Evening Star Newspaper, April 30, 1896, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. #UBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, , Pres't. ©, Ht. SAUPEMAN New York Office, 40 Potter Building. ee eee The Evening Star ts served to subscribers In the eity by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week, or 44 cents © month. Coptes at the fcrnter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—50 cents per month. Saturday Quintrple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign posteze added, $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. 0., Che Lvening Star. 43 second-class mafl matter.) All mail subscriptions must be pald tn advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. No. 13,466, WASHINGTON, D. ©. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1896-SIXTEEN PAGES. © FIVE YEARS IN PRISON Report in Pretoria Regarding Ham- mond’s Sentence. 413 HEALTH IS CAUSING ANXIETY The Four Leaders Treated With Consideration. ZEFFORTS FOR A PARDON ——— (Copyright, 1806, by the Asso-ated Press.) BRETORIA, South Africa, April 26.—The sensation caused by the sentencing to death of Messrs. Hammond, Rhodes, Phii- Ups and Farrar, and the subsequent com- mutation of their sentences, not by any means worn itself out. Burghers of fr fluence are flocking into this city from all sides, and are begging the government to totally abolish the serteaces imposed upon the so-called reformers. What intl this will have upon President Kru and his advisers :emains to be seen, though it is currently rep 1 that the executive council has dee mpose sentences of at the ex- piration of th tor t time, banishment for life, four men named. Proof of Conspiracy. In to justify the priscners, it fs neil refers to the reco’ the executive of the trial of in evi- »her key discovered ke, when he was I after the fight at Deo prove b 1 doubt, it was claimed. ymplicity of the British Char- tered with the Jo- and with Dr. ny, It is al- 100 (200,000) in of London had a cable pt Town saying that to Jameson affair uld be im- the London i that the Trans ernment is in possession of not proguced at romise notable personage South Africa and elsewbere. a ) aal gov- ditional docu- the which officers press resentative allowed to . cted reform committeemen He found the three ish well, but Hammond's heait nsiderable anxiety to his friends. e caus action, strain he ha¢ ut today he is the prison fare. 3 1 be to procure betier food and oiker ¢ The four leaders are cc in a small rocm, and are treated with consideration. the bad state of Hammon y pi le rence is L bear on Presfdent Kruger in Mrs wife of the pre sent messages of sympathy to the fam of the co mned men. Why They Plended Guilty. sel adviseg ther incriminating ev ounced in the of comm this ‘afternoon that ha vived the following dispatch from De Wett, t of the nment at P: ers themsely mn severely nd are petitioning for a mitigation or free pardon.” HUNDREDS WERE DROWNED. Many Lost Their Liv of Chinese s in a Collision Steamers. —It has been the ting in the isers Detroit, York- nt their boats to the tance of the On-Wo, and they succeeded ng many Great Loss of Life in a Mine. LONDON April 100 persons ari oeeurred has at in a osion took place colliery. njured persons have been rescued he shaft. ————— the Well-Kno PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -known ead saw bed masu- in at He return health. and aft Bellev for heart trou this mala Deceased was kn leader of the f he second con- c en in the world, t : f his po Ss exceeding $1,00 r ; ey for $100,000 in th i ve fallen due shortly 2 un 1 now be paid to his Sudden Death at Brooklyn. SEW YORK, April 30.—Jame: . hairman of the E n to@ay from heart f. been fm Ml health for a lor months ago was granted an ex ation by the stock exchange. : —— ALL A MISTAKE. The Vermont Republicans Did Not In- tend to Renounce Reed. The friends of Mr. Reed say that the an- ement of the adoption of McKinley 's by the Vermont convention was or, at least, Incomplete. The fact was, according to advices re- ceived today, as well as according to some of the press accounts, that the resolution was offered and adopted, but immediately afterward, the formal motion being made, was laid on the table and was never sent. the resolutions committee, and the reso- tions reported and adopted did not in- clude It. CAPTAIN HOFF’S VOYAGE The Singular Course He Took in Sailing to Brazi Why He Has Been Detached From Command of the Newark—Findings of a Court of Inquiry. Capt. William B. Hoff has been detach- ed frcm command of the crulser Newark, at Hampton Roads, and placed on wait- ing orders. This action ts the sequel to this officer's recent queer experience in command of the old wooden cruiser Lan- caster, his first sea duty for many years. Capt. Hoff was for a long time in command of the recruiting ship Dale, at the Wash- Irgton navy yard, and is well known in this city. Several months ago, just after he had as- sumed command of the Lancaster, he was ordered to take a draft of men from New York to tne vessels on the South Atlantic station. His methed of performing that service was eccentric, to say the least, 1 is almost without precedent in the history of navigetion. Ordinary vessels proceeding te Brazil do not take the course that Hoff directed for the Lancaster, and fter being fifty days out he reported his rrival at the Madeiras, when