The times. [volume], December 31, 1899, Image 1

About The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901

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.
NUMBER 2076.
WASHING TOX, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1S99-SIXTEE PAGES.
Price Three Cents.
CRITICISM FOR MHTHDEN
"Biers and Brif ons Sti'Piigf lien Their
Entrenchments.
Cieiieral Hiillcr's 'rciianiions In
dicate rimt Another Attack Will
Shoh He Mnde Against llie Troojis
f the Transvaal Anxiety in Kiisr
lanil Oier the Cnmiii); Battle.
LONDON. Dec. 80. The past week has
i wy slight change in toe aspect of
ta South Africa. Contrary to all
tJKpBCtaUottS. General Methusn seems re- Ueutcnant Byngf wJth a strong patrol, has
salvos 1 remain entrenched at Moulder j made a reconnoissance toward Springfield.
Bfver where both he and the Boers are I Thorneycrofts mounted infantry made an
atomy attwetheaine: their positions. This ! oer reconnoissance in the direction of
wmss """S"""" "" J" ISpieskop. They say they fa led to locate
is Hiss oaetrary all centiaofttal military any Boer force.
Mfintnn. A foreign military expert, writ- J colonel Gougli. of the Sixteenth .Lancers,
tmfr to the "ThBea." voices the general recently approached the Tugola River. He
milnlnn when he says that Methuen should i
be sweatled ml once and Join hands with
Gatacre at Naenw Peort, supported by all
the trropc now arriving at Cape Town.
When the three divisions Metbuen's,
Oatacre'a, aad Warren's have been joined.
there should be an advance to Bloemfon
tefo. where further re-eaforcetuents can be
eeat hr secorinc the railways between the
Fee State, Port Elisabeth, and Bast Lon-
Meaawhile General Bailer has not been
if tsi ftmcid to keep as many of the enemy
as passible in Natal. The expert argues
Chat it is not ret even desirable that Ballet
tasHet a defeat before a strong column Is
in the Free State, as the Boers would then
take refuge in strong mountain passes.
from which it would be most difficult to
dhjsBfe them. -
Preparations for tlie Attack.
General Bailer's preparations, however.
aM potnt to a second attack as soon as he
Is tgesdy, inasmuch as the Boers have
t!MQr strengthened their positions since
the buttle of Ceienso. Considerable anx
iety is felt as regards the result of another
attempt.
far the centre General French continues
his good but not very conspicuous work,
While Saiacre. by the seteere of Dordrecht,
has distinctly improved his position, both
from a political and military point of view,
tor he commands some thirty miles of
country, in whkh he can prevent consid
erable disaffection, and is also enabled to
a:h Stormberg which is the Boers' chief
stronghold, from two sides.
But with a prolonged lull in actual hap
penings at the scene of war, attention in
Sfegland ie chiefly directed of late to other
pair's A certain portion of the press
whii.h na foremost in urging war, when
liaappointed, tried to distract attention
tram their own egregious blunders by at
tack' ng the generals but the public would
hae'. none of thlt- and the attack has since
seen confined to the War Office. Lansdowne,
aaf. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, and doubtless
wlu n the war if oxer astrict account will
Br demanded for official shortcomings,
though the mer serious critics point out
the not this or that minister should be
beli responsible, bur thai the whole cab
met must justify itself and the whole sys
tem be reformed
Fprsr to win )t war is still the leading
Web of the public and the volunteer move
meat proc eeds van increasing enthusiasm.
Proeafatj 70,000 veomaary will be enlisted.
India will also provide numerous and
n-aeeded horses, so that within six
there will probably be enough
to South Africa-to do really effi-
work. though it Is unsatisfactory to
mat uk norse afcKnese season is due
within month.
The 1'lonr Seizure.
So strong is the one idea lo first defeat
dm Seers that all other questions arising
sot of the war are only of the slightest
general Interest. This applies also to the
sefatnre of American flour cargoes on Brit
ish abtpfc bound for Deiagoa Bay. But the
newspapers have been making this latter
toatore "very prominent, following the lead
C the entire foreign press. The Govern
ment has not yet made the slightest declar
ation on the subject, and while everyone
acmes that to make food contraband would
be diametrically opposed to the welfare
of Great Britain in the lops; run, it is be
ttered that wben the prise courts have
handled the prfc-nt eases it will be found
that bo new prei. dent has been established.
The consignors were mainly Engllfch, and
the prinripal consignee was not only a
British subject, but was known as the
Transvaal commercial agent. Thus the
law preventing any British subject from
trading with the enemy is applicable in
tins ease. Moreover, international law
gnats the right of pre-emption of such
aappttas. Sir Charles Ditke, in an in
terview, declares that It is folly for Eng
land to make foodstuffs contraband of
yar. He goes on to say that It Is Im
oasfble to prevent men from entering the
Transvaal via Deiagoa Bay if they declare
they are members of the Red Cross Society
or tebmvd to seek employment ta the mines
which are still being worked by the Boer
Government.
" this opens up a doubt. Hitherto the
British Government has not believed that
the ianox of foreign recruits amounted to
match since the commencement of the war.
Bat if it were considered necessary to en
tirety prevent this, official opinion is in
clined to think that the debarkation of
mates destined for die Sooth African Re
pafcttca can clearly be prevented, as ac
oanuac: to the law of Republics every male,
o mat'er of what nationality or sympathy!
fe Uab to be commandeered. Therefore.
every male going to the Transvaal may be
jghd considered as an enemy to the
British There is a party in England
which strongly advocates the aoisiBff of
uetamm Hay. arguing that if any power
wishes to intervene, it could already And
as eaaally good excuse.
View, of the Cabinet.
