The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 26, 1895, Page 1

VOLUME LXXIX.—NO. 2 6. PRICE FIVE CENTS. CHANGING THER WARLIKE TONE. English Editors Suddenly Declare for Pacific Measures. REVERSAL OF OPINION. Salisbury Now Ready to Aid the Commission in Its Investigations. WILL MEET OLNEY HALF WAY. Great Britain’s Case to Be Presented to the Statesmen Named by Cleveland. LONDON, ExaG., Dec. —The Daily News to-morrow will print an editorial on a statement alleged by a New York paper to have been made by Senator Gray of Delaware witlr reference to the Venezue- lan question. The News will say: “The main point is to convince the peo- ple of the United States that we have i and have not been to which we had no ‘Without asserting any general principle, it is better to present a that arcuments for Brit claims be calmly weighed a representative commission not g a pretense of international thority, than thaf Americans should be pendent for the facts upon the utter- neces of those necessarily less fully in- ned in the American press. Thus the acted in good territor; aim. case h appointment of a Venezualan commission, | ator Gray interprets its real object, not a matter of offens: [he News hopes that Secretary Olney ounces the appointment of the com- similar pacific terms. Lord will meet him more than half 11 facilities and showing way, giving him every courte This might be regarded as a triumph,” the News, “'by the American jingoes, t Englishmen are willing to make every to American susceptibilities concession consistent with honor.” TH0 MEMBERS. HAMED Edward J. Phelps and Robert T. Lincoln to Serve on the Commission. The Third Appointment Will Not Be Announced Until These Accept. NEW YORK, N. Y., Dec. from Washington says: The President has tendered places on the Venezuelan High Commission to Edward J. Phelps of Vermont, ex-Minister to Eng- land, and Robert T. Lincoln of Illinois, ex-Minister to England. Their acceptances have not been re- ceived, and tne third place on the high commission will not be filled until Mr. Phelps and Mr. Lincoln accept. 5.—A special Rl sy CARLISE IS SILENT. Declines to Talk Upon the Rumored Proffer of a Russian Loan. WASIIINGTON, D. C., Dec. 25.—Secre- tary Carlisle to-day declined to say any. thing for publication concerning a story printed here that Russia stood ready to loan the United States $400,000,000 in gold. | and that the United States was consider- ing the acceptance of the offer. The story goes further, and says the offer has been pending since early in the present admin- istration. A high treasury official, possessing the entire confidence of Secretary Carlisle, says he never heard of the original offer, and does not believe such an offer is in ex- jstence. Other treasury officials say the story is absurd, as the United States has already dnring the past two years sold $164,315,000 of bonds to obtain gold, upon which it is now paying a high rate of in- terest, and if our policy permitted it, the TUnited States had certainly rather have borrowed from a friendly power than to increased its National debt as it has. It is. pointed out, too, that the applica- tion of the Monroe doctrine, which pre- vents our interference in European politi- cdl affairs, as well as it prevents European powers interfering in territorial affairs on this continent, would estop the United States asa nation from dealing with Russia asa nation in financial matters. Russia is on a paper basis, but the Gov_crnment has about, accordiog to the ofiicm} r?port of the director of the mint for 1895, &x)p_ooq,. 000 visible gold, besides_ large credits in London, Paris and Berlin. . During the past two years Bngsm has accumulated through gold production and by excess of gold imports over gold ex- ports about $255,000,000. ———— BATTLESHIPS FOR THE NAFY. ‘orks and the Cramps o U e Teosive Contracts. s ASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 25.—It has bengpranticnlly decided by Secretary Her- pert to award the contract for the con- struction of the battleship Kearsarce and her unnamed sister vessel to the New(;pon News Shipbuilding and Dl_'ydnck 5 om- pany of Newport News, }'n., in nccorNanc: with the recommendation of tbde ‘ntv‘:n Board of Bureaa Chlc!