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The Progress-Advertiser J. F. GRIST. Editor. LEXINGTON, s s MISSISSIPPI. CURRENT COMMENT. The number of Protestant mission aries at work in Japan is given by the New York Observer at 680. There are 900 Christian churclws in Japan, as over against 70,000 Buddhist temples and 56.000 Shinto shrines. Th9-,questioa is asked. "Does football Per make young men bowlegged?'' baps not, but it makes them broken legged. Less than for per cent, of the Co lombians can read, and they've had 400 years in which to establish public schools. Winnipeg publishes statistics to show that it has more hours of sunshine than any other city in Canada. It needs it. Carrie Nation has just purchased a ton of hatchets. The hardware trade does not altogether share in the gen eral condemnation ot Carrie. Henry Clay is spieling in Philadel phia for a vacant seat in congress. Mr. Clay's name at present graces the payroll of the Philadelphia city coun cil. A wireless trolley car and one that requires no "third" rail, has been con Gradually invention will structed. reach a point where it will not make the surface of the earth uglier. France is to occupy Siam. The divi sion of Asia goes forward apace. Rus sia has Manchuria, England is taking Thibet, Korea is awarded to Japan, hut where does Germany come in? They are printing everything that those young demoniac Chicago carbarn murderers say and do; so that they can instigate a fresh gang of youth ful lunatics to similar deeds, perhaps. We laugh at the bloviating self glorification and gush of some Spanish American nations, hut we used to be nearly as bad in the first half of the nineteenth century. We know more now. Report has it that a company has been formed to build a $1,000,000 temple in Los Angeles, Cal., for Robert J. Burdette, the humorist and lecturer, row the pastor of the Baptist church in that city. Last year the British mercantile ma rine reported 1,483 casualties, of which 348 were complete wrecks. The total Joss of life was 5,318, 103 less than the preceding 12 months and 1,649 less than the year before that. In the last 25 years the British marine has lost 6,221 ships, with a total loss of 41,267 persons. Possibly the only child in the United States who can boast of a great-great great-grandmother is David Ross Chambers, aged two, who resides with his parents at Bushnell, 111. This grandmother, thrice removed, is Mrs. Nancy G. Bond, of Warren county, 111., and who is now in the ninety-seventh year of her age. The Frisco railroad is now handling business from Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis to the gulf. An ar rangement has been completed with the Southern railway for the use of the tracks of the Mobile & Ohio and the New Orleans k Northwestern to reach the joint terminals of the Frisco line and the Southern line at New Or leans. A feather bed, which once belonged to George Washington, is offered as a world's fair exhibit by Lee LdYmer, of Osawatomie, Kan. He says he can give a complete history of how the feather bed came into his possession from that of Gen. Washington. This calls to mind the story that near Paris is a factory that runs night and day turn ing out chairs that Napoleon sat on while confined at St. Helena. Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen eral Bristow intimates that various congressmen have been beneficiaries of the reckless lawlessness of deposed post office officials, but that none of them are to be imputed with motives other than pure and patriotic. When they got allowances for post offices ar bitrarily raised for their constituents they were simply proceeding on the theory of asking all they could get and getting everything in sight. At a club meeting at Olathe, Kan., Mrs. T. Ir. Hogue read a paper on proper literature for children. She ad vocated reading to them history and newspapers. She said: "The Jewish mother was required, I have read, to repeat the story of Israel's deliverance to her children and they in turn to theirs. Docs anyone doubt the effect of this upon the vitality of that peo ple? So every American parent should feel It their duty to tell the children the story of their country, the names of its heroes." The importance of Great Britain's move in Thibet lies in its significance as a counter check upon the Russian policy in Manchuria and a possible ef fective diversion calculated to turn the Muscovite eyes away from the prey in the north. The delicate game of c hess which Russia and Britain have been playing with