Evening Star Newspaper, April 28, 1896, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. a gee PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Peansyivania Avenue, Coz. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, S. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. 4 Potter Building. fs servcd to subse their own account nts per month. bh. By mall—ans' United States or Canada—postage prepsid—30 cents per month, et Star, $1 per sear, with MATABELES ROUTED Defeated With Great Loss by the British. MORE FIGHTING NEAR BULUWAYO ee Brief Announcement of a Big En- gagement. RELIEF FORCE THREATENED Si —The Mashonaland here has received Buluwayo, 28. FONDON, April 2 y ) agence: following dispatch from ed A at: Big engegemert this morning. Three impis surrounded us. Defeated and routed them with great lo. Advance on the Town CAPE TOWN, Africa, April 28.—The dis- patches which filtered through from Bulu- wayo yesterday increased the feeling of uxiety felt here regarding tee fate of the ieged towa. According to the late: auct- the circle of warriors behind the mound fertifications had again Leen drawn closer to Buluwayo, and at the same time en he M: South the atabeles. when this news was sent from t angered town, had been further reinfo 1, and another large body of men was leaving the Matoppo hills, ex- pecting to effect a junction with the other bodies of hostile natives and completely und the pl ar Hitien a strong force of hos- ¢ in the direction of the route ng followed by the relief corps of about om érom “a Mate né machine guns, advancing nitly, it is believed that there i. cut out for this force, the , would are really The tactic 2 commenced, admi When the uprising orly a few hundred hostil to be in , and it that the police would soon them to ction. But the police ¢ rms and all the emmunitior hands on, tho snderful rapidity in which are evidently their rallying yoirt and base of operations, and then the iuwayo commenced. Impi d northward and cirel seemingly directed by a , and took up positions, in put twelve miles from the town. |. in- luwayo, separate the f them v next positions o: nce oF contra army can now f rude entrenc eff. e n traced ments works wayo. few ndred insurgent in reported ut a month ago, has incre are operati To s@me 30,000 + and their number round the con- » Matabeles, who cont the mpt for ed, with ammun®ion. out from the Matoppo adyual . and it is ttle ha force holding ould Bulu- wayo he re 2 be able to resume ives will have a str upon, and there k mst the Company's ford If this repe war for man: and much blood may before order is may be able ish until the t Iong be delay: nth Afr and nobody ean predict what the eventual outeome will of the Boers. dream of a United States of a, and they are bold enough to that the realization of this dream is the probabilities of the near future. se, the work of arming and forti- in the Transvaal, and also in some nm the Orange Free State, is goin on, and the slow but sure polic Kruger, said to be dictated is being pursued relentlessly, oers already have a small army un- der arms, well supplied with rapid fire guns and ammunittor, in the viclaity of Lich- tenburg, where it is reported ‘a fortified cemp is being eonstruet admirably sele This location is ted for a strategic move- ment, calculated to cut off the British in Matabeleland, Khamaland and Bechuana- lard from communication with Cape Col- ory. and this, it is understood, would be dene in the event of serious complications. The Boers would promptly occupy Mafe- king from the mp near Lichtenburg, which is only a short distance from the present British base of operations for the relief of Buluwayo. Of course, the occupa- tion, possibly by the purchase from Portu- gal of Delagoa bay by the British, would follow. Hut it is believed that the’ British advance into the Transvaal from that di- tection would not be the easy task it might have been some six months ago. Fortifications, it is understood, have al- ready been planned or erected, and further steps ‘n the same direction are in progress. Relief of Bulawayo. At present the relief of Buluwayo is the main point of interest, and a dispatch from Buluwayo yesterday evening said that Daw- son's troop was starting for a fort situated six miles along the Tati road, with the ob- ject of guarding the telegraph line and keepingthe road clear for the relief corps on its way through King Khama’s country, by arrangement with the latter, who Is particularly friendly to the British, having only recently returned from a visit to Eng- land, where he was treated with great dis- tinction, wore a high hat and Prince Albert coat, hobnobbed with the Prince of Wales, and actually rode to the hound: Ancther dispatch from Ruluwayo says that a coach, laden with arms and ammuni- tion, reached Buluwayo yesterday from the south. It is now announced that Sekombi, one of Lobengula’s leading chiefs, was among the killed during the fighting about the Um- buza river, which followed the second sortie of the British, when about 500 natives were slain. Late last evening it was reported here that