Evening Star Newspaper, January 30, 1892, Page 13

COAST OF TH AT PORT STANLEY.’ The Principal Town in the Falkland | Islands. A FAMOUS ARCHIPELAGO Many Governments Have Claimed These! Islands, but Great Britain Controls Them— Everything is Thoroughly English—Some Bits of History—Sheep Shearing on = Tre- From The Star's Traveling Commissioner. Pont Sraxtey, East FAaLRLanp. IME WAS, SOME GEN- erations ago, when these islands were more talked - about than perhaps any other portion of the earth's surface. But since the Dutch, French, | ——.. Spanish, South America and United States gov- ernments have, one by | one in turn, resigned | all claims to the archi- pelago which Great Brit- ‘ain now holds in peace- able possession, the world has so far forgotten the subject that to- day many otherwise weil-posted persons would be puzzled to tell you at a moment's notice on which side of the globe the Falklands are lo- tated. The group, which includes more than 200 is- Tands, fies abont 300 miles due east from the Atlantic entrance to the Straits of Magellan, ‘but in order to reach them from the straits or from Cape Horn way one must vorage a hun- red miles further, around the southern ex- tremity of the outer islands. because the one ae OFF THE FALKLANDS. lace of consequence in the archipelago—Port tanley, the seat of colonial government—lics on the eastern shore of the central islands. There are two large islands. named respectively East Falkland and West Falkland—the former ninety miles long by forty broad. the latter about eighty by twenty-eight miles—separated from one another by a sound, also named Flk- land, which varies in width from three to eighteen miles. The other islands are of all Sizes, from sixteen miles long by eight or ten miles wide, to mere dots in the ocean, and the entire group is remarkable for its innumera- bie bays, harbors and inlets. East Falkland, for example, is so deeply indented by a sound on each side as to almost make two islands of it, the intervening isthmus being less than two miles across. THE ISLANDS ARE LOW AND BARREN. So low and barren are the Falklands, resem- bling in color “old ocean's gray and melan- choly waste,” that they are not visible ata little dista Approached from the south- ‘west the first to be seen of them are the snowy tops of a range of hills—the highest in the archipelago, though scarcely attaining 2,000 feet—that cross the largest island. Running elose to the shore we see no trees nor shrubs nor even underbr g but gray sand and brownish grass, and feel a sharp, cutting, constant lund breeze. like that experienced in the north on blustering March days, oniy nitely colder and more goose-pimpling and wrinkle-producing. Passengers who ha’ in these parts before fall to telling one amazing yarns about the Falkland winds, most of which may be taken with many grains of allowance. A tall Briton, determined not to be outdone, asserts that he has actually seen picked up bodily | ‘and transported that he refrained from telling more marvelous truths because of | the looks of incredulity which ho discerns ‘pon some of our faces. Another Falklander resents with indignation somebody's state- ment regarding the barrenness of the islands and boastfuily declares that there isa tree in | Stanley (the only one in the archipelago) and apple tree at that, which last year Lore five « euch nearly as large as a walnut. tanley harbor is one of the most completely Isnd-locked in the worli, having an opening Bardly 600 feet across. TO GET INTO STANLEY HARBOR. To get into it we must round Cape Pem- broke—a fiat, arid peninsula whose outlaying | sandbars have wrecked many a good ship, not- | Withstanding its lofty light house; steer past Wolf Rock, against which a furious surf dashes Sifty feet in the sir, and traverse Port Williams— | a long, narrow ba; filled with tiny grass-covered islands. Suddenly we turn to the left, between two sharp headlands, and steam through a Straight and narrow fiord into celebrated | harbor, which is three miles long by half a mile wide and hasan average depth of thirty feet, So far the view is not prepossessing. No trace of Yerdure is in sight, and the mainland, beaped With drift sand, loots lifeless as the deserts of Peru. In the ‘foregroun: several ships, stuck fest on sand bars, dismantled and slowly decaying. Two or three English and German Vessels are taking on wool, tallow skins, the cargoes being bro huge ol@-fashioned freight hulke Crafts of Yaricus sorts oat French, Argeatine and | finge; but, search a ‘you may, no pes can be seen, for Uncle Samuel s 1s almost unknowr in this localit tenders” are fussing about, and the little brig cwned by the sheep farniers of the various islands and used by them to bring | their produce to Stanley, whence it is shipped | to Europe, is departing ‘on its usual errand. ‘The southern side of the harbor is outlined by Srange of low hills, covered with peat and brown grass, and in front is Stanley, seated on another slope almost too low to be called » hill, ite grayish | oe hardly discernible against a background of gray rocks and sand. Untor- tunately for cheerfuiness, the most conspicuous Object in the landscape isa cemetery, dispro- jonately large compared to the little tow ing directly opposite the landing and filled | with @ forest of black and white wooden erosses. This being a free port we esca many of the tedious formalities that prevail in | otber places, and get ashore in what seems an | incredibly short time after our Spanish-Ameri- ean experiences BOW THE TOWN Looks. ‘The town, which contains about 700 inbabi- tants, comsisis principally of two macadamized streets, cach a mile long, running parallel with | the harbor. The houses are of wood, or un- stone, mostly of one story and none fore than two, all with roofs of galvanized fron. The better resilences front the water aud the narrow street bebind them oceupied by seal fishers and their families, dock bands, others not far up the social seaie. Every Lome —— Pretentions bas its conservatory in front and green houses in ‘the rear, a neither fruits, flowers nor vegetables can be grown out of doors here on account of eternal coid wind. Overhanging all are dense clouds of smoke belched from the Pa as and coal must be burned every day in the year to keep comiortable. The most, consplcusus building one, of cut brown tower in the center and of it—one | sheepskin | ment house and at the other by as E FALKLANDS. archipelago all the importance it possesses. The company's big ware houses, wherein are stored the island farmers’ wool, tallow and are grouped along the jetties and e by themeeives. ONLY OXE Gcop ROAD. Besides several public piers and private jot form a vil | dock yards, whose location may be known by | the hoisting of the British flag on the arrival | of a ship and also by its guard house, | shops, &c., within the same inclosui hind the dock yard is an immense reservoir for supplying fresh water to the shipping. The barracks, occupied by a company of marines, is a rather imposing structure near the