Persia, Afghanistan and the khanates of southern Turkestan as the board is given a new aspect. Were Russia to gain ascendency over Thibet It would have China in a vise, the two Jaws of which would be Thibet and Manchuria. There were 996,545 pensioners on the rolls on June 30, 1903, and the pension bureau estimates that there are 200,00C survivors of the civil war who have not applied lor pensions. This num ber includes some not entitled tc pensions under the present law and some who do not need or are too proud to accept aid. The death rate of thli "unknown army" is estimated at foui per cent, for this year, and about 14,000 of Us members will apply foi pensions. The bureau estimates that in ten years the "unknown army" will cease to be a factor. CHIGA6Q BANDITS ON TRIAL Attorneys Ask to Have Trials Post poned For Two Months. Ueflnrlnar That the Public Mind Is icd That a Pair Trial at This Time I* lmj»o**iblc. ho Inflm Chicago, Dec. 29.—With the state prepared to demand that the death penalty he visited on each desperado, the car barn bandits—Peter Nieder meier, Harvey Van Dine and Gustave Marx—and their accomplice in other crimes. Emil Roeski, were arraigned for trial in the criminal court Monday morning. The attorneys for all the defendants were prepared to make ev ery effort for delay. There was a large, crowd of curious persons in the court room, and it required a number of extra bailiffs to preserve order and prevent overcrowding. The four prisoners, neatly dressed and well groomed, but minus that air of bravado that marked their con duct immediately after their arrest, were placed in a row before the judge's bench. Van Dine and Nledermeier wore a serious look, out Marx and Roeski seemed unable to realize their plight. Marx smiled continually, and Roeski looked bored. After the reading of the indictments charging Van Dine. Marx and Nieder meier with the murder of John John son and Frank Stewart in the raid on the Chicago City Railway barns, and Roeski with the murder of Otto Bauder in a saloon hold-up, Marx's at torney asked for a continuance of two months, stating the present state of the public mind would prevent a fair and impartial trial. Marx, according to the affidavit, in addition to being a criminal by hered ity, is made further irresponsil le by an injury to his head, inflicted by his father with a broomstick. A separate trial was asked for the prisoner. A similar plea for a continuance and of heredity insanity was set tip lor Van Dine. His attorney proposed to show that Van Dine is an epileptic and that an uncle died in an insane asylum. Niedemeier and Roeski asked for continuance for the same reason set forth by their fellow-prisoners, and presented affidavits pleading mental irresponsibility. After hearing brief arguments for and against a continu ance, the cases were passed until to day. A DAY AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. Children In Public Seliools of Sn linn, Km., Writing K.aaya on "A Day at the World. Fair," St. Louis, Dec. 29.—Col. E. C. Culp, secretary of the committee on cere monies, who >s spending the Christmas holidays at his home city, Salina, Kas., says in a letter just received: "I think that all children in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades of the public schools of this city are writ ing essays on 'A Day at the World's Fair,' and I am informed that this is going on in every town in the state. A committee is to pass upon the essays, and a certain number are to be se lected, framed and placed upon exhibi tion in the Kansas state building. I think fifty children have called upon me for pointers, even coming to my house. Some bright young girls, 12 to 15 years old, have suggested that all of the high school scholars in the United States be invited to make maps of the Louisiana Purchase, a certain number in each state to be selected by the state and the exposition to make selections from the state selections for diplomas or 'honorable mention.' "The essay work is interesting ev ery scholar in this little city, and it is 'good stuff.' " a SENTENCEDT0THREEM0NTHS Harry Pelkna Sent to County Jail For Having Falnlflrd Chicago Criminal Court Reeortln. Chicago, Dec. 29.—Harry Pelkus, who was convicted of having falsified the records in the office of the clerk of criminal court, was sentenced Mon day to three months in the county jail. The falsification of records was in connection with the trial of members of the Electrical Workers' union, ac cused of assaulting non-union men. Several union electrical workers in dicted with Pelkus were Monday fined $300 each. SHOT BY WOMAN'S HUSBAND. G. W. Grote*, l/pon Finding H. G. Edniund*on in Hi* Wife** Boom, Fatally Shot Him, St. Joseph, Mo., Dec. 29.