The Leon reporter., December 14, 1899, Image 6

About The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930

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The Leon Reporter,
O. P. BULL, Publisher..
LEON, IOWA.
.. The less there is In a dude's pockets
the better his clothes fit him.
man's height in the social world
Is estimated by the length of his purse.
A Philadelphia young man, who is
heir to $5,000,000, has been abducted.
Search the girls.
New York is enthusing over a young
violinist by the name of PetschnikofE.
He certainly has the name of a genius.
The Hon. Thomas Reed, practicing
lawyer, is tbe central figure in court,
but the "czar" privileges are entirely
history.
All other dramatic failures of the
Season have been as naught compared
with Capt. Carter's debut as the Amer
lean Dreyfus.
The Pittsburg Telegraph says:
"Sausage links are now more conspicu
ous than golf links." Let it be hoped
that neither variety will join the miss
ing links.
That Chicago "buggy robber" is not
wholly up to date in his extensive op
erations. He should ride in a horse
less carriage and commit only cash
less robberies.
An exchange is worried over a New
\f
York
M..
"""r&fc.
A
ujKf
ff
paper's headline reading: "Gen-
tT'.eral Wood Ordered Home by Cable.
Perhaps "General Wood Ordered (by
"cable) Home" might be more Intel
eligible to some exchange editors.
3"„vt
The humorist's assertion that talk
ils cheap, women half price, seems in
the whirligig of time to have brought
in its own revenges. At the recent in
ternational council of Congregational
ists, every speaker exceeded the time
allotted him, thus encroaching upon
the privileges of his successor. At a
subsequent meeting of a state federa
tion of women's clubs, only a single
speaker overstepped the limit of time,
and the exception was a man!
Persons sometimes wonder why pat-
suL x-—
@|g!ent medicines, prepared foods and
other proprietary articles take such
^%out'andish and heretofore unheard-of
names. Mr. Duell, the commissioner
of patents, in an address on trade
marks before the commercial congress
made it clear. The government can
not allow a man to use his own name
as a trademark, for other men may
have the same name.^ Neither can he
use a geographical term, for other peo
ple have a right to that as well. Any
descriptive word denoting the quali
ties or ingredients of the article is
..also unavailable, for other producers
might use the same materials and be
entitled to the same descriptive ad-
Jectives.
Y-9-^-
Interrogation, as a figure of speech,
V.
may be made
quite effective when used
?i" by a writer, but must be treated warily
by the orator, lest it provoke discon
certing replies. Mr. Andrew Carnegie
delights in repeating a story of his
youthful days in Scotland. He says
that a minister, who gave full value for
salary received, and ordinarily
preached for an hour, one morning,
when in splendid condition, spoke for
an hour #nd a half. Then, without
turning a hair, he remarked that what
he had hitherto spoken concerned the
major prophets. He would now turn
to the minor prophets. "But what
place," he asked dramatically, "shall
"we reserve for Malachi?" Just here a
restless sister of the flock rose from
her seat under the pulpit, noisily
dropped her psalm-book, made her way
down the aisle, and after opening the
heavy, creaking door, turned to face
the astonished pastor and people.
"Malachi," she said, succinctly, "Mal
achi may have my place!"
The aggregate number of passen
gers carried during the year ending
June 30, 1898, as returned in the an
nual reports of railways, was 501,066,
€81, indicating an increase, as com
pared with the year ending June 30,
1897, of 11,621,483. The number of
passengers carried one mile during
the year was 13,379,930,004, there be
ing an increase of 1,122,990,357 as com
pared to the year previous. The in
creased density of passenger traffic is
shown by the fact that in 1898 the
number of passengers carried one mile
per mile of line was 72,462, as com
pared with 66,874 for the previous
year. The corresponding figure for
1893, however, was 83,809. The num
ber of tons of freight earried during
the year was 879,006,307, there being
fan increase of 137,300,361. The num
ber of tons of freight carried one mile
was 114,077,576,305, which, compared
with the previous year, shows the
large increase of 18,938,554,080. The
number of tons of freight carried one
mile per mile of line was 617,810,
which is 98,731 greater than the cor
responding item for the year preced
ing.
In attempting to regulate the apparel
,:of the schoolma'ams of Kansas City,
the superintendent of schools of that
town is not only getting beyond the
outskirts of his official authority, but
Is also getting so far behind the pro
cession that there is no possibility of
his being ready for the twentieth cen
-tury when it arrives. He has gone on
record as being opposed to a movement
that promises more for the liberation
of womankind from the thraldom of
senseless fashion than any similar re
form of the century.
After much wrangling and an almost
Incalculable amount of petty bother
the Illinois flag law has again been de
cided void and unconstitutional. The
decision, unfortunately, does not re
store the money to the pockets of
those who were mulcted in a score of
Justice "shops, nor does it deprive the
cheap informers of their insignificant
gains. ma
&sft> iSm
The Pittsburg Telegraph wants to
know what Agulnaldo will talk
through now that he has lost his hat.
possibly he ltithrough talking.
