The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 2, 1896, Page 1

T VOLUME LXXIX.—NO. 33. PRICE FIVE CENTS T0 BUY AN ISLAND, Senator Cullom Favors the Purchase of St Thomas. DENMARK WOULD SELL. The United States Can Secure a['w Valuable Ocean Naval Station. emancipator, put an end to the original movement with reference to St. Thomas Island. Mr. Seward says: “The unprotected condition of the At- lantic Coast line of the United States was never fully comprehended until exposed by the experiences of war. *“The sovereignty of the islands Caribbean Sea, comprising the West Indies, is divided among all the naval powers, the United States alone having no foothold there. Convinced of the actual y of securing for this Government a fortified naval supply station in the Ca- ribbean, President Lincoln and Secretary Seward summoned Vice-Admiral Porter for consultation in regard to the matter.”’ the necessary charts and -de- ons of the region, and layiag them e President, Admiral Porter made ng strong representations: in the A GIBRALTAR OF THE WEST.| It Could Withstand: the Onslaught of the ‘Most Powerful Fleet Afloat. WASHINGTON, D. ( 35 Spain y from Den- . Thomas we should and ccount from a but It would make orus. 1 believe I know conte wmkish or pur ark was W St. Thoma: 1 take $10,00 1 ‘We wi the whole lot (thre le dickering, it 00,000 for St. 1e Senate refused to ations ( ommittee. t negotia- mas for the AN IMPREGNABLE STATION: Oitce ‘the United States used to Ac- quirve the I Tt tions acquisition by thisc island of St. Thomas by." Cong t will be the 7,”entitled “A Diplo ts therein c at this time. ic ined are of much intere In-the ¢ sours of the rebellion, when | Great T (which had betray - trense haste in recognizing Conf erency), had ¢ tilles to the ves v was frie ower of Russia, but, < ‘Seward, ** d her ports :ls of the Union flee ip manifested by the 1 the words hich. with her small territory in nd her islands in the Carib- smallest and weal but whose gen- ¥ to grasp the spirit of pro- lopment, and whose record is s of the past, that’ she hol honor among the great- f purely by the force of in ideals inberent in both Denmark showed irom ‘he marked sympathy with al cause of the TUnited Without infringing the regula- of neutrality which applied to her possessions in the Antilles, she afforded advantage to the United in permitting access to the coaling and supply station at St. Thomas when it had been refused at Madehia and the Azories, and without which assistance we could scarcely nave kept curcruisersin the Caribbe and, still further, the fidel- ity of ber fr hip prevented the hoist- ing @(he Confederate ensign in any Danish port. Immediately after the close of the war, in 1865, Lincoln’s a ministration advanced the propozition of'acquiring St. Thomas I«innd,_ hut the National calamity which befell, in “the assassination of ¥he great treaty was signed by | nce the W Re t has been ent in the Is.. Perha € most com- v of the ne tions that | re taken place with reference purchase proposition is in’the contributio Olive d-to Scribner’'s Mazazine for ither illustrious State, from Den- | ter fitted than St. the hh | [ | scheme became less and less popular, as lies right in the track of all Is from Eurove, Brazil, the ad the Pacitic Ocean bound Vest Indian Islands or to the It is the point where. all h for supplies, when needed, coming from any of the above stations. It is a central point from which any or all f the West Indian Islands can be led, while it is impervious to attack from land- ing parties and can be fortified to any ex- tent. The bay on which lies the town of Thomas is almost circular, the en- nce being by a neck guarded by tw. heavy forts which can be so strengthened and protected that no foreign power can ever hope to take it. St. Thomas is a small altar of itself and could not be at- d by a naval torce. There would be ssibility of landing troops there, as the islands are surrounded by reefs ‘and breakers and e point near which a pproach is a natural fortification and only requires guns with little labor expended on fortified works. There is no harbor in the West Indies bet- Thomas for a naval sta- Its harbor and that of St. John, and arbor formed by the Water Island, would contain all the vessels of the largest navy in the world, where they would be vrotected at all times from bad weather | and be secure against an enemy. In fine, St. 1] ‘homas is the one to the arch of 1e West Indies. It commands them all. It is of more importance to us than to any oth averred Mr. Seward, cepted in connection with the injurie ft no doubt in the minds of President Lincoln’s administration of the importance to the United States of the ac- tion of these islands. The que uently discussed with the Da . 