—H. G. Ed mundson, a real estate dealer, was found in a room with Mrs. G. W. Grotes in a South St. Joseph hotel Monday and was fatally shot by the woman's husband, who is a building contractor. Grotes used a shotgun and fired through the panel of the door. Grotes' wife accompanied the injured man to the hospital, All the parties came here recently from Bedford, la. Marehal Joan Die* of Wound. Cherryvale, Kas., Dec. 29.—W. G. Jones, marshal of Cherryvale, was shot by Dan Hughes late Sunday while attempting to arrest the latter, and died Monday. Hughes escaped. A posse is in pursuit and he may be lynched. Two Awed Nog-roe© Cremated. Sedaiia. Mo., Dec. 29.—Ann Tyler, a blind negro woman 93 years old, and James Turner, a negro 85 years old, were burned to death Monday in the destruction of the house in which they lived. Five gerlonaly Injured in Wreck. Boone, la., Dec. 29.—Two women and three men were seriously injured, one, Charles Humphrey, a car barn man, fatally, in the wreck of a suburban car by a switch engine in the Boone yards here Monday. The car was demolished and eight passengers had miraculous escapes. Post mas ter-General Payne 111. Washington, Dec. 29.—Postmaster General Payne Is suffering with a se vere cold, and did not leave his apart u*"" Monday. - r : V <. lb.. ii ;.v 2* I,:;' , V /p ' ■ *' KV Ml ii© 'i V [»] 1 : - m Vl \ m \ w tA _v-vr 0 i . ' » A Good Beginning for the Year BELIEVE in beginnning the New Year well," observed young Mr. Talkington, as he carved the turkey; "I am not superstitious, but—" "Yes," said his wife, demurely, "I remember how well we began it last year." "You were to start on a trip that day. weren't you?" queried a guest. "Yes, and the. train, a new one just put on, left at 9:25, and, as you know, we live as near to the railway station 1 Ml ticket" III;,I OFFICER a t"' oc m mu'P7// M 1 W! Wi t-i 0 v V n / 14 HAD TIME TO BURN. as one would like to live, for instance, to—" "A family with ten children, say?" "Quite. Ned thought we ought to arise at five, thus beginning the New Year well and catching the train com fortably. He ordered a cab for 6:30, so it would reach the house at night; he did this over night and also wound up the cook's alarm clock. When she saw it set for five her face resembled a napping volcano." "Why not merely say she looked as if you had unexpected guests for din ner?" said Mrs. Brownsmith. "Well, she did. She was such a good cook that I was blind. Ned duly waked me the next morning." "With difficulty, dear." "You waked me, anyhow, and your voice sounded like the dentist's saying, 'Step this way, please.' We hadn't heard the cook go down, and going to investigate I found her asleep. She said the alarm had gone off at. »:15, and she'd been up every half hour since to see if it was five. The volcano was awake then!" "Oh!" "When I returned, Ned pointed to the clock on the mantel and Bald it was 6:17, and we were late." "Well?" "Nothing—only that dock was a wedding present and so handsome that nobody ever expected it to keep time. Investigation proved it was just four, and we went back to bed for an hour. I was dreaming that the cook's New Year's resolve was that she would never leave me, when an awful noise waked me. The cook called that it was eight, and as breakfast had been ready three hours she thought she'd better call us!" "But did you reach the station in time?" "Yes. In my haste I did my hair with three pins and Ned put on his dress coat and odd shoes—we are both forgetful, you know. Vf w e scalded our throats with hot coffee and choked ourselves with overdone steak. The cabman, who had arrived at 6:30 •harp, demanded full pay for the time he had waited, else he'd deduct from the number of Ned's useful eyes!" "Dreadful!" chorused the guests. "While he did this tKe cook gave warning and told me that the catch on the back cellar window was loose. "Anyhow, if you were In time to catch your train, Ned could begin nis New Year fairly well." "We were in time. To Ned's fever ish inquiries the ticket agent calmly responded, 'Oh, yes, we had plenty of time—24 hours and 29 minutes!"' "Why, how on earth could that hap pen?" "The train, as t said, was a new one, put on for the first time on New Year'a day, and—and the calendar to which the agent pointed told us that to-day waa December thirty-first!" ELISA ARM8TKONQ. They Needed It. Pudney—Aie you going to make any New Year resolutions? Parker—No; I'll Juet repair thojs I broke last year.