THE NEWS IN IOWA
I
OVER •800,000
-M
Asked by the Trniten of the State Agri
cultural College.
DES MOINES, Dec. 9.— he following
sums are asked by the trustees of the
state agricultural college for its needs
during the next five years:
Additional support fund 81,500
New engineering building 150,000
New house for president 10,000
Horse, barn and stock pavilllon 10,000
For increasing pure bred animals on
farm to,000
Total $311,500
It is asked that a tax of 1-10 of a
mill be levied for the next five years to
meet the above requirements. The
trustees, in their eighteenth biennial
report, filed with the governor, state
that the above estimate is a small one
compared with the real needs of the
school, which would easily, if carried
outin detail, exceed $500,000. Increased
attendance has created an additional
demand for teachers, the engineering
department is really suffering for a
building and equipments of laboratory,
the departments of agriculture, horti
culture, veterinary science, needs im
provements of various kinds, to say
nothing of many other needs. The
school is said to be mere prosperous
than at any time for ten years past.
DISEASE SPREADS.
Smallpox Reported From I.ynn County
With One Denth.
DES MOINES, Dec. !).—In an interview
Dr. Kennedy, of the board of public
health, said: "Unquestionably the
smallpox epidemic in northern Iowa is
spreading rapidly. I am in receipt of
a telegram from Dr. R. E. Coniff. who
has charge of the epidemic, stating
that there has been one death from the
disease at Alvord, Lyon county, and
several exposures. Besides this, I
have reason to believe that the disease
exists in Worth, and perhaps other
counties in the state, where it has not
been reported. A letter from Dr. II.
M. Bracken, of the Minnesota board of
health, intimates that there have been
several cases in Silver Lake township,
Worth county, which correspond with
similar cases diagnosed as smallpox in
Freeborn county, just over the Minne
sota line, but where the patients are
undergoing no restraint."
CAUSED A PRIEST'S ARREST.
More Trouble at MitcliellvlUe Reform
School.
DES MOINES, Dec. 10.—Rev. Father
Straven of Des Moines went to Mitch
ellville with a pardon for one of the
girls in the institution whom he de
sired to place in a Roman Catholic
school. Superintendent (Miller re
fused to turn over the girl to him.
Father Straven refused to deliver the
papers to Miller, who then had the
priest arrested by a deputy sheriff
acting as guard. Father Straven com
plained to the governor and board of
control, and Miller explains that he
had no authority to turn the girl over
to the priest that when once pardoned
she was free, and she refused to go to
a Roman Catholic institution, saying
she would rather commit suicide. The
whole proceeding will be investigated
by the board of control.
DOUBLE TRAGEDY AT ADEt.
An Old Man Beat His Wife to Death,
Then Kills Himself.
ADEI,, Dec. 8.—Joseph Hutchins, liv
ing a mile and a half east of Adel,
beat his wife to death with a club and
then blew his brains out with a shot
gun. He was about sixty-five years of
age and had been married about forty
years. They leave six children, all
grown, and most of them married.
Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins have been
known to have more or less trouble
for the past twenty years or more.
Hutchins has always been jealous of
his wife, and their troube seems to
have culminated in the double tragedy.
Must Pay the Penalty.
Sioux CITY, Dec. 9.—Myron B. Spen
cer, the defaulting cashier of the Bar
ber Asphalt Company, will have to go
to the penitentiary, the district court
having refused to grant him a new
trial. Spencer has been in jail since
last August, but before that time he
had been a fugitive from justice for
over two years. All of the time after
he stole $4,000 he had been in Chicago,
but the authorities had been unable to
locate him.
Shenandoah Liquor Case.
SHENANDOAH, Dec. 9.—The defend
ants in the cases growing out of the
recent raid on the railroad depots
where 125 packages of liquor were
seized, waived examination and the
case will go at once to the district
court. The case in which the Burling
ton road is defendant will be tried
December 11. It is contended that
the state law in this particular antag
onizes the interstate commerce law.
Shot by Bis Father.
STBATFOBD, Dec. 9.—A sad case of ac
cidental shooting occurreif here. Ed
ward Stoner was probably fatally
wounded by a revolver in the hands of
his father. The elder Stoner did not
know the weapon was loaded, and
carelessly pulled the trigger. The re
volver waB discharged and the bullet
entered the son's side. He is still
alive, and there may be a chance for
his recovery.
Des Moines Packing Plant.
DES MOINES, Dec. 8.—The opening of
the new year may usher in the news
of the reopening of the Liverpool and
Des Moines packing house. An option
on the purchase of the property has
been given by Harry West to a gentle
man representing an eastern syndicate
and the prospects are such that the
needful capital may materialize for
the opening of the plant.
