New-York tribune. [volume], December 30, 1900, Image 1

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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THE LINGERING BOER WAR
LITTLE PROGRESS MADE RECENTLY BY
EITHER SIDE.
SIR DAVID BARBOUR'S MISSION TO SOUTH
JLFRICA-A CLOUD OVER RAPID
TRANSIT PROBLEMS.
tOryrirfit: 1900: By The New-York Tribune!
[BT CABLE TO THE TRIBCXE.]
London, Dec. 30. 6 a, m.-The Boer operations
disclosed in the latest dispatches indicate a de
liberate but unsuccessful attempt to break the
British lines of communication. The raid across
the Orange River has been a failure. The bands
of guerillas have been headed off and are re
tiring. The Dutch sympathizers in Cape Col
ony may be ready to offer political assistance,
but they will not fight. The Boers, having failed
to shift the scene of military operations south
ward, art „o . resuming their harassing tactics
along the railways leading from Natal and
through the Orange River Colony. Skirmishing
is constant, but no advantage is gained. Brief
summaries of these petty fights show that there
is a daily casualty list on the British Ride, and
this is enlarged by mortality from fever and
various diseases. When the lines are kept by
en army of over 200.000 men, the accounts of
these operations are gloomy reading for a nation
weary of war and anxious for the restora
tion of peace, but it is inaccurate to represent
the British army as acting on the defensive and
barely holding its ground. It would be more
correct to assert that there is no real progress
en either side. Old soldiers who keep watch of
what is going on say that Lord Kitchener is
doing as well as could be expected; that he is
gradually wearing out the Boers; that De Wet
will be run down sooner or later, and that the
bands wilt be dispersed when their horses and
ammunition give out. They do not expect im
portaru results from the establishment of
Government laagers for the protection of the
burgher and their families who are willing to
surrender. The Dutch women are more bitter
than the burghers themselves, and are unwilling
to live in laagers under the British flag.
Pir David Barbour, who started yesterday for
Pouth Africa on a special mission for the in
vestigation of the financial resources of the
Dutch territories, has been conferring with Mr.
Chamberlain and obtaining his ideas on many
questions relating to mines, railways and other
properties. While his main work as a financial
expert has been done in India, he has studied
the resources of other parts of the Empire. He
¦was a member of the commission which recently
visited the British West Indies to report on the
economic needs of that group of colonies, but
rejected Sir Henry Norman's comprehensive
proposals for the revival of the cane sugar in
dustry by means of duties equal to foreign
bounties, and jo'.ned Sir Edward Gray In recom
mending various peddling devices and petty
doles.
Sir Henry Colviie has gone Into the country
from Plymouth to consult with friends over
Funday, and will not visit the War Office for
eevera! days.
Lord William BereEford's death Is greatly re
gjetted by a large circle of friends In social,
military and turf circles. Jn his prime he was
one of the best horsemen in the hunting field
or the army, and won the Victoria Cross through
hie skil! and daHng as a rider. His career on
the turf, although short, had been highly suc
cessful, his winnings having been due in a lar ;e
measure to the employment of American jockeys,
trainers and horses. His heir is a boy nearly
four years old, with American blood.
The stock nrarket was unusually depressed
yesterday, and thirteen defaults were announced
en the Stock Exchange. These financial embar
rassments were due in large part to the depres
sion of the London and Globe group of stocks.
Large advar.ee* made for the construction of
one of the underground electric railways have
been one of th*> principal causes of the disturb
ance. The difficulty of raising money for these
transit enterprise* te increasing, and the Yerkes
syndicate may easily enlarge its undertakings
by purchasing unfinished lines. The cost of
financing as well as constructing these deep
level railways has become a serious obstacle to
the development of the transit system, upon
which the comfort and prosperity of Londoners
are dependent. L N. F.
BOERS SCORE AGAIN.
KITCHENER REPORTS ANOTHER FIGHT,
WITH SEVERE BRITISH LOSS.
London, Dec 29.— General Kitchener, tele
graphing from Pretoria, under date of Friday,
December 28 sends a summary of the number
of attacks made by the Boers at various points.
The only Important incident was an attack on a
baggage column near Greylingstad. A company
with a pompom made a sortie from Greylingstad
and drove off the Boers. Captains Radclyffe
and Harvest were wounded, eight men were
killed. twenty-se\en were wounded and twenty
were reported missing.
London. Dec. 30.— Last night's cable dispatches
from South Africa add little or nothing to the
information concerning the situation, though the
general trend of events seems to show that the
Britishers are regaining the ground recently
lost. A special from Naauwpoort, dated Decem
ber 28. reports that Colonel De Lisle defeated
Hertzog eighteen miles west of De Aar, captur
ing a number of wagons and releasing the
prisoners captured at Philipstown. Lieutenant-
Colonel Grenfell forced back Kritzlnger toward
Venterstad. Both commandoes are in a des
perate plight and will probably never re-cross
the Orange River.
A Standerton dispatch, dated December 28,
Fay* it is estimated that 2.000 Boers were en
gaged in the operations In North Natal hoping to
break the British line of communication. This
plan failed, and the Boers were driven off In
each case with more or less loss, their casualties
in the last day or two numbering fifty, while
the British casualties were slight.
