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WST EDITION. ONE CENT LAST EDITION. VOL, Jersey city, Tuesday, may 8. 1900. LAST EDITION. ONE CENT LAST EDITION. “PRICE ONE CENtT~ Murderer of Supt. Wattson Expiates His Crime on the Scaffold Today. MET HIS DOOM WITH FORTITUDE Prepared a Statement Read By Father McGinley in the Death Chamber. EXPRESSED PENITENCE FOR THE DEED Final Attempt Made Yesterday to Procure a Stay By Law yers Klink and Furey. A black-robed figure stood under the , gallows, erected in one of the corridors j of the Hudson County Jail, this .norn- : Ing. A noose was around the neck and j a black cap drawn over the face. The , figure was Edward Clifford, murderer of Supt. William G. Wattson. At the doom ed man’s elbow stood the Rev. Father j McGinley, facing two rows of citizens bidden to attend the execution of the ex treme penalty of the law. Holding in j his hand a small piece of paper, the priest said, in a low tone:— “I have been requested by Mr. Clifford to read these last words, which are his identical words:— “I never intended to strike, shoot or kill ; Mr. Wattson, and I have never been able j to realize how I eaine to take his life. ; I make this statement, realizing that I am : about to meet my God. My best wishes and blessings W> you all. Good bye.” There was a nod of acquiescence from i the poor wretch, whose face would never j again see the iight of day, a click, a ; eound as if a • heavy weigtft had fallen, a body jerked into the air, a few t witch ings of the hands, a silent figure hanging under the scaffold, and then those who witnessed the tragedy knew that the soul of the murderer had sped to eternity. As early as eight o’clock small groups of people gathered at points of vantage near the gloomy old jail. They gazed at ! , the famous window over the door expect- J ing to see the man whose life was soon to , ——W'SHTOeit out, and discussed the chances of a stay or something which would pre vent the grim tragedy taking place. Along j came the police guarding the approaches to the jail and keeping a road clear for ■ those who had business in the Court , House. Half past nine o’clock found the . Sheriff’s office crowded with the Sheriff's jurors whilst in the Circuit Court room were those appointed by Justice Lippin cott. These were:— Court’s Jury—Dr. George Culver, Thomas G. Vile, Charles H. Ball, Chris tian Lohrengei, Dr. Charles A. Gilchrist, Charles W. Levering, P. H. Murphy, Dr. J. M. Rector, William W. Baxter, John * T. O’Brien, Duncan Cameron, Mayor Eg bert Seymour. Sheriff’s Justice—Dr. Otto H. Albane sius, Edward Miller, Claude Bryan, Dr. Joseph Craven, J. Deetjen. Dr. H. B. Rue, Albert A. Frank, Dr. William J. Arlitz, Dr. Richard Schlerr.m, Dr. C. E. Putnam, Charles McBride, J. V. Burke. Led by Sheriff Ruempler the Jurors marched in pairs across to the jail a few minutes after ten o’clock had struck and took their places in the narrow corridor on the west side of the jail. At the south end of this place was the scaffold and standing beside it the hangman, “Mr. Van Hise,” as he insists on being called, lov ingly Angering the rope and glancing at the jurors with a look as if he would like to “work off" the whole lot at £250 per head. He was in the midst of this enjoy ment when Wardep Sullivan appeared at the door of the corridor and beckoned to ■him. The hangman walked out quickly, the talon like Angers of his right hand ominiously clutching his throat. A piece of black cloth dangled from his coat pocket and in one hand he held a piece of white cloth and some straps. Following the Warden they reached the condemned cell. There beside the doomed man were the priests and the Sheriff, who had just informed Clifford that his time was up. When the death warrant was read the hangman stepped behind his vic tim and quickly pinioned his arms to his sides. Clifford submitted to the process indifferently, paying close attention to the consoling words of the priests. The dread preparation being Anlshed at a sign from the Sheriff the march to the scaffold “Hush!” said one of the keepers, stand ing at the door of the corridor to the jurors who were talking in undertones, “they are coming.” _ Instantly there was silence, only bro ken by the twittering of the sparrows on the trees outside. More distinct became the sound of footsteps, and in a few seconds the tall figure of Sheriff Ruem pler was seen entering the corridor, and at his heels the hangman. Behind them came Clifford, with Father McGin ley on one side and Father Foye on the other. Holding a crucifix in his right hand Clifford walked steadily on, with his head up, and there was a smile on his face, as if he was at peace with him self and the whole worid. There wasn t the slightest sign of fear about him as he stood under the gallows tree, calmly awaiting his end. As the hangman was fixing the strap around his ankles he turned his eyes downward to watch him. The noose around his neck was then fixed to the catch of the long rope dangling from the crossbeam, and the hangman then drew over Clifford’s face the awful blackcap. For a second or two, which seemed like an hour, there was a pause broken by Father McGinley’s voice reading Clifford's last words. These over Sheriff Ruempler Stepped in front of Clifford and said to h “Clifford, have you anything to say why the last sentence ow the law should not be carried out?” “Nothing,” was the faint whisper from