—Judea Their New Year s 'Dinner O you went to Isabel's New Year's dinner?" said the bru nette. "Lucky you! Tom and I dine with his mother on the first, day of each year, listening to a discourse on economy which lasts from oysters to coffee." "Knowing that all your bills will be in the next morning's mail, too," cried the blonde. "Yes, we accepted Isa bel's invitation, and—" "How lucky that Jack's New Year's resolve was to go more into society and yours to be more punctual here after. Isabel had told me that it you were late to one more dinner she—" "Then you haven't seen Isabel since? Yes, Jack agreed, like a lamb, to go, and didn't even pretend he couldn't find his studs in the vain hope of es caping evening dress." "How do you like Isabel's new dress? Is it as cold as—" "Her reception of a tardy guest? Not quite. I was ready at only ten min utes after the last moment at which we could safely start—and if that is not being punctual, I'd like to know what is! Jack was wailing in the hall and in the excitement of trying to find room for himself jfter I was in the carriage forgot all else. I had reached the last button of the last glove when we arrived. 'Eleven sharp!' Jack called to the driver, and then I looked up to see—Isabel's old house!" "When the dinner was given to dis play the new one?" "Exactly. After running a block through the snow in his thin shoes and nearly being arrested as an escaping thief, Jack got the driver to return. Once inside, he declared I hadn't told him Isabel had moved." "Because he had kept on reading his paper while you told him all about it?" "S "Yes. I had even told him how the bathroom was tiled. But, dear, I had forgotten whether the new number was 250 or 2550." "What on earth—" "Jack threatened to go home and get dinner on the chafing dish—the cook had holiday. Then I remembered thoughtfully writing out the address while Mae and I discussed that new dressmaker, and putting it in Jack's waistcoat pocket, because 1 am so for getful." "How thoughtful." "Jack gave the slip to the driver and promised him something awfui to drive last." "Then your troubles were ended?" "N—no. I had written down the ad ".i PJ| 'A; if] iMl 'A // \ r/' 1 // MS (J>- H 7 = CL'. [V //r r JACK WAS WAITINO. dress of the new dressmaker, Instead of Isabel's." "And you were no better off than be fore?" "Worse. Jack's language was awful. I said we could just drive along th« avenue until we came to the house, which I would recognize Immediately." "So—" *'He said we were invited to dinner, not to breakfast. Then he asked th* driver if Tie happened to know when Mrs. De Style lived." "Nonsense. He—" "He knew. It was about six blocki from our house. Stupid of Jack not t« have asked sooner. And he seemed te think the whole affair my fault!" "Well, you reached Isabel's aftei all." "Ye-es, In time for the salad. Ant —and I really should not like to re peat the things our hostess said whet she had a chance to apssk to ■» •Iona." 1 FEDERAL COURT AT OMAHA Important Trials to Come Up During the Present Term. Cave of PenitOf iNf«»rr«'il to the t lrcatt Court. The <'on»i»lraey Dietrich Trai Omaha Neb., Dec 29.—The members of the new federal petit jury called for the present session of the district court reported if. Judge Munger Mon day morning. The important trials to come up as a result of the recent work of the grand jury, however, will not be gin until January 4, at which time Sen ator Dietrich will be tried on an in dictment charging conspiracy against the government. Judge Munger. on his own motion, has transferred' the Dietrich case to the circuit court, which will bring one of the four circuit judges into the case to sit with him These judges are Sanborn, of St. Paul; Vandeventer, of Cheyenne; Thayer, of and Hook, of Topeka. In the ordinary course of affairs Judge Thayer will be the member selected. His experience in trial practice and trial by jury, has been extensive, especially in this class of case. St. Louis, CONSOLING FOR KRATZ. 'I'll© Mexican Herald Doesn't Think the St. I.«uls Fugitive Is Ip Avalust Anything Serious. Mexico City, Dec. 29.