But the weight of opinion, including the
of m umbers of the cabinet, regards
a policy as impossible. The Govern -
will confine themselves to bringing
to bear on the Portuguese officials
at Loareaco Marques to perform their du
des as neutrals with greater strictness,
which Is a polite way of saying with less
emanation and laxity, and at the same time
keep the chMHEt possible watch on af
JaJra. Th- condition of aaairs in Deiagoa Bay
may b. judged b. the fact that the J'ort
anjfut"e auihortu.h have already formally
w..rne1 the s i) tor British naval oolcer
tr- r- that the an not guarantee the safe-t-
of ships lylag in the harbor, or be re
E;.onfltle for !l i: ;triecttoa against ma
JIi'.u; attack.
.- ond Sia i i .r 'g. of course, prac-
j.y out of "' qu.Mion. Still s-cli a
. -UK. is in -i'f suggestive
TV-te it if -. ' Impression here that
ta Nw Year will not bj many days o'd
'JU
a i. advance movement In fowe u. on
;. l;o: will make a material chaigt- in
.. .-..otb African situation, li N Mi that
i nltrf of Mafeklng Klnlei . and
"m- a.iih . tH-ttnrirjg bou.ly d more Im
1 .. ri'"H I 1? the nvestmeot
itet by the Bots MS ftsiptd
Itefere the arrival xf General Roberts, when
n ent're ew plan of opeist on will te
inaugurated the (hamistit tb. t ! for -Jrg
f' rr-rvr 'e 'h t v r ik'v i' Ie
ouch E.a' .1 r r f tort inha.e
the problems facing Roberts awl Kitchener
when they arrive at the Gape.
A "Central News" despatch from Cheve
ley of today's date says: "A na,iva states
that General White made a sortie f om
Ladysinith yesterday (Friday), carried a
strong Boer position at the point of the
bayonet, and captured a big gun. Thi
statement is confirmed somewhat by ihe
strange silence of the Boere besieging
Ladysmith since yesterday."
EXCHANGE OF SHELLS.
Shot 1'iihs Ilctvteen liner and British
Outposts.
GHEVELEY CAMP, Dec. 29 (11:30 a.
in.; delayed In transmission). Several
farm houses oeeupied by the Boers were
located by the naval brigade ooiore oar
last night, and at 9:30 o'clock four shells
" "" "l "'V. ' , ,., r-
saw aoout one nunaroa tioer ponies sru
ing ou the plain, and ordered his men to
fire on them with thpir rifles.
A racing meet was held here ou Boxing
Day (December 26), and was a great suc
cess. There were big fields in the various
events, and a number of close finishes.
About 11-30 a, in., while the racing was
in progress, the Boers iired two shells at
the outposts of the Irish Fusiliers and the
Xaval Brigade, at a comparatively short
distance. One man was wounded. Tho
naval guns sent three shot& in reply, 'and
the Boers retired. At 0:30 o'clock this
morning the Xaval Brigude began firing on
a Boer position.
ENGLISH CAPTUHE KIELES.
MaiiMTs "Were lleiiijc Shipiieil
in
Cse,K 1, libeled 'iliseuit"."
CAPE TOWN, Dec. 27 (9 a. m.; de
layed in transmission). Christinas was
spent peacefully in all the camps. The
soldiers indulged in races and all kinds of
sports, but It Is expected that active opera
tions will soon begin.
There, appears to be some trouble about
recruiting for the Cape irregulars. The
men want their own officers, but the au
thorities insisl on putting Imperial offi
cers in charge. It is reported that a
wagon load of Mauser rifles have been
seized near Cradock. The cases were
labeled "biscuits."
FLOODS IN NATAL.
&F
The ilriilc Behind lllnii(?ivtiue Hill
Carried Anj-.
PRERE CAMP. Dec. So (3 p. m ).
There is no confirmation of the report that
General While made a successful sortie
from Ladysmith yesterday. The Boers gal
loped In force toward Potgioters, the
wagons and guns following. It was evident
that the burghers suspected an attack.
The seasonable rains have commenced
and the rivers are flooded. The Tugela
rose yesterday to such an extent that it
carried away the Boer bridge behind
Hlangwane Hill.
The soldiers are enthusiastic over the
news from England that a corps of yeo
manry volunteers is to be raised.
A GERMAN SHIP SEIZED.
The HrHlh.li Deelare the Veel Car
ried Contraband of War.
LONDON. Dec 30. The German- East
African Line steamship Bundeerath has
been captured as a prize by British war
ships and taktn Durban, Natal.
Three German officers and twenty men,
clad in khaki uniforms, who intended to
serve in the Boer army, were passengers
on rhe Bumlesratb.
HAMBURG, Dec. 30. It is J aid here that
the Bundesrath did not carry anything con
traband of war. It is reported fbat the
German Foreign Office has prctn!s3d to in
vestigate the affair at onec.
NEW YORK, Dec 30. According to
Lloyds the Bundesrath sailed from Ham
burg, November 8, bound for Tanga. A
despatch to the "New York Sun," from
Berlin, November 30, stated that the
"Kreuz Zeitung" printed a sensational
story to the effect that Arthur Cnamber
lain, and head of the Kynochs, the great
gunmaking firm, had been supplying the
Boers with arms and ammunition. It was
further rtated that the German mail
steamer Bundeerath had made two trips to
carry this war material, which was shipped
ironware.
GREETINGS FROM THE QUEEN.
The Mayor of KImberley Kj.ehun;?eM
MeasnceH "With Iier .MfiJcHty.
LONDON. Dec. 30. The War Office re
ceived a message from the mayor of Kim
berley, dated December 28, conveying on
behalf of the inhabitants. New Year
greetings to the Queen. '
Her Majesty replied as follows:
"I am deeply touched by your loyal
greetings. 1 watch with admiration your
determined and geHanc defence, though I
regret the unavoidable loss of life in
curred." Dr. Leyilh .Mitkcs a Denial.