out of that awful cap. It was now just fifteen minutes past ten o’clock when the hangman at a sign from the Sheriff released the rope holding up the 400 pound weight. Down it flew four teen feet to the Aoor below, lighting on a bed of sawdust to deaden the shock. At the same instant Clifford flew into the air reUirn ng with a jerk which made the Umbers of the scaffold creak The left hand of the murderer opened .and ■hut and the head turned on the right side, showing to the horrified jurors that •the knot of the noose had slipped and was now almost under the chin and Clif ford was slowly strangling. Mindful of the hideous bungling wrhen Brown was hanged in February, the hangman was warned to place the knot behind and not under the ear, but he disregarded the in structions and another case of horrible blundering was the result. When the body came to a rest Dr. George Culver stepped forward and felt Clifford’s pulse, while Dr. Albanefeius, Dr. Putnam, Dr. Culver and Dr. Craven each felt his breast. Life lingered in the body for several moments after the hangman lowered it so that the feet were a few inches from the floor, and at 10.28 the physicians all agreed that Clifford was dead. Then at a signal from the Sheriff the hangman’s sons lowered the body to the floor while the hangman tore off the black caj> and tugged at the noose. Off it came at lastrand there was a deep fur row' around the dead man’s neck made by the rope. The physicians carefully examined the neck and were agreed' that it had not been broken. “Strangulation,” was their verdict, and the last act of the grim tragedy was closed. Half an hour after the jurors had left the jail the body of Clifford was put into a casket and removed to the undertaking establishment of J. J O’Hara, in Union Hill*, from whence the funeral will take place on Thursday. He will be interred in this county and not in Brooklyn, as it was stated. Clifford’s case is so well known to every body in the county that to repeat here at length is unnecessary. On March 5, 1896, he shot Superintendent Wattson In Wee hawken, and the legan steps in the case from that time until yesterday make it unparalleled in the history of criminal jurisprudence. Nowhere in any country has it bene known that a man has six times evaded the penalty of death. All the l^gal resources were exhausted in his behalf and more than $100,000 has been raised for his defense by friends, chief among whom was Mdrtin Filon, of Union Hill, who had not only contributed large sums to the lawyers but mortgaged his property to save hi3 friend. Throughou the'case lawyers of prominence have been engaged, from the late Attorney General j to the small court practitioner, but to no , avail. The mills of Justice, like those ; o fthe Gods, however slow their motion, i accomplish the end in time. Prosecutor ISr'.v.'n said this morning:— j “E-verv avenue of escape thought avail- : able for Clifford was used in his behy.f. The result was delay only and submission i at last to the judgment of the Jaw. The , influences behind Clifford's flsht for -ife t>owerful and excited even a certain » pvmmathv for the man in his endeavors, to defeat the execution of the sentence of th" 'aw. After eminent anci reputable : ~our.se! had exhausted all proper and pro- , fe.sicna! efforts in Clifford’s behalf certain legal jackals then came into the case, employing tactics reprehensible, and de grading to the administration or justice, j and onlv building up false hopes in the | mind of the accused, making use or the ; funds contributed by his friends, and by | e delay caused tending to do away with • ne aeiav cau-aru Lcuurub —.-y .; very deterrent effect of the punishment ; ar the crime for which Clifford was con- ^ icted.” _ CLIFFORD’S LAST NIGHT. Efforts Made Yesterday to Again Postpone the Execution. On© more unsuccessful effort was made yesterday to save Clifford’s life or at least . delay his execution. It was made by ■ Counsellors William M. Klink and James! J. Furey, and they returned to the County j Jail shortly before one o’clock this morn ing to report their failure. Messrs. Klink and Furey went to Eliza beth and had a long consultation with Chancellor Magie and Governor Voorhees. They first applied to the Chancellor for a writ of error, contending that Justice Uppincott had erred in the manner in which he had conducted the insanity pro ceedings. The application was based on the com mon law. Prior to 1790 when a suggestion of insanity was made in capital cases a jury was empanelled to determine the question. This practice was continued until the second year of the regn of George III., when a statute was passed providing that when insanity was alleged after conviction three physicians should be appointed to report on the defendant’s mental condition. The Court Itself, how ever, had the inherent power to determine that the defendant was insane and that determination was final. After 1790 it was optional with the Court to appoint the three physicians. The contention of the lawyers yesterday was that the Court of Oyer and Terminer has no jurisdiction. It is only a statutory court and there is no statute giving it jur isdiction such as was assumed in this case. Being without common law or statutory jurisdiction it was not author ized to inquire into Clifford’s mental con dition. Mr. Klink submitted these views to the Chancellor, who listened patiently to all he had to