the depart- 1aent belleved him to be somewhere near the Hrazilian coast. Then he started off for the south, and, instead of using sail, as lirected, he put on steam and made a fair passage. The officials here deemed his judgment bad and his course irregular, and, besides, he was not authorized to pui steam on the old ship. When he reached Montevideo he was asked to make an ex- planation, but his statement not being satisfactory, Admiral Norton convoked a ourt of inquiry, and this body has re- ported its findings to the Secretary. The findings of the court were that the particular causes of delay of the Lancaster reaching Montevideo were errors of judg- ment in navigation and going to Funchal, Madeira. hese findings have just been approved by the Navy Department, and Capt. Hoff has been informed of that fact in an offi- ial communication, signed by Acting Sec- y McAdoo, who notified him at the same time that he has been detached from the Newark and placed on waiting orders. He had been transferred from the Lan- ter to the Newark, on the Brazilian sta- on. The Newark hal been ordered homo, and Capt. Hoff was placed in command of her in order that he might be more acces- ble in case further proces were found to be expedient. is now at an end, and no further action is med necessary. PTURE Co NFIRMED. nding the Seizure ner Competitor. Advices have reached Washington con- firming tke report from Havana of the expture by the Spanish naval forces of the American schconer Competitor, loaded with and munitions of war for the in- ents, and with a party of men aboard. Contrary to the first report, however, It was found that the vessel came from Key West, Fla. and not from the Mosqulto cast. as originally reported, and there is reason to believe that the Spanish officials Were aware in advance of her depart! from Key West, and were on the lookout for her appearance off the Cuban coast, The Competitor was seized at Punta B ‘0, on the north coast of Pinar del io, and, according to the Spanish reports, th n be no question of the legality of the seizure, inasmuch as the vessel was ret only inside of the marine league over which the Spanish jurisdiction extends, but she was actually engaged at the mo- ment the Spaniards swooped down on her in landing men and military stores. It is reported that several Americans were cf the party, and that at least two of them were Killed In the capture. The case has not yet reached a point calling for action by this government. —____+- e.__. OUR NAV Events Surr. the Sch of sur: Assintant Secretary McAdoo Addresses the Association at Baltimore. BALTIMORE, Md., April 30.—The annual meeting of the Association of Naval Militia of the United States, which was organized in New York a year ago, convened in Bal- timore this morning on the old warship Dale, at the foot of South street. Commander Isaac E. Emerson of th Marland battalion welcomed the delegate and guests from all the states having naval militia forces, and introduced Mr. McAdoo, assistant secretary of the navy, who delivered an interesting address on the value and Importance of the develop- ment of the auxiliary forces for the de- fense of the country on sea as well as on Mr. McAdoo told of the relations be- en th: national government and the itla of the states and gave h to the best method of organi: equipping and maintaining the naval —_——._—_ JACKSUN ON THE STAND. He Endeavors to Prove His Innocence of Murder. WPORT, Ky., April 30.—According to entucky law, which requires that if a de- fendant is to be put on the stand at all he id be called first, Scott Jackson was put upon the stand this morning. He gave a brief sketch of his life in Jersey City and New York, and of his acquaintance in reencastle, Ind., where his mother lives, and told briefly of his acquaintance with Pearl Biyaa. He was in Greencastle from the spring of 1805 until the middle of Oc- tober of that year, and saw Pearl Bryan ceften. He admitted illicit relations with her during the last Christmas holidays. He wes about to tell of statements made to him by Will Wood concerning Wood's lations with Pearl Bryan, when the court mony was not ad- said he received many letters from Wood, but that they were so vile that d all except two, which are now in the possession of the prosecution. With reference to Pearl Bryan's visit to Cincinnati, Jackson said he had no notice her coming. He called upon her after ing that she was in the city, and went h her Tuesday night to Walnut Hills and met her out walking Wednesday, and never saw her afterward. The rest of his testimony was devoted to proving an alibi, by showing where he nt the time from Wednesday until Satur- day. He dented being in Kentucky during any of those days. ———— BOND MONEY CALLED FOR. Government Demand on the Depos! tory Banks. NEW YORK, April 30—The Treasury Department has issued a call on the gov- ernment depository banks for 45 per cent of the origina! amount of the government money deposited with them on bond ac- count. The payments ate to be made at the convenience of the banks. The call is graduated. The total amount of money involved 1s about $3,000,000. This will leave the depository banks with about. #,000,000 of government money on bond account. ee age Retirement of Col. Bartlett. Colonel Charles G. Bartlélt, ninth in- fentry, will be retired tomorrow on his own application under the thirty~ years’ service clause. Many