Burned in His Home.
CI,ABION, Dec. 11.—The farm house
of John Tansy, who lives five miles
south of Clarion, was burned last night
and he was burned with it. What was
left of the body was recovered. It is
not known how the fire.started, as he
lived alone. It is said he took home a
gallon of whisky yesterday.
w,
INGRAHAM FAILURE IS SERIOUS.
Liabilities of the Mt. Ayr Merchant Are
Now Placed at 8120,000.
MUSCATINE, Dec. 9.—The failure of
A. O. Ingraham, the largest merchant
in this part of Iowa, is developing sen
sational ieaUires. It is now stated by
the creditors' representatives that the
liabilities are fully $120,000 and the
total assets not oyer $30,000. In the
three weeks before the failure Ingra
ham deeded away a store at Shannon
City, another at Allendale, Mo., be
sides lands and buildings which he
held. The creditors announce that
they will undertake to set aside the
conveyances, which they believe were
fraudulent. The store has required
protection of officers to prevent people
who had sold produce to Ingraham
from going in and helping themselves
to stock. Already a considerable part
lias been taken in this way.
TEMPLE STANDS ASIDE. *.'h
Clarke County Representative Withdraws
in Favor of Dr. Bowen.
DKS MOINKS, Dec. 12.—The most im
portant announcement of the senator
ial contest has been made public by
the Gear people, who held a conference
here. They fulfilled their promise of
getting together on the speakership
contest. M. L. Temple, of Clarke
county, announced his withdrawal
from the contest in favor of Dr. D. II.
Bowen, of Allamakee. The action of
Temple leaves Dr. Bowen the undis
puted Gear candidate for speaker.
To Re-Rnforco the Roers.
HOI.RTEIN, Dec. 10.—William and
Daniel Davies have sold their fine 360
acre farm and will go to South Africa.
Their father, Daniel Davics, Sr., is a
large farmer at West Barlcley, Cape
Colony, and has sent for them to join
the Boer forces. Eight weeks ago
they received a letter from him saying
all the farmers in that section were
planning an uprising in Boer interests,
and asking them to come. They left
immediately on the sale of their
property.
New Iowa Central Branch Completed.
COUNCIL BI.UFFS, Dec. 12.—The lay
ing of 131 miles of railroad in Iowa
has been completed and the new line
of the Illinois Central from Fort Dodge
to Council Bluffs turned over from the
engineering to the operating depart
ment.
Shot by an Editor.
BEI.DEN, Neb., Dec. 12.—J. M. Blialr
iron, a wealthy stockman, was killed
by C. F. Harris, a newspaper man.
The tragedy resulted from an article
regarding Bliakiron which appeared
in Harris' paper.
Family of Five Poisoned.
BURLINGTON, Dec. 10.—The family of
Joseph IColz was- poisoned by eating
stale cheese Five children were made
deathly sick. The youngest one is in a
dangerous condition, but the others
will recover
Murder In a Railway Camp.
FAIRFIKI.D, Dec. 10.—George Harris,
colored, shot a colored woman cook at
the railroad camp near Fairfield, and
she died within a few hours. The
couple were quarreling. Harris
escaped.
BREVITIES.
lPatrick Boyle, a brakeman on" the
Iowa Central railway, while uncoupl
ing freight cars just below the freight
depot a! Grinnell, fell under the wheels
of the slowly moving train and both
legs were cut off above the knees, re
sulting in his death.
The cook at the Dodge hotel at
Moulton accidentally threw some
powder in the stove and it exploded,
throwing her across the room against
a table, burning her face and setting
fire to her clothing, which was soon
extinguished. She was not seriously
burned.
At Corning recently Charles Day and
Miss Anna Maltby were married in the
smallpox hospital. Miss Maltby was
there under quarantine, the disease
having appeared in her family. Rev.
P. H. Mason performed the ceremony.
.Neither of the contracting parties
was sick. They had fixed a date for
the ceremony and declined to postpone
it, fearing the traditional ill luck.
Another report on county insane
asylums has been made public by the
state board of control. This time it is
the asylum in Jones county, located
ten miles from Anamosa, and visited
by Governor Larrabee. The same
charges of lack of proper buildings and
equipments, inadequate care and other
poor conditions are set forth, though
perhaps in not so exaggerated a form
as in several other such reports which
have previously been mrde. Governor
says there are no cases of abuse report
ed from this institution, but the live
stock kept on the county farm looks in
much better condition than the in
mates of the institutions.