say. Justice Lippincott’s opinion was submitted and Mr. Klink pointed out that the Court’s jurisdiction was questioned by high legal authority. Justice Uppincott merely thought that the Court had a right to assume jurisdic tion. Chancellor Magie refused to grant the writ and refused to endorse his re fusal on the application. If he had con sented to endorse his refusal an appeal could have been taken and that would have acted as a stay of execution. The lawyers then went to Governor Vocrhees and requested him to grant a reprieve. The Governor was very certain that under the law he had no right to grant a reprieve at this stage of the pro ceedings, tout to reinforce his opinion he called up Attorney General Grey on the telephone. The Attorney General con firmed the Governor in his opinion. He assured the Governor that granting a re prieve would toe a violation of his con stitutional oath of office. The Governor cannot grant a reprieve after the ex piration of ninety days. Seeing that there was no possible chance of saving Clifford the lawyers returned to this city and noti fied Warden Sullivan that their efforts had toeen fruitless. Clifford was not informed of this final effort. There was not a very large crowd! around the jail this morning. The curi osity seekers who did assemble were kept at a respectable distance by the police. Captain McKaig of the Oakland avenue station had charge of the police arrange ments. He had the oft platoons from the different stations and a sergeant and roundsman from each precinct, about fifty men in all. Captain MoKaig took enough of them to form a cordon around the block and In the front and rear of the jail and left the others in the station. There was no excitement whatever. A small crowd stood on the opposite side of the street and looked at the grey walls and barred windows of the jail, but that was all they could see. Nobody appeared at the window of Clifford s cell, which was immediately over the entrance. Clifford gave up all hope yesterday afternoon, if he still retained any. While ■Hangman Van Hise and his two sons were erecting the gallows, the door of the condemned cell was kept closed so as to keep out the noise of the hammering. Clifford’s brother, Thomas, called' on him in the afternoon in company with three ladies, cousins o£ Clifford. They talked with him for some time and then bade him a tearful farewell. The con demned man maintained his nerve won derfully well. Other callers were Martin Filon, Simon Kelly, and John Woods. Father McGinley, who has been constant in his attendance on the condemned man, and Father Foye, who was his first spirit ual adviser, spent a great part of the afternoon and evening with him. Father McGinley expressed a hope to Warden Sullivan that Van Hise would not make a bungling job of the execution.. He spoke of Clifford's weight and the unusual cir cumference of his neck, and was afraid that the hangman would make some blun der. Toward evening Clifford expressed a de sire to see the new suit of black which had bene provided by Sheriff Ruempler for the execution, and it was taken up for his inspection. He requested that the suit of clothes he was wearing be given to his old friend John Woods. Since his Incar ceration Clifford has kept a scrap book in which he pasted clippings from the news papers referring to his case. They include tln^ story of the murder, the trial and all the proceedings taken in the case. Only last night he pasted in the book the stories from the local papers referring to the fact that there was no hope for him. Fathers McGinley and Foye spent the night with him up to nearly one o'clock this morning, when Clifford went to bed and fell asleep, immediately after mid night Father McGinley administered the Sacrament of Communion. Clifford slept soundly until six o’clock this morning, when he awoke and made his toilet. Breakfast was served at seven o’clock and he ate heartily of it. The breakfast consisted of oatmeal, ham and eggs, Coffee and an apple and. orange. Fathers'McGinley and Foye arrived at the jail shortly after eight o’clock and re mained with Clifford until the end. Hang man Van Hise and his two sons readied the jail at ten minutes after nine and put the finishing touches on the gaiiows. Singularly enough Clifford never saw the hangman until this morning, although Van Hise has been at the jail many times. Yesterday afternoon Clifford spoke j cf Van Hise and expressed a wish to see him. On being told that he had1 gone away Clifford said:— “Well, never mind, I will see him in the morning. That will be soon enough.” Clifford requested Warden Sullivan to j convey his thanks to everybody who has j shown him attention during his long im- ; prisonment. He mentioned Sheriff Toffey, the friends : of the late Sheriff Heller, ex-Sheriff Mc Lean and the warden and keepers who | were under him, Sheriff Ruempler. War- > den Sullivan. Ambrose Lynch. Matron : Murray. Martin Filon, Simon Kelly, John | Woods, and his lawyers. i This morning he gave Warden Sullivan j a candlestick which the Warden’s mother I presented to him some time ago and asked | that it be returned to her. QUEER MORTGAGE CASE. Suit Grows Out of Failure to Cancel Paid Document. Vice Chancellor Pitney heard a peculiar case in the Court' of Chancery this morn ing. Julia Coffman, as executrix of her mother, Fanny B. Clark, brought suit to recover on a mortgage given by Louis I-Iirshy to