According to a Johannesburg dispatch of Fri
day's date, General French occupied Venters
dorp that day without opposition. This place
being a great telegraphic centre has been much
used by the Boers for the dissemination of in
formation. The possession of Ventersdorp,
Lichtenburg and Zeerust gives the British a
strong hold upon this part of the country.
From Carnarvon, under yesterday's date,
comes a dispatch saying that the Boers occupied
Voshurg on December 'J.l in force, and were
reported to be moving on Carnarvon, where
martial law has been proclaimed. The loyal Held
cornets and fanners have assured the authori
ties that they will remain loyal and will sup
press disloyal talk.
It is creditably reported, according to a dis-
NEW DEPARTURE IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
Much Interest m&s expressed by those who at
tendee" the formal opening yesterday afternoon and
evening of Mar-eau'e n.-w Photograph Gallery at
*>o. 258 Flfth-ave. Mr. Marceau has opened a large
gallery on the ground floor, which he has equipped
*lth the best Instruments and latest conveniences
known to photography, and has co arranged the ex
hibits of his work 6e to produce a most pleasing
effect. Mr. Marceeu has formerly be?r engaged In
the photograohic buplniSß In California, where he
"*<J the honor of photographing Paderewekl. an
honor conferred on no other photogi&pher In Amer
ica -a
EVANS 1 ALE SURROUNDS YOU
»itb to atmosphere of good-will and psaes.— Advt.
XEW-YORK. SUNDAY. DECEMBER 30. 1900.-2 PARTS. 24 PAGES. WITH ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT. 16 PAGES. PRICE FIVE CENTS.
? «!fi 'rom Newcastle dated December 29, that
w.i? i.. B ?w ha T, has informed Commandant
hEEJI? l l Krtlger has sent word that the
burghers must lay down their arms or continue
ngnting on their own account, as no support
from Europe can be expected.
Bloemfortein. Dec. 28.— The British have re
occupied Ficisburg, which for some time has
been in the hands of the Boers.
COLVILE STRIKES BACK.
THE ACCUSED GENERAL DENIES RE
SPONSIBILITY FOR THE LINDLEY
DISASTER.
London, Dec. 29.— Major-General Sir Henry
| Colvile. whose resignation has been demanded
i by the War Office, but who refused to resign,
and came to England from Gibraltar, arriving
| at Plymouth to-day, to demand a trial by court
] martial to establish the responsibility for the
Yeomanry disaster at Lindley !nst May, has
made a counter strike at the War Office in a
| three thousand word statement which he has
given to the press. He says he has come home
| to demand a free inquiry, and does not intend
to be made a scapegoat for the sake of the staff.
He avers that the Lindley disaster could never
have happened had he been Informed of Lord
Roberta's intentions. The primary cause of the
surrender, he says, was the Insufficient infor
mation given by the Headquarters Staff to Colo
nel Spragge and himself, and he declines to
accept the blame. He lays out the facts and
blames others.
General Colvile and his influential friends in
and out of the army are thus beginning a cam
paign against the new Secretary of State for
War. William St. John Brodrick; Lord Roberts
and General Kitchener. It is expected to be
fought out with some ferocity in Parliament.
When he returned from South Africa, General
Colvile says, he fully acquainted the W T ar Office
•with the facts. After some time he was in
formed by General Sir Evelyn Wood, the Adju
tant-General, that Lord Lansdowne. then Sec
retary of State for War. had directed him to
say that General Lord Wolseley, the Com
niander-in-Chlef, approved of General Colvlle's
resuming his Gibraltar command. He learned
unofficially that an Army Board of five of the
highest officials of the War Office had con
sidered his statements and Lord Roberts's dis
patches on the subject. His reappolntment was
the result of the Inquiry. To his Intense sur
prise. Adjutant-General Wood on December 21
gave him notice that Mr. Brodrick, the newly
appointed Secretary of State for War, held him
responsible for the loss of the yeomanry and
ordered htm to quit his command Immediately
and hand over his resignation.
General Colvile. going into official details,
says he was ordered to concentrate his division
at Heilbron on May 29, and names the various
dispositions of the other divisions, which ex
tended across the Orange Free State. He as
sumed that Lord Roberts intended to advance,
sweeping all before him. His orders were abso
lute, and he had to carry them out. Hence he
could not go to the relief of the five hundred
yeomanry without risking the success of the
grand operation. Under any circumstances, he
says, he considered It his duty to push on, even
if he were sure it would entail the loss of the
yeomanry. Besides, he had only food enough
for two days. He pushed on, and the yeomanry
surrendered. Lord Roberts broke up General
Colvlle's division and expressed his dissatisfac
tion.
"On my pointing out that I had obeyed his
orders to the letter," declares General Colvile,
"he said his orders were only intended as a
guide."
General Colvile alludes to some of the yeo
manry being millionaires, and quotes Lord Rob
erts as saying it was his duty to sacrifice his
force for the yeomanry. "It will be remem
bered," General Colvile says, "that the corps
d'ellte numbered live hundred, and my force
nearly eight times that number."