It is reported that the indict
ment of W. A. Elliott, superintendent
of the poor farm of Pocahontas County,
by the grand jury for alleged cruelty
and malfeasance of duty, has created
a sensation. The evidence before the
grand jury, it is claimed, revealed
shocking abuses in the treatment of
the inmates of the poorfarm and the
insane ward, especially the weak-mind
ed women. Some time ago Pocahontas
county removed its insane patients
from the care of the state at the Indi
pendence hospital and tried the exper
iment of keeping them as a local
charge. The recent report of the state
board of control revealed multiplied
cases of cruelty and recommended that
the legislature enact measures making
the maintenance of insane at state
asylums mandatory.
Miss Sarah McDermott, of Moville,
a few nights ago, shot and killed
herself under peculiar circumstances.
She was in the presence of her lover,
Hank Stevenson. It is said that the
young woman asked the man if he had.
seen her new present. He replied in
the negative, and she walked over to a
trunk, taking from it a 22-caliber re
volver. It was unloaded and she
handed it to Stevenson. Later, how
ever, she put two cartridges in the'
cylinder, there was a snap and a re
port, and the girl fell dead with a bul
let just over her heart. Stevenson de
clares he did not see how it happened,
and there is no reason that can be seen
to doubt his word.
THE LEftN REPORfER, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 14, 189&
NEWS IN GENERAL
ROBERTS IN BIS OWN DEFENSE.
Declares the House Is Assuming Unwar
ranted Powers.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.—Brigham H.
Roberts, of Utah, who was not allowed
to be sworn in as a representative in
congress of that state,' has issued an
address to the American people. It
contains much that was said by Mr.
Roberts on the floor of the house and
by Richardson, who opposed the reso
lution by Mr. Taylor, of Ohio. After
reviewing the facts and proceedings
resulting in the appointment of the
committee to try him as to his alleged
guilt of the offenses charged, which he
calls a hostile committee, pointing out
that its membership is made up entire
ly of those who voted to adopt the
method of procedure and not one who
voted against it finding a place upon
the committee. Mr. Roberts, after ad
mitting that he is a Mormon, denies
most solemnly the charges that Utah
has broken her compact with the
United States in the matter of polyg
amy that her people contemplate the
revival of polygamous marriages that
the seating of Utah's representative
would be regarded by her Mormon
population as'-an endorsement of polyg
amy, and would be a menace to the
American home, and says they are
untrue. The only thing, he adds,
.chargeable to some few men in Utah,
is that they have not deserted their
plural wives they married previous to
the settlement of the enabling act, or
contemplated in the provisions of the
state constitution.
/TIED TO TREE AND BURNED."*
Execution of Dick Coleman by a Ken
tucky Mob.
MAYVIT.I.E, Ky., Dec. 0.—Dick Cole
man, colored, the murderer of Mrs.
James Lash brook, was burned at the
stake by a mob. Since tliv. murder he
has been kept in the jail at Covington
for fear of lynching. His trial was set
today at Mayville. He arrived here
under a special guard of deputies
sworn in by the sheriff this morning
at 10:30, and the Maysville police force
was added to the guard when it alight
ed from the train When the caval
cade reached the courthouse they were
met by mob of fully 1,000 people, head
ed by Lashbrook, husband of the
murdered woman, while 5,000 others
were present as spectators. At the
demand of the mob the authorities
delivered the prisoner up, holding re
sistance useless under the circumstan
ces. The mob grabbed Coleman, threw
a rope over his head and paying no
attention to his piteous appeals for his
life, took him to a small hollow near
the railroad, bound him tightly to a
sapling and heaped a huge pile of
brushwood around him and then set
fire to it. As the flames began to shoot
up some one cut out the wretch's
eyes. The scene was an awful one, as
thousands of maddened people cl uster
ed axound the funeral pyre. Coleman
was almost dead before the fire was
applied from the effects of having
been dragged by the rope about his
neck find beaten over the head and
face by the mob.
ON HEELS OF AGU1NALDO.
Col. Hare Has Engagement With the
Chief's Guard.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—General Otis
cables: "A dispatch from Young at
Vigan says the escaped Spanish pris
oners report that a four-hours' engage
ment between a detachment of his
troops and Aguinaldo's guard near
Cervantes, 50 miles southeast of Vigan,
resulted in a heavy loss to the enemy,
who are being pursued. Our loss was
one killed and six wounded. The in
habitants of their own accord join the
troops and are repairing the trails and
carrying the subsistence. Have pushed
the column to San Jose, south of
Bangued. Howe's column is on the
rear of the trail. Bathelor's battalion
of the Twenty-fourth is out of reach
and north of Bayonbong, evidently
descending the river. The natives re
port fighting as having occurred 20
miles north. Grant's column is near
Subig bay. Lawton is in Bulucah
province with sufficient troops to over
come the position. It is probable the
troops which engaged Aguinaldo's
guard are Hare's command, as he is re
ported close in Aguinaldo's rear."
HEAVY FIGHTING.
General Fred Grant Reported to Have
Met Rebels.
