Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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/ . THE COUNTY RECORD. ! Pabliabed Every Thursday ?A"-? tINGSTREE, SOUTH CAROLINA, ?B T? LOUIS J. BRIVTOW, Rdltor aa<l Proprietor. All rubber-producing countries are j increasing their output. The present high price, about 81 per pound, is the ; incentive. It is likely the increased j consumption will have the effect of 1 holding prices at about present | tier n res. The Imperial council of engineers j of Russia pronounces American locomotives the tiuest in the world, aud right on the heels of their statement comes an order from the Russian go\ernuientfor fourteen more locomotives for use upon its roads in China. A London "prophet" has damaged j his reputation by two inconsistent j performances. A week after positively : predicting the end of the world in j 1900 he paid a large sum to secure a lifteett year lease of a house wherein he carries on a mercantile business. The suggested plan of road improvement in Connecticut proposes the building of one great state highway East and West and another .>oriu ami South across tha state, with low grades, and touching, so far as possible, the places of larger population. It will require from $60,000,000 to $100,000,000 from the Klondike regions this year to return to the pros- j pectors who go there this spring and summer as much money as they will require to go there and maintain them a year. This thought may give a pause to some who are now enthusiastic for going in search of gold. Only in rare instances does gold seeking prove a success. A new locomotive, built for the Midland road,in England, made threequarters of a mile at the rate of ninety lniles an hour. As this is a better record than others reported in 1895, 1 QQA oiul 1ftQ7 flift vii'liipvp:riAiit m*<> . "<"> X vokes great delight among railroad people on the 4'right little, tfght little isle." Excusably, too. It is almost equal to some of the spurts of NewYork Central trains between Batavia and Buffalo, w here a rate of one hundred miles and hour has been exceeded. The Rev. W. A. Hitchcock, a wellknown clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal church, was a chaplain in the navy during the war, and enjovel the unique distinction of preparing for confirmation the first class ever confirmed on a school ship. The ship was the Sabine, then at New London. Twioe during hi9 ministry of forty years Dh Hitchcock declined the honor of au elevation to the episcopate, believing that he could do better work in the parochial ministry of his church. The New York Sun recently contained an account of a New York policeman who is also a preacher. This worthy man, who is much esteemed on the force, is a Methodist of the old shouting, praying, exhorting kind. He believes in muscular Christianity, in fearing God, fighting the devil, and arrestiug rogues, and pursues all these ends with apparently equal zeal and success. This vigorous brother says of himself that he is j a better policeman for his religion. ! He is not afraid t<? die.aud he believes i in law and order. i " ' ! It is to bf borne in mind that Spain is such a little thing she could l>e picked up and laid out in Texas and x Texas would still have 7H.6H(> square miles of territory to spaie. Four of our states taken together have a greater population than Spain ha*. and their people are far more intelligent, too. j Only one nation in Europe is lower < in the scale of general enlightenment , than Spain. Sixty-eight per cent, of : her population can neither read nor , write, and her credit is about as bad as it can be. The biggest thing in | Spain is her national debt. . j Says the Baltimore Sun: Ex-Seere- I tary Carlisle, in the Forum, urges an I amendment of the constitution of the United States to permit the people to elect the president and vice president in a different manner. He would re- j tain the presidential electors, but would have their number divided among the candidates in proportion to ! the number of votes cast for the several candidates. In other words, i i he wonld give representation to mi- j uorities and destroy "the preponderate j ing influence of the "pivotal states." Other advantages would flow from the system, all in the direction of a juster distribution of political power. ' , v V " C M W I BOTH ON A ffABFOOTMG" Vigorous Preparations Have Put Army and Navy in Fine Snaps, j EMERGENCY WORK STILL PUSHED j Secretaries Alger nn<l I.one: Bath Plcai*''With the Condition of Tlielr l>epk.vt- ! inents?Plan* For Kapid Mobilization ?Supplies Hashing Eastward?Our European Commissioner Buys Ships. I Washington", 1). C. (Special).?Toe War j Department is just as busy as ever with its ; plans, maps, army orders, the quiet J mobilization of the forces of the United J States so that they can be ready to move at n moment's notice, the preparation of i munitions of war and commissary supplies. 