center | of the town. ‘The English governor occupies « | distant cottage of gray stone, and both the bar- racks and thegipvernor’s casa aro defended by teveral nine (Manders. The only good road the colony can_ boats. fact, the one road worth mentioning on all the islands, since the farmers ptefer to travel on horseback or by se that running. parallel with the har bor in front of tho first row of houses, and is known as “Ross road.” It is barely two | miles long, bounded at one end by the govern- but it is the colonists’ fashionable promenade, | their only one, except when at rere intervals, | the weather is miid enough to permit a stroll upon the breezy hilltop. Even Tie "Rose road is not always available to promenaders, for at high tide the spray sometimes dashes over it; ertheless it is the 5th avenue, the Regent reet, the Champs Elysses of the Falklands, and on bright afternoons all the “quality” of this little world may be seen walking briskly up and down the long, dull street. Here no- body slowly saunters, as pleasure seckers do in the fashionable resorts of other countries, for the weather is always so chilly that active exer- cise is necessary. EVERYTHING 18 ENGLISH. The decidediy English expression of Stanley becomes intensified more and moreon closer acquaintance. Take the shop signs for ex- ample. Here is one that reads: ‘3fillinery, Drapery and Haberdashery Store to H. R. H., the Prince of Wales.” Another enormous signboard informs passers-by in large letters that within is a “store,” it being evidently taken for granted that everybody understands the word to mean a depot for all manner of commodities, from hams to hair switches, jew- elry and cabbages, drugs and dress goods, mo- lasses, hardware, &c. Among several inns of the good old English style—barmaids and all— the “Staniey Arms,” the “Red Bull,” th “Globe One of the most pronounced ,evidences of British loyalty is encountered the moment one steps on shore, where, at the end of the jetty, stands a brick and stoue monument with a tablet upon it bearing only the mysterious legend, “Alfred, February 24, 1874.” At least it appeared mysterious to us and excited our curiosity to the highest pitch, for we naturally supposed it to mark the grave of some hero who fell in one of the many battles that have taken place when foreign powers were contending for posses- sion of the islands; or was it really in memor: of Alfred the Great? The mystery remaine unsolved until we reached tel and asked the landlord; and what was our Yankee disgust when that worthy individual of misplaced b's explained, with solemn air befitting the occa- sion, that Prince H’ Alfred, a real live scion of English royalty. had once planted his h'august foob(and probably both kis feet) somews near that very spot on the occasion of his in 74 6 visit HISTORY OF THE ISLANDS. And now for a bit of history. John Davis, who sailed with Cavendish on his second voy- age, but soon separated from him, discovered this archipelago in the feat 1502. Six yoars later, Sebald de Wert, a Dutchman, happened to sail this way, and bestowed his own musical cognoman upon the islands; and to this day they are marked on Dutch churte as “Sebald Islands.” In 1690 Capt. Strong sailed between the two largest islands, and named the e “Falkland sound,” in honor of Viscount Falk. land; and from that circumstance the BroU took thename it now bears. In 1763 the Fenck took possession of the islands and named them “Isles Malouines.” The following year Mons. de Bougainvilie established culony of his ountrymen on Berkley sound, a little north of Port Stanley, at a place which he named Bt. Lonis, and to this day all French maps call the archipelago Isles Malouinis. But hardly were the brench coionists settied in their new homes when England claimed the group on the ground of prior discovery, and sent out Commodore SHIPPING WOOL AXD HIDES. Brron to take possessi English colony was established at Port Egmont on West Falkland. Then determined to take @ hand in this national game of grab. In 1770 = Spanish armament compelled the British colonists to surrender, and with much pomp and ceremony rechristened the islands “Las Malvinas,” which name they still bear on Spanish maps. Thereupon war was imminent between England and Spain: but after ten years of wrangling the latter goverament yielded the country to Great Britain by convention. Then for nearly half a century the islands remained unoccup: and unnoticed, till, in 1820, the South Ameri- can republic of Buenos Ayres (since merged into the Argentine Republic) tool of the group and formed another settlement at Port St. Louis, where the French bad been. Affairs went on swimmingly for eleven years, then one day the United States seized the islands, bombarded the South American settle- | fe ment and hoisted the stare and stripes above | its ruins. This gave vise to complications be- | fo tween the United States and Engiand, and two ears later the British flag again floated over ‘ort St. Louis and the present work of thor- ough colonization was begun. LAFONE’S SCHEME. About forty-six years ago Mr. S. Lafone, # wealthy Englishman, who had been in the hide and cattle tradecn the Rio de la Plata, obtained “grant from the British government of the southern portion of East Falkland—a peninsula six hundred thcusandacres in extent—and pos- session of all the wild cattle on the Jaland, for period of six years, he paying down ten thou- sand pounds sterling, and agreeit twenty thousand powsds additional eithin se to within ten years from January, 1852. The peninsula was named Lafonia, and the scheme first drew pub- lic attention to the natural advantages of the srehipelago. In 1851 @ company was formed in London aud incorparated by royal charter = . a Island Sheep Farm: impany”” )for the purpose of turning to greater ceount the herds ‘of wild cattle thet rootn the islands and the enormous extent of ranges. Mr. Lafone’s interest was pi for $100,000, and the company’s headquarters were established at Staniey while their grazing and boiling down operations were carried on in various places all over the archipelago. ‘The development of this undertaking necessitated the establishment ofptores and workshopeat the now seat of colonial government, an ships can be repaired 8 at less at better shape than at any ather South American port—a matter of great im; consider- ing that much more injury vessels that round Cape Horn than in any other Part of the world. The average number of Vessels that enter Stanley harbor in year is SR ey THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C. SATURDAY, JANUARY 30. coasts there are those who make a business of for ¥ Here. Rev. Wm. M. Ferguson. the pastor of tho Fourth Street M. E. Church, is closing quite a saccessful year, this being his fourth year as pastor. There have been about mem- bers received by letter and forty on probstion. Atthe last quarterly meeting it was unani- mously resolved to request his return next year. The history of the church is an inter- esting one, it having been the first