>5. The b ; - e Yirginia firm was $2,250,000 for each s p.f It is understood that the sug;:t_m!mn“:ze the board that the Secretary give pe Union, Iron Works of San Francisco opportunity of securing the contract for Th and against | | |an appropriation | tion one of the ships by scaling their bid was rejected by Mr. Herbert on account of a precedent established by Secretary Tracy that bidders should be allowed to scale down only when their proposals came within 3 per cent of the bid offered by the successfui competitor. The alternate prop- osition of members of the board that the Union Iron Works and the Cramp Com- pany of Philadelphia be given an oppor- | tunity to secure two ships each through by Congress, on the recommendation of tne Secretary for four more battleships, is said to be still under consideration. B i WOULD CLOSE THE PORTS. South American Republics May Strike at English Commerce. VIENNA, Austria, Dec. 25.—The Paris | correspondent of the Neues Journal sends | to his paper a report of an interview with General Guzman Blanco of Venezuela, who is now in Paris, in which that gentie- man says the integrity of Venezuelaisa vital question to all America. If England is allowed to dominate the Orinoco region, General Blanco declares, she will shortly assume control of the regions of the Ama- zon and La Plata. If she should begin war against Venezuela by the establish- ment of a blockade of the latter’s ports all of the American republics would respond by closing their ports against English com- merce. General Blanca expressed the belief that in the event of war between England and the United States an entente woula be es- tablished between the latter country and Russia, and that Russia would attack | Great Britain’s Indian possessions at the | moment that England attacked the United States. S5 REBUKED BY LAMONT. Army Oficers Must Not Discuss the Pos- ties of War. WASHINGTON, D. C., Dac. 25.—Cer- tain army officers who have appeared in | S recent interyiews in .the newspapers in dis- cussions of the possibilities of war and outlining their ideas of what should be done in such an event have received per- sonal letters from Secretary of War La- mont severely devrecating such talk. ¥ pressions from such sources, he says, are not only given undue significance, but they are also injurious to the good reputa- of the d line of the army and harmful to the 'y in contributing to an unwarranted apprehension. G s “PEACE ON EARTH” British Clergymen Enlarge Upon the Theme in Christinas Sermons. LONDON. ExG., Dec. 25.—The Arch- bishop of Canterbury, the Dean of St. Paul's, the Dean of Westminster, and preachers at Christmas services generally to-day touched upon the Venezuelan crisis. They all deplored the idea of a war, expressed the belief that such an outcome of the controversy was impossible and enlarged upon ‘“peace and good will.” References to sympathetic feeling with the Armenians were also general. SR Qe ADYOCATES AN ENTENTE. Sudden Change of Attituds Manifested in Spain. LONDON, Exc., Dec. 25.—The Nacional of Madrid advocates an entente between Spain and the United States regarding Venezuela. on the ground that Venezuela is merely contending for the same rights against England that Spain used to claim when all the Spanish-American republics were her colonies. The Standard to-morrow will print a dis- patch from its Madrid correspondent say- ing that the article in the Nacional was evidently inspired, and that it has caused a sensation. e HOSTIZE TO GREAT BRITAIN. Russians Are Enthusiastic Over the Prospects of a War. MOSCOW, Russia, Dec. 25.—The entire Russian press is discussing the Anglo- American crisis with an ardor approach- ing enthusiasm. Papers daily calculate hopefully the chances of a conflict. They wholly sympathize with the United States, and are frankly hostile to Great Britain. They do not conceal their delight that Great Britain may possibly be paralyzed in the East by her troubles in the West. ELOPES WITH A REDSKIN. A Missouri Relle Determined to Marry a Cherokee. ST. JOSEPH, Mo., Dec. 25.