Chaffee within the
next few days, will place him in supreme
command.
Major Waller, who is now the ranking
marine officer, also will give way, upon
the arrival of the Grant, to Major Bid
die, who is his senior. Major Biddle has
with him on the Grant two companies of
the Fourth battalion of marines, the
First detachments of marines, which
have gone direct from the United States
to the scene of the trouble in China.
The acquisition of these 225 marines
will bring the total force of marines
close up to 700. Owing to the largely in
creased force of marines and the rein
forcements which are on their way from
the United States, Col. William S. Muse,
who is now stationed at the Mare Island
navy yards, San Francisco, may be as
signed to command them.
The naval department is very much
gratified to hear from Rear Admiral
Remey direct a denial of the imputation
that American marines participated in
any way in the burning and looting cf
Tien Tsin after its capture by the allies.
However, this has been understood to be
the fact from the first.
GEN. DOR WARD'S TRIBUTE.
Copyright, 1900. by Associated Press.
Tien Tsin, July 16. via Che Foo, July
24. General Dorward, the British com
mander, has sent to the American com
manders a letter in which he says:
"I desire to express the high apprecia
tion of the British soldiers of the honor
done them in serving alongside of their
comrades of the American army, and of
the high honor accorded me in having
them under my command. - -
"I blame myself for the mistake made
in taking their position by the Ninth
regiment, not remembering that troops
fresh to the scene of action and hurried
forward in the excitement of attack
were likely to lose their way. Still the
position they took and gallantly stuck
to all day undoubtedly prevented a large
body of the enemy from turning the
right of the attacking column and in
flicting serious loss on the French and
Japanese."
General Dorward also expressed his
sympathy with the Americans in the
loss of Colonel Liscum, commander of
the regiment, and Captain Davis of the
marine corps. He commended Lieut.
Smedley D. Butler and Lieut. Henry
Leonard, of the marine corps, and Lieut.
Louis Lawton of the regiment and prais
ed Lieutenant Colonel Coolidge for his
skillful management of the regiment.
Chinamen from the walled city de
scribe a reign of terror inaugurated by
the boxers before the city fell. The box
ers killed all Chinese who had been in
the employ of Europeans, holding a daily
inquisition. They decapitated even those
suspected of friendship for foreigners or
of adopting foreign customs. The mere
wearing of narrow sleeves was deemed
an offense justifying the death of the
offender and the confiscation of his pro
perty. It is now believed that the regular
troops and the boxers are hostile to one
another, the troops being enraged be
cause the boxers drew them into a dis
astrous fight.
MARINES ARE CLEARED.
Washington, July 26. The navy de
partment this morning received the fol
lowing cablegram from Admiral Remey:
Taku, July 24 Che Foo, July 25 Bu
reau navigation, Washington: Colonel
Aleade, condemned, Mare Island hospital,
rheumatism; Major Waller succeeds
command First regiment. My obtaina
ble information clears marines of any
Imputation burning houses or looting
Tien. Tsin. REMEY.
NO BOXERS IN COREA.
Washington, July 26. Mr. Ye, the
Korean charge here, took to the state
department, a dispatch from his govern
ment denying positively the published
stories that the boxer movement had ex
tended to Korea, or that any Chinese
boxers had crossed the Korean frontier.
LOOKS MORE WARLIKE.
Washington, July 26. Notwithstand
ing signs of activity, the state depart
ment had nothing this morning of in
terest touching the Chinese situation.
The navy department sent over a copy
of the dispatch received from Admiral
Remey making some changes in the
marine body, and Minister Wu came
down, asked for half an hour with Act
ing Secretary Hill, but lie declared he
had nothing from home, though he was
confident of important developments in
the immediate future.
The imperial edict promulgated yes
terday by Viceroy Tak at Canton has
left a disagreeable impression here.
Despite the Chinese minister's view to
the contrary, this edict is looked upon
as suspiciously like a preliminary to a
formal declaration of war and as only
one step toward securing time to move
Chinese forces into a better position for
defense against the Internationals.