promotions will re- sult from his retirement. A RAILROAD HEARING The Capital Traction Company and the Proposed Extension. PRESIDENT DUNLOPS PLEA FOR I? The Metropolitan ‘and Columbia Companies Oppose It. OTHER DISTRICT MATTERS The House District committee gave a hearing this morning upon the bill author- izing the Capital Traction Company to ex- tend its lines upon F and G streets west of the War Department, and on 224 street from the river front to Florida avenue, and thence to Connecticut avenue. President Dunlop of the Traction Com- pany explained the bill. He said the Com- missioners had proposed that the company extend its U street line eastward to Sth street northeast, on Florida avenue east of 7th street, and southward to the Pennsyl- vania avenue line in Southeast Washing- ton. Mr. Dunlop said there is no car line in the section that the 22d street line pro- poses to cover. He said he would like to extend the 22d street Hne if the streets were exter ded. He also hoped to extend the line to the northwestward In a iine parallel with Mas- sachusetts avenue extended. The 22d street line would be the underground electric system. Don't Want 22d Street Without F and G Streets. “If ‘Congress failed to give you the F and G strest extension, would you want the 22d street extension?” asked Mr. Ab- bett. Mr. Dunlop replied in the negative. It would require a separate power house, he explained, and as the F and G street line would cover approximately the same ter- ritory as the existing PennsyJvania avenue line, it would rot pay the company to make the F and G street extension. President Phillips’ Opposition. President Philips of the Metropolitan Ine oppcsed the bill, His company is con- testing for the right to the extension, as- serting priority of claim over the territory. Mr. Phillips told of a petition signed by many people interested in street, op- posing the use of that street. That thor- ovgnfare is only thirty-two feet wide from curb to curb. To put a double track on that street would leave only six feet and seven inches between the Is and the t did not leave enough room for a je to stand in front of any door while ar was passing. Mr. Phillips said the Capital Traction Company is simply at- tempting to extend’ its lines in territory where there is no demand for it. He said there are not sixty houses on 2d street above M street. Even those ho served by the Metropolitan Compan its Connecticut avenue line and the George- town line. Ho insisted, therefore, that there is no demand for the road, and the only object of the Capital Traction Com- pany is to occupy the land in advance of the demand. .An Effort to Better Its Service. Mr. Phillips told of the efforts of the Met- repolitan Company to better its servic and the success thereof. To accomplish this, it has been necessary to mortgage every possession of the company. For a long time the company has been having a hard time. Much of this trouble has been due to the paralelling of its tracks by other lines. In a city like Washington, It is not Fracticable to crowd street railways to- gether, Mr. Phillips said Mr. Dunlop had com- Elelred of the Metropolitan's bill for the G street extension that the Metropolitan was invading his territory. At the same time Mr. Dunlop turns around and asks the right to invade the Metropolitan's ter- ritory in the sparsely settled northwest. “We are modernizing our road at an ex- pense of over two million and a half. Our interest charges alone will be $300 a day. We will have to carry 20,00 people a day to pay these charges ‘ind pay the men who run the cars living wages. Congress has made us make this change, and you should not allow another road to come into our territory Mr. Dunlop's Reply. Mr. Dunlop replied to Mr. Phillips, and said there is new on file with the committee a petition signed lest year by 250 lot own- ers on 22d street in favor of the bill. He insisted that 22d street is the widest north and south street in that section. “We want to get dewn to the river front, and I ain frank to tell you why,” said Mr. Dunlop. “There will be a memorial bridge acress the river some day, anc’ we want to be there with our road when it is built to accommodate the public.” Mr. Dunlop denied that his road would parallel the Metropolitan in the north- west. “It would be better If one company con- trolied all these roads in the city,” said Mr. Dunlop. In answer to a question he said the stock of the combined Capital Traction roads Was $12,000,000, Mr. Wilson for the Columbia, At this point Mr. Nathaniel Wilson ap- peared in behalf of the Columbia railway, asking the extension on F and G streets from 15th street, via 15th, H and i7th streets. is company applied for this extension four or five years ago, when there was no one else {n the field for it. Mr. Wilsen sald the Columbia railway may change its cable system on the whole line to the underground electric system if the western extension is granted. Treasurer Martin of the Columbian Uni- versity addressed the committee. He op- posed the use of 15th street by the pro- posed extension of the Columbia railway. He said the occupancy of 15th street by a street car line would interfere to a serious degree with the laboratory and_ scientific work of the university. He said the effi- ciency of the road would not be crippled by making the road come up lith street to H instead of up 15th street. Senate