The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 15, 1896, Page 1

The VOLUME LXXIX.—N 137. PRICE FIVE CENTS SPANISH FORCES HAD TO RETREAT. Fierce Encounter With the Advance Guard of Maceo. RAEKED BY A HOT FIRE Regular Troops Suffered Great Loss While Resisting the Cubans’ Charges. OPENED A WAY WITH CANNON Some of the Wounded Carried Away Under the Shelter of the Gunboat Alerta. MADRID, Spaix, April 14.—The Havana correspondent of the Imparcial telegraphs that advance guard of Maceo's forces have had an engagement near Lechuza with the Alfonse XIII Battalion. The ards were compelled to fall back unon their main body near San Claudio. The »ops lost four killed and fourteen wounded. Further de s of the engagement show that the Sp, column occupied two hours in advancing from Mariel to the int where it metr the main body of the insurgents. The retreat to the San Clau- dio estate, which is some distance west of Mariel, occupied seven hours. On their the troops were exposed to a con- e from the rebels in their rear, and freq compelled to form squares arges of the enemy. It was ecessary to use cannon to open a way for retreat of the vanguard. The wounded d upon & schooner erta. authorities here who had re- r » act in accordance with hos and General Inclan, failed to assist the other two h troops. The authorities v arrived time Maceo's 1 have been badly whipped. Colonel Ecievarria has been relieved of nis command and ordered to appear for rial before »urt-martial. HAVANA, Cuss, April 14.—A band of rebels attacked a number of laborers who were employed in cutting sugar-cane on the Const. estate. The guerillas who re guarding the estate went to theaid | of the laborers and in the fighting that ensued four of the gnards and seven work- killed. Four men were wounded. The rebel loss is unknown. The colonel of the Luzon Battaiion reports ment between his command and »ree between Roariga and Amaro, ce of Santa Clara. The rebel according to the report, was twenty- killed, while only two troopers were e Al aing itar g to in one wounded. e L VIOLATED NEUTRALITY LAWS. John D. Hart Again Arrested in Connec- tion With the Bermuda. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., April i4.—Jobn Hart, the stea p owner of this city, ested this afternoon on the charge violating the neutrality laws berween s country and Spain 1n connection with cage of the steamship Bermuda | was given a preliminary hearing fore United States Commi: ner Bell 1 bound over in $500 bail for a further aring to-morrow. This 1s the second time Mr. Hart has been arrested on the charge of filibuster- d it was only a day or so ago that he cquitted in New York on the first Warrants of arrest are out for Captain John O’Brien, master of the Bermuda; s Murphy and Simonson and Colonel , one of the local Cuban leaders, i who was a passenger on board the Bermuda on the last voyage. Arrangements have been entered into between counsel for the alleged filibusters nd the Government officers by which the cases will be transferred from this United States District to the United States Court New York. The information upon which the warrants were sworn out was made by Jose Congosto, the Spanish Consul at this port. Dr. Congosto is said to have received the evidence upon which Le made the information from six or eight of the seamen of the Bermuda, who are said to be dissatisfied with the treatment they received on the voyage. Mr. Hart's hearing before Commissioner!Bell to-day was merely a preliminary one and no evi- lence was taken. . HORRIBLE DETAILS “FAKED.” How the Associated Press Grinds Out Cuban News HAVANA, Cusa, April 13 (via Key West, Fla., April 14).—People of all shades ap- pear indignant over.the report of the gar- roting of five negro murderers, as sent out by the Chicago Associated Press and ed in papers which arrived from the tes yesterday. The report makes it ap- tfive Cuban patriots had been wan- rtured to death by slow strangula- the hands of a Spanish executioner of horror is unfolded, the like of which has not been witnessed 1n mod- ern times. It is neediess to state that no such story was cabled trom here. The local agent of the Chicago Associated Press at Havana is an ex-lieutenant in the Spanish army and is a good friend of Spain. He reported briefly by cable that ““live negro murder- ers, violators and incendiaries,” had been parroted and that the new executioner made