—Miss Ina Newman, one of the reigning belles of the vitlage of Aibany, and Illory Dix, a full- blooded Cherokee Indian, were taken 1n charge here to-night by the police, and will be held until relatives of Miss New- man can arrive. Miss Newman is hand- some and intelligent, and is possessed of considerable property. Some weeks ago a patent medicine com- pany, of which Dix was a member, and for which he paraded as “Whirlwind, the Healer,” came to Albany and gave an entertainment there. Miss Newman be- came infatuated with Dix, and to-day eloped with him and came here to be married. She declares that she will marry him. ———— MRS. HEARNE GOES FREE. The Murder Charge Against the Young Woman Dismissed. BOWLING GREEN, Mo., Dec. 25.—A telegram came to Dr. Hearne yesterday from his attorney at Hannibal, George Harrison, saying: I have a letter from H. Clay Heather, Prosecuting Attorney of Marion County, to Ras Pearson, Prosecuting Attorney of Pike County, authorizing him to dismiss the case now pending in Pike Circuit Court against Mrs. Fannie C. Hearne, charged with the murder of Amos J. Still- weil.” This, of course, brought great joy to Dr. Hearne and his family, and they at once began preparations to leave for California. — FIRED INTO DYNAMITE. Fatal Explosion Caused by a Bullet 5 From a Hunter’s Gun. 'CHARLOTTE, N. C., Dec. 25.—A special to the Observer from Salisbury to-night says the magazine of the Smithdeal Hard- ware Company, near Salisbury, containing 1500 pounds of dynamite and fifty kegs of powder, blew up. Two boys, George and Ira Weaver, were hunting in the vicinity at the time, and it is believed that a bullet from one o® their guns struck the maga- zine. George was instantly killed and Ira probably fatally wounded. 5 Gave Chattel Preference. CINCINNATA, Omuro, Dec. 25.—Russell Bros., jewelers, gave chattel preferences this afternoon aggregating $54,000, cover- ing their entire stock. . Marquis of Salisbury. . Duke of Devonshire. . Joseph Chamberlain. . A. J. Balfour. . Lord George Hamilton. P 6. Mr. Goshen. 7. Lord Halsbury. 8. Lord Cross. 9. Earl Cadogan. 10. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach. 11. Marquis of Lansdowne. 12. Lord Ashtourne. 1. Lord Baltour of Burleigh. 14 15. 18. 17. Lord James. Sir Matthew White Ridley. Mr. Chaplin. G T. Ritchie. THE BRITISH CABINET IN CONSULTATION. [Reproduced from the Ilustrated London News.] ; THEISLAND WAR | NEARING A CRISIS, Spaniards and Cubans Soon% to Meet in a Decisive Struggle. ‘ MOVING UPON HAVANA. The Combined Armies of Gomez and Maceo to Force an Issue. CAMPOS LEAVES THE CAPITAL Starts With Ten Thousand Men to Check the Insurgents, Advance. KEY WEST, Fra., Dec. 25.—Passengers | by the steamer Olivette to-day report that | Martinez Compos left Havana last.night | for Matanzas with 10,000 troops to meet | the insurgents under Gomez and Maceo, | revorted marching on the province of Ha- vana. [t isreported that a big battle will take place within the next fifteen hours, which will decide the fate of the Cubans. All communication with Cardenas been cut off, and no railroad tickets are sold be- yond the city of Cardenas, as all the track | beyond that point has been blown up. | Brigadier-General Lacret is reported in | Los Palos, proviuce of Havana, with a strong band of the insurgents, and there isanother band in Colondron, about thiriy miles from Havana. 5 On the 23d Gomez captured the town of Rogue, between Colon and Matanzas, and hoisted Cuban flags on the publiz build- | ings. The officials of the town came in | and offered their congratulations. Gomez | took all the city funds. During the past two days the insurgents have destroyed twelve sugar plantations. The Diario de la Marina, published in Havana, publishes an article this week calling on all loyal subjects to come to the rescue of Spain. A supplement to La Lucha, dated the | 24th, reports a battle on the 23d in the | province of Matanzas, in which the insur- gents were defeated, and that General Cal- dez had taken a position in front of Go- mez’s command. s DEFEATED AT COLISEO. General Campos Is in Retrogade Move- ment With His Army. NEW YORK, N. Y., Dec. 26.