1 and the endless work of detail connected j with military movements greater than any j yet undertaken by this country save in the . late war. j The army is said to be prepared so thor- j oughly for any emergency that it can throw 100,000 well-equipped troops, formed from the regular army and from tne State militia, into any "portion of the Gulf or Atlantic Coast within forty-eight hours. A careful study of the State militia is be- I BATTLES II: (Our greatest warship, now comu ing made, as it is understood that tho flrst army sent into Cuba must be composed largely of these bodies of soldiers. Preparations have been made to bave them ex" m,\rxtAlx* flfl tllOV fl llA mnhil <11UIU?;U U3 iapiuij ?.-> tuv; v?.? ... , ized, and put Into the army corps as regu-1 lar troops. Most of these soldiers hare been well ! drilled, and some are ns well equipped and j seasoned as the regulars themselves. The War Department is much occupied j wlththe difficult task of getting a suffl- ! cient amount of ammunition on hand for i the opening of hostilities. Contracts are! being signed every day. and almost every hour of the day, and rush orders are be- ' iug sent out hourly. The Navy Department is even busier, if | possible, than the War Department. The vessels of the navy are in good condition,! with one or two exceptions, and few days j will elapse before every ship under the j Unittd States flag wil be in first-class order j to take the high soas or move to its position to defend the coast. In the meanwhile the department continues to buy more vessels, to repuir all the old ships of the navy, to rush the work of constructing the vessels already laid down, aud to design plans for the ships of the real new navy which is to make this country as invincible on sea as it now is on land. The last cruiser purchased in England by Lieutenant Colwell is named the Diogenes. She was built in Germany for a foreign Sower and then fell into the hands of the bames Iron Works over a debt transaction. Shu had a sister ship numed the p.r>th an* twin-screw vessels. The Diogen?s has been lying there for some years, and it was believed that she was intended to be commissioned daring the Chinese-Japanese war. She bas now been removed to tho Thames, off Blnckwall. She has no guns or ammunition on board. She is being renovated rapidly, and efforts are being made to dispatch her to New York, i Secretary J.ong ordered the wrecking companies'of New York and Bostou whose boats have been nt'work on, the Maine to quit Harana Harbor at onoe. The sibiehau torpedo boat bought for America left Germany for England ou her way to'this country. ADMIRAL WALKER IN WASHINGTON. Talk of Glaring Him in Command of the North Atlantic Squadron. Washington, D. C. (Special).?Rear Admiral John G. Walker, retired, has arrived in Washington from Central Amenta, where he was engaged as Presidentof the Nicaragua Canal Commission, lie called at the Navy department to have u conference with the Secretary of the Navy. The naval administration is seriously Considering the plau of taking Rear Admiral Walker from the retired list and placing him in charge of the North Atlantic Squadron as Commander-in-Chief. Three weeks ago bo was summoned from Central America by the Nuvy Department, and this is his llrst visit to tue Department since hisarrival. WATCH THE INDIANA. Trro Shots From t?ie Great Ship's Thir. tcen-lncli Gun Fierce the Same Hole. Kev West. Fin. t'Snceial).?The battle ship Indiana, which*left her anchorage (or a trial of her refitted boilers, returned after j &u entirely successful t"st. She had, mean- j time, target practice with service charges. Results recall the work or Yankee gunners I in 1812. Two shots from the thirteen-inch guhs in the forward turret pierced the target through the same hole. Thosmaller calibre guns demolished the target. A Million For Shells. Washington D. C. {Special).?Secretary of War Alger received an allotment of 41,00D.00U from the President out of the famous 450.000.000. This 41.000,000 will be placed at the disposal of Chief Engineer Wilson, of the United States Army, for the purchase of shells, projectiles and ammunition for eon;*! defenses. It will be used in carrying out plans that