Henry Clark, several years ago, for $200 on property in Monmouth county. Mrs. Coffman recently came across the mortgage among some papers | her mother left. There was nothing to show that it had ever been paid and she retained a lawyer to examine the records. The lawyer reported that there was nothing on the recoTds to show that the mortgage had ever been paid, and Mrs. Coffman began her suit through Samuel S. C. Mount. Judge William H. Vredenburgh and Frank P. McDermott defended the suit. The property covered by the mortgage in dispute has changed hands several times and the various owners were examined to show that they never paid any interest on the Clark mortgage or knew that it was in existence. The case was on at recess. MANY LIVES JEOPARDIZED. Discovery of the Thief of Brass Jour nals Prevents Serious Accident. James McGowan, eighteen years old, of No. 3S8 Henderson street, was arrested yesterday on a charge of petit larceny and held in $400 bail to await the action of the Grand Jury this morning In the First Criminal Court by Police Justice Hoos.. On Saturday night McGowan, It is charged, entered the yards of the Penn sylvania Railroad Company and stole four brass journals from the Grand Trunk Express, which was due to leave early Sunday morning. The absence of the journals was accidentally discovered, and what might have been a most ser ious accident prevented. Had the train left in the condition in which it was placed through the loss of the journals it would have gone a few miles and then broke down. This is the opinion of the mechanics of the road. DIED GOING TO THE STORE. Mrs. Margaret Ross Suddenly Ex pires in Her Hallway. Mrs. Margaret Ross, sixty years old, of No. 73 Bright street, was found diead in the hallway of the house yesterday by Henry Fishbaeh, of the same address. The cause of death was hemorrhage of the lungs. Mrs. Ross had been ill for a long time and' was going to a store when death overtook her. It was thought at first that death was caused: by the unfor tunate woman falling down sairs, but Dr. Kopetchney learned the truth upon exam ination of the body. The body was taken in Charge by the dead woman’s relatives. FELLED BY A MALLET. Disastrous Tight Between Two Car penters in Hobohen. Henry Gessing, of No. 83 Arlington ave nue, this city, got into a light with a fel low workman today near a building in the course of erection at the head of Fourteenth street, Hoboken. Getting the worst of the fistic argument Gessing ran to his tool chest and taking out a heavy wooden mallet felled: his opponent with a s-ingle blow. The injured man, Richard1 iBoth, was removed to his home on ILin den avenue, Greenville. Ho has an ugly scalp wound to care for. Gessing was locked up and held. THIRD NATIONAL'S PROSPERITY. The annual statement of the Third' Na tional Bank has been issued and' illus trates the continuing prosperity of that institution. It has a capital of $200,000 and its surplus and profits are $221,058.83. The resources are $1,706,144.79. There are of individual deposits $1,028,940.90 and of undivided profits $121,058.88. UA1TFHS OF FACT. —Stores, lactones and institutions can now get their supplies as good as any N. T. house at D. E. Cleary & Co.'s wholesale grocery can serve them. Complete stock, low prices, stores, Montgomery, and Greene streets. PUZZLES SCIENTISTS. John Garrabrandt, the Mur derer of Young Hayes, Is a Freak. MEASUREMENTS TELL THE TALE Some Say He Is an Idiot and Others Abnormally Vicious. John Garrabrandt, the self confessed nineteen year old murderer of Harry Maas, fifteen yeafs old, puzzles students of human nature and of criminology. A number of scientists have visited him and have carefully studied his face, manner, actions and general bearing. Some con tend that the boy is an idiot and mentally Irresponsible, and others that he is a brute without conscience and with an ab normally developed thirst for blood. William Robinson, of Police Headquar ters, measured Garrabrandt by the Ber tillon system yesterday afternoon. Mr. Robinson says the boy is a freak. He is much smaller than an average boy of his years and weak in body. His face is the narrowest Mr. Robinson has ever meas ured. His forehead is very narrow and that portion behind the ears very large. His chest is what is commonly known as chicken breast or pigeon breast. There are two convex curves to his abdomen, one below the other, just as if he had two abdoment. The boy has many moods. He appear ed nervous at times and again perfectly calm. He was serious and again frivolous yesterday while awaiting his arraignment in the First Criminal Court. After being led from his cell by Detective Prescott to go to court Garrabrandt was calm and apparently unconcerned. He seemed to be rather heavy, showed no interest in his new surroundings and the many strangers who crowded around him in the corridors of Police Headquarters. Here was a boy whose mind, if healthy, should have been susceptible to his novel surroundings. But not so with Garra brandt. He passed through a large crowd and was led into the detectives’ room. There were congregated a num ber of policemen and officials In full uni form. The brass buttons on their coats seemed to attract the boy for a min ute. He was saluted by Captain John F. Kelly, who went for him to Nyack, where he made his confession of guilt. He was seated in one corner of the room, surrounded by the policemen and