District Committee Hearings. The subcommittee on District appropr: tions in the Senate this morning granted hearings to several persons interested in local matters and practically concluded the preliminary work on the bill, which is to be. followed by the actual amendment of its provisions by the subcommittee. Among those who appeared before the subcommit- tee were Dr. C. B. Purvis, In behalf of the Home for Aged Colored Women; Dr. Will- fams, who asked for additional appropria- tions for the Freedman’s Hospital, and rep- resentatives of the Brightwood’ Citizens’ Association, who urged that more appro- priations be given for schools and sewers in that suburb. Arguments were also made in behalf of an extension of 12th street northeast. So far there have been no hearings on the sub- ject of street extensions in general, al- tHough various minor projects have been urged. The committee expects to hear Mr. Charles H. Armes, who desires a sewer in Mt. Pleasant, but beyond this matter there are no other hearings in prospect. The subcommittee will probably get down to work tomorrow on the real task of amend- ing the bill and shaping it up for action in the full committee and in the Senate. It is possible that this may be concluded this week, so that the full committee may act on the bill next Monday, although the new turn of affairs in the Senate, where a strictly political debate hag been inaugu- rated, may result in such a postponement of action on the naval and river and harbor bills that it will be impossible to take up the District before the 11th of May. As already stated in The Star, the pro- gram of the appropriations committee is to take up the District bill after the river and harbor bill has been disposed of and to fol- oh the District bill with the fortifications To Lay Refrigerating Pipes. The subcommittee of the House District committee gave a hearing late this after- noon upon the bill authorizing the Wash- ington Cooling Company to lay a system of pipe line in a number of streets in the city to furnish refrigeration from a cen- tral station for residences, hotels and stores. Mr. David Branson’ of the com- pany explained the scheme to the com- mittee. He said it is in successful opera- tion In Atlantle City, Denver and St. Louis, and that it would furnish refrigeration to citizens ai a less cost than would follow the use of ice. The Anti-Saloon League. Senator Gallinger today introduced a Lill to incorporate the Anti-Saloon League of the District of Columbia. The incor- porators named are Wm. Ballantyne, John S. Blackford, Cavour O. Bohrer, Francis M. Bradley, Walter H. Brooks, W. Living- ston Bruen, John G. Butler, Andrew N. Canfield, Archie Davis, James L. Ewin, Perey S. Foster, Mrs. H. A. Gillenwater, Miss Rachel C."Levy, John R. Mahoney, Jchn H. Mitchell, Hosea B. Moulton, S. M. Newman, Mrs. Mary M. North, Wm. H. Pennell, Sidney Perham, Mrs. Margaret 1. Platt, F. D. Power, Adam S. Pratt, Pleas- ant W. Pratt, Hiram Price, Miles M. Shand, Albert’E. Shoemaker, Mrs. Clinton mith, Jesse C. Suter, Abram L, Swart- weui, Fred. E. Tasker, Anson S$. Taylor, John’ F. Vinal, B. L. "Whitman, Andrew Wilson and Luther 1, Wilson. A similar bill was introduced House by Mr, Dingle The Bartlett Ractmg Bill. It Is understood that the bill creating a racing commission in the District, and for other purposes, is practically dead. It is said the racing people would rather worry along under the existing law than to be subjected to the bill as amended by the committee, and therefore the probability is remote that the bill will be called up. Harbor Regulations. Senator Gallinger today introduced the bill prepared by the District Commission- ers establishing harbor regulations for the District of Columbia, whlch has heretofore been noted in The Star. Brightwood Gets a Hearing. The Serate committee on appropriations gave a hearing this morning to W. V. Cox, Dr. C. G. Stone and Edward T. Bates of the Brightwood Avenue Citizens’ Associa- tion for a fire engine, to be located at Brightwood, and an increase in the police force of the District, the extension of Pi- ney branch sewer to Takoma and the im- provement of certain streets and cou roads in the northern secon of the Di trict. THE HANCOCK STATUE in the Bodies Invited to Participate in the Parade at Its Unveiling. Detafin of the Program of Exercises % ilar to Those at the Garnety Unvelting: Are Completed. General Miles has addressed a letter to dier General Albert Ordway, com- manding National Guard cf the District of Columbia, stating: “At the request of the committee having in charge the ceremonies attending the unveiling of the statue of Major General Hancock in this city on May 12 next, I have the honor to extend to the National Guard District of Columbia an invitation to take part in the parade and procession on that occasion. Permit me to express the hope that the occasion will be honored by as large an attendance as possible. inclose a copy of the order designating the marshal for the occasion, and request- ing certain Information from the organiza- tiors that will participate. An early reply is requested.” The order designating the marshal, re- ferred to above, was published in yester- da Star. * milar invitations have been issued by General Miles to General J, N. Patterson, president of the Society of the Third Army Corps; Commander J. H. McElroy, Depart- ment of the