1865, both Presi- cretary Seward caused svernment to purchase the provinces in the West Indies to be made known to Denmark. The prevailing sentiment at Washington favorable, and the sct Peasants’ part ark, but a was in power and it opposed the part of the provinces. was offens: Minist dent 1 the d of ion Again the proposition ve to Germany, and in different 1, France and Spain, overed the wig-Holstein was in no p mies. roject was completely lost sight of, ard, in the quick succession ming -events that make the most momentous in Ameri- can kistory. In the m Iwinter of 1865-66 Secretary Seward to the West Indies for his health, while there, at the request of President Johnson, made personal observa- tions with a view to a purchas this Government.. The Secretary’s precon- ceived opinions in regar Antilles 'were confirmed, and negotiat were for a second time opened with Den- mark. In July, 1866, this Government of- fered Denmark $5,000,000 for the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and Santa Cruz. The Liberals had just obtainea control in Denmark, but the new Ministry was so deeply absorbed with domestic interests that no response was made to the second w 91 and formal advanceés toward the purchase es Sumner was then chair- | of the islands. len months after the second proposition | was received the Danish Prime Minister informed our National representative at Copenhazen that his Government declined the $5,000,000 offer, but would cede all the provinces to the United States for $15,000,- 000, The United States made a second this time of $7,500,000, which was de- clined, and again amended by this coun- try to an offer of $7,500,000 for the islands of St mas and St. John, leaving out Santa Cruz, an agricultural island, and not desirable as a post. The United States agreed to a stipulation that the consent by vote of the islands should be the sine qua non of the transaction. The Alaskan treaty with Russia seemed to pave the way to the success of the St. Thomas negotiations. Russia assured Denmark of her moral support in the premises, and on October 24, 1867, the Danish King consented to a solemn treaty for the trausfer of the West Indian Islands to the United States, ratification to be con- tingent on a favorable vote of the West In- dian subjects. It was now that the breach between the President and Congress occurred, and dur- ug the turmoil in Washington the St. omas matter was cast aside. Nevertheless the Danish Commissioner vroceeded with the vote at S8t. Thomas, and on January 9, 1868, the ballot cast was | declared unanimously in favor of the United States. The Stars d Stripes floated ¢ where over St. Thomas, and Hail a became as familiar as the Danish national hymn. The news of the vote reached Cepen- hagen, was ratified by the Rigsdag with- out debate and signed by the King, Janu- ary 31, 1868. Meantime the political storm raged at Washington; the Johnson impeachment trial crowded out all treaty matters and the limit of time for the exchange of rati- fication of the Danish treaty expired. ‘When: the political storm apated the time of ratification was extended, at the Tequest of the United States, to October 14, 1868. Foreign influence was exerted in Denmark and in this country to kil the treaty. The date of ratification was again postponed to April 14, 1870. Public opinion was *‘not awake to the question nor conscious of the injustice involved.” The treaty itself was smothered in committee, never bhaving L‘en brought before the Senate. The time of ratification expired, the matter was ex- hausted and thus dropped the great scheme, until now it bids fair to be taken up again. Conservative Ministry | Immediate Condemnation of the Invader of the Transvaal. DR. JAMESON RECALLED. | Messengers Dispatched to Over- take Him and Order His Return. THEY MAY ARRIVE TOO LATE, Rumors at London that the English | Force Has Already Taken Johannesburg. LONDON, ExG.,, Jan. 1.—-Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for | the Colonies, has issued an official state- ment that he is now in communication with President Kruger of the South Afri- can Republic, in an endeavor to avert seri- | ous consequences of the unauthorized and altogether unjustifiable act of Dr. Jame- son, the administrator of the British South | Africa Company, in leadinga force of from 500 to 700 men into the Transvaal to assist | the Uitlanders in their contention against | the South African Republic. Governor Robinson of Cape Colony has issued a proclamation publicly repudiating the act of Dr. Jameson, and’ has caused to be published in the newspapers of Pre- toria and Jobannesburg an injunction in the name of the Queen to all her Majesty’s subjects in the Transvaal not to give aid to Dr. Jameson, but to obey the law and ob- serve order. Messengers sent to overtake Jameson convey orders to him and every officer ac- companying him that they shail retire from the Transvaal territory immediately. The situation is very much aggravated by the fact that Dr. Jameson cut the wires be- hind him, rendering telegraphic communi- cation with him imposible. Mr. Chami- beriain