Methodist society organized in Washington, in 1902, although st that time one had existed for more than twenty years in Georgetown. The society organized in 1802 is now making elabor- | ties there is a government pier fronting the | ##e arrangements to celebrate the ninetieth an- niversary. It began on Greerleaf's Point. In ponane pee of the government locating the arsene! at that place in 1804, the society moved toa place on New Jersey avenue, where it worshipsd seven years. In 1810 iand was purhased on 4th strect southeast from Wm. Prout, and a church was crected and dedicated tm i811. In 1857 that urch was xuperseded by the present spacious edifice. "In the long it of pastors may be found the names of Wm. Watters, the first, na tive American itinerant preac! ua Weils, Beverly Waugh, afterward the greatly beloved bishop; Yelverton T. Peyton, Henry Slicer, known over tke whole country; Norval Wilson, father of Bishop Wilson of ME. Church South, i jand John Lanaban, the pastor of President Hayes at Foundry. Wilson Lee and Nelson | Reed, great men of the early days, and William McKendree and Enoch George, afterward bishops in the church, were among the early presiding elders. ‘The week beginuing Febru- ‘ary 14 bas been set apart for the anuiversary, and it promises to be an occasion of very great interest to all the Methodists of Washington. Saas Capital City Athletic Clab. ‘The initial entertainment of the Capital City Athletic Club came off last night at Concordia Hall and, despite the inclement weather, was largely attended. The sports opened with a four-round boxing contest for points between ® couple of young colored boys whom the audience dubbed “Blackie” and “Yellow” on ‘account of their respective colors, und who slapped and banged for fifteen minutes with slight intermissions until the referee declared the contest a draw. An excellent wrestling bout followed between J. C. Devoe and Johu Sherman. The contest was exciting and the prize finally captured by Devoe, who, although y twenty pOuuds the lighter man, downed his opponent by superior skill Sampson Junior stretched himself out between two chairs and William Nally, the well-known sparrer, placed ® 200-pound stone on Lis chest and broke it with a huge sledge. ‘The entertainment closed | with a rattling tour-round ‘“go” between Billy Xoung ot this city and Ned Cartwright of Cana The bout was exciting and scientific- ally contested, the award finally being made in Young’s favor, who outscored his opponent 22 joints. A prize fight between these men will likely follow down the river. ——_. PROGRESS OF THE CONGO RAILROAD. Hewing = Roadbed Through Solid Rock= the Work Advancing Rapidly. From the Chicago Herald. The builders of the Congo railroad are now in the midst of their greatest difficulties. Nine- tenths of the engineering problems are ce! tered in the first fifteen miles. Near Mata: on the Lower Congo, the engineers are com- pelled to blast out the rock nearly every step of the way. Forabout three miles the road- bed is dug in the solid rock that rises almost Precipitously above the Congo. It then turns up the Mposi valley, one of the roughest spots imaginable. Every quarter of a mile or less the track will have to be carried across the river on bridges, first five miles of this difficult part ofthe road have now been completed, and the work is making good pro- gress on the second section. By the end of this year the engineers expect to have all their bridges in place and to have the road com- pleted to Palabala, aThie summit of the plateau, and then the work will advance rapidly to Kin- chassa, on Stanley pool. ‘The number of workmen has been largely increased of late. The latest mail reports that 2,750 native laborers are grading the roadbed and excavating the rock. The managers are well pleased with the progress they are mak- ing. ‘The building of the bridges in Belgium has advanced far ahead of the work on the Congo, and a great deal of material is now on the river ready to be put in place. The need of the road 1s increasing every month. The trading stations above Stanley Ye maintained by Belgium, Dutch and mch traders have increased to about 100 in ART NOTES. The collection of water colors by Datch artists acquired last summer by Mr. Waggaman was thrown open to his friends by that gentle- man on Wednesday. Invitations were by card, and, notwithstanding the sharp weather, his hospitable house was filled during the afternoon by @ delighted throng of conncissours who availed themselves of the opportunity not only to see the Iste acquisitions, but also to enjoy again the many choice objects of graphic and plastic art which crowd his galleries. The dozen or more new water colors, which repre- sent some of the leading artists of the modern Dutch school, are grou afternuon. They proved tobe agreat attraction, and merited sll the attention they received. Not undertaking anything like a criticiem, or oven a general notice it may be observed that acouple of interiors by Kevar anda landscape by De Bock deserved the commendation they re- ceived, while the drawings by Ter Meulen, Neuhuys, and Poggenbeck w dly less liked "Pretty much all the artists and nearly everybody in town interested in art were there, and, while there was araple attraotion in the gal- leriee to hold the delighted throng for an in; definite period, an additional and heightened charm wae lent to the affair by a bounteous and elegant repast in the dining room, by the rich bloom of the conservatcry, and the soft strains of music which pervaded every part of the house. — Notwithstanding the inclement weather, the number of visitors at the Corcoran Gallery last evening was 1,785. This is the largost at- tendance at any of the evening exhibitions so far this season. —The full-length life-size portrait of Mrs. Madison, upon which Mr. Andrews has been engaged for a long time, has at last been com- pleted, and is now on view in the Corcoran Gal- Jery. It attracts general and well deserved at- tention, both for its artistic merit and the interesting character portrayed, and it was @ constant center of interest to’ the throngs of visitors who filled the several rooms of the gul- lery last evening. —Art lovers will be gratified by the an- Aouncement published in another column that the Walters Gatleries will be open to the public this season, as in previous years, on certuin designated days in February, March and April and that cards of admission may be obtained at the usual places. — Mr. Ubl has recently placed on view at the Corcoran Gallery a fall length life size portrait of @ lady that can hardly fail to add to his rep- utation. It has been exhibited for scme time past in the Detroit Art Museum, where it at- tracted much attention. — At the Fischer art store may be seen for a few days the large and attractive collection of miniature likenosses of more or Jess die tinguished personages, belonging to Mr. Bon- aventure, of New York, together with a num- ber of drawings by French water coloriste. He has also = ‘don view there, a large