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GOVERNOR-GENERAL MERRITT * Military Ruler of the Philippines a Type of the Best Americanism—He \\as at i One Time a Farm Hand. General Merritt, who goes to the Philippines as military governor of that island empire of the Pacific, is the second in command of our national ar my. He won fame and honor as Sher idan's chief officer in the great battles of the war. He was an unrelenting warrior, once fighting nine battles in ten successive days. His military ca reer is more or less on record, but of his private life little has been given to the public. Gen. Wesley Merritt’s father, John Willis Merritt, was a New York lawyer, having an office at No. 134 Nassau street when the boy was born, Dec. 1, 1836, at No. 67 North Moore street. He was one of eight brothers. Twenty months later the law office was at No. 8 Spruce street, the family having re moved to Brooklyn. When Wesley was four years old his father, having a large and increasing family, abandoned law for agriculture and bought a farm at “Looking Glass Prairie," near Bellville. 111., not far from St. Louis. Young Merritt attend ed the school of the Christian Brothers, a Catholic institution, at Belleville. La ter he worked on the farm for three years, helping his brothers raise corn and pork, for which that section has always been famous. Blorrltt m Farmer. Young Merritt often drove the farm team seventeen miles to town, getting only fifteen cents a bushel for his corn. Everything that a farmer produced in those days was cheap as dirt, and there was little money in circulation. Paste board checks circulated between mer chants and farmers in some localities, and their merchandise seemed high be cause It took so much corn and pork to pay for it. Being a lawyer and a man of a literary turn of mind, the boy's father aspired to do something besides raising corn. He started a local even ing newspaper at Belleville, called the Advocate, and later a weekly of the same name at Lebanon. Both were Democratic organs, and, like most of the Democratic journals of that day, were for territorial extension, the an nexation of Texas, and the settlement of the vexed and formidable “Oregon question” by taking possession of the country clear to the Pacific ocean. Young Merritt helped his father and brothers publish this Democratic news paper. He mastered the business of running a country newspaper taking his turn In looking after petty details, besides learning to set type and becom ing an expert printer while but a boy. At the age of sixteen he went to read law in the office of Judge Haynie in Sa lem. He was making rapid progress when Gov. Blssell, then a member of congress, secured him a cadetship for West Point. Gen. Merritt has no family. His favorite nephew, Eaton Merritt, he is educating at a Connecticut school, with a view of sending him to West Point. Gen. Merritt was married in 1871, in Europe, to Miss Caroline Warren, of Cincinnati. She died in 1893, at St. Paul, and was burled at West Point, where the general was superintendent for five years. The Merrltts originally sprang from three brothers, who earns to America from Ireland in 1600. their descendants settling In Winchester, snd from that family, it is said, all the Merrltts bora In this country have descended. Of General Merritt's military history much has been written. A mere rec ord of his battle*, engagements and campaigns would fill columns. He had many narrow escapes from death —a notable one at the battle of Beverly Ford In 1863, when he was attacked by a Confederate officer and a desperate hand to hand contest followed. He was sabered over the head, and would have been killed but for the soft felt hat which he wore, containing a big ar my pocket handkerchief. In this en gagement he was surrounded snd his troops nearly captured. He fought with a courage and desperation that won a great victory. The newspapers of the day were filled with his exploits in that particular engagement, and on the earnest recommendation of Gen eral Buford he was made a brigadier general. The Ride of KIU Life. Perhaps the greatest ride of his life was his famous dash through tho MISS LAURA WILLIAMS. (The Chicago Girl Soon to Become the Bride of Gen. Merritt.) Rocky mountains, when he rode night and day to the rescue of Major Thorn burgh's command, hemmed In by the Ute Indians at the time of the White River massacre. The soldiers were surrounded and being