have air-a-ly been formulated by the Engineer Department in connection with fortification ^ " rn.ii' Joins Sampson's Fleet. That formidable fighting machine, the Terror, double-turrcted monitor of the first-class, arrived at Key West, Fla. With the arrival of tbo Terror the squadron under Captain Sampson's command becomes the most formidable assembled r>y any nation, except England, within recont times. The Newport has also joined the fleet. BUmarck >8 Eighty-three. Prince Bismarck celebrated his eightythird birthday with a banquet at Fredrichsrub. Emperor William sent hitu a gold-headed cano. ,"r- j 7 SHAWHEETOfflTS FLOOR Breaking of the Levae Drought Wholesale Death and Destruction. SUDDENNESS OF THE DISASTER. Collar** or a I)yk. on lh. Ohio lllver Followed by a Michty Uu*li of Water ?Many Thrilling Escape*? Fire Added It* Iforrn:-* to ttie t-iooa a* a burning i House Plunged Through the ltuin*. Tarsii. II!. (Special).?The latest reports show that the flood which overwhelmed nnd practically destroyed the city of Shawneetowa, II!., on the Ohio Itiver. caused the lo3s of scores of lives and a large amount of property. The place is on the west bank of the river, which, at that point, runs nearly south, and the greater part of the buildings in the city were 'fteen feet below the top of the levee, de. pended upon to keep out the flooded river. The embankment was twenty feet wide and after it was overflowed several years ago it had been strengthened. The break occurred on Sunday afternoon, 3bout a mile above the city, and a raging torrent swept down upon the ill-fated inhabitants. The scene was one of awful terror. The [P IOWA. iiaoded by Captain E- ** Erans.1) blackness of night spread over all. anil with the sullen roar of tue murky wnters was mingled the cries of affrightened women and children who were huddled in the upper stories and on the roofs of the houses, which withstood the rnsh of waters. The break came without warning and caught the people unawares. After a few minutes the horror of the situation was added to by the catching Are of a large house that had started down stream with the others. The people on the roofs were already in. danger of heing thrown off by collision with, other floating houses, but the appearance' of this floating firebrand added horrors. As it struck one house after another in its zig 7.ae course some caught Are, and their unfortunate occupants were compelled to trust themselves to the mercy of the swerving waters on pieces of wood to avoid more terrible death by lire. The scene In the streets at the upper end 1 of the town, where men and women were struggling against the mud and water to higher grounds, some carrying babies on their heads where water was up to their neelr* other* half swimnlnc h/ilf flnntinr* on odds and ends of lumber from homes; that had gone floating down the river,; many strangling in vain and sinking in the roaring waters, was one that will live in the memory of every beholder. At one place a mother had reached a sate' spot and turned to help her husband, who had followed with their child. As she reached down fcom n window for his hand, he was thrown from bis footing and be and: the child were swept away iu the* zlz-zag current. The woman saw blra sink the second time and then threw herself into | the water. Another laniily paddled half way tosafe-ty on a board plank that but half held them out of the water. A side current caught them and sent them out toward the middle of the stream, where in the rongher water thev were seen to capsizo and sink. | Mayor M. L. Carney has made an appeal j for money and clothing. The relief work | is progressing with wonderful quickness, j Four hundred sufferers have been removed to MouDt Vernon, where more comfortable , quarters can be furnished them. Rescuers who have traversed the waterbound elty in skiffs agree tnat fully 200 houses were swept away. The number includes only substantial structures," chiefly dwellings. Only the ton of the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad station can be seen. The remaiuder of the structure is completely i submerged. The people residing in the J south end of the city, opposite where the ; break in the levee occurred, had about j thirty minutes in which to flee. The watchers ou the levee who snw it j burst say that they were over the spot where the water cam? a few moments be- I fore the catastrophe, and it then appeared ! as strong as ever. All at once a section j ton feet wide rose straight up, and a stream j of water twelve feet deep leaped through : the break. The