there had been further and severe fighting about Buluwayo, and that the Ma- tabeles were defeated, with great loss. Up to the time of filing this dispatch no par- ticulars had reached here, and the belief Was expressed that possibly the report was an echo of the recent fighting. Che Lve No. 13,464, WASHINGTON, D. CG. TUE SDAY, APRIL 28, 1896—ROURTEEN PAGE Ss. TWO CENTS. ‘| Business establishments having inducements to of- fer to the wives, mothers and daughters of Wash- ington use the advert columns of The Evening Star. The Star is their fa- vorite paper, and they all read it. . ing [DISTRICT AFFAIRS Plans Furnished for Third Section of Street Extension, One Way of Getting Daily Garbage Collections—An Inspector Gets in Trouble — Other Notes, The engineer department this afternoon announced the completion of the third se tion of the street extensien plan in accord- ance with the highway act. ‘Thig section includes all the suburhs west of Rock Creek Park an an area about the size of Washington city. The rect gular system ef streets bas been carried over the entire section with the excep- tion of some localities where the topog- raphy of the couriry is extremely rugged On account of the few irregular subd visions in that section great latitude has been allowed in a study of the plan, and the system Is more regular and symmetri- cal than aay previous sectio: The main avenues lead to in a fan-shaped manner and cross avenues have been provided running the whole length of the section. A number of sub- divisions exist in this section that were laid out under the act of IS8%, and these have been generally conformed to in the new p| A special feature of this section is the preservation of the beautiful ravines and the establishment of parkways on bo of the streams that pass thror > deep hollows. One is along Founlry eranch along Sapten branch and | anoth Broad braneh, leading to th Chevy Chase circle. A new park boundary has been proposed by Mr. Olmstead for Rock Creek Park, by which many beautiful tracts will be added to the park, the pres- ent boundary being moved further to the west. Along this rew boundary a system of curved streets has been devised, so as to fit the general lay of the ground and preserve its landscape features. Along the Potomac river a wide boule- yard is propesed to run on the edge of the | Muffs. This les between the canal and | Conduit road, and will command a tine view of the river along its whole length. has also been made for better with Georgetown, which will of the travel on M strect and “narrow car The fertifications of the late war which art of the District have been rd the city with proposed parks and con- ith wide streets or avenues. The an Univ and Cathedral sites are within th and sorae mod tion of their boundaries is suggested in the pian. The streets in general are laid out nin feet in width in conformity with the la and the avenues are from 120 to 16) nm Will be laid before the Com- at the board meeting this af- ternoon for their approval. Remay Ordered. overs tod: crdered the to remove from his M. Danforth, he found guilty of fal: ng a report. This cted upon by the Comm the first case of its kind pears, tement, one of the aceorling to that a ci larg to show cause e da should not be fined. In the meg ter was received from the proprietor the hotel, which he stated that complaint made for the purpose getting service, and not hecause ad not been regularly col- letter attracted the attention > health officer, who investigated the matter, and found that the inspector ha ated to him that the writing of er would secure for him a daily on. Upon this statement the inspector was remove: Resignation Accepted. Commissioners have accepted the ation of Private Harry Frederich of fire department, and appointed Joseph Waldron to fill the vacancy. Appointed Cook. John Callahan has been appointed cook at the Washington Asylum, vice Edward Oswill of the of In wa daily The A Remova Private Frank Locthoehler of the fire department has been removed, and F. J. Syivester appointed to fill the vacancy. Harbor Regulations, ‘The Commissioners have sent to Congr ge a draft of a bill for the estab- hment of certain harbor regulation e regulations were set forth in The tar several days ago. ne A DISTRICT CHARTER. Gor The Potomac Heat and Power Com- pany Complies With New Conditions. The publication in last evening's Star of the tendency on the part cf the District committee of the Senate to require all local business institutions working under char- ters to become incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia has caused quite a stir among the business inte: Sev- eral of the caliers on Senator McMillan to- day at the committee room assured him that such a policy met with the general ap- proval of business men. Among those who called were the representatives of the Po- tomac Heat and Power Company, smillngly announced that they had availed themselves of the chairman’s advice and had this morning filed pap2:s of incorpo: tion in the District court, thus making themselves amenable to the District laws, and subject to the local