slowly shot and starved to death. A single man man aged to crawl out one night and escape, and after incredible suffering reached Rawlings Station on the Union Pacific GOVERNOR-GENERAL MERRITT. railroad, nearly 200 miles to the north. A "harry” telegram was sent to Gen eral Merritt, then colonel of the Fifth cavalry at Fort D. A. Russell, near Cheyenne. After reaching Rawlings or the neareet railroad point to the White River Indian agency, General Merritt had to ride four days and nights continuously with a light sup ply of food and ammunition. Thorn burgh was dead and his men were on the point of starvation, wounded and barely able to cling to their guns be hind their intrenchments. Merritt ar rived at the break of day, advanced with yells and scattered the Indians, who were waiting like coyotes for the soldiers to die or surrender. General Merritt's wild ride through Ute Rocky mountains will long challenge the rec ord. It is considered remarkable that he did not kill a horse or a man dur ing hie mountain march. With Custer, McPherson and Sheri dan, Merritt was edited one of the boy generals of the war. GraduaUng from West Point but a few months bstore tho civil war broke out, ke joined the Second dragoons and continoonsly dis tinguished himself In the cavalry serv ice all through the war. He was Sheri dan’s right hand man In the grunt campaigns of the Shenandoah leading up to the battle of Five Forks and the surrounding and crushing of Lee. Merritt's six brevets from major to major general for his heroic and Irre sistible fighting at Gettysburg, Yellow Tavern. Hawe's Shop, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill. Five Forks and the Ap pomattox campaign are among his un dying achievements in the great war. His title of colonoj In the regular army, the Fifth cavalry, was bestowed on him in 1876. when he was given command of the much sought de partment of the Missouri, with head quarters at Fort Leavenworth, and subsequently at St. Louis, many so called exports in military matters thought it hardly fair to bestow eo great an honor—to shower the golden stars of war—on the youngest brig adier general immediately following his promotion. General Merritt’s military career lxv closely contested engagements, in great and hazardous campaigns, was always that of a soldier and a hero. He was graduated from West Point July 1, IS6O. Just before the rebellion, and reached a captaincy in the Second cav alry April B. 1862. and was brigadier of volunteers June 29. 18C3. A Soldier and Hero. In the army of tho Potomac, on tho staff of General Cooke, and later with General Stonemnn, in his famous raid toward Richmond, he won renown. In command of cavalry he crossed th« Rappahannock and surprised the ene my. but for hours was nearly surround ed and once on the point of being cap-- tured. A confederate officer gavo him a savage sabre cut on the head, but he continued fighting gallantly, leading his men and winning an amazing vio> tory. It was for this bravery that. General Buford complimented him, foi» lowing it by recommending his promo* tion. Later. General Merritt succeed ed General Buford in command of cav* airy, operating in central Virginia. Ht was in the Richmond campaign in 1864, fighting with Sheridan at tho head with his columns in his historic raids through the valleys, always closing in on the armies of the dying confederacy. Ills division (the First), composed ol seventeen regiments of cavalry, em bracing General Custer’s command, won him honor for the masterly celer ity in which he drove Early and his troops through Winchester. More Ilrllllant Achievements. Merritt's next brilliant achievement was at Cedarvllle. on tho Shenandoah. This was followed by his glorious vic tory at tho battle of Cedar Creek, where, without infantry support, he made incessant cavalry charges—tre mendous, overwhelming. The enemy could not survive bis assaults of tor nado Impetuosity. With Sheridan Merritt displayed a distinguished part in forcing the surrender of Lee. On that memorable occasion, so graphic ally described by Grant and Sheridan, General Merritt was appointed one of the three commissioners to carry out the terms of the treaty. And now in a new and globe encircling war this brave, sagacious and competent man of the people, who in his turn was farm er’s boy, typesetter, publisher, editor, lawyer, cadet, soldier and then a vic torious snd always conquering officer In the great armies of the