General Colvile cites two examples of what he
considers Lord Kitchener's "defective staff
work."
KIMBERLEY ALMOST ISOLATED.
SIEGE CONDITIONS AGAIN PREVAIL IN THE
DIAMOND CITY.
Cradock, Cape Colony, Dec. 28.— Klmberley is
almost isolated by Boer raiders. No mails
reached there from December 19 to December
25. Provisions are at famine prices. The mili
tary took charge of all the fcodstuffs Decem
ber 22.
The Leinster regiment, commanded by Major
Barry, had a skirmish, lasting four hours, with
the Boers at Driefontein, December 27, suffer
ing slight losses.
The Boers at Getuk captured a convoy of
twenty-five wagons on Christmas Eve.
BURLEIGH SENT BACK TO AFRICA.
London, Deo. 20.— 1n view of the prolongation
of the war, "The London Daily Telegraph" has
again dispatched Bennett Burleigh. its well
known war correspondent, to South Africa.
LORD ROBERTS HEARING HOME.
Gibraltar, Dec. 29. — The steamer Canada, with
General Lord Roberts on board, which arrived
here from South Africa yesterday, sailed for
home this afternoon.
TALK OF BRINGING KRUEGER HERE.
COLONEL ARTHUR LYNCH SAID TO HAVE
SAILED ON LA NORMANDIE.
An effort Is being made by Boer sympathizers
in this country to bring- President Krilger here.
Colono! Arthur Lynch, who organized the Second
Irifh Bridage in the Boer army, wis to have sailed
for Europe yesterday on the French Line steamer
La Norinandie as a representative of these people
to pave the way for Kriiger'a coming. He could
not be found on the Bteamer, but it is believed that
he sailed.
Charles D. Pierce, the representative of the
Orange Free State In this city, said last evening
that he was not acquainted with Colonel Lynch,
but that there was a possibility that President
Kruger might come to the United States. "I re
ceive weekly dispatches from The Hague," he said,
"and can say that he will not come within a month,
ap the question of his coming to this country is
r.ot decided yet. He may come within two months."
In regard to the talk among some Irish Boer sym
pathizers In this city of preferring charges against
United States ConßUl-General J. Q. Stowe, of Cape
Town, who arrived here a week ago, Mr. Pierce
said that he had heard nothing about it. It is
charged that Mr. Stowe was not neutral and had
a leaning toward the British.
PA RESTS FEE BOY GBUBHBD.
HK IS BUM OVER BT A TRAIN AT VAU.KT
STREAM. LONG ISLAND.
Charles Cornell, six years old, the son of Mr.
and Mrs. James Cornell, of Valley Stream, was
ground to pieces last evening within a few feet
of where his parents were .standing by a west
bound train on the Long Island Railroad. The
boy had been playing with his father, awaiting
the arrival of a train. He ran across the tracks
some distance in front of an eastbound train
and remained across the street until that had
passed. He then started to return and was half
way across the track when he was struck by the
westbound train for Long Island City.
<jl K'KEST to GtEOROIA, FLORIDA. CUBA
U via Perm. R. R., Washington, Rlcl mend. Charles
ton "N. V h. Fla. Special" commences January 14th.
Tickeu and full information Atlantic Coast Line
office, 1161 Broadway, corner 27tb Street.— Advt.
ODELI, SEES THE LEADERS.
POLICE LEGISLATION DISCUSSED WITH
UP-STATE SENATORS.
The final conference of Republican leaders for
the year took place at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
yesterday, when Governor-elect Odell, State
Chairman Dunn, Senator Platt, Senator Ells
worth, leader of *he Republicans In the Senate,
and Senator Stranahan. chairman of the Cities
Committee ar.a Senator Brown, of Watertown,
met in Mr. Platt's room to talk over the many
things which will take place next week 1 1 the
State Capitol. The Senate committees and the
proposed police bill for this city were the fruit
ful topics of discussion for an hour or two. and
the up-State Senators went into the merits of
the bill thoroughly. The provisions of the meas
ure have been too often referred to in these
columns to require further explanation. Gov
ernor-elect Odell's admission on Friday night
that he Intended to recommend a single headed
police bill indicates clearly that *he bill which
ex-Justice Cohen drew a few weeks ago will
have the practically solid support of the Repub
lican organization, and become a law at pri
early date. It will be introduced early in the
session and hurried through both houses. As
both houses will adjourn on Wednesday for a
week, the bill Is not likely to reach Mayor Van
Wyck before the middle of January- The Mayor
will have fifteen days in which to consider It,
and, if he vetoes it, it will have to be repassed by
both houses. There is reason to believe that
Mayor Van Wyck will keep the bill in his posses
sion as long as the law allows. It is understood
that the bill will carry an amendment doing
away with the existing Commission and Chief
Devery.
Among Mr. Odell's callers yesterday were Rob
ert C. Morris, the new County Committee presi
dent; Senator Brown, of Watertown; Walter B.