AMSTERDAM, Dec. 30. In an interview
in the Handelsblad, Dr. Leyds, the Euro
pean agent of the Transvaal, denied that
nmmunition has been imported by his
Government through Deiagoa Bay. He pays
that these reports have been spread as a
pretext Tor the forthcoming British occu
pation of that territory. The Boers, he
says, are able to manufacture their own
munition.
American) AVltli the British.
FRERE CAMP, Dec. 29 (Delayed in
transmission) A great many Americans
are serving hero with the British mounted
brigadcThere are seventy-five in one com
mand of 460. The British officers say they
are excellent soldiers, and that more of
vhem would be welcome. The presence of
the Americans is regarded by the British
officers as an indication of the friendship
Between the two nations.
Hor.ses for South Africa.
CALCUTTA, Dec 80. The rulers of
Kashmir, Mysore, aad Jodlipur, have of
fered troops and horses to the Government
for service in South Africa. The Govern
ment has accented the offer. Jodlipur is a
famous horse-breeding centre.
Shots lSielmiiKcd nl Victoria AVest.
CAPB TOWN, Dec. 2S (Delayed in
I transmission). There was an exchange of
(shells between the British and a body of
; Boers at Victoria West last night. It Is
I believed thai the Boers were trying to cut
i off the British railway communication.
llritish Olllcfi- Killed.
PRETORIA, Dec. 29 (Delayed in trans-
mission). The British prisonori. taken in
i the Maloco-Mafcking fight slate that Cap-
tains Vernon and Sandford wore killed,
and that LordB Edward Cecil and Caven-dish-Bentinck
were wcundou during the
engagement.
,91.2:1 To Baltimore ami Ite- ijtl.2.";
turn i in I'ennss lvauiu Hailrond
T'Kr - ru ' jtnrdas and Sunday, l)e-
,1,1 (i ) aTU Si, ST- "1 ' r t ,rn uitil M n
i , J tra r.i t 't f'tf ional
NO PEAK OF A FENIAN BAID.
The
CanailiniiH Iteard nit Invasion
an Improbable.
OTTAWA. Out., Dec. 30. The recent
talk of a Fenian invasion of Canada from
9the United States suggests an enquiry
as to what extent the military resources
of the Dominion are capable of affording
successful resistance to a formidable at
tack from an enemy beyond its boraers.
The militia, as provided by statute, con
sists of all male inhabitants of the Domin
ion between eighteen and sixty years of
age, divided into four classes, whose lia
bility to compulsory service follows in suc
cessive order as each class becomes ex
hausted. Tho number of men now available
for active service in Canada between the
ages of eighteen and forty-five, comprising
the first two classes, is estimated to be
over one million. The totnl number of the
active militia to be trained and drilled an
nually is limited by statute to 45,000. Tho
number now on the rolls is about 35,000
men.
Col. .Matthew Ayliuer, adjutant gen
eral of miltia, expressed today tha opli ion
that Canada, in the event of a Fonian in
vasion of serious proportions, could easily
muster and equip 60,000 so.dlors accUi
tomed to military training within a com
paratively brief period.
The probability of another Fenahi raid Js
regarded by the autho.ltics here as far too
remote to merit serious consideration.
Leading Canadian journals also doal wi.ii
the subject, if referred to at all, in a jocu
lar spirit. The military author.ties, never
theless, while treating the matter lightly,
will not be caught napping.
WILL USE COLT'S GUNS.
The Canadian Minister of 31 i lit In
Adopts nn Ameriean Weapon.
OTTAWA, OnL, Dec. 30. The Minister
of Militia, after looking into tho matter of
securing Gatling guns to accompany the
mounted rifles of the second contingent,
and having communicated with the Im
perial War Office, has decided that the
most suitable weapon for the purpose is
that made by the Colt's Company, of tho
United States, and will, therefore, pur
chase from that firm the equipment re
quired. These machines will be under the
charge of Captain Howard, an American,
who served with distinction in the North
west rebellion, and earned the soubriquet
of Gatling Gun Howard.
An offer of 200 trained soldie'rs, with him
self in command, has been received at the
militia department from Colonel Hutchi
son, of Nashville, Tenn. He states that
the men have served in the Cuban and
Philippine wars, and are eager to come to
Canada and join the second contingent.
WORK OF BOER SYMPATHIZERS.
Canadian Oflicinls Scire Buttons
Ileuringr .Seditions liiNcrlptioiiN.
OTTAWA, Dec. 30. A few days ago a
large number of buttons on which were in
scribed "Victory to the Boers," both in
French and in English, were seized by the
customs officials in Toronto and forwarded
to tho department here. The result has
been that the customs department has sent
out a circular to all customs collectors and
others, Instructing them to be careful of
importations from a certain company,
whose name is given in the circular but
withheld from publication, operating In
New Jersey.
All importations of the character men
tioned are declared to be seditious under
the customs act and are therefore prohib
ited. ALLEGED BOER RECRUITS.
Tourists to Sail for Anple.s 12n Itoiitc
to neiugon Hkj-.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30. One of the al
leged recruiting agents in this city for
the Boor service says that the North Gor
man Lloyd steamship Werra, when she
sails at 1 o'clock tomorrow for Naples,
will carry a detachment of fifty "tourists"
who have been collected in the last week
or two at the Boer recruiting stations near
police headquarters.
The agent says that this detachment Is
but a small part of a body of men ex
perienced in the use of artillery and in mil
itary engineering collected here by Boer
agents. They were to sail, he said, under
the direction of an officer of the army of
Holland, who came to this country recently
to meet them, and who has been seen fre
quently about the so-called recruiting sta
tion of late.