—A dis- patch to the Herald from Key West says: Later advices from Matanzas appear to puta far different complexion upon the operations of the field to change the sup- posed victory of Campos atv Coliseo into practical defeat, to increase the certainty of alleged rebel advances, and without question to add to the panic of the people here. This fear, which has reached even offi- cial circles, is due to the fact that it is now known that General Campos was defeated at Colon, as his sullen retreat toward this city proves, though the details of the Spanish repulse are not yet known, ex- cept, perhaps, to a few Government om-J cials. As the situation stands at present Gen- eral Campos is on the defensive wholly, is in retrograde movement with his army, is flanked on either side by Gomez and Maceo and is closely followed by Ban- deras, Nerafin, Sanchez and Sacret. The fuller details of the engagement at Coliseo, as they begin to creep into circu- lation, show conclusively the plight of Campos. The Spanish lost heavily in the action it is reported, and at one time, ru- mor says, almost certain annihilation stared the Captain-General in the face. At last, however, after the most desperate fighting, the Government columns were able to extricate themselves and to cut their way through the machetes of the Cubansto a place of safety. They then retreated about fifteen miles until they reached Simonas, where an attempt was made to re-form the disordered lines. ——— DE LOME IS SANGUINE. Declares That the Insurgent Avmy Will Be Kouted. WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 25.—Senor Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish Minister, believes that the insurgent forces in ‘the vicinity of Havana are in great danger of | and laughs at the idea that the city will being completely routed. He has not, as yet, received any untoward news from official sources that Havana is in danger, probably be besieged. His confidence in the success of the Spanish army is in- creased by a cablegram he received to- night from Madrid, which is a confirma- tion of the message he received from Gen- | eral Arderius, acting Governor-General of Cuba. The dispatch says: “The bands of Gomez and Maceo are | plantations. The commander-in-chief | (Campos) met the most important of the bands under Gomez, near Cimarrones, de- feating and dispersing them with great losses.” Senor de Lome says it is foolhardy to suppose that Maceo and Gomez will attack Havana. It isreported that the insurgents have a force of 12,000 men to do this hazar- douswork, but according to Minister de | Lome’s inside information the number is less than 6000 men. Havana, he says, has a militia or volunteer force of 30,000 men who in most cases have seen active service, as from time to time impressments are made from their number for a montns service with the Spanish army. It is the Minister’s opinion that the insurgents have ventured too far into the government lines and will have a great deal more diffi- culty in retreating than they bave in advancing. ——e- GLOOMY Ih SPAIN. Dismay in the Mothier Country Because of the Cuban Situation. MADRID, Spain, Dec. 25.—The war in Cuba has made a gloomy Christmas in Spain. Besides the absence of 116,000 soldiers sent to the island, many families have been crippled financially by redeem- ing their sons from service in Cuba. Eigh- teeh thousand of 25,000 conscripts have each paid $300 « September. The midnignt Christmas masses were more numerous and more largely attended than in recent years, while the ordinary revelries were less than usual. S KECRUITS FOR CUBA. Soldiers of Fortune Enlisted by a Colored Man at Chicago. CHICAGO, Irr, Dec. 25—William Campbell, colored, and until last year a student in the law school at the Uni- versity of Michigan, is recruiting soldiers in Chicago for the army of the Cuban insurgents. The departure of fifty men in the last two weeks, ostensibly for Mexico, but in reality for some port on the Gulf coast, from which they will be taken to Cuba, is said to be a result of the young man’s work. Another batch is expected to leave this week. JOY AT THE WHITE HOUSE Santa Claus Lavish in His Gifts to President Cleveland's Children. An Immense Christmas Tree Loaded With a Magnificent Array of Presents. WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 25.