a bungling job in killing three of the men and the old executioner dispatched the other two victims without trouble. From this a column account of the affair was turned out by the Chicago news fac- tor; by pr pea tonly tor tion e minutest details are given of the be- bavior of the doomed men, one of whom is made to confess while the others pray for vengeance upon *‘those who had falsely sent them to the scaffold.”” Ruiz, the exe- | | and fumed, alternately turning to a death- like whiteness and flushing crimson with excitement.” All of this is made out of whole cloth. Ruiz, instead of “‘stumbling a from the death-post and insisting that his assistant finishes the day’s work,” turned to the new executionerafter killing two men and said: ‘That is two ounces you owe me.” The Government pays an ounce in Spanish gold, or about $7, for each man, and Ruiz wanted his share. The United Press covered the actual facts in the case in the following dispatch: HAVANA, CuBa, March 51.—Five negroes were garroted here to-day. They were not rebels, but had been sentenced to death for crimes committed prior to the breaking out of the insurrection. The crimes were of the kind that have resulted in negroes being burned at the stake in the Southern States, and the exe- cution was not more bungling than many hangings in the North. The authorities al the palace were amazed when they read ‘the Chicago Asso- ciated Press story. They sent to the cable office and obtained the original dispatch as wired from here. This proved the story to be a fake manufactured in the United States and the local representative of the alleged news association was saved from decapitation. It will be remem- bered that the Chicago concern had Hav- ana captured by the rebels some three months ago and Gomez dving from con- sumption four months ago; had Weyler decide to resign one month ago, and had buried Maceo and disbanded the insur- gents at frequent intervals for a year. The next exploit is awaited with interest. 700 MANY IN THE FAMILY. Domestic Difficulties Culminate in Ex-Min- ister Turner Receiving a Frac- tured Skull. ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 14.—J. Milton Turner, ex-Minister to Liberia, politician and Jawyer, is at the City Hospital with a fractured skull. A fight with his step- daughter, Mrs. William Mason, Monday night, is the cause. There are two sides to the story. His wife say: “It has been my custom for years to spread his meals in his room, no matter what time he came home in the morning. I was setting out his supper, with which he expressed great dissatisfac- tion. My daughter heard him coming into the room. She asked him to keep still. He swore at her, telling her to mind her own business. He told her to take the children and get out of the house. She said the children were in bed, and it was too late at night to leav He rushed at her with a knife. Picking up a broken pitcher from a shelf at her side, she hit him over the head.”” Turner’s story differs materially from that told by his wife. He denies being drunk. He told his stepdaughter to get him something to eat, and a quarrel en- sued. During the excitement she hit him on the head. Turner loudly bewails the girl's ingratitude. He says he spent over $10,000 on her education. Her husband will not work, he says, and Tarner sup- ports the whole family, including four little girls. h gt COUNTERFEIT POSTAGE STAMPS. Hundreds Were Sent Through the Mails as a Test. CHICAGO, ItL., April 14.—W. B. Peters, an engraver, and John Volney, a litho- grapher and engraver, were arrested to- day by Captain Porter of the Federal Secret Service on the charge of counter- feiting 2-cent stamps in large quantities and selling them. A.J. Bodkin, whowas manager for the Pauline Hoyt Formula Company at 504 Van Buren street, is charged with being a member of the cang. Officers were unable to find him to-d: The mails lately have been flooded with bundreds of letters with counterfeit stamps on. The Hoyt concern sent 600 such letters through this postoffice, it is believed, as a test before the manufacture and sale were conducted on a big scale from the factory on Western avenue. g OBSTRUCTIONS ON THF TRACK. Removed Just in Tine to Prevent a Train Wreck. CLEVELAND, On1o, April 14.