MANILA, Dec. 7.—The gunboat La
guna de Bay, stationed at Orani, re
ports that General Fred Grant has had
heavy fighting at Dinaluptjan. The
result of the engagement is not known.
Colonel Hood's command attacked 1,500
insurgents at San Miguel. The Elev
enth cavalry, under Colonel Lockett,
is advancing from Bocaue to Angat for
the purpose of intercepting the retreat
of the .insurgents from Ssm Miguel.
General Lawton is gathering his forces
and working south from San Isidro.
Cuba Halls McKlnley's Words.
HAVANA, Dec. 8.—President McKin
ley's message to congress has been re
ceived by Cubans of all classes with
much satisfaction. Even the leaders
of the extreme party admit this, and
the announcement that there will be
no American civil governor has cleared
away most of the clouds that had been
hanging over the Cuban political sit
uation. The Lucha alone among the
papers still favors a nivil, crovernorship.
rr*
British Losses In Nine Battles.
LONDON, Dec. 12.—No news has yet
been received confirming the Boe£_ xe»
port of the capture of fifty prisoners
at Modder river from Lord Methuen's
column. It is just two months since
the Transvaal ultimatum was deliver
ed. Nine engagements have been
fought and the British have lost 566
killed, 2,027 wounded and 1,977 missing
or prisoners.
General Wood Promoted*
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.—The president
has nominated Brigadier General
Leonard Wood to be major general of
volunteers.
READY FOR ADVANCE.
General Bailer's Arrival at Frere Indi
cates that Fact.
LONDON, Dec. 8.—General Buller's
arrival at Frere is held to indicate tha^
all the preparations for an advance to
the relief of Ladysmith are complete
and that stirring news will soon be
received. The fact that Lord Methuen
is announced as resuming his command
at almost the same moment is inter
preted in some quarters to mean that
the battle will be fought simultaneous
ly in Natal and at Spytfontein. It
appears doubtful, however, whether
General Methuen's force is yet ready
for what will evidently be a heavy en
counter. The construction of the tem
porary bridge across Modder river has
entailed enormous labor, and even now
the structure is liable to be washed
away from a heavy storm. General
Methuen has been obliged to move his
camp a mile north in consequence of
the unsanitary state of the stream,
due -to the presence of the bodies of
dead Boers. As the railway bridge
was completely destroyed, he was com
pelled to leave a considerable force to
protect his communications. A special
correspondent sends the interesting
information that Commandant General
Joubert has given orders to reserve
fire until the British are within the
close range of 400 yards. At the Mod
der river battle the Free State burgh
ers became nervous, opened fire pre
maturely, thus revealing their position
and frustrated the Boer plans.
GOEBEL PARTISANS DEFEATED.
Kentucky Election Board Decides for
the Republicans.
FRANKFORT, Ky., Dec. 9.—The state
board of elections last night ga^e out
their official findings that W. S.' Tay
lor for governor and the rest of the
republican ticket have been elected on
the face of the returns. Commission
ers EI1is and Pryor signed the majority
report, in which they hold that as a
board of canvassers they have no right
to go behind the returns of the county
boards that their duties are purely
ministerial as canvassers that the
face of the returns as received by them
from the counties show the election of
the republican state ticket, and certi
ficates of election were ordered issued
to each candidate thereon.
Commissioner Peyntz presents a mi
nority report, which he closes by say
ing: "I am unwilling to certify fraud
and to turn Kentucky over to the con
trol of the bayonet, Gatling gun and
the fraudulent tissue ballots."
CALLS ON FRANCE TO ARM.
Colonial Defenses Because of Chamber*
Iain's Late Warning.
PARIS, Dec. 10.—During the debate
in the chamber of deputies on the
colonial budget Firmin Faure, anti
Semite, urged the necessity of strength
ening the defenses of the colonies and
the'Colonial army in addition to a
system of French owned cable. He
pointed out that while Mr. Chamber
lain's Leicester speech was, perhaps,
only his personal view, the fact that a
British minister had indulged in such
language toward France was sufficient
ly grave, cause for its consideration by
the chamber and, he added, it was
high time to take notice of Mr. Cham
berlain's warning. M. Faure also
intimated that British emissaries were
overrunning Tunis, disguised as pro
testant missionaries, and selling am
munition to the Arabs. The anti
British remarks were heartily cheered
SALLY FROM LADYSMITH.
British Troops Storm and Carry Lom
bard's Kop.
BOER HEAD LAAGER, Ladysmith,
Friday, Dec. 8.—The British troops
made a sortie between 1 and 2 o'clock
in the morning. They crawled up a
ravine and stormed and carried Lom
bard's kop, which was held by the
Boers and on which were placed a
Creusot gun and howitzer. These
guns were destroyed with dynamite.