war, is again wanted at the front. Those who know him best agree that he has a judicial temperament and is eminently fitted for action In civil or military affairs requiring wisdom and justice. He will ha heard from again. Women** Hair Improving. It is now said that women’s hair is becoming more beautiful in color every year, and Is also growing thicker and longer. This is said to be due to the small, light bonnets that women wear. Certain it Is that air and sunshine im prove the color snd texture of the hair. Son bleaches the hair, and Venetian beauties always dried their ruddy locks la the sun. thereby getting that tint so mueh admired called Venetian red. Of course sunshine will not bleach dark hair, hut It gives a deeper color to all kinds of trsasis, and will brighten dull brown hair. THREE HEROINES. •pies did Conduct of KdslUli Women VraUed by Human* Society. A recent report of the Royal Hu mane society 1b more than usually in- { teresttng. If evidence Is wanted of the strength and courage and hardihood of English young women. here It is— with a vongeauco. old folka would add. rays the Philadelphia Times. The oil- , ver me !al is granted to Mies Fullerton |; of Dudhope Terrace. Dundee; of such ■ | a heroine every detail is worth note, j. Miss Fullerton was strolling on the j. Forfarshire coast, apparently, when j < she observed a manufacturer In great distress out at sea. .We are not told i whether she threw* off any of her j 1 clothes, hut since the man was seized , with cramp and was drowning, it is * to be supposed that she did not. The ; distance was 300 yards and tho sea ’ ‘‘heavy." but Miss Fullerton swam out ' and “exhorting the manufacturer to j reserve his presence of mind" —also . '“holding him up”—she conveyed him > safely until a boat picked them up mid way. This is somthing like a “roc-1 ord.” Our fathers would not have be lieved it possible for a girl to swim J a quarter of a mile in her clothes; through a heavy sea. but this brave j young athlete actually supported a j manufacturer —who ran to weight as a rule—ln the agony of cramp. Miss ; Joan Harris of Belfast nlpo plunged Into the sea without undressing and rescued a grown girl; further clrcum- ! stances are not given, but swimmers } know that it was a feat, anyhow. Miss J Louisa Bright of Heading, too, did not waste time in preparations when she saw a schoolboy drowning in the Ken net.- It is not many years since swim mlng was regarded as a dubious sort of accomplishment for women. NO TASK FOR A MERE MAN. Engaging n Servant anil Hiring a Man Two Different i:*jmtWmut*. Any man who lias ever done busi ness at an Intelligence office will feel a thrill of sympathy for me, as a re cent victim of that institution, says Boston Traveler. My wife was mildly lamenting yesterday that fate had driven away the maid servant and that she would have to get another. I rash ly said that I would do It for her. “There Is an intelligence office near my office," I said. “I’ll run in there at noon ami send a girl out early In the afternoon.’’ I went Into the aforesaid Intelligence office ns I returned from lunch and was at once absorbed by a roomful of females, every one of whom gaze ! at me suspiciously. I am a bashful man, but I nerved myself and i began talking with a young woman j who sat near the door. “We have ! four in our family, myself, wife and two children, hot and cold water " "Pardon me," she interrupted, "I am looking for a servant myself.” I apolo gized nnd she snickered. I then tackled an applicant for a job. I did not “shed light,” for she naked questions. I replied as follows: “Yes —four in the family—set tuba —hot and cold water in every room—three miles out of town —my wife takes care of the chil dren —who does the chamber work? I do. Confound It. Get out.” She didn’t net out. but I did. My wife went in the next day and hired a girl. AN INCH FROM DEATH. We were sitting on the veranda of our bungalow one evening in far-off. Burmah, It. A. and I, enjoying our aft er-dinner cheroot. The waters of the! bay lapped lazily at the sands at our j feet, for our houce was “builded on the sands’’ of the shore. All the world .seemed at peace, only the plunk! | plunk! of the monotonous night bird in tho jungle, and the occasional weird note of the jackal, signaling In the distance to his comrades, were heard. The moon had come up from behind a rocky island Just over in the bay, and spread a flood of golden-yellow light over the