It is the intention of the party to go from
Naples to Deiagoa Bay. There they will be
received by agents of the Boer Govern
ment, who will say that they are trained
nurses.
BOER RECRUITING STOPPED.
I'ierot's Work in Cincinnati Oilleially
I'rohihiled.
CINCINNATI. Dec. 30. Further recruit
ing in Cincinnati of men for the army of
Oom Paul has been prohibited. Co!. W. E.
Bundy, United State3 District Attorney,
yesterday read the nitrnllty laws to Pierre
Pierot. who has been conducting a recruit
ing station for the Boor army on Elm
Street. Pierot said that he was not in my
manner violating the neutrality laws, as ne
wab only enlisting men for the ambu'ance
corps.
Colonel Bundy, who has had experience
in military organi7atious, bluntly loll him
that the evasion would not work, as tbe
ambulance corps was a pert of the army
service, and its members were enl sled as
soldiers. He told Mr. Pierot tbat auy
knowledge of persons having enlist .d :r
about to be accepted as recruits for the
Boer army would subject him to an est
under section 5282 of the neutrality laws of
the United States Revised S atutes.
Colonel Bundy was once the head of the
national organization, Sons of Veterans.
BOER AUTHORITIES CONSENT.
American Army Otlicers Permitted to
Accompany Transvaal Troops.
A telegram from Stanley Hollls, the Con
sul ad Interim of the United States at Pre
toria, was received by the Secretary of
State yesterday. Mr. Hollis was directed
recently by the State Department to re
quest the Transvaal Government to permit
a United States Army ollicer to accompany
the Boer forces in the field. In his des
patch, Mr. Hollis says that the Transvnai
authorities graciously consented to the re
quest. The War Department will desig
nate an ollicer for this duty without delay
At the beginning of the South African
war the War Department assigned foui
officers of the Army to accompany the
British forces in the theatre of operations.
None was assigned to the Boer Army. The
British Government, however, expressed a
disinclination to provide for so many rep
resentatives of the American Army, and in
consequence tile orders ol three of the of
ficers designated were recalled. Capt.
Stephen Le H. Slocum. of the Eighth Cav-
airy, was
the only ollicer whose orders
wore permitted to stand. He is now with
General Buller's forces at Cheveley,
It Is probable that 0110 of the officers
previously designated to accompany the
British Army will be assigned to the Boor
forces. They are Col. S. S. Sumner,
Seventh Cavalry, who was a major general
of volunteers In the Spanibh- nierlcan war,
and who is now the United States military
attache in London: Capt William W, Gib
son, of the Ordnance Department, and
Major Join P trotg of the Seventh Artillery.
LIBERIA FEARS BOROPE
Appeal of the Blaek Republic to
America for Hulp.
The Ilea.son for the Despatch of the
Mniitwomery to the African Const
l2ichnuKc of Notes Jletv een the
Govern mr ii ts of the. United Status,
Great IJrltaln, Germany and France
Some accurate information concerning
the underlying reason, for fhe visit of the
cruiser Montgomery to the ports of Liberia
and Siorra .Leone in October was given to
a reporter for The Times yesterday. The
information came from an ofilclal whose
knowledge of the facts and right to speak
for the Administration are unquestioned.
While he would not say positively thai
the Montgomery had bem sent to Africa
on diplomatic business, the statements
which he made shovUBTTlTie Government
deemed the cruiser' presence in Liborian
waters to be necessary as a guarantee that
the United States still exercises a paternal
interest in the Black Republic, and will
view with concern any attempt of foreign
nations to menace the integrity of thnt
country.
For more than a year tho Government of
Liberia has been very much alarmed over
the suspicion that European nations were
contemplating the soizuro of its territory.
France was feared because her West Coast
possessions adjoined Liberia, and had con
stantly shown a dosiro to encroach on the
territory of the Republic. It had been re
ported that Germany wanted the country
to strengthen .herself in Africa agalnsc
France and England.
The colony of Sierra Leone, adjoining Li
beria on the south, is English, and there
was apparently a fear that the British Gov
ernment, being apprehensive of the seizure
of Liberia by Germany, contemplated an
nexing the country before Germany acted.
The LIberian Government became so con
cerned over these report that it appealed
to the Government of tho United States for
its support in preserving Liberian integ
rity. Just when this appeal was made wasjnot
disclosed, but at the timef the Montgom
ery's visit to Monrovia the newspapers
published a report that Germany and Great
Britain were preparing to Beize Liberia.
This report may have been based only on
the fears of the Liberian officials. Th
United States Government acquiesced in
the desire of Liberia and addressed polite
notes to the Governments of Great Britain,
Germany, and France, calling their atten
tion to the perturbation of. the African Re
public and requiring thai assurances be
given to quiet the fears 'so prevalent at
Monrovia.
Prompt responses of a satisfactory char
acter were received by the United States.
Each EuroDean nation interrogated gave
assurances that it had no Intention taking
any part of the territory of Liberia. If.
Is supposed that this correspondence was
recent, and that the Montgomery was sent
to Liberian waters to show the world that
this Government was prepared to resist
any attempt on the part of a foreign nation
to annex the territory of Liberia. Inci
dentally tho Montgomery made soundings
of the harbor of Monrovia and other places
with a view to the posetoU jcquisition of
one of them as a coaling" station of the
United States.
IN A MARSHAL'S CUSTODY.
The President of the Globe National
It a n U Cumin; Int.
BOSTON, Dec. 30. District Attorney
Bojd Jones received a telegram this morn
ing to the effect that Marshal Osborne, of
Los Angeles, Cal., has started East, having
in custody Charles H. Cole, former Presi
dent of the Globe National Bank. Mr.