latest news from Shawneetown shows that the death list will not exceed 100, I and may not run over fifty. The Hghtiug j plant was destroyed, and in the flickering i gaze of lanterns" aud electric lights from ! the steamers the search in the town for bodies was made. It is a little short of a j miracle that the loss of life was not | greater. OFFICIAL FLAC OF THE PRESIDENT. Secretary of War Issue* Order* Prescrib- I Ling It* Insignia and Dimension*. A general order has been issued to the j army announcing the selection of a design i for the President's field flag. It is of scarlet bunting, measuring thirteen feet long i and eight feet hoist. In each of the four | corners is a flve-nointed white star, of large j size. Inside this star is another, separated | by a baud of white three inches wide. This i innov uto? fnrinc u Klin* Hair) 11 nrtnlirhfoh id I tho official coat of arms of the United | States. On the scarlet field uronnd tlio j : l*w star are other 9tars, one for each State. Color- for the President have also been : provided. These are Of scarlet silk six feet ' sis inches fly and four feet 6n the pike, which shall be tea feet long and surmount- j cd with a globe and an American eagle four inches high. The colors contain stars and eoatol arms similar to the flag. fighting Men Sent Kant. The marines on tho coast defense vessel j Monadnock, at San Francisco, have been i ordered to the East to the Norfolk naval ; station. This is the first call on the actual j lighting men stationed on the Pacific coast, j There arc %0 men on the Monadnock, as j well trained men. perhaps, as there is la j the service. They were formerly on the I battle-ship Texus. American Locomotives For .Egypt. A contract has been taken by the Bald- ! win Locomotive Works to supply fifteen I heavy engines for the Egyptian State Bnill way. * 1 % Al J .. ^ y . '4 LEE DELAYED IEME Alarming: flews From Havana Caused President to Change His Plan. MASSACRE OF AMERICANS FEARED At the Uulted State* Conaal-General'a Urgent Keqneat Preal.lent McXlnler Decided to Hold Back 111* Communication?The Policy Approved by Leadera In Congref a?Exodtia Prom Havana. Washington, D. C. (Special).?Alarming information received from Consul-General Lee upset the President'9 plan to send to Congress bis message on the Cuban question Wednesday afternoon. General Lee represented a condition of affairs in Havana that caused the President grave concern, and on the direct statement of the ConsulGenera! that the lives of many Americans were in jeopardy and might be sacrificed by rabid Spanish partisans if the message was made public before they loft the Cuban capital, it was determined to withhold the important communication until definite information had been received that all Amerioans were out of the perturbed island. According to several despatches from General Lee, the Havana volunteers,all un- I compromising supporters of Weylerand opponents of the Blanco government, had taken possession of the streets and were attempting to incite a riot against Americans. tTwo thousand American refugees were in Havana, Gener;' Lee said, waiting for steamers to take them to the United States. Others were coming in from interior towns and the country districts. General Lee feared an outbreak, and appealed 1 to the President not to take any action thnt would perhaps cause a massacre of helpless citizens of this Government. The President sent immediately to the Capitol for Messrs. Davis, Fryo and Lodge, of the Senate Committee on Foreign Itela none; nepreseniauvps imngiey biiu cannon, the Republican leaders of the House; Representative Adams, the acting Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Representative Sayers, one of the Democratic leaders of the House; Representative Hopkins, the leader of the House Republicans who had announced their dissatisfaction with the delay in taking action on the Cuban question, and Representatives Berrv, Dinsmore and Nan-lands, members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. All these contingents came sepirately and in the order named. To each the telegram from Genorat Lee, saying he would not he responsible for the lives of the Americans if the message .was transmitted, was shown. The President told the delegations that he would not forward his message uutil General Lee had sent word that all Americans were safely away from Cuba. The reference to responsibility contained in General Lee's dispatch was cited by the President, who npplied it to Congress. The Executive would not he responsible for the American citizens