—The ex- press train due here at 4:30 this morning on the Cleveland and Pittsburg road would have been wrecked near the south- ern limits of the city but for the removal of the obstructions placed there by the would-be wreckers. A man on his way to work saw several ties piled across and parallel with the tracks, and he had only just moved them when the train rushed by at the rate of fifty mites an hour. EARNEST SINGLE-TAXERS, They Fail to Cause Miss Wil lard to State Her Views on the Question. An Answer During a Church Lecture That Caused the Audience to Titter. WILMINGTON, DeL., April 14.—Four workers connected with the committee 1n charge of the Single Tax movement in this oty created a sensation in Grace M. E. Oburch this afternoon. Miss Frances E. Willard, who came to this city for a fare- well lecture to Wilmington, was nearing the close of her address when one of the Single Taxers arose and requested per- n to ask Miss Willard a question. ‘he latter thought the man wanted to know if the collection had been taken, and in answer to his request replied: *‘Yes, e collection has been taken.” The single-taxer then sent a note to her asking her opinion on single tax. Ad- dressing the audience Miss Willard said she had received several letters about the single tax from a man in Wilmington and said that she did not know much about the matter. She said that she did not think that it was the time or place to dis- cuss the question, as it had no connection with the subject of her address. This re- mark caused the audience to titter. The single-taxers walked from the church, and aiter the meeting distributed single-tax literature in the ballway. ——- Funeral of Bishop Ryan. BUFFALO, N. Y., April 14.—The funeral services of the late Bishop Ryan were held in the cathedral to-day. Archbishop Cor- rigan officiated at the pontifical high mass and the sermon was preached by Arch- bishop Ireland. The body was lowered into the vault in the cathedral beside that cutioner, is made to act as “he fumbled | of Bishop Ryan’s predecessor in office. % //"; 7 i HAMGCRACY'D | 1y -aRevE- B YARD THE NEXT STEPR DEBTS OF THE PACIFIC ROADS, Powers Has Not Reported | the Proposed Funding Scheme. MAGUIRE IS ON GUARD. Does Not Propose to Let the Bill | Go Through Without a Struggle. HUNTINGTON'S MINIONS BUSY. They Yet Have Hopes of Securing a Big Appropriation for Santa Monica. WASHINGTON, D. C., April 14.—Al- though the House Committee on Pacihc Railroads instructed Chairman Powers to report the funding bill to the House, Pow- ers hasnot yet done so. He isnew en- gaged in writing his report to accompany | the bill. Representative Maguire said to him to- day that he would like to be notified in ad- vance when the bill was likely to be re- reported, and whether or not, in Powers’ opinion, it would be considered by the House at this session. He asked Powers if he had any objection to notifying him | some time beforehand so that he might prepare himself to oppose the bill on the floor of the House. Powers replied that he certainly had no objection to giving Maguire any information, but that he had no definite knowledge as to whether the | Reed, Dalzell, Henderson of Iowa, Crisp of | fornians. bill would receive consideration at this sessfon. He said he hoped to complete his report by Saturday, or at most by next Monday. He said that the Pacific Roads Comuaittee would ask the Committee on Rules to set a day for the bill's considera- tion, and he believed that it would do so. The Committee on Rules is composed of Georgia and McMillan of Tennessee. The Californians who are opposed to the fund- ing bill will made an earnest attempt be- fore that committee to prevent a day being set for the bill's consideration. McMillan of Tennessee is with the Cali- Crisyp is seriously ill in Georgia, and is not expected to return here this ses- sion. He iy a Pacific railroader and his absence does not worry the anti-funding representatives. \ Henderson of Towa might naturally be expected to vote against giving considera- tion to the funding bill, as he comes from a State where interests are’directly af- ected. The Sioux City people who were not provided for in the bill are pre- paring to make a determined fight on it, and it is believed they may be able to influence Henderson. Mr. Coombs of Boston, who is here rep- resenting the Northwest interests, saia to THE CALL eorrespondent to-night that the bill was certain to be defeated. He de- nounced it as an outrageous measure and declared that no honest or respectable Congressman could vote