Jones expects the party to arrive on Satur
day, January 6. The first step after Mr.
Cole is delivered to the custody of the dis
trict attorney w ill be the question of bonds.
The case will then go over ntil the Marh
term of the grand jury.
The warrant sent to Los Angeles con
tains four counts; the first charges Cole
with receiving $000,000 on August 7 last
and embezzling it, and the second accuses
him of embezzling $300,000 on Augus: 17.
The other two counts simply refer to these
transactions.
A NEW ANAESTHETIC.
Prof. Aldrich Describes a Discovery
to the Scientists.
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Dec. CO. Three
important announcements were made at
yesterday's session of the convention of
scientists now being held in this city.
Prof. T. II. Aldrich. of Detroit, described
his new anaesthetic chlorentone, a com
pound from chloroform and acetone in
crystals which can be administered In
ternally. It produces anaesthesia without
the injurious effects which come in the
moments of lapsing consciousness 1 nder
the inhalation process. Prof. Scripture, of
Yale, presented a statement of progress
in producing anaesthesia by electricity.
It is possible with this invention to
deaden the sente of feeling In a person's
arm so that pins may be stuck into it with
out experiencing any pain. Prof. Aldrich
hns not made the current effective in the
presence of moisture so as to make it
available in the practice of dentistry.
TWO KILLED IN A COLLISION.
A Fast Freight Struck a Material
Train on (lie Southern Railway.
COLUMBIA. S. C Dec. 30. A material
train putting In a steel bridge over the
South Tiger River, where It is crossed by
the Washington and Atlanta main line of
the Southern, was nin into this afternoon
by a fast freight.
Philip Matchett, Superintendent of the
Phoenix Bridge Company, of Pennsylvania,
and Henry Foster, a bridge builder, were
killed. Furman Green, sixteen years old,
and three colored men were badly injured.
The engine and ten cars of the freight wore
splintered.
A Telephone Combine.
CLEVELAND, Dec. 30. A committee
representing the independent telephone in
terests of Indiana, Ohio. Michigan, and
Pennsylvania has been at work In this
city for a few days, perfecting plans for
a long-distance service and n working
combination between the independent com
panies in these States. The plans were
completed Ihis noon and tho committee
adjourned.
Each company will maintain its indi
viduality. A clearing house will be estab
lished similar to that of the banks,
through which the various companies will
do their business and balance accounts
with one another.
End of the I'ottery Trust.
AKRON. Ohio, Doc 30. Thoro has boon
a break in the ranks of the Pottery trust
by the withdrawal of tho throe largest con
cerns. Thoy are tho 12. II. Merrill Com
pany, Whitmoie Robiaons & Co., and Mur
kle & Co. This movement means tho dis
solution of the Akron Pottery Company
which has for several years been an agencj
for tho lOwal manufacturing concerns.
FI nil's lluslncss t llcs;c. stli and K.
$0- (.eivis Ollkc Lx-iiiuut uii ''j.
MENELEK'S MOVEMENTS.
The Massing; of Abyssinian Troops
Mystifies Kiironc.
LONDON, Dec. 30. Tbe reason for the
mobilization of a big army by King Mene
lck of Abyssinia remains a mystery. It is
admitted that the King has a big army in
the field, but it has been semi-officially ex
plained that the sole cause of this force is
the necessity of looking after the well
being of the Tigre country. There is no
need for an Abyssinian army in the Tigre
country, because that region has been phe
nomenally quiet for a long time past.
Menelek undeniably has some objective
point, but it is not the Tigre country, al
though many of his troops arc now there,
to the sore discomfiture of the inhabitants,
nis intentions must be known or suspected
by the British, Italian, and other diplo
matic agents attached to the King's Court,
and presumably they have managed to let
their respective Governments know the
truth, but so far nothing has been allowed
to transpire in Europe on the subject ex
cept vague and intangible rumors.
The latest report, published at St. Pe
tersburg, declares that King Menelek and
his court novcr loft Addisabebn, hut ad
vices from Bijoubltal, on the coast, whence
(here is telephone communication with Ad
disabeba, state that all efforts to speak
wun nun by Captain Harrington, the Brit- j
ish agent, and Captain Cecco dl Cola, the j
Italian agent, have(been futile. As a mat- '
ter of fact, they have not been in the cap- j
itnl for three months nast. which la nf-
Hcient proof that Menelek and his court
are not there or else the Frenchmen who
own the telephone line have taken good
care to make it report British defeats in
South Arrica, and news thereof must have
reached Menelek.
When King Menelek hears, as he must
soon, of tho departure of the redoubtable
Kitchener, he will probably show his hand
if he is meditating nn anti-British move-'
ment In the Soudan.
THE TURKS FOR PEACE.
The Arbitration Treaty Approved by
Twenty-Sis: Governments.
THE HAGUE, Dec. 30. The Turkish
delegates have 3ignod the Peace Convention
declarations. All of the twenty-six partici
pating powers have now adopted the arbi
tration treaty. The United States signed
this article of the convention only, but will
soon give its adhesion to the other declara
tions of the convention by special protocol.
The absence of Mr. Newell, Minister to tie
Netherlands, and the illness of Andrew
AVhite, the American Ambassador at Ber
lin, who weie delegates to the convention.
has prevented the signing of the pioticol j
before this time. The United States, Cnina,
and Switzerland have not s gned that por
tion of the treaty in regard to the laws and
usages of land warfare.
The rules of the Ceneva convention as
annlied to naval warfare wore sinned bv all
the powers except the United States. That J
part of the protocol which prohibits t 0
use of projectiles from balloons, projectiles
that are capable of spreading gases,, and
expansible balls, was not signed by Eng
land. The United States agreed to tho first
provision, and Portugal refused to sign the
third.