in plain view of all who had official business with the Court. Every one stopped and looked at the boy and passed on. He returned every glance without interest and showed no fear. All about him were the instruments used in the Bertillon system of measuring. These appliances would interest almost any one who had never seen them before, but they held no attraction for the boy who robbed a promising youth of life in order to rob a dead body of $3. There he sat, kicking his heels together, with his hat on his head, a smile and a frown alternately making their appearance. His eyes were restless and not bright. They lacked ex pression. A direct remark to him brought the trace of a smile and caused him to quicken the swinging of his feet. When answering he dropped his head like a bashful little girl and spoke in a low but firm tone. The general excitement caused by the case led the officials who were seated about the murderer to relate incidents of similar crimes in the past. As quickly as the point in any of the harmless jokes was brought out, Garrabrandt laughed with the rest of the party. His wits seemed to be sharp enough. Later when an ante-room was reached and the boy awaited' a summons to the court he again fell back into his heavy manner. Here it was that he askedi for a cigarette and it was given to him. His pleasure was very great. With difficulty he lit the roll of paper-incased1 tobacco - and inhaled a very large quantity of the smoke. Old cigarette smokers were sur prised. It seemed that the smoke must have permeated all his organs. Then it came forth in a long, steady, continuous stream. In exhaling the smoke the boy took great pleasure. The sensation seem ed to tickle him. His eyes brightened and rolled about slowly, dreamily. His actions with the cigarette revealed the secret—a fiend who is a slave to a habit. "tHow many of those do you smoke a day?” ' Eight or ten packs,” said Garrabrandt. At this point a young man passed through the room and Garrabrandt recognized him. “I know that fellow. Isn't his name-?” Yes, he was answered. “Why, I used to work for his father up to a year ago. ,J left the place three times and they al'ways came after me. I left a year ago and X haven’t seen that fellow in a year." It was evident that his memory was not bad. The young man the murderer recog nized returned and was told of the boy’s remarks. “I’ll have to be careful or you might kill me for three,’’ said the son of Garra brandit’s former employer. The murderer laughed. Garrabrandt was then taken into the court room. He met the eyes of his mother and those of Mrs. Julia Coyle, who are being held as accessories. The three prisoners flushed as their eyes met. The crowd In the room that was attracted by curiosity eagerly watched for a scene. The spectators were disappointed. No sign of recognition was exchanged and a murmur of surprise passed through the court. The murderer stood in the dock, hat In hand at hie side beating against his leg. The other arm rested on the rail and the fingers drummed a tattoo. The complaint of the ’State was read. It sounded very terrible to the spectators, but to Garra brandt it seemed as nothing. He did not seem to know the purport of the words uttered. "What have you to say?” asked' Prose cutor Erwin as the usual warning was given. The room was so still the falling of a pin could be heard. Garrabrandt’s eyes became more restless and his hat was knocked against his leg furiously. Mrs. Garrabrandt looked straight ahead and did not glance at her son. A few seconds passed, everyone breathlessly awaiting his answer. "I don’t wish to say anything," answer ed Garrabrandt, and he was led to a bench where his mother was seated. A detective occupied a seat between the two. They made not the slightest effort to address each other. In a few minutes Mrs. Garrabrandt and Mrs. Coyle were placed in the dock. They denied all the charges brought against them. Garra brandt seemed absolutely oblivious to their denials. Mrs. Garrabrandt spoke first and her son paid not the slightest at tention to her. He did not ‘even look at her. “He that seeks finds.” He that takes Hood’s Sarsaparilla finds In its use pure, rich blood and consequently good health. TO KILL ROBERTS London Standard” Hears of a Plot to Assassinate the Great General. THE BOERS TO MAKE A STAND Zand River Chosen as Site for Battle—Boers Volksraad Opened. [By Cable to The Associated Press.] XiCXNlDO'N, May 8, 1900—The “Standard" hears that information has been officially received of a plot to assassinate Lord Roberts, that the latter has been warned and that telegrams are now passing be tween the Cape authorities, Lord Roberts and t'he home authorities on the subject. BOERS TO IKE A STAND [By Cable to The Associated Press.] SMALDEEL, Orange Free State, Mon day, May 8.—General Hutton’s advanced camp of the Colonial regiments is tonight settled at Lodgelegen (Welgelegen?) sid ing. According to reports the Boers intend to make a big stand near the Zand River. The railroad has been repaired to the south side of the Vet River and the en gineers are busy making a deviation across the bed. [By Cable to The Associated Press.] PRETORIA, Monday, May 7, 1900.