sent a sispath to the Briish South Africa Company asking them to re- pudiate Jameson aud his acts. To this dispatch the company replied that it was entirely ignorant of Jameson’s acts or pur- poses. Cecil Rhodes, Prime Minister of Cape Colony, in connection with this re- ply stated that Jameson had acted without authority, Dr. Jameson wrote a letter to the com- mandant at Maricoland refusing to with- draw from the Transvaal, and avowing that he would proceed upon his original plans, which in acceptance of the invita- tion of the principal residents of the Rand were to assist them 1n their demands for justice. It is rumored here that advices have | been received announcing the arrival of Dr. Jameson with his followers in Johan- nesburg. The Standard to-morrow will print a dispatch from its Berlin correspondent, saying that the newsof the invasion of the Transvaal has caused such a storm of indignation in the German capital as bas rarely been witnessed. Emperor William yesterday summoned by telegraph to the New Palace Baron Marschail von Bieber- stein, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to discuss the situation. The cor- respondent adds there is excellent reason for believing that German statesmen ex- pect .a peaceful and satisfactory settle- ment of the affair. — - GERMANY ENRAGED. England Asked Officially to Make Known Her Intentions. BERLIN, Germaxy, Jan. 1.—Advices have been received here from Pretoria that 300 more armed men of the British South Africa Company have crossed the frontier. The Government, the dispatch says, is re- solved to drive back the intruders by force. A rising has occurred at Johannes- bure. The Cologne Gazette says that Germany has sent an official inquiry to Great Brit- ain as to what steps are to be taken by the British Government in regard to the in- vasion of the Transvaal by the South Africa Company. Members of the Venezuelan Commission Named by Cleveland. WILL SEARCH FOR DATA. Brewer, Alvey, White, Coudert and Gilman Form the Body. DEMONSTRATION AT PANAMA. Wild Enthusiasm of the Populace Over the Attitude of the United States. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 1L.—The President to-day announced the composi- tion of the Venezuelan Commission,which will consist of five members as follows: David J. Brewer of Kansas, Associate Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of the United States; Richara H. Alvey of Maryland, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia; Andrew D.White of New York, Frederick R. Coudert of New York, Daaniel C. Gilman of Maryland, president of the Johns Hopkins University. Judge Richard Henry Alvey is a native of Maryland. He was on the Judiciary Committee of the Constitutional Con- vention of 1867, and was elected Ctief Judge of the Fourth Circuit under the new constitution, and was re-elected in 1882 He was designated by Governor Hamilton as Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, to succeed Judge Bartol. This place he resigned to accept the office of Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia—a VIEW OF THE TOWN AND HARBOR OF ST. THOMAS. [Reproduced from Scribne:’s Magas:ie. court just created by act of Congress, ard President Cleveland strongly urged Judge Alvey to take the place of Chief Judge and organize the new court. Upon the death of Chief Justice Waite, during Mr. Cleveland’s first term, some of the Justices of the Supreme Court who had been impressed with the opinions delivered by Judge Alvey of the Appellate bench of Maryland urged the President to appoint him Chief Justice of the United Btates. This the President was disposed to do. but, it is said, he was deterred by the fact that Judge Alvey was a Southern man, and it was feared that for that posi- tior to go to the South might create ani- mosity. Judge Brewer was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, i 1837, his father at that time be- ing.one of the American missionaries in that. part of the world. He is a graduate of Yale and a nephew of David Dudley Field, 1n whose office in New York Judge Brewer was a law student. In the year 1858 Judge Brewer removed from New York City to the West, where he engaged in the practice of his profession in Kansas City, Mo., and afterward in Leavenworth, Kans. He has also occupied various important positions, including those of Judge of the First Jndicial Court of the State of Kansas, and from 1870 until 1881 filled the office of Judge of the Kansas Supreme Court. Judge Brewer has also taken great interest in educational affairs and was at one time president of the Kansas Board of Educa- tion. He was appointed Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court by ex-President Harrison in 1889. Daniei Colt Gilman is distinguished as an educator. He is a graduate of Yale College and has been an extensive traveler in Europe, where he gave great attention to the social, political and educational condition of various