silver-topped breakers, roll ing In over a neighboring coral reef. !t was so calm and beautiful that It; seemed that all that was wicked and ‘ had bad gone out of the world, and yet j death lurked Just at my friend’s el- ( l ow, as ho puffed unconsciously at his cheroot. We had been discussing in a leisure ly manner something that had hap pened at home. To prove some point my friend arose, and stretched himself lazily, sauntered into his bedroom to get a paper bearing on the matter we j had been discussing. Usually lights i were placed In all the bedrooms, but this evening, for some unaccountable! reason—probably the moonlight—the Fervent had not performed his duties. I could hear my friend fumbling about on bis dressing-table, and then sud denly gave a quick cry of horror and rushed out to the light. *T have been struck by a snake," he gasped, and his face was deadly pale. “Where Is It? Quick! Show me!” I exclaimed, as I whipped out a knife. He held out his right arm. There was no mark on the hand, which I ex amined critically, but on the cuff of the shirt were two tiny scratch-like punctures, and two little globules of poison sinking Into the starched linen, and leaving a sickly, greenish yellow mark. "You’ve had a close call, old man," I exclaimed, with a great sigh of relief, “and I think you need a peg to brace up your nerves, but first let us settle. the snake.** We found him coiled up on a small mirror which lay on the table, and an ugly looking customer he was, too, ready to strike again. j He was a very poisonous snake,! known as the Deboae RussellJ, hut; after my friend had finished with him,l it would have been difficult for any, naturalist to have placed him in his proper genus. j JUMPED THE TRACK. WRECK NEAR JULESBURQ. L'nlon Pacific rmiengfr Train Onn Into the Ditch auil Several Denver People Are Hart. Denver. June 4.—At 12:45 o’clock i yesterday nfternoou the Union Pacific i “Colorado SjK*clnl” was derailed and ; badly wrecked a few tulles west of i Julcsburg while running over the i Julcsburg division of the Union Pa , clflc. Denver & Gulf road. While the accident was one of the worst that j has happened on the Gulf road for ; some time, none of the many passen 1 gore that were aboard were killed. | Almost every one received some In jury'. but none, as near as can be , learned, were fatally hurt. Those j that were Injured most severely were Denver persons, members of the Colo rado Commission of the Transmlssis slppl and International ExiHisitiou. who were on their way home after • attending the opening ceremonies of the exposition in Omaha Tuesday. At the time of the accident the train j was running between Sedgwick and I Sterling on its way from Julesburgto ■ Denver. It had just passed Orook, i when the rails of the track on the j Gulf road, which were being repaired, spread, causing the train to leave the track. One side of the track was sur faced. while the other was not, caus ing the cars to lurch, and before they : could recover, left the rails and com- I menced running along the ties, tearing up the track. } The four cars of the train behind the engine and baggage car left the track and turned over In the ditch alongside J the track. They were the buffet car. n Wagner sleeper, dining car and n 1 chair car. A Pullman enr remained ; standing up, but it also left the rails. Although the train was late It was not running faster than schedule time. As soon as possible after the wreck occurred Railway Surgeon Chlpman of Sterling was sent for. he going to the scene a handcar. After he had dressed the cuts and bruises of the injured he took them to the Pa cific hotel, in Sterling, where they waited with the other passengers for the wrecking train with the two day coaches to bring them to this city. Those hurt were: Colonel It. E. Goodell, 777 Grant | avenue. Denver, ankle* knee, hip and head bruised and cut by glass and ! falling obstacles. Mrs. Martha A. Sliute. Denver, head cut and hip severely bruised. May be injured Internally. Mrs. Forbes of Jefferson, Iowa, side bruised. Believed to be Injured In ternally. Hex. Andrews, a boy of Rockford, Illinois, head and hands badly cut by j glass and falling debris. Harry A. Lee. Denver, state com ! mlssloner of mines, head cut, knee and hip bruised. Colonel Kd F. Bishop. Denver, vice president of the Colorado commission of the Trnnsmlsslssippl Exposition, side hurt: also bruised. A. T. McDonald, deputy city audi tor, Denver, leg bruised and arm and ■boulder strained. O. L. Smith of the Smith-Brooks Printing Company, Denver, hand cut, 1 leg and hip severely bruised. S. Slmonds, Chicago, shoulder hurt. Carrie Skinner. Rockford, Illinois, ■boulder sprained. TO ATTACK SANTIAGO. Troop* to lie Kent at Once end Then There Will He Warm Work. Denver, June 3.