instal- ment of his collection of Napoleana, in which realm he is recognized as an authority. The number, and they are collecting « great deul of ivory and rubber, which is now sent to the coast on the backs of men. About 30,000 por- ter re now employed in the transportation business. The railroad company is carrying out one work which is unique in the history of rail- road enterprises. It has constructed’ in Bel- gium three iron buildings for the use of Bel- missionaries. The whole cost is defrayed y the railroad company, whose officials say that it will pay them to give this assistance to the missionaries on account of the excellent influence they have upon the workmen and the solicitude with which they look after the health of the black personnel. The company has also taken steps to establish sanitarium at Kinkanda and has » competent medical staff to care for the sick. ——_+eo—____ A Poor Boundary Line. From the Globe-Democrat. The present trouble with Garza snd his band emphasizes a mistake made at the treaty of Gua— daloupe Hidalgo, when, after the Mexican war, the boundaries between theMexicanrepublicand on, after which an | the United States were defined, which wasclearly comprehended and pointed out by military men at the time. The Rio Grande is, consider- ing the character and revolutionary tendencies of our neighbors, about as bad a boundary as could have been selected. A greater misnomer than the cf that stream could not easily have been conceived. I haye fr quently crossed it when the water did not reach to my horse's knees, and it is every- where fordable. As a bat t it is abso- lutely worthless, being, in fact, no more difficult to ‘an imaginary line, and to be mado secure must be patroled along its entire length. It is this fact that renders it so diffi- cult to catch revolutionists, who dodge from one side of the stream to the other. If we had the frontier which we could and should have had, the mountains to the south, we would not be troubled by having to bunt ‘down Mexican outiaws for that government A small force at passes would have kept intruders out of our country and compelled Mexican insurgents remain in their owncountry. The army men, when the treaty was made, urged strongly the advantage of this line, but ‘the politicians chose the Itio Grande, which they believed to be in some degree worthy of its name. We now see the consequences. —see——___ Pranks of Johns Hopkins Studentsa. During a lecture by Prof. Geo. H. Emmott to the seniors of the Johns Hopkins University yesterday an alarming explosion took place in the clase room. The building was shaken, window panes were shattered, splinters of wood filled the sir and the professor was dum- founded. Investigation showed that enormous firecrackers had been placed in a coverless box, in ene end of which a candle had been inserted: A notch was cut inthe candle aboutan inch from the top and the fuse of the cracker ted happened. authors of the : “This sort of fes- vity has nevere obtained at the Johns Hop- kins, and we don't propose to have it now. Men come to this university to work, and we wouldn't hesitate to expel « whole class if it were to doso to protect theam- ditions and industrious student. “This uni- versity believes in intellectusl development, fon weaponry and attainment. Students so be- cost ‘aud, ih maaeh | S24 exhibition has been largely visited by our most critical connoisseurs, of both sexes, during the week, and a number of the choicest examples have already been set aside to remain in Wash- ington. — Mr. A. G. Heaton has lately painted a por- trait of Hon. J. J. Hemphill, chairman of the House committee on the District, which is con- sidered very satisfactory by the friends of that gentleman. — After an absence of nearly two years, Mr. Peter Toft, the woll known water color artist, is again in Washington, and hes taken a studio at 1327G street. Mr. Toft spent last winter and spring in Italy,—a large portion ‘of the time about the Bay of Naples,—and during the summer he visited his old home in Denmark. He made a number of new drawings in both countries, and his portfolio is enriched accord- ingly. While in Copenhagen Mr. Toft had the honor of two audiences with the Czar of Rus- sia and the royal family of Denmark, with the additional honor of disposing of two of his pic- tures to members of the imperial party. He also enjoys the distinction of having one of his drawings in the American White House, —The Chicago Inter-Ocean offers three izes, one of $200, one of $100, and one of for the best three pen and ink sketches of male or female figure, typical of Chicago,— something in the way the figure of “John Bull” stands for England, “Uncle Sam” for the United States, and “Father Knickerbocker” for the city of New York. The committee of award includes Thomas Nast, Lyman J. Gage, Mrs. Potter Palmer, Mrs. Harriet Monroe und W. M. R. French, Director of theChicago Art Insti- tute. The sketches must be in black ink, on cardboard 9x12 inches, and must be sent to Mr. French before the Ist of March. It is under- stood that some of the students in the Corcoran Art School will submit drawings, and the pro- Jectors of the scheme have assurances that there will be competitors for the prizes in all parts of the country. — Mr. Moser is still at West Cornwall, Conn., where he has been for several months past, closely studying the autumnal and winter aspects of nature, but expects to return before long to Washington, where spring presents at- tractions for artists that are not surpassed if equaled in any other locality. — The outcome of the recent seizure of oil paintings in New York, on the grvund of non- payment of duties, will be looked for with interest by every one caring anything about art. According to the newspapers, no less than thirty-six canvases were gathered in in one lot is set e# at £15,000. This eum is the face of the fact that the collec- id to contain examples by Meissouier, Corot, ‘Iroyon, Alma Tadema, Daubigny, Rousseau, Dupre, and other artists of hardly less reputation. ‘It is quite safe to assume that there is not a genuine picture by either of the ; and it is more than likely thet their owners will in the end admit that they are forgeries or copies, rather than suffer the severe penalties imposed by the statutes for smuggling. — At the late Berlin International Art Exhibi- tion there were no less than seventy-five pictures by American painters. Of these Mr. Walter McEwen took the large gold medal. Stuartand Bridgman were each awarded a medal of the wecond class, while Honorable Mention was accorded to Charles Sprague Pearce, Wal- ter Gay, Humphrey Moore, and Mra, Leslie Cotton. Mr. McEwen’s painting, which was entitled “The Absent One,” represented a widower and his daughter seated near together, with an empty chair beside them. -— Mr. Daniel C. French, the sculptor, who is now abroad working on a colousal figure repre- senting the Republic, for one of the Chicago exposition buildings, has lately received a com- mission for a life-size sitting figure of Ralph Waldo