for it. “I am as certainas I am alive,” said he, “that it will be defeated by an over- whelming majority.” Maguire is more cautious in his observa- tions, however, and said quietly: *We must not be too confident of that.” TrE CALL correspondent learned to-day that Speaker Reed has been canvassing among Representatives on the floor to ascertain how they feel toward the funding bill. Loud of California says he believes that Reed is individually opposed: to the bill. Loud does not think it will be considered at this session. Politics, however, will cut a big figure in this fight. If Reed signifies a disposition not to allow the bilk to be considered - the McKinley men will be al- most certain to oppose him in this, and vice versa, so that, in Loud’s opinion, it is altogether uncertain what the Committee on Rules will do. Dingley, -chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, is strongly opposed to Continued on Third Page. NAVAL DAY AT SANTA BARBARA, The Philadelphia’s Officers Feted by the Country Club. MARINES IN A PARADE. Carnival Guests View a Drill by the Warriors of the festival of flowers will be greater than the attendance in any previous year. There was revelry to-day, but the resi- dents say that the real carnival wi'l begin to-morrow. The unique feature of the Wednesday afternoon flower show in the pavilion is to be the rosebud procession. The word “rosebud” is used figuratively in the programme, but it is also literal, for the rosebud procession is to be & parade of the Santa Barbara babies, and there are many of these human rosebuds here—the glory and the promise of the town. The little people will travel in their carriages and their carriages are to be richly dec- orated with roses—real buds, of course— but the babies will be the chief adornment. At 1 o'clock to-morrow the battalion bana of the United States man-of-war Philadelphia will give a concert at the Arlington grounds. The rose show is to begin at 2o’clock. A promenade concert will be the evening event. The great feature to-day was the Country Club reception, given in honor of Admiral and Mrs. Beardslee, Captain and Mrs. Cot- ton and the subordinate officers of the Philadelphia. The Country Club is a pow- erful social organization here. Dr.R.J. Hall is its president. The other officers are: C. B. Hale, secretary and treasurer; Captain Walter Lord. C. C. Felton, Ronald Thomas, George Gould, Dr. A. B. Thaw and R. B. Fithian, directors. The club, organized two ‘years ago, has been highly suceessful in the social line, but to-day’s event went far beyond any previous effort. An object to the members was to make the entertainment of the naval officers a crowning event in its line of success, and that was accomplished. Nearly 1000 guests were in the spacious reception-room. The battalion band gave a concert on the lawn and the red of the uniforms gave a4 contrast that enlivened the outdoor portion of the scene. Nearly all the Santa Barbara society people were there. The Country Club, which hasa delight- ful home six miles down the shore in the most beautiful part of Montecito, was or- ganized.in August, 1894, It has enter- tained many distinguished travelers, and it bas an important place in Santa Bar- bara social life. State street, which is the main thorough- fare and extends from the wharf to the elevated region of the Mission, was crowded this morning with people who congregated to witness the parade of the naval battalion, 350 strong. At the con- clusion of the parade a drill was given in the field opposite the Arlington. Lieu- tenant Ingersoll commanded the battal- ion. Of course the ancient mission is hourly invaded by hundreds and the padres have the oppoortunity of the year to practice the virtue of patience. A large party went up the stage road to San Marcos pass to-day in stages and on horseback and from the mountain’ssum- mit looked upon the victuresque and rugged Santa Ynez Valley. The whirling along the edges of precipices was a thrill- ing experience to many of the tourists and the story of it will often be told in their Eastern homes. The good old city is taking on its festival week attire. The Thdrsday morning sun will rise to look upon the annual marvel of the Santa Barbara transformation. Thurs- day is to be the greatest day of the week, with the procession, the battle of flowers and the ball, but it is difficult for the stranger to believe that there can be any- Sea. TRIP TO SAN MARCOS PASS. Thril'ing Ride Along the Edges of Precipices — Visiters Throng the Mission. SANTA BARBARA, CAr, April 14.