—Christ~ mas at the WLite House was a memorable occasion lor the Cleveland children. The crowning feature was an immense Christ- mas tree, which had been placed in the library, trimmed on a scale of magnifi- cence that would be a revelation to most young people whose belief in Santa Claus has not come in contact with the disap- poihtment of iconoclasm. Like thousands of the youngsters, Miss Ruth and her two sisters, Esther and Marion, hung up their stockings last night, and when they awoke this morning they found that Santa Claus had eluded the doorkeepers and policemen in and about the mansion and smuggled into the library and nursery such an endless array of de- Jightful things that even little Marion, with her less than six months of wordly experience, was impressed. It was the first Christmas that Esther really appre- ciated all that the occasion means to the daughter of the President, and she and Ruth have been almost surfeited to-day with dolls and mechanical toys and other playthings embodying all the latest wrinkles of toydom. The President and Mrs. Cleveland spent the day at home quietly with their little family and the building has been closed to visitors. e Killed by an Explosion. LOCKPORT, ILL., Dec. 25.—By the un- expected explosion of a blast on the drain- age canal, one mile above this place, this afternoon, two men were instantly killed and eight badly injured and taken to the hospital in Joliet, where one has since died. Contractor Smith says to-night that he fears that more will be found dead when the immense mass of rock is re- moved. RETURN OF Tt STRATHNEVIS | The Long-Overdue Steamer | mounted and are riding about burning | Being Towed to Port Townsend. FOUND BY THE MINEOLA. It Had Sighted the Vessel at Anchor Under Destruc- tion Island. DRIVEN BY FICKLE WINDS. A Narrow Escape From Being Wrecked Upon a Rock-Bound -Northern Coast. PORT TOWNSEND, Wasg., Dec. 25.— The steamer Tyee arrived here at 8 o’clock this evening with information that she had passed the steamship Strathnevis in tow of the collier Mineola off Dungeness, headed for Port Townsend, and that the Mineola and the Strathnevis should arrive before midnight. The Mireola found the Strathnevis anchored under Destruction Island, be- low Cape Flattery. The Australian steamer Miowera had taken the Strathnevis in tow and held her | reinsurance was paid on her. | spirits as could be expected under the cir- ond engineer, A. Bell; purser, W. J. Me- Donald. The vessel was spoken on November 19 by the ship John Gamble about 800 miles west of Cape Flattery, having been fifty- five days out from Tacoma for Yokohama. She was then almost helpless, haviig broken her shaft and lost her screw. On Saturday, the 7th inst., 90 per cent of The captain of the Gamble, upon arriv- ing at Vancouver, urged that a vessel be sent to the assistance of the Strathnevis, as during the month since the Gamble had sighted her it was certain that she had met with contrary windsand been taken out of the course of steamers, and her location at that time, the 7th inst., would be hard to determine. All the Strathnevis’ mail was taken to Vancouver and transferred to the Empress of China and sent to the Orient on the 9th inst. There were 159 souls aboard, 125 of which were Chinese passengers, but no whites except the officers and crew. Cap- tain Trethon of the Gamble reported that the Chinese were complaining because they had run out of rice, though there was plenty of other food aboard. When sighted all on board were well, and the captain and crew were as in good cumstances. When the main shaft first snapped, it was thought the steamer had strucka rock or sunken wreckage, but after con- sideration it was decided that the break was due to some defect in the machinery. A small screw on board had with great difficulty been placed in position, but it was found to be useless. On November 15 Agent Pritchard at Ta- coma thought the Strathnevis might have put in at Yokohama and the news of her arrival there not been sent to Tacoma, or theintelligence may haye been miscarried. The distance a telegram has to travel from that country to Tacoma makes telegraph- ing very uncertain and expensive. It was thought the iines may also have been out of condition. Mr. Pritchard said theTacoma office'was usually notified of the arrival and departure of all the company’s steamers from Yokohama. But his hope for the safety of the Strathnevis was not well founded, as the present information | proves. The Mineola is a well known coast coaler in charge of Captain Pillsbury. She left here on December 1¢ for Tacoma, | under contract from the Southern Pacific Company. The Mineola is a steel screw | steamer built by J. Lairy of Snnderland, England, and is a vessel of 2404 tons bur- den, owned by the Pacific Improvement 1‘ Company. She was forawhile in the op- | position line to Panama. | THE WAR N ABYSSINIA Two Battalions of Italian Troops Have Arrived at Mas- sowah. A Swift Invasion of the Interior Con- templated by the Officers in Command. ROME, Itavy, Dec. 25.