A NEW ANTARCTIC SHIP.
German Explorers Will Benefit
by
Xnnsen' .Experiences.
BERLIN, Dec. 30. The ship now build
ing at Kiel for the German Antarctic ex
pedition will be of wood and somewhat
rounder than tho Frara. It will not fall
away toward the keel like the Fram,
Nansen having declared that the shape
of the Fram was unsuitable for heavy
weather in southern seas. The middle
deck will be nearly on the water line in
order to strengthen the vessel against the !
pressure of ice. A triple coating of oak. j
pitch pine, and South Ameriean green wood ,
...111 l. ... .,.. nnttn.. nnnlnot H . . I n
ice, and from bow to stern there will be
steel bands. The length of the ship will
be about forty-six metres, the breadth ten
or eleven, and tbe draught five.
Coal and other store accommodation will
be sufficient for three years. The ship will
carry five scientific men, five officers, a
crew of twenty men, and fifty sledge dogs.
The vessel will be rigged as a three-masted
schooner, electric lighted, and, according
to contract, will be built by May 1, 1901,
and outfitted not later than August 31.
THE CENTURY DISCUSSION.
It ltnwres in Europe With Unabated
Vlj?or.
LONDON, Dec. 30. The strange discus
sion in regard to the commencement of the
twentieth century rages with unabated
vigor. Following the Emporor William's
decision, Germany officially starts the new
century next Monday. The Emperor's de
lusion on this point may be hereditary, for
when, on January 1, I860, the "Times" had
an editorial on the "commencement of the
second halt of the century," a discussion
similar to the present on? rnged, ami the
Emperor's grandfather, the 1 'uce CouBort,
upheld the "Times' " conte .on.
The most prominent victim of the delu
sion here is no less distinguished person
than that great mathematician and scien
tist, Lord Kelvin. It seems an open ques
tion whether the clergy of the Church of
England is not bound to follow Emperor
and Lord Kelvin. At a recent conference
the archbishops reminded them of their
strict obligation to adhere to the Prayer
Book and its table for fiuding Easter Day,
which says. "For the next century that is,
from the year 1SG0 till the year 1S09, Inclu
sive." .
Sir Courtenay Boyle also makes a plausi
ble argument for either side. He says the
question is Insoluble, as the era was not
used till long after the birth of Christ. It
was first devised by Diouysius, the abbot,
in tho sixth century. Sir Courtenay Boyle
goes on to maintain that the founders of
the era then had two courses open. He
adds:
"They might have described the events
of the first twelve months after the nativ
ity as happening Anno Domini Natl, and
the events of the second twolve months as
Anno Domini 1, or else the events of the
first twelve months as A. D. 1, and of the
second as A. D. 2."
Either course is equally probable, but ho
thinks the likelier sequence has been A. D.,
A. D. 1, rather than A. D. 1, A. D. -J.
Death of Sir .lames JPnwret.
LONDON, Dec. 30. Surgeon Paget is
dead. Sir James Paget, F. R. S., D. C. L.,
LL. D., was created a baronet in 1S71,
Since 1877 he had been sergeant surgeon
to Her Majesty, and had been surgeon to
the Prince of Wales since 1SG::. He wus
president of the College of Surgeons in
1S75, and vice chancellor of London Uni
versity from 1SS1 to 1895. He has pub
lished several books, including "Le?tures
on Surgical Pathology.'
The KipliiiRs llinc Iiiliiicnyii.
LONDON, Dec. 30. Rudyanl Kipling is
confined to his bed with un attack ol in
tluenu. His illness is not of a lialuro to
cause anxiety. Mrs. Kipling and the two
children are also suffering from influenza
at their home in Brighton.
liny Arrest General llereier.
PARIS. Dec. 30. It ii imported that t'ze
Government has d eel (fed ti a reU General
Mercier. This as. tlon At 111 probably ba
taken In comction with the p ocee'ing
ngainft M. Maicel Ilabert
Count Tolstoi Is FailliiK.
MOSCOW Dec. .",0 Count Tolstoi (on
ditiou has changed for tho woise.
GENERAL LAWTON'S FUNERAL.
The itciiiaius Leave Mnulln Tor the
United Stntu.
MANILA, Dec. 30. General Lawtoa's
funeral took place this morning. At S
o'clock the artillery began firing a half
hour salute of thirteen guns.
At 9:45 a. m. Trumpeter Haberkam
sounded "taps." after Chaplain Marrin had
offered prayer in the chapel. General Otis
was present. At 10 o'closk the casket was
carried to a caisson by members ot Gen
eral Lawton's staff.
General Otis and his staff in carriages
were in line. After them came the foreign
consuls in the full uniforms of their coun
tries, the presidentkiues. and the head
men of the tribes of Lusoh.
The casket was placed on a launch and
taken to the transport Thomas, accom
panied by Chaplain Pierce, who will eon-
duct the final services at Arlington. On j
tne snip were also the remains of iiajor
Logan and Major Armstrong.
GENERAL WOOD'S CABIN-BT.
The
Appointees Will Knter Upon
Their Duties January 2,
HAVANA, Dec. 30. -Governor-General
Wood will announce the names of the
members of his cabinet tomorrow as fol
lows: Secretary of State and Government
Diedo Tamayo.
Secretary of Justice Luis Bstevez.
Secretary of Instruction Juan B. Her
nandez. Secretary of Finance Enrique Varoaa.
Secretary of Public Works Jose R. VII
lalon. Secretary of Agriculture Rnla Rivera.
Varona was originally slated for Min
ister of Instruction, and Rodriguex for '
Minister of Finance. j
All of these men stand high in the opin- !
Ion of Cubans, and the appointments will i
undoubtedly give general satisfaction. The j
Minister of Instruction. Mr. Hernandez, is j
a professor of great repute in the nni- I
versity. The new officials will take office '
January 2.