In Cuba, he declared, it Congress insisted en litking JICllUU UU 1U? t/UUIUl Uirsso^c AL once. These statements of the President had their effect, and the rarloua delegations returned to the Capitol after assuring President McKlnley that nothing would be done in Congress until General Lee had sent his assurances that all Americans were safely oat of the Island. When this understanding for delay was reached the joint committee hurried back to the Capitol. Chairman Davis, of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, moved an executive session, and the galleries wen cleared of the tremendous throng waiting to hear the first blast on the trumpet of war. The Senate was made acquainted with the condition of affairs. In the House the news from the White House was Imparted, but no mention was made of it in the proceedings. Criticism and even suspicion was provoked by the announcement of the proposed delay. There was so much restlessness in Congress circles over the Cuban complications that the President's sincerity of purpose had to be made plain. On the assurance of men like Dingley, Adams, Sayers and Cannon the House agreed to wait. The Senate accepted with .little question the statements made by Messrs. Davis, Aldrich and Lodge. After.reaching his decision to postpone the time of placing the Cuban mutter before Congress, President MoKinlev telegraphed Lee of his decision and that the message would be sent to both Honses just as soon as General Lee telegraphed that all Americans were out of Cuba. Directions were also sent to General Lee not to abido by tho regulations for the Government of naasenger steamers, but to load every vessel from hold to topmost deck with Americans and to expedite their departure from Havana. To hasten the home-coming of the Americans in Cuba, the Navy Department arranged that the Mascotte should not finish her full trip, but return from Key West to Cuba, and that tho Olivette, of'the same line, now partially disabled and off service, should also go across; from Key West to Havana to take on her share of passengers. With the Fern,'the Bache anu the Mangrove also lying in Havana harbor.it was expected that all the Amerionns assembled under General Lee's protection would find themselves speedily under way for Florida. It may be added that under orders similar to those sent to the American representatives in Cuba, the working staff of the' United States Legation at Madrid started for Paris, leaving Minister Woodford alone at the Spanish capital. SPAIN'S SHIPS AT PORTO RICO. The Spaniard* Tried to Keep Their Des- , tination Secret. Washington, D. C. (Special).?The news that the two big Spanish cruisers Vir.caya and Almirante Oquendo bad reached Porto Rico bas caused a stir in the nuvnl circles. The fact of tbelr arrival sbows that their object in stealing out of Havana harbor as they did was correctly surmised by th? Naval Board authorities, which wauted the President to send the flying squadron after them at tbe time. It was undoubtedly the Intention to have | the cruisers meet the torpodo flotilla,which started from the Canaries some time ago. and which, was expectod to have reached Porto Rico by this time. The flotilla, as is already known, Jwas turned back by the storm and is now at the Cape Verde Islands. Texas In Battle Trim. Sew I'okk City (Special).?The battleship Texas steamed out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard ut 8 o'clock Wednesday, morning, stripped for immediate action, to join the flying squadron In Hampton Roads. In midstream a salute of twelve guns was flred from the ironclad aad returned from the Cob dock. Chicago Reformer* Win. In the Aldermanic election in Chicago tho reform element won, electing twentyfive out of tbirty-flve candidates, Theso twenty-five have pledged themselves to demand for the city compensation for nit public franchises. The politics of the Aldermen elected ure: Democrats, 17; Republicans, 17; Independent, 1. Governor Dyer Ke-Electeil." The Republicans swept Rhode Island and Governor Eliaha Dyer was re-elected by a large majority. The returns at a late hour show that only six Democrats have { been elected to the Legislature. * - _. y \ s' , r.:j { -v ^ - -v' THE NEWS EPITOMIZE* Washington Itwni. The House passed tho bill to pay $330,000 to the heirs of Mr. John Roach, oa account of his ship contracts with the Government. The Currency Reform bill prepared by the House Committee on Banking and Currency was introduced in the House and referred. Domestic. Mrs. George Carr and her two small children were burned to