rate of taxation. Senator McMillan hopes, it is said, to bring all the business institutions enjoying the local field under the District laws. Incidentally, it was leacned today that the bill relating to the Potomac Company will probably be taken up for consideration by the Senate committee at the regular meet- ing next Friday. It is understood that in passing this bill the Seaate committee will amend it so as to provide that in leu of the municipal tuxes to which the company would be liable uader its new incorporatio it shall lay down ducts for telegraph, tel phone and municipal lighting. This involves the question of free for the city, but it is thought likely that the company will gladly accept such a condi- tion if they are given the desired privileges, $2 Personal Mention. Capt. George F. Foote, retired, is on a visit to friends at the Soldiers’ Home. Pay Director Rufus Parks of the New York navy yard is on a visit to this city. Lieut. John Little, fourteenth infantry, has been ordered to duty at San Antonio, Texas. Addison Maupin of Richmond, Va., was in the city last week visiting his brother, Mr. W. C. Maupin of 4th street southeast. Lieutenant Commander Lentze, who for the past three years has been on duty at the navy yard in charge of the bureau of yerds and docks, and as assistant superin- tendent of ordnance, and who was recently assigned to the command of the Michigan, on the lake station, by the Navy Depart- ment, today left for his new post of duty. Secretary Herbert leaves here tonight for Cleveland, Ohio, where he will make an address on the financial situation tomorrow evening. bways o-<.—___ Naval Movements, ‘The flagship Philadelphia arrived at Port Los Angeles. The Fern is at Newport. The Petrel sailed from Honolulu April 22, fer San Francisco. FARMERS PROTEST They Tell Their Grievances to Rep- resentative Shannen, ———— THEIR REHCVAL BY THECOMMISSONERS Work of a Lifetime to Be Ren- dered Useless. — os OTHER DISTRICT MATTERS Two-score or more tillers of the soil ap- peared before Mr. Shannon of the House District committee, and told in their homely convincing fashion of the hardship imposed upen them by the sumnfary action of the District Commissioners in ordering their removal from the sidewalks of the Center market. They represented the 500 or more market gardeners and small farmers who bring their country produce to Center market and offer it for sale on the sidewalk out- side the market. The Commissioners di- recigd treir disrersal from their present location to a site several squares west, and not sheltered by a roof. Mr. Sherman'w Address, Mr. W. A. Sherman first addr cemmittee in behalf of the market garden- ers and small farmers. He said this e on the south side of the market had been occupied by the farmers ever since the market was erected. The: are no new conditions requiring their removal. If they are moved, they cannot carry their trade with them. Their best trade now comes frcm pecple who visit the meat stalls and large dealers in these people would not walk two squares away, especially in bad He said there are not less than ing families accommodated in tl Many of these would have to @ coming to market. i » is sometimes a blockade on Sioned by the press of vehich reet, but that is not due to the oc- ey of the sidewalk, the block: caused by empty wagons d the te the Center market, and or three be- standing ing around. Mr. M-, Honifant's Long Experience. Washington Donirfant, jo said he Was eighty-four years of age and has been coming to market for many years, wanted some kind of regulation of the accommovia- tions. He first began coming to market seventy years ago. “I used to sell President John Quincy Adams butter, and also sold to € Jack- son,” said MY. Bonifant. He said no one would be benefited by driving out the smail dealers from their present position, “It would hurt the citizens and hurt the farmers,” he sald. “I would the market company would control it company has alwa 1 it was the C mmissioner: would Curt enience to the farmers and gardeners stan! long the side interviews In the : out exception stands to remain. had been sent to the Commi the customers of these sma!l farmer: ing them to let the farmers alon Two Women Teli Their Story. Then Mrs. 3s from Rabe, a por German we- men, took the stand to testify in behalf of In her own quaint way and with a strong German ai he had been com five years earning a living for herself and her daughter w the daugh comes to market. Mr: pe said it was not ri that women should have to come to mar- ket on Friday and stay there all night order to have a pl: urday morn- i he objected 1 from r and protection now afforded nt she told how Overstein was another attendant the market and had been coming here for thirc years, She objected tu be- ing removed. President Smith's Remarks. President Smith of the Association of rmers and Gardeners said the old arrangement was very satisfactory to the dealers and the customers. It has taken years to build up the trade and to remove the dealers now would ruin many of the small farmers, who even now have to wo: very hard for