NINE SAILORS RESCUED.
The Schooner Kntiny IJrovn Sinks OfT
Cape Hntterns.
CHARLESTON, S. C, Dec. 30. The
schooner Margaret B. Roper, from New
York, arrived in port today, bringing Cap
tain Lawrence and crew of eight men taken
from the schooner Fanny Brown, lost off
Hatteras Tuesday night. In a collision with
the Margaret B. Roper the Fanny Brown
was hit amidships and rapidly filled with
water.
Gallant work by the officers and crew of
the Roper saved Captain Lawrence and his
men. No information regarding the cause
of the collision would be given by shipping
masters or members of the two crews
though it is said that the crash was due
to a mistake in signals.
FOUR KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION
Low Water in a Boiler Cannes a
Fatal Accident.
LANCASTER, Pa., Dec. 30. Four lives
were lost and live men injured this morn
ing on the Pennsylvania Railroad improve
ments now in progress near Elizabethtown
by the explosion of a boiler. The engines,
a colored man named Burt Davis, was
blown to pieces. The accident la bslievel
to have been caused by low water la the
boiler. A large number of workmen were
warming themselves near 'toe to'ler when
it went to pieces, and those not hurt saw
debris awl bodies go up into the air in a
perfect rloud.
Besides Davis, a man from Bainbridge.
Pa., and an Italian boy were instantly
killed. The Italian's body was hurled 150
yards. Wilmer Sherbahn, of Newvflle,
Pa., was eo badly injured that be died in
two hours.
THE INJUNCTION REFUSED.
A Union of the Pullman and Waj?ner
Companies I.enU
CHICAGO. Dee. 30. Judge Tuthill today
refused to issue tbe injunction petitioned
by Truman A. Taylor to restrain the
merging of the Pullman Palace Car Com
pany and the Wagner Palace Car Company,
under tne name 01 me I'uuraan company.
In his ruling Judge Tuthill held that the
sleeping car business was in the control
of the railroad companies, that combina-
tlon between them would nave lo be shown
before any monopoly of the business could
be declared, and that the sleeping car
companies are simply the agents of tbe
railroads acting under contracts, as do
other employes of the railroads.
Robert T. Lincoln, President of the Pull
man Palace Car Company, today filed a
certificate with Recorder Simon, in which
it was set forth that at a special meeting
of the stockholders of the company on De
cember 5. 1S99. the name was changed to
"The Pullman Cainpany."
AN ENGINE AND CAR COLLIDE.
A Colored Man Probably Fatally In
jured at a Crossing.
CHICAGO, Dec. 30. Shortly after 3
o'clock this morning a Pittsburg. Fort
Wayne and Chicago locomotive struck an
electric street ear at the Root Stseet grade
crossing of the railroad, cutting the car In
two. There were seven passengers on the
car.
One unknown colored man was proba
bly fatally hurt. Roberts Stewart was se
verely injured. The other jtassengers and
the motorman escaped by jumping. The
ciossing at which the accident occurred is
said to be one of the most dangerous in
the city. Accidents there are reported fre
quently. RUN ON A SAVINGS BANK.
Depositors Eear the Institution Was
Involved in the Globe Failure.
LYNN, Mass., Dec. 30. Owing to rumors
that the Lynn Five-Cent Savings Bank
was involved seriously in the failure of the
Globe National Bank of Boston, there was
a run on the Institution today, and de
positors, mostly of small amounts, with
drew their savings. At noontime the
working people, who compose a large part
of the depositors, came wto the bank in
largo numbers, and, despite the assurances
of the officials that the money was safe.
carried their savings away, to the amount
of about $40,000. Later, when several
business men of the city made deposits of
from $390 jo $200 each, some ot the people
wavered in their fears and put their money
back.
Instead of closing the bank at 1 o'clock.
as usual, the doors were kept open until t?
o'clock, and the money paid out as fast as
t it was wanted. The bank has deposits of
$80,000 in Boston banks, which was not
touched today, besides about $50,000 in its
vaults, so that If the run continues next
week it will not run short of funds.
n Escaped Murderer ivillcd.
BRONSON. Fla.. Dec. 30. W. W. Wil-
iams, a condemned murderer who escaped
fiom jail here in June last, was shot -l
Killed this morning wiiile resisting arrest.
Two officers were severely wounded.
11. .t O. Holiday Itules.
Account Cliritiiia. and Nr e-.tr holiday tbe
Ilaltunorc and Olihi Railroad will sell uriun
titkits at rctlmrtl latr-, KfWi.n Bkhimorr, Pitta
Imrii, lieclinn. lrk 1 t'ng Snj-'mi;; bniti.n
aT'd 1 tfruush ite r 'l! . I' umIm 'I !
p, h auil Jjnan 1 1 . n x.lui.1 U.
J.t -tr I, l. i-He.
GOAL MINERS TO Sill
Ten Tliiusunil 3Ien Will drill Work
on Jnniiarv I.
Demand for Higher AVnj-e KeiFusciI
by the Ilitnniinuns Oporators-The
Ifimplojcr Hold u Convention at
Portage anil Determine te Go Out
Unless Their Pay Is Increased.
ALTOONA, Pa,, Dee, 30. -The bituminous
coal miners along tbe Pennsylvania Rail
road, between this city ana Johnstown,
took the Initiative ia the great strike at a
convention held at Portage last night.
Delegates represeatins about MO miners,
after receiving an unfavorable reply to
their demand for an increase of wae.
voted a strike, to go into effect January l.