Potomac, G. A. R.: Com- mender Thomas J. Cannon, Department of the Potomac, U. V. U Commander Thomas J. Shannon, Unien Veteran Legion; Colonel George Woodward, com- mander D. C. Commandery Loyal Legion of the L the president of the Second Army Corps and National Commander J. B. Morton, Regular Army and Navy Union. Jj. Moore, chief of police, has been re- quested to provide the necessary police assistance for the ccecasion. Arrangements have been made with the Secretary of the Navy to have all the ma- rines and blue jackets in this vicinity take part in the parade in honor of Gen. Han- cock. Invitations to attend have also been issued to the officers of the navy stationed in_this city. The details of the religious services at the unveiling have been completed. The ning prayer will be delivered by Bishop atterlee of the Episcopal di¢cese of Wash- ington and the benedietion will be pro- nounced by Rev. W. H. Gotwald, the well- known Lutheran minister of this city. The latter is a member of the Department vf the Potomae, G. A. R., and was selected at the suggestion of that organization. Gen. John M. Palmer, Senator from Illinois, wilt deliver ihe oration, and the full Ma- rine Band will render ‘appropriate music during the ceremonies. ‘The arrangements for the dedication are of ihe same general character as those which marked the dedication of the Gar- field statue in this city just nine years ago, except as where necessarily modified by different conditions. The Garfield statue was purchased by a fund raised under the auspices of the Army of the Cumberland, and its unveiling was attended by its for- mal presentation to and acceptance by the government. This necessitated more speech- ¢s than will be required on the occasion of the unveiling of the Hancock statue, which, as has been already stated, was erected by the government and will be unveiled under its auspices. Otherwise the ceremonies will be practi- cally the same, so far as the government is concerned, and without any differance whatever in the charaéter and extent cf the military and naval participation. — TRIAL OF THE OREGON. Builders Are Sure She Will Equal the Massachusetts. Instructions were sent forward from the Navy Department this morning to San Francisco for the trial of the battle ship Oregon. The conditions of the trial trip will be precisely the same as those in the case of her sister shi) Indiana and Mas- sachusetts, and the trjal will take place over a thirty-one knot course in the Santa Barbara channel, just outside of the old Olympic course. As-;there has heen a strong spirit of emulation manifested be- tween the shipbuilders. the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts mu erest is felt_in the outcome of the Oregon's trial. The California builders are pressing confi- dence that they will be alle to match the 16.2079 knots of the Masgachusetts. when the trial is rum off, which’ will be as soon as the board can receive the instructions mailed today. Her IN CONGRESS TODAY Naval Appropriation Bill Further ‘ Discussed in the § -ats. MR, ALLEN CRITICISES BOND ISSUES Contested Election Cases Reported in the House. THE BANKRUPTCY BILL + The naval appropriation bill was taken up soon after the Senate opened today, the pending question being on the number of new battle ships. Mr. White (Cal.) spoke of the need of an adequate navy, but urged that this should not exclude the consideration of land defenses. He presented the views of military and naval authorities, including General Miles, General Craighill and Admiral Walker, showing the defenseless condition of our harbors, particularly the Pacific coast. The Senator said the United States had been “on the fight” of late, but the result of a contest with any great power was not open to much doubt in view of our defenseless coast. Navy Not of Itwelf Sufficient. Our navy was not of itself sufficient pro- tection, for Great Britain had appropriated this year for a’ larger number of ships than are in our entire navy. Our ships would have to be beached or destroyed in case of a great naval war, in order to keep them from falling into the hands of the encmy. As we stand it is utterly foolish for us to attempt to challenge seriously the power of any great nation of the world. A war between the United Stat and either of the great European po' ers would mean ruin uncxampled. Mr. White spoke of the national sentiment to “whip somebody.” The American people, he said, were traveling around “with a chip on their shoulder.” Perhaps at might not be knocked off, but it would be un- pleasant to have New York and Boston placed under tribute for a few hundred millions. While not opposing the bill for the building up of the navy, yet he wanted to point out the need of some harbor of refuge for them in case of war. Mr. Allen's Views. Mr. Allen (Neb.) spoke of some political phases developed in the recent debate. He used to take these debates seriously, he said, but he had come te know they were a mere play of politics between the two old parties. The Venezuelan scare had been started to divert attention from, the firancial question, Mr. Allen said, and all the jingo speeches on the Monroe coc- trine had gore for naught. It was all a political play for party advantages. Criticising Bond Issues, In criticising the bohdissuing policy of the old parties, Mr. Allen said that sho-tly befére the Harrison administration closed