their scanty living. heir ruin would mean taking just that much fresh produce from the market. ‘The butch- ers inside the market have signed petitions asking that the farmers be let alone in their present stands. “We give health and strength to the city,” said Mr. Smith, “by bringing fresh fruits and vegetabies, eggs and butter di- rect from our farms to the market baskets ef the purchasers. He said the farmers are willing to-pay for the privilege of using the places, a fee that would reimburse the market company for cleaning and policing the market. Mr. Joseph Fields said he had been com- ing to the market for twenty-five years. He had ceeupied a stand on the curb and ccrner two or three times a week. He had never Teard any sertous complaints of what they had to pay. The fee was not more than 15 cr 25 cents, and was used for cleaning up and for policing. He strenu- orsly objected to being removed from his present place. fe Mr. J. S. Gillis said he lives twenty-four miles from town, and brings his produce to the stands along the sidewalks of the Cen- ter market. He has built up a fair trade, and wanted tc remain in his present posi- tion, and to be let alone. Mr, Curtis caid the hay market lot, the site of the proposed removal, is wholly un- suitable for the farmers’ purpose. The produce would be exposed to the sun and rain and could not stand it. r A Customer's Protest. Mr. T. W. Burke said he had a petition signed by over 500 ladies of Washington, his customers, against the removal of the stands, He believed the voice of the people who trade at the Center market would he unanimously in favor of letting the farmers alone. The ladies of Washington would not wade through the mud of the proposed site to hunt up the small farmers, who would be removed. The removal. would be the ruin of the dealers. Mr. J. Hamil said it would be impossible to put all. these farmers in the space pro- posed by the Commissioners. There would not be room enough for them. Mrs. Neuright, a sprighily, bright-faced little woman, said she had been selling pro- duce in market for forty years. She could not stand the exposure ‘of the place pro- posed by the Commissioners, and she beg- ged to be allowed to remain under shel- ter. Mr. R. S. Burke said he comes a long distance to market and wants to be allowed to occupy his present place under the shed. Geo. W. Barnes, who had been doing business in market for twenty years, wanted to be let alone in the present ar- rangement. The accommodations are bet- ter now than ever before, and the deal- ers would suffer by being removed. With this the hearing closed. Allens in the District. Every session of Congress numerovs bills are presented and some are passed reliev- ing foreign-born residents from the opera- llcn of the law which restricts the owner- ship of lands in the territories and the District of Columbia to American citizeus, In most cases the alien has become nat- uralized, but seeks relief to leguize his title, acquired before?he became a citizen. The purpose of this, law, as pointed out to the District Commissioners recently in a letter by AUoruey Thomas, was to pre- vent the acquiring of large tracts of lands in the western territories by aliens, and, as he says, such a thing manifestly could not occur’ in the District of Columbia. Hence, he recommended the passage of a law amending the agt of March 3, 1887, exempting the Distriq@ from its operations. Mr. Thomas in his fetter says: ‘The con- tinuation of the law upon the statute hooks, so far as this District is concerned, requires repeated applications to Congress for relief under it, which are always granted, because the reason for the law does not exist in the District of Colum- bia.” A Dill to this effect was submitted by the Commissioners to Chairman, McMillan and by him introduced today. 3 Ross’ Account: Senator Burrows today introduced a bill directing the auditor for the Post Ofice Department to creditithe acccunt of Jobn W. Ross (now Commissioner of the D trict), late postmaster at this city, with $141, paid for fuel fof the fiscal year 1890; $35.12, paid for ice duting the third quarter of 188), and $45.88 paid to W alley, jr. letter carrier, for overtime, making 32 in all, Accompanying tne’ bill are letter: which throw some light on the matter ond give, as well, an inkling as to the niceties of treasury methods.,The item for fuel is explained by the fact that supplies of this sort during that year were bought in small quantities and not by contract, inasmucis as the post office was about to be moved to the present quarters, and the establish- ment was being conducted, as it were, on a “hand-to-meuth” principle, In this y the total expenditure exceed- €1 the amount expended during the prior { year by $16, and the then chief of the allowance division of the department dis allowed the whole amount expended. The paused BY 2 disallowance of a the same chief of divis item is explained by Mr. mour Tulloch, cashieit of the post office, in a letter to Mr. Re heing the result of the neglect of the first assistant postmaster general to send the item to the