—The official closing- of the 1899 Volksraad, which broke up unofficially in September last, occurred this morning. The vacant seats of General Joubert and General E>e Kock and others were filled with flowers. The hall was crowded, a large number of ladies being present. In the prayer of the dhaplaln an allusion to General Joubert moved many to tears. After the prayer the Raad adjourned' to the afternoon, when the session of 1BOO was inaugurated. The ceremonies were accompanied by the customary salute. President Krueger arrived in the state carriage with the usual escort. All the diplomatists andi foreigfi attaches, in cluding General Gourke, the Russian at tache, were present. The Raadlzaal was crowded1 to its full est capacity and the scene was most im pressive. President Kruger, in his speech opening the session, alluded feelingly to the vacancies. Referring to General Jou bert he said:— "Future generations will be able to judge the work of the deceased, whose de meanor inspired the enemy with respect and whose humane and brave conduct gave fame and importance to the State among civilized nations.” He was pro foundly struck, he said, by the proof of sincere friendship given by the people of the Free State, who had fulfilled their ob ligations to the Transvaal under the trea ty. They realized that a united front was required as an attack uponu the indepen dence of the Transvaal meant a threat against the Free State. He had implicit confidence in the future of the Afrikander nation. By deeds the Free State had Shown, the President declared, a good example to the people of the Transvaal, which had proved of great moral value to those guid ing the efforts of a small State to main tain its independence. He was pleased to say that the relations of the Transvaal with foreign States, with the excepion of Great Britain, were good. After referring to the peace proposals of the Presidents of both Republics and Lord Salisbury, President Kruger said:— "We have proved by legislation and our dealings with Great Britain last year that it was our desire to preserve peace, and now that war has broken out, we wdll do everything to restore peace.” After alluding to the deputation now on a mission to Europe and the United ■States and the presence of so many at taches, proving the intense interst of the powers in the republics, and to their methods of fighting, he said he was pleas ed to see that the sympathy of the world was on their side in the war, that- am bulances had been sent and that their friends were united in endeavoring to al leviate the distress caused by the strug gle. After references to alleged violations of the Red: Cross Convention and to the consequent protests of foreign Powers, President Kruger continued:— “Notwithstanding the difficult circum stances, I am glad to say that our finances will enable us to bear the great expenses of the war and that the mines are flourishing.” The President concluded with a refer ence to the Free State loan and suggested that the session be not prolonged' and that only matters of importance be dealt with. In a moving peroration he invoked the blessing and help of the Almighty. The proceedings terminated with un usually impressive speeches and prayers. Fifty out of a total of sixty legislators . were present, several of them still suffer ing from wound's. [By Cable to The Associated Press.] LONDON, May 8, 1900.—The following despatch from Lord Roberts has been re ceived at the war Office:— ‘ISMAIDEBL, May 7.—The railway from iBrandfort to this place has been considerably damaged and the bridge over the Vet River has been hopelessly damaged. This delays supplies coming up. Every, few yards charges of racka rock had been laid under the rails. This might have created loss of life but was fortunately discovered by a West Aus tralian infantryman. “Winburg has been occupied by the Highland Brigade.” In spite of these wrecked railroads the British advance goes on steadily. Lord Roberts’ outposts are apparently about twelve miles north of Smaldeel, General Brabant has joined General Bundle at Thabenchu, whence they are moving for ward. The country is ail quiet in that di rection. A reconnaissance made by Gen eral Rundle of the Boers' recent positions at Thabanchu resulted In their being pro nounced impregnable and their evacuation is reported to have been due to the receipt of an urgent from President Steyn. The Boers are said to be moving northward, but their immediate destination is not known. The whereabouts of the British cavalry under General French is still a mystery, while General Kelly-'Kenny’s and General Chermside’s divisions are also unaccount ed for. A despatch from Cape Town, dated to day, says:— "Lord Roberts’ phenomenal advance is not only utterly demoralizing the Boers •NOTICE' THE GAS COMPANY ED ED a Gas Ranges Below Gost CONNECTS AND KEEPS THEM IN ORDER but is striking terror into the rebel colon ists. "The relief of Mafeking ts expected at any moment.” The Cape Town correspondent is slight ly optimistic as regards 'Mafeking. Judg ing from the direct despatches, the British forces south of Mafeking are nearly two hundred miles from their objective, while the latest advices from Mafeking itself dated April 29, show little amelioration in the conditions there. The despatches say:— “With the exception of a little rifle fire at fhe outlying trenches everything is quiet. The slight epidemic of typhoid is abating as a result of the medical pre cautions. The enemy’s artillery, with the exception of two five-pounders, has ap parently been withdrawn. “It was learned April 24 that the enemy intended to attack and the entire garri