—With refer ence to the extradition of Charles Kratz, who is wanted in Missouri on boodle charges, the Mexican Herald says: "To judge by the experiences of oth er alleged boodlers in St. Louis, who, even after conviction, have not been imprisoned, Kratz has no very serious ordeal before him, and when his case has been adjudicated he may return to Mexico free trom the anxiety and mental strain under which he has lived since he first came here, and may de vote himself with greater energy to his business interests in the state of Ja lisco." RECEIVERSHIP ANNOUNCED. J. R. WhnIi, of Pontino, Snmed A» Receiver For the Manhattan Coal Co., of Cornell, 111. Bloomington. 111., Dec. 29.—Judge Patton, in the Livingston county court, announces the appointment of J. R. Wash, of Pontiac, as receiver for the Manhattan Coal Co., of Cornell, upon the petition of President D. C. Eylar, and he took charge of the big plant Mr. Eylar claims that he Monday. advanced and became responsible for $25,000, and now the treasury is empty, and the mine is still incom plete, and will require $7,500 to $12. 000 to properly finish and equip it. It is said that the losses are $20 or $30 a day. SUPPOSED INCENDIARISM. Klcvittor At iti tin* of the Gi the Corntn* Diatlllery at Bui Peoria, 111. Peoria, Hi., Dec. 29.—Fire, presum ably of incendiary origin, totally de stroyed the grain elevator at the Cor ning distillery Monday morning, with a loss of approximately $40,000, cov ered by insurance. Fifty thousand bushels of malt and corn was destroyed. For a time the entire distillery was threatened, and the entire fire department was called out to fight the flames. The distillery was preparing to resume, after a shut down of several weeks, caused by the explosion of a cooker, which killed sev en men and injured several more. NO MORE DEATHS REPORTED. In the Of the Txventy-Nlne Dead Pere Mar.inette Wreck One Liiidentllled. Rcniuii Grand Rapids, Mich.. Dec. 29.—There have been no further deaths at the hospitals, among the injured in Satur day night's wreck on the Pere Mar quette railroad near East Paris, and it is said that there is no immediate prospect of any of the injured sue cumbing. Only one of the 29 dead still remained to be identified, a man with the initials A. .T. K. on his cuff, but with no other mark to identify him. ARE GRANTED ANOTHER WEEK for Filin* Brief* In the Ziegler Extradition C'n*e Again Extruded. TIi New York, Dec. 29—The Missouri authorities who demand the extradi tion of Milliam Ziegler, of New York, charges of bribery in connection with baking powder legislation, will have still another week in which to file briefs with Gov. O'Dell. Att'y.-Gen. Crow wrote the governor that they understood that they were to have 15 days instead of one week additional. The governor consented and this ex tends the time till next week. To llrlna Home Smltfc»on*« Body. Genoa, Dec. 29.—Gen. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, is here, and will convey to the Smith sonian institution at Washington, D. C„ the remains of James Smithson, founder of the institution, who died In Genoa in 1829. To Hove More Leeerny. Washington, Dec. 29.—The civil serv ice commission has agreed with the decision of the classification committee that postmasters should have more fieedom in dismissing men who have proved incompetent. Indication, of Malice. Joplin. Mo., Dec. 29.—The discovery of a battery wire in the wreckage of the plant of the Independent Powder Co. points toward malicious origin to the explosion of I he works several weeks ago, when two men were killed. on Six Young Men Poisoned. Harrisburg, 111., Dec. 29,-Six young men at Ledford, south of this city, were poisoned. Sunday, by whisky pur chased at one of the saloons in this A corroded german silver fork city. was found in the jug. BODIES OF THE DEAD Many Acts of Vandalism Committed On the Pere Marquette Victyna. GHOULS ROBBED THE REMAINS Tile Lost Vlrtlm'11 Body Found. Bat So Terribly Disfigured That Ita Identity Will Men Positively Effected. Be Grand Rapids. Mich., Dec. 29.— Gathered in a rubber blanket on the slab in a local morgue was the charred and dismembered remains of the twen ty-second victim of Saturday night's head-on collision on the Pere Mar quette railroad, near East Paris. So terribly disfigured is this last victim found at the scene of the wreck that in all probability its identity will never be positively effected. It was a first thought that these remains were parts of one of the bodies previously recovered. Investi gation at the morgue, however, showed that this could not be the case. The coroners were inclined to the belief that this body is that of a wom an, but the railroad authorities say it must have been a tramp riding on the "blind baggage" car, as no woman pas senger could in their opinion have been thrown where tills body was found. It was the unmistakable odor of burned flesh that led the wrecking crew to a realization of the fact that another body lay under the wrecked engines, where Engineer Stoddard and Fireman Burns, of the eastbound train, were found. When they had uncov ered the remains of this additional victim they found only fragments of a human form. There were no arms or legs, only fragments of the skull and large bones, some teeth and most of the internal organs intact, but lit erally roasted. DESPOILED BODIES OF THE DEAD. Han)- Were Kolilieil of Lara;© Sums of Money and Jewelry. Grand Rapids, Mich., Dec. 29.