auditor, al- though it had been approved by him. There is one item, however, which is not included in the bil. Mr. Tulloch writes of as follows: “With fegard to item of one paid J. T. J. Davis, yment of s the auditor in this instance ceount of the difference in caleulat ervices according to the official of the Post Office Depar table Davis was fined t cember, 188! t. 1 OM day during De- lary for the month His fall amounted tg $10 Twenty- which was deducted. Twe ever, amounted to $7.07, owing to the tional part of a cent being added in one and d regarded in the other. eral custom to consid: uction correct, but jn this insta: onal part of a auditor, at to you. 3 A Hall of Patriotism. of T 1a bill in the ve the gent was claimed by the expense of an entire mhessee has intre- providing for the be placed utions from ating to the past country, or do- tile flags, me- of its distingy! articles of storical y from time to t{me Dixtriet Approprintion Bil c subcommittee on the Di apprepriations were unable to work morning on the District appropriation but their sessions werg resumed this t this bill, atter- nooa and ‘he consideration of the bill was continued. It intention of the com- mittee on appre ons to have the Dis- i trict bill follow the river and harbor bill. lephone Hearing. al committee on subways of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone pany on the electrical pill recently pre- pared by the committee. Mr. Bryan object ed to the Dill as being cryde and hastily prepared. He said that it embodied pi visions which could not be fulfilled by tele- phone or telegraph compa: Mr. Bryan entered into a lengthy analysis of the bill, showing the objections which he, as an operator of the telephone company, would find to it. —_———_ 2+ ___ ARMOR PLATE INVESTIGATION, The Testimony Finally Given to the Public. In view of the debate now in progress in the Senate in regard to naval affairs the naval committee today decided to make public the testimony taken by it in con- nection with the armor plate investigation, which has been in progress at intervals during the greater part of the present ses- sion. The testimony covers over 400 printed pages, and includes statements by Secre- tary Herbert, ex-Seecretary Tracey, Com- mander Folger and Andrew Carnegie and representatives of the Bethlehem works, besides a large number of naval officers, patent experts and others, covering the subjects outlined in Senator Chandler's resolution, : Much of the testimony is devoted to the cost of manufacturiag armor jlate and the Irobable cost of a plant fer this purpose to be erected by the government. Mr. Car- negie put the cost of a government plant at from_ $5,000,000 to $7,000,000, while Com- mander Hichbern placed it at $2,000,000. Mr, Carnegie declares that the price received for armor was very low, and that the rea- son that the business did not pay was that the plant was compelled to lie idie a great part of the time. Secretary Herbert expressed the opinion that the cost of manutacture did not ex- ceed $300 per ton. Commander Folger de- claved that he had not considered a propo- sition to enter. the Harvey company while acting as chief of ordnance, but said the Harvey process had interested him from the beginning. ——__+e. Tomorrow's Benning Entries. First race, handicap, six furlongs—Han- well, 108; The Swain, 107; Tinge, 108; Allen L., 102; Hurlingham, 99; Sill, 97. Second iace, four and a half furlongs, selling—Ruasler, 110; Bregalone, 98; La Vivandiere, Stanislaus, 95. ‘Third race, Capitol stakes, three years, mile-Shakespeare Second, 127; Premier, 112; Septour, Volley, Intermission, 107. Fourth race,handicap, mile—Dutch Skater, 116; Brisk, 99, Emotional, 96; Lodi, 90. Fifth race, stéeplachase, two and a half miles, selling—Hiawasse, 1¢1; Gold Dollar, Emperor Otto, 152; Lafayette, 151; May Blossom, 149; Hellas, 144; Flushing, 142. ——>—__ Republican Headquarters. The republican congressional committee has opened headquerters at the Hotel Nor- mandie, and it is expected that the prelim- inary work of tte campaign, under Chair- man Babcock’s direction, will soon com- mence. Lieut. Commander Crocker. The friends of Lieutenant Commander F, W. Crocker of the navy are congratulating bim tcday upon bis promotion to the grade of commander. He was charged with being mcrally unfit fer the higher grade, and was put on probation for a year to determine that question, His conduct during that time has been urexceptionable, and the President and the Secretary of the Navy have just approved his promotion. SUNK THE WYANOKE The Old Dominion Steamer Ran Into the Cruiser Columbia. —————EE DISASTER NEAR NEWPORT NEWS PIER All the Passengers and Crew Were Saved. a WARSHIP NOT HURT MUCH NORFOLK, Va., April 28.—While the Old Dominion steamer Wyanoke was making for the Newport News pier about 2:30 this morning, on her way to New York, she struck the prow of the United States cruis- er Columbia, lying at anchor, and had a hole cut In the forward part of her star- board side and sank in about a quarter of an hour in sixty feet of water. All of the Wyanoke's passergers and crew were seved, but the baggage is all lost and prob- ally the cargo also, ‘Two firemen were badly scalded, but be- youd this no further injuries are reported. ‘The Columbia was anchored very near the pier, and was not seen from the Wya- noke on account of the brilliancy of the electric lights on the pier. SW YORK, April 28.