The British captured a Maxim gun
and then retired. The Lancers, Hus
sars and Guards made a sortie west of
Ladysmith at daybreak under cover of
a heavy artillery fire, which the Boers
returned briskly. The British after
wards returned to Ladysmith. The
Boer losses are reported to have been
slight. A strong burgher column has
crossed the Tugela river at Colenso
with the object of attacking the Brit
ish Estcourt column.
BATTLE AT MODDER RIVER.
Boers and British Meet for a Second
Conflict.
LONDON, Dec. 9.—A dispatch from
Pretoria, dated Wednesday, December
6, says: "Fighting commenced near
Modder river at 6 o'clockthis morning."
While nothing in the latest messages
from the British camp at Modder river
indicated an immediate advance, it ap
pears that Pretoria has news that
fighting w&s resumed on Wednesnay.
It is not shown, however, whether
Methuen advanced on the new position
taken up by the Boers or was engaged
in the reconnoissance'in force.
IS PESSIMISTIC.
Russia Doubts England's Sincerity with
United States.
ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 8.—Novoe
Vremya, commenting upon McKinley's
message, says: "The statement that
the United States declines all alliances
serves as a reply to Chamberlain.
Great Britain's feeling of kinship to
the United States will last as long as
it is to the advantage of England,
The present feeling of kinship is"one
of the most singular episodes in con
temporary history
Victory for Boers at Modder Hlver.
PRETORIA, Dec. 12.—Six hundred
and seventy-two British prisoners
were taken at Stormberg. In the
fighting at Modder river Sunday even
Tng Gen. Cronje maintained his posi
tion and captured fifty British soldiers.
Hard Fight at Mafeklng.
LONDON, Dec. 10.—Julian Ralph
wires that at the battle of the 28tli at
Mafeking, on Major Scott-Turner
being killed Major Pakeman took com
mand, and fought three hours. He
retired after losing 22 killed and 18
wounded.
Boers Capture Three" Guns.
PRETORIA, Dec. 12.—The Boers cap
tured three British guns in the engage
ment with General Gatacre's.force at
Stormberg.
BAD BRITISH DEFEAT.
Over Six Hundred Men Numbered
Among the Missing.
British Missing .605
British Killed a
British Wounded 86
LONDON, Dec. 12.—The war office
publishes a dispatch from General For
estier-Wallcer at Cape Town, saying
that General Gatacre reports as
follows:
"Deeply regret to inform ybu that I
met with a serious reverse in the attack
at Stormberg. I was misled as to the
enemy's position by the guides and
found impracticable ground."
Then follows a list of killed, wound
ed and missing, the first being two, tho
wounded twenty-six and the missing
605. The general adds that the re
mainder of his casualties will be wired
as soon as ascertained.
LONDON, Dee. 12.—The British forces
in South Africa have met with a sig
nal defeat. This sensational news was
officially announced from the war
office, General Gatacre admitting that
he had met with a serious reverse in
an attack Sunday morning on Storm
berg, in northern Cape Colony. The
British general says he was misled by
guides as to the Boer position, and
found "impracticable ground." Appar
ently he was caught in an ambush, as
his casualties as at present known
are alarming. The number of killed
and wounded cannot be considered
excessive in the circumstances, but the
enormous numbers reported missing
suggest that the engagement must not
have been unlike that of Nicholson's
Nek, where General White lost so
heavily.
LONDON, Dec. 12.—According to the
reports brought into the British camp
at Putter's Kraal by spies, the Storm
'berg column of Boers numbered 2,500
men, and the position and circum
stances appeared to favor a surprise
and a night attack.
Moving smartly, but cautiously, the
British troops reached safely a point
within two miles of Stormberg. Then
they must have walked into an ambus
cade, for they were suddenly exposed
to a terrific fire from the front and
right flank, compelling the Royal Irish,
who were in the van, to seek cover im
mediately behind a neighboring kopje.
They were quickly followed by the re
mainder of the brigade and were get
ting down comfortably in their new
positions when they were again
obliged to move, owing to the Boer
heavy guns coming into action. It
was by this time evident that the Boers
not only outnumbered the British, but
in addition occupied an impregnable
position, and General Gatacre ordered
his men to .retreat. Throughout the
long marqh' of thirteen miles to Mol
teno the British were harassed by a
continual fire, and the Boer gunners
should have inflicted considerable
damage. The British were compelled
to abandon one gun.
WHAT THE DEFEAT MEANS.
Undecided Cape Colony Farmers Will go
to the Boers.
LONDON, Dec. 12.—It is hardly too
much tG regard General Gatacre's re
pulse near Stormberg as the most ser
ious defeat British arms have yet
pustained in the whole campaign. It
is evident that the worst is not yet
know, the proportion of killed and
wounded is so small, when compared
with the missing—who are undoubted
ly prisoners. It is also feared that
there were serious losses of guns and
equipment. The most serious aspect
of the affair is the effect it is likely to
have on the Dutch in Cape Colony,
who have been wavering as to whether
to throw in their lot with the Boers.