Secretary of the Treasury Foster called together a party of New York bankers with a view of forming a syndicate, and there was some talk, added the Senator, as to the profit which would have come to Mr. Foster by a bord transaction. Mr, Platt (Conn.) immediately interrupt- ed to say that if the Nebraska Senator made any such statement, he ought to give his authority. Mr. Allen answered that he made no charge; he mentioned incidentally having read somewhere to the effect that Mr. Foster would profit to the ext2nt of two and one-half millions. Mr. Allison also insisted that no such statement should be made without prod ing any authority, and Mr. Allen repez that he made no charges, merely repea what he had read. THE HOUSE. In the House today Mr. McCall (Mass.), from the committee on elections No. 2, pre- sented the reports in the contested election cases of Radcliff agt. Wiillams, from the fifth Mississippi district; Brown agt. Allen, from the first Mississippl, and Newman agt. Spencer, from the seventh Mississippi, all in favor of the sitting members, who are democrats, and they gwere adopted without division. The Speaker announced the ap- pointment of Mr. Payne (N. ¥.) and Mr. Sayers (Tex.) as directors of the deaf and dumb institution of this District, after which, without further intervening busi- ness, the House resumed the consideration of the bankruptcy bill. Mr. De Armond (Mo.), who opened the debate today, argued that the states had ample legislation to enforce the collection of debt. If a bankruptcy law were passed he thought it should have only the volun tary feature for the protection of the in- solvent debtor. He charged that the pend- ing measure had been prepared by the agents of the creditor class. Mr. Bell (Col.) opposed the passage of any bankruptey bill, and Mr. Burton (Mo.) ad- vocated the measure. The latter discussed particularly the technical procedure under the terms of the bill. SS ‘ERAL LEE, to Washington to Receive Final Instructions. Whatever doubt existed as to Gen. Fitz- hugh Lee's acceptance of the appointment of United States consul general at Havana was effectually removed yesterday by his subscribing to the oath of office before United States Commissioner Thomas 58. Atkins at Richmond. Last Menday Sec- retary Olney telegraphed Gen. Lee at Rich- mond asking when he could leave for Cuba, and he replied the next day that he would arrange to start for his post in a few days. At his suggestion the State Department forwarded to him the papers necessary for his immediate qualification, They reached Richmond yesterday morning and he took the oath of office at once. Gen. Lee will arrive here tonight or to- morrow to receive his final instructions from the Secretary of State, and he will start for Havana next week. Mr. Williams, the retiring consul general, will probably await his arrival, notwithstanding his de- sire to return to this country as soon as possible. ——_____- e— ——__ Personal Mention, Bishop John F. Hurst has gone to Cleve- land to attend the general quadrennial conference of the M. E. Church, which con- yenes tomorrew. Licut. Jas. S. Wilson, assistant surgeon, is in the city on his way to his station. Lieut. L. M. Fuller of the ordnance de- partment is in the city on leave of ab- e. SWiliiam T. Harets, United States com- missioner of edutation, will attend the cele- pration of the birtitday of Horace Mann, to je held at the Normal College of New York next Monday, and deliver an address. iS ee Today’s Presidential Nominat Me The President today sent to the Senate the nomination of Patrick H. McGrath to be postmaster at Ronceverte, West Va., also some minor appointments in the sur- gical department of the navy and revenue cutter service. Coming TWO CENTS Why buy a half a loaf of bread at one place when the same amount of money expend- ed elsewhere will buy a whole loaf, and of far better quality? The Evening Star covers the en- tire business and_ residential field of Washington. VERMONT'S ACTION Ite Effect as Interpreted by the Me: People. ley It Defeated Reed in His Own Territory and Takes Harrison Out as a Compromixe. The action of the Vermont republicans yesterday is highly gratifying to the Mc Kinley men on two accounts. ‘The de. feat of Mr. Reed in his own territory is, of course, the first considerati It did Tot come altogether as a surprise, but the emphasis of the convention’s deliverance in favor of the Onio candidate had some- thig of the effect of a surprise. That strorg McKinley sentiment existed in the state was known, but that it was attended with so much enthusiasm had not been foreshadowed. The effect, as the Me- Finiey men believe, will be to thoroughly develop the sentiment for their favorite in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecti- cut, and even Massachusetts, and give it such heart and aggressiveness as that at St. Louis it will, if necessary, answer the ends of first choice support. Takes Harrison Out. The second consideration relates to the preposition to bring General Harrison into the field as a compromise candidate. That, it Is believed, has received a heavy blow. Senator Proctor, who was expected to head an uncommitted delegation to St. Leuis, was also expected to bring General rison’s name forward at an opportune and thus raise the standard of ecessful combination, But Vermont’ action, it is held, ties the Senator's hands He and his colleagues, although