Emerson, for the new public library building in Boston. Mr. French had a studio in this city several years ago, andstill has many friends here, who are interested in nis career, and hear with pleasure of his constantly grow- ing reputatipn. — There was s time when the sculptors of both England and this country were sorely driven to ‘make both ends meet,” and not a few were sometimes unable to do even that much. This was when patronage was limited to the production of portrait busts and drawing room ornaments, etc.,in marble. But with the increasing demand for public statues, monu- mental groups, and memorials, of various sorts, all that is changed, and sculptors of reputation ace now, xs a rule, if anything more comforta- bly off thon painters :f corresponding promi- nence. For example, Mr William heed, the English sculptor, recently deceased, and ‘who was by no means considered a great artist, left ‘an estate valued at over $200, Mr. J.Q. A. Ward, of New York, is also understood to bo juite a rich man, with enough important or- ers booked to keep him busy for » number of years. Mr. St. Gai ‘who isa much younger man, 18 likewise counted more than comforta- bly off, and he, too, has so many comniissions that he is unable to accept any more to be exe- cuted in the next four or five years, the —The general court of Massachusetts has BROOKLAND AND VICINITY. Mumps have invaded Brookland to « slight extent. Rev. Mr. and Mra, Ewing Tade have been quite ill with influensa, but are somewhat dotter. ‘Miss Mollie Smoot is rebovering from an at eheepe for the erection of ins are bein a new house on farvtord: street mont the hones of Mr. Green, and for one on the same strect hear Mr, Whitesids use. Mrs. Carrie H. Paxton has sold her house on ston Frankfort street for $2,650. jiss Grace Thi Social Ciub enjoyed a “cobweb” - ty at the home of Mr. Noyes. Miss of ber Alabama is visiting broth was more » The faneral of Mra Joseph Phill largely attended than any in this neighborhood fora number of years. Jt was a sad blow to the family, ag hopes had been had ofher speedy Recovery. The Queenstown Mite and Literary Society, after two fortnights of disappointment, suc- ceeded in meeting at the Parsonage this week, | thongh the severe cold decreased the attend: | Ance vory much. Readings were given by Mrs. West and Mr. Warren: vocalsolos by Miss India Lord and Messrs. Paxton and Sturdevant: an instrumental solo by Mrs. West and a duet by Mrs. Louis Paxton and Miss Anna Paxton, Among those present were Miss Miller of Wash- ington, Mr. and Mrs. Lord, Mr. and Mrs. Wi ren, the Misses Sweeney, Fadely and Katie Middlekauf, and Messrs. Strobert, Perry, Williamson, Hopkin Murphy and, Kain, ‘The Brookland Reading Club will meet next Monday night with Miss Margot, and will dis- cuss the life of the poet Milton, also Henry VI of England, and contemporaneous history with | the Norman period oi literature, 1066 to 1350. | Mi and Mrs. McNemire of Fort street, who have becn seriously ill, are improving. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kinnan had a delightfat | “evening at home” Wednesday. Among tive | este were Mr. and Mra. A. W. Harris, Mr. and | Mrs. Holten, Mr. and Mra, Frank MeJormic, Mive Grace Thomas, Mise Reece, Mr. John Mas- sey. Mrs. Black cf Baltimore. Miss Kinnan of Alabawa, Mrs. aud Mies Patterson, Mr. Kirnan, ‘Miss Fish and others from Washington. Is 1¢ Unconstitutional? | To the Editor of The Eveuing Star: I observe that a bill has been introduced in Congress looking to the provision of a fund for the retirement of government clerks after; thirty years’ service by deducting 2 per cent from the salaries of persons in the depart- mental service. During the civil war it was once proposed to raise funds by deducting 3 per cent from all government salaries. Ibis scheme elicited a letter from Chief Justice Taney, under date of February 16, 1863, in which he called attention to the gross’ illegality of such an act, under that provision of the Constitution which rects that Congress shall pass no law impai the obligation of contracts. ‘The proposed law could never be enacted if it depended on the consent of the clerks, or of one-fourth of them. I am a member of the classified service and work in a room with five other men, all of whom are strongly opposed to such a measure. I have seen but one clerk, 1 as yet, who desired it. Tt would benefit only those persons who are willing to become therecipients of charity, and whose abilities, asa rule, are on a with their character. Self-respecting and intelli- gent employes, whose services are of real value ; to the government, will never consent to it. It would be a tax on the better class, who would reject such assistance with scorn, for the bene- fit of the least deserving. The published statement that the canvass of the departments has been made in this connec- tion is, to my own knowledg aaa ng a Give Them # Chance. To the Faitor of The Evening 8: In April, 1865,the war of the rebellion ended with the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, and j his tattered veterans returned to their home: to resume as best they might their civil occu- pations, As an immediate consequence of their participation in the rebellion the late confed- erate states were deprived of their representa- tion in the United States Congress. Gradually the states were reconstructed and restored to their positions in the Union, and, except ina few cases, the political disabilities of ex-cot federate soldiers were removed; but all were, and stillare, prohibited from serving in t army or navy of the United States. Twent seven years have elapsed since Lee's surrender. During this time the ex-confederate soldie: have been actively ing up on ruins dreamy, agricultural south of ante-bellum days @ new south—busy, ring ctive—musical with the sound of the loom and illuminated at night by the glare of a thousand furnaces. Of the ex-confederates of '65 many, pos- sibly the majority, ba’ away, and no sane person can now imagine that the sur- vivors could be induced by any means again to attempt secession. They. better than ary o else, would realize the futility of such an tempt and its absolute certainty to pat a stop to the marvelous progress which the south is now making. Under these circumstances the robibitory act has manifestly outlived its use- fulness. Since the foul murder of the unfortunate men of the Baltimore's crew at Valparaivo in October last no section of the country has been more thoroughly aroused to a sense of burning indignation than the south, and no body of citi- zens is more ready to avenge the insult to our flag than these same ex-confederates. Should the United States become involved in war with Chile the presence of these trained veterans would infuse unmeasured steadiness among the hastily recruited battalions of the southern con- tingent could the government but is services, It is manifest that the ti to repeal the prohibitory act, which is now only irritating and impolitic, thus giving these ex- confederates an apportunity