—De spite the extreme precautions and watchfulness of the Pere Marquette railroad officials'' and county officers, it Is now believed that many acts of vandalism were committed at the wreck near East Paris Saturday night, and that ghouls despoiled bodies of the dead. Coroner Hiiliker stated Monday that nothing of any value whatever was found by him when he searched the dead, and that he is satisfied that ghouls robbed the remains either while they were in the wreck or being car ried into baggage ears to be brought to this city. Relatives of Lon J. Baldwin declare that he had between $50 and $60 in his possession when he left this city with his wife and son Saturday after noon; yet not so much as a nickel was found in his Ciut—ng. Tt is believed by relatives of Bert Myers, of Lake Odessa, that his body was robbed of $100 and a watch and chain. Mrs, L. J. Baldwin is known to have had $20 in her possession when she left Grand Rapids. Sums of money ranging from $10 up to $50 are missing from bodies of victims who are known to have been carrying money. Sheriff Chapman is authority for a statement that a gang or men was fought off the relief train when it left Grand Rapids, but the sheriff be lieves that these men managed to get back on the train unnoticed. PLENTY OF ROAST MUTTON. DeRtroyed the Fast Buffalo Stork Yards, ii Sheep Were Burned to .Death. Fire Whieh 7,000 Buffalo, N. Y„ Dec. 29.—Seven thou sand sheep were burned to death at the East Buffalo stock yards Monday night. The long sheds in which they Were confined were swept by the flames before any of the animals could be released. The loss is estimated at $75,000. The sheep we;e confined in two long sheds, 10 feet in width, cov ering a total area of 600,000 square feet. Running 'parallel with them were the hog and cattle sheds. The fire, fanned by a brisk wind, destroyed the two buildings in an incredibly short time. NEGOTIATIONS ARE DELAYED Livery Owner** A**ociutlon Di*«atl»« fled With Arbitration Board Se lected by the Driver*. Chicago, Dec. 29.—Peace in the strike of the livery drivers has been met with new delay. Members of the livery owners' association expressed themselves as not disposed to submit their differences to a board of arbitra tion selected by the drivers. The own ers would not say, however, that the move made by the strikers might not result in negotiations toward a set tlement. Cooked For Abraham Lincoln. Danville, 111., Dec. -29.—Catherine McVey, 104 years old, who was pastry cook at a Danville hotel when Abra ham Lincoln stayed tuere, died sud denly Monday. Her husband died 25 years ago, and after nis death she nev er went to bed, but always slept in a chair. Aaalatant Freight Auditor. Topeka, Kas., Dec. 29.—J. I). Stuart, of Houston, Tex., has been appointed assistant freight auditor of the Santa Fe. This is a new position. The ap pointment takes effect January 1. Man and Hoy Burned to Benth. Crested Butte, Col., Dec. 29.—Chas. Ostraut, an eccentric character, aged lbout 55 years, and Joseph Beitler, a boy, aged 10, living here, were burned to death near Anthracite, in a cabin which caught fire from some unknown cause. Benth of Artist Trumbnll. „ „„ „ „ Hartford, Conn., Dec. 29.—Gurdon Trumbull, an artist of distinction, died Monday at the age of 62. It was In studies of fish that Mr. Trumbull achieved his reputation. A Colombian Legation at Washington Packing Up to Leave. AWAITING SEC'Y HAY'S ANSWER Flint They Are So Sure of Itn Tel Are Taking Time by the Fore lock mid Getting Bendy t«f Vamooae. Washinglon, Dec. 29.