countries. In 1875 he was elected the first president of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Among the many works that he has written is a memoir of James Monroe, which was prepared for the American Statesman. His fame as a scientist and historian is worldwide. Mr. Gilman is said not to be aftiliated with any political party, but his tendencies are inclined to the Republican organization. He is a na- tive of Connecticut and in his sixty-fifth year. Andrew Dickson White of New York is also distinguished as an educator. Heisa native of New York, having been born at Homer, in that , in November, 1832. He is of New England parentage and also a graduate of Yale. He was president of the State convention of New York in Octo- ber, 1861, and was United States Minister to Germany from 187! Mr. White was also one of the United States Commis- sioners to Santo Domingo, and aided in preparing the report of that commission. President Cleveland has not yet notified the. appointees to the Venezuelan Com- mission of their selection, but he has their assurances that they would accept the high office if tendered to them. Itisfurther ‘said that because Justice Brewer's name appears first on the official list given out to-night it does not necessarily mean that the gentleman will be chairman of the cemmission. . The selection of presiding oiticer will be left to the commission itself wlhien an organization 1s effected. It is the President’s intention to have the commission meet as soon as possible, but information received to-night is that he has not yet decided when to call the primary meeting. Frederick R. Coudert is the head of the law firm of Coudert Brothers of New York City. He has a world-wide reputation as an advocate and an authority on inter- national law. He served with distinction complimented by the President of the French republic for his speech before the commission, and was entertained at the palace. Mr. Coudert was president of the Man- hattan Club for several years and is now a member of nearly a dozen prominent New York clubs. He is a Democrat and is classed as anti-Tammany. - PATRIOTIC COLOMBIANS. Demonstration in Honor of President Cleveland’s Message. PANAMA, Coromsia, Dec. 25.—The Star and Herald says: On Monday night, De- cember 24, Panama witnessed a public demonstration the like of which has never occurred in its history before. The demon- stration, as already announced, was or- ganized for the sole purpose of giving expression of approval of the firm stand which President Cleveland has taken in the Anglo-Venezuelan dispute. From an early hour people began to as- semble in the Santa Ana Plaza, the start- ing point of the procession, and at 8 o’clock P. M. there bad congregated fully 4000 per- sons. The procession was headed by a cavalcade of about fiity, each rider bearing a tlag representing the different republics of America. Two bands of music came after, followed by the fire brigade with torchlights. There were also two or three illuminated transparencies, with mottoes such as these: ‘‘Pueblc de Panama’’; “James Monroe, America para los Ameri- canos” ; *‘Viva Venezuela, Conia Cubana al Presidente Cleveland”; “Viva la Ame- rique’’; “‘Grover Cleveland.” On the arrival of the progession at the United States consulate the band played “Yankee Doodle,” at the close of which the stars and stripes were raised and dipped three times amid ringing cheers from the assembled multitude, and sim- ultaneously the band struck up the Co- lombian national anthem. This over,%all eyes were turned to the baleeny of the American consulate, where several gentle- men had assembled in response to the Consul-General’s invitation. As soon as Dr. Pablo arose and stepped forward a loud cheer was given and this gentleman began his speech, in the course of which not the slightest reference was made to England. Victor Vifquain, the~ Consul-General of the United States, replied. He thanked the Colombians for jtheir appreciation of President Cleveland’s message and con- gratulated tbem upon the grand and fit- ting demonstration, which he character- ized as patriotic. He said that he would like it to be understood that the demon- stration was not hostile to England, nor was the Monroe doctrine a declaration of war. The speaker briefty outlined the early history of the Magna Charta, stating tnat it was not originally a written law but now formed the basis of the Nation. He likened the Monroe doctrine to the Magna Charta, stating that the Monroe doctrine was to the United States what the Magna Charta was to England. % At the close of the demonstration the Consul entertained about 100 persons at a Continued on Second Page. . t | crew scrambled out on to the rocks, on the Bering Sea Committee, and was.| WRECKED ON A REEF, Desperate Battle of the Elwood’s Crew for Life. SWEPT BY HIGH SEAS. Seaman Gastrom Lost While Attempting to Gain the Land. REACHED SHORE ON A RAFT, Survivers Threatened by Indians After They Had Escaped the Waves. SEATTLE, Wasa., Jan.1.