—A New York special 1 to the Republican quotes the Herald’s Washington dispatch as follows: Unless Admiral Cervera should at- I tempt to escape from the harbor of Santiago de Cuba no battle between 1 the opposing fleets will occur before : the middle of next week. So certain are the war and navy officials on this | point that nil their plans are being bused on Its correctness. According to the advices transmitted by Secretary Alger to the Navy De partment, the troop ships convoyed by the battleship Indiana and some small cruisers will not lie able to get away from Tampa and Key West before Sat urday. It Is at least n four days’ sail from Tampa to Snntlngo de Cuba, so that the landing of troops In the vlciu ! Ity of the latter point cannot possibly be effected before Wednesday next, j It was announced with posltiveness ' to-day that Rear Admiral Sampson had 1 been advised to await the arrival of troops before attempting any offensive movement against the Spanish squad ron. Pending the arrival of the troops It is understood that Rear Admiral Samp son will get In communication with the Insurgents, so that they may be pre pared to assist In the proposed opera j tlons. The United States troops detailed to ! fake Santiago de Cuba are going there in two detachments. The first force, i which has already embarked on six i transports at Tampa, consists of about 4,000 well equipped and well organized ; troops. This advance army consists of I a brigade of efficient engineers, heavy ! and light artillery and a force of in fantry. All the necessary engineering equipment, such ns pontoon bridges and apparatus for constructing earth works are on the six transports. Washington authorities have through their agents notified the Insurgent army under General Garcia that American troops will soon land In the vicinity of Snntlngo. The artillery force in this first de tachment Is under the command of Colonel Wallace of the Randolph. It consists of ten light lotteries and four heavy batteries, the latter comprisin'.' a siege train under the command of Captain S. M. Mills. This artillery de tachment Is very powerful. The light batteries each have six 3.2-inch guns that are capable of firing five rounds a I minute. The projectile used by the guns Is shrapnel. Each of the four heavy batteries Is supplied with four 5-Inch Armstrong guns. The guns fire •hells loaded with gun powder and can j be nsed for bombarding Admiral Cer j rera’s fleet at long range, j Those men will fill the place vacated ! by the army that has embarked for j j Santiago. The authorities at Chlcka ! manga have been notified by the gov ernment to provide accommodations ! for an army of 75.000. It Is the pur j pose of the War Department to order | part of the array now In camp at Camp Alger to Chlckamauga. VAN WYCK—DICTATOR. New York’s Mayor Is Creating m Orest Hubbub In the Metropolis. New York. June 2.—Mr. Van Wyck, the first mayor of Greater New York, has proved a most disagreeable «ur prlse all around, and if ho continues his present policy much longer he will demoralize Tammany as thor oughly ns he has disturbed the rest of the population. A few short months only have been Herded to demonstrate to the satis faction of all concerned that there was a serious mistake In the selection, and Mr. Crokor has gone to Europe to hide his chagrin, for although his loyalty to Tammany Is not ques tlonod. Mayor Van Wyck has proved to boa man of despotic disposition and to possess an Independence as au tocratic mid an Individuality ns marked as that of the great sachem. He is rendering faithful service to the organization that elected him. but be does It in his own way, at Ills own time, and selects his own Instru ments without regard to the opinions or the preferences of the men who placed him hi power. Mayor Van Wyck began his officlnl career by removing all the members of the many hoards and commissions by which New York has for years been governed and substituting men ol' his own who were willing to sub mit to Ills dictations and obey Ills or ders. Some of the boards and com missions believe themselves beyond his Jurisdiction, having