—Although Sec retary Hay has not yet replied to the note of Gen. Reyes, preparations are rapidly going on for the closing of the Colombian legation here and the de parture of Colombia's representatives for home. It is clear that they do not entertain much hope of a satisfactory response by this government. Already most of the legation files have been packed and arrangements completed for placing them in storage here. Gen. Reyes for several days has de nied himself to callers. It is said that while the reply of Mr. Hay has not been made, sufficient information has been obtained by the Colombian repre sentatives in the interviews they have had with the secretary to enable them to forecast its conclusions. The prep arations going on for closing up the affairs of the legation would seem to indicate that Gen. Reyes and Dr. Her ran are awaiting, only as a matter of form and diplomatic courtesy, the of ficial communication of Mr. Hay set ting forth the reasons why this govern ment can not accept their view of the Panama situation, before severing dip lomatic relations with the United States. NAVAL MOVEMENTS. a i«,.th Movements of Wnrihl|i« t, Slilea of Hie Isthmus. Washington, Dec. 29.—The fleets of warships on both sides of the isthmus of Panama will shortly be re-enforced by several vessels now on their way to that quarter. The gunboat Topeka, of the Atlantic training squadron,left Key West, Sunday, for Colon, by way of Kingston, as convoy of the torpedo boat destroyers Truxton and Stewart, which have been assigned to patrol duty on the Caribbean coast of the isth mus. The gunboat Castine arrived at Colon, Sunday, from Philadelphia none the worse for her recent grounding on a bar in the Delaware river. The big collier Caesar has left Culebra for Colon with coal for the fleet. The con verted cruiser Dixie left League Island to-day for Colon 'with the Panama ma rine brigade, numbering about 600 men, in command of Brig.-Gen. Elliott. Naval movements in the direction of the isthmus have been almost as active on the Pacific coast. Petrel, bound for Panama, arrived at Acapulco, Mexico, on the 26th inst., and undoubtedly has left there by this time. The flagship New York, the gun boat Bennington, the torpedo boat de stroyer Preble and Paul Jones and the collier Saturn, have been fitted out at San Francisco for service in the vi cinity of Panama and it Is expected that all of them will start south in a day or two. The gunboat COL. JOHN GRIFF PRATHER. Death of an Oil! and Prominent Clt teen of St. Louis After a Brief Illnexa. St. Louis, Dec. 29.—Col. John Griff Prather, for 49 years a dominant factor In St. Louis affairs, died of pneumonia, Sunday &fternoon, at his home. At the time of his death and for a year past. Col. Prather was jury commissioner of St. Louis. The illness that resulted in his death was of but ten days' duration. A heavy cold developed into pneumonia, and for four days death was expected hourly. For many years Col. Prather was prominently identified with the demo cratic party, and he served it as na tional committeeman in Missouri for 16 Unable to agree with Bryan in years. his free silver views. Col. Prather tem porarily retired from politics in 1896. When Sterling Price threatened to in vade St. Louis during the civil war Col. Prather was appointed to the com mand of the home guard, from which service he received his title. Col. Prath sr was eminently successful in business and made an ample fortune in St. Louis. W. J. BRYAN AT THE HAGUE. The Editor of the Commoner Visit* the Netherlands Foreign 31in lntter at The HuKne. The Hague, Dec. 29.—Wm. J. Bryan arrived here, Monday from Berlin and visited the foreign minister. Mr. Bry an Is enjoying his tour. He said he found Count Tolstoi looking well, though very aged. Tolstoi's first ques tion was: "Are you a socialist?" When assured to the contrary, the count said: "I am very glad to hear it. I am not • socialist, myself." Sunk By Floating Ice. Cincinnati, Dec. 29.—The packet steamboat W. H. Grapevine was sunk at the public landing here, Sunday, by an ice gorge, being the second boat sunk here within a week. With mov ing ice gorge ten feet thick other craft and wharfboats are in danger. An Old Healdcnt Gone. St. Louis, Dec. 29.—'Theodore Prou het, 91 years old, died at his home in Bridgeton, Mo., Sunday, of a compli cation of diseases incident to old age. He was one of the oldest residents of Bridgeton. Killed nr Ml* Stepson. Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 29.—Edward Stanhope, colored, forty years old, was murdered, Sunday night, as he sat in his home, by his stepson, Harry Chap man, who later surrendered. He said his stepfather had insulted his mother. Owl Car Conductor Killed. Chicago, Dec. 29.—Joseph Dries, 50 years old, conductor on an "owl" car, was shot and probably fatallv wounded Monday morning by a stranger. The men had quarreled over the issuance of transfers The stranger escaped.