The notice that came to the state de
partment that Korea is free of the
boxer agitation was well received, for
it is believed that Russia will thus be
enabled to spare many more Chinese
troops from her Siberian army for use
in the international column. After his
conference with the Chinese minister.
Acting Secretary Hilt said the minister
had received no communications from
China and had no information to im
part. The state department had no in
formation of any kind from its officers
in China and the conferences between
the minister was simply an interchange
of courtesies. The Chinese minister ex
pressed to Secretary Hill his continued
hope that the ministers in Pekin were
stil safe and said he believed he would
soon be able to deliver to the depart
ment a message from Minister Conger
which would make that hope certain.
RUSSIA'S WAR LOAN.
London, July 26. A dispatch from
missionary sources.dated Shanghai, July
26, says:
"Rioting has broken out at Ai-Huen-Fu,
the capital of the province of Shan
Si. There are no details. Rioting has al
so occurred at Huai Loh, south of Chi
Ll. All the missions have been destroy
ed. Our friends safely escaped to the
country, but are still in danger."
It is reported here that Russia has
borrowed nearly ten millions sterling
from the Imperial Bank of Russia since
the commencement of the trouble in
China.
TO COMMAND THE NINTH.
Washington, July 26. Col. Charles F.
Robe, formerly lieutenant colonel of the
Seventeenth infantry, who succeeded to
the. command of the Ninth infantry on
the death of Colonel Liscum whili gal
lantly leading his forces at Tien Tsin,
has been ordered to proceed at once
to China for the purpose of assuming
command of his regiment. Colonel
Robe is now at Manila awaiting trans
portation to Taku.
POSTAL SERVICE FOR CHINA.
Washington, July 26. This govern
ment has arranged to provide the Amer
ican soldiers in the field in China with
a regular postal service similar to that
in operation during the Spanish war.
Mails for the troops in the Chinese ser
vice as well as from them will be
promptly forwarded.
SURGICAL SUPPLIES FOR CHINA.
Washington, July 26. Surgeon Gen
eral Van Reypen of the navy has ar
ranged to send drieet to our ships at
Taku a quantity of surgical supplies
and dressings on the water ship Are
thusa now at League Island, which
sails shortly via Suez. From the stand
point of the navy, the situation so far
as the medical corps is concerned, 13
considered to be well in hand.
6,000 DEAD CHICKENS.
Fire in a Commission House in
Chicago Destroys Much
Poultry.
Chicago, July 26. Fire which broke
out at noon today in the buildings at
225 and 227 South Water street, occu
pied by the commission firm of H. L.
Brown & Co.. caused damages esti
mated at between $50,000 and $75,000 and
created a panic among a score of girls,
caused the death of 6,000 chickens, and
for a time threatened the whole block.
Three girls were reported missing, but
it is believed they escaped. A dozen
girls who had been at work packing
eggs on the third floor were carried
down in an elevator and a number of
stenographers escaped down a back
stairway. The. property was fully in
sured. Hannaa at Their Summer Home.
New York, July 26. Senator M. A.
Hanna, accompanied by his wife and
Miss Hanna, and Miss Ruth Hanna,
their daughters, and Miss Phelps, ar
rived at Elberon, N. J., today. They
made the journey from Cleveland in
Senator Hanna's private car. Carriages
were awaiting at their station and the
whole party were driven to their cottage.
WATER COMPANY
MEETSCOUNGIL
Directors Accept Proposition
For Appraisements.
Looking to Sale of Property to
the City.
WILL SEND ENGINEER.
To Work With Representative
of the City Council
In Asertaining the Value of the
Waterworks.
The directors of the Topeka Watefl
company have accepted the proposition!
emanating from the city council, for a
joint appraisement of the property, for,
the purpose of arriving at the valu
thereof, such proceedings being one of
the necessary steps in the plan for the
purchase of the property by the city.