—A dispatch from Massowah says that two battalions of [tal- ian troops arrived there to-day. All the re-enforcements will be in the field by Jan- uary 4. An expedition comprising 10,000 men will then be ready to start. The Abyssinian forces are advancing slowly. They seem to have given up the siege of Magalla. Some of Ras Mangas. cia’s troops have been seen near Adowa. General Baratieri, the Italian command- | er, is still at Adigrat. The Italian plans of war contemplate a swift invasion of the interior. Magalla and Adowa, the one besieged and the other DEBRA T, AR, SOMAR. FAMARA O TA SOuppp ETHIOP! L BITCHE '“BBA,‘ ANGOLALA HWentoTTq R - z ) ~ ° 3 > - > z Bl » 5 4 < [ GOBO M‘-(C MAP OF THE SEAT OF WAR IN SHAKATA BOR MAGAL ANKOBER 00GOALICU AMBA ABYSSINIA. for five days, when, owing to severe storms, her hawser was broken. Thesevere storms and heavy seas had driven the steamer toward shore, and almost certain destruc- tion was barely averted by dropping anchor. : Captain Pattie reported all well on board. The provisions had not run short, as was feared, and the vessel and crew had suffered but little from the enforced stay in a gale-swept sea. During its wanderings the disabled steamer had drifted about first in one di- rection and then another, until the recent gale carried it toward the northern coast. These details were shouted to the captain of the Tyre by the commander of the Strathnevis in passing. PR END OF 4 LONG SEARCH. For Weeks the Big Vessel Was at the Mercy of a Gale. The Strathnevis is a steel screw steamer of 3754 tons gross burden, owned by Bur- rell Brothers of Glasgow. She was built in 1894 at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, and measures 350 feet in leneth by 43 feet and linch in breadth, with a draught of 19 feet 3 inches. She is a large vessel, slow- gomg, having a speed of only 10}4 knotsan hour. She made her first trip to Yoko- hama in seventeen days from Tacoma. Her officersare: Captain, James Pattie; first officer, Duncan; second officer, W. McFarland; chief engineer, J. Rose; sec- threatened by the Abyssians, will be suc- | cored. It is believed that sufficient force has now been dispatched to the front to speedily put an end to the uprising. g LT TWENTY-TWO LIVES LOST. Pictims of the Victoria Wreck Numbered Over a Score. HALIFAX, N. 8., Dec. 25.—A dispatch from Newfoundland says it has now been learned that there were in all twenty-two persons on the ill-fated schooner Victoria, Captain Bridbury, believed to have foun- dered with all on boara off Cabot Island, on the Newfoundland coast. Amongthem was a family named Noseworthy—hus- band and wife and five children. The stem of the Victoria has been picked® up at Horse Island. e derge e Shipped Tons of Water. LONDON, Exa., Dec. 25.—The turret- ship Rupert, which sailed on December 22 from Plymouth for Gibraltar, hasreturned. She had a terrible experience in the gale. Her turret-flaps, which were supposed to watertight, were useless and tons of water was shipped. Incessant pumping for forty- five hours alone prevented the extinguish- ing of the fires. The vessel made barely eight knots an hour. Accounts of disasters from all coasts multiply. ———— Marshal Bigelow Dead. CONSTANTINOPLE, TurkEY, Dec. 25.— J. A. Bigelow, marshal at the United States consulate here, died this morning. DUNRAYEN O AMERICAN SOIL, The Englishman and His Advisers Arrive at New York. ARE COLDLY RECEIVED. Marked Contrast to the Cordial Greeting Tendered Several Months Ago. READY FOR AN INVESTIGATION. Men of International Reputations to Weigh the Evidence Against the Defender. NEW YORK, N. Y., Dec. 25.