—The mem« bers of the crew, four of whom, in addition to Captain Wyman, the master, who pro- ceeded at once to Tacoma to join his wife, arrived in Seattle to-day on the steamship City of Topeka, tell'a thrilling story of their escape from the schooner Elwood, which was driven during a gale upon the reef at Gardners Point at 2 o'clock on the morning of December 14 (instead of the 12th as first reported) and totally wrecked. It is one of the most thrilling tales of ship- . and while but a single ] fter one of the bravest struggles st the elements recorded in the ma- rine annals of the Northwest. Arthur Scullin, a Seattle boy, 18 years old, who had been on the Elwood two vears, gives an intensely interesting nar- rative of the affair. Hes: a tremendoua gale from the southeast struck the vessel about a half hour before the disaster. It was dark, and in spite of anchors and every exertion of the crew, the Elwood was driven shoreward and dashed upon the rocks with terrific force. Great seas piled over the disabled craft, and soon everything movable was swept overboard. Finding that a big hole had been stove in the boat, Captain Wyman cut the rope hawser with the hopes that she would drift off. This she did and was washed a hundred yards nearer the shore, striking a second reef about a quarter of a mile from the mainland. Another great hole was made near midship, and it soon filled. Seas broke over the Elwood again and the captain and the crew were kept busy trom this time on in saving their lives. Captain Wyman, who sought his paperss and valuables;, narrowly escaped from the cabiu, the water pouring in upon him in volumes. Four sailors were washed across the deck and into the cockpit. The captain while endeavoring to launch the boats, which were crushed to pieces, was swept over the side; reachingz the deck again after an almost saperhuman struggle. By this time the Elwood had so far zone to pieces that the mainmast and foremast topped over on to the rocks, thus forming a passage from the deck to the ro The but the tremendouns surf. beating over them made it certain death to remain so they put back to the broken decks of the vessel, which by this time had broken into two parts Sc llin, believing that the wreck would go down at any mament, Jeft his compan- ions and swam from rock to rock, being washed off time and again, but, with his body cut and bleeding, he finally reached a tree probably fifty vards from shore, and climbing into its branches sat there until daylight. Meanwhile the rest of the crew, save Gastrom, who bravely volunteered to try to reach the shore on a raft and was drowned, remained on the vessel. Atdaye break Captain Wyman floated a big piece of the main deck, and with this asa raf they made their way to the rocks, whera they remained until the storm partially subsided. All the men were practically naked by this time, their hats, coats, trousers anc other wearing apparel having been washed from their bodies by the ter rific seas which broke over them. eaching the shore the storm-driven and sea-beaten band wended their way to Mur- der Cove, where was situated a smail In+ dian village. Here the shipwrecked men remained for four days, durs ing which time the Indians held a pow-wow, deciding to murder the whole party. The Indians were Kakes, the most ferocious in Alaska; but two of their number—a buck and bis squaw-—pre« vented the wholesale slaughter of the whites, and Captain Wyman and his men were taken in a canoe and landed eightdays after the wreck at Killisnoo. The following day the United States steamship Wolcotd touched at Kilhsnoo and took the men aboard and on to Sitka. The Elwood was formerly the United - States Coast Geodetic steamer Yukon. It was valued at $3500 and was uninsured. Before the crew left the scene of the wreclky there was scarcely a piece of her in sight, ESCAPE OF A MURDERER. Captured the Engine of a Train During His Flight for Life. WAYCROSS, Ga., Jan. 1.—Agmurderer fleeing from officers captured an engine on one of the Plant-system trains Saturday night, and, with pistols drawn, forced the engineer and fireman to carry him away from his pursuers. The man was a negro, and acknowledged having stabbed a woman and & man to death at Jasper, Fla, The trainmen could do nothing until they met the southbound train. The en< gineer blew a distress signal, and as the two trains slowed up the negro jumped, The train crews got pistols and chased him, keeping: up a running fire, but though he was hit more than once he made his escape. Bloodhounds are on hig track. - Forced to Assign. CHICAGO, TiL., Jan. 1.—The Farson & Libbey Company, wholesale manufacte turersof sash, doorsand blindsat 125 North Sangamon street, made an assiznment to« day. The assets aud liabilities are each placed at $100,000. The causeof the failure is said to be the stagnation in trade and slow collections,