Hosts of the northern farmers are now
likely to join the rebellion. Defeat is
also serious because it will delay the
junction of General Gatacre with Gen
eral French at Naauwpoort. The plan
was for their combined forces to re
lieve the pressure on Lord Methuen's
column.
LOCATION OF THE BOERS.
Methuen Now Between Two Wings of the
lioer Forces.
LONDON, Dec. 11.—There is consider
able doubt as to the present where
abouts of the main Boer force. It' was
supposed after the Modder river fight
that Cronje had retired to Spyfontein
and set to work to prepare the last
obstacle in the way of the relief of
Kimberley. Cronje undoubtedly has a
large force at this point, but it has
developed that he has a part of his
army, at Gras Pan, on the other side.
Methuen is thus between two wings of
the Boer forces, his railway tracks and
culverts destroyed, and his telegraph
wires liable to be severed any minute.
It takes but little figuring to see that
Methuen is u*p against a hard task.
Jn the face of many optimistic re
ports of small losses at Ladysmith, as
the result of the bombardment, the
total losses since the investment began
are quite heavy.. Five officers and
twenty-six men have been killed and
fifteen officers and ten men wounded
and missing.
||P ASSUMES ROBERTS' GUILT.
ssi'J
The Verdict of the Committee Regarded
as Settled.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—The report
fit the committee appointed to investi
gate the facts in the case of B. H.
Roberts, the polygamist, is regarded
Its a foregone conclusion. From the
composition of the committee it is cer
tain that a report will be brought into
the house declaring that Roberts is not
entitled to his seat. It is rumored
that if that should be the case Roberts
may appeal to the courts on the ground
that his constitutional rights were
abridged when the speaker refused to
permit him to take the oath of Office.
The friends of Roberts, however, will
be guided in their course by the action
of the house. Mr. Roberts in his
speech, protested that the" house had
reversed the usual proceeding by com
pelling him, to prove his innocence
rather than for the other side to prove
Jus guilt. It is evident that this is
exactly what the committee proposes
to do.
CONGRESS.
SBNATB.
Washington, Dec. 5.—Shortly after Ult
senate was called to order the president's
message was presented and Its reading wa«
begun at once. Little attention to the
f*aW
lngof tbe message was paid by a majority
of the senators. Many did not femaln :ta'
tbe chamber. A few followed the reading ",
from the printed copies. At the conclusion
Senator Thurston announced the death Of
Senator-elect Havwird and submitted ap
proprlate resolutions, after the adoptlonof
which, as a further mark of respect, the
senate adjburned.
Ronss.
The first business the house attended to
after assembling was that of listening"-to
the reading of the president's message. At
the conclusion of the reading of tbe message
the representatives gave a hearty round^of
applause. On motion of Payne, republican
floor leader, the message was referred to the
committee of the whole of the- state of the
union and was ordered printed. The'speak
er then laid before the nouse Taylor's reso
lution In reference to the Roberts case.
Richardson, the democratic leader, offered
a substitute allowing Roberts to be sworn in
and to send the whole case to the ludiciarr
committee. This was defeated by a vote of
59 to 247. The Taylor resolution was then
adop'ed, 303 to SO. The speaker then aiK
pointed the committee as provided bv' the
lesolutlon, and the house adjourned till
Thursday.
SENATB.
Washington, Dec. 6.'—ffearly 800 bills and
Joint resolutions, several important concur
rent resolutions and petitions numbering
hundreds were presented to the senate to
day. A majority of the bills were old scagers.
A few were of national interest and Imyorfc
ancc. Alilrich had the honor of introducing
the lirst measure in the senate. It was the
llnancial bill drawn by thesenatecommutee
on finance, of which Aldrlch is chairman,
and rrobably was the most Importantmeas
uve lutiortuced during the day. At tie
opening of the senate the reports of the
secretary of the treasury, the attorney gen- I
eral, the comptroller of the currency and 1
other officials were present. Masonintro
duced the following resolution:
Whereas, From the hour of achieving
their own Independence the people of the
United States h.ive regarded with sympathy
toe struggles of other people to free them««
selves from European domination there
lore
Resolved by the senate of the United
States. That we watch 1th deep and abid
ing interest the heroic battle of the South
African Hepublic against cruelty and op-
?uH
ression. and our best hopes go out tor the
success of their determined contest for
liberty.
SENATB.
Washington, Dec. 7.—After a brief and un
important open session the senate went In o
executive session and at the expiration of
llfteen minutes adjourned till next Monday.
HOUSE.
Immediately after reading the Journal the
speaker announce the appointment of the v'
committee on rules as follows: Dalzell, of
Pennsylvania Grosveno^, of Ohio, republi
cans Richardson, of Tennessee, and Bailey,
of Texas, democrats. The speaker is al30 a
member. Overstreet, of Indiana, in coarge
of the tlnance bill, asked the constht for the
beginning of its consideration next Tuesday.