to serve their country@nd feel that they are no longer worse than aliens in their own land. ‘The repeal of this act will remove from the statute books the last vestige of discriminating legislation and the ex-confederate will realize that he is in all senses fully « citizen of our now united country and endowed with a freeman's nobiest privilege—the right to defend his coun- try in time of need. in the present Congress partisan feeling has been replaced by patriotism. Republican and democrat alike stand ready to maintain our country’s honor and avenge the insult offered to our flag. Let them now restore to her the services of the ex-confederates. Then, should war follow, the men who wore the gray as well as those who wore the blue would vie with each other in displaying at Valparaiso or Santiago the same dauntless courage which marked their conduct from ’61 to ’65, and, with their blood shed ins common cause, cement indivsolubly the union of the states. = Cuances Lawrox, fessae scons ‘Liquor in Alaska, To the Editorof The Evening Star: To those who have resided in Alaska the re- cont debate pro and con of the liquor question in Alaska is interesting. No doubt the govern- ment of the United States could stop the sale of liquor in Alaska to the 4,100 white residents, also to Indians, but these white people think they have the same rights as the citizens of Washington and those who make laws for them, ‘The Alaska Indian laughs and makes his own whisky, which he can do much more cheaply than he can buy it of the whites. The Indun simply wants something to intoxicate and the quicker it lays him out the better, and as long ashe can buy molasses, sugar and flour he will manufacture the vilest intoxicant ever in- troduced into the human system, and there is not a from Dixon's sound to Yakutat bay where, the Indians do not make or know how to water, “hoochinoo.” Aye, cage, freee, tales to Attoo, thi estern of the Alutian Islands, they make a strong beer called quass, which will make thom drunken soouer and keep them so longer then any fluid [know of, and this stuff is brewed all around the Bering sea, except on the most northern shores, Northward from Point Hope the natives dis- til tangah from fermented molasses or sugar and flour, and there is not & native along coast who cannot improvise @ still with ev needed eppliance for making Indian ram. the it 1892—SIXTEEN PAGES. Describing His Expedition to For a good many years there have been in Labrador. No one seemed to know anything about its location or size, but the general im- Pression seemed to be that way up in the frozen solitudes of that desolate country mature had formed a spectacle that in grandeur and extent quite left Niagara and all other cataracts in the distance. Mr. Bryant, a member of the Phila- delphia bar anda student of science, determined to learn for himself not only something about this fabled cataract, but also gather Some in- formation relative to the country of Labrador. ‘So last summer he organized.an expedition, of which he was the head and Prof. ©. A. Kenas- : ‘geographer. The latter last even- ing entertained a large overflowing au- dience in the lecture hall of the Colunbian University with an acsount of the expedition. ‘The lecture was one of the series erranged by the National Geographic Society, and if the at- tendance continues to be as large as it was last evening the society wil! find it necessary to se- cvfte a larger hall where the other lectures can be delivered PAOW. RENASTUH'S ACCOUNT. Prof. Kenaston last evening gave his account Of the trip and then had cast upon the ecreen @ number of very beautiful photographs taken in Labrador. He said that the country was prae- tically unknown that there ware no maps that were at all accurat eand that the 420,000 square miles cqpstituting the area of Labrador formed the !argent unexpiored region to be found on the western. hemisphere. In this entire terri- torv there vere only about ten settlements and there were scarcely adozen permanent resi- dents. There were,perheps, a half dozen white men residing in Labrador and the domestic an- imals were as scarce asthe white men. The reason for this scanty population was believed by the speaker tc bethe high latitude of th country, its proximity to the arctic regions and the fact that the country was practically without a soil. The face of the land is exceed- ingly barren and rocky The rocks are covered with moss and there isascanty growth of dwarfed bushes, firs and cedars. The expedi- tion left Philadelphia tn Juve for St. John’s, Newfoundland, and then proceeded in a small government steamer to Rigoletton Hamilton inlet, ‘IW SEARCH OF THR FALLS. A Scotchman and a native were added to the Party and then the journey was begun up th Giand river in search of the Grand Faille. The perils and toils nf the trip were graph- ically related by the speaker, and his exceed- ingly dramatic account of the shooting of the rapids evoked a burst of appreciative applause. ‘The noise of the roar of the falls was heard two days before the party came within sight of the cataract The spectacle of the rapids above the falls reminded tha lecturer of the Niagara rapide, with the exception that the volume of water was not as great. ‘The river wae about 300 feet wide at this point and was confined in a canon, and such was the velocity of the water that the middle line was ten fect above the edges. A PLUNGE GREATER THAN NIAGARA The water rushes through this canon to the edge of the chasm, over which it plunges toa depth of 316 fest. The fall of Niagara is only 164 feet, and, while this cataract in the Lab- rador wilderness excels in height the American natural wonder, yet it is lucking in volume. The fal) is only 150 feet wide Still it is a great cataract, and the lecturer showed a fin photograph of it. It was stated by Prof. Ke aston that as far as known only two persons be- sides the members of his party have ever luoked upon these falls. In 1889 ‘an agent of the Hudson Bay Company, a Mr. McLean, vis- ited this spot and gave a’ description of’ the great falls. After Prof. Kenaston had finished the audi- ence gave him a rising vote of thanks, EE SEES A Dog’s Barking Saved Them. A little terrier's barking early Wednesday morning awoke Oswold Wolf, who keeps a gro- cery and an “Old Curiosity Shop” at 962 Beach street, Philadelphia, with his wife and eigh- teen-year-old son, justin timo to save their lives from a disastrous fire. Wolf, who is lame and has but one e; ang from bed with the thought that thieves we find that the coal oil tan! foot of the stairway letely cutting off all escape to the first’ floor. Fre groped about and discovered a pieco of rope with which he lo to the ground, instructing hi ip out his mother. Allescaped, including the dog, but saved nothing except clothing. Adjoining houses were slightly damaged, the loss amount- ing to 4,000. Kicked Wife, Then Husband to Death, Frank Brown and his wife of South Boston, Ind., were kicked to death by « stallion on Tuesday. At the time of the fatality