— The city is all life to-night. At the Ar- lington, about which sociéty is centering, the parlors are ablaze with illuminations and in motion with the waltzers. On the streets two or three bands are playing, and thousands of persons are promenading. The brilliant lights at the beautiful homes for which Santa Barbara 18 famous show that guests are being everywhere enter- tained. The trains and stages have broughta thousand men and women, most of them tourists who during the winter have remained in other parts of Southern California, and in a place the size of this 1000 new comers make a showing. There are 10,000 or 15,000 to come. Newspaper men who dwell here and are shrewd ob- servers of the indications, assert in private conversation that the attendance at this Home of the Country Club at Montecito, Where the Naval Reception of Carnival Week Was Given. [Reproduced from a sketch made for “The Call.”’) )/ h% QAN N i gy~ i 11y fiy W | 3 \ ) \ Lyt - W\ IN\odbl e (1 7 1 A "W \ thing more delightful than the experience that they have had while here. BLOWN DOWN BY A STORM. Seven Members of a Texas Family Severely Injured by the Destruction of a House. ABILENE, Tex., April 14.—News was received here to-day that the house of J. C. Hillion, living at Spring Creek, in the southwestern extremity of the county, was blown to pieces by the storm Satur- day night and seven out of ten members of the family were severely injured. Three of them were fatally hurt. They are Hil- lion’s wife, her mother and the eldest daughter, a girl of 16. The house and furniture were reduced to splinters. The wreck nameaiately took fire and two of the smaller children were caught under the rubbish. The other members of the family were unable to rescue them and they would certainly have burned to death had not the flames been extinguished by torrents of rain and hail. TRMNFS BURY TOW After Setting Fire to Dorchester, Nebraska, They Flee for Safety. Flames Fanned by the Wind, and the Place Is Docmed to Destructioa. LINCOLN, NEBR., April 15.—A telephone message from Dorchester, twenty-five miles west of here on the main line of the Burlinuton, says that town, comprising nearly 1000 inhabitants, is threatened with entire destruction by a fire which broke | out shortly after midnight. Half the town is already burned, accord- ing to the message, and the fire is spread- ing, fanned by a heavy wind. Four of the principal business buildings are destroyed. One street in the business district is swept clear and the flames have been carried to the residence part of the town. . Tke town has been overrun with tramps, who are supposed to have started the fire. The police of Lincoln have been asked to arrest them, as they are reported to have escaped on a freight bound for this city . A later messaze says the whole town is in an uproar, with the fire still spreading. —_—— REV. MR. CLEYVELAND DISMISSED. The Presicent’s Brother Persisted in Preaching Democracy. NEW YORK, N. Y., April 14.—A Re- corder special from Watertown, N. Y., says: Rev. William Cleveland, brother of Grover Cleveland, was to-day dismissed from the Presbyterian Church at Cha- mont. Dr. Cieveland has been pastor of the church for the past five years. Com- plaint was made against him by part of the coniregazion because he preached ser- mons_that were in favor of Democratic principles. The committee to whom the marter was referred expressed its appre- ciation of the high Christian character of Dr. Cleveland and regretted the necessity of dismissing him. COBURE'S FIEND A LAD OF TWELVE The Mysterious Persecutor of the Smith Family Captured. PLANNED MANY DEATHS For Months He Has Attempted to Murder a Widow and Her Children. POISON PLACED IN THEIR F0OD. Sought to Settle an 014 Feud Between His Relatives and Their Neighbors. EUGENE, Or., April 14.