death at Bays, Ohio. The Carr house was discovered to be on Are, ami Mr?. Carr rushed In to rescue ber two sleeping childreo. Before she could do so, however, tho building whs enveloped In flames, and all tbreo perished. A work train on the N'uugatuck Division of the New York. New Haven and Hartford Railroad broke through the side of a covered bridge ut Thomaston. Conn. Three Italian workmen were instantly killed and two more were fatally injured. Frederick Milne, one of the indicted members of the Brooklyn City Works ring, whs sentenced by Judge Kurd to six months' imprisonment and to pay a fine of *:>oo. Henry S. J.ittle, of Trenton, well known in New Jersey politics, having been for twenty-five years a Democratic leader, has given to Princeton University *100,000 to erect a new dormitory similar to the Blair dormitory, just about completed on the university grounds. Joseph Loiter, the Chicago grain speculator, shows no disposition to give up his control of the wheat market. He is generally believed to have made a profit of $2,000,000 so far. and before the transactions are closed that figure will bo considerably increased. Margaret Matber, the actress, died suddenly in Charleston, W. Va, Rain fell, a few days ago. in the farming districts of northern California. This will greatly improve the outlook for the grain crop. Benjamin Hill was hanged in San Quen- i tin Prison, C'al., for the murder of his wife. Hill made a confession and expressed penitence. The Kaiser Wllhelm der Grosse lowered her own record from Southampton to New ] York bv two hours and thirtv-flve minutes. making the passage in five days and twenty hours, at an average hourly speed of 22.29 knots. Demand for the expulsion of Spain from Cuba was made In au address aaopted by the New York Conference of the 3Iethodist Episcopal Church. Herbert G. Nichols, who stolo $150,009 from Browning. King A Co.. of Chicago, was cantured in New York City after he bndhaffled pursuit for five years and Ave months. The Prison Commission has recommended to Governor Atkinson, of Georgia, the commutation to life imprisonment of the j death sentence of Mrs. Elizabeth Nobles. I She was convicted, with Cms Fambles, a j farm hand, of having killed her husband with an ax .Tune 21. 1895. Election returns from half the precincts Indlcnted that David 8. Rose, the Sliver Democrat, carried Milwaukee, Wis., by about six thousand majority. A receiver was appointed for the Lincoln Fire Insurance Company, of New York, in proceedings for its dissolution because of insolvency. It was announced that the Ohio Senate Investigating Committee investigating the charges of bribery against Mark HaoDa and two of his agents in connection with the former's election as Senator, bad found them true. * Fire at "Vicksbure, Mis ., destroyed the Piazza Opera Honse, Pitt a drug store, and the Piazza Harness Factory and Buggy Warehouse. The loss will approximate 1125,000, only partially covered by insurance. , The number of victims of the flood at Rhawneetows. 111., is not believed to exceed thirty. Tho survivors are in destitute circumstances. Robert Hearst, of Grindstone Island. N. Y., and his nephew, James Byers. of Gape Vincent, were drowned In the St. Lawrence Blver in sight of Hearst's home. Returning in a sailing skiff from Gananoque to Grindstone Island they were struck by a blinding snow squall which swamped their boar. Oberiin College, one of Ohio's largest, oldest and most famous institutions, may have to close its doors. It is in financial straits and has no President. An appeal has been sent out to the alumni for financial hM. One hundred thousand dollars is needed to place tbe college on a sound basis. Owing to tbe fact that tbe institution has been without a President so long the loss of its charter is threatened. At BeiAvood. W. Va., a boiler explosion occurred at the Wheeling Iron and Steel Company's works. The battery of four boilers was wrecked and David Geary, a tlremao, was killed by a falling wall. Owen TaiTe, another fireman, was hurt so badly that he died that night. Nine other men were scalded and bruised. John W. Wenderdorf and his three children. sister-in-law and brother wore drowned In the St. Francis River, near St. Frnnci?, Ark. The party were boating on tbe river when a squall suddenly blew up. ; capsizing the boat and drowning every 1 member of the party. John Richards, aged nineteen, of New Hamburg. Penn., was shot and Instantly killed by James Beck, his employer. Beck is now in jail. He claims he shot Richards in self-defense. The lato snowstorm extended over