son stood to its arms. When day broke Colonel Baden-Powell took up a positon on the lookout and the heavy rattle of musketry and the boom of four guns convinced us that an attack was about to occur. But it became apparent that the Boer officers could not persuade their men to advance. Through glasses we saw the officers vainly urging the in fantry forward. The enemy reformed and retired. Our men fired a shot in the hope of inducing the enemy to come to close quarters. “The native distress has been alleviated, many of them slipping through the Boer lines. “The men of the garrison forego their sugar ration for the benefit of the women and children. "After the bombardment April 24 all was comparatively quiet.” STANDARD OIL FIRE. Bayonne Brilliantly Lighted by Immense Blaze Last Night. The second spectacular Are within. a week on the Kill Von Kull occurred laet night at Constable Hook. This time it was in the plant of the National Storage Company. The plant is located on' the extreme end of the northern shore of the Hook. Two piers, two pile drivers, several lighters and the American bark Josephus were destroyed, as well as a large quan tity of crude and refined oil. The fire started! at nine o’clock on board a pile driver, that was moored to Pier No. 1. A night ^watchman on the pier saw it and turned in a fire alarm. He blew the whistles in. the plant and soon every fire company from Bayonne was on the spot fighting the flames. A big crowd gathered and about every policeman in the town went to the 'fire to keep the people in order. The one-story -buildings on the piers, which are 250 feet long, are used as stor age buildings for five-gallon cans of re fined oil. The woodwork of both piers was soaked with oil. The piledriver had not been burning for two minutes before the fire had communicated to Pier 1, and within three minutes more this pier was a mass of flames. There was no time to save either of the pile drivers or the lighters that were in the slip. They caught fire, burned rapidly and then sank. Pier 2 soon caught also and short ly afterward the three-masted ship Jo sephus was also in flames. The Josephus came to the pier two days ago, intending to take on board a cargo of refined oil for the East Indies. She had already some of her cargo aboard and was in good shape to make a hot blaze. Her captain and crew had a nar row escape for their lives. When the vessel became fairly ablaze an attempt was made to warp her out of the slip. It did not succeed, and while the men were working at her her masts fell. They landed on Pier 3 and smashed many cases of refined oil. For a moment it looked as If the pier was going to go also, but the firemen got to work ana saved it. The fireboat New Yorker arrived then and. with a number of the Standard Oil boats managed to get so much water on the burning buildings and those that were threatened that a further spread of the flames was prevented. The canning build ing where the refined oil is put in the cases, is immediately back of the burning piers. The heat from the flames was so great that the corrugated iron sides of the building bulged and were warped out of shape. The firemen kept a number of streams of water playing on the building, however, and it did not catch fire. When the fire in the Josephus reached the water’s edge the ship sank. The two piers were totally destroyed. Officials of the Standard Oil Company refused last night to give any estimate of the damage. They said that the fire had not been caused by the strikers, but had probably been due to spontaneous com bustion. „ . ... The Josephus was owned by Arthur Sewall of Maine. She was built at New castle, Me., in 1876. She was built of oak, and was 219 feet long. She had a tonnage of 1,367. Her last trip to this port came to an end on February 15, when Captain Gilkey brought her here from Hong Kong, consigned to Pendleton, Carvey & Nichols, for sale. After that she lay in PoiHon’s yard In Brooklyn. FELL INTO VESSEL’S HOLD. Otto Hebner, twenty-eight years obi, a ’longshoreman', of No. 80 Garden Street, Hoboken, while working on the Hamburg liner Patricia this morning fell into the hold and sustained severe internal In juries. At St. Mary’s Hospital, whre he was taken, 1t wa» said that the injuries may prove fatal. INJURED AT HOBOKEN BLAZE Fireman and Chanceman Sent to Hospital—Furniture Store Burned. Fire was discovered on* the second floor of the. four story brick furniture store, owned by Erich Cla-usen, at Adams and First streets, Hoboken, shortly after nine o'clock last evening. When the firemen arrived the flames had reached the top floor. All of the building was stocked wi^h furniture, and the fire gained rapid headway. Fireman Charles Dunn used his fists to break open a window on the third floor and he was so badly injured that it was found necessary to remove him to St. Mary’s Hospital. Chanceman Dennis Hav erty was badly burned about the face and hands in assisting the department and he also was removed to the hospital. The firemen worked for two hours be fore they succeeded' in getting the blaze under control. The estimated damage of $6,000 is cov ered by insurance. BOY BEHEADED ON THE RAIL The body of eleven year old Richard Gaebolz, of No. 121 Columbia avenue, who was reported missing from his home late last night, was found with his head com pletely severed from the shoulders earlv this morning on the embankment of the Erie railroad near Lundy's Lane. The head was found a considerable distance from the body. The remains were taken to the morgue, where the parents identi fied their boy this morning. CLAVIER RECITAL IN HOBOKEN. A piano recital and lecture illustrating the methods of the Clavier school was given last night in Trinity Hall, Hobo ken. The lecturer, A. K. Virgil, was as sisted by the Misses Florence Dodd, Wini fred Willett and Bertha Hoberg on the piano. A diversified programme of classi cal music was used to illustrate his re marks. _ t TONIGHT’S EVENTS. The U. S. Grant Association will meet tonight ' at its quarters. Ocean, near Woodlawn avenues. WEATHER INDICATIONS. ■NEW YORK. May 8, 1909.