—Wynd- ham Thomas Wyndham-Quin, Earl of Dunraven and the owner of Valkyrie II,ac- companied by his legal adviser, Mr. George Asquith, a noted London barrister, and Mr. Arthur Glennie, ex-commodore of the Royal Portsmouth Yacht Cluo, arrived in American waters this evening. Lord Dun- raven’s vj is for the purpose of Aoing what he can to substantiate the charge of fraud, which he made against the De- fender after he returned to England, and which set yachtsmen of the two conti- nents by the ears and nearly caused as much talk as President Cleveland’s more recent remarks on the Venezuelan diffi- culty, The owner of the Valkyrie brings with him a number of depositions of mem- bers of his crew, and Mr. Arthur Glennie, who sailed on the Valkyrie during the races, is expected to testify. Lord Dun- raven’s legal adviser, Mr. Asquith, will probably be permitted to appear before the committee and conduct the Earl’s case. He is famous on the other side as a cross- examiner and is a brother of the Hon. Herbert Henry Asquith, who was Home Secretary under Gladstone. The preparations for Dunraven’s recep- tion were in marked contrast to those upon his former visits. When he came here in 1893 with the Valkyrie II and again this year with the Valkyrie III, he was wel- comed by yachtsmen and people of prom- inence generally as a fair and honorable sportsman, who had the pluck to try for the America cup after the many failures of his countrymen to regain it. The men who were his most hospitable entertainers then are the ones whom he has now ac- cused of conduct, which if true, would de- bar them from the society of gentlemen. When his charges published in the London Field of Noveiaber 9 first reached the ears of C. Oliver lselin, the managing director of the Defender, he said: “Any man who makes such a charge is a liar and a blackguard.” This remark, though somewhat violent, expressed the sentiments of most yachts- men on this side of the Atlantic. Lord Dunraven’s charge was that the Defender, after being measured for the cup races, was surreptitiously loaded so as to sink her four inches deeper into the water, and that she sailed that way in the first day’s race, and that immediately after the race the additional ballast was secretly re- moved so that when remeasured the next day no discrepancy was found to exist be- tween the two measurements. Lord Dunraven does not accuse Mr. Ise- lin orany one of the owners of the De- fender of being personally cognizant of the fraud, but as they were responsible for the boat and as the removal of ten to twelye tons of lead could scarcely take place with- out their knowing it, the charge amourts to the same thing. TUpon the publication of the charges, a special meeting of the New York Yacht Club was called and a committee composed of J. Pierpont Morgan, William C. Whit- ney and George L. Rives was appointed to investigate and take such action in the matter as they deemed fit. The Hon. E. J. Phelps, ex-Minister to England, and Captain A. T. Mahan, U. S. N., the well- known writer in naval affairs, have been added to the committee, and Joseph H. Choate has been engaged as counsel to the committee. All the members of the com- mittee are men with international reputa- tions, and a full, thorough and impartial investigation is assured. Neither Captain Mahan nor ex-Minister Phelps belongs to the New York Yacht Club. The firsy hearing is now set for Friday next in the model-room of the New York Yacht Club. It will be private. The committee will probably call Cap- tains Haff and Terry, who were on the Defender, and some members of the crew, as well as ofticers of the Hattie Palmer and City of Bridgeport, the tenders of the two vachts, and dock officials, tugboat cape tains and others who were in positions to know what was going on on the Defender. It is expected that Messrs. Iselin, W, Butler Duncan Jr., Newberry Thorne, W, K. Vanderbilt, Herbert C. Leeds, and E. D. Morgan will also testify. Poisoned by Mincemeat. BELLEFONTAINE, Onro, Dec. 25.— Seven members of the family of George ‘Wheeler are confined to their beds and suf- fering from the effects of poisoning. On Sunday night they ate mincemeat and were soon taken violently ill. Father and mother were powerless to call for aid and their children were in a serious condition. ‘Word was finally sent to a physician, who did all in his power to bring relief. Hecan< not account for the poison. To-day therq is some improvement in their condition. EepCigr Harbor Boat Golden Gate. WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 25.—Secre- tary Carlisle to-day awarded the contract for building the harbor boat Golden Gate, to be stationed at San Francisco, to Moran Bros. & Co. of Seattle, Wash., at $38,765. If you can afford to give a party, you can afford to have Crockers’ engrave the inyitas tions. 227 Post street 215 Bush strees