Richardson, the minority leader, objected,
saying that the request was most unusual
that the measure is very important that It
bad been perfected during lecess by the
other side and should not be taken up on
two days' notice. He asked that it go to a
committee. Overstreet also asked consent
for printing an analysis of the bill in the
Record, but Terry, of Arkansas, objected.
Mercer, of Nebraska, announced the death
of Greene, of Nebraska. After adoption of
the customary resolutions the house ad
journed as a mar£ of respect.
HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 8.—The house adopted a,,..
special order for the consideration of the
currency bill, beginning next Monday. The
general debate will continue until Friday,
on Saturday amendments may be offered
under the live minute rule, and on the fol
lowing Monday the vote will be taken. The
democrats, populists and silverites present
ed a solid front against the adoption of the
resolution, and every republfcan voted for
It The committee on rules presented
amendments to the rules for the creation of
a committee on insular affairs to look after
our new possessions, to consist of seventeen
members, and increase by two the member
ship of the committees on foreign affairs,
merchant marine, military and naval
affairs, and some minor committees. The
amendments were adopted.
SENATB.
Washington, Dec. 11—An appeal by Mr.
Mason of Illinois for an expression of sym
pathy for the Transvaal republic In its war
with Great Britain was the feature of the
senate'proceedings today. It was the flrBt
formal address delivered in the senate this
season and was listened to with thoughtful.
attention, both bv the members and by a
large gallery of auditors. The resolution
was referred to the committee on foreign
relations. No business of importance was
transacted by the senate and an early ad
journment was taken.
is*.?.#
"'-'si
tr
HOUSE. t\
The feature of the opening day of the* dies.*'
bate on the currency bill in the houe was
the speech of Dolliver, of Iowa. It was
characterized by all the wit and eloquence
for which the Iowan is noted, and held the
members, without regard to party, for more
than an hour. Dolliver declared that the
last doubt in the republican party as to the
wisdom of enacting the gold standard into
law had been resolved by the experience of
the business world during the past three
Missouri.
was the heavy gun on the democratic side.
He warned the republicans from the west
that they could not deceive their constit
uents in the coming congressional elections
by claiming that they bad yielded
wisdom of their colleagues In caucus.
METHUEN NOW IN COMMAND
A
Ttekes Charge of the English Troops
Near Kimberley.
LONDON, Dec. 7.—The war office has
received the following from-General
Forestier-Walker, commanding at
Capetown: Gen. Methuen wires that
lie resumed command and is nightly
in communication with Kimberley.
The health of the troops is excellent^'.
PHKTORIA—Wednesday—Official 4is
patclies from different Boer forces say
all is quiet except at Kimberley, where
the armored train made sorties this
morning.
The Orange Free State has proclaim
ed the annexation of Dordrecht, Cape
Colony.
The Tugela bridge is so completely
ruined that it would be work of great
magnitude for either belligerent" to
restore it.
The Boer redoubts on the Lazarretto
ridge, west of Kimberley, are beingex
tended and strengthened, showing the
l'umors of the intentions of the" Boers
to abandon the.
attempt to stem GenT
Methufen's advance are unfounded.
Exehange Styots Near Colenso.
FRERE CAMP, Natal, Dec.,. 12,-^The
British cavalry reconnoitered abreast
of Colenso .and exchanged .sjiots .with
parties of Boers, who fell back across
the river. The lcopjes were observed
to be thickly occupied by the
Norris, of Madrid, for
enemy.
The railway bridge at Colenso has
been completely destroyed. The high*:
way bridge is intact.
United States Patent Ofloe Btulnecs.
DKS MOINES, Dec. 7.—Applications
for patents prepared and prosecuted by
us have been allowed
as follows: To,
J. Rice, of Belle Plaine, for
a rat trap!
One animal after being caught
trap to catch the next one.
sets the
To T. J).:
a
weighing
wagon. The wagon bed is monnted
upon a scales platform which rests
on"
the wagon frame and the weight
of the"'
load on the wagon may easily be deter
mined at any time. To W. O. Nelson,:
of Carnforth, for a railway splice bar
that overlaps the webs of the abutting
ends of rails, has a groove at its top
that admits the balls, a-flange that
overlays the flanges of the rails and
also contacts with a.chair or tie unde"
the rails and has inclined planes at'
ends, on its top and.front face, adapted
to serve as cams, in 'directing oar
wheels. To W. C. Sedgwick, of Grin
nell, for an electric belL
Printed matter an^ consultation and
advice free! 7
X*i TBOMA3 G. OBWIO,
1
RASP-JR. RALPH OBWI
RKUBKN G. 0B#IE
Registered Patent Atto