—Forecast for the thirty-six hours ending at eight P M Wednesday. For New York City and vicinity:—Showers and thunder storms tonight. Wednesday fair, cooler Wednes day afternoon; fresh to brisk southerly winds, becoming northwest. Hartnett’* The rmomotr leal Report, May 7. Deg.lMay 8. Deg. 3 p. M.611 C A. M.68 6PM .61! 9 A. M.67 9 p] >r. 52112 noon.. 12 midnight.50| An Old and Well TriedRemedy. Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup for cnildren teething should always be used for children whi.e teething, it softens the gums, allays the pain, cures wind colic and is the best remedy tor diarrhoea. Twentv-five cents per bottie. Prospect That N. Y. Bay Shore Will Soon Be an Important Shipping Centre. The Pennsylvania Railroad Compan/ has begun the work of Ailing in the New 'York Bay between the breakwater at the foot of Chapel avenue and the Morris and Cumming property on the Bayonne line. Buoys have been arranged to mark the boundary lines of the water front controlled by the Pennsylvania Company. From the breakwater at the foot of Chap el avenue to the Morris and Cumming property is a distance of about three quarters of a mile, and the outside bound ary line is 5,00U feet from the shore line. ; This vast area of water is to be filled in. it is estimated that the gigantic under taking will be completed in about ten years, and will cost millions of dollars. Two wooden trestles are now being I constructed within a short distance of the old Vreeland stone dock, which has , been lately used by Greenville fishermen. It is understood that these trestles will extend the full length of the grant. On them tracks will be laid connecting with a line on the mainland, over which cars car rying material for filling in will be run. At present the Pennsylvania Railroad Company has no branch line connecting with this section, but it is said that it has made an arrangement with the Lehigh Valley Railroad whereby it will have the privilege of running its tracks over the Lehigh main freight line, which connects with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Waver ly. This arrangement will enable the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to con vey filling in material from all points on its vast system to any desired point of its scene of operations in the New York Bay. It is rumored that the strip of Morris and Cummings property, which is a mile long and about half a mile wide, has been purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad. If the Railroad Company’s plans are carried out the New York Bay shore front will in a few years be converted into one of the most important shipping centres in this section of the country. Warehouses, wharves, docks and piers will be erected, to which easy access can be had by both land and water. Most of the important eastern railroads have branches near this Doint which can be extended to within a short distance of the Pennsylvania prop* erty when this gigantic improvement pro ject is consummated. DIED. COOK—On Sunday. May 6. 1900, Anna M., widow of the late George G. Cook anil daughter of Ellen and the late Gerard S. Ferguson. \ Relatives and friends, also members of Protective Lodge, Knights and Ladles of Honor, are invited to attend the funeral services at her late residence. No. 49 Wayne street, on Tuesday, May S, at 8 P. M. RTAX.-On Saturday, May 5, 1900, Marla, beloved wife of John Ryan. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from hen late residence. No. 19 St. Paul's avenue, on Wednesday. May 9. at 9 A. M.; thenca to St. Joseph's Church, where a solemn high mass of requiem will be offered foB the happy repose of her soul. BREEN—On Monday, May 7, 1900, Mary A. Breen, widow of the late John Breen. Relatives and friends are Invited to at tend the funeral on Wednesday, May 9, at St. Mary's Church, at 9:30 A. M., where a solemn mass of requiem will be offered for the repose of her soul. NOTICE IS HERET GIVEN mu WATER RENTS FOB THE TEAR 1900-1901 !WTUj BE DUE on the 1st DAY of MAY 1900, ana the same will he payable to th? Registrar, at the office of the Water De< partment, Room 19, City Hall, Jersey City, N. J. PENALTIES FOR NON-PAYMENT will be added as follows: On all rents remaining unpaid on the lat day of July following, ONtE (1) per cent. On the 1st day of September, TWO (2) per cent. On the 1st day of November, THRUSH (3) per cent. Interest at the rate of SEVEN (7) pe< cent, per annum will be added to all rents* remaining unpaid on the 20th DAT OtS DECEMBER following. Water rents for the year 1900-1901 will not be received from property in arreari until such arrears are paid. Board of Street and Water Commissions era. By GEO. T. BOET05, Clerk. Dated Jersey City, April 30, 1900,