—Oral Poindex- ter, a lad 12 years old, was arrested at his home, four miles north of Coburg, yester- day, and was brought to this city this afternoon on a charge of attempting to kill the family of Mrs. Hiram Smith, a widow, who lives on a farm adjomning that of the Poindexters. The youth has made re- peated attempts to poison the Smiths, and on several occasions has nearly succeedea. An old feud has existed between the Poin- dexters and the Smiths, and it is believed Oral felt that it devolved upon him to settle the grudge by taking the lives of the entire family. For months Mrs. Smith and her chil- dren have been dwelling in constant fear of death. When the family would be away some mysterious person would visit the house and scatfer poison about, but it seemed almost impossible to detect any one. Several weeks ago the unknown enemy left some kind of powder on the top of the jars of milk. Mrs. Smith does not know what the powder was, but be- lieves it was the kind of poison used to destroy rats and squirrels. On this visit the poisoner left two notes of a threaten- ing character. On the afternoon of the next day he again visited the premises and put another kind of powder on the cream in the pantry. This substance was of a whitish color, look«d like soda and tasted like concentrated lve. On this visit an- other notice was left, as fcllows: The ones we want to kill is Hiram S8mith, L. Smith, Mary Smith, Ciara Smith. I sm coming sgain. This is done by one you will never know. God is building the fire for you now. d—— you. On the days that the notes and the poison were left Mrs. Smith and her two little giris were alone at the farm, the young men—Leet and Hiram—being ab- sent on business. Judging from the tone of the note it appeared that the unknown desired to take the lives of the four orphan children who live with Mrs. Smith. About two weeks ago the family perse- cutor again gained admittance to the premises unseen by any one and scat- tered poison about the well and in water~ ing-troughs and in the grain bin. Thwarted thus farin his efforts to take the lives of the family, the mysterious indi- vidual seemed determined to poison the stock on the ranch. Since then several other attempts were made by the poisoner, and only by keeping their food and drink under lock and key have the Smiths es- caped death. The officials having failed to trap the fiend, S. 0. Garrison, a neighbor, was ap- pointed a special officer to investigate the repeated outrages. He obtained his first clew Saturday. Mrs. Smith was away from home, but one of the little girls was left to keep watch. 8he saw young Poine dextercome with a vial and pour some- thing into the pump. The next day, while working about the chicken-house, she was struck over the back of the head with a club by Poindexter and was left uncon- scious. Other evidence was secured against the boy, until sufficient was bhad to war- rant his arrest. He is now held under $500 bonds. The boy is sullen and refuses to talk. Mrs. Smith is the widow of the lata Hiram Smith, a man who was quite wealthy and prominent in social and po- litical life. He owned large tractsof land below Cobuig, and at one time was a can- didate for Concress. He has been dead for number of years. Mrs, Smith is now 73- years old, and lives on a farm about four miles below Coburg. She has no children of her own, but adonted four children who were orphaned by the death of another adopted son. As tne first attempt to poison Mrs.Smith was made ten years ago, it seems that Poindexter was carrying on the dastardly work begun by some other enemy of the family. FEARED HE WAS GROWING OLD. So John Lehman Killed His Three Children ond Then Committed Suicide. CHHICAGO, ILL., April 14.—John Leh- man, a driver for the Chicago and West Division-street Railway Company, killed his three children, Clara aged 5, Bertha 3, and a four-months-old boy, to-night and then committed suicide. Lebman, though only 38 years old, became possessed of the idea that he was growing aged and had been in bad health for many weeks. He was fond of his children, and while he had over $1500 in the bank he was afraid he would die and his little ones would not be properly provided for. Mrs. Lehman at the time was at a flat to which the family intended moving within a few days. She had been married twice and by her first husband had two children who live with her. Lehman had no desire to kill his wife’s children by the former husband and before committin the dreadful deed sent them out to fin their mother. SR ERun Down and Killed. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., April 14.—Chief Engineer Robson of the Kranklin Sugar Retinery was run down from behind by a huckster’s wagon while riding on a bicycle last night and almost instantly kiiled. The men in the huckster's wagon were ar- restea. %