About 1,000 miners. In the vicmity of Purl
tan and Portage, refused to go to work to
day. The delegates from the Cambria and
Clearfeld region voted for the strike, but
stated their men would not go out until
after the action of the executive commit
tee of tho United Mine Workers, new in
session at Indianapolis, was made known
This practically means that 10,009 miners
will be out January 2. The operators have
steadfastly refused to grant tbe increase
asked, claiming it Is ruinous. Tbe whole
region, employing about COyOjo men, is
pledged to tbe strike, unless Ihe increase is
given at the first of the year. The action
of the convention at Portage will be the
brand which will fire the whole distil. 1.
unless steps are taken immediately to nip
the Maze of enthusiasm.
Special advices from Puritan say that
every effort will be made to get the
men there to return to work. Some of
the nearby towns are not affected, 'id
vices tonight from Lilly aad Frugality
state that none of the miners at either
phv attended the Portage convention, and
tbe operators believe the men will not
strike unless ordered out by tbe national
executive committee.
In the Arnot region 3.000 men are ready
to join the movement and 1.000 are already
out. The Tioga and Jefferson fields, like
the" southern district, have simply been
waiting for some others to take the initia
tive before closing every colliery.
Tbe effect of a coal strike now would be
a national calamity. It would mean the
closing of hnadreds of mills now running
day and night In the East, it would cut
down the trade on the Pennsylvania main
line from forty to sixty trains per day. ag
gregating a car movement of about ' '" 0
daily.
OPPOSED TO MB. BRYAN.
Texas Populists Say the Silver Lend
er Is Inconsistent.
DALLAS. Tex.. Dec 30. Th Pnnu!-t
j State Executive Committee was in -tecrt
session here all day, and adjourned late
this evening. The announcement was made
to newspapermen after adjournment that
it was a straigbtout middle-of-the-road
affair: that tbe committee was a unit
against fusion of any kind in next .ear a
campaigns, aad that there was not on
friend for William J. Bryan in the meet
ing. It was stated that he bad ben m-
j eoesiatent by training with Tammany ia
.i 1 urn. ana wiin vtoeoei in iveniucRy
Tbe entire day was spent in a discussion
of campaign ptans. Among the tbrog-s
agreed upon was a demand that the Popu
list National Committee have the Populis:
National Convention held at least one
month earlier than either the Republuau
or Democratic conventions Its represent a
tlon from Texas to tbe national convention
was fixed at fifteen, one from eaeh Con
gressional district and two from the State
at large. It was determined to place middle-of-the-road
State, Congressional, legis
lative, and county tickets in the field in
Texas in 1900. and that the war cry ahouiJ
be "Down with fusion."
The representation in the State eonvfa-
i tlon was placed at one delegate for each
10,000 votes cast for Kearby for Goverawr
in 1S96. Chairman Bradley was instruct
J to callw the committee together again ii
March at Waco to determine tbe time awl
j place for holding the State convention,
, Hon. Barnet Gibbs, of Dallas, who ran
( for Governor on the Populist ticket ha
1S9S, did not participate in the meathsg;
1 He was tabooed by tbe Populist leaders be
cause he has declared his intention to vow
for Bryan next year.
MR. BRYAN STARTS FOR HOME.
The Silver Leader Will Leeture in
the North and East.
AUSTIN, Tex., Dec. 3. COL Willhutt
J. Bryan left today for Lincoln. Be stated
that he would be absent from Austin above
a month, and would deliver addresses at
number of places in the North and
Mrs. Bryan and the children will
in Austin until next April. Owing to Usi
departure from tbe city Bryan was un
able to participate in aa ostrich race wiUk
Former Governor Hogg. It was to have
taken place this afternoo-. but has been
postponed until his return.
A NEW YOSK BROKER FALLS.
The Assets Said to lie Hive Times the.
Liabilities.
NEW YORK, Dec 30. Stanley H. .
Stewart, doing business at Stewart Jk Cow
bankers and brokers, 40 Wall Street, filed
a petition in bankruptcy today, The pe
tition was sworn to by Mr. Stewart Dotem
ber 2S, in Washington, D. C. The, schanwlsa
give the liabilities as a firm at JSSU11.
and those of Mr. Stewart lndrvidaaBy L
S59. The firm assets are nominally $1,313,857.
and individually $1,000. Mr. Stewart van
formerly with Emerson. McMillan & Cow,
and in August, 1895, organized the arm of
Stewart ft Co., to trade in securities oC
railroads and manufacturing companies,
and to assist in reorganizing raUroads.
A DRY GOODS FIRM SUSPENDS.
The ISiivn Melutyre Company Gbbs
Into Bankruptcy.
NEW HAVEN, Conn.. Dec W. The fail
ure of Even Mclntyre's Dry Goods Com
pany for a quarter of a million dollars was
announced today, -and created a seasattoai
In butictss circles of southern New sne-
Uml Th rnmmn filed a netitioB (Mr aal
I untary insolvency In the United States Cir
cuit Court at Hartford. Tbe lUbilltiss
were scheduled at 25U.000 and assets sheas
$100,000. The company conducted what was
probably the most ei tensive dry geeos
business in this State.
Tbe company incurred unusually heavy.
obligations during tho summer months, and!
failed to unit thsiu late this fall.
Two .Miners Killed by a Ckvo-Ih.
GALENA. Kans.. Dec. 30. A cave-in oc
curred at tbe Robins zinc mine yesterday
j afternoon, killing John Rhodes ami Harvey
, gparKs miners. Each leavea a widow aad!
'. famiiv' vt lenst 100 tons of dirt eU.
1
SUutinsr
M i.U'ii & frtday.
.l.-r; to Baltimore and Iteteurn via.
11. A O. Saturday and Sunday.
V n !, r 1 1 a . 1 ' - 1 111 ' '-'-
M li '-. ,; -l a U.U-.5 ev
. . K . i - J.