Atterbury, of Brooklyn; ex-Senator Sweet, of
Seneca County; George W. Aldridge, of Roch
ester, and a host of local politicians.
Mr. Odell left the city for his home, in New
burg, at T:3O o'clock. State Chairman Dunn
will stay in town over Sunday. Miss Dunn Is
here with some friends, and the Colonel is never
happier than when he is with his daughter.
Mr. Atterbury saw Mr. Odell yesterday about
a bill which will be introduced by Kings County
legislators providing fo»- the election of police
magistrates in Brooklyn. Six of the eight magis
trates there are Republicans, and their terms
expire on May 1 next. Mr. Atterbury's argu
ment is that there is just as much reason for
electing the magistrates as there is for elect
ing the three grades above them. If the law
remain: as it is. Mayor Van Wyck will appoint
the successors to eight magistrates, and all will
be Democrats. The salary Is $(J,OOO a year, and
there is considerable patronage connected with
the places. Mr. Atterbury says that the Repub
licans ought to have half of the police magis
trates, at least, and will have them if the pro
posed change is made. A bill effecting the
change passed both houses last winter, and was
sent to the Mayor, who vetoed it. The Demo
crats used money to prevent its repassage after
it was sent back to Albany. It Is believed that
the bill can be forced through this year. The
measure will include Richmond and Queens in
its operations.
NUNEZ AGAIXST DADT.
THE CIVIL GOVERNOR SUSTAINS THE VKTO
OF THE MAYOR OF, HAVANA.
[BT CABLE TO THE TBinUXE.]
Havana, Doc. 29. — Civil Governor Xunez has
sustained the veto of the Mayor of Havana of
.the action of the Council, which gave to Michael
J. Dady the benefit of "tanteo" rights in the pav
ing and sewering of the city. Governor Nunez
bases his action op the ground that the plans of
the military engineers under which the work
was to be done were not a modification of the
Dady plans, and the action of the City Council
would prejudice the city's interests by prevent
ing free bidding.
Governor Nunez's report goes to General
Wood through the becretary of State. General
Wood will not give his decision until the Admin-
Istrat've Council acts.
The Constitutional Convention will consider
its final project next week. The project decided
upon by the Central Committee is practically
that the United States Constitution will be fol
lowed, forming a Unitarian Government instead
of a federal one. The new Constitution will be
ready for Congress on January 15.
GERMAN CLAIMS ON CI'BA.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR THEIR SETTLEMENT
BY THIS COUNTRY.
Berlin, Dec. 29. — Negotiations for the settle
ment of German claims for damages in Cuba
during the war have been going on with the
United States for some time, the "National
Zeitung" learns, but have not reached a defini
tive conclusion.
XEW COMBIXATIOX PROBABLE.
IRON AND STEEL TUBE INDUSTRY WILL
BE UNDER ITS CONTROL
It was learned last night from a relative of
a member of the firm of Moore & Schley, bank
ers. No. 80 Broadway, that Klverton R. Chap
man, also of that firm, is at present in Pitts
burg, negotiating for the formation of a com
pany which will aim to gain control of the steel
and Iron tube industry of the United States.
Mr. Chapman has recently been in Philadelphia,
and has practically won over John W. Gates,
W. L. Elkins. P. A. B. Widener and Thomas
Dolan — the three latter being well known Phila
delphia financiers — to the enterprise.
For the last three weeks men who are at the
head of the largest iron and steel concerns in
the country have been seen in close communion
with W. W. Gibbs. of Philadelphia, and
this /act has from time to time given rise to
various rumors as to the formation of a new
organization. Mr. Gibbs started yesterday for
Pittsburg, to confer with Mr. Chapman. Yes
terday two representatives of Mr. Chapman left
on the Campania to inspect the patent process
of Perrlns & Co., Ltd., of England, for the
manufacture of steel and iron tubes. Promoters
of the English company have visited Mr. Chap
man, and if their representations meet with the
approval of the two American experts a com
pany will immediately be formed for the pur
chase of the exclusive American rights of the
Perrins process. According to the facts as
given out last night, the manufacture of tubing
by the English process will be reduced In cost
nearly 50 per cent, which will mean a revolu
tion of the tube Industry In the United States.
The experts sent over by Mr. Chapman will
return the latter part of next month. If their
report is favorable — and it is predicted that it
will be — the new company will be immediately
organized and Incorporated. A capital of $40.
000,000 of common and preferred stock has al
ready been offered by private interests for the
support of the enterprise. Public subscriptions
will not be solicited.
TO WASHINGTON IN FIVE HOURS.
From New York. Royal Blue (-hour trains, leave
foot of Liberty St. 11.30 A. M.. 100 P. M.. and the
"Royal Limited"- no excess fare— at 3:40 P. M.
Other fast solid trains at 8.00, 10.00 A. M.. 1.10. 1.00.
7.00 P. M. and U. 16 night. Leave South Ferry S
minutes earlier Best dining and cafe car service
>n toe world.— Acwt.
TO BUY DANISH ISLANDS
PRACTICAL CONCLUSION OF
NEGOTIATIONS.