been created by the legislature and appointed by the governor of the state, and have appealed to the courts to protect them in their official capacity, but Judge Van Wyck has not been intimidated by tills movement. Whether he will be sustained or not is a question, but Ills confidence in his own authority is unshaken. Ills next step was to revise and re voke the regulations governing the civil service of the municipality so as to bring tin* subordinate officials under his control. Then lie attacked the financial system of the several bor oughs comprising the city of Greater New York, discrediting loans that have been made from time to time during the last several years for pub lic improvements and other purposes, suspending the payment of interest, so that some of the bonds Issued at par are now quoted at 50 rents on tlit? dollar and will need an act of the leg islature to restore their value. His last act was to overhaul the po lice. He removed the three bi partisan commissioners and appointed In their places men who will obey his orders. He removed the superintendent. Mr. McCullagh, and placed at the head of the force a captain named Devery. who Is devoted to Tammany and will serve Its interests. This was a direct blow at the election system of the city, because the bureau of elections Is a part of the police organization, and unless something Is done to de prive him of the power Mayor Van Wyck may be able to control the next state and presidential elections. The Republicans and reformers have become so thoroughly frightened that they are now appealing to the gov ernor to call a special session of the legislature for the purpose of cutting Mayor Van Wyek’s wings. ,i _ TO COIN SILVER. Senate Agree* to Tlint hut Want* to Dime Honda. Washington, June 3.—While the war revenue measure was not passed by the Senate to-day, two very lmpor tant votes were taken, one on a propo sition to coin the silver bullion in the treasury and to issue silver certificates against the coin, and the other on the bond projKisition. presented by the Re publican minority of the committee on : finance. In lieu of the seigniorage amendment offered by the majority of the finance committee, Mr. Wolcott proposed an amendment authorizing the si*cretary of tic* treasury t > ciln the s!lv» r b illion iu the treasury and to Issue silver cer tificates against it. After some dis cussion a vote was reached and the amendment was agreed to, 48 to 31, several Republicans voting for It. Mr. Aldrich (Republican, Rhode Is land) then pressed the amendment of the minority of tin* finance committee, providing for the issue* of $ 100,000,000 of certificates of Indebtedness and $500,000,000 of 1 souls, to be used ex clusively for the payment of the ex- I»enHes of the war. After nil extended debate the question was brought to an issue, and, by a decisive vote of 45 to 31, the bond amendment was incorpor ated in the bill as a sulistitute for the amendment to issue legal tender notes. The bond proi»ositlon received the votes of thirty-seven Republicans, sev en Democrats and one I'opulist. The Democrats who voted for it wen?: Messrs. CafTery, Faulkner, Gorman, Gray, Lindsay, Mitchell and Murphy, and the Populist was Mr. Kyle. No Republicans voted against the Issue of bonds, the votes in opiKxdtlon to bondfl ; taring cast by twenty-one Democrats, five Populists anil five silver Republi cans. Just before adjournment this evening a sensational sp<*oeh was made by Mr. Wolcott in reply to some suggestions concerning the Bimetallic Commission by Mr. Allen (Populist, Nebraska). Rlm In the Price of Silver. New York, June 3. —The silver bul lion market advanced again to-day, both In New York and London. The market closed at 50*% cents an ounce, u gain for the day of % cent.“ In Lon don the price reached 27% pence, an advance of % penny an ounce, ns com pared with the last quotation of Thursday, and of 1 penny since Thurs- I day of last week. The rise In the price of silver Is due to the recent purchases In London by Tarls banking houses acting for the Spanish government. These opera tions have been in progress for sev eral week* and have been conducted with much secrecy. It now appears that the reported statement of Prince Bismarck, criticis ing the course of this country was bogus. T. C. Daniels, head of the firm of Daniels A Fisher at Denver, has been appointed by ITesfdeot McKinley as captain .in the army to be commlfuary of subsistence.