unin- structed, must support Mr. McKinley, and will not be able to assist, even if a diver- sion in the interests of General Harrison should be raised by delegates from other states. Will it be possible now to defeat Mr. Mc- Kinley with Gen. Harrison? The Ohio men think not. Their favorite, they insist, hi inheritéd all the strength that Gen, Har- rison possessed prior to the writing of the letter which he intended should take him out of the race. His own siate turned at once to Mr. McKinley, and now Vermont, where, through the influence of Senator Proctor, he was strong, takes the same step. Aw to Reed and Allison, Such is the McKinley reading of yester- day's result at Montpelier. They regar as to that extent decisive. The opposition in search of a compromise man must hunt further. And where shall he be found? Mr. Reed and Mr. Allison, as leading candi- dates, stand now, it is pointed out, on about equal terms, Maine is hedged about wit® McKinley sentiment, and so is lowa. It is asserted that Mr. Reed is absolutely sure oniy of Maine, and Mr. Allison only of lowa, in tneir respective sections. All around them is the call for McKinley. And just at this point the McKinley men make the assertion that with Mr. Reed and Mr. Allison out of the race, the Ohio man could beat anybody else, even in Maine and Iowa. —_ UNIT RULE IN VIRGINIA. If Adopted It Will Mean Voting for Silver at Chicago. There is considerable stir in democratic circles in Virginia over the proposition to enforce the unit rule in the delegation at Chicago. Senator Daniel advocates it, and, it is suid, is likely to carry it through. The move is In the interests of silver. Mr. Daniel is for free coinage, and may go to the convention at the head of the deleza- tion. The gold faction of the Virginia democ- racy objects very vigorously to the unit rule. Gov. O’Ferrall heads this faction, and Gen. Fitzhugh Lee is a member of it. But they have so far put up rather a poor fight. Gen. Lee, upon his departure for Ha- na, will, of course, drop out, leaving Guv. ‘errall alone. Senator Martin leans to the sound money side, but is not active. He recognizes, it said, the strong drift in the state to silver, and feels it useless to antagonize it. The silver men have all along claimed Virginia. They have allowed for a litle goid sentiment here and there in the state, but not enough to be effective as agains? an application of the unit rule. Hence the bringing forward of the rule now, for the purpose of throwing the whole strength of the state to the silver side. When Gen. Lee was appointed to the Ha- vana consul generalship there was some pectation that an effect might follow for sound money. But nothing of the kina oc- currel. The compliment of the appoint- ment was much appreciated throughout the state, but wholly without regard to any- thing but the compliment itself. The silver men shared in this feeling fully as much as did the sound money men. MERC Sa IN PLACE OF JU TICE, The South African Judge Did Not Agrce to Spare Hammond's Life. Secretary Olney, having on the 2sth in- stant telegraphed the secreta: ‘y of the South African Republic to the effect that it was assumed that the death sentence of Hammond and other American citizens was with the understanding that the sen- tence would be commuted, and that he would like assurance on that peint, was answered this morning by the Trausvaal secretary of state, as follows: “There was no talk of an underst between judge and government befo: sentence of death was pronounced, fore the reception of your telegram the ecutive council had resolved to let m take the place of justice, and not to force the death penalty No detuils of the nature of the ¢ tion of sentence in Hammond’ have yet reached the State Departme it is supposed that the council as not zone further up to this time than to announce the fact. The information made public cial interest, a: mmu: case is of © showing that the s aie De partment interferred in Hamm behalf not through the government of t Br tain, but with the Boer government direct. = ee — MARKED THE POINT. What Mr. McCreary Says of the De- troit Convention, Representative McCreary says that he thinks the victory of the administration forces at the Detroit convention marks the turning point in the struggle between the gold and the silver men for control of the democratic “ational convention. “The re- sult of the Detroit convention,” he said, “was awaited with great anxiety, and it is very gratifying. I have always had cont dence that the common s cratic party would final It might be hard to give reasons for my fait this result in Michigan indicates tha hope is not baseless. I think other state will now fall in line and the sound mone sentiment will control in the Chicago con- vention. Tlinois, Ohio, Iowa and Indiaua I expect to follow the lead of Michigan. ‘The sound money democrats are aroused and are yery active in these states. I saw a gentleman from Iowa yesterday who is very familiar with the politics of that state, and he assured me that silver would be defeatec there. “In my own state, Kentucky, the sound money men will carry all but one district We should have carried all but two cis- triets anyhow, and I am confident now that | we shall carry one of those two.” | REDUCED TO RUINS —_—— Distress in the Once Prosperous Crip- ple Creek, SUMMARY DEALING WITH A FIREBUG The Loss is Estimated at a Mil- lion and a Half. BLOWING UP THE BUILDINGS ——a CRIPPLE CREEK, Col., April 30.