CONGRESS FAVORABLE TO THE LODGE
BILL AND ALL THE PRELIMI
NARIKS ARRANGED.
[BT TELEORAI'H TO THE TRIBUNE.]
Washington. Dec. 29.— The practical conclu
sion of the negotiations for the purchase of the
Danish West Indies is virtually confirmed at the
State Department In the announcement that an
appropriation by Congress is all that remains
to provide for the acquisition of St. Thomas and
the other small islands owned by Denmark im
mediately to the eastward of Porto Rico, and it
is the impression of officials that the money will
be voted next month. The greatest difficulty
encountered In the negotiations has been the
reluctance of Denmark to agree in advance to a
sale while the United States was not prepared
to guarantee to buy, fearing a repetition of the
embarrassing situation that arose thirty years
ago. when the Senate refused to ratify Secre
tary Seward's treaty of purchase when Den
mark believed a sale had actually been con
summated.
It is the understanding that a canvass of Con
gress shows that Senator Lodge's bill carrying
$5,000,000 for the acquisition of the islands and
for establishing American sovereignty Is as
sured of speedy and favorable consideration,
and on this assurance all the preliminaries to
the treaty and transfer have been perfected, and
the signing of the instruments only awaits the
readiness of the United States to pay the pur
chase price.
AN OFFER MADE TO DENMARK.
THE UNITED STATES WILLING TO PAY
13,2-10,000 FOR WEST INDIAN ISLANDS.
Copenhagen, Dec. 21). — The United State? Min
ister. L. S. Swenson, has informed the Danish
Government that the United States offers
12.000,000 kroner for the Danish Antilles, and
will not give more.
: HISTORY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
I Washington, Dec. 29.— negotiations between
! the Government of the United States and the Gov
! ernment of Denmark have been in progress, al
though intermittently, for the last two years. In
the earlier stages something was attempted here
through the resident Minister of Denmark, Con
stantln Brun, and one Captain Christmas Dirk
feldt, but while these efforts laid the foundation
for what followed in Europe, they could not be re
garded as successful, and aft. mature considera
tion the State Department decided that Mr. Swen
son, the United States Minister to Denmark, was
the best person to deal with the case in the Inter
ests of this country. Therefore, full instructions
and some measure of authority were given to him.
He had nearly succeeded In his object last spring
when, through an Internal change in Denmark, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs was displaced.' The
new Minister was opposed to the transfer of the
islands to the United States, and a wave of
patriotic feeling swept over the country before
k ..7,ibJch Hie Government was obliged to yield, and
thcYleg6'lH«t)#irrs Tfr< suspended for a time. Now,
however, a change has taken place in public
opinion in Denmark, and the present Minister of
Foreign Affairs has it is believed here, reluct
antly come to the conclusion that for financial
reasons it is scarcely possible to hold the Islands.
Their export trade, normally done in large part
with the United States, has been greatly depressed,
and though the commerce might yield sufficient
revenue under unrestrained Intercourse with the
United States to make the islands self-sustaining,
at present they are a drag- on Denmark, and the
Danish Government is obliged to make , good a
considerable deficit on their account.
The sum named in the Copenhagen dispatch as
offered by Minister Swenson, 12.000,000 kroner, as
the price to be paid for the islands, is equivalent
to about $3,240.0i10. It is Impossible to learn whether
this is the maximum price to be offered. Purely
business reasons would account for the official
silence on this point. It is i nderstood that Mr.
Swenson had considerable latitude in dealing with
the matter, but it is intimated here that he lias
about reached the end of his abilities at this point.
Of course an acceptance of his proposition by the
¦Danish Government would not complete the trans
action. The transfer can be accomplished only
under a treaty, which must be accepted by the
United States Senate. And also, owing to the
necessity for providing the money to be paid for
the islands, the House of Representatives must
have its say, being called upon to make the neces
sary appropriation. The treaty would undoubtedly
consume much time in consideration, basing the
belief on the course assumed by the Senate In
passing on treaties, and as scarcely more than two
months remain of the present session of Congress,
speedy action would be required on the nart of the
negotiators at Copenhagen in order to allow a
reasonable chance for action on the treaty before
adjournment.
The Danish West Indies consist of the islands of
St. Croix. St. Thomas and St. John. St. Croix, the
largest, lies sixty-five miles east-southeast of Porto
Rico, and is about twenty miles long and five miles
wide, with an area of 110 square miles. It is gen
erally flat, well watered and fertile. The climate is
at times unhealthy, and earthquakes and hurri
canes are of frequent occurrence. Two-fifths of the
surface are in sugar plantations, the principal
crops being sugar, rum, cotton, coffee and Indigo.
The capital is Christiansted, and there is another
town called Fredericksted. The population is about
18.000.
St. Thomas lies thirty-eight miles east of Porto
Rico, and is about seventeen miles long and four
miles wide. It has a rugged and elevated surface,
attaining its greatest height toward the centre. The
soil is sandy, and the greater part is uncultivated.
The population of the island is about 14.000. Char
lotte Amalie. the chief town and the seat of Gov
ernment of the Danish West Indies, has an excel
lent harbor and an extensive trade.