Mrs. Brown was milking @ cow when the animal, standing in a stall near by, kicked her, killing her instantly. Brown, missing his wife, went to the barn to learn what was keeping her. As he was in the act of raising the pros- trate form of his wife the horse kicked him on the temple, from the effects of which he soon ——_ +02 —___—_—. MONKEXING WITH THE CABLE, A Prehensile Tale. When Jocko struck the cable road He wondered how the blame thing “‘ P. He peered and felt within the slot, And, t that he had tale, forgot. ¥ His however, downward sli ikna soon the cable firmly ee A bill filed by Major J. McDowell Carrington for Effie B. Colegrove for an absolute divorce with prosecation for embezrlement. The grounds on which she claims divorce are cruel treatment, abandonment and desertion. Her maiden name was Effie B Campbell, and she ‘sets forth that when # young girl not eighteen years of age she was induced by Colegrove to ‘marry him without the knowledge or consent of her parents. She met him at Cape May ‘about three months before their marriage. He ‘ther; that ‘Battered ber ia tinge, she being | 5 vetted Sor ee in New hy? atthe | er ts in Philadel- | phia and her husband returned to hie parents , in New York, No. 100 East ist street, who now reside in this city. At the end of six weeks she saya she received a mesaage from Colegrove to joiu him in Jersey City, and spent one waek j | With him at Taylor's Hotel, when she returned to her parents, her husband telling her that ber trunk was at thedepot. When she got ) to Philadelphia there was no trunk and she subsequently found out that the trunk was held | by the hotel proprietor for the board of her- self and Colegrove. After remaining at home perhaps two weeks she went back to New York to see Colegrove and found him engaged in what was called an intelligence business. He | Sponeeented ‘to her, she Rates, that he was in reat pecuniary stress aud needed money to \ pay his clerks. GAVE RIM BER JEWELRY. She handed to him a ruby and diamond ring, which was a preseut to her from her father. This ring he pawned. The same evening ho came in and stated that he had to refund cer- tain money given him by his customers. She { had $25 which her father had given her and gave him that. Again, on the same day, he said it was neceesary to have more money | | she told him she had none. She relates how he | fredually got from her her other rings After er return home atelegram reached her ad- dressed to Mrs. Russell Colegrove, which was | the first intimation her parents had of the mar- mage. This telegram urged her to come im- | |medietely to New York,jas her husband | was dangerously iil, Upon’ her arrival in New | | York, she said, she found that be was arrested | jand inthe Tombs. His father told her $600 | Was necessary to obtain bail or for his release and asked her if she could get the money. or if her father could supply i Noe know jing what to do, and uot wishing my father to know my distress and perplexity,” she says, “1 telegraphed to him that [ wished the mon toset my husband up in business. I no} the error of this deception, but tect the man that I had married. My father | said he could not convenientiy spare the money, but suid he would try to raise it for me in some way. Hin father succeeded i obtaining bail.” She tells how she obtained $150 from an aunt to assist her husband and how her father | came on, without any knowledge of what had transpired, and at ber re- quest set her husband in business, w paying for the farniture and’ fixtures in the office, and one mouth’s rent in advance. In about a week hie mother told her that another | Warrant of arrest had been obtained for Cole- | Srove and that it was necessary that he should | leave the city that evening. She says be fled from the city, the business was broken up and she was left in the hotel without the board bill being paid, all her jewelry being gone, even her opera glasses taken by him. She sent for her father, who immediately came on, and the conduct of her husband was then made known to him for the first time. He recovered ber Jewelry from pawn and her trunk from Tay- Jor's Hotel. Sut ntly she went to Cole- grove again at Chester, Pa., and her father again furnished him an ofice and etarted hia in business. In a short time, she says, he was arrested again and her father went upon his bail again. her earnest request, he started him up in business the third time. He was arrested again, she says, and her father came to his relief again. BER EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTOX. She says she consented to come to Washing. ton upon his promise that he would do better and his repretentations that his father was to appoint him general superintendent of trans- evengel lines in this city. She came to his father's residence, she says, and spent one month there, for which his ‘father afterward demanded pay for board. He took her then to Mrs. Reed's boarding house on F near 7th street. He then, the bill states, went into busi- ness on 7th street with a Mr. Sloan and em- ployed a Mr. Johnson as his clerk, demanding a deposit of Mr. Johnson of several hundred dollars. This money, she says, he was accused of embezzling and she is informed a warrant was issued for his arrest. At this time she hap- pened to be visiting her parents. Notwith- standing the sacrifices she had made for her husband and his, she said, she was made the subject of accusations by them. “This,” she said, “almost broke my heart. I was rendered almost delirious; it has greatly affected my health. I became convinced that Thad been entrapped inte a marriage with a man absolutely abandoned—so far abandoned that I um convinced and my whole family that he is beyond the hope of reformation.” She states that since March, 1589, she has not seen Colegrove or had any association with him as husband and wife. She avers that he wil- tully abandoned and deserted her. ——__ KENTUCKY'S “SOUTH AMERICA.” Breaking Out of » Feud That Promises to Rival the Hatficld-McCoy One. A factional feud that promises to rival in blood shedding the famous Hatfield-MeCoy or any of the other desperate factional wars which have made a section of Kentucky noto- rious has broken out in the southern part of this county, says a dispatch from Pineville, The scene is wild, mountainous locality, known as South America, and 1s about eighteen. miles from the nearest railrond point. Owing to the inaccessibility of the place particulars of the fight are hard to obtain. Five men have been killed since last Satur- day. Their names are Manuel Parton, Lee Davis and Will Jones. The fight is between Berry Turner, a notorious outlawand mur- derer, who has killed more men than any other | man who has ever terrorized the secti: nd | the Partons, who claim to have the law on their side, but so far they have had the hot end of the fight. Parton was killed Saturday. He had essayed to capture Berry r, dead or alive, and osted Inimeelf at a convenient distance from a jouse in which Turner was fortified with a number of his gang. It was probably Parton's intention to shoot Turner at the first oppor- tunity, but the latter bad too much cunning. ‘The outlaw discovered the whereabouts of his would-be slayer and at au unguarded moment succeeded in drawit gee ‘the latter and ine! their presence had been discovered Lee Davis pe ere tas bon ‘Mon, the Winchester. 