—At the office of the Old Dominion Ine in this city, Capt. Henry H. Bourne, president of the linc, Stated that he had received a telegram he- tween 6 and 7 o'clock this morning, dated Newport News, which reads as follows: Wyanoke sunk in collision with U. Columbia, lying at anchor off N News. Passengers and crew all The tl. Columbia, far as known. Are taking care of pas- ngers at Hotel Warwick (Newport News). lw particulars later. The Wyanoke left Richmond last evening for New York via Norfolk with ve few P. ngers and a small quantity of freight. Capt. Bourne said ‘that no lst of sengers had been received at the New York office, but that there were probably less than 100 on board, as that was the IMmit allowed by law ¢ Wyanok s a side-wheel steamer WS gross tong register. She was buil at Wilmington, Del., in 1870 and was 238 feet long, 49 feet beam, 25% feet deep. ORT, he Colum bia’s Injuries, officials at the Department The d ch disquieted this morning 1 were my the repert that the U.S. S. Columbia had been in collision near Norfolk last night. Ef- foris were made to secure some news 1 sources of the accident, but il some time after 10 o'clock phic repore came from Ad- miral Bunce, commanding the North At- lantic squadron, te wnich the Columbia is attached. This telegram, which was sent | from Fort Munroe, the nearest telegraph i | Station to the admirai's flagship, the New York, read as foilow: “To the Secretary of the Navy, Washing- through offic! it was not w that a telegi ton, D. Cc. ris that the Old Dominion noke last night fouled the anchored at Newport News, and senk under her forefoot. ‘The passengers were all sayed. Several of the crew were injured and are ng attended by the Columbia's surgeons. The damage to the Columbia is one hole two feet in diameter on port side, ten fect above the water line; heavy indentations two feet above the water line on iht same side and indenta- tion of one plate on the starboard side, op- posite the hole” opening a seam for about six feet. Temporary loss of one anchor and forty-five fathoms of chain. I shall send her to the Norfolk navy yard as soon as the requirements of paragraph 400, naval regulations, are complied with.” The regulation referred to by Admiral Bunce is that requiring a survey to be made by a special board cf officers im- mediately after an accident to ascertain the extent of the injuries sustained by the naval vessel and what repairs are neces- sary. This board does not usually under- lake to fix the responsibility for the acci- dent, although in this case there can be little doubt that the blame must rest on the officers of the Wyanoke, unless it can be shown that the Columbia was anchored in a dangerous positicn and failed to exhibit the lights indicating that she lay at anchor. A Lucky Escape, The naval vessel was undoubtedly very lucky in coming out of the collision as well as she did. She is a triple screw cruiser of (> tons burden, next to the Minneapolis, her sister ship, the fleetest cruiser in the United States navy, or, in- deed, in the world, and as it was neces- sary to construct her hull very Hghtly in order to accommodate tie weight of the tremendous machinery of 15,000 horse power, her frames and skin are not as heavy as is usual in all vessels of her ton- nage. Fortunately for her, the Columbia is fitted with a big steel ram, and the addi- tional strength given to her bow by this undoubtedly saved the vessel from more serious and perhaps vital injury. It is not yet clear whether the force of the blow dealt by the Wyanoke was re- ceived upon the steel ram, but even if the upper portion of the Columbia's bow received the impact, by reason of the over- hang of the Wyanoke's side, the stiffening of the cruiser's bow by the addition of the ram must have greatly assisted in the resistance to the blow. Not Seriously Injured. From the hasty account of the Colum- bia’s injuries furnished by Admiral Bunce in his telegram it is apparent that the ship has not suffered severely, and a cou- ple of weeks at the navy yard should suf- fice to make all needed repairs. The ad- miral refers to the loss of the anchor and chain as temporary, by which he means that the anchor which held the Columbia and was carried away in the collision, now lies with its cable at the bottom of the harbor, whenec it may be easily recovered by _ dragging. This accident coming so soon after the serious injury of a_ merchant steamer which ran into the U. S. S. Monterey in Puget Sound and the damaging of another American merchantman by running into the U. S. S. Alert in a Colombian port, all happening when the naval vessels were under the disadvantage of lying at anchor, causes naval officials to remark that it is not as safe now to ram naval vessels ns! ditions, it was In the time cf the