St. John has an area of forty-two square miles
The chief exports are cattle and bayrum. The capi
tal is Crux Bay, and the population about 1000
ACCIDENT TO AMOS J. CUMMINGS.
HE BREAKS HIS ANKLE WHILK RIDING A
BIOTCUB NBAS NEW-HAVEN, CONN.
An ambulance from Bellevue Hospital met a
train arriving from New-Haven. Conn., at 3
p. m. yesterday and carried Congressman Amoa
J. Cummings from the Grand Central Station to
his home, at No. :V2 Charlton-st. Mr. Cum
mings was suffering from a broken ankle, and
was attended by Dr. John H. Glrdner. At his
home last night it was said that he went into
Connecticut some days ago by advice of his
physician, taking his bicycle along and spend
ing a part of each day in the open air for the
benefit of his health. Near New-Haven yester
day morning the wheel he was riding slipped on
some wet ground and he was thrown. In the
fall his ankle was broken.
SHOW IX NBW-MBIWO, RAIX IX FLORIDA.
Albuquerque. N. M . Dec. 29.— The heaviest mow
storm that has raged in this section of New-Mexico
for years has been in progress the last twenty-four
hours in the Sardia Mountains, east of this city.
The thermometer has gone several degrees below
the freezing point, something unprecedented in Al
buqutrqiu-.
Psnsaeota, Fla., Dec. 29.— A utorm of wind and
rain passed over the city late last night. Several
streets were flooded. The large aUel bark Klandra
was capsised in the bay The tug Klondike and
a small schooner foundered. A man and his two sons
spent the night in the rigging of the schooner and
were rescued, half frozen, at daylight
NEW YORK * FLORIDA I IMITED.
Via Perm. and Souther: Ry.. r<-.«urms service Jany
141 h. Lv. New Ycrk 12.40 p. m.. dally except Sunday'
Dining, compartment, observation and drawing
room sleeping cars New York to St. Auirustine
also carrying drawing-room sleeping car New York
to Alken. Augusta, an . port Tampa. Diagrams
new open. New York oftVes 271 and 11S5 Broatlwav
-Advt
WILL TICKLE EVERT PALATE
and bold the respect of ail— Evan*' Aie.— Advt.
DUCETS SHARP REPLY.
TELLS THE REV. J. L. BELFORD NOT TO
BE "SO FRESH" -SAYS A PERMIS
SIBLE MASS FOR FATHER
MA LONE.
Father Thomas J. Ducey. rector of St. Leo's
Roman Catholic Church, last night sharply re
plied to Father John L. Belford. rector of Sts.
Peter and Paul's Church, In Brooklyn. He ad
vised Father Belford in the future to be more
reverential, and to refrain from being "so fresh."
The controversy with Father Belford arose
about a mass celebrated at St. Leo's yesterday
morning In memory of Father Sylvester Malone.
formerly rector of the church in Brooklyn now
i.i charge of Father Belford. When Father
Belford heard that mass was to be celebrated In
St. Leo's for Father Malone he took the stand
that no anniversary mass should be celebrated,
because the general law of the Church forbids
such a mass between Christmas Day and New
Year's Day. Father Belford wrote the following
letter to "The Brooklyn Times"':
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Times.
Sir: An anniversary mass for Father Malone in
not celebrated in this church on Saturday, because
the general law of the Catholic Church forbtds such
a mass between Christmas Day and the Keast of
the Circumcision (New Year's Day).
If such a mass is celebrated in another church it
is. I presume, because the rector has forgotten this
rule.
The late Bishop Loughlln died on the same date
as Father Malone. December 29. yet his anniver
sary mass may not be said before January 2, on
which date we shall have a similar mass here for
the late rector of this church
JOHN L. BELFORD.
Sts. Peter and Paul's. Dec. 28. 1960.
A Tribune reporter called on Father Ducey
last evening. He showed him the letter of
Father Belford as published. Father Ducey
read the letter carefully, and laughed, as if
amused.
"I have r.ot forgotten my rubrics," he said,
"and I would recommend this young gentleman
to be more reverential, and, if I am not guilty
of slang, not to be so fresh. To show that I
have not forgotten my rubrics, I give The Trib
une the copy of a letter sent by me to the Most
Rev. Archbishop Corrigan." The letter was as
follows:
Most Reverend and Dear Archbishop: I wish to
relieve your mind of anxiety. When the Mil.m
family called at St. Leo's in regard to the anni
versary mass for the lamented and respected
Father Sylvester Malone. I informed them that the
common law of the Church would not permit an
anniversary within the privileged octaves, and that
the mass would have to be the mass of the day In
the color of the day. I was, of course, not respon
sible for the announcement In the papers of an
anniversary requiem mass. I thank you for your
kind note. Truly yours. FATHER DUCaTT.