This action on the part of the com
pany indicates a desire, apparently, on
the part of the water company, to treat
with Topeka fairly in this matter. There
can be no doubt in the minds of the
owners of the waterworks as to the sin
cerity of the purpose of the city to pur
chase this property or construct an en
tirely new municipal plant. This is pro
bably responsible for the unanimity
with which the city and the company)
are now working.
A letter to Mayor Drew from President
Street of the water company, brings the
news of favorable action by the direct
tors. The letter follows:
Mayor and City Council, Topeka, Kan
sas: Gentlemen: We beg to advise you
that at a meeting of the board of direc
tors of the Topeka Water company, held;
July 20, the agreement between the pres
ident of the company and the committee
on waterworks of your city on July 7,
was unanimously approved. We pro
pose to at once select a disinterested and
competent engineer to met with your
nominee in accordance with the terms
of the agreement.
TOPEKA WATER CO.
By C. F. STREET, President.
The agreement which was approved
by the city council July 9, and which ia
referred to by President Street follows:
Topeka, July 6, 1900.
"At a meeting of the water committee
of the city of Topeka and the president,
and manager of the Topeka Water com
pany, held at the office of the mayor, to
confer upon the subject of the sale of
the plant of the Topeka Water com
pany to the city of Topeka, it was sug
gested that thecity of Topeka should
nominate a competent hydraulic engi
neer to met a competent hydraulic en
gineer to be selected by the water com
pany for the purpose of making a dlsin-'
terested report as to the fair and equita
ble value of the property of the Topeka
Water company.
"In event the engineers being un
able to agree upon a price it was sug
gested that they be authorized to select
the third engineer after having first
notified and counseled with the officers
of the city of Topeka and the officers of
the water company, the three engineers
to then make a report of their findings.
It is understood that the suggestion is
not binding upon the waterworks com
mittee until it has been approved by the
council, and it is not binding upon the
water company until it has been ap
proved by the board of directors, which
approval or disapproval shall be made
by both parties not later than August
1.
"If a price is agreed upon the proper
ty shall be conveyed to the city of To
peka as soon thereafter as the city of
Topeka can negotiate its bonds and the
Topeka Water company can convey ti
tle." The council will probably appoint an
engineer at the next meeting. The wa
ter company will notify the council
when their engineer can be here and
everything will be in snape for them to
proceed at once with their work.
The council is pleased with the spirit
displayed by the water company and is
hopeful that an early understanding
will be reached by the engineers.
Nothing further will be done by either
the council or the water company until
the engineers make their report. If
they can agree the question will be set
tled and the water plant will be pur
chased in a very short time.
britIsOetire
From "Attack on Boer Position
With a Loss of 50.
London, July 26. Lord Roberts . re
ports to the war office today that Gen
eral Archibald Hunter's command was
heavily engaged July 24 and 25 in the
hills south of Bethlehem. The Boers
were strongly entrenched and fought '
stubbornly throughout the 24th . and
compelled the British to retire from
some of their positions with about 50
casualties. At last accounts General
Hunter had worked around into Brand
water Basin, In the rear of the Boers,
while General Hector MacDonald and
General Bruce Hamilton were blocking
outlets on the front of the federals, who
had evacuated their position at Witnek.
Lord Roberts reports to the war of
fice under date of Balmoral, July 25, as
follows:
"We marched here yesterday without
seeing the enemy. The Boers, on July
24, engaged French and Hutton, six
miles south of Balmoral. While An
derson's mounted infantry attacked the
Boers' right French made a turning
movement around their left. Seeing
their retreat threatened the Boers broke
and fled. French and Hutton followed
and proposed to cross Oliphant's river
today at Naauwport.
"Our casualties were one wounded."
The Mohican Ordered to China.
Vallejo, Cal., July 26. Orders have been
received at Mare Island to fit up the
United States ship Mohican for duty on
the Chinese statiuc and to have her tn
condition to sail tn seven days at the
most. It will take seventy-two daya for
the Mohican to mak the trip, and as
she is one of the very old ships of the
navy, some surprise is expressed at ht-r
being oxdexed to t&ka stuii a lons cruia.