4 sola in May. A majority of the cabinet agreed at tho Inst cabinet council to hasten the eleo- tions The meeting occured under the shadow of the result of the Rosendale contest, A re- Pportof the Central Conservative Association, summerizing the advices received from agents © the electoral centers on the chances of early and delayed dissolution was before the minis- speed: A hig! determination is largely due to an official caleu- appeal to the country is the best policy. ae placed ministerialist states thet 4 lation, based on the best obtainable data, that the General elections if taken soon will give Glad- stone majority of about sixty, inclading the Trish vote, while postponement of the elections is certain to increase the liberal majority and consolidate the liberal ranks, at the same time Weakening the unionists, for among the un- expected results of the Rosendale election the impending rupture between the dissidents and conservatives is the most important, The tones have long been tretting under the supposed dictation of the dissident leaders, and have hitherto submitted solely because they believed that the «dissidents commanded aarum- bor of electoral districts where the eonserva- tive chances were hopeless, TUE ROSEXDALE ELECTION. The result in Rosendale disillusioned the Conservatives regarding the fighting strength of their allies. The leading conservative pa- Pers throughout the country. which better rep- Terents the sentiments and policy of party than do its London organs, concur in Cemanding that the conservatives be free@ from an alliance which now woakons instead of strengthening the genuine conservative forces. A rupture, however, would not imply hostility. ‘The ces- sation of the alliance, « ording to the con- servative argument, dissidents retaining what Ww senate their owa voting power really commande. In constitugncies where they still hold some voting remnant. they ought, it is maintained, either to hold { from contests or support the conservative claiming ® right to mol: poli The sig: tive-wni0: from the headquarters ham, where a co didates without the conservative 1 for ® revolt against the compact fitly comes of unioni«m in Birming- ference of co tive ean- y dates concluded that the time sd come to dissolve the alliance, as « large number of conservative agent the question ought to be immedi THE REST OF THE SESSION. Lord Salisbury will be asked to take the senso of the party at a reunion of the conservative Members as soon as the house of commons as- eembles. The dissolution can hardly be efiected before Whitsuntide. The ministers Propose to devote the whole session until Easter to the estimates. The Irieh local government bill will be introduced on the verge of Easter Tecess, and the second reading will he bad im- mediately after the recess. The ministerial- ists rely upon obstruction to the racasure to afford them a reasonable excuse for peal to the country, The precarious prospects of ou are ha jouse of commons, About 120 members will not seek a re-clec- tion. Others, expecially conservatives, know- ing the ministerial plans, will not take rest dences for the season. “The proceedings in parliament promise to be marked by listless expectancy, everybody waiting for the signal togo. The Irish party has been called to meet at Westminster on February 9 to chairman. In view of the expiring of the present parliament Mr. McCarthy is willing to retain the chair for the session ‘The conservative rural conference, in imita- tion of the recent liberal conference, proved @ burlesque of a popular gathering. longed touting among laborers Mr. agents collected at Ely «scratch body of 210 pseudo delegates composed of local election managers, publicans by free railway tick and free quart the hotels. A emoking concert yesterday evening, with free beer, opened the conference. After the singing ot’some comic songe Sir Edward Birkbeck, M.P., talked on the need of councils, laborers’ allotments and old-age pen- sions, aud promised leguslation to compensate farmers for pigs killed on sccquut of swine fever. PLENTY OF TALK, NOTHING DONE. Today Mr. Chaplin, although in © more se- rious vein, spoke similarly and invited the del- egates to state their views tor submission to the cabinet with the view of ministerial pro- motion of bills during the ensuing session. Much speech making eneued, but no resola~ tions were pasted. It is obvious that the char- acter of the conference will prevent its having the smallest influence on future legislation. HUME WEBSTER'S evicIDE, The suicide of Hume Webster, the horse breeder, has been discovered to be due to worse than monetary troubles. He used forged signatures on bills amounting to over £40,000, “a Dill presented for payment on Monday with the signature for; ling to the discovery of other forgeries. The name of an American financier, longa friend of Web- ster and associated with him in the Embreville Frechold Company, bad been used on the urious paper. Webster's affairs became #o desperate that, the fravds bbs committed, eves if they bad not been revealed, would not sufice to cover bis uebts. SPECIAL NIORT SERVICER, The special night services held in the Londen tabernacle in bebalf of Mr. Spurgeon are largely attended. Waiting near the divine's sick bed are his wife, bis son Charles, two deacons and other friends, Private telegrams f:om Men- tone received today refer toa “prayerful but despairing group” beside the dyiug pastor. he Westminster chapter will support the nomination of Mgr. Gilbert as archbishop in succession to the inte Cardinal Manning. meeting on February 13 will forward the nomi- nation to the Vatican. There is a report in court circles that the ezarina, accompanied by Grand Duke George, will join the Prince and Princess of Wales at Cannes as soon as her health permits ber to travel. The grand duke is meusced with Jung disease. ‘The Prince and Princess of Waies have been for two days guests of the Duke of Devonshire at Compton Place, East- bourne. The visit was made in extreme pri- acy; the only other guest veing the Duchess of dianchester, Princess May of Teck is de- Pressed and in poor health and the queen bas invited ber aud ber father and mother to Hyeres. For the Relief of Peary. The committee of arrangements for the Peary relief expedition met at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia last night for organiza- tion, It was agreed to visit the owners of the wher ‘Kite in New York next week for the Purpose of negotiating fora vessel. To avoid one of the obstacles Peary met the United States government will be asked, through Seo- retary Blaine, to secure from mark admitting the scientists to Greenland. ‘The ring used ata New York cere- mony was a key ring.