—Thou- sands of homeless people shivered about comp fires or wandered among the ruins of this once prosperous city through the night, The cold wave was severe, and toward morning snow began to fall. During the night for a distance of a mile to the right and left the burning embers presented a sight most incomparable. Standing on the hill beyond the burned dis- trict and to the west the picture was one of a huge bowl, with the above steam arising averywhere along the thoroughfares can be seen the work of the dynamite, a great mass of kindling wood. Work of the Dynamiters. While the fire was raging here yesterday afternoon, special trains were run from Victor and Gillette, to bring in miners with sticks of dynamite, ready to use wherever there was any call for it. It was more common than water at a city fire, and the lavish use was productive of ma fatal- The Palace Hote containing » room| Was One of the first places attacked with dynamite, and from tse results it would appear that no warning was given of the impending e: . AS the wails tottered in response t tremendous ci of giant powder, th h shrieks of dying mi n, Who nad been caught in thelp rooms and draged down in the wreck. 3 Before the w couid offer any ald driven Lack by the flames that were rolling over the site of the hotel. The Gynamiters fled to s their own lives, and loss of life at the Palace is merely a matter of conjectur Burned Like Pape The Bimetallic Bank and the First Na- uonal Bank burned as if they were made of paper. The First National Bank, while it was the leading Institution in the dis trict, was without proper facilities for holding the $150,000 or more of dezosits that were intrusted to it. Since the last fire the bank has had tem- porary quarters in the new burned district, where there were no vault accommoda- tions. To add to the apprehensions of the stockholders and depositors, the explosion of the dynamite leaves nothing to be re- covered from the ruins. Volunteers operating without guides or reason are credited with blowing up the buildings. After the explosion at the Palace Hotel, the crowd that had followed the fire paus- ed for a moment, and the people began to giow vehement in their denunciations of the dynamite’s, and there were several warm encounters between disputants. While a riot was impending, the flames worked their way toward the crowds that blocked Bennett avenue, and the advantage gained by the destruction of the hotel was lost by not removing the debris. A company the Colorado National Guard is on duty in the unburned district. Numerous ar been made in the outside district, resort to which has been made by the vagrant element, which lately has infested Cripple Creek. All night fires were starting up occaston- ally on the placer. ere possible, the resi- and, if that had no water w dents pulled the houses do: failed, blew them up. They in that portion of the city. A rumor is in circulation that a man was seen in the act of setting fire to a dwelling on Capitol Hill, and was shot by a re: just as a firebug was shot and kil Floyd Thompson yesterday afternoon. Mayor Doyle of Vict ardens for every bu as it has been rum bugs are after that town as well as Crip- ple Creek. A man was caught in the very act of firing the rear of the Newell Hard- ware Company's store. He is in jail, The Losxes. The total loss by yesterday's fire is est mated at $1.50,000. The insurance will probably foot up between $400,000 and $300,- The heay Louis Weinbu: Palace Hotel, ness block in that red that the fire- est losers are clothing store, $40,000; ; Portland Hotel, 320,- 00; furniture, insurance on furni- W. T.Booth, furniture rdware Company Company, 1 news} near lodg! wiped ovt. Two men were caught building a fire un- der a saloon in Poverty Gulch. An officer ur shots at them, and they were In their posse bunch teton key Ruin Caused a Suicide. DENVER, Coi., vert Camp- bell, aged forty suicide by shooting himself through the heart at his dence in this city today. He was spondent on a ount of having lost pra sions in m fire at Cry red wor Sa wife feur attempted to shoot he: the act of her hust ned. pe the recently consi in th $1 coverin, _ BOURKE COCKRAN'S BAD FALL. Hix Wheel and Broke rown From ix Lex. NEW YORK, April 30.—W. Bourke Co ex-member of Con had a bad fall tox rd pessibiy sustained a fracture of the leg. He was 1 bi- cycle, when a deaf mute, el in front of him, fell. ekra so close upon the other that he could eheck his speed and fell the mute. The r was only sl bruis- but Mr. Cockran was so bacly hurt that he had to be taken to a hospital for | treatment. —— SSION ON A TRAIN, Terrible Disaster on an Indian Rail- way. LONDON, April 30.—The Times has a dispatch from Simla, India, which.says that an explosion of a box of fireworks on t Bombay mail train, near Ghazi ed the car and hurled the occ the line ‘The train was packed with hum a horrible - ensued upon the The natives, who made up the gre: EXPL ber cf the passengers, jumped recklessly of the windows with their clothes ablaze while the train going at full speed, maddened with the pain and panic. Three of them were killeé and eleven badly injured by jumping. Several others were burned to death in the car. Sa New York Legislature Adjourns, ALBANY, N. Y., April 80.—The state legislature has adjourned sine die.