the i greater part of New York, including Long, i Island ami New Jersey. Tbe farmers say , that the fruit buds aud early crops have suf- ; fered badly. Rice Munn Reynolds, a well-known citizen of Monsou, Mass., committed suicide by shooting. No cause is assigned. He has always taken an important part in town affairs, was a member of the Board of Selectmen for three years and Chairman of j the Board two years, and represented his j district lathe Legislature iu 1876 and 1877. j He leaves a family. The jury in the case of Samuel HeDder j son, allfteen-year-old lad. who was charged with the murder of Percy Lockyer. a five- I year-old child, at Philadelphia, brought in a verdict of murder iu the second degree. ! Recent army orders sending the Twentyfifth Infantry to tbe Department of the . Gulf will result in tbe discontinuance of - . ? 1- -i* i t'JQ post at rort lunsuum, jmuiuun, tbe portable property tbcre will be distribated to other posts in tbe Department, | About ?2.000.000 in cold is on the way from Sydney, Newj^outh Wales, to Sail ! F/ancisco, making ^m.000,000 received as ! the balnnce of regular trade since last fall. Tbe Rev. Dr. Charles A. Briggs, of Union i Theological Seminary, New York City, is ; to be or lnine.l ns a Deacon in the Protest- | ant Episcopal Church. The Oeueral Committee on Charter Day i Celebration in Greater Xev/ York dooidod ; to postpone the ceiebration indefinite!* ! owing to the Spanish trouble. Foreign. Sixty-three candidates of the Radical I Left were elected in Denmark, giving that i party eontrol of the Parliament. Arthur J. Balfour, Acting Secretin- of State and Foreign Affairs, in a speech in the House of Commons said Groat Britain had secured the lease of Wei-Hai-TYei from China, aud admitted that the empire would probably be dismembered. Believing that war is a possibility, the Government of Argentine has issued bonds to the extent of 50,000,000 pesos, to bo token up by pooalarsubscriptiou. This 50,000,000 will do used to arm the country. Many wealthy citizens are on the list with subscriptions of 1.000.000 pesos each. . - v . *. ' / , KOTE FBOI THE POWERS. The Six Great Nations Present a Joint .Communication to thft President. UNIQUE IN THE UNITED STATES. Aiaba?sad?r* and Ministers (expressed dopes For Peace?Sir Julian Pauneefote, the British Ambassador, Read the Portentous Note?The President IndP ^ cstrd That His Mind Was Made lip. ' Washington', D. C. (Special).?The representatives of the six great Powers of Europe?Great Britain, France, Gehnany, Austria-Hungary, Bussin and Italy?gave official form at noon, Thursday, to their recent conferences in the interest of a penceful solution of the Cubau problem. Their procedure was unique in the United States. They called in a body at the White House, presented an address to President / McKinley in the Blue Room, received his reply, and then proceeded to the State Department, where with solemn punctiliousness they were received by Assistant Secretary Day in the diplomatic room. They were accompanied by their secretaries. The ceremonv was impressive. ? The meeting had been arranged at the White House by Judge Day, and promptly ut 12 o'clock the Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives began to arrive. *Rlr Julian Panncefote, the British Ambassador, was the only one to drive to the White uouse, tuo otners wanting in me mwc democratic way from their legations. At noon there were assembled in the Blue Room, Sir Julian Pauncnfote, the British Ambassador; Herr von Hollehen, the Ambassador from Germany; M. Jules Cambon, the French Ambassador; Baron Hengelmueller. Minister for Austria-Hungery; Count Vinci. Charge d'Affaires f'>m Italy, and Mr. De Wollant, Charge d'Affaires of 1 Russia. Sir Julian Pauncofote, the British Ambassador, was the spokesman when the representatives of the Powers gathered for the official presentation of .tho note. Presenting the original note in Frenob, Sir Julian Paunoefote said: "Mr. President?We have besn commissioned by the great Powers of Europe, whom we represent here to-day, to appfoach Your Excellency with a message of friendship and peace at the present critical juncture in the relations between the. United States and Spain, and to convey to you the sentiments expressed in the collective note which I have the honor to place in your hands." 4 The note, presented by Sir Julian, reads '1 as follows: "The undersigned representatives of Germany. Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain. Italy and Russia, duly authorised , , in that behalf, address in the name of their respective Governments a pressing appeal to the feelings of humanity and modern- 3 tion of the President and of the American ; people, in their existing differences with Spain. They earnestly hope that further negotiations will lead to an agreement which, while securing the maintenance of , peace. Will aaocn mi urucsuu; gummisn /TI for the rc-eetablishment of order Id Cuba, "The Powers do not donbt that the ho- -la maoitarlan and purely disinterested 'M character of thin representation will be 9 fully recognized and appreciated by the - J American Nation." President McKlnley replied a* follow*: 3 "The Government of the United States 1 recognises the good will which has prompt- / ed the friendly communication of the repA resantativee of Germany-, Austrfa-Hungat^u H France, Great Britain, Italy and Itussia, set forth in the address of your excellenoies, and shares the hopetbereln expressed that the outcome of the situation in Cuba may be the maintenance of peace between i~. the United States and 8pain by affording the necessary guarantees for the re-estab- rllshment of order in the island, so termin - " f. ating the chronic condition of disturbance there which so deeply injures the interests -1 uod menaces the tranquillity of the American nation by the ebaraoter and consequenoes of the struggle thus kept up at our doors, besides shocking its sentiment >'S of humanity. "The Government of the United 8tates n appreciates the humanitarian and die-' interested character of the communication sj uow made on behalf of the Power* named, " <? and for its part is confident that efjnal ap- i preclation will be shown for Its own earnest . >fl and unselfish endeavors to fulfil a duty to >J humanity by ending a situation the in- 2 definite prolongation of which bos becomo -2 Insufferable." / After the forma! presentation bv Sir Jul- .jg inn, the diplomats spent a lew moments in . $ informal conversation with the President, and at 12.15 too! their departure. From si the Wbite House the diplomats went to the State Department. There they saw Beere- -H tary Sherman and .Assistant Secretary Day. The President's answer wax cabled to all the capitals of the si: great Powers. Joint Note in Madrid. Madrid, Spain (By Cable).?The Ambas- ,5| sadors of France, Germany, Russia and, Italy waited together Thursday evening' . .1 upon Senor (julloa, the Foreign Minister,: 1 and presented a joint note in the in-; VJ terest of peace. Senor CJullon, replying,; ,4H declared that the mrtnber-i of the Spaulsh; 4 Cabinet were unanimous in considering* that Spain had reached "tho limit of Int?nr J9R national policy in the direction of conceding the demands and allowing the pretem- i sions of the United States." ;3 NEW VESSELS RE CHRIST: NED. The Sovereign to Ke the Scorpion Mid. 1 the l>io;?nes the Topeka. Several of the vessels recently purchased! i by the Navy Department hava received' 'j new names more in accordance with their4 < duties. Tho Algonquin, received by trans-' tl fer from the revenue cutter service, is to- *? . ?n-J a!? a Tho \f..wHAiwAP ?* . JSI r>e caueu mo avwui?v# iao .'uwuvtjwi, tu- /#" eelved by transfer from the lighthouse 1 service, while co-operating with the navy "Jj vrill bo the8uwnnc*. The yacht Sovereign, acquired by.par- -;w cbuse, is to be called the Scorpion. The Creole, acquired by purchase fcr use as a 1 hospital ship, is to be called the Solace. u Tiio gunboat Diogenes, purchased in Eng-, J?H laud, j* to be called the Topeka. after the capital city of Kansas. i'ao small, unnamed torp -do boat purchased In England Ls.to be railed the Han- fJ lv, in honor of Captain John Manly, a dis- <M tluguished sailor of the days of the Kevo- fl lation. In 177.? Captain Mauiy captured: J the Nancy, and subsequently, while |n J command of the Hancock, he captured tbo' Fox. In 1779 lie captured two British. i privateers. The coal transport Saturn, ao- ;j quired by purchase, will retain her present y name. <yvj LAWLESSNESS IN ALASKA. The liowdy Element Seize lienaeU't Road I ?Tlic Country iu Terror. Information has reached the War De- t i partment, Washington, that the rowgy elc- u mont of Alaska has seized Bennett's roa^f, >.-F lending to and over White Puss, and harel w> f laced the country in a state of terror., i Dhtructions were telegraphed to Generaf 31 Herriam, commanding the Department of! the Columbia nt Vancouver, Wash., tar order the Inlantry garrison at Sknguay to: s take proper steps for the protection o? , persons and property in tin- iisturbed region, regardless of tho expeiue attending such a movement of troops.