"I recommend the Rev. Mr. Belford not to
be so hasty in the future in sending misleading
communications to the press," continued Father
Ducey. "For the guidance of the Rev. Mr. Bel
ford, I feel at liberty to quote a sentence from a
letter received by me from Archbishop Corrigan
on December 28. It is: 'Of course, there is no
objection whatever to your offering the mass of
the day for the repose of the soul of the late
Father Malone, or offering a requiem masa when
the rubrics will permit it. Very faithfully yours,
M. A. Corrigan, Archbishop of New- York." "
The mass for the repose of the soul of Father
Malone was celebrated yesterday by Father
Ducey. Father Malone died a year ago yester
day. In speaking in the church of Father Ma
lone, Father Ducey said that yesterday was. in
the Church calendar, the day of St. Thomas of
Canterbury, martyr. He dwelt upon the spirit
ual devotion shown by Father Malone in giving
up his life to his flock. He added:
I have known and reverenced Father Malone for
forty years. I first saw h,m in the office of James
T. Brady, the attorney I was then but a boy.
Father Malone was there, of course, on an errand
of mercy, concerning one Orestes A. Brownson, a
convert to the Church, who was rich in intellect
but poor in the goods of this world. From that time
on I never lost track of Fj-ther Maione. During the
entire fifty-five years of his service to the ihiirch of
Sts. Peter and Paul his dominant characteristic was
his devotion and fidelity tc the work to which God
had called him.
Father Ducey closed by deploring what he
called the tendency of the times not to give
proper reverence to years and labor.
BURNZ FOUND GUILTY.
MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE THE
VERDICT- SENTENCED FOR LIFE.
Edgar C. Burnz. who shot and killed Herbert
B. Fellows, station agent and postmaster at
Scarsdale, X. V.. on December 4, ISHJI, was found
guilty of murder in the second degree in the
Supreme Court in White Plains last night.
Justice Keogh at once sentenced Burnz to im
prisonment for life.
The Jury bega-.i to deliberate at 7:, T0 p. m.
A few minutes after 9 o'clock the jury returned
to the courtroom and the foreman asked:
"If we find Burnz guilty of murder in the
second degree will he be imprisoned for life? 1 '
"He will, under the law," replied the Justice.
The jury, after deliberating ten minutes
longer, returned with a verdict.
The prisoner was calm, and not a muscle of
his face moved when the verdict was given and
the sentence pronounced.
The earlier part of the day was spent in sum
ming up by the lawyers. Ex-Judge Isaac N.
Mills, for the defence, spoke for nearly four
hours. District Attorney George C. Andrews
argued against the plea of insanity, set up by
the defence. Justice Keo^h then charged the
jury.
On the night of th» murder Burnz appeared at
the railroad station shortly before 0 o'clock, the
hour for closing. Three young farmers were in
the station talking to Mr Fellows, but they SOOSI
went away, and Burnz was left alone with the
agent. Not long after 9 oVlo k Mr. Fellows and
Burnz left tne station together. Mr. Fellows
carried a grip in which were $tiO, the receipts of
the station and postofflce. They were only a
short distance from Mr. Fellows's home when
Burnz suddenly drew a revolver and shot Fel
lows in the head. Then he seized the grip and
fled.
Mr. Fellows's wife when her husband did not
return home became alarmed and told her
neighbors. A searching party was organized,
and Mr. Fellows's body was fou id In a clump of
bushes by the roadside. He had fallen on the
boardwalk when shot, and had afterward
crawled across the road to the spot where his
body was found.
Burnz took a late train at Tuckahoe for this
city, having previously rifled the grip of Us con
tents and then thrown it away. On the night
following the murder Burnz was arrested in the
Madison Square Garden, where a six day bicycle
race was in progress.
Burnz's defence was a plea that he was in
sane. Evidence was presented to show that his
father and mother were first cousins, that his
granduncle took his life while Insane, that he
had concussion of the brain, a sunstroke and
many diseases, and was a confirmed cigarette
smoker.
HIGHEST CHAMPAGNE RECORD.
Last year 109.303 cases were imported of G H
Mumm's Extra Dry. In ll months in 1900 this
quantity was exceeded, being 72.1t» cuses more than
any other brand. Special attention ia called to the
remarkable quality now imported.— Arivt.
FARE TWO CENTS A MILE.
To Niagara Falis and all other points on the New-
York Central; mileage tickets for 6uo or 1,000 miles.
Open to every one.— Advt.
\ I- US OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
PESSIMISM RAMPANT IX THE REVIIWI
UP THE TEAR.
MILITARY ADMINISTRATION AND ARMY RE
FORM—THE MONETARY SITUATION—
A HALF CENTURY OF ACADEMY
PICTURES— SOME BYRON LET
TES3 TO BE UNSEALED.
- *ht: 1900: By Th* N«w-Tor* Tribune.)
[BI CABLB TO THK TRIfUXE. )
London. Dec. 29.— Moralists with a century a*
well as a year behind them are making a week
of it. Everything is reviewed, from finance to
football, and pessimism is the prevailing note.
The English Diogenes at the close of the yvar
may find an honest man. but not an optimist.