old Tallapoosa. SILVER MEN’S CLAIMS Hopeful of Securing Michigan at Its Com- ing Convention. Looking to Chicago—Administration's Friends Working to Secure Sound-Moncy Delegates. The state democratic convention of Mich- igan temorrow will make the eighth which has been held, and if it declares for silver it will make the sixth which bas put itself on record for the white metal. The con- test In the Michigan convention will at- tract the attention of every politician in Washington and throughout the country. From now on, the holding of democratic conventions will be an almost everyday oc- currence, How the ¥ The conventions wh silver are as follows souri, 34; Colorado, § ton, 8; Nebraska, 1 for silver in the Chicago conv there is a dispute abuut -he ington, and a probable cont braska, tney can be left off and the total for the silver men is 72. The District of Columbia did not dectare for silver, but five out of the six delegates are supposed to favor the white metal. The convent.ons which have de i for the gold standard are Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with a total of 38 votes No Change in Estimate: The silver men, one and all, have no change to make in their of how the vote will stand at Chicago. They are confident of having from 74) to 190) majority. The addition of Michigan to the silver column will give them more than they figured on a monih Michigan has Leen includ: estimates of the silver men. grows more hopeful, they « g-comy, te Stand ch have dec'ared for Alabama, 22; Mis- Oregon, 8; Washing- giving a total of ention, say stimate votes BED, It in Not AM) Walk. The silver leaders express the: pleased that the gold-standard m ed by Senator Brice, and backed by the ad- ministratic., are going to make a fight for the alleged doubtful states of Ilinvis, In- diana, Ohio and Kentucky, They say that a fight will encourage their own foll Senator Jones of Arkansas was ask a Star reporter if the silver men w ing any organized work in the four st | named. He answered: “Oh, y a We are not talking or t re hard at work.” It is s : the leaders are in touch with all the prominent men in the various aoubtful and that they are doing as much in y of hard, quiet fighting as their op- nents, to Indiana, the silver me alk about Senator Brice ad- stration being able to overthrow the iver sentiment “is ali bosh.” Senators urpie and Voorhees quietly lavgh at the idea of anything but a silver delezat going from the hoosier — state Their nds say that it is hardly Senator Brice or anybody into the state of Turpi Voorhe und win over the heads of these men. They furtWer sey that Senator Grice has his hands full in his own state. Senator Jones and other silver leaders say that they will det at least half of the vote of Chio, and may get a great deal more. The Admisistration at Work. There is no longer any doubt t the administration has ome alarm: but it has gone to work with a will. F the best of it is learned thy inet memb tary Smith, sre taking a he fight. The latter h yed a ferce of typewr' his spare hours writing leiters to the icularls ep interest aid, tandard men and sen: out lit- | ture which is ex ke con- s. The xpeech of Judge Turner of ia is being widely distributed. It is going to every nock and corner of the country, but is having its wide tion in Georgi Secretary Smit ting forth quiet but stre capture the Georgia deleg aw that the chances a him, but he won the state inst big odd: while the silver men are bos he honors the first time been beaten. silver men know that the not idle, but th that th also at work and this wht in which the Secretary will be worst- ed. doesn't divide it will his m Fighting for Congressmen The Georgia gold men are not only mak- ing a fight for the delegates to Chicago, but they are making a struggle to have a number of gold-standard Congressmen neminated. Representative Carter Tate of the ninth orgia district opposed by Colonel H. H. Perry, the ound ircney” orator in the district. county in the district has acted, and Mr. Tate won. Mr. Tate is confident of having a large majority in the congressional conven tion, but the gold men declare that th will defeat him. The district has man: populist counties in it, and the silver timent among the democrats has strong, but it is said there is a change in the feeling. ——— HAVANA EXCITED. Explosion in the Palace of the Gover- nor General, (Copyright, 1896, by the Associated Press.) HAVANA, April 28—An explosion, be- lieved to be due to dynamice or some other high explosive, occurred in the palace of the governor general at 11:30 this morning,while the correspondent of the Associated Press and other representatives of newspapers were wait’ng in the ante room for the first batch of news of the day. The detonation was sharp, and the build- ing was soon partly filled with dust, while the noise of breaking glass and falliag plaster could be heard on all sides. Part of the rocf of the palace fell in, The explosion occurred in a c situ- ated in a low story or basement under the city hall, which part of the bullding is con- verted into a heap ef rubbish. The walls were torn, great stones fell, and a printer belonging to the captain gen- eral’s oflice was wounded. It was at first believed that the steam boiler had exploded; but when it was found to be intact it was suspected that the de- sruction was caused by dynamite. The real cause of the disaster, however, is not known. : The greatest excitement prevails here as a result of the explosion, which, naturaliy, is attributed to the insurgents or their friends. ———.