The English are the severest critics of their
own shortcoming*, and expose themselves with
stark naked candor. The impression created by
columns of croaking and foreboding is that
everything is going wrong, that the South
African War has been bungled from first to
last, that British prestige has been impaired,
that the finances of the campaign have been
badly managed, that the Government has been
compelled to borrow money at rates nobody
would have believed likely, that the Americans
and the Germans are taking away a large por
tion of England's foreign trade, that the coun
try is wofully behind other nations in mechani
cal invention and electrical enterprise, and that
everybody, in the slang of the day. need* to
"buck up" at the opening of the new year and
the new century. The chorus of grumbling and
croaking is the characteristic refrain of a na
tion of faultfinders at the dawn of a new era.
In reality every Englishman knows that the
Empire was never stronger than it is at this
moment, with the loyalty of the colonies In
vigorated, and Imperial interests centred, and
that while competition is steadily increasing in
foreign commerce, home trade was never better
nor the financial stability of the country more
certain. While the war is still dragging on. the
Dutch governments have been overthrown be
ynnrl a < nance of restoration, and the richf v."
gold fields in the world have been conqnei i
and brought und«r tribute to British prosperity.
The must controversial question at the close of
the y^ar is the real stronghold of military ad
ministration. The Duke of Cambridge was for
a long period Oommander-in-Chief of the Brit
ish Army, with almost autocratic power over its
officers. When he reluctantly retired Lord
Wolseley entered headquarters as a reformer,
but a civilian .Secretary of War in reality took
command of the army. Lord Wolseley has sone
out and Lord Roberts is coming in. but It is not
yet clear whether Mr. Brodrick intends to re
lax his civilian grip upon the service. The recall
of Sir Henry Colvile to London and the resigna
tion of Colonel Spragge indicate that the new
Secretary of War considers himself responsible
for the enforcement of discipline among
officers, and does not intend to shirk ate
duties. Two officers who were apparently ex
onerated by his predecessor are now forced
to abandon their posts, and he has de
clared that there are others whose conduct In
tha field 13 to be investigated. The fact that Sir
Henry Oolvile i? a guards* general and is
strongly supported at Court renders Mr. Brod
rick's assumption of supreme authority more
significant. Sir Henry Colvile upon his return
can demand a military inquiry, but Mr. Brodrick
can refuse to grant it, and by all precedents
and rules of the service the General will have
no chance of defending himself. It is probable
that Colonel Broadwood will be dealt with, and
possibly Colonel Clements as well, for his share
of responsibility for the recent reverse in the
Transvaal. A point which Interests military
men is whether Lord Roberts as Commander- '
in-Chief will be left under the thumb of the
Secretary of War, as Lord Wolseley was, or
whether Mr. Brodrick, with the House of Com
mons behind him, will assume the responsibility
for making and unmaking military reputations
as well as reforming the entire administration
of the army. The Queen is generally believed
to hold strong views of her own respecting the
command of the army. She considers the
services of some member of the royal
family necessary, and would be well pleased if
the Duke of Connaught were made Adjutant-
General and placed in the line of succession to
Lord Roberts. This is objectionable from a Par
liamentary point of view, since the frank dis
cussion of military affairs Is impossible when a
member of the royal family is the Commander
in-Chief.
Veterans In the service are more deeply con
cerned with reform of officers than reform of
system They take it for granted that lances
and other antiquated weapons will be aban
doned, that mounted infantry will be brought
in on a large scale, that the artillery will be
improved and that the art of intrenching will
he mastered by the common 30ldlers. What they
consider of paramount importance Is the dis
missal from the army of incompetent officers,
who may be the pets of society and favorites
of the titled class, but who are not leaders of
men or experts in the methods of modern war
fare. If the British officers in South Africa had
been conspicuous not only for courage but also
for foresight, adaptability, discretion and prac
tical sense, there would have been fewer mishaps
and failures. The best ally of the Boers has
been the pampered and flattered carpet knight
in the n'eld, who was always ready to ride with
pluck and dash to his death, but never prepared
to learn anything. There is a general and well
informed opinion that Colenso, Sannas Post and
other baitles of the war were lost at Alders hot
and in the English barracks, where high pin
officers had won their commissions through fa
voritism and had fattened on the idea that it
was unnecessary for men of superior social Isj
tlucncf to know the business of war.
The most significant feature of the monetary
situation is the shrinkage of the reserve in the
Bank of England. Old fashioned bankers have
shaken their heads grimly over the reduction of
the resources of the bank and the ability af
American. French and German capitalists to
subject the financial sysssai here to a se»aia
strain; but the man in the street has not Mtafe
alarmed, for he has kno.n that the bankers of
all great money centres support one another.
The bank's reserve will naturally be increased
during the next t»u months, but there will in
evitably be another shrinkage at the end of
Mari'h. The increasing power of America as a
creditor nation is the stock theme in all the
financial Journals, which frankly admit that a
great balance of Indebtedness is held uncoliected
against England, and may produce an outward
drain of gold at any time. The wonderful de
velopment of American productive resource*
and the force of competition in foreign markets
are frankly conceded, and the gloomiest prophet
of evil for the United Kingdom foresees nothing
CHORDS THAT VIBRATE SWEETEST PLEA3
ure suggest the excellent brew in? of Evans*.— Advt.
REMEMBER this Is "Hospital Sunday. '-Ad-rv