___ AGAIN AT HER DOCK. Return of the Massachusetts to Phila- delphia. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., April 28.—The*! United States battle ship Massachusetts returned triumphantly to her dock at Cramp’s ship yards this afternoon, after an absence of ten days, during which time she made for herself a record that places her at the head of the world's battle ships. No attempt was made to speed the ship on the homeward trip, but the behavior of the en- gines and steering gear, under various con- was closely observed by the naval on ho: Jesper CONDEMNED TO DIE The Case of John Hays Hammond in the Transvaal. PLEADED GUILTY CF HIGH TREASON Announcement in the British House of Commons. FEELING AT THE - PRETORIA, TRANSVAAL, a.m.—Sentence of death hi nounced upon Messrs. Phili Farrar and Rhodes of the Jo reform committee, who re guilty of high treason. Job mond, the American mining engineer, plead- euilt erday, being prevented by ness from being present at the time the other | their plea. LONDOD state for the cold lain, announced in t today that the five . committee of Johan’ (J. WH. Ham. mond, Francis Rhodes, George Farrar, Lio- nel Philips and Charles Leonard) had been condemned to d Mr. Chamberls 2 that upon hearing the news he cabled to the « rnor of Capa Colony, Sir He s Robinson, to commu- nie e the following to Pre < Kruger: “The government have just learned tha the sentence of death has been passe m the five leaders of reform con Be They can feel » doubt thi or will commute the te and have sured parliament of tier conviction that this is your honor’s intention.” Mr. W. 3. your h nservative ber Manchester, wheth which the ke of the Jol reform committee were tried ide for the coutixea@? stion of the . in the event of con. viction, and the imposing of was unable Jumeson’s Print. The wi raider, tes in that undertaking Bow street police rt was cr was 2 being Ladies Foley d and Mrs. Wife of t United States amb After Immaterial evide n pres sented the trial was ag iuntil june 11, inc to permit of s from $ GREAT SURPRISE EX of important witn ossED. That Will Sufier Death. The arnourcement that John H mond, an Ame n citizen, had demned to death for participati revolution In the Transvaal rej ived with general sur Hammond ise rec nd ¢reat interest in the matter ws tested, The opinion ed that the death nalty will on Ham-% mond. Represcr MeCre ™ » foreign affairs comn 1 not see how Ham: bein n citizen, 2nd not a citizen of , could be guilty of t to ter ecuntry. He might be guilty of pa t ng ina rebellion, but it was har | treascn, Hemm prominent S fornia m| the Repre that he Li nbers are cially case. Jo} ive id not uted. He on of be Ha thought tha n condemned he would be The news was mv talke when it was made thr it t Hammond had « . admit r of that pr been Presiden clemency in the c prkins and White we much surp nouncing th tenced to des that when the understanding would not me: Perkins exp required such a sc rnment would commu when shown the rer Hammond had It their i plea of guilty wa n nators probably will State Department that c Hammond, although + Vhite 5 that in the face of a plc uilty of h treason he is not sure that this government could make a ver entation, ny of New to howed a h ing the news that John Hays Ham- American, had been condemned York 1 Representativ conve: mond, the to death in South Africa, at once drew up the resolution, which was offered in the s will be found in the The sion. Met present. consideration, referred to the foreign Chairman Hitt exp: al ¥ objec isting alairs and Mr, the omm mectirg of the foreign affairs committee this afternoon or tomorrow morning, when the resolution will be reported on. It ts understood that Mr. McCreary, wh ist ed on the action by the committee, is in tavor of the resclution: BEFORE THE CABINET. The Hammond Matter Considered in an Informal Way. The cabinet meeting today was members, Attorney General Harmon, has gone to Cincinn: and ton, who is in Chicago on his way to San Francisco. The of John Hays Ham- mond was consi¢ No official news of his plea of guil his sentence of death had reached the Department up to 3 o'clock this aft Although there Is 10 doubt of th of the press dispatches on thi course the government can take in the matter in the absence of oil vices Otheials of the government ar that Hammond will not be put to 4 spite his plea of guilty, and th eral belief that his plea was by: understanding that the extreme pe imposed in case of treason would bx ed in his case. At any rate this government will c ask that clemency be exercised in Negotiations will be opened at once to that end with the Transvaal republic. waive